«
Scanned from the collection of
Karl Thiede
Coordinated by the
Media History Digital Library
www.mediahistoryproject.org
Funded by a donation from
David Sorochty
1
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2011 with funding from
IVIedia History Digital Library
http://www.archive.org/details/hollywoodreporte1821holl
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>l. XVIII. No. 42. Price 25c.
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TODAY'S FILM NEWS TOD>
'uesday, January 2, 191
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In your selealon of a banking
home, consider the outstand-
ing fact that over one and
one -half million Californians
have chosen Bank of America.
There must be a good reason
when one -fourth the popula-
tion of an entire state patronizes
a single banking institution.
BAHKof AMERICA
NATIONAL TRUST & SAVINGS ASSOCIATION
■• . •" X
*■/
41 5 Banking Offices in
247 California Communities
APPY
EAR
1934
T
J.HE publisher, editors
and entire staff of THE HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER send New Year greetings to
the entire motion picture world and
wish to acknowledge with sincere
thanks the excellent support given this
publication by the industry during the
past year with the added promise of a
continued and better service to that
industry.
W. R. WILKERSON
Publisher and Editor
ROBERT E. WELSH
Managing Editor
ABRAHAM BERNSTEIN
New York Manager
JOHN PADDY CARSTAIRS
London Manager
MAURICE KINCLER
European Manager
♦
HOLLYV^OOD STAFF
John Rohlfs
O. B. Hovig
George Blaisdell
Jules Schermer
Abraham Jacoby
Norman Rivkin
Jack Andrews
James Cooney
Jack Cains
Martin Carlow
Bud Josephs
Morton Meyers
Edward Green
Joseph Schultz
Joseph R. Snyder
Lucia Berger
NEVy YORK STAFF
Abraham Bernstein
Herman Schleier
Helen Gwynne
Arthur Schleier
FOREIGN STAFF
Maurice Kinder
John Carstairs
John Wolfgang
David Llewellyn
Leon Stone
Lillyan Ober
Published and copvriehted bv THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd. W. R. Wllkerson, Editor and Publisher; Robert E. Welsh. Managing Editor. Executive-Editorial Offices and
Office of Publication 6717 Sunset Boulevard Hollywood (Los Angeles), California; Telephone HOIIywood 3957. Published every day with the exception of Sundays and Holidays.
Subscription rates, including postage, per year'in the United States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15. Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class matter June 4, 1932, at the Post
Office at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3, 1879.
HOWARD
ESTABROOK
THE
MASQUERADER
(Samuel Coldwyn — United Artists)
f!
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THE BOWERY
(20th Century — United Artists)
BIOGRAPHY
(Irving Thalberg — M-C-M)
GREEN GOLD
(Charles R. Rogers — Paramount)
f!
n
n
Metro — Coldwyn — tAayer
HAPPY
NEW YEAR
SAM KATZ
— ♦—
I Pledge Myself in 1934 to a Policy
of Unique and Distinctive Entertainment
for 1934
+"l AM SUZANNE!" "REDHEADS ON PARADE"
^"COMING OUT PARTY" "SPRINGTIME FOR HENRY"
"GRAND CANARY" "FLIGHT OF THE SWAN"
and four others
Finished
ALL JESSE L. LASKY PRODUCTIONS ARE RELEASED BY FOX FILM
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was directed
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RAOUL
WALSH
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'^G^l NO hOU/.YwOoO''
In Grateful
Appreciation
B I N C
CROSBY
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Music by
NACIO HERB BROWN
Lyrics by
ARTHUR FREED
BROWN
and
FREED
.♦♦
"Our Big Love Scene*
''WeMI Make Hay While the
Sun Shines**
"Temptation**
"Cinderella*s Fella**
"After Sundown**
"Going Hollywood**
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0//VG hO^-Z-YwOo^"
Dances and Ensembles
Created and Staged
by
ALBERTINA
RASCH
Management
PHIL BERC
Hollywaod Reporter
NEGATIVE BY
Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.
SMITH fr ALLER, LTD.
Pacific Ceatt Diitributers
Metro ■ (joldiup -Mapr
GARB
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COuEEN
(nristina;'
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, , KOUBEN
Mamoulian
PRODUCTION
ROUBEN
MAMOULIAN
DIRECTED
) U E E N
C H D I Q
I IVI
JOHN
GILBERT
ii
O IJ F P N
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\
NEUJ YEAR
luill be
PROSPEROUS
uuith
METRO- ^,
GOLDUJYN-
'"-'^"ed 6^ George C. I. -m
^'^^^ play by Fr.n . ^<>duced fovH^ . _
A jj. . ^ Frances Marion , j r, ^ •L'avid O C , —
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In motion pictures
ASTOR THEATRE ATTRACTIONS
are the Aristocrats of the screen!
Soon in the theatres of the world
METRO ^ GOLD W YN ^ MAYER
presents "DINNER at 8'' and
"ESKIMO/'
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Y E A R
GREETINGS
♦
♦
♦
♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
♦
♦
I
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Season's Greetings
JIMMY
DURANTE
OLIDAY GREETINGS
ft
Harry
Beaumont
directed
"Should Ladies Behave"
Title changed from the 'The Vinegar Tree"
"When Ladies Meet"
M. G. M.
BOX OFFICE
WINNERS
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The Power and the Glory
ff
LASKY - FOX
u
The Cat and the Fiddle
ff
M. C. M.
u
It Happened One Day
11
M. C. M.
WILLIAM K HOWARD
Production
In 1933
by
IRVING THALBERC
S
INCE 1920 I have made an aver-
age of thirty-six pictures a year — some
years I have made as high as sixty pic-
tures. 1933 is the only year in which
I did not release any pictures. There-
fore, it is with the usual motion pic-
ture oddity that I should be writing on
production in 1933.
However, 1933 was one of the most
eventful years that I can remember.
The beginning of the year found the
country in a very bad state economic-
ally, and early in the year the dramatic
bank closing brought the economic
condition, which had been steadily on
the downgrade since 1930, to its cli-
max. The closing of the banks brought
a strain upon the already-weakened
finances of most of the motion picture
companies that they were unable to
face, and a fifty per cent cut was in-
stituted. The wisdom of this has fre-
quently been questioned, but the
necessity was apparent.
The N. R. A. law with its accom-
panying codes for all industries
brought about in due course an in-
struction to the motion picture indus-
try from the Government to codify its
relationships between competing com-
panies and between employer and
employee groups. In an industry as
diversified as this industry, represent-
ing producers and distributors, major
and minor; actors, stars, and bit play-
ers; directors, great and small; writers,
technicians, etcetera, it represented a
task more difficult perhaps than was
faced by any other industry and
brought about, in my opinion, an un-
fortunate drifting into individual
groups which has weakened the motion
picture structure as a whole. This is
the first real rupture in employer-
employee relationships. I regard this
as one of the most serious happenings
of the year. In the past, even during
the Equity strike and other similar oc-
currences, there has always been an
undercurrent of extreme good will
which has done much to preserve the
future of the industry.
Production-wise, this has been an
uneventful year. It is significant that
the National Board of Review, which
has rarely included even one picture
of foreign make in its selection of the
ten best pictures of the year, has this
year given thirty per cent of its votes
to pictures made outside of the United
States.
Perhaps this lowering in quality can
be laid directly to the financial strin-
gency, as most of the large companies
attempted to reduce in cost the aver-
age picture they made, and to reduce
in number the pictures upon which
they would be called on to spend large
sums of money. Unfortunately, there
does not exist for motion pictures the
steady demand that exists for bread
and foodstuffs, and other articles of
daily use, so that the theatres of the
country have been faced with con-
stantly decreasing audience attend-
ance on all except the outstanding
pictures. These attractions have done
greater business in attendance than
ever before. Whether that was due
to the fact that the public is staying
away from the average program pic-
ture and is therefore hungry for enter-
tainment when it arrives, or whether
we have reached in the picture busi-
ness the point already reached in the
show business many vears ago when
nothing but the outstanding attrac-
tions would draw customers — but
those in great quantities — I am not
certain.
Personally, I do not care to prophesy
but I certainlv believe it is safe to say
that the motion picture industry is fac-
ing a serious crisis if it cannot increase
the number of outstanding attractions
to be made in a year.
I do not believe it is essential to
spend great sums of money to make
these outstanding attractions, although
there should be no flinching from it if
this is necessary. Outstanding attrac-
tions have always been the result of
interesting personalities — sometimes
new, sometimes established — fitted
with interesting roles in stories that
are sincerely good and sincerely enter-
taining and produced with the show-
manship touch that distinguishes any
product that sells, be it automobiles,
ladies' dresses or motion pictures.
While this problem is primarily one
of the producer, and he should not
shirk it, it also calls for very great re-
sponsibility on the part of the star,
director, writer, etcetera, and this re-
sponsibility must be accepted in the
spirit of cooperation that characterized
the earlier days of the movies, when
each year brought about a supreme
advance in every aspect of the motion
picture industry over the year previous.
The year 1933 has been one of very
few advances, although it brought
about the fulfillment of the promise
shown by three new stars — Katharine
Hepburn, Mae West and Bing Crosby.
Still, their discovery and first impor-
tant advance was made in the previ-
ous year. While 1932 saw the ap-
proach to stardom of many established
personalities, in addition to those
mentioned, 1933 has given us very
little in new personalities. This was
the most serious defect of the year —
for the discovery of new personalities
and the retention and advancement of
those already existing in the industry
is the cornerstone of the industry's
strength against depression. If there
is a second cornerstone, it is the fine
spirit of cooperation that has always
existed between the employer and em-
ployee groups.
On the credit side for the year is the
fact that most of the large and small
companies, in spite of extremely diffi-
cult financial crises they have had to
overcome, still exist. Although some
of the existing personalities have been
seriously affected, box-office-wise, a
number of them are greater than ever
and most of them have retained their
glamor for the public. Skillful, co-
operative production can very quickly
bring the industry back to its former
high place. Every code and every reg-
ulation should keep in mind this su-
preme necessity.
As Nicholas M. Schenck once so
aptly put it, there is nothing wrong
with the industry that good pictures
cannot cure.
Important
Events
of 1933
HOWARD ESTABROOK
T
HE moving finger of history will
write 1933 as a turning point in many
things. Certainly in motion pictures
it has marked definite changes.
Perhaps the most striking change is
the REBIRTH OF INDIVIDUALITY
IN PRODUCTION. This was fore-
shadowed last year when the great
theatre chains were being split up, and
1933 saw the studios swing wide to
individuality. Today the INDIVID-
UAL in Hollywood means more than
ever before.
Producers who formerly headed stu-
dios and supervised from forty to sixty
productions annually are now heading
individual units and are producing
from six to twelve pictures a year.
When you see leading producers con-
centrating on not more than a dozen
pictures, a maximum of one a month
instead of one a week, you may expect
something. Men who in the past at-
tempted to hold themselves responsi-
ble for delivering one picture every
week were killing themselves physical-
ly. Scientists tell us that extreme
fatigue creates an active poison in the
blood. No one can work eighteen
hours a day over long periods without
destructive results. Men who a year
ago were worn down with jumpy
nerves are today smiling and ruddy,
and are doing better work.
In a sense, decentralization is a re-
turn to the producing system under
which the most successful silent pic-
tures were made. That was the heydey
of the independent producer who gave
undivided attention to each individual
picture and was often responsible for
the money that went into it. Even a
large studio in those days was usually
headed by a single executive who exer-
cised a general control much less ex-
acting on himself than under today's
conditions, and a producing unit con-
sisted of a writer and a director held
responsible for individual pictures.
Talking pictures created the associate
producer or executive producer, often
a former independent producer, who
now heads the unit, coordinating and
controlling the vastly more compli-
cated task of producing pictures today.
The present trend toward units should
restore one of the best values of the
silent era, a small group of creators
concentrating on each picture-
A further swing to individuality is
seen in the growing tendency to assign
one writer to prepare a story for the
screen. This is sound policy. It is
obvious that the great works of writing
throughout all literature, in the varied
techniques of drama, novel, short
story, history, biography and poetry,
have been the creations of individual
writers. The greatest music, whether
for opera, symphony, dances or songs,
has been written by single composers.
Only when the individual is free to
express what is in him does true crea-
tion result.
Another striking tendency of 1933,
which became evident late in the year,
was an increasing trend toward
WHOLESOME PICTURES, a definite
expression of public taste, as indicated
by the overwhelming success of such
stories as "Little Women" and "Three
Little Pigs." Don't underestimate the
story value of the latter — it is a well
constructed fable, building cumula-
tively to a major climax in which the
villain gets his just deserts right in the
seat of the pants, a moral that is point-
ed and unmistakable.
This swing of public taste toward
normal is nothing new. After each
disturbed period it always asserts it-
self. As a matter of fact the real out-
standing successes that last through
the years are invariably based on sound
values. So-called headline stories and
other ephemeral reflections of the
passing scene, unless also including
something permanently worth while,
are overshadowed when a genuine hit
appears based on a theme that en-
dures— such a picture, reissued, will
still hold audiences long after the
headline story, which has served its
transient purpose, is forgotten.
One might venture to say that a
story with a soul is the best invest-
ment. Only a limited number of such
pictures are seen, because they are
infinitely more difficult to make, but
when one is successfully achieved it
becomes part of the legend of motion
pictures.
An important factor in the past
year has been the increasing recogni-
tion of so-called STANDARD LITERA-
TURE, stories which have been known
long and favorably to the reading
world, but which have been neglected
by the screen. It is necessary to men-
tion only a few to illustrate the point.
"Litle V/omen" comes under this cate-
gory. "Alice in Wonderland" for many
years has rested on our library tables.
"The Invisible Man" has awaited
screen production for many a long day.
Each one of these is strikingly differ-
ent. None can be accused of copying
another major hit or following in the
train of a cycle. Perhaps we might
search our library shelves a little more
receptively and scan our newspapers
less hopefully for a new twist on gang-
sters or shady ladies.
The year 1933 has been notable for
the SUCCESSFUL FOREIGN PIC-
TURES shown in this country. After
many years of studying our methods
England finally broke through and de-
livered a resounding hit in "The Pri^
vate Life of Henry the Eighth" — a pro-
duction that will compare favorably
with our better technical work. True,
a large proportion of the validity of
this picture is due to the amazing per-
formance and physical likeness of
Charles Laughton, who sends you out
of the theatre with the impression that
you have actually spent an evening in
the presence of Henry the Eighth.
That is a true magic of drama — the
creation of absolute reality in the mind
of the spectator.
A REVOLUTION IN MUSICAL
PRODUCTIONS has occurred in 1933.
Cut and dried methods have been
rudely upset by many striking suc-
cesses in a new vein. Noteworthy was
the foreign-made picture "Be Mine
Tonight." Another venture in a new
field, "Flying Down to Rio," came so
late in the year that results are not yet
available. But it is safe to say that
musical production methods never
have had such a shaking up as during
the past twelve months.
There is no more reason for so-
called musical cycles of plenty and
famine than there is for any other cy-
cles. If producers continue to strive
for the new and unusual in musical
production, music will always be with
us, as it should be
In general the major developments
of 1933 in the production field of
motion pictures have been construc-
tive. They should bear fruit in future
years in increased success and pros-
perity.
The Year
m
Review
by
ROBERT E. WELSH
W
ELL, it all depends on how
you'd like to take your "Review of the
Year" — straight, or with a chaser. If
you take it straight, it's a headache —
no, a series of headaches. If you take
the chaser, there may be a smile or
two. Not many, y'unnerstand, but
enough to take that bitter taste away.
It goes this way, if we start with the
straight doses — ■ What do we get?
Omigosh, ogeeogosh, what do we get?
Just taking a hop, skip and a jump over
the files of Hollywood Reporter for the
year 1933 we get something like this:
"BANK HOLIDAYS . . . STUDIO
SHUTDOWNS . . . FOUR WEEKS
WITHOUT PAY . . . EIGHT WEEKS
WITH HALF PAY . . . PAY CUTS RE-
STORED ... NO, WARNERS WON'T
RESTORE CUTS . . . YES, THEY WILL
. . . OH, HECK . . . AND SO ON."
We warned you it was pretty nasty
stuff taken straight. But you could
have done worse. It wasn't all in
CAPITALS. There's a lot of "10 per
. "10 per cent of the 90
' mixed up in that batch,
cent cut" .
per cent . .
too.
Or, if you still insist on downing it
merely want to change
try this from the head-
straight and
your brand,
lines:
"RKO RECEIVERSHIP THREATEN-
ED .. . OFFICIALS DENY ANY RKO
RECEIVERSHIP LIKELY . . . PARA-
MOUNT RECEIVERSHIP IN SIGHT
. . . EXECS DENY ANY POSSIBILITY
OF PARAMOUNT RECEIVERSHIP . . .
EDUCATIONAL CHANGES DUE . . .
HAMMONS DENIES ANY EDUCA-
TIONAL CHANGES . . . WORLD
WIDE IN TROUBLE . . . KBS DITTO
Then add your own summing up to
that paragraph. We're busy at the
moment, having been interrupted by
a major executive who wants to deny
something with his right hand on a
Bible borrowed from the prop depart-
ment.
But we've got some hundred proof
stuff here we've been holding out on
you. For you gentulmen of ol' Kain-
tuck who like it real strong we pre-
scribe this Headline Punch:
"COLUMBIA SOUND MEN ON
STRIKE . . . STRIKE THREATENED
IN ALL STUDIOS . . . ACADEMY AT-
TEMPTS TO CONCILIATE . . . STRIKE
DECLARED IN ALL MAJORS . . .
STRIKE WILL BE OVER TOMORROW
... NO, DAY AFTER TOMORROW . .
WELL, MAYBE NEXT WEEK."
And then you remember that cold
gray dawn when we woke up and
found the darn strike had been over
for several days and we were too much
befused to know it!
That's what that hundred proof
does to you.
Now just take all these potions, mix
'em together, down the mess from a
thimble and what have you? The Year
of Headaches.
That's what it was.
It's not a very enjoyable year to re-
view.
Unless you want to look at it this
way: Most of us are still here at the
old stand; doing a fairly good run of
business; and gol durn it if it doesn't
look as though there are some silver
linings being hung out for an airing
just over the hill in 1934.
It was a year of major and minor
headaches. One of the major-minors
was the remarkable rise of the Acad-
emy of the Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences to undreamed of prestige and
importance through its handling of the
salary cut problems — and the over-
night decline when it ran into the
Code buzzsaw.
Along the same line is the. terrific
change in the status and importance
of the unions in the operation of stu-
dios. And one of the minor ones is
the great mystery of the year — THE
STILL BIRTH OF THE GREAT HAYS
BOOKING OFFICE FOR ALL TALENT.
But take your "Review of the Year"
with a few chasers, perhaps a drop or
two of fruit juice to cut it, and maybe
it won't go so hard. As we said, you
may even get a smile.
Try this batch of headlines: Dec. 3:
"DAVID SELZNICK WILL POSITIVE-
LY REMAIN AT RADIO." Dec. 29:
"DAVID SELZNICK ANNOUNCES
THAT YESTERDAY HE SIGNED A
NEW ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH
RADIO." Then just close your eyes,
twirl the pages between your fingers,
and open them on January 5. You'll
read: "DAVID SELZNICK SIGNS
WITH MGM."
There's another of much the same
flavor. On January 17 you can read"
"NEW YORK CERTAIN WARNER
AND RKO WILL MERGE." Or on
January 20: "NOW IT LOOKS LIKE
WARNER AND FOX." And you can
follow that merger trickle until you
drown in the mess, if you care to. Per-
sonally, we don't. A little of merger
goes a long way with us.
It's interesting, if you read each is-
sue as though you were just learning
these things for the first time, to know
how many times Merian Cooper has
been out of Radio.
Players were cantankerous in the
Year of Headaches. Constance Cum-
mings started it just as theyeardawned
by jumping the Columbia fence. Mar-
lene Dietrich was sued by Paramount
for $185,000 on January 2. (What
happened to that suit?) George Raft
ducked "The Story of Temple Drake."
Sylvia Sidney caught a plane one night
and wired the studio about her plans
from Albuquerque. Ronald Colman
said goodby to Sam Goldwyn. Gosh,
was there something in the air?
Every now and then, though, some-
thing cheerful hits you between the
eyes. On July 14, for example, we
read: "CARL LAEMMLE SIGNS JIM-
MIE GRAINGER." That's a good
year's news for any company.
But as you go further along you find
that no matter how you have boasted
about your capacity — you just can't
take it. You approach August — and
as early as the 9th you read: "First
Meeting Called to Settle Industry's
Code."
Huh? We knew that would gag you.
There's too much of it. From that
date on — code, code, code. Meetings,
resolutions, denunciations, appeals —
what have you?
And just as the dear old cranky gen-
tleman that was 1933 began to get
tangled up in his whiskers we received
a code. But can we bury it with the
old guy?
No, they've dropped it in the lap of
1934 — with plans for a three months'
investigation of salaries, statistics and
plain and fancy picture facts.
Omigosh, do we have to go through
all that again?
"Maybe
I'm
Wrong-"
by
B. P. SCHULBERC
T
HE REPORTER has asked me to
think aloud on production matters for
this Holiday Edition. Since most
thinking on production is LOUD, and
since there is very little thinking any-
way, this should be a very short article
in very LARGE type. But here are some
random thoughts on current produc-
tion problems, prefaced with the usual
introduction to nearly every statement
at nearly every production meeting,
"Throw me out if you don't like this
one."
Next to the "Throw me out" line,
the one most commonly heard is,
"Maybe I'm wrong." Three little
words that have cost this business
enough millions to refinance every ex-
isting company in the industry. In a
business as fluctuating, and as unruled
and uncharted as our own, it may be
costly and destructive to be too posi-
tive or certain about anything; but, by
the same token, it may be equally
wrong and expensive to be quite so
uncertain. Fifteen years ago, in the
experimental stages of the industry, it
might have been altogether proper for
production executives, directors, writ-
ers, players and cameramen to enun-
ciate the "Maybe I'm wrong" theory
v/hile going about their daily work — -
or rather their daily studies of the
business. But after fifteen years of
silent picture experience, and five
years of sound, there should be a little
more conviction and a little less guess-
ing than do prevail. A producer worthy
of his hire should more often be cer-
tain that a given principle of produc-
tion is either definitely right or wrong;
directors who feel eligible to trans-
mute enormous investments into little
pictures on a screen should not be so
constantly perturbed by the thought
that what they are doing is probably
wrong; writers should by now have a
little more certitude that a certain
scene is good or bad, and cameramen
should less often than is the case fail
to control the mechanical factors that
govern their work. I am allowing in
all this rationalizing for the fact that
ours is a creative work, and for the
variable human equation involved; not-
withstanding which, the doubts assail-
ing every factor in every process of
production have added no little to the
present high negative costs, and the
only way to reduce costs at a time
when costs must be reduced — if the
industry is to survive — is to reduce the
degree and quantity of guessing, and
to play down the "Maybe I'm Wrong"
method of production.
ELIMINATE WASTE!
The recent bitter years have taught
all of us to be more careful in the
actual production of pictures, and to
minimize waste. There is no doubt
that every studio in the business has
done a creditable thing in bringing lost
motion and waste activity to a mini-
mum of cost hitherto unknown. Yet
there is also no doubt that much re-
mains to be done, and I would gladly
take as my compensation for a year's
hard work the cost of sheer waste in
any major studio. There are still se-
quences being shot that any careful
script scrutiny should disclose are
either bad enough to need retaking be-
fore or after preview, or that will be
eliminated entirely or reduced to
shorter length, because of footage.
There are still sets being built, and
photographed, with principals and ex-
tras, that never even see a preview.
There are still too many protection
shots made at the price of longer
schedules and greater final negative
cost; and less guessing, or perhaps,
better guessing, can eliminate most of
these waste items. With no creative
branch volunteering to accept less re-
muneration, the only way for this busi-
ness to go on is for everyone to save
more than he is now doing all along
the line.
A CLEAN, NOT A SACCHARINE.
SCREEN
The great success of "Little Women"
has made every one in production
circles "clean-minded." Many of us
are concluding that "Little Women"
proves that the American public now
wants only clean, sweet pictures. As
well conclude that "State Fair" proved
it only wanted rural pictures, that
"Cavalcade" proved it only wanted
historical pictures, and that Mae West
proved it only wanted spicy pictures.
Do not let us go wrong on superficial
reasoning, which has always been the
best kind of reasoning we do, and
which may at this critical time cost us
many millions not to be spared. I am
for a clean screen: I am also for a free
screen, with certain, necessary re-
straints, which accurately mirrors life,
and contemporary literature and dra-
ma. Paramount did a mighty fine thing,
and deserves the thanks of the indus-
try, for giving the public, at Christmas
time, as fine, clean and inspiriting a
screen gem as "Alice In Wonderland,"
as Radio deserves commendation for
its moving depiction of a clean Ameri-
can classic. But I can think of no surer
way to lose our audiences than to make
a whole succession of such pictures,
even as good as "Little Women" and
"Alice." The American public has
never yet evinced any inclination to
live on fairy tales and sweet, simple
stories; they want action, primarily, in
their entertainment diet, and this ele-
ment of action, which is a psychic
American craving, and which fortu-
nately is a natural adjunct of the
screen, is noticeably absent from this
school of writing. Do not make the
screen so sugary, in the next few
months, as to give the public film dia-
betes.
I was a member of the Producers'
Committee of two — Irving Thalberg
the other — who with Father Lord, Will
Hays and his staff, drew up the Hays
Code. During the conferences which
preceded its formulation. Father Lord
himself, a broad-minded, intellectual
clergyman, conceded that the screen
could and should reflect life in all its
phases, and was most insistent that sex
should not be removed from the cur-
riculum of the screen, lest audiences
forever lose interest in an anaemic en-
tertainment that would not compare
with the strength and vigor and nat-
uralness of the legitimate theatre or of
current literature. He merely urged
restraint and good taste, and to that
end the code was designed. Let us
not lose the scope and the hope of the
screen to tell every kind of story, in
good taste, merely because one kind
of story, beautifully done, succeeds
eminently.
Who among us dare to presume to
define what is life, and what merely
dirt? Recently the Government brought
an action against a book. The United
States moved to keep the unexpur-
gated edition of Joyce's "Ulysses" out
of the country. After long delibera-
tion, Federal Judge Wooisey rendered
a verdict in favor of free entry for the
book. His decision, notable for its
erudition and vision, is worth quoting
in full, but I shall only give this ex-
cerpt: "If one does not wish to asso-
ciate with such folk as Joyce describes,
that is one's own choice. In order to
avoid indirect contact with them one
may not wish to read 'Ulysses'; that is
quite understandable. But when such
a real artist in words, as Joyce un-
doubtedly is, seeks to draw a true pic-
ture of the lower middle class in a
European city, ought it to be impos-
sible for the American public to see
that picture?"
That sums up the whole case of the
motion picture versus binding and re-
stricting influences. As long as life is
pictured "artistically" and capably, it
has a right on the screen: if parents
can select the books their young shall
read, the paintings and sculpture they
shall see, they can also select the mo-
tion pictures they shall view. But real-
istic pictures of present-day life should
not be denied those who want them,
provided they conform with the can-
ons of good taste and are honestly de-
signed. As well say that the great
nude sculptures of the classicists
should be barred from public exhibi-
tion, because a few morons might get
the wrong impulses from viewing
them.
REMEMBER THY AUDIENCES
AND PLACE NO FALSE CODS BE-
FORE THEM, LEST THEY RISE UP
AND SMITE THEE.
This might well be a new command-
ment to place before everyone engaged
in production. Too many producers
still produce for the critics, too many
directors still direct for their brother-
directors, too many writers still write
only for the admiration of other writ-
ers, and too many cameramen still
photograph in a style not intended for
commercial consumption, but for the
plaudits of cinematographers. The
critics — Cod bless them! — can be oh,
so wrong! We all know how many
times in the past ten years, pictures
that have received the eulogies of the
critics have died at the box-office, and
how equally often pictures that have
been unmercifully panned by the
critic-body have been box - office
clean-ups. That can only indicate that
the critical, and the public, standard
of entertainment differ greatly. Clara
Bow was for two years the most popu-
lar feminine star on the screen. Dur-
ing those two years she naturally made
a great deal of money for Paramount.
This naturally indicates that the public
wanted and approved her pictures; but
I have yet to see a single newspaper
criticism, during all that time, express-
ing approval of a single one of her pic-
tures. We deliberately kept Clara a
public, and therefore a profitable, star,
and not a critics' star.
Writers only too often know they
are constructing a scene too abstract,
too philosophical and too "rich" for
mass consumption, but they do so to
convince the writing fraternity that
they are indeed writers worthy of their
"steal." If they wrote more for their
audiences, and less for themselves,
they would have more box-office suc-
cesses and a healthier industry.
Recently, I asked a fine, sensitive
director, comparatively new to Holly-
wood, why he did not show his night
scenes with enough light for audiences
quickly and easily to see the expres-
sion of his players. I remarked that
once it was indicated to the audience
that a night scene was intended, by
means of a dark long shot, the audi-
ence would gladly accord him the
license of taking liberty with the light-
ing, as it would rather see the most
fleeting facial changes of the players
than miss seeing them by being con-
tinuously convinced that it was seeing
a night scene, with the medium and
close shots scientifically matching the
long shot. He replied that when the
best directors in the business — he hap-
pened to mention Lubitsch and Bor-
zage among them — took such license,
he would begin doing so, but until they
did he was going to be included in
their class, rather than have it thought
that he did not know as much techni-
cally as they did. So here is a chance
for Lubitsch and Borzage to be the
way-showers toward a better audience
result in visibility of night action,
rather than to a slavish system of im-
pressing their fellow-directors that
they know all about screen technique,
which the audience cares nothing
about if it cannot SEE the picture. I
say this in case the director in ques-
tion was correct in quoting them as
protagonists of too-dark night shots.
Personally, it is my recollection that
both Lubitsch and Borzage are such
practical directors that they would
Icnovy it to be wrong not to take a
freely-granted license to have their
plavers clearly lighted at all times and
under all circumstances.
Cameramen, too, ignore only too
frequently the desires of the audience,
in taking, at great cost, difficult screen
effects that only brother cameramen
appreciate or understand. We have
all seen those beautiful, hazy effects
that took hours and hours to get,
played in theatres where lighting and
projection conditions that were not
ideal converted them into nothing but
bad photography that tried and
strained, and finally hurt an audience's
optics. Remember our audiences, in
writing, directing, photographing! And
they will remember you, and your days
will be long in the motion picture in-
dustry.
But — "Maybe I'm wrong," and by
this time, certainly, maybe I'm long.
The
Hollywood
Rebellion
by
W. R. WILKERSON
T
I HE outstanding event in the mo-
tion picture industry during 1933 was
the rebellion. The rebellion of the
creators.
This rebellion started with the pub-
lication of the Producers Arbitration
Agreement and ended with the general
tossing around given the artists, writ-
ers and directors at the Washington
meetings of the NRA code. Sandwich-
ed in between was the famous 50 per-
cent cut in early March.
These events caused the creators to
sit up and take notice. Hitherto they
had been content to do the producer
bidding, were satisfied that the studio
heads knew what they were talking
about and responsible for all their acts
They were contented to draw their
salaries and do as they were told, be-
lieving if they were told the wrong
thing, if there were mistakes in their
orders, they would be corrected. For
after all, the job was to make success-
ful pictures, productions that would
earn their way and turn back a profit,
and any injury to the creators would
injure all possibility of that success.
Prior to the Producers Arbitration
Agreement and since the picture busi-
ness had started there had always
been a spirit of friendly cooperation
by the men and women actually mak-
ing the pictures and the individuals
behind the gun. They had worked to-
gether all for the cause of good pic-
tures. There had been instances of
isolated disturbances where the star,
the writer or the director had found
serious fault with the manner in which
he or she was being treated by the
studio, but such disturbances were the
exception rather than the rule. But
when the creators began to digest the
full meaning of the Producers Arbitra-
tion Agreement, that cooperation be-
gan to waiver, that friendly feeling
was shaken and its place crept a sus-
picion, whispered at first, but openly
expressed later.
The Producers Agreement was found
to be all for the producer and nuts to
the creators. Its restraining orders
were beyond all sense of fairness, to
say nothing of the legal aspect of its
restraint. Creators were to be as so
many slaves, should the full effect of
that agreement be carried through.
And hell broke loose. Meetings were
held on all sides. The writers rebelled,
the artists declared war, the directors
and technicians raised all sorts of a
rumpus. There were all kinds of arm
waving and loud talking, threats and
counter threats to be quieted only
when one smart person said: "Don't
worry about the whole thing, there's
nothing to it. The thing was framed
to protect one or two studios. The
other producers will get wise to it soon
and the cat will be out of the bag. A
producer war will follow."
And that's what happened. There '
was a producer war. A fight started
because the clauses that bound one
producer to another were being
breached, and they were walking out
on each other. The smoke screen that
was raised to protect a few was found
to be phoney when the smoke cleared
and out went the Producers Agree-
ment. But not until a distrust was
planted, a seed that took root in the
creator's garden. The spirit of coop-
eration that had always existed was
hardly to be found, everyone was
fighting his individual battle, armed to
the hilt with plenty of ammunition.
But this was a dum-dum battle, shoot-
ing from ambush.
In March open warfare was started.
No shooting from the bush — a fight
out in the open. It started with the
meeting of the producers and the
agents, called by the producers for the
purpose of getting these representa-
tives to talk their clients into taking
a cut, a small cut. Were not the banks
of the whole nation closed and with
those closings was not the flow of
money stopped? How were they to
pay off? Wouldn't the agents go to
their clients and ask their help? Hardly
had the last word been uttered when
all the agents agreed to the suggestion.
And then — the request for 50 percent
of all salaries for a period of eight
weeks. Wow!
And was there fun? And was there
a fight?
And what happened?
Of course they took the cut and
took it for eight weeks, but all doubt
as to the future of the creators in the
hands of the producers was settled
then, definitely and for all time. There
were meetings after meetings, more
arm waving, more loud talking, quieted
only when it looked as though the
Academy could be built to protect the
creators and this building was started.
The loss of confidence by the creators
in the producers was fertile ground for
the building of an organization for
their protection.
And then the writers smelled a rat.
They walked out of the Academy.
Formed the Screen Writers Guild, an
organization of writers for the writers,
the formation of which was the straw
that broke the camel's back. Fired by
distrust and suspicion, the writers
started the spark of the real rebellion.
They called their shots, all shooting in
the direction of the heads of the vari-
ous studios. For the first time since the
start of the business, salaried individ-
uals got up on their feet in open meet-
! ing and defied the men who were pay-
I ing them their salaries. "To hell with
I the salaries. " cried a few, "give us a
cut in the spoils. If the pictures are
a success we get money, if they are not
we starve. ' And with the starting of
the Writers Guild, the start of the fin-
ish of the Academy was being written.
When the motion picture industry
was invited to sit down at a table in
Washington and write its own code,
the creators were found to be want-
ing. They sent representatives to take
care of their end, but those represent-
atives started the old game of politics
and the creators were about to be
washed out, were washed out. And
that marked the end of all thoughts of
cooperation between the creators and
the producers.
Without cooperation between the
employer and the employee no indus-
try can succeed and much of the rea-
son for poor pictures right at this time
is due to the loss of that cooperation,
plus a distrust of one for the other.
Aside from the belief that they will be
taken advantage of at every turn, the
creators now have a lack of confidence
in the whole producer layout. The
writer feels that his material is being
butchered, the artist believes that he
is being ruined by bad pictures and the
director claims that he is not permit-
ted to direct and the other fellow (the
producer) can't.
And there is only one answer, PER-
CENTAGE and equal rights guarding
those percentages. Through this means
lies the only salvation for the produc-
tion end of this business. Give the
creators a whack at the profits and if
there are no profits but there will
be.
Give the writers a piece for their
creation; place the important stars, the
name draws, on a small weekly salary
and a percentage of the gross; do the
same for the directors and you will
have a business that must cooperate
and you will find a cooperation that
will make good pictures, hardly any-
thing but good pictures. And these
pictures will be made at a fraction of
the cost of present productions be-
cause of that cooperation. If a writer
knows that his writing must be right
or no dough, he will write. If the stars
are forced to accept a share of the
burden, they will star. They won't
walk in late for calls, they won't read
their lines like a high school pupil,
they will know their parts and they
will fight any element that attempts
to hold up production. The director
will work with the star, with the
writer AND the producer. They will
all work together.
But before any such percentage sys-
tem can be put into effect, all those
participating in the percentage must
have about equal say. The producer
will not be permitted to produce as he
has in the past. He will not be the
sole boss. He will have to take coun-
sel with the others. They will have to
be in agreement all around. And it's
coming to that, if not in the big stu-
dios, outside of them, and if the big
plants permit too much of that outside
business, there will be no big plants
other than rental studios.
There has been a rebellion, a big
rebellion. Some producers, wise to
their jobs, realize it; others are sitting
idly by and groping for a reason for all
the bad pictures. The rebellion is the
reason and it was the highlight of
1933.
QDDU
ear
I HAVE JUST SEEN CLARK CABLE AND CLAUDETTE
COLBERT IN "IT HAPPENED ONE NICHT" AND
CONSIDER IT ONE OF THE FINEST PICTURES
COLUMBIA HAS EVER PRODUCED.
CONGRATULATIONS, FRANK CAPRA.
AND YOU, TOO. BOB RISKIN.
H
arru
[ol,
n
I
Compliments of the Season
To You All -
GUY STAN DING
PARAMOUNT PICTURES
TO ALL
WE WISH
A
HAPPY
NEW YEAR
AL and LOU
WERTHEIMER
ear
Q recti nSs
irom
LONDON FILMS
Pli^ODUCTIONS
i i
BETTER
THAN
HENRY
LONDON
DOUGLAS FAIRBA]
L^Til€l]
• Directed by
DR. PAUL CZINNER
9 Under the Personal Supervision of
ALEXANDER KORDA
THe
® Scenario and Dialogue by
LAJOS BIRO and
ARTHUR WIMPERIS
U N I
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^Lxmrrvmn
VII I '' — Joseph Schenck
^
FILMS PRODUCTIONS
Present
:S, JR. and ELIZABETH BERGNER
in
use
//
meM
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
as
Grand Duke Peter (Afterwards Peter III)
Elizabeth Bergner
as
Catherine (After Catherine the Great)
Sir Gerald DuMaurier
as
Lecoq
Flora Robson
as
Empress Elizabeth
Gregory Orloff
as
Griffith Jones
Diana Napier
as
Princess Voronzova
I
I
U
appy
ew I ear
Alexander l<frJcL.
T!Ttm^„
._
Down
With The
British
by
ARTHUR KOBER
T
HE talkies have suddenly put on
long drawers and have gone very social.
Fox imports a flock of Britishers, and
Leslie Howard, accompanied by a
drawing-room accent, finds himself in
demand. Joan Crawford still speaks
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. English, and
movie companies have stopped making
pictures that move and are now giving
a tired public a slice of life as lived by
the starched-front nobility.
I want to protest. I want to regis-
ter my disapproval of these peculiar
shenanigans. Think of its influence
upon the poor, susceptible public! I'm
not worrying about the kiddies. Cod
damn them! Those tiny tots have
ceased being a source of concern. I'm
troubled about the adults. I'm trou-
bled, to be more specific, about those
former neighbors of mine in the Bronx
and in Washington Heights.
Can't you see what the drawing-
room drama will do to these orthodox
burghers? A steady diet of those
anomalous charades in which beauti-
fully upholstered gentlemen flaunt
their nostrils at Holliwell Hobbs and
say, in a voice loaded with tonsils, "I
say, a whiskey and sodah. pleeaz!"
will tend to make Mr. Mandelbaum
and Mr. Flugelman behave the same
way.
I can just picture the following con-
versation taking place in "Brick" Man-
delbaum's drawing room in the Alta
Yente Arms:
("Brick" Mandelbaum and "Buddy" Flugel-
man are looking out of the window. A typical
Washington Heights rain wets the street. It
is "Brick" who finally breaks the silence.)
Brick: Oi, I say, wot rotten vedder ve're
hevink.
Buddy (shooting his cuffs) : Yes, eet's bistly,
doncher know.
Brick (letting a note of petulance creep into
his voice) : Desh hit hall, vy doesn't de sun
come hout like an hold dirr?
Buddy: Ve could jolly well stend some nice
vedder.
(At this point Mr. Flugelman looks furtively
around the room to make certain they are un-
observed, He lets his voice drop as he speaks.)
Buddy: I say, Breeck, hev you hoid about de
Cinsboigs?
(Brick raises his eyes. Of course he is ter-
ribly curious but in the movies the Britishers
are never upset. Internally they may be a
seething cauldron, an erupting volcano, but they
always manage to preserve a calm and unruffled
exterior. Only the arched eyebrow betrays
Brick's curiosity.)
Brick: No, hold binn, vot's de noos?
Buddy (significantly) : Sadie ran avay vit
the shuffer.
Brick (with satisfaction) : Solves Pincus jolly
veil right. Pincus is so tarribly meedle-cless
ennyhow Steel, hevink one's vife run away vit
one's shuffer, — veil, dot ees a beet theeck.
Buddy: Uf course! Hefter hall, — a shuffer!
Oi, I say!
Brick: Vot's wrunk vit a shuffer! You're
soch a snopp, Boddy.
Buddy (unconcerned by this rebuke) : Veil,
eet's a bistly mess. Doncher t'ink so, hold
t'ing?
Brick (removing his monocle and wiping it
with his 'kerchief) : Oi, I don't know, (adjust-
ing his monocle.) Sadie's rilly top holl. Rilly.
Buddy (grasping the significance of this re-
mark) : Oi, I say. Not rilly!
Brick: Yes, by Joff!
Buddy (chuckling — but more of a cackle
than a chuckle) : You, too, hah? Veil, Sadie
ees a preety chomming pizz of beggech (he
sighs). Vot a gestly mess! (looking at his
wrist watch). Veil, I'll be deshink.
Brick: Oi, I say, vidder avay?
Buddy: I t'ink I hev time for a robber or
two britch at de clobb.
Brick (shaking as if chilled) : I most be een
a beet of a fonk. I say, chock eet Boddy and
I'll hev Jivves breenk in some tea (he pulls
the cord and in a moment Jeeves arrives) . Oi,
jivves, breenk in some glesses tea.
Jeeves: How menny glesses tea you weesh,
sorr?
Brick (somewhat annoyed) : Two, uf cour<;e!
Jeeves: Mit lemon, sorr?
Brick: Eeef you pliz, Jivves.
Jeeves (retiring) : Very goot, sorr.
(But Buddy feels uncomfortable. Good Cod,
how was he to know that Brick Mandelbaum
was one of Sadie Cinsburg's lovers? He has
jolly well put his foot in it.)
Buddy: Breeck, I t'ink I'll hemble alonk vit-
out tea. Eet's very dissent uf you ennyhow.
Br:ck: Oi, rot,
Puddy (getting his hat, stick and gloves) :
Veil, I'll desh alonk. Peep, peep, hold t'ing.
Brick (at the door) : Chirry-ho, Boddy. And
don't t'ink heel uf Sadie Cinsboig, She's rilly
docky. Rilly! Chirr-ho!
So, for Cod's sake, let's go back to
the Westerns; let's go back to those
chromos in which hi-jackers were
eventually put on the spot by muggs
who had the heat turned on them;
let's go back to the "Yeah?" "Oh,
yeah! "Yeah?" "Oh, yeah!" type of
literature. Enough of this fency-
schmensy play-acting! Enough of na-
sal-voiced heroines and dignified,
wooden heroes. Enough, I say, be-
cause I want my Mandelbaums and
Flugelmans to be Mandelbaums and
Flugelmans!
Hindsight
On
Previews
by
THE
PREVIEWER
T
HERE is a peculiar two-way effect
as you go over the day by day files of
The Reporter to get a hindsight view
of the previews on pictures.
The first slant you get sorta takes
some of the joy out of life. "Gosh,"
you murmur, if you are given to mur-
muring, or mutter, if you prefer that,
"what a heck of a lot of pictures are
made for no good reason at all."
You spot a title. And read the pre-
view which probably has one of those
stock phrases, "Won't burn up any
rivers, but may satisfy a lot of audi-
ences."
Huh! You remember that picture —
and also recall what it did at — or to —
box offices. Of course, you are using
hindsight, but you just can't help say-
ing, "Migosh, when you read the re-
view over, remember the picture, and
view it from all angles — how on earth
did they ever think there WAS a pic-
ture in that yarn?"
This happens all too often for a pic-
ture man's comfort. But we said there
was a two-way effect when exercising
this hindsight. And here is the other
one:
If you don't just take the re-reading
on a page by page basis, but hit the
high spots of each month — THERE'S A
LOT OF DARN GOOD ENTERTAIN-
MENT FOR MR. AND MRS. PUBLIC
TURNED OUT IN THIS BUSINESS IN
THE COURSE OF A YEAR.
And strangely enough — EACH
MONTH seems to have its highlights.
Some months, like September or Octo-
ber, crowd in the highlights — but
hardly a month goes by without SOME-
THING big to shout about.
So that at the end of the year you
chalk up about thirty pieces of picture
entertainment with which you would
be darned glad to be associated in any
way, shape or form. An approximate
thirty shows that stand up and shout.
Behind them, about forty that rank as
pretty good entertainment, not bad
evenings for any family. And behind
that second group- — celluloid that
some executive way up at the top
should have killed before it got out of
the first story conference.
Which is the final lesson you get
out of this hindsight business — the
bad ones, almost invariably were mis-
takes of EXECUTIVE JUDGMENT. A
different way of saying that, either the
stories were bad, or the stories covered
themes that should never have been
tackled.
You learn something else, taking a
second glance at the previews of the
year. It is this: When previewers err,
with a consistency that makes it al-
most a rule, they never err when say-
ing that a picture is POOR, MEDI-
OCRE, or FAIR.
When the previewer slips it is usu-
ally with the fallibility which only
proves him human. For some reason
— about story, direction or cast — he
PERSONALLY goes a bit overboard in
enthusiasm on a picture which later
proves not to measure up to his report.
So, with these words about the re-
actions to a general survey of the year
past, let's dig a little deeper and see
how the year shaped up. Not as we
look at it now, but as if we were just
coming up with each month in its turn.
We entered the year with a pretty
good start — because just before the
bells rang "Cavalcade" had brought
out the parade of adjectives. And if
Fox had only kept up its January pace
there'd be cheering now — because the
same month brought the preview of
"State Fair." And "She Done Him
Wrong" came from Paramount in Jan-
uary. A pretty good start for any year.
There were other pictures in Janu-
ary that are just as well unmentioned
now. But even while you groan about
them, and start to con February's
pages, you get the first impression of
that feeling we mentioned: That with
all the fodder, SOMEONE is always
making SOMETHING good.
Look at this February list for a single
month's entertainment: "Topaze,"
"Be Mine Tonight," "Secrets," "The
Masquerader," "King Kong," "White
Sister." May we hope for as much
this next month?
March brought along the picture
that was just about forty-five days be-
hind its proper date — "Gabriel Over
the White House" — a great show. An
inspiration of an idea. But the darned
trouble was that a fellow like Hoover
went out on March 4, a man named
Roosevelt came in — and the psychol-
ogy of a nation changed overnight.
What a break!
There wasn't much else to get ex-
cited about in March, though "Chris-
topher Strong " gave the Hepburn fans
a chance to pull their favorite line,
"Wait until she gets a real story!"
And, gee, we can't forget "Hell Be-
low"— picture and box office.
April, probably just because of the
connection with April Fool's Day, is
the only one that lets us down on our
discovery that every month brings
something for box offices. Though
"Warrior's Husband" is nothing to
sneeze at, and picture students at least
got a treat with the American debut
of "M."
May was a humdinger. For sheer
enjoyment it had "When Ladies
Meet," for extravaganza; "The Gold
Diggers," for a touch of the new in
musicals; "Melody Cruise," and it
wound up in a blaze of glory on May
29 when the previewer spread him-
self for two wide-measure columns on
"Dinner at Eight."
Jesse Lasky gave us the artistic
treats of "The Power and the Glory"
and "Berkeley Square" in June, though
the reviewer tempered his words on
the former with the added phrase —
"presents a box office problem."
And in July Columbia hit the bell
with "Madame La Gimp." Which, in
case you don't recognize it, became
"Beggar's Holiday." Or perhaps you'll
get it quicker if we say "Lady For a
Day." What a title problem that great
picture presented!
But July was pretty good all around.
It brought us "Tugboat Annie," which
the reviewer hit on the nail as a pic-
ture, but of which he said, "Dressier
and Beery will clean up, though." And
the same month was helped with
"Morning Glory" as well as "Three
Cornered Moon, ' one of the surprises
of the year — but not, we hasten to
add, to the Reporter previewer, who
called it for "box-office."
August slumped off because, as we
warned you, of the way those boys pile
up the big pictures for September and
October. September got under way
with a rattling piece of box office mer-
chandise— even if it didn't cause raves
as a picture — "Too Much Harmony."
Then it gave us our first American
glimpse of Lilian Harvey in "My
Weakness," pretty well received,
though the reviewer added: "It will
take maneuvering for a picture or two
to find just what characterization this
little lady needs." (Perhaps Jesse
Lasky found the answer when he
bobbed up in December with "I Am
Suzanne." )
But September really got into its
stride with "Henry the Eighth,"
"Bombshell," the long-awaited "The
Bowery," "I'm No Angel" and "The
Invisible Man."
If you think that is choking box of-
fices, just calm yourself. We're skip-
ping a lot in that month that are bet-
ter left unsung.
January should have given us a tip
on the heartaches of putting radio fa-
vorites on the screen, for back at the
start of the year we had Kate Smith in
"Hello Everybody" — but neverthe-
less we had to look at Ed Wynn in
"The Chief" and Jack Pearl in "Meet
the Baron" late in September. Per-
haps we'll learn something or other
from them.
October? Ogeeoboy! In the order in
which they came: "A Man's Castle,"
"Prizefighter and the Lady," "Eski-
mo," "Only Yesterday," "Little Wo-
men." Put those on your list for one
month's bookings, Mr. Exhibitor.
But October has to blush, too — it
gave us "Hoopla," and a disappoint-
ment when we saw what they had cho-
sen for Dorothy Wieck's first, "Cra-
dle Song."
November started us off with laughs
with "Duck Soup" and gave us both
laughs and drama — and music, too —
in "Dancing Lady." But picture mak-
ers still had a hangover of good product
from October, for the turkey month
also brought "Counsellor-at-Law" and
"Gallant Lady," two great bits of pic-
ture craftsmanship, and that three-ring
circus of showmanship — "Roman
Scandals."
And November brought that puzzle
of picture-making, "Alice in Wonder-
land, ' which let us down a bit after
so much anticipation.
Your memory is probably still too
fresh on the score to need recounting
of the glories with which December
faded out — "Going Hollywood,"
"Queen Christina," "Moulin Rouge"
and "I Am Suzanne. "
Looking
Ahead
A Forecast of the
Newspaper Headlines
For 1934
by
HOWARD J. GREEN
1934
Jan. 1. Bigger and Better Pictures
Predicted for 1934.
Jan 6 Paramount Takes "Bengal Lan-
cer" Off Shelf.
Jan. 1 3. Winfield Sheehan Out?
Jan. 17. Hays Bans All Salacious Pic-
tures.
Jan. 23. "Private Life of Casanova
To Be Filmed.
Jan. 26. Kent Says Sheehan Remains
Fox Boss.
Feb. 3. Academy Reported Folding
Up.
Feb. 7. Lasky Slated to Head Univer-
sal.
Feb. 15. Academy Takes New Lease
on Life at Annual Awards Dinner.
Feb. 17. Professor Lowell Reaffirms
Resignation from Code Authority.
Feb. 19. Jones and McNutt on "Ben-
gal Lancer."
Feb. 26. Raft Objects to Dialogue m
Filth Film.
March 2. "Rover Boys" Bought by
Paramount for Raft.
March 7, Sheehan Through, Is Re-
port.
March 16. Lasky Slated to Head
R-K-0.
March 20. Agent Socks Star on Nose
at Colony Club.
March 23. Hollywood Must Cut
Down Expenses, Declare N. Y.
Heads.
March 28. Academy's Funeral Near.
April 2. Rosenblatt Declares Lowell
Still on Code Authority.
April- 5. Sheehan Cleans House at
Fox.
April 18. ^cademy Elects New
Members.
April 21. M-C-M Buys Race Track
Yarn.
April 23. Warners-First National To
Shoot Turf Classic, "The Life of Tod
Sloan."
April 26. R-K-0 Filming "jockey
Club."
April 28. Columbia Puts "Phar Lap"
Into Production.
April 30. Fox Remaking "Checkers"
Under Title of "Racing Blood."
May 4. Producers Agree to Make No
More Pictures in Cycles.
May 7. Universal Announces Epic,
"Days of '49."
May 8. "Gold-Rush Gertie" Starts at
Twentieth Century.
May 9. Paramount Changes Title of
"Vigilante" to "Cold In Them Thar
Hills."
May 18. M-C-M Cuts Writing Staff
to Bone; Only 162 Remain on Pay-
roll.
May 25. Walter de Leon Assigned to
"Bengal Lancer."
May 29. Star Socks Producer on
Nose at Vendome.
June 1. Increased Activity, in Studios
Cheers Hollywood.
June 9. Doug Fairbanks Returning to
Hollywood.
June 11. Major Studios Shut Down
for Eight Weeks.
June 17. Waldemar Young Writing
"Bengal Lancer."
June 20. Lowell Absent from Code
Authority Meeting — Resignation
Tendered.
June 28. Producer Socks Director on
Nose at Malibu.
June 30. Doug Fairbanks Staying
Abroad.
July 3. Lasky To Be Head Man at
Fox; Sheehan on Skids.
July 7. New York Heads Declare
Hollywood Must Economize.
July 10. Screen Writers Guild At-
tacks Academy.
July 16. Chaplin Goes Talkie.
July 19. Academy Attacks Screen
Writers Guild.
July 21. Sheehan Outlines New Fox
Policy.
July 26. Chaplin Will Stick to Pan-
tomime in Next Film.
Aug. 6. Director Socks Writer on
Nose at Clover Club.
Aug. 10. "We Are Still Best of
Friends," Says Divorced Star.
Aug. 13. "U. A. Will Make Specials
Only" — Schenck.
Aug. 20. Eastern Bosses War on
Hollywood Extravagance.
Aug. 29. U. A. Exchanges Demand
Fifty Programmers Next Year.
Sept. 3. Bankers Demand Sheehan
Quit Fox.
Sept. 9. No More Musicals, Declare
Production Heads.
Sept. 13. Studios on Hunt for Origi-
nals to Cut Down Story Cost.
Sept. 16. M-G-M Buys New George
Kaufman Play for $150,000.
Sept. 22. Chorus Girls Needed for
Musicals Now in Production.
Sept. 30. Warners Dickering for
Lasky.
Oct. 2. Writer Socks Executive on
Nose at Mayfair.
Oct. 10. Stars Unnecessary, Says J.
L. Warner.
Oct. 14. Paramount Shelves "Bengal
Lancer."
Oct. 19. Warners Raiding Majors for
More Stars.
Oct. 28. Academy Singing Swan
Song.
Nov. 5 Rumor Puts Lasky Back at
Paramount As Big Chief.
Nov. 10. Winfield Sheehan Signs
New Fox Contract with Added
Power.
Nov. 15. No Truth in Lowell Resig-
nation from Code Authority.
Nov. 21 . Exchanges Put Ban on Dou-
ble Features.
Nov. 25. Garbo Deserting U. S. For-
ever.
Nov. 27. Big Theatre Chain Goes for
Double Features.
Dec. I. M-G-M Signs Garbo on New
Deal.
Dec. 4. Movie Stars Prohibited from
Radio Broadcasting.
Dec. 7. No More Squandering in
Hollywood, Say N. Y. Execs.
Dec. 1 5. Harlow, Cagney and Die-
trich Sign for National Network
Programs.
Dec. 23. Academy Appoints 1935
Awards Committee.
Dec. 27. "Bengal Lancer" Off Shelf
for Rewrite at Paramount.
Dec. 31. Bigger and Better Pictures
Predicted for 1935.
it
ELIZABETH AND MARY
By ADRIAN JOHNSON
99
it
LITTLE MAN WHAT NOW ?
By HANS FALLADA
yi
n
IF I WAS RICH'
By Wm. ANTHONY McGUIRE
ti
AMERICAN SCOTLAND YARD
By COURTENAY TERRETT and ABEN KANDEL
91
"PRACTICAL JOKER "
By Wm. ANTHONY McGUIRE
THE MAN WHO RE
i<
By
or 1934
f^f^r/.f^i'-
tt
GLAMOUR
B/ EDNA FERBER
ff
it
THE HUMAN SIDE
By CHRISTINE AMES
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tt
BACHELOR WIFE"
By HARRY SEGALL
(<
COUNTESS OF MONTE CRISTO"
By WALTER REISCH
tt
TODAY WE LIVE "
By EDWARD SLOMAN
:laimed his head-
man BART
Carl LaemmlcSr.
Carl Laemmlejr.
di
Now It
Can Be
Told
by
SAM WOOD
N
OW that the shaking, the shiver-
ing, and the trennbling within direc-
torial oxfords has ceased, the story of
the charge of the stage brigade over
the mountains from Broadway can be
told. The shock troops from the Ri-
alto have withdrawn. The siege has
ended, and the last rumble of the ter-
rific attack has died. The host of le-
gitimate directors, the illegitimate
song writers and the marching hordes
of boys with big ideas and small brains
have returned to their rightful prov-
ince, leaving their maimed and
wounded to find jobs as real estate
salesmen.
The old guard, consisting of sup-
posedly roughly trained and crudely
armed silent picture directors, cheer
and shout, wave their tattered banners
o'er the ramparts of Hollywood and
murmur, into their cuffs, so the execu-
tives won't hear — "We told you so!"
What an attack it was!
On the defense were those who had
served so many years so silently (I beg
your pardon) and well — those who
had produced such pictures as "The
Covered Wagon," "The Four Horse-
men of the Apocalypse," "The Birth
of a Nation," "The King of Kings,"
"Ben Hur" and a few other minor cin-
ematic playthings. The only thing
these poor chaps knew was motion
picture technique! They were armed
only with reputations, and those
didn't count because Hollywood
changes its mind so quickly.
The attacking band was well arm-
ed. It was fortified with contracts,
with options, with great ideas, with
sales talks, and with stage technique.
Show producers how to make talking
pictures? Of course they would.
Someone had spoken through a lit-
tle black box called a mic-ro-phone,
someone else had geared the sound to
celluloid, and a third party to the crime
had started a projection machine. The
result was ghastly, but that was the
excuse for the invasion of the quiet
and somnolent film capital by the
Broadway band. Or should we say
bands?*
Did the directors of silent pictures
tremble, and were they frightened?
Yes, I regret to say, they were. Did
they wonder about the grocery bills
and the installments on the car, and
the scarcity of positions in other lines
of business? Yes, they did.
Will they now confess that when
those they had counted on refused to
rally 'round the flag for them they be-
came faint hearted and almost sur-
rendered? Oh, no. Not in the main.
In a few isolated instances, yes.
I must admit that when I first ob-
served the vast tumult on the eastern
horizon I became alarmed. I knew
that Hollywood had a new thing-a-ma-
jig called sound, which it didn't know
how to run and I didn't think I and the
rest of the local boys did.
Now, a survey reveals that there
was no reason to become excited and
throw away all this motion picture
technique and climb the nearest tree.
It reveals many directors did exactly
the right thing when they braced
themselves and did not run, not to
mention walk, to the nearest exit. In
all of Hollywood, few directors of
stage fame remain and dialogue is
quieting down now and then to give
Old Man Action a chance in the
scripts. Those- who have survived are
deserving, having earned their diploma
through achievements. They produced
results instead of brays.
I must confess that for a while we
were worried. Hollywood joined the
stage directors and axes started swing-
ing. The most used word, as far as
we could hear, when we entered the
administration buildings, was "out-
side."
We divided, at this point, into two
factions within ourselves. One fac-
tion sat up on its haunches and fought
back. It resented the invasion. It
refused to accept the stage directors.
It stormed and raved and felt insulted
and tossed up jobs galore. I didn't
belong to that faction. I'm glad.
They're still out.
My group got together and held a
council of war. We decided that the
stage directors could teach us a great
many things. When an executive
sent seventeen "enemies" to watch
over our shoulders and tell us what we
were doing wrong, we listened and we
made notes. We learned things.
A frank confession, this. I admit,
right now, that we were both scared
and studious. I admit further that we
learned a lot of things which helped
us greatly. And then, asked Little Red
Riding Hood, what happened^
We found that it was far easier for
motion picture directors to absorb the
technique of the stage, and to know
what to do with sound, than it was
for stage directors to use pantomime
as we had learned to use it.
The result is obvious. The stage
directors, not willing or able to learn
about pantomime from the silent lads,
found their options lying down on
them, and one by one they retreated
over the hills of Hollywood.
And, just as rapidly as the Broad-
wayites fell back in disorder toward
Broadway, former directors found
themselves back on payrolls, more di-
rectorial than ever before. Today, the
microphone is no longer a mystery. In-
stead of being frightened, the old
timers march right up to it and say,
"Hey, you, do this!" or "Hey, you, do
that!" And the microphone does this
and that more skillfully all the time,
and talking pictures get better and
better.
Not only does the microphone im-
prove; the writers improve too. They
imorove by leaving out a lot of words
which aren't needed, so that the old
timers can get in pantomime and ac-
tion and background and beauty and
depth which the stage never can have
because of physical limitations.
Why should we sacrifice these at-
tributes and produce along the lines
of stage technique when they are the
only things which make us different
from the stage?
There's the answer. Producers are
again making motion pictures. The
few stage directors who remain have
won their spurs; have proven real
sports and instead of a superior atti-
tude, stand ready to pat you on the
back for a timely suggestion, to which
they are always open. Hail to those
who overcame almost insurmountable
obstacles. The hatchet is buried.
All's quiet along the directorial
front!
Season's
Greetings
f
rom
ROY DEL RUTH
Warner Brothers Director
1933 PRODUCTIONS
"BLESSED EVENT"
"CAPTURED"
"LITTLE GIANT"
"BUREAU OF MISSING PERSONS"
"EMPLOYEES ENTRANCE"
"LADY KILLER"
"UPPERWORLD"
Critics
And
Previews
by
WINIFRED
AYDELOTTE
P
ITY THE POOR CRITIC!
All his life long he is on a spot, and
a particularly difficult spot.
Consider: A preview of "Scarlet Mo-
ment" is about to be shown at the
Blitz theater. The house is packed . . .
with studio executives, actors, stars,
relatives, and just plain audience. And
somewhere, lost in the cinemaddening
shuffle, is a poor little average guy,
with a family to support and a funny
way of doing it; who looks to the stu-
dio that made "Scarlet Moment" like
a limp worm and to the Great Amer-
ican Public like a prophet, and who is
expected by his editor to be omnis-
cient.
It is his job, in the eighty minutes
that it takes the film to unroll before
his weary eyes, to pick out all the
flaws and faults, all the excellences
and dramatic heights, over which a
hundred minds have argued and strug-
gled for a month. In a little over an
hour he must, with Olympian percep-
tion and no hesitation, assimilate and
digest a dramatic meal that has taken
weeks to prepare, and then be able in
a moment to translate his burps of
indigest:ion or pleasure into language
that will be neither over nor under the
head of the public.
In a way, the task is impossible. In
another way, it is simple. If the critic
can lose his individuality, submerge his
personal likes and dislikes, and become
merely an interested part of the audi-
ence, he can turn an intelligent thumb
down on a production or tell the Mr.
and Mrs. Jones of America where to go
for an evening's entertainment. For,
until the screen reaches the artistic
strata of, for example, sculpture, its
simple, pure raison d'etre is entertain-
ment.
Criticism is not introspective — or it
shouldn't be. It is merely the mental
ability of the critic to allow the public
to stand back of his typewriter while
he phrases the OK or the NG that will
direct the destinies of millions of two-
bit pieces.
Therefore, although the importance,
both constructive and destructive, of
the critic is undeniable, his position is
extremely controversial. It must seem
unfair to the producer that the fate of
his brain child, over which he has
labored in great agony of spirit for so
long, can be disposed of with such
abrupt finality by a nod or shake of an
empty (bethinks) head. After weeks
and weeks of heart-breaking struggle,
of re-writing, changing, cutting, add-
ing, subtracting, and other pains in the
neck, the producer proudly and fondly
offers the result of his genius to the
public. To him, it is finished. It
represents his all. It is as nearly per-
fect as he can get it. He beams with
pride as scene melts into scene.
The critic realizes all this, and, be-
cause he does, it is proof that his opin-
ions leap from a springboard which is
embedded in honesty, consideration
and tolerance. The critic has no rea-
son to "yes" anyone. He has no strings
to pull, no log to roll, and nobody to
please but his own conscience.
His opinions may be right or wrong,
constructive or destructive, but they
are honestly designed to HELP. He
goes to a preview neutrally sitting on
a fence, as it were, prepared to jump
on either side. And it is entirely up to
the picture which way he jumps.
Nothing pushes him — except the mer-
its or faults of the film.
Going to previews is an exciting,
nerve-wracking, earnest procedure, en-
livened by the gambling element. It
just MIGHT be a good picture! There
is not a critic in the world who goes to
a preview without high hope in his
heart. Anticipation is the keynote of
a critic's life, which is why he doesn't
live very long. The resultant frequent
emotional let-down keeps him in such
a constant state of jitters that his ner-
vous system usually cracks under the
strain to the dismay of his paper and
the joy of the producers.
Critics should be treated always
with the utmost consideration, for
their lot is a hard one, filled with
lights, crowds, stuffy theaters, double
features, watery eyes, doubting edit-
ors, peeved producers, yes men, dead-
lines, ancient typewriters, late hours,
and a general, disheartening feeling
that their opinions read like a moronic
stutter. The lot of the friends of a
critic, incidentally, is even harder, be-
ing subjected to a habitual critical
probing, and the lot of a critic's family
is deplorable.
However, try to realize what the
show world would be without the crit-
ics. With no sincere and thoughtful
tips on what to see and what not to
see, the human race, always skeptical
of blind dates, would finally become
completely un-show-conscious; thea-
ters would disintegrate into musty
sawdust; Hollywood would become a
wilderness; weeds would grow over the
studio lots; little chipmunks would
perch unconcernedly in executives' of-
fices; snakes would coil comfortably in
the reception halls; rabbits would
make their burrows in the prop rooms,
and the film capital of the world would
lie in tinseled ruins.
And the critic — where would he be?
With his poor, watery eyes, he would
be poking around in the glittering
debris of what once was Hollywood,
picking up little strips of film and
muttering at them.
O L I DAY
GREETINGS
BESS MEREDYTH
MICHAEL CURTIZ
.k
A Supervisor's
Best Friend Is
His Mother
by
ROBERT LORD
I
w
OULDNT YOU like to be a
supervisor? Wouldn't YOU like to
take ads in the motion picture trade
papers calling yourself an "associate
producer"? Wouldn't YOU like to
have double doors on your private of-
fice and two secretaries in the outer
office? Wouldn't YOU like to have
your lunch in the executives' private
dining room?
Of course you would. And it's easy.
Any unhealthy male adult who is grow-
ing a little bald and who will take the
trouble to memorize the following
simple but effective little phrases can
translate himself from an airless cu-
bicle in writers' row to a large, spa-
cious, sumptuous, tastefully furnished
suite in the Main Administration
Building-
I •
"We had dinner at the Vendome
about half past nine. Then we dropped
over to the Colony Club. I shot crap
and lost fifteen hundred bucks, but
I'll get it back tomorrow night." . . .
"We need a couple of new writers on
this story." . . . "I've worked every
night for the past three weeks." . . .
"We'd better send to New York for
somebody to play this part. There
ain't an actor out here who can do it."
. . . "It'll be a terrific box office smash
after we cut out about thirty-five hun-
dred feet." . . . "The dialogue is flat.
We got to rewrite it." . . . "Tell him
to wait. I'll see him as soon as I
can." . . . "Be sure and shoot a lot of
closeups." . . . "We'll get that over
with a series of newspaper inserts."
. . . "My nervous indigestion is getting
much worse." . . . "Tell her to come
up to my office about eleven tomor-
row night."
"We positively must start shooting
a week from Tuesday, so you have five
days to rewrite the whole script." . . .
"Gee, I saw a grand picture last night.
All you'd have to do is switch the story
from a farm to a fishing village and we
could go right into production." . . .
"I don't like it." ... "I just got a hot
inside tip on American Waffle Batter.
I'm going to buy myself a couple of
thousand shares and get back what I
dropped on United States Fertilizer."
. . . "The writers got the story all
balled up but I straightened them
out." ... "I didn't have time to read
the book but I read a synopsis."
"The director didn't know how to
shoot it but I showed him." . . . "Re-
member, Joe, I predicted that months
ago. " . . . "I've got terrible sinus trou-
ble." . . . "Did I get stinkin' at Harry's
party last night!" . . . "Can't we get
some writers from New York or Lon-
don? There ain't a writer on this
coast who's got any real feeling." . . .
"Let's make a lot of tests for this pic-
ture. ' . . . "Ernest Hemingway? Never
heard of him." . . . "It was an artistic
success but it died at the box office."
. . . "We need a new ending." . . .
"We'll fix it in the cutting." . . . "Leo,
score in a beautiful love theme under
all the love scenes." . . . "Whatever
he says his salary is, offer him half."
"The dialogue ain't funny enough.
It didn't make me laugh." . . . "I'm
going to Palm Springs over the week-
end." ... "I only read the first ten
pages but I know it's got to be re-
written." . . . "We can't take a chance
on this part. We got to have a big
name." . . . "Let's make a gigantic
musical picture." . . . "Just say you're
a friend of Sam and she'll come to the
phone." ... "I gave him the chance
to direct his first picture." . . . "My
wife is sore because I haven't been
home to dinner in four months." . . .
"Sure — a Rolls-Royce. It's only been
run fifty thousand miles and I can get
it for peanuts. " . . . "I'm going to New
York to look over the new shows."
. . . "We need more comedy. How
would it be to write in a Swedish jani-
tor?"
•
It's as simple as that, litle kiddies.
Just memorize the above phrases and
pretty soon every agent in the com-
munity will be sending you congratula-
tory telegrams on your birthday.
j
1
AUSTIN PARKER
•
Management
SELZNICK - JOYCE
LELAND HAYWARD
Good
Chinese
Earth
b/
LEONARD FIELDS
A,
FTER eighteen months in China,
during which I witnessed the Japanese
occupation of Shanghai, the firing on
Tientsin, the attempted occupation of
Peiping, the Rose Bowl Came in Man-
churia (score Japan everything, China
• nothing) and then a trip completely
across China from Shanghai to Chinese
Turkestan, I am ready to submit my
memoirs: "Thru the Dark Continent
with camera and sound truck" or
i "How to go places without doing
things," a sequel to "The Rollo Boys
Cet Their Laundry Done."
Can they get Good Earth in China?
You're asking, so I'm telling. A tree
is a tree and earth is earth, good, bad
or indifferent. All I know is what I
see in the papers and I understand that
a company is going over there, so for
the uninitiated I am offering a glos-
sary of words and things to watch for.
Cumshaw: Learn this word, for it is
the most used word in the Chinese
language. It simplifies the crossing
of the palm with gold. A quaint old
gypsy custom. The gyp still remains.
The occidental often confuses this
word with graft or bribe, but the Chi-
nese meaning is gift. It might also
mean a donation to a museum or li-
brary. It might?
Hoochow: A passport that doesn't
pass or a permit that doesn't permit.
China has a recognized central govern-
ment that no one in China recognizes.
Every local big shot issues a Hoochow
that is honored only by the local big
shot. In return for this favor you
meet up with our old friend Cumshaw
(see above). Occasionally the pass-
port is honored by the next guy, but
before he puts his stamp on it — more
Cumshaw.
Now for the sake of argument, as-
suming that we have secured our hoo-
chows, or permits, let's pass on and
meet the Local Hays Organization.
Don't be afraid that you might miss
him and run into difficulties. He'll
find you and bring the difficulties with
him.
1 . Government representative on set
while every shot is taken.
2. Don't show quaint old customs.
Bad propaganda. China is pro-
gressing.
3. Don't show Rickshaws. Shows
Chinaman as beast of burden.
Velly bad.
4. Don't show poverty. All Chinese
in picture must be well dressed
and look well fed.
5. Don't shoot this location now.
Wait till next summer when flow-
ers are in bloom, China must look
nice on screen,
6. Don't show Chinese fighting.
Young Chinese must be brought up
with no fear of pain or death and
be ready to lay down their lives for
China.
7. Don't show bound feet despite the
fact that they are still prevalent.
8. 9, 10, etc. Never mind what story
says or what conditions actually
are. Rest of world must see that
China has new deal allee samee
like Amelica.
To insure this every foot of film
must be developed and printed in
China to assure the government that
everything is on the up and up. Some-
times the inspector will turn his head
if you go for that "Cumshaw busi-
ness." The inspectors are like relatives
in Hollywood. You trip over them.
Now that we have met up with the
censor board let's pass to the man in
the street. Don't sneer at him. He
might work in your picture as an extra,
but after all you're in his back yard and
you are the foreigner. The lowest
coolie has a deep seated feeling of
superiority over the occidental and a
hatred for foreigners. He doesn't care
if you are a supervisor. He knows bet-
ter and has his own way of doing
things, and if you don't like his way
go back where you came from.
Is it any wonder that I am now pre-
paring to direct "Manhattan Love
Song"? If I had my way I'd change
the title to "America, I Love You!"
But, after all, it's expecting a lot to
get pictures from a country where you
can't even get a good bowl of Chop
Suey.
Christmas
In
Hollywood
by
RIAN JAMES
T
HE Editor of The Reporter can
think of more damned things! Here
we are worrying about will Aunt Emily
smack our puss because we sent her a
wine hamper, when cotton nighties are
more up her Alley, and what kind of
underwear does our favorite flicker
star wear, or will she think we're get-
ting fresh, and what do you do when
you live in an apartment and a lady pup
goes feminine on you, and along comes
the Reporter and nothing will do but
you have to write an article on Christ-
mas in Hollywood!
All right, so we'll write an article on
Christmas in Hollywood. Let 'em
knock the other guy's pictures! We'll
write an article to end all articles!
Christmas in Hollywood is like a Sid
Grauman Premiere, only longer, and
that is SO possible! Christmas in Hol-
lywood is bounded on the north by
Vine Street, and on the south by the
Gotham delicatessen, which sells swell
noodle soup! Christmas in Hollywood
is like Christmas in Hohokus, Herki-
mer, or South Bend, only you don't
wear galoshes!
Christmas in Hollywood is Bill Pow-
ell rushing up the Boulevard with a
Scotty under one arm and a shopping
list under the other, and eighty-seven
Duesenbergs parked outside Bullock's
Wilshire! It's a holiday at Warner
Brothers, and Manna for the local lens
lads, who take the same pictures they
took on Thanksgiving, only now the
stock girls are up on ladders massaging
Christmas wreaths instead of Turkeys!
It's that happy time of year when
Santa Claus, accompanied by Muriel
Window, goes tootling gaily down the
Boulevard, driving a pair of synthetic
reindeer, atop a dazzling float, and the
genial Andy Devine tells the local col-
umnists what he's going to say on his
Christmas cards, to surprise his friends,
who evidently never believe what they
read in the papers.
It's another series of turkey table-
d'hotes at the Brown Derby, and Al
Levy's, and a chance for the Vendome
to make the town's mouth water with
its swank collection of Fortnum and
Mason-ries.
Christmas in Hollywood is a long
series of complicated explanations to
your niece from Connecticut as to how
Santa Claus can percolate through a
gas heater, and why he's passed up the
sled for Wally Beery's red biplane, and
lapsing into a semi-bitter mood be-
cause you've already got enough slip-
pers for a centipede, and didn't you
tell her fourteen times it was a shoot-
ing jacket you wanted!
It's a day of joy for the local col-
umnists, who do a lot better than we
used to do back in Brooklyn, where
they still send Christmas cards — only,
and a push-over for the local news-
paper cartoonists, who have nothing to
do but dig up last year's cartoon show-
ing a poor kid leading a bent old wo-
man in a shawl past a swanky restau-
rant window with a big turkey in it. I
Usually the caption reads: "Don't you
worry. Grandma, Papa will come
back!"
Christmas in Hollywood is an ex-
cuse for Victorville, and Oxnard, and
Twenty-nine Palms to put on their
sombreros and get out their model T's
and come clanking to town, spurred
and booted, and ready for anything,
and the only time of year a husband
can buy a diamond bracelet for his
wife, and tell the world about it — in
advance!
Christmas in Hollywood is happy
and hectic and festive and gay and ex-
pensive, as where in hell isn't it.
But, above all, Christmas in Holly-
wood this year is the day on which the
man in the street, happy in an NRA
job, can be grateful to the President,
and the man in the street, with a
snootful, can be grateful to the Presi-
dent, too! And that's that . . . and
we hope you had a very Merry Christ-
mas— and you . . . and heavens knows,
if you've read this far, you've earned
one next year.
]
The RKO
PLEDGE
To perpetuate the strength, power, and
beauty of this great industry by pouring
into its structural forms pure, fine resources
and energy ... to help others profit by
excellence of product . . . and to reap the
just rewards of such service
that
IS our
solemn pledge for 1934.
PICTURES
MERIAN C. COOPER
Executive Producer
iKO. RADIO PICTUi^E, {gcTlON
'£&:
^:.'
HOLIDAY
GREETINGS
JOHN
CROMWELL
Current Release
"TRIGGER"
with
Katharine Hepburn
In Production
'TRANSIENT LOVE"
Irene Dunne
Constance Cummings
^I^^O RADIO P'CTunEj (ECTION
COMPLIMENTS
OF THE SEASON
ERNEST
SCHOEDSACK
■^■^O RADIO P'CTUREI (
"KING KONG"
". o*Lu
SEASON'S
GREETINGS
GEORGE
ARCHAINBAUD
Current Release . . .
"RODNEY"
America's First Exclusive
Army Production starring
WALTER HUSTON
supported by a cast of
United States Army Staff
and Field Officers
£■^0 RADIO ""CTUi^Ej (ECTION
MY VERY
BEST WISHES
LO U
BROCK
^
J
Producer
FLYING DOWN TO RIO"
"MELODY CRUISE"
■^■^O RADIO ""CTUREf {ECTION
(?;
tm
SEASON'S
GREETINGS
WILLIAM
S E
A.
T E R
Directing
"SO YOU WONT SING, EH?"
f^KO. RADIO P'CTUi^Ej jECTION
SEASON'S
GREETINGS
B E N
HOLMES
DIRECTOR
CLARK and McCULLOUCH
Comedies
KENNEDY-GRIBBON
Comedies
HEADLINERS
Comedies
RKO-RADIO PRODUCTIONS
Produced by Louis Brock
m
■^KO RADIO P'CTUREflECTlON
's^^gm
Isa
SEASON'S
GREETINGS
MARK
SANDRICH
"ACCIE APPLEBY"
"MELODY CRUISE"
and
'HIPS HIPS HOORAY"
with
WHEELER and WOOLSEY
PRKO. RADIO PICTURE, (ECTION
ELLIOTT
NUGENT
Director of
"WILD BIRDS"
(Tentative Title)
R^KO. i^ys^DlO P'CTUiVEf fECT
TOM
BROWN
Remember "Brown of Culver"!
as ADAM in
^^ W I L D BIRDS"
(Tentative Title)
■S'
!>«»'
JEAN
PARKER
the immortal Beth of
"LITTLE WOMEN"
Now as MAZIE in
WILD BIRDS"
w
(Tentative Title)
t^2. RADIO ""CTUREt (ECTION
PAUL
NICHOLSON
DAN
TOTHEROH
Wrote the pla/ of
WILD BIRDS
w
II
Tentative Title)
■^■^O RADIO PICTURE. (ECTION
JOSEPHINE
LOVETT
\ \
SCREEN PLAY
WILD BIRDS
/ /
(Tentative Title)
Joseph Moncure
MARCH
PO RADIO PICTURE, (ECTION
DAVE
LEWIS
Associate Producer
"HEADLINE SHOOTER"
"BLIND ADVENTURE'
"WILD BIRDS"
(Tentative Title)
IN PREPARATION
"Sfingaree"
"Three Came Unarmed"
"Crime Doctor"
(Richard Dix)
"Hide In the Dark"
•'One Woman's Life"
HOLIDAY
GREETINGS
JANE
MURFIN
R.K.O.- Radio Studios
I^KO RADIO P'CTUi^Ef lECT
ION
^'"V^'
PRODUCTI ONS
NOT
PREDICTIONS
Great pictures that insure a prosperous 1934 season .... and
exemplify the sincerity of this RKO-Radio Pictures slogan.
Two ready for release
Katharine Hepburn in
* "LITTLE WOMEN"
* "FLYING DOWN TO RIO"
In the making
Francis Lederer . . new star sensation
* "MAN OF TWO WORLDS"
Leslie Howard
^ "OF HUMAN BONDAGE"
Katharine Hepburn
* "TRIGGER"
Ann Harding
* "ALIEN CORN"
John Barrymore
in George Bernard Shaw's first screen play
if "THE DEVILS DISCIPLE"
James Durante
* "STRICTLY DYNAMITE"
Irene Dunne
* "TRANSIENT LOVE '
Victor MacLaglen and 12 stars
* "THE LOST PATROL"
Wheeler and Woolsey
^ "HIPS, HIPS, HOORAY"
mz
MERIAN C. COOPER
Executive Producer
I^KO. RADIO P'CTUREf {
Things
That
Worry Me
by
EDGAR ALLAN WOOLF
D
O YOU ever wake up in the mid-
dle of the night and start to worry
about the darndest things? I do. I
don't know whether I'm neurasthenic
or not, but the other night I couldn't
go to sleep from two till four — just
worrying how a man happens to be-
come a trombone player.
At first I thought to myself — well,
when he's born his mother looks at
him lovingly and says to her husband:
"Wilhelm. wouldn't it be wonderful
if we could bring little Hans up to be
a trombone player?" But then I start-
ed to reason things out, and I saw that
that couldn't be the way that trom-
bone virtuosos are conceived. Because,
In the first place, let us say the mother
end of the conception DID say: "Wil-
helm, wouldn't it, etc., etc." Where
could the father find the boy a trom-
bone teacher?
Oh, that kept me awake for hours.
Take Hollywood for instance! Now
you'll see all kinds of signs in the win-
dows— "Piano Taught Here" — "Violin
Taught Here" — "Screen Voices Devel-
oped"— "High Colonics"— but you'll
never see "Trombone Taught Here."
About three a.m. I got the happy
idea that maybe the child takes natur-
ally to the large wind instrument be-
cause of his father having been a wind
instrumentalist before him. But then
I remembered something I had heard
from a psycho-analyst, who substituted
for a palmist at a large, fashionable
party last year. He said that the trom-
bone player acquires such an affection
for his instrument — because of its
hanging around his neck so much —
that he loses all his taste for women.
Well, that disproved my three a.m.
theory, inasmuch as you have to start
tromboning very young, or you'd never
start it at all,^ — so by the time the
young man is ready to have children —
if he doesn't like women — well, he's
just out of luck, that's all.
I finally gave the problem up, but
I've referred it to our Research Depart-
ment here. They're wiring to New
York for some data — and I'm hoping
the mystery will be solved.
You'll laugh at me, I know, when I
tell you what kept me awake last
night. I just kept worrying and wor-
rying why there were so many "Cat
and Dog Hospitals" in Hollywood. I
think we have even more of them than
cases of appendicitis.
Now, I don't recall ever seeing a
"Cat and Dog Hospital" in New York.
Surely it can't be fhe lovely climate
out here, that wears the animals down.
And Hollywood cats and dogs don't
smoke, or have any other bad habits
to weaken them. What can it be?
The strangest thing about it all is that
most of the animals hereabouts die
naturally by being run over! And yet
nearly every block has a "C and D H."
I asked an ace director about it, and
he said that there were more dogs out
here than in New York. Now I know
better than to doubt an ace director,
but I happen to have counted the
apartment houses on 55th Street in
New York, and on that one street
there are 9,762 apartment houses. I
found that in every apartment house
on that block there are twelve kept
women. That makes 117,144 retain-
ed ladies. Now every retained lady
has two Pekinese dogs — so that on one
street in New York alone there are
234,288 dogs. So you see New York
must outdog us. I can't work the
whole thing out!
These are just my big worries, but
I have a whole raft of smaller ones.
For instance:
How far must the male avocado tree
be from the female avocado tree to
produce fruit that the mother can be
proud of? My tree started off the
season last Spring with thirteen chil-
dren, and not one lived long enough
to become a salad!
And then at what does our charming
First Lady of the Land always laugh so
heartily on all her photos? Surely no
one could be THAT happy.
And . . . oh, yes ... do supervisors
get ALL their phone calls when I'm
reading a scene to them?
Then I often worry why gangsters
in this country aren't kind enough to
kidnap the men who write our radio
dialogue. Can you imagine the reward
they could get for NOT returning
them?
What becomes of all the tonsils re-
moved in Hollywood? And are they
always tonsils?
Here's a real worry — why doesn't
someone make a Yiddish version of the
"Three Little Pigs" for release in Ger-
many?
Wouldn't you lie awake nights if
you owned Pico, and knew that dogs in
the neighborhood had designs to de-
stroy her prestige as "The Virgin of
Hollywood"?
Oh, Life is just a bowl of worries!
i^
E L YS I A'
WISHES EVERYONE
A MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
-O-
FOY PRODUCTIONS
LEW COLDER
BRYAN FOY
BEN STOLOFF
On
The Firing
Line
by
JAMES R. GRAINGER
I SUPPOSE a sales manager request-
ed to write a few words for The Holly-
wood Reporter would be displaying
wisdom if he were to gently but firm-
ly decline. For Hollywood does not al-
ways take so kindly to either words or
whole speeches from any one labeled
with that .crude commercial word
"Sales."
But pictures have to be SOLD. And
the men who sell them have to know
THEIR trade. So, in the same spirit
with which you would bear with a sug-
gestion from the camera man or the
electrician, bear with me.
You'll HAVE to bear with the sales
managers this year. And how!
For this business is right back where
it started from, down to hardpan, to
scratching and digging. And it is up
to Hollywood to learn all it can about
the change that has taken place, and
to profit by the knowledge. It is es-
sential, if we are to continue to live
in this great business.
First of all, let me tell you that the
successful sales manager is on the FIR-
ING LINE this year — right out there
in the front line trenches. He is rid-
ing the Pullmans, traveling the high-
ways and the byways AND HE HAS
TO.
He is spending hours — and weeks —
on deals that could once be closed by
telephone; he is making a hundred
deals to gather in the same amount of
revenue that a single contract signa-
ture would formerly bring him. In
other words he is SELLING — and no
longer merely taking orders.
It was pretty soft in those five years
or more of boom times when the sales
manager sitting in one of those famous
swivel chairs in New York could set
70 per cent of his gross in HIS OWN
COMPANY'S THEATRES. And even
if his company had no theatres, it was
comparatively soft. For a mere half
dozen calls in New York, a scattered
bunch of long distance calls across the
country, and he was sitting pretty to
start his selling season.
The softness extended to exhibition.
Showmanship consisted largely of fill-
ing fifty-two or a hundred and four
dates at the beginning of the year with
bulk buys from Companies A, B and
C, charitably allowing a few surplus
dates to Companies X, Y and Z, and
then sitting back to wait for the coin
to roll in.
And why not? It was a cinch. Why
the average theatre could have kept a
standing sign on the marquee reading
"MOVING PICTURES TONIGHT"—
and packed the house.
Shed a tear for those days, then a
few more for the sales manager and
the exhibitor who faces a completely
changed condition today.
But before you give away all your
sympathy — save some for the creators
in Hollywood.
Because it is your problem, too. And
a damned serious one.
If picture theatres are not getting
the money at box offices, AND THEY
ARE NOT; if picture companies are
not getting the coin in grosses — AND
YOU CAN TAKE IT FROM ME THEY
ARE NOT — then you can also take the
whole problem and dump it right in
the lap of Hollywood.
That is where it is going to land
eventually, anyhow.
What is the problem?
The realization, first of all, that the
days of fabulous million dollar grosses
are over. The realization, secondly,
that even the days of those nice and
juicy two, three and four hundred
thousand dollar grosses on ordinary
pictures are over.
You've got to watch the dollars —
because the sales manager is digging
and scratching, and pulling and tearing
for — cents.
The margin between outgo and in-
take is thinner than a tea room sand-
wich. And only the sales manager
who is out plugging right on the firing
line is getting even that slim meal.
Those are facts, boys and girls of
Hollywood. Face them.
Do two things primarily — get down
to hard pan on expenditures, and
DON'T EVEN START the type of pic-
tures that sales experience has proven
won't get money no matter how well
you make them.
The day is gone when any company
can take a financial licking on an ar-
tistic success. There is no thick vel-
vet to spread over the flops. The day
is past when a company can smile at
a gallon of red ink on a picture and
say, "Well, it's one of those things we
have to try every now and then."
We'll continue to make pictures.
We'll continue to sell pictures. We'll
stay in business. But only those of us
will stay who realize that what goes
out of the cashier's window must come
back at the box office.
And here's to that BOX OFFICE.
For, call it an art, industry or business
— I don't care. I know that my boss,
and your boss, is that BOX OFFICE.
HENRY BLANKE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
WARNER BROTHERS - FIRST NATIONAL
.^
During 1933 -
FASHIONS OF 1934
CONVENTION CITY
LADY KILLER
EASY TO LOVE
FEMALE
I LOVED A WOMAN
BUREAU OF
MISSING PERSONS
GOODBYE AGAIN
Just Completed —
GAMBLING LADY
JOURNAL OF A CRIME
Ultimate
Consumer
HERMAN J.
MANKIEWICZ
i
I T GIVES furiously to work for weeks
and weeks and months and months on
the part of the entire creative and ex-
ecutive faculty of the modern Athens
of the Southwest. Items of whimsy,
of rousing action, of robust sentiment,
of velvet steel, of eternal poetry, of
stop-news breath lessness, of moronic
appeal, of mature worldliness, are con-
cocted for the groundlings of a waiting
nation. Hollywood rests.
•
Pittston, Pa. — The attractions for
the week ending Doomsday, February
29, at the Quirinal D'Elite, formerly
the Bijou Dream, formerly Max's, will
be: Monday night — Crab-Bag Carnival,
Bring the Kiddies, Two Features, with
Lionel Barrymore in each; Tuesday
night — Country Store, with Fox-
Hearst - Paramount - Pittston Herald
World-Post News Reel, first exclusive
showing of the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Coolidge, Be Sure to Bring the
Kiddies, Two Features, with JackOakie
in each; Wednesday night — Cet a Free
Duesenberg, Appendicitis Operation
and Apple Orchard, Two Features,
Don't Fail to Bring the Kiddies, one
without Lionel Barrymore the other
without Jack Oakie, Three Shorts, each
running well over an hour; Thursday
night — Who's Cot the Lucky Number?
All red-heads who have one blue eye
and one brown eye and were born on
September 7 admitted free. You Must
Bring the Kiddies, Two Features, one
with Lionel Barrymore, the other with
Jack Oakie; Friday night — Take a
Chance, Kiddies Very Welcome, no
guarantee about attractions, except
positively four two-year-old Walt Dis-
neys and Jack Oakie in both features;
Saturday night — Major Studio Preview
of "Beau Ceste," three news-reels
with first, exclusive showings of Hardy
Swimmers Brave Icy Waters at Coney
Island and Secretary Doakes Explains
Government's Fiscal Attitude Towards
Fargo County, North Dakota, Kiddies'
Night, Two Features, with Lionel Bar-
rymore and Jack Oakie in both. Note:
Features start regularly at supper time
and at 11.18 p.m. sharp.
Sunday — Resident Manager of the
Quirinal D'Elite, formerly the Bijou
Dream, formerly Max's, writes home
office that public is tired of costume
dramas and war pictures. Our people,
he adds further, do not care for this
sophisticated. New York stuff.
•
Clendale, Cal. — Government agents
today attached the bank account of
Cotton Mather Ginseberge, local club-
man, on a charge of failing to report
an income in excess of $250,000 for
1931 and 1932. An interesting story
was told by Field Agent Andreas Ge-
wurra as Mr. Ginseberge was being ar-
raigned.
Ginseberge, according to Gewurra,
had made a habit of lounging in the
lobby at local previews and contract-
ing bets with supervisors as they en-
tered the theatre that, despite his
never having seen the previewed at-
traction before, he could tell, when the
names of the cast were flashed on the
screen, which two people, male and fe-
male, would be in each other's arms at
the end of the picture. Ginseberge's
greatest achievement, at odds of one
to eight, was the selection of Gary
Cooper as the victor in the suit for the
hand of Miss Carole Lombard, despite
the fact that the first two reels of the
picture, with great expense of time,
money and supervisors' and writers'
ingenuity, had been devoted to a clear
exposition of the fact that Miss Lom-
bard was engaged to Bull Montana,
who had her father in his financial
power. Mr. Ginseberge, at the time,
had even insolently gone to a local
pool room at the conclusion of the first
reel, shouting loudly that he would eat
the film if the final fade-out were de-
voted to an embrace between Mons.
Montana and Mile. Lombard. He even
offered generously to regard his bet as
lost if the thing ended upon a litter of
kittens. When asked the secret of his
mysterious insight — he had already
won eight times in a row, having se-
lected Robert Montgomery as the tri-
umphant suitor for Miss Hayes over
Ralph Forbes, Marion Davies for Bing
Crosby over Fifi D'Orsay, Charles Far-
rell for Janet Gaynor over George
Stone, Janet Gaynor for Charles Farrell
over Kitty Kelly, George Brent for Ruth
Chatterton over Guy Kibbee, Douglas
Fairbanks Jr. for Katharine Hepburn
over Adolphe Menjou, William Powell
for Kay Francis over Paul Lukas, and
Bruce Cabot for Fay Wray over King
Kong — he maintained a dignified si-
lence. It will be remembered that
three cutters were fired on the charge
of having given Mr. Ginseberge inside
information, inasmuch as he could
otherwise never have guessed the so-
lution of stories all of which had been
prepared with great care and most of
which had been purchased for large
sums because of their basic novelty.
•
Sedalia, Mo. — ^The local police force
today won a hard-fought victory over
an enraged mob of picture-goers in
front of the Colombo Screen Palace
who had discovered that, on a pretext
connected with the N. R. A., the price
of admission had been increased from
ten cents to fifteen cents for an aver-
age program consisting of three fea-
ture films, four news-reels, three
shorts, six trailers and a stage show
headed by ex-President Hoover, the lie
de France and the Committee on Ad-
missions of the University of Southern
California.
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
To
Joseph M. Schenck
Darryl F. Zanuck
and their Associates
May their six-months'
old child, named
"Twentieth Century''
Break All Records and
Win All Championships
During the Coming Year
Gene and Graham
TOWNE BAKER
Tintype
of a Fellow
Acting
by
SIDNEY SKOLSKY
P
ORTRAIT of a fellow acting —
and the fellow is me.
They finally reached my scene in the
Paul Muni flicker. "Hi Nellie." Di-
rector Mervyn LeRoy gave me orders
to report on the set, ready for action,
at 9.15 in the morning.
"Hi Nellie" is a newspaper yarn.
The sequence I play in is in a speak-
easy called the Merry-Co-Round. It is
fashioned after the place in New York.
There was some question whether I
should play a newspaperman or a
drunkard.
In the beginning Mervyn didn't
want me to portray a newspaperman,
as I didn't look the part. However, I
told him that I wouldn't know how to
play a drunkard. I never take a drink.
For two weeks I tried to study the
role of a drunkard. LeRoy and Muni
took me to the Colony and Clover
Clubs. One sip of anything and I was
in a corner sleeping. When a fellow
can't play a bum in pictures he's
through. It looked as if I were
through before I started.
LeRoy, however, decided to take a
chance on me. It was the toss of a
coin that made Raft a star, it was a
nose that gave Durante more profile
than all the Barrymores together and
made him a star. It's my beard that
they're depending on to put me over.
"Take a shave," said Director Le-
Roy, "so your beard will show and
hurry over." It seems that I always
need a shave immediately after shav-
ing. LeRoy's last instructions were to
come disguised as a newspaperman.
I arrived on the speakeasy set at
9.15 in the morning practically walk-
ing in my sleep. On Broadway, just
a few hours earlier, I would be leaving.
That's Hollywood — night scenes in the
morning.
Then I was informed that Muni
wasn't going to play in the scene with
me. He was afraid I'd steal it. He
was going to assist LeRoy in directing
me. I'm the kind of an actor that
needs two directors.
Ned Sparks of the serious pan is my
straight man. I don't want to go ham
like most actors, but there's no tough-
er guy in the business to play a bit
with. He can take a scene from the
best of them. It took me half an hour
of rehearsals just to look at Sparks and
not laugh.
Here is the sequence as we played
it and as it will appear on the screen.
I am in the telephone booth in the
Merry-Co-Round. There is a shot of
me in the booth, but all you see is the
telephone and the wire. I am hidden
from view. It is a disappearing en-
trance, something new in acting.
Then Sparks, playing the role of
Shammy, a newspaperman, walks to-
ward the booth to make a phone call.
Excited I see him. I say "Hello, Sham-
my." He says "Hello, Skolsky." They
couldn't give Sparks much dialogue
here. He had a tough time remember-
ing the word Skolsky.
After this "Hello" delivered with
much feeling. Sparks gives me one of
those hard looks for which he is noted.
My smart line at this time is to say:
"What are you smiling about?" Sparks'
reply is: "Because I'm so happy." Then
I walk away muttering to myself "He's
happy." And I take out a piece of
paper and a pencil and start scribbling.
Now, I don't believe this is very
smart dialogue. I want to rewrite the
scene. There are a couple of good gags
I'd like to tell. Director LeRoy in-
forms me that the important point in
this sequence is to get Sparks into the
phone booth to keep the picture going,
and to get me out of the phone booth
and out of the picture.
I learned plenty about picture mak-
ing from my brief appearance. I dis-
covered how movie boners are made.
In fact if it wasn't for second director
Paul Muni I would have committed a
movie boner. That would have been
nice. I would have to pan myself in
my own column for making a movie
boner.
When they shot the sequence of me
walking out of the phone booth and
talking to Ned Sparks I had my coat
buttoned. It took about half an hour
to make this scene. Then the camera
and the lights had to be set for a close-
up. About fifteen minutes later I had
to do the same sequence again, but this
time stand still outside the booth as I
spoke to Sparks. This shot would be
a close-up, cut into the walking bit,
showing my face.
This is what they call acting in the
movies. Bah! When I was a star in
the legitimate — that was acting.
During the lapse of time between
scenes I had become very warm under
the lights. I opened my jacket and
had placed my handkerchief in my
lapel pocket. On the screen you
would see me — if you looked real fast
— leave the phone booth with my jac-
ket buttoned and no handkerchief.
Then you'd see me stop to talk and
my coat would be buttoned and I
would have a handkerchief. Then
you'd see me start walking and my
coat would be unbuttoned and the
handkerchief gone.
But Second Director Paul Muni no-
ticed that. I told you that I'm the
kind of an actor who needs two di-
rectors.
What a performance I give. It's so
good that I haven't had any other of-
fers. It's a shame that the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
isn't going to make its awards this sea-
son. There'd be no doubt about the
selections.
Katharine Hepburn, of course,
would get one prize — for the best male
performance of the year. And I'd get
the other for the best female perform-
ance.
Greetings
and
Sincere
Good Wishes
for th
New Year
♦
STANLEY BERGERMAN
Sidney
BLACKMER
now with
R. K.O.-RADO PCTURES
P a/ing
"MORT HOLMES"
in
"TRANS ENT LOVE"
Exc usive Management
, H. E. ED NCTON
F. W. V N C E N T
I
EW
EAR
GREETINGS
0
WILHELM
DIETERLE
EASON'S GREETINGS
To
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
and deep appreciation
to all those with whom
I have been associated
during the past year.
BUSBY BERKELEY
Coodby1933!
... a year of Paramount Musical Hits
SHE DONE HIM WRONG
A BEDTIME STORY
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
COLLEGE HUMOR
WAY TO LOVE
I'M NO ANGEL
TOO MUCH HARMONY
TORCH SINGER
DUCK SOUP
SITTING PRETTY
GIRL WITHOUT A ROOM
SONG OF SONGS
JENNIE GEPHARDT
THIS DAY AND AGE
CRADLE SONG
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
EIGHT GIRLS IN A BOAT
Wl
th Credit where Credit is due
SONG WRITERS
RALPH RAINGER
LEO ROBIN
ARTHUR JOHNSTON
SAM COSLOW
MACK GORDON
HARRY REVEL
JASON & BURTON
BROOKS-ELLISON-DuBOIS
SCORERS
ANDREA SETARO
SIGMUND KRUMGOLD
RUDOLPH KOPP
MAURICE LAWRENCE
COMPILATION, COMPOSITION
AND ORCHESTRATION
JOHN LEIPOLD
HERMAN HAND
MAX REESE
OSCAR POTOKER
HOWARD JACKSON
KARL HAJOS
MILAN RODER
STEPHAN PASTERNACKI
COMPOSERS
FRANKE HARLING
DIMITRI TIOMKIN
CONSTANTINE BAKALEINIKOFF and PARAMOUNT RECORDING ORCHESTRA
AND TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE PARAMOUNT MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Season's Greetings
from
4. NATHANIEL FINSTON ^
General Music Director
Paramount Productions Inc.
Hello 1934!
. . . another tuneful Paramount year
Here's hoping that the
smallest dog-house we ever
have been in is bigger than
the biggest dog-house
we ever will be in.
Or something like that.
Anyway . . .
♦
HAPPY NEW YEAR
L O U I S D.
LICHTON
Words by
LEO ROBIN
Music by
RALPH RAINGER
TO OUR
HOLLYWOOD FRIENDS
Production Rights Reserved by
PARAMOUNT PRODUCTIONS
INC.
management of
Small—Landau Company
Arth
ur
JOHNSTON
and
Sam
C O S LO W
say
I
Happy New Year to All
and ^7H AN KS" to
Everyone Concerned
in making
1933 Their Biggest Year
o
Paramount Productions, inc.
During this year we were asso-
ciated in the making of two
successful Musical Comedies:
'College Humor"
And
Too Much Harmony"
And the writing of Nine Hit
Song Numbers:
1 . Thanks
2. The Day You Came Along
3. The Old Oxroad
4. Moon Song
5. Learn To Croon
6. Moon Struck
7. Black Moonlight
8. Twenty Million People
9. Bucking The Wind
P.S. — Our First Big 1934 Assignment:
Bing Crosby in "We're Not Dressing"
k'
MAY
1934
. R A M O U 1
YEAR OF HAPPINESS
p^
M T
To
EVERYONE N THE WORLD
( What can we ose )
MACK CORDON
allU
HARRY REVEL
ROBERT CRAWFORD
Our PARAMOUNT pa and
persona manager
BREN - ORSATTI
Our PARAMOUNT
Business Mgr.
— o—
P. S. - Cordon & Reve are under
contract to
PARAMOUNT
LYA
LYS
-M
4r^S
as POLA WENSKI in
"JIMMY AND SALLY"
(FOX PRODUCTION)
"Management
HENRY GUTTMANN
EQUITABLE BUILDING :: HOLLYWOOD
Hollywood 0853
GRACE NOLAN . . Publicity
as PRINCESS JELENA in
"THE SOVIET COMMISSAR"
to be produced by HENRY GUTTMANN
John Barrymore
in
"Counse or at Law"
A Universa Picture
i
Directed by
WILLIAM
WYLER
now preparing
"Sutter's Cold "
A
N
ew Year's Greetings
•
AL GREEN
Just Comp eted
"AS THE EARTH TURNS"
or
WARNERS
Warmest
Holiday Greetings
To Our Friends
of the
Motion Picture Colony
Th
CI
e
over
Club
RLE
C.
ENTON
Just Completed Directing
"SEARCH FOR BEAUTY"
0
A Paramount
Production
NAT C COLDSTONE
Extends to the industry
the greetings of the
season in hopes for a
fruitful year in both the
production and exhibi-
tion branches of our
industry.
Greet Ncs
SAM M N z
Metro-Co dwyn-Ma/er
•
•
SYLVIA THALBERC
Screen Play'' "Honor Bright"
LOUIS D. LICHTON
Producer
TAY C ARN ETT
Director
A Paramount Picture* ''
With Austin Parker
'The Best Show in Town
Representing Julian Messner, Inc.
Milton E. Hoffman
Represented by
Milton E. Hoffman
(From Weekly Variety)
LITERATI
MISS THALBERC
AGAIN
King Features Syndicate has
bought serial rights to "Too
Beautiful," first novel by Sylvia
Thalberg. Yarn goes to the papers
in February.
First printing of the book, pub-
lished by Julian Messner, was
sold out in five days. It's now in
a second printing.
Season's Greetings
to
My Friends
in
The Industry
EARL BALDWIN
SEASON'S GREETINGS
LOUIS KING
Directing
W
Murder in Trinidad
//
I
for
I
FOX
SEASONS GREETINGS
ROBERT LORD
Presents
These Outstanding Warner Brothers Hits
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER OF
" FOOTLIGHT PARADE "
"THE WORLD CHANGES"
"HAVANA WIDOWS"
"COLLEGE COACH"
"DARK HAZARD"
♦
SCREEN PLAYS
with the late Wilson Mizner
"WINNER TAKE ALL"
"HEROES FOR SALE"
"LITTLE GIANT"
"CONVENTION CITY"
In Collaboration
NOW PRODUCING
"WONDER BAR"
"AS THE EARTH TURNS"
"THE HE I R CHASER"
Holiday Best Wishes
ERNEST PASCAL
ii
Ho iday Greetings
from
JAMES SEYMOUR
Associate Producer
with
Warner Brothers
Co-authored
Warner's 3 Smash Musicals
"42nd Street "
"Cold Diggers of 1933"
"Footlight Parade "
Supervised
"House on 56th Street "
"Son of a Sailor"
"Modern Hero "
"Harold Teen "
others in preparation
DAY GREETINGS
HARRY
LACHMAN
Management
MYRON SELZNICK-FRANK JOYCE, LTD.
In Preparation for Paramount
"WE'RE NOT DRESSING"
Starring BING CROSBY
Season's Greetings
NORMAN TAUROG
Management
Schulberg-Feldman, Inc.
SEASON'S
GREETINGS'
SAM JAFFE
COLUMBIA
PICTURES CORP.
Season's Greetings
EDMUND GRAINGER
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
UNIVERSAL
The Motion Picture Relief
Fund is YOUR Fund ... the
Fund that takes care of men
and women whom YOU knew
. . . and know.
SUPPORT THE
MOTION PICTURE
RELIEF FUND
From
A FRIEND
HOLIDAY EDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
and a
Happy New Year
to you
. . . and you . . .
ROBERT PRESNELL
Associate Producer
Warner Brothers- First National
U
EDGAR GEORGE ULMER
DIRECTING FOR UNIVERSAL
a
Directed
Damaged Lives"
My Compliments to
the Motion Picture Industry !
Outstanding — the performance of
the Motion Picture Industry, in
these trying months behind us!
Resolute purpose, notwithstanding
tremendous sacrifice, has marked
the efforts of your industry to pro-
vide employment for your staffs,
and entertainment for the public,
that hopes and hearts might be en-
couraged and brighter days created.
And these are coming! For the
privilege of working with many of
you, in this time of stress, my
thanks to you!
All My Resources in Equipment, Service and
Experience Are at Your Disposal That We
May Work Together for Finer Achievement
in This Year of Promise, Ahead!
With my fine, new, modern
stocks, from which you can choose
the kind of "props" to make your
new pictures the success you want
them to be — with my prompt serv-
ice and desire to meet your every
needed demand in cooperation —
with my lifelong experience and far-
reaching knowledge of "furniture
atmosphere" — and my past intimate
association with the motion picture
world — I greet you, and invite your
continued permission to work with
you!
BE-HANNESEY
Art Studios of Distinctive Home Furnishings
1122 North Western Avenue
One Block North of Santa Monica Boulevard
Hollywood, California
/TJcufDe
THEY THRILL
■to the
CLOSE-UPS
• •
BUT
what do they think of your
SOUND
Dolores Del Rio and Gene Raymond fror
the RKO Picture — "Flying Down to Rio" —
RCA Victor Photophone Sound
When the big blond hero and the nation's sweetheart went for the
clinch back in the silent days, that's all there was to it. But now
there's sound, and the audience thrill as much to those words, those
sighs and those million dollar inflections, as they do to what they
see ... if the sound is right. We're not telling you anything new.
Every show man learned that with his A B C's. But it points to
this undeniable fact: that good sound is a box office attraction; that
daily, hundreds of far sighted exhibitors are finding their High
Fidelity sound equipment as important to the week's gross as the
best product out of the studios.
Definitely: you can't team up first rate pictures with second
rate sound and go under the wire a winner. But, back up the prod-
uct with a new RCA Victor Photophone High Fidelity installation,
and you'll know the supreme enjoyment of a mounting box office
that has been the reward of every exhibitor who has seen the light
and signed on the dotted line.
RCA VICTOR PHOTOPHONE
HIGH FIDELITY SOUND
Mal(e them ear happy with High Fidelity
i
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE ^*SA.
Located at 1016 North Sycamore Ave. — —
For prompt and convenient service on
all sound recording and reproducing
problems.
PHOTOPHONE DIVISION
RCA VICTOR CO. INC.
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
COUPON
Increased box office with High Fidelity?
Prove it and I'll talk turkey!
Name.
Address..
City.
State.
HR
HOLIDAY EDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Holiday Greetings —
WARREN DUFF
. in collaboration
u
FASHIONS OF 1934
ORIGINAL STORY
-o-
To Be Released Soon
Screen Pla/s
"I COT YOUR NUMBER" •
^^HEAT LIGHTNING" •
"HOT AIR"*
n
Warner Bros.
First Natl. Productions
SIDNEY SUTHERLAND
(FOR THE SCREEN)
"THE MATCH KING"
Warren William Lily Damita
'lADIES THEY TALK ABOUT
Barbara Stanwyck
' ' :=
II ,,
Under Contract to
WARNER BROS.
"I LOVED A WOMAN
Edward C. Robinson Kay Francis
"I GOT YOUR NUMBER"
Joan Blondell Pat O'Brien
"HI NELLIE r
Paul Muni
"FRIENDS OF MR. SWEENEr"
In Preparation
"In Collaboration
HOLIDAY EDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
GREETINGS
for the
NEW YEAR
SAM WOOD
METRO
COLDWYN
MAYER
In 1933 for Paramount
"College Humor"
(Screen Play)
"The Way To Love"
(Additional Dialogue)
"Search For Beauty"
(Screen Play)
"Ladies Should Listen"
(Screen Play)
" Girl Without A Room "
(Screen Play)
FRANK BUTLER & CLAUDE BINYON
Story Head Hal Roach Sf-udios
Under Assignment at Paramount
r
HOLIDAY EDITtON
THE HOLLYWOOD R.E. PORTER
Herbert Stothart
MCM
Musical Score
"Queen Christina"
ALEXANDER HALL
Directing for Paramount
— ♦—
Current Release
'Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
11
HOLIDAYEDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
SEASON'S
GREETINGS
EDWIN
JUSTUS
MAYER
I
Happy New Year
to all my friends
GREGORY
RATOFF
•
RKO RAD O
PICTURES
I
HOLIDAY EDITION THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
CASEY ROBINSON
wishes you a Happy New Year
from the set of "The Baby In
The Icebox," thanks to Chas.
R. Rogers and Harry joe Brown
HOLIDAY GREETINGS-
GEORGE BURNS
and
GRACIE ALLEN
Exclusive Management
WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY, Inc
HOLIDAY EDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
EO
ARRILLO
Recent- Productions
'MOONLIGHT
AND
PRETZELS"
UNIVERSAL
'TOUR FRIGHTENED
PEOPLE"
PARAMOUNT
"VIVA VILLA"
MCM
Exclusive Management
LEO MORRISON
6777 Hollywood Blvd.
•
'briskin
IRVINC
ASSOCIATE
PRODUCER
4>
COLUMBIA PICTURES CORP.
HOLIDAY EDITION THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
ROBE RT NORTH
Produced for
Columbia Pictures Corporation
THIS YEAR
THE WRECKER COCKTAIL HOUR
MURDER OF THE CIRCUS QUEEN ONCE TO EVERY WOMAN
MASTER OF MEN FURY OF THE JUNGLE
FOG THE N NTH GUEST
IN PREPARATION
MOST PRECIOUS TH NG N LIFE
WHIRLPOOL
. . . Season's Greetings . . .
LAIRD DOYLE
WROTE FOR RKO-RADIO
"SO YOU WONT SNC EH!"'
"FNSHNC SCHOOL"-
"MY GAL SAL""
NOW WARNER BROS.-FIRST NATIONAL
"THE HER CHASER"
L/Tiginai
"THE KEY
Screen Play '■' In Collaboration
HOLIDAY EDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
GREETINGS
from
R
EBECCA a
nd S
ILTON
IRA C. UHR
ASSOCIATE
Hillside 1)21
M. S. BENTHAM
New York
SEASON'S GREETINGS
To
The ENTIRE INDUSTRY
and Especially
M. G. M.
RICHARD BOLESLAVSKY
HOLIDAY EDITION THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
HENRY HATHAWAY
Directed for Paramount Productions, Inc.
HERITAGE OF THE DESERT
WILD HORSE MESA
UNDER THE TONTO RIM
SUNSET PASS
MAN OF THE FOREST
TO THE LAST MAN
THE THUNDERING HERD
THE LAST ROUNDUP
Complimentsof the Season
from
BAYARD VEILLER
m^iM
PARAMOUNT
HOLIDAY EPITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Season's Greetings
CEORCIE HALE
Now directing the
dance numbers -
George White's Scandals
Season's Greetings
JUNE COLLYER
STUART ERWIN
STUART JR.
HOLIDAY EDITION THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
SEASON'S
GREET NCS
1
i
1
George Brent
i
<
1
»
Our sincerest best
wishes to a our
friends in the industry
♦
Charles Beyer and Arthur MacArthur
Agency
HOLIDAY EDITION THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
WALDEMAR YOUNG
Paramount
Holida/ Greetings..
JOHN MEEHAN
METRO -GOLDWYN -MAYER
HOLIDAY EDITION
I
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Season's
greetings
from a
FRIEND
SEASON'S
GREETINGS
ABEN FINKEL
Holiday Greetings
CHAS. KENYON
^^F iDeason's Greetings
and Many Happy
Returns to a the
Friends 1 have
made through my
Warner Brothers
Associations
Philip Faversham
Under Contract to Warner Bros.
I
I
HOLIDAYEDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
F. HUGH HERBERT
--'v^
WARNER BROS.
Fashions of 1934
Screenplay*
Journal of a Crime
Screenplay*
Hit Me Again
Original Story and Screenplay
M-C-M
The Women In His Life
Original Story and Screen Play
UNIVERSAL
By Candlelight
Adaptation and Screenplay*
"In Collaboration
Now Under Long Term Contract To
WARNER BROTHERS
LYLE TALBOT
Wishes Everyone A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Recent Pictures
" Mary Stevens, M. D."
''College Coach"
"Mandalay"
Just Completed
" Registered Nurse "
under contract to
Warner Bros. isiltei_ First National
Season^s
Greetings
JO SWERLING
COLUMBIA
r
Holiday Greetings
JAMES KEVIN
MCGUINNESS
METRO
GOLDWYN
MAYER
HOLIDAY EDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
KURT
NEUMANN
DIRECTING FOR UNIVERSAL
Directed in 1933:
"Big Cage"
"Secret of the Blue Room"
"King For a Night"
HARVEY THEW
now writing
"OPERATOR 13"
Marion Da vies
M. G. M.
Season's Greetings
To All My
Hollywood Friends
PHIL HARRIS
Collier and Wallis
Agents
SEASON'S GREETINGS
f
rem an
appreciative client
of the
JERRY MAYER
Office
HOLIDAY EDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
beason's Greetings
FRANCHOT
TONE
^M
Working with Jesse L.
Lasky for unique and
distinctive entertainment
HARRY
CHANDLEE
STORY EDITOR
Jesse L. Lasky
PRODUCTIONS
Season's
Greetings —
William Conselman
Writer
Fox
Hollywood
Studios
JAMES
WONG
HOWE
now photographing
"VIVA VILLA"
for
METRO
COLDWYN
MAYER
HOLIDAY EDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Season's Greetings
ALBERT
LEWIS
PARAMOUNT
STUDIOS
DORE SCHARY
HE COULDN'T TAKE IT (Monogram)
Story-Screen Play-Dialogue
MOST PRECIOUS THING IN LIFE (Columbia)
Screen Adaptation*
FURY OF THE JUNGLE (Columbia)
Screen Play-Dialogue*
FOG (Columbia)
Screen Play-Dialogue*
Managemenl-
NAT GOLDSTONE
*Collab oration
RAYMOND
HATTON
PRESENT RELEASES:
"LADY KILLER"
Warners
'FOREVER FAITHFUL
M-C-M
'WOMEN IN HIS LIFE"
M-C-M
"THUNDERING HERD"
Paramount
"ALICE IN WONDERLAND'
Paramount
Personal Management
AL KINGSTON
Dear Billy:
It's too late to thank
you for your grand re-
view of "Three-Cor-
nered Moon" but it is
timely to say Happy
New Year.
RAY
HARRIS
HOLIDAY EDITION
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Season's
Greetings
Edward
Everett Horton
'SSSt^y^^
Season's
Greetings
JOHN FARROW
M. G. M.
Holiday Greetings
from
JOHN HALLIDAY
HENRY
ARMETTA
under
Personal Management
J. G. MAYER
A Question
ANSWERED
WHAT big picture today does not in-
clude backgrounds that call for com-
posite photography? The answer is obvious.
. . . The really vital point is: what medium
to use in photographing these important
backgrounds ? . . . Eastman has answered that .
question. Eastman Background Negative,
with its remarkably fine grain, its surprising
speed, and its excellent processing charac-
teristics, completely solves the film prob-
lem of the composite shot. Eastman Kodak
Company. (J. E. Brulatour, Inc., Distribu-
tors, New York, Chicago, Hollywood.)
EASTMAN
Background Negative
\<^
^-^
'ol
A
^'1/
V*
EW
^EETm
FROM
R
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*<*'(- ■ ' •' ■'^
5H>' .»;>■■ -^
/I
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*
Vol. XVIII, No. 42. Price 5c
TODAY*S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, January 2, 1934
L-ASHAPPyNEWrCAR
•A THOUGHT with which to start the
new year? I suppose there could be
many. But here's one:
The coming year will prove the
greatest test of EXECUTIVE produc-
tion brains that this industry has yet
seen.
And why?
For this reason:
Major production this year will di-
vide itself more sharply, more defi-
nitely, more arbitrarily between two
nrfain classes than ever in the history
of this industry. The classes are:
The great attraction on which an
organization is ready to SHOOT THE
WORKS, to go to any limits to be
sure of getting a BIG box office draw;
And the "organization" picture,
where the aim is good entertainment,
but within time schedules and bud-
gets that match present average
grosses.
•
And why is this purely an EXECU-
TIVE problem? For this reason:
Barring the exceptions who would
be wrong in any line of endeavor,
there will be no difficulty making
those "controlled" budget pictures in
so far as the MAKERS are concerned.
The crews, starting at director,
through the camera gang, rounding up
the sound crew, not neglecting the
gaffers, grips and props, and following
through to the dubbing room, will al-
ways respond LOYALLY to any re-
quests for speeded-up efficiency.
We know. We've seen them do
it. We've seen them respond when
our right hand was making a salary cut
and our left hand pleading for help.
So what?
just this: If there is any failure in
delivering top notch entertainment on
these "controlled" budget pictures —
it will not be from the MAKERS.
It will be at the TOP — the dozen
or so executives and their associate
I producers — to whom is given the de-
cision as to WHAT TO MAKE, and
what PREPARATION it is given be-
fore it is made.
It's up to YOU, big boys. The
MAKERS will deliver. Just as Jack
Warner says they are delivering for
him. But it is in your judgment that
the result lies — on your judgment as
I to WHAT you decide to make, and the
INTELLIGENCE you give the prepa-
ration of it before you start.
Sutherland Improves
Bulletins on the condition of
Eddie Sutherland over the week-
end and up to a late hour last night
continued encouraging. The pjopu-
lar director turned for the better
Saturday evening, after two trans-
fusions within twenty-four hours,
and last night's bulletin reported
"improved pulse and general vital-
ity."
Pickford Will Play
B & K Chi Houses
Chicago. ^ — Mary Pickford and Bala-
ban and Katz are negotiating for a
series of personal appearances here for
the famous screen star in the "Twelve
Pound Look" vehicle she appeared
with at the New York Paramount.
Showmen here, in touch with the
New York situation, hear that Mary's
personal draw and good performance
saved the week at the Paramount with
"Alice in Wonderland." The Bala-
ban and Katz negotiations are a re-
sult of this opinion.
Wanger and Party Due
Here Next Thursday
New York. — Walter Wanger, Major
John Zanft, Allen Rivkin and P. J.
Wolfson left here by train Sunday
for the coast, arriving Thursday.
Wanger, Rivkin and Wolfson have
been in New York ten days taking in
the new shows.
Par-Famous Name Change
Wilmington. — Paramount Famcus-
Lasky Corporation has changed its
name in Delaware to the Lares Thea-
tre Corporation of New York.
Joseph Schenck Cables From
Europe Restoring Last Year's
Salary Cuts-^F/rst Of Majors
New York — It's a real happy New Year in the far-flung
United Artists distributing organization. When Joseph Schenck
found it necessary to inflict salary cuts last Spring he gave his
bond to the employees that the cuts would be restored as soon as
business warranted it. And he chose
the most appropriate day of the year
to keep his promise. For on Satur-
day he cabled from Europe restoring
the cuts as of January 1 .
This puts United Artists first in
line among the majors to be in a posi-
( Continued on Page 2)
Col. Negotiates For
Jan Kiepura Loan
Columbia is negotiating with Jan
Kiepura to take over his one-picture
deal that Universal holds. Latter stu-
dio is agreeable but the decision is m
the hands of the player who is in Lon-
don. Joe May, who directed Kiepura
in "A Song For You," is now under
the Columbia pennant.
Corrinne Griffith Returns
Ccrnnne Griffith, having finished a
successful tour of Noel Coward's play
"Design for Living," arrived in town
Sunday by plane for picture work. M.
C. Levee, her personal manager, has
two offers for the actress.
Sam Briskin Hurries
New York. — Sam Briskin didn't
wait for the New Year's in New York
but got away fcr the coast by train
Saturday afternoon.
REFEREE REJECTS FO.Y-W.C.
TRLS TEES' $152,000 RILL
Applications of trustees and attor-
neys in the Fox West Coast bank-
ruptcy proceedings for fees of ap-
proximately $152,000 were turned
down by Referee McNabb, who coun-
tered with offers of about $36,000.
Charles Skcuras, Charles C. Irwin
and William H. Moore Jr. were the
three trustees in bankruptcy, while
the attorneys included O'Melveny,
Tuller & Myers, and Attorney Reuben
G. Hunt.
The referee made no comment on
the size of the requests, and even ex-
pressed his knowledge that the trus-
tees and attorneys had worked long
and hard, but based his refusal on an
unwillingness to grant such large fees
until he had evidence of the estate's
value.
T. I. Talley appeared at the hearing
protesting against all allowances until
he could bring forth evidence of al-
leged irregularities in the administra-
tion of Fox West Coast. Attorney
Saul Klein also appeared on behalf of
a lawyer's committee investigating the
receivership.
Studios Fortunate
In Rain Damages
Hollywood studios were fairly for-
tunate in effects from the unprece-
dented downpour over the week-end
that reached flood proportions in many
sections.
A late check-up yesterday found
exterior sets holding up fairly well at
most plants, with crews ready to start
wo-k today to repair the minor dam-
2ge done. Paramount had a crew
working all day yesterday to have cer-
tain sets ready for today.
Universal, RKO, Columbia and
N1CM reported ncsericus damage. At
Fox Westwood Hills all but one phone
line was cut of order. At Paramount
chief demage was in flooding the
bfsement, with the accounting stor-
age vaults inundated. All lights at
Param.ount were off from m.idnight
to 6 a.m.
Rogers Loses Sleep to
Save Drivers from Flood
W.ll Rogers get up cut of a nice
warm bed yesterday morning at 4
o'clock to warn automobiists the
bridge just below his hcuse had been
washed away. Many persons are
thankful for Rogers' thcughtfulness.
Gene Fowler Complains
New York. — Gene Fowler is in New
York stating that he just escaped from
Hollywood in time to save his mind.
Also complaining that he was docked
$1.S5 on his last week's check and
still doesn't know what it was about.
Marx Rests Another Week
Sam Marx, MGM scenario editor,
will not return to his desk today as
he had planned. His doctor ordered
him to take another week's rest.
Dr. Giannini Comes West
New York. — Dr. A. H. Giannini of
the Bank of America left fcr Los An-
geles on Sunday.
fCordon & Revel-wrote- Did You Ever See A Dream Walking^
i^^S'mm.
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FROM
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Sk.M
Vol. XVIII, No. 42. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, January 2, 1934
■
L-ASHAPPy NEW TEAR
Joseph Schenck Cables From
Europe Restoring Last Year's
Salary Cuts-^F/rst Of Aia/ors
New York — It's a real happy New Year in the far-flung
United Artists distributing organization. When Joseph Schenck
found it necessary to inflict salary cuts last Spring he gave his
bond to the employees that the cuts would be restored as soon as
business warranted it. And he chose
•A THOUGHT with which to start the
new year? I suppose there could be
many. But here's one:
The coming year will prove the
gceatest test of EXECUTIVE produc-
tion brains that this industry has yet
seen.
And why?
For this reason:
Major production this year will di-
vide itself more sharply, more defi-
nitely, more arbitrarily between two
rrtain classes than ever in the history
of this industry. The classes are:
The great attraction on which an
organization is ready to SHOOT THE
WORKS, to go to any limits to be
sure of getting a BIG box office draw;
And the "organization" picture,
where the aim is good entertainment,
but within time schedules and bud-
gets that match present average
grosses.
•
And why is this purely an EXECU-
TIVE problem? For this reason:
Barring the exceptions who would
be wrong in any line of endeavor,
there will be no difficulty making
those "controlled" budget pictures in
so far as the MAKERS are concerned.
The crews, starting at director,
through the camera gang, rounding up
the sound crew, not neglecting the
gaffers, grips and props, and following
through to the dubbing room, will al-
ways respond LOYALLY to any re-
quests for speeded-up efficiency.
We know. We've seen them do
it. We've seen them respond when
our right hand was making a salary cut
and cur left hand pleading for help.
So what?
Just this: If there is any failure in
delivering top notch entertainment on
these "controlled" budget pictures —
it will not be from the MAKERS.
It will be at the TOP — the dozen
or so executives and their associate
producers — to whom is given the de-
cision as to WHAT TO MAKE, and
what PREPARATION it is given be-
fore it is made.
It's up to YOU, big boys. The
MAKERS will deliver. Just as Jack
Warner says they are delivering for
him. But it is in your judgment that
the result lies — on your judgment as
to WHAT you decide to make, and the
INTELLIGENCE you give the prepa-
ration of it before you start.
Sutherland Improves
Bulletins on the condition of
Eddie Sutherland over the week-
end and up to a late hour last night
continued encouraging. The p'op)ij-
lar director turned for the better
Saturday evening, after two trans-
fusions within twenty-four hours,
and last night's bulletin reported
"improved pulse and general vital-
ity."
Pickford Will Play
B & K Chi Houses
Chicago. — Mary Pickford and Bala-
ban and Katz are negotiating for a
series of personal appearances here for
the famous screen star in the "Twelve
Pound Lock" vehicle she appeared
with at the New York Paramount.
Showmen here, in touch with the
New York situation, hear that Mary's
personal draw and good performance
saved the week at the Paramount with
"Alice in Wonderland." The Bala-
ban and Katz negotiations are a re-
sult of this opinion.
Wanger and Party Due
Here Next Thursday
New York. — Walter Wanger, Major
John Zanft, Allen Rivkm and P. J.
Wolfson left here by train Sunday
for the coast, arriving Thursday.
Wanger, Rivkin and Wolfson have
been in New York ten days taking in
the new shows.
Par-Famous Name Change
Wilmington.- — Paramount Famcus-
Lasky Corporation has changed its
name in Delaware to the Lares Thea-
tre Corporation of New York.
J
the most appropriate day of the year
to keep his promise. For on Satur-
day he cabled from Europe restoring
the cuts as of January 1 .
This puts United Artists first in
line among the majors to be in a posi-
(Continued on Page 2)
Col. Negotiates For
|an Kiepura Loan
Columbia is negotiating with Jan
Kiepura to take over his one-picture
deal that Universal holds. Latter stu-
dio is agreeable but the decision is in
the hands of the player who is in Lon-
don. Joe May, who directed Kiepura
in "A Song For You," is now under
the Columbia pennant.
Corrinne Griffith Returns
Ccrrinne Griffith, having finished a
successful tour of Noel Coward's play
"Design for Living," arrived in town
Sunday by plane for picture work. M.
C. Levee, her personal manager, has
two offers for the actress.
Sam Briskin Hurries
New York. — Sam Bnskm didn't
wait for the New Year's in New York
but got away for the coast by train
Saturday afternoon.
REFEREE REJECT§ FOX-W.C.
TRUSTEES' $152,000 RILL
Applications cf trustees and attor-
neys in the Fox West Coast bank-
ruptcy proceedings for fees of ap-
proximately $152,000 were turned
down by Referee McNabb, who coun-
tered with offers cf about $36,000.
Charles Skouras, Charles C. Irwin
and William H. Moore Jr. were the
three trustees in bankruptcy, while
the attorneys included O'Melveny,
Tuller & Myers, and Attorney Reuben
G. Hunt.
The referee made no comment on
the size of the requests, and even ex-
pressed his knowledge that the trus-
tees and attorneys had worked long
and hard, but based his refusal on an
unwillingness to grant such large fees
until he had evidence of the estate's
value.
T. I. Tailey appeared at the hearing
protesting against all allowances until
he could bring forth evidence of al-
leged irregularities in the administra-
tion of Fox West Coast. Attorney
Saul Klein also appeared on behalf of
a lawyer's committee investigating the
receivership.
Studios Fortunate
In Rain Damages
Hollywood studios were fairly for-
tunate in effects from the unprece-
dented downpcur over the week-end
that reached flood proportions in many
sections.
A late check-up yesterday found
exterior sets holding up fairly well at
most plants, with crews ready to start
work today to repair the minor dam-
age done. Paramount had a crew
working all day yesterday to have cer-
tain sets ready for today.
Universal, RKO, Columbia and
NICM reported no serious damage. At
Fox Westwccd Hills all but one phone
line was cut of order. At Paramount
chief dsm^age was in flooding the
basement, with the accounting stor-
age vaults inundated. All lights at
Param.cunt were off from m.idnight
to 6 a.m.
Ros'ers Loses Sleep to
Save Drivers from Flood
Will Rogers got up cut cf a nice
warm bed yesterday morning at 4
o'clock to warn automobiists the
bridge just below his hcuse had been
washed away. Many persons are
thankful for Rogers' thoughtfulness.
Gene Fowler Complains
New York. — Gene Fowler is in New
York stating that he just escaped from
Hollywood in time to save his mind.
Also complaining that he was docked
$1.85 on his last week's check and
still doesn't know what it was about.
Marx Rests Another Week
Sam Marx, MGM scenario editor,
will not return to his desk today as
he had planned. His doctor ordered
him to take another week's rest.
Dr. Ciannini Comes West
New York. — Dr. A. H. Giannmi of
the Bank of America left for Los An-
geles on Sunday.
ftiordon & Revel-wrote- Did You Ever See A Dream Walking?'' i
i
Page Two
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyvi/ood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIlywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Gratte-Ciel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c." Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
It may have been the wet weather
— inside and out — or it may have just
been the winding up of the old year.
But you should have heard the wild
and woolly rumors that drifted over
the news editor's desk as the old year
saw its way out. And so many
"friends of a friend of a friend"
would swear to the truth of each one
that it needed a sieve, a sifter, and
a yard of cheese cloth to keep them
out of the paper.
•
It started about Tuesday with the
"absolute guaranteed" statement that
Lasky was hurrying east after the first
of the year to settle his Fox deal and
move over to Radio.
Much telephoning and scurrying —
finally Lasky was reached. You could
hear his laugh and almost see his smile
over the phone. Then B. B. Kahane.
"Well," he said, "If Mr. Lasky is
looking for a job 1 guess we'd be
darned glad to grab him. But it just
happens to be one of the things that
has never been given a thought."
0
Wednesday it shifted. On the oath
of a son of Mohammed you were told
that it was B. P. Schulberg who would
be signed "any minute" to go to Ra-
dio. This died an early death when
B. P. — caught on his way to a set —
dryly remarked that he still had a con-
tract with Paramount until October I
— and that ought to sette it.
•
Thursday was New York's day —
and the Emanuel Cohen story — quick-
ly denied by Adolph Zukor.
And so it went. Just seeing an old
year out, boys and girls. But if you
wanted to top them all, it was just
necessary to travel to the right spots
over Saturday and Sunday. The busi-
ness was taken apart and put together
again. But strange as it may seem —
especially if you are a little groggy —
those are the same faces you see on
the boss's as you return to the desk
this A.M. Oh, hum.
Ennis Quits Majestic
New York. — Bert Ennis has re-
signed as director of advertising and
publicity for Majestic Pictures.
"HELL AND HIGH WATER"
Paramount prod.; directors, Crover Jones and William Slavens McNutt; writers,
Max Miller, Crover Jones, William Slavens McNutt, Agnes Brand Leahy.
Rialto Theatre
Times: The dramatic composition of the scenes runs the gamut of mediocrity
from the unbelievably commonplace to the aggresively overdone.
American: It is a good story, well played by reliable Dick Arlen, attractive Judith
Allen and Charles Crapewin. The dual direction of Crover Jones and
William Slavens McNutt keeps the story moving.
Pest: The Riaito film fails to carry a credible flavor, and it is further weakened
by several cumbrous players whose exaggerated acting brings out the
worst in a pretty bad story, which is a strained and unconventional one.
WorJd-Telegram: It is not dull, nor is it without a good idea. But it seems to
be just one of those "nice" uninspiring little weaklings that are damned
to be only moderately amusing. It is cluttered up with sequences that
have no direct bearing on the main idea and which all too frequently hin-
der what little action and characterization there is.
{ournal: Although it hasn't much plot, the picture is told with such charm and
numan understanding that it goes into the better-than-average class. The
dialogue is delightfully natural and diverting.
Mirror: An able and pleasing company struggles with the material, but fails to
make it very interesting.
Herald-Tribune: Paramount's production Is far from being the delightful diver-
sion that reading one of Miller's books is. It is too often dull and un-
eventful to be worth the hour passed watching it.
Lesser Forms New
Non-Theatrical Co.
Sol Lesser has formed a new or-
ganization. Principal Non-Theatrical
Pictures Corporation, which with the
international affiliations arranged by
Lesser on his recent trip abroad will
specialize in 16mm. sound on film
subjects for the non-theatrical market.
It is a New York corporation with
Alfred Cohen acting as general mana-
ger from offices in the RKO building.
New York City. The com.pany starts
with a library of over 200 subjects.
Seventy branch offices will be opened
for physical distribution before May.
Grier at Bev-Wi!shire
Jimmy Crier makes his season's bow
in the Cold Room of the Beverly- Wil-
shire this evening. Cogo Deslys,
Harry Foster, Ray Bradford, Craig
Leitch and the Three Bad Boys are in-
cluded anr.org the entertainers.
Credit to Orry Kelly
The gowns which the reviewer
raved about in Warners' "Fashions of
1934" were designed by Orry .Kelly.
Ian. 2, 1934
feanette M'Donald
Exclusive at MGM
Jeanette MacDonald will start the
new year off with a brand new con-
tract at a nice tilt in salary. MCM
is closing a new deal with the player
on a new two-year arrangement,
wherein the star will give her services
exclusively for that period. Her pres-
ent contract, which will be destroyed
when she signs the new one, calls for
the star to make three pictures a year
with the right to make an outside pic-
ture and also gives her the right to
option the studio.
RUSSELL.MILLER;
and Company
Members
MEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIlywood I 181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
•ftS!^ 4'
!-A's Happy New Year
(Continued from Page I )
tion and have the willingness to make
good on the promises of the salary
cut era.
It brings a Happy New Year to
more than five hundred employees of
the distributing organization in this
country alone. Salaries in the brack-
ets under $100, where the cuts hurt
the most and the return is most help-
ful, are restored immediately in full.
In the higher brackets an appreciable
chunk is restored as of January 1 ,
with the balance to come as business
warrants in the very near future.
Al Lichtman, in making the an-
nouncement, stated that the restora-
tion is made in view of the fine busi-
ness done by the company beginning
with "The Bowery," and m anticipa-
tion of the better business to come
with the general release of "Roman
Scandals," "Callant Lady" and
"Nana."
The news is easily the big topic to-
day in New York and exchange cen-
ters of the country, where employees
took so many cuts and heard so many
promises over recent years that it
sounds like something of a fairy tale
to hear of a major exec remembering
his promise from far off Europe.
The Tax
ExeMipt Feature
of Highgrade Municipal Bonds is most
attractive to those with large incomes,
but the factor safety of principal
should attract every investor. Highgrade
Municipal Bonds are safe, tax exempt and
contain a high degree of marketability.
'^^?"| RH.MOULTON&COMPANir
Vn^unicipal i
Bonds
KEW YOI^K,
LOS ANGELES
510 SOUTH SPIV.INC STREET
TII.1NITV 5055
SAN FRANCISCO
\
Jan. 2, 1934
Page Three
HEPBURN SAVES *THE LitKE';
FIRST APPLE' IS MEDIOCRE
Conrad Nagel Good
But No Pic In This
Play Looks Like Bet
For Screen Thoygh
•THE LAKE"
led Harris presents Katharine Hepburn
in "The Lake," by Dorothy
Massingham and Murray McDon-
ald. With Frances Starr, Blanche
Bates, Lionel Pape, Roberta Beat-
ty, Geoffrey Wardwell, Colin
Clive, Lucy Beaumont and oth-
ers. ' Settings by )o Mielziner.
New York. — It would, we suppose,
be entirely possible to find a play some
day that would do Miss Hepburn as
much credit as she lends vitality and
worth to a vehicle, but what with the
holiday spirit and the excitement of
having Miss Hepburn in person on the
stage there is no sense in quibbling
too much over the mediocre material
into which Hepburn breathes life.
Written in a completely pseudo-intel-
lectual manner, the play nevertheless
offers plenty of the stuff that good
pictures can be made of in that be-
cause of the writing, most of the vital
action evidently takes place off stage
and with that written in there is noth-
ing to stop any studio from making
the most of it. And it does offer a
studio the opportunity to make use
of a number of contract players who
could each do a good bit toward mak-
ing it a well rounded picture.
Hepburn's is the part of Stella Sur-
rege, a fine, spirited English gal stuck
away among the landed gentry in a
small town, looking for romance. In-
fatuation for a good looking, weak,
married gent overtakes her first, but
the gal has her pride and in order to
save it decides to marry John Clayne,
a noble fellow who loves her enough
to help her out. On her wedding day
Stella finds the courage to tell him
all, because she has realized at last
that it is really John whom she loves.
Tragedy dogs Stella's footsteps, how-
ever, when as she and John slip away
from the reception their car skids and
John is drowned in the lake that
Stella's selfish mamma had insisted on
installing to make the place look like
an estate. The play should really
have ended then and there. However,
there had to be a third act, and that
is taken up with platitudes and coun-
ter-truisms in an effort to make Stella
realize her life is really not over, too.
It is the acting that deserves the
notices and Hepburn is no disappoint-
ment. And the gal is pitted against
two excellent veterans, Blanche Bates
and Frances Starr, both of whom do
fine work in their respective roles of
the lovable, hard-boiled, understanding
maiden aunt; and the selfish, fluttery
completely bourgeoise mamma. Lio-
nel Pape keeps a badly written role
from dripping into burlesque as the
downtrodden, spineless father. Geof-
frey Wardwell is the attractive so-
andso who couldn't love enough to give
up his comfort. And Colin Clive is
the noble gent and sorry indeed are
we for him. Mr. Clive's part is just
about the vaguest piece of characteri-
zation that any two authors had to
collaborate on and on top of that he is
forced to speak mainly m unfinished
sentences and assume awkward si-
*The Lion Roars'
The luncheon which Jack War-
ner is throwing for the Columbia
football team today will be
broadcast over a national hookup.
Joe E. Brown will act as master of
ceremonies and most of studio's big
names will be on hand
MtdMli
George O'Brien Up
For Sol Lesser Lead
George O'Brien's first picture since
he severed his connections with Fox
will likely be an independent produc-
tion for Sol Lesser. Lesser is negoti-
ating with M. C. Levee, O'Brien's per-
sonal representative, for the star to
play the top spot in the Harold Bell
Wright novel "When a Man's a Man."
HackeH-Coodrich Team
Gets New MOM Ticket
The writing team of Albert Hackett
and Frances Goodrich scheduled to
check off the MGM payroll the end
of next month were handed "Naughty
Marietta," Victor Herbert's operetta,
Saturday. Team will turn in a treat-
ment on this old-timer, and if satis-
factory studio plans to ask them to
fashion the screen play.
The pair had been set to go east
for a Broadway play.
'U' Sets Sloman Scripter
Universal Saturday signed Christine
Ames to write the screen play on the
picture which Ted Sloman will direct
for the studio tentatively titled "To-
day We Live." Miss Ames recently
sold "The Human Side" to Universal
for early production.
Wheeler- Woolsey East
Dorothy Lee leaves for the east to-
morrow night with Bert Wheeler and
Robert Woolsey to make personal ap-
pearances and do radio work. Group
goes to Detroit first, then on to New
York. Will be back in five weeks.
Lyie Talbot Mystery
Lyie Talbot's whereabouts continue
to be a mystery. When last heard
from the player was on his way to
the Hearst ranch at San Simeon, but
Warners, wanting him for immediate
picture, has yet to locate him.
Krasna Entirely Free
Coincidental with his release from
his Columbia long termer, Norman
Krasna is off the MGM payroll.
Writer's arrangement at MGM was on
a loan-out basis from Columbia.
Fox Seeks Jewell
Fox placed a bid with MGM Satur-
day for the loan of Isabel Jewell.
George White wants the player for a
featured role in his "Scandals."
lences. Mr. Clive does nobly — if he
hadn't, no one would have noticed
him at all.
Jo Mielziner has contributed one of
those very lovely sets that calls forth
appreciative applause as the curtain
goes up.
•THE FIRST APPLE'
Lee Shubert presents "The First A|»-
ple," by Lynn Starling, directed
by Bela Blau; setting by Arthur
Segal. With Irene Purcell, Con-
rad Nagel, A. J. Herbert, Nana
Bryan, Spring Byington, Albert
Van Dekker.
New York. — An unfortunately sad
little comedy, which in spite of an
entirely capable cast doesn't stand
much chance. And despite the fact
that it is presented in a prologue and
three acts there is barely enough in it
for a Vitaphone short.
Mr. Lynn Starling (who was re-
sponsible for a hit once) has gone so
far in his manufacture of an evening's
whimsy as to try to make you believe
that a gal wouldn't marry the man
she really loved (and to whom she
had "given all" under the influence of
Brahms) unless her fiance would
give his consent to breaking off her
engagement to him. Such is honor
among the younger generation brought
up in a household devoted to phony
"isms" filled with a mamma who is
a very unfunny cross between Mahat-
ma Gandhi and Aimee Semple Mc-
Pherson. After a third act devoted
to fifth rate Coward dialogue on the
value of chives, they all finally get
around to marrying off mamma to the
honorable fiance, so's the daughter
can have her Brahms, and eventually,
it is to be hoped, after the first fine
flush of love has gone get an cppor-
tunity to hear it well played.
It's perhaps a little childish tc be
quite as bitter about it all, but with
such a really good cast, and an author
who IS no novice, one has a right to
expect something with a little less
hay m It and at least a fair share of
hey, hey. Conrad Nagel and Irene
Purcell are really very, very good in-
deed. But Spring Byington, Nana Bry-
ant and Albert Van Dekker walk
around aimlessly in pretty dull roles
and most particularly are the comedy
talents of Miss Byington completely
wasted.
Cleaning Up Odd Scenes
On Cat and the Fiddle'
MGM v.'ill put "Cat and the Fid-
dle" back in production for retakes
and added scenes this week. Ramon
Novarro has finished his latest picture,
"Laughing Boy," and is now available,
and Jeanette MacDonId is between
pictures. Seymour Felix is the super-
visor.
Oliver Acts for Lloyd
Harold Lloyd was so impressed with
Harry Oliver's work on MGM's "Viva
Villa" he has signed the art director
to supervise the sets for "Cat's Paw,"
his next picture, which goes into pro-
duction shortly.
Berkowitz in East
New York. — J. S. Berkowitz, Ma-
jestic franchise holder for California,
Arizona and Nevada, is in New York
for conferences with Herman Cluck-
man and E. H. Goldstein.
And, of course, the pay-off on all
the stones about who gave what to
whom for Christmas is the story about
the Strand Theatre Building. All of
youse people m Hollywood who ever
had anything to do with Broadway and
show business must be able to recall
a hundred or more slightly sad but
amusing stories about that place which
IS the Poverty Row of Broadway. So
things being what they are, the ele-
vator boys in that building decided to
chip in and buy presents for the ten-
ants! Not only that, but an "execu-
tive" of one of the "big firms" in
that building handed in his resigna-
tion to take over a city job that pays
a comfortable twenty dollars a week.
. . . The only thing that ever sur-
prised us about the cycle started by
"Grand Hotel" was that nobody ever
tore through the Strand Building and
made a story out of that. It's got a
million laughs and heartbreaks in it
all about the most down-to-earth peo-
ple you can find.
•
At a large cocktail party the other
day that consisted mainly of celebri-
ties somehow a non-professional crept
into the crowd who didn't know any
one but the man who brought her.
Afte.' listening to a number of conver-
sations she finally cornered some one
and started asking who the people
were And every time she asked who
scandso was and what he did she got
the answer in hushed whispers that
he was a writer, or a playwright, or an
author. So at the end of the cross-
questioning the gal came out with,
'Migod, they've brought me up here
tc lionize me !
•
Ken McKenna has found a play and
IS directing it for Alfred deLiagre. The
name of it is "By Your Leave" and
ccmes into town the very early part
of January. . . . Betty Starbuck had to
get leave of absence from rehearsals
of "Hold Your Horses" in order to get
to the Hepburn opening. And to get
back to that memorable evening for
just a moment, Mrs. Joe Meilzinger
had on just about the smartest eve-
ing costume that ever caused a man
to want to find out who was wearing
it. White corduroy with tailored coat
to match and reddish-orange scarf
worn in the stock manner. . . . The
rumor persists that in spite of the
silly Barrymore episode in Philadel-
phia, Eva LeGallienne sold her bill of
goods in Washington that will estab-
lish a National Theatre in this country,
subsidized by the government and evi-
dently to be directed by Miss LeGal-
lienne. Mrs. Roosevelt is said to be
the main sponsor of this idea, which
will be run similar to the ones now
existing in France, Austria, Mexico and
a number of other countries. The
theatre will probably functon either
here or in Washington.
Rialto Gets 'Chour
New York. — "The Ghoul," Gau-
mont British picture, has been booked
for the Rialto following "Man's Cas-
tle." "I Was a Spy," another G-B,
will play in the Roxy Theatre about
the same time.
AMERICA'S GREATEST
ADS ON DARRYLRZAt
BIG/ So big, we had
to get artists as famous
as these to give it the
campaign it deserves!
JAMES MONTGOMERY FLAGG
DIEGO RIVERA
HOWARD CHANDIER CHRISTY BRADSHAW CRANDALL
pnn
w,
McClelland Barclay
HAYDEN HAYDEN
'ATCH FOR
THEIR CAMPAIGN!
AVAILABLE TO EVERY
EXHIBITOR WHO
PLAYS THE PICTURE!
cm
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TULLIO I
D I C K III
Dir
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HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW
'Gallant Lady'
{20th Century)
Hollywood, Dec. 5. — "Gallant Lady" is big and fine. A thrilling pic-
ture, throbbing with a measured beat of human sympathy.
Audiences will meet, know, and be pulling for as swell a group of
human beings, led by Ann Harding and a stellar cast, as have graced
the screen in some time.
Not since "Holiday" has Miss Harding been accorded such a genuine,
sincere and meaty role. She handles it with feeling and telling effect.
The story concerns a girl courageous. Her fiance, killed in a take-of?
on a trans-Atlantic flight, forces her to have her child adopted. Her
attachments to three men, her business success, her yearning and quest
for her baby boy, and her final break for happiness are meager high-
lights of an absorbing plot.
Charged with quiet power, suffused with poignant pathos, the picture
reveals dramatic heartbreak in a touching and tender mood. Sigh and
Sob are broken by smiles and laughs. Ann Harding softly etches a
portrait that engraves itself on one's memory.
Give Brook, as a social outcast, elevates human frailty superbly.
Tullio Carminatt is gay. Otto Kruger is dependable, and both give
quality performances as the two other men in Ann Harding's life. Janet
Beecher, rich in stage experience, turns in a warm, competent and sin-
cere portrayal. Dickie Moore is a lovable, regular fellow. Betty
Lawford, as the -female menace, handles a tough job nicely.
Gregory La Cava's direction, keeping the human values well in front
at all times, is expert in all departments. Sam Mintz's screen play is
a model of craftsmanship.
"Gallant Lady" explores the heartaches and gropings of real people.
Its soft symphony reaches the hidden springs of emotions and plays
wholesome music on the heartstrings.
Appealing to all classes, "Gallant Lady" may well be considered out-
standing, should do standout business where Ann Harding's name pulls
and should rejuvenate her popularity elsewhere.
■5
National Trade Showings Tomorrow, January 3
Los Angeles District Showing Boulevard Theatre at 1:00 P. M.
Page Six
THElfee
Ian. 2. 1934
STUDIO PRODUCTION DOWN WITH ONLY 25 FEATURES THIS WEEK AS COMPARED TO 29 LAST WEEK
BAROMETER
This Week 25 Features
Last Week 29 Features
Year Ago - 36 Features
2 Years Ago 26 Features
Fox
•BOTTOMS UP"
Cast: John Boles, Pat Paterson,
Spencer Tracy, Sid Silvers, Herbert
Mundin, Ann Darcy, Beverly Royde,
Harry Green.
Director David Butler
Story and Screen Play: B. C. DeSylva,
David Butler, Sid Silvers.
Music and Lyrics: Harold Adamson,
Gus Kahn, Berton Lane, Richard
Whiting.
Dance Direction... Harold Hecht
Photography -,^'*r^^ ,'^'
Producer.. B. C. DeSylva
•FOX FOLLIES"
Cast: All Star.
Director Hamilton MacFadden
Story Idea ^'I^u'^°^t7
and Phihp Klein
Book and Story Lew Brown
Music Jay Corney
Songs and Lyrics Lew Brown
Photography Emest Palnner
Musical Nunnbers Staged by
Sammy Lee
Musical Director Arthur Lange
Producer - Winfield Sheehan
Associate Producer Lew Brown
"CEORCE WHITES SCANDALS"
Cast: Rudy Vallee, George White,
Alice Faye, Jimmy Durante, Adri-
enne Ames, Cliff Edwards, Dixie
Dunbar.
Directors Thornton Free land
and Harry Lachman
Story George White, Sam Shipman
Screen Play.- William Conselman
Dialogue Joseph Cunningham
Photography Lee Garmes
and George Schneiderman
Music and Lyrics: Ray Henderson, Irv-
ing Caesar and Jack Yellen.
Oance Direction Georgie Hale
Producer George White
"DAVID HARUM"
Cast: Will Rogers, Louise Dresser,
Irene Bentley, Kent Taylor, Evelyn
Venable, Ralph Morgan, Roger Im-
hof, Noah Beery, Stephin Fetchit,
Sarah Padden, Frank Melton.
Director James Cruze
Story Edward Noyes Westcott
Screen Play.. Walter Woods
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
MGM
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
Cast: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen
O'Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Doris
Lloyd, Frank Reicher, Paul Cava-
r»agh, William Stack, Desmond
Roberts, Yola D'Avril, Forrester
Harvey.
Director Cedric Gibbons
Adaptation Leon Gordon
Screen Play J. K. McGuinness
Photography Charles Clarke
and Clyde DeVinna
Producer Bernard Hyman
"VIVA VILLA"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Katherine De
Mille, Leo Carrillo, George E. Stone,
Pedro Rigas, Joseph Schildkraut,
Stuart Erwin, Raymond Borzage,
Donald Cook, Nigel DeBrulier, Tom
Ricketts, Leo White, Harry Cord-
ing, Fay Wray, Stuart Erwin, Henry
B. Walthall.
Director Jack Conway
Novel Edgcumb Pinchon
Screen Play Ben Hecht
Photography James Howe
Producer David 0. Selznick
"RIP TIDE"
Cast; Norma Shearer, Robert Mont-
gomery, Herbert Marshall, Lilyan
Tashman, Ralph Forbes, Mrs. Pat-
rick Campbell, Arthur jarrett. Earl
Oxford, Halliwell Hobbes, Donald
Grieg, Samuel May, Helen Jerome
Eddy, Peter Hobbes, George K. Ar-
thur, Donald Greig, Eddie Nugent,
E. E. Clive.
Director Edmund Goulding
Story Charles MacArthur
Photography Ray June
Producer - Irving Thalberg
"IT HAPPENED ONE DAY"
Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Mary Car-
lisle, Mae Clarke, Fay Bainter, Tom
Brown, Eddie Nugent, Maynard
Holmes, John Arledge, Henry Kol-
ker, Wallace Clarke, Henry Wads-
worth, Edwin Maxwell, Leo Chal-
zell, Sumner Getchal, Dickie Moore,
Hilda Vaughn, Richard Tucker,
Willie O'Brien, Onslow Stevens,
Una Merkel.
Director William K. Howard
NoveL-.-Marjorie Bartholomew Paradis
Screen Play ...Zelda Sears
and Eve Greene
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer John Considine
"OLD HANNIBAL"
Cast: May Robson, Lewis Stone, Mary
Forbes, Tad Alexander, Reginald
Mason, Claude Gillingwater, jean
Parker, William Bakewell.
Director Charles F. Reisner
Original Story ..Dudley Nichols
and Lamar Trotti
Screen Play Zelda Sears
and Eve Greene
Photography Leonard Smith
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"MEN IN WHITE"
Cast: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Jean
Hersholt, Henry B. Walthall, Frank
Reicher, C. Henry Gordon, Isabel
Jewell, Elizabeth Allen, Eddie Nu-
gent, Sarah Padden, Dorothy Peter-
son.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Play Sidney Kmgsley
Screen Play -... .Waldemar Young
Photography George Folsey
Producer ..Monta BeM
Paramount
"CATHERINE THE GREAT"
Cast: Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge,
Sam jaffe, Louise Dresser, Ruthelma
Stevens, C. Aubrey Smith, Olive
Tell, Edward Van Sloan, Jane Dar-
well, Hans von Twardoski, Davison
Clark, Phillip Sleeman, Harry
Woods, Marie Sieber, Gavin Gordon.
Director |osef Von Sternberg
From a Diary by Catherine the Great
Screen Play ..- Manuel Komroff
Photography Bert Glennon
"BOLERO"
Cast: George Raft, Carole Lombard,
William Frawley, Francis Drake,
Sally Rand, Gloria Shea, Del Hen-
derson, Gertrude Michael, Raymond
Milland, Frank G. Dunn, Martha
Baumattre, Paul Panzer, Adolph
Milar, Anne Shaw, Phillips Smalley,
John Irwin.
Director Wesley Ruggles
Idea Ruth Ridenour
Story.. Carey Wilson
and Kubec Glasmon
Screen Play Horace Jackson
Photography Leo Tover
Music Ralph Rainger
"BABY IN THE ICEBOX"
Charles R. Rogers Production
Cast: Richard Arlen, Sally Eilers,
Robert Armstrong, Grace Bradley,
Rosco Ates, Charley Grapewin,
Richard Arlen Jr.
Directors Casey Robinson
and Ralph Murphy
Original James M. Cain
Screen Play Casey Robinson
Photography Milt Krasner
"GOOD DAME"
B. P. Schulberg Production
Cast: Sylvia Sidney, Fredric March,
Russell Hopton, Jack LaRue, Noel
Francis, Miami Alvarez, Bradley
Page, Joseph J. Franz, Guy Usher,
Kathleen Burke, Patricia Farley,
Florence Dudley, Jil Dennett, Erin
LaBissoniere, Ernest S. Adams, John
Marstcn, Helene Chadwick, James
Cranel, Jack Baxley, Edward Gar-
gan, William Farnum, Walter Bren-
nan, James Crane, Gary Owen, Cecil
Weston, Kenneth McDonald, Wade
Boteler.
Director ..Marion Cering
Original William Lipman
Photography Leon Shamroy
Screen Play: William Lipman, Frank
Partos, Vincent Lawrence and Sam
Hellman.
RKO-Radio
"SUCCESS STORY"
Cast: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Colleen
Moore, Genevieve Tobin, Edward
Everett Horton, Frank Morgan, Ny-
dia Westman, Allen Vincent, June
Brewster, Howard Wilson, Henry
Kolker.
Director J. Walter Ruben
Play - John Howard Lawson
Screen Play.... John Howard Lawson
and Howard J. Green
Photography . Henry Gerard
Associate Producer H. N. Swanson
"SO YOU WONT SING, EH?"
Cast: Zasu Pitts, Pert Kelton, Edward
Everett Horton, Ned Sparks, Nat
Pendleton, Matt McHugh, Billy
Griffith, Stanley Fields, Joe Sauers,
John Qualen.
Director William Seiter
Original Story Aben Kandel
Screen Play... Marion Dix
and Laird Doyle
Photography Nick Musuraca
Associate Producer.. ..Howard J. Green
"TRANSIENT LOVE"
Cast: Irene Dunne, Constance Cum-
mings, Ralph Bellamy, Vivian To-
bin, Kay Johnson, Louis Mason,
Charles Starrett.
Director John Cromwell
Play Anne Morrison Chapin
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Edward Cronjager
Associate Producer. .Pandro S. Berman
United Artists
"THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD"
Twentieth Century
Cast: George Arliss, Boris Karloff, Lo-
retta Young, Robert Young, C. Au-
brey Smith, Reginald Owen, Alan
Mowbray, Murray Kinnell, Paul
Harvey, Noel Madison, Florence
Arliss, Ivan Simpson, Helen West-
ley, Holmes Herbert, Arthur Byron,
Gilbert Emery, Leonard Mudie,
Charles Evans, Lee Kohlmar, Glen
Cavendar, Adolph Milar, Ktary
Forbes, Lumsden Hare, Lloyd Ingra-
ham, Clarence Geldert, Oscar Apfel,
Reginald Sheffield, Brandon Hurst,
Harold Minjir, Craufurd Kent,
Douglas Gerrard, Matthew Betz,
William Strauss, Frank Hagney,
Montague Shaw, Gerald Pierce, Leo
McCabe, Leonard Jerome, Perry
Vekroff, Rafael Carrio, Arthur
Duravennay, Louis Van Denecker,
Walter Bonn, Carey Harrison, Earl
McDonald, Dureen Monroe, Des-
Jan. 2, 1934
Page Seven
mond Roberts, Clare ,^|f!^dera, Robert
Corey, Frank Dunn, Horace Claude
' Cooper, Bobby LaMarche, Billy Seay,
George Offerman, Murdock Mc-
Quarrie, Harold Entwhistle, Harry
Allen, Olaf Hytton, Cullen John-
son, Milton Kahn, Jack Carlyle,
Harry Cording, Dick Alexander, Ed-
die Weaver, Bert Miller.
I Director Alfred Werker
Original Screen Play: Nunnally John-
son and Maude T. Howell.
Photography ..Pev Marley
Associate Producers. .William Goetz
and Raymond Griffiths
Warners-First National
"WONDER BAR"
Cast: Dick Powell, Al Jolson, Ricardo
Cortez, Dolores Del Rio, Hugh Her-
bert, Guy Kibbee, Robert Barrat,
Henry O'Neill, Kay Francis, Louise
Fazenda, Fifi D'Orsay, Merna Ken-
nedy, Mia Ichioka, Henry Kolker.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Play Karl Farkas and Geza Hercaeg
Screen Play Earl Baldwin
Music and Lyrics Harry Warren
and Al Dubin
Numbers Created and Directed by
Busby Berkeley
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor Robert Lord
"HAROLD TEEN"
Cast: Hal LeRoy, Rochelle Hudson,
Patricia Ellis, Hugh Herbert, Hobart
Cavanaugh, Guy Kibbee, Douglas
Dumbrille, Chick Chandler, Eddie
Tamblyn, Clara Blandick, Mayo
Methot, Richard Carle, Charles
Wilson.
Director ..Murray Roth
Based on Comic Strip by Carl Ed
Screen Play Paul Cerrard Smith
Photography Arthur Todd
Supervisor James Seymour
"UPPERWORLD"
Cast: Warren William, Mary Astor,
Ginger Rogers, Theodore Newton,
Henry O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Andy
Devine, Dickie Moore, Robert Greig,
William Gargan, Edward Arnold.
Director..... Roy Del Ruth
Story Ben Hecht
Screen Play Ben Markson
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Robert Lord
"A VERY HONORABLE CUY"
Cast: Joe E Brown, Alice White, Rob-
bert Barrat, Hobart Cavanaugh,
Noel Madison, J. Carrol Naish, Ar-
thur Vinton, Ann Brody, Harry
Warren and Al Dubin, George Pat
Collins, Charles Wilson, Snowflake.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Story by ....Damon Runyon
Screen Play... Earl Baldwin
Photography Ira Morgan
Supervisor Robert Lord
I "HOT AIR"
Cast: Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien, Gin-
_1 ger Rogers, Allen Jenkins, Grant
* Mitchell, Joseph Cawthorn, Grace
Hayle.
Director Ray Enright
Original Story Paul Finder Moss
and Jerry Wald
' Screen Play Warren Duff
_ and Harry Sauber
THE LOCKED ROOM' IS JLST
ANOTHER ORDINARY MYSTERY
Not Even Much Film
Chance forThisOne
"THE LOCKED ROOM '
Play by Herbert Ashton, Jr., presented
by M. S. Schlesinger and Wil-
liam B. Friedlander; directed by
Mr. Friedlander; setting by
Amend. Cast: Morton Flamm,
Valerie Bergere, Harold Kennedy,
Lawrence Keating, Hazel O'Con-
nell, Robert Sloane, Jane Kim,
Nena Sinclair, Jonathan Hole,
Walter Gilbert, Robert Gleckler.
Anthony Blair and Sam J. Park.
New York. — The only apparent ex-
cuse for the presentation of this de-
tective mystery play seems to have
been the desire of Mr. Ashton to so
completely throw his audience off the
track that everyone would be fooled
as to the identity of the murderer, in
doing which he overdid the whole
thing and fooled himself. His victim
is killed not only once but three times.
First off, poor John Burgess is found,
as the curtain rises and a knocking
heard at the door to his study, shot
through the chest and quite dead.
After it has been established as to
the method by which he died and
that it was a case of suicide to col-
lect double indemnity insurance, and
not a case of murder, since the man
had no enemies and his family all
loved him to distraction, the medical
examiner reports that he had been
Music and Lyrics Harry Warren
and Al Dubin
Dance Director... Busby Berkeley
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor . --- Sam Bischoff
"MERRY WIVES OF RENO'
Cast: Donald Woods, Margaret Lind-
say, Glenda Farrell, Hugh Herbert,
Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee, Ruth
Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh.
Director H. Bruce Humberstone
Story and Screen Play Robert Lord
Dialogue. Brown Holmes
and Joe Traub
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
Independent Productions
Fanchon Royer
(Fanehon Royer Studio)
"STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL "
Cast: June Clyde, Frank Albertson,
Jose Crespo, John Davidson, Tynam
Holtz, Stanley Price.
Director - Breezy Eason
Original Story ....William Bloecher
Adaptation Jack Neville
Photography Ernest Miller
Eastern Productions
Vitaphone Sfudios
UNTITLED
Cast: Ben Blue.
Director - Ralph Staub
Photography Ray Foster
and Ed Dupar
Al Green Burns
Al Green is plenty burned up at
Warners for not allowing him to at-
tend the Mervy LeRoy-Doris War-
ner merger, after the director had
picked him for the best man. Green
could have attended tne wedding
and been back to Hollywood in
time to start his next assignment,
"Fur Coats," on January 8.
stabbed to death. Sergeant Detective
Ryan (played in his usual excellent
fashion by Robert Gleckler) is com-
pletely stumped by this particular
murder-suicide and can make neither
head nor tail out of the members of
the family or the servants. Ned Par-
ker (Walter Gilbert) the insurance
man, who is on the scene to eliminate
the murder angle if possible, before
his company is forced to pay double
indemnity, joins hands with Ryan to
help solve the mystery.
Making use of the trick of accusing
an innocent member of the family in
the hope that the real murderer will
come forward to protect her, one of
the sons confesses he stabbed the old
gent in a quarrel. Whereupon up
speaks faithful old Anna the servant
who had been with John Burgess for
20 years and admits that she pois-
oned her master, because he was the
lover who deserted her in Germany,
and their daughter is the upstairs
maid. Both Mother and daughter had
been left out of Burgess' will.
With the crime now solved and the
murderers accounted for, a sigh of
relief is breathed only to have Detec-
tive Ryan turn on the insurance man
at the final curtain and disclose him
as the real murderer, who planted a
trick gunfire device on Burgess' desk,
to kill his victim mysteriously, without
evidences of a gun being found, then
turn in a report of suicide and cash
in on a heavy commission for saving
the insurance company the necessity
for paying double indemnity for mur-
der.
Played in an aura of unreality, one
gets the feeling that the murdered
man never was real, his family isn't
real. Instead of poignant grief at
Burgess' passing there is nothing but
blatant, careless, surface emotion,
hardly compatible with such an event
in real life. All the members of the
Burgess family act as if they were
strangers to each other and complete-
ly mystified at finding themselves in
the midst of something that doesn't
concern them. There is the suspicion
likewise that the police sergeant arid
the insurance investigator are simply
on the stage to go through with the
tricks and circumlocutions laid out for
them by the author. Similarly too
the object of the stage director and
his performers seemed pointed at a
definite comedy effect, with the but-
ler the worst offender, although the
fault is not his. Aside from Gleckler,
Walter Gilbert and Valerie Bergere,
the work of the cast was less than
noteworthy. Should the era of silent
drama return one day years hence,
this play would make a good jumping
off place for the start of another cycle
of mystery films. And that's all.
ovie Ushers Kick
At Code Salaries
New York. — Movie usrers m the
metropolitan district have complained
to the Code Authority that the code is
causing them a loss by setting a mini-
mum scale of 40 cents and 25 cents
an hour, or $10 for a forty-hour week.
Charles O'Reilly, of the Code Au-
thority, admits that one large theatre
chain is paying that scale, but says
most of the other theares are paying
the old and higher scale.
Efforts are being made here to
unionize the ushers. They met with
a rebuff at the Roxy, where the ush-
ers declared they were receiving more
than the union minimum demands.
Writers Guild Checking
Closely on All Credits
Screen Writers Guild, in an effort
to protect the interests of all its
members, is keeping tabs on all ex-
ploitation by writers, demanding that
a writer who has worked on a script
with other writers specify collabora-
tion.
Practise of scrutinizing all credits
has been put in effect .in order to off-
set any beefs from slighted members.
Credit grabbing hogs are being brought
to book wherever examples of their
activity are discovered.
Added Scenes for Col.'s
'Men of Tomorrow'
Frank Borzage puts "Men of To-
morrow" back into work Thursday for
three days of added scenes. Picture,
which was originally titled "Paul
Street Boys," has studio raving. Jo
Swerlmg has written the added ma-
terial and the same cast of twenty
boys will be used for the scenes.
Burton's Next Ticket
Columbia has assigned David Burton
to direct the next Carole Lombard
story, which is tentatively titled "So-
nata," from an original story by Jo
Swerling.
Burton directed Miss Lombard's last
picture for Columbia titled "Brief Mo-
ment."
Breaks for Baby Stars
MGM is giving breaks to its baby
stars who appeared in "Hollywood
Party." Linda Parker has been given
a role in "Viva Villa" and Ruth Chan-
ning has been set for a nice role in
"Men in White." Pauline Brooks is
also up for good roles.
Para. East for Girls
New York. — Earl Carroll held an
audition at the Majestic Theatre to
select eleven girls to appear in Para-
mount's "Murder at the Vanities,"
which will be produced under his su-
pervision. The girls picked will go to
the coast.
Set Distribution for 'He'
New York. — Distribution for "He
the King of Virtue," an Astor picture,
will be handled by Dave Biederman
and All Star Features in the Los An-
geles territory.
1
TO
ICHT
COAST TO COAST
COLUMBIA BROADCASTING COMPANY
K H J
8:15 P. M.
(Pacific Time)
K F R C
A.^i"^ ";^Xf
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- :'Kr.y^.- ■ ^-■■- ■■ — ■^%=T'~^'~'-
DELL CANPO
SINGS
AND THE WHOLE WORLD LISTENS
I
Exclusive Management:
-Columbia Artists Service
^^85 Madison Avenue^
^^^New York City
I
'.1F.TR0-G0LD7.YN-MAYKR STUDIOp,
% MP.SAP/UEL MARX,
CULVER GITY.CALi:''. "
Vol. XVIII, No. 43. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, January 3, 1934
WlNNlFTimmuSE
• DURING the last year most every
studio in town has had its hands full
trying to appease the annoyances of
one or more of their important players
who had the urge to do a stage play.
Most of the producers arguing against
such a jump by their important play-
ers did so with the thought in mind
of not losing their services for that
period, but one and possibly two were
arguing with a different idea — they
wanted to keep the names right in
their studios and guide them away
from a possible stage flop, not only
the flop of the play, but the flop of
the artist as well.
We had one producer tell us
months ago, "There are not five per-
sons in Hollywood who have had any
success in pictures who could go to
the stage and do anything that would
remotely compare with their picture
success and for that reason I try to
keep my people here. If I thought
they would be a success I would urge
them to take that flyer, the stimulus
would do wonders; but knowing that
few if any could hit under present
conditions the flop would do them
untold harm."
•
A shining example of all the above
is what has happened, and is happen-
ing, to "The Lake" that stars Katha-
rine Hepburn. There are those who
think that "Katy" is even a worse flop
than the play, and others vice versa.
But whatever the thoughts, the ven-
ture will hurt (what we consider) the
greatest artist in pictures.
We know of at least ten people
who tried to talk Hepburn out of the
idea of returning to the stage. First
she had always been pretty much of
a flop before the footlights; secondly,
those advisers knew that there were
only a handful of people writing for
the theatre and her chance of getting
a good play, that would measure up
to her picture success, was about a
thousand-to-one shot. And, too, some
of her friends KNEW she could not
duplicate her picture success on the
stage and wanted not only to save
her the money she invested in the
play, but the humiliation of a stage
defeat.
•
That angle about ONLY A HAND-
FUL OF PEOPLE WRITING FOR THE
STAGE should hold plenty of warn-
IContinued on Page 2)
Croucho Peeved
New York. — To the previously
published denial that the Marx
Brothers had closed a contract
with Paramount, Groucho Marx
now adds that the brothers are
definitely through with that com-
pany. The brothers may postpone
any new deal until after leaving
pictures for at least one Broadway
play.
NRA Labor Board
Swings Into Action
The Regional Labor Board is swing-
ing into action on studio NRA mat-
ters. Dick L'Estrange was on Friday
appointed to act individually in hand-
ling all complaints prior to their be-
ing placed before the board itself.
Already, up to last night, L'Estrange
had worked out settlements of dis-
putes with Invincible Pictures, Cres-
cent Productions and a complaint
against RKO studios was well on the
way to adjustment. KMTR was han-
dled on radio matters.
Bill Rowland East To
Close Columbia Deal
William Rowland, of the Rowland
and Brice producing duo, left last
night from the United Airport for New
York. He will be gone a week, meet-
ing Harry and Jack Cohn in the me-
tropolis to polish off the details on
the R&B distributing deal with Co-
lumbia.
Dick Wallaces Returning
The Richard Wallaces leave New
York Saturday for Hollywood, accord-
ng to word received by the director's
representative, Dave Epstein.
Sheehan Calls For Showdown
From Bank On His Contract
And Wins Full Power Of Okay
The explosion that has been simmering in the Fox organiza-
tion and ready to burst at any moment has been settled, and the
blast has been delayed for an indefinite period. W. R. Sheehan
is again the production head of the Fox lot with full power of
okay on all pictures. That also in-
bearing the Hg rB Sorti Bom Dics
After Long Illness
eludes the productions
Lasky name.
On Sheehan's return here from
Europe he became ruffled at the stor-
ies that he had been reduced to the
head of a single production unit with
(Continued on Page 4)
Radio's Rio' Crabs
Big Dough in N.Y.
New York. — On the last two days
of a two weeks' run it looks as if the
Music Hall here will establish another
high mark, what with the special New
Year's eve show and the town liking
"Flying Down to Rio," the Radio mu-
sical.
Tlie picture grabbed $102,000 the
first week, and with the holiday week,
the extra performance, it's a cinch to
better the $109,000 take of the first
week's run of "Little Women."
Con Conrad Marries
New York. — Con Conrad was mar-
ried yesterday at the City Hall, the
bride being Leona R. Zadeck, a Cali-
fornia girl, Mickey Neilan and Dell
Campo were the witnesses. The song
writer was divorced from Francine Lar-
rimore in 1 925.
ROGERS, OF iSTAi^DARD OIL,
STARTS OWIV PIC COMPAIVY
Grant Peeved By
Demands of Para.
New York. — Some of the biggest
money the picture business ever saw
is coming in with the formation of
Fairhaven Productions by H. H. Rogers
Jr., son of the famous Standard Oil
magnate. William Alexander, film
veteran, is associated as vice president
and general manager.
The new company will produce spe-
cial attractions only and employ new
technical processes devised by Rogers.
One device claimed is a method by
which a picture can be transferred to
a screen simultaneously with its being
photographed. Figure that one out.
London. — Gary Grant is bewilder-
edly trying to figure whether he came
here for a holiday or for hard work
and has finally decided the only an-
swer is to get back home as soon as
he can. Paramount has been running
the actor ragged with demands that
he make personal appearances, and
this on top of a minor operation and
a siege in a nursing home.
Death came to Herbert Somborn,
head of the Brown Derby Restaurants
in Hollywood, and one-time husband
of Gloria Swanson, yesterday after-
noon at 1 :50 o'clock at his home in
Feverly H.l!s after a long siege of ill-
n::s. Somborn has been ill for over
a vear and his death was the result
z': compl-cations following a kidney
z r-ent
Following his recuperation from a
recent operaton he had been remov-
ed to his home from the Cedars of
L'.banon Hospital and it was thought
that he was on the road to convales-
cence when death occurred.
Somborn was 53 years old. His body
will be cremated and shipped to New
York, where his mother and sister re-
s de, for the burial services.
Del Ruth and Warner
Still Apart in Deal
With the completion of "Upper-
world," now in production, Roy Del
Ruth winds up his ten-year association
with Warners. Director and studio
have not come together on a new deal.
Lasky Goes East
Jesse L. Lasky leaves for New York
on January 10 for a three-week busi-
ness conference. Producer hopes to
return to the Fox lot on February 2
to get started on his first 1934 pro-
duction which will be "Grand Canary."
Cohn Brothers Bereaved
New York. — Funeral services will
be held today at Park West funeral
chapel for Mrs. Bella Cohn, mother
of the Columbia executives. Harry
Cohn flew east for the services.
Erik Charrell Arrives
New York. — Erik Charrell arrives
today on the lie de France on his way
to Fox for a one-picture deal.
^M. A. SEITER-d.rect. ng-' SO YOU WON T SING, EH?' J
Page Two
ilti^^t^f=
Ri[p©iiTlPi
Ian. 3, 1934
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Charlie Beahan and Sidney Fox have
separated after a year and four weeks
of married life; Sidney has moved to
a hotel and Charlie is in the Bel Air
Mansion. . . . Anyone with a spare cot
(or umbrella) could have made a for-
tune at Palm Springs over the week-
end . . . and how are the leaks in
YOUR roof? . . . Major C. C. L. Black
of London was in town looking over
the sights of Hollywood. . . . You'll
be glad to know that Eddie Sutherland
is getting along swell. . . . The Al
Newmans are doing nicely, too, after
the birth of their new baby boy, who
arrived Christmas eve. . . . Eddie Man-
nix entertained a gang of twenty or
so at Caliente — and the Jimmy Crain-
gers struggled along with some fifteen
guests. . . . Nils Asther. the John Mil-
jans, the Clark Gables, Betty Comp-
son and the bridegroom, the Allan
Dwans, Junior Laemmie among those
across the border — and they lost more
than the time!
•
Do you know what producer at a
major studio is now dragging chorus
girls along with him to story confer-
ences? And the GIRLS are complain-
ing! . . . The Frank Joyces are St.
Moritzing — but will be back any year
now. . . . We have word from New
York that Kenneth McKenna knew
absolutely nothing about his separa-
tion from Kay Francis until he read it
in the papers! . . . The William Car-
gans started out for San Francisco to
spend New Year's, met up with the
Sam Jaffes in the Derby — and got
talked into hopping a plane for New
York that same night — of course,
without Sam, who's pinch-hitting at
Columbia. . . . Natalie Keaton leav-
ing for a visit to Norma Talmadge in
Palm Beach any minute.
•
George Marshall, big laundry man
about town, and Monte Brice leaving
for N'Yawk tomorrow. . . . The Harry
Joe Browns (Sally Eilers), the Milton
Brens, Mrs. Jules Mastbaum, Eddie
Buzzell, Bob Riskin, Glenda Farrell,
the Felix Youngs, the Dick Rodgers,
Lupe and Johnny Weissmuller, who
went swimming in the rain regardless,
among those who risked their all at
the Dunes over the week-end. . . . All
GOLDWYN'S 'SCAXDALS' IS
DOING BOX OFFICE TRICKS
New York. — The Samuel Goldwyn-
United Artists production of "Roman
Scandals" is doing box office tricks
that are most strange to this picture
business — that is, strange based on
the past three-year grosses.
At the Rivoli here, after knocking
over a record-breaking first week, the
picture rang up a sensational single
day, Sunday, with a special perform-
ance at midnight. The day's take was
$1 1,814.
In Philadelphia U. A. was forced
to take over the Aldine on a weekly
rental basis because of their inability
to get together with Warners on a
split. The house has averaged less
than $4,000 a week for a long pe-
riod. "Scandals" has done an average
of $3,700 A DAY since the opening.
The United Artists in San Francisco
Tashman Going To
N.Y. For a Picture
New York. — Lilyan Tashman has
been signed by Chester Erskine for the
role of Nellie Bly in "Frankie and
Johnny," to go in production in early
February at the Biograph studios.
Moss Hart is doing the script and
Helen Morgan will have an important
role.
Para. Tags Joan Marsh
Joan Marsh was signed yesterday by
Paramount to a long term optional
contract. The player has no imme-
diate assignment, but with several pic-
tures starting within ten days the stu-
dio plans to place her quickly.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
ings to our bets who want to "return
to the theatre." If they must return,
they should be assured of a good ve-
hicle and have others than themselves
sit in on the judgment of what is good
and bad.
We brought this question to the
attention of Sam Harris, the most suc-
cessful manager in the theatre today
or yesterday, and Sam said, "Other
than their box office pull, because of
their pictures, I would not give you a
nickel for any star in pictures for a
play. The stage and the screen are
two entirely different mediums of ex-
pression and it does not follow that
a success on the screen can hit in the
theatre and there is a lot of truth to
the other side. When a competent
stage artist gets the feel of pictures
it has a tendency to ruin him for stage
purposes."
the tennis playing was done indoors
with chips!
And add to the Caliente gayety —
Harry Rapf, Bob Leonard, Hal Wallis
much in evidence with Louise Fa-
zenda, Harry Beaumont, Adrienne
Ames and hubby, Guy Kibbee, Oliver
Hardy. Guy, they tell us, showed
them how to play blackjack. . . . And
though Clark Gable was with the
missus the witching midnight hour
that brought in the New Year saw
some two score-twomen lined up for
a kiss — and they got it.
clicked off $15,200 the first week,
over $3,000 better than the "Kid
From Spain" in the same spot when it
was charging 25 per cent more ad-
mission.
Seven houses of the Poli chain in
New England, sought permission and
were granted the privilege of running
the picture for one show New Year's
Eve. The seven were sold out com-
pletely before the houses opened and
in four spots that many additional
theatres were opened to take care of
the slough business with the result
the chain reported a take of $14,1 10
for the single performance.
Chicago and Milwaukee are doing
sensational. In Chicago the picture
got a bad start but has picked up and
IS topping anything that has been in
the house for the past year.
Wellman Slated For
'Barbary Coast' Pic
Samuel Goldwyn is negotiating with
Twentieth Century for the loan ofi
William Wellman to direct the Gary!
Cooper starring vehicle "Barbary
Coast."
Wellman is now on a loan to MGM
to direct "Streets of New York" for
the David Selznick unit and will noti
finish there for five weeks yet, at
which time he will go to Goldwyn if
Zanuck has no assignment ready for
him. I
Bernie Hyman Supervisor
On Cat and the Fiddle'
Seymour Felix is anxious to have a
correction of the story in yesterday's
Reporter that he was slated to super-
vise the taking of added scenes on
"Cat and the Fiddle." Bernie Hyman,
original producer of the picture, is still
supervising on the new work, and the
story was entirely an inadvertence.
Monckton Hoffe Is Here
Monckton Hoffe, English writer,
ayfved in Hollywood yesterday to ful-
fill his one-picture engagement for the
Irving Thalberg unit at MGM.
RUS$ELL.MILLER
and Company
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1 181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY, Inc.
WISHES TO ANNOUNCE THE
ASSOCIATION OF
MR. LEW SCHREIBER
AS ONE OF ITS EXECUTIVES.
January 1. 1934
323 Taft Building
•■mv::
Jan. 3, 1934
Page Three
ALL OF ME' IS FOR CLASSES;
MOIVO'S 'WOMAN'S MAX' «OOD
Program Job Nicely
Raft, Mack And
Dialogue The Tops
"ALL OF ME"
(Paramount)
Director James Flood
Original Rose Albert Porter
Screen Play Sydney Buchman
and Thomas Mitchell
Photographer Victor Milner
Cast: Miriam Hopkins, Fredric March,
Helen Mack, George Raft, Wil-
liam Collier, Sr.
In spite of the fact that a rough —
very rough — print of Paramount's "All
of Me" was shown at preview, the
picture shows pretty definite earmarks
of being a good show.
At any rate, it's different, with a
shining new plot, a new method of
telling a story, and superb direction
on the part of James Flood.
The thread of the story is extreme-
ly tenuous — almost frail, but it is in-
terpreted by a robust mood and treat-
ment that save it from petering out
into thin air. Wherein it is doubly
clever, for while the mental conflict,
the intangible drama of the thing will
appeal to the intelligentsia and be way
over the average head, there are
enough melodramatics to entertain al-
most everybody.
It is the story of the struggle be-
tween a man and a girl — Fredric
March and Miriam Hopkins. Desper-
ately in love with each other, she is
nevertheless afraid of losing in mar-
riage the happiness they have now.
He argues: "I'm not offering you hap-
piness. I'm offering you hardships,
adventure — and love."
There the matter stands — while
George Raft and Helen Mack, in their
own tragic, profound, courageous love,
illustrate what March means, while
the audience (and March and Hop-
kins) look on. It is clever — extreme-
ly so, and, as said before, well di-
rected.
Helen Mack and George Raft are
the real stars of the picture. Both
of them rate raves for their work.
Miss Hopkins handles her difficult role
with her usual excellence, but March
is handicapped by very unbecoming
waved hair and quite a group of man-
nerisms. However, at moments, he
is splendid.
Syd Buchman and Thomas Mitchell
wrote the story, and Victor Milner
handled a clever camera. The dia-
logue is exceptionally fine.
The picture, because of its radical
deparature from formula, probably
won't be a howling success anywhere.
Audiences which go for thrillers, west-
erns and slapstick shorts will probably
twiddle their thumbs until it's over
But it will be talked about and re-
membered, and the stock of Raft and
Helen Mack — especially Miss Mack — -
will be boosted higher than ever.
fCarmel Myers with Vallee
' Carmel Myers has been set in for
guest star on the Rudy Vallee Fleisch-
mann hour this Thursday, an unusual
tribute in that she is the first guest
star to be asked for a repeat appear-
ance. Miss Myers appeared on the
program when in the east.
Postponed
Warners planned de.finitely to
make a test of Cliff Montgomery,
star of the Columbia football team,
yesterday, but after one look at
the boy's face following a Rose
Bowl afternoon in the mud the test
was postponed indefinitely.
$30,000 Settles
Col.-Borzage Deal
Frank Borzage and Columbia have
settled their differences regarding the
price to be paid the director for his
services in directing "Man's Castle"
and "Men of Tomorrow," originally
"Paul Street Boys."
Borzage signed a ticket that would
give him the option of accepting
$100,000 for the two pictures as
straight salary or $50,000 salary and
a cut on the grosses of both. And he
decided on the latter before starting
work.
Having finished both pictures, Bor-
zage suggested that Columbia buy out
his participation and the deal was
closed with a $30,000 cash payment,
giving him $80,000 for his work in-
stead of $100,000 had he decided to
accept the straight salary.
Zanft on Way For
Tie-in with Agency
New York.— The object of Major
John Zanft's trip to Hollywood at this
time is to complete the details of an
agency affiliation on which he has
been working. It is understood that
he will join forces and take a large
cut-in with one of the big tenper-
centers in the film capital.
After getting himself established,
he is expected to divide his time be-
tween Hollywood, New York and Lon-
don in the interests of his organiza-
tion.
Para. Signs Clarke
At Eleventh Hour
After resigning itself to placing
"Man Who Broke His Heart" into
production today without a leading
woman, Paramount succeeded late
yesterday to put through a fast deal
with MGM for the loan of Mae
Clarke. Carole Lombard had previously
begged out of the assignment.
Preston Foster, Victor McLaglen,
Alison Skipworth, David Landau and
Mischa Auer go to work today under
William Cameron Menzies and George
Somnes' direction. Al Lewis is the
associate producer.
Radio After Swanson
For 'I Love an Actress'
Radio wants Gloria Swanson for the
lead oppiosite Gregory Ratoff in the
latter's story of his life titled "I Love
an Actress." She will play the role
which Lenore Ulric was signed for if
she accepts. Elissa Landi is also be-
ing considered for the part.
Written and Megged
"A WOMAN'S MAN"
( Monogram)
Direction Edward Ludwig
0'''g'"al Adela Rogers St. Johns
Adaptation Frances Hyland
Photography Joseph A. Valentine
Cast: John Halliday, Marguerite de la
Motte, Wallace Ford, Kitty Kelly,
Jameson Thomas, Tom Dugan,
Billee Van Every, Wallis Clark.
Don Douglas, Leigh Allen, George
Mayo, Harry Green, Jack Perry.
Plenty of entertainment has been
packed into this Monogram picture,
the kind of entertainment that is sure
to please nearly any type of audi-
ence. Expertly performed, the story
is consistently amusing with the sin-
gle exception of its routine ending.
The excellence of what has gone be-
fore leads an audience to expect a
unique twist at the finale, and, when
the addle-brained movie star goes in-
to a conventional clinch, there is a dis-
tinct let down. Since this was a first
preview we can figure that Producer
Ben Verschleiser will have time and
opportunity to whip this finish into
a shape worthy of the rest of the job.
Marguerite de la Motte plays the
selfish, empty-headed star and deliv-
ers a whiz of a performance that will
cause a lot of people to wonder where
she has been these many moons. John
Halliday is his usual suave self as the
director who, for love of the woman
his star has once been, protects her
from the knowledge that she is slowly
but surely slipping. Kitty Kelly is
her other friend, once her room-mate
in the early days, now her secretary
and companion. It is a part that af-
fords much hard-boiled, wise-cracking
comedy in which this Kelly gal scores.
Wallace Ford, in the role of a prize-
fighter whom our movie light picks up
as a plaything, suffers through no
fault of his own. It is a bit of mis-
casting and the film would benefit by
cutting out as much as possible of the
ring scenes. The inadept fight stuff
only interrupts a story that has been
built entirely around the lady in the
case. The punch is in the fact the
boy with the championship in his
grasp allows himself to be knocked
out to spite the woman. More should
be made of the situation and the ac-
tual fight merely suggested. After
all, folks are likely to remember a
guy named Baer.
The direction of Edward Ludwig
maintains a nice pace. Story, too, is
commendable, particularly for its many
laugh Imes. With a new ending it
would be even more commendable.
Joseph Valentine is credited for the
better-than-average photography.
You haven't a heavy name cast to
help you sell this picture and the title
needs more than a bit of explanation.
The original name was "Great God
Fourflush," a far better label. The
Hollywood angle is perhaps the best,
for it depicts a Hollywood the major-
ity of fans believe they know. Once
you get them in, the picture will not
disappoint.
The old Biograph Studios reopened
in a blaze of glory this week under
the auspices of Harry Goefz and H. J.
Yates and really the new version of
that studio does the ghosts of yester-
day proud. Two gorgeous sound
stages, completely soundproofed and
glass inclosed so's two different com-
panies can work at the same time
apart or together. Dressing rooms that
are spacious and airy and not too
reminiscent of hospital waiting rooms.
Nice wood-paneled offices and enough
plans to keep them busy for a long
while or until some one else can think
up some bigger and better ideas.
Above all, the place is so clean that
it will take years to acquire any dirt
at all with some old fashioned tradi-
tion in it. Helen Morgan, Chester
Erskine and Jack Kirkland were on
hand on account of it will be their
combined work that will inaugurate
the new studio. Arthur Cozine of the
old guard is in charge of something
or other up at Biograph and D. W.
Griffith sent a long telegram wishing
every one well and regretting the fact
that he couldn't be on hand to do
honor to the old place.
•
Gene Raymond, in town for a cou-
ple of days before sailing, hadda cock-
tail party for the members of the press
which was really very amusing on ac-
count of the lad has worked in so
many pictures for so many different
companies that it looked like a con-
vention of publicity writers, all of
whom had a perfect right to try to
crash in on the benefits of this par-
ticular kind of publicity. Fox, Co-
lumbia and Radio all having opuses
featuring Gene, they were all there to
see that each one was done right by.
•
And speaking of interviews. It
seems that the last time Leslie How-
ard was in town, just before sailing
for England, he gave out for the in-
terviewers while lying in bed in purple
pajamas. And the pajamas had a cute
little trick of opening wide at the
throat, thus revealing one amulet
strung around the Howard neck.
Whereupon each girl cooed over it
and asked what it was and Howard
was forced to break down and con-
fess that it was from his mother and
he's never taken it off since she gave
it to him. Well, Howard is back and
the interviewers are clamoring for time
just to see what's gonna happen this
time.
•
A bunch of the boys were seated
around a table the other evening dis-
cussing a certain star and wondering
what had happened to her in her last
coupla pictures because instead of be-
ing so vivid and alive the gal has sud-
denly gone deadly dull and elegant.
And one feller up and said he guessed
instead of playing the part the picture
called for she had suddenly decided to
play audience reaction instead!
Spewack Duo Returns
Sam and Bella Spewack returned to
town Saturday from a three months'
vacation in New York. Writers go
on the script of "Soviet" at MGM.
Page Four
THE
Ian. 3, 1934
Indies Refuse Hays'
Request To Censor
New York. — "Nay! Nay! Mister
Hays," said the independents to a re-
quest this week that they allow the
same censorship board that works on
the majors' advertising to handle
theirs.
The Federation of the Motion Pic-
ture Industry, the indie producers and
distributors organization, figures they
can handle their own problems and
have appointed their own committee
of watchdogs. Harry Thomas, Charles
Clett, Eddie Golden and H. Cluckman
make up the committee.
Binyon-Butler Did the Job
Claude Binyon and Frank Butler
have done the screen treatment for
"Should Ladies Listen," which Doug-
las MacLean will produce for Para-
mount, a fact that Doug is anxious to
have published so that he doesn't get
credit for more than he is doing.
Sheehan Bluffs Chase
(Continued from Page t )
no more authority in Fox productions
than Lasky, Rockett and other pro-
ducers. He demanded a showdown.
He went to Kent and Kent passed the
buck on to the Chase board looking
after their picture interests. On
reaching that point Sheehan remind-
ed them that he holds a contract giv-
ing him prior rights to the contract
they signed with Jesse Lasky, grant-
ing the latter non-interference with
his productions. Sheehan demanded
the full force of his contract or that
Chase settle with him on the basis of
the unexpired term of the ticket
which had $3,000,000 more to run.
Chase has little thought of settling
any contract. They tried that during
Tinker's term, with very bad results.
So they decided to recognize the full
spirit of Sheehan's papers and so ad-
vised Lasky, who is understood to
have wired, "That's okay with me."
The set-up now is that Sheehan is
the boss, that Lasky, Rockett and all
other producers must take orders
from him, receive his okay on every
production, etc., etc.
It is understood that Sheehan,
knowing of the terms of the Lasky
deal, has been laying low waiting for
the full flop of Lasky's efforts and al-
though the Lasky pictures have not
set the world on fire they have done
a better business and have given Fox
whatever legs it still has to stand on.
Finding that Lasky's operas were im-
proving instead of flopping, Sheehan
demanded this showdown.
It is felt that Lasky reasons that
the whole burden is now on Sheehan's
shoulders, that if he interferes with
his pictures in this new set-up, as
much as he did when he was not sup-
posed to have any interference, that
the full responsibility for this interfer-
ence will be credited to Sheehan.
Then what?
Lasky has two more years to run on
his Fox ticket and the story that has
been going the rounds that he would
go to Radio was more gossip than
fact, with insiders having the opinion
though that Jesse would not permit
himself to be placed under the dom-
ination of Sheehan and as a result
would leave the company. If he did
Radio was waiting with an offer.
Frank Ceraghty Dies
Frank Geraghty, well known as-
sistant director, lost his life in
Sunday's storm. The family is left
destitute. Dick L'Estrange, of the
Assistant Directors and Scripters
union, is handling a collection.
Universal and Columbia employees
have responded generously. Here's
a chance to remember a pal.
Warners Host To
Victorious Lions
"The greatest time we've had on
the trip outside of winning the game,"
said the Columbia football players and
New York news writers after yester-
day at Warners' studio. The boys had
a lunch, entertainment, intimate chats
with the stars, and eye-opening visits
to big sets. The affair was keyed
to the proper spirit to make the boys
feel at home, and they did.
Bill Koenig was a genial host in the
absence of Jack Warner; Lou Little
and Howard Jones headed the guests;
Dick Powell, Frank McHugh, Guy
Kibbee and Vince Barnett entertained,
and Busby Berkeley showed himself a
"reg'lar" by welcoming the visitors
to the tricks of the famous "Wonder
Bar" minor set.
Two Stage Offers Start
Schildkraut's New Year
The New Year started off aus-
piciously for Joseph Schildkraut with
two wired offers for the New York
stage. The Theatre Guild wants him
for a John Wexley play and the Shu-
berts for a play based on the roman-
tic life of Chopin.
The player had to turn down both
offers because he goes to Columbia
on his starring contract immediately
after completing his role in "Viva
Villa."
MCM Talks New Deal
To Rouben Mamoulian
MGM is talking with Rouben Ma-
moulian to remain on that lot on a
several picture deal or a term con-
tract as a result of his work on "Queen
Christina." If a deal is worked out
it is understood that the assignment
of the direction of the next Greta
Garbo picture, "The Painted Veil,"
will be handed him.
Twelvetrees To Fox
On One-Picture Deal
Helen Twelvetrees was signed yes-
terday by Fox on a one-picture deal
to play the feminine lead in "All Men
Are Enemies," which will be directed
by George Fitzmaurice. Production
is scheduled to start this month. The
William Hawks agency made the deal.
Joan Wheeler Here
joan Wheeler, who was signed in
New York by Warners because of her
work in "Growing Pains" on the
Broadway stage, arrived here yesterday
and starts work next week in a fea-
tured role in "Hit Me Again" with
Ricardo Cortez and Bette Davis. Rob-
ert Florey will direct.
Wynyard on Long Termer
MGM yesterday signed Diana Wyn-
yard to a new long term contract. Her
next picture will be "Vanessa," based
on the novel by Hugh Walpole.
Para. Director on
N.Y. Indicted List
New York. — Frank Bailey, one of
Paramount's directorial board, headed
a list of prominent men indicted here
yesterday in the Realty Associates Inc.
case. Three indictments alleging con-
spiracy to conceal and transfer assets
were returned against the group.
In addition to Bailey the others in-
clude: William M. Greve, president of
New York Investors Inc.; F. T. Pend-
ler, head of Allied Owners Inc.; W. H.
Wheelock, president of the Prudence
Company.
Spence Quits at Fox
To Free Lance Again
Ralph Spence is again back in the
free lance field, having completed his
short term deal with Fox for the writ-
ing of "Mr. Skitch" and comedy
scenes and dialogue for the Fox Fol-
lies.
The writer will go east to settle a
newspaper deal before taking up pjf
ture offers.
Lasky Signs Nicholls
Jesse Lasky yesterday signed Dud-
ley Nicholls to write the screen play
of the A. J. Cronin novel, "Grand
Canary." Frank Tuttle will direct and
Warner Baxter has the male lead. No
others cast as yet.
Bill Otto Joins Gill
William Otto, recently with the
Small-Landau office, has tied in with
William S. Gill agency.
Set NRA Scale For
Studio Script Clerks
Dick L'Estrange of the Assistant Di-
rectors and Scripters Union, acting for
the Regional Labor Board, went into
session with Pat Casey for the pro-
ducers and came out with an agree- ^
ment on script clerks which guaran- j
tees them a 54-hour week and a mini- i
mum of $40.50. However, wherever
script clerks have been receiving above
that figure their past salary remains
the scale. .|
Under the agreement script clerks
will also receive time and a half for
overtime on Sundays and holidays.
More difficulty was found in work-
ing out the second assistants' scale,
but this is expected to be settled by
Saturday.
Barbara Blair Here From
Networks to Join Vallee
One of the higher-bracket broad-
^casting stars of the East, Barbara
Blair, arrived in Hollywood yesterday
to take part in the next Fleischman
Hour, Thursday. The Edington-Vin-
cent office set her for the broadcast,
which is her ninth, a record for re-
peats on the hour.
Star just completed a year's con-
tract with Standard Oil and is due to;
take a flier in pictures.
Joe Weil on the Job
Joe Weil, for the past several years
Universal's director of exploitation in
New York, arrived by plane today to
take up his new position here as as-
sistant to Carl Laemmie Sr.
DE SHON-NAYLOR
HARRY DE SHON
Announces His Association
with
MACE NAYLOR
To Personally Represent
a Limited Number
OT
ACTORS-WRITERS
DIRECTORS
of the
SCREEN-STACE-RADIO
Suite 406 California Bank Building
9441 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills
CRestview 6600
Si,
infl
Vol. XVIII, No. 44. Price 5c.
MM KU-'jULjUWI n-v.Mi i:.« b lUUiUO,
% MH.SA.VUFL MARX.
CUI.VPR 'JITY.CALIr'. ^ , ^ ,
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, January 4, 1934
EUROPEAN PROSPECTS
America Will Have to Pick and
Choose for Europe to Hold That
Market 1933 Most Profitable
• BUSINESS IS getting better. Very
much better.
Reports from all over the country
indicate a gain of better than 25 per
cent during the past two weeks. Con-
sidering the bottonn that was hit dur-
ing the first two weeks of December,
this is not much of a business, BUT
IT IS AN IMPROVEMENT.
We have had quite a few letters in
the last few days from exhibitor
friends scattered throughout the coun-
try and EVERY LETTER is filled with
anticipation of better business for
1934. Each correspondent is 100 per
cent for the Roosevelt administration
and believes if the President is given
even the least bit of help, his new deal
will turn into a GOOD DEAL and this
country will jump back to its feet.
Of course the business being done
on "Roman Scandals" is nothing short
of phenomenal and a lot of the boys
are greeting the reports with, "Lucky
Coldwyn," and we resent it. Coldwyn
I is a SHOWMAN, one of our best pro-
j ducers and a credit to the business.
He goes out to make the best picture
It IS possible to make regardless of the
cost. He gambles his whole wad to
get a fine picture and if the finished
I product fits in to that qualification
land does business, it's not luck, it's
1 BRAINS backed with a determination
jto produce ENTERTAINMENT.
If most of our other producers
; would take a few sheets from the
V production guide of Coldwyn, our in-
dustry would be in much better shape.
Most of our studios start and finish
I on the wrong foot. Of course no one
I'can determine the qualities of a pic-
ture until it is finished, but where
Coldwyn takes his product back after
his "dress rehearsal" and tries to im-
prove it, the other studios trim a few
feet here and there and ship the
print. They won't go after a better
picture, when that betterment would
lonly cost an additional few thousand
jwith a possibility of getting a hundred
jt.times that amount back as a result of
the expenditure in addition to con-
tributing a COOD PICTURE.
I' Yes, it's not luck with Coldwyn,
t's good producing backed by SHOW-
MANSHIP.
Erpi's H
ands
Off
New York. J
E. Otterson de- |
dared today that
as far
as Erpi is
concerned there
will be
no inter-
ference in the
management of |
Loew's Inc.
Miller Would Alter
Howard Contract
Trouble arose on the Warner front
when the Leslie Howard contract was
submitted to Gilbert Miller, to whom
the star is under long term contract,
who has the right to approve or dis-
approve of any picture contracts the
star signs.
Miller wants the Warner contract
to state that Howard has the right to
make one picture a year in London as
long as the Warner contract runs. The
deal is being handled by M. C. Levee.
Kobler, N. Y. Publisher,
Will Visit the Coast
New York. — A. J. Kobler, publisher
of the New York Daily Mirror and
one of the key men in the Hearst or-
ganization, will leave for the coast
today.
Among the film folk who boarded
trains yesterday were George O'Brien
and Arthur Hornblow. Mrs. Ad Schul-
berg leaves today. Claire Trevor, Fox
player, leaves Friday.
Mock To Fox East Post
John Mock, assistant to Julian John-
son, Fox story editor, leaves in the
near future to take over the concern's
New York story department. Mock
fills the spot vacated by D. A. Doran's
resignation.
Wanger Buys N. Y. Play
New York. — Before departing for
the coast Walter Wanger closed a
deal getting for MCM the rights to
the play "All Good Americans." Pur-
chase price is reported at $20,000.
Paris. — If America is to continue its hold on Europe, they
will have to use this market for the best of their pictures and
keep the rest of them on the other side of theAtlantic. Too
many poor pictures and not enough good ones will crimp the fat
profits that have been taken out of
Europe during the past 12 months.
That, in a nutshell, is the prospect
for this side for 1934 insofar as the
Hollywood product is concerned. The
American stars and their product are
still supreme on this side, but England
is coming along fast; Germany is find-
their mistakes; France will make bet-
ter pictures during the coming twelve
months and other European produc-
tion centers give every indication of
concentrating on better pictures.
There is little doubt but what each
and every country deeply resents all
the money that is going into the
American exchequers for motion pic-
ture entertainment and will offer ev-
( Continued on Page 6)
WB Lift Option
Boom on for Writers
As Pic Rush Starts
Activity among the majors for
writers has taken a sharp upturn,
every major studio canvassing the
field for first-string scenario men.
Boom in writers is occasioned by large
preparing schedules at each plant, the
script boys getting the first call.
Demand for writers is regarded as
t''e first indication of the impending
big push in production. Agents about
town spent the most of last week
sending wires to their eastern affili-
ates to dig up possible scenarists from
the magazine, book writing and news-
paper fields. Latter, it is claimed,
are ti-.e easiest to sell.
On Sam Bischoff ^''T°r'!'"*SrM*D°';'
To Get MCM Release
Two weeks before his option was
due, Warners yesterday informed Sam
Bischoff that the company is exer-
cising its option on the associate pro-
ducer's contract.
During five months he finished six
pictures and has three in work. Lat-
ter are "Merry Wives of Reno," "Hot
Air" and "Fur Coats."
Briskin Back on Job
Sam Briskin, Columbia production
chief, returns today from his European
trip and will resume his duties im-
mediately.
IV. Y. IIVDIE THEATRES \N
COVRT FICHT OVER CODE
New York. — At least one impor-
tant exhibitor organization is fighting
fo the last ditch before taking on the
obligations of the NRA code.
The Independent Theatre Owners
Association here, headed by Harry
Brandt, lost a fight with Local 306
yesterday when the courts granted the
operators' union an injunction prohib-
iting the indie theatres from running
in violation of the code's forty hour
rule pending a trial of the issue Janu-
ary 24.
The theatre men based their oppo-
sition on the ground that the NRA
code is not yet a part of the law of the
state of New York and is therefore in-
operative.
New York.- — A deal is expected to
be closed in a day or two for Harmon
^nd Ising to make "Bosco" and other
qartoon subjects for MGM.
Harmon- Ising made these subjects
for some time for Leon Schlesinger,
who released through Warners.
MacKenna on N. Y. Stage
New York. — Kenneth MacKenna
has been engaged by Richard Aldrich
and Alfred de Liagre Jr. for an im-
portant role in "By Your Leave," the
comedy by Gladys Hurlburt and Emma
Wells, which will be presented here
the week of January 22. Others in-
cluded in the cast are Dorothy Gish,
Howard Lindsay and Ernest Glendin-
ning.
Cuild Election Tonight
The Writers Guild meets at 8:30
tonight in the quarters of the Writers
Club to elect a new executive com-
mittee. Slate put forth by the board
lists Courtenay Terrett, Seton Miller,
Wells Root, Gladys Lehman, Horace
Jackson, John Lee Mahin, Ray
Schrock, Gene Markey, Austin Parker
and Helen Thompson.
I
FUZZY KNIGHT
"makes a grand character out of Bucko"
in Paramount s "Last Round-Up"
^ MANAGEMENT ^^ ^ I
Small-^lanidau CO, I
■'!«
Page Two
jai^^^W^
RiP>@lRTiPi
)an. 4. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyv^ood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
FOUR FRIGHTENED PEOPLE'?
RADIO'S *TWO ALONE' DULL
The local deluge caused a lot of
minor tragedies along with the major
havoc. It will cost Richard Dix thou-
sands of dollars to repair damage to
his ranch near Ventura. And the beau-
tiful hillside gardens and terraces up
at Ramon Novarro's house were com-
pletely washed away — they had just
been finished — but they're just a
smudge of mud now. And C. Henry
Cordon is one of the many who can
check off a car as lost — only Gordon
lost two of 'em and in the same ga-
rage, which was accommodating
around eight feet of water over the
week-end.
•
Just heard a prize crack which
comes as an amusing climax after all
those stories about the battle between
Katharine Hepburn and that self-styled
genius, Jed Harris. Someone heard that
Sid Crauman wants the imprints of
the Hepburn's feet for the entrance
to his Chinese theatre. And the same
someone suggests that Sid merely send
for the seat of Jed Harris' pants!
•
Bert Collins is now collaborating on
the script of "Tudor Wench," but
Marie Antoinette would turn over in
her grave if she knew all the things
that he knows about HER! For no
particular reason, Collins is a walking
encyclopedia about the "let 'em eat
cake" girl, and owns hundreds of pic-
tures, prints and books about the
beauteous queen. The fact that most
actresses usually get the Antoinette
coiffure all wrong when they imper-
sonate her, gives Bert a nervous break-
down whenever he thinks about it —
which is constantly!
•
Randy Scott and Vivian Caye are
back in town. They snuck in quite
quietly — so they've had a few quiet
dinners in the past few nights, which
is just "the effect they were striving
for." They'll be married any minute.
•
You'd be cheered up about the
folks in this business if you could hear
the way the crews on the various lots
are responding to the appeal for help
for the family of Frank Ceraghty, vet-
eran assistant director, a flood victim.
Dick L'Estrange is handling the funds,
if you want to know where to call.
Unbelievable Yarn
Set In The Jungle
"FOUR FRIGHTENED PEOPLE"
(Paramount
Director Cecil B. DeMille
Original E. Arnot- Robertson
Screen Play Lenore Coffee
and Bartlett Cormack
Photography Karl Struss
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Herbert Mar-
shall, William Cargan, Mary Bo-
land, Leo Carrillo, Chris Pin Mar-
tin, Joe De La Cruze, Delmar
Costello, Minoru Nishoda, Tenu
Shimada, E. R. Janadas, Tetsu
Komai.
Cecil DeMille or Paramount or the
authors of "Four Frightened People"
evidently started with the idea of giv-
ing the public a portion of everything
they wanted in the preparation and
production of this picture, but they
finished with something we believe
few of those people will want. It's a
hodge-podge that has its moments, but
right in the middle of that moment,
and right at a time when you believe
the production has finally found it-
self, you are shifted to another side
of the conglomeration with the result-
ant lack of interest and the question.
What are they trying to prove?
The picture has romance, comedy,
melodrama, thrills, suspense, tragedy
and all the other forms of story telling
that have been used to fashion enter-
tainment. This is sprinkled with good
and bad acting and directing, mounted
on jungle background, with all the
animal noises of that jungle to re-
mind you that the people are really
in a jungle trying to escape a zone
ridden with cholera and jungle fevers
on the one side and attempting to
reach civilization on the other.
Those four, at times, frightened
people, plus a guide, plug along for
days and days; at the end of some,
they are so tired, thorn cut and weary
that they sit down and have a game of
bridge to keep them from sleeping
and getting their rest for the plod on
the morrow; and on other occasions
they just sit and fight and give each
other tongue lashings. The women
still retain all their feminine attrac-
tiveness while the men are cut and
bruised, their clothing torn, from their
travel.
It is one of the most unbelievable
yarns that has ever been concocted for
screen purposes, even worse at times,
than the now extinct serial. But there
it is, have a look at it and you might
too ask yourself the question — what
are they trying to prove?
The people who were supposed to
be frightened were Claudette Colbert,
Herbert Marshall, William Cargan and
Mary Boland, wearing a Pomeranian
on her arm. Leo Carrillo was the
guide and the supporting players were
made up mostly of natives. Many of
the scenes were shot in Honolulu.
The picture was directed by Cecil B.
DeMille, who found props for a bath-
ing sequence, even in the midst of the
jungle. The picture was expertly pho-
tographed by Karl Struss. The story
was written by Lenore Coffee and
Bartlett Cormack from an original of
E Arnot-Robertson.
Borzage Cot $105,000
From Col., Not $80,000
The story in these columns yes-
terday regarding the Columbia-
Borzage settlement was a little
Screwy. Borzage received a total
of $105,000 and not $80,000 for
directing "Man's Castle" and "Men
of Tomorrow."
On "Man's Castle" the director
elected to take $25,000 and a 50
percent cut of the gross profit in-
stead of a straight $50,000 salary.
The settlement gave Borzage $30,-
000 for his 50 percent on that
picture with his election to take a
straight $50,000 for the second
picture.
Studios Coing in Strong
For New York Stage Casts
Studios' yen for New York stage
players is growing. Columbia in mak-
ing "Twentieth Century" is lining up
tests of the play's original Broadway
cast. Jesse L. Lasky, at Fox, is plan-
ning on using the entire New York
cast of "Springtime for Henry" in the
picture version.
Columbia is testing Etienne Cirar-
dot and discussing Joseph Crehan,
Jimmy Spottswood and Matt Briggs.
Lasky has thus far set Leslie Banks
and is seeking to borrow Helen Chand-
ler from Radio.
Stein Will Look Over
Coast Radio Prospects
David Stein, of the Music Corpora-
tion of America, who is in Los An-
geles in connection with the Guy
Lombardo coast tour, announces plans
to give auditions while here to local
stage, screen and radio talent.
A dozen of the nation's biggest or-
chestra leaders now on national hook-
ups are under the MCA banner.
Roach Assigns Harris
Henry Ginsberg, business manager
of Hal Roach Studios, yesterday signed
Ray Harris to work on the screen play
of "Babes in Toyland." Harris was for-
merly with Paramount and more re-
cently wrote a treatment of "Girl
Meet Boy," the Vina Delmar story, for
Radio.
Eddy on New MGM Deal
Nelson Eddy signed a new term
contract with MGM yesterday before
leaving on his concert tour through-
out the country. He will return in the
spring and will likely play the lead in
"Prisoner of Zenda."
Milestone Starts Jan. 1 5
Lewis Milestone will put "Red
Square" into production for Columbia
January 1 5 after about six months of
preparation on the picture. Laurence
Stallings has scripted. No cast or di-
rector set as yet.
Al Rosen Returns
Al Rosen is due in today from New
York with plans to proceed with "Mad
Dog of Europe." Producer-agent has
discovered a player who is Adolph
Hitler's twin to take the leading role.
Drab Tale Buries
Director and Cast
"TWO ALONE"
(Radio)
Director Elliott Nugent
Author Don Totheroh
Adaptors Josephine Lovett
and Joseph Moncure March
Photographer Lucien Andriot
Cast: Jean Parker, Tom Brown, Zasu
Pitts, Arthur Byron, Beulah
Bondi, Nydia Westman, Willard
Robertson, Charley Grapewin,
Emerson Treacy and Paul Nichol-
son.
Making a heroic effort to get
back to the soil, RKO-Radio fails to
do hardly more than scratch the
ground with "Two Alone."
This picture, which started out as
"Wild Birds," is not the least enter-
taining picture ever made, but it will
never be fodder for the box office. It
is rarely unconvincing, totally senti-
mental, wholly unimportant in all de- '
partments, and it would be extremely
depressing if it carried any weight. j
It IS the story of an orphan girl, a'
slavey on a farm, and a runaway boy
from the reform school, who is caught
by the farmer and forced to toil drear-
ily. The two love each other drearily;
they are drearily persecuted by the
farmer and his wife, and it is only by
the grace of the adaptors on Don
Totheroh's story that they do not end
drearily,
Jean Parker, as the girl, is photo-
graphed beautifully and offers, at mo-
ments, a fine, young, innocent appeal.
Tom Brown is rather stiff as the boy.
Zasu Pitts has a very small role; Ar-
thur Byron is so mean as the farmer
that he can't be swallowed even with
a gallon of salt; and the same goes
for Beulah Bondi. Nydia Westman is
perfectly cast as the whining, dis-
agreeable daughter, contributing morei
than anyone else in the way of genu-
ine acting. Charley Grapewin plays
the character of an old, slightly in-
sane dodderer, and Emerson Treacy
and Paul Nicholson have small roles.
Elliott Nugent struggled nobly with
the direction, but failed to overcome
the fundamental dullness of the story;
Josephine Lovett and Joseph Moncure
March did their best with the adapta-
tion, and Lucien Andri'^ photograph-
ed it well.
With no names, a definitely stark
and unreal story, and no humor at all
to liven the thing, "Two Alone" is a
poor bet in any community. Drab,
dull, dreary.
Union Opens Wash. Office
Washington. — • The lATSE has
opened offices in Washington at the
Hamilton Hotel. Louis Krouse, exec-
utive assistant to William C. Elliott,
will be in charge.
Us' Casting Problem
With the time for casting draw-
ing near Universal is reported try-
ing to borrow Manny Cohen from
Paramount for the lead in "Little
Man — What Now?"
Jan. 4. 1934
Page Three
GOLDWYN'S 'NAIVA* IS A HIT;
AlVl^A STE]^ A GREAT BET
Perfectly Produced,
Directed and Acted
"NANA"
A Samuel Coldwyn Production
Direction Dorothy Arzner
From the Novel by Emile Zola
Adaptation by Willard Mack
and Harry Wagstaff Cribble
Photography Gregg Toland
Music Al Newman
Song Richard Rodgers
and Lorenz Hart
Starring Anna Sten
Cast: Lionel Atwill, Richard Bennett,
Phillips Holmes, Mae Clarke,
Reginald Owen, Muriel Kirkland,
Lawrence Grant. Jessie Ralph,
Helen Freeman.
Mr. Exhibitor — you have been ask-
ed for many months now, to "hail" a
new star whom you have not yet seen.
You have been told that she was com-
ing your way, bringing with her an ex-
hilarating tonic of personality and
glamour, ability and beauty to gladden
^our customers and cram your cash
registers. That star is Anna Sten. We
have seen her in her first picture and
are of the opinion that you have not
been deceived.
The Sten, who is Sam Coldwyn's
new shining light, has all the attri-
butes mentioned above, and, added to
them, the all important and welcome
quality of a vivaciousness which has
up to now been a missing element in
the "foreign importations." This qual-
ity will endear Anna Sten even more
to a public which cannot fail to ac-
cept her with enthusiasm and acclaim.
Anna Sten is superb in her picture
debut in a story, which, though it has
been done before in many guises, is
nevertheless perfectly suited to her,
and which has never been given a more
beautiful or important production. In
every detail "Nana" ranks as an im-
portant picture. Money and time have
been spent lavishly upon it — but they
have not been wasted. There may
be critics who will find flaws in
"Nana" as a work of art, but it's a
safe bet that audiences anywhere will
relish this piece of entertainment — for
it is entertainment, from start to fin-
ish. A romantic and glamorous film,
perfectly produced, dominated by the
personality of Sten, who is reminiscent
of many, but the replica of none, are
sufficient to spell a swell hour and
more for any chair-filler.
Dorothy Arzner has done a splendid,
intriguing job with the direction of
"Nana." Her attention to little de-
tails— "tags" to what might have
been stilted endings of certain scenes,
show her ability in innumerable places,
together with a definite pace and in-
telligence.
Lionel Atwill offers his best screen
work in "Nana," while Phillips
Holmes, as the young lover, has a
chance to do some fine work and
comes through. Richard Bennett is
excellent in his role. Reginald Owen,
Jessie Ralph, Helen Freeman, Ferdi-
nand Gottschalk, Lawrence Grant were
fine in brief appearances. Mae Clarke
plays well as a gutter companion of
Nana's.
Gregg Toland's photography and the
settings combine to give "Nana" an
N. Y. Embassy Closes
New York. — Film men got one
of the biggest shocks of recent
months with the announcement by
Fox that the newsreel theatre, the
Embassy, on Broadway, would be
closed. "Operating costs too
high," said the statement.
Sullavan Gets Next
Assignment At U'
Margaret Sullavan and Douglass
Montgomery were set yesterday by
Henry Henigson for his Universal pro-
duction, "If I Was Rich." Mont-
gomery replaces Roger Pryor, who had
been previously slated for a leading
role.
Montgomery's deal went through
the Selznick-Joyce office. Picture will
be directed by Edward Ludwig from a
screen play by Harry Sauber and Earle
Snell.
Desmond Joins Cantor
Florence Desmond was set by the
William Morris office yesterday for a
featured spot in the Eddie Cantor unit,
which starts a three weeks' tour at
the Brooklyn, N. Y., Paramount to-
morrow.
Waycoff in Stage Role
New York. — Leon Waycoff has a
leading role in "Among Those Sailing"
which has its tryout in Philadelphia
January 8. Play marks the return to
the stage of both Constance and Faire
Binney.
Jarrett Tested for 'McKee'
Clarence Brown has been testing
Art Jarrett the past two days for the
male lead opposite Joan Crawford in
"Sadie McKee," her next starring
vehicle. Picture is scheduled to go
into production this month.
Frat Boys Dine Rudy
Rudy Vallee will be feted as guest
of honor at the Roosevelt Hotel Mon-
day night by the Hollywood Alumni
of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraernity.
Royer Does Reno Yarn
"Reno Flyer," an original by Wil-
liam Bloecher, will be the next picture
produced by Fanchon Royer.
Pat O'Brien on Air
Eleanor Barnes tonight interviews
Pat O'Brien, Warners' contract player,
via an 85 station hook-up.
atmosphere that is not only exquisite
but so foreign as to create a perfect
illusion, and the musical score by Al
Newman and the interpolation of a
great single song number by Rodgers
and Hart, "That's Love," make the
production rate I 00 per cent.
Willard Mack and Harry Wagstaff
Gribble deserve credit for tailoring
"Nana" to perfect screen measure-
ments— which was no easy task. And
the total result should be a bell-ringer
for Goldwyn and all of you who have
been waiting for "Nana" to come
along.
arner Tries Hard
For 'Napoleon' Lead
Even though Warners went so far
as to offer to change the title of the
Edward G, Robinson starring picture
"Napoleon" to "Napoleon and Joseph-
ine," they were unable to get Jeanette
MacDonald for the co-starring spot in
this picture.
The studio has been trying for the
past month to get the star, but with
her next picture, "Duchess of Del-
monico," for MGM starting at the
same time as the Warner picture the
deal could not be made.
Warners plan an attempt to get
Katherine Cornell for the role, when
the star arrives in Hollywood in about
ten days.
Mervyn and Doris Europe-
Bound For Honeymoon
New York. — The new Mr. and Mrs.
LeRoy, Mervyn and Doris Warner, em-
barked on the Bremen today for a
honeymoon trip in Europe following
yesterday's wedding at the Waldorf
Astoria hotel. Over two hundred at-
tended the wedding, with stage and
screen strongly represented.
DeMille Still Seeking
An Antony for Xleo'
Carl Brisson is the latest of the
"Antonys" to be tested by Cecil B.
DeMille in an effort to find the right
foil for Claudette Colbert in the forth-
coming "Cleopatra," her next picture.
Filling this part has been one of
Paramount's major headaches the past
month.
Expect an Agents' Code
Charles F. Lowy, deputy state com-
missioner, stated yesterday that action
in regard to complaints against agents
would be held up pending the formu-
lation by NRA officials of a code of
procedure for theatrical and picture
agents.
Bainter Delays N. Y. Trip
Fay Bainter's departure for New
York is being delayed for another
week. The reason for the delay is
that MGM still has more scenes to
make on "It Happened One Day," in
which she appears.
More Footballers at WB
Joe E. Brown was host yesterday to
the All-East football team that lost to
the All-West aggregation in San Fran-
cisco Monday. Group was shown
through the Warner plant.
Ruth Etting Going East
Ruth Etting will return to the east
shortly to accept a radio network deal.
Both Old Gold and Tidewater Oil have
offered her spots on their new pro-
grams originating from New York.
Col. Closes Offices
New York. — Columbia's home of-
fices will be closed for the hour be-
tween one and two in respect to Mrs.
Bella Cohn, whose funeral will be
held today.
mmm
With New York m the grip of the
worst cold wave known to New York-
ers in thirteen years, we pause a mo-
ment for a silent prayer for those
noblemen of the newsreels who have
to go on what is known as "ice duty."
And every one of them at some time
or another, finds himself shipped up
to the far North with his trusty cam-
era and film to spend several gay
months aboard an ice-cutter or patrol
boat. It's not as though the news-
reels couldn't use the same shots of
ice each year, because take it from
one who has seen ice, after you've
seen one piece, you've seen practic-
ally all of them. No, they send them
up there in the fond hope that they'll
run into a wreck or see one happen or
aid in the rescue, cameras grinding all
the time to make exclusive pictures of
Arctic Follies for movie audiences.
And that's our idea of the dullest job
in the world.
•
There's an actor in town at the
moment who has scored one of the
biggest personal successes seen on the
stage in recent years. Now this actor
has been pretty snooty about picture
offers, giving out the fact that he
doesn't know whether he really wants
to wreck his art in Hollywood, and the
stage IS the place for an actor, etc.,
etc. And in the midst of it all, it is
discovered that this same actor has
been making tests almost every day at
a certain studio at the rate of fifty
dollars a day and with the under-
standing that if they ever decide to
make a picture from the test mate-
rial, he is to have the lead.
•
You-all probably have seen a copy
of the very arty magazine, "Experi-
mental Cinema." So the editor of that
IS a man by the name of Lou Jacobs
and his mission in life it would seem,
IS to debunk the cinema and tear the
Hollywood run of pictures completely
apart. And this same man gains his
stead/ income from making trailers —
trailers that must be attractive and
exciting enough to sell the very pic-
tures he so blithely condemns in his
magazine. He seems to be sorta liv-
ing that old adage about "Let not thy
right hand know what they left hand
doeth."
Maxie Baer was at the fights this
Friday night and it is hereby suggest-
ed that in his next picture he fight
the American heavyweight "champ."
Impellittiere — just for a laugh. If
there had been movie cameras at the
ringside for that fight between Impel-
littiere and Neusel they'd have made
a record of one of the funniest com-
edy sequences that ever was incorpor-
ated in a picture. No foolin', the
crowd laughed so hard they forgot to
get mad. Neusel literally won the
fight by a mile. (run). And at one
point Impellittiere got sooo tiahed
that he leaned too long on Neusel and
the two of them leaned right through
the ropes and out of the ring. Be-
sides which, the big hunk of flesh that
was Impellittiere. couldn't make a
move without instructions from his
corner and he really lost the last two
rounds because his corner was having
hysterics from laughing so hard.
METRO -COLDWYN- MAYER
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The Prizefigh
Here's whaf other critics say:
The New York Morning Telegraph — 1 1-10-33 . . . However, the
best bit in the picture is that showing Max Baer tossing a mean
step about as a vaudeville actor, when he isn't warbling a ditty
or two in approved Bing Crosby manner. THAT SCENE ALONE
IS WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION.
New York Daily News — 1 1 -1 I -33 . . . Giving the fight sequence
tops for thrills, the most "SURPRISING, AMUSING. CHUCK-
LING bit in the film" is the revue scene in which the grinning,
self-confident Baer warbles a song in best crooner style and goes
into his dance with all the utterly unembarrassed abandon of a
real hoofer. Truly an amazing lad and an amusing picture.
New York Herald Tribune — 11-11-33 . . . There are several
dozen individual incidents in the film which I should recom-
mend to you. ... In addition, you should pay attention to the
INCOMPARABLE scene in which Baer goes into his dance with
the show girls in his vaudeville appearance.
New York Daily Mirror — 11-11-33 ... A ten-round world's
championship fight, a floor show, a Broadway revue, an elaborate
special movie: "The Prizefighter and the Lady" is all of these
things, the stupendous entertainment bargain of the season. It
is Baer who carries the leading role and comes through as the
biggest surprise in recent film history. He can act. He can sing,
dance, clown, emote, make love and fight. HE SINGS AND
DANCES AS THE STAR OF A BROADWAY SHOW.
New York Evening Journal— 1 1 -10-33 . . . And SPECIAL MEN-
TION should be — and here is — made of the diverting dance
routine which gives Max a chance to hoof, and very nicely, too.
Here's what Mii
New York Dij
ii
The Prizefighter and
film . . . with Max Bati^
song and dance rofj
Seymour Felix. Plenty
but this Felix is still |i
of them all.
If was a pleasure to hav
HUNT 11
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in the production of "
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B R EN-
METRO -COLDWYN -MAYER
METRO - C0.1
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YN - MAYER
METRO -COLDWYN- MAYER
FELIX
.deville sequence featuring
: AE R
iMayer production
d the Lady
n
lellinger of the
jMirror says:
.dy'' is an entertaining
B best in an excellent
irhat was staged by
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ister dance craftsman
'tssociated with Producer
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3 fighter and the Lady"
Here's what other critics say:
The New York Times — 1 1-1 1-33 . . . Mr. Baer is a versatile in-
dividual, for when the occasion demands he SINGS and DANCES
A GOOD DEAL BETTER than some of those who consider them-
selves experts.
Time — 11-13-33 . . . Max Baer was directed not to act, but to
depend exclusively on a hyper-thyroid ebullience which was
most appropriate in the scene where Baer, on a vaudeville stage,
SANG and DANCED with a female chorus.
Los Angeles Illustrated Daily News — 12-15-33 . . . MGM in-
serted an effective musical sequence, which made Max Baer
shine like a diamond in comparison with some of the Hollywood
hoofers, for this lad's footwork has speed, and he has genuine
grace.
Hollywood Filmograph — 10-21-33 . . . His work on the vaude-
ville stage in the dancing sequences, as produced by Seymour
Felix, is just as big a sensation as is his swapping punches with
the Man-mountain, Primo Camera.
The Hollywood Reporter . . . Seymour Felix's musical act for
Max Baer and a troupe of girls, which is one of the best inter-
ludes in the story, is both novel and effective with its moving
sets and its fast action.
. . . And Even In Omaha . .
Bee-News, Omaha, Neb. — 11-13-33 . . . The most amusing bit
in the flicker is the scene in which Maxie sings and dances his
way through a vaudeville act.
y Y N - M A Y E R
METRO -COLDWYN -MAYER
M
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Page Six
Jan. 4, 1934
Col. On Hot Hunt
For Needed Stories
Columbia about has the flag upside
down in a hunt for stories and writers
to shape the screen plays for produc-
tion during the next two months. As
is the practise at the studio, a con-
siderable period of time is given to
the preparation of scripts, but with
seven pictures awaiting shooting each
passing day is adding pressure to the
demand.
The majority of the seven produc-
tions need stories. These are "Hello
Big Boy," "Men Need Women,"
"Criminal Within" (previous story for
this title being released under an-
other tag), "Blind Date" and an un-
titled Jack Holt feature.
Columbia has stories for "Too
Tough to Kill" and "Produce the
Body," but is seeking screen play ex-
perts to translate them to the medium
of the screen.
Lining Cast Up For
Bergerman's *Countess*
June Knight is seriously being con-
sidered for the lead in Stanley Ber-
german's next production for Universal
titled "Countess of Monte Cristo."
Reginald Owen has been signed for
one of the featured roles. Paul Lukas,
who was set for the male lead, will
not be in the picture due to injuries
received in a fall from a horse. Karl
Freund will direct.
Television Worker Here
To Talk To Studios
R. V. Newcomb, who has success-
fully produced radio television shorts
in the midwest, is in town to talk
over possible motion picture coopera-
tion. He is conferring with picture
executives on the idea of producing
two-reelers for excusive radio televi-
sion release.
Schertzinger To Meg
Grace Moore Musical
Victor Schertzinger was signed yes-
terday by Columbia on a one-picture
deal to direct the Grace Moore starring
vehicle. The yarn being written by
Jo Swerling is yet untitled. The
Schulberg-Feldman and Gurney offce
made the deal.
Knechtel Films Trafalgar
London. — Lloyd Knechtel, Ameri-
can cinematographer and A.S.C. mem-
ber, has just completed a trick se-
quence on the Battle of Trafalgar for
British-Gaumont which has them talk-
ing. His next assignment is in Kor-
da's H. G. Wells yarn.
Draper Gets an Agent
Paul Draper, whom Sid Grauman
brought from New York for a top
spot in his "Little Women" prologue
at the Chinese Theatre, has been plac-
ed under a managerial contract by the
Lichtig and Englander office.
Fox Wants Connolly
Fox is negotiating with Columbia
for the loan of Walter Connolly, Ac-
tor is wanted for one of the featured
spots in a current picture which may
be "All Men Are Enemies," which will
be directed by Henry King.
European Prospects
(Continued from Page 1)
"QUEEN CHRISTINA"
MCM prod.; director, Rouben Mamoulian; writers, Salka Viertel, Margaret
LeVino, S. N. Behrman.
Astor Theatre
News: The picture moves a little slowly, but with grace, from one lovely setting
to another. It is a picture that must not be missed, because Garbo is at
her best in some of its scenes.
Herald-Tribune: Greta Garbo returns to her public, after a long absence, as a
greater artist than ever. She is helped, too, by Mr. Mamoulian, who seems
inspired by the sincerity of his star. Mr. Behrman's dialogue deserves
praise. It matches the simple directness of the story.
Mirror: Garbo is matchless. Garbo is still supreme. Gilbert gives a splendid
performance. But he also seems to inspire Garbo. And it is her picture.
It is an impressive, stirring and lovely picture, glorified by the greatest
work of the greatest actress in films.
World-Telegram: Miss Garbo, as Christina, is truly magnificent. It is easily
the finest piece of acting she has ever done. John Gilbert is superb.
Due praise to all the others in the cast, too, who are in every way ex-
cellent. In the writing, story, acting, direction, costumes and settings it
is a superb and beautiful film, and most decidedly must be seen.
Post: The continuity and direction of "Queen Christina" have done more to
take the life out of the picture than any other factor. Miss Garbo is dis-
appointing in her stilted and self-conscious posturings. However, it is
beautiful to look at; beautifully mounted, and beautifully costumed, but
this effect has been gained at the expense of action and drama.
American: Perhaps Garbo has never evidenced so great and diverse an appeal as
in the role of Christina. Gilbert makes a dashing lover as of yore, and
plays his fiery role with proper intensity. He seems now a better actor
than before.
journal: Superb. The elaborate settings and costumes are impressive, and so
well is the story constructed that they very properly remain as a back-
ground instead of intruding as "historical" props. The dialogue, con-
tributed by S. N. Behrman, is excellent.
Times: Looking as alluring as ever, Garbo gives a performance which merits
nothing but the highest praise. S. N. Behrman is responsible for the dia-
logue which is a bright and smooth piece of writing.
Sun: There is brightness and cheer in S. N. Behrman's smooth and often cleverly
turned dialogue. But Garbo seems to be suffering from an acute case
of glamour. And that probably is not her fault. Gilbert tried very hard,
but his performance appears a little stilted. "Queen Christina" misses
fire, somehow, and that is disappointing.
Competition Hot
Between Electrics
New York. — The rebuilding and re-
opening of the old Biograph studio
by RCA interests has brought a coun-
ter move from Erpi with the decision
to completely overhaul the Eastern
Service Studios in the Bronx, and in-
stallation of the latest in sound equip-
ment at that plant.
During the overhauling the present
equipment and productions being made
will be shifted to the Astoria plant.
Ban Stage for jean Muir
Warners will not allow Jean Muir
to take the lead opposite Francis Led-
erer in the local stage production of
"Autumn Crocus." Studio feels the
stage contract will tie the actress up
for too long a time and will interfere
with her next picture assignment
which will be ready soon.
Ethel Hill on Col. Job
Ethel Hill has been assigned to
write the dialogue on the next Jack
Holt picture for Columbia, "Whirl-
pool," which is scheduled to get un-
der way January 15. Dorothy Howell
has just completed the continuity of
the Howard Emmett Rogers story.
*U' Seeks Elliott Nugent
Universal is querying Radio for the
loan of Elliott Nugent. Edmund
Grainger wants him to direct "Ameri-
can Scotland Yard."
Lewis Gets Added Duties
On UV Monte Cristo'
Gene Lewis, who wrote the dia-
logue in "I Like It That Way" for
Universal, will write and direct dia-
logue for "Countess of Monte Cristo"
for same studio.
Picture is scheduled to go into pro-
duction January 10, but may be held
up if Paul Lukas' shoulder injury has
not healed by that date.
Levenson in Book Deal
Macauley Publishing Company has
signed Lew Levenson to a three novel
contract. The deal was closed by Lee
Furman, Macauley representative, be-
fore he returned to New York. The
first novel, which is to be published
this fall, will be a story based on the
life of a famous musical comedy star
titled "Butterfly Man."
Next McCoy Starts
Columbia puts the fifth of the eight
Tim McCoy action pictures, "Storm at
Midnight," into production January 10
with Buddy Coleman, recently elevat-
ed from sn assistant director, direct-
ing. Irving Briskin produces.
Sale in 'Cowman's Loss'
1 Chic Sale's first short on his two
isicture deal with MGM will be "Cow-
rnan's Loss," based on the poem of
the noted poet, E. A. Brininstool. Jack
jCummings will supervise and direct
this subject.
ery encouragement to their own pro-
ducers to meet the American chal-
lenge.
A survey of the principal European
territories made by the various repre-
sentatives of The Hollywood Reporter
is summarized as follows:
France: Imports are going to suffer
because French production is in a state
that cari be described by the word "in-
flation." Both big companies and in-
dependents have enlarged schedules
while Paramount, Fox and Universal
plan from six to twelve pictures to
be made here. On top of that the
French as a nation are getting very
peeved because they feel French pic-
tures do not get a break in foreign
countries. But experience with "Back
Street," "All Quiet," the MGM spec-
ials, and United Artists pictures has
shown that France will always wel-
come real box office attractions.
Germany: The German market needs
product badly, particularly quality
product, but American companies have
shown weakness and indecision at a
time when strength and perseverance
were needed to handle a delicate sit-
uation, with the result that this mar-
ket is greatly in danger of slipping
away.
Spain: Once a good market for
American pictures it is now not only
becoming more independent by en-
couraging domestic production, backed
by Tobis financing and facilities, but
there is a changing attitude that is in-
creasing the popularity of French pic-
tures to the detriment of American.
But with German pictures slipping to
the rear position, there is still a f>os-
sibility for Americans to make a bid
for this market with real quality.
Poland: This is a new headache, as
Poland is considering boosting tariff
walls and establishing quotas. The ;
French have quietly slipped in and ;
taken the cream left by the disappear- ,
ance of German product. The public
likes American pictures but the
French so far have shown the greater
enterprise.
Belgium: The French are going to
blanket this market, with British Gau-
mont making a new strong bid, unless
American distributors forget volume
imports and concentrate on their i
quality attractions. The collapse of
German production created a wonder-
ful opportunity here which is not be-
ing taken advantage of.
Italy: Here is the brightest spot for
American pictures, due to a favorable ,
attitude on the part of Mussolini and
the Italian people, and the complete
failure of Italian picture makers to
deliver quality entertainment since'
talkies came in.
Norway, Sweden and Denmark of-
fer good possibilities for the coming
year because here too, Germany al-
ways dominated, and the Hitler de- .
bade leaves a choice spot open.
A concluding word should be that,
American companies must resist a ten-
dency to sell outright in certain coun- >
tries where branches have been es-
tablished for years. This will be dis-
astrous in the future, and the lost
ground might never be regained.
One outstanding attraction in any i
European country will show returns
equaling those of ten ordinary pictures
put together.
Jan. 4, 1934
TH
Page Seven
FROHMAX'S 'YOSHE KALB^
HAS OXLY LIMITED APPEAL
tpTOmBjMUNitTE
Classical Piece Has
No Screen Hopes
"YOSHE KALB"
Daniel Frohman presents "Yoshe
Kalb," adapted fronn the novel by
I. J. Singer by Fritzi Blocki ; di-
rected by Maurice Schwartz; mu-
sic by Leo Koutzen; settings by
Alex Chertov. With Erin O'Brien-
Moore, Fritz Lieber, Horace
Braham, John Wexley and a large
cast.
New York. — Daniel Frohman, "af-
liter having seen the play in the origi-
nal Yiddish on two occasions, found
it of such general human interest —
transcending, as it does, the limita-
tions of language, race and creed —
that he was prompted to come out of
retirement to sponsor the English ver-
sion." We quote verbatim from the
program notes, and while we find no
reason to quarrel with Mr. Frohman's
idea on ihe subject we can find no
reason to agree with him. The pro-
duction has been beautifully staged,
in the episodic manner, with many of
the scenes notable for their beauty,
but to us at least it is not the stuff
that transcends the limitations of lan-
guage, race and creed. In fact it
I seemed to us very definitely circum-
scribed by those limitations, plus the
, fact that it is not a play but a spec-
I tacle throwing very little light on the
; main characters or any motivation for
their acts, so that unless one is fairly
well steeped in Jewish lore the English
translation is more bewildering than
Yiddish cadences. One can but ap-
preciate Mr. Frohman's finer feelings
and the loving care and artistic mani-
festations in the production of this
Jewish classic.
Erin O'Brien-Moore (believe it or
not) is the best thing in the play as
the young girl with leanings toward
the Gypsy in her blood, who is mar-
ried off to the seventy-year-old Rabbi.
In her determination to satisfy youth-
ful longings she fires the temple and
uses her wiles to seduce young Naum,
the Rabbi's son-m-law, to forget the
teachings of the Talmud and commit
adultery,. For this the girl dies with
her unborn child and Naum is con-
demned to eternal suffering and be-
comes the Chassidic version of the
"Wandering Jew" and incidentally
gains the name of Yoshe Kalb, which
evidently means "fool."
Horace Braham is the Yoshe Kalb
who is given over completely to agon-
izing sorrow. Fritz Lieber is magnifi-
cently Shakespearian as the Rabbi and
John Wexley lyes, the playwright)
has himself a gay time of it as one of
the Chassidim. Joanne Myers as the
half-wit daughter of a grave-digger
gives a superb performance of one in
whom the animal suffers no binding
allegiance to the ruling of a sound
mind
Mono Buys Keeler Novel
Monogram yesterday closed the deal
for "Sing Sing Nights," a novel by
Harry Stephen Keeler, and will pro-
duce it on the next year's program.
Mitchell Gertz of Al Kingston agency
handled.
Cohn Came Thru
New York. — There has been
some kidding about Jack Cohn and
a Christmas bonus for Columbia
employees here, but the fact re-
mains that when the dust settled
it was Columbia alone that did give
something to the boys and girls of
the home office.
WB Repeat Cast on
Van Dine Mystery
Warners will recruit the same cast
and director in "The Dragon Murder
Case, "the S. S. Van Dine murder mys-
tery, as was used in "The Kennel
Murder Case" with the exception of
the leading woman, yet to be selected.
William Powell will again portray
the role of Philo Vance, Eugene Pal-
lette will play Sergeant Heath, and
Robert McWade will again play Mark-
ham. Michael Curtiz will direct.
'Alice' Clicking
Outside of London
London. — Even though West End
and London did not go for "Alice in
Wonderland" the provinces are roll-
ing up quite an attractive gross for
this Paramount production. This is
true especially in the industrial cen-
ters such as Manchester and Leeds.
Roach Studios Reopening
With the reopening of the Hal
Roach studio next Monday, Laurel and
Hardy resume production of "Oliver
the Eighth," which was postponed
when Laurel's brother died two weeks
ago. Studio will shoot the balance of
the current program in quick succes-
sion with 24 subjects scheduled for
completion in the next five months.
Orsatti Calls Trip Off
New York. — Frank Orsatti has
abandoned his European trip and will
leave for Hollywood about January 10.
While here the agent closed deals for
the sale of the picture rights to James
Barrie's works, A. M. S. Hutchinson's
"If Winter Comes" and other well
known novels.
West Into United Artists
Paramount has booked the Mae
West picture "I'm No Angel" into
the United Artists theatre following
the run of Eddie Cantor's picture,
"Roman Scandals." This is the first
popular price run of this picture in
Los Angeles.
La Sullavan on Radio
Margaret Sullavan has been signed
to appear on the Fleischmann hour
today as guest star on the program
with Rudy Vallee. The Selznick-
Joyce office made the deal.
Landy-Hunt N.Y. Tie-Up
Landy and Hunt, local publicity
purveyors, have arranged a New York
contact with Jeannette Sauer, head-
quartering at the Marguerite Hotel.
Lesser To Remake
'Peck's Bad Boy'
With the majors combing the files
for classics to duplicate the "Little
Women" success it looks as though
Sol Lesser is coming up with a smart
showmanship bet in plans to revive
"Peck's Bad Boy."
In 1918 with Jackie Coogan in the
lead the picture grossed better than
$600,000. Lesser plans a selling
campaign similar to his "Tarzan The
Fearless," making a combination eight
reel feature and eight two reel epi-
sodes to follow.
Production is set to start about the
middle of February and deals are now
on for director, writer and star.
Wood and Felix on New
'Cat and Fiddle' Scenes
Sam Wood has been assigned to
direct the added scenes and retakes
on the Jeanette MacDonald-Ramon
Novarro picture "Cat and the Fiddle"
for MCM.
Wood will handle the dramatic
scenes and Seymour Felix will direct
the musical numbers. William K.
Howard, who directed the picture
originally, is tied up at present on "It
Happened One Day."
Mono Has Three Ready
Because "Numbers of Monte Carlo"
is ready to get under way with Paul
Malvern producing, Monogram will not
shoot the two westerns which were to
have started this week until nex t
month. Norman Houston has script-
ed from the E. Phillips Oppenheim
novel. Ben Verschleiser's next pro-
duction, "Jane Eyre," and "Manhat-
tan Love Song," which Leonard Fields
will direct, are ready to start.
Neil Pratt Dies
Neil Pratt, actor, who came to Hol-
lywood about a year ago from stock
work in Toledo, Detroit, and New
York, died yesterday of heart failure
at the age of 44. A widow and two
children survive. The player had ap-
peared in Radio and Educational shorts
and indie features.
Goldsmith After Kiddies
Ken Goldsmith yesterday signed
Jackie Searle for a series of four six-
reel subjects designed for children's
trade. Besides the twelve year old
Searle the first, which goes into pro-
duction March 10, will have Lobo, a
wolf dog, and Bingo, a horse, in the
cast.
Rian James' Novel Out
Rian James' new novel, "Ladies in
Waiting," a yarn with a Hollywood
background, will be on the street to-
day. Alfred H. King is publishing
the book.
Lila Lee in 'Follies'
Li la Lee was signed by Fox yester-
day for a role in the "Fox Follies,"
which Hamilton McFadden is direct-
ing. The Selznick-Joyce office set the
player.
Raymond Milland set through Ber-
nard and Meiklejohn for Paramount's
"We're Not Dressing."
Vivian Oakland signed for Warners'
"Merry Wives of Reno." Deal han-
dled by Al Kingston agency.
fohnny Arthur goes into "Hot Air,"
Warners.
Three Randall Sisters added to "Fox
Follies," Fox. Bernard and Meikle-
john set.
Fox tests Margaret Nearing today
for a spot in "Fox Follies."
Virginia Sale, having just complet-
ed role in "Registered Nurse," was
signed again by Warners for a spot in
"Hit Me Again." Al Kingston nego-
tiated.
Reginald Owen signed through Wil-
liam Morris for "Countess of Monte
Cristo," Universal.
Julian Rivero into "Viva Villa,"
MCM. Set by Howard Seiter office.
Grace Hayle through Howard Seiter
for "Hot Air," Warners.
Francesca Moran for "Napoleon,"
Warners.
Mickey McCuire, Arthur )arrett,
John Davjd Horsley and Sumner Cet-
chel were assigned roles in "It Hap-
pened One Day," which William K.
Howard is directing for MGM.
Theodore Lodi signed by Twentieth
Century for a spot in "House of
Rothschild." O'Reilly-Mann set the
player.
Mickey Daniels and Billy Taft into
MGM's "High School."
Mawita Castenada signed through
Bernard and Meiklejohn for Warners'
Spanish picture "Fortune Teller."
Forrester Harvey engaged for "Old
Hannibal," MGM.
Wilbur Mack into the cast of "So
You Won't Sing, Eh?" at Radio.
Russell Hopton signed through
MacQuarrie for a featured role in
"Men in White," MGM.
Russell Hardie added to the cast of
"Men in White" at MGM.
New O'Neill Play In
New York Monday
New York. — Eugene O'Neill's play,
"Days Without End," will open on
January 8 at the Henry Miller Theatre
here, replacing "All Good Americans."
The play is a conflict between atheism
and religious faith, and faith is tri-
umphant. In the cast are Earle Larri-
more, Selena Royle I Mrs. Earle Larri-
more), Stanley Ridges, Robert Loraine
and Ilka Chase.
Yohalem Scripts at 'U'
George Yohalem has returned to
the ranks of the scenario writers.
Universal has engaged him to work on
the script of "Man Who Reclaimed
His Head" under Henry Henigson's
supervision. William Wyler is dis-
cussing the directorial assignment.
Joe Rock Getting Set
Murray Rock, brother of Joe Rock,
has been commissioned by the latter
to negotiate deals in Hollywood for
the London picture which Joe is lin-
ing up. A release through British
International Pictures is understood to
be set.
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TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, January 5, 1934
UNIVERSAL NOT rCR SALE
•ANOTHER of those family affairs,
always prevalent at Universal, has
been ironed out with the result that
Carl Laemmie Jr. remains here to make
Universal pictures, instead of running
to Europe for a three month vacation.
Never has there been a man so
loyal to his family and relatives as
"Uncle Carl" Laemmie and the won-
der of it is that he is still in business
because of that loyalty, that love for
his blood relations.
This time the family arguments
reached Junior and Junior, rather than
argue about it, decided to vacation
until the matter was settled. But it
has been settled before he could get
away from town and now instead of
a vacation, he goes back to work, to
the great benefit of Universal.
•
Picture costs in this industry are a
bit insane. Companies will start out
on the preparation of a yarn that,
never at any stage of its development
or production, has a box office chance.
The company head knows it, but still
okays the expenditure. A waste of
money. And that same company head
will see a picture in preview that
could be greatly helped with the re-
shooting of a few scenes, but he will
not permit the expenditure even
though he believed that thousands of
dollars could be tacked on to its gross.
What kind of logic is that?
Thalberg is the father of the great-
est production idea this business has
ever known. He was the originator
of taking a picture out of the preview
house and planting it right back on
the shooting stage, IF it were deter-
mined that the picture could be help-
ed with part of it remade. He con-
sidered the preview as his dress re-
hearsal; a showing that would deter-
mine the merits of the production; a
test of what was right and wrong and
starting work all over again.
They laughed and kidded the Thal-
berg idea, but it made GREAT PIC-
TURES and will continue to make
great pictures IF you have a man or
organization who can recognize the
rights and wrongs of a picture in pre-
view and be able to tell the remedy.
Never, in the long history of this
business, has anyone been able to tag
the right values of a pictures until it
was finished and before an audience.
When a picture reaches preview, it
should be considered as just half com-
pleted.
Radio Chiefs West
For Studio Talks
New York. — J. R. McDonough, ac-
tive operating head of RKO and Radio,
and O. R. McMahon, comptroller of
Radio-Keith-Orpheum, leave here for
the coast Sunday for a number of im-
portant conferences with studio offi-
cials. It is also possible that other
home office execs may accompany
them.
Insiders discount rumors of any
shake-up or radical meaning to the
gathering. They point out that this
is the first opportunity McDonough
has had to visit the studios since tak-
ing over the reins and the trip is real-
ly made for first hand study of pro-
duction conditions.
Brent Suspended In
Row With Warners
Warners have suspended George
Brent from the studio salary list and
the wrangle is on between the two,
with the player seeking a settlement
of his contract in order to become a
free lancer.
Difficulties date back to the mak-
ing of "Mandalay" recently when
Brent rejected a role in the picture
and put in his claim to approve assign-
ments or quit.
Hays Plans Long Stay
New York. — Will Hays, who leaves
here the 1 5th for Hollywood, plans to
remain in the film capital longer than
his customary two weeks, as he ex-
pects to be plenty busy interpreting
certain ramifications of the NRA
code.
Harris Here for V Talks
Robert Harris, New York story head
for Universal, gets in by plane tomor-
row from the east.
Car/ Laemmie Flatly Denies
Rumors Of Katz Deal - ''No
Negotiations Of Any Kind On''
New York rumors current all this week that negotiations
were nearing completion for the purchase of Universal by Sam
Katz and associates were vigorously denied yesterday by Carl
Laemmie, Sr., who added: "You cannot make my denial too em-
phatic; there are no reservations to it.
Y. Hears Rogers
Universal is NOT for sale."
The Universal head continued:
"Futhermore, just to clear the air
completely, you may state that there
are no negotiations of any kind on or
in prospect, either here or in New
York. If there were I would certainly
know about it. Certainly no one is
going to sell Universal without my
(Continued on Page 21
Lloyd's 'Catspaw'
For Fall Release
Harold Lloyd's delivery of "The
Catspaw" to Fox is pretty definitely
figured for a Fall release, probably
starting off the organization's next
year's release schedule. Preparat on
has taken so long that the comed an
had the choice of hurrying for Sp.'in^
release or getting too close to the
Summer season, with the final dec's^on
to take the time needed and aim at
Fall.
Jack Cain 'Flu' Victim
J. J. Gam is confined to his home
with a severe siege of the flu. An
overload of work also has the Fox exec
threatened with a nervous attack and
he IS planning a brief rest at Palm
Springs when he is well enough to
leave for the resort.
EXHIBITORS MUST SIGIV UP
OR LOSE ALL CODE RIGHTS
New York. — Machinery for the or-
ganization of the local grievance, zon-
ing and clearance boards was put in
motion yesterday at the second meet-
ing of the Code Authority with a de-
cision to immediately send out 20,000
letters to exchanges, theatres, etc.,
calling for signatures of assent to the
code.
Only those signing will be allowed
access to the operations of the code
(Continued on Page 7)
Keating Interests MCM
New York. — MGM is negotiating
with Fred Keating for a long term
contract. He is now appearing in
"All Good Americans."
Major Zanft Here
Ma)or John Zanft arrived in town
Wednesday from New York. He was
a guest in A. H. Ciannini's private car
on the trip across country.
And Warner DealOn
New York. — While here for the
LeRoy-Warner nuptials Jack Warner is
understood to have told intimates that
a deal is close to closing by which
C.narlcs R. Rogers and his organization
will rrove to the Warner tent on the
conc'us on of the producer's Para-
r'ount deal.
relieved possible that Rogers will
P'oduce at the old Sunset Boulevard
sudios of Warners, keeping his or-
' cn.zat on's identity as he has at Para-
r-Qunt but promised greater coopera-
tion in the use of stars and stock
players.
i.!_M Dickers on Two
Max Cordon Plays
New York. — MGM is negotiating
with Max Cordon for the screen
rights cf his two productions, "Ro-
berta" and "Her Master's Voice." The
first is the Kern-iHarbach musical,
while the latter is by Clare Kummer,
with Roland Young in the lead of
the stage play.
Del Ruth To Europe
Roy Del Ruth plans a trip to Eu-
rope, his first vacation in ten years,
at the expiration of his contract with
Warners in six weeks.
Expected on his return to go with
Darryl Zanuck's Twentieth Century
Company, the two being close friends
since early Warner days.
Sam Briskin Back
With a sigh of relief, Sam Briskin
walked into the Columbia studio yes-
terday, glad to be back from his Euro-
pean jaunt.
The travel from New York to Holly-
wood was made via plane, train, train
and plane.
Zukor Plans Trip West
New York. — There is a possibility
that Adolph Zukor will leave for the
coast in about ten days.
JAUSTIN PARKER tri!!^ The House On 56th Stre~
wn-%m
Page Two
THEkta
lanuary 5. 1934
1
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published everv day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Warners are thinking of putting on
a messenger service to contact Bette
Davis. . . . Her husband came here to
spend the holidays with her ten days
ago and since then Bette hasn't an-
swered a telephone or set foot outa
her cottage door. . . . The Rowland
Brown-Katherine Menjou romance is
offish. . . Eph Asher would have made
that trip to Europe with Junior Laem-
mle — if It hadn't been for the ocean.
Audrey Henderson has been tele-
phoning Eddie Sutherland from New
York regularly — but not getting any
encouragement to return here, we
hear. . . . Buddy Schulberg wowed the
Dartmouth boys with a show that he
wrote and staged there. . . . Wynne
Gibson is so blue — and so black — -from
tobogganing over the week-end. . . .
Didja know that Fred Astaire gave a
"command performance" for Eng-
land's King and Queen last week? . . .
Maureen O'Sullivan, making record-
ings over at MCM and will return to
work in a few days.
Some of Busby Berkeley's dancing
girls went dancing with the Columbia
team the other night — the boys came
back with lots of telephone numbers
— but some of the girls didn't come
back. . . . Eddie Coulding has been
long-distancing Marjorie Goulding,
who is very ill in New York. . . Tom
Douglas, by the way, is appearing in
Peggy Fears' show. . . . Stu Erwin
is looking for a farm near Hollywood
— -he wants to buy it! . . . Billy Haines
getting himself ready for a trip to
Europe. . . . Myrna Loy is house-
hunting again — the apartment didn't
work. . . . Chick Chandler gave his
wife a piano for Xmas — and regrets
it! . . . Mrs. C. hasn't stopped play-
ing for ten days.
Do you know what famous star
made her first husband say he was
twenty-nine when she married him
about ten years ago — but he was only
nineteen at the time??! . . . Ad Schul-
berg gets back to town tomorrow. . .
It's Dolly Craves that Austin Parker
reeely cares for!
"CONVENTION CITY"
First National prod.; director, Archie Mayo; writers, Peter Milne, Robert Lord
Strand Theatre
News: First National makes this film an opportunity to poke a little fun at com-
mercial conventions and to put to work most of the old familiar faces on
the company's roster. It is all a lot of fun if you like seeing the same
old faces in the same old predicaments.
Herald-Tribune: While the picture seems a little shoddy in its content, a little
cheap in its diversion and not altogether inspiring in its message, it has
been presented with sprightliness and will amuse those familiar with the
traveling salesmen's problems — or their jokes.
Post: "Convention City" is rowdy, raucous and hilarious.
World-Telegram: There are plenty of good old-fashioned guffaws in "Conven-
tion City," which is, further, acted with gusto by its large and competent
cast.
Times: An accurate appraisal of "Convention City" should include the infor-
mation that the Strand's audiences laughed long and loud. Adolphe Men-
jou is the best thing in the new film.
American: Spritely, wise-cracking fun awaits the Strand customers in this fast
moving comedy.
Journal: It's rowdy and rough, perhaps not designed for the children home from
school, but consistently funny. The plot is lightweight, and serves merely
but very satisfactorily — as a framework on which to hang a collection of
spicy lines and gags. Each member of the cast contributes excellent work
and Director Mayo sets and sustains a tempo that makes this one grand
entertainment.
May Find 'Antony'
In London Actor
New York. — Paramount has now
turned abroad in the search for a Marc
Antony and has hopes that he may
have been found in Harry Wilcoxon,
who played in the London production
of "Eight Bells" and is now appear-
ing in the Evelyn Laye picture "Prince
Charming."
He has been placed under contract
and has the possibility of the Antony
role if he can finish his present pic-
ture in time.
RUSSELL.MILLER
and Company
Small and Lloyd In
Deal For 'Mutiny'
Edward Small and Frank Lloyd, Fox
director, have jointly taken an option
on "Mutiny on the Bounty," the story
that ran serially in all the Hearst pa-
pers recently.
Small plans to make this one of
his biggest productions of the year.
Lloyd, who is under contract to Fox,
will likely swing over to the Small
outfit for this one picture. Lloyd
produced a money-making seagoing
special, Sabatini's "The Sea Hawk,"
for First National in the silent days.
Bickford Talks U^ Deal
Carl Laemmie Jr. and Charles Bick-
ford were in a long huddle yesterday
in an effort to work out a deal for
the player to take the top role in
"Sutter's Cold," which Universal plans
for one of its big specials this year.
O Brien and MCM Huddle
George O'Brien and his new mana-
, ger, Mike Levee, will go into a hud-
dle with MCM on a possible deal
when the player arrives this week-end
from New York.
Universal Not For Sale
(Continued from Page 1 )
consent or talk about it without my
knowledge.
"Make it an absolute, emphatic
denial. There's not a word of truth
in it."
The current New York rumors are
believed to be late echoes of negotia-
tions that were on almost a year ago
and which reached the point of an
option to the Katz group, but when
the time came for exercising the option
the deal fell through. Since then Uni-
versal has swung into one of its most
consistent production seasons, and
with Jimmy Grainger hitting the ball
on sales is, m t+ie senior Laemmle's
concluding words:
"Too busy and happy to have any
time to talk deals of any kind."
Rogers May Angel For
Jack Lait Stage Play
Charles R. Rogers, Paramount pro-
ducer, IS considering putting up half
the dough for the stage production of
"That's Radio," by Jack Lait and Ste-
phen Gross, in. return for picture rights
and other remuneration if the show
should click.
Members
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lanuarY 5, 1934
Page Three
WRITERS GUILD RJGCOGXIZED
II\ ELECTING CODE MEMRERS
Jubilant Meeting
Gets Job Started
The Screen Writers Guild has been
delegated the authority to supervise
the election of film writer representa-
tives on code affairs, Ralph Block,
acting Guild president, informed the
organization meeting last night.
The Guild regards this as "a notable
victory" and sees in it the virtual rec-
ognition by the producers of the or-
ganization. Since the majority of
Hollywood's screen writers are Guild
members, it is a foregone conclusion
that 'writer representatives will also
1 be members. The writers are to elect
ten of their number from whom Dep-
; uty Administrator Rosenblatt will se-
lect five to meet with five producer
representatives on adjudicating writer
problems. Another writer will be
elected to the code authority and one
I more to the agents' committee.
Jubilant over the turn in events,
the Guild quickly set about setting
I up the machinery for the election
■ which takes place Monday, January
15, at the Writers Club.
Six Guilders were appointed to act
as a nominating committee. Dudley
Nichols, Horace Jackson and Harlan
Thompson are executive board ap-
pointments. A vote from the floor
of the meeting added the names of
James Cleason, Winifred Dunn and
John Goodrich. Nichols is chairman.
Committee will select a slate to be
presented to a meeting of all writers,
including non-Guild members. The
vote, at Monday's meeting, will select
twelve names. Of these, ten will be
submitted to the deputy administrator,
who will select five for the 5-5
(writers-producers) committee. Of
the remaining two, one joins the code
authority, the other goes to the
agents' committee on code matters.
Block also read telegrams from John
Howard Lawson, who is in New York;
the Dramatists Guild and the Authors
League of America, all of whom are
giving the writers their support.
Through the newly-invested author-
ity, the Guild foresees eventual suc-
cess in securing their two most im-
portant aims, collective bargaining and
a basic standard contract for scenar-
ists.
Meeting also elected Courtenay
Terrett, Wells Root and Gladys Leh-
man to replace John Meehan, James
Creelman and Joseph Mankiewicz on
the executive board. Latter trio, it
was disclosed, "withdrew" owing to
their failure to take an active part in
the organization's business. The re-
placements were warned, before ac-
cepting their nominations, that they
would have to attend all meetings.
Bill Howard Goes East
William K. Howard is scheduled to
leave town tomorrow for New York,
combining a rest with a round of the
current plays.
Flu Lays Bren Low
Milton Bren gave in to the flu yes-
terday and vacated his office, leaving
both partners of the Bren-Orsatti
agency absent. Frank Orsatti is east.
Credit to Mack
In all the praise heaped on
"Nana" Willard Mack deserves
mention for the dialogue direction,
inadvertently omitted from Report-
er's list of credits.
Warners-Donnelly
Agree to Disagree
Warners and Ruth Donnelly agreed
to disagree yesterday and the player
finished her long term deal with the
company.
Studio asked her to continue on her
old deal instead of going to $1,250
per week called for on her option.
Refusing, she becomes a free-lancer.
Columbia is querying her for a role in
"Twentieth Century."
Novarro and MacDonald
Sing for French Version
MGM will also make a French ver-
sion of the special musical number to
be made of "Cat and the Fiddle," as
both Ramon Novarro and Jeanette
MacDonald speak French. The re-
mainder of the picture for French dis-
tribution will be dubbed in that lan-
guage.
Deny lATSE Injunction
Judge Leon P. Yankwich yesterday
denied the application of Studio Tech-
nicians No. 37, lATSE, to enjoin mem-
bers of Local 40 of the IBEW from
working in studios for which the
lATSE claims jurisdiction.
Maude Fulton Recovering
Maude Fulton has successfully
weathered two operations at the Ced-
ars of Lebanon Hospital and is set to
spend a two month vacation at Glen
Ranch. Writer-actress is shelving
pictures until fit.
Burglars Hit Barty
While Jack Barty and his wife were
playing golf Wednesday the Roach
contract player's home was burglarized
of over $4,000 worth of clothes and
jewelry. Mrs. Barty lost a $2,000
mink coat and the balance in jewelry.
ondell At Studio,
Assigned Davis Role
Warners yesterday made a last min-
ute change in the femme lead in "Hit
Me Again," starting Monday, when
they substituted Joan Blondell for
Bette Davis.
This picture marks the star's first
appearance since her operation last
month, She returns today with her
husband, George Barnes, from a Death
Valley vacation.
Other members of the cast are Ri-
cardo Cortez, Edward Everett Horton,
Claire Dodd, Frank McHugh and Joan
Wheeler, studio's latest acquisition.
Bob Florey will direct and Bob Pres-
nell supervise the production.
TIatheads' Radio's Next
For Wheeler and Woolsey
Wheeler and Woolsey's next picture
for Radio will be "Flatheads," from an
original story by Edward Kaufman and
Mark Sandrich, with the latter set to
direct. Thelma Todd and Dorothy
Lee have the feminine leads. Lou
Brock is producing.
Curtiz To Meg on WB
Leslie Howard Picture
Michael Curtiz has been assigned
to direct Leslie Howard in his first
Warner picture. It will be "British
Agent." Howard arrived on the War-
ner lot yesterday and immediately
went into a huddle with Hal Wallis
and Curtiz on the picture.
Dunlap Returns to Job
Scotty Dunlap found his legs again
yesterday, returning to his office at
Frank and Dunlap, after a two month
absence during which he went through
an operation for goitre.
Coward Sails for Eng.
New York. — Noel Coward is on
his way back to England on the Ma-
jestic. Ben Blumenthal is on the
same boat.
McCuinness on 'Tish'
James K. McCuinness is at work on
the screen play and dialogue of the
"Tish" stories at MGM.
STUDIO READERS CLAIM
SWEATSHOP COXDITIOXS
First-hand knowledge of the state
of affairs among the studio readers,
since the inception of the code, cre-
ated a furore at last night's meeting
of the Screen Writers' Guild when
they were laid wide open by Don Gor-
don, a former reader for Universal.
In a candid, unemotional manner
that stressed the severity of what he
called "sweatshop conditions," Gordon
brought the writers bolt upright when
he pointed out that studios have tak-
en advantage of the code to slash the
reader's salary to the minimum scale.
Readers in one studio, he said, were
getting fifty cents an hour, or $20 a
week. Other studios were maintain-
ing an outside staff of readers on a
piece-work basis, paying $15 for re-
ports on nine plays. These readers
were laid off at will, hence cutting
their pay still more. This practice is
increasing, he stated, to the detriment
of all readers and writers on whose
work reading reports were made.
On the motion of Lester Cohen,
the Guild determined to take up the
readers' plight the very first thing
when arbitration by the 5-5 commit-
tee of writers and producers is estab-
lished in the next few weeks.
Belasco-Curran
Flood Town With
Cut Rate Tickets
Evidently figuring that word of
mouth advertising will put "Sailor
Beware" way up in the money class
and determined to get it there as
quickly as possible, Belasco and Cur-
ran are understood to have flooded
the town with 40,000 cut rate tickets
for this attraction, making it possible
for a person to see the show for 40
cents any night.
Dorothy Dell Gets Para.
Lead With McLaglen
Paramount gave Dorothy Dell the call
over other applicants for the femme
lead opposite Victor McLaglen in "The
Man Who Broke His Heart," which
started shooting yesterday.
Studio had planned on Mae Clarke,
but MGM needed the plaver and re-
fused to make the loan.
George Somnes and William C.
Menzies will co-direct the picture.
McCuire on 'Little Man'
His four picture deal winding up,
William Anthony McGuire has accept-
ed a one-picture assignment with Uni-
versal to do more script work on the
Jo Swerling screen play of "Little
Man, What Now."
It IS the Frank Borzage production
in which Margaret Sullavan and Doug-
lass Montgomery will have the leads,
an erroneous report here yesterday
placing them in "If I Was Rich."
Wingate Extends Rest
Doctor Wingate, director of studio
relations at the Hays office, now on
vacation in the east, has been granted
a further two weeks leave of absence.
)oe Breen, who has been pinch hit-
ting for Wingate, will continue to oc-
cupy the latter's desk until he re-
turns.
Try to Settle Union Row
New York. — Representatives of the
indie theatre association and the
unions of stage hands and operators
are holding a series of conferences in
hopes of ironing out their differences
without necessity for the court hear-
ing January 24.
Mae Busch at Roach
Hal Roach yesterday signed Mae
Busch for the feminine lead in the
Laurel and Hardy comedy, "Oliver the
Eighth," which goes back to work
Monday, ending the studio's two
weeks' rest period. Lloyd French di-
rects.
Arno Up for Cantor Script
Sam Goldwyn is after Peter Arno
to work on the script and also the sets
for the next Eddie Cantor picture.
The story is being written by Nat Per-
rin and Arthur Sheekman and is as
yet untitled.
Sten To Palm Springs
After waiting for the preview of
her picture, "Nana," Anna Sten leaves
Saturday for Palm Springs for vaca-
tion before starting her next, "Resur-
rection," under the banner of Sam
Goldwyn.
Page Four
THE
i
January 5, 1934
TWENTY STARS TO JOIN BIG
ZANUCK EXPLOITATION STUNT
To Tour Key Cities
Starting February 1
New York. — The plans for a mon-
ster duplication of the great "Forty-
second Street" train stunt by Twen-
tieth Century Pictures have shaped up
to the point of definite names, dates
and routing. Over twenty picture
stars will leave the coast January 24
on a special train, arrive here for the
opening of "Moulin Rouge" and then
join the big caravan of automobiles
organized by the Standard (Socony)
Oil Company for a personal appearance
tour in the principal key cities.
Though the tie-up is with Twen-
tieth Century, a number of players not
with that company are going along as
guests of the twin sponsors. Leaving
New York February 1 they will make
fifteen key cities, then jump from
Kansas City to San Francisco by train,
rejoining the caravan for a coast tour.
The list of players will not be defi-
nitely completed until near departure
because of commitments in pictures
in the making. Those who have al-
ready accepted include:
James, Lucile and Russell Cleason,
Hoot Gibson, Leo Carrillo, Anna Q.
Nillson, Sally O'Neill, Molly O'Day,
Sally Blane, Arline Judge, Bill Boyd
and Dorothy Sebastian.
Bill Scully, who maneuvered the
"42nd St." tie-up and who has been
with the Zanuck organization since
its start, is in charge.
Schreiber Brings Clients
To Wm. Morris Office
Under Lou Schreiber's deal in join-
ing the William Morris office the cli-
ents he handled independently follow
him to the big organization. Schreiber
retains a fifty per cent interest in h'S
personal list, as well as his arrange-
ment on other business secured for
Morris.
U. A. Manager Engaged
New York. — Sam Horowitz, United
Artists branch manager in Kansas
City, who is in New York on a vaca-
tion, announces his engagement to Sa-
die Feuerstein, secretary to Al Licht-
man.
Max Arnow Due Mon.
Max Arnow, Warner caster, will
return to Hollywood Monday after
spending three weeks in New York
looking over the talent on Broadway.
Carewe's Daughter Weds
Mary Jane Carewe, seventeen year
old daughter of Edwm Carewe, was
married to Douglas Scott, entertainer,
in Santa Ana on December 26.
Solow-Lee Assigned
Warners have assigned Gene Solow
and Robert Lee to adapt their original,
"The Return of The Terror," to the
screen for Spring production.
'Bombay MaiT on B'way
New York. — Universal's "Bombay
Mail" gets its Broadway premiere at
the Palace, opening Friday.
Dollars and Cents
When Warners issued an order
to their writing staff that no out-
side calls were to be made, one of
the higher paid writers figured out
that in saving the nickel it cost
Warners from $25 to $40 a call.
By the time the writer finishes
talking to everyone he meets on
his way to the pay station and then
stops off for a bite to eat, maybe
it would be better to put a pay
phone in every office.
20th Interested In
'Benedict Arnold'
New York. — Twentieth Century's
home office here is reported making
overtures to Edward Dean Sullivan for
the purchase of his book, "Benedict
Arnold, Military Racketeer," which
the Vanguard Press is just putting out.
Twentieth is also offering him a
ticket to Hollywood to do the screen
play and is seeking to bring all ends
together in order to make it a George
Arliss vehicle. Sullivan is working on
the Boston American.
Boyle's 'Sweden* Feature
Winning Success in East
John W. Boyle is meeting with suc-
cess in roadshowing "Sweden — Land
of the Vikings," a feature-length color
travelogue he photographed in Scandi-
navia.
The film opened at the Tremont
Temple, Boston, early in December,
and had a successful run. It opens
at the Fifty-fifth Street Playhouse,
New York, for a run immediately.
Educ. Goes For 3 Reels
On 'Poppin' the Cork'
Educational has decided to release
"Poppin' the Cork" as a three-reel
featurette. Decision was made after
attempts to cut the picture down
brought objections from the staff
working on it.
Picture was produced at the Long
Island studio and has Milton Berle in
the leading role. Jack White made it.
Breslau on MOM Staff
Lew Breslau became a member of
I the MCM writing staff yesterday and
has been teamed with Michael L.
Simmons to write the scieen play of
"Cabby." Wallace Beery and Jackie
Cooper are slated for the leading roles.
Harry Rapf produces.
Prepare Marx Bros. Play
New York. — The plans for a return
to the stage by the Marx Brothers
have reached the point of definitely
assigning Robert Sherwood and Moss
Hart to write the vehicle. Sam Harris
will produce.
U' Moves Offices Feb. 15
New York. — Universal will move
into the RKO Building about February
15, taking over three floors for its
three hundred employees.
Monogram Budgets
Boosted One-Third
Investigation discloses that Mono-
gram's budgets have been appreciably
boosted on the second half of the
company's year's program now going
into work.
While state righters always an-
nounce seasonally that "budgets are
to be tilted" Hollywood consistently
pays little attention to the publicity
knowing by sad experience that the
budgets never move. But the figures
show Monogram running consistently
about a third over the schedules on
the first productions of the year.
Ratoff Getting Orchids
On Let's Fall in Love'
New York. — Columbia is getting
hot on "Let's Fall in Love" and will
trade show it to Irving Berlin and
other music publishers.
Peculiar angle is that the boys at
the home office are now calling it
"Gregory Ratoff's picture," which may
be an advance tip on who steals the
works. Edmund Lowe, Ann Sothern
and Miriam Jordan top the cast.
Fay Wray For 'Cristo'
Fay Wray was signed yesterday by
Stanley Bergerman for the feminine
lead in his next picture, "The Coun-
tess of Monte Cnsto," for Universal.
Roger Pryor and Patsy Kelly were also
assigned feature roles. Paul Lukas has
the male lead. Karl Freund will direct.
Caesar Tagged by 'U'
Arthur Caesar was signed yesterday!
by Universal to write the screen play
of "Elizabeth and Mary," which Low-
ell Sherman will direct and in which
he will play a featured role. Mar-
garet Sullavan will have the top spot.
Ince Widow Divorced
Request of the court for permission
to return to her name of Mrs. Elinor
Kershaw Ince disclosed the fact that
the widow of Tom Ince and Holmes
Herbert, actor, were divorced in Mex-
ico on December 22.
Howard Beats Schedule
William K. Howard today brings in
MGM's "It Happened One Day" six
days under the original shooting
schedule set for it. The twenty-six
day shooting slate included three days'
retakes.
Neil Pratt Rites Today
Funeral rites for Neil Pratt, deceas-
ed actor, will be held today at the
Leroy Bagley Mortuary, with crema-
tion following at Los Angeles crema-
tory.
Wanger Party Arrives
Walter Wanger, Allen Rivkin and
P. |. Wolfson arrived in Hollywood
from the east on the Chief yesterday.
Greenblatt Opens Exch.
New York. — Arthur Greenblatt has
opened an exchange in the Film Cen-
ter Building.
Grainger Happy
Over 'U' Situation
James R. Grainger, sales manager of
Universal, pulled out of town on The
Chief last night going direct to New
York this time without exchange stop-
overs.
The "U" sales chief is happy over
the unusual position of Universal this
year which finds nineteen pictures of
the year's program already in ex-
changes. This carries releases to
March 12; ten subjects ready to go
into production immediately will carry
to June, leaving only the seven pic-
tures for June, July and August to
prepare. Universal is thus assured of
delivering the thirty-six productions
sold on this year's list.
Grainger returns for another visit
to the studio in May.
'Sequoia' Once More in
Works at MGM Plant
After a lapse of nearly a month,
owing to impossible location weather,
"Sequoia," MGM's unique picture, is
slated to go back into production next
Wednesday on a three weeks' sched-
ule to complete it.
Owing to the uncertainty of obtain-
ing necessary scenes with deer, MGM
has had Ann Cunningham and Sam
Armstrong rewrite a portion of the
script to match in the location shots
already made with the story at hand.
Chester Franklin resumes the direc-
tion under John Considine's supervi-
sion. Jean Parker rates top billing in
the story of Malibu, the deer.
Spewacks on 'Soviet' Yarn
Sam and Bella Spewack returned
yesterday to the MGM writing staff,
resuming their long term deal which
allows them periodical leaves of ab-
sence for other literary work. Team
starts for Irving Thalberg on "Soviet":
and will be joined later on the screen
play by Richard Schayer.
Scientists Team for Educ.
New York. — H. L. Woodard, sci-
entist, will join his brother Stacy
Woodard in the productions of the:
Educational "Battle for Life" series.
The brothers will alternate. While
one is in the wilds exploring for new:
material the other v^/ill produce the
current releases.
Keighley Given 'The Key'
William Keighley has been assigned'
to direct "The Key" as his next job
for Warners. Kay Francis was an- ■
nounced for this picture, but there is
talk around the studio that Diana
Wynyard is wanted on a loanout deal
from MCM for the top spot.
Gov't To Sue Fairbanks
United States Attorney Peirson M.
Hall announced yesterday that he
planned immediate suit against Doug-
las Fairbanks Sr. for the return of
$72,186 paid by the Government as a
refund on income taxes and which he'
now declares was paid in error.
Col. Youngster on Air
George Breakston, 1 1 -year-old Co-
lumbia player, has been signed to a
radio ticket with the H-Bar-0 Rangers,
period.
Here s what YOU are up against
Mof-ion Picture Producers* Association
Bulletin No. 1 Regarding Extras
(Verbatim Copy)
Article IV, Section 3 (Provisions Regarding ExtrasI definitely states
that there shall be a Committee appointed by the Code Authority to
interpret the terms and provisions made for extras and to supervise same.
Until such time as that Committee is appointed, the following conditions
shall remain in force regarding extras:
"3" of Sub-division "A," of Section "3" reads as follows:
" 'Extra Players,' $7.50 per day, with this minimum graded
upward according to the character and importance of the per-
formance and the personal wardrobe required, the minimum for
Class A 'dress' people to be $15.00 per day; provided that, if
any extra player' employed as such is required to play a part or
bit with essential story dialogue, such 'extra player' shall not be
deemed to be an 'extra player' and shall become a 'bit player.'
and his compensation shall be fixed by agreement between such
player and the producer before the part or bit is undertaken, but
the minimum compensation to such 'bit player' shall not be less
than twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
( 1 ) This does not mean that any "bit player" engaged as such shall
receive a minimum of $25.00, but it does mean that if an 'extra is en-
gaged AS AN EXTRA, and after having started to work as an extra is
then taken from the extra ranks to play a bit where essential dialogue is
required, that an arrangement must be made with the said "extra player"
and the person in charge of production as to what the remuneration shall
be for playing that part or bit, and in no case can it be less than a
minimum of $25.00 for the BIT or PART to be played.
As to bit players, if they are engaged to play a bit. that is a matter
between the employer and the employee, and as for what the remunera-
tion is for doing the work required, that also is a matter of negotiation,
as there is nothing in the Code establishing either a maximum or a mini-
mum for such work.
i (2 ' As to what constitutes "essential story dialogue." that is a matter
which should be left for the present at least up to the man in charge
, of the production.
As to who constitutes "Class A Dress People." that should be left
to the decision of the Central Casting Bureau.
\i' As to sub-division "C," it is practically impossible to make a rul-
ing or decision as to what number constitutes a crowd, and therefore each
studio will have to decide for themselves, being sure they can justify their
decision to the Committee at a later date.
As to sub-division "D." regarding transportation to and from loca-
tion, which shall be paid to extra players, each studio shall continue to
handle this situation as they have in the past, without any deviation.
' ^ ' As to the balance of clause "D." referring to the interviews and
fittings, etc.. it should be carried out as per the Code provisions.
As to paragraph "4," Section "3," sub-division "A," which states:
"In Casting Bureaus casting and employment interviews of
women and children shall be by women casting officials, and
men by men."
this means that instead of the casting being done by a woman, that a
woman shall be present at all interviews between the employer and a
woman applicant.
As to the other sub-sections under paragraph "4." the provisions of
the Code shall be lived up to.
There is no question but that there will be many complaints because
we fully realize that we cannot satisfy everybody, and while it is our
belief that certain people engaged as extras have been abused in cer-
tain places, and have been afraid to complain because of losing their
jobs, that condition is now changed because they now have a tribunal
where they can make complaint, and obtain redress without fear.
Although a few dollars might be saved in a particular instance a
continued practice of that will cost thousands in the long run. Therefore,
everyone should do everything he possibly can where extras are concerned
to have his house well in order before the Committee takes action.
PAT CASEY.
THE BULL IN THE BULLETIN
( 1 ) The Code plainly states extras shall receive $7.50 to $1 5.00
per day and bit players at least $25.00 per day — that's fair
enough!
But it forgot to say POSITIVELY!
The Bulletin tells Producers how to evade the Code and pay
less.
(2) Q: When is "essential dialogue" NOT "essential dialogue,"
Mr. Bones?
A: When you can chisel an actor out of pay for speaking it.
(3) "Three's a crowd" used to be a gag; but now it will be the
rule.
The Code says pay atmosphere people $5.00. The Bulletin
says call them a crowd and pay them less.
(4) Well, well, well. They're REALLY going to live up to some-
thing in the Code
if it doein't cost anything!
Here's what the GUILD has done about it
TELEGRAM
JANUARY 4, 1934
MR. SOL ROSENBLATT
COMMERCE BUILDING.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
BULLETIN NUMBER ONE ISSUED TO ALL PRODUCERS BY PAT CASEY,
PRODUCERS' LABOR REPRESENTATIVE. TO GOVERN CONDUCT
STUDIOS REGARD TO EXTRAS WILL BE HANDED YOU BY EDDIE
CANTOR STOP IT IS AN INSOLENT ATTEMPT BY STUDIOS TO EVADE
CODE STOP IN CASE OF BIT PLAYERS AND EXTRAS CODE IS BEING
USED TO LOWER COMPENSATION PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED STOP WE
DEMAND PROMPT AND VIGOROUS ACTION BY CODE
ADMINISTRATION TO DEMONSTRATE TO PRODUCERS AT OUTSET
THAT SUCH CHISELING WILL RECEIVE STERN DISCIPLINARY
MEASURES
(SIGNED)
SCREEN ACTORS' GUILD
"tT
Page Six
THE
January 5, 1934
JLOIVDOIV XEWS LETTER
Connery Chappell, the film critic
of the Sunday Dispatch, after a jaunt
through the provinces comes back
with the astounding news that Robert
Montgomery is the biggest male star
in pictures for those audiences and
that Norma Shearer is the greatest
female attraction, even greater than
our own Cracie Fields. . . . Chappell
writes also that the most popular pic-
ture recently was "42nd Street." . . .
He also spins the yarn of standing in
front of a house displaying posters of
"Gabriel Over The White House" and
having a prospective ticket purchaser
ask, "I say. old man, who is this fel-
low Gabriel?"
The Twickenham studios are to be
enlarged to three times their present
capacity. Construction will be com-
pleted in April. . . . This is the spot
where Julius Hagen makes the quota
pictures for Radio and Universal and
an occasional release for one of the
big British companies. . . . Sidney Car-
roll, in the Daily Telegraph, does a
tremendous rave for Elizabeth Berg-
ner, the German lass who has the
feminine lead in "Catherine the
Great." Carroll says, "I bow to her as
a reed bends to the storm; I sink in
her presence as a stone drops in the
sea."
Sean O'Casey's play, "Within The
Gates," is to be done here shortly.
p/ HOLLYWOOD ^^
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospitality'
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
Norman Macdermott will produce it.
. . . Seymore Hicks will soon open in
the Rita John's play, "Yours Sincere-
ly." . . . The Ian Hay-A. E. Mason
play, "A Present From Margate,"
opened with little enthusiasm at the
Shaftsbury. . . . London is still wait-
ing for that Ramon Novarro play
script. "It's Another Story." ... He
promised not only to write and pro-
duce it here, but to star in it as well.
. . . Most of the Russian pictures, at
least the best of them, are not being
made in Moscow, but in Georgia, the
land of the Mdivanis.
The next Robert Flaherty picture
will be made in Australia. He will
leave for that country soon, expecting
to be gone about a year. . . . London
critics took a nice slap at the Para-
mount production of "Alice In Won-
derland." Ernest Betts in the Standard
says, in part, "It turns out to be a
mixture of 'Alice' and 'Through the
Looking Glass.' with what one might
describe as a slight kick in the pants."
. . . The Evening News said, "Well,
it's over! I have just been through the
ordeal of seeing 'Alice in Wonder-
land' and both Lewis Carroll and I
have survived pretty well. It's a hor-
rible shock to find that Alice (Char-
lotte Henryl talks with a Philadel-
phia accent and Rosco Ates. as Fish
Footman, stuttering through his part."
French Government
Will Finance Films
Paris. — On the authority of the
Minister of Education and Fine Arts
it is stated that the French Govern-
ment will this year establish a finan-
cial institution the purpose of which
will be to aid domestic producers, with
the particular aim to encourage big
productions that can compete with
such English pictures as "Henry the
Eighth" and the American specials.
'Kong' on High in 'Britain
London. — "King Kong" booking
figures are expected to reach £150,-
000 in the British Isles, according to
latest estimates. The picture is run-
ning about 20 per cent above Radio's
best expectations in its general re-
lease showings.
Will Film Rembrandt Life
Brussels. — Rembrandt is to come
to the screen. Jacques Feyder, Bel-
gian born French director, has written
a screen play around the famous ar-
tist and plans early production.
No Swedish Monopoly
Stockholm. — Government spokes-
men have vigorously denied reports
current in German film circles that a
Government monopoly was planned
for motion pictures.
Film Anatole France Novel
Paris. — "Cramquebille," Anatole
France's famous novel, is being filmed
by Jacques de Baroncelli. Jacques
Feyder once made it in a silent version.
Mexico Will Make
25 Pictures in 1934
Mexico. — Walter Gould, general
manager for United Artists in Mexico,
states that at least ten producing
companies will be active in the coun-
try next year and will make about 25
picures for Spanish-American distri-
bution. There are about 400 wired
houses out of a total of 600 thea-
tres. Superimposed Spanish titles on
American-made films are gaining in
popularity, but films made in Mexico
are favored.
Ufa Closes Big Deal
For Sound Outfits
Berlin. — Ufa and Tobis-Klangfilm
have just concluded a million mark
deal calling for the building of seven-
teen new sound recording outfits,
bringing in the results of Ufa's latest
experiences. With nineteen outfits
already, the completion of this new
order will set Ufa in a top position
among European producers.
Prize for Swedish Story
Stockholm. — The Svensfilmindustry
will pay ten thousand crowns in
prizes for the three best screen plays
submitted before March 1, 1934, with
an additional five thousand crowns if
a picture is made from the story. If
you can write Swedish the ofifer is
open to you.
Belg. Opposes Foreigners
Brussels. — The Belgian Chamber
of Commerce is sponsoring a move to
insist on dubbing of imported pictures
here to aid Belgian artists, and also
to create jobs for Belgians by elimi-
nating the large number of French-
men in the film organizations.
Judy Kelly on Termer
London. — Judy Kelly has been
placed under contract to Julius Hagen
of the Twickenham Studios. Reported
that the player could have got a deal
with Alexander Korda but felt she
would get a better individual chance
at the Twickenham plant.
Joyce Boosting Oberon
London. — Frank Joyce, American
agent, is quoted in papers here as de-
claring that Merle Oberon is the most
promising player here. Miss Oberon
will be seen opposite Douglas Fair-
banks in "Exit Don Juan" and played
Anne Boleyn in "Henry the Eighth."
Wales Investigates Films
Sydney. — The government of New
South Wales has appointed F. W.
Marks to investigate the film industry
because of exhibitor complaints that
certain distributors are boosting rent-
als to a point that will drive them
out of business.
Reduce French Duty
Paris. — Duties on American nega-
tives have been lowered seventeen per
cent by the Government due to the
fall of the dollar.
Dec. Low in Hungary Pics
Budapest. — A single two reeler was
the total of production activity in
Hungarian studios for the month of
December, a new low.
Gossip Around Paris
J. Carlo Bavetta, Fox chief in Eur-
ope, is in New York conferring with
home office officials on the coming
year's productions. . . Max Reinhardt
has announced here that he will soon
journey to the United States. . . "In-
ternational House" got a warm recep-
tion in local press reviews. . . . Louis
Marx, "U's" sales head, is busy on a
deal to sell the "U" product outright
for Belgium. . . . Harold L. Smith,
Hays office man here, is doing a great
job in the Legion drive for funds to
help needy Americans. . . . United
Artists chief, Koerpel, in Russia on
important matters. . . . Monogram's
"Ohiver Twist" is due to be presented
here in a French dubbed version. . . .
Max Friedland conferring from morn
to night with directors, etc., and just
waiting the word from Uncle Carl to
get started on Universal's French pro-
duction. . . . Will probably have to
wait now for Junior Laemmle's arrival.
. . . Lily Damita putting on her prop
smile for everyone approaching her at
the Joinville studio. . . . "Dinner At
Eight" getting great houses. . . . The
King of Belgium saw Caumont's "I ;
Was A Spy" and "Red Dress." . . The
entire royal family are film fans. . . .
We saw the Prince standing in line
like everybody else waiting to see"AII
Quiet on the Western Front" when
shown in. Brussels. . . . Paul Morand's
novel revealing the "inside" of the
French film industry is impatiently
awaited. . . . M. Marc of Equitable
Films practically lives on trains up and
down the Continent. . . Robert Schless,
Warner chief, receiving congratula-
tions for added duties embracing the
entire Continent. i
Theatre Fight Starts in
Australia Key Cities
Melbourne. — There is a film war
breaking out here, with several of the
companies announcing plans to build
large theatres here and in other state
capitals. MCM plans a million dol- '.
lar house. General Theatres Corpora-
tion another, and a theatre is to be
erected to house Australian produc-
tions exclusively.
Hakim Tells New Plans
London. — Erik Hakim is planning a
cooperative grouping of theatre, dis-
tribution and production interests. He
recently resigned his connections with
the Cinema House circuit.
Lehman Back in France
Paris.- — Lucien Lehman, after ten I
years in America as a lecturer on
French literature, writer and film re-
viewer, is getting a big hand in France
on his return home.
New MCM Chief in Rome
Rome. — J. Bedini has become man-
ager of MGM distribution in Italy, j
succeeding Fritz Curioni. His head- j
quarters are in Rome.
New Tag for MacWilliams |
London. — Glen MacWilliams, Ameri-
can cameraman, has been given a new
one-year ticket by British Gaumont. :
Vienna Reduces Taxes
Vienna. — Picture theatres have got
a break here, the government reducing
taxes about four-fifths.
January 5, 1934
TH
I
RilPOilTEPl
Page Seven
evie^nq
I \
mei.
SCREENLAND
98 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Jean Harlow
(MGM)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Fox 848 sq. inches
MCM 618 sq. inches
Paramount 588 sq. inches
Warners 548 sq. inches
Radio 366 sq. inches
Universal 1 56 sq. inches
Columbia 104 sq. inches
United Artists 80 sq. inches
There's an awful lot to read in the
February Screeland, but not much will
stick with you, except "Medals and
Birds," by S. R. Mook, and, perhaps,
"If She Hadn't Been Born in Brook-
lyn" (Clara Bow) , by Lillian Mon-
tanye.
"Medals and Birds" is Mook's annual
rave and squawk, and it's mighty swell
reading.
Betty Shannon tells all about
"Katharine Hepburn's College Days";
James M. Fidler asks "Will Hollywood
Accept Nudism?" "Arliss Tells What
Happy Marriage Has Taught Him" to
Ada Patterson; Ruth Tildesley quotes
A. A. Freudman in "Use the Movies
in Home-Making"; and Leonard Hall
has "East Coast, West Coast — Where
Are the Movies Bound?"
Interviews are "Jean Harlow Con-
fides Her Secret Ambition" (to have
a baby), by James M. Fidler; "He
Knows What He Wants" (Gene Ray-
mond), by Kay Richards; "The Two
Women in His Life" (Cary Grant), by
Mortimer Franklin; "Original" (Mar-
garet Sullavan), by Radie Harris (well
written); "They'll Bet on Love"
(George O'Brien and Marguerite
Churchill), by Dickson Morley; "What
Has Hollywood Done to Paul Muni?"
by Ben Maddox; "Fields for Fun," by
Amory Westcott, and "Home's Where
His Art Is" (Walter Connolly), by
Jed Barker.
SCREEN BOOK
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Miriam Hopkins
( Paramount)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Paramount 732 sq. inches
MCM 512sq. inches
Fox 270 sq. inches
Warners 180 sq. inches
Charles Chaplin 1 80 sq. inches
Universal 134sq. inches
Radio 121 sq. inches
United Artists . 42 sq. inches
Screen Book for February has a
slight edge over Screenland. Art is
better, and the writers took a little
more time over their stories.
Helen Louise Walker has two good
yarns, "Alice White Starts Another
Fight" and "I'll Never Be Afraid
Again" (Claudette Colbert).
Dena Reed also has two stories,
"Mae West Loses Her Man" and
The Ultimate in Entertainment ^
CLUB 2
BALLYHOO !
a3"Ja c <. OI..J no 01AC ^
8373 Sunset Blvd
CR. 9245
"Why Tragedy Haunts Ralph Mor-
gan." ,11
B. F. Wilson is another two-story
contributor, with "So He Decided to
Marry" (Gary Cooper) and "From
Duck Soup to 'Opbwkn" (Harpo
Marx). ,
J. Brien Chapman has "How the
Stars Are Fighting Scandal"; Eric L.
Ergenbright writes "Chaplin — ■ the
Mystery Man of Hollywood"; Radie
Harris has "The Story Sylvia Sidney
Never Told" (about her father) ; Dick
Mook tells of "Secret Marriage Dis-
covered" (Lyie Talbot) ; and Whitney
Williams outlines the arsenal tenden-
cies of Velez in "Jewel Thieves Be-
ware of Lupe Velez."
Dr. Louis E. Bisch's article, "Mov-
ies Will Get You If You Don't Watch
Out!" is the usual psychological data;
Al Sherman quotes Ernst Lubitsch in
"Ambition Is to Blame for Divorce in
Hollywood"; Lew Garvey has a story
on Janet Snowden, "Hollywood Robs
Fifth Avenue"; and other interviews
are "Max Baer Is Afraid of Holly-
wood," by Eleanor Packer, and "One
Girl They Couldn't Change" (Marga-
ret Sullavan), by Northam Bryan.
Must Sign or Lose
(Continued from Page 1 )
bodies, or a voice in nominating can-
didates for the boards. They must be
signed by January 3 1 .
The action passes the buck plainly
to Allied, which has advised its mem-
bers not to sign assents.
The Committee of Assents, Nathan
Yamins, Ed. Kuykendall and J. Robert
Rubin, will make the appointments
subject to the approval of the entire
Code Authority.
Only Eddie Cantor, Dressier and
Aylesworth were absent from today's
meeting, the first two because no
matters concerning production were
to come up. The meeting also named
Jack Cohn permanent alternate for R.
H. Cochrane.
The Authority will move into per-
manent quarters in the Radio City
buildings on January 10, when the
next meeting will be held. John Flinn
did a good job yesterday in his first
as executive secretary of the body.
THE MIRACLE MUSICAL!
Q\mom
AGAIN WITH
DINNER $1.50 g
NO COVER CHARGE i
^mwhi^JIaJvj
Franchot Tone
• May Robson •
Winnie Lightner
Added Charley Chase
"LUNCHEON AT 12'
Rosco Ates To Drop
The Stuttering Act
Rosco Ates, who swung into fea-
ture prominence as a player owing in
part to his expert stuttering, is deter-
mined to lose his pseudo-defect, fig-
uring its novelty IS pretty well shot.
Warners have booked him into a
stutter-less role in "Merry Wives of
Reno," which Lucky Humberstone is
directing, and Edwin Carewe has en-
gaged him for "Are We Civilized?"
The Beyer-MacArthur office is lining
up his non-stuttering assignments.
Para. Tests Col. Players
Paramount tested two Columbia
players, Billie Seward and Harriette
Lake, now known as Ann Sothern, for
the lead in "Melody in^gring" with
Lannie Ross, Mary BolanlRnd Charlie
Ruggles. One of the two girls is
slated for the part. Norman McLeod
will direct. Douglas MacLean is su-
pervising.
Gladys Unger at U'
Universal yesterday signed Gladys
Unger to do additional dialogue on
"Countess of Monte Cristo," which
Karl Freund puts into production next
Wednesday. Picture has been script-
ed by Karen de Wolfe. Unger re-
cently wrote "Coming Out Party" for
Jesse L. Lasky and Fox.
Levine Signs Schaefer
Armand Schaefer has been signed
by Nat Levine to direct Mascot's next
serial, "The Lost Continent," with
Clyde Beatty and the Hollenbeck and
Wallace animals. Picture is scheduled
to get under way by the middle of
next month.
Kull and Minter To Meg
Ken Goldsmith has set Harold R.
Minter, production manager, and Ed-
ward Kull, cameraman, as co-directors
on the outdoor series with Jackie
Searle. First is scheduled to start
March 10.
MCM Buys College Yarn
New York. — MGM is getting its
college yarn lined up for next season,
having purchased "One Part Cheese
Cloth," a story of the campus by Ber-
nard DeVoto, Saturday Evening Post
writer.
1 Tomorrow • B Y PUBLIC DEMAND!
1
B On* Showing Only at IOt45 A. M.
1 "ALICE IN WONDERLAND" [Src°^9:l5]
PIUS
loBIG
. STABS •
SCREEN .
1934's Unusual Drama
iGlRLS
BOAT'
/STAGE
The Sensational
DOUGLAS MONTGOMERY
DOROTHV WILSON
U1;^<>:
IN PERSON
and ALL-COLORED
V REVUE y
Guy
Krasna's Last Laff
Norman Krasna has the last
laugh after his simultaneous con-
clusion of an MGM contract and a
Columbia loan-out. He goes to
Stanley Bergerman's "U" unit on a
four weeks' deal at $1000 per —
a jump from a $350 figure.
MCM Recalls Jean Dixon
MGM IS brmging Jean Dixon, New
1 York stage player, back to Hollywood
\ for a featured role in the Joan Craw-
1 ford picture, "Sadie McKee," the
1 Edington-Vincent office negotiating
; the deal.
Player was here several months ago
for a brief period.
Rainger-Robin Assigned
Paramount has assigned Ralph
Rainger and Leo Robin to write the
words and music for "Come on Ma-
rines" and "The Trumpet Blows."
Team's last work was for Bing
Crosby's forthcoming picture, "We're
Not Dressing."
Patsy Kelly to U'
Universal has put through a deal
with Hal Roach for the loan of Patsy
Kellv for a comedy spot in "Countess
of Monte Cristo." Ralph Farnum grabs
credit for the deal.
BDWy. AT 9TH • PHONE MA 2511
,n LUNCHIrUN Al U' | i|l, /, « 1 ^ 1 V T ^ "rT
& HILL
VA.2P4I
C O NT
.10" A.M.
to II P.M.
. 25cTILLIP.M.«f^S,m!
35c till 6' 40c Eves
HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER
Leads All Trade Dailies In Net
Paid Advertising For The Year
REPORTER M. P. DAILY FILM DAILY
1150 1107 1030
PACES PACES PACES
THERE'S A REASON-
It's Coverage— and
Advertising Returns
.M-G-M STUDIOS,
% READI.\'G DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CA[,IF.
Vol. XVIII, No. 46. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, January 6, 1934
ri^EELANCEl^^ ON SPOT
by ROBERJ WELSH
• "WHERE do you get that phrase
'controlled budget pictures'?" an ex-
hibitor writes us. "Don't you mean
'short budget pictures'?"
Decidedly not. Because there is a
difference.
In the first place, when you use
the phrase "short budget pictures" as
a blanket covering for all pictures
made to entertain at intelligent costs,
you do an injustice to the sincere
maker.
Because you lump him with every-
thing that is CHEAP.
And a "controlled budget picture"
does not have to be cheap — in quality
of entertainment.
•
True — at least fifty per cent of the
time a picture made at a moderate
cost in this business HAS BEEN
CHEAP IN ALL WAYS.
Because most major executives by
some darned freak idiotic twist of
logic get the attitude that ANYTHING
goes in a moderate cost picture.
The story, script and dialogue creak
— but instead of taking even another
week to iron out the wrinkles you
hear: "Oh, hell, it's one of the cheap
ones. Anything goes with them."
The casting is spotty and uneven,
and you hear: "Rats, she's a wash-
out, but she'll get by in this one. It's
one of our cheap pictures."
Those are really "short budget" pic-
tures.
But "controlled budgets" are the
order of the day this year. They mean
giving the same time, attention and
care to story, casting and preparation
to the moderate priced picture as to
the big one — but when you start
shooting controlling the reins so that
you hit the mark you aim at. And
controlling it so well that there's a
margin of a few thousands to fix
up anything that may go wrong.
And "control of budgets" also
means the making of the BIGGEST
pictures. In this sense: When things
are under control a company can af-
ford to say:
"Here are four, six or eight ideas
out of our entire list that are BIG —
we'll shoot the works on them, go the
limit. But we are not doing it blind-
ly. WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE
GOING."
So we give you: "Controlled bud-
get pictures."
Cooper Back Mon.
Will Decide Then
On His Activities
New York. — Merian C. Cooper will
be back in Hollywood Monday and to-
gether with B. B. Kahane, ). R. Mc-
Donough and others will decide his
future activities with Radio Pictures.
It is understood that Cooper's con-
tract with Radio as production head
of the studio, expires February 1 and
that his future activities will not be as
studio head but as the producer of the
"Jock" Whitney series of pictures
that the organization will make on the
lot and release through the Radio ex-
changes.
Cooper is understood to have told
intimates that he does not care for the
burden of being in charge of the pro-
duction of any studio, that he would
like to make two or three pictures a
year and those pictures with the
Whitney financing.
Week-end Sailings of
Film Folk To Europe
New York. — Week-end sailings
among film and theatrical folk include
Irving Asher of Warners, Friday on the
Mauretania; Carlyle Blackwell, Friday
night on the Europa; Mitzi Mayfair
and Jules Demaria, honorary president
of the French Cinema Syndicate, Sat-
urday on the Lafayette.
Siff Resigns at MOM
Phillip Siff has resigned as execu-
tive assistant to David Selznick effec-
tive next Monday. He returns to New
York.
Chatt-ert'on To Rest
Ruth Chatterton will leave for Palm
Springs today for a month's rest. The
star has been ill the past week with
a bad cold.
Stock Players Never So Busy
And Inter-Studio Loan-Outs
Being Pushed To The Limit
With the rush of oictures to start the new year free lance
players and their agents are awakening in alarm to the fact that
the jobs are not as plentiful as the pictures. The famine condi-
tion is caused by an intensive drive on the part of the majors to
absorb every dollar of stock players'
time even to the extent of dropping a i i t\ C II
name actors into comparative bits; AOeld R. jt. |ohnS
combined with a close knit spirit of ^ ' ^
cooperation to the same end between \X/||| Qua I rtllllTlKia
studios that IS moving the stock play- ^ '" -^"6 \^Q\\XU\Vl^
ers around like pieces on a checker-
board.
The situation is well illustrated by
"Merry Wives of Reno," at Warners, a
moderate cost negative which finds the
(Continued on Page 4)
Brent To Court
In Warner Scrap
George Brent filed suit yesterday in
Superior Court, through his attorney,
Peyton H. Moore, against Warner
Brothers studio, asking the ccurt to
interpret his contract.
Brent admits his refusal to play the
role assigned him by Warners in
"Mandalay," after the studio would
not comply with his wish to be re-
leased from the assignment. He claims
the role was that of a drunken doctor
who when intoxicated allows a baby
to die. He felt that the role would
hurt him.
Cohn Returns Monday
New York. — Harry Cohn, Colum-
bia's boss, leaves by plane today for
Hollywood and will be at his desk on
Monday morning.
CAlfiiEY DEFEIVDS POSITION
OI\ CODE EXTRA BVELETIN
Ad Schulberg En Route
Pat Casey, Producers' Labor Repre-
sentative, yesterday defended his Bul-
letin number 1 issued to all produc-
ers regarding extras, and denied the
charges in the Screen Actors' Guild's
telegram to Sol Rosenblatt in Wash-
ington that "it is an insolent attempt
by studios to evade the code."
"The code clearly states," said
Casey, "that extra players are to re-
( Continued on Page 2)
New York. — Ad Schulberg is at last
on her way to the coast, leaving yes-
terday with Bianca Stroock, stylist of
the Jay Thorpe theatrical department.
Flu Hits Flood
Latest flu victim is James Flood,
Paramount director, who has hied him-
self off to bed between pictures.
Adela Rogers St. Johns, prominent
Hearst writer, is filing suit early next
week through Attorney Jerry Geisler
against Columbia Pictures for unpaid
balance on the story "Take the Wit-
nes's."
The writer alleges that after tell-
ing the idea of the story to Harry
Cohn she was instructed to go ahead
with the development, receiving one-
fcurth down on a purchase price of
$7500. Later, in New York, the first
treatment was put into script form on
approval of Nate Spingold, of Colum-
bia, and the author returned to the
coast with a completed job.
And since then, she says, she hasn't
even been able to see Harry Cohn.
Liammell of Paramount
To Locate at Studio
New York. — Bob Gillam of Para-
mount left for the coast yesterday ac-
companied by John Hammell of the
company's distribution department.
The latter will eventually locate per-
manently at the studio, with John
Barry, formerly of the Publix organi-
zation, being groomed for Hammell's
home office post.
Mrs. Selznick Under Knife
Mrs. Lewis Selznick, mother of Da-
vid and Myron Selznick, underwent a
major operation at the Good Samari-
tan Hospital yesterday. Her condition
was reported as satisfactory at a late
hour last night. Dr. Maurice Kahn
operated.
'L. B/ to Frisco
Louis B. Mayer left for San Fran-
cisco Thursday taking his wife there
to a hospital for observation. The
MCM chief will be back in a few days.
Joe 'Mank' East
Joe Mankiewicz left last night for
a two weeks' vacation in New York.
ILHELN DIETERLE Directed "FASHIONS OF 1934'
Page Two
THEJda
Jan. 6, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
HERBERT' FORMULA PLAY;
DOMINATED BY J. C. XCGEXT
Dolores Del Rio and Cedric Gibbons
are fleeing, via air, to N'Yawk this
dawn to see some plays for a coupla
weeks. . . . Sex Note: Clark Cable Is
off to spend the week-end with his
horse, Beverly Hills — she won her first
race at Caliente, y'know. . . . Enrico
Caruso |r. is awful' mad at the Warner
publicity boys for saying that he "in-
herited some of his father's voice" —
it's modesty that makes him mad; he
says he can't sing at all — but he can!
. . . One of the things that made last
week-end bright was Sam Jaffe's
"compliment" to Arthur Richman,
who appeared at the Mirador all done
up in riding-togs. Said Sam: "Gee,
Arthur, you look swell in those jodh-
purs— I don't care what anybody
says!" . . . Do you know why Harry
Cohn didn't want anyone to know
how good he thought Ann Sothern
was in "Let's Fall in Love"?
•
Ceorgie Raft, hobbling about with
cane; Margie King, the Rufus Le
Maires, Mary Brian with Dick Powell,
Vivian Segal, the Ed Lowes (Lilyan
Tashman), Elliott Cibbons, Jack Oakie
among those at the opening of "Sailor
Beware," which must have been hotter
or something in New York. . . . Lotsa
pipple at the Colony Club later —
where Margaret Sullavan administered
"the retort discourteous" to an ac-
tress who paid her a nice compliment
— and got just the right answer in re-
turn. . . . Didja know that Doris War-
ner LeRoy partly financed the stage
production of "Men in White" — and
tried to get poppa Harry to buy it,
but he said "No!" so MCM grabbed
it? . . . Greta Garbo and Mamoulian
back in town from the Yosemite — or
didn't you know they'd been there?
. . . Tom Brown has put the kind of
a ring that signifies an engagement
in France on Anita Louise's finger.
. . . Wally Beery's been taking guitar
lessons — he strums a Spanish "just
Before the Battle, Mother" in "Viva
Villa" — whatever THAT is!
'Time' Movie Critic Out
Elliott Gibbons, screen critic for
"Time" magazine, has resigned that
post. Gives no reason other than a
desire to seek more lucrative fields.
'Grumpy' Routine
Too Old For Pics
•BI'C HEARTED HERBERT"
Eddie Dowling presents "Big Hearted
Herbert," adapted by Sophie Kerr
and Anna Steese Richardson from
a story by Sophie Kerr; staged by
Dan Jarrett. With j. C. Nugent,
Elizabeth Risdon, Norman Wil-
liams, Dorothy Walter, Alan
Bunce, Marjorie Wood, Betty
Lancaster and others. At the
Biltmore Theatre.
New York. — just as it is inevitable
that at least one story of this type
make its appearance on every picture
program, so it is inevitable that a
study of an irascible old gent with a
heart of gold be given the opportunity
to romp around the stage at least once
a season. In this case, despite the
fact that nothing new has been manu-
factured to make the idea any differ-
ent from the rest of this particular
school of thought, there is j. C. Nu-
gent grumbling all over the place and
getting laughs from those who really
know better than to encourage this
kind of thing. It's his show and he
makes the best there is of it.
This particularly "Grumpy" is a
self-made man who abominates col-
lege men, especially the Harvard
breed. I Laugh situation number
three.) He is also a "plain" man who
will not wear tuxedo. (Laugh situa-
tion number four. ) He also refuses
to give up dominating his family and
ruling his children's lives until his
wife (who 'has been gallantly hanging
on to her idea of what she thought
she married twenty-three years ago)
takes the situation in hand. The
proper results are gained through the
exceedingly simple ruse of taking the
chintz covers off the hideous old-
fashioned furniture and having the
daughter of the house slap down a
"plain" meal of Irish stew and apple
pie before "Grumpy's" very best cus-
tomers whom he wishes to impress.
(Stock situation number five.) The
wife also threatens to leave home un-
less Papa agrees to allow his daughter
to marry a lawyer and allow his older
son to become an engineer instead of
going into Papa's manufacturing busi-
ness. There is also a younger son
who is the only one in the family with
brains enough to realize his father is
a fool and love him for that.
As has been said before, this is
j. C. Nugent's show, but along with
him are Elizabeth Risdon as his wife,
who does right well by an incredible
part, and Norman Williams as the
younger son, who is one of the pleas-
antest and most natural kids we've
ever seen on the stage; and Betty Lan-
caster as the daughter, who is a very
attractive lass and studiously and suc-
cessfully avoids being the least bit
coy. It is too bad that the gal's voice
is slightly high and rasping. With
that defect removed, she'd be, okay for
sound. And Dan jarrett's direction
comes through the pretty tough task
of having eight people on the stage
at once while one completely domi-
nates the conversation.
Wide Open
P. J. Wolfson shot himself in the
arm accidentally yesterday while
cleaning his shotgun. He was taken
to the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital
for treatment. You should hear
the sympathy (?) he gets from the
boys.
Warners Dust Off
'Beau Brummer Pic
Warners are dusting off their
"Beau Brummel" property and looking
at it this way and that with an idea
of remaking it. Silent picture was
made ten years ago with John Barry-
more, Mary Astor, Irene Rich, Alec
B. Francis, Carmel Myers and Richard
Tucker, most of whom are ever-pres-
ent today.
Defends Stand on Code
(Continued from Page 1 )
ceive $7.50 per day, with this mini-
mum graded upwards according to the
character and importance of the per-
formance and the personal wardrobe
required, the minimum for any class A
'extra player' to be $15.00 per day.
Producers are without exception pay-
ing this minimum scale.
"If any extra, employed as such, is
required to play a bit such player be-
comes a 'bit player' and the minimum
compensation shall be not less than
$25.00. The code does not specify per
day, but $25.00 minimum for that
'bit,' whether it takes ten minutes
or ten days. This minimum scale does
not apply, nor was it meant to apply,
to anyone not originally hired as 'an
extra player,' so that a producer who
hires a player for a 'bit' may make
any arrangement with that player as
shall be mutually satisfactory.
"As to what is and what is not 'es-
sential dialogue' and what constitutes
a 'crowd' obviously this can only be
decided by the man in charge of pro-
duction..
"This bulletin, signed by me, was
issued as an aid to the studios in un-
derstanding this phase of the question
and I am convinced that every pro-
ducer today is living up to the spirit
as well as the letter of the code. The
charges made in the Guild's telegram
are without foundation in fact."
David Selznick Ends
First Year At MCM
David Selznick this week rounds
out his first year with MCM and starts
the second on his two-year contract
with that company.
In addition to many months spent
assisting L. B. Mayer on organization
matters due to the illness of Irving
Thalberg, Selznick has claims to a suc-
cessful year with such pictures as
"Dinner at Eight" and "Dancing
Lady" and the bouquets he is receiv-
ing for bringing "Little Women" to
the screen. Great expectations are
also held for "Viva Villa," the pic-
ture which rounds out his year.
Four Selznick productions are al-
ready in the works for the coming
year, "Streets of New York" for Ga-
ble, "Sacred and Profane Love" for
Crawford, "Prisoner of Zenda" and
an unnamed historical subject for
George Cukor direction.
A Fof L to Organize
Pic Theatre Staffs
New York. — First important reac-
tion to the code feature on collective
bargaining in the motion picture field
comes with the news that the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor is behind a
nation-wide move to organize on a
union basis ushers, doormen, ticket-
takers and janitors of screen theatres.
The work will start from the East,
an organization meeting being sched-
uled for New York City next Tues-
day.
Lou Schreiber Handtes
His Own Clients
Lou Schreiber is anxious to correct
the impression that the clients former-
ly handled by him are in a tie-in
with the William Morris agency.
Schreiber will continue to handle his
own clients on a personal basis, aside
from his affiliation on other deals with
Morris.
Hepburn On Air in 'Juliet'
New York. — Katharine Hepburn
and Douglass Montgomery will do a
scene from "Romeo and Juliet" over
the NBC network on next Sunday
evening, originating at 10.30 Eastern
Standard time.
SUC4-I RiJYT-UM/ SUCI-I MCLODY/
^ -\~\ere is t-de music beautiful
^ ^COMING Uurd.y JAN. II*
GOLD DOOM
e£V-ERLY-V/(LS4^lR■E -MOT^L
oxford 7111
Now Plauina - Jimrnu Grier
\
)an. 6, 1934
Page Thre«
*PALOOKA' PACKS LAFFS;
*LET'S FALL IN LOVE' GOOD
Great Casting Tops
All Around job
"PALOOKA"
An Edward Small Production
Director Benjamin Stoloff
Screen Play: Jack jevne, Gertrude Pur-
cell and Arthur Kober.
Photographer Arthur Edeson
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
Stuart Erwin, Marjorie Rambeau,
Robert Armstrong, Mary Carlisle,
William Cagney, Thelma Todd,
Franklyn Ardeli, Tom Dugan and
Stanley Fields.
There are almost as many laughs
in "Palooka" as there are feet in the
film, and when a little discreet cut-
ting is done on a few dull places the
picture will be one continuous laugh.
It drags a little in the beginning,
until Stu Erwin gets to the big city
to become a prizefighter and Lupe
Velez appears on the scene. From
then on it's a wow.
The story is a cinch any way you
look at it, and it is embellished with
dialogue that crackles. The cast
romps through the thing with all the
gusto in the world, and anyone who is
looking for a boisterous, noisy, slightly
cock-eyed and rowdy evening's enter-
tainment can find it in "Palooka."
jimmy Durante has the part of his
life in this picture. He plays the fight
manager who persuades Stu Erwin to
leave his farm and come to New York
to become world's champion, as his
father, Robert Armstrong, was before
him. Marjorie Rambeau is Erwin's
mother, who has seen her husband
about twice in the past twenty years
and has no desire to see her son fol-
low in his father's footsteps. But Er-
win becomes champion, through a ser-
ies of phony fights arranged by Dur-
ante, and it isn't until he steals a riv-
al's girl and has a fight on the level
that he realizes that he's a fake in
the ring.
Erwin lumbers away with his part
in the typical Erwin manner, only do-
ing It a little better than usual. Miss
Rambeau and Armstrong are splendidly
cast as his parents. Jimmy Durante
works hard and seldom has had a bet-
ter advantage to do his stuff, and
Miss Velez is extremely alluring as the
girl who flits from champ to champ.
William Cagney is a natural born
actor. He has a hard part in this film
and he gets away with it brilliantly.
Mary Carlisle, Thelma Todd, Franklyn
Ardeli, Tom Dugan and Stanley Fields
have smaller but colorful roles.
With the exception of those few,
du!l, stiff bits, the a"rection of Ben-
jamin Stoloff is fast and clever. Jack
Jevne, Gertrude Purcell and Arthur
Kober wrote the screen play, and Ar-
thur Edeson photographed it. Credit
for additional dialogue is given Ben
Ryan and Murray Roth, so they must
be mentioned.
There's no box office worry about
"Palooka." You'll probably have re-
peaters coming back to catch the dia-
logue and action they missed while
laughrng so hard.
Hail Columbia!
A committee headed by Irving
Briskin, Sam Nelson and Wilbur
McGough raised $1500 on the Co-
lumbia lot in a few hours for the
widow and five children of Frank
Geraghty, veteran assistant direc-
tor, who was a victim of the flood.
'Wheels of Destiny'
Weak For Maynard
"WHEELS OF DESTINY"
( Maynard-Universal )
Directed by Allan James
Original and Screen Play. .Nate Gatzert
Photography by Ted McCord
Cast: Ken Maynard, Dorothy Dix, Philo
McCullough, Frank Rice, Jay
Wilsie, Ed Coxen, Fred Sale Jr.,
Fred MacKaye, Jack Rockwell,
William Could, Nelson McDow-
ell, Big Tree, Tarzan.
This picture was made at a cost
way below even Maynard's average.
It looks it.
A group of easterners are preparing
to trek to California to work a claim
one of their members has found when
they are attacked by outlaws seeking
a map of the gold fields. Maynard ar-
rives in time to save the day, thus
making an excuse for a chase in the
first hundred feet of film. From this
point on the little band suffer more
trials and tribulations than did the
chosen people on their flight out of
Egypt into the Promised Land. The
outlaws appear from time to time as
do several thousand Indians. These
dealt with, a prairie fire and a cloud
burst equaling the late Los Angeles
flood, remain to be overcome but
Maynard managed to get the little
band safe at last on the sunny side of
the Rockies.
There are more chases than usual
and these might get the kids' money.
Tarzan, who usually can be count-
ed on, didn't receive his usual oppor-
tunities. Photography and direction
have to rate along with the routine air
of the whole affair.
lay Ask
Another Injunction
Studio Technicians No. 37, lATSE,
has called a general meeting to be
held Monday evening at headquarters
to discuss the court denial of its ap-
plication to enjoin members of Local
No. 40 of the IBEW from working in
studios for which the lATSE claimed
jurisdiction.
L. C. G. Blix, business representa-
tive of the lATSE, will seek permission
from the members to file another suit
against the IBEW on the question.
Blix said that the adverse decision
will not affect his suit for $33,900,-
000 against a large proportion of the
film capital, now pending.
Sam Krellberg Coming.
New York. — Sam Krellberg is on
his way to the coast to look over in-
dependent production in connection
with financing operations.
Ratoff a Hit;
Sothern a Bet
"LET'S FALL IN LOVE"
(Columbia)
Directed by David Burton
Story and Screen Play by
Herbert Fields
Photographed by Benjamin Kline
Music by. Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ted Koehler
Cast: Gregory Ratoff, Ann Sothern,
Edmund Lowe, Miriam Jordan,
Tala Birell, Greta Meyer, Kane
Richmond, Marjorie Cateson,
Sven Borg, Arthur Jarrett.
With the exception of "Lady for a
Day" this picture is the best that Co-
lumbia has had on its program for a
long time, it reaches the top spot in
program attractions and should return
a big profit to the studio and equally
as big returns for the theatres.
It's nothing pretentious, shows
nothing new, has an antique story
idea, but the manner in which the
whole production is handled turns it
into a swell piece of entertainment.
Gregory Ratoff walks away with the
picture in the role of a Hollywood pic-
ture producer. Several times during
the preview the run of the picture
was interrupted by applause for his
standout scenes and it was well de-
served. However, Ann Sothern (for-
merly Harriet Lake) grabs her share
of the cake in what, we believe, is
her first major part in a picture. She
is good to look at, reads her lines most
convincingly and has the marks of a
big bet. Either the recording was bad
or she is no great shucks in song, but
in either case she's O.K.
Much credit should go to David
Burton for a direction that was, at all
times, most charming. It's pretty
tough to hold screen interest with a
story in which you can call every se-
quence before it is played, but Burton
did that and more. Other credits
should go to Harold Arlen and Ted
Koehler for a certain smash song hit,
"Let's Fall in Love," and Edmund
Lowe for his performance in a rather
stilted role.
Plot is laid in a studio background
with a star walking out on a picture
and the efforts of the director iwork-
ing on his pet picture) to uncover a
girl to take her place. He finds her
in a circus and of course she is a hit
and of course they fall in love. Al-
though the yarn is formula, it is told
convincingly and with plenty of
amusement.
You can spot this one any place.
It's not a musical, although having a
cinch hit number, thereby presenting
musical qualities without the general
drawbacks of that type of entertain-
ment. Don't let the picture sneak in
on you or your audience; it should be
ballyhooed to get the effects it de-
serves.
Melton on Long Termer
Frank Melton, youngster who scor-
ed in "State Fair," and then went to
work in Muller's Gas Station while
waiting a decision from Fox on his fu-
ture, was yesterday signed to a long
term contract by the Westwood stu-
d;o.
lEEMR
Well, my foes and friends, THAT
was a New Year's celebration. All
those who were not out of town were
at the Mayfair party which was one
gorgeous champagne bubble until 7 or
8 o'clock in the morning, and with all
the best intentions in the world it was
impossible to keep a record of those
present, on account of things were
just a blur after )2 that completely
blotted out that which went before.
. . Lotsa people took advantage of
the elegant week-end to go frolicking
out of town. Kay Francis celebrated
the New Year down on Long Island
with the Donald Ogden Stewarts and
the thing that exhausted her was
watching the tennis. George Oppen-
heimer went up to Arden, N. Y., to
visit with the Harrimans and got more
sleep than he's had in years. And,
incidentally, out of those two parties
we said had been given for Miriam
Hopkins by Bennett Cerf, at least one
of them was in honor of George Op-
penheimer, and Bennett Cerf thinks
he should be given credit for it. . . .
Julie and Arthur Hornblow (who spent
most of the holidays down in ole Vir-
ginny) had themselves a farewell
cocktail party on Arthur's return to
Hollywood and Julie's return to the
old homestead. And a goodly crowd
was there with Carl Van Vechten,
Marion Saportas (with a very new and
gorgeous diamond bracelet) , Eddie
Wasserman, Tullio Carminati (who's
about to decide where and when he
wants to leave town suddenly) , Kay
Francis, Dwight Fiske, Joan Carr and
George Oppenheimer. . . . Arthur Lu-
bin has finally made up his mind
about what he's going to do next and
that is to direct a play called "Brief
Nocturne," by Victor Whotkenstein.
This recounts the story of that grande
passion between George Sand and
Chopin, and if plans don't go astray
one of your very favorite actresses will
play the George Sand role.
We've just discovered that a lot of
these eye-arresting marquees are done
that way a-purpose. Anyway, one
theatre we know of makes it a prac-
tice to book pictures that'll cause
comment when billed together and
that's the Edison. The one they had
for the holidays reads: "Aggie Appleby
Maker of Men" and "Little Women."
And so, to get back to New
Year's once more, Helen Morgan had
a Tom and Jerry party the afternoon
of the eve and we still don't know
what they are since we never got past
the Planter's Punch. . . . BUT. ladies
and gents, the best celebration this
town has had in years was over the
victory of Columbia. Telephone and
telegraph wires burned with congrat-
ulations from old grads to older grads
and it's absolutely impossible to even
talk to a Columbia man. And whata
break for Cod's country — Graham
McNamee couldn't talk about the
weather and the beautiful mountains
and it sorta put a stop gap to all the
boasting about western football as
compared to eastern. But what it
has really done is to give eastern pro-
duction the biggest boost it's ever had.
Page Four
jn^feUp^.
Ian. 6, 1934
Londoners Rate
La Maternelle'
Best Pic of 1933
London. — The French production of
"La Maternelle," now playing the
Academy here, has been rated by most
of the film critics of Great Britain as
the best picture of any manufacture
during the past twelve months.
"La Maternelle" was made by Pro-
ductions Photosounor of Paris at a
total cost of $48,000. It stars Made-
leine Renaud and was directed by
Leon Frapie from the story of ). Be-
noit-Levy and Marie Epstein.
Picture is being released here and
in France by Universal.
'Elizabeth' for MacMahon
Continuing to build Aline Mac-
Mahon towards starrJng, Warners have
placed on their schedule a costume
production under the title "Eliza-
beth" to star the player. She rates
top billing in "Fur Coats," which goes
into work next week. No other cast
members set.
Zanuck Seeks Laughton
Darryl Zanuck has not given up
hope of getting Charles Laughton for
the Duke's part in "Affairs of Cellini,"
although Paramount, which has the
player under contract, has not given
the deal its okay to date.
Stuart- in 'Campus Queen'
Gloria Stuart returned from Carmel
yesterday and was assigned by Univer-
sal for the top spot in "The Campus
Queen," from an original story by Lou
Foster.
Double Cross
Universal is reported ready to
slam Columbia before the Code
Authority. Basketball teams of
both companies met Thursday, Co-
lumbia walking through their op-
ponents to a 60-28 win. Universal
alleging now that Columbia had
run in last year's UCLA champs as
their team.
Freelancers on Spot
( Continued from Page 1 >
'Ziegfeld^ Lands On
Shelf At Universal
Universal has postponed production
on "The Great Ziegfeld," for which
Billie Burke had been signed at one
time. Extraordinarily lavish demands
for such a picture are regarded at this
period as contrary to the company's
policy.
Lyie Talbot- Excused
Threatened with suspension owing
to his disappearance when Warners
demanded him for retakes in "Upper-
world," LyIe Talbot cleared the air
when he told Hal Wallis how a fog
had forced him to stop off at Santa
Barbara while the studio wired frantic-
ally to the Hearst ranch for him. Wal-
lis told him to forget the incident.
Meeting on Code in Feb.
Washington. — General Johnson an-
nounced today that he was calling all
Code Authorities to meet here early
in February for general instructions
and to iron out in open discussion the
problems of four or five industries
where complaints have been heard.
following members of the stock list
falling over each other: Glenda Farrell,
Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert, Frank Mc-
Hugh, Donald Woods, Margaret Lind-
say, Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh.
Kibbee has jumped from "Wonder
Bar" to "Harold Teen," to "Merry
Wives"; Cavanaugh from "Harold
Teen" to "Very Honorable Guy" to
"Merry Wives," schedules being inter-
locked like a cross-word puzzle.
A survey of the principal majors
concerning percentage of stock play-
ers at work or scheduled for pictures
within a few days is here summar-
ized :
Columbia, with fourteen stock con-
tract players, will have ten working by
the end of the week on the three
productions scheduled to be under way
by that time.
At MGM, with the recent produc-
tion spurt tapering off, studio still has
70 per cent of the star and featured
players active and this list will be
raised to around 80 per cent before
the end of the month. MGM lists fif-
teen stars and 42 featured players.
Sixteen of Radio's stock list of 22
are either working or scheduled for
pictures on the early slate.
Warners figures are astonishing.
With 16 stars, ten are working or
scheduled for the next week; of 31
featured players, 28 are already cast
in pictures now in production.
Paramount is using the loan-out
route to keep their percentage high,
about sixty per cent of the players
keeping consistently busy over the
Poli in Five Year
Deal With MGM
New York. — One of the biggest
blanket booking deals on record was
concluded yesterday with the signing
by the Poli Circuit of a five-year
deal for MGM product.
The circuit, now controlled by Na-
thanson and Blumenthal interests,
plans to do its own vaudeville booking
and looks to a revival in that field.
Colbert Back for Retakes
Claudette Colbert returned from
Furnace Creek Inn in Death Valley
yesterday.
She goes to Columbia Monday for
retakes under Frank Capra's direction
in "It Happened One Night," formerly
known as "Night Bus."
Rosenblatt Sets the Date
Washington. — Sol Rosenblatt now
definitely plans his Coast trip to start
the 19th or 20th. He was made a
Kentucky Colonel today.
current month either at home or
abroad. Universal, due to the young-
sters carried in stock for future pos-
sibilities, shows a surplus of idle play-
ers but "Countess of Monte Cristo,"
"If I Were Rich," and others sched-
uled for quick shooting are counted to
absorb all of the big overhead this
month. Fox is the only unhealthy ex-
ception to the rule, with only 20 per
cent of the stock list at work, and the
average only due to go up slightly in
the next two weeks. Fox, under Shee-
han's rules, also cagey about loan-
outs.
Sidney
Euchman
wrote the
SCREEN
PLAY (in collaboration)
"ALL OF ME"
"It's different with a shining new
plot, a new method of telling a story
— the dialogue is exceptionally fine."
— Hollywood Reporter.
Vol. XVI i I. No. 47. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, |anuary 8, 1934
4C/iD-6lJILD riGtiT AGAIN
•IT seems to be an undeniable fact
that the individuals at the production
helm here in Hollywood (with possi-
bly one or two exceptions) know less
about the making of pictures than
anyone else connected with the Hol-
lywood industry. And still those very
men, who have ALL the say, seem to
be continually doing everything to
thwart the creators, men and women,
who could and would make success-
ful pictures.
Co over the list of studio heads
(you know them as well as we do)
and pick more than two men who
could stand on their own in produc-
tion. Then go over the same list of
men, and those of you who are fa-
miliar with their actions jot down the
number of pictures they have ruined
during the past twelve months by their
insane ideas, absolute child-like de-
cisions or Napoleonic attitudes. It's
a damned disgrace and is THE reason
for bad pictures and the huge cost
of those bad pictures.
•
It should be the duty of a studio
head to surround himself with an or-
fanization that can make GOOD PIC-
URES. It should be his desire to
assemble a group of producers who
can produce and permit them to pro-
duce unhampered. It should be his
duty to watch the purse strings, to
attend to the business details of the
studio and let the creators CREATE.
But who of them are doing it?
We saw a picture the other night
the production of which has been the
talk of the town for almost a month.
It was a cheap picture, made in a
cheap studio (one of the majors) that
in its completed form was SWELL
ENTERTAINMENT. In addition, it
brought to the screen a new person-
ality. For making this good picture
at a low cost, for digging up the story,
for getting it written so that it would
play logically, for bringing to the stu-
dio a new personality, the producer
was FIRED. All because he was
"tough to get along with." All be-
cause he KNEW how to produce but
his stupid studio head failed to rec-
ognize it. Because the producer would
not countenance stupid interference.
Now that the picture is a success
the studio is trying to get the pro-
ducer back. But it's too late. He
has been snapped up by another or-
ganization, by a man desirous of per-
(Continued on Page 2)
Para. Chairman
On Way Here To
Look Things Over
New York — Duncan Holmes, chair-
man of the shareholders committee of
Paramount, is on his way to Holly-
wood to look over the studio and its
product in the interests of the com-
mittee he represents.
It is understood that Holmes will
conduct a thorough investigation to
determine the reasons for the defec-
tion of most of Paramount's stars to
other companies and to receive first
hand information on the cost and poor
quality of the product during the past
year.
Eddie Small Carries U'
Peeve to the Hays Office
Edward Small is burning plenty at
Universal for using the title "Countess
of Monte Cristo" and plans to go to
the Hays organization this week to
try and prevent Universal from using
that title.
Cormack and DeMille Part
Bartlett Cormack, who has been a
DeMille story ace for the past year,
resigned Saturday after inability to
agree with Cecil B. on the treatment
of "Cleopatra." Writer was immedi-
ately snapped up by the parent Para-
mount organization to work on "The
Trumpet Blows," George Raft vehicle.
Criffith-Faragoh Return
New York. — E. H. Griffith and
Frances Faragoh, who have been here
for preparatory script work on "Alien
Corn," are now on their way to the
Coast.
Rex Bailey Joins Lloyd
Rex Bailey, former Radio caster, has
been engaged by the Harold Lloyd or-
ganization as head caster.
Lie Passed On Writers' Claim
That Their Body Will Control
Code Committee Nominations
They're at it again — the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences and the Writers' Guild. On Thursday evening a
meeting of the members of the Writers' Guild was told that their
organization had been authorized to handle the machinery for
nominations to the Fair Practices
Committee which will guide the oper-
ation of the code. On Friday, Donald
Gledhill, acting executive secretary of
the Academy, displayed a telegram
from Sol Rosenblatt which in his
opinion denies that any moves have
(Continued on Page 10)
Mamoulian Signed
For Next Anna Sten
Samuel Goldwyn signed Rouben
Mamoulian Saturday to direct the ngxt
Anna Sten picture, "Resurrection," in
which Fredric March will be co-
starred.
Willard Mack is writing the screen
play of the Tolstoy novel. Production
on this picture is scheduled to get un-
der way around April 1.
Sound Men's Election on
Tuesday and Wednesday
Contrary to reports that the IBEW
has effectively spiked the lATSE's ef-
forts to hold an election to decide
which organization shall represent the
craft, Campbell McCullough of the Los
Angeles Regional Labor Board Satur-
day requested all studios to notify
their sound men that the election will
be held as planned in the Writers'
Club January 9 and 10.
PARA. HAVIIVG GRIEF WITH
RKO AND INDIES IN N. Y.
New York. — Paramount and the
RKO circuit are at loggerheads in the
New York territory and it looks as
though the independent theatres may
get a break out of the battle.
The Paramount product has here-
tofore been split between Loew's and
RKO in the metropolitan area, but this
week Paramount announces cancella-
tion of the RKO franchise, alleging
(Continued on Page 9)
Seymour Assigned to the
Reins on Next 'Joe E.' Pic
James Seymour has been assigned
the supervisory reins on the next Joe
E. Brown picture, "Earthworm Trac-
tors."
Paul Gerard Smith and Joe Traub
are writing the screen play from the
William Hazlitt Upton series of short
stories in the Saturday Evening Post.
MCM Producers
May Be Cut to Five
New York. — It is understood here
that when Nicholas Schenck gets to
Hollywood in about two weeks, that
Louis B. Mayer and himself will cut
the production staff of the studio to
f ve, instead of the more than a dozen
holding portfolios there now.
The slice in producers will be done
in the belief that the five topnotched
rren at the plant can account for the
whole program of MGM pictures and
will tend to better organization, bet-
ter production and at much less cost
than at present.
Twelvetrees and Agents
To Air Trouble in Court
The Rebecca and Silton office's
'altle with Helen Twelvetrees is
headed fo' a court room airing.
Action against the player alleging
unlawful discharge from a managerial
contract is slated to be filed today
througS Ralph Blum, agency's attor-
ney. Dispute is claimed to be similar
to the Bruce Cabot-Collier and Wallis
fracas which resulted in the latter
winning a victory for the entire field.
Goldwyn to New York
Samuel Goldwyn left for New York
on The Chief Saturday night to be
gone six weeks. During that time he
will look after the opening of "Nana"
and also discuss the next Cantor pic-
ture with the writers.
Leonard on 'Rip Tide'
Robert Z. Leonard is now directing
the Thalberg production of "Rip
Tide" at MGM with Edmund Gould-
ing, who has been directing, shifted
over to the writing end of the picture.
Cohn Remains East
New York. — With Sam Briskin on
the job at the studio Harry Cohn has
canceled plans for an immediate re-
turn to the Coast and will remain in
New York for some time.
[
MARK SANDRICH directed "HIPS HIPS HOORAY"
Page Two
THE
Jan. 8. 1933
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office. Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions: Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
rnatter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
PARA'S 'SEARCH' EI^TERTAINS;
FOG' FAILS TO HIT THE MARK
Ric Cortez and Christine Lee are
getting married this morning at Phoe-
nix, Arizona — even though the honey-
moon must wait. The pair returns to
Ho'llywood tomorrow and Ric goes
right to work at Warners. If the stu-
jo gives out with a couple of weeks
between pictures, the newlyweds will
go to Honolulu when "Hit Me Again"
is finished.
•
LISTEN! About the most sensa-
tional bit of news we've heard con-
cerns a famous star and her actor-
husband. Finding themselves unhappy
in their present state, they want to
get a divorce. But they CAN'T — not
here or anywhere else. Because they
are not and never have been married!
Their union began several years ago
when both were on the stage and
even though they have spent little
time since then under the same roof,
they would like to sever the ties com-
pletely— but don't know how! There
IS the matter of the "dear public" to
consider— and they naturally enough,
don't want to face what might be
termed another "movie scandal."
Their marriage would soon be legal as
a common-law union, since they an-
nounced more than five years ago that
they were married — but for some rea-
son they want to be free right now —
and are lying awake nights trying to
figure out HOW!
•
Virginia Cherrill and Cary Grant got
as far as the registrar's office in Lon-
don the other day with the intention
of getting married. Then Virginia dis-
covered that she had left her divorce
papers from her first husband in the
good ole U.S.A. If the matter can be
straightened out satisfactorily they'll
be married in England before they re-
turn— otherwise they'll tie the knot
as soon as they get back.
•
Didja know that Jean Harlow and
MGM are still tiffing — and that jean
hasn't set foot in the stujo for weeks
arid weeks.' She's holding out for the
entire raise in salary that she asked for
' — and the studio says she won't get
a thing until she returns to work.
They've suspended her from the sal-
ary list, too — so things are what is
laughingly called, a standstill.
Gleason And Pals
And Director Top
"SEARCH FOR BEAUTY"
( Paramount)
Director Erie C. Kenton
Original Schuyler Grey
and Paul R. Wilton
Adaptation David Boehm
and Maurine Watkins
Screen Play Frank Butler
and Claude Binyon
Dialogue Sam Hellman
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Cast: Buster Crabbe, Ida Lupino, Rob-
ert Armstrong, James Gleason,
Toby Wing, Gertrude Michael
and the thirty winners of the
Search for Beauty contest.
Search for entertainment will be re-
warded in Paramount's picture "Search
for Beauty."
While it is not a great picture in
any sense of the word, there is noth-
ing that will keep it from being class-
ed as "above average" except a few
slow and dull spots that can be read-
ily brightened up, especially in the
beginning. It takes rather long to
get under way. The very last shot
of the picture will probably also be
eliminated.
There's not a kid in the country
who won't go for this picture, and
their parents will probably trot right
along with them. It is built by and
for the American youth, especially
those who are crazy about athletics.
It is young, innocent, full of high
ideals and sugar-coated advice that,
inasmuch as it is humorously and dra-
matically presented, is not hard to
take.
The story concerns two Olympic
champions. Buster Crabbe and Ida Lu-
pino. who launch a magazine on health
and exercise, using as examples of
their preachments the winners of a
world-wide search for physical per-
fection. The struggles of these two
to keep the magazine and their health
farm on the level, with James Glea-
son, Robert Armstrong and Gertrude
Michael working against them, make
up the Horatio Alger complications.
The scenes on the health farm, at
which have gathered a crowd of tired
business men and bored matrons who
hope to revive their spirits with not-
so-innocent parties with the athletes
and who are forced to get up at six-
thirty in the morning and follow the
rigid routine of an athlete's day, are
very amusing. The picture all the
way through is amusing rather than
dramatic, exuberant rather than so-
phisticated, and it is all very "high-
minded."
Gleason and Armstrong make a
swell comedy team. They have good
gags, good business, and they make
the most of it. Ida Lupino shows
what she used to make herself a mu-
sical comedy star in England, and Ger-
trude Michael is funny as the brains
of the Cleason-Armstrong team. Bus-
ter Crabbe is not as stiff as usual and
turns in an almost convincing per-
formance. Toby Wing is surprisingly
amusing. The Paramount winners of
the Search for Beauty contest are mar-
velous to Jook at, and that boy who
Hitting on High
New York. — Are they smiling at
the Universal home office? Fig-
ures for the week ending January
6 show it to be the best sales and
collections week since March.
1932. And no sign of the pace
slowing up.
WhitbecktoMCM;
Smith to Shorts
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has appoint-
ed Frank Whitbeck to head the studio
advertising department under the di-
rect supervision of Howard Dietz, pub-
licity and advertising head of the com-
pany.
This shift sends Pete Smith to the
production of the MGM short reels
exclusively. Prior to this, Pete had
been handling the shorts and the ad-
vertising end as well.
The studio publicity depai-tment will
continue to function under the guid-
ance of Howard Strickling.
Morris-Rowland Brice
Deal Fails to Jell
Contrary to reports that he has been
signed by Rowland and Brice for "Ben-
efit Performance," Chester Morris'
deal with the Columbia independent
producers has failed to jell. Player
goes into Universal's "Practical Joker"
as his next assignment. Stanley Ber-
german is supervising the picture.
WB Sign Helen Lowell
New York. — Helen Lowell, stage
actress, has been signed by Warners
and her first picture will be "Fur
Coats." She will leave for the coast
in about a week.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
mitting his producers to make the pic-
tures. If they flop, he'll let the pro-
ducer out; but as long as they hit,
they are THE PRODUCERS. They
make the pictures and suffer no in-
terference from this studio head.
•
Moss Hart's "Once in a Lifetime"
was a child's fairy tale compared to
the real conditions in the production
of pictures here. It's unbelievable
that men in charge of the production
of motion picture entertainment could
be so dumb and that companies could
be so stupid as to permit this condi-
tion to go on and on year after year.
says he's from Louisville is a not.
Erie C. Kenton directed steadily.
David Boehm and Maurine Watkins
wrote the yarn for the screen and
Frank Butler and Claude Binyon made
the screen play.
The youth of America will swarm
to see this picture, being particularly
thrilled at the elaborate athletic pag-
eant. Adults also will find plenty of
amusement in the antics of Gleason
and Armstrong, with the exception of
highbrows, who will favor it all with
a faint, superior sneer.
Direction and Cast
Okay; Story Foggy
"FOG"
(Columbia)
Direction Al Rogell
Screen Play by Ethel Hill
and Dore Schary
Story by Valentine Williams
Photographed by Benjamin Kline
Cast: Donald Cook. Mary Brian, Regi-
nald Denny, Robert McWade,
Helen Freeman, Samuel Hinds,
G. Pat Collins, Edwin Maxwell,
Maude Eburne, Marjorie Gateson,
Reginald Barlow, Greta Meyer,
Montagu Shaw, Dell Henderson,
Edward McWade and Selmer
Jackson.
This Columbia programmer proves
all over again that it is easy to gcJ
around in circles in a fog without
getting much of anywhere.
Though all of the elements of a
good, routine mystery thriller are
present, the tale lags wearily just at
the moment when it needs a smash
climax, and the audience works up
neither enthusiasm nor regret when
the arch villain jumps off into the
ocean.
On board a mist shrouded liner hur-
ries an irascible old millionaire, played
strenuously by Robert McWade. He
is running away from Madame Alva,
a fortune teller who is determined to
inherit some of his money. He is
searching for his son whom he never
has seen.
One after another the fog reveals
the faces of the other passengers.
Reginald Denny plays a likable, mat-
ter-of-fact physician. Donald Cook is
a mysterious young man who peers
portentously around corners at the
suspicious goings-on of the other char-
acters. Maude Eburne has an amus-
ingly written part as a bridge fiend.
Edwin Maxwell is stern and controlled
as the captain. Helen Freeman lends
the proper theatric quality to the for-
tune teller. Well cast in other parts
are G. Pat Collins, Greta Meyer, Dell
(Continued on Page 3)
RUSSELL,MILLER
and Company
Members
MEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Otfices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
^
Ian. 8, 1934
THg
Page Three
HIPS HIPS HOORAY' GOOD;
TO EVERY WOMAN' PROGRAM
Yesterdaum
Direction Skillful;
Has Real Song Hit
"HIPS HIPS HOORAY"
(Radio)
Director Mark Sandrich
Original and Screen Play —
Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar
Photography David Abel
Cast: Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey,
Dorothy Lee, Ruth Etting, Thel-
ma Todd, Phyllis Barry, George
Meeker, Dorothy Granger.
Wheeler and Woolsey pictures are
made for Wheeler and Woolsey audi-
ences. For the benefit of the latter
we can report that this ranks as one
of the best of the Wheeler and Wool-
sey concoctions.
It has its share of laughs, an abun-
dance of pretty girls and a touch of
class in production; it has one re-
prised song that deserves its repe-
titions.
And while we're telling what it has,
we might as well add that it has less
of the broad suggestiveness that has
marred some recent Wheeler-Woolsey
offerings. For which we, and many
exhibitors, will sing praises for the
producers.
The preview audience was definite-
ly not a Wheeler-Woolsey audience,
if we judge by the nonchalant ap-
plause that greeted their names — so
the way the picture picked them up,
kept them in a fairly continuous run
of laffs, and left them satisfied is a
pretty good indication of its rating.
But some day we'd like to see this
team in a picture that gave evidences
of some of the time in story prepara-
tion, gagging and all-around work that
results in those high-water riotous
laugh sequences of the Marx brothers.
Some day we'd like to see a Wheeler-
Woolsey that didn't have that uneven
jerkiness that indicates running
through the cutting room ringer. A
sequence like the adagio dance by the
leads, for example, funny as it is,
would be ADULT if there had been
planted any reason for it.
But enough of the hypercritical
when all present at the show seemed
to have a good time. Mark Sandrich
shows again that he has it on the ball,
and as usual surprises with some un-
usual touches. Thelma Todd, whom
they kept bouncing from brunette to
blonde for some unknown reason,
does a good job, and Dorothy Lee is
happily back where she always regis-
ters, as foil for Bert Wheeler.
We liked the stars better than we
usually do. There's more restraint,
and less shouting. This picture will
help them.
Camera work, both straight, and in
the optical printer department, is
class. Dave Gould's dances, within the
limitations set by the producer, are
effectively done. As for Kalmar and
Ruby, we'll excuse a slim musical com-
edy story for their catching "Keep On
Doing What You're Doing To Me," if
that's the title.
The story is a slim peg that kicks
Wheeler and Woolsey around a bunch
of beauty shop complications with
Thelma and Dorothy, and then tags
A Tip to the Guild
Paris. — When a French author
doesn't like what the picture maker
does to his brain child his friends
take up the cudgels. Catcalls,
whistling and booing greeted "The
Adventures of King Pausole" at
the Paramount here because Pierre
Louys considers it a travesty on his
story.
John Buckler Latest
'Antony' Candidate
New York. — Still another bet is up
for the part of Antony in DeMille's
Cleopatra film. In addition to Herbert
Wilcoxon, English actor, as exclusive-
ly announced in The Hollywood Re-
porter, Paramount is also considering
John Buckler, who made a big hit here
in the stage production of "Eight
Bells." He will get the part if Wil-
coxon cannot reach Hollywood in
time.
Howard Set To Do
Radio Picture First
Leslie Howard will definitely make
"Of Human Bondage" for Radio under
the direction of John Cromwell as his
first picture.
Howard's contract with Warners is
not definitely set and will not be
settled until Jack Warner returns to
the studio in a week or ten days.
Block's Ticket Renewed
Warners punched Ralph Block's
ticket Saturday and the writer con-
tinues for another six months.
Story Lags in Tog'
'Continued from Page 21
Henderson, Edward McWade and Sel-
mer Jackson.
There is nothing wrong with the
cast. Al Rogell's direction lends the
first part of the story interest and a
staccato quality with short scenes
which count. But the tale falls to
pieces at the moment the millionaire
is found hanging by the neck in the
misty rigging, and no one hurries to
cut him down. From there on we
have that same old court-room scene.
The fact that the cross-examination
is on board ship, that it includes the
raising of the murdered man's ghost,
and the exposing of the least likely
person as the killer does not lift the
weight of weariness from the latter
half of the tale.
Photography is excellent. There
are some moments of tenseness, but
one cannot help suspecting that the
fog blotted out part of the plot be-
fore the tale ever got into production.
on a cross-country auto race when
they didn't know what else to do.
And summing it up for the exhibi-
tor, we repeat: It's aces among the
Wheeler and Woolsey offerings. You
can't ask any more in the way of feed
box information.
Direction and Neat
Casting Lift It Up
"ONCE TO EVERY WOMAN"
(Columbia)
Directed by Lambert Hillyer
Story by A. J. Cronin
Screen Play Jo Swerling
Photography John Stumar
Cast: Fay Wray, Ralph Bellamy, Wal-
ter Connolly, Mary Carlisle, Wal-
ter Byron, Mary Foy, Georgie
Caine, J. Farrell MacDonald, Leila
Be-nett, Billie Seward, Ben Al-
exander.
"Once To Every Woman" is no
great shakes as to newness of story,
and is certainly not the answer to an
exhibitor's prayer — but it manages to
be a good program picture in so far
as it has been given a fairly big name
cast, is well directed by Lambert Hill-
yer, contains some first rate writing
by Jo Swerling and high quality pho-
tography by John Stumar.
The entire action of the piece takes
place during one day, in and about
the wards of a large city hospital.
It goes to prove (just as we've always
suspected) that the days of doctors,
nurses and internes are not complete-
ly taken up with sutures and ther-
mometers. There not only can be,
but there are, love and romance mixed
in with it all!
The big scene in this opus is filled
with suspens3 and realism and show-
Walter (ionnolly (as Selby, the head
of the hospital) performing a d;licate
brain operation. He breaks down af
the critical moment and his protege
(expertly played by Ralph Bellarry)
takes over the operation, wins K'u's?
Fanshawe (Fay Wray) for hims'^'f
and ends by replacing Connolly, h'S
life-long friend, as head of the hos-
pital.
Connolly, as always, turns in a top
notch performance and Fay Wray as
the "head nurse" looks allu'ing and
does good work. Walter Byron plays
the "internal philanderer" well, and
Mary Carlisle is OK. as the girl who
spends a lot of the hospital's time on
the roof with him. Ben Alexander,
Georgia Caine, J. Farrell MacDonald
and others contributed well-played
bits.
Even those who don't care much
about "operations" will find "Once To
Every Woman" a pleasant enough
piece of screen fare, and it should go
over well if you don't overdo the
ballyhoo.
Hardie Appendix Causes
Shift on Men in White'
An emergency appendix operation
Saturday compelled Russell Hardie to
withdraw from the cast of MGM's
"Men in White." Player is at the
Glendale Research Hospital. His scenes
in the picture will have to be retaken
with a replacement.
Para Buys 'For Love'
New York. — Paramount announces
the purchase here of a yarn titled "For
Love," by Roy Flannagan and Eulalie
SperKe.
Well, of course, at the moment,
there's nothing better to write about
than the LeRoy-Warner wedding fes-
tivities. There's never been anything
like them and we doubt whether there
ever will be again. There's only one
word for it — san-sattional ! Cameras,
lights, microphones, sound mixers and
sound, sound, sound. Poppa War-
ner's gift to the bridal couple (among
other things) was the complete cam-
era and sound record of the wedding
and our blessing to Doris and Mervy
is that we hope it's a good "take."
The highlight of the evening was Will
Hays in a jovial mood leading the or-
chestra. And one of the funniest
things was a group of people who were
drinking cock-eyed toasts to practi-
cally everything in sight, among them
Elder Hays' collar, and just as they
were about to drink the toast Will
Hays caught the gesture toward him,
and thinki-ng it was something he
ought not to overlook got up and took
a bow.
Gwen Heller was maid of honor and
the flower girl was Lina Basquette's
little daughter who's been living with
her grandparents. Among the two
f-undred and fifty invited guests were:
The George O'Briens, Jack Pearl,
Charles Einfeld, the Sam Morrises,
Irving Asher, Chester Erskine. Ad
Schulberg, the Ed Sullivans, Minna
Wallis, Louis Shurr, the Jules Brula-
tours, the Sam Saxes, the Adolph Zu-
kors, the Eddie Cantors, Harry Goetz,
the Herb Harrises, the Leon Schles-
ingers, the Artie Stebbinses, the Al
Lichtmans and omigosh, hundreds of
others.
Tallulah Bankhead is back from
Georgia and looking really beautiful
again. The gal's completely cured,
recovered and the picture of health
and reading a play a day to find the
right one in which to reappear on
the stage again. . . . This should pique
the movie industry's interest. Alex-
ander Kirkland is definitely not inter-
ested in rr.aking pictures and doesn't
expect to go to the coast again for
that purpose. Ho, hum. . . . Donald
Ogden Stewart claims he never even
thought of that cute line that was
spoken at the opening of "Jezebel."
Well, whoever made it certainly gqt
behind a good blind awful fast and
then spread the good word. . . . Rep-
ercussions from one of the New Year's
West Indies cruises keep popping up.
In fact, just ask Ben Atwell what kind
of a time they all had aboard the Ma-
jestic. Seems that thirteen hundred
people were crowded into accommo-
dations for eight hundred. Then the
pipes on the boat froze. And then
when they got to Nassau it was dis-
covered that some big meanies who
had wanted to take over the cruise in
the first place and had been thwart-
ed went and cornered the tender mar-
ket so that the Majestic couldn't land
anyone. And to add insult to injury
everyone on the cruise had to pay a
head tax In advance, and if they want
that money back they have to go
through a mess of formal red-tape.
Some fun I
Page Four
THE
Jan. 8. 1933
WARIVERS SHOOT THE WORKS
OX FUTURE RRITISH PICTURES
Enlarge Studio and
Exchange Players
New York. — As a result of Irving
Asher"s recent visit here, Warners
have decided to expand their London
production plant and take steps to
make the company a leading factor
in the English production field.
Decision is a surprise in view of the
fact that the London unit had been
established for quota purposes and
was never looked to as any great
shucks. Harry and Jack Warner are
said to have changed their attitude
toward the Teddington studio after a
glance at the studio statements which
disclosed that pictures made there at
costs of less than one-third the cost
of Hollywood product have been gross-
ing figures four times their negative
price on the British market alone.
It is understood that approximately
$100,000 will be tossed into the Lon-
don studio for improvements. At the
same time Asher will be given en-
larged budgets for his pictures and
the chance to import Hollywood names
for his casts. Intention also is to give
the London-made films greater prom-
inence on the United States market,
practice heretofore being practically to
disregard them.
A schedule of 26 productions is set
for the coming season. One group of
four will bring together again in a
co-starring bracket the team of Regi-
Nofr Much Difference
The title on the next Wheeler
and Woolsey Radio picture is "Frat
Heads" and not "Flat Heads" as er-
roneously printed. Picture is being
scripted by Ben Holmes and Eddie
Kaufman and will start production
about February I 5.
raid Denny and Laura LaPlante. An-
other group will star Esmond Knight,
the current find of the year in Lon-
don. Warners have placed him un-
der a straight three year ticket and
will bring him to Hollywood with the
idea of giving him a build-up here
also
Practice in London has been to
make pictures on a catch-as-catch-
can basis, similar to the Hollywood
independent producers' methods where
the money is short. Asher himself
has pitched in and written original
scripts to keep things humming, shoot-
ing in a picture every two weeks.
That, however, is a thing of the past,
now that he has been given the okay
to enlarge his staff, buy good outside
stories, engage names and take time
for preparation.
Warners Talk fo Pascal
Warners are talking turkey to Ern-
est Pascal on a term writing deal.
Writer is polishing off a novel while
listening to a 26-week proposition
which he is reluctant to accept.
Hawks Sees Carole
Lombard For Lead
Howard Hawks left for New York
last night for conferences with Ben
Hecht and Charles MacArthur, with his
mind made up for Carole Lombard to
play the lead opposite John Barrymore
in "Twentieth Century."
After seeing the test the studio is
satisfied with Lombard. The only
thing holding up the decision is Harry
Cohn's okay. Cohn, now in New York,
will get together there with Hawks
and reach a decision.
If Miss Lombard gets this role it
will not affect her next picture, "Son-
ata," as the Barrymore picture does
not start until February 9, by which
time the other picture will be com-
pleted
Goldberg Opens Office
jerry Goldberg, son of the late indie
sales chief, joe Goldberg, has opened
a managers' office with jack Kenney
and Harry Marks. Firm is located at
9000 Sunset.
Aben KancSel to N. Y.
Aben Kandel, New York playwright,
returned to the east by train Saturday.
Kandel finished his assignment on the
script of "American Scotland Yard"
for Universal.
Four Pic Deal At
Para. For Flood
Due to his work on "All of Me,"
Paramount immediately signed James
Flood to a four picture deal, with the
right to make outside pictures.
Flood will direct "Little Miss Mark-
er," the Sylvia Sidney picture, for the
B. P. Schulberg unit, as his first as-
signment on the new deal. The
Schulberg-Feldman and Curney office
made the deal.
Adolph Zukor Chairman
Famous Theatres Board
New York. — Adolph Zukor will
have his hands in Famous Theatres,
the new organization formed to take
over the old Publix Theatres. The
board has elected Zukor as chairman.
Other officers are Ralph Kohn, pres-
ident; Frank Freeman, vice-president;
Sam Dembow, Jr., treasurer.
Estelle Taylor on Tour
Estelle Taylor leaves next Tuesday
for Denver for vaudeville work with
Fanchon and Marco. Miss Taylor will
appear a week there and a week in
Salt Lake and may do ten weeks ad-
ditional on the F. & M. circuit.
Kober Back at MOM
Arthur Kober finished the script of
"Twentieth Century" for Columbia
Saturday and returns to MGM today,
his home lot.
Offner joins Vidor
Morton Offner has been signed by
King Vidor as a production assistant.
ATTEXTIO]\ !
All S e r e e 11 Writers
N. R. A. CODE ELECTIONS
A meeting of all screen writers will be held by
THE SCREEN WRITERS' GUILD
to elect the nominees of writers, for writer representives on —
(a) The Code Authority
(b) The Agents' Committee
(c) The Committee of five pro-
ducers and five writers on
working conditions of writers.
Place
Writers' Club
6700 Sunset Blvd.
Time
January 15, 1934
at 8:30 P.M.
The following are the qualifications for attendance and voting:
ACTIVE MEMBERS of the Guild may attend and vote without
credentials.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS of the Guild, and OTHER WRITERS, must
present credentials to the CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE at the office
of the Guild — Hollywood Center BIdg., Hollywood — before twelve
o'clock (noon I January 15, 1934, showing that they have received
screen credit as writers on a picture released in the United States
within the eighteen months preceding the election.
Voting may be in person, or by proxy, provided valid proxies are
filed with the Credentials Committee within the same time limit.
(Signed) THE SCREEN WRITERS' GUILD
James
G
eason
COLLABORATING
WITH
Son/a
Levien
SCREEN PLAY
\\
FIRST LOVE"
Janet Caynor - Chas. Farrell
FOX
The
CLEASONS
James — Lucile — Russell
DEMMY LAMSON
Manager
OX 8019 OX 7261
masji|r;^of^t^je
^^ji^' -^^^^^
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^^
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■:-m
^l^^li
^%
V< -
j-J.^
' ,•■">/"-,■■
.^^
j<«:
Syu-siv
ART OF LOVE!
Ten million women will
m
eet face to face the
secret lover in their
hearts!.. when Europe's
greatest romantic ac-
tor appears in his first
American picture!
.=«^
FRANCIS LEDERER
Sensational Star of the Stage Hit, 'AUTUMN CROCUS/ and
ELISSA LANDI
in
'MAM Of TWO WORLDS'
with HENRY STEPHENSON • J. FARRELL MacDONALD
Directed by J. WALTER RUBEN
He — an untamed man of the wilds.. She
— the most beautiful 'goddess' of civiliz-
ation.. It's the romantic thrill of the year
..with heart-throbs and laughs.. when
they meet! .. and struggle .. and love!
PKTllRESi
^ERIAN C. COOPER, Exec. Prod W^^^ A Pandro S. Berman Production
w
\
\
' 1 m"^ ^
V\ 1
r ^
!?
\
^'
S
^_j^ )
MAN Of
T ¥/ O
WORLDS
PANDRO S. BERMAN
PRODUCTION
One Man's Journey
"Morning Glory"
Trigger
MAN OF
T ¥/ O
WORLDS
SCREEN PLAY
HOWARD J. GREEN
and
AINSWORTH MORGAN
From a Novel by
AINSWORTH MORGAN
What man is
not primitive
...AT HEART?
Meet Algo . . a mole from
another world . .untarnished
by civilization . .whom we
call primitive. .yet, respond-
ing to the same human
emotions that we do . . but
more violently . . in hate.,
and in LOVE!
EVERY studio fought to sign
him . . there M UST be a reason!
. . You'll know . . when you see
FRANCIS LEDERER
and
ELISSA LANDI
in
MAN of TWO WORLDS
MADE BY
Executive Producer . MERIAN C COOPER
Associate Producer . . . Pandro S Berman
Directed by J. Walter Ruben
From the Novel by . . Ainsworlh Morgan
Screen Play by . . . .Howard J. Green
Ainsworth Morgan
Technical Advisor, Capl. Frank E. Kleinschmidt
Musical Director Max Steiner
Art Directors Van Nest Polglase
Al Herman
Photographed by . . . Henry W. Gerrard
Sound Recorder John Tribby
Film Editor George Hively
THE CAST
Aigo FRANCIS LEDERER
Joan ELISSA LAND!
Sir Basil Henry Stephenson
Michael J. Farrell MacDonald
Eric Paget Walter Byron
Tim Forrester Harvey
Dr. Lott Ivan Simpson
Capt. Swan Lumsden Hare
Ouinana Steffi Duna
Olaga Sarah Padden
Knudson Christian Rub
Natkusiak Emil Chautard
Mrs. Natkusiak Gertrude Wise
Jan. 8. 1934
Page Nine
ncing Lady'
Big Hit in London
London. — The Empire has just com-
pleted two swell weeks with the
Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer production of
"Dancing Lady." "Christopher Bean"
is in the house now.
The business over the holiday was
all right, but below general expecta-
i tions. "Angel Turkey Time," "Aunt
! Sally" (British pictures), "Voltaire,"
"Sitting Pretty" and "Henry the
I Eighth" were the top draws.
I The only new picture of the week
is at the Empire.
Para. Expfoiteers Shift
New York. — Realionments in the
Paramount exploitation force find
Jimmy Ashcraft going to the Chicago
territory, Ed Corcoran to Philadelphia,
and Gerald Westergreen to Dallas.
aving Grief
Para.
(Continued from Page 1 •
[ that the circuit has shelved too many
' p'ctures, and is also seeking reduc-
1 tions in too many spots in the per-
centage arrangements.
Paramount is also having trouble
with one of the larger independents,
the A. H. Schwartz circuit of twenty
houses. The chain signed for "I'm No
Angel" on a percentage arrangement
but later canceled when Paramount
insisted on preferred playing time.
The indies have an agreement that
they will not be forced by contract
into preferred time for any distribu-
tor.
"ROMAN SCANDALS"
Samuel Goldwyn-United Artists prod.; director, Frank Tuttle; writers, William
Anthony ivlcCuire, Arthur Sheekman, Nat Perrin, George Oppenheimer,
Rivoli Theatre
News: This is Eddie Cantor's show from beginning to end. It has been photo-
graphed lavishly, and set with considerable taste. Mr. Berkeley's dance
patterns are less spectacular than usual, but have more of the real "Follies"
essence. Mr. Tuttle has directed the picture with clarity and a literal
rather than fanciful imagination.
Times: Mr. Cantor dees as well as possible in his role and he is exceptionally
good in the episodes in which he sings. Busby Berkeley is responsible for
the costly numbers with the dancing gr's,
Mirrcr: Eddie Cantor never has appeared in a more lavishly beautiful setting
than that provided him by "Roman Scandals." It is as entertaining as
any other picture Cantor has made, and far more lavish. His fans will
enjoy it heartiy.
Post: The film is elaborate, lavish, spectacular and sometimes very funny. But
sometimes it is so elaborate that it isn't funny at all, and occasionally it
gets all glutted up with plot so that you begin to wonder if the authors
weren't trying to steal some of the thunder from the Goldwyn Girls and
Mr. Cantor.
World-Telegram:: It is vivid, pictorially beautiful production, with some tune-
ful numbers and some eminently funny scenes imbedded in it.
American: It is lavishly produced, handsomely invested, spectacular in its
beauty and hilarious in its wit. Mr. Goldwyn again demonstrates his su-
perior genius in creating this type of show. He is the Ziegfeld of Holly-
wood. Besides some spectacular dance ensembles there are several songs
which further enliven the occasion. "Roman Scandals" is exciting film
fireworks all the way through.
journal: This is Cantor's fourth annual screen musical and tops even his other
picture efforts for lavishness of sets, decorative choruses and general mag-
nificence of production. The musical numbers are done with much
splendor.
Sun: The film is full of beautiful girls, gorgeous sets, catchy tunes, gags and the
energetic Mr. Cantor. It is first-rate holiday entertainment. It is hand-
somely photographed and full of good-looking, tricky sets.
Pumping Air Mames
Into WB 'Hot Air"
Warners are planning to bolster up
the cast of the radio yarn now in
production titled "Hot Air" and are
negotiating with several big radio
names to appear in this picture.
The studio is negotiating with the
four Mills brothers and Guy Lombardo
and his band to make appearances in
this picture. it is likely that the
Mills brothers will be signed, but un-
less Guy Lombardo agrees to meet the
terms that Warners are offering the
deal may fall through.
Columbia Building Up
Studio Publicity Staff
Building up the publicity staff, Co-
lumbia has signed Carter Ludlow, for-
merly of the Examiner; Stanley Briggs,
recently with the Eyepowell Photo-
graphic Service, and Jack Hardy, last
with the Associated Press, to handle
special work in the publicity depart-
ment. Hubert Voight is the publicity
director for the plant.
New Clover Club Show
Gcn3 Austin opens at the Cover
Club on Wednesday featuring Candy
and Coco, two New Orleans boys
whom Austin discovered during his
recent road show in "Broadway Rhap-
sody." They came direct from a Roxy
engagement in New York.
Lederer Pic at Music Hall
New York — The Frances Lederer
Radio picture, "Man of Two Worlds,"
opens at the Music Hall Thursday.
r
BREN AND ORSATTI
WELCOME
ARTHUR KOBER
Back To
METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER
After A Loan -Out To
Columbia Pictures
To Adapt
"TWENTIETH CENTURY'
The Hecht and MacArthur Play
Somebody's COT to welcome him back —
and we're his agents.
|sn. 8. 1933
MCM Wheels Slow
Up For January
MCM IS slow to get under way
with its new pictures after the holi-
days with only two pictures and a pos-
sible third to go into production this
month The studio will put into work
this rrionth the )oan Crawford picture,
"Sadie McKee." which will be direct-
ed by Clarence Brown under the su-
pervision of David Selznick; the Mar-
ion Davies picture, Operator 13,
which Raoul Walsh will direct for the
Walter Wanger unit, and the possible
third picture m the next leanette
MacDonald production. Duchess ot
Delmonico." that is. if the script is
ready before the first of February.
The pictures now in production
which are scheduled to be co-^PJeted
within ten days are "Tarzan and "is
Mate." "Men in White. Viva Villa
and the Irving Thalberg production.
•Rip Tide." starring Norma Shearer.
•Sequoia" is going along on a sched-
ule all its own.
Cillstrom Starts Next
Arvid Cillstrom puts the fifth com-
edy of his series of six for Paramount
release. "Get Along Little Dogie, in-
to production Tuesday with Harry
Langdon and Vernon Dent in the
leads. Cillstrom will direct from the
script by Vernon Dent, Dean Ward
and lack Townley.
Academy-Guild Fight
(Continued from Page 1 )
yet been taken in connection with the
committee organization.
So the battle is on.
Acting under instructions from
Ralph Block, president in the absence
of Howard Lawson, the Guild on Fri-
day evening formed committees which
are proceeding with the drawing up
of nominations for the code body.
Hearing the news Friday, the
Academy dispatched a wire to Ad-
ministrator Rosenblatt asking if the
NRA had officially decided on any
methods of nominations for the vari-
ous workers' committees, and if so.
what rules had been set.
Rosenblatt's reply, received Satur-
day, is as follows:
"No nominations required for ap-
pointment of standing committees on
extras and freelance players. No
method of nomination submitted or
approved respecting members other
standing committees under production
sections of code required therein. Ad-
ministrator has not undertaken to set
up committees under Article 5. Part 4
as yet. Ample notice will be given all
organizations and method of nomina-
tions will be communicated publicly
in advance."
When contacted by The Hollywood
Reporter yesterday Ralph Block de-
clined to amplify statements made at
the Guild meeting by giving his au-
thority for claiming Guild recognition
and would make only this statement:
"We are going ahead authoritative-
ly in accordance with the code to set
up the proper machinery for represen-
tation of the writers."
And that's the last from the firing
line.
Paul Kelly Argument at
20th Settled Happily
Negotiations between Paul Kelly
and Twentieth Century for the release
of the player from his long termer
owing to his dissatisfaction with roles
offered him on loan-out deals were
quietly dropped Saturday when the
company allowed Kelly to take the
spot opposite Aline MacMahon in
Warner's "Fur Coats."
Kelly wanted the part and both
Twentieth and Warners used the sit-
uation to end their six months' feud,
casting chiefs of the two organizations
getting together to work out a series
of trades to follow. William S. Gill
was the medium through whom the
Kelly loan was set.
Morgan Maneuvers
Release From Fox
Three months of negotiations be-
tween Ralph Morgan and Fox for the
settlement of the player's long term
ticket bore fruit Saturday when the
company submitted to his demands for
a release. Morgan objected to the
numerous loan-out deals through
which Fox has been carrying him. in-
sisting that if he is to work for other
studios he wishes to do so as a free-
lancer.
His first assignment as a free-lance
player is in Columbia's "Men of To-
morrow," the William Morris office
setting him. The Borzage picture
goes back into production for added
scenes, making room for Morgan in
the cast.
Rivkin-Wolfson on 13'
Walter Wanger has assigned Allen
Rivkin and P. J. Wolfson to the script
of "Operator 1 3," which goes into
production in two weeks at MGM with
Raoul Walsh directing. Marion Da-
vies and Gary Cooper have the leads.
Writers collaborate with Harvey Thew.
New Exchange in N. Y.
New York. — The New York Amity
Exchange Inc. has been organized here
by Ben Schwartz. Harry Horowitz and
Sol H. Kravitz to distribute the old
Tiffany and Quadruple pictures in this
territory.
Lofner at Bev-Wilshire
Carole Lofner, former partner of
Phil Harris, is the surprise orchestra
scheduled to bow at the Beverly-Wil-
shire on Thursday evening.
The
Clover
Club
presents
J*
/TIN
Singing His Own
Original Versions of Popular Songs
assisted by his
Unusual Accompanists
CANDY and COCO
brought directly from New York
for a limited engagement
Starting WEDNESDAY
JANUARY TENTH
FOR RESERVATIONS
phone
CRestview 6576
Ian. 8, 1934
THE
Page Eleven
HALFWAY TO HELL' TAKES
AVDIEXCE ALL THE WAY
Mystery Even Too
Wild For Screen
"HALFWAY TO HELL"
Play produced by the indomitable Eliz-
abeth Miele at the Fulton Thea-
tre; authored by Crane Wilbur
and staged by him; settings by
Philip Celb. Cast: Carleton
Macy, Austin Fairman, Van
Lowe, Lida McMillan, Mitchell
Harris, Ann Mason, Grant Rich-
ards, Katharine Locke, Richard
Elwell, Mabel Kroman, Robert
Williams, Guy Standing )r. and
John Regan.
New York. — Oh Mr. Wilbur, how
could you! "Half Way to Hell" is a
misnomer. It should have been called
"All the Way to Hell" and back again.
If these playwrights don't stop writ-
ing expressly for the purpose of a
I movie sale the legitimate theatre is
due for a very bad season, despite the
excellent start it made back in Sep-
tember. There hasn't been a good,
honest, edge-of-your-seat mystery
melodrama all season and this play is
about the last straw.
Imagine the central character — an
old, swashbuckling, intrepid, hard-
i swearing sea captain, who is portrayed
on his death bed in such physical con-
; dition that his physician doesn't give
him more than several hours to live —
but who nevertheless is able to get
So What?
London. — The Sidney Bernstein
circuit here has banned all news
reels. Bernstein says the news sub-
jects were growing "alarmingly
monotonous" — and those that
weren't were censored anyway un-
til thev had no value.
down off his sick bed, roam through
his converted residence — a former
lighthouse on a deserted island, mur-
der two persons and almost succeed in
his plan to dispose of six more char-
acters! Piling it on rather thick, our
author then introduces into the eerie
and desolate atmosphere an escaped
lunatic, a sinister Chinaman and a wax
dummy of the old sea captain Brant,
packed into a treasure chest — all in-
tended to befuddle and becloud the
interest of the audience in ascertain-
ing what the pay is all about and who
killed whom!
For plot Mr. Wilbur sets forth the
desire of Captain Brant to murder off
all his living kin.
Shutters clatter open, doors close
mysteriously, arrows, spears and knives
flash in the dark to find their human
marks and accusations and cross ac-
cusations, all done in an unskillful
manner, contribute to a ridiculous eve-
ning in the theatre. The captain ex-
pires before he can complete his fiend-
ish plans, and the play and audience
with it.
Nazi Crip Tightens
On German Distribs
Berlin. — Active interference in the
distribution field has resulted from the
Nazi formation of a central govern-
ment office to supervise that branch
of the business.
The special bureau was created on
the pretense that every picture shown
here was destined for exhibition be-
fore school classes, hence should be
carefully inspected and stamped for
fear of failing to live up to the prop-
aganda demands of the administra-
tion, latter desiring to constantly
keep before the nation's children the
fact that Nazism now reigns.
Mono. Tags Joe Santley
Monogram yesterday signed Joseph
P. Santley to direct "The Loudspeak-
er," a radio story, which will be Ray
Walker's fourth vehicle for the com-
pany. Picture is scheduled for pro-
duction during the month. W. T.
Lackey supervises
Robinson Returns Suit
Edward G. Robinson Saturday filed
a cross suit for $1250 against Charles
Feldman, who recently sued him for
$1 1,000 for legal services. The actor
claims that Feldman ceased practicing
law before the end of a year for which
he received a $5000 annual retainer.
Code Helps Small Chap
Washington. — Administrator Ros-
enblatt was happy today over a set-
tlement worked out in the New Or-
leans territory under code rules by
which smaller theatres will get a break
from the big circuits, the claim having
been that the big fellows were over-
buying to kill competition. The cir-
cuits have relinquished 206 features
in favor of smaller competitors.
Ayres in McCuire Play
Universal yesterday set Lew Ayres
in the top spot of the William An-
thony McGuire original, "If I Were
Rich." Roger Pryor has the second
lead. Story is being scripted by Harry
Sauber and Earle Snell. Edward Lud-
wig directs.
Caliente on the Air
Agua Caliente's new broadcasting
station, XEAC, goes on the air Sat-
urday, marked at 820 kilocycles. The
station plans an "international" type
of program that will make listeners
realize the treats they are missing at
Caliente.
Discord in Indie Ranks
New York. — Slight discord in the
ranks of the Independent Theatre
Owners of New York. The Springer-
Cocalis circuit has been suspended for
non-payment of dues.
Before Midnight' in N.Y.
New York. — Columbia's picture.
"Before Midnight," makes its New
York bow at the Mayfair Monday
night.
ALAN EDWARDS
HOLD THAT GIRL (Fox)
FRONTIER MARSHAL (Fox)
LIFE IN THE RAW (Fox)
STAGE MOTHER (M-G-M)
LOOKING FORWARD (M-G-M)
CLEAR ALL WI,RES (M-G-M)
WHITE SISTER (M-G-M)
Management
Myron Selznick - Frank Joyce, Ltd.
o
i
The UNITED ARTISTS Corporation proudly announces the
National Trade Showing tomorrow of another 20th Century
Picture: CONSTANCE BENNETT in "MOULIN ROUGE".
with FRANCHOT TONE, a brilliant romantic comedy with
music, presented by Joseph M. Schenck, produced by
Darryl F. Zanuck and directed by Sidney Lanfield.
This Exhibitors' preview will be held in key cities
throughout the country and is destined to
duplicate the great success which attended the
National Trade Showing of 20th Century's
preceeding smash hit, "GALLANT LADY ".
\yi
Trade showing of "MOULIN
ROUGE" for LOS ANGELES
DISTRICT EXHIBITORS will
be held tomorrow, 1:00 p.m.,
at the BOULEVARD -
THEATRE. Admission C
by invitation only.
Ltj
l^k V
c^
M
lU-
,!FTRO-GO:;DViYN -MAYER STUDIO 3,
^MR.SAVUF.L MAFX,
LVER -CITY.GAI.Ii''.
Mm
Vol. XVIII, No. 48. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, January 9, 1934
SCLND MEN IN MUDDLE
Ify ROBERT WELSH
•IF you don't think the big time ex-
hibitors are hungry for real attrac-
tions we wish you had been with us
yesterday to see the stack of tele-
grams that flooded Darryl Zanuck's
desk as a result of the trade showings
on "Gallant Lady."
Not particularly because it was
"Gallant Lady." It might have been
any other picture. The interesting
part to us was to see names like that
of the hard-boiled showman, John
Hamrick, at the bottom of telegrams
to a producer.
Yessir, boys, it looks as though
they'll stand right up and kiss you
these days — if you give them an at-
traction.
•
It is interesting this season to no-
tice the resurrection of the old trade
show idea on which the business was
founded. Of course, producers are
only trade showing now when they
KNOW they have the goods. But
that's beside the point. If the test is
going to be: "Will this picture we are
making be big enough to stand trade
showings before shell-backed exhibs?"
— then maybe more pictures will be
made to meet the test.
And one thing is certain. If you've
got the goods just now, use trade
shows or any other means possible to
let the exhibitors know it BEFORE
they play the picture.
Too many of the few good attrac-
tions we are getting right now are
ending their engagements before the
exhibitor discovers what he has.
In Zanuck's case on "Gallant Lady"
there was a peculiar problem. As long
as we can remember exhibitors have
been told about each succeeding Hard-
ing picture, "This time they found
the secret again — it's another 'Holi-
day'." And then the after-grief.
The same condition exists on "Mou-
lin Rouge," which is nationally trade
shown today. How many build-ups
exhibitors have taken on this star since
her first big hits — with subsequent
disappointment.
It was no mean problem for a chap
with well over a million invested in
two pieces of property.
(Continued on Page 2)
The Axe Swings
Winnie Sheehan, apparently, is
boss again. He has canned Fox's
test department, leaving producers
to make their own tests. Sheehan
is just flexing his muscles.
NRA Forbids Today's Election
But I A TSE Will Go Ahead;
Non-Union Group Is Fonning
Events in the ranks of the sound men happened so rapidly yes-
^ I I J' I J terday as to leave all concerned in a dizzy daze at midnight, with
rOr Lloyd S LGdd outlying precincts still to be heard from. At last accounts there
will be an election today at the Writers Club to decide something
or other, but no one knows whether
Una Merkel Choice
Una Merkel grabs off a juicy plum
as a result of a deal which Harold
Lloyd has put through with MGM for
the loan of the player to go into the
spot opposite him in "Catspaw."
Sam Taylor directs the picture,
which gets a Fox release.
Small-Universal Row
Before Hays in N. Y.
New York. — Harry M. Coetz, pres-
ident of Reliance Pictures, brought up
the Reliance peeve against Universal
for using the title "Countess of Monte
Cristo" to the Hays organization yes-
terday.
The Hays office has set the hearing
of the case before an arbitration board
within ten days.
'Wonder Bar' For Chinese
Warner Brothers are already nego-
tiating with Sid Crauman to open
"Wonder Bar," starring Al Jolson, in
the Chinese. Picture is still in the
shooting stage.
Arnow Back on Job
Max Arnow, Warner casting head,
returned to town yesterday after a
three weeks' stay in New York. Was
there looking over Broadway talent.
the election means anything or not.
The story has to be told chrono-
logically to get it straight.
A little over a week ago Campbell
McCullough, secretary of the Los An-
geles Regional Board, announced that
an election would be held today and
tomorrow at which sound men in the
studios would be allowed to decide
whether they wanted the lATSE or
(Continued on Page 4)
Mono. Boosts 1934
List to Thirty-Six
New York. — W. Ray Johnston an-
nounced here today that Monogram
would increase its year's schedule from
twenty pictures to thirty-six, being
alone among the national distributors
to announce a tilt in lists this year.
The announcement also stated that
Monogram would concentrate on the
features and include no shorts in this
year's program.
Col. Signs Pertwee
New York. — Columbia has signed
Roland Pertwee, well known English
writer, and the scribe will sail for
London in a few weeks.
ROXY QUITS AS HEAD OF
RADIO CITY'S THEATRES
New York. — All reports finally
come to a head — and yesterday J. R.
McDonough, general manager of the
RKO Corporation and president of Ra-
dio City Theatres, confirmed the
smouldering reports that Sam Rothafel
had resigned frorn the Radio City
Theatres.
The resignation, tendered last Sat-
urday, is effective February 16. A set-
tlement of the unexpired term of the
contract has been reached. No change
is contemplated in the policy of the
houses. Leon Leonidoff will continue
producing the stage shows.
New Tag for Sothern
On the strength of her first pic-
ture, "Let's Fall in Love," which Felix
Young produced for Columbia, the
studio signed Ann Sothern to a new
long term contract. The deal was
handled by the Ivan Kahn agency.
Ford Returns fo Fox
Fox has assigned John Ford to di-
rect "The World We Live In," a story
by the Katek brothers, writers of "R.
U. R." Winfield Sheehan produces
when the picture starts in the near
future.
Para. Creditors Co
To Supreme Court
New York. — While the New York
Court of Appeals chided Referee Da-
vis of Paramount for undue haste In
election of the Paramount trustees it
decided against a petition of Para-
mount creditors seeking to remove
Trustees Hi lies and Richardson on the
ground that the ability and integrity
of the trustees was such they should
not now be removed.
Attorney Zirn, for the creditors,
says he will carry the case to the
United States Supreme Court alleging
against the trustees "illegal election
and disqualification through outside
connections."
lie de France Loaded
With Picture People
New York. — Picture and theatrical
arrivals on the lie de France today are
headed by Harpo Marx, after Russian
triumphs, and include Maurice Che-
valier, Eric Charrell, Marcell Velle and
Charles Boyer, of the French cinema,
and Arma Abram Frankel, French
film distributor.
Del Rio-Gibbons Grounded
Dolores Del Rio and Cedric Gibbons
were forced to continue their journey
to New York by train yesterday when
their plane was forced down at Kan-
sas City. Pair will arrive in New
York today for a two weeks' vacation.
Doran to Radio in N.Y.
New York. — D. A. Doran has been
signed by Radio to head its New York
story office. He replaces Kay Brown.
Doran formerly held the same spot in
the Fox organization.
Harry Warner Sails West
New York. — Harry Warner is on
his way to Hollywood, leaving here by
boat for the Canal trip Saturday.
ARCHIE MAYO
DIRECTED
WARNERS'
i I
CONVENTION CITY"
1
Page Two
THE
Jan. 9. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
executive- Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
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Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
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Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
includine postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15-
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
GUILD IGNORES ACADEMY
AlVD MAKES ELECTION PLAINS
A dictograph record will figure
largely on Rudy Vallee's side when
the case comes up. . . . Fay Webb
rnade a "record" for Rudy, they tell
us, but didn't know about it
Every five minutes you hear a new
"post-mortem" on the Sidney Fox-
Charlie Beahan bust-up . . . and they
get more and more melo-dramatic.
But look at the "production values" —
There was the deluge, the big chase,
the big accusations, the sprained an-
kle, the burned clothes, the moving
put, the hunt (with gun) and the
general calming down after some gen-
tle persuasion by the local gendarmes
— IF you can believe all you hear!
Lew Brown lost a week's salary (a
fortune, to you!) at a gaming spot
Sunday night — but got it back before
■his heart stopped beating entirely! . .
Nan Howard is giving ze beeg lunch-
eon for Joan Bennett at the newly-
redecorated Brentwood mansion Fri-
day. . . . Audrey Henderson Suther-
land arrived in Hollywood over the
week-end. . . . Jack Cosman got off
the same train — and thereby hangs a
tale! . . . Was it envy, jealousy or
spite that caused Steffie Duna's role
in "Man of Two Worlds" to be cut
to shreds? We hear everything was
just fine for her until Francis Lederer
saw the picture! . . . Alex Aarons is
thinking of going back to Broadway
to produce a show any minute. . . .
Therfe is a big ope at the Hearst
Zoo (at the Ranch) that reminds
everybody who sees him of a famous
producer — especially when he's eat-
ing. . . . The boys at the Radio stu-
dio (and the girls, too) are wonder-
ing if there really is a Merian C.
Cooper — he didn't come back yester-
day, either — and everyone KNEW he
would! . . . Bing Crosby now owns
ten thousand acres of land and expects
to sell lots of lots. . . . The Norman
Taurogs, Barbara Barondess, the Gene
Markeys, Lupe and johnny Weissmull-
er and many more at the Beverly Wil-
shire Sunday night — ALL of whom
would like to know WHY they keep
that room so dark. . . . Sari Maritza
arrived back in Hollywood last night.
Nominations Made
To NRA Committee
With the dust settling on the
Academy and the Writers Guild bat-
tle it appears that Administrator Ro-
senblatt has said to the boys, "Go
ahead and make nominations if you
want to, boys. It's perfectly proper.
But, of course, when you get through
we will hear from other groups."
So the Writers Guild proceeded
with nominations last night, and on
next Monday night all writers with
credentials as to work on the screen
will have an opportunity to vote on
them at the Writers Cluh. Or to make
their own nominations from the floor
if they care to.
Announcing their plans to continue
with the election despite the chal-
lenge on authority given by the Acad-
emy, the Guild issued the following
wire from Rosenblatt:
Nominations to be made by any
group of authors and writers do not
of themselves set up standing com-
mittees nor are such nominations sure
of final selection. Nominations are
accepted at that time if made by a
representative group. The calling by
an association of a meeting of all
qualified members and non-members
of a class for the nominations of rep-
resentatives is entirely proper and we
have no objection to the same; but
in receiving all such nominations it is
understood that we will, as a matter
of policy, give due notice to other
groups before closing nominations."
Appended to this was a statement
from the Guild executive board as fol-
lows:
The executive board of the Screen
Writers Guild, in commenting on Ro-
senblatt's wire, pointed out that in
view of the fact that the Guild rep-
resents more than 90 percent of all
the screen writers in Hollywood, the
telegram gave final authority to the
general election called by the Guild.
"The conditions of the election to
be held by the Guild," stated the ex-
ecutive board, "are such as to give
full representation and voting power
to all qualified screen writers, regard-
less of whether they are members of
th Screen Writers Guild or not. In
this connection the executive board in-
vites non-members who have had
screen writing credits on American-
released pictures during the last 18
months not only to present their own
slate for election, but also to make
nominations from the floor."
The nominations to be voted on
next Monday were as follows:
For the Code Authority: John How-
ard Lawson.
For the Agency Committee: Ernest
Pascal and Wells Root.
For the Five and Five Committee,
to be composed half of screen writers
and half of producers: Oliver H. P.
Garrett, Rupert Hughes, Ralph J.
Block, John Natteford, Seton 1. Miller,
Gladys Lehman, Samuel K. Ornitz,
John Emerson, Courtehay Terrett,
James Gleason, Dudley Nichols and
Raymond Schrock.
Open to All
The Screen Writers Guild is
anxious to add the following to its
announcement yesterday regarding
nominations for code committees:
"In addition to nominations from
the Guild, every opportunity will be
given to non-Guild members to
make further nominations from the
floor." January 1 5 is the date of
the meeting at the Writers' Cub.
Silvers Signed To Do
Col.'s Musical Chores
Lou Silvers has been signed by Co-
lumbia as musical director for the stu-
dio. Silvers will handle the score on
"Men of Tomorrow," which will fin-
ish a week of added scenes next
Thursday with Frank Borzage direct-
ing.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page I )
No adjectives or smooth tongues
could be counted on. They'd all been
used before.
So Zanuck threw his cards on the
table face up — and called for a show-
down on the screen.
Good showmanship.
You'll see more of it, this season
and next, when producers KNOW they
have something.
PickfordHitinChi
And Set For Boston
Chicago. — Mary Pickford has hit
the bell here at the Balaban and Katz
ace house, the Chicago, with a ven-
geance. She has lines outside from
early until late.
As a result Miss Pickford is now
booked to continue the personal ap-
pearance tour she started at the Para-
mount in New York, with a booking
at the Metropolitan in Boston set for
the week of January 19, and a Phil-
adelphia engagement in the wind.
Mary is drawing down $12,000
here for the week's work, plus a per-
centage that is going to be healthy
with the business.
'Family Man' Up Again
Radio has again placed the Salisbury
Field yarn "Family Man" back on its
schedule and Clive Brook will have
the top spot. The picture is sched-
uled to go into production on Feb-
ruary 1 5. No director has been as-
signed yet.
Remake 'Witching Hour*
New York. — Paramount is closing
a deal through the American Play
Company for the talkie rights to "The
Witching Hour," the Augustus Thom-
as play which they made once in a
silent picture.
s
I
Do Yoa Realize
that you must provide today for the comforts
of tomorrow. To do this you should adopt a
policy of placing a definite amount of your
income in sound investments.
High grade Municipal bonds for years have
been the choice of conservative investors who
require safety of principal, together with a de-
pendable income. They have stood the test of
the past three years, and those fortunate
enough to have placed their funds in such se-
curities find themselves today with their in-
vestments unimpaired.
Are you following the same policy?
^^-^:^r1 RHMOULTONgCOMPANY
'^'^ZT// LOS ANGELES
510 SOUTH SPRING STREET
THiNiTY 5035
NEW YOF^K. SAN FRANCISCO
Vjan. 9, 1934
Page Three
WARIVERS' *MAXDALAY' IS
DULL AMD DREARY PICTURE
Leonard Only Aided
On 'Rip Tide* Scene
Cast and Director
Buried in Gloom
"MANDALAY"
(Warners)
Directed by Michael Curtiz
Story by Paul Hervey Fox
Adaptation by Austin Parker
and Charles Kenyon
Photography by Tony Caudio
Cast: Kay Francis, Ricardo Cortez,
Warner Oland, Lyie Talbot, Ruth
Donnelly, Lucien Littlefield, Reg-
inald Owen, David Torrence and
Haliiwell Hobbes.
An unhappy and bewildered audi-
ence greeted Warners' "Mandalay" at
its preview with a complete and dis-
approving silence. Not a handclap
broke through the gloom.
There were two reasons. One is
that Kay Francis is afflicted with a
part in which she should never have
appeared. The Francis fans — and they
are legion — are not going to appre-
ciate seeing their favorite in a role so
far beneath her and so foreign to her
usual good taste on the screen. In
addition, she is handicapped by a hair-
dress that is weirdly unbecoming.
The second reason is this: If the
screen is as powerful propaganda as is
popularly supposed, the picture is
dangerous. Or it would be if it weren't
so dull. It suggests that murder can
be gotten away with rather simply
and that it is justifiable. In fact.
Miss Francis' last line, which she
speaks to LyIe Talbot, is: "He won't
come back . . . because I killed him."
And they both walk on, smiling se-
renely.
Cortez is the villain who trades Miss
Francis to Warner Oland for a carload
of guns. This swapping of "arms"
naturally peeves Miss Francis, but it
peeves her so far that she determines
to USE men after this — and not
love them. But along comes LyIe
Talbot, a drunken doctor who has to
be saved from himself. She does a
pretty good job of it until Cortez re-
appears, and for a while things look
tough with her trying to choose be-
tween the two men. But she finally
poisons Cortez and settles the matter.
The one bright spot in the film is
Miss Francis' singing of a good, catchy
song. She, aided by Cortez and Tal-
bot, evidently tried very hard to
breathe some life into this old war-
horse, but they ran out of breath.
Michael Curtiz struggled nobly with
direction. Austin Parker and Charles
Kenyon adapted the Paul Hervey Fox
story. Tony Caudio photographed,
and did it well.
Of course, you'll get the Francis
fans in to see this picture, but they'll
be wary the rest of their lives. It's
only a lemon, with the juice squeezed
out of it, leaving a lot of rind but no
reason.
Mono. Men Return Home
Nat L. Lefton and jack Jossey,
Monogram exchange managers from
Ohio, leave today by train on their re-
turn to Cleveland. Men were guests
of Trem Carr over the holidays.
Anybody's job
Howard Estabrook, who is writ-
ing the screen play of "Green
Cold," a banana story, received a
letter from a gold mining expert
that wants to be the technical ad-
viser on ths picture. Yeah, and
how's about "Colddiggers of 1934"
too.?
Fox Buys Charlie
Chan Yarn from 'U*
Despite the death of Earl Derr Big-
gers several months ago, Fox is plan-
ning on continuing the Charlie Chan
series of mystery features.
Sol Wurtzel has acquired owner-
ship of "The Chinese Parrott" and
lists it on his production slate with
Warner Oland, who played the Chan
character in foregoing productions,
once more up for the spot. Universal
made it as a silent with Paul Muni
directing. Seton I. Miller has been
offered the job of adapting it to the
screen.
OPEN FORUM
The Hollywood Reporter.
I am in receipt of a 'etter from the
head of a boys' orphanage way down
south in Bay St. Louis, Miss., who is
desirous of getting some old prints of
pictures (silent) which he can project
for the inmates.
It is a very pathetic letter and tells
of the very small allowance they have
even for food and of nothing which is
allowed them in the nature of enter-
tainment. He goes on to say that they
have ? silent projector and are willing
to pay the transportation charges there
and back for any prints of old pictures
which anyone might be willing to
send to them.
Do you think there is any way that
you might be able to help?
Very truly yours,
WALTER A. FUTTER.
Address 6260 Romaine St.
The Hollwood Reporter:
Unfortunately, the otherwise very
creditable report in The Hollywood
Reporter of the meeting of the Screen
Writers' Guild at the Writers' Club
on January 4, 1934, contained one im-
portant mis-statement of facts. The
story stated that the retiring members
of the Executive Board, Messrs. Mee-
han, Creelman and Mankiewicz "with-
drew owing to their failure to take an
active part in the organization's busi-
ness." On the contrary, Mr. Meehan
withdrew because of added pressure
of business affairs as a writer-pro-
ducer at MGM.; Mr. Creelman be-
cause of his indefinite stay in New
York and Mr. Mankiewicz because of
his departure for the East.
I will appreciate it if you will cor-
rect these facts in your column.
Yours very truly,
RALPH BLOCK,
Chairman, Executive Board
The Screen Writers' Guild.
The story in The Reporter that
Robert Leonard was directing scenes
on "Rip Tide" for Irving Thalberg
was right in part, but wrong in giv-
ing the impression that he had taken
over the reins from Edmund Gould-
ing. In connection with the item,
Irving Thalberg yesterday issued the
following statement:
"The report is entirely untrue and
without any foundation of fact.
"Mr. Goulding is not only the di-
rector of this production but is writ-
ing the story as well.
"As has been my custom many
times in the past, and in a spirit of
complete cooperation with directors
and writers, Eddie and I asked Bob
Leonard last week to direct one short
sequence of 'Rip Tide' which would
give Mr. Goulding and myself a little
extra time to work out important
phases of the story. In the same spirit
of cooperation Bob kindly consented to
shoot this one sequence.
"Mr. Goulding is the director of
'Rip Tide' and will continue as such."
Elder Faversham Talks
Deal at- Universal
William Faversham, one-time star
during the days before pictures found
their tongues, is due for a return trip.
The noted Broadway player, here vis-
iting his son Phillip, is discussing
terms on a deal which Universal is of-
fering him for the spot of Lord High
Chancellor in "Elizabeth and Mary,"
the Lowell Sherman picture. Dave
Todd is representing him,
Mary Carlisle to N. Y.
Mary Carlisle leaves shortly for
New York to open a month of per-
sonal appearances in the east on Jan-
uary 24, She will appear with Anna
Q. Nillson in a skit. On her return
to MGM she goes into "High School"
and "Stealing Through Life."
Phil Holmes in BIP Pic
Cables from Phillip Holmes indicate
he will go into a British International
picture about January 15, with plans
to get back to New York for a Thea-
tre Guild play if the picure finishes
in time.
MGM Considers Crooner
Lief Erickson, recently a featured
crooner with Ted Fiorita, is being ser-
iously discussed by MGM for the male
lead in Joan Crawford's next, "Sadie
McKee."
Garrett Gags 'Frat Heads'
Grant Garrett has been signed by
Radio to write gags for the next
Wheeler and Woolsey picture, "Frat
Heads," which Mark Sandrich will di-
rect.
Miskell Coming to FWC
New York. — William Miskell, who
was formerly with the Paramount
Theatre in (Dmaha, has left for the
coast to join the Fox West Coast
theatres.
•jiJ!iH:yj.'i.'ii
Of course, there are some proprie-
ties that must be observed, but just
listen to this for a way of getting
around one. Recently there was the
death of a very near and dear rela-
tive in the family of the head execu-
tive of a motion picture company. It
was understood that on the day of the
funeral the company would be closed
for a couple of hours as a mark of
respect. The day before the funeral
services the following notice was sent
around to all the employees: "We do
not want our employees to work be-
tween the hours of one and two to-
morrow, therefore we suggest they
take their LUNCH HOUR at that
time!"
The AMPA had another of those
very interesting luncheons this week,
this time presided over by Lou Gold-
berg of Columbia Pictures, who had
specially arranged for a number of
newspaper publishers to be present so
that they might hear the advertising
man's side of the moral code of the
picture industry. This was to have
been handled by Hector Fuller, an old
newspaper man himself, and better
known as a public relations counsel.
Mr. Fuller did speak — but from the
wrong side of the fence. His remarks
were startling by reason of the fact
that he neither defended nor explained
the advertising man's position and
rather remarkable for a number of
platitudes and much flag-waving that
said exactly nothing and exhibited a
particularly narrow range of thought.
We are afraid that if pictures do what
he asks they will have to go three
steps back for every step forward and
never get out of the rut made by the
commonplace. It seems to us that
it's about time that pictures attempt-
ed to start something, rather than to
cover things up, for the common good
of the producers and the public. And
Mr, Fuller certainly did not advocate
any as sensible as that. Rather he
suggested the ear of "Way Down
East" and other such completely ele-
vating drammers. And this is over
and beyond any question of mere
morals. . . . Bernard Ridder of the
Staats Zeitung gave a short talk on
the subject of Hitler and took the
opportunity to thank everyone for the
marvelous cooperation he has received
from all over the country on his stand
against that menace.
Marjorie Goulding has been a very
sick gal indeed for the past few
weeks, so sick that everyone is ter-
ribly worried and hoping for that mir-
acle of the best. She's lonesome, too,
so send the gal as many words of good
cheer as you think of in the course of
a day, and then add ten more for
good luck. To the Waldorf-Astoria,
in case you didn't know. . . . Dorothy
Parker is in rare form again, and the
other night, just before Coward sailed
for home, she strolled into a party at
his place and said, "Let's all go down
to see 'The Lake.' Let's go see Kath-
arine Hepburn run the gamut from a
to B!"
Page Four
THE
Jan. 9, 1934
lATSE GOES AHEAD WITH
ELECTIONS FOR SOUND MEN
Anti-Union Workers
Also Plan To Vote
(Continued from Page 1 )
the IBEW to represent them on code
committees.
So for a week the wheels were
greased with an election in view.
Yesterday the news must have
reached Washington concerning the
election. (Some union men assert that
the fine Italian hand of Pat Casey
must have filed a telegrarn.) At any
rate Secretary McCullough received a
wire from Senator Wagner, chairman
of the National Labor Board, which
expressly forbids the election.
"Such an election," said the Sena-
tor's wire in substance, "is nothing
else but the settlement of a jurisdic-
tional dispute. This question was set-
tled by the National Labor Board by
agreement last August. There is no
occasion for calling an election and
thus reopening the entire question.
"It was the intention of the Na-
tional Labor Board to close the whole
case in accordance with the terms of
the original decision last Summer.
THE NATIONAL LABOR BOARD
RECOGNIZES THE EXISTENCE OF
AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION AND
Happy Birthday!
Yesterday, January 8, was the
fourteenth birthday of the Ameri-
can Society of Cinematographers.
In view of current conditions it
looks as though the organization is
entering its most important year at
the age of fourteen.
THE PRODUCERS COVERING SOUND
EMPLOYEES."
When you strip those words down
they mean two things, first, that the
National Labor Board will not pay any
attention to any local election by sound
men; second, that the IBEW is of-
ficially recognized as the representa-
tive of the sound men in dealings
with producers.
Which left the IBEW happy, and
the lATSE going ahead regardless last
night with plans for today's election.
After you have digested that situ-
ation, prepare for the new element.
With Kenneth B. Lambert, of the
MGM sound department, acting as
spokesman, a large group of sound
men yesterday announced that they
were out for complete freedom from
unions, and recognition as craftsmen
without union entanglements.
Their statement said:
"The election to determine the rep-
resentation of studio sound workers
under the NRA code may result in a
IBEW Stands Pat on
Past Recognition
new non-union organization having
the say.
"Several strong anti-union groups
from the various studios are affiliat-
ing to form an independent organi-
zation. NRA officials have indicated
that such a choice may be marked on
the ballot — that we are not confined
to choosing between the IBEW and
the lATSE.
"Union affiliation does not satisfy
the professional character of the sound
men and AFFILIATION WITH THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CINEMA-
TOGRAPHERS IS CONTEMPLATED.
The ASC is a non-professional society
composed of outstanding cameramen
in the industry."
That's a bombshell that makes its
own noise without interpretation.
In explaining his reasons for the
lATSE proceeding with the election
today and tomorrow Harold Smith of
lATSE Local 695 said:
"While we should have preferred
to have had the Los Angeles Regional
Labor Board supervise the balloting
such supervision is not necessary. This
claim is based on a telegram sent by
Robert F. Wagner on October 5, 1933,
to Campbell McCullough of the local
board, interpreting this point in the
Building Entertainment
For Screen Actors' Ball
Stars are continuing to be added to
the entertainment plans for the Screen
Actors' Ball at the Biltmore on Sat-
urday evening. In addition to Rudy
Vallee as master of ceremonies the
list now includes Jimmy Durante, Dick
Powell, Jeanette MacDonald and Pert
Kelton with more to be added. In ad-
dition, Eddie Cantor will be heard over
a telephonic loud speaker hook-up.
Osterman For 2-Reelers
E. H. Allen is negotiating with jack
Osterman to make a series of two-
reelers for Educational. The deal is
expected to be closed today and the
first of the two-reelers will get under
way within two weeks.
National Recovery Act. This wire
reads in part as follows:
" 'It requires them (the employers)
to deal with duly authorized repre-
sentatives of their employees chosen
by employees through representatives
of employees' own choosing. If there
is dispute as to who properly repre-
sents the employees election by secret
ballot should be held under supervision
of an impartial person who has the
confidence of both parties. After such
an election employers must deal with
such representatives and make the
agreements with them covering rela-
tions of employer and employee.'
"We shall hold the election," said
Smith, "under the supervision of sev-
eral well known clergymen or other
persons of similar probity and expect
the producers to abide by the re-
sult."
We take great pleasure in offering the Producers
of the Motion Picture Industry
A NEW OUTSTAKDINC PERSONALITY
WILLI AM C AC N E Y
in his first picture, "PALOOKA," produced by Edward Sma
for United Artists, received the following notices
Reporter
"WILLIAM CACNEY is a nat
ural born actor. He has a hard
part in this film and he gets
away with it brilliantly."
Variety
"actual ring scenes have a valid
feel — WILLIAM CACNEY
stepping along for excellent re-
sults."
FOR AVAILABILITY
Call
FRANK & DUNLAP, Ltd.
f
Jan. 9, 1934
THEf
l^ilPO)OTil
Page Five
OLIVER OLIVER' A HIT;
'WOODEIV SLIPPER' WEAK
Great Vehicle For
Brady or Boland
"OLIVER OLIVER"
Dwight Deere Wiman presents "Oli-
ver Oliver," by Paul Osborn;
staged by Auriol Lee; settings by
Raymond Sovey; at the Play-
house. With Ann Andrews, Al-
exandra Carlisle, Thomas Chal-
mers, Hugh Rennie, Helen
Brooks, Bretaigne Windust.
New York. — Dwight Wiman gets
the palm this year for being not only
the most prolific producer of the sea-
son but as the best picker of the lot
since three out of four of his offer-
ings have the definite stamp of suc-
cess on them. The second of this
week's offerings by Mr. Wiman turns
out to be a mad picnic for the Mes-
dames Andrews and Carlisle written
by that same Paul Osborn who turned
out the "Vinegar Tree." And it is a
vehicle that will probably have MGM /
and Paramount bidding themselves in-
to a hoarse whisper because the for-
mer must have material for Alice
Brady and the latter really owes it to
Mary Boland to buy her this one since
they slipped up on the one she orig-
inally created. P.S. — We hope Bo-
land gets it.
Mr. Osborn again lightly and devas-
tatingly wields his pen to bring out
another portrait of a slightly silly,
completely amusing woman, this time
one who is seeking to mend her for-
tunes through the profitable marriage
of her son to an heiress. And the
setting for this is a week-end party
m the country. Now the son and the
heiress are really in love but the son
is a graceful waster who won't work
and the girl seems to feel her husband
should be able to protect her, just in
case, so the gal has meanwhile sorta
promised to marry another boy whom
she unceremoniously brings along to
the house-party. The gal's mother
comes along too and that lady is an
acid-tongued, slightly dense person
given to practical statements and
questions. The son, however, has
plans of his own, which eventually
marry his mother off to the richest
man in Ohio and since that marriage
makes him the son of a rich man and
since that man has dissuaded him from
wasting his particular gifts on hard
work, the son proposes to the heiress
and she takes him.
The plot is paper thin but some-
thing to be worked on, and with the
exception of the fine drawing of the
two women characters and the small
part of the Ohioan, Mr. Osborn didn't
trouble much over clarifying the oth-
ers. This may be in great part due to
the fact that Bretaigne Windust is
again listed as an actor for this play
and has the part of the son. Mr. Win-
dust just isn't an actor and his part
has at least twice the laughs in it that
Ine is capable of having you believe
because as Jack Cohn once said of an
actress, (who should be nameless,)
"comedy is as lead in her dainty
hands." However, with that stumbling
block removed, it remains for us to
sing the praises of Ann Andrews and
Alexandra Carlisle, both of whom
No Deal
MCM phoned Warners yesterday
and placed a bid for the loan of
the sheep the latter studio is using
in "Merry Wives of Reno" for its
production of "Sequoia."
The deal went cold as Warners
have another week's work for th^
sheep in the picture. Besides they
are handy insomnia cures, an aid in
conferences.
Bickford Plans Pic
Made in Russia
Charles Bickford has purchased the
screen rights to the Russian novel
"Immigration," by Herman Schwartz-
berger, and plans to produce this pic-
ture in Russia in June. Bickford will
also play the starring role in addi-
tion to producing the picture.
The French publishers of the book
have agreed to withhold it from the
bookstands until September, at which
time the picture will be ready for re-
lease.
Bickford has obtained financing
from an English film concern for this
picture.
Setting Roadshow Dates
For 'Queen Christina'
New York. — Roadshow dates are
being set up around the country for
"Queen Christina," which MCM ex-
pects to be one of the biggest of the
year.
The picture will open in Pittsburgh
at the Nixon on January 15; in Cleve-
land at the Ohio, January 22; and the
Majestic in Boston on the same date.
N.V.A. News Suspends
New York. — The N. V. A. News,
issued weekly, has suspended publica-
tion until February 2, at which time
it will have a new dress and the sub-
scription price will be $2 a year and
5c per issue. Heretofore it was dis-
tributed free to members, and this is
being done to meet the publication's
budget.
HeHinger Sues U'
New York. — Mark HeHinger has
entered a suit against Universal and
Rowland and Brice jointly for $500,
alleging breach of contract in not ac-
cepting stories for the Walter Win-
chell shorts after he delivered the first
one entitled "I Know Everybody's
Racket."
are grand actresses and who stage a
two-ring circus all their own. Miss
Carlisle's matter-of-fact statements
making a perfect foil for Miss An-
drews' ridiculous effusions and impo-
lite drawing room manner. Hugh Ren-
nie is uncomfortably cast, as the other
suitor, because his physical make-up
screams aloud for him to play only
nasty young men. Helen Brooks is the
heiress. AND Thomas Chalmers is the
richest man in Ohio, and what a joy
he makes of the part— not a word of
dialogue gets past him without its due
mea-<:ure of correct delivery. And there
are very few lines that Osborn has
written that don't deserve it.
Might Be Better For
Screen Than As Play
"THE WOODEN SLIPPER"
ight Deere Wiman presents "The
Wooden Slipper," by Samson
Raphaelson; staged by the au-
thor; settings by Raymond Sovey;
at the Ritz Theatre. With Doro-
thy Hall, Ross Alexander, Cissy
Loftus, Montagu Love, Ruth Alt-
man, Alice Reinhart, Paul Cuil-
foyle, John Halloran.
New York. — Listed as a romantic
comedy, this play by its lack of deter-
mination to be one thing or the other
and through the unevenness of its
tempo and moods, turns out to be a
whatnot that sounds as though it were
a poor translation. Either it should
have been high comedy throughout or
they should have added a few songs
and dances, and if pictures would be
willing to do either they could have
themselves a good vehicle for a couple
of stars and a grand comedy part in
the supporting cast.
Dorothy Hall as Julie Zigurny is the
one member of a family long famous
in the theatre, in whom acting is no
talent. Before this is definitely es-
tablished in the last act, the gal is a
plain little nobody who runs away
from home when the boy she thought
she was going to marry throws her
over for her more gorgeous and glam-
orous sister. Julie meets up with a
chef, who is an artist in his line, and
whose wife has just left him. The
chef gives her a job- in his kitchen.
Result, they fall in love, BUT Julie's
family catches up with her and in a
typical first act musical comedy cur-
tain the young lovers part. They are
reunited, however, when Julie is a mis-
erable failure as an actress and the
chef comes back into her life as the
proprietor of a large restaurant in
Paris and offers her the job of being
his cashier for life.
Ross Alexander is simply a joy in
the role of the chef, and by compari-
son with the rest of the company and
the lines given them it's a little hard
to figure out whether he had all the
best lines to say or whether he really
managed to say them better than the
rest. Paul Cuilfoyle as the rich lover,
who woos Julie back home with the
promise of making her a star, works
hard to catch up with the mustache
and goatee they pasted on him, but
somehow they manage to keep just a
little ahead because his sense of com-
edy doesn't meet the physical require-
ments of the part. Cissy Loftus is
grand — whenever she's around, which
just isn't long enough. And Alice
Reinhart shows up in the first act of
this one again and we really could
wish that some day real soon now
that gal gets a chance to go right
through a play.
Samson Raphaelson has directed his
own play all by himself, so he can't
complain. In both the writing and
directing there are generous hints of
what the play might have been. Es-
pecially in the two delightful scenes in
a railway compartment. Mr. Raphael-
son seems to do his best work in close
quarters.
Lou Metzger Sells
Foy Picture Abroad
New York. — Lou Metzger, San
Diego exhibitor and former Universal
sales executive, is going to continue
an exhibitor but still get a taste of
the old selling.
Metzger announces here that he
plans to sail for Europe next month
to handle foreign sales on Bryan Foy's
"Elysia." He has just been to Can-
ada, plans a jaunt to Mexico City,
then a few days at the theatre in San
Diego and following that the Euro-
pean trip.
Nice Boys, Those Warners
Warners and Ricardo Cortez are
"even Stephen." Player postponed his
wedding owing to production demands
of the company. Now Warners have
postponed the start of'Hit Me Again,"
slated to start today, pushing it to
Saturday to accommodate "Ric." Cor-
tez and Joan Blondell get top billing.
Pitts-Sale on Air
Zasu Pitts and Virginia Sale have
been engaged for the Fleischmann
Hour, Thursday, featuring Rudy Val-
lee. Al Kingston set Miss Sale.
Hollywood Headquarters for
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE
MULLER BROS.
6380 SUNSET BOULEVARD
Phone CRanite 41 1 1
HOLLYWOOD
PLAZA
^
\
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up, Double
Special weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Dattziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
Th« "Doorway of Hospitality"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD ,
I
Page Six
Jan. 9, 1934
!
THE GODS WE MAKE' FAILS
TO MAKE COMEDY OR DRAMA
Lloyd Hughes Seen
In Late N. Y. Play
"THE CODS WE MAKE"
Produced by James Cameron; authors,
C. H. McCall and Bouvet de Lo-
zier; directed by James Camer-
on; setting by Cleon Throckmor-
ton; at the Mansfield Theatre.
Cast: Ara Gerald, Joan Blair,
Lloyd Hughes, Frank M. Thomas
and Eve Casanova.
New York. — This is the first play
to put most of its cast on the back
walls of the theatre instead of on the
stage. With only five flesh and blood
thespians performing behind the foot-
lights, they had to compete with at
least a dozen other unseen characters
mentioned in the play, who are cari-
catured in brush and ink in the art
exhibit in back of the orchestra sec-
tion. Whether it was economy in
production, the unnecessariness of
their speaking lines or an exploitation
tie-up with the play itself can only be
conjectured at.
Suffice it to say that whatever the
purpose it hardly helped to stimulate
the audience's interest in the slight
and innocuous story. Described as
comedy drama, it wasn't much fun
and certainly undramatic. Mado Glen-
don, a writer, and her bosom crony,
Merle Cavendish, a widow, maintain
an apartment together. Merle, who
is comfortably fixed, having been left
Checkbooks Ready!
Armed with baseball bats a com-
mittee of the Screen Actors Guild
will invade the studio lunchrooms
today to pull the wind-up on sales
of tickets for the ball Saturday
night. Jimmy Cagney, Robert
Montgomery, Boris Karloff, Chester
Morris and Mary Astor are the
committee.
about a million dollars' worth of se-
curities, has been the recipient of
Dick Webster's love, without the
blessing of the marriage tie. You see,
Webster has a wife in Dallas who
won't divorce him. Merle, after quite
a few years of this sort of life, real-
izes that she is living in a too se-
cluded world, whereas he is free to
roam and mix socially.
Comes the depression and the
threatened collapse of Dick's oil busi-
ness. Unknown to her lover. Merle
throws her entire fortune into the
breach, but imposes strict secrecy on
her broker as to the source of the
loan. Webster's firm is saved. Then
rumors of his entanglement with an-
other fair charmer reaches Merle's
ears, but she disbelieves them. Lau-
relton, her broker, in the meantime
has declared his love for Merle, trying
to persuade her that her lover is un-
faithful. She eventually hears about
the matter direct from Dick and she
puts him out of her life. In the end,
BARBARA
FR TCH E
plays
Joan Randa
in
"THE LAST
ROUND-UP"
•
"Fans will find another screen
personality in Barbara Fritchie,
who plays the feminine lead." —
Jerry Hoffman, Examiner, Jan.
7, 1934.
"Miss Fritchie offers something
Management new in the way of western
^..^ ^ ^^, ^„^^. .^ heroines. — Hollywood Re-
NATC. COLDSTONE porter, December 28, 1933.
Para. May Clean
Slate Up by June
New York. — It looks as though the
affairs of Paramount as a bankrupt
should be wound up by June. The
referee is going over claims against
the corporation daily, disallowing
most, and only about two hundred re-
main for settlement.
Of course a reorganization plan can
be affirmed before June, and any un-
decided claims settled afterwards if
the courts approve the reorganization
suggested.
Fisher Books Butterfield
New York. — According to reports
all acts in the Butterfield circuit in
Michigan will be booked by Arthur
Fisher, the New York independent
booker. This will be a great break
for acts in and around New York on
account of the operation of the Fisher
main office being in New York. This
will also make Fisher the leader in
the independent booking field.
however, everything rights itself. It
was all a dastardly plot of the broker.
The lover is now divorced and able
and willing to marry her.
Two clever performances are given
by Ara Gerald, as the widow's best
friend, and Frank Thomas, as the
smooth and scheming broker. Lloyd
Hughes acquits himself just so-so.
Walter Israel Signed To
United Costumers Post
Wallace W. Kerrigan, president of
the United Costumers, Inc., yesterday
announced that the company has sign-
ed a five year contract with Walter J.
Israel to continue with the United
Costumers as production manager and
costume designer. Israel has been as-
sociated with a number of the most
important costume productions of the
stage and screen.
Soviet Pic State Righted
New York. — William M. Pizor, of
Imperial Distributing Corporation, has
signed a .contract for world distribu-
tion with James Stuart, an American
engineer, who is under contract with
the Soviet government since 1 927.
Product will be three 3-reelers and
shorts on Russia. First picture is un-
der title "My First Five Years in Rus-
sia."
Rube Wolf at Roxy
New York. — Rube Wolf will be the
master of ceremonies at the Roxy
Theatre here starting January 12. He
was booked for the Paramount in Los
Angeles to start January 5, but How-
ard S. Cullman had this canceled with
Mike Marco, operator of the L. A.
house.
Jay Emanuel Coming Here
New York. — Jay Emanuel, publisher
of eastern regionals, will leave for the
coast on January 12, being his first
visit to Hollywood, and will stay there
for about a month.
I
ARCHIE STOUT
PHOTOGRAPHED
w
THE LAST ROUND-UP"
A Paramount Production
"Archie Stout's photography is mem-
orable."— Hollywood Reporter, Dec.
28. 1933.
MONTE BLUE
as JACK KELLS in
U
The Last Round-Up
ff
Directed By
HENRY HATHAWAY
Screen Play By
JACK CUNNINGHAM
Management
Harry Weber Agency, inc.
"Blue does a great* piece of work as
this outlaw who wasn't as bad as his
reputation."
—HOLLYWOOD REPORTER,
Dec. 28, 1933.
^■■■■■■■^^■■■■I^HHHHHaiHHii^HHHHHBHjjii^iMHiiiHi^^^^^^^HiHHHi^HHHi^iiliiHB^dl
RANDOLPH
SCOTT 1
as JIM CLEEVE
■ •
: in
1
"The
Last Round-
-Up 1
Directed by
1
HENRY HATHAWAY
1
A PARAMOUNT
PRODUCTION
4i
. . Scott is well cast." ^H
—HOLLYWOOD REPORTER H
December 28, 1933 H
■
Page Eight
THE
Jan. 9, 1934
gpJNG
•^ around
A British movie director (not very
at home with matters filmic), vi^hen
asking the reason for delay before a
shot and told by the assistant that
they were waiting for interlock, said:
"Interlock? Interlock?? I didn't call
him today — we won't wait for him —
let's shoot it!!" ... No kidding, it's
on the level. . . Someone here should
grab Dorothy Bouchier and give her a
long term contract, in the right sort
of parts — she'd knock 'em cold; we
remember her in the days they called
her Chili and was she hot; filmically,
of course! . . . Sartorial note: Tony
Nelson Keys, Triumph Films assistant
director, riding in the Row of a Sun-
day morning.
•
Lovely Merle Oberon will warble in
her Twickenham pic . . . tee hee that
featured player famed for her tall stor-
ies is talking about her Paramount
contract now! . . . One pic made this
side got swell rating from a critic
who thought the serious story was a
burlesque and so gave it a nice no-
tice; not realizing that it was played
in deadly earnest. . . . Sally (Booful
Blonde) Stewart dancing at the Savoy,
where quite a mob of movie celebs
watched "Les Debutantes" giving their
rendering of a cabaret. Did we say
rendering? . . . Wee Ceorgie Harris is
up for a swell part here, and if he
gets it he'll make a quick trip to the
coast to confer with some execs about
an indie organization he may start this
side. . . . Donovan Pedelty, Para tal-
ent scout and movie scenarist as well,
must be feeling a bit off color — he
hasn't signed any one for two weeks;
maybe the Fox "imports-exports" have
got him disheartened — they seem to
have most every one. . . . Jack Hul-
bert back in town and saying swell
things about American radio stars. . .
Binnie Barnes giving away presents to
the kiddies at the Selfridge store. . . .
Eric Burnand Mount suggests to Brit
companies that they should make some
shorts of England with narrative by
H. V. Morton; sounds like a swell
idea.
Frank Ditcham, Universal chief
here, and jack (Selznick-Joyce) Vo-
tion amongst the group greeting James
Whale into town. ... As far as Cyril
Gardner is concerned, you cannot say
anything bad about Lewis Milestone;
Cyril is one hundred per cent for
Millie, and how! . . . Evelyn Laye re-
covering from an electrician falling
onto her on the set; she went to
Brighton; you remember Brighton,
don't you, Eddie Cronjager? . . . That
movie producer and his leading lady
are still sighing aplenty and she SO
fresh and innocent before she free
lanced!! . . . Basil Dean having dif-
ficulty in finding writers for the
screen; of course an idea would be to
employ screen writers and scenarists —
or would that be too cinematic? . . .
S'funny how American directors like
one character or another to give the
heroine a Ml' pat on the back side;
it's a Hollywood complex! . . . John
Loder has a rep in this burg for being
the champeen cook bar none; and how
John knows how to deal with a goose;
yeah, we said goose!! . . . The lovely
Dorothy Hyson at the theatre after
studio hours.
•
Metro kept Tracy out of the blurbs
on "Blonde Bombshell" as soon as he
was fired, but my! how that Harlow
gal can pull 'em in in this town! . . .
It started as long ago as "Platinum
Blonde," and since then she's been
real box office here. . . . Hugh Find-
lay, chief of Gaumont publicity at the
studios, lunching with Director Bob
Flaherty. . . . Charles B. (Fox Films
associate producer in his spare time)
Cochran watching the audience re-
action to Bergner at the Apollo Thea-
tre, and Elizabeth is the talk of the
town. . . . David Bader getting an eye-
ful of "Ball at the Savoy." . . . This
week's handclaps, laurel wreath and
illuminated scroll goes to the gang that
made "Dancing Lady" — what a swell
job from Clarence Brown onwards.
. . . Ewart Hodgson, Cedric Belfrage,
A. Jympson Harman just three of
London's ace film scribblers eating at
the Cafe Royal.
Socialists Help French
Paris. — Mme. Andree Forine, a
leading socialite here, has formed the
Land of France Association, numbering
a group of blue-bloods who will lend
their personal aid and influence to
help the French picture producers.
Their plans are still indefinite
Loew in Australia
Sydney. — Arthur T.oew and J. Vo-
gel reached here on their tour. Sir
Benjamin Fuller, local theatre mag-
nate, returned from his United States
trip.
SUC4-I ruyt-um/ such melody/
^ "Here is trie music beautiful
.^COMING Tl^ursdc^L, JAN. II*
\\
GOLD DOOM
eeV-CRLY-WliSJ^iRt -MOTtL
oxford 7111
Now Plauina - Jimmu Grier
Slovakian Censors Hit
At German Pic Imports
Prague. — Slovakian censors are us-
ing their blue pencils to keep German
pictures out of the country, banning
everything with the Hitler stamp on
it.
At the same time the French are
getting the break. "Le Petit Roi,"
which has been having censoritis in
other European countries, was passed
without remark.
Austrians Okay in Poland
Berlin. — Word has reached here
from Poland that Austrian pictures
are allowed to be released there so
long as they carry an Austrian trade
mark. These are the only German-
speaking films countenanced.
Big Sydney Prospect
Sydney. — A combined theatre and
apartment house will be built here
through a project backed by David N.
Martin, local film distributor. It will
be a fourteen story affair, costing
$1,500,000.
Para. Changes in Aust.
Sydney. — Looks like a new head
here for Paramount's office. William
Clarke is en route back to New York
and is reported out, with John E. Ken-
nebeck replacing him in charge of dis-
tribution.
Leishman on P^r East Tour
Sydney. — E. D. Leishman, Radio
field chief, left here for the Orient
on a six month survey for his com-
pany.
Last Move Taken
In Publix Break-Up
New York. — At a stockholders'
meeting of Theatre Management Co.,
whose stock is owned by the trustees
in bankruptcy of Paramount Publix,
the name of the company was changed
to Paramount Theatres Service Cor-
poration. Officers are: Ralph A. Kohn,
president; Sam Dembow, vice presi-
dent; Frank Freeman, vice president;
Walter B. Cokell, treasurer; J. D. Van
Wagoner, secretary. In explaining
the change of name Kohn stated that
Paramount's present management is
definitely committed to decentralize
theatre operation, so that the name
of Theatre Management Company was
a misnomer, because under the pres-
ent set-up the functions are strictly
of a service nature, assisting the man-
agers in the field, it doing no manag-
ing of theatres from New York. Free-
man will supervise contact in the field
pertaining to real estate, leases, deals,
pooling agreements, insurance, pur-
chasing, maintenance and building op-
eration. Dembow will supervise the
actual theatre operations, contacting
the distributing companies and have
charge of booking artists for stage
performances.
RCA Has an 'Honor List'
New York. — There are 474 thea-
tres on the honor roll of the RCA
High Fidelity installations throughout
the United States during 1933. The
RCA Victor have put out a hand-
somely lithographed presentation book
describing the new equipment in these
houses.
GILBERT
ROLAND
DEMMY LAMSON
MANAGER
ox 8019
ox 7261
Ian. 9, 1934
Page Nine
'Josephine' For Francis
If WB Make Napoleon'
If Warners do decide to produce
"Napoleon," with Edward Robinson in
the title role, and there is consider-
able doubt in certain quarters that the
picture will ever get by the talking
stage, the part of Josephine will be
handed to Kay Francis.
Katherine Cornell could have the
part for the asking, but her decision
to keep out of pictures seems to be
as firm as ever.
'56th Street' Clicks
"House on 56th Street" is doing
better business than any Warner pic-
ture within the past year except
"Footlight Parade," a musical. All
records for dramatic pictures have
been broken at the Hollywood and
Downtown theatre in Los Angeles by
this film, with Kay Francis in the role
Ruth Chatterton refused.
Will Wait on Hardie
Russell Hardie will not be replaced
in the cast of "Men in White" at
MCM. The player, who was rushed
to the hospital for an appendix opera-
tion Saturday, has only one remain-
ing scene and the studio will make
that when he returns to the fold.
Cabot Up For '5th Ave.'
Radio puts Bruce Cabot through his
paces today in a test for the role
bracketed with that of Frances Dee in
"Just Off Fifth Avenue." If Cabot
does not click, Charles Starrett is un-
derstood to be the alternative for the
spot.
ASTING
T. Roy Barnes and Andre Cheron
were added to the cast of "Rip Tide"
for MCM.
Harry Holman and Matt Briggs set
by Leo Morrison for featured roles in
"A Very Honorable Guy," Warners.
Frank Conroy into "Upperworld,"
Warners. Throug'h Leo Morrison.
Paul Stanton into MGM's "Viva
Villa." Beyer-MacArthur set the
player.
Sidney Tolcr for a featured role in
"Upperworld," Warners, through Bey-
er-MacArthur.
Robert McWade goes into Univer-
sal's "Countess of Monte Cristo."
James Marcus signed for Ken May-
nard's "Honor of the West."
Leonard Mudie has been added to
the cast of "Viva Villa" for MCM.
Lew Cantor made the deal.
Marie Wells into "Merry Wives of
Reno" at Warners.
MCM signed Edward Arnold for
"Sadie McKee."
Helen Lynd by Paramount for "Mel-
ody in Spring."
Cuinn "Big Boy" Williams by Ra-
dio for a two reel comedy titled "Un-
dieworld."
Jack Barty added to Hal Roach's
"Oliver the Eighth."
Harry Seymour and Henry Otto
signed for "Hot Air," Warners.
James Durkin signed through Max
Shagrin for "Upperworld," Warners.
Marie Wells added to the cast of
"Merry Wives of Reno," Warners.
Deal set by Max Shagrin.
Luis Alberni spotted in Warners'
"The Fortune Teller" by Max Shagrin.
MCM Saturday signed Ned Sparks
for a featured spot in "Operator 1 3."
Warners signed Dorothy Tree Sat-
urday for a featured role in "Fur
Coats," Aline MacMahon's next star-
ring vehicle which is scheduled to
start this Wednesday under the direc-
tion of Al Creen. The William Mor-
ris office set the player.
Cecilia Parker was signed Saturday
for the feminine lead in the Ken May-
nard western, "Honor of the West."
Alan James directs when the picture
starts production Tuesday.
Armand Kaliz and Christian Rub
have been signed for the new se-
quences in "Cat and Fiddle," MCM.
The MacQuarrie office negotiated.
John Sheehan engaged for a fea-
tured role in "Countess of Monte
Cristo," Universal, through MacQuar-
rie.
Walter Brennan into "Old Hanni-
bal," MCM.
Richard Tucker for "Countess of
Monte Cristo," Universal. Set by
O'Reilly and Mann.
Griffith's Second at
Radio With Dunne
Radio has set the next Irene Dunne
picture, "Age of Innocence," as the
second picture on E. H. Griffith's three
picture deal. Sarah Y. Mason and Vic-
tor Heerman are writing the screen
play.
Griffith will start production on the
Ann Harding picture, "Alien Corn,"
for Radio next week.
'Prizefighter' Out For
MCM Pic in Canada
The fight angle of "The Prizefight-
er and the Lady" having proven to
MCM officials to be a box office
frightener as far as the women are
concerned, MCM has changed the
Max Baer picture to "The Conquering
Sex" for Canadian distribution.
Young Rapf on Story
Maurice Rapf, son of Harry Rapf,
leaves Wednesday for Dartmouth to
resume his studies and is taking back
with him a commission from MCM
to write a short subject about the
"Winter Sports Carnival" around the
event that is held annually at Hanover.
MGM will send a camera crew to
photograph the carnival when it is run.
Billie Burke at Radio
Radio has signed Billie Burke on a
one-picture loanout deal from Samuel
Goldwyn, to whom she is under a long
term contract, for a featured role in
"Finishing School." George Nicholls
and Wanda Tuchock will direct this
picture.
" . . . moments of such breathless suspense,
such deep pathos and such high excitement
Jack Cunningham made a swell
adaptation ..." — Hollywood Reporter.
"Jack Cunningham's script is well sustained."
— Variety.
With
PARAMOUNT PRODUCTIONS
Personal Management
BREN-ORSATTI
Page Ten
Jan. 9. 1934
LOCAL PRODUCTION DOWN WITH 24 FEATURES
BAROMETER
This Week 24 Features
Last Week 25 Features
Year Ago 36 Features
2 Years Ago 16 Features
Columbia
"MEN OF TOMORROW"
Cast: George Breakstone, Frankie
Darro, Jimmy Butler, Jackie Searle,
Hal Sour, Donald Haynes, Wesley
Ciraud, Bruce Line, Julius Molnar,
Rolph Ernst, Christian Rub, Samuel
Hinds, Lois Wilson, Tom Ricketts,
Egon Brecher.
Director Frank Borzage
Story Ferenc Molnar
Screen Play Robert Riskin
Photography Joseph August
Associate Producer. .Samuel J. Briskin
Fox
"BOTTOMS Up-
Cast: John Boles, Pat Paterson,
Spencer Tracy, Sid Silvers, Herbert
Mundin, Ann Darcy, Beverly Royde,
Harry Green.
Director David Butler
Story and Screen Play: B. C. DeSylva,
David Butler, Sid Silvers.
Music and Lyrics: Harold Adamson,
Gus Kahn, Berton Lane, Richard
Whiting.
Dance Direction Harold Hecht
Photography Art Miller
Producer B. G. DeSylva
"FOX FOLLIES"
Cast: All Star.
Director Hamilton MacFadden
Story Idea Will Rogers
and Philip Klein
Book and Story Ralph Spence
Music Jay Gorney
Songs and Lyrics Lew Brown
Photography Ernest Palmer
Musical Numbers Staged by
Sammy Lee
Musical Director Arthur Lange
Producer Winfield Sheehan
Associate Producer Lew Brown
"GEORGE WHITES SCANDALS"
Cast: Rudy Vallee, George White,
Alice Faye, Jimmy Durante, Adri-
enne Ames, Cliff Edwards, Dixie
Dunbar.
Directors Thornton Freeland
and Harry Lachman
Story George White, Sam Shipman
Screen Play William Conselman
Dialogue Joseph Cunningham
Photography Lee Garmes
and George Schneiderman
Music and Lyrics: Ray Henderson, Irv-
ing Caesar and Jack Yellen.
Oance Direction Georgie Hale
Producer George White
"DAVID HARUM"
Cast: Will Rogers, Louise Dresser,
Irene Bentley, Kent Taylor, Evelyn
Venable, Ralph Morgan, Roger Im-
hof, Noah Beery, Stephin Fetchit,
Sarah Padden, Frank Melton.
Director James Cruze
Story Edward Noyes Westcott
Screen Play Walter Woods
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
MCM
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
Cast: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen
O'Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Doris
Lloyd, Frank Reicher, Paul Cava-
nagh, William Stack, Desmond
Roberts, Yola D'Avril, Forrester
Harvey.
Director Cedric Gibbons
Adaptation Leon Gordon
Screen Play J. K. McGuinness
Photography Charles Clarke
and Clyde DeVinna
Producer Bernard Hyman
"VIVA VILLA"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Katherine De
Mille, Leo Carrillo, George E. Stone,
Pedro Rigas, Joseph Schildkraut,
Stuart Erwin, Raymond Borzage,
Donald Cook, Nigel DeBrulier, Tom
Rjcketts, Leo White, Harry Cord-
ing, Fay Wray, Stuart Erwin, Henry
B. Walthall.
Director Jack Conway
Novel ...Edgcumb Pinchon
Screen Play Ben Hecht
Photography James Howe
Producer David 0. Selznick
"RIP TIDE"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Mont-
gomery, Herbert Marshall, Lilyan
Tashman, Ralph Forbes, Mrs. Pat-
rick Campbell, Arthur Jarrett, Earl
Oxford, Halliwell Hobbes, Donald
Grieg, Samuel May, Helen Jerome
Eddy, Peter Hobbes, George K. Ar-
thur, Donald Greig, Eddie Nugent,
E. E. Clive.
Director Edmund Goulding
Story Charles MacArthur
Photography Ray June
Producer Irving Thalberg
"MEN IN WHITE"
Cast: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Jean
Hersholt, Henry B. Walthall, Eliza-
beth Allen, C. Henry Gordon, Sarah
Padden, Dorothy Peterson, Otto
Kruger, Ruth Channing, Russell
Hardie, Wallace Ford, Russell Hop-
ton, Donald Douglas.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Play Sidney Kingsley
Screen Play Waldemar Young
Photography George Folsey
Producer Monta Bell
Paramount
"THE SCARLET EMPRESS"
Cast: Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge,
Sam Jaffe, Louise Dresser, Ruthelma
Stevens, C. Aubrey Smith, Olive
Tell, Edward Van Sloan, Jane Dar-
well, Hans von Twardoski, Davison
Clark, Phillip Sleeman, Harry
Woods, Marie Sieber, Gavin Gordon.
Director Josef Von Sternberg
From a Diary by Catherine the Great
Screen Play Manuel Komroff
Photography Bert Glennon
"MAN WHO BROKE HIS HEART"
Cast: Victor McLaglen, Dorothy Dell,
Preston Foster, Alison Skipworth,
David Landau, John Rogers, Mischa
Auer, Alfred Delcambre, James
Burke, Don Wilson, John Northpol,
Max Wagner, Frank Rice, Russell
Powell, Jil Dennett, Alice Lake,
Miana Alvarez, Florence Dudley,
Marie Green, Charles Brinley, Al
Hill, Ivan Linow.
Directors: William Cameron Menzies
and George Somnes.
Original Frederick Schlick
and Samuel French
Photography Hal McAlpin
"MELODY IN SPRING"
Cast: Lanny Ross, Charlie Ruggles,
Mary Boland.
Director Norman McLeod
Story Frank Leon Smith
Adaptation Lewis E. Gensler
Dialogue: Lewis E. Gensler and Ed-
mund J. Holden.
"BABY IN THE ICEBOX"
Charles R. Rogers Production
Cast: Richard Arlen, Sally Eilers,
Robert Armstrong, Grace Bradley,
Rosco Ates, Charley Grapewin,
Richard Arlen Jr.
Directors Casey Robinson
and Ralph Murfjhy
Original James M. Cain
Screen Play Casey Robinson
Photography Milt Krasner
RKO-Radio
"SUCCESS STORY"
Cast: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Colleen
Moore, Genevieve Tobin, Edward
Everett Horton, Frank Morgan, Ny-
dia Westman, Allen Vincent, June
Brewster, Howard Wilson, Henry
Kolker.
Director J. Walter Ruben
Play John Howard Lawson
Screen Play.. ..John Howard Lawson
and Howard J. Green
Photography Henry Gerard
Associate Producer H. N. Swanson
"TRANSIENT LOVE"
Cast: Irene Dunne, Constance Cum-
mings, Ralph Bellamy, Vivian To-
bin, Kay Johnson, Louis Mason,
Charles Starrett.
Director John Cromwell
Play Anne Morrison Chapin
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Edward Cronjager
Associate Producer.. Pandro S. Berman
United Artists
"THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD"
Twentieth Century
Cast: George Arliss, Boris Karloff, Lo-
retta Young, Robert Young, C. Au-
brey Smith, Reginald Owen, Alan
Mowbray, Murray Kinnell, Paul
Harvey, Noel Madison, Florence
Arliss, Ivan Simpson, Helen West-
ley, Holmes Herbert, Arthur Byron,
Gilbert Emery, Leonard Mudie,
Charles Evans, Lee Kohlmar, Glen
Cavendar, Adolph Milar, Mary
Forbes, Lumsden Hare, Lloyd Ingra-
ham, Clarence Geldert, Oscar Apfel,
Reginald Sheffield, Brandon Hurst,
Harold Minjir, Craufurd Kent,
Douglas Gerrard, Matthew Betz,
William Strauss, Frank Hagney,
Montague Shaw, Gerald Pierce, Leo
McCabe, Leonard Jerome, Perry
Vekroff, Rafael Carrio, Art+iur
Duravennay, Louis Van Denecker,
Walter Bonn, Carey Harrison, Earl
McDonald, Dureen Monroe, Des-
mond Roberts, Clare Vedera, Robert
Corey, Frank Dunn, Horace Claude
Cooper, Bobby LaMarche, Billy Seay,
George Offerman, Murdock Mc-
Quarrie, Harold Entwhistle, Harry
Allen, Olaf Hytton, Cullen John-
son, Milton Kahn, Jack Carlyle,
Harry Cording, Dick Alexander, Ed-
die Weaver, Bert Miller.
Director Alfred Werker
Original Screen Play: Nunnally John-
son and Maude T. Howell.
Photography Pev Marley
Associate Producers. .William Goetz
and Raymond Griffiths
Universal
"HONOR OF THE WEST"
Cast: Ken Maynard, Cecilia Parker,
Fred Kohler, Frank Hagney, Jack
Rockwell, Jim Marcus, Al Smith,
Slim Whittaker, Franklin Farnum.
Director Alan James
Original Screen Play Nate Gatzert
Photography Ted McCord
Producer Ken Maynard
Warners-First National
"WONDER BAR"
Cast: Dick Powell, Al Jolson, Ricardo
Cortez, Dolores Del Rio, Hugh Her-
bert, Guy Kibbee, Robert Barrat,
Henry O'Neill, Kay Francis, Louise
Fazenda, Fifi D'Orsay, Merna Ken-
nedy, Mia Ichioka, Henry Kolker.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Play Karl Farkas and Geza Hercaeg
Screen Play Earl Baldwin
Music and Lyrics Harry Warren
and Al Dubin
Numbers Created and Directed by
Busby Berkeley
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor Robert Lord
"UPPERWORLD"
Cast: Warren William, Mary Astor,
Ginger Rogers, Theodore Newton,
Ian. 9, 1934
Page Eleven
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 25 LAST WEEK
Henry O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Andy
Devine, Dickie Moore, Robert Creig,
William Cargan, Edward Arnold.
Director Roy Del Ruth
Story Ben Hecht
Screen Play Ben Markson
Photography Tony Caudio
Supervisor Robert Lord
"A VERY HONORABLE GUY"
Cast: Joe E. Brown, Alice White, Rob-
bert Barrat, Hobart Cavanaugh,
Noel Madison, J. Carrol Naish, Ar-
thur Vinton, Ann Brody, Harry
Warren and Al Dubin, George Pat
Collins, Charles Wilson, Snowflake.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Story by Damon Runyon
Screen Play Earl Baldwin
Photography Ira Morgan
Supervisor Robert Lord
"HOT AIR"
Cast: Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien, Gin-
ger Rogers, Allen Jenkins, Grant
Mitchell, Joseph Cawthorn, Grace
Hayle.
Director Ray Enright
Original Story Paul Finder Moss
and Jerry Wald
Screen Play Warren Duff
and Harry Sauber
Music and Lyrics Harry Warren
and Al Dubin
Dance Director Busby Berkeley
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"MERRY WIVES OF RENO'
Cast: Donald Woods, Margaret Lind-
say, Glenda Farrell, Hugh Herbert,
Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee, Ruth
Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh.
Director H. Bruce Humberstone
Story and Screen Play Robert Lord
Dialogue Brown Holmes
and Joe Traub
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"HIT ME AGAIN"
Cast: Joan Blondell, Ricardo Cortez,
Claire Dodd, Frank McHugh, Joan
Wheeler.
Director Robert Florey
Original Story F. Hugh Herbert
Adaptation F. Hugh Herbert
and Car! Erickson
Photography Arthur Todd
"FUR COATS"
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Paul Kelly.
Director Alfred Green
Story Ann Garrick
Screen Play Manny Seff
Photography Bud Hoskins
Easfern Producf-ions
Vitaphone Studios
UNTITLED
Cast: George Givot and Charles Judeis.
Director Ray Mack
Photography Ray Foster
and Ed Dupar
Fox Movietone Studios
Van Beuren- Magna
(RKO-Radio Release)
"SO YOU WONT TALK'
Cast: Meyer Davis.
Director Leigh Jason
Photography Joe Ruttenberg
British Productions
Caumont-British and Cains-
borough Studios
Executive Producer, Michael E. Balcon
"JEW SUSS '
Cast: Conrad Veidt, Frank Vosper,
Cedric Hardwicke, Benita Hume,
Gerald du Maurier, Pamela Ostner,
Mary Clare, Eva Moore, Lyn Hard-
ing, Joan Maude, Paul Graetz, Hai-
dee Wright.
Director Lothar Mendes
Book by Leon Feutwanger
Screen Play: Heinrick Frankel, A. M.
Rawlinson and F. Rhys Williams.
Photography Bernard Knowles
"PRINCESS CHARMING" ^
Cast: Evelyn Laye, George Grossmith,
Yvonne Arnaud, Max Miller, Harry
Wilcoxson, Ivor McLaren, Francis
Sullivan, Laurence Green.
Director Maurice Elvey
Photography Mutz Greenbaum
"WILD BOY "
Cast: Mick the Miller, Sonnie Hale,
Gwynneth Lloyd, Max Miller, Fred
Kitchen, Lyn Harding, Charles Hes-/
lop, Arthur Sinclair, Cyril Smith.
Director Albert de Courville
Photography P. Tamura ;
/
/
"EVER GREEN "
Cast: Jessie Mathews, Sonnie Hale,
Betty Balfour, Huntley Power, Ger-
ald du Maurier, Betty Shale.
Director Victor Saville
Photography Charles Van Enger
Associated Talking Pictures
Ealing Studios
Executive Producer . Basil Dean
"AUTUMN CROCUS "
Cast: Fay Compton, Ivor Novello,
Frederick Renalow, Jack Hawkins.
Director Basil Dean
Play by C L. Anthony
Screen Play Dorothy Farnum
Photography Bob Martin
"LOVE, LIFE AND LAUGHTER"
Screen Play: Mary Murillo, Donovan
Pedelty, Maurice Braddell, Miles
Malleson.
Additional Dialogue. ...Best Weston
and Bert Lee
Dialogue Donovan Pedelty
Arthur Maude-Columbia
British Prods.
Executive Producer Howard Welch
"BOOMERANG"
British and Dominions
Executive Producer Herbert Wilcox
"Its A COP"
Cast: Sidney Howard, Dorothy Bou-
chier, Garry Marsh, Donald Cal-
throp, John Turnbull, Ronald Simp-
son.
Director P. MacLean Rogers
Story Jackie Marks,
Bert Weston and Bob Lee
Dialogue John Paddy Carstairs
Additional Dialogue.. ..Bert Weston
and Bob Lee
Photography Cyril Bristow
Stolls Studios
(For Columbia British)
"GRAND PRIX"
Cast: Milton Rosmer, John Stuart, Jill
Sande, Peter Gawthorne, Ben Sout-
/ ten.
Director St. John Cloews
Photography Desmond Dickenson
Paramount British
(At British and Dominions)
"SEEING IS BELIEVING"
Cast: Frank Petingell, Maureen O'Con-
nor.
Director Redd Davis
I Screen Play and Dialogue
/ Donovan Pedelty
Photograph y Herbert Harris
^ Wembley Studios
(For MGM Quoto)
"THE IRRESISTIBLE MARMADUKE"
Cast: Molly Lamont, James Carew,
, Nina Boucicault.
/Director Frank Richardson
Sound City Films
Executive Producer Norman Loudon
"WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A
WOMAN?"
Cast: Valerie Tator, Stewart Rome,
Kathleen Kelly, Edgar Driver, Philip
/ Strange, D. A. Clarke-Smith.
Director Ivar Campbell
Screen Play Baring Pemberton /
and George Robinson
Photography ..^„..,,D. O. Stretton
Cast: Ann Grey, Lester Matthews,
Heather Thatcher, Tony Holies.
Director Arthur Maude
/Play by David Evans
Screen Play John Paddy Carstairs
Photography Geoffrey Faithful!
/
Cast: Gracie Fields, John Loder, Esme
Percy, Wilfred Lawson, Pat Wad-
dington.
Director Maurice Elvey
Worton Hall
(For MGM Release)
"BRENT PAYS "
Cast: Christine Adrian.
Director Harry
Producer Louis
Hughes
London
St. Margaret's
Twickenham Studios
Executive Producer Julius Hagen
"BROKEN MELODY "
Cast: Merle Oberon, Joan Garrick,
Margot Graham, Austin Trevoe,
Charles Carson.
Director Bernard Vorhaus
Screen Play Fowler Mear and
Bernard Vorhaus
Photography Percy BIythe
British Lion Studios
Executive Producer Sam Smith
"WITHOUT YOU"
Cast: Wendy Barrie, Henry Kendall,
Margot Graham, Georgie Harriss,
Fred Duprez, Billy Mayerl, Joe
Hayman.
^/birector John Daumery
Screen Play Scott Darling
Photography Alex Bryce
British International
Executive Producer John Maxwell
Associate Producer Walter Mycroft
"CONTRABAND"
Cast: Greta Nissen, David Manners,
Camilla Horn, Clifford Mollison,
V Reg Purdell, Hugh Wakefield, Law-
\ rence Grossmith, H. F. Maltby.
Director Robert Milton
Production Manager John Harlow
Play by Commander Horton-Giddy
Photgraphy Friese-Green
"CRIME REPORTER"
Cast: Diana Napier, Richard Bird,
Nancy Burne, Hal Gordon, Jimmie
/ Gordon, Bromley Davenport, Francis
L. Sullivan.
Director Walter Summers
"THE MAGISTRATE"
Cast: Will Hays, Iris Hoey, Angela
Baddeley.
y Director Thomas Bentley
/ Photography J. Wilson
"FREEDOM OF THE SEAS "
Cast: Virginia Cherrill, David Man-
ners, Hal Gordon.
Director Marcel Varnel
Play by Walter Hackett .
"LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT" ^
Cast: Marian Marsh, Ralph Ince.'
Director Dr. Paul, Marbach
Photography Jack Cgjc
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Vol. XVIII. No. 49. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, January 10, 1933
f/iMINE €N rCR INDIES
• SOMEONE said to me the other day:
"Why don't you write something that
would answer the question, 'What is
the big opportunity in the picture bus-
iness for 1934?' "
The temptation was great.
We could have gone back to our
youngster's copy books — "Honesty Is
the Best Policy," "Quality Pays," etc.,
and so on.
It would have been so easy.
And just when we had virtuously
discarded all the easy routes and worn
out phrases, up bobbed one of the
oldest platitudes in the picture busi-
ness and it demanded recognition.
•
So, with an apology for bringing up
old thoughts, and not a darned bit of
apology for mentioning the subject at
a moment when it should be men-
tioned, we give this thought:
One of the greatest opportunities
awaiting a distributor this year is on
the doorstep of the man who will show
that he will give the CREATORS an
honest accounting, that he will sell
honestly the product of the creator's
brains.
Sure, it's an old subject. But it
means something this year.
Before twelve months have passed
you are going to find more creators —
directors, writers, players, or what
have you, so long as THEY have
something to sell — dealing with ma-
jor distributors and producers on a
salary plus a percentage basis.
It's coming. It cannot be dodged.
And it will be a good thing for this
business when it arrives in full force.
•
But what can hold it back?
Only that age-old, firmly grounded
conviction on the part of the creators
that there never has been and never
will be a distributing machine that
will give an honest break to the crea-
tor.
Let some one man break down that
psychological wall and he'll have this
business by the tail.
Boy, what a wealth of creative en-
ergy is straining at the leash around
this town, ready to go off "to the
races" if they find the man or or-
ganization that will dispel the cloud
of distrust existing between producers
and sellers in this business.
It is waiting. So we give you, with
brilliant originality and startling clev-
erness, a motto for 1934:
"Honesty Is the Best Policy."
Sensahumor!
Chicago. — Interviewed in Chi-
cago by a Hollywood Reporter rep-
resentative, Sam Goldwyn said:
"Be sure the Reporter continues to
credit me with all those funny
cracks. They keep my name in
print."
Cooper Says He Is
Back to Take Reins
Merian C. Cooper returned to his
post yesterday as production chief of
Radio studio, and in an interview with
a Hollywood Reporter man declared
he will definitely remain in charge of
production at that studio.
Cooper also stated that all depart-
ments in the studio would start work-
ing full blast, as he plans to get 28
pictures under way this season.
Para. Pays $40,000
For 'Master's Voice'
New York. — The high mark this
year for New York plays was $90,000,
which MCM paid for "Ah Wilder-
ness," but Paramount also went high
for the rights to Max Gordon's "Her
Master's Voice." It is reported that
Paramount parted with $40,000 for
the piece.
Cillam in Town
Robert Cillam, head of Paramount's
advertising and publicity departments,
arrived here on the Chief yesterday
afternoon. He came west to discuss
advertising matters and the year book
for the coming year.
Jack Warner Uses Trains
New York. — While brother Harry is
taking his time going to the Coast by
way of the Panama Canal, Jack War-
ner left for the Coast yesterday by
train.
Levine Visits Exchanges
Milwaukee, — Nat Levine, of Mas-
cot Productions, was here yesterday
on a national exchange tour in the
interests of his Clyde Beatty serial.
R eporter Survey She ws Buyers
Just Awakening To Hollywood
Situation-'Quickies Are Dead
Checking back on frantic requests from independent ex-
changes for information about current production, The Holly-
wood Reporter has uncovered the fact that the key cities of the
country are filled with exchanges just awakening to the news
that the shoestring Hollywood produc- ,, . »<#• r ^
Hughes Scar Face
er has been starved out of existence
Monogram has set itself as practic-
ally a national distributor, Chester-
field-Invincible has its own group,
Majestic is folding and unfolding, the
veteran Freuler, first man to give
Charlie Chaplin a million dollar con-
tract, is hanging on through sheer
personal persistence.
With most of the majors willing to
double feature quite a lot of their
product this year — despite the big
speeches and oratory at code hear-
ings— the problem is made more diffi-
cult for the independent who, with
Hollywood starved, must now look to
foreign importations for the bulk of
his offerings.
Goldwyn May Co To
Russia With Nana'
Moscow. • — Announcement was
made to the press associations here
today that Samuel Goldwyn's picture
"Nana" would be given a spectacular
opening here within a month or so.
It is the first American talkie to be
given such a privilege. The expecta-
tion here is that Sam Goldwyn will
probably visit Russia for the opening.
Film Daily's Ten Best
New York — The Film Daily today made public the results of
its national pool of "The Ten Best Pictures of 1933." The list follows:
"Cavalcade," "Forty-Second Street," "The Private Life of Henry
the Eighth," "Lady For a Day," "State Fair," "Farewell To Arms,"
"She DoneHim Wrong," "I Am A Fugitive," "Maedchen in Uniform"
and "Rasputin and the Empress."
inally Breaks Chi
Chicago. — After a two year battle
that has set records in censor fighting
in the picture industry, Howard
Hughes' production of "Scar Face" has
at last received the valued ticket
which allows exhibition in this terri-
tory.
Ben judells, local indie distributor,
has been active in the battle and will
profit by doing the distributing of the
picture. He made his deal with Neil
McCarthy, attorney for Howard
Hughes.
S^eehan Still Hot
On Foreign Imports
New York. — Winnie Sheehan, Buf-
falo boy, is still foreign in picture
t?stes. Yesterday. Hans Schwartz, Ufa
director, left New York to take up a
Fox contract. He will also be greeted
by a big dinner with Ernst Lubitsch as
the host.
Schwartz directed "Princess at Your
Service" abroad which was good
enough for Sheehan to decide to buy.;
CI . . ■%&#«iik.i.. ^^s story and the picture became.,
arole Lombard Will Not Adorable" *
Play Columbia's Sonata' Christina' and Dinner'
Hitting Ball in New York
New York. — MCM's production,
"Dinner At Eight," did over $60,000
at the Capitol theatre here last week
and is being held over another week.
"Queen Christina," finishing up in
its second week at the Astor, has done
over $20,000 with one day to go to
complete the week.
Zukor Trip Important
New York. — Adolph Zukor leaves
for the Coast today, Wednesday, and
though you try to discount all the
rumors the thought still remains to a
news gatherer that the trip has been
handled in such a portentous manner
that something of a shake-up is due.
Despite conflicting reports it now
may be stated that Carole Lombard
will probably not appear in "Sonata"
with John Barrymore for Columbia.
"Twentieth Century" is more likely to
be Lombard's next at Columbia, and
if she can do it in time she will play
in "We're Not Dressing" with Bing
Crosby.
I
MRP
Thornton Freeland Director
"FLYING DOWN TO RIO'
George White's
'SCANDALS OF 1934"
--. ■ Management ./"N/-V I
Small-landau COj
Page Two
THg
Ian. 10, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd,
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse ; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published everv dav with the exceotion of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Well, mebbe "night-life in Holly-
wood" is really picking up. With
Lombardo packing 'em in — and the
Mills Brothers crowding 'em in nightly
— in different places — and Gene Aus-
tin opening at the Clover tonight —
perhaps we're in for the same kind of
post-prohibition gaiety that so far has
manifested itself every place BUT
here! Sam Coslow has reserved space
for a few thousand guests at the Clo-
ver tonight — and a lot of others are
getting ready to welcome Austin to
town at the same time.
•
An "ingenue" recently signed by
Paramount, was getting ready for her
first set of interviews with the news-
paper and magazine tribe the other
day. The publicity office of the stu-
dio called her in to give her some ad-
vice on what to say to the press boys.
"Listen." said the gal, "after a sea-
son in the 'Follies' with Harry Richman
— I can take care of myself!"
•
They tell us that Harry Ruby, the
song writer, and the missus, are reach-
ing that futt-futt stage and that pa-
pers will be filed at any moment.
•
Mrs. Pat Campbell, who used to give
out with terrific tongue-lashings
against Hollywood, has been convert-
ed. Not only is she toiling in the mov-
ies, but she's gone for a house in Bev-
erly Hills. And are we leffing! Be-
cause of the recent rains, her house is
full of ANTS! Which is a NEW place
to have them!
•
'Tis to snicker! At a big studio,
which has the reputation for being the
most lecherous lot in town — where al-
most all the execs lead double lives
between their families and their affin-
ities, a telegraph boy was recently fir-
ed because he was making goo-goo
eyes at a pretty blonde in one of the
offices! The exec who fired him has
been dating her up regularly. And all
the time we thought this exec was
the perfect "fireside type"!
•
Don't fell us that it doesn't pay to
be a good steno and secretary. Pa-
tricia, John Considine's girl Friday,
"LADY KILLER"
Warner Bros, prod.; director, Roy Del Ruth; writers, Rosalind Keating Schaffer,
Ben Markson, Lillie Hayward.
Strand Theatre
World-Telegram: "Lady Killer" turns out to be a sprightly, more or less daring,
thoroughly entertaining film — the best Mr. Cagney has made in some
time. It is all good stuff, fast moving, frequently bawdy in its humor.
Mr. Cagney is excellent; the others in the cast are all effective.
American: The film is flip, fast, rough-house comedy, slipping sometimes into
farce and occasionally hesitating for a stab of melodrama and a big punch
sequence. It's Cagney's picture all the way through, but good support
helps lots, and so do the gags and wise-guy situations besprinkling the
action. Director Roy Del Ruth has kept this story moving rapidly and
maintains a speedy tempo right up to the big moment and the final chase.
Ne%w: This is going to be a disappointment to some of his ardent admirers. It
is not a consistently funny film. Some of the stuff that is supposed to
be very humorous falls flat. There is some exciting melodramatic action
in it, but too much padding slows the story and takes the bite out of the
satiric bits on the Hollywood scene. Cagney dominates the story and
plays his role of movie usher-crook-screen actor in the traditional Cagney
manner. Roy Del Ruth keeps the picture from lagging by putting plenty
of action in all the scenes. The whole adds up to a fairly entertaining pic-
ture, but it is not one of Cagney's best films.
Post: It is all premeditated hokum, redeemed to a certain extent by Mr. Cag-
ney's vivid personality.
Herald-Tribune: On the whole "Lady Killer" is good Cagney entertainment. A
great deal of the narrative is inclined to be implausible and its decidedly
episodic manner has a way of weakening its force. Nevertheless, it is
so vigorously managed, so attractively played, and above all so pleasantly
filled with the Cagney vitality that it emerges as agreeable entertainment.
lournal: "Lady Killer" is more a collection of gags than a sustained narrative.
Cagney is amusing, as usual.
Sun: The story is a fast-moving melodrama, with enough comedy, and it suits
Cagney from the ground up. He is as flip and as hardboiled as ever.
Nari Blair at Fox
E^i^has signed Nan Blair to re-
^^iSTace John Mock as assistant to Julian
Johnson. Mock leaves February 1 for
New York to become Eastern story
head for the studio. Miss Blair was
formerly a literary agent.
900 Out for 20th Showing
Twentieth Century's trade showing
yesterday at the Boulevard theatre
proved very successful. Over 900 ex-
hibitors from towns between San D'ego
and Bakersfield came to see "Moulin
Rouge."
RUSSELLMILLER,
and Company
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst Mgr
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone Hollywood 1181
OfflCM
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
A^y-^!^ A v^^XA/t ^ ,j;v-,**4i; '/'/^
' *,-?■> ^ " >^
'Roxy' Expected to
Return to 7th Ave.
New York. — There is a strong re-
port here today with all the earmarks
of authenticity that Sam Rothafel,
following his resignation from the Ra-
dio City theatres, may land back at
the Seventh Avenue Roxy which he
founded.
As the rumors have it, if Herbert
Lubin can swing the deal, Roxy will
get a fifty-one per cent interest in the
theatre if he will return to the Sev-
enth Avenue.
Red Cross Party Tonight
A benefit for flood sufferers will be
held this evening in the Glendale au-
ditorium at 8 o'clock under the aus-
pices of the Red Cross. Among others
of the film colony who have volunteer-
ed their services will be Joe E, Brown,
Pert Kelton, Vince Barnett, Dick
Powell and Margaret Lindsay,
'Henry' Wows Chicago
Chicago, — "Henry the Eighth" is
the picture that is wowing them in
this town. It continues a Loop sensa-
tion after a great run at the United
Artists by moving into the Roosevelt
for a stretch. And it is now in its
third week at sn arty theatre on the
Lake front.
gets a test before the cameras today.
And a lot of the susceptible boys are
betting that she comes through with
flying colors, . . . Omigosh, now we
hear that Bing Crosby has another heir
or heiress due about May. . . Why do
they tell us such things so early?
ALL SCREIEN WRITERS
— who have one screen credit on an American release in the eighteen
months before January 15, 1934 —
ARE ENTITLED TO MAKE
NOMINATIONS AND TO VOTE
for Writer Representatives
on the NRA Motion Picture Code
(a) CODE AUTHORITY
(b) AGENTS' COMMITTEE
(c) COMMITTEE OF FIVE WRITERS AND FIVE PRO-
DUCERS ON WRITER-WORKING CONDITIONS
Writers not affiliated with the Screen Writers' Guild and Guild Asso-
ciate members are urged to present their voting qualifications to the
Credentials Committee, Screen Writers' Guild, Hollywood Center
Building, Cherokee Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, before 12
o'clock noon, January 15, 1934.
If you lack the necessary screen credit you may present such other
qualifications as are required of active Guild members, your eligibility
to be determined by the Credentials Committee.
No credentials will be issued after 12 noon January 15, 1934; and
no writer will be admitted to the meeting without authorized cre-
dentials.
Active Guild members will receive credentials by mail. Proxies will
be provided for accredited writers who are unable to be present.
ELECTION TIME AND PLACE
WRITERS' CLUB, 6700 SUNSET
JANUARY 15, 1934, at 8:30 P.M.
The future of screen writers depends on the election of able writer-
representatives for the coming code investigations and discussions.
MAKE THIS A REPRESENTATIVE WRITERS' ELECTION
DO YOUR PART
(Signed) THE SCREEN WRITERS' GUILD
'Ian. 10, 1934
THE
l^xii?©mrit
Page TKr«*
SHADOW OF A. S. C. HAIVGIIVG
OVER SOVXD MEN'S ELECTION
Large Group Ready
[To Quit Both Unions
Balloting In the three cornered fight
which may or may not decide which
group will represent the sound men
started yesterday at the Writers' Club
at 10 a.m. and continued until mid-
night. It will continue today during
the same hours.
Before the polls opened Harold V.
! Smith, business manager of the lATSE,
made a last minute effort to persuade
H. P. Brigaerts, vice president of the
IBEW, to sanction the election being
held under the supervision of an im-
partial committee consisting of Rev.
James Cunningham, C.S.P., chairman;
Rev. Harry T. Lewis, Attorney Orris
Hedges, Attorney Franklin MacCarthy
and Rev. A. P. C. Anderson. Brigaerts,
however, with a contract between the
producers and his union safely in his
pocket, refused to recognize the va-'^
lidity of the election, which is taking
place without the sanction of the Na-
tional Labor Board.
In the meantime some twenty-odd
sound men from various studios met
last night in the Bell & Howell audi-
torium to air their dissatisfaction with
both unions and attempt another solu-
tion to this problem. Claiming to rep-
resent more than 200 sound men
those at the meeting, under the chair-
manship of C. S. Pratt, decided to
mark their ballots A.S.C. in the hope
that if enough ballots so indicated
are cast the A.S.C. will find a way
in which the sound men may be taken
into their organization.
i This proposal was placed before the
i board of directors of the A.S.C, but
at a late hour last night Bill Stull,
the board's secretary, said: "It would
be unethical for me to comment upon
this question at the present time. I
can only say that the A.S.C. has neith-
er refused nor accepted the proposi-
tion offered us by certain sound men."
When the polls closed last night
it was understood that approximately
300 ballots had been cast. The lATSE
officials claimed 250, with the re-
mainder being split between the IBEW
' and the A.S.C.
I Rockett Clinches Cast
t And Starts Next Fox Pic
Signing Halliwell Hobbes and Rafael
! Ottiano through Dave Todd, Al Roc-
kett has placed "All Men Are Ene-
: mies" into work at Fox. Helen
Twelvetrees and Hugh Williams rate
j top billing under the direction of
George Fitzmaurice. Mona Maris and
Greta Meyers also set for cast.
Samuel Hoffenstein and Lenore Cof-
fee fashioned the screen play from
the Richard Aldington best seller.
Morris Tagged by Radio
Gouverneur Morris has been signed
through Edington and Vincent to write
the screen play for "Sea Girl" at Ra-
dio. Shirley Burden is producing the
picture.
Press Will Greet Colman
Twentieth Century is throwing a
press party for Ronald Colman today
to give the actor a chance to renew
old acquaintances.
Strong Arm Work
The strong arm squad of the
Screen Actors' Guild, consisting of
Chester Morris, Bob Montgomery,
Mary Astor, Boris Karloff and
Jimmy Cagney, invaded the Colony
and Clover clubs last night. Ob-
ject was to sell tickets to the ball
the Guild is holding Saturday night
in the Sala d'Oro of the Biltmore.
And they were successful in a big
way. Today several squads are
swooping down on various spots
around town.
Fox Wins 'Montez'
Dispute Over MGM
New York. — A Hays organization
arbitration committee today sat on
the title of "Lola Montez" and a dis-
pute over it Between Fox and MGM.
MGM was planning a picture under
that title by virtue of buying the
Hearst syndicated feature built around
the life of the famous California
charmer. But Fox owned world rights
to a play by Adolph Paul called "Lola
Montez."
Fox won the Hays committee's de-
cision, so now Hearst and MGM are
left with an idea without a title, y^
Ben Jacksen, Back Home,
Casting for His Own Play
Ben Jacksen, former Fox studio
executive, accompanied by Mrs. Jack-
sen and their son Raymond, has ar-
rived in Hollywood for a brief stay
in connection with his Eastern pro-
duction activities. While here Ben
will do some casting in connection
with the picture version of his play,
"Big Hearted Herbert," now current
on Broadway.
tParadine Case' Dies
MGM has quietly shelved "Paradine
/<fase," by Robert Hichens. Story was
wrangled over as a possible vehicle
for Greta Garbo, but no go, owing to
a character problem which could not
be cracked.
Lou Holtz Back to Air
Lou Holtz was set yesterday,
through the Schulberg-Feldman and
Gurney office, to app>ear on the
Fleischmann hour this Thursday with
Rudy Vallee.
Burt Kelly Plans
Return to Indies
Burt Kelly, of the old KBS unit, is
completing plans for a return venture
into the production field.
The producer has arranged to lo-
cate at Talisman Studios, taking of-
fices Thursday. It is reported that
William Saal, also a KBS alumnus, will
join Kelly, operating from a vantage
point in New York.
It is said that the new company
will inaugurate a novel development
in distribution, establishing its own
organization for first runs in the vari-
ous territories through its own broad
contacts and subsequently disposing of
territorial franchises for the remain-
der of the field.
Fox Importations Split
Plans in New York
New York. — Those new French ac-
tors signed by Fox can't agree on
plans. Erik Charrell has decided to re-
main in New York for at least ten
days, but Charles Boyer, French col-
league, can't wait and will precide him
to the Coast.
Radio Pulls Mystery Yarn
Radio has pulled the Stuart Palmer
mystery thriller "Murder on the
Blackboard" off the shelf and has set
George Archainbaud to direct this as
his next assignment.
The murder mystery, which is a se-
quel to the "Penguin Murder Case,"
is being adapted to the screen by Wil-
lis Goldbeck.
May Will Meg Own Yarn
After turning down a trio of as-
signments suggested by Columbia, Joe
May, company's foreign directorial im-
port, will pilot "World's Record," an
original story of his own. It is a
satire on sport champions.
Censors Worry MGM
In an effort to combat censorship
obstacles facing "Should Ladies Be-
have" in Great Britain, MGM is shoot-
ing added scenes for the picture be-
fore shipping it to that territory.
Tearle Ready for Business
Conway Tearle yesterday signed a
managerial contract with Al Kingston,
who will negotiate the player's deals
in the future.
CODE ALREADY HITS $]\AGS
IN EASTERN TERRITORY
New York. — Administration of the
NRA code is already striking trouble
in the east. Although the code speci-
fies that a forty-hour week shall be
employed for operators Deputy Admin-
istrator Rosenblatt has already made
an exception for Boston and allowed
a 49-hour week.
In New York the battle is fierce.
The unions insist on the 40-hour scale
set by the code, but without any
change in weekly pay over the previ-
ous rates. Regional Chairman James
F. Hodgson yesterday heard the two
sides and in the end dodged the issue
by saying it was something for the
Government to decide. He said:
"If there are certain clauses in the
motion picture code which are loose-
ly drawn they should be reopened and
a wording given which will settle these
factional disputes."
The situation is complicated by fig-
ures from the Local 306 which show
that in the metropolitan district oper-
ators are working over 40 hours, some
35 hours, but in most cases are on
a 36-hour basis.
The Fifty-fifth Street Theatre pull-
ed a fast one last week at the time
they were running "He," a dubbed
version of a French farce based on a
story by deMaupassant. It seems that
in order to attract the attention of
the dear buying public they (the the-
atre) had added a subtitle which
managed to come out in much larger
typ>e than the real title. This sub-
title read: "The Virgin Man." Now
someone walking along the street read
it, and figuring it was either a chal-
lenge or a deliberate affront to Amer-
ican manhood complained to the cen-
sor board. The censor board sent a
man around posthaste to demand that
the management do something about
it, or else — . The management chose
to do something about it and manu-
factured a brilliant new subtitle which
now reads: "King of the Virgins."
Which puts an entirely different com-
plexion on the whole matter.
•
Of course, Lillian Gish is about to
go back to the stage in the Phillip
Barry play that was originally writ-
ten to star Maude Adams for her
Broadway comeback. Miss Gish will
play a nun in this. . . . Claudia Mor-
gan's got herself a new play, too.
She'll have a leading role in Frank
Merlin's next production, "False
Dreams, Farewell." And, by the way.
Miss Morgan is quite the heart-break-
er around town with at least one
swain we know of practically dying
for love of the lass.
•
Of course, there's only one trouble
with a Dorothy Parker story. As soon
as you've heard it, so has everyone
eiss, so just for spite because all the
papers printed the one we wrote yes-
terday, we'll print the pay-off to it.
When the remark was repeated to the
wife of one of our better known ad-
vertising execs she said, "You mean
the gamut of emotions from a to a
flat." . . . And incidentally Miss Hep-
burn is an excellent example of how
too much fanfare can act as a terrific
boomerang. In fact, the whole busi-
ness of "The Lake" and Mr. Harris
and Miss Hepburn is a story that's
just too bad and we hope the same
thing doesn't happen to Margaret Sul-
lavan, who, we understand, has prom-
ised and signed to do a play for Har-
ris.
•
Buddy Kusel (H. L. to you), the
third writer in the Kusel family, has
turned into a right busy shorts
thinker-upper writing in conjunction
with Art Jarrett Sr. They've done
"The Life of the Party," starring Lil-
lian Miles; "So You Won't Talk,"
with Frank Parker, Meyer Davis. Irene
Taylor and others, about to go into
production, and right after that Bert
Lahr will star in something called
"Honky Tonk, Jr." at the moment.
Monroe Shaff is the producer of these,
which are part of a program of fifteen
he is making for Van Beuren-RKO
release, with Leigh Jason directing.
Pertwee Here Jan. 20
y Roland Pertwee, who was recently
added to the Columbia writing staff,
is scheduled to arrive here January 20.
k
Page Four
THE
[RiP^OiRTii^v
Jan. 10, 1934
PEGGY FEARS' NEW PLAY
^DIVIXE MOMENT' FEEBLE
One Act Playlet Is
Stretched Too Far
"A DIVINE MOMENT"
Peggy Fears presents "A Divine Mo-
ment," by Robert Hare Powell;
staged by Rowland Leigh; set-
tings by Dodd Ackerman; at the
Vanderbilt Theatre. With Peggy
Fears, Tom Douglas, Charlotte
Granville, Royal Stout, William
Ingersoil, Dulce Fox, Roy Gordon,
Allen Kearns.
New York. — From what happened
on the stage of the Vanderbilt Thea-
tre, it is impossible to judge Miss Fears
as an actress or Mr. Leigh as a direc-
tor, but one can take exception to
Miss Fears' right to call herself a pro-
ducer. Fol- the first talent of a pro-
ducer must be the ability to recognize
a play, and definitely even with a
great stretch of the imagination "A
Divine Moment" doesn't for one sec-
ond come under that classification.
As a one act playlet one might have
dismissed if as feeble A. A. Milne
complex and one could have felt how
relieved the author must have been
to have gotten rid of it so easily. Three
acts of such feebleness just make one
wonder about Miss Fears and Mr.
Leigh.
The whole thing takes place in
Newport with the scenes divided be-
tween an aged aristocratic spinster's
bedroom and a very lovely garden.
The spinster comes from old sea-faring
stock, thinks everything modern is
vulgar and is trying to persuade her
grandnephew to marry a gal who will
fill the old house with the patter of
baby feet and keep the lamps full of
vyhale oil. Well, the nephew finds
the gal in the garden and brings her
up to meet Aunty, and Aunty is mov-
ed to give the couple her blessing
when she finds that not only can the
gal indulge in as much whimsy as
Aunty can, but she comes of the old,
old stock that pronounces Rockefeller
correctly, whereas it would seem that
all nouveaux riches go nice Nellie on
it and say Rockefetlow. Unfortunate-
ly the gal happens to be married, but
fortunately for Aunty Aunty passes
away before the gal passes out of
the boy's life forever to go back to
the husband who doesn't quite under-
stand her but makes enough money to
keep her in whims and fancies all the
rest of her life.
It isn't as though the play were a
one girl show for Peggy. Peggy
doesn't appear until the second act
and goes out oh, long, long before the
third act ends. Not only that, but
her lines are so few and meagre that
they would try the poise and facility
of a far more experienced actress.
Miss Fears is not an experienced ac-
tress, but she is lovely to look at,
has a beautiful voice and one can only
hope she'll be persuaded to go into
pictures because she seems to be a
great picture bet. Tom Douglas is
the only one who manages to rise
above his lines and turn in an attrac-
tive performance. The rest of the cast
just about make the standard set by
the play. Mr. Leigh should have writ-
Selling Whole Show
Paris.- — A Herald news item from
Moscow states in regard to a pic-
ture theatre, "Spectators will see,
hear, smell, feel and taste the per-
formance."
Universal Plans Arty
Build-up for 'Beloved'
Planning an exploitation build-up
on the West Coast similar to that giv-
en "Be Mine Tonight," which ran for
over 20 weeks in one house locally,
Universal has booked the B. F. Zeld-
man musical, "Beloved," into the
Fllmarte for an indefinite run starting
around February 1 . Picture features
John Boles and Gloria Stuart.
Studio ran "Be Mine Tonight" in
art theatres throughout the country
piling up long runs before its general
release. Plan is to handle "Beloved"
in the same manner — at least on the
West Coast.
Colleen Moore Finishes
In Radio's 'Success Story'
Finishing last night in "Success
Story" at Radio, Colleen Moore's next
spot will be as guest star Monday on
the Shell hour, which is broadcast from
San Francisco. Radio still has an op-
tion on her services for another pro-
duction.
Young With Colman
Loretta Young was definitely set
yesterday for the lead opposite Ronald
Colman in his first picture for Twen-
tieth Century, "Bulldog Drummond
Strikes Back." Roy Del Ruth will di-
rect this picture as his first on his
term contract.
Moore Confers at Col.
Grace Moore popped into town to-
day from Palm Springs to confer with
Columbia officials on her forthcoming
picture, "Don't Fall in Love," which is
set to go in two weeks.
Minna Wallis Back Home
Minna Wallis of Collier and Wallis
agency, arrived here last night from
New York on the Chief. Her partner,
Ruth Collier, is still in England on a
search for material and talent.
Quarberg Remains at 'U'
Handing in his script on "Where's
Brown?" an original newspaper story
which will star Edmund Lowe, Lincoln
Quarberg stays on at Universal to write
an untitled screen play.
Kent Breaks Into Criterion
Willis Kent's independent picture,
"Road to Ruin," breaks through for
a first run at the Criterion, where it
opens Friday. Glen Boles and Helen
Foster in top spots.
Walt Strenge Heads
Cameramen's Union
New York. — Walter Strenge was
yesterday elected president of Camera
Local 644 covering the New York ter-
ritory, and O. V. Johnson, re-elected
as business manager.
Strenge, scion of an old cinematic
family, was on the Pathe staff when
that organization produced in the East
and also went to France for that com-
pany.
Frank Smith Story Gets
Under Way at Paramount
Douglas MacLean today places
"Melody in Spring" into work at Para-
mount under the direction of Norman
McLeod.
Lanny Ross, Charles Ruggles and
Mary Boland rate top billing. Story is
by Frank Leon Smith, Benn W. Levy
and jane Storm working out the screen
version. Henry Sharp is handling the
cameras.
Para. Signs Pete Arno
Peter Arno was signed by Para-
mount yesterday to do the art direc-
tion and also aid in production ideas
for the next Bing Crosby picture,
"We're Not Dressing," which Nor-
man Taurog will direct. Barney Clazer
is the producer.
'Reunion in Vienna'
Okayed in Austria
Vrenna — MGM got into an un-
pleasant mess here with the Austrian
government over "Reunion In Vienna"
and for a time it looked pretty bad,
an official ban being threatened on all
of the company's product. Officials
protested the picture, claiming that it
ridiculed the Austrians by making
them seem frivolous drunkards.
However, company's local offices
went to the bat, dished out a brand
of diplomacy which the Austrians
understand and succeeded in smooth-
ing things over by promising to cut
the picture so as to make it agreeable.
Chesterfield Aiming High
On 'Understanding Heart*
Emma Dunn and Glen Boles were
signed yesterday by Maury Cohen for
Chesterfield's next production, "Un-
derstanding Heart," which Richard
Thorpe places into work at the end
of the week at Universal.
Charles Grapewin and Billy Bake-
well are also set. The Boles and
Grapewin deals went through the Bey-
er-MacArthur office.
Grace Moore Col. Pic To
Be 'Don't Fall in Love'
Columbia has signed Edward North
and James Gow to write the screen
play of "Don't Fall in Love," which
will be Grace Moore's first picture for
the studio on her new contract. Leon-
ard Praskins adapted from a play by
Charles Beahan and Dorothy Speare.
ten a play and allowed someone else
to direct it. And as was mentioned be-
fore, the garden set of Mr. Acker-
man's design is very lovely indeed.
Sound Men
Vote For New Deal
Mark Ballot
A. 5. C.
who can represent
you fairly
Without Strikes!
LET THE CRITICS
DO THE TALKING
ABOUT
"GOING HOLLYWOOD
ff
Two big musicals are now about Hie town. The bet-
ter of them is "Going Hollywood," with Marion
Davies and Bing Crosby. Its moments are musical.
— The New Yorker.
Catchy melodies are contributed by Nacio Herb
Brown and Arthur Freed. — New York Daily Mirror.
The music is catchy. Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur
Freed, who wrote "Wedding of the Painted Dolls,"
have collaborated on the ntusical numbers, which
include "Our Big Love Scene," "Going Hollywood,"
"We'll Make Hay While the Sun Shines," "Temp-
tation," "Cinderella's Feller," and "After Sun-
down," any one or all of which may be hits. — New
York Daily News.
The songs that Nacio Herb Bro^vn and Arthur
Freed provide have a tinkle and a lilt. From the
competent routine sentiments of "Our Big Love
Scene" and the pleasing little pastoral lyric "We'll
Make Love When It Rains," they range down to
that brooding song which Mr. Crosby, loaded with
whiskey and sorrow, sings across a Mexican bar
while the glamorous Miss Davies is far away. —
New York Times.
There must be laurels, too, for Nacio Herb Brown
and Arthur Freed. No need to tell you about "After
Sundown," "Cinderella's Feller" and the other song
hits they have given, for they're hits already. — New
York American.
Frankly, I had the pleasantest possible time at "Go-
ing Hollywood," which I recommend to you as a
tuneful, witty, gay and tasteful entertainment. —
New York World-Telegram.
"Going Hollywood" is filled with contagious songs.
If you aren't already whistling or humming the hit
melodies of the show, by the time you leave the
theatre you'll be whistling or humming "We'll
Make Hay While the Sun Shines," "Our Big Love
Scene," "Cinderella's Feller," "Going Hollywood,"
"After Sundown" and "Temptation."
Arthur Freed
LYRICS
Nacio Herb Brown
MUSIC
Page Six
Jan. 10, 1934
Los Angeles and NY
Name Code Choices
New York. — Nominations for the
local Clearance and Grievance boards
throughout the country are coming in
rapidly to John Flinn, executive secre-
tary of the Code Authority.
Among the territories already listed
in public are New York and Los An-
geles. New York nominees are Leo
Brecher, Rudolph Sanders. Leo Justin,
Jack Hadden, Maurice Brown, Hyman
Rachmil, Fred Small, L. F. Blumen-
thal, Harry Shiffman, Harry Brandt,
L. 5. Bolignino, Joe Seider and A. H.
Schwartz.
Los Angeles nominees are Howard
Stubbins, Jack Sullivan, Russell Rogers,
George Hanes, Harry Hicks, Jack Mil-
stein, A! O'Keefe, Lou Halper and Ben
Berinstein.
Hays Office Bans
Composite Photo
The Com-Pix Company, in conjunc-
tion with Joe Bonomo of the Institute
of Physical Culture, has invented a
process by means of which a photo-
graph of any person may be printed
in composite form with any picture
of that person's favorite movie star for
a modest fee.
The inventors approached the Hays
office for its indorsement but the lat-
ter, after considering what far-reach-
ing effects these stills might have on
American home life, yesterday refused
the company its okay and warned all
studios of this ambitious scheme.
Wellman Swings
To Radio ForOne
William Wellman swung over to
Radio on a one picture loanout deal
from Twentieth Century yesterday.
He is reading the Salisbury Field yarn
"Family Man," which Myles Connol-
ly is supervising, and will direct that
picture if he likes the story.
Wellman was over on the MGM
lot on a loanout deal to direct "Streets
of New York," and the studio agreed
to let him go to Radio, because
their script would not be ready for
another two or three weeks, thereby
saving some salary overhead on the
picture.
Combo Shows Chi Hit
Chicago. — Apparently they want
combination shows here because of all
the Loop houses the only ones doing
consistent week in and week out busi-
ness are the Palace and the State Lake
with that type of offering. The sell-
ing of pictures as pictures is becoming
more and more tough.
Seek Lead for 'U' Serial
Universal is negotiating with Para-
mount for the loan of Judith Allen
for the feminine lead in the serial
"Vanishing Shadows," Lewis Fried-
lander directing it under Henry Mac-
Rae. Deal expected closed today.
O'Brien Stops in N. O.
New Orleans. — George O'Brien was
a stop-over visitor here yesterday on
his way back to Hollywood. The boy
got a great local reception from the
autograph hounds.
Columbia Musical Chosen
To Meet Stiff Competition
New York. — Columbia's musical
picture is going to get a real break in
New York — it has been set in for
the Rialto to open January 17. That's
going to be a tough week on New
York competition, as Warners have
set one of their best, "Fashions of
1934" to open on January 17 at the
Hollywood.
Healy Spotted As Lead
in MOM Salvage Job
Ted Healy has been set for a top
spot in "Louisiana Lou" at MGM,
which has been taken off the shelf
and assigned to Lucian Hubbard to
produce. Picture is the salvage of
"Bride of the Bayou," for which the
studio sent a company to Louisiana
to photograph background material.
Wampas to Choose
Officers for Year
George H. Thomas, chairman of the
Wampas nominating committee, has
submitted to the menf>bership of that
body the following names from which
to choose the 1934 officers:
President, Sam W. B. Cohn, Phil
Gersdorf; vice president, Eddy Eckels,
Andy Hervey, John LeRoy Johnston,
Carlisle L. Jones; secretary, Wilson
Heller, Milton Howe; treasurer. Perry
Lieber, John Miles; sergeant at arms,
Bert Dorris, Frank Pope.
Board of directors^ Harry Brand,
Dave Epstein, Dick Hunt, Barrett
Kiesling, Norman Manning, Herbert
Moulton, Thornton Sargeant, Maxwell
Shane, Joseph M. Sherman, Paul Snell,
Ed Thomas, Hubert Voight.
Here Are New Pictures
Now Set For Broadway
New York. — New pictures of the
week include "Man of Two Worlds"
at Music Hall; "Easy To Love,"
Strand; "Sons of the Desert," Rialto,
on Thursday. Friday, "Eight Girls in
a Boat," Paramount; "Fugitive Lov-
ers," Capitol; "I Was A Spy," Roxy.
Monday, "Myt and Marge," Mayfair.
Jarrett Hot For Lead at
MGM With Crawford
Clarence Brown has done more work
testing than he will probably have to
do shooting the picture of "Sadie Mc-
Kee" for MGM. Yesterday Brown had
both Arthur Jarrett and Esther Ral-
ston before the cameras. It looks as
though Jarrett may get the male lead
opposite Joan Crawford.
The
Clover
Club
presents
\
Singing His Own
Original Versions of Popular Songs
assisted by his
Unusual Accompanists
CANDY and COCO
brought directly from New York
for a limited engagement
Starting TONIGHT
(Wednesday)
JANUARY TENTH
FOR RESERVATIONS
phone
CRestview 6576
I
1
THE NIGHT OF NIGHTS
SCREEN ACTORS' GUILD
DINNER- BALL- ENTERTAINMENT
SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13, 1934
SALA d' ORO - BILTMORE HOTEL
HOW OF S H O W
THE
V
RUDY
( Master
EDDIE
B I N C
R U S S
JIMMY
JEANETTE
JAMES
DICK
JUNE
V A L L E E
of Ceremonies)
CANTOR
CROSBY
C O L U M B O
DURANTE
MacDANOLD
C A G N E Y
POWELL
KNIGHT
PERT KELTON
JOHN BOLES
EDMUND LOWE
CAROLE LOMBARD
FRANK McHUCH
CHARLES BUTTERWORTH
JOHNNY BOYLE, Sr. and Jr.
HAL LE ROY
GEORGE RAFT
THE DINNER OF DINNER
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
DOLORES DEL RIO
DANCING TO THE MUSIC OF
JAY WHIDDEN'S and HARRY JACKSON'S ORCHESTRA
TICKETS — Covering
$12.50 per person
Everything
(plus tax)
Available at Gittleson's
6515 Hollywood Blvd.
(No extra charge)
Biltmore Hotel or
THE SCREEN ACTORS' GUILD OFFICES
1655 NORTH CHEROKEE CLadstone 3101
Wl LL LEE TRACY
TAKE TH E RAP
WHAT is the real, true story behind the international rumpus
which has been raised over Lee Tracy's recent actions in
Mexico City? Is Lee Tracy a hoodlum or a martyr to an involved
set of circumstances which now leaves only two survivors of the
original cast? is he the victim of a rap which had to be taken by
somebody?
MOVIE MIRROR in an exclusive scoop reveals the actual facts be-
hind the Lee Tracy story. Read what Lee Tracy and the only two
eye-witnesses of the famous "balcony scene" say in this sensational
story. The whole truth is revealed for the first time in this month's
MOVIE MIRROR. Buy your copy today!
•THE MEN IN JOAN CRAWFORD'S LIFE! What is
the "inside" behind )oan Crawford's interest in the
twelve men in her life? Why has she "taken up"
Doug Fairbanks, Jr., Clark Gable, Joel McCrea, Fran-
chot Tone, Robert Young? They attribute their suc-
cess directly to Joan. Read Susan Talbot's revelations
of the men in Joan Crawford's life in this month's
MOVIE MIRROR.
^CARY COOPER TALKS! Why does the gay
and romantic Gary Cooper want to settle down
to married life? Gary Cooper talks about his
marriage in MOVIE MIRROR.
^JOAN BENNETT AND MOTHERHOOD! Can
a film star combine a career, marriage and
maternity successfully? "Yes," says Joan
Bennett. Read why in this month's MOVIE
MIRROR.
^DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, )R. Why is Douglas
Fairbanks, Jr., going back to England? Young
Doug talks for the first time since his divorce.
What has he to say? Read MOVIE MIRROR.
^BUY YOUR MOVIE MIRROR TODAY! Don't
miss Marquis Busby's "Hollywood Divorces" or
Harriet Parsons' story about |ack Holt and his
son. Co through Bing Crosby's new Hollywood
home. What has Myrna Loy to say about
men? What are the new Hollywood fashions?
Glimpse the stars in intimate personal poses
specially taken by MOVIE MIRROR'S own pho-
tographer. Be sure to ask for MOVIE MIRROR
— filmland's smartest magazine — you'll recog-
nize it by the Ruby Keeler cover.
mo
February Issue - OUT NOW 1 Q CENTS
% \1P.3AVUFL '-^
Vat. XVI H. No. 50. Price 5e.
TODAY^S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, January II, 1934
c€iiiN or^y roR lurcR
Chase Offers Help Para. Head Talks Cold Turkey
A/?min.ton De.-The"'eoJn"? //I Exclusive Interview Givefi
Reporter On Studio Situation
By W. R. WILKERSON
• WALTER WINCHELL can mention
his family, Eddie Cantor can gag about
his. So perhaps we will be forgiven
for yielding to a personal note that
interested us very much last night.
Our youngster of high school age
was doing the talking. Unfortunate-
ly for him, he has probably heard
enough picture talk since he was able
to hear, to be inoculated with the
germs. So his words blend the
pseudo-wise picture attitude with the
straight frankness of youth.
And he said:
i "The only thing the fellows talk
about at recess periods in school now
is the picture they saw the night be-
fore. Do those big producers realize
how much business can be made or
killed by this conversation?
"The big topic right now is 'The
Invisible Man.' Instead of football,
basketball, or anything else, the kids
are all telling each other how those
tricks were done.
"And for every two fellows in a
crowd of ten who have seen the pic-
ture, there are eight who have their
minds made up to see it when they
get home that night."
It's cheating in a way to let the
youngster write this whole Tradeview,
but we'll just let him give one more
opinion, and we'll change the subject.
We asked him for the opinion of
his "word of mouth advertising group"
on a number of pictures. And "Prize-
fighter and the Lady" came up. We
thought we had him floored. Here
was one for the kids. What did he
hear?
"Sure, daddy, it was a fine show.
But they're all kidding about how a
guy could lose a fight for eight rounds
and then get a draw in two rounds
because his girl smiled at him. It's
the joke of the school."
Try and tie that. And hide your
head in a bushel basket the next time
you think you're making pictures for
people with LESS intelligence than you
have.
It can't be done — if you take 'em
from the age of seven to seventy.
•
And having let the youngster run
over the allotted space, we're going
to finish on our own. The title "The
invisible Man" reminded us of some-
thing.
(Continued on Page 6)
Wilmington, Del. — The reorganiza
tion plan of General Theatres Equip-
ment will come up for a hearing here
February 13. One of the first steps
will be the ratification of the reduc-
tion of the debt of GTE to the Chase
bank of $15,000,000.
The bank has agreed to participate
in the reorganization provided the
bondholders' protective committee
turns over to the reorganized com-
pany all claims and to give the reor-
ganized company an option to pur-
chase 325,000 shares of Fox A stock
at $15 a share and Chase to lend the
new company enough working capital
to enable it to continue business.
Dudley Murphy To
Meg Next Shearer
Dudley Murphy is slated to direct
Norma Shearer in "The Green Hat"
on his one-picture deal with Irving
Thalberg at MGM.
He is discussing the story treat-
ment with Zoe Akins, who is writing
the script. This story will likely be
Miss Shearer's next production.
Cornell Role for Shearer
Irving Thalberg has secured "Bar-
retts of Wimpole Street," the play
about Robert Browning and his wife,
from Cosmopolitan and will use it for
a Norma Shearer vehicle. Play was
originally purchased for Marion Da-
vies. Katherine Cornell, who has it
in her repertoire, was sought for the
lead at the time Cosmopolitan Pro-
ductions bought the piece.
Party for Fox Stars
New York. — The Fox Company was
host yesterday at a cocktail party at
the Waldorf to allow the press to meet
the newest importations, Erik Charrell,
Charles Boyer and Marcel Vallee.
New York. — "You fellows who have been demanding Manny
Cohen's scalp — name me a better man, and I will talk to you!"
— that was the highlight of an interview with Adolph Zukor
shortly before Mr. Zukor boarded the Twentieth Century on the
first lap of his journey to Hollywood.
It was a new Adolph Zukor — or
rather the old Adolph Zukor of the
boom days — whom the writer met.
He looks well, the lines of worry that
the depression years put on his face
are lifting, and he is obviously- — very
obviously — happy.
And the grand old veteran is ready
to roll up his sleeves and go to the
wars to tell what he thinks of Manny
Cohen, and the Cohen regime at the
studio. It was a pleasure to see the
old Adolph Zukor again, and it was
big news to hear him talk plain, cold
turkey, mincing no words on the Para-
mount situation.
After giving the keynote — "Find
(Continued on Page 6)
Para. Digging Deep
For Laughton Yarn
Taking a tip from Alexander Korda's
"Henry the Eighth," Paramount has
its nose to the ground in an effort to
discover a scent that will guide them
to a similar type of period produc-
tion as a starring vehicle for Charles
Laughton.
Wellman Picks 'Stingaree'
William Wellman has selected
"Stingaree," out of the several stories
he read, as the picture he will direct
for Radio on his one-picture deal. The
selection was made yesterday.
CIRCriTS AGREE TO BAX 0]\
THEATRE PRIZE CONTESTS
New York. — The ban is definitely
on contests or other stunts in motion
picture theatres involving giveaways or
premiums. The decision was reached
yesterday at a meeting of the Hays
censorship committee on advertising
and publicity.
Warner representatives at the meet-
ing, headed by Joseph Bernhardt, op-
posed the ban as taking away a fun-
damental of showmanship, but ex-
pressed willingness to abide by the
rule in order to live up to the letter
and spirit of the NRA code.
Col. Schiller of Loew's theatres was
the chief advocate of the ban, this
despite the fact that MGM is in the
midst of one of its most successful
contest campaigns on "Fugitive Lov-
ers" opening Friday at the Capitol.
Warner Pays $35,000
ForThe DarkTower'
New York. — Jack Warner grabbed
one of the play prizes of the season
while here, closing before his depar-
ture for the coast for "The Dark
Tower," Sam Harris hit.
The reported price for the play is
$35,000. It is understood that War-
ren William will play the lead on the
screen.
Stevens Burns Over 'U'
Serial Assignment
O.nslow Stevens goes into top spot
in "The Vanishing Shadow,"' Univer-
sa!'s next serial. Other members of
t' e cast will be Ada Ince, Walter Mil-
ler and Richard Kramer.
Stevens, who has recently worked
in pictu-es which he considers of a
higher quality, is plenty burned over
this assignment.
Postpone Tri-Ergon Suit
New York. — Upon request of At-
torney David A. Podel, counsel for
William Fox, trial of the infringement
suit by the American Tri-Ergon Cor-
poration against various exhibitors has
been postponed until January 25.
Batcheller Back in Town
George R. Batcheller arrived in Hol-
lywood yesterday after a three weeks'
swing across the country visiting ex-
changes in which his company, Ches-
terfield Pictures, has an interest.
Commandini in Hospital
Adele Commandini, who has been
writing "Jane Eyre" at Monogram, is
still in the Wilshire hospital as a re-
sult of an automobile accident Sun-
day night.
Moscowitz on Cruise
New York. — C. C. Moskowitz of
MGM has sailed on a West Indies
cruise.
\
fl
Page Two
THE
i
Jan. 11, 1934
^
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los AngelesI, California
Telephone HOIlywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
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Published everv dav with the exceotion of
Sundavs and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter |une 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Barbara Bennett got lonesome again
the other night and hopped a plane
for Memphis to spend two weeks of
one-night stands with Morton Dow-
ney, .. . . The Warner stujo has a new
enthusiasm in Donald Woods. . . .
Virginia Cherrill and David Manners
are doing a picture together in Eng-
land. . . . The cause of a recently an-
nounced rifting between a blonde
movie star and her hubby is plain
enough — too much nipping. . . . Clark
Cable's hoss will run again on Sunday;
hope she runs as fast as she ran be-
fore! . . . Which reminds us, Jeanette
MacDonald lugs her own particular
side-saddle all over the globe with
her. . . ..Pat O'Brien has made a cigar-
smoker out of Dick Powell — with
sound effects.
•
We hear that the Jack Warners may
reconcile for keeps, in spite of it all.
. . . Lewis Stone is spending most of
his time down at the harbor, helping
"em scrape the barnacles off his new
boat. . . . Betty Compson gave a cock-
tail party for Bill Powell and Ronnie
Colman yesterday and a lot of people
showed up — but not the guests of
honor! They were recuperating from
a party at Colman's the night before!
. . . Carole Lombard's all excited about
playing in "Twentieth Century" — her
best picture break to date! . . . Billy
Haines will leave for Europe and Egypt
February 4 — he says he'll be "the first
ham to float up the Nile"! And that's
not all he plans to do! . . . Clenda
Farrell back at work after beating the
flu.
•
They have a flock of detectives
guarding the hundred thousand dol-
lars' worth of fur coats now being
used on the set for (of all things!)
"Fur Coats." . . Andy Lawlor has
himself a good part in "Rip Tide" at
MGM. . . . The new Lubitsch man-
sion in Bel Air will be something stu-
pendous! . . . Didja laff when you read
Alexander Kirkland's statement that
"he wasn't interested in pictures any
more"? The case is really vice versa!
... A big divorce case was almost
reopened the other day when the wife
fell hard for a very funny gag perpe'-
lATSE WIN A VICTORY AFTER
TWO DAYS OF BALLOTING
Other Groups Smile
As New War Looms
At two o'clock this morning the
Sound Men's Union was declared the
winner of the plebicite held to deter-
mine the preference of sound men for
a representative of their own choos-
ing.
The result was: Local No. 695,
448 votes; American Society of Cine-
matographers, 93; IBEW. Local No.
40, 9. There were two blanks and 2
invalid.
The average membership of the
Sound Men's local before the strike
was 600. The election accounted for
555, which was by the sound men
looked upon as a remarkable example
of loyalty by its membership.
"The men want the lATSE to rep-
resent them," said Harold V. Smith,
business manager of that union, "and
I intend to do just that. If any pro-
ducer thinks otherwise after this elec-
tion I shall insist that the Depart-
ment of Justice force him to recog-
nize us in accordance with the Na-
tional Recovery Act."
H. P. Brigaertz, vice president of
the IBEW, decided the day's events
were not important enough to keep
him on the firing line. Before leaving
his office for the day he said; "Let
them vote their heads off, on this or
any other question. I have a con-
tract with the producers, recognized
by the National Labor Board, which
gives my union sole jurisdiction over
the sound men, and that's that. The
lATSE won the election? So what?"
C. S. Pratt, chairman of the group
which marked their ballots A.S.C. in
the hope a way might be found in
which the sound men may be taken
into this organization, claimed some
sort of moral victory.
"Whatever the final count may be
we have proved that there is a large
group which is dissatisfied with all
unions, and sooner or later we shall
follow the A.S.C.'s example and have
our own organization. The unions'
only weapon is the strike and look
where that got us."
Pat Casey, the producers' represen-
tative, said nothing at all. He seem-
ed perfectly happy to let the boys
fight among themselves to their
hearts' content, and if none gets off
with a whole hide, well, that will be
just too bad.
In other words the lATSE won the
election and now the war is on in
earnest.
Lombardo Run Extended
Guy Lombardo and his orchestra were
brought out here by the Ambassador
on a four weeks' contract and clicked
so well that the hotel signed the band
for another eight weeks. The orches-
tra is now scheduled to remain there
until April 1 .
trated by none other than Raoul
Walsh. . . . George Cukor gave out
with an exclusive Chinese dinner at
his home the other eve — to be con-
tinued.
Last Call!
The way the ticket sale jumped
yesterday as a result of the Strong
Arm Squad's work, it looks as
though a last call will have to be
sent out to members of the Screen
Actors' Guild, regarding the ball on
Saturday evening. Executive Sec-
retary Kenneth Thompson is trying
to hold out the remaining tickets
for "folks who belong."
Cohn Bows Out of Job
As Warn pas Prexy
Sam W. B. Cohn, Roach publicity
head, yesterday declined the nomina-
tion to the presidency of the Wampas
because of the pressure of studio
work. Cohn and Phil Gersdorf were
nominated to succeed George Landy,
whose term ends in March. The or-
ganization's constitution requires
nominations for office be made at the
first meeting in January with the win-
ners taking office in March,
Baer Personals Extended
New York. — Loew's has taken an-
other three weeks' option on Max
Baer and will push the champ around
their circuit for that number of weeks'
personals in addition to his present
deal.
Incidentally, Jack Dempsey has ar-
rived here to set the details of the
forthcoming match between Baer and
Primo Camera,
Erin Moore Due Today
Erin O'Brien-Moore is due to ar-
rive in Hollywood today for another
sally at pictures under the Leo Mor-
rison wing. Player, who created con-
siderable commer* in recent Broad-
way plays, was here last year under
MGM contract, but was lost. This
time she is determined to try again
as a free lancer.
Two More Wind Up
Wood's MGM Deal
MGM has set Sam Wood to direct
two pictures in a row, which will ter-
minate the director's contract with
that studio.
Wood will direct "100 Percent
Pure," an original story by Anita Loos
and John Emerson, as his next assign-
ment, supervised by Bernie Hyman,
after which he will direct "Forgotten
Girl," the Wilson Collison story, which
Harry Rapf is supervising.
'Scotland Yard' in Trouble
Laurence Blochman has been assign-
ed to write a new screen play for
"American Scotland Yard," which Ed-
mund Grainger is producing for Uni-
versal. Treatments by other writers
have faied to click to date.
RUS$ELL,MiLLER
and Company
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANCf
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
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Telephone HOIlywood 1 181
Offic«s
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
'^ /*'-?' ^Vvrfx«.> ^ sSi^^<.-.*%¥^4c.,^./^'s,, v??<* ^," S*
:^/^.e£V-ERLY-WI LSW I \iJilUU,
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*CAROL LOfNCR
And-WisOA/vClA/G Music
in tfi£
^/' GOLD ROOM
=7
<2'»»^.^»^^^u;^it4' THURSDAY, JANUARY ll**-
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IN PRICES
OPENING NIGHT
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THEATKE BEAU I
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Henry DufT, prestnti
FiThe idol of two comtinents
RANCIS LeDERERS^
IN PERSON in
THE GAY ROMANTIC COMEDY ^
AUTUMN CROCUS
JULIE HAYDON
C'CTfO l>« TMHCIS lEOfRER
MAtS Su(iW«<lSftS«50<7S« EVERY EVE SO* to l«
Jan. II. 1934
Page Three
FALAISE BALI PICTURE
'LEGOIVG' GETS A RAVE
Photography, Music
Highlight the Film
"LECONC"
(Bennett Pictures Corp.)
Story Told by.. ..Henry de la Falaise
and Gaston Glass
; Photographed by.. ..William H. Greene
Titled by Hannpton Del Ruth
Edited by Edward Schroeder
Music supervised by Abe Meyer
and S. K. Wineland
Cast: All Native.
Very simple and charming and
beautiful is "Legong," the picture
Henry de la Falaise made on the Isle
of Bali in Technicolor.
First honors go to de la Falaise for
having the courage to make the film
in the first place and for not letting
it go Hollywood; second honors to
William Howard Greene, whose cam-
era has an artist's eye; third honors to
Abe Meyer and S. K. Wineland for
the interpretive musical accompani-
' ment, and fourth honors to the all-
native cast which lived the simple
story so vividly.
"Legong" is as childlike as the na-
tives who are seen in it. It is un-
assuming, quietly dramatic, and full
of a primitive charm. Photographed
in color, the picture is a jewel — not
very large, but rare and valuable.
It is the story of a temple dancing
girl, Poutou, who falls in love with a
musician, Nyong. But the Balinese
believe that when a girl shows love
which is not reciprocated disgrace and
shame will fall upon her, and the
frown of the gods will bring evil to
her. So when Nyong openly shows his
preference for Saplak, Poutou's sister,
Poutou appeases the anger of the gods
by committing suicide.
That is all the story — but the rit-
uals, the dances, the great, spectacu-
lar cremation ceremony at the end;
the naive, childlike acting of the na-
tive cast; the gorgeous photography;
the music — all these form a colorful
and charming setting for the simple
little tale.
Well, you know your own box of-
fice, Mr. Exhibitor. This picture is as
unpredictable as a sunset, but just as
beautiful. If your audiences like sun-
sets, give 'em "Legong." If they
don't go for it, the picture is still an
artistic success.
Radio Tags Designer
Lanvin, internationally known fash-
ion designer, has been signed by Radio
on a three-year optional contract. He
was brought out here by the Schul-
berg-Feldman and Gurney office.
Beck Hits Road for 20th
New York. — Meyer Beck, of United
Artists, is going out as advance man
ahead of the big Socony-Twentieth
Century caravan. Hits the road Mon-
day.
Col. Likes Hell Cat'
Columbia likes the sound of the
title "The Hell Cat" and has com-
missioned Arthur Phillips to write a
story to fit. Nothing but the title
and the writer has been set to date.
Woods on the Spot
There won't be any argument
about the honesty of the count on
January 15 when writers vote for
their nominations for the code
committees. Frank Woods yester-
day consented to act as teller at
the election. That settles it.
Boyle's 'Sweden' Pic
Well Worth While
"SWEDEN"
)ohn W. Boyle presents "Sweden, Land
of the Vikings," in natural color
with narrative and music.
New York. — This is a full length
feature travelogue which, once it gets
itself off the boat and into Sweden,
provides one of the mou interesting
and at the same time educational
hours that anyone could wish to see.
Done entirely in color, it captures
the charm of far places as no mere
recording in black and white could
possibly do. And the color work in
this picture is far superior and easier
on the eyes than anything that has yet
come along in that medium.
Mr. Boyle gives the complete low-
down on the land of Sweden and its
people. He carefully remembers and
pays homage to its fine history and
then goes on to take you right into
the lives of the people and the result
is so good that a great feeling of nos-
talgia overtakes the onlooker and the
impulse is to rush right down to your
favorite travel bureau and make res-
ervations for the first outgoing Swe-
dish ship. Not only that, but Mr.
Boyle found no end of beauty in the
country that has given us Garbo. In
fact, the natural blondes of that land
make the Goldwyn Girls look pallid
by comparison. So if you have an
audience that goes for travel pictures
even the least little bit, you can fea-
ture this one on your program and
give the travel lovers a break. And,
incidentally, give your box office a
break, too, because, strangely enough,
"Sweden" is standing them up right
at the Fifty-ninth Street Theatre.
Thew Set for Next MOM
Harvey Thew has been assigned to
script "The Darling of the Delmoni-
co's," a new title for "Duchess of Del-
monico's," in collaboration with Ed-
gar Allan Woolf at MGM. Thew's
last was the script of "Operator 1 3,"
on which Allen Rivkin and P. J. Wolf-
son are now working. Jeanette Mac-
Donald is slated for the picture.
Line Up Vallee's List
With Chic Sale signed yesterday
through Leo Morrison for his second
broadcast, the line-up on the Fleisch-
mann hour tonight includes Lou Holtz,
Roger Pryor and Stanley Fields. Rudy
Vallee tops.
MCM Seeks English Play
/ MGM is negotiating for the pur-
/chase of "The Old Folks at Home,"
a play by H. M. Harwood, co-author
of "Cynara." "The Old Folks at
Home" is now running in London.
Goldwyn Busy Man
In N.Y. Just Now
New York. — Sam Goldwyn unfolded
further news about his planned visit
to Moscow for the premiere of "Nana"
on his arrival here.
Goldwyn admitted that he had both
a play and a writer in mind whom he
hoped to sign while in the Russian
capital. Just now he has also set him-
self in the spot for great publicity by
announcing that he is seeking "the
most beautiful girl in New York" for
the next Cantor picture.
Incidentally, Goldwyn says the Can-
tor picture, while having a more seri-
ous part for the comedian than his
past screen efforts, will in spite of all
be "colossal."
Becky Gardner Again On
Radio's 'Stingaree' Yarn
Becky Gardner was signed yesterday
bv Radio on a one-picture assignment
and for the third time was assigned
to write the screen play of "Stinga-
ree."
Radio has again pulled this story
off the shelf and Irene Dunne is slated
to do this as her next picture.
Novis Up For Roach Lead
Failing to get Ramon Novarro for
the romantic lead in "Babes in Toy-
land," Hal Roach is now negotiating
with Donald Novis for the spot. Stu-
dio is also testing winners of the na-
tional Atwater Kent auditions for fea-
tured spots in the screen version of
the Victor Herbert operetta.
Retakes for 'Bolero'
With retakes needed on the George
Raft-Carole Lombard picture "Bo-
lero" and Wesley Ruggles, who direct-
ed the picture, in New York, Para-
mount has assigned Mitchell Leisen
to take over the direction of the re-
takes.
Roy Neill Assigned
Columbia has assigned Roy Wil-
liams to direct "Whirlpool," an orig-
inal screen play by Ethel Hill and
starring Jack Holt.
Picture is scheduled for production
next week.
Morgan Finishes 'Wench'
Ainsworth Morgan has completed
the screen play "Tudor Wench,"
which Radio has set for Katharine
Hepburn's next, and is now working
on an original as yet untitled for Fran-
cis Lederer.
Reade Adds To Chain
New York. — Walter Reade, who
operates in New Jersey and New York
City, has added the Englewood Thea-
tre, Englewood, to his holdings.
New N.Y. Distributor
New York. — J. D. Trop and Ran-
dolph Crossley have organized the
Pinnacle Productions, with plans to
distribute features and shorts.
mEMU
A friend of ours went down to Flor-
ida for a week or two of warmth and
sunshine and while down there he
spent quite some time in the company
of a big film exec, that is until he
mentioned the fact one day that a
banker friend of his was going out
to Hollywood to produce pictures. The
film exec was immediately interested
in the banker's qualifications for such
a move and asked whether the banker
had ever had any picture experience.
It seems that the banker had none.
The exec then started puffing and
snorting about how did the banker ex-
pect to make pictures if he knew
nothing about the industry, etc., etc.,
and finally came out w.th,' "Why i've
been in this business for thirty years
and still don't know pictures " Wnere-
upon our friend said, "There's an ob-
vious answer to that remark." And
the exec, calling up every ounce of
dignity, replied, "My boy, you're a
very fresh young man." And stalked
away, thus breaking up the begin-
ning of a beautiful friendship.
•
The Wednesday Luncheon Club that
meets on Fridays went back to its old
haunts for its weekly meeting — the
place being again made possible by the
repeal of prohibition. George Bye had
invited quite a number of people to
welcome back the intrepid hunter,
Frank Buck, and then didn't show up
himself claiming he was snowbound in
his Connecticut hideout. Anyway Buck
is back — and with a whole new string
of stories including his infected leg
from a tussle, (scratch to you) with a
honey bear and the one about the py-
thon that wrapped itself around him
and which he had to shoot off'n his
arm. He also got into close quarters
with a man-eating tiger. We really
love the Buck yarns, but we always
have the feeling that one of these
days he'll have to end one of them
with the line, "And do you know
what happened? We were all killed!"
•
Crosby Gaige has finally gone into
production with "A Hat, Coat and
Glove." Which play has aroused con-
siderable interest along with plenty of
casting difficulties. A. E. Matthews
and Nedda Harrigan head the cast and
Millicent Green, Lester Vail, Homer
Mason, Helen Wynn, Romaine Callen-
dar, Joseph Spurin-Calleia, Clare
Woodbury, Oscar Berlin and George
Allison are in support. Gaige himself
is directing and one of our favorite
geniuses. Aline Bernstein, is doing the
sets. . . . Colin Clive seems to have
found the brightness in this country
in the very attractive Dorothy Lee,
whose beauty has smiled at you from
lotsa ads and who is understudying
Leona Maricle in "Dark Tower."
Collison's Assignment
Wilson Collison has been assigned
to write the screen play of "Made-
moiselle" for MGM. Alice Brady and
Frank Morgan will have the top spots.
Fox Tempts Comedy Team
As a resut of their work in "Scan-
dals," the comedy team of Mitchell
and Durant are being offered a long
term deal at Fox.
Page Four
THE
Jan. 11, 1934
\
4STING
^VTE
C. Aubrey Smith set for "Elizabeth
and Mary," Universal. Small-Landau
represent the player.
George Meeker into "Melody in
Spring," Paramount, Set by Beyer-
MacArthur.
Leonard Carey signed through Dolge
and Corder for "Hit Me Again," War-
ners.
Harvey Clarke for "Countess of
Monte Cristo," Universal, set by
Lichtig and Englander.
Berton Churchill signed for "Men
in White," MCM. Al Kingston nego-
tiated.
Robert Grieg signed for "Wonder
Bar," Warners. Deal set by Freddie
Fralick.
Lilian Miles was tested yesterday by
Universal for a featured spot in a
Stanley Bergerman production.
Fred Kohler was signed yesterday by
Ken Maynard for the second lead in
"Honor of the West," which Alan
lames directs. Mitchell Certz of the
Al Kingston agency set the deal.
Walter Miller by Henry MacRae for
heavy in the Universal serial, "Vanish-
ing Shadows." Howard Seiter office
set the deal.
John Davidson for a featured spot
in "Murder in Trinidad," which Seton
I. Miller is scripting for the Sol Wurt-
zel unit at Fox.
Oscar Apfel into Edwin Carewe's
"Are We Civilized?"
Asther and Gibson Set
In Radio's Dix Picture
Nils Asther and Wynne Gibson have
been set by Radio for featured roles
in the next Richard Dix picture, "The
Crime Doctor."
)ohn Robertson has been definitely
set to direct this picture and produc-
tion is scheduled to start next week.
Warren-Dubin Writing
Mills Bros. Screen Song
Harry Warren and Al Dubin are
writinjg the songs Mills brothers will
sing in "Hot Air," Warners' radio
story now in the works.
Healy Doing Two-Reeler
Ted Healy and his Stooges will
make another two reeler for MCM
titled "An Employment Agency for
Stooges." The comedy sketch was
written by Herman Timberg. The pic-
ture will go into production next week
under the supervision of Jack Cum-
mings.
Del Ruth Finishes Friday
Roy Del Ruth is scheduled to fin-
ish "Upperworld" on Friday, a couple
of days ahead of schedule. The direc-
tor will then take up his plans for a
European vacation and his offer from
Darryl Zanuck.
Universal Changes Title
New York. — "The Crosby Murder
Case" is the new title of Universal's
production "Special Investigator."
Pitts, Cold to Script,
Bows Out on Vallee
Owing to differences between Zasu
Pitts and Hal Kuhl, the |. Walter
Thompson representative for the
Fleischmann radio hour, the deal
which had been set for Miss Pitts on
tonight's program was canceled yes-
terday.
Player is claimed to have evinced
coolness towards the material which
George Faulkner and Grant Garrett,
radio writing aces, conceived for her.
When she asked to have her managers
approve it, Kuhl called the booking
quits rather than argue over it. Also
canceled out through no fault of hers
is Virginia Sale, whose deal was con-
tingent upon Miss Pitts' appearance.
Girl Lead Delaying
Col.'s 'Precious Thing'
Columbia's "Most Precious Thing in
Life" is all set to go but production is
being held up due to girl trouble. Di-
rector Lambert Hillyer and Supervisor
Bobby North are searching frantic-
ally for the right femme lead but so
far have not found one who suits the
role.
Exhibs Dine Yamins
New York. — A testimonial dinner
was tendered to Nathan Yamins,
New England exhibitor leader and
member of the Code Authority, by the
Independent Exhibitors of New Eng-
land January 9 at the Copley Plaza
Hotel in Boston. Max L. Levenson,
vice president, was in charge of the ar-
rangement committee.
Scandals' Hit in Philly
Philadelphia. — "Roman Scandals"
established a new house record at the
Aldine Theatre in Philadelphia. In its
second week the receipts including a
New Year midnight show far sur-
passed the money taken in on any
other production. It will probably
have a four weeks' run at this theatre.
'Roberta' in Big Money
New York. — "Roberta," the Max
Gordon operetta, is selling out these
nights and has climbed into the list
of the five biggest hits in town, and
what a fine musical picture and fash-
ion film it will make.
Sadie' Off Without Man
Clarence Brown will put the next
Joan Crawford picture, "Sadie Mc-
Kee," into production this Friday
minus the leading man. Larry Wein-
garten is supervising this production
for MCM.
Mancall Joins Majestic
New York, — E. H. Goldstein, vice
president of Majestic Pictures, an-
nounces that Boone Mancall has been
appointed advertising and publicity
manager.
Coming and Going
"What we want here," says
Merian C. Cooper, just back from
the east, "is nothing but clean pic-
tures, such as 'Little Women.' "
Radio yesterday registered the
title "On the Make" with the Hays
office.
Fox and Radio Huddle
Over Foster and Cabot
Fox and Radio are in a huddle over
a deal for an exchange of actors. Fox
wants Bruce Cabot for the lead oppo-
site Sally Eilers in "Three on a Honey-
moon" and Radio wants Norman Fos-
ter in exchange for the lead in "Fin-
ishing School" opposite Frances Dee.
The deal for the exchange of these
two players is expected to be closed
this week.
Ohio Exhibs Elect
Cincinnati.- — The Ohio Valley Inde-
pendent Exhibitors League of Cincin-
nati elected the following officers:
Willis Vance, president; Frank Huss
Jr., vice president; Harold Bernstein,
secretary; Harold O. Krent, treasurer.
Directors are Harold Bernstein, Frank
Huss Jr., Henry Levy, Leo Stephany,
William Gerves, Willis Vance, Charles
Fine, Sam Turk, H. O. Krent. Offices
are at 1635 Central Parkway.
Union Watches Code
New York. — The National Theatri-
cal Federated Union, a labor group of
stage hands, operators, musicians, etc.,
in upper New York State, has engag-
ed Attorney Louis Grilihaus to repre-
sent them at the code hearings here.
'Cellini' Goes Back
To 'Firebrand' Title
Darryl Zanuck has changed the title
of the Fredric March-Constance Ben-
nett co-starring vehicle from "Affairs
of Cellini" back to "The Firebrand,"
which is the title of the stage play
from which it is adapted.
Twentieth Century yesterday signed
Frances Dee and Frank Morgan for
featured roles in this picture, the lat-
ter to portray the same role that he
played on the stage in the play. Bess
Meredyth is scripting the yarn and
Gregory LaCava will direct.
Ada Ince for 'U' Serial
Unable to get Judith Allen on a
loan from Paramount, Universal signed
Ada Ince for the lead in its forth-
coming serial "Vanishing Shadows."
Lewis Friedlander will direct the pic-
ture under the supervision of Henry
MacRae. Jerry Mayer's office handled
the deal.
Wheeler-Woolsey Hit
Trenton. — Wheeler and Woolsey
and Dorothy Lee opened at a theatre
here in their personal appearance tour
and broke all house records of that
theatre to date. They will open at
the Earl Theatre in Washington next
week.
Brown Seeks Locations
Clarence Brown flew up to San
Francisco yesterday to look for loca-
tions for his next picture for MGM,
"Sadie McKee," the Joan Crawford
starring vehicle.
United Costumers, Inc.
W. W. Kerrigan, Pres.
Are
Happy to Announce
That
WALTER J. ISRAEL
Who Has Served
The Motion Picture Industry
For 20 Years
HAS COMPLETE CHARGE OF OUR
COSTUME DEPARTMENT
I
The
Of The
Picture
Is In
Heart
Motion
Industry
Hollywood
The PULSE of the
Motion Picture Industry's
Heart Is Interpreted
daily by
Holly^fTOod Heporter
I
Page Six
l^iP©ilTiP.
)an. 11, 1934
*FI1^D ME
SAYS
Coming Here To
Help All He Can
(Continued from Page 1 )
me a better man" — Mr. Zukor con-
tinued:
"Cohen has done a fine, workman-
like job for Paramount, and neither
we ourselves nor any one else can
name me a man who would have done
as well. Cohen knows where he is
going every minute of the day; he is
turning out product at a reasonable
cost, delivering it on schedule, and do-
ing all that for an organization that
was bankrupt a few months ago.
"His product is on a par with the
best, and better than the majority —
if you don't believe so, ask the ex-
hibitors who are playing the pictures.
"He has done all this despite a
bankrupt condition, and in the face
of a situation at the studio with high
strung people who were ready and
willing to poke fun and sarcasm at
all our efforts to get out of the hole.
"BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF
IT — and Cohen played as big a part
as any other individual in this effort.
"Certainly Manny Cohen has his
drawbacks. Who of us hasn't? There
are probably a lot of things that he
does not know about production — but
he will eventually know those things
just as he now knows how to turn out
a product that is averagely good, at
the right price. A product that is do-
ing sufficient business for us to meet
all our obligations, pay all our running
expenses, and put a substantial profit
for the year in the Paramount ac-
count."
Mr. Zukor went on with a state-
ment which indicated that he real-
ized Cohen, for some reason or other,
has missed in handling personnel to
the point where the studio forces may
seem disorganized, but he countered
this thought with the words: "Suppos-
ing we get a man who can handle the
personnel, and he lets costs mount,
and quality slip? — wouldn't we be
better off to let Manny Cohen work
his own way out of the personnel
problem and build up the enthusiasm
On the lot that you and I would like
to see at any studio?"
About this time the quiet-spoken,
never-excited picture veteran worked
up to his climax. He said:
"I have been in this business for a
quarter of a century, and I will tell
you now that I have never had a man
come through for me and my organi-
zation as Manny Cohen has.
"When you were here six months
ago and we talked frankly as we are
talking now, you asked me questions
that I could not answer. I had to say
to you that I 'thought' this and that,
or 'thought' so-and-so.
"But now I can tell you definitely
that Paramount is out of its hole,
that Paramount will regain its spot in
this business, and that Paramount will
hold that spot."
The time for the train was not very
far away, which is why he probably
closed with this thought;
"I am going to Hollywood to do
anything and everything that I can to
help Cohen. I have not been there
A BETTER MAX'
ZIJKOR OF COHEN
Elissa Landi Steps
Into Lombard Role
Elissa Landi will play the leading
role in the )o Swerling original story
"Sonata," which was originally sched-
uled as a starring vehicle for Carole
Lombard. This will be Miss Landi's
first vehicle on her long term con-
tract with Columbia. Joseph Schild-
kraut has the male lead and David
Burton will direct.
Miss Lombard will return to the
studio later to play the lead opposite
John Barrymore in "Twentieth Cen-
tury" as the last picture on her three
picture deal with Columbia instead.
Writers Still Lifting
George Thomas said that the
next time he goes to the Writers
Club he'll wear a bathing suit.
A year ago someone stole George's
hat apd last Tuesday night some-
one walked off with his overcoat.
If things keep on going the way
they are now, George will likely
join a nudist colony.
MGM Speeding Up
Beery-Cooper Yarns
MGM has started preparation on
three Wallace Beery-Jackie Cooper co-
starring vehicles and will make an
attempt to put out some more box
office smashes similar to "The
Champ."
The studio is preparing a story titled
"O'Shaughnessy's Boy," which is
scheduled to be Charles Reisner's next
directorial job, one titled "Cabby,"
the Michael Simmons original, which
is being adapted by the author and
Lou Breslow, and an untitled story
which John Mahin is scripting to be
directed by Victor Fleming. The lat-
ter is a Hunt Stromberg production.
'Monte Cristo Countess'
Finally Set on Cast
Replacing Roger Pryor with Paul
Page for the juvenile lead and adding
Carmel Myers to the cast yesterday,
Universal puts "Countess of Monte
Cristo" into production today. Page,
who has been out of pictures since
an automobile smash-up three years
ago, was set by the Artigue agency.
Karl Freund directs from the Karen
de Wolf screen play with Fay Wray
and Paul Lukas in the leads.
Universal Rushes Prints
Of French Train Wreck
New York. — Special pictures of the
appalling French train wreck in which
almost 200 were killed during the
holidays were rushed to United States
screens by the Universal newsreel dur-
ing the past weekend as the result of
a striking instance of newsreel enter-
prise. The picture arrived aboard the
Europa late Thursday night. Allyn
Butterfield, editor of the newsreel,
rushed it to Universal exchanges as a
special rather than wait until this
week's newsreel issues. The Univer-
sal newsreel staff worked all Thursday
night for shipment Friday to all parts
of the United States.
Wald Van Beuren Exec
New York. — Jerry Wald, who has
just arrived from the coast, will be
the story editor and associate pro-
ducer of the Meyer Davis-Van Beuren
organization, which has dropped the
name of Magna Pictures.
Marjorie Ford Has Hopes MGM Buys Caffey Story
Starting the ball rolling with Irv-
ing Thalberg for a possible term deal
for the player, Jack Gardner is bring-
ing Marjorie Ford out from New York
in order to put her through the paces
for the MGM producer.
Player appeared in "Little Jesse
James" and "Shady Lady." She ar-
rives Saturday.
Waxman Exploits Film
New York. — A. P. Waxman will
handle publicity, exploitation and ad-
vertising on Messmore and Damon's
"World a Million Years Ago," which
was one of the attractions at the
World's Fair. Picture opens at the
Warner Theatre here January 18.
fslew York. — MGM announces here
he purchase of a story by Edward
Hope Caffey called "Calm Yourself,"
which is likely to be Robert Mont-
gomery's vehicle.
Alt Coulding at Col.
Columbia has signed Alf Goulding
to meg the next Lou Holtz short.
Comedy has been scripted by Tommy
Dugan. Zion Myers produces.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
since August. But I am not going
there to make trouble. I am going
there to help in any way I can to find
out how we can overcome any weak-
nesses that exist."
And just before he ran for the train
he repeated the keynote of the whole
interview:
"Cohen will do until a better man
comes along. And name me a better
man."
Junior Laemmie deserves a wagon
load of orchids on this one. It is an
honest-to-goodness SHOW. It will
be bringing money back to Universal
twelve months from now when some
present supposed hits have died the
death.
And Junior made it over the oppo-
sition of everybody.
Maybe it was some of that same
youthful psychology that has wander-
ed about the above paragraphs.
But at any rate it was SHOWMAN-
SHIP. Give him a hand.
SHADOPLAY
76 pa^s and cover
COVER Constance Cummings
(Twentieth Century)
PubliciiY Space (Approximate)
Warners 530 sq. inches
MCM 508 sq. inches
Paramount 474 sq. inches
United Artists 457 sq. inches
Fox 357 sq. indie*
Radio 1 39 sq. inche*
Columbia 80 sq. inches
Universal 40 sq. inches
Shadoplay, "spill-over" magazine
sister of Photoplay, comes out the lit-
tle end of the horn for January. Stor-
ies are trite and art is mediocre.
"Nobody Wanted Dressier," by
Vera Mason; "I Don't Want to Be
Funny" (Aline MacMahon), by the
same author; and a fictionization of
"Advice to the Lovelorn," by Virginia
Maxwell, are the only items worth
mentioning with any enthusiasm.
Other yarns are "The Miracle of
Arrowhead Springs," by Sally Reed;
"When a Hollywood Star Comes to
Broadway," by Helen Ware; "A New
Way to Crash Hollywood," by Richard
Fulton; "Mae Answers the Letter of
Her New Boy Friend," by Hester
Lane; "So This Is Wonderland," by
Grace Merton; "Wanted: A Wife"
(Lyle Talbot), by Rita Ryan; "The
Friendly Triangle" (Forbes, Brent and
Chatterton), by Dana Rush; "The
Pineapple Pirate" (Frank Melton), by
Kirke Rascom, and "Borrowed Into
Fame," by George Worth.
gy HOLLYWOOD y^.
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2.50 up. Single
$3. GO up. Double
Special weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospitality"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
HILIP lANNURA
Evening Standard — Technically and
photographically it is admirably done.
Daily Mirror — The photography is
excellent.
Daily Film Renter — The film is not-
able for excellent photography.
And still more to come !
Now
n
Batting for Caumont - British "
Latest "HOME RUN"
"CHANNEL CROSSING "
A BIG TIME PICTURE!
i
I
A WOW!
Says the Press
Funny Bone Gets Workout
'*ln the Money"
By MAE TINEE
(Chicago Tribune)
Q_ALL "In The Money" anything but
a bundle of nonsense and you'd
be stretching half a dozen points. But
characterize it as ingratiatingly amus-
ing idiocy and you'll be telling the
truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth.
"In the Money" is the story of the
Higginbotham family — a collection of
nuttier nuts than the Marx boys ever
dreamed of being.
Maybe all of this doesn't look fun-
ny written, but if the movie itself
doesn't reduce you to a state of help-
less laughter, I miss a guess.
Warren Hymer is swell as Gunboat.
All the other acting is just as it
should be and direction is perfect. Ap-
parently everybody connected with the
piece took it in the spirit in which it
was written — and the result is an
hour of simple enjoyment for the ob-
server. HOW simple you couldn't
fathom without beholding "In The
Money" for yourselves.
i
State- Lake Crowd Roars as
'1n the Money" Shows
Antics of Family
By ROB REEL
(Chicago American)
Like another shot of "Three Cornered Moon"? "In The
Money" is your prescription.
The State-Lake screen offering unfolds a plot very similar
to the Rimplegar family's ups and
downs. Another screwy menage,
motherless this time, featuring an in-
ventor father who occasionally blows
up the house by mistake, and a mot-
ley assortment of brothers, sisters, and
in-laws, shepherded by Lambie, the
big sister.
Little sister goes in for nudism and
eugenics and shows up one eventful
day with a prize fighter for a pros-
pective husband. Warren Hymer is
th^ title challenger who decides to
give up the manly art in favor of
Shakespearean histrionics. His man-
ager, played by Skeets Gallagher,
doesn't take too kindly to this propo-
sition and starts a campaign to change
his pug's mind, if any.
The situation is further compli-
cated by a sister who has artistic lean-
ings and a yen for the Left Bank, and
who is married to a third-rate actor.
Also by a young brother who takes
joy in risking his neck on a motor-
cycle.
The family finances fall suddenly
and Lambie tries to make the others
realize their plight. In an effort to
bring home a little bacon, young
brother, played rather self-conscious-
ly by Junior Coghlan, gets himself bad-
ly hurt in a motorcycle race. Five fig-
ured money then becomes a grim ne-
cessity if buddy is to have the impor-
tant operation, which will restore the
use of his legs.
The only source of some quick cash
is the championship boxing bout,
which will net prize fighter "Gun-
boat" $65,000, win or lose. All that
stands in the way is Gunboat's new-
formed prejudice against fisticuffs.
Smart manager Skeets finally takes
care of that, just in the nick of time.
Then Skeets and the good sister (Lois
Wilson) — well, you know the rest.
"In The Money" is amusing ... in
fairness it must be chronicled that the
State-Lake audience roared.
U
ff
IN THE MONEY
Produced by
MAURY M. COHEN
AN INVINCIBLE PICTURE
Directed by Frank Strayer
Story by Robert Ellis
CAST: Skeets Gallagher, Lois Wilson,
Warren Hymer, Sally Starr, Arthur
Hoyt, Junior Coghlan, Erin La Bisson-
ier, Harold Waldridge, Louise Beavers.
I
A RIOT!
Say the Critics
THE NEW FILMS
"In the Money"
w
i
By CLARK RODENBACH
(Chicago Daily News)
I N THE MONEY" is the story of the
financial straits of a screwy family —
much the same sort of folks you meet
in "Three Cornered Moon," the Mary
Boland, Claudette Colbert picture —
and the manner in which they are
solved by a yet screwier prize fighter
and his quick-witted manager.
It is, of course, comedy, with just
a dash of near-tragedy for flavor. It
concerns the household of the wealthy
but woefully absent-minded scientist,
Prof. Higginbotham; his daughter,
Lambie, the eldest, who mothers the
widely assorted sack of nuts; Babs,
whose interest in biology is centered
about a man with a capital M; Genie,
whose head is in the clouds in art;
her husband (who lives on the fam-
ily), Lionel, whose motto is "Down
With Capitalists"; and Dick, a sane
youngster in military school.
Although this one is an "indepen-
dent" picture, it packs a lot of
laughs, with every one of the family
contributing his share, and with just
enough romance between Mr. Galla-
gher and Miss Wilson.
VI FTHO -'jO: i LTA Y FJ - V A Y KR
% MR.SAVUF'.L MARX,
CULVKR CITY.CAMi'-.
;TUDI03,
Vol. XIX. No. I. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday^anuar^^^934
CO|Di CCMMITTCCS SET
Rosenblatt Announces Labor
Group and Committee To
Handle Problems Of Extras
by ROBERT WELSH
•WE have an idea that quite an in-
teresting discussion could be worked
up in an attempt to answer the ques-
tion: "Where are tomorrow's produc-
tion executives coming from?"
What's your opinion?
Will the pooh-bahs of, let us say,
five years from now, come from the
ranks of the writers, the directors, film
editors, or what? Or will some of the
i new timber be, like Manny Cohen,
transplanted from the eastern fields?
Look around the lot on which you
are working now. You are undoubt-
edly rubbing shoulders with someone
who will be tomorrow's big shot.
How good are your powers of
prophecy?
•
Taking relief in hindsight ourselves
] we have just made a brief mental sur-
I vey and come up with a strong im-
pression on the number of writers who
eventually make producer material.
Off-hand some of the names that
come to mind are Darryl Zanuck, Lu-
cien Hubbard, Benjamin Clazer, the
Jones-McNutt team, and the newest
writing recruit to producing ranks,
Howard Green.
There are many others. But just
about the time you get impressed with
the number of writers who don execu-
tive togas, you find yourself going
down a list of names that just can't
be catalogued.
So perhaps it is that office boy
whom you just sent out for a pack of
cigarettes who will be guiding tomor-
row's pictures.
•
It's an interesting game, this guess-
ing on the futures of men and an
industry. Try it.
We played it the other day with an
executive on a big lot, and after much
scratching and forehead creasing,
he came up with the names of two
men on the lot who, in his opinion,
were potential big time material.
And it's one of the biggest lots.
After which we came to the doleful
conclusion that if we took in all the
lots we'd have a hard time finding a
half dozen men destined to wear the
big shoes tomorrow.
But the funny part about it is that
some insignificant film cutter whom
we were passing by without a thought
is probably the Irving Thalberg of
1940.
Coldwyn Sour on Code
New York. — In a statement to-
day Samuel Coldwyn asserted that
if code conditions are lived up to it
will cost the big studios as much
as $1,000,000 a year more to op-
erate. Coldwyn added that he has
not as yet signed the code.
lATSE Tries Again
With Court Action
L. C. C. Blix, business representa-
tive of Local 37, lATSE, has receiv-
ed permission from the members to
file another suit against Local 40 to
enjoin members of the latter union
from working in studios over which
the lATSE claimed jurisdiction. In
the first suit the court ruled in favor
of the IBEW.
Attorneys for the lATSE are work-
ing on the new case and expect to file
papers within ten days.
Lubitsch Spikes Rumors
About Eastern Production
New York rumors that Ernst
Lubitsch was slated to go east for
Paramount and supervise the making
of twelve pictures for next year's pro-
gram at the Long Island studio were
discounted yesterday by the director.
Lubitsch says he knows nothing of the
plan. There is a possibility that it is
one of the things in Adolph Zukor's
mind on his coming visit to the studio.
Emanuel Due Feb. 15
Jay Emanuel, publisher of the im-
portant "Exhibitor" group of papers
in the east, is now due to arrive here
for a studio survey on February 1 5.
Washington. — The code machinery is reaching the function-
ing stage with the naming by Administrator Rosenblatt today of
two of the most important committees in the set-up under which
the industry will function for
named today are the Studio Labor
Committee and the "Standing Com-
mittee for Extras."
Members of the Labor Committee
follow: Pat Casey, Al Berres, producer
union contact; Ed. Smith, Musicians;
(Continued on Page 2)
Ford Bids High
For Radio Talent
New York. — Henry Ford has open-
ed the gold bags and is out after the
biggest screen and stage names for a
national broadcast to start February 4.
Will Rogers has been signed as the
first guest star. Ford is also dealing
with Maurice Chevalier, who is asking
$8000 per appearance, with the deal
apparently a stalemate.
Charlie Mack Auto Victim
Mesa, Arizona. — Charlie Mack, of
the famous "Two Black Crows" team,
was killed here last night in an auto
accident. Mrs. Mack is in the hospi-
tal, seriously injured. Mr. and Mrs.
Moran, accompanying Mack to the
coast for the making of Educational
shorts, escaped with minor injuries.
Mack was 46 years old. He was the
owner of the "Black Crows" title.
CODE MACHINERY PROVES
OKAY IN CHICAGO STRIKE
Reliance May Do Pic
Washington. — First operation of
the NRA machinery in preventing
strikes has proven successful in Chi-
cago, where theatres and projection
machine operators have managed to
settle their differences amicably and
called off a prospective war.
The arbitration was made with the
assistance of the NRA and as pro-
vided in the code.
Rather proud of the result, the NRA
headquarters yesterday issued this
statement:
"The motion picture code calls for
arbitration of labor disputes and pro-
(Continued on Page 7)
At Biograph Studio
New York. — Eddie Small's Reliance
Company js considering a deal to make
one picture at the Biograph plant in
New York, which is being operated
by Consolidated-RCA interests as a
challenge to Erpi supremacy in the
East.
Ben Stoloff, who just clicked with
"Palooka," has been offered the di-
rectorial helm.
some time to come. The two
MCM Interested in
Roxy Theatre Plans
New York. — MCM's hand is under-
stood to be involved in new financing
plans being considered for the Seventh
Avenue Roxy. N. L. Nathanson. A. C.
Blumenthal and Halsey Stuart Com-
pany, have put forth a plan by which
they w.ll take over the theatre pro-
vided present bondholders agree to
take a new issue of stock as a swap
for their bonds.
MCM figures in the deal on an an-
gle that will give them a choice of
dates at the house to tie in with their
Capitol show and avoid delays in
breaking pictures in the territory.
Ray Long in East for Fox
^^lew York. — Ending a wild variety
of rumors about. the Fox eastern story
post it may be stated that Winnie
Sheehan will name Ray Long to the
post before the end of this week.
Long is at present doing special work
at the studio.
Acad. Meets Tuesday
The board of directors and the ex-
ecutive committee of the Academy
will hold a meeting Tuesday night.
Hope to decide a course for the or-
ganization to follow in the future.
Dubinsky to Court on Code
Kansas City. — The Dubinsky Cir-
cuit here is planning to go to court to
find out if there are any teeth in the
NRA code provisions regarding theatre
labor.
Laemmie Jr. Sails Feb. 3
Junior Laemmie, accompanied by
Harry Zehner, leaves for New York
the end of the month. They will sail
on the lie de France February 3.
McDonough Leaves Sat.
New York. — j. R. McDonough, the
grand poo-ba of Radio, will finally get
off for his studio visit this Saturday.
I RUSSELL CLEASQN [^^n^lv^^l^lZ^AuS ^^'"Txl ■^^T,^'^' ^^^
Page Two
Jan. 12. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse ; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clal.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundavs and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
So George Cukor gave a very select
Chinese supper. David Selznick, f'r-
instance, selected the most fragile
chair in the room to lean upon, with
terrible results. He selected a very
fancy lampshade to toy with, too, and
after most of the crystal ornaments
had fallen off, and after a couple of
settees had given 'way, and the radio
just got tired and stopped — Cukor
gave in and announced publicly that
the house would soon be completely
redecorated. The eminent director
lost several pounds (not that he
couldn't spare them!) trying to keep
his guests comfortable, and finally
compromised by lighting a roaring fire
in the grate and opening all the doors
and windows. He was very upset.
Among those who "ate his good food
and drunk his good likker" and who
tried to win an argument with Myron
Selznick, were Carole Lombard, Billy
Haines, Lewis Milestone, Herbert Mar-
shall, the Mesdames Selznick and a
gorgeous brunette.
•
A big chunk of Hollywood turned
out for Gene Austin's debut at the
Clover Club Wednesday night — and
the boys he has with him are not bad
— not bad at all. Especially the bass-
fiddle feller. Glimpsed in various sec-
tions of the late spot were Lou Holtz
with Helen Vinson, Lou still being in
pursuit of charm; Colleen Moore, Ad
Schulberg, the Felix Youngs, Ann
Sothern (nee Harriet Lake), Roger
Pryor, the Fred Peltons, Mary Car-
lisle, Edgar Allan Woolf, Sam Cos-
low, Esther Muir, Count Carpegna,
Hugo Riesenfeld, Eddie Silton, Claudia
Dell and more.
•
You'd be surprised to know what
heavily married director asked for the
telephone number of a visiting N. Y.
beooty a few weeks ago. Which was
all right — because the girl figured he
meant to give her a part in the pic-
ture he was just starting. But the
director made the mistake of waiting
until the picture was finished before
calling the number — and met with the
icy retort. Y'see — the girl wasn't in-
terested in his society at all — besides
which she didn't dream this particu-
lar husband would be using the dials
■ for a date!
PARA'S 'STRAIVGE HOLIDAY'
CREDIT TO ALL COIVCERNED
March and Unusual
Direction the Tops
"STRANGE HOLIDAY'
Directed by Mitchell Leisen
Story by Alberto Casella
Adaptation by.. ..Maxwell Anderson
and Gladys Lehman
Photography by Charles Lang
Music directed by Nat Finston
Cast: Fredric March, Evelyn Venable,
Sir Guy Standing, Helen Westley,
Henry Travers, C. P. Huntley,
Cecil Patrick, Kent Taylor, Kath-
leen Howard, Katherine Alexan-
der and Otto Hoffman.
Fredric March has another individ-
ual success to his credit, as important
artistically and dramatically as "The
Royal Family" and "Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde.
"Strange Holiday," which used to
be "Death Takes a Holiday," is one of
the most relentless pieces of fantasy
ever to reach the screen, and in spite
of an intelligent, well-balanced, con-
sistent cast, March easily dominates.
Of course, the part itself is dominat-
ing, but, in lesser hands, the Dark
Figure would have been a terribly in-
effectual peg upon which to hang the
tenuous drama. March, with long,
sinister strides, walks away with the
picture.
It is the story of Death, who is giv-
en three days in which to live as a
mortal and discover why human beings
fear him so. Of course he falls in love,
and he finds that life is not nearly so
simple and peaceful as death, and that
the losing of love is the darkest of
tragedies. And after the three days
are up, he leaves his human form, tak-
ing with him the girl who taught him
what life is, still wondering what there
is about death that is so fearful.
This film is what dreams — and
nightmares — are made of, but so per-
suasively is it presented, so romantic-
ally is it set, that any audience, no
matter how slap-stick minded, will
find in it an evening's full, but
strange, entertainment.
Sir Guy Standing stands out beau-
tifully as the Duke who is the un-
willing host of Death; Evelyn Venable
is misty and charming as the young
girl and everybody else in the cast
forms an effective background.
The direction by Mitchell Leisen is
careful, exact, and luminous. Max-
well Anderson and Gladys Lehman
handled Alberto Casella's play with a
poetic and sympathetic understanding,
and the photography of Charles Lang
is beautiful. Nathaniel Finston's mu-
sical accompaniment is superb.
This is a picture for the discrimi-
nating audience, but nobody will fail
to be impressed, in one way or an-
other, by it. The March fans, who
sang his praises after those two earlier
pictures and who wish to see him
again in full dramatic regalia, will rave
about "Strange Holiday." But the
picture is like an olive — or an avo-
cado— not everybody likes them, be-
cause they have such a distinctive and
different flavor.
Gratitude
After reading an article in Lib-
erty by Adela Rogers St. Johns, in
which she praised him highly,
George Cukor sent the following
wire to the writer: "Just finished
reading your article in Liberty Will
You Marry Me.'"
$4000 a Crack for Marx
Duo on Radio Show
New York. — Harpo Marx, back
from Russian triumphs, will rest while
brothers Croucho and Chico take to
the air for the paltry stipend of $4000
per broadcast.
The new Marx Brothers show, now
being written by Irving Berlin and
Moss Hart, will go into production
early in the Fall season.
Fox Signs Starrett
Charles Starrett was signed yester-
day by Fox for the lead opposite Sally
Filers in "Three on a Honeymoon,"
which will be directed by James Tin-
ling. Starrett just completed a fea-
tured role in "Transient Love" for
Radio. The deal was made through
the Collier-Wallis office.
Flu Hits Bachmann
New York. — Jack Bachmann, here
to settle next year's program and pos-
sibly tie in with Majestic, has been
laid low with an attack of the flu.
Para. Gets Sothern
For One-Pic Deal
Paramount has signed Ann Sothern
on a one picture deal to play the fem-
inine lead in "Melody in Spring"
which Norman McLeod will direct un-
der the supervision of Douglas Mac-
Lean. Miss Sothern is on her six week
lay-off period at Columbia, having
just finished the lead in "Let's Fall In
Love."
First Division Entertains
New York. — First Division Pictures,
the Harry Thomas organization, will
hold a house warming Saturday at their
new quarters in the RKO building.
Code Committee
(Continued from Page 1 )
Do YoD Realize
that you must provide today for the comforts
of tomorrow. To do this you should adopt a
policy of placing a definite amount of your
income in sound investments.
High grade Municipal bonds for years have
been the choice of conservative investors who
require safety of principal, together with a de-
pendable income. They have stood the test of
the past three years, and those fortunate
enough to have placed their funds in such se-
curities find themselves today with their in-
vestments unimpaired.
Are you following the same policy?
RH.MOULTON&COMPANY
LOS ANGELES
510 SOUTH SPiyNO STREET
TRiNiTv 5035
SAN FRANCISCO
Dick L'Estrange, of the Assistant Di-
rectors and Scripters union.
The committee to handle the prob-
lems of motion picture extras is head-
ed by Dr. A. H. Giannini, of the Bank
of America, and includes Mabel Kin-
ney, Mrs. Una N. Hopkins, Fred Pelt-
man, Dave Werner, M. H. Hoffman,
B. B. Kahane, Pat Casey, Charles Mil-
ler, Larry Steers, Lee Phelps, Allen
Garcia and Fred D. Burns.
Miss Kinney, M. H. Hoffman, B. B.
Kahane, Charles Miller and Larry j
Steers will be the executive commit-
tee of this body.
Jan. 12, 1934
TH
llifP©[^Til
Page Three
RICH WIDOW POOR FARE;
'R'WAY RAI]\[ROW' LIKED
Script, Direction
Come in for Bows
Pic Can't Overcome
Robson Miscasting
"RICH WIDOW
( Metro-Coldwy n-Mayer )
Directed by Charles F. Reisner
Story by Dudley Nichols
and LaMar Trotti
Screen Play by Zelda Sears
and Eve Greene
Photography by Len Smith
Produced by Lucien Hubbard
Cast: May Robson, Jean Parker, Lewis
Stone, Mary Forbes, Reginald
Mason, William Bakewell, Tad
Alexander, Walter Walker, Regi-
nald Barlow, Claude Giilingwater.
Surely the height of something or
other is reached by Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer when May Robson is made to
play the mother of a 1 2-year-old boy.
There is not an actor in Hollywood
who does not honor her for her vigor-
ous years, a producer who does not
appreciate her box office value, or a
fan who will not be appalled at this
piece of casting.
Miss Robson has an especial appeal,
but it is not that of young mother-
hood. All the way through the some-
what long "Rich Widow" (temporary
title for "Old Hannibal") the audi-
ence waits for the big scene when she
j will be disclosed as the child's grand-
I mother or old nurse, and that is the
reason the audience filed out without
I applause.
I The tale deals with a woman em-
'I bittered at being left waiting at the
ij church by a young banker. What did
i she expect? They're always up to
ii tricks. To show what she thought of
ij bankers she married a spendthrift.
Then, to show what she thought of
spendthrifts, she became a miser.
Her child goes to a charity ward.
She lives in a miserable room. And
I she speaks crossly to all of her child-
hood friends.
Throughout her life she cherishes
venomous hatred of the banker. Panic
in Wall Street gives her a chance to
show it. Craftily she lends him money
on a demand note and calls it in a
few hours later. This bit of high
finance enrages her son to such an
extent that he flings off with the
banker's daughter to become a report-
er. He wasn't interested in making
money, anyway, so that is one con-
vincing note.
May Robson's expected hearty em-
phasis draws laughs in many heavily
played scenes. The rest of the cast
has nothing much to do. Lewis Stone
plays the banker, William Bakewell
her son as a man, Tad Alexander as
a boy. Other roles are taken by Regi-
nald Mason, Walter Walker, Reginald
Barlow, Claude Giilingwater and Mary
Forbes.
Two talky sequences dragged in to
explain events which transpired in the
r past might just as well have been
spoken in asides, so creaky are they in
screen play construction.
Here is a swell story of a colorful,
credible character muffed mainly by
miscasting, but possibly still salable
with emphasis on Miss Robson's re-
cent successes and the story itself.
Will Revise Code
New York. — The general feel-
ing among picture execs and lead-
ing exhibitors here is that the mo-
tion picture codes will be reopened
for drastic changes when the big
code gathering on all industries is
held in Washington next month.
Rip Van Winkle' Up on
Eddie Small's Schedule
Edward Small is making plans to
make a modernized film version of
"Rip Van Winkle" for Reliance Pic-
tures. The producer has engaged Her-
bert Fields to write an original story
based on this idea, which will be pro-
duced as a musical.
Arlen Marine Yarn Goes
Info Work Next Week
Paramount will put "Come On
Marines" into production next week
with Richard Arlen in the top spot.
Erie Kenton will direct.
This production has been on and
off the Paramount production sched-
ule for the past year and a half.
Radio Interested In
Dreiser's 'Sister Carrie'
Radio is negotiating for the screen
rights to the Theodore Dreiser novel,
"Sister Carrie." Vivian Gaye of the
Polimer-Joy agency, while in New
York, made a deal with Dreiser to
handle the sale of the screen rights of
his works.
Andrews on Col. Deal
Columbia yesterday signed Del An-
drews to a one-picture deal. Direc-
tor will be given an assignment in
the near future. Andrews was signed
to meg "Murder at Rexford Arms"
about a month ago for the same plant,
but didn't go through with the deal.
*Sonata' Under Way Tues.
With Elissa Landi and Joseph
Schildkraut set in the top spots, Co-
lumbia will definitely put "Sonata"
into work next Tuesday to make a
March 12 release date. Picture will
be directed by David Burton from the
Jo Swerling script.
Lachman Starts on 'Follies'
Thornton Freeland wound up the
dramatic and dialogue sequences of
George White's "Scandals" at Fox
yesterday, leaving Harry Lachman
handling the balance of the picture.
Lachman directs the dance numbers.
Laemmie Host at Stag
Celebrating his sixty-seventh birth-
day, Carl Laemmie will be host at an
informal stag party at his home Janu-
ary 17. Laemmie was born in Laup-
heim, Germany, in 1867.
Tidden-Kingston Split
Fritz Tidden resigned from the Al
Kingston agency yesterday, planning
other connections. The story depart-
ment which he operated will be han-
dled by Kingston.
"RAINBOW OVER BROADWAY"
(Chesterfield)
Produced by Maury M. Cohen
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Story by Carol Webster
Screen Play by Winifred Dunn
Music by Albert von Tilzer
Photography by M. A. Anderson
Cast: Joan Marsh, Frankie Albertson,
Lucien Littlefield, Grace Hays,
Mae Beatty, Del Henderson, Glen
Boles, Gladys Blake, George
Grandes, Nat Carr.
This one's got it. As entertain-
ment it's a stack of blue chips on the
double "0" just as the little round
ball drops into that slot.
Classify it according to picture
terms and you'll label it "a down-to-
earth production for the whole fam-
ily." It's built on a dramatic story of
a family's viscissitudes, such as was
started by "Three Cornered Moon,"
garnished with a pack of laughs, and
sprinkled with music of the catchy
sort.
Heading the family is Lucien Little-
field, a hopelessly helpless man mar-
ried to a former theatrical queen,
Mae Beatty, whose exorbitant de-
mands for hare-brained luxuries come
at a time when the family is finan-
cially distraught. Mae is the step-
mother of Joan Marsh, George Gran-
des and Glen Boles, all of whom dis-
like her because she only aggravates
their misfortunes.
Joan and George write songs, hoping
to save the family by selling them.
Frankie Albertson, in love with Joan,
conceives the idea of bringing the for-
mer Broadway queen back and suc-
ceeds in doing so after a series of
tribulations.
Analyze it and you'll be surprised
that the story is so plainly simple and
artless. Its component elements,
which contribute each and every value
to the story, consist of individual
characterizations — much the same, if
accurately recalled, as "Three Corner-
ed Moon." Each character seems
slightly daffy. Put together on the
screen their actions bring laugh after
laugh. Particularly deft is the brief
set-to between Mae Beatty and Grace
Hays, playing two old battle-axes,
once in the chorus together, jealously
meeting twenty years later to rip each
other to pieces first in dialogue and
then in actual fighting.
Joan Marsh, Frankie Albertson, Lit-
tlefield and Nat Carr come in for a
round of applause each.
Winifred Dunn did a major studio
screen play of the Carol Webster story
and Richard Thorpe put it on film
with creditable efficiency.
In Albert von Tilzer's music there
is at least one song hit, "Let's Go
Places."
As a matter of fact, the picture is
badly titled and should have been la-
beled with the name of the song num-
ber. And, Mr. Exhibitor, that's a tip
to you; this picture, although an in-
dependent restricted by that field, is
going places.
Splendid addition to the saddest
complaint of the week department.
During the first intermission of a show
that has already closed, a very elegant
looking high-hatted gent was wearily
saying to a gal, "Isn't it the most
awful feeling in the world when you
want to go to sleep in a theatre and
you can't?"
•
It would seem that film fame
doesn't exactly extend to all the far
corners of the earth. In fact, it evi-
dently doesn't even get into a couple
of good corners in New York. F'r-
instance, the other day a film com-
pany was very anxious to get in touch
with Maurice Chevalier and by mis-
take called the Waldorf-Astoria.
However, the error has nothing to do
with the story. What happened v/as
this, when they asked to speak to
Chevalier, they promptly asked for his
initials or first name, and after they
got that they wanted to know how
you spell it. And that last request
had the moving picture company
stumped, too.
•
One of the really sad things we've
heard about recently has to do with
the plight of Merritt Crawford, who
was at one time a prominent trade
paper editor and always highly thought
of as a worker. Mr. Crawford made
a big mistake in getting married. That
was remedied by divorce. But the
cure was evidently worse than the ill-
ness because his ex-wife has had him
thrown into Alimony Jail for non-
payment of his alimony. And the sit-
uation now is that if Crawford can be
assured of a job they'll release him
so's he can earn the money to pay the
alimony. But no job and no freedom.
And meanwhile a good man is lan-
guishing in jail and incidentally his
ex-wife's two children, whom he
adopted at the time of his marriage,
are both on his side.
Nat Dorfman, who's been getting
a lot of good publicity for shows that
had a habit of folding quickly this
season, hasn't been wasting much time
regretting his lost work. He's writ-
ten two plays that several producers
are interested in, "The Gag Man" and
"Errant Lady." And provided that
Mary Boland can be signed for it,
"Errant Lady" will definitely see pro-
duction in the spring.
Dent-Ward Team Busy
With "Just an Echo" playing at the
Paramount this week the writing team
of Dean Ward and Vernon Dent is
rounding out a busy season that has
seen their names on six Harry Lang-
don stories, two for Crosby, two for
Leon Errol. Four more are scheduled
for Langdon.
Aussie Visitor Returning
E. J. Tait, managing director of the
J. C. Williamson theatre circuit, in
New Zealand, who has been visiting
Leon Gordon, MGM writer, started the
return journey to Australia yesterday.
Standing's Option Lifted
Paramount has exercised the option
on Sir Guy Standing's contract for an-
other period.
iii''^rf
Ian. 12, 1934
Brock Assigned To
Another Musical
Following the success of "Melody
Cruise" and "Flying Down to Rio,"
Merian C. Cooper has commissioned
Lou Brock to produce another all star
musical production.
Brock has signed Herbert Fields to
write an original story titled "Down
to Their Last Yacht." The Schulberg-
Feldman and Gurney office set the
writer.
Ruth Waterbury Due Mon.
Ruth Waterbury, editor of Movie
Mirror, arrives in town Monday for a
three months' stay, during which she
will edit the magazine from here.
Ernest Heyn, formerly editor of Mod-
em Screen, will handle the New York
end of the publication during Miss
Waterbury's absence.
Loew Subsid. Shows Loss
New York. — Loew's Theatre and
Realty Corporation ( 100 percent own-
ed by Loew's Inc.) for year ended
August 31 showed net loss after de-
preciation, interest and other charges
of $382,367, against net income of
$480,950 in previous year.
Berlin to Bermuda
New York. — Irving Berlin sailed
Tuesday for a five weeks' stay in Nas-
sau, during which he will write sev-
eral songs for a new revue to be pre-
sented next season.
Orsatti Back Sunday
Frank Orsatti gets back to town
Sunday after a month in New York.
Agent was there on business.
0>.
HOLLYWOOD
PLAZA
^
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly ratts
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospilaiily"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
"SON OF KONC"
Radio prod.; director, Ernest B. Schoedsack; writer, Ruth Rose.
Roxy Theatre
Journal: It's all pretty absurd, but absurdity of this sort makes for amusing
entertainment, since it isn't planned to be taken seriously. "Son of
Kong" makes no attempt to be a hair-raiser. Juvenile audiences ought
to hail it with delight, and adults will find it good-natured comedy hokum
that is neatly put together and nicely played by Robert Armstrong, Helen
Mack and Frank Reicher.
News: Like the majority of successors "Son of Kong" lacks the novelty of the
original, which naturally lowers the interest. But for patrons who enjoy
a little hokum in a movie and are delighted to find a picture that they
don't have to take seriously, this current edition ought to satisfy. The
kids will get a big kick out of it.
Mirror: You never suspected, did you, that King Kong left a dear little orphan
on that far mysterious isle? Well, he did. Little Kong is the hero of
the story and a captivating little monster he is! King Kong addicts will
be diverted by the exploits of Crown Prince Kong.
Times: This sequel to last season's hair-raiser is a low melodrama with a num-
ber of laughs that are loud and satisfying, although the comical intent of
the producers is open to argument. "Son of Kong" is not the master-
piece of mechanical ingenuity that "King Kong" was. Crowds reminis-
cent of the halcyon days besieged the Roxy for a look at "Son of Kong"
yesterday. Compounded chiefly of youngsters, they enjoyed themselves,
if their pleasure was proportionate to the noise they made.
Sun: This sequel doesn't begin to come up to the level of the first Kong pic-
ture, not in rapidity of action, drama, suspense or daring technical achieve-
ment.
Herald-Tribune: If you liked "King Kong," doubtless you will like his son. The
picture is full of thrills, the comic, but very little sense.
World-Telegram: It is a pretty silly and bad movie, really, but if you accept it
for what it is — either a conscious or an unconscious burlesque of its
predecessor — it will afford you some gleeful moments.
"MANS CASTLE"
Columbia prod.; director, Frank Borzage; writers. Lawrence Hazard,
Jo Swerling.
Rialto Theatre
Sun: As a film director Frank Borzage has shown exceptional talent in the
handling of love stories. Under his expert direction "Man's Castle"
emerges as a tender and appealing love story in this now fading year of
depression. A simple story, simply told, it might easily have become
unbearably sentimental had it been intrusted to less capable hands. An-
other asset is the dialogue, which flows easily and naturally. The chances
are you will like "Man's Castle."
Journal: A delicate, sincere and utterly charming love story. It was directed by
Frank Borzage, who stands alone when it comes to translating tender-
ness to the screen. And it co-stars Spencer Tracy and Loretta Young,
whose work here is outstanding.
Times: Even though Frank Borzage in his direction of "Man's Castle" gives an
occasional fleeting reminder of his successful silent film "Seventh Heaven,"
the story is by no means as plausible or as poetic as that memorable old
work. Toward the end this current offering is unnecessarily melodra-
matic and the incidents are frequently lacking in the desired spontaneity.
Herald-Tribune: Frank Borzage has had scant chance to demonstrate his talents
in "Man's Castle." His staging is assured and sensitively executed, but
he has made little effort to give the work any more significance than is
contained in the preposterous plot. At best, "Man's Castle" is a monot-
onous little romance about a prince charming and a fairy queen, disguised
this time as a couple of tramps.
Post: Frank Borzage has done what he could to evoke a wealth of tender senti-
ment from this idyll of the dump heaps, and thanks to the first aid he
receives from Spencer Tracy he almost succeeds in making the story con-
vincing.
News: The deft touches of Frank Borzage and the true portrayal of Spencer
Tracy are stronger than the vehicle. Frank Borzage stands alone as a
director who can make you laugh, cry, sympathize and understand. The
picture carries a capable cast.
American: A splendid cast and a talented director supply laughter and tears in
proper proportions in "Man's Castle." Its principal assets are the charm
and appeal of the players, each of whom enacts his role with a sincerity
that cannot help but reach the heart. Borzage has endowed his picture
with exciting quality.
Mirror: No actor could have played Bill as flawlessly as he is played by Spencer
Tracy. Infinitely touching, "Man's Castle" is saved from sweetness by
spicy, frank and realistic comedy. It is a beautifully proportioned pic-
ture, balancing pathos with humor, and sentiment with drama. Borzage
has made another fine film.
Colleen Moore Up
For Lead At Col.
Looks as though Colleen Moore will
get the important top spot in "Most
Precious Thing in Life" at Columbia.
Player goes through a test today,
question of her handling an assign-
ment during which she goes from
youth to old age in a graceful man-
ner deciding it. Miss Moore accom-
plished the trick creditably in "Power
and Glory" for Fox. Lambert Hillyer
shoots the picture into work the mo-
ment the deal is okayed.
Junior Laemmie Goes In
For Sport on Big Scale
Carl Laemmie Jr. yesterday issued
orders to go after basketball in a big
way and has instructed Jack Pierce,
studio make-up man, to organize a
Universal Pictures basketball team that
will meet all comers on the Pacific
Coast and throughout the nation if
necessary. The new quintet will be
entirely separate from the Universal
City Club five and will contain the
best amateurs obtainable. The Uni-
versal City Club's team now plays lo-
cal organizations every Monday and
Thursday. Pierce hopes to have his
team in shape for a game February 1
Getting Next Dieterle
Yarn Ready for Camera
"Five Fragments," George Dwyer's
novel which was purchased by War-
ners, is being adapted for the screen
by Gene Solow and Robert Lee.
Wilhelm Dieterle will direct the
picture which starts in about three
weeks. No members of the cast have
been set to date.
Fifth McCoy Starts
Columbia starts the fifth of the
eight Tim McCoy action features,
"Storm at Midnight," Monday, with
C. C. Coleman megging. Harold Shu-
mate has scripted and Irving Briskin
produces. No additional cast set as
yet.
Enlarge Rosenblatt Scope
Washington. — Administrator Ro-
senblatt has now been handed the
transportation codes to handle.
A Singing!
Sensation*
At the
CLOVER
CLUB /
41
i
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Page Six
Jan. 12, 1934
Campbell NewPres.
For the Chase Bank
New York. — Of interest to picture
people is a shift in the Chase Bank
reins by which W. W. Aldrich steps
from the presidency to the chairman-
ship of the board, with H. Donald
Campbell succeeding him.
The shift still leaves the Rockefel-
lers in control, and is largely made be-
cause Aldrich feels he has sperit
enough time untangling the bank's
post-depression worries.
Robson and Parker in
MCM Louisiana Yarn
May Robson and )ean Parker have
been assigned the top spots in "In Old
Louisiana" and George Seitz will di-
rect.
"In Old Louisiana" is an original
story written by Lucien Hubbard and
the studio will salvage as much of the
film as they possibly can from the pic-
ture, "Louisiana Lou." Hubbard is the
associate producer on this producation.
Fanchon Royer's Latest
Is 'Hollywood Hoodlum'
Fanchon Royer's latest production,
featuring June Clyde and Frank Al-
bertson, has been titled "Hollywood
Hoodlum." Other members of the
cast of this studio press agent story
include Jose Crespo, Tenen Holtz and
John Davidson.
Bouquet for Kabal-Fain
The American Society of Authors
and Composers has given a rating
boost to Irving Kabel and Sammy Fain
for their song number "By a Water-
fall," employed in Warners' "Foot-
light Parade."
'Mutiny' Is Putter Title
"Mutiny" is the new title of Walter
Putter's square rigger ship picture, the
tale of which takes place aboard the
Parma.
lATSE SOVIVD MEN PREPARE
EOR PRODUCER SHOWDOWN
OPEN FORUM
Campbell McCullough, secretary of
the Los Angeles Regional Labor Board,
in commenting on the sound men's
election, said that the balloting had
given jurisdiction over the men to the
lATSE.
According to McCullough a ruling
of the National Labor Board in Wash-
ington held that in such elections the
majority vote ruled and therefore the
lATSE had won the battle in spite of
BDWy. AT9TH • PHONE MA 2511
Para. 'Meg' Team
Pulling Two Ways
Dissension is riding the Paramount
unit shooting "Man Who Broke His
Heart," with George Somnes and Wil-
liam Cameron Menzies, placed togeth-
er for the first time, unable to match
their ideas on how to take individual
scenes.
During the first two days of shoot-
ing, it is reported, five out of seven
scenes had to be remade because of
differences in tempo of the shots over
which each director had his say. Al
Lewis put the pilots on the carpet
yesterday and the production contin-
ues with the same directors under the
associate producer's strict supervision.
'Beast of Borneo' to Open
In San Prancisco Strand
Far East Productions' jungle picture,
"Beast of Borneo," is set for an in-
definite run at the Strand, San Fran-
cisco, January 20. The film was made
in part in Borneo and features Borneo
Joe, 2-year-old orang-utan. The cast
includes Mae Stuart, John Preston,
Eugene Sigaloff, Doris Brook and na-
tive Borneans.
Warner Britisher Leaving
H. Brock Williams, head of writ-
ers at Warners' English studios, leaves
for New York Saturday and sails Jan-
uary 19.
He is taking with him several stor-
ies which have been whipped into
shape on this side for production
abroad.
the fact that some members of the
IBEW had failed to vote.
"However," continued Mr. McCul-
lough, "the IBEW has a contract with
the producers to do all the represent-
ing there is and in my opinion the
election will not nullify this contract."
Harold Smith of the lATSE said he
was not disturbed by this last state-
ment of McCullough's and is now pre-
paring for a show-down with the pro-
ducers, tentatively scheduled for next
week.
Early 'Gallant Lady'
Runs Top 'The Bowery'
New York. — Early reports on "Gal-
lant Lady" engagements indicate that
this picture is likely to pass "Bowery"
figures for Twentieth Century.
In Buffalo the first three days busi-
ness totaled $7500 against $6500 for
, "The Bowery." In New Orleans the
total for the first three days shows
$6300 against $5500 for "The Bow-
ery."
By-law Suggestions Asked
From Union Cameramen
Ed Estabrook, general manager of
the cameramen's union, has sent cop-
ies of his organization's by-laws to
each member with the request that
any who are dissatisfied with the pres-
ent set-up send him suggestions for
improvement.
Riggs on 'Family, Man'
Radio yesterday signed Lynn Riggs
to write the script of "Family Man,"
the Salisbury Field story, which is now
planned as the next for Richard Dix.
Myles Connolly produces. Picture is
scheduled to start the middle of next
month.
Cargan in Cob Role
Radio yesterday purchased a story
titled "Blarney Smith," a gob yarn by
Hubert Osborne which Lou Brock will
produce.
William Gargan is slated to have
the top spot in this picture.
Vitaphone Lays Off
New York. — The Brooklyn Vita-
phone studio, turning out Warner
Brothers shorts, is so far ahead on pro-
duction that they will shut down next
week to reopen about March 1 .
First time at popular prices!
dmnec
tH.-t
Marie DRESSIER
John BARRYMORE
* Wallace BEERY *
* Jean HARLOW *
Lionel BARRYMORE
»Lee TRACY*
Edmund LOWE
" Billie BURKE *
KibU tr GEORGE CUKOK
Dovid O Selinick Production
M C Mt TriumphI
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srs *
London.
Editor, Hollywood Reporter:
May I take this opportunity of
bringing to your notice a leading ar-
ticle in the Hollywood Reporter dated
12th April, referring to the native
picture "Samarang."
You state that the lead Ahmang is
doing the stuff as only a Malay native
built like this one knows how to, etc.
This native Ahmang was in England
last week and I accompanied him to
a London picture house and saw the
picture. During the past few weeks
I have seen many press representa-
tives on behalf of Ahmang and point-
ed out that Ahmang is not a Malay
native, furthermore it will interest you
to know he is really a British officer,
Captain A. V. Cockle, M.C.
I feel sure you will appreciate the
fact that Cockle would stand little
chance of any further film work if
he gets no publicity — not even his
name and that a native one.
Perhaps you would like to men-
tion in one of your next publications
that Ahmang is a white and furthe
more not a Malay native, the powers
that be in Hollywood would then be
able to find this gentleman should they
so desire at any future occasion.
Yours faithfully,
CAPT. E. H. JEFFRIES, M.C.
Hecksher Asks Ten Million
From Rockefeller Interests
New York. — The planned removal
of Universal to three floors in the
Rockefeller Center Building next
month is the last straw for the Heck-
sher Foundation Interests, present
Universal landlords at 730 Fifth Ave-
nue.
Hecksher has instituted suit in the
New York Supreme Court against the
Rockefeller interests for $10,000,000
alleging unfair methods in luring ten-
ants away from Hechsher and other
buildings to the Radio City site.
WB Theatre Chief Visits
Joseph Bernhardt, general manager
of the Warner Theatres, is accom-
panying Harry Warner on the boat trip
to Hollywood through the Panama
Canal. It will be Bernhardt's first trip
to this sector as the Warner theatre
head although he has held down the
post for two years.
Barsha Quits Columbia
After four years with the company I
as head of the insert department, Leon "
Barsha is out of Columbia, pulling up
stakes when the company could not
come to terms with him on a new \
deal. Hugh McCullom absorbs the de-
partment's duties in addition to his
production berth.
Ed Martin to Radio
Edwin Martin, recently with Col.
Hubbard Robinson of the Warner the-
atre exploitation and advertising, is
due to join Eddy Eckles' publicity de-
partment at Radio Monday. The tiny
columnist will continue writing his
pillar in the Citizen-News.
ADDED WAIT OISNIT'S
'MICKEVS GALA PKEMIEKE'
TRAVEL TALK "BRITISH GUIANA"
LOEWS STAYE Wmk
Kobler Back in Town
A. J. Kobler, publisher of the New
York Mirror, has returned to Los An-
geles after a visit to the Hearst ranch
at San Simeon.
Jan. 12, 1934
Page Seven
MOTION PICTURE
98 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Lilian Harvey
(Fox)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Paramount 937 sq. inches
MCM 771 sq. inches
Radio 417 sq. inches
United Artists 325 sq. inches
Universal 205 sq. inches
Warners 195 sq. inches
Fox 164sq. inches
Columbia 1 10 sq. inches
Dorothy Donnell Calhoun holds the
writing record so far, with four stories
in one magazine — Motion Picture for
February.
Her stories, all timely, interesting
and readable, are "How Can Doug Stay
Away from Hollywood?" "Did Lee
Tracy 'Insult' Mexico — Or Did That
Report Insult Him?" "A Sweep of a
Fan — and Sally Rand Came Back" and
"The Stars Want Your Advice."
Gladys Hall has two stories, "The
Hollywood Follies of 1933," an amus-
ing account of the past cinema year,
and "Secrets of the Stars — Norma
Shearer."
Cruikshank has a swell yarn on
Margaret Sullavan, "Get Close to the
Screen's New Sensation"; Dorothy
Spensley writes "Why Do Screen
Beauties Marry Plain Business Men?"
Ruth Biery has an extraordinary story,
"Katharine Hepburn Reveals Herself";
Virginia Sinclaire writes "Gary Cooper
at Last Finds the Right Girl"; Faith
Service has a well written story on
Marie Dressier, "How It Feels to Be
Hollywood's First Citizen"; Sonia Lee
has " 'I'm Afraid of Women,' Says
George Raft," with Dorothy Manners
following with " 'I'm Afraid of Love,'
Says Richard Cromwell"; and Elza
Schallert offers "Why Adrienne and
Bruce Risked All for Romance."
HOLLYWOOD
66 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Norma Shearer
(MGM)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Paramount 667 sq. inches
Radio 616 sq. inches
Fox 354 sq. inches
Universal 225 sq. inches
Warners 130 sq. inches
MCM 102 sq. inches
United Artists 70 sq. inches
There is a fascinating story in the
February Hollywood called "(joing to
the Movies in Tahiti." It's by Donald
G. Cooley, and is worth reading.
A swell interview in the same mag-
azine is "Art Is the Bunk!" (Rochelle
Hudson), by Ben Maddox.
Ruth Biery has two stories, "Gary
Falls in Love" and "I'm Through with
Love" (Russ Columbo).
Other yarns are "Why George Raft
Will Never Marry," by Mary Nye;
"She Dares to Be Different" (Katha-
rine Hepburn), by Marcella Burke;
"That Ropin' Rogers Kid," by Guy
Weadick; "As the Earth Turns" (Jean
Muir) , by Alyce Curtis; and "You
Can't Beat a Girl Like That!" (Mar-
garet Sullavan), by Lee Warwick.
Miriam Hopkins talks to Gladys
McVeigh on "Can a Woman Love Two
Men at the Same Time?" Sigurd
Ericsson writes "Confessions of a
Movie Play-Girl" and the fictioniza-
tion this month is "The Long Lost
Father," by Edward R. Sammis.
Clive Brook Up For
Julius Caesar Role
Paramount is concluding a deal with
Clive Brook to portray the role of
Julius Caesar in Cecil B. DeMille's
forthcoming production, "Cleopatra,"
with Claudette Colbert. Brook has
been set for the role and the studio
is now talking money to the player.
This is the actor's first picture with
Paramount since he and the studio de-
cided to call it quits.
Otto Brower Set To
Do Radio's Sea ClrV
Otto Brower has definitely been set
by Radio to direct "Sea Girl," which
Shirley Burden will produce. Joel Mc-
Crea will have the male lead.
This picture has been on and off
for several months. The studio will
use the exteriors made by Shackleford
and Drumgold, which the two men
photographed on their recent voyage
to the South Seas.
Warner Trailer Hits
The "Convention City" trailer, first
of the new type of ad reel being turn-
ed out for Warners by George Bilson,
went over to good audience reaction
at both the Hollywood and Downtown
theatres. The subject consists of
three black-outs and laugh titles and
scenes from the picture.
MCM Buys Mystery
MGM has purchased L. du Rocher
Macpherson's unpublished mystery
play, "She Takes the Wheel." No
producer has been assigned to the
production as yet.
Code Machine Working
(Continued from Page 1 )
vides that pending such arbitration
there shall be no strikes or lockouts.
Early on January 4 Division Adminis-
trator Rosenblatt was advised that the
motion picture machine operators of
Chicago had disagreed with the Ex-
hibitors Association of Chicago and
that a strike had been ordered effec-
tive at 9 a.m. on January 4.
"Immediate communication with
Thomas E. Maloy, representing the
motion picture operators, directing his
attention to the provisions of the code
resulted in withdrawal of the strike
order and an agreement to arbitrate
immediately.
"The National Recovery Adminis-
tration has just been advised that on
January 10 the arbitration was entirely'
successful and satisfactory to all par-
ties concerned. The Administration
expresses its gratification to Mr. Ma-
loy and to the Chicago Exhibitors As-
sociation for their cooperation and en-
tire compliance with the code."
PUBLISHED
TODAY!
"LADIES IN
WAITING"
By
Rian James
( Third Printing Before Publication )
A Novel of Hollywood
By the Author of . . .
"Love Is a Racket*
"Crooner"
"Parachute Jumper"
"Hat Check Cirl"
AN ALFRED H. KING
PUBLICATION
The Third Annual WRITER'S
NUMBER of The Hollywood
Reporter, out March 3rd, is
the year's opportunity to list
ALL of your work before the
eyes of the execs who count
. . . It's great to hope that they
know all about you . . . but it's
better to be sure. The date is
MARCH 3rd and the
opportunity is . . .
% MH.SA^'UEL MARX.
CULVER CITY,CAL.Ii> . ^ ^
Vol. XIX, No. 2. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday. January 13. 1934
UNCLE S/iM DI6$ l^H DWl
by ROBERT WELSH
•WE happened to have been close to
the preparatory work on three pictures
within recent months. Somewhat by
accident, largely through friendships.
And after all these years of a hectic
; picture experience a great big fact has
just come up and hit us between the
eyes.
This picture business needs two
things more than anything else:
Larger, broader, wider, deeper
WASTE BASKETS for stories that
should never be started;
And secondly, executives with the
courage to throw a story overboard
when it begins to develop the type of
headaches that could be called
"chronic."
It is positively appalling — the num-
ber of cases, week in and week out,
where executives are doggedly driving
through on stories on which there
isn't one hundred per cent confidence.
Sick stories, wobbly stories, stories
that develop their ailments in the first
script and the first conference — but
which for a variety of reasons are
given incubator treatment, wet nurs-
ing, and what-not in the faint hope
that MAYBE they'll end satisfactorily.
And ninety-nine times out of a
hundred they are just as sick the
night they are previewed as they were
the day the steno put her first sheet
of paper in the typewriter.
•
Sometimes the weakling story is
kept alive because a director has fallen
in love with three or four situations
on which he is certain he can show
a "fine" touch; or the writer is still
in love with the theme even though
development has shown it won't work
out for entertainment; or the pro-
ducer is on record with the front of-
fice and won't admit he made a mis-
take.
In any case the result is another
two hundred thousand or so thrown
down the chute. With everybody con-
cerned with the spending just "hop-
ing" that they might come through
at the preview.
So we give you today two needs:
Bigger waste-baskets for stories that
should never get past the first draft;
Executives with nerve enough to
call everything off when the story
begins to creak and groan.
Jesse Lasky*s Stand
New York. — The first time that
Winnie Sheehan seriously interferes
with Jesse Lasky — the latter will
walk out of Fox. It is stated defi-
nitely here that Lasky's loyalty to
S. R. Kent caused him to agree to
playing along with Sheehan as boss,
but with the stipulation about
what would happen at the first in-
terference.
Reeve and Yorke
Swap Fox Posts
Winnie Sheehan is going back to a
stunt he tried once in the regime of
Vic Shapiro and Glen Allvine, and
planning an interchange of Fox ad-
vertising execs between the east and
west.
Under the arrangement Cabe Yorke
comes west to handle studio publicity
duties, while Arch Reeve goes to New
York to the home office advertising
post. Expected that Sheehan, as be-
fore, will play checkers with the boys
every few months.
Jake Wilk to Talk fo
Agents on Story Deals
New York. — Jake Wilk will arrive
in Hollywood Thursday to confer with
Warners on the coming season's pro-
gram, but while there he is also sched-
uled to address the Agents Associa-
tion on the question of handling pic-
ture story material.
Colman Welcomed Back
Twentieth Century threw the press
a party yesterday in the former Pick-
ford bungalow to welcome Ronald Col-
man, recently returned to Hollywood.
Ted Curtis In Tomorrow
Ted Curtis, sales exec for Eastman
Film, arrives here tomorrow from
Rochester on his semi-annual visit.
Questionnaire /bailed Every
Company For Lowdown On
All Salaries^ Bonuses^ Etc.
Washington. — Uncle Sam has taken the gloves off and is
going to find out about this picture business. Disclosure here
yesterday of the contents of the questionnaires being mailed in
connection with the NRA salary investigation show that he is
digging right down to the bottom.
The questionnaire is going to produc-
ers, distributors and circuit theatres.
It is three pages long and minute in
detail.
From corporations it wants to know
gross receipts, capital investment, cost
of supplies and materials, and surplus
reserve for the period from 1931 to
1933.
As to individuals, over this same
period, it wants group figures on the
(Continued on Page 4)
Expect Protest On
Extra's Committee
The code committee to handle the
problems of motion picture extras,
appointed by Administrator Sol Rosen-
blatt, is awaiting official notification,
now in the .mail, before calling i rs
first meeting.
If the notification is received in
time the meeting will be held Tuesday
in the neutral Regional Labor Board's
offices in the Federal building.
It is rumored that at that time some
of the names on the committee will
be protested by extra groups.
Chevalier Starts Sunday
New York. — Maurice Chevalier, ac-
companied by his personal manager.
Max Ruppa, leaves here tomorrow for
Hollywood to begin preparation on his
next picture, "Merry Widow," for
Irving Thalberg at MCM.
BIG SHAKE-VP LIKELY
B'WAY FIRST RUN SET-UP
Laskys Ask Tax Board for
Claim Redeterminations
New York. — That tossed-about
white elephant, the Seventh Avenue
Roxy, has suddenly found itself a
prized bone of contention. Proposi-
tions galore are being offered the
bondholders to take over the theatre,
four different definite ones being ac-
tually under consideration now.
Likeliest of all is the one A. C. Blu-
menthal is maneuvering with the
(Continued on Page 2)
Washington. — Charging erroneous
inclusion for taxation purposes of in-
come earned by two children, Jesse L.
Lasky and Bessie, his wife, petitioned
the Board of Tax Appeals for redeter-
mination of 1930 tax claims. The
sum named by Lasky was $49,476 and
b" Mrs. Lasky $22,148.
Franklin-Moss Give
Offer to Monogram
New York. — Despite conflicting ru-
mors, it may be stated definitely that
Harold Franklin and B. S. Moss are
tied in on plans for future picture
production.
Just now the two are looking
around for a means of setting their
distribution and are understood to be
di-sfting a proposition for Ray John-
■:ton by which they would buy in on
Monogram Pictures. The plan in-
volves increasing of the budgets on
Monogram pictures, bringing in of ad-
ditional producers, and in general aim-
ing at the building of a big producing
and releasing organization.
Green and Radio at
Parting of the Ways
.Howard j. Green, writer-producer,
and Radio will part next week.
Green has been with RKO for the
past year and has written the screen
plays of "Man of Two Worlds,"
"Morning Glory" and "Success Story"
and has produced "So You Won't Sing,
Eh.'" during that period. His future
plans are indefinite.
Cohen Due Today
Harry Cohen gets in by train today
from New York after having been
away two weeks to attend the funeral
of his mother, Mrs. Bella Cohen.
Cohen was forced to return by train
because of unfavorable flying weather.
Scandals' in 5th Week
New York, — "Roman Scandals" is
going to go over five weeks in Phila-
delphia, to establish a new-day record
for time of run and gross cash taken
in at the box office.
Doug Jr. Sails Today
New York. — Sailing on the Me de
France today are Douglas Fairbanks
Jr. and Carlos Bavetta, Fox repre-
sentative in France.
I WILLIAM COLLIER^ Si. '"^^'comedirn^'^^^' SmallTandau C0> |
Page Two
l^i!P>©PtTEPl
Ian. 13, 1934
1
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
warp, Cratte-Clel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Surprise note: Ruby Keeler gets
more fan mail than any other player
on the Warner lot! . . . Lionel Barry-
more will do a personal appearance at
the Capitol in N. Y. in a coupla weeks
— so Edgar Allan Woolf has gone
"skittish" again. . . . Kay Francis will
be back in town Toosday. . . . Gloria
Shea and Bernie Toplitsky are more
together again than ever. . . . Hardie
Albright owns one of the country's
finest Airedale kennels. . . . The nurse
who nursed Bill Newberry through his
earthquake siege is now playing a
nurse in the hospital scenes in "Men
in White" at MCM. . . . Lorena Lay-
son is wearing a big sparkler put on
her finger by man about town, Jack
Norton.
Looks like the Ric Cortezes will
have that honeymoon any minute —
with Lyie Talbot in "Hit Me Again"
instead. . . . The Monta Bells are
yearning for the bright lights of Broad-
way. . . . The Bing Crosby blessed-
eventing is official. . . . The Warren
Williams are off to the dawg-show in
Palm Springs with their two wire-
haired hounds. . . . The Darryl
Zanucks celebrated ten years of
wedded bliss yesterday. . . . Ceorgie
Stone, developing host-competition,
threw another dinner party at his man-
sion last night. . . . "Mushy" Callahan
will train Dick Barfhelmess for the
fight scenes in "One Man Woman"
— which was called "Shanghai Or-
chid" a few months ago when it al-
most went into production.
•
Diana Fitzmaurice, Bubbles Denny,
Mrs. Eddie Cline, Irene Selznick, Mrs.
Raoul Walsh among those at Nan
Howard's luncheon for Joan Bennett
yesterday. . , . Nat Coldstone has sent
orchids every night for three weeks to
Bernice Curland — but one night it was
another feller who sat around and
looked at the posies! . . . Sam Woods
is walking around wit^h his nose naked
again. . . . Gloria Swanson, Grace
Moore, Herbert Marshall, Gene Mar-
key, Lil Tashman and Eddie Lowe,
Adolphe Menjou and Veree Teasdale,
Bess Meredyth, Henri de la Falaise,
Dorothy Rodgers, Herman Manckie-
wicz et al, lunching at the Vendome
'A CHANCE AT HEAVEN"
Radio prod.; director, William Seiter; writers, Vina Delmar, Julien Josephson,
Sarah Y. Mason.
Rialto Theatre
Herald-Tribune: The appeal of the story lies in the simplicity of its telling by
Mr. Seiter, the director, and also in the unpretentious performances es-
pecially by Marian Nixon, as well as Joel McCrea and Ginger Rogers.
News: It is well acted by the principal players, but even if it were brilliantly
played, and that it is not, the acting would still not disguise the thin-
ness of the plot and the lack of anything approaching brilliance in the
dialogue. Marian Nixon's performance is good characterization and the
outstanding achievement of the film.
Times: With the evident hope of appealing to young persons in love, the Rialto
is exhibiting an innocuous domestic tangle labeled "Chance at Heaven."
It is one of those frail, disarming features in which psychology is con-
sidered unimportant. The author and director see to it that the leading
characters fall in love and decide to part without much of an excuse in
either case.
Journal: The principal surprise in the film is its casting of the feminine leads.
It's mild film fare, with the players superior to the story.
American: A well acted program picture in which Marian Nixon steals honors
in a not too sympathetic role provides interesting entertainment at the
Rialto Theatre with a simple romance that has both appeal and charm.
All the players do well with the not too exacting roles allotted them, and
Miss Nixon is especially effective.
World-Telegram: The cast is a pleasant one, with Joel McCrea, Ginger Rogers
and Marian Nixon playing the featured roles, and helps to make this
"Chance at Heaven" much more palatable than it essentially is.
Lloyd's 'Catspaw'
Staff Finally Set
Harold Lloyd has completed his staff
for the production of his next picture,
"Catspaw," at Metropolitan studios.
The staff includes William R. Fra-
ser, general production manager; John
L. Murphy, production manager; Cay-
lord Lloyd, location manager; Rex
Bailey, casting director; Sam Taylor,
director; Harry Oliver, art director; Joe
Reddy, publicity director; Walter
Mayo, assistant director; William Mac-
Donald, technical director; Liell Ved-
der, assistant technical director; Wal-
ter Lundeen, cameraman, and Cecil
Bardewell, chief electrician.
Big Shakeup Likely
(Continued from Page 1 )
Goldwyn-Lichtman
Going On The Spot
New York. — Sam Goldwyn and Al
Lichtman have accepted an invitation
to appear before the local indie ex-
hib organization and answer ques-
tions on percentage bookings and
preferential dates. With the gang
that makes up the indie group you
can put it down in your book they are
in for a hot session.
Walter Connolly East
For Hurried Vacation
Finishing his role yesterday in "It
Happened One Night," Walter Con-
nolly last night hopped a train for a
two weeks' vacation in Cincinnati with
his mother and two brothers. From
there he will probably go to New York
to visit his wife, Nedda Harrigan, who
opens soon in the Broadway play "Hat,
Stick and Gloves."
Durante's Writers Set
Jimmy Durante has signed Jack
Harvey and Milton Raison to write the
programs for his 26 broadcasts on the
Chase and Sanborn hour which begin
in April. The writing team wrote
the sketches for 'his last broadcasts.
Rogers in Cargan Lead
Ginger Rogers has been assigned
the feminine lead opposite William
Gargan in "Blarney Smith," which Lou
Brock is producing for Radio. No di-
rector has been assigned as yet.
New Orleans Theatre Tiff
Up to National NRA Board
Washington. — Senator Robert Wag-
ner, of the National Labor Board, an-
nounces that hearings will be held here
January 1 6 on a dispute between
Loew's State Theatre, of New Or-
leans, and local stagehands. This is
the first movie industry case since the
Hollywood jurisdictional strife to be
called before the national body.
Basis of the dispute is that Loew's
change from stage shows to straight
pictures while the code was being
drawn and simultaneous with the ex-
piration of the old union contract, af-
ter which they refused to reinstate
four stage hands whom the union
wants retained in jobs.
backing of Loew's and with N. L. Na-
thanson and Halsey Stuart also inter-
ested.
Back of the proposition is the fact
that MGM's lease on the Capitol
expires shortly; but of equal impor-
tance in the calculations is the temp-
tation of that big seating capacity at
the Roxy and what it can do for a
picture as compared with the Capitol.
MGM is understood to be seeking
an agreement with Warners by which
both companies would split their first
run product between the Roxy and the
Capitol, and in this event the Warner
Strand, with only three thousand seat-
ing capacity, would be closed and pos-
sibly torn down as having outlived its
usefulness.
The figuring is that with both
MCM and Warners to choose from the
Roxy could be assured the choicest of
first run product consistently.
The Blumenthal-MGM community
of interest seems to have started in
the recent deal by which the Blumen-
thal-Nathanson interests closed for
five years for MGM pictures over the
Poli circuit. Report also has it that if
the Roxy deal goes through the same
group will make a deal with the bond-
holders of the Fox Brooklyn theatre
to take that house over.
Sherman-Radio Deal Off JIMMY STARR says:
yesterday. . . . We hear that Francis
Lederer and Anna May Wong had
heart throbs last year — and that they
still write warm letters. . . . Dick Blu-
menthal and Katie Gallian (Fox's la-
test French importation) are seen
practically everywhere together.
Radio's discussions with Universal
for the loan of Lowell Sherman to di-
rect Irene Dunne in "Age of Inno-
cence" have been dropped. Director
will not clear with "Elizabeth and
Mary" in time for the picture and is
also wanted by Universal to follow his
first picture with another as rapidly
as possible.
Building Up 'Louisiana'
MGM will form a new comedy trio
in its forthcoming production "In Old
Louisiana," w'hich George Seitz will
direct. The trio consists of Lupe Velez,
Nat Pendleton and Ted Healy. May
Robson and Jean Parker have already
been cast.
Rockett Sets His Next
Al Rockett takes over the producer
reins on "Fledglings," at Fox, and Lee
Garmes is definitely scheduled to han-
dle the picture as his first directorial
assignment. Lew Ayres tops.
Tinling on 'Honeymoon'
James Tinling has been nominated
by Sol Wurtzel at Fox to pilot "Three
on a Honeymoon" for Fox. Zasu
Pitts is set for one of the top spots.
... "I figured I had heard about
EVERYTHING there was to hear in the
line of music, but, like most know-
it-alls, I was wrong. You haven't
heard anything (and neither have I)
until you get a GREAT, BIG LOAD of
GENE AUSTIN ac-
companied by
Candy and Coco,
At the
CLOVER
CLUB \\ ^
^CAHDYor^COCO
For Keservations Call CRestview 6576
Jan. 13. 1934
TK
Page Three
'Sorrel' Looks Good
New York. — The United Artists
home office just received a print
of "Sorrel and Son" made in Eng-
land by British and Dominions, with
H. B. Warner starred, and are so
tickled they are putting on a
healthy rave.
BRITISH MADE *I WAS A SPY'
WELL LIKED IN NEW YORK
Misses Greatness
By Script Weakness
"I WAS A SPY"
(Fox-British-Caumont)
Directed by Victor Savllle
Story by Martha McKenna
Cast: Herbert Marshall, Conrad Veidt,
Madeleine Carroll, Nigel Bruce,
Anthony Bushell, Gerald DeMau-
rier.
New York. — England arrives first in
the field of the new cycle of spy sto-
ries that are about to hit the screen.
And this first picture is good. It's
entertaining and it has a cast full of
personalities, including a brand new
blonde one, Madeleine Carroll, who is
something to look upon and to watch.
It is just a little sad to report that the
picture could have been great IF that
old bugaboo of English pictures, a
good, tight script with climactic build-
ups, hadn't again escaped the pro-
ducers. It is still a good picture —
there's no quibbling on that score —
but it is mild where it should be ex-
citing and bland where it should be
incisive.
This is the story of Martha Cnock-
haert, native and resident of a town
in Belgium, occupied by the Germans.
She becomes a nurse and then is
forced into becoming a spy for Bel-
gium, forced because she was not sure
she hated enough to take the risk.
In the same hospital is a sub-officer,
also a spy for the Allies, and the two
of them work together. Martha is
finally trapped through the finding of
her watch at the scene of the dyna-
miting of some German supplies. She
is saved from death, however, when
the sub-officer bargains for her life by
confessing to being the brains of the
spy system in that sector. That is
what it reduces itself to and that is
what you remember because the im-
portant parts of the story are glossed
over both in the writing and the di-
recting. There are three chances for
stirring drama in the fact that the girl
is at first unwilling to be a spy and
then takes desperate chances. In the
fact that she is decorated by the Ger-
man government for her services and
heroism when she was the direct cause
of the tragedy that proved her courage
under fire. And also in the fact that
the girl gives up her honor for her
country when she never receives the
note telling her that a change in plans
makes that sacrifice unnecessary. And
all these things are treated as mere
everyday incidents and trimmings to
a spy story. And there is very little
development of the love story between
the two spies.
However, the acting of Herbert
Marshall as the other spy, Conrad
Veidt as the German commandant and
Nigel Bruce, Gerald DuMaurier and
Anthony Bushell in minor roles, is all
excellent and as has been said before
this Madeleine Carroll is something to
make the boys sit up and take notice.
Give this picture a break on exploita-
tion and give your customers a chance
to appreciate good English pictures.
Leonard Will Meg
Crawford's Next
Robert Z. Leonard was yesterday
assigned to direct the next Joan Craw-
ford picture for MGM, "Latest From
Paris," which is scheduled to start in
February after the completion of her
current vehicle, "Sadie McKee." Al-
len Rivkin and P. J. Wolfson, after
having finished their work on "Op-
erator 13," return to the script of
"Latest From Paris" on Monday.
Leonard will not become a producer,
as previously announced, because of
the studio's new policy of having only
five producers.
Col. Seeks Roscoe Karns
For '20th Century' Role
Columbia is negotiating with Para-
mount for the loan of Roscoe Karns
to portray the role of the press agent
in "Twentieth Century" with John
Barrymore.
Columbia tested William Frawley,
who scored a hit on Broadway, for this
role but later swung to Karns.
Borzage Ready to Move
Frank Borzage winds up the addi-
tional scenes and retakes on "Men of
Tomorrow" at Columbia today. Di-
rector now moves over to Universal to
start preparations on "Little Man,
What Now.'" which will have Marga-
ret Sullavan in the lead.
'Born Bad' Overhauled
Twentieth Century is sending "Born
to Be Bad" back to the stages for
doctoring. Studio decided changes
were necessary following a sneak pre-
view early this week.
Picture featured Loretta Young and
Gary Grant.
Cropper in Rehearsal
New York. — Milton Cropper starts
rehearsals today for "When Ghosts
Meet" with a cast including Ernest
Truex, Sylvia Field, Brian Donlevey,
and the possibility that it will open at
the Belasco Theatre.
Ettinger to London
Margaret Ettinger is making ar-
rangements to open a publicity office
in London. She has secured Alex-
ander Korda as a client and will leave
for London this spring to make plans
for the opening of the office.
Pizor Visiting Coast
New York. — William Pizor left for
the coast yesterday in connection with
plans for Imperial's series of shorts and
for feature production. Sam Krellberg
also departed yesterday.
London Business
Holding Up Well
London. — With "I'm No Angel,"
"The Bowery," "Lady for a Day" and
"Voltaire" getting the cream of the
business there are no complaints 'here
for the past week. All four, in addi-
tion to "Turkey Time" and "Henry
the Eighth," are hold-overs.
Business on "I'm No Angel" is
holding up amazingly, "The Bowery"
is going great, and Arliss is always
good here.
Newcomers for the week are "The
Prizefighter and the Lady," called
"Every Woman's Man" here, at the
Empire; "Bed of Roses" and "Girl
Without a Room," at the Plaza; with
"Broadway Through a Keyhole" start-
ing Monday at the Tivoli.
Cortez Romance
Helped by Talbot
Lyie Talbot gave Ricardo Cortez a
break when he volunteered and was
given the latter's role in Warners'
"Hit Me Again" so t^hat Cortez and
his bride, the former Mrs. Christine
Lee, could take their postponed
honeymoon to Honolulu.
Others in the cast are Joan Blondell,
Edward Everett Horton, Claire Dodd
and Joan Wheeler.
Changes in Ranks of
Radio's Publicity Dept.
Mike Malone and Carroll Young of
the Radio publicity department will
leave that studio today, while Edwin
Martin, Citizen-News columnist, will
join Eddy Eckles' staff Monday.
Young goes over to MGM to work
for Frank Whitbeck in the advertising
department and Malone is taking over
his old newspaper job in the east.
Bromley Stays at Radio
Negotiations between Fox and Ha-
worth Bromley, assistant to Frank
O'Heron at Radio, for Bromley to take
over Phillip Klein's spot as scenario
editor have been placed in cold stor-
age. Fox could not offer the exec
terms attractive enough to grab him
away from Radio.
Capra Pic Finished
Frank Capra yesterday wound up
Columbia's "It Happened One Night,"
establishing a long time schedule for
production at the studio. Picture
started shooting on November 1 3. and
after being off the stages for several
weeks came back to work recently for
added scenes.
Wingate Back on Job
Dr. James Wingate, director of stu-
dio relations for the Hays office, re-
turned from the east last night and
will be back at his desk today.
Joe Breen, who has been pinch-
hitting for the doctor, continues on
the board of code of morals.
Thunder' Clicks in Lon.
London. — "Thunder Over Mexico,"
with plenty of controversial argument
going on in the press, is doing nicely
at the Marble Arch Pavilion.
mE2zm
Of course, the neatest trick of the
week was accomplished at the open-
ing of Peggy Fears' show. Some of
that California rain found its way east
and there was pretty much of a down-
pour that filled the streets with little
puddles. Mme. Jules Brulatour's car
couldn't quite make the curb and
Mme. Brulatour (Hope Hampton to
you) tried and tried, but she just
couldn't step over that nassy little
puddle and so the gallant chauffeur
picked her up, and to the plaudits of
the crowd carried her to the car. It
was a nice touch of chivalry that just
about topped off the evening. . . . You
really should have seen Blumey's face
that night. He did show up for the
opening, whereas Peggy saw his show
the closing night and we're afraid
there won't be much difference. . . .
Tallulah Bankhead, who swears she
became the season's success and the
best actress in New York just because
she was too sick to do "Jezebel," was
there and so were the Dick Wallaces
with Marion Saportas, Bennett Cerf,
George Oppenheimer, Catherine Dale
Owen and the Herb Cruikshanks all
among those present.
•
Jascha and Florence Heifetz will be
in the midst of a concert being given
for the benefit of Destitute German
Professionals, by the time you read
this. We say in the midst of advised-
I" because the concert is being given
in their little shack, the living room
of which can hold three hundred peo-
ple and the hall another three hun-
dred, and at $25 a ticket it's one of
the nicest gestures we know of. Hei-
fetz plays the violin, Jose Iturbi the
piano and Lawrence Tibbett sings for
the occasion. Incidentally, the Hei-
fetzes made no joke out of celebrat-
ing New Year's. A select list of in-
vited guests showed up at the ap-
pointed hour of 5 a.m. for a string
quartet concert. Breakfast was at
about 7:30, and after several rounds
of black coffee the string quartet went
back and played a Debussy numbah
that considerably helped the sun to
rise in splendor.
•
D. A. Doran lunching with Charles
deCrandcourt at the Algonquin and
simply jubilant over the grand reports
of his wife's health, which is well on
its way to being excellent. . . . Jean
Dixon and Edith VanCleve, Groucho
and Chico Marx, J. C. Nugent. John-
ny Weaver, Marc Connelly and Har-
old Ross. John VanDruten and Denis
King, Tommy Mitchell and Richard
Wallace, Ernest Truex and Lilian Bond
with Geoffrey Wardwell all lunching
at the Algonquin, too. Very gay, in-
deed!
Lupino Struts Her Stuff
Ida Lupino, Paramount's 16-year-
old English player, showed her stuff
to the studio execs last night in "Dou-
ble Doors." produced by the Para-
mount studio stock company.
New Orry-Kelly Asst.
Charlotte Stiber, New York fashion
designer, arrives in Hollywood tomor-
row and joins Warners as assistant to
Orry-Kelly.
1
Page Four
Jan. 13, 1934
NEW O'NEILL PLAY CONFrSIIVG
FORT OIV RELIGIOUS THEME
Ilka Chase Liked;
Nothing for Screen
The
DAYS WITHOUT END"
Theatre Guild presents "Days
Without End" by Eugene O'Neill
directed by Philip Moeller; set-
tings by Lee Simonson. With
Earle Larrimore, Selena Royle,
Ilka Chase, Stanley Ridges. Rob-
ert Lorraine, Caroline Newcombe,
Frederick Forrester, Margaret
Swope. At the Henry Miller
Theatre.
New York. — Mr. O'Neill here steps
forward and presents his tribute to
the glory of religion in what he is
evidently very pleased to call "a mod-
ern miracle play." And for this very
modern miracle play Mr. O'Neill
chooses to employ a device that must
surely have been creaky theatrical ef-
fectiveness in the days of ancient
Greek drama. However, though the
term "modern" is irritating, though
his method of telling his story is at
times deliberately befuddling, seem-
ingly to lend an atmosphere of great
profundity to the proceedings, and al-
though one may quarrel with Mr.
O'Neill's religious premises the fact
remains that one is still greatly moved
by the quiet strength and power of
Mr. O'Neill's writing and his expert
knowledge of what is good theatre
on the stage.
John Loving, brought up as a devout
Catholic in the bosom of a devout
Catholic family, allows his soul to be-
come possessed by the devil at the
age of fifteen when death robs him of
the two persons in life whom he loved,
his father and mother, despite his faith
in the love of God. He finally finds
love again (and love is the alpha and
omega of religious faith to him I in
the girl he marries, but he is still
groping his way around to a complete
faith in something, never realizing
that he is still merely trying to escape
from the greatest of all faiths, and
denying it in a hundred isms that give
no comfort. And the devil that still
possesses him drives him into being
unfaithful to his wife with his wife's
best friend. The knowledge of this
adultery almost succeeds in killing the
wife, but the miracle occurs when John
Loving comes to a complete realiza-
lion and understanding of himself and
again acknowledges the love and
mercy of Christ and the wife lives.
The device O'Neill uses this time is
that of having the other self of Lov-
ing— the devil — walk around in the
person of Stanley Ridges, his face a
hideous mask of hate and disbelief.
All the nasty things that Loving says
are spoken by this mask, and while it
is sometimes effective it is for the
most part a definitely cheap trick par-
ticularly in his death writhings at the
foot of the Christ when Loving casts
Him out forever. The play is further
confused for the would-be intellectu-
als by the fact that half of it is told
as a novel that Loving is writing and
these two things gave rise to one com-
ment that means approximately as
much as the O'Neill method — that the
whole thing is "schoolboy Nietzsche."
It's a little more than that, however,
Can He Take It!
The latest reports on the prize-
fighter-actor, Max Baer, is that the
youngster woke up the other morn-
ing and found another breach of
promise suit for $50,000 staring
him in the face.
'Left Bank' Slated
For Lowell Sherman
"Left Bank," the Elmer Rice stage
play, will be Lowell Sherman's second
production on his new three picture
deal with Universal. Possibility that
Rice will be brought out to write the
script since "Counsellor at Law," an-
other Rice play, was handled in that
manner. Gloria Stuart is tentatively
set for the feminine lead. Sherman is
now readying "Elizabeth and Mary"
and hopes to start shooting on it in
about a month.
Falaise To Make Another
Encouraged by the reception given
his "Legong" the Marquise de la Fa-
laise is now set to journey to French
Indo China for another Technicolor
novelty feature. Accompanied by
Jimmie Hartnett, and with William H.
Greene and Tad Brooks on the cam-
eras, he will be gone for about three
months, sailing from Los Angeles on
January 22.
'B'way Rainbow' Credits
Owing to erroneous credits received
by this publication's reviewer on
"Rainbow Over Broadway," Maury
Cohen was credited as producer of the
picture when George Batcheller is the
producer deserving the laurels. Re-
view also went haywire in giving Mae
Beatty the bouquets that should have
gone to Grace Hays.
Levee-Zanft Can't Agree
M. C. Levee and Major Zanft have
been unable to come to an agreement
which would have brought the former
Fox exec into Levee's agency. Zanft
is understood to be discussing other
important agency connections, deter-
mined to enter that phase of the busi-
ness.
Mono Assigns Buchanan
Lou Ostrow has assigned Archie
Buchanan as production manager on
"Manhattan Love Song," which Mono-
gram puts into production by the end
of next week. Leonard Fields, who
collaborated on the script with David
Silverstein, directs.
Leslie Opens Offices
Eli H. Leslie has entered the busi-
ness management field with offices in
the Van Nuys building.
particularly in the scenes between the
wife (Selena Roylel and the other
woman (Ilka Chase) and the scenes
between husband (Earle Larrimore)
and wife and the miracle. It is en-
tirely capably acted and something a
little more so by Ilka Chase, whose
appearance is too brief.
Plan No Salaries
For NRA Bodies
New York. — In answering a query
of Oklahoma exhibitors regarding the
salaries to be paid film people in con-
nection with work on the zoning and
clearance boards John C. Flinn, execu-
tive secretary of the Code Authority,
yesterday replied that it was the NRA
policy to perform all duties under the
code at a minimum of expense to the
three branches of the industry involv-
ed, and therefore no provision has been
made to pay salaries or fees to any
members of these boards with the ex-
ception of a paid secretary.
Cordon School Presents
'No Women' Tonight
At the Gordon School Auditorium,
1455 North Laurel, there will be pre-
sented tonight the third and closing
performance of "No Women," by
Granville Forbes Sturgis.
In the cast are Rod Wilson, lead;
Linda Martin, ingenue; Henry Wil-
liams, character lead, and Isabel Foyer,
Ed Orr, Ted Richards, Florence Dekin
and Wayne Gordon.
'Golden Gate' Cast Set
Warners have assigned Pat O'Brien,
Margaret Lindsay and Bette Davis to
the top spots in "The Golden Gate,"
which Wilhelm Dieterle is tentatively
scheduled to direct. Title is the new
handle for George Dyer's story, "Frag-
ments," which has been scripted by
Eugene Solow and Robert N. Lee.
Malloy-Block Teamed
Doris Malloy and Ralph Block have
been teamed by Warners to put the
Lajos Zilahy play, "Firebird," into
screen play form. Henry Blanke is su-
pervising the work on the play, which
was one of the Gilbert Miller pro-
ductions on Broadway last season.
Walton in 'Trinidad'
Douglas Walton was yesterday
handed one of the important support-
ing roles in "Murder in Trinidad" by
Sol Wurtzel, Heather Angel and Nigel
Bruce heading the cast. Lewis King
directs. Walton was set by J. G.
Mayer.
Ready Next 'U' for Stahl
Universal has signed William Hurl-
but to write the continuity on Fannie
Hurst's "Imitation of Life," which
will be John Stahl's next production
for the studio. Director will start
casting in three weeks, with the sub-
ject scheduled to start within a month.
Marlow Signed by Rogers
Charles R. Rogers signed Brian
Marlow yesterday to fashion the screen
play for "In Conference," a murder
mystery by Vera Casperay and Bruce
Manning. The Frank and Dunlap of-
fice set the deal.
Cline for 'Peck's Bad Boy'
Eddie Cline has been set by Sol
Lesser to direct Principal's next fea-
ture, "Peck's Bad Boy."
Harry Lachman Named
Chairman of Fine Arts
Harry Lachman has been named
chairman of the fine arts committee
of Beverly Hills. Before entering the
motion picture business the present
director was a painter. Four examples
of his work were purchased by the
French government for the Musee de
Luxembourg, the national museum of
France. For his painting he was deco-
rated with the Legion of Honor.
Rushing Work on Roach li
'Babes in Toyland' Tricks
Two crews under the supervision of
L. A. French are rushing the stop-
motion and miniature material for Hal
Roach's "Babes in Toyland" hoping to
have the material ready for the start
of the dramatic sequences of the pro-
duction on February 1 5. Much of the
picture is being built as fantasy with
metal animals in keeping with the Vic-
tor Herbert operetta.
Versatile Picture Folk
There are ways and ways of making
a livelihood. Jack Crosby, former
caster for Reliance, has opened a liquor
shop opposite the United Artists stu-
dio and Robert A'Dair, player por-
traying butler roles in pictures, has
opened the Nose-Dive Inn on Vine
Street near Santa Monica.
Next Chase Starts Mon.
Hal Roach puts the next Charley
Chase comedy into production Monday
with Charles Parrott directing. Betty
Mack, Harry Bowen and Gertrude As-
tor have been signed for the cast.
Short is untitled.
Set 'Cosmetic' Songs
Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin have
been assigned to write the words and
music for "Cosmetic," B. P. Schul-
berg's next production.
Uncle Sam Digs
(Continued from Page 1 )
separation of the payroll, and specific
information on all drawing over $150
a week. The cash salary per week
must be itemized, as well as the fill-
ing out of a separate questionnaire
telling of all bonuses, commissions, or
additional cash compensation in the
annual periods, and bonuses paid in
the form of bonds, stocks, etc., at the
market price on the date deliverable.
It is going to be an auditor's holi-
day. In addition to the individual
salaries and bonuses to be listed, the
government wants group salaries re-
corded by work, so that Uncle Sam
and his Congressmen can tell what
percentage of the payroll goes to "ac-
tors, actresses, directors, executives,
supervisors, writers, authors, artists,
sculptors, scenic artists and designers,
costume designers, sound engineers,
cameramen, studio mechanics, labora-
tory workers, etc."
There's one consolation, that the
questionnaire assures everybody that
all information supplied will be confi-
dential with the NRA. No time limit
is set, but the understanding here is
that the NRA expects the question-
naires back within thirty days. While
not notaried, the replies must be sign-
ed by an executive officer of each
company.
W-':-V STUDIOS,
% READING DEP
CULVER CITY,"c
Vol. XIX. No. 3. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, January 15, 19it4
GOVERNMENT ON A SPREE
Para. Bills Shaved
But Still Opposed
New York. — Although Referee Da-
vis shaved the bills of the Paramount
receivers from $296,000 to $208,000,
Attorneys Rogers and Zirn, for the
creditors, will fight the new amounts
anyway when they come up to Fed-
eral Judge Bondy for approval.
Adolph Zukor gets his $18,545 in
full; Charles Hilles gets $25,000 in-
stead of $30,000; and Root, Clark
and Buckner get $100,000 instead of
$125,000, under the approved set-up.
'Cavalcade' inC. B.
Saves Fox Shirt
New York. — Fox Film Corporation
will show an operating profit for the
year, as separated from theatre ac-
tivities.
The surprising result is due to the
immense British business on "Caval-
cade," which has already grossed over
a million.
Lowdown on Figure
Paid Mary Pickford
New York. — Contrary to reports,
Mary Pickford did not get $10,000
for her appearance at the Paramount
here, nor is she collecting anything
near that figure on her current en-
gagements.
The New York figure was $6,500
weekly.
Elliott of lATSE Due Here
William Elliott, president of the
lATSE, arrives in town Wednesday.
With the IBEW taking over the
supervision of mudh of the work
claimed by his organization Elliott will
have his hands full during his stay in
Hollywood.
Pat Caryn to Produce
New York. — E. H. Kleinert and Pat
Caryn have joined forces in an inde-
pendent production venture with plans
to produce in the east. Understood
here that Eddie Dowling is interested
in the finances. They have purchased
ja Seth Brown yarn for their first.
Lovelace May Join Fox
Hunter Lovelace expects to go into
ian important Fox story post, possibly
I in the eastern spot previously planned
I for Ray Long, if he can work out the
final details of a deal by which he
winds up his local agency.
To Cover Many Other Lapses
Picture Industry To Be Goat
As Result Of Questionnaire
By ROBERT E. WELSH
So Uncle Sam is going digging for dirt. He is sending a
questionnaire out that is asking anything and everything of
everybody connected with the motion picture industry except
possibly the legitimacy of their birth.
Why they're overlooking that last one I don't know.
And why is Uncle Sam snooping?
Because a COAT is needed for the next six months or so.
Headlines must be fed; Congressmen must be given baby rattles;
fanatics must have something to grind their teeth over; and
nice homebody people must be distracted from economic ques-
tions they distrust but know nothing about by giving them
something that is part of their very lives.
Why? — Oh, why? — Oh, why?
Has the picture business ever asked anything of the Covern-
ment — a dollar, a nickel, a dime, or even an inflated dollar?
Has the picture business, like the steamship monopolies, ever
gone to the government asking for millions in gifts in the shape
of subsidies?
Has the picture business, like the airplane hijackers, in-
sinuated dirt and scandal into an Administration through their
pleas for millions in charity?
Has the picture business, like the railroads, the banks, ever
walked into Washington with a tin cup in its right hand and a
knife in the other that threatened dire results if Uncle Sam
didn't unloosen?
Has the picture business, like a hundred American cities,
politically corrupt, gone to Capitol Hill asking for millions in
pap — just to keep the "folks" happy?
NO!
The picture business PAYS its way; pays it in persona! and
corporation taxes; pays it in admission tax burdens; pays it in
harassing censorship fees; pays it in license fees that run the
gamut of the alphabet; pays it in UNDERCOVER handouts to
politicians in a multiplicity of ways in a thousand communities.
The picture business PAYS — and PAYS — and PAYS.
And has never asked for a cent.
Then why make us the COAT? Why spend TAXPAYERS'
money printing thousands of questionnaires, more money for
payroll workers in Washington to check those reports, still more
money for headline-hungry Congressmen to start harrying those
reports?
Why? — Oh, why? — Oh, why?
Have they sent d questionnaire out to W. R. Hearst, Roy
Howard, Paul Bloch, A. J. Kobler, Henry Ford, Walter Chrysler,
to ask what they pay each of their employees and why?
And what do you suppose would be the reply of any of these
(Continued on Page 1 1 )
Headache for MGM
on 'Wilderness' Buy
New York. — After paying over
$70,000 for "Ah Wilderness," the
Eugene O'Neill hit, it looks as though
MGM is more or less stuck with it
unless they can get George M. Cohan
for the lead he is playing on the stage.
And that veteran's demands are
merely: first, $250,000 for the part;
second, he won't work for any major
producer; third, he won't go to Holly-
wood.
Try and wiggle out of that set-up.
After his experience with Paramount,
Cohan goes into hysterics when Holly-
wood is mentioned.
A possible "out" for MGM is in
selling the play rights to Krimsky-
Cochrane, who would produce a pic-
ture version in the east and therefore
possibly get Cohan. MGM in turn
would guarantee release through its
organization of the completed picture.
Phil Rosen Set for Picture
With British Government
Cabling the Guaranty Trust Com-
pany $6,000 to be held in escrow for
Phil Rosen, Joe Rock gets the director
to pilot the picture he is making for
British Gaumont in London.
Rosen leaves on a ten weeks' trip
February 9. William Stephens of the
Al Rosen office negotiated the ticket.
Lasky and Son to Rest
With Trip to Cuba
Jesse L. Lasky, accompanied by his
son, Junior, sailed this morning aboard
the Pennsylvania for a two weeks' trip
to Havana, returning by train.
The Fox producer is taking a brief
vacation before a big production
splash. His son is recuperating from
an appendix operation.
Gary Grant in Spot
Opposite Sylvia Sidney
Gary Grant will be Sylvia Sidney's
leading man in "Thirty Day Princess,"
which B. P. Schulberg produces for
Paramount under Marion Gering's di-
rection.
Nat Levine in N. Y.
New York. — Nat Levine of Mascot
is devoting two weeks here to lining
up his new year's production schedule
and his eastern exploitation campaign.
Mannix-Selwyn Travel
Eddie Mannix and Edgar Selwyn
leave for New York Wednesday for a
brief vacation. Plan to be back in
about two weeks.
WARNERS'
CONVENTION CITY"
1
Page Two
H
|m. 15. 1934
i
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
Nevj/ York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris. 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published everv dav with the exceotion of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
includine postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The Jack Gilberts have separated!
Saturday Mrs. Gilbert moved to her
mother's home, taking the beautiful
baby daughter with her. We hear
that she will start suit for divorce
some time fhis week, giving incom-
patibility as the cause.
•
The Screen Actors Guild ball was
not only tremendous, but a tremen-
dous success — and a great credit to
the many who worked hard to put it
over. It was a gay and gorgeous
party — and when we left at five a.m.
things "were just starting," which
gfves you a rough idea. The brief
cereTionies were simple and sincere —
arid the show was a knockout. Even
a lot of producers and stars who
"never go places" turned out for the
party to give encouragement to this
organization which jolly well deserves
it. The high-spot of the evening was
the impersonation of the Boswell sis-
ters given by Bing Crosby, Charlie
Butterworth and Frank McHugh, in
their lavender gowns and bonnets.
Somebody should really make a reel
of that! Hal LeRoy wowed w fh his
footwork — as he always does; he's
sanzational! The singing of Jeanette
MacDonald, the hoofing of jack Boyle
and his son, the monkeyshines of Pert
Kelton, Jimmy Durante and Ted Healy
(with stooges) and Dick Powell's
m.c.'ing reaped their share of plau-
dits. If you missed the party, you
missed something.
And before the echoes of the Cuiy
Ball die away someone ought to give
a great big orchid to Kenneth Thom-
son, who to our knowledge has worked
with the energy -jf a stevedore for the
past month or more on jobs toward
which many actors would run their
noses up. But it is all pa'-J of the
down to earth labor that make: these
affairs a success.
•
Georgie Raft and Margie King have
busted up again — and it looks final
this time. Because the other night
Georgie drank the first drink he's ever
had in his ife. And Georgie isn't the
type to "drown" anything but a beeg
sorrow. Just the same — we expect
them to be around together any min-
ute— so we're playing safe on pre-
dictions.
"IF I WERE FREE"
Radio prod.; director, Elliott Nugent; writers, John Van Druten, Dwight Taylor.
Music Hall
Times: Fairly diverting. Considering the limited possibilities of her role, Miss
Dunne does remarkably well. Mr. Brook as Evers has better opportuni-
ties and he makes the most of them.
American: The few embarrassing moments of the story are perhaps more than
balanced by the good ones, and even more by the fine, finished portrayal
of Irene Dunne. The histrionic possibilities, the dramatic depths of this
star have not yet been sounded by the plummet of her vehicles.
Herald-Tribune: While the dialogue is bright and the staging handsome, the
pattern of the plot construction, and the idea behind it, have by now be-
come somewhat threadbare. The story has a depth and seriousness which
make it quite believable. The trouble is, perhaps, it is almost anybody's
triangle, and that, added to the screen's pride in its monopoly of such
things, makes it hard for the long suffering critic to bear.
Mirror: Neither Miss Dunne nor Brook appear at their best in the conventional
vehicle provided them. The scenes are too highly artificial.
News: Little more than mediocre entertainment. The backgrounds are inter-
esting and sometimes lovely. The dialogue brightens up the picture oc-
casionally, but on the whole the conversation is hardly more original than
the plot.
iournal: The picture is handsomely mounted. Miss Dunne, who sings snatches
of song in her charming voice, gives one of her customarily sincere per-
formances.
Post: Mr. Brook, whatever else you might call him, is hardly a Buddy Rogers.
Occasionally the phoniness of the story is relieved by the earnest and ap-
pealing performance of Irene Dunne. It is one of the best things she has
done on the screen, but even she cannot make a single-handed rescue.
The picture has the benefit of able direction and some excellent acting in
the secondary roles.
Unfortunately, the core of the idea is pretty soft, the language is lush and
the characterizations are flimsy. The result is that "If I Were Free" is
still made up of a lot of old staples. And the present cast, excepting that
admirable actor, Henry Stephenson, does little to help matters along, even
if it does include Irene Dunne, Clive Brook, Nils Asther and Laura Hope
Crews.
Thalberg Dares Do
What Radio Passes
As a result of Irving Thalberg's
decision to place Diana Wynyard in
the star spot in "Declasse," MCM has
inverted its thumbs on loan-out deals
for the player.
Strangely enough, Radio at one time
recently, before accepting MCM's pur-
chase price for the property, dropped
plans for it and canceled its loan-
out deal for Miss Wynyard after de-
ciding the story could not be licked.
Thalberg is apparently challenging the
situation.
RUSSELL.MILLER,
and Company
Sun:
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1 181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
Roger Marchefti
Acts As Cupid Aid
Roger Marchetti, picture attorney,
is understudying Cupid. Two breach
of promise suits handled by the lawyer
have wound up with the plaintiffs and
defendants marrying.
Latest case is that of Donald Cook
and Maxine Lewis. Just prior to that,
heart-balm action by Betty McMahon,
screen player, was dropped when Wil-
liam H. Stevens, Beverly Hills social-
ite, did the altar-act with her. Mar-
chetti denies he is opening his own
marriage license bureau in competi-
tion with the one operated by the city.
Ralph Spence Spotted on
'Strictly Dynamite' Yarn
Ralph Spence has temporarily
dropped his plans for his trip east to
go to work for H. N. Swanson at Ra-
dio on the "Strictly Dynamite" screen
play. Jimmy Durante stars on loan
from MCM. The Small-Landau office
set the Spence ticket.
Ed Shubert Renewed
Warners exercised the option on
Eddie Shubert's contract for another
three months' period. The player has
appeared in eight pictures during that
time.
Mae Clarke in Demand
Warners have asked MGM for the
loan of Mae Clarke for an important
spot in the Aline MacMahon starrer,
"Fur Coats."
WRITERS' MASS MEETING
- TONIGHT -
Nomination and election of writer representatives on the N.R.A.
Motion Picture Code will take place at the
WRITERS' CLUB, 6700 SUNSET BOULEVARD
8:30, TONIGHT
Come prepared to vote for your representatives on the
(a) CODE AUTHORITY
(b) AGENTS' COMMITTEE
(c) COMMITTEE OF FIVE WRITERS AND FIVE
PRODUCERS ON WRITER - WORKING
CONDITIONS
The size of the vote tonight will determine whether this will be
considered a valid and representative writer election. Don't endanger
the writers' cause by staying away.
A complete ticket will be offered by The Screen Writers' Guild.
Non-Guild members, or any other writers, desiring to do so, are
invited to make further nominations by ticket or from the floor.
Every effort has been made to preserve impartiality in the machinery
of election.
Frank E. Woods is head of the Tellers' Committee.
IMPORTANT — The future of the screen writers will be in the hands
of those to be selected tonight.
IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY RECEIVED YOUR VOTING CRE-
DENTIALS APPLY TO THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE, THE
SCREEN WRITERS' GUILD. HOLLYWOOD CENTER - BUILDING,
CHEROKEE AVENUE AND HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, BEFORE SIX
O'CLOCK TONIGHT.
No admission to meeting without authorized credentials.
Proxies provided for accredited writers unable to be present.
DO YOUR PART
(Signed) THE SCREEN WRITERS' GUILD
Jan. 15. 1934
Page Three
FOX 'COMING OUT PARTY'
POOR YARN WELL DONE
Dee and Director
Top the Picture
"COMING OUT PARTY"
Fox
Direction John BIystone
Authors Becky Gardiner and
Gladys Unger
Adaptors Gladys Unger and
Jesse Lasky Jr.
Ptiotography John Seitz
Cast: Frances Dee, Gene Raymond,
Alison Skipworth, Nigel Bruce,
Harry Green, Gilbert Emory and
Marjorie Gateson.
It is unfortunate that a picture as
exquisitely presented in all depart-
, ments as "Coming Out Party" is,
should be burdened with a plot that
I Inspires derisive giggles in the audi-
i ence.
' Splendidly acted by a fine cast, a
personal triumph for Frances Dee, di-
rected by John BIystone with a grand
flavor and zest, the picture is a beau-
tiful, inspired structure resting upon
' extremely wobbly underpinnings. The
preview audience was always about
ten jumps ahead of the story and it
was vocally dissatisfied with some of
the more hackneyed and threadbare
formalae which were dragged in.
Frances Dee is the rich little Park
Avenue girl in love with a penniless
musician, Gene Raymond. Her father
is more interested in his yacht than in
his daughter, and her mother is so
sold on the family-tradition angle that
the poor girl, who discovers just be-
fore her coming out party that she is
i going to have a baby, has no one to
confide in but Harry Green, the owner
of the orchestra in which Raymond
plays. During the party, she desperate-
ly elopes with a rich young drinking
feller, because Gene has at last got-
ten his chance to go to Europe on a
concert tour, and she won't tell him
about the baby because of the fear of
ruining his career. However, the faith-
ful old butler drags Gene off the boat
just in the nick of time and every-
thing comes out all right.
If something in the way of rewrit-
ing could be done with the baby se-
quence the picture would have a very
good chance at being a good bet. It
was there that the audience began to
snicker, and they kept it up. Every-
thing else, as said before, is O.K. Miss
Dee does a bright, shining piece of
work in this film, and turns in a per-
formance that will impress everybody,
no matter how lightly the picture is
taken.
Becky Gardiner and Gladys Unger
wrote the story, and Miss Unger and
Jesse Lasky, Jr. made the best adapta-
tion they could of it. John Seitz pho-
tographed beautifully.
It's Miss Dee's picture, and it's too
bad the story isn't worthy of her.
(Oliver Morosco Hurt
Oliver Morosco was found in a
dazed condition and with a bruised
chin Sunday morning at Hollywood
boulevard and McCadden place. The
producer was rushed to the receiving
hospital for treatment. He was rest-
ing comfortably last nigh*.
Fortunes of War
Only disappointed persons with-
in range of the Screen Actors' ball
the other night were a flock of
male and female process servers
disguised as autograph hounds hop-
ing to plaster Rudy Vallee on be-
half of Fay Webb. Rudy was al-
ready high-tailing it to Arizona,
much to his regret having to bow
out as m.c. for the Guild.
Name New Slate to
Guide Radio Houses
New York. — M. H. Aylesworth has
announced the list of officers and di-
rectors w'ho will in the future control
and operate the twin Radio City
houses.
Headed by Aylesworth as chairman
of the board they are: J. R. McDon-
ough, president; W. G. Vanshmus,
vice president and comptroller; L. E.
Thompson, vice president and acting
general manager; Herman Zohbel,
treasurer, and William Maillard, sec-
retary. Directors are the above and
Webster B. Todd, Joseph O. Brown
and F. T. Christy.
Vanshmus and Todd are Rockefeller
representatives.
|uicy Offers for Stars on
Personal Appearances
Warner, RKO and Marco have of-
fered Jean Harlow, Clara Bow and
Lee Tracy juicy deals for personal ap-
pearances through Walter Kane of the
Weber office.
Each star is being offered $5,000
per week against fifty percent of the
gross, with the theatre organizations
ready to show them certified records
of the last ten weeks' business in the
houses to be played.
Three Pictures Up For
Next Chinese Offering
Sid Grauman is still in a quandary
as to which picture to book into the
Chinese Theatre following "Little
Women" and expects to reach a deci-
sion today.
He is deliberating between the Al
Jolson picture "Wonder Bar," Garbo's
"Queen Christina" and Connie Ben-
nett's "Moulin Rouge."
Lowell Reports to WB
Helen Lowell, recently signed on a
long term deal by Warners, arrived
here yesterday from New York and
goes into a supporting role in "Fur
Coats" today. Miss Lowell has ap-
peared in a number of Broadway pro-
ductions, but this is her first try at
pictures.
Jason Coming West
New York. — Leigh Jason left for
the coast Saturc';-/ to take up a six
weeks' engagement with Hal Roach,
after which he will return to New
York to produce again for Meyer Da-
vis-Van Beuren, with a Radio release.
W. C. Fields To Solo
As Star in Next Para
Erie Kenton has been chosen by
Paramount to direct the picture sched-
uled under the tentative title "You're
Telling Me," which has been definite-
ly decided upon as a solo starring ve-
hicle for W. C. Fields.
Following a series of assignments in
which he shared comedy honors with
others. Fields branches out on his own
with the company concluding that he
has reached the budding-out stage.
William LeBaron supervises the event
and has J. P. McEvoy, Paul Jones and
Walter DeLeon chopping out the
screen play.
British Pics Serious
Threat in Canada
New York. — Increasing prospects
for British pictures in Canada raise a
serious problem for American pro-
ducers.
Eighty-eight British pictures were
released in the Dominion last year, the
majority by Regal and Empire Films,
both companies controlled by N. L.
Nathanson, who also has most of Can-
ada's theatres tied up.
Leslie Howard's Radio
Pic To Start Feb. 10
Radio has set the starting date of
Somerset Maugham's story "Of Hu-
man Bondage," which will star Les-
lie Howard, for February 10. John
Cromwell will direct.
"Stingaree," another big production
at that studio, will also get under way
on that date. Irene Dunne will have
the starring role and William Well-
man will direct.
Kane Richmond Returns
To Screen With Columbia
Out of pictures for a year after a
siege of fever contracted during a film
expedition into the Malay states, Kane
Richmond is breaking into the game
again. Columbia has signed the player
for a featured role in "Storm at Mid-
night," the next Tim McCoy produc-
tion which Irving Briskin supervises.
Rambeau Off for Florida
Giving pictures the go-by, Marjorie
Rambeau left Saturday by boat for
Miami, where she will spend a four
months' vacation at her home there.
Edward Small has her under contract
for two more pictures on a four-pic-
ture deal.
Praskins Back at 20th
Leonard Praskins returns to the
Zanuck fold at Twentieth Century on
a one-picture deal to write the screen
play for "Head of the Family," a story
in preparation for George Arliss. The
Small-Landau office represent Pras-
kins.
Jimmy Dunn Broadcasts
Jimmy Dunn has been engaged to
head the program on the Shell Oil
hour next Monday night. Walter
Kane of the Weber office set the en-
gagement.
'^hUdi'MI'k
Having made a lot of notes, we
might just as well comment on them
— well, on one of them anyway — on
account of our sunny disposition is
at a low ebb at the moment and it's
no fun commenting when you feel
perfectly swell about things. For
years now we have been hearing all
about the bugaboo of censorship and
how the picture industry has tried to
evade it. Now in its great efforts
to keep censorship as far away from
it as fXJssible, instead of getting in
there and fighting it out for them-
selves, and not to soil its dainty fin-
gers, it has long delegated that job
to a hired group, and that group is
not an attacking army but a shield
and a shield that's very evidently made
out of very pliable steel because the
darned thing bends every which way
and doesn't move.
•
Well, the picture industry, in the
fair State of New York anyway, will
shortly have a chance to prove whether
or not it is sincere in its desire to
rid itself of an irksome, expensive pest
that more often than not succeeds in
inserting nasty implication rather than
eliminating some decent outspoken-
ness. There is a Movie Bill pending
before the State Assembly that offers
to do away with State Censorship.
And the price of this almost price-
less elimination is the paying of a
state tax of so many dollars per foot
instead of license fees fully 50 per
cent of which go to pay salaries for
a supervision that is not only un-
wanted but unnecessary. This tax is
to be slightly higher than the license
fees, but it will be a legitimate rev-
enue for the state that will eventually
do some good for the citizens of the
state. And not only that, it will ac-
tually result in the savings of thous-
ands of dollars to picture companies
by making it possible for no cuts to
be made in a picture and no expen-
sive retakes will be necessary. And
of course the classic example of that
kind of expense was "Scarface."
•
And the main reason for all this
club of censorship has been that the
picture companies themselves were
either unwilling or afraid to fight for
their own rights. The question of
censorship somehow having managed
to get itself all bound round by poli-
tics and not only that, but the very
organization that was formed by and
is still being paid for by the picture
industry to keep the government clear
of its picture-making policies and
aims, has allowed itself to go on rec-
ord with the statement that it doesn't
understand how the government has
allowed the industry to continue on
its own for so long and practically begs
for political guidance. As pretty a
picture of patriotism as we have heard
in a long time. Well, it's still up to
the picture industry. Given its sup-
port, verbally and actively, the Movie
Bill that comes up shortly can be
pushed through. It is a fair and
equitable bill that will do credit to
both the state and the industry — and
that's a brand of patriotism that the
picture business can afford to sub-
scribe to and buy.
I
\\
LET'S FALL IN LOVE
ff
COLUMBIA
FELIX YOUNG
Associate
Producer
l
t
T
►<>♦♦♦♦■»♦»♦♦♦»♦♦♦
♦
t
♦
►♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦<><>♦♦♦♦<
DAVID BURTON
DIRECTOR
u
LET'S FALL IN LOVE
n
COLUMBIA
y\
LETS FALL IN LOVE
ff
COLUMBIA
GREGORY RATOFF
HERBERT FIELDS
WROTE THE ORIGINAL STORY
AND SCREEN PLAY
-o-
ANN SOTHERN
u
LET'S FALL IN LOVE
n
COLUMBIA
I
u
LET'S FALL IN LOVE
ff
COLUMBIA
HAROLD ARLEN
and
TED KOEHLER
WROTE THE MUSICAL SCORE
I
♦
CONGRATULATIONS TO
FELIX YOUNG, DAVID BURTON
and
THE ENTIRE CAST
AD SCHULBERG - CHARLES KENNETH FELDMAN. Inc.
and NOLL GURNET
:
:
>\
LET'S FALL IN LOVE
ff
COLUMBIA
Page Ten
Ian. 15. 1934
ASTING
Henry Armetta signed through J.
C. Mayer for "Viva Villa," MCM.
Albert Conti set by Menifee I.
Johnstone in "Rip Tide," MCM.
Renee Whitney and Lorina Layson
into "Merry V/ives of Reno" at War-
ners.
Harry Holman and Robert Gregg
added to "Wonder Bar" at Warners.
Clara Blandick into "Sonata," Co-
lumbia, through Walter Kane of the
Weber office.
Matt Briggs for a featured role in
"Hot Air," Warners. Leo Morrison
did it.
Frank Conroy for "Upperworid,"
Warners, through Leo Morrison.
Greta Meyer for "All Men Are Ene-
mies," Al Rockett's Fox picture. Wil-
liam Otto of the William S. Cill office
set the deal.
Mary Kornman, Jane Keckley and
Aggie Herring set through Lichtig and
Englander for Chesterfield's "Under-
standing Heart."
Cornelius Keefe signed for "Three
on a Honeymoon," Fox. Deal handled
by Lichtig and Englander.
Dorothy Granger has been set by J.
C. Mayer for two short subject as-
signments. Goes into "Mixed Nuts"
at Roach and "Ladies Pet," Cillstrom-
Paramount.
Fred Malatesta swings from "Mas-
querade" at Fox to a featured assign-
ment in "Rip Tide," MCM. J. C.
Mayer did it.
Sarah Edwards signed through Ivan
Kahn for "Hit Me Again," Warners.
Lenita Lane into "Disillusion," Fox,
set by Ivan Kahn.
Eddie Nugent engaged by Para-
mount for a featured role in "Come
on Marines." William Stephens of
the Al Rosen office negotiated.
Paul Ellis added to the cast of War-
ners' Spanish picture, "The Fortune
Teller."
Edwards on Tour
New York. — Sol Edwards, assistant
sales manager for Educational Pictures,
is on a tour of the Fox exchanges in
the middle west. He will cover Cleve-
land, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St.
Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Des
Moines, Minneapolis and Chicago.
Barclay Option Lifted
Hal Roach notifed Don Barclay Sat-
urday that the comedian's option has
been exercised and the player contin-
ues with the MCM short subjects pro-
ducer for another year on a deal ne-
gotiated through Small-Landau.
Alex Cray in Educ. Short
New York. — Educational has signed
Alexander Cray, musical comedy star,
for a two-reel short, "Trav'ling the
Road."
Carpentier Tries Again
Paris. — Georges Carpentier is mak-
ing a picture here for Caumont.
Mitzi Green Grows
Up in Next Radio
Mitzi Green was definitely set Sat-
urday by Radio for a featured role in
"Finishing School" to be co-directed
by Wanda Tuchock and George Nich-
olls.
This marks Mitzi Green's first pic-
ture in over a year and also the first
in which she plays the role of a more-
matured girl than in her previous work.
Esther Ralston To Do
Sadie McKee' Role
Esther Ralston has been a.$signed a
featured role in the Joan Crawford
picture "Sadie McKee" as the first
job on that lot since she signed a term
contract with MCM three months ago.
No male lead has definitely been
set, although Arthur Jarrett still has
the inside track and it is expected that
the official okay will be given any
day now. Clarence Brown will direct.
Richard Dix Anxious To
Do Tamily Man' Next
Radio may switch Richard Dix's next
starring vehicle from "Crime Doctor"
to the Salisbury Fields story "Family
Man," which was originally scheduled
to be a Clive Brook yarn.
Dix is trying to persuade Radio to
let him do it next and then do "Crime
Doctor" as his second vehice.
Screen Writers' Guild Get
Set For Election Tonight
The Screen Writers' Guild is making
final arrangements for the NRA code
election for representatives tonight.
The officers expect a good representa-
tion of writers, either in person or by
proxy. Several prominent non-Guild
members have asked for proxies.
VARIETY says:
~ Austin, aided by Candy and
the mob at his Clover
Club opening. Chanted eight hours
straight. . . . The .
Gene Austin, aiaea oy ^anay ana
Coco, panicked the mob at his Clover
The
panic continues
nightly
at th(
CLOVER
CLUB ^
&
'ed&
auCAMDYo^COCO
Kelton's Black Eye
Breaks Into Print
Radio disclosed Saturday that the
black eye sported by Pert Kelton dur-
ing the making of "So You Won't
Sing, Eh?" was the work of a make-
up artist who painted it about the
Kelton orb for purposes of story.
The ringer, glimpsed one day as
Miss Kelton was at lunch at the Ra-
dio commissary, has resulted in a raft
of publicity through the nation's news
columns and fan magazines, all of the
speculative sort. Player was person-
ally embarrassed by the incident, but
Radio reaped a harvest of pre-release
exploitation on the picture as a re-
sult.
Nicholls Back from N. Y.
George Nicholls returned from New
York yesterday, having photographed
the required exteriors for "Finishing
School," which he will co-direct with
Wanda Tuchock for Radio.
'johnny Mack' Up at Fox
Fox is closing negotiations with
Johnny Mack Brown for a featured as-
signment in "Three on a Honeymoon."
Zasus Pitts is also set for a top spot.
Sol Wurtzel makes the picture.
Hollywood Headquarters for
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE
MULLER BROS.
6380 SUNSET BOULEVARD
Phone CRanite 4111
Large Membership
Claimed by Union
New York. — The secretary of the
newly formed Theatre and Amusement
Employes' Union, Local 113, claims
more than 2000 workers already have
been enrolled.
Two mass meetings were held last
week in furtherance of American Fed-
eration of Labor plans thoroughly to
organize white collar and other work-
ers in the amusement industry, the
campaign starting in the east. An-
other meeting will be held this week.
One of the chief objects of the or-
ganization as held out to prospective
members is securing a scale higher
than that incorporated in the NRA
code for this class of workers.
I'LL BET
$100,000
TAKE ALL OR PART!
$100,000 against $2,045 that you
don't die this year.
Furthermore I'll guarantee the same
bet for the next 20 years, and if you
haven't won by then I'll refund all
your money.
This is for age 35; other ages vary.
Using the world's best life insurance
companies.
ALBERT ESCHNER
220 Taft Bidg. OR- 1721
For Reservations Call CRestview 6576
GILBERT
ROLAND
(ARRIVING FROM EUROPE)
JANUARY 20fh
DEMMY LAMSON
MANAGER
ox 8019
ox 7261
Ian. 15. 1934
Page Eleven
Dud Nichols Given
New Ticket at Fox
His two-year contract expiring,
Dudley Nichols has been awarded a
new deal with Fox on a group pic-
ture arrangerr>ent. Writer, regarded
as one of the company's aces, fore-
goes his usual weekly pay check in
preference to a lump sum per picture
deal with Sol Wurtzel giving him a
sizable tilt over his old contract.
First of his picture deals is on a
loanout to Jesse Lasky to write the
screen play for "Grand Canary."
Kay Francis Returns, With
The Key' Likely Her Next
Kay Francis returned to town Sat-
urday on the Chief from her month's
vacation in New York. Miss Francis
will probably have "The Key" as her
next Warner vehicle. She is already
set for the role of Josephine in "Na-
poleon," with Edward G. Robinson,
but the picture will not get under way
until Frank Borzage, slated to direct,
has finished "Little Man, What Now?"
for Universal.
Raft To Take Vacation
After 'Nick the Creek'
George Raft will make one picture,
"Nick the Greek," for Charles R. Rog-
ers on completion of "Trumpet Blows"
for Paramount and will then hop off
for Europe, accompanied by his body-
guard, Mac Grey.
The player has obtained a three
months' vacation from the studio at
that time.
Jones-McNutt to Do Own
Grover Jones and William Slavens
McNutt are fninishing up on the script
of "Fifty-two Weeks for Fleurette,"
the Ciaudette Colbert picture which
Louis D. Lighten is supervising, and
will now start preparation on the sec-
ond picture for their own production
unit titled "The Son Comes Up." Pro-
duction will get under way in about
five weeks, with Richard Arlen in the
top spot.
Angel on Wurtzel's List
Exercising its option on Heather
Angel for another year, Fox has noti-
fied its bookkeeping department to
make out the British import's first
salary check on the extended ticket
against the Sol Wurtzel picture "Mur-
der in Trinidad."
Jason and Burton Tagged
Radio Saturday signed Will Jason
and Val Burton, song writing team, to
write the music for the next Wheeler
and Woolsey feature comedy, "Frat
Heads." Ben Holmes and Eddie Kauf-
man are scripting, with Louis Brock
set to direct.
Hugh Herbert Renewed
Warners cut a coupon off the con-
tract held by Hugh Herbert and the
comedian remains with the company
for another six months. His deal was
set by Bren-Orsatti.
Gloria Shea in 'U' Short
Warren Doane signed Gloria Shea
Saturday for the role opposite Sterling
Halloway in an untitled short subject
he is making for Universal. Walter
Kane of the Weber office negotiated.
GOVERNMENT OIV A SPREE
(Continued from Page 1 )
gentlemen to the impertinence, the crass insolence of such a
questionnaire?
•
Let's look at it from another angle.
Certainly there are many of us employees in the picture busi-
ness who would be tickled to hear the exact figures on what
THE FELLOW ABOVE US gets.
That's human nature.
Certainly there are a hundred thousand picture stockholders
— just as there are a million bank depositors, foreign loan hold-
ers, and what not — who will delight in seeing anybody at all
pilloried in a headline for having made money.
But when you finish with the delight of taking the cream off
the milk — what have you left?
Huh?
Just supposing that the replies to the questionnaires showed
that Greta Garbo made a million dollars last year. Is there a
stockholder of MGM in this wide, broad country who would
take it on his personal shoulders to FIRE Greta Garbo tomorrow?
Suppose the questionnaire showed a figure beyond the dreams
of a District of Columbia civil service worker for Irving Thal-
berg's annual check?
Would you, or I, or anyone with a smattering of business
sense, let Irving Thalberg get away from our organization?
Suppose — and keep on "supposing" until you fold up in
dreams — and you can't get anything but ridiculous suppositions
that can't stand up on reason except with the statement:
The public has to get some pap to keep its eyes the right way.
Congressmen need something about which to make speeches.
Moving pictures are the heart of American life. Let's use the
movies.
•
May we be pardoned for striking what may seem like a child-
ish note in this ten-point column?
Why hasn't the questionnaire asked what salary Louis B.
Mayer pays his valet? — or what allowance Sam Goldwyn gives
his wife for clothes and house expenses?
There's just as much logic and just as much reason.
Come out in the open and be frank, gentlemen of the Brain
Trust. If this Government onlv recognized Russia because it
was already prepared to go further than Russia in the snooping
and prying and sniffing into private business — why not say so?
Why make the picture business the medium of another
"Noble Experiment" — after the manner in which the Arrierican
voter has shown what he thinks of "noble experiments"?
•
It is our firm conviction that the picture industry can ignore
every single one of these questionnaires.
Why?
Because, first of all, the only department of government that
is entitled to these figures receives them now with due dili-
gence—the income tax department.
Second, because when the income tax was first inflicted on
the American public a great play was made of the solemn prom-
ise that all figures presented WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY CON-
FIDENTIAL.
That was a covenant with the American people which the
United States Government has flagrantly violated.
And, lastly, because the Government hasn't — in the case of
the motion picture industry which has neither asked, nor hinted,
nor hoped for any Government help in its troubles — a SINGLE,
SOLITARY SHRED OF LEGAL RIGHT to go before the Supreme
Court of the United States and force anyone to answer these
questionnaires.
Thank God for the Supreme Court!
Keaton and Weil
Take Tiff to Court
Alleging breach of contract, Jesse
Weil, publicity man, filed suit Satur-
urday against Buster Keaton for
$104,000, according to Gordon Le-
voy, Weil's attorney.
Weil charges he held a six-picture
contract with Keaton when the co-
median signed with Educational
through Leo Morrison. Agent, when
informed of the action, claimed Edu-
cational looked over the Weil con-
tract and decided it was not exclu-
sive.
Ates in Court Scrap Over
N. O. Gambling Debt
Municipal Court judge Arthur
Crum set aside Saturday the default
judgment against Rosco Ates in the
suit brought by A. L. Pillsbury for
$225. Action was on the motion of
Ates' attorney, Roger Marchetti.
When the case comes to trial it will
be one of the rare instances of a suit
tried under the laws of another state.
Ates, who is alleged to have borrowed
the money from Pillsbury while shoot-
ing crap with the plaintiff in New
Oi leans, will contend that the debt
falls under the head of gambling and
is illegal in the southern metropolis.
Two New Pics Start
At Paramount Today
Paramount placed two pictures into
work today, the Bing Crosby picture,
"We're Not Dressing," with Carole
Lombard playing the feminine lead
opposite him, and Norman Taurog di-
recting, and the next George Raft ve-
hicle, "Trumpet Blows," with Fran-
ces Drake playing the feminine lead
and Stephen Roberts directing.
Arline Judge and Hubby
Back From New York
Wesley Ruggles and wife, Arline
Judge, returned to Hollywood last
night from a short visit to New York.
Ruggles will direct "Yonder Lies Jeri-
cho" as his next assignment for Para-
mount and Miss Judge will go in a
featured spot in "The Firebrand" as
her next job for Twentieth Century.
Mono. Reopens Wed.
Monogram will awake from its
month's siesta Wednesday when W. T.
Lackey puts "The Loud Speaker" in-
to production with Ray Walker in the
lead and Joseph Santley directing. This
will be the first of four productions
to be made by the plant in as many
weeks.
Bill Frawley Not Tested
While William Frawley has been
considered and still is under consid-
eration for the press agent role in
"Twentieth Century" at Columbia, he
has never been tested for the spot.
Frawley is now under contract to Para-
mount.
Barnett in Hoffman Pic
M. H. Hoffman has signed Vince
Barnett for the comedy lead in "Take
the Witness," Liberty's next produc-
tion. Leo Morrison set the ticket.
UniveralGcafcsaflcwCofiiei
forhf Boy Offi
ICC
For years Mr. Horton and Miss Oliver have 'stolen the
show' from the foremost stars of stage and screen. To-
gether they make a starring team without an equal. The
funniest situation comedy in years has been wisely chosen
to introduce them.
Another hit! — and plenty more where this came from —
Universal. Play this early!
Sl-oiy by
tbbo Uave^
Dale Van Every
[AnriACMMLElk.
wamtveuTr
Edna Ulay
Olive 1.
II
t^itl^ LEI LAUYAMS, ANDY DEVINE.UN/V O'CONNOR, JOUN KILJAN
TUELMA TODD and GRANT MITCHELL
directea by '/> /■
EDWARD SEDGWICK.
O CI U C € CI
CAfVL L A EMM L& JR.
Vol. XIX, No. 4. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, January 16, 1934
6EPM4N riLMS IN CHAINS
• IF this industry is wondering why it
has been exclusively selected for a
national prying and snooping siege,
the question can be answered very
easily.
First of all, we brought it on our-
selves in the preliminary code pro-
ceedings at Washington.
When the New York executives
thought they had a corner on "influ-
ence" they shoved through a plank
for a curb on excessive players' sal-
aries.
[ And yipped with glee.
[ When the whirlwind was at its
height someone started pointing a fin-
ger at the executives, and asking
about excessive desk salaries, dupli-
cated salaries in a multiplicity of cor-
porations, relatives' pension lists, and
what-not.
\ And we are reaping the whirlwind.
Because the backbiting was so de-
lightful no one recalled the whole
thing was none of Washington's busi-
ness.
But there is another reason, equally
important. More legislative moves
are a result of loose "out of hours"
talk by those to be ultimately affected
than is generally realized.
And it is a disease of this busi-
ness to be always ready to shoot a
barb at the other fellow's alleged
incompetence or his excessive earn-
ings.
The director who pulls every wire
to get his girl friend, his brother-in-
law, his massager, on the studio pay-
roll is the loudest in the raucous
laughter at the owner of the com-
pany who, with millions of his own
money invested, dares to give a job^
to a relative.
There are other examples. You
don't need our pointing them out —
they're all too common. You know
yourselves how a picture conversation
never needs its second breath before
it becomes a knocking session.
It's our indoor sport, and our out-
door vocation.
We are told the boys did quite a
bit of this gabbing in the long weary
hotel lobby hours in Washington. To
very willing ears. To wily Washing-
tonians who have been playing the
game of listening to industrial Babbits
for years.
We fed them.
Now we have to take the punish-
ment.
Exhibitors Set Date
New York. — March 10 has been
set as the tentative date for con-
vening in Hollywood this year's na-
tional convention of the MPTOA.
Zanft Reported Due
To Open Agency
Major John Zanft, former head of
Fox theatres, who arrived on the West
Coast recently for the purpose of as-
sociating himself with an established
agency, is reported to be making
plans to go into the business as a
"lone wolf."
Zanft had deals on with M. C. Levee
and Phil Berg, but neither of the
agencies could see his terms.
Bernard Carber, Young
Writer, Auto Fatality
Bernard Carber, nephew of David
Carber, Charles Rogers' art director,
was instantly killed early yesterday
morning just outside of Callup, New
Mexico, when a bursting tire over-
turned his car.
Carber, a popular figure among the
younger writers, was journeying east
in response to nibbles by the Theatre
Guild on a play which he had written
in collaboration with Michael Sim-
mons.
Add to Extras Croup
New York — Code Authority appoint-
ed j. Buckley Russell and P. M. Fried-
man, the latter Fox casting director,
as additional members of the com-
mittee on extras.
Hecht Sets MOM Deal
New York. — Ben Hecht has set his
signature to the deal to do "Prisoner
of Zenda" for MCM.
Nazis Now Ready For Action
On Long Forecast Rules To
Govern A// Phases Of Pictures
Berlin. — The Nazis are now ready to swing into action on
the picture industry. All the various rules and regulations hinted
at in recent months, some of them in operation by unwritten
law, have been collated and under a control set up in the Film
Chamber will now go into immediate
Show Contracts On
Pickford P. A. Deals
effect.
Reporting to their superiors at
Washington yesterday the United
States Department of Commerce at
Berlin tells of the complete reorgani-
zation of the Cerman picture industry
which the Covernment now puts into
action.
If American picture people feel that
the NRA is stepping into their busi-
(Continued on Page 9)
Mike Boylan Lands
Fox Story Post
With the signing yesterday of Mal-
colm Stuart Boylan as story editor
filling the spot vacated by Phillip
Klein, Fox has straightened out its
story department set-up. Julian John-
son is the head of the story depart-
ment. Ray Long remains at the local
plant on a special assignment.
Cotton Warburton Starts
Film Career As Cutter
l.-vine "Cotton" Warburton, the
University of Southern California's
All-Amencan quarterback, yesterday,
started working at a part time job on
the Warner lot. He was assigned to
learn the cutting end of the business.
SEEK FORECLOSIIBE FOR 4
PARA BROOKLYN HOUSES
New York. — Still another chapter
is going to be written in untangling
the maze of Paramount's affairs. The
Manufacturers' Trust Company, as
trustee of $9,250,000 of bonds of
the bankrupt Allied Owners Corp., has
asked the court for permission to fore-
close on four Brooklyn theatres, the
Paramount, Pitkin, Kings, Valencia,
and one in Alabama.
These houses were built by Allied
Owners for Paramount, but the latter
(Continued on Page 1 1 )
Doran Denies RKO Rumor
New York. — D. A. Doran today de-
nied having had any talks with Radio
regarding the post of eastern story
editor and says there is no truth at
all to the rumors.
'Roberta' Price Scares RKO
^^^Ratfro is hot on negotiations with
^Tvlax Cordon for the purchase of "Ro-
oerta" but can't make up its mind to
shelling out $75,000, the asked price.
Contradicting reports from New
York that the lowdown on Mary Pick-
ford's personal appearance salary was
$6500 a week, N. A. McKay, execu-
tive for Miss Pickford, yesterday al-
lowed a Reporter representative to ex-
amine the actual contracts for her
appearances to date.
Miss Pickford's Paramount, New
York, contract called for $12,500 for
the week and fifty-fifty over $60,-
000; the Chicago deal, $10,000, split-
ting over $50,000, with this run
showing a few thousand to split; and
the current Metropolitan deal in Bos-
ton, $10,000, with the split figure
$50,000.
Under the deals the star has the
privilege of okaying the picture that
will play with her appearance; while
the theatre companies also stand all
additional salaries in the playlet cast.
Cummings Price $30,000
Just a gentle idea of what Benn
Levy thinks of his wife, Constance
Cummings, is apparent in his coun-
seling the player to ask $30,000 per
picture on a free-lance basis. Her
Twentieth Century deal, a twenty-
four week ticket, expires January 20,
with no option stipulated.
Para. Adds Color Cartoon
New York. — Paramount is the
latest to add a color cartoon series
to its list, with Max Fleischer, pro-
ducer of the organization's cartoons
for years, slated to make the subject.
The series will be known as "Color
Classics."
Shearer Temporarily Out ,
Norma Shearer has been ill for the
past few days and MCM is shooting
around her in her picture, "Rip Tide."
The star is expected to return in a
day or two to resume work.
George White's Scandals' |
HARRY LACHMAN
directing with
Thornton Freeland
Page Two
THE
)an. 16. 1934
in
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Sidney Fox expects to file her di-
vorce papers against Charlie Beahan
in a week or so— remaining here for
film work. . . . The theatre lobby was
full of movie execs who looked mad
because they didn't have Francis Led-
erer under contract, when "Autumn
Crocus" opened Sunday night. . . Joan
Crawford, Franchot Tone, Sylvia Sid-
ney, B. P. Schulberg, the Jack Mor-
gans, the J. Walter Rubins, Gloria
Swanson, Count Carpegna, Countess di
Frasso, Lyie Talbot among those who
raved about Lederer. ... A publicity
man at Warners is much on the spot
for something that a fellow three
thousand miles away is responsible
for! . . . Bernice Curland has accepted
Nat Coldstone — and gets her engage-
ment ring next week!
•
Hugh Herbert did his ventriloquist
act so well in a restaurant the other
day that Guy Kibbee, across the room,
almost got his face slapped by a wait-
ress! . . . Fashion note: Ted Healey
showed up for work yesterday in a
yellow sweater, a bright blue tie, a
brown coat, cream colored trousers
and a purple hanky! . . . Bebe Daniels
gave a triple-birthday party Sunday
night for lotsa people. . . . Harmon O.
Nelson, who came here to spend Xmas
with Bette Davis, is still here. . . Kay
Francis, back in town, denies those
rumors that her husband, Ken Mac-
Kenna, didn't know about their sep-
aration until he read it — she says they
talked it over for days before deciding
together to make the announcement
through the studio — which they did.
Warren William has just gotten a
patent for the new kind of dog-house
that he's invented — and he's in a
dither. . . . The RIc Cortezes are off
to Del Monte for a week If
Alice Faye didn't flee with Rudy Val-
lee — she's better come forth and say
so — because everybody thinks she did!
. . . The football game Sunday got all
the stay-up-laters from the night be-
fore— and then some! . . . Chaplin,
Goddard, Parsons, Vidor, Velez and
Weissmulier among those there — you
guess the front names! . . . We hear
Tallulah Bankhead is about to toss the
play-scripts overboard and come back
here any minute. . . And Marjorie
Moss Goulding is terribly and danger-
WRITERS WRAIVGLE
ELECTIOIV SAILS
Non-Guild Faction
Puts Up Argument
At a meeting of which six of some
two hundred writers were non-Guild
members, leaders of the Screen
Writers' Guild put on a battle among
themselves which repaid the non-
member contingent for their trouble
in putting in an appearance.
But when the votes were counted,
the non-guild members had been put
in their place — the election being car-
ried entirely by the Guild's own slate.
John Howard Lawson was elected to
the code authority. Ernest Pascal and
Wells Root were set in for the Agency
Committee; and the nine suggested
for Deputy Administrator Rosenblatt's
selection of five for the writer-pro-
ducer board '5-5 committee) were
Oliver H. P. Garrett, Rupert Hughes,
Ralph Block, John F. Natteford, Seton
I. Miller, Gladys Lehman, Samuel K.
Omitz, John Emerson and James Glea-
son.
The early battle was on the objec-
tive of the meeting, called for the pur-
pose of getting every film writer in
Hollywood to elect eleven members
to three code boards, giving the im-
pression that the Guild was controlling
the situation as regards writer affairs.
John Emerson precipitated the argu-
ment, declaring that the slate of nom-
inees selected by the Guild element
did not include a non-Guilder and
would, he maintained, give Deputy
Administrator Rosenblatt the impres-
sion that the writer organization was
attempting to force him to accept
Guild members to the exclusion of the
minority of non-Guilders.
Opposed to his point of view was
Oliver H. P. Garrett. He declared the
fact that the Guild included ninety
per cent of the Hollywood writers
would make the contested impression
inevitable anyway. Richard Schayer,
however, sprang to support Emerson
and demanded that Waldemar Young,
a non-member and a factor in the
rival Academy, be placed on the
Guild's own slate. Eddie Eliscu joined
in with the motion that in place of
the eight previously planned for selec-
tion from fourteen writers nominated
the number be enlarged to include a
ninth writer, leaving it to the meeting
to do the electing of Young.
As the bone of contention. Young
demanded to have his name with-
drawn, but was over-ridden despite
his apparent feeling of being used as
a helpless pawn.
Another highlight of the meeting
came in a vicious slam by Samuel K.
Omitz against agents during the nom-
inations for the agents' committee.
Block carried 1 32 proxies, fifty of
non-members and voted them at his
own discretion as a result of the
Emerson-Garrett encounter. The prox-
ies evidently carried the election.
Junior Cracks
When Eddie Buzzell protested
that parlor plays were out of his
line and that he didn't believe he
could handle the direction of
"Bachelor Wife" as he would wish
to. Junior Laemmie remarked,
"Okay, we'll send you to Mrs.
Ward's finishing school for two
weeks."
ously ill — she's at the Waldorf- — ■
please write. . . . Clarence Winches-
ter, from far-off London, asks us to
thank the many friends here who re-
membered him at New Year's.
Helen WesHey Returns
To N.Y. For Guild Play
Helen Westley, actress member of
the New York Theatre Guild, will fin-
ish her role in "House of Rothschild"
this week and departs next Monday
for New York, where she will imme-
diately start rehearsals for the Theatre
Guild's next production, "Thou Shalt
Not Die." This is John Wexley's
play based upon the Scottsboro case.
Miss Westley's first trip to Holly-
wood has kept her here four months,
in which time she has worked in
"Moulin Rouge" for Twentieth and
"Strange Holiday" for Paramount, and
the "Rothschild" picture also for
Twentieth Century.
Col. Comes Out of Lull
Two features and one short, the
first new subjects since December 20,
start at Columbia today, bringing the
studio out of its recent lull. David
Burton directs "Sisters Under the
Skin." which formerh' was titled "So-
nata." and C. C. Coleman puts "Storm
at Midnight" before the cameras,
lules White directs the short, "Play-
ful Husbands."
Lehman Repeats at Para.
Gladys Lehman has been assigned to
write the screen play of "Lovers in
Quarantine" for Paramount. No cast
or director set as yet. Miss Lehman
recently completed the script of
"Strange Holiday" in collaboration
with Maxwell Anderson.
Berkeley's First as Megger
Busby Berkeley's first picture as a
full director will be "Dames," an
original by Robert Lord. Ruby Keeler
and Dick Powell have the top spots
in the feature, which will have music
created by Warren and Dubin.
Hellman to Schulberg
Sam Hellman. finishing the dialogue
job' on "Murder in the Vanities."
swings over to the B. P. Schulberg
unit to handle a similar assignment on
"Little Miss Marker," working with
William Lippman.
Universal Buys 'Fanny'
Universal yesterdav closed a deal
with Marcel Pagnol for the purchase
of "Fanny," his latest play, produced
in France. William Wyler will direct
it under the supervision of Henry
Henigson.
•Trigger' to 'Spitfire'
Radio has changed the title of the
latest Katharine Hepburn starring ve-
hicle from "Trigger" to "Spitfire."
RUT
THROUGH
LaRue-Patrick In
Leads For Hoffman
Borrowing Jack LaRue and Gail Pat-
rick from Paramount, M. H. Hoffman
has rounded out his cast for "Take
the Stand," which Phil Rosen places
into production for Liberty Friday at
Talisman studios.
Russell Hopton, Paul Hurst, Berton
Churchill, Charles Wilson, Vince Bar-
nett, Leslie Fenton, Bradley Page, De
Witt Jennings, Jason Robards, Sheila
Terry, Arnold Gray, Lew Kelly, Rich-
ard Tucker and Bryant Washburn
complete the line-up. Albert deMond
contributes the screen play, Harry
Neumann handles the camera.
Wanger Plans Second
For Jeanette MacDonald
NV^ter Wanger has assigned Salka
VTertel to script an untitled original
story for Jeanette MacDonald at MCM.
Producer already has one MacDon-
ald subject on his schedule, "Duchess
of Delmonico's," which starts Jan. 29.
Para. Seeks Jean Parker
Paramount is trying to borrow jean
Parker from MGM for the feminine
lead in "Honor Bright," which Louis
D. Lighton is supervising. The screen
play is being written by Austin Par-
ker and Sylvia Thalberg.
II
P
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shower. Beds "built for
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reasonable prices. Conven-
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Chas. Danzigtr, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Prei.
The "Doorway of Hoipilality"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
Jan. 16, 1934
Page Three
SORRELL AND SON' WELL
MADE RIJT STORY HAS AGED
Cooper Has 17 Set
For Early Making
H.B.Warner Liked
In New British Pic
"SORRELL AND SON"
British and Dominions-United Artists
Direction Jack Raymond
Based on novel by.. ..Warwick Deeping
Screen Play Lydia Hayward
Photography Cyril Bristow
Cast: H. B. Warner, Peter Penrose,
Hugh Williams, Winifred Shot-
ter, Margot Graham, Donald
Calthrop, Wally Patch, Evelyn
Roberts, Hope Davy, Louis Hey-
wood. Ruby Miller.
New York. — A British talking re-
make, evidently produced by them in
the fond hope that this particular
story has now become a classic that
cannot fail and that it is about time
that the English got busy and paid
picture tribute to an English story and
author. So be it. It remains to be re-
ported that next to but not quite close
j to "Henry the Eighth" this is by far
i the most workmanlike job from a pro-
i duction standpoint that has come to
I town from England. However, the
I story has grown a little thin and rag-
! ged around the edges and somehow
: the tale of the meek man who event-
I ually inherited the earth is not quite
: so sad nor so important as it once
seemed.
The picture is good and definitely
in line with the better productions
program of England. It isn't possible
to guarantee, however, that the sobs
in it can successfully overcome the fa-
miliarity of a trite story twice-told.
With one eye undoubtedly on Amer-
ican distribution, H. B. Warner draws
the part of Stephen Sorrel I and does
a creditable piece of work. As fur-
ther concession to the American mar-
ket, the dialogue goes in for Ameri-
can expressions like "swell" as an ad-
jective and "kid" for child. Miss Hay-
ward has been most sparing with her
dialogue, thinking perhaps that action
and pictures are synonymous but it
would have helped considerably to
have had a few good dramatic con-
versational scenes because Mr. Ray-
mond has chosen to direct the picture
at rather a slow pace and seeks to
I build up what little moments of sus-
pense the work has by making you
wait for obvious answers. The method
IS a little less than effective. England
does come through, however, with an-
other very attractive young miss by
the name of Winifred Shotter, whom
you'll undoubtedly want to see in
more and bigger parts and the pho-
tography and recording are excellent.
Finish Next Cagney Yarn
Gene Markey and Kathryn Scola
yesterday turned in the completed
original screen play of "Goin' to
Town," which will be James Cagney's
next picture for Warners. No direc-
^ tor or additional cast set as yet.
Harris to New York
Elmer Harris is leaving for New
York shortly to supervise the produc-
(Hon of his latest play titled "Celeb-
'I rities," which will go into prepara-
' tiori.,soon for a Broadway opening.
The First Lady
Washington. — Mrs. Roosevelt
caught Doris Kenyon's act at the
Earle in Washington last week,
went backstage, introduced herself,
and the next day gave a tea for
Miss Kenyon at the White House.
Chevalier's First For
Korda An Original
Chicago. — Maurice Chevalier has
passed through here on his return to
Hollywood, being due there Wednes-
day afternoon. He was accompanied
by Marcel Valle, French actor, who
will play Popoff in the French version
of "The Merry Widow."
While here Chevalier disclosed that
his first for Alexander Korda in Lon-
don would not be "Lafayette" but
"Mister the Marshal," an original by
two French authors.
Hornblow's First at Para.
Arthur Hornblow will produce "Pur-
suit of Happiness" as his first assign-
ment at Paramount. This play is still
running on Broadway and Paramount
expects to use some of the players
from the original cast. Walter De
Leon has been assigned to write the
screen adaptation of this play.
Newton Tag Dropped
Warners failed to take up the op-
tion on Theodore Newton's contract
yesterday. The player was brought out
from New York by Warners a year
ago under a term contract. He has
just finished a featured role in "Up-
per World."
Ellis in 'Trumpet Blows*
Edward Ellis was signed by Para-
mount yesterday for a featured role
in the George Raft picture, "Trumpet
Blows," which Stephen Roberts is di-
recting. The Schulberg-Feldman and
Gurney office made the deal.
President Invites 'Joe E.'
Joe E. Brown has accepted Presi-
dent Roosevelt's invitation to attend
his birthday party in Washington Jan-
uary 30. He will leave Hollywood this
week for the east via San Francisco.
Sistrom Gets Film
New York. — In settlement of Wil-
liam Sistrom's suit against Fox and
World Wide, distribution rights on
"Crooked Circle" have been reassign-
ed to him.
Powell in The Key'
William Powell has been given the
top spot in "The Key," scheduled to
get under way in about two weeks.
Kay Francis will have the feminine
lead if she wants the part.
See Corinne for Play
Edward Belasco, of the Belasco and
Curran team, is negotiating with M.
C. Levee for the services of Corinne
Griffith to take the top spot in the
Los Angeles production of "Goodbye
^gain." •,;•>---
Merian C. Cooper, Radio production
chief, yesterday announced the im-
mediate production of seventeen new
pictures.
These productions will go into work
within three months, with seven of
them to go into work within seven
weeks. Among those to start soon are:
"Finishing School," "Crime Doctor,"
"Family Man," "Dance of Desire,"
"Strictly Dynamite" and "Alien Corn."
Others to follow are: "Of Human
Bondage," "Stingaree," "Fugitive
From Glory," "Sea Girl," "Green Man-
sions," "Devil's Disciple," "Murder on
the Blackboard," a Wheeler and
Woolsey picture titled "Frat Heads,"
a Lou Brock production, and "Joan of
Arc."
Pine Goes East To Take
Over John Flinn Duties
Bill Pine will assume the duties
with Paramount in the east relin-
quished by John Flinn to take up his
code post. He will continue to su-
pervise the west coast advertising de-
partment, which will be handled by
William Thomas. Pine will alternate
pretty frequently between east and
west.
Publicity posts in the east and west
will continue to be headed by Al Wil-
kie and Tom Baily, respectively, ru-
mors of any contemplated changes
there being flatly denied by Robert
Gillham, director of publicity and ad-
vertising.
Cabot to 'Finishing School'
Bruce Cabot was definitely set yes-
terday for the leading male role in
"Finishing School" with Ginger Rog-
ers, Billie Burke and Mitzi Green,
Wanda Tuchock and George Nicholls
Jr. will co-direct and production will
get under way within two weeks.
Hathaway Stepping Out
Henry Hathaway puts his saddle and
spurs away in mothballs and goes to
his first important directorial job with
the piloting of "Come On, Marines."
Paramount takes him out of the west-
ern class, giving him to Al Lewis for
supervision,
Leisen East to See Play
Mitchell Leisen and Edgar Ander-
son leave tomorrow by plane on a
trip to New York, where the Para-
mount director will get some first-
hand data on "Murder at the Vani-
ties." Returns here Monday.
Pascal Completes Novel
Ernest Pascal has completed work
on "^ Woman at Thirty," a novel,
and is on his way to New York to
consult his publisher. He will return
to the west coast February 1 to do a
script.
Pathe-Natan Signs Clair
Paris. — The Pathe Natan firm has
signed Rene Clair to a one-picture
deal, the subject to be "The Last
Billionaire."
Of course it was a benefit run by
Mrs. Hearst to help her precious Milk
Fund, but even so, you'd never have
guessed that New York could sud-
denly become so tennis-conscious.
The Garden was jammed and then
some for the famous Tilden-Vines
match which the old master won quite
handily. However, besides the ultra
high-hat crowd which included the
Jock Whitneys, who are fast becoming
associated with the picture business,
there were Tallulah Bankhead, Sam
and Ethel Barrymore Colt, Arthur Lu-
bin, practically the entire MGM staff,
Marion Saportgs, Tommy Manville, re-
united with his bride, and hundreds of
others.
•
Fox gave a very elegant cocktail
party for Eric Charral and Charles
Boyer in the Club rooms of the roof
garden at the Waldorf-Astoria. And
if you think that sounds complicated
— just try to find it some time when
you're in a hurry. Much as we like
the Waldorf, we must admit that life
could be made considerably happier for
a poor New York correspondent if
there were some way of making that
famous hostelry more compact. We
were told to take the East elevators.
So we found the North, South and
West elevators; the North lounge, at
least three bars and after meeting
Richard Wallace three times because
of walking around in circles, we fin-
ally got to the East elevators and
found them tucked away behind a
sign which read "Park Avenue." Of
course, we enjoyed meeting Mr. Wal-
lace three times, it's always a pleas-
ure, but since Mr. Wallace unfortu-
nately is not a permanent feature of
the place, this is just a warning to you
to take along a scout or just pick a
nice comfortable corner and wait for
the party to come to you, , , , Any-
way, Mr, Charral is really a very nice
gent and was responsible for the pro-
duction of "White Horse Tavern" in
London and is on his way to the coast
to direct a picture both in French and
Engish that will star Charles Boyer.
who is quite the French idol.
•
George Bancroft is play-shopping
and may have one any minute which
will play the road for some time be-
fore coming into New York. , , . Ethel
Barrymore sailed for London the other
day where she will appear in a Music
Hall and possibly a play while there.
. . . Moss Hart has gone into hiding
for the rest of the winter to do a
script and a play. And if he sees his
shadow when he emerges, Spring will
probably be just six weeks away.
Simplified Script For
Radio's 'Mansions'
The final version of Radio's "Green
Mansions," adapted by Tom Kilpat-
rick, will be handed to Director Ern-
est Schoedsack in a more simplified
form than the regular run of shooting
scripts. There will be no camera an-
gles or stage directions and it will be
limited to master scenes and dialogue.
None of the cast has been chosen
for this production, to which Merian
Cooper is giving personal supervision.
Page Four
THg
Ian. 16. 1934
•COME OF AGE' PLAY IIV VERSE
TOO SLIGHT FOR MITCH SUCCESS
J
udith Anderson
Hit in Role, Tho
"COME OF ACE"
Del^ Chappell presents Judith Ander-
son in "Come of Age," a play in
words and music by Clemence
Dane and Richard Addinsell;
staged by Miss Dane; settings by
James Reynolds; orchestra con-
ducted by Macklin Marrow. With
Stephen Haggard, John W. Aus-
tin, Helen Wills, Dorothy John-
son, Ralph Stuart, Muriel Rahn,
Frederick Lewis. At the Maxine
Elliott Theatre.
New York. — Clemence Dane with
her first offering in several seasons
gives her mite to the great legend
and tradition that was Thomas Chat-
terton. It is Miss Dane's idea to bring
the poet back from death and up to
date and no doubt as a special tribute
to his genius Miss Dane has written
the play entirely in verse. Well,
that's all right — in spots — but for
the most part it's weak and pallid
stuff that too often descends to com-
mon doggerel. Since Chatterton was
such a great poet and since Miss Dane
chose to give him life again in the
twentieth century it might have been
better to have written it in blank
verse, because as it stands it's pretty
precious play-writing with a first act
that shows promise, a second act that
flatly denies that promise and a third
act with one good scene.
Thomas Chatterton makes a bar-
gain with Death to let him go back
to life until he comes of age. (The
boy committed suicide at seventeen.)
He does this in order that he may
know life and love. They both come
along in the person of Judith Ander-
son, a slightly worn jade who refuses
to acknowledge to herself that she
really loves the boy until she has de-
stroyed the beauty of his love in a
drunken auction scene wherein she
knocks him down to the highest bid-
der. The lady repents and the boy
forgives, but he has come of age at
last and death claims him again.
Ah, but that Judith Anderson is the
one. An actress with a voice and a
technique that succeeds in making
you believe in the play and in the
writing of it even when she speaks
such poetry as "Let's not brawl, in
the hall," or "Be back to fix, cock-
tails at six." The gal is magnificent,
and while she's on the stage so is the
play. And dividing the honors of the
evening with Miss Anderson is the
music by Richard Addinsell. Unless
our ears fail us there are two hit
numbers in the play, "Afraid of the
Dark" and "River Music," and there's
a song called, we think, "Too Many
Things" that's good, too. But don't
misunderstand, this is not a musical.
The play has been conceived as a
poetic symphony and the score is an
integral part of the performance. And
to Mr. Addinsell must go first hon-
ors, after Judith Anderson, because her
task was the harder. They sent to
England for Stephen Haggard to be
the poet. Our guess is they could
have found someone just as young
and more of an actor right here.
Delay Warner Suit
New York. — The Department of
Justice anti-trust suit against War-
ner Brothers scheduled for trial in
the United States District Court in
New York, has been postponed to
March. This suit, which is based
on the acquisition of First Na-
tional, has been pending over two
years.
Seven B'way Plays
Close in the Week
New York. — Seven New York plays
closed last week, and it looks as
though the turn of the new year is
bringing about a survival of the fittest
with a vengeance.
The victims are "Re-Echo," "Jeze-
bel," "The Gods We Make," "A Di-
vine Moment," "Oliver Oliver," "The
Dark Tower," and the Cornelia Otis
Skinner show.
Dowling To Handle RKO
'European Managership'
New York. — In the new foreign
set-up of RKO which brought Phil
Reisman to that department in gen-
eral supervision, the title of Ambrose
Dowling will be "European manager,"
according to announcement yesterday
by Ned Depinet.
Dowling will have headquarters in
London, and sails Saturday, accompa-
nied by Phil Reisman.
Chester Beecroft Heads
Florida Film Company
St. Petersburg. — The Sun Haven
Studios in this Florida city has
been reorganized and Chester Beecroft
has been named chief studio execu-
tive. James F. Sammon will be the
studio's New York representative.
Production is to start around January
22 and a story is now in preparation
based on romantic incidents of Flor-
ida's early history.
Sales Tax for Missouri
St. Louis. — Missouri has passed the
one-half of one per cent sales tax,
killing two other tax bills affecting
the picture industry. The bills killed
were a levy of 1 Vi cents (ticket tax)
up to 25 cents and a straight 10 per
cent on all tickets over 25 cents and
a one-cent footage tax on all nega-
tive and positive.
Remodel Loew's N.Y. Roof
New York. — Confidence in better
business to come is shown by Loew's,
Inc., decision to remodel the New
York Roof and build it to a class at-
mosphere that will do away with the
daily change Present plan is a Mon-
day, Wednesday and Friday change
after the alterations are completed.
Cantor in Personal for Para
New York. — Eddie Cantor will be
the star attraction at the Paramount
starting Friday, with "Miss Fane's
Baby Is Stolen" the screen attraction.
Para Forms Board
National Advisers
New York. — Ralph A. Kohn an-
nounces the formation of a National
Advisory Committee by Paramount.
Members will be chosen where there
are Paramount theatre associates. The
committee will exchange information,
policies, maintaining close contact be-
tween associates and the home office.
They will meet at least once every
three months with executives of Para-
mount's theatre department.
Plans call for six members in At-
lanta, the Southwest, Chicago, New
England, west of Chicago and Canada.
Knoedler Productions To
Film Tale of Indian Life
New York. — Leonie Knoedler Pro-
ductions, Inc., has been formed by
Leonie Knoedler, the daughter of the
head of the Knoedler Art Galleries.
Features will be produced of Indian
life. The first will go into produc-
tion in March at Santa Fe., N. M.,
and will be titled "Pueblo." Harry
Behn is preparing a script from Philip
Stevenson's story of "The American."
Davis Signs Three
New York. — Bert Lahr, Joe Pen-
ner and Ethel Waters have been sign-
ed by Meyer Davis-Van Beuren Pro-
ductions on long term contracts for
shorts.
Dividend for Loew's
New York. — The Board of Di-
rectors of Loew's, Inc., has declared
a quarterly dividend of $1.62'/2 a
share on the outstanding $6.50
cumulative preferred stock, payable
February 1 5 to stockholders of rec-
ord January 3 1 .
Tristate of Omaha Buys
Publix Nebraska Assets
Omaha. — The assets of the bank-
rupt Publix Nebraska, Inc., in this
city was sold for $14,000 to Tristate
Theatres Company, of which A. H.
Blank is president. Assets sold were
the fixtures of the Capitol Theatre in
Grand Island, Neb., and the World
and State Theatres here.
Stephen Haggard, N. Y.
Player, Sought by WB
New York. — Stephen Haggard, of
the current play "Come of Age," has
clicked with the picture scouts and'
Warners are particularly hot after him.
But Delos Chappell has Haggard un-
der personal contract and so far has
refused to release him for picture
work.
Neilan Film Out Jan. 29
New York. — "The Social Register,"
made in the east under the supervision
and direction of Marshall Neilan and
starring Colleen Moore, will have its
national release by Columbia Jan. 29.
Shorts Week for Para.
New York. — Paramount will stage
a "National Short Subjects Week" for
seven days beginning February 1 1 .
i
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that you must provide today for the comforts
of tomorrow. To do this you should adopt a
policy of placing a definite amount of your
income in sound investments.
High grade Municipal bonds for years have
been the choice of conservative investors who
require safety of principal, together with a de-
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the past three years, and those fortunate
enough to have placed their funds in such se-
curities find themselves today with their in-
vestments unimpaired.
Are you following the same policy?
RHMOULTON^CONPANY
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NEW YOI^K.
LOS ANGELES
510 SOUTH SPIV.INC STREET
TRINITY $035
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ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
DIRECTED
BY
MARK SANDRICH
WHEELER & WOOLSEY
SCREEN PLAY
EDWARD KAUFMAN
IN COLLABORATION WITH
KALMAR - RUBY
STORY
MUSIC
LYRICS
BERT
Management
BREN - ORSATTI
HARRY
KALMAR ^nd RUBY
M. C. LEVEE, Manager
CR 4151
Jan. 16. 1934
IRilPOIRTEPl
Page Nine
It's time someone gave jimmie
Barker a few handclaps for his make-
up work in "Henry the Eighth"; it
was he who made Laughton look so
amazingly old in that last sequence;
amongst other things. . . . Joe Rock is
still in the metropolis and looks like
hooking up with a studio here. . . .
Joe Schenck was one Hollywood exec
who managed to keep his press state-
ment back until he wanted to spill it.
. . . Robertson Hare, British comic,
just took the British pic "Turkey
Time"— tucked it under his arm and
walked right away with it. And make
no mistake with this and "Aunt Sally."
C. M. Woolf's Caumont boys have a
coupla hearty box office winners for
England. . . . Incidentally Tim Whelan,
who directed it, has scored his second
megaphone hit for Caumont now. . . .
We congratulate Metro on the title
change of "Chris Bean"; for that mat-
ter isn't it time the lot figured out
some titles that don't have to be
changed on or before or after release?
... Or is that kinda mean of us?
•
Charles B, Cochrane, Fox associate
producer and famous stage man in his
own right, zooming up to his suite of
Bond Street offices of a morning. . . .
Helen Lewis, who was accidentally en-
gaged by B and D because they
thought she was a writer, is currently
editing films for Caumont. . . .
Wouldn't it be a piositive sensation if
someone made a musical AND DID
NOT HAVE A SINCLE OVERHEAD
SHOT! . . . Movieiand contributes
quite a lot of fight enthusiasts in this
burg, as in Hollywood; a few weeks
ago there were Tom Walls, W. J.
Cell, Ernest Fredman and Julius Ha-
gen amongst the onlookers and Ralph
Bettinson, now giving Hollywood the
once over, had a farewell party that
included Phil Tannura, Harold M.
Young and John Paddy Carstairs. . . .
And further along Bob Flaherty had
his Men of Aran present who. Bob
told us, didn't see much of the fight
all on account of the fact that they
were signing autographs all the time!
. . . Then, to make it even more
filmy, as a coupla duff heavyweights
leaned on each other's shoulders, a
voice in back of the hall shouted,
"Why don't you boys come up and
see me some time?"
•
Cary Crant, who had a coupla real
beeg offers from British International
and British and Dominions, was sitting
up in bed over Christmas, in a nursing
home, figuring out a crossword puz-
zle sent him by Charles Buster Laugh-
ton; whilst booful Virginia Cherrill
pottered in and out with flowers,
grapes and the what have you! . . .
Some astute movie man will grab Jack
(Singing Boxer) Doyle for movies
soon; he's a-one with the femmes! . .
And whilst suggesting talent to you-all
in Hollywood, we think Desmond
(Monocle Boxer) Jeans would be a
sure fire hit in Hollywood; he's a
great type.
•
T. Hayes Hunter (with the heavi-
est American accent in town) walk-
ing along Piccadilly with Junior Hun-
ter (who has the heaviest British ac-
cent in the metrof>olis) ! . . . London
Films are trying hard to get Benn
Levy back to script for them, and
we've an idea Laughton's behind the
plan because we remember him rav-
ing to us in Hollywood about Benn's
adaptation of "Devil and the Deep."
. . . Frank Capra drew the critics'
raves this week here, "Lady for a
Day" getting a belated release, that's
why. . . . Funny how everyone thinks
in terms of costume pics now; we say
that it doesn't matter a heck what
the pic is about so long as it's a HIT
and ENTERTAINS. . . . Manchester
crowded with film folk over the holi-
days, June, Lothar Mendes, Jack Bu-
chanan, Alfred Drayton, Heinrix Fran-
kel, Elsie Randolph, Marie Ney and
William Kendall amongst the many.
Cyril Gardner Acting
London. — What will Cyril Gardner
do next? He has turned actor and is
playing a more or less minor role in
"What Shall It Profit a Woman" at
Sound City.
Directing the picture is Ivar Camp-
bell. Valerie Taylor and Stewart Rome
head the cast, which includes Kath-
leen Kelly, Tyrrell Davis and Phillip
Strange.
Courdeau on MCM Slate
London. — E. R. Courdeau has se-
cured a quota release through MCM
and is making "Brent Pays" at the
Worton Hall studio under the newly
formed Interworld Pictures banner.
Harry Hughes directs.
Julius Hagen, who operates the
rental studio, announces he is enlarg-
ing the plant to accommodate more
independent production.
First 'Peter Pan' Returns
London. — Nina Boucicault, Barrie's
first "Peter Pan" in 1904, is appear-
ing in "The Irresistible Marmaduke,"
which Edward Whiting is producing at
the Embley Studio. Frank Richardson
is directing the script from Ernest
Denny's stage play. MCM releases.
'Cavalcade' Gets 'Em All
Sydney. — Fox's "Cavalcade" did
the unexpected in the small town of
Eltham. Town has a population of
2,000 and 1 ,700 clocked admissions
were checked.
Henry VIM' Having
Good Rome Season
Rome. — The picture business is in
a healthy state here. London Films is
having a fine season with "Henry the
Eighth." the Italians taking to it with
the same enthusiasm as the rest of
the world. The preparatory activity
of Douglas Fairbanks in London has
caused plenty of interest and his next
picture is looked forward to with
much interest. The Fairbanks name is
still one of the top draws in this ter-
ritory.
You've Got To Be Careful
Making Pictures in France
Paris. — French producers of "Morin
the Pig," the screen version of Guy
deMaupassant's famous story, raised
quite a ruckus in the small town of
Eu.
The mayor of the town, who is
named Morin, had never heard of the
story and figured it was a dirty trick
on the part of his political opponents.
He banned the picture's advertising
and now the Paris courts have taken
it up.
Internal Strife for Stoll
London. — Reporting a profit of but
$400 for the year, the ten million
dollar Stoll Theatre Corporation wit-
nessed a dispute among its executives
which wound up with much discord
and unpleasantness. Sir Oswald Stoll
and Alderman Latham were the com-
batants.
Pittaluga Gets B-G Pics
Rome — A neat deat has been closed
between British Caumont and Pitta-
luga, the local company getting the
London firm's product for Italy. First
two pictures to be released here are
the Italian versions of "Orders Is Or-
ders" and ''I Spy."
Ostrer's New Title
London. — Maurice Ostrer, who is
probably as well known to Holly\A/ood
as he is to British film producers, has
been invested with the important post
of assistant managing director of Brit-
ish Caumont.
Ralph Ince in England
London. — Ralph Ince flopped up
here playing the leading role in British
International's "Love At Second
Sight," which is shooting at Elstree
studio. Paul Marzbech is directing.
FREJVCH FIXAXCIAL GROVP
AWAKEX TO FILM MAKING
Paris. — The French, always ready to
follow a good tip when it comes their
way, are exhibiting a very lively in-
terest in motion picture production and
indications are that Hollywood and
London will soon have a powerful op-
ponent in France's production activity.
Financiers here have always followed
business of an international type such
as films and have come to the con-
clusion, after thorough study, that
there are profits in well-managed pro-
duction and distribution.
Extent of the newly awakened in-
terest is evidenced by La Banque
Prive, the most important private
banking house here, announcing that
it has established a separate branch
for the exclusive financing of French
film production and the discounting of
paper backed with sound credit.
The bank is feeling out several pro-
ducers, avowedly ready to finance
twelve pictures immediately. The deal
offered is one hundred percent financ-
ing, providing distribution contracts
are set. The bank is prepared to in-
corporate individual producing compa-
nies, promote a nation-wide interest
in production through the public sale
of shares, and give the film makers a
producer's profit if they can deliver.
Theatre Building
Sydney. — An anonymous writer
in Martin Brennan's Australian
trade-paper, Film Weekly, contrib-
utes a gem of advice for Hollywood
producers. It is "When people
start building theatres they dig a
lot of holes. Let's hope they can
climb out of them."
Australian Producers
Boost Picture Budgets
Melbourne. — Australian producers
are feeling the keen edge of compe-
tition in England and are being forced
to step up their activities to maintain
their place on the map.
Centenary Films here claims that
it is going to spend $100,000 on
its next two pictures, "Secret of the
Skies" and "Something Different."
Soviet Films French Visit
Moscow. — The Stalin government
is taking an official hand in the mak-
ing of a picture from the newsreels
covering the trip through Russia of
France's Premier Herriot. It will be
sync'd in Russian, English and French.
Laemmie Out; Peres In
Paris. — With Max Laemmie out as
chief of the French division for Uni-
versal, Andre Peres has been elevated
into the spMDt. Peres goes from the
sales managership to the head of the
branch in this country.
Maternelle' a Berlin Hit
Berlin. — Universal's "La Mater-
nelle" is breaking records here. Click-
ed off its 1 50th performance and still
going strong. In these times and un-
der present conditions that's some-
thing.
German Films
(Continued from Page 1 )
ness let them look at these rules to
see some of the things that may still
happen:
Double feature bills are absolutely
abolished;
Minimum admission prices will be
set by Covernment authority for vari-
ous zones;
A control will be set up in the Cov-
ernment Film Chamber to positively
regulate salaries of players and direc-
tors "to bring them down to levels
commensurate with prevailing national
ideals."
All players in the cast are to receive
equal billing, and no effort is to be
made to exploit any player or players
as the star or stars of a picture;
Because of the double feature ban
exhibitors may turn back any con-
tracts already signed that they desire
to.
American distributors here realize
that they are facing lean days. First
because of the flood of contracts that
will be turned back for their English
version pictures, exhibitors naturally
retaining their German subjects when
forced to pick; second, because they
will now have to definitely plan to
dub all subjects into German, increas-
ing negative costs in a shrunken ter-
ritory.
Page Ten
Jan. 16, 1934
LOCAL PRODUCTIONS UP WITH 29 THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 24 LAST WEEK
BAROMETER
This Week 29 Features
Last Week 24 Features
Year Ago 38 Features
2 Years Ago 15 Features
Columbia
"STORM AT MIDNIGHT"
Cast: Tim McCoy, Billie Seward, Al-
phonz Ethier, Joseph Creehan,
Ward Bond, Kane Richmond, Frank
Leighton, Francis McDonald.
Director C. C. Coleman
Original Screen Play. .Harold Shumate
Photography John Stumar
Associate Producer Irving Briskin
"SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN"
Cast: Elissa Landi, Joseph Schildkraut.
Director David Burton
Original S. K. Lauren
Screen Play Jo Swerling
Photography Joe August
Fox
"BOTTOMS UP"
Cast: John Boles, Pat Paterson,
Spencer Tracy, Sid Silvers, Herbert
Mundin, Ann Darcy, Beverly Royde,
Harry Green, Douglas Wood.
Director David Butler
Story and Screen Play: B. C. DeSylva,
David Butler, Sid Silvers.
Music and Lyrics: Harold Adamson,
Cus Kahn, Berton Lane, Richard
Whiting.
Dance Direction Harold Hecht
Photography Art Miller
Producer B. C. DeSylva
"FOX FOLLIES"
Cast: All Star.
Director Hamilton MacFadden
Story Idea Will Rogers
and Philip Klein
Book and Story Ralph Spence
Music Jay Gorney
Songs and Lyrics Lew Brown
Photography Ernest Palmer
Musical Numbers Staged by
Sammy Lee
Musical Director Arthur Lange
Producer Winfield Sheehan
Associate Producer Lew Brown
"GEORGE WHITE'S SCANDALS"
Cast; Rudy Vallee, George White,
Alice Faye, Jimmy Durante, Adri-
enne Ames, Cliff Edwards, Dixie
Dunbar, Gregory Ratoff.
Story Direction Thornton Freeland
Musical Numbers Direction
Harry Lachman
Story George White, Sam Shipman
Screen Play William Conselman
Dialogue Joseph Cunningham
Additional Dialogue... Irving Caesar,
Jack Yellen
Photography Lee Garmes
and George Schneiderman
Music and Lyrics: Ray Henderson, Irv-
ing Caesar and jack Yellen.
5ance Direction Georgie Hale
Entire production conceived, cre-
ated and staged by.--George White
Producer Robert T. Kane
"DAVID HARUM"
Cast: Will Rogers, Louise Dresser,
Irene Bentley, Kent Taylor, Evelyn
Venable, Ralph Morgan, Roger Im-
hof, Noah Beery, Stephin Fetchit,
Sarah Padden, Frank Melton,
Charles Middleton.
Director James Cruze
Story Edward Noyes Westcott
Screen Play Walter Woods
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"ALL MEN ARE ENEMIES"
Cast: Hugh Williams, Helen Twelve-
trees, Mona Maris, Rafael Ottiano,
Halliweli Hobbes.
Director George Fitzmaurice
Story Richard Aldington
Screen Play Samuel Hoffenstein
Dialogue Lenore Coffee
Photography John Seitz
Producer A! Rockett
"THREE ON A HONEYMOON"
Cast: Sally Eilers, Charles Starrett,
Zasu Pitts, Henrietta Grossman,
John Mack Brown, Irene Hervey,
Howard Lally, Cornelius Keete.
Director James Tinling
Novel by Ishbel Ross
Screen Play: Raymond Van Sickle and
Edward T. Lowe, Jr.
Photography Barney McGili
Associate Producer John Stone
Producer Sol Wurtzel
MOM
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
Cast: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen
O'Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Doris
Lloyd, Frank Reicher, Paul Cava-
nagh, William Stack, Desmond
Roberts, Yola D'Avril, Forrester
Harvey.
Director Cedric Gibbons
Adaptation Leon Gordon
Screen Play J. K. McGuinness
Photography Charles Clarke
and Clyde DeVinna
Producer Bernard Hyman
"RIP TIDE"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Mont-
gomery, Herbert Marshall, Lilyan
Tashman, Ralph Forbes, Mrs. Pat-
rick Campbell, Arthur Jarrett, Earl
Oxford, Halliweli Hobbes, Samuel
May, Helen Jerome Eddy, Peter
Hobbes, George K. Arthur, T. Roy
Barnes, E. E. Clive.
Director Edmund Goulding
Sl^ory Charles MacArthur
Photography Ray June
Producer Irving Thalberg
"MEN IN WHITE"
Cast: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Jean
Hersholt, Henry B. Walthall, Eliza-
beth Allen, C. Henry Gordon, Sarah
Padden, Dorothy Peterson, Otto
Kruger, Ruth Channing, Russell
Hardie, Wallace Ford, Russell Hop-
ton, Donald Douglas, Ruth Mannix.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Play Sidney Kingsley
Screen Play Waldemar Young
Photography George Folsey
Producer Monta Bell
Paramount
"THE SCARLET EMPRESS"
Cast: Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge,
Sam Jaffe, Louise Dresser, Ruthelma
Stevens, C. Aubrey Smith, Olive
Tell, Edward Van Sloan, Jane Dar-
well, Hans von Twardoski, Davison
Clark, Phillip Sleeman, Harry
Woods, Marie Sieber, Gavin Cordon.
Director Josef Von Sternberg
From a Diary by Catherine the Great
Screen Play Manuel Komroff
Photography Bert Glennon
"MAN WHO BROKE HIS HEART"
Cast: Victor McLaglen, Dorothy Dell,
Preston Foster, Alison Skipworth,
David Landau, John Rogers, Mischa
Auer, Alfred Delcambre, James
Burke, Don Wilson, John Northpol,
Max Wagner, Frank Rice, Russell
Powell, Jil Dennett, Alice Lake,
Miana Alvarez, Florence Dudley,
Marie Green, Charles Brinley, Al
Hill, Ivan Linow.
Directors: William Cameron Menzies
and George Somnes.
Original Frederick Schlick
and Samuel French
Photography Hal McAlpin
"MELODY IN SPRING"
Cast: Lanny Ross, Charlie Ruggles,
Mary Boland, Joseph Cawthorne,
George Meeker, Wilfred Hari, Wade
Boteler, Helen Lynd, Ann Sothern.
Diirector Norman McLeod
Story Frank Leon Smith
Screen Play Benn W. Levy
Continuity Jane Storm
Lyrics Harlan Thompson
Music Lewis E. Gensler
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer Douglas MacLean
"WERE NOT DRESSING"
Cast: Sing Crosby, Ethel Merman,
Carole Lombard, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, Raymond Milland, Jay
Henry, Bud White.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Walter Hall Smith
Adaptation. .Stephen Morehouse Avery
Music by Harry Ravel
and Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Mack Gordon
and Sam Coslow
"THE TRUMPET BLOWS"
Cast: George Raft, Adolphe Menjou,
Frances Drake.
Director Stephen Roberts
Adaptation Wallace Smith
Photography Harry Fischbeck
"BABY IN THE ICEBOX"
Charles R. Rogers Production
Cast: Richard Arlen, Sally Eilers,
Robert Armstrong, Grace Bradley,
Rosco Ates, Charley Crapewin,
Richard Arlen Jr.
Directors Casey Robinson
and Ralph Murphy
Original James M. Cain
Screen Play Casey Robinson
Photography Milt Krasner
RKO-Radio
"TRANSIENT LOVE"
Cast: Irene Dunne, Ralph Bellamy,
Constance Cummings, Vivian To-
bin, Kay Johnson, Louis Mason,
Charles Starrett, Sidney Blackmer.
Director John Cromwell
Play Anne Morrison Chapin
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Edward Cronjager
Associate Producer.. Pandro S. Berman
United Artists
"THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD"
Twentieth Century
Cast: George Arliss, Boris Karloff, Lo-
retta Young, Robert Young, C. Au-
brey Smith, Reginald Owen, Alan
Mowbray, Murray Kinnell, Paul
Harvey, Noel Madison, Florence
Arliss, Ivan Simpson, Helen West-
ley, Holmes Herbert, Arthur Byron,
Gilbert Emery, Leonard Mudie,
Charles Evans, Lee Kohlmar, Glen
Cavendar, Adolph Milar, Mary
Forbes, Lumsden Hare, Lloyd Ingra-
ham, Clarence Geldert, Oscar Apfel,
Reginald Sheffield, Brandon Hurst,
Harold Minjir, Craufurd Kent,
Douglas Gerrard, Matthew Betz,
William Strauss, Frank Hagney,
Montagu Shaw, Gerald Pierce, Leo
McCabe, Leonard Jerome, Perry
Vekroff, Rafael Carrio, Arthur
Duravennay, Louis Van Denecker,
Walter Bonn, Carey Harrison, Earl
McDonald, Dureen Monroe, Des-
mond Roberts, Clare Vedera, Robert
Corey, Frank Dunn, Horace Claude
Cooper, Bobby LaMarche, Billy Seay,
George Offeman, Murdock Mac-
Quarrie, Harold Entwistle, Harry
Allen, Olaf Hytton, Cullen John-
son, Milton Kahn, Jack Carlyle,
Harry Cording, Dick Alexander, Ed-
die Weaver, Bert Miller.
Director Alfred Werker
Original Screen Play: Nunnally John-
son and Maude T. Howell.
Photography Pev Marley
Associate Producers. .William Goetz
and Raymond Griffiths
I
Universal
"HONOR OF THE WEST"
Cast: Ken Maynard, Cecilia Parker,
Fred Kohler, Frank Hagney, Jack
Rockwell, Jim Marcus, Al Smith,
Slim Whittaker, Franklyn Farnum.
Ian. 16, 1934
THg
Page Eleven
Director Alan James
Original Screen Play Nate Catzert
Photography Ted McCord
Producer Ken Maynard
"COUNTESS OF MONTE CRISTO"
Cast: Paul Lukas, Fay Wray, Patsy
Kelly, Paul Page, Reginald Owen,
Frank Reicher, )ohn S'heehan, Car-
mel Myers.
Director Karl Freund
Original Walter Fleisch
Screen Play Karen DeWolf
Continuity Gladys Unger
Dialogue Gene Lewis
Photography Charles Stumar
Producer Stanley Bergerman
"VANISHING SHADOW"
(Serial)
Cast: Onslow Stevens, Ada Ince, Wal-
ter Miller, Bill Desmond, Richard
Cramer.
Director Lewis Friedlander
Story: Ella O'Neill, Het Manheim and
Basil Dickey.
Photography Richard Freyer
Producer Harry MacRea
Warners-First National
"WONDER BAR"
Cast: Dick Powell, Al Jolson, Ricardo
Cortez, Dolores Del Rio, Hugh Her-
bert, Guy Kibbee, Robert Barrat,
Henry O'Neill, Kay Francis, Louise
Fazenda, Fifi D'Orsay, Merna Ken-
nedy, Mia Ichioka, Henry Kolker.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Play Karl Farkas and Geza Hercaeg
Screen Play Earl Baldwin
Music and Lyrics Harry Warren
and Al Dubin
Numbers Created and Directed by
Busby Berkeley
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor Robert Lord
"HOT AIR "
Cast: Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien, Gin-
ger Rogers, Allen Jenkins, Grant
Mitchell, Joseph Cawthorn, Grace
Hayle.
Director Ray Enright
Original Story Paul Finder Moss
and Jerry Wald
Screen Play Warren Duff
and Harry Sauber
Music and Lyrics Harry Warren
and Al Dubin
Dance Director Busby Berkeley
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"MERRY WIVES OF RENO*
Cast: Donald Woods, Margaret Lind-
say, Glenda Farreli, Hugh Herbert,
Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee, Ruth
Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh.
Director H. Bruce Humberstone
Story and Screen Play Robert Lord
Dialogue Brown Holmes
and Joe Traub
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"HIT ME AGAIN"
Cast: Joan Blondell, Lyie Talbot,
Claire Dodd, Frank McHugh, Joan
Wheeler, Edward Everett Horton,
Virginia Sale.
Director Robert Florey
Original Story F. Hugh Herbert
Adaptation F. Hugh Herbert
and Carl Erickson
Photography Arthur Todd
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"FUR COATS"
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Paul Kelly,
Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree, Ann
Dvorak, Patricia Ellis.
Director Alfred Green
Story Ann Garrick
Screen Play Manny Seff
Photography Bud Hoskins
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
Independent Productions
Edwin Carewe Productions
(General Service Studios)
"ARE WE CI-VILIZED"
Cast: William Farnum, Anita Louise,
Frank McGlynn, Oscar Apfel, Stu-
art Holmes, LeRoy Mason.
Director Edwin Carewe
Story Harold Sherman
Screen Play Finis Fox
Photography Leon Shamroy
Producer ..Edwin Carewe
Chesl-erfield Pictures
( U n iversa I Stud ios )
"THE UNDERSTANDING HEART"
Cast: Charley Grapewin, Emma Dunn,
William Bakewell, Glen Boles, Jane
Kechley, Mary Kornman, Barbara
Weeks, Hale Hamilton, Lafe Mc-
Kee, Aggie Herring.
Director Richard Thorpe
Original Screen Play Robert Ellis
Photography Andy Anderson
Producer George R. Batcheller
Eastern Productions
Vitaphone Studios
UNTITLED
Cast: Lillian Roth and Queenie Smith.
Director Roy Mack
Photography Ray Foster
and Ed Dupar
Fox Movietone Studios
Van Beuren-Magna
(RKO-Radio Release)
"SO YOU WONT TALK"
Cast: Meyer Davis, Irene Taylor, Don-
ald Novis.
Director Leigh Jason
Photography Joe Ruttenberg
Producer Meyer Davis
Seek Foreclosures
(Continued from Page 1 )
pulled a fast one, turning over opera-
tion of the houses to Loew's in return
for a good deal on Paramount product
in the Loew New York houses.
Argument on the foreclosure will
come up January 19. Attorneys for
Allied are opposing the move on the
ground that it would nullify a con-
tract between Allied and Loew's by
which the latter has agreed to pur-
chase the Valencia, Kings and Pitkins
theatres for $11,000,000 with pay-
ments over a period of ten years.
"BOMBAY MAIL
Universal prod.; director, Edwin L, Marin; writers, L. G. Blochman. Tom Reed.
Palace Theatre
Ne%vs: In spite of the colorful background, the various excitements of the action
and the mysteriousness of the murders the picture hasn't the glamour
that made "Shanghai Express" so thrilling and interesting a movie. It
has no beautiful and mysterious Dietrich as passenger, and although the
direction is smooth enough it hasn't been made with the same deftness
that characterized the Von Sternberg film.
American: "Bombay Mail" provides entertainment as colorful, confusing and
exciting as any railway station scene recently camera-captured. The con-
fusion, perhaps, militates against the picture's full perfection. The action
lacks precision and the script itself cohesion, but atmosphere is well estab-
lished and suspense nicely sustained.
Times: Despite its definitely make-believe app)earance, "Bombay Mail" is an
active entertainment, and Mr. Lowe is properly suave and omniscient as
the inspector.
World-Telegram: "Bombay Mail" is far from expert in its construction, direc-
tion and acting, but it has the virtue of being able to overcome most of
its faults, and if taken for what it is intended to be — a good old-fashioned
melodrama — it provides a fairly entertaining hour of film fare.
Post: Though the plot of "Bombay Mai!" has been obviously patterned on its
predecessors, and though there are portions of the story that are jumbled
and confused, it cannot be denied that the mystery element is sustained
throughout. Edmund Lowe is brisk and entertaining.
Sun: "Rome Express" and "Silk Express" are far superior to this rather jumbled
but fairly well photographed and acted bit of hackish scrivening transpir-
ing on a train from Calcutta to Bombay.
Journal: There's plenty of action in the film, the backgrounds are colorful and
the melodramatics are amusing. The cast is large and capable, and Ed-
mund Lowe acquits himself creditably in the role of the suave Inspector
Dyke.
"BY CANDLELIGHT"
Universal prod.; director, James Whale; writers, Siegfried Geyer, Hans Kraly,
F. Hugh Herbert and Ruth Cummings.
Roxy Theatre
Times: "By Candlelight" affords a pleasantly amusing diversion. It is shallow
and somewhat obvious in spots, but its little intrigue is set forth with ad-
mirable cunning by James Whale and others.
American: A smartly amusing Continental comedy has been wrought into first
rate film fun to usher in a bright and sparkling New Year season at the
Roxy Theatre. it is romance through and through, romance taken with a
grain of salt, light and laughing, always charming.
Herald-Tribune: "By Candlelight" should be set down as somewhat of a tri-
umph for screen technique. Derived from a stage play that left much to
be desired, the work has been molded into a suavely executed and de-
lightfully amusing entertainment.
World-Telegram: "By Candlelight" is not the mightiest of so-called sophisti-
cated comedy masterpieces, but I had the privilege of liking it — and that
privilege has been rather rare in cinemaland recently.
Mirror: This charming, sly continental comedy represents the first boudoir pic-
ture of Director James Whale, who has specialized with brilliant success
in Universal's fine series of thrillers. It is a triumph for him. A clever
play, a captivating cast, smart dialogue, enchanting setting, attractive cos-
tumes are manipulated, with this director's skill, into a compact, finished
light comedy.
News: Under the capable direction of James Whale, combined with the clever
portrayals of Paul Lukas, Nils Asther and Elissa Landi, the screen version
has lost none of the spicy flavor of the original.
Journal: Continental romance, laughable and attractive always, makes the pic-
ture one of splendid entertainment.
Post: This familiar theme is not helped either by the dialogue, the direction or
the acting. There seems to have been a disposition on the part of every
one concerned in the picture to outdo himself in hilarity, with the result
that the comedy is about as light and graceful as an overcrowded ferryboat.
The film, I feel, will fail to interest American audiences to any great ex-
tent. However, it is nicely if not cleverly done. James Whale has di-
rected it with a certain amount of taste and charm.
Sun:
Roach Tests Unknowns
Hal Roach yesterday tested William
Felix Knight, Atwater Kent audition
winner in 1931 and now appearing
in Grauman's prologue, and Doris
Paxton of the Pasadena Community
Playhouse for featured spots in "Babes
in Toyland." Studio hopes to find
unknowns for the featured roles.
Kober Aids on 'Duchess*
Arthur Kober has been assigned to
script "Duchess of Delmonico's"
at MGM, collaborating with Edgar Al-
lan Woolf and Harvey Thew. Pic-
ture is scheduled to get under way
January 29 with Harry Beaumont di-
recting and Jeanette MacDonald and
Clark Gable in the leads.
New York Critics
Acclaim Another Hit
from UNIVERSAL-
WESTERN PREMIERE
PANTACES
HOLLYWOOD
NOW PLAYING
JAMES WHALE'S
PRODUCTION
ELISSA LAND! PAUL LUKAS
CSTNCR RAL/TON,NILS ASTUER , DOROTHY REVICR.
LAWRENCE GRANT
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE
Produced by
CARL LAEMMLE, JR.
Directed by
JAMES WHALE
"Don't miss this picture at the Roxy. Under
the capable direction of James Whale, combining
clever portrayals of Paul Lukas, Nils Asther and
Elissa Landi, the screen version has lost none of
the spicy flavor of the original." (THREE STARS)
— WANDA HALE,
New York Daily News.
"A smartly amusing Continental comedy has
been wrought into a first rate fun film ushering in
New Year season. . . . Elissa Larufi at her best . . .
Paul Lukas and Nils Asther polished and con-
vincing Lotharios."
— REGINA CAREWE,
New York American.
"Cay comedy, it is touching, as well as spicy
and witty, as diverting an hour's gaiety as the
screen has offered this season. Treatment and
acting lend it freshness and sparkle."
— BLAND JOHANESON,
New York Mirror.
" 'By Candlelight' should be set down as some-
what of a triumph for screen technique. The
work has been molded into a suavely executed
and delightfully amusing entertainment. The film
has bettered its original."
— HOWARD BARNES,
New York Herald-Tribune.
" 'By Candlelight' . . . affords a pleasantly
amusing diversion. Its little intrigue is set forth
with admirable cunning by James Whale and
others."
— MORDAUNT HALL,
New York Times.
" 'Nicely and cleverly done. The players . . . are
ingratiating. |ames Whale has directed with taste
and charm. . . . Those who see 'By Candlelight'
will like it."
— JOHN S. COHEN, JR.
New York Sun.
"Continental romance, laughable and attractive
always, makes splendid entertainment. . . . Film
bears the belief that Elissa Landi might well for-
sake the drama for the lighter realm of farce and
comedy."
— W. B.,
New York Journal.
"An excellent comedy, i had the privilege of
liking it. The film ripples along delightfully. The
authors have filled it with some amusing scenes.
'By Candlelight' owes a great deal to its actors and
its director."
— WILLIAM BOEHNEL,
New York Telegram.
"You will find the picture highly enjoyable."
— THORNTON DELEHANTY,
New York Evening Post.
— -ancl only one of Universal's I933'34 unbroken chain of hiK
M-G-M STUDIOS,
% READirJG DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
Vol. XIX. No. 5. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, January 17, 1934
NfW SET-UP AT RADIO
• WHAT a spot for leadership!
A majority of the leading companies
resent the snooping of the Government
in internal affairs involved in the
questionnaires now being sent out.
They fear the precedent for offi-
cial meddling that will be established
for once and for all by answering the
questionnaires.
They are righteously indignant at
the selection of the motion picture in-
dustry for this one form of insult.
They sincerely believe they cannot
be compelled to comply.
But where is the leadership to band
them together and to serve notice that
the motion picture industry is not a
group of infantile youngsters to be
spanked at the whim or whimsy of
politicians running wild with unac-
customed power?
Where is Will Hays these days?
There's a mystery.
Just because the country went
Democratic have his bosses told Will
Hays to sit in a corner, out of sight?
And only emerge for "safe" platitudi-
nous speeches?
Because if they only hired Will
Hays because he was a Republican,
they underrated his ability in the first
place; and have overpaid him at all
times.
Republicans didn't come that high
back in Harding's time.
•
We are told with great solemnity
that the questionnaires are to be kept
"confidential" — between the Admin-
istrator, his Deputy and the latter's
investigator.
Why the confessional seal if the
questionnaires are to serve any pur-
pose?
Of course they are to serve a pur-
pose— the basis for rules and pseudo-
legislation regulating salaries and
compensation in the picture business.
If not, why get them?
So when you send in your filled-
out questionnaire you are in effect
saying — "When you three kind men.
Administrator, Deputy and Investiga-
tor, look the questionnaires over and
decide on rules to run my business, I
will of course accept without a
squawk. Because by answering your
questionnaire I am tacitly consent-
ing."
Face it, gentlemen. That's where
it ends.
Happy Birthday!
Universal will throw a party this
noon on the lot in honor of Carl
Laemmle's sixty-seventh birthday.
The feature of the occasion will be
a sixty-seven pound chocolate cake.
Monogram-Erpi Tie
Rumored in N. Y.
New York. — Reports that Mono-
gram will switch to Western Electric
sound from Balsey-Philips on March 1
have given new strength to rumors
here that the Erpi organization will
soon play an important part in Mono-
gram financing.
Monogram financing for the past
season has been by arrangement with
Consolidated, the lab being at present
involved in a tie-in with RCA for the
operation of the Biograph studio here.
It looks as though Monogram's im-
provement in product and distribution
has put it in a spot to be a bone of
contention between the giant elec-
trics.
Iron Out N. O. Trouble
Washington. — The National Labor
Board hearing on the case of Loew's
State New Orleans has been indefi-
nitely postponed due to advices from
that city that it is in process of amic-
able settlement, and a mutually agree-
able decision would soon be reached.
The case of the Dubinsky Circuit,
Kansas City, has been referred to the
St. Louis Labor Board.
Warners Buy Lady Dick'
New York. — -Warners have pur-
chased screen rights to a series of
Cosmopolitan Magazine stories, "Lady
Dick," by Arthur Somers Roche.
Merian Cooper's Plan Will Put
Producers On Spot-^Retains
Reins But Avoids Drudgery
The set-up under which Merian C. Cooper has consented to
remain at the helm on the Radio lot will bring radically new
methods to the production of that organization's pictures. It
will take the form of adding broad new responsibilities on the
shoulders of the individual associate
producer, putting it up to him to make
good or step out, without enabling
him to shuffle off a great percentage
of his problems on the executive pro-
ducer.
Cooper is understood to be placing
the new plan into effect immediately.
It will mean that from the time of
the selection of a story the associate
(Continued on Page 4)
Rosenblatt Coming
With Free Hands
Washington. — Administrator Rosen-
blatt states that he will make no ap-
pointments to code committees, or ar-
rangements for conferences with
groups until he arrives in Hollywood.
Provided you want to be on the
ground floor here are the details of
the arrival. He leaves here so as to
arrive on the Coast January 22, and
will get off at Pasadena, stop at the
Beverly Wilshire, and be there about
ten days.
Coldstone Off for Rest
Phil Coldstone left yesterday for
the Sansom Sanitarium at Santa Bar-
bara, where he will take a much need-
ed rest for several weeks before re-
turning to Hollywood.
ACADEMY BIG SHOTl^ MEET
AND PLAIV RE1\EWED LIFE
At a joint meeting of the board
and executive committee of the Acad-
emy last night the keynote was one
of definite optimism concerning the
future of the organization.
Between thirty and forty attended,
of which number more than half were
some of the biggest names in the in-
dustry. Irving Thalberg, B. B. Ka-
hane, Harry Cohn, Jack Warner, Hen-
ry Herzbrun and others backed the
plea of Howard Green, vice president
and chairman of the meeting, that
new life be blown into the Academy.
To this end a committee on the fu-
ture program was named with King
Vidor chairman, and consisting of Irv-
ing Thalberg, C. B. DeMille, Lewis
Stone, DeWitt Jennings, Frank Capra,
Waldemar Young, J. M. Nickolaus,
John Cromwell and J. L. Warner.
A committee of three to take care
of the Academy's outstanding obliga-
tions was chosen, consisting of Wil-
liam Sistrom, George Irving and Van
Nest Polglase.
DeWitt Jennings, William Sistrom
(Continued on Page 4 1
Goldwyn Sued By
Writers For $25,000
New York. — The Nathan Burkan
office, which represents Samuel Gold-
wyn, discloses a suit has been brought
against the producer by G. S. Kauf-
man and Robert Sherwood for $25,-
000, the price they claim was prom-
ised for their work on "Roman Scan-
da's."
Goldwyn claims the authors provid-
ed only a rough draft of a Story and
refused to work it into shape when
requested to do so.
Tie su t may grow into historic
proportions through the expectation
of Pu'kan that the writers will file a
second action when the profits of the
pictu'e start coming in.
'His Ferocious Pal' Hit by
Ferocious Attachment
The Sol Lesser-Spencer Bennett dog
picture, "His Ferocious Pal," is in a
financial jam. Jules Brulatour, East-
man raw stock man, and the Freeman
Lang studio have slapped attachments
on the negative which is being held
in the vaults of the Davidge laboratory.
Sennett Returns Friday
Mack Sennett arrives here from
New York Friday after having spent
a week in a Mesa, Arizona, hospital
recovering from an automobile acci-
dent. Sennett was in the accident last
Thursday in which Charlie Mack was
killed.
Hammett Yarn for MOM
New York. — MGM has gone to
522,500 and closed the deal for Das-
hiell Hammett's newest best seller,
"The Thin Man." Leiand Hayward
handled the deal.
Para. Signs N. Y. Comic
New York. — Paramount has signed
Paul Gerrits, a roller skating comedian
in "Murder of the Vanities." and he
will leave for the Coast when the play
ends its Broadway run.
I
NORNAN TAUROG
Directing
Paramount's
"WE'RE NOT DRESSING "
1
Page Two
THg
Ian. 17. 1934
li
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Otfices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
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Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
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Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Jean Harlow spent all the other day
in a big department store here auto-
graphing books at the book counter
to help sales along. One old gentle-
man felt that his money was more
than well spent when Jean signed her
name over Chapter one of Genesis in
the Bible that he had just purchased!
•
A well known writer, lunching in
the Radio studio restaurant the other
day, ordered himself some roast beef.
The waitress brought him chicken.
He was very annoyed. He said, "You
take this back to the chef and tell
him to stuff it!"
"I'm sorry, sir," said the gal, "but
there are four orders ahead of yours."
(!?!)
•
The reason that a certain publicity
guy at Warners is heavily "on the
spot" is because a member of the
eastern end of the firm's press staff
had the bright idea of having one of
their newly-signed starlets announce
the fact that she was going to have a
baby — just for the experience, with-
out benefit of clergy or such. The
eastern giant-brain figured this would
get her a million dollars worth of pub-
licity. But, of course, the head man
knew what a boomerang such a story
would be not only for Warners but
for the whole industry, and raised you-
knowhat about it. The buck was
passed until it fell right into the lap
of a local employee — who was afraid
to squeal because he loves his job!
And there's a pleasant "lowdown"
in the reason that the Guild affair was
so well conducted, and so free of-er,
"aftermaths." Did you notice Jimmy
Cagney, Ken Thomson and a number
of officers mingling quietly here and
there all night.' Many an incipient
blaze was drenched before it started.
You know, those things that some-
times cause the morning after talk?
But the committee saw that they
rtever got started. Those Guilders are
going ptaces. . .-
Sun:
-BEFORE MIDNIGHT"
Columbia prod.; director, Lambert Hillyer; writer, Robert Quigley.
Mayfair Theatre
World-Telegram: A considerable amount of concentration is required if one is
to avoid confusion in following the mystery melodrama "Before Midnight"
at the Mayfair.
The authors were evidently so intent on making a really intricate puzzle
that they themselves got lost in their own mystic mazes. I fully believe
that the perpetrators practically wrote this one as they went along. As
it is, about the only pleasant item in connection with it is Miss Collyer's
prettiness, which is quite tangible and real.
Post: Of the ten most mystifying mystery pictures of the year the new entry
at the Mayfair, called "Before Midnight," should be ranked as unequivo-
cal first because it is at least twice as unintelligible at the end as it is
during any other point in the proceedings. The best that can be said of
this picture is that the author started out with a crime idea and lost it
somewhere in the second reel. Neither the cast nor the director does
anything to help him find it.
News: It is a routine murder mystery production with the usual technique em-
ployed in solving the crime and finding the murderer.
Herald-Tribune: In outline the story is not much more foolish than is to be
found in the average mystery tale, but I fear that the plot is a trifle too
complicated for complete comfort. Ralph Bellamy is a pleasant detective
hero. Miss Collyer is a handsome heroine.
American: The cast is good, with Mr. Bellamy best and Claude Cillingwater and
June Collyer helping most. Director Hillyer has established good atmos-
phere for weird happenings, but hasn't helped much in telling his story in
a straightforward directness that would have made it more presentable.
As a tip to audience sleuths, pay attention to Hollywood type casting when
watching for the killer, and don't let the complications tout you off.
Times: it is never exciting. It is just a puerile puzzle in which a zealous at-
tempt is made to deceive the audience.
Mirror: Addicts to detective stories will find this picture a tricky and satisfac-
torily mystifying hour's entertainment.
Gov't Credit Given
New German Firm
Berlin. — The bankrupt Deutches
Lichtspiel Syndicat has been reorgan-
ized through Government aid and will
produce 25 pictures this season. A
credit of two million rentenmarks has
been arranged through a Government
created film credit bureau.
Tobis, as mam creditor of the for-
mer Lichtspiel, will supply sound li-
censes and the new syndicate will
then place production orders with in-
dividual producers. Artists employ-
ed will share in the profits.
Distribution will be through a mer-
ger of the facilities of the new syndi-
cate and Terra Film.
Watt A.S.C. Manager
Allen Watt has been appointed ex-
ecutive business manager of the Amer-
ican Society of Cinematographers. He
will also act as contact man for the
organization's members with the stu-
dio production executives.
Mono. Buys Santley Yarn
Monogram has purchased an origi-
nal story by Joseph Santley titled
"Million Dollar Baby" and plans to
produce it shortly. The Nat Gold-
stone office made the deal.
Weems Joins Roach
Walter Weems has been made a
permanent addition to the Hal Roach
writing staff, the deal being handled
by Hallam Cooley, with Harry Weber.
Dieterle to Frisco
Wilhelm Dieterle left for San Fran-
cisco yesterday to find locations for
"Golden Gate."
'Mystery of Dead Police'
Back to Stage for Retakes
MGM will place "Mystery of the
Dead Police," the Robert Montgomery
starring vehicle, back into work next
week for added scenes and retakes.
Howard Emmett Rogers has been as-
signed to write the new scenes.
A new director will be assigned to
the retakes, as Edgar Selwyn. who
directed the picture, is scheduled to
leave for New York tonight with Ed-
die Mannix, to be gone about three
weeks on business.
Terrible Turk' Feb. 20
February 20 has been set by Sey-
mour Robinson as the opening date at
the -Pasadena Community Playhouse
for "The Terrible Turk," the play that
is supposed to give slants on actual
experiences of Jed Harris. Robinson
owns the state rights to product of
the play.
Del Ruth Ends WB Stay
Quite a lot of human interest to the
scenes yesterday as Roy Del Ruth said
good-bye to the boys on the Warner
lot, ending a ten year stay with one
organization. The boys made a num-
ber of presentations to the director.
Barrymore in Personal
Lionel Barrymore will leave for
New York shortly and is scheduled to
open at the Capitol Theatre there on
February 2. The skit was written for
Barrymore by Edgar Allan Woolf.
Chilean President at U'
Carlos Davila. former president of
Chile, inspected the Universal studios
yesterday and was the .luncheon guest
of Carl Laemmie and'^Ts soh Julhibr.
'Gdllant Lady' Tops
New Pics On B'way
New York. — "Gallant Lady," open-
ing at the Rivoli on Saturday, is about
the hottest of the new pictures sched-
uled for Broadway the coming week.
The other newcomers include:
Wednesday, "Massacre," at Strand;
Thursday, "I Am Suzanne," Music
Hall; "Fashions of 1934," Hollywood;
Friday, "Cross Country Cruise," Roxy ;
"Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen," Para-
mount; "Let's Fall in Love," Riaito;
"Eskimo," Capitol; Monday, "Sixteen
Fathoms Deep," Mayfair.
Still Fight Over
Rights to 'Alice'
New York.^ — The suit of Samuel
Kantrowitz against Paramount on the
ground that he owns the rights to the
title "Alice in Wonderland" for pic-
ture purposes has been transferred to
the Federal Courts at Paramount's re-
quest.
Kantrowitz claims he bought the
rights to "Alice" for film purposes in
1916 and wants an injunction against
distribution of Paramount's pictures.
Col.'s 'Sisters' Starts
Columbia put "Sisters Under the
Skin" into production yesterday with
Elissa Landi and Joseph Schildkraut in
leading roles. Other members of the
cast are Frank Morgan, Arthur Stuart
Hull, Montague Shaw, Robert Craves,
Selmer Jackson and Henry Kolker.
David Burton is directing.
Rose M.C.'s at Paramount
Harry Rose, known as the Broadway
jester, has been signed by Marco for
an indefinite stay at the Paramount
Theatre as master of ceremonies.
Harry Santley of the William Morris
office negotiated the deal.
Ampas Alter Constitution
New York. — The Ampa is holding
a closed meeting Thursday to con-
sider changes in the constitution of
the organization.
Schary Scripts 'Hell Cat'
Columbia yesterday signed Dore
Schary to script an original screen play
for "The Hell Cat."
RUSSELL.MILLER
and Company
Members
MEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst Mgr
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
ilephone HOIIywood 1 I
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San. Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
|an. 17. 1934
Ttigpsij
Page Three
A BIG DAY' NOT GREAT
BUT RATES AROVE AVERAGE
Cutting Due In
MCM Story Staff
Skilled Direction
And Cast Lift It
"A BIG DAY'
( Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer)
Directed by William K. Howard
Novel by —
Marjorie Bartholomew Paradis
Screen Play by. ...Edgar Allan Woolf
and Florence Ryerson
Adapted by Zelda Sears
and Eve Greene
Photography by Hal Rosson
Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Fay Bainter,
Mae Clarke, Tom Brown, Una
Merkel, Mary Carlisle, Onslow
Stevens, Henry Wadsworth, Ed-
die Nugent, C. Henry Gordon and
Dickie Moore.
Reduce "A Big Day" to essentials,
and you have a slight trite story of
how youth opened the eyes of ex-
perience. But add to that a well cho-
sen cast, good dialogue and William
K. Howard's ability to juggle a dozen
situations without losing a central
theme, and you have a film which
holds steady interest, even though it
may not keep a record breaking line
at the box office.
Much interest naturally is attached
to Fay Bainter's first screen appear-
ance. She plays the devoted mother
of four children. Without seeming
silly or unsophisticated or anything but
charming, she hesitates to leave her
family alone for dinner while she
signs a screen contract on her first
novel.
The camera jumps rapidly from one
member of her family to another. Co-
herency and comedy are achieved by
the fact that all are calling the maid
at home to cancel dinners. Each has
his _pwn all-important problem to be
met immediately.
The husband is harried with worry.
He is innocently, but none the less
desperately, involved in the embezzle-
ment of $40,000. The older daugh-
ter is making up her mind to marry
the wrong fellow. The younger
daughter is playing with fire, kitten-
ishly adventuresome. The son feels
that his whole life depends upon mak-
ing a fraternity.
Stimulated by excitement of her
writing contract in Hollywood, the
mother gathers her family around the
fireside. She feels safe in leaving for
six weeks. To her, all of their lives
are ordered and serene.
By the next afternoon, the hus-
band has attempted suicide, the son is
in the hospital, one daughter has de-
cided not to marry, the other has an-
other fiance, but everyone is happy
and home for dinner.
The film is a patchwork of short
scenes, and is episodic enough to drive
any director out into the night. Nev-
ertheless, Howard has made of it a
film that seems spontaneous rather
than spotty, with the exception of
several long, scenes in which Lionel
Barrymore presents a mask of tragedy
which would make any wife suspect
more than normal depression. Other-
wise Barrymore turns in his usual
competent, deliberate performance.
Fay Bainter has a steady charm,
convincing and adept, as the mother.
iii:ici:j/:/:/»
Competition
Asked if Universal, which was
skunked by Columbia's ringing in
professionals during a basketball
match between the studios, was
going out after professionals of its
own, Frank Mastroly said, "I don't
know, but we've hired a few new
cops at the studio."
'Woman Unafraid'
Pretty Dull Stuff
"WOMAN UNAFRAID "
(Goldsmith Production)
Directed by William J. Cowen
Story by Mary E. McCarthy
Photography by Gilbert Warrenton
Cast: Lucile Cleason, Skeets Gallagher,
Lona Andre, Warren Hymer, Bar-
bara Weeks, Laura Treadwell,
Eddie Phillips, Jason Robards,
Ruth Clifford, Richard Elliot,
Erin LaBissoniere, Julie Kingdon,
Joyce Goad and Baby Waring.
With a hopeless story to begin with,
a cast that is particularly inadequate,
and direction that gives the effect of
scraping your fingernails on a black-
board, "Woman Unafraid" is one of
those pictures that repose more grace-
fully in the waste basket than on a
screen.
The story, featuring the heroism of
Officer Winthrop, a female cop, and
her capture of a flock of gangsters,
single-handed, is such sentimental
blood and thunder nonsense that even
if it were well presented it would still
strain the credulity.
The picture would be helped con-
siderably if some cutting were done
to eliminate the occasional dull blank
silences, and if the many episodes
could be arranged in some sort of
smooth order so that the audience is
not yanked back and forth from one
unrelated scene to another. But tak-
ing the story itself into consideration,
it doesn't seem worth while to do any-
thing about it.
It's pretty dull stuff.
Tom Brown turns in an exceptional
piece of work in a most difficult
scene. Banged up in an accident, he
has to read long speeches about car-
rying on while his father, groggy with
an overdose of sleeping powders, sees
that it is the coward who takes the
easy way out. Hard to do and very
well done. The audience sniffed loud-
ly and sympathetically.
Mary Carlisle is a bit too self-con-
scious as the self-conscious school girl
in spots but she make up for it in a
very funny scene where she longs for
love in theatric phrases.
Competent performances are turned
in by Onslow Stevens, Henry Wads-
worth, Eddie Nugent, C. Henry Gor-
don and Dickie Moore. And then there
is Una Merkel who never fails to make
a part count in handsome fashion.
"A Big Day" won't mean a record
breaking week, but it is human and
convincing enough to be well above
the average domestic drama in ap-
peal.
The question that pops up at the
executive meetings at MGM very fre-
quently, regarding the cutting down
of the writing staff, again was brought
before the same group and again a de-
cision was reached to decrease the
number of writers, which now totals
75.
There will be no wholesale cutting
down on the staff but writers not un-
der contract to the studio will be let
out as soon as they finish the assign-
ment they are working on and new
work will be distributed among the
writers under contract.
A number of writers are expected
to be let out this week.
20th Shutdown Not
Coming Until May
Twentieth Century will have a three
month shutdown on or about May 1 ,
at which time Darry Zanuck and Jos-
eph Schenck will wind up the first
year's work of the new company with
the completion of twelve pictures.
Darryl Zanuck and William Goetz
will leave for Europe at that time with
their families and Darryl Zanuck will
continue on to Africa on a big game
hunt while Goetz will remain in Paris.
Fox Sale May Clear
'Lola Montez' Tangle
Fox hopes to save something from
"Lola Montez," a play bought sev-
eral years ago and never produced, by
selling the title to MGM for its forth-
coming picture based on Lola's life.
At the present this is the title Hunt
Stromberg, the producer, favors.
Green on Para Ticket
Dropping the producer's mantle,
Howard J. Green moves over to Para-
mount today to write the screen play
of "The Great Magoo," the play by
Ben Hecht and Gene Fowler, which Al
Lewis produces. Green produced "So
You Won't Sing, Eh?" for Radio,
which is now in the hands of the cut-
ters.
Radio Gets Mills Bros.
The Four Mills brothers were signed
yesterday by Radio to appear in the
jimmy Durante starring picture,
"Strictly Dynamite," which Elliott
Nugent will direct. The cast includes
Gene Pallette and Nydia Westman.
H. N. Swanson is supervising.
David Manners Returning
David Manners arrives in New York
January 25 from his visit to London
and hops off immediately for the
coast. He played the leading role in
British International's "Contraband"
while in London.
Warren Duff Renewed
Warners yesterday punched Warren
Duff's ticket, handing him a tilt and
extending his stay with the company's
writing staff another six months. His
deal was negotiated through Frank and
Dunlap.
Would it ever occur to you that
there might be a fashion tie-up for
the picture "Roman Scandals"? Well,
we never would have thought of it
ourself, but little things like that don't
seem to bother Lynn Farnol. That
bright boy of the Goldwyn outfit sold
the Herald-Tribune fashion editor the
idea and in return got himself a whole
full page spread adapting the Roman
idea to modern dress and of course
giving "Roman Scandals" full credit
for the costumes. And the amazing
part of it is that they make very at-
tractive evening costumes or peignoirs
or something, and anyway we think
it's a swell stunt, because they must
have laughed when he first broached
the subject and then they sat down
and gave it a complete Sunday page
and article.
•
There's a play in town which had
just about the most terrific advance
sale of anything that's come to Broad-
way since — . However, the reviews
and general comment were sort of a
letdown to say the least, but the house
was sold out for approximately seven
or eight weeks. Sooo, someone was
asking one of the members of the
company how the play was doing.
And she said that for the first act
they were playing to capacity houses
every performance.
•
A friend of a friend of ours has had
one of those strange experiences with
the picture business. We withhold
his name because his chances are still
good. However, this lad, who is very
attractive and very tall, got very tight
one night, and while in his cups ac-
cepted a dare and made a bet that he
could walk into a picture company,
demand a screen test and get it. The
next day he was cold sober but still
game and so he marched himself up
to Fox — and got a screen test. Not
only that, but a contract for six weeks
at a hundred and twenty-five a week.
So he went to Hollywood, where he
reported for work and was promptly
forgotten by everyone on the lot ex-
cept the treasurer, who dutifully sent
him his pay each week. At the end
of the six weeks, finding that he liked
Hollywood, he decided to try the same
stunt again with another company.
And this other major company also
gave him a test, but before he could
find out what they were going to do
about it he had to come east because
of illness in his family. However, he
has received word that if, as and when
he returns to the coast he is to come
on over and they'll talk over terms.
Wonder who will be the person to
"discover" the boy? . . . What in the
world has happened to Katie Hepburn
that made her refuse to autograph one
picture of herself for a crippled child
who adores her? And the request
came through perfectly legitimate
channels.
Hermann Bahr Dies
Munich. — Herrnann Bahr, world
known Austrian dramatist, and some-
times referred to as "The Shaw of
Germany," passed away here yesterday
at the age of seventy.
Page Four
THE
Jan. 17, 1934
A.S.C. Hears Details
Of New Pact Mon.
The American Society of Cinema-
tographers has called its first general
meeting of the year for Monday night.
In announcing the meeting President
John Arnold said:
"The meeting is of the utmost im-
portance to every cameraman in the
business and will be recognized as
such when we advise them officially
of the details of the long term agree-
ment entered into between the society
and the producers."
Talbot in 'Golden Gate'
Lyie Talbot has been given the male
lead in Warners' "Golden Gate."
Bette Davis, Pat O'Brien and Marga-
ret Lindsay are also set for this one,
which Wilhelm Dieterle will direct.
Mammy-Oh-Mammy
Al Jolson complained yesterday
that in the twenty or so years he
has been wearing black-face on the
stage and screen he's never been
forced to use it as he does in
"Wonder Bar." He wears "black-
face" all over his body.
Academy Starts Anew
(Continued from Page 1 )
and Lewis Stone were named a com-
mittee to confer with producers as to
how the work of the Actor-Producer
Relations office might best be car-
ried on.
Carl Dreher and J. M. Nickolaus will
deal with the producers on questions
concerning the Technical Bureau.
According to Howard Green the
Academy has lost only 10 per cent of
its membership through resignations
and he branded as false the rumor
that the Academy would fold now or
at any future date.
Dix-Dunne Team
Again in 'Stingaree'
Richard Dix will be co-starred with
Irene Dunne in "Stingaree" as his
next assignment, instead of either
"Crime Doctor" or "Family Man."
William Wellman will direct.
This is the first time that these two
stars are scheduled to appear to-
gether since "Cimarron." David Lewis
will supervise this picture.
Todd Added by Hoffman
M. H. Hoffman, apparently deter-
mined to load his guns with a name-
value cast, yesterday closed for the
services of Thelma Todd, who shares
top billing with Jack LaRue in "Take
the Stand."
Ruben Megs 'Family Man'
J. Walter Ruben has been assigned
to direct the Clive Brook starring ve-
hicle, "Family Man," as his next as-
signment for Radio. Myles Connolly
is supervising.
Spewacks on 'Soviet*
Bella and Sam Spewack are doing
the dialogue and continuity on
"Soviet" for MGM, using the treat-
ment written by Leo Birinski.
Chester Morris East
For Erskine Picture
Chester Erskine yesterday closed a
deal by wire with the Rebecca and
Silton office for Chester Morris to
journey East in two weeks to share
top billing with Helen Morgan and
Lilyan Tashman in "Frankie and John-
ny," which United Artists will dis-
tribute. Moss Hart is turning out the
script and Helen Broderick and Clifton
Webb are also set for the cast.
Morris returns here by the end of
next month in order to take the title
sp>ot in Universal's "Practical Joker,"
which Stanley Bergerman is produc-
ing.
Cormack's Para. Year Ends
Bartlett Cormack winds up a year's
contract with Paramount on the com-
pletion of his work on the screen play
of "The Trumpet Blows." Except for
a year at Radio as a writer-producer,
Cormack has worked exclusively for
Paramount during the five years he
has been in Hollywood.
Tom Terriss in N. Y.
New York. — Tom Terriss is back
in this country after writing and di-
recting an all-French picture, "La Vie
Splendide," in Paris. The picture was
well received at the Carnegie here.
'Alice in Hollywood'
Thomas Bell, formerly associated
with Ralph Spence, has sold a play to
the Shuberts entitled "Alice in Holly-
wood." It is scheduled for Fall pro-
duction.
Presnell Starts Warners'
The Key' Wednesday
Robert Presnell puts his next pic-
ture,"The Key," into work next Wed-
nesday, and is now building the cast
around William Powell and Kay Fran-
cis in the leads. Dr. Thomas Mc-
Loughlin, a noted psychiatrist, has
been engaged as technical advisor.
Agent Wins Damages
Leon Lance, agent, was yesterday
awarded $5725 in damages in Judge
Marshall McComb's court for auto
injuries sustained in 1932.
New Set-up at Radio
(Continued from Page 1 )
producer will be on his own in all the
details of story preparation, tentative
casting, selection of direction, clear
through to budget making.
Only when the picture is laid out
in every detail will it be brought be-
fore Cooper for final executive deci-
sions.
The intention is to avoid the daily
dilly-dallying and time-wasting con-
ferences the result of which is to keep
the executive producer on a twenty-
four hour treadmill schedule, and in-
cidentally mean that it takes the as-
sociate producer twice as long to get
a given job done because he has to
await his turn to get into the front
office.
Present group of associate produc-
ers on the Radio lot includes Pandro
Berman, Kenneth Macgowan, Myles
Connolly, Howard Green, Cliff Reid,
David Lewis, Lou Brock, Shirley Bur-
den and William Sistrom.
And then we wrote
"BY A WATERFALL"
NOW OUTSELLING ALL PICTURE SONGS
and
"LONELY LANE"
FROM WARNER BROTHERS' "COLLEGE COACH"
Soon youll hear . . .
"WHEN TOMORROW COMES"
from Warner Bros. "Mandalay " — Destined to be the year's outstanding torch song
"SPIN A LITTLE WEB OF DREAMS" '-^y^Zt'lT ^ll"^-
AND FOUR CATCHY SONG HITS FOR
HAROLD TEEN''
LYRICS BY
IRVING KAHAL
MUSIC BY
SAMMY FAIN
A few of our past hits: "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me." "There Ought to be a Moonlight Saving Time
^ That the Human Thing To Do?" "When I Take My Sugar to Tea," ••>"-j-' - r, ,, . r, . . . . ^. . ^. . ^
"Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella" and our contribution to the NRA-
Was
PO Vu i."'Lr"' ►'"•'"■■"■'• •"" "■v^"5'" a ■■"cw ixiriu or Love \o ivie, mere uugnt to De a Moonlight iavmg lime," "Wc
. O. /^, ^ the Human Thing To Do?" "When I Take My Sugar to Tea," "Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine,
^^ Lpt a Smilp Ro Yrvilr llmhrolio" -^^A ^.., ^«_»_:U..t: i_ il__ Mr>A "Thp Rn rl ' n A "
MFTRO-GOLD^AYN-MAYER STUDIOS,
% UR.SAK^UEL MAF^X,
CULVER CITY.CALIK.
Vol. XIX, No. 6. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, January 18, 1934
eOlDWYN BOWSTC INDIES
Fireworks Explode Listens To N. Y. Theatre Group
At Para. Hearing ^„^ Agrees To Come Off His
w York. — With Federal Judge O f#
Big Percentage High-Horse
•FOUR or five days in New York right
at this time gives a viewpoint, an en-
tirely different viewpoint from any
other part of this country. New York
is on a jamboree, is spending money
as it has never spent before, is buying
entertainment in every form, is having
fun. Theatres, legitimate and (some)
movies, hotels, restaurants, etc., etc.,
are packed to the doors. The old town
has a gayety that has never been ap-
proached since 1919.
The picture business in New York
is better than in any other part of the
country right at this time. The
neighborhood houses, particularly, are
doing excellent business. The big
houses downtown are doing great
when they have great pictures and
better than average on program at-
tractions.
The legitimate theatres are boom-
ing, ordinary attractions are selling
out, really good shows are sold out
for weeks in advance. Most of the
hits seem dull in comparison to good
pictures. Take for instance the $70,-
000 purchase of MCM's "Ah Wilder-
ness." We had to force ourselves to
sit through two acts. And it's one
of the big hits of the town. There's
too much talk, and a masterful job on
the screen adaptation is the only hope
of turning it rnto a good picture.
•
There is little doubt but that the
theatre has sagged greatly in enter-
tainment principally for the reason
that there are not a dozen writers
devoting their attention to that form
of writing. But still, our picture pro-
ducers go in and bid their heads off
for the shows, ordinary, very ordinary
shows. Look at Paramount with their
purchase of "Sailor Beware." It's
not as good as their own script of
"The Fleet's In" that Clara Bow did
for them some time ago. And any-
how, the main and only attraction to
"Sailor Beware" is material that should
not be placed on the screen and prob-
ably will not even be photographed.
But some day, somehow or other,
producers here will realize the value
of spending big sums for good origi-
nals, scripts that will be handed them
in completed form ready for shooting.
And when this is done, the cost of
story material will be greatly reduced
and better pictures will result.
New York. — With Federal Judgi
Bondy finally stepping down because
he felt the honor of the court had
been assailed, a stormy session today
over the approval of the Paramount
equity receivers and attorneys fees
came to a temporary truce. judge
Knox will now decide the case.
Fireworks were wild at the hearing,
Attorneys Zirn, House and Rogers
claiming that as the receivership it-
self was "illegal and procured with
collusion and fraud" anv approval of
the fees was likewise.
Rogers had a particularly bitter
personal spat with Judge Bondy.
MCM Dickers for Lloyd
To Direct Shearer Pic
MCM IS negotiating with Frank
Lloyd to direct "Vanessa," which will
have Norma Shearer and Diana Wyn-
yard in the top spots. Lloyd is now
on a lay-off period from his Fox con-
tract. Arthur Richman is writing the
script. Walter Wanger produces
Blumey Loses Philly Suit
Philadelphia. — The suit in Philadel-
phia by A. C. Blumenthal against Al-
bert M. Greenfield for $151,575 for
commissions on account of the sale of
William Fox's stock holdings several
years ago has been dismissed by Unit-
ed States Circuit Court of Appeals.
Senators Attack Code
Washington. — Senators Nye and
Borah are scheduled to take the Sen-
ate floor today to attack the monopo-
listic tendencies of the NRA codes.
It is of interest to picture people be-
cause of the non-conformist attitude
still maintained by Allied Exhibitors.
New York. — Samuel Coldwyn met with the independent
exhibitors here yesterday and was conquered, but not before a
long and harassing argument had ensued and one that will live
long in the exhibitors' breasts,
more money for his bit, even though
he agreed to take less than the 50 per
cent he had been asking from that
group.
The meeting was arranged by Harry
Brandt, president of the Independent
Theatre Owners of New York. Both
Coldwyn and Al Lichtman put in their
appearance and the fireworks were set
off by Brandt asking Coldwyn why he
was demanding such a high percent-
age for "Roman Scandals." Coldwyn
replied with a few thousand cho ce
(Continued on Page 2 1
Only $15,000 Parts
Cummings and U'
Everything points to Constance
Cummings for the star spot in
"Clamour," which Ben F. Zeldman is
producing for Universal. Negotiations
revolve around the sum to be paid the
player, Selznick and Joyce asking
$30,000 for the assignment, with
Universal offering $15,000.
William Wyler will direct, Victor
Schertzinger, who was previously set,
being tied up at Columbia.
Caumont Chief to Visit
London. — Michael Balcon. chief of
production at the Caumont and Cains-
borough studios, plans to shortly make
a trip to Hollywood to study produc-
tion methods there.
and one that will net Coldwyn
'Catherine' Another
Triumph For Korda
London. — It looks like another tri-
umph for Alexander Korda. "Cather-
ine the Creat" trade shown last night
is compared unanimously to "Henry
the Eighth," and will even be better
liked by most Britishers, being more
dignified in treatment of its subject.
Elizabeth Bergner is pronounced
"magnetic," Fairbanks, Jr., excellent,
and praise is given the lavishness of
the settings and photography.
The picture clicks in all depart-
ments, though it will stand some
trimming, being 8500 feet at the
trade show.
Columbia International
Convention in London
New York. — J. H. Seidelman, for-
eign manager of Columbia Pictures,
sails Friday for England to attend the
first international convention of Co-
lurrbia's youthful foreign organiza-
tion. It will be held in London Jan-
uary 28.
Rumor Zanft-Berg join
Latest reports on the John Zanft
front last night were that the former
Fox major executive had reached an
agreement with Phil Berg and the two
would combine forces in the special
representative field.
FOX PAYROLL JAM STARTS
FIREWORKS AT WESTWOOD Nana' in Music HallFeb.l
Fox failed to have salary checks on
hand for a number of the higher-sal-
aried writers and players on both the
Westwood Hills and Western Avenue
lots Tuesday afternoon, and met the
workers with varying excuses. When
the players and writers started com-
paring notes yesterday and realized
that each was not an individual case
the buzzing grew to excited propor-
tions.
(Continued on Page 2)
Dowling on Radio Board
New York. — Eddie Dowling has
been appointed to the Radio Code Au-
thority, and Ceneral Johnson today de-
nied to pointed questions that it was
due to any White House pressure.
Morris Hit by Flu'
Chester Morris is in bed with the
flu which laid him low following his
appearance at the Screen Actors' Guild
ball last Saturday night.
New York. — February 1 is the date
set for the opening of "Nana" at the
Radio City Music Hall, Sam Coldwyn
booking his big picture where he
wanted to regardless of United Artists
being the distributor.
Connolly Loses Mother
Cincinnati. — The mother of Walter
Connolly died here yesterday. The
actor was en route from Hollywood to
see her when the end came.
C
GEORGE SIDNEY
One of the foremost character
actors of the screen
MANAGEMENT
Small-landau CU.
Page Two
Jan. 18, 1934
^'
Kl^feteroiCTit
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Clel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundavs and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
lATSE FIRES FIRST GUN IX
FIGHT FOR RECOG]VITIOI\
Goldwyn Bows to Indies
(Continued from Page 1 )
Well, so it seems that Dorothy Lee
has decided that Marshall Duffield
isn't her dream-prince after all! . . .
The Randy Scott-Vivian Gaye merging
won't be for another month yet — or
two or three. . . . Lou Schreiber has
had practically no sleep (in the day-
time) for the past few weeks. . . .
Bing Crosby and )oe E. Brown will be
at President Roosevelt's birthday party
January 30. . . . Russ Sanders, ex-
football star, who once ran 95 yards
for a touchdown, is coming along nice-
ly as an assistant director at Warners.
•
Johnny Weissmuller has gone in for
target practice — we mention this
without comment. . . . Now that
"Viva Villa" is in the bag, Wally
Beery is off somewhere to fish; Wally,
by the way, shot 1 1 ,000 feet of small
film while in Mexico on location —
just for his own amazement! . . . We
have a most amazing fan-letter for
Arline Judge! . . . Monte Blue is train-
ing at a local gymnasium daily — and
looks tres fit. . . . Joan Blondell has
tossed the white henna overboard and
gone back to her natural tresses which
are sorta blonde anyway. . . . David
Manners, who really wowed 'em in
London, is turning down (and we
know) radio, stage and social offers
to come back to Hollywood in a coupla
weeks.
Mrs. Louis B. Mayer, well again, is
returning here from San Francisco to-
day— the L. B.'s will live in Beverly
for a while. . . . The supposedly mar-
rying Carbo has been furniture buy-
ing, wc hear — but she already has a
beautiful torso! . . . Clark Gable starts
training with Mike Cantwell next
week — but he didn't say what for!
. . . Looks like the romance between
Ann Harding and that famous novelist
has cooled something awful. . . .
Ratoff, the Russian magnificat, fuss-
ing at the Vendome because he had
to park his car a block away and had
to wait for a table. ... If you hear
from Frank Joyce, kindly notify his
office. . . . Hepburn Is fed up with
t>ie StafgC. S.VT-~-r,:^— .-.--:■
The lATSE yesterday fired the first
gun following the soundmen's election
in its battle with the IBEW when
Harold Smith, their business manager,
filed formal charses with the Regional
Labor Board against each member of
the Motion Picture Producers' Asso-
ciation, individually and collectively.
Producers are charged with disregard-
ing the 40-hour maximum clause in
the code covering all sound men ex-
cept mixers and recorders. Smith also
claims in his complaint that the stu-
dios are guilty of salary violations in
the case of all sound men, under the
overriding provision, Article IV, Sec-
Look for $10 a Day
Men for NRA Bodies
Washington. — General Johnson is
looking for outside public spirited citi-
zens to serve as Government observers
at hearings in all industries. Ten
dollars a day for the hearings plus
traveling expenses will be the fee.
In the future no code hearings will
be held in any industry without this
impartial observer present. The prac-
tice of using deputy administrators for
the purpose is abandoned because it
results in the NRA reviewing its own
acts.
Radio Borrows Kruger
For Xrime Doctor' Role
Otto Kruger was borrowed by Ra-
dio from MGM yesterday for the lead
in "Crime Doctor," with Nils Asther,
Wynne Gibson and Ada Cavell in fea-
tured roles. John Robertson will di-
rect and production is scheduled to
get under way on Monday.
Kruger will play the role that Rich-
ard Dix was slated to have.
H. B. Warner Signs Agents
H. B. Warner has been signed to
a managerial contract by the Bernard
and Meiklejohn agency.
Fox Payroll jam
(Continued from Page 1 )
The result was a hectic day for Fox
executives when individuals and agents
on behalf of their clients descended
on the Fox lot for their overdue pay
checks yesterday.
On Tuesday the applicants were
told, "Everything will be straightened
out tomorrow. Your check will be
ready then."
But at the close of the business day
yesterday a number of the workers
were still awaiting their checks.
Illness of "the party who signs the
checks" was given as the excuse to
most. The common alibi handed the
contract players whose checks must
bear the signature of Winnie Sheehan
was "Mr. Sheehan is in story confer-
ence and cannot be disturbed."
This excuse was still being given
yesterday, twenty-four hours after the
payments were due.
Executive, clerical, labor and extra
payrolls were met on time. The trou-
ble seems only to have arisen in the
higher bracketed salaries, the bulk of
the studio's overhead. rl^,-^,- -,.,.. ..-.*^
tion 5, of the Motion Picture Code.
The studios still refuse to recognize
the lATSE's right to speak for the
sound men, having a contract with
the IBEW.
Smith claims his union's victory at
the polls last week gives him the pow-
er to deal with the producers under
Section 7a of the NRA and Article
III of the Motion Picture Code. He
wants a showdown in this jurisdic-
tional dispute and has chosen this
method to find out where he stands.
Harry Brigaerts, vice president of
the IBEW, was not in his office yes-
terday and up to a late hour last night
could not be reached for a statement.
Clive Brook and DeMille
Cannot Agree on Terms
Cecil B. DeMille is again on the
lookout for an actor to play the role
of Caesar in "Cleopatra," which he is
making for Paramount.
DeMille had set on Clive Brook for
the role, but when it came to settling
the money end Paramount did not
want to meet the figure asked by
Brook. There is still a possibility that
negotiations will be renewed.
Foreign Actors Load
Down Ocean Liners
New York. — It's open season for
foreign actors flocking to America.
Arriving on the Champlain yesterday
were Peggy Morrison, dancer of the
Folies Bergere; Thomas C. Gibbs. Eng-
lish actor; Lucien Coedel and Victor
Henkine, French actors.
Other passengers on the liner were
Ernest Stern, art director, and Dudley
Wilkinson, American actor.
Fashion Adviser Assigned
To 'Latest From Paris'
MGM yesterday assigned Kathleen
Howard, associate editor of Harper's
Bazaar, to serve as technical adviser
and to act in Joan Crawford's next ve-
hicle, "Latest from Paris," which Rob-
ert Z. Leonard directs. Miss Howard
was brought out here several months
ago by Jesse L. Lasky to serve in the
same capacity on "Coming Out Party."
'U' Tags Mrs. Leslie Carter
For 'Elizabeth and Mary'
Mrs. Leslie Carter has been set by
Universal for a featured role in "Eliz-
abeth and Mary" with Margaret Sulla-
van and Lowell Sherman, the latter to
direct.
Arthur Caesar has finished the
script and the cast will start rehearsals
next week. Shooting will begin the
week following.
Ellington for 'Vanities'
New York. — Duke Ellington and his
band have been signed by Paramount
for "Murder in the Vanities." The
organization leaves for the coast next
week.
Harry Green Entertains
Inviting over 300 guests, Harry
Green will be host at a cocktail party
today at the Clover Club between four
...and eight. . ._ . _
words, telling the exhibitors that they
were continually crying for good pic-
tures and when a producer brings
them one they refuse to pay for it.
Goldwyn said, "I will never make a
bad picture if I can help it and by
helping, I mean the expenditure of all
the money required to make it good in
the buying of the proper writing
brains, the assembling of the best
casts and giving the picture all the
production that it requires. I am not
asking you to take from 30 to 60
pictures, I sell you one picture at a
time and ask you to sit in judgment
on that picture before you buy it. If
I am successful in making a picture
that will draw audiences, I am entitled
to my just return for that picture; so
why do you say I am asking too
much?"
In reply to this Harry Brandt stated:
"We agree with everything you have
said, Mr. Goldwyn. You are making
the best pictures in the business, pic-
tures that are getting big money, BUT
we do not get a crack at that big
money. You are asking us to pay the
same percentage as the first run
houses and the big circuits. Don't
you realize that after you play your
first run, then turn your picture over
to the Loew circuit. Fox, RKO and
other chains, that most of our cus-
tomers are deflected from our box
office to go to those theatres to see
any big picture? When those pic-
tures reach our houses most of our
audiences have seen them some place
else. Give us the picture at the same
time as the big circuits and we will
pay you the same percentage, but if
you insist on us running it after them,
after they have milked our neighbor-
hoods, then we tell you that you must
give us a break and get away from
those 50 percent demands if you want
us to play your productions."
Other exhibitors showered Gold-
wyn with praise for his manner of
production, his effort to make good
pictures, and when it was all over
Goldwyn finally agreed to percentage
reductions and will deal individually
with each exhibitor and his problem
as it concerns the run of "Roman
Scandals."
The feeling around here is that al-
though Goldwyn will take a percent-
age cut he will get more money in
the long run because he met with this
group, stated his case clearly and hon-
estly and the exhibitors will go out
and hustle business for him, not only
on "Roman Scandals" but on his other
coming pictures, and not only that,
but more "Scandals" contracts will be
s.ijgned than would have been if this
meeting had not been arranged.
And they still call him "Lucky
Sam."
Series of
one and
negative
habitat;
edit and
FOR SALE
high class anima
two reelers; also
photographed in
excellent material
dialogue.
EX-0664
films,
animal
natural
to re-*
.L
Jan. 18, 1934
THF
Page Three
PARA'S ^SIX OF A KIND'
LAVGHFEST, SHOULD CLICK
mimiiii
Good Production;
Big Name Cast
"SIX OF A KIND"
( Paramount )
Directed by Leo McCarey
Story by Keene Thompson
and Douglas MacLean
Adaptation by Walter DeLeon
and Harry Ruskin
Photography by Henry Sharp
Cast: Charlie Ruggles, Mary Boland,
W. C. Fields, Alison Skipworth,
George Burns and Gracie Allen.
Throw your hat up in the air and
grab yourself off a swell comedy —
Paramount's "Six of a Kind." Silly,
ridiculous, absolutely hilarious in spots,
this cheerful insanity is swarming with
everything that makes people laugh.
Directed with expert calculation,
acted to the hilt, and featuring a story
that is universally funny in the first
place, the picture should be good news
to any box office.
Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland
start out for a vacation — their first in
twenty years. Their second honey-
moon, they call it, until George Burns
and Gracie Allen answer the adver-
tisement Miss Boland put in the news-
paper for a couple "to drive to Cali-
fornia and share expenses."
As if these two didn't provide com-
plications enough, a teller in the bank
where Ruggles works uses the Ruggles
baggage as a hiding place for $50,000
he has stolen.
The trip to California, enlivened by
Gracie Allen's inanities and several
minor catastrophes, hits an amusing
peak when the party reaches Alison
Skipworth's hotel and is arrested by
W. C. Fields, the sheriff.
The six principals in this comedy
work perfectly together. In addition
to the fine work of those already men-
tioned, W. C. Fields, in particular, has
an opportunity to show what he really
can do, although every other member
of the cast is as funny as anybody has
a right to be.
Leo McCarey 's direction is expert;
Walter DeLeon and Harry Ruskin did
right by the story by Keene Thompson
and Douglas MacLean, and Henry
Sharp photographed it well.
"Six of a Kind" is above-average
comedy. It has names, story, di-
rection plus swell acting.
Howard Slated to Meg
'Streets of New York'
With William Wellman off the pic-
ture, MGM is figuring on William K.
Howard to direct "Streets of New
York," the Arthur Caesar story which
David Selznick is producing.
Howard is now in New York and
will return to Hollywood in about a
week.
'Bottoms Up' Now Scoring
Fox yesterday signed Constantine
Bakaleinikoff to supervise the scoring
of the B. G. DeSylva production, "Bot-
toms Up." Harry Jackson's radio or-
chestra will be used for the recording.
Director David Butler hopes to wind
up the musical by the end of next
week.
A Stroheim Idea
Hearing that Warners are having
script trouble with his novel "An-
thony Adverse," Harvey Allen sug-
gested that the studio make his
wordy tome into a trilogy. Studio
figures one headache is enough and
turned down the three-picture
idea.
Ceo. Cohan Signs
To Do Pic in East
New York. — Krimsky and Cochran
have signed George M. Cohan to a
picture contract for one subject to be
made in New York, but at present
writing it looks as though they can't
get together on a deal with MGM to
make the picture "Ah Wilderness."
If the deal falls through, one of
Cohan's old plays will be selected,
probably "Gambling." Cohan is dead
set to show Hollywood what he can
do on the screen.
Big Air Tie-Up Set For
Warners' 'Wonder Bar'
Requests from 262 stations have
come to Warner Brothers in response
to a questionnaire sent out by George
Bilson asking if they would use a 15-
minute electrical transcription of a
program with all the stars of "Won-
der Bar." The program will be heard
simultaneously at these stations a
week before the release of the picture.
Levy Scripts Own Play
Benn W. Levy has joined the Fox
writing staff to write the screen play
of "Springtime for Henry," his own
play which Jesse L. Lasky is produc-
ing. Script job on the part of the
writer was part of the original deal
for the play's purchase.
Chevalier Arrives
Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer
and Marcal Vallee arrived in Holly-
wood yesterday afternoon on the
Chief. Vallee will have a role in "The
Merry Widow" with Chevalier for
MGM and Boyer reports to Fox.
'Trinidad' Finally Moves
After two postponements Fox yes-
terday decided to definitely place
"Murder in Trinidad" into production
Monday. Louis King directs under Sol
Wurtzel's supervision.
Long Termer for Foran
Fox was so pleased with the work
of Nicholas Foran in the "Fox Follies"
that the company has signed him to
a long term contract. Picture was
Foran's first screen appearance.
Assign Reid's Next
Cliff Reid will supervise "Fugitive
From Glory" as his next picture for
Radio. John Barrymore was mention-
ed for the starring role some time ago.
Final 'Hannibal' Title
^You Can't Buy Everything" is an-
nounced by MGM as the final title
formerly known as "Old Hannibal."
Capra Again Slated
To Direct 'Soviet'
,' It has been definitely settled for
Frank Capra to go over to MGM on a
one-picture loanout deal from Colum-
bia to direct "Soviet," the Clark
Gable-Wallace Beery co-starring vehi-
cle, after the director makes one more
picture on his home lot. Irving Thal-
berg will produce "Soviet."
The deal was swung because MGM
had loaned Clark Gable to Columbia
for "Night Bus." Capra was at MGM
a year ago to direct this picture, but
was recalled by Columbia when the
loanout period had expired without
the picture starting.
Troubles Pile Up For
'His Ferocious Pal'
While Sol Lesser and Spencer Ben-
nett are engaged in scrapping with
each other as to who is to meet the
obligations accruing on "His Ferocious
Pal," three more attachments were
nailed on the negative of the picture
y.Q9terday, making five in all.
Picture is the second that Bennett
made for Principal Pictures' release
and has a $2,500 list of claims to
meet.
New Movie Mirror Set-Up
A tea given at the Russian Eagle
yesterday formally inaugurated a new
policy of Movie Mirror by which that
MacFadden publication will concen-
trate its editorial direction in the Hol-
lywood office. Ruth Waterbury, as
editor, will have Ernest Heyn, former-
ly editor Modern Screen, as her east-
ern editor, and Jerry Asher, former
western editor, as associate editor.
Publicists Dine Reeve
The Studio Publicity Executives'
committee is giving a dinner at the
Beverly Hills hotel next Monday night
in honor of Arch Reeve, dean of stu-
dio publicity men, who leaves shortly
for his new job as advertising mana-
ger of Fox in New York.
Play Careful With Robson
MGM yesterday withdrew May
Robson from the top spot in "Louisi-
ana Lou," deciding that the assign-
ment was not important enough for
her. Another player will be announc-
ed for the role.
Sale's Next Old Shep'
With "Cowman's Loss," Chic Sale's
first short on his two-picture deal with
MGM, finished, Jack Cummings is
preparing the comic's second to be
titled "Old Shep." Picture will start
shortly.
Elsa Maxwell Tells All
New York — Elsa Maxwell has sign-
ed a contract with Alfred A. Knopf
for her memoirs, which will be pub-
lished within a year under the title of
"But It's True."
Will Hays En Route Here
New York. — Will Hays is on his
way to the coast, having boarded the
Century Tuesday.
Well, the Heifetzes had their musi-
cal soiree for the benefit of Destitute
German Professionals that netted that
worthy cause exactly fifteen thousand
dollars. Four hundred people carrte to
hear Heifetz, Iturbi and Tibbett and
an extra five thousand dollars was
contributed by Mrs. George Backer.
Lucrezia Bori sat herself up in the
very first row and conversed volubly
with the performers. Chico Marx
bought four tickets and brought along
Mrs. Eddie Cantor and Jack Benny.
Frances Marion, the Richard Wallaces,
the Bernie Finemans (Margaret actu-
ally sold twelve tickets), the Felix
Warburgs, Irene Lewisohn and Gov-
ernor Lehman's brother were among
those present. . . . There was a funny
incident connected with the concert.
Somehow everyone thought that the
other fellow had invited Professor Ein-
stein to attend. The day before the
concert, Florence Vidor called him up
just to remind him and it was dis-
covered that no one had asked him
to come, and though he had heard
about it he hadn't had the slightest
idea of where or when it was to be
held and so couldn't come because of
a previous engagement. The profes-
sor, by the way, is going to play the
violin in a string quartet that's going
to give a concert for the same cause
and at the same price per ticket in
a couple of weeks.
•
Arch Selwyn has persuaded Eliza-
beth Bergner to come to America in I i
the spring and do her play, "Escape \ '
Me Never," which is such a tremen-
dous success in London. You'll see
Miss Bergner in "Queen Catherine,"
and it really is by way of being an
accomplishment to have gotten her
consent to come over here. Lots of
others have tried, but Miss Bergner
is an independent actress with the
means to choose her spots and it's
the first time she's chosen New York.
. . . Really, we've been to a number
of openings this season, heaven knows,
but we've never seen such a collection
of "lavender" and old lace as came
out for the "Come of Age" premiere.
Practically the only regular first-
nighter in the place was Marion Sa-
portas and, oyes, Eddie Wasserman.
•
Margalo Gillmore and Alec Clark,
Jean Dixon, Edna Ferber and Moss
Hart, Julius Tannen and family, Hum-
phrey Bogart and Ken MacKenna in
the after-the-theatre crowd up at
Tony's. We asked Humphrey wheth-
er he had any plans for the season
and he said he expected to be on
Broadway for the rest of the year in
"Up the River" — which is playing at
the Globe at the moment along with
"Dishonored." . . . Harry Wilcoxon,
the English actor Paramount is bring-
ing over, must have been slightly
startled by a cable from that company
asking for his measurements. But
they only wanted them so's they could
make up and have ready the armor he
has to wear in "Antony and Cleo-
patra."
Page Four
Jan. 18, 1934
indies Chuckle As
Majors Go On Pan
New York. — Here's the typical
slant on the Government questionnaire
business — it's going to be great to
show the other fellow up.
Inquiry among independents here as
to whether they would respond to the
Government's request brought the re-
ply generally, "We have nothing to
lose — and it's going to be a great way
to put the big fellows on the pan."
New Tag For Freund
One of Carl Laemmie, Jr.'s last acts
before departing for Europe is to re-
new the contract on Karl Freund as a
director for an additional year at a
sizable tilt, and hand him a plum in
"The Man Who Reclaimed His Head."
This will be made after the comple-
tion of "The Countess of Monte
Cristo."
Ruth Roland a Publicist
Ruth Roland, actress and business
woman, embarks on a new field with
the formation of International Pub-
licists, Inc., in association with David
Arlen. Offices for the publicity rep-
resentation of picture people have
been opened in the Pantages building.
Cancellation Retroactive
Washington. — Under an NRA rul-
ing today the ten percent cancellation
privilege of exhibitors is retroactive
to December 7 if exhibitors have oth-
erwise lived up to the provisions of
the clause.
Robert Frazer into "Men in White"
at MGM, placed by Lichtig and Eng-
lander.
Edward Earle signed by Fox for
"Three on a Honeymoon," through
Hallam Cooley of the Weber office.
Toby Wing for "Come on Marines,"
Paramount. Set by Ivan Kahn.
Mayo Methot and Dorothy Peterson
for "Fur Coats," Warners. Joy and
Polimer set the tickets.
Leo Chalzell spotted in Paramount's
"Come on Marines" by the Bernard
and Melklejohn agency.
Otis Harlan has been signed by
Warners to play the part of St. Peter
in the Busby Berkeley sequences of
"Wonder Bar."
Barlowe Borland added to the cast
of "Rip Tide," MGM. Sackin agency
negotiated.
Marjorie Cateson and Henry O'Neill
added to the Warner picture "Fur
Coats."
Ruth Gillette for a role In "David
Harum" at Fox. Lichtig and Englan-
der made the deal.
Robert Craves goes into Columbia's
"Sisters Under the Skin," placed by
Hal Cooley of the Weber office.
George Irving set for "David
Harum," Fox. Deal handled by Meni-
fee I. Johnstone.
Anita Garvin through Kay-Stuart for
a featured role in "Playful Husbands,"
Columbia short.
Radio Ties Up a Song
Radio yesterday purchased "Just
Two Alone," a song by Cliff Friend,
and will use it for exploitation on the
Tom Brown-Jean Parker picture, "Two
Alone." Picture was completed six
weeks ago, with Elliott Nugent di-
recting and David Lewis producing.
Jolson East Jan. 25
Al Jolson will leave for New York
January 25 to confer with radio offi-
cials on his forthcoming series of air
appearances for Kraft cheese begin-
ning February 8.
Blue in Marine Yarn
Paramount yesterday closed a deal
with Monte Blue for a top spot in
"Come On, Marines," which Henry
Hathaway directs under Al Lewis's su-
pervision. Bob George of the Weber
office set the ticket, which results
from the way Blue clicked in "The
Last Round-up."
Lawyers Squawk on
Screen Treatment
New York. — Now the lawyers are
complaining that the screen holds their
profession up to ridicule. The New
York Law Journal today took up their
kicks editorially.
One lawyer complains particularly
about "Love, Honor and Oh, Baby,"
in which Zasu Pitts exclaims, "They
cannot put lawyers In jail because if
they did there wouldn't be any of
them left."
Hornblow Sets Fort to
Script First Paramount
Garrett Fort was signed yesterday
by Paramount to write the screen play
of the Broadway stage play "Pursuit
of Happiness," which Arthur Horn-
blow is supervising. The Schulberg-
Feldman and Gurney office made the
deal.
Fort, who is now In New York, will
see the play today and leave Immedi-
ately for Hollywood to begin work.
'Wonder Bar' End Near
Busby Berkeley hopes to wind up
"Wonder Bar" Friday after having the
picture on the stages for almost two
months. Studio will rush the cutting
on the Berkeley dance numbers aiming
at the possibility of its going into the
Chinese as the theatre's next attrac-
tion.
\l\ ^°""8*' ''^'IT*!^"; Berk of Cineglow Coming
Phi Fax/prtiham <;nn nf the tamous » W
Phil Faversham, son of the famous
William, gets his first real part in
Warners' "Fur Coats." He is set for
the juvenile lead.
New York. — Ben Berk, general
manager of Blue Seal Cineglow, leaves
for the coast today.
CHARLES FARRELL
in Warners'
//
THE BIG SHAKEDOWN
//
Now Playing Warner Brothers Hollywood and Downtown
WFTRO-GOLDVl/YN-MAYFR S
5? KlR.SA^*UKL MA7^ X ,
CULVER CITY, CAM i<".
DI03,
Vol. XIX. No. 7, Ptice 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, Janiury 19, 1934
• SO )ohn Zanft is going to be an
agent.
We have known Zanft for twenty
years. Worked for and with him for
almost five years and the toughest
five years we ever had in our life.
He's a tough bird, that Zanft, and we
learned a lot about the picture busi-
ness from him, and thousands of oth-
ers have him to thank for a great part
of their picture knowledge.
Zanft knows this picture business.
He is a showman, he is an excellent
executive. He has all the qualifica-
tions for the making of a really great
agent. And he will be that. And
we hope that he will. This business
owes him a lot.
On our way back from New York,
we stopped off a few hours in Chi-
cago. We talked to several big ex-
hibitors of that center and heard the
same tale that is being told by every
IMPORTANT exhibitor in every part
of the country: "GIVE US A GOOD
PICTURE AND WE WILL HAVE A
GREAT BUSINESS. Hand us a pro-
gram attraction and we will play to
less money than Is required to pay off
our ushers."
Whether it's Chicago, New York,
Boston, Atlanta or Frisco, the demand
for good pictures is greater at this
time than ever in the history of the
business because those good pictures
will attract more ticket buyers than
ever before.
The public is wise to this business.
They have learned to pick and choose.
They know what to spend their money
on in picture entertainment. And
the wonder of it all is that producers
are still trying to make quickies when
quickies will not sell; they are trying
to palm off duds backed by glowing
exploitation campaigns, but they can't
be sold; they WILL NOT realize that
good pictures will make more money
today than ever in the history of this
business.
What's to be done? How is it fX)s-
sible to fire producers with the idea
of making better pictures? Who can
convince them that the average picture
will not get to first base?
What's to be done?
ROSr DAZES INDUSTRy
Execs Alarmed As NRA Deputy
Boasts of Broad Powers in
Interviews to Eastern Press
No Ifsor Buts
New York. — Because of their
determination to keep the RKO
chain in the black, flat and abso-
lute instructions have been given
L. E. Thompson, operating head of
the chain, to get rid of any opera-
tion that continues to stay in the
red.
Radio Sees Bennett
In 'Actress' Role
Radio is negotiating with Constance
Bennett to return to her one time
home lot for the starring role in "I
Love An Actress" with Gregory Rat-
off, whose original story it is, playing
the male lead.
When Miss Bennett left Radio she
verbally agreed to return to that stu-
dio for one picture with Twentieth
Century stamping their okey on the
agreement.
B. S. Moss' Brother
N.Y. License Head
New York. — Paul Moss, brother of
the veteran picture and theatre man,
B. S. Moss, was yesterday named to
the important post of license commis-
sioner of New York by Mayor La
Guardia.
Moss was formerly active in the
picture and legit fields.
Lanfield To Meg Arliss
Sidney Lanfield has been set by
Twentieth Century to direct the next
George Arliss picture titled "Head of
the Family." Leonard Praskins is writ-
ing the screen adaptation.
Mannix-Selwyn Leave
Eddie Mannix, accompanied by Ed-
gar Selwyn, left last night for a visit
to New York and a round of the cur-
rent plays.
On the heels of the many-paged questionnaires being received
by studio executives. Deputy Administrator Sol Rosenblatt is-
sued an interview in Washington just before leaving for the
Coast that left local executives gasping yesterday. Full realiza-
tion is now coming that they have a
brand new boss whose activities are
going to extend far beyond the pur-
poses of the NRA even to the possi-
bility of picture and personal censor-
ship.
At least Administrator Rosenblatt
feels that they will. In the interview
(Continued on Page 7)
Lilian Harvey-Fox
At Parting of Ways
Lilian Harvey and Fox were repKsrt-
ed yesterday coming to the parting of
the ways, with the player to do one
more picture for Jesse L. Lasky and
then hop off on the return trip to
Europe.
Lasky has launched a story hunt for
the production.
Dwan on 'Holly Party'
Allan Dwan, recently returned from
directorial activity in England, has
been signed to direct the added scenes
on Harry Rapf's MGM production of
"Hollywood Party," which started as
just a picture and grew to special cali-
bre.
Pan Berman Back Sat.
Pandro Berman, RKO producer, who
has been vacationing in Europe, re-
turns to town Saturday after a six
weeks absence.
WARXERS PLA]^ TO AVOID
AI\Y SHUTDOWN THIS YEAR
Tapering off to three subjects in
work from a high of nine three months
ago, Warners will attempt to keep a
smaller number of pictures steadily
in work so as to eliminate the usual
studio shutdown the end of spring.
Studio has 1 8 features unreleased
and in the cutting rooms. To date
about two-thirds of the current year's
program have been completed in the
(Continued on Page 7)
Para. May Hold Victor
McLaglen for 'Vanities'
Paramount is concluding a deal for
Victor McLaglen to remain on that lot
for another picture to play one of the
top spots in "Murder in the Vanities,"
with Jack Oakie.
McLaglen is now playing the lead
in "The Man Who Broke His Heart"
on that lot.
Talk of RFC Money
Brings Zukor Smile
New York got a wild rumor yester-
day that the Paramount company had
secured a loan of five to six millions
with which to carry out long cherished
plans for a skyscraper on the Broad-
way block front which houses the Cri-
terion and Loew's New York, and thus
straighten out present foreclosure en-
tanglements.
Adolph Zukor, contacted by a Re-
porter representative, smilingly said he
would be very glad to say the story
was true, but unfortunately nothing
like it had even been thought of, much
less put in motion.
Roach Signs Eddie Foy jr.
Hen'y Cinsburg, Roach general
manager, yesterday signed Eddie Foy
Jr. to a one picture deal with an op-
tion for a long term contract. Foy
will probably go into the next all-star
comedy. Schulberg-Feldman and Gur-
ney handle the player.
Illness Starts Loew Home
New York. — Arthur M. Loew, vice
president of Loew's, is expected back
in New York in about a month, can-
celing his round the world trip be-
cause of illness.
20th Releases Cromwell
Twentieth Century yesterday re-
linquished its one-picture deal with
John Cromwell, allowing Radio to take
it over. Director is on a long-termer
to Radio.
'Christina' Into Chinese
The deal was set yesterday for
"Queen Christina," Garbo's latest, to
go into the Chinese at the conclu-
sion of the run of "Little Women."
O'Heron Loses a Day
Frank O'Heron, general manager for
Radio, dropped out yesterday to nurse
an injured leg. Expected at his desk
today.
E
jnj
MANUEL SEFF screen Play and Dialogue 'FUR COATS' Now Shoot
Page Two
fan.
i
19, 1934 jl
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published everv day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
It's a shame — what a certain male
star in this town has to "go through"
although very few would suspect it.
The fellow is very attractive, gracious
and probably a bit flirtatious. He's
very gay and amusing too — when his
wife isn't around. But she cramps his
Style something awful because he
knows that even though she sits
quietly by at parties and things, while
people make a fuss over him, that he
will have to pace the floor until dawn
when they get home, listening to her
demands for explanations of his ac-
tions, which for the most part require
no explanation at all. She never makes
a scene in public — but this actor (and
still another that we can think of
right now) has to pay for every jolly
time — when he gets home!
•
A star who has a positive genius
for giving dull parties, gave another
one recently. Most of the guests left
early. She fidgeted around a while and
finally said to the remaining two or
three, "Do you suppose they had a
good time? . . . They MUST have had
a good time — we had such NICE
food!"
•
When Jean Hersholt was in Europe,
he shot about eight hundred feet of
Knut Rasmussen, famous explorer,
now dead. Hersholt has just had a
request from the Danish government
for his camera work on Rasmussen,
because all the country has as a pic-
torial record of him is a newsreel shot
or two. If Jean sends over his foot-
age, he'll probably get an embroider-
ed gold medal or something.
•
And did ya hear about the impor-
tant supervisor on a major lot who
called all the company and staff on
one of his pictures into the front of-
fice yesterday, with a very portentous
summons? And then, just as they
were shivering in their collective
boots over the expected call -down for
something or other, the supervisor
reached in his desk, brought forth a
package and said: "Now here's a fur
piece that is worth every cent of five
hundred dollars. How much am 1
bid?"
"FUGITIVE LOVERS"
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer prod.; director, Richard Boleslavsky; writers, Ferdinand
Reyher, Frank Wead, Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich and George B. Seitz.
Capitol Theatre
Mirror: The film is splendidly produced, with realistic settings and convincing
costumes. The intricate plot is developed with extraordinary skill. Wildly
active and spectacularly thrilling, "Fugitive Lovers" is an unusually ex-
citing action film.
American: it's entertainment all the way from coast to coast with a capable
cast of troupers endowing it with both dramatic and comic factions in
well-balanced quantities.
News: The screen entertainment that the Capitol Theatre is offering this week
should satisfy all grown-up moviegoers. It is good modern melodrama
filled with suspense, humor and romance and is set against a unique back-
ground. Toward the close of the film some of the scenes go overly senti-
mental, but regardless of its defects "Fugitive Lovers" remains acceptable
entertainment.
Herald-Tribwne: "Fugitive Lovers" is a lively and melodramatic adventure that
suffers considerably from the fact that it never manages to make much
sense. "Fugitive Lovers" is not my idea of impressive drama.
Times: Richard Boleslavsky, the director, keeps this melange of fun and ruddy
drama moving swiftly, with many an ingenious turn and convenient coin-
cidence. Mr. Montgomery does well by the part of Porter, and Miss
Evans is spontaneous and captivating as Letty.
Sun: While it is really finely produced and atmospherically interesting it is, for
some reason, a bit dull. Maybe what all movie buses, as well as all movie
trains, need is — Marlene Dietrich of "Shanghai Express."
lournal: Smartly directed by Richard Boleslavsky, the picture sets and sustains
a brisk tempo. And besides Miss Evans and Montgomery, who are ex-
cellent in their roles, the supporting cast includes C. Henry Gordon, Ted
Healy and Nat Pendleton. It's good fun.
Post: Despite the fact that the story has some highly implausible touches and
that the humor is not up to a very high level, these lapses are compen-
sated for in the brisk pace which Director Boleslavsky and his actors have
managed to inject into it.
World-Telegram: Several ideas get started, but in the end the whole thing
seems a bit pointless in spite of the spirited attempt by the authors and
director to squeeze every ounce of excitement and humor out of a trans-
continental bus load of totally dissimilar and unrelated characters.
"MAN OF TWO WORLDS"
RKO-Radio prod.; director, J. Walter Ruben; writers, Ainsworth Morgan,
Howard j. Green.
Music Hall
lournal: The film was well produced, and in the early sequences native dialogue
is translated by means of subtitles. While the story doesn't give Mr.
Lederer much opportunity to display the charming personality that was so
widely acclaimed in "Autumn Crocus," it will be interesting to see what
he does with his next picture.
News: It is too bad that Francis Lederer chose to represent himself as an
Eskimo in his first American-made moving picture. Elissa Landi plays
the role of the English girl mechanically, but the other members of the
cast perform creditably. I hope Lederer makes a more felicitous selec-
tion for his next screen role.
Post: Mr. Lederer, who makes his screen debut in this picture, should have no
trouble hereafter in establishing himself as one of the major box office
attractions in Hollywood.
Sun: Unfortunately, it isn't half as effective as the recent "Eskimo," which it
resembles in its early reels. In short, it deserves some sort of attention
only on the grounds that another potential movie star makes his bow —
without slipping and falling more than once or twice.
American: Despite the strange selection of a vehicle, Mr. Lederer is disclosed
upon the Music Hall screen as the possessor of both talent and person-
ality, which may be projected in film. Thus, while the occasion is some-
thing short of a triumph, there is much promise for the future.
World-Telegram: That Mr. Lederer is a good actor no one will deny. Nor
will any one deny the power of his charming smile and personality and the
illusive, captivating way he has with him on the stage and screen. These
qualities are, obviously, the things that go to make a successful screen
idol, which I have no doubt he will be. But not, I imagine, until he
exercises a little more discretion in the choice of his screen material.
Herald-Tribune: So skillful is the young actor in his playing and so disarming
is his straightforward mannerism that a part which might easily have be-
come too whimsical for comfort ends up by being curiously real and sur-
prisingly touching.
Times: There are many well-developed bits of comedy, and if some of it is not
precisely new it is so well acted by Mr. Lederer that it tickled the risibles
of the audience yesterday afternoon. In fact, the spectators applauded
the film after its final fadeout.
Mirror: Broadway's most exciting matinee idol, Francis Lederer, attempts to
hurdle the obstacle of a daffy story in making his debut as a hero of the
screen. Engaging and picturesque though he is, he fails at the attempt.
Russell Mack Gets
Next Dressier Pic
Russell Mack has been assigned to
direct "Tish," the Marie Dressier star-
ring vehicle, for the Irving Thalberg
unit at MGM.
James K. McGuinness is writing the
screen play of the yarn.
Lionel Barrymore Leaves
Sunday For Personals
Lionel Barrymore leaves Sunday for
the east to begin a personal appear-
ance tour. He will open in Baltimore
on February 2 for one week and the
Capitol in New York on February 9. ;
Other engagements are now being ar- ,
ranged. His sketch will consist of a \
scene from "The Copperhead," his '
favorite play. Edgar Allan Woolf ;
wrote the material.
Seiter's Next 'Blarney'
William Seiter has been assigned
to direct "Blarney Smith," the Gin-
ger Rogers-William Gargan co-starring
vehicle, which Lou Brock will produce
for Radio.
Tommy Shugrue Dies
Tommy Shugrue died late Wednes-
day night after a prolonged illness.
He had been an electrician in the pub-
licity still department at MGM for
several years.
Kath. DeMille at Para.
Katherine DeMille has been signed
by Paramount for a featured role in
"Trumpet Blows," which is being di-
rected by Stephen Roberts.
Tutoring Wanted
Does your child need the experi-
enced help of a tutor, formerly
connected with the finest private
school in Chicago? Especially suc-
cessful with children in primary
grades who are unable to attend
school.
MARIE CATTER
3232 Benda St. HI-6998
RU$SELL,MILLER,
and Company
Members
MEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
• -JiVff^ *
Jan. 19, 1934
THEjyB
Page Three
'GOOD DAME' GOO
SIDNEY -MARCH
Script and Dialogue
Rate Special Bows
"GOOD DAME"
(Schulberg-Paramount)
Directed by Marion Caring
Original by William R. Lipman
Screen Play by: William R. Lipman,
Vincent Lawrence, Frank Partes,
Sam Hellman.
Photographed by Leon Shamroy
Cast: Sylvia Sidney, Fredric March,
Jack LaRue, Noel Frances, Russell
Hopton, Bradley Page, Guy Ush-
er, Kathleen Burke, Joseph J.
Franz, Miami Alvarez, Walter
Brennan, John Marston, James
Crane, William Farnum, Patricia
Farley, Florence Dudley, Jil Den-
nett, Erin LaBissoniere, Ernest S.
Adams, Dewey Robinson.
"Good Dame" will take its place
alongside some of the best contribu-
tions B. P. Schuiberg has made to the
business in his long career.
It does Sylvia Sidney proud, a
bobbed-hair Sylvia on this occasion in
a role calculated to enrich her stand-
ing as one of the first ladies of the
screen. Sharing equally with her in
a particularly difficult assignment,
Fredric March comes off neatly as
the ignorantiy super-wise three-card
monte guy of the traveling carnival.
The picture is genuine, and with a
wealth of exciting color. Briefly, the
story describes Sylvia Sidney as a
stranded chorus girl who fails in with
a carnival and is helped out of scrape
after scrape by Fredric March. Sylvia
is a girl of principle, clean and de-
cent. The girls March has known
were not. Circumstances, of their own
unwitting making, throw them togeth-
er, and as they are carried through a
hectic series of misfortunes they
eventually find each other.
Instead of his giving up the sordid
carnival life, Sylvia comes around to
his way of living and both are destined
for that existence as the picture ends.
This is but one of many story touches
that light the unfolding of the yarn.
In one spot, however, it is tar-
nished. And that spot is in the unbe-
lievable court room scenes where both
confess their love for each other. It is
the one synthetic moment in an other-
wise perfectly sterling story. It is un-
necessary and will, likely, be rem-
edied.
William R. Lipman wrote the story
and next to him comes Sam Hellman,
whose dialogue is flavored distinctly
with originality. Vincent Lawrence
and Frank Partos also get credit for
story work.
Marion Cering's direction is obvi-
ously affected and "arty" at mo-
ments, but he may be forgiven for the
excellence of his work in general.
Leon Shamroy's photography is a les-
son in that art.
Subordinate cast bouquets go up
and down the line. It is a hopeless
task to single out individual perform-
ances when all contribute so effec-
tively.
The exhibitor has a natural exploi-
tation bet in carnival background of
"Good Dame" and plenty to back it
ijp. Sell them on coming i^najid. the
picture will sell itself.
Taxpayers' Money
One animating company in town
received eight copies of Uncle
Sam's famous questionnaire yes-
terday. If they had received a few
more they'd have one for every
employee.
Gaumont-British
In L.A. Exchange
New York. — -The Gaumont-British
Company of America will open distri-
bution offices in the Los Angeles ter-
ritory in charge of George Weeks.
The latter was years ago sales mana-
ger for Paramount, more recently with
Mayfair Pictures.
Among the subjects to be handled
from the exchange are "Waltz Time,"
"The Ghost Train," "Love in Mo-
rocco," "There Goes the Bride,"
"Night and Day" and "The Ghoul."
Latter picture stars Boris Karloff.
MCM Snags Wadsworth
For Long Term Cont-ract-
Negotiations that have been hang-
ing fire for more than a month were
climaxed yesterday when MCM placed
Henry Wadsworth under a long-term
ticket, five years with yearly options.
Al Kingston handled the trick, pol-
ishing it off after the studio execs
got a glance of the player in "A Big
Day," the former "It Happened One
Day."
Bassler Promoted to
Julian Johnson Aid
Completing his work as film editor
on "Carolina," Robert Bassler becomes
assistant to Julian Johnson, Fox story
editor, filling the spot formerly held
by John Mock. Nan Blair, who was
announced for the position a short
time ago, is in the Fox story depart-
ment on a special assignment.
Rogers Toasts Harry Carr
Will Rogers will be toastmaster at
a dinner tendered Harry Carr of the
Los Angeles Times at the Writers'
Club Thursday, January 25. John
Goodrich is in charge of the arrange-
ments.
Montgomery Returning
New York.- — Douglass Montgomery
leaves for the coast Saturday and the
expectation is his first role will be
in Universal's production of "Little
Man, What Now?" with Frank Bor-
zage directing.
Bancroft On Way Here
New York. — George Bancroft left
for the coast Wednesday night with-
out reporting any success in his search
for a play with which to hit the New
York stage next season.
Eskimo' at 4-Star Theatre
MGM's Hunt Stromberg production
"Eskimo" is booked in for an indefi-
nite stay' at the Four Star Theatre,
opening January 26.
D PIC;
ARE FIXE
Leslie Howard
Turns Producer
After seeing the Marquis de la Fa-
laise's "Legong" and other similar
pictures, Leslie Howard has decided to
produce a travelogue in America to be
titled "America Through an English-
man's Eye." The actor has written the
story and plans to photograph such
picturesque places as the national
parks, and the desert through Arizona.
Howard plans to appear in the series
himself.
The travelogue is being made main-
ly for distribution in England and for-
eign countries, but will also be releas-
ed in America. Howard at present is
shooting scenes in Palm Springs and
LaQuinta.
Radio Plans Sequel
To 'Lost Patror
Radio execs are so sure of the suc-
cess of "Lost Patrol" that a follow up
on the picture is now in preparation
in the story "Fugitive From Glory."
The studio is figuring on Victor Mc-
Laglen to head the cast again with
John Ford handling the direction.
The studio has several thousand
feet of film which was shot by Ernest
Schoedsack in Arabia, which they plan
to utilize in this picture.
Maude Eburne Steps into
May Robson MCM Part
Maude Eburne and Warner Oland
were signed by MGM for featured
spots in "In Old Louisiana." Miss
Eburne will have the role originally
assigned to May Robson. Production
will start Monday under the direction
of George Seitz, with Jean Parker,
Robert Young, Lupe Velez and Ted
Healy in the top spots.
Start Next Carbo Feb. 15
Dates were set yesterday at MGM
for starting two of the most impor-
tant pictures on the company's sched-
ule. "The Painted Veil," next Carbc,
gets under way February 1 5. "Opera-
tor 13," with Raoul Walsh directing
and Marion Davies starred, on Jan. 25.
Here Seeking Players
New York.— H. R. Ullman, of the
legit producing firm of Harmon and
Ullman, reaches Los Angeles today to
look around for stars to play in the
forthcoming stage production of
"Waltz in Fire," and to confer with
its author, David Hertz.
Radio Borrows Foster
Norman Foster was borrowed from
Fox on a one-picture deal to play the
juvenile lead in the jimmy Durante
starring vehicle "Strictly Dynamite"
for Radio. Eliott Nugent will direct.
H. N. Swanson is the associate pro-
ducer.
Al Alt to New York
New York. — Al Alt arrives in New
Yoi:^ Friday to arrange distribution for
twelve independent features.
As an item in the changing order,
there is the picture of New York's
new mayor, Fiorella LaCuardia, looking
tired as he sat in his street clothes,
slouching in a side balcony seat at the
distinguished corKert that welcomed
beloved Toscanini back to the Car-
negie Music Hall. . . . But it does
nothing to efface the memory of
Mayor Jimmy Walker, only a few
years back, impatiently practicing a
little soft shoe dancing with Irene
Deiroy, Betty Compton, Billy Seaman
and a few of the boys in a Greenwich
Village studio while one of the town's
fire engines, bells clanging and sirens
shrieking, roared down Sixth Avenue
to relieve their pressing attack of
thirst by a rush delivery of a coupla
cases of champagne.
More change: the internationally-
minded hotels like the Waldorf-As-
toria, the Ritz and the Pierre, that
once practically paid Ina Claire to lin-
ger a while and charged Salvation
Army prices to you Hollywood riff-
raff, are getting top prices and are
filled to the ears with those rich
French, those rich Germans and those
rich English, over here to take advan-
tage of you poor Americans and your
depreciated currency. . . . The But-
lers' Ball turned out to be a vague
kind of success. It made a lot of
money for charity. No one was there
who looked even remotely like Halli-
well Hobbes, which makes a liar out
of the movies, again. It left the Ad-
mirable Crichton exactly where it
found him, since with the exception
of a few names and a few fronts, most
of the 3000 who attended were either
second floor maids or outer fringe so-
ciety. They could be told apart, at
least within a range of six feet.
•
The motion picture tradition is
treated with irreverence — yes, again
— in the suggestion made by Henry
Mencken to Sinclair Lewis and Lloyd
Lewis for their Civil War play. In-
stead of the Northern spy in love with
the Southern girl, the Baltimore sage
proposes a Southern spy in love with a
Northern girl. It can't fail, Mr. Menc-
ken promises. . . . Dashiell Hammett
letting Thyra Sampter Winslow's new
puppy use his nose for a teething ring.
. . . You might be lucky, playing ping
pong at the table in the center of the
Algonquin's dining room. Your ball
might bounce into Fannie Hurst's clam
chowder and then look at you. . . The
retired 10c a dance boys have taken
up positions as partners in the corner
pmg pong parlors. ... It is not true
that Reliance is using a Photomaton
for stills.
Mary Nash Coming Out
For Try at Pictures
Mary Nash, one of Broadway's mar-
quee names, is to leave for Holly-
wood, arriving early next week. The
Small-Landau office is bringing her to
town for pictures. Agency has sev-
eral irons in the fire for her and is
also cooking up a deal for Norma Ter-
ris, whom they have placed under
their wing.
JAMES CLEASON
as
DAN HEALEY
in
W
SEARCH FOR BEAUTY
II
y^
THE
CLEASONS
)AME5 - LUCILE - RUSSELL
''Cleason And Pals
And Director Top
"... Gleason and Armstrong made a
swell comedy team. They have good
gags, good business, and they make
the most of it. . . . "
— Hollywood Reporter, Jan. 8.
DEMMY LAMSON
MCR.
OX-80I9 OX-7261
B>—
I
D A
L U P
N O
in
\ \
SEARCH FOR BEAUTY
/ /
directed by Erie C* Kenton
A Paramount Production
Managemenl
SELZNICK and lOYCE
"IDA LUPINO shows what she had to make her-
self a musical comedy star in England"
— Hollywood Reporter
GERTRUDE MICHAEL
in
w
SEARCH FOR BEAUTY
//
directed by ERLE C KENTON/
"Gertrude Michael is funny as the
brains of the Cleason -Armstrong
team." — Hollywood Reporter, Jan.
8. 1934.
A PARAMOUNT PRODUCTION
HARRY FiSCHBECK
Photographed
SEARCH FOR BEAUTY
w
It
Just Finished
w
NO MORE WOMEN
/'
Now Photographing
w
THE TRUMPET BLOWS
All Paramount Productions
//
\>
SEARCH FOR BEAUTY
A PARAMOUNT PRODUCTION
ff
There's not a kid in the country
w+io vsran't go for this picture, and
their parents will probably trot right
along with them. It is built by and
for the American youth, especially
those who are crazy about athletics.
It is young, innocent, full of high
ideals and sugar-coated advice that,
inasmuch as it is humorously and dra-
matically presented, is not hard to take.
— Hollywood Reporter.
January 8. 1934.
Page Six
THE
Ian. 19. 1934
OPEIV FOR II HI
Hollywood, California.
Dear Mr. Wiikerson:
Your editorials on the movie studio
situations are a daily treat to us at the
studio, whether or not we may be in
a position to agree with you and I
have a great respect for your opinion
and knowledge of the inner conditions
and problems of the film industry and
am writing to ask your opinion on a
matter very close to my heart, aside
from the financial interest.
While I am no longer a "script
girl," I am only a few steps higher in
the wage scale and needless to say
that is pitifully small compared to the
work required and the knowledge nec-
essary to enable it to be done cor-
rectly.
Script girls are selected because of
their college education or its equiva-
lent and most of the girls hired are
college graduates. We must be well
dressed, passably good-looking, effi-
cient in training and tactful in man-
ner; be able to work for eccentric,
temperamental writers of all sorts and
kinds, be able to discuss their work
intelligently with them, give helpful
suggestions when asked and reserve
our opinions when not asked, be a
helpful critic when necessary, repair
their grammatical errors and faulty
construction without interrupting their
"train of thought," be an efficient
secretary in all business offices on the
lot, know all the "important" people
by name and sight and be able to give
all the right answers, which is a diplo-
mat's job at times; in other words, be
able to hold down a dozen different
jobs at once, all for the princely sal-
ary of $20 per week.
If a script girl is "good" and can
stand up under the strain of long
hours, 18 to 14 hrs. per day), hard
work, rush and nerve-wracking con-
ditions, she may get a two dollar raise,
then again after working a few years
out of the department, she may work
up to $28 a week, always in the hopes
of something better coming up.
The inconsistency of good stenog-
raphers and secretaries being paid
such small sums of money over such
a long period of time, working with
writers, actors and actresses, all mak-
ing fabulous amounts — that a small
part of it could not be added to the
weekly pay check of the employes
who work so hard to make possible
the scripts that bring the finished
product before the public and fill the
box offices with the money that is in
turn paid in such fabulous salaries to
the artists and executives, whose
cooks, maids and butlers get more
than the employees working with
them shoulder to shoulder in the stu-
dio, making possible their very living!
Of course there is a depression —
we are quite well aware of it, but
with the exception of the lowly paid
employees around the lot and the ex-
tras, have seen no evidence of it in
the film industry. I think a more even
spread among the employees would be
amply rewarded by renewed hope,
loyalty and effort. Most of the em-
ployees are supporting, not only them-
selves, but in some cases, large fam-
ilies who otherwise would be on char-
ity. It is a back-breaking job as well
as a heart-breaking one, and seem-
ingly a thankless one in so far as re-
muneration is concerned.
I am not a habitual fault-finder. I
love the work and only desire fair play
for others as well as for myself. We
work very hard to make the pictures
a success from the ground-work up
and our opinions, if used, would be of
material benefit to those higher up> —
but it would be a breach of some-
thing-or-other for them to ask it.
I also happen to be one of the un-
fortunates who is compelled to sup-
port others besides myself and $28
does not go far and I must have a job.
I have no "pull" inside the studio and
what little I have gained has been on
my own merits and I feel that your
opinion of the financial reward ac-
corded us in this department of the
industry, if made public, would go far
toward influencing the "powers that
be," for they are afraid of your criti-
cisms— the truth hurts — and their
"Napoleonic" characteristics are only
assumed.
Thank you.
A SCRIPT GIRL.
Still Another Georgia
Suit Over Xhain Gang'
Atlanta. — Vivian Stanley, of the
Georgia Prison Commission, has
brought another action against the
producers and exhibitors of "I Am A
Fugitive From a Chain Gang." This
action Is for $100,000 damages,
claiming the picture defamed his
character and reputation. Similar ac-
tion has already been brought by vari-
ous chain gana wardens who had cus-
tody of Robert Elliott Burns while he
was a convict.
Waggner on Mono. Script
Monogram yesterday signed George
Waggner to script "City Limits," a
novel by Jack Woodard which the
studio purchased recently. Picture
will be the next Ray Walker vehicle
scheduled to start early in February
and shoving "The Loud Speaker" back
to later in the month.
^Convention City' Hits
"Convention City," finishing today
at Warners' local first run spots, has
topped all grosses to date since "Foot-
light Parade" at the houses. Last
attraction there also proved a winner,
but "Convention City" is showing a
greater box office sale.
McCloud To Take Bride
Fraser McCloud of the Warner pub-
licrty staff will marry Ann Robinson
of Tennessee by the end of the week.
Studio is trying to figure out a way
to perform the marriage so as to get
the maximum of publicity.
U' Seeks Lugosi
Bela Lugosi is being sought by Uni-
versal for a role in "The Black Cat,"
to be directed by Edgar Ullmer, with
Boris Karloff starred.
'Sister Carrie' in Demand
Interest in Theodore Dreiser's "Sis-
ter Carrie" has been revived and both
MCM and Radio are in the field for
the property.
May Use Color For
'Chu Chin Chow'
New York. — "Chu Chin Chow"
will be done in color if a suitable
process can be secured in England,
states Arthur E. Lee, vice-president of
Gaumont British Picture Corporation
of America. This picture will be made
at the Shepherd's Bush Studios of
Gaumont British, produced by Walter
Fordc, and starring Anna May Wong.
'House of Doom' Starts
At Mono. Next Week
Revising the schedule for the third
time in as many days. Monogram yes-
terday announced that it will start
"The House of Doom," a play by
Adam Hull Shirk, next week, shoving
"Numbers of Monte Carlo" back on
the schedule. William Nigh directs
from the Albert DeMonde script and
Paul Malvern supervises. Studio was
to have started "The Loud Speaker"
today, but has now scheduled that for
the end of February.
U' in Deal for 'Night Cap'
Depending on negotiations with Guy
Bolton for the dialogue rights to
"Night Cap," Universal is working out
a deal with Max Marcin, play's co-
author, to join the company to write
and direct it. Eph Asher is slated to
supervise the murder mystery.
Col. Has Gargan in Mind
Columbia is planning to shape "Hell
Cat," which Al Rogell is producing,
into a William Gargan vehicle and will
register a bid with Radio for the loan
of the player within the next few
days.
'Comicolors' Sold Abroad
Eleven more countries have been
closed for Ub Iwerks' series of "Comi-
color" cartoons by Charles Giegerich,
general sales manager for Celebrity
Pictures, distributor of the series.
Para. Sets Marsh's Two
"You're Telling Me" and "Murder
at the Vanities" are lined up as the
two first pictures for Joan Marsh on
her new long term pact with Para-
mount.
Studio Employees
you can borrow on
Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
in amounts from $10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
Member
California Association of Finance
Companies
Just a Pal
After the newspapers said that
Eddie Rubin would get a break in
a picture with his brother Bennie,
he received a letter from an ac-
quaintance who had been kind of
snooty in the old days. It erwled:
"Just read about your good luck.
If this is true let's hear from you."
G>.
HOLLYWOOD
PLAZA
2
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up, Dduble
Spe<ial weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospitality"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
UndercoverWorkers
Lift Agents' Clients
A new wrinkle among the agents
has them engaging special people to
handle the raiding of other agents*
lists.
Two offices have already engaged
the "raiding experts" and claim the
results are excellent. The specialty
men (one is a woman) shoulder all
responsibility for snatching clients
away from rival managers, the pay-
off having their employers denying
they are raiding other agents by dis-
claiming responsibility for the under-
cover employees.
Vollmer Talks to Hays Off.
Joe Breen and Dr. Wingate of the
Hays office have had August Vollmer,
emininet criminologist, conferring with
them the past two days on crime an-
gles in pictures.
Breezy Directs for Mascot «
Nat Levine has signed Breezy Eason
to write and direct Mascot serials.
Director just finished "Strictly Confi-
dential" for Fanchon Royer. Eason
moves over to Mascot Monday.
Jan. 19, 1934
Page Seven
'Rosy' Dazes Industry
(Continued fronn Page 1 )
as published in the Washington Times
Rosenblatt said that the code gave him
power "to inquire into Hollywood's
morals as well as its ethics." He was
quoted further as follows:
"I hope to devise a feasible plan
whereby all responsible organizations
interested in the welfare of the mo-
tion picture industry will have a voice
and be an advisory factor in produc-
tion. That includes, of course, such
organizations as the Federal Council of
Churches and Christian America and
the International Federation of Catho-
lic Alumnae."
Picture executives were ready to
talk, but not willing to be quoted. No
one individual wants to be the goat to
drawn down Rosenblatt's ire. But they
were unanimous in declaring that un-
less something is done to present a
united front in opposition, the indus-
try will soon be functioning complete-
ly under Governmental regulation, not
only in its financial set-up but in the
type of pictures it will be allowed to
make.
One executive was outspoken in his
statement that the situation showed
the need for the old vigorous united
Academy to present a solid front and
bring the industry out of the peril.
Pending the arrival of Will Hays
from the East no one at the local Pro-
ducers' office would comment on the
inclusion of the Federal Churches and
the Catholic Alumnae under Rosen-
blatt's wing, after these organizations
have been working in close coopera-
tion with Hays for several years.
Indication that President Roosevelt
is personally backing Rosenblatt in his
broad claims and expectations is seen
in the news from Washington yester-
day that "Morris Legendre has been
appointed assistant and technical ad-
visor to Rosenblatt on his Hollywood
trip."
The Washington dispatch said, "He
is a newcomer here but is said to know
his movies."
Inquiry in Hollywood failed to dis-
close anyone, even among veterans,
who knew of a Morris Legendre ever
connected with the picture industry.
But the investigation did turn up a
"Maurice Legendre" who was here
some months ago for a visit as a guest
of Gary Cooper.
Maurice Legendre is a wealthy New
Orleans sportsman and political figure,
and a close personal friend of the
President. For some time past he has
WhenMcreks Wleet-
A 1 What do Uiey do about
the woman they love?
KiCIER
in RACHEL CROTHEftS' m^mI
to h«r -WHEN LADIES MEET*
US HUSBANDS GOP
H«Un Vinton • Warner Oland
FOX PICTURE
KUti, TlwliM To(M- Prity IWV
In -BACKS TO NATURE*
I Hmllr' -WHAT DOGS I9M HOlOr
Sirovich Carries
Fight to Johnson
Washington. — Congressman Siro-
vich is still gunning for the movies.
He had a long telepone conference
with General Johnson in New York
last night pointing out how the copy-
right legislation enables the perpetu-
ation of block booking and asking the
General's aid in moves to amend copy-
right laws.
The General said that he would
have Rosenblatt confer with Sirovich,
and if conditions were as stated the
copyright laws should be amended.
That is, Sirovich says he said that.
Dick Rosson Gets Break
On 'West Point of Air'
Richard Rosson, former silent pic-
ture director and more recently as-
sistant director at MGM, was signed
by MGM yesterday on a one-picture
deal to direct "West Point of the
Air." This is Rosson's first real break
in the talkies. The William Hawks
office made the deal.
MGM will co-star Wallace Beery
and Robert Montgomery in this pic-
ture.
Lowell in 'Doll House'
Helen Lowell's second picture on
her two-picture deal with Warners
will be "The Old Doll House," a story
by Damon Runyon, which Ralph Block
and Doris Malloy are scripting. Miss
Lowell was brought out here from the
New York stage and is how working
in "Fur Coats" at the studio.
Trade Show Hi Nellie'
Warners will trade show "Hi, Nel-
lie!" for Southern California exhibi-
tors at the Boulevard Theatre next
Tuesday, January 23. Picture is the
Paul Muni vehicle which Al Green di-
rected.
MGM Can't Have Holmes
The second attempt of MGM to se-
cure Ben Holmes from Radio on a di-
recting loanout was unsuccessful. The
turndown was due to assignment of
Holmes to direct the Wheeler and
Woolsey picture.
been serving President Roosevelt in
Washington as a sort of "dollar a
year" man in confidential capacities.
If it is the same Legendre it means
that the President's hand is person-
ally guiding Rosenblatt's statements
and actions.
Touchy
"They can't take it any more,"
sighed the waiter at Universal who
has done impersonations of studio
execs at the Laemmie birthday
party for the past five years, after
spending Tuesday night waiting for
this year's invitation which never
arrived.
Hoffman Gets Cash
To Release Wilson
To secure the release of Charles
Wilson from M. H. Hoffman, with
whom the player was signed for "Take
the Stand," cost the player's agent
$75 yesterday, indie producer settling
for that sum after demanding $175,
claiming that it would cost him that
much to replace Wilson.
Player asked for his release to com-
ply with a deal set by Warners for
"Golden Gate," Kingston signing him
for spot when Warners claimed prior
rights. Hoffman, however, insisted on
the $175 settlement, finally coming
down to $75 and settling the issue.
'Golden Gate' Starts Today
With Wilhelm Dieterle back from
San Francisco, Warners put "Golden
Gate" into production today with Pat
O'Brien, Bette Davis, Margaret Lind-
say and Lyie Talbot in the top spots.
Company will shoot at the Burbank
plant today and tomorrow, then leave
for a week's location in San Fran-
cisco.
Tidden Set in New Spot
Fritz Tidden, story associate with
Al Kingston for a number of months,
has become affiliated with Hoffman,
Schlager, Inc., in a like capacity. Tid-
den retains his personal clients, in-
cluding the Hollywood representation
of Jean Wick, New York literary
agent.
Night Flight' Honored
The French Air Ministry has asked
MGM for a print of "Night Flight,"
which was directed by Clarence Brown,
for its historical records, as it is a
true phase of French aviation.
'Villa' Closed Last Night
"Viva Villa," the David Selznick-
MGM picture, reported finished a few
days ago, really folded up completely
and finally last night.
s^isS^s^si
The Most Flaming Star in
Theatrical History!
IttNOAHGEl/^
HOW SHE SWAYS!
HOW SHE SINGS!
"a,..
N*! NT^ POP. PRICES fe^A*;
Opera May Move to
Radio's Music Hall
New York. — Prospects of the Met-
ropolitan Opera House moving to the
Radio City Music Hall next season are
read into the news today that David
Sarnoff, Radio chieftain, had been
elected a director of the Metrop)oli-
tan Opera Association.
Under this set-up the RKO Center
theatre would be the sole home of
pictures in the Rockefeller buildings.
'U' Basketball Winner
Universal's basketball five triumph-
ed over the Bank of America team
easily last night by a 63-46 score.
The studio Execs Team, with Junior
Laemmie and Eddie Grainger, one-
time Fordham star, showing the way,
beat the Editorial Team, 46 to 24.
MGM Closes for 'Kim'
Newji^rk. — MGM has finally clos-
ed>He deals for "Kim" and "Captains
,ourageous." Clare Kummer is also
preparing to take up her assignment
on the Elmer Harris play, "Unhappily
Married."
Warners To Keep Going
(Continued from Page 1 )
six months sine* the studio reopened
last July. About half of the pictures
remaining to be shot will be special
productions requiring more time than
the 1 5-day schedule now in use at
the plant.
Pictures now at work are "Hot
Air," "Hit Me Again" and "Fur
Coats." The specials getting into pro-
duction in the next month or so are
"Dames," a Ruby Keeler and Dick
Powell musical; "British Agent," with
Leslie Howard; "The Key," Kay Fran-
cis and William Powell, and probably
"Madame DuBarry," another Kay
Francis vehicle.
^ The UIHmate in Entertainment- ^
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Vol. XIX. No. 8. Price 5c.
TODAY^S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday. January 20. 1934
STUDIOS YAWN rOR CASH
•THIS questionnaire that NRA has
caused to be sent to executives and
other big salaried people in the mo-
tion picture business is one of the
funniest things we have ever read and
we can't understand how any Govern-
ment could feel that it has the right
to pry into the privacy of the business
life of any individual to the extent
being attempted. It's a scream. If
you have not read it, grab yourself a
copy.
Why must almost every person and
organization, clothed with some little
authority, meddle in the affairs of this
business? Why don't they do the
same meddhVig in other industries?
Why continually, day in and day out,
pick on motion pictures?
We acknowledge that there are a
lot of questions we would like to see
answered, which answered correctly
and honestly, would do a lot to help
this business. But who is there to be-
lieve that those questions will be giv-
en the right answers? It's a cinch
they won't.
•
The whole thing, this prying into
our affairs, will only serve to slow up
everything, to stop the progress of
making pictures (good or bad), and
no good will come out of it. The
banks back in New York tried it, they
sent their efficiency men out here to
ask those questions and look into the
inner chambers, but they did not get
the right answer and their work had
plenty to do with wrecking the busi-
ness. Also, there was a greater pen-
alty held out then than the Govern-
ment could wield now or at any other
time.
So why the meddling?
•
It would be a great thing for Rosen-
blatt and General Johnson, if they
would REALLY TRY to do something
to help this business — it needs help.
All these Government restrictions are
rK)t going to do any good, will not
help. So what?
We can tell Mr. Rosenblatt that he
will not get the right answers and a
lot of them he should not get; it's no
business of his or the good cause that
the NRA is supposed to represent.
Warners in Black
New York. — Warners report a
net profit of $105,852 for the 13
weeks ended November 25, the
first quarter to show profit since
1930. This net excludes a profit
of $655,262 on redemption of
bonds.
MOM Tells Harlow
She Can Sit It Out
MGM has no intention of going any
further on their offers to Jean Harlow
and have told her to sit it out as long
as she wishes and the longer she sits
the less valuable she becomes for a
renewal of negotiations.
Harlow has a contract that still has
almost four years to run at a salary of
$1,500 a week. When she made her
demands for more dough the studio
met it with an offer of $1,000 a
week increase, giving the platinum star
$2,500 each Wednesday. She refus-
ed saying that she would not come
back until her ticket read $5,000
weekly.
Harry Warner Arrives
Harry Warner arrives in Wilmington
this morning on the California for a
routine visit to the Warner studio.
The head of the motion picture fam-
ily is accompanied by a party which
includes Joseph Bernhard of the War-
ner theatre department.
New Writer Body Forming
A group of screen writers dissatis-
fied-w^th the proceedings at the Screen
"Writers' Guild are forming a minority
group. Idea originated from the meet-
ing held last Monday night.
Sally Blane Foot-Loose
Darryl Zanuck has allowed Twenti-
eth Century's option on Sally Blane's
termer to slip by and the player re-
enters the free lance field.
Anticipated Production Boom
Dies As Exchanges and Exhibs
Fail To Return Needed Cash
The slump in picture theatre business that hit the industry
in October, continued through to the end of the year, and hasn't
lifted yet, is showing its effects on the major studios, which are
practically all now on a basis of "cash and carry," that is, when
the money comes in from the thea-
Smith Files Charges
tres the pictures can be made.
Last month Hollywood studios col-
lectively announced fifty pictures to
start in January. Even discounting the
usual over-expectations, it is startling
to find that two-thirds of the month
is past with only fourteen new fea-
tures started at major plants.
The situation accentuates the prob-
lem that picture producers face to-
day. The day is past when it was
(Continued on Page 4)
New Cayor-Farrell
To Be Norris Novo!
The Kathleen Norris novel, "Man-
hattan Love Song," is scheduled to
be the first co-starring vehicle for the
Janet Gaynor-Charles Farrell reunion
at Fox.
The studio plans to bring the team
back to the public in this yarn as
strong as it introduced them to the
public years ago with "Seventh Hea-
ven."
Roxy's Daughter Here
Beta Bijou, daughter of S. L.
(Roxy) Rothafel, has arrived in Hol-
lywood and is planning on a swing at
pictures as an actress.
Lou Diamond Coming
New York. — Lou Diamond is ready
to leave for the coast next week to
arrive there February 1 .
XEW YORK BVSIIVESS SHOT
MUSIC HALL LOW AT $61,000
New York. — Business in all the first
run houses here took a bit of a lick-
ing this week. The Music Hall did a
beautiful nose dive with Radio's "Man
of Two Worlds" that had nothing bet-
ter than Francis Lederer to interest
the customers. The house did a top
of $61,000, which is quite a bit dif-
( Continued on Page 2)
4 Monthsfor Henry Vlir
London.- — "Henry the Eighth" will
round its run out here at the four-
month period, after sensational busi-
ness. It will be followed at the Lei-
cester Square by " I Cover the Water-
front," with "Catherine the Great"
scheduled to go in after that.
To Right and Left
Harold Smith, business representa-
tive of the lATSE sound local, is fil-
ing similar charges against the motion
picture producers association, individ-
ually and collectively, with Charles H.
Cunningham, new NRA District Com-
pliance Director, as he lodged with
the Los Angeles Regional Labor Board
earlier in the week.
Producers are charged with disre-
garding the 40-hour maximum week
for soundmen, excepting mixers and
recorders, and with violating salary
agreements.
Conrad Sues Wald
New York — Con Conrad announces
he will sue jerry Wald for $250,000,
claiming the yarn "Radio Romeo,"
sold to Warners, was written by him.
Wald made a bee-line for the offices
of Nathan Burkan and placed all his
worries in that spot.
Halper Back on Job
Louis J. Halper, West Coast chief
for Warner Theatres, has resumed his
duties at his desk here after a month's
trip to New York, where he attended
the Leroy-Warner wedding and p>ol-
ished off details on theatre business
at the same time.
'Little Women' Extended
Since the words "last days" ap-
peared in the Chinese advertising,
business jumped so that Grauman has
extended the run another week, Janu-
ary 28 being the closing date now.
Penner Signs For Three
New York. — Joe Penner, latest
comedian to click on the radio, has
been signed by Meyer Davis- Van Beu-
ren to a contract for three shorts.
Meighan Goes Abroad
New York. — Thomas Meighan sail-
ed for Europe last night on the Bre-
men.
BlIAN JAMES Wrote The Dialogue THE BIG SHAKEDQWN'n
Page Two
Jan. 20. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Clel.
Published everv dav with the exceotion of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Less than three thousand people
showed up at Harry Green's party for
his baby at the Clover Club . . but
then he only invited a coupla hun-
dred . . . and how they cut up! . . .
May Robson is going East in a few
days for a personal appearance at the
Capitol . . . she goes in ahead of Lion-
el Barrymore. . . . Frederick Hollander,
who did the music for "The Blue
Angel," Marlene Dietrich's first big
flicker, is composing a musical revue
which he'll produce here with Steffie
Duna as the star. . . , Eddie Rubin
(who looks just like brother Benny,
poor feller!) has given up publicity
writing for acting entirely — -he's on
the air with Bruce Cabot tonight too.
. . . Marie Dressier, out of the house
again — first time in over a month! . .
Eddie Coulding, flying East this morn-
ing to the h)edside of his wife, Mar-
jorie Moss.
•
Didja know that band-leader, Jay
Whidden, is an ex-cowboy? . . . Mar-
jorie Lytell (no relation to Bert) ar-
rives today, after stage successes, to
work for RKO. . . . That pretty blonde
you've seen with Woody Van Dyke is
Ruth Mannix . . . and not someone
everyone thought it was! . . . Francis
Lederer was down at the train to meet
Maurice Chevalier. . . . The Ric Cor-
tezes are back from Santa Barbara,
where they were the only guests at
the hotel, and other spots where the
waiters should have been arrested for
loitering! . . . They took six bags of
clothes and only opened one, played
some ping pong and rushed back to
Hollywood — after all, you can be too.
TOO alone! ... A famous singing
movie-star is putting on weight daily
— her repertoire is now enormous! . .
The Wes Ruggles baby has the whoop-
ing-cough. . . . Wes and Arline judge
threw a party the other night for a
bunch of the bunch. . . . Clara Bow,
the Skeets Gallaghers, Bebe Daniels,
Ben Lyon, the Bill Davies. Jack Oakie,
the Bert Kalmars, the Frank Capras
; among those there.
/ "Old Hannibal" is now called "You
/ Can't Buy Everything" . . . only we
f don't believe it. . . . May Sunday is in
a mood to buy everything in sight — •
and she's doing it. . . . Tamara Geva,
"SONS OF THE DESERT"
Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer prod.; director, William Seiter; writers, Frank Craven
and Byron Morgan.
Rialto Theatre
Sun: The film is done well, but this theme muet be brilliantly handled, or fresh-
ly handled, to make any impression on this department. Last night's
audience at the Rialto chuckled at various places without laughing espe-
cially loudly — the way that they should have laughed at a Laurel and
Hardy comedy. Laurel and Hardy are quite excellent in "Sons of the
Desert." They are handicapped, principally, by the staleness of the
material.
Wortd-Telegrami: It's funny enough for two reels. After that, the Messrs.
Laurel and Hardy cease to be sheiks or shrieks.
Times: It is funny all the way through. The mournful and witless Mr. Laurel
and the frustrated Mr. Hardy are just as unfitted for the grim realities as
they have ever been. There is enough tragedy in the lives of the un-
happy husbands to hold any student of the higher manifestations of the
American slapstick.
lournat: The farcical story is neatly built up and there are plenty of laughs in
the slapstick gags and the Laurel and Hardy antics.
Herald-Tribune: It is only fair for me to say that apparently a congress of those
who disagree with me in the matter was being held at the Rialto Theatre
yesterday, for the house was crowded with ecstatic delegates who showed
every sign of regarding themselves as being in an ideal world where there
were two Chaplins working in one film.
Cinecolor Process Cets
Major Shorts Contract
Contracts for the Cinecolor process
have been closed for the Willie
Whopper cartoons for MGM release
and Educational's "Romantic Jour-
neys" series for release through Fox.
P. A. Powers also has closed for his
Comicolor series. The new business
is ascribed to a development which has
enabled Cinecolor to secure the effect
of three colors.
Irving Thalberg Assigns
Rasch to 'Merry Widow'
/'Irving Thalberg has signed Alber-
'tina Rasch to work out the dances,
arrange for the girls and be a general
help on the making of "The Merry
Widow" that will star Chevalier under
the direction of Lubitsch.
'Death Plays Bridge* Dead
An unsatisfactory story line has
made Irving Briskin shelve "Death
Plays Bridge," a K. S. Daiger story
which the Columbia producer is to
revive at a later date on the produc-
tion schedule.
Phillips Holmes in N.Y.
New York. — Phillips Holmes arrived
here yesterday with plans to depart
immediately for the coast, where he
has some picture propositions beckon-
ing.
O'Brien in Frisco
San Francisco. — George O'Brien,
screen star, arrived here yesterday for
a brief visit with his relatives.
Connie Bennett, Henri de la Falaise,
Jackie Cooper, Virginia Gilbert, Ethel
Butterworth, Gloria Swanson, Sandra
Shaw Cooper, Carl Brisson, Dudley
Murphy, Shirley Lanfield, Mel Shauer.
Charlie Beahan lunching at the Ven-
dome. . . . Harold Grieve and Jetta
Goudal back in town from Mexico City
with pullenty to tell! . . . The reason
you see Mel Shauer around the"Trum-
pet Blows" set so much is simple. Her
name is Frances Drake.
Gibson and Radio
In Billing Dispute
Question over billing yesterday
caused a dispute between Wynne Gib-
son and Radio.
Player, set for "Crime Doctor," de-
manded first billing according to her
contract unless stars are cast for the
picture in which event their names
precede hers. Company is anxious to
give Otto Kruger, loaned from MGM,
top billing along with Mary Astor, who
was signed for the part opposite him.
Incident promises to make Radio lift
Miss Astor to star rating in order to
solve the wrangle.
Elliott Nugent directs with David
Lewis at the helm.
NatM Break on 'Palooka'
New York. — The theme song of
"Palooka" will get a record breaking
simultaneous play over networks on
January 30, having been selected by
the National Committee for the Birth-
day Ball for President Roosevelt. Max-
son Judell conceived the song, which
combines a verse by Edgar Guest with
music by Ferdie Grofe.
Ryan Tagged by Small
Ben Ryan has been signed by Ed-
ward Small to write the dialogue on
"Count of Monte Cristo." Picture will
probably be directed by Walter Lang
when it goes into production some
time next month.
Otherwise It's All Right
In addition to changing the title
from "The Golden Gate," to "The
Gentleman From San Francisco," War-
ners yesterday postponed the start of
the feature until Monday. Wilhelm
Dieterle directs.
Sawdust' for Joe E.'
Warners yesterday assigned Tom
Buckingham to script the next Joe E.
Brown vehicle, "Sawdust." Story with
a circus background is an original by
Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby.
First Acad. Meet
Plans For Future
The new committee recently ap-
pointed by the Academy, of which
King Vidor is chairman, met for the
first time yesterday at noon to discuss
future plans.
It was decided that the Academy
would perform in the future as it had
in the past and plans are now on foot
to appoint an Awards Committee.
The annual Academy awards will be
presented about the middle of March.
The Academy also reports that a
number of its members that had wan-
dered away from the organization dur-
ing its recent debacle are returning to
its fold.
Rowland and Brice
Col. Deal Is Shaky
The Rowland and Brice releasing
deal with Columbia for two pictures is
up in the air and is expected to be
called off at any moment, according
to reports trickling here from New
York. At the same time it is report-
ed that the production team is dis-
cussing a deal wih Radio's New York
office.
New 'Our Gang' Forms
Hal Roach yesterday signed Jerry
Tucker and Wally Albright to the re-
organized "Our Gang" and will put
one of the shorts into production to-
day. Gus Meins directs. Lichtig an<^
Englander agency handled.
N.Y. Business Shot
(Continued from Page 1 )
ferent from the $90,000 and $100,-
000 that have been pretty common
recently.
The Capitol with "Fugitive Lovers"
ran to $41,600 and the Paramount
with "Eight Girls in a Boat" did less
than $40,000. Goldwyn's "Roman
Scandals" sank to $17,500 in its
fourth week of the run, and the Strand
showing "Easy To Love" could not
count $10,000 for their ticket sales.
The Seventh Avenue Roxy with the
British production of "I Was A Spy"
did okay with $28,300. The Rialto
with a nine day run on "Sons of the
Desert" grabbed $16,000. "Myrt and
Marge" could only last two days at
the Mayfair and was replaced by "Six-
ty Fathoms Deep" and the two did
less than $7,000.
Next week should see a jump m
receipts since thousands of school kids
will be home most of the week be-
cause of Regent's tests.
Tutoring Wanted
Does your child need the experi-
enced help of a tutor, formerly
connected with the finest private
school in Chicago? Especially suc-
cessful with children in primary
grades who are unable to attend
school.
MARIE CATTER ^
3232 Benda St. HI-6998
Jan. 20. 1934
TH
Page Three
*IT HAPPENED' SWELL PIC;
WB'S 'YOUR NUMBER' GOOD
Direction, Cast and
All Concerned Okay
"IT HAPPENED ONE NICHT"
(Columbia)
Directed by Frank Capra
Story by Samuel Hopkins Adams
Adaptation by Robert Riskin
Photography by Joseph Walker
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Clark Gable,
Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns,
Alan Hale.
Well, another swell, bang-up grand
picture has dropped in our midst. It
is Columbia's "It Happened One
Night," a charming, human, believ-
able story, with charming, human, be-
lievable characters.
The thing gallops right along, kick-
ing up its heels in cheerful, frisky joie
de vivre, and the audience gallops
right along with it. There's not a
dull moment, in spite of the fact that
it runs a good two hours. Undoubt-
edly some of it near the end will be
cut, but it is so fine throughout that
it's a shame it can't all be kept in.
It is comedy with a kick, drama
with a punch, and the picture is serv-
ed with acting and direction that hit
a new high all their own.
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert
have the parts of their lives. He is a
newspaper man who helps her to es-
cape from her father who is bent up-
on preventing her marriage to a young
bounder. On their hitch hike from
Miami to New York, they fall in love
with each other. Neither Gable nor
Colbert seem to do any acting. They
just amble joyfully through the pic-
ture, being utterly natural and devas-
tatingly human. And they and the
picture are blessed with lines that do
nothing but sparkle. There isn't a
dull line of dialogue in the whole
thing, and there isn't a dead charac-
ter.
Walter Connolly is splendid as usu-
al as Miss Colbert's father, and Ros-
coe Karns is amusing as a traveling
salesman. Alan Hale is good in a
smaller role. Frank Capra's direction
is like million dollar icing on a per-
fect cake, and Robert Riskin made a
brilliant adaptation of Samuel Hopkins
Adams' story. Joseph Walker's pho-
tography is worthy of the film, and
that's saying a lot.
Do a favor to your audiences, and
grab this one off for them. It's got
everything — names, superb acting,
riotous comedy and perfect direction.
Lance Sfill Victor
The motion of J. G. Mayer, Ltd.,
for a new trial in the case of Leo
Lance and J. C. Mayer, Ltd., for a
new trial was denied yesterday by
Judge Pope in Municipal Court, the
Judge holding there was no basis for
the motion. Lance was awarded a
judgment against the agency for com-
missions due about a month ago. At-
torney James Houlahan represented
Lance.
Couiding on Next Holtz
Alf Goulding will direct the next
Lou Holtz short, "Showmanship," for-
Columbia.
Now It's a Secret
Washington. — At least three of
Rosenblatt's friends wired him the
wise thing when arriving west was
to get off at Pasadena and avoid
the delegations. Rosenblatt accept-
ed the advice. And immediately
announced to the press associations
that he would elude all pleaders —
by getting off at Pasadena.
Roxy
Seems Cinch
For Old Roxy Post
New York. — The know-it-alls
around here are of the opinion that
RKO committed its greatest blunder
when they let Sam Rothafel out and
argue that it would have been much
better had they paid him his salary
every week just to sit around and
look. For Roxy, running the Seventh
Avenue Roxy would not only crimp
the giant Music Hall, but would put
the crimper into every house on the
street, because Roxy has a big fol-
lowing.
And it now looks as if the know-
it-alls, know it all, for indications are
that Roxy will go back to his old house
on Seventh Avenue, the first of Feb-
ruary and then the fur will fly. Not
only will Roxy go back, but every man
in the Music Hall that is considered
of any value, will go with Roxy.
U' Wants Elissa Landi
For Lead in 'Clamour*
Universal is trying to borrow Elissa
Landi from Columbia for the lead in
"Glamour" with Paul Lukas and Russ
Columbo in the male leads. William
Wyler will direct and Benny Zeidman
will produce the picture.
If the studio is successful in secur-
ing the player, production will not
start until Miss Landi finishes her
present picture at Columbia.
Beany Walker at Para.
William LeBaron signed H. M.
Walker yesterday to write the screen
play of "Hearts and Flowers," Para-
mount's next starring vehicle for W.
C. Fields. The DeShon-Naylor office
set the writer.
Col. Likes Warner Gal
Gloria Warner gets her third con-
secutive assignment at Columbia in
"Love Detective," Zion Myers' short.
Walter Kane of the Weber office han-
dles the player's deals.
Shelve 'Lottery Lover'
Fox was unauthoritatively declared
to have shelved production plans on
"Lottery Lover," which was to have
served as a Lilian Harvey picture.
Del Rio Coming Here
New York. — Dolores Del Rio leaves
for the Coast today, ending reports
that she might go to England imme-
diately for "Sons of Guns" as a British
picture.
Katherine Brush Sails
New York. — Katherine Brush, au-
thor, sails for the Coast today by way
of the Canal.
Snappy Dialogue
And Cast Hi-Lites
"I'VE COT YOUR NUMBER*
(Warners-First National)
Directed by Ray Enright
Screen Play by Warren Duff and
Sidney Sutherland
Photography Arthur Todd
Cast: Joan Blondell, Pat O'Brien,
Glenda Farrell, Allen Jenkins,
Eugene Pallette, Henry O'Neill,
Hobart Cavanaugh, Louise Beav-
ers, Gordon Westcott, Renee
Whitney, Selmer Jackson, Robert
Ellis.
You needn't worry about the phone
lines on "I've Got Your Number"
(new listing for "Hell's Bells"). It's
an action melodrama in good working
order. Built along routine lines of
romance combined with a chase, it is
given especial interest by wise-crack-
ing characters and a new background.
Pat O'Brien plays Terry, a repair
man for the New York telephone sys-
tem. Combining pleasure with busi-
ness has become a habit. He fixes
telephones and dates with equal skill.
Allen Jenkins trails along, assistant,
stooge and chaperon combined. His
apprehensive plea, "Let's get outa
here!" is a running gag which never
fails on laughs.
Joan Blondell as a switchboard girl
misdirects a call at the request of a
friend. She thinks it is for a laugh,
but it tips off a betting deal, and she
has to leave her job. Terry gets her
another, and the same racketeers pull
another job by the simple expedient
of keeping her busy answering fake
calls while they get away with the
bonds.
The only place where the action
falls down is when Terry goes alone
to a house where a mob is hiding.
There is plenty of suspense, but even
the engaging dumbell built by O'Brien
wouldn't be so dumb as all that.
The whole cast mugs happily and
heartily, and the audience liked it well
enough to break out in applause when
the trouble shooters pile into a car to
dash to Terry's rescue.
Shouts of laughter greeted Pat
O'Brien's lines and business. Joan
Blondell is excellently cast for the
hard-boiled phone girl. Glenda Far-
rell scores from the moment she ap-
pears as a medium who gets voices
from the spirit world over the tele-
phone until she staggers out of a night
club to give another "reading."
Eugene Pallette does handsomely by
the comedy as a permanently infuri-
ated superintendent. Gordon West-
cott does nicely by his part of the
smoothie racketeer, and Louise Beav-
ers, Hobart Cavanaugh and Renee
Jackson turn in parts that add to the
general hilarity.
Good old action is the keynote of
this film, but comedy pervades even
those scenes when Terry is jumping
off a burning building.
Crisp, wise-cracking dialogue, Ray
Enright's sure direction, well chosen
cast and the interesting inside slant
on the workings of a telephone sys-
tem ring the bell for this one as a
good programmer.
A great publisher came to town last
week. He is a distinguished publi-
cist, high in the councils of the nation,
through whom civilization and the
outside world must filter to reach the
half million souls in his city.
The plays and the theatres with
their wit and polish reached out their
arms to him, the fine restaurants of
the city tempted him with inspired
food and the night clubs glittered
their brightest invitation.
He had only two nights in New
York. On the first, he dined at the
Longchamps, where the vegetables are
so green. Then he went to the Music
Hall to see "Flying Down to Rio."
The next night he didn't know what
to do. So he had dinner at the Long-
champs again, and, believe it or not,
he went to the Music Hall again.
Some people may think he is
wrong; his idea is that to edit a paper
you must be in tune or in step with
your people.
•
Mary Pickford and Max Baer, at
different marble-topped tables at the
Madison Cafe, watching Stanley Sac-
kett spinning around like a squirrel
caught in the revolving door. . . . Wal-
ter Winchell playing the new cliche
game, unable for the life of him to
think up a dull thing to say.
•
A little tot, finishing up a holiday
afternoon of seeing "Alice in Won-
derland," sat at a soda fountain. The
jerker dropped a glass. "Off with
his head!" she shouted.
Two advertising agencies were in
competition for a big contract. The
account meant a lot of money and a
lot of distinction. The first agency
decided that they would turn out a
swell campaign. They worked on copy
and they spent a fortune on art. The
other agency knew a guy, the right
guy, and let it go at that.
Earl Carroll Beauts
Here Next Week
New York. — Set Hollywood's pal-
pitating heart at rest and get those
parades ready. Earl Carroll leaves New
York Tuesday for the Coast accom-
panied by his bevy of girls for "Mur-
der in the Vanities."
Broadway's sharps are watching
with interest the contest in showman-
ship that will be staged by George
White, at Fox for his "Scandals," and
Earl Carroll.
Judith Wood Quits
Judith Wood, Twentieth Century
term contract player, has filed a pe-
tition in bankruptcy through Attorney
M. L. Rabbit. Action was recorded
under the player's real name, Helen
Johnson.
Humberstone Hits Bell
Lucky Humberstone brought "Mer-
ry Wives of Reno" in yesterday on
schedule for Warners, and is off the
studio payroll following his one-pic-
ture contract.
Page Four
THF
Jan. 20, 1934
Hays Here Ready for
Producers' Huddles
Will Hays arrived in town yester-
day ready to go into a huddle with the
production executives on matters to
come up during the visit of Sol Rosen-
blatt next week. Despite the wild re-
ports to the contrary, no producer
meetings have been held yet and they
will not be held until next week.
Hays was happy. "The recent pic-
tures to make big successes," he said,
"prove all that picture men have been
saying for years — the public taste can
be trusted. It is safer to overrate
rather than to underrate public intel-
ligence."
Radio Re-Unites
Cleason-Oliver
Radio has signed Edna May Oliver
and James Cleason as the comedy
team in "Murder on the Blackboard,"
which will be directed by George
Archainbaud. Radio used the same
comedy team in their previous murder
thriller, "Penguin Pool Murder," by
Stuart Palmer, who authored the other
one also.
Weber Can't Drive
The Los Angeles traffic court yes-
terday came to the decision that Her-
bert C. Weber, local agent, is alto-
gether too fast and revoked his driv-
ing license. He claims he was only
nailed for speeding ten times and com-
plains that he has to hire a chauffeur
as an alternative.
Picture Bizness
Big problem of the executives at
Universal yesterday was how to get
an All-American basketball play-
er now at Columbia studios, for the
Universal team. Latter studio
couldn't hire the boy, Columbia put
him under contract after the first
game.
Guild Extras Meet
To Elect Wednesday
Extras who are affiliating them-
selves with the Screen Actors' Guild
will have a chance to lay out their or-
ganization set up and future plans at
a meeting called for Wednesday, Jan-
uary 28, at the Woman's Club, Holly-
wood.
Ann Harding and Morgan Wallace
of the Guild will be present to start
the meeting off, but will retire as
soon as the extras have selected their
own officers. Only paid up members
of the Junior Screen Actors' Guild will
be admitted.
Freed-Brown Re-Tagged
Before Contract Expired
Although the song-writing team of
Arthur Fried and Nacio Herb Brown
have until March to go until their
present contract expires, MGM signed
the team for another year yesterday.
At present they are writing the song
numbers for the Joan Crawford pic-
ture, "Sadie McKee," and the Jean-
ette MacDonald pictures, "Duchess of
Delmonico's."
Ruth Donnelly and
Warners Settle Tiff
A compromise agreement on salary
yesterday cleared up the situation be-
tween Ruth Donnelly and Warners,
both parties shaking hands on a new
deal which will be signed today.
Player's old deal expired owing to
her refusal to take a cut on the in-
crease then due. The new deal, ne-
gotiated through William S. Gill, has
both parties meeting each other half-
way, Warners offering $900 per week.
Miss Donnelly asking $1250.
The player also gets a clause stating
she will work in only one picture at
a time, the second such deal since
that of Aline MacMahon's. Upon sign-
ing her new ticket today. Miss Don-
nelly hops off for New York on a
three week vacation.
Radio Signs Frawley
William Frawley has been signed
by Radio on a one-picture deal for a
featured role in "Crime Doctor,"
which John Robertson will direct. Otto
Kruger has the top sp)Ot.
Thompson on 'Springtime'
Keene Thompson is now at work
with Frank Tuttle on the adaptation
of "Springtime for Henry," the Benn
Levy play.
Frank Campbell Dies
New York. — Frank E. Campbell,
noted mortician, in whose parlors so
many screen and stage stars reposed,
died yesterday in Larchmont, N. Y.
Studios Yawn For Cash
(Continued from Page 1 )
merely necessary to pick a figure and
a group of ciphers to wire to New
York each week for the studio pay-
roll. Nowadays New York TELLS the
studio — and tells it in plain language
a few weeks in advance the very top
that can be expected from theatre and
exchange collections.
Which gives the studio exec a two-
way headache. First, only the biggest
of attractions bring back the gravy in
amounts that cheer a studio man, but
big pictures in the making drain the
treasury like a broken dam.
On the other hand, small time pic-
tures which can be made for the
money available show up in the re-
turns sixty or ninety days later like
rain drops in the Grand Canyon.
The result is the present situation
with stories being postponed, rewrit-
ten, recast, and everything rather than
admit the money isn't available.
But for once the producers are in a
fairly healthy pHDsition on contract
commitments, most of the studio
heads having started to draw in their
horns on contracts, even for desired
people, many months ago when they
were given the definite New >ork or-
der— "from now on you live out of
income."
The bulk of the suffering is being
done by the agents, who rely on the
overturn of free-lance players, and the
excess on selling from studio to stu-
dio on their contract people for their
gravy. The agents will never want to
see this January again.
My profound thanks and sincere
appreciation to the Warner
Brothers and their organization
Roy Del Ruth
% MP.SAK'UKL MARX,
CULVFR CITY,.JALIi''.
Vol. XIX. No. 9. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, January 22, 1934
$TILIT0€ MANY SEATS
Wall St. Watches New York Zone Alone Has Over
".fA^iSfl^"/.!,?! Million and Quarter - Latest
•THIS idea of playing the production
year safe is not doing this business
any good. By playing safe, we mean
the making of a whole gob of pictures
and believing that the success of a
few will make up for the losses of the
others. That's the wrong idea, be-
cause it is being proven every day that
the program attraction is a dud, will
not earn its cost; accordingly why
burden the budget with that type pic-
ture when it is known that hit pic-
tures will make more money today
than ever in the history of this indus-
try?
And we are not so stupid as to
suggest that every picture can be a
hit picture; but we will say that there
will be ten times as many if produc-
ers set out to make hits and dis-
continue the practice of putting a pic-
ture into production because they need
a picture.
There is a demand for a lot of pic-
tures because most of them will not
stand up for anything resembling an
engagement. If better pictures are
made, those pictures will play three
and four times the number of days,
and at less cost to the exhibitor, the
distributor and producer and a greater
profit for all.
•
It's astonishing what a good pic-
ture will gross today. We mean
throughout the whole world. And
there is equal astonishment at how
little a program flop will take in. Is
i4 not better to make, say, 12 pic-
tures at a cost of $6,000,000 to
$8,000,000 with the possibility of
grossing from $500,000 to over $1,-
000,000 each, than to shoot from
$15,000,000 to $20,00,000 in the
making of 50 to 60 pictures that will
not bring back better than the nega-
tive cost, IF THAT?
And it's tougher to make program-
ers than it is hit pictures. It's all
in the desire to make good pictures
and take the time and not the ex-
pense of producing them. Three hit
pictures will grab more dough than
60 programers and the effort in the
making of those programers keeps the
producers away from making hits, be-
cause they have not got the time or
the money.
No studio should make over 12 pic-
tures a year. They can't make more
and make them good. There are not
enough stories to make more or ar-
tists to write, direct and play in them.
very bullish on Loew's, Inc., and ex-
pects that organization to follow the
recent Warner statement with excep-
tionally good earnings.
There is very heavy buying in Loew's
stock, indicating that someone is not
afraid of that big block of overhang-
ing stock recently purchased by A.T.
&T. and Chase Bank interests. In fact,
if some of this is reaching the mar-
ket, a few more days of the present
volume of trading will soon absorb the
660,900 shares split among Film Se-
curities noteholders.
First Court- Action on
NRA By Newark Theatre
Newark. — The Congress Theatre
here makes the first court test case
of the NRA, having gone to the Fed-
eral courts Saturday for an injunction
against the rule that if a theatre does
not express compliance with all rules
of the NRA it cannot avail itself of
the machinery for zoning and clear-
ance disputes. Decision on the in-
junction will be given today.
Berman Delays Return
New York. — Pan Berman delayed
his return to the Coast to accompany
Ned Depinet on the journey. He leaves
New York today and the two will de-
part from Chicago Tuesday on The
Chief.
Three N. Y. Plays Fold
New York. — Three legit shows
wended their way to the storehouse
after Saturday night's performances.
They are "School for Husbands,"
"Double Door," and "Champagne
Sec."
Theater Figures Interesting
Despite depression and all its woes, and with close to two
thousand sound equipped theatres closed definitely, the nation is
still vastly over-seated according to a recapitulation just made
by Charles C. Pettijohn, through the facilities of the Film Board
of Trade, as of January
The New York exchange zone alone,
for example, shows 1 ,290,644 theatre
seats yawning for occupants every
night of the week. Philadelphia is an-
other shining example of over-seating,
having 663,169 chairs to fill, prac-
tically as much as Chicago with 663,-
845, despite the vast difference in
their exchange ratings.
The total of the country's theatres
still hovers about the 18,000 mark,
(Continued on Page 7)
Gallant Lady' Is
TopsatN.Y. Rivoli
New York. — The opening day on
the Twentieth Century production of
"Gallant Lady" did a land office busi-
ness at the Rivoli here, topping all
other opening days for quite a period
with a take of $7,61 3.
Sam Coldwyn's "Roman Scandals"
held the top spot with $7364 for
opening; "The Bowery" followed in
receipts with $7122, offering a con-
clusion that in "Gallant Lady" United
Artists has another big hit attraction.
Wilcoxon in N.Y. Tuesday
New York. — Harry Wilcoxon, slat-
ed to be DeMille's Antony, arrives
here tomorrow on the Majestic.
ClIILDS RIDE ACADEMY
AS 'ROSY' NEARS HERE
The Guilds are not waiting on the
arrival of Administrator Rosenblatt to
swing into action. In a joint state-
ment issued last night the Writers'
and Actors' Guilds branded recent
publicity concerning the revival of the
Academy as proving the latter body
"producer-conceived and producer-
controlled," and that while it might
represent directors and producers it
would in no way speak for the writers
and actors. The statement reads in-
to recent Academy news an attempt
to block the two employee groups in
dealing with the NRA authorities.
U' Lifts on Pryor
Universal will lift Roger Pryor's op-
tion when it comes up February 6.
Player is scheduled to go into "If I
Was Rich" as his next for the plant.
He has been seen in "Moonlight and
Pretzels" and "I Like It That Way."
*RosyV Frau Accompanies
Chicago. — Administrator Sol Ros-
enblatt was joined here by his wife
and she will accompany him on his ten
days coast stay. Rosenblatt arrives on
the Chief today, alighting at Pasadena,
and going to the Beverly-Wilshire.
'Pompeii' In Color
Big Radio Special
Radio will shoot the works on "The
Last Days of Pompeii," one of the
b'ggest productions ever to come out
of that studio, which will personally
be supervised by Merian C. Cooper.
The story will be adapted to the screen
from Bulwer Lytton's book. The pro-
duction will be made in Technicolor.
No director, writer or cast has yet
been decided, but Cooper promises an
all star cast.
This story was produced as a silent
picture about fifteen years ago by an
Italian film company.
jock' Whitney Here For
Conferences with Cooper
John Hay Whitney slipped into
town cu etiy Saturday morning by
train. Whitney, the head of Pioneer
Pictures, will remain here one week to
confer with Merian C. Cooper on the
story and production plans of his first
picture.
Warner Attorney Coming
New York. — Harold S. Bareford,
Harry Warner's attorney and alternate
on the Code Authority, left for the
Coast Friday to confer with Harry
Warner, leaving that organization un-
represented on the code body at to-
morrow's meeting.
Set 'Little Women' in Lon.
London — "Little Women" is sched-
uled for its London run at the Regal
Theatre, following in after the run of
"Voltaire," which is still holding up
strong with the great Arliss draw.
joe Schenck Returning
London. — Joe Schenck sailed on
the Majestic Saturday for New York.
Before leaving stated that he expect-
ed to remain in New York about ten
days, proceeding then to the Coast.
^
Page Two
Ian. 22. 1934
in
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd,
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published everv day with the exception ot
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
includine postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
This should slay you — and make
you as mad as it did us about the dea.
that Lee Tracy seems to be getting,
undeservedly! Harold Grieve, just re-
turned from several weeks in Mexico
City, reports that pictures starring or
featuring Lee Tracy are running there
just as though nothing had happened!
So you can't help wondering just what
did happen — if anything! What is
more, Lee's pictures in some spots are
bailyhooed to the skies — and taxi-
drivers, bell-hops, etc., who always
know all about everything, say there
isn't any feeling against the actor
there at ail — in fact, they "don't
know what it's ail about"! How d'ya
like THAT?
•
The Charlie Beahans have post-
poned the divorce proceedings and will
try a "trial separation" indefinitely.
Sidney remains at the Chateau Elysee,
while Charlie will eat breakfast at the
Bel-Air mansion.
•
Something new in parties was the
"Hangover Soiree" thrown by Carole
Lombard the other night. She bor-
rowed Bill Powell's house and con-
verted it into a perfect replica of the
interior of a hospital! The living room
furniture was replaced with hospital
cots; the servants were dressed as in-
ternes and the guests were furnished
with doctors' aprons. The menus
were printed like hospital bulletins on
ailing patients, the food was served
on an operating table, and the eating
implements included everything from
surgical knives to forceps! The drinks
were poured from youguesswhat; and
the delicacies were passed around in
well — you can imagine! It was a per-
fect setting for the way everybody
felt — but some of the gags made it a
howling success!
•
'Way back, before the depression,
Al Jolson called up an architect one
day and said, "I wanna house in Palm
Springs."
"What kind of a house?" asked the
blueprint man.
"Oh — about a hundred thousand
dollar house!" said Al.
Came the dog days — and the plans
were thrown in the scrap-basket. But
now that the clouds that Al warbles
"I WAS A SPY "
British-Caumont prod.; director, Victor Saville; writer, Martha McKenna.
Roxy Theatre
(ournal: "I Was a Spy," at the Roxy Theatre this week, is a remarkably inter-
esting film. It was made by British-Caumont, and the English studios
have here another production that stands well above the average.
Herald-Tribune: A spy picture, exciting enough to stir the audience yesterday
afternoon to cheers and hisses. It is convincing, colorful, fast and has
suspense. Mr. Victor Saville deserves high praise for his artistic and
workmanlike direction.
Mirror: A stunning war melodrama; an impressive and exhilarating film, staged
with a taste and conviction unusual in spy films.
Times: The espionage activities are set forth with a praiseworthy degree of
plausibility and the necessary dramatic impact. The picture can well
boast of its cast, for among the players are Madeleine Carroll, Herbert
Marshall and Conrad Veidt.
News: The picture is slightly confusing at the beginning, as one isn't quite
sure whether the soldiers in the hospital are meant to be English or Ger-
man, and a little too much film is used up before the design of the pic-
ture is apparent. As the story begins to take form one becomes en-
thralled by it as the plot is masterfully worked out by director and actors
on the screen.
Sun: "I Was a Spy" offers such genuineness in various episodes, in its general
look and feeling that i don't mind the lack of climactic story telling. But
audiences in this country will, I fear. There is so much that is so fine
in "I Was a Spy" that you and you and you ought to help it.
Post: Here, for once, is a war spy film that is simple, direct and wholly believ-
able; free from the theatricalism and shoddy dramatics which have previ-
ously characterized the screen attempts to portray the work of spies in
wartime. It is Conrad Veidt who dominates the picture. His is the
apogee of distinguished acting. If you want to see the cinema at its best,
don't fail to visit the Roxy this week.
World-Telegram: The British studios have given usTnother fine film — one of
the finest that has come this way in mpnths. It is skillfully adapted for
the screen by W. P. Lipscomb, directed magnificently by Victor Saville
and played flawlessly by a cast that includes Madeleine Carroll, Herbert
Marshall and Conrad Veidt. The British films have suddenly become defi-
nitely alive and vital.
Angel and Baxter
Team For Lasky
Heather Angel is set for a co-star-
ring assignment with Warner Baxter
in Jesse L. Lasky's "Grand Canary,"
according to the Fox producer's pres-
ent plans. It will be the first time that
this team has been placed together.
Irving Cummings is discussing the
directorial assignment and is expected
to be spotted into the production on
Lasky's return from his trip to Havana.
Dudley Nichols is shaping the A. J.
Cronin story into a screen play.
Roosevelt Order Opens
Door For Film Indies
Washington. — Decision of the Pres-
ident to allow the Federal Trade Com-
mission and the Department of Jus-
tice to handle complaints by small
business men opens the way for Al-
lied Exhibitors and other opponents of
the code as drawn to get recognition
without having their appeals entirely
in the hands of Rosenblatt and John-
son.
'Nana' Shows Tomorrow
New York. — Trade shows on
"Nana" will be held throughout the
country on January 23, with the ex-
ception of New York, where the pic-
ture is scheduled for an early opening
at the Music Hall.
about are inside out, and the linings
are practically gold, he and Ruby are
looking over a brand new set and will
start building any minute.
Jewell and Pendleton
Added to 'Louisiana'
Isabel Jewell and Nat Pendleton
are the latest additions to the cast of
"In Old Louisiana," which gets under
way today at MGM. The cast includes
Jean Parker, Robert Young, Lupe Ve-
lez, Ted Healy, Maude Eburne and
Warner Oland.
George B. Seitz is directing from
the original script by Lucien Hubbard,
who is supervising.
A.S.C. Meets Tonight
The general meeting of the A.S.C.
called for tonight meets at the Holly-
wood Chamber of Commerce building.
The members will hear the terms of
the new agreement between the So-
ciety and the producers, this being the
agreemnt attacked by the lATSE on
the ground it constitutes a closed
shop for a company union.
British Author Coming
New York. — On his way to visit
Leslie Howard in Hollywood, R. H.
Bruce Lockhart, author of "British
Agent," arrives in New York January
30. Howard will star in the Warner
version of the book. A lecture tour is
also planned.
Empire Films Change Pres.
Toronto. — Arthur W. Perry, for-
mer Ontario branch manager of Em-
pire Films, Ltd., has succeeded Eman-
uel Brown as president of that organi-
zation, the latter having resigned.
Ernie Geyer, publicity director, has also
resigned.
Pickford in Person
A Smash in Boston
Boston. — The personal appearance
of Mary Pickford at the Metropolitan
Theatre here broke the all time house
record for an opening day. Never in
the history of the town has there been
such a demand for admissions.
Miss Pickford is using the same
sketch, "The Church Mouse," that
was used in New York and Chicago
for her personal and the audience
since opening Friday has voiced a most
enthusiastic approval.
Mary now has offers to play in al-
most every important picture house
in the country and is considering call-
ing off the Broadway play that has
been planned for her after the pres-
ent engagement.
'U* Tries Innovation
In Making NY Tests
New York. — Universal is trying an
innovation in the making of tests
on New York stage people for submis-
sion to the studio.
The company has bought the rights
to "Boom," a one-act playlet by David
Freedman, which will be used as a
standard screen test for all prospective
Universal players. Freedman is now
putting it into script form.
MGM Wants Bainter
Back For More Pics
MGM is negotiating for Fay Bain-
ter to return to the coast for more |
pictures. Immediately after the ac-
tress finished her role in "It Happened
One Day," she hopped a train for New
York to go in "Dodsworth" with Wal-
ter Huston. She will return to Holly-
wood after the run of the play, it is
understood.
SMPE Drives for Members
New York. — The Society of Mo-
tion Picture Engineers is putting on a
drive for new members, reducing
membership fees all along the differ-
ent classifications.
Frank Craven Due Today
Frank Craven arrives in town today
on the Chief after a month's vacation
in New York. The writer finished his
new play on that trip.
RUSSELL,MILLER
and Company
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
Jan. 22, 1934
THE
Page Three
'LOOKING FOR THOVBLE' HIT;
TRACY-OAKIE SMASH TEAM
'Easy to Love' Not
So Easy to Take
Excellent Writing
And Fine Direction
"LOOKING FOR TROUBLE"
(20i'h Century-United Artists)
Directed by William Wellman
From Story by J. R. Bren
Screen Play by Leonard Praskins
and Elmer Harris
Photography by.. ..James Van Trees, Jr.
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Constance Cum-
mings. Jack Oakie, Morgan Con-
way, Arline Judge, Judith Wood,.
Paul Harvey, Joseph Sauers,
Franklyn Ardell.
In the full swing of the Zanuck
stride of pictures with action, humor
and plenty of the well-known audi-
ence appeal comes "Looking for Trou-
ble," that is not only foursquare,
forthright melodrama but gives forth
the team of Spencer Tracy and Jack,
Oakie (and that's a team that should
incorporate immediately), plus plenty
of mirth-quaking dialogue. All of
which makes it a production that
can't miss being a hit picture.
Still on the lookout for the human
interest story and the punch in every
day drama, Zanuck has put on the
screen the story of the "trouble-shoot-
ers" of the telephone company. Those
boys who go out in wind, sleet, rain
and storm so that your voice
may come tripping over the wires with
bell-like clarity at any time of day and
night. And these seemingly simple
repair duties manage to involve every-
thing from tracing the source of wire-
tapping to solving murders, with an
earthquake thrown in for good meas-
ure. Actually it's just the story of
one of these trouble-shooters and the
bumpy course his true love takes for
an information girl. But the trim-
mings— ^boyoboy. they've thought of
everything and then some which would
look kinda silly in print but actually
presents a well-knit dramatic story.
As was said before, Tracy and Oakie
are a team. Not only that, they're
the whole picture and they are swell.
They never crab each other's scenes
nor cramp each other's styles and both
the boys have the gift of playing com-
edy and drama and knowing where to
use them. Arline Judge is a grand
foil for Jack Oakie, as the girl who
just can't wait to learn all about
Azuza as OakHe knows and practices
it. That gal is going places with those
fresh looks and nienty of personality
and she can be slightly hard-boiled
without any trace of toughness. Con-
stance Cummings is Spencer Tracy's
gal — with no great effect. William
Wellman has given the picture the
pace it needs and he sticks to good old
fashioned moving pictures throughout
and it is a distinct relief from the
drawing-room technique. And the
photography does wonders especially
for the leading lady.
J. R. Bren has written a swell yarn
made a hundred percent better by
some of the snappiest dialogue writ-
ten by Leonard Praskins and Elmer
Harris we have heard for many a day.
There's no need to worry about
exploitation angles with this produc-
tion. The picture is just full of them
and teems with suggestions for all
kinds of effective tie-ups with which
the telephone companies in the vari-
Preview Cards
MGM.riceived the prize preview
card of( its production of "A Big
Dayr^ It remarked: "Your card,
as well as your film, needs re-
writing." And the critic underlin-
ed on the printed cards the words
expressed in capitals:
"What is your opinion of the
picture previewed this evening?
The Producers are anxious to know
AS they realize that the public ARE
the final JUDGES. Kindly fill out
the card and mail. Thank you.
Me tro-Goldwyn - Mayer. "
*U' Turning Down
Offers For Stuart
Universal is turning down all com-
ers on loan-out deals for Gloria Stuart,
shielding the player for their own pur-
poses. Studio turned down Radio's re-
quest for the player who was wanted
for a featured role in "Crime Doctor,"
declaring she was set for a role in
"Where's Brown."
At the same time Universal is work-
ing with Radio on a deal to borrow
William Cargan for "If I Was Rich,"
which Henry Henigson is producing
under Edward Ludwig's direction.
'Catherine' Clicks
At Paris Premiere
Paris. — "Catherine the Great" was
given its premiere here Friday night
and seems to bear out the predictions
of London, who saw it at the trade
show last week. The critics assert it
ranks well with "Henry the Eighth"
and surpasses it in dramatic climax.
The audience was one of the most
distinguished ever assembled for a film
premiere here.
Indie Unit Shelves Plan
To Make 'Harbor Patrol'
The MacCowan-Ludington unit has
shelved its plans to produce "Harbor
Patrol," the Robert MacGowan story
which Clarence Badger had been an-
nounced to direct.
John Curtis, associated with Nicho-
las Ludington in the making of "Mat-
ing Time," is east on a releasing deal
for the first picture before going ahead
with future production activities.
W. DeMille Plans Operas
New York. — Satisfied with recent
tests, William DeMille is planning a
series of screen versions of the operas.
Scenes from "Paglaicci" were made
for the tests.
'Rothschild' Finishes
Alfred Werker winds up "The
House of Rothschild" at Twentieth
Century today. The George Arliss pic-
ture with 75 talking parts was in
production about six weeks.
ous cities will be more than glad to
cooperate. Besides what more can
an audience ask for than love, laugh-
ter and drama and Tracy and Oakie
giving their all?
"EASY TO LOVE "
(Warners)
Directed by William Keighley
Story by Carl Erickson,
David Boehm and Manny Seff
Photography by Ernest Haller
Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Mary Astor,
Genevieve Tobin, Edward Everett
Horton, Patricia Ellis, Hugh Her-
bert, Paul Kaye and Robert Greig.
"Easy to Love" is a swell example of
what happens when a good cast is
drowned in a bad story. Swimming
heroically in waste basket material,
with no life lines in the way of di-
rection or dialogue thrown out to help
the poor actors, they (and the audi-
ence) finally gave up and sank hope-
lessly three times.
The blame should not fall on the
director, however. William Keighley
did the best he could with the dull,
unwieldy vehicle, and the cast backed
him up to the limit. The fault lies
entirely with the story and the dia-
logue, by Carl Erickson, David Boehm
and Manny Seff.
"Easy to Love" is a bedroom farce
with two or three real comedy se-
quences. One is where the lovely
Mary Astor is forced by circumstances
to smoke a cigar. But these few good
moments are more than offset by the
excruciatingly bad taste and general
unfunniness of the thing as a whole.
Adolphe Menjou, married to Gene-
vieve Tobin, is having an affair with
her best friend, Mary Astor. So Miss
Tobin plans to even up the score by
taking on Edward Everett Horton, her
husband's best friend and fiance of
Miss Astor.
These four principals, burdened
with dialogue that means nothing and
gets nowhere (with the exception of
certain lines whose innuendoes must
have set their teeth on edge) , deserve
nothing but praise for their gallant —
but ineffectual — efforts, Patricia El-
lis, Hugh Herbert. Paul Kaye and Rob-
ert Greig have smaller roles and they
handle them well. Ernest Haller's
photography is exceptionally good.
You exhibitors have plenty of
names on this one, but nothing to
back them up. The picture would be
a little more acceptable if some of
Miss Tobin's lines in the beginning
were cut, and if the scene where Pa-
tricia Ellis informs her parents that
she is in bed without any clothes on
with Paul Kaye were taken out en-
tirely.
Thayer Scripts 'Whipping'
Tiffany Thayer was signed by Para-
mounr^yssterday to write the screen
play for "The Whipping," which Al
Lewis is supervising. Vivian Caye
of the Joy and Polimer office set the
deal.
Lugosi Buys a Play
New York. — Bela Lugosi has ac-
quired a play with Spring production
planned for Chicago. It is "Pagan
Fury," by S. J. Warshawsky, and Lu-
gosi will star.
Not the Four Marx Brothers — but
five of them — gathered around the
Algonquin show table listening to pro-
fessorial Octavus Roy Cohen discours-
ing on something that may eventually
become a great picture. . . . And while
we are on the subject of what may
eventually become a great picture,
Prince Michael Romanoff lent his im-
perial person to the purposes of com-
merce last night when he made his
first broadcast. . . . Soglow, Steig, Dr.
Suiss and Peter Arno met each other
today for the first time in the office
of Hal Home, whose reputation as
a dead pun comedian still stands.
•
Thirty or forty actors and actresses
waited for hours in George Gold-
smith's anteroom in a confusion of
appointments. The office boy finally
had some sympathy for a fade-looking,
yellow-haired lady of indeterminate
age who had been waiting since early
morning. He gave her a break. With
a glad set smile she marched proudly
in. "Hello, how are you? I just
stopped in to say 'hello.' "
•
Sidney Howard, who now shakes
his head reminiscently over his youth-
ful days in Hollywood, has finished
"Yellowjack" after many months of
labor pains. The final version had
what seems a happy collaboration with
Dr. Paul DeKruif. The playwright and
scientist began their dramatization of
the Walter Reed adventure in Cuba,
made great progress, fell apart, and
then by some unexplained accident
hit upon a solution of all their prob-
lems, dramatic and personal, and fi-
nally brought their joint literary effort
to a promising completion.
•
Mary Pickford is happy now that
she didn't buy "Christopher Bean"
and play the role that eventually fell
to Marie Dressier. . . . Mollie Merrick
led the cotillion in her honor in the
bar of the Madison last night. . . .
Richard Watts was both on the re- .
ceiving and the dissenting end, what-
ever that is, as George Oppenheimer
would sav. . . . Helen, please come
back. All is forgiven,
Calhern Starts Again;
'Firebrand' His First
Under the wing of the Edington-
Vincent office, Louis Calhern essays
another swing at pictures in "Fire-
brand," at Twentieth Century, and is
slated to arrive in Hollywood January
29 for the Fredric March-Gregory La
Cava production.
Also being brought back at the
same time by Edington-Vincent is Jean
Dixon, who goes into a featured role
in MGM's "Sadie McKee," the Joan
Crawford vehicle.
Allied Plans Code Policy
New York, — National leaders of the
Allied States organization meet in
New York Wednesday to decide on
their future course of action with re-
gard to the motion picture NRA code.
Ostrow Finishes Another
Lou Ostrow, executive producer for
Monogram, completed the company's
latest, "Beggars in Ermine," Saturday.
Page Four
THg
Jan. 22, 1934
FALSE DREAMS' A HIT;
'WEDNESDAY'S CHILD' POOR
'Grand Hoter Idea
Good For Screen
"FALSE DREAMS. FAREWELL"
Three-act play by Hugh Strange; pre-
sented and staged by Frank Mer-
lin at the Little Theatre; settings
by Arne Lundborg. Cast: Glenn
Anders, Lora Baxter, Clarence
Derwent, Frieda Inescort, Clyde
Fillmore, Claudia Morgan, )ohn
Daly Murphy, Helen Raymond,
Blaine Cordner, Millard Mitchell
and thirty others. Thirty-three
scenes.
New York. — Many attempts have
been made since the success of "Grand
Hotel" on stage and screen, to find a
worthy successor to that perfect piece
of screen fare. "Transatlantic" was
one, "Luxury Liner" was another. But
this play is the nearest approach to
"Grand Hotel," in point of moving
cinematic black-out melodrama. The
action is confined aboard the new S.S.
Atlantia, a gargantuan ocean liner
about to make its maiden voyage.
The play deals with illuminating
flashes of life aboard the ship attend-
ant to the departure of a transatlantic
queen of the sea — with cross-sections
of the affairs of some of its prominent
passengers incisively delineated. There
is first of ail the owner of the ship
line who is intent on setting a new
speed record of three days and ten
hours for the crossing, despite the
warning of the ship's captain that the
ship is untrustworthy for such speed
and her plates are bound to cave in
with sure death for 3,000 souls
aboard. Because the Captain's wife is
a chronic invalid and he needs money
to provide medical care and because
he is threatened with permanent
blacklisting if he does not carry out
his master's orders — the ship's en-
gines are tuned up to 38 knots per
hour when the boat is only capable of
doing 30.
Then there is the strange couple
consisting of two cronies, one an old
and ailing millionaire and the other a
church dignitary who is proceeding to
Rome to receive the Cardinal's Hat.
The millionaire is an atheist, who al-
though dying, insists on going to Rome
to see his friend crowned by the Pope.
For love interest there is a triangle
composed of a scientist and his wife
who has devoted her life to his ad-
vancement, even having suffered fac-
ial disfigurement in a chemical ex-
plosion to save her husband's life. His
other love is a movie star who has
given up her career at its height, to
be near the scientist who is on the eve
of a cancer cure. In a jealous quarrel
the eminent biologist strangles his
wife.
Then there are the columnist and
his wife who are vacation-bound
abroad only to receive news their
young daughter has died In an auto
crash. . . A novelist on his way to
Sweden to receive the Nobel prize,
but who is fed up with his nagging,
silly, ambitious wife and is determin-
ed to enjoy life to the full. . . And a
philosophic steward who can quote
from the Creek with the best.
From One to Another
A certain director -actor, noted
for his ego, criticized the perform-
ance of a fellow actor, equally ego-
tistical, by saying, "He reminds me
of Victor Hugo, only the food
tastes different."
Here's the Set-up on
Chase Bk, Affiliates
New York. — In the latest report of
the Chase National Bank, which, ac-
cording to the new banking act, has to
show any affiliates, the bank lists as
affiliates the following: British Movie-
tonews, Ltd., England, engaged in pro-
ducing newsreels; Fox Film Company,
Ltd., London, motion picture distribu-
tor; Fox Film Corporation G.M.B.H.,
Czechoslovakia; D. D. Zagreb, Jugo-
slavia, motion picture distributor, and
Hispano Fox Film S.A.E., Barcelona,
Spain, motion picture distributor.
Fox Film Corporation, which is the
parent company for these five com-
panies, is also listed as a Chase Bank
affiliate.
Phillips Holmes Up For
'Double Door' Part
Paramount is negotiating for the
loan of Phillips Holmes from MGM for
one of the leading roles in "Double
Door," with Richard Arlen in the other
leading spot. The studio is planning
to bring Mary Moore, who is now ap-
pearing in this play on Broadway, out
from New York, for the top spot.
Charles Vidor has been set to direct.
Lawyer Addresses AM PA
New York. — Roger Baldwin, coun-
sel for the Civic Liberties Union, will
be the guest of the AMPA next
Thursday and speak on motion picture
censorship. AMPA headquarters are
being moved from Sardi's to the Para-
mount Grill.
BIP Cables for Kelly
British International Pictures has
cabled Darryl Zanuck an offer for a
three-picture loan-out deal for Paul
Kelly.
The boat finally begins to founder
in mid-ocean and stark horrific scenes
of panic, despair and supplication en-
sue. Some of the passengers get away
in lifeboats but most of them perish
as the boat goes down to the strains
of "Nearer My Cod To Thee" and a
fervent prayer from the passengers re-
maining on deck.
The play is well directed and staged.
Deck scenes and interiors were be-
lievably executed by Arne Lundborg.
With the broader scope which the
screen can give to this theme, the play
will soon enough find its way into the
movies. The cast does beautiful work.
Any film company with enough star
material under contract will find this
vehicle second to none as a medium
for all of them at one time. Directed
properly, with a steadfast piece of
continuity developed from the play, it
cannot miss.
Divorce Theme Has
Little For Pictures
"WEDNESDAY'S CHILD"
Potter and Haight present "Wednes-
day's Child," by Leopold Atlas;
staged by H. C. Potter; settings
by Tom Adrian Cracraft; cos-
tumes by Mary Merrill; at the
Longacre Theatre. With Walter
N. Greaza, Katharine Warren,
Frank M. Thomas, )r., Robert
Mayors, Stanton Bier, Joie Brown
Jr., Harry Clancy, Lester Loner-
gan, 3d, Walter Gilbert, George
Pembroke, Harry Hanlon, Alfred
Dalrymple, Leonard M. Barker,
Sally Hodges, Cele McLaughlin,
Mona Bruns, Wyrley Birch, Rich-
ard Jack.
New York. — "Wednesday's Child"
was, in terms of the old nursery
rhyme, a child of woe. And it didn't
lead them.
Patterned to create obviously the-
atrical situations in an arbitrary fash-
ion, a simple little play of the break-
ing up of marriage ties occasionally
took on a warm and even heart-break-
ing feeling by the sheer force of its
subject, the divorce child. To do so,
it had to surmount serious obstacles of
plot and even greater ones of produc-
tion. Frank M. Thomas, Jr., as the
boy, deserves credit for the credibility
he brought to an almost hopeless job.
He plays Bobby Phillips, whose
mother and father become estranged
due to the continuous absences and
the wife's infatuation with another
man. The child is forced by law into
the unhappy position of a "divorced
kid," loaned for a part of the year to
his mother and for the remainder to
his father, neither of whom knows
quite what to do with him. Finally
both are remarried and Bobby is bun-
dled off to a military school where he
finds neither sympathy nor solace for
his loneliness.
This about sums up an effort that
must have been as tedious and unin-
spiring for its performers as it un-
doubtedly was for its audience.
It has, obviously, little if any pos-
sibilities as a picture.
Lory Closes at Fox
Jacques Lory finished his term con-
tract with Fox, having during that pe-
riod, adapted for the French market
the songs of "My Lips Betray" and
"My Weakness," besides collaboration
with Henry de la Falaise on the
French adaptation of the story and
songs of "I Am Suzanne."
Taylor Dialogs 'Stingaree'
Dwight Taylor has been signed by
Radio to write the dialogue for "Stin-
garee," the Irene Dunne-Richard Dix
co-starring vehicle which will be di-
rected by William Wellman. Eding-
ton-Vincent spotted the writer.
W^ay-Terrett Collab.
yj^hn Wray and Courtenay Terrett
,a're"collal5oratTng on an untitled play,
aiming at Broadway's play season in
the Fall. It is a comedy with a nov-
elty locale and will likely have Wray
in a top spot.
MGM Producers
Race for Joan's Pic
Even though her current picture is
not yet in production, three MGM
producers are speeding preparations on
scripts hoping to get the okay to han-
dle the next Joan Crawford vehicle at
the studio.
David Selznick has Polan Banks
working on an original artist model
idea for the player. Selznick pro-
duced "Dancing Lady," which Miss
Crawford finished several months ago.
Charles Grayson is writing another
original for the player. Bernard Hy-
man is producing.
Walter Wanger has "Latest From
Paris" in preparation with Allen Riv-
kin and P. J. Wolfson on the script.
This is a fashion story.
It's a race, with the first producer
through with the right yarn being de-
clared the winner, and the first to
produce the next Crawford picture
after "Sadie McKee" is out of the way.
Richard Bennett Returns
To N.Y. Stage in March
Richard Bennett will return to the
stage for the first time in two years
when he goes East the latter part of
March to play the starring role in"The
Great Romancer," a play by Jules
Eckert Goodman, based on the life of
the elder Dumas. It will be directed
by Arthur Lubin.
The play is scheduled to have its
opening Easter week in New York.
Prior to leaving, Bennett will fulfill
an engagement at Paramount in "Shoe
the Wild Mare," soon to go into pro-
duction.
Mrs. Walthall Supes Plays
The bill of three one-act plays
which opens next Thursday at the
Beverly Hills Community Playhouse,
has been supervised by Mrs. Henry
Walthall.
Cleaning Up on 'Bolero*
Paramount put "Bolero," the George
Raft-Carole Lombard picture, back in-
to work for retakes for a second time
yesterday. Wesley Ruggles, who just
returned from New York, is handling
the direction.
Holloway With Durante
Sterling Holloway was signed yes-
terday by Radio for a comedy role 'n
the Jimmy Durante starring vehicle,
"Strictly Dynamite," which Elliott
Nugent will direct. Ralph Farnum set
the player.
Denny Tested at 'U'
Universal has Reginald Denny and
Corinne Griffith up for top spots in
"Bachelor Wife." Edward Buzzell
stages a test of the team Tuesday,
after which final decision will be made.
Kahal-Fain to Weber
The Warner song-writing team of
Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain, who
wrote "By A Waterfall," have been
signed to a managerial deal by the
Weber office. Walter Kane swung the
team in. i
Thayer Back at Paramount
Tiffany Thayer has returned to Par-
amount on a one picture deal. He will
script a story titled "Ready For Love,"
which Albert Lewis is supervising.
Ian. 22, 1934
Page Five
MAHOGAIVY HALL' FAILS TO
REACH FVLL POSSIBILITIES
'Design For Living'
Yarn Alone Would
Bar It From Screen
"MAHOGANY HALL"
Play by Charles Knox Robinson; pro-
duced by John R. Sheppard, Jr.,
at the Bijou Theatre. Directed
by Eduardo Ciannelli; settings
designed by Thomas Farrar. Fea-
turing Olga Baclanova, Eduardo
Ciannelli, William Foran, Daisy
Bellmore, John Lucas, Florence
McCee, Charlotte Andrews, Paula
Bauersmith, Charles La Torre,
Beatrice Pons, Isis Brinn, Frances
Sage, Cliff Hicks, and twelve
others.
New York. — A play that had pos-
sibilities but remains undeveloped in
point of narrative interest served to
acquaint the audience with one of the
nation's famous brothels located in
Washington, D. C. — a dignified plush
interior old mansion presumably fre-
quented by big figures in public life.
Presided over by an inexorably hard-
hearted Madam, who has been mis-
tress of this sort of sordidness through
four continents and has yet to be van-
quished by either man, woman or the
law. She suddenly goes mushy and
reveals the fact that she too is after
all, still a woman, lying constantly in
wait for love to cross her unholy
threshold and ease an aching heart.
Had the author written his piece in a
manner to give us a tingling, surging
peek at life in the raw and fashioned
some bold, unabashed character writ-
ing built around the unfortunate girls
of the establishment and their paying
guests, his play might have survived.
Olga Baclanova as the Madam, is
the unfortunate deus ex machina of
the play, ruling her girls with a firm
hand and battling constantly to keep
them from roaming out of the life of
the establishment. One girl wants to
go away to be married to a youth who
will take her out of that sort of life.
The Madam soon bursts that idle
dream. Another girl, the mother of a
boy of four who is placed in an in-
stitution, hopes to accumulate enough
money to leave the Madam and be
with her boy. Madam spikes that too
and causes the boy to be permanent-
ly removed from contact with his
mother. Then there is the impover-
ished musician who plays the piano in
Madam's establishment for his bread
and butter. Madam discovers she is
in love with this suffering artist and
determines she will have him, even if
she has to give up the life in which
she has made her fortune. But the
Professor hates her for destroying the
souls of her girls and the most he can
do is to overcome his hate in the end.
He cannot, however, bring himself to
love her and accept the gifts she
would bring. In despair she gives up
"Mahogany Hall" and packs up for
parts unknown.
The magnificent mahogany stair-
case which winds from the floor up to
the top of the proscenium brought sal-
vos of applause. The only sympathetic
character in the play is the bartender
who has a philosophy of life all his
own and who does all he can to assist
Criticus
After reading the two pages of
typewritten objections submitted
by Arthur Kober regarding the
"Delmonico" yarn handed him by
Walter Wanger, the MCM pro-
ducer piped "This Kober is not a
writer; he's a critic."
Col. Puts on Drive
For Big Specials
New York. — ^The first of a series of
regional sales meetings of Columbia
starts today in New York. Purpose
is to plan campaigns on the com-
pany's coming specials, "It Happened
One Night," "No Greater Glory,"
"Twentieth Century" and "Red
Square."
The second meeting is scheduled
for Chicago January 29.
Wellesley Gets Termer
With Basil Dean Pics
Cordon Wong Wellesley, English
author, who collaborated with Austin
Parker on the adaptation of "Shang-
hai Madness" for Fox, has been sign-
ed as scenario editor for the Basil
Dean Productions, London, on a one
year contract.
Wellesley's forthcoming marriage to
Katherine Strueby, secretary to a pro-
ducer for Universal, has been an-
nounced, and Miss Strueby leaves for
the nuptials in London, February 10.
Mowbray in 'Elizabeth'
Alan Mowbray was signed by Uni-
versal for a featured role in "Elizabeth
and Mary" with Margaret Sullavan,
Mrs. Leslie Carter, and Lowell Sher-
man in the top spots. The latter will
also direct. The William Morris office
set the player.
Saterfield to Para.
Tom Saterfield, one-time arranger
for Paul Whiteman and recently of
Warner's song-writing staff, has been
engaged by Paramount as a member
of the company's music department
under Nat Finston. The Kay-Stuart
office set the ticket.
'Black Moon' Next Holt
Columbia Saturday assigned Ethel
Hill to script "Black Moon," sched-
uled to follow"Whirlpool" as the next
Jack Holt vehicle. Story is "Haiti
Moon" by Clements Ripley, which ran
in the Cosmopolitan magazine.
Brock Tags Sidney Fox
Sidney Fox has been signed for the
lead in the next Lou Brock musical
production, "Down to Their Last
Yacht" for Radio. Herbert Fields is
writing the screen play. The player
was set by the Schulberg-Feldman and
Gurney office.
Awaited in London
London. — "Design for Living"
heads the list of new pictures coming
to London this week, and it is ex-
pected to do well as Coward and Lu-
bitsch are favorites here. Also, Lon-
don has never seen the play.
Other newscomers are "Constant
Nymph," a Caumont picture at the
New Gallery; "Going Hollywood," at
the Empire; holdovers are "I'm No
Angel," at the Carlton; "Henry the
Eighth," Leicester Square; "Thunder
Over Mexico," Marble Arch; "Vol-
taire" at the Regal; "Broadway
Through a Keyhole," Tivoli.
Al Rockett Assigned to
Handle Odd Thursday'
Al Rockett has been handed the
Fox production reins on "Odd Thurs-
day" and has decided upon Warner
Baxter for the starring assignment,
with Rosemary Ames and Rochelle
Hudson in the next two important
roles.
James Flood, directing, places it
into work January 29. The screen
play has been prepared by Jane Storm,
Oscar Sheridan and Lenore Coffee.
Freuler Announces Plans
For Four at $100,000
New York. — John R. Freuler is
here setting finances for a series of
specials he intends to make in addi-
tion to his present Monarch line-up of
ten. Plans a new company. National
Players, Ltd., to produce four of the
specials, with possible $100,000 bud-
gets.
'MOIJLIIV ROUGE' TOVIt WILL
HIT 21 SPOTS; STAHTS FEB. 2
The coast-to-coast "Moulin Rouge"
tour in the interests of that Twenti-
eth Century picture has all the ap-
pearances of being the greatest bally-
hoo for a single picture and all pic-
tures in general that the business has
ever had.
The tour officially starts in Wash-
ington February 2 and will be given
a send-off by President Roosevelt. The
auto-train then moves to Baltimore,
Philadelphia, New York, New Haven,
Hartford, Boston, Providence, Albany,
Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleve-
land, Detroit, South Bend, Milwaukee,
Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, St.
Louis, Kansas City and ends at San
Francisco on February 28.
There will be about twenty stars
and featured players making the trip
in, possibly, the most deluxe travel
that has ever been arranged.
So far the star list includes George
Bancroft, Mary Brian, Rosco Ates, Ben
Turpin, Dorothy Sebastian, Hoot Gib-
son, Arline judge. Jack Mulhall, Doro-
thy Dunbar, Eddie Quillan, Anna Q.
Nilsson, William Boyd and Ben Turpin.
those who would seek freedom. He
was played by William Foran. There
is about as much hope for this vehicle
being considered for the movies as
"Queer People" has of getting in.
Easier on the Eyes''
says
Hollywood Reporter:
"Done entirely in color, 'Sweden'
captures the charm of far places as no
mere . recording in black and white
could possibly do. And the color work
in this picture is far superior and eas-
ier on the eyes than anything that has
yet come along in that medium."
First week of engagement- of John W. Boyle's "Sweden"
(a nine-reel travelogue all in Cinecolor) broke a two-
year admission record at 55th St. Playhouse, N. Y. C.
CINECOLOR
201 NORTH OCCIDENTAL
FItxroy 2556
Page Six
Jan. 22, 1934
PRODUCTIONS DOWN SLIGHTLY WITH 26 THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 29 LAST WEEK
BAROMETER
This Week 26 Features
Last Week 29 Features
Year Ago 37 Features
2 Years Ago 17 Features
Columbia
^ "STORM AT MIDNIGHT"
Cast: Tim McCoy, Billie Seward, Al-
phonz Ethier, Joseph Creehan,
Ward Bond, Kane Richmond, Frank
Leighton, Francis McDonald.
Director C. C. Coleman
Original Screen Play.. Harold Shumate
Photography John Stumar
Associate Producer Irving Briskin
"SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN"
Cast: Elissa Landi, Joseph Schildkraut,
Frank Morgan, Doris Lloyd, Clara
Blandick, Arthur Stuart Hull, Mon-
tague Shaw, Robert Craves, Selmar
Jackson, Samuel Hinds, Henry
Kolker.
Director David Burton
Original S. K. Lauren
Screen Play Jo Swerling
Photography Joe August
Fox
"BOTTOMS UP"
Cast: John Boles, Pat Paterson,
Spencer Tracy, Sid Silvers, Herbert
Mundin, Ann Darcy, Beverly Royde,
Harry Green, Douglas Wood.
Director David Butler
Story and Screen Play: B. C. DeSylva,
David Butler, Sid Silvers.
Music and Lyrics: Harold Adamson,
Gus Kahn, Burton Lane, Richard
Whiting.
Dance Direction Harold Hecht
Photography Art Miller
Producer B. G. DeSylva
"FOX FOLLIES"
Cast: All Star.
Director Hamilton MacFadden
Story Idea Will Rogers
and Philip Klein
Book and Story Ralph Spence
Music Jay Gorney
Songs and Lyrics Lew Brown
Photography Ernest Palmer
Musical Numbers Staged by
Sammy Lee
Musical Director .Arthur Lange
Producer Winfield Sheehan
Associate Producer Lew Brown
"DAVID HARUM '
Cast: Will Rogers, Louise Dresser,
Irene Bentley, Kent Taylor, Evelyn
Venable, Ralph Morgan, Roger Im-
hof, Noah Beery, Stephin Fetchit,
Sarah Padden, Frank Melton,
Charles Middleton.
Director James Cruze
Story Edward Noyes Westcott
Screen Play Walter Woods
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"ALL MEN ARE ENEMIES"
Cast: Hugh Williams, Helen Twelve-
trees, Mona Maris, Rafael Ottiano,
Halliwell Hobbes.
Director George Fitzmaurice
Story Richard Aldington
Screen Play Samuel Hoffenstein
Dialogue Lenore Coffee
Photography John Seitz
Producer Al Rockett
"THREE ON A HONEYMOON"
Cast: Sally Eilers, Charles Starrett,
Zasu Pitts, Henrietta Grossman,
John Mack Brown, Irene Hervey,
Howard Lally, Cornelius Keete.
Director James Tinling
Novel by. Ishbel Ross
Screen Play: Raymond Van Sickle and
Edward T. Lowe, Jr.
Photography Barney McGill
Associate Producer John Stone
Producer Sol Wurtzel
MOM
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
Cast: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen
O'Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Doris
Lloyd, Frank Reicher, Paul Cava-
nagh, William Stack, Desmond
Roberts, Yola D'Avril, Forrester
Harvey.
Director Cedric Gibbons
Adaptation Leon Gordon
Screen Play J. K. McGuinness
Photography Charles Clarke
and Clyde DeVinna
Producer Bernard Hyman
"RIP TIDE"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Mont-
gomery, Herbert Marshall, Lilyan
Tashman, Ralph Forbes, Mrs. Pat-
rick Campbell, Arthur Jarrett, Earl
Oxford, Halliwell Hobbes, Samuel
May, Helen Jerome Eddy, Peter
Hobbes, George K. Arthur, T. Roy
Barnes, E. E. Clive.
Director Edmund Goulding
Story and Screen Pay
Edmund Goulding
Photography Ray June
Producer Irving Thalberg
Paramount
■MAN WHO BROKE HIS HEART"
Cast: Victor McLaglen, Dorothy Dell,
Preston Foster, Alison Skipworth,
David Landau, John Rogers, Mischa
Auer, Alfred Delcambre, James
Burke, Don Wilson, John Northpol,
Max Wagner, Frank Rice, Russell
Powell, Jil Dennett, Alice Lake,
Miana Alvarez, Florence Dudley,
Marie Green, Charles Brinley, Al
Hill, Ivan Linow.
Directors: William Cameron Menzles
and George Somnes.
Original Frederick Schlick
and Samuel French
Photography Hal McAlpin
"MELODY IN SPRING"
Cast: Lanny Ross, Charlie Ruggles,
Mary Boland, Joseph Cawthorne,
George Meeker, Wilfred Hari, Wade
Boteler, Helen Lynd, Ann Sothern.
Diirector Norman McLeod
Story Frank Leon Smith
Screen Play Benn W. Levy
Continuity Jane Storm
Lyrics Harlan Thompson
Music Lewis E. Gensler
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer Douglas MacLean
"WE'RE NOT DRESSING"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman,
Carole Lombard, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, Raymond Milland, Jay
Henry, Bud White.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Walter Hall Smith
Adaptation. .Stephen Morehouse Avery
Music by Harry Ravel
and Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Mack Gordon
and Sam Coslow
"THE TRUMPET BLOWS"
Cast; George Raft, Adolphe Menjou,
Francis Drake, Katharine De Millie.
Director Stephen Roberts
Adaptation Wallace Smith
Photography Harry Fischbeck
"COME ON MARINES"
Cast: Richard Arlen, Ida Lupino, Wil-
liam Frawley, Dorothy Dell, Toby
Wing, Leo Chalzell.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original Philip Wylie
Screen Play Seton I. Miller
and John Barrie
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Producer Al Lewis
RKO-Radio
"FINISHING SCHOOL"
Cast: Ginger Rogers, Francis Dee,
Bruce Cabot, Billie Burke, Mitzi
Green,
Directors Wanda Tuchock
and George Nicholls, Jr.
Story Louis Witzenkorn
and David Hempstead
Screen Play Wanda Tuchock
and Laird Doyle
Photography Roy Hunt
Associate Producer Kenneth
Macgowan
"THE CRIME DOCTOR"
Cast: Otto Kruger, Mary Astor, Wynne
Gibson, Nils Ashter, Ada Cavell.
Director John Robertson
Story Isreal Zangwill
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Lucien Andrlot
Associate Producer David Lewis
I
Universal
"HONOR OF THE WEST"
Cast: Ken Maynard, Cecilia Parker,
Fred Kohler, Frank Hagney, Jack
Rockwell, Jim Marcus, Al Smith,
Slim Whittaker, Franklyn Farnum.
Director Alan James
Original Screen Play Nate Gatzert
Photography Ted McCord
Producer Ken Maynard
"COUNTESS OF MONTE CRISTO"
Cast: Paul Lukas, Fay Wray, Patsy
Kelly, Paul Page, Reginald Owen,
Frank Reicher, John Sheehan, Car-
mel Myers.
Director Karl Freund
Original Walter Fleisch
Screen Play Karen DeWolf
Continuity Gladys Unger
Dialogue Gene Lewis
Photography Charles Stumar
Producer Stanley Bergerman
"VANISHING SHADOW"
(Serial)
Cast: Onslow Stevens, Ada I nee, Wal-
ter Miller, Bill Desmond, Richard
Cramer.
Director Lewis Friedlander
Story: Ella O'Neill, Het Manheim and
Basil Dickey.
Photography Richard Freyer
Producer Harry MacRea
Warners-First National
"HOT AIR"
Cast: Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien, Gin-
ger Rogers, Allen Jenkins, Grant
Mitchell, Joseph Cawthorn, Grace
Hayle, Joan Wheeler, Johnny
Arthur, Henry O'Neill, Four Mills
Brothers, Ted Fio Rite.
Director Ray Enright
Original Story Paul Finder Moss
and Jerry Wald
Screen Play Warren Duff
and Harry Sauber
Music and Lyrics Harry Warren
and Al Dubin >^
Dance Director Busby Berkeley
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"HIT ME AGAIN"
Cast: Joan Blondell, Warren William,
Claire Dodd, Frank McHugh, Joan
Wheeler, Edward Everett Horton,
Virginia Sale, Leonard Carey.
Director Robert Florey
Original Story F. Hugh Herbert
Adaptation F. Hugh Herbert
and Carl Erickson
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"FUR COATS '
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Paul Kelly,
Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree, Ann
Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, Phillip Faver-
sham, Henry O'Neill, Mayo Methot,
Dorothy Peterson, Marjorie Gate-
son, Clay Clement, Renee Whitney,
Lorena Layson, Lynn Browning.
Jan. 22. 1934
j||)JMp^f=
IRilPOPtTEIR
Page Seven
A TREMENDOUS DEVELOPMENT
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FOR SCREEN and STAGE
THE PROPER DIET FOR YOUR SKIN
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Does not contain grease, tallow, lard or other pene-
trating animal fats.
2. Is not affected by incandescent or sun-light and
therefore does not necessitate frequent touching up.
3. Improves photographic results and cannot fade
nor cake.
4. Is not absorbed or penetrated into skin and there-
fore will not cause any irritations or unpleasant
skin conditions.
Has a very smooth and fine consistency which covers
three times the area and is easier and quicker
applied and removed.
Does not have chemical reaction with sebaceous
gland secretions on skin.
It is to your advantage in every respect to fully acquaint yourself with the
Open Evenings Till 9 p.m.
For Further Information
Call — CLadstone 8140
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MAKE-UP (/ STUDIO
5533 SUNSET BOULEVARD (Near Western)
Complete Professional
Make-up Service
Director Alfred E. Green
Based on Story by Ann Carrick
and Ethel Hill
Screen Play Manuel Seff
Photography Byron Haskins
Supervisor Sam Bishoff
"THE GENTLEMAN FROM SAN
FRANCISCO"
Cast: Bette Davis, Pat O'Brien, Lyie
Talbot, Margaret Lindsay, Henry
O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Hugh Her-
bert, Douglas Dumbrille, Cordon
Westcott.
Director Wilhelm Dieterle
Story George Dyer
Screen Play Robert N. Lee
and Eugene Solow
Photography Tony Caudio
[Supervisor Henry Blanke
Independent Productions
Edwin Carewe Productions
(General Service Studios)
"ARE WE CIVILIZED'
Cast: William Farnum, Anita Louise,
Frank McClynn, Oscar Apfel, Stu-
art Holmes, LeRoy Mason.
Director Edwin Carewe
Story Harold Sherman
Screen Play Finis Fox
'hotography Leon Shamroy
Producer Edwin Carewe
Liberty Productions
(Talisman Studios)
'TAKE THE STAND"
Cast: Jack LaRue, Thelma Todd, Gail
Patrick, Russell Hopton, Leslie Fen-
ton, Vince Barnett, Berton Chur-
chill, Paul Hurst, Bradley Page,
Shelia Terry, Oscar Apfel, Jason
Robards, DeWitt Jennings, Arnold
Gray, Eddie Kane, Richard Tucker,
Al Hill, Bryant Washburn, Ed-
ward LeSaint, Judith Vosselli.
Director Phil Rosen
Based on novel by.. ..Earl Derr Biggers
Screen Play Alfred De Monde
Photography Harry Neumann
Producer M. H, Hoffman
Eastern Productions
Vitaphone Studios
UNTITLED
Cast: Harry Cribbon and Shemp
Howard.
Director Ralph Staub
Photography Ray Foster and
Ed Dupar
Still Too Many Seats
(Continued from Page I )
but only 1 5,652 of these are listed in
active operation. The break-up of the
big chains is not fully evident in the
new figures yet, due to the number
of entangling connections many of
these circuits still have with New York
receivers, etc.
Affiliated circuit theatres total
1954; unaffiliated, that is, chains of
various sizes locally owned, 2846.
Following are the highlights of the
new figures, by exchange territories;
TOTAL THEATRES
Seating
Territory No. Capacity
Albany 453 270,012
Atlanta 612 342,091
Boston 1072 790,657
Buffalo 462 334,732
Charlotte 382 183,956
Chicago 915 663,845
Cincinnati 1346 527,724
Cleveland 555 373,140
Dallas 936 443,645
Denver 390 187,133
Des Moines 373 163,657
Detroit 512 372,617
Indianapolis 624 296,323
Kansas City 686 350,949
Los Angeles 577 443,345
Memphis 235 112,839
Milwaukee 541 291.881
Minneapolis 863 357,268
New Haven 176 170,817
New Orleans 477 213,484
New York 1 1 19 1,290,644
Oklahoma City 410 197,367
Omaha 582 204,996
Philadelphia 768 663,169
Pittsburgh 720 372,783
Portland - 195 104,586
St. Louis 484 269,590
Salt Lake City 548 203,173
San Francisco 418 329,008
Seattle 268 145,838
Washington 672 357,681
TOTAL 18,37111,028.950
CIRCUIT THEATRES
Affiliated Unaffiliated
No. Capacity No. Capacity
.Albany 32 50,938 131 103,816
Atlanta 120 119,407 125 75.009
Boston 157 210,635 147 159,235
Buffalo . 39 66,437 135 129,909
Charlotte .... 56 47,618 23 13,443
Chicago 123 205,811 163 154,194
Cincinnati .. 69 76,878 126 85,920
Cleveland ....36 61,118 116 106.352
Dallas 16 14,590 222 174,197
Denver 51 38,082 20 16,002
Des Moines.... 22 28,376 39 22,562
Detroit 92 110,019 47 42,281
Indianapolis.. 15 15,460 99 88,062
Kansas City.. 97 94,611 61 46,310
Los Angeles.. 134 172,788 78 65,084
Memphis 11 9,582 39 21,746
Milwaukee .. 43 51,950 21 22,050
Minneapolis. 75 67,009 44 23,474
New Haven-. 35 48,389 38 51,588
New Orleans 3 7,299 95 75,097
New York .196 419,639 468 545,162
Okla. City .... 46 35,169 45 31,763
Omaha 23 29.075 29 16.077
Philadelphia 181 246.250 90 96,161
Pittsburgh .. 68 81,269 52 37,058
Portland 7 11,178 19 14,982
St. Louis 54 59,613 62 39.480
Salt Lake .... 22 18,009 41 23.465
San Francisco 45 75,104 111 107,671
Seattle 20 28,817 69 44,288
Washington.. 66 85.523 92 60.934
TOTAL 1954 2,586,643 2846 2,493,382
New Class Movie in N.Y.
New York. — The class neighbor-
hoods are going in for their own pic-
ture houses. The Sutton Playhouse is
the latest, scheduled to open March
1 5. RCA Photophone High Fidelity
Sound is being used.
Hecht on'Clamour' Dances
Harold Hecht has been signed by
B. F. Zeldman to stage the dance
numbers in "Glamour," which goes in-
to production at Universal February 1 .
William Wyler will direct.
Tve Cot Your Number'
Screen play of "I've Cot Your
Number," reviewed in Saturday's Re-
porter, was by Warren Duff and Sid-
ney Sutherland, the names being inad-
vertently omitted in the credits.
UNITED COSTUMERS
u
DESIGNED AND EXECUTED THE COSTUMES'
for the
METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER SUCCESS
GRETA GARBO
QUEEN CHRISTINA
tr
with
JOHN GILBERT
Directed by Rouben Mamoulian
Produced by Walter Wanger
Our appreciation to
JOE RAPF
for his confidence in our ability to fulfill this
involved and difficult production
United Costumers, Inc
WALLACE W. KERRIGAN, Pres.
WALTER J. ISRAEL, Prod. Mgr.
D. R. O. HATSWELL
MARJORIE 0. BEST
MARY FOOTE
ETHYL WAHLICHT ISRAEL
JACK CULLEN
Technical Advisor
Artist and Designer
Designer — Women's Department
Designer — Women's Department
Designer — Men's Department
+ MISS CARBOS COSTUMES WERE DESIGNED
AND EXECUTED BY ADRIAN.
MFTRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS,
^ MH.SAVUKL MARX,
CULVFR CITY.CA:.!;''.
Vol. XIX, No. 10. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, January 23, 1934.
NO STI^INGS CN ^ROST'
•\VE'LL place the name of Spencer
Tracy at the top of any list crediting
really fine performances, rating artis-
tic ability, or as an instance of one of
the greatest prospective draws in this
business if given good material.
We have never seen Tracy giving
anything resembling a bad perform-
ance and we have seen him in some
pictures that were so bad that stand-
out ability on the part of the cast or
any of its individual members was al-
most impossible. But not for Tracy;
that boy makes even impossible char-
acters interesting.
Tracy never acts; he rather under-
plays his parts; you never have a feel-
ing that he is trying to perform and
that's what makes him so good. And
it's a damned shame that he has to
be tied to a studio whose production
intelligence does not approach his fine
talents. This business is missing one
of the best money draws it ever had
because of this. Give Tracy two or
three GOOD pictures, one after the
other, and there is not a male star
(or female) who would top him in
selling tickets, for he has everything
that any audience wants in a screen
performer.
When a studio decides that a player
is no use to them, their option clause
gives them an opportunity to get rid
of the player. But when a player
finds out that a studio can do noth-
ing for him, that instead of his ad-
vancing, he has to fight, get outside
pictures, and work miracles in acting
to keep his head above water — he can
do nothing but stay at that studio.
There's no relief.
Something ought to be done in this
business that would give relief to such
a sterling artist as Spencer Tracy when
it is shown that his contracting stu-
dio cannot take advantage of his abil-
ity. The business needs that star in
real starring pictures, is missing a lot
of money because he does not get
those pictures. But the "ought-to-
be-done" will never be done as long
as artists have to work under their
present contracts.
There may be a change some day- —
those options may be worded to work
two ways — and then what?
'David Copperfield'
On Slate at MCM
Following the trend created by "Lit-
tle-Women" and the hectic search of
the classics under way at ail studios,
David Selznick is preparing a screen
adaptation of the Charles Dickens
novel, "David Copperfield," which he
will produce for MGM.
George Cukor, who directed "Lit-
tle Women" for Radio, has set aside
his other assignments and will direct
the Dickens novel.
Warner Clan Meeting
Starts Gossip Buzz
New York. — The news hounds here
are wondering about the meaning be-
hind the gathering of the Warner clan
on the Coast. With Jack permanently
at the studio, Harry is now there on a
visit, and on Saturday Major Albert
Warner sailed for California on the
Virginia.
Late last week Harold S. Bareford,
attorney for the brothers, was sum-
moned for a quick trip to Los Ange-
les. With the three brothers and their
lawyer in one spot anything might
happen.
Leonard on 'Rip Tide'
With Edmund Goulding in New
York, Robert Z. Leonard is directing
scenes for "Rip Tide," the Norma
Shearer picture at MGM. Director
will handle the balance of the picture
which has two and a half weeks of
work remaining.
Zanft Singles Agency
Major John Zanft has given up all
idea of combining his efforts with that
of all established artists' representa-
tives here and will go it alone.
A Zanft office will be opened here,
in New York and in London in the
near future.
NRA Chief Arrives 'Ready to
Listen to Everybody'-- Denies
Any Idea of Radical Actions
Sol Rosenblatt, Administrator of the motion picture industry's
NRA code, arrived in Hollywood last night, was met by no dele-
gations because each faction figured they would be different
than 'the other fellow" and started no shooting.
Rosenblatt, an affable, self-pos-
sessed combination of the coolest
traits of the lawyer and the politician,
refused to be drawn into the indus-
try's internal wrangles and discounted
advance publicity by dodging the post
of czar or dictator.
"I am here to make an investiga-
tion, and then render a report, that's
all," he said to a Reporter representa-
tive. "I have arrived without any
prior commitments to any group or
groups and I will listen to all. But I
am not here to make decisions like a
(Continued on Page 1 1 I
Big Names on lOU
List of Withers Universal and Cummings
Corinne Griffith
Returns at Radio
Absent from the screen since 1930,
Corinne Griffith comes back in a co-
starring role opposite Otto Kruger in
"Crime Doctor" at Radio. She re-
places Mary Astor, an attack of flu
forcing the latter out.
Company at the same time settled
Its dispute with Wynne Gibson, al-
lowing her to withdraw and borrowing
Judith Wood from Twentieth Century
for her role. John Robertson directs,
the picture going into work yester-
day.
Grant Withers went into the bank-
ruptcy courts yesterday on a petition
filed by his attorney, Abram Robert
Simon. Player owes $34,082, with
assets of $300.
Among his creditors are William
Wellman, the director, for $3,000;
Darryl Zanuck, for $1,000; j. C.
Mayer, agent, for $3,500, and a Bank
of America note indorsed by Jack
Warner for $3,052.
Hoffman Stays at Pathe
RKO-Pathe has made out a new
production ticket with M. H. Hoff-
man of Liberty. Producer, with head-
quarters on the lot, signed to make six
pictures on the property on a rental
basis.
ALLIED REPORTED REHIXD
IVEW JERSEY CODE FIGHT
New York. — The understanding
here is that Allied Exhibitors' Associa-
tion, the rebel group, is behind the
Congress Theatres, of Newark, in their
attack on the NRA code by asking
Federal courts to grant an injunction
against the Blue Eagle's operation.
In addition to the already publish-
ed complaint by Congress Theatres
that they should have the right to
sign the code agreement with quali-
fications, an examination of the legal
document discloses that the exhibitors
term the code "not devised by a rep-
resentative group, designed to promote
monopolies, and eliminate small enter-
prises against which it discriminates,"
and "coerces all independent exhibi-
tors to waive all rights under existing
anti-trust laws."
Finally Get Together
After haggling over the terms of
the contract for two weeks. Universal
yesterday s gned Constance Cummings
for the top spot in "Glamour," the
8. F. Zeidman production which Wil-
liam Wyler directs. Miss Cummings
asked $30,000 for her services while
the studio offered only $15,000. A
compromise between the two figures
was reached yesterday. Paul Lukas
and Roger Pryor have the male leads.
Laemmle, Sr., Goes East
Carl Laemmle will leave for New
York next Saturday with Carl Laem-
mle, Jr., who wlil sail from there Feb-
ruary 3. Harry H. Zehner, Joe Weil
and Jack Ross will accompany their
bosses to New York. Laemmle, Sr.
will return to the local plant in three
weeks.
Jack LaRue Foot Loose
Paramount has decided to let its
option on Jack LaRue go by. His last
trick on his termer with the company
IS his loan-out deal to Liberty for
"Take the Stand."
Tonight's 'Chief Arrivals
Dolores Del Rio, Mitzi Green and
Dr. Francis Griffin, husband of Irene
Dunne, arrive tonight on the Chief.
HARRY BEAUMONT directed "Should Ladies Behave?"
Page Two
THgPS^
Jan. 23, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp^
Published every dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Sign on a local theatre the other
night said, "Meet The Baron and My
Woman." . . . Charles LeMaire, who
tore himself away from Lila Lee for
a dash to New York, may open a dress
shop in Beverly Hills. . . . The Ric
Cortezes leave for New York tomor-
row for a coupla weeks more honey-
moon. . . . Alan Dinehart sick abed
with the flu. . . . Bob Montgomery
will be going east for a month on his
farm, when his next flicker is finished.
. , . Virginia Peine Lehman is going
to file the divorce papers sooner than
expected, we hear. . . . The Lola Lane-
Al Hall nuptials have reached the
postponement stage.
A lot of producers are suddenly
showing a palpitating interest in Drei-
ser's "Sister Carrie" — and it's about
time! . . . It's a natural for almost
any femme star in the bizness. . . .
Henri de la Falaise leaves Thursday
for Indo China to film another stir-
ring adventure picture — it will be
made in color — tigers look won-
derful in color! The Marquis will
be gone six months. ... Is it true that
the young man that Carl Brisson intro-
duces around as his brother is really
his son? . . . Gloria Shea with Nick
Stuart at the Colony Sunday eve. . . .
Aileen Pringle, Howard Dietz, the
Barney Glazers, Sol Wurtzel, the Har-
lan Thompsons, Lew Brown with still
another platinum blonde — also around.
Didja know that when the Warner
stars go to big Warner openings they
have to pay for their own tickets? . . .
M-G-M's Adrian is having tooth-pull-
ing trouble. . . . Surprise note: Wil-
liam Wyler does a marvelous tango!
. . . Vivian Gaye is birthday-partying
for Randy Scott tonight. . . . Looks
like "The House of Rothschild" will
go into the Chinese next — instead of
"Queen Christina." . . . Ronald Col-
man, Herbert Marshall, the Ed Lowes
iLiI Tashman), the Dick Rodgers,
Mona Maris, Jimmy Durante, the Felix
Youngs, Molly Picon among the week-
enders at Palm Springs. . . . Mrs. AI
Newman and infant, Tony, home from
the hospital.
"EIGHT GIRLS IN A BOAT "
Paramount prod.; director, Richard Wallace; writers, Casey Robinson and
Helmuth Brandis.
Paramount Theatre
Herald -TriiMine: "Eight Girls in a Boat" misses the wistful beauty and lonely
depths of "Maedchen in Uniform," which it resembles. The picture bears
the stamp of Mr. Wallace's work at its best. Photographed with an un-
erring eye for grace and artistry in its lovely settings, most of them taken
out of doors, it flows along evenly.
Times: Although "Eight Girls in a Boat" lacks the imaginative direction and
the superb acting of "Maedchen in Uniform," it has a limited but defi-
nite effectiveness of its own.
News: Some attempt has been made to build this story of Helmuth Brandis
into another "Maedchen in Uniform," but the former is not presented
with the same powerful sense of reality that characterized the latter pro-
duction.
American: A delicately wrought . yet powerful drama of youth and love graces
the screens of both Paramounts in the somewhat tear-drenched beauty
which bears the quality hall-mark of Richard Wallace's exquisite direc-
tion. The production is artistic to the nth degree, but its artistry in no
way interferes with the tense dramatic stamina of the story. Director
Wallace has directed the piece with great finesse, deep feeling and sensi-
tive understanding. To Mr. Wallace, too, must go much of the credit
for the superb portrayal of Miss Dorothy Wilson, who emerges full-winged
from the cocoon of three earlier films. Douglass Montgomery, too, gives
a performance utterly in keeping with the spiritual atmosphere of the
piece.
World-Telegram: A childish affair and an utterly unabashed one. Its actors,
some of whom are much better actors than it rates, go through their roles
with 3 gravity and ardor which turn the film into a very nightmare of
exclamations and giggles over what, I presume, are the film's most seri-
ous moments.
(oumal: There's some lovely scenery in the picture known as "Eight Girls in a
Boat." The cameraman takes full advantage of the beautiful California
backgrounds to present extremely effective outdoor shots. The story un-
folds very slowly and with self-conscious deliberation,
"EASY TO LOVE"
Warner Brothers' prod.; director, William Keighley; writers, Carl Erickson,
Manny Seff and Thompson Buchanan.
Strand Theatre
lournal: "Easy to Love," which opened last evening at the Strand Theatre, is a
bedroom farce that has for its leading players the Misses Genevieve Tobin
and Mary Astor and the Messrs. Adolphe Menjou and Edward Everett Nor-
ton. It is handsomely furnished and photographed, but needed a director
like Ernst Lubitsch.
Poat: "Easy to Love," the current attraction at the Strand, evolves as a rowdy
a3aptation of the all-too-familiar French farce school of comedy. Despite
the undeniable talents of its four stars, and the laughs they succeed occa-
sionally in providing, the film offers little in the way of novelty or real
entertainment.
Mirror: It is slightly disappointing. Played with spirit by a clever company of
attractive people, the play nevertheless lacks the savory flavor required of
spicy farce.
Times: "Easy to Love" is bright, strenuous and thinnish in about equal pro-
portions. It possesses a definite ambition to be intimate, but seventy
minutes of it is a shade too much, and the suspicion increases toward the
end that manufacturing a full-length film out of it represented something
of a triumph of attenuation.
World-Telegrami: "Easy to Love" is a clumsy, noisy farce that is entirely lack-
ing in genuine humor and attempts frantically to be shocking and daring
with its references to mistresses and lovers but which succeeds only in
being remorselessly tedious.
Herald-Tribune: In the new film at the Strand Theatre there is the presence of
some far from sparkling dialogue to remind you dismally that the day of
those great pantomimic excursions into genuinely witty amorous comedy
has glumly disappeared.
News: Starts out to be one of those handsomely set, well-dressed, boring do-
mestic triangles, but as soon as the triangle becomes a quadrangle interest
picks up and an old plot takes a new turn. The story is plausible and
consistent enough, but the film is allowed to drag in the early sequences.
American: An engaging list of players is employed at the Strand Theatre in a
comedy Parisian rendered American-suburban by heavy-handed telling of
its tale.
Baldwin Back on Job
Earl Baldwin returned to his type-
writer at Warners yesterday after an
illness which kept him away for two
weeks. Writer is now preparing the
script of "Dames," the Robert Lord
original, which will be the next Ruby
Keeler-Dick Powell vehicle.
Zirn Still After Para.
New York. — The Appellate Division
of the State of New York will hear
on February 10 the action of Attorney
Samuel Zirn seeking to enjoin the
transfer of twenty-three Paramount
negatives to film Productions Corpora-
tion as bank pre'ferences.
'Gallant Lady' Beats
Records in Philly
Philadelphia. — If the week-end at
the Aldine is any criterion "Gallant
Lady" is on its way to prove the
biggest cleanup United Artists has had
in many a day. The Darryl Zanuck-
Twentieth Century picture broke all
house records for a week-end opening
at the Aldine.
The figures take on added impor-
tance when it is realized that "The
Bowery" and "Henry the Eighth" had
preceded "Gallant Lady" with great
business.
Ginsberg Signs Song Team
Henry Ginsberg signed Val Burton
and Will Jason, the song writing team,
to write the musical numbers for the
next musical comedy short to be pro-
duced at Hal Roach studio.
FREE TIX CUP
I'll give a tin cup and some shoe laces
to any man in the picture industry who
can't save $20 per month for an an-
nuity, because he is certainly going to
need it some day.
Yes, you CAN buy a life income (to
begin at ages 50, 55, or 60) for as
little as $20 per month.
But, if you can save more, or if you
have a million now, I can place it just
as easily with the big Life Insurance
companies.
Call up and give me your birth date
and I'll mail your plan.
ALBERT ESCHNER
220 Taft BIdg., Hollywood CR-1721
r
^j HOLLYWOOD ^q)
PLAZA
C9>
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly ratts
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospitality'
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
Jan. 23, 1934
Page Three
A.S.C. RATIFIES WAGE SCALE
DRAWN UP WITH PRODUCERS
Bob Wyler Forms
Own Pic Company
Provision Made For
Arbitration Board
At an open meeting of the Ameri-
can Society of Cinematographers last
night at the Hollywood Chamber of
Commerce the contract between that
body and the producers was accepted
by acclamation. No one in the meet-
ing questioned any clause in the
agreement negotiated by the society
or any of the acts or motives of its
I special committee.
The contract is similar to that pre-
! viously existing, according to a state-
ment of the society, "excepting that
much of the objectionable and con-
troversial matter has been eliminated."
It runs for five years, and the pro-
ducer signers comprise the major stu-
dios, in addition to Educational and
Roach.
Provision is made for an arbitration
board of three producers and three
cameramen and in the event of the
failure of these six to agree the issue
is to be passed on to the existing labor
bureau for determination.
One of the clauses of the agreement
permits reopening of any section for
improving and clarifying if conditions
demand.
"Printed contracts will be given
each member of the society," it is an-
nounced officially, "with each clause
interpreted in plain English so there
can be no controversy as to the mean-
ing of individual clauses."
The producers agree to give screen
credit to cameramen and that the in-
itials of "ASC" be placed after the
photographer's name.
'Firebird* Set by Warners
For Pabst's Next Picture
G. W. Pabst will direct "The Fire-
bird" as his second picture on his
Warner contract, Pabst's initial pic-
ture for Warners was Louis Brom-
field's novel, "Modern Hero," starring
Richard Barthelmess.
Long Termer for Teasdale
Warners yesterday signed Veree
Teasdale to a long term contract. Deal
provides for a vacation to be taken by
Miss Teasdale in August so that she
may go to Spain with Adolphe Men-
jou, where they plan to be married.
Brandt Rests in Florida
New York. — Harry Brandt, presi-
dent of the Independent Theatre Own-
ers of New York, is In Florida for a
vacation, planning to return before the
organization's first annual ball at the
Waldorf February 21.
Rubin, N. Y. Agent, Here
Herbert Rubin, New York agent,
has arrived in town to look after the
interests of his two clients, Marjorie
Lytell and Ada Cavell. He will re-
main here for two weeks.
Rankin's Credit
Warners neglected to credit Wil-
lam Rankin with the original on "I
Cot Your Number" when the picture
was previewed but have sent out no-
tice to that effect now.
Tarzan' Is Ageing
Neil Hamilton hangs up a new
record for the longest individual
assignment for a free lance player
in Hollywood. He has been draw-
ing a weekly pay check against
"Tarzan" at MCM for six months,
with another month in prospect.
Colbert Sought For
'Honor Bright' Role
Louis D. Lighten, producer, and Tay
Gamett, director, want Claudette Col-
bert to play the top spot in "Honor
Bright," which goes into production
soon at Paramount.
Miss Colbert's next assignment is
"Cleopatra," the Cecil B. DeMille pic-
ture, which has no definite starting
date. The studio is trying to arrange
for her to go into "Honor Bright" be-
fore she does "Cleopatra."
Tri-Ergon Scaring
Exhibs On Patent
New York. — The American Tri-
Ergon Corporation, controlled by Wil-
liam Fox, is taking full advantage of
the recent Pennsylvania decision up-
holding its flywheels patents on sound
projectors and is sending out notices
of infringement to 16,000 exhibitors.
Little concern is felt yet as the de-
cision is being appealed.
Stage Players in 'Corn'
Two New York stage players have
been engaged by Radio for important
supporting roles to Ann Harding in
"Alien Corn." They are Arnold Korff
and Margaret Hamilton.
Picture goes into work February 1 0
under E. H. Griffith's direction.
'Pretzels' in the Black
"Moonlight and Pretzels," the
Rowland-Brice production supervised
by Stanley Bergerman in the East, has
returned its negative cost officially,
in three months after release. Picture
was Roger Pryor's first and was direct-
ed by Karl Freund.
Joan's Mother on the Job
New York. — Adrianne Morrison, of
Pinker and Morrison, agents, leaves for
the Coast next Monday to be with her
daughter, Joan Bennett, for an ex-
pected blessed event next month.
SMPE Sets Date
New York. — Atlantic City and April
23, 24, 25 and 26 is the place and
the time that the SMPE has set as the
tentative date for its spring meeting.
Reed on Warner Script
Tom Reed has been signed by War-
ners to write the screen play of "Dark
Tower," which the studio purchased
recently. Robert Lord is supervising.
Alice White at Radio
Alice White was borrowed from
Universal by Radio yesterday for the
role opposite jimmy Durante in
"Strictly Dynamite."
New York. — Robert Wyler, who
bowed out of'By Candlelight" at Uni-
versal because of ill health, has form-
ed his own company for picture pro-
duction. He is associated with Murray
Garsson, John Wexley, author of "The
Last Mile," Dick Krakeur, and C. R.
Caley. Wyler, who once produced in
France for Universal, sails for Europe
this week to seek play material.
Garsson, recently in the Immigra-
tion Department under Hoover, was
active as an independent producer for
a brief period some ten years ago,
making the picture "Success."
'Laughing Boy' Back to
the MCM Stages Today
MGM will resLime production today
on "Laughing Boy" and W. S. Van
Dyke will continue the direction. The
last few days of production on this
picture was held up to give Ramon
Novarro a chance to make retakes and
added scenes on "Cat and the Fiddle,"
which he finished last night.
Educational Wakes Up
Coming out of a month's lull. Edu-
cational puts the fourth of the six
"Frolics of Youth" series into produc-
tion today with Charles LaMont di-
recting. Cast is headed by Junior
Coghlan and Shirley Temple with
Henry Meyers, Virginia True Board-
man, Sidney Miller and Huntley Cor-
don making the balance of the group.
'U' Strong for Cage Came
With eighteen teams on the lot,
every other person you talk to at Uni-
versal is a basketball player. Studio
has 16 departmental teams, one quin-
tet in the studio division locally, and
the Universal Pictures five which will
meet a Denver aggregation here next
week, and one from Minneapolis the
week following.
Fox Coes Ail-Foreign
New York. — That first Erik Char-
rell picture for Fox is going to be for-
eign all the way. Professor Ernest
Stern, European scenic designer, left
for the Coast yesterday to report to
Fox on this picture.
Frank MacDonald Wed
Frank MacDonald, Warner dialogue
director, married Goodee Montgomery
here last night. Mrs. MacDonald is
daughter of Dave Montgomery of the
vaudeville team of Montgomery and
Stone.
Franklin in 'Louisiana'
Irene Franklin has been set for a
featured role in "In Old Louisiana,"
which started yesterday at MGM un-
der the direction of George B. Seitz.
The Leo Morrison office made the
deal.
Tucker Files the Papers
Richard Tucker filed a petition in
bankruptcy yesterday, listing $3,016
m debts and $600 in assets.
TALES OF HOFFMAN
By IRVING HOFFMAN
One of the disappointing entries to
mount a local stage last week was
"Mahogany Hall." Taking its title
from a notorious Washington bagnio
of other days, and authored by Charles
Robinson, who aided Kenyon Nichol-
son in the scribbling of the bawdy
"Sailor Beware," it promised a robust
evening but proved dull. However,
the opening was not entirely disap-
pointing. For the Mesdames Ever-
leigh, lured by alert press agent
Charles Washburn, occupied aisle
seats. These superintendents of the
noted Chicago house of ill-fame,
which bore their name, have long been
in retirement; but consented to attend
the opening after they had exacted a
promise from Washburn that their ap-
pearance would not be publicized, and
they would be seated near a noted
critic of a morning rag, who was their
best customer in the old days in Chi-
cago. They recalled that when a
young lady left their notorious bordello
to seek further fame by entering the
newer profession of the theatre, their
favorite critic, in reviewing the pro-
duction in which she first trod the
boards, wrote: "It seems rather
strange to see Miss X in a $3 house."
•
The caption under the picture of
Herbert Marshall and Madeline Car-
roll in the News of January 14 (all
editions) was a honey, due to a com-
posing room blunder. Sidney Skolsky
has a copy. Ask him to let you see
it. . . . Marion Burns, who's being di-
vorced from Bruce MacFarlane of
"Sailor Beware," does a swim in the
nude in "Devil Tiger," which is a
pleasure. . . . "By Your Leave," with
Kenneth MacKenna and Dorothy Gish,
got great notices in Philly, but then
you never can tell. "The Lake" got
raves in Washington. Which reminds
us that we don't believe our crack has
reached your ears. . . . They were dis-
cussing the treatment of the Wonder
Boy's production at the hands of the
New York critics. "I can't under-
stand it," some one said. "It got
great notices when it opened in Wash-
ington." "So did Hoover," we put in.
. . . Incidentally, Porter Hall, who
played Baltimore stock with Katharine
Hepburn for weeks, met her in the
lobby of a Radio City building the
other day, and is he burning! He
tried to speak, got the freeze, and his
only way out was to say, "I beg your
pardon; I thought you were Katha-
rine Hepburn." She didn't say any-
thing.
•
Kelcey Allen, who critics for Wo-
men's Wear, was admiring a flicker-
obot's gold cigarette case, and the
fellow, trying to be a good sport, or
something, said: "I'd give it to you,
but my name is engraved on it."
"That's all right," retorted Kelcey, "I
can have 'FROM' added to it."
•
Joe Fleisler, the wag who manages
the Edison, which is a neighborhood
house, continues to have more fun
juggling his double feature attractions.
This week, the marquee bulbs read:
"Twentv Thousand Years in Sing
Sing" "Sitting Pretty."
Page Four
THgpfe^H
Ian. 23. 1934
-AND BE MY LOVE" THIN
PLAY THAT GETS NOWHERE
Polite Story Has
Little For Screen
"... AND BE MY LOVE"
Maurice Colbourne and Barry Jones
/ present "... And Be My Love,"
a comedy by Lewis Calantiere
and John Houseman, staged by
Mr. Colbourne; settings by David
Homan, at the Ritz Theatre.
With Barry Jones, Lily Cahill,
Ronald Simpson, Renee Gadd.
New York — Scintillant acting, bril-
liant settings, and glittering dialogue
fail to give this comedy an authentic
lustre. Impeccably as it is cut, per-
fectly as it is polished, and lavishly as
it is mounted, "And Be My Love" is
unfortunately unable to conceal the
grievous flaw of its being pretty
threadbare fare. As an exercise in so-
phisticated playwriting, it is gladly
here admitted to have more than its
quota of smart and clever lines; that
its epigrarris come thick and fast, and
that it is replete with the nuances of
polite dalliance. But, alas and alack,
where does it all lead?
Lawrence Brooks, bachelor and
wealthy, makes a career of married
women, which, George Barlow, his
best friend, thinks is a pretty poor
way of frittering one's time. George,
dull soul, is pretty smug in his mar-
ried life, and believes his wife, Jane,
to be quite above reproach. When
Jane, a gushing and slightly lunatic
creature, breezes into our bachelor's
apartment, just late enough to miss
friend husband, we discover that she
is, after all, just another misunder-
stood wife, hungrily eager to snatch
at extra marital romance. Which, of
course. Brooks is only too ready to
provide. Act 11 continues the im-
pending seduction in the drawing
room of Jane's home, where nothing
really alarming happens, nor is meant
to. It is only the appearance of Elsa,
the virginal and wholly sensible young
niece of Jane by marriage, that now
provides the necessary excuse for a
third act. For Elsa, despite herself,
also succumbs to the allure of aunty's
great passion. Act III, later that eve-
ning, finds Elsa clandestinely supping
at Brooks' apartment. Brooks has just
about decided to fall in love with Elsa,
when Jane is announced, causing a
hasty consignment of Elsa to the ad-
joining bedroom. Jane, of course, has
come to see Brooks concerning Elsa,
but she easily beguiles herself into be-
lieving that Elsa is not there, and that
her great moment is imminent.
Brooks, however, having other plans
for the lady, undertakes to demon-
strate with Machiavellian ingenuity
the futility of continuing along the
primrose path she has willy nilly
chosen for herself. But before Jane
can leave, sobered and saddened as
much as she can ever be, friend hus-
band bursts in, ready to believe the
worst. But Elsa steps conveniently
from the bedroom to reburnish aunty's
halo of conjugal fidelity. As the cur-
tain descends there is forgiveness on
Elsa's part and a yearning "be my
love" from Brooks — and that's all
there is, there isn't any more. In the
English Pictures
During Past Year
London. — The London Board of
Trade is authority for the state-
ment that there were I 89 features
and 644 short reels produced by
British producers during 1933. This
amount accounts for 24.2 of all the
film to be registered in Great Brit-
ain last year, showing a jump of
2.2 for preceding year.
Butler Tries School
^^dea at Roach's
Frank Butler, scenario chief of the
Hal Roach studio, is making a search
for from eight to ten young men just
out of college to form a junior writ-
ing staff on that lot.
The plan to be used in this school
is to keep the staff intact for three
month periods, bringing in a new staff
to replace those whose options are not
renewed at the end of that period.
Butler hopes to find, during a year's
time, two or three writers in the group
that are capable of delivering the
goods.
'Queer People' For Stage
With Hal Skelly in Lead
New York. — Melville Burke has
been engaged by Galen Bogue to stage
"Queen People" here with an open-
ing scheduled for Lincoln's Birthday.
Hal Skelly is listed for the lead.
John Floyd's dramatization of the
novel by Carroll and Garret Graham
will be used.
Say re Moves to Fox
Joel Sayre finished the screen treat-
ment of "Come On Marines" for Par-
amount Saturday and starts at Fox
Western Avenue today to collaborate
with William Conselman on a story for
the Sol Wurtzel unit tentatively titled
"On The High Seas." The deal was
made by the William Morris office.
'Pat' Ellis Up at Roach
Hal Roach is negotiating with War-
ners for the. loan of Patricia Ellis for
the lead in the Laurel ar\d Hardy film,
"Babes in Toyland." Earl Oxford, an
MGM stock player, is seriously being
considered for the male lead.
Fejos Pic Set Here
New York.— The latest foreign
production of Paul Fejos, former Uni-
versal director, has been acquired by
Du World Pictures, of New York, for
American distribution. It is call«d
"Fantomas."
Atwill With 'Nana'
New York. — Lionel Atwill, here for
a visit, will probably make a personal
appearance with the opening of
"Nana" at the Music Hall.
part of Lawrence Brooks, Barry Jones,
though not the great lover, gives a
finished performance. Lily Cahill is
capital as Jane, Ronald Simpson, as
her husband, is satisfactory. And Re-
nee Gadd, as Elsa, excellent.
Selwyn Tells N. Y.
About Film Code
New York. — Edgar Selwyn, in New
York for a four weeks visit, is telling
the visiting reporters that the code
has its disadvantages for the director.
"Just when a director gets all set," he
says, "a whole new crew of techni-
cians have to be moved in because of
the limitations set by the code on
hours of work."
Selwyn made a hit here when he
said the real reason for his trip was
"to get out of the Hollywood rut and
see some real shows."
Zion Myers Starts Two
Shorts For Columbia
Completing preparations on two
shorts, Zion Myers places both into
work this week at Columbia. First
to go is "Showmanship," which Alf
Goulding directs, starting Wednesday.
Lou Holtz stars.
Archie Cottier directing, "Love
Detective" goes in Thursday. Frankie
Albertson, Betty Grable and Tommy
Dugan head the line-up.
Schary Bows Out of
Columbia Assignment
Columbia yesterday gave Dore
Schary permission to cancel his one-
picture deal to write the screen play
for "Hell Cat" under Sid Rogell's su-
pervision. Schary requested his re-
lease after both parties discovered that
their ideas for the assignment did not
match. Studio is looking for another
writer
Thew Back to '13'
Completing his work on "The
Duchess of Delmonico's, "Harvey Thew
has returned to the script of "Opera-
tor 13," the Marian Davies picture
which Raoul Walsh directs and Walter
Wanger produces. Subject is scheduled
to get under way in the next two
weeks.
Fields Clicks on Air
Benny Fields has clicked on the
Shell Oil Monday night radio broad-
casts. Finishing his fourth weekly pro-
gram this week, the songster and
master of ceremonies has had his op-
tion renewed for eight more weeks on
this popular Columbia broadcast.
Carnett Gets New Aid
Due to his engagement at War-
ners Assistant Director Bob Fellows
will not be with Tay Garnett when
the latter starts work on Paramount's
"Honor Bright." It will be Garnett's
first without Fellows as chief aid.
Clem Beauchamp gets the spot.
Mich. Exhibs Boost Prices
Detroit. — Allied Theatre Owners of
Michigan have started a campaign to
raise admission prices claiming that
this is a necessity because of increas-
ed costs under code operation.
Date 'As Husbands Co'
New York. — "As Husbands Co,"
Fox-Lasky picture, gets its premiere at
the Music Hall next Thursday.
Verne Hille by Monogram for the
feminine lead in "The Curse of the
Kali," which William Nigh will direct.
Irving Pichel signed by Radio for
one of the featured roles in "Crime
Doctor."
Joan Marsh assigned by Paramount
to a top spot in support of W. C.
Fields in "You're Telling Me."
Hale Hamilton, Edmund Bums and
Florence Dudley join the cast of Ches-
terfield's "The Understanding Heart."
J. Farrell MacDonald by Radio for
"Crime Doctor."
William' B. Davidson added to "Fur
Coats," Warners.
Ruth Hiatt signed by Phil L. Ryan
for a comedy which starts today.
Robert Creig set by Freddie Fralick
in Fox's "Odd Thursday."
Reginald Owen at Radio for "Fam-
ily Man."
Leonard Mudie by Universal for
"Elizabeth and Mary." Lew Cantor
set the player.
Brandon Hurst in the William Nigh
picture at Monogram starting this
week. Set through Menifee John-
stone.
Lucien Littlefield signed through
Freddie Fralick for "Fox Follies."
Matt Moore set by Lichtig and
Englander in "All Men Are Enemies"
at Fox.
Frank Albertson and Red St-i'-l'
signed by Columbia for "Love Detec-
tive," a comedy.
Mitchell and Durant, comedy team,
signed by Fox on a one-picture deal
with options for a long term contract.
Frederick Burton for "Hit Me
Again," Warners, through Walter
Kane of the Weber office.
lean Dixon into "Sadie McKee" at
MGM. Set by Edington and Vincent.
Alphonse Ethier signed through
Dolge and Corder for a featured role
in "Storm at Midnight," Columbia.
Henry Kolker set by Dolge and Cor-
der for "Sisters Under the Skin," Co-
lumbia.
Douglas Cosgrove into "Golden
Gate," Warners.
Raymond Hatton added to MCM's
"In Old Louisiana."
Armand Kaliz added to "Playful
Husbands," Columbia short.
Nydia Westman set through Re-
becca and Silton for "Trumpet Blows"
at Paramount and "If I Was Rich" at
Universal.
Jay Henry by Paramount for "We're
Not Dressing." Al G. Shauer set deal.
Milton Owens, through Walter
Herzbrun, for "Countess of Monte
Cristo" at Warners.
John Davidson signed for the role
of the heavy in Sol Wurtzel's "Mur-
der in Trinidad."
Spenc«r Charters signed for a Lou
Brock short. Radio. Through the Al
Kingston office.
Barbara Weeks, Mary Kornman and
Aggie Herring into the cast of "Un-
derstanding Heart," Chesterfield.
Doris Lloyd for "Sisters Under the
Skin." Columbia. Deal set by Max
Shagrin.
Harry C. Bradley into "Men in
White," MGM. Max Shagrin placed
the player.
Raymond Hatton to MGM for "Lou-
isiana Lou." Al Kingston placed the
player.
i
REPERTOIRE SEASON
NINETEEN THIRTY-FOUR
of
SCHNOZZLE
BARRYMORE
DURANTE
at fh«
OPERA COMIQUE
|an. 1st - 15th . . ."OEDIPUS REX" Directed by Benjamin Von Stoloff
Jan. 15th - 30th . . ."PYGMALION" Directed by Ben Von StoloH
Feb. 1st - 15th . . ."HAMLET" Directed by B. Von Stoloff
Feb. 15th -28th... "MACBETH" Directed by Von Stoloff
Mar. 1st - 15th . . ."MERCHANT OF VENICE" Directed by Stoloff
Mar. 15th - 31st . . ."CYRANO DE BERCERAC" Directed by the Mysterious Mr. S.
WHEN MILLIONS SAW ME IN THE ABOVE CHARACTERIZATIONS THEY AC-
CLAIMED ME AS THE GREATEST TESPIAN' OF THE INNER CIRCLE.
and
WHEN THE SAME MILLIONS, AT THE PREVIEW, SAW ME PLAY
KNOBBY WALSH
in
«<
P A L O O K A "
They Screamed . . . Howled . . . Roared
for their money back
'S help mel
SCHNOZZLE
The Answer To A
JIMMIE DURANTE
** Box-office prescription stuff, car-
ried along on a tide of laughs. . . .
Human story . . . will hit the
femmes and the family as well as
the male customers. . . . Durante
a riot. . . . Swell lot of trouping by
a choice cast/*
—DAILY VARIETY.
LUPE
MARJORIE RAMBEAU ROBERT
WILLIAM CAGNEY
GUS ARNHEIM A
AN EDWARD S M
Presented by Reliance Pictures, Inc.
HARRY M. GOETZ
President and Treasurer
EDWARD SMALL
l^ ice-President and Secretary
"Will make your box-off!<
debt. . . . From start to fiii
your theater like no othe
As good a cast as ever r
laughs. . . . Durante a rid
your seats."
howman's Prayer!
/
STUART ERWIN
*'YouMI probably have repeaters
coming back to catch dialogue and
action they missed while laughing
so hard. . . . Almost as many laughs
as there are feet in film. . . .
Durante has part of his life. . . . Cast
romps through with all gusto in
world. . . . Story a cinch."
—HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
[RMSTRONG
MARY CARLISLE
THELMA TODD
HIS ORCHESTRA
PRODUCTION
nH look like the national
I please all types and pack
:ion in recent months. . . .
hru 85 minutes of belly
l)ok Palooka' . . . it'll fiU
— THE BILLBOARD.
RELEASED THRU UNITED ARTISTS
BEN
STOLOFF
I
DIRECTED
£i
PALOOKA
»>
"... the direction of Ben
Stoloff is fast and clever . . ."
— Hollywood Reporter,
Jan. 6, 1934.
«
P A L O O K A
ff
Screen Play by
JACK JEVNE
In Collaboration
ALSO
"I Cover The Waterfront
ff
In Collaboration
Management
SMALL-LANDAU
'V^Q3K4
GERTRUDE
PURCELL
BEN RYAN
DIALOGUE +
Co-Author of
Screen Play
a
PALOOKA
9>
i6
PALOOKA
99
"Durante is a riot . . . and the
lines supplied him by Ben Ryan
and Murray Roth are right down
the Schnozzle's alley."
— Daily Variety,
Ian. 6th
In collaboration
"... it is embellished with dia-
logue that crackles . . . You'll
probably have repeaters coming
back to catch the dialogue . . .
they missed while laughing so
hard."
— Hollywood Reporter,
Jan. 6th.
/r N. A-
Page Ten
Jan. 23, 1934
AMERICAN DISTRIBS BATTLE
AUSTRALIAN BUYING POOLS
MCM in Fight on
'Chain Store' Idea
Sydney. — Threat of a film war be-
tween distributors and exhibitors flar-
ing up again as it did last year at this
time has the entire field here on edge.
The buying season is on the verge
of getting under way and the crux
of the impending fight centers about
distributors, such as MCM, Paramount
and Warners, trying to break up buy-
ing pools among exhibitors, latter join-
ing each other in these pools in an
effort to lick the block booking situ-
ation.
The exchanges refuse to sell to the
pools and have already sent out warn-
ings to exhibitors that those who want
to buy will have to show that they
have no pool affiliations.
Taking the initiative, MCM issued
a statement saying it "does not pro-
pose to deal with exhibitors except
directly. MCM believes that the in-
dustry must, for the benefit of all
concerned, get back to the funda-
mental position in which the individ-
ual exhibitor has every opportunity to
exploit his capacity as showman and
that the growth of 'chain store' meth-
ods of buying is prejudicial to sound
exhibition methods."
Biggest opponent of the exchange
men is Ceneral Theatres, controlling
more than 200 theatres in this terri-
tory. Stuart F. Doyle, of this com-
pany, answered the MCM ultimatum
by stating that his company had all
the product it needed for several
months and was urwroncerned with
MCM's edict on the new buying sea-
son.
Announcing the
EXTENDED
ENGAGEMENT
at the
CLOVER
CLUB
@ElilE AU#TlH
CANDY^COCO
appearing
NIGHTLY
for
DINNER
and
SUPPER
. . . A TERRIFIC HIT!
Picture mob are going nuts
over Cene Austin and his aides
Candy 'n' Coco at the Clover
Club. Femmes especially hang
over the Austin midget piano
like flies after molasses.
— VARIETY.
'State Fair' Voted
Best For England
London. — The Era here took a
poll of all the London film critics
asking their opinion of the most
entertaining picture of the year,
and Fox's "State Fair" received the
top votes, with "Henry the Eighth"
second; "any Walt Disney" third,
and "La Maternelle" fourth.
Marion Marsh Goes In
Second British Picture
London. — Marion Marsh has ac-
cepted an offer to do another British
picture before returning to Hollywood.
The new one is a musical, "Over The
Garden Wall," British International
will produce and Bobby Howes will be
the male interest.
There is a chance that she may ac-
cept a Universal offer to make a pic-
ture in Switzerland under the direc-
tion of Louis Trenker.
B-G's Chu Chin Chow*
About Ready to Start
London. — The elaborate screen pro-
duction of the famous stage play,
"Chu Chin Chow," is about set to go
at the British Caumont studios. Wal-
ter Forde will direct.
British Quota Spreads
Washington. — American Vice Con-
sul Demorest, of Trinidad, British Gui-
ana, reports that the Colonial govern-
ment has drafted a bill for presenta-
tion to the legislature demanding that
exhibitors be compelled to show pro-
grams including at least 25 per cent
British pictures.
Publicist Turns Manager
Sydney. — United Artists lost
Vaughan Marshall, publicity head in
this sector, when he resigned to ac-
cept the post of general manager for
the Waddington theatre circuit. Mar-
shall is well liked here and was given
a swell send-off by the U. A. group.
Harker in 'Road House*
London. — Cordon Harker, who cre-
ated a world wide sensation in "Rome
Express," has been cast for the male
lead in the BIP production of "Road
House." Violet Loraine will play op-
posite with Alfred Hitchcock the di-
rector.
Saville on 'Evergreen*
London. — Victor Saville, after a
brief illness, is about half through
with the British Caumont production
of "Evergreen," that stars Jesse Math-
ews and marks the screen return of
Betty Balfour.
'Gang* Out in Australia
Sydney. — An insight into how the
censors' minds operate against any
suggestion of underworld melodrama
is evident in the local board insisting
"The Kelly Gang" be changed to "The
Kellys Ride."
London Developing
Many New Pic Stars
London. — The London producer is
out to develop stars and for this pur-
pose is signing up possibilities on long
term contracts to keep them away
from the Hollywood-clutch.
Those listed for certain stardom
here during 1934 are Merle Oberon,
Binnie Barnes, Diana Napier, Wendy
Barrie, Tamara Desni, Pamela Ostrer,
Victoria Hopper, Judy Kelly, Joan ;
Gardner and Joyce Kirby.
Big Sets for 'Jew Suss'
London. — The British Caumont ,
production of "jew Suss" will show^
some of the largest and most elaborate
sets yet seen in a British picture. Mar-
ket Street in Stuttgart is an exact rep-
lica of that famous thoroughfare; as
is the set showing the Ghetto in
Frankfurt. The boudoir of the
Duchess is something to talk about;
also.
Lothar Mendes is the director, Ber- ;
nard Knowles the photographer and \
Conrad Veidt the star.
Warners Shift in S. A.
I
Buenos Aires. — William Fait is no i
longer in charge of sales for Warner ;
Brothers in Argentine, as he has now ,
taken over the duties of Henrique 1
Blunt, now deceased, as head of Bra- \
zilian distribution. Cuido Buscaglia I
of Buenos Aires and former branch \
manager has supplanted Mr. Fait as;
executive of the sales department.
British Studio Rentals
London. — British and Dominions re-
ceives a rental of twenty-seven thous-
and pounds per annum for the large
stage at the British and Dominions
plant. A smaller one is to be let for
seventeen thousand pounds in the near \
future, and a third large one retained ;
for the company's own production.
Fox Men Take Cuts
Sydney. — Operations are fashion-
able among the Fox men here. Stan- \
lev Crick, exchange chief, had his ton-
sils yanked and T. J. Cleary, staff'
member, went for an app>endix opera- j
tion. j
Marsh Tours for Health
London. — Hubert Marsh, British!
and Dominiorw chief, left here on 8
boat trip to Algeciras. Although ill
for some time, Marsh has persistently!
kept at the company's business not-
withstanding.
Raves for Victoria Hopper
London. — Basil Dean has uncovered
a star in Victoria Hopper, who appears
in "Constant Nymph," British Cau-'
mont. The Press is doing nip-ups and
it is anticipated that Hollywood will
soon be grabbing her.
Bryson In and Out
London. — James V. Bryson, who re-
cently announced ambitious produc-
tion plans with a new company, is out
of Consolidated Film Studios, the com-
pany stated,
Caldwell East on Play i|
Anne Caldwell will leave for New
York within ten days to make arrange-
ments for the production of her new
play, "The River Man."
Jan. 23, 1934
itti^-^f
Pago Eleven
§©U1V© PATEI^T;.- MAY «;ET
I\EW AIRIIVCi IX PARA. I^I'IT
SrLVER SCREEN
74 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Ruby Keeler
(Warners)
Pubiidty Space (Appfoximat*)
Paramount 678 tq. indiM
United Artists 504 sq. inches
MCM 352 sq. inches
Fox 349 sq. inchae
Warners 3 1 0 aq. inches
Radio 302 sq. inches
Universal _ 70 sq. inches
Columbia „ 67 sq. tnchea
Two swell stories, and S. R. Mook's
observations of activities ail over Hol-
lywood, bring Silver Screen to the fore
for February.
"The Girl Who Was the First
Movie Star" (Mary Pickford), by
; Adela Rogers St. Johns, is the con-
I elusion of her "The Six Famous Wo-
men of Hollywood" series, and it
; winds up the series beautifully.
j "The Loveliest Star" (Marlene Die-
Itrich), by Elizabeth Wilson, is an all
around, grand, perfect production story
on "Catherine the Great."
S. R. Mook, always goods, does
himself proud in "Stars on the Job."
Other stories are "The Four Big
Shots of Hollywood" (Janet Caynor,
Mae West, Katharine Hepburn and
Marie Dressier), by Patricia Keats;
"Gloria Stuart," by Jack Jamison;
" 'N. G.' in the Garage Business," by
Muriel Babcock; "Star? Director? Au-
thor?" by Myrtle Gebhart; and "They
Danced Through the Studio Gates,"
by James M. Fidler.
SCREEN PLAY
74 pages and cewr
COVER DISPLAY Greta Carbo
(MGM)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 675 sq. inches
Paramount 585 sq. inches
Warners 375 sq. inches
fo« 365 sq. inches
Ra«l'0 320 sq. inches
Universal _...130sq. inches
United Artists _ 90 sq. inchea
Sidney Skolsky contributes the best
story in the February issue of Screen
Play. It's a fine, clever, character
study of Max Baer, "He's a Terrific
Fellow."
Patrick Cross lets Miriam Hopkins,
Fredric March and Gary Cooper talk
on "Harems for Hollywood"; Wilbur
Morse Jr. tells about Katharine Hep-
burn in "Portrait of a Fascinating
Lady"; Gladys McVeigh gives some
mane quotes by Toby Wing in "The
Girl Chevalier Left Behind"; Donald
P. Sheldon has two stories, "Holly-
. wood Shocks the Censors Again" and
j "Sylvia Sidney's Secrets"; Eric L. Er-
genbright gets a little mean in "Gar-
bo's Privacy Invaded"; Jewel Smith
has "She Learned to Say 'No' " (Min-
na Gombell), and George Rigas offers
what he says is "The Truth About
Lee Tracy."
Maude Cheatham tells about James
Cagney's courtship of his wife in "Ro-
mantic Roughneck"; Wilbur Morse
Jr. outlines the method by which some
Jewel bandits were captured in "Mae
west Got Her Men"; Ann York has
"My Neighbor, Joan Blondell"; Esther
Hopkins Mead interviews Heather
Angel, and Warner Baxter says to
Alyce Curtis, "I Am Not Ashamed of
My Paat."
The magazine as a whole is not so
hot. Sidney Skolsky's story is the only
one to read.
NEW MOVIE
106 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY.-Katharine Hepburn
(Radio)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM _ _ 788 sq. inches
Paramount 473 sq. inches
Universal _...252 sq. inchea
Fox _ 250 sq. inches
United Artists lOOsq. inches
Radio 72 sq. inches
Warners 53 sq. inches
New Movie is very much worth your
dime this month because of "I Loved
Garbo," by Hubert Voight as told to
Gurdi Haworth — a very swell Carbo
yarn; "She Can't Make Up Her Mind,"
by Terry Ramsaye, which is the best
Margaret Suliavan story yet, and "Mae
West's Perfect Day," by Dorothy Man-
ners.
Others are "Forecast for 1934," by
Ramon Romero; "Meet Max Baar,"
by Eleanor Packer; "Out of the Magic
Mirror" (Charlotte Henry), by Vir-
ginia T. Lane; and "Hollywood's
Cocktails," by Nanette Kutner.
The anonymous serial, "Hollywood
Slave," is living up to prediction by
petting worse each month.
PICTURE PLAY
66 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Kay Francis
(Warners)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM _ 710 sq. inches
Radio 460 sq. inches
Paramount _ 370 sq. inches
United Artists ~ 360 sq. inches
Universal 250 sq. inches
Warners _ 175sq. inches
Fox 140sq. inches
Three knockout stories head a good
issue of Picture Play for February.
They are a knockout interview with
Max Baer, "He Knows He's Hot," by
Drummond Tell; "Exit the Speak-
easy," an amusing prediction by James
Roy Fuller, and "Second Blooming," a
swell yarn on Alice Brady by Samuel
Richard Mook.
Other stories are "Hollywood's
Feitsidden Sins," by Helen Louise
Walker; "Gary's Woman Trouble," by
Helen Pade; "Little Girl, What Now.'"
(Margaret Suliavan), by Helen
Klumph; "Bound to Rise," by Mabel
Duke"; "Dead-pan Wow" (Allen Jen-
kins), by Whitney Williams; "The
Chessboard of Fate," by William H.
McKegg, and "Grand Guy" (Gary
Grant) , by Leroy Keleher.
'Maedchen' in English
New York. — ^John Krimsky and Gif-
ford Cochran will present "Girls in
Uniform," the recently completed
English version of "Maedchen in Uni-
forrn," at the Criterion Theatre here
tomorrow night.
New York. — The sound patent sit-
uation which has been in and out of
the courts various ways may get its
final answer through the medium of
the Paramount receivership wrangles.
This is because the judgments secured
by General Talking Pictures and other
sound groups against Paramount are
a problem for the receiver to answer,
or refer to the Federal courts.
When Referee Davis yesterday con-
sidered and okayed various bills
against the bankrupt Paramount or-
ganization he was met with a state-
ment from the trustees asking him
to disallow the claims filed against
the company by American Tri-Ergon
Corporation, DeForest Phonofilm Cor-
poration, and General Talking Pictures,
the trustees taking the position that
"the question is whether a claim
based on an infringement may be
No Strings on 'Rosy'
(Continued from Page 1 )
Solomon. I am here to investigate and
REPORT."
Asked a pointed question about the
Administration's attitude in the event
major producers refuse to fill out the
questionnaires recently received, Ros-
enblatt still failed to get ruffled.
"I cannot understand the concern
or agitation concerning the question-
naire. It isn't a question as to what
anybody wants t^ do. The question-
naires are issued under an executive
order from the resident — they are to
be answered. After the answers are
in, they will be studied. And after
that a report will be made. That's
all there is to it. You don't need
weather reports from every single
street in Los Angeles to deliver an
intelligent report on the weather in
the city yesterday, do you?"
To this Rosenblatt added that the
questionnaires had nothing to do with
his visit, the trip and the "investiga-
tion" being in direct compliance with
the orders from the President when
the "talent raiding" clauses of the
code were stricken out and the pres-
ent survey substituted.
Reading between the lines on what
Rosenblatt would say, and would not
say. It seems very possible that he
will spend his ten days or two weeks
in Hollywood, and return to Washing-
ton without taking any of the definite
actions forecast before his arrival. He
is strong for allowing the machinery
to function as it is set up, and will
favor letting local NRA labor boards
handle the problems of jurisdiction,
etc., which have the unions embroiled.
The Administrator parried all ques-
tions regarding the Writer-Academy
iss\jcs with a repetition of the state-
ment, "1 am here to study and re-
port." He announced that daily press
conferences would be held to keep
the industry in touch with the progress
of his investigation.
Called together by Will Hays, the
ma|or producers held a meeting yes-
terday, at which representatives of
each company heard Hays' explanation
of code proceedings to date, and dis-
cussed a course of procedure in con-
nection with Rosenblatt's visit.
The Administrator will make his
headquarters at the Beverly Wilshire.
proved against a bankrupt estate when
the claim has not been reduced to
judgment prior to the bankruptcy."
Further, the trustees add, "the al-
legations are not sufficient to consti-
tute a basis for a provable claim in
that they are based on an infringe-
ment of a patent which is not provable
in bankruptcy."
The situation is one that will be
watched with interest by picture law-
yers, since it seems to lay readers that
Tri-Ergon, DeForest and General Talk-
ing are admitted to have a right for
their claims, but are opposed on the
ground that a bankrupt is beyond the
pale. General Talking Pictures and the
others have won court decisions, but
the question now is, "Do they mean
anything against a bankrupt com-
pany?"
Aside from listening to the argu-
ments on this question. Referee Davis
spent the day okaying the bill of Irv-
ing Trust Company, trustee in bank-
ruptcy for Publix Enterprises, for
$76,171, and an additional $15,000
plus the original $7,950 already paid
to Dan Michalove for services rendered
the theatre organization.
Thompson Burtis Given
Radio Tag on 'Speed King'
Thompson Burtis joins the Radio
writing staff today to shape up the
screen play for "Speed King," under
the supervision of David Lewis.
Studio has closed a deal with Agnes
Christine Johnson for the purchase of
the story and Lewis is planning on
making it into a vehicle for Joel Mc-
Crea and Bruce Cabot. Vivian Gaye of
the Joy and Polimer office swung both
deals.
Two Roche Yarns for 1 Pic
Warners have purchased another
story by Arthur Somers Roche, "Road-
house," and will use it in combina-
tion with "Lady Dick," announced
earlier in the week, for a single fea-
ture. Both stories, about Roche's fa-
mous woman detective character, ap-
peared in the Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Henry Blanke supervises.
Double Shift for Shumate
Irving Briskin has handed Harold
Shumate a twin writing assignment.
He is writing the screen play for
"Highway Patrol" during the day and
"Murder in the Studio" at night. For-
mer is for Tim McCoy, while the lat-
ter is one of the Action unit's spe-
cials for Columbia.
Jane Murfin at Radio
Radio has set jane Murfin in to
write the screen play of "Green Man-
sions," in which Joel McCrea and Do-
lores Del Rio take the top spots. Ken-
neth Macgowan is producing it.
LeRoy Back to Stage
Hal LeRoy leaves for New York the
early part of this week to fill stage
engagements there. Player was
brought out here by Warners for
"Harold Teen."
Cordon Gets Spewack Play
Max Cordon has accepted Bella
Spewack's new play and will give it a
New York production next July.
BELLOWS & COMPANY, Inc
Importers and Dealers in Fine Wines
Brandies, Whiskies and other Spirits
BUSINESS ESTABLISHED 1830
FOR 100 YEARS THE HOUSE OF BELLOWS has been noted for the high quality of its stocks in
catering to the fine clubs and private trade of America. Anticipating repeal of the XVIIIth Amendment,
we began months ago to search out abroad the choicest vintage wines and spirits, always limited in quantity.
In accordance with the traditions of fine wine
merchants, we have personally combed the cellars
of the vineyard proprietors in BURGUNDY and have
purchased a magnificent assortment of authentic
proprietor bottled wines in addition to a compre-
hensive offering of the more modest wines of the
Cote d'Or. Our list includes such superb growths
and vintages as:
ROMANEE CONTI 1926, '29
GRAND CHAMBERTIN 1915. '19. '21. '23, '26, '29
GRAND RiCHEBOURG 1915, '23, '28
GRAND MUSIGNY 1919, '26, '29
CLOS DE VOUGEOT 1915, '19, '23, '26, '28, '29
And the great WHITE BURGUNDY
GRAND MONTRACHET 1923. '26, '28, '29
IN BORDEAUX, we sought out such choice chateau
bottled clarets and vintages as:
CHATEAU LAFITE 1906, '16, '23. '26. '29
CHATEAU MARGAUX 1924, '28
CHATEAU LATOUR 1916, '20. '29
CHATEAU HAUT-BRION 1898. 1906, '26
CHATEAU MOUTON-ROTHSCHILD 1924, '29
CHATEAU AUSONE 1904, '1 1
And that superb SAUTERNES
CHATEAU YQUEM .1924, '26. '28, '29
We have privately reserved in wood, in the ware-
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COGNAC BRANDIES
FINE COGNAC BRANDY Three Star
OLD COGNAC BRANDY 10 years of age
LIQUEUR COGNAC BRANDY 25 years of age
LIQUEUR COGNAC BRANDY 40 years of age
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GRANDE FINE CHAMPAGNE vintage of 1 865
GRANDE FINE CHAMPAGNE vintage of 1858
GRAND FINE CHAMPAGNE 1 00 years of age
SCOTCH WHISKIES
FINE OLD SCOTCH WHISKY 8 years in vi^ood
LIQUEUR SCOTCH WHISKY 1 2 years in wooil
Choicest LIQUEUR SCOTCH WHISKY. ...1 5 years in wood
And in IRELAND, a magnificent
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As has been our custom for three generations, we have exercised the same great care in the
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is proud to announce that they have secured the exclusive representation for the Wines
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CULVFR CITY, CALIF.
Vol. XIX. No. II. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, January 24, 1934
MAJORS IN lINf ON CODE
•MR. ROSENBLATT — Hollywood
greets you and throws open its gates
for your inspection. We assure you
that every man and woman connected
with the making of pictures here will
be most happy to be of any benefit
they can to you in your mission. Ask
your questions and, for the most part,
they will be answered honestly.
Hollywood, Mr. Rosenblatt, has very
little to hide. Certainly the business
is not being run as it should be, but
it is being conducted in the best way
that those at the head of it can func-
tion. There are many mistakes, there
are many things that can and should
be rectified, but those mistakes, for
the most part, are errors in judgment.
There's nothing wrong with this
business, Mr. Rosenblatt, that the
Government should get upset about;
it is being run with aS high a degree
of perfection as most any other giant
industry. Certainly there is room for
improvement, and if you can help in
that improvement you will find a great
appreciation awaiting each and every
suggestion.
We would suggest that in listening
and investigating that you do not limit
yourself to the major producers or to
the Producers' Association, for they
are only one branch to this big busi-
ness. We would like to see you talk
to the artists, the writers, the direc-
tors, the technicians and certainly the
little producers. All of them will
have stories to tell you.
And we feel certain, Mr. Rosen-
blatt, when you have given the whole
industry here your eye and your ear
that you will return to Washington
with a feeling of astonishment, that
a business as big as production really
is, could be run with as little friction
as is the case.
If you are looking for trouble you
will find it; if you are looking with
an eye toward trying to help an in-
dustry that is, and can continue to be,
of the greatest help to our great na-
tion, you will find plenty of places
that can be benefited by the assist-
ance of the Government.
We welcome you, Mr. Rosenblatt,
and hope your stay is a most enjoyable
one.
Loew's Soars
New York. — ^Loew's Inc. stock
hit a new high yesterday of eighty-
one and a quarter. Still heavy buy-
ing from some mysterious source.
RCA To Back Up
Exhibson Patents
New York. — RCA has countered
letters of warning on sound patents
sent exhibitors by American Tri-Ergon
Corporation with the flat statement
that they will stand back of any ex-
hibitors on RCA licenses, and assume
all obligations under their contracts.
Receipt of the letters by exhibitors
is understood to have slowed up the
new installation business. RCA at-
torneys are meanwhile carrying the
case to the higher courts.
Madeline Carroll, B-C Star
On Her Way to Fox Here
London. — The first interchange
move between Caumont and Fox is
the loaning of Madeline Carroll by the
former to the latter with Miss Carroll
on her way to the Fox studios now.
During the year it is expected that
Fox will send to London and Gaumont
will send to Hollywood many of their
top artists, writers and directors in
this exchange.
Chester Morris Recovers
Chester Morris, who has been ill
for the past two weeks, is again up
and about. He is leaving next Tues-
day for New York, where he is sched-
uled to start a picture for Rowland
and Brice.
Another Fox Foreigner
New York. — And still they come.
Another foreigner is on his way to
Fox. Werner Richard Heymann, Euro-
pean composer, leaves New York to-
day to report to Westwood Hills.
United Artists Only Producer
Still On Fence — Indies Also
Give Assent To NRA Authority
New York. — The meeting of the Code Authority yesterday
disclosed signatures of assent to the code have been received
from sixty distributors and twenty-nine producers, which takes
in all the major companies and practically every active indepen-
dent. United Artists, which has sign- #« ■ • I n •■ ■•
5elznick Building
For New 'Paradise'
ed the distribution code assent, still
remains alone on the fence on the pro-
duction document. It is understood
here that the matter will have to be
worked out individually with Sam
Coldwyn for his own unit, and with
Joe Schenck on his arrival from Europe
for Twentieth Century Pictures.
(Continued on Page I 1 )
judge Refuses Okay
On Radio City Deal
New York. — Now the RKO-Radio
City tie-up is in a real muddle. Fed-
eral Judge Bondy yesterday refused to
approve the terms of the lease which
the circuit wished to make for the
Music Hall and the twin house.
The terms of the lease aggregate
nearly a million dollars and this Judge
Bondy characterized as "excessive."
U' Plane Crashes
The airplane in which Manny
Naphan, producer of "Strange As It
Seems," and his cameraman, Johnny
Webster, were flying, enroute to Ari-
zona, crashed yesterday at Murietta
Springs. Although the ship was de-
molished both escaped unscathed,
Estabrook on 'Copperfield'
David Selznick has assigned the
adaptation of the Charles Dickens
story, "David Copperfield," to How-
ard Estabrook.
ROSIEI\BLATT SPEEDS BUSY
DAY VISITIXG AT STUDIOS
Phil Regan, Crooner, Gets
Long Termer at Warners
Sol Rosenblatt got going so early
yesterday morning, and worked so late
that he didn't go through with his
promise of daily press conferences, but
after a hectic first day expects to get
down to regular procedure today.
Rosenblatt visited practically every
studio during the day, talking with
the executive heads, asking questions,
and listening. Today, he intimated,
(Continued on Page 1 1 )
Phil Regan is the latest crooner to
be given a long term contract in Hol-
lywood. Warners signed the Colum-
bia broadcaster to a seven-year option-
al contract yesterday. The Bren and
Orsatti agency handled the deal.
Regan leaves for New York today
and will return February 5.
Attempting to get the same ele-
ments that made "Bird of Paradise"
such a success for him at Radio, David
Selznick is negotiating with King Vi-
dor to handle the South Sea story by
Salka Viertel and Leo Birinski, which
will have Johnny Weissmuller in the
top spot. John Farrow has written
the script.
Selznick plans to send the expedi-
tion to Tahiti as soon as "Viva Villa"
IS previewed and out of the way.
Vidor directed Dolores Del Rio and Joel
McCrea in "Bird of Paradise," which
was photographed in the Hawaiian
Islands.
Now It's Warren William
Named For Caesar Part
Paramount has placed a bid with
Warners for the loan of Warren Wil-
liam for the role of Caesar in the
Cecil B. DeMille picture, "Cleopatra,"
which will star Claudette Colbert.
There is a possibility that the loan
can be made as Warners have no im-
mediate assignment for the player.
20th Bids $10,000 for Play
New York. — Twentieth Century is
offering $10,000 for an unproduced
play by Myron Fagan, "Memory."
Fagan plans to stage it here next Fall
with Helen Morgan in the lead.
Para. Foreign Chief Tours
New York. — J. W. Hicks, head of
the Paramount International Corpora-
tion, sails for Europe January 31 on
a seven weeks business trip.
Flu Hits Roth
Murray Roth is sick at home with
an attack of influenza. The director
recently finished "Harold Teen" for
. /arners.
May Robson Going East
New York. — May Robson is sched-
uled for a personal appearance at the
Capitol here starting February 2
[
1
MURRAY ROTH
DIRECTED
FOR WARNERS
/ /
HAROLD TEEN'
Page Two
Jan. 24, 1934
IfMjIffelPOiflER
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp^
Published everv dav with the exception ot
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
WARNER RRO§i. HI NELLIE'
ENTERTAINING PROGRAMMER
Mack Cordon, of the songwriting
team of Cordon and Ravel, and Al
Dubin. of the team of Warren and
Dubin, have been staging a fake feud
that is erabbing all of them plenty of
news copy in a local trade sheet and
one of the L. A. dailies; neither sheet
realizing that it is being ribbed for
that copy, as Cordon and Dubin rate
op spot In the "mutual admira-
tion" society.
•
Carbo and Mamoulian spent the
week-end at La Quinta — or didn't
you know? Anyway — Mamoulian
didn't want to be seen, so he wore a
bright red shirt most of the time!
Cenevieve and Vivian Tobin were
down there, too, and walked to and
from places single file — yea'h, one
behind the other, like they weren't
speaking. No — we don't know why!
•
A lot of the Hollywood stars are
now getting some of their spare
clothes and knick-knacks together and
sending them over to London. Be-
cause they're staging a big benefit
show and auction over there for the
Film Workers, at which the Hollywood
movie lights' belongings will be sold
to the highest bidders for sweet char-
ity.
•
The wife of a Paramount producer
pulled a riotous one recently at a din-
ner party in her home. The girl is
noted for gushing, and when the Dick
Rodgcrs entered the door (several
others having already arrived) she
rushed up to them and gushed, "Oh,
Dick — I'm so glad you're here! Won't
you play the piano for us?"
"Yes!" answered Dick — "as soon
aa I gat my hat and coat off!"
Cry for Help
Paris. — Maybe it's a gag. but
the European Branch of the Ameri-
can Artists Professional League sent
a cablegram to the Secretary of the
Interior last week reading. "Con-
gratulations artists recovery plan.
American artists in Europe request
$100,000 reservation."
Dialogue and Muni
Highlight Picture
"HI. NELLIE "
(Warner Brothers)
Director Mervyn LeRoy
Story by .....Roy Chansler
Screen Play. Aben Frankel
and Sidney Sutherland
Photography Sol Polito
Cast: Paul Muni, Clenda Farrell, Ned
Sparks, Robert Barrat, Kathryn
Sergava, Hobart Cavanaugh, Ber-
ton Churchill, Douglas Dumbrille.
Edward Ellis, Paul Kaye, Donald
Meek, Dorothy LeBaire, Marjorie
Cateson, Ceorge Meeker, Harold
Huber, Allen Vincent, Pat Wing,
Frank Reicher, Ceorge Chandler,
Ceorge Humbert.
'Hi, Nellie" brings us a new Paul
Muni, and one that we venture to say
is going to be very popular, probably
far more popular than he has been
in parts making greater demands on
his acting skill.
Here he is a typically breezy, hard-
boiled managing editor, as real and
human as the smell of printer's ink.
It shouldn't be any surprise to dis-
cover that he has qualities of person-
ality and humanness, but we imagine
that to many of his followers who
think only of Muni "the actor" it
will be. And they'll like it.
The picture is a skillful piece of
screen craftsmanship, probably rating
as a darn good programer, no mat-
ter who had played in it, and landing
a shade above that notch because of
the presence of Muni.
The story is the second variation of
the "Lovelorn" theme to come to the
screen. This time. Muni, managing
editor, is assigned to the "Heart-
throb" department as a punishment
for disagreeing with the big boss. As
the department is supposed to be con-
ducted by one "Nellie Nelson." we
get the title for the picture in the
continuous ribbing Muni gets from
his fellow workers — "Hi, Nellie!"
Plenty of authentic newspaper at-
mosphere, a dash or two of gangsters,
and a consistent line of comedy round
out the picture. Topped by a climax
cleverly tricked for suspense.
Muni, of course, is tops. Clenda
Farrell hasn't the opportunities that
usually fall to her lot, but she delivers
with what she is given. Ned Sparks
stands out in a typical Ned Sparks
part. Berton Churchill eats up a
"grouchy boss" type of part in the
manner you would expect him to.
Dorothy LeBaire has a one scene part
that called for a real trouper, and she
comes through nicely. Douglas Dum-
brille does a good near-heavy. The
structure of the story is such that
other parts are minor, but in the War-
ner manner such well-liked faces as
those of Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert
Barrat. Edward Ellis, Ceorge Chand-
ler, Ceorge Meeker, Donald Meek,
Kathryn Sergava, wander in and out
of the action to good effect.
Our own personal bow would go to
Mervyn LeRoy for his direction, and
with special attention to Aben Fran-
kel and Sidney Sutherland for a screen
play that has the marks of crafts-
manship, sparkling dialogue, and a
Col. Max Steiner
Max Steiner is the latest addi-
tion to Covernor Ruby Lafoon's
staff of Colonels. Not only was
he presented with his commission
yesterday, but he was given a large
ovation on the RKO lot and a
speech by B. B. Kahane.
RKO Cameo To
N.Y. Indie Exhibs
New York.- — Following the policy
of unloading any operation that can't
stay in the black, RKO has leased the
Cameo to two independent theatre op-
erators here, Harry Shiftman and Jack
Shapiro.
The house will go to first run policy
for independent pictures, opening with
First Division's "King of Virtue."
Weber Brings Back the
Bacon From Broadway
Returning from a trip to New York.
Harry Weber yesterday announced his
office has signed managerial contracts
with Maria Jeritza, noted opera sing-
er; Jack Benny. Ceorge Jessel. Phil
Baker, Frances Williams, )immy Savo,
William Thiele, Cerman director; Pola
Negri and Fred MacMurray.
Paramount is testing MacMurray,
who is currently appearing in "Ro-
berta" on Broadway.
Hawks Readies 'Century'
Howard Hawks gets in by tram to-
morrow from New York and will go
ahead with the preparation of "Twen-
tieth Century." which he puts into
production at Columbia February 19.
John Barrymore. who has the top spot
opposite Carole Lombard, gets back
from his yacht trip February 1 .
Jules Furthman Robbed
Jutes Furthman, screen writer, was
held up and robbed of $200 worth of
jewelry and cash Monday night while
at work on his own grounds. The
thieves added to the indignity by tak-
ing away the writer's pistol and leav-
ing him bound and gagged. A pass-
ing workman released the victim.
Henigson Adds to Cast
Henry Henigson yesterday closed
three deals for supporting players in
Universal's "If I Was Rich," in which
Lew Ayres stars. Players are Berton
Churchill, Addison Richards and Booth
Howard. They were set by Al Kings-
ton.
Safron East for Talks
Jerry Safron, local Columbia ex-
change head, leaves tonight by train
for conferences with Abraham Mon-
tague, head of the studio's distribu-
tion in New York. Safron will re-
turn in two weeks.
Nothing Exciting in
New B'way Pictures
New York. — Nothing to rave about I
in the new picture attractions sched- i
uled for this week on Broadway.
The English version of "Girls in
Uniform" opens today. Other listings
are: Thursday, Music Hall, "As Hus-
bands Co"; Friday, Rialto, "The
Choul"; Capitol. "Women in His
Life"; Roxy, "Beloved"; Paramount.
"Four Frightened People"; Mayfair,
"Frontier Marshal."
Guild Extras Meet Tonite
Planning to put together the or-
ganization for a Junior Actors' Guild,
the Screen Actors' Guild tonight holds
a meeting at the Women's Club in
Hollywood.
Ann Harding opens the meeting,
with Morgan Wallace as chairman.
Only paid-up members will be per-
mitted to attend and they will elect
five officers and a directorate of six-
teen.
Studio Employees
you can borrow on
Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
in amounts from $10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
Member
California Association of Finance
Companies
f^ssfTftl^'f^ •s^•'!^s6J -^t^^
sense of reality that is a large part of
the picture's appeal. Sol Polito turn-
ed in an Al job on the cameras.
The exhibitor has Muni to sell, plus
good entertainment after they come
in. But don't oversell it and make
them think they're getting a special.
RU$SELL,IVilLLER^
and Company
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exctiange
Ctiicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
Jan. 24. 1934
Page Thre«
RADIO'S 'THE LOST PATROL'
RURDEXED WITH POOR STORY
Talk of Fox-Hearst
Split Dies Quickly
Cast, Photography
And Music Good
"THE LOST PATROL"
(Radio)
Director John Ford
Story by Philip McDonald
Screen Play by Garrett Fort
and Dudley Nichols
Photography by Harold Wenstrom
Music Max Steiner
Cast: Victor McLaglen, Boris Karloff,
Wallace Ford, Reginald Denny,
Alan Hale, Billy Bevan, Howard
Wilson, Sammy Stein.
Everything in Radio's "The Lost
Patrol" is good with the exception of
the story and there is less story than
could be told in a single reel of tell-
ing; as a consequence the dragging out
of the yarn to six or more reels causes
the picture to become quite boresome
before half the length is reached.
But there are some unusually fine
things in the picture. First Max
Steiner's musical score that saves the
picture in more than one spot, then
Harold Wenstrom's photography, set
up with the desert as a background, is
something of great photographic ex-
cellence. Added to this the acting
by the entire cast, all male, topped
by the work of Victor McLaglen, Regi-
nald Denny, Wallace Ford and Billy
Bevan.
The story concerns a British desert
patrol during the late world war that
finds itself lost and the target for
Arab snipers. One by one the patrol
is reduced until finally only the ser-
geant remains. He is saved by an-
other patrol which, roaming the same
section, is attracted to the spot by the
blaze of a burning airplane.
The story is shot full of holes and
has too many inconsistencies to carry
audience attention. John Ford has
done the best possible with the direc-
tion of this slender yarn.
The fact that there is not a woman
in the cast may give you a selling
point, but aside from the dubious
name draws there is little to sell.
'Student Tour* for Bell
MCM has accepted an original story,
"Student Tour," by George Seaton
and Arthur Bloch, staff writers, and
has turned it over to Monta Bell for
production.
Story will probably team jimmy
Durante and Charles Butterworth as a
comedy team.
Birinski Finishes 'Soviet'
Leo Birinski yesterday turned in his
treatment on "Soviet," which Irving
Thalberg is producing for MGM.
Writer will be. given a new assign-
ment soon.
Barondess East to Stage
Barbara Barondess leaves for New
York Saturday. Player intends to line
up a stage engagement when she gets
there.
Brown Tests Don Wood
Clarence Brown yesterday tested
Donald Wood for the role of the
crooner in "Sadie McKee."
Catching Up to Gary
This morning's Examiner gives
Adolph Zukor a break in a picture
with Gary Cooper, Sandra Shaw
and Manny Cohen, but they made
Mr. Zukor stand on a chair in or-
der to get in the picture.
Para-Radio Fail to
Jell on Dover Rd/
Radio was unable to get together
with Paramount on the purchase of
"Dover Road," which the latter stu-
dio owns. Radio wanted this yarn as
ttie next Clive Brook starring vehicle,
but with Paramount's refusal to part
with the property they will make
"Family Man" as Brook's next, as
was originally planned.
Col. Seeks Woman Lead
Columbia is now in its third week
on the hunt for a leading woman for
"Most Precious Thing in Life," de-
termined to hold the production up
indefinitely until a satisfactory player
is obtained. Remainder of the cast
depends upon the choice of the lead-
ing player. Lambert Hillyer directs
uncjer Robert North's supervision.
New York rumors that Fox Movie-
tone and Hearst had split up caused
the long distance phones to Culver
City to buzz yesterday. Ed Hatrick.
Cosmopolitan chief, dismissed the ru-
mors and said they probably arose
through a general cutting down of
staffs that had just been made by both
Fox and Hearst in newsreel depart-
ments.
The Fox-Hearst deal still hjs six
months to go, and is certain of re-
newal with only slight modifications.
Lloyd Adds Dialogue
Director to His Staff
Harold Lloyd yesterday signed Ed-
ward Curtis to assist on dialogue for
"Catspaw," which the star is shaping
up for immediate production on his
Fox release. Curtis is stage director
for Henry Duffy at the El Capitan.
Sam Taylor directs the picture.
The first free-lance player to be en-
gaged is Alan Dinehart, who gets a
featured role in the picture. Both the
Curtis and Dinehart contracts were
negotiated by Small- Landau.
Carewe Finishes Indie ^0**» Brings Beecher Back
Edwin Carewe has finished his first
independent production, "Are We
Civilized," and reports about town are
that William Farnum, veteran star,
has staged the first step in a come-
back with his work in the picture.
Barsha Returns to Col.
Leon Barsha and Columbia has iron-
ed out a deal which brings Barsha back
into the organization as head of the
insert department, from which he re-
signed recently after four years with
the company.
Radio Seeks Madge Evans
Radio is negotiating with MGM for
the loan of Madge Evans for one of
the top spots in "Strictly Dynamite,"
for which Jimmy Durante and Alice
White are already set.
Ceder on Carnett Staff
Ralph Ceder has been assigned to
gag work on "Honor Bright," which
Tay Garnett puts into work January
29 for Paramount. Clem Beauchamp
is assisting Garnett.
H. Mank' Back to MCM
Herman Mankiewicz has returned
to MGM to script the Gene Fowler
novel "Timber Line." Louis Weitzen-
korn and Fowler are working on the
story in the east.
Miriam Hopkins Personals
New York. — Miriam Hopkins goes
the personal appearance route, appear-
ing in a sketch, "The Affairs of Ana-
tole," at the Paramount next Friday.
Levine Arrives Friday
Nat Levine, president of Mascot,
returns to town from a month in New
York Friday. Producer made stops in
Boston and Buffalo on his way back.
Janet Beecher was signed yesterday
for one of the featured parts in George
Arliss' next picture for Twentieth
Century titled "Head of the Family."
Actress scored in "Gallant Lady," her
first picture, and is being brought out
from New Yo/k again for the Arliss
picture. Lew Cantor represented the
player.
Sam Wood to Europe
Sam Wood, accompanied by his
wife, plans to leave for Europe in
June, at the expiration of his MGM
contract. The director is making good
on a long-standing promise to Mrs.
Wood with a three months' vacation
tour.
Thalberg Novel Hits
Sylvia Thalberg's new novel "Too
Beautiful" has sold out its first edi-
tion and is going into a second print-
ing. She is now scripting "Honor
Bright" in collaboration with Austin
Parker at Paramount.
Dvorak Slated For Next
Ann Dvorak is slated for the lead
opposite Richard Barthelmess in "One
Woman's Man," the Gene Towne and
Graham Baker original story, which
will be directed by Alan Crosland for
Warners.
Freund's Next Set
Karl Freund is slated to direct "Man
Who Reclaimed His Head," starring
Claude Rains, as his next picture for
Universal. He will finish "Countess
of Monte Cristo" this Saturday.
Griffith Up at *U' Too
Universal is testing Corinne Griffith
today for the feminine lead opposite
Russ Colombo in "Bachelor Life,"
which Eddie Buzzell will direct.
•What's Wrong With the
Movies?"
By GUY ENDERS
Author of "The Werewolf of Paris"
and "Rhumba"
The greatest of all arts, because it
IS the most immediate in appeal and
the most extensive and inclusive, de-
serves constant criticism.
Stories first: There seem to be sev-
eral of them and they are dead from
exhaustion, having been worked so
often and so hard. Now how about
some new ones? Or shall we have
still another demi-monde mother se-
cretly sacrificing herself for her child?
Or yet another rise story: whoopee!
up we go to the top not only in danc-
ing, crooning, meat-packing, racke-
teering, silver-mining, but even in
blessed-eventing, only to discover that
success is ashes and so back to true
love, mother, or the good old soil.
For a change, then, what about a story
that isn't overalls to tuxedo? How
about those who don't rise? With all
the world stirred to its depths by the
permanent topic of the butcher's bill
can it be that material for a story is
lacking there? Cabin in the Cotton
and Men For Sale were vague stabs in
this direction. We need more and
better.
We've had some good ethnological
pictures, but on the whole there was
always too much faking and the sto-
ries have tended to run info the rut
of true love never runs smooth so
that the love episodes can be filmed
once and for all and for the different
releases all we need to do is substitute
desert backdrops for igloos, or jungle
sets for mountain peaks and clouds
. . . Now what about some genuine
e^Hnological muckraking? Some good
old muck! Since President Roosevelt
has declared that we shan't land any
more marines how about handing the
marines a sock? Or if American im-
perialism is too hot how about a bang-
up picture of French imperialism,
something on the order of Maran's
Batouala. Heaven knows, there's no
lack of books on the subject.
•
Of course if controversial subjects
are definitely out, then any serious
consideration of religion, economics, or
any social topic is taboo and the 1 3
million Negroes in the U. S. had best
make up their minds that their lives
contain no stories as far as the movies
are concerned, just comedy relief and
spirituals. We've done better with
our Indians, though both in numbers
and historical interest the Negroes far
exceed the Indians. . . . Now as to
animal pictures don't you think that
we've had enough snakes fighting ti-
gers? Aren't the lives of bees and
ants and spiders far more exciting?
Read Wheeler and Fabre, etc., and
make up your mind. But such pic-
tures might be too hard to fake. . . .
Then there's sports. If we haven't
had enough football and prizefighting
pictures how about mumblety-peg?
Certainly there are other sports. Vi/hat
are we afraid of here?
•
In my opinion the greatest of all
possibilities in the cinema lies in tfie
(Continued on Page 1 1 )
Page Four
THE
,
Jan. 24. 1934
Lloyd Knechtel m conference with
Basil Dean, all on account of trick
shots in the new Dean pic. . . . Dono-
van Pedelty has been signed to write
the screen play of the next Cracie
Fields story. . . . The London Films
party was a very smart and very ex-
clusive affair, hardly another studio
representative present. . Merle Ober-
on, Diana Napier and Joan Gardner —
a trio of Alex Korda's starlets, gave
the party that certain something. . . .
Judy Kelly surrounded by males, and
Pearl Argyle arrived late, looking ab-
solutely ravishing . . . this is the gal
under contract to Rowland V. Lee —
what are you doing about it, Rowlie —
when does she go to Fox Hills?
•
Paul Perez hitting the high spots
. . . Ralph Ince and wee Georgia Har-
riss on parties with Jimmie Finlayson
. . . Claire Luce with the movie mob
after her work in "Gay Divorce." . . .
s'marvelous the wonderful matinee
business the Walls-Lynn comics pull
in this side; meaning that they're a
hit with young and old. . . The Betty
Astell- Louis Heyward romance has
petered and, incidentally, Betty, who
dances and warbles real well, appears
in musical pics with nary a high kick
or top note; what about it, British
Lion? . . . Hilda Ostrer, one of the
daughters of the Gaumont- British Os-
trers, is playing one of the Injuns in
"Peter Pan."
Pan Berman may have been on va-
cation as far as the press was concern-
ed, but the fact remains, he saw film
agents and catching a lot of British
pics and shows. . . . Otto Ludwig set-
tled down to a house in Victoria, a
stone's throw from the King's Palace,
my deah! . . . Leslie and Janice Row-
son writing Mitzie Cummings. ... It
seems the thing to say to taxi drivers
in American flicks "Drive to the St.
Regis rooms." . . . Phil Holmes tak-
ing a look-see at the deah old Vars-
ity. . . . Freddie Y. Smith scribbling
greetings from Paris . . and Sam Marx
cabled his London friends a Happy
New Year.
•
Herbert Smith made one peach of a
crack about a certain producer's cast-
ing methods this side! . . . you can
guess who! . . . Monty Banks at trade
shows, hatless, shaveless and careless.
. . . Jack Votion hopping around town
at high speed. . . . John Loder now has
a rep as one of the best tailored gents
in society and this gives him double
honors seeing that he cooks the best
meal in town. . . . That little touch at
the end of "Chancellor at Law" when
Barrymore forgets the telephone num-
ber and has to look it up again was a
swell touch. It might have been Bill
Wyler or John — but anyway, here's
handclaps for it. . . . "Accent Makes
the Heart Grow Fonder" said the
Cynic as he passed the Fox lot. . . .
Leslie Howard's brother still gets bows
that aren't for him.
•
One movie house here is having a
"Walt Disney Week" and just show-
ing all the Disney subjects it can! . . .
s'funny how the critics here slam the
indie director, but the boys with the
dough go on slipping-up year after
year with nary a murmur! . . Berthold
Viertel preparing his script for Cau-
mont's called "Little Friend," a child
story after style of "La Maternelle."
. . . One thing that struck us about
"Henry VIM" was the way the cast
wore their costumes, as if thery were
used to wearing them and not as if
just put on for the shot; wish we
could say the same of "Voltaire." . . ■
Leslie Banks will play lead in W. P.
Lipscombe's "Clive of India," new
legit show.
The British Troubles
London. — Sam Harris, editor and
publisher of The Cinema, British daily
trade paper, "gives out" the British
troubles. He mentions:
Our Troubles.
Over-building and over-seating.
Sunday-closing — war fanatics con-
tinue fights.
Disc threats: P.R.S. fees.
Municipal competition continues.
Price-cutting continues.
Public house competition increases.
Press, radio and church continue at-
tacks.
Entertainment tax stifling industry.
Deadheads and long programmes.
Labor council threatens Manches-
ter exhibitors.
Duped film outcry.
Electricity charges ramp.
More licenses — more fees!
Harris may have been writing for
an American trade publication,, for the
troubles of England are the same
troubles here in America.
Architect- Collects for
Use of Chateau Setting
Paris. — Here's a brand new one for
your American picture lawyers. A
French architect has just received a
judgment against a picture company
because the producers used a chateau
near Antibes as a background for a
picture. The architect claims such use
makes a "studio setting" and he is
entitled to recompense. Secured an
injunction stopping the picture in a
Paris theatre and a judgment for ten
thousand francs.
Plan 12 Pics in Canada
Toronto. — In the near future a stu-
dio will be built in Ottawa by an or-
ganization being formed by J. R.
Booth, part owner of the Film Labora-
tories of Canada, Ltd. This new pro-
ducing company will make twelve
features for British film quota. Mr.
Booth is being represented in the
United States by Arthur Gottlieb of
the DuArt Laboratories.
'Holy Year' Is Filmed
Rome. — American state righters
will probably be interested in a pic-
ture that was made here giving the
highlights of the "Holy Year" and the
pilgrimages from all over the world to
the Vatican. The film, which is a
talkie, is now being edited for sub-
mission to the Pope.
American Pics Still
Hold Paris Screens
Paris. — An interesting slant on the
French market is given by the pictures
at local houses for the current week.
Out of thirty-four leading theatres,
eighteen are screening American made
pictures; with the remaining sixteen
divided as follows: French, seven;
English, three; Russian, two; German
two; French-German, one; Austrian,
one.
French Financing for
Paramount Subsidiary
Paris. — Indications that the French
Paramount company may secure inde-
pendence from the American organi-
zation are seen in the fact that the
new production program at the plant
will probably be financed by a ten mil-
lion franc loan from French sources.
Shooting on the new pictures will
start in February.
Reinhardt Successor Quits
Berlin. — The man selected by the
Nazis to succeed Max Reinhardt is
now also out of a job, Hanns Johst
having decided he could do little with
the job of director of the Prussian
State Playhouse. Financially and ar-
tistically the Berlin stage is sinking to
new lows.
Levy Rides a Hobby
Paris. — jean Benoit-Levy, director
of the most sensational European suc-
cess this year, "La Maternelle," has
gone the other extreme and presented
a picture at the Sorbonne showing all
the details of an appendix operation.
Swiss to Produce Pics
Zurich. — A company with a capital
of two and a half million Swiss francs
is planning domestic production here.
A studio will be built and French and
German technicians imported until
Swiss labor can be developed.
'II Duce' Offers Cups
Rome. — The International Film Ex-
position is scheduled for Venice to
take the entire month of August.
Mussolini is offering tvjo precious cups
for the best Italian and foreign film
shown.
Korda Aims High on Next
London. — Alexander Korda plans to
shoot the works, $250,000 on his
production of the H. G. Wells futur-
istic story, "Whither Mankind." He
will have the personal cooperation of
the famous writer.
Austrians Peeved at Nazis
Vienna. — Austrian film makers are
planning reprisals against German pic-
ture imports as a result of an anti-
Austrian attitude being taken by the
Nazi folk.
'Wandering Jew' Banned
Budapest. — The British Gaumont
production "The Wandering Jew," has
been banned from Hungary by the
censors.
Spain Cuts Cantor
Madrid. — "The Kid From Spain"
took it on the chin here from the cen-
sors and is pretty well emasculated for
the public.
REVIEW OF LATEST
FOREIGN FILMS
•THE SURPRISES OF THE SLEEPING"
(S.A.P.E.C.-European Fox)
Screen Play and Dialogue. .Alex Madis
Direction Charles Anton
Artistical Supervision Fred Bacos
Musical Score Joseph Szulo
and Andre Hornez
Cast: Florelle, Claude Dauphin, Lou-
vigny, LeGallo, Oleo, Jeanne
Cheirel.
Paris. — Here is the first picture to
be made in Europe under its new ar-
rangement with a subsidiary, S. A. P. E.G.
Frankly, though it rates as giving av-
erage satisfaction, it is disappointing
when one considers what was expected
from a French film made with Ameri-
can supervision.
The theme is the old operetta
stand-by — the girl who receives night-
ly visits in her compartment from a
man whom she thinks her fiance, but
who is really a prince in disguise.
It needed a lighter touch, and more
originality in the telling.
The cast turns in a fine job, par-
ticularly Florelle and Jeanne Cheirel,
and good music helps.
"MIQUETTE AND HER MOTHER"
(Diamant-Berger ProducHan)
Direction D. B. Maurice
Supervision of.. ..Henri Diamant-Berger
From Play by —
R. de Flers and G. de Gaillavet
Music by Jean Lenoir
Cast: Michel Simon, Roland Toutain,
Blanche Montel, Jeanne Cheirel,
Alerme.
Paris. — "Miquette and Her Moth-
er" will have little interest for Amer-
ica, and not much more for Europe.
It is only worth reviewing because an
outstanding cast of names is present
and struggles hard to do their best
with poor direction.
The stage show from which it is
taken was a big hit here in the pre-
war days, and is remembered for pep
in action and dialogue. But the screen
version is long drawn out, and below
par in sound and photographic quality.
Czechos Crab Holland
Rotterdam. — It looks as though
Czechoslovakian films may take the
market in Holland and Belgium pre-
viously the property of the Germans
A group of important Dutch importers
are now working out a deal with
Czecho producers.
♦U' Handles Henry Vlir
Berlin. — Universal has taken over
the distribution of the Korda British
picture, "Henry the Eighth," for Ger-
many. Advance interest indicates the
subject will probably click as well here
as in the rest of Europe.
French Active in Italy
Paris. — French producers are show-
ing increased activity in picture mak-
ing in Italy. Among others Abel
Gance will produce in Rome a French
and Italian version of "The Eleventh
Symphony" for Caesar Films.
Nazis Protect Extras
Berlin. — The Nazi Government is
protecting professional extras with
strict rule against the hiring of non-
professionals without special permits,
the latter being very hard to get.
My Appreciation
to the Staff and Cast for
their splendid coopera-
tion in the making of
//
STRANGE HOLIDAY
A PARAMOUNT PRODUCTION
11
Mitchell Leisen
DIRECTOR
Management
SCHULBERC-FELDMAN AND CURNEY
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STRANGE
HOLIDAY
A PARAMOUNT PRODUCTION
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GUY STANDING
AS
DUKE LAMBERT
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STRANGE
HOLIDAY
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HELEN WESTLEY
AS
STEPHANIE
MANAGEMENT
FERD SIMON
Palace Theatre BIdg.
New York Cify
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STRANGE
HOLIDAY
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B
GLADYS \eHMAN
"* In collaboration with
MAXWELL ANDERSON
u
STUANCE
HOLIDAY
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SCORERS
Sigmund Krumgoldand
Maurice Lawrence
COMPOSERS, COMPILERS
and ORCHESTRATORS
John Leipold, Milan Roder
Bernard Kaun and Herman Hand
PARAMOUNT
RECORDING
ORCHESTRA and
CONSTANTINE
BAKALEINIKOFF
Gratefully Acknowledging Your Musical Efforts
NATHANIEL FINSTON
GENERAL MUSIC DIRECTOR
Paramount Productions, Inc.
CHARLES LANG
PHOTOGRAPHED
»
STUANCE
HOLIDAY
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HANS DREIER
AND
ERNST FECTE
ART DIRECTORS
]»n. 24, 1934
Page Eleven
OPEN FORUM
GUILD READY TO TAKE
OVER CREDITS PRORLEM
Hollywood Reporter:
I wish to object to an erroneous
news item in your issue of January 16,
1934. I refer to "New York" despatch
on page four, to the effect that Mr.
Harry Behn "is preparing a script from
Philip Stevenson's story of The Amer-
ican' " to be filmed by Leonie Knoed-
ler Productions, Inc.
Whoever sent you this report sent
you entirely false imformation, as you
could have noted had you referred to
your issue of December 30, 1933,
page four. The facts are that I have
been contracted both to write the
script and to direct the shooting of a
film dealing with the Pueblo Indians,
based on an original story by Philip
Stevenson. The title of the story is
not, and never has been, "The Ameri-
can." It is called "Pueblo" and it was
written by Mr. Stevenson without col-
laboration. Mr. Behn submitted some
story ideas and suggestions, which may
or may not appear in the finished film,
but he was never at any time engaged
to write the screen treatment or the
shooting script. I am writing the screen
treatment myself, and when it is fin-
ished I shall write the shooting script
together with Henwar Rodakiewicz,
my assistant.
I request that you print this letter
in order to rectify any false impres-
sions that your readers may have gain-
ed from your news item of January 16.
Respectfully yours,
SEYMOUR STERN.
New York
(Continued from Page 3)
germ revealed by the Three Little Pigs.
The possibilities in the field of the
colored cartoon have not been either
remotely tapped or even realized. We
have now the means of bringing all
the world of unphotographical fact
and fancy to life, to vivid, audible
life. I predict that in this field vast
gushers will be found some day. . . .
Then there are historical pictures.
What would you say to one that was
not merely a costumed love affair?
No, I've nothing against love, but
these United States contain some sixty
million people who are not adolescents
any longer, who can't get terribly ex-
cited any more about love whether
free or for sale.
Then there are settings. Must they
always be realistic? Except in cer-
tain musical comedies we've had no
motion picture scenic designing, and
yet here are great and powerful pos-
sibilities. To the movies the whole
world, real and unreal, and all the
ideas and all the arts and all the peo-
ples and lands of the universe from
the dawn of time until the end of
time, are legitimate subjects. Why
not move in and take possession? . . .
We need more experimental films.
They flop, yes, but they give us an
occasional masterpiece; moreover,
without such groping there can be no
advance. . . . Yes, great films, mar-
velous actors, wonderful settings, epics
and what not else. Sure, we're full
of superlatives, but going a hundred
miles a minute on a treadmill is stand-
ing still whether it makes you dizzy
or not.
More war clouds are gathering over
the Screen Writer's Guild-Academy
battlegrounds.
Ignoring the Academy, which has
heretofore claimed the responsibility
for keeping a close check on screen
credits, the Screen Writers' Guild yes-
terday announced that it would in-
vestigate the screen credit situation as
it affects writers and hold hearings
with all writers, including non-mem-
bers, with a view to compiling a list
of writer demands on that score.
Up to Date Figures on
New York Circuits
New York. — Sixty-eight houses
comprise the largest circuit now op-
erating in the New York metropoli-
tan territory and they all belong to
Loew's. Next in line come Stanley-
Fabian with 55 houses; RKO follows
with 53; Skouras, 52; Randforce, 45;
Prudential and Playhouse, 31; Sprin-
ger and Cocalis, 23; Walter Reade and
Century, 21 each; Consolidated and
Manhattan, 19 each; Brandt Theatres,
16; isle Theatrical, 14; Paramount,
12; and Warner, 4.
Competish on Make-Up
Competition in the make-up field
is seen with the entry of the DeLong
Studios into active bidding for pic-
tures coming up. The DeLong out-
fit has been in the make-up business
for twelve years, but only recently
with such pictures as "Queen Chris-
tina" made a real play for pictures.
Berlin Song for 20th' Pic
New York. — "Gallant Lady," one
of the latest of Irving Berlin, Inc., will
supply the major portion of the mu-
sical background for the opening of
"Gallant Lady" at the Rivoli Theatre.
Fred Ahiert and Edgar Leslie compos-
ed both the lyrics and the music.
B & K in Toledo
Toledo.- — ^Balaban and Katz is re-
ported to have first call on the ac-
quisition of the Paramount holdings
in Toledo. They are the Paramount
and Princess theatres, which have been
managed by John Balaban.
East for 'Queer People'
Carroll Graham left for New York
by plane Monday to assist his brother,
Garrett, and John Floyd in the drama-
tization of their novel, "Queer Peo-
ple." Play will be produced Feb. 1 1
Rosenblatt at Studios
(Continued from Page 1 )
he would find time to talk directly to
representatives of the various creative
groups.
Il is understood that appointments
have been made for the latter part of
the week for representatives of the
lATSE, the ASC and various crafts-
men groups that are anxious for a few
minutes of the Administrator's ear.
Late last night Rosenblatt and his as-
sistant, Morris Legendre, were closet-
ed in their Beverly Wilshire rooms
studying the results of the day's ques-
tioning, and with orders to allow
neither phone calls nor visitors.
The announcement, following a
meeting of the Guild's board Monday
night, is regarded as another challenge
to the Academy.
Through its investigation, it is
claimed, the writer organization is
seeking to grab official supervision
over the relations between the sce-
narists and the producers. Samuel Or-
nitz. Guild firebrand, has been ap-
pointed chairman of the credit com-
mittee, which includes Alice D. G.
Miller, Lester Cohen, Winifred Dunn,
Arthur Kober and John Goodrich.
New York*s Assistant
Directors Elect Officers
New York. — The Association of
Assistant Directors operating in the
metropolitan territory has a new slate
of officers. It follows: Fred Scheld.
president; George Cline, vice-presi-
dent; Dan Nadel, recording secretary;
Saul Harrison, financial secretary; Joe
Nadel, chairman of the board; and the
following also on the board of direc-
tors: Ben Schwab, Jack Delaney, Joe
Bannon, Walter Sheridan.
Lance Joins H. & S.
Hoffman-Schlager, Inc. yesterday
signed Leon Lance, formerly with
George Ullman, as an associate. This
is in line with an expansion program
started two weeks ago by the new
organization with the engaging of
Fritz Tidden to handle the story de-
partment.
Build Frisco' Cast
William Demorest, Douglas Dum-
brille, Robert Barrat, Gordon West-
cott, Hugh Herbert, Arthur Byron and
Charles Wilson are the latest additions
to the cast of "Gentleman, from San
Francisco," which Wilhelm Dieterle
is directing.
Armeta in 3 for Doane
Henry Armetta is going to make
three Warren Doane shorts this year.
The first of the series is now in pro-
duction under the direction of James
W. Home and will be titled "Hot and
Bothered."
Sergava Up for Howard Pic
Warners are testing Kathryn Ser-
gava for the feminine lead opp>osite
Leslie Howard in his first picture on
that lot, "British Agent," which will
be directed by Michael Curtiz.
73 Apply to A.S.C.
The American Society of Cinema-
tographers reports that yesterday, fol-
lowing the organization's open meet-
ing on Monday, 73 applications for
membership were received.
Big Order for United
Twentieth Century has placed with
United Costumers an order for hand-
ling by the latter of "The Firebrand."
It is one of the largest costume con-
tracts of the year.
Webb-Peterson
Jerry Webb, assistant to Al Werker
on "Rothschild," and Miss Helen
Peterson will be married Saturday.
Orchestras Pile Up
Crosses On Tours
Indicative of the growing interest
in that branch of the entertainment
business, five leading orchestras limit-
ing their activities to the West Coast
during 1933 rolled up a gross of
$800,000, according to the figures of
the Music Corporation of America,
which manages orchestras throughout
the country.
The five bands are Guy Lombardo's,
Ted Fiorito's, Gus Arnheim's, Jay
Whidden's and Anson Weeks'.
'Sequoia* Back Again
MGM placed "Sequoia" back into
work yesterday under the direction of
Chester Franklin. Franklin was origi-
nally on the picture with Nick Grinde,
but is now on it alone, as Grinde is
tied up on one of the units of "Tar-
zan and His Mate."
Salvage 'Sea Girl'
Radio has signed Gouverneur Mor-
ris to write the script on "Sea Girl,"
the salvage of the Drumgold-Shackle-
ford South Seas expedition which Shir-
ley Burton is producing. Otto Brower
directs and Joel McCrea has the top
spot.
Leisen Returns to job
Mitchell Leisen returned from New
York yesterday, having made a fast
hop to get production data on "Mur-
der at the Vanities." Picture which
he directs goes into work February 5
at Paramount.
Invincible Signs Grey
Maury Cohen signed Shirley Grey
yesterday for the top spot in his next
Invincible picture, "Birds of a Feath-
er." Frank Strayer directs.
Majors in Line on Code
(Continued from Page 1 )
In addition to the distributors and
producers now on the dotted line, as-
sents have been received from 4502
exhibitors.
Among the independent producers
who forwarded their assent to the
code were Grantland Rice, Elmer Clif-
ton, Warren Doane, Movietone News,
Pathe News, Mascot Pictures, Bray,
Screenart, Sol Lesser, Harold Auten,
Fleischer Studios, Walt Disney, Larry
Darmour, Louis Lewyn and Monogram.
Individuals signing included Charles
Chaplin and Harold Lloyd.
W. P. Farnsworth, who represent-
ed Rosenblatt at the meeting, had the
doubtful pleasure of accepting service
in the test case against the NRA
brought by the Congress Theatre,
Newark.
The appointment of five additional
members for the Committee on Agents
was laid over until Sol Rosenblatt's
return from the Coast.
A committee composed of Ray John-
ston, Felix Feist and George Schaeffer
will draw up fire regulations for ex-
changes.
Close to a thousand suggestions
have been received for nominations
to the local zoning and grievance
boards. A committee composed of Ed
Kuykendall, Charles O'Reilly, Sidney
Kent. George Schaeffer, Ray Johnston
and Nathan Yamins will start picking
selections this Friday.
,
GRAND MAXRNUR
is proud to be able to offer its patrons the
product of
MARNIER-LAPOSTOLLE
including the truly finest Cognac, aged for
years; the superior Cherry-Cognac and the
Marnier Cordials, made with a real brandy
base, in addition to that king of all cordials,
Grand Marnier "Cordon Rouge."
This fine merchandise, together with the
best that can be had in fine Wines and
Spirits, is on our shelves awaiting your
inspection.
THE VEMDOME
6666 Sunset Blvd.
HO-1666
*•• KM
% READING DEPT. ^ .
CULVER CITY, CALIF. /^
Vol. XrX, No. 12. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, January 25, 1934
^RC$y^ ClfARS THE AIR
•THIS business will never be able to
get on its feet right until something
is done about the segregation of pro-
grams in such manner that audiences
will have an idea of the quality of
pictures they are going to see.
It's a pretty bad condition when an
exhibitor shows a picture one day that
cost from $250,000 to $1,000,000 to
produce and the very next day shows
one that cost less than $20,000. Cer-
tainly the expensively made picture
will have some entertainment, will be
given a good production, will have in-
teresting people and as bad as it may
be, the audience gets some run for its
money. But with the cheap quickie,
that's another story altogether.
Don't take from the above that we
are for the elimination of the cheap
picture, the quickie, the product of
the independent producer. Certainly
not, there is a market for that prod-
uct, always has been and always will
be. But Mr. Exhibitor should not
charge the same admission, if he must
play both types of pictures, for the
cheapie as he does for the big, expen-
sively made, production. And many of
them should not be run in the same
theatre.
What would you think if you went
into the Metropolitan Opera House,
expecting to see a Metropolitan pro-
duction only to be greeted with a Billy
Minsky burlesque show? How long do
you think the Met would last with
such showmanship? And suppose you
dropped into Radio's big Music Hall
and saw a serial, a bunch of cheap
shorts and one of those $15,000
quickies?
There is a market and a theatre for
pictures of any type and cost; but an
exhibitor playing one type of a pro-
gram should not be permitted to play
the other, IF he charges the same ad-
mission for both. Such exhibition
takes advantage of ticket buyers and
such advantages do nothing for the
advancement of this business.
Exhibitors have to be forced into
such action, so it then becomes the
work of the distributors to insist on a
type of showmanship that will not
only bring people into the theatres but
give them a run for their money.
Consol. Lab. Backs
New N.Y. Producer
New York. — Consolidated Lab's
plans to back picture production are
taking shape. They have just closed
a deal with "Ivan Art Productions"
and will underwrite the production of
four to six pictures at the Biograph
studios. Budgets will be between
$60,000 and $75,000.
Release is not announced, but it is
understood here that as part of his
out-of-court settlement with the ma-
jor producers on an anti-trust suit
Abramson was guaranteed a definite
amount of circuit bookings on any pic-
tures he makes in the next year.
"Comedy of Life," written by
Abramson, is announced as the first
production.
''Not Concerned With Salary
Limitations" He Says^Regrets
Stories Making Zanuck Target
Sol Rosenblatt, caught up on his sightseeing, used last night's
press conference to clear the air on a number of false impres-
sions that have been created by recent headlines. Two things
worried him. First, the idea that his visit had anything to do
with plans for salary limitations in the
business. Second, the feeling that the
papers in playing up his visit with
Darryl Zanuck had made that producer
a target for all the salary raiding talk.
Regarding the salary limitation
stories, the Administrator made the
position of the NRA authorities clear.
"The Code Administration," he said,
(Continued on Page 6)
Para, and Cooper
Get Together Again Thirteen Weeks at
$5000 for Marx Bros.
A deal that will return Gary Cooper
to the Paramount fold for another ser-
ies of pictures is ready for signing due
to confabs between Adolph Zukor and
jack Moss, representing Cooper.
Cooper still has one picture to go
on his last deal and this new contract
will dove-tail with that production.
Arch Reeve Departs
Arch Reeve left last night for New
York to assume his position in charge
of the Fox Eastern publicity depart-
ment. Gabe York, who replaced Reeve
here in charge of the Fox West Coast
publicity, arrived two days ago.
Fox Tags Harry Creen
Fox yesterday closed a two-picture
deal with Harry Green, dividing him
between its two plants. He goes in-
to "Cold Rush of 1934" for Sol Wurt-
zel and "Redheads" for Jesse L. Lasky.
Al Rosen negotiated.
New York. — Those reports about
the Marx Brothers getting $4000 a
week for radio work were just about
one grand shy of the final figure. The
deal i? practically set now through
Danny Winkler and the Joseph Katz
agency for the brothers to do thirteen
weeks at $5000 per appearance.
The American Oil Company will be
the sponsor and there's an additional
option for thirteen more weeks tagged
on to the contract.
Keene Thompson Bereaved
Roberta Keene Thompson, six-year-
old daughter of Keene Thompson, died
yesterday after a siege of pneumonia.
Wallace Leaves N. Y. Sat.
New York. — Richard Wallace leaves
for the coast Saturday after a round
of the shows here.
MAJOR CIRCUITS IX RAXD
OIV INDIE SEX PICTURES
With Sidney Kent's fine Italian
hand behind the move, the major cir-
cuits of the country are putting in an
unofficial censorship that is at least
going to bar the market to the indie
with ideas that he can make a for-
tune out of a super-sexy picture.
The fact became known through
efforts of the Bryan Foy organization
to get circuit action on "Elysia," the
nudist picture, and their discovery
that the New York controlled chains
weren't even interested in the box
office figures for the picture.
Distributors figure that 40 percent
of the possible real business on a pic-
ture is from circuit buys, as the cir-
cuits expect that they can kill off
the sensational sexer by their closed
doors. Back of the action is the de-
sire to impress the Code Administra-
tion with the industry's ability to cen-
sor itself.
Para. Makes Annual
Of Ether Picture
New York. — After checking the
figures on "The Big Broadcast" Para-
mount has decided to make the pro-
duction of an all-radio personality pic-
ture an annual affair. The sequel to
the Bing Crosby opus will be called
"The Big Broadcast of 1934" — which
puts Paramount in line with Fox on
their "Follies" on having annual edi-
tions.
Jules Epstein, New York writer, has
been assigned to start drafting a
script.
Mae West's Court Duties
Delay It Ain't No Sin'
Production on the Mae West pic-
ture, "It Ain't No Sin," will not get
under way at Paramount next week,
as was planned. Miss West, who is
writing the script herself, has been
kept busy at court for the past week
and has been unable to finish the
script. The date set for production
now is February 1 2. George Raft is
slated for the male lead and Leo Mc-
Carey will direct.
LaemmIe and Foreign
Chief Will Talk in N.Y.
Carl LaemmIe will meet Max Fried-
land, Universal's European head, when
he gets to New York and discuss the
German situation of the company.
Friedland has already left Europe en
route to New York. LaemmIe stops
off at President Roosevelt's birthday
party in Washington before arriving at
his Eastern offices.
Readers Meet Thursday
The Screen Writers' Guild is spon-
soring a meeting for the story readers
tonight at the offices of the Guild.
Hollywood Center Building.
Jack Cohn Comes West
New York. — Something doing on
the Columbia front — Jack Cohn left
for Hollywood yesterday on a sudden
call.
2
;AM COSLOW "^''i^^'793:"' "This Little Piggie-
"From 8 Girls"
(In Collaboration)
Page Two
THE
Jan. 25, 1934
TitffferoiCTilR
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E, WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1S79.
. Haw! haw! On the front page of
the N. Y. Mirror the other day was a
huge picture of Katharine Hepburn
with her "secret groom," Ludlow
Smith — only the feller in the picture
was really Leiand Hayward — both of
whom were snapped all unawares! . .
Cards from the Frank Joyces who are
evidently in Genoa, Italy — and one
from Gene Raymond in St. Moritz —
tough life! ... The Bill Hearsts, Bar-
bara Bennett, with Pa Bennett, the
Ric Cortezes and Eddie Hillman cele-
brating something at the Cotton Club
until dawn Wednesday. . . . Claire
Trevor is back in town which fact puts
Vic Qrsatti back to normal. . . Arthur
Kober has himself three months leave
and goes to Spain next week- — there's
a movie there he wants to see.
'• ■ ■
The Joel McCreas are pursuing priv-
acy to the point of barring telephones
at their ranch-house. . . . Nance
O'Neill (an ACTRESS, you dope!) is
arriving for a stage production of
"Double Doors" here. . . . Ramon No-
varro is in the throes of writing a play
which he will produce here. . . Steffie
Duna and Francis Lederer have had
dinner together every night since his
play opened — she "gets dinner" for
him. . . . When the phone rings at
Margaret Lindsay's, she asks. "Dick or
Bifl.'" . , . Una Merkel gave a dinner
for eight lonesome wives the other
night who thought their husbands
were working — but six of them were
later discovered to be at the fights!
. . Gilbert Roland back in town from
his visit to Spain.
•
The last word in honest advertising
IS the sign on a real estate office near
Beverly which reads: "WON'T LAST!
Ten room House" (!) ... Bruce Cabot
is now wearing the loudest coat in
Hollywood. . . . Vivian Gaye gave a
birthday party for Randy Scott last
night. . . . The Tiffany Thayers, Sari
Maritza, the Eddie Sears. Rachel Car-
ton. Manny Wolf, Philip McDonald
among the spaghetti-eaters present.
. . . During some roulette-spinning.
Lloyd Pantages bet on every number
except thirty-one — for a couple of
rolls, and thirty-one came up. He
swooned.
'MYRT AND MARGE "
Bryan Foy-Universal prod.; director. Al Boasberg; writer. Beatrice Banyard.
Mayfair Theatre
Sun: It seems to be a particular misfortune of radio personalities to make their
screen debuts in productions so old-fashioned that they seem quaint. Myrt
and Marge just didn't have much of a break.
Journal: It's a backstage musical that, at the end, turns out to have been a
radio broadcast after all.
Times: After studying their respective talents for more than an hour, one is
apt to conclude that they are peculiarly suited to radio entertaining. This
comment also applies to several others who take part in this offering,
except Ted Healy, and even he evidently found that he must keep his por-
trayal pretty much on a level with the narrative, which rather makes pre-
vious backstage effusions seem highbrow by comparison.
Mirror: They may be highly entertaining to their radio fans. But as movie
performers they are not magnificent. It is certain that movies starring
radio favorites make no attempt to stand on their own feet simply as
movies. Many similar films have been no beher than "Myrt and Marge."
They are designed to give the eager public a quick look at their ether pets.
They succeed in doing that, and nothing more.
News: Despite the fact that the Bryan Foy-Universal production "Myrt and
Marge" is a parade of radio talent, vaudeville headliners and stage per-
sonalities, it is just another backstage musical comedy. It is nothing but
a farce, choppy and lacking pep. Most of the gags are old. Eddie Foy
Jr.'s performance is outstanding."
American: That their movie debut is something of a success if not exactly a
palpable hit may be written down as due as much to the supporting cast
as to their own efforts. As a matter of fact the whole entertainment is
lively enough, providing you throw away the story or regard it merely as
an excuse for the display of cast talent. There is ground for suspicion
that some of the gags may be laid squarely on the doorstep of Al Boas-
berg, who in the gay old days used to sign himself "Frivolous Al." Nev-
ertheless and notwithstanding, Mr. Boasberg pours the oil of song, dance
and witty saying on the hinges of his creaking vehicle in skilled and crafts-
manlike direction.
Posf: It would be hard to attempt any rating of backstage musical shows on the
screen, but to a punch-drunk cinema critic it would seem that "Myrt
and Marge" belongs somewhere along with the Boston Red Sox. Pos-
sibly the radio devotees would feel different about it. At any rate, the
picture doesn't do the movies proud. It is a tortuous rehash of the musi-
cal cycle, shabbily staged and shoddy in direction and acting.
World-Telegram: A stereotyped story, done in an incredibly unimaginative
manner, the film is frequently enlivened by the antics of Ted Healy and
his stooges. Except for their madcap antics I can find nothing in it to
recommend. '
Invincible Moves
From 'U' to Sennett
Maury Cohen, of Invincible Pic-
tures, is leaving the Universal lot and
will produce his pictures hereafter on
the Mack Sennett lot, having conclud-
ed arrangements yesterday with Wal-
ter C. Durst, new general manager of
Sennett studios under the receivership
set-up.
Cohen's first picture on the Sen-
nett lot will be "Birds of a Feather."
with John Miljan. Shirley Grey, Mon-
roe Owsley, Hale Hamilton, Robert
Elliott, Maurice Black and Wilson
Benge. Frank Strayer will direct and
production starts immediately.
Roxy Daughter Called East
Following a test made by Univer-
sal, Beta Bijou, daughter of S. L.
"Roxy" Rothafel. left on a hurried
trip east by plane, receiving word
that her husband is ill. Outcome of
the test decides her returning here on
a try at pictures.
Hart Tours for Ryan
Cedric Hart leaves Sunday on a
month's tour through the south on
some personal business for Phil L.
Ryan. Hart has been handling pub-
licity for the Ryan unit in connection
with its comedies for Paramount.
Masquers Aim High
For 'New Year Revel'
Only a month late. The Masquers
are set to present their "New Year
Revel" at their club, Sunday night.
Purnell Pratt takes charge for the eve-
ning, with the Mills Brothers. Gene
Austin and his band, and Hal LeRoy
slated to appear.
Sketches include "Justice of the
Damned," by Gouverneur Morris, "God
Save the King," by Bruce Bal, "Trial
by Jury," by Raymond Peck, "Castles
in the Air," by Walter Weems, and
"The Thrill of Sinning," by Eddie
Mack.
Coulding Back in Town
Edmund Goulding returned to Hol-
lywood yesterday by plane, after a
hurried trip east to see his wife, who
is ill. He will report to MGM today
to resume direction of "Rip Tide" for
the Irving Thalberg unit. Robert Z.
Leonard substituted for Goulding dur-
ing his absence.
Lasky Tests Cummings
Jesse L. Lasky has arranged for
Constance Cummings to go through
a special screen test with a view to
talking a deal for her appearance in
"Springtime For Henry," which her
husband, Benn W. Levy, is writing.
I
'Show-Off Back to
MCM's Active List
MGM has placed "The Show-Off"
back on its schedule and Lucien Hub-
bard has been handed the job of su-
pervising this production. Charles
Reisner will handle the direction.
The picture was temporarily put on
the shelf a few weeks ago, because
the studio was unable to secure a suit-
able lead at that time. MCM now
has a lead in mind, but is keeping it
quiet for the time being.
CBS Leases Hudson in
New York for Broadcasts
New York. — The Columbia Broad-
casting System has leased the Hudson
Theatre here for one year for the pres-
entation of studio programs; no ad-
mission will be charged. The Colum->
bia will operate the Hudson Theatre
along the same lines as the NBC has
been following at the roof of the Nevv
Amsterdam Theatre.
Lighting Co.'s Merge
New York. — Two major motion
picture lighting companies announced
a merger yesterday, the Motion Pic-
ture Service Company and the Motion
Picture Lighting Company of Long
Island City. Charles Ross, head of the
former company, heads the new or-,
ganization.
Clara Ates Wants Dough
Clara Ates yesterday filed a suit in
Superior Court against her husband;
Rosco Ates, asking for $1,561 per
month separate maintenance on the
grounds of extreme cruelty. Law firm
of Simon and Garbus are representing
Mrs. Ates.
Producer
Wanted!
Organtzation having
profitable world dis-
tribution of better
grade independent
product desires to
contact producer ca-
pable delivering six
productions annually.
Must be financed for
at least one produc-
tion. Will deal with
principals only.
Strictly confidential.
Address
DISTR I BUTOR
c-o Hollywood Reporter
229 West 42nd Street
New York City
I
Jan. 25, 1934
Page Three
RADIO'S 'KEEP 'EM ROLLIIVG'
JVEW IDEA OIV HOR!$E OPERAS
Futile Attempt
With Bad Story
"KEEP EM ROU.INC"
(Radio)
Directed by.. George Archainbaud
Story by Leonard Nason
Screen Play by. .Albert Shelby Levino
and F. McCrew Willis
Photography Harold Wenstrom
Cast: Walter Huston, Frances Dee,
Minna Combell, Robert Shayne,
Frank Conroy, G. Pat Collins.
"Keep 'Em Rolling" proves that
the old ways are the best, at least
where the way of an audience with a
horse opera is concerned. Radio tried
something different in this one, and
so did part of the audience before
the preview was over.
Walter Huston is a sergeant in the
regular army when the tale opens. His
spare time is devoted to drinking,
fighting and Minna Gombell until Rod-
ney enters his life. Rodney is a horse.
From then on his old haunts see
I him no more. He goes on the wagon.
He buys liniment instead of liquor.
When he has to choose between his
sweetheart and his mount Rodney wins
without a struggle.
Comes the war. Rodney covers
himself with glory by dragging a gun
through shell fire, and Huston com-
mits various respectful acts of insub-
ordination to get him medical atten-
tion.
In 1933 Huston is making quite
long speeches in Rodney's greying ear.
Rather than allow Rodney to be sold
at pyblic auction he tears off AWOL
' and the whole thing ends with an
especial order from the War Depart-
ment pensioning the noble nag.
! Huston is distinctly uncomfortable
through much of the film, though he
does do handsomely by a difficult
scene in which he tries to shoot the
horse rafher than let him go to a
strange owner. It is sincere and af-
fecting, but it did not stop them leav-
ing the theatre. Minna Gombell gives
a rousing performance as his girl, and
makes all of her short time on the
screen count. Frances Dee gives real
fire to a speech of indignant protest.
, Production costs must have been low
on this one — a good part of the cast
'' seems to have been levied from Fort
Myer, Well, who said that they aren't
fine soldiers? George Archainbaud's
direction was helpless in the battle
with this tale.
Even making allowances for the
cutting still to be done, "Keep 'Em
Rolling" is one to tell to the marines
to get a horse laugh. Hopeless for
major bookings. They should have
changed the film, and not the title.
*Seven Seas' WiMI Also
Make Studio Pictin-es
Seven Seas Productions, which re-
cently completed "Cane Fire," a South
Seas picture, is today moving into
ouarters at the General Service Stu-
dios preparatory to plans which will
find the company making at least two
studio pictures next year in addition
to one of the location-adventure type.
Beg Pardon
The reviewer of "Hi, Nellie"
glanced hurriedly at the screen
credits and gave a gentleman
named Aben Frankle credit for col-
laborating on the screen play The
name is Abem Finkel.
Let's All Forget
Torgotten Past'
"HER FORGOTTEN PAST "
(Mayfair Pictures)
Director Wesley Ford
Screen Play George Morgan
Photography James Brown, Jr.
Cast: Monte Blue, Barbara Kent, H. B.
Walthall, Eddie Phillips, William
V. Mong, Dewey Robinson.
Take every element that goes to
make a poor picture, mix it with a
short — very short, apparently — bud-
get, and you have "Her Forgotten
Past."
An heiress marries the family chauf-
feur, is disowned. She then learns
her husband is a crook, leaves him.
A year later, believing him dead be-
cause of a newspaper story, she falls
in love with and marries the district
attorney. The expected thing hap-
pens. Election time draws near and
a trap involving the supposedly dead
husband is set for the district attor-
ney. In the anticipated procedure the
trap boomerangs — -but why go on.
The director must take most of the
blame for holding a good set of
troupers down to where they look like
six fiams walking through six sets.
Which is just about what the pic-
ture is.
Add to 'Finishing School'
Mary Jordan, sister of Dorothy, and
Rose Coghlan are the latest additions
to the cast of "Finishing School" at
Radio. Rehearsals on this picture
start today and shooting begins to-
morrow.
The cast includes Ginger Rogers,
Billie Burke, Mitzi Green, Frances Dee,
Bruce Cabot, Beula Bondi and Mar-
jorie Lyteil. Wanda Tuchock and
George Nicholls will co-direct.
Fetchet in MCM's '13'
MGM has arranged a deal to bor-
row Stepin Fetchet from Fox for a
featured spot in the Marion Davies
picture, "Operator 13." Fetchit winds
up his first role for the Westwood
plant in "David Harum" in the near
future.
Warners Lift on Two
Warners yesterday lifted the options
on Hobart Cavanaugh and Allen Jen-
kins. Jenkins has been on the con-
tract list for about two years and Cav-
anaugh is going into the end of his
first year.
June Knight Clicks
June Knight is being held over at
the Miami Beach and Tennis Club in
Miami for a third week. Universal
yesterday gave permission to her
agent, Leo Morrison, for her to re-
main there for another week
Allied Lawyers Find
Snag for NRA Code
New York. — Allied States, the in-
dependent exhibitor organization, stat-
ed today that they had legal authority
for declaring that contrary to NRA
declarations, individual assent to the
code is not required as a condition to
enable theatres to appear before clear-
ance and zoning boards.
The Code Authority had stated that
unless an exhibitor signed an unquali-
fied assent to the code he was out in
the cold as far as help on settlement
of local disputes. Allied's attorneys
say this requirement is necessary for
appearance before the grievance
boards, but not in clearance and zon-
ing matters.
'Widow' Fern Lead
MGM Headache
MGM is having difficulty settling
on the feminine lead for the Maurice
Chevalier picture "Merry Widow,"
which Ernst Lubitsch will direct.
The script was written with jean-
ette MacDonald in mind, but the dif-
ference between terms offered by the
studio and those wanted by Miss Mac-
Donald is holding up the deal.
There has been some talk around
the studio of bringing Evelyn Laye over
from England for the spot if a deal is
not made with Miss MacDonald.
Cordon in Gland's Shoes
Since Warner Oland is in Mexico
on a vacation and preferred to rema-n
there rather than return for a picture,
MGM yesterday assigned C. Henry
Gordon to fill the role planned for
Oland in "In Old Louisiana." George
Seitz directs and Lucien Hubbard pro-
duces.
Radio Changes a Title
Radio has changed the title of "So
You Won't Sing, Eh?" to "Sing and
Like It." The picture has just been
completed by Director William A. Sei-
ter, who now swings over to prepa-
rations on "Blarney Smith."
Para. Tags Barbara Shields
New York — "Double Doors," which
closed last week, has contributed at
least one player to Hollywood. Bar-
bara Shields of the cast leaves in the
near future for Hollywood under a
Paramount contract to appear in the
screen version of the play.
Sally Imports Exploiteer
Dave Lipton, formerly with Balaban
and Katz, arrived by plane yesterday
from New York to handle the exploi-
tation for Sally Rand's appearance at
the Paramount Theatre. He will also
take charge of her road tour.
Pickford Now Up
For Radio Deal
New York. — Mary Pickford is out
for the money these days. On top of
her successful personal appearances
she IS dickering with radio sponsors.
As a semi-tryout of her radio value it
is understood she will go on the air
soon with Waring's Pennsylvanians
program.
The industry's "Mary" is not after
the money so much as she is anxious
to reestablish herself with the Ameri-
can public, and she figures radio a
valuable addition to the personal ap-
pearances. All of it is in preparation
for a big picture next year.
'Christina' Opening
At Chinese on Feb. 2
Sid Grauman has set Friday, Feb-
ruary 2, for the premiere of the Greta
Garbo picture "Queen Christina" at
the Chinese Theatre. Radio's "Little
Women" will wind up its run this
Sunday, January 28, unless the last
minute rush at the box office requires
another extension of the picture. In
that case the Garbo picture will be
set back another week.
Grauman Named to Head
President's Ball Croup
Sid Grauman yesterday was appoint-
ed chairman of the entertainment
committee for President Roosevelt's
birthday dinner to be given both at
the Biltmore Hotel and the Shrine
Auditorium on Tuesday, January 30.
Grauman in turn appointed a commit-
tee to contact all the stars in pictures
for this occasion.
The committee appointed consists
of Perry Lieber, chairman; Paul Snell.
Carlyle Jones, Ham Beall, Harry Brand,
Cliff Lewis. John LeRoy Johnston and
Joseph Reddy.
Bonus Handed Caesar
With Universal accepting his script
without making any changes, Arthur
Caesar was rewarded with a bonus by
the company for the speed with which
he turned out "Elizabeth and Mary"
for Lowell Sherman. Writer also has
been handed a run-of-fhe-production
deal to write dialogue on the set with
the actor-director.
Hoblitzelle on Para Board
New York. — Three names have now
been placed on the Paramount Ad-
visory Theatre Board, with the addi-
tion yesterday of Karl Hoblitzelle to
handle the Southwest. N. L. Nathan-
son and E. V. Richards were the first
two to be named.
Purcell on U' Script
Gertrude Purcell was signed yes-
terday by Universal to write the screen
play of "Human Side," which will be
directed by Eddie Buzzell under the
supervision of Eph Asher. The Schul-
berg-Feldman and Gurney office made
the deal.
Moss on Way to Mexico Setting Morris Straight
New York — Irving Moss, of the Fox
home office foreign department, is off
on a four weeks tour to Mexico and
Central America for personal observa-
tion.
Chester Morris goes east for Cfnes-
ter Erskine's "Frankie and Johnny,"
which United Artists releases, and not
a Rowland and Brice picture as re-
ported yesterday.
H AHHV
LACHNAN
DIRECTED
r
WAY
44
FOR
UNIVERSAL
ft
-another UNIVERSAL HIT
CO-STARRINC
GLORIA STUART
and
ROGER PRYOR
Featuring Three Tuneful Hits
by
Cottier, Conrad and Mitchell
"LETS PUT TWO AND TWO TOCETHER"
"MISS 1934"
"I LIKE IT THAT WAY"
A STANLEY BERGERMAN
PRODUCTION
In the cast . . .
Marian Marsh,
Shirley Crey,
Merna Kennedy,
Noel Madison,
Mickey Rooney,
Clarence Wilson,
Lois January
and 40
Corgeous Cirls
Page Six
l^ilPOIRTiPi
Jan. 25, 1934
Warners In a Jam ]\RA ISSUES MAIWAL FOR
Over Key' Lead COMPLAIXT ADJUSTMENTS
'Rosy' Clears the Air
(Continued from Page 1 )
With negotiations between War-
ners and Colin Clive in a jam owing
to a run-of-the-play contract which
the British player has in the Katharine
Hepburn play, "The Lake," in New
York, the studio was reported yester-
day as having signed Clive Brook for
3 top spot in "The Key," sharing bill-
ing honors with Kay Francis and Wil-
liam Powell.
The company has been holding off
putting the picture into work hoping
upon Colin Clive's securing his release,
but decided it could not wait any
longer.
•U' Tests Three for Role
Universal yesterday tested Frank
McHugh, Bill Demarest, vaudeville
comedian, and Ted Blair, New York
stage actor, for the comedy lead in
the William Anthony McCuire play,
"If I Were Rich." Edward Ludwig
will direct, with Lew Ayres in the
top spot.
Snell and Sauber Finish
Earl Snell and Harry Sauber turned
in their script on "If I Were Rich"
yesterday and checked off the Uni-
versal payroll list. Edward Ludwig
puts it into work Monday.
Claire Dodd Extended
Warners punched Claire Dodd's tic-
ket yesterday, extending the player's
stay on the company's payroll another
six months. She is in "Hit Me
Again." Bren-Orsatti handle her.
Donaldson on Radio Pic
Radio yesterday signed Walter Don-
aldson to write the song "Feeling
High," which is to be incorporated in
"Strictly Dynamite."
Cottier Short Starts
Archie Cottier is getting "Love De-
tective" under way today. The cast
includes Frank Albertson, Betty Gra-
ble and Tommy Dugan. ,,^
'Elysia' in Hollywood
The Bryan Foy production "Elysia"
opens at the Marcal Theatre on Hol-
lywood boulevard Sunday.
Washington. — President Roosevelt,
follovying his usual rule of getting in
the first punch when a fuss is started,
is cutting the ground from under the
critics of NRA, congressional and oth-
ers. He has caused to be issued by
NRA the "manual for the adjustment
of complaints" in connection with the
establishment of the National Emer-
gency Council under Frank Walker,
former treasurer of the Comerford
theatre circuit as well as of the Na-
tional Democratic Committee. The
manual will apply to the motion pic-
ture business.
The new council boards enter the
'Jim* McQuade, Pioneer
Trade Paper Man, Passes
James S. McQuade, for many years
prominently connected with motion
picture trade papers, is dead in Culver
City. When the Film Index, General
Film house organ, was purchased in
1912 by the Moving Picture World
McQuade became Chicago correspond-
ent for the latter journal. He re-
mained with the paper ten years.
McQuade was a graduate of an Irish
university and for years followed the
teaching profession. A man of bril-
liant attainments, he was a close friend
of George Kleine. William Selig and
George K. Spoor of Chicago, and was
well known in exhibiting circles
throughout the Middle West. He was
about 75 years old.
Iwerks Adds to Staff
Emil Offeman, general manager for
Ub Iwerks animated cartoons, has
signed Earl Hurd, William Wheeler
and Bob Stokes, newspaper cartoon-
ists, as members of the company's
staff.
Carrillo to Denver
Leo Carrillo left by plane last night
for Denver, where he makes a week's
personal appearance at the Orpheum
Theatre. Leo Morrison booked the
player.
Henri De Soto
ANNOUNCES TO HIS FRIENDS THAT HE IS NOW
- at the
CLUB LA BOHEME
8614 SUNSET BOULEVARD
and takes pleasure in announcing to Hollywood
something new in night life activity
MARIE HOLLIS
Featuring
CLAIRE FRANCES
MILDRED STONE
ARTHUR GIBSON
and his Band
EDWARD POPE
Master of Ceremonies
OPEN NIGHTLY FOR DINNER TILL CLOSING
Telephones: OX ford 2990 — CRestview 9203
picture as a buffer between NRA and
industry. All labor boards remain,
however.
The manual sets forth that emer-
gency council state directors are re-
quired to refer complaints to the
proper code authority "unless the
complainant indicates he purposely
filed a complaint with the state di-
rector or that it appears from the sub-
stance of the complaint the Code Au-
thority is alleged to be dominated by
hostile or monopolistic interests."
It further points out that NRA is
an adjustment and not an enforce-
ment agency.
French Caumont Revived
Paris. — The old French company of
"Caumont" — no connection with Brit-
ish Caumont — seems to be getting out
of its financial troubles and may stage
a come-back. The company is in ne-
gotiations with the Ministry of Fin-
ance on plans to liquidate a bank
debt of two hundred million francs.
Johnson Stays at '20th'
Twentieth Century has exercised
the option on Nunnally Johnson's con-
tract for another period. The writer
has just completed the script of the
Ronald Colman picture, "Bulldog
Drummond Strikes Back," which will
be directed by Roy Del Ruth.
3 Codes For Music Boys
Washington. — It takes three codes
to handle the music business. One is
being drafted this week for the popu-
lar music publishers, another for the
standard publishers, and the sheet mu-
sic publishers are included under the
general retail code.
Hugunin Off to Mesa
H. Lee Hugunin left for Mesa, Ari-
zona, last night by plane for a con-
ference with Mack Sennett, for whom
he was formerly production executive.
Sennett is still in bed there recovering
from his recent automobile accident.
Fanchon Royer in N. Y.
New York. — Fanchon Royer is here
arranging finances for her current pro-
ductions. She intends to return to
Hollywood in about three weeks.
Cateson Back to WB
Marjorie Gateson returns from New
York Saturday for a featured role in
Warners' "Fur Coats." The Frank
and Dunlap office handle the player.
O'Brien-Moore Tested
Erin O'Brien-Moore is being tested
by Warners as a possible picture bet.
She has just finished playing the lead
in "Yoshe Kalb" on Broadway.
Mayfair Party Feb. 3
The second Mayfair party of this
season will be held on Saturday, Feb-
ruary 3, at the Los Angeles Biltmore
Hotel.
Para. Signs Kit Carlisle
New York. — Kitty Carlisle, New
York player, under contract to Para-
mount, left for the coast yesterday.
"is only concerned with minimum
salaries— which means that the lowest
ranks get a living wage — and with
possible unfair competitive methods in
business.
"So that our only worry with sal-
aries in the picture business is in situ-
ations that constitute unfair compe-
tition— that is where one studio by
offers of an excessive salary lures a
player from another studio which has
invested great sums in developing and
building the player as a commercial
property. That's the only angle on
which the Code Administration has
any thought or p)ower to mention sal-
aries and that is only for the protec-
tion of the business as a whole."
Rosenblatt, ordinarly urbane and
handling his trip here as though it
were a social visit, in his talks to
newspapermen spoke sharply when it
came to the Darryl Zanuck matter.
He criticized the newspapermen for
overplaying his chat with Zanuck to
the point where it appeared that the
Twentieth Century producer had been
hauled up on the carpet.
Aside from these matters, the Ro-
senblatt day consisted, as already
stated, of a sightseeing trip. He vis-
ited four plants, and while Mrs. Ro-
senblatt watched pictures in the mak-
ing talked generalities with the exec-
utives of the plants, or sat in pro-
jection rooms. At Educational Mrs.
Rosenblatt basked in the California
sunshine on the office porch, because
there was no stage activity.
Warners, Universal, Monogram and
Educational constituted the day's vis-
its, which, added to Tuesday's total,
about wind up the spots for the Ad-
ministrator to see. So starting today
he will begin meeting representatives
of such organizations as the Screen
Writers' Guild, the extras' represen-
tatives, etc. The Guild is on the
slate for two o'clock, the extras for
four.
Meanwhile the agents met yester-
day, and in the absence of any signs
of life on the part of the Artists Man-
agers Association formed an im-
promptu group that will talk to
Rosenblatt any time he wants to dis-
cuss agency problems. Ralph Blum
was named as spokesman.
Some of the producers visited by
Rosenblatt yesterday later quoted
him as saying he had "discovered
some startling things in Hollywood —
and the result would be drastic action
from the Government." Asked point
blank about this last night by a Re-
porter representative, Rosenblatt de-
nied it absolutely.
The interview got going pretty well
on generalizations about the problems
of the independent producer and dis-
tributor until a direct question was
asked about the Code Administration's
position on double bills, and then Ros-
enblatt changed the subject. The same
thing happened when he was asked his
opinion of the Academy's report on
the arbitration board as published in
the Hollywood Reporter, It was a
good topic of conversation until a di-
rect question was asked and then
Rosenblatt said: "There are no facts
in the report. There are only figures."
That ended the day.
Ian. 25, 1934
JHI^-^f^
Page Seven
Bachmann Pic Plans
Delayed By Illness
New York. — An attack of the flu
has balled up )ack Bachmann's plans
to get set on his next year produc-
tion schedule while here, and the pro-
ducer has finally decided to return to
the coast and rest for six weeks be-
fore proceeding further.
He leaves for Hollywood today and
will return to the east after the re-
cuperating period to take up negotia-
tions where he left off.
Buell Returns to Sennett
Jed Buell was reinstated yesterday
by Walter C. Durst, general manager
of Sennett studios, as executive mana-
ger of the studio rental department.
Lloyd Borrows Barbier
George Barbier has been borrowed
by Harold Lloyd from Paramount to
play the role of Mayo, one of the
featured parts in "The Catspaw."
EXTRAS MUTTER
AS OFFICERS ARE PICKED
Extras meeting last night to elect
officers for the Junior Actors' Guild
were in a belligerent mood toward Ad-
ministrator Sol Rosenblatt and the
NRA code. The extras, too timid to
be quoted individually, are going to
put a problem right in the lap of the
senior Screen Actors' Guild because
they are already talking "strike" and
other drastic action against studios
they assert are not living up to code
rules.
Ann Harding headed the list of
Guild members present. Others in-
cluded Lucile Gleason, Chester Morris,
Boris Karloff and Frank Morgan.
Officers elected were Lee Phelps,
president; Tom O'Grady and Margaret
Morgan, vice presidents; Joe Novak,
secretary, and Eddie Baker, treasurer.
Oh, Margaret!
Margaret Sullavan brought Uni-
versal's anxiety over her where-
abouts to an end yesterday when
she unexpectedly popped into the
studio, had lunch and popped right
out again before anyone could have
a lengthy talk with her. She was
unconventionally dressed, trousers,
moccasins and jacket, as usual, but
sported an interesting welt under
the left eye and a bruised cheek
which she says she got while "fish-
ing in Arizona."
New Names for Code Body
Additional nominations made for
the Los Angeles district membership
of the Zoning and Clearance Boards
include Milton B. Arthur, Hobart
Swan, Ray Peterson, Robert Cumbiner,
H. J. Siler. New names suggested for
the New York boards are Harry Fried-
man and Joseph Vergesslich.
Nance O'Neil Due Here
Signed for the leading role in "Dou-
ble Door," which Belasco and Curran
present in Los Angeles, Nance O'Neil
is en route from New York and ar-
rives Monday.
Hedda Hopper at U'
Hedda Hopper was signed by Uni-
versal yesterday through Rebecca and
Silton for a featured role in "If I Was
Rich."
*Paris Fashions' Finished
Virginia Kellogg, MOM writer,
turned in the finished treatment of her
original, "Fashions from Paris."
Break for WB 'Fashions'
Using it as an example of 1934
styles, 1200 members of the Associ-
ated Apparel Manufacturers in con-
vention here attended a showing of
Warners" 'Fashions of 1934" Wednes-
day morning. Picture was shown at
Warners Downtown Theatre.
Albertson for Col. Short
Frank Albertson has been signed by
Columbia for the lead in "The Love
Detective," a musical short which
Archie Gottler will direct. Betty Cra-
ble has the feminine lead.
Kelly With Schenck
New York — Arthur Kelly, United
Artists vice president in charge of
distribution, is accompanying Joe
Schenck on his return to the States.
The pair is due today.
DeMond on 'Quitter'
Albert DeMond has been set for
another M. H. Hoffman script, "The
Quitter."
Tracy and Trevor
To Team For Fox
Spencer Tracy and Claire Trevor
were selected by Sol Wurtzel yester-
day for the top brackets in the cast
line-up of "Gold Rush of 1934,"
which the producer will make as one
of the six big pictures he is set to do
for Fox.
No director has been selected for
the picture as yet, Lester Cole and
Henry Johnson are writing the screen
play from the story by Dudley Nichols
and Lamar Trotti.
2 Shows for 'John Brown'
New York. — The play "John
Brown" is going where the body's
mouldering. It lasted two perform-
ances on Broadway.
March Returns Saturday
New York. — Fredric March plans to
get off for the coast on Saturday.
Says Code Unfair
New York. — Arthur Butler Gra-
ham, attorney for J. P. Quittner,
the Poughkeepsie exhibitor who is
fighting the majors in an anti-trust
suit, has written Dr. Alexander
Lowell complimenting him on his
refusal to sit on the Code Author-
ity. Butler agrees with the doctor
that the code has done nothing to
eliminate block booking and blind
buying evils.
NANLEL SEFF
»
CO-AUTHOR SCREEN PLAY
Easy To Lotc
tf
"Easy To Love" is good entertainment ....
laughs are plentiful and v/ell-spaced, with a num-
ber of them strong enough to kill the following
dialogue for considerable footage.
—VARIETY.
A Warner Brothers - First National Picture
t
a
p
ORGS FOi
c» c
Y
PHOTOGRAPHED
MARION DAVIES
I
In
The Mefro-Coldwyn-Mayer Musical Hit
"GOING HOLLYWOOD"
With
BINC CROSBY
DIRECTED BY RAOUL WALSH
Marion Davies has
never been photographed so beauti-
fully
Next in line must come George
Foisey, whose camera work, on 'Going
Hollywood' is a work of art. We
cannot remember having seen more
exquisite lighting and general com-
position than he has used on this Da-
vies picture. Foisey really deserves to
have his name in the 'cast.' "
-—HOLLYWOOD REPORTER,
Dec. 9, 1933.
NEGATIVE
by
mm)
SMITH AND ALLER, Ltd.
Pacific Coast Distributors
MFTRO-GOLD'A'YN-MAYER STUDI03,
% MR. SAMUEL MAR A,
CULVER CITY.CALiy.
Vol. XIX. No. 13. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, January 26, 1934
Washington Yarns Say Federal
Trade Commission Restored to
Old Powers Over All Industries
•THIS whole NRA machinery has
come on the American public and in-
dustry so suddenly and with so many
new and indigestible elements that it
is no wonder that very few of us un-
derstand what it is all about.
So it may not be amiss to clear the
air a bit and see just where we are
standing.
First of all, Sol Rosenblatt is neither
the Mussolini, the Hitler, nor the Dol-
fuss of the motion picture industry
at this moment.
Rosenblatt has tried to make this
clear himself. But we are all so po-
litically minded that we refuse to lis-
ten to a man's words and always
"wisely" read into them the meaning
we want to get.
In point of actual fact, putting it
bluntly, Sol Rosenblatt is here only as
an INVESTIGATOR.
His importance arises from the fact
that he is an "investigator" for an in-
dividual known as Franklin D. Roose-
velt.
o
And what does that mean to us?
It means just this, that if we are
all going to run to Investigator Rosen-
blatt during his visit here with each
of our personal trials and tribulations,
he is going to carry back to that
Franklin D. Roosevelt the same inn-
pression that the code hearings left
in Washington.
He is going to say:
"Aw, they're a bunch of nuts out
there. All they do is sit around call-
ing each other names."
And from that kind of a report al-
most anything might happen.
With no one but ourselves to blame.
Whether we want to admit it or
not, gentlemen, the general Washing-
ton impression of the picture indus-
try right now is a picture of a bunch
of spoiled kids running around mak-
ing faces at each other, and all in
line for a good spanking.
Harry Warner, burned by his own
star-raiding, pouts and says "I'll tell
teacher." Adolph Zukor gets a pri-
vate peeve. The Writers are "ag'in"
everything. And so on.
If we don't get the spanking it
will not be because we have not
earned it.
Chase Out of Loew's
New York. — It now comes out
that the recent selling in Loew's,
Inc. stock was by the Chase bank,
which has sold out its entire 165,-
000 shares at an average price of
$28. This brings $4,600,000 for
stock which originally cost them
about $20,000,000. Erpi is still
holding on to its 1 30,000 share
block.
Chaplin Set on All
Silent For Next
Latest from the Charlie Chaplin
front is that the comedian has decided
to make his new picture entirely
silent, with synchronized music and
effects.
Chaplin has abandoned the idea of
making a talkie in which he would
himself play the role of a deaf mute.
Principal reason for the change of
plans is the impressive foreign figures
totaled by Chaplin in silent pictures,
without the handicaps of dubbing.
Warners' Key' Builds
To All Star Proportions
Building an all-star cast for the
picture, Warners yesterday assigned
Warren William to a top spot in the
Robert Gore Brown and ). L. Hardy
London stage play, "The Key," which
Archie Mayo directs when it goes into
production next week. Kay Francis
and William Powell have been set in
the cast already.
Berman-Depinet Here
Ned Depinet and Pandro Berman
arrived in Hollywood yesterday. Depi-
net goes into conference with the
Radio execs here on plans for the
schedule of pictures on the new pro-
gram, while Berman resumes his spot
as associate producer with the com-
pany.
Washington. — With no official announcements made, Wash-
ington correspondents were buzzing today with a rumor which
everybody seemed to have heard "some place," and no one could
track down. It was to the effect that President Roosevelt and
General Johnson yesterday had their
first big battle with the result an
executive order due in a few days that
will not sit well with the NRA chief.
The story is that Roosevelt is tired
of the flood of complaints that the
NRA codes in all industries have been
drawn up with the interests of the big
fellow at heart and no concern for the
(Continued on Page 7)
Swedes Look For
CarboTo Do Own
Stockholm. — You can't kill off the
rumors here that Sweden's pride
Greta Garbo plans eventually to return
here and start her own film com-
pany.
The rumors, current when Greta
was here on her visit, have lately been
revived and are given credence in
local film circles.
Fox May Remake Old
Silent 'Dante's Inferno'
Sol .Wurtzel's unit at Fox is plan-
rji»gf^to make a modern version of
"Dante's Inferno." Studio did the
story as a silent in 1924.
Florida Wants Maritza
Sari Maritza yesterday received an
offer, through her agent, Vivian Gaye,
from the Sunhaven Studios in Florida
for a two picture deal.
THREE CORNERED FIGHT IIV
IV. Y. FOR IIVDIE FliVAIVCING
New York.- — -There is quite a fight
back here for the right to loan inde-
pendent producers money to make
their pictures. The battle is between
Consolidated Film Industries, Jack
Cosmon and his Gevaert unit and
Pathe Exchange Inc., who have just
jumped into the field.
The Pathe financing is no surprise
in view of the fact that the board of
directors of that organization, finding
(Continued on Page 6)
Arliss Resting
George Arliss is at LaQuinta rest-
ing. He will come in to town for the
preview of "Rothschild" and then
start preparation on his second pic-
ture for Twentieth Century.
Klein Due Tomorrow
Arthur Klein arrives in town on The
Chief tomorrow night in connection
with important agency matters.
Push Bill to Kill
N. Y. Censorship
New York. — A bill to abolish mo-
tion picture censorship in New York
State will be introduced at Albany
next week by Senator Esquirol and
Assemblyman Brownell. Announce-
ment to this effect was made at the
AMPA luncheon yesterday by Roger
Baldwin, attorney for the Civil Liber-
ties League.
Baldwin vigorously advised the in-
dustry to stand on its own feet and
stop truckling to organizations foster-
ing Government censorship. He also
called for more realistic pictures, in-
stead of the "Pollyanna" themes.
Harmon-lsing Closing
Deal with MCM in N.Y.
New York. — Hugh Harmon and
Gordon Wilson arrived here yesterday
by plane to conclude a deal for the re-
lease of the Harmori-Jsing "Bosco"
and other cartoons through MGM. The
deal has been pending for several
months.
Robert Woods Dies
Robert Woods, Richard Barthelmess'
secretary for the past 1 5 years, died
yesterday at the Cedars of Lebanon
Hospital from peritonitis which set in
after an appendicitis operation, Janu-
ary 1 . Funeral services have not been
announced as yet.
Joe Schenck in N. Y.
New York.- — Joe Schenck arrived in
town yesterday on the Mauretania,
accompanied by Arthur Kelly, foreign
chief for United Artists. Gene Ray-
mond was also a passenger on the
Cunarder.
Retakes for WB's Hero'
Warners put "Modern Hero," C. B.
Pabst's first American production,
back to the stages for a day of re-
takes using Richard Barthelmess and
Jean Muir. Picture was completed
about a month ago.
I— _. .^-.-.^ Sizned by Harold Lloyd to Direct Dialogue 4- management r^r\
EDWARD CURTIS .n-Ca»sp.W-A San. Tayl., Production SMALL-LANDAU CO.
Page Two
THE^a
Ian. 26, 1934
mtfrfe^QWER
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7 19^;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Hollywood seems to be just getting
the backwash of the Mervyn LeRoy-
Doris Warner wedding. The lavish
and splendiferous affair was not with-
out its angles, it seems. F'rinstance,
there was the big stag party supposed-
ly given for Mervyn before the big
night by Louis Shurr. Everybody in
New York of any importance was sent
a wire of invitation, and the last line
in the telegram read, "Ten dollars a
plate!"
•
It was down at Palm Springs. Mon-
roe Owsley was playing tennis and
Owsley plays very DRAMATIC tennis.
After watching the play and side-play
. for a while, a well known writer on
I the side-lines cracked, "That guy hits
; every ball as though it were a second-
/
act curtain!"
•
You-all know Bill Newberry out at
MCM? He's the publicity man who
never can keep that date for lunch
because he always has to take some
visiting King, Prince, financier or ce-
lebrity around or something. He
kinda likes it. too — so yesterday the
"boys" framed him — but he doesn't
know it yet. They told him his mo-
mentous duty was to take two of the
biggest Chinese exhibitors around the
lot ^nd show 'em the works. Where-
upon the casting-director hired two
elegant Chinese, who arrived all
spruced up. and even though they
both speak English fluently they gave
Bill the "no savvy" with great effect.
He took them to lunch, around the
sets and gave them all his charm for
more than three hours — he even EX-
PLAINED everything to the two. who
have drawn many a pay-check on the
lot!
And the latest about La Sullavan at
Universal is that under written orders
from Carl Laemmle. Jr., she is not to
be allowed to see interviewers or talk
to them. No matter what the pres-
sure. The story goes that Junior con-
siders the girl too flighty to handle
herself in interviews as a "moving
pitcher" star should. So from now on
you get the interview via Johnny
Jbhnston.
ROSY' AND WRITERS' GUILD
GET DOWIV TO RRASS TACKS
Agents and Actors
For 'Rosy' Today
No Words Minced
In Hectic 3-Hr. Talk
In a fiery session with Sol Rosen-
blatt yesterday, the Screen Writers'
Guild put in a strong demand to rep-
resent the Hollywood picture writers,
basing their claim on the overwhelm-
ing membership of their orgnaization
which includes the majority of the
film scenarists. Session carried through
three hours and wound up with the
writers quitting the Deputy Adminis-
trator's suite at the Beverly Wilshire
in disgruntled fashion and declaring
that they expected a severe licking at
the hands of the NRA representative
investigating the Hollywood produc-
tion front.
Rosenblatt's final answer to their
demands was "This is so important it
requires searching and impartial study
and observation. I am going to ana-
lyze your report very carefully and in
a more leisurely manner."
The committee, consisting of Ralph
Block, O. H. P. Garrett, Anita Loos,
Rupert Hughes, Courtenay Terrett and
Attorney L. W. Bielenson, submitted
a written document detailing an ac-
count of the Guild's recent election of
candidates to the Code Authority.
Laying aside strategy, the commit-
tee came out bluntly with the asser-
tion that collective bargaining and a
basic standard contract in keeping
with the NRA code could be obtained
only through the Guild. Rosenblatt
is reported to have questioned this,
bringing up the name of the Academy
as an alternative medium of defend-
ing the writers. Committee is said to
have biterly opposed the Academy, but
making no headway in view of the
Deputy Administrator's determination
to maintain a neutral position between
the two groups. Writers subsequently
left in a huff, labeling Rosenblatt as
"hostile" to their aims.
Throughout the conference, Rosen-
blatt is understood to have sought to
keep his mind open to all angles in
the situation, always aware that his
purpose was to make an impersonal
report on his findings. Exhibiting a
hard-shelled front and refusing to be
moved by the grievances of the writ-
ers or show any sign of emotion is ac-
counted for the assertedly hostile re-
ception he gave Guild representatives.
Writers also carried away the im-
pression that he would refuse to se-
lect all-Guild candidates to the pro-
ducer-writer arbitration committee
and other code appointments, and was
ready to appoint non-Guilders to the
committee along with that organiza-
ton's own selections. The Guild
spokesman see in this the defeat of
long months of hard work.
"By no means," said one commit-
teeman, "does our interview with
Rosenblatt, unsatisfactory as it was,
mean that we are going to give up
our determination to get the writer
the essential protection he needs
against the unfair methods of his em-
ployer."
The session with the Guild was the
longest period Rosenblatt has granted
any one individual or group since com-
ing to Hollywood.
Fast" Worker
Clarence Brown, in San Francisco
looking for locations, got a wire
from MGM reading. "Move heaven
and earth to get back by Friday."
Clarence replied, "Have raised hell
and will be there Thursday."
ASC Acts Tonight
On New Stampede
Action on applications of 75 cam-
eramen for membership in the Amer-
ican Society of Cinematographers will
be taken tonight at a meeting of the
board of governors of that organiza-
tion.
Latest group of applications came
in a rush after the recent meeting of
the society, at which the agreement
with the major studios was outlined.
Expected most of applications will be
given the official okay. Meeting will
be at ASC headquarters in the Guar-
anty Building.
'Nana' Trade Shows
Hit With a Bang
New York. — Samuel Goldwyn and
Al Lichtman are displaying a big batch
of raves on Anna Sten, which were
wired in to them from the United
Artists exchanges following the na-
tional trade showing of "Nana" Janu-
ary 23.
Branch managers report that exhibi-
tors p'edict top rating for Coldwyn's
new Soviet star with her first picture.
World premiere of "Nana" will be
held at the RKO Music Hall Febru-
ary 1 .
Boleslavsky Handles New
Scenes for 'Dead Police'
Richard Boleslavsky has been as-
signed by MGM to handle added
scenes on "The Mystery of the Dead
Police." Edgar Selwyn, who directed
the picture, is now in New York.
Howard Emmett Rogers has written
the added material which will have
Robert Montgomery in the cast.
Behrman Defends 'Holly'
S. M. Behrman, prominent play-
wright, is the author of a stirring de-
fense of Hollywood in the current New
Yorker. Behrman lays particular
stress on defending the producers.
Confined to his hotel suite on a
series of conferences that lasted from
early morning to nightfall, Deputy Ad-
ministrator Sol Rosenblatt yesterday
knuckled down to the task of wading
through the numerous interviews
awaiting him on his survey of the pro-
duction branch of the business.
The two most important sessions
were devoted to the non-partisan
group of extra representatives who
made their report to him. When they
admitted having failed to cover their
field entirely, Rosenblatt advised them
to tell off sub-committees to carry
on their work, thus quickly dispatch-
ing his business with them.
He went into a huddle with the
Screen Writers' Guild representatives
at four o'clock and came out of it
near seven, holding his press confer-
ence while preparing to dress for din-
ner at Ralph Blum's home. He meets
today with the Agents' committee and
the Screen Actors' Guild, visiting the
latter at the home of Ann Harding.
Royalty Here for Chatter
Lady Chaytor, representing the Al-
lied Newspapers, Ltd., press syndicate
in London, is here to write about Hol-
lywood. Before starting the rounds
she is meeting with Jack Lewis of the
Hays office at 1 1 a.m. tomorrow.
TIME IS $
You Are Selling Time To
Your Employer!
How much have you left for delivery?
Will it bring enough money to support
you, or your family?
First buy life insurance, and then buy
an annuity on easy payments.
ALBERT ESCHNER
220 Taft BIdg. CR-1721
;>:S$:::^:S^W?S^!?^^<?S|:'::?ftS^
HE'S BUTLER, COOK, VALET
AND CHAUFFEUR
and is efficient, honest and thor-
oughly reliable. Writer, leaving
Hollywood, would like to place
him. Box 526, Hollywood Reporter.
MARDI CRAS!
Four or five passengers desired
to fly with me to the New
Orleans Mardi Gras — the event of
the year. Exceptionally reasonable
rates.
ED BUSH . Phone: SYcamore 1600
RUSSELL.MILLER^
and Company
Members
MFW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
Jan. 9. 1934
THg
'EARTH TURNS
LOVE RIRDS
Cast and Direction
Fine in Heavy Yarn
MfP>©f^fi[P.
Page Three
"AS THE EARTH TURNS"
(Warners-First National)
Directed by Alfred E. Green
Novel by Gladys Hasty Carroll
Screen Play by Ernest Pascal
Photography by Byron Haskins
Associate Producer Robert Lord
Cast: Jean Muir, Donald Woods, David
Landau, William Janney, Doro-
thy Appleby, Dorothy Peterson,
Emily Lowry, Sarah Padden, Clara
Blandick, Egon Brecher, David
Durand, Wally Albright, George
Billings, Marilyn Knowlden, Glo-
ria Fisher, C>orothy Gray, Cora
Sue Collins, Joyce Kay, Arthur
Hohl, Russell Hardie, Javir Gib-
son.
Last year thousands of people, sit-
ting around comfortable firesides, read
Gladys Hasty Carroll's book, "As the
Earth Turns," and thought fondly, ro-
mantically of going back to the land.
This year hundreds of thousands of
people will see the screen play, and
thank their lucky stars that they are
not down on the farm.
While the tale is not materially
changed in Ernest Pascal's screen play
the joy in the good earth which per-
meated every page is gone. This is
due, partially, to the lack of weight
in the performance of Jean Muir, who
carries the central role. Make no
mistake about this girl, however, and
watch for her next pictures. She is
certain star material. She has
warmth, beauty, intelligence. There
is no doubt that she has everything it
takes to be a box office sensation
within a short time.
She plays Jen, oldest daughter of
the large brood of a Maine farmer.
Though she is not out of her teens
she is the real head of the farmhouse.
It is Jen who stays up through freez-
ing nights when the children have
croup. It is Jen who stands over the
stove in the blistering summer when
fruit must be preserved. She loves it.
A farm is her career, just as it is her
father's.
She also loves Stan, son of a Polish
tailor. He has persuaded his parents
to sell the shop and go back to the
land.
Allied against these three simple
souls is the stubbornness of the sea-
sons, grilling round of work and a
rabble of relatives who are tempera-
mentally unsuited to farm life, but
who are trapped by poverty to their
acres.
The cast is large and fine. A mag-
nificent piece of work is done by
Dorothy Peterson as the worn, hys-
terically rebellious wife of a shiftless
idler, played beyond reproach by Ar-
thur Hohl. David Landau is exactly
right as the matter-of-fact farmer.
Clara Blandick as the resentful step-
mother of his children engages plenty
of sympathy for her unpleasant char-
acter. Dorothy Appleby as the girl
who is wild to get to the city draws
laughs and praise for the elementary
allures she uses to cajol "her way off
the farm. Donald Woods is another
to watch. He plays Stan with a fine
restraint. Sarah Padden is satisfyingly
emotional as the Polish mamma who
No Longer Nudists
Members of the vice squad of
the Los Angeles police department
visited the Marcal Theatre in Hol-
lywod yesterday, where Bryan Foy's
nudist picture "Elysia" shows Sun-
day, and applied strips of adhesive
tape to the principal points of in-
terest in the lobby photos.
MISSES MARK:
NOT SO HOT
Overplayed Gags
Hurt Good Work
'Sleepers East' Is
Sleepy and Dreary
'SLEEPERS EAST"
(Fox)
Director Kenneth MacKenna
Story Frederick Nobel
Screen Play Lester Cole
Photography Ernest Palmer
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
Cast; Wynne Gibson, Harvey Stephens,
Roger Imhof, Preston Foster,
Mona Barrie, Howard Lally, Su-
zanne Kaaren.
Something should be done about
dreary pictures like this one. It is a
jumbled up mixture so far as the hoary
old story is concerned. Wynne Gib-
son reluctantly becomes a call girl
in order to help out her girl friend
who has a hungry child crying for
food.
There is a stag party which proves
too rough for the little girl Wynne,
who starts to walk home, only to be
picked up by the disorderly son of
the Mayor. There is a visit to a
gambling house, some losses by the
son, a squawk of a crooked game and
of the rapid removal of the loser.
A shooting brings the police into
the situation, but the innocent Wynne
manages to elude capture. Preston
Foster espies his one time girl Wynne
on a train, hops aboard and finds the
young woman more or less cock-eyed,
but the ardent lover minds it not.
Right about this point a train
wreck enters the story.
No one escapes. There is a trial
at which the heroine is about to tell
all when the Mayor's son in open
court shoots himself to the entire sat-
isfaction of all within gunshot includ-
ng the audence and brings the tale to
an end. No fault is laid at the door
of the cast.
regards the farm as an enemy. Egon
Brecher is funny and tragic as the
tailor. Russell Hardie, William Jan-
ney and Emily Lowry make smaller
parts count.
And the swarm of children is mar-
velous. Dorothy Cray, especially, Da-
vid Durand, Wally Albright, Marilyn
Knowlden, Cora Sue Collins, George
Billings, Javir Gibson, Gloria Fisher and
Joyce Kay all deservp enthusiastic
praise. Photography is mediocre ex-
cept for one good scene of a windy
night which has a real out-of-doors
feel, and that is one reason the film
leaves a feeling of defeat.
Never is the peace, which Jen, her
father and Stan feel in growing acres,
made a reality That, and lack of
star names, makes this one a bit dif-
ficult to sell to city dwellers. And
the farmers have enough grief already.
So that's your problem, Mr. Exhibitor
"LOVE BKRDS"
(Universal)
Directed by William Seiter
Story by; DaleJ^gn Every. hL-M-
'alker, Henr^Jvl^:grs and Qar-
ence Marks, . ' /
Adaptation by Doris Andei^jyj.
Photography by Norbert "Br'odine
Cast: Zasu Pitts, Slim Summerville,
Mickey Rooney, Dorothy Christy
and Clarence Hummel Wilson.
The new Slim Summerville-Zasu
Pitts comedy, "Love Birds," is swarm-
ing with swell gags and grand farcical
moments. But the trouble is that the
gags are overdone and the moments
dragged out to where the laughter
becomes pretty thin.
With a good deal of cutting this
picture could be one of the best of
the Summerville-Pitts comedies. The
material is there, but it needs concen-
trating. Every episode that starts to
put the audience in the aisles peters
out like a piece of taffy that is pulled
out too long.
Through a crooked real estate man
Pitts and Summerville find themselves
the owners of a few adobe ruins in
the middle of the desert — El Mirage
Rancho. Their argument over which
one of them really owns the place is
interrupted by the appearance of an
old prospector, who, in a fight with
Summerville, knocks out his gold in-
lay. The next day the country's
newspapers herald the new gold strike
at El Mirage, and in a very few hours
the place resembles a booming mining
town.
All this is essentially fine, funny
farce, and when the picture is cut au-
diences will be entertained plenty.
Zasu Pitts and Slim Summerville
never did better work, and little Mic-
key Rooney is a grand trouper. His
recitation of the poem in the school-
room scene is a masterpiece. Dorothy
Christy and Clarence Hummel Wilson
do well in smaller roles.
Four authors wrote the very amus-
ing screen play. Dale Van Every, H.
M. Walker, Henry Myers and Clar-
ence Marks, and Doris Anderson made
a swell adaptation. William Seiter.
except for the occasional lengthiness
of scenes, directed with full comedy
flavor. Norbert Brodine's photogra-
phy is of the best.
When this picture is cut and pulled
together don't miss it. The Pitts-
Summerville fans will eat it up, and
a lot of those who aren't fans will
be won over.
John Zanft Inc. Formed
John Zanft Inc. has been formed to
conduct a general agency business.
Offices will be located in Beverly Hills
with formal opening slated for middle
of next week.
Claire Myers at Radio
Claire Myers has been added to the
cast of "Finishing School" at Radio.
Wanda Tuchock and George Nicholls
are co-directing. Production starts to-
day. " ■ ' "
By JERRY WALD
Rudy Vallee is looking high and low
for another girl vocalist, which would
indicate that Alice Faye is certainly
staying on the coast until all the
shooting (not the movie shooting) is
over. . . . Howard Lindsay, who adapf-
j ed the present stage smash hit "She
( Loves Me Not." earns some $750
weekly as his end. but he's cuh-razy
to be an actor, so he's gone and ac-
cepted a part in the new Dorothy Gish
play which will shortly hit the boards.
. This duo strikes our fancy. Im-
agine Heywood Broun, who writes col-
umns, too, and Russell Grouse, the
Theatre Guild's Ambassador to the
Press, are toiling together on a musical
satire with a backstage setting that
will rip the hides off too many Broad-
way biggies, according to the talk
• ■ . The laugh of the week goes to
^f^u^"^ actress-producer who insist-
ed that the house-manager rip out the
last four rows of theatre seats the
opening night, 'cause they remained
T r, ■ • • ■ '^^g'"^ Crewe, who pilots
the flicker column for the American
|S going Coast-ing around May 1 to
look over the movie situation.
•
Leah Ray. who sings sweet songs
with Phil Harris' music making crew
at the St. Regis, and Marty Lewis, who
edits Radio Guide, might do a June
Jaunt to the Justice if Mr. Lewis can
have his way. . . . "The Storm Blows
Over." which Lowell Bretanno penned
(he's the author of "I'm No Angel"),
will give the censors plenty of head-
aches. . . . Fred Waring is "no-going"
all picture offers, preferring to stick
to showing his stuff via the stage and
radio. . . . The march of the song-
writers to the Coast has by no means
halted. Harold Spinna and Johnny
Burke, who scribbled the hit tune
"Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore,"
are keeping their ears wide open while
RKO talks business to them.
Shsmp Howard, who formerly was Ted
He?lv's ace stooge, is now doing a
single and doing plenty all right. . . .
While his son is taking care of the
acting end of the family, Art Jarrett
Sr. is having his hands full scribbling
shorts for a trio of producing firms
here. . . . And despite all that chatter
about motion picture production go-
ing full blast here, everybody's trying
to find out where it is.
•
Chester Erskine has converted the
entire upper stage of the new Bio-
graph studio into a street set of the
early '90's for his "Frankie and John-
nie" opus. . . . One of the most sought
after radio artists for pictures these
days is Kate Smith, who still means
plenty to the box office, and is still
a sure fire bet for musicals. . . . The
Meyer Davis-Van Beuren unit of RKO
is readying its first feature, which will
be a musical. . . . Star and story are
still in the air, as the saying goes.
. . . With the majority of major pro-
ducers on the lookout for another
Crosby or Lanny Ross among the mi-
crophoners. the microphone men have
suddenly become picture conscious
and refuse to make shorts unless they
get the right lighting, direction and
make up. . . . Warner office here in
(Continued on Page 7)
Page Four
Extras Guild Names
Board of Directors
Completing the check up of the
ballot yesterday morning the Junior
Actors' Guild announced the follow-
ing selections for the Board of Direc-
tors :
Jay Eatbrr, Dick Cordon, Mary Cor-
don, Ed. Mortimer, Major Harris, Elea-
nor VanDervere, Russell Heustis, Mike
Lally, Ed. Thomas, Mildred Mernie,
Leon Beaumont, Robert McKee, Rob-
ert Ellsworth, Ceorge Nardelli, Lillian
West and W. S. McDonough.
Kathleen Norris Yarn
Slated for May Robson
MCM yesterday purchased an un-
published short story by Kathleen
Norris titled "Cram," which is a story
of an Irish grandmother who goes
from poverty to riches.
The story is slated to be a May
Robson starring vehicle.
Root on Guild Committee
Wells Root was yesterday an-
nounced as the new chairman of the
membership committee for the Screen
Writers' Cuild, succeeding Courtenay
Terrett, who has moved to the Board
of Directors.
Otis Skinner Coming Here
New York. — Otis Skinner, veteran
of the stage, sailed from New York
yesterday on the President Monroe. It
is a world cruise that will make one
of its stops at Los Angeles.
mm
Ian. 26, 1934
STUDIOS LAY OUT SCHEDULE
FOR BASKETBALL TEAMS
At a meeting at Universal yester-
day, six studios worked out a round-
robin basketball schedule for the stu-
dio league. All games will be played at
the Fairfax high school, Melrose and
Fairfax, and all teams will see action
every Wednesday night for the next
five weeks. The schedule for the
first round follows:
Wednesday, January 31 — 7 P. M.,
Paramount vs. Warner Bros.; 8. P. M.,
Columbia vs. RKO; 9 P. M., Techni-
color vs. Universal.
Wednesday, February 7 — 7 P. M.,
RKO vs. Universal; 8 P. M., Warner
Bros. vs. Columbia; 9 P. M., Para-
mount vs. Technicolor.
Wednesday, February 14 — 7 P. M.,
Columbia vs. Technicolor; 8 P. M.,
Universal vs. Paramount; 9 P. M.,
RKO vs. Warner Bros.
Wednesday, February 21 — 7 P. M..
Technicolor vs. RKO; 8 P. M., Para-
mount vs. Columbia; 9 P. M., Warner
Bros. vs. Universal.
Wednesday, February 28 — 7 P. M.,
Technicolor vs. Warner Bros.; 8 P. M.,
Universal vs. Columbia; 9 P. M., RKO
vs. Paramount.
Walker Uses Short Wave
To Save Studio Costs
Vernon Walker, cameraman, re-
turned yesterday from New York,
where he has spent four weeks shoot-
ing backgrounds for RKO.
Studio feels happy over Walker's
trip, for he used the old head, and
instead of spending money telegraph-
ing and telephoning he dug up short-
wave boy in New York and held daily
conferences with studio officials and
laboratory men in Hollywood over
Cameraman Roy Hunt's short-wave set
here. Studio figures he saved com-
pany around $1 100 in phone bills.
Cable East to Pres.
Clark Cable leaves from Kanab,
Utah, where he has been hunting
lions, for Washington, D. C, tomor-
row to attend President Roosevelt's
birthday party as MCM's representa-
tive, according to an unconfirmed re-
port. When he returns to the studio
he will go into "Soviet" with Wallace
Beery.
Hatton in 'Louisiana*
Raymond Hatton was yesterday
added to the cast of "Louisiana Lou"
at MCM, getting a featured role in
the Lucien Hubbard production.
Holmes on Vallee Hour Miriam Jordan Free Lance
Phillips Holmes appeared as guest
star on the Rudy Vallee hour last night
over the Columbia network.
Miriam Jordan is going to try free
lancing when her contract with Fox
expires on February 3.
Reade, Para. Call
Off Mutual Claims
New York. — Walter Reade and
Paramount found a way to settle their
argument yesterday by both agreeing
to withdraw their claims against each
other before Referee Davis.
Read had claimed Paramount owed
him $150,000 as part of the deal by
which they took over and modernized
his New Jersey houses and Paramount
claimed Reade owed $75,000 for
sound equipment on the houses.
'Widow' Cameraman
Waits on Fem Lead
MCM can't set on cameraman to
do the "Merry Widow" until final de-
cision is made on feminine lead. If
Joan Crawford gets it the studio will
put Oliver Marsh on the camera, as
she wants him. If anyone else gets
the part MCM will have to borrow
Victor Milner from Paramount in or-
der to satisfy Ernst Lubitsch.
Calif ornians Join MPTOA
New York. — Report here is that
the visit of Ben Berenstein, of Los
Angeles, has resulted in the Indepen-
dent Theatre Owners of Southern Cal-
ifornia joining forces with the Motion
Picture Theatre Owners of America.
The Californians have previously been
unaffiliated with any national group.
Now 'Blondes and Bonds'
Warners have set "Blondes and
Bonds" as the release title on James
Cagney's latest vehicle, "The Heir
Chaser." Michael Curtiz directs and
Bette Davis has the feminine lead.
THANKS
to
JOHN W. CONSIDINE, Jr.,
and
Mr. WILLIAM K. HOWARD
and cast
for making a success of
\\
n
THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN
SCREEN PLAY BY
EDGAR ALLAN WOOLF
and
FLORENCE RYERSON
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
//
JUST COMPLETED
Sing And Like It
//
^
//
IN PREPARATION
Blarney Smith
ff
Page Six
RilP@PnrEPi
Jan. 26, 1934
GEO. ABBOTT'S
PBOVES TO BE
Playing Own Lead
Abbott No Help
/
')OHN BROWN"
Play by Ronald Ck)w; presented by
George Abbott at the Ethel Bar-
, rymore Theatre; staged by Mr.
/ Abbott; settings by Cirker &
Robbins. Starring George Abbott
as John Brown and Whitney
Bourne, Alma Kruger, Edna Ha-
gan, Harry M. Cooke, Buford
Armitage, Harold Gould, Robert
Foulk, Elizabeth Kendall, Oliver
Barbour, Iris Whitney, Walter
Price, Charles McClelland, John
Emery, Alfred Webster, ). Ascher
Smith, Herbert Yost, Ernest R.
Whitman, Thomas Morgan, Wil-
liam Shea, Edward Acuff, James
Lane and William Corbett.
New York. — Heralded prior to its
opening as a realistic and stirring bio-
graphical drama of a historical char-
acter in American history before the
Civil War, John Brown, the play ver-
sion of Brown's life and religious
mania for freeing the slaves in the
South came in as a dud last night;
a noble failure, one might say. Two
reasons can be given for the lukewarm
reception accorded the play. One was
the fragmentary and sketchily etched
surface glints in John Brown's career
climax, via the Harpers Ferry Arsenal
seizure and the bloody drive planned
by Brown and a small select company
of high-minded men to arm and free
all the slaves, which failed to impart
the inspiring lift promised by the
author. The other reason was George
Abbott.
What Mr. Abbott's principal reason
was for assuming the chief role in the
play is not made clear but whatever
it was, he was ill-advised. His voice
is squeakily pitched, his convictions
and leadership hardly convincing.
What this role needed was a Walter
Huston to thunder forth the divine
mission laid upon him, to arouse the
fervor of his followers and of the au-
dience. Abbott's direction of the play,
however, is satisfactory and up to his
usual standard.
The play deals with scenes of his
mountain home and pioneer-like life
in an Adirondack village; the under-
ground railway method employed by
Brown and his sons in smuggling slaves
up to Canada and freedom; the sub-
sequent unfolding of a brilliant and
daring plot — an armed insurrection
against the Government's laws and the
cruelty of the South; scenes of the
fight to capture the arsenal; death of
Brown's sons in the pitched battle;
surrender of the handful of men left
and of the leader's death sentence and
finale of Brown's spirit marching on-
ward and forward in the Adirondack
hills, after his death, to the tune of
"John Brown's Body Lies A-Moulder-
ing in the Grave."
Several pictures have been proauc-
ed in the past which have overcome
the prejudice in Southern States
against allowing any film to be shown
which dealt with the Negro problem
and its many controversial angles. This
play, however, goes a step farther, in
Break for Miljan
After being a heavy for ten
years with never a chance at a
sympathetic role, John Miljan had
to go to Invincible to get a break
in a romantic lead. The picture is
"Birds of a Feather."
JOBN BBOWIV'
PBEACHY DUD
Mary Boland Set for
Radio's 'Stingaree'
Para. Holds Menjou
For Schulberg Pic
Paramount picked up the option on
Adolphe Menjou's deal and signed the
player for one of the leading roles in
the B. P. Schulberg picture, "Little
Miss Marker," which will star Sylvia
Sidney.
Menjou is now playing a featured
role in the "Trumpet Blows," with
George Raft and Frances Drakt
Roosevelt Dance Tribute
Next Tuesday Night
A dinner dance, at $5 per, honor-
ing President Roosevelt's birthday, will
be given next Tuesday night at the
Biltmore Hotel. Fred Beetson, vice
president ,of the. Hays association, is
going to have a representative group
of players present.
In conjunction with the dance a
gala show, guided by Sid Crauman,
will take place at the Shrine Audi-
torium at $1 a ticket. The total pro-
ceeds will go to the building of a hos-
pital in Warm Springs, Ga.
Snub Pollard Returns
Snub Pollard, who was a big name
in comedies a few years ago, and Andy
Devine were signed by Radio for roles
in the Irene Dunne-Richard Dix pic-
ture, "Stingaree," which William
Wellman will direct.
Cus Shy Here Again
Returning to Hollywood after a
year and a half, Gus Shy arrived yes-
terday aiming at another picture try.
Comedian's irons are being heated up
by his manager, Leo Morrison.
that, serving as it does to immortalize
Brown's beautiful ideal and his unsel-
fish sacrifice of himself and his sons,
it would remind the people of the
South that it was due to such a sac-
rifice and the lesson John Brown taught
the people of the North and South,
that the struggle for freedom of the
slaves had to be finally and bloodily
settled. It took the American Civil
War which followed after Brown's
death to do it. Whether such a film
could get by in the South is a prob-
lematical gamble.
Several people in the cast acquit
themselves creditably. There was
Whitney Bourne as Brown's daughter,
Annie; Alma Kruger, as Mrs. Brown;
Harold Gould, as Uncle Jeremiah;
Walter Price, as Shields Green; Her-
bert Yost, as Mr. Higginson; Ernest
R. Whitman, as Frederick Douglass;
Thomas Morgan, as Col. Lewis Wash-
ington, and William Corbett, as Col.
Robert E. Lee. The settfngs were fine
examples of life in that period.
Mary Boland was signed by Radio
yesterday for a featured role in "Stin-
garee" with Irene Dunne and Richard
Dix in the top spots. William Well-
man will direct.
This deal is not a loanout from
Paramount but is a separate matter.
Her contract with Paramount permits
her to make an outside picture when
the studio has no assignment ready
for her.
Rothschild' Hits
N.Y Astor in Feb.
The Twentieth Century production
of "The Great Rothschild" is in the
can and with a little cutting and
patching, the addition of the musical
score, the picture will be rushed to
New York, where it will open at the
Astor for a two-a-day run.
"Rothschild" follows "Christina" at
the Chinese.
Cameramen's Union Ask
For a 'Spread of Work'
The lATSE, No. 659, cameramen's
branch, is riding Sol Rosenblatt hard
for an explanation as to why his prom-
ise that a "spread of work" plan
would be evolved for cameramen has
not been carried out. This week's
four page bulletin of the union minces
no words in asking Rosenblatt ques-
tions. Announcement is also made in
the bulletin of a "Re-employment
Committee" which will endeavor to
create work for the union members.
Eddie Quillan Yanked
From 20th Century Tour
The group of stars that left for
Washington to meet the Twentieth
Century Caravan departed Wednesday
night minus their master of ceremon-
ies. Just before the train pulled out
MGM discovered they needed Eddie
Quillan for the remainder of "Holly-
wood Party" and yanked the player
off the train.
Ether Censor Rodgers-Hart
Radio censorship struck at Rodgers
and Hart because of their song "That's
Love." After it was heard on the
radio the other night the ban was
slapped on until Larry Hart writes a
new set of lyrics. NBC's puritans
didn't like the words "press my body
tightly," etc.
Paul Sloane to Radio
Paul Sloane was signed yesterday
by Radio to direct the Lou Brock
short, "Down to Their Last Yacht,"
in which Sidney Fox will have the
feminine lead. The story is being
written by Herbert Fields.
Al Steen Visiting
At Steen, vice president of Associ-
ated Publications, regional trade pa-
pers, arrived in Hollywood yesterday on
a four weeks' visit.
Cagney, Blondell
Team Once More
Joan Blondell and James Cagney
were yesterday assigned to the leads
in "Without Honor," a Robert Lord
original, which Warners will put into
production as soon as Blondell finishes
her role in "Hit Me Again."
Lloyd Bacon has been assigned to
direct from a script by Tom Bucking-
ham and Niven Busch. This is the
first time Blondell and Cagney have
been teamed since "The Crowd
Roars."
Old Buddies Dine Para.
Lab. Head on His Return
Gare Schwartz, general manager of
Paramount's Paris laboratory, was ten-
dered a welcome home dinner at the
Hotel Roosevelt Wednesday night by
veterans of the photographic division
of the United States Signal Corps.
Guests, numbering many film names
among them, included Ernest Schoed-
sack, George Marshall, Peter Shamray,
Ira Morgan, Norman Sper, Wesley
Ruggles, John Waters, Gordon Pollock,
Harry Thorpe, Aiphonse Martinelli,
Lucien Andriot, Felix Schoedsack,
Charles Fogel, George Teague and Earl
Hinds.
Chuck Reisner, Editor
Charles Reisner has added the pub-
lishing~business to his list of endeav-
ors. The first issue of his magazine,
titled "Good Sportsmanship," will hit
the streets today. Reisner, in addi-
tion to being a director has a sports
shop on Wilshire Boulevard.
Gibson Snubs 'Crime Dr.*
Wynne Gibson has definitely step-
ped out of the "Crime Doctor" cast.
Trouble was not over billing as has
been reported but because Miss Gib-
son could not see herself in the part.
She is still under contract to do three
more for Radio.
Ames With W. C. Fields
Adrienne Ames has been assigned
the feminine lead in the W. C. Fields
starring picture, "You're Telling Me,"
at Paramount. The picture has been
shooting for two days under the di-
rection of Erie Kenton.
Three-Cornered Fight
(Continued from Page 1 )
themselves with money on their hands
and a desire to get back into the pic-
ture business, have sought this means
as their stepping stone. The first
Pathe financing is said to be the en-
tire program of Majestic Pictures and
also the unit for J. G. Bachmann and
Harry Takiff.
Consolidated, with their laboratory
interests plus their Biograph studio,
hopes to corner this indie market fi-
nancing, selling the producers the neg-
ative and positive stock, doing their
laboratory work and renting space in
their studio. Accordingly pictures
made with this financing must be pro-
duced in New York.
Jack Cosman wants to plant his
Gevaert negative rather firmly with
the independent producers and feels
his best "in" will be through the loan-
ing of money for the making of the
pictures plus a laboratory hookup with
one of the independent lab men here,
or in Hollywood.
Jan. 26, 1934
jy||kfeUp^f.
Page Seven
OPEIV FORrM
Hollywood Reporter:
Please let me add my thanks to that
of my unknown "sister" and script
girl who wrote that thoroughly intel-
ligent letter which appeared in your
columns a few days ago. Your paper
is to be commended on the fair man-
ner in which you allow one and all to
have a voice in matters pertaining to
the industry which gives us bread in
return for our sweat.
Take it from one who is in the
same boat with this girl (and there
are plenty of us) , she didn't exag-
gerate a thing. On the contrary she
UNDERTOLD it if anything. If you
don't mind I should like to add a few
remarks to hers. In this cycle of ad-
justments (?) they might prove inter-
esting. At least they aie true.
I belong to the horde of studio girls
who have years of training and ex-
perience behind them which fits them
for the peculiarly exacting and diver-
sified business of being a script girl
and writer's secretary. Step by step,
I have fought my way up WITHOUT
political pull to what might be called
maximum efficiency but WITHOUT
the compensation that is supposed to
go with seniority which the merest of
businesses the country over from street
cleaning to banking observe and duly
reward in some manner. In any other
business except the motion picture in-
dustry, a loyal employee who serves
efficiently and steadily improves un-
til capable of more and more valuable
work through the years is promoted,
recognized and remunerated in pro-
portion. Why this should not apply
to the nation's fourth largest indus-
try is beyond me and many others. Is
it any wonder that loyalty — and I
mean the REAL McCOY — is one of
the missing items in this neck of the
woods?
Not too long ago a certain major
producer was approached regarding a
small raise for the stenographers on
his lot, many of whom have been serv-
ing him superbly for years. I happen-
ed to know several of them. The girls
were getting little better than the
twenty mark mentioned in the letter
of my "sister." It was suggested dip-
lomatically (indeed, MOST diplomat-
ically) that a raise to the tune of even
a couple of dollars a week would mean
a lot to these girls and that such a
gesture from him would transform him
into the benevolent, philanthropic soul
SHE LOVED A CROONER!
Daviei
TCROSBl^
k. m E:f: nr^DCAv . c«..«^ CDUiiM
HearBING
sing six of the
greatest Hits
Fifi DORSAY • Stuart ERWIN
Ned SPARKS • Palsy KELLY I
UM: -TIE IISE OF THE IIIKISEVEII FAMILI'
• T *ND WITH lOWiN C Mill
miPATUCK IHAVtEOGUI
ColornI Cartoon "DHT JUES lOCIER-
^'■'^-i^-^ ^ N i
that he claimed to be and result in a
flurry of renewed effort and zeal that
would more than repay him for the
few additional dollars invested. Did
this producer go for the idea? Not
enough that you could tell it. Instead,
he sniffed and reached for another im-
ported cigar and snapped, "A stenog-
rapher's a stenographer. They're over-
paid as it is and they'll take what
they're getting or get out!" Incident-
ally this same producer is somewhat
famous for the diamond bracelets he
showered on a certain star in not too
recent years.
Tell me honestly, can a man like
that at the head of a large organiza-
tion expect loyalty from the under-
lings who work without glory to the
end that his pictures will sell and his
own pockets bulge?
To get back to the subject of the
script girl. Everyone in the industry
with an ounce of intelligence will
agree that the effort and ability to fill
her job properly borders on the super-
human. On her slim shoulders rests
one of the three major responsibilities
of production when trie cameras start
to grind — director, cameraman and
script clerk. Without these three there
would be no picture. One is just as
indispensable as the other. But con-
sider what goes into the so-called
equipment which is necessary for a
script girl to function properly. With-
out exaggeration it can be said that
there are four steps which lead to that
position — typist, the green girl new
to pictures who does routine typing in
the studio stenographic department
but takes r>o dictation; writer's secre-
tary, the more seasoned girl who takes
dictation and knows enough about
continuity to be of real help to her
writer; producer's secretary, the girl
who has graduated from the steno
ranks and is acquainted with studio
routine, industry names and personali-
ties, production details and serves this
executive as private secretary; and
finally the script clerk who works on
the set shoulder to shoulder with the
director and the cameraman and faith-
fully records the picture scene for
scene, detail for detail.
ANOTHER SCRIPT GIRL
E
^
- - ^ ^
6lH
fr HILL
VA.20«I
-^r^
MIGHTY DRAMA OF
"MALE AND FEMALE'
Cecil B. DeMilla's
7| IRIGHTIMED
IL PEOPLE '
I CUu<l*«t« COLBERT
I HERBERT MARSHALL
I MARV BOLAND
I WILLIAM GARGAN
I LEO CARRILLO
STAGE
FANCHON I MARCO KEVUE
^^V^ Harry ROSE
Rogers Seeks Gary
For 'Green Gold'
Charles R. Rogers is trying to per-
suade Paramount to let him have Gary
Cooper for the starring role in his
banana story, "Green Gold," which
Harry Joe Brown will direct.
Cooper will return to Paramount
after he finishes "Operator 13," in
which he is co-starred with Marion
Davies, to fulfill his last picture on his
old contract. Rogers wants him at
that time.
Martha Sleeper Returning
Martha Sleeper is being brought
back to Hollywood by Freddie Fralick
for a top spot in the Belasco and Cur-
ran stage production of "Double Door"
here. Player arrives tomorrow.
Sellon Goes Into 'Catspaw'
Charles Sellon was engaged by Har-
old Lloyd yesterday for one of the fea-
tured roles in "Catspaw." Freddie
Fralick handled the ticket.
New York
(Continued from Page 3)
town making overtures to Joe Penner
to go Coast-mg for a week's shoot-
ing in "Hot Air." Penner turned
offer down 'cause his sponsors no want
to worry about broadcasts from the
other end of the country. . . . Cab
Calloway goes Europing the end of this
month. . . . When he returns he'll
probably go into an independent fea-
ture. . . . What Lake in New York,
aside from the one in Central Park,
has been suggested for ice-skating and
not for dramatic expression on the
part of one of Hollywood's more shin-
ing stars? . . . Berlin won't do that
proposed Marx Brothers show. . . .
Bert Lahr is anxious to get himself
back in a Broadway show, with two
producers running themselves ragged
trying to get him a vehicle.
■ BDWY. AT9TH * PHONE MA 2511
^^
RAnOi
TO I PM,-
^J^'^e MooRi
io"A.M. • Jt^c TILL I P.M. • ^rKmo
to 11 P.M. 3Sc till 6 •40c Eves uioiiitieei
Rumor Pres. Slams NRA
(Continued from Page I )
little man. So he is expected to issue
an executive order empowering the
long-established Federal Trades Com-
mission to act as a court of appeal on
all NRA actions and to crack down on
monopolies when they seem to be
taking advantage of small concerns.
The story is that General Johnson
vigorously opposed Roosevelt's move
and fought against placing this power
in the hands of the Federal Trades
Commission on the ground that it
meant the end of the NRA.
Hollywood. — Administrator Rosen-
blatt, shown the above dispatch last
night, said: "Interesting, if true."
Asked directly if he had seen any
signs in the operation of the motion
picture code which showed big com-
panies having advantages over the
little fellows, he said, "Absolutely
not."
Playhouse Makes Shift
Postponing the production of "Win-
dows," by John Galsworthy because
George K. Arthur is tied up in picture
work, the Hollywood Playhouse will
present "M'Lord, the Duke," by Nor-
man Pannon, as its next attraction
following "The Ghost Train," Febru-
ary 5. E. E. Clive, Zessie Tillbury and
Arthur Treacher head the cast.
Colin Clive Tries Again
Colin Give, British player, has bMn
signed by Leo Morrison to an agency
deal. Player is due from New York
for another sally at pictures in two
weeks.
Qj HOLLYWOOD ^j)
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up, single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds"builc for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chits. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospitolity"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
nVN YORK
Ci
V
\Y
05
AMERICAN:
"There must be special mention for Director Raoul Walsh,
who in a radical departure from his accepted mietier of rugged
and robustious direction, has endowed this piece with a light,
tilting touch that adds greatly to its gaiety."
WORLD-TELEGRAM:
"... 'Going Hollywood,' directed by Raoul Walsh ... is
quick, colorful, rollicking and melodious ... it possesses all the
better class virtues of musical films."
NEWS:
"... a tuneful and amusing film that Director Raoul Walsh
keeps moving along at a smart pace."
MIRROR:
"Directed by that great master of comedy, Raoul Walsh,
the film is loaded with fun. ..."
JOURNAL:
tion.
"Much credit goes to Raoul Walsh for his splendid direc-
"GOING HOLLYWOOD
ft
A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
DIRECTED BY
RAOUL WALSH
CUI.VKR CITY, :ALIr'.
Vol. XIX, No. 1 3. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, January 27, 1934
^RC$y^ DRAWS INTO $Hf II
/>;^ ROBERT WELSH
♦LET'S get down to cases and actual
facts. Sol Rosenblatt is really Out
here in order to give Mrs. Rosenblatt
the treat of seeing motion picture stu-
dios at first hand. No other conclu-
sion can be reached after a week of
first-hand impressions.
At least eleven Los Angeles news-
paper men have been sitting in Mr.
Rosenblatt's lap three or four days of
this week and some of the things you
have read have been due only to the
fact that Mr. Rosenblatt has left them
to use their own imagination.
Mr. Rosenblatt last night insulted
every Los Angeles newspaper man by
not having time to talk to them. This
probably means not a single thing to
Mr. Rosenblatt because he can still
go back to Washington and the big
league. (Of course, some of the boys
had been warned in advance by the
big league not to take Mr. Rosenblatt
too seriously. ) But we have been
trying to take him at his face value.
And we have found there is noth-
ing to take.
•
After the agents and Mr. Rosen-
blatt have spent an hour and a half
in arguing pro and con Mr. Rosen-
blatt's spokesman blandly informs the
press representatives that "Nothing
happened." Next eleven press rep-
resentatives ask Mr. Rosenblatt's
spokesman where he is going to spend
his week-end. The spokesman re-
plies "We don't know."
At least three of these press rep-
resentatives knew the spot.
•
Of course, all of this means noth-
ing to the picture business, which is
not concerned with the day-to-day
worries of newspaper men. But re-
porters have a rule which in the his-
tory of American government has very
seldom failed to run true to form:
When a man is unwilling to talk
straightly and honestly to the repre-
sentatives of the press he is not the
type of man that lasts very long in
the administration of American affairs.
•
Don't think we have become too
heated over the problem of Mr. Ro-
senblatt.
It is your industry, gentlemen, and
not ours; but if you are ready to hand
it over to any one who asks ifor it and
who offers nothing in return then
give it — and kid yourselves.
Wise Girl
A high priced writer arrived on
a major lot to begin work and was
assigned an office that did not
have a phone. The writer imme-
diately got in toudh with the op-
erator and asked to have a phone
installed and the operator snapped
back, "By the time the phone is
installed you won't be here, so why
bother?"
Warners Co Limit
On Hot Air' Pic
Warners are adding a further build-
up to their radio story "Hot Air," in
addition to the radio names that have
been put in the picture. Busby
Berkeley has been assigned to direct a
dance number which will be placed in
the picture.
The studio started out with plans
for an inexpensive production, but has
built it into an elaborate musical.
Edna May Oliver Set
In Next George Arliss
Edna May Oliver was signed yester-
day by Twentieth Century for a fea-
tured role in the next George Arliss
picture, "Head of the Family," which
will be directed by Sidney Lanfield.
The Edington and Vincent office made
the deal.
McGuire and 'U' Part
William Anthony McCuire and Uni-
versal did not get together on a new
deal for the writer to remain there.
McCuire will leave for New York soon.
Manners Coming Home
New York. — David Manners ar-
rived from Europe Thursday and leaves
for the coast today.
Manifests Kidding' Attitude
Toward Picture Newspaper
AieU'-Hides Week-End Locale
Sol Rosenblatt put himself in the doghouse yesterday so far
as Los Angeles is concerned when he reported to an official
press conference: "Nothing has happened all day."
The administrator had just finished an hour and a half with
the agents. Diplomatically he had
admitted the agents called each other
plenty of names, but officially he kept
insisting "Nothing has happened."
The net result of the day for the
newspapermen present was the revela-
( Continued on Page 4)
'Doug' Sr. Returns
Here Early in June
London. — Douglas Fairbanks Sr. will
return to Hollywood immediately on
the completion of "Don juan," which
is expected to be finished the latter
part of May. He will then make a
single picture on the United Artists
lot, returning to London for a picture
after that.
Van Every Left Yesterday
New York. — Dale Van Every left
here yesterday telling the newspaper-
men he was returning for a confer-
ence of all the Universal producers on
his arrival. Carl Laemmie Sr. and Jr.
will both be in the east when he ar-
rives for the conference.
Laemmles Start Trek
The Carl Laemmles, senior and
junior, and Robert Harris, Universal's
eastern production head, left last night
on the Chief for New York.
'SrZAXIVE' IS TOPS IIV I\. \.
BUSINESS A LITTLE BETTER
New York. — The best business of
the week was at the Music Hall. The
picture attraction was "I Am Su-
zanne" from Lasky-Fox. The receipts
topped $73,000, not big for the house,
but paying business.
The rest of the hcuses did a bit
better than last week, with Para-
mount's "Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen"
grabbing $51,000 and getting second
money on the street; "Gallant Lady"
is the third spot at the Rivoli with
about $38,500. "Eskimo" was dis-
E
aopointing at the Capitol with under
$32,000.
"Cross Country Cruise" at the Roxy
counted $21,500. Warners' "Ma:-
sacre" at the Strand beat the attrac-
tion of the week before with a total
of about $20,000. "Fashions of
1934" from the same studio took
$18,000 at the Hollywood. Colum-
bia's "Let's Fall in Love" grabbed
$11,000 at the Rialto and "Sixteen
Fathoms Deep" drew $8,200 to the
Mayfair
Jean Harlow and
MCM Settle Feud
While MCM was still denying last
night that anything had happened in
the stalemate between Jean Harlow
and the company the report was strong
the two had settled their differences.
Hatchet-burying act is described as
having occurred a week after MCM
laid down its ultimatum. Where
company had offered an increase of
$500 over the prevailing thousand and
the player had asked for a jump of
$2000 a conference between Louis B.
Mayer and the player resulted in a
compromise.
Several stories are awaiting Miss
Harlow's return and a quick selection
will be made.
Estelle Taylor Up For
Para. 'Cloopatra' Role
Paramount is negotiating with Es-
telle Taylor for a spot in Cecil B. De
Mille's production, "Cleopatra." Miss
Taylor, who is now making personal
appearances in Detroit, moves to the
Capitol in New York next week.
Renaud the French Star
Paris. — Madeleine Renaud, star of
'La Maternelle," is at present the
reigning favorite with French audi-
ences. There is much interest in what
happens to the picture when it is re-
leased in America next fall by Uni-
versal.
'Rosy' a Wampas Guest
Sol Rosenblatt has accepted the in-
vitation to be the guest of honor at
the Wampas Club meeting next Tues-
day night at the Writers Club. The
meeting will start at 6:30.
Cohn Boys in a Huddle
Jack Cohn gets into San Bernardino
today, going from there to Palm
Springs for conferences with Harry
Cohn. He arrives at the local studio
Monday.
LYLE TALBOT
ir^tm
Gives Wifihtffve Verfsrmances in
Warners' "Mandalay " and "Registered Nurse"
MANAGEMENT
Small-landau CO
^
Page Two
THEPS<
Jan. 27, 1934
T^kMsfOMEk
W R WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein
Mgr., 229 W 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-719^;
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris. 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Clel.
Published every dav with the exception of
Sundavs and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
The latest example of Von Stern-
berg's "charm" occurred in the Para-
mount lunchroom Wednesday — and
even though it's rumored that he and
Marlene Dietrich have been tiffing on
the set nobody thought even he would
publicly insult the lady! When Mar-
lene approached her table, which has
been reserved for her ever since she
worked there, she found Von seated
at it with Gail Patrick, and we are
told he didn't even have the common
politeness to rise or offer her a chair.
Marlene took it all in with a glance,
and quickly found another spot to
lunch.
William Cargan has taken a house
in Palm Springs and has moved his
whole family down there. . . . The
score of "The Merry Widow" will
remain intact — only the lyrics being
brought up to date. . . . Lupe and
Johnny Weissmuller were at the Col-
ony together the night after their
latest fight hit the front pages — and
Lupe's version of the rifting was tres
amusanti And besides, Bobbe Arnst's
printed "predictions" may put Lupe
and Johnny back together again — if
only for spite! . . . Ginger Rogers is
having a heck of a time getting over
make-up poisoning. . . The Dick
Rodgers have a new addition to the
family named Lucretia. . . . Kay Fran-
cis off to Santa Barbara for the week-
end.
•
Irene Dunne and her husband are
fighting — but only over their golf
games. . , . Nat Goldstone has put
the engagement ring on Bernice Cur-
land's finger, making everything offi-
cial. . . . Gene Raymond will "play"
around N'Yawk for a while before re-
turning here end of next month. . . .
The telephone wires between the Hays
office and Rosenblatt are burning up!
. . . Two studios are now reading a
story authored by none other than
Kathleen Ardelle, who has always been
beautiful but never dumb! . . . Guy
Kibbee. Oliver Hardy and Douglas
Dumbrille back from a duck-hunt,
loaded with ducks. . . . Clark Gable
has bagged one lion so far, but the
London Newsletter
•MASSACRE"
Warner Bros, prod.; director, Alan Crosland; writers, Robert Cessner,
Ralph Block and Sheridan Gibney.
Strand Theatre
Mirror: Here's a lulu! "Massacre" proves that there still is material in the
West and that large-scale injustice is still the most inflammatory and
exciting story material. A splendid cast plays vivid character roles. It
is elemental melodrama, and a first-rate thriller.
Herald-Tribune: Based upon a book by Robert Gessner, which made similar
charges against the officials of the Indian office, the picture called "Mas-
sacre" IS the most vigorous assault upon American injustice that the films
have produced since "I Am a Fugitive," which was, incidentally, manu-
factured by the same ardent film producers. As entertainment the work
can perhaps be recommended only with reservations, but as a good, hearty
social document it has fine and striking merit.
American: It misses being a great picture, but it remains a good one, and the
first half, at least, contains memorable elements. Mr. Barthelmess plays
his role with sincerity and conviction.
World-Telegram: Except for a rather conventional cinematic ending, is one of
the few really worthwhile films that have come along in weeks.
News: "Massacre" has life and vitality. The picture is packed with exciting
events and moves with speed and force from beginning to end. It has
been ably directed by Alan Crosland. who projected his story against au-
thentic looking backgrounds and managed his large cast with skill.
Times: Without considering the expediency of such a story, one may aver thai
parts of it are reasonably interesting and that it might have been infinitely
better had the producers not seen fit to indulge their fancy for fiery
melodramatics.
Sun: A grand old muckraking melodrama and well enough for those who can
believe half of its charges. Richard Barthelmess gives a pleasantly ener-
getic performance in a role that calls more for vigor than histrionics.
Journal: Easily the best picture Barthelmess has had in several seasons. Here
he's equipped with an attention-holding plot, a fast-moving narrative
packed with action and human interest. The picture was smoothly di-
rected by Alan Crosland and the supporting cast is capable.
Post: Richard Barthelmess plays the Americanized Indian with a sturdiness and
sincerity which are wholly admirable. It is by far the most impressive of
his latter day screen impersonations. Clarence Muse is splendid as the
comedy relief.
Para. Receiver Ball
Still Kickin' Roun'
New York. — You just can't beat
those lawyers and judges. In the mat-
ter of the Paramount equity receivers
and lawyers' fees after Judge Bondy
passed the ball to Judge Knox and he
in turn slipped it to Judge John M.
Woolsey, the latter sent it down the
field on a lateral pass.
The judge reserved decision. Both
sides are permitted to submit writ-
ten arguments to be in by February
14. After that the judge says he will
make his decision.
Gable May Shift To
'Streets of New York'
Because "Soviet" is not yet ready.
MGM may put Clark Cable in the lead
of "Streets of New York." which is
scheduled to get under way Monday
under David Selznick's producing
wing. It is from an Arthur Caesar
original. Jerry Sackheim supervises.
Celler Coming West
New York. — James Geller, of the
William Morris office, leaves here for
the coast Monday.
Riding Laird
Nursing a sore saddle-seat owing
to his polo-playing activity in be-
half of the Warners' team. Laird
Doyle, the writer, is being ribbed
by his friends (?l for having been
engaged by the company on a rid-
ing assignment.
trip's not over! . , . The local scribes
who refer to Kitty Carlisle as a "hot
cha gal" should really know better —
or should they? . . . The Jack Barry-
mores, headed for home after a fish-
ing trip in Mexican waters.
'U'and Sherman in
Row Over Lead Role
Universal and Lowell Sherman are
at odds as to who shall play the role
of Elizabeth in "Elizabeth and Mary."
which Sherman will direct in addition
to playing one of the leading roles.
Sherman wants Mrs. Leslie Carter
for that spot, and is standing pat on
the casting, while Universal wants to
bring Helen Mencken out from New
York for that role.
Col. Renews Ethel Hill
Columbia has taken up its option
on Ethel Hill, the only woman con-
tract wrtter at the studio. Miss Hill
has completed the script of "The Most
Precious Thing in Life" and is now
writing "Whirlpool," the next Jack
Holt vehicle.
Rites for Rob Wood Today
Funeral services for Robert Wood,
formerly business manager for Rich-
ard Barthelmess, will be held at the
Little Church of the Flowers at Forest
Lawn Memorial at 2 p.m. today.
As Julius Hagen is now making pic-
tures for Universal over here in addi-
tion to the Radio British product he
is enlarging his studios and, until the
new stages are complete, is using the
Wimbledon Studios in addition to his
own at St. Margarets.
Caumont- Is going to go after the
Colonial market m a big way this com-
ing season. Three units will leave for
parts of the British colonies to grab
exteriors. Walter Forde will meg a
story about Cecil Rhodes, this with
exteriors in Africa. Victor Saville, on
completion of "Evergreen" for Gau-
monts, will meg "Soldiers Three" in
India, this from the Kipling story; and
Bob Flaherty, having finished "Men
of Arran," goes to Australia for one.
|ohn Carrick, on the coast not so
long ago for Fox, gets a long term
contract at the St. Margarets studios.
•
Lunt and Fontanne open in London
in "Reunion in Vienna" at the time
that Metro generally releases in Eng-
land the picture version with Wyn-
yard and Barrymore and, in view of
this, MGM is making use of this tie-
up.
Bernard Vorhaus, young American
director, is recognized as the most
promising newcomer in the latest
megaphone field this side. He has a
contract with Julius Hagen in addi-
tion to his own producing organiza-
tion. Hagen also has John Baxter
under contract. Baxter has made a
big name for himself for his sym-
pathetic-down-to-earth pictures, no-
tably "Doss House," "Song of the
Plough" and "Say It With Flowers."
^ HOLLYWOOD ^qx
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up, D.«uble
Special weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thingto see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds '"built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr,
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospitality"
Vine al Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
|»n. 27, 1934
THE
l^ilPOIRTiR
Page Three
GIRL IN
MUSIC
Actors, Dialogue,
Direction Hopeless
"THE GIRL IN THE CASE"
(Screen Art Productions)
Directed by Dr. Eugene Frenke
Story by Dr. Eugene Frenke
Photography Arthur Martinelli
Cast; Jimmy Save, Dorothy Darling and
Eddie Lambert.
"The Girl in the Case," according
to the definition it gives itself on the
screen, is a Russian comedy done in
the American manner.
At which all good Americans should
rise to take exception. For it is no
credit to the American manner.
The preview audience was stunned
into unbelieving silence until the pic-
ture was about half over, after which
it recovered sufficiently to reward the
film with a large assortment of de-
risive noises.
The one and only thing to recom-
mend "The Girl in the Case" is the
extremely clever musical accompani-
ment. Possessing the sense of hu-
mor, the drama and the comedy the
picture thinks it has but hasn't, the
music is undauntedly fine. And if
any of you exhibitors have audiences
who like to listen to concerts with
their eyes closed this is the film for
you. Otherwise, give it a wide berth.
Dr. Eugene Frenke has two bur-
dens to bear. He wrote the thing and
he directed it — unfortunately.
The picture opens in the Russian
manner — with a close-up of some
spring blossoms, followed by some
fields. The rest of the film features
close-ups of Jimmy Savo's face (too
many and monotonous for comfort)
and slightly longer shots of him clad
in long white underwear which bags
down to his knees. There are also
some close-ups of Dorothy Darling in
panties and brassiere. Eddie Lambert
has a few gesticulating moments.
Don't blame the actors. They were
terrible — but what did they have to
be good about? The dialogue is dead-
ly dull, the story as unfunny as is pos-
sible, the direction is slow and labor-
ed, and the photography is hard on
the eyes.
Obviously designed for the small art
theatres, "The Girl in the Case" is
a pain in the neck. It is a cinematic
freak. Some cutting would help — if
the whole thing were cut into tiny
pieces and cast to the wind, leaving
only an interesting concert.
Woods Stepping High
Donald Woods so impressed War-
ners with his work in "As the Earth
Turns" and "Merry Wives of Reno"
that he has been assigned an impor-
tant role in "Gentlemen from Frisco,"
which is now in production and di-
rected by Wilhelm Dieterle. Others
in the cast include Lyie Talbot, Bette
Davis, Margaret Lindsay, Arthur Byron,
Douglas Dumbrille and Henry O'Neil.
Bachmann Due Tomorrow
J. G. Bachmann, head of Preferred
Pictures, gets in by train tomorrow
from New York. He was away a
month and a half.
CASE' JUST BAD;
0]¥L¥ f;OOD FACTOR
Gossip Around Paris
Mike's Reply
While negotiating with a well-
known writer to sign a managerial
contract with him, M. C. Levee dis-
covered that Phil Berg was also
after the writer. "What's the
matter?" asked Levee of the pros-
pective client, "Berg got anything
I haven't?" Writer's reply was,
"He was just showing me a lot of
antique furniture he has in his new
home."
"Well," said Levee, "you come
to my house and I'll show you more
furniture with prop numbers on it
than he's got."
Levee once ran the United prop
outfit.
Seven New Shows
Coming on B'way
New York. — Broadway will take a
look at seven new shows during the
next week. "The Joyous Season"
goes into the Belasco; "Hotel Ali-
mony" at the Royale; both opening
Monday. Tuesday will see "All the
King's Horses" at the Shubert and
"American Very Early" at the Van-
derbilt. Wednesday will lift the cur-
tain on "A Hat, a Coat, a Glove" at
the Selwyn and "Theodora" at the
Forrest.
The final attraction of the week
will be "The Wind and the Rain" at
the Ritz.
Raymond and Dunn Up
For 'Sadie McKee' Lead
Clarence Brown's selection of the
leading man to play opposite Joan
Crawford in "Sadie McKee" for MGM
has dwindled down to a choice be-
tween two actors, Gene Raymond and
James Dunn. The decision will be
made within a day or so. Raymond
arrived in New York yesterday from
Europe and will leave immediately for
Hollywood if he gets the spot.
Fain-Kahal Stick to Pics
Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal, song-
writers, have turned down the offer
from the Shuberts to return to New
York to write a musical show and will
remain here for pictures. The team
still has three more weeks to go on its
Warner contract.
'Johnny Mack' Set
Johnny Mack Brown goes into the
leading role in Sig Neufeld's "Wid-
ows" upon completion of his role in
"Three on a Honeymoon" for Fox.
Hallam Cooley of the Weber office
set the deal.
Waycoff Coming Back
Leon Waycoff returns to town af-
ter closing in "Among Those Sailing,"
a New York stage production. He
gets in February 1 0.
U.A. Will Release
9 British Pictures
New York. — Joseph M. Schenck
will leave for Hollywood Tuesday. In-
terviewed by a Reporter representative
he said that United Artists will re-
lease nine British pictures during the
next ten months; six from London
Films Productions and three from
British and Dominions.
Of the London Films Productions,
"Catherine the Great" will be first,
opening at the Astor Theatre here
February 14. Of the rest Charles
Laughton will star in two, Douglas
Fairbanks Sr. in one, "Don Juan";
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in another in ad-
dition to "Catherine"; Maurice Che-
valier in one.
Schenck also announced that he had
signed a Mexican actress sporting the
name of Edna Reid, who will be in
Hollywood next week.
Fox Buys Latest
Sinclair Lewis Yarn
--''New York. — Ray Long's influence
is seen in the purchase by Fox of
rights to Sinclair Lewis's latest book,
"A Work of Art."
The" price is understood to have
been very high because of the inde-
pendent attitude taken by Sinclair
Lewis on all of his works for the
screen, and despite the fact that there
was no active bidding because other
story heads had passed the story up
as not adaptable to the screen.
Guy Kibbee Gets Break
in WB 'Without Glory'
Guy Kibbee has been assigned his
first dramatic role at Warners. He
gets a featured role in the James Cag-
ney-Jo.-n Blondell opus "Without
Glory," which permits him to play
something else besides the usual com-
edy roles he has been playing.
Lesser Clears Dog Pic
Terr.^inating his argument with
Spencer Bennett over which of them is
responsible for the debts accrued on
"Ferocious Pal," Sol Lesser paid off
the clairrs against the negative, clear-
ing it for further work. Producer
shelled out $4,800 to wipe the slate
clean. Principal Pictures releases it.
N. O. joins MPTOA
New Orleans. — Exhibitors here have
decided to join the southern show-
men in the MPTOA. Organization will
be known as the Louisiana MPTOA.
H. S. McLeod was elected president.
S. Higgenbotham, Joe Barceloni and
Charles Lauve vice presidents
Benny Rubin in N. Y.
New York. — Benny Rubin arrived
here yesterday for vaudeville appear-
ances. He will return to the coast for
pictures on completion of this tour.
Norma Talmadge Sails Movse an Associate ASC
New York. — Show personalities
sailing on the Europa today include
Peggy Wood and Norma Talmadge.
Holiis Moyse, technical expert of
DuPont Film, last night was elected
an associate member of the ASC.
The first of a series of semi-propa-
ganda pictures planned by Pathe is
"Shadows Over Europe," and its re-
ception has been very favorable. Clev-
erly explains international complica-
tions, political, economic and social,
in the Balkans. . . . Michael Farmer,
Gloria Swanson's husband, hints that
he may produce films over here, but
won't go into details about what coun-
try, the financing, or anything. In-
cidentally Farmer is quoted locally as
saying that "all Hollywood stars are
yearning for European studios just to
get away from the hectic Hollywood
atmosphere." . . . Donald Harper has
been elected president of the Ameri-
can Club.
•
Belgian buyers quite noticeable here
since the collapse of the German pro-
duction output. . . . Paris theatres will
draw down a government subsidy of
over two million francs for 1934 —
and how they need it. . . . Koerpel,
United Artists' chief, gets a great kick
out of arranging orphan asylum show-
ings for "Mickey Mouse" and "Silly
Symphonies." . . Benoit-Leon Deutsch,
French stage producer, has returned
from Russia with reports that the
Soviet nation is theatre-mad. . . . Kurt
Bernhardt, author of the novel "The
Tunnel," celebrated at the opening of
the French version of his film, . . .
Critics gave it a rave as a masterpiece
of European technic. though some of
them won't forget that the author
went out of his way when in Germany
to assure the press that he is "Aryan"
clear through the family tree to his
grandmother.
•
Abel Chevally, author, and director
of American affairs at the Quai d'Or-
say. and Mme. Jane Hading, soprano,
formerly at the Opera Comique. have
passed away. . . . Well, they just sent
Gerassy, former Warner manager in
Brussels, way down to Rome. He
probably will pep up some business
and get a medal from Mussolini for
DOING things. . . . Get an eyeful of
♦ le new full-dress for French Air
Force- — it's a wow, indeed; just like
civilian evening dress-suit in gray-
blue shade plus embroidered stripe on
trousers.
Five First Cameramen
Admitted to ASC Roster
At a meeting last night of the board
of governors of the ASC five first
cameramen were admitted to member-
ship. The officers declined to reveal
their identity. Others admitted in-
cluded second cameramen, still men
and assistants to the number of thirty.
Forty applicants were held over for
another meeting.
Ruggles for 'Magoo'
Wesley Ruggles has been selected
by Paramount to pilot "The Great
Magoo." on which Al Lewis is hand-
ling the supervisory reins. Howard
j. Green is writing the screen play.
Aside from Ben Bernie. no cast de-
cisions have been made yet.
Sheik Baer Returning
Max Baer comes back to Hollywood
February 4. but will not take a pic-
ture deal. Purpose of his trip will be
to appear at San Francisco February 7
in connection with a suit he has in-
stigated against a former manager.
Page Four
THE
Ian. 27. 1934
Columboand'U'at
Point of Breaking
Russ Columbo and Universal are not
exactly on the best of terms. Co-
lumbo is trying to get out of playing
the role assigned him in "Clamor,"
with Paul Lukas and Constance Cum-
mings, along with getting out of his
contract with that studio.
Columbo claims that the studio has
kept him sitting around for four
months doing nothing and promising
him right along that they were plan-
ning to give him a story that would
be a swell build-up to stardom, and
instead they give him this role in
"Clamor" which he feels will not do
him any good in the line of further-
ing his career.
Warner Pic in Roxy
To Outwit Zanuck
New York. — Something new in
New York bookings comes up with
the placing of the Warner Brothers
picture "I've Cot Your Number" in
the Roxy to open on February 2.
The official explanation given is
that the Warner boys are filled up
with pictures for their Strand and Hol-
lywood theatres, but the undercover
story is that the deal is intended to
beat Darryl Zanuck to Broadway on
his picture with a similar theme, the
telephone company trouble shooters.
Zanuck's picture, "Looking For Trou-
ble," will probably have to wait its
turn at the United Artists Rivoli,
which won't be in the near future
because of the success made by "Cal-
lant Lady."
Caumont Starts Epic
On Rhodes in Spring
London. — British Caumont has set
on the Spring to send its expedition
to South Africa for the making of the
epic based on the career of Cecil
Rhodes. Ceoffrey Barkas, unit pro-
duction manager, is already on the
ground making preliminary arrange-
ments.
Victor Saville will direct, with script
by Leslie Arliss. The company will
have one hundred per cent cooperation
from the South African government.
U' Shelves The Deacon'
Universal has shelved plans for the
remake of "Alias the Deacon," the
John Hymer play made as a silent in
1927, because of its inability to se-
cure talkie rights from the author.
Stanley Bergerman and Eddie Crain-
ger were the choices to produce the
picture.
WB Tag Barbara Blair
garners yesterday signed Barbara
Blair to a long term contract. Miss
Blair has been appearing on the air for
some time. This makes the second
player recruited from radio signed by
Warners this week,
D'Arrast Makes 3 Versions
Madrid — "An Old Spanish Child" is
the title given the picture being made
here by Harry D'Arrast, well known
In Hollywood. Three versions, Spanish,
French and English are being made.
LeRoy Departs Tonight
Hal LeRoy and his father will leave
for New York tonight.
Take Your Choice
A couple of the boys were rib-
bing Eddie Rubin about his broad-
casts. One of them asked "Why
do you imitate your brother Benny?
You know it will hurt you later
on." The other said, "Yeah, but
think how it hurts Benny now."
Ass't Directors Get
Break By Academy
The Academy's steering committee
met yesterday and pushed plans for a
resumption of interest in the organi-
zation's functions.
Recognition of the work of assistant
directors was made through the deci-
sion to give a special award of merit
to each assistant director elected for
that honor by the production personnel
of the studio employing him, as many
awards to be made as studio putting
forward their selections. This is the
first time that the assistant director
has been singled out for attention.
Writers at each studio will not vote
on the assistant director choice since
they do not come in contact with the
production side.
All awards will be made public at
the Academy's annual banquet on
March 15.
MCM Gets Tracy
For The Show-Off
Putting through a deal with Fox for
the loan of Spencer Tracy MCM is
prepared to place "The Show Off"
into work today after several months
of on-again-off-again decisions.
Charles Reisner directs the picture,
with Madge Evans in the spot oppo-
site Tracy. Clara Blandick, Lois Wil-
son and Crant Mitchell have featured
roles. Company is using the Herman
Mankiewicz screen play of the Ceorge
Kelly stage script.
Bankrupt Austrian Firm
Blames it on German Pics
Vienna. — One of the most promi-
nent Austrian film distributors, Kop-
peman and Reiter, have filed in bank-
ruptcy. Chief among the reasons giv-
en is the drop in quality of Cerman
made talkies in which the company
specialized.
'Polly' Back to Stage
New York. — Pauline Frederick is
coming back to the stage in the play
which she had on tour for a long
period, "Her Majesty, The Widow."
She opens up at the Jackson Heights
Theatre here, then moves to Phila-
delphia for two weeks.
New Bernstein House
London. — The Bernstein circuit has
just added a two thousand seater in
Maidstone, the Granada. The circuit
has announced a plan to spend at least
four thousand pounds of its yearly
rentals on British made pictures.
Para. Seeks Vienna Play
Vienna. — Paramount in America
has shown interest in buying the pic-
ture rights to 'JMore Than Love,"
theatre piece just staged by Bus-
Fekete.
Round Up Cast For
Lloyd's 'Catspaw'
Casting on a wholesale scale was
concluded yesterday by Harold Lloyd,
preparatory to starting production on
his forthcoming opus, "The Catspaw,"
on which the cameras will commence
grinding the first of the week at the
Metropolitan studio.
Seven names were added to those
of Una Merkel, Ceorge Barbier and
Alan Dinehart, already chosen as
members of the Lloyd cast.
Crant Mitchell drew down one of
the character parts of the Clarence
Budington Kelland story when he was
assigned to the part of Magee. Others
included Warren Hymer as Slattery, a
slippery politician; James Donlan as
Red, a reporter; Frank Sheridan again
gets a police commissioner assign-
ment; Charles Bollon plays Dr. With-
ers, the reformer, and Jones Burke a
politician's henchman.
Basil Dean Plans
Ambitious 34 List
London. — Gracie Fields, at present
rated the highest paid British film star,
has been grabbed by Basil Dean for
his production of "Grace Darling,"
which will be made at the Ealing stu-
dios.
New improvements at the Dean
Studios cost over 50,000 pounds. Oth-
er pictures planned for the coming
season are "Java Head," from Her-
gesheimer's story; "Lorna Doone,"
"The Beggar's Opera," "Twelve
Chairs" and "Come With Me."
"Lorna Doone" has already been
announced for production this year by
an American company. Monogram.
Turkish Film Market
Is Shot To Pieces
Stamboul — The picture market here
is in the doldrums because the thea-
tres haven't yet caught up with the
expense of installing sound. Only
about fifty out of one hundred and
fifty theatres are wired.
American and German pictures
lead, with the French getting a better
break lately because of the boycott of
German pictures by the Jewish popu-
lation. In addition Turkey has also
produced two pictures of its own in
recent months.
German Skill Helps French
Paris. — The influx of Cerman tech-
nicians due to the Nazi influence is
going to have its effects on the French
cinema in the next year in the opinion
of the best posted observers here. The
Germans know tehir technique, and
the effects are being felt.
Actor Turns Manager
London. — John Gielgud, young ac-
tor producer, is going it completely on
his own with the ownership and pro-
duction of "Spring, 1600" at the
Shaftesbury Theatre February 1 . Rich-
ard Clowes, former journalist, is as-
sociated with him.
Zellner at Warners.
Arthur Zellner, who formerly did
-publicity for Douglas Fairbanks and
Mary Pickford, joins the Warner pub-
licity staff Monday as a feature writer.
OPEN FORUM
Dear Mr. Wilkerson:
Three rousing cheers to you for
printing the letter published in the
January 19 issue of Hollywood Re-
porter, and three more cheers to "A
Script Girl" for writing it. We script
girls, or studio stenogs, do not squawk
out loud about our salaries and work-
ing conditions, because we've come to
know all the answers, including that
celebrated one: "If you don't like It,
you know what you can do."
But now, anonymously, I second the
plea of "A Script Girl" for a higher
scale of wages among stenographers
in the script department. The addi-
tional expenditure would not stagger
the studio budget, and it would dis-
perse the prevailing spirit of dissatis-
faction and resentment among the
girls, as mirrored by "A Script Girl."
For the amount and quality of work,
intelligence, and diplomacy required
of us, we should be more adequately
compensated. Surely, it would be to
the advantage of a studio, as far as
cooperation and morale are concerned,
to take us out of the "What-do-you-
expect-for-that-salary" class.
Thanks for giving us a chance to
air our views.
ANOTHER SCRIPT GIRL.
'Rosy' Draws Into Shell
(Continued from Page 1 )
tion that Sol Rosenblatt doesn't give
a rap about what Hollywood thinks of
his official acts.
While Rosenblatt was busy chang-
ing into his best clothes to confer with
the Actors Guild every reporter in
town assigned to follow him, by the
top dailies as well as the others, was
accumulating a marked peeve as to
the Deputy Administrator's personal
attitude. Likewise they were trying to
absorb and analyze all the near-news
that was happening in the lobby of
the Beverly-Wilshire.
At the afternoon session with Ro-
senblatt the agents licked themselves
by not being willing to agree on any-
thing. In their case no fault could be
found with the Deputy Administrator.
Finally the administrator suggested
a committee be appointed to confer
with him. Later it was understood
the agents had agreed upon the fol-
lowing committee: Phil Berg, Myron
Selznick, Scottie Dunlap, Charles Feld-
man, Mike Levee and Ralph Blum.
They will await Rosenblatt's pleasure
for a confab.
After this Jessie Wadsworth, still
bolshevik, said that at every meeting
of the agents one group seemed to
dominate the whole thing. To this
the Administrator replied that any
agent could write him stating any
grievance and the same would be kept
strictly confidential and if, as a result
of those letters, he felt he should see
the correspondent, the writer would
be sent for.
A Reporter representative who hap-
pened to get a few minutes of the
precious Rosenblatt time was told:
"If those fellows can't agree among
themselves how do they expect a
stranger to walk in and settle their
problems?"
J
Vol. XIX, No. 14. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, January 29. 1934
MAJORS TC SHOW PROflT
•PITY the writer.
Yes, you are reading right.
And the writer here in the motion
picture studios is deserving of pity for
he is not writing what he believes to
be the proper writing, but that which
is dictated by his supervisor. And we
all know supervisors.
Ninety per cent of all the success-
ful writers of the world are in Holly-
wood. They have been brought to
Hollywood because of their success,
and for the reason that motion picture
studios can pay successful writers
more money than they can earn by
creating plays, books or magazine or
newspaper stories.
But they are not permitted to
write. They are not permitted to use
their writing brains for the making of
GOOD PICTURES. The success that
they have had means nothing. It got
them a job at a princely salary, but
what caused them to be successful au-
thors— their own good writing and
their knowledge of the subjects on
which they wrote is thrown out of
the window.
The successful writer must write
for the UNSUCCESSFUL PRODUCER.
He does not write for the public, he
does not write for what he KNOWS
to be the ticket-buying picture pa-
tron; he must write for his producer,
who, in the majority of cases, has lit-
tle knowledge of writing, of the pub-
lic fancy, of what picture patrons want
to see in screen entertainmet, of what
will SELL. He is simply the PRODUC-
ER, placed in that position through
some trick or favor — family relation-
ship, pull or through good politics —
and he is the man for whom the SUC-
CESSFUL WRITER must write.
Yes, pity the writer.
And if that writer is fortunate in
having one of the three or four good
producers looking over his work, he
has the additional hurdle — and the
worst jump to make — in confining his
writing to the intelligence of the "14
year old child" that Mr. Hays has sold
to the studio heads here. The writer
finds himself having to write stories
to please that 1 4 year old monster
that DOES NOT EXIST. He can't
write adult entertainment, because
Mr. Hays has sold Hollywood that mo-
tion pictures are not for adults but for
the 14 year old boys and girls. Fancy
that.
So pity the writer.
Cem of the Ocean
New York. — Columbia Pictures
has declared its regular 75 cents
a share on the preferred stock,
payable March 1 to stockholders of
record February 1 5.
Tracy Comeback
In Eastern Picture
New York. — Lee Tracy is going to
stage his comeback simultaneously
with the first feature production of
Meyer Davis-Van Beuren Corporation.
The company, which has been releas-
ing its short product through Radio,
starts its first feature April 1.
Lee Tracy will co-star with Bert
Lahr in the picture, which will be a
semi -musical, produced at the Bio-
graph studios here. Harold Spinna
and johnny Burke will do the music,
and assignment of story writers will
be made this week.
'Nick' Schenck To
Be Here Next Week
New York. — Nicholas M. Schenck
is expected to leave here for Culver
City the end of this week. This is
the trip that was planned some weeks
ago but delayed due to his illness
which caused a three weeks confine-
ment at his home.
Hedda Hopper Hangs
Hat in John Zanft Office
Hedda Hopper has hung up her
t'hespian wardrobe to don the toga of
an agent, affiliating herself with the
new organization being started by Ma-
jor John Zanft.
Ray Long on Way West
New York. — Ray Long boarded the
train Saturday to return to Fox at
Westwood Hills.
'DESIGN FOR
RECORDS IX
London. — The best business done
in these parts in a long time, possibly
the top for all time, was shown by
the Plaza with Paramount's "Design
For Living" the attraction. To say that
the picture was a smash is placing it
mildly. There were long lines at the
box office from early morning until
late at night and there was hardly a
minute during the day that every seat
in the house was not occupied. The
picture will be held indefinitely at this
Trick Handling And Foreign
Market Will Lift Most Majors
Into A Prof it Reading For Year
New York. — Every major company, with the possible excep-
tion of Universal, will show rather healthy profit for 1933. This
is due mostly from the big returns in foreign markets and aided,
to a great degree, by trick manipulations of collections and dis-
bursements, amortizations, etc, etc.,
in the handling of the books, done for
the purpose of attracting financing
and stock buying.
But taken by and large, 1933 was
the best year that the picture industry
has had in the last three years and
there is every indication that 1934,
with its forced economies, with a
greater drive for better pictures and
the continued success of the foreign
(Continued on Page 9)
John Barrymore For
'Monte Cristo' Lead
Edward Small is closing negotia-
tions with John Barrymore to star in
"Count of Monte Cristo," which he
is making for Reliance-United Artists
Deal is said to involve a $50,000
guarantee for two weeks. Under-
stood that the John Gilbert negotia-
tions are cold, with the Fredric March
deal still warm until the Barrymore
signature is on the line.
'jock' Whitney Goes East
John Whitney, expected to make
his entry in the picture business as
producer of a Technicolor feature with
Merian Cooper for Radio, departed for
New York last night after a week's
conference with the producer.
LIVIXG' LIFTS
LOI\DO]\ RUX
spot and may do a solid month in a
house with a usual weekly change
policy.
"Going Hollywood" did a swell
business also. Bing Crosby was the big
draw and is now one of the greatest
attractions in London.
The big flop of the week was
Twentieth Century's "Broadway Thru
a Keyhole" at the Rivoli. London
ticket buyers wanted no part of that
(Continued on Page 3)
Karen Morley Back
In Columbia Pic
Karen Morley's return to active pic-
ture work since the birth of her baby
occurs in Columbia's "Most Precious
Thing in Life," signing of the play on
a loan-out from MGM Saturday bring-
ing to a close an exhaustive hunt by
the studio for a leading woman.
Remainder of the cast, which was
held up owing to the uncertainty of
the choice for the top spot, will be
rushed through with a view to start-
ing next Monday under Lambert Hill-
yer's direction and Robert North's su-
pervision. Robert Young is being
sought on loan from MGM. If the
negotiations fail Richard Cromwell gets
the next important spot.
Gallant Lady' Off to
Good Start Locally
Darryl Zanuck's production, "Gal-
lant Lady," continues its record break-
ing box office take with $1,700 for
the first day at the local United Ar-
tists and $2,100 for Saturday. First
day's sales are $300 over those of
"Henry VIII." Ann Harding has
the top spot in the picture directed
by Gregory LaCava.
Schenck and Giannini
Leaving New York Today
New York. — Joseph Schenck and
"Doc" Giannini leave here today for
Hollywood, the former from his Eu-
ropean trip and the latter from -the
meeting of the eastern division of the
American Bankers Association, at
which he was the principal speaker.
Tom Mix Returns
Tom Mix rolls into town today by
car, completing an eight months'
vaudeville tour. He will stay here
for three weeks before going to Dal-
las to the winter quarters of the Sam
B. Dill circus, which he owns.
E
Make Reservations Now for the Writers' Number —
Page Two
mm
Jan. 29.
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Ciel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Lotsa parties over the week-end:
There was the Herman Mankiewiczes
dinnering at which Greta Keller war-
bled divinely but not long enough. . .
Ernst Lubitsch and Greta Koerner rem-
inisced for hours in German but didn't
say anything that could have been
amiss in English! George Cukor, Jean
Negulesco, the Sam Jaffes. the Eddie
Lowes, the Ralph Blums, the Dick
Rodgers,.the Edwin Knopfs, Ben Was-
son, Helen Gwynn, Arthur Kober,
Alice Glazer among those present. . . .
Kay Francis gave a soiree too, at
which the Clive Brooks, the Dick Bar-
thelmesses, Virginia Gilbert, Jock
Whitney, the Freddie Frelinghuysens,
Corinne Griffith, Maurice Chevalier,
Lewis Milestone, Eddie Kane, Coun-
tess di Frasso, Bert Collins, Freddy
Kruger and other dined and back-
gammoned. . . . But the week-end
antics of the David and Myron Selz-
nicks were something! They leaped
into a plane Saturday at noon, which
plane also carried the Sol Rosenblatts,
and flew down to Caliente for a quick
lunch, a quick bet on the races, a
quick nip and a quick trip back to the
Beverly Wilshire for dinner and a
quick dance! Also at the Beverly Wil-
shire were Charlie Chaplin and Paul-
ette Goddard, King Vidor with Betty
Hill, Joan Blondell and George Barnes,
Sue Carol, Walter Wanger, Mary Nash
and Edward Everett Horton.
A news item that strikes us as un-
conscious humor is the one about
Lowell Sherman wanting Mrs. Leslie
Carter (who is older than Ben Ber-
nie's jokes) for a role in "Elizabeth
and Mary" — and Universal wanting
Helen Mencken for the SAME role!
Just a SLIGHT discrepancy in opinion
— and one which must be very flat-
tering to Helen Mencken — we DON'T
think!
'U' Execs Co Scouting
John Stahl, Eph Asher and Henry
Henigson visited the Radio lot and
caught Corinne Griffith in action on
the "Crime Doctor" set. Universal is
bagging a one-picture deal with her.
"MISS FANES BABY IS STOLEN"
Paramount prod.; director, Alexander Hall; writers, Rupert Hughes,
Adela Rogers St. Johns.
Paramount Theatre
World-Telegrami: Told simply, with all the agonizing reality of truth, the story
of "Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen" is as graphic, gripping and heartrending
as a news story. It is admirably and tastefully directed by Alexander
Hall, who keeps it intensely human and never mawkish, and it is acted to
utter perfection by its entire cast and more notably by Miss Wieck, little
Baby LeRoy and Alice Brady.
American: Entertainment all the way. Although this is a better motion picture
than Miss Wieck's earlier American effort, and provides the star with far
greater opportunities, which, incidentally, she grasps with skill and under-
standing of her art, she has the misfortune of losing the picture to Alice
Brady, who triumphs in a portrayal entirely different from those in which
Hollywood threatened to type her.
Mirror: Thrilling and heart-breaking, "Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen" is a splen-
didly made, smartly written and brilliantly acted film, which deals with a
timely and important subject. Alice Brady is magnificent.
Herald-Tribune: It emerges as an effective if perhaps too studiously unpleasant
screen play. Dorothea Wieck plays with sympathy and understanding,
but her role is naturally a rather monotonous one, and it is Miss Alice
Brady who has the fattest part in the film.
Times: Even those who are averse to the producing of pictures concerned with
kidnapping wil probably decide that in this film the subject is dealt with
in an intelligent, restrained and provocative fashion. In this stirring nar-
rative, which was written by Rupert Hughes, Dorothea Wieck gives a
beautifully sensitive and commanding portrayal.
News: This was made from Rupert Hughes' short story of the same name, and
while the photoplay follows the line of the story pretty closely the ending
has been mercifully changed. If the baby had been allowed to die the
picture would have been unendurable. As it is it will wring tears both
of laughter and pity from the flintiest of hearts.
Sun: The effectiveness of the story is perhaps hampered by the occasional inco-
herence of its telling. There are unexplained lapses of tim, jumps from
place to place, too many omissions of necessary details. But with a theme
like that it is sure of a few tears, and at the close a few handclaps from
any audience.
journal: The picture, emotionally, is disturbing. Dramatically it is vividly de-
veloped with mounting suspense. It is tense, both in its subject matter
and in its effectively smooth method of narration. Easing the strain a bit
is the more than welcome humor supplied by Baby LeRoy. Dorothea
Wieck gives an excellent performance.
"I AM SUZANNE"
Fox-Lasky prod.; director, Rowland V. Lee; writers, Rowland V. Lee,
Edwin Justus Meyer.
Music Hall
Times: Succeeds in being quite a fascinating diversion. Its story is inconse-
quential, but the frailties are forgotten when the puppets strut their stuff.
There are one or two pleasing musical compositions which are staged with
fine effect.
News: The dialogue is clever and the picture has been directed with skill.
Sun: Mr. Lasky, who likes to make pictures different, has succeeded again.
Miss Harvey's deceptively fragile personality, her porcelain voice and as-
tonishingly athletic dancing are at their best in this. She has a lot to do
and she does it all well, even to sharing honors gracefully with the pleas-
ant Mr. Raymond.
Herald-Tribune: The latest in the series of striking, intelligent, ambitious and
artistically courageous motion pictures which have been emerging from
the valiant hand of Mr. Jesse L. Lasky with such gratifying insistence.
Mirror: The producer who dared to use travesty in "The Warrior's Husband,"
the supernatural in "Berkeley Square," this time has ventured into the
realm of whimsy to make a romance which is as unique as it is tender and
appealing. Lilian Harvey gives an enchanting performance. Gene Ray-
mond is splendid opposite her. A fairy story which will entertain the
whole family.
American: Again Jesse Lasky brings us a beautifully sensitive, whimsical, imagi-
native film idyll, wistfully fragrant. It is one of the most delicate, ex-
quisitely wrought entertainments to emanate from any studio here or
abroad. It is Miss Harvey's supreme contribution to the cinema.
Post: "I Am Suzanne" employs marionettes generously and lavishly, sometimes
so lavishy as to obscure the simplicity and effectiveness of their art. How-
ever, it is superior entertainment, distinguished in its story, direction and
acting.
World-Telegram: A dainty, whimsical little story, which blends fantasy and
realism so skillfully that the effect is thoroughly charming and entertain-
ing. First rate screen entertainment from beginning to end.
lournal: Told with imagination and charm, the film is a diverting mixture of
novelty, romance and music. Miss Harvey's performance is the best that
she has yet contributed to the American screen.
=1
There's a Joker In
New FTC Powers
Washington. — President Roosevelt
may have returned the Federal Trade
Commission to a lot of its old glories
in reviewing complaints against the
NRA, but Director of the Federal Bud-
get Douglas has his own ideas.
The budget director is keeping the
Federal Trade Commission appropria-
tion on a shoestring basis, w'hich will
probably leave it just as ineffectual
as ever in trying to handle the mov-
ing picture industry.
Lewis Handles Reins
On RKO 'Dover Road'
David Lewis takes over the super-
visory reins on "Dover Road" for Ra-
dio and will have J. Walter Ruben
directing the Clive Brook starrer.
Although many scripts were chopped
out by Paramount writers when the
A. A. Milne play was up repeatedly
at that studio during Brook's contract
there. Radio has its own ideas on the
screen play and has assigned H. W.
Hanneman to fashion the new one.
Chance for Eight Stars
The Bernard and Meiklejohn agency
has been commissioned to sign eight
different movie stars for personal ap-
pearances at a coast auto show. Play- j
ers signed will receive $1,000 per |
day and expenses, including airplane
transportation to and from.
Heaiy Cang Renewed
Ted Healy and his stooges, Howard.
Fine and Howard, were signed by
MGM to a new term contract. The
comics are now working in "Holly- ,
wood Party" and a short subject which I
Jack Cummings is supervising. ,
i
Blochman Takes a Rest
L. G. Blochman, the only writer on ^
the Universal staff holding a long i
term ticket, has checked off the com- '
pany's payroll on a three weeks' lay- j
off. He handed in a revised script
on "Golden Fleece" for Paul Lukas.
Eskimo' Clicks at 4 Star
MGM's "Eskimo" opened at the i
Four Star Theatre Friday night and!
broke all opening night records for'
the house
RUSSELL, MILLER
and Company
Members
MEW YORK STOCK EXCHANCf
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
Jan. 29, 1934
Page Three
MONO'S 'MYSTERY LINER'
RATES ONLY EAIR MYSTERY
No European Trip
for Junior Laemmie
Good Thriller Basis
Unevenly Produced
"MYSTERY LINER"
(Monogram)
Direction William Nigh
Story by Edgar Wallace
Adaptation by Wellyn Totman
Photography Archie Stout
Cast: Noah Beery, Astrid Allyn, Ed-
win Maxwell, Ralph Lewis, Cus-
tav von Seiffertitz, Zeffie Tild-
way and Booth Howard.
If Monogram's "Mystery Liner"
were a little less lethargic in places,
it would be one of the best. The guts
are there, but the spirit is weak.
Due partly to direction which is
sometimes timid and sometimes rag-
ged, and partly to the acting which is
not of the best, the picture as a whole
fails to give full value to the essen-
tially dramatic and exciting basis of
the Edgar Wallace yarn.
Under novel conditions, a huge
liner puts out to sea. Its captain,
Noah Beery, has been confined to an
insane asylum because of a mysterious
drug which has been given him in
his food and which temporarily para-
lyzes the brain; the succeeding cap-
tain and his first mate are at sword's
point over the ship's nurse, Astrid Al-
lyn; but the most exciting element of
the ship's voyage is the part played
by S505. S505 is a tube which at
nine o'clock that night is to be screw-
ed into a huge electrical set-up on
board ship which connects with the
radio control station on land.
The tube is inserted, and the huge
ship immediately comes under the
control of one man who is turning
little dials in New York. The crew
sits back and does nothing, as the
vessel speeds up, slackens, or changes
its course at this one man's whim.
This is the highlight of the picture.
The trouble starts, of course, when
the inventor and the captain are killed,
and the fiends also steal the tube
which leaves the ship's controls frozen
and the vessel at the mercy of the
tides.
William Nigh, the director, squeez-
ed all the juice out of the radio-con-
trol sequence, but fell down on the
rest of the picture. Wellyn Totman
made a passable adaptation of the Ed-
gar Wallace story, and Archie Stout's
photography is remarkably fine.
Noah Beery is swell as the captain,
but the rest of the cast, including
Astrid Allyn, Edwin Maxwell, Ralph
Lewis, Custav von Seiffertitz, Zeffie
Tildway and Booth Howard, was not,
at all times, convincing.
Discreet cutting of unimportant and
languid scenes throughout will help
this film tremendously. Its frame-
work is strong, and even as it stands
now it is a pretty fair mystery.
I Col. Cuts Sound Crews
', Rumbles of new trouble in the
I sound men's ranks are heard as a re-
sult of a Columbia order issued Friday
reducing the crew per picture from
four to three and saddling the duties
[of the fourth man between the grips
jand electricians.
Ronnell-Cowan Bells
The rumor had to go all the way
to New York and reverse itself,
but here it is as Broadway is tell-
ing it: Lester Cowan and Ann Ron-
nell, sister of Administrator Sol
Rosenblatt, will be wed in Yuma
this week, with the NRA chieftain
giving the bride away.
Chaplin and Beery
In Talking Picture
Charlie Chaplin and Wallace Beery
are both hot on the idea of appearing
in a picture together. The story idea
is set around a King and his Jester.
Beery still has nine or ten months
to go on his MGM contract and there
is no chance of MCM loaning him at
this time, so if anything comes out
of this new idea it will have to
be done on the completion of Beery's
term at MGM.
Warners Building Yarn
With Para Star in Mind
Claimed to be the first such in-
stance on record, Warners are laying
plans for a production aimed at a
player from another studio.
Picture is "Friends of Mr. Sweeny"
and a bid has been registered with
Paramount for a farm-out deal on
Charles Ruggles for the ace spot. Story
is by Elmer Daves, with Sidney Suth-
erland and Warren Duff treating it
for the screen under Sam Bischoff's
wing.
Local Clubs Raided
The film center's leading clubs, the
Colony, Clover and Boheme, were
the victims of raids by the Sheriff
early Saturday morning at the height
of their activity and when packed
with picture folk.
Flu Delays 'Jew Suss'
London. — Conrad Veidt lost a few
days on "Jew Suss" at British Gau-
mont because of an attack of the flu,
but is now back on the job again.
New York. — There will be no Eur-
opean business trip or vacation for
Junior Laemmie right at this time as
Universal has decided to rush through
the completion of their program of 36
pictures, which still has 14 pictures
to go.
Accordingly Junior is expected to
remain here not more than ten days
and then return to Univeral City and
get the remainder of the program in
work. He will also lay out next year's
production activities and then, maybe,
will get that trip to Europe.
Talmadge-Meighan
ToCo-st-arforB&D
London. — Thomas Meighan and
Norma Talmadge have been signed to
co-star in a picture that is to be made
here by British & Dominions with
United Artists releasing it throughout
the world.
The picture is "Somehow Good" and
will be directed by Jack Raymond with
production starting within the next
two weeks.
'Design' Lifts Record
(Continued from Page 1 I
one and there was a fight between
the house management and United
Artists to keep the picture there for
the full week.
Gaumont's "Constant Nymph" had
a swell week and is being held over
for a second. The other holdover is
"I'm No Angel."
The new pictures of the week are
"Eskimo," titled "Mala the Magnifi-
cent" on this side, which goes into
the Empire; "Invisible Man" replacing
"Broadway Thru a Keyhole"; "I Cov-
er the Waterfront" replacing "Henry
the Eighth" and "Little Women"
goes into the Regal replacing "Vol-
taire."
Business generally, not so good.
SMALLER FELLOWS BURX
OVER 'ROSY'S' ATTITUDE
Smaller fellows in the ranks of pro-
ducers and agents are doing a burn
over what they claim is their inability
to get a word with the ear of Admin-
istrator Sol Rosenblatt.
Few of the indies want to be quot-
ed. But Jack Jasper, of the Davidge
Laboratory, a factor in indie produc-
tion financing this year, was willing to
say:
"Mr. Rosenblatt is being led around
by the silk hats and has shown no in-
terest whatsoever in the little fellow.
If the little fellow were only given
a few minutes he could tell Mr. Ros-
enblatt plenty.
"Most of the Hollywood gang," he
continued, "is seeking to defeat the
code with their own selfish demands.
They haven't even given it a fair
chance to operate and are in a terrific
uproar over salary questions and every-
thing affecting their own pocket-
books while the code, originally plan-
ned to spread work, create work, and
help the rank and file is not getting
anywhere."
Haven MacQuarrie, listed as a
"small agent," but doing a pretty ac-
tive annual business in the industry,
slammed both Rosenblatt's advisors
and the big agents for not even no-
tifying the smaller individual repre-
sentatives of the Friday meeting.
WampasWieldsClub
On Non-Paying Boys
The Wampas is going through a
clean-up and to narrow the organiza-
tion down to active members is using
the method of serving notice on all
who are in arrears for dues.
The Board of Directors has been
given power to use its judgment in
the handling of the cases. As a result
twenty- five were dropped last week,
and fifteen other publicity men given
until today to meet their obligations.
A break is being given boys who have
been out of work for long periods.
The members dropped lose out on
insurance benefits.
Hubbard Signs New
Contract at MCM
Lucien Hubbard signed a new term
contract with MGM Saturday to re-
main on that lot for another year as
an associate producer. "The Show
Off" makes the eleventh picture he
has produced within a year.
Hubbard will leave for Europe in
June on a two months' vacation.
Code Will Investigate
Vaudeville Actor Labor
New York. — Robert H. Cochrane,
chairman of the third meeting of the
Code Authority held at the Hotel As-
tor, has appointed a committee to in-
vestigate the provisions of the code of
fair competition of the motion pic-
ture industry relating to vaudeville
actor labor.
Members of the committee are Ed-
ward A. Schiller, Sam Dembow Jr.,
Ma|or Thompson, Joseph Bernhard,
George Skouras, jack Partington, Hen-
ry Chesterfield, Ralph Whithead,
Charles B. Maddock and Marty For-
kins.
Deported Train Idea
Again Up at Studio
Warners have purchased an original
story by Doctor McLaughlin and Laird
Doyle titled "Deportation Train" and
has handed the yarn to Robert Pres-
nell for his supervision.
Universal's sales announcement over
a year ago carried a title covering this
idea but nothing ever happened be-
yond that.
Rosenblatt Rests Up
After a flying one-day trip to Cali-
ente Saturday Sol Rosenblatt did a
hide-out yesterday to get at least one
day's rest from the conferences. While
the Beverly-Wilshire denied any
knowledge of his whereabouts it is be-
lieved he spent the day as the beach
guest of Louis B. Mayer.
'Bottoms Up' Closes
With the finish of the dance num-
bers at Fox Hills studio Saturday night
Buddy DeSylva completed "Bottoms
Up" after five and a half weeks in
production.
Producer Cameron Here
John Cameron, play producer, is in
Hollywood for a short stay. He is
angling for two picture names before
returning east.
Page Four
_TH£i^
Jan. 29, 1934
•BY YOUR LEAVE' B'WAY HIT;
•MACKEREL SKIE^* CONFVSIXG
But Has Background
Tempting For Pics
Theme a Bit Spicy
For Use on Screen
"BY YOUR LEAVE"
By Gladys Hurlbut and Emma Wells.
Presented by Richard Aldrich and
Alfred De Liagre, Jr. At the
Morosco Theatre. Staged by Mr.
De Liagre; settings by )oe Miel-
ziner. Cast: Dorothy Gish, How-
ard Lindsay, Kenneth MacKenna,
Ernest Giendinning, Elizabeth
Love, Josephine Hull, Esther
Dale, Elizabeth Bruce, Cynthia
Rogers, Henry Fox and Carl En-
dicott. Special auto horn effect
at end of third act by Louis
Bromfield.
New York. — Howard Lindsay last
night proved that not only is he a
first-rate playwright (via the hit "She
Loves Me Not") but is also a first-
rate comedian extremely fortunate in
having chosen for his histrionic dis-
play this excellent production which
now joins the goodly company of
Broadway hits, "By Your Leave"
proves to be a swell show for any-
body's money and while dealing with
a situation not exactly new — that of
the suburbanite who feels himself
gradually being swallowed up by en-
croaching respectable married life and
approaching middle-age, tearing him-
self out of the established rut in an
effort to find his lost youth and to re-
assure himself that any one else, other
than his wife, could possibly find him
desirable; there is introduced a nov-
elty that offers unlimited possibilities
on the screen.
That idea involves an organized bus-
iness establishment whose mission is
that of supplying feminine companions
of any size, color and shape to suit,
for lonely and tired business men. The
girls are available on a time basis by
the hour or day or night — the gentle-
man signs a report card checking the
girl in and out — the girls are prac-
ticed in the arts of love and it is their
business to make themselves pleasant-
ly and efficiently amenable in what-
ever capacity they are desired. You
can imagine the limitless opportunities
for giving audiences forbidden tasty
fruit — dished up in a daring delight-
ful way with a minimum of offensive-
ness. And so it is in this play, the
bedroom scene in the hotel room reg-
istering heavily as the best of the eve-
ning and especially well-played by
Howard Lindsay and his ready-to-or-
der lady of the evening. In this epi-
sode is delivered the best line of the
play (and there are hundreds of them)
when Ernest Giendinning, playing
Freddie, one-time buddy of our sub-
urban hero and now a sophisticated
bachelor in the big city who has dal-
lied long and exceedingly well in the
sport of love, arranges the matter of
getting a companion of the evening
for Henry, In calling the agency,
Freddie remarks, "the girl can be over
in a few minutes, the office is only a
short distance from the hotel — over in
Rockefeller Center — but you under-
stand— they are not part of The Foun-
dation!"
Wrong Size
The overcoat taken from the
Writers' Club checkroom at the
Wampas meeting three weeks ago,
belonging to George Thomas, was
delivered to MCM studios in a
bundle Friday, Evidently it didn't
fit.
Fight Looms On
Wild Animal Films
New York. — What is expected to
grow into a national campaign that
will make plenty of trouble for pro-
ducers of wild animal features was
launched in New York last Friday by
the Women's League for Animals.
President Sydney H. Coleman of the
American Humane Association protest-
ed at a meeting of the Women's
League against the type of picture
that must use animals in studio shot
fights to get thrills.
Spencer Turns Actor
Robert Spencer, secretary to Mau-
rice Chevalier, has turned actor and
is appearing in a series of playlets
at the Beverly Hills Community Play-
house,
MCM Tests Ceva
Tamara Ceva was tested Saturday
by MCM for a term contract.
In brief, the plot outline is this,
Henry Smith calls a halt to a humdrum
peaceful and passive existence and de-
mands that both he and the wife
(Dorothy Gish) separate and take a
week's vacation away from each other
so as to look at things from a dis-
tance in retrospect. The wife objects
at first but is won over by the idea,
Henry spends his week in N, Y. He
cuts loose a bit but has lost the knack
of the easy ways of his single life.
The experience with his charming
companion of the evening (very ef-
fectively played by Elizabeth Love and
a sure bet for pictures) serves only to
shock and disillusion him and back
home he goes with his tail between
his legs.
On the other hand, his wife makes
the most of her vacation, indulging in
an orgy of beauty treatments, new
clothes and best of all a love affair
with David Mackenzie, a young Scotch
explorer (played by Kenneth Mac-
Kenna in a pleasing and unexaggerat-
ed fashion). According to agreement,
the wife returns home on scheduled
time and finds a husband who is
tickled silly to have her back and who
cannot exhibit enough ways to show
how much he really appreciates her.
He blurts out his experiences to ease
his conscience and then demands an
explanation of her — which she gives
him most charmingly but with ut-
most discreetness and finesse. None
the wiser, Henry is completely satis-
fied— both have had their fling and
life resumes its normal swing,
Dorothy Gish, Lindsay, Giendinning,
MacKenna and Elizabeth Love stand
out as the bright stars.
"MACKEREL SKIES'
George Busbar in association with
John Tuerk presents "Mackerel
Skies," by John Haggart, staged
by John Roche, settings by Aline
Bernstein, at the Playhouse.
With Violet Kemble Cooper,
Carol Stone, Cora Witherspoon,
Tom Powers, Charles Trowbridge,
Max Figman and John Griggs.
New York. — Mackerel skies are
said to presage a storm. So that the
moment Elsa Gerrard gazes out of an
upstairs sitting room window of her
Gerrard mansion on upper Fifth Ave-
nue and makes sombre reference to
them, one knows something is about
to happen. What happens is the sud-
den appearance of an old love of Elsa's
who is the father of her now seven-
teen year old daughter Elizibeth.
The main trouble with Elsa, outside
of this one little peccadillo, is that
once upon a time she had a voice, a
voice which had brought her nothing
but failure and frustration, although
it did, in the course of years, accom-
plish David Gerrard, a charming sec-
ond husband. Gerrard had spent a
fortune trying to put Elsa over in
opera. But Elsa just didn't have it,
which made no difference to Gerrard,
who loved her anyway, as well as Eliz-
abeth, whom he believes to be the
offspring of Elsa's earlier marriage to
an Austrian nobleman.
As the curtain goes up we soon
learn that Elsa's daughter too has a
voice, inherited, we are presently as-
sured, from her real father, who once
as a humble peasant in the wheat
fields of Austria had a yen to sing
tenor. Now the peasant turns up as
Mr. Kubeck of Chicago, a titan of
finance, who, discreetly withholding
his identity, makes it possible for Eliz-
abeth, when David Gerrard is financi-
ally unable, to go abroad and culti-
vate her gift, and three years later
make a successful debut at the Met-
ropolitan. All this in the face of strong
opposition on Elsa's part, who will not
have her daughter fail as she failed,
and who is torn betwixt a corroding
bitterness and an unreasoning jealousy.
It is all very temperamental, febrile,
and imminent. Unquestionably the
basis was there, but somehow the play
isn't able to evoke the emotional re-
sponse aimed at. The one thing that
can be definitely recorded is that the
storm, when it has passed, has done
no damage. For Elsa remains undimin-
ished in her devotion to her husband;
her jealousy of Elizabeth is conquered;
and Kubeck has his big moment of
renunciation — and the secret of Eliz-
abeth's nativity is safe forevermore.
To enhance the conflict the author
provides Elizabeth with a beau in the
person of a Harvard senior, who moons
about and at one point threatens to
shoot himself unless he can marry her.
John Griggs, as the senior, is ingratiat-
ing enough to make one glad that in
the end he gets his heart's desire,
Cora Witherspoon, as Elsa's girlhood
friend, projects what soupcon of hu-
Open Arms for Stars
On Zanuck Journey
Washington. — Hollywood stars with
the Darryl Zanuck "Moulin Rouge"
caravan will get a reception in Wash-
ing rivaling any ever given diplomats
or politicians.
On Friday they will be feted at a
luncheon given by Senator McAdoo
in a private dining room of the Capi-
tol. Many members of the House and
Senate will be present. It will be
broadcast by two radio stations.
Following the luncheon the stars
will visit the House of Representa-
tives and then entrain for New York
to be on hand for the opening of the
Constance Bennett picture February 6.
MCM Shoots the Works
On 'Christina' Ballyhoo
Claimed to be the top price ever ex-
pended on a trailer, MGM checks off
a budget of $3,000 against the bally-
hoo short for "Queen Christina," the
Garbo-Gilbert picture. It is expected
that the company will put on an ex-
ploitation campaign for the picture
which will break all precedents.
Herman Starts Indie
Postponed from last Monday, Al
Herman today starts work on "Twist-
ed Rails," an independent melodrama
which Triumph Pictures is making at
the Alexander Brothers studio. Cast
has Jack Donovan, Alice Dahl, Philo
McCullough, Elyn Clyn, Donald Keith,
Bob McKenzie, Don Mack, Pat Har- ■
mon. Bill Patton and Tom London.
Another Mono, for Nigh
Monogram signed William Nigh
Saturday to meg "City Limits," mak- |
ing the third picture he has directed
for the plant in the past two months.
"City Limits," a novel by Jack Wood-
ford, adapted by George Waggner,
goes into production the middle of the
week on the completion of "The Curse J
of Kali."
Kober Stays at Home
Arthur Kober has changed his plans
about going to Spain and will go to
Palm Springs instead. The studio
would not give him a leave of absence
at this time, wanting him to write the
screen play of the Edward Hope novel
"Calm Yourself,"
Wadsworth in Show-Off .
Henry Wadsworth, MGM's latest
addition to the contract list, has been
set for a featured spot in "The Show
Off," which will star Spencer Tracy.
Charles Reisner will direct.
mor the play has, with her nostalgia
for gold braid, gay hussars, and the
Strauss waltzes of pre-war Vienna,
Max Figman, as an elderly violinist,
does well by his part, Charles Trow-
bridge and Tom Powers, in the roles
of Elsa's husband and lover respective-
ly, and Violet Kemble Cooper, as Elsa,
give three finely blended perform-
ances. As for Carol Stone who essays
Elizabeth there is only one word for
her — swell! She deservedly made a
hit with the audience, and it looks as
if the youngest of the "Stepping J
Stones" is on her way.
The play, despite its shortcomings,
has glamorous background and atmos-
phere which could be utilized to much ^
greater effect in a picture version. '
"SOCIAL
REGISTER"
Marshall Neilan
PRESENTS
COLLEEN MOORE
I N
"SOCIAL REGISTER"
WITH
CHARLES WINNINCER, PAULINE FREDERICK,
ALEXANDER KIRKLAND, ROBERT BENCHLEY,
ROSS ALEXANDER, MARGARET LIVINGSTON,
RAMONA AND FRAY & BRACIOTTI.
From The Play By
ANITA LOOS AND JOHN EMERSON
Supervised and Directed by
MARSHALL NEILAN
Associate Producer
WILLIAM C. DeMILLE
Music By Lyrics By
CON CONRAD EDWARD HEYMAN
A
COLUMBIA
PICTURE
."SOCIAL
- REGISTER
II
COLLEEN
MOORE
a s
"PATSY"
A
COLUMBIA
PICTURE
"SOCIAL
REGISTER"
Merritt Gerstad
Photog raphed
"SOCIAL REGISTER"
A
COLUMBIA
PICTURE
—'■ '^.\ - ^ :.
"SOCIAL
REGISTER"
CONGRATULATIONS
To
MICKEY NEILAN
From
Mr. and Mrs. Con Conrad
Music by
ON CoNRAD
"WHY NOT"
"1 DIDN'T WANT TO LOVE YOU BUT I DO"
"HONEY DEAR"
A
COLUMBIA
PICTURE
Jan. 29. 1934
THE
Page Nine
l^HUBGRT'S 'NO MORE LADIES-
CLICKS WITH IV. Y. CRITIC
Relief Fund Hears
Stamp Tax Idea
Would Make Smart
Farce for the Screen
"NO MORE LADIES"
A comedy by A. E. Thomas, presented
by Lee Shubert at the Booth
Theatre; staged by Harry Wag-
staff Cribble; settings by Wat-
son Barrett. Cast: John Bram-
all, Bradley Cass, Lucille Wat-
son, Miriam Battista, Mary Sar-
gent, Edward Fielding, Melvyn
Douglas, Ruth Weston, Boyd Da-
vis, Rex O'Mailey, Nancy Ryan,
Louis Hector, Marcella Swanson.
New York. — Lee Shubert has come
no closer this season to having as big
a comedy hit as "Her Master's Voice"
as he did in "No More Ladies," which
for two and a half acts maintained a
light-hearted, scintillating, sophisticat-
ed pace in witty repartee and goings
on among the upper crust of Park
Avenue — and then slumped badly by
allowing its two principal characters
to get serious and ordinary in their
solution of marital troubles.
The characters in this play never
take anything too seriously and turn
everything aside with funny backtalk
— the quips flying fast and furious.
Particularly when Lucille Watson, as
the brilliant but commonsensical and
blessedly enlightened grandmother is
on the scene and guiding her little
chicks about — in an inoffensive man-
ner, of course. Although in her last
decline and with mixed concern over
the antics of the present generation,
which she understands fully and more
than they suspect, Lucy is not one of
those doddering mix-up-in-everything
old beldames. Not this lady! She is
a rip-snorting, scotch-highball im-
biber, cigarette dangler and wise-
cracking delight, keeping the audience
in constant howls with her pertinent
remarks, which she gives better fhan
she takes.
Her grand-daughter Marcia, a
bored and sophisticated young lady
who can take care of herself in any
melee with male or female, refuses
to seriously consider marriage and cer-
tainly not with her sober methodical
young bond salesman lover. On the
other hand, there is Sherry Warren,
played by Melvyn Douglas, and
smoothly, too, who is a charming lib-
ertine, a lover of women but not mar-
riage. Unconvinced, but willing to
give it a trial, Marcia gets Sherry to
propose marriage and with utmost
misgivings they plunge into the mat-
rimonial sea (as it is swum in South-
ampton) .
After several months of this de-
lightful existence, Sherry inevitably
becomes enamored of a night club
blonde and Marcia, finding that she
is after all but a woman with a bro-
ken heart, determines to teach her
spouse a lesson. She invites his mis-
tress, an ex-mistress, her husband and
the ex-husband to a week-end party,
with the idea of carrying on an af-
fair with Salston (played by Rex
O'Mailey), the ex-husband of Sherry's
ex-mistress. They both spend the
night away from the villa, to Sherry's
rising rage and jealousy, and when
questioned Marcia refuses to explain.
Sherry sees the parting of the ways
Tennis Tonight
The studio basketball craze gets
a temporary sidetracking tonight
with Tom Gallery reporting that
film reservations for the Vines-
Tilden tennis matches at the Olym-
pic give every indication of a turn-
out rivaling the good old Holly-
wood legion days.
Showmanship Does
It For N. Y. Rialto
New York. — Showmanship is not
dead. The Rialto Theatre surprised
Broadway last Friday wiVh capacity
business on a program that was an
example of showmanship rather than
relying on sure-fire attractions to au-
tomatically bring in the business.
The program consisted of "The
Choul," a British picture; the Ross-
Petrolle fight pictures. Screen Sou-
venirs, and a Grantland Rice Sport-
light. The men showed up in num-
bers that amazed White Way ob-
servers.
MacCregor Pushes Plan
To Stage Film Buys Here
Planning to produce locally play
properties owned by the studios, and
using the stock companies in the em-
ploy of the studios, Edgar MacCregor
is negotiating with Paramount and
MCM to put his project through.
Stage director, associated with
"Sailor Beware," figures that the
companies have nothing to lose and
plenty to gain since their stock play-
ers will get the benefit of practical
stage experience and the scenario
writers preparing the plays for pic-
ture production will get important
data from audience reactions. Both
studios own outstanding Broadway hits
which stand a good chance of work-
ing out profitably on local runs.
Could on MCM Dances
MCM Saturday signed David Could
to handle the dances on "The Holly-
wood Party," which goes back into
production today. Harry Rapf pro-
duces.
Mayer in Catlett Pic
Kay Mayer of the vaudeville team
of Evan and Mayer gets his first pic-
ture break in a Walter Catlett com-
edy at Radio this week. Bernard and
Meiklejohn agented.
and is prepared to pass out of her life,
but in the end they finally talk the
thing over and decide that love is
everything and they should carry on.
O'Mailey and Miss Watson are the
bright spots in this amusing bit. Louis
Hector as the Earl of Moulton, Boyd
Davis as Stafford, his ex-butler, con-
tribute humor in their parts, but Miss
Watson steals the show. Ruth Wes-
ton, a tall, statuesque heroine, han-
dles herself and her lines forcefully,
but was more boring than bored to
the audience. Douglas played accept-
ably in every way. When the films
are ready again for smart Park Avenue
drawingroom comedies they won't
have to look any further than this.
Meeting tomorrow, the executive
committee of the Motion Picture Re-
lief Fund makes its report on last
year's activities.
Advance dope has it that two im-
portant announcements will be forth-
coming. One is that a profit of be-
tween $50,000 and $75,000 is ex-
pected as the Fund's portion from the
two series of "Hollywood on Parade"
shorts which Louis Lewyn produces for
Paramount release.
Other is the committee's action on
a suggestion from Warren William
that a three-cent stamp tax be placed
on all autographs given by stars to
autograph hounds. Proposal would
net the Fund at least $10,000 per
year. Stamps are to be sold by the
Fund and a star would cancel the
stamp when signing the autograph
book.
New Shorts Company To
Film MacHamer Cartoons
New York. — A new entrant in the
short subject field is Carter-MacHa-
mer Productions, planning six one-
reel subjects based on Jefferson Mac-
Hamer's page in the New York Sunday
Mirror, "Cags and Gals." No re-
lease announced yet.
D. L. Carter, formerly with Para-
mount and Universal in the east, is
business and production manager. Don
Malkames will co-direct with Mac-
Hamer.
McCall Joins Agency
George McCall becomes affiliated
with the Bernard and Meiklejohn
agency today, leaving newspaper work.
McCali has been in the local trade-
paper field for the past five years
prior to which time he was a producer.
It's Honor,' Not Clory'
Guy Kibbee has been spotted in a
dramatic role in Warners' "Without
Honor" instead of "Without Glory,"
as erroneousy reported. This is the
first dramatic role for Kibbee, who
heretofore has played comedy parts.
Pendleton in *Catspaw'
Harold Lloyd closed a deal with
MCM Saturday to borrow Nat Pendle-
ton for a featured spot in "The Cats-
paw," which Sam Taylor directs when
it goes into production today. Lloyd
and Una Merkel have the leads.
Wallace Did 'Cirl' Score
Ollie Wallace wrote the music
for "The Girl in the Case," a Screen
Arts Production, previewed in the Sat-
urday issue of the Reporter. Credit
for this work was not furnished the
press.
Col. Cang in Chi Meet
Chicago. — The second of the Co-
lumbia regional sales meetings to drive
on the company's current big spe-
cials was held here on Saturday. Home
office, midwest and coast sales execu-
tives were in attendance.
Stoloff Declines N. Y. Pic
New York. — Ben Stoloff, who re-
cently finished directing "Palooka,"
begged out of a deal offered him by
Columbia to pilot a picture here and
IS off on the return trip to the coast.
Edward Small is rep>orted offering him
the direction of "Count of Monte
Cristo."
Patricia Ellis to U'
Universal Saturday borrowed Pa-
tricia Ellis from Warners for the femi-
nine lead opposite Lew Ayres in "If I
Were Rich," which goes into produc-
tion today. The William Anthony
McGuire play will be directed by Ed-
ward Ludwig.
Majors to Show Profit
(Continued from Page 1 )
market, will turn out to be a real
banner year.
Of course the foreign market has
saved the American industry from
bankruptcy during the past twelve
months. This condition analyzed
shows the American picture the great-
est draw in all foreign houses, and
with the flop of the dollar, the returns
from Europe and all other foreign
spots, in actual dollars, show a greater
count than the entire American mar-
ket.
That foreign business is astounding.
MGM, for example, is collecting al-
most $750,000 a week from that
source. Paramount will average close
to $400,000; Fox has had weeks of
$400,000 and is never lower than
$275,000. Warners have been doing
a weekly busmess of well over $400,-
000 for the past eight months. Uni-
versal and Radio have averaged from
$175,000 to $200,000 in their re-
turns outside of America. So the for-
eign market continues to save the
American picture industry.
MGM will show a profit statement
of well over $4,000,000 for the year.
Paramount and Warners will announce
better than $2,000,000. Fox and Ra-
dio will run between $1,500,000 and
$2,000,000. Columbia will hit $1,-
000.000. The only company that will
show a loss will be Universal, this due
to an exceptionally bad first and sec-
ond quarter, and the desire of Carl
Laemmie to amortize the negatives
faster than any other company in the
business.
But Universal with a loss, will still
show the most healthy jump in col-
lections of any other company in the
business. It is known that the past
twelve weeks has brought more week-
ly money into the Universal excheq-
uer than any twelve-week period in
the history of that company.
The most astounding success that
will be shown by any company for a
twelve months business will be that
of Twentieth Century. On returns in
so far and with only four more pic-
tures to complete for their year's out-
put, it is estimated that that organi-
zation will net well over $2,000,000
for their efforts.
As a consequence, if our American
industry can hold that tremendous
foreign business, get any kind of a lift
at all in the American market through
better pictures and greater economy
in making them, the 1934 readings
will put the picture business back on
Its feet.
Page Ten
Jan. 29, 1934
PRODUCTIONS UP SLIGHTLY WITH 28 THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 25 LAST WEEK
BAROMETER
This Week 28 Feafures
Last Week 25 Features
Year Ago 40 Features
2 Years Ago 22 Features
Musical Numbers Staged By.
Sammy ee
Columbia
"SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN"
Cast: Elissa Landi, Joseph Schildkraut,
Frank Morgan, Doris Lloyd, Clara
Blandick, Arthur Stuart Hull, Mon-
tague Shaw, Robert Graves, Selmar
Jackson, Samuel Hinds, Henry
Kolker.
Director David Burton
Original S. K. Lauren
Screen Play Jo Swerling
'"'-otography Joe August
Fox
"ALL MEN ARE ENEMIES '
Cast: Hugh Williams, Helen Twelve-
trees, Mona Maris, Rafael Ottiano,
Halliwell Hobbes, Herbert Mundin.
Director George Fitzmaurice
Story Richard Aldington
Screen Play Samuel Hoffenstein
Dialogue Lenore Coffee
Photography John Seitz
Producer Al Rockett
"THREE ON A HONEYMOON"
Cast: Sally Eilers, Charles Starrett,
Zasu Pitts, Henrietta Grossman,
John Mack Brown, Irene Hervey,
Howard Lally, Cornelius Keefe,
Winn Shaw.
Director James Tinting
Novel by Ishbel Ross
Screen Play: Raymond Van Sickle and
Edward T. Lowe, Jr.
Photography Joseph Valentine
and Arthur Arling
Dance Direction David Could
Producer John Stone
"MURDER IN TRINIDAD"
Cast: Nigel Bruce, Heather Angel,
Victor Jory, Roger Imhof.
Director Louis King
Story John Vandercook
Screen Play Seton I. Miller
Photography Barney McCill
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
"FOX FOLLIES"
Cast: All Star.
Producer Winfield R. Sheehan
Associate Producer Lew Brown
Director Hamilton MacFadden
Story Idea Will Rogers
Philip Klien
Screen Play and Dialogue
..Ralph Spence
Music Jay Gorney
Lyrics and Songs Irving Caesar
Jack Yellen
Lew Brown
Photography Ernst Plamer
W. O'Connell
Musical Director Arthur Lange
MCM
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
Cast: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen
O'Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Doris
Lloyd, Frank Reicher, Paul Cava-
nagh, William Stack, Desmond
Roberts, Yola D'Avril, Forrester
Harvey.
Director Cedric Gibbons
Adaptation Leon Gordon
Screen Play J. K. McGuinness
Photography Clyde DeVinna
Producer Bernard Hyman
"RIP TIDE •
Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Mont-
gomery, Herbert Marshall, Lilyan
Tashman, Ralph Forbes, Mrs. Pat-
rick Campbell, Arthur jarrett, Earl
Oxford, Halliwell Hobbes, Samuel
May, Helen Jerome Eddy, Peter
Hobbes, George K. Arthur, T. Roy
Barnes, E. E. Clive, Skeets Galla-
gher, Florine McKinney, Paul Por-
casi.
Director Edmund Goulding
Story and Screen Pay
Edmund Goulding
Photography Ray June
Producer Irving Thalberg
"IN OLD LOUISIANA"
Cast: Robert Young, Jean Parker, Nat
Pendleton, Ted Healy, Isabel Jew-
ell, Maude Eburne, Joseph Caw-
thorn Raymond Hatton.
Director George Seitz
Original Screen Play.--.Lucien Hubbard
Photography Gregg Toland
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"THE HOLLYWOOD PARTY"
Cast: Marie Dressier, Joan Crawford,
Jean Harlow, Jimmy Durante, Eddie
Quillan, Polly Moran, Albertina
Rasch Ballet, Bobbe Arnst, Frances
Williams, Ben Bard, Richard Carle,
George Givot, Tom Kennedy, June
Clyde, Dorothy Short, Agnes Ander-
son, Laurel and Hardy, Herman
Bing, Johnny Weissmuller, Jack
Pearl, Francis Williams, Max Baer,
Mary Carlisle.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Story Edmund Goulding
and Howard Dietz
Dialogue Herb Fields
Music: Rodgers and Hart, Brown and
Freed.
Photography James Howe
Producer Harry Rapf
"SEQUOIA"
Cast: Jean Parker, David Landau, Olin
Howland, Willie Fung, Russell
Hardie.
Directors Chester Franklin
and Nick Grinde
Novel Joseph Vance Hoyt
Adaptation: C. Gardner Sullivan, Frank
R. Adams, Anne Cunningham.
Photography Clyde DeVinna
and Chet Lyons
Producer John Considine
Paramount
"MAN WHO BROKE HIS HEART"
Cast: Victor McLaglen, Dorothy Dell,
Preston Foster, Alison Skipworth,
David Landau, John Rogers, Mischa
Auer, Alfred Delcambre, James
Burke, Don Wilson, John Northpol,
Max Wagner, Frank Rice, Russell
Powell, Jil Dennett, Alice Lake,
Miana Alvarez, Florence Dudley,
Marie Green, Charles Brinley, Al
Hill, Ivan Linow.
Directors: William Cameron Menzies
and George Somnes.
Original Frederick Schlick
and Samuel French
Screen Play Samuel Hoffenstein
and Frank Partos
Photography Hal McAlpin
"MELODY IN SPRING"
Cast: Lanny Ross, Charlie Ruggles,
Mary Boland, George Meeker, Wil-
fred Hari, Wade Boteler, Helen
Lynd, Ann Sothern, Herman Bing,
Thomas Jackson, Norma Mitchell,
Jane, June and Joan Gale.
Diirector Norman McLeod
Story Frank Leon Smith
Screen Play Benn W. Levy
Continuity Jane Storm
Lyrics Harlan Thompson
Music Lewis E. Gensler
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer Douglas MacLean
"WE'RE NOT DRESSING"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman,
Carole Lombard, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, Raymond Milland, Jay
Henry, Leon Errol, Dick Dickinson.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Walter Hall Smith
Adaptation. .Stephen Morehouse Avery
Music by Harry Ravel
and Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Mack Gordon
and Sam Coslow
Photography Charles Lang
"THE TRUMPET BLOWS"
Cast: George Raft, Adolphe Menjou,
Francis Drake, Katharine DeMille,
Sidney Toler, Douglas Wood, Nydia
Westman, Lillian Elliott, Edward El-
lis, Gertrude Norman, Aleth Speed
Hanson, Howard Brooks, Joyce
Compton, Hooper Atchley, Francis
McDonald.
Director Stephen Roberts
Original Porter Emerson Browne
Adaptation Wallace Smith
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Harry Fischbeck
"COME ON MARINES"
Cast: Richard Arlen, Ida Lupino, Toby
Wing, Leo Chalzell, Roscoe Karns,
Grace Bradley, Virginia Hammond,
Cwenllian Gill, Clara Lou Sheridan,
Lona Andre, Pat Flaherty, Fuzzy
Knight, Julian Madison.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original Philip Wylie
Screen Play Byron Morgan
and Joel Sayre
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Ben Reynolds
Producer Al Lewis
"YOU'RE TELLING ME"
Cast: W. C. Fields, Joan Marsh, Larry
"Buster" Crabbe.
Director Erie Kenton
Screen Play Paul Jones
and J. P. McEvoy
Photography Al Gilks
RKO-Radio
"FINISHING SCHOOL"
Cast: Ginger Rogers, Francis Dee,
Bruce Cabot, Billie Burke, Mitzi
Green, Beulah Bondi, Sarah Haydon,
Marjory Lytell, Adalyn Doyle, Mary
Jordan, Rose Coghlan.
Directors Wanda Tuchock
and George Nicholls, Jr.
Story Louis Witzenkorn
and David Hempstead
Screen Play Wanda Tuchock
and Laird Doyle
Photography Roy Hunt
Associate Producer Kenneth
Macgowan
"THE CRIME DOCTOR"
Cast: Otto Kruger, Wynne Gibson,
Nils Asther, Corinne Griffith, Judith
Wood, William Frawley, J. Farrell
MacDonald, Irving Pichel, Pat
O'Malley, Burton MacLean, Willie
Fung, Mary Forbes, Samuel Hinds,
Fred Kelsey, Ethel Wales.
Director John Robertson
Story Israel Zangwill
Screen Play Jane Murfin
and Ainsworth Morgan
Photography Lucien Andriot
Associate Producer David Lewis
United Artists
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW "
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Walter Lundeen
Producer Harold Lloyd
Universal
"IF I WERE RICH"
Cast: Lew Ayres, Patricia Ellis, Frank
McHugh, Nydia Westman, Addison
Richards, Berton Churchill, Robert
McWade, Adrian Morris, Betty
Lawford Isabel Jewell.
Director Edward Ludwig
Play by William Anthony McCuire
Screen Play Earl Snell
and Harry Sauber
Photography Charles Stumar
Associate Producer.... Henry Henigson
Ian. 29, 1934
Page Eleven
"CLAMOUR"
Cast: Constance Cummings, Paul Lu-
kas, Russ Columbo, William Collier,
Sr.
Director William Wyler
Novel by Edna Ferber
Screen Play Doris Anderson
Continuity Gladys Unger
and Doris Anderson
Photography George Robinson
Producer B. F. Zeidman
"VANISHING SHADOW"
(Serial)
Cast: Onslow Stevens, Ada Ince, Wal-
ter Miller, Bill Desmond, Richard
Cramer.
Director Lewis Friedlander
Story: Ella O'Neill, Het Manheim and
Basil Dickey.
Photography Richard Freyer
Producer Harry MacRf^
Warners-Firsf- Nation?'
"HIT ME AGAIN"
Cast: Joan Blondell, Warren William,
Claire Dodd, Frank McHugh, Joan
Wheeler, Edward Everett Horton,
Virginia Sale, Leonard Carey.
Director Robert Florey
Original Story F. Hugh Herbert
Adaptation F. Hugh Herbert
and Carl Erickson
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"FUR COATS"
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Paul Kelly,
Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree, Ann
Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, Phillip Faver-
sham, Henry O'Neill, Mayo Methot,
Dorothy Peterson, Marjorie Gate-
son, Clay Clement, Renee Whitney,
Lorena Layson, Lynn Browning.
Director Alfred E. Green
Based on story by Ann Garrick
and Ethel Hill
Screen Play Manuel Seff
Photography Byron Haskins
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"THE GENTLEMAN FROM SAN
FRANCISCO"
Cast: Bette Davis, Pat O'Brien, Lyie
Talbot, Margaret Lindsay, Henry
O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Hugh Her-
bert, Douglas Dumbrille, Gordon
Westcott.
Director Wilhelm Dieterle
Story George Dyer
Screen Play Robert N. Lee
and Eugene Solow
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor ._ Henry Blanke
Independent Productions
Invincible
(Mack Sennett Studio)
"BIRDS OF A FEATHER"
Cast: John Miljan. Shirley Grey, Mon-
roe Owsley, Wilson Benge, Hale
Hamilton, Maurice Black, William
Franklin, Robert Elliott.
Director . ._ Frank Strayer
Original Story.. ..Robert Emmett Wolfe
Continuity Anthony Caldeway
Photography M. A. Anderson
Producer Maury Cohen
Monogram
(General Service Studio)
"CURSE OF KAI "
Cast: Ed Lowry, Verna Hillie, John
Sheehan, Brandon Hurst, Laya Joy
(Joyzelle), Clay Clement, George
Hayes, Dale Fuller, Harry Bradley,
Irving Bacon, Mary Foy, Samuel
Godfrey, George Cleveland.
I\ATX. SCREEX COMPETES
WITH WARIVERS' TRAILERS
Having long refused to do business
with National Screen for the making
of their trailers, Warners were sur-
prised Saturday to learn that the big
trailer company has gone into compe-
tition with them on their own product
and is making action trailers, known
as the de luxe type. National hereto-
fore confined its interest in the War-
ner product to the still type of trailer
with synchronized sound.
Three classes of trailers are put out
by all studios, de luxe, still picture
and title, latter with a sales talk back-
'U' Gets $100,000
Income Tax Melon
New York. — Universal tops the big
winners in the heavy gravy on income
tax refunds with approximately a
hundred thousand paid back by the
Government in refunds on taxes for
the year ending June, 1933. Of
Hollywood folk John Barrymore is the
beginner with a $5,000 rebate.
Other picture companies and indi-
viduals are represented in the list just
made public for varying amounts. The
roster follows:
Balaban & Katz Corporation, New
York, $3,761.22; Consolidated Film
Laboratories, $9,897.31; Samuel
Goldwyn, Inc., $2,440.25; Loew's
Ohio Theatres, $7,969.94; David L.
Loew, $3,135.63; Loew's Inc., $3,-
470.31; Richard A. Rowland, $8,-
162.76; United Artists Corporation,
$1,940.08; Universal Film Manufac-
turing Co., $91,877.15; Universal
Pictures Corporation, $5,416.02;
United Artists Theatre Circuit, $9,-
380.30; Walter F. Wanger, $1,-
283.23; Warner Bros. First National
Films, $2,006.20; Wilmer & Vincent
Theatres, $1,033.65; First National
Pictures (Washington, D. C. ) , $1,-
072.75; John Barrymore, $5,028.93;
Dorothy Mackaill, $1,526.22; Ernst
Lubitsch, $844.95; Walt Disney,
$715.82; Rupert Hughes, $551.13.
Dermody U' Chief
Boston. — J. F. Dermody has been
appointed by James R. Grainger as
Universal district manager for the New
England and Albany territories. His
office will be in Boston.
Book Fighting Priest'
New York. — "The Fighting Priest,"
a short featuring Father Coughlin, has
been booked by RKO for eleven met-
ropolitan theatres.
Director William Nigh
Story - Adam Hull Shirk
Screen Play Albert E. DeMond
Photography Archie Stout
Supervisor ...Paul Malvern
Triumph
( I'nternational Studio)
"TWISTED RAILS "
Cast: Jack Donovan, Alice Dahl, Philo
McCullough, Donald Keith, Elyn
Glyn, Tom London, Bill Patton,
Gene Laymon.
Director L. Herman
Original Screen Play I. V. Jefferson
Photography Ernie Miller
ing it. Warners maintains its own
trailer department under George Bil-
son at the studio, selling its own trail-
ers and making a healthy profit. Na-
tional's tie-up is with a majority of
the remaining studios, contracts giv-
ing the studios about ten per cent of
the take.
National previously restricted itself
to the still and title divisions on War-
ner pictures, but is now branching out
with three de luxe trailers made on
"Hi Nellie," "Fashions of 1934" and
"I've Got Your Number."
Rip Van Winkle'
On Radio Schedule
With every studio in the business
now going in for classics and fantasies,
Radio is trying to clear the screen
rights to the Washington Irving fan-
tasy "Rip Van Winkle." The studio
is completing negotiations for the
screen rights to this yarn and Kenneth
Macgowan will produce it for RKO.
A few weeks ago Edward Small
started preparations on the same yarn
but has now apparently dropped the
idea.
Legitimate Houses Fight
Free Broadcast Shows
New York. — Because the radio
broadcasters are entering the field of
theatrical entertainment through the
presentation of free admissions which
are hurting the theatres and motion
pictures here, a protest has been made
at a meeting of the Legitimate Thea-
tre Code Authority.
A committee composed of Frank
Gillmore, Marcus Heilman and William
C. Elliott was appointed to confer with
the Code Authority and seek aid in
having the practice prohibited.
'Joyzelle' Coming Back
With New Monicker
Monogram has signed Laya Joy, for-
merly known as Joyzelle, to a fea-
tured spot in "The Curse of the Kali,"
which William Nigh is directing. Ed
Lowry and Verne Hillie head a cast
which includes John Sheehan, Brandon
Hurst and Phillip McCullough. Albert
De Monde wrote the screen play.
Moss on Para's Radio Tale
Paramount has signed Paul Finder
Moss to work with Julius Epstein on
the screen play of "The Big Broadcast
of 1934." Deal was handled by M.
C. Levee. Moss recently finished the
original "Hot Air" for Warners in
collaboration with Jerry Wald.
Pickford Smashes
All Boston Records
Boston. — The week's engagement
of Mary Pickford, on the stage of the
Metropolitan Theatre here, was the
greatest this theatre has ever had,
taking present conditions into consid-
eration.
The Metropolitan played to over
125,000 people on the week and her
presence, and the business she drew,
acted as a boon to business all over
town as it got the "stay-at-homes"
movie conscious.
Mary goes to the Paramount Thea-
tre in Brooklyn for the week of Febru-
ary 2, taking the current week to rest
up from the ordeal of five shows a
day. It looks as if she will take a
week's rest between her future en-
gagements on this personal appear-
ance tour that will, very likely, em-
brace every important key center in
the country before she goes to Holly-
wood to do a picture.
MCM Has Problem
In Indo-China Lead
MGM cannot make up its mind as
to the cast decisions for "Indo-China,"
originally scheduling it under Bernie
Hyman's wing for Constance Bennett,
but now giving it serious considera-
tion as a possible Greta Garbo vehicle.
In the event Bennett goes into it
Clark Gable will be teamed with the
star. Leon Gordon is turning out the
screen play.
Golden Reports 41 ,822
Sound Theatres in World
Out of a total of 60,347 picture
theatres in the world 41,822 are
equipped for sound reproduction, re-
ports N. D. Golden of the Depart-
ment of Commerce. In the United
States approximately 1 5,000 out of
19,000 are sound equipped.
Berlin Takes Magna Songs
New York. — Magna Pictures, pro-
ducing shorts for Radio release, has
made a tie-up with the Irving Berlin
Publishing Company to handle all
songs used in their pictures. Songs
from the Ethel Waters and Cliff Ed-
wards pictures will be the first used.
Estabrook Moves in Today
Howard Estabrook hangs his hat on
an MGM rack today to start work on
the film version of "David Copper-
field." planned for George Cukor pro-
duction under David Selznick's super-
vision.
Sherwood Due Soon
New York. — Robert Sherwood is on
his way to you in Hollywood to join
the MCM writing staff.
ANNOUNCEMENT
THE WAMPAS announces to its guests that it will be possible to hear
Mr. Sol Rosenblatt's speech and still attend the celebration of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's birthday tomorrow evening, since Mr. Rosenblatt
will speak at 6.45 p.m. sharp and he too will leave at 7.30 o'clock
for the President's birthday celebration.
SAN NIN
SCREEN PLAY
"GALLANT LADY
If
A TWENTIETH CENTURY PICTURE
. . .Sam Mintz has never had his name on a better
job of workmanship ..."
—HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
"... Sam Mintz's screen play is a model of crafts-
manship ..."
—MOTION PICTURE DAILY.
"... they used good wisdom in the selection of
Sam Mintz as adaptor of 'Gallant Lady' ..."
—NEW YORK SUN.
I
metro-goi.dy.'yn-mayf:r studio j,
% MP.SAVLIFIL f'.iAI^X,
CULVER CITY, CAM.--.
Vol. XIX, No. 1 5. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, January 30, 1934
MimCN PLOT TtiEfT SUIT
• IS it any wonder that pictures are as
bad as they are, when those respon-
sible for writing the screen plays are
compelled to write for Mr. Hays' four-
teen-year-old moron?
And why do the producers fall in
line with the Hays idea and demand
that writers do their writing withnn
the limitations of that fourteen-year-
old myth? Such actions are ruining
the business and there is no necessity
for them. The producers are being
taken for a sleigh ride, and the sooner
they realize this the quicker the thea-
tres will start to do better business.
The motion picture audience is not
a fourteen-year-old audience; our en-
tertainment has passed that age many
years ago. And there are no forces
demanding that we confine our en-
tertainment to such an age. The
whole thing is a brain child of Mr.
Hays in an effort to give him some-
thing to do and something to talk
about, and if our producers continue
permitting him to do such things and
talk about such things there will be
no picture business because picture
entertainment that will PAV cannot
be made for the moron Mr. Hays has
created.
No one will ever sell us other than
the fact that the motion picture in-
dustry is its own censor, that if an
audience objects to pictures or situa-
tions they will not attend theatres
when those pictures are being exhib-
ited.
Most of the censorable material is
not in the pictures or the stories from
which the pictures were written, but
in the manner in which the exhibitor
attempts to sell them. In that re-
spect this industry is wrong, and if
Mr. Hays wants something to do and
have something to talk about let him
level his guns in the direction of the
exhibitor who generally gets all the
dirt there is to a picture inserted in his
newpaper ads. There's the trouble
and there's the reason for any squawks
that MAY exist.
Motion pictures have to be enter-
taining to sell and it is IMPOSSIBLE
to get that entertainment on the
screen if our writers are compelled to
submit to the demands of Mr. Hays,
whose funny restrictions would not
permit the making of any one of the
classics or a page from the Holy Bible.
Bad News
New York. — Much alarm here
today over the report that while
the Government would defend its
representative, Sol Rosenblatt, in
present suits against the NRA, the
individual members of the Code
Authority representing all compa-
nies would be expected to spend
their own legal fees when named
in suits. The Department of Jus-
tice acts for Rosenblatt as a Gov-
ernment official, but it can't act
for laymen.
Grand Duchess
ToAidSchulberg
B. P. Schulberg has polished off a
deal with the Grand Duchess Marie
which will bring the blue-blood writer
to Hollywood on her first venture in-
to pictures.
The Grand Duchess will act as tech-
nical adviser on the Schulberg-Para-
mount picture, "Thirty Day Princess,"
and leaves New York with Sylvia Sid-
ney February 6. Vivian Caye of the
Joy and Polimer office has been en-
gaged as her manager.
We're Not Dressing'
Needs More Dressing
After three weeks of production on
"We're Not Dressing," the Bing Cros-
by picture which is being directed by
Norman Taurog, Paramount has run
into story trouble.
Harry Harvey and Harry Ruskin
were put on the set to build up the
story, as the picture is shooting.
Lyn Farnol to Europe
New York. — Don't look for Lyn
Farnol back in your midst very soon.
He sails for Europe on business for
Sam Goldwyn, principally Anna Sten,
on February 28. The boat is the
Manhattan, if you want to send
flowers.
Richard^ Washburn Child Asks
Sunrf^rom Para, and Producers
^fPlay 'One Sunday Afternoon'
New York. — Here's a plagiarism suit that looms up a bit dif-
ferent from the usual claim of an amateur. Richard Washburn
Child, well known Saturday Evening Post contributor, and for-
mer Ambassador to Italy under President Coolidge, yesterday
filed a one million dollar plagiarism
Merle Oberon Is
plagiarjsm
suit against the producers of "One
Sunday Afternoon" in both the stage
play and pictures.
Paramount Productions, Inc., is de-
fendant In the picture action, Leo
(Continued on Page 12)
Rowland-Brice Split
WithFormer onOwn
New York. — After successfully pro-
ducing for three majors the firm of
Rowland and Brice is no more, accord-
ing to announcement from Bill Row-
land here today.
Rowland declares the firm is dis-
solved and that in future he will carry
on alone as a producer. He states
he has definitely signed contracts to
produce two for Columbia in Holly-
wood. The first will be a musical.
He leaves for the coast Friday.
Mack Sennett Returns
Mack Sennett arrived in town yes-
terday from Mesa, Arizona, where he
has been recuperating from injuries
received in the automobile accident in
which Charlie Mack was killed. Sen-
nett was accompanied by H. Lee Hu-
gunin, his former production chief, on
the trip from Mesa.
Felix Feist Due Feb. 13
Felix Feist, sales chief for MCM, is
slated to arrive here for conferences
with the MCM executive staff Feb-
ruary I 3.
TOUGH SLEDDING FOR CODE
IN RAXKS OF EXHIBITORS
New York. — As far as exhibition is
concerned, the NRA Code for the Mo-
tion Picture Industry is in for hard
sledding before it starts anything like
real functioning. "Assents," the sign-
ed agreements by which exhibitors
agree unqualifiedly to abide by the
(Continued on Page 2)
Trade Shows for 'Palooka'
New York. — United Artists is get-
ting so hopped up over those national
trade shows when they feel they have
a real bet that "Palooka," the Eddie
Small-Reliance production, is going to
get the same treatment. The shows
will be held simultaneously Feb. 6.
Signed By Small
London. — Merle Oberon, the Ann
Boleyn of "Henry the Eighth," has
been signed on a four-year contract
by Edward Small to make two pictures
a year during that term.
This contract fits into the ticket
the lady has with Alexander Korda
and will permit her use by Korda for
an additional two pictures a year to
be made in England.
Miss Oberon's first picture for Small
will be opposite John Barrymore in
"The Count of Monte Cristo" and she
leaves here almost immediately to be
in Hollywood February 20, returning
to London for the Charles Laughton-
Korda picture, written by Frederick
Lonsdale, which will start June 1.
U.A. Shooting 75C on
'Looking For Trouble'
New York. — One of the largest ad-
vertising appropriations ever granted a
picture by United Artists has just been
okayed by Al Lichtman for the Twen-
tieth Century production of "Looking
for Trouble." The company will spend
$75,000 on the campaign.
Hold-Over for 'Hollywood'
"Going Hollywood" holds over for
another week at Loew's State because
of record business. Picture, which
has Marion Davies and Bing Crosby in
the top spots, was directed by Raoul
Walsh and produced by Walter Wan-
ger for MGM.
B-l Exec Here
Clyde Cook, production manager
with British International, arrived in
Hollywood yesterday and is understood
set to concentrate his future activity
on production circles here.
Spivak to New York
Murray Spivak, Radio's sound chief,
left yesterday on a three weeks' trip
to New York.
[happy birthday, president rooseveltiI
Page Two
Ian. 30, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published everv day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates.
Including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
It cost a lot of people fifty cents
to watch Walter Wanger play polo
the other day — but he was only prac-
ticing, while Mrs. Wanger has finished
practicing and played in a golf tour-
nament at Hillcrest Sunday. . . . Peggy
Morrow's divorce from young Chad-
bourne is a matter of weeks. . . . The
Eddie Robinsons are contemplating a
trip to New York— which means that
Mrs. R. is trying to talk him into it!
. . . Never having heard the right
term for it before. Jean Negulesco in-
formed a pal the other evening that
he was on his way to "a house-heat-
ing
Mary Pickford, Lillian Cish
and Betty Starbuck were guests of
honor at a Boston tea party last week
and were made honorary firemen! Cot
badges and everything! . . . Mr. and
Mrs. Harry Ruby dined together Sun-
day night.
•
Do you know what Hollywood lady
recently returned from abroad said she
loved Europe "because it was so Con-
tinental!"???? Yeah, we screamed,
too! . . . Joan Crawford maintains two
rooms at the Hollywood Hospital all
year round — mostly for use by those
she sees through their illnesses. . . .
Lou Holtz with Helen Vinson, the
Buddy DeSylvas. Lee Tracy and Isabel
Jewell. Clenda Farrell and Bob Riskin,
Wally Beery, the Jack Woodys, the
Wes Ruggles. the Skeets Callaghers at
the Colony on "raid night."
•
Guess who had a fight that woke up
all their neighbors at the Chateau
Elysee the other night! . . . We don't
think the Lola Lane-AI Hall wedding
will ever come off. . . . Lil Tashman
and Ed Lowe leaving for New York
Monday — Lil to make a movie, and
Ed will just watch!
•
If you are setting yourself to be at
the Wampas meeting tonight to hear
Sol Rosenblatt — of course, you are —
you might want to hear why the boys
paid cash for an ad yesterday morn-
ing. It seems that so many big pro-
ducers anxious to bask in the Rosen-
blatt smile canceled their reservations
for President Roosevelt's birthday par-
ty that it was in danger until the
boys explained that a regular fellow
could Cover both affairs.
"FASHIONS OF 1934"
Warner prod.; director, Wilhelm Dieterle; writers, Warren Duff, F. Hugh
Herbert, Carl Erickson.
Hollywood Theatre
Times: It is a brisk show that has come to the screen of the Hollywood Thea-
tre. The story is lively, the gowns are interesting and the Busby Berke-
ley spectacles with Hollywood dancing girls are impressive. Wilhelm
Dieterle, that expert director who has been responsible for several imagi-
native pictures, does well by this particular production.
Sun: A typical William Powell picture, filled with wisecracks, the Powell suavity
and some highly efficient crime waves. It is not snappy enough, how-
ever, to be another "High Pressure" or "Cold Diggers," but it has got
some Berkeley dances, and it has got Mr. Powell. Miss Davis and the very
funny Frank McHugh.
Herald-Tribune: It boasts a suave performance by William Powell, faultless
sets, an engaging musical score and pranks. It has a scarcity of thought
behind it. but so facile is its presentation, so elaborate its costuming and
design and so inventive its performance that its barrenness of substance
flits by almost unnoticed. The photography is beautifully done and the
settings are quite stunning. While the plot is scattered and often inco-
herent. Mr. Dieterle has directed it deftly enough to give a semblance of
sensibility.
Mirror: A fashion show, a novelty in films, is the important feature of "Fash-
ions of 1934." A story to introduce it was concocted conscientiously. It
very probably will provoke a cycle of cloak and suit epics. It is divert-
ing, clever and immoderately elaborate.
World -Telegram: It may go hungry, now and then, for some funny lines, and
business and some new music, but it hides these weaknesses in the vast-
ness of its dance numbers and the striking effect of its gowns and is a
comfort and a joy to moviegoers interested in spectacles, both of the musi-
cal and dress shop variety. The film undoubtedly will be tremendously
successful, since the idea of blending a fashion show and a musical film
has the makings of a movie natural.
News: "Fashions of 1934" has but one formal musical number, but it makes
up for this lack in speed and presents a fashion parade that will delight
the hearts of women and will not be without fascination for men. Some
of the clothes are very beautiful, all the models are lovely and the man-
ner of presenting the fashions is novel and interesting. From start to
finish the picture has snap. William Powell is mostly responsible for the
quick pace of the picture. The backgrounds are elaborate, the dialogue is
amusing and the whole production adds up to an entertaining picture.
Para Seeks Lederer
For 'Happiness' Pic
Paramount is trying to borrow Fran-
cis Lederer from Radio on a one-pic-
ture loanout deal for the top spot in
"Pursuit of Happiness." which is be-
ing scripted by Garrett Fort.
This production is Arthur Horn-
blow's initial Paramount job.
Picture Wives Active in
New Settlement Work
A group of movie people are be-
hind the movement for the establish-
ment of the Hawthorne House, a set-
tlement house for all peoples pattern-
ed after the famous Hull House of
Chicago. House is located at 837
East 24th street, Los Angeles.
The organization committee con-
sists of Mesdames Francis Faragoh,
Laurence Hawthorne, J. Lowe, Sam-
uel Ornitz, Robert Presnell, Allen Riv-
kin, Jerome Sackheim, Michael Sim-
mons and Miss Beulah Spigelgass.
Indies Met Last Night
Second meeting of the independent
producers whom I. E. Chadwick is at-
tempting to swing into the Federated
group in New York, exclusive of the
local Independent Motion Picture
Producers of America, took place last
night at the Alexander Brothers stu-
dio. Chadwick did a lot of talking.
Max Steiner Rests
Taking his first vacation in four
years. Max Steiner has gone to La
Quinta. returning in a week to his
post as head of Radio's music depart-
ment.
Langdon in Rumors
Harry Langdon was reported yester-
day as having secretly obtained a di-
vorce two weeks ago in Mexico and
will take still another matrimonial dip
with a non-professional.
Mayfair Signs Crier
Jimmy Crier's orchestra has been
engaged to play at the next Mayfair
party, which will be held at the Bilt-
more Hotel this Saturday. February 3.
Tough Going for Code
(Continued from Page 1 )
code machinery, have not been com-
ing in as expected by Sol Rosenblatt.
As a result, the original deadline
by which exhibitors were told they
MUST file assents or forego NRA
privileges has been twice advanced.
Under the latest rule the theatre men
are given until February 28.
Further trouble develops in a sec-
ond suit to be filed today against the
Code Authority and its individual
members backed by Allied States Ex-
hibitors. Fred Herrington, Pittsburgh
exhibitor leader, and Al. Steffes of
Minneapolis go before Federal Judge
Bondy today asking an injunction
against the Code Authority denying
exhibitors the right to participate in
code benefits without having signed a
full assent to the code, and claiming
the privilege of qualifying their assents
as best they see fit.
L. B. Mayer Draws
Income Tax Refund
New York. — Louis B. Mayer of
MGM drew down some small gravy
from the Government on the income
tax refunds for 1933. The latest fig-
ures published show the following
awards:
Louis B. Mayer. $18,388.40; Com-
erford Theatres. $3,283.73; Harris
Amusement Corporation. Washington.
Pa., $1,707.92.
U. A. Boys to Golf
The United Artists studio group has
a golf tournament planned for Febru-
ary I 1 at the Hollywood Country Club.
Ashley Lofer. well known pro, is han-
dling the event.
Available for State Right Market
Communicate with
IDEAL PICTURES CORP.,
729 Seventh Avenue, New York City
M. J. Kandel. President
Cable Kandelfilm, New York
^, HOLLYWOOD ^Q
PLAZA
C9>
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thingto see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospitality'
Vine at Hollywood Blvd
HOLLYWOOD
anna sten
ana
roduced and oresentec
4
samue
qoldtuun
RELEASED THROUGH UNITED ARTISTS
■
[[omlJltwill as "Col JJndreMuffut "
a^^gg^aKi^^BeeaiBia^iyttSjffijKt:;^^
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Richard ^ennett as'Papa ^reiner"
a •^<<'9!~!««,v»'v
J/ae Clarke md Muriel Kirkland
"Ir lends of Nana"
■' w!^f 4rw;P9lK¥^!«r«*MM?^s»''*r •^•<-i»»;>*«
Jessie Halph as"2oe"
i^eqinald OwerL.
as^ordenave"
T/e/en Hreeman
as oabine
Greaa Poland- Cinemato^rapher
NEGATIVE by
Smith 6- Aller, Ltd.
Pacific Coast Distributors
anna sten '
nana"
"She will dazzle the eyes of the most blase
theatre-goer. She is not only beautiful . . .
she is breathtaking."
LOUELLA PARSONS.
Universal Service.
"She is not just the 'find' of the season . . .
she is the 'find' of all time . . . one of the
most glamorous personalities the screen has
ever known."
ALICE TILDESLEY,
Philadelphia Public
Ledger Syndicate.
"She will immediately become a tremen-
dous box-office attraction."
RALPH WILK.
Film Daily.
"She will sweep this country much in the
same manner as Carbo, Katharine Hepburn
and Vilma Banky swept It."
DAN THOMAS.
N.E.A. Correspondent.
PRODUCED
AND
PRESENTED
BY
SAMUEL
C O L D W >t
Ian. 30, 1934
THE
Page Eleven
ROSY' MAKES A DISCOVERY
AROUT HOLLY SOCIAL AFFAIRS
s It's Business
Say
Wherever He Visits
Sol A. Rosenblatt, Deputy Adminis-
trator of the Motion Picture Code, has
i discovered one of Hollywood's quaint-
est customs. It is the turning of so-
cial affairs into evenings devoted to
the interest of business. Judging from
his comments yesterday, this discovery
leaves him in a sort of daze.
It seems that Mr. Rosenblatt ex-
pected Hollywood would be somewhat
like Washington — leave business be-
hind when the teacups were filled.
But he says he hasn't seen any "social
affairs." They have all been devoted
to busines. Everyone present figura-
tively taking him by the lapels and
trying to get something personal
across.
"Even at Louis B. Mayer's home,"
said Mr. Rosenblatt, "Everyone pres-
ent forgot it was a social affair and
went in for business. We might just
as well have been right here in the
hotel. And the other night at Ann
Harding's lovely home there were not
even the ordinary social civilities. Ev-
eryone was out to further his own
cause. The same at the Davies' home.
This social life of Hollywood seems to
have resolved itself into just a plain
business affair."
Mr. Rosenblatt had a busy schedule
yesterday. He surprised some Holly-
woodites by going into conference
with Donald Gledhill, Executive Sec-
retary of the Academy of Motion Pic-
ture Arts and Sciences. He announced
that the meeting was for discussion
of proposed recommendations and for
securing information. He plans to hold
another meeting with Gledhill and an
Academy Committee. Members of the
Academy last night were jubilant over
what they interpret as recognition of
the Academy which they point out
represents the directors 100 per cent,
and the technicians almost as well,
together with a conservative minority
of other branches. Last night he met
with a group of directors to get a
line On their viewpoint.
Yesterday he named Al Berries chair-
man of the Studio Labor Committee.
This committee, he announced, would
have charge of handling all complaints
of all the labor groups in the studios,
with full authority to settle differ-
ences. Only power they won't have is
that of decisions in connection with
collective bargaining. Other members
of the committee are Pat Casey, Ed.
Smith and Richard L'Estrange. Office
is in the Taft building.
Rosenblatt announced that he has
nothing to discuss with the sound and
camera men, explaining that he "has
nothing to do with jurisdictional
fights," and pointing out the Regional
Labor Board to handle that.
Yesterday he also met with a com-
mittee of nine theatre men, headed by
Ben Berinstein, to discuss generalities
regarding the Code and the setting up
of boards to handle their grievances.
He said this will be done by the mid-
dle of February.
He devoted considerable time yes-
terday to investigating complaints re-
Tracy Happy Here
The New York company which
thinks it has Lee Tracy signed for
a feature is a bit out of luck, as
Lee is set to remain in California
and not worrying about the work-
ing out of his future. If any offer
has been made from New York'
Lee has turned it down.
Small Asks 'Cristo'
Title Showdown
Edward Small announced yesterday
that he has stopped all preparation on
the production of his next picture,
"Count of Monte Cristo," until the
row between Reliance Pictures and
Universal, as to whether the latter
will be allowed to use the title "Coun-
tess of Monte Cristo," has been set-
tled.
The facts of the case are now up
before the Hays arbitration board and
Small is waiting for a decision from
them. In the meantime Small plans
to star John Barrymore in the pro-
duction.
fans
Paul
British Like Kelly
London. — The British picture
and the lay press have gone for
Kelly in a big way. This as a result
of the opening of "Broadway Through
a Keyhole." They did not go for the
picture to any great extent, but did
voice fine approval of Kelly.
A. Jympson Harman, in the Evening
News, devotes almost a page to Kelly
and gives Darryl Zanuck a pat on the
back for having the "guts" to defy
Hays and others and give Paul a job.
garding "throwaways" being put out
by legitimate houses in Los Angeles.
This practice is violation of the Code,
and he declared a chance will be given
to stop it. If they don't they will be
stopped.
He also met a committee from the
Drapers and Upholsterers Guild yester-
day who say they are classified wrong-
ly. He referred them to the Labor
Committee.
Mr. Rosenblatt also declared that
the committee appointed to handle
the extra's employment problems will
have full authority to settle all griev-
ances, but announced that the reclas-
sification and reregistration will have
to be settled in Washington which
will be guided by recommendations.
Today he will meet with represen-
tatives of the Motion Picture Feder-
ated Crafts and with Dave Allen of
Central Casting. He also will confer
with Joseph Breen and Col. Jason Joy
on the matter of the supervision of
scripts which are read before permis-
sion is given for shooting.
Tonight he will speak at the Wam-
pas meeting and then attend the
Roosevelt Birthday Ball. Tomorrow
he will attend the Breakfast Club,
meet the agents and with an Academy
committee and will wind up his of-
ficial business tomorrow night, leav-
ing either tomorrow night or Thurs-
day.
MCM Starts Flurry
In N.Y. Story Mart
New Yorjs,„— MCM created the
flurrvgi-'rfle week in story purchases
arjfik^ems stepping high in prepara-
tion for next year's program. List
these buys:
An option on the famous Saturday
Evening Post series by Guy Gilpatrick,
about the S. S. Glencannon and its
Scotch captain, with Wally Beery fig-
ured for the probable lead.
"Congo Landing," the latest Wilson
Collison novel, published by McBride,
bought as a starring vehicle for Har-
low.
"Gems of 1934," an original by
Herman Timberg, purchased for a
short.
Clark Cable East For
Vacation Before Next Pic
Clark Gable leaves for New York
the middle of the week for a short
vacation. Studio has no picture ready
for the player at this time, but will
probably get "Soviet" under way when
he returns. Gable was to have had
the lead in "Streets of New York,"
but the studio decided to wait until
Spencer Tracy could be borrowed from
Fox for the spot.
Foy in Line at Col.
New York. — Look for "Murder in
a Theatre" with a Columbia trade-
mark, produced by Bryan Foy. Lou
Goldberg and Ed Olmstead of the
Columbia home office have sold a
story with that title to Foy Produc-
tions, Inc., and the understanding here
is that a deal is under way for release
through Columbia.
Hollytown To Reopen
Leia Rogers will reopen the Holly-
town Theatre on February 2 with
"And Let Her Be Clever," the cast
including Alden Nash and Florine Mc-
Kinney, by courtesy of MGM, and June
Gail, Virginia Tree Boardman, Ethel
Wales, Jane Meredith and Lyons
Whickland.
Claire Trevor in Lights
Sol Wurtzel is scheming to boost
Claire Trevor to star billing with her
next assignment. Fox producer yes-
terday closed a deal to purchase "Dice
Woman," an original by Wilson Col-
lison, as part of his plans. The Small-
Landau office handled the sale.
Extra Comm. Has Quarters
The Motion Picture Code Commit-
tee for Extras, which has been dele-
gated to have complete charge of all
complaints and grievances of the ex-
tras, will open office in the Profes-
sional Building this week. Mabel Kin-
ney is chairman of the committee.
New Fox Star Arrives
New York. — Madeleine Carroll,
first Fox star on the new interchange
arranged with British Caumont, ar-
rives today on the Me de France. Rob-
ert Hurel, head of the French M. P.
Syndicate, is another picture passenger
aboard the same liner.
Coldwyn Hits Front
Pages with New One
New York. — Here's one for the
book. And it broke on the front pages
of every New York paper today, with-
out anticipating what will happen with
the news services.
It was nothing less than having the
Very Reverend Nicholas Kendroff,
archpriest of the Creek Catholic
Church, yesterday offer a prayer and
confer a blessing on Anna Sten and
her first film, "Nana."
It seems that someone (?) in the
Coldwyn exploitation department dis-
covered that it is a rural Russian cus-
tom to invoke success for a journey,
a new undertaking, or the fertility of
crops.
Warners Get Wire Break
On Plans for Soviet Film
Warner Brothers got an Associated
Press and United Press break yester-
day on cabled arrangements made by
J. L. Warner and Irving Asher of the
London Warner staff, for permission
to go into the Soviet republic to shoot
background scenes for "British
Agent."
This is the picture Warners will
do with Leslie Howard in the lead af-
ter the latter completes "Of Human
Bondage."
Miller Starts Second Fox
Sol Wurtzel has tagged Seton I.
Miller for another writing trick, the
scenarist having turned in "Murder
in Trinidad." He goes in to write
the Earl Derr Biggers story "Charlie
Chan's Case," for which Walter Con-
nolly has been borrowed from Colum-
bia.
Just Another Title Change
Universal yesterday changed the la-
bel on "If I Were Rich" to "Let's Be
Ritzy" and added Lois January and
Hugh Enfield to the cast. Lew Ayres
and Patricia Ellis have the top spots,
with Edward Ludwig directing. Henry
Henigson produces.
Lovelace on Way to N.Y.
Hunter Lovelace left Saturday night
for West Virginia for a short visit
with his folks. From there he goes
to New York to assume his duties as
the head of the Fox story department
there.
Jenkins Loaned to Col.
Warners yesterday okayed the loan
to Columbia of Alien Jenkins to go
into a featured role in support of Jack
Holt in "Whirlpool." Roy William
Neil directs the Ethel Hill story.
ITS USE IS
INEVITABLE
WHY NOT START NOW
De Long
NUCHROMATIC
MAKE-UP
5533 Sunsef i Near Western )
Gladstone 8140
Page Twelve
)an. 30. 1934
WHATEVER POSSIESSED HER
COMEDY THAT FALLS FLAT
' Glenda and Pat To
Co-star for Warner
Reviewer Holds Out
No Hope For Screen
'WHATEVER POSSESSED HER"
Raymond Moore presents "Whatever
Possessed Her," a comedy by
, Hardwick Nevin; staged by Ar-
thur Sircom; settings by Eugene
C. Fitsch. With Catherine Cal-
houn Doucet, Richard Whorf,
Percy Kilbride, Joseph Allen,
Pierre Watkin, Constance Mc-
Kay, Otto Hulett, Cordon Rich-
ards, Roland Drew, Flora Camp-
bell, Stapelton Kent, Frederic
Forman, George Henrv Trader,
Edward Fuller. At the Mansfield
Theatre.
New York. — Despite the fact that
Millicent Bangs throughout three sets
continues to reassure everyone that
everything is going to be all right, the
net result of this comedy, which pur-
ports to convey the absurdities of the
summer theatre movement, leaves
much to be desired — entirely too
much. We shall even go so far as
to wonder whatever possessed the pro-
ducer to put it on. Is it possible Mr.
Moore persuaded himself to believe
that here was another "Torch Bear-
ers"? Or that he was induced to pro-
duce "Whatever Possessed Her" as a
labor of love, as his contribution to
the renascence of the theatre, even as
Millicent Bangs?
Millicent is one of those rattle
brained creatures who once played
Ophelia in amateur theatricals and
never got over it. She has an in-
come, a barn, a shepherdess costume
and a sensible husband. Unable to
suppress her yearning to do something
for Art she hires a playwright, a car-
penter and a troupe of professional
actors, and converts her barn into her
notion of an 18th century court thea-
tre, a Petit Trianon no less. And then
the panic, such as it is, is on. For
two frenzied acts everyone and every-
thing goes completely berserk, and
Millicent is just about done in and
dithering, and more than willing to
let the summer theatre movement
shift for itself, when the bedlam fi-
nally subsides. No, it isn't nearly as
funny as it sounds, mainly because
the author tried to be too excruciating.
But while one might forgive him a bad
play, he should be brought up short
for writing his play at the expense of
those who troupe so nobly to keep it
alive. His leading man is a sot, his
juvenile out to seduce, and his villain,
who represents the Actors' Equity if
you please! a blackmailer and a thief.
Shame, Mr. Nevin. No, Mr. Nevin,
Hollywood will not be interested, not
in the least.
Catherine Calhoun Doucet plays
Millicent right up to the hilt. As the
callow playwright Richard Whorf
works hard. Percy Kilbride is abso-
lutely Jake as Eddie the carpenter.
But aside from these no one else was
able particularly to distinguish himself
or herself. Which is no reflection
whatsoever on them.
Fox Signs Dave Could
Fox has signed Dave Gould to write
the musical numbers for "Three on a
Honeymoon."
True Blue
Lee Phelps, president of the
lunior Screen Actors Guild, who can
probably use $25 just as much as
you or I, was on a "bit" call at
Paramount for that amount yester-
day and spent the day at the studio
before facing the camera. So he
passed the $25 up to a fellow
player in the evening because he
felt it his duty to attend the NRA
extras' meeting as an officer of
his Guild.
Warner Eastern Siesta
Commences in March
New York. — The Warners plant
here goes into a five week siesta early
in March when Sam Saxe closes the
studio door for a breathing spell af-
ter having completed enough short
subjects to be well ahead of his re-
lease schedule.
Ralph Staub, director, will then go
to Florida for a vacation. Ben Blue,
featured in a series, hops off to Eu-
rope on a six weeks' vacation.
'P. A.' Stepping Up Sales
New York. — Harry Cohen, whose
most recent distributing connection
has been with Warners in Europe, has
been signed by P. A. Powers to act
as special representative in the eastern
states On the two Iwerks-Comicolor
subjects, "Willie the Whopper" and
"Flip the Frog," the latter an MGM
release.
Brock Signs Ray
Joey Ray, the master of ceremonies
at the Club Ballyhoo, will get his first
crack at pictures in the Lou Brock
feature musical production "Down to
Their Last Yacht," which is being
written by Herbert Fields for Radio.
Sidney Fox has the top spot and Paul
Sloane will direct.
Educ. Renews Pagano
Taking up his new contract with
Educational, Buster Keaton has team-
ed up with Ernest Pagano to write the
story for the first of the series of
two-reel comedies which will star him.
Shooting is scheduled to begin Feb-
ruary 1 5.
Crant Again at MCM
Lawrence Grant, who recently
washed up a long termer at MGM, re-
turns to the studio with his first free
lance assignment in the Norma Shear-
er picture "Rip Tide." Freddie Fra-
lick is negotiating his deals.
Coleman Hits the Bell
Charles "Buddy" Coleman, recently
boosted by Columbia from assistant to
full-fledged director, brought in his
first production yesterday one day
ahead of schedule. It is a Tim Mc-
Coy picture, "Storm at Midnight."
Buffington to Columbia
Columbia yesterday signed Adele
Buffington to write the original screen
Technicians Back
To Academy Fold
Indications are that the Technicians
Branch of the Academy will soon be
stronger than ever. Instead of resig-
nations, which were the rule a while
back, many who resigned are return-
ing to the fold. Chief among these
are Major Nathan Levinson, Wesley
Miller, Virgil Miller, Anton Grot and
Franklin Hansen.
The entire branch is being reor-
ganized and plans are being laid for
the resumption of their technical re-
search program which was interrupt-
ed when the wholesale Academy de-
sertions started. The art directors'
section of the branch met yesterday
to discuss rules for annual awards in
its department.
London Pic Producers
Want Title Protection
London. — The British Producers and
Distributors here, up in the air be-
cause of the repetition and stealing of
picture titles, have appealed to the
Board of Censors for their help. To
this end the censors have told them
that should all producers agree they
will establish a bureau similar to the
one in America that would permit
producers to register their titles.
O'Neill Civen New U' Job
Universal has signed George O'Neill
to write the continuity of "Sutter's
Gold," which William Wyler will put
into production when he completes his
present picture, "Glamor," for the
studio. O'Neill turned in an okayed
treatment of the novel about three
months ago.
Another Anti-Trust Suit
New York. — Encouraged by the re-
cent habit of majors to settle anti-
trust suits out of court, the Nithold
Brothers of Morristown, New Jersey,
have filed suit against Warners, Fox
and United Artists, alleging actions
that drove them out of business.
Set Montgomery's Next
Robert Montgomery is slated for
the starring role in the Edward Hope
novel "Calm Yourself," which is be-
ing adapted to the screen by Arthur
Kober for MGM. Monte Bell is the
associate producer on this picture.
Mank' Polishes '13'
Herman Mankiewicz has been
handed the script of the Marion Da-
vies-Gary Cooper co-starring vehicle,
"Operator 13," by Walter Wanger for
a polishing up before the picture goes
into production at MGM.
Harlow Frisco's Cuest
Jean Harlow left by train last night
for San Francisco to be the guest at
the party celebrating President Roose-
velt's birthday there tonight. She
will return in a few days.
'Welfare Island' Hot
several studios are interested in
Warners yesterday set Glenda Far-
rell for the feminine lead in "One
Man's Woman," the Gene Towne and
Graham Baker original, opposite Pat
O'Brien, and assigned Claire Dodd to
a featured role. Alan Crosland di-
rects when the picture starts the lat-
ter part of this week or the early part
of next.
Richard Barthelmess was announced
in the top spot at the time the story
was purchased, but studio decided to
given O'Brien the lead as the first on
his new long term contract.
McLane Quits tor Stage
With a deal to go into Radio's
"Crime Doctor" virtually set. Barton
McLane called off all bets when Kath-
arine Cornell offered him for her hus-
band, Guthrie McClintock, an impor-
tant spot in the Broadway play pro-
ducer's "Yellow Jack," by Sidney
Howard. Player hops off by plane for
New York this morning.
Break for Lee Beggs
Lee Beggs, who played in the New
York company of "Take a Chance"
in its year and a half Broadway run,
gets his first talking picture break in
MGM's "In Old Louisiana." Beggs
worked in silent pictures a number of
years ago. Sackin agency negotiated, j
'Cristo Countess' Finished
Karl Freund brought in "Countess
of Monte Cristo" at Universal Satur-
day, one day ahead of schedule. Paul
Lukas and Fay Wray head the cast.'!!
Stanley Bergerman produced. Pic-
ture was in production about three |
weeks.
Col. Dusts Off Double'
Columbia has dug out the idea con- j
ceived by Walter Wanger, when hel
was on that lot, to make a picture!
called "The Double" and plans to
make the picture in the near future.
Batcheller Title Set
George R. Batcheller has set "The
Quitte/" as the final release title for!
the picture which Richard Thorpe
completed last week under the tag >
"Understanding Heart."
Million Dollar Suit
(Continued from Page 1 )
play for "Hell Cat," making the third„-'^*'Welfare Island," a story by Nat J.
writer to attempt to crack the story. Ferber, one time Sunday editor of the
Sidney Rogell produces. New York American.
Peter and Leslie J. Stiller are the playj
producers, and James Hagan is listed
as author of the play.
Child claims the play a plagiarism
of a story of his entitled "The Aven-
ger," which ran in the Saturday Eve-
ing Post issue of September 19, 1919.
In addition to his literary and dip-
lomatic past. Child is today a Hearst,
feature editorial writer stationed a1|j
Washington and getting front page'
space for his daily writings.
Because of the prominence of the|
writer it is expected the suit will set
new precedents for plagiarism. In the;
past most suits have been brought by
unknown writers with little claim tc
past attainments to back up their le-
gal complaints. !
% MF.SA.VUKL MARX,
CULVrR .JITY,'JALIr'.
Vol. XIX, No. 16. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, January 31, 1934
UNIONS 4Sr StIOWDCWN
•A "Little Women" comes once in a
lifetime. A nice sweet story such as
was adapted for this enormously suc-
cessful picture is like a needle in a
haystack. They may be found (nice
and sweet) but their box office at-
tractiveness is another thing alto-
gether. Accordingly the start and
finish of every Hays meeting on cen-
sorable pictures, with "Look what
'Little Women' is doing" offers the
exception rather than the rule.
This business simply HAS TO HAVE
BETTER PICTURES, and to be ham-
strung by the present Hays edicts will
not make GOOD PICTURES. Produc-
ers must get themselves away from
that damaging influence and make
pictures that will be interesting and
carry entertainment values. Writers
cannot write stories with those values
under the present restrictions.
•
So what to do?
Insist that Mr. Hays stop foment-
ing censorship 43y his continued broad-
casting of a stupid code of morals
that has given him lots of publicity
and placed an impossible burden on
our activities. Divert Mr. Hays' at-
tention to a censorship work that will
HELP THIS BUSINESS, the censorship
of exhibitor advertising; and then go
to work making interesting pictures
containing situations that will arouse
public favor, and kill off that "14-
year-old moron" that has been dangled
in front of the producer's face for
these many months.
Even though Mr. Hays has made
some headway in selling the idea that
our producers take great pleasure in
dealing out filth ir, story material for
pictures, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
There is not a man or woman in this
industry, with any power or influ-
ence, but who knows the proper limi-
tations in telling stories. THEY CON-
FINE THEMSELVES TO SUCH STORY
TELLING and need give little recog-
nition to the Federation of Women's
Clubs and the Parent-Teachers Associ-
ations that Mr. Hays has seen fit to
empower to dictate what we should
produce as motion picture ente'rtain-
ment. Our creators recognize that
this is ADULT ENTERTAINMENT and
it can only exist on that basis. But
they struggle against this fact:
We have got to have BETTER PIC-
TURES.
Fox Activities On
N. Y. Story Buys
■ reflating Market
Nevy^ork. — The story and play sit-
uatioiVaround here as it concerns their
purg^ase for motion pictures took
a spurt during the past two
^eks due to the activities of Ray
)ng, representing Fox.
MGM and Paramount have had
things pretty much their own way for
a brief spell, with Warners only tak-
ing periodical flings; but with the ad-
vent of Long prices have been shot
up with the result that all stories and
plays have been boosted 25 percent
and more because of this new compe-
tition.
Long made a good buy before his
activities shot up the market. He
grabbed the Sinclair Lewis story
"Work of Art" for a paltry $25,000.
Columbia Backs Water
On Sound Crew Cut
Columbia's announced cut in sound
crew, which had members of the
lATSE local hot under the collar the
other day, has not materialized. An-
nouncement was that the four-man
crew would be cut to three, with a
grip and an electrician sharing the du-
ties of the second stage or cable man.
Local started preparing formal pro-
test, but studio changed mind and
four-man crew remains — at least at
present.
Safron Here Today
Jerry Safron, Columbia's western
exchange manager, arrives today by
plane from New York. Safron was
away a little over a week conferring
with home office executives.
Revnes in New York
,/ New York. — Maurice Revnes, MGM
staff exec, is here on a three weeks'
story hunt.
'CODE WILL
IF WROIVG,'
Speaking at a dinner given by the
Wampas, Deputy Administrator Sol A.
Rosenblatt last night assured the mo-
tion picture industry that the motion
picture code would be changed when-
ever it is clearly proven that some-
thing IS wrong with it.
"No doctrine or Code can be per-
fect," said Rosenblatt. "But the pic-
(Continued on Page 6)
Cameramen and Others See
'Rosy' Today— Won't Let Buck
Be Passed To Labor Board
Despite Sol A. Rosenblatt's announcement that all complaints
of sound and camera men would be referred by him to the labor
committee and the regional labor board, representatives of all
the Locals of the lATSE will go before him today with sufficient
complaints to give a lasting headache.
Representatives of Local 659, Cam-
eramen, will demand an amendment
to the NRA Code which will do more
to limit hours and bring about greater
spread of employment, which union
officials say is not being accomplished
under the Code workings.
Yesterday officials of 659 received
the report that the American Society
of Cinematographers and the Produc-
ers had met Monday and had brought
about an arrangement whereby the
producers had agreed to employ the
extra first cameramen on a 36-hour
basis. At the same time, they declar-
ed the first cameramen now under
contract would have to work unlimit-
ed hours and could be changed from
company to company at the will of the
producers. This, union officials point-
(Continued on Page 5)
Start 'Hunchback' Script
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
is again very much alive on the Uni-
versal schedule. Francis Edward Fara-
goh was this week started on prepar-
ing a new talkie version of the classic
that is one of Universal's historic
money-makers.
Zanft a Bankrupt
New York. — John Zanft has filed a
voluntary petition in bankruptcy, list-
ing liabilities of $244,216 and assets
of $407,397, including life insurance
to the extent of $238,668.
BE CHAiXGED
SAYS *ROSY'
China No Likee Earth'
Urjited Press dispatches yesterday
refSfcrted that the MGM unit in China
Ao photograph backgrounds for "The
Good Earth" had been forbidden per-
mission by the Nanking Central Gov-
ernment on the ground that the Pearl
Buck story "was prejudicial to the
dignity of the Chinese race."
Latest Shift Sends
Morley to Radio
Two star actresses making come-
backs after long absences did a bit
of juggling yesterday with the final
result that Karen Morley will make her
return at Radio in "The Crime Doc-
tor," which was originally set for Co-
nnne Griffith.
Karen Morley, on loanout from
MGM, had originally been announced
to return in the lead of "Most Precious
Thing in Life" at Columbia. But
company and star agreed mutually to
call jt off after study of the part.
The same condition cropped up on the
other part with Corinne Griffith at
Radio.
Farrow Gets Quota
Mexican. — John Farrow, motion-
picture writer and native of Australia,
cleared the border here armed with a
quota number granted by U. S. immi-
gration officials.
This puts an end to all the troubles
that Farrow has experienced during
the past two years in Hollywood.
ASC Makes It Clear
The ASC is planning to print in
pamphlet form the agreement recently
made between that group and the ma-
jor studios. Clauses will be interpreted
so all cameramen will be sure to un-
derstand legal phrases.
Snell-Riddle Move
Paul Snell of the Fox publicity of-
fice, and Mel Riddle of Eddy Eckles'
gang at Radio, shift as of Monday to
new berths. Snell goes to the Howard
Stnckling staff at MGM and Riddle
joins the Fox organization.
Lasky Returns Sunday
Jesse Lasky returns to his Fox unit
from a trip to Havana Sunday, accord-
ing to word received by the produc-
er's office yesterday.
]
WILHELM DIETERLE
DIRECTED
WARN ERS
FASHIONS OF 34
Page Two
Jan. 31, 1934
J
HMfefclFOillEII^
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
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Telephone HOIIywood 3957
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Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
It happened when Allen Rivkin was
telling Jerry Horwin that he was plan-
ning a trip to Europe and would make
London his first stop.
"Going to ENGLAND?" asked Hor-
win.
"Yep," answered Rivkin.
Whereupon Jerry grabbed his arm
and exclaimed, "You MUST look up
the Glicksteins!"
•
A very hammy actor-friend of Lou
Holtz's got all through primping be-
fore a mirror the other night and then
turned to Holtz and asked, "How
do I look?"
"You look," answer Lou, "like a
wealthy South American — who's just
gone broke!"
•
Connie Cummings tells this one on
herself — and it's not without charm.
Seems that when she was in England,
she was very desirous of creating a
nice impression on all the people she
met, and didn't want to pull any of
the boners usually pulled by visiting
Americans — such as using expressions
that mean one thing In the U.S.A. and
something horrifying to the Britishers.
In other words, Connie wanted to be
"correct." So one night she and Benn
Levy were dining with some of Benn's
fine friends and everything went
beautifully — up until dessert time —
when la Cummings ordered Yorkshire
pudding!
•
A famous director, who is also a
writer, had a pip of an idea for a story
a few weeks ago and told it in full tc
a producer at a major studio. The
producer was crazy about it and told
the director to go right over and tell
it to the head man. Whereupon the
director made the appointment and
then cooled his heels In the outer of-
fice for almost three hours before he
got in to see the big boss. When he
told his story, the head man of the
stu^o was crazy about it too — but
when the head man and the producer
compared notes, they found they had
listened to two entirely different tales!
Now the director will probably lose
out. because the execs don't think the
Sun:
"CROSS COUNTRY CRUISE"
Universal prod.; director, Edward Buzzell; writers, Stanley Rauh, Elmer Harris.
Roxy Theatre
World-Telegram: It is a mournful and stereotyped piece, but well enough acted.
Films of this sort should be and can be made thrilling and exciting If han-
dled with some imagination and freshness in writing and direction. That
they follow the "Grand Hotel" pattern is of minor consequence. What is
Important is their treatment, because, essentially, most of them possess
the elements of valid and entertaining melodrama.
Times: Unfortunately, for all its strenuous by-play, this film spends most of
its trip in the lower entertainment brackets. The passengers are properly
diverse, but the drama lacks conviction. It looks, acts and sounds like
patchwork. Nor do the central characters seem quite bright.
Rich, ripe melodrama with not a hint of mystery nor any particular ele-
ments of surprise. There is an effort to show the monotony of the long
days and nights aboard the bus; but, with all the principals preparing for
a grand explosion, the passengers couldn't relax enough to be bored. The
plot Is a little mechanical, like most of the characters.
American: A snappy murder, a swell chase, a smashing crack-up supply some of
the melodramatic incidents in the fast moving film that has come to the
Roxy screen. It's satisfying film fare. Director Buzzell has done won-
ders with a story that might have been a dull and talky picture instead of
really thrilling action-drama. His s'howmanly mingling of the film's vari-
ous elements makes it fresh and surprising all the way.
lournal: It's mild melodramatlcs with a scenic stopover at Niagara Falls.
News: An absurd comedy that is diverting if you're In the mood to take your
movie fare lightly. So far so good, but let us hope that this epidemic
won't spread much further, but in pictures, where the action is confined
to a bus and bus stations, the story is bound to be forced to command any
attention. Stanley Rauh wrote the story which Eddie Buzzell has wisely
directed so that it can't be taken seriously, even though a murder takes
place en route.
MGM Gives Upon
Search for Crooners
Apparently crooners are not to be
found on every corner. Clarence
Brown has made half a hundred tests
seeking one for the lead opposite Joan
Crawford in the MGM picture "Sadie
McKee," and finally given up. Stu-
dio guessers say that about $50,000
has been spent on the tests.
Latest report is that MGM Is seek-
ing Jimmy Dunn on a loan from Fox
for the part. Dunn is not a crooner,
but a voice dubbing could be done for
the few spots needed.
Mrs. Eliscu Sets Her Play
Mrs. Edward Eliscu (Stella Block)
returned from a two months' visit in
New York Sunday. While there she
arranged for the production of her
play. In which Laurette Taylor will
be starred.
fellow can hold one idea long enough
for either himself or another writer to
get it down on paper!
•
There has been a hell-to-do in Lon-
don over the contract of Merle Obe-
ron (just signed by Eddie Small I.
Alexander Korda holds her ticket, and
when she refused to play the femi-
nine lead opposite Douglas Fairbanks
Sr. it created a rift between Korda
and Fairbanks. And when Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer wanted her for a
termer, and Korda turned It down
because he wanted more money, there
was loud squawking on both sides of
the pond. But seemingly now both
Korda and Oberon are satisfied with
the Small agreement and Fairbanks
and MGM can hold their fingers and
fret.
Roth Back to Universal
On One-Picture Deal
Mu-ray Roth has obtained permis-
sion from Warners to make a one-
picture deal with Universal and has
signed with that studio to direct an
unproduced play by Howard Emmett
Rogers titled "A New Deal on Love,"
which the studio purchased recently.
Eph Asher Is supervising. The deal was
made through the Nat Goldstone of-
fice.
Roth has just finished directing
"Harold Teen" for Warners, but
could not make an outside deal until
after Warner's option on him comes
up which won't be for a couple of
weeks.
Putnam Play at Beverly
Wi+fi Merna Kennedy and Earle
ffii%e in the leads the Beverly Hills
■^ittle Theatre will present "Gentle-
men For Sale," a new play by Nina
Wilcox Putnam, for a week starting
February 5. Others In the cast in-
clude Pauline Garon, Flora Finch and
Dan Brody.
Para. Likes Vaughan
Paramount, still rounding up a cast
for "Double Doors," which will be di-
rected by Charles Vidor, yesterday
opened a deal with Hilda Vaughan,
New York stage actress.
Bennett Up at MCM
Richard Bennett may do the part
of General Grant in "Operator 1 3" If
he and MGM can get together on
terms.
Marley-McAdoo
Peverell Marley, Twentieth Century
cameraman, Saturday will marry Miss
Virginia Ruth McAdoo.
ana' Heads List
Of NewB'way Pics
New York. — "Nana" arouses the
most interest among the new pictures
coming to Broadway this week, every-
body waiting for their first glimpse
of Anna Sten at the Music Hall Thurs-
day.
Other new attractions are; Wednes-
day, Mayfair, "Frontier Marshal";'
Strand, "Hi Nellie"; Friday, "I've Cot
Your Number," Roxy; "You Can't
Buy Everything," Capitol; "All of
Me." Paramount.
Burke To Meg Rothstein
Yarn As First at Fox
Edwin Burke returned to Hollywood
with the story written by Mrs. Arnold
Rothstein titled, "Now I'll Tell."
which is based on the life of her late
husband.
Burke will make his debut as a di-
rector with this yarn as his first as-
signment for Fox.
Rathbone on MCM Fire
MGM is negotiating with Basil
Rathbone for a term contract. Player
IS now Katharine Cornell's leading man
in her repertoire company.
Studio Employees
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or Automobiles
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TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
Jan. 31, 1934
RiPOIRTEIR
Page Three
ROGERS' 'IVO
IS LUSTY
McLaglen-LoweCet
Yarn and Direction
"NO MORE WOMEN"
( Rogers-Paramount)
Director Albert Rogell
Original Delmar Daves
and Grant Leenhouts
Screen Play Delmar Daves
Additional Dialogue Lou Breslow
Photography Theodor Sparkuhl
Cast: Edmund Lowe, Victor McLaglen,
Christian Rub, Harold Huber,
Sally Blane, Minna Gombell, Al-
phonse Ethier, Tom Dugan, Wil-
liam Franey, S. P. McCowah and
Frank Moran.
Aided by competent dialogue, equal-
ly competent direction and a guileless
Dutch comic by the name of Christian
Rub, Victor McLaglen and Edmund
Lowe succeeded in being both be-
lievable and entertaining for the length
of the Charles R. Rogers picture, which
in the version screened last night
lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes. Com-
ing from this reviewer, who has been
little amused by this team since
"What Price Glory," this is news as
well as criticism.
"No More Women" has much of
the quality of "Sailor Beware." While
it lacks the unifying plot of the latter
piece, it has the same swing and the
same lusty innocence. The protag-
onists are picked up, or rather let
down, as two rival divers of salvage
ships. Working on the same wreck
McLaglen brings up the ship's safe,
while Lowe, with more of the impre-
sario's touch, rifles the pockets of
the captain's corpse. Needless to say
the safe is as empty as the pockets
are full — sufficiently full to allow
Lowe to pay for the affections of Mc-
Laglen's girl, Minna Gombell. When
Sally Blane, distinguished by a mag-
nificent coiffure, inherits McLaglen's
ship she hires Lowe as first diver.
The courtship which follows is not al-
lowed to become either usual or dull,
workifig to a climax in an underwater
sequence which alone is worth loge
tickets. Four divers work on the same
wreck; one of them, unscrupulous,
greedy and above all practical, works
with his knife on the tubes of the
others.
Another small work of art in itself
is the sequence in which word passes
along the waterfront of Sally Blane's
inheritance, "The Pelican's gone lily
on us!" Minna Gombell's small char-
acter is excellent; Sally Blane, with
more footage and less to say, grace-
fully leaves Rome to the Caesars.
When credits are split, first men-
tion must probably go to Al Rogell
for having given this reviewer a new
pleasure in McLaglen and Lowe, and
an entertaining picture high-lighted
with some extra fine touches. Theo-
dore Sparkuhl's photography hits the
mark. And since the whole job was
so well liked Delmar Daves, Grant
Leenhouts and Lou Breslow must come
in for bouquets.
Radio Borrows Frawley
Radio yesterday borrowed William
Frawley from Paramount for the top
comedy assignment in "Crime Dec-
tor."
MORE IVOMEIV'
EOTERTAIIVMEXT
Wait on Rosy to
Settle Exhib Scrap
More Baby Stars
Feeling happy after last night's
Rosenblatt dinner, the Wampas
Executive Committee announced
that the organization will go ahead
with the selection of Baby Stars
this year without worrying about
producer or other support. Nomi-
nations and details will be settled
February 1 3 and selections voted
on February 27.
Eilers-Lycn English
Picture Well Liked
•THE MORNING AFTER"
British -Caumont
Director Alan Dwan
Cast: Sally Filers and Ben Lyons in the
leads. Further credits not available.
"The Morning After" was adver-
tised as a preview last night at the
Colorado theatre in Pasadena, although
the film was made some time ago in
England. However, this was probably
its preview in Southern California ter-
ritory and so this review is only a mat-
ter of record.
The picture is a light, engaging,
sparkling, little comedy which gives a
delightful raspberry to the mythical
kingdom school. It is jaunty, irrespon-
sible stuff, enlivened by crafty direc-
tion and swell acting, and backed by
good, solid comedy.
After spending a night not wisely,
but well, Ben Lyon awakes to find
himself mistaken for NG2, a spy in the
employ of some villains who are seek-
ing to dethrone Prince Rudolph, the
beloved ruler of the mythical kingdom.
The description of a blonde Countess
whom he is supposed to involve in the
plot, and the offer of five hundred
pounds weaken his resolution to stick
to his office job, and off he starts
on his fantastic errand.
His frantic efforts to force the
Countess to steal the papers, which
she is supposed to crave even at the
price of death, her bored indifference
at the whole procedure, their sudden
arrest and introduction to a firing
squad, and their escape by means of
Lyon's home-made bombs (egg shells
filled with pepper) are the ridiculous
and amusing highlights of the pic-
ture. Their walk to the courtyard of
death is terribly funny.
Ben Lyon bounds happily through
the picture. He has never been more
the light-hearted, engaging comedian,
and his acting is a joy throughout.
Sally Filers gets away with a thick
French accent admirably, and her
change to plain Molly Malone, the
actress who impersonates the Coun-
tess in order to lead NG2 astray, is
expertly done.
Alan Dwan's direction is extremely
clever and individual. He makes the
picture a piece of art which is never-
theless acceptable to the average au-
dience. Don't be afraid that "The
Morning After" will be too high-brow
for your ticket buyers. It will appeal
to everyone — and it has two popular
names and superb direction.
The title, by the way, may be
changed.
New York. — To allow Sol Rosen-
blatt time to return to New York
and fight the cases. Judge Bondy yes-
terday postponed action on the appli-
cation for injunctions against the NRA
by the Allied States organization.
February 20 was set as the date for a
decision.
Under the present plan of the Code
Authority all exhibitors are supposed
to get their assents in by February
28. What the effect of the postpone-
ment on the injunction request until
the 20th will be no one attempts to
guess.
'Rosy' to See Acad.
Croup Tomorrow
A special commitee of members of
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences will meet with Deputy
Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt to-
morrow morning at the Beverly-Wil-
shire hotel. The meeting is at the re-
quest of Rosenblatt.
The committee will consist of Frank
Capra, William Sistrom, Lewis Stone,
Major Nathan Levinson, Howard Green
and J. Theodore Reed, president of the
Academy. Thus being representative
of each of the five Academy branches,
plus the head.
Universal Plans 14
To Be Made Abroad
New York. — Eight Universal pic-
tures to be made in London and six
in Paris are expected to be the out-
come of an international Universal
conference which started here yester-
day.
Max Friedland and Fritz Keller of
the foreign department are here from
abroad, and in addition to Carl
Laemmie, Sr. and Jr., James Grainger,
R. H. Cochrane, P. D. Cochrane, C. B.
Paine and Robert Harris are taking
part in the conferences.
20t-h Signs Butterworth
Charles Butterworth was signed
yesterday by Twentieth Century for a
featured role in the Ronald Colman
picture, "Bulldog Drummond Strikes
Back," which will be directed by Roy
Del Ruth. Production is scheduled to
start about February 1 5.
Doris Kenyon on Air
Dons Kenyon, who has been the
house guest of Professor and Mrs. Ein-
stein at Princeton, does a week on
the air with Rudy Vallee and then a
week each in Detroit and Chicago
singing.
Junior Likes 'Black Sheep'
Carl Laemmie, Jr. took a copy of
"Blacky Sheep," an original story by
Sy Bartlett and Rian James, with him
to read during h.s stay east, and liked
it so well he wired an offer back from
the train.
Radio Activities
At Standstill As
Big Confab Ensues
Activities on the Radio lot are at a
standstill while J. R. McDonough. B. B.
Kahane, Menan C. Cooper and Ned
Depinet decide the future policy of
production, who will head it and who
will be part of it.
Since McDonough's arrival, every-
thing has been up in the air on the
lot, no one has seen Cooper, all pro-
duction plans have been tabled and
the plant awaits word from the con-
ference chambers.
Anything is possible as a result of
these conferences, but nothing posi-
tive has developed. Those capable of
guessing are of the opinion that the
whole lot will go unit production, with
Kahane handling the reins. This will
place Cooper in the top unit spot,
with the Whitney millions and a good
part of Radio's production finances
leveled on his productions. It is believ-
ed that he will make from six to eight
pictures.
In the next production spot Pandro
Berman is a cinch to be given a clear
hand in the making of anything that
suits his fancy. Louis Brock and Ken-
neth Macgowan are believed to be the
only other producers sure of their jobs
Code Vaudeville
Body Meets in N.Y.
Kew York. — The Code Authority
CoT.mittee on vaudeville — both actors
snd !abo' — meets today at the Hotel
Astor. Chairmen to handle the vari-
ous discussions have been named as
follows:
Bookers, Major Thompson and Jos-
eph Bernard; presentation producers,
Ssm Dembow, Jr., and George Skou-
ras; vaudeville producers, Marty For-
k:ns; actors and agents, Louis K. Sid-
ney.
Paramount Takes Back
Brooklyn Playhouse
New York. — Paramount has taken
back the Paramount Brooklyn from
Mort Shea and will start actual opera-
tion again this Friday, with William
Raynor, Shea's former manager, run-
ning the house.
The opening attraction will be Mary
Pickford on the stage and "All of
Me" playing day and date with the
New York Paramount as the picture.
Afwill Ends Vacation
Lionel Atwill is back in town after
spending the last six weeks vacation-
ing in New York with Mrs. Atwill.
The player did a number of radio
broadcasts while there. He is now
reading scripts on parts offered him.
MCM Buys Novel
New York. — MCM continued its
stirring- up of the New York story
m^ket with the purchase of "The
Heavenly Sinner," a novel by T. E.
Harre, published by Macauley.
Jack Osterman Tagged
Jack Osterman has been signed b/
Lou Brock to star in a two reel com-
edy at Rad o. Al Boasberg will write
the story and will also direct.
Page Four
Ian. 31, 1934
INDIE SHARPSHOOTERS DIG
UP FOREIGN ST EN PICTURES
Also Offer Kiepura.
Harvey and Others
' Independents who miss no bets have
gone into the European market on a
buying campaign that is going to cause
plenty of burns for Sam Coldwyn, Uni-
versal and Fox. The sharpshooting
buyers are digging up pictures star-
ring Anna Sten, Lilian Harvey, Heather
Angel and Jan Kiepura.
Of particular interest are the Anna
Sten buys owing to the expert man-
ner in which Coldwyn has cooked up
a demand for the previously little
known Russian girl. The indies have
dug up at least two Ufa pictures star-
ring her and are out selling right now.
The two pictures are "Baum de
Monte Carlo," which Independent
Film Exchange has locally, and "The
Tempest," owned by Jacobs and Breg-
stein, for Los Angeles. "The Tom-
pest" co-stars Emil Jannings.
Other star pictures are "Love
Waltz" and "Quick," Ufa pictures,
with Lilian Harvey, held by the In-
dependent Film Exchange ;"Farewell to
Love," co-starring Jan Kiepura and
Heather Angel, held by William C.
Smith, and "Two Hearts That Beat
As One," a Lilian Harvey owned by
Jacobs and Bregstein.
At least twelve more pictures, it is
claimed, are expected today from Eu-
rope, and will be dumped on the mar-
ket as rapidly as possible while the
interest in the foreign stars continues
at its highest pitch.
MCM Tries Two Ways
On High School' Yarn
.With Aurania Rouverol engaged to
vy/ite a screen play for "High School,"
/6»>1CM now has two sets of writers
working on the story in an effort to
wrestle a satisfactory script out of the
idea. Ceorge Seaton and Arthur Bloch
are also on it.
Victor Fleming is scheduled to di-
rect under the supervision of Hunt
Stfomberg. Jean Parker is being
talked of for the top assignment.
To Screen Soviet Pic
Julien Bryan, scion of the Tennes-
see oil family, is putting on an exhi-
bition of the film he made for the
Soviet in Russia, holding the showing
tomorrow night at the Trinity Audi-
torium. Bryan has also obtained a
group of Russian film documents of
the Czarist regime.
'Operator 13' Starts
Raoul Walsh today places the
Marion Davies picture "Operator 13'.'
into work at MCM. Besides the star,
cast includes Cary Cooper, Ned Sparks
and Mae Clarke. Ceorge Folsey is
handling the cameras. Walter Wan-
ger IS associate producer.
/ Dunne on MCM Yarn
/ Phillip Dunne has been assigned to
j the screen play of the Durante-But-
1 terworth picture, "Student Tour,"
which Monta Bell produces for MCM.
Company is figuring on working song
numbers into the production, making
it a semi-musical.
Big Money
New York. — Max Cordon claims
It's a record for $3.30 shows, at
the New Amsterdam, famed home
of Ziegfeld's Follies, and the boys
are searching the books. But "Ro-
berta" did $27,580 at that house
last week.
Lloyd on Schedule
For First Time
With the Harold Lloyd production,
"The Catspaw," actually starting yes-
terday, this comedy unit finds itself
forced to work on some kind of a
shooting schedule for the first time
since it has been making pictures.
In order for Lloyd to get any kind
of a cast, he had to guarantee that
players would be finished at a defi-
nite time, and in order to meet the
commitments the whole picture has
been scheduled and a demand made
that the schedule be met.
Russell Hopton Tagged
At Warners for Three
With talk of a long term deal in the
offing, Warners yesterday secured a
commitment on the services of Rus-
sell Hopton for his next three pic-
tures, tieing the player up for a three
months' period.
His first assignment will be in "One
Man's Woman," which Alan Crosland
directs. The MacQuarrie office rep-
resents Hopton.
Fhelma Todd Moves Into
New Radio Assignment
Thelma Todd yesterday registered
at Radio, where she takes up a long
term deal negotiated recently through
Pat de Cicco. Her first assignment
under the contract will be in the next
Wheeler and Woolsey picture, "Frat-
heads," which starts in four weeks.
Lift Frawley Option
Paramount yesterday notified Wil-
liam Frawley that the company was
exercising its option on the ticket
which Leo Morrison negotiated. Play-
er is on loan to Radio for "Crime Doc-
tor" and a deal is cooking for him
to swing over to Columbia for "Twen-
tieth Century" before coming back to
the home lot.
Roach Short a Musical
Arthur Kay has been engaged as
musical director and Bill O'Donnell as
dance director by the Hal Roach stu-
dios for their forthcoming all-star
musical comedy short which gets un-
der way Monday. Val Burton and Will
Jason have written the songs and
Leigh jason will direct.
Wood Megs Montgomery
^Sam Wood has been assigned the
d/rection of "Forgotten Cirl," the Wil-
son Collison story which MCM has
slated as a Robert Montgomery star-
ring vehicle. Sam Mintz is writing
the screen play under Harry Rapf's
supervision.
Federal Trade
Report in Work
Washington. — The report of the
Federal Trade Commission covering
executive officers, directors of corpo-
rations, etc., etc., is now in the work
and will be turned over to the Sen-
ate in a short while.
This report covers every corpora-
tion capitalized at over $1,000,000
and is to show the salary, commis-
sions, working agreements, ownership
and the entire history of those cor-
porations.
It is understood that the question-
naire sent out for the above purpose
was given instant action in motion
picture circles as well as by all other
big corporations.
Willard Mack Cast-Off
Wins for Kane-Weber
Walter Kane and Herbert Weber
have the laugh today on Willard
Mack. It seems Mack had a race horse
that hadn't won in two years. He gave
it to Weber and Kane for a Christmas
present last Xmas. Yesterday it came
in first for the boys at Caliente. Web-
er and Kane cleaned up $500 each as
the horse paid 1 5 to 1 and they had
him on the nose for several dollars.
Jory Up at Warners
Working on a deal with Fox for the
loan of Victor Jory for one of the
leading supporting roles to James Cag-
ney and Joan Blondell in "Without
Honor," Warners yesterday tested the
player to judge his adaptability to the
part.
Para. Signs Dot Stickney
Paramount is bringing Dorothy
Stickney out from New York for a
featured role in "Murder at the Vani-
ties." The player made a couple of
pictures here two years ago, after
which she returned to the stage.
Lone Star Starts Today
Lone Star productions will place its
next John Wayne western into work
this Monday. The script was written
by Robert North Bradbury who will
also direct the picture. The tentative
title is "The Star Packer."
Stepin Stays at Home
Deal for MCM to borrow Stepm
Fetchit for "Operator 13" fell through
yesterday when Fox discovered it
needed the colored boy for a picture
in the near future. Picture gets under
way today.
WB Tag Stone and Hale
Ceorge E. Stone and Alan Hale have
been signed by Warners for roles in
"Gentleman From San Francisco,"
which is being directed by Wilhelm
Dieterle.
Hecht on 'Clamour' Steps
Harold Hecht has been signed by
Universal to direct the dance numbers
in "Clamour," which Bennie Zeldman
is producing.
John Sheehan joins cast of Mono-
gram's "Curse of Kali" on deal set by
the MacQuarrie office.
Armand Kaliz into "Love Detec-
tive," Columbia.
Sarah Haydon and Adalyn Doyle en-
gaged by Radio for featured roles in
the cast of "Finishing School."
Sarah Padden into "All Men Are
Enemies," Fox. Harry Wurtzel set
the player.
Del Henderson into "You're Telling
Me," Paramount. Set by Hallam'
Cooley of the Weber office.
Margaret Nearing set through Ber-
nard and Meiklejohn in "Hollywood
Party." MCM.
Ceorge Blackwood goes into "Dou-
ble Door" at the Mayan. Set by Ber-
nard and Meiklejohn.
Forrester Harvey joins cast of "Mys-
tery of the Dead Police," going intc
the retakes for his featured spot. The
MacQuarrie office set him.
Maurice Black signed by Maur
Cohen for "Birds of a Feather."
John Rutherford signed through thJ
William Morris office for a featured
role in "Firebrand," Twentieth CenJ
tury.
Clarence Muse into "One Man'!
Woman," Warners. Set by the Macj
Quarries.
Alan Hale for "Centleman from Sai|
Francisco," Warners. The Edingtor
and Vincent office spotted the deal.
Norma Mitchell into "Melody In
Spring," Paramount, through Edington
and Vincent.
Douglas Wood for "Trumpet Blows"
at Paramount. Edington- Vencent ne^
gotiated.
Douglas Dumbrille into "Operator
13," MCM. Small-Landau did it.
Gertrude W. Hoffman for 'Cats-
paw," Harold Lloyd, by Bill Woolfen-
den of Small-Landau.
Sidney Bracy signed through the
Sackin agency for Harold Lloyd's "The
Catspaw."
Laurence Grant added to the cast
of MCM's "Rip Tide." Deal handled
by Freddie Fralick.
Universal tested Sue Carol and Beta
Bijou for featured spots.
Huntley Cordon signed by Uni-
versal for a role in "Frolics of Youth."
Menifee Johnstone made the deal.
Pizor Here With Pathe
Backing for Pictures
Continuing its financial interest in I
independent production and distribu-
tion, Pathe has completed the details
of an agreement with William Pizor to
finance producers he selects on state
right ventures.
Pizor is now in Hollywood lining
up his interests.
Triumph' Script Done
Charl^' Crayson yesterday turned
in hj^^ompleted script for "Triumph,"
wWch MCM will use as a Joan Craw-
ford starring picture following "Sadie
McKee." John Considine is acting as
associate producer on the picture.
O'Connel! Set By Fox
L. William O'Connell yesterday was
assigned by Fox studios to do the cam-
era work on "Odd Thursday." Expect
to start work tomorrow.
Ian. 31, 1934
THE
Page Five
Jack Votion covering the Wardour
Front here — and how! Certainly man-
aged to bring some Hollywood hustle
to jolly ole Lunnon. . . . Universal took
time out after the trade show of "By
Candlelight" to give James Whale a
pretty nice little reception which was
attended by Countess Landi, A. P.
Herbert, Marian Marsh, Frank Ditcham
and a host of others . . . Leslie Wil-
liams and Dave Bader were in charge
of operations, and boy, they operated!
. . . And the press liked jimmie Whale
a whole heap. . . . Metro have billed
Maxie Baer as the new surprise star
here on the showing of "Prizefighter
and the Lady" (called here "Every-
woman's Man") — they ain't mention-
ing him by name, figuring to stir up
interest by this Garbo act; trouble is
all the film scribes have written plenty
about the new Coughload of sex ap-
peal which has rather killed Metro's
stunt; or has it?
•
Timmie Whelan back from Cairo
where he has been preparing his next
Caumont directorial subject; some
people have all the breaks! . . . Note
to Hollywood associate producers and
others with them thar' toney titles:
Herbert Wilcox's label at British and
Dominicns is "Director of Produc-
tions" whilst Beverley Baxter has "Di-
rector of Public Relations" spread over
his Gaumont-British door. . . . The
latter title sounds almost appropriate
enough for Hollywood!! . . . Edna Best
appearing at first nights here. . . Nor-
man Loudon will make sixteen pics at
Sound City this season, he claims. . .
There has been a squawk here to elim-
inate all blue gags from scripts, but as
no one ever "gets" the blue gags,
what's it to you? ... All right, all
you dialogicians we've heard and ap-
preciated the line "Nutty as a fruit
cake" — now can we let it rest for a
while? . . . Yes sir, Mrs. Oakie's lit-
tle boy Jack is certainly giving us per-
formances these days; but he's getting
to look more like Charles Buster
Laughton every day! . . . Incidentally,
Charlie and Elsa are doing a spot of
"Tempest" through the courtesy of
Lilian Bayliss and Bill Shakespeare
here. . . . Buster playing Prospero and
La Lanchester as a poifect Ariel. . . .
Phillip (Johnnie! Clare at the Plaza
with her mother; honest she was! . .
Connerie Chappell, ace film critic on
the "Sunday Dispatch." interviewed by
Fox Movietone, pulled a grand crack
about Mae West's — er — lovely eyes!
. . . Freddie Y. Smith back from Pans
where he has been scissoring a French
talkie, is still wearing his French beret
around town.
•
"Little Women" trade shown at the
Regal to a very appreciative audience
. . . one of the most popular Ameri-
cans here of all times, was Joe Schenck
... if it isn't too late maybe we add
our praise to the acclaim on the writ-
ing jobs for "Lady For a Day"? . . .
Johnnie Green at the Park Lane, visit
co-incides with the London release of
"I Cover the Waterfront," which
plays Leicester Square Theatre after
"Henry the Eighth." ... Flo Des-
mond will appear in "Adventures of
Blackshirt" here, shooting on March
5. . . . Nita (I quit Hollywood!) Har-
vey appearing at flicks — accompanied
by Mama. . . . Jimmie Barker, (hi
there Fox Hills!) getting real pally
with the great H. G. Wells, who is
writing an original for Korda. . . Phil
Tannura is the champ boxing fan in
this burg. . . . Bill O'Biyen greeted by
all his friends on his return here, but
we think he's got an itch to be back
in sunny California. . . . Benita Hume
has been taking bath after bath in
the Lothar Mendes pic, "Jew Suss";
but it was Lothar who caught a cold!
Unions Call Showdown
I Continued from Page 1 )
ed out, would react against the extra
cameramen who would be penalized
and forced to lay off without pay an
hour for each hour overtime they had
worked. This alleged agreement will
be reported to Mr. Rosenblatt with a
vigorous protest on the part of 659.
Alan Watt, business manager of the
ASC, declared he knows of no such
agreement between the ASC and the
producers. ''Of course the producers
have been cooperating with us to the
fullest extent to spread employment
ever since our agreement was signed
some time ago," he said. "But there
was no meeting this week between
ASC and producers. That must be just
a rumor."
Union men also want to tell Mr.
Rosenblatt a method they allege is be-
ing used to cut first cameramen's sal-
aries to $135 per week and less.
This is the way one union man ex-
pressed it yesterday:
"The mmimum scale is $250 a
week for first cameramen of Class lA
on a weekly basis. The agreement per-
mits a minimum of $200 on a four-
week basis and $150 on a six-months
basis. Many of the studios are now
hiring first on six-month basis and
after several weeks are dropping them,
and we can do nothing about it, for
the union agreement is not in effect.
The ten per cent cut which was grant-
ed some time ago, thus brings the first
cameraman's salary to$l35 per week.
And it is reported that in some cases
a twenty per cent additional cut is
being allowed."
This same union man declared that
one clause in the ASC-Producer agree-
ment opens the way for producers to
replace high priced cameramen with
low ones, unless they want to take a
cut. This man points out that the
clause which allows advanced classifi-
cation of cameramen who are approv-
ed by the ASC does this. He also in-
dicated that there is much rumbling
because of this which threatens to
break out sooner or later.
Other Locals of the lATSE which will
attend the same conference with Ros-
enblatt today at ten o'clock include
the sound men, projectionists, elec-
tricians and grips and the laboratory
technicians. The sound men want to
take up the question of a fixed wage
scale and the limitation of hours.
Gaumont Saves Day
For Overseas Unit
London. — British Gaumont has
stepped in and saved the day for
British United Film Producers, an or-
ganization with government sponsor-
ship active in spreading British made
pictures in the Colonial territories.
The company has shown a small
annual loss since its inception and was
about to give up the ghost when Gau-
mont stepped in because of the im-
portance to the British film trade as
a whole. The company has been re-
organized with representation from
the Gaumont board and sufficient capi-
tal to continue will be available.
Lawson Play Hit in London
^„-4!Sndon. — "Success Story," by the
Screen Writers' Guild president, John
Howard Lawson, got pretty good no-
tices when presented on the stage at
the Shilling, Fulham.
50,000 in a Week
London. — It IS estimated that
fifty thousand people attended the
Tatler Theatre in one week to see
a program made up of Disney car-
toons and other short subjects.
Medal for Best Czecho Pic
Prague. — The Prague Film Kurier
has awarded its gold medal for the
best film produced last year in
Czecho-Slovakia to "The Eaten Up
Store." The award for the best foreign
picture went to the "Three Pence
Opera," produced in Germany by Max
Fric and G. W. Pabst.
Re-Make DuPont Silent
Prague. — "Ancient Law," a suc-
cess in silent days when made by E. A.
Dupont, who was with Universal in
America, is being remade here as a
talkie. Ernst Deutsch, Ferdinand Hart
and Eva Marie Medak in top spots.
. . . ALL HOLLYWOOD
ACCLAIMS THEM . . .
4th Week
STARTING TONIGHT
at the
CLOVER
CLUB
. . . AN OVERNIGHT
SENSATION . . .
~Eit9EAU#T[
wi-f-h
CANDY-^COCO
Gene Austin with Candy and
Coco really KNOCKED every-
body down with music LOTSA
others practically did NIP UPS
to the blazing rhythms . . .
JIMMY STARR
. . . everyone listening to
Gene Austin . . . and calling
for more . . .
LOUELLA O. PARSONS
. . . Clover Club drew big
weeks end crowds . . . Gene
Austin and his assistants
Candy and Coco, are a REAL
HIT.
HARRISON CARROLL
^8SSS)3<;»ss«8898te»s5s«Si»s»8S8&.^
Page Six
THE
Jan. 31, 1934
Puzzle
No wonder picturegoers are con-
fused as to what to go to see.
The following sign appeared this
week on the marquee of a neigh-
borhood house in Beverly Hills:
TODAY ONLY YESTERDAY,
TOMORROW AFTER TONIGHT.
Butler Building Up
Raach Story Staff
TKe first five writers to be selected
tor' the Hal Roach junior school of
/writers by Frank Butler, scenario chief,
are Winston Miller, Edward Domaine,
Ramona Bergere, Harry Friedman and
Charles A. Powell.
Writers added to the regular staff
are Carl Harbaugh, Wallace MacDon-
ald, Walter Weems and Charles
\Rogers. ^^^ , —
Setting Caye Right
An error in the Hollywood Report-
er's exclusive story on the Grand
Duchess Marie yesterday had Vivian
Gaye named as her manager. Miss
Gaye negotiated the deal with B. P.
Schulberg from this end, acting for
Curtis-Brown, the well-known literary
agents, in New York.
jack Frost With Sale
Jack Frost has resigned as manager
of the local Hillstreet theatre to han-
dle Chic Sale's personal appearance
tour through the west. Troupe will
include the Randall Sisters, who were
set by the Bernard and Meiklejohn
agency. Have eight weeks signed to
date.
Lloyd Shorts in
Court Battle
New York. — Pathe Exchanges and
Embassy Pictures are having a court
battle over the reissuing of the Harold
Lloyd shorts, and after they get their
matter settled Lloyd will probably lick
both of them in the same kind of
battle.
Lloyd still owns 50 percent interest
in the old shorts. Pathe made leasing
arrangements with Embassy to reissue
some of the subjects. Embassy got
the idea they should be synchronized,
and when Pathe heard that, they de-
cided to cancel their lease with the
thought of ''sounding" the subjects
themselves. The present court battle
centers in that cancellation.
Lloyd will not permit the subjects
to be synchronized and has made a
proposition to Pathe to buy up their
50 percent with the idea of destroy-
ing all the negatives.
Aubrey Smith at 20th
C. Aubrey Smith was yesterday
handed one of the juciest roles in the
Ronald Colman picture, "Bulldog
Drummond Strikes Back," which
Twentieth Century produces. He en-
acts the role of the Scotland Yard
Inspector Neilson. Bill Woolfenden
of the Small-Landau office set the
ticket.
Maurine Watkins Sails
Maurine Watkins has chucked pic-
tures for the next four months. Writer
is aboard the Franconia on a trip
around the globe.
I
NINA WILCOX PUTNAM
COMPLETING
^'SOVIET COMMISSAR"
STARRING
LENORE ULRIC
MORRIS GEST-HENRY GUTTMANN
NEW YORK STAGE PRODUCTION
DEMMY LAMSON
MGR.
0X8019 0X7261
OPEN FORVM
Dear Mr. Wilkerson:
I will greatly appreciate any cour-
tesy you may extend in connection
with the following reply to "A Script
Girl" and "Another Script Girl":
Your complaints, recently published
in the Open Forum, regarding the un-
favorable wage scales and working
conditions of script girls and stenog-
raphers may be entirely justified, and
there is no question but that they
should be adjusted. However, whose
fault is it that you are required to
work under these conditions? Very
frankly, it is your own fault.
In regard to script clerks, the Asso-
ciated Assistant Directors & Script
Clerks have been very active in your
behalf for a long period of time, and
on January 9th Pat Casey signed an
agreement with this organization, ef-
fective January 1 5th, providing certain
minimum wage scales and conditions
for you, but have you supported this
organization and born your share of
the necessary cost? Positively NO!
Concerning the others you mention,
a small group of stenographers and
other clerical workers, namely the
"Office Employees' Association of Los
Angeles," for the past year has vainly
attempted to gain your support, or
even your interest, in an effort to help
you better your conditions, with abso-
lutely no results as far as studio cleri-
cal employees are concerned. Presi-
dent Roosevelt, through the NRA, has
given you every opportunity to organ-
ize for this purpose, but you persist
in disregarding his invitation, although
it still stands as originally offered,
with all the protection of the Govern-
ment under Section 7A of the Na-
tional Recovery Act. You must see by
Code Will Be Changed
(Continued from Page 1 )
ture Code is a flexible instrument and
is not difficult to change. When we
are shown that something is wrong,
whether it applies to the highest or
the most lowly, a change can and will
be made. However, the Code must be
given a chance to function. It will not
bring the millennium, true. But it will
help, so we can go forward and in
time wipe out the wrong practices."
Rosenblatt declared that he does
not believe in government regulation,
interference or censorship, but that he
does think a proper coordination be-
tween government and industry is
necessary inasmuch as there are al-
ways the few who will not do right.
He said that if everyone in the picture
business practiced the Golden Rule
there would be no need for a Code.
He also declared that he has had the
finest possible cooperation from every-
one in Hollywood in his quest for in-
formation, and that he expects to car-
ry back with him to President Roose-
velt information that will be welded
into a complete picture of what is
happening here.
Yesterday Rosenblatt went deeply
into the business of the strict super-
vision of motion picture scripts with
Joseph Breen, Col. Jason Joy and Dr.
James Wingate of the Hays office.
While he would not say what took
this time that you cannot accomplish
any imp rovement through individual
efforts, especially after having witness-
ed the favorable progress made by
goups of studio employees through
collective bargaining.
The handwriting on the wall (the
NRA) says "Organization for collec-
tive bargaining." Meanwhile, can you
conscientiously say that you have
availed yourself of the great possibili-
ties therein, or even given others, the
organized groups of "Script Clerks"
and "Office Employees," a chance to
help you? Echo answers "No." Con-
sidering all of the above, if you are
determined to play the "lone wolf,"
then must we constantly be enter-
tained (?l by the "lone wolf's howl of
despair in the wilderness," or will you
join the pack for a concerted and ef-
fective "howl"?
It is up to you, and don't forget
that the NRA codes, including that of
the motion picture industry, which
concerns you and you and you,
ARE NOT PERMANENT, so that you
must consider your future as well as
your present interests. If you wish to
keep on working under the present
low wage scales, or revert to everf
lower scales when the codes become
ineffective, you are retarding not only
your own advancement, but also that
of your fellow-worker at the next
desk. If you want to accomplish any
improvement in your conditions, then
start the wheels turning by doing
something about it instead of crying
about it, and DO IT NOW!
Sincerely,
KEITHA HOCK,
7306 Denker.
Mono Branches Out in
Australian Territory
New York. — Foreign expansion for
Monogram is coming as a result of a
deal closed yesterday by Ritchie Ex-
port Corp., the Mono representatives,
with Al Aronson and Max Ehrenreich
for Australia and New Zealand. The
two agree to open eight exchanges
for Monogram product in that terri-
tory.
Ehrenreich is former manager for
United Artists and Columbia in South
America, and Al Aronson a European
specialist. They left New York yes-
terday for Los Angeles and plan to sail
for Australia on February 7.
Bill Lackey Bereaved
Carrie Truesdell Lackey, mother of
W. T. Lackey, Monogram producer,
died at her home in Hollywood Mon-
day night at the age of 61. Inter-
ment will be at the Forest Lawn ceme-
tery, with funeral arrangements to be
announced later.
place, it is understood he delved thor-
oughly into just what is and is not
allowed to be photographed in Holly-
wood, and who is attempting to step
across the forbidden line.
He also conferred with Dave Allen
and Fred Beetson of Central Casting,
getting a line on the general problem
in the "extra" situation. Last night,
following the Wampas dinner he at-
tended the Roosevelt Birthday ball.
Pag€ Seven
Revie^nq
I \
zncL
PHOTOPLAY
1 26 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Kay Francis
(Warners)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 776 sq. inches
Radio 604 sq. inches
Paramount 530 sq. inches
Fox 432 sq. inches
Warners 338 sq. inches
Universal 286 sq. inches
Columbia 185 sq. inches
United Artists 122 sq. inches
There are more stories than you
can shake a stick at in the February
Photoplay, but over the magazine as
a whole, comparing it with past is-
sues, you can shake your head. It's
not up to par.
The best yarns are: "The Passing
Show of '33," by Sara Hamilton; "Ev-
erybody's Stooging Now," by Kirtley
Baskette, who also has another good
one, "Last Round-Up"; "Who's in
the Dog House Now?" by Ruth Ran-
kin; "And Here We See the Real
'Little Women,' " by Virginia Max-
well; and "John, the Great," by
Charles Darnton.
Interviews are "Can a Man Love
Two Women at the Same Time?"
(Gary Cooper), by Virginia Maxwell;
"I Meet Miss Crawford," by Frazier
Hunt; "Why I Quit Hollywood"
(Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), by Kathlyn
Hayden; "Two Toughs from the
Chorus" (James Cagney and Allen
Jenkins), by Ben Maddox; and "The
Lady Who Laughed at Hollywood"
(Margaret Sullavan), by Wilbur
Morse, Jr.
"Working Girl," by Kenneth Baker,
is about Myrna Loy; Dana Rush has
"Back of the West Front," and Morse
also writes about Laura Harding in
"The Power Behind the Hepburn
Throne."
Ruth Rankin has "Undraping Holly-
wood," and Henry A. Phillips writes
"Drums in the Jungle," a story of the
making of the picture called "Drums
in the Night."
Lots of printed matter, but nothing
to get excited about.
MOVIE MIRROR
96 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Ruby Keeler
(Warners)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 809 sq. inches
Paramount 640 sq. inches
United Artish 490 sq. inches
Radio 434 sq. inches
Columbia 270 sq. inches
Fox 160sq. inches
Universal 150 sq. inches
Warners 125 sq. inches
The best story on the Tracy situa-
tion that has appeared yet is in the
February Movie Mirror. It is "Is Lee
Tracy Taking the Rap?" by Dorothy
Manners.
Harriet Parsons has an amusing in-
terview, "His Son — and Jack Holt";
Marquis Busby is funny in "Oh-h, the
Pain of Hollywood Divorces!" Dora
Albert does right by Margaret Sulla-
van In "I Hate Everything!" Franc Dil-
lon writes well in "The House That
Bing Built," and Harry Lang has the
third installment of "Mae West's Life
Story."
Llewellyn Miller offers an interest-
ing departure from the usual fan mag
yarn in "Famous Faces — But Do You
Know Their Names?" Maude Latham
writes "Myrna Loy Talks on Men";
Jerry Asher covers the ground pretty
thoroughly in "Young Doug Speaks
Out!" Muriel Babcock tells about Joan
Bennett in "Modern Madonna. Holly-
wood Style"; Susan Talbot has a nice
story, "Joan Crawford's Men" (those
she has helped) ; and Gary Cooper
"Talks About His Marriage" to Adele
Whitely Fletcher.
Extremely readable this month.
MOVIE CLASSIC
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Patricia Ellis
(Warners)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 773 sq. inches
Warners 485 sq. inches
Paramount 459 sq. inches
United Artists 445 sq. inches
Radio 280 sq. inches
Fox 255 sq. inches
Universal 120 sq. inches
There's lots of good reading in the
February Movie Classic, with almost
every story ringing the bell.
Some of the best are "So You Real-
ly Want to Know How Carbo Lives?
Here's How!" by Jack Hill; "Imita-
tion— the New Path to Screen Fame,"
by Jay Brien Chapman; "The Stormy,
Sensational Sten — Have You Heard
About Her?" by Dorothy Spensley;
"And Watch This Uncheckable Czech
— Francis Lederer," by Grant Jack-
son; "What's This! Is Hollywood Go-
ing Nudist?" by Winifred Aydelotte;
"Their Best Performances," by Gladys
Hall, and "Why Margaret Sullavan
Hasn't Been Interested in Hollywood
Men," by Boris Nicolal.
Other stories, all good, are "Bar-
bara Stanwyck's Secret — Now It
Should Be Told," by Sonia Lee; the
second installment of Ruth Blery's
"The Private Life of Mae West";
"Joan and Franchot Make Some De-
nials— and Revelations," by Jack
Grant; "The Prizefighter — and the
Ladles," by Faith Service, and "She's
Franker Than Hepburn or West,"
(Jean Muir) by Ben Maddox.
They're all extremely readable.
Goldsmith Jumps List
Ken Goldsmith moves to the Talis-
man studios today and .at the same
time announces that he will make ten
features this year instead of the six
previously planned. Goldsmith will
start "I Hate Women," an original
screen play by Mary E. McCarthy,
the middle of next week. Aubrey
Scotto directs.
Raymond Up for Stage
New York. — Gene Raymond, since
his arrival here last Thursday, has had
three offers to do a Broadway play.
Edgar Selwyn, Elmer Harris and Court-
ney Burr are bidding for his services,
with Burr having the inside track.
Carrillo on the Air
Leo Carrillo returns from a personal
appearance at Denver to get a featured
spot on the Shell Oil broadcast from
San Francisco Monday. Leo Morrison
booked.
AYS
IMMIE
TARR:-
"Ladies in Waiting,"*' the
new Rian James novel, is
all about Hollywood (and
quite good, too) with a
flock of characters thinly
disguised. You can have
MORE FUN recognizing
them. . . .
AN ALFRED H. KING
PUBLICATION
tt
Gallant Lady
A -r\ A /r k 1-rir-ri i /^rki-ri in\/ ni/ — ri inr i»
ff.
A TWENTIETH CENTURY PICTURE
THE CRITICS-
"A very human story of very human people . . . the picture rings true
in ail its poignant sequences and is exquisitely played . . . there are
sequences shot through with a gentle humor that make the sad pas-
sages all the more touching and tender."— N. Y. American.
"... beautifully produced and skillfully directed . . . privilege to see
. . . motherhood formula directed by a man of Gregory La Cava's
imagination. . . . " — Louella 0. Parsons, L. A. Examiner.
"... Mr. La Cava, faced with a theme that Hollywood has treated so
often with maudlin sympathy, cannily underemphasized the tear-
jerking scenes. . . . Mr. La Cava's direction did much more than hold
in check the potential sentimentalities of the theme . . . tender and
moving little story of mother love . . . produced with restraint and,
whenever possible, a sense of humor. . . . " — N. Y. Sun.
'Gallant Lady" is a mother-love drama, sentimental but sincere.
Miss Harding . . . and Clive Brook . . . are understandable human be-
ings by virtue of a well constructed story and sympathetic direction
. . . credit goes to Gregory La Cava for smooth and expert direction.
— N. Y. Journal.
. . it is, for one thing, sensibly directed by the expert Gregory La
Cava . . . " — N. Y. Herald-Tribune.
"... the picture is intelligently produced and directed ... an intelli-
gent presentation of realistic life, its tragedies as well as its joys, all
glowing with a warmth of humanity. . . . Sell it as the kind of attrac-
tion you are proud to present." — Motion Picture Herald.
"... in the selection of Mr. La Cava to direct this picture, the pro-
ducers made a sensible choice; his handling of the production, I do
not believe, could be improved upon . . . " — Hollywood Spectator.
"... it is the most cheerful narrative of its ilk . . . and Gregory La
Cava's direction is efficient. . . . " — N. Y. Times.
"... superb direction by Gregory La Cava ... La Cava is at his direc-
torial best, with key scenes built up with finesse and held just long
enough to wring them of chuckles, pathos and punch." — Variety
"... Gregory La Cava has directed with an excellent show of finesse,
especially in the more serious episodes, though elsewhere, too." — Ed-
win Schallert, L. A. Times.
"... Gregory La Cava gets it off to a flying start with the dramatic
death of a trans-Atlantic flyer, then plays and toys skillfully with line
and situation to round out the best bit of work on his record." —
Hollywood Reporter.
"... a tender and poignant narrative of love that never becomes
painfully sentimental. ... I think, if I were you, I would make an
extra effort to see 'Gallant Lady'." — N. Y. World-Telegram.
THE BOX OFFICE-
NEW YORK. — The opening day on the Twentieth Century pro-
duction of "Gallant Lady" did a land office business at the Rivoli
here, topping all other opening days for quite a period with a take
of $7,613.
Sam Goldwyn's "Roman Scandals" held the top spot with $7364
for opening; "The Bowery" followed in receipts with $7122, offering
a conclusion that in "Gallant Lady" United Artists has another big hit
attraction. — Hollywood Reporter, January 22.
NEW YORK. — "Gallant Lady" is attracting the women strongly to
the Rivoli. Probabilities are for a first week of $40,000, which may
mean three weeks if UA isn't too anxious to get other product into
the house. — Variety, January 23.
CHICAGO
flicker of the
headed for swel
January 23.
United Artists — "Gallant Lady" (UA). Pride run
'oop. Maintaining terrific pace from opening and
$19,000. Reports are raves all around. — Variety,
BOSTON. — State — "Gallant Lady" (UA). Best film in town do-
ing grand biz for this spot which has for the most part been slumpish
due to product averaging poor. Fred Roche for producers spread a
notable ballyhoo in and out of town, and very first day saw finest
audiences spot has seen in months. — Film got applause which is rare
event in Boston. May reach $14,000. — Variety, January 23.
PHILADELPHIA. — If the week-end at the Aldine is any criterion,
"Gallant Lady" is on its way to prove the biggest cleanup United Ar-
tists has had in many a day. The Darryl Zanuck-Twentieth Century
picture broke all house records for a week-end opening at the Aldine.
The figures take an added importance when it is realized that "The
Bowery" and "Henry the Eighth" had preceded "Gallant Lady" with
great business. — Hollywood Reporter, January 23.
MINNEAPOLIS. — The big Minnesota again is currently setting the
loop box office pace with "Gallant Lady." (UA). Gals are falling
hard for this sobber and Ann Harding's name commands considerable
attention. Opened well and should breeze through to a pretty good
$10,000. — Variety, January 23.
CINCINNATI.— -Albee — "Gallant Lady" (UA). Vehicle right
down Ann Harding's alley and rolling the heavy love fans for a plenty
good $12,500. — Variety, January 16.
NEW ORLEANS. — Loew's State — "Gallant Lady" (UA) was per-
fect for the femmes, clicking the turnstiles to the tune of $12,000.
— Variety, January 16.
LOS ANGELES. — Darryl Zanuck's production, "Gallant Lady," con-
tinues its record breaking box office take with $1,700 for the first
day at the local United Artists and $2,100 for Saturday. First day's
sales are $300 over those of "Henry VIII." Ann Harding has the
top spot in the picture directed by Gregory LaCava. — Hollywood Re-
porter, January 29.
31
My sincere appreciation to the cast and staff for thieir
splendid co-operation in the making of this production . .
THE DIRECTOR
5? MP.SAVURL MAT^/. ,
CULVKR CITY.'JALi:-".
Vol. XIX. No. 17. Price 5e.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, February 1, 1934
PtU TCGCTHCR -ItrCR
• THE production end of this business
now finds itself so bottled up that it
is almost impossible to make a pic-
ture that will command the attention
of a paying audience. This condition
has been created by Mr. Will H. Hays,
who is supposed to be working for this
industry.
Mr. Hays has made a daily exhibit
of his fourteen year old moron, also
letters, telegrams and all types of re-
ports coming in from his Federation
of Women's Clubs and Parent-Teach-
ers groups throughout the country;
organizations that Mr. Hays has con-
stantly reminded that pictures have
jumped the bounds of his deacon-
mind. This representative of the mo-
tion picture industry is understood to
have brought in a Catholic priest to
a recent producers' meeting and that
priest told the gathering that there
were rumblings throughout the Catho-
lic Church that "the Jews in the pic-
ture business are demoralizing our
youth."
Bunk, all bunk.
It is our impression that Mr. Hays
has been having a hard time finding
something to do to collect that regal
salary that is placed on his desk each
week; that he has long since shown
himself to be of little value to this
business, so he, accordingly, gets our
producers frightened on this censor-
ship angle, thereby making a job for
himself. But there will not be a job
much longer, as there will be little
left of the picture business, if pro-
ducers are compelled to make their
entertainment to fit the intelligence
of a fourteen year old child.
THIS IS ADULT ENTERTAIN-
MENT, this picture business. Why
write and produce down to the level
of that fourteen year old moron, there-
by keeping the big paying assemblage
out of our theatres? What's the an-
gle?
Producers know it cannot be done,
but still they are attempting to do it
by placing restrictions on the work
of our screen writers. How long
will this continue? When will the
producers get wise to Mr. Hays? Or
are they?
And suppose Mr. Hays is right, sup-
pose all those busy-bodies in women's
clubs and their ilk are lined up against
(Continued on Page 2)
To Cut Hours Again
Washington. — President Roose-
i/e\t has ordered General Johnson
to reopen all codes the latter part
of this month with an aim towards
cutting maximum hours of labor
from forty to thirty per week and
thus spread work further. Stiff op-
position from employers expected.
Indies Rally Tonight
To Western Group
Planning to infuse new life into the
Independent Motion Picture Produc-
ers of America, association has thrown
open its doors to all indies desiring to
join and the forty-three producers who
have been meeting with I. E. Chad-
wick will swing into the association
at a meeting tonight at the Mascot
Picture building,
Mamoulian East to Rest
Rouben Mamoulian leaves by train
tonight for a short vacation in New
York. Director will miss the opening
of his latest, "Queen Christina," which ^
will have its western premiere at Grau-
man's Chinese February 9.
Eileen Percy Wants Boost
Eileen Percy, local chatterer, has
filed a petition in Superior Court for
an increase in alimony from her former
husband, Ulrich Bush, MGM unit
manager, Roger Marchetti is repre-
senting the plaintiff.
Montgomery Up for Play
New York. — Douglass Montgom-
ery's trip to Universal for "'Little
Man, What Now" looks Indefinite
now with the player rehearsing here
in a play for the Croup Theatre.
The Wolfsons Split
p. J. Wolfson, MGM writer, and
his wife have mutually decided on a
divorce.
SEX. BORAH
JVRA KICK OIV
Washington. — No less than the
fighting Senator Borah yesterday
placed the kicks of Allied Exhibitors
before the Senate and in the Congres-
sional Record. The Ser.ator entered a
telegram from the exhibitor indepen-
dents as part of his exhibits from
other industries and in support of his
claim that the anti-trust laws should
(Continued on Page 6)
Para. Head Asks Creators To
Cooperate In Making Better
Pics— Sees Best Year Ahead
"I feel that the coming year will be one of the best that this
industry has ever had providing our producers are able to turn
out fine entertainment. To do this our picture creators must
pull together, for without that cooperation, nothing is possible
in this highly imaginative business."
That from Adolph Zukor.
The founder and head of Paramount
is of the opinion that the nation's
purse is filling, that people are spend-
ing money now and will spend more
money later; he feels that once the
purse strings are loosened they will
go to the motion picture theatre in
(Continued on Page 4)
Fox Story Rampage
Going Full Speed
New York. — As an indication of
^'how Fox is bulling the story market
in a rush to get better stories at any
cost comes news of Ray Long's latest
purchase — the payment of $20,000
for a story in the Ladies' Home Jour-
nal, and by an anonymous author at
that.
The yarn is "Impersonation of a
Lady." .,
Collier Out of 'Clamour'
Owing to trouble that developed
with his teeth, William Collier Sr. was
yesterday compelled to pull out of
the cast of "Clamour," and Universal
has signed Joseph Cawthorne to go
into his role.
Big Three' On Way Here
New York. — Three big shots leave
for the coast today by train, Dr. A. H.
Giannini, Joe Schenck and Al Licht-
man.
put:^ allied
the record
Academy Photogs Meet
The Awards Committee of the Pho-
tographic Section of the Academy's
Technician Branch will meet tonight
to discuss rules for the governing of
winners in their field. There has been
much grumbling in times past as to
the giving of the photographic award.
Section hopes to stop all squawks this
time.
I
GILBERT EMERY
A U T H O
(IN COLLABORATION I
/ /
'Rosy' Speaks To
Local Legit Mgrs.
Administrator Rosenblatt took on
all the local legitimate managers yes-
terday in the persons of Homer Cur-
ran, Ed Belasco. E. E. Clive and George
K. Arthur and gave them a general
scolding on the cut rate and two-for-
one ticket proposition, acknowledging
that where three or more managers
get together on this practice there
can be no kick from his quarter, but
suggesting that the idea be minimized
as much as possible.
The Administrator told the produc-
ers that a Deputy to take care of the
theatre situation out here will be ap-
pointed February 1 and he will work
out of either San Francisco or Los An-
ge!ts.
MCM-MacDonald Talk
New Term Contract
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and jeanette
MacDonald are still wrangling over
that new contract that both parties
want signed, but the actual signing
has not taken place yet.
According to the old ticket Miss
MacDonald still has one picture to do
and it will more than likely be "The
Merry Widow," the determination of
which seems to be holding up the
new deal.
Hawks Back for Col.
Howard Hawkes returned yesterday
from New York, where he sat in on
the writing of the script of "Twenti-
eth Century" by Ben Hecht and
Charles MacArthur.
Picture is set to go into produc-
tion at Columbia under Hawkes' di-
rection within two weeks.
Vidor Drops Radio Plans
Finding that the contract with Ra-
dio had never been officially signed in
New York, King Vidor has abandoned
plans for an independent production
on the lot.
Management
GALLANT LADY" s. cEa ulTman
Page Two
Feb. 1, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter |une 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879
That must have been two other
women with Harry Ruby. We said it
was his wife and he says no. . . .
Gregory Ratoff, with George White
and another feller, ate up five pounds
of caviar between them the other
night — honest! . . . Mrs. Tiffany
Thayer is opening a dancing school in
Westwood. . . . Listen people — there's
a beautiful and kind police dog in the
city pound at Santa Monica that will
be put to death in a few days unless
somebody claims him. They can't
keep him any longer — how's about it?
•
Merna Kennedy and Busby Berke-
ley will have a huge church wedding
next month — with all the trimmings
and gobs of people. . . . Billy Haines
leaves here for Europe on Saturday.
. . . The Dick Bennetts, who are very
much together (contrary to reports
elsewhere), are off to Palm Springs
to rest up from the rumors. . , .Up
until dinner time last night the Clark
Gables were still wondering if their
three-week trip to New York would
suddenly be called off — it's Clark's
first trip since he was a struggling bit-
player. . . . Enrico Caruso Jr. around
on crutches after tripping over a light
cable.
•
Eddie Goulding, Mercedes d'Acosta,
Helen Vinson with Lou Holtz, the Sol
Lessers, Tamara Geva, the Bob Leon-
ards, Elizabeth Allen, the Leslie How-
ards, Irving Thalberg among those at
"Candida." It was Orson Welles,
however, who drew the most laughs —
it's a long and funny story about how
and why he is on tour with the show!
. . . Maxine Doyle, a long-ago sweet-
heart of Dick Powell's, has just been
signed at Warners — and they're ro-
mancing again.
•
Everybody getting ready for the
much-needed Mayfair Saturday night.
. . , They're calling the George Fitz-
maurice unit the "dinner after eight
company." . . . What two Hollywood
ladies are squabbling over one Count
Carpegna? . . . The Clive Brooks, Kay
Francis, Bill Powell, Carole Lombard,
Connie Bennett, Gilbert Roland, Ron-
ald Colman, Charles Furthman, the
Dick Barthelmesses among those who
saw Vines beat Tilden the other night.
"GALLANT LADY"
Twentieth Century prod.; director, Gregory LaCava; writers, Gilbert Emery,
Douglas Doty and Sam Mintz.
Rivoli Theatre
World-Telegram: It is the finest screen material Miss Harding has had since
"Holiday." Being singularly fortunate, this time, in having an excellent
story. Miss Harding rises gallantly to the occasion and gives a performance
that is earnest and real.
Sun: Mr. LaCava's direction did much more than hold in check the potential
sentimentalities of the theme. It even thawed the ice of Ann Harding's
personality and persuaded her to give a human, alive performance instead
of the usual coldly competent portrayals for which she is noted.
Mirror: Women who understand that women are the only real gentlemen will
enjoy it. Miss Harding never has been more charming. And her sup-
porting cast is great. The settings are handsome.
American: The picture rings true in all its poignant sequences and is exquisitely
played by a cast of theatrical craftsmen. Ann Harding, always so effec-
tively courageous in her films, here has a vehicle worthy of all her his-
trionic artistry.
Journal: Miss Harding contributes a moving and effective portrait and emerges
a much more believable person than she has been in her last few films.
Another change for the better is evinced by Clive Brook, who has recently
been carrying restraint and reserve to somewhat exaggerated lengths.
Much of the credit goes to Gregory LaCava for smooth and expert direction.
Herald-Tribune: It is sensibly directed by the expert Gregory LaCava. In this
particular, though, it has the advantage of several admirable performances
by the men of the cast. Mr. Brook is charming and credible, Tullio Car-
minati plays with highly engaging humor and Mr. Kruger is, as usual, ex-
cellent. Unfortunately the photoplay, for all its incidental virtues, is too
ecstatic for comfort in its treatment of the Lady's gallantry.
Times: It is another case of the acting being superior to the story, but there is
a good deal of well-written dialogue and Gregory LaCava's efficient direc-
tion, coupled with the splendid work of Miss Harding, Clive Brook, Otto
Kruger, Janet Beecher, Tullio Carminati and others, results in the rather
prosaic story being frequently quite interesting.
Post: "Gallant Lady" struck us as obvious stuff, built on the old formula of
sacrifice and smiles through the tears. The triteness of the story is re-
lieved by occasional touches of humor, and for these we can thank Tullio
Carminati's ebullient portrait of the romantic Italian nobleman and Janet
Beecher's fine performance as the head of the decorating shop. Otto
Kruger is believable as the husband.
"LET'S FALL IN LOVE"
Columbia prod.; director, David Burton; writer, Herbert Fields; music, Harold
Arlen; lyrics, Ted Koehler.
Rialto Theatre
Sun: Miss Sothern proves herself a capable movie ingenue. She sings pleas-
antly and her smooth blonde prettiness photographs well. Gregory Ratoff,
in a dialect comedy role, is the producer; the catchy Arlen-Koehler songs
and Miss Sothern's mimickings make "Let's Fall in Love" a good deal
merrier than it would have been otherwise.
American: There are recognizable snatches of Hollywood history in the amusing
movie at the Rialto. Of the players Ratoff, Lowe and Miss Birell share
honors in that order, with Miss Sothern doing valiantly in a tough spot.
Incidentally the play boasts a song hit and also the presence of Art Jarrett.
Post: The picture has humor, a delicate charm and one or two appealing melo-
dies, and there is a story that actually gets somewhere. It isn't a tre-
mendously original story except when you compare it to the run of screen
musicals, whereupon its originality becomes positively colossal.
Journal: "Let's Fall in Love" is amusing entertainment, a good-natured spoof
of Hollywood studio methods and marking the film debut of an attractive
blonde named Ann Sothern, who is a decorative and capable young actress,
with a definitely likable screen personality. It's a musical comedy,
stronger on the comedy than on the music. Gregory Ratoff practically
steals the show.
World-Telegram: In spite of its somewhat time-worn plot it has a certain ami-
able and charming quality about it. Certainly its leading parts are acted
with more intelligence than ordinarily is the case and it has two lilting
songs. What raises "Let's Fall in Love" to a slight distinction are its
acting, its sane treatment and its pleasant tunes.
Herald-Tribune: There is a pleasantly unpretentious quality about it which helps
to make it a modestly agreeable romantic comedy, a film that should
supply its share of unexciting amusement. Miss Sothern seems destined
for a reasonably eventful film career.
Times: .A nimble-witted romantic comedy which trips along so lightly that the
fade-out brings the spectator abruptly out of a mood. Musically, the new
film is less overwhelming. There is only one song to fortify the title
number, and while "Let's Fall in Love" sends you out of the theatre hum-
ming the picture repeats it rather too relentlessly for complete comfort.
Although "Let's Fall in Love" embroiders a pleasing sentimental gauze
around the attractively naive Miss Sothern, it is Mr. Ratoff's show. David
Burton's direction has freshness and speed.
Miriam Hopkins Hit
In N. Y. Personal
New York. — Miriam Hopkins has
clicked with a bang in her "Affairs of
Anatole" skit at the Paramount. The
result is an immediate booking to re-
peat at the Chicago Theatre, Chicago,
opening February 9, with other book-
ings for Detroit, Buffalo and Boston
probably to be lined up before she
returns to the coast.
Marian Nixon Set
For Durante Lead
Marian Nixon was signed yesterday
by Radio for the feminine lead in the
Jimmy Durante starring picture,
"Strictly Dynamite," with Norman
Foster and Alice White playing fea-
tured roles. The deal was made by
the Schulberg-Feldman and Gurney
office.
Sherman GUI' of MCM
To Take Month's Rest
Owing to poorhealth, Joe Sherman,
assistant publicity director to Howard
Strickling at MGM, has been granted
a one month's leave of absence. He
leaves today for a boat trip along the
coast of Mexico.
During Sherman's absence, Barrett
Kiesling and Paul Snell, the latter
coming over from Fox studio, will act
as assistants to Strickling.
Ratoff on Another
Jaunt of Personals
Gregory Ratoff leaves here tomor-
row night for Chicago for a week on
the stage of the Palace Theatre. From
Chicago he goes to Boston and then
Detroit will get him.
He has not signed the contract for
George White's show yet.
Runyon Yarn Bought
For McLaglen-Lowe
New York. — Damon Runyon's racy
dialogue will provide the basis for the
return of McLaglen and Lowe in the
Quirt and Flagg characterizations. Fox
closing a deal with the writer yester-
day.
'Laughing Boy' in Can
The MGM production of "Laugh-
ing Boy," with Ramon Novarro as the
' star, is in the cutting room, produc-
tion work having been completed yes-
terday. W. S. Van Dyke was the di-
rector.
'Mouh'n Rouge' Feb. 7
New York.- — "Moulin Rouge," the
Twentieth Century-Constance Bennett,
special, has been set for the Rivoli!
opening February 7.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 >
the business, what does it mean?
Nothing. And if it did mean some-
thing, if their objections would in-
cite legislation against the business,
then it would be up to our leaders I if
we have leaders) to fight it out just;
as the press of the country battles
legislation against their business.
Unshackle yourself, Mr. Producer,
permitting you to make better screen
entertainment.
I'
Feb. 1, 1934
THg
Page Three
BOOST IS MAJORS* COSTS
LOOMS AFTER ROSY' TALKS
Penalty For Code
Dodgers, Says Rosy'
Unions Assert Indie
Sound Scale For All
Following a conference yesterday
between Deputy Administrator Sol A.
Rosenblatt and representatives of the
unions of the lATSE group, Harold V.
Smith, business agent of the sound
men's union, announced that Rosen-
blatt had assured him that the wage
scale paid the sound men by the inde-
pendent studios would become the
prevailing wage scale in the industry.
"Mr. Rosenblatt told me that I
could so notify the members of our
union," said Smith. "This will mean
a great deal to the sound men work-
ing in the major studios, for at pres-
ent the independents are paying a
larger scale than that paid to most
sound men in the majors. Now, when
this goes into effect, there will be no
further discrimination either among
men or studios."
Asked when the new scale will go
into effect, Smith said he was not cer-
tain, but that Rosenblatt had told him
to protest to the labor committee if
it was violated. This has already been
done. Smith declared.
Weekly scale for first sound men on
independent productions is $175. On
daily basis, it is $35 per day. With
four week guarantee it is $140 per
week, and on a six months, or longer
contract, it is $125 per week.
If this goes into effect it will mean
a considerable tilt in the production
cost of pictures for the majors where
most of the sound men are employed.
Sound men feel that, as there is the
element of overtime involved, studios
will work now for greater spread of
employment rather than pay overtime
at the bigger scale.
Following the conference yesterday,
officials of all of the lATSE unionj
expressed themselves as feeling, for
the first time since the inception of
the Code, that they are really getting
somewhere in the interest of their
members. Most of them also declared
that they believed Rosenblatt had
heard more real facts and "lowdown"
on what is happening in production
than he has heard since he has been
here.
The cameramen put the question
of greater spread of employment in
Rosenblatt's lap, but he had no solu-
tion, they said, and referred them to
the labor committee. However, he
did give them one opinion that made
them happy. It had to do with the
wage scale of film loaders. For the
past five years they have been classed
as cameramen and after sixteen hours
of work drew the flat rate of $12 per
hour, known as the "Golden Hour."
Under the Code they only get 83 Vi
cents per hour. When asked about
it, Rosenblatt told the union men, ac-
cording to their report, that the film
loader rightly belongs in the classifi-
cation he has had previously. He told
them to protest to the labor board,
which has already been done.
Rosenblatt also assured the camera-
men that the wage scales and hours in
effect during the past five years would
be protected by the overriding provi-
(Continued on Page 6)
Dog Fight
Deputy Administrator Sol A. Ro-
senblatt last night announced that
on his return to Washington he will
appoint a special committee com-
posed of agents and producers
whose function will be to handle
the squawks of agents and produc-
ers under the code. A wisecracker
was heard to remark that "Rosy
does have a sense of humor."
Para To Remake Old
Hit 'Grand Duchess'
Paramount has decided to remake
one of its silent successes, "Grand
Duchess and the Waiter," and will
probably spot Miriam Hopkins and
Gary Cooper in the leads. Florence
Vidor and Adolphe Menjou headed the
cast of the silent version which was
produced in 1926. Possibility also that
Menjou, now back on the lot on a
three picture ticket, will be in the re-
make. No writers have been assigned
to the script as yet.
CharelTs First Fox
Is 'Gypsy Melody'
Erik Charell's first picture for Fox
is slated to be "Gypsy Melody," an
original musical by Melchoir Lengyel,
starring Charles Boyer.
Producer has signed Ernest Stern
and Werner Heymann, German refu-
gees formerly associated with Max
Reinhardt, to handle the settings and
music for the film. Robert Liebman
has written the screen play.
Rumor 'Rosy' Due for Pan
On Return to Washington
Washington.- — Rumbles here that
there is a growing faction among Sen-
ators and Representatives ready to put
Sol Rosenblatt on the pan about the
time he returns here from the Coast.
Rosenblatt must naturally be on the
receiving end of the flood of com-
plaints that are coming from indepen-
dent exhibitors and others on the
Code.
Mank' Alone
Ma'rking some kind of a record for
iKe MGM lot, the screen play of "The
Showoff" went into production with
only one writer having worked on it.
That writer was Herman Mankiewicz
and the preview will tell the rest of
the story.
Charlie Lederer Back
Charlie Lederer is ba^-k in town af-
ter a ten months' stay in New York,
taken up for the most part in back-
gammon and cribbage with Harold
Ross, and Charlie is gloating over his
winnings.
Arno on 'Vanities' Sets
Peter Arno has been assigned by
Paramount to do the sets for the Earl
Carroll picture "Murder at the Vani-
ties," which Mitchell Leisen will di-
rect.
Deputy Administrator Sol A. Rosen-
blatt last night announced that, while
the film Code will be changed when-
ever it is found to be wrong, all vio-
lators of the Code will be dealt with
in strict fashion. He did not explain
what penalties would be inflicted, but
indicated there would be some.
He will wind up his Hollywood visit
today, leaving tonight on the Santa
Fe Chief. His final day will be a full
one, and will include among other
things a meeting with a special com-
mittee from the Academy. His report
to General Johnson will take him ap-
proximately a month to prepare, he
said.
He met with a group of agents yes-
terday and heard what they had to say
about Hollywood practices and high
salaries. He will appoint a committee
of agents and producers soon to handle
their matters, and asked the agents to
meanwhile prepare their recommenda-
tion on the famous Article 5 of the
Code, covering raiding.
La Sullavan Does
Airplane Fadeout
Margaret Sullavan, Universal star,
did another airplane fadeout Tuesday
night, it was learned yesterday. She
hopped a plane for New York without
telling the studio. It was all a big
secret until she hit Kansas where re-
porters recognized her and the black
eye she got while fishing recently.
Promises to be back next week.
Six Tests on 'Sadie'
MGM claims that only six tests
were made for the lead opposite Joan
Crawford in "Sadie McKee," at a cost
of $1200. The tests were made of
Art Jarrett, Henry Wadsworth. Phil
Regan, Al Morris, Charles Kaley and
Senor Don Deane.
Some of the trouble was caused by
change in the characterization as the
writing of the part developed. The
studio is now seeking Jimmy Dunn,
as the part developed more for an ac-
tor than a crooner.
Lila Lee With Holt
Lila Lee has been signed by Colum-
bia for the top spot opposite jack
Holt in "Whirlpool," which Roy Wil-
liam Neill will direct. Allen Jenkins
has been borrowed from Warners for
a featured role in this picture.
Art Directors to Dine
Art Directors Section of the Acad-
emy is planning to forget artistic crea-
tions and Academy problems by stag-
ing a "stag" dinner some time next
week. Definite date not yet set.
Van Dyke on 'Thin Man'
V/. S. Van Dyke has been set as
tHe director to bring "The Thin Man,"
Dashiell Hammet's best seller, to the
screen for MGM.
By lERRY WALD
When Dorothy Parker, sophisticated
wit of the literary world, made her
debut with Alexander Woollcott last
Friday eve, things were a bit topsy-
turvy now and again in the New York
CBS studios. Miss Parker herself was
frightened no little, and personally
doubted whether she would be able to
go through with the reading of her
sarcastically humorous bit of verse,
"The Waltz." Furthermore, the ap-
pearance of three of her friends add-
ed little comfort. They were Jarries
Montgomery Flagg, who seated him-
self nearby to make some charcoal
sketches; Oscar Levant, brilliant young
piano tickler, and Harpo (the silent
one) Marx, of the capering Marx
Brothers, who almost forced her to
call the police.
•
Miss Parker, however, pulled her-
self together and gave a delightful
reading. But this was nothing less
than a cue for some frivolity. As
Flagg put the finishing touches on the
sketches of Miss Parker and Wooll-
cott. Harpo scuttled across the studio
and embraced Dorothy for the assem-
bled photographers. Still unleashed.
Harpo skipped up a staircase and
sought out a pretty CBS hostess. He
kissed her hand and threatened to
break her arm if the camera clickers
so wished. All this insanity upset
everybody except Miss Parker, who
believes, no doubt, that anything can
happen in a broadcasting studio.
Mary Pickford nixed a dozen pic-
ture offers in past weeks because she
still wants to do that play for Max
Gordon, her "personal appearance"
success having whetted her craving
for the footlights.
•
If the money temptation is strong
enough Roland Young will go the way
of all flesh and "go radio" along wit.h
Hope Williams.
With the majority of the motion
picture producers always on the look-
out for new "stars-to-be." how come
they've all passed up Ross Alexander
and Frank Parker of the air waves?
Alexander, who is by no means bad
on the eyes, can out-act most of our
present day "top" male attractions,
while Parker, who sings sweet songs
for sponsors, is the "t-d-h" type (taU,
dark and handsome*. You can thank
me for the tip.
•
Provided Danny Winkler can per-
suade Miriam Hopkins to stay on,
she'll go vaudevilling at four grand
per!
Nazi propoganda films are getting
into the country but are being kept
off the screens because cautious ex-
hibitors are turning thumbs down.
International Premiere
Set for 'Wonder Bar'
New York. — Warners are going to
jazz up the premiere of "Wonder
Bar" with all the trimmings. It will
be called an "international premiere"
and simultaneous openings held in
New York, Paris. London and Vienna.
February 21 is the date now set.
Page Four
THE^H
Feb. I, 1934
Alan Mowbray and Reginald Owen
signed through the William Morris of-
fice for "Dover Road." Radio.
Harry C. Bradley into "Curse of
Kali," Monogram, through Max Sha-
grin.
Luis Alberni into "Love Detective,"
Columbia short, by Max Shagrin.
Eddie Tamblyn into added scenes
on "Hollywood Party," MOM.
Doris Lloyd for featured spot in
"Glamour," Universal. Negotiated
through Max Shagrin.
Alden Chase, Joseph de Stefani and
Lane Chandler for "Firebrand," Twen-
tieth Century. O'Reilly and Mann did
it.
Roger Cray into "Come on. Ma-
rines," Paramount, through O'Reilly
and Mann.
Warren Hymer and lack Kennedy
for "Catspaw," Harold Lloyd. Set by
O'Reilly and Mann.
William Deniarest, Charles Middle-
ton, Arthur Byron for "Fog Over San
Francisco," Warners. Also Harold
Minjir through Menifee Johnstone.
Paul Kaye into "Fur Coats," War-
ners.
Matt Moore for "All Men Are Ene-
mies," Fox.
Jessie Ralph signed by Twentieth
for featured role jn "The Firebrand."
Florence Dudley added to "Show-
manship," Columbia Lou Holtz short.
Leonard Mudie signed by Universal
for featured role in "Elizabeth and
Mary." Lew Cantor-C. S. Humphrey
office handled.
James Burke and Jimmy Conlin
signed as a comedy team in "City
Limits," Monogram. Negotiated by
Harry Wurtzel. Burke also signed for
"The Catspaw," Harold Lloyd.
Ben Bard and Morgan Wallace into
"Three on a Honeymoon," Fox.
Una O'Connor Gets Break
in Radio's Pic 'Stingaree'
Una O'Connor got her first big part
since her spot in "Cavalcade" when
Radio signed and sealed a ticket for
her to take a featured assignment in
"Stingaree," the Richard Dix- Irene
Dunne picture which William Well-
man pilots jack Gardner negotiated
the ticket.
Dances in 'Operator 13'
George Cunningham has been sign-
ed by MGM to stage the dance num-
bers in the Marion Davies picture
"Operator 13," which Raoul Walsh is
directing,
Negulesco Renewed
Paramount has exercised the option
on Jean Negulesco's contract for an-
other period.
BASIL RATHBONE
Now appearing with Katharine Cornell
at the Biltmore Theatre
:available for pictures
!Upon Completion Of Tour
Management
Small-Landau Co.
Seek Cut in Chorus
Girls $35 Wk.Check
New York. — Vaudeville houses and
picture presentation houses are under-
stood to be seeking a reduction in the
$35 minimum weekly salary set by
the code for chorus girls. This was
the principal bone of contention at a
Code Authority meeting yesterday.
No announcement was made as to
conclusions reached, the matter being
passed to a later meeting of the Code
Authority, probably on the return of
Sol Rosenblatt from the coast.
Foy Plans Third
Dimension Picture
Stopping in Chicago for a few days
en route from New York, Ben Stoloff
returns here Sunday to start prepara-
tions for a third dimension feature
' which Foy productions will put into
work in two weeks. Stoloff was away
for five weeks.
Juggling Wifh Censors
In New York State
New York. — With the expectation
that bills will be forthcoming in the
state legislature within a few days to
abolish censorship entirely, Assembly-
man Neustein yesterday took a new
tack and presented a bill calling for
control of censorship to be taken from
present hands and given the state
comptroller.
Censorship is at present under a
committee appointed by the Depart-
ment of Education.
Ladies' Day at AMPA
New York. — Ladies' Day at the
AMPA today is going to bring out a
bevy of big names. Blanche Yurka,
Elizabeth Arden, Kathryn Dougherty,
of Photoplay, Carol Stone, Tamara,
Lyda Roberti. Florence Desmond are
among those already listed to be
present.
Add to Men in White'
MGM put "Men in White" back on
the stages yesterday for a day of re-
takes. Richard Boleslavsky directed
the picture which has Clark Gable,
Myrna Loy and Jean Hersholt in the
cast.
Assign Coslow-Johnston
Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston
were teamed yesterday by Paramount
to handle the song numbers for "Mur-
der at the Vanities," which Mitchell
Leisen directs.
May's First Foreign Play
Joe May's first directorial assign-
ment on his term contract with Co-
lumbia is slated to be a Hungarian
play which has not yet been given
an English title.
Collins Out; McDonald In
Arthur Collins yesterday withdrew
from the dialogue direction on "Hit
Me Again" and Warners pushed Frank
McDonald in to take over the task.
Horsley Up for Lead
M. H. Hoffman is considering John
David Horsley for the juvenile lead in
his next picture to go into produc-
tion, which is yet untitled.
*Pull Together,' Zukor
(Continued from Page 1 )
search for entertainment and if they
find it, this industry will again pros-
per, but this time a prosperity even
greater than ever before.
"But we must have entertainment
to show our patrons. Good pictures
are the beginning and end of this busi-
ness and those good pictures can not
and will not be made without a hard
pull, a cooperative pull by every crea-
tor in every branch of production. If
our pictures do not measure up to the
entertainment desires of audiences
from now on, I fear for the future of
this business because I don't believe
we will ever get another chance such,
as we have now,
"This whole industry here in Holly-
wood, those in every branch of i'
must realize their importance in th(
making of screen entertainment. Th(
technician is just as important as the]
star; the writer, the director, the pro-
ducer, the cameraman, all have theii
important spot. We cannot make pic-
tures without any one of them an<
with the whole collection working foJ
better pictures, we will have greatej
pictures.
"Salaries? Certainly we will have t<
pay salaries proportionate to worth]
If there is a difference in opinion as U
that worth, or if the star, the writej
or the director wants more, believes
he deserves more than we (Para-
mount) think he is worth, then w(
are willing to arrange a sharing con-
tract. We must be fair; anything that"
is unfair will not last.
"The crafts can not, must not, pull
away from each other. There must
be united action towards the making
of great pictures and if one of the
crafts fail, all will fall. We must all
give and take, but must all contribute
in the effort to make better pictures.
The writer must work with the direc-
tor and vice versa; the producer and
the star must be in unison; the cam-
eraman and the technician must have
that enthusiasm that makes of their
work a help, one to the other.
"This is no time for petty argu-
ments, fits of jealousy or bickerings
that will tend to hamper progress; we
have a work to perform, certain that
a great reward will result from its
performance and we must go about
it with the enthusiasm that makes suc-
cess. We can't inspire ourselves with
that enthusiasm if we are carrying a
chip on our shoulder, if our forces are
divided and one taking shots at the
other.
"Paramount, as well as every other
company, has just been through some
very trying years, we have learned our
lesson and I believe will profit from
it. We have come out of our trouble
and are headed for better things and
this condition has been brought about
through the loyalty and hard work of
our employees. I am deeply grateful
to every person in our organization
for that loyalty and that hard work,
without it there would not have been
a Paramount now, with it we are in a
position to go forward."
Zukor is leaving either tomorrow
night or Saturday for New York and
will return here in late March or early
April to sit in on the formation of
next season's program for Paramount.
RALPH
SPENCC
MR. SKITCH
FOX FOLLIES
WARRIOR'S HUSBAND
STRICTLY DYNAMITE
HER BODYGUARD
TOMORROW AT SEVEN
SAILOR BE GOOD
SPEAK EASILY
PASSIONATE PLUMBER
LET'S GO
CROOKED CIRCLE
And others too humorous to
menf-ion.
In preparation:
SINNERS IN SATIN
For the Stage:
ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF '22
ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF '21
ZIEGFELD FROLIC OF '21
EARL CARROLL VANITIES '32
THE GORILLA
Collaboration
^ MANAGEMENT ^^ ^,,^
^MALL-LANDAU CO.
Page Six
THE
P[iP>©PlTEI^
Feb. I, 1934
That Holtz Boy
After seeing the production of
"Candida" as presented by the
Katharine Cornell company, Lou
Holtz informs that the part of
Marchbanks, the poet, was played
by Miss Cornell's understudy.
Italian Company
After Elissa Landi
Rome. — Elissa Landi has been an-
nounced for the cast of the first film
to be made by the "Consorzio Vis."
Picture will be made from Mussolini's
"Julius Caesar." Will be in four ver-
sions, directed by Forzano.
'U' Clears 'Alias Deacon/
Seeks Kibbee for Lead
Universal yesterday cleared the dia-
logue rights to "Alias the Deacon"
and is negotiating a deal with Warners
for the loan of Guy Kibbee to take
the title role, virtually starring the
player who has been given featured
billing by Warners.
Kurt Neumann has been assigned
to pilot the picture under Edmund
Grainger's supervisory wing.
Hornbeck Goes Abroad
William Hornbeck left by boat
from San Francisco yesterday for a
six weeks' vacation in London and
Paris. Hornbeck for seventeen years
was film editor on Mack Sennett com-
edies and recently assisted in the cut-
ting of Sam Goldwyn's "Roman Scan-
dals."
Daughter to Marsheks
Archie Marshek, assistant to Merian
C. Cooper at Radio studio, yesterday
was presented by Mrs. Marshek at the
Good Samaritan Hospital with a seven
and a half pound daughter.
Boost in Major Costs
(Continued from Page 3)
sions of the code. When he was told
that approximately 500 cameramen,
seconds, still men and film loaders are
now unemployed, he expressed more
than mere surprise, and assured them
he would do all possible to assist in
solving the matter.
Lew Blix, business agent of Local
37, comprising grips, electricians and
property men, had many complaints.
He told Rosenblatt that studios are
changing classification ratings to avoid
higher pay rates. Blix said Rosenblatt
declared that a violation of the Code.
He was also told that some studios
are relegatmg certain work to a lower
pay class. That, too, he said, was a
violation.
Blix also presented the suggestion
that a card system be put Into effect
to spread employment. This would
compel men to show their card at the
start of a day's work, and if it showed
36 hours of work for the week, the
man was not to be allowed to work,
but another man be given the job.
Rosenblatt told him to present that
idea to the labor committee. Blix
pointed out that some men are now
working as much as from 70 to 110
hours a week.
All in all, the union officials were
much encouraged, and expressed grat-
ification over their conference.
'Sutter's Cold' Set
As U' Fall Special
New York. — "Sutter's Cold," on
and off the Universal program since
1927, and on which George O'Neill
IS now preparing a script, will be made
on a scale to rate it the next big spe-
cial of the company.
The Laemmles made the announce-
ment here today that the story was
now definitely set for the first big
fall release, with the possibility that
William Wyler will direct.
joe E. Brown to Play
Satevepost Tractor Hero
After setting a team of staff
writers on the story for development
before purchasing the property, War-
ners yesterday closed for the rights to
the William Hazzlit Upson series of
Saturday Evening Post stories of the
adventures of a tractor salesman.
)oe E. Brown will star in the pic-
ture made from the series, with James
Seymour supervising. The Ivan Kahn
office negotiated the sale.
Frank Craven Back to
Crease Paint for Mono
Laying aside the pen for a spell,
Frank Craven turns actor for a star
spot in Monogram's "City Limits,"
which William Nigh places into pro-
duction tomorrow. The William Mor-
ris office negotiated the ticket.
Sally Blane, Ray Walker and Terry
Ray have featured roles in a story by
George Waggner.
Myers To Do 'Sea Girl'
Henry Myers has been signed by
Radio on a one-picture deal to write
a treatment on 'The Sea Girl," which
Shirley Burden is producing. Joel Mc-
Crea will have the top spot and Otto
Brower will direct. The Schulberg-
Feldman and Gurney office placed the
writer.
Domino Revel Feb. 4
The Dominos will hold their annual
revel Sunday night, February 4, at
their clubhouse, 1284 N. Crescent
Heights boulevard. They have a nine-
act show featuring Jean Harlow's first
stage appearance in a sketch entitled
"Rings on Her Fingers."
'U' Shifts Writer
Gertrude Purcell has taken off the
script of "Human Side" at Universal
and has been assigned to do a re-
write job on "Bachelor Wife," which
Eddie Buzzell will direct. She will
return to the script of "Human Side"
later.
Gates on MGM Tag
Harvey M. Gates has been signed
b/ MGM to do additional work on
tne script of "The Duchess of Del-
monico's," which will be Jeanette
MacDonald's next. Edgar Allan Woolf
wrote the screen play.
'Operator 13' in Work
"Operator 13" got started yesterday
at MGM, marking the shortest period
ever experienced between pictures on
a Davies vehicle.
Don Alvarado Returns
Don Alvarado has returned from his
trip to England where he made two
pictures for BIP.
Hugunin Trying To
Untie Sennett Tangle
All claims for delinquent salary
against Mack Sennett were on file
with the referee yesterday with the
exception of H. Lee Hugunin's for
$5,685.85. Hugunin said that the
reason he failed to file his claim was
that all the creditors who signed the
bankruptcy petition followed the ac-
tion a few days later with a motion
to withdraw. The motion was denied
at that time. For that reason Hu-
gunin will await the decision of the
court on claims pending before taking
action.
'Green Gold' Lead May
Go To George Bancroft
Gary Cooper will not have the lead-
ing role in Charles R. Rogers' "Green
Gold," as previously announced, be-
cause the picture is scheduled to get
under way before the player completes
"Operator 13" at MGM. Possibility
Rogers will spot George Bancroft in
the lead, now that "The World's
Greatest Spender" has been shelved.
Roach Starts Next Monday
Patsy Kelly and Billy Gilbert head
the cast of the Hal Roach all star
musical comedy which the studio puts
into production Monday. Others set
for the comedy are Don Barclay, Will
Stanton, Jack Barty and Douglas
Wakefield. Leigh Jason directs.
Pichel in Dieterle Pic
Irving Pichel was yesterday added
to the cast of the picture Wilhelm
Dieterle is preparing as his next War-
ner opus.
In and Out
About three months ago MGM
signed jay Lloyd, who has a south-
ern drawl, to a term contract and
turned him over to Oliver Hinsdell
to rid him of that drawl. Hinsdell
rid him of the drawl and the actor's
first assignment on the lot is to
play the role of a confederate sol-
dier in "Operator 13."
1
Allied Kick on Record
(Continued from Page 1 )
be reinstated at once. A bill which
he has introduced to that effect is
now pending.
In addition to claiming that the
Code is monopolistic and the Code
Authority dominated by major inter-
ests, Allied made a specific kick on
the ground that majors are violating
the Code by forcing an excessive
amount of shorts with features.
The exhibs declare this is done by
stamping the contracts with a clause
stating the exhibitor has agreed to
purchase the excess amount and then
getting the exhibitor to initial that
clause.
Donald Meek
as
DURKIN
in
W
Hi Nellie"
Management
Wm. Morris
Agency
A Warner Brothers
First National
Production
Guy Kibbee Plays 'Heavy'
In WB's Without Honor'
Guy Kibbee steps out of the com-
edy class with his next Warner as-
signment, going into the role of a
heavy in "Without Honor," the forth-
coming Cagney-Blondell production.
Sarah Padden, Harold Huber and
George Pat Collins have also been as-
signed to casting spots.
DOUGLAS DUMBRILLE
as
Management
Small-Landau Co.
DAWES
in
W
HI NELLIE
ff
(W.B.)
♦
NOW PLAYING
M A Y N A R D
in
THE GENTLEMAN FROM SAN FRANCISCO" (W.B.)
Just assigned to play General Calhoun in
"OPERATOR 13" (M-G-M)
"Douglas Dumbrille does
a good near heavy," —
Hollywood Reporter. Jan-
uary 24.
ROBERT PRESNELL
w
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
HI NELLIE
n
" 'Hi Nellie' brings us a new Paul Muni, and one
that they will like. . . . The picture is a skillful
piece of craftsmanship. . . . Plenty of good news-
paper atmosphere, and a consistent line of comedy
round it out. Topped by a climax cleverly tricked
for suspense. . . . Good entertainment."
— Hollywood Reporter,
January 24th. 1934.
A WARNER BROS. - FIRST NATIONAL PRODUCTION
Who writes the Hits?
And What Were The Hits?
The Fourth Annual
Writers' Number
of the
Hollywood Reporter
Will Tell You
This number will contain
complete list of all the
writing activity in pic-^
tures during 1933
Wake Certain 3 °\*^^ I '.*
You Are In It
5f mr.sa?;uf-:l ma?.-., /-
CULVKR CITY.CALIr'. -' ^ •
VOL. XIX. No. 18. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, February 2, 1934
Rl\0-CC€PCR MAT QUIT
N.Y. Bill Would Cut Salary, Percent Demands By
Agent Slice to 5 present Production Headl^ay
Split Them. Rowland in for Unit
• WHY should the picture business
permit itself to be pushed into any
corner that professional reformers and
politicians may choose? Why should
this industry bow with thanks to every
edict issued by State and Federal gov-
ernments, restricting its operation?
Why has not the screen the same
freedom that is enjoyed by the press;
if not that, the stage, magazines or
books?
The answer to all of those questions
is Will H. Hays in number one spot
and our (so-called) industry leaders in
the next position. Hays, because he
is paid by this industry to work for the
industry and our (so-called) industry
leaders because they permit Mr. Hays
to bulldoze them into submitting to
anything.
•
This censorship thing has done more
to harm motion pictures than all the
depression you have ever heard of.
It has killed off 90 percent of the
really interesting stories that could
have been adapted into fine screen
entertainment.
The whole thing is silly and should
be stopped, and it can be stopped if
our picture heads finally get up enough
courage to tell Mr. Hays he has done
a bad job. Then put someone in his
seat who will remind those responsible
for censorship that we will not stand
for it any longer and that it has to
be changed, AND IT WILL BE
CHANCED.
Professional reformers and politi-
cians know the power of the screen
as well as they realize the power of
the press; they won't fool with the
press and we should not permit them
to ruin this business.
Of course the censorship angle as
it now exists is for the most part a
monster constructed by Mr. Hays. He
has put words and actions into the
persons of those professional reform-
ers and politicians, and when their de-
mands come in he calls meetings of
his organization and then frightens
the producers to death with what will
happen if they don't submit.
•
The whole thing is more or less a
threat to keep this ind^istry believing
that Hays is earning his regal salary
and all of it should be licked by a
few threats on the part of this busi-
ness, once our so-called leaders are
(Continued on Page 2)
New York. — Proposed legislation
already introduced at Albany will be
of interest to Hollywood agents. The
bill calls for a limitation on commis-
sions to five per cent, a $500 license
fee and the posting of a bond.
Arthur Lyons, of Lyons and Lyons,
has been elected president of the new
organization, the National Association
of Theatrical Representatives, to fight
the legislation.
Mexico Will Get
First Look at Villa'
David 0. Selznick, George Cukor
and Myron Selznick are packing their
bags for a trip to Mexico City and the
trick of using Mexico City as a pre-
view town for the first time.
The Selznicks and Cukor will take
a print of "Viva Villa" to show to
Mexican officials for their O.K.
Schenck and Mannix
Through The Canal
New York. — Nicholas M. Scheneck
will take his first ocean boat ride when
he gets on a boat with Mrs. Schenck
and Eddie Mannix Saturday bound for
Los Angeles.
The boat trip is more of a recupera-
tion jaunt for the Loew's boss in the
hope of completely recovering from his
recent flu attack.
Foy Sets Col. Release
New York. — Release arrangements
have been set by which Bryan Foy
will distribute a baseball picture,
"Called on Account of Darkness,"
through the Columbia organization.
There is every indication that Radio Pictures and Merian C.
Cooper may split, with the present production head leaving and
taking his Whitney millions and production to another lot and
with another release, very likely Paramount. New York believes
that the deal that is being talked be-
Velez and Hubby
As Team for MCM
tween Radio and Richard A. Rowland
will soon be closed for Rowland to
join the production organization here
as a unit producer.
It is understood that the Cooper
matter will be cleared today, that
either the deadlock that has existed
in the conferences between J. R. Mc-
Donough, B. B. Kahane, Cooper and
Ned Depinet will be broken or Mr.
Cooper's resignation will be accepted,
(Continued on Page 4)
'Green Cold' Wiped
From Rogers Slate
Unable to secure a suitable star for
the top spot in "Green Gold," Charles
Rogers has called off production until
such time that he can get the right
person.
TraJeShows onXatherine'
New York. — "Catherine the Great,"
London Films-Korda production star-
ring Elizabeth Bergner and Douglas
Fairbanks Jr., will be trade shown by
United Artists nationally on Feb. 14
Edna Best on Way
London.— Edna Best has left for
Hollywood to join her husband, Her-
bert Marshall.
Announcement-
Believing that the creative workers of the motion picture indus-
try desire a method of making annual awards for exceptional con-
tributions to the screen art, that will reflect the impartial choice of
ALL members of the picture-making branches, the Hollywood Re-
porter is privileged to announce that it will conduct a vote soliciting
the opinions of creators on the outstanding achievements of 1933 in
performance, direction, writing, photography and technical.
Within the next week a booklet will be sent out to every mem-
ber of the production industry listing all the pictures produced during
1933 with the proper credits for those productions. A ballot will
be attached with a request that each member write in his selections
of the most meritorious work in each division.
A representative committee covering each branch in the in-
dustry will be asked to count and tabulate these votes. Announce-
(Continued on Page 6)
David Selznick plans to bring Lupe
Velez and johnny Weissmuller togeth-
er in the South Sea story "Paradise,"
which was written by Leo Birinski for
MGM.
The original plan was to co-star
Jesn Harlow and Weissmuller in this
vehicle. Richard Boleslavsky is slated
to direct.
Warner Aides on Train
Carrying 'Rosy' to East
Sam Schneider, assistant to H. M.
Wa'ner, and his wife and Harold
Bareford. of Warners legal depart-
ment, and his wife left last night f6r
the East on the same train that carried
Sol Rosenblatt to Washington. Bare-
ford and Schneider were out here two
weeks.
Swanson-Thalberg Close
Negotiations between Irving Thal-
berg and Gloria Swanson have been
concluded, the MGM producer yester-
day signing the player to a one-picture
deal with options. No story has been
selected as yet, although two are be-
ing considered.
Cable and Missus Co East
tiark Gable and his wife left last
night on the Chief for the New York
visit that he has been waiting for a
long time. He plans to be gone three
weeks, unless the studio sends for him
before then.
Lasky Sr. Delays Return
Jesse Lasky Jr. gets in tomorrow
from his month's vacation in Havana.
Jesse Lasky Sr. does not return until
Monday, having stopped off for a few
days in Florida on the return trip.
MCM Dusts Off Zenda'
"Prisoner of Zenda" has been put
back on MGM's production schedule
for this year and will be produced by
David Selznick.
Page Two
Feb. 2, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp^
Published every dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The day's ha! ha! So it seems that
a pair of agents had a swelegant
crooner that they imported from New
York — a humdinger for pictures. So
the crooner was so dumb they
wouldn't let him out anywhere except
under guard for fear he'd say the
wrong thing. So finally they had him
all set for a swell contract at a ma-
jor studio — the deal was to be signed
the following morning. So they let
the crooner out by himself the night
before. The fellow went to the Brown
Derby for dinner and got into con-
versation with a man who happened
to be the casting director of the stu-
dio where he was about to land — but
the singer didn't know that. And he
started telling the director all about
how wonderful Hollywood is — and
that he was about to sign with a stu-
dio for seven hundred and fifty a
week — and that he had never made
more than a hundred in his life! P.S.
When the agents got to the studio
the next day the contract was not
forthcoming on account of they want-
ed "too much money." And they fi-
nally landed their singer-actor at this
studio for a hundred and seventy-five
per!
•
Ben Wasson swears it's true — in
fact he swears that Beulah Bondi
heard it at the same time. They were
Jistening to the radio — and a man was
extolling the wonders of a certain
brand of maple syrup. He wound up
his talk with "This syrup is unsur-
passed in taste and quality — you will
always know this syrup by the pic-
ture of Grandma on the can!" (!)
•
Al Kaufman is about to get a much-
needed vacation, on account of he
works so hard. Someone was remind-
ing Al that he needed a rest, and re-
minded him how hard Irving Thalberg
worked before ill-health forced him
on a long vacation. "You know,"
said the pal, "Irving worked eighteen
hours a day — nobody should work that
hard!"
"Irving didn't work so hard,"
countered Kaufman, "I know for a
fact that he played bridge one night
a week."
ROSY' OFF FOR WASHINGTON
WITH HIS EARS NEEDING REST
Final Day Packed
In Meets For All
Declaring that his visit to Holly-
wood had been more than satisfactory,
and praising everyone in the industry
for the cooperation given him, Deputy
Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt left
for Washington last night.
His final day was the busiest of his
entire visit. Among those with whom
he conferred were; A special commit-
tee from the Academy, a committee
from the Screen Actors' Guild, a com-
mittee of "extras," a committee of
independent producers, another of in-
dependent theatre operators, Pat Ca-
sey, Dave Allen, Richard L'Estrange
of the studio labor committee, Harold
V. Smith of the sound men's union,
Harry Edington and a group of other
agents, Ben Berinstein and Charles W.
Cunningham, local NRA compliance
official.
Rosenblatt said that he had listened
to the complaints and reports of these
people, but refused to comment upon
what had happened or what action he
had taken, other than to confirm his
instructions to the Academy to select
nominees for possible appointment to
code committees.
However, it was learned that the
independent theatre men protested
against discrimination and told why
they believed they should be allowed
to show double features.
With Cunningham he discussed the
details of the setup of the many and
sundry committees which will be ap-
pointed on his return to Washington
for the handling of the grievances of
the many groups in the industry.
To Harold Smith of the soundmen's
union he reiterated his decision of the
previous day to the effect that the
prevailing wage scale of soundmen
among the independent studios would
become the prevailing scale in the en-
tire industry.
"I could not say too much about
the cooperation that has been given
me in Hollywood by everyone from the
highest producer to the lowliest ex-
tra," he declared. "I accumulated
more information in less time and
with less effort than I had even an-
ticipated in my most enthusiastic mo-
ments. My report will be ready ap-
proximately by March 1."
'Rosy' Leaves
To Take Rest
The Sol Rosenblatts went Holly-
wood in a very big way. This de-
spite the fact that the Deputy NRA
Administrator said on arrival that
he would not attend any parties.
He was "partied" morning, noon
and night every day that he was
n Hollywood, and even took a flash
at Caliente and Palm Springs on the
run. He is said to have confided
to friends that he was returning to
Washington for a REST.
Indies Make If Easy For
New Members to Join
Forty-three new members are ex-
pected to be added to the Indepen-
dent Motion Picture Producers of
America as a result of last night's
meeting.
Meeting over luncheon at the Hotel
Roosevelt earlier in the day, the as-
sociation's officers voted to drop the
$250 initiation fee and $25 a month
charge for dues, all members now
being charged five dollars the negative
reel dues. M. H. Hoffman continues
as president, as do the remaining of-
ficers and board.
Rogers Para. Unit Goes
Into Brief Lull Period
With six of his ten pictures on the
1933-34 Paramount program finish-
ed, the Charles R. Rogers unit is again
quiet and will not have any produc-
tions working for from two to four
weeks.
The next picture to hit the stages
will be "In Conference" and no cast
has been set as yet.
Back Where He Started
Harry Oliver, busy on the General
Service lot these days as Harold Lloyd's
art director, is getting some good
natured kidding, being back with
Lloyd with whom he started seventeen
years ago. Oliver is on loan from
MGM.
Wiener Moves Offices
Hal Wiener has moved his indepen-
dent publicity offices to 9000 Sunset
boulevard, being located with the Kay
and Stuart agency.
PARA SIGXS BOXY AND G AXG
IX X. Y.'S FIRST RUN WAR
New York. — There's a personal ap-
pearance war on in the big Broadway
first runs which gives an indication
of how scarce the pictures are that
can be counted on to fill the big
houses.
Paramount has been shooting the
big guns, starting with Mary Pickford
and Miriam Hopkins and yesterday
slamming a big one over with the
signing of Roxy and His Gang for a
ten weeks' engagement, splitting five
each in New York and Brooklyn. The
act will get $10,000 weekly.
The Capitol has countered with
Buddy Rogers backed by other big
names and a reorganized orchestra
slated to open February 16 simultane-
ously with Roxy.
Over in Brooklyn the Fox rushed
frantically around and grabbed Mae
Murray for a week's personal starting
tomorrow to counteract Mary Pick-
ford's appearance at the Brooklyn
Paramount.
Col. Renews on Don. Cook
Donald Cook's option was exercised
by Columbia yesterday. Player goes
into the third period of his long-
term ticket.
Velez-Durante Will
Team for Radio Also
With Edward Small pointing the
way by teaming Jimmy Durante and
Lupe Velez in "Palooka," Radio yes-
terday effected the loan of El Velez
from MGM to again be bracketed with
Durante in "Strictly Dynamite."
Picture goes into work February 1 5-
under Elliott Nugent's direction. H.
N. Swanson is supervising.
Lowe Goes on the Air
Edmund Lowe has been signed,
through the Selznick and Joyce radio
department, for one appearance on the
Ipana toothpaste hour from New York
the second week of this month.
Lowe leaves with his wife, Lilyan
Tashman,, for New York the first part
of next week.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
able to convince themselves that they
are being taken for a sleigh-ride by
Hays.
The entertainment served picture
patrons MUST hold the same attrac-
tiveness as that furnished by books,
plays, newspapers and magazines.
Submitting to the Hays edicts, writers
cannot write that type material, with-
out which there is very little screen
entertainment. No entertainment, no
patrons and — you write the rest.
HOLLYWOOD
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly ratal
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway o( Hospitality"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd
HOLLYWOOD
Feb. 2, 1934
Page Three
PARA. FIRST ON CARPET
REFORE THE LAROR ROARD
Cukor-Estabrook
May Visit England
Cameramen Battle
For 2ds and Asst's
One of the first of the major stu-
dios that will find itself involved with
the Studio Labor Committee, appoint-
ed by Deputy Administrator Sol A.
Rosenblatt to handle the NRA griev-
ances of the labor element, will be
Paramount, according to authoritative
information disclosed in camera circles
yesterday.
It was learned that the cameramen's
union is preparing to present a pro-
test, claiming that Paramount has been
discriminating against a group of some
twenty-eight cameramen and assist-
ants who were among those who walk-
ed out during the strike last summer.
The Paramount situation, according
to the cameramen, is unusual in that
while the studio officials will not al-
low these men to return, some of the
most important first cameramen in the
business have been pleading with the
company to bring them back.
"Most of these seconds and as-
sistants," explained one cameraman
yesterday, "had been working at Para-
mount for from five to fourteen years.
They have become invaluable to the
first cameramen who have been work-
ing with them for years. Victor Mil-
ner, of the A.S.C., and one of the
ace cinematographers on the Para-
mount lot, has pleaded the cause of
some of the men to no avail. Union
officials are appreciative of Milner's
efforts.
"The first cameramen have put
forth the claim that the return of
these seconds and assistants would
speed up production, as they would
increase efficiency and thus cut down
camera costs. But to date thumbs
have been kept down upon them."
'Lily Mars' Set As Next
For Jean Harlow at MCM
Although MCM has half a dozen
scripts ready for Jean Harlow as her
initial production since settling the
star's contractual difficulties last
week, hottest is said to be the Booth
Tarkington story "Presenting Lily
Mars," which the Saturday Evening
Post published.
It now remains for the player to
accept the assignment. Larry Wein-
garten is handling the supervisory reins
and Margaret Hawkins turned in her
completed script on the screen play
yesterday, checking off the company
payroll.
Boland-Radio Deal Set
Radio brought its negotiations with
Mary Boland to the signing and seal-
ing stage yesterday, getting the player
for an important spot in "Stingaree"
on a deal exclusive of her Paramount
ticket. Richard Dix and Irene Dunne
rate top billing.
Pascal Back in Town
Ernest Pascal returned from New
York yesterday, after having set the
arrangements for the publication of
his novel, "Woman at Thirty," by
Harcourt-Brace & Company. Warners
are talking a term deal with the
writer.
Tough Luck
After the Police Department
carefully pasted up the lobby dis-
plays at the Marcal Theatre on
"Elysia" a few days ago someone
approached said displays with a
safety razor blade Tuesday night.
And you'd be surprised at the
amount of disappointment.
Robinson in 'Dark
Tower' Before 'Nap'
Edward C. Robinson has been as-
signed the lead in "The Dark Tower"
by Warners and the picture has been
scheduled for production before "Na-
poleon."
"The Dark Tower" is a current
stage success by George S. Kaufman
and Alexander Woollcott. No writers
on the script as yet.
Ratoff Finally Signs
Deal With Ceo. White
Gregory Ratoff put his name on the
contract for George White yesterday
to appear in the new White's "Scan-
dals" opening in the spring.
By the contract Ratoff is to receive
top male billing.
Orry-Kelly to Paris
Warners announce that Orry-Kelly,
designer for the studios, will leave for
Paris in a few weeks to combine con-
tact with coming styles and special
searching on "Napoleon" and "The
Key."
Schenck Finally Leaves
New York. — Joseph M. Schenck fi-
nally got away on the Century yes-
terday and will arrive here Sunday
afternoon. His departure had been
delayed from day to day since Monday.
Bank V-P with Warners
New York. — Louis Kaufman, a for-
mer vice-president of the Guardian
Bank, of Cleveland, has joined Warner
Brothers to handle Code violation
complaints.
George Cukor and Howard Esta-
brook are discussing a trip to Eng-
land, departing within a couple of
weeks, to get a first hand slant on
[ocations and atmosphere for "David
Copperfield."
Casting problems on the picture are
already worrying David Selznick. Since
the story is semi-autobiographical the
question to be decided is whether to
have two or three stars handle various
stages of David Copperfield's life, ac-
cording as the screen development
makes the different periods important.
London Fox Publicity
Head on Way to Holly
London. — Roy Simmonds, Fox pub-
licity head for most of Europe, has
left for a six weeks' sojourn in Holly-
wood, looking over the pictures that
are now in work and getting an idea
the way they are sold in America.
Dick Powell Goes North
Dick Powell left yesterday for a two
weeks' vacation in Del Monte. He
will commute from there to San Fran-
cisco February 7 for the first Old Gold
broadcast over the CBS chain. He re-
turns here for his second broadcast a
week later and to start his next War-
ner picture.
Allvine on 'Clever' Yarn
Glendon Allvine has taken over the
supervisory reins on "And Let Who
Will Be Clever" at Radio. Ray Harris
is writing the screen play for the Alvin
Asher yarn.
Alex Moss to Para.
New York — -Alex Moss, recently
with the Rialto, has joined the Para-
mount exploitation department.
Evelyn Venable Returns
Evelyn Venable, Paramount young
star, returned yesterday from a visit
to Cincinnati, her former home.
ACAD. ROSY OVER 'ROSY'S'
ENCOrRAGEMENT Ii\ CHAT
Deputy Administrator Sol A. Rosen-
blatt met yesterday with a special
committee of the Academy and in-
structed the five branches of that or-
ganization to elect nominees for the
various code committees that will be
appointed when he returns to Wash-
ington.
The writers' and actors' branches
were advised to select nominees for
the Agency Committee; also for a
committee that will be made up of
five producers and five actors, and an-
other to consist of five producers and
five writers. Also nominees for the
Code Authority.
Technicians' and directors' branches
were also advised to select nominees
for the Agency Committee and the
Code Authority, these nominees'
names to be forwarded to him as soon
as the selection has been made.
While Rosenblatt did not definitely
state that he would appoint these
Academy nominees to any of the com-
mittees. Academy members were ju-
bilant last night because they gathered
from his attitude that his instructions
to the Academy would just about dis-
pel the idea that the guilds would be
the only people recognized in Wash-
ington.
Rosenblatt was also asked by the
committee as to what he thought of
the work of the various conciliation
departments of the Academy and the
various codes the Academy has placed
in effect. He was asked if they would
conflict with the NRA code. To which
he replied that he thought the Acad-
emy had been doing a fine and con-
structive work in the past, that the
machinery of the Academy does not
conflict with the NRA code, and he
hoped they would continue their ex-
cellent work.
A very dull show indeed was con-
siderably livened up the other evening
by the antics and carryings-on of one
of the better known critics of the
drayma. Said critic walked into the
theatre considerably happier from the
benefits of repeal, walked out in the
middle of the first act and didn't
come back until the middle of the
second. By that time his condition
had become sooo bad, that two gentle-
women sitting next to him rose and
left hurriedly. And then, after the
show, came the big laugh of the eve-
ning when an usher had to be sent
back to recover the critic's shoes
which he had conveniently removed
and inconveniently forgotten.
•
Walter Connelly has been hoping
that the studio won't send him that
telegram demanding his return to the
coast until after the opening of his
wife's show.
•
Elsa Maxwell has taken off for other
fields to conquer. The farewell party
given in her honor by Vernon Duke
and Jules Glaenzer was so good that
we quite forgot to find out just where
Elsa IS going, but it's bound to be
some place good just as soon as La
Maxwell gets there. At any rate,
Moss Hart, Cole Porter, Carman
Barnes, William Rhinelander Stewart,
Conde Nast, Erskine Gwynne and Lois
Long came around to say "good-bve"
to Elsa.
•
Vincent Sardi is earning himself a
nice bit of extra income due to the
fact that Miriam Hopkins is making a
personal appearance at the Paramount
this week. The skit in which she ap-
psars calls for the serving and eating
of food. And five times a day Mir-
iam has to eat a lamb chop, a souffle
and trimmings. She could have had
her diet and kept it, too, if they had
made it lamb chop and pineapple.
•
Bill Howard gave a tea party that
really served tea the other day. Only
the tea happened to be of the Joyz
Mate variety which is stimulating to
say the least. It's a tasty little dish
that Doug Fairbanks Sr. brought to
New York some years ago when he
filmed "The Gaucho" and every once
in a while ever since then somebody
thinks of having a tea party. Mrs.
Emily Roosevelt, Mr. and Mrs. Glaen-
zer and Blair Niles attended but every-
one but Miss Niles preferred bacardi
cocktails.
•
Irene Barrymore, who arrived in
town the other day with her husband
and under the care of a nurse, dashed
from her suite right over to the hair-
dressers for a permanent; came back,
had a large luncheon party followed
by a cocktail party that she gave for
Tallulah Bankhead, Peggy Fears, Tom
Douglas and Roland Leigh, went out
to dinner and stayed out until four in
the morning. The next day Mrs.
Barrymore suffered a very serious re-
lapse. So serious, indeed, that even
Lionel is not allowed to see her.
Page Four
THg
Feb. 2, 1934
FIRST ACT HURTS 'ALIMONY^:
NEW RARRY PLAY A SERMON
Has Film Chance
With Treatment
/ "HOTEL ALIMONY"
A comedy by A. W. Pezet; adapted
' from a farce by Adolph Phillipp
/ and Max Simon; presented by
Franklin and Stoner at the Royale
Theatre; directed and staged by
A. W. Pezet; in nine scenes;
settings by P. Dodd Ackerman.
Cast: Eve Farrell, Peter Coo
Chong, John Henry McKee, Rob-
ert Emmett Keane, James Shel-
burne, Nancy Evans, Sheldon
Leonard, Winifred Law, Desmond
Cailagher, Tom Dillon and four-
teen others.
■ New York. — This play is a mixture
of both good and bad writing. Start-
ing with a theme that hasn't been
touched upon extensively in the thea-
tre at all, and one which cries aloud
for biting sarcastic farce treatment,
the author has seen fit to foist a very
bad first act on his public which ruin-
ed whatever chances the play might
have had. Especially since the play
does warm up in its last two acts and
some members of the cast are allowed
to strut their stuff to good advantage.
Robert Emmett Keane, for instance —
who nearly succeeds in stealing the
show in the last act.
The opus deals with a vindictive
woman who wants to eat her cake and
have it too. Not satisfied at being
permitted to file an uncontested suit
for divorce — receiving her husband's
cooperation in planting divorce
grounds collusively arrived at, and
other liberal treatment at the hands
of her ex-spouse — she jealously ob-
jects to her first husband remarrying.
Backed by her unscrupulous moth-
er, the wife demands $300 a week
alimony as part of the divorce agree-
ment. The husband is advised by his
attorney not to agree to it; that he
is putting his head in a noose and his
future entirely in the hands of his
first wife — who can put him in jail
and keep him there for the rest of his
life as long as alimony remains un-
paid. Determined to be free of her to
marry his new sweetie, the hero, who
is a musical comedy producer, signs
the agreement.
We next find him in jail sure
enough. Life in the alimony jail is
humorously and bitterly depicted —
with its squabbling wives calling for
their alimony payments — the gambler
who has framed himself into jail so
as to recoup his fortune playing poker
with the inmates — the poet who has
unjustly been committed — the graft-
ing wardens and jail keepers — all
make an interesting and moving pic-
ture of the plight of victims of femi-
nine greed.
The best scene in the play is be-
tween the wife and the second hus-
band (Nancy Evans and Robert E.
Keane), both returning to their apart-
ment New Year's eve, very drunk.
Recriminations fly thick and fast as
does the crockery.
The picture flashback technique is
employed in the third act to bridge
time gaps between the four scenes,
which just barely gets by. Civen a
Forbidden Word
Leo Birinski tells it. In Cermany
people are not allowed to mention
the word "Jew" even in connection
with humorous stories. So now the
stories go like this: "Two China-
men were coming out of a synagog
when one said to the other, 'Scho-
lem Aleichem'."
Headaches Loom
For Code Authority
New York. — An idea of the head-
aches that will hit the Code Authority
on exhibitor scraps may be judged
from the fact that the important Lee
Ochs circuit in New York is preparing
to put up a bitter scrap over inability
to get product.
Ochs complains that the Springer-
Cocalis chain following on Loew's and
RKO in his neighborhood leave him
nothing to play.
Cherril! Scorns Offers
To Return With Gary
London. — Virginia Cherrill has turn-
ed down every offer made to her by
two of the major studios here to do
a picture immediately after she fin-
ishes the quickie ("Monday at Ten")
that is now in production, because she
wants to be with Cary Grant when
he sails February 9.
Sec'y Gets a Break!
Virginia Van Upp, former secretary
to Horace Jackson, was given a break
by Paramount with the assignment to
write a treatment on "Lovers in
Quarantine." Miss Van Upp handed
in a finished script of a story which
met with the approval of the studio,
and she was given this opportunity to
become a full-fledged writer.
Erwin Child in Danger
News became public yesterday that
a fire in the home of Stuart Erwin and
June Collyer on Tuesday night had
endangered the life of their eighteen
months old son who was saved through
the presence of mind of his nurse.
The fire did little damage.
Small Talks to Lachman
Negotiations are being concluded
for Harry Lachman to direct one pic-
ture for Edward Small in the near fu-
ture. Small, who has seen and likes
the director's work, is signing him for
one picture, with no story in mind
at present.
Dumbrille in 'Operator 13'
Douglas Dumbrille and Samuel
Hinds are the latest additions to the
cast of "Operator 13," the Marion
Davies-Cary Cooper co-starring pic-
ture, which Raoul Walsh is directing
for MCM.
good cast headed by Lee Tracy, this
play would furnish excellent material
for a picture, or best of all a light
farcical musical comedy treatment of
this theme would serve best of all.
Latest Lilh'an Gish
A Screen Problem
"THE lOYOUS SEASON"
By Philip Barry; presented by Arthur
Hopkins at the Belasco Theatre.
Cast: Eric Dressier, Jane Wyatt,
Jerome Lawler, Barry McCollum,
Alan Campbell, John Eldredge,
Florence Williams, Moffat John-
ston, Mary Kennedy, Lillian Cish,
Kate Mayhew and Mary Hone.
New York. — Philip Barry preaches
a sermon. In his new play, "The Joy-
ous Season," which is much after the
manner of "The Servant in the
House," this eminent author brings a
saintly influence to straighten out the
turmoils of a family.
Written with distinction and hon-
esty, but limited by its subject matter,
the play unfortunately lacks the enter-
tainment value of his earlier plays like
"The Animal Kingdom."
The plot is simple. The Farleys are
a prosperous Irish family living in the
smart Back Bay section of Boston and
striving to keep up with Boston cul-
ture and fashion. They are a large
family, all living together in the sub-
stantial house left by their parents,
and in their desire for ease and com-
fort never striking out for themselves.
Only one has strayed from the fold —
a daughter, who has entered the
Church. Now she is a Reverend
Mother, greatly beloved and respected.
It is Christmas and the Reverend
Mother has come to spend the day.
There is the question of disposing of
the house which really belongs to the
Reverend Mother, and her sisters and
brothers are reluctant to give it up.
The nun expects a joyous family to
greet her but finds each engrossed
with his particular problem. With a
radiance that contains more of the
joy of fine living than the remote
saintliness of the Church, and with
quiet good sense and humor, she helps
everyone. She reconciles her young
sister and brother-in-law who were
about to become estranged — she urges
the oldest brother, who has taken the
cares of the family too literally upon
his shoulders, to look out for himself.
He must marry and have a family of
his own. She comforts the youngest
sister of all — a tense, neurotic child
who fancies herself in love with her
sister's husband, and even the other
members of the family, who seem to
need no help, cannot but feel her in-
fluence.
She finally departs, leaving the dis-
posal of the house up to the family
itself and it is they, not she, who de-
cide to give it up and go their sepa-
rate ways, standing upon their own
feet.
Lillian Cish, as the Reverend Moth-
er, gives one of the most outstanding
performances of her career. Moffatt
Johnson as the oldest brother is ex-
cellent. June Wyatt as the young
married sister gives a fine account of
herself. Eric Dressier, Alan Campbell
and Barry McCollum are all good in
their respective roles. Picture possi-
bilities are problematical.
Leonard on MGM's
Next For Dressier
Robert Leonard is slated to direct
"Coming Around the Mountain,"
which will be a Marie Dressier-Polly
Moran co-starring vehicle, as his next
assignment for MGM.
This picture is scheduled to be next
on the program for Marie Dressier.
Lloyd Tags Al Newman
To Handle Music Score
Yesterday, through the courtesy of
United Artists, Harold Lloyd borrowed
Al Newman to handle the musical j
score of his picture, "The Catspaw.'j
He also purchased yesterday the
latest song from Roy Turk and Harry
Akst, called "I'm Just That Way."]
This will be featured in a big cabare^
scene in the picture.
Party for Fox Import
New York. — Fox will give Made-
leine Carroll, their newly importec
British Caumont star, a cocktail party
today at the Waldorf to meet the Nev
York press crowd.
RKO-Cooper May Quit
(Continued from Page 1 )
with no successor announced, inas-
much as the lot will go entirely uni^
production with Kahane in direct
charge. This whether Cooper remain^
or not.
The deadlock, it is understood, wad
created through the desire of Cooper"
to receive about the same remunera-
tion he was paid last year, even though
the desk of "production head" will be
entirely abolished. Cooper drew in
excess of $500,000 during the past
twelve months with $2,500 a week
salary and the rest represented as 20
percent of the profits on every picture
the lot turned out.
It is believed that McDonough has
steadfastly held that Cooper is entitled
to a percentage only on the pictures
that his unit produces and that each
producer will be given the same break.
Cooper is understood to have remind-
ed the gathering that the majority of
his pictures, which will include most
of the year's big specials, will be fi-
nanced outside of Radio (by Whitney)
and for this reason his split should be
adjusted to approach his past year's
earnings. Thus the deadlock.
It is rumored that if Cooper packs
up and gets out that he will lease
space in a rental plant and make the
Whitney pictures for a Paramount re-
lease.
The angle on Richard A. Rowland
is that negotiations have been going
on between Radio and himself, which,
if closed, would provide a berth at
the plant for the former First National
boss as a unit producer.
It is reliably stated that when an-
nouncement is made as to the new
policy of Radio it will be straight unit
production with from five to seven
unit producers making from four to
eight pictures a year each and that all
will have a weekly drawing account
against a percentage of the net gross
of their product.
Pandro Berman, Kenneth Macgowan
and Louis Brock are definitely set as
producers, with from two to four oth-
ers added.
LEO McCARE Y
° I
"^ E
" D
"SIX OF A KIND"
"SIX OF A KIND"
SCREEN PLAY
and
DIALOGUE
by
HARRY RUSKIN
in collaboration with
WALTER DE LEON
A Paramount Production
J
Page Six
JHIJ^-TT^i
Feb. 2. 1934
'NANA' HAS EXCEPTIONAl
OPENING IN N.Y. AND 'CHI'
New York. — For the first two shows
of the screening of "Nana" at the
Music Hall here yesterday the house
did absolute capacity with plenty of
standees. The total take for the two
performances amounted to $6,149, in-
dicating a $14,000 take for the day
This will not show a record for the
day, but will probably do so for four
shows. "Little Women" holds the
record, but played five shows, opening
at 9.30 in the morning.
The Coldwyn deal for the Music
Hall engagement gives him 75 per-
cent of everything over $65,000, de-
manding that he contribute $3,500
for advance advertising, with RKO to
spend $12,000.
Business here today was remarkable
in face of a severe snowstorm. An
Indie Sten Picture Set
For L.A. Debut Monday
First Anna Sten foreign picture to
crack the Los Angeles sector will be
the Ufa production, "The Tempest,"
which Jacobs and Bregstein have set
for a run at the President Theatre next
Thursday.
Picture co-stars Emil Jannings and
comes in a week ahead of the Sam
Coldwyn production, "Nana."
Yiddish Talkie Here 22nd
Sam Berkowitz is opening a two
week engagement at the Figuenoa
theatre on February 22 of an all-Jew-
ish talking film, "Uncle Moses," fea-
turing Maurice Schwartz. Sholom Asch
wrote the story and Sidney Golden di-
rected.
Marcin Changes Yarns
Max Marcin will not do "The Night
Cap" for Universal as previously an-
nounced, but instead will write and
direct "The Humbug," his own story.
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hour before the theatre opened there
was a line three abreast extending
around the side of the house, almost
to Fifth avenue.
All the local papers gave the picture
raves.
Chicago. — in spite of a fierce snow-
storm here the Samuel Coldwyn pro-
duction of "Nana" got off to a flying
start at the United Artists Theatre,
doing almost three times the record
business of "Roman Scandals" in the
same theatre. "Scandals" did $1,209
up to 3 p.m. and "Nana" rolled in
a gross of $3,020
All the papers gave it raves, with
the Daily News stating: "We don't
know what to talk about first, the
great picture or the great romance in
its making."
Mitzi Green Bows Out
On Radio's 'School' Pic
Mitzi Creen was given her release
yesterday from a featured role in
"Finishing School" by Radio.
Player, through Small-Landau, reg-
istered the request for the contract
cancellation stating the part was not
important enough for her. Under-
standing was when the deal was seal-
ed in New York that the role would
be built up for her, but it developed
that the script could not be altered
to suit. Radio subsequently agreeing
to the release. Dawn O'Day gets the
part.
Premiere to Sennett
Sig Neufeld and Leslie Simmonds,
producing as Premiere Attractions,
have moved production to the Mack
Sennett lot and will start shooting
"Marrying Widows" next Saturday.
Deal was set by Jed Buell, head of the
Sennett rental department. Premiere
was formerly located at Talisman stu-
dio.
Ames Finishes Job
Christine Ames has completed her
treatment on the Edward Sloman story
temporarily titled "Today We live" for
Universal. She was at the studio on
a one-picture deal.
SHE LOVED A CROONER!
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HearBING
sing six of the
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JANET
STARTS THURSDAY
LIONEL
Gaynor • Barrymore
Klangfilm Goes Easy
on Infringing Exhibs
Berlin. — As a means of working out
disputes with exhibitors showing talk-
ies on non-patented apparatus, Klang-
film has agreed to put a special low
cost output on the market for theatres
having less than four hundred seats.
The company will then refrain from
action against theatres that replace
present infringing outfits with the new
low cost proposition. The deal has
been worked out in cooperation with
the exhibitors' organization.
Monogram Lists Buys
For 1934-35 Program
New York. — Monogram is getting
its story purchases for the 1934-35
season lined up well in advance. W.
Ray Johnston, president of the com-
pany, summarized buys to date to-
day:
"Heads Up," by Adele Commandini;
"The Right Man," by A. Payson Ter-
hune; "Women Who Kill," by Fred-
erick and Fanny Hatton; and "Twenty
Years," by Robert F. Roden.
Iwerks Works go Abroad
Comicolor Cartoons closed an impor-
tant deal this week with the placing
of their subjects on a blanket deal for
fifteen ships of the Dollar Steamship
lines. The Ub Iwerks pictures will
make round the world cruises with the
liners.
Cresson Smith on Tour
New York. — Cresson Smith, West-
ern and Southern sales manager for
Radio, is" on an exchange swing that
will bring him to Chicago, Des Moines,
Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis,
Omaha, St. Louis and Sioux Falls.
Announcement
(Continued from Page 1
ments will be made in the columns of
this publication on or about March
1 5, and THE HOLLYWOOD REPORT-
ER COLD MEDAL AWARD will be
given to the persons who have received
the most votes in each division. in
the case of acting, two medals will be
given, one each for the best perform-
ance of the men and women.
The Reporter is undertaking this
work solely with a desire of providing
a means of rewards for merit that will
satisfy ALL of Hollywood, that by its
very structure cannot be accused of
politics, personal favors, or any mys-
terious faults. The Hollywood Re-
porter will make every effort to con-
duct a vote that will reflect the in-
dividual merits of the creators in this
industry.
Announcements will be made from
day to day, outlining the method that
will be used in the conduct of this
vote. We ask that our Hollywood
readers suggest and advise a better
procedure should they know one, as
it is the desire of this publication to
secure a vote that will be unques-
tioned in every branch.
Columbia Plans American
Version of Mexican Film
Columbia has polished off a releas-
ing deal with Miguel Contreras Torres,
Mexican producer, to handle "Jaurez
and Maximillian" which Torres made
in Mexico.
Deal came through after Joseph
Seidleman, Columbia sales executive,
saw the picture and got the company
to agree to make an American version
of the film for the English-speaking
market.
lATSE CAMERAMEN PLAX
ENTIRE REORGANIZATION
What manv cameramen predict may
prove to be one of the most impor-
tant general meetings in the history
of Local 659, lATSE, has been called
for next Monday night at 8 o'clock at
the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
The meeting, announced yesterday
by General Manager E. T. Estabrook,
is for the purpose of laying plans for
a complete reorganization of the cam-
eramen's local before the members.
Some indication of its importance lies
in the fact that only members bear-
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ing paid-up cards will be admitted.
For some time officials of the union
have been very quietly working out
extensive plans for a reorganization
of the local. The late strike brought
out some of the weaknesses, so some
of the members point out, and while
remaining comparatively quiet and
giving some people the impression that
they were merely marking time union
executives have been busily engaged
in formulating a setup that it is ex-
pected will make the organization one
that will not only function with
smoothness and efficiency, but will
make it an organization that will be
more beneficial to its membership.
The plans that have been worked
out will be presented to the members
at the meeting and, says Estabrook,
"every member will be given the op-
portunity to express his views and
make his suggestions. Nothing will
be done without the fullest opportu-
nity being given the membership for
discussion."
'CAROLINA"
I
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Ken Goldsmith production
Dircrttd by U'lllidm J.
Cowan. Story and screen play by I
Mary E. McCartb> ■ rbotoKraphed by |
Gilbert Warrenton. Cast: Lucile Glea-
son. Skeets Gallacber. Lona Andre.
Warren Hymer. Barbara Weeks. Laura 1
Ireadwell. Eddie Phillips. Jason Ro-
bards. Ruth Clifford. Ricbard Elliott.
Erin La BUsionlere. Julie KIncdon.
Joyce Cnad. Baby Waring. Previewed J
ftt the CaUfoiiiia. Glendalc.
Runnine time. fiO mins.
Carrifd largely on ihc capable
trouper shoulders of Lucile Glea-
son. with Skeets Gallagher support-
ing with an odd but agreeable kindl
of comedy, and direction which!
pilots a hard working cast through]
a constantly twisting story. Woman I
Unafraid' provides first class enter
tainment. with special appeal to the i
family trade. Story is well devised j
for the ripe talents of Lucile Glea
son. presented as a police-woman I
.whose province is the supervision of '
dance hall in a tough nabe.
Fenimc copper's solicitous protec-
n of girls finally gets her marked
destruction by a hood gang
ded by Jason Robards when
bara Weeks lakes refuge in her |
after running out on the
ob. Lona Andre also becomes a |
ge of the policewoman, to-
with several paroled gals, |
she's saved from attempted I
Unwittingly aiding the ]
ers is Laura Trcadwell as
te censor of the community I
Latter's nqshew. Skeets i
er. leagues himself with the]
ss and the girls. Barbara I
is finally framed and lured]
'the hands of the thugs who kill [
Finale has Lucile Gleason out-
rting Robards and trapping him I
[o a confession of murder for the I
taphones. with Skeets Gallagher
nging him when he starts to shoot
IS way out.
Heart of gold of the feminine ,
cop is perhaps just a bit too much
stressed, story tending to get a shade
maudlin in spots. This and overplus
of yarn, tending to edge out inter-
esting characterizations, are moder-
ate faults.
In addition tt» Gleason. Galla-
gher and Miss Weeks who turn in I
top performances. Ruth Clifford!
stands out as a dance hall girl, andl
Julie Kingdon docs an excep''onallyl
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11
There Is
No Finer Liquor
ANYWHERE
than can be had from
THE VENDOME
CELLARS
Careful purchases both in Europe and America have
filled our shelves with the most select assortment pro-
curable anywhere. And the prices are right.
if you want the best come in, look at our stocks, TASTE
THEM at our tasting bar and make your selections.
FINE BRANDY FROM FRANCE
EXCELLENT SCOTCH FROM SCOTLAND
BEAUTIFUL IRISH FROM IRELAND
MELLOW RYE AND BOURBON FROM AMERICA
DELIGHTFUL CHAMPAGNES, RHINES, MOSELLES,
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FROM THE WORLD S BEST SUPPLIES
OUR WINE STORE IS OPEN UNTIL 10 P.M.
If you have not the time to come in, we
will send a representative to see you.
I
6666 SUNSET BLVD.
HO- 1666
MFTRO-GOLDV.YN-'.IAYER STU.
^ MR.SAVURL MARX.
CULVhR GITY.CAI.i:-'.^^
(y
POiT
Vol. XIX, No. 20. Price 5c.
TODAYS FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, February 3, 1934
NO COOPER SLCCESSOR
•GOOD news !
BUSINESS IS BETTER.
Yesterday we talked to four out-
of-town exhibitors, all key-city ex-
hibitors, all running big houses, all in
widely different sections of the coun-
try, AND all told us that for the past
five weeks business has been EXCEL-
LENT.
That's news — good news.
The story runs that from the middle
of August to the first week of No-
vember business was all right, not
good, but profitable. Then something
happened, something terrible happen-
ed; the bottom dropped out of every-
thing and for six or seven weeks con-
ditions in the ticket selling business
were the poorest ever experienced.
"It was awful," said one of our in-
formants.
Along towards the last week of De-
cember things began to pick up, what
with a few better pictures and a gen-
eral loosening of the purse strings, and
the past month has been tremendous
— with every indication that it will
even be better "IF WE GET GOOD
PICTURES."
•
We told you twice recently of
Adolph Zukor and his enthusiasm re-
garding Paramount. But he has even
a greater enthusiasm (if such a thing
is possible) and that is the feeling
that most of these big white elephants
that have been sinking Paramount and
most every other company and indi-
vidual operator are doing better busi-
ness. And that's news also.
Says Zukor: "We can't get our
costs back out of the small towns and
neighborhoods; we have to get it out
of the big houses with their higher
admissions, longer runs, etc. And,
too, those big houses have to adver-
tise the pictures for the little fellows.
If business is bad in those spots, as
it has been, it gives us very little
money return for our production ef-
forts and sinks the little fellow who
depends on that word-of-mouth ad-
vertising to get his patrons in for the
show. Consequently when business
in the big houses picks up to such an
extent we can restore proper admis-
sions and play to something resembling
capacity, we will have licked the de-
pression."
"But," says Zukor, "we must have
good pictures to do it."
Yea! Yea! Mr. Zukor.
MCM, Fox Jammed
On Musical Idea
MGM and Fox will both soon re-
lease musical pictures with a single se-
quence that will be identical, in idea.
The White Scandals at Fox has a
bit burlesquing the Busby Berkeley
dance routines and girls. All men are
used and they are dresed as bums.
"The Hollywood Party" has the
same idea, but instead of bums, they
are using all the comics in the pic-
ture to depict the dances and forma-
tions.
Fox is finishing shooting theirs and
MCM is just starting camera work on
their part.
Junior Tells the Boys
They Talk Too Much
Universal's executive staff was
delicately charged with talking too
much in a note that went to every
associate producer on the lot from Carl
Laemmie Jr. advising them in the fu-
ture to maintain a closed mouth on
all studio business.
Action was taken to plug up a score
of news leaks which have been keep-
ing the newspaper boys happy so far
as Universal was concerned.
Bill Rowland on Way
New York. — William Rowland leaves
by plane tonight for the coast, where
he goes into work immediately on the
first of his two pictures for Columbia.
Zanft Locates Offices
The John Zanft agency has taken
offices in the California bank building
and will be open for business this
Monday.
Darmour Due Wednesday
Larry Darmour returns by plane next
Wednesday from New York. He has
been away about two weeks.
Job Of Producing Head Closed
At Radio With Studio On Unit
Basis And Kahane The Boss
There will be no successor to Marian C. Cooper at Radio.
The job of production head for Radio Pictures is no more. That's
a thing of the past and a new deal goes into that plant. Radio
will go 100 per cent unit production with B. B. Kahane, presi-
dent of Radio, as the studio boss ^° f i • ^ • f
Schenck Trip Starts
decide all arguments, make unit as-
signments, attend to the signing of
contracts, and become a general serv-
ice head for his unit producers.
The above follows the exclusive
story printed in these columns yester-
day that a showdown was at hand
with Cooper and it looked as if he
would wash up at that plant as pro-
duction head. Cooper's resignation
(Continued on Page 2)
Soviet Yarn Still
U.A. Foreign Quake
New York. — J. A. Koerpel, long
considered a fixture in European dis-
tribution, and head of United Artists
continental activities for some time,
will be succeeded by J. A. Kastner. •
Another new result of Joe Schenck's
recent European trip is the appoint-
ment of Emanuel Silverstone as special
representative for London Films in
New York. This is the British affili-
ate of United Artists.
Hot at Columbia Firebrand' Gets Going
Contrary to reports, Columbia has
not abandoned the production of "Red
Square," a Lewis Milestone picture,
but instead has set it back on the
schedule. Laurence Stallings' script
is now on the way to Russia for an
official okay and in the meantime Jo
Swerling is writing additional dialogue.
Milestone, who has a two-picture
deal with the studio, will produce
"Red Square" on a 58-day shooting
schedule as his second feature. He
is now looking for a story for his first
production.
Fox Gal Up at Col.
Sidney Fox is being considered by
Columbia for the top spots in two
pictures. The pictures are "The Most
Precious Thing in Life" and "The
Party's Over."
Award Plan Praised
Expressions of enthusiastic approval on the plan for Hollywood
Reporter awards for achievements in connection with the motion pic-
ture productions of 1933 deluged The Reporter offices yesterday. And
in addition, many valuable suggestions which we will take pleasure
in publishing starting next week.
While the bulletins listing all productions of 1933 are being pre-
pared, Hollywood Reporter will appreciate hearing still more sugges-
tions from creators in the motion picture field.
This is to be YOUR award — an honor bestowed by the votes of
ALL your fellow workers, and any constructive suggestion you may
have to make it truly representative will be welcomed.
At U. A. Monday
The Twentieth Century production
ot "The Firebrand" (formerly titled
"The Life of Cellini") will get under
way at the United Artists studio Mon-
day under the direction of Gregory La
Cava, with Fredric March playing the
title role.
John Barrymore Returns
John Barrymore and his wife re-
turned to town yesterday by train
from Mexico after leaving their yacht
trip at that point. Barrymore goes
into "Twentieth Century" at Colurrv-
bia February 1 9 and then completes
his deal with MCM where he still has
one picture to do.
Acad. Technicians Meet
The Executive Committee of the
Technicians' Branch of the Academy
will meet today noon at the Academy
office. Routine business and plans for
reorganization in the branch will \?e
discussed.
lack Cohn Goes East
Jack Cohn, Columbia vice president,
left for New York last night by plane.
He was here six days conferring with
his brother Harry and other executives.
Quigley to Palm Springs
New York. — Martin Quigley, mo-
tion picture publisher, left New York
for a Palm Springs vacation.
)'
fWALDEHAR YOUNG - Screen Play - MEN IN WHITE ^
Pago Two
Feb. 3. 1934
>M. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
»4ew York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 4) -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse ; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 : Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Clel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rat**,
includlns postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Forei||n. $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter |une 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Hmmm-mm, wouldn't surprise us If
Carbo hopped a choo-choo to join
Mamoulian in New York — if she
hasn't already boarded the sanne train
with him . . . from the moment Rou-
ben announced his departure, Carbo
has been anxiously inquiring at the
studio how long it would be before
they needed her and other forlorn
queries . . . she tank she go to New
York! . . . The John Barrymores back
ir» town from the fishing expedition.
. . . Mel Shauer and Frances Drake
wax warmer n'warmer. . . . Hollywood
seems to have gone Badminton crazy
all of a sudden . . . with local tour-
naments and wot not. . . . Busted in
on George Cukor yesterday and found
him actually reading "David Copper-
field" — he's gonna direct it in case
you thought we didn't know.
•
Opinion is divided fifty-fifty as to
whether the Earl Carroll beauties are
beauties or baby-frighteners. . . . And
anyway — the Busby Berkeley girls can
stay out later! . . . We hear that the
stork is flying close to Sally Eilers and
Harry )oe Brown. . . . Arthur Kober
was so surprised to hear about the
P. ]. Wolfson separation because he
always thought that Wolfson was
married to Allen Rivkin! . . . Vivian
Caye is having tonsilitis — but she has
no tonsils — honest! . . . Harold Grieve
celebrated his birthday yesterday by
having lunch in three places. . . Raquel
Torres and Stephen Ames holding
hands at the Colony Club Thursday
night . . . and we smell orange blos-
soms . . . and Paul Ames Is smothering
Renee Torres with attention.
•
Frank Lloyd celebrating his birthday
at the Colony. . . . The Dick Barthel-
messes, the Charlie Rodgers. Eddie
Buzzell there, too. . Hear that Damon
Runyon is going to fashion another
yarn with the Flagg and Quirt char-
acters— Carferbid! . . . John Huston
and Patsy Ruth Miller, Courtenay Ter-
rett. the Spewacks at the Isa Kramer
recital. . . . Jerry Horwin is now an
agent (handling writers! on his own.
. . And Dick Blumenthal gets all dress-
ed up every day now since working
for Arthur Hornblow — ^the old Horn-
Wow influence at work!
WONDER BAR' CLICKS AS
ALL-AROrXD ElVTERTAINMENT
All Star Cast All
Get Chance to Star
"WONDER BAR'
(Warners)
Director Lloyd Bacon
Play Karl Farkas and Geza Hercaeg
Screen Play Ear! Baldwin
Music and Lyrics Harry Warren
and Al Dubin
Numbers Created and Directed by
Busby Berkeley
Photography Sid HIckox
Supervisor Robert Lord
Cast: A! Jolson, Dick Powell, Ricardo
Cortez, Dolores Del Rio, Hugh
Herbert, Guy Kibbee, Robert
Barrat, Henry O'Neill, Kay Fran-
cis, Louise Fazenda, Fifi D'Orsay,
Merna Kennedy, Mia Ichioka,
Henry Kolker.
You may as well parade the adjec-
tives. Line them up foursquare, coun-
ter-march them, drop in a few "ifs"
if you are Hollywood-minded and
thinking of story, but finish by giving
all the adjectives a chance to march.
Warners have a brUliant and
sparkling production in "Wonder
Bar." The music is fresh and new; the
dance numbers have a magic touch;
the girls are plentiful and beautiful
and the cast is GREAT.
Al Jolson heads the cast. But one
of the greatest breaks Al Jolson ever
got, and one of the advantages of the
picture is that it is not a lone star
vehicle. Everybody In the cast plays,
and how. It helps the picture, and it
puts a number of players in line for
orchids.
Ricardo Cortez, for example, in his
scenes with Dolores Del R o, could
just as well been handling a star pic-
ture of his own for the effect he se-
cures. Dolores Del Rio has never been
n orj tajCinating than as Inez the
dancer, madly infatuated with Cortez.
And the gals in the audience were
ready to admit she had reason to be.
Kay Francis looks as beautiful as
something out of a book, though han-
dicapped by a part that forces her to
be tempestuous throughout the pic-
ture. Guy Kibbee and Hugh Herbert
are funny — in fact, wo should use the
phrase TERRIBLY FUNNY — In their
scenes showing two husbands who
wish very much to lose their wives
while In Paris. And after you mention
them you just have to add that Louise
Fazenda as KIbbee's wife is very droll.
Dick Powell fits into a straight mu-
sical comedy lead that is helped by
his personality.
The sequence in which Al Jolson
enters the pearly gates and "nigger
heaven" is one of the cleverest things
the screen has seen.
I don't suppose we should bother
telling the story of a play that has had
a couple of years on the stage. But
it is something about Del Rio, exotic
dancer in the "Wonder Bar," becom-
ing madly Infatuated with her dancing
partner, Ricardo Cortez, and then dis-
covering that he is planning to run
away to America with Kay Francis.
So she very neatly stabs him during
one of her gaucho dances, and then
there is the problem of getting rid of
Too Tame
Sam Goldberg's local burlesque
show Is reported to be folding up
this Saturday night, which ends a
run of one week at the Music Box
Theatre. The house did a $30
business Wednesday night.
No Cooper Successor
(Continued from Page 1 )
Cortez' body. A romance between
Powell and Del Rio develops which is
the unbelievable note of the story, and
it should be mentioned in any review.
But we suppose the comedy and the
dances will carry most people, as they
did the preview audience, over the
rough spots of the story.
Give Lloyd Bacon a good share of
bouquets for direction of the story,
and hold out plenty for Busby Berke-
ley for the charm and magic of the
dances. You may use orchids for
both. And whatever you have left
in your arms hand to Earl Baldwin for
a fine result on what must have been
a tough screen play job, then give the
rest to Sid HIckox — and probably an
army of unnamed assistants — on the
photography. And then send out for a
new supply of the flowers for Warren
and Dubin.
It is one of those three-ring circus
pictures on which it Is not necessary
to tell the exhibitor anything except
to repeat the fact that this time Jol-
son is not the only thing he has to
sell; it is a well-rounded piece of
picture making.
Betty Allen Renewed
MCM has exercised the option on
Elizabeth Allen's contract. The player
has just finished the lead opposite
Robert Montgomery in "Mystery of
the Dead Police."
yesterday confirmed that yarn in full.
Just what the new production set-
up, as it concerns the unit producers
on that lot, will be, is known only
by McDonough and Kahane. who re-
fuse to make any announcements right
at this time. But the jobs of Pandro
Berman, Louis Brock and Kenneth
Macgowan seem set, with at least
three other appointees required to
round out the necesary staff for the
pictures required for Radio's distribu-
tion.
There is an indication that Radio
will take an outside product to the
extent of 1 2 pictures during the year
and may contribute to the financing
of part of each production should fi-
nances be required. But in either
case the story, cast, direction and oth-
er essentials must be given the Radio
O.K. before a deal is made.
Radio would like to get a good
foreign production set-up of the type
of Alexander Korda and are under-
stood to be laying plans to this extent,
seeing the advantage of having a Eu-
ropean connection such as Joe Schenck
has arranged with Korda and British
and Dominions for United Artists and
their producers. For with such a tie-
in the talent market in Europe will
cinch personalities for a swap-about
here and vice versa.
Radio's official announcement of
the resignation indicated that there Is
still a possibility in the mind of Radio
that Cooper will make special pictures
for the organization. Including the
"Last Days of Pompeii" and other
"Jock" Whitney productions recently
publicized.
CAMERA VIVIOIV OVERHAUL
AIMED TO CIVE ALL CHANCE
A plan to make the cameramen's
union one that is run by really demo-
cratic methods, rather than an autoc-
racy, will be laid before the members
of Local 659, lATSE, at its general
meeting next Monday night, accord-
ing to union men who are close to
the reorganization situation.
Whereas the first cameramen have
been the only members who have held
positions of power and authority dur-
ing the five and a half years the union
has been in existence, the new reor-
ganization plans will give the seconds,
assistants and still men a voice in the
affairs of the organization.
While nothing official was an-
announced by executives in charge of
the union, it was learned yesterday
that the new plan will call for a new
setup of the union's Executive Board,
and if It is approved by the members
the new arrangement will see several
men in the lower brackets sitting
with the firsts in the conclaves in
which the affairs of the union are
handled.
"A democracy instead of an autoc-
racy is what we need," explained one
cameraman yesterday. "The present
reorganization plans if carried through
will assure every member of the union
of an opportunity to have a voice In
the conduct of his organization. The
new setup will be truly representative,
giving all members a voice in every-
thing pertaining to the union.
"The by-laws that have been in
existence since the start of the union
will be revised. Those that are In-
operative and unenforceable will be
thrown out. The plan calls for mak-
ing the organization one in which no
minority or small group can control
it, and in which its operation will
function smoothly and efficiently.
"Only those by-laws which will be
of benefit to the cameramen, without
hurting the producers, will be retain-
ed. Our aim will be to assist the
producer, for after all he pays the
bills. And when we place our stamp
of approval upon a cameraman we
want him to be such that the pro-
ducer can feel confident of the high-
est efficiency, and be sure of coopera-
tion such as has never been seen be-
fore."
Feb. 3, 1934
THEjy
I^ilPOPtiriii
Page Three
•MEN 1^ WHITE' EXCELLENT
FINE CAST -GOOD DIRECTION
Script Job Helps
Slim Story Plot
MEN m WHITE"
(MCM)
irection Richard Boleslavsky
From Play by Sidney Kingsley
Screen Play Waldemar Young
Photography George Folsey
Cast: Clark Cable, Myrna Loy, Jean
Hersholt, Elizabeth Allen, Otto
Kruger, C. Henry Cordon, Russell
Hardie, Wallace Ford, Russell
Hopton, Henry Walthall.
It is to be hoped that a long run of
hospital yarns will in no way sidetrack
patrons who might be foolish enough
to think this is "just another hospital
yarn." It is up to you to let them
know that if they are shopping for
something really fine, thrilling and
touching in screen entertainment,
MCM's clinical contribution, "Men in
White," is worth a ticket at any
price!
By saying that "Men in White" is
thrilling, we don't mean to imply that
the picture offers speed or crashing
climaxes — for it does not. But it is
thrilling nevertheless, because of the
very things it represents, and for the
simplicity and sincerity with which
these ideals are brought before the
audience.
Without the personality of Clark
Cable, doing the finest work of his
career to date, and the wonderful per-
formances of jean Hersholt and Eliza-
beth Allen, together with the intelli-
gent and sympathetic direction of
Boleslavsky, we would certainly hesi-
tate to recommend "Men in White"
as a satisfying picture for any kind of
an audience, for its story is slim and
its characters stripped of hokum, but
with the three aforementioned players
to carry it through the film emerges
as one which any customer will take
to his heart, for they make it real —
they make every situation and every
spoken word something to remember.
Needless to explain, this picture
comprises all the highlights and side-
lights of a big city hospital, and has
for its main theme the mental strug-
gle of a young physician who is torn
between his desire for a soft practise
and time for the wealthy girl he loves,
and his chance to work with one of
the day's leading scientists — with lit-
tle opportunity for aught but work.
It takes the film's length to make him
realize how much this work will mean
not only to him but to humanity,
during which he lives the tragedy of
watching a nurse, with whom he has
had a liaison, die from an illegal op-
eration.
Too much attention to detail, and
some sudden "cuts" detracted from
last night's preview, slowing things
up in a few sequences which can eas-
ily be remedied, and when this is done
"Men in White" will rate with the
best offerings of its kind.
Just where the play leaves off and
the picture begins we don't know, but
the screen play of Waldemar Young
was entirely satisfactory to this re-
viewer, and the photography by Ceorge
Folsey is something to rave about.
Again we must mention Cable, who
Embassy Reopens
New York. — Where Fox couldn't
"take it" Pathe steps in. An-
nouncement was made yesterday
that Pathe would take over the
Embassy Theatre for an all-news-
reel program. Fox quit after com-
plaining that overhead was too
high.
Lanfield Abroad
For 'Sons o' Guns'
London. — British and Dominions
have borrowed the services of Sidney
Lanfield for the direction of their big
musical "Sons o' Cuns."
Hollywood. — Lanfield will direct
the next Ceorge Arliss picture "Head
of the Family" before hopping the
pond for the B & D picture.
Reginald Denny Set For
Two at Major Plants
Fox and Radio yesterday closed in-
dividual deals with Reginald Denny
through the Rebecca and Silton office.
Denny will first appear in "Of Hu-
man Bondage," the Leslie Howard
starring vehicle which John Cromwell
directs for Radio and then moves out
to Westwood to take a featured as-
signment in "The World Moves On,"
which John Ford pilots.
Montgomery Plans Trip
Upon completion of his role in "Rip
Tide" at MCM, Robert Montgomery
gets a leave of absence and is plan-
ning on a jaunt to his home in West-
chester, New York.
He finishes work in three weeks,
hops off for a two months' period and
returns to take a place in "Calm Your-
self" as his next job.
Spitzer Gets MCM Deal
Harry Rapf has set a deal with Nat
Spitzer for a series of six short sub-
ject's which Pete Smith will handle
f6r MCM. The former state right
producer goes on a trip to Florida to
film special alligator scenes and is re-
ported receiving $4,000 per short.
Nunnally Johnson Rests
Nunnally Johnson will leave next
week for a six weeks' vacation in
Florida as soon as he polishes up the
script of the Donald Colman picture,
"Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back,"
for Twentieth Century.
has a most sympathetic but by no
means easy role to play — he was
splendid. And Jean Hersholt who has
a part he has deserved for a long time.
Myrna Loy was adequate as Cable's
sweetheart, but Elizabeth Allen,
though her role was smaller, far out-
shone her. There's a gal — mark you!
C. Henry Cordon, Henry Walthall,
Russell Hopton and Wallace Ford ap-
peared briefly with good effect, and
the directorial methods have bene-
fited every phase of the film.
'Rouge' Auto-Train
Snowbound in Md.
Baltimore. — The "Moulin Rouge"
auto-caravan ran into difficulties its
very first day out. After being wined
and dined in Washington, the mem-
bers of the tour started out for Bal-
timore as the first coast to coast stop
and ran into a terrific snowstorm just
after crossing the border of Maryland,
necessitating the desertion of the au-
tos and walking miles to a railroad
flag station, catching the train to make
this town.
The cars were dug out of the snow
and continued here today and the stop
of the tour will be attempted.
'Little Colonel' Set in
MCM s Operator 13'
Looking forward to the publicity
breaks which will be received from the
tie-up with his work as the Little
Colonel in "The Birth of a Nation,"
MCM yesterday signed Henry B. Wal-
thall for the role of the spy in Marion
Davies' "Operator 13."
"Operator 13" is one of the first
civil war stories to be produced since
"The Birth of a Nation" was made in
1915. In the latter feature Walthall
became famous as the Little Colonel.
Player has also clicked recently for
MCM in "Viva Villa" and "Men in
White." He is represented by the
Hoffman-Schlager office.
Rogers Crabs Pitts
Charles R. Rogers has borroweri
Zasu Pitts from Universal for a fea-
tured comedy role in "In Conference, "
which will be directed by Harry Jos
Brown.
Reisners Co East
Mrs. Charles F. Reisner and her
son left by boat Thursday for a seven
weeks' vacation in New York. Charles
F. Reisner, her husband, is now di-
recting "The Showoff" for MCM.
Calhern on the Job
Louis Calhern arrived yesterday and
goes into Twentieth Century's "Fire-
brand."
By )ERRY WALD
Bert Lahr's new stage show will
be authored by Buddy DeSylva, Lew
Brown and Sil Silvers, with Harold
Adamson and Burt Lane writing the
tunes. Alex Aarons will produce.
•
Monty Shaff, who supervises for the
Davis-Van Beuren unit here, has made
three false starts for Florida. . . .
Croucho and Chico Marx are having
sponsor trouble, as who isn't?
•
Understand that Jed Harris' trip to
the coast was for the purpose of try-
ing to snare Lee Tracy's moniker to a
play contract.
•
Benny Rubin barged into town.
May do shorts. . . . What smart young
Miss goes on the make for every West
Coast director who hits this here yar
town, and makes him think that he's
the only one? Up to this writing she
has seven in tow! . . . Jimmy Celler,
William Morris story department head,
airplanes west for some story confer-
ences.
•
Bert Wheeler was telling some
of the movie folk about his doc-
tor who had gone in for this nudist
stuff in a big way. He had his entire
house staff going in for it, too. Wheel-
er claims that one day he visited the
medico. On ringing the house bell
the butler came to the door. Harry
Hershfield butted in as Bert told the
yarn and questioned him as to how he
knew it was the butler. That stump-
ed Bert for a few minutes, but finally
he replies with "Well, it wasn't the
maid." . . . And that's all for this
writing.
Incidentally, we apologize profusely
10 Miss Regina Crewe for our state-
ment of last week that she is going
to the coast to look over the picture
situation. Miss Crewe has but one
idea regarding her sojourn in Holly-
>A/ood and that is to get a complete
rest. Her palatial home in Beverly
Hills will shortly undergo a complete
spring cleaning to make ready for the
arrival of Regina.
B. O. BIJSIIVESiS SPOTTY
IX B'WAY FIBST B1I]\S
New York. — "Nana" seems to
have hit a box office stride just after
a week in which most of the Broad-
way houses took pretty much of a
licking. Based on the afternoon fig-
ures the Samuel Coldwyn picture
seemed certain of $14,000 for yes-
terday, and with the boosted prices
for Saturday and Sunday is sure of
passing that figure today and tomor-
row.
Receipts for pictures last week at
Broadway houses are not very encour-
aging to the boys who must watch the
grosses. The Music Hall, where
"Nana" is now playing, and which
became accustomed to thinking in
terms of $100,000 for "Little Wo-
men," had to be satisfied with $68,-
000 for "As Husbands Co" even after
good local reviews; "Four Frightened
People" did $40,000 at the Para-
mount, not so hot when it is remem-
bered that the split figure at this
house on the Mary Pickford engage-
ment was $65,000; "Woman in His
Life" got no cheers at the Capitol
with $18,000.
More cheerful figures for the week
were: $28,000 for "Beloved" at the
Roxy; $25,000 for "Callant Lady" at
the Rivoli, a great figure in this size
house; $18,000 for "The Choul,"
English picture at the Rialto, a bit of
showmanship; $10,000 for "Fashions
of 1934" at the Hollywood, a bit
disappointing; and $8,700 for "Six-
teen Fathoms Deep" at the Mayfair,
which is about a thousand dollars up
for this house.
Page Four
TM£B?i
Feb. 3. 1934
KING'S HORSES' JCST FAIR;
AMERICAN, VERY EARLY' FLOP
Pretty Hard to Find
Pic Angle In This
Great Cast Wasted
In New Musical
/
"ALL THE KINGS HORSES"
romantic musical production pre-
sented by Harry L. Cort and C.
H, Abramson by arrangement
with E. Steuart-Tavant; at the
Shubert Theatre; book and lyrics
by Frederick Herendeen; music
by Edward A. Horan ; staged by
Jose Ruben; production designed
and painted by Ward and Hervey
Studios; adapted from "Carlo
Rocco" by Lawrence Clarke and
Max Ciersberg. Cast: Guy Rob-
ertson, Nancy McCord, Andrew
Tombes, Betty Starbuck, Doris
Patston and eleven others.
New York. — The name of Harry L.
Cort on the program brought back
memories of a decade ago when Cort
played a prominent part in the theat-
rical life of that day — and so with re-
luctance one is forced to report that
"All the King's Horses" would have
been an eminent success in that day
but not in this. There has been, after
all, quite an advance in the art of
smart up-to-date musical play, espe-
cially in book, lyrics and dancing. This
operetta blithely ignores all of that
and gives us once again just a pleasant
uneventful evening of some charm and
wit, of fair singing and stereotyped
Princess and Commoner love.
If you must have the "story" of
this romance it concerns a King who
finds that he isn't as popular with his
subjects as he thought he was; of a
dashingly handsome Hollywood movie
hero and his irrepressible press agent
doing Europe; of their meeting with
the King — a substitution of identity
at Kingie's suggestion (so that he can
get away to Paris and play around in-
cognito for a few weeks) and subse-
quent adventures of the cinema star
at the Palace, when the Queen, who
has been estranged from her King
since the day of their marriage, hears
the voice of our hero (as the King)
over the radio and comes back to find
out what all the shooting's for.
An intense love affair develops only
to end on a very sad note when the
real King makes his return, the false
King discloses his identity, secures
forgiveness from the Queen and passes
out of her life.
The fine work of these members of
the cast, Tombes as the press agent,
Nancy McCord as the Queen, Guy
Robertson as the movie star, Betty
Starbuck as the Queen's lady-in-wait-
ing, and Doris Patston as another
movie star, helps immeasurably to im-
part whatever pleasure there was to
the evening. Tombes' rapid-fire gags
register heavily; Miss McCord and
Guy Robertson's singing is satisfactory
and Miss Patston and Miss Starbuck
run close honors in comedy-singing
parts, though neither of them has
enough to do. Particularly Miss Star-
buck, whose impish mimicry isn't
given the chance it deserves. Her
several numbers with Tombes scored
heavily with the audience, who wanted
more of them but didn't get it, prob-
ably because only the stars in oper-
ettas are permitted and often insist
upon numberless encores. Starbuck is
Oh, Boy! Oh, Actors!
Another Roman holiday for ac-
tors is anticipated in present plans
for MGM's "David Copperfieid,"
the picture calling for 68 speaking
parts. The David Selznick-George
Cukor production will run a close
second to the Twentieth Century
picture "Rothschild," which had 75
talking roles.
King Vidor Under
Way on Own Indie
King Vidor has rented space at the
General Service Studio and is going
ahead with the preparation of "Our
Daily Bread." Picture will be pro-
duced as an independent production,
with no release yet being set. Harold
Buchman and Betty Hill worked on
the script at the time it was scheduled
for a Radio release.
Marion Dix Renewed
On the strength of her work on the
script of "So You Won't Sing, Eh?"
Radio engaged Marion Dix for an-
other one-picture deal yesterday. She
teams with Henry Myers on the screen
play of "Escape to Paradise," which
is tentatively scheduled as a Joel Mc-
Crea production.
Stephenson Back at RKO
Upon completion of his Fox ticket
for a top spot in "All Men Are Ene-
mies," Henry Stephenson returns to
Radio for featured billing in "Stinga-
ree." Of his last nine pictures seven
have been for Radio. Beyer-MacAr-
thur represent him.
Marin Aide to Selznick
Ned Marin, formerly an assistant to
Harry. Ftapf, MCM associate producer,
becQiVies an associate producer in the
Dai<^id Selznick unit at MGM. He
«^ll handle the South Sea story which
/Richard Boleslavsky directs.
Skipworth in 'Magoo'
Alison Skipworth has been set for
one of the top spots in "The Great
Magoo." Howard Green is writing
the script under A! Lewis' supervision.
another Pert Kelton and the movies
will grab her if she doesn't watch out!
As to the music these numbers
were pleasing and hummable: "Fame
Is a Phoney," "Tamboree" (especially
tuneful and sprightly) , "You're Ask-
ing Me," "Charming," "Nuts Over
You" (the hit number of the show)
and "Romance Is Calling." One of
the best lines in a production number
sung by the dancing chorus goes as
follows: "When the axe fell, and
Anne Boleyn was guillotined by order
of Henry the Eighth, he chanted soft-
ly: 'Annie doesn't live here any
more!' " Of small note also is the
use of a situation in the third act
which was very much like that used
in "Of Thee I Sing," when the entire
nation breathlessly awaits the arrival
of an heir, only in this case the King
and Queen are substituted for the
President and his consort.
"AMERICAN, VERY EARLY"
A "confession" in three acts by Flor-
ence Johns and Wilton Lackaye;
presented and staged by Mr.
Lackaye; settings by Yellenti; at
the Vanderbilt Theatre. Cast (in
order of appearance) Lynn Ber-
/ anger, Edward Favor, Florence
Johns, Harry Tyler, Edith Yachna,
Alexander Clark, Vincent York,
Florence Auer, Marion Warring-
Manly, James Seelye, Grant Mills,
John P. Brawn.
New York. — The program desig-
nates this offering a confess, on, and
refuses to commit itself further. Per-
haps that is as it should be. Perhaps
Miss Johns and Mr. Lackaye, Jr., hav-
ing some qualms about their endeavor,
simply intended to unburden them-
selves, and let it go at that. Having
gotten it out of their systems, we sin-
cerely hope they feel better, as we
most certainly shall after adding our
confession to theirs. "American, Very
Early" is so non-existent as a piece for
the theatre, that one can regard it
only as one of those dramaturgic phe-
nomena that come to pass every so
often.
When Winifred Proctor separated
from her husband, she and Nippy An-
drews, her friend, shook the dust of
Manhattan and hied themselves to
Botsville, a quiet little village nestled
at the foot of the Berkshires in north-
ern Connecticut, where they took the
old Cadoo Place and burgeoned forth
into the roadside antique business, or
racket rather. For that is what the dis-
tressingly honest Winifred and her
equally inexperienced partner very
soon, to their dismay, learned it was,
and changed their tactics accordingly.
Such trials and tribulations as were
theirs with the motley of wayfaring
customers who came to gyp and be
gypped! Such fun as they had with
the menagerie of natives who resent-
ed their wearing trousers and being
partial to black bath tubs. If this in-
nocuous expose points any moral at
all, it is to go in for Grand Rapids in-
stead of Early American. Also, to
learn something about fireplaces,
shingles, cesspools, old oaken buckets
and sugar elms.
Yes, indeedy, it was all most ver-
dant and bucolic, not only the writing
of it, but the direction and acting, for
the most part, as well. At one point
one of the characters remarked that
he was going off to Hollywood to
write for pictures. We can safely as-
sure him he will never be called upon
to stay up very late to adapt "Ameri-
can, Very Early."
Miss Johns, as Winifred Proctor,
had her moments of appeal; but one,
for a most obvious reason, can hardly
sympathize with her for having handi-
capped herself with a role that is very
slim at best. And in the equally tenu-
ous role of Nippy Andrews, Lynn Ber-
anger supported as best she could,
with a natural charm of manner and
a safe surplus of attractions.
Burns, Allen Due
For Star Build-Up
Burns and Allen's option for an-
other picture was exercised by Para-
mount yesterday. Team goes into a
third picture, having completed work
in two.
Although they are entitled to star
billing, they have backed out of that
spot on the ground that they do not
wish to carry the burden of responsi-
bility for such an assignment. William
LeBaron will handle the picture in
which they will be featured next.
Paramount, however, is understood to
be planning a star build-up.
Five MCM's in Work
Have Musical Angle
Jack Chertok's music department
at MGM is one of the busiest spots
on the lot these days with five pic-
tures under way in which music is
planned to play an important part.
The five are "Hollywood Party,"
"Operator 13," and in preparation
"Merry Widow," "Duchess of Del-,
monico's" and a Monta Bell picture,
still in the rough stages, "Student
Tour."
Two Big Fights Before
Acad. Committee Tues.
Most important meeting of the
Academy's conciliation committee in
many months is scheduled for next
Tuesday evening. Two important
cases coming up have big names re-
ported involved. Rosenblatt's okay
of the work of Academy makes Tues-
day's meeting still more weighty.
Bergerman Signs Team
For New 'U' Musical
Stanley Bergerman has signed Jay
Gorney and Sig Herzig, who co-
authored "Moonlight and Pretzels,"
to write an original romantic comedy
with music in which Roger Pryor will
be starred. This yarn will be pro-
duced following "Practical Joker,"
Bergerman's next for Universal.
Knight May Winter in Fla.
June Knight, Universal contract
player, who went to Miami to fill a
two weeks' dancing engagement, will
probably remain there for the remain-
der of the Miami season. She has
had the offer, having bowled them
over. Only thing that might stop her
is if Universal spots her in a picture.
Dot Spear on Para. Tag
Paramount handed Dorothy Spear a
one-picture contract yesterday and the
writer joins the company's staff today
to write the screen play for a murder
mystery which Bayard Veiller is super-
vising. Edington and Vincent set the
ticket.
MCM Buys 'Repeal*
MCM yesterday purchased "Re-
peal," a Saturday Evening Post story
by Charles Francis Coe, and plans to
.Use it for Jean Harlow. John Consi-
/ dine produces. No writers set as yet.
Joe 'Mank' Returns
Joseph Mankiewicz returned yes-
te/day from New York. He was away
three weeks.
NACIO HERB BROWN
AND
ARTHUR FREED
MUSIC AND LYRICS
H "GOING
^^^r starring ^^^r
99
Marion Davies
o
w
(Held over second week Loew State Theatre, Los Angeles)
In Preparation
DUCHESS OF DELMONICO S"
A Walter Wanger Production
Starring Jeanette MacDonald
Page Six
Feb. 3. 1934
/
Mysteries In Lead Among
Recent New Publications
In the mushroom crop of books that has flooded the country
lately, there are many solid, interesting and reliable volumes that
stand upon the midway shelf, with very few books that are im-
portant enough to warrant critical gasps.
Two points worth noting are —
first — that there has been a steady
decrease in the proportion of woman
authors on the fiction best seller lists
in the last three years. In 1931,
women wrote seven of the ten best
fiction sellers; they wrote five in 1932
and three in 1933.
The second interesting item is the
tremendous number of mysteries (and
good ones, too) that roll off the coun-
try's presses every week.
Speaking of mysteries, Dashiell
Hammett's new one, "The Thin Man,"
was published in its entirety in the
December Red Book, and it provided
one of the sparks that started the lat-
est literary blaze. The Editorial Com-
mittee of the National Association of
Book Publishers is having its own
troubles, chief among which is the
publication of complete novels in sin-
gle issues of magazines. Red Book is
one of the principal "offenders," while
one Philadelphia newspaper is buying
novels way ahead to assure its pro-
gram of publishing a complete novel
in its Sunday issues.
MCM has "The Thin Man" for pic-
tures.
Well, anyway, the books reviewed
on this page represent the best of the
latest literary output.
"The First Billion"
Author John K. Winkler
Publisher Vanguard Press
One of the greatest bankers who
ever lived, James Stillman, was also
one of the most fantastic figures that
ever supplied the meat for a red-
blooded biography. Read John K.
Winkler's "The First Billion," which,
instead of being a dry, uninteresting
recountal of how Stillman put the Na-
tional City Bank on the money map,
is a breezy, fascinating character
study.
Stillman was an extraordinary per-
son. He was crafty enough to learn
early that a complete silence would be
devastatingly impressive. The strange
part about it, however, is that he car-
ried this method into his own home,
forcing his family into total silence
through formal dinners which were
accompanied by printed menus, play-
ing solitaire for hours on end, and
favoring his wife and children with
nothing but occasional long, silent
stares. Every morning as he left home,
he marched like a Czar, unsmiling,
between the silent ranks of his entire
household.
"The Mother'
Author Mrs. Pearl S. Buck
Publisher John Day Co.
Mrs. Pearl S. Buck has done it
again. Her new novel, "The Mother,"
through its power, artistry and com-
passion, puts her up on the novelistic
heights.
It is the story of a Chinese peasant
mother, whose sorrows and joys, be-
cause they are so profoundly average,
are translations of the joys and sor-
rows of the universal woman.
This Chinese mother, symbol of all
mothers, is enslaved by her love for
man from his babyhood through his
adolescence to his maturity.
Mrs. Buck makes of this book a
gesture that will bear comparison any-
where in modern literature for its
tragic power. Her penetrating pity, her
uncanny reading of the unguessed
thoughts and emotions of the Chinese
woman, stamp this novel as a thing
of beauty and importance.
"Take The Witness!"
Authors. Alfred Cohn, Joe Chisholm
Publisher Frederick A, Stokes
Adela Rogers St. Johns writes the
foreword to "Take The Witness!" the
life story of her father. Earl Rogers,
written by Alfred Cohn and Joe Chis-
holm.
While the book does justice to Earl
Rogers as a great actor (with juries
for audience) it carries a ballast of
too many accounts of trials, technical
anecdotes, and repetitive cases that al-
most sinks it. The authors disagree
entirely with Lincoln Steffens over the
McNamara case, and also with the re-
ports that Darrow was framed. How-
ever, the book is interesting in that it
reveals a great many of the tricks
upon which lawyers rely to win their
cases.
"The Paris Front"
Author Michael Corday
Publisher E. P. Dutton
Another war book. It is "The Paris
Front," a diary of the late bloody in-
sanity, by Michael Corday.
He was a member of the French
Civil Service, and a definite pacifist.
His comments are cynical rather than
constructive.
"First Love and Last"
Author Howard Coxe
Publisher Harcourt, Brace & Co.
Howard Coxe offers an innovation
in story telling that is more interesting
than excellent.
In "First Love and Last," his hero-
ine in the first chapter is over sixty,
and in each of the succeeding chapters
she becomes younger, the yarn leaving
her when she is twenty.
Because his material is subservient
to his method, and the method more
sensational than convincing, Mr. Coxe
cannot capture the intrinsic pathos of
the story as he might have. However,
it's unusual reading.
"Out of Life"
Author Myron Brinig
Publisher Farrar and Rinehart
Myron Brinig goes on an emotional
spree in his book, "Out of Life," that
borders between fantasy and realism.
Sam Baggot, a sad, quaint little man
of forty, staggers into a sort of ecstatic
insanity when his wife informs him
that she is going to have a baby. This
miraculous shock to the dull order of
Sam's life sends him reeling into New
York where, for a day and a night, he
goes on a cosmic pilgrimage, in the
course of which he finds for the first
time the terrifying meaning of birth,
life and death.
At the Battery, he meets Henry, a
sailor, whom his distorted fancy
stamps as his son grown up; they
watch a policeman's horse cut down a
pregnant woman. They see a banker
blow out his brains; they see a child
born and the birth balances the death
in Sam's mind. He gets into a fight,
he gambles, and finally in an exalted
trance returns to his wife who tells
him that it is all a mistake — there will
be no child. Sam commits suicide by
swimming out to sea in search of his
son.
The mysticism and the chaotic emo-
tionalism of this book may prove dis-
concerting to some, but "Out of Life"
is a volume of strange, effective
beauty.
"Work of Art"
Author Sinclair Lewis
Publisher Doubleday
Sinclair Lewis, disturbing not a hair
on his head, writes again of the small
town business man in "Work of Art."
It is really the story of two broth-
ers, Ora, who fancies himself a poet
and is a rotter; and Myron, who, in
the hotel business, finds a real poetiy.
The book is attracting almost as
much attention as his previous "Main
Street" and "Babbitt." Take it or
leave it. You know your Sinclair Lewis.
Fox has it for pictures.
"From Bdwy to Moscow"
Author Marjorie E. Smith
Publisher Macaulay
A New York newspaper woman,
Marjorie E. Smith, has written a book
called "From Broadway To Moscow,"
in which she relates in well chosen
words of one syllable what is taking
place in Russia.
She was accompanied on her trip to
the U.S.S.R. by her husband, Ryan
Walker, the cartoonist, who, because
he was a radical known and loved in
Russia, was able to take her to places
most tourists cannot go. This is swell
reading.
"Cannibal Quest"
Author Gordon Sinclair
Publisher Farrar and Rinehart
Another newspaper hound takes his
typewriter to strange places, this time
to the jongles of the East Indies.
Cordon Sinclair flitted facetiously
through Bali, Burma, Borneo, Java,
New Guinea, India and Siam, never
forgetting for one moment that he
was a wise guy columnist, with the
result that his book, "Cannibal Quest,"
reads like a meeting of gag men in
Hollywood.
What little information he inad-
vertently lets slip into his yarn is
about as excitingly new as the thought
that airplanes are here to stay. His
profoundly important discovery that
white elephants aren't white is an ex-
ample.
"Watch the Curves"
Author Richard Hoffman
Publisher Farrar and Rinehart
Richard Hoffman has written a gay,
swift yarn of the joys and adventures
of a "share expenses" automobile tour
across the country to California.
It is "Watch the Curves," and Mr.
Hoffman has done a swell, amusing
job of getting a queer assortment of
passengers all balled up in fights, love
affairs, and a suspicion of a mystery.
This is lots of fun to read, and it is
written vividly and with an effective
speed.
"The
Cadaver of
Wyck'
Gideon
Author...
A Medical Student |
Edited by
Alexa
nder Laing
Publisher.
Farrar and Rinehart 1
Even the setting of this mystery is
shuddery . . . the dissecting room of
a medical college.
Added to the general grUesomeness
are grisly details and conversations in
the dissecting room which will test
the fibre of anybody's nerves.
Fantastic, shocking, but enthrall-
ing.
RiP>©PtTiPi
Page Seven
"Murder Runs in the
Family"
Author Hulbert Footner
Publisher Harper and Brothers
GOSSIP OF AUTHORS
Herein Lance McCrea, who had
every reason in the world to kill Jim
Beardmore, an old meanie, plays de-
tective on the run while trying to
evade the police who are upon his
trail.
Lively, melodramatic . . . with
some swell villains.
"The Second Bullet"
Author Lee Thayer
Publisher Sears Publishing Co.
The cops miss the one clue of any
importance in the murder of Dr. La-
casse. But Peter Clancy and his fa-
mous valet, Wiggar, discover it, and
forthwith, after the usual number of
exciting pages, solve the mystery.
The clue is the clock on the man-
tel that had stopped at exactly 12:03.
Very much up to the Lee Thayer
standard.
"The Kitchen Cake Murder"
Author Christopher Bush
Publisher Wm. Morrow & Co.
Because Frederick Lewton so richly
deserved being murdered, and because
so many perfect alibis shielded any
number of people who would have
been glad to bump Lewton off, the
solution of this mystery is compli-
cated.
But the story holds together well
and is consistent.
"The Death Wish"
Author... .Elizabeth Sanxay Holding
Publishers Dodd, Mead
This is a different one. Whether
you crave for pure, unadulterated
mystery, or are more interested in
married life in Long Island, or both,
the book will satisfy you.
It is smoothly and expertly written.
"Murder Flies the Atlantic"
Author Stanley Hart Page
Publisher King
Page lets his imagination run to ef-
fective extremes in this mystery. The
setting is the giant dirigible Jupiter
flying between London and New York,
and the double murder takes place on
the air liner.
Wild, improbable, exciting, and not
a dull moment.
"Death Sails The Nile"
Author F. Burks McKinley
Publisher Stratford
Another strange setting. Here are
murders among the old Egyptian gods
and tombs. It is sinister, savage and
features some swell snakes.
W. Somerset Maugham will point
his pen no longer toward the East.
"Ah King," a collection of short sto-
ries published by Doubleday-Doran, is
the last of his stones of the Orient.
Maugham is now in the south of
France, studying life and literature of
Spain in the sixteenth century.
Christopher La Farge, brother of
Oliver, has written his first novel,
"Hoxie Sells His Acres," and Isabel
Wilder, sister of Thornton, has sold
her second, "Heart, Be Still." Both
books will be published by Coward-
McCann.
Alfred Cohn and |oe Chisholm are
arguing over their percentages on their
collaboration, "Take the Witness."
If you believe in ghosts read "Fam-
ily Ghosts," by Elliott O'Donnell,
which lists the varied forms that
ghosts take upon themselves to fright-
en people. Mr. O'Donnell, by the
way, has offered to sleep in any
haunted house in New York.
"Anthony Adverse," the best sell-
ing novel of 1933, is out of stock
again. Fifteen thousand new copies
will be struck off.
The largest first edition that Covici,
Friede ever issued will be given George
Cronyn's novel "The Fool of Venus,"
publication date, March 5.
Greenwich Village authors have
published 57 books in the past six
months.
B. Traven's "The Death Ship" has
been published already in ten lan-
guages. Knopf will bring it out here
in the spring.
Edgar Rice Burroughs has forgotten
Tarzan temporarily and has written
"Pirates of Venus," which is describ-
ed as "a tale that would make Jules
Verne green with envy."
Did you know there was a six vol-
ume history on Slang, printed in 1890
and called "Slang and Its Analogues,
Past and Present".' It was written by
John S. Farmer.
The new editor of "The Goldsn
Book Magazine" will be Joseph An-
thony, who has just returned from
two years abroad.
April will see the publication of a
unique book, "It's a Small World,"
by Walter Bodin and Burnet Hershey.
(Coward-McCann, publishers). It's
all about midgets.
Josephine Reynolds is now in charge
of all publicity and promotion at
Stokes. She was formerly with Bobbs
Merrill.
H. G. Wells, pepped up by the film-
ing of his "Invisible Man," is plan-
ning a picture based on "The Shape
of Things to Come," with the tenta-
tive title "Whither Mankind?"
Blair Niles' new and long novel,
"Maria Paluna," is almost finished.
Longmans Green are now waiting for
the last few pages of this love story
of a Quiche Indian girl.
Jeffery Farnol, who wrote "The
Broad Highway" and "The Way Be-
yond," will start a lecture tour in
this country some time in February.
His latest book, "Winds of Chance,"
will be published by Little, Brown and
Company in March.
A long distance swimmer turns edi-
tor. William Henry Warner, who once
swam across Lake Taal, has written
a book called "The Dragon's Brood,"
which Kinsey will publish in March.
Last week while in New York to
join his brother Garrett at rehearsals
of "Queer People," Carroll Graham
also saw the publication of his new
novel, "Border Town" (Vanguard
Press I.
The man in back of the bookstand
at the Hotel Plaza reports that Sin-
clair Lewis bought "The Manuscript
Murder" and "The Case of the Gold
Coins," which indicates that Babbitt's
papa likes mysteries.
The Unemployed Writers Associa-
tion is sponsoring a meeting of all
writers at Irving Place on Fifteenth
Street.
You can now get Clemence Dane's
play, "Come of Age," in book form,
published by Doubleday, Doran.
Did you know that William Ed-
ward Hayes, famous for his railroad
stories in the Saturday Evening Post
and Collier's, has worked on thirty-
three railroads over a period of seven
years?
Already over 30,000 copies of Eric
Linklater's new book, "Magnus Mer-
riman," have been sold in England.
Farrar and Rinehart will bring the
novel out in America March 1 2.
Mary Roberts Rinehart, who is re-
covering from an illness, will leave
California soon to start a novel on
life in Washington, D. C.
Fowler Signed For
20th Cent's Barnum
Darryl Zanuck has signed Gene
Fowler to write the story of the fife
of P. T. Barnum for Twentieth Cen-
tury. Fowler is en route to Holly-
wood from New York.
Although George Bancroft was
talked about for the top spot in this
production, it is reported that Twen-
tieth Century has placed a bid with
MCM for Wallace Beery for the spot.
Picture will be produced next fall.
Strong Credit Omitted
The name of John Mikale Strong
was unfortunately omitted from cred-
its on "No More Women," as author
of the original story, the screen play
being by Delmar Daves and Grant
Leenhouts. Camera credits are divid-
ed between Harry Fischbeck and
Theodor Sparkhuhl.
Art Directors Dine
The Art Directors Section of the
Academy will hold a stag dinner at
the Vendome Friday evening, February
9. Committee in charge of arrange-
ments consists of Park French, Robert
Odell and Earl Hedrick.
Ceballos on Lloyd Dances
Harold Lloyd is concluding a deal
for Larry Ceballos to direct the dance
numbers for his picture "Catspaw,"
which Sam Taylor is directing. The
William Morris office is negotiating
the deal.
ACADEMY OIJTLI]\ES PLAI\S
FOR MAKING ITS AWARDS
The Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences yesterday announced
final plans for the handling of its
yearly Awards of Merit for outstand-
ing distinction in the various branches
of the picture industry.
An awards committee composed of
45 actors, directors, producers, tech-
n'cians and writers was appointed, and
March 1 5 was decided upon as the
date for the annual awards banquet
and the awarding of the gold statu-
ettes. Next Tuesday ballots will be
s;nt out to the members and the vot-
ing will begin.
The system decided upon for the
selection of the winners, according to
Donald Cledhill, executive secretary,
is as follows: Members of each
branch will vote first only on the
awards in their own field. That is, ac-
tors will vote on acting, directors on
directing, etc. The first ballot will be
for the purpose of choosing a list of
nominees for the final voting. Three
nominees will be named for each
award on the first ballot. Then the
entire membership will vote on the
final list of nominees and make the
final decision.
Awards will be given for produc-
tion, acting, direction, writing, cine-
matography, art direction, sound re-
cording and for the best short subject.
All voting will be limited to members
of the Academy only, but anyone in
the industry, whether an Academy
member or not, will be eligible for the
awards. All feature pictures released
between August 1, 1932, and Decem-
ber 31, 1933, will be included in the
list.
The following are the members of
the Awards Committee: Actors, LioneL-
Atwill, Warner Baxter, Marion Davies,
Leslie Howard, D. C. Jennings, Mary
Pickford, Lewis Stone. Directors,
Lloyd Bacon, Frank Capra, C. B. De
Mille, Frank Lloyd, R. Z. Leonard,
Mervyn LeRoy, Norman Taurog, King
Vidor, Henry King. Producers, E. H.
Allen, Emanuel Cohen, Harry Cohn,
Walt Disney, B. B. Kahane, Winfield
Sheehan, Irving Thalberg, Walter
Wanger, J. L. Warner. Writers, Jack
Cunningham, Howard J. Green, Grover
Jones, W. S. McNutt, Jane Murfin,
Robert Riskin, Carey Wilson, Walde-
mar Young. Technicians, John Arnold,
George Barnes, Carl Dreher, Harris En-
sign, Robert Haas, Fredric Hope, Na-
than Levinson, Wesley Miller, J. M.
Nickolaus, Max Parker, Van Nest Pol-
glase, I. James Wilkinson.
Script Completed on Col/s
'Whom the Cods Destroy'
Fred Niblo Jr. and Sidney Buchman
yesterday handed in their screen play
for "Whom the Gods Destroy,'" which
Sam Jaffe is supervising at Columbia.
Story is up as a starring production for
Walter Connolly.
Niblo has been assigned to work
with Adele Buffington on "Hell Cat."
Sid Rogel's unit is handling the pic-
ture.
A Writer
Asked:
'Why Should
I Advertise?'
We Answered:
OUT SOON
The whole industry pays off in good pictures.
Who writes them? You and you and you and you.
Who knows it? No one; unless you tell them and SELL
THEM.
The Hollywood Reporter's Special Writers* Number
will do just that, it will perpetuate your NAME and
FAME in the minds of those contract-signing execu-
tives: the men who hold the pens that spell
M-0-N-E-Y.
It will be a permanent reference manual, hot all year
round.
Writers, like everyone else in this commercial world,
have a product to SELL. It can't be sold unless it's
SEEN. It's seen in the Reporter, because this paper is
READ — by everyone who counts.
That's why YOU should advertise — and in here!
The WRITERS' NUMBER
I
M-G-M STUDIOS,
% READirJG DEPT. ^^^^
CULVER CITY, CALIF.-
r-
Vol. XIX. No. 21. Price 5c
TOOAY^S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, February 5, 1934
COCPfR l€Ci^$ ABROAD
•STUDIO whispers and sneak pre-
views indicate that there are four or
five good pictures about ready to be
given the theatres. All who have had
anything to do with, or have seen any
part of, Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer's "Viva
Villa" rate it as a hit. The Zanuck or-
ganization is on fire with the success
of "Rothschild" and both Paramount
and Warners have had sneaks on their
hot bets, "Bolero" and "Wonder Bar."
Those who have been fortunate in
seeing Columbia's "It Happened One
Night" rate it as the best ATTRAC-
TION that organization has ever turn-
ed out. This together with the names
of Frank Capra, Clark Cable and Clau-
dette Colbert is a cinch to send this
one away up in the money.
•
News from the Fox lot indicates
that the White "Scandals" will be a
wow if and when they are able to
properly assemble the best of the foot-
age that has been photographed. One
of our reporters saw most of it in a
projection room and is still laughing
at some of the bits.
Zukor hit the nail on the head when
he indicated that the public was ready
and waiting to buy good screen enter-
tainment just as soon as this industry
could serve it; that the purse of that
vast assemblage of movie patrons was
bulging; that they were hungry for
GOOD PICTURES. Accordingly any
hint that those good pictures are on
their way is good news.
The only depression in the picture
business is the one brought on by the
lack of attractions, the lack of enter-
tainment. Hit pictures have been
playing to more people than ever
walked into a theatre before, grosses
have not reached records in money,
because admission prices have been
lowered, but many all time records
have been shattered in attendance and
that's something for our producers to
think about.
•
And another thought that should
get their attention, is the absolute dis-
interestedness on the part of the
ticket buyer for the program attrac-
tion. They don't want them and WILL
NOT BUY THEM. So why not start
out every picture with the desire for
a hit, with schedules arranged and
budgets approved for the making of
(Continued on Page 4)
The Lake' Closing;
Hepburn to Europe
New York. — Jed Harris has an-
nounced the closing of "The Lake"
here next week with Katharine Hep-
burn stating that she will go to Europe
for two months, vacationing, before
returning to Hollywood for picture
work.
It has been understood that disre-
garding the local flop of "The Lake"
that it would go on tour of the prin-
cipal cities in an effort to get the
show cost back on the strength of the
name of Hepburn. Now it is heard
that the star herself killed that idea
feeling that it would hurt the draw of
her future pictures.
'New York Town'
First Rowland Picture
Bill Rowland, now on his own after
the dissolution of the Rowland-Brice
production unit, arrived in Hollywood
last night ready to begin work on
"New York Town," a musical.
This is the first of two set for re-
lease by Rowland through Columbia.
Selznick to Mexico
David Selznick leaves for Mexico
City with a print of "Viva Villa" to-
morrow night, to show it to Govern-
ment officials. George Cukor accom-
panies him. The producer will con-
tinue to New York to take in the
latest shows, while Cukor will go on
to England to gather material for
"David Copperfield."
Fox-Frank Lloyd Dicker
Fox and Frank Lloyd are in the
midst of a deal, with the director
asking $75,000 a picture on a two-
pic deal. First would be the reunit-
ing of Farrell and Caynor.
Former Radio Head Will Soon
Announce Plans For Foreign
Production; Probably for Radio
Merian C. Cooper seems likely to realize his great picture
ambition now — that of making pictures when and if he feels like
it, with plenty of money to do the job right, and with the whole
world as his stage. This is the "between the lines" reading of
the official statement issued in con
nection with his departure from Ra-
dio's executive post.
This publication printed shortly
after Cooper left Radio on a leave of
absence assumedly for his health, that
he would never return to that job,
that he had no desires for the duties
of head of production, that he would
stall through his contract (which end-
ed February 1 ) and announce his res-
ignation, for having Jock Whitney and
(Continued on Page 3)
Marie Dressier Picks
Major Zanftas'Rep'
Marie Dressier shot the first can-
non off for Major John Zanft and his
new business of personal representa-
tion when she let it be known yester-
day that she had signed an exclusive
contract with the veteran picture ex-
ecutive.
Zanft will be "personal business
representative" for the star. When
queried by a Reporter representative
she said "There's nothing further to
say except that I am very happy over
the association."
Stone Up for 'Cleo'
Lewis Stone is the latest up for
DeMille's "Cleopatra," but the vet-
eran actor under his MGM contract
must see the script and okay the part
before the deal can be made.
Award Bulletins Ready Soon
John M. Stahl, James Cleason, Frank Borzage, William Coetz, Ray
Griffith, Karl Freund, Bartlett Cormack, Lowell Sherman, Edward
Buzzell, Stanley Bergerman and B. F. Zeldman are among the picture
names giving hearty approval to The Hollywood Reporter's announce-
ment of a method of making awards of merit in all branches of the
picture art which will bs the result of a comprehensive vote by ail
creative workers in Hollywood.
The bulletin listing all pictures of the year is now in course of
preparation, and as additional constructive suggestions are received
during the week they will be embodied in the final method of voting
and selection to be adopted.
Rogers-Paramount
Again In Battle
Charles Rogers' scrap with Para-
mount over getting the people he
wants for his pictures has again re-
sulted in his placing a yarn on the
shelf. This is "Nick the Greek," which
had been built with hopes of George
Raft being set for the lead.
Instead Paramount shifted Raft into
the Mae West picture, "It Ain't No
Sin." Another Rogers story that had
reached the point of a completed
script, "Green Gold," was shelved last
week also because of cast difficulties.
Neilan Here Looking
For a Picture Cast
Marshall Neilan arrived in town
Saturday. He expects to remain here
just long enough to round up a cast
for his next Associated Film Producers
picture that will be made in New
York.
Henry King in New York
On Plans to Head Unit
New York. — Henry King has arriv-
ed here from the coast. Director is
planning to turn producer and is trying
to match together the details neces-
sary to a deal which will have him
operating a unit through one of the
large companies.
'Looking For Trouble'
Tradeshowed Feb. 20
New York. — United Artists an-
nounces that the national tradeshow
of the Twentieth Century production
of "Looking for Trouble" will be held
on February 20.
Rivkin-Wolfson Crab Idea
Allen Rivkin and P. J. Wolfson,
seeing the national attention Darryl
Zanuck is getting with his "Star
Train," wrote a story called "Star Ex-
press" and MGM bought it for Wan-
ger production.
[rhi
The WRITERS' NUMBER Tells The Bosses YOU Did It!
Page Two
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the Uniterl
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
It seems that Corinne Griffith's
statement that she gave up her role in
"Crime Doctor" because "Otto Kruger
insisted on facing the camera," and
that "the director was in accord with
him, etc.," was just HER side of the
story. We learn that Miss C. was most
"unmanageable" during her brief so-
journ at Radio, and that she made de-
mands which any actress in the posi-
tion of making a "come-back" has no
right to make. Besides which, we are
told that "Crime Doctor" is definitely
a man's story — a fact which Miss
Griffith chose to ignore, complaining
about every set-up that did not give
her the best of it. Consequently, we
are most reliably informed, that Radio
was very relieved and willing to "let
her off" with full pay, for the part she
is NOT playing. And in behalf of Otto
Kruger, we must tell you that every-
one on the picture agrees that he is
"one sweet guy to work with" and
that he asked for nothing which was
not required in the picture!
•
Nice Mayfair! Not too crowded —
but enough people to make a lotta
noise for the Mills brothers who war-
bled for the guests during the evening.
Charlie Lederer and Harry Crocker en-
tered the dance contest together — but
not for long. Verna and Sonny Chalif
won the loving cup by a Rhumba —
with Larry Cray and Virginia Pine as
runners-up. Lupe Velez, be-jeweled
and be-banged; johnny Weissmuller,
the Bruce Cabots 'Adrienne Ames),
Ben Wasson, Maureen O'Sullivan, John
Farrow, the Charles Rogers, the Monta
Bells, the Harry Rapfs, Alice White,
the Walter Wangers, Marion Davies,
Lois Wilson, Winslow Felix, Mary
Brian, Helen Vinson, Mrs. jack War-
ner, the Eddie Clines, Barney Glazer,
the Norman Taurogs, Barbara Bennett,
Eddie Hillman — among those present.
The Darryl Zanucks gave a huge
party for the Lynn Howards and the
Alden (Polo) Roarks. In their party
were the Freddie Marches, the Eddie
Loews 'Lil Tashman), the Mike Cur-
tizes, the Ray Griffiths, Countess di
Frasso with Lyie Talbot, the Gene
Markeys (Joan Bennett), the Bill
Goetzes, the Raoul Walshes, jean Ne-
gulesco, the Hal Roaches and more.
"FOUR FRIGHTENED PEOPLE"
Paramount prod.; director, Cecil B. DeMille; writers, E. Arnot-Robertson,
Bartlett Cormack and Lenore Coffee.
Paramount Theatre
News: Under the skillful direction of Cecil DeMille and the excellent acting of
the cast a more absorbing story is evolved on the screen than comes from
the pages of the book. Besides Claudette Colbert, who gives a delightful
performance, Mary Boland is highly amusing; Herbert Marshall and Wil-
liam Gargan give intelligent performances.
Times: It is an extravagant mixture of comedy and melodrama and the terror
in some of the scenes stirred up almost as much mirth from an audience
yesterday afternoon as did the levity in others.
World -Telegram: For about one-half of its unreeling it is pretty thrilling and
exciting. Played extremely well by Herbert Marshall, William Gargan,
Leo Carrillo and Mary Boland, in addition to the fine performance con-
tributed by the beautiful Claudette Colbert, "Four Frightened People" is
at least one-half of an entertaining film.
American: The picture is a Cecil B. DeMille production and this showman-
director has invested it with every clement cf popular entertainment.
Post: The film is a prosaic and only occasionally vivifying account of the ad-
ventures of two men and two women.
Sun: "Four Frightened People" is a comedy and, for the most part, an amusing
one. Mr. DeMille has, for a welcome while at least, put away his love
of spectacle and regained his sene of humor. Miss Colbert strides about
in leopard skins and enjoys still another DeMille bit of drama when she
refuses to return to civilization. Miss Boland, her giggles and her flut-
terings, however, combined with some excellent dialogue, help to turn a
DeMille drama into something much rarer and entertaining, a DeMille
comedy.
"AS HUSBANDS CO"
Fox prod.; director, Hamilton MacFadden; writers, Rachel Crothers, John Golden,
Sonya Levien and Sam Behrman.
Music Hall
Timics: If the edge has been taken off Rachel Crothers' play, "As Husbands
Go," in its picturization, there is some balm in the variety of scenes set
upon the screen. The film is enriched by a good measure of hilarious sus-
pense and it has also the presence of Catherine Doucet. Mr. Baxter is
well cast. Miss Vinson is believable as the vacillating Lucile.
Herald-Tribune: It was placid material on the stage, and somewhat less strik-
ingly done in the films it is even less lively entertainment.
World-Telegram: Played, as it is, with much humor and spirit by a cast that
includes Warner Baxter, Helen Vinson, G. P. Huntley Jr., Catherine Doucet
and Warner Gland, it is gay and abundant entertainment. True it has a
certain static quality since it depends almost entirely on dialogue and not
on action. But it is an excellent transcription of an amusing stage play.
Mirror: Filmed with literal fidelity to the stage technique, it is a movie which
entertains with sprightly dialogue and provocative situations, rather than
with action. It is a pleasant, mildly diverting little entertainment.
Post: It is a picture which has been handsomely treated in the adaptation, the
casting and the direction. So smoothly does it flow that if you didn't
know better you might suspect that it had been prepared directly for the
screen instead of snatched from one of those horrid Broadway theatres.
It is a shining example of how a stage play can be taken apart and put to-
gether again for purposes of the screen, with the parts rearranged and
telescoped and none of them missing.
Has all of the good humor and sound sense of the original; but somewhere
in that difficult translation from stage to screen it has lost a good deal of
the sparkle. But it's still full of pleasantly keen observations about real
enough people; and it's still pretty funny.
American: It's a light, sparkling story that provides an hour's pleasant enter-
tainment for anybody's money. Warner Baxter, that excellent trouper, is
completely at home in the part.
lournal: The film is a gay and amusing comedy, a smartly contrived entertain-
ment that depends as much upon its dialogue as upon its actors. The
picture is directed with charm and skill. And as an example of a suave
and understanding husband, Baxter should become the town's favorite
actor when the film hits Dubuque.
News: Good light entertainment, well acted by a carefully chosen cast and
beautifully mounted by the producer. Warner Baxter plays his role with
his usual charm. Catherine Doucet is a good comedienne who will un-
doubtedly become a familiar screen personality.
Sun:
Feb. 5. 1934
Big Ether Tie-up
For Tost Patrol'
Shell Oil's broadcast from San
Francisco today goes in for a tie-up
with Radio on their production, "Lost
Patrol," the oil company rushing the
deal through Saturday night with
Walter Kane of the Weber office
swinging it.
The broadcast has rarely gone in for
sponsoring a film company's picture
and Radio's tie-up is only the third
since the beginning of the programs,
MCM and Warners getting a break
some time ago. Victor McLaglen,
Wallace Ford and Boris Karloff con-
tribute their services in a sequence
from "Lost Patrol." Featured on the
program, aside from the picture plug,
is Leo Carrillo.
Larkin Handles Film Folk
On 'Christina' Opening
Through the cooperation of the dif-
ferent studios a plan is being worked
out to facilitate the advance sale of
tickets for the premiere of Garbo's
new starring vehicle, "Queen Chris-
tina," which MGM is launching.
With Mark Larkin serving as con-
tact man, a set-up will be arranged
by stars, executives, featured players
and others planning to attend the
opening.
Stoll on Shell Hour
After more than six months as mu-
sical director for the Shell Oil Hour,
Horace Heidt vacates in favor of
George Stoll, who signs a thirteen
broadcast contract when he finishes
the scoring of Paramount's "We're
Not Dressing." Walter Kane did it.
Hymie Fink got a double-break Sat-
urday night too — because while he
was waiting for the Mayfairers to ar-
rive, he caught (snapped) Joan Craw-
ford, Franchot Tone, Marion Davies,
Fay Wray and a few others coming
out of the theatre where "Candida"
holds forth. Fink was all excited —
but then, he always is!
Carroll Back to Rogers
Completing a month's work in New
York with Rex Beach on the screen
play of "Green Gold," Richard Carroll
returned to Hollywood yesterday. He
joins the Charles R. Rogers unit at
Paramount in a production capacity on
the picture.
Dixon Reports to MCM
Jean Dixon, New York stage ac-
tress, will arrive here Wednesday to
fulfill her one-picture deal with MCM
to play a featured role in the Joan
Crawford picture "Sadie McKee,"
which will be directed by Clarence
Brow/n.
Zeidman Starts Original
B. F. Zeidman Saturday signed
Winifred Dunn to write an original
and do the screen play for a Univer-
sal production. Deal was set by Fritz
Tidden of Hoffman-Schlager.
RUSSELL,IVIILLER,
and Company
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
Feb. 5, 1934
THEftee
Page Three
'GAMBLIIVG LADY' A JUMBLE; Technicians Select
RATES FAIR ENTERTAUVMEXT
Mayo and Cast
Deserve Big Hand
"GAMBLING LADY"
(Warner-First National)
Director Archie Mayo
Story Doris Malloy
Screen Play Doris Malloy
and Ralph Block
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Henry Blanke
Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea,
Pat O'Brien, Claire Dodd, J. Au-
brey Smith.
"Gambling Lady" finishes as fairly
good entertainment, but it is done in
spite of a story that must have been
a directorial headache to keep it in
anything approaching a straight line.
The story is piled with complications
and entanglements. Only the efforts
of the cast, backed by Archie Mayo
doing yeoman's work, bring it through.
And it must be said that the audi-
ence seemed satisfied.
The story finds Barbara Stanwyck
the daughter of one of these "poor
but honest" gamblers. The father's
suicide puts Barbara unknowingly in
the hands of an unscrupulous group of
gamblers who use all the tricks there
are to the trade. Joel McCrea enters
the plot when he comes to their gam-
bling house accompanied by two
strange gentlemen who turn out to be
detectives and raid the place. The
crooks feel that McCrea double-cross-
ed them.
Coincidence and formula pile on the
story which later finds Stanwyck in
love with McCrea, but almost giving
him up when her past is brought out
before his father. But in the end she
wins him from the father in one of
those theatrical situations where they
cut cards to reach the decision.
From there on it becomes the tri-
angle yarn, with O'Brien, McCrea and
Stanwyck in the corners, and Claire
Dodd pot-shotting for McCrea from
the side-lines. There is a murder,
O'Brien the victim and McCrea the ac-
cused, and a final happy ending —
again bringing in Old Man Coinci-
dence— which finds Stanwyck and
McCrea sailing for Norway and the
future.
And if that doesn't sound like much
— just take it as it sounds. And, as
we said at the start, give the credit
to the folks who at least made it seem
entertaining for the length of the pre-
view Saturday night.
Stanwyck has never looked better,
O'Brien turns in a neat performance.
Claire Dodd and Joel McCrea are seen
to advantage. And George Barnes'
photography is worthy of mention.
After which we repeat that Mayo was
given a tough job, but at least came
through on his end.
Al Lichtman Will Show
'Catherine the Great' Here
Al Lichtman, who arrived in town
yesterday with Joe Schenck, brought
along a print of the Alexander Korda
production "Catherine the Great" and
will show it to the local press today
or tomorrow.
The picture co-stars Douglas Fair-
banks Jr. and Elizabeth Bergner.
Guild Says Thanks'
Screen Actors' Guild is sending
letters to all members listing ad-
vertisers in the program for the
recent ball and citing their cooper-
ation. Something new from organ-
izations, and a stunt that will be
remembered by future advertisers.
U' Will Co Ahead
With 'Cristo* Tag
Although Edward Small is fighting
Universal through the Hays office to
keep them from using the title
"Countess of Monte Cristo," on the
grounds that it would hurt the busi-
ness of his picture "Count of Monte
Cristo" inasmuch as it is to be re-
leased before his. Universal is going
ahead with the release of its picture
as though nothing were happening.
Universal purchased this German
play which bore the title "Countess
of Monte Cristo" long before Small
announced plans to make "Count of
Monte Cristo" and feels that the pro-
ducer has no kick coming.
*Roxy' Celebrates
Miami. — Mr. and Mrs. Samuel
Rothafel celebrated their twenty-fifth
wedding anniversary in Florida last
week.
Cooper Looks Abroad
(Continued from Page 1 )
his millions behind him and with
Whitney in perfect accord with his
idea of making pictures, he would
jaunt through the universe searching
for ideas for unusual pictures. That's
just what happened.
But a new slant on Cooper's future
activities is found in the official state-
ment's inclusion of an epic based on
the life of Cecil Rhodes, England's
great colonizer. It is known that Radio
is desirous of a British contact for big
pictures similar to that United Artists
has with Alexander Korda. And in this
connection it is remembered that Brit-
ish Caumont has been at work for
several months on plans for a special
based on the spectacular Cecil Rhodes
career. Already a production unit
manager is in British South Africa ar-
ranging for locations and the hundred
per cent cooperation of the South
African Government.
Cooper's announcement that he
plans a Cecil Rhodes subject may pre-
sage a later statement that he will
work out the idea in cooperation with
the Gaumont outfit.
Cooper's other announced subject,
"The Last Days of Pompeii"also shows
how his eyes are turned towards dis-
tant corners of the earth. With one
hundred per cent Technicolor planned
for the "Pompeii" subject, it is clear
that the aim is a high budget picture
on a most elaborate scale. And with
Cooper's desire for authentic locations
and background, dating from his pro-
duction of "Grass" with Ernest Shoed-
sack, it follows that "Pompeii" will
also be produced abroad.
'Nana' Cleaning Up
At the Music Hall
New York.. — Sam Goldwyn is cov-
ered with smiles.
The Goldwyn picture, "Nana," is
doing a sensational business at the
Music Hall in face of extremely cold
weather, a taxicab strike and a few
other things that would be used as
excuses if the business has sagged.
Friday, the second day, beat the
opening day by $1,900 and Saturday,
with advanced prices for that day and
yesterday, the business was the best
the theatre has ever had for a single
day.
The picture will be held for a sec-
ond week.
20th Has Problem on
'Bulldog' Fern Lead
Twentieth Century is having trou-
ble casting the role of the feminine
heavy in the Ronald Colman picture
"Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back,"
which will be directed by Roy Del
Ruth.
Darryl Zanuck wanted to borrow
Myrna Loy, who occupied that spot in
"Bulldog Drummond" with Colman
for Goldwyn, but neither MGM nor
Miss Loy seem hot on the deal after
Miss Loy's elevation to stardom.
Michaels Tagged at Fox
Gertrude Michaels has been signed
by Fox for one of the featured femi-
nine roles along with Rosemary Ames
and Rochelle Hudson opposite War-
ner Baxter in "Odd Thursday," which
will be directed by James Flood.
Production is scheduled to get un-
der way the first part of next week.
Warners Renew Phil Reed
Warners have taken up the option
on Philip Reed's contract for another
period.
The player has been loaned to Uni-
versal for the role in "Glamour" of
which Russ Columbo was relieved.
William Wyler is directing.
Buster Crabbe Renewed
Paramount yesterday clipped a cou-
pon off Buster Crabbe's contract and
the player continues with the com-
pany for another year. It is the sec-
ond session on a long termer negoti-
ated by Small-Landau.
Montgomery Returning
Doug Montgomery js headed back
to Hollywood. Boarded the train Sat-
urday in New York. He has with-
drawn from the Play Guild production
on which he was rehearsing.
Thalberg Signs Pearson
Irving Thalberg has signed Hum-
phrey Pearson to his writing staff.
Pearson will be given an assignment
soon.
Principal Sets P. A.
Bill Plant has been set by Principal
Pictures to be director of publicity on
the west coast.
12 For Code Body
Following Deputy Administrator Sol
Rosenblatt's request that the Academy
branches make nominations for con-
sideration on local NRA boards, the
Technicians Branch of the Academy
was the first to swing into action.
The executive committee on Sat-
urday selected twelve names, from
whom the members will elect four,
this to be followed by Rosenblatt
choosing one of the four.
The twelve named are Cedric Gib-
bons, Jack Okie, Ben Herzbrun, Max
Parker, George Barnes, Karl Struss,
J. M. Nickolaus, Hal Rosson, Carl Dre-
her, Douglas Shearer, Wesley Miller
and Major Nathan Levinson.
The code does not call for a tech-
nician on the Code Authority commit-
tee but should a question arise con-
cerning these workers the Deputy Ad-
ministrator has the right to appoint a
member of this branch to sit on the
particular question.
Operator Czars
Must Co to Jail
New York. — The Appellate Divi-
sion of the Supreme Court has sus-
tained the jail sentence of the former
operator czars, Sam Kaplan and Ted
Greenberg, and they must serve six
months in prison for their union
sctivities in connection with Local
306.
Lowe's Next 'U' Will
Be Where Is Brown?'
Edmund Lowe's next starring pic-
ture for Universal is slated to be
"Where Is Brown?" in which Gloria
Stuart will have the top spot oppo-
site him. Kurt Neuman has been
assigned to direct this picture.
Lowe will make this picture on his
return from New York in about three
weeks.
HerthaTheil Due Here
Berlin. — It is understood that
Krimsky and Cochrane, the firm dis-
tributing "Maedchen in Uniform" m
America, have contracted with Hertha
Theil, who played the school girl hero-
ine in that production, to go to New
York for a picture that will be made
by them.
Scotto Directed 'Moses'
Credits announced for the direction
of "Uncle Moses," all-Yiddish talkie,
by the local distributor inadvertently
gave direction to Sidney Golden. Au-
brey Scotto directed the picture. Col-
den only collaborating on dialogue di-
rection.
Frank Wead at 'U'
Lieut. Commander Frank Wead has
been signed by Universal to the screen
play on a story of a foreign news-
paper correspondent which will star
Edmund Lowe. No title has been
agreed on for the picture.
Jones the Honored Guest
Robert Edmund jcnes. noted artist
and former art director, will be the
guest of honor at the stag dinner of
the Art Directors Section of the Acad-
emy next Friday night at the Ven-
dome.
Page Four
THEJS}
Feb. 5, 1934
Little Women' Tops WAS LEE TRACY THE GOAT
London Pic Business FOR UWIOIV ROW IX MEXICO?
London. — "Little Women" rang up
the best business of last week here,
trailed a bit by "Design For Living,"
"The Invisible Man" and "The Con-
stant Nymph."
"Mala, the Magnificent" (Eskimo)
was a disappointment and was jerked
for "Fraternally Yours" that goes into
the Empire this week.
The holdovers are "Little Women,"
"Design For Living," "Invisible Man"
and "The Constant Nymph."
The new pictures are "Eight Girls
in a Boat" at the Plaza, "Duck Soup"
at the Carlton, replacing "I'm No
Angel," which had a prosperous run
but nothing like the first Mae West
attraction.
Business with good pictures is ex-
ceptional over here, but with the or-
dinary programer there are very few
tickets sold, accordingly the demand
for hit attractions is greater on this
side than ever in the history of pic-
tures.
'Moulin Rouge' Gag
Gets Big Wash. Break
Washington. — Pictures of Vice
President Garner, Anna Q. Nillson,
Antonio Moreno, Mary Carlisle, Post-
master Farley, Senator McAdoo have
been given a spread in over 1 300
papers in connection with the "Mou-
lin Rouge" caravan that had its start
here last week.
The Capitol had a great thrill lamp-
ing this parade and the theatre play-
ing the picture has gotten the full
effect of the ballyhoo, having played
to standing room only since its open-
ing on Friday.
Joy-Polimer Add Willson
Henry Willson, former fan maga-
zine writer, has tied in with the Joy
and Polimer office and will handle a
department devoted to developing new
talent. Willson will concentrate on
finding and plugging new faces.
Two New Songs for *Party'
Walter Donaldson and Cus Kahn
have written two new musical num-
bers which will be used in "Holly-
wood Party," which Alan Dwan is
directing. The titles are "Feeling
High" and "I've Had My Moments."
Kingston-Hoffman Happy
Al Kingston and M. H. Hoffman
have settled their brief spat and it
now appears that the producer did not
insist on a paltry cash settlement over
the Charles Wilson deal. Everybody
is now happy.
Hornblow Gets Scripfer
Stephen Morehouse Avery has been
assigned to script "Pursuit of Hap-
piness," which will be Arthur Horn-
blow's first production for Paramount.
Avery collaborates with Garrett Fort.
Gone to Hell
Harry Lachmann must have
shown some special stuff in the
scenes he handled for George
White's "Scandals," for now Fox
has offered him the direction of
"Dante's Inferno." Harry doesn't
know whether it is a compliment
or a wisecrack.
"Camera Angles," publication of the
lATSE camera unit, in an issue de-
livered to members today, and before
tonight's general meeting, publishes —
without comment — translated excerpts
from Mexican papers during the stay
of the "Viva Villa" unit in Mexico
which tell of the union troubles of the
MGM company in Mexico City and
the fact that every worker connected
with the unit was actually forced, in
one way or another, to become a paid-
up union member before the shooting
was finished.
While the accounts are published
without editorial comment, and union
officials refuse to be quoted, the gen-
eral undertone of talk about the head-
quarters gives an impression that the
union believes that roiling of organ-
ized labor in Mexico may have had
a lot to do in the background with
the quickness to seize on Lee Tracy's
alleged peccadillos.
It is expected that questions from
the floor at tonight's meeting may
Apprentice System
Likely For Extras
Old-time system of "apprentice-
ship" seems to be in the offing now
that NRA is bossing the "Extra" sit-
uation. While plans are still very em-
bryonic, the committee handling the
extras is figuring out a plan whereby
people breaking into the game through
extra ranks will have to serve some
time proving their worth before they
are placed on the regular rolls as qual-
ified extras. Nothing will come of it
until after the big weeding process in
which the present big group is cut
down to maximum of about two thou-
sand.
Polito On Wonder Bar'
An error in the "shooting sched-
ules" carried on "Wonder Bar" all
through production resulted last Sat-
urday in giving credit for photography
to Sid Hickox on "Wonder Bar," when
the good words handed out should
have applied to Sol Polito.
Jory Moves to Warners
Victor Jory's test at Warners early
this week has clicked and the com-
pany put through a loan-out ticket
with Fox, placing the actor in a spot
next to Joan Blondell and Jimmy Cag-
ney in "Without Honor."
Bans Sunday Show Tax
New Jersey. — The Supreme Court of
this state has just given a decision
that it is illegal for local communi-
ties to levy special taxes on a theatre
for opening on Sundays.
Edwards in 'Showoff
Alan Edwards has been signed by
MGM for a role in "The Showoff."
Charles Reisner is directing. The
Selznick-Joyce office set the player.
'Hips' on B'way Feb. 22
New York. — "Hips, Hips, Hooray,"
the latest Wheeler-Woolsey offering,
has received its Broadway dating —
February 22.
bring to the open the union's reason
for publication of the Mexican papers'
stories.
The Hollywood Reporter on Novem-
ber I 1 and previously forecast that one
of MGM's problems on "Villa" would
concern unions. With the local strike
just over, picture producers were ap-
parently not aware of the close tie-in
between the American Federation of
Labor and the Mexican unions, dating
from the time the A. F. of L. aided
Calles in combating Communistic ac-
tivity in Mexico, and also before the
United States Congress when efforts
were made to chastise Mexico for al-
leged religious persecution. As a re-
sult of A. F. of L.'s aid in organization
work Mexico is today more strongly
union tha.n the L'nited St?t°s.
The hint is given that MGM's pres-
ent problem of getting an okay on
"Villa" from the Mexican Government
will be complicated by union matters
having their inception in Hollywood.
Jean Arthur in Demand
After N. Y. Stage Work
Jean Arthur is hot on a trio of deals
right now. After appearing in four
shows in New York in the past year
and a half the player came to Holly-
wood for a vacation and immediately
stepped into a Columbia lead in
"Whirlpool."
In addition two deals are up at Uni-
versal, "The Behavior of Mrs. Crane"
and "The Man Who Reclaimed His
Head," and MGM is this week making
tests with a long term deal in pros-
pect. Ralph Farnum handles the
player.
Amity Trying For
Break in Britain
New York. — Bill Fitelson, attorney
for Amity Pictures, sailed for Eng-
land Saturday to arrange some kind of
a distribution for the product of his
organization throughout Europe, par-
ticularly in England.
Amity wants to swap distribution.
Birinski on 'Cabby' Yarn
Harry Rapf has assigned Leo Birin-
ski to work on the script of "Cabby,"
which will have Wallace Beery and
Jackie Cooper in the top spots at
MGM. Michael Simmons and Lou
Breslow continue their work on the
screen play.
Schayer Finishes Script
Richard Schayer has completed the
screen play on "Round The Moun-
tain," which will co-star Marie Dress-
ier and Polly Moran.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
hit attractions? They all can't be hits,
certainly, so those that miss go into
the program class and those that click
will more than make up for the losses
of the cost of the programers that re-
sult this way.
Forget about those pictures that
have been scheduled to meet releases,
to fill in gaps. They don't pay. MAKE
GOOD PICTURES.
Para. Set to Remake
Cleason's'lsZatSo'
Paramount's deal to buy rights to
"Is Zat So" from Fox has reached the
signing stage and E. Lloyd Sheldon has
been set to supervise the picture.
James Gleason and Robert Armstrong
will be co-starred in the roles they
played on the stage.
Fox made the picture in silent days,
but didn't use Gleason, who wrote it
in collaboration and played the lead
in the year long New York run. Ray
McCarey is being talked to on the di-
rection.
Warners Ready to Renew
Presnell Before Deadline
Although he does not come up for
option at Warners until April, Rob-
ert Presnell is set to get a new ticket
which will go into effect before the
expiration of his former contract and
keep him with the company for an-
other year. Details on the new papers
have been agreed upon and contracts
await the signature of the principals.
Presnell retains his writer-director-
producer status, stressing production
activities.
Batchelier Gets Yarn
By Brown and Thorpe
George R. Batchelier has purchased
an original story idea from Karl Brown
and Richard Thorpe called "Marriage
by Capture" and schedules it for his
next Chesterfield picture.
Both Brown and Thorpe are writing
the screen play for the latter's direc-
tion. The Hoffman-Schlager office
handled the deal.
Towne-Baker Back Home
Gene Towne and Graham Baker
have terminated their deal with
Charles R. Rogers and returned to
Twentieth Century, their home lot.
Writers have no assignment yet but
probably will go back on the script of
"Gentlemen, the King." Towne and
Baker were on a leave of absence at
Rogers writing an original story for
George Raft.
Osterman Turns Author
Jack Osterman is spending these
days writing a story titled "The Big
Show," a circus yarn, which may be ,.^
used as the first vehicle for Ted Healy I
and his stooges at MGM. I
Osterman submitted this idea to {|
Harry Rapf, who liked it, and asked *
Osterman to put it down on paper for
him. I
'Bad Boy' Script in Work |
Marguerite Roberts, recently with f
Fox, has been engaged by Principal
Pictures to write the screen play for
"Peck's Bad Boy." Eddie Cline di-
rects and production is scheduled to ,,
start March 6, with Sol Lesser still ;|
seeking to borrow Jackie Cooper from ■'
MGM for the star spot.
McCarey Does a Fast One
Ray McCarey has just established
a new record for the shooting of a
short, having completed the one-reeler
with "Red" Grange and the Chicago
Bears in six hours. While the pic-
ture was on a three-day schedule ^
there were only six actual hours of
shooting.
Feb. 5, 1934
THE
Page Five
Technicians' Research
Croup to Renew Activity
Definite steps were taken Saturday
by the Technicians Branch of the
Academy to resume the work of their
research council which has been dor-
mant since last winter.
Meeting at the Academy offices
Saturday the Executive Committee of
the branch discussed future plans and
appointed a committee composed of
Major Nathan Levinson, Harris En-
sign, Wesley Miller and Van Nest
Poiglase to start the work of lining up
a definite program.
Several technical projects, such as
silent camera development, etc., were
halted when research committee ceas-
ed functioning. Expected to be re-
sumed with many other ideas on the
slate. Detailed announcement will be
made later.
Award For Dog
Clifford Jones received word Sat-
urday that his police dog Wotan had
finally been given the first prize award
in the recent Ambassador dog show,
through the disqualification of the
original winner. But Wotan doesn't
know it, having died three weeks ago
a victim of the Hollywood dog poi-
soner.
CWA Actors Start Work
New York. — Actors working with
the backing of government money
through the CWA started their pro-
grams in various school halls last
week. First offerings are "A Mid-
summer Night's Dream," "She Stoops
to Conquer," "Tommy" and "The
Curtain Rises."
^VTE
Roger Cluen signed by Radio for
"Stingaree" through Hailam Cooley of
the Weber office. This is the first
picture part for the ex-Broadwayite.
Eddie Borden engaged by Hal Roach
for his musical short through Hailam
Cooley.
John Qualen signed for "Without
Honor," Warners. Harry Spingler of
the Small-Landau office did it.
Carry Owen for "Little Miss Mark-
er," Schulberg-Paramount. The Mac-
Quarrie office negotiated.
|ohn Sheehan into "Sawdust," War-
ners, through MacQuarrie.
Barbara Blair, new Warner stock
player, assigned a role in the joe E.
Brown picture, "Sawdust."
Doris Lloyd, Olaf Hytten and Jesse
McAllister complete cast of "Glam-
our," which William Wyler is direct-
ing and Bennie Zeidman is supervis-
ing for Universal.
loan Wheeler in "The Key" at
Warners.
Cupid Ainsworth signed through
Bernard and Meiklejohn for featured
spot in Lou Brock Radio short.
Ceorge Irving goes into "You're
Telling Me," Paramount. Deal set by
Menifee I. Johnstone.
Olive Fay added to "Clamour," at
Universal. Negotiated by the Bernard
and Meiklejohn agency.
Monogram has signed Fern Emmett,
Dorothy Short, Harry Bradley, Ceorge
Hayes, )ane Keckley, Ceorge Cleve-
land, Billy Van Every and Phyllis Lee
for "City Limits."
Jay Eaton, Vince Barnett, John
Rutherford, Eleanore King and Buddy
Messenger signed by Twentieth Cen-
tury for "The Firebrand."
Harold Huber signed through Small-
Landau for "Without Honor," War-
ners.
Sterling Holloway and June Clyde
added to "The Showoff," MGM.
Ruth Channing assigned a role in
"Louisiana," which Ceorge Seitz is di-
recting for MGM.
Clen Boles by Twentieth Century
for "Firebrand." The Beyer-MacAr-
thur office negotiated.
Charles Erwin set through the Ber-
nard and Meiklejohn agency for "The
Mystery of the Dead Police," MGM.
Bobby Watson into "Glamour,"
Universal. Set by Leo Morrison.
Bradley Page to Warners for
"Without Honor," on a ticket set by
Small-Landau.
Charles Wilson signed through Al
Kingston for another assignment at
Warners, going from "Golden Gate"
into "Sawdust."
Sarah Padden info "Without Hon-
or," Warners, through Harry Wurtzel.
N.Y. Indie Exhibs
Co to Mat on Code
New York. — Another definite fight
against the NRA Code Authority is
announced by the Independent Thea-
tre Owners of New York, who state
they will go to court if necessary to
oppose the paying of an extra pro-
jection machine operator when he is
doing work just to live up to the
code's insistence on a thirty-six hour
week for employees.
A peculiar situation may find one
of the local unions joining with the
exhibitors in the code fight because of
an inter-union strife which has radi-
cals among the operators battling with
the union.
Course in Business Law
Opens at Hollywood H.S.
An intensive course in business law
has been opened at the Hollywood
Evening High School on Monday and
Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9.
The class, which is without charge
to the student, has been organized to
fill the need of workers for knowledge
of the laws that affect their business.
WB Assigns Bretherton
Howard Bretherton was elected by
Warners yesterday to direct "Return
of the Terror," the Peter Milne-Gene
Solow yarn which Sam Bischoff places
into work in two weeks.
Coslow Before the Camera
Sam Coslow will act and sing his
own song as well in "It Ain't No
Sin," Mae West's next picture for
Paramount which Leo McCarey directs.
WARREN DUFF
Screen Play^
^A
I'VE COT YOUR NUMBER
}i
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
|an. 20, 1934
Good old action is the keynote of this film,
but comedy pervades even those scenes when
Terry is jumping off a burning building.
Crisp, wise-cracking dialogue . . . Shouts of
laughter greeted Pat O'Brien's lines and busi-
ness.
Warner Brothers
'\n Collaboration
VARIETY
Ian. 24, 1934
A fast, exciting, robust and more or less
bawdy comedy through which a cast of pulling
names romps for a sustained laugh fest
"I've Cot Your Number" has money written all
over it. . . .
. . . screen story treatment by Warren Duff and
Sidney Sutherland get away from the common-
place and usual routines in getting laughs and
maintain breezy freshness.
irst National
Page Six
Feb. 5, 1934
PRODUCTION ABOUT THE SAME WITH 29
BAROMETER
This Week 29 Features
Last Week 28 Features
Year Ago 34 Features
Two Years Ago 25 Features
Columbia
•SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN"
Cast: Elissa Landi, Joseph Schildkraut,
Frank Morgan, Doris Lloyd, Clara
Blandick, Arthur Stuart Hull, Mon-
tague Shaw, Robert Graves, Selmar
Jackson, Samuel Hinds, Henry
Kolker.
Director David Burton
Original S. K. Lauren
Screen Play Jo Swerling
'^'-otography Joe August
"WHIRLPOOL"
Cast: Jack Holt, Lila Lee, Allen Jen-
kins, Rita LaRoy, Ward Bond, Jean
Arthur.
Director Roy William Neill
Original Howard Emmett Rogers
Screen Play Ethel Hill
Photography ...Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Robert North
Fox
"ALL MEN ARE ENEMIES "
Cast: Hugh Williams, Helen Twelve-
trees, Mona Maris, Rafael Ottiano,
Hailiwell Hobbes, Herbert Mundin.
Director George Fitzmaurice
Story Richard Aldington
Screen Play Samuel Hoffenstein
Dialogue Lenore Coffee
Photography John Seitz
Producer Al Rockett
"THREE ON A HONEYMOON""
Cast: Sally Eilers, Charles Starrett,
Zasu Pitts, Henrietta Grossman,
John Mack Brown, Irene Hervey,
Howard Laliy, Cornelius Keefe,
Winn Shaw.
Director James Tinling
Novel by Ishbel Ross
Screen Play: Raymond Van Sickle and
Edward T. Lowe, Jr.
Dialogue George Wright
Photography Joseph Valentine
and Arthur Arling
Dance Direction David Gould
Producer John Stone
"MURDER IN TRINIDAD"
Cast: Nigel Bruce, Heather Angel,
Victor Jory, Roger Imhof.
Director Louis King
Story John Vandercook
Screen Play Seton I, Miller
Photography Barney McGill
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
MGM
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE '
Cast: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen
O'Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Doris
Lloyd, Frank Reicher, Paul Cava-
nagh, William Stack, Desmond
Roberts, Voia D'Avril, Forrester
Harvey.
Director Cedric Gibbons
Adaptation Leon Gordon
Screen Play J. K. McGuinness
Photography Clyde DeVinna
and Sid Wagner
Producer Bernard Hyman
"RIP TIDE'"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Mont-
gomery, Herbert Marshall, Lilyan
Tashman, Ralph Forbes, Mrs. Pat-
rick Campbell, Arthur jarrett. Earl
Oxford, Hailiwell Hobbes, Samuel
May, Helen Jerome Eddy, Peter
Hobbes, George K. Arthur, T. Roy
Barnes, E. E. Ciive, Skeets Galla-
gher, Florine McKinney, Paul Por-
casi.
Director Edmund Goulding
Story and Screen Pay
Edmund Goulding
Photography Ray June
Producer Irving Thalberg
"LOUISIANA"
Cast: Robert Young, Jean Parker, Nat
Pendleton, Ted Healy, Maude
Eburne, Joseph Cawthorn, Raymond
Hatton, George Lewis, Irene Frank-
lin, C. Henry Gordon.
Director George Seitz
Original Screen Play..-.Lucien Hubbard
Photography Gregg Toland
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"THE HOLLYWOOD PARTY"
Cast: Marie Dressier, Joan Crawford,
Jean Harlow, Jimmy Durante, Eddie
Quillan. Polly Moran, Albertina
Rasch Ballet, Bobbe Arnst, Frances
Williams, Ben Bard, Richard Carle,
George Givot, Tom Kennedy, June
Clyde, Dorothy Short, Agnes Ander-
son, Laurel and Hardy, Herman
Bing, Johnny Weissmuller, Jack
Pearl, Francis Williams, Max Baer,
Mary Carlisle.
Director Alan Dwan
Story Edmund Goulding
and Howard Dietz
Dialogue Herb Fields
Music: Rodgers and Hart, Brown and
Freed.
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Harry Rapf
"SEQUOIA"'
Cast: Jean Parker, David Landau, Olin
Howland, Willie Fung, Russell
Hardie.
Directors Chester Franklin
and Nick Grinde
Novel Joseph Vance Hoyt
Adaptation: C. Gardner Sullivan, Frank
R. Adams, Anne Cunningham.
Photography Clyde DeVinna
and Chet Lyons
Producer John Considine
"THE SHOW-OFF"
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Madge Evans,
Lois Wilson, Ala Edwards, Henry
Wadsworth, Claude Gillingwater,
Sterling Holloway.
Director Charles F. Reisner
Original George Kelly
Screen Play Herman Mankiewicz
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"OPERATOR 13 "
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Stuart Erwin, Samuel Hinds, Doug-
las Dumbrille.
Director Raoul Walsh
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play Harvey Thew
Photography George Folsey
Producer Water Wanger
Paramount
"MAN WHO BROKE HIS HEART""
Cast: Victor McLaglen, Dorothy Dell,
Preston Foster, Alison Skipworth,
David Landau, John Rogers, Mischa
Auer, Alfred Delcambre, James
Burke, Don Wilson, John Northpol,
Max Wagner, Frank Rice, Russell
Powell, Jil Dennett, Alice Lake,
Miana Alvarez, Florence Dudley,
Marie Green, Charles Brinley, AI
Hill, Ivan Linow.
Directors: William Cameron Menzies
and George Somnes.
Original Frederick Schlick
and Samuel French
Screen Play Samuel Hoffenstein
and Frank Partos
Dialogue. ...Stephen Morehouse Avery
Photography Victor Milnor
"MELODY IN SPRING"
Cast: Lanny Ross, Charlie Ruggles,
Mary Boland, George Meeker, Wil-
fred Hari, Wade Boteler, Helen
Lynd, Ann Sothern, Herman Bing,
Thomas Jackson, Norma Mitchell,
Jane, June and Joan Gale.
Director Norman McLeod
Story Frank Leon Smith
Screen Play Benn W. Levy
Continuity Jane Storm
Lyrics Harlan Thompson
Music Lewis E. Gensler
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer Douglas MacLean
"WERE NOT DRESSING"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman,
Carole Lombard, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, Raymond Milland, Jay
Henry, Leon Errol, Dick Dickinson.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Walter Hall Smith
Adaptation. .Stephen Morehouse Avery
Music by Harry Ravel
and Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Mack Gordon
and Sam Coslow
Photography Charles Lang
"THE TRUMPET BLOWS "
Cast: George Raft, Adolphe Menjou,
Francis Drake, Katharine DeMille,
Sidney Toler, Douglas Wood, Nydia
Westman, Lillian Elliott, Edward El-
lis, Gertrude Norman, Aleth Speed
Hanson, Howard Brooks, Joyce
Compton, Hooper Atchley, Francis
McDonald.
Director Stephen Roberts
Original Porter Emerson Browne
Adaptation Wallace Smith
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Harry Fischbeck
"COME ON MARINES"'
Cast: Richard Arlen, Ida Lupino, Toby
Wing, Leo Chalzell, Roscoe Karns,
Grace Bradley, Virginia Hammond,
Gwenllian Gill, Clara Lou Sheridan,
Lona Andre, Pat Flaherty, Fuzzy
Knight, Julian Madison.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original Philip Wylie
Screen Play Byron Morgan
and Joel Sayre
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Ben Reynolds
Producer Al Lewis
"YOU'RE TELLING ME "
Cast: W. C. Fields, Joan Marsh, Larry
"Buster" Crabbe.
Director Erie Kenton
Screen Play Paul Jones
and J. P. McEvoy
Photography Al Gilks
RKO-Radio
"FINISHING SCHOOL""
Cast: Ginger Rogers, Francis Dee,
Bruce Cabot, Billie Burke, Mitzi
Green, Beulah Bondi, Sarah Haydon,
Marjory Lytell, Adalyn Doyle, Mary
Jordan, Rose Coghlan.
Directors Wanda Tuchock
and George Nicholls, Jr.
Story Louis Weitzenkorn
Screen Play Wanua Tuchock
and Laird Doyle
Photography Roy Hunt
Associate Producer Kenneth
Macgowan
"THE CRIME DOCTOR"
Cast: Otto Kruger, Nils Asther, Cor-
inne Griffith, Judith Wood, William
Frawley, J. Farrell MacDonald, Irv-
ing Pichel, Pat O'Malley, Burton
MacLean, Willie Fung, Mary Forbes,
Samuel Hinds, Fred Kelsey, Ethel
Wales.
Director John Robertson
Story Israel Zangwill
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Lucien Andriot
Associate Producer David Lewis
United Artists
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW "
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Walter Lundin
Producer Harold Lloyd
Feb. 5. 1934
l^ilPOitfil^
Page Seven
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 28 LAST WEEK
Twentieth Century
"THE FIREBRAND"
Cast; Constance Bennett, Fredric
March, Ralph Morgan, Fay Wray,
Vince Barnett, Louis Calhern, Jessie
Ralph, Jay Eaton, John Rutherford.
Director Gregory La Cava
Based on Stage Play by
Edwin Justus Mayer
Adaptation Bess Meredyth
Photography Charles Rosher
Associate Producers William Goetr
and Raymond Griffith
Universal
"LETS BE RITZY"
Cast: Lew Ayres, Patricia Ellis, Frank
McHugh, Nydia Westman, Addison
Richards, Berton Churchill, Robert
McWade, Adrian Morris, Betty
Lawford Isabel Jewell.
Director Edward Ludwig
Play by William Anthony McGuire
Screen Play Earl Snell
and Harry Sauber
Photography Charles Stumar
Associate Producer.. ..Henry Henigson
"CLAMOUR"
Cast: Constance Cummings, Paul Lu-
kas, Phillip Reed, Joseph Cawthorn,
Doris Lloyd.
Director William Wyler
Novel by Edna Ferber
Screen Play Doris Anderson
Continuity Gladys Unger
and Doris Anderson
Photography George Robinson
Producer B. F. Zeidman
"VANISHING SHADOW"
(Serial)
Cast: Onslow Stevens, Ada I nee, Wal-
ter Miller, Bill Desmond, Richard
Cramer.
Director Lewis Friediander
Story: Ella O'Neill, Het Manheim and
Basil Dickey.
Photography Richard Freyer
Producer Harry MacRea
Warners-First National
"WITHOUT HONOR"
Cast: James Cagney, Joan Blondell,
Victor Jory, Sarah Padden, Ralfe
Harolde, Harold Huber, John Qua-
len, Russell Hopton.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Original Story Robert Lord
Screen Play Tom Buckingham and
Niven Busch
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"FUR COATS"
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Paul Kelly,
Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree, Ann
Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, Phillip Faver-
sham, Henry O'Neill, Mayo Methot,
Dorothy Peterson, Marjorie Gate-
son, Clay Clement, Renee Whitney,
Lorena Layson, Lynn Browning.
Director Alfred E. Green
Based on story by Ann Carrick
and Ethel Hill
Screen Play Manuel Seff
Photography Byron Haskins
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"THE CENTLEMAN FROM SAN
FRANCISCO"
Cast: Bette Davis, Pat O'Brien, Lyie
Talbot, Margaret Lindsay, Henry
O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Hugh Her-
bert, Douglas Dumbrille, Gordon
Westcott.
Director Wilhelm Dieterle
Story George Dye
Screen Play Robert N. Lee
and Eugene Solow
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Henry Blanke
Independent Productions
MONOGRAM
(General Service Studio)
"CITY LIMITS'
Cast: Frank Craven, Sally Blane, Ray
Walker, James Burke, James Con-
Ion, Terrenes Ray, George Hayes,
George Cleveland, Jane Keckley,
Harry Bradley, Fern Emmett, Biliie
Van Every, Phyllis Lee.
Director William Nigh
Story jack Woodford
Screen Play George Waggner
Photography Jerry Ash"
Supervisors: William T. Lackey and
Paul Malvern.
British Productions
Caumont-British and Gains-
borough Studios
Executive Producer, Michael E. Bslcon
Executive Assistant.... Chan Balcon
Scenario Editor Angus MacPhail
"JEW SUSS"
Cast: Conrad Veidt, Frank Vosper,
Cedric Hardwicke, Benita Hume,
Gerald du Maurier, Pamela Ostrer,
Mary Clare, Eva Moore, Lyn Hard-
ing, Joan Maude, Paul Craetz. Hai-
dee Wright, Gibb MacLaughlin.
Director Lothar Mendes
Book by Leon Feutwanger
Screen Play: Heinrick Frankel, A. M.
Rawlinson and F. Rhys Williams.
Photography Bernard Knowles
"EVER GREEN"
Cast: Jessie Mathews, Sonnie Hale,
Betty Balfour, Huntley Power, Ger-
ald du Maurier, Betty Shale, Barry
Mackay.
Director Victor Saville
Photography Glen MacWilliams
Associated Talking Pictures
Executive Producer Basil Dean
Scenario Editor Cordon Wellesley
"LOVE. LIFE AND LAUGHTER"
Cast: Gracie Fields, John Loder, Esme
Percy, Wilfred Lawson, Pat Wad-
dington.
Director Maurice Elvey
Screen Play: Mary Murillo, Donovan
Pedelty, Maurice Braddell.
Additional Dialogue.. ..Best Weston
and Bert Lee
Dialogue Donovan Pedelty
Photography Bob Martin
Paramount British
(At British and Dominions)
"THE BIG SWEEP"
Cast Eileen Marson, Anna Lee
Director Reginald Denman
Photography Herbert Harris
Stoli Studios
(For Columbia British)
"GRAND PRIX"
Cast: Milton Rosmer, John Stuart, Jill
Sande, Peter Gawthorne, Ben Sout-
ten.
Director St. John Cloews
Photography Desmond Dickenson
Sound City Studios
Executive Producer Norman G. Loudon
Supervisor Ivar Campbell
Scenario Editor Baring Pemberton
"LEST WE FORGET"
Cast: Stewart Rome, George Carney,
Tony Quinn, Roddy Hughes, Esmond
Knight, Ann Yates.
Director John Baxter
Original Story Herbert Ayres
Photography C. Clendinning
Walton Studios
Arthur Maude-Columbia
British Prods.
Executive Producer Howard Welsh
"BOOMERANG"
Cast: Nora Swinburne, Lester Mat-
thews, Heather Thatcher, Tony
Holies.
Director Arthur Maude
Play by David Evans
Screen Play John Paddy Carstairs
Photography Geoffrey Faithful I
St. Margarets Studio
Twickenham Pictures
Executive Producer Julius Hagen
Scenario Editor Gerald Malvern
THE MAN WHO CHANGED HIS
NAME "
(For Universal Release)
Cast: Betty Stockfeld, Leslie Perrins.
Director Henry Edwards
Photography Sidney BIythe
"THE ADMIRAL'S SECRET'
(For Radio)
Cast: Edmund Gwenn, Hope Davey,
James Raglan, Abraham Sofaer, Au-
brey Mather, Agnes Imaly.
Director Guy Newall
Original Cyril Champion
Scenario Fowler Mear
"TANGLED EVIDENCE "
Cast: Judy Kelly, Dorothy Boyd, Der-
ina Craig, Sam Livesay, Edgar Nor-
folk, Margaret Yard, Michael Ho-
gan.
Director George Cooper
Story by Champion De Crespigny
"SAFETY FIRST"
Cast: Henry K£ndjll, Kenneth Kove,
Nancy O'Neill, HjI Walters, Vera
Bogetti, W:,lly P.;tch.
Director Leslie Hiscott
Original Screen Play
Michael Barringer
Photography Alex Bruce
British and International and
Welwyn Studios
Executive Producer.. John Maxwell
Scenario Editor Walter Mycroft
"THE OUTCAST "
Cast: Leslie Fuller, Jane Carr, Wallace
Geoffrey, Daphne Courtenay, Pat
Ahearne, Moore Marriott.
Director Norman Lee
Screen Play: Sidney Courtney, Lola
Harvey, Norman Lee.
Photography J. Wilson
"CONTRABAND "
Cast: Greta Nissen, David Manners,
Camilla Horn, Clifford Mollison.
Director Robert Milton
Production Manager John Harlow
Play by.-.. Commander Horton-Giddes
Photography Friese Green
"THE MAGISTRATE"
Cast: Will Hays, Iris Hoey, Angela
Baddley, Claude Allister, Wally
Patch, John Miles.
Director Thomas Bentley
Play by Arthur Pinero
Photography Otto Kanturek
"OVER THE GARDEN WALL "
Cast: Marian Marsh, Bobby Howes.
Director John Daumery
Story by H. F. Maltby
"LOVE AT SECOND SICHT"
Cast: Marian Marsh, Ralph Ince.
Director Dr. Paul Marzbach
Photography Jack Cox
Sweeping The Industry
Everyone Is Talking
The Wise Ones Are
Changing To
De Long
NUCHROMATIC MAKE-UP
Its Use Is INEVITABLE
WHY NOT START NOW?
De Long
MAKE-UP STUDIO
Complete Make-Up Service
5533 Sunset (Near Western)
GLadstone 8140
EXECUTIVES FORGET
They Must Be Constantly Reminded
WRITTEN BY ?
Those are magic words.
BUT BY WHOM?
The men at the head of studios
must be reminded of who wrote
what. They must constantly be
told that this or that writer ac-
counted for this or that yarn.
Agents are supposed to, and
generally do, but
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
ANNUAL WRITERS' NUMBER
tells them every day, because it
is referred to when a writer's
name is brought up for
CONSIDERATION. . . .
THERE IS TOO LITTLE SCREEN
CREDIT ACCORDED WRITERS.
If you want your work known,
tell them in the FOURTH AN-
NUAL WRITERS' EDITION. It
will tell them, and tell them
every day.
OUT SOON
(Early In The Morning)
MFTRO-GO:,D'AYM-\'AYFR STUDI03,
% MP.SAK'UKL V.ARX,
CULVFR CITY.CAMr .
Vol. XIX. No. 22. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, February 6, 1934
VMlk. GETTING I^EIIEf
• IT seems that all of the motion pic-
ture industry, its trade press and the
newspapers of most of the big cities
have combined to help Sam Coldwyn
put over Anna Sten as a star and sell
her first picture "Nana" to the public.
There has been some adverse criti-
cism of both Sten and the picture,
but very little in comparison to what
has been written in favor of both.
Just how good the picture is, we can't
say, as we have not seen it; but we
believe Sten has great possibilities in
pictures from patches of "Nana" we
saw some time ago.
But the fact remains that Coldwyn
himself is leaving nothing unturned in
his effort to put both the star and the
picture over. He is spending money
like a drunken sailor. His newspaper
space in New York and Chicago set
him back a cool $35,000, his other
expenses (which he has tacked to the
production cost) will run his exploita-
tion bill up to $200,000. Is Sam do-
ing this because he has some doubt
about both picture and star and feels
that such expenditures are required to
protect his huge investment, or does
he believe in Sten and her future and
see in "Nana" an opportunity to
launch her on both feet with a bang?
Take your pick, but either way you
have to take off your hat to Cold-
wyn; you have to place him at the
top of producers for his showmanship,
backed by a gambling instinct and the
nerve to bet his dough, that is match-
ed by no other firm or individual in
this business. Whether Coldwyn is
right or wrong, whether he has a good
or bad picture, whether Anna Sten is
a star that will sell, can only be an-
swered by the customers who walk up
to the box office and pay to see her
and the picture she is in.
The business at the Music Hall in
New York is not a fair test, not with
what Coldwyn and RKO had to pay
out to get that amount in; nor does
the V'take" at the United Artists
Theatre in Chicago mean a great deal.
The answer will be from now on, in
the big and small towns.
We hope for Coldwyn's sake that
he is right, because being right in this
instance will encourage him to create
other personalities and put just as
nnuch money into other pictures. This
industry needs both.
Loew Profits Jump
New York. — Loew's, inc., re-
port for the twelve weeks ended
November 23 shows a net profit of
$1,594,608, which is double the
business for the same period last
year.
Powell Stands Pat
On $60,000 Per Pic
William Powell is preening his
feathers standing pat in the big money
class. Player has tilted the ante on
his services to $60,000 per picture,
one major studio dropping negotiations
with him when he stuck -to his de-
mand.
However, MCM is cooking up a
deal with him to take the top spot in
the Dashiell Hammett story, "Thin
Man," which the Cosmopolitan unit
is handling.
Lou Diamond Arrives
Lou Diamond, Paramount shorts
subject manager and executive of the
Famous Music Publishing Company,
arrived in Hollywood yesterday. Some
rumors that his visit may see a shake-
up in the Paramount short subject
producers.
Postpone Next Dressier
Feeling that Marie Dressier is not
welt enough to do the subject at this
y<\xr\Q, MCM yesterday shelved plans
for "Comin' 'Round the Mountain."
Kaufman-Hart Due Feb. 12
Ceorge Kaufman and Moss Hart
arrive here February 1 2, then go to
Palm Springs to confer with Sam Har-
ris on a play which they are writing.
MOVIES DUE
WHE]\ 'ROSY'
Washington. — Prepare for headlines
that will blast the picture business
from all angles. Sol Rosenblatt, arriv-
ing here today, said that the salary
questionnaires were coming in satis-
factorily, and as soon as they were all
in he would compile them and make
CENERALITIES PUBLIC.
Newspapermen are sharpening their
pencils over the headline prospects of
these generalities.
Of interest to easterners in connec-
tion with Rosenblatt's return was a
confirmation of the fact that the
General Boost in Business Plus
Trustee Help and Aid of Banks
Will Speed Receivership Relief
New York. — Every indication points to Paramount releasing
itself from its receivership burden before many months have
passed. This is shown by the recent actions of the court in
granting most every request the organization has made. Also
that the "wreck or ruin" front that
Radio Talking Deal
WithPandro Berman
was maintained by most every bank
having any financial interest in the
company has been changed to one of
constructive help.
The reason for all of this is the
progress being made by Paramount in
twisting itself out of one of the worst
tangles that ever beset a big business.
This has caused astonishment within
(Continued on Page 1 >
Sam jaffe Will Also Do
Producing at Columbia
In addition to his other duties as
assistant to Sam Briskin at Columbia,
Sam jaffe will produce a group of pic-
tures. He is now looking for mate-
rial for Carole Lombard, Elissa Landi
and jack Holt.
Selznick Trip Off
The Mexican trip of David Selznick
with a print of "Viva Villa" has been
called off and the producer is now
only planning his trip east before the
end of the week for a chance to see
the New York shows.
Captain Fawcett Here
Captain Roscoe Fawcett arrives to-
morrow for a short stay out here.
Fawett publishes Hollywood Movie
Novels, Screen Book and Screen Play.
FOR PA]V]\Ii\G
TELLS IT ALL
members of the Code Authority will
have to hire their own attorneys to
defend any suits and the smug state-
ment that he himself would probably
be defended by a special assistant to
the Attorney General, plus the serv-
ices of the NRA legal division.
Rosenblatt had a grip full of re-
ports and data, but said he had reach-
ed no conclusions regarding anything.
He said he had found producers and
creators very cooperative, but admitted
that he got more information from
private confidential talks than from
any of the open meetings.
Radio and Pandro Berman are in a
huddle regarding the new production
set-up at the studio. McDonough
wants to revamp the contract of Ber-
man's providing for all the new fea-
tures of the unit production deals that
his organization will hand out.
It is understood that just as soon as
Berman is in line, McDonough will go
into similar conferences with the
other producers, on and off the lot,
whom he hopes will make up the pro-
duction personnel of Radio for the
next twelve months.
Carroll's First Fox To Be
'International Cavalcade'
New York. — According to state-
ments here Madeleine Carroll's film
to be made in Hollywood for Fox will
be "The World Moves On," an origi-
nal by Captain Reginald Berkely, de-
scribed as an "international Caval-
cade." John Ford expected to direct.
Zanft List Crows
Major John Zanft is letting no
grass grow under his feet. Yesterday
he signed Ceorge O'Brien and Hans
Schwartz, the latter well known Ger-
man stage director here for Fox, to
managerial contracts. Added to Ma-
rie Dressier this gives Zanft a start
for his list.
Elder Laemmie Returning
Carl Laemmie leaves New York by
train Friday, arriving here next Tues-
day. He will have been away for a
little over two weeks. Carl Laemmie
Jr., who left at the same time, re-
mains in New York for a week or two
more.
Gene Fowler Back
Gene Fowler is back in town to
start work on the screen play of "P.
T. Barnum" that Twentieth Century
will produce.
MANACtMtNT
CLYDE B R DC KM AN - Director - Small-landau CO.
Page Two
Feb. 6, 1934
IFORlTil^
vv. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOUywood 3957
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Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat:
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter |une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
So all day yesterday the M-G-Mers
were going mad trying to find Carbo
— the plane companies said she was
flying east, and the train company re-
ported her as having "gone through"
Philadelphia! And besides — her phone
didn't answer! ... A wire from the
Ric Cortezes says they've aged ten
years trying to do everything in New
York in ten days. . . . Vivienne Segal
and Danny Danker continue to coo.
. . . Marie Hammans is in town.
•
No truth to the rumors that the ex-
Mrs. Maurice Chevalier is coming here
for ze beeg reconciliation. . . . The
Clark Gables got to fooling with the
Indians at Albuquerque and missed
their train and had to hop a plane to
catch up with it! . . . Warren William
took first prize at the Mike Levee
dog party with his six wire-haired
pups. . . . Jeanette MacDonald over
the flue attack. . . . Frank McHugh
off to Frisco for a personal appearance
with "Fashions of 1934." . . . The
Stu Erwins (June Collyer) getting
ready to redecorate after that fire that
singed their house. . . . Ruby Keeler
has left the Town House to move in
with her Ma — wot with Al away and
all. . . . Irene Barrymore, well again,
is with Lionel in Baltimore.
•
Kay Francis figured in a very neat
auto smash-up Saturday when a very
drunken driver ran into her car and
it just folded up! . . . Raoul Walsh
and Jimmy Manatt, photographing
"Operator I 3," are suffering with
"poison oak." . . . Gracie Allen (in
high!l picking the mannequins apart
at Howard (3reer's Spring showing
Sunday. . . . Hedda Hopper, Blossom
Seeley, Travis Banton, the Bruce
Cabots, Sari Maritza, the Walter Pidg-
eons, Lila Lee, also looking the styles
over. . . .' Don't be surprised if a
much-publicized wedding never comes
off . . . and we don't mean Lola Lane
and Al Hall^-Jiut that won't come off,
cither.^ ^The Ray Griffiths. will be
off tojL(^do§ an^ minute. .
ley
!>Ut!
UNITED ARTISTS' WORLD
ORGAIVTZATIOX COMPLETE
"United Artists has an office in ev-
ery country throughout the world for
the distribution of the product we will
release," said Joseph M. Schenck on
his return to Hollywood over the
week-end from a lengthy visit to Eng-
land, France and Italy.
Commenting on conditions in Eur-
ope Schenck stated "Europe has never
been so prosperous in so far as theatre
attendance is concerned. All the pic-
ture theatres are crowded and produc-
tion, particularly in England, is mak-
ing great advances. While in London
I completed all the details of the five
year contracts our organization signed
with London Films Productions and
British and Dominions Pictures. The
former will make at least four pictures
a year and the later will make twelve
a year for our distribution and I feel
that the product will measure up to
the best that is being made in Amer-
ica, as all British studios are making
great progress.
"British and Dominions," continued
Schenck, "are starting their new pro-
gram with 'Sons o' Guns' that will
co-star Jack Buchannon and Lily Da-
mita under the direction of Sidney
Lanfield. Douglas Fairbanks has com-
pleted the casting on his picture and
will start production in the next few
days.
" 'Catherine the Great' is one of the
greatest hit attractions ever to be
shown in Paris. It is playing at the
Miracle theatre to standing room only.
Elizabeth Bergner, co-starring with
Douglas Fairbanks Jr., in this picture,
is coming to America to do a picture
for Darryl Zanuck, but from the suc-
cess of her play, 'Escape Me Never,'
it looks as if it will be at least a year
before this will happen. London has
gone crazy over Miss Bergner and it
is impossible to get seats for that play
unless you plan many weeks ahead.
"The most remarkable thing I have
seen in motion pictures in many a
day," said Schenck, "is the quality of
the dubbing done in the foreign coun-
tries. It is amazing how they not only
match the lip movements of characters
speaking the lines but they match
their speaking voice as well. I saw
the French dubbed version of 'Henry
the Eighth' and it was astounding the
perfection that was obtained. If thi<;
could be done here in America with
such perfection, we would have some-
thing to feel proud of."
Mr. Schenck is leaving tonight for
a short stay in Mexico City. "After
that hectic European trip, I need a
rest," he said in answer to his reason
for going to the Mexican capital.
CAMERA UIVIOIV ROYS PEP
VP AFTER CREAT MEETING
The cameramen's union is not dead!
That was the feeling carried away
last night from what was described as
one of the most enthusiastic and har-
monious general meetings of Local
659, lATSE, held at the Hollywood
Chamber of Commerce.
The important news of the meet-
ing is the fact that to a man the
members left the meeting bubbling
over with a renewed enthusiasm, after
hearing a complete report of the af-
fairs of the union since the time the
late strike was called and the outlined
plan for a complete reorganization that
will give the union a new deal in exec-
utive set-up.
"We had expected at least a few
embarrassing questions from the floor
when the meeting was thrown open
and every man was told he had an
opportunity to speak," said President
Alvin Wykoff, "but not an embar-
rassing question was asked. There was
nothing but close-knit harmony and a
determination to go forward and for-
get the discouragements of the past."
Among the details of the meeting
were the following:
The members voted recognition to
those men who, while not members of
the union, refused to take positions as
strike breakers during the strike.
Many of them are applying for mem-
bership. The board of executives will
be allowed to accept them now.
The financial report revealed that
the late strii<e cost the union much
less than $10,000, and that the union
tojLAdol an^ minute. . ..., Shir-
Ross^attd^Teddy -Newton' «t*p#ing-
V:.JiJkilOi :V-m'-li(1^11M>l,Ti-JlL-
A large steering committee was
authorized to assist in the working out
of the plans for reorganization of the
union. The members urged that plans
aiming to secure an amendment of the
NRA Code to secure greater spread
of employment.
Those men who because of lack of
employment have been unable to meet
their dues payments, have been taken
care of in a manner satisfactory to all
members, assuring them of protection.
All members were urged to forget
the animosities that developed during
the strike. They were urged to for-
get them, forget the fact that the
strike had been lost. But to remem-
ber that the union had not been an-
nihilated, and to devote efforts to
building for the future and developing
a spirit of cooperation that would not
only extend throughout their own
ranl<s, but into the ranks of the pro-
ducers as well.
'Beloved' in Filmarte
"Beloved," Universal's musical with
John Boles and Gloria Stuart in the
lead, opens next Friday for an extend-
ed run at the Filmarte. This is the
first American picture to play the
house in over six months. Last Uni-
versal musical at the theatre, "Be
Mine Tonight," set a Hollywood rec-
ord, running 1 7 consecutive weeks.
Mrs. Langdon Asks 21 C
■'White Plains, N. Y. — ^Mrs. Helen
Walton Langdon, wife of Harry Lang-
is in excellent financial condition. ••BMutdoa, obtained judgment against him
There are four hundred members in for $21,078.57 in Supreme Court
good standing, and sins^thfe stjika */ hesre. Repre6grtts ^^ajlegedf'. ur^aid alii
there Viavebeen but thre«''rtstgr>8>3n! ' ^nffeny since Ma^Gff,A9S2,^a«raitoijnsei.
.and two expHlsu?g^,^^a-,sg«^.^,,^js^gi,^ggg,^,^^
ASC Starts Rotating
Plan to Spread Work
The American Society of Cinema-
tographers has adopted a work rota-
tion system by which it is hoped to
bring about greater spread of employ-
ment among Hollywood cameramen
who are not under direct contract to
studios. System is to rotate work on
a basis of actual productions rather
than hours or weeks.
A rotating list of members of the
society has been prepared, and the
major studios are obtaining all photo-
graphic personnel through the society.
When a call comes in either for an
individual or a crew the ASC office
submits names at the head of its list.
As members finish assignments they
report back and names are placed at
bottom of list. Such plan, members
of ASC feel, will equalize employment
to a high degree.
Ambassador Dinner Dance
For The Sheltering Home
The Junior Auxiliary of the Hebrew
Sheltering Home, headed by Mrs. L.
B. Mayer, Mrs. Ida Cummings and
Mrs. Jack Stodel, will give a dinner
dance at the Cocoanut Grove Sunday
evening, all the proceeds to go to the
hospital unit of that organization.
Edgar Allan Woolf will be in charge
of the floor show that will comprise
many of the most prominent stars in
the studios.
Schubert Joins Lesser
Sol Lesser yesterday signed Bernard
Schubert to collaborate with Margue-
rite Roberts and Eddie Cline, the di-
rector, on the script of "Peck's Bad
Boy." Jackie Cooper has the lead,
having been borrowed Saturday from
MGM for the spot.
lOVE
KNOWS NO
LAW IN THE
, JUNCLI
I
Jf^ *■ f«!
Available for State Right Market
Communicate with
IDEAL PICTURES CORP.,
729 Seventh Avenue, New York City
M. J. Kandel, President
Cable Kandelfilm, New York
NOW
Los Angeles Sees Her For the
First Time!
ANNA STEM
'TEM PEST"
with
EMILJANNINGS
PRESIDENT THEATRE
,9' »■ aBroadway near Eighth \
>f tl Miv6272 ; J ;
Feb. 6, 1934
Page Three
Frank Joyce
London. — Frank Joyce, of the
firm of Selznick and Joyce, vehe-
mently denies that he has taken
out his first citizenship papers to
become a British citizen, spats,
cane and all.
"It's one of those Hollywood
wisecracks," said Joyce.
RADIO'S 'LONG L0:§;T FATHER'
HACKNEYED FORMULA YARN
All Concerned
Waste Efforts
"LONG LOST FATHER"
(Radio)
Director Ernest B. Schoedsack
Story C. B. Stern
Screen Play Dwight Taylor
Photography Nick Musuraca
Cast: John Barrymore, Helen Chandler,
Donald Cook, Natalie Moorhead,
Alan Mowbray, E. E. Clive, Doris
Lloyd, Adele Thomas.
"Long Lost Father" doesn't merit
any particular enthusiasm, despite the
distinguished presence of John Barry-
more, and sincere efforts on the part
of Helen Chandler and Alan Mowbray
to play uninspired roles.
It seems to be one of those cases
of a splendid story — if you were to
read it, or hear it told — but the type
of story that eventually you decide
should not have been made into a
picture. It just doesn't "jell" on the
screen.
The story gives us Barrymore as a
glorified head waiter or captain in
the popular Happy Hour Cafe, owned
by Alan Mowbray. Barrymore, who
had deserted his wife and daughter
on his fourth wedding anniversary,
meets the daughter, now Helen
Chandler, in a lawyer's office during
the reading of a relative's will.
The daughter is bitterly resentful
of Barrymore, which gives us our the-
atrical situations when she is later en-
gaged to dance in his cafe. A rigama-
role of smart society stuff (treasure
hunt, ol' deah, you know) and all that
finds Helen, accused of a robbery,
about to lose her fiance, Donald Cook,
and finally saved by the distinguished
John Barrymore.
The entire production gives the
feeling of a short budget job just turn-
ed out to make a picture. Ernest
Schoedsack, with so much ability on
the sincere, open-handed type of pic-
ture, seems wasted directing a hack-
neyed story about uninteresting peo-
ple. We won't attempt to divide the
blame between Dwight Taylor and the
ortginal author for a dull vehicle.
Doug Senior Named in
English Divorce Suit
London. — Lord Ashley, heir to the
Earl of Shaftesbury, yesterday filed
suit for divorce from Lady Ashley,
naming Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Lady
Ashley is the former Sylvia Hawkes,
blonde British actress. As papers in
suit were sealed, charges are not made
public.
Sport News
Just to keep this industry up
with the important news of the
film world we wish to chronicle
that Universal's basketball team
defeated the Los Angeles Junior
College last night by a score of
39-21. A tough game looms up
for Universal February 12 against
the Firestone five, champions of
Southern California.
Child Claims Specific
Instances of Plagiarism
New York. — James Hagan, author
of "One Sunday Afternoon," has en-
tered a general denial of plagiarism to
the suit of Richard Washburn Child.
But the latter is understood to claim
that his legal papers will list eleven
specific instances of plagiarism.
Paramount is an innocent party to
the suit, having bought the play and
made it into a picture.
Rip Tide' Is Now
^'Lady Mary's Lover'
JPhe title of the Metro-Coldwyn-
^'fAayer production of "Rip Tide" has
been changed to "Lady Mary's Lover."
Levine to Sennett's
Nat Levine has closed a deal with
Jed Buell for the rental of space at
the Mack Bennett studio and will pro-
duce the next Mascot serial there.
Picture, which is untitled, will feature
Clyde Beatty and his Hagenbeck and
Wallace circus animals.
Edna Reid Here for U.A.
Edna Reid, well known New York
beauty, arrived here yesterday on a
six months' ticket with United Ar-
tists, and will probably step into the
Cellini story "Firebrand" for her first
attraction.
Arno Gets Bequest
Peter Arno, cartoonist, will receive
$20,000 from the estate of his father,
former Supreme Court Justice Curtis
A. Peters, according to will just made
public.
Hayward in Town
Leiand Hayward is back in town
for an indefinite stay in connection
with the Selznick-Joyce and his own
agency.
HAYS CROVP
GIVES BREGi^
The Association of Motion Picture
Producers held its annual meeting yes-
terday and relected the officers who
served last year. They are: Louis B.
Mayer, president; Jack L. Warner, 1st
vice-president; Winfield R. Sheehan,
2nd vice-president; Fred W. Beetson,
secretary and treasurer.
At the meeting it was announced
that Joseph I. Breen has been appoint-
ed to represent Will Hays and the
Motion Picture Producers and Distrib-
utors of America on matters pertain-
ing to the Production Code and the
Advertising Code.
The entire Board of Governors was
reelected, with only one change, that
'M'Lord, The Duke'
Twixt Good and Bad
"M'Lord, The Duke," which made
its bow on the Hollywood Playhouse
stage last night, is amusing in
a disconnected sort of way. It is of
more importance as a reminder that
this type of comedy, which the movies
have neglected for several years, may
still be worth doing — and be the bet-
ter for being half forgotten by audi-
ences. In this instance Norman Can-
non's dialogue must be praised for its
part in creating an atmosphere of
1934, albeit he was not so fortunate
in the other departments of his play.
Several sequences, as well as the sec-
ond and third acts, were quite with-
out connection.
E. E. Clive has done an excellent
and not un-difficult job in reconciling
his comedy Englishman with a public
conception which has undergone con-
siderable enlightenment in this re-
spect in the past ten or twenty years.
As the unintelligibly garrulous Lord
Spendlove he creates and defines a
character which in less able hands
might have been pretty awful. Zeffie
Tilbury, as his mother-in-law, receives
the best of the remaining dialogue and
handles it with an effectively gruff
sort of care. Arthur Treacher has a
part which keeps him busy figuring
opportune entrances and exits, while
maintaining the supercilious near-idi-
ocy of a expressionless English gen-
tleman of leisure. He does it very
well. Peggy Campbell brings fresh-
ness and a degree of charm to an in-
genue role which permits her to do
nothing else. John Stanhope was han-
dicapped by his drooping spurs and the
fact that he was not allowed to open
his mouth until the middle of the sec-
ond act, but it must be said for him
that he sincerely strove to make up
for lost time.
Such pieces of the plot as can be
located concern a movie company
which hire an Englishman's castle for
their set, and find that their star once
rescued his Lordship's daughter from
some water around Deauville. In jus-
tice to E. E. Clive's stage direction, he
did everything he could to make this
stretch out for three acts, but the task
was quite impossible.
STAIVDS PAT;
XEW POWERS
being R. J. Obringer chosen to repre-
sent First National in place of Darryl
Zanuck. The personnel of the board
follows: Harry Cohn, Columbia; E. H.
Allen, Educational; Winfield R. Shee-
han, Fox; Hal Roach, Hal Roach stu-
dios; W. R. Frazer, Harold Lloyd Cor-
poration; L. B. Mayer, Metro-Cold-
wyn-Mayer; Emanuel Cohen, Para-
mount; B. B. Kahane, RKO; Carl
Laemmie, Jr., Universal; Jack L. War-
ner, Warner Brothers; R. J. Obringer,
First National.
The work of the past year was
unanimously approved and the same
sized budget voted for the coming
year. ^
By BURNEY
New York takes a trip around the
country and abroad. Let's see what
we can find. From Paris comes a
startling bit of news to the effect that
Henri Littiere, a baker, was sentenced
to three months in prison and fined
500 francs for cruelty to his wife. He
forced her to wear a medieval "chas-
tity belt." (It's too bad if this be-
comes a Hollywood custom). If you
think Henri had the wrong idea, listen
to what Juliette, his wife, had to say:
"Henri may be slightly crazy, but I
am, too. I can't look at any man
without following him."
•
Right on the heels of this quaint
Parisian episode is a Budapest dispatch
dealing with a program adopted by
the Society of Awakened Magyars
(Hungarian Nazis). The program
suggests that every girl upon reaching
the age of 1 2 shall be put in a chastity
belt. The father is to keep the key
until the marriage contract is signed,
when it is to be turned over to the
husband. The return to Medieval
life via the restriction of personal lib-
erty ought to be some fun, kid!
•
Returning to the good old U. S. A.
R. (not the Union of Socialist Ameri-
can Republics) but the U. S. A. Roose-
velt— we learn that the Government
has just organized 1 ,500,000 tramps
(transients to you) into camps where
they are being clothed, fed, housed
and kept going. These people who
have been wandering back and forth
across the land are now lodged in 261
lodging centers and 27 work camps
already set up in 44 states. The tran-
sients receive no pay but are allowed
approximately 90 cents a week for
spending money. Hurry, hurry, the
line forms on the corner of Hollywood
and Vine.
•
From Chicago comes news of a
novel scientific test conducted by C.
W. Muehlberger, a coroner's chemist,
who has established the various de-
grees of intoxication — follow closely —
Dry and Decent: Less than one milli-
gram of alcohol in the blood; Devilish:
One to two, milligrams; Delinquent
and Disgusting: Two to three milli-
grams; Dizzy and Delirious: Three to
four milligrams; Dazed and Disgusted:
Four to five milligrams, and Dead
Drunk: Any amount over five milli-
grams. Boy, see what the blokes in
the back room will have.
•
And finally to cap the day's journey
we offer a theme for the great Ameri-
can novel (the universal Nobel prize
theme) . . . the saga of an American,
Addie Crawford, who arrived at a farm
in Tennessee after walking 100 miles
in a week and asked permission to
sleep in the barn. A short time later
a cry came from the corn crib . . . the
good Samaritan who gave Addie shel-
ter found her there clutching a new-
born babe, protecting it from the cold
in her ragged coat. Addie had been
deserted by her husband in North
Carolina and had started out in search
of assistance from a grown son. . . .
Mother and child are doing well . . .
and so will you if you write that novel.
ROBERT LORD
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
AS THE EARTH TURNS
n
A Warner-First National Production
ERNEST PASCAL
W
SCREEN PLAY
AS THE EARTH TURNS
Sensational
Child Actress
of the year
DOHOTHV GHAY
playing
Bunny Shaw in ''AS THE EARTH TURNS
Dorothy Smith in "MEN IN WHITE"
ff
"The cast is big and fine . . . Dorothy
Cray does an outstanding piece of
juvenile work."
— Variety, January 26. 1934.
"And the children are marvelous,
Dorothy Cray especially."
— January 26, 1934.
Management: Frances Bailie
''Direction and players excellent . . .
particularly little Dorothy Cray . . .
very good.
— L. A. Examiner, February 4, 1934.
CLARA BLANDICK
as "CORA SHA W in
''As The Earth Turns
A Warner Bros. -First National Production
If
Just Finished
playing
Ma Lovewell
in
"HAROLD TEEN"
Now Playing
Ma Fisher
in
"THE SH O W O F F'
"Clara Blandick as the
resentful stepmother of
his children engages
plenty of sympathy for
her unpleasant charac-
ter."
— Hollywood Reporter
Jan. 26, 1934.
Management
Harry Weber Agency, Inc.
ARTHUR HOHL
as "George" in
'As The Earth Turns"
'A Shiftless Idler Played Beyond Reproach byArthur Hohl"
— Hollywood Reporter, January 26, 1934
♦ A. »
Management
Wm. Morris Agency
Page Six
TH
i[i(P©lRTifR
Feb. 6, 1934
'THEODORA, THE QUEAN' HAS
'LYSISTRATA' PEPPED UP
Quainti?) Customs I Enterprise 'Nana' Still in High
Might Make Picture zukoynffce'y^Srln^^^^^ At Radio Music Hall
B>
"THEODORA, THE QUEAN"
JO Milward and ). Kerby Hawkes;
/presented and staged by Jo Gra-
ham; scenery by Yellenti; light-
ing by Louis Hartman. Cast:
Hitous Cray, Lina Abarbanell,
Harriet Freeborn, Sarat Lahiri,
Julia Colin, Tom Fadden, Robert
Anderson, Horace Braham, Caria
Cloer, Rex Ingram, Elena Mira-
mova, Paul Everton, Raymond
Jones, Raymond Bramley, Lester
Alden, Minor Watson.
New York. — "Theodora, the
Quean," or the saga of how a courte-
san became an empress. The authors,
Jo Milward and J. Kerby Hawkes, have
gone back to the Byzantium period,
where even then the Creeks had a
word for it. The producer, )o Cra-
ham, has given this a lavish produc-
tion with beautiful settings and long
flowing gowns. Elena Miramova, as
the young and beautiful circus girl,
is quite delightful, as she sets her
heart on becoming the empress and
does so too before the last curtain.
The authors, it seems, tried to im-
press the audience that being a Quean
(harlot, to you) in the old days was
a fine and honorable profession, and
they came quite near proving it to
us by having the most famous Quean
advance herself to position of Em-
press.
Theodora is the famous star of the
woman with a
and
as
circus. She is also a
great reputation and price,
such she is able to get nothing but
the best. She gives her favors for
emeralds and jewels until she meets
the Prince Regent Justinium, the next
in line for the throne, unless he is put
out of the way by Prince Hypatius,
who also aspires to the throne and
for the love of Theodora. Theodora
incurs the jealousy of the empress,
who immediately has her thrown into
a dungeon, whence she is rescued by
Justinium, the strong man of the coun-
try, who, although he is infatuated
with Theodora, cannot take her un-
less he wishes to do so as her equal.
So great is Theodora's love for Jus-
tinium, that she forsakes the circus
and the pleasures of other men for a
quiet and simple life in the country,
hoping for the time when Justinium
will call for her.
justinium comes to Theodora and
later, while he is bathing, word comes
to her that the Emperor, who has been
ill a long while, has finally died and
that Prince Hypatius has seized the
throne. However, Theodora is equal
to the situation and she drugs Jus-
tinium and has him brought to her
dressing room beneath the circus.
Playing for time until Justinium can
rouse himself from the effects of the
drug, Theodora agrees to come to Hy-
patius. In the meantime, justinium's
legions arrive to save the day, which
ends in the death of Prince Hypatius
and the crowning of Theodora Em-
press.
Minor Watson is an honest and re-
liable Justinium. Horace Braham as
Hypatius is a bold and convincing
schemer. Yellenti sets and costumes
Enterprise
A young girl walked into Adolph
Zukor's office yesterday and asked
to see the Paramount head. Asked
what she wanted to talk about, she
replied: "I want to get picture
work." On being told she should
go to the casting department she
piped, "I have been doing that for
three years and have yet to get a
job, so I want to see the top boss."
'Cleopatra' Starting
Date Back 5 Weeks
Cecil B. DeMille has set back the
starting date of his next production
for Paramount, "Cleopatra," five
weeks due to story trouble. Jeannie
Macpherson is on the script.
This delay will enable Claudette
Colbert, who was to have started next
week in the title role, to play the lead
in "Honor Bright" before starting the
DeMille opus. Tay Carnett will direct
and Louis D. Lighten will supervist
Garbo Advance Sale
Tops at the Chinese
One of the best advance sales of
recent years has been realized at the
box office of the Chinese Theatre for
the opening of "Queen Christina" Fri-
day night.
The box office sold sixty-eight $5
ducats in a single hour yesterday
morning. Cittleson and Frankel, ticket
brokers, bought an additional 180
seats and the Lloyd Mitchel agency,
having agencies in out-of-town drug
stores, checked in with 63.
Looks like a sellout in another 24
hours.
Combell in Premier Lead
Premier yesterday signed Minna
Combell for the feminine lead oppo-
site Johnny Mack Brown and Virginia
Sale for a featured, spot in "Widows,"
which Sam Neufeld directs when it
goes into production tomorrow at the
Mack Sennett studios. Miss Sale was
set by Mitchell Certz of the Al King-
ston agency. Lucien Littlefield and
Judith Allen are also in the cast.
Holloway Starts Shorts
Sterling Holloway starts his three-
picture deal with Warren Doane, pro-
ducing shorts for Universal, today in
"Heartburn," which James W. Home
directs. Dorothy Christy, Gloria Shea
and Alene Carroll are also in the cast.
Wheeler- Woolsey on Way
New York. — Wheeler and Woolsey
leave for the coast by plane today.
Dorothy Lee must have cold feet, be-
cause she selected the train, leaving
also today.
by Helene Pons blend very well with
the production.
Picture angles are a problem. Some
oroducer could toy with the idea prof-
itably— if he has the secret of cleaning
it up — and is also not afraid of cos-
tume pictures. There is a "War-
rior's Husband" idea about it some-
where. But don't ask us where.
New York. — The picture that has
the eyes of all New York's showmen
and half the picture business on it,
"Nana," is showing surprising strength
at the Radio City Music Hall. To
date the Sam Coldwyn production has
checked in $66,200 at the box office
and has every indication of a week
that will range between $105,000 and
$110,000.
The picture business is watching
because of interest in Sam Coldwyn's
job of selling a new star. The weather
and the stay-at-home effects of a
pretty serious taxi strike must be fig-
ured in connection with the picture's
gross.
Thalberg Tries Again
Still dissatisfied with the story on
"Stealing Through Life," Irving Thal-
berg yesterday set Dan Totheroh on
the script to write a^ new screen play.
Rowland Brown is to direct, and Fran-
chot Tone takes top billing.
May Robson Clicks
New York. — May Robson is doing
so well on her personal appearance
here that MCM is shipping her down
to Baltimore and Washington for two
more weeks.
N. Y. Goes Limit on
'Moulin Rouge' Gag
New York. — If you want to appre-
ciate the circus feeling that is evident
in New York these days just begin to
check up on what will happen to the
"Moulin Rouge" troupe of Twentieth
Century's when it arrives here.
There will be a parade with police
motorcycle escort from the City Hall
up Broadway to Columbus Circle, a
ball at the Hotel New Yorker, and
the attendance of all the stars at the
opening of the picture at the Rivoli.
All this happens Wednesday.
Cameraman Gets Break
Lauron Draper, (first cameraman,
gets a break this week. Last night
he took off by airplane for Dartmouth
College, in the hills of New Hamp-
shire. There he will make an MCM-
Pete Smith short on the annual winter
sports. Break for him is that he will
make it all alone, with no director to
tell him what to do. Carried his script
in his pocket and rest is up to his
own judgment.
Lachman With Rowland
Marc Lachman has been engaged as
director of publicity and advertising
for William Rowland in the producer's
venture as a unit producer for Colum-
bia.
Barry Trivers Returns
Barry Trivers has returned from
New York. Writer was away three
weeks. Before he left, Trivers com-
pleted his work on "Redheads on Pa-
rade" for Jesse L. Lasky.
Sarah Padden
as
u
Mrs. Janowski
in
As The Earth Turns
rr
"Sarah Padden is satisfyingly emo-
tional as the Polish Mama who regards
the farm as an enemy."
— Hollywood Reporter, Jan. 26, 1934
NOW PLAYING
"All Men Are Enemies"
(FOX) George Fitzmaurice, Dir.
also
"Without Honor"
(WARNER BROTHERS)
JUST FINISHED
"David Harum"
James Cruze, Director
Management
HARRY WURTZEL, Inc.
Feb. 6. 1934
Page Seven
^'*'THE WIND AND THE RAIN"
/Play by Merton Hodge; presented by
George Kondolf and Walter Hart
at the Ritz; staged by Mr. Hart;
setting by Philip Celb. Cast:
Mildred Natwick, Lowell Gil-
more, Alexander Archdale, Frank
Lawton, Edward Raquello, Rose
Hobart, June Blossom, Charles
Campbell and Albert Whitley.
New York. — One often wonders
why a play can be a success in Lon-
don and just so-so in New York and
is forced to the conclusion that our
British cousins like their theatre very
scholarly and reserved— perfectly writ-
ten and acted — while we on the other
hand seem to prefer a drama that
moves and gets somewhere — charac-
ters who have depth and vitality and
fairly leap at you from the stage.
Otherwise, why is it that this play
which has run over 100 performances
abroad and which is played with utter
simplicity and naturalness fails to in-
trigue us? Lack of dramatic quality
is the answer.
The most that can be said for "The
Wind and the Rain" is that it is pleas-
antly diverting. It relates the experi-
ences of a group of medical students
at Edinburgh who face five or more
vears of humdrum quiet and absten-
tion from worldly pleasures.
Charles Tritton comes up from Lon-
don to qualify for his M.D., buoyed
by the love and financial support of
his mother, a London antique dealer,
and the loyalty of Jill, his boyhood
sweetheart.
At the Edinburgh boarding house
Mrs. McFie immediately takes her
boys in tow and provides for their tea,
porridge and beer. There Tritton
finds Gilbert, a perpetual student and
wastrel; John, an earnest chap and
friendly; Paul Duhamel, a Frenchman
who dabbles more seriously in love
and the study of human souls than he
does in medicine, and last but most
important, Anne. She is a sculptress
who has a studio in the town and is
one of Paul's friends.
In time their friendship ripens and
she comes to mean everything in
Charles' life. He is the type of young
man who needs the comforting and
guiding hand of a woman, or else go
to smash. Anne guides him spiritually
through his college years. Jill comes
up from London to visit Charles, the
net result of which is the realization
to both that they do not mean as
much to each other as they once did.
When Charles graduates, Anne
walks out of his life and prepares to
go home to her folk in New Zealand.
Charles goes to London, where his
mother is gravely ill. She dies and
he returns to Edinburgh to accept a
minor position on the faculty, and to
his intense surprise and delight finds
that Anne is still in Edinburgh. She
had stayed behind instead of sailing,
to stand by Charles in his bereave-
ment. He convinces her that Jill is
finally out of his life, that he cannot
go on with his career without Anne
and all ends well. Life at the board-
ing house resumes its routine as a new
^HAT, COAT,' ETC., JUST MISSES;
^WIND AND UAIW TOO PLACID
English Stage Hit Tip-Off But Is Tempting
Has Little for Pics J':i:^!^\:T'r^^t^:^::^ Bet for the Scre^
:'''\
Tip-Off
That studious looking gentleman
you see coming out of the Hunting-
don Library these days — if you ever
go near a library — is Howard Esta-
brook laying the foundation for
David Selznick's MGM picturi
"David Copperfield."
Mono. Starts Plan
To Build Star List
The inception of a plan to build up
its own personalities in seen in the
announcement from Monogram yes-
terday of the signing of Dixie Lee,
wife of Bing Crosby, to a five picture
deal. The Trem Carr organization,
with Lou Ostrow as executive produc-
er, has been confining past deals to
two picture arrangements.
Kay and Stuart set the deal for
Dixie Lee, who will make her bow in
"Manhattan Love Song," from story
by David Silverstein and Leonard
Fields, directed by Fields.
Para. Getting Relief
(Continued from Page 1 )
banking and financial circles and in-
stead of continually heaping their
path with stumbling blocks, as was
the case during the first six months of
their receivership, the same organiza-
tions and individuals are bending
backwards to get them out of the
bankrupt hands.
Referee Davis yesterday approved
the plan of the Paramount to spend
up to $500,000 to buy up claims
against some of Paramount bankrupt
subsidiaries. The Referee also approv-
ed the expenditure of $175,000 to
pay up the back taxes of the Seneca
Holding Corp., which controls the Cri-
terion theatre property. This after the
National City Bank and the Farmers
Trust Company had shown their in-
clination temporarily to withdraw their
$4,000,000 claim against the Seneca
Corporation, for at least six months,
with the belief that by that time
Paramount may be in the position of
either paying it off entirely or reduc-
ing this claim to a point that will
satisfy the banks.
Due to the above, it looks as if
Paramount will be able to jerk the
Seneca Corporation out of bankruptcy
making the first subsidiary to get that
whitewash.
student arrives to live over the same
years as his predecessors. That is all
there is to the tale.
Contributing beautiful perform-
ances are Frank Lawton, the actor
who appeared in "Cavalcade," as
Charles; Rose Hobart, who gives an
especially masterful portrayal of Anne;
June Blossom, who makes a beautiful-
ly vivacious Jill; Edward Raquello, as
the all-understanding French student;
Mildred Natwick, as the Scotch board-
ing house lady; and Alexander Arch-
dale, as the carefree eternal student,
and Lowell Cillmore, as John. The
picture possibilities are meagre.
"A HAT. A COAT, A CLOVE'
Crosby Gaige and D. K. Weiskoff pr
sent "A Hat, a Coat, a Glove,
new play in three acts adapted
from an original work of Wilhelm
Speyer by William A. Drake;
staged by Crosby Gaige and Rob-
ert C. Fischer; settings by Aline
Bernstein, at the Selwyn Theatre.
With A. E. Matthews, Lester
Vail, Isabel Baring, Nedda Har-
rigan, Philip Van Zandt, Helen
Wynn, Boyd Irwin, George Ali-
son, Charles G. Johnson, Horace
Casselberry, George W. Williams,
Henry Brent, Clare Woodbury,
D. J. Carew, Oscar Berlin.
New York. — When a play is able to
survive miscasting, a wrong tempo and
a subtle emasculation of its theatri-
cal effectiveness, that play must have
an inherent vitaity, a vitality implicit
in its writing and in its idea. Not
that "A Hat, a Coat, a Glove" is to
be considered a great opus in any
sense of the word, but William Drake's
rendering of this transplanted work
does present, in our estimation, as neat
a piece of intelligent dramatic crafts-
manship as has been witnessed on the
boards this season.
A hat, a coat, a glove — these are
the only clues to a killing that has
taken place in the studio apartment
of Jerry Hutchins, who had fallen in
love with Felicia Mitchell, estranged
wife of Robert Mitchell, a celebrated
criminal lawyer. In the opening act
Mitchell, during the absence of Hut-
chins from his apartment, has the mis-
fortune of accidentally encompassing
the death of Ann Brewster, a prosti-
tute whom Jerry had thwarted in an
attempt at suicide. Thereafter, to
save the life of her lover who has
been accused of the crime, Felicia goes
to her husband, confesses the infideli-
ty he is already aware of, and pleads
that he undertake Hutchins' defense.
Mitchell agrees to, out of a great
love for his wife, and as a matter of
conscience. In a concluding court-
room scene Mitchell, making most in-
genious use of the hat, the coat, the
glove (m a manner not to be divulged
here) secures the acquittal of Hut-
chins— and wins back his wife.
A. E. Mathews, as Mitchell, though
splendid in sheer performance, con-
veyed the English barrister rather than
the native trial lawyer as we know
him. Nedda Harrigan, as his wife,
was emotionally lacking. Robert Ross,
as the prosecuting attorney, also left
something to be desired. As the
prostitute Isabel Baring did a good
job of it. The same can be said of
Lester Vail, as the wife's lover.
Picture companies will be interest-
ed in "A Hat, a Coat, a Glove" I in-
cidentally an intriguing title), re-
ga'rdless of its New York fate, because
all the ingredients of an entertaining
box office picture are there.
Zellner on 'Fashions'
Arthur Zellner leaves for San Fran-
cisco tomorrow to handle special ex-
ploitation on Warners' "Fashions of
1934."
V/ellman on 'Barb. Coast'
Sam Goldwyn is going ahead on
p!ans for Anna Sten's next, "Barbary
Coast," getting William Wellman
from Twentieth Century to direct and
signing a ticket with Dwight Taylor,
through Edington and Vincent, to
write the screen play.
New Tag for 'Boley'
MCM yesterday tore up Richard
Boleslavsky's contract and handed him
another ticket with a nice tilt in pay.
Director just completed "Men in
White" and is now on the added
scenes of "Mystery of the Dead Po-
lice."
Feg Murray Here for Look
Feg Murray gets into town tomor-
row from the east. Murray, who
draws "Seein' Stars" for King Fea-
tures, will give the studios the once
over in search for new ideas for his
feature.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
p/ HOLLYWOOD ^q.
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel In Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Spteial weekly and monthly ratet
The Plaza is near every-
thingto see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
Tha "Doorway oF Hospllality"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd
HOLLYWOOD
$1
f
2 7 4
i
ooo
WAS SPENT
DURING
1933
BY PRODUCERS IN
MAJOR STUDIOS
To make motion pictures out of the
original ideas of
GENE
GRAHAM
TOWNE ^ BAKEH
And the box-office grosses justified that
expenditure
- . .^■.iiJi'SKSi'^i^iJiS&Z
WFTRO-GOIiDlTM-MAYER STUDI03,
"X MR.SAVUEL MAPX,
CULVER CITY, CAM:-'.
Vol. XIX. No. 23. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday. February 7. 1934
I^ADIC LOT IN TIJI^MCIL
^\ W.R.WILKERSON
• IN a chat with Irving Thalberg yes-
terday he brought out the point that
whatever the hardships the NRA may
have heaped on this production indus-
try in additional salaries, shorter hours,
etc., etc., it was more than made up
through the fact that this same NRA
made it possible for a greater at-
tendance at the theatres, much great-
er than has been experienced in the
past few years.
This additional attendance has not
been brought on through better pic-
tures but because the majority of
working people have more free time
now to seek amusements, what with
the thirty or forty hour week, five
day working schedules, etc., etc. That
vast assemblage has not only the time
to go places and see things, but has
the money with which to do it.
Not only does this NRA make it
possible for people to have more time
to go to see the movies, but it has
caused more people to secure work,
enabling them to have the money to
spend for motion picture entertain-
ment, to such an extent when all our
NRA bills are paid the gross income
will balance that and give the com-
panies a handsome profit IF the stu-
dios here are able to turn out GOOD
PICTURES.
There is a greater audience wait-
ing for good pictures right at this
time than ever in the history of the
picture business. That big public, the
working man and his family, not only
has the money to go to the movies
but has the time to enjoy such recre-
ation.
So whatever may be the kicks from
this end on the additional costs with
which the NRA has burdened us, it
should be remembered that the same
NRA has made it possible for motion
pictures to run up a greater gross, and,
as a consequence, a far greater profit,
than has ever been possible before.
If producers here would only take
a little time off to digest the oppor-
tunities that are now offered for
GOOD PICTURES, if they would only
scan the pages showing money that is
being paid into box offices on hit pic-
tures, MAYBE there would be a great-
er effort towards making those hit
pictures. As it is, they are rushing
pictures into production that have no
chance to hit — thereby killing off the
great possibilities that are offered.
Radio Puts Ban On
Hepburn Personals
For $10,000 a Week
New York. — Katie Hepburn is do-
ing quite a burn due to the fact that
Radio has refused her permission to
accept a deal for personal appearances
with an initial five weeks and ten
more weeks in the offing at $10,000
a week.
Radio feels that the stage appear-
ance of Miss Hepburn did her enough
harm and that the personals in picture
houses would not be of any oenefit
to the star or the company. As a con-
sequence they have taken advantage
of a clause in their contract and turn-
ed thumbs down on the tour.
Columbia to Make 32
On 1934-35 Schedule
New York. — On Jack Cohn's return
here from Hollywood he announced
that his organization would produce
32 pictures during the next 12 months
and may take on from 6 to 1 2 out-
side pictures for their distribution.
Swanson in 'Widow*
/The latest report from the MGM
/TOt yesterday was that Gloria Swan-
son would likely play the lead opposite
Maurice Chevalier in "The Merry
Widow." One element in her favor
is the approval of the French star.
Roxy Listens to Offers
New York. — The deal for Roxy and
his gang at the Paramount didn't
reach the signing stage before other
circuits started bidding for the im-
presario and now everything is up in
the air while he listens to all.
Summerville in Hospital
Slim Summerville is at the Metho-
dist Hospital in Los Angeles suffer-
ing from nervous exhaustion. He is
under the care of Dr. C. W. Cook,
who has ordered him to remain there
for one month.
Hays Observed
Will H. Hays spent two days in the
Cedars of Lebanon Hospital undergo-
ing observations. It was a physical
ailment and had nothing to do with
censorship.
Zukor Off For East
Adolph Zukor left for New York
last night after a three week visit
here and will return on April 1 to go
over next season's program.
Cooper Departure Results In
Scramble For Top Post— Big
Bosses From yV K In A Daze
With Merian Cooper definitely out of the picture the Radio
lot is today "Any Man's Land." The producers who are not cer-
tain that they are "in right" are walking around with their fin-
gers crossed, and the ones who feel they are "set" have their
chests out to the point of demanding
all sorts of preferential treatment on
story selection and profit sharing deals
such as Merian Cooper had.
The net result of which is that the
New York big shots here to clear up
everything are in as big a daze as the
lowliest bystander. To give them a
(Continued on Page 7)
Radio To Release
Three For Cooper
Radio Pictures and Merian C.
Cooper have concluded arrangements
for the release of three pictures dur-
ing the next twelve months to be
made by that producer.
The first two have already been
announced — "The Last Days of Pom-
peii" and a picture on the life of Cecl
Rhodes, British hero. The third has
not been definitely decided on.
Public Scrambling
For Loew Stock
New York. — With 98,000 shares
being sold Monday and 58,000 shares
sold yesterday, there is every indica-
tion that the public is grabbing every
share of Loew's Inc. stock offered for
sale on the exchange at anything re-
sembling a fair figure.
The stock yesterday jumped to a
new high of $34 a share.
'Rosy' May Handle Taxis
Washington. — The possibility that
Sol A. Rosenblatt may be called to
New York to help settle the taxicab
strike there loomed today when Gen-
eral Johnson, head of the NRA, offered
Rosenblatt's services to Mayor La
Guardia. The taxicab and other
transportation codes are under Rosen-
blatt's supervision.
Eskimo' Hits High Week
MGM's "Eskimo" grossed $4400
for its first week's run at the Four
Star Theatre and started off on the
second week doing $1560 for Satur-
day and Sunday.
CWA To Help Find
Jobs for Cameramen
Assured of the backing of Governor
Rolph, officials of the cameramen's
union yesterday felt that they are
finally winning in their efforts to se-
cu'e cooperation of CWA in providing
employment for a large number of
cameramen now out of work. GovernOi
Rolph wired the CWA administration
in Washington urging that photog-
raphers be set to work making photo-
graphic record of CWA progress here.
Senator Hiram Johnson also backed
the idea.
Word has now been received from
Washington saying the matter has
been placed in the hands of the State
CWA. With Governor Rolph favoring
the p'O ect, cameramen hope some-
t ing will materialize shortly.
Radio Purchases 'Cay
Divorce' With Astaire
Ney/ York. — Radio today confirm-
^d-ffie purchase of the play "Gav Di-
vorc£.-_that served as a starring ve-
hicle for Fred Astaire both here and in
London.
Astaire will enact his stage role in
the picture and production will start
in March.
Shearer Illness Delays Pic
Due to the illness of Norma Shear-
er production of "Lady Mary's Lover"
has been held up for the past two
days at MGM. Picture is so far ad-
vanced that Director Edmund Gould-
ing cannot shoot around Miss Shearer.
Mono. Boys in Town
C. C. Ezell and W. E. Underwood,
Monogram franchise holders of Dallas,
arrived in town yesterday for confer-
ences with Trem Carr. They will be
here for ten days.
Cook Show Chi Hit
Chicago. — "Hold Your Horses," the
Joe Cook show now playing here, is a
smash hit, and is lining them up at the
box office.
E
- . . JUST COMPLETED
insworth Morgan screen play
The Tudor Wench"
Katharine Hepburn
RKO
I
Page Two
Feb. 7, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
'Jew York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N Michigan Ave : London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Crat'e-Ciel
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10 Foreign, $15
Single copies. Sc. Entered as second class
matter |une 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879
A famous and glamorous star, many
times wed, is about to relinquish her
most recent husband. We say "relin-
quish" because the lady has certainly
tried to make a go of this union — but
her patience has been sorely tried —
and there's a limit to everything it
seems — except the "chiseling" in-
dulged in by her present spouse. She
doesn't want to face the deluge of
publicity that is bound to follow the
break-up — nor does she hate her hus-
band— but things have gotten to the
point where she just can't stand much
more in the way of disappointment
and embarrassment. So it will surprise
us very much if the marriage lasts the
year out.
•
The Busby Berkeley-Merna Ken-
nedy wedding promises to be quite an
affair. It's the first church wedding,
with all the attendant ballyhoo, that
Hollywood has had for a long time.
M. C. Levee, we hear, is now in charge
of things, and hopes it will be very
"social." In other words, he's "run-
ning the show." Jack Warner will give
the bride away — but don't ask us
who's going to give Jack away!
•
Give an ear and die laffing! A
friend of ours was talking to a news-
hound who just returned from Sweden
and he says that the whole country is
so Carbo-conscious that they're des-
perate for more publicity angles on
her. While this news-hound was
there, one of the Stockholm papers
SCOOPED the whole town by printing
a beautiful photograph of the garbage
can that Greta's mother had used for
years!
And believe it or not, Si Seadler
just received a letter inclosing an ad
for a new refuse-container called The
Garb — O! Which is carrying things a
bit too far in the way of publicity —
or is it?
•
Seymour Robinson, who came here
from N'Yawk to pursue his writing,
has decided he wants to be a director
instead, and is putting on "The Ter-
rible Turk" at the Pasadena Playhouse
any minute. The play is all about Jed
Harris, we hear — which promises well
in the way of laffs. Besides, this is
"BELOVED "
Universal prod.; director, Victor Schertzinger; writers, Paul Gangelin and
George O'Neil; music, Victor Schertzinger and Howard Jackson.
Roxy Theatre
News: A romantic picture with a musical background. The accompaniment is
made up of lovely old-fashioned melodies beautifully played by a stringed
orchestra. The story covers a lengthy period and a good deal of ground.
The picture is too episodic to be really gripping, but each part is well acted,
with John Boles and Gloria Stuart acquitting themselves with honor.
Times: Too sad for comfort and too long for effectiveness. Victor Schertzinger's
music, although it is pleasant rather than striking, is superior to his sense
of drama.
Herald-Tribune: It is a sentimental story of the lush sort and its performance
sometimes verges onto burlesque, although it is evident Mr. Boles tried to
avoid this. Nevertheless, "Beloved" has that spark of feeling and emo-
tions worth dozens of technically perfect but cold pictures. Like "Little
Women" its charm is old-fashioned and its romance flowery.
World-Telegram: The film misses fire because of the way it has been reduced
to the stuff of pure and unadulterated hokum. When it was over I felt
nothing but melancholy regret for a fine idea gone wrong.
Journal: Since the scenario covers a great deal of time, the picture is unfolded
in an episodic manner and, while rather prolonged, is pleasantly told for
those who like nostalgic sentiment.
American: The tedious phases of the film are materially lightened by the fine
music with which the director has studded his story, but somehow the
play lacks the gripping quality necessary to hold audience attention through
lengthy sequences.
Mirror: Victor Schertzinger, the movies' only composer-director, put a great
passion for music into this ambitious musical film. It is a sensitive and
touching film, which has dignity, sweep and grandeur. An exhilarating
romantic theme, a pleasing musical score, inspired casting and tasteful
production raise it above the tawdry level of musical movies.
It is a large canvas, replete with costumes and flourishes, and parading
the pageant of America from the pre-Civil War days down to the present
time. For some reason or other it ought to be more exciting than it is.
One difficulty is that the picture seems to have been manufactured from
a set of blue prints designed to supply as much all-round entertainment as
could be crammed into a single story.
"Beloved" does have a certain charm; but its efforts to create illusion are
heavy-handed. It is a pretentious production, perhaps too pretentious
for such a well-known theme. Director, writer and actors treat it sol-
emnly. There is a stiff stagey air about the whole picture.
Post:
Sun:
Reginald Owen Has
Busy Signing Day
Radio signed Reginald Owen yes-
terday on a three-picture ticket, with
Universal duplicating the signing act
for one, both contracts being manipu-
lated by the William Morris office,
Owen's trio for Radio are "Stinga-
ree," "Dover Road" and "Devil's Dis-
ciple." Universal gets him for "The
Human Side."
Jack Grant Free Lances
Jack Grant, for the past five months
associate with Dorothy Donnell, west-
ern editor of Motion Picture and
Movie Classic magazines, resigned
yesterday, effective immediately. Grant
filled in for Miss Donnell last spring
when she went to Europe for a vaca-
tion. He will devote his time to free
lance magazine writing.
Quigley Arrives Today
Martin Quigley, publisher, arrives in
Hollywood today for a combined busi-
ness and vacation trip. He will leave
immediately for Palm Springs for a
week's stay, returning to Hollywood
for three weeks.
N. Y. Theatre Guild
Signs Mady Christians
New York. — The Theatre Guild has
signed Mady Christians, prominent in
motion pictures throughout Europe.
She will be presented in a group of
plays done by that management.
Hollytown Clicking
Leia Rogers' reopened Hollytown
Theatre has clicked with "Let He
Who Will Be Clever," the picture col-
ony in particular giving the piece a
play.
Bert Adier With Tower
New York. — Bert AdIer has joined
Tower Magazine organization as asso-
ciate editor in charge of promotion.
the play that George Jean Nathan
wrote a piece in praise of, after read-
ing the manuscript, even though the
show hasn't yet been produced in New
York.
.
C A R B O. . .
DIETRICH...
AND NOW...
ANNA STEM
Thrilling Los Angeles
'TEM PEST"
EMILJANNINGS
PRESIDENT THEATRE
Broadway near Eighth
Mi 6272
Walter Trumbel
Hays Contact Man
InHandlingCapitol
New York. — Walter Trumbel,
Washington newspaperman, has been
brought into the Hays organization.
He will act as the Hays contact in the
Capitol. Local office denies this, how-
ever, but acknowledges Trumbel will
be associated with the organization.
Acad. Technicians Open
Gates For Big List
Yesterday the Executive Committee
of the Technicians Branch of the
Academy recommended to the Board
of Governors that dues for members
of its branch be materially reduced as
of January 1, 1934. Recommend dues,
now $42 yearly for active members
be cut to $15 a year; associate mem-
bers' dues be cut to $10 yearly from
present $18, and initiation fee be cut
from $25 to equivalent of year's dues.
Lloyd Pic on Schedule
Sam Taylor is a week in work on
Harold Lloyd's "The Catspaw" and
hitting the schedule on the nail. This
is an unusual situation for a Lloyd
picture, the comedian in the past hav-
ing given little thought to schedules.
Zilburg Makes Another
Michael Zilburg, who financed and
produced on a shoestring the one-
reeler "Breakwater," which was pur-
chased by Warners, has just completed
his second titled "Bazaar."
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Feb. 7, 1934
Page Three
'BOLERO' SWELL PIC
•SPITFIRE' ALL
Raft, Lombard
Perfect Team
"BOLERO"
Paramount
Direction Wesley Ruggles
Authors Carey Wilson and
Kubec Clasmon
Adaptor Horace Jackson
Photography Leo Tover
Cast: George Raft, Carole Lombard,
Sally Rand, Frances Drake, Wil-
liam Frawley, Raymond Milland,
Gloria Shea, Gertrude Michael,
Del Henderson, Frank C. Dunn,
Martha Baumattre, Paul Panzer,
Adoiph Milar, Anne Shaw, Phil-
lips Smalley, John Irwin.
The Paramount picture "Bolero"
was made for George Raft, and George
Raft was made for "Bolero." So you
exhibitors have a humdinger of an at-
traction coming your way.
"Bolero" is not a great picture, but
it is a darn good picture. The in-
teresting thing about it is that it fol-
lows, emotionally and dramatically, the
musical tempo of the Ravel master-
piece that accompanies it. The end-
ing of the picture is ruthless and sadly
final, but it is logical and inevitable.
Just as the music starts, so does
the picture — George Raft trying to get
auditions, trying to get a break danc-
ing, trying to prove to someone what
he already knows — that he is the
greatest dancer that ever lived — and
meeting only discouragement. Then
it picks up; Raft gets a job dancing
in a beer garden, the tempo gets fast-
er; he and his partner are featured in
a night club, the rhythm is excited
and more pronounced. Then Europe,
big breaks, fame — and the war.
After the war, with lungs and heart
dangerously weakened. Raft opens his
own club, the fulfillment of his
dreams, but after dancing the strenu-
ous Bolero, the ambition of his life,
he suffers a heart attack and dies —
at the height of his career.
Raft gives everything he's got to
this role, and then some. His per-
formance is as perfect as his dancing.
Carole Lombard, who plays the only
one of his many partners whom he
really loved, will prove an agreeable
surprise to the public, for she also
dances excitingly well and her acting
contains a warm, languorous, sensuous
note that is fascinating. She and Raft
are a perfect team.
William Frawley, who has the part
of Raft's long-suffering, but under-
standing brother, is a definitely valu-
able discovery. His performance is
flawless and impressive.
Sally Rand and Frances Drake, two
of Raft's partners, are well cast, and
Miss Rand does her fan dance, which
is really lovely. Miss Drake scores well.
Raymond Milland, Del Henderson,
Martha Baumattre, Adoiph Milar,
Anne Shaw and Phillips Smalley are
all outstanding in small roles.
Wesley Ruggles directed masterful-
ly, drawing the picture to the same
high frenzy at the finish that so dra-
matically ends the music. Horace
Jackson's adaptation of the Carey
Wilson and Kubec Glasmon story is
skillful and his dialogue is clever. Leo
Tover's photography is in harmony.
'Mamy' Not Sure
When Rouben Mamoulian's
mother was approached with con-
gratulations on the (supposed)
marriage to Greta Garbo, she re-
plied, "Not yet, not yet. My son
has not made up his mind yet."
Mono's 'Beggars' Is
Top Notch Picture
"BEGGARS IN ERMINE"
( Monogram )
Directed by Phil Rosen
Novel by Esther Lynd Day
Adaptation Tristram Tupper
Photography Gilbert Warrenton
Cast: Lionel Atwill, H. B. Walthall,
Betty Furness, Jameson Thomas,
James Bush, Astrid Allyn, George
Hayes, Stephen Gross, Sam God-
frey, Lee Phelps, Clinton Lyie,
Sidney deGrey, Myrtle Stedman,
Gordon deMaine.
The best way to adequately describe
this picture is to say that if it had
been made by a major studio all ex-
ecutives who had anything to do with
it would be dropping in on the boss
today for a bonus.
"Beggars in Ermine" is a wow of
a picture from every point of view.
Lionel Atwill gives a magnificent per-
formance, at times an inspired per-
formance. He is surrounded by an ex-
ceedingly well-chosen cast. Phil Ro-
sen's direction is well nigh perfect,
and the story, while at first glance al-
most a bit too fantastic to be plausi-
ble, is so well done that you forget
plausibility and forget that it is a pic-
ture.
This picture has a wealth of pro-
duction value and atmosphere in the
first five hundred feet in which there
are steel mill shots that are magnifi-
cent. Starting with this atmosphere
the story swings immediately into ac-
tion, and there is no letdown until
the end. Tristram Tupper deserves
much credit for the adaptation, and
Gilbert Warrenton did an unusual job
of photography.
It is a story of big business, and a
double-crossing associate taking away
the steel mill from the man who has
built it up by honest effort. In order
to do it the mill owner is injured by
a startlingly real accident in which he
loses both his legs. And there the
fantastic yarn comes in, for he be-
comes a beggar, forms a beggar wel-
fare organization which later comes
to his aid with their savings and en-
ables him to get b?ck the mill. But
it is woven so well that you live
through it with Lionel Atwill. It is
box office. It deserves a showing in
any theatre.
H. B. Walthall, in the role of a
blind beggar, gives a sympathetic and
convincing performance. Betty Fur-
ness, while given but little to do,
does it very well. Jameson Thomas
handles the unsympathetic role of the
crooked mill associate with a convinc-
ingness that makes you hate him.
TURE;
IIEPBURIV
CromwelTs Work
And Cast Good
"SPITFIRE"
(Radio)
Directed by John Cromwell
From the play by Lulu Vollmer
Screen Play Jane Murfin
and Lulu Vollmer
Photography Eddie Cronjager
Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Robert
Young, Ralph Bellamy, Louis Ma-
son, Sarah Hayden, Virginia
Howell, Martha Sleeper, Sidney
Toler.
"Spitfire" (formerly called "Trig-
ger") will be a cheerful and tearful
picnic to the Hepburn fans. For
though the story is off the beaten path
of screen fare and offers much in the
way of naive charm and touching sin-
cerity, it is nevertheless a character
study. Whether or not a character
study, no matter how brilliant, is en-
tertainment for the great masses of
movie-goers we would hesitate to say
— but we will go on record with the
statement that Katharine Hepburn's
interpretation of "Trigger" is some-
thing to rave about, and one which
will add to her screen glory and thrill
her fans.
One cannot set down on paper the
very things that furnish "Spitfire's"
finest moments, without going into a
tedious description of its psychological
twists and turns. But it is easy to
tell of the beautiful shadings, the ut-
ter simplicity and depth that Hepburn
brings to the part of the mountain
girl (imbued with religious faith and
native intelligence) that make even
the most hackneyed situations in the
picture refreshing and real.
"Spitfire" was a swell choice of
character for Hepburn — and it will not
disappoint as such. But there is much
in the story itself which, though it is
sincere and beautifully done, is never-
theless in subject matter purely adult
in appeal, inasmuch as so many morons
will fail to see the very spirit in which
it is made, and probably take offense
at many of its nuances.
John Cromwell's direction is full
of first-rate technique and noticeably
charming touches. Though a trifle
slow in spots at preview, the picture
has been splendidly handled through-
out. Eddie Cronjager's photography
has given Hepburn "benefit of cam-
era" to her own great advantage, and
the screen play by Jane Murfin and
Lulu Vollmer rates bouquets, though
a trifle repetitious.
Outstanding performances in sup-
port of the star are those of Louis
Mason who rated a hand for his swell
work at last night's show — and well
he deserved it. Next comes Sarah Hay-
den who furnished the "comedy re-
lief"— only she's better than that.
Ralph Bellamy was excellent in a
straight role. Robert Young, Sidney
Toler, Virginia, Howell and others,
O. K: ' -■
Bill it for, by and with Hepburn —
she's the show!
By BARBARA BARONDESS
Ric Cortez having a fine time refus-
ing personal appearances — insists that
he IS on a real honeymoon. . . . Mary
Carlisle saw all of N. Y. in two days
with Louis Shurr. . . . Dorothea Wieck
is ready to put it on the dotted line
any moment — to do that play, "Waltz
in Fire," the David Hertz opus. . . .
they have been having so much dif-
ficulty casting it. . . . N. Y. seems
pretty swell with its new face on —
and I am tickled to be up to my knees
in snow. ... All the familiar faces
that I looked for in N. Y. and couldn't
find I suddenly remembered are all in
Hollywood. ... The one actress in
N. Y. whom everybody in Hollywood
thinks should be there is Eleanor
Phelps — but no one seems to do any-
thing about it.
•
David Manners, who is supposed to
be too ill to come back to Los Ange-
les, was at "As Thousands Cheer"
last night looking very fit. Dick and
Mary Wallace — have taken a pent-
house and it looks like that theatre
proposition is really going through. .
Lois Moran, whose name has been
coupled with many of the young
swains of New York since she desert-
ed Hollywood, is very much liked by
George S. Kaufmann.
•
Douglass Montgomery, who has
been three months looking for a play,
finally gave up in desperation and
signed a contract with Universal for
"Little Man, What Now?" and two
days later he found the part he has
been looking for all Winter
Kelcy Allen, one of New York's old-
est dramatic critics, made a faux pas
the other day — he has been having
trouble with one of his eyes and
couldn't see very well — so he walked
over to Sylvia Sidney and asked her
how she managed to get a mink coat
and do so well while she wasn't work-
ing. He was very much surprised at
the look he received, having mistaken
her for some one else.
•
Katharine Hepburn has been giving
out interviews saying she hates the
stage simply because she feels she is
taking an examination every perform-
ance. . . . Hooray for the movies —
Walter Winchell is anxious to get
back to the coast and expects to get
there this Spring. . . . Edith Roark,
one of the gals who was taken out
by George Raft once on a time, is do-
ing very well in and out of the Fol-
lies. . . . One of the N. Y. socialites.
Sailing Baruch, Jr., who is now in
Florida, has been plenty peeved at the
Jewish paper and herring he has been
receiving at milk man time at his
Palm Beach mansion.
When the Algonquin waiters sud-
denly went on strike, Dorothy Parker,
Alec Woollcott and a few of the other
steady inhabitants got up and waited
on the customers . . . they couldn't
let the Algonquin go to hell. . . Nate
Spingold, the new in-between man for
Columbia, is going South to catch his
breath.
A UNIVE'J
PRSI
CARLII
TWICE NIGHTLY (7 and 9) STARTING FRIDAY, FE
A B. F. ZEIDMAN
PRODUCTION
\RY 9 FILMARTE THEATRE (VINE AT LAMIRADA
Page Six
THE
Feb. 7. 1934
A.S.C. GOIXG IIVTO AGEXCY
BUSINESS FOR c :ameramei\
Film Colony Backs
Guild Stage Plan
ThreattoRegularsin
Lower Commissions
According to present plans which
are still in the formative state, the
American Society of Cinematogra-
phers will eventually branch out into
the agency business.
The plan is to set up a department
in the A.S.C. which will take over the
management of "ace"cameramen who
feel that an agent or manager can
take better care of their business re-
lations with studios than they can
themselves. The ASC will charge a
regular percentage commission same
as agencies handling other talent in
the industry.
Alan Watt, executive manager of
the A.S.C, in commenting on the
plan, stated that the commission un-
doubtedly will be a lot less than the
regular agents are charging, but would
not venture to name the figure, as it
has not yet been definitely set.
For some time past some of the
cameramen have been trying out the
various agents, but with few excep-
tions, have dropped out of the agents'
folds within a short time. However,
the idea has never died among them,
especially among those who realize
that they are much better artists than
businessmen. They figure that an
agent can toot their horn with much
better success and fewer blushes than
they can talk about themselves.
A.S.C, since addition of Watt as
business head, figured that it would
be the best organization to handle the
camera stars as they are closely in
touch with them, know all about
them, have their records, and have
means of publicizing them in their
own monthly magazine. •
Rumor had spread about town that
percentage would be chargied all cam-
eramen who secure work through
A.S.C, but Watt emphatically denied
this, saying only percentage will be on
those who want A.S.C. to act as man-
ager. It is not obligatory, he says.
Col. in Music Hall
WithCapra Picture
New York. — Columbia steps into a
great break with "It Happened One
Night," getting the Washington's
Birthday date at the Radio City Music
Hall for the Frank Capra production
which stars Gable and Colbert.
Sardi's Has Birthday
Eddie Brandstatter and David Covey
celebrate the first anniversary of Sar-
di's Friday night, the restaurant hav-
ing weathered the first year with, Ed-
die's luck looking up.
Hyskeli With West Coast
Dean Hyskeli has lOined the Fox
West Coast advertising department,
going in as assistant to Oscar Kantner,
department chief for the circuit.
Tiomkin Plans Recital
Dimitri Tiomkin is drawing up plans
for a local piano recital. The com-
poser will put on a concert in April at
a Los Angeles auditorium.
Franc's' Big Day
New York. — Leon Franconi,
first editor of Pathe Weekly in
1910, and industrial daddy of such
executives as Emanuel Cohen and
Lou Diamond, will be the guest of
honor when Pathe opens the Em-
bassy as a newsreel house. The
house re-opens Saturday.
Zeidman Deal at
'U' Set for 4 More
B. F. Zeidman has signed a new
contract with Universal to remain on
that lot as a producer for four more
pictures.
The first picture under his new con-
tract is "I Give My Love," from an
original story by Vicki Baum. Karl
Freund will direct this picture as his
next assignment and Winifred Dunn
has been assigned to write the screen
play.
Wynne Gibson will be starred by
Universal in this picture.
Two New Books Out
With Picture Names
Two books which will create inter-
est have made their appearance on
the local bookstands. They are "Bor-
der Town," by Carroll Graham, a Van-
guard book, and "Innocent Bystand-
er," Faith Baldwin's novel which ran
serially in Cosmopolitan, published by
Farrar and Rinehart. ^oth the novels
and writers are handled by Fritz Tid-
den of the Hoffman-Schlager agency.
Arthur Friend Up For
Code Authority Counsel
New York. — Members of the Code
Authority who now find they will
have to engage their own attorneys to
defend suits against the NRA bodies
are understood to be considering Ar-
thur Friend, one-time big Paramount
executive in the original Zukor days,
and in recent years combining New
Haven exhibiting with his legal prac-
tice.
Ryerson Novel Optioned
MGM has taken an option on Flor-
ence Ryerson's novel "Mild Oats" and
has,.'t)anded the story to Edgar Allan
Woolf for a screen treatment.
The cast of this production will in-
clude the younger players now on the
lot.
Hold-Over for Lederer Pic
Radio decided yesterday to hold the
Francis Lederer picture, "Man of Two
Worlds," over for a second week at
the RKO-Hillstreet, which pushes
b^ck the premiere of "Lost Patrol"
from: February 9 to 16.
Oliver at Rivoli
New York. — Hal Oliver, of RKO
Theatres, will succeed James Hood
MacFarland as Rivoli publicity head,
the latter having moved to the Radio
houses to succeed Joe Shea, called
west by,- Fox.
Ground will be broken on February
14 for the erection of a theatre that
will be known as the Westwood Thea-
tre Guild, which is backed by the
movie colony. The building, accord-
ing to present plans, will be finished
by May 1 and the first legitimate show
to open there will be on or about
May 6.
Zeppo Marx is president of the
Guild and Dickson Morgan is the pro-
ducer. The advisory board consists of
George Fitzmaurice, Lewis Milestone,
Sam Harris, Dr. Edwin Janss, Harold
janss. King Vidor, Lowell Sherman,
Robert Montgomery, Gregory LaCava,
Frank Morgan and Frank Borzage.
Ernst Lubitsch will direct a play for
the Guild.
Corrigan Will Direct
Bachelor Wife' at U'
Lloyd Corrigan comes back to the
picture fold after more than a year's
absence to direct "Bachelor Wife" for
Universal on a ticket negotiated by
Edington and Vincent.
Corrigan was handed the assign-
ment after the company acceded to
Edward Buzzell's insistent declaration
that the play was outside his ken, and
the company would be better off with
him off it. Buzzell was made happy
by being moved over to Eph Asher's
unit to pilot "The Human Side."
Schayer in Demand by
MGM and Paramount
MGM yesterday turned down a bid
from B. P. Schulberg for the loan of
Richard Schayer whom the Paramount
producer wanted to work on the
screen play of "Cosmetic." MGM has
several assignments waiting for Schay-
er, who is slated to go from "Comin'
Round the Mountain" to the Walter
Wanger unit for the latter's Navy
story.
Offer Exhibs Protection
New York. — General Talking Pic-
tures is notifying aU exhibitor li-
censees that they will stand back of
any infringement claims and carry out
all responsibilities under the contracts
for installations. This is in view of
alarm caused by the recent Tri-Ergon
victory, in which suit, however. Gen-
eral Talking was not a party.
Schary to Zeidman
Having secured his release from
Columbia recently, Dore Schary swings
over to the B. F. Zeidman unit at
Universal, where he will write the
screen play for an original story which
vyill serve as Chester Morris' second
vehicle following the Stanley Berger-
man picture "Practical Joker." Nat
Goldstone set the writer.
Setting 'Humbug' Leads
Nils Asther is slated for the male
lead in "The Humbug," the Max Mar-
cin original- story which Marcin will
write and direct for Ij ni versa 1.,, ,, . -:^
Gertrude Michaels is berrigTonsicf^ '
ered by the director and the studio
for the feminine lead in this picture.
Exhibs Refuse To
Restore Operators
New York. — Although they have
not been advised as yet, to restore
fifty-five operator members of Local
306, by the Grievance Board of the
NRA, local exhibitors involved state
that regardless of the NRA action,
they will not put the men back to
work.
The exhibs believe that the Griev-
ance Board has no power to make such
demands.
Novarro Leaves for Eastern
Personal Appearance Tour
Cleaning up his contract with
MGM, Ramon Novarro hops off today
on a tour that yvill keep him busy
for over a year.
His first stop is New York, where
he makes a week's personal appear-
ance at the Capitol February 13, in
conjunction with MGM's "Cat and the
Fiddle," proceeding then to Wash-
ington for a week. He returns to
Hollywood the first of next month for
a brief respite and pushes off subse-
quently for a six weeks' tour of South
America on concert appearances. Late'
April will find him en route to Europe
for the following ten months.
Important Acad. Ruling on
'Weather Permitting' Call
The Academy Conciliation Commit-
tee last night settled two cases. One
concerned a player, Phillip Cooper, and
MGM in connection with the "Viva
Villa" location trip and was handled
without recourse to committee action.
The other on three players against
Fox on a "weather permitting" call
resulted in the ruling for the future
that on weather permitting calls a
company may not hold a player be-
yond the time set for the call without
paying a full day.
Carroll Position Stated
Richard Carroll, described in a re-
cent Reporter story as being with
Charles Rogers in a production ca-
pacity, is only with the Paramount
producer as a writer in connection
with his story "Green Cold." Car-
roll is, however, considering produc-
tion plans in the east.
Buell Short Placed
Jed Buell yesterday concluded ne-
gotiations with the Beverly Hills ex-
change for the release of his timely
short on gold, "Thar's Gold." Ex-
change has offices in 23 key cities.
Mack Strengler photographed the
short.
Morrison Signs Cleckler
New York. — Robert Gleckler, the
original heavy of the famous Jed Har-
ris hit, "Broadway," and since up and
down for picture consideration on in-
numerable occasions, has been placed
under contract by Leo Morrison.
Grainger Gets 'Frailty'
Universal has purchased an original
.story titled "Frailty," by Edith and
'J.Edward^EJJis. "The yarn was handed
"^io'TcJrmjhd' Grainger for his super-
vision. Grainger has assigned Edwin
Marin to direct.
Feb. 7. 1934
J)|i^-7^fi
Page Seven
*PATE]\TS POOL* IDEA TO GIVE
TO M. P. ACADEMY
I^EW LIFE
Tech. Plan Follows
Auto Industry Lines
The Technicians Branch of the
Academy may be destined to become
one of the most far-reaching and
Dowerful organizations in the motion
Dicture industry, if present embryonic
Dians reach final development. Un-
der the leadership of Major Nathan
Levinson the work is quietly under
ivay, even though the ultimate goal
is a long way off.
Plan in mind is to adopt the "pat-
snts pool" idea that has prevailed in
the automobile manufacturing indus-
fry for the past seventeen years, with
the Technicians Branch of the Acad-
emy as the central figure handling the
details and around which every tech-
nical development in the industry must
rotate.
The "patents pool" idea, originated
3y the National Automobile Cham-
ber of Commerce, is said to have sav-
=d the automobile industry millions of
dollars. Leaders of the Academy's
technical branch figure the idea ap-
plied here will do the same for the
picture business. And while in very
formative state, the plan will doubtless
sventually be presented to the pro-
ducers.
The "patents pool" system is this:
All studios would agree that all pat-
ents secured by them or their engi-
neers would become the property of
the pool for a period of two years.
Thus for this time all studios could
get the benefit of the development or
invention free. Then it would re-
vert to the developer.
"This system would save the terrific
waste of industry money that is now
taking place and which has taken
place in the past," explained one
Academy member. "Take, for exam-
ple, the money spent on the develop-
ment of wide film. No one will ever
know how many hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars were wasted by the
various studios who were working in-
dependently on the project — each
hoping to be first to get it right and
thus clean up, regardless of what it
would do to other companies. Under
the 'pool' idea this vi/ould have been
averted. All would have worked to-
gether, for they would have known
that they would all benefit from the
solution. Thus duplication of effort
and expense would have been pre-
vented.
"The research committee of the
Technicians Branch is the ideal body
to handle such a project here. There
are representatives from the various
studios on it. Their sole interest is
in the advancement of the technical
side of the industry.
"At the same time the research
committee will endeavor to become
the clearing house for all the technical
inventions and ideas that are being
brought to Hollywood constantly by
thousands of inventors. Clearing
through the committee, it would be
possible to keep accurate check on
what is being done and in many cases
when the same idea has already been
advanced, and is perhaps being work-
ed on, the inventor would be saved
much trouble, money and heartaches."
Selwyn Goes N. Y.
New York — Edgar Selwyn, MCM
director, after a stay in New York,
returns to the Coast, stating that
producers should pay more atten-
tion to sales angles. Where have
we heard that before?
Tittle Women^ A
London Sensation
London. — The Radio production of
"Little Women" played to more peo-
ple at the Regal last week than has
ever paid to see a picture before in
the history of that house.
The check-up for the first week
showed that 48,219 people bought
tickets for the picture.
First Steps Taken in
Suit Over *M' Picture
New York. — The suit of Joseph
Plunkett against Paramount in con-
nection with the German picture
"M" and the American company's
"This Day and Age" has reached the
point where George Schafer, general
manager for Paramount, will be ex-
amined today before Saul Rogers, at-
torney for Plunkett. The plaintiff is
asking $100,000 damages in a joint
action for losses claimed because Para-
mount delayed action on releasing
"M" until their own picture was ready
for the market.
Wanger-Taurog Take on
Academy Steering Jobs
Walter Wanger and Norman Tau-
rog were added yesterday to the
"steering committee" of the Academy.
This committee, headed by King
Vidor, is the one that is paddling the
rehabilitation canoe for the revived
Academy, and is responsible for the
decision to give annual awards this
year.
Tur Coats' Closes Today
Aline MacMahon's first starring pic-
ture for Warners' "Fur Coats," fin-
ishes tomorrow night. Al Green di-
rected.
'Flesh War' Hits
L. A. First Runs
The "flesh show" war that has New
York by its heels, and has stretched
to frantic name buying in Chicago and
other mid-West cities, is now to hit
the Coast.
Pantages is setting plans to pro-
duce its own condensed versions of
operettas as a means of combating
trouble getting picture attractions.
First show set is Victor Herbert's
"Naughty Marietta." Flesh show will
go on three times a day.
Johnny Boyle Holds Out
Coast in His Picture
New York. — John Boyle has sold
distribution rights of "Sweden, Land
of Vikings," for all territories ex-
cept California, Washington and Ore-
gon, to Associated Cinemas of Amer-
ica, Inc. Will handle reserved sec-
tions himself. Picture is in Cinecolor.
It has clicked big in New York, and
looks like a plum for the popular
cinematographer.
Mack and MCM Cool,
But Assignment Set
While Russell Mack and MGM are
trading palaver on a new deal, the
director's ticket expiring at the end
of the month, he has been tentatively
set in to pilot the picture which Irving
Thalberg is to make from the "Tish"
stories by Mary Roberts Rinehart.
James K. McCuinness is handling the
screen play.
London Wants Ratoff
London. — British International is
burning up the cables in their effort
to land Gregory Ratoff for one of the
leads in their production "Forbidden
Territory."
Hollywood. — Ratoff left last night
for a three weeks' tour of personal
appearances, opening at the Palace in
Chicago Friday, playing Boston next
week and Detroit the week following
and the chances are that he will leave
for London directly after this tour.
dlTILDS AIVD ACADEMY ARE
BUSY OX IVKA IVOMI.XATIOiA S
With the Screen Writers' Guild
having selected their candidates to the
Code Authority, the Screen Actors'
Guild and the Academy yesterday an-
nounced that both are holding indi-
vidual elections to select their candi-
dates. The actors meet Sunday night,
February 18, at the Hollywood Wom-
en's Club while the Academy holds its
election tomorrow night.
Following the lead of the SWG,
the actor group throws open its doors
to all actors, including non-guild
members. In view of the appointment
of Eddie Cantor and Marie Dressier as
actor representatives on the Code Au-
thority, the players will only select
their choices for the agents' commit-
tee and their five-five committee, to
meet with producers on arbitration.
Actors will check screen credits
and have appointed Lucile Gleason,
Boris Karloff, Bradley Page, Minna
Gombell, jean Hersholt and Edwin
Maxwell as a credentials committee.
Operating through its organization
machinery, the Academy will have its
branches and its executive committee
do the nominating. Tomorrow night's
meeting is of the executive board.
Branch board selections will be made
next week.
Final selections from all submitted
to Sol Rosenblatt will be made by the
administrator on his own responsi-
bility.
Majors Have Steuer
In Rembusch Action
New York. — The ma)or companies
are taking no chances in their defense
of the Frank Rembusch anti-trust suit
that hit the local courts here today.
They have Max D. Steuer as their
counsel. He is being assisted by
Judge Solon |. Carter of Indianapolis.
As a curtain-raiser yesterday morn-
ing Steuer asked that further hear-
ings be postponed to February 1 3 to
give him time to acquaint himself
with the case.
The hearing was before Judge Coxe.
Bob Kolloch Back on Job
Robert Kolloch, Columbia style de-
signer, returns to the studio today af-
ter being sick with an eye ailment.
He was away four days.
Radio Lot in Turmoil
(Continud from Page 1 )
week or two to think things over pro-
ductions are being shelved and post-
poned arbitrarily.
"Escape to Paradise," "Sea Girl"
and "Speed King" were three yarns
put on the "future" shelf yesterday.
All three were to have been Shirley
Burden productions, which gave the
gossips reason to figure that Burden,
a Cooper man, may not be standing
so well with future Radio plans. David
Lewis, another Cooper man, is also
understood to have a problematical
future with Radio.
Ken Macgowan, because of "Little
Women," stands in a position to talk;
Cliff Reid has "Lost Patrol" on his
list and the bosses are watching for
the first box office reports; Lou Brock
is standing pat on "Flying Down to
Rio"; and Pan Berman, in the cen-
ter seat, is making it tough for the
bosses to do business with him
through demands approximating the
terms that Cooper was receiving.
B. B. Kahane is caught in the mid-
dle of all the talk. While having to
take the grief for the past year or so,
he naturally can't point to any par-
ticular picture as his own baby. Frank
O'Heron, who for a year or more has
emphasized the fact that his sole
worry is "cash" and how to get it
to make the pictures, seems to be
safely on the fence in the discussions.
TONICHTl
and every night
at the
CLOVER
CLUB
•uJXANDYarJCOCO
A Singing-Instrumental Riot!
SPEAKING OF
OPERATIONS
What were your screen
contributions in 1933?
and
Who Remembers Them
7
An important cog in the
wheel of the Motion
Picture Industry . . .
gets deserved recognition in the
FOURTH ANNUAL
WRITERS' NUMBER
of
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
(OUT SOON)
Your Work Last Year Is The Bosses' Guide For This Year
Containing a complete
resume of writer ac-
tivities during 1933
MKT:<0-G!JLjUV;YN-.\;AYhH oTUUiUo,
% MP.SAh'UFL MAPa,
CULVFR CITY.CALIi''.
Vol. XIX, No. 24. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, February 8, 1934
■
AniSWCRTH DUE HERE
• "WHY are the officers of the Screen
Writers Guild after your scalp?"
That question was fired at us yes-
terday by a very prominent writer, a
member of the Guild, and a friend of
ours. And we replied, "Are they?
And if they are, we don't know what
it's all about."
But things like that happen in this
business and will continue to happen
as long as there is a picture business.
In digging into the matter it sort
of astounds us. We know that no
publication, influence, individually or
collectively, even the writers them-
selves, has put up such a fight for the
motion picture writer as has this pa-
per during its four years of publica-
tion. We have written more and FOR
the writer than for any other craft in
this industry, believing that GOOD
STORIES are the answer to good pic-
tures.
Maybe the officers of the Screen
Writers' Guild would like to air that
grievance towards this publication,
out in the open, instead of behind
closed doors. Maybe they will accept
our invitation to use the columns of
this paper to TELL what they want
done to us and why they want it
done.
'•
It should be a source of great en-
couragement to a lot of people who
are fighting for a place in this busi-
ness, knowing they have what is re-
quired to make successful pictures, to
view the short history of Richard Bole-
slavsky.
"Boley" told us over two years ago,
"I want to direct, I know that I can
direct and I am going to direct." And
he is directing and making a swell job
Df it, his "Men in White" is testi-
mony to that. But the rub to carrying
out his ambition was the lack of ANY
desire on the part of studio heads to
give him a chance. But that did not
stop him. He knocked at every door,
he pushed into almost every office;
always insisting that he should be
given a chance. Most of the doors re-
mained closed, most of the offices saw
him but would not listen. But he
5tuck to it and won.
This department believes that Bole-
slavsky is one of the best directors in
pictures and MGM shares this view,
because they have just given him a
contract that reads DOLLARS instead
of the nickel deal he has had.
Hepburn Peeved As
RKO Bans Personals
New York. — Katharine Hepburn is
doing a big burn up at her Radio
bosses. The immediate reason for the
peeve is the refusal of Radio to allow
her plans for a juicy personal appear-
ance jaunt at $10,000 a week. But
back of it are details of La Hepburn's
entire deal with Radio.
It appears that Hepburn's Radio
deal calls for two pictures a year, dur-
ing the making of which she draws
$2500 a week, plus an intangible
(Continued on Page 6)
Screen Actors Guild
Names Slate of Ten
Three nominees for the Code
Agency Committee and ten for the
Actor-Producer 5-5 Committee will
be on the slate to be voted on by the
Screen Actors' Guild on February 18.
Spencer Tracy, Adolphe Menjou and
Berton Churchill up for Agency Com-
mittee. Ann Harding, Robert Mont-
gomery, Ralph Morgan, Kenneth
Thomson, Mary Astor, Chester Mor-
ris, Richard Tucker, Pat O'Brien and
Claude King for other committee.
Brown, MOM Wash Up
MCM yesterday decided to shelve
"Stealing Through Life" and Rowland
Brown has washed up with the studio.
, Brown was there on a three months'
ticket and failed to get to the point
of agreement with the executives in
that time.
Pitts East for Health
Zasu Pitts, just after closing a deal
with Charles Rogers within the past
week, yesterday had to beg off be-
cause of a desire to go to New York
for a medical check-up.
Educ. Reduces Output
New York. — Educational, releasing
physically through Fox, has already de-
cided to reduce next year's output by
about twenty-five per cent.
Radio's Big Boss Coming To
Sit In On Final Deals For
New Set'Up At RKO Studio
New York. — M. H. Aylesworth is on his way to the Radio
studios in Hollywood, leaving New York on Monday. The big
chief of National Broadcasting Company and Radio Pictures, who
ordinarily likes to leave all action on the picture company to his
right hand man, J. R. McDonough, has
decided to be on the ground for the
sessions that will decide the new set-
up at the picture making plant.
Hollywood. — General feeling on the
Radio lot is that within a few days
of Aylesworth's arrival there will be
definite announcements clearing away
all guessing on the company's produc-
tion future, and with the dropping of
(Continued on Page 6)
Exhibs Still Stall on
NRA Code Assents
New York. — Plenty of headaches in
the offices of the Code Authority
here. "Assents" received from exhibi-
tors to date total about 7200. Latest
Hays' figures on theatres in the coun-
try show close to fifteen thousand ac-
tive houses.
The headache is how the code is
going to go into effect without the
extra fifty per cent, and just now the
whip can be used to bring them into
line if they don't care to come. Gen-
eral feeling now that the NRA got off
on the wrong foot by blandly ignoring
the little feillow and now no one
knows how to get him in line.
Vidor Has Radio Release
King Vidor, in preparation on the
General Service lot on "Our Daily
Bread," is understood to have a re-
lease deal for the picture set with
Radio.
'MOULIX ROUGE' AKD 'TIGER'
RRIXG R'WAY SMILES AGAI^
New York. — It looks like old show-
manship days on Broadway with Ar-
thur Mayer's campaign on the Fox pic-
ture "Devil Tiger" doing the biggest
business the Rialto has done since he
took over the house. The picture by
Clyde Elliott, who directed Frank
Buck's "Bring 'Em Back Alive," is
getting almost 100 percent male au-
diences, but business is business.
But the picture isn't alone on good
business for the start of this week.
"Moulin Rouge" looks like a $6500
day at the Rivoli, which has it run-
ning neck and neck with "Roman
Scandals" and "Gallant Lady."
Crawford Quits Fox
In Studio Shake-Up
William Crawford, Fox business
manager and assistant to J. J. Gain,
tendered his resignation yesterday.
Executive and the company were un-
able to get together on the terms of
a deal which was to take Crawford to
New York as business manager of the
company's office there.
Understood another major studio is
discussing a contract with him. John
Zinn is slated for his spot at Fox.
Goldwyn's N.Y. Cut
On 'Nana' is $28,500
New York. — Sam Goldwyn's final
check-up for the week on "Nana" at
the Music Hall will show that the old
Roman has lost none of his skill at
making deals. If Goldwyn had put
the picture in at straight rental he
would have drawn down about $20,-
000. As it is, with the picture hit-
ting $103,000 for the week's gross,
a fine figure for the house, he will
come out with about $28,500 on the
deal.
Hoot Gibson Going
On 'Personal' Tour
New York. — Hoot Gibson opens at
Elizabeth, New Jersey, Friday, to break
in an act for a personal appearance
tour of the picture houses.
MGM Story Ed. Resigns
New York. — Bertram Block has ten- \
dered his resignation as MGM East- |
ern story editor. He plans to finish ,'
some plays he is writing and then do j
some play producing in association/
with Sidney Phillips.
\
Wilk Returns East
Jake Wilk, eastern story editor of
Warner-First National, leaves Holly-
wood today to return to his New
York office.
MACK HARRY MUSICAL
;ORDON & REVEL numbers
^
Page Two
Feb. 8. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel ^
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
And here's a new one: Gloria Stu-
art, after a trial separation from
hubby is going to try a second honey-
moon again next week. . . Palm
Springs the spot. . . . This seems to
be the day of "try, try, try" again and
again. . . . Martin Quigley got off the
train at San Berdoo yesterday just like
a production head and went to Palm
Springs for a week before he will look
in on Hollywood.
•
E. B. Derr, Charlie Sullivan and Pat
Casey lunching daily at Al Levy's and
Derr and Sullivan promising each day
that it won't bg long before they have
the news of their new plans ready for
publication. . . . Russell Mack at their
table one day last week. . . . Fred
Lally, formerly of the same F.B.O. and
Pathe combination, now a big liquor
man with the Pacific Coast rights on
whatever it is the |oe Kennedy crowd
is handling in the East.
•
Buzz Berkeley gets married one day
sooner or later and then within a cou-
ple of days goes to work on "Dames."
. . . Delmar Daves offers Chaplin a
free idea that is good. . . . "If Char-
lie," he says, "wants to play a char-
acter that will let him be silent what
about Soglow's 'The King,' in the
New Yorker, or as he is called in
Hearst's syndicate, 'The Ambassador'?"
. . . )ake Wrik, eastern story editor
for Warners, not only took a look
at "Wonder Bar" with the critics
yesterday, but also crowded in on the
free lunch. . . And he can't deliver
any circulation.
•
Our entry for the next problem to
be settled by the League of Nations:
The list of writers' credits on "Holly-
wood Party." . . . Wells Root is kill-
ing time between picture jobs with
some fancy assignments for magazine
articles.
•
Natives at Palm Springs are talking
of running Humphrey Pearson for its
next mayor. . . . Pan Berman should
get special mention for those European
shirts. . . . John Cromwell was seen
shopping on dollar day for an eating
plate for his dog.
"ALL OF ME"
Paramount prod.; director, James Flood; writers, Rose Albert Porter, Sidney
Buchman and Thomas Mitchell.
Paramount' Theatre
Herald-Tribune: Fmding its origin in the stage play "Chrysalis," this "All of
Me" has, in spite of its length, little to tell and, instead of being the
social document it started out to be, is just a diffuse, awkward and un-
believable melodrama in spite of some good acting by Fredric March, Mir-
iam Hopkins, George Raft and Helen Mack — especially by Miss Mack.
News: The film drags hopelessly along.
Journal: The dark-eyed Helen Mack, who first came to screen attention with a
brief but vivid bit in Lignel Barrymore's picture, "Sweepings," wins the
actirig honors here. Raft fe convincing in his role, March is whimsical and
Miss Hopkins is decorative.
American: All together it is a better than average film entertainment, enhanced
by the presence of such popular players as Hopkins, March and Raft in
the cast. In distributing the laurels of the piece, Helen Mack must be in-
cluded on a par with other principals.
Mirror: Attractive people are to be seen on the Paramount screen this week.
They are more interesting than their story material, which is a play to
prove that love is, indeed, love. The actors do all they can to bring credi-
bility to the rather complicated characters they are required to interpret.
Post: Because the theme is concerned with character and circumstance it does
not lend itself to screen treatment. An unconscionable amount of time is
spent in talk and counter-talk before anything like action begins to de-
velop. Since the conversation is not brilliant and the characters them-
selves but superficially drawn, "All of Me" turns out to be a thoroughly
dull picture.
"YOU CANT BUY EVERYTHING"
MGM prod.; director, Charles F. Reisner; writers, Dudley Nichols, Lamar
Trotti, Zelda Sears and Eve Green.
Capitol Theatre
Herald-Tribune: I suspect that you will like Miss Robson as she plays the aged
hoarder in "You Can't Buy Everything"- — she is so unashamedly flam-
bouyant in the role. If she had been absent from the part the film would
. . have been even more disappointing than it is. I suspect, too, that you will
■ ' like Lewis Stone's dignified and expert performance as Burton and Jean
Parker's dark beauty as his daughter. But in spite of these assets, "You
Can't Buy Everything" is an indifferent and disappointing offering.
News: Miss Robson in person is a four-star hit and her work in the film is great,
but the film is an unreasonable concoction. About the only support that
Miss Robson gets for the load she carries is from Lewis Stone, who never
fails to give an excellent performance. The rest of the cast is negative.
Times: It is a heavy handed narrative in which the avaricious nature of the lead-
ing character is too exaggerated to be believable. Lewis Stone is admirable
as Burton. Jean Parker is comely and capable as Burton's daughter.
American: As effective and affecting a demonstration of mother-love as the
season has brought us. See it and be convinced, and enjoy, too, the hun-
dred surprises, the laughs, the sobs, the joys and sorrows the story holds in
its entertaining length. Lewis Stone, without equal in the type of role
he has here, garners a full share of histrionic honors. Director Reisner
has endowed the piece with sincerity and feeling.
Mirror: Miss Robson plays the character to perfection, skillfully developing its
wit and its deep pathetic quality. Her support is excellent, including, as
it does, such fine actors as Lewis Stone, Mary Forbes, Reginald Mason,
jean Parker and William Bakewell play the romantic roles charmingly.
Sun: The whole thing, in spite of Miss Robson's excellent characterization, was
the waste of a good idea. There must have been too few story conferences
on this one, or too many.
journal: The picture was fashioned especially — and skillfully — for Miss Robson's
brilliant talents.
White's Future 'Scandals'
On Own with Erpi Backing
Reports published that George
White was to produce his "Scandals"
as an annual feature for Fox, with five
years stated as the terms of the first
deal, met denials yesterday and when
the dust cleared it appeared that
White owned his own great bet. The
understanding now is that while
White has made plans for additional
editions, he is to produce them in the
East with Erpi backing and is not at
'present worrying about arrangements
for distributing the picture.
SOUND ENGINEER
is seeking an opportun-
itywhere executive and
business ability plus a
thorough knowledge of
all engineering and op-
erating phases of sound
picture technique, can
be utilized to advan-
tage. Four years expe-
rience in major studios.
Box 600, Hollywood Reporter
'Moulin Rouge'
Is Held! n Wash.
Washington. — Business at the Pal-
ace Theatre on the Twentieth Century
production of "Moulin Rouge" de-
manded another week for this pic-
ture. The house rang up one of the
highest grosses in months with that
attraction.
New York. — The "Moulin Rouge"
caravan grabbed the attention of most
of New York today. It started at
City Hall, with more than 75,000
people looking over the ceremony.
As the parade proceeded up Fifth
avenue, into Broadway and to the Riv-
oli Theatre every office window was
crowded, and the curbs were lined
with mobs.
Sullavan Still Worries 'U*
As soon as Universal can locate
Margaret Sullavan rehearsals will be-
gin for "Elizabeth and Mary," which
will be her next starring vehicle and
which Lowell Sherman will direct. She
did a fadeout by plane last week to
New York, but numerous wires have
brought no replies and Universal is
wondering.
Writer's Father Injured
Briton Busch, one of four Ameri-
cans injured in the rioting of the past
two days in Paris, is the father of
Niven Busch, Warner Bros, studio
staff writer. Busch was formerly an
executive with the old World Films,
and is well known in picture circles.
Parker East for Stage Play
Austin Parker leaves for New York
as soon as he finishes his work on
"Honor Bright" at Paramount. Writer
will finish and set his play while
there. Hopes to get away from here
by the end of next week.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
•^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
DO WHITE MEN CO NATIVE IHVKSUtlbllltee
Available for State Right Market
Communicate with
IDEAL PICTURES CORP..
729 Seventh Avenue, New. York City
M. J. Kandel,. President
Cable Kandelfilm, New York i
Feb. 8. 1934
Page Three
RADIO'S 'SING AND
ONE OF YEAR S REST
Script, Director and
Cast Share Honors
"SING AND LIKE IT"
(Radio)
Director ...William A. Seiter
Author .-. Aben Kandel
Adaptation Marion Dix
and Laird Doyle
Music and Lyrics Dave Dreyer
and Roy Turk
Photography Nick Musuraca
Cast: Zasu Pitts, Pert Kelton, Edward
Everett Norton, Nat Pendleton
and Ned Sparks.
There is only one laugh in the Ra-
dio comedy, "Sing and Like It," but
t begins at the very start of the pic-
fure and lasts until the last shot. And
t is a loud, gleeful, heartfelt, roar-
ng bellow.
People who haven't smiled for years
M\\\ crack their jaws over this one.
Prospectors will hike in from desert
:amps to see it. Codes will be for-
gotten; dishes will be piled up in the
jink; conferences will be broken up —
and all that you exhibitors have to do
IS worry about the gosh-awful num-
Der of patrons who will be so weary
From laughing that they'll just stay in
their seats to catch the laughs they
missed from laughing so hard at the
first show.
No kidding. This is one of the fun-
niest comedies let loose in years.
iVithout the perfect direction, the
screamingly hilarious dialogue and the
flawless cast the picture could have
seen a swell flop. But it just hap-
Dens to have that happy combination
Df taste, brains and wit that raises
remedy to high art.
First honors go to Marion Dix and
_aird Doyle, the adaptors, and Aben
<andel, the author, for a story that
las a supreme sense of the ridiculous
and for dialogue that packs a crack —
and a good one — in every line. That
s the picture's only misfortune, by
the way, for the laughs are so thick
and fast that lots of lines are drowned.
Second honors to William A. Seiter,
A'hose perfect timing and sly intelli-
gence in directing this film stamp him
as a great comedy director. He never
Tiissed a trick — and they're all new
Dnes.
All the superlatives that are left
;o to the cast, and it deserves many
nore. Nat Pendleton, as the gang-
;ter; Zasu Pitts, as Annie Snodgrass,
A/'ho wants to be a great actress; Pert
<elton, who is Pendleton's moll; Ed-
vard Everett Norton, as the famous
producer; and Ned Sparks, the gang-
;ter's right-hand man — all are per-
fectly cast and all are bright and shin-
ng shrieks in this riot.
Pendleton, as he is cracking a safe
n the Union Bank building, hears a
'mother song" being warbled ever so
/aguely by Miss Pitts, who is rehears-
ng in the employees' show. Over-
:ome by memories he drops his racket
'or the time being and forces Morton
fo put Miss Pitts into his big Broad-
Nay spectacle as the star, still singing
'he mother song. He feels that it is
lis duty to put such beauty before the
A/orld.
Miss Kelton's attempts to get the
3art away from Pitts; Pendleton's re-
Dubin a Stand-in
Production on the Busby Berke-
ley-Merna Kennedy wedding got
under way yesterday with rehear-
sals starting at the Methodist
Church under M. C. Levee's super-
vision. Chunky Al Dubin stood in
for the bride and when the minister
asked Buzz the customary ques-
tions, dance director got camera-
conscious and asked, "Which way
do I face — upstage or down.'"
'Ferocious PaT
just Too Bad
"FEROCIOUS PAL"
(Principal Pictures)
Direction Spencer Gordon Bennet
Screen Play Joseph Anthony Roach
Photography Eddie Kull
Cast: Kazan (a dog) , Robert Manning,
Ruth Sullivan, Tom London, Gene
Toler, Harry Dunkinson, Henry
Roquemore, Nelson McDowell,
Ed Cecil, Grace Wood, Prince
(another dog) .
There are just two good things
about this picture: one is an unnamed
jackass; the other is Kazan, one of
the most intelligent dogs that ever
reached the screen. But the jackass
has nothing to do, and the poor dog
was given a terrible story, terrible di-
rection, a supporting cast that was
amateurish, and a raw deal.
Just too bad that good money was
spent on a picture such as this one.
After the first few hundred feet the
audience howled at the serious lines
and situations in which the humans
appeared. The dog was excellent
when alone on the screen and seemed
to have a better idea of what to do
than any one else. The story was so
poor that it is better to say nothing
about it. Even horses passed speed-
ing automobiles as though the cars
were standing still. That's enough.
Frank Morgan on Termer
MGM yesterday handed Frank Mor-
gan a long term contract because of
his work in "The Cat and the Fid-
dle," which he just finished. Morgan
is now at Twentieth Century in "The
Firebrand," which Gregory LaCava di-
rects.
Adrian Off to N. Y.
Adrian, MGM style designer, left by
train last night for New York to see
the plays and inspect fabrics. He will
be away for about three weeks.
writing of the show and the absurd
rehearsals; Ned Sparks' sour wise-
cracks about the whole proceeding,
and the final triumphant first night
when The Critic, whom everyone fol-
lows, announces, at the points of
countless gangster guns, that the show
and its star are stupendous — these are
great moments in this swell comedy.
The absurd mother song was writ-
ten by Dave Dreyer and Roy Turk, to
their everlasting credit, and Nick Mu-
suraca's photography is excellent.
There won't be an empty seat or a
quiet moment in your house when you
show this one, Mr. Exhibitor.
LIKE IT'
COMEDIE!§;
'Roman Scandals'
Shown In London
London. — The Samuel Coldwyn-
United Artists production of "Roman
Scandals" was given a tradeshow here
yesterday and the most of the pic-
ture business on this side was in at-
tendance.
Looks as if Goldwyn will duplicate
his "Kid from Spain" success, as the
whole industry here has put on a
rave for the picture that is a cinch
to carry even the "Spain" records.
There is a peculiarly strong Eddie
Cantor personal following here which
showed itself in "Kid from Spain."
Fairbanks Wins Point
On Merle Oberon Deal
London. — Douglas Fairbanks Sr. fi-
nally won his point with Alexander
Korda and Merle Oberon for the Brit-
ish star to enact the feminine lead in
his "Don Juan" picture.
Fairbanks had been insisting on Miss
Oberon, but the lady herself wanted
to go to Hollywood and a deal was set
with her for two pictures with Eddie
Small, also a United Artists producer.
But now that deal has been set back
until she completes work with Fair-
banks.
Louise Up at Roach's
Anita Louise will be tested today
by Hal Roach for the role of Little
Miss Muffet in "Babes in Toyland."
Studio has tested a number of play-
ers for the part, with Charlotte Henry
having the inside track to date. Stu-
dio is also testing Charles Rogers and
Douglas Wakefield for the role of
Gumio, the toymaker's assistant.
Talbot a Fire Hero
Possible serious accident was avert-
ed on the set of Warners' "Fog Over
San Francisco" when flames from a
candle ignited a fur coat worn by
Margaret Lindsay and were extinguish-
ed by Lyie Talbot. Player suffered
minor burns; production continued.
Butler Megs for Rogers
David Butler swings over to the Sol
Wurtzel unit to handle the directorial
reins on "Merry Andrew," the next
Will Rogers starring vehicle at Fox.
Kubec Glasmon is writing the screen
play. Production starts March 1 .
U' Sets Deacon' Writers
Clarence Marks and Earle Snell
were signed by Universal yesterday to
write the screen play for "Alias the
Deacon" under Edmund Grainger's
supervision. Guy Kibbee is set on loan
from Warners for the title role.
Song for Crosby Baby
Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston
have written a song titled "Crooner's
Lullaby," which they dedicated to Bing
Crosby's baby. Crosby will introduce
this song on the Woodbury Soap pro-
gram.
'Dark Hazard' at Rialto
New York. — "The Dark Hazard"
will have its New York premiere at
the Rialto on February 21.
Corrigan Walks Into
'U' And Out Again
Lloyd Corrigan signed with Univer-
sal and walked out on his assignment
all within twenty-four hours. Cor-
rigan was signed on a one-picture deal
to direct "Bachelor Wife," which also
was turned down by Eddie Buzzell,
and walked when he was handed three
scripts and informed that he was to
start shooting in a week. The director
felt that more than a week was need-
ed in preparation for the story and
turned it down.
Lee Tracy Return
^rown Yarn
InJJJ^
Universal brc
jroke the ice on Lee
Tr^s absence from the screen and
-Signed the star for the top spot in
"Where Is Brown.'" which was origi-
nally slated to be an Edmund Lowe
starring vehicle. This marks Tracy's
first job since his parting with MGM
Paul Kelly and Gloria Stuart also
have been set for leading roles in
this film. Edward Sedgwick will di-
rect and Dale Van Every is supervising.
Warren William Goes
Into Mona Lisa' Yarn
Warren William has been set for
the starring role m "Mona Lisa," based
on an original screen adaptation by
Carl Ericson. No director has been
assigned.
William was taken out of one of
the leading roles of "The Key," which
Colin Clive was signed for, in order
to step into the top spot in this pic-
ture which starts in about three weeks.
MGM Goes Mexican
Antonio Samaniegos and Carlos Na-
varro leave for Mexico City in a few
d=ys to make a short of the local mo-
torcycle police for MGM. Pete Smith
will dialogue it. Samaniegos and Na-
varro were technical advisers on "Viva
Villa."
'U' Seeks Judith Anderson
New York. — Universal is talking
turkey to Judith Anderson and wants
the player to make another trip to the
coast for the role of Elizabeth in
the Lowell Sherman production,
"Elizabeth and Mary."
Irv. Jacobs Goes East
Irving Jacobs, of the Jacobs and
Bregstein distributing combine, hops
off by plane for New York this morn-
ing. He will be gone three weeks on
a sales deal.
Cummings to Florida
Jack Cummings, MGM short pro-
ducer, left last night by plane for
Miami, Florida, to confer with Nat
Stitzer about some shorts.
'Rosy' Speaks Tomorrow
New York. — Deputy Administrator
Sol A. Rosenblatt will speak tomorrow
at the luncheon of the National Board
of Review here.
Gleckler with Warners
Robert Gleckler, being brought to
the coast from New York, goes into
Warners' "Return of the Terror."
kiR. E^HIBITOUT
THIS PACE REPRINTED FROM A PACE AD IN FILM DAILY FEB. 1, AND PAID FOR BY WARNER BROS.
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n
w
As The Earth Turns"
Warner Bros, producfion and release. Directed by Al Green.
From the novel by Gladys Hasty Carroll. Supervised by Robert
Lord. Cast: Donald Woods. Jean Muir, Russell Hardie, 20
others. Previewed at Warners' Beverly, |an. 25. Running time,
72 mins.
"Warners has made an outstanding picture of Gladys Hasty
Carroll's best seller, 'As the Earth Turns.' It is a triumph for
all concerned from the director and supervisor to the least bit
player. And it has that rare quality of picture-making which
combines fine artistry with the universal heart appeal which Is
box office insurance. It should make a barrel of money, de-
spite the fact that it has no draw names.
"Greatest contribution to the picture's calibre is probably
Al Green's inspired direction. Screen has seldom if ever seen
children, from four years old to 14, handled with such charm
and naturalness. Older players are also piloted for striking
results. . . .
"Honesty, sincerity, effective simplicity graced with laugh-
ter keynote the production — a design laid down in Ernest Pas-
cal's excellent adaptation, which keeps the story close to vital
human relationships.
"Jean Muir gives a topping performance, rounded and mel-
low, as the simple, maternal girl who reluctantly gives her heart
to Donald Woods, who also plays his part with fine feeling."
— Variety Daily, January 26.
\^
IVe Cot Your Number''
Sam Bischoff production for Warners' release. Directed by
Ray Enright. Cast: )oan Blondell, Pat O'Brien, Clenda Farrell,
Allen Jenkins, Eugene Pallette, 1 1 others. Previewed at War-
ners' Hollywood, Jan. 19. Running time, 67 mins.
"A fast, exciting, robust . . . comedy through which a cast
of pulling names romps for a sustained laugh fest, is this tale
revolving around the adventures of two trouble shooting tele-
phone repair men. 'I've Got Your Number' has money written
all over it. With canny showmanship it stirs together exciting,
novel, romantic and melodramatic elements in just the right
proportions with the laugh substance to get the widest audience
appeal.
"Even the melodrama ... is played to the hilt for comedy.
"Blondell, O'Brien and Farrell swagger through the top spots
with plenty gusto, leaving a trail of guffaws, while Allen
Jenkins does the best job of his career. . . .
"Lines are racy and toy ludicrously with the double en-
tendre through the novel use of telephone and switchboard
technical terms commonly understood.
"Direction of Ray Enright and screen story treatment by
Warren Duff and Sidney Sutherland get away from the com-
monplace and usual routines in getting laughs and maintain
breezy freshness."
— Variety Daily, January 20.
Supplement your present trade paper information with a subscription to
Daily
'^lETY
Daily
AKE VOLR PICliT
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
has been serving you with
UNBIASED REVIEWS
for the past four years
And Will Continue To Do It As Long As This Paper Is Published
IT TELLS WHAT IT THINKS
66
199
EARTH TURIVS'
MISSIES MARK
Warners-First National. Directed by Alfred E. Green. Novel
by Gladys Hasty Carroll. Screen Play by Ernest Pascal. Pho-
tography by Byron Haskins. Associate Producer, Robert Lord.
Cast: Jean Muir, Donald Woods, David Landau, William )an-
ney, Dorothy Appleby, Dorothy Peterson, Emily Lowry, Sarah
Padden, Clara Blandick, Egon Brecher, David Durand, Wal.ly
Albright, George Billings, Marilyn Knowlden, Gloria Fisher,
Dorothy Gray, Cora Sue Collins, Joyce Kay, Arthur Hohl, Rus-
sell Hardie, Javir Gibson.
Last year thousands of people, sitting around comfortable
firesides, read Gladys Hasty Carroll's book, "As the Earth
Turns," and thought fondly, romantically of going back to the
land. This year hundreds of thousands of people will see the
screen play, and thank their lucky stars that they are not down
on the farm.
While the tale is not materially changed in Ernest Pascal's
screen play the joy in the good earth which permeated every
page is gone. This is due, partially, to the lack of weight in
the performance of Jean Muir, who carries the central role.
Make no mistake about this girl, however, and watch for her
next pictures. She is certain star material. She has warmth,
beauty, intelligence. There is no doubt that she has every-
thing it takes to be a box office sensation within a short time.
She plays )en, oldest daughter of the large brood of a Maine
farmer. Though she is not out of her teens she is the real
head of the farmhouse. It is Jen who stays up through freez-
ing nights when the children have croup. It is Jen who stands
over the stove in the blistering summer when fruit must be
preserved. She loves it. A farm is her career, just as it is her
father's.
She also loves Stan, son of a Polish tailor. He has per-
suaded his parents to sell the shop and go back to the land.
Allied against these three simple souls is the stubbornness
of the seasons, grilling round of work and a rabble of relatives
who are temperamentally unsuited to farm life, but who are
trapped by poverty to their acres.
66
I'VE GOT YOUR
NUMRER" GOOD
Warners-First National. Directed by Ray Enright. Screen
Play by Warren Duff and Sidney Sutherland. Photography,
Arthur Todd. Cast: Joan Blondell, Pat O'Brien, Glenda Farrell,
Allen Jenkins, Eugene Pallette, Henry O'Neill, Hobart Cava-
naugh, Louise Beavers, Gordon Westcott, Renee Whitney, Sel-
mer Jackson, Robert Ellis.
You needn't worry about the phone lines on "I've Cot Your
Number" (new listing for "Hell's Bells"). It's an action
melodrama in good working order. Built along routine lines of
romance combined with a chase, it is given especial interest
by wise-cracking characters and a new background.
Pat O'Brien plays Terry, a repair man for the New York
telephone system. Combining pleasure with business has be-
come a habit. He fixes telephones and dates with equal skill.
Allen Jenkins trails along, assistant, stooge and chaperon com-
bined. His apprehensive plea, "Let's get outa here!" is a
running gag which never fails on laughs.
Joan Blondell as a switchboard girl misdirects a call at the
request of a friend. She thinks it is for a laugh, but it tips
off a betting deal, and she has to leave her job. Terry gets
her another, and the same racketeers pull another job by the
simple expedient of keeping her busy answering fake calls while
they get away with the bonds.
The only place where the action falls down is when Terry
goes alone to a house where a mob is hiding. There is plenty
of suspense, but even the engaging dumbell built by O'Brien
wouldn't be so dumb as all that.
The whole cast mugs happily and heartily, and the audience
liked it well enough to break out in applause when the trouble
shooters pile into a car to dash to Terry's rescue.
POUT
Page Six
Feb. 8, 1934
Paramount has borrowed Ray Wal-
ker from Monogram for a featured
spot in "Thirty Day Princess," which
Marion Cering directs.
George Chandler gets a juicy role
in Warners' "Without Honor."
Tom Kennedy and Stanley Fields
added to the cast of "Strictly Dyna-
mite," Radio.
John Miljan and Al Hill signed by
Columbia for "Whirlpool."
Clara Blandick goes into "The
Show-Off," MCM.
Frank Conroy and Wallis Clark
signed by Radio for "The Crime Doc-
tor."
Monroe Owsley signed through Re-
becca and Silton for "The Gold Rush,"
Fox.
Arthur Hoyt, Emmett Vogan,
George Grandee and Sarah Padden in-
to "Marrying Widows," Tower.
Ralph Morgan for "Head of The
Family," Twentieth Century.
Hobart Cavanaugh, |oan Wheeler
and Arthur Treacher in "The Key" for
Warners.
Vincent Sherman, who played the
Communist in "Counsellor at Law,"
goes into the Pasadena Playhouse, Feb.
20 in the title role of the play, "The
Terrible Turk."
Grant Mitchell signed by MCM for
"The Show-Off."
Bradley Page by Warners for the
James Cagney-Joan Blondell picture,
"Without Honor."
Phil Regan, recently put under
termer at Warners, Robert Barrat and
J. M. Kerrigan for roles in "The Key."
Radio Forced to Set Back
Edna Oliver Murder Pic
Radio has pushed back the starting
date of the Stuart Palmer murder mys-
tery, "Murder on the Blackboard," un-
til April 1. The studio is set to start
in two weeks, but must wait until
Edna May Oliver is available. She has
one picture to make for Twentieth
Century before she can go over to Ra-
dio. George Archainbaud will direct.
Aylesworth Due Here
(CentirHi«d from Pag* 1 )
a few producers labeled "Cooper men"
seeing little change in the organiza-
tion or set-up that made last year's
product. Cooper's deal for three as
an independent producer is already
set. Pan Herman's all ready for the
routine okay, and the balance of the
individual producers roughly drawn up
and just awaiting Aylesworth's quick
glance and approval.
CARBO
Returns to the Screen as
"QUEEN CHRISTINA'
In a Most Spectacular Premiere
TOMORROW NIGHT
Join the stars in welcoming
the one and only Queen of
the Screen . . . with John
Gilbert and all-star Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer cast.
Rouben Mamoulian Production
Produced by Walter Wanger
with
Sid Crauman's Regal Prologue
featuring
Maria "Camby" Cambarelli
CRAUMAN'S CHINESE
Theater . . . Hollywood
for the Premiere On Sale at Box
$5 Phone GL. 5184 for Reservations Office and All
including Tax Agencies
Colin Clive West
ForWBTheKey'
Closing of "The Lake" in New
York clears up Warners' difficulties
in getting Colin Clive for "The Key,"
player leaving Saturday by plane for
the coast to take the spot into which
the company had placed Warren Wil-
liam during the emergency.
Production starts today on the
William Powell-Kay Francis picture
under Archie Mayo's direction and
Robert Pr^snell's supervision. Phil
Regan, Robert Barrat, J. M. Kerrigan,
Henry O'Neil and Hobart Cavanaugh
have been assigned featured roles.
Trem Carr Wires Eastern
Indies Offer to Co-Op.
New York, — The Federation of the
Motion Picture Industry here, organ-
ization of indie producers and distribu-
tors, yesterday received a wire from
Trem Carr for the coast producers of-
fering cooperation in working out
means of combating circuits or others
active in trying to ban double features.
Receiver for Orph. BIdg.
Orpheum Theatre building went
into receivership yesterday when Su-
perior Court Judge Emmett Wilson ap-
pointed T. R. Cadwalader receiver on
a petition by the Bank of America.
E. L. Cord, automobile man, Joe
Toplitsky, real estate broker, and the
Broadway Properties Corporation are
interested in the stock.
Morgan in Arliss Pic
Ralph Morgan has been signed by
Twentieth Century for a part in the
George Arliss picture "Head of the
Family." This is Morgan's first as-
signment since he finished his Fox
contract and started free lancing.
Allen of Educ. Buys Story
E. H. Allen, of Educational, has
purchased an original story by Ewart
Adamson and Nick Barrows for Bus-
ter Keaton's first short. Title
"Crowded Out" tentatively.
Maynard Picks His Next
Ken Maynard's next western for
Universal is scheduled to be his own
original story, "Doomed to Die." Allan
James directs.
Rogers Buys Marion Yarn
Charles R. Rogers has purchased
a Frances Marion stpry, "Lizzy Star-
rett'^'anU' yesterday engaged Frank R.
AHams, through Rebecca and Silton,
to write the screen play.
Hepburn Peeved
(Continud from Page ] )
bonus if the picture's gross reaches a
certain amount. When Radio heard
that she planned the personal appear-
ance tour, the company suggested that
if she had time for that she could
make a third picture on the annual
deal.
Leiand Hayward, representing the
player, flew west to suggest that if
the bonus was forgotten and cash
terms talked a deal would be made for
the third picture. But the company
only replied by exercising the right
to kill Hepburn's personal appearance
easy money. And now she is burn-
ing up.
Figure It Out
Eddie Buzzell, Universal director,
doesn't know whether it is a gag
or not, but he received a long let-
ter yesterday from a woman in In-
dianapolis apologizing for having
represented herself as his wife.
She said she didn't pass any checks.
Just had a good time basking in the
glory, etc.
' Plagiarism Suit
In Red Tape Stage
New York. — While Paramount of-
ficials admitted in a hearing today that
they had originally undertaken to dis-
tribute the German picture "M" the
actual fight over the plagiarism issues
on the picture in connection with
"This Day and Age" will go over un-
til March 8 when certain affidavits are
received from Germany.
Yesterday's examination of George
Schafer by Saul Rogers, counsel for the
plaintiff, was on the strictly commer-
cial side of the suit, concerning the
charges of conspiracy in conjunction
with failing to distriijute the picture.
Pat Ellis Set By Warner
For Joe E. Brown Lead
Warners have assigned Patricia Ellis
to play the feminine lead opposite Joe
E. Brown in "Sawdust," his next opus
for that studio. Miss Ellis is at pres-
ent at Universal on a loanout deal
playing the lead opposite Lew Ayres
in "If I Were Rich" and will return
to her home lot next week for this
assignment.
Schumann-Heink Sells
Universal Film Story
Ferdinand Schumann-Heink, player,
has sold an original story to Univer-
sal. It is "Weather Permitting," with j
a film background and tells the story
of a lowly extra player. Kurt Neu-
mann is slated to direct when he fin-
ishes "Alias the Deacon."
Billie Burke Renewed fl
Radio has extended Billie Burke's '
one-picture deal into a two-picture
contract. After she completes her role
in "Finishing School" at that studio
she goes into a featured spot opposite
Clive Brook in "Dover Road," which
will be directed by J. Walter Ruben
and supervised by David Lewis.
Fortify Viva Villa'
MGM yesterday signed Jean Aguilar
to assist Herbert Stothart on the musi-
cal score of "Viva </illa." Aguilar is a
famous Mexican composer. Studio t
also signed Montia Santoya, a Mexi-
can artist, to design the title cards on
the pro(iuction.
Lowe-Tashman on Train
Edmund Lowe and Lilyan Tashman
left last night by train for New York. '
Miss Tashman will make "Frankie and ;
Johnnie" for Chester Erskine there and
Lowe will do some radio work.
Personals at Pantages ■
Lois January goes in for a week's
personal appearance at the Pantages
today with Universal's "I Like It That
Way." Mickey McGuire wil make a
single appearance Saturday.
I
I
Feb. 8, 1934
Page Seven
Acad. Starts Work
On Writers' List
The Executive Committee of the
Writers Branch of the Academy met
last night and selected a list of twen-
ty writer members from which the
Branch will choose ten for possible
naming to the various NRA Code
committees by Sol A. Rosenblatt.
The list will be mailed to the mem-
bers today with ballots, and the re-
quest that they vote for ten. As soon
as the ten are chosen, their names
and records will be forwarded to Ros-
enblatt. The Deputy Administrator
while in Hollywood requested the
Academy to do this, hinting that some
of them would get on the committees.
The twenty nominees are: Houston
Branch, Jack Cunningham, Howard
Estabrook, Kubec Clasmon, Howard
Green, Grover Jones, Edward Kauf-
man, Willard Mack, William Slavens
McNutt, Bess Meredyth, Byron Mor-
gan, Jane Murfin, Samson Raphael-
son, Robert Riskin, Richard Schayer,
Harvey Thew, Harlan Thompson,
Ernst Vajda, Carey Wilson and Walde-
mar Young.
Warners Close For
'China Oil Lamps'
Rql€d first on the best seller list,
for the Lamps of China" was
latcRed up yesterday by Warners,
''company pulling it away from oppos-
ing bids by MCM and Al Rockett at
Fox.
Purchase of the story, said to be
for $20,000, places on the Warner
production slate a spectacle with a
Chinese background of a type simi-
lar to MGM's "Good Earth."
New Air Stunt Planned
For RKO Lost Patrol'
For the first time in the history of
motion pictures the complete sound
track of a picture will be broadcast
throughout the country. Radio has
cut the sound track of "Lost Patrol"
to one hour and has arranged a tie-up
for a national broadcast to be put on
over station KNX from 7.30 to 8.30
next Thursday, February I 5.
Music Department Casts
To help out in the rush of casting
for the five musicals in production and
preparation at Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer
studios, Jack Chertok and Dave Fried-
man of the music department are
handling singing and dancing calls,
with exception of principals which are
Still going through the casting office.
Credit Mr. Rainger
Due to an omission in the studio
credit list, Ralph Rainger was left out
when the nice things were written
about "Bolero" in the Reporter's re-
view yesterday. Rainger composed all
the dance music used in the picture,
with the exception of the Bolero num-
ber.
Zirn Seeks Rehearing
New York. — Samuel Zirn will ap-
ply to the United States Supreme
Court within the next ten days for a
writ of certiorari to effect a rehearing
of the lower court findings in the
Paramount bankruptcy proceedings.
Technicalities Cloud Fight
on Twelvetrees Agent Deal
Simon and Garbus, attorneys for
Helen Twelvetrees, argued a demurrer
in Judge Thomas Gould's Superior
Court yesterday alleging that the court
had no power to grant the Rebecca
and Silton judgment against the ac-
tress, because the complaint does not
state sufficient facts among other
things. Agency is suing Miss Twelve-
trees for commissions on past as well
as future work. Agency states mana-
gerial contract has five more years
to run.
Cayne Whitman Set for
Sol Lesser Serial Lead
Realizing the exploitation value
which will be gained when the pro-
gram goes over the entire CBS net-
work in the next two months, Sol
Lesser yesterday signed Gayne Whit-
man for a serial based on his radio
character, "Chandu." At the same
time Vera Oldham, who writes the
radio continuity, was signed to write
the story and Basil Dike was handed
a ticket to script the continuity. Pic-
ture will be produced on the com-
pletion of "Peck's Bad Boy," which
starts shooting March 6.
Young and Lawrence on
DeMille's Cleo' Script
Waldemar Young and Vincent Law-
rence are doing the script on "Cleo-
patra" for Cecil DeMille at Paramount,
and not Jeannie Macpherson, as er-
roneously reported in a recent issue of
the Reporter.
Incidentally, the only delays en-
countered on the picture are in the
problem of properly casting the part
of Caesar, and the script is said to be
moving along in shape that has every-
body happy.
Nacio Brown and Freed
Songs in Top Three
A New York sales survey lists two
songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Ar-
thur Freed among the first three in
demand throughout the country.
Songs are "Temptation" and "We'll
Make Hay While the Sun Shines,"
both for MGM's "Going Hollywood,"
the Marion Davies-Bing Crosby pic-
ture.
Brandt s N. Y. Exhibs
Plan National Tie-Ups
New York. — Harry Brandt, reelect-
ed president of the Independent Thea-
tre Owners of this territory, is backed
by the members in a movement to
form a new national organization of
exhibitors with the avowed purpose
"to foster and consolidate gains made
at the Washington code hearings by
presenting a united exhibitor front."
Foy jr. Gets Renewal
Henry Ginsberg, Hal Roach general
manager, yesterday punched Eddie Foy
Jr.s ticket for the first option on a
five-year contract. Foy was signed
some time ago for an all star comedy
with an option for a five-year deal.
He goes into the sixth of the Thelma
Todd-Patsy Kelly shorts which starts
next Saturday.
Bushman jr. an Agent
Francis X. Bushman Jr. is pulling
out of the player ranks, joining the
MacQuarrie office as an agent.
H O VV A li D
JACKSON
Arranger and Composer
iii
n\
Orchestrations for
Too Much Harmony''
College Humor''
Lady For a Day"
"Alice In Wonderland"
"Sitting Pretty"
"Palooka"
"I'm No Angel"
It Happened One Night"
Compositions for
"Eight Girls in a Boat"
"Girl Without a Room"
"Clamour"
and
\\
n
BELOVED
(In collaboration with Victor Schertzinger)
U
BOTTOMS UP
(Completing arrangements for B. G. DeSylva)
Management
Frank and Dunlap, Ltd.
n
whether it s a new deal
or a misdeal . . .
Whether you're ^running
wild' or standing pat . . .
it IS possible to get lost
in the shuffle if you don't
PLAY YOUR HAND!
MR. WRITER
You had an ace in the
hole last year that won
recognition for you in a
hit picture Of course,
YOU remember it. But
what about the studio
heads . . . the execs who
sign the contracts? They
need to be constantly
reminded.
in the
I
List Your 1933 Screen
Fourth Annual
of the
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Wiiteis' Number
OUT SOON
b
Vor. XIX. No. 25. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, February 9. 1934
NRA WCRr 4T STANDSTILL
• WHEN, if ever, will Hollywood make
some sincere effort to check the mil-
lions of dollars of waste that goes into
the making of pictures during the
course of a year? This absolute
throwing away of tons of money is
appalling and there seems to be no
check. Producers don't seem to care.
The money that is wasted in the
major studios in a single year is al-
most equal to the total production
expenditure for finished pictures dur-
ing that year, so what's to do about
it? How is it to be checked?
It is not uncommon for a picture
to start production with anywhere
from $75,000 to $200,000 (yes, and
more) checked up against it. Money
that has been frittered away on count-
less screen treatments of the story,
many, many salaries of writers, direc-
tors, artists charged up to it.
The main trouble, however, is that
those causing this waste do not seem
to care; they count it as part of their
day and are in no way astonished
when the sheets, showing this waste,
are brought in for their inspection.
In many Hollywood studios produc-
tion does not get under way (in fact
no work starts) until eleven o'clock
and after. If a director and his com-
pany are assembled on the set ready
for work in the mornng they are, most
frequently, held up by the absence
of the producer, who strolls in any-
where from eleven till noon. And
the supervisory system is such in those
plants that the director cannot go
ahead unless his "producer" is there
to give the okay.
Much of the waste in most of the
studios could be saved by starting
shooting at eleven o'clock instead of
nine and finishing up at eight instead
of six p.m. Not only shooting, but
all work tending to production.
This late start will give the "pro-
ducer" time to get to the studio from
his golf or tennis game and be on
hand to confer with his writers, di-
rectors, etc., etc.
And another thing that would save
a lot of waste is a finished script be-
fore the start of production, a script
that would be shot.
But you may as well try to change
the spots on a leopard as to change
the present production methods.
What-the-hell, it gives us something
to write about anyhow.
Sullavan Returning
New York. — Settle Universal's
worries. Margaret Sullavan plans
to leave by plane for the coast next
Saturday.
State and Agents
Co Into Huddle
Ralph Blum, attorney, represented
local picture agencies at discussions
yesterday before the State Labor Board
of Statistics in connection with plans
to draft new rules for control of Cali-
fornia agencies.
Thomas F. Barker, state labor com-
missioner, represented the state and
put forth the view that representatives
were really employment agencies and
should come under regulations for
those establishments.
No definite action resulted from the
meeting which was largely a fact-
finding session. Ralph Blum, for the
agents, refused to be quoted following
the gathering.
Acad. Meeting Today
The Academy's steering committee,
headed by King Vidor, will meet to-
day to iron out the final details con-
nected with the Annual Awards and
the banquet to be held for presenta-
tion of prizes to the winners. Balloting
by the members started yesterday.
Catherine in N.Y.Feb. 14
New York. — "Queen Christina"
closes at the Astor on February 12,
being followed by "Catherine the
Great," United Artists British impor-
tation, on February 14.
After 'Rosy' Passed Buck To
Local Labor Body Latter Now
Marks Time A waiting Authority
Sol Rosenblatt had an easy time in Hollywood ducking diffi-
cult labor and extra questions by referring them to various com-
mittees. Now that Rosenblatt is back in Washington, local
representatives of labor with over twenty alleged violations on
which they seek action, are discover-
Cornell Cives Cold
Shoulder to Movies
ing that the machinery here is at a
standstill, either intentionally or unin-
tentionally.
The position taken by A. J. Berres,
of the Studio Labor Board, is said to
be that while Administrator Rosen-
blatt may have appointed him in
newspaper interviews to do various
things he is still awaiting the official
documents from Washington that give
(Continued on Page 7)
Universal In Black
For Current Quarter
New York. — Universal will be in
the black, with a profit for the fiscal
period starting in November and end-
ing this month that the officials of the
company are willing to call "a heavy
profit."
Burden to New York
C. Shirley Burden, who resigned his
associate producer berth at Radio
Tuesday, is slated to hop off for New
York today. He is shelving pictures,
having pulled out when Radio took
away from him two stories, "Sea Girl"
and "Escape to Paradise," which were
Merian C. Cooper's ideas.
]%EW YORK IIVDIE EXHIBS
EXAMPLE DUE TO SPREAD
New York.— The example set by
Harry Brandt and the Independent
Theatre Owners Association in build-
ing up a strong local organization
ready to fight anybody for its rights
seems to be spreading throughout the
nation and may play havoc with pres-
ent alleged national organizations.
New indie units querying New York
about how the local body operates in-
clude groups in Ohio and Arkansas.
Brandt's group finds that it can gain
its points with one hundred per cent
local organization and without the
ballyhoo of alleged national strength
and high-sounding titles.
Kay Francis Refuses
Role in Warners 'Key'
Kay Francis has refused to do "The
Key" for Warners and the organiza-
tion has permitted her to step out,
offering her either "Dr. Monica" or
"Firebird" as her next.
Lewis Winds Up at RKO
David Lewis definitely winds up at
Radio on the completion of "Stinga-
ree," which is now shooting. Lewis
has been associate producer on "The
Crime Doctor" and "Two Alone" re-
cently.
Katharine Cornell spurned an offer
by Irving Thalberg to turn her talents
to the screen for the top spot In
"Barretts of Wimpole Street," which
he will produce for MOM, or any other
play that she might choose to do. It
is reported that she turned down a
salary that ran well over $100,000
for one picture. Norma Shearer will
likely do "Barretts of Wimpole
Street."
Miss Cornell laughed at the offer
made by Warners to test her for the
role of Josephine for the Edward Rob-
inson picture "Napoleon."
Thalberg Must Find
The 'Merry Widow*
According to Max Ruppa, Maurice
Chevalier's personal representative,
despite the fact that the French star
has a clause in his contract with Irv-
ing Thalberg that gives him the right
to approve of the feminine lead in
"Merry Widow," he has washed his
hands of the job of choosing the wo-
man, and is leaving it up to Thalberg.
Warner Baxter First Fox
Exchange with England
From the Fox lot yesterday it was
learned that Winnie Sheehan plans to
give Warner Baxter to British Cau-
mont as the first star in the exchange
deal which has already brought Made-
leine Carroll to this country for a Hol-
lywood picture.
Col. Joy Returns to Fox
Col. Jason Joy returns to Fox March
1 to a special assignment in the story
department. Joy was formerly in the
Fox story department but left there
some time ago to return to the Hays
organization.
Harry Warner Leaves
H. M. Warner leaves by train today
for New York. He was here for three
weeks for conferences on production.
THE WRITERS' NUMBER Is WRITER INSURANCE
^^
Page Two
THE
Feb. 9. 1934
m..
l^^^UM^omm
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-71 9^;
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Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
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Published every dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
The long-awaited divorce proceed-
ings between a famous producer and
his wife are expected to pop any rr,in-
ute now. The producer no longer
makes any secret of his meetings with
a well known local lady; in fact he is
now busy introducing her around so
that there will be a definite group for
her association when he makes her his
bride. He has also confided to sev-
eral persons that he has every inten-
tion of presenting her at a certain
wedding reception as "his future
wife" — even though he is not yet free
from his present one!
•
Sam Marx, over at MCM, got a let-
ter recently from a newspaper feller
in Wilkes-Barre who said in part that
"Wilkes-Barre had given Hollywood
Sam Hoffenstein, Herman Mankiewicz
and Louis Weitzenkorn and that Hol-
lywood should now take an idea from
the town that made Hollywood fa-
mous." He suggested that MCM
make a picture based on the life of
Irving Berlin.
So Marx wrote back that the stu-
dio didn't think much of his idea and
couldn't use it — so they were return-
ing Hoffenstein, Mankiewicz and
Weitzenkorn!
•
And while we're not on the sub-
ject at all, the downtown cheapies
have a habit of featuring their own
subtitles in advertising the old pic-
tures they show so that this week one
of the marquees reads: " 'Sleepless
Nights' with the CHEVALIER of Eu-
rope."
•
,■ Lyie Talbot established a new record
for Hollywood leading men when he
played the hero role in saving Mar-
garet Lindsay from a possibly danger-
ous fire on the Warner lot. ... He
qualifies as being the first actor on
record who ever tried to "EXTIN-
CUISH" a flame.
•
A bright youngster wandered
around the Paramount lot for ten days
with no one stopping him — then pre-
sented a written list of recommenda-
tions on improving the messenger
service. P. S. — He didn't get the job.
But now the lobby doors have an extra
lock on them.
"NANA "
Samuel Coldwvn prod,; director, Dorothy Arzner; writ-ers, Emile Zola,
Willard Mack, Harry Wagstaff Cribble.
Music Hall f
Herald-Tribune: The picture is not worthy of Anna Sten. The film is quite
handsomely produced, but I fear that pictorial lavishness cannot disguise
the fact that the story is done amid so much artificiality that it never
succeeds in being real or touching.
News: Miss Sten's blonde, Slavic beauty is an effective subject for the camera.
She is lovely throughout the picture. She manages to bring glamour and
interest to the characterization of Nana, but she fails to arouse any real
sympathy for her.
Times: Through Miss Sten's efficiency and charm and the splendid portrayals
of such players as Mr. Bennett, Mr. Owen and Mr. Crant, it offers a fair
measure of entertainment, and even though it wanders far from Zola's
work, sometimes catches the illusion of Paris in bygone days.
American: Samuel Coldwyn was right — Anna Sten is a great star. He spent
$2,000,000 to prove it, but this bread cast upon the waters will be re-
turned many-fold by the glad, free-will donations of the mighty public
which is destined to be hers. In a single picture the "Nana" which
held a first audience spellbound at the Music Hall, the Russian Mona
Lisa rises to the first rank of picture players and personalities. She stands
now with the first six.
Mirror: A film which is all Anna. And Anna is beautiful and interesting.
The picture is an extravagantly handsome one, and Coldwyn's Anna is
provocative and dazzling. Everyone will want to see her. And they
will be bewitched and entertained by her.
Sun: This "Nana," prettified though it be, remains somehow still a sordid tale.
It needed Mr. Coldwyn's usual courageous forcefulness; but this time it
got only his painstaking care, his sense of showmanship, and his newest
star. That may be enough to launch Anna Sten on a new and brilliant
career. It is not enough to make a great picture.
Post: Miss Sten very properly dominates "Nana," and she dominates it with
her looks, her speech, her gestures and an acting talent that ripples felici-
tously from comedy to emotional drama. Whatever she does and
"Nana" gives her an opportunity for a great many things — there is never
a hint of straining for effect. It would be pleasant to report that the
vehicle was worthy of the star, but it unfortunately is not.
Herald-Tribune: "Nana" is a mild, over-written and leisurely romantic drama,
pretty, but also pretty thin. Indeed, it suggested mainly that once agairi
a really great actress had been scratched by Hollywood and that the re-
sult was less acting than a series of beautifully photographed poses. But
in spite of the wordiness of "Nana" and its musty story and pedestrian
movement. Miss Sten's ability is not wholly submerged.
Journal: A glamorous, dazzling beauty, brilliantly launched by a master show-
man. Anna Sten is lovely to look at. She has talent and charm and
grace. The Russian star's supporting cast is excellent, with Phillips
Holmes, Lionel Atwill, Richard Bennett, Lawrence Crant, Mae Clarke
and Muriel Kirkland. But, of course, the picture is entirely Anna Sten.
And Anna Sten has made a triumphant debut.
I'll Tell the World'
Next for Lee Tracy
-■ Universal will use the title of "I'll
Tell the World" on the Lee Tracy
starring vehicle which starts next
Monday under the direction of Edward
Sedgwick. The story is an original by
Lincoln Quarberg. Screen play by
Dale Van Every and Frank Wead.
Craven in Kibbee Spot
Warners yesterday signed Frank
Craven for the role which Cuy Kibbee
was set for in "Without Honor," the
James Cagney-Joan Blondell vehicle
now shooting. Kibbee instead gets a
featured spot in "Dames," which will
be Busby Berkeley's first directing job
for the studio.
Sinus Delays Fox Pic
Production plans of "Cypsy Mel-
ody" at Fox are being held up until
Eric Charell, who will produce and di-
rect the picture, arrives at the studio.
Charell has been confined to his home
with a bad case of sinus trouble since
he arrived here.
Review Board Does Usual
New York. — About all the twenty-
fifth convention of the National Board
of Review did was to pass a resolution
against motion picture censorship.
Root to Columbia
WeLI,s,R.o,Ol has been signed by Co-
lumbia to write the script on an orig-
inal story for Jack Holt's next picture.
SOUND ENGINEER
is seeking an opportun-
itywhere executive and
business ability plus a
thorough knowledge of
all engineering and op-
erating phases of sound
picture technique, can
be utilized to advan-
tage. Four years expe-
rience in major studios.
Box 600, Hollywood Reporter
February 6, 1 934.
Mr. W. R. Wilkerson:
Apropos of the steadily increasing
profits of Loew's Inc., as announced
in today's issue of your Reporter, and
in view of your kindness in publishing
several letters from mere script girls,
I wonder if you would be so kind as to
make mention of another subject in
your very fine "Forum."
At MCM, when the employees had
to take the cuts quite some time ago,
Mr. Mayer announced, with tears in
his eyes, that it was breaking his heart
to have to do this — to have to cut
our salary.
Now that their profits are so ap-
parent, why the heck are we not re-
instated at the old salary?
Last month United Artists very
generously reinstated their employees
to their former salaries, and it looks
as if other studios, especially one as
favorably situated as MCM, might fol-
low suit. Of course, they can retali-
ate by saying that now our working \
hours have been cut. Yes. But so ;
have United Artists' working hours ■
been reduced, yet they have got their i
old salary back.
Of course, my little cut amounts '
only to $1.50 per week. But that's
$6 a month and pays for my lunches.
Hope you can see your way clear
to print something in your fine paper
on this subject which means so much
to us. We will be very grateful for
your help.
A STENOGRAPHER.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Contidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
p*
RUSSELL,MILLER,
and Company \ |
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
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SELMER L. CHALIF
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TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
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Offices
Npw York Portland
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I
Feb. 9, 1934
THPm
Page Thre«
FOX 'I BELIEVED IN YOlJ'
AMATEFRISH AND AWKWARD
Story and Dialogue
Throw All For Loss
"I BELIEVED IN YOU"
(Fox)
Direction Irving Cummings
Screen Play William Conselman
Original ldea....Wm. Anthony McCuire
Photography Barney McCill
Cast: Rosemary Ames, Victor Jory,
John Boles, Gertrude Michael,
George Meeker, Leslie Fenton,
Joyzelle, Luis Alberni, Jed
Prouty, Morgan Wallace.
Those little theatres specializing in
unproduced plays by unknown authors
might have brought forth something
such as "I Believed in You." It smacks
of the amateur in nearly every depart-
ment. About everything that can be
said for it on the credit side of the
ledger is that it presents an idea
somewhat novel for the screen and in-
troduces a new and interesting per-
sonality in the person of Rosemary
Ames. The girl has promise, a prom-
ise that her first picture does not com-
pletely realize.
But then, there are a lot of prom-
ises unrealized in the treatment of "I
Believed in You." The plot concerns
a young girl from a small town who
is suddenly thrown into association
with the denizens of New York's
Greenwich Village. She is amused by
those she meets, an unpublished poet,
an unhung painter (no pun), an un-
sung dancer and a labor radical. She
believes in them as they pretend to
believe in themselves.
She slaps the face of a wealthy man
and does ten days in the workhouse
for her assault. He finds her upon
her release and attempts to disabuse
her of her belief in her worthless as-
sociates. Failing in argument, he of-
fers to finance each of her friends for
six months to determine what they
will accomplish. Goaded into accept-
ing his wager, she sees them in their
true light when they accomplish noth-
ing.
Much could have been done with
this theme. But like its characters it
gets nowhere. An unusual screen
credit proclaims "from an idea by
William Anthony McGuire." Better
that McGuire had developed his own
idea, for it certainly has fallen into
alien hands. The dialogue is at times
unconsciously funny, at other times
just bad.
Rosemary Ames, looking a bit like
Tallulah Bankhead, remains interesting
despite her inept material. She has
not been photographed to the best ad-
vantage in several sequences but she
does not suffer as severely as does
John Boles. As the wealthy man, the
dialogue also throws Boles for losses
time and again.
Victor Jory swaggers through his
role of the radical and scores to top
the cast. George Meeker does well by
the poet as do Luis Alberni, Jed Prouty
and Morgan Wallace in lesser parts.
Some of the others are plain ham.
The direction of Irving Cummings
and the photography of Barney Mc-
Cill are both uneven. Cutting hasn't
Academy Missed
Little Women'
Through error, the Academy
failed to list the Radio production
of "Little Women" in its produc-
tion book sent out yesterday to
members for their selection in the
Academy awards.
Many of the copies had it pen-
ciled in, but those who do not re-
ceive such copies should under-
stand that the big Radio hit is to
be included on last year's pictures.
Universal Release
For Franklin-Moss
New York. — H. B. Franklin and
B. S. Moss will produce the six pic-
tures they plan for release by Univer-
sal. This announcement was made
yesterday in New York after rumors
had connected ■ the theatre veterans
with Radio release for their subjects.
No news yet as to the amount of
money to be spent on the picture or
the initial stories planned.
Cagney Name Omitted
James Cagney's name was inadver-
tently omitted from the list of nomi-
nations by the Screen Actors Guild for
the 5-5 committee on code agents'
operations under the code as published
yesterday.
Art Collins Marries
Arthur Greville Collins, Warner
dialogue director, marries Rhoda Shep-
herd February 17. Miss Shepherd, who
comes from Portland, Oregon, has had
some picture experience.
Baby Boy for Mrs. Karp
An eight pound baby boy was born
to Mrs. Jack Karp at the Cedars of
Lebanon Hospital Tuesday. Mother is
wife of Henry Herzbrun's assistant at
Paramount.
Edna Best on Way
New York. — Edna Best left here
Wednesday to visit Herbert Marshall
in Hollywood.
Radio Signs Halliday
John Halliday was signed yesterday
by Radio for an important role in "Fin-
ishing School."
helped either. There is a moment in a
typical Fox fog sequence when the
studio lights are plainly discernible.
To sum up, a bit of the dialogue is
apt. The wealthy chap says in effect
to his fiancee, "I thought you liked
strange people." She replies, "But not
in such large quantities." Yet there
was a swell picture in "I Believed In
You." They just failed to get it out.
Lacking in heavy cast name draws,
your only hope is in selling the Green-
wich Village angle, coupled with
whatever "Girl's Disillusion" copy you
can bat out.
The Lost Patror
Scores In Frisco
San Francisco. — Even though it
opened on a rainy day, Radio's "Lost
Patrol" started here with a smash
equaled only by 'Little Women." The
picture opened at the Golden Gate
Theatre, and took in $2,662 as com-
pared to $2,832 by "Little Women,"
which opened in the same house.
Executives from Radio are jubilant
over the way the picture has caught
on. Wallace Ford made a personal
appearance at the opening.
Al Alt Company To Carry
Through on Mountan Pics
New York. — The "Showman's Pic-
tures" group of indie pictures original-
ly started by D. J. Mountan will be
carried through to completion by
Screencraft Attractions, according to
announcement made here yesterday by
Al Ait. "St. Louis Woman," next on
the list, is slated to start in Holly-
wood next week.
Brian Ahearn Hits
In British Picture
London. — After a very bad picture
start in "Song of Songs" made in
Hollywood by Paramount, Brian
Ahearn grabs top raves for his per-
formance in Gaumont's "Constant
Nymph," which was shown here re-
cently.
Thomson Makes Report
The Executive Committee of the
Screen Actors Guild held an important
meeting last night to hear the report
of Kenneth Thomson, secretary, fol-
lowing his hurried trip east to confer
with President Eddie Cantor. No
statement made to the press following
the session.
Postpone 'Hairy Ape'
"The Hairy Ape," starring Mitchell
Lewis, at the Mason Theatre will open
February 18 instead of 1 9 as pre-
viously announced. Allen Daily has
been added to the cast which includes
Wyndham Standing, Alice L. Holcomb
and Bess Stafford.
Manners and Sherman Set
Sheila Manners and Vincent Sher-
man were set yesterday for leading
roles in "The Terrible Turk," claimed
to be a satire on Jed Harris, which the
Pasadena Community Playhouse is
putting on February 20.
loan Lowell Back in N.Y.
New York. — Joan Lowell, whose
windjammer story created consider-
able of a stir some years ago, returned
to port yesterday on the first lap of
a world journey being made in con-
nection with plans for a Radio picture.
Ulric for Personals
New York. — The personal appear-
ance war is still on with the first runs.
Lenore Ulrich yesterday signed a deal
to go over the Loew circuit, opening
February 16 at the Metropolitan in
Brooklyn.
By lERRY WALD
Paul Green's article on the movies
in the Sunday Times has stirred up
plenty of talk. . . . The very genial
Harry Goetz, who guides the destinies
of Reliance Pictures, was like a proud
father at the trade showing of "Pa-
looka" — and for a very good reason,
too — the picture literally had them
laughing in the aisles. . . . There's a
deal on, if you're at all interested, for
Harry Richman to make a feature
musical for Columbia! . . . George
Gershwin is out on his concert tour,
but only until the end of this week.
After that he'll settle down to making
an operatic version of DuBose and
Dorothy Heyward's "Porgy." He hopes
to finish it in time for a production
next season. Mr. Heyward and Ira
Gershwin are collaborating on the
play's adaptation and the latter is
writing the lyrics. In addition George
and his brother will probably do the
music and words for another show
next year. . . . And Bradford Ropes,
who was a chorus boy before he be-
came a novelist, has now written a
musical show. From what I can gath-
er it will hit the boards very shortly.
Who'll produce must remain a mys-
tery till it opens.
•
That lovely lady of the wild raves,
Jane Froman, is being beckoned to the
screen by Mister Sam Goldwyn, who
wants the canary to sing songs in the
next Cantor opus. . . . May 1 will find
Sophie Tucker en route for England
and the Cafe de Paris. . . . The talk
is that Jack Pearl will face the cam-
eras for Warners. . . . And incidentally
Harry Hershfield resumes his column-
ing on the Herald-Tribune March 4.
. . . Ric Cortez is asking those Yeast
folks for two grand to radio. . . .
According to those who claim they
have the inside "dope" on the situa-
tion, rumors have it that Rowland-
Brice will be back together again. . . .
Others say that Monty Brice will do
some production on his own, backed
by the Erpi crowd, while Bill Rowland
will produce a flock of features for
Columbia.
•
Patsy Flick, whose characterization
in "She Loves Me Not" has the night-
ly audiences that pack the theatre
laughing till tears come, should be a
sure-fire bet for Paramount, which has
purchased the picture rights to this
play. Flick has a grand sense of com-
edy valuations and should prove an
important addition to any picture irast,
especially "She Loves Me Not." . . .
That air-famous group, "The Rise of
the Goldbergs," is being chased after
again by the flicker companies. . . .
Figure this out if you can: On my
recent trip to the coast I met Al Jol-
son on the Warner lot. Al com-
plained to me that he missed radio
and New York. So what? So this:
Last week after a recent cold spell
we had here I met up with jolson.
His first cry to me was that he missed
the California sunshine!
•
Ann Barrie, the Brooklyn Miss who
scored such a hit in "Music in the
Air," will very shortly be on the War-
(Continued on Page 7)
Page Four
TREiy
Feb. 9, 1934
GOLDEN S 'NO QUESTIONS'
HAS ONE GREAT C HARACTER
Probably Better Pic
Than Stage Play
"NO QUESTIONS ASKED"
John Golden presents "No Questions
Asked," by Anne Morrison Clnap-
in; staged by Edward Goodman
and John Goldwyn; settings by
P. Dodd Ackerman, at the
Masque Theatre. With Emma
Bunting, Barbara Robbins, Milo
Boulton, Ross Alexander, Spring
Bymgton, Barna Osterag, Charles
Lawrence, Brian Donlevy, Mar-
gery Garrett, Dorothy Vernon,
Joseph King, Kate McComb.
New York. — One really has no right
to be too querulous with Anne Morri-
son Chapin because she has chosen to
tell "No Questions Asked" from an
erroneous bifocal point of view, since
in this dramatic comedia entertain-
ment she has drawn one character who
is worth the price of admission alone.
We refer to the character yclept Pet
Walsh, played by Spring Byington
(and how!) But the heck of it is that
while this play is full of Pet, for
which we are duly grateful, the "preg-
nant" theme concerns her not at all;
that is, directly. In other words, it
really isn't her play, strictly speaking.
As a matter of fact, biologically speak-
ing, It couldn't be — Pet being too def-
initely dated for that sort of thing.
The play belongs to two other charac-
ters— Pet's dipsomaniac son. Sonny
Raeburn, and a girl, Noel Parker, he
has married under extraordinary cir-
cumstances.
And here we must charge that the
author has stacked the cards against
her characters and against her audi-
ence. Why Noel Parker must with-
hold from Sonny the fact that she is
about to have a baby by another man
until the audience itself is fairly ready
to yell out the obstetrical secret and
get it over with, can onlybe ascribed
to downright dramatic licentiousness.
Because Sonny certainly was a most
open-minded young man where the
subject of sex and babies, his own or
otherwise, was concerned. And Pet,
his mother, was even more of a lati-
tudinarian.
This was the way of it. Sonny
met Noel one night on the Staten
Island ferry. She had just had a quar-
rel with her sweetheart, who refused
to accompany her to Manhattan and
marry her immediately, not even when
she intimated that he might be by
way of considering himself a f-ather
sooner than he expected. In her de-
spair she was just about to go off the
deep end when Sonny, delightfully
drunk, took a hand in her destiny,
saved her from a watery grave, and
offered her a drink from the emer-
gency kit he always carried. That one
drink led to many more in a place
called Tony's, and that in turn led
to a crazy marriage, which three
months later has all the earmarks of
turning out swell. For Sonny's moth-
er approved most beautifully, since
Noel had straightened out her pride
and joy beyond wildest dreams of so-
briety. So far, so good. But Noel
has her dark secret, remember; and
when her mother-in-law innocently
comments on the fit of her dress she
Nuts!
Andy Devine says he is working
on the development of a "careless
monkey-wrench" for the purpose
of keeping a couple of nuts from
getting more than half tight.
Carroll Closes New
2 Yr. Gaumont Deal
New York. — While Madeleine Car-
roll is here on her way to Fox in Hol-
lywood, detouring for a visit with
friends in Montreal, it becomes known
that she has signed a new two-year
deal with Gaumont British.
Her first picture under the new
contract after her return from Holly-
wood will be "Mary of Scotland." Vic-
tor Saville will direct.
A clause in the new contract pro-
hibits simultaneous appearances on the
stage and screen.
Getting Morgans Straight
An error in the "Shooting Sched-
ule" credits on "The Firebrand" list-
ed Ralph Morgan for a part that should
have been credited to Frank Morgan.
Drat those Morgans.
Milt Golden in New Spot
Milton Golden, attorney, is holding
open house Saturday in his new of-
fices in the Equitable Building, Holly-
wood. The attorney is associated, with
Arthur V. Kaufman.
is ready to have kittens right there
and then. To complicate matters her
dilatory sweetheart turns up, feeling
duty bound to claim his share in the
unborn. His fanatically religious
mother also drops in, to warn Pet and
Sonny that this girl who seduced her
son is about to elope with him now.
To complicate matters still further.
Sonny goes on such a bender again as
to require the ministrations of a doc-
tor, nurse and sleeping powders. While
in this hectic condition he gets hold
of a revolver, finally managing to
shoot himself in a scuffle for its pos-
session. We are given to understand
by the family physician that the wound
is not too serious. Suffice it to say
that when Sonny, sobered up, in the
end learns about the coming blessed
event, he is content to forgive all and
to call the real father the real son-
of-a-so-and-so. In the play it is pro-
nounced with a capital B (oh, Mr.
Golden!)
Ross Alexander plays Sonny Raeburn
amusingly. Barbara Robbins as Noel
is a capable young actress. But Spring
Byington as the rich, twice married
widow Walsh, we repeat, is the whole
show; and it would really be too bad
if she were not drafted to duplicate
her performance in the picture version
of "No Questions Asked," if such ver-
sion eventuates. Which we think
there is an even chance of happening,
because the play with all its faults
provides enough meat for Hollywood
to go to work on — and turn out a
considerably better picture than it is
a play.
'Break-In' Period
Chorine Problem
New York. — Problem of the
"break-in" period proved biggest
thorn in side of Code Authoritv meet-
ing held at the Astor here in con-
nection with the vaudeville industry.
Producers claimed 44-hour week pro-
vided by code is not sufficient to per-
mit drilling of chorus girls. Charles
Madduck of United Vaudeville Pro-
ducers and Directors Association rec-
ommended that artists rehearse two
weeks without pay; play two weeks
"break-in" time without pay; and the
abolishment of pay to chorus girls of
$3 a day during layoffs.
Mary Brian to N. Y.
Mary Brian left for New York last
night by plane to see the Broadway
production of "Men in White" before
she decides to accept the role of the
feminine lead in that play which will
be produced by Henry Duffy at the
El Capitan Theatre. Before she left
the deal was closed for her to do the
show and the decision rests with Miss
Brian.
Stars Go for Sov. Dancers
Top flight picture stars are putting
in reservations for the concert of
Vecheslova and Chabukani, celebrated
Soviet dancers, on an American tour
through speci.al Soviet permission, at
the Philharmonic Auditorium next
Tuesday night. Ed Perkins, well known
in picture circles, is handling the cross
country tour.
Rainger-Robin on Three
Rainger and Robin are now work-
ing on three Paramount pictures at a
time, B. P. Schulberg having assigned
the team to find the melodies for
"Cosmetic." "Come on. Marines" and
"Little Miss Marker" are others in
work.
New Para. S. A. Manager
New York. — Jerome P. Sussman,
newly named Paramount general man-
ager for Central America and the
northern Republics of South America,
is on his way to his territory. Suc-
ceeds John B. Nathan.
1st Div. Has Scout Serial
New York. — First Division Pictures
will handle distribution on "Young
Eagles," the Boy Scout serial being
produced by George Stout and Harry
Hoyt. A radio hook-up is planned.
Arkansas Exhibs Meet
Little Rock. — The Independent
Theatre Owners of Arkansas hold their
semi-annual meeting here February
11-12. T. W. Sharp is president, and
Ray Morrow vice president
Miller on Vacation
Cinematographer Arthur Miller, of
the A.S.C., is off to Santa Barbara for
a ten day rest cure on the completion
of the Fox picture, "Bottoms Up."
Dot Stickney Here
Dorothy Stickney, with a Paramount
contract, arrived here yesterday to
start work at that studio.
Tenen Holtz added to "Hollywood
Party," MGM.
Henry O'Neill and George Cooper
to roles in "One Man's Woman" with
Pat O'Brien, Glenda Farrell and Claire
Dodd at Warners.
David Torrence into "All Men Are
Enemies," Fox. Walter Kane of the
Weber office set the player.
Arthur Hohl gets his first free lance
assignment since leaving Warners'
contract list with a featured role In
Paramount's "Cleopatra." The Wil-
liam Morris office swung it.
Leila Bennett was set by the Wil-
liam Morris office yesterday for a fea-
tured role in "Strictly Dynamite" at
Radio.
Donald Meek goes into an impor-
tant spot in "Murder in the Vanities,"
Paramount, the William Morris office
doing it.
Alan Hale into "Of Human Bond-^
age," Radio.
Helen Freeman for "Finishing
School," Radio.
John Larkin set through the Bernard
and Meiklejohn agency in "Louisiana,"
MGM.
Alan Edwards and Charlie Williams
signed for "The Showoff," MGM.
Williams deal handled by Bernard and
Meiklejohn.
Donald Dilloway signed by Warners'
for "Sawdust."
Shirley Grey and George Blackwood
added to "Sisters Under the Skin,"
Columbia. Bernard and Meiklejohn
negotiated for Blackwood.
Henry O'Neill and George Cooper
added to cast of "One Man's Wo-,
man," Warners.
Russell Hopton goes into "Without
Honor," Warners.
Clara Blandick and Claude Gilting-
water added to "The Showoff," MGM.
. Leila Bennett by Radio for '"Strictly
Dynamite."
Shane, Hillman Combine
Max' Shane, long identified with
Mike Marco of Fanchon and Marco,
branches out into the advertising
agency business, combining with Da- i
vid Hillman. The new firm will han- i
die accounts including Fanchon and
Marco, Principal Theatres, Partmar
Theatres, Sardi's and Music Corpora-
tion of America.
Ev. Riskin at Columbia
Everett Riskin, former production
manager for Edward Small, has joined
the Columbia production staff in the
capacity of a supervisor. His first as- ,
signment is the Supervision of the next i
Jack Holt picture.
London Likes 'Christina'
London — • Sam Eckman, general!
manager of MGM in Great Britian, ;
is raving about the reaction the other
night by British exhibitors to "Queen
Christina." Eckman's phrase is "It
knocked 'em silly."
Selznick Tests Lehman
David Selznick tested Virginia
Pine Lehman, wife of the Chicago;
millionaire, for a termer at MGM.
She is also sought for a termer by
Warners.
Feb. 9, 1 934
TH
^
RilPOI^TlfR
'*o"wry"to°B'itish studio ^^EW TYPE LEi\S GETS REAL
TEST IIV EASTER]^ PICTURE
Phil Rosen has settled out of court
the two suits filed against him by
Milton Hoffman, and Hoffman, Kerr
and Quigley for agency commissions.
Suits totaled $1,650.
Director reaches New York today
and boards the Champlain tomorrow
for London, where he is signed on a
three months' deal with Progressive
Pictures, releasing through British-
Caumont.
May's Columbia Pic To Co
Hundred Per Cent German
William Wilder and Jo Schultz,
German writers, have been signed by
Columbia to write the script on Joie
May's first directing assignment at the
plant. Wilder and Schultz, who re-
cently arrived in New York, will be
out here in the near future.
Lesser Signs Whitman
Learning that the "Chandu" pro-
gram will go over the entire NBC net-
work the last of March or the first of
April and realizing the exploitation
tie-up possible, Sol Lesser yesterday
signed Gayne Whitman for the lead
in his next serial. Story will be based
on Whitman's radio characterization
of "Chandu" and will go into pro-
duction on the completion of "Peck's
Bad Boy," which starts March 6.
Radio Borrows Wynyard
Radio secured MGM's okay yester-
day on the loan of Diana Wynyard for
the co-starring assignment with Clive
Brook in "Dover Road." Picture,
which J. Walter Ruben directs, also
will have Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray,
Gilbert Emery and Phyllis Barry.
Newmeyeron HoffmanPic
Fred Newmeyer, who leaves for
England to direct for British Interna-
tional, has postponed his departure
while he makes a picture for M. H.
Hoffman. He will leave here February
26. The Hoffman picture is titled
"The Quitter."
Dr. Felix Here Again
Dr. Hugo Felix, famous composer,
arrived in town yesterday from New
York. This is the first trip here since
he composed the music for the Pathe
picture which Mary Lewis, Metropoli-
tan opera singer, was to make a num-
ber of years ago.
Warners Shift Schedule
Warners have rearranged the sched-
ule on "Fog Over San Francisco" so
that the picture will wind up with
exteriors in San Francisco. Company,
which was due to leave tomorrow, will
not go there until the end of next
week.
'Peck's Boy' Starts Mar. 6
Sol Lesser yesterday signed Frank
Melford to the spot of production
manager on "Peck's Bad Boy," which
starts shooting March 6. Eddie Cline
directs and Jackie Cooper has been
borrowed from MCM for the lead.
Drop Marston Suit
Order to drop John Marston's suit
against KBS Productions from court
records went on file yesterday after
Sam Wolf, acting for the recently dis-
solved company, settled the case out
of court. It was a salary claim.
A new motion picture camera lens,
which many cameramen believe may
revolutionize the photography field,
will be given a practical opportunity to
show its worth shortly on a feature
production to be made in the East.
This lens, called the "Detrar," has
been developed by Dr. L. M. Die-
terich, optical and consulting engineer.
He leaves this week for New York
wrth his lens. His leaving marks the
end of a dramatic and persistent
struggle for recognition on his part.
For years he has worked on the de-
velopment of the lens, but after It
had been perfected, Hollywood pro-
ducers would not give him the oppor-
tunity to demonstrate its worth and
efficiency on a regular production, de-
spite the fact that tests showed what
it could do. Dr. Dieterich kept at his
task, however, and his efforts are now
to be rewarded.
The new lens is revolutionary in
that focusing is eliminated. All exist-
ing lenses have but one vertical plane
that is sharp. Thus the lens is focused
on one object and the remainder of
the picture in front and behind the
subject is fuzzy. The new lens, ac-
cording to Dr. Dieterich, eliminates
the focusing as every object in the
picture beyond three feet from the
camera is in uniformly sharp focus.
This is secured through an automatic-
ally moving element in the lens which
alters the focus during each exposure.
Thus the lens, he claims, will increase
speed at which scenes may be photo-
graphed. The lens was demonstrated
before the members of the American
Society of Cinematographers, of which
Dr. Dieterich is an associate member.
Jack Cohn Admits Holly
Improving on Cooperation
New York. — Jack Cohn is willing
to admit that Hollywood is improv-
ing, because, as he puts it, "They are
more willing to cooperate with New
York ideas on picture trends and ad-
mit that New 'Y'ork is the place where
the pictures must be marketed."
Jack also on his return yesterday
gave some of the credit for the im-
proved cooperation to better methods
of transportation between the coasts.
O'Brien Overtrains
Training for his role as a prizefight-
er in "One Man's Woman," Pat
O'Brien yesterly severely sprained a
finger. Studio hopes to get under way
with the subject Monday on schedule
shoving the fight sequences back to
the end of the picture when the fin-
ger will have had time to heal. Alan
Crosland directs.
Florey to 'Mona Lisa'
Robert Florey has been taken off
"The Return of the Terror," which
Sam Bischoff is producing for War-
ners, and has been assigned to direct
"Mona Lisa," in which Warren Wil-
liam will be starred. Henry Blanke is
handling the production reins on this
picture.
Vidor Considers Talbot
King Vidor is seriously considering
Lyie Talbot for the male lead in his
production, "Our Daily Bread," which
will have a Radio release. If Talbot
can be borrowed from Warners, Vidor
will probably use him for the lead in
the picture.
Deaner Back at Fox
Frances Deaner has returned to her
spot in the Fox publicity department
handling fan magazines. Girl was out
since Arch Reeve became publicity di-
rector about a year ago.
Chase Starts Monday
Hal Roach will put a Charlie Chase
comedy into production Monday under
the direction of Charles Parrott. The
cast includes Betty Mack and Billy
Gilbert.
Brewster-Radio at Odds
June Brew^ster will become a free
lance player February 20 unless Radio
takes up her option. Studio wants her
to remain without the pay increase
scheduled in the ticket. Girl, former
Earl Carroll beauty, has had featured
spots in four features and has been the
lead in the "Blondes and Brunettes"
series of shorts.
Won't Exercise Option
Continuing its policy of no term-
ers. Radio will not exercise its option
on Sidney Buchman's contract, noti-
fication on which is due February 1 3.
Writer is on loan to Columbia for the
screen play of "Whom the Gods De-
stroy."
Fox Foreign P. A. Here
New York. — Roy Simmonds, pub-
licity director for Fox Films, Ltd., of
London, arrives in New York today
on the Berengaria and after a party
here from the home office will im-
mediately board a plane for Holly-
wood.
New Cagney Title
Warners have changed the title on
"The Heir Chaser" to "Jimmy the
Gent," making the third change in
labels. Picture, which featured James
Cagney and Bette Davis, was preview-
ed as "Blondes and Bonds."
Virginia Tax May Die
Richmond. — Governor Perry has
agreed to withdraw his support from
a legislative proposal for a five cent
admission tax in this state.
On the occasion of the first
anniversary of Sardi's today
. . . Eddie Brandstatter and
David Covey extend their
thanks to many friends in
the industry for their con-
tinued patronage.
amouj'
Hollywood Boulevard near Vine
•OPEN ALL NIGHT*
Page Five
Rosen Goes Ahead
On Hitler Picture
Al Rosen's "Mad Dog of Europe"
will probably go into production early
in March, according to his present
plans. This week he receives approxi-
mately ten thousand feet of authentic
sound pictures of Hitler activities and
scenes in Germany showing Hitler in
action, and also giving unusual views
of how the jews have been treated.
Rosen says he will only have to
shoot sufficient added stuff to carry
a story and he will have a picture that
will be a thriller. He intimates that if
anything should happen to prevent
making the yarn, he will cut and re-
edit the imported filr^ and roadshow
It.
Settle Out of Court
Suit by Ruth Fallows against Nancy
Carroll and Bolton Mallory for $11,-
000 damages resulting from an auto-
mobile accident was settled out of
court yesterday. Sam Wolf handled
the case for Miss Fallows, a member
of the "Sailor Beware" cast.
'City Limits' Finishes
Delayed a day because of difficulty
on railroad exteriors, William Nigh
finishes in "City Limits" at Mono-
gram today. Frank Craven and Sally
Blane head the cast and William T.
Lackey and Paul Malvern supervise.
To Open Tingle-Tangle
Frederick Hollander, noted German
composer and proprietor of cabarets in
Germany, will open the Tingle-Tangle
cabaret on Santa Monica near La Ci-
enega about March 1 .
HOLLYWOOD
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "buil,. for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Algr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospitality"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
Page Six
Feb. 9, 1934
Tut, tut, Mister Lubitsch, you'd be
surprised at the derisive laughter that
greeted that so-called shot of London
with Tower Bridge in "Design for Liv-
ing." . . . However, the critics went
for your little gem in a beeg way! . . .
Ralph Murphy! you, too, are getting a
lot of handclaps from the film scrib-
blers this side, they liked your "Girl
Without a Room." . . . Miss Frye, out
at Universal City, has never seen Paul
Kohner's name in this London colyum;
so here it is!!!
•
Elsa Lanchester has made one tree-
men-dous hit as Ariel in a little show
a guy called Shakespeare tossed off
some time ago titled "The Tempest."
. . . Doug Fairbanks all of a twitter,
he could not find where Ethel Barry-
more was staying in town and all the
hotels in the Metropolis had to be
called, to check on it! ... . The Ben
Nedells around town with Jack Votion
and lovely lil Momma Voti.on . . . that
screen director here with stage ten-
dencies should grab a load of the cam-
era movement in Crisby's first song
number when he gives us a number
in front of the mike, after he has just
got up, in "Going Hollywood," plenty
of movement and how!
•
Believe it or nuts, the big com-
panies here are just beginning to use
"stand-ins" — eight months ago an
Assistant Director with ambition or-
dered a couple for the stars in his pic
and got hell from the production man-
ager for wasting the company's dough!
. . . Joe Schenck did raves while here
about a little gal called Eileen Marson.
. . . They laughed a plenty at the
trade show of "Design for Living"
when March says write me care of the
Carlton Theatre, London; that was the
vurry house the pic was being screen-
ed-in; and it belongs to Para.
•
There were a half dozen British
screen actresses with Hollywood ambi-
tions, just waiting to make a play for
Junior Laemmie the moment he steps
off the old ocean liner. . . . And how
disappointed they were to hear he
wasn't coming. . . . My my! We heard
an American picture actually say (in
the film) he was leaving on a boat
run by an American Line!; what's the
matter, Hollywood, aren't those French
rates as hot as they were?! . . Damon
Dillon, himself one of the adverts for
Warners, having his shoes shined In
Picadilly Circus, the centre of the
World; yeah, you heard us, Times
Square!
•
Paul Perez, Dave Bader, John Paddy
Carstairs and Paul Kohner having a
belated breakfast all on account of
Kohner's sudden trip to Paree
Alex Korda and Cyril Gardner around
town together. . . . Social note: Doug-
las Fairbanks Senior in the same party
as his Royal Highness Prince George.
. . . Cameraman Desmond Dickenson
plenty sore; recently he was front
paged this side because he stuck to his
cameras whilst a fire raged on the
set; Dickerson claims it's a lotta hooey
and says he wouldn't be that sappy —
he scrammed like the rest!!! . . . Bill
O'Brien at MGM night showings.
•
Hollywood stars are going legit on
us in this town; Greta Nissen will be
featured in the Nelson Keys revue,
"Why Not Tonight" and Lily Dimita
is in "Here's How!" . . . Dr. Ludwig
Berber, formerly of Para., is staging
a musical show for Sir Oswald Stoll
here. . . . Sidney Bernstein and Clar-
ence Winchester, popular British vis-
itors to Hollywood last year, taking
time out to see more flickers. . . .
"The picture's ended, but the inserts
linger on!" sang the lugubrious prop
man. . . . C. M. Woolf, Mark Ostrer,
the Michael E. Balcons amongst the
Gaumont revelers at their Annual
Party t'other night . . . and everyone
enjoyed the St. Margarets binge.
American Pictures
Top in Argentina
Washington. — The Department of
Commerce announces that American
films have topped, more than ten to
one, the product of any other nation
in exhibitions in Argentina.
During 1933 there were 301 Amer-
ican films shown there as against 39
German, 31 French, 13 British, II
Italian and 6 made locally.
Fontanne-Lunt Make
Personal London Hit
London. — Lynn Fontanne and Al-
fred Lunt have scored a tremendous
personal hit in "Reunion in Vienna,"
drawing raves that are rare from the
conservative London critics. The play
itself is going just so-so, keeping up
the unlucky record of Playwright Rob-
ert Sherwood in London productions.
'Bean' Disappoints
London. — Local critics were disap-
pointed in the film version of "The
Late Christopher Bean," which is at
present having an usual stage run
here. They felt that Marie Dressier
was miscast in the picture. But they
do finish by saying, "It is poor art but
good box-office."
German Admissions Drop
Berlin. — Official reports of the In-
ternational Research Bureau show that
•ttendance at German theatres is
about 50 per cent off over the year
previous, with cash intake even slight-
ly more so because of decreased ad-
mission prices.
Boost 'Masquerader'
Paris. — La Jour, leading local daily,
threw a rave on the Sam Goldwyn
production "The Masquerader," point-
ing it up as an example of the com-
petition French producers must step
up and meet.
'Kong' Dresden Hit
Berlin. — Reports from Dresden in-
dicate that "King Kong" is one of the
biggest box office hits that has ever
hit the town. Record average of 3000
daily in scramble for seats.
French and English
Plan Cooperation
Paris — There is a strong undercover
trend here for close cooperation be-
tween French and English producers,
with a view to helping each other cor-
ner the European market.
The move is prompted by the com-
plaint from French producers that
while they get a reasonable break in
the English market they are auto-
matically consigned to the small art
theatres in the American field.
Britishers Anticipate
Schenck's Holly Gifts
London. — Britishers are looking for-
ward with great expectations to the
identity of the Hollywood stars whom
Joe Schenck has promised to deliver
for British and Dominion's ambitious
production schedule this year. Lily
Damita is expected for "Sons of
Guns," and an unnamed star to play
opposite Anna Neagle in "Nell
Gwynn."
Reinhardt Plans in Air
Brussels. — Rumors to effect Max
Reinhardt will go to Hollywood this
winter have been denied by Reinhardt.
However, he then adds that unless he
signs with some American producer
before Spring, he will start production
on a big scale in France. First picture
probably will be "Merchant of Ven-
ice."
Soviet-French Tie-Up
Paris. — Negotiations are said to be
under way between Soviet Govern-
ment officials and French film distrib-
utors by which the Russians may pro-
duce a number of pictures in France
as a first move in their new plan to go
after world markets.
Farrere Likes His Pic
Paris. — Film men of all France are
wondering what manner of man
Claude Farrere is. His famous novel,
"La BataiUe," has just been made
into a picture to "the entire satisfac-
tion" of the author. A rare case over
here, or anywhere, for that matter.
Dutch Correction
The Hague. — The recent Reporter
story about a new Dutch company,
"N. V. City Film," was confusing in
that this company has been operating
since J 921, and the new company
meant was "N. V. Europa Film," con-
trolled, however, by City Film.
Monarchs Out in Czecho
Prague. — New regulations issued by
the Ministry of Trade concerning mo-
tion pictures urge domestic producers
to use up-to-date themes and avoid
stories built on monarchistic subjects
or concerning the nobility.
Swedes and French Swap
Paris. — Gaumont Franco Film, as an
entering wedge Ikd the Swedish market,
has arranged a deal by which selected
subjects will be "exchanged" with a
Swedish company.
Wieck Remembers
Berlin. — Word reaches here that
Dorothea Wieck has sent a check for
$100 for the winter relief drive on
the part of the film industry.
J
Brussels News Notes
"If You See My Uncle," Belgian
made picture, did a four weeks' stretch
at the Victoria Theatre — unusual for
here. . . . The Laurel and Hardy team
continues one of the most popular
American bets here. . . . We'd like you
to meet Marcel Coppens, United Ar-
tists' boss in Belgium. One of the
best-liked here. But on top of his
real job here the company keeps him
commuting weekly to Paris.
•
When the King appeared at the
gala launching of "Henry the Eighth"
you can be sure it was an affair. . . .
Ferdinand Graavey, Belgium's pride and
Ufa's moneymaker, is well liked by
the press crowd. ... If you come to
Brussels don't miss "The Broadway,"
a noisy night resort, and let Ralph
tell you how glorious it was when
Harold Lloyd and Tuschinski (Hol-
land's crack showman) celebrated the
opening of Lloyd's last picture here.
Of course, Souhami, Para's big shot in
Paris, was there, too.
•
Max Reinhardt scored a real tri-
umph here with "Diener Zweier
Herren," presented under the patron-
age of a highbrow crowd. Hermann
Thimig, Austrian film star and lead
in the play, is a wow — and a fine fel-
low besides. . . . Why isn't "Dinner at
Eight" here yet? . . . The biggest ex-
hibitors are aroused because they are
not getting the hits in season. . . .
Much blueness: No one in the entire
picture colony fortunate enough to
draw a prize in the French lottery. . . .
Well, next time.
'Girl From MaximV
Gets London Shot
London. — "The Girl From Maxim's"
made by Alexander Korda some time
ago, long before his "Henry the
Eighth" will be shown at the Leicester ;
Square following "I Cover The Water-
front."
The latest Korda production, "Cath-
erine the Great," will get its first
European showing at the above house
after the play of "The Girl From i
Maxim's."
Polish Theatres May Strike ||
Warsaw. — Polish theatre owners (■
threaten a strike starting March 1 un- iS
less the government agrees to reduce ; |
the heavy load of taxation carried by |
playhouses here. The managers state
that receipts have declined 30 per
cent in the last year, making it im-
possible to meet the heavy govern-
ment levies.
Berlin Kodak Boosts Cap.
Berlin. — Berlin Kodak A.G. has in-
creased its capital by eleven million
reichmarks, the money being supplied
by Eastman Kodak of Rochester and j
Kodak, Ltd., of London,
i
Break for Mothers
Berlin. — Here's a new idea to
help the birth rate. It is reported
that the Hessian state government
is planning legislation by which
picture theatres will have to give
at least one free admission a month
to German mothers having at least
three children.
I
Feb. 9, 1934
Page Seven
1
NRA at Sfandstill
(Continud from Page 1 )
him the power. On the other side of
the fence is the growing belief on the
part of labor that they are just being
given a merry-go-round ride and any
sort of technicality will be seized upon
to avoid reaching the decisions prom-
ised by Rosenblatt while here.
Berres refuses to talk to newspa-
pers. At a time yesterday when one
Hollywood Reporter representative in
his outer office knew that he was on
the job, another Reporter representa-
tive was told by a secretary on the
phone that Berres was not in, and as
far as he knew might not be in the
rest of the week — so far as newspaper
men were concerned.
Meanwhile wires are burning up to
Roosevelt and Rosenblatt in Wash-
ington about local labor and extra
troubles being given no decision. A
summary of the buzzing brings the
following specific complaints to the
front:
Local 37, lATSE, representing elec-
tricians, grips and property men, has
four specific complaints on file with
the Studio Labor Board. One is a de-
mand for the limitation of the hours
of "key men," some of whom are al-
leged to be working as much as 110
hours a week while other men go hun-
gry.
Another complaint is that studios
are dropping certain men from a high
pay classification to a lower classifica-
tion, but are making them do the
same work.
Next is a complaint that major stu-
dios are relegating high pay work to
men of lower classification in defiance
of the NRA Code. The fourth matter
is a demand for changes in the num-
ber of flat rate men used on sets.
Also up before the Labor Board is
the demand of the sound men that
the wage scalg be set for all studios
at the same rate as that now in effect
in the Independents. This was assured
the sound men by Rosenblatt before
he left. No action has been taken on
this complaint, even though the sound
men say that Rosenblatt said it would
be a very simple matter to adjust.
Extra ranks are up in arms over the
fact that yesterday one of the major
studios used 350 wooden "dummies"
and only 35 extras in a scene at a
race track. Charges have also been
made and forwarded to Rosenblatt
that in some studios the extras have
to bring hats to put on the "dum-
mies."
Extras charge that many of the stu-
dios are still taking orirelatives in ex-
tra ranks by the simple method of
putting them on a one-day contract
at the rate of $7.50 per day as an
"actor."
It is .also charged by extras that
some studios are taking advantage of
a misprint in the NRA Code and are
forcing bit players to accept $25 for
doing an entire "bit" with speaking
lines. Intent of Code, they say, was
to Day these people $25 per day. The
"per day" was left out, and in one
case on record a player worked three
days for one day's pay.
Thus far Rosenblatt has not replied
to any of the numerous wires sent by
the various complainers who say they
can get no satisfaction either from
Labor Board or Extra Committee.
jgpMeHini^rAkj L
SCREENLAND
98 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Kay Francis
(Warners)
MCM 1 399 sq. inches
Paramount 890 sq. inches
Warners 696 sq. inches
Radio 413 sq. inches
Fox 146 sq. inches
Columbia 109 sq. inches
United Artists 105 sq. inches
Universal 43 sq. inches
Screenland IS "the smart screen
magazine" for March. Everything in
it is up to the minute and written
well.
Leonard Hall's story, "DeMille's
Magic at Work Again," is extremely
amusing, and everyone will like James
M. Fidler's "The Past, Present and
Future of Jean Parker." Margery
Wilson's analysis of charm in "Who
Are Hollywood's Six Most Charming
Women?" is clever; Laura Benham
has "Gary Cooper Talks About His
Big Romance"; Alma Whitaker gets
away beautifully with "New Love for
Garbo?" and S. R. Mook has a double
story, "What I Think of Jimmy," and
"What I Think of Joan" (James Cag-
ney and Joan Blondell).
Dickson Morley writes a human,
rounded yarn on Stuart Erwin, "The
Man Who Replaced Lee Tracy"; Ben
Maddox has "Telling All About the
Barrymores"; Sydney Valentine au-
thors "And the Lodges Speak Only
To — " (John Davis Lodge); Scoop
Conlon offers "The Five Ruth Chat-
tertons"; Mortimer Franklin has a
good story on Douglass Montgomery
in "Jo's Boy"; and James Marion asks
"What Next, Charlotte.?" (Charlotte
Henry) .
Maude Cheatham falls a little below
par in a too quaint revelation of Baby
LeRoy, called "Yoo-Hoo! Here's My
Story."
HOLLYWOOD
66 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Miriam Hopkins
(Paramount)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Paramount 573 sq. inches
MCM 341 sq. inches
CAVALCADE o/ ROMANCE!
DARRYMORE
*&19
AdJ.
PETE
SMITH
OOOIIY
-ROPING
WILD BEARS-
ROBERT YOUNG
HENRIETTA CROSMAN
RICHARD CROMWELL
STEPIN FETCHIT
m
DIRECTED B»
iHENRY KING
FOX
TRIUMPH
'PLANE NUTS'
ROAMING THE ;
NHHERLANDS: ::
LOEWS STATE
Fox 350 sq. inches
Radio 293 sq. inches
Universal 260 sq. inches
United Artists 125sq. inches
Warners 65 sq. inches
Columbia 45 sq. inches
A good many fairly interesting sto-
ries place Hollywood in the midway
class for March. Nothing very out-
standing in either direction.
Hal Hall's story, "That Lil Gal Is
Okay" (Lilian Harvey) is well writ-
ten; Jerry Lane offers Jimmy Dunn's
code on "The Kind of Girl Men Like";
"Crazy People" is about Burns and
Allen, by Donald P. Sheldon; "Jean
Harlow and Judge Lindsey Discuss
Sex" is overheard by J. Eugene Chris-
man, and Al Sherman tells what he
knows about "The Truth About Hep-
burn." ;
"I'm Afraid of Hollywood," by
Harold McNight, doesn't reveal much
of anything new about Margaret Sul-
lavan; J. Eugene Chrisman gets Mae
West to answer a few of her fan let-
ters in "Mae West Tells What Every
Girl Should Know"; Peter Joel is hazy
in "Will Garbo Soon Retire?" and
Jewel Smith talks about the Para-
mount beauty winners in "How to
Win a Movie Contract."
Richard English has a good story on
John Boles called "Hollywood's Great-
est Enigma"; Whitney Williams tells
how Irene Dunne commutes between
Hollywood and New York in "Love
by Contract," and Douglas Fairbanks
jr. explains a few things in "Please
Get Me Right," by Sonia Lee.
Tiger' Holds Up in N. Y.
New York. — "Devil Tiger" con-
tinues the surprise of Broadway.
It is hitting about $4000 daily with
Arthur Mayer's exploitation at the
Rialto and will probably do a $25,000
week if the Lincoln's Birthday holi-
days don't give everybody a chance to
go out of town.
Christiriia' Opening
Sees Good Old Days
Indications are that the opening of
"Queen Christina" at the Chinese to-
night will bring back the old glorious
days of 100 per cent star turn-out.
This IS judging from reservations to
date.
Announcement is made that Charles
Irwin will be master of ceremonies
for the radio program, with jimmy
Durante, Arthur Jarrett, Shirley Ross
and Larry Adier among the enter-
tainers.
Musical Goes Russian
Leonard Kinsky will present a Rus-
sian operetta-farce in three acts at the
Knights of Columbus hall tomorrow
night. The operetta "The Naughty
Girl" will be presented in the Russian
language.
N.Y. Offices Close Feb. 12
New York. — Most film companies
will close a half day for the holiday on
Lincoln's Birthday on February 12. So
that's a brief period in which you
can't argue with the New York office.
BORDEN Broadtost At
FRIDAY *frofflSTAGE» 8 : 4 5
FROLIC vioKHJ TONITE
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Charlie
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RUGGLES
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Six of
STAGE
FANCHON 6- MARCO pras.nl
LEO CARRILLO
• IH PERSON 1^
HAL GRAYSON
m4 W« EMtASSr OUCHISTtU
SwUit BmuUm
New York
(Continued from Page 3)
ner payroll. . . . Buddy Rogers is do-
ing plenty okay at the Paradise Cafe.
He doubles into the Capitol in a fort-
night. . . . Europe will have Ben Blue
on their hands after May 3. . . . Lyda
Roberti, who still has one picture to
go on her present Paramount contract,
won't make that picture till "Roberta"
closes, which won't be for a long, long
time. . . . Two anti-Nazi producers
were in the throes of argument about
some point concernifig pictui^ pro-
duction. The argument had qome to
this point. . . . The, first anti-Nazi:
"So who are you?" jThe secqnd one
having busted the boiling point;- "Who
am I? Drop dead — that's who -I am."
BDWy. AT 9TH • PHONE MA 2511
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DONALD MACMILLAN'S ARCTIC ADVENTURE
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Cat And The Fiddle'
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Vol. XiX. No. 26. Price 5c.
TODAYS FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, February 10. 1934
EXTRAS ARI OUT Cf IIJCI\
by ROBERT WELSH
• A NUMBER of picture people asked
us why we seemed to have a peeve on
against Rosenblatt while he was in our
midst. (It's a peculiarity of this busi-
ness that no one in it can understand
that anyone has a thought that is con-
cerned with their job, their duty to
that job, or to the industry — but ev-
erything you think or do must have a
PERSONAL reason behind it.)
So we tried very patiently to explain
that we honestly thought that Mr.
Rosenblatt was, in the first place, a
very capable chap, and in the second
place — having decided on a wrong
course of procedure — was, at least,
honestly following that course through.
But that sounded complicated.
Mebbe it is. But let's see what is
happening. Perhaps happenings make
words unnecessary.
Mr. Rosenblatt has arrived back in
Washington and one of his first state-
ments is that while he had some very
fine OPEN meetings, he got "most of
his information from the confidential
chats with people in Hollywood."
Ye gods! That was our quarrel with
Mr. Rosenblatt from the start. That
he went CONFIDENTIAL. When any
son-of-a-gun who has spent six
months in Hollywood can tell you that
you can't trust your own BROTHER
on opinions and advice. (Not because
you think your brother is crooked,
but because you know all Hollywood
does more TALKING than THINKING
when they get the thrill of contact
with outsiders.)
And so what?
Only this: The real reason we were
arguing with Mr. Rosenblatt during his
stay in Hollywood was because he was
such an easy victim for all this CON-
FIDENTIAL stuff.
For example, no one bothered to
jump on Rosenblatt for his Wampas
Dinner speech in which he told a num-
ber of publicity men about a mythical
character who nonchalantly sold pic-
ture companies $15,000 stories for
which she had already received $600
from some national magazine. The
publicists listening to Mr. Rosenblatt
took it in something of the nature of
after dinner conversation. But at the
minute they did not think of the fact
that Mr. Rosenblatt was returning to
(Continued on Page 5)
Radio in Black
New York. — M. H. Aylesworth
is authority for the statement that
Radio Pictures is in the black, and
puts it this way: "The company's
position has improved by about
$7,500,000 in the past year."
Small Sets New
Deal With U. A.
Reports of a split between Reliance
and United Artists were spiked yes-
terday when it became known that the
independent unit has concluded a new
releasing ticket with United Artists.
Company will make four more pic-
tures for the releasing company's
forthcoming program. Organization
changes will be announced shortly,
Edward Small continuing as production
chief. Reliance has one more picture,
"Count of Monte Cristo," to make on
its former ticket before starting the
new one.
The Key' Gives The
Warners a Headache
Warners are thinking of changing
the title of the next William Powell
picture from "The Key" to "The Big
Walkout."
First Kay Francis walked out on the
feminine lead. Now she has been
followed by the director, Archie Mayo.
Michael Curtiz has been assigned to
take Mayo's place, and the studio is
reported to be concluding a deal with
Edna Best, wife of Herbert Marshall,
to take the place of Miss Francis.
Will Hays Departs
Leaving last night on the Santa Fe
Chief were Will Hays, Harry and Ma-
jor Albert Warner, Lloyd Wright, the
attorney, and Watterson Rothacker.
Complaints Piling Up But No
Action Because Chairman Is
Busy On Sacramento State Job
While "extra" players are squawking their heads off over
alleged violations of the NRA Code on the part of both the ma-
jor and independent studios, the Code Committee for Extras,
appointed by Sol A. Rosenblatt, maintains a policy of inactivity.
-ri-_ •.._ . ^^1 inactive, ,^ .•.•.. ...
Day and Night Work
The committee is not
as far as any action for the invest
gation of the complaints are concern-
ed, but its chairman, Mrs. Mable Kin-
ney, is not even in Hollywood. She is
in Sacramento taking care of business
connected with the State Industrial
Welfare Board.
Yesterday several members of the
committee declared in no uncertain
terms that there are many violations
(Continued on Page 4)
Laughton to MCM
For Shearer Lead
Charles Laughton is set to go to
MGM on loan from Paramount for a
top spot in "Marie Antoinette" along-
side Norma Shearer.
Robert Sherwood is writing the
script under the Irving Thalberg wing.
Pickford Drops Stage for
Vacation in Florida
New York. — Despite some tempt-
ing offers, and her desire to appear
in a Max Gordon play, Mary Pickford
finally admitted she was getting a bit
tired and yesterday boarded a train
for Florida and a vacation.
Cantor to Florida
New York. — Eddie Cantor, accom-
panied by David Freedman, leaves for
a Florida vacation Monday.
OINE STAl^DOIJT FOR FILMS
I]\ BROADWAY'S XE W PLAYS
New York. — As far as motion pic-
ture possibilities are concerned the
stage hit of the week is "Broomstick
Amen," presented at the Little Thea-
tre by Jones and Green. Elmer Greens-
felder is the author and the play
deals with the ways of the Pennsyl-
vania Dutch, made interesting to the
public through a recent Saturday Eve-
ning Post series. Cast includes Wil-
liam Von Schoeller, Victor Killan, )ane
Seymour, Jules Epilley, Jean Adair and
Byron McCrath. It is virginal material
for the screen and has all the ear-
marks of a great piece of entertain-
ment. Full review will appear in The
Reporter.
"No Questions Asked," the John
Golden show already reviewed in The
Reporter, rates as a fair possibility.
"After Such Pleasures," a series of
short sketches by Edward Gardner
from Dorothy Parker's book, offers
nothing for the screen.
For Code Big Shots
New York. — The big figures of the
industry who got jobs on the Code
Authority didn't know what they were
stepping into. It's a day and night
job. The Authority will sit all night
tonight, and probably all day Sunday
to complete the naming of appoint-
ments to the 34 zoning and griev-
ance boards.
Then they will catch up on a little
work back at their own offices and
make the announcements public about
Tuesday or Wednesday.
Wedding Bells Today
For Berkeley-Kennedy
At noon today Busby Berkeley and
Merna Kennedy will be married. First
Hollywood church wedding for a long
time, with all the attendant pomp and
ballyhoo. Most of the picture people
have been eloping, but Busby and
Merna are getting old-fashioned. Jack
Warner will give the bride away.
Trio of MCM Execs
Start for Hollywood
New York. — Eddie Mannix, after a
round of the plays and sessions at the
MGM home office, leaves for the coast
today.
Of the other MGM executives now
in our midst, Maurice Revnes and Ed-
gar Selwyn plan to leave on Sunday.
Kay Francis Selects
Dr. Monica' for Next
From the two stories offered her by
Warners, Kay Francis preferred "Doc-
tor Monica" as her next selection over
"The Firebird."
William Keighly's name has been
penciled in as the director.
Crant and Cherrill Tie
London — Gary Grant and Virginia
Cherrill were married yesterday and
left for the United States on board
the Paris immediately after the cere-
mony.
Page Two
THE
Feb. 10, 1934
ntffteroRirER
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-71 9?;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The Harry Rubys were granted a
divorce yesterday In a local court and
Harry swears that he will not get
married again until next Monday. . . ,
On Monday night in New York Galen
Bogue is opening a stage production
of "Queer People," the Carroll and
Garrett Graham novel that almost
reached pictures several times. . .
Hal Skelly is playing the role of
"Whitey." . . , Polly Moran and her
bridegroom will be off to England in
June — or maybe sooner. . . . The
Mike Curtizes are wining and dining
the Ray Griffiths and pals as a send-
off; they leave any minute for dear
ole Lunnon. . . . Mrs. Freddie Freling-
huysen, visiting socialite, has rented
a house at the beach to finish writing
a novel that she started six years ago!
. . . Poor Howard Strickling — he can
only down four meals at one sitting,
especially at lunch.
•
It is expected that the Jack War-
ners will divorce sooner than expected.
. . . Alice Brady is talking about doing
three Ibsen plays on the local boards.
. . . Twenty-one years ago Henry
Walthall and Raoul Walsh were both
acting in "The Birth of a Nation" to-
gether! . . . Which reminds us — d'ya
suppose the masses will think that
"Operator 13" is another telephone
story? . . . Warners hope they have
another Mae West in Barbara Blair —
the gal writes all her own material,
too. , . . Katie Hepburn may go to
Europe — but Leiand Hayward won't —
he says.
•
Paramount sent a six man police
escort to greet Joe Morrison on his
arrival here just to be on the safe
side — yeah, he's the lad who intro-
duced "The Last Round-up" and left
It to two thousand crooners to finish.
. . . Marion Gering at Ad Schulberg's
cocktail party boasting of the fact
that Hollywood hasn't yet found out
about his private life, but his wife
may leave for New York any minute
to do a play for Herman Shumlin.
. . Bess Meredyth there, too, won-
dering how they're ever going to get
a script out of "Anthony Adverse"
and someone suggesting they ought to
make it a serial. . . . Tamara Ceva is
being paged by MGM. . . . Barbara
"THE WOMEN IN HIS LIFE '
MGM prod.; director, George B. Seitz; writer, F. Hugh Herbert.
Capitol Theatre
Post: An unblushing exercise in hokum melodrama. It is cheap, noisy and stere-
otyped; an unworthy vehicle for the superior talent of Mr. Kruger.
World-Telegram: Based essentially on the idea that a lawyer, especially a crim-
inal lawyer, is the most romantic figure imaginable, it is despite its sheer
excess of invention, pretty lurid, foolish and tiresome. For the most part
the acting gives "The Women in His Life" as luminous a performance as
it could have. Otto Kruger acts the lawyer with force and persuasion.
News: Surely Otto Kruger is entitled to a better vehicle than this melodramatic
thing called ."Women in His Life" that MGM has imposed upon him. In
this film that fine actor turns out his first strained perforamnce, but he
can't be blamed, for any actor would break down under this burden that
was written for the screen by F. Hugh Herbert.
Times: Often a poor story is saved partly by efficient players, but it would take
far more than the combined talents of Otto Kruger, Una Merkel, Roscoe
Karns and C. Henry Gordon to make"The Women in His Life," the present
film at the Capitol, at all entertaining. It is a meandering melodrama,
spotted with unfortunate bits of comedy, which has been handled in a
hopelessly unimaginative fashion.
Herald-Tribune: The picture has quieter and less startling episodes and some of
them are sensible and many of them entertaining, but the work as a whole
is something of a throwback to a less complex national past. The acting
whatever you may think of the story, is realistic and up-to-the-moment.
American: This fictional tale is made exciting and believable by the capable his-
trionics of Mr. Kruger and the staunch support of the cast.
Mirror: One of the most interesting actors the stage has contributed to the
films, Otto Kruger gives an exciting performance in this lurid account of
a ruined man. Mr. Kruger performs brilliantly. And he is assisted by an
unusually interesting cast, which includes your old friend Ben Lyon, Una
Merkel, Isabel Jewell, Roscoe Karns, Irene Hervey, C. Henry Gordon and
the Irene Franklin long famed as "Red-Head."
lournal: The romances rather than the legal battles of a famous New York crim-
inal lawyer are related in some detail on the screen of the Capitol Theatre
this week.
Fox Goes to Mayfair
For Two B'way Breaks
New York.- — Fqx is going to the
Mayfair, home of indie productions on
Broadway, for first runs on "Sleepers
East" and "Orient Express."
Other future bookings announced by
Walter Reade for the house include
"Picture Brides," an M. H. Hoffman,
and two foreigns, "Ever Since Eve"
and "Bedside."
Phelps Affer Animal Pics
New York. — Another graduate from
the Frank Buck ranks. Leroy Phelps,
cameraman on the last trip, has been
given a contract by Du World Pic-
tures to make his own series of animal
shorts for state rights distribution.
Starts this week on a several months'
trip.
Boasberg Starts Catlett Pic
Al Boasberg is directing a headliner
comedy at Radio with Walter Catlett
in the top spot. Ray Mayer, Cupid
Ainsworth, Andre Krosby, Al Kane and
Dillon Ober are also in the cast.
'Aeolian' a New Company
New York. — "Aeolian Pictures,"
another new organization, has signed
Victor Trivas, director of "Hell on
Earth," the foreign war film now in
its third week at the Acme Theatre,
to produce a new international fea-
ture in four language versions. Fitel-
son and Myers handled the deal,
Hackett in Chi Show
Chicago. — Raymond Hackett has
stepped into the part planned for
Glenn Hunter in "The Mad Lover"
opening here last night at the Punch
and Judy Theatre. Play deals with
Lord Byron's life.
Belasco-Curran Set NY Hit
New York. — Deal was set yester-
day giving Pacific Coast performance
rights on "She Loves Me Not" to
Belasco and Curran. Play is enjoying
a good New York run.
'Bon Voyage' to Trio
New York. — Passengers of interest
to the motion picture industry on the
Champlain tomorrow include Phil Ro-
sen, director; Bill Haines, actor, and
Julian Green, novelist.
Bennett gave out with a large cock-
tail party at the Colony yesterday that
managed to break up before the
"raid." . . . Clare Kummer and Elmer
Harris renewing their friendship on the
Paramount lot. . . . Elmer Harris is
adapting the Kummer play, "Her Mas-
ter's Voice," and Miss Kummer is
adapting Harris' script to the screen.
. . . The Randolph Scott-Vivien Gaye
romance is on the rocks.
Supervision
One of the better known pro-
ducers at one of the major studios
called in his favorite agent and
frantically begged him to find a
good story in a hurry for a certain
star. Upon this request the agent
asked him what type of story he
wanted and the producer replied:
"Possibly a comedy, possibly a
drama."
Renew Quota Talk ^
In Australian Mart
Sydney. — One result of the big bat-
tle being staged between the leading
American distributors and the local
film buying combine has been a back-
fire in the shape of renewed agitation
for an Australian quota similar to that
in England.
Contrarily, though, English distrib-
utors are arguing against an Austral-
ian quota. They point out that in Eng-
land the quota held back artistic prog-
gress by encouraging quickie produc-
tion. Australian producers, they claim,
will work ahead faster without the ,(
artificial stimulus of a quota.
Lukas' Next at Universal
is 'Women in His Life'
Paul Lukas' next picture for Unf*
versal will be "Women in His Life,"
which will be directed by Edwin
Marin and supervised by Edmund
Grainger. ,
Cyril Hume was signed yesterday
to write the screen play of this yarn.
Thomas in Florida
Miami, Fla. — Harry Thomas, of
First Division Pictures, has arrived
here on a ten day trip. Strictly busi-
ness, for the state right distributor
figures on making a tie-up with local:
producers to handle their pictures.
Clive Hurries to Radio
Colin Clive closes in the Katharine
Hepburn play "The Lake" tonight and
will leave New York immediately by
plane in order to be here Monday
when he is scheduled to start work in
"The Key" for Warners.
Navarro for 'Personal'
New York. — The big city expects
Ramon Navarro to make a personal j
appearance here, and possibly sing a]
song or two, at the opening of MCM'sJ
"Cat and the Fiddle." Date is Feb-
ruary 16 at the Capitol.
Coward Sets Next Play
London — It is understood here that
Noel Coward plans his next stage ap-l
pearance in his own play, "Conver-j
sation," playing opposite Yvonne
Printemps.
Morris Ships a Prospect
New York. — Eleanor Phelps has
been put on the train by the New
York William Morris office to take;
tests at MGM.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
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or Auf-omobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
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i
Feb. 10. 1934
Page Three
'CATHERINE THE GKEAT* DULL;
RADIO 'SUCCESS STORY' A FLOP
Bergner interests;
FairbanksJr.Miscast
•CATHERINE THE GREAT"
(United Artists)
Directed by Dr. Paul Czinner
Scenario and Dialogue by..Lajos Biro
and Arthur Wimperis
Supervised by Alexander Korda
Cast: Elizabeth Bergner, Douglas Fair-
banks Jr., Flora Robson, Gerald
duMaurier, Griffith Jones and Di-
ana Napier.
Despite the fact that England has
crashed through with the first picture
of the year on Catherine of Russia, it
will serve only as a very mild and
sketchy introduction of that fascinat-
ing wench to American audiences. And
a pretty unexciting one at that.
In an effort to avoid what every-
one already knows about Catherine,
they have successfully eliminated any-
thing of interest for a public avid for
inside information and the result is
a picture full of dull virtues and his-
torical facts (unfortunately white-
washed), completely devoid of dra-
matic situations and completely lack-
ing in inspiration in the writing, di-
recting and acting.
The picture opens with the be-
trothal of Catherine to the unwilling
Mad Grand Duke Peter. Peter finally
consents to marrying Catherine after
meeting her informally, but he no
sooner decides that he likes her than
nasty suspicions creep into what there
is of his mind and he promptly leaves
her alone on her wedding night and
for two years thereafter. Catherine
has the full confidence of the Empress
Elizabeth and by the time the Empress
dies it is Catherine who has won the
confidence of all the Russians so that
it becomes her duty to rid the people
of the mad Peter and declare herself
Empress in his stead. According to
the picture, Peter's untimely death
was something the gal never counted
on. And the picture ends with Cath-
erine becoming Empress and nothing
much accomplished by way of en-
tertainment.
This production brings a personality
before the American public that has
long tempted American producers. And
that Is Elizabeth Bergner as Catherine.
The gal is not beautiful, but if she
could only get the expression in her
face that is so vibrant in her voice all
the curiosity about her would be more
than justified. Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
as the mad Czar has a pretty tough
time overcoming a deadly make-up
and after that the going is even worse
to overcome Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Flora Robson as the Empress Elizabeth,
howe.ver, gives the only moving per-
formance in the picture and it is a
pity that she had to die.
i Certainly there is not the writing
in this that one has come to expect
from Biros and Wimperis, nor has Dr.
Czinner been able to give the picture
any of those sly touches and genuine
feeling that Alexander Korda might
have injected into a story that was
badly in need of some inspiration.
All in all it is pretty dry fare for any-
one who has been brought up to be-
lieve that Catherine the Great was
exciting if nothing more. Exhibitors
An MCM Record
Lucien Hubbard, the producer,
and George Seitz, the director, es-
tablished some kind of a record at
MGM yesterday bringing in
"Louisiana" just 14 working days
after the cameras started rolling
On the first scene. Robert Young,
Jean Parker, Ted Healy and Nat
Pendleton headed the cast.
Universal to Handle
Only Own Product
New York. — Carl Laemmie Sr. de-
clared yesterday that Universal posi-
tively will not distribute any pictures
other than those made by his own
company, with the possible exception
of an exceptionally outstanding pro-
duction that might come along.
Laemmie declared that rumors be-
ing passed around to the effect that
Universal would distribute outside pic-
tures is the work of people trying
merely to illegitimately finance their
pictures by the use of Universal's
name.
French Want Jobs Saved
Paris. — Frenchmen employed in the
film trade have again requested the
Minister of Labor to take measures to
restrict activities of foreigners in the
business here.
The influx of Germans due to the
Nazi activity is responsible for the
new agitation.
Boehm to Free Lance
His deal with Warners expiring
February 19, contract having no op-
tion tag on it, David Boehm becomes
a free lance writer. Recent negotia-
tions to get a readjustment of his deal
went by the board.
Is Ashley LaBriere Here?
A W. D. King, of El Paso, is anxious
to reach Ashley LaBriere, last heard
of in Hollywood as an actor. The
Reporter will be pleased to give Mr.
King's address to anyone who has in-
formation.
Simmons Finishes Yarn
Michael L. Simmons has finished
his original story titled "Cabby," a
vehicle for Wallace Beery and Jackie
Cooper, and has been assigned by
MGM to do another original story.
'Moulin Rouge' Takes 36C
New York. — "Moulin Rouge" do-
ing big business at the Rivoli here.
Receipts for first week estimated at
$36,000.
Schenck to Mexico City
Joseph Schenck left yesterday for
Mexico City. He will be gone from
ten days to two weeks.
would do well to watch their step on
this one. See it and judge for your-
self.
InThisCase Dougjr.
Is the Success of Pic
"SUCCESS STORY"
(Radio)
Direction J. Walter Ruben
Story by John Howard Lawson
Adaptation. ...John Howard Lawson
and Howard J. Green
Photography ...H. W. Gerrard
Cast: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Genevieve
Tobin, Frank Morgan, Colleen
Moore, Edward Everett Norton,
Nydia Westman, Allen Vincent
and Henry Kolker.
The Radio picture, "Success Story,"
belies its title. The story itself is so
fundamentally unconvincing and pre-
sented with such overemphasis that it
is defeated from the start. Besides
these handicaps it is blatantly a
preachment, with the pill so thinly
disguised that it is more apt to pro-
mote antagonism than applause.
The only success connected with
the picture will go to Douglas Fair-
banks Jr., who turns in a performance
that, with the exception of some
heavy-handed acting towards the end,
is a very swell, clever characterization.
He plays the part of the young
brother of a gangster. He sees his
brother shot down and buried in a
gold casket that cost $10,000. From
then on he is consumed with an in-
sane fever to make money — to get
ahead — to have power. He turns his
back on gangsterism because it is too
spectacularly dangerous, and chooses
to make his money by methods which
are at least protected by the dignity
of "Big Business."
He becomes extremely wealthy; he
wins Genevieve Tobin away from the
man who gave him his first job; he
double-crosses his friends and forgets
Colleen Moore, his childhood sweet-
heart. He turns his back squarely on
love, honesty and loyalty and devotes
himself completely and frantically to
the gaining of power and more power,
money and more money.
The pay-off comes, of course, when
he discovers that he is not happy. He
attempts suicide, but —
Oh well, the ending of this picture
is one of the most unfortunate, in-
artistic, melodramatic and cheaply
sensational sequences perpetrated on
the screen for years and years. Across
his body, lying prone upon his office
floor, march the visions of everyone
he has hurt during his mad, cruel
scramble after money. He beseeches
every one of them to help him ease
the pain — he wants to live. And they
all turn their backs on him, uttering
deep, sepulchral bits of wisdom, such
as "You wouldn't help me when I
didn't have a crust of bread. Why
should I help you now?" It's all just
too, too bad.
There are two major bits of im-
provement that would aid the film.
Fairbanks' jump from head of the ad-
vertising department to the status of
a millionaire is too sudden to be cred-
ible, and his reformation at the end
is not prepared for
Fairbanks, as said before, gives a
stunning performance. That it is
wasted on poor material is unfortu-
Report U' Calls Off
'Elizabeth and Mary'
Considerable excitement was cre-
ated yesterday on the Universal lot
when It was reported that Lowell
Sherman had walked out as director
on "Elizabeth and Mary," the picture
slated for Margaret Sullavan.
This rumor was balanced by another
statement that the company had call-
ed off production on the picture.
Felix Young Back
To Columbia Post
Straightening out his spat with the
studio, Felix Young has returned to
his producer's berth at Columbia.
Young will handle "The Party's Over,"
a play by Daniel Kusel, scripted by
S. K. Lauren, as his next. Al Rogell
directs. Young produced "Let's Fall
in Love" before he left the lot about
a month ago.
NRA Not For Censorship
Says Sol Rosenblatt
New York. — Sol A. Rosenblatt,
speaking at luncheon of National
Board of Review, declared that the
NRA has no interest in a purely cen-
sorship program for the picture busi-
ness. Other speakers also pointed out
that censorship is politically narrow
and unintelligent, but agreed that
passing resolutions against it is futile.
32 Hour Week Up
For Hearing March 5
Washington — The matter of estab-
lishing a 32-hour week will come up
on March fifth at an open hearing to
be held here, according to anounce-
ment by General Johnson. Other
phases of the Code will also be dis-
cussed. All Code Authorities to at-
tend meeting.
No More juggling
Washington — Stock market regula-
tory bills introduced today will make
it difficult for motion picture com-
pany executives to juggle with se-
curities in their companies.
Straus on Code Authority
Washington — Robert K. Straus,
son of the American Ambasador to
France, was today appointed a member
of the legitimate theatre Code Auth-
ority.
nate. Colleen Moore is adequate in
her part; Genevieve Tobin plays ex-
pertly and intelligently the part of a
not too admirable woman; Nydia
Westman contributes some rare and
distinctive comedy, and Edward Ev-
erett Horton, Allen Vincent and Hen-
ry Kolker are well cast in small roles.
J. Walter Ruben's direction lags a
bit in spots. John Howard Lawson
and Howard J. Green adapted the
original story, which is by Lawson, and
H. W. Gerrard photographed it o.k.
The picture is rather timely, in
view of •■he depression. It may send
your audiences out into the night a
little happier that money is the least
of their worries, but a little sadder
because they just wasted some.
Pagfe Four
Feb. 10. 1934
Stars Flock To The
'Christina' Opening
The opening last night at the Chi-
nese of "Queen Christina" looked like
the good old days when everyone in
the business was on hand in soup and
fish. That's just what took place last
night. Practically every star of any
importance in Hollywood was in at-
tendance, and the house was com-
pletely sold out.
Thousands jammed the sidewalks
and streets about the theatre to get
a glimpse of the stars, and they were
not disappointed. It was a steady pa-
rade of stars before the microphone in
the forecourt. Charles Irwin was mas-
ter of ceremonies for the radio pro-
gram, with Jimmy Durante, Arthur
)arrett, Shirley Ross, Larry Adier and
others pepping up with fun.
Art Directors Out in Force
For First Stag of the Year
The Art Directors Section of the
Academy turned out in full force last
night at the Vendome where the sec-
tion staged its first "stag" dinner of
the year.
The spirit of the revived Academy
was bubbling over everywhere, and
the Art Directors left the party with
renewed enthusiasm and the deter-
mination to do their part to make the
Academy even stronger than it was
in its hey-dey. Robert Edmund Jones
was the guest of the evening.
'Stingaree' Starts Monday
With Richard Dix and Irene Dunne
in the leads, William Wellman starts
shooting "Stingaree" at Radio Mon-
day. Mary Boland, Conway Tearle,
Oeorge barraud, Henry Stephenson,
Andy Devine and Una O'Connor have
been signed for featured spots. David
Lewis produces.
Monte Bell to San Antonio
Monte Bell left yesterday for San
Antonio to confer with government
army officials there on "West Point of
the Air," which he is producing for
MGM. Script has been written by
James McCuinness.
Boehm With Columbia
Columbia has signed David Boehm
to fashion an original screen play for
"Among the Missing," a title which
the studio has on the current pro-
gram. No players or directors set as
yet.
Cyril Hume to 'U'
Cyril Hume swings over to Univer-
sal on a ticket set by the Edington
and Vincent office to write the screen
play for "Frailty," w hich Edmund
Grainger supervises and Edwin Marin
directs.
Neal Hart Will Produce
Neal Hart is priming his guns for
a return venture in pictures, this time
on his own. Famous in western days,
he will produce a group of westerns
himself. Was absent since 1929.
Breslau Closes at MGM
Lou Breslau is off the MGM pay-
roll, having turned in a treatment
with Mike Simmons on "Cabby," a
Beery-Cooper production which Harry
Rapf supervises.
EXTRAS OUT OF LUCK
(Continued from Page 1 )
taking place, but when asked what
the Extra's Committee is doing about
it they shrugged shoulders and gave
the same answer:
"We cannot do anything until
Mrs. Kinney gets back from Sacra-
mento. But we surely will get to
them."
Just when this committee will
swing into action is the question that
is uppermost in the minds of the ex-
tra players. Some members of the
committee yesterday confirmed The
Hollywood Reporter's story that pro-
ducers are violating the Code by pay-
ing the bit players $25 for an entire
"bit" with speaking lines, when the
intent of the Code is to pay them $25
per day. But they declared that Mrs.
Kinney must come back and the com-
mittee complete its business of or-
Phil Rosen's Sisters
Sue 'Ambassador'
Charging that they were ejected
from the Ambassador Hotel as "ob-
jectionable people," Ethel and Effie
Rosen, sisters of Phil Rosen, the mo-
tion picture director, yesterday filed
suit for $2000 damages against the
hotel, Ben Frank, the hotel manager,
and Eddie Trantow, the house detec-
tive, who they say ejected them.
The alleged ejection took place, ac-
cording to the girls, on January 6 last.
"We had been to the hotel for
lunch," explain the girls. "After
lunch we sat down in the lobby; in
less than five minutes Trantow came
along and told us to get out, that our
conduct was objectionable, and that
if we didn'j get out immediately we
would be ejected by force. We left,
wondering what we had done, as we
had been sitting there quietly after
eating $3.90 worth of lunch in their
dining room."
The suit was filed in municipal
court. Attorney M. G. C. Harris is
representing the girls.
Connolly Returns Tuesday
Walter Connolly returns to town
Tuesday from a three weeks' vaca-
tion in the east. While away he at-
tended the funeral of his mother in
Cincinnati and took in the opening of
"A Hat, a Coat, a Glove," in which
his wife, Nedda Harrigan, appeared.
Connolly will be starred in "Whom
the Cods Destroy" as his next at Co-
lumbia.
Darmour Pic Delayed
Because Johnny Robinson, the col-
ored youngster in the Mickey McGuire
comedies, will not return from Texas
until Tuesday, Larry Darmour has been
forced to shove back the start of the
sixth comedy for Columbia release un-
til February 13. j. A. Duffy directs
from a script by Joe Levering.
Bank Plans New Site
The Bank of America has rented the
corner of the Prudential lot at Bron-
son and Melrose and will start con-
struction immediately on a new bank
building.
ganizing before anything is done. The
committee has been in the process of
organizing for the past three weeks,
and has held two organization meet-
ings.
Extras say they don't care about
meetings. What they want is action.
"Mr. Rosenblatt told us that the
Code Committee would handle our
complaints," one extra said. "They
have had a long time and have not
shown us anything yet."
Extras want something done about
use of "dummies" in place of extras.
They want something done about al-
leged practice of evading the "re-
quest" list by means of signing rela-
tives and friends to one day contracts
as "actors" and then being used as
"extras." Mrs. Kinney will be back
next week, according to advices from
other committee members.
Five Bucks a Reel Set
For Indie Producers Levy
The Independent Motion Picture
Producers Association, at a meeting
held in Nat Levine's offices Thurs-
day night, voted a levy of $5 per reel
of negative to defray expenses of the
organization. At the same time I. E.
Chadwick and J. Boyce-Smith of the
Anglo-American Film Company were
elected vice presidents. William
Berke and Jack Nelson were added to
the board of directors. Trem Carr,
newly elected president, presided.
U' Story Editor Sells
One at Another Lot
Columbia yesterday purchased "I'll
Fix It," an original story by Leonard
Spigelgass, and will probably use it as
an Elissa Landi and Edmund Lowe ve-
hicle. Sam Jaffe is the associate pro-
ducer. Spigelgass, who is story head
at Universal, wrote the story before
he took over his present position.
The Party's Over'
First For Rogell
Al Rogell's first assignment on his
return to the Columbia lot is "The
Party's Over." He has just finished
making "No More Women" at Para-
mount.
"The Party's Over" is a story by
Daniel Kusel, with the screen play by
Sam Lauren.
Lederman on McCoy Pic
D. Ross Lederman has been signed
by Columbia to direct the next Tim
McCoy action picture which starts
Monday. Lilian Bond has the femi-
nine lead. This is the sixth of the
series of eight Tim McCoy vehicles
the studio produces this year.
High Hat Baseball
The Pirates, in training at Paso
Robles, are in for a treat. Harry
Ruby left yesterday for the ball
team's winter quarters and is tak-
ing along a valet to help him keep
his baseball suits spick and span
during the time he practices up
with them.
< ifPTOTHE'iyilNVTE
ASTING \i^.
Charles Middleton signed by Para-
mount for "Murder at the Vanities."
Al Kingston handled the deal.
Phyllis Barry, Robert Adair and
Katharine Williams set for "Dover
Road," Radio.
Lowden Adams added to Columbia's
"Whirlpool."
Harold Waldridge signed through
Al Kingston for "Manhattan Love
Song," Monogram.
Irene Franklin and Jackie Searl
added to the cast of "Strictly Dyna-
mite," Radio.
Clarence Muse set through Mac- i
Quarrie in "One Man's Woman," at
Warners.
Ronnie Crosby into "Sawdust," at
Warners, through O'Reilly and Mann.
Richard Tucker for "Show Off,"
MGM, set by O'Reilly and Mann.
Henry O'Neill, Hobart Cavanaugh,
Arthur Vinton, George Coop«r and !
Clarence Muse to "One Man's Wo-
man" at Warners.
The three Brownie Sisters, colored :
trio, to Monogram's "Loud Speaker."
Leslie Howard's Future
Finally Worked Out I
Leslie Howard's calendar for the
year is mapped out for him. Upon
completion of "Human Bondage" at
Radio, he returns to Warners to take
up his long term ticket, going into
"British Agent," "Anthony Adverse"
•and "Tale of Two Cities."
All other outside deals for the play-
er are cold, according to M. C. Levee,
his manager.
Change Acad. Dinner Date
The Academy's annual awards ban-
quet, which had been scheduled this
year for March 1 5, has been post-
poned to March 1 6. Norman Man-
ning, of the Fox studios, was added
to the awards committee, with his
special duty the handling of the de-
tails of the banquet.
Johnston in Hays Post
At the meeting of the studio pub-
licity directors' committee at the Hays
office yesterday, John LeRoy Johnston
was elected chairman to succeed Arch
Reeve, who has held the post for the
past three years.
Mono. Buys McCuire Yarn
Monogram has purchased a William
Anthony McGuire original, "Money
Means Nothing," and has assigned
Frances Hyland to write the screen
play under the supervision of Ben Ver-
schleiser.
Harold Hopper Back
Harold Hopper, producer of May-
fair pictures, returned Thursday by
plane from New York. He was ac-
companied by Larry Darmour on the
return trip. i
Lesser Signs Searl
Sol Lesser yesterday signed Jackie
Searl for the role of Horace Clay,
the second lead in "Peck's Bad Boy."
Eddie Cline directs and Jackie Cooper
has the lead.
II
Feb. 10. 1934
itii
[RilPOPtTEI^.
P»p» Five
WEEK'S BIJSII^ESS OiX B'W AY
HITTIIVG BOTH EXTBEMES
NEW MOVIE
1 06 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Lilian Harvey
(Fox)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 930 sq. inches
Paramount 480 sq. inches
United Artists 480 sq. inches
Warners 205 sq. inches
Radio 55 sq. inches
Fox 20 sq. inches
Three swell stories head the March
issue of New Movie. They are "The
First Soviet Star — Anna Sten," by
Edwin C. Hill; "I Call Dad 'Pete.'"
by Douglas Fairbanks jr., and a very
amusing yarn on Kay Francis by Elsie
Janis called "Class with a Capital
Kay."
The other stories in the mag are
worth reading, too, but the three men-
tioned above are the best.
Wallace Beery's life story starts in
this issue. It is by Eric L. Ergen-
bright. And Joan Crawford gives an
extremely frank interview to Nanette
Kutner on "My Mistakes."
Dorothy Manners has "The Love
Story of Gary Cooper"; Ramon Ro-
mero writes of "Hollyw/ood's Roaring
40's"; "Once an Acrobat," by Harry
B. Blair, is about Cary Grant, and Hen-
ry Willson writes about "Hollywood's
Younger Set." Grace Kingsley has her
usual "Play Time in Movieland" de-
partment.
PICTURE PARADE
62 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY. ...Garbo and Gilbert
(MGM)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 600 sq. inches
Fox 332 sq. inches
Paramount 284 sq. inches
United Artists 229 sq. inches
Warners 191 sq. inches
Radio 120 sq. inches
Universal 53 sq. inches
Columbia 38 sq. inches
Charles Chaplin 25 sq. inches
Monogram 18 sq. inches
Picture Parade is not fundamentally
'a fan magazine. It comes in a class
all its own. What it is, is a darn
swell literary finger pointing at the
parade of current pictures.
The magazine carries nothing in the
way of reading matter but reviews,
and they are crisp, caustic and clever.
They call a picture a picture and a
lemon a lemon, and no matter what
the review is about it is fine, enter-
taining, amusing reading.
The magazine also features good,
live stills, with captions that, at times,
border on the brilliant.
Picture Parade will be published ten
times a year, and nobody who has
not been chosen as a "subscriber" can
buy it. It is not on sale anywhere.
The idea is that the advertisers are
the "sponsors" of the magazine,
choosing its readers in order to guar-
antee a selected, concentrated circu-
' lation in desirable zones in the large
i cities.
Cordon's Next Opens Soon
New York. — Max Gordon, producer
of the season's big hits, will stage his
next play, "The Shining Hour," at the
Booth next Tuesday. Keith Booth is
the author.
New York. — Picture business was
spotty on the week just closing in
New York. In view of the weather,
"Nana" looks great with a net of
$103,900 at the Music Hall, but
against this the Paramount will only
show $42,500 on "All of Me." The
big Capitol is taking something of a
licking when it only checks up $26,-
000 on "You Can't Buy Everything."
Pictures that are hitting average, but
Para. Shifts Slate
To Help Columbia
Paramount has shifted its produc-
tion schedule on the Bing Crosby pic-
ture "We're Not Dressing" in order
that Carole Lombard may finish on
February 1 8 to swing over to Colum-
bia the following day on "Twentieth
Century" opposite John Barrymore.
The "We're Not Dressing" com-
pany leaves for Catalina Island tomor-
row for location work.
Pascal Moves info 'U'
On 'Human Side' Script
Ernest Pascal has been signed by
Universal on a one-picture deal to
write the screen play of "Human
Side," which Eddie Buzzell will direct
under the supervision of Eph Asher.
Gertrude Purcell was on this script,
but asked to be released from her con-
tract because her ideas for the story
did not coincide with Asher's.
Ben Stoloff Back Ready
To Start Woric for Foy
Ben Stoloff arrived back in Holly-
wood yesterday, after a month in New
York.
The Foy studio comes to life again
with two pictures slated to go into
work immediately. First will be "Mur-
der in the Theater." William Jacobs
will write the screen play.
Hopton Closes Two
Pic Deal at Warners
Russell Hopton has been signed by
Warners on a two-picture deal. The
player goes into a featured spot in
the James Cagney-joan Blondell pic-
ture "Without Honor," after which
he goes into the Pat O'Brien picture
"One Man's Woman."
Hancock Goes Straight
Abandoning motion pictures, Peter
Hancock has turned photographer,
opening a shop at Hollywood and Vine.
He was an actor-producer before his
commercial venture.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
nothing to boast about, are "Hi Nel-
lie," with $22,000 at the Strand,
and "I've Got Your Number" at the
Roxy doing $28,000.
"Devil Tiger" doing $1 1,500 at the
Rialto in its first three days is really
a surprise for this house, and against
that you can take "Frontier Marshal,'
hitting below indie figures with only
$5,000 at the Mayfair. "Fashions of
1934" in the second week of its run
got $5,000 at the Hollywood.
Washington to report to President
Roosevelt.
And ye gods, and little fishes — bas-
ed on what we have seen with our own
eyes — we hate to think about what a
fellow named Rosenblatt is reporting
to another fellow named General
Johnson, who in turn, as we under-
stand it, reports to a plain, ordinary
American citizen named Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
Cleckler and Barrat
Switch Posts at WB
Robert Gleckler arrives in Holly-
wood today to begin his term contract
at Warners. He was slated to play
the heavy in "Return of the Terror"
as his initial assignment, but the stu-
dio made a switch and assigned him
to replace Robert Barrat in "One
Man's Woman" instead. Barrat goes
into Gleckler's spot in "Return of the
Terror," with Mary Astor and Lyle
Talbot in the top spots.
Mono. Assigns Two
Monogram has assigned two
stories to producers for future shoot-
ing. Ben Verschleiser handles "Mon-
ey Means Nothing." which has been
scripted by Frances Hyland. Paul Mal-
vern has been assigned to handle
"Border Patrol," an airplane story by
Stuart Anthony, who is also writing
the script.
Fox Puts One Over
In Danish Market
Copenhagen. — Fox has slipped into
the market here with "Cavalcade" in
the midst of the war over sound patent
rights and the explanation is that the
company transferred the sound track
to a non-conflicting sound track in
America especially for the Danish
market.
Dispute is between the American
sound outfits, Western Electric and
RCA and the domestic patentees and
concerns, principally features in con-
nection with noiseless recording.
Warners Working Out
Deal on Seymour-Presneli
Warners and James Seymour are in
a huddle over a new deal for the su-
pervisor.
Although the contract with Sey-
mour does not expire for several
months, company is working out a
new ticket which is to keep him on
the payroll on a long termer in place
of the single year called for in his
present ducat. Warners are doing the
same with Robert Presnell, as reported
several days ago here.
*U' Continues Own Setup
In Belgian Market
Brussels. — Charles N. Weill, years
ago with Universal in Albany, N. Y.,
is the new manager in Brussels, suc-
ceeding Ferdinand Bourland. The ap-
pointment kills rumors that Universal
might abandon the Belgian office and
sell product outright for this territory.
'Performances that count
//
-IS the consensus of opinion
IAN KEITH C. AUBREY SMITH
CORA SUE COLLINS
m
"Queen Christina
rf
Crauman's Chinese Theatre
ENTIRE STAGE PRODUCTION DIRECTED
by
MAX SHECK
^-^ MANAGEMENT /"^/^
Small-landau CO.
Page Six
Feb. 10, 1934
Week's Publications Not
So Hot To The Reviewer
After carefully weighing thi
must necessarily come to the
coming than those that are c
public.
Note these impending publications:
"Co Into Your Dance," by Bradford
Ropes, author of "42nd Street" and
"Stage Mother"; "Mad Hatter's Vil-
lage," by Mary Cavendish Core, one
of the extraordinary books of the
year; "Treeless Eden," by Francine
Findiey; "Smirt: An Urbane Night-
mare " by James Branch Cabell; "Val-
our "' by V^arwick Deeping; "Nine
Etched From Life," by Emil Ludwig,
and an autobiography of that great
American doctor, Bailey K. Ashford,
called "Soldier in Science."
Lady Eleanor Smith also has_a new
novel coming out called "Seven
Trees," and Irvin S. Cobb v^^ill blos-
som forth with "Murder Day by Day.'
One of the news items of the week
is the $2,500 International Prize
Travel Book Contest conducted by
Robert M. McBride and Company, the
Magazine TRAVEL, and Ceorge C.
Harrap and Company of London. The
contest is open to all explorers,
archaeologists, naturalists, anthropolo-
gists, journalists, big-game hunters,
deep-sea sailors, scientists, "and all
others who have traveled and have
something unusual to say about life
on any part of the globe." Better not
send in any technical works aimed at
the special student. They aren't eli-
gible. From 50,000 words to 200,-
000 words is the required length.
Contest closes November 30, 1934.
Send entries to PRIZE TRAVEL BOOK
COMPETITION, Robert McBride and
Company, 4 Vv/est 16th Street, New
York.
Now, for the current books:
s week's talked-about books, one
conclusion that better ones are
urrently engaging the reading
stage, has written a new serious ro-
mantic novel with just an overtone of
mystery.
When the story opens, Elinor Nor-
ton is being brought to trial in Mon-
tana for the murder of Blair Leighton,
her English lover. Carroll Warner, a
lawyer who has always been in love
with Elinor, tells us the story. Mrs.
Rinehart is, as usual, the intelligent
and deft story teller, and this book
is tricky, exciting and vivid.
"The Epic of Captain Scott"
Author Martin Lindsay
Publisher Putnam's
The story of Robert Falcon Scott's
tremendous drive through that icy hell
to the South Pole in 191 1 is told with
dramatic caution by Martin Lindsay.
This book, of only 165 pages, is
absolutely stirring and it stands as a
very definite and sincere tribute to
the men who lost their lives while
proving, as Scott said in the note
found on his frozen body, "that Eng-
lishmen can endure hardships, help
one another, and meet death with as
great a fortitude as ever in the past."
"The State Versus
Norton"
Author Mary Roberts
Publisher Farrar and
Elinor
Rinehart
Rinehart
"The Innocent Wife"
Author Colette
Publisher Farrar and Rinehart
Colette, whose pen is deadlier than
any male's, has written another devas-
tating character study of a stupid,
average wife.
Poor Annie! She gets a raw deal at
the stiletto of Colette's wit. Annie's
tragedy is the loss of her faith in her
husband, Alain, and Colette's genius
lies in the sophisticated havoc in which
she involves Annie through the insin-
uations of Annie's catty friends.
This is an intense, brittle and devas-
tating story.
"Roman Round-About"
Author Amelia Posse- Brazdova
Publisher Dutton
This Swedish woman, whose literary
charm and printed wit were evident
in her other book, "Sardinian Side
Show," has written now the story of
her life in the Czech colony in Rome
during the war.
She tells how her household was
under suspicion; how she watched the
German airplanes fly over Rome; how
her children came, and how the Amer-
ican Red Cross helped them when all
were stricken by influenza.
This is a human, whole-hearted,
warm document.
"The Manuscript Murder"
Author Ceorge Limnelius
Publisher Doubleday, Doran
Mrs. Rinehart, who is to the literary
world what Rachel Crothers is to the
A new idea in murder mysteries . . .
the solution is written by a mystery
story writer, who is a friend of Sir
Norton, the murdered man, and the
person who commits the crime. Major
Swayne, even before the murder Is
committed.
The characterizations are good and
the whole thing well worth reading.
"Excursion to Lilliput"
Author Lewis Cibbs
Publisher Appleton
Hanging upon the thinnest of
threads is this book directly in con-
trast with the above. It is the story
of one day in the life of an English
boy. The whole thing rests upon the
"borrowing" of a gold pencil belong-
ing to his father, and never in all the
years to come will the boy suffer such
suspense as he felt during that one
day at school when he was unable to
find the pencil.
The story is delicate, but absorbing.
"The Young Manhood of
Studs Lonigan"
Author James T. Farrell
Publisher Vanguard
Profane, cruel, lewd, this book is
the saga of a Chicago boy who, an
offspring of the slums, became alley-
minded in his own distressing fashion.
Dreaming of the time when he
would be a great hero, he expresses
himself in the meanwhile by partici-
pating in vicious cruelties, small crimes
and backyard sex.
Disgusting, pathological . . . but
convincing.
"Moscow, 1911-1933*
Author Allan Monkhouse
Publisher Little, Brown and Co.
One of the most important books
that has yet appeared on Russia is
this account of Monkhouse's sojourn
in that country, during which time he
worked in an advisory engineering ca-
pacity aimed at the industrial up-
building of Russia after the war.
The book contains a vivid account
of his experiences and the brilliant
comments of a man trained to obser-
vation.
"Josephine, Wife of
Napoleon"
Author E. A. Rheinhardt
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf
The glamorous figure of Josephine,
beloved of Napoleon, becomes a little
tarnished in this book, and all her ro-
mantic traditions are blown to smith-
ereens. Every legendary romanticism
that the world has clung to about
Josephine is brilliantly punctured by
Mr. Rheinhardt,
She loved parties and Paris and
refused to join Napoleon in Italy, say-
ing she was pregnant. When that
plea lost its power, having cried
"Wolf, wolf!" too often, she finally
went, but was accompanied by a young
officer named Hippolyte Charles, who
helped her while away her time.
She bought houses that took all of
Napoleon's money to pay for; she had
her own private zoo, her artificial lake,
her hothouses, her dairy for making
her own Swiss cheese. She bought
jewels that she lost, and dresses that
she never wore. And Napoleon paid
and paid.
Contrary to romantic tradition,
Josephine died of septic angina, rather
than of a broken heart.
"The Spider in the Cup"
Author Joseph Shearing
Publisher —
Harrison Smith and Robert Haas
You might think that an old castle,
a degenerate heir and a poisoned rose-
bush will make a mystery a rather
tawdry, average affair. But Mr.
Shearing, because he concentrates on
the psychological tragedy of Lavinia
Pierrepont, rather than relying on his
old and frayed props, has written a
book as horribly moving as any you .
will ever want to read.
The author preaches the weight of
known heredity over environment. The
thing is creepy and haunting.
"Silent World"
Author Florence Riddell
Publisher J. B. Lippincott Co.
The complete loneliness of the deaf
is the subject of Miss Riddell's psy-
chological narrative.
Christopher Frankland, deafened by
an explosion when he was three, grew
up to fall in love with a girl who had
attended his school. Her name was
Dawn, and she had been deaf since
birth. They were married and for a
while were completely happy together
in their own silent world; then Chris-
topher regained his hearing through
another shock, and Dawn found that
she could not share his new life. An-
other woman comes between them,
and in handling this situation Miss
Riddell does a grand piece of work.
"The Native's Return"
Author Louis Adamic
Publisher Harpers
Louis Adamic had a remarkable and
fascinating experience. And so he
wrote about it, and the book is new, ;
warm and human.
Mr. Adamic, who came to this!
country at the age of 14 from Slo-
venia, which is now part of Jugo-j
Slavia, and who gained success in the
literary world, winning the Guggen-
heim fellowship, went back to visit
his family and his country, taking his
American wife with him. He had
been away for nineteen years. He had
forgotten the language, the customs.
Everything was strange to him.
He saw the house where he was
born, 600 years old now; he saw his
people absolutely uninfluenced by
modern civilized complexities; he saw
(Continued on Page 7, Col, 3)
Feb. 10, 1934
l^iP>©PlTEIR
Page Seven
BOOKS RELEASED IN SPRINC;
Foremost Publishers Announce
Lists For Next Three Months
Liffle, Brown & Company
E. P. Dutfon & Company
New Fiction
A Cay Family By Ethel Boileu
Tiger island By Couverneur Morris
Fools Rush In By Anne Green
Hostile Valley.. By Ben Ames Williams
Wonder Cruise By Ursula Bloom
The Hawk and the Tree
By Patrick Carleton
This Our Heritage.. ..By Diana Patrick
The Young People. ...By J. D. Beresford
Triumph By Frederick Niven
Ship Without Sails (Dante in Exile)
By Barbara Barclay Carter
Everywoman By Cilbert Frankau
Old Lady Esteroy
By Edith Everett Taylor
The Song of the Sirens and Other
Stories By Edward Lucas White
The Fighting Danites
By Dane Coolidge
Red Square.. By Samuel Andrew Wood
Morning Comes Early
By Kathleen Coyle
New Mysteries:
Murder Off Key.. ..By Kathleen Sproul
The Mystery of the Fiddling Cracks-
man By Harry Stephen Keeler
Settled Out of Court
By Ronald A. Knox
Death in Darkness By Charles Barry
Murder Mansion By |. H. Wallis
General Books:
Horsemanship As It Is Today
By Sarah Bowes-Lyon
The Modern World: A Pageant of
Today By H. C. Knapp-Fisher
Roman Roundabout
By Amalie Posse-Brazdova
Twice Seven By H. C. Bainbridge
Queen Victoria and Her Ministers....
By Sir John A. R. Marriott
More or Less About Myself
By Margot Oxford, Countess of
Oxford and Asquith
Three Essays on America
By Van Wyck Brooks
Cleopatra By Gaston Delayen
A Conquest of Tibet.... By Sven Hedin
Old Rowley: A Private Life of
Charles M By Dennis Wheatley
Adventures in America
By John Gibbons
After the Great Companions
By Charles J. Finger
Family Ghosts and Ghostly
Phenomena By Elliott O'Donnel
The Story of the Sforzas
By L. Collison Morley
The Paris Front: An Unpublished Di-
ary, 191 4- I 91 8. .By Michel Corday
Theatre Street. ...By Tamara Karsavina
The Letters of Lord Byron
By George Gordon, 6th Lord Byron
Raphael: And the Modern Use of
the Classical Tradition
By Sir Charles Holmes, K.V.V.O.,
D.Litt., R.W.S.
Costume and Fashion, Vol. VI (the
19th Cent.)
By Herbert Norris and Oswald Curtis
As Shadows Lengthen
By R. W. Mackenna, M.A., M.D.
Artist Among the Bankers
By Will Dyson
The Royal Line of France
By E. Thornton Cook
England for Everyman By H. A. Piehler
The Courage of Ignorance
By William Lyon Phelps
Golf Made Easy By /. Forrest, M.B.
Keeping Campers Fit
By Elena Erving Williams
On High Hills .By Geoffrey Young
The Romance of Wine
By H. Warner Allen
The Rochejaquelein Memoirs
Edited by Cecil Biggane
Creevey's Life and Times ( 1 768-
1838) By John Code
The Werewolf. .By Montague Summers
The Way of the World
By William Congreve
Edited by Dr. W. P. Barrett
The While Devil By John Webster
Edited by Dr. G. B. Harrison
The Malcontent By John Marston
Edited by C. B. Harrison
Adventures in the Stratosphere
By Prof. Auguste Piccard
The Inevitable Cross
By W. E. Orchard, D.D.
The Gate of Remembrance
By Frederick Bligh Bond
The Bundle of Life
By Jane Revere Burke
The Path of Prayer
By Dhan Copal Mukerji
Everyman's Library:
Germinal By Emile Zola
The Captain's Daughter and Other
Tales By Alexander Pushkin
Selected Plays by Webster and Ford
Selected by Dr. C. B. Harrison
Viking Press
Fiction:
A Nest of Simple Folk
By Sean O'Faolain
David By Naomi Royde-Smith
Wedding Song By David Burnham
Jack Robinson By George Beaton
Frost in May By Antonia White
The Oppermanns
By Lion Feuchtwanger
Kaleidoscope By Stefan Zweig
Duel By Ronald Fangen
History and Sociology:
Woman in Soviet Russia...
By Fannina Halle
Memoirs:
They All Sang (From Tony Pastor
to Rudy Vallee)..By Edw. B. Marks
Biography:
Samuel Johnson.. ..By Hugh Kingsmill
Ben Jonson By John Palmer
Current Affairs:
Duranty Reports Russia
By Walter Duranty
Personal Narrative:
On the Shore By Albert Halper
I Went to Pit College
By Lauren Gilfillan
Foreign Lands:
Sweden By Agnes Rothery
Belles- Letters:
While Rome Burns
By Alexander Woollcott
A World of Men and Women
By D. H. Lawrence
Social Science:
Last Essays By Thorstein Veblen
Animals:
Lions Wild and Friendly
By Eric F. V. Wells
Bredon and Sons By Neil Bell
The Murder of Suzy Pommier
By Emmanuel Bove
Big Flight
By Francis and Katherine Drake
Men Against The Sea
By Charles Nordhoff and James
Norman Hall.
Bombay Mail
By Lawrence C. Blochman
The Callows of Chance
By E, Phillips Oppenheim
The One Sane Man
By Francis Beeding
Too Many Boats
By Charles L. Clifford
Mostly Canallers
By Walter D. Edmonds
Mountain Girl Comes Home
By Genevieve Fox
Rain on the Mountain
By Green Peyton
Winds of Chance.. ..By Jeffery Farnol
Copy for Mother
By Jeannette Phillips Gibbs
But Not the End. By Frederick Nebel
Breakfast in Bed. By Sylvia Thompson
Journey to the End of the Night...
By Louis-Ferdinand Celine
The Secret Agent.. .By Sydney Horler
Stag Line _-■
By Graeme and Sarah Donmer
The Peacemaker By C. S. Forester
Challenge of the North
By William Byron Mowery
This Green Thicket World
By Howell Vines
Thank You, Jeeves! ■— -
By P. G. Wodehouse
The Man Without Nerves
By E. Phillips Oppenheim
The Ginger Griffin By Ann Bridge
Road Show By Eric Hatch
The Flying U Strikes. .By B. M. Bower
Non-Fiction:
Moscow, 1911-1933 ---;"-
By Allan Monkhouse
Wmdows on Henry Street "■••■■
By Lillian D. Wald
If You Want To Get Ahead
By Ray W. Sherman
Loring and Mussey
Starlight, a Romance
By Anne Stanton Drew
Murder Stalks the Wakely Family
By August W. Derleth
The Killing of the Golden Goose...
By R. Jere Black
The Ravenelle Riddle.. By E. Best Black
Waiting . - By Bonnie Busch
Book Reviews
(Continued from Page 6)
how happy they were and how they
laughed all the time, and the laughter
was contagious. It absolutely domi-
nates the first part of the book.
The second part is more or less of
a travelogue, fascinating but lacking
the laughter. His country, under
King Alexander, is apparently in a bad
way.
Gossip of Authors
In the future, all Enghsh and Amer-
ican editions of the works of George
Bernard Shaw will be issued simultane-
ously. Next will be his three latest
plays, "Village Wooing," "On the
Rocks" and "Too True to Be Good,"
all three to be published in one vol-
ume by Dodd, Mead and Company,
John Dos Passos is finishing "In
All Countries," which comes out on
March 29. He is now in Washington.
The March Red Book features
Joseph Louis Vance's last book, called,
appropriately enough, "The Last
Prowl." However, when Lippincott
releases it, it will be under the origi-
nal title, "The Street of Strange
Faces.'
The New Republic offers a prize of
$25 for the best poem on this subject:
"The Reichstag Fire Trial." No re-
strictions as to form or length, but
poems will receive happier attention if
they are less than forty lines. Ad-
dress 421 West 21st street. Contest
closes April 1 5.
Another lecturer about to storm
our shores is Jeffery Farnol. who has
planned a tour from Omaha to New
York.
Florence Riddell, who wrote "The
Silent World," reviewed this week,
writes every word in long hand and
revises her books at least five times
before allowing her publisher to see
them. She writes all night long and
sleeps all day.
The Stanford University Press has
just published the "Autobiography of
John Keats," by Earle Vonard Weller,
who has put the book into the form
of first person narrative.
There are two new magazines
started in England patterned after
"Story." They are "Lovat Dickson's
Magazine." edited by P. Gilchrist
Thompson, and "New Stories," edited
in Oxford by Edward J. O'Brien and
five English authors.
Did you ever stop to realize that
James Joyce never got a cent for the
thousands of bootleg copies of his
novel, "Ul/sses," that were sold in
this country before the ban was lifted?
Marie Belloc Lowndes says that
people find it hard to believe that
beautiful women can be killers. Which
is why most of the murderers in her
stories are women. Her next, "An-
other Man's Wife," will be brought
out in April by Longmans.
"Anthony Adverse" still heads the
best seller list, with "The Thin Man,"
"The Mother," "Men Against the
Sea," "Work of Art," "Skin and
Bones," "The Cadaver of Gideon
Wyck" and "Sea Level" keeping it
company.
Important Books on the Cinema
Arnheim, Rudolf. FILM. With a
preface by Paul Rotha.. $6.00
Hunter, William. SCRUTINY OF
CINEMA $2.00
Pudovkin, V. I.
FILM TECHNIQUE $1.50
Complete Catalogue on Request.
Authorized Agents for
Film Art. Experimental Cinema and
Transition.
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51 West 47th St. New York
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TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, February
1934
DL PONTS SEtr CONTR€l
RKOHead-Anthonv Mow Have Working Control in
^^,1*!^. !J5JJZ' Loew-Fox; Aiming Toward
Warner-Para. For Big Merger
• LADIES and gentlemen of this mo-
tion picture industry, today's sermon
will concern itself with Mr. George
Raft.
And the object of using Raft for
today's chat is to remind you or ac-
quaint you with the advance this
ARTIST has made in pictures during
the past two years of his employment
at Paramount and elsewhere, and to
comment on the reasons for that ad-
vancement.
Raft, as you all know, had his only
"show schooling" dancing in the floor
shows or the backrooms of New York
speakeasies and cafes, graduating from
that into a "greater" profession, in
which he was brought to Hollywood
in the caravan of the late Texas Cui-
nan.
Ceorgie knew the limitations of that
"greater" profession, and once he got
a look at the studios, felt the heat of
the studio lamps and heard the grind
of the camera, decided that he was
going into pictures for better or worse.
This decision gave him more than two
years of idleness until he was selected
by Rowland Brown for a bit in a Fox
picture and later an important role in
the Howard Hughes "Scarface,"
which brought him to the notice of
Paramount.
•
Paramount gave him one of those
"nickel" contracts right at the height
of the gangster craze and "Raftie"
went to the top of actors in their
creation of the tough boys of gang-
dom. Most of the mob in Hollywood,
including this writer, were of 'the
opinion that once audiences grew tired
of pictures of that type George would
be washed up, because he could not
act. In that we were all wrong, and
for the reason that we did not know
Raft.
There has never been a person with
a greater ambition than that of George
Raft, and being of a gambling nature
he has and will continue to stake his
all on that ambition. The result is
that Raft stands today as one of the
best ACTORS on the screen, and given
the opportunity in good stories will
eventually become one of the great-
est stars in this business. He has a
tremendous following now, but noth-
ing to what he will have, because he
(Continued on Page 2)
worth to Hollywood is more in the
interest of the local NBC situation
than it is for Radio Pictures.
Aylesworth and Earle Anthony, the
present holder of the NBC franchise
here, have been at sword's points for
many months. Anthony doesn't like
the way NBC has treated him and
Aylesworth is impatient regarding the
squawks of Anthony.
Most of the trouble has been occa-
sioned by the broadcasting of "Holly-
(Continued on Page 3)
Wallace and Erpi
Talking Big Deal
New York. — Richard Wallace, Hol-
lywood director, and Electrical Re-
search Products are talking a big deal,
that when completed will provide for
Wallace producing a series of features
here at the Astoria studio with Erpi's
financing.
Should this deal go through, it is
understood that arrangements will be
made with Paramount for release of
the picture.
Aubrey Smith Injured
C. Aubrey Smith had his right hand
severely lacerated by a pet German
police dog which he owned. Dog went
beserk Friday night when the actor
returned home from the "Queen
Christina" preview and found the ani-
mal with her leg painfully trapped in
an iron gate.
New York. — The Du Ponts — the real monumentally wealthy
Du Ponts, not merely the section of the family interests repre-
sented in Du Pont raw stock — are aiming towards control of
the motion picture industry. Already they have a big share of it
in their pocket — what with working
control of Loews and Fox, a tie-in
with the old Pathe company, and
heavy entrenchments in the stock of
Warner and Paramount.
There has been a war of the giants
in motion picture stocks for some
weeks past. Financial circles have been
(Continued on Page 8)
Plays Die Like Flies
On N. Y.'s Rialto
New York. — The undertaker was
busy among the Broadway plays Sat-
urday night, even with some that had
received what might be called "fairly
good" -reactions from the New York
critics.
Closings for the night included, in
addition to Katharine Hepburn's "The
Lake," already recorded, "Mackerel
Skies," "The joyous Season," "Come
of Age," and "A Hat, a Coat and a
Glove." All have been reviewed in
The Reporter.
Whale on Way Here
London. — James Whale left Satur-
day for Hollywood and Universal.
RADIO HEADS TRYIi\G TO
GET PRESE]\T PROGRAM SET
William Settles Para's
). R. McDonough and B. B. Kahane,
assisted from a listening vantage point
by M. H. Aylesworth, are trying to
get the remainder of this year's pro-
gram of pictures set, before even
thinking about the revamping of the
studio, and the new policies that are
to be instituted.
Radio has between 14 and 16 pic-
tures to make before late spring and
there is too little material in any
branch of the production outfit to
meet that demand right at this time.
Accordingly McDonough and Kahane
are trying to hold everything off un-
til that group is set and giving little
or no attention to the sixty or more
(Continued on Page 21
Worries About Caesar
Protracted search by Paramount for
a player to take the Julius Caesar role
in "Cleopatra," the C. B. DeMille pro-
duction, saw the Curtain Saturday
when the company pushed through a
deal with Warners for the loan of
Warren William.
Laemmie Delays Return
New York — Carl Laemmie, Sr., and
the party consisting of Joe Weil and
Jack Ross, have postponed their de-
parture for the Coast until Wednes-
day.
Alimony Headache
Chases Laurel Away
Hal Roach has the biggest head-
ache in town today with Stan Laurel
definitely making plans to leave this
country the end of this month, due to
a'imony trouble, and splitting the
comedy team of Laurel and Hardy
which has been a big box office win-
ner for the producer for some time.
Laurel has offers to make personal ap-
pearances in London and other Euro-
p;an cities which he plans to accept.
Roach, it is reported, will try to
tuild up a new comedy team with
Eabe Hardy and Patsy Kelly.
BogueSinks $100,000
On 'Queer People'
New York. — It is going to cost
Galen Bogue $100,000 to find if
"Queer People," the inside story of
the movies, belongs on the stage. He
is shooting that amount on a cast of
forty people, very expensive stage set-
tings and novel equipment for scene
changing.
Eileen Percy Gets Raise
Eileen Percy has been granted an
increase in alimony by Superior Court
from her husband, Ulrich Bush, MGM
unit manager. At the same time a
motion by Bush for the custody of
their child was denied.
Dave Carber Steps Off
David Carber married Ruth Robin-
son in an elopement to Tia Juana Sat-
urday. Garber is director for the
Charles R. Rogers unit at Paramount
and for many years previous a Pathe
and Universal veteran.
Bill Howard Returning
New York — William K. Howard left
for the Coast yesterday. Director
spent a litle less than a week here.
MAX SCHECK
Directei the entire stage production for
"Queen Christina" — Crauman's Chinese
MANAGEMENT
Small-landau CO.
]
Page Two
Feb. 12, 1934
■
IPOOTIR
\fj R WILKERSON Editor and Publishei
ROBERT E WELSH Managing Editoi
Published and Copyrighted bv
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Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
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Published everv dav wth the exception ot
Sundavs and Holidays Subscription rates,
including postage per year in the United
States and Canada $10 Foreign. $15
Single copies. 5c Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3
1879
Latest person to "go Hollywood,"
as they laughingly call it, is George
White. And from all reports the
"Scandals" picture has COT to be
good to keep up with the wonder-
producer's own opinion of himself.
Accustomed to "making" stars, Mr.
White refused to have Lilian Harvey
as the star in his picture and chose to
give Alice Faye the leading role.
Which is fine, because it started a lot
of arguments as to whether that sort
of thing could be done in pictures as
it"s done on the stage. In fact, it
was such a good note that a magazine
writer was assigned to interview Mr.
White on the subject and write an
article about it. So the writer called
Mr. White for an appointment and
was told that he was very busy and
Would call her back. About five days
later she finally called him back, be-
cause she had to have the article fin-
ished by the end of the week, and by
that time Mr. White had made up his
mind that he didn't want anyone to
write his publicity for him — he'd do
it himself some time, because he does
everything else himself, from writing
and directing to casting about.
•
Practically everyone in Hollywood
showed up for the Carbo opening
EXCEPT Carbo and Cilbert. That
Torres-Ames foursome were there to-
gether and Lupe and Johnny decided
to appear in public again together and
there were Eleanor Holm and Art Jar-
rett and Jean Harlow in an "out fit"
and Ann Harding with a stranger in
town and Alice Brady and Salka Vier-
tel and Dorothea Wieck (who would
only allow one picture to be taken),
and Randy Scott taking good care of
Kitty Cillian, the Fox importation he
met on the boat coming back, and
Mae Clarke minus Sidney Blackmer
and plus Leo Morrison.
•
It's )ust as well that Cary Crant
and Virginia Cherrill are coming back
together, because sending cables to
each other almost proved tragic. On
his way to London Cary cabled Virginia
from the boat, "Distracted and bored,"
and poor Virginia was in a dither when
she received it, because by the time
it finally reached her it read, "At-
traction on board."
"HI, NELLIE"
Warner Bros, prod.; director, Mervyn LeRoy; writers, Roy Chansier, Aben
Frankel, Sidney Sutherland.
Strand Theatre
World-Telegram: A rollicking and exciting frolic, "Hi, Nellie," is one of the
best of all the film sagas about that apparently everlasting romantic, the
newspaper man. It pictures him accurately enough, catches his talk and
knows the twists of character which make him forever think of a story
first and himself later. A lusty spoof as well as an exciting melodrama, it
is a rare combination — one that is conducive to fast and diverting amuse-
ment. Mervyn LeRoy has done a fine piece of direction for this.
Herald-Tribune: So much expertness of treatment has gone into the playing and
production of the film that it seems a great pity that the result is merely
a routine sort of melodrama. Mr. Muni handles his part with attractive
credibility. The supporting cast is likewise helpful.
Post: The picture has a certain vigor and dash, but Its underworld stuff is over-
drawn and outmoded. Nor does Paul Muni make an impressive figure
comically, dramatically or iournalistically. Clenda Farrell, Ned Sparks, Ber-
ton Churchill and others appear in the supporting cast.
Sun: The Warners, those masters of melodrama, have turned out another of
their rapid-fire, high-pressure newspaper yarns and registered another
sure hit. It is a comedy, a hilarious galloping comedy with its back-
ground one of those crazy, unreal, delightful newspaper offices that Holly-
wood still hopes may exist somewhere.
American: The picture is a pretty mixture of comedy and melodrama, with ons
supplementing the other in fast, actionful sequences building suspense-
fully, excitingly to a slam-bang climax. The story provides the star with
opportunity for further exhibition of his talent as a creator and portrayer
of character, and in a role which offers substance in which to sink his
histrionic teeth, Muni gives one of the best exhibitions.
News: "Hi, Nellie" will be a treat for Paul Muni fans, as it gives him a chance
to display his versatility as an actor. The film starts out with a certan
lightness, but takes quite a serious turn as it moves along. Mervyn LeRoy
has directed a film that is slow getting started, but when it does pck
up speed it holds your interest to the fadeout.
Col. Wants Chinese
For Capra Picture
Columbia is trying to get Sid Crau-
man to put the Clark Cable-Claudette
Colbert picture, "It Happened One
Night," into the Chinese theatre fol-
lowing the run of the Carbo picture
"Queen Christina."
The RKO Hillstreet theatre, which
has bought the Columbia product for
a first run in Los Angeles and has
booked the picture, is a bit peeved at
this idea and will likely put up a big
squawk if Columbia succeeds in put-
ting the picture into the Chinese.
Start on 'Deacon* Script
Clarence Marks and Earl Snell have
been assigned by Universal to write
the screen play of "Alias the Dea-
con," which will be directed by Kurt
Neuman and supervised by Edmund
Grainger. Negotiations are still on for
Guy Kibbee for the top spot.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 I
WANTS TO BE ON TOP and will be
on top.
Raft is a very serious person, spends
a lot of his time in study; reads any-
thing and everything that will ad-
vance his ambition, seeks the company
and conversation of individuals that
will further his work and does more
work during a 24-hour period than
any other person in this industry, be-
cause he wants to succeed and HE
WILL SUCCEED even far beyond his
present success.
Wurtzel to Handle
Second Rogers Pic
Sol Wurtzel has scheduled a second
Will Rogers production for his unit at
Fox and will place it into work fol-
lowing "Merry Andrew," star's first.
Producer has set John Ford to di-
rect the as yet untitled picture and
has signed Dudley Nichols to write it.
Nichols handed in his screen play on
"Grand Canary" to Jesse Lasky Satur-
day, moving back to the Western
avenue plant today.
Mono, in Trouble on
Lead for 'Jane Eyre'
Monogram. is finding it tough to get
a leading woman for "Jane Eyre" and
is reported ready to shelve the pro-
duction unless a satisfactory player is
obtained this week.
Deal to get Heather Angel from Fox
went flat Saturday.
MacRae Seeks Comic Strip
Henry MacRae, in charge of Uni-
versal serial productions, is negotiat-
ing with Hal Forrest for the rights to
his comic strip, "Tailspin Tommy."
MacRae hopes to base his next story
on the characters of the strip which is
syndicated throughout the country.
Air Plugs for Lost Patrol'
Radio has set a series of ether plugs
for "Lost Patrol" this week, first two
being an interview with Victor Mc-
Laglen by Eleanor Barnes and an hour
of sound track from the picture via
KNX, both Thursday night.
The Invisible Man
On the strength of his perform-
ance in the one minute sequence in
which he appears hidden in a tele-
phone booth in the Warner pro-
duction "Hi Nellie," Paramount
has signed Sidney Skolsky to ap-
pear in "Murder at the Vanities."
This time Sklosky will hide in a
vanity case.
London Business
Hits High Mark
London. — Business in the first run
theatres here went way over the top
last week. The neighborhoods and the
provinces also reported record gather-
ings.
The newcomers of the week in the
big houses are "Fugitive Lovers" at
the Empire, "Catherine the Great" at
the Leicester Square, "Miss Fane's
Baby is Stolen" at the Plaza.
The holdovers are "Little Women,"
doing a record business, "Invisible
Man" and "Duck Soup."
'U' vs. Firestone Tonight
None other than the champion Fire-
stone five have been selected by Uni-
versal's basketball outfit, under the
direction of Jack Pierce, for tonight's
opponent. The game will be played
at the Hollywood Athletic Club. Glo-
ria Stuart, George O'Brien, Andy De-
vine are among the rooters.
RKO Busy on Program
(Continued from Page 1)
\
applications that have been phoned,
wired or written in for production
berths at that plant.
Of all the stories going around the
town about this or that producer mov-
ing his desk over to Radio, the moves
of William LeBaron and Charles R.
Rogers seem most definite inasmuch
as it is known that Radio wants Le
Baron and his Paramount contract is up
in May. The same goes with Rogers,
who has around six pictures to com-
plete with Paramount before he can
make a move.
RUSSELL ,1V1 1 LLER^
and Company
Members
Njrw YORK STOCK EXCHANCI
New York Curb Exchange
Lhjcdgo Board of Trade
I o<. Ancple^, Curb Exchange
SELMER L CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINb
Assi Mgr
HOLLYWOOD OFFICl
Feb. 12, 1934
THE
PaC« Tkre*
CAMERA UNION ON WARPATH
OVER 'DISLOYAL* MEMRERS
Plenty of Expulsions
Said To Be Planned
A number of Hollywood cameramen
who played an active role in breaking
the late cameramen's strike will find
themselves expelled from the local
lATSE organization in the near future,
according to authentic information
that has leaked out during the past
few days.
Not only will they be expelled from
Local 659, but their names will be
broadcast to every labor organization
in the country that is a part of the
American Federation of Labor, with
the statement that these men were
"Judases" in the ranks of organized
labor when the test time came.
The expulsions, as a matter of fact,
have already started. According to
cameramen on the inside of lATSE
affairs, one first cameraman has al-
ready been dropped. While his name
would not be given out at present, it
was learned that he was one of the
organizers of the local union.
"Why, he even wrote a great part
of the by-laws for our organization,"
explained one cameraman. "He was
one of our first officers, and in ap-
preciation of his great work in the
forming of the union he was made a
life member of the union by unani-
mous vote of the entire membership
and was presented with a gold badge
of membership which cost the union
about $90.
"Every man has a right to his per-
sonal opinion, but the union men feel
that when a man has played such an
important role in the forming and de-
velopment of an organization as this
man did, he should not desert his fel-
lows the second day of trouble as he
did in the late strike. We learned
that he not only deserted us, but went
to work, not making pictures, but on
the telephone attempting to get other
union men to quit the fight. That
was too much.
"When our reorganization is com-
pleted there will be a number of sur-
prises, for there will be other men
who will find themselves on the out-
side looking in. We have had a quiet
investigation of their activities under
way for a long time. We will be
sure of our facts before we act. And
we are sure of some who eventually
will be sorry for what they did."
Go Strong for Personals
On 'Lost Patror Debut
Reginald Denny and Boris Karloff
left for San Francisco to make per-
sonal appearances at the Golden Gate
theatre today and tomorrow in con-
junction with Radio's "Lost Patrol,"
in which they appear. Wallace Ford
and Victor McLaglen made an appear-
ance there on the opening day last
week.
Rest for John Lodge
John David Lodge, having received
his okey from Paramount to leave, left
last night with his wife for New York
by boat. He will return to Hollywood
the end of March.
Pardon, Mr. Mayo
The Hollywood Reporter:
Your statement as to my walk-
ing out on "The Key" at Warners
is untrue. I have been confined to
my bed for the past three days
with ptomaine poisoning.
Will you kindly correct the state-
ment.'
ARCHIE MAYO.
Sullavan's Next To
Be 'Little Man' Pic
While no official statement was
forthcoming from Universal officials,
those in the know at the Universal
City lot, say that the studio has de-
cided definitely to start Margaret Sul-
lavan in "Little Man, What Now," as
her next picture, with Frank Borzage
at the megaphone.
As reported in Saturday's Holly-
wood Reporter, they are dropping the
"Elizabeth and Mary" picture, which
was to have been a costume affair,
and her second Universal production.
Kelly Out/U' Puts Pryor
In ril Tell the World'
Negotiations with Twentieth Cen-
tury for the loan of Paul Kelly going
cold. Universal today pushes Roger
Pryor into the role for which the play-
er was wanted in "I'll Tell The
World."
Story gets under way today with
Lee Tracy and Gloria Stuart in top
brackets under Edward Sedgwick's di-
rection. Lincoln Quarberg wrote the
story.
'Left Bank' for Sherman
Universal has offered Lowell Sher-
man the direction of the Elmer Rice
play, "Left Bank," and is waiting on
his decision before proceeding with
the production. Rice is slated to re-
turn to Hollywood late in March to
write the screen play.
Cordonas Tagged by WB
The noted aerial troupe known as
"The Flying Cordonas" were signed
Saturday by Warners for the Joe E.
Brown production, "Sawdust." Troupe
previously made a short for Pete Smith
and are famed for their dare-deviltry
on the trapeze.
Date Talooka' in N. Y.
New York. — Tentative dating has
Eddie Small's production of "Palooka"
following "Moulin Rouge" into the
Rivoli. The Small picture got a great
response from exhibitors over the
country after the trade showings Feb-
ruary 6.
Carroll Chaperoned
The beautiful Madeleine Carroll,
British cinema star on a loan here
to Fox, is being chaperoned around
the town by her husband, Philip
Astley, who by the way, is one of
the richest men in England.
Norma Too 'Bossy/
So British Pic Off
London, — The British picture,
"Somehow Good," that was to be
made by British International and co-
starring Norma Talmadge and Thomas
Meighan, is cold, with Talmadge on
her way back to America and Meighan
looking around for another assign-
ment.
B.I. P. and Norma could not get to-
gether on the story changes that Miss
Talmadge wanted, and too, they would
not give in to the demands the fem-
inine star insisted on, for the right to
an okay on everything.
Warners Close Loan Deal
For Para's Charlie Ruggles
Warners got a commitment Satur-
day from Paramount for the loan of
Charles Ruggles for the starring as-
signment in "Friends of Mr. Sweeny,"
which Sam Bischoff supervises. It is
in exchange for Warren William, who
goes into "Cleopatra" for DeMille.
'Nell Cwyn' Starts Soon
London — Just to add to the cycle
of costume spectacles being produced
in all countries, British and Dominions
announce that they will very soon
put into production "Nell Gwyn," with
Anna Neagle playing Nell. Cedric
Hardwicke will appear opposite. Her-
bert Wilcox will direct.
Nat Ferber on MOM Yarn
MGM Saturday signed Nat j. Ferber
to write the script of "Stalling Thru
Life," which will have Franchot Tone
in the lead. This is the first scenario
writing job for Ferber, who is a well
known Hearst feature writer. )e ry
Horwin handled the deal.
Select Op. 13' Song
Team of Burton Lane and Harold
Adamson have sold the song, "Hell
Bent for Heaven" to MGM for use in
the Marion Davies vehicle, "Operato/
13." Chorus of 30 negro voices wi'l
sing it.
Berke Moves to Pathe Lot
William Berke moves today to the
RKO-Pathe lot from the General Serv-
ice Studios. Berke, who is finishing
a short now, will start soon on the
first of a series of six features.
Rave Over Late Disney
New York — It must be good — Walt
Disney's latest "Silly Symphony" —
because United Artists home office has
decided on a special intensive advertis-
ing campaign on this shiort.
Bob North Assigned
Columbia has assigned Robert North
to supervise the Carole Lombard pic-
ture which the studio is preparing.
Roland Pertwee, English writer,
scripts.
Baby Girl at Jowetts'
Doris Anderson presented her hus-
band, Anthony Jowett, with a baby
girl at the Good Samaritan Hospital
last Thursday night.
The cocktail bars around town still
stacking them up and m. The latest
to hit the town and one that is vis-
ited at least once a day by the "who's
who" is The Ritz. Of course, it is at
the Ritz. . . . The atmosphere at the
Chatham is changed weekly through
the drawings of Soglow and his Lit-
tle King. There are a new set each
week so the mob can have a new
laugh. . . . Why has Hollywood missed
this cocktail craze or have none of
those otherwise enterprising liquor
merchants on the coast thought of
that idea?
Moss Hart is leaving for Palm
Springs Wednesday with George S.
Kaufman to complete a play. And
poor Moss was so buried in grief due
to the absence of Clifton Webb from
"As Thousands Cheer" (in bed with
the flu) that he had to throw a big
farewell party for the ladies of the
ensemble of that show, at which he
gathered most of his (more or less)
literary friends. . . . And the Clifton
Webb angle and his sickness is a bit
funny, for "Cliffie" is also giving a
party Tuesday night — a Flu Party.
•
Tallulah Bankhead has just turned
down $4,000 a week for ten weeks
of personal appearances. . . . Ken
MacKenna going places with "Liz"
Dupont. . . . A. C. Blumenthal headed
for Hollywood with Gloria Vanderbilt
and Lady Furness (those two Morgan
gals). This is funnier than even you
may think. . . . Clark and Rea Gable
spent the week-end with Helen Hayes
and Charles MacArthur at their Nyack
estate.
All the Hollywood contingent so-
jcurning in New York about frozen
stiff what with the thermometer rest-
ing at 14 below zero. . . . Harpo Marx
wants to break his silence. An agent
is making the rounds of the adver-
tising agencies trying to place Harpo
on the air with his harp and a line
of talk.
•
The Mayfair party Saturday night
was quite gay even though most of
the regulars have quit these Arctic
regions for the warm breezes of Palm
Beach. Among the others spotted at
the Ritz affair were the Ricardo Cor-
tezes, who are heading west Monday;
Mary Brian, Jacqueline Logan, who has
changed so much it is difficult to
recognize her; Weldon Hepburn, the
Clark Gables along with Richard Watts,
who is trailing around with Beth Leary
these nights; Bryan Foys (nee Thelma
Chrysler), Harry Evans, Ben Finney
and Ernest Truex, who had his thirti-
eth opening on Broadway with "Sing
and Whistle" the same night.
NBC-Anthony Split
(Continued from Page 1 )
wood on the Air" from the Radio stu-
dio instead of from the studios of
KFI. Anthony figured he should be
given that break and Aylesworth
thought otherwise.
The result of this squabble may end
in NBC buying back the local fran-
chise. Failing in that solution Anthony
may take his troubles to court.
w
SING and LIKE IT
//
DIRECTED BY
U)ILLI()fn()*SEITER
HOWARD
J. GREENE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
w
SING and LIKE IT
//
! I
r 1
PERT KELTON
as RUBY in
w
SING and LIKE IT
'One of the
test Comedy Hits
of the year." M
/ ' — Hollywood Reporter.
w
SING and LIKE IT
If
SCREEN PLAY and DIALOGUE by
In Collaboration with
LAIRD DOYLE
MARION DIX
■ ■
I I
w
SING and LIKE IT"
SCREEN PLAY and DIALOGUE by
In Collaboration with
MARION DIX
LAIRD DOYLE
P ''One of the
Best Comedy Hits
of the year."
■ — Ho(lywoo<f Reporter|
I
Feb. 12. 1934
THP
l^i^OPtTll^
Page Seven
AMERICAN DISTHIB!^ WAGINC;
WAR OIV ACSTRALIAIV COMBINE
Gov't Steps In With
Own Investigation
Sydney.
Last year's film war between dis-
tributors and the combine (Greater
Theatres Corporation) has broken out
again with a vengeance. This time
the rift has become bigger than ever
Involving widespread ramifications
throughout the entire trade. Sydney
papers have been playing it up as front
page news over several days. The
trouble looms so large that it looks as
if the Government will be called in
to settle the squabble. Even so both
sides are hardly likely to get satisfac-
tion.
The dispute has arisen over the at-
tempt of General Theatres Corpora-
tion (comprising Union Theatres Ltd.,
Hoyts Ltd., and Fox Film Corpora-
tion) to break the "blind booking"
contract system demanded by the dis-
tributors. American film companies
are endeavoring to beat the "combine"
(who control over 200 theatres) by
"muscling in" with theatres of their
own for release of their own films.
Paramount, to some extent, have al-
ready followed Fox in this direction.
It is now announced that MGM will
tuild their own theatre in Sydney.
Universal is getting in on the ground
floor also by planning, through D.
Martin (a leading Universal execu-
tive) to refashion the Rialto by next
Easter and at the same time is get-
ting ready to build another theatre.
Their reason for so doing is to provide
Universal with an outlet for a number
of Australian films they are releasing
(including all of Efftee studios, Mel-
bourne) as they cannot come to terms
with G.T.C.
Universal product during the lat-
ter part of 1933 has been almost
entirely crowded out of G.T.C. 's Syd-
ney theatres at any rate. MCM, Para-
mount and Warners couldn't come to
terms with G.T.C. for release of their
1934 product and have been selling
direct to independent exhibitors.
Chas. Monro (managing director of
G.T.C), is quoted as saying that this
new policy of these three American
film exchanges would be likely to send
his company and other Australian ex-
hibitors into bankruptcy. One group
of distributors are said to have de-
manded of G.T.C. an increase in the
percentage of gross receipts as film
hire from 20 to 50 per cent. "Submis-
sion to such a proposal would not
leave sufficient for any theatre's nor-
mal running costs," said Mr. Munro.
"Any measure of success the distrib-
utors might acheve is destined to have
a detrimental effect on staffs, or-
chestras, advertising and operating
costs all over Australia. It would most
certainly bring in its wake an increas3
in admission charges." G.T.C. are go-
ing over the head of Universal and
negotiating direct with Efftee for re-
lease of their films throughout the cir-
cuit.
"G.T.C," said Mr. Munro, "is pre-
pared to purchase any picture or group
of pictures of a reasonable standard,
whether American, British or Austral-
ian. We are certainly not going to be
Buzz a Benedict
Buzz Berkeley stepped over the
gangplank Saturday to the cheers
of a host of friends and an equally
strong echo from the friends of
Merna Kennedy, the bride. And
from now on, when they're shoot-
ing one of those big Warner num-
bers. Buzz will have to go to the
phone and explain to the missus:
"I'm being held at the studio."
'Les Miserables* Made
Again and Still Too Long
Paris. — "Les Miserables," made in
pictures two or three times, is again
to be shown on the screen by Pathe
Natan. But as shot it takes five
hours to screen, and present plans are
that it may be exhibited as three sep-
arate shows in subsequent weeks.
Universal some years ago bought a
13-reel French production of "Les
Miserables" and went through consid-
erable agony before releasing it in
about eight reels. At one time Carl
Laemmie announced plans to release
it as two episodes, playing houses on
subsequent dates.
Osso Firm Bankrupt
Paris. — The Osso firm, third in im-
portance as a French producing and
distributing outfit, has gone into bank-
ruptcy. Company has been fighting
hard to stave off the action, but bad
business by theatre affiliates helped
push it over the brink.
intimidated into paying exorbitant
film rentals or stand idly by and allow
any combine of distributors to ruin
Australian enterprise at the behest of
New York movie magnates."
MGM intend building their own
chain of theatres, Sydney, Melbourne
and Brisbane. It is estimated that
their Sydney theatre will cost be-
tween 1 50,000 and 200,000 pounds,
and will seat over 2000.
D. N. Martin, manager of Liberty
theatres, is much concerned over the
fact that certain interests are believed
to have approached the State Govern-
ment endeavoring to persuade them to
refuse the licensing of any further
movie houses for a period of years.
With G.T.C's recent acquisition of
King's Cross and Majestic every city
theatre of importance here is directly
under their control. Five million
pounds represents the amount invested
by the public in G.T.C
The three film exchanges concerned
— MGM, Paramount, Warners — re-
fuse to supp.'y pools or agencies not
responsible for the theatres in which
the films are screened. G.T.C have
been in the habit of purchasing on
behalf of independent exhibitors.
Fu'lers Theatres have, as was the
case last year, diplomatically side-
stepped the wrangle so far as possible
up-to-date, declaring they are not in-
volved.
And the final result was the ap-
pointment by the Government of an
investigator, F. W. Marks, a Sydney
accountant, who is now taking testi-
mony from all concerned.
LEON S. STONE.
Americans Must
Make Pics in Spain
Madrid — Spain will join the proces-
sion started by England and followed
by Italy. The government will set a
film provision this spring which will
require that each importer of films
produce at least one picture in Spain
at a minimum cost of $50,000 for
every five films imported.
Spain is trying to profit by the ex-
perience of England, where quota
pictures were made on a footage basis
and made so cheaply they hurt domes-
tic production instead of helping it.
That is why the $50,000 minimum for
Spain.
The news of the quota comes at a
bad time for American distributors
because the Spanish market for some
unexplainable reason just began to
show signs of real life in the past
six months.
Mono. Takes Next Step
In Full National Set-up
New York. — The last step in the
plan to get truly national representa-
tion for Mongram pictures was an-
nounced Saturday with the statement
that the exchanges in Los Angeles,
San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Seattle,
Denver, Portland, Salt Lake City and
Detroit will henceforth he designated
as Monogram exchanges in their re-
spective quarters.
These territories have, until this
move, still carried the individual name
of the state right exchange holding
the Monogram franchise.
Columbia On Own In
South America Territory
New York. — Columbia is branching
out for itself in the South American
territory, ending the agreement by
which United Artists has handled dis-
tribution on the product.
Clarence C Margon is in charge of
S. A. sales for Columbia, with Emi-
lie Acoste opening a Brazil exchange.
Yellow Jacket' Bow Set
New York. — "Yellow Jacket," the
new play by Sidney Howard about Dr.
Walter Reed's famous work on yellow
fever, will have premiere at Martin
Beck Theatre March 1. Howard sails
fcr Europe two days after opening.
Indie Gets Circuit Break
New York. — "Mad Age," being
distributed by Ideal Pictures Corpora-
tion, has been booked by 42 Loew
theatres in New York, 43 Warner
houses in New Jersey and 80 Warner
hiuses in Pennsylvania.
West Captures Paris
Pans. — Mae West has taken Paris
like the revolutionists took the Bas-
tile. "I'm No Angel" is packing them
in at Gaumont-Elysee, with long lines
being turned away daily.
Pierson on Gov't Job
New York. — Wayre Pierson. for-
rrcrly well known picture exploitation
man. is rcw "Supervisor of the Cen-
sus" for the New York district.
Para. Extends Deal
On Cillstrom Shcrts
Arvid Gillstrom's comedies for Para-
mount during the past year have hit
so well that in one case, Leon Errol,
an original one-picture deal has been
extended to three pictures to be
squeezed in on this year's release
schedule, and in the case of Harry
Langdon approval has been given to
make the final picture of his list an
expensive semi-musical.
Glllstrom started his Paramount
deal a little over a year ago with six
Harry Langdons and three Bing Cros-
bys to make. Two of the Crosbys
have been made, but the third will
probably never see shooting because
of the sudden rise to popularity of
BIng as a feature st^r. But it has all
combined to put Cillstrom In a choice
spot as a shorts producer.
'Catherine' Has Its
Big London Opening
London. — One of the most distin-
guished audiences ever to assemble for
an opening of a picture here, at-
tended the premier of London Films'
"Catherine the Great" at the Leices-
ter Square Friday night.
Royalty was represented by the
Prince of Wales and Prince George.
There were any number of Lords and
Ladies, Counts, Dukes and Barons.
Douglas Fairbanks jr. made a per-
sonal appearance for this occasion.
The picture was well received.
Jewish Actors Pick Guests
New York. — George M. Cohan and
Sam Harris will be the guests of honor
at the dinner of the Jewish Actors
Guild on April 8. Eddie Cantor Is
president of the Guild.
Original for Wynne Gibson
Lawrence G. Blochman, Universal
scenarist, and Leonard Spigelgass,
story editor on the same lot, are writ-
ing an original yarn In which Wynne
Gibson will be starred.
Burgess at Warners
Dorothy Burgess has been signed
by Warners for a featured role in the
Joe E. Brown picture "Sawdust." Don-
ald Dillaway has also been set for a
featured role.
Universal Borrows Roth
Universal has borrowed Murray Roth
from Warners on a one picture deal
and has assigned him to the Eddie
Grainger unit.
Coslow with Small-Landau
Sam Coslow has signed a mana-
gerial contract with the Small-Landau
company, which will handle the music
writer's business matters in the future.
Publicist in Disguise
It now turns out that "Alden
Nash," author of the play that is
clicking at the Hollytown Play-
house, IS none other than Alvln
Ascher, former publicity man ^or
RKO. As Radio has already bought
the play it's not a bad beginning
.■^rr a youngster.
Page Eight
Feb. 12, 1934
I \
SHADOPLAY
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Mae West
( Paramount)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 814 sq. inches
Fox 588 sq. inches
Paramount 476 sq. inches
Warners 294 sq. inches
Universal 256 sq. inches
Radio 230 sq. inches
Columbia 200 sq. inches
United Artists 126 sq. inches
Susan Hempstead writes the funni-
est and grandest yarn on Sally Rand
yet seen in a fan magazine. It ap-
pears in the February issue of Shado-
play and is called "Sally, Wave Those
Fans!"
Roger Bayer has an interesting
story, . "Five Stars Hollywood Can't
Lick," all about Katharine Hepburn,
Will Rogers, Paul Muni, Mae West
and Charles Laughton, and Julius Ir-
win gives some curious angles on pet
phobias in "They're Afraid of the
Answers."
Other stories are "Together Again
(Janet Caynor and Charles Farrell),
by Kirke Bascom; "A Pair of Jeans"
(jean Parker and Jean Muir) , by Wil-
liam Fleming; "Mala of the Movies,"
by Charles Banton, and "Two Men
Who Knew Lincoln" (Chic Sale and
Joseph Hazelton), by Roy James.
A fictionization of "Fugitive Lov-
ers," by Virginia Maxwell, is good
reading.
MOVIES
51 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Jean Parker
(MCM)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 238 sq. inches
Warners 218 sq. inches
Fox 156 sq. inches
United Artists 1 14 sq. inches
Monogram 105 sq. inches
Radio - 70 sq. inches
Paramount 40 sq. inches
Universal 35 sq. inches
Movies for February hardly comes
under the head of fan magazines. It
is cheap, inexcusably uninteresting and
almost a total loss. The almost is
warranted by Walter W. Hubbard's
production series on animated car-
toons.
"Who Said 'High Hat'?" is by Julia
Cwin and is about Robert Montgom-
ery; "The Rolling Stone That Gath-
ered Moss," by Mary A. Roberts, tells
of John Stone; "The Road to Ruin" is
fictionized after all these years by
Ruth Schwerin, and "Marriage on Ap-
proval," announced in one place as
Part One and in another as Part Two,
is by Priscilla Wayne.
The department, "Baloonacy," fails
to be amusing; "Pretty Polly," by Dr.
Abduh Wretlaw. is a yarn on Polly
Walters; and "Hollywood Hips," by
Mary Dees, contains some reducing
tips.
So what? It's all pretty bad.
ATTEl^TION
ALL SCREEN ACTORS
A meeting of all screen actors, under the auspices of the Screen
Actors' Cuild, will be held to elect the nominees of actors for actor
representatives on
(a) THE AGENTS' COMMITTEE
(bl THE COMMITTEE OF FIVE PRODUCERS AND FIVE
ACTORS ON WORKING CONDITIONS OF ACTORS.
PLACE: The Hollywood Women's
Club, 7078 Hollywood Boulevard.
TIME: Sunday, February 18,
1934. at 8 P. M.
THIS ELECTION IS BEING HELD WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL OF SOL A.
ROSENBLATT, NRA ADMINISTRATOR FOR
THE MOTION PICTURE CODE.
The following are the qualifications for attendance and voting:
Any screen actor having screen credit on a picture released in the
United States within the eighten (18) months immediately preced-
ing the election may attend and vote.
Voting may be in person or by written proxy, providing the person
to whom the proxy is given is present in person and that the proxy is
duly signed by the person giving the proxy.
Any organization may present a ticket. In addition thereto nomina-
llons may be made from the floor.
The election will be supervised by a Credentials Committee consisting
cf the following:
Lucile Cleason Jean Hersholt
Boris Karloff Edwin Maxwell
Bradley Page Minna Combell
IF YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO VOTE, APPLY AT THE CUILD OFFICE,
211 HOLLYWOOD CENTER BUILDING, 1655 NORTH CHEROKEE,
HOLLYWOOD, AND A CREDENTIALS CARD WILL BE ISSUED YOU.
(Signed) SCREEN ACTORS^ CUILD
RKO Steals Jump
in Locar Flesh' War
Stealing a march on the remaining
first-run picture houses in the Los
Angeles sector tied up without stage
shows owing to union difficulties, the
RKO-Hillstreet puts on a stage show
starting Friday through an association
with the NBC radio hour, "Hollywood
on the Air."
Theatre will have the unit four
times daily although broadcasting only
once on opening night. Stage unit will
be built around guest stars, the Radio
contract list cooperating with person-
als. First group to consent to appear
includes Wheeler and Woolsey, Doro-
thy Lee, Mitzi Green, Jimmy Durante
and Irene Dunn.
Starting Date Set For
Universal 'Black Cat'
Universal has set February 24 as
the starting date on "The Black Cat,"
which is a screen adaptation of Edgar
Allen Poe's story, with Boris Karloff
in the starring role. Edward Ullman
directs.
When this picture hits the stages
Universal expects to have seven pic-
tures in production, which is the peak
since last October.
Nun. Johnson Vacations
Nunnally Johnson left Saturday for
New York on the first leg of a six
week vacation from Twentieth Cen-
tury. He will spend a week there,
then go to Florida for five weeks with
his folks. Johnson has completed his
script of "Bulldog Drummond Strikes
Back" for the studio.
MCM To Repeat on Bears
MGM has engaged the Chicago
Bears football team, with Red Grange,
to make another football short under
the direction of Ray McCarey, who
also made the first. There is a possi-
bility that the studio may stretch
these shorts into a series of six.
Termer for Milland
Raymond Milland, English juvenile
actor, was signed by Paramount Sat-
urday On a term contract on the
strength of his performances in "Bo-
lero" and "We're Not Dressing." The
Bernard and Meiklejohn agency made
the deal.
Sidney-Murray Start
Columbia puts Charlie Murray and
George Sidney short, "Banker Bucka-
roo" into production tomorrow with
Jules White directing and Zion Myers
supervising. Johnny Gray has scripted
from the original by Jack Cluett,
Johnny Gray and Arthur Ripley.
Buy 2 Songs for Mills Bros.
Rsdio purchased two songs Satur-
day for delivery by the Mills Brothers
in "Strictly Dynamite." One is "Swing
It Sster," by Lane and Adamson, the
other, "Money in My Clothes," by
Fain and Kahal.
Kaaren Picks an Agent
Susanne Kaaren has signed a long
term managerial contract with the
Bernard and Meiklejohn agency. The
actress is now under contract to Fox.
Joe Mank' With Vidor ^
Joseph Mankiewicz has been signed
by King Vidor to write the script on
"Our Daily Bread," which Vidor will
produce independently at the General
Service studios with a Radio release
set. Picture is scheduled to start in
the next two weeks.
DuPonts Seek Control
(Continud from Page 1 )
trying to tag the buyer of the more
than 1 50,000 shares of Loew stock
that changed hands in a forty-eight
hour period.
Many thought it was Electrical Re-
search Products, adding to their al-
ready heavy Loew investment; others
were of the opinion it was British
Caumont interests.
Both were wrong. It was the Du
Ponts — who in the week's change of
stock ownership finished with most of
the Loew shares previously held by .
Erpi, those of Chase, and many thou- •
sands of additional shares bought on
the open market.
It is stated that the idea back of
the men guiding the Du Pont millions ■
is to form two big producing, distribu-
tion and exhibition organizations, eacfi
to stand on its own feet in a competi- ;
five sense, but with concentration of
physical work and expenditures that
will work miracles in efficiency and
money-saving.
Dangers of Federal opposition to
the moves are said to have been re-
moved by picture people themselves i
who talked so freely to everybody con-
nected with the NRA in recent meet-
ings that the Administration leans '
favorably towards many aspects of the
Du Pont plan. In addition the wealthy
Du Ponts have always managed to di-
vide their support so well between the
Republican and Democratic parties
that there is always someone in a po-
sition to get favorable hearing from
the party in power.
New Yorkers watching the stock
moves make it clear that this is not
a step on the part of the Du Pont in-
terests solely connected with raw
stock. This group's actions are com-
plicated by the fact that the Pathe
Company, since the Joe Kennedy re-
gime, has owned forty-nine per cent
of Du Pont-Pathe stock. Efforts have
been made unsuccessfully over the
past year to buy this forty-nine per
cent back. So now the raw stock end
of Du Pont is in the position of mak-
ing money for an almost inactive
Pathe company every time it moves.
Another footnote to the story is the
statement by insiders that the Chase
Bank, now Rockefeller controlled, has
been glad to unload its Loew stock at
34, in order to concentrate the Rocke-
feller picture interests in Radio, in-
stead of having eggs in all the picture
baskets.
It was thought for a while that
Erpi was in the market on a buying
rampage to protect the heavy debts
owed by picture companies, but it now
appears that Erpi would be just as
happy to have Du Pont interests take
over the obligations — and those big
fellows know how to work together
to leave everybody happy.
5f MP.SAVUKL MARX,
CULVER CITY.'JALIr'
Vol. XIX. No. 28. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday. February 13.
mi
RENEW EIGHT €N AllENS
•THERE seems to be a lot of bad
feeling brought on by the mistake the
Academy made in not listing Radio's
"Little Women" in their pamphlet of
pictures eligible for the Academy
award. This should not be. It was a
mistake out and out and should be
credited as such.
Certainly for a picture of the im-
portance of "Little Women," it did
not require a printed line in the Acad-
emy pamphlet, or a whole pamphlet,
to recall to the minds of the creators
here in Hollywood that such a picture
was made and made during the past
year, and as such, is eligible for the
award.
But people will take the wrong
slant on things and those same peo-
ple feel that there was a little skull-
duggery in that omission and they
are mad. So what?
Junior Laemmie should be given a
pat on the back for defying whatever
there was to be defied and returning
Lee Tracy to pictures. First, because
Tracy is a really great artist, and sec-
ond, because there was a feeling
around town that a ban had been
placed on Lee for something that was
supposed to have happened in Mexico.
That Laemmie kid has a lot of
guts. We found that out at the time
everyone was talking against making
"All Quiet on the Western Front."
He told the whole mob to jump in a
lake, went ahead, caused the picture
to be produced and it made film his-
tory.
It is a great disapptnntment to hear
that the Carbo picture is not going
over in several sections of the coun-
try. The failure of audiences to grab
that attraction in the big numbers we
feel it deserved, sort of twists things
up a bit.
Carbo was never better; the pro-
duction as a production is rich, fine,
well made and extremely important
and there's certainly good entertain-
ment in the show. So what is it? Must
we go back to that old wheeze, "Au-
diences will not go for costume pic-
tures"?
What's your answer?
MCM Booming
New York. — Net profits for
MCM are skyrocketing. For the
eleven week period ending Novem-
ber 23 last they were $1,164,507,
this comparing with $93,91 1 for
the same period last year.
Erpi Holding Tight
To Its Loew Stock
New York. — An interesting angle
in the reports that the DuPonts are
behind the sensational heavy buying
of Loew stock in recent weeks
became known today when it was
learned that Erpi has not sold any of
its 135,000 shares and has even gone
further and let it be known to MCM
higher-ups that it has no intention of
letting any of the stock go.
The home office is buzzing with
the mystery of who is buying the
stock, since the turnover has been so
tremendous that only the biggest op-
erators in the country would have the
dough to swing the amounts.
'OperatorlB' Runs
Into Story Jam
Production on the Marion Davies-
Cary Cooper co-starring picture,
"Operator 13," which Raoul Walsh Is
directing, was stopped yesterday at
MCM because of story difficulties and
shooting will be resumed after the
script has been rewritten.
Lucien Hubbard will assume the
production reins when shooting is re-
(Continued on Page 2)
SiHIavan Hurries Now
New York. — Margaret Sullavan
changed her mind again and instead
of waiting until Saturday to start for
the coast and Universal she leaves by
plane today.
Congress Clique R ea dy to Push
Bill Limiting Entry of Foreign
Actors— Equity Backing Hove
Washington. — More trouble in the offing for Hollywood's
foreign actors and actresses, and for producers with plans for
further importations. Representative Samuel Dickstein let it be
known yesterday that he has gathered around him powerful sup-
port to his bill setting tight limits on
the entry of foreign players and will
push the fight to the finish.
The bill, originally up in March,
1932, would place actors and actresses
under the contract labor provisions of
the immigration laws, which prohibit
(Continued on Page 3)
MacDonald Set For
MCM'MerryWidow'
After plenty of arguments and
bick&rrngs one way or another, MCM
-h^ set Jeanette MacDonald as the
widow in "The Merry Widow" oppo-
site Maurice Chevalier.
The French star fought to the last
ditch to keep jeanette out, but had to
bow to the logic of the situation ai
was outlined by both Irving Thalberg
and Ernst Lubitsch.
New Long Termer for
Green at Warner Lot
Warners yesterday handed Al Creen
a new long term contract, the direc-
tor having been with the studio for
seven years. Creen just recently com-
pleted "Fur Coats" and before that
he directed "As the Earth Turns."
Director has been handling various
branches of studio work for the past
22 years.
BALLOTS FOR REPORTER
AWARDS MAILED TODAY
Today marked the beginning of the
first all-embracing recognition of out-
standing achievement in the creative
field of the motion picture industry.
By tonight booklets containing the
names of all the feature-length mo-
tion pictures made in 1933, together
with ballots, will have been mailed to
every member of the local industry.
These ballots are for the purpose of
(Continued on Page 1 1 '
'Rouge' Sets Fast Pace
New York. — "Moulin Rouge" held
its fast pace Saturday and Sunday,
chalking up $12,500 at the Rivoli, a
great figure for this capacity house.
Reports from Albany, where the
picture opened Sunday, are that the
house was sold out completely all
through the day.
Rembusch Case
Excites Industry
New York.— This $2,000,000 suit
instituted by Frank Rembusch against
all the major producers and coming
up for trial next week, has most of
the industry on edge and certainly
New York plenty excited.
There have been other such suits,
man-' of them were thrown out of
court, others were heard; but in the
end the producers and distributors
have come out on top. But the present
case seems to hold plenty of menace
because the Hays office has engaged
M^x D. Stueur to represent them and
that means they are worried.
Both Laemmles Start
For West Thursday
New York. — Carl Laemmie Sr. and
Jr. will leave here Thursday for Ho'ly*
wood. On their arrival the Universal
plant will assume a production blast
that has been unknown for tha* ' ' in
three or fours years.
Feist in Town
Felix Feist, sales chief for MCM,
arrived in town Saturday, a^*""- a trip
starting January 2 that has swung him
completely around the country's key
cities. Feist is here to confer with
Nicholas Schenck, who arrives Sat-
urday, coming by way of the Panama
Canal.
Lewis Remains at Radio
Frank O' Heron yesterday issued an
official denial that David Lewis was
leaving the Radio executive fold.
Lewis has three pictures in work,
"Stingaree," "Crime Doctor" and
"Dover Road."
May Robson Returns
May Robson is due in Hollywood
Sunday, returning to MCM from a
successful personal appearance tour.
)
[
RALPH SPENCE
DIALOGUE FOR
LEE TRACY IN
/ >
i II Tell The World ", ' L"
1
Page Two
Feb. 13. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIiywood 3957
Mew York Office; Abraham Bernstein
Mgr., 229 W 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-719^.
Chicago. 6 N Michigan Ave.; London, 41 A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris. 122 Blvd. Murat:
Berlin 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires
San Martin 501 . Sydney. 198 Pitt St ; Ant
werp. Cratte-Ciel
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundavs and Holidays Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c Entered as second class
matter )une 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Gloria Svi/arison and Michael Farmer
are kinda wobbly these days. . . . The
Bruce Cabots hadda cocktail party over
the week-end for Johnny Weissnnuller,
and nnuch to everyone's chagrin they
forgot to fill the pool. . . . The Char-
lie Butterworths are having a shotgun
farewell party for Nunnally Johnson.
If Johnson doesn't leave town by
Wednesday he has to pay for the
party, this making the tenth farewell
he's been given.
•
They aren't even wearing C strings,
they tell us, in the chorus numbers
of Earl Carroll's "Vanities." . . . Myrna
Loy's mysterious disappearance turns
out to be just a three weeks' vacation
in Honolulu that she was entitled
to all the time. . . . Miriam Hop-
kins has bought for herself and Mi-
chael the Elisabeth Marbury house in
Sutton Place, New York. . . . Alber-
tina Rasch gave a party the other eve-
ning at which Maurice Chevalier was
one of the guests, but he disappeared.
When found. Chevalier was tucked
away in a small room quietly listening
to a concert of Chevalier recordings.
•
Dick Wallace and Tommy Mitchell
are talking seriously about producing
plays and making their own pictures
out of them in New York. . . . Jack
Kirkland in town for a week or so to
inspect a gold mine he and Mel Baker
own jerntly, he says. . . . Wina Win-
fred, Danish beauty who was signed
by Twentieth Century, is going places
with John McCormick.
•
They tell us that the Garbo-Ma-
moulian affair is now just good pub-
licity for Mamoulian. . . Joan Craw-
ford has been housebound for three
weeks changing the place from Span-
ish to early American. . . . Dorothy
Lee back in town. . . . Bob Woolsey
Vvas stuck up in Cheyenne for three
days; believe it or not, he was waiting
for a plane. . . They do say that
Buzz Berkeley got so annoyed at the
loud talk and wisecracks that went on
during the wedding ceremony that he
interrupted the proceedings to turn
around and say, "Shut up you "
and the minister's face turned bright
"MOULIN ROUGE "
Twentieth Century prod.; director, Sidney Lanfield; writers, Nunnally Johnston,
Henry Lehrman.
Rivoli Theatre
Mirror: Sparl<ling, dressy, tu.ieful and smart, this is a really adult musical com-
edy. Sidney Lanfield directed deftly. Darryl Zanuck produced extrava-
gantly. And a great cast plays with spirit, humor and charm.
American: Fast and funny in the manner of a French farce and with its frail
plot structure handsomely ornamented with song and dance and lavish
investiture, this new Constance Bennett picture provides good film fun
for all those addicted to this type of entertainment. Sidney Lanfield has
kept his show together with skillful direction and never allows it to slow
up. The dialogue is always amusing.
News: The usual backstage type of picture. But for that, and the routine pre-
sentation of its several ensemble numbers, the picture has more distinc-
tion and more quiet comedy of the sort that makes you chuckle and smile
to yourself, than any musical that's come to Broadway in a long time.
Times: The story is of the back-stage variety, but its ample supply of good fun
makes it a bright entertainment. Mr. Lanfield has done well in not per-
mitting any too lengthy interruptions by spectacles in the story.
Herald-Tribune: The story is by no means anything deserving of cheers. If, how-
ever, you will drift along with the plot and enjoy the amiable dialogue
and sly comedy of Helen Westley. Constance Bennett and Tone, "Moulin
Rouge" will emerge as a likeable motion picture.
Telegraph: This is Miss Bennett's best picture, no matter how many doubts you
might cast upon the story and its implausibilities.
There is nothing in the plot or production of "Moulin Rouge" to distin-
guish it from any of the elaborate backstage spectacles which have been
crowding the screen for the past season or two. There is little attempt to
make the story logical. Miss Bennett plays her superficial roles with tech-
nical skill and her song numbers are effectively delivered.
World-Telegram: Shambling, feeble and bogus, with only an occasional enter-
tainment for the eye, ear and funny bone. A loquacious, studied and
dreary film.
Sun: Without offering anything particularly original, except the sight of Con-
stance Bennett in a black wig, "Moulin Rouge" is a tuneful light-hearted
bit of musical entertainment.
Post:
'Catherine/ 'Bolero'
Head New Bway Pix
New York. — "Catherine the Great"
opening at the Astor Wednesday heads
the new pictures of the week on
Broadway, but there is also consider-
able interest in Paramount's "Bolero"
coming to the Paramount on Friday.
Other new arrivals include "Man-
dalay" at the Strand, Wednesday;
"Carolina" at the Music Hall, Thurs-
day; "Cat and the Fiddle," at the
Capitol; "Long Lost Father" at the
Roxy, Friday.
Films holding over are "Moulin
Rouge" at the Rivoli, "Devil Tiger,"
Rialto, and "Big Shakedown," May-
fair.
Boston Opera Folds
New York. — After a lot of spec-
tacular troubles in which Hope Hamp-
ton and Jules Brulatour were involved,
the Boston Opera Company has folded
up. It is understood that Brulatour
had invested considerable money in
the organization.
Halliday in 'Terror'
John Halliday has been signed by
Warners for the male lead in "Re-
turn of the Terror," which will be
directed by Howard Bretherton.
LaRue Back at Para.
Recently released from a term deal.
Jack LaRue makes a return trip to
Paramount as a free-lancer. He has
been signed by B. P. Schulberg for a
featured role in "Little Miss Marker."
Dave Todd negotiated.
Mona' Retitied
Warners have renamed "Mona
Lisa." It is now "Self Portrait."
Robert Florey directs from the original
screen play by Carl Erickson.
Op. 13' Hits Story Jam
(Continued from Page 1)
WM. HANSEN
sold
The
49th Capehart
today.
THE CELEBRATION OF
THE FIFTIETH SALE
w.ll cany a special concession.
CR-1964
pink. . . . Nothing serious in the way
of a marriage can take place between
Maureen O'Sullivan and John Farrow
until he's met her mother and father
and they give their verdict.
Something New — ! A
Reps Sue Each Other
Selznick and Joyce, represented by
Attorney Ralph Blum, yesterday filed
suit and attachment papers against
J. C. Mayer, Ltd., for a share in com-
missions paid on the deal by which
Thelma Todd made a British picture
last fall.
Amount asked is $732, half of the
commission paid on the deal. Claim
is that Selznick and Joyce promoted
the deal for Miss Todd on an agree-
ment with her agent, Mayer, to share
commissions.
Bolm on 'Firebrand' Steps
Adolph Bolm, stage director of the
San Francisco Civic Opera, has been
signed by Darryl Zanuck to direct the
dance numbers for the Fredric March-
Constance Bennett picture "The Fire-
brand," Which Gregory LaCava is di-
recting. The Bernard and Meiklejohn
office handed the deal.
Kangaroos Win Trophy
Niven Busch's Kangaroos won the
Joe E. Brown trophy in the Warner
Brothers polo elimination contest.
sumed, Wanger switching over to con-
centrate on four stories he has in the
works, one for Crawford, one for Mac-
Donald, and two others with leads not
set.
NOW PLAYING CAMEO THEATRE, NEW YORK
Available for State Right Market — Communicate with (
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Feb. 13. 1934
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Page Three
HEARINGS ON EXTRAS' KICKS
WILL HE OPEN TO THE PRESS
Open Door Policy
To Show Fair Play
If some members of the Code Com-
mittee for Extras have their way, this
committee will function completely in
the open, with all committee hear-
ings of complaints open to the press.
"We think this is the only fair
method," said one member of the
committee. "If the companies want
to commit violations it is not our
fault, and we feel that the public has
the right to know just who does what.
And, if the press is allowed to be pres-
ent no one will be able to point a
finger at our committee and say we
have been favoring either producer or
complainant. This matter will be tak-
en up at the first meeting of the com-
mittee, now that Mrs. Kinney has re-
turned.
"As a matter of fact, it is the be-
lief of some of us that public hear-
ings will do much to cut down viola-
tions, for many producers would try
to slip things over if they thought no
one but the committee would know
about it. With the public getting all,
they will probably think twice before
taking a chance."
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of
the special Code Committee for Ex-
tras, who has been in Sacramento for
the past week, returned yesterday.
Action on complaints that have
been piling up is expected to start
shortly. Committee will move into
new offices this week. Place not yet
settled. For past two weeks the com-
mittee headquarters have been in one
office in the Professional building.
Murphy May Do
Picture for Radio
Radio is talking a one-picture deal
with Dudley Murphy. The director is
currently at MGM, where he is to
direct "The Green Hat" for Irving
Thalberg, but the latter has consented
to his making an outside deal pro-
vided the picture can be completed
before "Green Hat" is ready for shoot-
ing.
Warners Close Deal
For Edna Best in 'Key'
Warners have concluded negotia-
tions with Edna Best and the player
will fill the role announced for Kay
Francis in "The Key." Picture went
into production yesterday, with Wil-
liam Powell in the top spot and Mi-
chael Curtiz directing.
Walt Walker Goes East
Walter Walker left yesterday for a
two weeks' trip to New York to settle
an estate left to him by his brother,
who was Chancellor of New Jersey for
twenty years. Walker last appeared
m "You Can't Buy Everything" for
MGM and "Disillusion" for Fox.
/ Bert Marx with Berg
.' Bert Marx, formerly with Bren &
Orsatti, has joined the Phil Berg
agency, where he takes charge of the
story department.
Uncle Carl Talks
New York. — "Fifty Years in
America" is the subject for Carl
Laemmle's talk over station WEAF,
the NBC home station, from here
tomorrow night. It will be on
station KECA in Los Angeles at 4
in the afternoon.
Warner Denies Kay
Francis Quit 'Key'
Discussion over Warner Brothers'
"The Key" reached the point yester-
day where J. L. Warner issued a per-
sonal statement denying that Kay
Francis had withdrawn from the cast
and declaring that the action was ta-
ken by the company because of de-
sire to place her in two exclusive star-
ring vehicles immediately.
"Firebird," from a Gilbert Miller
play by Lajos Zilahi, and the picture
on Madame DuBarry written by Ed-
ward Chodorov are the two selected.
"There has been no friction be-
tween the studio and Miss Francis,"
j. L. added to the announcement.
Brown and Cahn Off
To Direct for British
Two American directors and a
writer head for England by the end
of the week to take up their deals
with A. and B. Pictures there. Eddie
Cahn will direct "Mystery of the
Black Shirt" and Rowland Brown
leaves to handle "Java Head." Harry
Behm goes along to script the latter.
Moe Sackin Here Sat.
Moe Sackin, after eighteen months
in Paris handling synchronization in
a studio of his own, returns to Holly-
wood Saturday on the Pennsylvania,
by way of the Canal. He plans Span-
ish synchronization work while re-
taining his interest in his French stu-
dio.
John Boyle Bereaved
John Boyle, prominent cinematogra-
pher, only recently returned from New
York, suffered the loss of his sister,
Corinne Boyle, Sunday afternoon.
Funeral services will be held today
at 2 p.m. at the Hollywood Funeral
Chapels.
Waggner on 'M.H.' Script
George Waggner checked in at the
M. H. Hoffman offices in Culver City
yesterday to start work on the script
of "Mad Honeymoon."
Renew Fight on Aliens
(Continued from Page 1 1
the entry of workers who have been
placed under contract abroad.
Before resurrecting the bill, Dick-
stein worked quietly with his fellow
Congressmen, set himself there, and
then put it up to Actors' Equity to
get the present reaction of its mem-
bers. To date close to two hundred
members of Equity have signed a pe-
tition to Dickstein assuring him of
their support if the bill is revived.
Unions Deny Talk
Of Charter Repeal
Branding as "false and malicious"
a rumor that the charters of the cam-
eramen's and the other four lATSE
unions' charters were to be recalled
soon by the national body, union of-
ficials yesterday set at rest the minds
of many local union men.
Starting Sunday the report spread
that President Elliott of the lATSE had
sent wires to the president of the
cameramen's union and the other lo-
cals informing them that their charters
would be picked up shortly. A vig-
orous checkup was staged yesterday,
and last night union officials declared
the report "was just an unfounded,
vicious falsehood, spread for the pur-
pose of injuring the local representa-
tives of the American Federation of
Labor and the International Alliance."
Gene Austin Set for
Screen Bow at MGM
Gene Austin and his boys. Coco and
Candy, will make their screen debut
in the Joan Crawford picture "Sadie
McKee" for MGM.
Clarence Brown put the picture in-
to v^ork yesterday, still without the
crooner for whom the studio has been
searching.
Mike' Boylan Back to
His Own Typewriter
Malcolm Stuart Boylan, who has
been pThch-hitting as scenario editor
at Fox for the past month, was grant-
ed a release from the job to go back
to writing and has been assigned to
the writing staff at that studio under
Julian Johnston.
Dressier Ready for Work
Marie Dressier is reported in good
health and production on her next
picture, in which Polly Moran gets
co-star billing, "Coming Round the
Mountain," will get under way in a
week under the direction of Robert Z.
Leonard.
Acad. Busy With Meets
Directors and actors of the Academy
will meet this week to select nomi-
nees for possible appointment on the
various code committees. Writers and
technicians have made their selections.
DeLeon-Walker Assigned
Walter DeLeon and H. M. WaJker
have "Beeh"a'ssigned to do the screen
play on the W. C. Fields picture,
"Grease Paint," which William Le
Baron will produce for Paramount.
Lauren Scripts Lombard
S. K. Lauren has been handed the
Dwight Taylor original "Orchids and
Onions" for scripting. Story was pur-
chased last week by Columbia for
Carole Lombard.
Co!. Tries Oil Theme
Stuart Anthony has been signed by
Columbia to write the screen play for
an original story with an oil field
background. Action unit produces.
By BARBARA BARONDESS
Douglass Montgomery almost got
info one of those unpleasant messes.
First Universal told him that he could
do the play "Gentle Woman" that he
is so anxious to do, on account of they
postponed "Little Man, What Now,"
but after rehearsing a week they wired
him that he must be in Hollywood
by the 12th, so he flew yesterday.
Alexander Kirkland will probably play
the part he is leaving in "Men in
White."
•
The play Judith Anderson is in,
"Come of Age," closed Saturday and
everybody with any taste or imagina-
tion left is heartbroken. She gave the
most gorgeous performance I have ever
seen. It was worth while coming all
the way here just for that. Universal
IS negotiating with her for the part
of Elizabeth, and wouldn't she make
a swell one! . . . May Robson didn't
mind the five shows a day at the
Capitol, but the stairs were killing
her. . . . Rouben Mamoulian at "Sailor
Beware" with Mr. and Mrs. Sam Gold-
wyn, looking very self-conscious. They
won't let the poor guy alone about
this Garbo business, and if it keeps
up he'll probably have to change his
name. . . . Dorothy Lee was offered
a part in the London production of
"She Loves Me Not." If she can,
s fc' I do It. . . . Claudia Morgan has
let her hair grow back to its natural
shade.
•
A certain young millionaire got
himself into a mess of trouble with
the colored valet of a well-known
musical comedy star, but everything
has been fixed up with a little "hush
money." The colored valet cashes a
$250 check every week and the ',cung
m.llionaire with a dash — is travelin?
around the world with his cousin.
Clifton Webb is supposed to be hom.e
with a cold, but I hear it's a sus-
picious-looking black eye (did he
make a mistake?) . . . Lois Moran is
recuperating, from her first flop in
five years, in Florida. She says her
little adopted sister is so talented that
she will probably have to retire on
account of the competition.
•
Now that Clark Gable has "made
good" and come back, all the ones
that wouldn't give him a break when
he needed one are sitting around and
saying, "I gave him his first chance";
"I knew he had it in him." . . . Anna
Q. Nillson got a terrific ovation the
other night at the New Yorker, which
proves that they don't forget. . . .
Kenyon Nicholson and Charlie Robin-
son, who wrote "Sailor Beware," are
a strange combination. It's the baw-
diest show in town; Nicholson is an
ex-college professor and Robinson is
the same Charlie Robinson that was
under contract to MGM and started
playing the lead opposite Joan Craw-
ford in the "Modern Age," but they
took him out after a week's shooting
and now he's a good playwright.
•
Ask Loretta Young to tell you the
funny story she told Junior Laemmle.
(Continued en Page ^l
V.
Page Four
THEJM
Feb. 13. 1934
BROOMSTICKS. AMEN' FINE?
^SIJCH PLEASURES^ RORESOME
Dutch 'Hex' Story
Offers Bet for Pix
/
"BROOMSTICKS, AMEN!"
ThCmas Kilpatrick presents "Broom-
- sticks, Amen!", a play by Elmer
Creensfelder, staged by Arthur
|. Beckhard, setting designed by
Tom Adrian Cracraft at the Little
Theatre. With Byron McCrath,
Helen Huberth, Jane Seymour,
Jean Adair, William F. Schoeller,
Victor Kilian, Margaret Mullen,
K. Elmo Lowe, Jufes Epailly,
George Carleton.
New York. — Staged with meticu-
lous care and beautifully mounted,
written with understanding and capa-
bly performed, "Broomsticks, Amen!"
which deals with the "hexing" prob-
lem and the "powwow professors" of
the Pennsylvania-Dutch country, fur-
nishes a quaint and gladsome and
wholly absorbing evening in the thea-
tre.
"Professor" Emil Hofnagel, as stub-
born as he is ignorant, and as honest
as he is simple, had made "powwow"
for many a long year in the "willage"
of Pennhimmel. He charges no fee;
believes implicitly in his mission; and
is looked upon as infallible by the
whole countryside where illness of
man, woman, child, or beast is con-
cerned. He performs most of his mir-
acles, as only a "seventh son" can
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Wells Likes His Own
London. — H. C. Weils minces
no words in expressing the fact
that he is really pleased with Uni-
versal's production of his story
"The Invisible Man," which is
-something of a shock to authors
here.
perform them, with a bit of red string
and "sanctious" words. Doctors are
anathema to him.
One can well imagine then what
happens when his daughter, Crista,
who has returned home from college,
introduces a penniless young doctor,
Vincent Lambert, into this atmos-
phere, with the announcement that
she is going to marry Vincent because
there is a baby on the way. But while
Emil can forgive his daughter for hav-
ing a "too soon" baby, he swears he
will never forgive her for bringing a
"verdampte hospital doctor" into the
family.
One year passes; and the birth of
the grandchild has softened Emil's
feelings toward his son-in-law. Yet
the household is charged with fore-
boding now, because the baby has
taken sick. Vincent is treating it. It
is during Vincent's absence that Emil,
convinced that the baby is "hexed,"
bewitched, determines to discover
who the bewitcher is. And the surest
way of finding this out is to lay a
broomstick across the doorway. The
person u^ho picks it up will be the
"hex." It is Vincent, returning with
d phtheria serum, who innocently
picks up the broomstick and is accus-
ed of being the baleful influence and
warned to keep away from his own
baby's bedside.
When Vincent scornfully disregards
that warning, Emil shoots him down,
wounding him in the shoulder. There-
upon, with Crista rushing the uncon-
scious Vincent to a hospital, Emil pro-
ceeds with his "powwow," despite
the pleadings of his wife, Minna, who
is torn between faith in her husband's
magic and a growing belief in her son-
in-law's science. Emil's blind son
shows more determined opposition. He
tries to block his father's entry into
the baby's room. But all to no avail
For Emil, like one possessed, fells hi'^
blind son, and continues his incanta-
tions to save the baby.
Three days later the baby, whose
life might have been saved by the
diphtheria serum, is dead. And when
the bereaved family return from the
cemetery there is waiting a detective
from the State Attorney's office,
which has been investigating the
whole "hexing" situation. Emil has
been betrayed by one of his own fra-
ternity, a mercenary "professor"
named Adolph Cansdilliger. Though
all try to save him, even Christa and
Vincent. Emil, stubborn and true to
the last to his strange beliefs, is taken
away to face charges for having
brought about the death of the grand-
child whom he loved so dearly.
The subsidiary characters, to say
nothing of the Pennsylvania-Dutch
'Continued on Page 1 1 )
Fine Cast Though
In Dot Parker Play
"AFTER SUCH PLEASURES'
A. L. Jones presents Dorothy Parker's
comedy vignettes, "After Such
Pleasures," adapted and staged
by Edward C. Gardner. With
Shirley Booth, Don Shelton, Enid
Markey, Ackland Powell, Mary
Farrell, Kathleen Chase, Lea Pen-
man, Blossom MacDonald.
New York. — La Parker's soiree of
superbly malicious fragments failed to
entertain us as much as we would
have liked to be entertained by them
To be perfectly frank, we were even
faintly bored long before the evening
was over by "After Such Pleasures."
Which is too bad, because this un-
questionably gifted writer has more,
much more, to give than she has yet
permitted herself. Or has she? How
that gal can observe the frailties of
those she despises and report her hat-
reds in dialogue! It's the narrow lim-
itations, the monotony of your slant,
Dorothy, that got us down. To liber-
ally paraphrase the sentiment of the
actress in one of your etchings, we
quite agreed that too much acidity,
without the compensating balm of the
milk of magnesia of human kindenss,
is bad for the system. Very bad. And
so we cannot refrain from returning
the compliment you handed Miss Hep-
burn apropos of her performance in
"The Lake." The gamut of your emo-
tions also seems to progress no farther
than from A to B, or maybe only from
A to A Flat.
In a "Young Lady From Paris" Dor-
othy eviscerates most brilliantly one of
those dames who after three weeks in
"Paree" return with a lousy French
accent and a distaste for everything
American but the blandishments of
bootleg gin. In "Dusk Before Fire-
works" Dorothy uses her scalpel on
the possessive female in love with the
promiscuous male. Then came "Here
We Are," where Dorothy's victims are
a not over-bright honeymoon couple
painfully unprepared for the facts of
life. In "Black and White" Dorothy
annihilates a lady who is just too con-
descending for words where the color
line is concerned. In "The Waltz"
Dorothy amusingly externalizes the
agony of a girl who is being trampled
to death by her dancing partner. With
"You Were Perfectly Fine" Dorothy
vents her vemon on a designing wench
who had taken advantage of the amor-
ous propensities of a drunken gent in
a taxicab. In "Glory in the Daytime"
Dorothy provided us with the one
poignant moment of the evening. She
actually seemed to experience a pang
of pity for the brandy-soaked actress
whose life had been just one goddam
mess. And, lastly, in "The Mantle of
Whistler" Miss Parker proved that the
gentle art of making enemies is apt to
be as rampant amongst the hoi polloi
as it is amongst the habitues of the
Algonquin.
As for the casting of these so-called
comedy vignettes (they are really mi-
nor tragedies), there can be nothing
but praise. A perfect troupe. Not a
Unions Win Brush
Over Still Man
The cameramen's union yesterday
won a brush with an independent pro-
ducer who, according to union offi-
cials, was attempting to use a still
cameraman who not only was not a
member of Local 659, but was not a
member of any organization.
Some time ago the five lATSE lo-
cals signed a contract with a group
of independents whereby these pro-
ducers agreed to use none but union
men. Yesterday when it was reported
to the union that a picture being
made at the Alexander studios under
the direction of Burton King was vio-
lating the contract, union officials im-
mediately "requested" that a union
still man be used. This was done at
once.
Freund To Direct
U's Bachelor Wife'
After two directors, Eddie Buzzell
and Lloyd Corrigan, had passed up
"Bachelor Wife" at Universal, Karl
Freund was assigned to handle the
direction of this picture in which Ed-
ward Everett Horton and Genevieve
Tobin are featured. Paul Cavanagh
was set yesterday for a leading role.
Shooting starts Thursday.
The Bennie Zeldman production,
"I Give My Love," which Freund was
preparing as his next assignment, has
been laid aside until later.
Lugosi Returns for
UV Black Cat'
Bela Lugosi yesterday decided to
give up his personal appearances in
the east and accept Universal's offer
for a featured spot in "The Black
Cat," which Edgar Ullmer directs with
Boris Karloff in the lead. Peter Ruric
is scripting the Edgar Allan Poe story.
Lugosi arrives out here February 21.
Al Kingston set the deal.
Jean Carmen to Legif-
Jean Carmen has been added to the
cast of "Let's Be Civilized," a new
play by Humphrey Pearson, to be pro-
duced by the Pasadena Community
Players. This will be Miss Carmen's
first fling at the legitimate.
David Manners Back
David Manners arrived in Holly-
wood last night after a quick jaunt
abroad for a British picture.
New York
(Continued from Page 3)
. . . There's a swell looking society
gal in town who could give Dietrich
a run for her money in looks, if she'd
lose some poundage and was discov-
ered. Her name is Whitney Bourne.
. . . Kenneth MacKenna is swell as
a Scotsman in "By Your Leave." It's
too bad he wasted all that time in
Hollywood, being a husband; he is
such a swell actor.
few of them should find themselves
before a test camera soon, even if
there is nothing much else in "After
Such Pleasures" for Hollywood — ex-
cepting, possibly, the title and Doro-
thy Parker herself. Maybe that's more
than enough.
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
!^
WESLEY RUGGLES
DIRECTED
'BOLERO^'
and
wishes to thank
Paramount
1 he Producers
Ihe Cast
1 he Photographers
r'
1
and
all
who helped
in
the
making
-
of
the
picture
MOUNT
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f^ARAMOUNr
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In Appreciation
To Wesley Ruggles
and to all others ^
L.K.T* who contributed
to the making of
"BOLERO'^
GEORGE RAFT
i 1
I WILLIAM
FRAWLEY
as
MIKE
in
//
BOLERO
If
GLORIA
SHEA
as
LUCY
in
//
BOLERO '
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
PARAMOUNT
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A
Faramount
picturIe
RAYMOND
SCREEN PLAY
paramount
PICTURE
MILLAND
as
LORD CORAY
in
//
BOLERO
Management
BERNARD and MEIKLEJOHN
Incorporated
GEORGE McCALL
Agency
11
BOLERO'
by
HORACE
JACKSON
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
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PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
>>
BOLEHO
ff
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
Scorers
ANDREA SETARO
MAURICE LAWRENCE
Composition, Compilation and Orchestration
RALPH RAINCER, JOHN LIEPOLD, HERMAN HAND
RUDOLPH KOPP, BERNARD KAUN, HARRY REVEL
Paramount Recording Orchestra and
CONSTANTINE
BAKALEINIKOFF
Gratefully Acknowledging Your Musical Assistance
PARAMOUNT
NATHANIEL FINSTON
General Music Director
Paramount Productions, Inc.
SALLY RAND
ANNETTE
U
EOLERO
ff
FRANCES DRAKE
as
LEON A
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
PARAMOUNT
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PARAMOUNT
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Page Ten
PRODUCTION UP WITH 34 IN WORK THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 29 LAST WEEK
BAROMETER
This Week 34 Features
Last Week 29 Features
Year Ago 38 Features
Two Years Ago 27 Features
Columbia
•WHIRLPOOL"
Cast: Jack Holt, Lila Lee, Allen Jen-
kins, Rita LaRoy, Ward Bond, jean
Arthur.
Director Roy William Neill
Original Howard Emmett Rogers
Screen Play Ethel Hill
Photography Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Robert North
Fox
•ALL MEN ARE ENEMIES"
Cast: Hugh Williams, Helen Twelve-
trees, Mona Maris, Rafael Ottiano,
Halliwell Hobbes, Herbert Mundin.
Director George Fitzmaurice
Story Richard Aldington
Screen Play Samuel Hoffenstein
Dialogue Lenore Coffee
Photography |ohn Seitz
Producer Al Rockett
•MURDER IN TRINIDAD"
Cast: Nigel Bruce, Heather Angel,
Victor Jory, Roger Imhof, Douglas
Walton.
Director Louis King
Story John Vandercook
Screen Play Seton I. Miller
Photography Barney McCill
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
"COLD RUSH"
Cast: Claire Trevor, John Boles, Harry
Green, Monroe Owsley, Ruth Gil-
lette, Roger Imhof.
Director George Marshall
Screen Play Lester Cole
and Henry Johnson
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer Sol Wurtzel
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
•THE CATSPAW"
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story — ■
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Walter Lundin
Producer Harold Lloyd
MGM
•TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
Cast: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen
O'Suilivan, Neil Hamilton. Doris
Lloyd, Frank Reicher. Paul Cava-
nagh, William Stack. Desmond
Roberts, Yola D'Avril, Forrester
Harvey.
Director Cedric Gibbons
Adaptation Leon Gordon
Screen Play J. K. McGuinness
Photography Clyde DeVinna
and Sid Wagner
Producer Bernard Hyman
•RIP TIDE"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Mont-
gomery, Herbert Marshall, Lilyan
Tashman, Ralph Forbes, Mrs. Pat-
rick Campbell, Arthur Jarrett, Earl
Oxford, Halliwell Hobbes, Samuel
May, Helen Jerome Eddy, Peter
Hobbes, George K. Arthur, T. Roy
Barnes, E. E. Clive, Skeets Galla-
gher, Florine McKinney, Paul Por-
casi.
Director Edmund Goulding
Story and Screen Pay
Edmund Goulding
Photography Ray June
Producer Irving Thalberg
"SEQUOIA"
rker, David Landau, Olin
Willie Fung, Russell
Chester Franklin
and Nick Grinde
Joseph Vance Hoyt
. Gardner Sullivan, Frank
Anne Cunningham.
Clyde DeVinna
and Chet Lyons
John Considine
Cast: Jean Pa
Howland,
Hardie.
Directors ..
Novel
Adaptation: C
R. Adams,
Photography
Producer
"THE SHOW-OFF"
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Madge Evans,
Lois Wilson, Ala Edwards, Henry
Wadsworth, Claude Gillingwater,
Sterling Holloway.
Director Charles F. Reisner
Original George Kelly
Screen Play Herman Mankiewicz
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer ... Lucien Hubbard
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Stuart Erwin, Samuel Hinds, Doug-
las Dumbrille, Henry B. Walthall.
Director Raoul Walsh
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play Harvey Thew
Photography George Folsey
Producer Water Wanger
"HOLLYWOOD PARTY"
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
Jack Pearl, Laurel and Hardy, Polly
Moran, Charles Butterworth, George
Civet, Richard Carle, Edwin Max-
well, Tom Kennedy, Ted Healy and
Stooges, Eddie Quillan, June Clyde,
Frances Williams, MGM Baby Stars.
Director Alan Dwan
Music Rodgers and Hart,
Brown and Freed
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Harry Rapf
"SADIE McKEE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Esther Ralston,
Jean Dixon, Franchot Tone.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Vina Delmar
Screen Play John Meehan
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer . Laurence Weingarten
Paramount
•MELODY IN SPRING"
Cast: Lanny Ross, Charlie Ruggles,
Mary Boland, George Meeker, Wil-
fred Hari, Wade Boteler, Helen
Lynd, Ann Sothern, Herman Bing,
Thomas Jackson, Norma Mitchell,
Jane, June and Joan Gale, William
J. Irving, Harry Schultz, Martha
Baumattre, Hans Joby.
Dkrector Norman McLeod
Story Frank Leon Smith
Screen Play Benn W. Levy
Continuity Jane Storm
Lyrics Harlan Thompson
Music Lewis E. Gensler
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer Douglas MacLean
"WERE NOT DRESSING"
Cast; Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman,
Carole Lombard, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, Raymond Milland, Jay
Henry, Leon Errol, Dick Dickinson.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Walter Hall Smith
Adaptation. .Stephen Morehouse Avery
Music by Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Charles Lang
"THE TRUMPET BLOWS"
Cast: George Raft, Adolphe Menjou,
Frances Drake, Katharine DeMille,
Sidney Toler, Douglas Wood, Nydia
Westman, Lillian Elliott, Edward El-
lis, Gertrude Norman, Aleth Speed
Hanson, Howard Brooks, Joyce
Compton, Hooper Atchley, Francis
McDonald, Charles Stevens.
Director Stephen Roberts
Original Porter Emerson Browne
Adaptation Wallace Smith
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Harry Fischbeck
"COME ON MARINES"
Cast: Richard Arlen, Ida Lupino, Toby
Wing, Roscoe Karns, Lona Andre,
Grace Bradley, Virginia Hammond,
Cwenllian Gill, Clara Lou Sheridan,
Fuzzy Knight.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original Philip Wylie
Screen Play Byron Morgan
and Joel Sayre
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Ben Reynolds
Producer Al Lewis
"YOU'RE TELLING ME "
Cast: W. C. Fields, Joan Marsh, Larry
"Buster" Crabbe, Adrienne Ames,
Louise Carter, Kathleen Howard,
James B. "Pop" Kenton, Robert
McKenzie, Jerry Stewart George
Irving, Alfred Delcambre, Tammany
Young, Frederic Sullivan, William
Rubyns, George MacQuarrie, John
M. Sullivan.
Director Erie Kenton
Screen Play Walter DeLeon
and Paul Jones
Dialogue j. p. McEvoy
Music Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Sam Coslow
Photography Al Gilks
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
Cast: Carl Brisson, Victor McLaglen,
Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Paul
Gerrits, Toby Wing, Dorothy Strick-
ney, Jessie Ralph, Charles B. Mid-
dleton, Gertrude Michael, Gail Pat-
rick, Otto Hoffman, Charles Mc-
Avoy, Donald Meek, Beryl Wallace,
Colin Tapley, Barbara Fritchie, Lona
Andre.
Director Mitchell Leisen
Original Earl Carroll
and Rufus King
Screen Play Carey Wilson
Dialogue Sam Hellman
and Joseph Gollomb
Music Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Sam Coslow
Photography Leo Tover
RKO-Radio
"FINISHING SCHOOL"
Cast: Ginger Rogers, Frances Dee,
Bruce Cabot, Billie Burke, Dawn
O'Day, Beulah Bondi, Sarah Haydon,
Marjory Lytell, Adalyn Doyle, Mary
Jordan, Rose Coghlan.
Directors Wanda Tuchock
and George Nicholls, Jr.
Story . Louis Weitzenkorn
Screen Play Wanua Tuchock
and Laird Doyle
Photography Roy Hunt
Associate Producer Kenneth
Macgowan
"THE CRIME DOCTOR"
Cast: Otto Kruger, Nils Asther, Karen
Morley, Judith Wood, William
Frawley, J. Farrell MacDonald, Irv-
ing Pichel, Pat O'Malley, Burton
MacLean, Willie Fung, Mary Forbes,
Samuel Hinds, Fred Kelsey, Ethel
Wales.
Director John Robertson
Story Israel Zangwill
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Lucien Andriot
Associate Producer David Lewis
"STRICTLY DYNAMITE"
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
Norman Foster, Marian Nixon, Wil-
liam Gargan, Eugene Pallette, Four
Mills Brothers.
Director Elliott Nugent
Original Robert T. Colwell
and Robert A. Simon
Screen lay Maurine Watkins
and Ralph Spence
Photography Eddie Cronjager
Associate Producer H. N. Swanson
"STINGAREE"
Cast: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Mary
Boland, Conway Tearle, Snub Pol-
lard, George Barraud, Andy Devine,
Una O'Connor.
Director William Wellman
Original E. W. Hornung
Screen Play Becky Gardiner
Associate Producer David Lewis
Feb. 13. 1934
Paije Eleven
"DOVER ROAD"
k Cast: Cllve Brook, Diana Wynyard,
Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray.
Director J. Walter Ruben
Original A. A. Milne
Screen Play H. W. Hanemann
Associate Producer David Lewis
Twentiefh Century
I "THE FIREBRAND"
Cast: Constance Bennett, Fredric
March, Frank Morgan, Fay Wray,
Vince Barnett, Louis Calhern, Jessie
Ralph, Jay Eaton, John Rutherford,
Irene Ware.
Director Gregory La Cava
Based on Stage Play by
Edwin Justus Mayer
Adaptation Bess Meredyth
Photography Charles Rosher
Associate Producers William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith
Universal
"LETS BE RITZY"
Cast: Lew Ayres, Patricia Ellis, Frank
McHugh, Nydia Westman, Addison
Richards, Barton Churchill, Robert
McWade, Adrian Morris, Betty
Lawford Isabel Jewell.
' Director Edward Ludwig
: Play by William Anthony McGuire
Screen Play Earl Snell
and Harry Sauber
Photography Charles Stumar
Associate Producer.. ..Henry Henigson
"CLAMOUR"
' Cast: Constance Cummings, Paul Lu-
kas, Phillip Reed, Joseph Cawthorn,
'' Doris Lloyd.
Director William Wyier
Novel by Edna Ferber
Screen Play Doris Anderson
Continuity Gladys Unger
and Doris Anderson
j Photography George Robinson
] Producer B. F. Zeidman
"VANISHING SHADOW"
(Serial)
Cast: Onslow Stevens, Ada Ince, Wal-
ter Miller, Bill Desmond, Richard
Cramer.
Director Lewis Friedlander
Story: Ella O'Neill, Het Manheim and
Basil Dickey.
Photography Richard Freyer
Producer Harry MacRea
I "ILL TELL THE WORLD"
Cast: Lee Tracy, Gloria Stuart, Roger
Pryor, Herman Bing.
; Director Edward Sedgwick
' Original Lincoln Quarberg
Screen Play Dale Van Every
and Frank Wead
Photography Norbert Brodine
Associate Producer Dale Van Every
Warners-First National
"WITHOUT HONOR"
Cast: James Cagney, Joan Blondell.
Victor Jory, Sarah Padden, Ralfe
Harolde, Harold Huber, John Qua-
len, Russell Hopton, Frank Craven,
Bradley Page, James Eagle, George
Chandler.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Original Story Robert Lord
Screen Play Tom Buckingham and
Niven Busch
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"FOC OVER SAN FRANCISCO"
Cast: Bette Davis, Lyie Talbot, Mar-
garet Lindsay, Henry O'Neill, Rob-
ert Barrat, Hugh Herbert, Douglas
Dumbrille, Gordon Westcott, Donald
Woods, Irving Pichel, Arthur Byron,
Alan Hale, George E. Stone, Harold
Minjir, Douglas Cosgrove, Charles
Wilson, William Damarest.
Director Wilhelm Dieterle
Story George Dye
Screen Play Robert N. Lee
and Eugene Solow
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"ONE MAN WOMAN"
Cast: Pat O'Brien, Glenda Farrell,
Claire Dodd, Russell Hopton, Henry
O'Neill, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert
Gleckler, Arthur Vinton, Paul Har-
vey, George Cooper, Tom Costello,
Pudgie White.
Director Alan Crosland
Based on Original Story by
Gene Towne and Graham Baker
Screen Play F. Hugh Herbert
and Erwin Gelsey
Adaptation David Boehm
Photography William Rees
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"SAWDUST"
Cast: Joe E. Brown, Patricia Ellis, Dor-
othy Burgess, Donald Dilloway,
Charles Wilson.
Director Ray Enright
Based on Story by
Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby
Revisions by Tom Buckingham
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor James Seymour
"THE KEY" ^
Cast: William Powell, Colin Clive,
Robert Barrat, J. M. Kerrigan, Ho-
bart Cavanaugh, Maxine Doyle, Ar-
thur Treacher, Joan Wheeler, Henry
O'Neill, Philip Regan.
Director Michael Curtiz
Based on the Play by
Robert Gore-Browne, J. L. Hardy
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Robert Presnell
Independent Productions
Tower Pictures
(Mack Sennett Studio)
"MARRYING WIDOWS"
Cast: Minna Gombell, Judith Allen,
Johnny Mack Brown, Lucien Little-
field, Bert Roach, Sarah Padden,
Arthur Hoyt,' Virginia Sale, George
Grandee, Otto Hoffman, Sid Saylor.
Director Sam Newfield
Original Screen Play..Adele Buffington
Photography Harry Forbes
Producers Leslie Simmonds
and Sig Neufeld
Eastern Productions
All Star Productions
(United Artists Release)
( Biograph Studios)
"FRANKIE AND )OHNNY"
Cast: Helen Morgan, Lilyan Tashman,
Chester Morris, William Harrigan,
Florence Reed, Walter Kingsford.
Director Chester Erskin
Screen Play Moss Hart
Photography Joe Ruttenberg
Acad. Sets Rules
For Shorts Prize
The Academy yesterday invited
more than twenty producers of short
subjects to have their product repre-
sented for consideration in the Acad-
emy's annual award of merit compe-
tition.
According to the rules accompany-
ing the invitations, all short subjects
shown publicly between August 1 ,
1932, and December 31, 1933, will
be eligible. One award will be made
in each of the following classifications:
cartoons, comedies and novelties. All
pictures entered must be available for
showing by February 22, when a spe-
cial committee of fifteen Academy
members will reduce the entries to
three in each classification. The win-
ners will be then selected by another
special committee of actors, techni-
cians, directors, writers and producers
who have had short subject experi-
ence.
Sari Fedok Presents Pic
Sari Fedok, famous Hungarian
star and wife of the playwright, Ferenc
Molnar, will present a Hungarian pic-
ture at the Carthay Circle Saturday
night for her compatriots. English
titles are inserted. The original por-
trayer of "The Merry Widow" is here
to finish a novel she is writing, after
which she will go to New York to
produce a play already completed.
Montgomery in 'Bachelor'
, Robert Montgomery has been set
for the lead opposite Ann Harding in
, "Biography of a Bachelor," based on
S. N. Behrman's play "Biography,"
which will be produced by the Irving
Thalberg unit at MGM.
No director has been assigned to
this picture yet.
Reporter Ballots Out
I Continued from Page I)
'Broomsticks' Fine
(Continued from Page 4)
dialect itself, are made to order for
comedy relief — and there is plenty of
it. There are Frieda Sulzbach, a dis-
tressingly shy "vidow," and Otto
Strumpkopf, an equally shy farmhand,
to whom she is "dewoted," and whom
she finally lands with the aid of the
"Professor." Then there is Rika Uffel-
man, who has also set her cap for
Otto, only to make up her mind to be
content with the fat and less attrac-
tive Adolph Gansdilliger.
'ane Seymour, as Frieda, and Victor
Killian, as Otto, handle their parts
flawlessly. Margaret Mullen, as Rika,
is almost as good. Byron McGrath
gives a sensitive portrayal of the blind
Herman. Helen Huberth, as Crista,
and K. Elmo Lowe, as the young doc-
tor, perform their roles with a beauti-
ful, tremulous understanding. And
William F. Schoeller, as "Professor"
Hofnagel, and Jean Adair, as his wife,
simply succeeded in making one for-
get they were enacting a play.
This review would not be complete
without a special salute to Arthur
Backhard's masterly direction, as well
^s to Tom Adrian Cracraft for the
charming setting he has provided.
Elmer Greensfelder has written a
tender and refreshing folkplay. It is
certain to be grabbed up for pictures.
So make your offers quickly, gentle-
men.
having ALL the members of the in-
dustry select what THE ENTIRE PEO-
PLE OF THE INDUSTRY think are the
outstanding examples of direction,
acting, writing, photography and tech-
nical work of the past year.
The Hollywood Reporter will pre-
sent awards to the winners in this
representative voting which it is priv-
ileged to conduct. Everyone is urged
to mark and return his ballot as soon
as it is convenient. When the ballots
are in, a representative committee of
men and women of the industry will
count the votes and make the an-
nouncement of the winners.
This method of recognizing unusual
achievement by the industry as a
whole, rather than by small groups,
has been universally acclaimed by men
and women in every branch of the pro-
duction field.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
yau can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
py HOLLYWOOD .^^
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up, Sinqle
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly ratei
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "builc for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chai. Damiger, Mgr.
Eugcmi Sttra, Pres.
The "Doorway ol Hotpitallty"
Vin* al Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
RALPH RAINGER
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
COMPOSER
OF
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
PARAMOUNT*
PICTURE
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
PARAMOUNT
PICTURE
//
RAFTERO
//
Written for and named after
George Raft in his latest
starring vehicle
>>
EOLEHO
ff
All other original
music written by
RALPH RAINGER
The composition i
'Bolero'' written by k
MAURICE RAVEL
k
% MR.SAK'UFL MAPX,
CULVER CITY.UAMK.
Vol. XIX, No. 29. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, February 14, 1934
ROBERT WELSH
• WE wonder if many in the picture
business got an uncomfortable nnoment
out of reading President Roosevelt's
drastic action in connection with the
airmail contracts.
We did.
Of course, we said immediately,
there is no connection between the
Government's right to take arbitrary
action on its own contracts and the
position of the motion picture industry
which has never taken a cent from the
Government and never expects to.
But then we got to reminiscing.
Way in the background, there were
"White House feelers" in all that talk
about salary control.
Not so far in the background, there
were "White House feelers" in the
planted stories that stockholders in
picture companies should be given
some consideration — and nepotism,
bonuses, etc., investigated.
There were block booking "feelers,"
and censorship "feelers."
Any old Washington newspaperman
knows what "White House feelers"
are. They are straws tossed up into
the air to show which way the wind
of popular opinion blows.
But nothing happened. Not because
the wind wasn't blowing. But because
Baby LeRoy was rushed to the defense
of the picture business. And Jackie
Cooper.
That strange animal the American
public just couldn't help laughing at
the mention of Baby LeRoy and Jackie
Cooper and salary control.
So did we laugh. Too soon.
An expedient was tried. No admis-
sion was made that any original plans
were wrong — they were just "sus-
pended" while we underwent inves-
i tigation.
We were investigated.
In ten days.
Jules Verne couldn't do it.
But it has been done. And a lot of
picture people who should have known
better spent their time telling the in-
vestigator what was wrong with "THE
OTHER FELLOW."
Soon, mark muh wor-rds, we'll see
another "White House feeler." Based
on that investigation.
The "feeler" may come back cold.
it may come back hot. And if it be
the latter, it's going to be just too
bad.
Better give Baby LeRoy a new dia-
per.
IAB€R $HOWD€>VN DLC
President's Order Indicates
Stalling Period Over^-'Local
Body's Status Still /Mystery
Anti-Trust Suit Starts
The Rembusch anti-trust suit
against the majors, exciting all the
execs, started in New York yester-
day. Full story on Page 4.
NickSchenck Fights
So Loew Has 'Nana'
New York. — After ads had appear-
ed announcing that "Nana" would
move from the Music Hall to the RKO
Center for a two weeks' stay, the deal
is now off, and the picture goes di-
rect to the Loew houses in the met-
ropolitan area.
Nick Schenck, though on the water
on his way to Hollywood by the Canal
route, put up a typical Nick Schenck
battle against the delay in turning the
picture loose on top of its Music Hall
success. And he won.
South Seas Yarn
Lederer's Next
Francis Lederer's second starring
vehicle for Radio will have a South
Seas background. The studio has been
searching for a suitable vehicle for the
star, and unable to find one, has as-
signed Jane Murfin to write an origi-
nal story laid in the South Seas.
Harlow's Next Likely To
Be Coe's 'Repeal' Yarn
Understood that Jean Harlow's first
picture on her return will be "Re-
peal," from the Saturday Evening Post
story by Charles Francis Coe.
Jack Conway will direct under John
Considine's supervision. Sam and Bella
Spewack are writing the screen play.
Cooper Leaves Thursday
Merian C. Cooper leaves Los An-
geles Thursday on the first lap on his
planned round-the-world trip.
Washington. — Complaints drifting back from Hollywood
have been duplicated in so many industries that the NRA yes-
terday made public an executive order "from the President of
the United States" which indicates that the teeth of the NRA
are now going to grind.
The kicks, not alone from the pic-
ture industry but from many major ac-
tivities, have been that various com-
mittees set up have been dominated
by big influences and clever enough
to avoid direct opposition to the NRA
by stalling on various technical pre-
texts.
(Continued on Page 1 1 )
Fox Will Produce
'Corsican Brothers'
With every other studio well un-
der way with costume pictures Fox
has decided to start preparation on
one and has selected the Alexander
Dumas novel "The Corsican Brothers"
as the vehicle to be used. This pic-
ture was made as a silent by Universal
in 1919.
Ray Griffith Abroad
For Eight Wk. Vacation
Ray Griffith leaves tomorrow for
an eight weeks' vacation trip to Lon-
don, accompanied by Mrs. Griffith.
He will spend a week in New York,
before leaving for London, to look at
plays and potential story material for
Twentieth Century.
U.A. Talks to Fitxpatrick
New York. — United Artists have
options on two series of shorts to be
produced by Fitzpatrick, who has been
releasing through MGM for over five
years.
GOLDWYX SALARY FIGURES
START HOLLYWD RtZZIXG
When the Saturday Evening Post
circulated through town yesterday,
Samuel Goldwyn's ideas regarding the
weekly salaries paid the picture stars
started a lot of buzzing.
He lists the following fifteen lead-
ing stars and their weekly salaries:
Greta Garbo, $9000, Will Rogers and
Maurice Chevalier at $7000 each.
Constance Bennett, $7000; John Bar-
rymore, $6500; Norma Shearer, Rich-
ard Barthelmess and Ann Harding.
$6000 each; Wallace Beery, $5000;
William Powell, $4500; Joan Craw-
ford, $4000; Janet Gaynor, $3750;
Edward G. Robinson, $3000: James
Cagney $2800; and Clark Gable,
$2500.
Boleslavsky Takes
Over 'Operator 13'
Rumor yesterday was that Richard
Boleslavsky will take over the direc-
torial reins on "Operator 13" when
the MGM-Cosmopolitan production is
started after time out for story revi-
sions.
Raoul Walsh is understood to have
asked to be relieved because of feel-
ing that the difference of opinion on
the yarn's dialogue were such that it
would be mutually beneficial to him-
self and the producer to let a new
d rector make a fresh start.
Radio Buys N.Y. Mystery
For John Barrymore Pic
^.s-'Radio yesterday purchased the play",
■ A Hat, A Coat, A Glove," which
fo'ded in New York last Saturday after
a weeks run, and will use it as a John
Barrymore vehicle, kenneth Macpow-
an produces. Play was written in Ger-
man by Wilhelm Speyer and adapted
to the American stage by William
Drake. Grosby Gage handled the New
York production. . — -
Fawcett Editor Here
Jack Smalley, managing editor of
the Fawcett publications, and his wife
arrived in town yesterday by plane
from Minneapolis and plan to return
Friday. Smalley is here to confer
with Roscoe Fawcett, owner of the
publications.
Monte Brice to Fox
New York. — Rumors that the Row-
land-Brice split might be patched up
seem to be off with the announce-
ment yesterday that Monte Brice had
been signed as a director by Fox. He
left immediately for the coast.
Technicolor Figure Dies
New York. — William Travers Je-
rome, prominent legal light, and one
of the original big backers of Techni-
color, died here yesterday at the age of
seventy-five.
OE
THE WRITERS' NUMBER - TELLS THE WORLD
-2
Page Two
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-719?;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St ; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Ciel
Published every dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879
Feb. 14, 1934
Nobody in the world would have
even guessed what two stars are hav-
ing an affaire de couer at the moment
if it hadn't been for the tact-ical error
of the "lady" star's maid. The lady
in question is really one of our better
known stars given to bringing much
sunshine and light into the homes of
millions, and the other night a young
married couple who are good friends
of hers were driving home when their
car ran out of gas. The couple looked
up and discovered they were stuck
right in front of the star's house, so
they decided to drop in and telephone
for help. So they rang the door-bell,
and at three o'clock in the morning,
mind you, the maid sticks her head
out of the window and says, "Is that
you, Mr. ?" giving out with
the name of the popular young juve-
nile who was thought to have forgot-
ten his keys. P.S. — He's married, too.
•
Bess Meredyth gave out with a large
buffet supper the other evening and
in the middle of the proceedings it
was discovered that the whole thing
was really a birthday party for Bess.
Salka Viertel was telling the crowd
how she had originally learned to
speak English from her negro cook and
how she astonished everyone by speak-
ing with a southern accent. Ad
Schulberg, Mrs. Ray Griffith, Louise
Fazenda, Eugene Pallette and the Mrs.
Pallette, W. C. Fields, Virginia Zan-
uck, the Sidney Lanfields, Bill Powell,
Lou Schreiber all offered Bess con-
gratulations.
•
Invitations are out for visiting roy-
alty again and Connie Bennett has. sent
word to the right people that a buf-
fet supper will be given for Lady Fur-
ness, Mrs. Reginald Vanderbilt and
A. C. Blumenthal on Satiddy night.
White ties, IF you please.
•
Maurice Chevalier takes exception
to the story printed here that he had
finally broken down and given his con-
sent to having Jeanette MacDonald
play the feminine lead in "The Merry
Widow." His story that he had never
at any time objected to Miss MacDon-
ald is confirmed by both Irving Thal-
berg and Ernst Lubitsch.
"THE GHOUL"
British-Caumont prod.; writer, Roland Pertwee.
Rialto Theatre
Sun: "The Ghoul" is a sad venture for the formidable Mr. Karloff. Universal,
which manages to make its audiences faint with terror over its "Franken-
steins" and "Draculas," might have been able to send them happily into
hysterics with this. The English version hasn't a thrill in a carload.
Mirror: Karloff's career as the great shiver-inducer recently carried him to Eng-
land, where he pursued his spooky exploits for the benefit of British-
Caumont. His film is neither so exciting nor so terrifying as those he has
made in Hollywood. It is just a fair melodrama, satisfactory but unsensa-
tional. Mr. Karloff's monstrous reputation as a ghoul will put it across.
American: The production just hasn't the hair-raising qualities that have dis-
tinguished Karloff's former quite successful efforts to scare us so delight-
fully.
Journal: The picture was made in England and boasts some unusually effective
photography and settings. It also contains a good idea in the way of hair-
raising shockers. But, after a gruesome opening, the story becomes so
involved that one — this one, at any rate — somehow forgets to be terri-
fied while trying to figure what it's all about.
World-Telegram: Instead of curdling the assembled blood corpuscles and send-
ing the customers home limp with terror it leaves them both amused and
amazed at the woefully inexpert manner in which a good idea has been
bungled. For this new Rialto entrant has a good idea, some gruesome
moments and Karloff himself. Missing, however, is that ingredient — the
spice, so to speak — which would make this mixture an hour of macabre
delight.
Herald-Tribune: "The Ghoul" is a picture Mr. Karloff traveled to London to
make, and that is a long way to go to make just another picture. It is
a spooky piece and while it works hard to produce the proper ghostly
atmosphere, it misses first class suspense.
Times: Karloff the Uncanny, Hollywood's great authority on the art of spine-
chilling, has had the misfortune in his new picture to fall among amateurs
at the game. "The Ghoul" has nothing like the hearty terror that the
uninhibited script writers in Hollywood piled into "Frankenstein" and
"The Mummy."
CTE's New Deal
Delayed by judge
Wilmington. — The reorganization
plan for General Theatre Equipment,
the organization that brought Harley
Clarke to the picture business and Fox,
was indefinitely postponed yesterday
when Chancellor J. O. Wolcott dis-
qualified himself, explaining his wife
owned Chase Bank. Chase interests
and Clarke are fighting over the re-
organization plan to be adopted.
Chief Justice D. J. Layton will sit at
the hearing as soon as he recovers
from a present illness.
Ten More Return to
Acad. Technician Fold
Technicians Branch of the Academy
continues to set the pace in the re-
vived Academy. Another ten mem-
bers of the branch have returned. This
makes a total of twenty who resigned
during the breakup last autumn who
have come back into the fold. Mem-
bership of the Technicians Branch now
officially is 180.
Mef-zger Back to Sales
Lou Metzger is dropping theatre
operations for an interest in the dis-
tribution field. He returns here next
week from Mexico City and will then
move off to Europe to handle the for-
eign release of Foy Production's "Ely-
sia."
Sheldon for 'Lovers'
E. Lloyd Sheldon has been handed
the production reins on Paramount's
"Lovers In Quarantine."
Report Sting Is Removed
From Stage 'Queer People'
New York. — General understanding
here is that the stage production of
"Queer People" has had much of the
sting removed that made Hollywood
squirm in the book.
Galen Bogue yesterday announced
postponement of the opening until
Thursday night to allow time for im-
provements in the staging.
U's 'Vanishing Shadow'
Serial Under the Wire
Universal's serial, "Vanishing Shad-
ow," was completed yesterday under
the direction of Louis Friedlander.
Onslow Stevens, Ada I nee and Louis
Friedlander were hosts last night at a
dinner given to the crew on the pic-
ture.
Mike Newman to North
Mike Newman of the local Colum-
bia exchange left yesterday for three
weeks in Seattle to handle the ex-
ploitation on "It Happened One
Night." Picture opens at the Roxy
there February 22.
Here's a Title
"Lovelife of a Sailor" was set yes-
terday as the title for the Chester
Morris picture which Ben F. Zeldman
is supervising for Universal. Dore
Schary and Lew Foster have been
teamed to write the screen play.
Dot Lee Is III
Dorothy Lee is in bed curing a
throat infection so that she can hop
off for Denver to make a personal ap-
pearance with "Hips Hips Hooray"
there. Picture opens Friday.
Terriss Here On Tour
Tom Terriss, veteran director, has
completed a coast-to-coast lecture
tour and will speak in and around Los
Angeles this week. He appeared at the
Breakfast Club this morning. The Ter-
riss lectures are along the line of his
"Vagabond Adventure" series.
While in Paris Terriss recently di-
rected a picture for Eclair Films.
jean's Novel Interests
Hearing of the novel "Today is To-
night," which Jean Harlowis writing,
a national weekly is sending a man
out here to negotiate with her for
serialization of the story. Piece is said
to be written without a "ghost" en-
tirely by Miss Harlow.
Hunt Handles 'Thin Man'
Hunt Stromberg has been appoint-
ed by MGM to take the production
reins on "Thin Man," the Dashiell
Hammett story which will co-star
William Powell and Myrna Loy. W. S.
Van Dyke directs.
HOLLYWOOD
OS.
NEW YORK
re: C A P E H A R T S
Hollywood: leading
WH. HANSEN
GR-1964
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loam Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
RUSSELL,IVIILLER,
and Company
Members
NCW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board ot Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst Mgr
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1 181
A.> y>''^^ji^
I
Feb. 14. 1934
THP
Page Thre«
CAT AlVD FIDDLE' FAILS
TO MATCH STAGE HIT
West Coast Theatre
But Fine Production
And Cast Register
HE CAT AND THE FIDDLE"
(MCM)
irection William K. Howard
Story by Jerome Kern
and Otto Harbach
Adaptation. .Bella and Samuel Spewack
Photography Hal Rosson
Cast; Jeanette MacDonald, Ramon No-
varro, Frank Morgan, Charles
Butterworth, )ean Hersholt, Viv-
ienne Segal, Frank Conroy and
Henry Armetta.
MOM has a nice little hit in "The
Cat and the Fiddle." Unfortunately,
it is not a nice BIG hit.
The fault lies obviously in the
adaptation. The only thing left of
the original operetta which took the
country by storm when it was pre-
sented on the stage is the music.
Otherwise the screen child is abso-
lutely no relation to its footlight par-
ent.
As it is on celluloid, "The Cat and
the Fiddle" is a little above average
backstage story with music. Of course
the music is superior to the usual mu-
sic that accompanies this particular
type of story; the sets are superb; the
direction is outstandingly effective,
and the photography is stunning. But
the fact remains that practically every-
thing that made "The Cat and the
Fiddle" the utterly charming and de-
lightful thing it was on the Stage is
missing in the screen version.
However that may be, the MCM
picture is a pretty good bet because
of the singing of Jeanette MacDonald
and Ramon Novarro, and the elabo-
rate production.
Novarro and Miss MacDonald play
composers who meet and fall in love
with each other in Brussels. But it is
she who finds financial success with
her music. They move to a luxurious
apartment in Paris, where Novarro
feels like one of her guests. The sit-
uation is further aggravated by Frank
Morgan, who, in love with Miss Mac-
Donald, persuades Novarro that he is
standing in the way of her further suc-
cess. He leaves her and attempts to
produce his operetta. The night be-
fore the opening he is left without
a backer, an orchestra, or a leading
lady. So, of course. Miss MacDonald,
who is now engaged to Morgan, steps
In at the last moment — and his oper-
etta is a sucess. To make everything
jake he also wins her back.
"The Cat and the Fiddle" has one
definite triumph of which it can boast.
It gives Miss MacDonald a perfect op-
portunity to display the full beauty
and excellence of her voice. Novar-
ro's voice failed to register as well as
hers, but it is pleasing.
Novarro's acting in this film is
more pleasing than his voice. He
makes the young, impetuous, romantic
composer very likable. Miss Mac-
Donald is, as usual, and in every way,
utterlv charming.
William K. Howard's direction is
suave and interesting, and the photog-
raphy by Hal Rosson is completely
beautiful. Bella and Samuel Spewack
made the adaptation, and Jerome Kern
and Otto Harbach are the original au-
(■hors.
60 for Warners
New York. — Warners are first
of the majors to announce their
line-up for next year with the
statement that they will definitely
make sixty pictures.
Jean Arthur For
Columbia Lead
It was reported late last night that
Columbia had signed Jean Arthur for
the leading role in "Most Precious
Thing in Life," which will be directed
by Lambert Hillyer under the super-
vision of Robert North.
The picture has been held up for
the past four weeks due to the stu-
dio's inability to secure an adequate
lead for this yarn.
Circus Troupers Land
On Warner Payroll
With the "Sawdust" troupe on lo-
cation at the Al C. Barnes circus win-
ter quarters in El Monte, Warners yes-
terday signed "Poodles" Hanneford,
famous clown, Ernest Clarke and Gor-
don Evans for featured spots. Evans
is a three and a half year old boy who
plays the role of Joe E. Brown as a
child. The troupe will remain in El
Monte for three weeks. Ray Enright
directs.
'Language' Author Here
Rose Franken, who wrote "Another
Language," arrived with her three
children in Hollywood yesterday and
is planning on establishing her per-
manent residence here. The Edington
and Vincent office have signed her to
a managerial contract.
Selznick Takes Simmons
David Selznick has borrowed Mi-
chael L. Simmons from the Harry Rapf
-uWit to write an original story sched-
uled to star John Barrymore under the
MCM banner,
Beahans Make Up
Charlie Beahan and Sidney Fox
went away for a quiet week-end to
talk it all over and are now back in
town with everything patched up and
the dove of peace right at homt
'Dodsworth' on Feb. 24
New York. — The long awaited
opening of "Dodsworth" has again
been postponea',~FHTs time to Febru-
ary 24.
Charles Butterworth contributes his
usual comedy; Frank Morgan is well
cast as Daudet, the impresario; Jean
Hersholt has a swell role as the old
music master, Vivienne Segal reveals a
very fine voice in a small role, and
Henry Armetta is amusing as a taxi
driver.
This picture will undoubtedly be
popular in all towns and cities where
the stage version was not shown. But
in the metropolitan centers not even
Miss MacDonald's singing will save it
from being a little disappointing.
However, the original music is all
there, and that's something.
Value Is $13,063,000
First appraisal of the approximate
value of the Fox West Coast Theatres
properties was set at $13,063,000
yesterday by appraisers before Referee
McNab. The appraisal is still in prog-
ress with slight changes necessary.
The figure reached is of particular
importance to the trustees, Charles P.
Skouras, Charles C. Irwin and William
H. Moore Jr. and their attorneys, who
ask $152,000 for their services to
the chain, and on Referee McNab's
refusal declared their willingness to
await an appraisal of the property.
McNab, on hearing the appraisers'
report, intimated that he would likely
reach a decision today on the applica-
tions of the trustees and their attor-
neys for allowances.
Dearholt Doing Salvage
Job in Central America
Ashton Dearholt, one-time produc-
tion manager for First National, has
been signed by Van Beuren to salvage
the Joan Lowell expedition into Cen-
tral America. Miss Lowell has just
returned to New York.
A letter from Dearholt in the inte-
rior says he has obtained 100,000
feet of adventure film and expects to
clear out of the jungle early next
month.
Wynyard's First on
Return Is 'Soviet'
Diana Wynyard's first trick for
MCM upon returning from her Radio
loan-out is slated to be a star spot in
"Soviet," for the Irving Thalberg unit.
Star had her option picked up last
week and continues with MCM for
another year with a tilt in salary. Two
other assignments being worked up
for her are "Declasse" and "Vanessa."
No Work for Mary
Universal wanted Mary Duncan for
the feminine lead in "Bachelor Wife,"
which Karl Freund will direct and
Mary Duncan wants to play the role,
but her husband, Laddie Sanford, does
not want her to return to the screen
so the deal is off.
Mayer Entertains M.P.
Louis B. Mayer entertains nobility
tomorrow when he will have Lord
Marley, M.P., as his luncheon guest
at the MGM studio.
Para. Tests 'Death'
Word In A Title
Making an issue of the old film
theory that the word "death" in a
title IS anathema at the box office as
regards the women. Paramount took
"Death Takes a Holiday" up to north-
ern California, made a test and ex-
ploded the age-old bugaboo.
Picture which Mitchell Leisen di-
rected under E. Lloyd Sheldon's super-
vision was opened first in Fresno un-
der the title "Strange Holiday," Only
average business was reported. Com-
pany then cracked it in Sacramento
under the "Death Takes a Holiday"
tag, business report nearly tripling
that of the Fresno booking.
Company is restoring the stage play
title with the heretofore obnoxious
word and will release the picture na-
tionally under its original tag.
'Manhattan Love Song'
In The Works Today
With Robert Armstrong and Dixie
Lee in the leads. Monogram puts
"Manhattan Love Song" into produc-
tion today. Leonard Fields directs.
Balance of the cast to date consists of
Franklyn Pangborn, Nydia Westman,
Harold Walridge, Cecile Cunningham
and Helen Flint. David Silverstein col-
laborated with the director on the
script. Arch Buchanan handles the
unit.
Renew Sanit. Drive
Pinil Coldstone, chairman, has just
is ued a statement of the Los Angeles
Tuberculosis Sanatorium drive
still
The
drive has been held up during compe-
tition from the Community Chest and
holiday activities but will now be re-
sumed.
Franklin Deal Not Set
New York. — Despite reports print-
ed a week ago, nothing definite has
happened to negotiations by which
Harold B. Franklin might make his in-
dependent series of pictures on the
Universal lot in association with that
company.
Corinne Boyle Services
Christian Science services were
conducted yesterday for Corinne Boyle
at the Hollywood Cemetery Chapel.
Miss Boyle, who died Monday, was a
sister of John Boyle, past president of
the A.S.C.
Thompson To Lasky
Keene Thompson has joined the
Jesse Lasky unit at Fox under a long
term writing contract.
Free
which shows the workers must
rase $165,000 of their goal.
EXTRAS MAY BURY AXE
AI\D COMBINE ALL EORCES
First sign of a nibble at the pro-
posal of Allan Garcia that the four in-
dividual groups of extra and bit play-
ers get together for strength came
yesterday when Silver Harr of the
Riding Actors Association went into a
huddle with Garcia.
After it was over Garcia, who heads
the Supporting and Extra Players As-
sociation, with offices in the Profes-
sional Building, was in high glee, for
he said Harr told him a large num-
ber of his crowd favor consolidation.
The plan advanced by Garcia last
week was that the Supporting and Ex-
tra Players Association, the Hollywood
Picture Players Association, the Riding
Actors Association and the Junior
Screen Guild bury the hatchet and get
together in one big organization. Pur-
pose is to cut down overhead expense
and form an organization that will be
able to really accomplish something in
case of showdown.
FagaFour
Feb. 14, 1934
REMBIJSCH TRIAL STARTS
WITH BOTH SIDES FENCING
7,
^Lptothei^inute
ASTING
Trust Suit Lists
Big Legal Lights
New York. — The $2,000,000 Frank
|. Rembusch suit against all of the
major motion picture distributors got
under way today with a brilliant array
of counsel for both sides. Arthur But-
ler Graham, who handled the Quittner
case, and Judge Charles Henderson of
Indianapolis are among Rembusch
counsel. Max Steuer heads the law-
yers for the defense.
Rembusch counsel charges the ma-
jor distributors obtained a rnonopoly
in Indiana by ownership and control
of first run theatres and conspired to
withhold product from independent
theatres by franchise agreements made
with each other; that this caused dim-
inution of product and forced the
independent producers from the mar-
ket by price fixing. Counsel also
claims that because Rembusch refused
to arbitrate several claims for un-
played product he was unable to get
any product from that time on, and
suffered constant losses and deprecia-
tion of his eighteen theatres.
It is further charged that creating
of the zoning protection agreements
by film boards of trade and forced ar-
bitration with blind and block book-
ings all violated the anti-trust laws.
It is asserted, too, that through credit
committees of the trade boards the
exhibitors were forced to supply dis-
tributors with every particular con-
cerning their business and how it was
run, and that distributors were able
to fix piaydates to their own advan-
tage.
Steuer for the defendants made a
quiet play for the sympathy of the
jury and stated that he would show
that any figures Rembusch will pro-
duce to show his losses are fictitiously
manufactured, through the first wit-
ness called, Gabe Hess; pointed out
that before the Hays organization was
formed exhibitors were in a chaotic
condition due to absence of a uniform
or standard contract and the necessity
for making a 25 per cent deposit for
delivery of film when arranging con-
tracts.
Through Hess he also pointed out
that after the formation of the Hays
group and 32 film boards of trade
condition of the industry improved
tremendously, and exhibitors were
given the privilege of withholding cash
deposits until arbitration boards had
proven a breach of contract. Hess tes-
tified that 30,000 cases were satis-
factorily settled in the past six years
by unanimous decision.
It is expected the trial will con-
tinue for several weeks. Ivan Abram-
son is the next witness to be called.
Binyon on Fields Pic
Paramount has assigned Claude Bin-
yon to work with ). P. McEvoy on
the comedy sequences of the W. C.
Fields picture, "You're Telling Me,"
which is now in production under the
direction of Erie Kenton.
Farnol Hits the Road
New York. — Lynn Farnol leaves
town today on an intense exploita-
tion trip through the Middle West in
connection with "Nana" openings.
Knockout!
Miami. — Max Baer may be a
knockout with the gals in some
sections, but down here he got
nothing but a cold shoulder when
he started to shower attentions
upon June Knight.
"May be the next world's cham-
pion," said June, "but he's just a
oain in the neck to me."
Acad. Names 14 for
NRA Director List
The Executive Committee of the
Directors Branch of the Academy met
yesterday and nominated fourteen
members to be voted upon for selec-
tion of six nominees for possible ap-
pointment to the various NRA code
committees.
Those selected were: Lloyd Bacon,
Clarence Brown, David Butler, Frank
Capra, William K. Howard, Henry
King, W. S. Van Dyke, John Crom-
well, Cecil B. DeMille, Alfred E.
Green, E. H. Griffith, Robert Z. Leon-
ard, Frank Lloyd and King Vidor.
Selznick May Repeat
With Steno' Discovery
In the testing of his secretary, Mar-
cella Bannett, for a spot in the South
/Sea story he is preparing, David O.
Selznick is attempting to repeat his
actions of two years ago. At that
time he spotted Dorothy Wilson, then
a secretary at Radio, and made her a
star overnight by giving her a fea-
tured spot in "The Age of Consent."
Oliver Sought for Big
Project at Catalina
Wrigley interests are said to have
approached Harry Oliver, art director
for Harold Lloyd, with a proposition
to handle and design project to change
the town of Avalon on Catalina Island
into the replica of an early California
Mexican-Spanish town.
Agency Man Takes Office
R. H. Polenski, representative of the
Ruthrauff and Ryan national adver-
tising agency, has taken an office at
the General Service Studio. He is
here for the purpose of making a se-
ries of still pictures, using motion
picture people for a national campaign
on the Dodge motor car.
Rogers Signs Craven
Frank Craven has been signed by
Charles R. Rogers for a featured role
in his next picture to go into produc-
tion at Paramount, "In Conference,"
to be directed by Harry joe Brown.
The William Morris office negotiated
the deal.
O'Brien on Personals
George O'Brien breaks a rule
against personal appearances tonight
to attend a church benefit at Anaheim
where his latest picture, "The Fron-
tier Marshal," will be shown.
Finish 'Cosmetic' Script
Jane Hinton and Harlan Thompson
finish their work on the script of
"Cosmetic" at Paramount this week.
Chi Critics Strong
ForSten and 'Nana'
Chicago. — Anna Sten and Samuel
Goldwyn's picture "Nana" took this
city by storm. Every film critic on
the local dailies raved about both the
picture and the star.
Rob Reel, American, says: "Anna
Sten will send male film fans into
ecstacies"; calls the picture "mag-
nificent," and gives it a column and
a half of space. Carol Frink, Herald-
Examiner, says: "Anna Sten IS a sen-
sational screen find. She is something
new in movie sirens — at once sultry
and naive, ageless and childlike."
Mae Tinee, Tribune, classes Miss
Sten as "a perfect mistress of panto-
mime with a voice to charm the soul
away." Clark Rodenbach, Daily News,
in his rave about the picture and Miss
Sten declares that her beauty is sim-
ply "breath taking."
Arline Judge Illness
Delays Mono. Picture
Because Arline Judge, who was
signed for the lead, is in Palm Springs
recovering from a pneumonia attack,
Monogram is looking for another fem-
inine lead to fill her spot in "The
Loudspeaker." The radio story, which
was scheduled to start Friday, now
will not get under way until next
week. Joseph Santley is slated to di-
rect and Ray Walker has the male
lead.
McKinney Moves Into
Revived 'Operator 13'
Florine McKinney has been assign-
ed a featured role in the new edition
of "Operator 13" at MGM.
Player is appearing in the play,
"And Let Who Will Be Clever" at
the Hollytown theatre.
New Play for 'Troopers'
Harriette France and N. V. Inloes
will present "Sweeney Todd or the
Demon Barber of Fleet Street" at the
Troopers Club Theatre on February 23
for an indefinite run. The Montecito
players are being brought down from
Montecito for this production. Beer
and pretzels will be served to the au-
dience free of charge.
Cleveland Deal Hot
A deal is said to be in the air be-
tween MGM and Gene Cleveland,
Broadway player new to Hollywood.
She and her agents, Lichtig & Eng-
lander, were huddling this week with
Ben Piazza.
Presnell Starts Pic
Robert Presnell put "One Man Wo-
man" into work yesterday at Warners
with Pat O'Brien and Glenda Farrell in
the leads.
Wash. Exhib Here
Fred Mercy, pioneer Washington
exhibitor, is in town looking over the
studios.
Laird Doyle Rests
Laird Doyle, writer, goes to Palm
Springs today for a two weeks vaca-
tion.
John Sheehan into "Sawdust, "War-
ners, through MacQuarrie.
Bob O'Dair added to the cast of
"Dover Road," Radio.
Keith Kenneth signed for "Stinga-
ree," Radio. Deal through the Mac-
Quarrie office.
Bradley Paige and Vincent Sherman
into "Highway Patrol," Columbia.
Walter Armitage signed for "Stin-
garee," Radio, through Dave Todd.
J. Carrol Naish for "Return of the
Terror," Warners. Set by Dave Todd.
Luis Alberni signed for two pictures
through Max Shagrin. Player goes into
"Strictly Dynamite," at Radio, and
"Glamour," Universal.
Dorothy Burgess for an important
role in "Sawdust," Warners.
Hugh Herbert assigned a featured
role by Warners in "Dames."
Edward Arnold by MGM to "Sadie
McKee."
Helen Flint by Monogram for "Man-
hattan Love Song." The Schulberg-
Feldman and Curney office made the
deal.
Charles Williams for a role in "Sa-
die McKee" at MGM. The Bernard
and Meiklejohn agency made the deal.
Samuel Hinds added to "Without
Honor," Warners.
Dewey Robinson signed for "Bank-
ing Buckaroo," Columbia short, and
"The Firebrand," 20th Century.
Robert Elliott added to Warners'
"Fog Over San Francisco."
Clay Clement, Arthur Vinton and
Huntley Cordon added to "One Man
Woman," Warners.
Spencer Charters and Lorin Baker
signed by Monogram for "The Loud
Speaker." Deal handled by Mitchell
Certz of the Al Kingston agency.
Warners yesterday signed George
Chandler for a role in "Fog Over San
Francisco."
Herman Bing set for two by Meni-
fee I. Johnstone, "I'll Tell the World,"
Universal, and "Manhattan Love
Song," Monogram.
Marcell Corday signed by Fox for
"The World Moves On." Deal han-
dled by Menifee I. Johnstone.
Lawrence Grant signed for "Lady
Mary's Lover," MGM.
Charles Dunbar, one-time vaudeville
partner of Charles Reisner, signed for
"Showoff," which Reisner is directing
for MGM.
Earl Hodges, who has been appear-
ing on the Hi jinx hour over KFWB,
signed by Warners for "Sawdust."
Hugh Enfield assigned a featured
role in the Lee Tracy picture "I'll Tell
the World."
Arthur Hohl by Twentieth Century
for the Ronald Colman picture "Bull-
dog Drummond Strikes Back." The
William Morris office set the player.
Irving Pichel has gone into the "Re-
turn of the Terror" at Warners after
just finishing "Crime Doctor."
Tola D'Avril, Luis Alberni, Lita
Chevret, Louise Beavers, Isabel Sheri-
dan, Lyman Williams and Grace Hale
added to cast of "Glamour," which
William Wyler is directing for Uni-
versal.
Willard Robertson added to "Whirl-
pool," Columbia.
George Pat Collins by Warners for
"One Man's Woman."
'
'I
II"
II"
II"
II"
III"
II"
\)
MOULIN ROUGE
ff
Directed by
SIDNEY LANFIELD
Now in Preparation
HEAD OF THE FAMILY"
Starring Mr. George Arliss
"C
■'III!
I
II"
ii.
"20
TH
CENTURY
The two Cons
this picture wol
JOSEPH n|i
20TH
CENTURY
PICTURE
Released thru
UNITED ARTISTS
FRANCyOTTONE
TULLIO CARMINATI
Directed !/
OPENINC-
United Artists
Theatre
Friday, Feb. 16
Another
smash hit
for 20th
Century!'
hAAyhAi OBERPEAKE,
HoHywood Correspondtnt,
Boston Gfobt
"Will fill a
house that
has been
dark ten
years and
is haunted!"
Hollywood Reporter
" Moulin Rouge
is very good en- ^
tertainment. The
musical numbers
are the best I
have ever seen."
—JAMES FIDLER
Screenland Magazine
\
h
eh
TS A NEW HIGH"
ice Bennetts in
Tie completely!
/y
ROBERT WAGNER
Editor Script
:NCK presents
PRODUCTION
THE BOSWELL SISTERS
(Singing "Coffee in the Morning, Kisses at Night")
RUSS COLUMBO
(Crooning "Coffee in the Morning, Kisses at Night")
THE BEAUTIFUL MOULIN ROUGE GIRLS
in the dazzling "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" scene
r LANFIELD
logozine
"Spicy movie
served by a
lovely and
very naughty
Constance
Bennett!"
J/MMV STARR
loi Angeles
Herald - Express
"Men behind
the guns at 20"^
Century hove
a bead on the
box-office.
'Moulin Rouge'
another direct
hit"- Wa rren Stokes
Associated Publications
JOHN MITCHELL
New Movie Magazine
Highly amus-
ing., .excellent
music . . . fresh
and original."
MOLLIE MERRICK,
North American
Newspaper Alliance
'Constance
Ben nett's
best! Swell!"
SIDNEY SKOISKY
N. Y Daily News
A new and
different Con-
stance Bennett
and a perfect
FranchotTone."
JERRY ASHER.
Movie Mirror
"A new Con-
stance Bennett
in a great mus-
ical play with
a real story."
MONROe LATHROP.
Lalhrop Syndicate
OPENINC-
United Artists
Theatre
Friday, Feb. 16
.ill
ll>'
ll-
HELEN WESTLEY
Hh
1 ■
f "^ '
fe- ^5
f
as
Mrs. Morris
in
\)
MOULIN ROUGE
n
Management
FERD SIMON
Palace Theatre BIdg.
New York City
.ll
.ml
^^
MOULIN ROUGE
Photographed by
n
►
►
I"
CHARLES ROSHER
i
..nil'"
Page Ten
ifli'^f^^-
Feb. 14. 1934
^ Qfound
Lloyd Knechtel works harder than
most Americans in town; you can
credit him with that swell process
stuff in "Sorrell and Son." . . . Mary
MacCormick is currently warbling at
the Palladium and will be followed by
no less a celeb than Ethel Barrymore;
yeah, Ethel in variety!
'•
H. C. Wells took a slam at screen
writers in Film Weekly, having just
signed to write an original for Korda.
And Mister Wells then proceeded to
steal all the headlines about retiring
to Bournemouth to write it; but he
seems to be hanging around town as
long as the papers print it! . . . Doug
Fairbanks Jr. was no sooner back in
town than he was dancing with Gertie
Lawrence, so there!
•
Elizabeth Allen is kept well in the
news here, for which, no doubt, she
thanks Bill (Hubbie) O'Bryan. . . .
Twould appear the thing to do now
amongst the elite of our producers is
fall for the stars of their own com-
panies, several are engaged in this di-
verting pursuit! . . . Percy Cudlipp of
the Standard still has a hankering af-
ter moom pics; we know! . . . Robert
Stevenson, now listed as an associate
producer at Caumonts, is sitting in on
the next Jack Hulbert production. . . .
We have it on the inside that Joe Rock
and the Wainwrights have got to-
gether on a movie deal. . . . John Cecil
Graham taking a well earned vacation;
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this was probably necessary due to the
way "Design for Living" and "Duck
Soup" affected him — we've never
heard such laughter — and at your own
product, too. Mister Graham; good for
you!
. Fred Astaire dancing with
Society Shots after his woik at the
Palace. . . . S'funny how uncommonly
like Spencer Tracy Spencer Tracy look-
ed in disguise in "The Mad Came."
. . . That British scribbler at a cer-
tain Hollywood studio must be de-
lighted that that English star is now
out there; he was THAT crazy about
her in London, but it was all rather
one-sided, and the lovely one now has
a husband, so what?
•
A vurry distinguished shareholder
with Gaumont-British went up to
Victor Saville and congratulated him
on the direction of "Constant
Nymph" — which Basil Dean megged!
. . . Michael E. Balcon and his charm-
ing wife certainly like the Savoy grill
these days; and the Balcons, the Sam
Smiths and Arthur Dent were all at
the "Mala the Magnificent" ("Eski-
mo" to you!) preview — and so was
little Mrs. Jack Votion, who was that
thrilled by Mala. . . . Dorothy Hyson
took time out in a legit show to prove
to movie makers that not only had she
beauty but also acting ability. . . Cyril
Gardner is one popular guy; despite
the vast sea of aristocratic snooties
who are toting the Midnite Follies
Girls around town, it is our Cyril who
is the girls' beeg moment! . . . Con-
nerie (Film Critic) Chappell raved
about the American cameramen's work
at Gainsborough, quite forgetting that
the pic in question was lit by one of
their German importees!
•
The Ealing Studios have just built
a grand camera crane, the first of its
kind to hit British studios. . . Every-
one is seeing Dreams Walking in this
Burg. . . . Mark Ostrer, Sam Eckman
and Sol G. Newman having a luncheon
huddle. . . . Johnnie Green made a
personal at the "Cover The Water-
front" screening here and played
some of his own moosic. . . . Greta
Nissen, boys and gals, is Park Lane-
ing. . . . "Say?" said the suspicious
guest when the indie outfit here threw
a dance and requested all people to
wear Evening Clothes, "they're not
still shooting that Society pic out here
are they???"
Merrill White will cut the jack Bu-
chanan pic, "Sons of Guns."
Maurice Elvey directs more box office
pics than anyone in the town. . . Ner-
ina Shute, movie scribbler is en route
to Russia; it must have excited her
because she mentioned in an early part
in her column that she was going to
talk about Diana Napier and left it at
that, utilizing all space to talk about
Betty Balfour's comeback. . . George
Ayre, slick publicity hound, is back
with Irving Asher's Warner-Brit out-
fit; and thousands cheer. . . Sydney
Bernstein, without so much as bye-
bye, jumped a boat for America and
might hit Hollywood again. . . . Otto
Ludwig is now an ace "Scissor King"
at Caumonts.
Aus. Battle Looms
As War to Finish
Sydney. — The eyes of the film
trade are focused on the daily sittings
here of the New South Wales Gov-
ernmental Film inquiry in which tes-
timony is now being taken in what
looms as a war to the finish between
the American film distributors and the
General Theatres Corporation.
Bernard Freeman, speaking for
MGM, declared they want to build
new theatres of their own because of
the unsatisfactory conditions govern-
ing the general release of his com-
pany's films. Some suburban inde-
pendents welcome the project of new
theatre building apart from the G. T.
C. control.
Stuart Doyle, of G. T. C, advo-
cated appointment of permanent board
to regulate industry here. He also
brought out that erection of new the-
atres by foreign capital would spell
ruin to his organization. Other exec-
utives of the G. T. C. declared the
country has more theatres now than it
can fill, and asserted that if American
film companies are allowed to build
theatres they will foist pictures upon
the natives that are not wanted. Also
G. T. C. men declared no foreign capi-
tal should be permitted to have any
part in theatre building.
London Films Leases
Whitehall Studio
London. — London Film Produc-
tions have taken over the former
Whitehall studio from Consolidated
Film Studios, Ltd. New lease is for a
six months period. The studio has
been sound-proofed and new insulat-
ed floors laid. Another stage is to be
added, and plan is to try to put over
idea of the co-operative plan among
exhibitors whereby they produce pic-
tures themselves.
Sound City Enterprising
London. — Norman Loudon, manag-
ing director at Sound City, has given
chances to four new directors in the
past year and all came through in fine
shape. The quartet are W. P. Lips-
comb, John Baxter, John Hunt and
John Paddy Carstairs. Now he is giv-
ing another youngster a chance, An-
drew Kimmins.
Irish Pictures Planned
Dublin. — Well-founded report here
is that the Dutch Ediphone Company
is coming here to establish itself as
Irish Ediphone, with J. B. T. Thole as
managing director. It is in line with
efforts in the Irish Free State to es-
tablish its own picture pr,oducing in-
dustry.
'Bowery' Opens in Paris
Paris. — "The Bowery," Darryl Zan-
uck's Twentieth Century production,
opened at the Lord Byron Theatre Sat-
urday, and despite the unsettled con-
ditions caused by the riots it is off to
a good start. The critics received it
with high praise.
Belfrage's Great Sendoff
London. — Cedric Belfrage, starting
round the world for a vacation, was
the recipient of one of the greatest
gatherings of screen celebrities ever
seen here at a farewell party. He is
succeeded on the Sunday Express by
Ernest Betts.
PARIS GOSSIP
You should hear Mosjoukine at the
Martainitch . . . where vodka is vodka
and where blinis are caviar . . . tell-
ing of his experiences in America
making pictures for Papa Laemmle.
... He doesn't like talkies and is in
despair over Chaplin's announced de-
cision to make one. . . . Feder is in
from Nice and holding important con-
ferences with the idea of building a
French Hollywood at the Antibes. . . .
The riots are hurting theatre busi-
ness tremendously.
•
Mervyn LeRoy, with his bride, get-
ting a break on publicity while here.
. . . Curtis Melnitz at United Artists
busy as a bee. . . . The Gaumont Pal-
ace is doing nicely with a music hall
program. ... It's a wonder the kids
don't get indigestion with a full show
of "Mickey Mouse" cartoons at the
Lord Byron. . . . The kids laugh, the
grown-ups become children again, and
the cash is rolling in to United Ar-
tists.
•
The film crowd went in a big way
for this year's Bal des Petits Lits
Blanc, organized by Le Jour. ... Six
thousand tickets were sold for the
charity affair almost before a pub-
licity campaign was started. . . . The
latest beauty contest on here is one to
choose "the most beautiful car."
French Shelves Bulging
Paris. — Financial troubles that have
hit French picture companies in the
last year are illustrated by the state-
ment made at the recent independent
theatre owners meeting that there are :• i
unfinished French films in the value
of fifty million marks.
New French Trade Sheet
Paris. — A new French trade paper
has made its appearance, "La Syn-
chro." It is the organ of the French
Synchronization Actors Association,
the group doing the dubbing of foreign
films.
Dry Cleaning in London
London. — MGM pictures get the
title change treatment over here, "Es-
kimo" becoming "Mala the Magnifi-
cent" and "Sons of the Desert" ar-
riving as "Fraternally Yours."
New Para. Aussie Chief
Sydney. — John E. Kennebeck has
been appointed managing director of
Paramount Film Service, Ltd., of Aus-
tralia, succeeding William J. Clark,
who resigned.
Famous Tenor in Films
London. — Ricard Tauber, famous
tenor, is due here in March for a film
production of "The Life of Schubert,"
which Paul Stein will direct for B.I.P. '
Add to Gaumont Staff
London. — Russell Metcalfe, New :
York playwright, and Ley Lipton have '
been added to Gaumont's writing :
staff.
Huston on 26- Wk. Ticket
London — Selznick-Joyce office here
has placed Jqhn_JHuston a 26-week i y
contract to write for British-Gaumont.
Feb. 14, 1934
j^kfeUp^.
Page Eleven
Labor Showdown
(Continued from Page 1 )
Complaints coming to Rosenblatt
on the Hollywood situation have cen-
tered on the assertion that the Studio
Labor Board is dodging action on any
question with the statement that they
have not yet received authority from
the Code Authority, which is now the
real boss of the picture industry, and
not Rosenblatt.
The President's order was issued on
February 8. On the very same day
Rosenblatt is reported to have wired
union officials in Los Angeles, in re-
sponse to their kicks about the stall-
ing, "The Studio Labor Committee
was appointed by the Code Authority
with approval of the Administrator."
This telegram from Rosenblatt was
sent in reply to a telegram from the
unions asking whether or not the La-
bor Committee had authority to act.
A significant feature of the telegram
from Rosenblatt to the unions was the
fact that it concluded with the words:
"With kindest regards."
The President's order, made public
today, decrees that all employers op-
erating under an approved code must
post the labor provisions of those
codes conspicuously in their establish-
ments so that employees, as well as
other complainants, could be fully
aware of the employers' labor require-
ments.
The Executive order calls attention
to Section Ten A of the National In-
dustrial Recovery Act, prescribing a
fine not to exceed five hundred dol-
lars or imprisonment not to exceed six
months, or both, for each day's viola-
tion, or any violation of the code pur-
suant to the provision of the Execu-
tive order.
REPORTER AWARDlf^ GREETED
WITH RUSH OF ENTHUSIASM
La Sullavan Still
Mystery to the 'U*
Hollywood. — Despite the statement
above that Rosenblatt had told the
unions that the local labor committees
were authorized to function, it was
impossible to get any action in town
yesterday. Union officials just stated
that they were still being stalled; la-
bor committee officials cannot be
reached by reporters.
An additional interesting element
was added to the local situation yes-
terday by the statement from Judge
Ben Lindsay, attorney for the lATSE
during the late strike, that he has just
been informed by State NRA Adminis-
trator George Creel that he had been
selected to fill a "certain position of
importance" in connection with the
film code in Hollywood.
judge Lindsay declared that while he
planned to accept the job he could
not say just what it was to be. He
stated that the decision to create the
position and place him in it had been
made at the recent conference in
Washington of the code administrators
of the 48 states.
"Mr. Creel telephoned me from
San Francisco," he said, "and asked
me to take the job. He said he would
be down here within a few days. He
emphasized that it is important."
' Aside from that the Judge would
not indicate what it is. However,
1 speculation was rife last night, and
1 there were many guesses, due to the
I fact that the Judge was so active in
\ the interests of labor during the
strike, even going to Washington to
represent the lATSE men.
Mailing of Ballots
Brings Quick Reply
With the completion last night of
the mailing of ballots, voting in The
Hollywood Reporter Awards of Merit
competition is under way. And with
the mailing of the ballots completed,
praise of The Reporter's system of se-
lection started rolling into the office.
The Reporter believed that a sys-
tem of selection in which the ENTIRE
personnel of the industry did the vot-
ing would be more representative than
any system of selection by smaller
groups, so ballots have been mailed
to all the workers. They will vote for
the most outstanding examples of di-
rection, acting, writing, art direction,
cinematography and sound recording.
Following is some of the comment
of leading people of the industry re-
garding The Reporter awards:
"The Hollywood Reporter medal for
artistic accomplishment is both timely
and extremely interesting. I think it
would be more fair to have theatre-
men, exchangemen, critics and pro-
ducers vote on these awards than con-
fine the voting to Hollywood alone.
"FRANK BORZACE."
"An award of merit for any artis-
tic attainment is a good thing. The
Hollywood Reporter medals will be a
prized token but more than that they
will represent wide recognition of ef-
fort, talent and performance — the
best applause any true artist can get.
Success to the idea.'
"LOWELL SHERMAN."
"I think the Hollywood Reporter
cannot be too highly commended for
making it possible for the great mass
of workers of the industry to have a
voice in saying who deserves the
greatest distinction. It is a grand
idea, and will be an award that will
mean something to the winners.
"JAMES GLEASON."
"The Hollywood Reporter's plan for
awarding medals of merit for out-
standing achievement in the industry
is one of the finest plans I have ever
heard of. It is a much fairer method
than to have the decision made by
one small group. This will be a uni-
versal decision.
"RALPH MORGAN."
"Congratulations to the Hollywood
Reporter on a grand idea. Recogni-
tion for artistic value in pictures will
elevate our standards and gain for the
worth while pictures, actors and di-
rectors the credit they deserve. It is
sad but true that the industry has
complimented its artistic success too
little.
"B. F. ZEIDMAN."
Lenore Kingsfon Tagged
Lenore Kingston has been assigned
to a managerial contract by the Ber-
nard and Meiklejohn agency. Miss
Kingston, who is under contract to
Universal, will have a featured spot in
"Little Man, What Now?" as her
next.
Lederer Back to MCM
Charles Lederer returns to the MGM
writing staff, joining the Irving Thal-
berg unit. Writer is waiting for an
assignment.
Bright Future
The Warner publicity depart-
ment describes George Evans, the
Highland Park youngster selected
to play Joe E. Brown as a child in
"Sawdust," like this: "Joe E.
Brown can get four billiard balls
in his mouth. George Evans, at
the age of three and a half, can
hide two in his oral cavity."
Two Bricker Yarns Get
Live Studio Interest
George Bricker has just completed
an original newspaper yarn that has
several studio heads a-flutter. It is
called "Ink Gets in the Blood."
Another of Bricker's originals,
"School Teacher," is now in the hands
of Warner Brothers, who are consider-
ing it as a yarn for Aline MacMahon.
Lichtig & Englander are agenting
Bricker.
M. H. Hoffman Builds
Cast for The Quitter'
M. H. Hoffman has signed Phillips
Holmes, Jack LaRue and Leila Hyams
for the leading roles in his next Lib-
erty production, "The Quitter," which
Fred Newmyer directs.
Also in the cast are Hedda Hop-
per, Christian Rub, Garry Owen and
Carl Miller, latter three set through
the MacQuarrie office.
A Boy at Payettes'
Washington. — John J. Payette, zone
manager in the Washington territory
for Warners Theatres, is passing out
the cigars. Mrs. Payette presented
him with a nine-pound boy last Thurs-
day. Mrs. Payette is the daughter
of Harry M. Crandall, former Wash-
ington theatre magnate.
80 in 'Legal Murder'
New York. — "Legal Murder," the
much discussed play about the Scotts-
boro murder case, and the defense of
a group of negroes, opens Thursday
at the President Theatre. The play
has a cast of eighty.
Keaton Starts Today
Buster Keaton starts his first week
before a camera since leaving MGM
today in the initial two-reeler on his
deal with Educational. Comedian has
been busy on personal appearances ar-
ranged by Leo Morrison.
Leon Waycoff Returns
Having finished his role opposite
Constance Binnie in "Among Those
Sailing," Leon Waycoff has returned
to town. Play ran in Philadelphia for
several months.
Combell in 'Dynamite'
Radio yesterday signed Minna Com-
bell for a featured role in "Strictly
Dynamite," which Elliott Nugent di-
rects. Lupe Velez and Jimmy Durante
have the top spots.
Starling to Radio
Lynn Starling was set at Radio yes-
terday by Edington and Vincent to
write dialogue for the screen play of
"Down to Their Last Yacht." Lou
Brock pilots.
Universal officials declared yester-
day that while New York may say
Margaret Sullavan boarded a plane,
her plans and whereabouts are still a
mystery to the studio.
Production of "Little Man, What
Now?" originally scheduled to start
Monday, is now understood to be like-
ly to slip back another week anyway
to round out story problems. Doug-
lass Montgomery will be in the lead
opposite Sullavan, and Frank Borzage
directs.
Actor Guild Makes
Election Statement
The Special Committee of the
Screen Actors Guild meets tonight to
name tellers and other necessary of-
ficials for the election of NRA com-
mittee candidates on Sunday evening.
Officials of the Guild are anxious
to let players know that while efforts
have been made to notify all screen
players with credits of Sunday's elec-
tion, any oversight may have been
only due to lack of a proper address,
and all properly credited players are
invited.
Lloyd Honored By Shrine
Harold Lloyd was yesterday induct-
ed into the office of Second Cere-
monial Master of Al Malaikah Temple.
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Vol. XIX. No. 30. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday. February 15, 1934
PRtS. BANS SCN'S PILM
Washington Says That SIOOO
A Week Offer For Roosevelt's
Son Stepped On By President
•IS the Warner production system
right or wrong? Is the rush and bus-
tle of making pictures that have been
given the same rush and bustle in
their preparation the right way to
make pictures? Is it the best pro-
cedure to take a director who finishes
a picture one day and start him shoot-
ing another the day after?
We have been asking ourselves this
question for the past two years, have
been comparing the product of War-
ners with that of other studios, pic-
ture for picture, and although we don't
believe Warners have the right idea,
nor are some of the others wrong in
taking plenty of time for preparation
and shooting, we must confess that
Warners have done as well and maybe
a little better than the majority with
their short schedules and working
their directors and writers 365 days a
year.
•
Warners make sixty pictures a year.
They have eight directors under con-
tract and, occasionally, run in an out-
sider for a job; but those eight direc-
tors account for 95 per cent of that
program, giving each man from seven
to ten pictures a year to shoulder, ne-
cessitating no "between picture" lay-
offs with or without pay.
Compare the number of pictures
that Warners are making with that of
any other studio and you will find they
beat the next competitor in quantity
by at least eight, most of them by
fifteen or twenty. And by the same
comparison you will find that most
other studios have more directors,
twice as many writers, and the re-
sults of those efforts are about the
same, maybe a little better, maybe a
little worse, but with no comparison
in cost per picture.
From that comparison you will feel
that Warners are ABSOLUTELY cor-
rect in their production ideas, that
their hustle and bustle, their short
shooting schedules and their working
the daylights out of producers, writers,
directors and casts (saving the com-
pany plenty of money) is the thing
to do — IF you abide by those compari-
sons. We don't.
•
The failure of other studios, name-
ly MCM, Paramount and others, in
their efforts to make better pictures,
throughout a year's program, than
Warners, because they have longer
(Continued on Page 7)
Warner Stands Pat
New York. — Adolph Zukor's in-
terviews that Para may go to profit
sharing to settle salary squabbles
brought a statement today from
Harry Warner that his company
would stand pat on its present sal-
ary methods.
Pathe Puts $150,000
Into Majestic Pics
New York. — One of the first moves
of Pathe in its new financing plans is
said to be the placing of $150,000 at
the disposal of the Majestic Pictures
organization to complete that distribu-
tor's schedule for the coming year.
Statement made here is that this
cash, with additional credit balances,
is expected to swing at least four pic-
tures for Majestic.
Resume 'Operator 1 3' with
New Script, New Director
MCM will resume shooting on "Op-
erator 13," the Marion Davies-Cary
Cooper co.^starring vehicle, next Mon-
day under the direction of Richard
B.o)eslavsky.
Harvey Thew and Zelda Sears are
writing the new treatment and the
picture will go back into work with a
brand new script.
Nana^ Holds Up
New York. — "Nana" finished its
second week at the Music Hall hit-
ting a bit above the $86,000 mark,
very healthy money for a second week
at any house, and added to the $103,-
000 for the first week starting the
picture off with a bang locally.
Nat Saland Here
Nat Saland, veteran Eastern Labo-
ratory man, now running his own
plant, Mercury Laboratories, of New
York, is in town at the Hollywood
Plaza. Understood to have a number
of release print deals on.
Washington. — There is a report going the rounds here that
in its in-between the lines implications can mean a lot to Holly-
wood. Briefly the story is that Elliott Roosevelt's recent flying
trip to the Capitol concerned the reports that the President's son
was to take a thousand-a-week job in
the movies and that the net result of
the trip was an "order" from daddy
to do no such thing.
The reports then go on to say that
the President didn't object to his son
taking any job in the movies for
(Continued on Page 3)
Play Prices Slump
In N. Y. Market
New York. — The play market must
be in for a slump, judging from three
recent prices paid by Radio for stage
vehicles. The price tags read: "A
Hat, a Coat, a Clove," $17,500;
"Wednesday's Child," about $25,000,
and less than $10,000 for "False
Dreams Farewell."
These prices compare with $90,-
000 and $40,000 prices early in the
season for plays like "Ah, Wilder-
ness" and "Double Door," neither of
which is near the screen yet.
Lesser-Krellberg Split
Sol Lesser, after handling the "Tar-
zan" serial through Sherman Krell-
berg financing, is understood to have
found other means of swinging his
deal for the coming "Peck's Bad Boy."
Burt Kelly to N. Y.
New York. — Burt Kelly is on a fly-
ing visit here for huddle with William
Saal on plans which will seal the two
producers on a national production
deal.
RADIO SEALS COOPER
BERMAIV WHILE LOT %VAITS
The conferences that have been
staged on the Radio lot between the
heads of RKO and Radio Pictures were
brought to a close last night with
complete understandings between the
top officials and Merian C. Cooper
and Pandro Berman, the two ace pro-
ducers for the organization.
The understanding with Cooper is
that he is to take his round-the-
world trip and get all the rest and
recreation that he has been fighting
for. On his return he can do one of
three things, step back in the top
spot at the studio; divide the produc-
tion activities with Pandro Berman,
with both of them having separate
ijnits under their wings, or confine his
activities to the production of the
(Continued on Page 7)
Lloyd Returns To
Fox For Two Pics
Frank Lloyd and Fox have penned
their signatures to the two-picture
contract which has been cooking for
several weeks. The director returns
to the company to pilot the next Janet
Gaynor-Charles Farrell picture, which
Winfield Sheehan produces.
Ticket, negotiated through the
Small-Landau office, gives Lloyd the
right to make an outside picture. Ne-
gotiations are on with another studio
to produce his story "Mutiny on the
Bounty."
JtLecht on Rewrite job
For MGM's'Viva Villa'
New York. — Be.n Hecht is busy on
the rewriting of new sequences to be
photographed at Metro - Coldwyn -
Mayer for their production of "Viva
Villa."
Each sequence is being airmailed to
the studio, and Wallace Beery, here
vacationing, has been told to be ready
for an air flight on an hour's notice, to
be on the set for these added scenes.
Trains Loaded with Film
Folk Whom You Know
New York. — Clear up the bright
spots, some of the nice folks are com-
ing back to Hollywood. The list of
those en route includes Mr. and Mrs.
Ricardo Cortez iChrissie Lee I , Ruth
Donnelly, George F. Kaufman, that
famous team of Moss and Hart, and
Sigfried Rumann, who will play in the
Fox picture, "The World Moves On."
Peeved Norma Returns
New York. — Norma Talmadge,
peeved about the story she was hand-
ed m England, arrives here today on
the Paris. Virginia Chernll and Cary
Grant, bridal couple, are also aboard.
Grainger Vacations
New York. — James R. Grainger,
sales manager of Universal, left New
York yesterday on a rest cruise in the
West Indies.
[
JOHN CROMWELL
NOW DIRECTING
FOR RADIO
OF HLIMAN BONDAGE'
1^
tm
I
Page Two
Feb. 15, 1934
W R WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH . Managmg Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
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Published every dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Ivan Lebedeff and Wera Engels are
on their way back to Hollywood and
that romance is hotter than ever. . . .
Lebedeff s big business deal in the East
was a huge success, but it's still a se-
cret from most of the world. . . .
Nancy Carroll and Bolton Mallory, af-
ter another fight that was a honey,
have definitely split and are living
apart, . . . Ruth Seiwyn dashed off to
Europe alone, but Edgar is having gay
moments in New York just the same.
•
If Joan Bennett's baby arrives on
time she can take her pick of parts
from a number of pictures and grab
herself the lead in "Pursuit of Hap-
piness," which is one of the plums
of the year. . . . Clark Gable, Ed-
mund Lowe and Lionel Barrymore all
doing personal appearances around
New York and packing them in. . . .
Gregory Ratoff will be off to Eng-
land any minute now to make a san-
sa-tion-al picture for British Gaumont
in London and he'll have to be there
by March 19. . . . The Dick Barthel-
messes, Kay Francis and Ronnie Col-
man are spending the next few days
up at Lydia Macy's ranch. . . . Willing
to bet that the Randolph Scott-Vivien
Gaye match will never light.
•
Ricardo Cortez decided to turn the-
atrical producer while in New York
and is about to back a play called
"Shoestrings," which is now being
whipped into shape for Broadway. . . .
After all the fuss and bother and ex-
citement, it now looks as though Zee
Akins won't have any royalty for a
house-guest after all. . . Princess Ma-
rie, who was supposed to come out
here and stay with Zoe, can't seem
to agree with B. P. Schulberg on how
much a technical director is worth for
"Thirty Day Princess" and it looks as
if that deal is off.
•
Katharine Hepburn just bought her
contract from Jed Harris with her own
money to get out of touring with "The
Lake" because Radio refused to get
her out of it and there's a strong pos-
sibility that La Hepburn may not fin-
ish her contract with Radio if Radio
is foolish enough to let her slip
through their fingers over the matter
of a few thousand dollars in raise that
the gal deserves.
THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN"
MGM prod.; director, Wm. K. Howard; writers. Zelda Sears, Eve Greene,
Edgar Allan Wocif, Florence Ryerson, Marjorie B. Paradis
Capitol Theatre
Times: A sincere and affecting piece of work, one of the best vehicles in which
the popular Lionel Barrymore has appeared. As refreshing as "Little
Women." It is blessed with the proper restraint and the suspense keeps
one on the qui vive. Each character is developed in a believable fashion
and none of the players is asked to cater to what might be considered the
box-office angle.
News: Although the picture moves a little slowly at first it is always interesting.
Its comedy and tragedy are so blended as to draw both laughter and tears
in the right places.
World-Telegram: Although its cast contains such excellent players as Lionel
Barrymore and Fay Bainter, "This Side of Heaven" is not very good and
does nothing to dispel the lethargy that has seized the recent cinema ar-
rivals on Broadway.
lournal: Absorbing entertainment, excellently acted and directed. It is smartly
cast. Each role is so expertly filled that the story emerges as a thoroughly
believable and convincing document. Provided with an intensely human
story, William K. Howard has skillfully woven the details into a quietly
fascinating pattern.
American: Players and director have endowed the piece with a sympathtic qual-
ity that makes it good entertainment for the whole family of moviegoers.
As is expected in a William K. Howard production, he has embroidered his
film with those niceties of workmanship which make all the difference
between a good picture and just another one.
Mirror: Pleasing, wholesome film which describes a typical Lionel Barrymore
hero. Splendidly acted by Barrymore and a fine supporting cast, directed
with William K. Howard's usual imaginative touches, the picture has a
simple, powerful appeal.
Post: One can put up with threadbare stories if they are honestly conceived and
written, but there is no possible excuse for a picture so flabby and false as
the one which Mr. Barrymore is forced to carry on his shoulders.
Sun: Its manner of telling is episodic and hurried, diffusing its interest among a
half dozen characters rather than concentrating upon one or two. Mr. Bar-
rymore, Miss Bainter and Miss Merkel carry their roles competently
enough. The story swings along when they are present. It is the minor
characters who in this film are not minor characters at all, who let the
picture down.
Arthur Ticket At
Col. Long Termer
Jean Arthur was signed by Colum-
bia to a five-year contract yesterday.
She will do four pictures a year.
As told in yesterday's Reporter, her
first picture will be "The Most Prec-
ious Thing in Life," which will start
about March 1 . Her Columbia con-
tract came as a result of her work in
"Whirlpool," which she is now mak-
ing. The contract gives her the right
to make pictures at other studios pro-
viding Columbia okays her parts.
Ralph Farnum set the deal.
Nick Crinde To Meg For
Magna Pictures 3-Reelers
Jas. Whale Brings
Script With Him
New York. — James Whale, arriv-
ing on the Europa today, brings with
him a complete script on "A Trip To
Mars," by R. C. Sherriff, which he
will direct for Universal.
Other picture and theatrical ar-
rivals on the same liner included Peg-
gie Wood, Hattie Carnegie and Sam
Woods.
New Metro Ticket for
Director Rowland Brown
MGM handed Rowland Brown a
new three months' ticket yesterday
and at the same time gave him a
leave of absence for a similar period
so that he might go to England to
direct "Java Head" for A. and B. Pic-
tures. Brown will probably direct
"Stealing Through Life" at MGM
when he returns.
Connie Cummings Abroad
Constance Cummings and Benn W.
Levy leave for London upon the com-
pletion of the star's role in Universal's
"Glamour" in two weeks. Couple go
via Orient, spending the summer at
the writer's London home.
Cormack Scripts 'Woman'
Bartlett Cormack was yesterday as-
signed to the screen job on "One
Woman" at Paramount, the story be-
ing planned for Miriam Hopkins' next
picture.
Atwill on the Air
Lionel Atwill goes on the air at
KHj on the evening of February 22,
over a coast to coast Columbia net-
work of 85 stations. He will plug the
Academy and its annual awards com-
petition, along with other things. Ap-
pearance is in the nature of an inter-
view with local column chatterer ask-
ing the questions.
Universal Signs Two
Renee Gadd, English player, gets
her first American role in Universal's
"Bachelor Wife," signing the deal yes-
terday. Paul Cavanagh has also been
handed a featured spot.
Bobby Crawford Coming
Bobby Crawford, head of the De
Sylva, Brown and Henderson publish-
ing company, arrives here from New
York Saturday.
HOLLYWOOD
OS.
NEW YORK
re: C A P E H A R T S
Hollywood: leading
WM. HANSEN
OR- 1964
Jick Grinde has been signed by
lagna Pictures in New York to di-
rect three two-reelers with an option
for three more. He will direct two
shorts starring Bert Lahr and one star-
ring Harry Richman. The Bernard
and Meiklejohn agency made the deal.
Grinde will leave for New York to-
night by train.
'Stolen Sweets' Starts
"Stolen Sweets," a Jack R. Batch-
eller production for Chesterfield, goes
into production today at Universal.
Sally Blane and Polly Ann Young
have the feminine featured roles, and
Charles Starrett has male lead. Richard
Thorpe directs. Goodee Montgomery,
of the old team of Montgomery and
Stone, also is in the cast.
Dunn-Eilers Reunited
Fox reunites the Jimmy Dunn-Sally
Eilers team in "Always Honest," which
Sol Wurtzel has scheduled. E. E. Par-
amore is on the screen play.
Universal Seeks Sloane
Universal is negotiating for Paul
Sloane to direct Gloria Stuart and Lew
Ayres in the Beckins Thorpe novel
"The Two O'Gradys."
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
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Available for State Right Market
Communicate with
IDEAL PICTURES CORP.,
729 Seventh Avenue, New York City
M. j. Kandel, President
Cable Kandelfilm, New York
Feb. 15, 1934
THE
Page Three
'HAROLD' WITH MUSIC WEAK
r FOX'S 'DAVID HARIJM' A 'DUD
Good Yarn Ruined
To Plant LeRoy
9
^^i
"HAROLD TEEN"
(Warners)
Direction Murray Roth
en Play ...Paul Gerard Smith
and Al Cohn
Music Irving Kahal
and Sammy Fain
Photography Arthur Todd
Cast: Hal LeRoy, Rochelle Hudson,
Patricia Ellis, Guy Kibbee, Hugh
Herbert, Hobart Cavanaugh, Chic
Chandler, Eddie Tamblyn, Doug-
las Dumbrille, Clara Blandick,
Mayo Methot, Richard Carle and
Charles Wilson.
There was a swell juvenile comedy
for the screen in Carl Ed's comic strip
of "Harold Teen." This was demon-
strated when it was originally made
by First National with Arthur Lake in
the title role, having emerged as a
memorable farce of high school days.
Much to everyone's surprise, the cur-
rent version by Warners is a BACK-
STAGE MUSICAL COMEDY. This
version will get by as a program at-
traction. But no more.
The original treatment of the story
based upon these nationally known
cartoon characters has been discarded
in its entirety — which would have
been all right had the present adapters
substituted anything half as good.
They didn't and story difficulties con-
stantly hamper director and cast. Mur-
ray Roth, directing, accomplished a
workmanlike job with what he had
to work with. But that wasn't much.
Obviously, the whole aim of the
production is to introduce Hal LeRoy,
now playing Harold, as an extraordi-
nary dancer. He is one of the fastest
men on his feet the screen has ever
seen and his specialty at the close
of the picture will bring down any
house anywhere. The trouble is they
have tried to get a feature picture out
of a single dance.
For story there is a phoney menace
to the love affair of Harold and Lil-
lums offered by a banker and his
daughter. The audience never knows
how menacing this menace will be-
come, nor for that matter does the
menace seem to know. All that it
leads up to is an amateur show put
on by the high school lads and lassies
in which the hit is of course furnished
by Harold, who learned dancing by
mail. Audiences unacquainted with
Hal LeRoy's stage reputation will be
astonished by how well he learned.
LeRoy makes an excellent appear-
ance as Harold and handles his dia-
logue well. He is a bit out of charac-
ter in the opening reels, being played
too heavily as a dolt. That, too, is
story fault.
Rochelle Hudson is a perfect Lil-
lums, revealing an unexpectedly good
singing voice. Patricia Ellis registers
briefly as the vamp and Douglas Dum-
brille does well by her banker father.
Hobart Cavanaugh as Pops, the Sugar
Bowl proprietor; Guy Kibbee and Clara
Blandick, Lillums' parents, stand out.
Hugh Herbert has no chance and who-
ever assigned Chick Chandler a part
as a high-schooler deserves an A in
imagination. He must have been a
Secret Service
Joe Connor, famous government
sleuth, is m Hollywood working
under cover in one of the studios.
He is said to be working as a me-
chanic and getting lowdown on
code violations which might cause
a sensation later when his reports
are acted on in Washington. Stu-
dio officials are checking frantically
to locate him. Thus far they draw
a blank.
Two Start Monday
At 20th Century
Twentieth Century busts into ac-
tivity on Monday with the starting of
two pictures. Actual shooting will
start on "Bulldog Drummond," the
Ronald Colman feature, while rehear-
sals will get under way on the next
George Arliss feature, "The Head of
the Family."
Studio workers are doing a rave
over what they have seen of the first
George Arliss, "The House of Roth-
schild."
Writers Guild Pulls
Five From Academy
The Screen Writers Guild was en-
thused last night over the fact that
five of the members of the Academy
and Guild who had been named by
the Academy for possible appointments
to code positions resigned their Acad-
emy honors.
The writers who have withdrawn
from the Academy slate are Harlan
Thompson, Samson Raphaelson, Kubec
Glasmon, Bess Meredyth and Houston
Branch. They constitute five of the
thirteen Guild members who were on
the Academy list of nineteen.
'Bordeaux' in N. Y.
Repeats London Hit
New York. — "Richard of Bor-
deaux" opened here tonight with
Dennis King in the lead and was a
smash hit, repeating the big success
the play had on its opening night in
London, where it is still running after
seven months of play.
Fox Makes a Buy
New York. — Planned for a Janet
Caynor vehicle, Fox yesterday bought
a novel by Sigrid Boo, titled "Serv-
ant's Entrance." Simon and Shuster
published Not quite clear whether
Fox bought the author's name or the
story.
Academy Dines Press
The Academy will stage a luncheon
for the press next Wednesday, Febru-
ary 21. Affair will be at Al Levy's
Tavern. Trade, dailies, news syndicates
and fan magazine writers will be in-
vited.
very backward student to have taken
so long to graduate.
Your plug is, of course, the draw of
the comic strip. But don't promise
too much. It is mild entertainrrient
at best.
Rogers and Title
Only Highlights
"DAVID HARUM"
Fox
Direction James Cruze
Author Edward Noyes Westcott
Adaptor Walter Woods
Photography Hal Mohr
Cast: Will Rogers, Louise Dresser,
Evelyn Venable, Stepin Fetchit,
Charles Middleton, Sarah Padden,
Kent Taylor, Noah Beery and
Roger Imhof.
Everyone knows what a Will Rog-
ers picture IS, and "David Harum" is
almost too much of the same old
thing. It is just too homely and
wholesome and quaint, and it is also
frightfully slow.
It is so slow, in fact, that the few
really good comedy sequences stand
out almost hilariously. The picture lags
badly in the beginning, then breaks
into a gentle trot, balks a few times,
and ends in a pretty good run.
There is practically no story. It is,
rather, a series of episodes . . . horse
trading, helping poor widows with
mortgages, and straightening out a
tottering love affair. Will Rogers, of
course, fits perfectly the character of
David Harum.
The several horse trades between
Rogers and Charles Middleton are
classics. Their endless whittling,
which starts out nonchalantly and gets
more furious as the deal grows hotter;
their beating around the bush, and
their gleeful, turn-about gyping of
each other is all very amusing. The
horse race at the end, with the balky
trotter who won't budge unless his
driver sings "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay," is
hilarious.
Evelyn Venable is charming as Rog-
ers' young friend who needs his help
to win the bank clerk, Kent Taylor.
Louise Dresser is perfectly cast as
Rogers' sister, and Stepin Fetchit is a
distinct hit in his role. Charles Mid-
dleton is swell as the trading deacon,
Sarah Padden is beautifully outstand-
ing in a small role; Kent Taylor is
rather stiff, and Noah Beery and Roger
Imhof are seen briefly.
Walter Woods has kept the essen-
tials in his adaptation of the Edward
Noyes Westcott book; James Cruze
directed well, especially the horse
trading and the lace sequences; and
Hal Mohr photographed.
The picture has good, authentic at-
mosphere, and the exciting finish is in
its favor. Rogers fans will be pleased
but unexcited by it.
Lowe Up for 'U' Lead
Report has it that Edmund Lowe
will be the man chosen by Universal
to play opposite eight (count 'em)
women in "Frailty," which Ed Marin
will direct for Universal. Picture is
from the play, "The Women in His
Life."
Phillips Holmes Back
Phillips Holmes arrived in town
yesterday. Starts work immediately
in the M. H. Hoffman production "No
Ransom."
Buck Jones Set for
Ken Maynard Spot
Those on the inside say that Buck
Jones will probably be Universal's
western star when Ken Maynard fin-
ishes his present picture, "Doomed To
Die."
This picture, his eighth on present
contract, is also the last on this con-
tract. It is reported that Maynard
isn't very anxious to renew with Uni-
versal, and it IS rumored that Univer-
sal isn't so hot to have him. Already
studio IS said to be dickering with
Buck Jones to slip in and furnish the
westerns for the "U" program.
TwoStudiosSeeking
Deal on Joel McCrea
Joel McCrea is being sought by two
studios on a one-picture loanout deal
from Radio. Warners want him for
the lead opposite Kay Francis in her
next picture "The Firebird," and
Charles Rogers wants him for the top
spot in "Canal Boy," opposite Dorothy
Wilson.
The studio plans to loan him out
for one of these pictures, but has not
yet decided on which one.
Miss MacDonald East
Jeanette MacDonald left by train
last night for a two weeks' trip to
New York. She will make several
radio broadcasts over CBS and return
in time to play the feminine lead in
"Tne Merry Widow." Miss Mac-
Donald was accompanied by her man-
ager, Robert Ritchie, who leaves from
New York for two months in Europe.
Lssxy Wants Kruger
Jesse L. Lasky yesterday placed a
bid with MGM for the loan of Otto
K ujer for a top spot in "Forgotten
Lips," formerly titled "Springtime for
Henry," at Fox.
Academy Meet Off
Academy affairs under new lease of
life are going along so nicely at pres-
ent that the special "steering com-
mittee" will pass up its regular weekly
meeting slated for tomorrow.
Baum Yarn for Wynne
"I Give You My Love," a Vicki
Baurri^sfory, will probably be the star-
ring vehicle Universal will use for
Wynne Gibson.
Pres. Bans Son's Plum
(Continued from Page 1 )
which he might be fitted, at a salary
he was worth, but he objected stren-
uously to Elliott at this time, with all
the talk of movie salary control, and
protection of stockholders, being tag-
ged with a thousand a week ticket.
Bluntly, it is put that the Presi-
dent's thoughts were: "You know you
are not worth a thousand a week in a
picture job now. If there is any open-
ing out there for you that is legiti-
mate, take it, at a salary that is le-
gitimate."
The importance to Hollywood In the
story Is the fact that it isn't going to
help the industry's cause any in ar-
guing against salary control to have a
specific case of four-figure offers so
close to the President's own knowl-
edge and acquamtance of the value of
services.
F I
r
O
r
Production No. 1
of eight B. P. SCHULBERG Pictures
for Paramount in 1933-34 —
the first since "THREE - CORNERED MOOi
SYLV
S I D N r
W
c
A PAU
BUILT FOR BOX OFFICE RETURNS
NOT FOR CRITICAL PRAISE -
BUT GETTING BOTH !
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
GOOD DAME will take its place alongside some of the best contributions
B. P. Schulberg has made to the business in his long career.
It does Sylvia Sidney proud ... in a role calculated to enrich her standing as one
of the first ladies of the screen. Sharing equally with her in a particularly difficult
assignment, Fredric March comes off neatly . . .
The picture is genuine, and with a wealth of exciting color . . .
Leon Shamroy's photography is a lesson in that art.
^
O D AY
and
IN
ib
FREDRIC
MARCH
M
r
4i
T PICTURE Directed by MARION CERINC
VARIETY
Sylvia Sidney and Fredric March are co-starred for happy results in GOOD
DAME, a breezy, fresh, well-sustained comedy which can be labeled sock entertain-
ment for any theatre . . . freshly treated, and spiced with lines and business which
keeps up a constant tattoo of solid laughs. Add to this intelligent, zestful direction
of Marion Cering, and a fine balance between action, drive and comic variety and
the b. o. should register no complaints . . .
Different type role becomes March very well, and Miss Sidney has seldom been
more effective than in the combination of wistful, resentful and fantastic comedy
love making which this part permits her.
r^ \
V
iriVIA SIDNEY
as
u
LILY TAYLOR
fl
in
\\
GOOD DAM£
i^
Feb. 15, 1934
jllkfeUp^C.
Page Seven
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
schedules, give people rests between
pictures, have more time for prepa-
ration, does not make the Warner
ideas the correct method for turning
out pictures, but rather shows up the
production staff of the other plants
who spend more money and should
make the Warner gang look like a
quickie outfit when comparing the
quality of their respective output.
But, right or wrong, somebody in
Warners deserves plenty of applause
for keeping an organization working
the way that crowd does. We believe
Zanuck started it, put the fire into
the pack, gave them ambitions and
enthusiasms that no other production
crowd had in this town, and since
Zanuck's departure Hal Wallis has
kept that fire flaming
•
And it demands a lot of fire for
some of the things that are asked.
We heard of a director who came
home late one night recently, just
having completed a picture that day,
and found a script with a note at-
tached to it, informing him that he
had to be on the set the following
morning at nine, to start another pic-
ture. He had never seen the script
before, knew nothing about the story,
had no idea of who had been cast for
the picture; but put in his appear-
ance. Walking on the set he found
two or three hundred people. He did
not know who was who or what they
were there for, but recognizing a face
here and there asked them "What
part are you playing?" Shooting
ark Sullivan Also
Sees Supreme Court
New York. — An important angle on
possible code developments came in a
speech today by Mark Sullivan, famous
political writer, before Williams Uni-
versity yesterday.
Sullivan declared: "I doubt whether
the Supreme Court will uphold the
validity of the NRA codes, as drawn
up by thirty or forty men in various
industries who are not ELECTED rep-
resentatives of the American people."
Want Gary Cooper for
'Pursuit of Happiness'
Arthur Hornblow is trying to get
Gary Cooper for the starring role in
"Pursuit of Happiness," his first pro-
duction under the Paramount banner.
Cooper has not yet signed the three
picture deal that has been discussed
at Paramount for some time, but is ex-
pected to place his signature on a
contract before long.
20th Buys 'Half Angel'
New York. — Twentieth Century has
bought screen rights to the novel
"Half Angel" by Fann^H^asjjg Lea.
started promptly and the picture will,
no doubt, be finished on schedule and
as good as most of them coming out
today.
In what other studio could you hand
a script to a man who had just fin-
ished work on another picture that
day and have him start work on the
new one within six hours from the
time he got the story?
Does this prove anything?
Forty for 'U's' List
In 1934-35 Season
New York. — Universal is stepping
it up for next season. That's tne
first result of the enthusiastic confer-
ences just held here by the Laemmles,
the Cochranes and J. R. Grainger. This
year's program of thirty-six pictures is
to be boosted to forty.
A radical step in the making up of
the selections for the forty pictures
will be meetings this week-end in four
important district zones at which sug-
gestions on types of pictures and per-
sonalities will be asked from the sales
force.
Sullavan Mystery
Just Good Gag
New York. — And now the big city
IS convinced that all the mystery about
the goings and comings of Margaret
Sulllavan is just a publicity stunt.
The reason for the decision is the
information that Universal gave the
gal a leave of absence last Christmas
and just asked her to keep in readi-
ness for a call. She finally got the
"official" call yesterday and will now
fly to the Coast Sunday. Next pic-
ture is "Little Man, What Now?"
Actors Name Tellers
The Special Committee of the
Screeen Actors Guild last night named
the following as a committee on prox-
ies and as tellers for Sunday's elec-
tions: James Dunn, Lucile Gleason,
lean Hersholt, Boris Karloff, Bradley
Page, Thelma Todd, Arthur Vinton.
Radio Seals Cooper
Continued from Page 1 I
corrpany's "specials," with Berman
reading the producers for the re-
mainder of this year's program.
In other words, the whole matter
is still up to Cooper and will remain
so until he comes back, with the or-
ganization, as it is now constructed,
carrying on with the production of the
remainder of this year's program,
about 1 4 pictures.
Herman's deal, which will be signed
today, is contingent for its complete
definition of his activities, on Coop-
er's return and what he decides to
do. However in either case, "Pan"
sticks on and will get the prize pick-
ings for the remainder of this pro-
duction year.
Kahane and McDonough will start
today with an attempted complete
analysis of the rest of the production
organization and sifting out the ap-
plications of outsiders who have put in
bids for production berths at that
spot.
It is expected that McDonough will
issue a statement today that will take
care of the anxiety that has been run-
ning high on the lot since his arrival
and that of Aylesworth.
It is understood that Aylesworth
will leave tonight. Word was passed
along that he did that last night, but
a phone call to the Ambassador
brought the information that he had
not checked out, but was not in his
room at the time of going to press.
Lesser to Frisco
Sol Lesser left by plane yesterday
for San Francisco and returns today.
w
GOOD DAME"
ORIGINAL STORY
by
Willi AM R. IIPMAM
and
SCREEN PLAY
In Collaboration
1 wish to than
k my
staff
and crew for
their
CO-
operation d
uring
the 1
filming of "Good Dame"
MARIOH GERING
DIRECTOR
\\
GOOD DAME
44
5r MR.SAVUEL MARX,
CULVRR CITY.CALIr-'.
Vol. XIX, No. 31. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, February 16, 1934
R€0$EVtlT DENIES OEEER
Schenck Arrival Elliott Claims Not Interested
"^ ProdtH^n^'cab '" ^'^^"''^^ ^"^No Offers Ha ve
Been Made For $1000 Or S30
"\ have never been made an offer directly or indirectly to be-
come affiliated with the motion picture industry."
This from Elliott Roosevelt, denying in full, story rumored on
this page yesterday.
Radio Home Office
Won't Come Here
• THE other night, after the preview
of Frank Capra's latest picture for
Columbia, "It Happened One Night,"
a group of producers working in other
studios, happened to gather around-
the table at one of Hollywood's night
spots and discussed the merits of that
certain-to-be-a-hit picture. All of
them agreed that Frank Capra is about
the best director in the motion picture
business.
Long after the argument had died
down, the head of one of the largest
studios in town, broke the silence
with "I'd give $1,000,000 for the
contracts of Frank Capra, Bob Riskin
and Sam Briskin" and there was a
simultaneous reply from most of those
present which read, "For a few dollars
more you could have the whole Co-
lumbia outfit."
All of which may or may not be
true, but the fact remains that Capra,
Riskin and Briskin are three very able
workers and well worth the $1,000,-
000 offer and more.
•
Just where Bob Riskin started and
finished with his work on that story
and how much Capra had to do with
the actual writing or the inspiration
for it, will never be known. Capra
will tell you that he had nothing to
do with the writing other than to
agree or disagree with any part of its
treatment. Riskin will say that "with-
out Frank, it could not have been."
So, as far as story is concerned, we
have to credit them both.
BUT—
That story in hands other than
Frank Capra's would have been as
nothing, even worse, probably than
MCM's "Fugitive Lovers" or Univer-
sal's "Cross Country Cruise," both
subjects around the same idea. But
with Capra dictating all the move-
ments, telling the artists how to read
their lines and how to react with such
readings, it became one of the most
interesting and fascinating pictures we
have seen in many days and one cer-
tain to do BIG BUSINESS wherever it
IS played.
•
We have never seen a picture with
such easy movement, such utter re-
laxation in telling and one that was
so easily believed. There were times
when you would say, "Here's the spot
where they are going to flop and that
flop is going to ruin the picture, for
they can't go on and on twisting an
'Continued on Page 6)
Nicholas M. Schenck's arrival at
San Diego today is the signal for the
departure of L. B. Mayer, Ed Mannix
^hd other MOM execs for Caliente,
'' where a series of production confer-
ences with Schenck will start to de-
cide all policies for the next twelve
months.
There nave Deen rumors for some
weeks that the lot will undergo many
changes. This has been denied and
the Schenck visit it is said will only
concern itself with the laying out of
the program for the second half of
the year.
Para. Plans Remake on
'Witching Hour' Play
Paramount is planning to remake
the famous stage success "The Witch-
ing Hour" and Henry Hathaway is
slated to direct it after he finishes
"Come On, Marines."
The play was made as a silent pic-
ture in 1921 by Paramount.
Towne and Baker To
See Joe Cook in Chi
Gene Towne and Graham Baker left
last night for Chicago to see and talk
to Joe Cook, who is there doing a
show.
The writers have been commission-
ed to write an original that is to be
used for Cook in a Fox production.
Don Stewart Here
Donald Ogden Stewart got into
toWn yesterday by plane and immedi-
,,-a'tely reported to Irving Thalberg at
MGM for work on "The Barretts of
Wimpole Street."
Mr. Roosevelt continued with "I
have taken up aviation as my life's
work and have no interest whatever
in becoming a part of the motion pic-
ture industry. This more for the rea-
son that I do not know anything about
the picture business other than as a
casual observer and certainly not suf-
ficient to command a salary better
than $30 a week. There has never
been an offer presented to me for
$1,000 a week or even the $30 a
week that I feel I could earn in the
business.
"When I first came out here, your
paper and others ran several stories
(Continued on Page 7)
Nancy Carroll Set
For 2 With Lasky
Jesse L. Lasky yesterday concluded
a deal, through the Schulberg-Feld-
man and Curney office, with Nancy
Carroll to return to pictures, after a
year's absence, to make two pictures
for him under the Fox banner.
She will have the top spot in "Red-
heads on Parade," which was adapted
to the screen by Joseph Mankiewicz
and Barry Trivers, and also a vehicle
titled "Forbidden Lips."
Frank Tuttle has been set for the
two pictures.
Tucker on Guild Board
Richard Tucker has been elected to
the Board of Governors of the Screen
Actors' Guild.
Janet Beecher Returning
New York. — Janet Beecher leave
for the Coast today by train.
UIVIVERSAL TO DELIVER ALL
PICTCRES OIV CURRENT LI§T
Announcement in New York yes-
terday by Carl Laemmie Jr. that Uni-
versal will complete its current sched-
ule for delivery in full presages a burst
of activity on the Universal lot that
will probably set new records for that
plant.
There are seventeen more pictures
to be delivered, and with only four
in work now, it means a big drive to
clean up the thirteen before next sea-
son's requirements come up.
The four now in various stages of
work are: "Countess of Monte Cris-
to," "Glamour," "Let's Be Dizzy"
and "I'll Tell the World," the latter
with Gloria Stuart, Lee Tracy and
Roger Pryor in the cast.
The other thirteen which the studio
I Continued on Page 2)
The story in a local daily circulating
early last evening that RKO planned
removal of home offices to Hollywood
met with quick denial by officials of
the company, who explained the new
set-up as outlined by M. H. Ayles-
worth prior to his departure for New
York,
J. R. McDonough, until now general
manager of RKO, and vice chairman of
(Continued on Page 3)
P2ra. Wants Winchell;
Walter Wants Doughy
New York. — Paramount is hot to
g;t Walter Winchell for a role in its
coming production of "The Great Ma-
gco," from the play by Gene Fowler
and Charles MacArthur.
And Walter is willing — but he is
holding out for very, very heavy dough.
So it's a standoff just now.
Red Square' Off, Milly'
Seeks Columbia Release
"Red Square," Columbia's long-
planned Russian picture, is now defi-
nitely off, and the decision is followed
h» Lewis Milestone trying to get his
release from Harry Cohn. Negotia-
tions are on, with Selznick and Joyce
acting for the director, who has re-
turned to that fold after an interlude
with Phil Berg.
Laemmles Delay Return
New York. — The Laemmles have
extended their stay here for another
week and will not head west until
Wednesday or Thursday. Departure
was postponed so that Carl Laemmie
Jr. could wind up some story negotia-
tions.
Fineman Talks to Col.
Bernie Fineman, who returned from
New York after dropping his plans to
go into independent production, is
talking a deal with Columbia to join
its production staff as an associate
producer.
i^TT^TTvrTTrr^r^^cREENpK^oP'wHTO
BRADLEY KING in production at Columbia SnaLL-LANDAU CO.
1
Page Two
Feb. 16. 1934
in
vV. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave ; London, 4? -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris. 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
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werp, Cratte-Ciel
Published every day with the exception ot
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
rtiatter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Boyoboy, was that a cocktail party
that was given for the visiting Lady
Furness and her twin sister, Gloria
Vanderbilt. No house was big enough
to hold that, so a tent was put up in
the back yard to take care of the over-
flow. Ann Alvarado came in with the
Barney Clazers, but Jack Warner took
her home. Not only that, but the
welcome he got when he came in con-
siderably warmed up the party and
now that they've finally appeared so-
cially together, hostesses need no long-
er worry. Mrs. jack Warner was NOT
among those present, but the list of
guests included Corinne Griffith, Vir-
ginia Zanuck, Gloria Swanson, Loretta
Young, Jesse Lasky, Winnie Sheehan,
Harry Cohn, Catherine Menjou, Bebe
and Ben Lyon, May Sunday, Francis
Lederer (alone), the Zeppo Marxes
and Dolores Del Rio looking too beau-
tiful in a cool print and wide brimmed
hat. And either A. C. Blumenthal
wasn't there or couldn't be seen in
the crowd.
There's about to be much ado made
over the fact that the big insurance
company out here has refused to make
out a policy for a large square dia-
mond ring and a mink coat that was
recently given a Warner stock com-
pany player by her sweetheart hus-
band. P. S. He's her sweetheart but
he's someone else's husband and the
insurance company doesn't like the
risk.
And that director who thinks his
life is sooo private may learn here that
his wife will probably not be coming
back from New York and the present
reason for it happens to be one of the
ten thousand most beautiful chorus
girls in the world found only in Holiy-
v/ood musicals.
Jane Shattuck is about to give up
her career in pictures to become the
wife of Jack Kirkland. She got the
ring yesterday and the wedding will
take place in a couple of weeks or so.
Incidentally, jack Kirkiand's play,
"Tobacco Road," is within THAT
^piuch of getting the Pulitzer prize this
Ji^ear.
WARXERS' *HEAT LIGHTNING'
ENJOYABLE ENTERTAINMENT
LeRoy Direction
and Dialogue Good
"HEAT LIGHTNING"
(Warners)
Director Mervyn LeRoy
Story Leon Abrams
and George Abbott
Screen Play Brown Holmes
and Warren Duff
Photography Sid Hickox
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Ann Dvorak,
Lyie Talbot, Glenda Farrell, Al-
len Jenkins, Preston Foster, Theo-
dore Newton, Hobart Cavanaugh,
Maidel Turner, Ruth Donnelly,
William Robertson.
"Heat Lightning" unfolded at a
first preview as an original, entertain-
ing program picture. Starting with a
story that was no vvow, they stepped
up a few pegs by adding dialogue that
is exceptionally good, and finished
with Mervyn LeRoy directing a poig-
nant, simple thing with a style that
IS artfully artless.
What charm the picture has may
be given to its simplicity, the absence
of a "studio" feeling about it. It
balances tragic moments well done,
with the expert comedy that might be
expected from Glenda Farrell, Ruth
Donnelly and Frank McHugh.
The story tells of Aline MacMahon,
who runs a combination auto camp,
gasoline station and lunch room in the
heart of the desert. Her kid sister,
played by Ann Dvorak, becomes tired
of the dull existence and longs to taste
life.
Preston Foster and Lyle Talbot,
bank robbers trying to get across the
border into Mexico, happen by. Fos-
ter is a former sweetheart of Ann's.
Glenda Farrell and Ruth Donnelly en-
ter the plot as two wealthy and silly
divorcees from Reno who are forced
to Stay overnight when the car de-
velops engine trouble.
Foster decides to relieve the ladies
of their jewelry, on the same night
that Ann sneaks out for a rendezvous
with Theodore Newton. She returns
at dawn in time to see Foster emerg-
ing from her sister's room, and the
result is a tragic scene between Aline
and Ann, well played, and well han-
dled. Later, Foster and Talbot, open-
ing the safe, are discovered by Mac-
Mahon, who shoots Foster down.
The tragic drabness of the atmos-
phere and story needed the sprightly
comedy of Glenda Farrell and caus-
tically amusing Ruth Donnelly, with
McHugh aiding and abetting them as
chauffeur, maid, personal servant and
comptroller.
Aline MacMahon gives conviction
to a part that was made for her, with
Ann Dvorak a capable foil. Preston
Foster and Lyle Talbot turn in neat
jobs.
The photography of Sid Hickox is
one of the film's chief virtues.
All in all, while it won't start any
raves, it's an evening of pleasing enter-
tainrnent, offering a new atmosphere
and background to audiences weary of
seeing the same sets. And a yucca
plant to Mervyn LeRoy for not bring-
ing in a single, solitary dance in any
shape or form.
Ripley Please Note
Gene Markey and Katherine
Scola, within a period of three
weeks, suggested an idea to Hal
Wallis and wrote the original story
and screen play of "Happy Family"
which starts Monday under the di-
rection of Al Green. The start of
the picture is within the three
week mark.
Local Judges to Aid
At Actors' Election
The Screen Actors Guild will have
two Superior Court judges on hand
Sunday night to help in deciding any
points of procedure that come up in
connection with the election of candi-
dates for code committees and to cer-
tify to the validity of the result.
The two members of the bench are
Superior Court Judge Isaac Pacht and
Superior Court judge Minor Moore.
Universal to Deliver
(Continued from Page 1 t
will make are: "Little Man What
Now" with Margaret Sullavan and
Douglass Montgomery in the cast and
Frank Borzage directing; "Uncertain
Lady," Genevieve Tobin and Edward
Everett Horton in the cast, and Karl
Freund directing; "The Black Cat," in
which Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi
will be cast with Edgar Ulmer direct-
ing; "I Give My Love," with Wynne
Gibson; "Affairs of a Gentleman," in
which Paul Lukas will be directed by
Ed Marin; "The Humbug," with Nils
Asther, directed by Max Marcin, who
is the author; an untitled Edmund
Lowe production; "Practical joker,"
with Chester Morris and directed by
Edward Laemmie; "Alias the Deacon,"
directed by Kurt Neumann; "Imita-
tion of Life," directed by John Stahl;
"Love Life of a Sailor," to be directed
by Eddie Buzzell; "One Glamorous
Night." by Ward Morehouse.
■>W■-V"-^ v\.
RUSSELL, MILLER
and Company
Members
NfU/ YORK STOCK EXCHANCf
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
FWC Trustees Get
$86,589 for the job
A total of $86,589.70 in fees for
trustees and attorneys of the bankrupt
Fox West Coast Theatres Corporation
was granted yesterday by Referee in
Bankruptcy Samuel W. McNabb. Of
this sum the three trustees get $14,-
529.90 each, and the remaining $43,-
000 goes to the attorneys in the case.
The trustees are Charles P. Skouras,
Charles C. Irwin and W. H. Moore Jr.
They had asked for a $2500 weekly
drawing account, but this was denied
them. They also asked for a total of
$125,000 to go to themselves and
attorneys for putting the corporation
on its feet.
Agents Settle Fight
Ralph Blum is filing a dismissal no-
tice on the Selznick and Joyce suit
against j. G. Mayer, Ltd., in which
the former agency asked $732 in
commissions for the Thelma Todd deal
with B.I. P. Mayer, represented by
Harry Sokolov, settled out of court for
$350.
A Capehart
helps you
when entertaining your friends
WM. HANSEN CR 1964
We
Bu J Film
§ierap
REGULARLY
YESTERDAY
TODAY
TOMORROW
We furnish convenient metal
containers and pick up at your
convenience.
The safe final destruction of
your discard negatives, sound
track and prints is guaranteed.
Our service is at the com-
mand of the Hollywood picture
industry.
Its patronage and good will is
respectfully solicited.
Setierjm & Co.
LTD.
Telephones:
Burbank 2397
From Hollywood dial "O"
Ask for Zenith 5409 (no chg.)
BURBANK
CALIFORNIA
Feb. 16, 1934
Page Three
REGISTERED NURSE' GETS RY:
MADE HER RED' HOKE MELLER
Eilers, Armstrong,
Arlen Rate Bows
Castand Direction
Lift Loose Yarn
"REGISTERED NURSE"
Warners-First National
Direction Robert Florey
Screen Play: Lillie Hayward and Peter
Milne.
Play by: Wilton Lackaye and Florence
Johns.
Dialogue Direction; Arthur Creville
Collins.
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervision Sam Bischoff
Cast: Bebe Daniels, Lyie Talbot, John
Halliday, Irene Franklin, Sidney
Toler, Gordon Westcott, Minna
Gombell, Beulah Bondi, Vince
Barnett, Phillip Reed, Mayo Me-
thot, Renee Whitney, Virginia
Sale, Ronnie Crosby, Ed Cargan,
Gordon Elliott, George Humbert.
"Registered Nurse" checked in a
good response at preview, in spite of
the fact that nurses and doctors will
be inclined to giggle rather than gasp
over certain hospital scenes.
Tale starts with Bebe Daniels get-
ting ready to divorce a drunken hus-
band and go back to nursing. A mo-
tor accident sends him to an insane
asylum. Three years later practically
the whole hospital is in love with
Bebe. She makes it seem reasonable.
She is tender with children, tough
with a tempestuous gangster, firm
with his moll, and reserved with the
medical staff.
She grabs a few months of illicit
romance with a young doctor. It
seems that she cannot get a divorce
because her husband is insane. Even
if that law holds good in every state
in the Union, there still is Mexico.
But some women just aren't quick
thinkers.
When her husband turns up she is
required to decide between the dan-
gerous operation which may save his
mind or cause his death, and his re-
turn to the asylum. There the gang-
ster reveals his heart of gold. Under
the guise of aimless gossip, he sug-
gests a jump out of the window,
which the husband obligingly does,
when they leave him all, all alone, as
is the habit in hospitals with violent
mental cases.
Gordon Westcott does one of the
finest, most reserved and convincing
pieces of work seen in a long time as
the husband. A word dragged just a
trifle here, a tiny blank pause there,
a slight tension in gestures indicate
the lack of balance. It's good work.
John Halliday turns in a brilliantly
smooth performance as the restrained
head of the hospital. Lyle Talbot is
engaging as the young doctor who is
the nurse's choice. Sidney Toler con-
tributes some wild fun as the big shot
who takes his gang with him to the
hospital when he starts a rough house.
And one of the funniest scenes of
muddled meanings in a long time is
the conversation between Irene Frank-
lin, as a battered and belligerent ma-
dame, and Beulah Bondi, cool, sedate
and concerned as the head nurse.
Minna Gombell turns in ;>n excel-
lent job as the nurse wnose policeman
sweetheart, played by Ed Cargan, is
killed. Mayo Methot makes a smallish
part seem important. Virginia Sale
Sedgwick of Age
Director Ed Sedgwick will cele-
brate his twenty-first anniversary
in the picture business this week.
His first job was as an actor in the
Lubin one-reeler "The Battle of
Getty's Coat." He is now direct-
ing "I'll Tell the World" at Uni-
versal.
Three Wks.' Up for
S^wanson First MGM
v^'^fter many weeks of discussion,
Gloria Swanson placed her signature
on a long term contract at MGM. Irv-
ing Thalberg is seriously considering
the Elinor Clyn novel "Three Weeks"
as the first starring vehicle for Miss
Swanson.
The Clyn novel was made as a si-
lent film by MGM about twelve years
ago with Conrad Nagel and Eileen
Pringle in the top spots.
'Anthony Adverse'
May Be in 2 Parts
New York. — The report here is that
Warners have come pretty close to a
definite decision to make "Anthony
Adverse" in two parts of ten reels
each, with a single version in twelve
reels.
RKO Office Not Moving
(Continued from Page 1 )
the RKO-Radio Pictures unit, will
hereafter, as president of the latter,
spend approximately eight months of
the year in Hollywood.
B. B. Kahane, as president of RKO
Studios, will function as operating
head of the production plant.
Merian C. Cooper will retain the
title of vice president in charge of
production, but will actually be free
to gratify his desire to make pictures
abroad or at the studio as he cares to,
through the elevation of Pan Berman
to an executive producer's title, Ber-
man remaining at the studio all the
time.
Ned Depinet, newly elected presi-
dent of the RKO Distributing Corpora-
tion, will also spend more time at the
studio than in the past, conveying the
field force's ideas on pictures.
Cooper leaves for Honolulu for a
rest soon, and on his return will reach
a decision about his first special pro-
duction.
contributes solid comedy as a proba-
tioner. A little boy makes one scene
charming. If he can keep it up, he is
another Dickie Moore.
A scene of purely hoke laughs
should not be overlooked. It is the
violent mixing of two wrestlers who
are glad to be in a hospital by the
time they have decided which one is
to win their next match.
Cutting muffed several scenes
which lose tension through abrupt
transitions, but all together, Robert
Florey's direction has done well by a
none too closely knit tale.
"SHE MADE HER BED "
( Rogers-Paramount )
Direction Ralph Murphy
Story by James M. Cain
Adaptation Casey Robinson
and Frank R. Adams
Photography Milton Krasner
Cast: Sally Eilers, Richard Arlen, Rob-
ert Armstrong, Grace Bradley,
R05C0 Ates, Charlie Grapewin and
Richard Arlen Jr.
Paramount has a vivid land un-
pleasantl melodrama in "She Made
Her Bed," nee "The Baby in the Ice-
box."
Directed and acted less capably, the
picture would have been merely un-
pleasant. As it is, it holds your re-
luctant interest to the bitter end, in
spite of the fact that it needs cutting
badly in the beginning.
Based on a good old reliable for-
mula, the story IS colored by a unique
setting — the Pomona Fair — the mam
locale being the auto camp near by.
Robert Armstrong and his wife,
Sally Eilers, run the auto camp. He
is a strutting, vain, impossible fellow,
whose policy is to be as frequently
unfaithful to his wife as possible, and
to show off at every opportunity by
cracking his whip over his poor, little,
intimidated bob cats which he keeps
in a cage to draw the crowd.
In spite of the fact that his wife
knows all about his many and varied
shortcomings, she refuses to run away
with Richard Arlen, who plays the
lovable Doc, who travels around ped-
dling snake oil for what ails you and
hits Pomona once a year to race his
trotter.
However, Armstrong promotes i'lim-
self in his own estimation and that of
the ladies by getting a real and savage
tiger — and he becomes so impossible
that Miss Eilers finally consents to go
away with Arlen. But she learns that
she is going to have a baby, and she
stays, hoping that the child will bring
her husband closer to her.
The ending of the picture is as ex-
citing as anyone can stand. The tiger
gets loose and makes for the baby
while Armstrong is out playing around.
This part of the picture, extremely
well directed, and completely breath-
taking, is nevertheless pretty cheaply
sensational. However, it is the film's
big moment — and it certainly needs it.
Armstrong gives a brutal, strong
performance, and Richard Arlen turns
in a beautiful characterization of the
Doc. Sally Eilers has a terribly diffi-
cult role and she gives it everything
she has. She is entirely convincing.
Rosco Ates and Charlie Crapewin^ are
both swell in comedy roles, Grace
Bradley is completely seductive as the
reason for Armstrong's main stray, and
Richard Arlen Jr. and the tiger are
outstanding.
Ralph Murphy directed well; Casey
Robinson and Frank R. Adams made
the adaptation of James M. Cain's
story, and Milton Krasner bent a clever
camera upon the picture.
Your audience will like the charac-
terizations here; they will take the
The picture business may soon have
another socially prominent New York-
er working behind its gates. "Liz"
Du Pont, local sassiety gal, has packed
her bags and jumped a Hollywood
train hoping to crash the movies with
a part in Lewis Milestone's Russiar>
picture that he is to make for Co-
lumbia. "Liz" has been to Hollywood
before but never with a picture ambi-
tion.
•
Clifton Webb entertained a bunch
of his friends the other evening with
ever so much charm and now that the
festivities are over it is furnishing
Broadway with plenty of gossip.
Among others that were there was Ina
Claire, who is taking "Biography" to
London; the Clark Cables looking
quite happy in that atmosphere; Louis
Bromfield; Elsa Maxwell, fresh from
Palm Beach; William Rhinelander
Stewart; Evelyn Laye, Dwight Wiman,
Cobina Wright, Max Gordon, who is
so excited about Walter Huston and
everything connected with his produc-
tion of "Dodsworth" that he's pre-
dicting a super-sensational success
for it.
•
Roland Young left the Webb party
for a few minutes to walk down to his
own house for a nip of brandy and
when people start walking places fOr
sorrething you know you are in New
York. . . . Helen Hayes gets snickers,
by telling those stories of how "un-
civilized Hollywood really is" and she
means it.
•
Colleen Moore is still forsaking the
movies to bounce around town with
her hubby, Al Scott. Colleen, Al and
Joe Schnitzer have been doing the late
spots together. . . . Wally Beery will
land in Hollywood any minute with
about seventeen different surprises for
his wife. . . . Monte Brice held a re-
quiem at "21" before hopping the
train for Hollywood and a directing
contract. . . . The play that Moss Hart
and George S. Kauffman will write in
Palm Springs, and they are really go-
ing there to write after Moss sold
George the idea to forget about Eng-
land for the job, will be of a serious
nature and quite a departure from the
scrivening they have been identified
with in the past. '
•
In case you are interested the Phil
Holmes-Florence Rice romance is not
even warm any more and Broadway
is talking about the Harry Ruby di-
vorce. . . . Lionel Barrymore doing a
personal at the Capitol in connection
with the MGM picture "You Can't
Buy Everything," attracted $22,000
worth of customers last Saturday and
Sunday. . . . Clark Gable follows him
in next week after having done a sen-
sational opening day at Baltimore.
story with a grain of salt, and they
will all go home to a bad night's sleep.
The tiger business is pretty bloodcurd-
ling.
You've got pretty good names on
this one, and a marrow-freezing end-
ing to a more or less routine story.
The sophisticates won't like it. But
the easily impressed will.
Page Four
THEPsy
Feb. 16. 1934
AN
OPEN LETTER
Baby LeRoy, Esquire
Sir:
Going about panning me
is going to do you no good
Supposing I should go
about the countryside
telling people you were a
MILK-SOT. I've seen you
carried off the set many
times.
Please realize I was in
show business before you
were born. . . . You're all
wet.
With renewed assurance
of my greatest esteem.
W. C. FIELDS
CREATORS INTERESTED 11%
REPORTER AWARD PLAX
Messages commending The Holly-
wood Reporter Award of Merit com-
petition, in which the entire produc-
tion personnel of the industry selects
the outstanding achievements of the
year, continue to come from men and
women in all branches of the industry.
The Reporter has already mailed
booklets containing the names of the
pictures released in 1933 which are
eligible for the awards. Ballots accom-
panied the booklets, with full explan-
ation as to voting procedure. When
these have been returned, a special
committee selected from the industry
will count the ballots and make the
awards. The Reporter will present gold
medals to the winners.
Here are a few of the comments
that arrived yesterday:
"I think The Hollywood Reporter
plan for determining the most out-
standing creative achievement in the
industry is a marvelous one. When
the industry votes as a whole it really
means a lot to the winner.
"CHARLES BEAHAN.
"Columbia Producer "
"Three cheers for The Hollywood
Reporter's Award of Merit plan. At
last we have a system whereby we can
tell what the industry as a whole
thinks of our work.
"DOUGLASS MONTGOMERY."
"At last, a practical method of se-
lecting outstanding motion picture
achievement that is really representa-
tive has been hit upon, and I want to
congratulate The Hollywood Report-
er on its awards plan.
"KARL FREUND,
"Universal Director."
"Let me add my praise to that of
countless others who feel that The
Hollywood Reporter has evolved the
only all-embracing system for giving
credit for creative work in the indus-
try. Your idea is a grand one.
"WILLIAM GOETZ.
"Asso. Producer at 20th Century."
"I am a firm believer in Democracy.
Therefore, I certainly feel that The
Hollywood Reporter's plan for select-
ing outstanding achievements by vote
of ALL the people in the industry is
one to be commended. That is the
democratic and fair way of determin-
ing who merits awards.
"SYDNEY FOX."
"I congratulate The Hollywood Re-
porter upon its method of selecting
those to be honored for outstanding
achievement in the creative field of
motion pictures. If ALL our fellow
workers vote we certainly will, for
once, get the real opinion of the pic-
ture industry.
"ALICE WHITE."
Hurlbut on Termer
William Hurlbut was placed unoer
long term contract by Universal yes-
terday following a group of consecu-
tive picture-to-picture deals. Writer
is the second scrivener on the lot to
hold an extended ticket, L. G. Bloch-
man hold the other. The Small-Landau
office negotiated the Hurlbut contract.
Caldwell Play Set
Anne Caldwell has completed her
new play, "Manhattan Marriage," and
Harry Wurtzel has set it for a New
York production. It will hit the
boards next fall.
Is If New?
We are told that Roy Del Ruth
heard it on the set yesterday. First
3oil: "Didja hear that Abe Kabin-
iki IS keeping a budget?" Second
Goil: "And a wife, too?"
Probe Majors Chain
Methods of Buying
New York. — Details of the acquisi-
tion of theatre circuits by the majors
and the methods of arranging long
term franchise agreements for product
occupied the time of the hearings in
the Rembusch anti-trust suit yester-
day.
Ed Grainger of Fox, Willard Mac-
Kay of Universal, Leon Netter of Par-
amount and Harold Bareford were the
witnesses.
Look To England
For 'Jane Eyre' Lead
Trem Carr, Monogram head, cabled
Norton Ritchie, foreign representative
for the company who is in London, to
test as many English players as are
available for the feminine lead in
"Jane Eyre." Carr figures the picture
will rate bigger returns from the Unit-
ed Kingdom with such a player in the
lead. Studio had planned to use
Heather Angel but she is busy at Fox.
Paramount Sued Over
'September Morn* Buy
George R. Bentel filed court action
against Paramount yesterday on a
complaint that the producing com-
pany had failed to carry through on
the purchase of his story "September
Morn."
Company is claimed to have dropped
the purchase deal after a Hays office
objection to the "implied nudity" of
the famous painting inspiring the
story. Sam Wolf is handling the ac-
tion.
Universal Plays Firestone
With Dick Linthicombie, U.C.L.A
All-American last year, in the line-up
for the studio, Universal Pictures bas-
ketball team meets the Firestone ag-
gregation at the Hollywood Athletic
Club tonight. This is the second game
of the series. If Universal wins to-
night another game will be played to
determine the superior five.
'Happy Family' Starts
Warners will put "The Happy Fam-
ily" into production Monday with
Aline MacMahon and Joan Lowell in
the leads and Al Green directing. Guy
Kibbee, Allen Jenkins, Frankie Darro,
Hugh Herbert and Joan Wheeler have
already been cast for featured roles.
Rambeau Returns in May
Marjorie Rambeau, now in Floridi
for a rest, is due back in Hollywood
in May, at which time she will re-
enter the free lance field, havir
washed up on her four-picture deal , ^
with Edward Small.
3oa
re- i
ing k
i„,i \
UNIVERSAL STEPS OUT!
Here's what the next few months will bring
exhibitors as UNIVERSAL rounds out the
\ balance of its 36 features for 1933 - 1934—
"COUNTESS of MONTE CRISTO"
With FAY WRAY and PAUL LUKAS
Directed by KARL FREUND — A STANLEY BERCERMAN PRODUCTION
LEW AYRESin 'LETS BE RITZY"
With Patricia Ellis, Frank McHugh, Isabel Jewell
Directed by EDWARD LUDWIC
i^i
CLAMOUR" VerS^r'^
With CONSTANCE CUMMINCS and PAUL LUKAS
Directed by WILLIAM WYLER — a B. F. ZEIDMAN PRODUCTION
"I'LL TELL THE WORLD"
Starring LEE TRACY, With GLORIA STUART, ROGER PRYOR
Directed by ED SEDGWICK
"UNCERTAIN LADY"
With GENEVIEVE TOBIN and EDWARD EVERETT HORTON
Directed by KARL FREUND
"THE BLACK CAT"
With KARLOFF and BELA LUGOSI
Directed by EDCAR ULMER
((
I GIVE MY LOVE" "^Saum*^"
With WYNNE GIBSON
Directed by KARL FREUND — a B. F. ZEIDMAN PRODUCTION
"AFFAI RS of a GENTLEMAN"
With PAUL LUKAS
Directed by EDWIN L. MARIN
"THE HUMBUG" M^A^Jcm
With NILS ASTHER
Directed by MAX MARCIN
"ALIAS THE DEACON"
Directed by KURT NEUMANN
Chester Morris in "The PRACTICAL JOKER"
A STANLEY BERCERMAN PRODUCTION
An EDMUND LOWE Starring Vehicle
"LOVE LIFEofaSAILOR"
With CHESTER MORRIS and SLIM SUMMERVILLE
a B. F. ZEIDMAN PRODUCTION
U
The HUMAN SIDE"
Directed by EDWARD BUZZELL
ONE GLAMOROUS NIGHT"
AND
A FRANK BORZAGE Production A JOHN M. STAHL Production
"LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?" "IMITATION of LIFE"
With MARGARET SULLA VAN - DOUGLASS MONTGOMERY By FANNIE HURST
Screenplay by WILLIAM ANTHONY McGUIRE
>fesented by CARL LAEMMLE Produced by CARL LAEMMLE, Jr.
Page Six
THF
Feb. 16, 1934
Harry C. Bradley, Ethel Sykes, Ed-
die Slurges and Lafe McKee in "High-
way Patrol," Briskin-Colunnbia.
John Sheehan into "Whirlpool,"
Columbia.
Ethel Criffies set by Beyer- Mac Ar-
thur for "Stolen Sweets," Chesterfield,
and "Sadie McKee," MCM.
Charles Crapewin through Beyer-
MacArthur for "Loudspeaker," Mono-
gram.
Paul Stanton into "Catspaw," Har-
old Lloyd- Fox.
Arthur Hohl set by the William
Morris office for "Bulldog Drummond
Strikes Back," Twentieth Century.
Florence Roberts into "Finishing
School," Radio.
Thomas Jackson gets the role of
Walter Winchell in Warners' "One
Man Woman." Ticket set by Harry
Spingler of the Small-Landau office.
Etienne Cirardot set by Harry Sping-
ler of Small-Landau for "Bulldog
Drummond Strikes Back," Twentieth
Century.
Edward McWade, Dorothy Granger.
Georges LaPlant and Andre Cheron
have been added to the cast of "I'll
Tell the World," Universal.
Earl Hodges, the "Medicine Show
Man" on the KFWB Hi-Jinx radio pro-
gram, has been signed by Warners for
the barker in "Sawdust."
Russell Sim<pson signed by Fox for
"The World Moves On." Agented
by the John Lancaster office.
Universal is testing Oscar Apfel for
a featured assignment in the Frank
Borzage production, "Little Man What
Now?"
Universal yesterday signed Jobyna
Howland, Dorothy Peterson, George
Meeker, Herbert Corthell and Frank
Lyman for "Uncertain Lady."
II GR^AUMAN'S
UNITED ARTISTS
BDWY AT 9TH • PHONE MA 2511
Her own
rival for
ONE MANS
LOVE
Cjomlance
BENNETl
^ tis Ike qirl from llu >
MOULIN ROUG
FRANCHOI lONE
Ur>J.2 5c TILL I P.M. FREE
TOIIPM. 3 5. TILj. 6 . 40< EVES Ac,o,'s./.«
Frank McHugh to "The Return of
the Terror." Warners also added Har-
ry Seymour, Harry Hickman, Frank
Conroy and Renee Whitney to the
cast.
Gay Seabrook by Universal for "Un-
certain Lady." The Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall agency made the
deal.
Dudley Digges by Fox for "World
Moves On," which John Ford will di-
rect. The Selznick-Joyce office made
the deal.
Donald Meek by Twentieth Cen-
tury for "Head of the Family." The
William Morris office made the deal.
Phyllis Barry added to the cast of
the Clive Brook picture "Dover Road"
at Radio.
George Irving set by Menifee \.
Johnstone m Monogram's "Manhattan
Love Song."
James Burke added to "Sisters Un-
der the Skin," Columbia. Deal han-
dled by Bill Charney of the Harry
Wurtzel office.
Glenn Boles set through the Beyer-
MacArthur office for "The Firebrand,"
Twentieth Century.
Ann Darcy has been signed by
MCM for an important role in the
Joan Crawford picture, "Sadie Mc-
Kee," which Clarence Brown is di-
recting.
Hugh Enfeld has been added to
cast of Universal's "I'll Tell the
World."
Robert McWade signed by M. H.
Hoffman for "The Quitter" on a ticket
negotiated by Herbert G. Weber.
George E. Stone, Renee Whitney
and Irving Pichel for "Return of the
Terror," Warners.
Richard Carle has been signed for a
role in "Odd Thursday," Fox. The
John Lancaster office set the player.
• The Ultimate in Entertainment ^
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COMING OUT
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FKANCnS DEE
GENE RAYMOND
ALISON SKIPWORTH
HARRY GREEN
reSSE L LASKY • FOX PICTURE
•
Added CHARLIE CHASE in
"CRACKED ICE MAN"
NOVELTY "CITY OF WAX"
rtiiTv^j.-aL-h n i :a
Naughty Marietta'
Slated for McDonald
MCM will produce the Victor Her-
bert operetta "Naughty Marietta"
with Jeanette MacDonald in the star-
ring role. Hunt Stromberg will pro-
duce the picture and has assigned
Howard Emmett Rogers to write the
screen play.
Miss MacDonald will make "Merry
Widow" and "Duchess of Delmon-
ico's" before she will do the Victor
Herbert operetta.
Warner Oiand Signed by
20th Cent, for 'Bulldog'
Returning from a seven week trip
to Mexico, Warner Oland signed a
contract with Twentieth Century
yesterday for the role of the heavy in
"Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back."
Deal set by Jack Gardner, gives Oland
the third top spot next to Ronald
Colman and Loretta Young.
Sol Wurtzel's negotiations with the
player for other Charlie Chan pictures
at Fox flopped when both parties
failed to agree on salary.
Academy Selects Tellers
Twenty-two tellers were named
yesterday by the Academy to count
the ballots in the Academy awards
competition.
Those named were: Lawrence Al-
choltz, Gerald Best, John L. Cass, L.
D. Grignon, Kenneth Lambert, J. P.
Livadary, Thomas Moulton and Ralph
Townsend, of the sound recording sec-
tion; Edward Cronjager, A. L. Gilks,
Charles Clouner, Emil Oster, Ernest
Palmer, Charles Rosher and Hal Ros-
son, of the cinematographers; James
Basevi, Richard Day, C. D. Hall, Ber-
nard Herzbrun, John Hughes, William
Moll and Sidney Uliman, of the art
directors.
Casey Robinson Optioned
Charles R. Rogers has exercised the
option on Casey Robinson's contract,
and has handed the writer-director a
new long term deal with a tilt in sal-
ary. Robinson's last job was "She
Made Her Bed," which he adapted
and directed.
Borden Friday Frolbc
broadcast from STAGE , At 8:45
VIA STATION KHJ TONIGHT
Alwut a dame
who fought to save her
reputation. ..and almost succeeded!
t^'J^'il-t^I'Mi'J
i^»'Mri"'ii-?^!i
GOOD DAME
with JACK LaRUE
B. P SCHULBERG, Prod
9* STAGE
FANCHON Cr MARCO prmM
A^SOM WEEKS
AND KIS HOTEL MAUK HOPKINS
ORCHESTRA »><l ENTERTAINErS
Suriklst Beauties •
Cotton Warburton Up
For MCM Crid Lead
David Selznick is seriously consid-
ering "Cotton" Warburton, All-Amer-
ican quarterback of U.S.C., for the
leading role in "The Gravy Game," the
football yarn by Harry Stuhldreher
which appeared in the Saturday Eve-
ing Post recently.
Oliver H. P. Garrett has been as-
signed to write the screen play and
production is scheduled to start in
about four weeks. No director has
been set.
'Eskimo' Clicks
At Paris Opening
Paris. — The opening of the Metro-
Coldwyn-Mayer production "Eskimo"
brought plenty of raves from the press
and the public and the picture is doing
a land-office business.
Mayer Entertains Lordship
Lord Dudley Marley, the anti-Nazi
who has been lecturing throughout
the country on "One Year of Hitler,"
was the guest at a luncheon given by
Louis B. Mayer at MGM yesterday.
He lectured on this subject last
night at the Trinity Auditorium in Los
Angeles.
Fox Wants Ginger Rogers
Fox yesterday started the machin-
ery moving On a loan-out deal for
Ginger Rogers from Radio, latter
awaiting a script on the assignment se-
lected before deciding one way or the ]
other.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
audience; it must go "movie" now,
'and right at that spot your enthusiasm
would mount higher for the simple
reason, the very thing you thought
would be done, had to be done, WAS
NOT DONE. The charm of the pic-
ture, the fine entertainment, was
brought about by writing that con-
tinually tricked you, making it im-
possible for you to get ahead of the
story, as is not the case with 99%
per cent of all pictures.
If we had a studio we would COM-
PEL everyone in our employ to see "It
Happened One Night." We would
stage a lecture after the showing,
point out howeasily it could have been
ruined and why it was not ruined
That picture is an object lesson, a fuH
manual, on the making of motion pic-
tures as they should be made. It is a
masterpiece of writing, excellently
acted by artists who have never been
so good, magnificently directed and all
that it takes to make a good picture.
Congratulations to Capra and all |
who had any part in its making.
L'OUDrwvMdK^
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Aut-omobiies
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vbie
HEmpstead 1133
Feb. 16. 1934
Page Seven
Roosevelt Denies Offer
(Continued from Page 1 )
^^that I was to take up motion pictures
I as my business. That was far from
the truth. I became connected with
the Gilpin Airlines immediately after
my arrival and was appointed aviation
editor of the Hearst papers.
"My trip to Washington recently
had to do with the aviation industry.
Never at any time during that trip,
before or since, has my father or my-
self discussed any offer that had been
made from a picture company, mainly
for the reason that none has been
made and especially because I have
been and hope to continue to be iden-
tified with aviation.
"I am at present representing a
group of manufacturers in their for-
eign and domestic sales in so far as
such representation does not conflict
with the United States Government in
aviation."
Goldsmith Leads Set
Wallace Ford and June Clyde were
signed yesterday by Ken Goldsmith for
the top brackets in "I Hate Women,"
a Mary McCarthy screen play which
Aubrey Scotto pilots.
Bradley Page, Fuzzy Knight, Bar-
bara Rogers and Cuinn Williams take
supporting spots on tickets going
through the Small-Landau office.
Starts February 21 .
LOCAL XRA HEAD KICKS T®
OSY' OX CODE DELAYS
First official steps to start the vari-
ous NRA committees functioning in
the film industry were taken this
week.
These steps consisted of a lengthy
report to Deputy Administrator Sol A.
Rosenblatt from Charles W. Cunning-
ham, Los Angeles County NRA Ad-
ministrator. Cunningham in his re-
port complained of the delays on the
part of two of the committees — the
Studio Labor Committee, headed by
Al Berres, and the Extras Committee,
headed by Mrs. Mabel Kinney.
As told in the Hollywood Reporter
some days ago, Mr. Cunningham in-
formed Rosenblatt that complaints
have been piling up before these com-
mittees, but thus far they have failed
to act on any of them.
Berres yesterday continued his cus-
Suchman Signs 1-Year
Ticket at Cdiimbia
Sidney Buchman has been signed by
Columbia to a one-year writing ticket
which becomes effective after he fin-
ishes a one-picture assignment for
Radio. Buchman is now at Columbia
writing the screen play of "Whom the
Cods Destroy" and will swing over to
Radio on completion of that assign-
ment for one picture, after which he
will return to Columbia. The Schul-
berg-Feldman and Gurney office made
the deal.
T T E N T I O N
ALL SCREEN ACTORS
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU VOTE IN THE NRA ELECTION TO
ELECT NOMINEES OF ACTORS FOR ACTOR REPRESENTATIVES ON
<a) The Agents' Committee.
(b) The CommiH-ee of Five Producers and Five Actors
on fhe working conditions of actors.
Meeting Held Under Auspices of Screen Actors' Guild
PLACE TIME
HOLLYWOOD WOMEN'S CLUB SUNDAY, FEB. 18. at 8 P.M.
7078 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.
THIS ELECTION IS BEING HELD WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL OF SOL. A.
ROSENBLATT. NRA ADMINISTRATOR FOR
THE MOTION PICTURE CODE.
Any screen actor eligible to vote who has received screen credit
on a picture released in the U. S. within the eighteen (18) months
immediately preceding the election.
Voting may be in person or by written proxy.
if you are eligible to vote and have not received credentials card
apply at the Guild office, 1655 N. Cherokee, Hollywood Center BIdg.,
and receive same. Cards will also be issued at the Hollywood
Women's Club from 1 2 to 6 on the day of the election. For further
information, telephone GLadstone 3101.
(Signed) SCREEN ACTORS' GUILD
tom of having no comment to make
to the press. But Mrs. Kinney de-
clared that the blame is in the lap
of the Government because of the red
tape that must be unraveled in order
to get quarters and stationery. Yes-
terday her committee headquarters
were moved to the Guaranty Building.
She had been using an office loaned
by the Academy in the Professional
Building.
Mrs. Kinney declared that she ex-
pected everything would be ironed out
by Monday, and that the committee
will then swing into action on the nu-
merous complaints of the extra people.
No one can even guess when the
labor committee will get going. Or-
ganizations that have filed complaints
say that they get nothing but the stall,
with no indication of action.
Montgomery Returns
Douglass Montgomery returned yes-
terday from New York. He starts
work next week at Universal in the
Margaret Sullavan picture "Little
Man, What Now?"
Title Mitchell-Durant
First of the Mitchell and Durant
pictures at Fox is scheduled under the
title "On the High Seas." Joel Sayre
is on the script.
A. i . and T. Sued
Over Sound Parts
New York. — Claiming that exhibi-
tors are forced to pay extortionate and
arbitrary prices for sound parts, a lo-
cal company, Theatre Electrical Serv-
ice, has filed suit for $3,000,000
against the A. T. and T.
Henry D. Behr, formerly connected
with the sound research department
of Paramount, is prominent in the
suing company. The complaint al-
leges "restraint of trade in the manu-
facture and distribution of talking pic-
ture equipment."
Lesser Remakes Harold
Bell Wright Novel
Sol Lesser will remake the Harold
Bell Wright story "When a Man's a
Man," which he made and released as
a silent through First National in
1924. Edward Francis Cline, who will
direct "Peck's Bad Boy" for Lesser, di-
rected the silent version of "When a
Man's a Man." Picture will not get
under way until June or later.
Keene Thompson to Rest
Keene Thompson, having finished
the screen play on "Springtime for
Henry," with Frank Tuttle for Jesse
L. Lasky at Fox, leaves Saturday for
Palm Springs to write the screen play
of "Grand Canary" with Humphrey
Pearson, Lasky's next picture to hit
the stages for Fox.
a.^JJgb:o^T'<:g7sgr^gvrv; r.r^ro-^
EX<^IJISITE
at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin H. Knopf
Entire contents of
Motion Picture Director's Residence
to be disposed of
including Antique and Modern Furnishings representing a
cost of over $50,000.00
MONDAY, FEB. 19th. 10.30 A. M. and 7.30 P. M.
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20th and 21st. 7.30 P. M.
and every evening thereafter until contents are disposed of.
148 So. Bristol, Brentwood Heights
Short route San Vicente to Bristol, or Beverly to Bristol
AUCTIONEER'S NOTE
To the buying public of Los Angeles, I take pleasure in presenting
not the contents of a house, but rather, that rare opportunity, "the
possessions of a home." A home in which the cities and villages
of far places have been called to bring together in unison the beauty
of an old world and the modernity of a new in a harmony of com-
fortable livability.
Chickering Ampico grand piano, tubular chime clock with eight
tubes, Westminster and Whittington chimes, antique and modern
furniture, paintings, etchings, Oriental rugs and carpets, hangings
and brocades, art objects, sterling silverware, chinaware, glassware,
linens, library, etc.
Complete Leica Photographic Equipment
and dark room accessories, projection machine and cameras
will be sold Monday at 4 P. M.
SALE REGARDLESS OF WEATHER
Klome open for early preview ^^ ^^
Monday, 9 A. M. #*' • i
All SCOTCH
NOT
J^OOD SCOTCH
BUT ALL THE SCOTCH THAT IS OFFERED FOR SALE AT
is the best Scotch that money will buy, far superior to most others that are
being offered today.
We know.
We were in England and Scotland when those shippers were hurrying
their bottling to take care of the early repeal rush on this side. We heard
them talk, we tasted those exports and we bought SCOTCH, not for export,
but for delivery in London. Those purchases were consigned to us in London
and shipped by our office there direct to our store here. They are NOT
EXPORT SPIRITS, but real, aged in the wood, whiskies. And by age we mean
anywhere from 5 to 20 years.
Sample others, then take a drink of our selections. You be the judge.
MAY WE SUGGEST
By fhe Case By the Boftle
ST. JAMES, from Berry Bros, of London $60.00 $5.50
CUTTY SARK, from Berry Bros, of London 55.00 5.00
FINE OLD IRISH of Bellows 65.00 5.50
10-YEAR-OLD LIQUEUR of Bellows 65.00 5.50
20-YEAR-OLD LIQUEUR of Bellows 85.00 7.50
lUSTERINI AND BROOKS of Great Age 58.50 5.00
SAUNDERS Old Highland 58.50 5.00
TEACHERS Highland Cream 52.50 4.75
GILBEY'S SPEY ROYAL 9 years old 60.00 5.25
HOLTS Mountain Cream 48.00 4.25
WE HAVE OTHERS BUT RECOMMEND THESE
HOHywood 1666
WE DELIVER
% MR.SAVUFL MAPX,
CULVER CITY.CALIi''
Vol. XIX, No. 32. Price Sc
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, February 17, 1934
IINDSEr PI^CMISES SPEED
mm^
yijiKSwmism^^
• WHY not a Hollywood theatre?
Why not a show-window here for
the purpose of permitting producers
to examine stories and players?
We have asked that question, up
and down the line, for the past year
or more and have yet to find a per-
son, of any importance, who could pick
a flaw in the idea. And all were
most enthusiastic about it.
But still there is no theatre of any
importance. True one or two are
trying to do it with a store show and
with makeshift organizations and
with no one of any great importance
contributing plays or talent.
Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer got all hot
and bothered about the idea a year
ago, in fact had Edgar Selwyn run-
ning around in circles getting things
together. But it never came off.
But MCM grabbed the full importance
of the idea. They saw in such a pro-
cedure a great avenue for future screen
plays and felt the importance of see-
ing their stars, near stars and doubt-
ful players in various roles that may be
transferred to the screen. This in
addition to the fact that it would keep
both feet of their players here in Hol-
lywood instead of having one on the
Chief at all times with that hope of
going to New York to do a play.
Someone with the ABILITY, some
cash and a little guts could net a nice
tidy fortune for himself through the
creation of a Hollywod theatre. One
of the larger agencies should back if
because of the possibilities of selling
the play and the people. But if not
that, some individual. The thing is
a cinch to be a success from every
angle. BUT it must be done by a
person who KNOWS HIS BUSINESS,
has taste and plenty of production in-
spiration.
Where is there such a man? Hol-
lywood will welcome him, maybe not
with the idea in talk, but certainly
after it is put in practice.
Co over the lists of authors whose
brains are available for such an idea.
Co over the lists of possible casts for
good plays, then take every studio in
Hollywood and watch their , mad
scramble for the plays AND the casts.
It's a swell idea and should be done.
Small Signs Colbert
At $65,000 For a Pix
Eddie Small of Reliance Pictures
closed a deal with Claudette Colbert
yesterday for a single picture for the
price of $65,000. The story has not
been decided as yet, nor the time for
the start, but it is understood that
Small will have to fit in his produc-
tion to conform with the availability
of Miss Colbert.
Small has also signed Harry Lach-
man on a one-picture contract to di-
rect. Lachman has two pictures to go
on his old Fox contract and the Small
effort will either be after the produc-
tion of the above two or in between
them.
Reliance has contracted for four
pictures to be released through United
Artists next year, which does not in-
clude "Count of Monte Cristo," it be-
ing on last year's deal.
'Rosy' Promises to Talk
To New York Indies
New York. — Sol Rosenblatt, who
has been in New York in connection
with code matters on the taxicab
strike, agreed yesterday on his depar-
ture for Washington that on his next
trip here he would give the Indepen-
dent Theatre Owners a hearing on
their request to set definite wage
scales for indie houses.
New Col. Comptroller
N. M. Stephenson becomes comp-
troller at Columbia Monday, replac-
ing Arthur Murphy, who resigned from
the post. Stephenson has been con-
nected with studios in a similar ca-
pacity for fifteen years, last with the
Pathe organization until 1929. He
has been in the east for the past four
years.
Franklin Megs Shearer
Sidney Franklin has been assigned
to direct the next Norma Shearer
vehicle at MCM, "Barretts of Wim-
pole Street." Donald Ogden Stewart
IS scripting.
Arrival Of George Creel Here
Monday Signal For Action On
Flood OfNRA Code Cotnplaints
judge Ben Lindsey received his appointment as "Labor Com-
I motion picture code com-
, California NRA head, arrives
Monday; — and both promise
pliance Officer to investigate a!
plaints," yesterday; George Cree
here for a huddle with Lindsey
speedy action on the complaints of
unions, extras and other groups that
they have been on a Code merry-go-
round since the departure of Sol Ros-
enblatt for Washington.
Judge Lindsey, speaking to a Re-
porter representative, said:
"You may say for me," said Judge
Lindsey, "that I shall move as rapidly
I Continued on Page 4)
Consol. Laboratory
Preferred Div.
Pays
New York. — Forecast by the re-
cent rise of its stock on the market.
Consolidated yesterday announced a
fifty cent dividend on its preferred
and doles out paymnt April 2 on hold-
ings recorded as of March 9.
Laboratory organization sliced a
melon for the first time in two years,
having failed to pay dividends snce
April, 1932.
Burroughs in Crash
Crashing a new airplane which he
just purchased, Edgar Rice Burroughs
came out of the accident at Clover
Field late yesterday with only a few
scratches. Burroughs was taking his
first solo flight m the new machine.
Test for Miss Pinchot
Rosamond Pinchot, daughter of the
Governor of Pennsylvania, was tested
by MCM yesterday for a term con-
tract.
ABRAMSOIV BOOMERANGS
ON MAJORS YS TRUST SUIT
'U' Dickers for Kenyon
New York.- — It looks like the ma-
jors' settlement of Ivan Abramson's
anti-trust suit out of Court may prove
a boomerang, for yesterday Abramson
was on the stand as a star witness
for Frank Rembusch in the latter's
action.
His testimony aimed to show how
he was frozen out and why and how
(Continued on Page 2'
Universal wants Dons Kenyon for
the lead in "Human Side," which will
be directed by Eddie Buzzell. She
IS now winding up a concert tour in
the east. y^
Corinne Griffith was up for this role
previously, but the deal has apparently
fallen through.
Picture Bets In
B'way Openings
New York. — Of the five plays that
opened on Broadway during the past
week three are without any picture
angle that will make good produc-
tions, one has a fair chance and there
IS another that is a cinch.
Of the three that are flop ideas,
"Queer People" is the standout, fol-
lowed closely by "Sing and Whistle"
and "Legal Murder." "Richard of
Bordeaux" looks okay if given a good
production with expert treatment and
"The Shining Hour" seems to have
everything that producers may want to
make a good picture.
V/ooMcofr? Signed for 12
One Reelers in East
New York. — Alexander Woolcott,
who has built a national following
with his radio talks, is under contract
with West Coast Service Studios here
to do a series of one reelers which
Lynn Shores is producing.
Tne first one, already completed,
IS titled "Mr. W's Little Game." Re-
lease not yet set.
Irene Dunne III
William Wellman will be forced to
shoot around Irene Dunne until next
Wednesday because she contracted an
infection on her face which will keep
her out of the cast of "Stingaree"
until that time. Picture started Mon-
day with Richard Dix in the male lead.
Vitaphone to Close
New York. — Vitaphone's Brooklyn
studio will close for five weeks start-
ing March 28, according to Sam Sax.
Current short program will be com-
pleted, and Sax leaves for European
trip.
Coldwyn Tags Anderson
., • Sam Goldwyn yesterday closed a
deal for Maxwell Anderson to do the
adaptation on "Resurrection," which
will be Anna Sten's second picture un-
der his banner.
[out SOON- And On Every Exec's Desk -WRITERS' NUMBER |
Page Two
THE
Feb. 17. 1934
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat:
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St ; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
includine postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
The Vendome is going to open its
brand new cocktail room next Thurs-
day and will offer a daily cocktail
dansant starting at 4.30, with Lou
Kosloff doing the music. . . . jetta
Coudal seen lunching with John Zanft
Does that mean, maybe, that jetta has
decided to return to the screen and
Zanft will do the business? . . . Clau-
dette Colbert is recovering from a se-
cret sinus operation. . . Moss Hart
and Robert Sherwood won't write that
Marx Brothers play after all, which
practically puts it in the laps of S. |.
Perelman and Arthur Sheekman. . .
The Edwin Knopfs are occupying the
laffe Malibu house from now on.
Ceorgie Raft says he's found his BAD
Dream Girl.
Margie King is out'n the hospital
and getting along. . . . Francis Led-
erer is really an ardent pacifist and
gives time and money to further the
cause — which may or may not explain
Lederer. . . . Ten sequences have al-
ready been cut out of the great George
White opus "Scandals" — no wonder
they can't seem to put the thing to-
gether. . . . The more you hear about
the Harry Ruby divorce, the more sen-
sational the details become. . . . Myr-
na Loy is in Honolulu, but a certain
producer misses her much more than
Ramon Novarro ever could. . . . Ruth
Collier was in the very midst of all
that Paris shootin' that took place re-
cently.
Cary Grant and Virginia Cherrill
stop in New York long enough to see
a coupla plays under orders from Para-
mount— one of them is "Pursuit of
Happiness." . . . That was a great
game of golf that Zeppo Marx paired
with Leo Diegel played against Jimmy
Oviatt and John Monk Saunders. . . .
They played thirteen holes in com-
plete darkness with four caddies and
chauffeurs lighting up the course with
matches for them. The match col-
lapsed at eight-fifteen that night.
S. K. Lauren just got a report from
your favorite censors on what would
•MADAME SPY"
Universal prod ; director, Karl Freund; writers, William Hurlburt,
Johanna Brandt, Joseph Than, Max Kimmich
Roxy Theatre
Mirror; Karl Freund, long famed as an ace cameraman, directed this conven-
tional spy melodrama. His imaginative treatment and a splendid cast com-
pensate for the conventional pattern of the plot and make the film pleas-
antly exciting and amusing.
American: It is pretty much blue-print as to story but there is plenty of action
and dramatic episode. It is satisfactory entertainment.
World-Telegram: Although it is capitally acted by a cast of players who are
more than kind to it, "Madame Spy" is only routine entertainment, the
better for some exciting moments toward the end. The cast is good — the
production tasteful.
News: The plot is artificial and follows the conventional lines of most of the
plots that have to do with spies. But in spite of its superficialities it con-
tains plenty of suspense and excitement and its principal roles are acted
with sufficient competence by Miss Wray, Mr. Asther, John Miljan and
Edward Arnold to hold the interest of the audience throughout its show-
ing.
Herald-Tribune: It may be the script which keeps the photoplay from unwinding
fluently; but certain faults are also attributable to the principals, who fail
to achieve subtlety in the performance. Certainly it is not a dull picture;
rather it is an experimental one; without so banal a plot, Mr. Freund might
have really done something with it.
Times: Mr. Freund reveals his fine hand in the magnificent scenes. It is a ro-
mantic melodrama which, notwithstanding that it is scarcely credible suc-
ceeds in tickling one's fancy. If there be a weak spot Mr. Freund atones
for it by his direction and his remarkable eye for camera angles. The star
of the picture is really its director who long ago made the camera talk
without the aid of the microphone.
Journal: An entertaining melodrama. Smoothly directed by Karl Freund and
nicely acted by an attractive cast. While the story follows a conventional
formula, it's been shrewdly handled and you'll find it diverting.
Sun; "Madame Spy" is a typical spy picture, neatly contrived, credibly acted and
directed and photographed with a keen eye to pictorial value as might be
expected from a film directed by that most excellent ex-cameraman. Karl
Freund. Movie stuff that it is, it is never dull.
"SEARCH FOR BEAUTY"
Paramount prod., director, Erie C. Kenton; writers, David Boehm, Maunne
Watkins, Frank Butler, Claude Binyon, Schuyler Grey, Paul Milton.
Paramount Theatre
Mirror: Those of us not blessed with beauty contest winners in the family or the
neighborhood may find "Search for Beauty" a little dull.
Sun; Seven authors, no less, are accredited with work on this; but, it emerges as
though the thirty contest winners had whipped it up between them. It
has a musical comedy plot, but, until the last reel, no musical comedy and
a rather annoying emphasis upon the silly plot. Most of the picture is just
handsome photography of handsome, uninteresting faces and bodies.
Journal: There's a lot of wise-cracking in the piece and plenty of bathing suit
display. It's diverting program fare, with Larry Buster Crabbe and Ida
Lupino in the Olympic champion roles.
Times: The story, composed under a compulsion similar to that which prompted
the production of the film, is excellent from the standpoint of a writing
job fulfilled under difficulties and depressing from any other point of view.
World-Telegram: Unimaginatively directed and loosely written, this "Search For
Beauty" has little in it to recommend as grown-up entertainment. How-
ever, the film is enlivened somewhat by the presence in its cast of those
two sterling comics, Robert Armstrong and James Gleason, and the beauty
of its young leading lady, Ida Lupino, does much to help matters along.
News: A neat little comedy. If you're in a critical mood, you'll find loose ends
to pick at in "Search for Beauty," but if you're in search for light enter-
tainment, this introduction of the magazine racket will interest you.
Herald-Tribune: On the whole, an unhappily feeble sort of narrative.
Post: This idea might have been entertainingly developed, but unfortunately
there is heavy humor in the writing and a shaky hand in the direction,
with the result that it falls off into a murky grope for comedy. Even the
usually amusing James Gleason is swamped by the obvious and tired dia-
logue. The search for beauty idea seems unnecessary when the producers
had Ida Lupmo to start with. She is an alluring and personable actress, a
contest winner in her own right. She deserves to have a picture that
makes sense
have to be eliminated from "The Par-
ty's Over" and the prize paragraph
reads: "Page 8 1 : As indicated above,
we recommend modifying this refer-
ence to the D.A.R. Also, on same
page, we suggest omitting this action
of Theodore feeling Mildred UNDER
THE CODE"
Panther Woman at 20th
Roy Del Ruth has selected Kathe-
nne Burke, former Paramount panther
woman, for one of the featured roles
in the Ronald Colman picture "Bulldog
Drummond Strikes Back" for Twenti-
eth Century.
Actors Pick Code
Nominees Sunday
All preparations have been com-
pleted for the election meeting for all
actors, to be held tomorrow night at
the Hollywood Woman's Club under
the auspices of the Screen Actors'
Guild. The election is to select actor
nominee representatives on the NRA'
Agents' Committee and the Five-and-
Five Committee. Meeting will start
at 8 o'clock, with Richard Tucker in
the chair.
Every actor who has received screen
credit within the past eighteen months
has the right to vote. To insure them
of their privilege, representatives of
the Guild will give credentials at the
Hollywood Woman's Club between 12
noon and 6 p.m. Sunday. The Guild
offices will be open all of this after-
noon for applicants. If any are un-
able to get credentials before the
meeting it will be possible to get them
at the door.
Hugh Enfield Slightly
Injured in Auto Crash
Hugh Enfield, now playing in the
Lee Tracy picture "I'll Tell the World"
at Universal, received a badly wrench-
ed neck and back yesterday in a mo-
tor collision at Hollywood Boulevard
and Cherokee.
He stopped his car at a traffic sig-
nal and another machine plowed into
his car from the rear. Examination
at the emergency hospital shoyved no
broken bones. But he will be off the
picture several days.
Xost Patror Rings Bell
The RKO Hillstreet cracked all at-
tendance records for the past six
months with one exception on the
world premiere of "Lost Patrol" yes-
terday, ringing the cash register to the
tune of $1800. Another Radio pic-
ture. "Flying Down to Rio," which
played during the holiday week, holds
top money by a very slight margin.
Jolson and Cable at Ball
New York— -Al Jolson, Clark Ga-
ble, Rudy Vallee and his band will be
among the list of talent at the Inde-
pendent Theatre Owners' Ball at the
Waldorf-Astoria February 21.
'U' Scoops French Riots
New York — Universal beat the f ield j
with shots of the Paris riots and held
a special trade showing of the film]
yesterday.
Abramson Boomerangs
I Continued from Page 1 1
his business was damaged. Coming
from a man with whom the big fellows,
settled rather than go to court, it cre-i
ates a peculiar situation. But cannyj
Max Steuer will cross-examine Abram-
son on Monday and then for the real!
fireworks.
J. D. Williams, organizer of First;
National, was another important wit-
ness of the day. being called by the
defense to tell of the formation of
that company and its entry into pro-
duction as a means of showing that
distributors were not monopolistic
when they entered exhibition.
Felix Jenkins, now of Fox, testified
on how the control of First Nationa'
passed to Warners.
Feb. 17, 1934
THE
Page Three
BORZ AGE'S 'GREATER GLORY'
FIIVE PICTURE OF ROY LIFE
Breakston, Script,
Director the Tops
•NO GREATER GLORY"
(Columbia)
Director Frank Borzage
Story by Ferenc Molnar
Screen play by Jo Swerling
Photography by Joe August
Cast: George Breakston, Jimmie But-
ler, Frankie Darro, Jackie Searl,
Donald Haines, Lois Wilson,
Ralph Morgan.
With a little cutting, Columbia's
"No Greater Glory" has distinct pos-
sibilities. Frank Borzage took two
gangs of kids, a great many sandbags,
and a pathetic but heroic youngster,
George Breakston, mixed them togeth-
er and turned out a picture that will
give reviewers a chance to use a few
of the bejter a^Jjectives.
Individual credits are lost sight of
when the picture is well along because
one is more and more interested in the
plot, which reaches a climactic fight
between the Paul Street gang and the
Redshirts. Though one can't forget
Captain Nemecfec and General Boca;
Jimmie Butler has a fetching smile and
a gallant manner, and it is up to
George Breakston, as Nemecfec, to
provide the heroism, the staunch cour-
age and the kindliness that should
make an audience slightly weepy — and
all over juvenile adventures in back lot
warfare.
But it is back lot warfare of a high
type, with the young soldiers trained
to a curt precision of action and man-
ner that would be funny if it did not
suggest the tragedy of actual war.
Jo Swerling, who made the screen
adaptation of Ferenc Molnar's story,
apparently set about to show how the
allegiance of boys to their leaders is
akin to the patriotism that makes men
fight for their countries. He suc-
ceeded in showing that the emotional
fervor of youthful combat is pitched
as high as the fervor of real warfare
and he demonstrated clearly that all
fighting has its tragic implications and
Its heartbreaks.
The opening scene, the traditional
World War battlefield effect was soon
compared to the fights between gangs
of boys. The Paul Street gang at-
tempts to rescue a stolen flag from
the Redshirts. After almost too many
adventures the flag is finally recov-
ered by Nemecfec, whose daring wins
the love and honor of his friends and
of enemies. Nemecfec is ducked once
too often by the enemy, and just as
he is about to become a captain he
falls deathly ill.
The fight in which the heroic
youngster gives his life because he
cannot be kept in bed is a thrilling
I one in which the rival gang is cleverly
trapped. The ending was dramatically
suggestive of the irony of war.
Lois Wilson and Ralph Morgan play
i the adult roles capably in a story that
i naturally subordinates adults to the
' boy theme, Breakston, as mentioned,
I is the heart of the picture, and the
I one who will start the weeps. Jackie
[ Searl, Jimmie Butler, Frankie Darrow,
■ deserve mention among a host of
'I youngsters upholding a misguided
'j cause of youth.
MCM Censorship
Howard Dietz called Harry Rapf
on the phone to ask if it was all
right to have Jimmy Durante read
the line (in "Hollywood Party")
"I am the Lord of Manure."
When Rapf heard it he replied:
"Certainly not, Howard, you can't
use LORD."
Capra's Next Yarn
Of the Racetracks
Frank Capra's next picture for Co-
lumbia will be the Mark Hellinger
racetrack yarn titled "Strictly Confi-
dential." Capra and Robert Riskin,
who is writing the screen play, are
at Palm Springs working on the story.
Capra will make this picture before
going over to MGM, on a loanout
deal, to direct "Soviet" with Wallace
Beery and Clark Gable.
Happy Days for Interior
Decorators at Coldwyn's
During the producer's New York
trip Samuel Goldwyn's offices at Unit-
ed Artists are getting a refurbishing
which spells the exp>enditure of sev-
erals thousands of dollars.
Entire top floor of the executive
building is being remodeled with an
eye towards swank. Players' dressing
rooms are getting a going-over which
will turn them into luxurious suites.
Lasky Adds to Cast
Jesse L. Lasky yesterday set Herbert
Mundin and Heather Angel for prin-
cipal roles in the Benn W. Levy play,
"Springtime for Henry," which Frank
Tuttle directs vyhen it starts the end
of next week. Studio is still looking
for a title, having discarded "Forgot-
ten Lips," which was used for a few
days.
Lasky IS negotiating with Clive
Brook and Otto Kruger for the male
lead.
Name Acad. Committee
The Academy yesterday named the
following committee to take charge
of decorations and acoustical treat-
ment of the banquet room for the
awards banquet March 16: Van Nest
Polglase, chairman; Carroll Clark, Park
French, Lloyd Goldsmith, Al Herman,
Charles Kirk and William Mueller.
'U' Tests Erin Moore
Erin O'Brien-Moore was tested by
Universal for one of the leading roles
in "Black Cat," the Edgar Allan Poe
story, which will feature Boris Karloff
and Bela Lugosi for Universal. Edgar
Ullmer will direct.
Balderston on 'Mansions'
John Balderston has been assigned
to the adaptation of "Green Man-
sions," which Radio plans for one of
its biggest specials next season.
The exhibitor can expect something
unusual and different. If other titles
can be mentioned without in any way
intending comparisons, it might be
called a "Skippy" edition of "All
Quiet."
WB After Nancy
Carroll for One Pic
Warners are negotiating with Nancy
Carroll for the feminine lead oppo-
site Charlie Ruggles in "Friends of
Mrs. Sweeney" which Sam Bischoff
is producing.
If Miss Carroll agrees to the role,
she will make this picture before
starting her two picture deal with
Jesse L. Lasky.
RKO Blarney Smith' Out,
'American Harem' Set in
Radio has set aside "Blarney Smith"
as a vehicle for William Gargan and
Ginger Rogers, and will feature the
two players in an original idea by Vic-
tor and Edward Halperin titled "Great
American Harem," which Lou Brock
will produce.
"Blarney Smith" was shelved be-
cause there have been four or five
other pictures on the market recently
with a similar theme.
Levine Starts 'jungle'
Nat Levine puts his first serial cf
1934, "The Lost Jungle," into pro-
duction at the Mack Sennett studio
next Thursday, shooting only animal
material until Clyde Beatty arrives here
February 28. Mascot will then sign
players and proceed with the human
elements of the production.
Mono. Signs New Yorker
Lou Ostrow is bringing Danny Tc-
land, New York stage actor, out un-
der a term contract to Monogram.
Ostrow tested Toland in New York
and figures him a good picture bet.
Ostrow last year imported Ray Walker,
who since has stepped info a Para-
mount spot.
NewJ^arn for Harlow
M.
Post-
Tnan Always Rings Twice," with the
idea of using it for a Jean Harlow
vehicle. David Selznick will produce
if Cain accepts the studio's terms.
Rogers Borrows Foster
Norman Foster has been borrowed
by Charles R. Rogers from Fox for
the lead in "In Conference," with
Helen Mack, Zasu Pitts, John Halliday
and Grace Bradley in the cast. Harry
Joe Brown will direct.
Ahern Team Returns
Will and Gladys Ahern return to
Hollywood Monday after a nine week
vaudeville tour. Team winds up this
week at Detroit.
Jed Harris Buys for Fall
New York. — Jed Harris is getting
ready for fall, one of his first pur-
chases being a new untitled play by
Roy Hargrave.
Carrillo Buys Ranch
Leo Carrillo is going bucolic. He
has just purchased a hundred-acre
rancho at Los Tu.'os.
Mpmis negotiating with James
^^fn for his new novel, "The Po
By JERRY WALD
Abe Lyman, who has been making
music at the New Yorker hostelry for
the past trio of months, has quit
there and gone Bermuda-ing for a va-
cation. . . . According to those who
claim they're in the know, Eddie Dow-
ling turned down that Federal Radio
Commission job 'cause the salary
wasn't big enough! . . . Clark Gable
will headline the Capitol Theatre next
week, and is Major Bowes happy.
. . . Victor Young snared that music
job on the Frankie and Johnnie opus,
which Chet Erskine will direct. . . .
The Chester Hale ladies of the "toe
and heel" will do their stuff on the
dance routines on this picture.
•
Mort Downey, while on his present
road-tour, shelved twenty pounds,
which is the reason for the smile on
his face these days. . . . Because he
demanded two grand to "do things"
on that yeast program — Ric Cortez
and the Fleischmann didn't get to-
gether. They were offering one grand.
. . . Eddie Cantor has been walking
around with enough bandages on his
face to wrap a mummy — the result of
a bad boil.
Don't miss that more-than-funny
news-eel which shows Fanny Brice in-
tervewing the gigolos at the Casino
de Paris with the last gigolo being no
other than Willie Howard. . . Al Jolson
finally got around to doing the grace-
ful thing at the Cheese Club luncheon
the other mid-day. . . . "If Walter
Winchell was in this room now," said
Jolson, "I'd walk over, offer my hand
and say 'Let's forget it.' "... And at
the same luncheon, Rudy Vallee, who
took a terrific razzing from the press
lads, got up and in a very gracious
speech thanked them for their coop-
eration, sympathy and kindness. . . .
Art Arthur calls Fay Webb "Jane
Dough No. 1."
•
Joe (United Artists! Moskowitz
went a-sailing down thar to Bermuda
to get himself one of those mid-Win-
ter tans. . . . Lots of talk about Char-
lie Rogers planning to buy "Apron
Strings" as a vehicle for Jack Haley.
. . . "Apron Strings" was a dramatic
show which ran a few months around
here two seasons ago. Rogers, we hear,
IS planning to produce it as a musical.
. . . The U. A. press bunch were all
excited about the opening of "Cath-
erine The Great." . . . They're mak-
ing all sorts of tie-ups with radio
broadcasting, etc. . . . The wises claim
that one of the bigger Hollywood pro-
ducers is trying to make a double fea-
ture with Kate Smith. . . . Gerry Lee,
whose uncle, Mark Sandrich, directs
some swell musicals for my money, is
getting set to air her voice with one
of the local band boys here in town.
*Earth Turns' for Maine
"As the Earth Turns" will have its
world premiere the middle of March
in Bangor, Maine, near the locale of
the story. Studio hopes to test the
application to pictures of the political
slogan: "As goes Maine so goes the
nation" Feature gets its general re-
lease Apr'! 14.
Page Four
Feb. 17. 1934
Para's New Scheme
Strikes Bad Snag
New York. — Any hope that Para-
mount's great real estate empire
might be salvaged by use ot funds
from Paramount Pictures Distributing
Corporation were blasted this week at
a hearing before Referee in Bankruptcy
Davis.
At the hearing the Commercial Na-
tional Bank, a creditor, opposed any
Paramount Pubiix bankruptcy policy of
rebuilding real estate holdings by pur-
chasing claims against its bankrupt
subsidiaries. The Paramount trustees
wanted permission to use tl^e distribu-
ting corporation funds to acquire
bonds outstanding against the Ten-
nessee Enterprises, a bankrupt subsid-
iary. Although approved by Davis and
a majority of creditors, it was made
plain that no more such approvals
would be given.
Helen Lowell Tries One
Pic Before Star Vehicle
Helen Lowell, character actress
whom Warners brought out from the
New York stage, has been assigned
an important role in "Happy Family."
This assignment is the step before her
first starring vehicle for Warners,
which will be "The Old Doll's House"
by Damon Runyon. Al Green is di-
recting "Happy Family," in which
Aline MacMahon is starred.
Schnozzle Long Distances
An audience attending a preview of
Edward Small's "Palooka" at the
Keith theatre in Boston tonight will
listen in on Jimmy Durante as he
speaks to a critic there over the long
distance wires. Durante will converse
w'th the critic from the United Art-
ists lot at eight o'clock here and the
theatre will cut its loudspeakers in on
the exploitation stunt.
Bridge to Aid Relief
What the sponsors call "the first
annual motion picture bridge tourna-
ment" will be held Monday evening
in the Fiesta Room of the Ambassa-
dor Hotel for the benefit of the Mo-
tion Picture Relief Fund. Local mer-
chants have contributed so well that
there will be prizes for every table.
Tickets may be obtained from Bebe
Daniels.
Sam White at Col.
Columbia has signed Sam White,
brother of )ules White, director, to
collaborate with Jack Cluett on the
script of the next Charlie Murray
and George Sidney comedy which
starts next week. Jules White directs
and Zion Myers produces.
Tone Too Busy
Radio's bid yesterday for Franchot
Tone from MGM went flat when the
latter begged out of a loan-out deal
on the player, having him lined up
for assignments which will keep him
busy for several months. Radio want-
ed him for "Alien Corn,"
Clover Club Renovates
Clover Club closes down shortly for
a week, during which it will be re-
modeled. Blossom Seeley and Benny
Fields have been signed through Wal-
ter Kane as featured performers when
it reopens.
FLOOD OF PRAISE FOR
REPORTER AWARie IPEA
The flood continues — the flood of
letters from stars, executives, direc-
tors and technical experts of the in-
dustry, congratulating the Hollywood
Reporter on its new system for giving
awards for outstanding creative
achievement in the industry.
Judging from the letters, the in-
dustry as a whole has long felt the
need for a democratic method of giv-
ing credit to those who earn it. The
Reporter system of having everybody
vote instead of just a group seems to
have filled that need. Here are a few
of the comments that came yester-
day:
■| wish to congratulate the Holly-
wood Reporter on its policy of prize
awards, knowing full well how im-
(jortant it is for any artist to receive
appreciation for his creative efforts
from his fellow workers. The realiza-
tion that his efforts are something
more than a 'cry m the wilderness' is
a great incentive to a creative work-
er.
"WILLY POGANY,
"Art Director, Warner Bros."
Steele Off MOM Payroll
A&^China Seas' Shelved
"Any plan that will serve to reward
sincere effort is a good thing, and
the Hollywood Reporter Medal for
Merit is bound to produce incentive
to better attainment.
"JOHN M. STAHL.
"Universal Director."
"The Hollywood Reporter plan to
award a medal for excellence in mov-
ing picture art is a generous idea and
should result in a great good to the
industry as a whole.
"STANLEY BERGERMAN,
"Universal Asso. Producer."
"It is almost impossible to tell who
the finest actors and directors are
since pictures from different studios
cater to so many different audiences,
and success is considerably a matter
of what circuit of theatres presents
one's best performance. The Holly-
wood Reporter contest should bring
out some interesting and undoubtedly
some surprising facts which the in-
dustry should watch with eagerness.
"EDWARD BUZZELL.
"Universal Director."
trving Thalberg has called off all
sets on "China Seas," slated as a ve-
hicle for Clark Gable and Myrna Loy,
relegating it to the shelf until the
feeling prompts the MGM producer to
go at it again.
As a consequence, Wilbur Daniel
Steele, who had been engaged for the
screen play, checks off the company's
pay-roll and moves off to Palm Springs
for' a brief rest.
French Lad in Debut
Charles Bastin, 12-year-old French
youngster who has played leads in a
number of European produced pic-
tures, gets his first American feature
break in "The World Moves On" at
Fox. He was set yesterday by the
Sackin agency. Bastin arrived in New
York from Paris three months ago and
made three American shorts for Fox
there before coming to the coast.
^Neni' Premiere Tonight
Hollywood's foreign colony will be
out in full force tonight at the Car-
thay Circle theatre, where the Hun-
garian talking picture "Iza Neni,"
starring Sari Fedak, will be shown for
the first time in America. The star
will appear in person and give brief
program of song. Picture only shows
for one night.
Rogers After Barrymore
Charles Rogers was repyorted last
night having borrowed Lionel Barry-
more from MGM for a top spot with
Carole Lombard in "In Conference,"
which Harry Joe Brown directs. Bar-
rymore IS making a personal appear-
ance at the New York Capitol and due
back for the start of the picture on
February 26
Ellington Band Here Mon.
Duke Ellington and his band arrive
here Monday to go into the Earl Car-
roll picture, "Murder at The Vanities"
for Paramount
Meeker and Bevan
Close Two in Day
George Meeker and Billy Bevan had
a good day yesterday, both penning
their names to two-picture contracts
Meeker goes to Universal for "Uncer-
tain Lady" and "Little Man, What
Now?" while Bevan does "Stingaree"
at Radio and swings over to Twentieth
Century for "Bulldog Drummond
Strikes Back." The Beyer-MacArthur
office negotiated the contracts.
Karns in '20th Century'
Columbia yesterday concluded ne-
gotiations with Paramount and bor-
rowed Roscoe Karns for the role of
the newspaper reporter in "Twentieth
Century," which is scheduled to start
February 22. Howard Hawks directs
John Barrymore and Carole Lombard
in the top spots.
Grayson and Freed Collab.
^GKarles Grayson and Arthur Freed
y^re writing an original story, "Good
Old Summer Time," which is slated
to go into production at MGM under
Walter Wanger. Freed, with Nacio
Herb Brown, is also doing the music
for it. Story is about summer camps.
DeMond Finishes One
Albert DeMond has just completed
another assignment, the story and
screen play on "No More Ransom," for
M. H. Hoffman's Liberty Productions.
Fred Newmyer directs the picture,
with Phillips Holmes, Leila Hyams and
Jack LaRue in the leads.
Shea and Kane Split
Gloria Shea obtained her release
from the manager's contract with
Walter Kane, of the Weber office,
yesterday. Manager was slated at one
time recently to marry the player
whose business affairs he handled.
Tie-Up Visitor Leaves
A. R. Clapham, vice president and
general manager of the Johnson and
Johnson Company, the pharmaceutical
concern, left town last night after a
week in which he put over some star
tie-ups.
Fair Warning
Eddie Buzzell is warning all his
friends that his father is in town.
Yep, You see, Eddie's dad, Jess N.
Buzzell. is a high pressure insur-
ance salesman. Eddie says he sold
a policy to the conductor on the
train that brought him here, so is
tipping off his friends.
Lee Tracy Crabs $1250
For Shell Oil Broadcast
Lee Tracy has been signed by Shell
Oil to make his first broadcast on the
company's San Francisco hour. Shell
nailing him when it extended itself
by giving him top money, $1,250 for
the single radio appearance.
Isabel Jewell will also go on the
air with Tracy on the same program.
Both tickets were sealed through Wal-
ter Kane of the Weber office.
Acad's Band Problem
Academy is having a difficult time
trying to line up a "name" band for
the annual awards banquet to be held
March 16, Tried to get Ted FioRito.
but musician tilted price too high for
one evening's entertainment. Those
close to the situation say Ted must
have figured banquet would last a
week.
Radio Player Clicks
Louis Mason, whom Radio took
from broadcasting for the hill-billie
role in "Spitfire," was signed yester-
day by MGM for a similar characteri-
zation in "Coming Round the Moun-
tain." Player made the character fa-
mous on the ether for three years
Lindsey Promises Speed
(Continued from Page 1 )
as possible to investigate every labor
complaint that is filed. And I shall
see to it that a speedy hearing is given
every complainant. It is the job of
everybody to see that there are no de-
lays in settling these matters,
"If complaints are made, they
should not be put on the shelf and
left there to go stale. They should
be handled as quickly as possible and
a decision handed down. I shall at-
tempt to keep everything going in a5
orderly and rapid a manner as pos-
sible."
Sound union has been burned fo^
some time, for the matter of a wage
scale hangs in the balance in the
complaint they filed with the Studio
Labor Committee before Rosenblatt
left Hollywood. Harold V. Smith,
business agent of the union, said that
Rosenblatt assured him that if his or-
ganization could prove to the commit-
tee that there were certain existing
contracts with independent producers,
that the scale in those contracts would
be the general scale for the major lots..
Thus, as the independent scale is
higher, the men want the matter set-
tled so they can get more money.
A score of other complaints are
shelved with the same committee.
Mrs. Mable Kinney, head of the
Extra's Committee, after a week in
Sacramento, said that her committee
would start to function next week
Extras have been squawking loudly
over inactivity and have been com-
plaining of alleged NRA violations.
Feb. 17. 1934
ill
l^ilPOPiTil^.
Pas* Five
GORDON'S 'SHIXIIVt; HOUR' UA sPicturesTops
»i MISSES ITS OPPORTUNITIES ^^ ^^vay Last Week
But Offers Great
>et For Screen
'THE SHINING HOUR"
Keith Winter; presented by Max
Cordon at Booth Theatre; staged
by Raymond Massey; setting by
Aubrey Hammond. Cast: Adri-
enne Allen, Marjorie Fielding,
Cyril Raymond, Derek Williams,
Cladys Cooper and Raymond
Massey.
New York. — This play started out
with all the promise of a tense sub-
merged drama and then broke through
this frame and form and went com-
pletely hysterical in its treatment. In-
troducing for the first time to an
American audience one of England's
favorite stars, Cladys Cooper, and pre-
senting again to his admirers, Ray-
mond Massey, his very effective wife,
Adrienne Allen, and an interesting
juvenile named Derek Williams, Max
Cordon's play attracted an audience
who had come there with the pur-
pose of reveling in a great play with
a great cast.
Regarding the cast — Miss Cooper,
who after years of success in the
London playshops suddenly dared brave
the judgment of an impartial New
York audience, is to this observer a
competent, beautifully equipped, ef-
fective actress. However, entirely
lacking in that quality which Holly-
wood always denotes as "glamour."
Miss Allen, absent from these shores
since her performance in "Cynara,"
returns again to repeat a telling per-
formance. As for the performance of
her husband, played by Massey, all
that can be said is that no actor could
have done the part justice. He does
very well.
The play concerns a middle-class
English farmer family, consisting of
three brothers, a sister and the wife
of the second brother. Into this well-
established, ordered environment, the
rather phlegmatic, simple-minded old-
est brother brings his worldly, highly
sensitive, rather intellectually inclined
newly-married wife. Possessed of all
the qualities usually attributed to at-
tractiveness, the intrusion of this out-
sider results in confusion involving all
the members of the family. The cen-
tral situation revolves around the dis-
covery and recognition of the love that
arises between the visiting bride and
her highly sensitive neurotic brother-
in-law.
As a third element to this triangle
we have the simple, self-sacrificing,
understanding wife of the second
brother, who had married her husband
knowing he does not love her and who,
on recognizing the fact that an im-
portant love has come into his life,
eliminates herself by the very easy de-
vice of suicide. The penultimate act
in its vain search for dramatic effect
is concerned with the attempt on the
part of the lovers to eliminate the
sombre devastating overpowering ef-
fect of this suicide on their relation-
ships.
Here is a play that has enough ele-
ments in it never to be dull. On the
other hand, and in spite of moments
of real understanding, honesty and
keen emotional observation, and de-
Tut! Tut!
Paul Lukas is a bit fussy about
his working hours. The other eve-
ning as he was preparing to leave
the set an executive approached
him with a sheepish smile, saying:
"We'll have to work a little
overtime tonight, Mr. Lukas. I
hope you'll play ball with us, yes?"
"I'm an actor, not a ball player,"
said Lukas, as he walked off the
set.
"
Martin Smith Heads
Ohio Indie Exhibs
Columbus. — Martin C Smith has
been elected president of the Inde-
pendent Theatre Owners of Ohio, rep-
resenting about 300 theatres in the
state.
Elmer Shard and Sam Lind were
chosen vice presidents, M. B. Horwitz
treasurer, and P. |. Wood secretary
and business manager.
Still Add to Harold
Lloyd's Xatspaw' Cast
Crace Bradley was borrowed from
Paramount yesterday by Harold Lloyd
to play the second feminine lead in
"Catspaw," which is now in produc-
tion. Lloyd originally tried to get
Miss Bradley, but she was not avail-
able at the time he made the bid.
Noah Young has been added to the
cast.
Sam Taylor has returned to resume
direction of the picture after a few
days' illness. Lloyd directed during
his absence.
Dot Lee in Denver
Dorothy Lee opened yesterday at
the Orpheum, Denver, for a week's
personal appearances. Harry Santley
of the William Morns office set the
deal.
spite the fact that it degenerates in-
to a muddy pool of theatricalism, hys-
teria and obvious emotional effects
the play seemed to please the first
night's audience and the critics as
well. Hysteria is no substitute for
deep feeling and no amount of fin-
ished acting can cover up an artificial
situation.
The interesting thing about the re-
sults of this play on unseasoned as well
as tried and experienced critics is that
the material which in itself is slightly
maudlin and in its very nature com-
pletely theatrical, is ryade to appear
really genuine and important as a re-
sult of sensitive, shrewd and highly
realistic performances by a cast of ac-
tors who have power, ability and sin-
cerity of approach. The author's play
"The Rats of Norway" was much
finer, tighter drawn and more defi-
nitely conceived than this loosely
drawn and hysterical conception.
Strangely enough, the most obvious
faults of this play will greatly enhance
Its picture value because all the the-
atrical devices used will tend to give
the picture version of the play an ef-
fectiveness that a more honest treat-
ment of the subject matter on the
stage would not convey.
Warners Starting
Week with Seven
When "Doctor Monica," the Kay
Francis picture, and "Happy Family,"
the Aline MacMahon starring vehicle,
go into work Monday morning, War-
ners will have seven pictures in pro-
duction.
The other pictures m production
are "Sawdust," the )oe E. Brown star-
ring vehicle, "Return of the Terror,"
with Lyie Talbot, Mary Astor and John
Halliday; "Without Honor," the James
Cagney-Joan Blondell picture, and
"The Key" with William Powell, Edna
Best and Colin Clive.
Although Warners stated some time
back that there would be no shut-
down this year, the feeling around the
lot with all these pictures shooting
and more to go in very soon is that
the studio will shut down the same
time this year as it has done in previ-
ous years.
Montgomery Out, Duffy
Seeks Young for MGM
Henry Duffy, unable to secure Rob-
ert Montgomery for the top spot in
the stage production of "Men m
White," which he will produce at
El Capitan, is negotiating with MCM
for Robert Young. Young has okayed
the idea and Duffy is now awaiting
MCM's approval.
Mary Brian has returned from New
York, having seen the Broadway pro-
duction of the play, and will likely sign
for the feminine lead this week.
WarnerS'W. E. Suit Set
New York. — The anti-trust suit
brought by Warners and General Talk-
ing Pictures against Western Electric
and Erpi, will come up in Wilmington,
Del., on April 2. Amount of damage
will be determined at this trial, also
question of permanent injunction.
Next Pasadena Play
"Snow in August" will open at the
Pasadena Community Playhouse Feb-
ruary 24. The play is by Claire Par-
rish and will be directed by William
D. Russell, formerly director for the
Dallas Community Players.
Rosita Moreno Returning
Rosita Moreno is en route from a
vacation trip through Argentine, Uru-
guay and Chile. She arrives here
March 5. Will go into a new Spanish
musical at the Fox studios on the I 5th.
New York. — -The weather can't be
used as an alibi this past week on
Broadway, because real attractions m
the motion picture houses pulled them
;n, while the others were only so-so.
"Nana" in its second week at the
Music Hall did $93,000. "Moulin
Rouge" did 537,700 first week at
Rivoli, and second week looks like
$28,000. "Madame Spy" took $22,-
500 at Roxy. The "Big Shakedown"
was good at the Mayfair with $15,-
500. "Devil Tiger" at the Rialto did
$22,000 first week and first three
days of second has done $6,000, with
$14,000 estimate for the week.
"Search For Beauty" at Paramount
pulled only $25,900. and "Hi Nellie"
in second week at Strand took $1 I,-
250, while "This Is Heaven" at Capi-
tol brought in $35,000. Looks like
a $15,000 week for "Catherine the
Great" for week ending Thursday at
the Astor.
Decision Soon On
$10,000,000 ParaSuit
New York. — Decision will be given
in about two weeks on the attempt of
Attorney Zirn, acting for creditors, to
set aside the transfer of assets of about
ten million to the Film Productions by
the old Paramount organization.
Both sides argued the case yester-
day 'oefore the Appellate Division on
points of law, with the final action
being to give Attorney Zirn until
Monday to file an additional brief of
his appeal papers.
Jean Muir in 'Monica'
Jean Muir has been assigned an im-
portant role with Kay Francis m the
iatter's next picture, "Dr. Monica,"
which will get under way Monday un-
der the direction of William Keighly
for Warners. Joel McCrea is no long-
er under consideration for the male
lead.
Col. Changes Title
Columbia has changed the title on
■ Storm at Midnight" to 'Headed for
Trouble." Picture was completed un-
der C. C. Coleman's direction about
a month ago with Tim McCoy and
Billie Seward in the leads.
Eddy Gives Recital
New York. — Nelson Eddy, slated
by MGM to appear soon in "Prisoner
of Zenda," gives his first local song
recital tomorrow at Town Hall. Pro-
gram in German, Russian and English.
PATHE-COiXSOL. LAB. WAR
AXD TRUCE DECLARED
New York — Reported friction be-
tween the Pathe laboratory and Con-
solidated, which this week threatened
far reaching reactions involving the
Du Pont and Eastman raw stock com-
panies, was learned to be without
basis yesterday.
Pathe in its recently completed ser-
ies of financing deals was said to have
instructed its west coast producers to
hand their work over to the Davidge
plant for their dailies. Consolidated
doing a burn until it disproved the re-
port. Pathe is interested only in its
release printing and is side-tracking
any battles with its rival. Consolidat-
ed, however, has all its producers in
whom it is financially interested do
their work only at its own laboratories.
Du Pont and Eastman raw stock is
used by both laboratories, but had
Pathe passed the word around against
Consolidated a laboratory and raw
stock war threatened, with Consoli-
dated a cinch to shut out Du Pont
film in preference to Eastman.
Page Six
Feb. 17. 1934
Two New Contests For
Novelists - Playwrights
There are two contests announced this week — one for nov-
elists, and one for playwrights.
Dodd, Mead and Company of New York, and Cassell and
Company Ltd., of London, are offering a prize of one thousand
pounds for the best novel submitted state ranger with fantastic courage
in an international competition which who comes looking for Bill; and of
closes September 1, 1934.
No manuscript previously submitted
to a publisher will be considered. The
winning author is guaranteed royalties
at 15 per cent of the published price.
There are, apparently, no restrictions
as to the type of novel, and the con-
test is open to all authors.
The second contest is sponsored by
Theatre Union, which is looking for
unpublished one-act plays "that deal
critically with present day society."
Contest closes April 1. Address 104
Fifth Avenue, New York.
There are a great 'many books con-
cerning Russia and Russians coming
out these days. Witness: "My Rus-
sian Neighbors," by Alexander Wick-
steed, an Englishman who has lived
ten years in Russia; "Moscow, 1911-
1933, ' by Allan Monkhouse; "From
Broadway to Moscow," by Marjorie E.
Smith; "The Evil Empress," by the
Grand Duke Alexander; "The Cruci-
fixion of Liberty," by Alexander Ke-
rensky (formerly announced as "The
Fighf for Freedom"); "Russia Today;
What Can We Learn from It?" by
Sherwood Eddy; "Russia Challenges
Religion," by George Mecklenburg,
and "Russian Medieval Architecture,"
by D. R. Buxton.
Besides all these, Covici Friede is
publishing on the 23d of this month
what is probably the first systematic
effort to outline Russian literature
from the revolution up to the present
day. The book will be titled "Soviet
Literature," and will be edited and
translated by George Heavey and Marc
Slonin. The volume will contain fic-
tion, verse, criticism, biographical
data, notes and a glossary. Among
the authors represented will be Zam-
yatin, Pilnyak, Kataev, Babel, Zosht-
chenko, Fadeyev, Blok, Biely and May-
akovsky.
This week has seen a very wide
assortment of books published, with
several interesting ones to report:
"In The Face of the Sun"
Author Birdsall Briscoe
Publisher Edward J. Clode
A romantic saga of the Southwest-
ern border that is rich in plot and
writing — a western adventure story
par excellence.
Mr. Briscoe writes of Gregorio Ruiz,
a Mexican bandit general; of Don Luis
Romero, whose ambition it is to create
"The Republic of the Rio Grande"; of
Bill Clay, a Texas Ranger, who disap-
pears while trying to find where the
large shipments of arms are being
stored; of Captain Lewis Randon, e
Estrella Romero, the beautiful elusive
senorita.
This is a grand yarn, with plenty of
dash and color and gallantry.
"The Storm Blows Over"
Authors Judith Rave!
and Lowell Brentano
Publishers Covici, Friede
Three Chinese students, two Eng-
lish spinsters, a German priest, four
Americans — and Varvara Philipovna,
the irresistible White Russian. All
are passengers on a freighter sailing
from Yokohama to Genoa.
No man could resist Varvara's
charms, and thereon hangs the tale of
her romantically busy voyage.
"Pease Porridge Hot "
Author Nalbro Bartiey
Publisher Bobbs Merrill
There is not a single character in
"Pease Porridge Hot" who deserves
one little bit of sympathy or admira-
tion or even consideration.
They are mean, stupid and selfish,
and they do things all through the
book in keeping with their characters.
Ross Dunlevy jilts Collins Basset at
the altar and runs off with her cousin
Linda and the Basset fortune. Collins
marries Jim Kincaid and takes her
spite out on him. Then Ross comes
back determined to marry Collins, in
spite of the fact that she has mean-
while come to love Jim.
Oh, well —
Farewell Victoria"
Author T. H
Publishers: Harrison Smith
Robert Haas
VA/Iut<
and
Here is an utterly simple, unaffect-
ed tale of Munday, a groom who was
born in a feudal atmosphere and never
questioned the superiority of his mas-
ters or his own placid stupidity.
iHorses were his passion . . . until
he married Ellen, who was "even more
beautiful than a horse." He fought the
Zulus; his wife left him; he entered
the service of the Countess Sophie
Jaresky who was seven feet three
inches tall and who had no friends
but her servants. He married the cook;
talked to the Countess and cared for
her horses. And he finally died at the
age of eighty-three, still placid, still
stupid and not a bit changed, spirit-
ually or mentally.
A fine book.
Sea Plane Solo"
Author Francis Chichester
Publisher Harcourt. Brace
Francis Chichester attempted a
well-nigh impossible solo flight, and
lived to write about it in a book that
is so exciting that it will raise goose-
pimples all over America. He flew in
a rattly little plane from New Zea-
land to Australia, a distance of 1 ,450
miles, and his plane had a range of
950 miles.
Don't miss this one.
^'v?
"The Unforgotten Prisoner"
Author ....R. C. Hutchinson
Publisher Farrar and Rinehart
Mr. Hutchinson has written a novel
of degradation, of hatred, and of in-
dustrial chaos that is a frightfully
strong indictment against war.
Written with a swinging, mounting
power, the book is the outpouring of
a man who hates war and what war
does with all his heart. It is the story
of the tragedy that overtakes a Ger-
man girl and an English boy and their
child.
Hutchinson writes, lavishly and
beautifully, compressing within this
one book enough material for four or-
dinary novels.
'N. :
"Queen Elizabeth"
Author J. E. Neale
Publisher Harcourt. Brace
An absorbing biography is Profes-
sor Neale's quiet, authoritative word
picture of the great English queen and
her times.
Carefully avoiding all the usual ro-
mantic legends; almost completely ig-
noring the pros and cons on the sub-
ject of Mary Stuart, the author is in-
terested only in giving a pure, simple
history of Elizabeth, her virtues and
her faults.
He succeeds admirably.
"The Hawk and the Tree"
Author Patrick Carleton
Publisher E. P. Dutton & Co.
Bill Harfott, a teacher in a boys'
school, is a rebel against the English
social pattern and the limitations im-
posed upon him because he is an
"English gentleman."
So he decides one day that he is
no gentleman, leaves the school and
forthwith sets out to puncture what
he calls "the spiritual thinness and
timidity of our age." He becomes a
potboy in a country bar; he cleans out
the bear cages in a traveling circus;
he poses for an artist, and helps a
Jewish merchant to sell antiques.
Then, one night, he remembers his
boxing days at Cambridge and trains
to become a professional fighter.
Wildly happy, he makes the mistake
of writing a book, becoming engaged
to a properly civilized young lady and
almost loses himself again in "gentle-
manhood." But he rescues himself in
time and goes back to boxing . . . and
the boys.
Patrick Carleton has been clever
enough here not to go sentimental or
poetical wearisome. He writes hon-
estly and definitely, and the result is
a book that will not irritate the read-
er as so many "searching for the souf"
works do.
"Change Partners"
Author Peggy Shane
Publishers: Ray Long and Richard
R. Smith
Here IS a lively little story of two
couples who swap marriage partners
and get themselves into an amusing
little mess. Peggy Shane writes light-
ly and cleverly and the thing Is bright,
easy reading.
"Willful and Premeditated"
Author Freeman Wills Croft
Publisher Dodd, Mead and Co.
Although the reader knows all along
who committed the murder and how,
the detective has no inkling of the so-
lution. How he brings the murderer
to trial, after uncovering evidence that
is completely hidden, is the exciting
part of the book. This is one of the
best of the Inspector French yarns.
"The Case of the Lucky
Legs"
Author Erie Stanley Gardner
Publisher ...William Morrow & Co.
Perry Mason, the criminal lawyer
who does his own sleuthing and who
suspects everyone, including his cli-
ents, solves his third mystery in this
latest Erie Stanley Gardner book.
In this one, he has to clear himself
and also a girl of murder charges, and
he is handicapped by some racketeers
and by the police.
Good and exciting, with swell dia-
logue.
.
"Slow Death at Geneva"
Author "Diplomat"
Publisher ...Coward McCann
Another "Diplomat" novel, in
which the political world is taken for
an amusing ride, and readers of good,
thrilling mysteries are highly enter-
tained.
This one has to do with some poi-
son administered to Cadwallader, who
is about to complete a coup at a world
p>olitical conference, and Dennis Tyler,
who takes it upon himself to find out
why and by whom the poison was in-
jected.
This is a truly baffling yarn and a
hilarious farce.
Feb. 17. 1934
THE
Page Seven
"Soldiers. What Nexf?"
Author Katherine Mayo
Publisher Houghton, Mifflin
Katherine Mayo turns her atten-
tion for a while from Mother India
to the A.E.F. and the various stages
by which she claims to trace the pres-
ent degeneration of the Legion.
Writing almost hysterically, Miss
Mayo, unfortunately, protests too
much. The book fails to carry much
weight.
"The Well of Days'
Author - Ivan Bunin
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf
"My heart is grieving in secret |0y
that life is vast and empty like the
steppe."
This is one of the thousand lovely,
profoundly wise lines in Ivan Bunin's
book that, it is thought, is the story
of his youth in Russia.
However that may be, "The Well
of Days" is an amazingly beautiful
work, and at the same time a com-
pletely satisfying comment on Russia.
Read it by all means.
"More or Less About
Myself"
Author Margot Asquith
Publisher Dutton
This is one of the important Dutton
books of the year. Margot Asquith is
completely self-revelatory here, and
delightfully so.
She is frank, honest and outspoken
in this sequel to her famous autobiog-
i raphy, and in her preface she wickedly
i points out all the faults of the book
herself, and advises her readers to skip
'through it.
Which, of course, no one will.
"Shake Hands With the
Devil"
Author Rearden Conner
Publisher Morrow
Here is a story as powerful as it is
bioody. And if your stomach is not at-
tuned to the gory, it will give you a
bad time.
J This is the Literary Guild book for
i February. And it has to do with Dublin
and the Sinn Feiners and blood and
massacre and civil war and executions
and ail the other atrocities that are
the result of hate and courage, mis-
I understanding and patriotism.
It is a terribly moving book and
utterly unlovely.
"Devil's Circus"
Author Dr. Louis Berg
Publishers William Godwin
This book serves three purposes: it
IS a biting social comment, it is a
vivid character study, and it is a well-
written, forceful novel.
It tells of Jerry who was licked
from the start; who tried to break
away from the gangsters' control ; who
tried to better himself and forget
Welfare Island and the Bowery slums
where he first learned to be bad.
But it was no use. And a street
walker was the only one who wept
when he went to the electric chair.
Newsy Gossip About The
Authors and Publishers
"A Modern Tragedy"
Author Phyllis Bentley
Publisher Macmillan
The depression evidently hit the
Yorkshire wool district, as well as
other parts of the world, according to
Miss Bentley's new novel.
Even if a certain passion for unin-
teresting details, and a rather incred-
ible plot make her book less fascinat-
ing than it might have been. Miss
Bentley retrieves it whenever she
touches the wool mills and the life
there.
It is the story of Walter, son of a
fine old wool man. Walter meets
Leonard Tasker, one of the get-rich-
quick men of the new era, and Wal-
ter is led into the shady bypaths of
business
'The Foster Mother"
Author Martin Armstrong
Publisher.. ..Harcourt Brace and Co.
More of a character study than the
usual novel, "The Foster Mother" has
as its heroine an oldish, frustrated wo-
man whose colorless, drab life is sud-
denly interrupted by the necessity for
bringing up the two children of her
dead sister-in-law.
Wanting love more than anything
in the world. Aunt Deborah is never-
theless incapable of inspiring it, with
the result that she becomes insanely
nagging and cruelly inhuman.
She is a terrible old woman, and
the book is as far away as possible
from anything resembling sweetness
and light.
"Two O'clock Courage"
Author Celett Burgess
Publisher Bobbs-Merrill
Amnesia is the peg upon which this
mystery is hung, and while it is hardly
an original peg it is, under the Bur-
gess pen, an extremely effective one,
A man suddenly finds himself
stumbling along a dark street, his
memory completely gone and his
clothes covered with blood.
How he learns of his identity and
discovers the murderer who is respon-
sible for the blood on his clothes s
the story — and a darn good one.
Class"
Author Howard Stephenson
Publisher Claude Kendall
■^|*hyllis Bottome, whose new book,
/'Private Worlds," will be published
soon by Houghton Mifflin, is now m
San Francisco after a voyage to Ant-
werp.
Carl Van Vechten is the proud
owner of the set of dinner plates that
are embellished with one of Gertrude
Stein's profundities: "As a rose is a
rose is a rose." In spite of it all, how-
ever. Van Vechten will write the in-
troduction of Miss Stein's new play,
"Four Saints in Three Acts."
Most of the publishers have put in
bids for "Thg_J_ife of Our Lord," by
Charles Dickens, which is being >ian-
dled by Curtis Brown, agents.
\ On Monday Alfred Knopf will pub-
/ ?'ish Oswald Spengler's "The Hour of
Decision," in which the autfior asks
"what if one day class war and race
war joined forces to make an end of
the white world?"
Another by H. L. Mencken: "Treat-
ise on Right and Wrong." to be pub-
lished by Alfred A. Knopf soon.
Franklin D. Roosevelt will have a
new book out in April, announces the
John Day Company. It will be "On
Our Way: The First Year."
Bobbs-Merrill will have a book on
its spring list by Lyman Beecher Stowe,
grandson of Harriet Beecher Stowe,
called "Saints, Sinners and Beechers."
The French prize mystery for 1933
/ is "The Mysterious Madame S," by
Simone d'Erigny. Lippincott is bring-
ing it out here.
Fannie Hurst has a new novel which
'.yvill be published on March 21 by
Harper and Brothers, called "Anitra's
Dance." — .— -
"tlveright will publish soon a book
\alled "Rediscovering America," writ-
ten by Harold Stearns, who is return-
ing to the United States after 1 3 years
voluntary exile in Paris.
This should be an interesting one.
Doubieday announces "Time Out for
/Adventure," a book written by two
'tired Chicago business men, Leonidas
W. Remsey and ). Anthony Kelly, who
left their offices one day and went
traveling in Mexico.
Simon and Schuster rather frantic-
ally are crying to the world that they
are anxious to find more novels for
their lists.
The New Yorker Hotel started out
to publish a small pamphlet of the
hotel's wine list, but the thing turned
into a real little booklet called "Let
Us Be Gay." So the Waldorf-Astoria
did likewise, and Kenilworth Press
Howard Stephenson has a richly
tragic pen, and his book, "Glass," is
a masterpiece. It is the tale of George
Rood, whose life and heart were bound
up in his farm, whose mind worked
slowly and quietly as the earth, and
whose whole life was shattered when
gas was discovered in his neighbor-
hood.
With ail his strength he fought
against this menace to his peace; he,
in his gentleness, hated the smell, the
sudden wealth, the hideous black
pipes, the noise of the drilling, the
ugly derricks.
A well was brought in across the
road the night his son was born, and
the death of his wife Rood blames
directly on this mechanical monster.
Ard so h's ens ambition was to make
his son a farmer and to keep him
away from the world — and the wells.
The book is the story of the con-
fl.ct between Rood and the gas; be-
tv^een Rood's desires and his son's de-
sires. And it is beautifully written.
Inc IS bringing out "One Hundred
Famous Cocktails," by Oscar of the
Waldorf.
David Ewen, author of "Wine,
Women and Waltz," who is now on
his way to Hollywood, has been signed
by H. W. Wilson Company for a book
called "Composers of Our Day."
For two and a half years Edward
Corsi was Commissioner of Immigra-
tion and Naturalization at Ellis Is-
"■^and. He has now resigned and is
writing a book, "In the Shadow of
Liberty," to be published m May by
Macmillan.
It IS interesting to note that "All
Quiet on the Western Front" is still
selling strongly all over the world.
Total sales are nearing 5,000,000.
The book was published five years
ago
Europe :s raving over "Voyage au
Bout de \a Nuit." (Journey to the
End of the Night.) Little, Brown and
Company will publish it here on April
16. The amusing thing about it is
that Louis-Ferdinand Celine, the au-
thor, who lives in a suburb of Paris
and won't be taken from his hiding, is
more or less of a mystery. Reporters
and photographers have been success-
ful in their attempts to track him
down. Three pictures of Celine have
been published, and each one is of a
different person.
)i,^Simon and Schuster are all het up
y^bout "Bloody Mary's," by Geoffrey
Dennis, which will appear soon It is
a revelatory novel of boyhood, which
may rank wi,th 'Stalky & Co.'i "
WTh"fe *Literary itui'a has chosen Mac-
I Kinlay Kantor's novel of Gettysburg,
"Long Remember," as its April book
A book that England is now en-
thusing about is "Harriet," a horror
Vtory having to do with a group of
j/T^en and women who slowly starved a
woman to death. Elizabeth Jenkins j
wrote it, and Doubieday, Doran has it j
on its Spring list.
Because Warden Lewis E. Lawes
said that the New Masses and Labor
Defender are not allowed at Sing Sing
Prison, Quincy Howe, editor of Living
Age; Herman Michelson, managing
editor of the New Masses, and Sasha
Small, editor of Labor Defender, are
going to pay a call on the warden and
ask him about it.
'Mary Mitchell also won the Hodder
and Stoughton prize of a thousand
pounds for her book, "Warning to
Wantons." However, after it was con-
sidered and reconsidered, it was fin-
ally rejected because "it was too gaily
impetuous."
Stephen Leacock has apparently lost
his literary grin. His latest books are
a biography of Dickens and Lincoln
Frees the Slaves."
"Prince by Proxy" is the title of
ftoland Pertwee's new novel. Pertwee
IS now in Hollywood
Montague Summers, who is an au-
thority on the werewolf, has written
/a long book on the subject of shape-
shifting, which will be called "The
WereyvLOlf" and will be published in
March by Duttons.
((
Used in 1 out of 8
y^merican Pictures in
1933'sTEN BEST"
/^AF THE Ten Best Pictures of 1933
^"^^ chosen in the Film Daily 5 poll, eight
were American productions. Of those eight,
seven were photographed on Eastman ^'Gray-
Back." This is outstanding evidence of the
acceptance enjoyed by Eastman Super-Sen-
sitive Panchromatic Negative among camera-
men and producers . . . and a signal tribute
to the versatility and unfailingly high quality
of the film itself Eastman Kodak Company,
Rochester, N. Y. (J. E. Brulatour, Inc., Dis-
tributors, New York, Chicago, Hollywood.)
EASTMAN Super-Sensitive
Pancliromatic Negative (Gray-Backed)
^ MR.SAf/'JBX MARX,
CULVER orn,<:ALiv.
Vol. XIX, No. 33. Price 5o
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, February 19, 1934
CEI^MAN 150$$ AT RADIO
•A CROUP of charitable women,
headed by Mrs. Louis B. Mayer, form-
ed a children's camp several years ago
at which they gathered children of the
poor, children without parents, sick
and undernourished children, young-
sters who need fresh air, good food
and little pleasures to put health into
their little bodies.
During the years that El Nido Camp
has been in existence it has brought
health and happiness to hundreds of
little tots.
Due to the thousand and one other
charities that were brought on by the
depression El Nido Camp has suffered,
its contributors have diminished, its
funds are depleted, and unless it re-
ceives help, almost instantly, it will
have to close.
'•
In an effort to raise some of the
$7,500 that is required to keep the
camp open for the next six months.
The Vendome is going to stage "A
Night in Monte Carlo" on Sunday eve-
ning, March 4. All the funds raised
at this function will be turned over to
this great cause.
By buying a ticket for $5 for this
benefit, supper, dance, show and
breakfast (and the admission includes
all of that) AND COMING, you will
not only get $1,000 worth of fun but
will be helping the greatest cause that
has ever been presented for your as-
sistance.
And remember this. EVERY DIME
that comes into the exchequer will be
devoted to that charity; there are no
organization expenses, no salaries to
pay. Nothing, absolutely NOTHING
will be deducted.
Tickets for the function may be
bought at The Vendome, in your own
studio, or from any of the ladies ap-
pointed by El Nido committee to sell
them.
Here is your chance to GIVE THE
KIDS A CHANCE, have yourself a
great time, and at a very low cost.
Don't forget. The date is March
4; it's on Sunday. The place is The
Vendome, 6666 Sunset Boulevard, and
the occasion "A Night in Monte
Carlo" for the sole benefit of El Nido
Camp for children.
Loew's Holds Up
New York. — Operating profit for
Loew's Inc. for the second quarter
is about the same as the first,
namely $2,732,607. Isidor Frey
of the legal staff has been elected
to the board, replacing Arthur W.
Leake, now a Paramount trustee.
Chiseling Indies
DueforClean-up
Chiseling among the smaller quickie
shooters is due for a grand blowup ac-
cording to reports that under-cover
men have been rounding up evidence
of violations for many weeks past.
Chief practice complained of is to pay
union men, particularly cameramen,
union scale and then take a kickback.
So many cameramen out of work are
up against it and take anything. Lead-
ing indies are encouraging the inves-
tigation.
Referee Gives Break to
Dilatory Para. Creditors
New York. — Owners of $1 ,682,000
in Paramount debentures who failed
to file claims against the bankrupt
estate during the six month period
originally set were given a break Sat-
urday by Referee Davis, when he re-
fused an application of the trustees to
expunge the claims.
Clover Club Not Closed
Reports that the Clover Club was
closing down briefly for renovations
were entirely without foundation. The
club continues as usual, and has ex-
tended the engagement of Gene Aus-
tin and his boys due to the great hit
they have made with the film colony.
Richard Wallace on Way
New York. — Richard V/allace
leaves by train today on his return to
Hollywood.
Wi// Handle Production With
Cooper Only Acting In Advisory
Capacity On Return From Trip
Pandro Berman is the production boss at the Radio studio
and any and all production, with the exception of the group of
specials that are to be made by Merian C. Cooper, if and when
he returns, are to be dealt out from his desk. This decision has
been given the okay by all parties
concerned and is effective immedi-
ately.
The Berman appointment will take
care of all the detail that has been
untied at that lot since Cooper's de-
parture. He will deal out all the as-
signments, will cooperate with all the
(Continued on Page 3)
Four New Plays on
B'way This Week
New York. — Four legit openings
for Broadway this week and they all
look interesting. The list includes:
"They Shall Not Die," Theatre
Guild, at the Royale Wednesday;
"Ragged Army," Crosby Gaige at the
Selwyn, Thursday; "When in Rome."
Major and Smithfield, 49th St. Thea-
tre, Thursday; "Dodsworth," Max
Gordon, Saturday.
Schenck Here Today
Nicholas M. Schenck, of MCM, ar-
rives in Hollywood today after a week-
end stopover at Caliente and will im-
mediately go into a huddle with stu-
dio executives on policies for the com-
ing year's program. He expects to
remain about two weeks.
Code Action Postponed
New York. — Decision on the in-
junction application of Allied States
against the Code Authority's demand
for unqualified assents has been post-
poned until March 1.
CODE A1ITH. BACKS WATER
ON FORCING EXHIRITORS
Lasky Borrows Kruger
New York. — A reversal of the Code
Authority's original declaration that
only theatres which had signed "as-
sents" to the Code would be allowed
to operate under the Zoning and
Clearance Boards is seen in the reso-
lution passed today coincident with
the naming of boards in forty-two
cities.
The resolution empowers the
(Continued on Page 7)
Jesse L. Lasky Saturday succeeded
in borrowing Otto Kruger for the male
lead in "Springtime for Henry," which
Frank Tuttle will direct. Heather An-
gel and Nancy Carroll have the leads.
Gil Miller Back in N. Y.
New York. — Gilbert Miller has re-
turned from his stay in London.
Queen Christina'
Hits Big in London
London. — "Queen Christina" open-
ed at the Empire Friday and smashed
the house record for that day of the
week. Advance bookings are so heavy
they indicate the picture will hold for
three weeks instead of the one week
customary in this big house.
"Little Women," "Duck Soup" and
"Catherine the Great" continue to do
big business and are holdovers. The
newcomers are, in addition to "Chris-
tna." "All of Me," Plaza; "Sealed
Lips," Capitol; "Gallant Lady," New
Gallery.
Rumored Divorce
Of Swanson-Farmer
Word was around Saturday that
Gloria Swanson will soon file papers
here for divorce from Michael Farmer,
with the latter being served with the
papers some place in Switzerland.
Laemmle Sr. and Foreign
Chief Arrive at Studio
Carl Laemmle revised his schedule
and pulled into town yesterday by
tram from New York. He was ac-
companied by Max Friedlander, Uni-
versal's Paris and Berlin manager, who
will remain here a short time.
Laemmle was in New York a little
over two weeks.
Creel in Town Today
George Creel, state administrator
for the NRA, comes into town today
for conferences with Judge Ben Lind-
sey, labor compliance officer, and
Charles Cunningham, administrator for
Southern California.
$1,063 for Relief Fund
New York. — The will of Louise
Closser Hale, filed for probate here
Saturday, leaves $1,063 to the Motion
Picture Relief Fund of Hollywood.
1^
AUSTIN PARKER^ Just completed Warner s^^^HONOR BRIGHT''
Page Two
Feb. 19. 1934
WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
of
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
Mew York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N Michigan Ave ; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat:
Berlin 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundavs and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign. $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879,
That was a beautiful greeting a cer-
tain actress got on her arrival in Hol-
lywood this week. When she walked
into her husband's house, she found
there one of our better known stars
of yesterday "entertaining" her ac-
tor-husband. And not only that, but
the visiting star proceeded to tell the
wife what was what and that the ac-
tor-husband really belonged to her(?)
The two gals argued it out for hours
with the husband getting nowhere but
in the midst of the battle.
•
Adela Rogers St. Johns and Dick
Hyland are about to go divorcing after
some months of separation. Miss St.
Johns has been seen practically every-
where and most of the time with Rudy
Vallee during her stay in New York,
but nobody can find out whether
that's serious or not.
•
An art director over at a major stu-
dio was having a terrific argument
with a director over the furnishings of
a certain scene in a picture. The script
called for a modern office setting and
the director was holding out for the
inclusion of the old-fashioned cuspi-
dor. Finally, the art director, seeing
that he was getting nowhere rapidly,
decided to talk things over with the
head of the studio and convince the
director that way. So up he went to
to see the head man and began his
tale of woe. And in the middle of the
recital, just as he was about to get
to the point that cuspidors should not
be included in modern offices, the
head man turned around in his swivel
chair and with an aim that would have
done Al Smith proud, he expectorated
into an old-fashioned cupidor!
•
Zoe Aikens gave out with a party
that ranged all the way from hoop
skirts to the gay nineties and had
what is known as a pre-Raphaelite or-
chestra supplying the music. The
party was more or less in honor of
Rosamond Pinchot who looked per-
fectly divine as a Gibson girl. Anita
Loos and )obyna Howland showed up
as the Cherry Sisters and with black
eyes. Mrs. McAdoo, Irving Thalberg,
(alone), the Dave Selznicks, Mary
Duncan, (in red with jools and jools) ,
"THE BIG SHAKEDOWN "
Warner Bros, prod.; director, John Francis Dillon; writers. Rian James.
Niven Busch
Mayfair Theatre
Mirror: Attractive personalities and reliable performers arouse some interest in
a mediocre melodrama.
American: Reminiscent of earlier productions, this one is helped to very mod-
erate entertainment levels by Ricardo Cortez, who is always interesting in
heavy roles, and a cast that deserves a better vehicle. Cortez is best of the
players, but valiant work by Allen Jenkins, Glenda Farrell and others in
the cast contribute to the merit of the film sufficiently to make it passable
picture fare.
lournal: It's mild melodrama, with the actors superior to the story. Besides
Cortez, who always does well in villainous roles, and Farrell. whose char-
acterization doesn't create much sympathy for him, the cast includes Bette
Davis, Glenda Farrell and Allen Jenkins.
Times: The particular virtue of the Mayfair's new picture is that it is specific
and believable in Its description of the felonious behavior involved in the
racket. Thus it maintains a moderate sum of interest and excitement in
the face of a routine assortment of gang-film impedimenta.
Sun: Mr. Cortez, his longing to be a leading man again denied, proves himself
a pleasantly despicable heavy. This picture doesn't have much grip on
reality, but its tempo is fast, its plot filled with action, and its cast, ex-
cept the moony hero, competent and amusing. Author and director don't
come off so well. The jobs were pretty second rate.
Herald-Tribune: Lively, speedy and replete with melodrama. If some of the
doings seem a little dizzy, it may be because the ordinary citizen, even at
this late date, does not understand the workings of the gangster mind. In
any case Ricardo Cortez fairly bristles as the big shot. Charles Farrell is
satisfactory and very boyish, while Bette Davis in a small part is helpful.
Mr. Dillon has directed his story colorfully.
News: A new racket exposure, accurate casting and appropriate dialogue lift
this cut-and-dried gangster film above mediocre entertainment. Cortez
always makes the best of any part that is assigned to him and Glenda Far-
rell gets better and better in every performance.
"DEVIL TIGER"
Fox prod.; director, Clyde E. Elliott; writer, James O. Spearing
Rialto Theatre
American: Sensational is the word to describe this thrilling animal picture.
There is a plot to the picture, and its story is capably told by a courageous
cast. Every foot of the film is terrifically exciting, the thrills piling one
upon the other in breath-taking fashion.
Mirror: It is a wild carnival of combat. The thrills and excitements are related
and held together by a thread of conventional story. It is a lusty, wild,
exciting film for the lustier fans. Men will relish it.
Times: There is an impressive beginning to the jungle jaunt taken by players
who serve to add a dash of fiction to the fierce realism of the production.
World-Telegram: Since not much coherence is expected from an animal picture
I feel that you should forget all about the story of "Devil Tiger" and enjoy
Its animal sequences which lift it to fair-to-middling entertainment of its
kind.
Herald-Tribune: A realistic, well-photographed, and no doubt, informative
chronicle of lungle adventure. If you are an enthusiast for these nature
study melodramas "Devil Tiger" is definitely and heartily recommended
to you.
News: A clear camera recording of exquisite natural scenery and amazing wild
beast life in the Malaysian jungles is built around a forced romantic story
that you will find somewhat tedious.
lournal: There's plenty of excitement in the piece. The romantic conflict in-
volving the trio IS merely incidental to the scenes contributed by the cam-
eramen.
Post: There are some thrilling and tortuous battles, but there is a sameness
which palls after a while. The picture is at its best when it turns to the
weird and hum^orous. Another asset is Marion Burns, who is far too attrac-
tive to be risked on a jungle expedition.
Sun: "Devil Tiger" is for those who could sit all the way through "Bring 'Em
Back Alive" without closing their eyes each time two wild beasts sprang
at each other's throats
MacDonald Signs
MGM Long Termer
Before Jeanette MacDonald hopped
a train for New York she placed her
signature on a new long term contract
with MGM to take effect after she
makes "Merry Widow" with Maurice
Chevalier.
The star made a separate deal with
the studio for the Chevalier picture
The first on her new contract will be
"Naughty Marietta."
Para. Tests Peg Conklin
For 'Happiness* Lead
Peggy Conklin, who had the role in
the New York stage production, will
be tested for the feminine lead in
Paramount's "Pursuit of Happiness,"
Arthur Hornblow's first production for
the studio. Because Gary Cooper is
now working in "Operator 13" at
MGM and will do "Honor Bright" for
Paramount and "Barbary Coast" for
Sam Goldwyn in quick succession, he
will not be available for the male lead
in "Pursuit of Happiness."
Hal Cooley on Own
Hallam Cooley strides out on his
own as an agent after a six months
schooling with the Weber office. For-
mer actor has taken offices in the
California Bank Building, Beverly Hills.
Juanita Browning, associated with
him previously, joins him.
DeCicco to Small-Landau
Pat DeCicco has given up his own
agency and joins the Small-Landau of-
fice as an associate today.
and Laddie Sanford, Virginia Pine Leh-
man, the Richard Bennetts, Jetta Gou-
dal, (exquisite in an 1880 costume)
and Harold Grieve and more counts
and princes than you'd ever want to
shake a stick at danced around to the
music of the harp-ies. And oyes,
George Cukor just came as the most
beautiful young creature in the place
and was the center of attraction. -
A Capehart
is not a gadget
does not go obsolete over night
it pays dividends
WM. HANSEN GR 1964
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
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or Automobiles
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24-HOUR SERVICE
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Feb. 19, 1934
THE
Page Three
, 'BLONDEiS AXD BOXDS' GOOD;
■ ^MONTE CRIiSTO' STORY WEAK
Direction, Script I Anything May Happen Freund and Kelly
And Cast Click HemneTr ^riTack Cam/^^stHcT^^ Rate Mentions
■BLONDES AND BONDS"
Warners
Direction Michael Curtiz
Story: Laird Doyle and Ray Nazarro
Screen Play by Bertram Milhauser
Photography Ira Morgan
Cast: James Cagney, Bette Davis,
Alice White, Allen Jenkins,
Alan Dinehart, Arthur Hohl,
Phillip Reed, Hobart Cavanaugh,
Mayo Methot, Ralfe Harolde,
Philip Faversham, Nora Lane.
Warner pictures seem to run in
pairs, or in shoals. First, a deluge of
propaganda, then a flock of back
stage successes, lately they turned to
gambling stories followed by a run of
unethical promoters and shyster law-
yers.
"Blondes and Bonds" comes at the
end of the last mentioned group, and
despite the fact that it again presents
a "stock company performance" of
Warner people, it is snappy, fast mov-
ing and entertaining. One thing about
that stock company, it at least assures
smooth performances in every part,
no matter what else the picture may
provide.
But "Blondes and Bonds" presents
a good story, neatly scripted and dia-
logued, capably directed, and easy to
take on the whole.
It finds Jimmy Cagney a fast-
thinking, high pressure promoter,
with wrong haircuts and wrong
clothes, who puts over one fast deal
after another. He gives pretty Bette
Davis the heebie jeebies until she
leaves his employ to work for Alan ''
Dinehart who is — aha — the slicker
suavely disguised.
Cagney is in his element in the part,
crashing through with dynamic force
to one laugh after another. He gets
into high gear in the chase that gave
the picture its original title, "The
Heir Chaser," when he is trying to lo-
cate Arthur Hohl, due to inherit two
hundred thousand, and subsequently
has to wriggle Arthur out of a murder
charge, into a marriage with Mayo
Methot, out of that, and so on and
so on.
It is typical Cagney and his fol-
lowers will eat it up. Bette Davis
proved herself a grand little actress,
with a new coiffure that is most at-
tractive, Alice White is pleasant, with
her usual vivacity and attractive fig-
ure. Her danger is to over-emphasize,
but this should be a directorial prob-
lem.
Judging from the entire picture,
over-emphasis was the goal of Michael
Curtiz, but in view of the successful
effect on the audience the sustained
high key was probably what the story
needed. Credits for the good story
job mentioned above must be divided
between Laird Doyle, Ray Nazarro,
and the scripter, Bertram Milhauser.
Mayo Methot gets one of the best
chances she has had in some time, and
shows she deserves more. Allen Jen-
kins provides invaluable helps to
laugh as a sidekick of Cagney's. Alan
Dinehart and Arthur Hohl, villain and
victim, deliver with their usual pre-
cision. Hobart Cavanaugh, Ralfe Har-
When Columbia puts the Mark
Hellinger ractrack yarn, "Strictly
Confidential," into production,
Sidney Skolsky will play the role
of a jockey in it. Skolsky is very
anxious to play this role because
he's never been on a horse and is
looking forward to it.
Ask Foreclosure on
Para B'klyn Houses
New York. — Allied Theatre Own-
ers, the Paramount subsidiary origi-
nally formed to operate the theatres in
Brooklyn and a few Southern spots,
was defendant in a foreclosure action
filed Saturday by Manufacturers Trust
Company, as trustee on bond issues
totaling $9,127,500.
The action is against the first
mortgages on the Kings, Pitkin and
Paramount theatres, in Brooklyn, Val-
encia in Jamaica, and a theatre in
Birmingham, Ala.
RKO Heads To Hit
N.Y. Board Meeting
All RKO and Radio Pictures execu-
tives here in Hollywood will leave the
latter part of the week for the annual
rneeting of the board of directors to
be held in New York.
Shift MCM Directors
Although Robert Z. Leonard has
been preparing to direct the Marie
'Dressier-Polly Moran opus, "Coming
Around the Mountain," Harry Rapf
has penciled Charles Reisner's name
on the chart to direct this one.
Leonard will likely do "Unhappily
Married," which Clare Kummer is
adapting as his next instead. Con-
stance Bennett will be starred.
New Coward Show Fair
London. — Noel Coward and Yvonne
Printemps opened Friday in Coward's
new show "Conversation Piece."
Critics rate it "a pleasing vehicle, with
good dialogue and atmosphere, but not
overmuch plot." Printemps draws
personal raves.
German Censors Worry U.S.
Berlin. — New regulations by which
it is sought to censor German pictures
in the script form have American dis-
tributors worried here because it is
not yet made clear whether the gov-
ernment will try to extend the rules
to cover imported pictures.
Bob Young Up for McKee'
Robert Young is now being serious-
ly considered for the leading role of
the crooner in the Joan Crawford pic-
ture "Sadie McKee," which Clarence
Brown is directing at MCM.
olde, Philip Faversham, Phillip Reed
and Nora Lane are spotted to advan-
tage-
Exhibitors have a typical Cagney to
sell, and while we won't attempt any
comparisons, they may do their Cag-
ney selling without the slightest worry
about Cagney buyers.
"COUNTESS OF MONTE CRISTO"
(Universal)
Director Karl Freund
Story by Walter Fliesch
Adaptation by Karen DeWolf
and Gene Lewis
Photography Charles Stumar
Cast: Fay Wray, Paul Lukas, Patsy
Kelly, Reginald Owen, Paul Page
and Robert McWade.
"The Countess of Monte Cristo,"
Universal's continental crook comedy,
has two factors that contribute to its
success and many that contribute to
its downfall. So the nays have it.
Karl Freund, the director, did his
best to instill the continental flavor
into a production that didn't warrant
it, and into a cast that, with the ex-
cepion of Paul Lukas, had no mental
or artistic connection with Vienna.
His direction, always excellent, almost
succeeded in overcoming the banali-
ties of the story.
The other constructive factor, be-
sides Freund, is Patsy Kelly, a come-
dienne whose style is essentially hu-
morous and distinctive. The picture
lived and had its being in every scene
in which she appeared.
Fay Wray and Patsy Kelly play two
extra girls who finally get a job m a
picture the night that Miss Wray's
fiance, Paul Page, jilts her. In the
picture, Miss Wray plays the Countess
of Monte Cristo and Miss Kelly is her
maid. They drive up to the hotel in
an expensive car and all the servants
dash out to help them. That is the
scene — but Miss Wray, desperate with
unhappiness, just continues to drive
the car, past the hotel, off the set,
through the studio gates and in the
early morning comes to a stop before
a hotel in a winter resort. There the
scene in the studio is reenacted, for
everyone believes her the Countess of
Monte Cristo and Miss Kelly her maid.
There are two crooks at the hotel,
Reginald Owen, who tries to force
Miss Wray to work with him, and
Paul Lukas, who falls in love with her.
The characters are rather abruptly
and unconvincingly drawn, the dia-
logue is dull and the story leans
toward the incongruous. Karl Freund
amost saves the day, and Miss Kelly
saves her scenes, and they are many.
But the cast as a whole seemed a
trifle bewildered by the whole thing.
Paul Lukas did what he had to do
suavely; Reginald Owen overplayed a
bit; Paul Page was badly miscast as
was Fay Wray. Robert McWade was
good as the hotel manager. Karen
DeWolf and Gene Lewis adapted Wal-
ter Fliesch's story, and Charles Stu-
mar's photography outclasses the pic-
ture. It is really stunning.
This picture will not have a very
wide appeal. With better casting and
a smoother story it would have been
swell, for it has everything else.
Writers' Playlets This Wk.
Writers' Club puts on its series of
one-act playlets Wednesday and
Thursday. Featured among the group
is "Ignorance Is Bliss,"
Harlow, MCM in
Bill and Coo Stage
MCM IS doffing its cap to Jean Har-
low in an effort to smooth out their
recent squabble by doing everything
to please her. At her request, com-
pany is shaping "Repeal," her next, as
closely as possible to the type of pro-
duction that "Red Dust" was.
Clark Cable will co-star with her
and C. Henry Gordon and Nat Pen-
dleton have been handed featured
roles. Jack Conway pilots, with John
Considine delegated the task of see-
ing the picture through.
Selznick-Joyce Revive
Activity in Broadcasts
Renewed activity in ether attrac-
tions has caused the Selznick and
Joyce office to revive its radio depart-
ment under Allan Simpson.
Office is booking a group of the
biggest names in the picture business
and has spotted during the past
months a list including The Marx
Brothers, Miriam Hopkins, Helen
Hayes, Katharine Hepburn, Edmund
Lowe, Douglass Montgomery and Rob-
ert Benchley Simpson has dropped
the picture angle to concentrate on
the radio negotiations,
Seitz Ticket Renewed
George Seitz was handed a long
term ticket by MCM Saturday. Di-
rector just completed "Louisiana" in
fourteen days — a record for the stu-
do Previous to tnat Seitz directed
"Women in His Life" on a fast sched-
ule and short budget.
Austin Parker Planes East
Austin Parker, having finished the
script on "Honor Bright," leaves to-
n ght by plane for New York. Tay
Carnett directs the picture and will
start It by the end of the week.
tans' Megs for Col.
Columbia on Saturday signed Wal-
ter Lang to direct "The Party's Over"
from the script by S. K. Lauren. No
cast set as yet. Felix Young produces.
Miles Leaves Fox
Johnny Miles on Saturday resigned
from the Fox publicity department.
He was there over a year handling the
Jesse L. Lasky unit exclusively.
Berman Boss at Radio
(Continued from Page 1 )
unit producers and assist in rushing
the remainder of the pictures that are
to be made for this year's program, in
addition to accounting for his own
personally supervised group.
This set-up will not be disturbed
even on Cooper's return due to the
fact that his title of Vice President in
charge of production includes the pro-
duction of his own two or three spec-
ials in addition to his working in an
advisory capacity with Berman on the
making of the other pictures, should
he feel that his health will permit
those duties.
Berman is among the youngest of
ace picture producers in the business
and has spent his entire career on the
Radio lot. starting at the time it was
FBO and going through one regime
after another.
"THE MOTION PICTURE PEOPLE
TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN"
Last Year The Motion Picture Relief
Fund Helped Sixteen Thousand Worthy
Members Of Our Profession Who
Were In Distress
THIS CAN ONLY CONTINUE
WITH YOUR HELP
r
C. B. deMille
NACIO HERB BROWN
and
ARTHUR FREED
are happ/ to announce
the engagement of
JOHN ZANFT Ltd
as their persona
lusmess managers
Page Six
jmkEu^.
Feb. 19. 1934
RICHARD OF RORDEAVX'
HEAVY COSTCME OFFERING
j% LptOTHI^ MINUTE
<\STING
/
Picture Possibility
Depends on Star
/ "RICHARD OF BORDEAUX"
yPlay by Cordon Daviot; produced by
William Mollison at the Empire
theatre; directed by Mr. Molli-
son. Cast: Dennis King, Marga-
ret Vines, Hugh Buckler, Charles
Bryant, A. C. Andrews, Alexan-
der Frank, Lionel Hogarth, Mon-
tagu Love, Francis Lister, Reeves
Smith, Elizabeth Cerf, Henry
Mollison, John Buckler, Charles
Romano, Andrew Cruickshank,
Michael Pearman and Cyril Chad-
wick. Settings by P. Dodd Ack-
erman.
New York. — An elaborate, impres-
sive spectacle concerning the struggles
of Richard of Bordeaux during thir-
teen years of his reign. Mr. King
plays the role of Richard with a deep
understanding and dignity which
mounts as the play goes on. The
production is a beautiful one, but this
is pretty heavy fare to appeal to the
masses.
We see Richard, aged 19, an ideal-
ist, aching to end the senseless, con-
tinual warfare with France. In the
Council Chamber his uncles are
against him; they love war. There
is continual wrangling. Robert de
Vere, Earl of Oxford, his beloved
friend, is the one who consoles him —
for everything amuses Robert.
Anne of Bohemia, Richard's queen,
is good and charming. Richard is for-
tunate in her and in his friends. But
his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester, and
the Earl of Arundel steadily undermine
Richard's popularity with the Com-
mons and the people. He dresses
magnificently, he is extravagant, and
these things are magnified until, in
the end, Gloucester gets such Influ-
ence that he impeaches the King's
friends and makes Richard return to
London in disgrace.
Robert de Vere raises an army, but
it is ambushed; and Robert does not
fight — it would be useless slaughter.
The King reviles him passionately and
tells Robert never to come near him
again. Anne of Bohemia tells Rich-
ard that poor Robert's kind heart, his
imagination, were too strong for him
—he shirked useless slaughter. Rob-
ert goes abroad and dies. Richard
never ceases to love and remember
him. His one desire is to regain pow-
er— to have revenge on those who
impeached his friends and hanged his
tutor. Sir Simon Burley.
Richard regains power and we see
his revenge. He sends Gloucester to
his death in France. The Earl of
Arundel is impeached in his turn. The
Earl of Derby is exiled to Europe for
six years.
But Queen Anne dies and now the
young King drinks power too deeply.
He has lost the guiding principle of
his life. He goes too far and the
Archbishop of Canterbury goes to
Paris to summon Derby back to Eng-
land; he shall have an army. Derby
returns; his army defeats the King.
We see Richard at the end, in the
Tower of London, signing "an un-
generous document" he tells them —
"Unworthy to reign" is one sentence
Tough Luck
Chuck Reisner was two days un-
der schedule on "The Showoff,"
with only a few pick-up shots to
make, and Madge Evans had to go
and walk into a door and bounce
back with a purple optic. So now
the picture will be technically over
schedule before the orb is in shape
for shooting.
Xegal Murder' Goes
Strong on Preaching
"LEGAL MURDER"
Allen Productions presents "Legal
Murder," a play by Dennis Don-
oghue, at the President theatre.
Cast of fifty.
New York. — A mixed cast of white
and Negro actors wandered through
what purports to be the true story of
the Scottsboro affair. Nothing that
can possibly be said against "Legal
Murder" as a play will do it any harm
at the box office. As propaganda It
is pathetic.
"Legal Murder" is Mr. Donoghue's
(himself a Negro) contribution to a
cause. It is hopelessly amateurish and
hopelessly sincere.
"They Shall Not Die," by John
Wexley, a Guild production which will
be seen in New York shortly, is said
to be the real "McCoy," however, as
far as the Scottsboro case is concerned.
lATSE Reorganization
Working Under Cover
Reorganization committee of eighty
which is drawing up the plans for the
new set-up of Local 659, lATSE, is
said to be making rapid progress in
their work.
Makeup of this committee has been
veiled in deepest secrecy, and meeting
places not announced.
Stephenson Signs Two
Warners and B. P. Schulberg sign-
ed tickets Saturday with Henry Steph-
enson. Player takes leading roles in
"The Key" for the former and "Thirty
Day Princess" for Paramount. Both
set by Beyer-MacArthur.
Stephens East for Stage
Harvey Stephens is en route to New
York for a spell on the stage. The
New York Theatre Guild has engaged
him for a play.
— a deed of abdication. Richard is to
go north, to a lonely castle.
Richard's secretary, who has to
leave him now, tells that he hears the
Commons has already censured Derby,
who is to be soon crowned King, for
his extravagance! The cycle of
events . . . "How Robert de Vere
would have laughed!" says Richard.
Since we are in the midst of a
historical and costume film vogue this
play would be as good as any for a
really good dramatic actor in pictures,
such as Barrymore, Leslie Banks, etc.,
but it will bear considerable pruning,
since simplicity is of prime necessity
in a picture conversion.
Radio Seals Deal for
'Wednesday's Child'
Radio closed a deal over the week-
end for the purchase of the New York
play, "Wednesday's Child," at the in-
stigation of Pan Berman, who will
transfer it to the screen.
Company also tagged Frank M.
Thomas Jr., child who plays the lead-
ing role in the Broadway production.
He will have an equally prominent
sp)Ot in the screen version. Play is by
Leopold Atlas, produced at the Long-
acre theatre by Potter and Haight,
with the Shuberts having a paternal
interest.
Last Call for Academy
Award of Merit Votes
Today is the last day of voting in
the Academy preliminary election for
its annual Award of Merit competi-
tion.
Polls close tonight, and tomorrow
the ballots will be counted and the
nominees for the final election will be
announced. There will be three nom-
inees selected for each award. Final
election will cut down to winners
which will be announced at the annual
Awards Banquet on March 16.
Fox Goes to Work on
Heather Angel Future
Fox has laid out a schedule of as-
signments for Heather Angel which
promises to keep her on the hop for
the next few months.
Following "Springtime For Henry,"
she goes into "Grand Canary," also
for Jesse L. Lasky, and then journeys
back to the Sol Wurtzel unit for a
top spot in "Charlie Chan's Courage."
Ruby Keeler East
Accompanied by her sister, Helen,
Ruby Keeler left yesterday for New
York where they will attend the
opening of Warners' "Wonder Bar"
with Al Jolson.
Player makes the trip in record
time and is slated to board a return-
ing train Thursday for the hop back
home.
Edward McWade for Universal's
"I'll Tell the World," set by Hallam
Cooley.
John Herron returns to pictures in
a featured role in Chesterfield's "Ro-
mantic Journey." Hallam Cooley ne-
gotiated.
Mischa Auer set through Beyer-
MacArthur for "Bulldog Drummond
Strikes Back," Twentieth Century.
Lyn Browning, Lorena Layson, Bert
Morehouse, Marion Schecter, of War-
ners' stock troupe, for spots in "One
Man's Woman."
Sam Hardy placed by Rebecca and
Silton for a featured assignment in
"Thirty Day Princess."
Akim Tamiroff, Leo White, Mary
McConnell and Kay English have been
added to the cast of "Sadie McKee,"
the Joan Crawford picture which is be-
ing directed by Clarence Brown for
MGM.
Billy Bevan signed by Radio for a
featured spot in "Stingaree."
Desmond Roberts set for two by
Leon Lance of the Hoffman-Schlager
agency. First he goes into "The Key,"
Warners, then into "Of Human Bond-
age," Radio.
Maidel Turner and Frankie Darro
set by Al Kingston in "Happy Family,"
Warners.
Jane Darwell signed for "Finishing
School," Radio, and"The World Moves
On," Fox. Deals handled by Walter
Herzbrun.
Franklyn Pangborn and Berton
Churchill added to the cast of "Strict-
ly Dynamite," Radio. Churchill deal
agented by Al Kingston.
Ruth Etting, Wedgewood Nowell
and Ernie Young signed by Columbia
for "Highway Patrol."
Ed Cecil, Lilian West, Jack Curtis,
Frank O'Connor and Max Borwyn
added to "Whirlpool," Columbia.
Frank Moran for "Show Off," at
MGM.
Leo White into 'Sadie McKee," at
MGM.
Joe Young, WilRam Worthington,
Lloyd Ingraham, Leo Willis, Billy En-
gle and Al Thompson for "Crowded
Out," Educational.
ACTORS GUILD PICKS NAMES
FOR XRA CODE COMMITTEES
At the shortest meeting in the his-
tory of the organization, the Screen
Actors' Guild last night unanimously
elected fourteen of its members as
nominees for appointment by Sol A.
Rosenblatt to two of the NRA Code
Committees.
Chosen for the Agents Committee
were Adolphe Menjou, Spencer Tracy
and Berton Churchill. For the Com-
mittee of five producers and five ac-
tors on working conditions, the fol-
lowing were picked: Ann Harding,
Ralph Morgan, James Cagney, Kenneth
Thomson, Richard Tucker, Chester
Morris, Robert Montgomery, Claude
King, Mary Astor, Pat O'Brien and
Paul Muni.
A slate of ten actors had been put
up at the meeting on printed ballots,
but Paul Muni was nominated from
the floor. A motion was made to se-
lect the entire list of eleven. It was
passed unanimously, as was a similar
motion for the three nominees for the
agents committee, so individual bal-
loting was not necessary.
Only approximately 1 50 members
were present, but more than 700 prox-
ies had been given to Kenneth Thom-
son. They were read from the plat-
form. Ann Harding opened the meet-
ing, which was presided over by Rich-
ard Tucker.
The highlight of the meeting was
the announcement by Ivan Simpson
that DeWitt C. Jennings. Chairman of
the Actors' Branch of the Academy,
had been present and had voted for
the Screen Actors' slate. It brought
forth a round of applause, plus a
sprinkling of laughter. Jennings was
then discovered standing in the rear
of the auditorium. The meeting was
held at the Woman's Club of Holly-
wood.
(
Feb. 19, 1934
TH
Page Seven
Code Authority
(Continued from Page 1 )
AXIMAL KINGDOM' GETS
PLACE IX AWARDS LIST
Boards to hear complaints from "any
and all members of the industry,"
Assents were so slow in coming,
particularly in view of the pending
Allied suit, that it was feared the
Code machinery would never get un-
der way if the original drastic pro-
nouncement was not adhered to.
Los Angeles is included among the
forty-two cities for which the Code
Authority named Zoning and Griev-
ance Boards Saturday. Ten cities still
remain to be covered.
The Los Angeles committees fol-
low:
Grievance: Jake Mi'stein, of Metro,
as representative of an affiliated na-
tional distributor; Howard Stubbins,
Monogram, unaffiliated national dis-
tributor; Lou Halper, Warners, affili-
ated exhibitor; Ben Berenstein, Pasa-
dena, unaffiliated exhibitors.
Clearance and Zoning: Carroll Pea-
cock, Paramount, affiliated distribu-
tors; William C. Ritter, Columbia, un-
affiliated distributor; Jack Sullivan,
Fox West Coast, affiliated first run
exhibitor; Russell Rogers, Los Angeles,
unaffiliated first run exhibitors; Harry
Hicks and George Hanes, subsequent
run exhibitors.
Cities in which committees remain
to be named are New York City, Phil-
adelphia, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta,
Albany, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San
Francisco and Washington, D. C. The
committee on appointments resumes
meetings Monday on these cities.
After consulting impartial advisers
it has been decided to include Radio's
"Animal Kingdom" in the list of pic-
tures open for consideration for Holly-
wood Reporter awards. The picture
was omitted from the list originally
issued because it was technically re-
corded as a 1932 release, but this was
due to its having been selected for the
gala opening of Radio's Music Hall.
The general release did not come un-
til 1933, the period covered by the
Reporter's awards.
In considering awards for 1932
most organizations and publications
conducting such contests ruled "Ani-
mal Kingdom" out because it had not
yet seen general release. So the pic-
ture was in the position of losing out
both ways because of its Radio City
showing.
So add to your consideration: "Ani-
mal Kingdom." Directed by E. H.
Griffith, with cast including Ann
Harding, Leslie Howard, Myrna Loy,
William Gargan, Neil Hamilton, Ilka
Chase, Henry Stephenson, Leni Sten-
gel, Don Dilloway.
Ballots already received by Holly-
wood Reporter disclose some interest-
ing variations of opinion, and already
indicate that a contest bringing in the
opinions of ALL picture workers, re-
gardless of organization affiliations or
loyalties, will present many interesting
angles.
Ten days remain before the closing
of the F>olls, so if you want your opin-
ion to count take that ballot off your
desk today, fill it out, and send it
along.
Jerry Storm Gets Break
On Eastern Indie Pic
Jerome Storm, who was a big time
director in the silent days, got a crack
at directing a sound picture when he
signed to go east to make a picture
for an eastern independent concern.
Red Golden received the offer,
which he could not accept at this
time, and suggested Storm for the job,
which was agreeable to the producer.
Fields Clicks on Air
Benny Fields has been renewed by
Shell Oil on its radio hour, continuing
for five more broadcasts. Walter
Kane negotiated.
DeSylva Going East
After his Fox picture "Bottoms Up"
is previewed next week. Buddy De
Sylva is planning on taking a week's
rest at Palm Springs and will then
leave for New York, where he will
start preparations for his stage musical
show, which he plans on opening in
August.
Harlow to Vacation
Jean Harlow and Hal Rosson will
leave for a vacation in Canada before
the blonde star starts her next picture,
"Repeal," for MCM. The trip is be-
ing held up until Rosson finishes
shooting his present picture.
Lynn Overman Now
Discovered for Pics
Lynn 0"/errran was in Hollywood for
three months without getting one pic-
ture offer The actor returned to
New York and B. P. Schulberg signed
him for one of the leading roles in
"Little Miss Marker." Now Charles
R. Rogers wants him to return im-
mediately for the male lead in "In
Conference." As both of these pic-
tures are to be made at the same time
the studio is trying to arrange a sched-
ule where he can double in the two
assignments.
Set 'Op. 13' Songs
Jack Chertok, head of the MGM
musical department Saturday assigned
Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn to
do the musical score and numbers for
the Marion Davies-Gary Cooper ve-
hicle, "Operator 13." Picture starts
shooting again today with Richard
Boleslavsky directing and Lucien Hub-
bard producing.
Tradeshow Two in N. Y.
New York. — Two trade showings
are scheduled for the metropolitan
area this week. "Looking For Trou-
ble" will be previewed by Twentieth
Century at the Astor, Tuesday; and
Radio previews Hepburn in "Spitfire"
Thursday.
La Sullavan Arrives
Margaret Sullavan returned to town
yesterday by plane from New York.
She starts work today in rehearsals
for "Lttle Man, What Now?" oppo-
site Douglass Montgomery, with Frank
Borzage directing.
EDWARD LAEMMLE
DIRECTING FOR UNIVERSAL
IN PREPARATION
THE PRACTICAL JOKER"
A STANLEY BERGERMAN PRODUCTION
Original Story, William Anthony McGuire
Screen Play by Charles Logue
GIVE THE KIDS
A CHANCE!*
MAKE YOUR PLEASURES PAY FOR FOOD AND
SHELTER FOR A CROUP OF POOR CHILDREN
BUY A TICKET
AND COME TO
4
SUNDAY, MARCH 4th
for
A NIGHT IN MONTE CARLO"
MORE FUN THAN YOU EVER HAD
MUSIC, DANCING, FOOD AND DRINK
AND ALL THE MONEY COES TO KEEP
ELNIDO CAMP
OPEN FOR THE SUMMER
Tickets $5.00 Which Includes Supper and Breakfast
Mh'li^U-UULDVvYN-MAYITR STUDIOS
% ?.lR.SAf.'URL MARX,
CULVFR CITY,'JALlv.
Vol. XIX. No. 34. Price 5c.
TODAY*S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, February 20, 1934
HGH TC STAGE N.T. PIATS
Elaborate Plans Under Way
To Crash B'way Next Season;
•APPARENTLY the answer of the
picture business to talk of salary con-
trol is to go on conducting the picture
business as the picture business.
Producers were never willing to go
as high for people whom they wanted.
Stars, in particular, of course, where
they mean box office value. But di-
rectors, too, where they mean box of-
fice insurance.
•
Consider Fredric March. He is the
same capable actor today that he was
for long years under a Paramount con-
tract. But on the open market, with
the article called "Fredric March" to
sell to the highest bidder he is worth
many times his Paramount figure to
Darryl Zanuck.
Consider Claudette Colbert. She is
understood to have already made deals
that will net her $300,000 for the
year. Topped by Eddie Small's $65,-
000 for one picture.
Gary Cooper will make as much on
two coming pictures, "Operator 13'
and "Barbary Coast," as he did in a
whole year on contract. William
Powell's $60,000 for one picture at
MCM is an indication of the times.
Gregory LaCava, Roy Del Ruth and
Frank Lloyd are understood to be over
the "$50,000 per picture" mark on
their new deals.
o
Is anybody paying these figures —
and at a time when the first burst of
salary control talk has just died down,
and a second is likely to begin — just
out of the kindness of his heart?
Decidedly not.
There's a simple explanation.
If you were starving you would
probably be willing to pay all the coin
in your pocket for a hamburger.
The business is starving for BOX-
OFFICE DRAWS; individuals who are
BOX-OFFICE INSURANCE.
And the man who can deliver either
can name his price.
Exhibitors and the public, also starv-
for good pictures, would be the first to
encourage the steps being taken to get
them if they understood the Hollywood
side of the famine.
But we are going to add a post-
script and say: They haven't got
around to giving the writer his real
share of the gravy yet.
Is the writer that pesky nuisance —
THE FORGOTTEN MAN?
Queer Pee-puls
New York. — Galen Bugoe, pro-
ducer of the stage play "Queer
People," had advertisements in all
the papers today accusing Holly-
wood of not being able to take it,
and insinuating there were reasons
behind the unanimous panning the
show got from the critics.
Fox to Hold Songs
Off Radio Hours
New York. — Fox will keep the
principal numbers of White's "Scan-
dals" and "Bottoms Up" off the radio
until two weeks after each picture
opens on Broadway. They feel too
much popularity beforehand can kill
the songs and hurt the picture.
The Warner system on their musi-
cals has been to release one song in
advance of the picture, and then feed
the others out slowly, thus getting an
advance plug without letting the pub-
lic in on all the songs before the pic-
ture's release.
Radio Still Hot in
B'way Play M'-
New York. — Radio continues the
hottest buyer of new play material
among the picture companies. After
closing for "A Hat, a Coat, a Clove"
and "Wednesday's Child" that com-
pany yesterday acquired "^_. Your
Leave," current on Broadway, for a
"price in the neighborhood of $20,000.
"No More Ladies" is still one of
the hottest competitive subjects, with
MGM reported on the inside track.
Harding Again at MCM
MCM has signed Ann Harding for
the feminine lead in "Biography,"
which Irving Thalberg will produce for
the studio. Sonya Levien is scripting
from the S. N. Behrman original.
Edgar Selwyn To Hold Reins
New York. — On the heels of Edgar Selwyn's departure for
Hollywood — he will be in your city tomorrow — Broadway got
the biggest news of the season in the declaration that the MCM
organization would again start backing New York play produc-
tion and on a scale intended to give
it a real place in the Rialto sun.
The statement is that Edgar Sel-
wyn will be in charge of the working
out of the plan. A reading depart-
ment will be built up to search the
world market for new material while
(Continued on Page 5)
30 Members Hold
Bag on Acad. Award
Thirty members of the Academy,
guaranteeing $50 each, have under-
written the Academy's annual awards
of merit competition this year to the
tune of $1500.
This was revealed yesterday by one
of the Acads, and thus sets at rest the
speculation as to just how the organi-
zation, which was admittedly low in
financial resources, was able to sud-
denly launch forth on the awards cam-
paign which most people thought
would be passed by this year.
Harris Buys Another
New York — jed Harris has purchas-
ed his second play for Fall production.
It is "De Luxe," by Louis Bromfield
and John Gearon.
Fox Cets Rinehart Yarn
New York. — Fox closed yesterday
for "The State vs. Elinor Norton," by
Mary Roberts Rinehart.
UI^IVERSAL REOPKXltii LAB;
ENDS CONSOLIDATED DEAL
MCM Tests Heiress
Universal is getting out from under
its one million dollar debt to Consoli-
dated Films and has placed itself in a
position strong enough to prompt the
decision to reopen its own film proc-
essing plant, the Royal Laboratory.
Universal has paid off $400,000, leav-
ing Consolidated holding a first mort-
gage on the studio for $600,000.
Original loan stipulated the closing
(Continued on Page 2)
Kitty O'Dare, who recently inherit-
ed a fortune of over a million, was
given a screen test yesterday at the
MGM studio.
Peggy Woods Here
New York. — Peggy Woods, stage
star, is due in Hollywood today. No
definite picture plans.
Harlow Into DelV;
MacDonaldTied Up
MGM will co-star Jean Harlow in-
stead of Jeanette MacDonald with
Clark Cable in "Duchess of Delmoni-
co's" which Walter Wanger will pro-
duce and Harry Beaumont directs.
Harvey Gates has been handed the
story to make the feminine lead fit
Harlow instead of MacDonald.
The switch was made because Jean-
ette MacDonald will not be available
for some months with "Merry Wid-
ow" and "Naughty Marietta" sched-
uled to be her next two vehicles.
Mystery About 'Dames'
Buzz Berkeley returned from his
honeymoon yesterday ready to Start
rehearsals on his first solo directorial
effort, "Dames." But "Dames" won't
start for some time. Ruby Keeler is
on her way to New York for a rest and
Manny Seff is at work on a new treat-
ment of the yarn. Report also has it
that Archie Mayo may direct, with
Berkeley given another assignment.
Henry Blanke Renewed
Warners yesterday took up the op-
tion on Henry Blanke for another pe-
riod. Supervisor has been with the
organization for thirteen years. Blanke
recently handled "Fashion Follies of
]93'4," "Convention City" and "Gam-
bling Lady." "Dr. Monica" starts to-
day under his wing.
Radio Big 4 East
Ben B. Kahane, Gordon E. Young-
ans, the receiver for Radio; J. R. Mc-
Donough and J. McCausland will leave
here tomorrow for New York to go
into a general huddle with the New
York execs on the future policy of the
company.
Al Kaufman Back to Work
Al Kaufman resumed his duties at
Paramount yesterday after a four week
trip to New York.
Austin Parker - Sylvia Thalberg
SCREEN PLAY
PARAMGUNTS
/ /
Honor Bright"]
Page Tw0
THFP^
Feb. 20, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ffDBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
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Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse : Buenos Aires,
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werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
The son of a famous publisher is
telling the world that he wants to
marry Jeanne Howard — they had big
moments when Jeanne was in New
York. . . . The Laddie Sanfords en-
tertained at a beeg party after that
exciting polo match and the entire
team showed up — even the injured
ones. . . . Incidentally, Roach's horse
started running away and leaped over
two front rows, fortunately not hurt-
ing any of the innocent onlookers. . . .
Gregory Ratoff leaves New York
March 10 to do "Forbidden Terri-
tory" for British Caumont.
David Manners, so glad to be back,
gave a cocktail party at the Colony,
and Lyie Talbot and Kay Francis had
a great get together on doctor pic-
tures. LyIe is now doing a part in
an "original" story that's exactly like
the last two he's done and Kay is
about to be a doctor herself again. . . .
Jack LaRue, squiring his sister and
Adolphe Menjou, took an awful beat-
ing on what the well dressed man will
wear when he showed up quite tieless
and in careless tweeds.
Helen Vinson kept herself plenty
busy on her plane trip east taking
care of her sick mother, one sick pup-
py dog and Lou Holtz and that Holtz-
Vinson romance is hotter than ever.
. . . They're still making an awful fuss
about an affair in New York that's
absolutely cold out here because Carbo
is back with her old friends. . . Adela
Rogers St. Johns is acting as hostess
at all Rudy Vallee's parties, is his con-
tant companion and builder-upper
around New York. . . . There's a col-
yumist in this town who's been sep-
arated from his wife for some time
and who has just gotten his wife to
consent to a divorce, the terms of
which are that he sell a screen story
his wife has written and give it the
big ballyhoo. . . . Al Jolson is saying,
according to the N. Y. Times "The
Winchell incident was a mistake.
Guess it was the chivalry of the South
— South of Russia." . . . Finley Peter
Dunne, Jr. is visiting his brother, Philip
Dunne, MGM writer.
BOTTOMS IIP' LACKS CLASS
BUT REGISTEBS FAIRLY WELL
Hays, ZukorTod:»*'
In Anti-Trust Suit
Cast and Comedy
Pic's High Spots
"BOTTOMS UP"
(Fox)
Producer B. G. DeSylva
Director David Butler
Story and Screen Play: B. G. DeSylva,
David Butler and Sid Silvers.
Photography Arthur Miller
Music and Lyrics: Berton Lane, Harold
Adamson, Richard Whiting and
Gus Kahn.
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Pat Patterson,
John Boles, Herbert Mundin, Sid
Silvers, Harry Green,
"Bottoms Up," previewed by Fox at
the Grand Lake, in Oakland, Calif.,
last night, registers as a picture likely
to go over fairly well because of its
cast and comedy, and despite weak-
nesses due to a lack of continuity and
some mediocre effects in chorus ar-
rangements.
The large crowd at this theatre is
reported somewhat critical on any oc-
casion, and on the whole they seemed
to like this one. Particularly did they
go for Harry Green, playing the part
of a producer, and drawing many
laughs over his embarrassing predica-
ments and carrying sympathy with him
that is topped when in the end he
succeeds in picking a winner.
The picture's virtue is its comedy.
The Oakland audience went for the
characterizations and the jokes with
equal enjoyment. As they also did, for
that matter, for a love-making effu-
sion on the part of John Boles and
Pat Patterson on the rear seat of a
sea-going craft.
The chief weakness of the picture is
in the handling of the chorus. The
transparent garb of the chorus in the
opening scene, for example, held little
interest. It lacked contrast in ar-
rangement.
One of the scenes that failed to get
over was the swing scene with a plen-
titude of panties displayed by the girls.
It lacked motivation, for one thing, as
well as that touch of the unusual ar-
tistic effect calculated to bring gasps.
John Boles and Pat Patterson, the
romantic interest, are seen to advan-
tage. Boles, particularly being in fine
voice, and Patterson properly appeal-
ing. As the latter's pseudo father,
Herbert Mundin has a fat part, and
Spencer Tracy is his usual sure-fire
self as "Smoothie." Thelma Todd con-
tributes plenty to the enjoyment.
The "Bottoms Up" chorus arrange-
ment towards the end, although lack-
ing in continuity in relation to the
main plot, provided sufficient enter-
tainment to bring the audience to a
spontaneous outburst of applause. The
song numbers are many and tuneful,
with no one in particular standing out
in this reviewer's memory.
New Code Review Body
Named by Gen. Johnson
Washington. — -General Johnson to-
day announced the appointment of a
review advisory board designed to give
small businesses a chance on their
complaints that the codes are monop-
olistic. It will apply to the movie in-
dustry on such opposition as that pre-
sented by the Allied States exhibs.
Tse Regusted
Oscar, the Paramount bootblack,
who acts in pictures on the side,
was grumbling to himself the other
day when one of the boys on the
lot passed him and asked what the
trouble was. Oscar replied: '"I'se
been on this lot for 1 3 years and
just found out tiney got me typed."
Extra Board Seeks
Code Clarification
The Code Committee on Extras last
night took its first steps toward the
solution of the extra problems when
it met at the committee headquarters
in the Guaranty Building.
The entire evening was devoted to
an attempt to clarify the classifica-
tions of the various extra groups so
that, as was explained, they will be
able to proceed more intelligently in
taking up the complaints. There was
much difference of opinion at the
start, and for three and a half hours
the fifteen members debated, some-
times excitedly.
The upshot was that their classifi-
cation will be sent today to Rosenblatt
in Washington for the approval of the
authorities there. Chief of the sug-
gestions sent was that all bit players
speaking lines be paid at rate of $25
a day. In the present code the "per
day" has been omitted. Decision was
made as to what clothes the $15
group should have to own, and what
types were supposed to be in $3, $5,
$7.50 and $1 0 groups. It was decided
to hold meetings each Monday night.
The body won't get at complaints un-
til after it hears from Washington on
suggestions for classification.
Universal Reopens Lab
(Continued from Page 1 )
of the Royal lab with a contract go-
ing to Consolidated for the company's
release printing. Plan to re-open the
company lab was seen as an indication
that Universal had found other sources
of financing, but this was vigorously
denied last night by a top executive.
"Any report of outside financing,"
he said, "is absolutely untrue. Univer-
sal is doing what it can within itself
to further its own interests and has
the option of opening the laboratory if
it wishes to.
"The machinery in the plant re-
quires re-conditioning and this will
take time. Running it only for dailies
is too expensive, hence it will depend
on when we choose to start doing our
own release printing. No date is set
for the re-opening."
The Consolidated contract expires
in three weeks. Account is estimated
worth $1,000,000 yearly, of which a
profit amounting to $300,000 will be
culled in the future by Universal it-
self.
In the days prior to the Consolidat-
ed deal Universal release printing was
done at its own plant in Fort Lee.
This plant was sold to Consolidated.
It is now believed the local lab can
handle the release output.
New York. — With Adolph Zukor
and Will Hays scheduled for appear-
ance on the stand today there are
hopes that the Rembusch anti-trust
suit will take on some of the color
headline hunters love.
Yesterday found Ivan Abramson on
the stand, a trifle hazy witness as to
his experiences as an independent. He
did make a point, however, by re-
calling that in 1921 Zukor told ex-
hibitors at the Minneapolis MPTOA
convention that he would not build
or acquire any more theatres in op-
position to indie owners.
Mark Larkin Quarters
At General Service Plant
Mark Larkin has taken offices at
the General Service Studios and will
handle the studio accounts in addi-
tion to the individual producers that
come on the lot and wish to make a
deal with him for the picture.
Larkin will continue handling his
other accounts along with this new
set-up.
■
LOST
Liberal reward for return ^f platt-
num and diamond clip pin and
brooch, two triangular diamonds,
two bullet shaped diamonds, 44
baggette diamonds, 1 1 4 round dia-
monds lost evening of Feb. 7 in
Beverly Hills, vicinity Angelo Dr.
Notify Toplis & Harding, 604 Story
Building, TRinity 5908
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
Booked by
42 Loew's New York Houses
43 Warner Bros. New Jersey Houses
80 Warner Bros. Penn Houses
Now Available
For the State-Right Market
IDEAL PICTURES CORP.
M. ). Kandel, Pres.
729-7th Avenue New York
Feb. 20, 1934
THg
Page Three
MYSTERY OF MR. X' COOD;
^TRANSIENT LOVE' SMART
Well Produced
Mystery Yarn
"MYSTERY OF MR. X"
( Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer)
Direction Edgar Selwyn
Story by Phillip MacDonald
Screen Play.-. .Howard Emmett Rogers
Additional Dialogue. .Monckton Hoffe
Photography Oliver Marsh
Cast: Robert Montgomery, Elizabeth
Allen, Lewis Stone, Henry Steph-
enson, Forrester Harvey, Ralph
Forbes, Ivan Simpson, Alec B.
Francis, Charles Irwin, Leonard
Mudie.
In spite of the fact that the story
In "The Mystery of Mr. X" has a
couple of holes in it large enough to
push the Woolworth building through
one side, audiences will like the pic-
ture, much after the fashion of those
who paid to see the preview here last
night. It has it on most other mystery
stories of recent vintage in that it has
been given an excellent production, a
good cast and directed with taste,
good spacing and fine judgment.
The story that was written by Phil-
lip MacDonald, who also did the
screen adaptation, could have been
knitted a little tighter in so far as the
1 mystery concerned Scotland Yard, for
even that mighty detector of crime
could not have cast its suspicions on
Robert Montgomery with such slight
reason. But even with that and maybe
another situation or two, the yarn
serves the purpose of better than the
average entertainment and given the
I fine production and the excellent act-
I ing plus good direction, whatever
there may be of the story faults can
I easily be forgotten.
I The only mystery for the audience
' to dwell on during the running of the
story is the reason for the murder of so
many policemen by "Mr. X." The rest
of the yarn puzzles only the police
and concerns the activities of that arch
criminal and the efforts of the Yard
to find him. Interwoven in this ac-
tivity is the theft of a very valuable
diamond and the belief of the police
that finding the thief of that stone
. means the finding of "Mr. X" and in
order to prove that he is not the mur-
derer, the thief sets out to capture
"X" and does.
Robert Montgomery has the best
part he has had in many a day and
does exceptionally well with it. Eliza-
beth Allen furnishes the only femi-
nine interest. Forrester Harvey gives
a bang-up performance, and Lewis
Stone, Henry Stephenson, Ivan Simp-
son and Ralph Forbes round out a
swell cast.
Edgar Selwyn is credited with the
direction which was a great credit to
the picture.
This ought to be a cinch with
movie audiences and in order to get
the full benefits of its entertainment
values, you should plug it for all its
worth as a good opening will assure
you good business for the rest of the
' 'engagement as it is a picture that wiU
exploit itself after the first show.
Palooka' in N.Y. Feb. 27
New York. — The Eddie Small Re-
liance picture "Palooka" goes into the
(' iRivoli February 27.
Open Ribbing Season
Eph Asher is sporting two black
eyes and a bruised nose. Injuries
were received — well, Eph has a
story and he's sticking to it.
Tav Carnetf" Moves
To MCM for One
Tay Carnett moved his belongings
over on the MCM lot yesterday from
Paramount to direct the Clark Cable-
Myrna Loy picture "China Seas,"
which will be produced by the Irving
Thalberg unit.
Due to casting difficulties Para-
mount has postponed production on
the Melville Baker-Jack Kirkland yarn
"Honor Bright," which Carnett was
to have directed at this time, and will
make the picture when the director
finishes his one picture job for MCM.
Sylvia Thalberg and Austin Parker
wrote the screen play.
Ed Ludwig Swings to
Warners from 'U' Lot
Edward Ludwig, finishing last week
with Universal the direction of "Let's
Be Ritzy," has joined the Warner or-
ganization to pilot "Friends of Mr.
Sweeny."
Sam Bischoff places the picture
into work Wednesday. Company has
opened negotiations with MCM for
the loan of Una Merkle for the role
opposite Charles Ruggles as an alter-
native to the Nancy Carroll deal.
Radio Buys Sea Yarn
Radio Saturday purchased "False.
Dreams Farewell," a play by Hugh
Stance which ran in New York last
season. Story is constructed around
sixteen characters on a steamer, and
studio's tentative plan is to sign old
timers for the roles. Pandro Berman
will produce.
Lugosi Arrives Today
Bela Lugosi gets in today by train
from New York to start work in Ed-
gar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat."
which goes into production next Sat-
urday. Boris Karloff has the top spot
and Edgar Ulmer directs from a script
by Peter Ruric.
Reed Gets Warner Ticket
^_^-T6m Reed was signed by Warners
'yesterday to a long term writing
ticket. He is at present writing the
screen play of "Dark Tower." The
Schulberg-Feldman and Curney office
made the deal.
MCM Imports Tech. Man
Rene Hubbard, European technical
adviser, has arrived in Hollywood to
act as technical director for MCM on
"Merry Widow," which Irving Thal-
berg is producing.
Cpltison at Columbia
^^Willson Collison has been signed by
Columbia to script the Leonard Spi-
gelgass original "I'll Fix It." Picture
iS planned for Elissa Landi and Ed-
mund Lowe. Sam jaffe produces.
All Concerned Help
To Fine Result
"TRANSIENT LOVE"
(RKO-Radio)
Direction John Cromwell
Story by Anne Morrison Chapin
Adaptation by jane Murfin
Photography by David Abel
Cast: Irene Dunne, Constance Cum-
mings, Ralph Bellamy, Kay John-
son, Charles Starrett, Sidney
Blackmer, Vivian Tobin and Louis
Mason.
Smartness is the keynote of the
RKO-Radio picture "Transient Love"
(tentative title). The settings, story,
acting, directing — all are smart, and
the dialogue is as smart as a woman's
gown — cut low in front and with
something tricky in back.
The picture is sophisticated, charm-
ing and beautifully credible. It is a
dramatic comedy, with the accent on
both words, and it is a graceful thing,
starting honestly and with both feet
on the ground and gaining a swell
momentum as it swings to a logical
ending.
Irene Dunne and Ralph Bellamy, and
Kay Johnson and Charles Starrett are
two happily married young couples liv-
ing in a swanky suburb oytside of New
York. But there is a ghost between
Miss Dunne and Bellamy — the ghost
of a fickle, beautiful, thoroughly hate-
ful little charming trampi — Constance
Cummings- — whom Bellamy can never
quite forget. As the picture opens
the news is broken that she has got-
ten a divorce from her latest husband
and is on her way back to New York
to retrieve Bellamy.
The worst happens, and Miss Dunne
decides on a divorce for herself. For-
tunately, however, Sidney Blackmer
appears on the scene and Bellamy's
pride is shattered completely, making
him a better husband to Miss Dunne
than ever.
The story is slight, but tense. Jane
Murfin's adaptation of the Anne Mor-
rison Chapin story is a masterpiece of
sophistication, cleverness and humor.
And John Cromwell's direction is
pitched to a high tempo and controlled
by perfect intelligence. David Abel's
photography is excellent.
Irene Dunne is happily cast as the
wife. She wears her part like the
proverbial glove. Kay Johnson, blessed
by unusually fine, brilliant and hilari-
ous lines, has never been better, and
Constance Cummings is utterly con-
vincing as the conscienceless flirt.
Ralph Bellamy has a chance to show
what he can do in this picture, and
he does it well. Sidney Blackmer has
an intriguing role, and Charles Star-
rett is less stiff and stilted than usual.
Vivian Tobin and Louis Mason are
amusing as another couple.
Some cutting will help the picture.
The scene where Miss Cummings first
sees Bellamy after her marital absence
is too long and too repetitive. The
audience will get the point with much
less stressing. Also the scene where
Bellamy hits her — -not slaps her — but
gives her a good punch in the eye is
entirely out of keeping with his char-
acter. He may be dumb, but he is
not the hard-boiled sock 'em and leave
Code Boards Take
Away Hays Prop
New York. — There is much specu-
lation here as to the effect on the
Hays organization on the removal of
its chief prop, the Film Boards of
Trade, when the new zoning and
clearance boards go into action.
Cabe Hess has been supervising the
work of the boards. But their crea-
tion and development to the industry's
strongest piece of business machinery
was the work of Charles C. Pettijohn.
Russell Mack Ends
Deal at MCM Lot
Russell Mack has terminated his
one year contract with MCM and left
the lot Saturday.
Mack has the option to return to
direct "Tish," the Marie Dressier star-
ring vehicle which he had been assign-
ed to direct, when the writers com-
plete the yarn. Irving Thalberg is pro-
ducing.
Warners Seek Writer
Who Knows His China
Warners is looking for a scenario
man with a Chinese background to
handle the script on the recently pur-
chased best-seller, "Oil For the Lamps
of China."
Company is scheduling it as a spe-
cial production and is understood pre-
paring to open the purse on it. Sev-
eral associate producers are reading it
with a view to supervising the picture.
Cuttman To East On Play
Henry Cuttman boards a plane to-
morrow for New York, shelving his
agency and liquor-distributing offices
for a spell to put "Soviet Commissar"
on Boardway. Lenore Ulric stars in
Nina Wilcox Putnam's version of the
Eugene Tschirikow play. Sam Zagon,
attorney, accompanies the producer.
Doran with Croup Theatre
New York. — D. A. Doran, former
Fox story editor, now in Hollywood, is
understood here to have a deal to be-
come associated with the Croup Thea-
tre for several productions, one of
which IS "Centlewoman." The play is
in rehearsal now. No picture company
IS involved in the deal.
Warner Unit Returns
Warners' "Fog Over Frisco" com-
pany returned from location in San
Francisco yesterday and hope to wind
up the picture today with interiors at
the local plant. Wilhelm Dieterle di-
rects Bette Davis, Donald Woods and
Lyle Talbot in top spots.
Horsley In Radio Role
John David Horsley has been signed
for a role in "Finishing School," which
is being co-directed by Wanda Tuch-
ock and George Nicholls for Radio.
'em person. Discreet but consistent
cutting from then on until the end
will help also.
This picture is a natural for wo-
men. They'll eat it up and send their
friends running. The men will be
amused, toq, but not with as much
detachment. You've got plenty of
names, really superb direction and a
fine, grand story.
Page Four
THE
Feb. 20. 1934
WIRES, MAIL CARRY LAROR
SQUAWKS TO ROSENRLATT
Columbia and Fox
Both on the Pan
Air mail and telegraph wires were
burning up yesterday with squawks,
yowls, protests and complaints about
a film Code that isn't working. Chief
complaint dealt with the Studio Labor
Committee and the Committee of Ex-
tras.
One labor representative declared
to The Reporter that Columbia at
least has changed the names of its
"grips" to "stand-bys" and has cut
out the dollar-an-hour wage in this
manner and are paying 75 cents an
hour instead. As there are no stand-
bys in the Code they think they are
getting by, he declares.
"This same studio," he said, "has
ignored the Code provision which sets
the wage scale of laborers at 60 cents
an hour, and is paying its laborers but
50 cents an hour."
"There seems little use of com-
plaining any more to the studio labor
committee," declared another labor
organization man. "The committee
holds fast to its position that it has
not been properly appointed, even
though Rosenblatt has wired us that
they have been legally appointed. They
just keep on stalling. So we are send-
ing our complaints to Rosenblatt."
It was revealed that many of the
complaints filed with the studio labor
commii^tee have been filed with Judge
Lindsey. But he, while promising
speedy action in his office, is tied
until he gets his status properly ironed
out. That will probably be when
George Creel arrives. He was due yes-
terday but didn't show.
In the extra ranks bitterness loom-
ed like a London fog yesterday as re-
ports of code violations were bandied
about with stories of methods of evad-
ing the code rules.
"Among other studios," said an
"extra" spokesman yesterday, "Fox
has evolved the method of putting ex-
tras on weekly contracts to avoid pay-
ing them the dress suit rates. This
studio has just signed up ten young
men presumably as stock company
members. They were signed at $50 a
week so that the studio would not
have to pay them $1 5 a day for wear-
ing dress clothes, as the Code directs.
"Other studios are hiring relatives
and friends as extras by signing them
to one day contracts as actors. Thus
they get around the Code which says
there shall be no special request list.
Other extras are being made to work
several days for the price of one. This
is where they have lines to speak and
are supposed to get $25 a day for it.
But someone left out some words in
the Code and they pay 'em only $25
for the entire bit."
"I can't figure," said another labor
man, "whether Rosenblatt jumbled
things here purposely or whether it
is the fault of the studio labor com-
mittee that it is not functioning. He
was so assuring when we talked with
him. Declared all our troubles would
be handled at once, but here we are.
Just a bunch of suckers wondering
what it is all about, while he is three
thousand miles away. That's why I
am sending this burn-up to Rosen-
blatt by air mail today."
Top This One
In Exhibitors' Herald, "What the
Picture Did For Me" department,
a Custer, South Dakota, exhib re-
ports on "Emperor Jones": "Some
liked it real well. I eliminated the
seventh reel after the first show-
ing and it made a better show
without anyone noticing the
change."
Singers Guild Asks
Rating Under Code
Los Angeles singers added another
headache to film code authorities yes-
terday when the Singers' Guild of Los
Angeles filed a proposed amendment
with the Extras Code Committee. The
amendment would fix wage scales and
working conditions for singers em-
ployed in motion p/crure work.
Outstanding in the demands of the
singers are the establishment of a six
hour day and a minimum wage scale
of $25 per day for singers or singing
actors working in pictures, and that
they be placed in the same classifica-
tion as principal or bit players.
They also ask that they be given
vocal rest period of ten minutes in
each hour worked. That overtime be
at the rate of $4.25 per hour. That
contract singers be paid a minimum
weekly rate of $125 for a maximum
week of 36 hours. They ask that all
rehearsing and memorizing be done on
studio time. They also ask that all
singers be paid at the termination of
each day's work, or an additional third
check be paid them.
Officers of the Singers' Guild are
Allan Watson, president; Tudor Wil-
liams, vice-president; Myrtle Aber,
secretary; Myrle Regnier, treasurer,
and R. D. Saunders, business agent.
Build Special Trailer
For Col.'s Capra Pic
Satisfied that it has one of the top
pictures of the year in the Frank Capra
production, "It Happened One Night,"
Columbia is letting loose with both
barrels in an exploitation campaign to
get the most out of it.
Initial step is the special trailer
compiled as advance ballyhoo, studio's
production department having engaged
a special cast of players and written
a unique script of fourteen scenes for
it, although National Screen handles
distribution.
Warren William Mystery
Motor trouble was thought to have
delayed Warren William's return to
town yesterday from a yacht trip to
Catalina. William left Friday, accom-
panied by a still man. He talked to
his wife from the island late Sunday
and said he would leave for home at
once. He failed to show up yesterday.
Starr Joins Kingston
Irving Starr has returned to the
agency business becoming associated
with Al Kingston. Starr has been pro-
ducing for the past three years having
recently handled "Divorce Bed" for
Phil Coldstone.
Extras MeetThurs.
To Talk Harmony
Closed meeting of the members of
the Motion Picture Supporting and
Extra Players will be held next Thurs-
day night at eight o'clock in the Hol-
lywood High School. Auditorium on
Sunset side will be used.
Allan Garcia, president of the group,
says meeting is to take up matter of
combining the various "extra" groups
into one.
"We can't seem to get any results
or satisfaction as four organizations,"
said Garcia. "We are getting nothing
but a run around from the Code Au-
thorities and the producers, so it is
time we did something for ourselves."
Ginger Rogers Up for Part
With Farrell and Caynor
Fox wants Ginger Rogers for one
of the featured leads in the Janet
Gaynor-Charles Farrell picture "Man-
hattan Love Song" with James Dunn.
Title IS to be changed.
Miss Rogers has been ill for the
past few days and the studio is hold-
ing the part open until today when
Miss Rogers will give her answer.
Benefit for Sanitarium
In order to raise funds for the Los
Angeles Sanitarium and Ex-patients
Home, a benefit program sponsored
by Leon Lance will be staged Wednes-
day night at the Philharmonic Audi-
torium. Program will consist of Fisher
Newman, Vienna tenor; Julia Rouche,
Broadway prima donna; Kalia Levi-
enne, cellist, and several others. Over
4,000 tickets have already been sold.
U' Buys Doyle Original
Universal has purchased the Laird
Doyle original story "Strange, J^Q^d.?,'
in which they plan to star Margaret
Sullavan after she finishes "Little
Man, What Now?" which Frank Bor-
zage will direct.
The studio will make an attempt
to borrow Robert Montgomery from
MGM for the male lead in this vehicle.
Rapper on 'Sequoia'
Irving Rapper, New York stage di-
rector who was brought out here by
MGM under a term contract, has been
assigned to direct the dialogue on
"Sequoia," which Chester Franklin is
directing. John Considine Jr. is su-
pervising.
Roach Needs a Fat Boy
Hal Roach has been forced to post-
pone production on the next "Our
Gang" comedy because of the inability
to find a fat boy and a colored young-
ster. Fat boy must be on the order of
Joe Cobb of the original group, and
the colored youngster must fill Far-
ina's shoes.
Col. Adds to Pub. Staff
Columbia Saturday signed Bertha
Jancke to assist Mary Bartol handling
fashions for the publicity department.
Miss Jancke formerly held a similar
spot at Fox.
Frank Albertson Goes
Into Arliss Picture
Frank Albertson has been set by
Darryl Zanuck for the juvenile lead
in the George ArMss picture "Head of
the Family," which Sidney Lanfield
will direct for Twentieth Century.
Anita Louise has the inside track
for the feminine lead opposite Albert-
son and will likely sign for the part
this week.
Lighton on 'Fleurette'
Louis Lighton has been set to su-
pervise the production of Paramount's
"Fleurette," which Norman Taurog is
scheduled to direct.
W. C. Fields and Helen Mack are
in the top brackets and the screen
play is being rounded out by William
Slavens McNutt and Grover Jones.
Para. Signs Lombardo
Guy Lombardo yesterday placed his
signature on a contract at Paramount
to play a featured role in the Burns
and Allen comedy "Slightly Married,"
which is being adapted to the screen
by Claude Binyon and J. P. McEvoy.
Joe Morrison plays a featured role also.
Milton Cohen in Town
Milton Cohen, former publicity and
exploitation manager for Ziegfeld and I
Roxy offices in the east, is in Holly-
wood with expectations of connecting
with one of the major studios.
Loud Speaker' Under Way
Lou Ostrow put "Loud Speaker"
into production yesterday for Mono-
gram. Joseph Santley is directing.
The cast is headed by Ray Walker
and Jacqueline Wells.
HOLLYWOOD
PLAZA
^
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Spaeial wtakly and monthly ratts
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chat. Danzigtr, Mgr.
Eugtat Stern, Prts.
Th« "Doorway of Hotpltaltty"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
Feb. 20, 1934
itli
l^iP>©mril^.
Page Five
Bill Rowland Hangs Hat
On Columbia Hatrack
William Rowland moved into offices
at Columbia yesterday and will operate
within the studio on his deal.
Official documents on the deal
were signed late last week and give
Columbia an option for a third pro-
duction. "New York Town" will be
Rowland's second picture, negotiations
for the purchase of a property as the
first now being consummated.
MCM To Stage Plays
(Continued from Page 1 )
Seiwyn builds the contacts with es-
tablished playwrights.
An important feature of the play
production set-up will call for an in-
terchange of stars and directors with
the West Coast studios, the picture
company figuring a two-way value in
the idea. It will give players at the
studio the opportunity they crave to
return to the feel of audiences and
Broadway's atmosphere, and will also
enable the picture producing execs to
try material in connection with the
star likely to play the part when it is
screened.
It is understood that Seiwyn will go
into a huddle with Nicholas M.
Schenck immediately on arriving in
Hollywood, and report on the exhaus-
tive investigation and preliminary plans
he made on his recent extended visit
to New York.
The MCM move has been forecast
since the opening of the current season
found Paramount having the inside
track on such plays as "Double Door"
through pre-production agreements.
First Award Tabulation
Shows Interesting Results
Surprising results are being revealed in the ballots that are now
flocking into The Reporter office in The Hollywood Reporter Awards
of Merit competition.
To date Lasky's "The Power and the Glory" is leading as the
outstanding original story. "Little Women" is in the van among adap-
tations, and "Cavalcade" is ahead of them all as the outstanding
production. However, there are some others that are crowding them
close and no one can tell what another day will do in standing.
Some pictures that have not received much publicity are drawing
large votes, especially in the case of achievements on the part of art
directors, cameramen and sound technicians. The final results will
probably prove a revelation.
Yesterday saw a tremendous influx of votes. Only nine more days
remain in which to get ballots in, so if you have tucked yours away
in a corner of your desk, better get it marked and in the mails if you
want your choice to count in the final reckoning.
Cold medals will be awarded the winners in acting, directing,
writing (original and adaptation), art direction, cinematography and
sound.
Marian Marsh Does One
For 'U' Foreign Program
London, — Marian Marsh has signed
to make one picture to be produced
by Paul Kohner at Universal's Euro-
pean studios.
Miss Marsh will return to British
International Pictures to make a third
picture for them before returning to
Hollywood.
Baltic Yarn Interests
Radio and MCM have each evinced
interest in "The Baltic Maverick," an
original by Baron Hubertus Ulrich.
Yarn is said to have taken thirteen
years to write. Lilian Desmond has
made the English translation.
Name Acad. Dinner Com.
Walter Wanger, Frank Lloyd and
Norman Taurog were named yesterday
by the Academy as the committee'in
charge of arrangements for the annual
awards banquet, set for March 1 6.
They will handle sale of tickets,
program and the seating arrangements.
Price of banquet is set at $5 a plate.
Cordon Back on Job
l^aon Gordon, writer, returned to
>(i^rk at MGM yesterday after a week
and a half absence caused by flu.
Metro is said to be seriously con-
sidering an unproduced play of his,
"The Brain Breaker." Decision ex-
F>ected shortly.
'Lost Patrol' To Co
2d Wk. at Hillstreet
Business over the week-end on
"The Lost Patrol" at the RKO Hill-
street hit figures that caused an early
decision to hold it over for a second
week at that house.
The picture has done about $6500
in three days, which is well above the
average weekly take for the house.
Friday's opening brought $1821, Sat-
urday $2215 and Sunday $2482.
Cromwell Picture Starts
John Cromwell placed "Of Human
Bondage" before the cameras at Ra-
dio yesterday under Pan Berman's su-
pervision. Leslie Howard, Bette Davis,
Reginald Denny, Alan Hale and Regi-
nald Sheffield are in the cast. Lester
Cohen wrote the screen play from the
Maugham novel. Henry Cerrard is
cameraman.
'Harem' Scripters Named
William Hanneman and Glen Tryon
were teamed yesterday by Radio to
write the screen play for the "Great
American Harem" for William Seiter's
direction. Ginger Rogers and William
Gargan have the top spots under Lou
Brock's supervision.
Leo Carroll Here
Leo Carroll, New York stage actor,
arrived here from New York for a
featured role in the Joan Crawford pic-
ture, "Sadie McKee."
James Whale Returning
New York. — James Whale left for
the coast by train Sunday.
NOW AVAILABLE
DAVE COULD
DANCE DIRECTOR
RKO
RKO
RKO
FOX
MCM
"FLYING DOWN TO RIO" Finished in 31/2 weeks, rehearsals and shooting
"MELODY CRUISE" (Ice Ballet) Rehearsals and shooting. 5 days
WHEELER and WOOLSEY Comedy Number in Office; Powder Puff Number
"HIPS HIPS HOORAY" Rehearsals and shooting. 3 days
"THREE ON A HONEYMOON" Rehearsals and shooting. 7 days
"HOLLYWOOD PARTY" "Feeling High" Number
N. Y. SHOWS STAGED
2nd LITTLE SHOW— Al Trahan-Marion Hariss
3rd LITTLE SHOW— Bea Lillie-Ernest Truex
FINE AND DANDY — Joe Cook
WELL! WELL! WELL!— jack Pearl-Phil Baker
HELLO YOURSELF— Dorothy Lee-Waring's
Pennsylvanians
GANGS ALL HERE— Ted Heaiy-Ruby Keeler
HEY! NONNY! NONNY!— Frank Morgan-Richy Craig
GRAND ST. FOLLIES — James Cagney-Dorothy Sands
ANGELA — Jeanette MacDonald
4 YEARS PARAMOUNT THEATRE. N. Y.
1 YEAR CAPITOL THEATRE, N. Y.
MANAGEMENT — EDINGTON fir VINCENT
Page Six
Feb. 20, 1934
PRODUCTION SPURTS WITH 41 IN WORK
BAROMETER
This Week 41 Features
Last Week 34 Features
Year Ago 34 Features
Two Years Ago 27 Features
Columbia
"WHIRLPOOL"
Cast: Jack Holt, Lila Lee, Allen Jen-
kins, Rita LaRoy, Ward Bond, Jean
Arthur.
Director Roy William Neill
Original Howard Emmett Rogers
Screen Play Ethel Hill
Photography Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Robert North
"HIGHWAY PATROL"
Cast: Tim McCoy, Lilian Bond, Vin-
cent Sherman, Bradley Page, Lafe
McKee, Hal Price, Bob Stanley, Er-
nie Adams, Charles Sullivan, Harry
C. Bradley, William Sullivan, Eddie
Sturges, Ethel Sykes.
Director D. Ross Lederman
Original Screen Play.. ..Harold Shumate
Photography Benjamin Kline
Producer Irving Briskin
Fox
"MURDER IN TRINIDAD"
Cast: Nigel Bruce, Heather Angel,
Victor Jory, Douglas Walton, Har-
vey Clark, Murray Kinnell, Pat
Somerset, Claude King, Francis
Ford, J. Carrol Naish, John David-
son.
Director Louis King
Story John Vandercook
Screen Play Seton I. Miller
Photography Barney McCill
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
"COLD RUSH"
Cast: Claire Trevor, John Boles, Harry
Green, Monroe Owsley, Ruth Gil-
lette, Roger Imhof.
I Director George Marshall
Screen Play Lester Cole
and Henry Johnson
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"ODD THURSDAY"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Rochelle Hud-
son, Herbert Mundin, Rosemary
Ames, Henrietta Grossman, Lily
d'Stuart.
Director James Flood
Story Vera Caspary
Screen Play: jane Storm, Oscar M.
Sheridan and Lenore Coffee.
Photography L. W. O'Connell
Producer Al Rockett
•THE WORLD MOVES ON"
Cast: Franchot Tone, Madeleine Car-
roil, Louise Dresser.
Director John Ford
Screen Play Reginald Berkeley
Producer Al Rockett
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW"
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan, Grace Bradley.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Walter Lundin
Producer Harold Lloyd
MOM
•TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
Cast: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen
O'Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Doris
Lloyd, Frank Reicher, Paul Cava-
nagh, William Stack, Desmond
Roberts, Yola D'Avril, Forrester
Harvey.
Director Cedric Gibbons
Adaptation Leon Gordon
Screen Play J. K. McGuinness
Photography Clyde DeVinna
and Sid Wagner
Producer Bernard Hyman
"LADY MARY'S LOVER"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Mont-
gomery, Herbert Marshall, Lilyan
Tashman, Ralph Forbes, Mrs. Pat-
rick Campbell, Arthur Jarrett, Earl
Oxford, Halliwell Hobbes, Samuel
May, Helen Jerome Eddy, Peter
Hobbes, George K. Arthur, T. Roy
Barnes, E. E. Clive, Skeets Galla-
gher, Florine McKinney, Paul Por-
casi.
Director Edmund Goulding
Story and Screen Pay
Edmund Goulding
Photography Ray June
Producer Irving Thalberg
"SEQUOIA"
Cast: Jean Parker, David Larxiau, Olin
Howland, Willie Fung, Russell
Hardie.
Directors Chester Franklin
and Nick Grinde
Novel Joseph Vance Hoyt
Adaptation: C. Gardner Sullivan, Frank
R. Adams, Anne Cunningham.
Photography Clyde DeVinna
and Chet Lyons
Producer John Considine
"THE SHOW-OFF"
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Madge Evans,
Lois Wilson, Alan Edwards, Henry
Wadsworth, Claude Gillingwater,
Sterling Holloway, Clara Blandick,
Grant Mitchell.
Director Charles F. Reisner
Original George Kelly
Screen Play Herman Mankiewicz
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Samuel Hinds, Douglas Dumbrille,
Henry B. Walthall, Ned Sparks,
Mae Clarke.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play Harvey Thew
and Zelda Sears
Photography George Folsey
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"HOLLYWOOD PARTY"
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
Jack Pearl, Laurel and Hardy, Polly
Moran, Charles Butterworth, George
Givot, Richard Carle, Edwin Max-
well, Tom Kennedy, Ted Healy and
Stooges, Eddie Quillan, June Clyde,
Frances Williams, MGM Baby Stars.
Director Alan Dwan
Music Rodgers and Hart,
Brown and Freed
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Harry Rapf
"SADIE McKEE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Esther Ralston,
Jean Dixon, Franchot Tone.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Vina Delmar
Screen Play John Meehan
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Laurence Weingarten
Paramount
"WERE NOT DRESSING"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman,
Carole Lombard, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, Raymond Milland, Jay
Henry, Leon Errol, Dick Dickinson.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Walter Hall Smith
Adaptation. .Stephen Morehouse Avery
Music by Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Charles Lang
"THE TRUMPET BLOWS"
Cast: George Raft, Adoiphe Menjou,
Frances Drake, Katharine DeMille,
Sidney Toler, Douglas Wood, Nydia
Westman, Lillian Elliott, Edward El-
lis, Gertrude Norman, Aleth Speed
Hanson, Howard Brooks, Joyce
Compton, Hooper Atchley, Francis
McDonald, Charles Stevens.
Director Stephen Roberts
Original Porter Emerson Browne
Adaptation Wallace Smith
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Harry Fischbeck
"COME ON MARINES"
Cast: Richard Arlen, Ida Lupino. Toby
Wing, Roscoe Karns, Lona Andre,
Grace Bradley, Virginia Hammond,
Gwenllian Gill, Clara Lou Sheridan,
Fuzzy Knight.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original Philip Wylie
Screen Play Byron Morgan
and Joel Sayre
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Ben Reynolds
Producer Al Lewis
"YOU'RE TELLING ME"
Cast: W. C. Fields, Joan Marsh, Larry
"Buster" Crabbe, Adrienne Ames,
Louise Carter, Kathleen Howard,
James B. "Pop" Kenton, Robert
McKenzie, Jerry Stewart. George
Irving, Alfred Delcambre, Tammany
Young, Frederic SulMvan, William
Rubyns, George MacQuarrie, John
M. Sullivan.
Director Erie Kenton
Screen Play Walter DeLeon
and Paul Jones
Dialogue J. P. McEvoy
Music Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Sam Coslow
Photography Al Gilks
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
Cast: Carl Brisson, Victor McLaglen,
Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Paul
Gerrits, Toby Wing, Dorothy Strick-
ney, Jessie Ralph, Charles B. Mid-
dleton, Gertrude Michael, Gail Pat-
rick, Otto Hoffman, Charles Mc-
Avoy, Donald Meek, Beryl Wallace,
Colin Tapley, Barbara Fritchie, Lona
Andre.
Director Mitchell Leisen
Original Earl Carroll
and Rufus King
Screen Play Carey Wilson
and Joseph Gollomb
Additional Dialogue Sam Hellman
Music Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Sam Coslow
Photography Leo Tover
RKO-Radio
"FINISHING SCHOOL"
Cast: Ginger Rogers, Frances Dee,
Bruce Cabot, Billie Burke, Dawn
O'Day, Beulah Bondi, Sarah Haydon,
Marjory Lytell, Adalyn Doyle, Mary
Jordan, Rose Coghlan.
Directors Wanda Tuchock
and George Nicholls, Jr.
Story David Hempstead
Screen Play Wanua Tuchock
and Laird Doyle
Photography Roy Hunt
Associate Producer Kenneth
Macgowan
"STRICTLY DYNAMITE"
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Veler,
Norman Foster, Marian Nixon, Wil-
liam Gargan, Eugene Pallette, Four
Mills Brothers, Ruth Etting, Minna
Combell, Sterling Holloway, Stanley
Fields, Berton Churchill.
Director Elliott Nugent
Original Robert T. Colwell
and Robert A. Simon
Screen lay Maurine Watkins
and Ralph Spence
Photography Eddie Cronjager
Associate Producer H. N. Swanson
"STINCAREl"
Cast: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Mary
Boland, Conway Tearle, Snub Pol-
lard, George Barraud, Andy Devine,
Una O'Connor, Henry Stephenson.
Director William Wellman
Original E. W. Hornung
Screen Play Becky Gardiner
Photography James Van Trees
Associate Producer David Lewis
Feb. 20. 1934
Page S«v^n
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 34 LAST WEEK
"DOVER ROAD"
Cast: Clive Brook, Diana Wynyard,
Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray, Regi-
nald Owen, Gilbert Emery, Phyllis
Barry.
Director J. Walter Ruben
Original A. A. Milne
Screen Play H. W. Hanemann
Photography David Abel
Associate Producer David Lewis
"OF HUMAN BONDACE-
( Rehearsing)
Cast: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis,
Reginald Denny, Alan Hale, Regi-
nald Sheffield.
Director John Cromwell
Original W. Somerset Maugham
Screen Play Lester Cohen
Photography Henry Cirard
Associate Producer.. Pandro S. Berman
Twenfieth Century
"THE FIREBRAND"
Cast: Constance Bennett, Fredric
March, Frank Morgan, Fay Wray,
Vince Barnett, Louis Calhern, Jessie
Ralph, Jay Eaton, John Rutherford,
Irene Ware.
Director Gregory La Cava
Based on Stage Play by
Edwin Justus Mayer
Adaptation Bess Meredyth
Photography Charles Rosher
Associate Producers William Coetz
and Raymond Griffith
"HEAD OF THE FAMILY"
(Rehearsing)
Cast: George Arliss, Janet Beecher,
Edna May Oliver, Ralph Morgan,
Rafaela Ottiano.
Director Sidney Lanfield
Story Katherine Clugston
Screen Play: Leonard Praskins and
Maude T. Howell.
Associate Producers: William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith.
Photography Jerry Ash
Associate Producer Dale Van Every
"UNCERTAIN LADY"
Cast: Genevieve Tobin, Edward Ever-
ett Horton, Jobyna Howland, Doro-
thy Peterson, Frank Lyman, Herbert
Corthell.
Director Karl Freund
Original Screen Play: George O'Neil
and Harry Segal! .
Photography Charles Stumar
Associate Producer Dale Van Every
Warners-First National
"WITHOUT HONOR"
Cast: James Cagney, Joan Blondell,
Victor Jory, Sarah Padden, Ralfe
Harolde, Harold Huber, John Qua-
len, Russell Hopton, Frank Craven,
Bradley Page, James Eagle, George
Chandler.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Original Story Robert Lord
Screen Play Tom Buckingham and
Niven Busch
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"FOG OVER FRISCO"
Cast: Bette Davis, Lyie Talbot, Mar-
garet Lindsay, Henry O'Neill, Rob-
ert Barrat, Hugh Herbert, Douglas
Dumbrille, Gordon Westcott, Donald
Woods, Irving Pichel, Arthur Byron,
Alan Hale, George E. Stone, Harold
Minjir, Douglas Cosgrove, Charles
Wilson, William Damarest.
Director Wilhelm Dieterle
Story George Dye
Screen Play Robert N. Lee
and Eugene Solow
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"ONE MAN WOMAN"
Universal
"CLAMOUR"
Cast: Constance Cummings, Paul Lu-
kas, Phillip Reed, Joseph Cawthorn,
Doris Lloyd.
Director William Wyler
Novel by Edna Ferber
Screen Play Doris Anderson
I Continuity Gladys Unger
' and Doris Anderson
Photography George Robinson
Producer B. F. Zeidman
j "I'LL TELL THE WORLD"
I Cast: Lee Tracy, Gloria Stuart, Roger
! Pryor, Herman Ring, Onslow Stev-
i ens, Arthur Stone, Edwin Mordant,
Hugh Enfield, Dorothy Granger,
Alec B. Francis.
Director Edward Sedgwick
Original: Lincoln Quarberg and Frank
Wead.
Screen Play: Dale Van Every and Ralph
Spence.
Cast: Pat O'Brien, Glenda Farrell,
Claire Dodd, Russell Hopton, Henry
O'Neill, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert
Gleckler, Arthur Vinton, Paul Har-
vey, George Coof>er, Tom Costello,
) Pudgie White.
^yOirector Alan Crosland
/Based on Original Story by
Gene Towne and Graham Baker
Screen Play F. Hugh Herbert
1 and Erwin Gelsey
Adaptation David Boehm
Photography William Rees
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"SAWDUST"
Cast: Joe E. Brown, Patricia Ellis, Dor-
othy Burgess, Donald Dilloway,
Charles Wilson, Poodles Hanneford,
Ernest Clarke, Alfredo Cordona.Tom
Dugan, William Demarest, Harry
Wood, Earl Hodgins, John Sheehan,
Ronie Crosby, Gordon Evans.
Director Ray Enright
Based on Story by
Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby
Revisions by Tom Buckingham
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor James Seymour
"THE KEY"
Cast: William Powell, Edna Best, Co-
lin Clive, Robert Barrat, J. M, Ker-
rigan, Hobart Cavanaugh, Maxine
Doyle, Arthur Treacher, Joan
Wheeler, Henry O'Neill, Philip
Regan.
Director Michael Curtiz
Based on the Play by
Robert Gore-Browne, J. L. Hardy
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Music and Lyrics Allie Wrubel
and Mort Dixon
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"THE HAPPY FAMILY '
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee,
Allen Jenkins, Hugh Herbert, Helen
Lowell, Joan Vv'heeler, Frankie
Darro.
Director Alfred E. Green
Original Screen Play. .Gene Markey
and Kathryn Scola
Photography Arthur Edeson
Supervisor Robert Lord
"RETURN OF THE TERROR"
Cast: Mary Astor, LyIe Talbot, Robert
Barrat, Frank McHugh, John Halli-
day, Irving Pichel, George E. Stone,
J. Carrol Naish, Frank Reicher,
Renee Whitney, Robert E. O'Con-
nor, George Cooper, Etienne Girar-
dot.
Director Howard Bretherton
Suggested by Story by —
Edgar Wallace
Screen Play Eugene Solow
and Peter Milne
Photography Arthur Todd
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"DR. MONICA"
Cast: Kay Francis, Veree Teasdale,
Jean Muir.
Director William Keighley
Based on Polish play by —
Marja Morozowicz Szczepkowska
Adaptation by Laura Walker
Screen Play Charles Kenyon
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Henry Blanke
Independent Productions
Chesferfield
( Universal I
"STOLEN SWEETS"
Cast: Sally Blane, Charles Starrett,
Jameson Thomas, Jane Keckley,
Phillips Smalley, Claude King, John
Harron, Polly Ann Young, Aggie
t~ Herring, Goodee Montgomery, May-
nard Holmes, Maude Turner Gor-
don, Ethel Griffies, Tom Ricketts.
Director Richard Thorpe
Original Screen Play Carl Brown
Photography M. A. Anderson
Producer George R. Batcheller
Liberty
(Parfae)
"NO RANSOM"
Cast: Phillips Holmes, Leila Hyams,
Jack LaRue, Hedda Hopper, Robert
McWade, Eddie Nugent, Christian
Rub, Vince Barnett, Arthur Hoyt,
Gerry Owen, Carl Miller, Mary Foy,
Fritzi Ridgeway, Harry Holman.
Director Fred Newmeyer
Original Damon Runyon
Screen Play Albert DeMond
Photography Harry Neumann
Producer M. H. Hoffman
Monogram
(General Service)
• MANHATTAN LOVE SONG"
Cast: Robert Armstrong, Dixie Lee,
Franklyn Pangborn, Nydia West-
man, Helen Flint, Herman Bing,
Cecile Cunningham, Harold Wal-
drige, George Irving, Emmett Vo-
gan.
Director Leonard Fields
Story Cornell Woolrich
Screen Play Leonard Fields
and David Silverstein
Photography Robert Planck
"THE LOUDSPEAKER"
Cast: Ray Walker, Jacqueline Wells,
Noel Francis, Charles Crapewin,
Spencer Charters, Lorin Baker, Mary
Carr, Wilbur Mack, Ruth Romaine,
Larry Wheat, Leonard Carey, Billy
Irvine, Billie Van Every.
Director Joseph Santley
Photography Gilbert Warrenton
Supervisor W. T. Lackey
Eastern Productions
All Star Productions
(United Artists Release)
( Biograph Studios)
"FRANKIE AND JOHNNY"
Cast: Helen Morgan, Lilyan Tashman.
Chester Morris, William Harrigan,
Florence Reed, Walter Kingsford.
Director Chester Erskin
Screen Play Moss Hart
Photography Joe Ruttenberg
VITAPHONE STUDIOS
UNTITLED
Cast: Bernice Claire.
Director Joe Henaberry
Photography Ray Foster
and Ed Dupar
UNTITLED
Cast: Bill Robinson.
Director Roy Mack
Photography Ray Foster
and Ed Dupar
nil
WERNER RICHARD HEYMANN
Composer
("THE CONGRESS DANCES" etc. etc.)
Under contract
FOX FILM CORPORATION
is pleased to announce that
JOHN ZANFT, Ltd.
will be his personal and
business representatives.
5f MP.SAVUFL ^!ARX.
CU:.Vr-.H CITY.OA:.!:''
Vol. XIX. No. 35. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, February 21. 1934
PRM. T€ SWING CLUB
Thirty Hour Week For Labor
By Congress Action Forecast
If Industries Hainstring Code
.W.RMlLi(£RSON
•THE boys were batting the ball
around the other evening and talking
about the picture business in general
and good pictures in particular. The
conclusion was that two or three really
GREAT PICTURES would do wonders
for this business and some sort of
propaganda should be started in this
town in an effort to stir up production
imagination and actual production
tending to the making of a great pic-
ture or two.
That's a pretty tough assignment.
It is our opinion that there has not
been a really great picture since "All
Quiet" and there's hardly a chance
that there will be one for some time,
as producers, the men heading the
studios, give little encouragement to
the men and women working under
them that would inspire such efforts.
In the first place (with the pos-
sible exception of MCM) there is not
a plant in the business which would
take a chance on the making of a
GREAT PICTURE, they would not
care to risk that money, they would
not give the time for the writing or
the adaptation or sufficient time to
shoot such a picture. And because of
this writers are not writing in that
direction, they are attempting to de-
liver what the producers want and it
does not seem to be GREAT PIC-
TURES.
But getting back to the first para-
graph a GREAT PICTURE would do
this business more good right at this
time than anything that could happen
— a picture that would send audi-
ences out screaming their delight, a
picture that would be discussed in the
home, in the office, from the church
pulpit; one that would be commented
on by the press, editorially and other-
wise. This business needs such a lift,
but who's to do it? Who is going
after that big picture? Who has the
trains and the desire to make it?
Picture audiences, past and present,
should be aroused by something im-
portant, something really big. The
stay-at-homes should be brought back
to the theatres and the only way to do
it would be through an outstanding
production, a GREAT PICTURE.
How about it?
Just Hollywood
New York. — When Hecht and
MacArthur sold "Twentieth Cen-
tury" to Columbia, Hecht wired
Cohn and Hawks suggesting they
sign William Frawley and Moffat
Johnson for the film. The reply:
"Who are they? Never heard of
them." Now Hawks is wiring
Hecht frantically for the address
of Frawley since the player clicked
in "Bolero."
Gary Cooper Signs
Termer at Para.
Paramount signed Gary Cooper to a
new long term contract yesterday.
The new termer calls for the ex-
clusive services of Cooper after he
does "Barbary Coast" for Sam Cold-
wyn. He has one more picture to
make on his old contract. At present
he is in MCM's "Operator 13." When
he finishes work in that he returns
to Paramount lot for one picture, then
does the Goldwyn yarn, after which he
starts his new contract with no more
work for outside studios.
Shake-up in Para. Abroad
Drops Two Key Execs
New York — Indications of a shake-
up in the Paramount foreign organi-
zation are seen in the resignation of
two key men long identified with the
company, Ike Blumenrhal, for fifteen
years general manager for the conti-
nent, and Care Schwartz, Paris lab
head. Fred Lange, formerly in Soutli
America for Paramount as general
manager, is replacing Blumenthal.
Russell Holman on Way
New York. — Russell Holman leaves
for Hollywood Sunday for conferences
with Emanuel Cohen and the Para-
mount production board.
Washington. — Developments on Capitol Hill indicate that
President Roosevelt is flexing his muscles preparatory to swing-
ing a club that will put an end to the multitude of labor squab-
bles in all industries, particularly the squawks from Hollywood.
It was predicted today that the club ««». r- • ■ -^
swinging will take the form of Con- Par^ XA/inC FlOTrif I rt
gressional enactment of legislation "aFd. WIRb rlgRT lU
compelling a straight thirty hour week
for all labor. The same legislation will
carry provisions putting teeth into
(Continued on Page 3)
Wampas Pick 21
'Baby' Nominees
The Wampas met last night at the
Writers Club and nominated 21 girls
for election as Wampas "Baby Stars."
Ten of the names were made pub-
lic, but the other eleven were sealed
because they are contract players at
studios that are believed to be opposed
to putting the Baby Stars on the ra-
dio. Members figured it might em-
barrass the girls if their names were
(Continued on Page 2)
MCM May Back 4
For Croup Theatre
New York. — First move in MCM
plans for stage production next year
may be a working agreement with the
Croup Theatre here for the production
of four plays. It is understood that
the film company will finance the
plays and also arrange for an inter-
change of stars.
THEATRES TAKE LICKING AS
BLIZZARD BLAIVKETS EAST
'Slim' Under Knife
New York. — Local movie palaces
took the worst beating in their his-
tory yesterday as a result of the ter-
rific blizzard that paralyzed traffic
and held millions of Manhattan and
suburban residents in their homes.
They couldn't even get down town to
go to work, much less attend a thea-
tre. Result was that those houses
that remained open didn't do enough
to pay the light bill.
In New Haven all movie houses
closed tight and didn't attempt to
(Continued on Page 2)
Slim Summerville, who has been in
the hospital for the past two weeks
due to a rundown condition, will un-
dergo a minor operation at the Metho-
dist Hospital tomorrow. Dr. C. W.
Cook will perform the operation.
Ray Griffith Sails
New York — Raymond Griffith sails
for England for a brief vacation.
Hold N. Y. Theatres
New Yor'k — Paramount has won
out in its fight to hold on to the
Criterion and Loew's New York Roof
properties. Adolph Zukor yesterday
concluded a deal through which
Seneca Holding Company, a Para sub-
sidiary, gives a mortgage of $175,000
to retain the properties,
The mortgage will be used to pay
off back taxes, etc., and continue op-
eration of the houses. It is subordin-
ate to the existing mortgages totaling
$5,440,000, but It IS a lien on Para-
mount's Astoria studio.
Hold Services Today for
Mother of Mrs. Mayer
Funeral services for Mrs. Hyman
Schenberg, mother of Mrs. Louis B.
Mayer, who died late Monday night,
will be held this morning from the
Clasband and Croman funeral parlors,
interment occurring at the Beth Israel
cemetery. Services are private.
Mrs. Schenberg was 72 and died at
the Glendale Sanitarium.
Erpi Exec Here Today
Whitford Drake, vice president of
Erpi, arrives here from the East today
for a series of conferences with George
Pratt, also a vice president of Erpi on
the west coat. He will remain in Hol-
lywood for a week or ten days.
Mayo to Meg 'Dames'
Archie Mayo has definitely been set
to direct the musical production
"Dames" for Warners. Busby Berke-
ley will handle the direction of the
musical numbers. The screen play is
being written by Manny Seff.
'Wonder Bar' in Miami
Miami — The world premiere of
"Wonder Bar" was held here last
night, the affair being quite a social
event. The New York opening is set
for February 28.
EE
In Preparation "The Great American Harem'
]
Page Two
THE
Feb. 21. 1934
1
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
rJew York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires. ,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant/
werp, Gratte-Ciel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
/
/
That bridge for the benefit of the
Motion Picture Relief Fund at the
Ambassador the other night turned
out to be a huge success. Under the
fine guiding hands of Bebe Daniels,
Diana Fitzmaurice and Mrs. George
Archainbaud over five hundred tickets
were sold and more than three thou-
sand dollars made to help the unfor-
tunates of the movie colony. Dave
Harris and Rosey Rosenberg tied for
first place in the bridge contest but
Rosenberg's luck held out longer be-
cause he won the order on Magnin's
when the boys had to cut for first
place. Orrin Kelly won the order on
the Mabel Fisher LADIES' hat shop
and Mae Sunday came out of it with
an order for anything she'd like to
have at the Maison Blanc. Sally Eilers
and Harry Joe Brown, the )oe E.
Browns, the John Boles, the Monte
Blues, the George and Bill Hearsts,
Dorothy Mackaill, Leila Hyams, the
Skeets Gallaghers, Buster Collier and
the Russell Macks among the movie
contingent. And away off in the back
room, Zeppo Marx, Phil Berg, Milton
Bren and Fred Peiton forgot it was all
just for charity and played a game that
registered twenty-five cents a point.
They had just cut a feature picture
and had invited the head of the studio
to come into the projection room to
see it since the director was in New
York. The studio head was having a
terrible time keeping up with the
story and finally in one part came a
scene in the jungle with the girl sit-
ting on a log and one of the men
turns to her and says, "That's right,
little Miss Muffett, I'll get you out
of this." And with that, the studio
head jumped up and said, "That's
enough. What kind of writing is this
and what kind of a story? For five
reels she is called Miss Jones and now
all of a suddent she's Miss Moffat!"
And when the head man' secretary
came to she said, "Why, Mr. — , you
know little Miss Muffett, that's an old
nursery rhyme." Whereupon the mas-
ter mind topped his original crack
with, "And that's something else about
this studio. There have been altogether
too many allegories on the program!"
"THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE"
MGM prod.; director, William K. Howard; writers, Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach,
_>- " Bella and Samuel Spewack
,''' Capitol Theatre
Sun:,--*The Cat and the Fidale" with a practically perfect movie plot, emerges
from the studio a vulgarized and routine musical comedy tale. Thanks to
Mr. Kern and Miss MacDonald, and in spite of the adaptor, this film pro-
vides a gay and lilting hour.
Post: The new picture at the Capitol is not only an example of what a good
musical should be but it illustrates how intelligent adaptation and direc-
tion plus a judiciously chosen cast can turn a mildly pleasant entertainment
into something lively and absorbing.
Mirror: Skillfully directed, lavishly produced, cleverly acted, "The Cat and the
Fiddle" is a truly charming picture. Romantic, tuneful and colorful, it
makes a perfect vehicle for the two attractive singers who are co-starred
in it.
News: William K. Howard has directed the production with skill and it has
been beautifully mounted by the producers. Both Miss MacDonald and
Novarro are happily cast in a musical romance in which their voices blend
beautifully together.
World -Telegram: It is by far the most tuneful, charming and thoroughly enter-
taining operetta the screen has offered in years. Credit is due William K.
Howard for his sensible, sensitive and imaginative direction which has re-
stored this writer's faith in screen musicals. Also, Bella and Samuel Spe-
wack for the manner in which they have adapted the operetta to the
screen.
Herald-Tribune: A handsome and resourceful production, which has been made
under William K. Howard's skillful direction. But I wish there had been
more humor, a few additional Kern songs, and a bit less plot.
Times: A gay and tuneful picture, which comes to the screen of the Capitol with
much of its original charm and spontaneity. The plot is inconsequential,
but there is an intriguing and well balanced melange of melody, fun snd
romance.
lournal: One of the best musical productions that has as yet come out of Holly-
wood. Novarro, who adds a sense of humor to intelligence and person-
ality, is perfectly cast in the leading role. Much credit goes to William K.
Howard for the sparkling tempo he sustains in an outstanding job of di-
rection.
American: Delightful, exhilarating entertainment. In all departments, it is as
fine a film as any Hollywood season has had to offer. William K. Howard
has contributed to the excellence of the piece by endowing it with dra-
matic form and interest by capturing the lilting quality of the original
score, and establishing and maintaining a directorial rhythm that makes
the entire achievement a sweet and not too lengthy song.
Fox-Beahan Bulletin
The Sidney Fox-Charles Beahan
marital difficulties won't be disturbed
any more by reconciliations. That is,
unless Sidney withdraws her divorce
suit which she filed yesterday. The
final break-up came at a party staged
to celebrate a reconciliation.
Wampas Pick Nominees
(Continued from Page 1 )
made known. Also indicated that if
the producers turn down the request
of the Wampas and frown on the ra-
dio appearance they will not open the
envelopes containing these players'
names unless another method of pre-
sentation is decided upon.
The nominees announced were: Joan
Gale, Dorothy Dix, Ann Sothern, Dixie
Lee, Dorothy Drake, Mary Kornman,
Luana Walters, Hazel Hayes, June
Knight and Lois January.
It was brought out that the produc-
ers are not opposed to the naming of
"baby stars," and that all but three
studios are favorable to letting them
go on the air. Stars will be named
whether the air program goes on or
not. Final decision as to attitude of
producers and definite Wampas plans
will not be known until next week's
meeting of the organization.
$10 Per Negative Reel Tax
Planned by Indie Croup
New York. — Important meeting of
the Executive Committee of the Fed-
eration of Motion Picture Industries is
slated for Friday of this week.
Committee will discuss finance
plans which call for a charge of $10
per reel negative, plus a small positive
reel charge for independent producer
members. This, with negative reel-
age charge on affiliated unit in Cali-
fornia, is expected to bring approxi-
mately $50,000 into the federation
coffers annually.
Settle Craves Suit
Lichtig and Englander settled their
suit for $1,000 against Ralph Craves
out of court yesterday. Trouble arose
over commissions Graves failed to pay
the agency for the sale of his story,
"Born To Be Bad," to Twentieth Cen-
tury for $10,000. Firm of Simon and
Garbus represented Lichtig and Eng-
lander.
Realism Injures Stone
Over-enthusiasm as a lunatic doing
an adagio dance in Warners' "Return
of the Terror" caused George Stone
to kick himself in the shins and cut a
gash necessitating emergency hospital
treatment. Several stitches were ta-
ken in the leg and the player returned
to the set.
ZOth's Trouble' Hit
At N. Y. Tradeshow
New York — "Looking for Trouble"
previewed yesterday at the Astor
Theatre went over with a bang. Both
local critics and exhibitors were out-
spoken in raves.
Story, direction, and Tracy and
Oakie as a team drew the principal
comment. Plus the statement by one
exhibitor, "If Zanuck keeps up this
consistent pace there'll be no stopping
him."
Ames Adoption in Court
Adrienne Ames will appear in juve-
nile court this morning before Judge
Samuel Blake to approve the adoption
of her 1 1 -year-old daughter, Dorothy
Jane, by Bruce Cabot. Miss Ames and
Cabot were married last October.
Crant and Bride Due Sat.
Gary Crant and his bride, Virginia
Cherrill, will arrive in Hollywood Sat-
urday from their trip to Great Britain
where they were married.
Theatres Take Licking
(Continued from Page 1 )
open. Same was true with many
houses in Hartford, Bridgeport and
other Connecticut cities. In New
Haven even the exchanges closed,
with exception of United Artists.
Traffic was stopped on the New Haven
Railroad and roads were blocked, so
film service between smaller towns
was out. Houses in Boston also took
it on the nose for a beating.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
RUSSELL ,M I LLER,«
and Company
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIyvi/ood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
i^iAi<-^i4i^i^ii^^6^MJ^<^'<^^^vy^<<<->y--'i^^
Feb. 21, 1934
THEJSlg
Page Three
RACE KEEN AMONG
FOR REPORTER PI€
No Runaway Yet in
Any Classification
A veritable flock of pictures moved
up to the tape in a neck and neck
race yesterday as the votes poured in
for The Hollywood Reporter Awards
of Merit competition.
"Henry the Eighth" stepped into
the top group with "Little Women,"
"Cavalcade," "Only Yesterday," "Lady
For a Day" and "Gabriel Over The
White House" in the choice for out-
Standing production.
Writers' votes from every studio
started flooding in, and "Lady For a
Day," "Berkeley Square" and "Little
Women" were up among the leaders
for the most outstanding example of
adaptation. But other pictures less
prominent were running close, and
surprises are probably due before the
last of the votes are in.
"The Nuisance" forged to the front
yesterday alongside "The Power and
the Glory" among the original stories.
And "This Day and Age" was knock-
ing on the door for recognition.
"Bombshell" came into more than
notice when the cameramen started
voting, and is one of the leaders in
the field of outstanding photographic
achievement. "When Ladies Meet" is
right beside it from the cinematogra-
pher's point of view.
Among the directors "Lady For a
Day," "Henry the Eighth," "Berkeley
Square" and "Little Women" were
showing the way, with a number of
other pictures close behind.
In the van for best example of art
direction are "Design For Living,"
"King Kong," "Little Women" and
"When Ladies Meet."
"Gold Diggers of 1933" was re-
ceiving a big vote from the sound men
as containing the best example of
sound recording. But "Only Yester-
day" was also among the favored ones,
as was the MGM "Bombshell."
Tremendous interest is being evinc-
ed by everyone in the industry in this
competition, which is the first time
that the industry itself has been given
the chance to express its all-embracing
choice on awards of merit. Executives,
players, directors, writers, camera-
men, sound men, art directors, all are
sending in their votes.
If you have mislaid your copy of
the Award Bulletin, phone The Re-
porter office and another will be sent
you. This also applies to ANY worker
in the industry who may not have re-
ceived a copy in the original mailing.
20th Borrows 'Alice'
Charlotte Henry, Paramouni's con-
test winner for "Alice in Wonder-
land," was signed yesterday on a
loanout deal by Twentieth Century for
the ingenue lead in the George Arliss
picture, "Head of the Family," which
will be directed by Sidney Lanfield.
High School' on Shelf
Hunt Stromberg has called off his
dogs on his "High School" idea and
has tossed it to the MGM shelf until
he feels inclined to have another go
at it. Two pairs of writers during the
past month failed to get the story hot.
N. Y. Offices Close
New ..York. — Tomorrow being
Washington's Birthday, all film
company offices will be closed
tight. So get in your home office
phone calls today.
Press Directors Will
Sift Radio Views
Entire attitude of Hollywood pro-
ducers on the questions of picture
stars going on the air will probably
come to surface as result of meeting
of publicity directors at the Hays of-
fice yesterday.
The meeting was for purpose of de-
termining whether or not the "Baby
Stars" to be selected shortly by the
Wampas would be allowed to go on
the air. Wampas have two offers to
put them on the ether for one hour
and offer to give a large slice of the
proceeds to any charity producers se-
lect. Yesterday publicity directors de-
cided to make complete poll of pro-
ducers for their attitude, and also get
line on their reaction to star compe-
tition with movie houses by air ap-
pearances.
Kay Francis Action on
Court Docket Today
Kay Francis is scheduled to appear
in court this morning before Superior
Judge Joseph P. Sproul to ask for a
divorce from Kenneth MacKenna, her
actor-director husband.
Suit was filed recently in which she
alleged hubby criticized her clothes
and objected to the way she deco-
rated their new home. They were
married January 17, 1931. Separated
last December 1 8.
Pinchot Daughter East
After Good MGM Test
Rosamond Pinchot left for the East
after making a test at MGM, directed
by George Cukor, which is reported to
be very good.
MGM is interested in Miss Pinchot
for the feminine lead in "Soviet" with
Clark Gable and Wallace Beery. Frank
Capra will direct.
Zanuck Options Import
Winna Winfried, Danish actress
who was signed by Frank Joyce to a
managerial contract in England and
sent over here, has been signed by
Darryl Zanuck for a role in "The Fire-
brand" with Fredric March. Zanuck
has taken an option on her services.
Fort Tagged by Rogers
Garrett Fort has been signed by
Charles R. Rogers to do a rewrite job
on "In Conference," which will be
directed by Harry Joe Brown at Para-
mount. The Schulberg-Feldman and
Gurney office made the deal.
Fox Ticket for Parry
Paul Parry clicked so well with Fox
as the hotel clerk in "Moulin Rouge"
that the studio has placed him on a
contract. Henry Duffy also wants him
for a part in his stage play, "Men In
White."
LEADERS
AWARDS
New Pics BuckSnow
Drifts on Broadway
New York. — Columbia's picture "It
Happened One Night" leads the pa-
rade of new pictures that face Broad-
way's snow drifts this week. It opens
tomorrow at the Music Hall, with a
Silly Symphony, "The China Shop."
Is expected to click in big way if
snowbound citizens are freed.
"Dark Hazard" comes into the Ri-
alto today. The Wheeler and Wool-
sey opus "Hips Hips Hooray" starts
tomorrow at the Roxy. Friday "Death
Takes a Holiday" goes into the Para-
mount, and "Mystery of Mr. X" opens
at the Capitol. Monday "Shadows of
Sing Sing" opened at the Mayfair.
With storm on, no estimate of first
day was given.
Carbo Smacks All
Records in London
London — The Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer picture, "Queen Christina"
smashed every existing record at the
Empire for a single week's business
and set up a figure for not only that
house but every other theatre on this
side.
Both Garbo and the picture are a
sensation. People are acually fighting
to gam admission to the theatre.
Queues blocks long have been a com-
mon occasion all week long.
MacDonald To Make 2
At General Service
J. K. MacDonald, formerly studio
manager for Metropolitan studio, is
concluding a deal with J. Morris Rich,
general manager of General Service
studios, to produce two pictures en
that lot.
The financing of these pictures is
reported being arranged through down
town financiers obtained by the Gen-
eral Service studios.
Villa' Starts Again
Retakes on "Viva Villa" start to-
day, Wallace Beery flying back from
New York to go to work under Jack
Conway's direction.
Pres. to Swing Club
(Continued from Page 1 )
classifications and standards set by
present codes.
"There will be no fooling then,"
William Green, head of the American
Federation of Labor, declared today.
The President has his dander up. A
good proportion of his mail these days
consists of complaints from workers
that industries are finding all sorts of
loopholes in the codes. He has also
the problem of spreading work still
further to take up the slack as CWA
laborers are returned to industry in
coming months. And if a thirty hour
week is necessary. Congress will see
that the thirty hour week is a fact.
Proof that the President is not
afraid to impose codes, no matter what
the power of the industry affected, is
witnessed by his handling of the news-
paper code.
MGM Slaps Ban on
Broadcasts by Stars
MGM has slapped on the lid against
any of its contract players signing with
commercial sponsors for radio broad-
casts. All requests by agents are be-
ing given the inverted thumb, the
company closing its ears to all propo-
sitions at any terms.
Unlike other majors, the company
has no radio affiliations and is said to
regard ether broadcasts as competi-
tion, with the view that the bigger
the star on the program the greater
the competition. Policy excludes play-
ers on group picture deals, but term
contracts specifically give the com-
pany the right to decide on whether
or not a player may broadcast.
Stanwyck or Tobin
For 'Housewife'
Warners will decide this week be-
tween Barbara Stanwyck and Gene-
vieve Tobin for the top spot in the
Robert Lord-Lillie Hayward original
story "Housewife," which will go in-
to production in two weeks under the
supervision of Lord.
The screen play has been written
by Manny Seff and Lillie Hayward.
No director has been assigned yet.
Lachman Back to Fox
For Next Production
Harry Lachman returned to the Fox
lot yesterday to start preparation on
his next picture, which is an untitled
original by Lester Cole. Sol Wurtzel
will produce this picture at the West-
ern avenue plant.
Lachman will go over to Edward
Small and direct the Claudette Col-
bert starring picture after he makes
the one for Fox.
New Warner Lead Arrives
John Eldridge, New York stage
Icedmg man, who was signed by Jack
Warner to a term contract during the
production chief's last visit to New
York, wil' arrive here today by plane.
He last appeared on Broadway in the
Philip Barrie play, "Joy Season."
'Drummond' Starts Today
The Ronald Colman picture, "Bull-
dog Drummond Strikes Back," starts
shooting today under the direction of
Roy Del Ruth.
The cast includes Lorefra Toung,
C. Aubrey Smith, Warner Oland and
Katherine Burke.
Milland Handed Ticket
Raymond Milland, who had a small
part in the George Raft picture, "Bo-
lero," pleased Paramount executives
so well that he was placed on a long
term contract yesterday. Studio plans
to give him a build-up.
Mary Astor in Crash
Mary Astor luckily escaped injury
Monday night when her car skidded
and ran into a truck on her way home
from the studio. The front of the car
was smashed but Miss Astor was only
jarred.
Academy Hosts Today
Academy entertains the press to-
day noon at luncheon at Al Levy's.
Purpose is steamup on annual awards
and awards banquet. Lou Marin will
be master of ceremonies.
Page Four
THE
Feb. 21, 1934
It's a boy at the Donovan Pedelty's
. . . Don says he collaborated with
Evelyn on the production — from an
original idea by Donovan Pedelty! ! !
. . the Tim Whelans (Miriam Seegar)
threw a party to herald their return
from Egypt t'other day . . the Frank
Joyces, the Ben Nedells, the Harold M.
Youngs and the Jack Votions amongst
the movie mob present . . . Bob (As-
sociate Producer) Stevenson, Russell
Metcalfe and dance director Teddie
Royce contributed the Caumont
"angle" to the party but finally the
discussion got round to Hollywood and
Jack Votion took time to rave about
the way Warner Baxter makes chili
con carne . . . today's bright thought
and bedtime story: Once there was
a British screen star who ADMITTED
SHE HAD NOT COT A HOLLYWOOD
OFFER! !
'•
Maybe you don't think Doug Fair-
banks was sore about Merle Oberon
scramming to America prior to playing
in his pic? . . . This week's laurel
wreath goes to Van Dyke for the
swell and intelligent use of close-ups
In "Mala the Magnificent" (Eskimo-
Igloo or what have you) . . . jack
Buchanan (just opened in a new show
in town and preparing for his film
version of "Sons O' Guns") present at
the trade show of "Roman Scandals"
and how that audience yelled at the
chariot sequence; Benita Hume was
also present and looking a million and
one dollars.
'•
Savoy Grilling the other evenin'
were Charles Buster Laughton and the
Frank Joyces, Bill O'Bryen with Capt.
Richard Norton, who has blossomed
forth as an indie producer after being
on United Artists board for so long;
Cyril Gardner, Howard Welch, Frances
Day looking very orchidaceous and
Julius Hagen, the chief of the Twick-
enham Studios . . . quote from any
meal scene in any Hollywood picture
which has a kid in it "Come now
Junior, eat your Spinach!" — it's get-
ting so that people here have come
to the conclusion that all American
children do is eat spinach and blow
raspberries all day long!
Reason for Paul Kohner's recent
trip to this Scepter'd Isle was to make
preliminary contracts for the next
Luis Trenker Berlin production; he
wanted a blonde for the British ver-
sion . . . said a well known casting
director here to a firmly established
old character lady "No, you're not
quite how I visualize the part, I want
a Miss (Soandso) but fifteen years
older" "What — " gasped the old lady,
"ALIVE???"
•
Lloyd Knechtel delivering technical
lectures to the British Kinematographic
Society in his spare time, if he has any
. . . quote from B.I. P. blurb: "Marcel
Varnell, the French-born Hollywood
director, starts his first British Inter-
national production . . . " — well, okay
B.I. P., but it sounds suspiciously like
Fox to me . . . seeing an advert for the
Universal pic, "The Crosby Case,"
prompted that mean old exhib-
bie to say, "Huh, well, they finally
sued Bing for starting that crooning
racket, eh?" . . . tag: they are calling
her Dorothy Hi -de- Hyson now . . .
His Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales nonchalantly strolled into the
Capitol to see "Master and Man" and
hardly a soul realized it, the other
evening, yes, Columbia, Jack Holt and
Fay Wray, he stayed to the end.
•
Max Milder, the genial Warner boss
here, gets more publicity — and all on
account of his partialness to cigars. . .
The creme de la creme of the pic girls
and boys eat at the Ivy; which ac-
counts for the Alfred Hitchcocks, Mi-
chael Powell, Bill Lipscombe, G. A.
'ERA' Atkinson, Ben Nedell and Rus-
sell Metcalfe being present t'other
day; or does it? . . . Cecil Landeau is
still true to the Cafe Royal. . . Dodo
Watts, one time biggest bet here on
the screen, is staging a comeback via
the air. . . . Bill Lipscomb, director-
writer, tells us he will visit America
in June. . . . We have it on the inside
that British and Dominions want to
sign John Tilley, the Radio comic here,
because they also know that he has
an American offer.
•
The Phil Tannuras can hardly wait
to grab a load of that California sun-
shine . . . hm! . . . Leslie Howard's
brother actually got a spot of public-
ity the other day; cashing in on his
likeness to Leslie. . . Heather Thatcher
is going legit in the noo Noel Coward
piece. . . . Arthur Kelly would not let
the press in to see "Catherine" in
spite of the fact that Alex Korda
wanted them, and, in fact, invited
some of them personally, and in con-
sequence, they are more than mad at
U. A. . . . Pam Ostrer is a hit we hear
in "Jew Suss," the Mendes pic with
Conrad Veidt.
Damita Fools 'Em
London. — Hollywood's film colony
will no doubt be surprised to learn
that Lili Damita, effervescent French
star, has been fooling them all the
time. It seems that she has been
married and divorced, all within one
year. Won't tell the name of the ex-
hubby. In Hollywood she told every-
one she was too busy to think of mar-
riage.
Caumont- Begins Horrors
Paris. — Caumont has started a ser-
ies of horror pictures. The first is
"L'Atroce Menacee" (The Terrible
Menace) . Screen play is by Marcel
Allain. Christian Jaque is directing.
The second of the series will be "Une
Villaine Histoire."
Swedes Start First 34 Pic
Stockholm. — Svensk Film Industries
is the first Swedish company to get
under way with a picture in 1934.
Producers are making a feature as yet
untitled with Adolph Jahr in the lead.
*Blackshirt' Scripters
London. — Anthony Armstrong and
John Paddy Carstairs have been as-
signed to do the screen play for
"Blackshirt" for A and B Films.
Nazi Films Under
Ban in Norway
Oslo. — Anti-Nazi spirit is said to be
responsible for sudden clean-out of
German films in this city. Amounts
almost to a boycott on the part of
censors.
A new supervisor of the city's movie
houses, named Aamot, has been ap-
pointed. He is a co-worker of the
Radical daily, "Arbeiderbladet," and
with his appointment German pictures
started getting the thumbs-down sign
here. He is noted for his anti-Nazi
feelings, and local press has joined
him in campaign directed against the
German pictures.
New Belgian Firm
Gets Under W;*^'
Brussels. — Renewed activity in mo-
tion picture production has hit this
city with the forming of a new pro-
ducing company, the "S.E.P."
Present plans call for activities of
this concern to be divided between
here and Paris, with considerable
work done here. Company will spec-
ialize on mystery films. First one will
be "Mannequin Assasine," from the
novel of Stanislas Andre Steeman.
Henri Storck will direct, with Charles
Vanell as probable lead.
Mae Not So Hot
In Icy Stockholm
Stockholm. — The Swedes can't get
the slant of America and England on
Mae West in "She Done Him Wrong."
Censorship board had to view picture
twice before making up its mind.
Now, while picture is doing well, crit-
ics and patrons don't care so much
either for the subject matter of the
film, or for the wiggles of Mae.
Films Crash Lon. Times
London. — A. Beverly Baxter, direc-
tor of public relations for British Cau-
mont, is author of an extended arti-
cle in the Times, on the future of
British films. The austere Times has
until recently looked on the films with
something of a stoney glare.
Assoc. Prod, for Caumont
London. — Caumont, following the
Hollywood idea, have inaugurated a
policy of having associate producers at
their studios. Robert Stevenson, Basil
Mason and Tod Rich are newly ap-
pointed producers.
Nissen Delays Return
London. — Greta Nissen has post-
poned her return to Hollywood. She
will star in musical revue "Why Not
Tonight." When that closes she will
start for Hollywood, probably in the
spring.
Middle Men Out in Czech New London Companies
Prague. — The government has
spread consternation among film dis-
tributors here by issuing an order
commanding all film importers to buy
foreign films only from producing
companies. No middle men will be
allowed.
New Italian Company
Rome. — A new producing company
called the Soc. Am. Cinematografia
Una-Film, has been started under di-
rection of Dr. Ettore Margadonna.
First picture will be "The Woman For
Everybody," from Salvator Gotta's
novel.
New Czecho License Rule
Prague. — Tell American importers
that licenses secured from the Czecho-
Slovakian government for film imports
are by a new ruling non-transferable
for any reason at all. The regulation
does away with some shopping in per-
mits.
Honor for S. W. Smith
London. — S. W. Smith, managing
director of British Lion Films Corpora-
tion, has been appointed a member of
the Advisory Committee on the Cine-
matograph Film Act to the Board of
Trade.
Hitchcock on 'Roadhouse*
London. — "Roadhouse," with Vio-
let Lorraine and Gordon Harket in the
leads, will be the next production by
Alfred Hitchcock for British Caumont.
Guy Bolton is on the script with
Hitchcock.
Banks Makes Another
London. — Monty Banks will direct
"Father and Son" for Warner-First
National at the Teddington studios,
according to announcement from their
local offices.
London. — Two new film companies
have recently been organized here.
They are Kenneth McLaglen Produc-
tions, Ltd., and First .Feature Films,
Ltd. Both are formed as production
companies.
Italian Censors Tough
Rome. — Italian film makers sub-
mitted 41 films during 1933 for cen-
sorship and all were approved in toto;
but of 419 foreign films submitted
62 were banned and 1 33 had to stand
cutting.
Wait on Pommer Illness
Berlin. — Fox office here insists that
Fox-Europa production will continue
as soon as Erich Pommer recovers
from his illness. Rumors have been
rife that production had ceased defi-
nitely.
Hummel on Long Voyage
Sydney. — Joe Hummel, foreign'
manager for Warner Brothers, left >
here last week bound for South Amer-
ica on the first lap of a round the
world trip for his company.
Negri Company Collapses
Paris. — Right in the middle of pro-
duction on "Via Films," the company i
employing Pola Negri in her film
comeback had to go "boom" into the
bankruptcy courts.
900 Houses in Austria
Vienna. — Latest statistics show
Austria has 902 picture theatres, of
which 77 per cent are wired. Over
six hundred of the theatres are under
three hundred seats.
Schmeling's Wife Signed
Prague — Anny Ondra, wife of Max
Schmeling, has been engaged by Karl
Lamac to star in two pictures to be
made in Czecho-Slovakia.
Feb. 21. 1934
TH
l^iP>©lRTl(^.
Page Five
TllP^mmWaSm Zukor on stand
ASTING
Evelyn Berisford signed by Radio for
"Of Human Bondage."
Cuy Asher added to "Highway Pa-
trol," Columbia.
Kenneth Thomson set by Freddie
Fralick in "The World Is Ours," Fox.
Noel Francis added to "Strictly Dy-
namite," Radio.
Charles Sellon signed by Charles R.
Rogers-Paramount for "In Confer-
ence." Deal by Freddie Fralick.
B. P. Schulberg signed Lucien Lit-
Hefield for a featured role in "TTiirty
Day Princess."
Johnny Mack Brown and Earle Fox
by Al Alt for his next Screencraft pic-
ture, "St. Louis Woman." Hallam
Cooley handled the deals.
Lumsden Hare to Fox for featured
role in "The World Moves On."
Charles Irwin added to the cast of
"The Key" at Warners. The Bernard,
Meiklejohn and McCall agency made
the deal.
Henry Stephenson signed by War-
ners for a featured role in the William
Powell picture, "The Key."
William Demarest, Harry Woods,
Lee Moran, John Sheehan, Tom Du-
gan and Ronnie Crosby for "Sawdust"
at Warners.
Lilian Bond by Columbia for the
next Tim McCoy "Highway Patrol."
Alec B. Francis by Universal for
"I'll Tell The World." The Bernard,
Meiklejohn and McCall agency made
the deal.
Jameson Thomas, Tom Ricketts,
Aggie Herring, )ohnny Harron, George
Irwin added to the cast of Chester-
field's "Stolen Sweets" yesterday.
Picture is in production at Universal,
with Richard Thorpe directing.
Walter Herzbrun agency yesterday
set Ralph Remley in Warners "The
Key," and Jacqueline Wells in Mono-
gram's "Loudspeaker."
Robert Creig added to "Stingaree,"
Radio. Deal set by Freddie Fralick.
Reginald Sheffield added to "Of
Human Bondage," Radio.
Jane Barnes, Blanche Vischer, Su-
sanne Kaaren and Winnie Shaw for
"Cold Rush of 1934," Wurtzel-Fox.
Bischoff on Tracf-or Pics
Sam Bischoff has been handed the
William Hazlitt Upson series of stor-
ies, "Earthworm Tractor," to produce
for Warners as a Joe E. Brown star-
ring comedy. Paul Gerard Smith is on
the screen play and will be joined by
Erwin Celsey.
Reid Handles Sea Girl'
Radio has handed "The Sea Girl,"
the whaling story which was being
supervised by Shirley Burden prior to
his leaving the organization, to Cliff
Reid for his supervision. Otto Brower
was slated to direct the picture and
will likely get the assignment again.
Don Cook Renewed
Three weeks before it was due, Co-
lumbia clipped Donald Cook's option.
Henry Duffy is talking to him on a
deal to take a featured role in his
stage play, "Men in White." This is
aside from the Robert Young negotia-
tions.
Tells Para. History
New York — Adolph Zukor, who
must be getting used to being on the
stand now with the developments of
the past two years, made a good wit-
ness yesterday at the Rembusch anti-
trust suit as he traced the history of
Paramount and its theatre acquisitions.
Will Hays appears today.
Depositions from Indianapolis ex-
change managers, the territory in
which the Rembusch theatres operate,
were introduced covering trade prac-
tices in the district.
Radio Studio Crowded
With seven units crowding every
inch of available space at the Radio
studio, company has shipped the
"Strictly Dynamite" company to the
RKO-Pathe plant.
OPEN FORUM
February 16, 1934.
Editor The Hollywood Reporter.
Dear Sir:
The article published in your issue
of February 1 4 under the heading
"Extras May Bury Axe and Combine
All Forces" conveys an erroneous con-
cept of our relationship to the other
film players' organizations. We are
now and have been working in har-
mony with the other groups, except
on occasions like this instance when
ambitious members combine with out-
side agents to speak for this associa-
tion without having the authority to
do so.
No, we have no axe to bury. And
as to combining forces with the other
associations, we have yet to see some
comprehensive plan submitted upon
which we might take action. Any-
how, we are already cooperating with
the other groups to the fullest extent
possible under the circumstances, as
our interests interlock with theirs, but
to "submerge our identities," as was
suggested in a local paper a few days
ago, would be out of the question as
far as the Riding Actors Association
is concerned.
We have now slightly over 400
members — many of whom are well-
known actors and some are playing
leads in the films. Most of us are ex-
perienced bit-and-part players — can
make faces in front of the cameras as
well as the actors and extras of the
other groups. Practically all of our
members are also members of the oth-
er associations. However, although
many of our interests in this cam-
paign under the NRA plan are identi-
cal with ail actors and extras of the
industry, the biggest part of work in
the pictures has nothing to do with
those outside of our own group.
Written in our code are pages of de-
tails of our work of a highly technical
and hazardous nature — much of which
the average actor, and some directors
and producers, never even heard of.
It would be little short of a tragedy,
then, if we should become less vigi-
lant and allow the direction and man-
agement of our program to go out of
our hands.
Yours very truly,
FRED D. BURNS, President.
ORIE O. ROBERTSON,
Secretary -Treasurer,
GARRETT
FORT
ADAPTED
«
THE LOST
PATROL"
IN PREPARATION:
"The Trumpet Blows"
(Paramount)
'In Conference"
(Charles R. Rogers)
Management
Schulberg-Feldman-
Gurney
Page Six
Feb. 21. 1934
Personnel of NRA Code Boards
Here Are Men Who Will
Handle Exhibs, Distribs
Following is the official list of members of Zoning and
Grievance Boards to handle relations of exhibitors and distribu-
tors in the twenty-one exchange territories for which selections
have been made. Ten more cities remain to be covered: Albany,
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, San
Francisco, and Washington, D. C.
BUFFALO
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Sidney
Sampson, Fox; Representative Distrib-
utor Unaffiliated, Jack L. Berkowitz,
Monogram; Exhibitor Affiliated, Wil-
liam H. Cadoret, Rochester; Exhibitor
Unaffiliated, j. H. Michaels, Buffalo.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Ted O'Shea, Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer; Representative Distributor Un-
affiliated, Dave Miller, Universal; First
Run Exhibitor Affiliated, Vincent J.
McFaul, Shea-Paramount; First Run
Exhibitor Unaffiliated, Charles Hay-
man, Buffalo; Subsequent Run Exhib-
itors Unaffiliated, Sol Raives, Roches-
ter; Erwin Price, East Aurora.
CHARLOTTE
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Frank
Bryan, Warner; Representative Dis-
tributor Unaffiliated, H. H. Everett,
Monogram; Exhibitor Affiliated, H. F.
Kincey, Paramount; Exhibitor Unaffili-
ated, Charles W. Picquet, Pinehurst;
Impartial Member, Paul Rousseau,
Secretary Merchants' Association.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Ira Furman, Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer; Representative Distributor Un-
affiliated, R. J. Ingram, Columbia;
First Run Exhibitor Affiliated, Mont-
gomery Hill, Greensboro; First Run
Exhibitor Unaffiliated, Albert Sotille,
Charleston, S. C. ; Subsequent Run Ex-
hibitors Unaffiliated, J. M. Cregg,
Charlotte, S. C; W. H. Hendricks,
Reedville, N. C. ; Impartial Member,
C. O. Kuester, Secretary Charlotte
Chamber of Commerce.
CINCINNATI
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, George
Smith, Paramount; Representative Dis-
tributor Affiliated, Paul Krieger, Uni-
versal; Exhibitor Affiliated, W. A.
Finney, Loew's, Inc.; Exhibitor Unaf-
filiated, John Elliott, Lexington, Ky.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Maurice White, Warner; Repre-
sentative Distributor Unaffiliated, Al-
lan Moritz, Columbia; First Run
Exhibitor Affiliated, Ike Libson, RKO;
First Run Exhibitor Unaffiliated, J.
Real Neth, Columbus; Subsequent Run
Exhibitors Unaffiliated, Frank W. Huss
Jr., Cincinnati; W. A. Keyes, Dayton,
Ohio.
DALLAS
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, L. R.
Bickell, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Rep-
resentative Distributor Unaffiliated,
Claude Ezeil, Monogram; Exhibitor
Affiliated, Kart Hobirfzelle, Infe'rstate-
Paramount; Exhibitor Unaffiliated, Roy
L. Walker, Lampasas, Texas.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili- '
ated, C. E. Hilgers, Fox; Representa-
tive Distributor Unaffiliated, E. S.
Olsmith, Universal; First Run Exhibitor
Affiliated, R. J. O'Donnell, Interstate-
Paramount; First Run Exhibitor Unaf-
filiated, Harold Robb, Dallas; Subse-
quent Run Exhibitors Unaffiliated,
Paul Scott, Dallas; L. C. Tidball, Fort
Worth.
DENVER
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Earl
Bell, Warner; Representative Distribu-
tor Unaffiliated, Jack Langan, Univer-
sal; Exhibitor Affiliated, L. J. Finske,
Paramount; Exhibitor Unaffiliated,
Burns Ellison, Denver.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Joe F. Ashby, RKO; Representa-
tive Distributor Unaffiliated, Wayne
Ball, Columbia; First Run Exhibitor
Affiliated, Rick Ricketson, Fox Rocky
Mountain; First Run Exhibitor Unaffil-
iated, H. E. Huffman, Denver, General
Theatres, Inc.; Subsequent Run Exhib-
itors Unaffiliated, Harry A. Goodridge,
Denver; Ed J. Schulte, Casper, Wyo.
DES MOI-NES
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, E. Jl
Tilton, Warner; Representative Disr
tributor Unaffiliated, Louis Patz, Uni-
versal; Exhibitor Affiliated, H. J. Cav-
anaugh, RKO Theatres; Exhibitor Un-
affiliated, Clif L. Niles, Ahamosa*
Iowa.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, B. J. McCarthy, RKO; Represen-
tative Distributor Unaffiliated, Joseph
Levy, Columbia; First Run Exhibitor
Affiliated, A. H. Blank, Tri-State-
Paramount; First Run Exhibitor Unaf-
filiated, Ed Ellsworth, Iowa Falls; Sub-
sequent Run Exhibitors Unaffiliated,
Julius Geertz, Davenport; Abe Frankel,
Des Moines.
DETROIT
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Fred
North, Warner; Representative Dis-
tributor Unaffiliated, Sam Seplowin,
Monogram; Exhibitor Affiliated, Ed C.
Beatty, Butterfield; Exhibitor Unaffili-
ated, Ed E. Kirshner, Detroit; Impar-
tial Member, Kenneth C. Weber, At-
torney.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Nat Levy, RKO; Representative
Distributor Unaffiliated, Carl H. Shalit,
Columbia; First Run Exhibitor Affili-
ated, George W. Trendle, Paramount;
First Run Exhibitor Unaffiliated, James
Minter, Owasso, Mich.; Subsequent
Run Exhibitors Unaffiliated, James C.
Ritter, Detroit; Allan Johnson, Grand
Rapids, Mich.; Impartial Member, H.
A. Harrington, Secretary Arbitration
Committee Detroit Board of Com-
merce.
INDIANAPOLIS
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, J. Har-
old Stevens, Paramount; Representa-
tive Distributor Unaffiliated, Floyd
Brown, Universal; Exhibitor Unaffili-
ated, I. M. Halperin; Exhibitor Unaf-
filiated, Charles Olson.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, George Landis, Fox; Representa-
tive Distributor Unaffiliated, Marty
Solomon, Columbia; First Run Exhibi-
tor Affiliated, Jack Flex, Loew's; First
Run Exhibitor Unaffiliated, Kenneth
Collins; Subsequent Run Exhibitors
Unaffiliated, M. Marcus, Fort Wayne;
A. C. Zaring, Indianapolis.
KANSAS CITY
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Ward
Scott, Fox; Representative Distributor
Unaffiliated, Bennie Benjamin, Uni-
versal; Exhibitor Affiliated, Lawrence
Lehman, RKO; Exhibitor Unaffiliated,
Jay Means, Kansas.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Ralph Libeau, Paramount; Rep-
resentative Distributor Unaffiliated,
Harry Taylor, Columbia; First Run Ex-
hibitor Affiliated, Elmer Rhoden, Fox
Midwest; First Run Exhibitor Unaffili-
ated, Peck Baker, Kansas City, Kans. ;
Subsequent Run Exhibitors Unaffili-
ated, Fred Meyn, Kansas City; E. E.
Webber, Kansas City.
LOS ANGELES
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Jake
Milstein, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Rep-
resentative Distributor Unaffiliated,
Howard Stubbins, Monogram; Exhibi-
tor Affiliated, Lou Halper, Warners;
Exhibitor Unaffiliated, Ben Berinstein,
Pasadena.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Carroll Peacock, Paramount;
Representative Distributor Unaffiliated,
Wm. C. Ritter, Columbia; First Run
Exhibitor Affiliated, Jack Sullivan, Fox
West Coast; First Run Exhibitor Un-
affiliated, Russell Rogers, Los Angeles;
Subsequent Run Exhibitors Unaffiliat-
ed, Harry Hicks; George Hanes, Los
Angeles.
MEMPHIS
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, T. W.
Young, Fox; Representative Distribu-
tor Unaffiliated, James Rogers, Colum-
bia; Exhibitor Affiliated, M. A. Light-
man, Paramount; Exhibitor Unaffili-
ated, Wm. Ruffin, Covington, Tenn.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Frank Wilingham, Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer; Representative Distributor
Unaffiliated, W. E. Sipe, Universal;
First Run Exhibitor Affiliated, Howard
Waugh, Warners; First Run Exhibitor
Unaffiliated, Sidney Nutt, Hot Springs;
Subsequent Run Exhibitors Unaffiliat-
ed, T. W. Sharp, Little Rock; A. J.
Suzore, Memphis.
MINNEAPOLIS
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Moe
Levy Fox; Representative Distributor
Unaffiliated, Max Stahl, United Art-
ists. Exhibitor Affiliated, Emil Frank.
RKO; Exhibitor Unaffiliated. Joseph
Friedman, St. Paul.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Leo Blank, Warners; Representa-
tive Distributor Unaffiliated, B C
Marcus, Columbia; First Run Exhibitor
Affiliated, John J. Friedl, Paramount-
First Run Exhibitor Unaffiliated, Jack
Haywood, No. Richmond, Wise; Sub-
sequent Run Exhibitors Unaffiliated.
O. A. Lee, Minneapolis; Fred V. Hol-
zapfel, Minneapolis.
NEW HAVEN
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Nathan
Furst, Warners; Representative Dis-
tributor Unaffiliated, E. Rogovin, Co-
lumbia; Exhibitor Affiliated. Geo.'Cru-
zen, Paramount; Exhibitor Unaffili-
ated, J. B. Fishman. New Haven.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, A. M. Kane, Paramount; Repre-
sentative Distributor Unaffiliated,
Morris Joseph, Universal; First Run Ex-
hibitor Affiliated, I. J. Hoffman, War-
ners; First Run Exhibitor Unaffiliated.
Arthur Lockwood, Middletown; Sub-
sequent Run Exhibitors Unaffiliated,
Adolph Johnson, N. H.; Martin Kelle-
her, Hartford.
NEW ORLEANS
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Guy
Brown, RKO; Representative Distribu-
tor Unaffiliated, Houston Duvall, Co-
lumbia; Exhibitor Affiliated, Norman
Carter, Saenger; Exhibitor Unaffiliated,
Bert Kiern, New Orleans; Impartial
Member, Herbert J. Schwartz, Presi-
dent, Maison Blanche.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Luke S. Connor, Warners; Rep-
resentative Distributor Unaffiliated,
Paul Tessier, Universal; First Run Ex-
hibitor Affiliated, Rodney Toups,
Loew's; First Run Exhibitor Unaffili-
ated, Harry McLeod, New Orleans;
Subsequent Run Exhibitors Unaffiliat-
ed, Joseph Alsina, New Orleans; Jos-
eph Barcelona, Baton Rouge; Impartial
Member, W. H. Alexander, President;
L. Fiebleman Co.
OKLAHOMA CITY
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Otto
Rode, Warner; Representative Distrib-
utor Unaffiliated, Sol Davis, Mono-
gram; Exhibitor Affiliated, R. M.
Clark, Oklahoma City; Exhibitor Un-
affiliated, Fred Pickrel, Ponca City;
Impartial Member, Judge Albert C.
Hunt, former Chief Justice Oklahoma
Supreme Court.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, F. A. Higdon, Fox; Representa-
tive Distributor Unaffiliated, L. F.
Stocker, Columbia; First Run Exhibitor
Affiliated, Pat McGee, Paramount;
First Run Exhibitor Unaffiliated, Ralph
Talbot, Tulsa; Subsequent Run Exhibi-
tors Unaffiliated, M. Lowenstein, Ok-
lahoma City; W. P. Morgan, Tulsa;
Impartial Member, F. C. Morey, Vice
Page Seven
President Tradesman National Bank,
Oklahoma City.
OMAHA
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, A.
Mendenhall, Paramount; Representa-
tive Distributor Unaffiliated, Jerry
Spandeau, Universal; Exhibitor Affili-
ated, Will Singer, RKO; Exhibitor Un-
affiliated, Walter Creal, Omaha.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, A. M. Avery, RKO; Representa-
tive Distributor Unaffiliated, D. V.
McLucas, United Artists; First Run Ex-
hibitor Affiliated, Ralph Branton, Tri-
State-Paramount; First Run Exhibitor
Unaffiliated, H. F. Kennedy, Broken
Bow, Neb.; Subsequent Run Exhibitors
Unaffiliated, C. E. Williams, Omaha;
Sam Epstein, Omaha.
PITTSBURGH
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Ben
Kalminson, Warner; Representative
Distributor Unaffiliated, B. M. Stearn,
United Artists; Exhibitor Affiliated,
M. j. Cullon, Loew's; Exhibitor Un-
affiliated, Dr. C. E. Herman, Carnegie,
Pa.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, J. J. Maloney, Metro-Coldwyn-
Mayer; Representative Distributor Un-
affiliated, James Alexander, Mono-
gram; First Run Exhibitor Affiliated,
Harry M. Kalmine, Warner; First Run
Exhibitor Unaffiliated, Frank Harris,
Pittsburgh; Subsequent Run Exhibitors
Unaffiliated, Alex S. Moore, Pitts-
burgh; Joseph Weiss, McKeesport, Pa.
PORTLAND. OREGON
Grievance Board : Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, C. F.
Powers, Fox; Representative Distribu-
tor Unaffiliated, Howard Mapes, Star
Film; Exhibitor Affiliated, J. J. Parker,
United Artists; Exhibitor Unaffiliated,
Guy Matthews, The Dalles, Oregon.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Louis Amacher, Metro-Coldwyn-
Mayer; Representative Distributor Un-
affiliated, James C. Beals, Columbia;
First Run Exhibitor Affiliated, Al Fin-
kelstein. Evergreen Theatres; First Run
Exhibitor Unaffiliated, Andrew Sasso,
Portland, Ore.; Subsequent Run Ex-
hibitors Unaffiliated, George Jackson,
Portland, Ore.; William Cutts, Port-
land, Ore.
ST. LOUIS
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, B. B.
Reingold, Fox; Representative Distrib-
utor Unaffiliated, Barney Rosenthal,
Premiere Pictures; Exhibitor Affiliated,
Leto Hill, St. Louis Amusement Co.,
Warner; Exhibitor Unaffiliated, Louis
Ansell, St. Louis.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Maurice Schweitzer, Paramount;
Representative Distributor Unaffiliat-
ed, Clarence D. Hill, Columbia; First
Run Exhibitor Affiliated, Harold W.
Evans, Loew's; First Run Exhibitor Un-
affiliated, Clarence Turley, St. Louis;
Subsequent Run Exhibitors Unaffili-
ated, Fred Wehrenberg, St. Louis; C.
H. Kaiman, St. Louis.
SALT LAKE CITY
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, T. J.
Walsh, RKO; Representative Distribu-
tor Unaffiliated, Irving Schlank, Unit-
ed Artists; Exhibitor Affiliated, Harry
David, Louis Marcus-Paramount; Ex-
hibitor Unaffiliated, C. E. Huish, Eu-
reka, Utah.
TO GUIDE
2nds and Assts. Due
To Cain More Voice
First step in the actual reorganiza-
tion of Local 659, lATSE, the camera-
men's union, will consist of the selec-
tion of a special "steering commit-
tee," composed of 100 members. This
committee will be made up of first
cameramen, seconds, assistants, still
men and newsreel men. Selection has
already started, but names will not
be announced until after the full
committee is named.
Decision to rebuild the union was
made at the recent general meeting
of the organization. A special com-
mittee has been at work ever since on
plans. Finally decided on the steer-
ing committee idea which has been
working efficiently for the Academy.
First action of the steering commit-
tee will be the revamping of the by-
laws so that greater representation for
all union members will be possible.
The Executive Board will be changed
from present all first cameramen
makeup to a committee of 1 I first
cameramen, three seconds, three as-
sistants, three still men and one news-
reel man.
Next step will be to change by-
laws so that every member of the
union will vote secretly in the future
on whether or not they will go on
strike, if such an occasion comes up.
There has been a lot of mumbling in
the rank and file of the organization
ever since the recent ill-fated strike.
Those on the steering committee say
no strike will ever be called in future
unless it is considered by every mem-
ber voting without ballyhoo.
Other plans include the working
out of ways and means of bringing
about a closer cooperation between
the union and producers.
"The greatest spirit of harmony
prevailed at our first meeting," said
one of the men who attended. "Every-^
one is of one accord in our effort to
work for the interest of all camera-
men."
COMMITTEE OF 100
NEW riVION SET-UP
judge Lindsey Won't
Wait on Labor Board
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Charles L. Walker, Fox; Repre-
sentative Distributor Unaffiliated, Jack
Rue, Universal; First Run Exhibitor
Affiliated, Lou Marcus, Paramount;
First Run Exhibitor Unaffiliated, B. F.
Thatcher, Logan; Subsequent Run Ex-
hibitors Unaffiliated, Joseph Lawrence,
Salt Lake; John Gillette, Toole, Utah,
SEATTLE
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Neal
East, Paramount; Representative Dis-
tributor Unaffiliated, L. N. Walton,
Columbia; Exhibitor Affiliated. Al Ro-
senberg, Evergreen Circuit; Exhibitor
Unaffiliated, John Hamrick, Seattle.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Ed Lamb, RKO; Representative
Distributor Unaffiliated, L. J. McCin-
ley. Universal; First Run Exhibitor Af-
filiated, Frank Newman, Fox West
Coast-Evergreen; First Run Exhibitor
Unaffiliated, J. C. Von Herberg, Seat-
tle; Subsequent Run Exhibitors Unaf-
filiated, George Endert, Seattle; John
Danz, Seattle.
'Jimmy the Cent'
The James Cagney picture pre-
viewed by Hollywood Reporter
Monday under the title of "Blondes
and Bonds" will be released as
"Jimmy the Gent." Picture was
in work as "The Heir Chaser"'
Surround Robson With
Youngsters in Next
May .Robson is set for a starring
role^*"Mild Oats" and William K.
bkJward is up for the direction of the
'picture.
Studio has decided to push virtu-
ally every contract youngster on the
lot into leading roles and has checked
with Radio on a loan on Tom Brown.
Jean Parker, Mary Carlisle and Henry
Wadsworth are definitely set. John
Considine has been handed the super-
visory reins. MGM has assigned Edgar
Allan Woolf to work with Florence
Ryerson on the script. It is an original
by Miss Ryerson and Colin Clements.
Cavanaugh to Fox
Fox has borrowed Hobart Cavanaugh
from Warners on a one picture deal
for a featured role in the story based
on the life of the late Arnold Roth-
stein titled "Now I'll Tell," in which
Spencer Tracy is starred. The nego-
tiations were made by the William
Morris office.
'Happy Daze' Scouted
Scouts are looking at the play
"Happy Daze," which Harry Behm
wrote, and which is now running in
Phoenix, Arizona, and considering it
for picture material. It is running at
the Little Theatre there until next
Sunday.
Extend Celsey Deal
^„„^-&-win Gelsey's deal with Warners
has been extended to include another
picture. He goes in to collaborate
with Paul Gerard Smith on the screen
play of "Earthworm Tractor," which
Sam Bischoff is producing.
Boasberg Starts Fifth
Al Boasberg directs the fifth of the
series of six headliner comedies for
Radio which goes into actual shooting
today after a day of rehearsals. Mar-
jorie Gateson and Ed Lowry have the
leads. Lou Brock produces.
Indie Distrib. Here
Leo Schwartz, chief of Master Art,
hits Hollywood today for a several
weeks' stay, during which he will seek
to match up the details on a group of
independent production deals for his
company's exchanges.
CTeny Buying Story
Universal did nqtpufchase "Strange
Roads," an oiTgTnal by Laird Doyle, as
erroneously reported yesterday. Studio
heads deny that they have ever seen
the story.
Rainger-Robin Assigned
Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin have
been signed by Paramount to do the
songs in "Kiss and Make Up." Gary
Grant will have the starring role.
Following a conference yesterday
with one of the members of the studio
labor committee, Judge Ben Lindsey,
new labor compliance officer for
Southern California, announced that he
is going ahead on all complaints filed
with him, whether they have been
filed with the labor committee or not.
More than a score of complaints
have been filed with the labor com-
mittee, which refuses to act on them,
saying they are not properly appointed.
Duplicates of most of these have been
filed with Judge Lindsey.
"I am going to handle all these
cases," said the Judge yesterday, "re-
gardless of where else thev may be
filed. I shall do my part, and if any-
one kicks that is something that will
have to be met later. I'm going to
do my work."
Eileen Pringle on Stage
In Pasadena Play
Eileen Pringle will be starred in the
Charles Grayson-Ramon Romero play
"Stolen Summers," which will go in-
to production at the Pasadena Com-
munity Playhouse the first week in
March.
Gilmore Brown will direct, as Sid-
ney Salkow, who was slated to do the
job, went to New York to do a play
there.
'I Hate Women' Starts
With Aubrey Scotto directing Wal-
lace Ford and June Clyde in the leads,
Ken Goldsmith puts "I Hate Women"
into work today at the Talisman stu-
dios. Eleanore Hunt and Alexander
Carr have been added to the previ-
ously announced cast.
Crews Up for 'Little Man'
Universal is negotiating for Laura
Hope Crews to return to Hollywood
for a featured role in the Margaret
Sullavan picture, "Little Man, What
Now?" which will be directed by
Frank Borzage.
Pryor on Capitan Stage
Henry Duffy has closed a deal with
Roger Pryor for the lead in "Men in
White." Miriam Jordan is in the fern
spot. Both deals were negotiated by
the William Morris office.
Dance Team for Crove
Ambassador's Cocoanut Grove has
engaged the dance team of Veloz and
Yolanda for run starting March 19.
Music Corporation of America set the
booking.
Wineberg With Col.
Harry Wineberg has joined the lo-
cal Columbia exchange as city sales-
man. Wineberg held a similar spot
with Universal for seven years.
Test Dancer for 'McKee'
MGM yesterday tested Norva of the
Maurice and Norva dance team for a
spot in "Sadie McKee."
THIS KIDDIE
WANTS A PAL!
Who could resist him? YOU won't! Be a PAL — and make a night of fun pay
for food and shelter for him and many other poor youngsters —
BUY A TICKET
AND COME TO
SUNDAY, MARCH 4th
for
A NIGHT IN MONTE CARLO"
Music, Dancing, Food, Drink — and ALL the Money Goes to Keep
ELNIDO CAMP
OPEN FOR THE SUMMER
Tickets $5.00 Which Includes Supper and Breakfast
I
5? MP.SAVUF.L MAI^X,
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
Vol. XIX. No. 37. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, February 23, 1934
ROTHSCHILD' A WINNER
A^eiv Twentieth Century Picture
Certain To Draw Tremendous
Patronage Wherever Shown
•"WHAT this production business
needs more than anything, in its ef-
fort to make better pictures, is some
SHOWMANSHIP on the part of its
producers." That from a very impor-
tant producer and one of the very few
in production, who has any idea of
showmanship.
And it's true, damned true.
Because of the necessity of produc-
ing as cheaply as possible, because of
the demand to keep all pictures with-
in a given limitation in sets and tech-
nical overhead, our producers are tak-
ing little subjects and giving them
LITTLE PRODUCTIONS. Because of
that lack of SHOWMANSHIP, they
have no inspiration for the building
of the LITTLE SUBJECT into a big
picture.
And by that is not meant "deMille
settings" and production expenses that
would sink a company should the pic-
tures eventually flop; but what is
meant is that almost indescribable
touch, the SHOWMANSHIP that
makes the "little subjects" look ex-
tremely big when shown in a theatre.
'•
The present condition is due to the
fact that most of our production heads
seem to content themselves with
MEDIOCRITY. They are of the opin-
ion that out of a whole program of
pictures, a few "clickers" will devel-
op, and with those few turning in
healthy profits, what's the use of tak-
ing chances, working a little harder,
going to the effort of inspiring others
around them to make BETTER PIC-
TURES.
There are more SOUR BRAINS
making pictures in Hollywood today
than ever in its history. There are
more men content with just holding
their jobs than we have ever had be-
fore. There is too little ambition
among our producers and there is
practically NO ENTHUSIASM and
pride in the work they are doing.
It's a bad situation. What to do
about it?
There must be some penalty for
bad pictures, there must be some RE-
WARD for successful efforts. Our
studio heads MUST BE AROUSED to
inspire the producers under them, to
put the fire of showmanship into their
veins, to shout for better pictures, to
DEMAND better pictures.
Showmanship can not be taught but
it can be inspired if our big wigs
really go after it.
What do you think?
Mexico Gives O.K.
To 'Viva Villa'
Joseph M. Schenck is back in town,
having done a little missionary work
for Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer in showing
their production "Viva Villa" to the
Mexican Government officials for their
O.K.
He got the O.K. but was asked to
reshoot one scene, and that scene is
Villa's first entrance into the capital.
The officials did not think he had
enough soldiers in his entourage, so
they want the parade filmed with the
entire Mexican army following the
leader. And it will be done
Cleason on Three Way
Ticket at Fox Studio
Fox yesterday signed Jimmy Clea-
son to a long term writing, directing
and acting contract and promised him
a full directing assignment in the near
future. Cleason will direct the dia-
logue on "The World Is Ours," the
tentative title for "Manhattan Love
Song." He also scripted the piece.
'Men in White' Release
Waits on Play Deal
With the picture already completed
and on the way to the exchanges,
MCM cannot give "Men in White" a
general release until April 1 and a
New York release until May 1. Re-
lease dates were agreed upon with the
play producers at the time of its pur-
chase.
Lombardo Bit $35,000
Cuy Lombardo's one picture con-
tract with Paramount is reported to
net him $35,000. He also gets co-
feature billing with Burns and Allen,
who have the top spots in the picture
tentatively titled "Slightly Married."
This is his first acting job in a pic-
ture.
lATSE CHIEF IS OI^ WAY
TO HEAL STRIKE WOUNDS
Fontanne-Lunt to Miller
William C. Elliott, international
president of the lATSE, is due in Hol-
lywood next week on a peace mission.
The big chief has been sent for in the
belief that an accredited leader of the
American Federation of Labor may be
able to patch up the scars of the re-
cent strike, and clear away the pres-
ent deadlock between the lATSE
unions and the studios.
It is also hinted that one of the
purposes of Elliott's trip may be an
(Continued on Page 8)
About the most important money picture we have seen dur-
ing the past two years is the Twentieth Century production of
"The House of Rothschild," shown locally last night. It is cer-
tain to hang up box office records everywhere, because it has
all the elements of a hit picture.
WampasMayAsk for
Listing Under Code
Sol Rosenblatt patted Wampas on
the back when he was here because
they were the only group in Holly-
wood that had not asked for some-
thing in the Code.
Indications now are that the press
agenters may fool him before long and
put in a request for a wage and hour
scale. Several of the Wampas mem-
bers declared yesterday that they are
going to demand at an early meeting
that such action be taken, with a
minimum salary of $75 per week for
studio publicists.
Lee Marcus Now Head of
Radio Short Subject Dept.
Lou Brock yesterday was relieved
of the production of shorts for Radio
and from now on will devote all of his
time to feature production. His first
feature on this new set-up will be
"Down to Their Last Yacht," featur-
ing Sidney Fox and directed by Paul
Sloan.
Lee Marcus, who has been assist-
ant to Lou Brock at Radio for the past
year, moves up a notch to handle the
production of shorts. He will be as-
sisted by Bert Cilroy.
Boles in Harding Pic
John Boles has been signed by Radio
on a one picture loanout deal from
Fox for the lead opposite Ann Hard-
ing in "Alien Corn," which will be
directed by E. H. Griffith. Edward
Everett Horton was also signed yes-
terday for one of the featured roles in
this picture.
Todd-DeCicco Split
Thelma Todd's departure for the
north on a vacation yesterday was fol-
lowed by the news that the star and
Pat deCicco have decided to untie the
marital knot. DeCicco will continue
to represent Miss Todd in business
matters.
a
It is a good picture, excellent en
tertainment, produced on the highest
scale possible, all backed with a show-
manship that yells money. It concerns
itself with a subject that has been
front page for many centuries and has
been hot household conversation for
the past three years. It deals with a
family of Jews — the House of Roth-
schild— and the persecution of and the
saving of that race (for a time) by
that House of Rothschild. It's a great
subject, exceptionally well done and
because of those features becomes a
show property of great value to every
branch of this industry.
And the industry should congratu-
late Zanuck and his organization.
A detailed review appears on page
2 of this issue.
Schnitzer Deal Cold
Joseph I. Schnitzer's negotiations to
become executive producer for Majes-
tic Pictures were called off yesterday,
according to word received in Holly-
wood. Deal was practically set, but a
last minute disagreement on terms
killed it.
Para. Buys Delmar Yarn
Paramount has purchased "The End_
Qi_the World," a story by VTna~Dei-
mar in the current Cosmopolitan. Stu-
dio will use it on next year's program
under a different title.
New York- — Gilbert Miller will bor-
row Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt
from the Theatre Guild for the leads
in the Jacques Duval play, "Towar-
itsch," which he will produce.
New Deal for Reid
Radio and Cliff Reid are putting
their heads together straightening out
the terms of a new deal which will
keep the producer on the lot.
TELL THE WORLD
ALL ABOUT THE GOOD
JOBS YOU DID THIS
YEAR IN
THE WRITERS' NUMBER
El
Page Two
THE
Feb, 23. 1934
llMfefelPOCTiR
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyvifood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
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Mgr.. 229 W 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7 19?;
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Carlisle Mansions, Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
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Published everv day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
includine postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
'HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD' A HIT;
GEORGE ARLISS THE SHOW
That was a neat study in anti-cli-
maxes, the card that Ira Nelson Mor-
ris, ex-Ambassador to Sweden, left
when he called on Connie Bennett the
other day. In very elegant engraving
the card read: "Ira Nelson Morris,
Ancien, Ambassadeur extraordinaire
plenipotentiare des Etats Unis de
I'Amerique," and beneath that, writ-
ten in pencil it said, "Care of Edmund
Couiding, 803 Rodeo Drive."
A dirty trick but a singularly ef-
fective one was employed by a couple
of agents who had just about despair-
ed of ever collecting the commissions
due them from a feminine star. They
looked up her mother while they were
in New York, dressed her all up and
brought her to a studio ostensibly to
interview her about her famous
daughter for the newsreels. They sat
her in a chair and gave her the signal
to start talking. "Veil," said Mamma
looking straight into the camera and
talking straight into the mike, "Vat
do you vant I should say.'" They cut
the picture right there, bundled Mam-
ma back to the Bronx and hurried
back to Hollywood with the precious
film. When they came back, they
called the star, showed her the filmed
interview and threatened to release it.
P.S. The star paid the commissions in
full.
There's a very simple way of find-
ing out whether or not "you figger"
on the Fox lot. At a story conference
the other day in a certain exec's office
were one director, one supervisor and
a couple of writers. After the confer-
ence was over, the exec opened his
desk drawer, carefully pulled out a
box of cigars, offered them to the di-
rector and supervisor, took one himself
and carefully replaced the cigars in
the desk drawer. When the writers
got outside the exec's office they
stopped the director and asked him
how come they didn't rate a cigar.
And the director gave it to them
straight with "He only offers the
cigars to IMPORTANT people."
Well Directed,
Acted, Produced
"THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD"
{ Twentieth Century )
Direction Alfred Werker
Associate Director....Maude T. Howell
From the play by -
George Hembert Westley
Screen Play by Nunnally Johnson
Photography Peverell Marley
Art Director Richard Day
Film Editors: Allen McNeil and Bar-
bara McLean.
Cast: George Arliss, Boris Karloff,
Loretta Young, Robert Young, C.
Aubrey Smith, Arthur Byron,
Helen Westley, Reginald Owen,
■Florence Arliss, Alan Mowbray,
Holmes Herbert, Paul Harvey,
Ivan Simpson, Noel Madison,
Murray Kinnell, Georges Rena-
vent, Oscar Apfel, Lumsden
Hare, Leo McCabe, Gilbert Em-
ery, Charles Evans, Desmond
Roberts, Earl McDonald, Ethel
Griffies, Lee Kohlmar, William
Strauss, Matthew Betz.
Twentieth Century, as its contribu-
tion to the costume drama of the year,
offers a history of the most famous
banking house of all time in Europe
and in so doing, by that very strange
paradox, loses not one iota of its repu-
tation for filming subjects that are
first of all of prime importance in their
timeliness. Add to that the fact that
this picture has been produced with
lavish care, drama, pathos and a deli-
cate humor coupled with a certain
gentle homeliness that touches the
hearts of any audience and you have
a combination that is not only good
box office but a picture that is wor-
thy of respectful criticism and one
that is entertainment all the way
through.
If would have been impossible, of
course, to film the entire history of
that intriguing and widespread family
of Rothschilds (one of whom is still
living at the age of ninety-two or
thereabouts in the Germany of today) ,
so they have chosen the figures and
circumstances most pertinent and ap-
plicable to certain specific conditions
as they exist in the world today. Be-
ginning with the death of Mayer Roth-
schild wherein his main heritage to his
five sons is the admonition that they
make the world a place in which the
jews may walk in dignity and peace,
the picture traces the life of Nathan
Rothschild, the head of the house in
England, and how through his support
of the Allies against Napoleon he
eventually brought peace to England
and the countries of Europe and gained
everlasting glory for the house of
Rothschild and did bring about the
treaties whereby his people were to
be recognized as human beings with
human feelings for humanity and
which recognition gave them the right
to pursue their lives and careers with
dignity.
The picture is necessarily almost
entirely George Arliss and one is again
impressed by the conviction that his
art stry can do no wrong. Mr. Arliss
lends a warmth and drama to cold
facts that are all the difference in
the world between a mere imperson-
Slickum vs. Oscar
The feud between Slickum, the
MGM bootblack, and Oscar, the
Paramount bootblack, is still on.
When Slickum read the statement
made by Oscar about being on the
lot for 1 3 years before he found
out he was typed, he said, "It sure
did take that man a long time to
find out he was a black boy."
Paul Kelly Set for
'Our Daily Bread'
King Vidor has signed Paul Kelly
for the male lead in his production of
"Our Daily Bread" that goes into pro-
duction at the Metropolitan studio
with a probable United Artists release.
Mitch Leisen to Meg
'Pursuit of Happiness*
Mitchell Leisen has been set to di-
rect Arthur Hornblow's first produc-
tion for Paramount, "Pursuit of Hap-
piness," after he finishes "Murder at
the Vanities," his present assignment.
No cast has been definitely set, al-
though Hornblow would like to have
Gary Cooper.
Warners Sign Churchill
Wa'-ners yesterday signed Berton
Churchill for a featured role in
"Friends of Mr, Sweeney," which
starts February 28 with Charles Rug-
gles in the lead. Edward Ludwig di-
rects Al Kingston agented for
Churchill.
ation of a historical figure and an
actor playing the part of a human be-
ing who not only has a definite place
in history but who was, first of all,
quite human. Loretta Young, looking
very beautiful in costume, and Robert
Young handle the roles of the young
lovers capably and there are standout
performances by C. Aubrey Smith as
the Duke of Wellington, Boris Karloff
as Ledrantz of Prussia and Reginald
Owen as Herries. And Helen Westley
is magnificent as the dowager Mrs.
Rothschild.
Nunnally Johnson has done a fine
job with the dialogue, having carefully
avoided all the pitfalls of florid speech
and stilted language and not allowing
a "period" to interfere with his sense
of what dialogue between a couple of
fellows -should sound like.
Al Newman's scoring of the pic-
ture has taken full advantage of its
dramatic possibilities and skillfully
weaves in the exquisite native Jewish
melodies.
And to Peverell Marley must go
some very special applause for his very
beautiful photography. There is one
scene in particular, in the beginning
of the picture, a shot of the family of
Mayer Rothschild waiting on the stairs
that is very lovely indeed. Art direc-
tion by Richard Day deserves mention,
as do the marvelous costumes.
And Alfred Werker may well be
proud of this day's work for he has
turned out a fine picture and one that
will bring plenty of hard-earned
money into the box office.
New Face Problem
Coming on Extras
Newcomers to Hollywood with pic-
ture careers in mind are being stump-
ed by NRA Code order to cut down
present number of "extras" and re-
register so only 2500 on list.
Bars are up for new talent, so some
of them are complaining, unless they
are lucky enough to get on a contract
by some studio. Fan magazines and
chatter columnists continue to write
yarns about how motion picture exec-
utives are crying for new faces.
"Now," one new gal in town yes-
terday remarked, "they tell us that
we can't register at Central Casting,
for the Extra Committee is getting
ready to thin the ranks. The Extra
Committee tells us they have no way
to give jobs. I wonder what the pic-
ture people are going to do when the
present crop of extras grow old. If
they don't let the new people have a
chance to show, what is the end going
to be?"
Studio officials are also doing some
wondering about the same thing. One
executive yesterday expressed the
opinion that studios would have to
put in their own stock companies of
extras on short term basis; restocking
every few months so *resh faces would
appear and audiences wouldn't become
so familiar with the faces of the same
extra players that they forget the reg-
ular players.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
M'>>^ XX- •^ ■• -. y t««*»w^."flwyi.->- >.
RUS$ELL,MILLER;
and Company
IVIembers
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exclnange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
Nrw York Po' tiand
Seattle Oak and
S.in Fraicltco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
L
FOUR
STARS
N. Y.
DAILY
NEWS
cATHeninc thc
CReAT
SCREEN ACHIEVEMENT
OF 1934
\flow! \^ico=a=dav! Cy\,
• •
et^mviQ supreme
aHlieLHtsior L^heairel
cATHe nine
JL
hrrin^ and beau
emerald-studded romance, vibrant with love
and passion ! Elizabeth Bergner defies descrip-
tion. You thrill to the sensitive realization that
you are in the presence of a truly great actress!
Regina Crewe
New York American
• • • *
A new film genius! Elizabeth Bergner's per-
formance is so rich, so stirring, so simply beau-
tiful that she holds you enthralled !
Bland Johaneson
Daily Mirror
• • • •
An important picture! Important not only be-
cause it is splendidly acted, mounted and pro-
duced, but above all because it introduces the
genius that is Elizabeth Bergner. There is so
much to see and assimilate in the film that any
condensed resume would fail to do it justice!
Rose Pelswick
Evening Journal
• • • •
In some magical way Elizabeth Bergner makes
the character of Catherine more alive than you
would think any embodiment on the screen
could be!
Thornton Delehanty
Evening Post
• • • •
Handsome film! Elizabeth Bergner goes
through her scenes with rare dignity and ac-
complishes marvels with her large eyes and
expressive lips!
Mordaunt Hall
New York Times
Superlatives aren's^tj
Elizabeth Bergneii it;
It is too importatfti
UNITED
I
r nough to describe
aierine the Great."
cure to be missed!
Al Sherman
Morning Telegraph
ARTISTS
cyiandso
me an
d lavish
dramatically impressive and beautifully acted
drama of striking skill and power, Elizabeth
Bergner plays with a thrilling combination of
emotion, honesty and technical brilliance. One
of the distinguished dramas of the season!
Richard IVatts, Jr
Herald-Tribune
• • • •
A picture worthy of many superlatives. Noth-
ing finer has been seen hereabouts in months!
William Buehnel
World-Telegram
• • • •
Bids fair to be the most important picture of the
season. The same qualities which characterized
Henry VIII" are present in the new Korda
production, a lavish, completely satisfying
background, an almost cunning sense of com-
edy, a story lifted from sufficiently familiar
pages of history to make everyone feel at home,
and two pov/erful performances instead of one.
Grand entertainment!
Eileen Creelman
New York Sun
• • • •
A gorgeous pageant! Alexander Korda has
added another brilliant film to his list of fine
motion picture productions! Four Stars!
Kate Cameron
Daily News
TkeWORLD SALUTES ALEXANDER KORDA'S
OWN SUCCESSOR TO HENRY THE VHI
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, Jr.
ana
ELIZABETH BERGNER
v^ec todays hJJaily. ^Jyarieiy Jor addiiional superlative reviews!
Feb. 23, 1934
THg
PtilPOPlTEPl
Page Seven
Col. Brings Kath. Doucet
Back to the Screen
Columbia is bringing Katherine
Doucet, who appeared in "As Hus-
bands Co" for )esse L. Lasky, out from
New York for one of the featured
roles in the Felix Young production,
"The Party's Over," which will be di-
rected by Walter Lang.
Arline Judge, on a loanout from
Twentieth Century; Henry Travers,
» Chick Chandler and Billy Bakewell
have also been signed for this picture.
Mixup on Acad. Broadcast
Due to a mix-up in time schedule
^ arrangements at Radio Station KH),
Lionel Atwill did not appear last night
on a nation-wide hookup to give a
boost to the Academy annual award
of merit competition. Hour for him
was filled by another account. It is
expected he will go on some night
next week.
Earl Baldwin Vacations
Earl Baldwin, after finishing the first
draft on "Dames" for Warners, is
taking a complete rest in Palm
Springs, his first vacation in six years.
Archie Mayo directs the picture when
it starts March 5 allowing Busby Ber-
keley time to attempt to top his for-
mer dance numbers with those in
"Dames."
Shumate Splits Knot
Harold Shumate, top writer for the
Irving Briskin unit at Columbia, was
secretly divorced at Juarez, Mexico,
last November, it was learned yester-
day. Couple had been married twenty
years. The writer will take the leap
again soon.
Warner Troupe Travels
Warners' "Without Honor" com-
pany left last night for location shoot-
ing in Monterey and will be gone un-
til the end of the week. James Cag-
ney, Joan Blondell and Victor Jory
have the leads with Lloyd Bacon di-
recting,
Harris Buys Kraft Play
Sam H. Harris yesterday acquired
^e rights to an untitled play which
/ H^ S.,_Kraftj who arrived here about a
■week ago, is writing in Palm Springs.
It will be produced early next Fall in
New York.
Landi in Party' Pic
Elissa Landi takes the starring spot
in "The Party's Over" at Columbia, it
was decided yesterday. Felix Young is
producing it with Walter Lang direct-
ing.
ACADEMY ACTORS REOPEI\
UNIFORM COIVTRACT TALK
GRAND OPENING TONIGHT
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1634 N. El Centro
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A formal request that the producers
appoint a committee to reopen discus-
sion of the Actor-Producer Basic
Agreement was the chief development
of the meeting of the Academy Actor
Branch executive committee last night.
The purpose of the committees will be
further revisions in the Academy Uni-
form Contracts.
The meeting also decided to for-
ward a complete membership list of
the Academy Actor Branch to Sol Ro-
senblatt, with twenty-five names sug-
gested as eligible for appointment to
committees acting under the code.
The names suggested follow:
Lionel Atwill, Warner Baxter, Lio-
nel Belmore, Alice Brady, Laura Hope
Crews, William B. Davidson, Marie
Dressier, Irene Dunne, Raymond Hat-
ton, Helen Hayes, Dell Henderson,
Katharine Hepburn, Jean Hersholt,
Walter Huston, George Irving, Dewitt
C. Jennings, Henry Kolker, J. Farrell
MacDonald, Thomas Meighan, Warner
Oland, Nance O'Neill, Elizabeth Pat-
terson, Lewis Stone, Henry B. Wal-
thall, Helen Ware.
George Marion Jr. Returns
On Schulberg Assignment
George Marion, jr. returns to Para-
mount, where he rose to be one of
the higher-bracket scriveners, on a
B. P. Schulberg ticket to work on the
script of "Kiss and Make Up." The
Beyer- MacArthur office represents the
writer.
Harlan Thompson blossoms out as a
director on the picture, which will
have Sylvia Sidney and Gary Grant in
top billing.
Snow Stops Lugosi
Bela Lugosi, who is driving out here
for his role in "The Black Cat," ran
into a snow storm in Texas and will
not arrive until the early part of next
week. Picture has been shoved back
on the schedule and will not start un-
til the middle of the week.
Fox Seeks Radio Yarn
Fox is talking turkey to Radio with
a view to purchasing the Gregory Rat-
off story, "I Loved an Actress." Radio
bought it for Lenore Ulrich, but has
been unable to find a star to fit it.
Fox wants it for Lilian Harvey.
Zanft Adds to List
Gottfried Reinhardt, son of Max
P:einhardt, the famous German pro-
ducer, and an assistant to Walter
Wanger at MGM, has signed a per-
sonal management contract with the
John Zanft agency.
Termer for Doyle
Lajrd Doyle has been signed to a
Ipng term writing contract by War-
'Tiers. No assignment yet, though "Oil
for the Lamps of China" may be his
first.
Now! World Premiere! Regular Prices!
WILL X
lOCIRfJ
Louise Dresser • Evelyn Venable
Kent Taylor • Noah Beery
Stepin Fetchit
,^ Directed by JAMES CKUZE • FOX TRIUMP
Ad<Je<f: EARNEST leuEX <n
'The Expectant Father'
maCiC CaBPET TBAVEl GEM
■LONDON MEOIEY
Foy Goes From Nudes
To 'Sterilization*
Bryan Foy has signed Wallace Ther-
mond, a negro writer, to script "Steri-
lization," which the organization will
produce after completing a third di-
mension subject. Thermond has writ-
ten several novels and is the author
of "Harlem," a New York play. He
will arrive here from the east in the
near future.
Test Rumann at 'U*
Sigfried Rumann, New York stage
actor, who was brought out here by
Fox for a featured role in "World
Moves On" which John Ford directs,
was tested by Frank Borzage at Uni-
versal for one of the featured roles in
"Little Man, What Now?" with Mar-
garet Sullavan and Douglass Mont-
gomery.
Lamson Handles Karloff
Boris Karloff has been signed to a
managerial contract by Demmy Lam-
son. Player completes his two picture
deal with Universal in "The Black
Cat" which gets under way this week.
La Rambeau Returning
Unable to resist offers on two hot
deals, Marjorie Rambeau threw over
her plans for an extended rest in Flor-
ida and is en route to the coast, ar-
riving Friday morning.
BORDEN Friday Frolic
'Broadcast from ST AGE „ A t 8:45
VIA STATION KHJ
Singers Guild Left
Out in the Cold
The Singers' Guild of Los Angeles,
which attempted earlier in the week
to get under the wing of the Code
Committee for Extras, were hanging
on a limb last night after being told
they could not be included in the ex-
tras' regulations.
Deputy Administrator Sol A. Rosen-
blatt, in a telegram to Mrs Mabel Kin-
ney, chairman of the Extras Commit-
tee, made the decision that left them
wondering. The wire read: "Commit-
tee for Extras does not include sing-
ers."
This was in answer to a wire from
Mrs. Kinney asking what to do about
the group of 1000 singers who had
filed a request with her for an amend-
ment to the Code which would give
them special wage scales, etc.
Officers of the singers' organization
last night wired Rosenblatt asking
where they do belong. Allan Watson,
president, stated that Rosenblatt had
assured their group when he was here
that they belonged with the extras.
Now they are wondering if he was
kidding them, according to Watson.
Vic Fleming Set to Direct
MCM*s 'Treasure Island'
Victor Fleming is definitely set to
direct the Robert Louis Stevenson clas-
sic, 'Treasure Island," to be the next
Wallace Beery-Jackie Cooper yarn for
MGM. The picture will go into pro-
duction very soon. John Lee Mahin
has been writing the screen adaptation
and Hunt Stromberg is supervising.
Barrows on Schulberg Pic
Nick Barrows has been signed by
Paramount to write additional comedy
sequences for the B. P. Schulberg pro-
duction "Little Miss Marker."
Marion Spitzer Rests
Marian Spitzer, member of the
Paramount editorial board, leaves for
New York March 1 on a four week
vacation.
II GRAUMAN'S ^
UNITED ARTISTS
6DWY AT 9TH • PHONE, MA 2511
,M:rv;.:i
GEORGE
RAFT
in 'Paramount's
525-
Carole LOMBARD
SALLY RAND
end Her FAN DANCE
« STAGE
FANCHON i MARCO present
Th. b. ,
throbbing ip«ct-tlc
i«nt pi
"THEBIR-tHof
THE BOLERO
'Sunicist Beauties*
Page Eight
Feb, 23. 1934
"is a master of
comic dialogue
>f
s
A
Y
S
it
A New York Dramatic Critic
in reviewing his latest play
SING and WHISTLE
Written and co-produced
by
Milton Herbert Cropper
Management
Small-Landau Company
If
DIRECTOR RACE HOT IN
REPORTER AWARD VOTIXG
A half dozen Hollywood directors
and one foreigner are leading the pa-
rade of votes for the best directorial
achievement for 1933 in The Holly-
wood Reporter award of merit compe-
tition, with several others within
striking distance. As the votes are
still flocking in, it would take an un-
usual prophet to guess who will get
the prize.
Frank Capra is a prime favorite thus
far with his directorial work in "Lady
For a Day." Alexander Korda, the
Hungarian director, is also among the
leaders for his direction of "Henry the
Eighth."
E. H. Griffith is getting a big vote
for his direction in "Animal King-
dom." So is Frank Borzage for his
Acad. Views Shorts
Tonight for Awards
More than fifty short subjects will
be screened tonight at Radio by
the special Academy committee which
will select three each from comedy,
novelty and cartoon subjects for final
vote in the Academy awards compe-
tition.
Partial list of those to be seen to-
night are "Down From Vesuvius," Fox
Magic Carpet; "Following the
Horses," Fox Newsreel Man Adven-
tures; "Three Little Pigs" and "Build-
ing a Building," Walt Disney; "Dora's
Dunking Doughnuts" and "What To
Do" from Educational; Stacy Wood-
ard's "The Sea"; "Pirate Ship" and
"Beanstalk Jack" from Terry-Toons;
the Moran and Mack "Blue and Black-
birds"; "Krakatoa" from Educational;
the Grantland Rice short. "What
Makes a Champion"; "Handle Bar,"
Pete Smith novelty; "Menu" and
"Over the Counter," MOM in Techni-
color.
McCuire Denies Renewal
Of Deal At Universal
William Anthony McCuire, through
his agents, Schulberg, Feldman and
Curney, denied the story in yesterday's
Reporter that he had signed a new
deal with Universal end said that at
present does not intend to renew.
McCuire has a deal on with Irving
Thalberg to go over to MCM as a
writer-producer, under Thalberg's
wing, on a four picture deal.
Connolly Returns Home
With the delay of the starting of
"Alien Corn," the Ann Harding pic-
ture at Radio, due to script not being
finished, Walter Connolly, who was
loaned to Radio by Columbia for the
picture, goes back to Columbia for a
featured spot in "Twentieth Century."
Add to 'Operator 13'
Jerry Howard, stooge number 1 for
Ted Healy; Russell Hardie, Willard
Robertson, Reginald Barlow and Fran-
cis MacDonald were added to the cast
of "Operator 13" at MCM.
New 'Party' Song
Howard Dietz and Walter Donald-
son have written a song titled "I'm
Feeling High," which MCM will use
in "Hollywood Party."
work in directing Mary Pickford in
"Secrets." Gregory La Cava is among
the leaders because of "Gabriel Over
The White House." George Cukor is
decidedly in the running with his "Lit-
tle Women," and John M. Stahl is
getting a big vote for "Only Yester-
day," which established Margaret Sul-
lavan in the motion picture field.
Several requests have come into this
office for ballots, with the explana-
tion that none had been received. If
you by any chance have not received
your ballot, a telephone call or a note
to the Reporter will bring one to you
immediately, so you will have the
privilege of playing a part in this, the
first awarding of credit by the EN-
TIRE industry.
Warburton Is Not
Considering Pic Offers
Irvine "Cotton" Warburton spiked
all rumors yesterday of his intention
to ruin his amateur standing on the
gridiron by going into the MCM foot-
ball yarn, "Gravy Game," for David
Selznick. He denied ever considering
doing so.
Two for Coslow-Johnston
The song writing team of Arthur
Johnston and Sam Coslow have been
assigned by Paramount to write the
musical numbers for "Slightly Mar-
ried," the Guy Lombardo- Burns and
Allen picture, and "The Great Ma-
goo."
Cering Gets Assignment
Marion Cering has been set to di-
rect "His Master's Voice" as his next
assignment for the B. P. Schulberg
unit at Paramount. The cast is headed
by Lanny Ross, Mary Boland and
Charlie Ruggles.
lA Chief Elliott Due
(Continued from Page 1 )
attempt to bring the leading camera-
men back into the union fold by
means of either a merger or working
agreement with the American Society
of Cinematographers.
At present the ASC controls the
situation in the major studios, but the
lATSE union controls the camera work
in the independent field as well as on
locations. This location situation has
begun to worry the majors more than
a little.
'Reactions of some leading produc-
ers yesterday indicated that the latter
idea would not meet with much en-
couragement. The producers feel that
they now have the important first
cameramen in the position of creators,
just as with directors, writers, etc.,
and are able to deal with them as in-
dividuals according to their worth. For
that reason they will oppose any move
that would return the first camera-
men to union status.
The exact date of Elliott's arrival
in Hollywood is something of a mys-
tery at local union headquarters.
"Next week" is the nearest to a def-
inite date that any one will venture.
Ed Estabrook, business manager of
Local 659, was in San Diego yester-
day, however, and some union men
ventured the guess that he might be
in a preliminary huddle with Elliott.
\'FTRO -GOLDV,YN-:uAYF.R 3TUDI03,
% UH.SAK'UbiL MAP/.,
CULVER CITY. JALIr.
Vol. XIX. No. 36. Price 5c.
TODAY^S FILM NEWS TODAY
ThuKday, February 22, 1934
JOIiNSCN TURNS SOfT
'Reporter' Foreca st Exhibs
Would Not Be Forced Into
by ROBERT WELSH
• IN an unguarded moment the other
day we commented on the fact that
the writers did not seem to be in on
the big gravy on new deals resulting
from the starvation in good pictures.
We placed ourselves open to the
caustic comeback we received from a
producer yesterday.
"Rats," he said, "I can buy writers
by quantity grading. They are either
'pretty good' or 'pretty bad' or 'good
enough for a programmer.'
"The same rules don't apply to
them as to stars and directors. When
I pay $50,000 for a star it is because
I can't get that star's value for less
money. If I pay $50,000 for a di-
rector I do it because I know it is
buying insurance.
"But writers? A dime a dozen, a
quarter a dozen, or a dollar a dozen,
but always by the dozen."
•
Honest, that's the way it was hand-
ed to us. And, of course, we got
sore at first. Then we cooled off,
and remembered ' some of our many
contacts with production. (We've had
a few. )
The son-of-a-gun was right.
The usual "associate producer,"
"supervisor," or what have you, wor-
ries like the devil about his director,
and his star, and when it comes to
the writer he lets the AGENTS pick
one for him.
Or else he just reaches into the
staff and picks the fellow who got
the last good notices.
He'll worry about fitting the story
to the star, about matching the pic-
ture to the type the director has
shown ability to make — but the writ-
ers? A dime a dozen. Pick anyone
who is literate.
What's the result?
On any given day in HoMywood,
if you were able to talk to ALL the
writers about the story on which they
were working, you would find 75 per
cent of them with their tongues in
their cheeks.
They'd tell you: "I don't expect
much from this story. First, because
it wasn't much in the original any-
way, and secondly, because I'm writ-
ing it the way Supervisor Bulbul wants
it. A guy has to eat — and he thinks
I'm the cat's meow just now, so I
give him what he wants."
Honest, isn't that the situation?
I (Continued on Page 3)
$50,
1,000 Tarzan
Neil Hamilton checked off the
MCM payroll in connection with
the new version of "Tarzan" a
couple of days ago, and is already
starting to worry about the income
tax collector. For an actor who
hasn't been on the screen much
this year he has a headache, be-
cause the "Tarzan" engagement
brought him $50,000 in cash.
P. S. — The picture isn't finished
yet.
Code Confirmed By NRA Head
Washington. — Confirming the forecast printed exclusively
in last Monday's Reporter, General Hugh S. Johnson yesterday
made public an official interpretation of the effect of "assent"
to the motion picture code which completely reverses the Code
Swanson in Person
for N.Y. Paramount
New York. — The "flesh" war is on
in earnest in New York. Following
the experience started with Mary
Pickford and Miriam Hopkins, Para-
mount is going after star names for
personal app>earances at their own
New York shop window.
The next ace to be played in the
game will be Gloria Swanson, in a
sketch from "The Trespasser." She
goes in on a $6500 guarantee, shar-
ing fifty-fifty on the gross over $55,-
000. Apfsearance scheduled within
three weks.
Taylor Fights Illness
Sam Taylor is still directing and
keeping on schedule with Harold
Lloyd's "The Catspaw" though out of
bed only a few days from the flu and
worrying about his youngest child, two
and a half years old, seriously ill with
pneumonia.
Kay Unties the Knot
Kay Francis untied her third marital
knot yesterday in Superior Court,
where Judge Sproul granted her a di-
vorce from Kenneth MacKenna, her
director-husband. Mental cruelty was
the charge.
Authority's original statement that
only theatres which had signed assent
to the Code would be allowed to op-
erate under the zoning and clearance
boards.
The interpretation is looked upon
here as a complete victory for Allied
and the little fellow, and was probably
occasioned by the New York suit
which attacked this same point. The
(Continued on Page 7)
Ric Cortex Turns
N. Y. Play Angel
New York. — Ricardo Cortez has
turned play producer. This became
known with the announcement today
that Kubec Glasmon and Sidney Sal-
kow were on their way east to start
rehearsals for a play to be staged by
Zetroc, Inc.
"Zetroc," spelled backwards, turns
out to be "Cortez." The play is a
backstage satire, based on a short
story by George Bradshaw, play script
by Glasmon and Salkow, with the lat-
ter directing.
Doran Expected East
New York. — Advices here are that
D. A. Doran, former Fox story editor,
now in play production, will leave the
coast by plane this Saturday to return
to New York.
PLAYERS' VOTES IIV AWARD
CONTEST MUCH SCATTERED
That competition in the Reporter
awards of merit competition for out-
standing honors in acting will be keen
is indicated in the votes that have
already been received.
No actor or actress seems to have
a commanding lead thus far. Katha-
rine Hepburn is getting a tremendous
vote for her work in "Little Women."
So is Margaret Sullavan for her first
picture, "Only Yesterday." Lee Tracy
is pulling a big vote for his work in
(Continued on Page 7)
Lombard Schedule Puts
Paramount in a Jam
The completion of production on
the Bing Crosby picture "We're Not
Dressing" at Paramount, in which
Carole Lombard has the feminine lead,
will be delayed, as Miss Lombard has
to report to Columbia today for the
John Barrymore picture "Twentieth
Century." A few days' work remains
to be done, so the studio will have to
wait until Miss Lombard finishes.
Say Fox, WB, MOM
Oppose Baby Stars
It is understood that the three stu-
dios opposed to allowing this year's
Wampas "Baby Stars" to go on the
air are Fox, Warners and MGM.
Fox is said to be still suffering froni
the wounds of their "Baby" clash last
year when they selected their own
stars. MGM is described as neutral,
with excellent possibility of being won
ever to the broadcast. Warner studio
is put down as being opposed to the
idea because the proposed broadcast
will go over a national hookup and not
over the Warner station, although of-
ficial reason given is that such broad-
casts hurt business in the theatres.
Lionel Barrymore Stage
Appearances Extended
New York. — The Lionel Barrymore
personal appearances have been play-
ing tc such record breaking business
that he has been signed for eight ad-
ditional weeks on the Loew circuit.
Junior Has Surprise
Junior Laemmie, who left New York
yesterday, has a big play and book
purchase up his sleeve. He remained
in New York a week after his father
left in order to close the deals which
will be announced on his return to
Universal City.
Pickford at Bio. Opening
New York. — The start of produc-
tion on "Frankie and Johnnie" is giv-
ing excuse for a second christening of
the Biograph studio, and none other
than Mary Pickford will do the hon-
ors. It will happen Friday afternoon.
Bill Howard Buys Play
New York, — William K. Howard
r$ad a play here that he liked so well
he dug into his own pockets and
bought the screen rights. -Lt- i§_^jni£„.
Far Off Hills," by Lennox Robinson.
TVVHO'S A PALJ^ Jo°nyeVo"tH/y.i?rrL'^V.V^ E^JIDO OxImP
Page Two
THE
Feb. 22. 1934
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
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Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
The Chatterton-Brent marriage
seems to be on the verge and it looks
like tihey'll be divorce-seeking any
minute now. . . . Ceorgie Raft finally
had that date with Virginia Pine Leh-
rnan the other night up at the Clover
Club and Bolton Mailory was doing a
solo at the bar. . . . Bob Montgomery
will be off to his Connecticut farm
just as soon as "Rip Tide" is finished
or by summer at least. . . . Susan
Fleming and Eddie Buzzell going
places again or is Harpo Marx ever
coming back?
•
Marian Spitzer had .1 party for Moss
Hart and George S. Kaufman that in-
cidentally celebrated her birthday,
wedding anniversary and a brand new
contract that Harlan Thompson just
signed with Paramount, and the Fred-
die Marches, Mary Astor, Dr. Frank-
lyn (Speaking of Operations) Thorpe,
the Dick Rodgers, the Herman Man-
kiewiczes, the Elliott Nugents gave
out with congratulations.
•
Very funny about the V^/arren
William disappearance. It was abso-
lutely on the level, but most of the
publicity was hushed up on ac-
count of the situation was too much
Nke a play that was on Broadway last
year and William is about to come out
in a brand new picture and they fig-
ured nobody would believe it wasn't
something the Warner publicity of^
fice had cooked up.
Esther Ralston lunching with George
Webb. . . . Elizabeth Allan is trying
sooo hard to get time off to go to
England to see her husband. . . Some
months ago they started looking for
the business manager of a major stu-
dio who suddenly up and disappeared
... He was found recently — in jail
and he's in jail for having participated
in a number of highway hold-ups
after midnight. ... He must have
taken that business manager job just
for practice.
May Robson back in Hollywood tell-
ing the most gruesome experience of
the year. . . . She hailed a cab during
the cold spell in New York and get-
ting no response walked over to'^fhe
cab to arouse the driver only to find .
that the man had frozen to death
waiting in the cold.
"CATHERINE THE GREAT'
Korda-Toeplitz prod, for British International; director, Paul Czinner; writers,
Lajos Biro, Arthur Wimperis, Melchior Lengyel.
Astor Theatre
Mirror: Mr. Czinner's direction is imaginative and interesting. The production
is handsome; the photography attractive. The English are making better
and better movies. This is just another exciting challenge to Hollywood.
It is a brilliantly acted, skillfully made and genuinely interesting historical
drama.
World -Telegram: An expertly produced romantic tragedy. Some excellent act-
ing by an expertly directed cast so that the narrative loses none of its
theatrical effectiveness. It is a pretty tale, the very stuff of which effec-
tive films are made. It is more palatable than the scrawny facts of his-
tory, even if its conventional pattern does weaken at times.
Herald-Tribune: Handsome, lavish, dramatically impressive and beautifully acted
drama of striking skill and power. It reveals in Miss Bergner an actress
of the first rank and it suggests that English ingenuity has at last found
the type of part that Douglas Fairbanks |r. can manage effectively.
Times: The most expensively staged picture that has come from London. Good,
though it is scarcely comparable to Henry VIM. It is the difference be-
tween wit with an excellent actor and facts with an efficient actress.
Journal: It is splendidly acted, mounted and produced. A tremendous amount
of detail has gone into the production and each scene offers a wealth of
interest. "Catherine the Great" is Elizabeth Bergner, and Elizabeth Berg-
ner is superb.
News: The backgrounds are rich and gorgeous, fitting settings for Catherine
and her court. The camera work is on a par with the general excellence
of the production. Director has presented the pageantry of the Romar>off
Court with beauty and handled his enormous cast with skill.
American: It is a triumph.
Post: No means superlative either as a story or as a picture. The settings have
a disappointingly studio atmosphere. There is none of the solid beauty
which distinguished "Henry VIII." Nor are the spoken episodes as art-
fully developed.
Sun: A lavish, completely satisfying background, an almost cunning sense of
comedy, a story lifted from sufficiently familiar pages of history to make
every one feel at home, and two powerful performances instead of one.
It is colorful, highly romanticized drama, made something more than that
by the strength of its performances. It is a film of which England may
again be proud.
"FRONTIER MARSHAL"
Fox prod.; director, Lew Seiler; writers, William Conselman and Stuart Anthony
Mayfair Theatre
Journal: A good old-fashioned Westerner, starring the stalwart George O'Brien
in what may be his final wide-open-spaces contribution.
American: Its appeal is frankTy juvenile, but as in all films of this genre there is
a certain virility to the piece, and oodles of that action which is a primary
requisite of motion pictures. If you like this type of entertainment, there
will be no complaints regarding the Mayfair offering. Mr. O'Brien is satis-
fying in an accustomed character, and valiant support is offered by Mr.
Stone, Russell Simpson, Miss Bentley and others in the cast. Director Lew
Seiler keeps this moving.
World -Telegram: Since it is designed primarily for small towns, where movie
■audiences will have none of your Garbos, Dietrichs, etc., and where the
Western still reigns supreme, "Frontier Marshal" makes no pretense at
art — even cinematic art. Thus criticism can be dismissed very neatly
Herald-Tribune: This story could have been made into a good, exciting, color-
-ful show had it not been done on quite such elementary terms of dialogue,
.character and plot manipulation. The acting is at least serviceable. Mr.
O'Brien plays the invincible hero pleasantly and Berton Churchill is suf-
ficiently unctuous as the crooked mayor.
Times: "Frontier Marshal," being a frank melodrama, does not bother about
plausibility, and one gathers that it was produced with the adaptor and the
director having their tongues in their cheeks.
News: If Westerns and George O'Brien appeal to your movie tasts, then this
one produced by Fox Films called "Frontier Marshal" will be right down
your alley. The direction by Lew Seiler is okay.
Sun: It's just an old-fashioned western, and a good one, too. Unabashed it fol-
lows the regular formula for westerns. It is still an excellent formula; and
a western, accepted at its own value, can be rather refreshing entertain-
ment. Lew Seiler has been canny enough to have his actors underplay
rather than exaggerate, letting the plot supply the melodrama. "The Fron-
tier Marshal," unpretentious western as it is, is one of the week's best
bets.
Post: It is hard to believe that "Frontier Marshal" was not a product of the
"Great Train Robbery" era, brought up to date by addition of sound ef-
fects and dialogue. The film has everything than we were accustomed
to look for'jn thehard-rtdmg, hard-shooting melodrama of the West. As a
burlesque of otd-time Westerns, "Frontier Marshal" can be taken in good
" fun. , ,; -^ .:
Will Hays Nervous
In Anti-Trust Suit
New York. — Will Hays made a very
nervous witness here today in the
Rembusch anti-trust suit as he went
into the functions of the Producers'
Association and endeavored to show
that it had no part in the business
procedure that was involved in the
suit. Hays talked about misleading
advertising, arbitration and the uni-
form exhibition contract as the work
of his office.
Edward Quittner, exhibitor, whose
appeal against Paramount in a similar
suit is pending, will be the next wit-
ness.
Sparks Goes to Rogers
Charles R. Rogers outbid two major
studios and yesterday signed Ned
Sparks for the male comedy lead op-
posite Zasu Pitts in "In Conference."
Picture is scheduled to get under way
after the first of the month with Har-
ry Joe Brown directing.
Warners Like Lamour
Warners are dickering with Doro-
thy Lamour on a term ticket, follow-;
ing a screen test. She is a soloist
with Herbie Kay's orchestra and is
handled by the Music Corporation of
America.
Ivan Kahn Expands
Ivan Kahn has expanded to larger
offices and has increased his staff to
seven employees. Organization is still
located in the Warner Brothers theatre
building.
RKO Seeks Stuart
RKO is negotiating with Universal
for the loan of Gloria Stuart on a one-
picture assignment.
RCA Victor 331 Duo
NEVER BEFORE SO MUCH
FOR $186.00
Automatic changing of all makes of
large and small records, long-playing
records, police calls, tone control for
records and radio. Richer quality than
many costing four times more.
PHONE OR CALL FOR TRIAL AT
HOME I
Richardson & Martin
730 W. 7th St. TRinity 0194
Where you find your favorite
recordings
Feb. 22. 1934
THEJSlH
Page Three
THE SHOWOFF' IS OKAY;
TRACY THE WHOLE SHOW
Perfect Adaptation
Of the Old Show
•THE SHOWOFF"
(MCM)
Direction Charles F. Reisner
Story by George Kelly
Adaptation Herman J. Mankiewicz
Photography James Wong Howe
Art Director David Townsend
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Madge Evans,
Henry Wadsworth, Lois Wilson,
Grant Mitchell, Clara Blandick,
Alan Edwards and Claude Gilling-
water.
Spencer Tracy does the impossible
in "The Showoff," He carries the
entire thing on his own shoulders —
and the part is terrific.
"The Showoff," of course, is a one
part story, with everyone more or less
taking back seats and leaving most of
the work to the main character. And
what Tracy does with it! In spite of
the fact that the play as a whole is
too widely familiar to hold any new
excitement for the theatre-goer, and
that his role is a series of dramatic and
emotional peaks that would tax the
strength of any actor, Tracy turns in
a performance that is all wool and a
yard wide.
The story, old as it is, is still strong-
ly interesting, the character of poor
Aubrey Piper being such a mixture
of every-day comedy and pathos that
it will hit the bull's eye in practically
any house. Piper talks too much and
never gets anything done; he buys
cars and victrolas on the installment
plan and then can't support his wife
and has to go to live at his mother-
in-law's house; he undertakes to exe-
cute the president's business in the
corridor of the Midway Railroad Com-
pany's building and gets fired; he
promises to be good and turn over a
new leaf, and almost ruins the chances
of his brother-in-law to sell an in-
vention. Everything turns out all
right in the end, which is the weak
part of the story, for with Aubrey
mixed up in it nothing could turn out
all right.
Madge Evans plays his gallant, be-
lieving, trustful little wife to perfec-
tion. Clara Blandick is unbelievably
good as her mother who despises Au-
brey, and Grant Mitchell does a lot
with the small part of the father.
Henry-- Wadsworth '-plays qui&tly biit
^ectively die role of her brother, apd
Lois Wilson is well cast as the sister.
i Alan Edwards and Claude Gillingwater
are both well cast in srwaller roles.
Charles F. Reisner's ^ir'6'ction puts '
a lot of life into the old vehicle; Her-
' man J. Mankiewicz made a faithfij.
; adaptation of the George Kelly play;
and'Jhe photo|^r4pby^y;T%i^ Wong
', Howe.fs, pf cotMse.amrellenT. The art
; direction by David Townsend is beau-
I tifully in keeping with the spirit of
i the thing.
You probably won't find anybody
who hasn't seen this play, but you can
drag 'em in with Spencer Tracy's per-
formance. It's swell.
Jo Berne at 'U'
Josef Berne has been signed by Uni-
j versal to write an original story for
■ his own direction.
What s a Hitler?
Max Steiner does it this way.
He says: "Do you know what a
Hitler is?" You're supposed to
say, "No." Then Max says: "A
Hitler is any song that sells over
five thousand copies."
Chesterfield Picture
Good Entertainment
"MURDER ON THE CAMPUS"
(Chesterfield)
Direction Richard Thorpe
Story by Whitman Chambers
Photography M. A. Anderson
Cast: Shirley Grey, Charles Starrett,
J. Farrell MacDonald, Maurice
Black, Edward Van Sloan.
A sweet little piece of entertain-
ment in murder mysteries with a plot
that actually stands analysis. With
the exception of a bit of false moti-
vation and some unfortunate casting
in minor roles, this is a programmer
of which any major lot might well be
proud.
While the chimes are ringing out
from a high tower on the college
campus a shot is heard. Investigation
reveals the body of the murdered
chimes player, but how the murderer
escaped from the tower baffles the
police. Two other killings occur be-
fore the mystery is solved by a young
reporter to the vindication of his
sweetheart.
The story is a little long in start-
ing, but when it gets along it really
goes. The dialogue occasionally leaves
something to be desired, but credit is
due the adapter for not cluttering up
the yarn with unnecessary detail. It
has a college background, but, as ev-
eryone is supposed to know what col-
leges are like, no time is wasted with
typical movie college capers. This
alone makes the picture noteworthy.
Richard Thorpe did a neat job of
direction and the photography of M.
A. Anderson is outstanding. Ander-
son has a trick in dolly shots, moving
almost imperceptibly into close-ups.
He is also among the first to get night
shots that actually look like night.
Charles Starrett is personable as
the newspaperman, handling his as-
signment with ease. Edward yan
Sloan capably plays a difficult role.and
J. Farrell MacDonald is excellent ^s a
human detective. Shirley Grey hasn't
much to do as a standard heroine.
■■•The f3icture*vvas adapted from a
book called "The Campanile Murders"
and is sure to please in support of
any program. " f '-'"
'Our Gang' Starts^Fr^lay
Hai Roach puts the fourth of the
series of six "Our Gang" comedies in-
to production tomorrow with Gus
Meins directing. Cast will consist of
Stymie. Spanky McFarland, Tommy
Bond, Wally Albright, Jacqueline Tay-
lor and others.
French Study Soviets
Paris. — Pierre Braunberger, French
producer, has left for Russia where he
will study Soviet film conditions.
Great Magoo' Will
Not Have Winchell
Paramount yesterday assigned Ali-
son Skipworth and signed Paul Ger-
rits, who is now in "Murder at the
Vanities" in New York, for featured
spots in "The Great Magoo," which
Wesley Ruggles directs. Arline Judge
and Ben Bernie and his band have been
announced previously for roles in the
picture. Gerrits fills the columnist
spot for which the studio attempted
to get Walter Winchell.
Reissue 'All Quiet'
In line with the widespread propa-
ganda against war which the Hearst
newspapers are carrying on by means
of the uncensored war pictures they
are publishing, it was learned yester-
day that Universal is planning to re-
issue "All Quiet on the Western
Front."
Universal officials, it is understood,
feel that this picture is one of the
greatest lessons against war that has
been offered to the world.
Taurog Hit by Cold
Norman Taurog was confined to his
home yesterday with a bad cold. Fran-
cis Martin was assigned to pinch hit
for him on the direction of "We're
Not Dressing" for Paramount.
McClintock Play March 1
New York. — Guthrie McClintock's
production of "Yellow Jacket," the
play based on the career of Dr. Walter
Reed, will open March 1 at the Mar-
tin Beck.
Bryan Foy Returning
New York. — Bryan Foy left here by
train on his return to the coast yes-
terday. He will stop off in Chicago
and get back to the studio Monday or
Tuesday. Foy was here seven weeks.
Fralick Moves Offices
Freddie Fralick moves his offices to
larger quarters in the Freddie Fralick
building at 9016 Sunset the middle
of next week. Fralick has been lo-
cated at 6305 Yucca.
Dick Wallace Home
.r^Richard Wallace, accompanied by
Tiifc wife, arrives here this afternoon
on the Chief from New York.
Kordaand Laughton
To Do Timperner
Londoo.-^AIexander Korda will do
a picture here of "The Scarlet Pim-
pernel" and Charles Laughton will be
the star.
The Laughton engagement will fol-
low his work at MGM as the lead op-
posite Norma Shearer in "The Barretts
of Wimpole Street."
"Scarlet Pimpernel," also known in
dramatic versions as "The Laughing
Cavalier," was under consideration
in America for Reginald Denny a
few years ago, and more lately for
Ronald Colman. It is a typical ro-
mantic lead. London advices do not
say what part is planned for Laughton,
but it may be Korda's idea to throw
it to the humorous side as with "Hen-
ry the Eighth."
British Offer for Ruben
British International Pictures have
cabled J. Walter Ruben, through Frank
Joyce, to come over to London after
he completes his Radio contract in
May, on a three-picture deal.
MCM Buys Play
New York. — MGM today bought
_Jh€- screen rights of the play "The A
World and the Devil," now running on '
Broadway. Company figures it as pos-
sible vehicle for Robert Montgomery.
Magazine Editor Arrives
Katharine Dougherty, editor and
publisher of Photoplay magazine, ar-
rives in Hollywood today.
Sam Ornitz to New York
Sam Ornitz, writer, left yesterday
fcr New York by train. He will be
gone for six weeks.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1
There's something wrong here
somewhere.
In all the frantic grasping for means
of making better pictures, why doesn't
someone come out and decide, "The
STORY is what the actors have to
play, and the director has to make.
Let's make SHINING examples of a
few of those writers who always de-
liver. Put them in the BIG MONEY
with the stars and directors. It will
encourage the pack to forget the
bread-and-water existence, and strive
for the bigger things. In the end it
will save us money and make us
money."
Think it over, boys.
BRI§KIIV HEADS GROVP TO
RENEW ACAB. RESEARCH
First steps in an extensive research
program was taken yesterday when
the Academy announced the appoint-
ment of Sam Briskin as chairman and
Major Nathan Levinson as vice-chair-
man of the Research Committee.
Council will meet next week to hear
reports of various sub-committees re-
garding nine important technical proj-
ects which were stopped almost a
year ago when the revision of the
Academy's by-laws made necessary
new methods of financing the research
work. Plan now is to resume the
work where left off on the following
projects:
Establishment of effective uniform
practice in reel length (1700 feet),
Revision of standard release print. Im-
provement in release print quality.
Establishment of uniform screen il-
lumination in studio projection rooms.
Development of a silent camera. De-
velopment of a more efficient use of
the 35 mm. film area. Correction of
distortion in projection. Study of
economies in recording. Investigation
of film preservatives.
LW.
;-;V>
:03
m
'■■MP
wm
■■■■^^'>
PICTURES
b^
JOHN
ROMWELL
DIRECTED
U
TRANSIENT LOVE
With
IRENE DUNNE . . CONSTANCE CUMMINGS
RALPH BELLAMY . . KAY JOHNSON
CHARLES STARRETT . . SIDNEY BLACKMER
VIVIAN TOBIN . . LOUIS MASON
a
w
S P I TF
With
KATHARINE HEPBURN
SOMERSET MAUGHAM'S
U
Of Human Bondage
pK LESLIE HOWARD
F-'J-'-'l.v ■■■■
Feb. 22. 1934
TH
^ifpomrii^.
Page Five
HEADACHE FOR E^KTRA GROUP
AS ELIMINATION JOR STARTS
Will Cut Six Out
Of Seven Players
Film Code Committee for Extras
swung into action yesterday on the
problem of reregistration of the some
17,000 extras and the carving down
of the list to a possible 2500 names,
as is proposed in the film code.
Just what will be the method of
procedure is the question that is
stumping Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chair-
man of the committee, as well as the
fifteen members of her group. Yes-
terday she requested each member of
the committee to prepare suggestions
as to ways and means of cutting.
The committee expects plenty of
squawks from extras who will be
eliminated. "It is a new problem to
me," explains Mrs. Kinney, "and just
how it will be done so everyone will
be given a perfectly square deal is a
terrific problem. We want to get the
work under way as rapidly as possible,
but we want everyone of the extras
to have an opportunity to prove his
place is on the list."
Tentative meeting of small group
of the committee is scheduled for Fri-
day night. Plan now is to have sev-
eral of the committee meet with Mrs.
Kinney until all of committee has giv-
en views. Then the cutting will start.
Paul Muni in N. Y.
New York. — Paul Muni gets in from
his European trip today.
Thats Talking
A Los Angeles court room gasp-
ed yesterday when the colored maid
of Kay Francis, testifying for her
mistress in her divorce suit, chirp-
ed up on the stand in a broad Eng-
lish accent with:
"Mr. MacKenna assumed an at-
titude of domineering superiority
over Miss Francis from the time
they were married."
Age Problem Worries Para
On Little Miss Marker'
Decision that Cora Sue Collins was
not suited to the title role in B. P.
Schulberg's "Little Miss Marker" yes-
terday caused the producer to with-
draw the child from the Paramount
production.
A bid is in with Fox for the loan
of Shirley Temple for the role. If
it fails to jell, Schulberg is expected
to rework the Damon Runyon story so
to make it fit Baby Collins.
Acad. Screens Shorts Fri.
There will be an official screening
tomorrow night at 8 o'clock of all the
short subjects that have been entered
in the Academy annual awards com-
petition. Screening will be at RKO
studios, and will be attended by short
subjects producer members of the
Academy.
u
Transient Love
n
Screen Play
By
JANE MURFIN
'U' Sets New Deal
WithW.A.M'Cuire
Universal and William Anthony Mc-
Cuire got together yesterday on a new
deal, the producer-writer being signed
to a two-year contract to produce foor
pictures a year.
The deal was made by Henry Hen-
igson and is awaiting Carl Laemmie
Jr.'s return for the latter's approval.
Iwerks Starts Two
Ub Iwerks started production on
another "Comicolor" animated cartoon
this week. It is "Puss in Boots." This
is third of the series. First was ")ack
and the Bean Stalk," second, "The
Brave Tin Soldier," now being com-
pleted.
Stern Ready to Shoot
Seymour Stern has completed the
screen adaptation of the Robert Louis
Stevenson story, "Pueblo," based on
Indian life, and will start shooting the
picture around Sante Fe, N. M., on
March 1 5. The cast will be all na-
tive.
Mono Starts 'Monte Carlo*
With two pictures now in work fin-
ishing by the end of the week. Mono-
gram will put "Numbers of Monte
Carlo" into production the middle of
next week. William Nigh directs and
Paul Malvern supervises.
Technicians Pick for
Code Committees
Technicians Branch Executive Com-
mittee of the Academy met yesterday
and made final selection of nominees
from their branch for possible appoint-
ment by Sol Rosenblatt to various code
committees. Names not given out
until all branches of organization com-
plete same work.
The Actors Branch Committee
meets tonight at the Academy offices
to take preliminary steps for same
purpose. Writers have their selection
under way, as have directors. Expect
to have entire group set within a
week.
Leslie Howard for
British Kongo Raid'
London. — Leslie Howard will soon
return to London for the lead in the
Alexander Korda production of "The
Kongo Raid."
Grant Exhibits Photos
Lawrence Grant, who recently fin-
ished work in a role in "Lady Mary's
Lover," has an exhibit of eighteen
photographs on display at the Los An-
geles Athletic Club. While most (peo-
ple know him only as an actor. Grant
is noted for his portrait photography.
Barondess to Fox
Barbara Barondess was signed by
Fox yesterday for a role in the Charles
Farrell-Janet Caynor picture "World
Is Ours" through the Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall agency. She will ar-
rive here from New York next week.
KAY JOHNSON
Transient Love
(R KO)
uw
Eight Girls In
A Boat"
(Paramount)
Management
John Lancaster
Page Six
Feb. 22, 1934
The Story Trend
New York. — Local story agents
predict that the "new deal" will
have important bearing on picture
stories for coming year. They see
yarns with socialistic philosophy as
the general trend, following the
times.
Col. Borrows 'Stu'
Erwin from MCM
GDlumbia yesterday closed a deal
with MCM for the loan of Stuart Er-
win for the male lead in the Felix
Young production "The Party's Over,"
which will be directed by Walter Lang.
Negotiations were on for Nancy
Carroll for the feminine lead, but her
first picture for Jesse L. Lasky would
interfere with the Columbia picture.
Warren William Signs
For Shell Oil Broadcast
Warren William was signed to ap-
pear on the Shell Oil Company hour
this Monday night as guest star. The
deal was made by M. C. Levee.
The programs which previously em-
anated from San Francisco will be put
on here from now on, as a number of
the movie stars are unable to take the
time to go north for the broadcasts,
but can do them here.
Rowland Brown Kept Busy
Rowland Brown has been assigned
by MCM to write dialogue on the Ar-
thur Caesar story "Streets of New
York," which he may direct for MCM
when he returns from England. Brown
must be in London to start "Java
Head" for A. and B. Pictures by
April 4.
'Whirlpool' Finishes
Roy William Neill wound up
"Whirlpool" at Columbia yesterday
one day over an 18-day schedule. Cast
included Jack Holt, Lila Lee, Allen
Jenkins, Rita LaRoy, Ward Bond and
Jean Arthur. Robert North was the
associate producer.
Daves Scripts 'Dames'
Warners have assigned Delmar
Daves to the rewrite job on "Dames,"
which will now be directed by Archie
Mayo. Writer just finished the screen
play on "Flirtation Walk," which is
being supervised by Lou Edelman.
MCM Tests Montenegro
MCM yesterday tested Conchita
Montenegro for a cast spot in the un-
titled South Sea story which John
Farrow is writing under Ned Marin's
supervision for the David Selznick unit.
Garrett Writes 'One Way'
Oliver H. P. Carrett has been as-
signed to do the screen adaptation on
"One Way Ticket," a B. P. Schulberg
production.
'Free Cold' New Fox Title
Sol Wurtzel has set "Free Cold" as
the title on the production tentatively
scheduled as "Cold Rush of 1934" at
Fox.
Ted Healy for Sparks
Ned Sparks has withdrawn from the
cast of "Operator 13" at MCM be-
cause of other commitments. Ted
Healy will fill his role.
Great Local Meet
Planned by Unions
The entire membership of every
labor union connected with the mo-
tion picture industry has been asked to
attend a mass meeting in the Shrine
Auditorium on the evening of Mar. 1.
This meeting, planned to be the
biggest gathering of labor men ever
held in Los Angeles, will be attended
by the members of every union in Los
Angeles that is affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor. It is
being held under the auspices of the
Central Labor Council, and such a
crowd is expected that the various of-
fices and rooms of the Shrine build-
ing are being wired so the overflow
will be able to hear what is being
said in the main auditorium.
While definite plans have not been
announced, it is understood that the
general labor situation and progress
under the NRA will be gone into ex-
tensively, with probable labor policy
for this part of California proposed.
Cov't Issues Figures
On Cerman Pictures
Berlin. — Total of 121 feature pic-
tures were produced in Germany dur-
ing 1933, according to official fig-
ures just compiled. Of this number
Ufa produced 20.
There were also 25 foreign feature
versions produced here, and between
40 and 45 foreign features dubbed.
Sixty per cent of features were made
from original stories, 19 per cent from
published novels and 15 per cent from
stage plays.
Ceorge E. Stone Steps
Into Col.'s '20th Cent.'
Ceorge E. Stone is the latest addi-
tion to the cast of the John Barrymore
starring vehicle "Twentieth Century,"
which goes into production today un-
der the direction of Howard Hawks for
Columbia.
The cast includes Carole Lombard,
Roscoe Karns, Etienne Cirardot, Dale
Fuller and Edward Edgar.
Raymond on the Air
Cene Raymond was signed yesterT
day, through Margaret Kuhns of th^
Schulberg-Feldman and Curney office^
to appear as guest star on the Ipana
toothpaste program next Wednesday.
Raymond arrives in New York toda^,
from a vacation in Florida.
Seek Cain Yarn for Stage|
Three Broadway producers, Jed Hari
ris, Arthur Hopkins and Sam Harris,
are negotiating through the William
Morris office for the stage rights to
the James M. Cain story "The Post-
man Always Rings Twice."
Arlen Coes Yachting
Dick Arlen left yesterday for a
seven-day cruise in southern waters
on his yacht. He was accompanied
by two prop men and an electrician
from his recent picture "Come on,
Marines.
CiMplin on Col. Script
'< IfPTOTHmniNlfTE
ASTING
^rescott Chaplin was signed yester-
day by Columbia to collaborate with
Roland Pertwee on an original story
fof.-.Carole Lombard.
Frank Conroy set by Leo Morrison
for "Return of the Terror," Warners.
Alison Skipworl-h and William Far-
num set by Charles Rogers for roles in
"Canal Boy."
Robert Emmetf O'Connor by War-
ners for "Return of the Terror." The
John Lancaster office set the deal.
Constance Elliot added to the cast
of "I Hate Women," which Ken Gold-
smith will produce. Bill Charney of
the Harry Wurtzel office made the
deal.
Clenda Farrell, City Kibbee, Hugh
Herbert and Barbara Blair took fea-
tured supporting roles yesterday in the
Ruby Keeler-Dick Powell picture
"Dames" at Warners.
Billy Bakewell was signed yesterday
by Columbia for a featured role in
"The Party's Over." Herbert Weber
negotiated.
Russell Hardy signed by MCM for
"Sequoia."
Czechos Find Ban
Works Both Ways
Prague. — Governmental restrictions
on import of foreign films has hit
home production a terrific blow, ac-
cording to those close to the industry.
Retaliatory measures have cut down
export of local films to almost noth-
ing from a big figure as of 1931. In
that year Czechoslovakian exports
amounted to 106,000,000 kr. In
1932 it dropped to 49 millions. Last
year it dropped to only 20 millions.
Without returns from export, home
production has tough time.
Jones Resumes Radio
Color Tests in March
Robert Edmond Jones, noted New
York stage designer, resumes his con-
tract with Radio in March for a
month's special work on Technicolor
experiments under Kenneth Macgow-
an's supervision.
Tests are being made for an all-
color production for the Merian C.
Cooper unit.
D'Anno Going East
Albert D'Anno, former assistant to
John Murray Anderson, has completed
his work on the script of "Kiss and
Make Up," collaborating with Harlan
Thompson, who will direct for B. P.
Schulberg. "Kiss and Make Up" is
the new title for "Cosmetic." D'Anno
will probably go east in the near fu-
ture to do an intimate revue there.
Cordon-Ravel Assigned
Paramount has assigned Harry Ravel
and Mack Gordon to write the music
for the next Bing Crosby vehicle, "She
Loves Me Not," which will go into
production about March 1 5 on the
completion of "We're Not Dressing."
Al Hall is penciled in to direct the
Howard Lindsay play.
Stage Old-Time Vaudeville
The Twentieth Century Stage-Ra-
dio-Screen Club of Hollywood will give
an old-time vaudeville show next Sat-
urday night at the Woman's Club at
Hollywood auditorium, 7078 Holly-
wood boulevard. There will be many
well-known names on the program.
'U' Up in the Air for
'Alias Deacon' Lead
Universal and Warners had a falling
out yesterday over the Guy Kibbee
commitment to the former for "Alias
the Deacon," leaving the Laemmie or-
ganization wide open for another
player.
Company figures the assignment is
a potential starring spot for the player
who gets it, but is looking around for
an established name before consider-
ing taking a chance on a comparative
unknown. Original New York play
had Berton Churchill in the spot. Ed-
mund Grainger is supervising.
Miner and Nicholls Team
On Radio's 'Sour Crapes*
Worthington Miner and Ceorge
Nicholls will co-direct "Sour Crapes,"
the Clive Brook starring vehicle which
Myles Connolly is supervising for Ra-
dio.
This new directing team was sched-
uled to direct the Ceorge Bernard
Shaw yarn "Devil's Disciple" as their
initial job together, but will make the
Brook yarn first instead.
Kent Taylor Added to
Para's 'Double Door' Cast
Kent Taylor has been assigned the
male lead in "Double Door" by Para-
mount. Charles Vidor will direct as
the first assignment on his new long
term deal with the studio. Balance
of the cast to date consists of Mary
Morris, from the New York stage play,
Sir Guy Standing, Dorothy Strickney.
and Evelyn Venable. '
Brodine on 'Little Man'
Norbert Brodine has been given the
photographic assignment on the next
Margaret Sullavan picture, "Little
Man, What Now.'" which Frank Bor-
zage starts shortly at Universal. Total
of ten ace cameramen made tests on
Sullavan at start of her first picture
before they found one to satisfy.
Kaufman Has Ideas |
With Ceorge S. Kaufman taking ah
active personal interest in the screen
version of "Dark Tower," Warners are
seriously considering placing Mary As-
tor in an important role in the pic-
ture at the playwright's suggestion.
Edwarid C. Robinson stars.
'Finishing School' Ends
Wanda Tuchock and Ceorge Nich-
olls Jr. have brought in "Finishing
School," their first directorial efforts,
on schedule. The picture finished last
night. Bruce Cabot, Ginger Rogers
and Frances Dee sre in the top spots.
Eldridge in 'Dr. Monica'
Warners have John Eldridge, newly ■
arrived contract player, up for the
role opposite Kay Francis in "Dr.
Monica."
\
Opening Friday Night 8:30 P: M.
"SWEENEY TODD "
'The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'
The Green Room
1634 N. El Centro
Free Beer and Pretzels
For Reservations HO 9734
Feb. 22. 1934
j||kfcUp^p
Page Seven
Radio Action Gives
rip on Pic Prospects
First indication of what may be
expected when the NRA Compliance
Board gets going on the various code
I complaints was shown yesterday when
I the board acted upon a complaint
i filed against Radio Station KMTR.
Local 695, lATSE, the motion pic-
ture sound men's union, filed the
i complaint in behalf of three broadcast
technicians who claimed the station
was not paying them the wage scale
called for in the code. Result was
that the compliance board, on which
judge Ben Lindsey was sitting, found
in favor of the sound men and ordered
the radio station to pay them a total
of $256, which was the difference
between what station had paid the
': men and what the code called for,
since the code was signed on Decem-
I ber 11. Wage scale is $40 week for
\ this classification of men.
I The sound men were jubilant last
, night, for this is first atition they have
been able to get from code officials.
They have filed complaint expected
to settle studio sound men wage scale
with this board which has been shelv-
ed for weeks by the Studio Labor
Committee, and exfject that it will be
coming up for a hearing soon, inas-
much as Judge Lindsey has announced
that as labor compliance officer he is
going to go right ahead with speed
and handle the complaints.
While it is not generally known,
, the sound men in the radio stations
' here have been gathered into the stu-
dio sound local with a radio branch of
I their own. - ■• ■
Mrs. Wiggs' Dusted Off
I Paramount has taken "Mrs. Wiggs
jo^^the Cabtiage Patch" off the shelf
! ^hd assigned Charlotte Henry to the
role of "Lovey Mary." Possibility that
Alison Skipworth will get one of the
top spots in the picture, which will
' not start until Henry finishes her work
iin "Head of the Family" at Twentieth
Century.
Lazy River' MCM Title
' MCM has set "Lazy River" as the
'release title on "Louisiana," which
wound up at the studio several weeks
ago in record time. George Seitz di-
rected Robert Young and Jean Parker
in the top spots.
I Ida Lupino Vacations
1 Ida Lupino, having completed her
work in "Come On, Marines" at Para-
mount, left yesterday for a two weeks'
vacation in Vancouver. She was ac-
companied by her mother and Elsie
Ferguson II.
ACAD. LUXCHES PRESS TO
START AWARD RALLYHOO
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
With President J. Theodore Reed,
Frank Capra, Howard j. Green and
John LeRoy Johnson as speakers, the
Academy started an intensive public-
ity drive in connection with its an-
nual Award of Merit competition
yesterday at a luncheon given to the
members of the press.
Stressing the importance of honors
from fellow workers. President Reed
declared that the Academy will never
pass up the annual awards competi-
tion, which, he pointed out, has be-
come a national institution.
Howard Green declared that the
Academy has always endeavored to
work along lines that try to make
more of a picture than merely 6000
feet of celluloid. Reward such as the
Academy awards, he said, is just one
of the steps to develop initiative and
artistry in the industry.
It was also announced that instead
of a lot of over-serious speeches
which usually accompany banquets,
this year's Award Banquet on March
16 will be a dinner dance with no
radio broadcast. A name band is
planned and committee is trying to
stage an affair that will be remem-
bered.
Rapf
Has Reins on
Beery Sea Capt. Yarn
MGM has scheduled "Any Port in a
Storm" as a starring production for
Wallace Beery and has it as the second
in line for the star to make before his
contract runs out in November. Harry
Rapf is supervising and has assigned
Richard Schayer to shape the screen
play out of the Guy Gilpatrick series
of Saturday Evening Post shgrfstor
concerning Captain Glencannoh ' aiiTfd
his tramp steamer. / .; , .• /■' ^ .;
Other story for Be^if* {■Spdef tiyi
Rapf wing is "Cabby." ' '
Tommel Now Casting
William Tommel, erstwhile Fox as-
sistant director, has been moved into
the company's casting department un-
der Phil Friedman. He acts as liai-
son man on casting for the Winfield
Sheehan unit.
-' United Press Man Here
Clem Randau, general manager of
the United Press, arrived in Hollywood
by plane yesterday and takes an ad-
visory post with Universal during the
shooting of "I'll Tell the World."
Gene Raymond on Way
New York. — Gene Raymond, after
a stop-over trip in Palm Beach, is due
back here today, and scheduled to
leave for the coast Monday.
Player Vote Scattered
(Continued from Page 1 )
"The Nuisance," a picture which is
also drawing a big vote among the
writers for original story honors.
John Barrymore is among the lead-
ers for his performance in Radio's
"Topaze." And Lionel Barrymore is
pulling a strong vote for the splendid
performance he gave in "Stranger's
Return." Miriam Hopkins, too, is
drawing a large vote for her work in
the same picture. May Robson is up-
holding the ranks of the older women
of the screen with a huge vote for her
acting in "Lady for a Day."
Diana Wynyard is in the running
with a large following for her work in
"Cavalcade," and Leslie Howard is
among the leaders for his acting in
"Berkeley Square." Kay Francis has
a flock of votes in recognition of her
performance in "The House on 56th
Street," and Paul Kelly draws a big
vote for his portrayal in "Broadway
Through a Keyhole."
The votes are still coming and re-
sults will be more than interesting as
the entire industry picks the winners.
Elizabeth Allen to London
Elizabeth Allen leaves by plane to-
night for New York on the first leg
of a short vacation in London. She
will return in a little over a month.
Miss Allen recently has been handed
a long term ticket by MGM. Her last
picture for the studio was "Men in
White."
^,. -^,Sloifit!e Buys a Play
■i''f''i "?^'^' ^'°3"^ ^3S purchased, through
■ '^/(Ti^yBren/and Orsatti office, the screen
r rightd to the London stage success
> "My Lady Weeps," by Thormes
Thomas. He plans to go east after
he finishes his one-picture deal for
Radio to make arrangements to pro-
duce this as an independent picture.
Repeat Domino Revels
The Dominos will repeat their
Revels next Sunday night in the club,
theatre, 1284 N. Crescent Heights'
boulevard. Irene Franklin, Leon Er-
rol, Guy Kibbee and the Gleason fam-
ily are among those who will appear.
Agnes deMille in Para Pic
Agnes deMille, daughter of William
deMille, has been signed by Paramount
to do a dance on the back of a bull
in "Cleopatra." She returns here
April 1 from London, where she is
now on the stage.
Thorpe Gets Settlement
New York. — Columbia has settled
out of court on the $150,000 suit
brought by Jim Thorpe, famous Indian
athlete, who claimed he was signed
for "White Eagle" and then never
used.
Fidler to Hospital
Fred Fidler, J. Walter Thompson ad-
vertising man, booking radio on the
coast, checked in at the Good Samari-
tan hospital yesterday. Having a leg
infection treated.
Okay, Paramount!
Al Kaufman, who has just re-
turned to his Paramount office af-
ter a trip to Cuba, tells the best
story of the Cubari revolution.
First day he was in Havana he
saw a big parade in which banners
bearing the name Paramount were
displayed. He inquired and found
the revolutionists had taken time
out from fighting to parade in hon-
or of Paramount and its picture
"This Day and Age," which de-
picts youths taking over govern-,
ment.
Co3. Sets Date Back
On Grace Moore Pic
Columbia has shoved back the start
of the Grace Moore starring vehicle
"Don't Fall in Love" because of in-
ability to secure a suitable leading
man at this time.
The studio tried to get Paul Lukas
from Universal on a loanout deal, but
he could not be spared at this time.
Johnson Turns Soft
(Continued from Page 1 )
ruling, signed by Johnson and Donald
R. Richberg, chief of the NRA legal
counsel, follows:
"For the information of the mem-
bers of the motion picture industry
with respect to the form of assent dis-
tributed by the Code Authority of the
motion picture industry under the
terms of Article VI, part 2, section 8
of the Code:
"I. It is not the intent or purpose
of Article VI, part 2, section 8 of the
Code that any member of the industry
assenting to the code on the form used
by the Code Authority shall thereby
waive or be stopped from setting up
any right which such member of the
industry may possess under general or
statutory law against any arbitrary,
oppressive, injurious and unreasonable
action by any administrative official or
agency under the motion picture in-
dustry code.
"2. It is not the intent or purpose
of such article, part or section of the
Code that any member so assenting
shall be precluded or stopped from
seeking amendment to or modifica-
tions of said Code.
■- .'''~3'. Members of the industry not
assenting to the Code on the forms
above mentioned cannot be denied
any of the rights and remedies afford-
ed by the Code, save only they will
not enjoy the right to file complaint
before the administratitve agencies
provided for in the Code. Upon ac-
ceptance of any of the benefits and
advantages of the Code, such mem-
bers of the industry may be assessed a
reasonable amount, subject to the ap-
proval of the Administrator, to help
defray the expenses of administering
the Code, but not otherwise.
"4. While assent on the form
above mentioned is necessary to en-
able a member of the industry to lodge
protests with Clearance Zoning Board
and to make use of the facilities of
the local grievance boards, neverthe-
less, such assent is not essential to
enable any member of the industry
to interpose his defense before any
such board if he so desires in any
matter affecting his interests, and
thereafter to prosecute any and all
appeals therefrom to the same extent
and in the same manne." as a member
assenting on the form above men-
tioned.
"5. The statements contained here-
in apply with respect to the execu-
tion, either heretofore or hereafter by
any member of the form of assent
above mentioned, and all such as-
sents will be deemed to have been
executed in the light of those state-
ments."
Opinion here is that this interpre-
tation nullifies previous concepts of
code assent and was done to stave off
some of the Allied objections. Also
that Johnson has been getting it from
many sides, and this is indication of
the weight of the protests.
IT HAD TO COME!
IT IS HERE!
A COCKTAIL ROOM
AT
C
very Afterno
From 4:^0
^2 Opening Today ^^q^^
MUSIC BY
KOSLOF AND HIS;
i
DINE AND DANCE
For Today Only
FASHION PARADE
Of Cocktail Gowns and Ensembles
by
THE MAY COMPANY
% MP.SAVUKL MAPX.
CULVhR CITY.OALIl-'..
Vol. XIX. No. 38. Price 5c.
II II. IJ — BWB
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, February 24, 1934
LABOR PCW-WOW HIRE
IfV ROBERJ WELSH
• A WRITER dropped into the office
last night just to pass the time of day,
and before he left passed on a thought.
We should mention his name, just
to give credit where due, but we can't
mention his name because he works
for 'supervisors' and 'associate produc-
ers.' And when you wrap the whole
picture business up and lay it on the
lap of Santa Claus — the jobs are made,
and the jobs are lost, by an impor-
tant tribe called variously, "super-
visors" or "associate producers."
So we can't mention this writer's
name. Because, dumb as writers can
be on occasions, a job is a job.
•
Here is what he said:
"If it were humanly possible to de-
clare a moratorium on suggestions
from supervisors and associate pro-
ducers for the next three months —
you'd be surprised at what material
the screen might have to lift it from
the present doldrums.
"I started out to write a news-
paper story a few months ago. Every
character in the story was a flesh and
blood person whom you and I have
known in New York and Chicago. But
by the time we passed the third con-
ference, with the supervisor putting
in his ideas of newspaper work as
gleaned from seeing the 'other fel-
lows' ' pictures, the story was wobbly.
All the work of all the King's Horses
and all the King's Men just made it
a fairly good picture in the end.
"But the author couldn't get a sep-
arate subtitle, or take an ad in the
trade papers to say, 'Those scenes in
reels two, four and six, which throw
this story out of gear, were the p>et
ideas of Supervisor Bulbul.'
"The writer had to take it on the
chin."
o
And this chap concluded:
"Billy Wilkerson is correctly trying
to pep this business into some sort
of ambition that will result in making
a few GREAT pictures. But even
Billy, searching his memory for a
GREAT picture to mention, has to go
way back to 'All Quiet' for an exam-
ple.
"Well — can you imagine how much
of 'All Quiet' the world would have
seen if it had been written by a fel-
low named Mr. Remark, on a studio
payroll at a couple of hundred a week,
nursing the job because he needed the
(Continued on Page 3)
Poor Week for Scouts
New York. — Only one play
opening the past week and that
one, "They Shall Not Die," re-
ported unsuitable for pictures.
Much live interest though in
"Dodsworth" opening tonight.
B'way Pics Surprise
Considering Storm
New York. — The weather took a
severe fall out of Broadway's picture
palaces this week, but when you con-
sider the weather it seems miraculous
that they did any business at all.
"Caroline" managed to get $82,-
000 in the Music Hall; "Cat and the
Fiddle" should not be ashamed of
$54,000 at the Capitol; and the same
thought applies to "Bolero's" $45,-
000 at the Paramount. "Moulin
Rouge," in its third week at the Riv-
oli, looked good with $18,000 under
the conditions. "Devil Tiger" got
$12,000 for its second Rialto week.
Sad spots were "Mandalay" at the
Strand, for $19,000; and "Long Lost
Father" at the Roxy for $20,000.
Newman Heads Home
Robert V. Newman, New York pro-
ducer here on a week's visit, moves
off tomorrow on the return hop. He
plans to put the Vina Delmar play,
"Women Live Too Long," on the
Broadway boards.
Rudy Vallee Wins Point
New York. — Rudy Vallee was again
victorious in court yesterday when Su-
preme Court Justice Schientag ruled
that Vallee's wife cannot sue Rudy for
divorce anywhere outside New York
State.
Hershfield Bankrupt
New York. — Harry Hershfield has
filed a petition in bankruptcy. He
lists his liabilities at $16,281, with
no assets.
Renewal of ''Basic Agreement''
To See Gathering of Industry
And Labor Leaders Next Month
Biggest gathering of labor leaders in history of Hollywood is
expected between now and March 1 5. At that time negotia-
tions are slated to start between major producing companies and
labor unions for renewal of Basic Agreement.
Heretofore negotiations have been
Marie Smacks Back
At Senate Probers
carried on in New York with dele-
gations from all of the locals going
there and spending much time and
money. This year it was figured bet-
ter to hold the confab out here at
the heart of the industry.
Involved in the Agreement are
lATSE groups, International Brother-
hood of Electrical Workers, American
(Continued on Page 7)
Union Cold to Talk
Of A. S. C. Merger
International President William C.
Elliott of the lATSE may have the idea
in mind of attempting to bring about
a merger or working agreement be-
tween the local cameramen's union
and the ASC, but a canvass of union
(Continued on Page 2)
Plag Suit on 'Catherine'
Paris. — Alfred Savoir, playwright,
announces that he intends suing Lon-
don Films for plagiarism over "Cath-
erine the Great," alleging it is a steal
from his play "La Petite Catherine,"
which ran here in 1930.
New Color Company
New York. — Photocolor Pictures
Inc. has been formed in Irvington,
N. Y. Capital $5,000; Henry T.
Brett, Edwin L. LaCross, Margaret R.
Chambers the incorporators.
GEX. JOHNSON RETREATS
SO ALLIED DROPS NRA SUIT
New York. — General Johnson's stra-
tegic retreat on the question of forc-
ing exhibs to sign unqualified assents
to the code resulted yesterday in Al-
lied States withdrawing its injunction
request in the Federal court in New-
ark.
Abram Meyers, general counsel for
Allied, announced the withdrawals of
the suit in view of the action taken
by Johnson earlier in the week.
Form $500,000 Company
For New Dubbing Process
San Francisco. — International Cine-
ma, Inc., producing corporation, has
been incorporated here by G. P. Regan
of Oakland with a capital of $500,-
000. Company plans a new idea in
dubbing foreign versions, based on
patents and processes exclusively con-
trolled.
Seriously irked by eastern reports
that she is one player whom the Sen-
ate investigation committee will look
up in its prying into the alien actor
situation, Marie Dressier loosed a
heated blast yesterday in self-defense.
Miss Dressler's citizenship is her
touchiest sore-spot, dating back to
pre-war days.
Stated she came from Canada fifty
years ago and married George Hoppert
(Continued on Page 2)
Capra Pic Beats NY
izzard for $19,500
New York. — Weather or no weath-
er, believe it or not, while suburban
New York was still digging itself out
from snowdrifts, "It Happened One
Night," the Frank Capra picture,
opened at the Music Hall to a smash
$19,000 day.
Estimates for the next four days,
ending Sunday night, are at the $60,-
000, remarkable at any time and dou-
bly so under present weather condi-
tions.
Rebuying Own Stock
New York. — Local Stock Exchange
reveals that Pathe Exchanges has re-
purchased 9,030 shares of its Class A
and 2,345 shares of its Common stock.
Universal also repurchased 1 36 shares
of its preferred stock.
New Play Producers
New York. — New play producing
company known as Maurice Marks and
Alfred Cerf, Inc., formed here. Of-
fices at 1776 Broadway. Will pro-
duce plays and help producers in fi-
nancing them.
Muni Starts Sunday
New York. — Paul Muni leaves for
the coast Sunday after a week's stop-
over here.
gSundayy March 4 ticket'and'come to^the vendome"fo? EL NiDO CAMP I
Page Two
THEPS
Feb. 24, 1934
m
M. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
•Mew York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St. Wisconsin 7-7195;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Pans, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
/
The Bob Sherwoods are divorcing,
which isn't so much of a surprise as
it is a relief. . . . Gene Raymond is the
social sensation of Palm Beach — well,
a sensation anyway, . . , Gail Patrick
is slowly driving the male population
in Hollywood crazy trying to get her
number, . . . Ted Healy, fresh recov-
ered from the flu, goes right into a
serious role in "Operator 13" — he
plays a northern spy and his pet stooge
will probably be a stowaway spy.
•
)ohn Eldredge flew to San Francisco
to see his family and ten minutes af-
ter he got there he was on his way
back to Warners and it looks as if
he'll get the lead in "Dr. Monica." . . .
The Al Newmans have moved into
their new house, and before there was
food or clothing in the place Al had
to have the piano tuned — so's he
could sing for his supper probably. . . .
For a gal who isn't particularly inter-
ested in picture offers, Rosamond Pin-
chot put on quite an act over the
proper make-up for her tests. . . .
Morton Downey has lost twenty-two
pounds and Barbara is helping him
celebrate in Chicago today or Minne-
apolis tomorrow.
Gene Markey at the opening of the
Vendome tea dance cornering Hymie
Fink and asking him for instructions
on how to photograph a day-old baby.
P.S. — the baby should be a day old
any day now, too. . . . The Francis
Faragohs are blessed eventing. , . .
Sharon Lynn and Barney Glazer enter-
tained Lady Furness and Gloria Van-
derbilt at a cocktail pahty.
•
Donald Ogden Stewart, who is living
with Lewis Milestone, had to leave a
note for Milly to call him at the stu-
dio in order to get in touch with him.
. . . Count Carpegna and Virginia
Bruce, Kay Francis and Whitney de
Rahm, Wally Beery, Bill and Nan
Howard, Virginia Pine Lehman, Mae
Sunday tea dancing at the Vendome.
. . . Allie Wrubel and Mort (Laugh
Parade) Dixon are writing the ditties
for "Flirtation Walk," the West Point
musical, . . . Fadek Sari, Molnar's first
Acad. Award Ballots
To BeTallied Openly
"Steering Commitee" of the Acad-
emy met yesterday on details of an-
nual awards comfjetition and decided
that the counting of the ballots this
year will be done publicly at the
awards banquet on the night of
March 16.
Members will be permitted to wait
until the eleventh hour to vote, as
ballots will be accepted at the door
of the banquet room at the Ambassa-
dor. When all are seated committee
will open ballots before the guests and
count and announce the winners then.
Idea is said to be to remove any
doubt in minds of the public that ev-
erything is not on the up and up in
making the final awards. Heretofore
ballots have been counted by com-
mittee prior to the banquet and only
the announcements made at the ban-
quet table.
Committee that decided this policy
yesterday composed of King Vidor,
chairman; J. T. Reed, Frank Capra,
Howard j. Green, Jack Warner, Vv'al-
demar Young, Van Nest Polglase, Na-
than Levinson, J. M, Nicolaus and
Ralph Townsend.
Columbia Borrows Pafsy
Columbia yesterday borrowed Patsy
Kelly from Hal Roach for a comedy
lead in the S. K. Lauren story, "The
Party's Over," which Walter Lang di-
rects when it starts next Tuesday.
Stuart Erwin has the male lead with
no feminine lead set as yet. Felix
Young produces. Ralph Farnum set
the deal for Patsy Kelly.
Two Dead in Explosion
New York. — Explosion of an elec-
trical transformer being installed in
the basement of RKO Yonkers Theatre
caused the death of two persons. The
accident happened before the opening
of the theatre. The transformer had
not yet been turned over to RKO by
the local contractor.
Local 755 Dines Tonight
Local 755, O. P. & CFIA, which
embodies sculptors, miniature build-
ers, model makers, plasterers and ce-
ment finishers working in the local
studios, will hold a banquet tonight
at the Paris Inn to celebrate the lo-
cal's sixth anniversary.
Union Cold On Merger
(Continued from Page 1 )
members yesterday disclosed the fact
that such a move isn't in line with
their plans.
One member of the union's "steer-
ing" committee was very outspoken in
his denunciation of such a move. "We
are well along in our reorganization,"
he said, "and are in a position where
we do not feel that we need to merge
with anyone. Even if we did, it mCjst
be remembered that the American
Federation of Labor is not in favor of
dealing with company unions."
wife and the original Merry Widow,
singing hundreds of Hungarian songs
at George Cukor's the other night,
with George screaming the translation
of all the censored phrases.
"Beer and—" Too
"Sweeny Todd," presented to-
night at the Green Room, 1634 N.
El Centro, is the individual promo-
tion of two ambitious girls from
Santa Barbara, Harriett France and
Marion Inloos. And tonight with
the bankroll at stake, Miss France
is laid up with a broken leg, the
result of yesterday's rain.
So here is your chance to have
an evening's fun and at the same
time encourage that rarity nowa-
days, an ambitious producer.
Paramount- Buys Original
Yarn from W. C. Fields
^ W. C. Fields yesterday won recog-
nition as a writer when Paramount
concluded a deal with him, through
the Beyer-MacArthur office, for pur-
chase of his original, "Greasepaint."
Story concerns a troupe playing the
sticks and will star the comedian un-
der the supervision of William Le-
Baro, Price reported about $12,000.
Sally Blane to England
Sally Blane, who has just finished
in Chesterfield's "Stolen Sweets," will
be leaving for England some time next
week if present plans do not change.
Actress clicked over there in couple
of pictures for BIP, and they are keep-
ing cables warm with offer for her
to come back and do three more.
Evans Option Lifted
Edith Evans, singer on Shell Oil
program, has had her option taken up
for five more weeks on the air.
Para Hot After New
John Erskine Novel
New York.- — The brief case Russell
Holmanis carrying to the coast for ,,
, conferences with Emanuel Cohen and
^ the Paramount production board is
understood to contain a copy of John il
Erskine's latest novel, "Bachelor of
Arts." —
The story starts serially in the New
York Herald Tribune Sunday and Para-
mount is said to be very hot for it.
Vidor Wants Judge
Arline Judge continues in demand
by other producers although under
term to Twentieth Century. Set for
Columbia's "Party's Over," and one
picture for Paramount, King Vidor is
querying her home lot for a lean for j
"Our Daily Bread."
Marie Smacks Back
(Continued from Page 1 )
thirty-five years ago. "I'm sick andj
tired of these digs at my citizenship, "|
she said, and added she has given
more energy and time to loyal causes
than she has devoted to stage or
screen work, adding she had even giv-
en her health.
"If the Senate investigating com-
mittee, or any other committee wants
to know anything about me, I wish it
would let me know instead of running
into print with a lot of innuendoes
that might give people the wrong
idea," she added.
I934's Smartest custom
creations of motordom
at the
LINCOLN
SALON
HOTEL BILTMORE
February 17th to 24th
Daily 10 a.m. to 1 1 p.m.
Admission Free
Exclusive coachwork by America's finest
builders on the aristocratic chassis of the
new Lincoln VI 2
MADDUX
Incorporated
1353 North Vine
CLadstone 5171
Feb. 24. 1934
TH
Page Three
FOX 'SCANDALS' DISAPPOIIVTS:
'LAZY RIVER' CHEAP HOKE
Fine Cast and Songs
Can't Quite Save It
"CEORCE WHITES SCANDALS"
(Fox)
"Entire production conceived, directed
and staged by George White."
Story by: George White and Sam Ship-
man.
Screen Play William Conselman
Dialogue Joseph Cunningham
Musical numbers directed by: Harry
Lachman.
Story Direction Thornton Freeland
Dance Direction Georgie Hale
Music and Lyrics: Ray Henderson,
Irving Caesar and Jack Yellen.
Art Director William Darling
Photography: Lee Garmes and George
Schneiderman.
Cast: Rudy Vallee, Jimmy Durante,
Alice Faye, Adrienne Ames, Cliff
Edwards, Gregory Ratoff, Warren
Hymer and George White.
"George White's Scandals" is a cu-
rious mixture of a number of things
that don't seem to get along very well
together.
Lavish settings and average dance
routines; a good cast and a knock-
kneed story; grand, catchy music and
songs, and heavy, dull vulgarity.
Well, it cost a lot of money — and
the audiences all over the country will
have to be much more enthusiastic
about the picture than was the pre-
view audience for it to make any
money.
The picture leans, fortunately, up-
on a version of the George White
Scandals seen yearly at the Apollo
Theatre in New York. It is inter-
rupted every now and then by a pale,
wan backstage story that bobs up con-
tinuously but not effectively. The
film has the tendency to lift an audi-
ence into quite a bit of excitement
over a particularly good song, or mu-
sical episode, and then drop it with
a cold thud.
The film offers two bright and shin-
ing surprises in the way of players.
Cliff Edwards never did a better job
in his life, and Alice Faye seems a
charming and important discovery.
The other bright moments in the pic-
ture are three songs which will set the
nation humming — "Every Time You
Hold My Hand," "Nasty Man" and
"So Nice." These are distinct hits.
One of the funniest sequences in
the whole thing is Cliff Edwards sing-
ing "Six Women," a take-off — atid a
hilarious one — on Charles Laughton in
"Henry the Eighth."
I Jimmy Durante is funny; Rudy Val-
lee is better than was thought pos-
sible; Gregory Ratoff is amusing as a
salesman; Adrienne Ames has a heavy
role and George White dodges in and
jOUt every now and then.
Ray Henderson, Irving Caeser and
jack Yellen can take any number of
bows for the three swell songs; Will-
iam Darling can bow right along with
them for his art direction; Lee Garmes
and George Schneiderman photo-
graphed the whole thing beautifully,
and Thornton Freeland directed the
story part of it. Harry Lachman cap-
ably handled the musical numbers.
William Conselman did the screen
play.
Kill MCM Rumor
Hollywood heard a wild rumor
late yesterday that Walter Wanger,
Harry Rapf and John Considine had
resigned from MGM in a shake-up
brought on by Nick Schenck's visit.
L. B. Mayer killed it quickly with
the statement that not only was
no shake-up planned during
Schenck's visit, but that the latter
was very happy over present studio
conditions.
'Honor of West' Is
Different Western
"HONOR OF THE WEST"
(Universal-Ken Maynard)
Direction Alan James
Story, Screen Play and Dialogue —
Nate Gatzert
Art Direction Ralph Berger
Photography Ted McCord
Cast: Ken Maynard, Cecelia Parker,
Fred Kohler, Frank Hagney, Jack
Rockwell, Jim Marcus, Al Smith,
Eddie Barnes, Franklyn Farnum.
Ken Maynard does double duty in
"Honor of the West." He plays the
hero and a menace as well in a dual
role. For good measure there is a
whole rabble of villains, a magnificent
hideaway in the mountains, Cecelia
Parker, dynamite and Tarzan the
horse.
The result is shrieks of delight from
children in the audience.
Maynard plays a strapping sheriff.
He also plays the sheriff's twin broth-
er, a cringing weakling who falls in
with the nefarious schemes of Fred
Kohler and gang to steal the money.
Kohler has a mountain all fixed up
with swinging doors of rock and even
an organ.
There is something new in fights
when Maynard and Kohler mix while
the girl plays the organ frantically to
cover the noise.
Nate Gatzert has turned in a good
tale for the youngsters. He wrote
story, screen play and dialogue. Alan
James takes credit for direction which
keeps thinks moving.
Something just a little bit different
in horse operas.
But despite all these assets, the pic-
ture will not have the wide appeal that
some of the late musicals have. Its
consistent vulgarity, the dullness and
thinness of the interpolated story, and
two or three songs that fail to register
do it no end of harm. The dance rou-
tines offer nothing new. Occasional
scenes will be remembered, but the
thing as a whole is disappointing.
While George White has gotten out
a spectacular and lavish revue, he has
failed to be very original about it.
The most striking things in the pro-
duction are certain very clever tech-
nical tricks which are unusually effec-
tive.
Exhibitors can hardly fail to drag in
the customers to see George White
Scandals on the screen, but the cus-
tomers will do a little hesitating about
recommending the show . . . es-
pecially to women and children.
Healy-Pendleton
High Spots of Pic
"LAZY RIVER"
(MCM I
Direction George B. Seitz
Original Play Lea David Freeman
Screen Play Lucien Hubbard
Photography Gregg Toland
Cast: Jean Parker, Robert Young, C-
Henry Gordon, Ted Healy, Nat
Pendleton, Ruth Channing, Irene
Franklin, Maude Eburne, Ray-
mond Hatton, Joseph Cawthorn,
Erville Alderson.
Possibly MGM intended this as an
answer to critics who protest against
polite and sophisticated drawing-room
dramas. Surely "Lazy River" harks
back to the good old days of mellow
mellerdrammer and contains all of the
plot formulas of an earlier era.
There is the foreclosure of the
mortgage, the last minute staving off
of disaster by the handsome stranger,
his love for the simple country Miss,
his confession that he is not free to
love her because of an indiscreet mar-
riage in his youth, the unexpected ar-
rival of his wife (looking for all the
world like Sadie Thompson), the
deep-dyed villain who smuggles
Chinamen and who shanghais our hero,
the opportune rescue by a revenue
cutter (what's happened to the Ma-
rines?) and, of course, the they-lived-
happily-ever-after finale. All of this
— and more — has been laid against a
background of Louisiana shrimp fish-
ing, but the unique locale does not
hide the dish they are serving us. It
is still hash, although masquerading
as a shrimp cocktail.
Emerging with the individual lau-
rels for the cast are Ted Healy and
Nat Pendleton, playing a couple of
none-too-bright crook pals of the hero,
and Irene Franklin as the camp cook.
To them falls the assignment of keep-
ing the plot from taking itself too
seriously. They do it well, if rowdily.
There are at least two references to
parts of equine anatomy.
Robert Young appears to the best
possible advantage as our hero and
Jean Parker is acceptable as Sarah of
the Southern Bayous. She would have
done better if not made to talk and
made up to look like a Park Avenue
debutante. Maude Eburne, Joseph
Cawthorn, Raymond Hatton and Er-
ville Alderson handle smaller roles
capably. C. Henry Gordon is a bit
hard to swallow as the half-caste vil-
lain. Ruth Channing does her mo-
ment pleasantly.
A good deal of directorial skill and
production values have been lavished
on the picture, but no amount can
cover the basic story familiarity. The
only surprises the script contains are
that it would dare utilize so many
tried and once-true situations.
Delay Villa^ Shots
Delayed by additional script work,
the new scenes for "Viva Villa" at
MGM failed to get before the cameras
yesterday. David Selznick has rushed
Howard Emmett Rogers and James K. ^
McGuinness in to do extra scnpt work/
m hopes of" getting started Monday.,
Brent-Warner Trial
Technical Battle
George Brent's difficulties with
Warners were aired yesterday before
Superior Court Judge Walter S. Gates
in the opening of the trial of Brent's
action against the picture company for
$1,425 in salary claimed due him at
the rate of $450 per week.
Player rejected a role in "Manda-
lay," asserting it would injure and
degrade him, and was suspended. His
option was exercised November 8. He
claims he reported for work every day
but received no assignment until he
walked December 18. Hearing con-
tinues.
Plan Sound Version
McFadden's Flats'
Charles R. Rogers is planning to
make a talkie version of "McFadden's
Flats" as one of the four remaining
pictures on his Paramount contract. He
is negotiating at present for the talkie
rights.
The picture was made as a silent in
1927 with Charlie Murray in the top
spot by the producing firm of Charles
R. Rogers, Eph Asher and Edward
Small.
Furthman 'Sandino'
Yam Hot at MCM
Charles Furthman has a story up
with MGM based on the life of San-
di^no, Nicaraguan hero recently assas-
sinated, that may work out as a sequel
to "Viva Villa" at that studio.
Furthman, on newspaper ventures,
became well acquainted with Sandino
in Nicaragua in 1928, and when the
Latin chieftain visited Los Angeles in
1933 he was a guest of the writer's.
The story, in work for a long time,
has peculiarly just come up for con-
sideration coincident with the assas-
sination which has restored Sandino
to the front pages.
Thalberg Angels a Play
D. A. Doran's first play for his
Group Theatre, "Gentlewoman." will
be backed by Irving Thalberg with the
idea of buying it for a Norma Shearer
vehicle. Doran leaves for the east
Saturday.
Another for Swanson
Radio yesterday assigned the third
Wheeler and Woolsey untitled feature
to H. N. Swanson's production wing.
Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby are on
the script and the music.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page
money, and as he wrote a few pages
each day reporting to a SUPERVISOR
for approval or rejection.'
"Can you pick any supervisor or
producer in Hollywood who would be
able to see 'All Quiet' in manuscript
form, with a messy typewriter ribbon?
"For that matter do you know of
any producer in whose office the man-
uscript would have got further than
Stenographer No. 3?"
So back to our first thought: Why
the devil don't they decide to let the
directors DIRECT, the stars ACT, the
producers PRODUCE — and the writers
WRITE!
another universal hit!
'countess of monte cristo '
a Stanley bergerman production
here's what variety says—
and variety should know
'Countess of Monte Cristo' vy/ill take care of
itself in all spots . . . smart direction . . .
superior performances and an intriguing
story with fresh dressing . . . lavishly pre-
sented with dialog colorful and convincing
. . . photography exceptionally fine . . . care-
ful supervision and technical coordination
puts final impress of class on the production
—and there's more coming from where this came!
CHARLES
STUMAR
Photographed
U
Countess of
Monte Cristo
f!
"Charles Stumar's photography is
really stunning."
— Hollywood Reporter, Feb. 19, "34.
A Universal Production
PATSY KELLY
as
"MIMI"
•
in
"Countess of
Monte Cristo"
"Patsy Kelly a high light. . . . She
carries her scenes and they are
plenty."
—Hollywood Reporter. Feb. 19. '34.
Exclusive Management
RALPH FARNUM
HO-1945
1
KARL
FREUND
DIRECTED
"Countess
; of Monte Cristo"
ALSO
"Madame Spy" "Moonlight and Pretzels" "The Mummy"
Universal Studios
Now Shooting
"UNCERTAIN LADY"
Page Six
THE
P[iIP®PnrEPi
Feb. 24, 1934
I
Ilk
Experimental
Rouses Reviewer's Ire
The Experimental Cinema makes another appearance after
nearly a year of apparent inactivity. Inasmuch as the magazine
has the weight and importance of any book dealing with Holly-
wood, or any other subject for that matter, it is reviewed here.
Rather, it is not reviewed. It is
merely pointed at with a maximum of
respect and a minimum of interest.
Experimental Cinema is edited by a
group of men who have nothing in
common with Hollywood; who believe
that they have everything in common
with art, and who have telescoped
their vision into such a narrow and
concentrated beam of light that the
magazine is practically useless except
as an instrument with which to stir
up argument.
This issue is almost entirely devot-
ed to a bitter defense of "Que Viva
Mexico!" and a still more bitter at-
tack upon Upton Sinclair and his wife
for "their mutilation of Eisenstein's
original film." They also print the
entire scenario of the picture.
The balance of the magazine is de-
voted to loud squawks, which are
nonetheless barbed because they are
"high-brow," about anything and any-
body connected with Hollywood . . •
and the capitalists. Their review of
'*The Bowery" is typical: "Unseen are
the hungry derelicts in this section,
wandering brokers, homeless, products
of a ruthless capitalism. We are
shown beer barons and gangsters en-
joying privileges with women and poli-
ticians. Hollywood knows what it is
doing when it attempts to keep real-
ity from the masses and gives them
instead 'entertainment' — by escape to
the past."
They also offer in this issue the
"first of a series of comparative shots
dealing with the American scene,"
showing, on one page two stills — one
called "The Bowery as Hollywood Sees
It. Still from 'The Bowery,' an MCM
film," and the other, "The Bowery as
it actually is," showing a line of hun-
gry, jobless men. The fact that the
story of "The Bowery" is laid a num-
ber of years ago, that the actors in
the still are in old-time costumes, that
scene shown is the interior of a sa-
loon, that their comparative still is
a curbing and represents a 1934 scene,
and that MCM did NOT make the
film, evidently did not occur to them.
Incidentally, the Cotham Book Mart
publishes the magazine.
Of much more interest, possibly,
than all this is a news item of the
week , . . that President Roosevelt is
somehow finding time to \A^rite a new
book, called "On Our Way," which
will be published by John Day Com-
pany. He writes it in his "spare time,"
and on Saturday afternoons.
This week has been a humdinger
for books. In one day alone there
were more than twenty titles released.
Mysteries were conspicuous by their
absence.
Following are reviews of some of
the more important:
"Falling Star"
Author Vicki Baum
Publisher Doubleday, Doran
All the books written so far on
Hollywood are topped by Vicki Baum's
latest novel, "Falling Star."
Starting at the peak of Donka Mor-
escu's career as a star in the silent
films, it traces her tragic path through
her eclipse when the talkies come, her
successful fight to regain her position,
the sorrow that love caused, and her
final, resigned slipping into bit parts.
Miss Baum has accompanied her
highly original and distinctive plot
with an authentic background, and her
book is definitely impressive.
"City Harvest"
Author. .Margaret Cheney Dawson
Publisher Macmillan
Perhaps if Mrs. Dawson had culti-
vated more restraint in writing and
went a little deeper into cultivating
her characters, her "City Harvest"
would carry more weight.
As it is, it is merely another book
and its theme is a plea for the old-
time faithful-till-death-do-us-part
marriages.
Her pictures of New York, how-
ever, and her description of a New
Year's party are works of art.
"The Life of Hans Christian
Andersen"
Author Signe Toksvig
Publisher Harcourt, Brace
This is one of the remarkable biog-
raphies of the year, written by a wo-
man who loves the great story teller
enough to weave tears into her words
and who understands him well enough
to laugh gently at him,
Andersen's life is reflected in his
fairy tales. His father was a poor
cobbler and his mother, who was fif-
teen years older than her husband, be-
lieved explicitly in witch doctors. His
grandfather was insane and went
about the city singing, his brow
wreathed in flowers. Young Hans
grew up to be a dark, mysterious
child, who played with dolls and be-
lieved that angels talked to him at
night.
He made attempt after attempt to
go on the stage; he called on the
leading artistic and intellectual lights
of Copenhagen and startled them by
his queer talk; he wept furiously at
every peak or valley in his life; he was
feted by kings and princes, and died
in profound disappointment that the
world liked his fairy tales better than
it liked his plays and novels.
Miss Toksvig is a Dane who mar-
ried an Irishman in America. Her book
is a terribly moving and dramatic
masterpiece.
"The Lincoln Stories"
Author Honore Morrow
Publisher Wm. Morrow & Co.
Lincoln enthusiasts and collectors
should have this new volume, in which
are gathered "Dearer Than All,"
"Benefits Forgot," and "The Lost
Speech of Abraham Lincoln."
The stories are kindly and gay and
sad.
"Julia Newberry's Sketch
Book, or The Life of Two
Future Old Maids"
Publisher Norton
This is a companion book to "Julia
Newbery's Diary," which was pub-
lished last spring and which tickled
the sophisticates so much. This sec-
ond volume contains many drawings
by Julia and some pointed, quaint
comments on how
write, and how to
The two future old maids were her
self, 14, and her cousin, Minnie
Clapp, 12.
It is a charming thing.
to live, how to
"be somebody."
"All Trivia"
Author Logan Pearsall Smith
Publisher Harcourt, Brace
Here is a book to gather quietly to
yourself and sneak off where you will
not be disturbed.
Mr. Smith writes curious little stor-
ies— fables, almost — as innocent-
looking at first glance as a sparrow.
At second glance the sparrow turns
into a mocking bird and you find your-
self, with humanity in general, at the
receiving end of rapier-witted, hu-
morous criticism.
Mr. Smith writes with intricate,
cob-webby beauty, and his book is a
multi-faceted gem.
"Honest John Adams"
Author Gilbert Chinard
Publisher Little, Brown & Co.
Another really fine American his-
torical biography has been written by
Prof. Chinard, who has gone to no end
of pains to run down everything
known about John Adams and pre-
sent the data in a scholarly, inter-
esting volume.
The book is not as long as it might
have been had the author included a
detailed, comprehensive account of
Adams' activities, but it is a pene-
trating analysis of his character.
"The Prodigal Father"
Author Richard Church
Publisher Day
Richard Church has written a book
that borders on the pathological and
fails to be enlivened by one little
spark of humor.
It's all about a happy-go-lucky mu-
sician, George Cromwell, who is mar-
ried to a religious invalid. Her son,
Robert, is completely controlled by her
religious mania and is a victim of a
devastating mother-complex. The two
unite themselves against the husband
and father.
"The World Is Yours"
Author C. B. Lancaster
Publisher Appleton-Century
The locale of this novel is the Yu-
kon of the 1 920's, when the boom
days were over and the cold, white
loneliness of the place was more em-
phasized.
It is the story of Kirk Regard who
betrays the wife of a Swedish trap-
per, shoots the trapper and is en-
abled, because of a heavy snow storm,
to cover up all tracks of his crime.
But he can't cover up the tracks in
his mind.
It is Tamsin MacDonald, the cour-
ageous, loyal girl who loves him, who
finally persuades Kirk to take the
step that will ease his conscience.
A Man's Way"
Author /....Muriel H\fk
Publisher Appleton-C»rftury
'
This is the storyof,<a^ich, energetic
society woman vWlo marries Clyde
Martyn, a successful novelist who is
in poor health and who has not the
time or disposition for parties, hunting
and playing.
Unfortunate man! Unable to keep
up with his wife, he incurred first heJ
displeasure and then her hatred.
The book is a rather good, but un-
important, study of a woman's sel-
fishness and a man's weakness.
"The Flowering Thorn"
Author Margery Sharp
Publisher Putnam
Just because an attractive young
man failed to fall head over heels in
love with her, Lesley Frewen deserts
her smart social set, adopts a child
and moves out into the country.
Purified by the clean English air
and the singing of birds, Lesley makes
the break with her society friends
even deeper by inviting them to visit
her in the country and then watching
their behavior which, if it wasn't quite
up to standard in the city, certainly
has no place in the quiet, wholesome
country.
Take it or leave it.
Feb. 24, 1934
TH
Page Seven
MORE SPRING BOOK LISTS
Presses Not Idle Turning
Out New Fiction Works
GOSSIP OF AUTHORS
Longman's
Fiction:
Marie Paluna by Blair Nilesl
We Sail Tomorrow.. ..by F. H. BrennanI
Bassett By Stella Cibbonsfl
Blonde Countess by H. O. Yardleyf
Another Man's Wife.. ..Marie Lowndesl
Cold Comfort Farm, by Stella Gibbons
Macaulay
From Broadway to Moscow
by Marjorie E. Smith
Heavenly Sinner. ...by T. Everett Harre
Chief Counsel by A. L. Furman
Born To Sin by H. L. Gates
Return of Arsene Lupin. .M. Leblanc
Such Men Are Dangerous. .Elinor Glyn
Sunshine Stampede by Dote Fulton
Make Me Yours by Eleanore Browne
Street of Painted Lips. .by M, Dekobra
For Love and Gold by E. J. David
''darie.A.nnaud, Spy....by Fielding Hope
River God by Evans Wall
Shared Woman by Harold S. Kahm
CaTTof-the Blood by G. O. Baxter
Oagar's Child by Grace Naismith
Yesterday's Sin by H. A. Keller
Born Unwanted by Ross Edwin
Unfinished Day. by Alberta S. Eagan
Guinea Pig Returns. ...by Lewis Graham
^?H*fdef — By Appointment
. by Eleanore Browne
Adam and Two Eves.... by Anonymous
Newlyweds by Howard Buck
■ Lead Law by Amos Moore
Seven Bar Seven Ranch. ...Julian Lucas
^unglemania by A. Torrance, M.D.
Love Triumphant by Joan Conquest
The Fated Woman. ...by Wm. LaVarre
Murder Could Not Kill-Gregory Baxter
Cossac-k Gtrl by Marina Yurlova
Strange Paths by Louise Gerard
Cticanicl«--of An Infamous Woman...
by David Liebovitz
Let'g 'Buy a Farm-.-by Lewis Graham
New York Madness. -by M. Bodenheim
Yesterday's Burdens .by R. M. Coates
Strayed Angel by Dolf Wyllarde
Case of Col. Marchand.E. C. R. Lorac
Poet's Gold by David Ross
There Ought to be a Law.Wm. Seagle
|i-Belong To You by Denison Clift
N«ked Murder by Firth Erskine
C. Putnam's Sons
Fiction:
Pillar of Salt by Peter Gray
.Vestal Virgin. ...by Arthur Meeker, )r.
Storm Music by Dornford Yates
Flowering Thorn. ...by Margery Sharp
Tugboat Annie by N. R. Raine
The Bright Lexicon. ...by D. C. Peattie
Sycamore Tree....Elizabeth Cambridge
Hostages to Fortune
by Elizabeth Cambridge
i TlTC'"Way~xtf_jtbe Scarlet Pimpernel
I by Baroness Orczy
The Phantom Emperor. N. H, Swanson
Tt^e- Judas Tree by N. H. Swanson
>This Thing Called Love
by Elizabeth Carfrae
Saiiiflg.;._SaUing Swiftly, by J. B. Yeats
Somebody Must, by Alice G. Rosman
The Red Demon by A. J. Wright
The Yellow Briar by Patrick Slater
After the Widow Changed Her Mind
by Cornelia Penfield
Three- Cttres.: by Sholom Asch
Harrison Smith & Robert
Haas, Inc.
Spi<ier in the Cup. ..by Jos. Shearing
Farewell Victoria by T. H. White
Hospital Murders. by Means Davis
James Joyce and the Making of
Ulysses by Frank Budgen
Come in at the Door, by Wm. March
This Much Is Mine!....Nola Henderson
One Way-Treket by Ethel Turner
Set Free by Sylvia Paul jerman
The Reckoning. ...by Leane Zugsmith
The Chronicle of Caroline Quellen
by Seaton Peacey
^Ffaos-.- A. EdiSTSnv.by Mary C. Nerney
I, Claudius by Robert Graves
Seven Gothic Tales. ...by Isak Dinesen
Belmonte, the Matador....H. Baerlein
Indeed This Flesh Grace Flandrau
Dr. Martino by William Faulkner
Man's Fate by Andre Malraux
Breathe Upon These Slain
by Evelyn Scott
Doubleday, Doran
Fiction:
"Passions Spin the Plot. ...Vardis Fisher
Skin and Bones.. by Thorne Smith
Cross of Peace by Philip Gibbs
Falling Star by Vicki Baum
Cloud Howe by L. G. Gibbon
A-Warnrng-tcrWanTShs
by Mary Mitchell
The Valiant Wife. ...Margaret Wilson
Folded Hills by Stewart E. White
A Feather in Her+tat.l. A. R. Wylie
Chelbury Abbey by Denis Mackail
It's A Battlefield, by Graham Greene
Manhattan Love Song.Kathleen Norris
Three Men and Diana .Kathleen Norris
James Shore's Daughter
by Stephen Vincent Benet
Whispering Tongues... Lawrence Kirk
Family Cruise by Helen Ashton
Harriet by Elizabeth Jenkins
Crooked Lane by Frances N. Hart
Long Day Closes Beatrice Tunstall
Sara Alone by N. S. Laitch
The Lords Anointed....Ruth E. McKee
The Power To Kill, by Robert Hichens
Karen's Destiny, by Harriet Comstock
Unfinished Cathedral--..T. S. Stribling
■The- -f^-f«ct- Pair by Lois Montross
Introducing Terry Sloane
by Concordia Merrel
F^iTjfessioniri — b©ver....by Maysie Greig
Ten Cent Love by Maysie Greig
Little -Stst««~©onY "Count
by Maysie Greig
All About Jane by Pamela Wynne
Always Tomorrow., .by Ruby M. Ayres
Love Is So Blind by Ruby M. Ayres
-Peeking Madness by J. Van Dyke
Red. Clark Rides Alone
by Gordon Young
T*»e-Yukon Kid by J. B. Hendryx
Trail Dust by C. E. Mulford
Smoky Pass by Ernest Haycox
Drama :
Play Parade — ^^r^^. by Noel Coward
Mary ^f 5cQ±larid.... Maxwell Anderson
Morton's Folly by J. B. Morton
Archy's Life of MehitabeL
by Don Marquis
The Crime Club:
McKee of Centre Street. .Helen Reilly
Richardson's Second Case
by Sir Basil Thompson
London Calling by Val Geilgud
and Holt Marvell
The Lesser Antilles Case....Rufus King
King Rat \ by Sax Rohmar
The Sinister Shadow by Henry Holt
Death of a Ghost. Margery Allingham
The Riddle of the Russian Princess
: ...by E, S. Liddon
The Misfortunes of Mr. Teal
by Leslie Charteris
The Puzzle of the Silver Persian.. ..
- by Stuart Palmer
Panic by Anthony Berkeley
The Crooked Lane. ...Frances N. Hart
The Intrusive Tourist
by Mrs. Bailie Reynolds
Morrow
Without Armor by James Hilton
Two's Company. .Margaret G. Herzog
The^Xalktng Sparrow Murders
by Darwin Teilhet
Gowpuncher by Charles Ballew
Robert E. Lee. ...by Robt. W. Winston
Mr. Thompson in the Attic
by Anna Gordon Keown
I Was a German by Ernst Toller
Death Cruises South Roger Denbie
Laramie Rides Alone. ..by Will Ermine
A Journal of These Days
by Albert )ay Nock
Adventure's a Wench — -the Autobiog-
raphy of Charles Veil as told to
Howard R. Marsh.
The Pipe Dream of Peace
by John W. Wheeler-Bennett
Farrar and Rinehart, Inc.
Masked Women by Rex Beach
Land of Plenty by Robert Cantwell
Magnus Merriman....by Eric Linklater
The Ten Million. ...by Mark Hellinger
The Voyage. -- by Heinrich Herm
Finnley Wren by Philip Wylie
The Man with Four Lives. Wm. Cowen
The Story of a Country Boy
by Dawn Powell
The Incurable Filibuster — Adventures
of Col. Dean Ivan Lamb.
Thunder in the Dust Alan LeMay
Stars Fell on Alabama. ...Carl Carmer
Great White Gods Eduard Stucken
Mr. Pinkerton Goes to Scotland Yard
by David Frome
Plays for the Parlor Marc Connelly
The Flowering Thorn. .Alexander Laing
One Happy Jew by Nat J. Ferber
Ninety-two Days. ...by Evelyn Waugh
Twenty Mad Years
by Col. F. E. McCammon
Youth and Russia. ...by F. E. Williams
Don Segundo Sombra
by Ricardo Guiraldes
Five Silver Daughters ..by Louis Golding
Business Women in Love
by Faith Baldwin
Racing the Seas by Ahto Walter
Drums of Morning by Floyd Dell
The Story of Skyscrapers. .Alf. Morgan
They Knew Mr. Knight
by Dorothy Whipple
Manhattan Prodigal. ...George Tichenor
The Indulgent Husband by Colette
Boy and Girl Tramps of America....
by Thomas Minehan
The Folks by Ruth Suckow
Lewis Mumford has )ust finished
his new book, "Technics and Civili-
zation," which Harcourt, Brace will
publish in April.
The Grosset and Dunlap edition of
Faith Compton Mackenzie's "The Sibyl
of the North," the story of Queen
Christina, features a picture of Greta
Garbo on the jacket.
A poetry contest for poems of
twenty lines or less 'first and second
prize $15) is announced by the North
Carolina Poetry Review, Gastonia,
North Carolina.
Two books titled "Kaleidoscope" will
be published soon. One is written by
Stefan Zweig and the other by A. R.
Burr. Last year the favorite title was
"Mischief." Two books of that name
were published within a few days of
one another.
The alley cat is immortalized.
Baron Ireland, famous for his lyrics in
praise of his lowly cat, has made a
book of his poems, "Our Cat," which
will be published in the fall by Dou-
bleday, Doran.
The story of Bertrand du Guesclin,
the famous brigand who led the bri-
gands out of France, dethroned a King
of Spain, was a Robin Hood to the
poor, and once paid his henchmen
from his own pocket so that they
would not loot a poor village, has
been written by M. Coryn. The book,
"The Black Eagle," is published by
Funk and Wagnalls.
"The Murder of the Honest Brok-
er," by Willoughby Sharp, who re-
cently broke his leg while boarding
his yacht in Bermuda, will be pub-
lished soon by Claude Kendall.
Labor Pow-Wow Here
(Continued from Page 1 )
Federation of Musicians, United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Join-
ers and the International Brotherhood
of Painters, Decorators and Paper-
hangers. Producing companies are
MGM, Fox, Universal, Warner Broth-
ers, First National, Paramount and
Radio.
Among the presidents who are ex-
pected, unless plans are changed, will
be William C. Elliott, of lATSE; Joseph
Weber, Musicians; L. P. Lindelof,
Painters. Present plans call for H. P.
Brigaerts, International vice president
of the IBEW. to represent that or-
ganization, and Abe Muir, vice presi-
dent of the carpenters, to represent
them.
Among the studio representatives
slated to sit in at the discussion will
be Nicholas Schenck, now here; Sidney
Kent, who is due here shortly; Pat
Casey. Al Berres, B. B. Kahane, who
is due back in time for the confab, as
well as special representatives from
the various locals.
Probability is that rehash of late
strike may come up at the parley with
uncovering of workings at the time
that may prove sensational news. It
is understood that while conference is
slated for Hollywood, there is some
effort being made in some quarters
to have it shifted at last minute to
New York.
Coming: A Fourth Year of
ACHIEVEMENT
SINCE Eastman Super-sensitive Panchro-
matic Negative was introduced early in
1 9 3 I , its revolutionary qualities have fulfilled
every hope and prediction of its sponsors. It
has helped cameramen and producers so tre-
mendously. . . it has affected the motion pic-
ture art so profoundly... it has contributed to
so many cinematic triumphs, that a further
prediction can now be made: In its fourth
year, as heretofore, this Eastman film will
be an important factor in the most conspic-
uous motion picture achievements. Eastman
Kodak Company. (J. E. Brulatour, Inc., Dis-
tributors, New York, Chicago, Hollywood.)
EASTMAN Supersensitive
Panchromatic Negative
KTTRO-GOLD'A'YN-MAYER STUDIOS.
J. MP.SAV'JFL MARX,
CULVKR CITY,OALIi«\
Vol. XIX. No. 39. Price 5e.
TODAY'S FILM
NEWS TODAY
Monday, February 26, 1934
RECEIVERS €N WAT €LT
• IT would certainly not be ethical
for anyone connected with the Re-
porter to comment on the individual
opinions expressed in the ballot re-
ceived so far in the Reporter Award
Contest.
But there are a few definite trends
on which we feel we may speak with-
out violating any of the confidences
that a voter has a right to expect.
The two that stick in our minds,
after a week-end chance to study
ballots, are these:
Writers are willing and anxious to
vote for a good piece of work by
another writer;
Players are willing and anxious to
vote for a good piece of work by
another player.
Producers, executives, and "what-
have-you" with a few cheerful excep-
tions, vote for THEIR OWN COM-
PANY'S product with a childlike in-
sufferable gall.
Really, it would be a joke if it were
not so serious.
Being a fellow who has to live by
"putting one word after another" —
we probably have quarreled with
writers more than with any other
branch of the business in our occa-
sional editorial quarrels.
But gol durn it, if those writers, in
their votes didn't give us cause to
cheer. They prove themselves suffi-
ciently CRAFTSMEN to make every
ballot an intelligent expression of
opinion from an intelligent person.
They don't all agree — gosh, no! — but
their votes are intelligent, no touch of
professional jealousy, personal idiosyn-
crasies, and petty log-rolling.
The same goes for the players. We
hope the little girl will forgive us for
publishing her vote, but we think
you'd get the idea ifrom Gloria Stu-
art's ballot on the best acting per-
formance.
Gloria wrote: "Katharine Hepburn,
that's all."
Doesn't that give you a kick?
It would be a shame if the pro-
ducers, executives and the others we
might mention can't measure up in
broadmindedness to the writers and
players. It would be worse than that
— a pretty bad slant on the picture
industry. Either that, or, a great
boost for writers and actors.
Good Legit Week
New York. — It looks like a good
week for the legit on Broadway.
"Ragged Army" comes to the Sel-
wyn Monday, "When in Rome"
Tuesday at the 49th St. theatre,
and "Yellow Jack" to the Martin
Beck on Thursday.
Roach Suspends on
'Babes in Toyland*
Hal Roach has suspended produc-
tion on the musical fantasy "Babes in
Toyland" which he planned to put
into work the first part of March.
The picture was originally intended
as a co-starring vehicle for Oliver
Hardy and Stan Laurel, and with the
latter out of the picture for the time
being. Roach is waiting until Laurel
can be brought back to the fold. No
writers are working on the script at
present.
George Creel a Mystery
George Creel is becoming almost as
elusive as Margaret Sullavan. On def-
inite "announcements" Creel was ex-
pected in town each day last week.
This morning's news is "some day this
week." Meanwhile Judge Ben Lind-
say is twiddling his thumbs and won-
dering just what his authority is.
Holman Chaperons Party
Along with a few stories and scripts
Russell Holman arrives in Hollywood
with Marion Morris, from the original
cast of "Double Door"; Anne Revere,
who will be featured in the same pic-
ture, and Jeff Lazarus, on publicity
bent.
Zasu on Way Home
New York. — Zasu Pitts spent six
days with the doctors on a sinus op-
eration and turned right around and
started back for the Coast.
Pic Business Likely To Stage
First Mirac/e Of Recovery;
Para, and RKO Lead the Way
New York. — It begins to look as though the motion picture
industry will lead the parade in showing the miracles the "New
Deal" has done for American business. Those on the inside say
that it will not be more than a month before Paramount is dis-
charged from receivership, and the
latest RKO report gives every indica-
tion that this organization is also on
its way to resume standing with com-
panies unshadowed by the word "Re-
ceiver."
Fox alone has the Wall Street fore-
casters uncertain. Sidney Kent put
over a great deal when he got the
bondholders and creditors to accept
new paper for their debts, but the
new deal was based largely on expec-
tancy of money-making pictures to
(Continued on Page 4)
Warren William Has
Idea for Relief Fund
Warren William has had an idea
that has the Motion Picture Relief
Fund excited. William suggests the
issuance of a special three-cent stamp
which all autograph collectors would
have to use before getting their sig-
natures.
Frank Bauer and M. C. Levee have
been appointed a committee to report
on the proposal.
Laemmie Jr. on the Job
Junior Laemmie arrived Saturday,
and the expectation is a buzz of ac-
tivity at the Universal lot starting
tomorrow. It is also understood that
Junior has a couple of plays and play-
ers up his sleeve to announce in the
course of the week.
CLIMAX IIV SHEEHAX- WHITE
'SCAIVDALS' ROW REACHED
f
The Fox production of George
White's "Scandals" spent a hectic
week-end, as a result of a battle that
has been on between White and Win-
field R. Sheehan since the comple-
tion of the picture.
White previewed the version that
he liked in Santa Ana Friday night,
and a recut edition of that version
in San Diego Saturday night. But,
meanwhile, a Sheehan version of the
same picture was in Oakland, Cali-
fornia, for a Saturday night preview.
Del Monte, Montecito and Riverside
have not been heard from yet.
The battle reaches its climax at
the studio today when both forces re-
turn with their individual preview re-
ports.
White's contract specifies that he
is the boss of his own picture. Shee-
han interprets that up until the time
the picture is ready to be cut and
(Continued on Page 2 I
Cold Water Dose
For Extras' Merger
Indications are that the various
"extra" organizations will not be able
to gettogether in one big, happy fam-
ily, as was suggested last week by Al-
lan Garcia, head of Supporting and
Extra Players.
Those on the inside say that the
four main groups will never get to-
gether due to jealousies, fear of losing
identity, suspicions and desire of some
to retain the power. Garcia, who
(Continued on Page 4)
Long Termer at Fox
For Helen Twelvetrees
Helen Twelvetrees was signed by
Fox to a long term contract Saturday
on the strength of her work m "All
Men Are Enemies." Her first picture
on her new contract will be the lead
opposite Spencer Tracy in the Roth-
stem story. "Now I'll Tell." The Wil-
liam Hawks agency negotiated the
deal.
Renew Seymour's Ticket
Warners has signed and sealed a
new production ticket with James
Seymour, contract going into effect
immediately while the old paper, slat-
ed to expire in May, has been discard-
ed. Seymour's associate producer deal
gives him a tilt on a five-year ar-
rangement with yearly options.
Play Mortality Great
New York. — The plays on their way
to Cain's storehouse this week are
"Without End," which had been at
the Henry Miller theatre; "Queer
People," at the National; "Legal Mur-
der," at the President; and "By Your
Leave," at the Ethel Barrymore.
Loew's Declares Usual Div
New York. — Loew's, Inc. has de-
clared its regular quarterly dividend of
twenty-five cents a share on the com-
mon stock, payable March 31 to
stockholders of record on March 1 5.
THE WRITERS' NUMBER
IS THE YEAR'S BEST CHANCE
TO REGISTER WITH THE EXECS
OUT SOON J
Page Two
irMfefeiF©iCTit
»V. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
TMew York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St . Wisconsin 7-7193:
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse: Buenos Aires.
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werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published everv day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10 Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Feb. 26. 1934
Guess what studio head it is who
seemed very willing when approached
by the women selling tickets for the
El Nido Camp benefit until he recall-
ed it was to be held at the Vendome.
then practically said, "Nothing doing.
Even for CHARITY I won't help any-
thing that fellow Wilkerson is con-
nected with."
Nice feller.
Hollywood, which has been pedic-
ulous with parties for over a week,
reached its party-height over the
week-end with two or more soirees
every day. The Darryl Zanucks took
over the Colony Club Friday night for
a huge to-do for Aden Roark, the
Lyn Howards and other famous mallet-
wielders. Connie Bennett and Irene
Selznick were among the smartest
dressed women present and others
who had fun included Gilbert Roland,
the Lucien Hubbards, Bess Meredyth,
the Sidney Lanfields, the Bill Coetzes,
the Raoul Walshes, Virginia Bruce,
Count Carpegna, Laddie Sanford and
Mary Duncan, Ad Schulberg and many
more.
•
The Irving Thalbergs and the Fred-
die Frelinghuysens soireed Saturday
night and the Frelinghuysens quite
naturally and easily accomplished a
"family picnic" which many another
hostess might not have dared to at-
tempt. We mean that Gary Cooper,
Sandra Shaw, Lupe Velez, Countess di
Frasso, Johnny Weissmuller and others
all dined and chatted quite happily
and peacefully together — in fact, the
party was so good that it lasted un-
til dawn!
•
When we think of some of the
clucks that are handed picture con-
tracts these days — it just doesn't
seem right that one of Broadway's
young and better actresses should be
next to starvation right on our door-
steps! The girl, who created a sensa-
tion when she played in "Street
Scene" on the stage, came here on
the advice of an agent several weeks
ago. At the moment she is so broke
and desperate that she has had to
budget herself down to thirty-five
"CAROLINA-
FOX prod.; director, Henry King; writers, Paul Green, Reginald Berkeley.
Music Hall Theatre
Worid-Telegram: Told leisurely, and with great charm and simplicity, "Caro-
lina" is not the sort of entertainment that will appeal to movie audiences
who like blood-curdling, fast-moving melodrama. But for those who like
literate and civilized fables, told simply and honestly and played extremely
well by expert mummers — particularly, Lionel Barrymore, and Janet Gay-
nor, this "Carolina" should be eminently satisfying entertainment.
Herald-Tribune: There is a definite pictorial charm to the settings and there is
the touching characterization offered by Miss Gaynor. There are helpful
performances, too, by Miss Crosman, Robert Young and Mona Barrie, while
Stepin Fetchit might have been funny if one could have heard him. But
to me, "Carolina" lacked the proper dramatic forcefulness and insight.
Times: Henry King gives his work excellent timing and eminently satisfactory
camera technique. There is no straining for effect, no extravagantly de-
picted incidents, which one might expect in the filming of such a tale,
and the settings are realistic.
journal: The picture is told with a slow and gentle charm. The Southern at-
mosphere is convincing and Negro songs help to heighten the illusion.
Miss Gaynor is an appealing little heroine and Young is attractive as the
boy.
News: Fox Films not only have done right by Janet Gaynor in having assigned
her to the role of Joanna in "Carolina" but they have also not slighted Paul
Green's play, "The House of Connelly " on which the picture is based, by
having given Henry King a free hand in directing it as he did.
American: The picture is distinguished by the pictorial excellence of Mr. King's
direction. Janet Gaynor stirs admiration and affection in the heart with
one of the best of her portrayals in a role that suits her perfectly. Mr.
King has made a sensitive production with some exquisite -camera work,
especially in a scene which flashes back to the days of the glory of "The
House of Connelly."
Mirror: The plot moves briskly to a stirring climax. A happy ending is plausible
and gratifying. Miss Gaynor's many fans may well be proud of "Carolina."
She will impress a new and more adult audience in this fine film.
Post: It is one of the best performances that Miss Gaynor has given on the
screen, a quiet and natural piece of acting which she sustains even through
some of the more trying phases of the picture. It is a slim unpretentious
story, depending for its emotional quality on character and atmosphere.
The latter is achieved in a highly credible degree by the astute and sensi-
tive direction of Henry King.
The last reel is as botched a performance as ever scenario writer wished
upon an otherwise fine script. Its commonplace happy ending must have
been invented by the same person who thought up the title "Carolina" in
the hope that Janet Gaynor fans might think it another "Adorable."
Sun:
Woolf Writing Material
For Swanson Personals
Edgar Allan Woolf is writing a mu-
sical interlude for Gloria Swanson to
appear in on her personal appearance
tour in the east.
Earl Oxford, MGM contract player,
will sing two numbers with Miss
Swanson in her skit.
Eldridge First 'DarkTower'
With Warners placing Warren Wil-
liam into the spot opposite Kay Fran-
cis in "Dr. Monica," John Eldridge is
up for the role next to Mary Astor in
the Edward G. Robinson picture "Dark
Tower."
cents a day — which is just what she is
living on at the moment!
•
The Paramount stujo was in an up-
roar yesterday because the news and
camera guys hadn't been tipped off
or just hadn't gotten wise to the fact
that Gary Grant and Virginia Cherrill
were alighting from the train at Pasa-
dena instead of Los Angeles. Conse-
quently there were a lot of disap-
pointed news-hounds at the L. A. sta-
tion. And there was only one photog-
rapher at the Pasadena depot to click
Gary and Virginia — and guess who the
photographer was! Yeah — it was Fink
— good ole Fink!
Col. and Schary Settle Up
Columbia has granted Dore Schary
a release on his original story, "Mur-
der in G Minor," returning the prop-
erty to the writer in lieu of a cash
settlement on his recent one-picture
ticket with the company which was
abrogated.
Kirkland in Little Man^
Muriel Kirkland, who had the top
spot in the stage version locally of
"Sailor Beware," goes back into pic-
tures in a featured role in "Little
Man, What Now?" at Universal.
Sheehan-White Row
(Continued from Page 1)
previewed. The present battle is what
to cut and what to leave in, with
both holding out for different ver-
sions of the musical.
Fundamentally both versions are the
same, but the difference lies in the
complete elimination of a sequence
here or there, or the treatment and
the length of other episodes.
Fox people are laying the odds that
White wins his battle, and if this is
the case the silence that has existed
between himself and Sheehan for the
past few weeks will be made perma-
nent.
Trades Commission
Eyes 'Indorsements'
Washington. — A decision that may
be the forerunner of many other dras-
tic actions on "Hollywood indorse-
ments" was reached by the Federal
Trades Commission Saturday.
The commission issued a "cease and |
desist" order in the case of a com-
pany understood to be called the
"Fairest Cosmetics" for using the
words "created in Hollywood" to de-
scribe its products, and also using the
photo of well known screen artistes
in a manner which implied that they
had indorsed the product.
Columbia in a Sweat Over:
Stories for Carole Lombard
Columbia has two writing teams atj
work on Carole Lombard pictures.
First to go will be an untitled one by j
Roland Pertwee and Prescott Chaplin, j
the second, also nameless, beingjl
scripted by Edmond North and James |
Gow. Robert North is supervising both.
Tech Loss For Year
New York. — -Technicolor Inc. and;
subsidiaries for 1933 show a loss of|
$249,396, after taxes, interest, de-l
preciation, amortization of patents!
and other charges have been deduct-}
ed. against $235,503 loss for 1932.1
Lois Wilson Up at Para.
Lois Wilson is being considered by|
Paramount for an important role inj
"The Witching Hour," which Henryj
Hathaway directs under Bayard Veil-
ler's supervision.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-y^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstcad 1133
RUSSELL.MILLER,
and Company
Members
MEW YORK STOCK EXCHANCf
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst Mgr
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1 181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
Feb. 26, 1934
THE
KilPOI^TlR
Page Three
PARAS 'WHARF AXGEL'
GOOD IDEA GONE WRONG
Theme Doesn't Get
Break It Deserves
"WHARF ANGEL"
Paramount
Directors: William Cameron Menzies
and George Somnes.
Author Frederick Schlick
Adaptors: Samuel Hoffenstein and
Frank Partes.
Art Directors: Hans Dreier and John
Goodman.
Photographer Victor Milner
Cast: Victor McLaglen, Dorothy Dell,
Preston Foster, Alison Skipworth,
David Landau, John Rogers, Mis-
cha Auer, James Burke, Alfred
Delcambre, Frank Sheridan, Don
Wilson, John Northpole and Max
Wagner.
Brotherly love on wharves of the
San Francisco water-front; regenera-
tion of street-walkers and traitorous
sailors; sob-stuff set to oaths; the
Christ-spirit in a stoke hole . . . well,
there must have been an idea to start
with when Paramount began to make
"Wharf Angel," alias "The Man Who
Broke His Heart."
But the idea is pretty well buried
in the finished picture under soot,
ashes and sweat.
"Wharf Angel" is supposed to be one
of those two-fisted pictures where all
the men drink out of bottles, hurl
tables and chairs around dives, and
stand together in beautiful, sneering,
hairy strength against the cops . . and
where the women love them for it.
The picture is outstanding for pho-
tography, atmosphere and color, but
no audience will forgive the lack of a
convincing story or strong direction.
Preston Foster is Como, who
preaches tolerance and love and un-
derstanding. He falls in love with
Dorothy Dell who plays a girl who
hangs around Alison Skipworth's dive.
Victor McLaglen is a stoker on a ves-
sel who helps Como escape the cops,
and who is also in love with the girl.
The two men become fast, firm
friends, telling each other about
their girls and never dreaming that
they are both talking about the same
one.
The "big moment" of the picture
comes when McLaglen finds out that
the girl is in love with Foster, and he
turns Foster over to the police for the
$1000 reward.
Oh, well . . . the film is definitely
and thoroughly a washout, with noth-
ing in it to appeal to any type of
audience.
McLaglen and Foster both do as well
as they can with their roles and with
the direction, and Dorothy Dell man-
ages to get into the spirit of the
thing. Given a part that will not be
such a strain to an audience's credul-
ity. Miss Dell would fare much better.
Alison Skipworth turns in a good job
as old Mother Bright, and David Lan-
dau is good as a cop.
William Cameron Menzies and
George Somnes directed; the original
story was by Frederick Schlick, and
Samuel Hoffenstein and Frank Par-
tes did the adaptation. The art di-
rectors, Hans Dreier and John Good-
man, dressed the picture with more
care than it deserved, and, as said be-
Acfrors Will Gag
Maybe it's a gag — but in the in-
terests of complete reporting we
must chronicle the fact that M. C.
Levee and Lou Ostrow are squab-
bling over one day's work for
George Stone. It appears that
George, kibitzing on a Monogram
set, walked through a scene, and
now Mike is sending a bill for the
day's work.
'No Funny Business'
Is Not So Funny
"NO FUNNY BUSINESS"
(B.I. P.)
Directors John Stafford
and W. Victor Harkway
Author Dorothy Hope
Photographer Walter Blakeley
Cast: Gertrude Lawrence, Laurence
Olivier, Jill Esmond, Edmond
Breon, Gibb McLaughlin.
There is plenty of funny business in
the English film "No Funny Business,"
but unfortunately it is directed with
such lethargy and aimlessness that
most of the kick is taken out of the
story.
The plot is essentially amusing and
is based on a pure comedy angle that,
handled with more spirit, could make
a swell, light farce. As it was pre-
viewed here it is incredibly slow and
even, at times, irritating.
The story is this: The Potterton Bu-
reau is something new in detective
agencies, its aim is to reconcile cou-
ples who are on the verge of divorce.
It accomplishes this by supplying co-
respondents who meet the dissatisfied
partner at a hotel and by "keep-it-
clean" methods persuade him or her
to go back to the wife or husband.
Edmond Breon and Gertrude Law-
rence are a couple who think they
see the parting of the ways. The
agency sends Jill Esmond to meet Mr.
Breon at a hotel in Cannes and show
him the error of his ways, and it sends
Laurence Olivier to the same hotel to
meet Gertrude Lawrence and endeavor
to reconcile her to her husband. They
all miss the appointments, with the
result that the two "detectives" are
thrown together in the same suite,
each thinking the other is the client.
The complications should have
thrown the audience into hysterics;
they fail to arouse much mirth.
Gertrude Lawrence wanders cheer-
fully through her role, singing one
good song, from which the picture
gets its title. Edmond Breon as her
husband is delightful. Laurence Oli-
vier is charming and ingratiating as
the detective, and Jill Esmond is
charming as the other agent.
Exhibitors should hope for nothing
from this picture. Audiences will be
intrigued by the beginning of the
story, but will yawn consistently
through the rest.
MCM Makes Shifts
In South America
New York. — MGM has made
changes in its South American per-
sonnel affecting six officials. Tom
Hale has been appointed supervisor of
sales in Chile and Peru, being trans-
ferred' from Venezuela distribution.
Joe Goltz, in charge of Peru sales, and
George Suarez, in charge of Chilean
distribution, have been assigned to
sales in Argentina.
P. Miranda Gonzales becomes su-
pervisor of sales in Venezuela and Co-
lombia. Dan Greenhouse goes to Co-
lombia, succeeding Gonzales as sales
manager. Greenhouse was formerly
at the MGM coast studio and re-
cently at the Washington exchange.
It's Rip Tide' Again
Many requests received by Irving
Thalberg from exhibitors throughout
the country caused the producer to
change the title of the Norma Shearer
starring vehicle from "Lady Mary's
Lover" back to its original title, "Rip
Tide."
Para. Signs Bickford
Charles Bickford was signed Satur-
day by Paramount for one of the top
spots in "Little Miss Marker" with
Adolphe Menjou, for the B. P. Schul-
berg unit. Alexander Hall will direct.
The Bren and Orsatti office made the
deal.
Foster Peeved at Fox
Preston Foster has asked Fox for a
release from his long termer. Play-
er's contention is the number of loan-
outs he has been playing recently
places him in a free-lance position
without his enjoying the remunera-
tion.
Lloyd and Radio
Talk Mutiny' Deal
Frank Lloyd and Radio are talking
back and forth on a deal which will
have the director produce his "Mutmy
on the Bounty" under the Radio
trademark. This is the one picture he
is permitted to do outside of his Fox
ticket.
Wykoff and Helliott Hurt
By Savage Lion and Bear
Alvin Wykoff, president of Camera
Local 659 and cameraman on Mas-
cot's serial of "The Lost Jungle," was
badly mauled by a lion at the Sennett
studio Saturday.
John Helliott, animal trainer and
working in the same picture, was ser-
iously clawed a little later in the day
when his Himalayan bear jumped him.
Helliott was treated first at the Hol-
lywood receiving hospital and taken to
the Hollywood hospital for major surg-
ery.
Miles Joins Para. Pub.
Staff in New Deal
With Frank Pope and Barney Hutch-
inson leaving the Paramount publicity
department, Tom Baily has signed
John Miles to fill Pope's spot and re-
arranged the line-up of other members
to take over Hutchinson's duties. Len
Boyd becomes planter, Rufus Blair
handles national press contacts and
Lance Heath is the new art director.
Ken Whitmore left Saturday on a two
weeks vacation.
Soi'.nd Boys Coif Winner
The cou.id department came out on
top in the Warner golf tournament
yesterday. Bob Wayne copping the J.
L. Warner prize with a 79. Ed Far-
rell, of the cutting department, snag-
ged the Bill Koenig offering for sec-
ond place, with Cecil Meyers and Bud
Flannigan coming next in line. Jack
Ketchum was decorated with the
booby for an honest 238.
ACADEMY ISSUES OFFICIAL
PRIMARY AWARD RESULTS
fore, the photography, by Victor Mil-
ner, is decidedly the best element in
the entire thing.
Better make a wide path around
this one. It's not for your house, or
yours, or yours . . .
The Academy has forwarded to its
members the nominees for the awards
of merit as determined in the primary
balloting. The members will now vote
finally on the names presented. At
the sixth annual banquet at the Am-
bassador March 16 winners will be
announced and the statuettes present-
ed. The nominees are:
Best performance, actress — Katha-
rine Hepburn in "Morning Glory,"
Radio; May Robson in "Lady for a
Day," Col.; Diana Wynyard in "Cav-
alcade," Fox.
Best performance, actor — Leslie
Howard in "Berkeley Square," Lasky-
Fox; Charles Laughton in "Henry the
Eighth," London Films-U. A.; Paul
Muni in "I Am a Fugitive from a
Chain Gang," Warners.
Best direction — Frank R. Capra, di-
recting "Lady for a Day," Col.; George
Cukor, "Little Women," Radio; Frank
Lloyd, "Cavalcade," Fox.
Best produced picture, best pro-
duction— "A Farewell to Arms,"
Para.; "Cavalcade," Fox; "Forty-sec-
ond Street," Warners; "I Am a Fu-
gitive from a Chain Gang," Warners;
"Lady for a Day,"
men," Radio;
Wrong," Para.;
MCM; "State Fair,
Col.; "Little Wo-
She Done Him
"Smilin' Thru,"
Fox; "Henry the
Eighth," London Films-U. A.
Best original motion picture story —
"One Way Passage," Robert Lord,
Warners; "Prizefighter and the Lady,"
Frances Marion, MGM; "Rasputin and
the Empress,
MGM.
Best motion
"Lady for a Day,
"Little Women,'
Victor Heerman,
Charles MacArthur,
picture adaptation —
' Robert Riskin, Col.;
Sarah Y. Mason and
Radio; "State Fair,"
Paul- Green and Sonya Levien, Fox.
Best photography — "A Farewell to
Arms," photographed by Charles
Lang, Para.; "Reunion in Vienna,"
George J. Folsey, Jr., MCM; "Sign of
the Cross," Karl Struss, Para.
Best art direction — "A Farewell to
Arms," Para.; "Cavalcade," Fox;
"When Ladies Meet," MGM.
Best work in sound reproduction —
"A Farewell to Arms," Para.; "Forty-
second Street," Warners; "Gold Dig-
gers of 1933," Warners; "I Am a
Fugitive from a Chain Gang," War-
ners.
Page Four
THg
Feb. 26. 1934
1
Cable a Riot in N. Y.
New York. — Believe it or not.
but they had to handle crowds at
7:30 in the morning at the Capitol
Friday for the appearance of Clark
Gable in person. The police spent
the week-end handling the crowds,
and the show has been rearranged
to allow Gable to make six appear-
ances a day.
Pic Interests Get Chance
To Fight Radio Shows
New York. — The problem that is
worrying New York picture theatre
owners, free broadcasting shows spon-
sored by the big chains, will get an
airing when all the Code Authorities
convene in Washington on March 5.
Both legit theatre and picture inter-
ests will be allowed to voice their ob-
jections then.
Dressier and Robson to
Co-star in MCM's 'Cram'
MGM will co-star Marie Dressier
and May Robson in the Kathleen Nor-
ris story "Cram" which will be pro-
duced by Harry Rapf. Edgar Allan
Woolf is writing the screen adaptation
of this yarn.
Ciadys Unger on 'U* Tag
Stanley Bergerman signed Gladys
Unger Saturday to shape up the screen
play for his next Universal filmusical,
"Here's to Love."
Roger Pryor is scheduled for the
ace assignment. Sig Herzog and )ay
Gorney are looking after the music and
lyrics.
Educ. Develops New
Process for Stills
A new way to shoot trick stills
without having to go to any great
extra expense in paraphernalia or spe-
cial printing has been developed by
Lon Young, Educational's west coast
director of publicity and advertising.
A sheet of plate glass placed before
the camera on an angle so as to re-
flect a scene offstage does the work.
Camera picks up offstage scene while
photographing the primary scene, thus
giving a ghost-like double effect. De-
vice was developed on the first Bus-
ter Keaton short.
Little Title, What Now?
The third title change in as many
weeks was slapped on "Storm at Mid-
night" yesterday by Columbia, subject
now being labeled "Voice in the
Night." This replaces "Headed For
Trouble," which was announced for
the release handle on the Tim McCoy
action feature.
Receivers On Way Out
(Continued from Page 1 )
Merger Goes Cold
(Continued from Page 1 )
went to Washington to fight the extra
crowd at Code hearing, says he is not
interested in personal aggrandizement,
and doesn't care a hoot what the or-
ganization be called or whether he has
any voice in it or not. Just wants to
see the divided groups get together
so they will have a stronger voice in
forcing their demands.
Yesterday, however, members and
some officers of the other three groups
seemed colder than ever on the deal.
come. "Cavalcade's" foreign profits,
particularly in England and not forget-
ting the change in the dollar's status,
have helped a lot, but most of that
money has been spent already on ex-
pensive Hollywood musicals, and the
answer now awaits on how the public
accepts those offerings.
But in Paramount and Radio the
situation is different. Here the insid-
ers give you the most surprising pic-
ture of optimism.
If it were not for the red-tape in-
volved in Paramount's ownership of
various theatre properties, it seems
pretty clear that this company would
be out of the stigma of "bankruptcy"
now. And the insiders feel that the
red tape is going to be unwound with-
in the next month or so and leave the
company on an even keel. Adolph Zu-
kor's harmonizing influence is being
given credit for a large part of this
result, but with a goodly share going
to Emanuel Cohen for the balance he
has kept between production costs
and possible box office intake.
The Radio picture is also interest-
ing. The annual report just issued
shows a net loss of $582,094, but
before you gasp at the word "loss"
you get the next statement: "This
compares with a loss of $1,133,586
for 1932." Just a mere difference of
about three quarters of a million — on
the right side of the ledger.
The theatre end, Radio-Keith-Or-
pheum, shows a loss of $3,341,000 as
compared with a loss for the year
Felix to Handle Dances
On MCM's 'Student Tour'
Seymour Felix has returned to the
MGM lot and will direct the musical
numbers in "Student Tour," the Sam
Marx original story, which will be
produced by Monte Bell.
The cast of this picture will in-
clude the younger players on the lot
such as Shirley Ross, Earl Oxford,
Ruth Channing and Linda Parker.
Warners Juggle Cast
Unable to hold off until Henry Ste-
phenson and Robert Barrat finish prior
assignments, Warners Saturday placed
Halliwell Hobbes in the former's role
and Donald Crisp in the latter's spot
in "The Key."
Stephenson is at Radio in "Sting-
aree"; Barrat is in Warner's "Return
of the Terror."
1932 of $10,695,503. Quite a dif-
ference.
It seems impossible for a company
showing a three million dollar loss to
look hopefully towards a discharge
from receivership, but David Sarnoff
felt so good over the report that in in-
terviews here he was willing to hazard
the prophecy that a continuance of
present business would indicate an
early discharge from bankruptcy. It is
thought that Radio may profit from
the method that has been used by
Paramount to unwind its theatre com-
mitments. The studio situation is okay
and the higher-ups are giving credit
here, as in the Paramount position it
goes to Manny Cohen, to B. B. Ka-
hane and Frank O'Heron for the dollar
watching that has helped to bring the
sun from behind the clouds.
ETIENNE CIRARDOT
Re-creating for the Screen
His Original Broadway Roie
in
\\
TWENTIETH CENTURY
f/
GENTLY COMPLETE!
ashion Follies of 1934
Warners
'Kennel Murder Case'
Warners
A COLUMBIA PICTURE
Management
SMALL-LANDAU COMPANY
^JRRENT ASSIGNMEI
Return of fhe Terror"
Warners
RECENTLY COMPLETED
'Advice to fhe Lovelorn"
20th Century
b
"Blood Money '
20th Century
t In
Carlo
♦ ♦
AT THE VENDOME
NEXT SUNDAY NIGHT
FOR THE BENEFIT OF
EL NIDO CAMP
j^^"%
tllLDREN
If will be one of the gayest- nights ym have
ever had. And for this fun you wf^^r^ovide-a
home, food, medical attention and |i|lcreJi|^
for hundreds of little kids for the Q|bxt year.
■ /r_^y^
('■
mJlStC^and pAN§|NG
KOStOf^ANDHI "^^
Page Six
Pdi.2C1934{|<fi
PRODUCTION ABOUT THE SAME WITH 39 IN WORK
BAROMETER
This Week 39 Features
Last Week 41 Features
Year Ago 35 Features
Two Years Ago 21 Features
Columbia
"HIGHWAY PATROL"
Cast: Tim McCoy, Lilian Bond, Vin-
cent Sherman, Bradley Page, Lafe
McKee, Hal Price, Bob Stanley, Er-
nie Adams, Charles Sullivan, Harry
C. Bradley, William Sullivan, Eddie
Sturges, Ethel Sykes.
Director D. Ross Lederman
Original Screen Play.. ..Harold Shumate
Photography Benjamin Kline
Producer Irving Briskin
"TWENTIETH CENTURY"
Cast: John Barrymore, Carole Lom-
bard, Roscoe Karns, George E.
Stone, Walter Connolly, Etienne
Girardot, Dale Fuller, Edward Edgar,
Herman Bing, Lee Kohlmar, Ralph
Forbes, Arnold Gray, James Burke,
Anita Brown, Gi-gi Parrish.
Director Howard Hawks
Play by Ben Hecht
and Charles MacArthur
Screen Play Ben Hecht
and Charles MacArthur
Photography Joseph August
Associate Producer Harry Cohn
Fox
"MURDER IN TRINIDAD"
Cast: Nigel Bruce, Heather Angel,
Victor Jory, Douglas Walton, Har-
vey Clark, Murray Kinnell, Pat
Somerset, Claude King, Francis
Ford, J. Carrol Naish, John David-
son.
Director Louis King
Story John Vandercook
Screen Play Seton I. Miller
Photography Barney McGill
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
"FREE COLD"
Cast: Claire Trevor, John Boles, Harry
Green, Monroe Owsley, Ruth Gil-
lette, Roger Imhof, Edward Gargan,
Suzanne Kaaren, Wini Shaw, Blanca
Vischer, Elsie Larson, Gloria Roy,
Myra Bratton.
Director George Marshall
Screen Play Lester Cole
and Henry Johnson
Dance Director Sammy Lee
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"TOO MANY WOMEN"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Rochelle Hud-
son, Herbert Mundin, Rosemary
Ames, Henrietta Grossman, Lily
d'Stuart.
Director James Flood
Story Vera Caspary
Screen Play: Jane Storm, Oscar M.
Sheridan and Lenore Coffee.
Photography L. W. O'Connell
Producer Al Rockett
"THE WORLD MOVES ON"
Cast: Madeleine Carroll, Franchot
Tone, Ferdinand Schumann-Heink,
Raul Roulien, Reginald Denny, Sieg-
fried Rumann, Nigel Bruce, Drue
Leyton, Stepin Fetchit, Brenda Fow-
ler, Marcelle Corday, Barry Norton,
Dudley Digges, Frank Melton, Rus-
sell Simpson, Halliwell Hobbes, Ivan
Simpson.
Director John Ford
Story and Screen Play —
Reginald Berkeley
Photography George Schneiderman
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"THE WORLD IS OURS"
Cast: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell,
Sally Filers, James Dunn, Beryl Mer-
cer, Roger Imhof.
Director John BIystone
Story Kathleen Norris
Screen Play.. Sonya Levien
and James Gleason
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW"
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan, Grace Bradley.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Walter Lundin
Producer Harold Lloyd
MOM
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
Cast: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen
O'Sulliyan, Neil Hamilton, Doris
Lloyd, Frank Reicher, Paul Cava-
nagh, William Stack, Desmond
Roberts, Yola D'Avril, Forrester
Harvey.
Director Cedric Gibbons
Adaptation Leon Gordon
Screen Play J. K. McGuinness
Photography Clyde DeVinna
and Sid Wagner
Producer Bernard Hyman
"RIP TIDE"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Mont-
gomery, Herbert Marshall, Lilyan
Tashman, Ralph Forbes, Mrs. Pat-
rick Campbell, Arthur Jarrett, Earl
Oxford, Halliwell Hobbes, Samuel
May, Helen Jerome Eddy, Peter
Hobbes, George K. Arthur, T. Roy
Barnes, E. E. Clive, Skeets Galla-
gher, Florine McKinney, Paul Por-
casi.
Director Edmund Goulding
Story and Screen Pay
Edmund Goulding
Photography Ray June
Producer Irving Thalberg
"SEQUOIA"
Cast: Jean Parker, David Landau, Olin
Howland, Willie Fung, Russell
Hardie.
Directors Chester Franklin
and Nick Grinde
Novel Joseph Vance Hoyt
Adaptation: C. Gardner Sullivan, Frank
R. Adams, Anne Cunningham.
Photography Clyde DeVinna
and Chet Lyons
Producer John Considine
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Samuel Hinds, Douglas Dumbrille,
Henry B. Walthall, Ned Sparks,
Mae Clarke, Four Mills Brothers,
Jay Lloyd, Larry Adier, Florine Mc-
Kinney, Russell Hardie, Willard
Robertson, Ted Healy, Reginald
Barlow, Francis McDonald, Ernie Al-
exander.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play Harvey Thew
and Zelda Sears
Photography George Folsey
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"HOLLYWOOD PARTY"
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
Jack Pearl, Laurel and Hardy, Polly
Moran, Charles Butterworth, George
Givot, Richard Carle, Edwin Max-
well, Tom Kennedy, Ted Healy and
Stooges, Eddie Quillan, June Clyde,
Frances Williams, MGM Baby Stars.
Director Alan Dwan
Music Rodgers and Hart,
Brown and Freed
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Harry Rapf
"SADIE McKEE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Esther Ralston,
Jean Dixon, Franchot Tone, Edward
Arnold, Akim Tamiroff, Gene Aus-
tin, Leo White, Leo Carroll.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Vina Delmar
Screen Play John Meehan
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Lawrence Weingarten
Paramount
"MELODY IN SPRING"
Cast: Lanny Ross, Charlie Ruggles,
Mary Boland, George Meeker, Wil-
fred Hari, Wade Boteler, Ann Soth-
ern, Herman Bing, Norma Mitchell,
Jane, June and Joan Gale, William
J. Irving.
Director Norman McLeod
Story Frank Leon Smith
Screen Play .....Benn W. Levy
Continuity Jane Storm
Lyrics Harlan Thompson
Music ....Lewis E. Gensler
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer Douglas MacLean
"WE'RE NOT DRESSING"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman,
Carole Lombard, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, Raymond Milland, Jay
Henry, Leon Errol, Dick Dickinson.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Walter Hall Smith
Adaptation. .Stephen Morehouse Avery
Music by Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Charles Lang
Producer Benjamin Glazer
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
Cast: Carl Brisson, Victor McLaglen,
Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Lona
Andre, Toby Wing, Dorothy Strick-
ney, Jessie Ralph, Charles B. Mid-
dleton, Gertrude Michael, Gail Pat-
rick, Otto Hoffman, Charles Mc-
Avoy, Donald Meek, Beryl Wallace,
Colin Tapley, Barbarie Fritchie.
Director Mitchell Leisen
Original Earl Carroll
and Rufus King
Screen Play Carey Wilson
and Joseph Gollomb
Additional Dialogue Sam Hellman
Music Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Sam Coslow
Photography Leo Tover
Producer E. Lloyd Sheldon
RKO-Radio
"STRICTLY DYNAMITE"
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez, ij
Norman Foster, Marian Nixon, Wil-
liam Gargan, Eugene Pallette, Four|
Mills Brothers, Ruth Etting, Minna
Gombell, Sterling Holloway, Stanley!
Fields, Berton Churchill.
Director Elliott Nugent|
Original Robert T. Colwel
and Robert A. Simon|
Screen lay Maurine Watkins
and Ralph SpenceJ
Photography Eddie Cronjagerl
Associate Producer H. N. SwansonJ
"STINGAREE"
Cast: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Mary]
Boland, Conway Tearle, Snub Pol-
lard, George Barraud, Andy Devine,j
Una O'Connor, Henry Stephenson.
Director William Wellmanl
Original E. W. HornungJ
Screen Play Becky Gardiner!
Photography James Van Trees!
Associate Producer David Lewis!
"DOVER ROAD"
Cast: Clive Brook, Diana Wynyard,i
Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray, Regi-j
nald Owen, Gilbert Emery, Phyllisj
Barry.
Director J. Walter RubenJ
Original A. A. Milnel
Screen Play H. W. Hanemannj
Photography David Abel!
Associate Producer David Lewis!
"OF HUMAN BONDAGE"
Cast: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis,!
Reginald Denny, Alan Hale, Regl-|
nald Sheffield.
Director John Cromwel
Original W. Somerset MaughamI
Screen Play Lester CohenJ
Photography Henry Gerrardl
Associate Producer. .Pandro S. BermanJ
United Artists
Twentieth Century
"THE FIREBRAND"
Cast: Constance Bennett, Fredricl
March, Frank Morgan, Fay Wray,|
Vince Barnett, Louis Calhern, Jessiel
Ralph, Jay Eaton, John Rutherford,!
Irene Ware.
Director Gregory La Cava|
Based on Stage Play by
Edwin Justus Mayerl
Adaptation Bess Meredythg
Photography Charles Rosherf
Associate Producers William Coetzjj
and Raymond Griffith
Feb. 26, 1934
Page Seven
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 4i LAST WEEK
"HEAD OF THE FAMILY"
(Rehearsing)
Cast: George Arliss, Janet Beecher,
Edna May Oliver, Ralph Morgan,
Rafaela Ottlano.
Director Sidney Lanfieid
Story Katherine Clugston
Screen Play: Leonard Praskins and
Maude T. Howell.
Associate Producers: William Coetz
and Raymond Griffith.
"BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES
BACK"
Cast: Ronald Colman, Loretta Young,
Warner Oland, Charles Butterworth,
Arthur Hohl, Billie Burke, Mischa
Auer, Pedro Regas, Halliwell
Hobbes.
Director Roy Del Ruth
Original H. C. McNeille
S reen Play Nunnally Johnson
Photography Peverell Marley
Associate Producers. .William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith
Universal
"CLAMOUR '
Cast: Constance Cummings, Paul Lu-
kas, Phillip Reed, Joseph Cawthorn,
Doris Lloyd, Davie Dickinson, Peggy
Campbell, Olaf Hytten, Alice Lake,
Leda Shebret, Lyman Williams, Phil
Teed, Luis Alberni, Yola D'Avril,
Grace Hale, Wilson Beng, Louise
Beavers, Jessie McAllister.
Director William Wyler
Novel by Edna Ferber
Screen Play Doris Anderson
Continuity Gladys Unger
Photography George Robinson
Producer - B. F. Zeldman
"ILL TELL THE WORLD"
Cast: Lee Tracy, Gloria Stuart, Roger
Pryor, Herman Bing, Onslow Stev-
ens, Arthur Stone, Edwin Mordant,
Hugh Enfield, Dorothy Granger,
Alec B. Francis, Laurence Grant,
Ward Bond, Edward McWade, Wil-
liam Von Brinken, Willard Robert-
son, Leon Waycoff, John Dilson,
Selmar Jackson, Georges LaPlant,
Andre Charon.
Director Edward Sedgwick
Original: Lincoln Quarberg and Frank
Wead.
Screen Play: Dale Van Every and Ralph
Spence.
Photography Jerry Ash
Associate Producer Dale Van Every
"UNCERTAIN LADY"
Cast: Genevieve Tobin, Edward Ever-
ett Horton, Dorothy Peterson, Frank
Lyman, Herbert Corthell, Renee
Gadd, Paul Cavanagh, Mary Nash,
George Meeker, Arthur Hoyt, Gay
Seabrook, James Durkin.
Director Karl Freund
Original Screen Play: George O'Neil
and Harry Segal!.
Photography Charles Stumar
Associate Producer Dale Van Every
Ken Maynard
"DOOMED TO DIE"
Cast: Ken Maynard, Gloria Shay, Frank
Hagney, Walter Miller, Bob Kart-
man. Jack Rockwell, Ed Coxen.
Director Alan James
Original Ken Maynard
Screen Play Nate Gatzert
Photography Ted McCord
Producer Ken Maynard
Warners-First National
"WITHOUT HONOR"
Cast: James Cagney, Joan Blondell,
Victor Jory, Sarah Padden, Ralfe
Harolde, Harold Huber, John Qua-
len, Russell Hopton, Frank Craven,
Bradley Page, James Eagle, George
Chandler.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Original Story Robert Lord
Screen Play Tom Buckingham and
Niven Busch
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"ONE MAN WOMAN"
Cast: Pat O'Brien, Glenda Farrell,
Claire Dodd, Russell Hopton, Henry
O'Neill. Robert Gleckler, Arthur
Vinton, George Cooper, Pudgie
White.
Director Alan Crosland
Based on Original Story by
Gene Towne and Graham Baker
Screen Play F. Hugh Herbert
and Erwin Gelsey
Adaptation David Boehm
Photography William Rees
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"SAWDUST"
Cast: Joe E. Brown, Patricia Ellis, Dor-
othy Burgess, Donald Dilloway,
Charles Wilson, Poodles Hanneford,
Ernest Clarke, Alfreda Codona, Tom
Dugan, William Demarest, Harry
Wood, Earl Hodgins, John Sheehan,
Ronie Crosby, Gordon Evans, Lee
Moran.
Director Ray Enright
Based on Story by
Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby
Revisions by Tom Buckingham
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor James Seymour
"THE KEY"
Cast: William Powell, Edna Best, Co-
lin Clive, Robert Barrat, J. M. Ker-
rigan, Hobart Cavanaugh, Maxine
Doyle, Arthur Treacher, Joan
Wheeler, Henry O'Neill, Philip
Regan.
Director Michael Curtiz
Based on the Play by
Robert Gore-Browne, j. L. Hardy
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Music and Lyrics Allie Wrubel
and Mort Dixon
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"THE HAPPY FAMILY'
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee,
Allen Jenkins, Hugh Herbert, Helen
Lowell, Joan Wheeler, Frankie
Darro.
Director Alfred E. Green
Original Screen Play. .Gene Markey
and Kathryn Scola
Photography Arthur Edeson
Supervisor Robert Lord
"RETURN OF THE TERROR"
Cast: Mary Astor, Lyie Talbot, Robert
Barrat, Frank McHugh, John Halli-
day, Irving Pichel, George E. Stone,
J. Carrol Naish, Frank Reicher,
Renee Whitney, Robert E. O'Con-
nor, George Cooper, Etienne Girar-
dot.
Director Howard Bretherton
Suggested by Story by —
Edgar Wallace
Screen Play Eugene Solow
and Peter Milne
Photography Arthur Todd
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"DR. MONICA"
Cast: Kay Francis, Veree Teasdale,
Jean Muir, Warren William.
Director William Keighley
Based on Polish play by —
Marja Morozowicz Szczepkowska
Adaptation by Laura Walker
Screen Play Charles Kenyon
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"FRIENDS OF MR. SWEENEY"
Cast: Charlie Ruggles, Ann Dvorak.
Director Edward Ludwig
Novel Elmer Davis
Screen Play Warren Duff
and Sidney Sutherland
Photography Ira Morgan
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
Independent Productions
Goldsmith Productions
(Talisman)
"I HATE WOMEN'
Cast: Wallace Ford, June Clyde, Bar-
bara Rogers, Eleanore Hunt, Fuzzy
Knight, Cecilia Parker, Edith Foy,
Philo McCullough, Alexander Carr,
Snowflake, Charlie Saxton, Joie Ray.
Director Aubrey DeScotto
Original Screen Play.. Mary McCarthy
Photography Ernie Miller
Producer Ken Goldsmith
Mascot
(Mack Sennett)
"THE LOST JUNGLE "
(Serial)
Cast: Clyde Beatty, Sid Saylor, Ce-
cilia Parker, Al Smith, Edward Le
Saint, Warner Richmond, Charles
Whitaker, Max Wagner, Jim Corey,
Maston Williams, Jack Carlyle, Er-
nie Adam, Bud Fine, Wally Wales.
Directors Dave Howard
and Armand Schaefer
Original Screen Play-Sherman Lowe
and Al Martin
Photography Alvin Wyckoff
Producer Nat Levine
Screencraft Productions
(Alexander Bros.)
"ST. LOUIS WOMAN"
Cast: Johnny Mack Brown, Jeanette
Loff, Earle Foxe, Roberta Gale.
Director Al Ray
Original Story Elwood Ullman
Continuity Jack Natteford
Photography George Meehan
Production Manager Sam Katzman
Supervisor Al Alt
Eastern Productions
All Star Productions
(United Artists Release)
( Biograph Studios )
"FRANKIE AND JOHNNY"
Cast: Helen Morgan, Lilyan Tashman,
Chester Morris, William Harrigan,
Florence Reed, Walter Kingsford,
Sam Wren, Jack Hazzard, Frederic
Worloch, Cora Witherspoon, Pedro
de Cordova, Robert M. Middlemass,
Montagu Love, Percy Welton, Ches-
ter Hale Girls, Victor Young's Or-
chestra.
Director Chester Erskin
Screen Play Moss Hart
Photography Joe Ruttenberg
VITAPHONE STUDIOS
UNTITLED
Cast: Freddie Rich and Orchestra.
Director Joe Henaberry
Photography Ray Foster
and Ed Dupar
UNTITLED
Cast: Bill Robinson.
Director Roy Mack
Photography Ray Foster
and Ed Dupar
HOLLYWOOD
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly ratet
The Plaza is near every-
thingto see and do in
Hollywood.' Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Cbas. Danxigtr, Aigr.
Emgtnt Stern, Prtt.
TIm "Doorway o( Hoipltalhy"
Vina al Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
fQ)
THE REASON
M. C LEVEE
REPRESENTS SOME OF THE
MOST DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS
IN THE FILM INDUSTRY IS
HIS MANAGEMENT INCLUDES:
Personal Representation
(and I Mean Personal)
Business Administration
Secretarial Services
Bookkeeping & Accounting
income Tax Service
Publicity and Exploitation
LESLIE HOWARD
WILL TELL YouWHYHe is a"Levee 'client
in Tomorrow's
M-G-M STUUIU5,
% READING DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALIF,
Vol. Xl-X, No. 40. Pric« 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, February 27, 1934
G€VT BARK JBIG DGLGti
Picture Business in Limelight
4s Vitiless Publicity' Is
Turned Loose In Washington
• LOOKS as if the Roosevelt adminis-
tration means business in its attempt-
ed redistribution of the wealth of the
nation. The first move in that direc-
tion is the publicizing of all the sala-
ries and bonuses of the big wigs of
every big industry.
Reports coming in from Washing-
ton, as this goes to press, indicate that
the newshounds in the Capitol could
not believe their ears when they were
told that they were going to be given
the entire list of salaries and bonuses.
Pandemonium broke out in the press
ranks, with most of the representa-
tives trying to get stenographers (on
a moment's notice) to take down the
figures; going out into the halls plead-
ing with the secretaries of Senators,
Congressmen and others to give them
a hand.
•
It looks as if the Government is
going after the high salaries in the
picture business with two guns and a
rifle. But why this business? George
Hill of the American Tobacco Com-
pany drew down over $1,000,000 in
1929 and Eugene Grace of Bethlehem
Steel grabbed $1,635,753. No one
picture individual drew such money.
Maybe the Government is sore be-
cause so many individuals in this busi-
ness were paid over $500,000 in sal-
aries and bonuses for their work.
Maybe they believe that most of this
dough was yanked from stockholders.
But make no mistake about it, there
is hell to pay. If you don't think so
you are wrong. The mere fact that
Washington gave out those figures,
right at this time, is plenty of indica-
tion that something is in the air —
and that something is a redistribution
of the wealth. If you have none of
that big wealth you have little worry,
but if you are up to your neck in
chips you had better start counting
them now, placing them away in neat
piles for the rainy day and stormy
weather.
Theatres Snowbound
New York. — At midnight it
looks as though the theatres of
New York and its suburbs are go-
ing to be buried beneath an ava-
lanche of snow, so don't worry
about this week's grosses. Mar-
quees are top-heavy with snow,
and the storm is still on.
Col. and Elissa Landi
Call the Deal Off
Columbia and Elissa Landi came to
the parting of the ways yesterday
when the studio agreed to tear up the
player's term ticket. Miss Landi felt
she could advance more rapidly free
lancing. She completed "Sisters Un-
der the Skin" for the studio and was
to have the lead in "The Party's
Over" opposite Stuart Erwin under
Walter Lang's direction. Studio has
a complete cast on the latter picture,
but must now find another feminine
lead.
Helen Hayes To Do
'Mary' on Screen
Helen Hayes is scheduled to return
to the screen in the picture version of
the play she is now doing on Broad-
way, "Mary of Scotland," imme-
diately after the Broadway run of the
play.
MGM is reported to have the inside
track on the screen rights to the play.
Para. Theatre Execs Meet
Jacksonville, Fla. — Much heavy
conferencing here yesterday when the
big shots of Paramount's theatre end
met. Sam Dembow, Ralph Kohn,
Frank Freeman and E. V. Richards par-
ticipated.
Washington. — With pitiless publicity the chief weapon, the
Roosevelt administration yesterday took what observers here be-
lieve is the first step in a campaign eventually aimed at a redis-
tribution of wealth. The Federal Trades Commission was the
tool, and publication of its salary in-
vestigation report the action. It blew
the lid off, and New York and Wash-
ington wires buzzed and burned all
through the night.
While the report listed fabulous
executive salaries and bonuses in many
industries, the picture business seems
certain to get the brunt of the head-
( Continued on Page 3)
Wampas to Kill Idea
Of 'Baby' Broadcast
Proposal to broadcast the Wampas
"Baby Star" selections via radio will
be definitely discarded by the Wam-
pas at a meeting tonight, it was learn-
ed on good authority yesterday.
Objections from Warners and Fox
killed the idea, the publicity men's or-
( Continued on Page 6)
Actors Guild Sends
^l.^^':*^.*?!^^ Tahiti Locale for
Treasure Island'
The Screen Actors Guild yesterday
forwarded to Sol A. Rosenblatt the
list of members chosen by the organ-
ization as nominees for appointment
by Rosenblatt to the various Film Code
committees.
With the names went a complete
list of all those who voted either by
(Continued on Page 2)
Cromwell Slated to
Direct Next Hepburn
Radio has penciled John Cromwell
in as the director of the next Kath-
arine Hepburn picture, "Tudor
Wench," after he finishes the Leslie
Howard picture, "Of Human Bond-
age," which is now in work. Crom-
well directed Miss Hepburn in her last
picture, "Spitfire," for Radio.
LAMBS CLUB BACMS MOVE
TO STOP PLAYEB IMPOSTS
Washington.- — The Lambs Club ap-
peared at the brief hearing on the
Dickstein bill, restricting the immigra-
tion of foreign players by placing them
under the "contract labor" provision
of the Immigration Act, and supported
the bill.
Representative Samuel Kramer, of
Los Angeles, is attempting to bring
stars out here to aid the opposition
to the bill, but so far has been balked
by bad flying weather. It is thought
the Hays organization may file a brief
in opposition, but no signs of activity
yet.
Esther Ralston Sues
Esther Ralston yesterday filed suit
for divorce from George Webb in Su-
perior Court through her attorney, A.
Ronald Button, on the grounds of in-
compatibility. They were married in
December, 1925, and separated last
August.
Muni Due Tomorrow
Paul Muni returns to town tomor-
row by train from New York. He has
been away since he completed his
work in "Hi, Nellie," for Warners.
According to present plans on the
MGM lot, "Treasure Island," the
Robert Louis Stevenson novel, which
will co-star Wallace Beery and Jackie
Cooper, will be made on the Island of
Tahiti. Victor Fleming, the director,
has been shooting a few exteriors for
the picture along the southern coast.
Cibney Scripts 'Adverse'
New York. — Warners are getting
under way on that epic job of bringing
"Anthony Adverse" to the screen.
Sheridan Gibney is announced here to
do the adaptation. Gibney, incidental-
ly, has just completed a new play,
"A Toast to Tarquin."
Shubert-Negri Call Quits
New York. — Lee Shubert and Pola
Negri got together and decided to call
it off. Shubert has made a settle-
ment with the star, and the play in
which she was to appear, "A Trip to
Pressburg," has been shelved.
Dot Dell Gets Termer
On the strength of her performance
in "Wharf Angel," Dorothy Dell was
handed a new long term contract yes-
terday by Paramount and also the
feminine lead In "The Great Magoo."
Evans Loses Tonsils
Madge Evans entered the Cedars of
Lebanon Hospital yesterday and had
her tonsils removed.
E
"I II Tell The World," "It]
ALPH SPENCE
DIALOGUE FOR
LEE TRACY IN
Page Two
THEJ^
Feb. 27. 1934
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office o*
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
tMew York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published everv day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
Including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
We herewith bet that the slight
storm in the Herbert Marshall house-
hold will blow over, since we are con-
vinced that is where a lasting love
holds sway — and we further bet that
Gloria Swanson and Michael Farmer
will hit the divorce courts before long
— regardless of what statements they
may make in the meantime.
•
Not since Valentino days has a mob
mobbed an actor the way Clark Cable
is being mobbed in the east right
now. . . . The Richard Bennetts are
building a house in Palm Springs. . . .
Elsa Maxwell says her new book will
raise youknowhat with a lot of Holly-
wood luminaries. . . . Hoot Cibson and
June Cale (who deny they're secretly
wed) are touring in vaudeville to-
gether around New York at the mo-
ment.
•
Leiand Hayward and Katharine
Hepburn are keeping their meetings a
secret from the world by meeting in
front booths at Reubens these nights!
Hear tell that the Prince of Wales
phoned Lady Furness every morning
during her visit in Hollywood — which
wouldn't be news — except in Holly'
wood. . . . Winston Guest, considered
the best "catch" of many a season,
is smothering Mary Pickford with at-
tention.
•
This is the wire that Harry Wardell
once sent a pal of his in Hollywood
from Caliente — where the hosses were
not running for Harry: "Busted, dis-
trusted, disgusted — send me twenty-
five!" . . . Miriam Hopkins, touring in
an act from "The Affairs of Anatol,"
is all burned up because Tallulah
Bankhead did practically the same
stunt over the radio — and the Bank-
head in any form is competition
enough for anybody!
•
Lupe Velez wowed everybody with
her imitations of everybody at a big
party Sunday night — Maurice Cheval-
ier, Capt. Cohen, the Morgan twins,
Lowell Sherman. Frances Marion,
Maureen O'Sullivan, Larry Gray, the
Dick Barthelmesses, the Ric Cortezes,
Kay Francis among the sitter-uppers.
. . . Colleen Moore is getting a special
Willie Pogany job to dress up her
"LONG LOST FATHER'
RKO-Radio prod.; director, Ernest B. Schoedsack; writers. Dwight Taylor,
G. B. Stern.
Roxy Theatre
Herald-Tribune: A good regulation program picture, without hitting the stride
of Barrymore's more outstanding films. Has been interestingly put to-
gether and possesses deft comedy, but there is little substance to the piece.
However, it is never dull.
News: An amusing film. It doesn't ring quite true and is handled in an ar-
tificial manner, but nevertheless it is amusing and interesting entertain-
ment.
Journal: Expertly fashioned for the talents of John Barrymore. Suavely humor-
ous here, he is provided with better-than-average dialogue, and puts it
over with adroit effect. The picture is diverting program fare and pleas-
antly free from any overdose of sentiment that might have crept into such
a story of paternal love and sacrifice.
American: A well cast smile-and-tear melodrama which is a cut or two above
Hollywood's run-of-cargo productions in entertainment values. Director
Schoedsack keeps his story moving.
World-Telegram: With nothing more to go upon than an artless personality and
a flimsy idea, John Barrymore manages by neat work to make "Long Lost
Father" an amiable and sufficiently light and attractive little photoplay.
Times: The story is often too wild and frothy. Ernest B. Schoedsack, whose
forte is directing jungle films or those dealing with hardy adventure, is
scarcely in his element in handling this combination of reckless levity and
unconvincing seriousness. However, this film is worthy of attention if for
no other reason than the excellent portrayals of all concerned.
The picture version misses something of the depth and character draw-
ing of the original work, yet withal it is a pleasant and well-oiled story,
providing Mr, Barrymore with a number of opportunities to be, as only he
can be, himself. Though the tale is slim, it is enlivened with a number
of amusing and well-acted episodes. The dialogue is briskly to the point
and the atmosphere is authentically dilapidated. Altogether, "Long Lost
Father" is easy to swallow.
Instead of being a moving drama of father love, it is a comedy melodrama
furbished with cheap laughs. John Barrymore, in a role that might origi-
nally have been written for him, gives as mechanical a performance as the
rest of the cast. Too many wisecracks, too much easy sensationalism have
lessened the dramatic values.
Post:
Sun:
Ross Alexander Up
For Tests at MGM
Ross Alexander, who was once out
here under contract to Paramount, and
his newly wedded wife, Anita Frael,
arrived in Hollywood yesterday to
make tests for MGM for a term con-
tract. Miss Frael will be tested by
Warners.
Alexander's last Broadway play was
"The Party's Over."
Manners in 'Black Cat'
David Manners, just back from
England, steps into the romantic lead
in "The Black Cat" at Universal for
his first picture. Edgar Ullmer di-
rects, with Karloff and Bela Lugosi
starred.
King Will Meg Xhan'
Sol Wurtzel has selected Louis King
to direct the next Charlie Chan pro-
duction for Fox. Picture will star
Walter Connolly when the commit-
ment on the player goes through with
Columbia during the next three weeks.
Patterson to Fox
Pat Patterson has resigned from
the Warner theatre exploitation de-
partment. He will become a unit man
at Fox.
home. . . . Clarence Brown, still
searching for a crooner for "Sadie Mc-
Kee.," is now the meat for all the
ribbers who try Caruso, Gene Austin
and Crosby records on him telling him
they have uncovered a "find."
Coogan Short To Be
Finished on New Deal
Digging up an angel, I. A. Allen
is putting through the completion of
his Jackie Coogan short which got
into a jam two months ago when an-
other backer walked, leaving creditors
whistling a $5,000 tune.
Creditors have agreed to accept a
25 percent payment on the claims on
condition the balance is paid when
the film is completed and set for re-
lease. Scoring and dubbing will wind
it up, with a release then in prospect.
Ed Kennedy Renewed
Rounding out a six-picture ticket
with Radio for short subjects, Edgar
Kennedy gets a tag for another series.
Fred Fralick set the contract, negoti-
ating a clause which permits him to
do features outside.
Actors Send Facts
(Continued from Page 1 )
proxy or in person at the election held
February 18 at the Hollywood Wo-
man's Club. More than a thousand
names were in the list that voted, ac-
cording to Secretary Kenneth Thom-
son.
Those chosen for the Agents Com-
mittee were Adolphe Menjou, Spen-
cer Tracy and Berton Churchill. Those
for the five-five committee were; Ann
Harding, Ralph Morgan, James Cagney,
Kenneth Thomson, Richard Tucker,
Chester Morris, Robert Montgomery,
Claude King, Mary Astor, Pat O'Brien
and Paul Muni.
Brandt Claims
Promises Broken
New York. — Emerging from a con-
ference with Sol Rosenblatt yester-
day. Harry Brandt, head of the Inde-
pendent Theatre Owners Association,
said "Our group will not sign the code
because promises on the labor ques-
tion made in Washington have not
been kept, and Mr. Rosenblatt has
shown by his attitude that he has no
idea of seeing that they are kept."
This wrangle between the indepen
dent exhibitors and the NRA board is
due to the local labor board having!
sided with Local 306 in maintaining
the high operators' wage scale and
forcing those theatre men to take the
No. 306 men back in their booths.
Coldwyn Chorines Step
Into Speaking Rolesi
Radio yesterday took its pick of the]
1 50 girls whom Sam Goldwyn collect-
ed for musicals, signing six for straight
dramatic roles in "Strictly Dynamite."!
Stepping from the chorus to dra
matic work are Jane Hamilton, Bonnie
Bannon, Barbara Pepper, Dolores Ca-^
sey, Jane Shadduck and Vivian Keefer.
Selwyn Works on Story
Edgar Selwyn is turning his direcr
torial hand at MGM to writing and is
working on an original idea with a
view to shaping up a script to star
Joan Crawford under his direction.
'Midnight' into Roxy
New York. — The Chester Erskinei
eastern made picture "Midnight,"
which Universal is releasing, opens at]
the Roxy March 9.
py HOLLYWOOD
PLAZA
(9^
MOST CONVENIINT
Hotel In Hollywood
$2. so up, Siii«l«
$3.00 HP, D«nl»l«
5p»fial watkly and monthir ratM
The Plaza is near eveiy-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "builc for
resc" Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chat. Damzigir, Mgr.
Eugfne Stent, Prtt.
Tk« "Doorway of HoipHallty"
Vina at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
Feb. 27, 1934
THE
Page Three
FILM EXECS' BIG 5>»ALARIE$
MADE PUBLIC IN CAPITOL
Figures of Boom
Years Staggering
(Continued from Page 1 )
line. Ordinarily hard-boiled newspaper
men were scurrying feverishly through
the lengthy report last night, picking
juicy salary items here and there, and
with eyes peeled for picture names.
Even newspaper men were surpris-
ed when the Commission made every
individual salary and bonus available
to the press. This could not have been
done without a White House okay,
and that started the speculation on
what Roosevelt has in mind for the
future.
And did the figures make reading!
Just jump over these highlights:
The Renraw Corporation, the priv-
ately owned holding company through
which the three Warner brothers op-
erate in controlling Warners, paid the
trio in salary and bonuses in 1929,
$520,000; in 1930, $530,000; in
1931, $951,916; in 1932, $496,497;
and at the present rate should pay
them $280,575 for 1933. Attached
to this cash report was a note append-
ed stating that the Renraw Corpora-
tion had agreed to pay each of the
three Warner Brothers $10,000 week-
ly for six years, plus 1 5,000 shares of
stock, and 75,000 shares put in es-
crow. A. C. Thomas is listed as receiv-
ing $130,000 from the Renraw Cor-
poration in 1 933.
Winnie Sheehan rates high man in
the Fox listings. In 1930 he drew
$459,655, and for the period covered
never drew less than $120,000 an-
nually, except in 1928. In 1933 his
figure was $250,000. Sidney Kent
pulled down $67,625 in 1932, Saul
Rogers, former vice-president and
counsel of the company, is listed with
$40,009 in 1928; $40,080 in 1929;
and $103,689 in 1930.
While the Warner and Fox figures
stand out individually, Loew's-MCM
group ranks highest in bulk salaries
and bonuses paid executives. Nicholas
'Schenck, while drawing a mere $92,-
DOO in annual salary, pulled down bo-
Inuses as high as $357,538 in 1930.
Arthur Loew likewise has bonuses
listed ranging from $191,497 in 1928
to $308,923 in 1930, and averaging
around $200,000 a year.
J. Robert Rubin drew from Loew
ilone (he is also a member of the
Vlayer-Thalberg- Rubin combination)
'he sum of $88,400 in annual salary.
The money gathered by the Mayer-
Thalberg-Rubin combination in MCM
5 grouped. For 1 928 the trio drew
1 1,487, 242; for 1929, $2,182,123;
or 1930, $2,639,289; for 1931, $2,-
175,185; for 1932, $1,133,576.
Paramount's figures were principai-
y interesting because of Zukor's
Earnings, which ranged from $887,-
'500 in 1929 down to $96,031 in
'932. In 1929 the total officer and
director salaries of Paramount were
54,062,700.
Radio's salaries seemed unimportant
n the welter of big figures being
ossed around. General Harbord, pres-
dent of the parent RCA organization,
vas tops, Kahane was up in the big
noney some years, and H. B. Franklin
Erpi on Ground Floor
New York. — It now turns out
that "Dodsworth," the most inter-
esting opening of recent weeks, al-
ready has a string attached to it
by Erpi, with Paramount scheduled
to release. Erpi wants to make the
film version at Astoria, but Max
Gordon has the final say on this.
Walter Huston sought for the lead.
Two Holdovers in
B'way Picture List
New York. — "Death Takes a Holi-
day" is being held over at the Para-
mount, and "Dark Hazard" at the
Rialto. Both are hoping for a weather
break to give them a chance to show
what they really have on the ball.
New pictures include "Palooka," at
the Rivoli tonight; "Wonder Bar," at
the Strand, Wednesday; "David Har-
um" at the Music Hall, Thursday;
"Queen Christina," at the Capitol,
Friday; and on the same day "The
Ninth Guest," at the Roxy.
Col. Wants McKinney
Columbia yesterday asked MOM for
the loan of Florine McKinney for a
featured spot in "Most Precious Thing
in Life."
salted away $75,000 for his 1933
work.
Universal does not list Carl Laem-
mle, Jr., as he is not an officer of the
company, but shows Laemmie, Sr.
drawing an average of $150,000 a
year except in 1930 when he took
nothing. R. H. Cochrane received
$65,400 in 1930, but dropped as low
as $26,000 in 1933. J. R. Grainger
was paid $52,000 in 1933.
Columbia was not overlooked in
the day's publicity. Harry Cohn drew
a combined salary and bonus for 1933
of $145,600, and in the period cov-
ered never less than $72,000 annu-
ally. Jack Cohn is also up in the big
money class, and Joe Brandt in the
$100,000 rating for some years prior
to 1931 when he was with Columbia.
Observers here feel unanimous on
one point: Publication of the report
has killed off any attempt to regulate
movie salaries without starting the
process with the officers and directors
and instead of making the creators
the goats.
It is also felt that the income tax
department will show a keen interest
in the report, and it's going to be too
bad where the new figures don't jibe
with the reports on which taxes were
paid.
The Capitol was a madhouse yes-
terday. The Federal Trades Commis-
sion did not issue the figures, or any
statement in connection with them,
but merely said to the press: "Here
are the books — come and see them."
All companies capitalized at over
$1,000,000 and listed on the Stock
Exchange or the Curb were repre-
sented, nine hundred in all. The re-
port is the result of a survey au-
thorized by the Senate at its last ses-
sion. The figures were to be for the
Senate, but nothing was said at the
time about keeping them confidential.
'Speed Wings' just
Another Thriller'
"SPEED WINGS"
(Columbia)
Direction Otto Brower
Story Horace McCoy
Photography Al Siegler
Cast: Tim McCoy, Evalyn Knapp, Billy
Bakewell, Vincent Sherman.
Speeding airplanes racing with fast
trains; aviators going yellow while
their buddies are unbelievably
noble; fist fights galore; trickery and
robbery; love and rescues — well, any-
way, "Speed Wings" is another Tim
McCoy action picture, and while it
lacks everything else it certainly does
not want for action.
It's got everything in it but a horse
race — so much, in fact, that even the
kids will pause and wonder a little.
When the story starts there are two
fliers left of eight who started out
to perfect a speed plane that would
bring the speed record back to the
United States. Billy Bakewell sees
one too many smash-ups and loses his
nerve. But not Tim McCoy! He gqes
on working on the planes and testing
them, and giving Bakewell good socks
on the jaw to try to make a man of
him, in spite of the fact that the rival
company is loosening struts and bolts
on their planes and making even life
on the ground pretty hazardous. But
the girl Bakewell loves, Evalyn Knapp,
is kidnaped during the big race and
he gets his nerve back and wins the
race in time to help Tim rescue her
off the train.
Horace McCoy let his imagination
run riot while he was penning this
yarn, and Otto Brower, the director,
had all he could do to keep up with
it. Al Siegler photographed it, with
the exception of lots of stock airplane
shots. Tim McCoy is plenty heroic,
Evalyn Knapp is entirely unconvincing,
and Bakewell does a pretty good job
with his part. Vincent Sherman is
well cast in a minor role.
If your audiences have a sense of
humor that will enable them to jeer
and hiss and clap with a good deal of
derisive glee, they will have a good
time. Otherwise, bank on the kids.
Lewis Stone Offered U's
'Alias Deacon' Lead
Universal is trading palaver with
MGM in an effort to get Lewis Stone
to enact the role of the Deacon in
"Alias the Deacon," former offering
to rewrite the script to make it suit-
able for Stone's style.
Kirkwood in Comeback
New York. — James Kirkwood is go-
ing to essay a return to the stage.
He has been signed for a part in "The
House of Remsen," by Nicholas Sou-
saanin and William Pearlman, going
into rehearsal March 5.
Joe E. Brown Rests
Joe E. Brown and his wife will leave
on a three months' vacation in the
Orient March 19. Brown, who is now
in "Sawdust," hopes to finish his work
in the Warner picture by the end of
next week.
By JERRY WALD
The United Artists group are plan-
ning to put George Arliss' "House of
Rothschild" into the Astor following
"Catherine the Great." ... In the
meantime Harry Charnas is ail het up
about the "Wonder Bar" opening at
the Strand, with Jolson on hand to
make the affair something to talk
about, that is if you like to talk.
All the movie folks flocked to this
"Queer People" show in hopes that
something new might be revealed.
Bert Granet, who co-authored "So
This Is Harris," is now writing for
Magna. His first assignment is a
Bert Lahr picture. . . . Understand
that Columbia is burning because
Clark Gable is making a personal ap-
pearance at the Capitol against his
picture "It Happened One Night,"
which opens this Friday at the Music
Hall. Who will be the winner — the
Flesh or the Canned Product.?
•
Lou Holtz is among us again and
all those picture offers he turned down
read from here to over there. . . . Bob
Goldstein is ailing with a cold on the
proverbial chest. . . . The first spot
that Mary Brian went scurrying to
when she hit town was backstage of
the Capitol, where Buddy Rogers and
his troupe of horn footers were making
music. . . . Incidentally Ramon No-
varro is having headaches with the
flocks of femmes that are storming
the backstage of the theatre for his
autograph. Novarro, my spies report,
is setting himself m on a radio deal.
. . . Mutterings around town say that
the "White Horse Tavern" will event-
ually be produced by Arch Selwyn —
?'-d will open at the Music Hall next
Labor Day with a cast of 300. . . .
Ccn Conrad is sunning himself in Flor-
ida these days, while Monty (Magna)
Shaff has listened to the call and is
in our midst. . . . With the exit of
the Gertrude Hoffman girls the Para-
mount Grill has folded.
•
Vince Lopez goes into the St. Regis
and Phil Harris along with Leah Ray
moves over to the Palais Royal. ... If
you think that reading the 700,000
words of "Anthony Adverse" is a
man-sized job, just pity the poor
author — because Hervey Allen re-
wrote "Anthony" no less than five
times under the guidance of John Far-
rar, and in the end had written some
3,500,000 words — of which only
700,000 saw print. . . . Looks like
the George M. Cohan-Krimsky-Coch-
ran feature deal is off, that is unless
the boys are able to smooth out some
of those arguments they've been hav-
ing the past week-ends. . . . Nat Ross
is talking to Buddy Rogers about doing
a series of shorts, somewhat along the
lines of the Leather Pushers, Rogers
not wanting to do any more of those
wishy-washy sort of films.
Arthur Loses a Bet
Plans to put Alice Brady into "Bi-
ography" at the Biltmore threw a
monkey wrench into George K. Arthur
plans, the latter having contacted
Peggy Wood with a view to staging
the play for her at the Hollywood
Playhouse.
Page Four
Feb. 27. 1934'
THE REASON
have M.C. Levee as
my manager is because he
knows that all great men
change their minds/'
SAYS
LESLIE
H O V/ A k D
AND
HIS MANAGEMENT INCLUDES:
Personal Representation
And I mean personal
Business Administration
Secretarial Services
Bookkeeping and Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity and Exploitation
FRANK BORZACE
Will Tell You WHY He is a "Levee" Client
IN FRIDAY'S
TiilMp^iPoiiifiiii
"""" ••'"•'^ '"'"'
ACTORS' GUILD HELPS TOl
BROADEN AWARD SCOPE
Through the courtesy of the Screen
Actors Guild 3000 additional ballots in
The Hollywood Reporter Awards of
Merit Competition were mailed out to
free lance actors and actresses yes-
terday.
Believing that the system employed
by the Reporter whereby the industry
as a whole does the picking of out-
standing achievements, the Guild of-
ficials gladly furnished the names and
addresses of this great body of players,
so that there would be a double cer-
tainty that none would be denied the
privilege of taking part in honoring
those who deserve recognition.
Adolphe Menjou, a member of the
Board of Governors of the Guild, sum-
med it up in the following statement:
"I believe the sentiment of my fel-
low members of the Actors Guild
would be to join me in encouraging
any award plan that allows all the
members of the profession to express
their opinions. There are various
worthy awards now, conducted by
publications or organizations, and they
are of interest to all of us. But a plan
such as the Reporter's, which allows
ALL creative workers in the motion
picture industry a voice, has a distinct
place."
Seconding Mr. Menjou in his ex-
pression was Kenneth Thomson, secre-
tary of the Guild, who is backing his
belief in the worth of the competition
by a fine spirit of cooperation.
Enthusiasm for the Reporter awards
has spread even to London, where it
is being discussed. David Bader of
Universal cabled yesterday as follows:
"Your award plan is a grand idea.
Earnestly suggest that voters remem-
ber international aspect. Those whose
pictures go past the frontiers of New
York, Chicago and Hollywood are in-
valuable to themselves, employers and
the industry."
Once again, members of the indus-
try, who may not have received a bal-
lot, are requested to either telephone
or write in and a ballot will be sent
Immediately.
Ann Ronnel Gets Radio
'Last Yacht' Assignment
Ann Ronnel, sister of Deputy NRA
Administrator Sol Rosenblatt, was en-
gaged by Radio yesterday to write the
music for "Down to Their Last
Yacht."
Sidney Blackmer was signed for an
important spot in the Lou Brock pic-
ture.
Contest Winner Tested
Alfred Del Cambro, one of the
"Search For Beauty" contest winners,
is being tested by Paramount for the
second male lead in the Mae West
picture, "It Ain't No Sin" with George
Raft. The picture is scheduled to start
next Monday under the direction of
Leo McCarey.
Break for Levison
Because George E. Stone is still tied
up in "Return of the Terror" at War-
ners, Charles Levison gets his first big
picture break, filling the Stone role
in Columbia's "Twentieth Century."
Deal was set by the Kingston-Harris
agency.
Cooperation
The Academy held a press
luncheon Wednesday to get sug-
gestions from reporters on what
they could do to help in publicity
on the Awards. Suggestion unani-
mous that Academy announce the
awards early enough to give eastern
papers break. Yesterday Academy
decided to announce results as late
as possible the night of the ban-
quet.
Myrna Loy to Star
In 'Evelyn Prentice'
Myrna Loy will get the starring role^
in "Evelyn Prentice," the W. E. fc.V
Woodward novel, which was purchas- |
ed by MGM last week, after she fin-
ishes "China Seas" in which she has]
the top spot with Clark Gable.
C. Gardner Sullivan has been as- 1
signed to write the screen adaptationj
of this novel.
Radio Ready to Start
Edna Oliver Mystery |
With Edna May Oliver now avail
able, Radio will put the Stuart Pal-('
mer mystery thriller, "Murder on the
Blackboard" into work under the di-
rection of George Archainbaud on
March 2. Edna May Oliver and James
Gleason are the only ones in the cast
to date. Myles Connolly is supervis-
ing.
Ralston for Timberline'
Esther Ralston's next assignment for
MGM is slated to be a featured role j
in the Gene Fowler novel, "Timber-
line," which will be produced by Wal- |
ter Wanger.
Herman Mankiewicz has beenj
handed the yarn for a screen treat-
ment.
Cortex in 'Dark Victory*
Ricardo Cortez' first role since hisj
return from the East is slated to bej
one of the featured roles with Edward]
G. Robinson in the latter's next star-
ring vehicle for Warners titled "Dark I
Victory," a screen adaptation of the|
Broadway stage play.
Cinecolor at Jolson Debut
Leon Schlessinger has completed
"Beauty and the Beast," the second of
his Cinecolor animated cartoon series
which Vitaphone releases. Short will
open with "Wonder Bar" at the War-
ner theatres.
Stag for Goldstone
Honoring Nat Goldstone on his last
day as a bachelor, Carl Laemmie Jr.
will be host at a stag dinner tomor-
row night in the Indian room of the
Universal cafe. Goldstone marries
Bernice Curland Thursday.
Don Reed in U' Role
Donald Reed returns to pictures in
a principal role in "Uncertain Lady"
at Universal, his first role in more
than two years. Reed has been In
Mexico producing features.
h
\i
louve rsever been
the REAL Hepburn:
. .Till you see her as 'Trigger
Hicks .. savage wild-cat girl of
the Ozarks . A witch' to the
mountain folk who feared her
. . Bewitching to the man who
couldn't resist her!
>
,eC-iiJH*-^
%
«-► >.} '
with
OBERT YOUNG • RALPH BELLAMY
MARTHA SLEEPER
Supported by
buis Mason • Sara Haden • Virginia Howell • Sidney
l)ler • High Ghere • John Beck • Therese Wittier
o^ Pandro S. Berman Productiofij>
Page Six
THg
i^iP>©mrEPi
Feb. 27, 1934
Actors Will Issue ASiSISTAIVT DIRECTORS GET
Monthly Magazine RREAK I]\ ACAD. AWARDS
The Screen Actors Guild has com-
pleted all plans for the publication of
a monthly magazine devoted to the
interests of screen players. The first
issue will be off the press March 15.
The editorial board consists of Ann
Harding, Fredric March, Robert Mont-
gomery, Lucile Cleason and Kenneth
Thomson.
Policy of the magazine, according
to Thomson, will be to present a pub-
lication that will be breezy and which
will contain news of the players, fea-
tures and articles of general interest.
Already many well known contribu-
tors are lined up.
Judith Allen Placed in
'Witching Hour' Cast
Judith Allen has been assigned fem-
inine lead in "The Witching Hour,"
which will be directed by Henry Hath-
away, after which she plays a featured
role in the Cecil B. DeMille produc-
tion "Cleopatra."
Gertrude Michaels, Olive Tell and
John Larkin have also been added to
the cast which already has John Halli-
day. Sir Guy Standing, William Fraw-
ley and H. B. Walthall in featured
spots.
Blackmer at Radio
Sidney Blackmer was signed by Ra-
dio yesterday for the male lead oppo-
site Sidney Fox in the Lou Brock pro-
duction "Down to Their Last Yacht,"
which will be directed by Paul Sloane.
Picture is scheduled to go into pro-
duction in about three weeks.
Ruggles with Crosby
Charlie Ruggles was assigned yes-
terday to play a featured role in the
next Bing Crosby picture, "She Loves
Me Not," which is being supervised
by Barner Glazer. Ida Lupino has the
feminine lead. No director has been
assigned.
Novarro Extends Tour
Ramon Novarro has taken on an-
other week of persono?' appearances in
the East. He will open in Washington
next week after which he will play a
week in Baltimore. After that Novarro
will begin his concert tour.
DuWorld Takes Savo Pics
New York. — The Jimmy Savo shorts
being made by Screencraft Productions
have been taken on for distribution by
DuWorld Pictures. Dr. Eugene Frenke
will direct the pictures remaining to
be made in the series.
Lanny Ross Assigned
Lanny Ross has been assigned to
play the juvenile lead in the next
W. C. Fields picture, "Grease Paint,"
for Paramount. He will make this
picture after he finishes "His Master's
Voice" for the B. P. Schulberg unit.
Marshall's Next Chosen
George Marshall's next trick after
he finishes "Free Gold" for Sol Wurt-
zel at Fox, is scheduled to be the
James Dunn-Sally Eilers picture "Al-
ways Honest."
Start New Healy Short
MGM will put another "Ted Healy
and His Stooges" short into work this
week titled "Big Idea."
Following many years of agitation,
the Academy has finally decided to
give recognition in its annual awards
competition to the Assistant Directors,
according to announcement made yes-
terday.
However, the Assistant Directors
will be given "certificates of merit"
instead of the gold statuettes which
are presented to all the other prize
winners.
The certificates will be given to one
Assistant Director in each studio for
having done the "best consistent year's
work." Eighteen assistants have been
named as eligible for the special
award. Those named from the various
studios are:
William Tummel and Percy Ikerd
of Fox; Charles Dorian, John Waters
and Bunny Dull of MGM; Arthur Jac-
obson, Sidney Brod and Charles Barton
of Paramount; Dewey Starkey and Ed-
die Killey of RKO-Radio; Fred Fox
and Benjamin Silvey of United Artists;
Scott Beal, Billy Reiter and Joe Mc-
Donough of Universal; Gordon Hol-
lingshead, Al Alborn and Frank Shaw
of Warner Brothers.
Weather and Casting
Bali Up V Schedule
Inclement weather and casting
trouble has caused Universal to set
back scheduled starting dates on four
pictures. Ken Maynard's "Doomed to
Die" did not start yesterday as
planned, but will get under way to-
morrow, weather permitting. Since
the exteriors will be photographed first
"The Black Cat" will not start until
Friday, two days later than the an-
nounced start. Casting difficulties
have forced the studio to postpone for
another week "Little Man, What
Now?" and "This Human Side." Both
are now set to go before the cameras
next Monday.
Comerford Adds Two
In Northern New York
Rochester, N. Y. — The M. E. Com-
erford circuit has taken over the op-
eration of the Regent and Century
houses here, formerly run by Famous
Theatres Corporation. William Cada-
ret is in charge of both houses.
Paramount said to retain 50 per
cent interest under an agreement to
run for six months, with option for
more time.
Splitting Hairs
Sound men squawked last year be-
cause Academy gave sound award to
studio for best example of sound and
didn't give it to the sound men who
did the work. To make them feel
better this year Academy will give
award to "Picture produced BY stu-
dio," and still the sound men won't
get a statuette.
Tyler Arrives from N. Y.
Harry Tyler, who has been signed
to a long term deal by Warners, gets
in by train today from New York for
his role in "Friends of Mr. Sweeney, "
which is now in work. Tyler, a come-
dian, has appeared in "Clear All
Wires" and "Cloudy With Showers"
on the Broadway stage.
Johnston on a Spot
Johnny Johnston, Universal's
publicity chief, is playing a "Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" character. He
is chairman of the Hays' office
publicity committee and as liaison
man for the Wampas "Baby Star"
committee on the matter of broad-
casting their shindig he must ask
himself permission to broadcast and
then turn himself down.
Fairbanks Eng. Pic
Will Start March 1
According to a cable received yes-
terday by Robert Fairbanks, general
manager of the Fairbanks corporation,
Doug Sr. will start production on his
picture for London Films on March 1.
Alexander Korda and Fairbanks are
now in Spain selecting locations. All
of the picture with the exception of
a few interiors will be made in Spain
and Italy and the remainder at the
Elstree studio in England.
Folsey Sees It Through
Practically the only survivor of the
original company that started work
on MGM's "Operator 13" when it got
under way for the second time this
week was George Folsey, the camera-
man.
There were a new director, new su-
pervisor, new script and new faces in
the cast. But Folsey remained behind
the camera.
Kingston-Harris Join
Negotiations between Al Kingston
and Dave Harris were completed yes-
terday, with Harris becoming affili-
ated with Kingston in the Kingston-
Harris Inc. agency. New firm, which
has taken over the clients and organi-
zation of the Al Kingston agency, will
move to larger quarters in the Equi-
table building next week.
WB Remake Lost Lady'
Warners will remake one of its si-
lent successes, "Lost Lady," a Pulit-
zer prize story by Willa Gather, which
the studio produced in 1925, and have
assigned Gene Markey to write the
screen play. Henry Blanke supervises.
Whale Back at U'
James Whale returned to Universal
yesterday from a 1 2-week vacation
in London. The director brought back
the completed script on "A Trip to
Mars," which R. C. Sherriif wrote in
London.
Capt. Fawcett Returning
Captain Roscoe Fawcett, of Fawcett
Publications, returns to the Roosevelt
Hotel from Palm Springs Thursday. He
will stay ten days and then back to
Minneapolis.
Cedar Prod. Buy Play
New York. — Ivan Cedar Produc-
tions have accepted for early produc-
tion a play by David Leonard, "Fight-
ing Chi," which the announcements
describe as a "satire."
lATSE Groups Get
Set for Showdown
For the second time in the past
four days the business agents of all
the local lATSE groups met yesterday
in conference with Richard Green, rep-
resentative of the parent lATSE
body.
First meeting was last Friday. Both
meetings veiled with considerable
mystery, but those attending admitted
that the pow-wows are for the pur-
pose of preparing the necessary data
for the use of International Presiderit
William C. Elliott, who is due here
some day this week to take part in
discussions with studio officials re-
garding the signing of a new basic
agreement, also to try to spread a lit-
tle oil of peace on the troubled local
waters.
Considerable time at both meetings
was spen\ in going over the squawks
relative to the non-operation of the
Studio Labor Committee which has
many complaints of these locals on its
shelves. Ways and means of forcing
action from the NRA authorities on
these complaints were discussed, and
one agent admitted that they have fig-
ured out several methods and have
made the wires hot between here and
Washington as a result. Some action
is expected shortly.
Meanwhile they are getting data to-
gether on the late strike for Elliott.
Wampas Kill Idea
(Continued from Page 1 )
ganization needing unanimous consent
to put it through. Producer opposi-
tion will be reported by John LeRoy
Johnston to the Baby Star Committee,
headed by George Landy, at the
Writers' Club tonight, abandonment
of the project expected then to offi-
cially occur.
From every source there has come
flat denials of antagonism between the
Wampas and the producers. "Every
studio is participating in star selec-
tions," a top official said, "and since
we are guided by the desires of the
producers there can be no antagonism.
The purpose of the Baby Star event
is the presentation through an impor-
tant exploitation stunt by the Wampas j
of the producers' new talent. It isj
sponsored by them and all proceeds
go to charity."
With the radio stunt out, Wampas
committee will mull over several other
proposals. Most likely is said to be
a series of personal appearances for
the thirteen selections starting from
New York. Question of expenses,
however, is a vital one.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taf t BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
Feb. 27, 1934
Page Seven
LEASERS' 'STEERHVC CIROIJP
PICKED IX SECRET HUDDLE
Specially selected group of members
of the lATSE, Local 659, cameramen's
union, which met secretly a week ago,
went into another huddle last night
and made final selection of the 100
men to make up the union's "steering
committee" which will handle the re-
organization of the union and its by-
laws.
Aside from the voting on commit-
tee members, chief topic for discus-
sion last night was matter of re-
rating of cameramen. One group was
strongly in favor of making it possi-
ble for the union to give a "first" a
"second" card temporarily, if a pro-
ducer writes the union asking such re-
rating and assuring that the man will
work if he is regraded.
However, objection arose from those
who feel that each classification should
have as much protection as possible.
In short, they thought it dangerous to
allow "firsts" to step down a grade
to get a "second" job while there are
seconds not working. This, they fear-
ed, might eventually crowd out many
of the bona-fide "seconds." No de-
cision was reached, as this will have
to be taken up by the steering com-
mittee and then passed on by the full
membership.
The proposed change of makeup of
Executive Board again came up. Feel-
ing is that lower classifications should
have representation. Plan is to have
1 I firsts, 3 seconds, 3 assistants, 3
still men and 1 newsreel man on the
board. Committee is certain to give
lower bracket men bigger break when
new by-laws are done.
Add Two Members to
Local NRA Labor Bd.
Local Regional Labor Board has
been increased to twelve members on
orders from Washington. Formerly
made up of ten members. No official
reason given for the increase.
Two new members added yesterday
were James Daigel and Jess Gillette.
Two other members will be appoint-
ed this week to replace John C. Aus-
tin, who has resigned, and Collins
Hardin, who has died since ap-
pointment.
Other members of the board are
Charles S. Hall, John F. Dalton, Dr. J.
L. Leonard, chairman; Campell Mac-
Culloch, Harry Sherman, Byron Camp-
bell, C. B. Tibbets, W. L. Stevens and
Richard L'Estrange.
'^ Mud Turtle' for Holt
Columbia Saturday purchased "Mud
Turtle," an original story by Kurt
■Kempler, and signed the writer to
adapt the script. It will be used as a
Jack Holt vehicle. Deals were set by
Jerry Horwin.
WB Import New Yorker
Warners yesterday signed Arthur
Aylesworth, a New York comedian in
the play "Armourette," to a long term
contract. He will probably go into
"The Dark Tower" as his first as-
signment.
Bren Back at 20th
J. Robert Bren, who authored the
Spencer Tracy-Jack Oakie picture,
"Looking For Trouble" for Twentieth
Century, has returned to that lot to
write an untitled original story.
Ease Up on Code
New York. — It's such a tough
job getting those exhibitors to sign
unqualified assents to the Code
that the deadline has been graci-
ously extended t)y the Code Au-
thority until March 31.
'Christina'/Women*
Wow 'Em in London
London. — "Queen Christina" and
"Little Women" are doing terrific
business over here, with "Catherine
the Great" and "Gallant Lady" run-
ning close behind. "Duck Soup,"
"Invisible Man" and "All of Me" all
doing fine draw, latter due to great
popularity of March, Raft and Miriam
Hopkins.
"Queen Christina," "Little Wo-
men" and "Catherine the Great" are
all being held over. Among the new
pictures coming in are "I Am Su-
zanne" at New Gallery; "Jack Ahoy,"
Caumont comedy, at Tivoli; "As Hus-
bands Go" at Capitol; "Four Fright-
ened People" and "Queens Affair,"
British and Dominion picture, at the
Plaza.
\/^ llPTOTH^IVIINVTE
Arline Judge goes into "She Loves
Me Not" at Paramount.
Phillips Holmes goes into "In Con-
ference" for Charles Rogers at Para-
mount.
George Chandler, Bradley Page, )ohn
Quaien and Samuel Hinds signed by
Warners for "Without Honor."
Lee Beggs signed for "Little Man,
What Now?" at Universal.
Maude Eburne and Cecile Cunning-
ham added to "Return of the Terror,"
Warners.
Addison Richards set by Al Kingston
in "Odd Thursday," Fox.
Ralph Forbes signed through Fred-
die Fralick for "Twentieth Century,"
Columbia.
Benny Hall and Willie Fung added
to cast of "Sequoia" for MCM.
Ken Maynard signed Lucille Lund
for the feminine lead and Walter
Miller to a featured spot in "Doomed
to Die." Mitchell Certz of the Al
Kingston office agented for Miss Lund.
Warners assigned Gertrude Short to
fill the spot originally planned for Joan
Wheeler in "The Key" because the
latter is tied up in "Happy Family."
Studio also signed Dawn O'Day for
"The Key."
Sam Hardy signed by Paramount for
a role in "Little Miss Marker" for the
B. P. Schulberg unit.
Rollo Lloyd added to the cast of
"The Party's Over" for Columbia. Nat
Goldstone set the player.
Harry Bradley for two assignments
through Max Shagrin. He goes into
"The World Is Ours" at Fox and "The
Happy Family," Warners.
James Durkin for "Clamour," Uni-
versal. Set by Max Shagrin.
James Busch for "The Happy Fam-
ily," Warners, through Max Shagrin.
INTRODUCING
the Speaker of the Evening
EVER sit in on banquet while a toast-
master, with more cracks to his line
than a syndicated colyumnist, intro-
duced a speaker who was a washout?
It happens often.
Think about your theatre the same
way. You book a feature, promote it,
stunt it, advertise it to a fare-thee-
well. And you pack them. You're just
like the toastmaster. You've got your
customers on edge, waiting for some-
thing swell.
And then ... up comes the speaker
of the evening^your sound — the
most vital part of your show. And
what do your customers do?
Stage presentations
are on the rebound.
If you plan to go
in for them, re-
member: Stage
Sound must now be
as good as Screen
Sound, or else . . .
Sound Reinforcing
is the answer and
we have a com-
pletely standardiz-
ed proposition to
tell you about.
Mail this coupon.
If you have High Fidelity, they sit
thrilled to the most perfect sound that
money can buy. They listen to realism
unrivalled by life itself. In short they
listen to natural sound, and they go
home, sold on your house, sure to
come next week.
But, if you haven't High Fidelity.
. . . Well, why take the negative an-
gle? Some day in the interest of your
box office, you will have High Fidelity,
and when you do you'll understand
and join in the enthusiasm of the hun-
dreds of ear wise exhibitors who are
making money with their . . .
HIGH FIDELITY
RCA VICTOR
PHOTOPHONE
Make them ear happy with HIGH FIDELITY
PHOTOPHONE DIVISION
RCA VICTOR CO., Inc.
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
...COUPON...
( ) I want further information about High Fidelity.
' ) I want information about Sound Reinforcing.
Name
Address
City State 2H
^rtaiiimentT
ight In Monte Carlo'
AT THE VENDOME
SUNDA.Y NIGHT
y/ru
MFTRO-GOLDV.'YN-MAYER STUDIOS.
^ MR.SAK'UEL MAPX ,
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
Vol. XIX. No. 41. Price 5c.
TODAY^S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, February 28, 1934
l\HIB$ WAR CN CODE
• WE have an idea that the producers
and their distributors are taking
themselves for a ride that will not be
very joyous due to their belief that
as long as pictures are made cheaply
profits will be the result. We be-
lieve that the continued flow of bad
pictures, cheaply made, will, very
soon, fly back and smack this indus-
try in the face.
We think the producers and dis-
tributors are kidding themselves in
believing that the general run of pic-
tures are attracting the money that
is being paid in at the box office at
this time. We believe the public has
money to spend, that more people
are working now than at any time
in the past few years, that they are
going to the movies for entertain-
ment, and if that is denied them they
will soon drift to other forms of
amusement.
We don't believe there are suffi-
cient IMPORTANT PICTURES being
produced to build theatre patronage,
and if that condition is true then this
business is in for a bad flop and quite
soon.
Good pictures cannot be made on
the formulas being set down in the
studios today. And they are not be-
ing made. Good pictures require lots
of time in preparation, intelligent
casting, good direction. Hollywood is
filled with fine artists for casting pur-
poses, good directors and able and
successful writers, but with all that
available talent most of it is going to
waste because most of our producers
are playing safe in the production of
unimportant pictures and are making
little or no use of that talent, under
the delusion the public likes what they
are making.
We don't say that our major studios
should go out and throw money to
the winds in their effort to make im-
portant pictures. We don't believe it
is possible to make a good percentage
of the year's product IMPORTANT.
We do say that there is too little ef-
fort exerted in the direction of making
GOOD PICTURES and seemingly no
desire to make IMPORTANT PIC-
(Continued on Page 2)
Okay RKO Deals Today
New York. — The RKO Board of
Directors meets today to take ac-
tion on approving the new set-up
arranged by Aylesworth and Mc-
Donough on the coast, and the
contracts of Cooper and Berman.
Despite wild rumors of mergers,
etc., the meeting is expected to be
routine.
Gov't Officials Get
Behind Alien Bill
Washington. — The hearing on the
Alien Immigration bill took on a new
slant today that may indicate the bill
has Administration support. An offi-
cial of the Bureau of Immigration and
the State Department both spoke in
favor of the bill.
Briefs opposing the bill were filed
by C. C. Pettijohn of the Hays office.
Dr. Henry Moskowitz of the National
Association of the Legitimate Theatre
and Brock Pemberton.
Dillingham in Comeback
New York. — Charles Dillingham re-
turns to the production wars soon, af-
ter a depression-induced bankruptcy,
when he presents a revue titled "New
Faces" here. Elsie Janis is supervis-
ing it.
Holman Party Here Today
Russell Holman, Jeff Lazarus, Mary
Morris and Anne Revere, latter two
from "Double Door," arrive tonight on
the Chief, headed for the Paramount
studio.
Eddie Sutherland at Home
Edward Sutherland received an okay
from his doctor and returned to his
home yesterday. The director just fin-
ished a three month stretch in the
Hollywood hospital.
Claim Local Board Selections
Controlled By Big D Is t ribs And
Chain Houses'-Frisco Boiling
New York. — There is an explosion simmering under the ap-
parently peaceful front of the Code Authority here. Since the
naming of the Grievance and Zoning Boards in twenty-one cities
a week ago, and the equally significant failure to name in many
cities, loud squawks of disapproval are
pouring into the Big City.
The Code Authority is silent on the
kicks, but other film men here, re-
ceiving letters from friends throughout
the key cities, are not so backward
in telling what is happening.
(Continued on Page 6)
Columboand 'U' in
New Ticket Battle
Russ Columbo has resumed his bat-
tle with Universal for a release from
his contract and this time is putting
all he has into the fight for his free-
dom. Columbo has been under con-
tract to that studio for five months
without a picture.
With Paramount and Twentieth
Century interested in the crooner
Universal is planning on keeping him
on that lot.
Max Cordon Under Knife
New York. — Max Gordon, play pro-
ducer, undergoes a minor operation at
the Lenox Hill Hospital here today.
He will be confined for about two
weeks.
Farnol Finally Sails
New York. — Lynn Farnol, delayed
for many weeks to work on the
launching of Anna Sten, finally sails
for London today on the Manhattan.
N.Y. Reports MCM
Signs Sam Rothafel
New York. — MGM has signed Sam
Rothafel to a contract to manage the
Seventh Avenue Roxy Theatre for
them, the maestro returning to his
first love July I, according to reports
current here today.
Definite announcement is said to be
waiting on the ironing out of MGM's
deal with the Roxy bondholders to
take over the house. Roxy, denying
any knowledge of this deal, and also
of previously published stories about
personal appearances with his Gang,
admits, however, he may close with
Paramount for a very brief tour with
the Gang in the near future.
Five New Boards Named
New York. — The Code Authority
today made appointments to the griev-
ance and zoning boards for five addi-
tional cities, Albany, Atlanta, Chicago,
Cleveland and Milwaukee. Appoint-
ments to boards in New York, Boston,
San Francisco and Washington have
been deferred for at least two weeks.
Harlow to Do Eadie'
Jean Harlow will do "Eadie Was a
Lady" as the first picture for MCM
since her recent contract squabble and
the subject is scheduled to get under
way in three weeks. Anita Loos and
John Emerson are writing the original
screen play and Robert Z. Leonard has
been penciled in to direct.
NEW YORK THEATRES TO
FACE STRIKE TOMORROW Bill Howard B«k Monday
New York. — It isn't bad enough to
have the weather laying New York
theatre business out in the alley. Yes-
terday the "Theatre and Amusement
Employees Union" voted to start a
general strike in all theatres Thursday
of this week.
Organizers of the union claim they
have some 1 1,000 ushers, janitors and
box office workers in their ranks. So
much mystery has surrounded its ac-
(Continued on Page 2)
lATSE Meets in Kentucky
Louisville, Ky. — This city has been
chosen by the lATSE for its 1934
Convention which will be held June
4 to 8. More than 1 500 delegates
are expected.
Joe Bernard Comes West
New York. — Joseph Bernard, head
of Warner theatre ojjerations, is
scheduled to depart for the coast to-
day.
William K. Howard returned to
Hollywood Monday night and has his
choice of a number of assignments as
his next directorial trick at MGM.
John Considine has bids in for him.
offering "Mild Oats" or "Evelyn Pren-
tice."
Lucile Cleason III
Lucile Gleason was rushed to the
Wilshire Hospital Monday night for
an emergency appendix operation,
coming through the incident neatly.
THE NIGHT OF NIGHTS
SUNDAY, MARCH 4th,
AT THE VENDOME FOR
EL NIDO CAMP
Page Two
THg
Feb. 28. 1934
irftlAsferoiCTit
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
Mew York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published everv day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Joan Bennett played Momma to an
eight pound baby girl yesterday — she
waited "purposely" so that the infant
would be born on her birthday — and
it was! Joany, if we remember cor-
rectly, was just twenty-four yester-
day, and Gene Markey is passing the
cigars — extra special cigars for the
double event! The new baby will be
named Melinda.
•
Sam Harris and Inez Norton are
going places very seriously these days
— and are at the moment off to Ari-
zona for a jaunt. There is also a story
around that Harris just dropped around
sixty thousand dollars in a gold-mine
venture here. The mine is O.K., it
seems, but after a huge sum had been
invested in machinery, etc., there was
a fire that destroyed the whole mine!
•
And now it appears that it is just
a social faux pas that is behind the
$3500 legal bill which is now giving
the members of the Academy a head-
ache. It seems, according to the
story told, that the lawyer working
for the Academy during the pay-cut
period really never intended to present
a bill, but was happy in the prospect
of influential contacts. Then, at the
conclusion of the fight, he invited the
members to his ranch for a dinner and
turkey shoot. When the day arrived,
the crowd responding consisted of
Lester Cowan and two Academy mem-
bers. The next week the bill for
$3500 was received.
•
While on the subject of headaches
there are those who are wondering
When the bill is going to arrive from
Nathan Burkan for the days of hard
//ork he spent in Washington on code
matters for the Academy. The ca-
pable Burkan has never been known
to be shy about the size of retainers.
Nor to work for nothing where there
was no element of charity involved.
Naval Idea on Shelf
MCM has shelved plans for the
naval preparedness picture announced
some time ago. Studio couldn't make
tjne idea jell. • -
"BOLERO"
Paramount prod.; director, Wesley Ruggles; writers, Horace Jackson,
Ruth Ridenour, Carey Wilson, Kubec Clasmon.
Paramount Theatre
Times: The film, without coming close to realizing the real possibilities of the
story as an overpowering study of megalomania, does manage to be mod-
erately entertaining.
World -Telegram: It seemed a little too pat, a little too studious and deliberate
in its plot fabrication to be as effective and as convincing as it might and
should have been. Although the work of the cast is frequently effective,
it is not effective enough to overcome the handicaps of an inadequate
story.
News: The picture does not rate as highly as the cast which makes it a suc-
cess. Its most happy feature is that it moves rapidly, and when it does
get serious not too much time is spent trying to jerk tears or evoke sym-
pathy.
Mirror: George Raft is such an unusual type and such an effective dancer he
makes this movie a fairly entertaining one for the ladies.
American: Unfortunately, the film doesn't ring true, nor do its characters, nor
indeed does its costuming, and the characters show no signs of aging
though the action covers a period from the era of Theodore Roosevelt to
that following the World War.
Herald-Tribune: In type and manner and dancing ability, George Raft is per-
fect for his part, but he has neither the acting skill nor the variety of
moods necessary for the job. It should have been a lot better.
Journal: It's a moderately entertaining picture, the best work in the piece being
done by William Frawley.
The material has been thrown together without logic or dramatic climax;
it is a hurly-burly of incidents, confused, meaningless and swabbed in sen-
timentality. The character which Mr. Raft portrays is weakly conceived.
Nor does Miss Lombard contribute anything in the way of looks, acting
or dancing.
Not very exciting as a drama, manages to be entertainment, nevertheless.
There is an amusing background, and the costumes in themselves are fun,
even if the story is a mild one and the production is a skillful one.
Post:
Sun:
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
TURES that would mean big business
to this industry.
The industry MUST have a group
of important pictures, the type of en-
tertainment that sends the fan home
talking, with that talk attracting oth-
er fans and all of them contented with
the entertainment they bought. Be-
cause of that feeling they go back to-
morrow night and the next night and
they get that old picture habit again.
Soviet Film Head
Coming in May
New York. — Soyuz Importkino, the
Soviet film trust, will send its presi-
dent to the U. S. in May to purchase
sound equipment and make booking
deals to import American pictures.
Holmes Walton Returns
Holmes C. Walton has returned
from a four months' stay in the East.
Walton lined up a number of authors
and screen writers while there and
brought back a supply of screen ma-
terial with him.
New Indie Distrib.
New York. — M. Leon Levine is
manager of a new organization. Cen-
tral Distributors, Inc., which an-
nounces it is ready to buy indie prod-
uct for cash and act as distributors
for indie producers.
Warner Cuban Man Sails
New York. — P. Colli, manager of
Warners at Havana, sailed from New
York yesterday on a round-the-world
trip aboard the President Garfield;
'Scandals' for Paris Benefit
Paris. — One of he outstanding social
events of the season here will be the
showing of "Roman Scandals," with
entire proceeds going to the Ameri-
can Hospital here.
United States Ambassador Jesse I.
Straus will head the list of American
celebrities. United Artists office here
and Lord Byron Theatre handling the
arrangements.
Green Plans Vacation
Howard J. Green and his wife will
hop a boat to New York the middle
of March for a five weeks vacation.
Green will complete the script of "The
Great Magoo" for Al Lewis at Para-
mount before he leaves on the trip.
Wyatt on Way to U'
New York. — Jane Wyatt, New York
actress, leaves tomorrow for the coast
and will arrive in Hollywood Monday
to fulfill her long term contract with
Universal.
Faces Theatre Strike
(Continued from Page 1 )
tual organization that it is pretty hard
to say just how serious the Thursday
strike move will be.
Only one Broadway theatre, the
Seventh Avenue Roxy, has definitely
stated that it approves the organiza-
tion and the scale of hours and work
for which it stands.
The union recently sponsored a
strike at the Paramount house in
Staten Island which quickly collapsed,
with the circuit now refusing to take
back the men who walked out.
Distribs Worried on
Cancelling Rights
New York. — The cancellation privi-
leges in the NRA code seem likely to
be the first issue in a war between
distributor and exhibitor members on
the Code Authority.
Sales managers are becoming alarm-
ed at the possibilities in the legali
interpretation of the clause by NRA'
attorneys, and the possibiliites of ex-
hibitors whose rentals do not averagei
over $250 per picture on block book-
ing contracts slashing 10 per cent off
pictures bought, which would playi
havoc with the delivery of the balancei
of this year's product.
John Flinn, executive secretary of
the Code Authority, admitted yester-
day that some of the distributors plan'
opposition to the NRA interpretation.
The result might be a blow up in the
none too secure ranks of the Code
Authority that would extend down the
line to its subordinate bodies, in vari-
ous exchange centers.
f(
Coslow-Johnston Assigned
Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston
were nominated yesterday by Para
mount to write the music numbers for:
the next Burns and Allen picture, ten-
tatively called "All for the Bride-
groom."
Local Writers Honored
Florence Ryerson and Colin Clem
qjifs are represented in Macmillan's
"Short Stories of Today" with theiil
story "Lobster John's Annie." Book
is collectio'fr'crf n>W)d6fn- short stories
by representative writers.
CONFIDENTIAL
Former United States Immigration
Inspector will give information and
assistance to anyone needing pass-
port extensions, re-entry permits,
permanent residence applications,
etc.
CALL
HERBERT HADLEY
OLympia 4341 OLympia 687''
MEDICAL ARTS BLDC.
4759 Hollywood Blvd.
7 years Inspector in charge,
Calexico, California
m
a;
lib
'«it
RUSSELL.MILLER
and Company
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF .
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr,
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
«H
Feb. 28. 1934
THg
Page Three
BOTTOMS VP' IN FINAL FORM
IS PRAISED BY REVIEWER
Fox Musical Welded
L Into Good Show
^m "BOTTOMS UP"
(Fox)
Direction David Butler
Story B, C. DeSylva, David Butler
and Sid Silvers
Art Director Cordon Wiles
Photography Art Miller
Dance Director Harold Hecht
Music and Lyrics: Berton Lane, Harold
Adamson, Richard Whiting and
Cus Kahn.
Cast: Spencer Tracy, John Boles, Pat
Patterson, Herbert Mundin, Sid
Silvers, Harry Green, Thelma
Todd and Robert Emmett O'Con-
nor.
(Editor's Note: "Bottoms Up," pre-
viewed by The Reporter in its first full
length version at Oakland, California,
Feb. 19, was shown in final cut last
night at the Westwood Village Thea-
tre. The following report is by a re-
viewer seeing the picture for the first
I time, and reporting impartially on the
basis of last night's preview.)
The new Fox picture "Bottoms Up"
IS just plain, downright, and excitingly
good. In fact, it is so good that it
I must be something new in the way of
entertainment.
But it isn't. It is a musical; it has
a touch of back-stage story about it;
if has a mistaken identity angle; it
. has the old, familiar triangle — it must
be the way it is done.
Put this picture down as a CAN'T
MISS. It is a triumph in every de-
partment, with direction, acting and
the dance numbers heading the list.
The musical part and the straight part
balance each other nicely, with just
enough of both; it has high, wide and
fancy comedy with an overtone of
pathos contributed by Spencer Tracy,
and it is one of the most tastefully
nounted productions seen in a long
t.me.
The opening of the film is a honey.
Three jobless men, Tracy, Herbert
Mundin and Sid Silvers, pick up a
girl, Pat Patterson, and take her
^ "home" with them, knowing that she
IS broke, hungry and has no place to
go. "Home" is a deserted miniature
golf links hut. Tracy is the big talk-
er— he has arrived in Hollywood to
revolutionize the motion picture in-
, dustry. Mundin just got out of jail
for signing the wrong name to the
wrong check, and Silvers is trying to
sell the words to popular songs on the
itreet.
Tracy gets the idea, inasmuch as
yiundin and Miss Patterson both have
English accents, of passing them off
)n gullible old Hollywood as Lord
irocklehurst and his daughter, fishing
or a movie contract, as the girl is
razy to be an actress.
It works, all right, with Hatry
^ >een as the producer giving them all
1 ontracts, and Mundin, the expert,
orging Green's instructions until Miss
'atterson finally comes out in the
icture as the star.
And then the showdown ....
Well, here's a picture that will talk
"loney in any box-office.
What Happened
To Cohn Picture?
London. — Many exhibitors and
more producers here in London
have inquired "What has happened
to 'The Lady Is Willing' that Harry
Cohn personally produced here last
summer? Has it been released, if
so — when?"
Hollywood. — Mr. Cohn's person-
ally produced effort is on the shelf.
Guild Plans Indie
Standard Contract
Free lance writers of the Screen
Writers' Guild are being backed by
the organization in an effort to amica-
bly work out a standard basic form of
contract with independent producers,
latter to have as great a voice in the
drawing up of the contract as they
wish, acccr'rding to a Guild announce-
ment yesterday.
John Natteford, chairman of the
free lance group, which includes vir-
tually every member in the field, has
been given the okay by the Guild
Board of Governors to push the stan-
dard basic ticket. He held his first
huddle yesterday with Laurence Bie-
lenson. Guild attorney, and the writers'
draft of their independent contract will
be forthcoming shortly.
Guild is contacting the indies first
because of the practice among the
smaller producers to engage writers
without contracts, leaving the matter
of writing agreements entirely up to
the writers themselves with the result,
in the past, that where contracts ex-
isted there was no conformity. A
standard contract is expected to rem-
edy this situation.
For pure, different, delightful com-
edy, see the "Waiting at the Gate for
Katie" number with John Boles. It's
a wow. For something absolutely orig-
inal and stunning, see the "Bottoms
Up" number, with Pat Patterson sing-
ing away the depression and gathering
after her a hot, laughing, jazzy parade
of social leaders, chorus girls, bankers
and brokers, with the set (all the
buildings are built on a crazy, de-
pressed bias) gradually tightening up.
It's great.
This Patterson girl is swell. She can
sing, dance and act. John Boles has
a chance to combine music with drama
and he does it beautifully. Sid Silvers
is a comedy riot; Spencer Tracy appar-
ently can't do a bad job if he wanted
to; Herbert Mundin is perfectly cast;
Harry Green is completely amusing
and Thelma Todd is grand.
David Butler's direction is fast and
smooth, and Harold Hecht's dance di-
rection is something to rave about.
B. G. DeSylva, David Butler and Sid
Silvers wrote the story; Gordon Wiles'
art direction is a thing of art, and the
music and lyrics, by Berton Lane, Har-
old Adamson, Richard Whiting and
Gus Kahn are good. Art Miller photo-
graphed It with taste and originality.
Don't worry. Just go ahead and
show it — whether your house is
Hollywood, New York, or the sticks.
Princess Libel Suit
On'Rasputin' Opens
Lpndon. — Alleging she was libeled
hyMVIGM's "Rasputin," Princess Irina
•^lexandrovna's suit against the com-
/ pany was opened today in a hearing
before Justice Horace Avory. The
princess, niece of the one-time Czar,
asserts MCM showed her as the Prin-
cess Natasha in the picture, the char-
acter in the story being seduced by
Rasputin and becoming his mistress.
On the stand the princess denied
she ever met Rasputin, which is re-
garded here as a point in her favor.
As the trial continues the entire Ro-
manoff history is expected to be re-
hashed, with the Sunday feature pages
getting juicy spreads out of the suit.
MCM, for its part, has entered a com-
plete denial of the princess charges.
Bryan Foy Returns
From Eight Week Trip
Bryan Foy checked in yesterday
from an eight weeks' trip to New
York. Lew Colder, president of Foy
Productions, arrives next week.
"With all the Hays opposition,
we've got 'Elysia' showing in forty-
two states," was what Foy had to say
yesterday.
Fields to Paramount
Herbert Fields has finished the
script of "Down to Their Last Yacht"
for the Lou Brock unit at Radio and
swings over the fence to Paramount
today on a one-picture assignment.
He will work on an original idea for
William LeBaron. The Schulberg-
Feldman and Curney office made the
deal.
Saland Returns East
Nat Saland, of the Mercury Film
Laboratories, New York, left for the
eastern city yesterday after concluding
a very successful business trip. Saland
is understood to be taking back con-
tracts that assure his plant the release
printing on about fifty features.
Zeidman Tags Meehan
B. F. Zeldman yesterday signed John
Meeh^rr V. to write the dialogue for
'JJ^OVelife of a Sailor," which has been
x^ripted by Dore Schary and Lewis
Foster. Deal was set by Fritz Tidden
of the Hoffman-Schlager agency.
Kruger in 'Treasure Isle'
Otto Kruger was set yesterday by
MCM for an important spot in "Treas-
ure Island," the studio deciding to use
the player itself after being swamped
with bids for loans on him from other
studios.
U' Seeks O'Brien
Universal is negotiating with George
O'Brien to play the male lead oppo-
site Gloria Stuart in "The Two O'Gra-
dys," which Henry Henigson is super-
vising.
M'Donald Returns Thurs.
New York. — Jeanette MacDonald is
cutting her vacation short and saying
"No" to many tempting radio offers
to return to the coast Thursday.
Wampas Decide to
Foster Own Stars
The Wampas met last night and,
after being notified that a majority of
the producers had turned down their
idea of putting this year's Baby Stars
on the air, decided upon a new method
of selecting this year's crop of "ba-
bies."
It was unanimously voted to elect
thirteen "baby stars," but they will
be girls who are not under term con-
tracts at present. Reason given for
this is that they are going on the the-
ory that girls who are now under con-
tract have already been recognized and
are presumably on their way to star-
dom. Wampas selection will be from
those who have not been given this
chance.
It was also decided to select the
"baby stars" this year from screen
tests, rather than from photographs
and personal observation as in past
years. Those nominees who do not
have screen tests to present will have
arrangements made for taking one.
Nominations will close on March 13.
Organization decided to delay plans
for presentation of the stars until af-
ter they are elected. Then they will
determine what manner of showing
them to the public will be used.
'Good Earth' Reported
Banned by Chinese Gov't
New York - — The Herald-Tribune
carji^ed a story yesterday that the Nan-
^kmg government had forbidden the
production of "Good Earth" in China.
The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer home of-
fice knew nothing about the report.
Hollywood. — In an attempt at con-
firmation of the above story, Irving
Thalberg said: "That's the first I
heard of it. It is true that we are
not satisfied with the limitations
placed on our work over there, but
insofar as banning the entire produc-
tion work, I have heard nothing about
it."
Brown-Freed Renewed
Nacio Herb Brown was handed a
new contract yesterday by MCM, the
company punching Arthur Freed's
ticket at the same time.
The writer-music men have just
polished off "Hot Chocolate Soldier,"
which goes into the Walt Disney Silly
Symphony portion of "Hollywood
Party."
Clyde Beatty Arrives
Clyde Beatty gets in tonight by
train from Minneapolis to start work
in Nat Levine's serial, "The Lost Jun-
gle." Beatty brings a killer lion,
Sammy, with him from his appearance
in the Shriners' circus there.
Brandt Invades New Zone
New York. — Harry Brandt has ex-
panded into the Lee Ochs territory
in New York and taken over the
New Alden Theatre, at 67th Street
and Broadway. The theatre when
completed will seat 530.
Butterworth Rest Ends
Charles Butterworth put an end to
his brief vacation at Palm Springs, re-
turning to town yesterday and report-
ing today to Twentieth Century on
loan from MCM for "Bulldog Drum-
mond Strikes Back"
Page Four
TH£ife?
Feb. 28. 1934
FEDERAL COVRT§ MAY BE
CALLED IN UNIOJ^ DISPUTE
Film Loaders First
Croup After Action
Indications yesterday were that the
first group in the film production
field to take their protests to a Fed-
eral court and try to have employers
fined for code violation will be the
film loaders,
A spokesman for a group of film
loaders from one studio yesterday de-
clared that the loaders in his studio
have become tired of "being horsed
around" by the code officials and have
sent final word to Washington asking
that some action be taken on their
complaint now with the Studio Labor
Committee.
"If we do not get some action
within a week we are going to hire
a lawyer, go to the Federal District
Attorney and swear out a complaint
against the violators and try to get
them into court," declared this film
loader.
The film loaders' complaint is that
they were placed in the wrong classi-
fication when the code was drawn.
They were classed with cameramen in
the Basic Agreement and drew $46 a
week, and when they had worked 1 6
successive hours in one day they got
the same overtime as cameramen.
Now they are listed as laboratory
workers and claim they are getting
only $30 a week, with no overtime.
Their chief squawk is that on loca-
tion the loaders are paid on daily basis
of $8.50 per day, and have to work
as many hours as company asks.
"Average is 18 hours a day," said
a film loader, "and thus a loader can
only work two days a week (36
hours), for which he gets but $17.
Code won't let him work longer. Mr.
Rosenblatt told us this was a mistake
and that Studio Labor Committee
would fix it at once. They won't act,
so we will have to go to court, I
guess."
Radio Waits on Cleason
For Mystery Starting Date
The starting date on Radio's "Mur-
der on the Blackboard," a sequel to
"Penquin Pool Murder," is now con-
tingent on James Gleason's arranging
his work at Fox. Gleason's new deal
with the latter studio allows him to do
the picture for Radio when schedules
can be worked out. Demmy Lamson
is handling the negotiations for Clea-
son.
Radio has tentatively set April 2 as
starting date on the subject and Ken-
neth Macgowan will produce.
Twist on RKO Sea Yarn
Radio has assigned John Twist to
write the screen play ■f5f"'''Sea Girl,"
the story based on the Shackleford-
Drumgold expedition. This makes
about the sixth writer on the subject
but the first under the new producer
Cliff Reid.
Faragoh Finishes 'Corn'
Francis Faragoh finished the screen
adaptation of the Ann Harding story
"Alien Corn" and will remain on the
Radio lot for another picture.
Brewer's 'Queer People'
New York. — It now turns out
that a "Mr. Topping, a Brewer,"
was the angel for "Queer People."
With Howard Hughes' Multicolor
plant in Hollywood now a brewery
this makes the tie-up complete.
Warners Climb Aboard
Sheehan's Pet Theme
Fox started something when they
announced that they were planning to
make a picture based on the life
and the scientific achievements of
the famous scientist, Pasteur. Now
Warners are planning to make a pic-
ture with a similar theme.
Pierre Collings has been signed to
write an original story dealing with
the fight between man and germs.
Actors' Guild Praises
Coldwyn's Article
Adding their collective voice to the
views of Sam Goldwyn, in a recent
magazine article in which he defended
star salaries, the Screen Actors' Guild
went on record officially yesterday
commending the producer.
"Coldwyn's attitude is the one on
which we based all our contentions
during the code conferences," said
Kenneth Thomson, Guild secretary, for
the Board of Directors. "And we
congratulate him on his courage in
giving the facts to the public from the
producers' standpoint."
Shorts Decision Friday
Final judging of short subjects in
the Academy awards competition will
take place Friday night in the Para-
mount studio projection theatre.
Special committee of eight will view
the picture. Elimination took place a
week ago.
New Dallas RKO Chief
Dallas — S. M. Sachs has been ap-
pointed by General Sales Manager Levy
to fill the post of manager of the
local branch office of RKO Radio
Pictures. He takes the place of L. E.
Harrington who resigned.
Pichel with DeMille
Irving Pichel has signed to play the
role of Appolodaris in the Paramount-
DeMille production "Cleopatra." From
that part Pichel will move over to Fox
where a role in "Odd Thursday"
awaits him.
Barry Trivers at 'U'
Universal yesterday signed Barry
Trivers to write the script on "Here's
to Love," which Stanley Bergerman
will produce. Roger Pryor will have
one of the leads.
Carvey Joins Rockett
Stanley Carvey has become produc-
tion assistant to Al Rockett in his unit
at Fox. Carvey was formerly on the
writing staff at the Westwood Hills
plant.
Ruby Keeler Here
Ruby Keeler arrives here today on
the Chief from the east.
Carbo Still Hits
In London Empire
London. — The Greta Carbo picture
"Queen Christina" continues to be the
sensation of London. Going into the
third week at the Empire they are
still standing up and waiting in line
to grab a look at the picture.
The Gaumont production of "Jack
Ahoy," starring Jack Hulbert and di-
rected by Walter Forde, opened to big
business at the Tivoli and looks to be
a cleanup for England.
Raquel Torres in Role
First Set for Del Rio
Racquel Torres has the inside track
for the top spot opposite Joel McCrea
in Radio's big production of the year,
"Green Mansion" which will be di-
rected by Ernest Schoedsack.
Dolores Del Rio was originally slated
to play this role but the studio decided
that she was more matured than the
role called for.
Dunne, Jr., at Para.
Peter Finley Dunne Jr., son of the
famous Dunne and himself a veteran
newspaperman, comes into the picture
circle on a ticket set yesterday by
Jack Gardner with Paramount. He
goes in to collaborate with Joseph Col-
lomb on the untitled original idea fo(
a mystery yarn under Bayard Veiller.
Phillip Dunne, Peter's brother, is on
the MCM writing staff, working on
"Student Tour" for Durante-Butter-
worth.
Pep Up 'Lazy River'
Two more song numbers will go
into MGM's "Lazy River," studio de-
cided yesterday. Dr. William Axt is
writing the music and Hal Saiemson
contributes French lyrics for "Fifi from
Fontenoy" and "Kajun Love Song."
Irene Franklin warbles the former,
while Jean Parker and Robert "Voung
duet on the latter for the Lucien Hub-
bard-George Seitz picture.
Col. Adds to '20th Cent.'
Columbia yesterday assigned Billie
Seward to a featured spot in "Twen-
tieth Century" and signed Gaylord
Pendleton, Buddy Williams and Irene
Thompson for the picture. Howard
Hawks directs, with John Barrymore
and Carole Lombard in the leads.
Cordean Resigns
Jack Cordean, who has been an
assoeiaTe of the Schulberg-Feldman
and Curney office since it was organ-
ized, has turned in his resignation ef-
fective the end of this week.
Lyon in Harding Pic
Ben Lyon has been set by Radio
for one of the male leads in the Ann
Harding picture "Alien Corn" with
John Boles playing the other lead. E.
H. Griffith will direct.
Colton to New York
John Colton, MCM writer, left by
plane yesterday on a ten-day business
trip to New York. He will be given
a new assignment when he returns to
the studio.
Radio and Tuchock
In Salary Huddle
Radio and Wanda Tuchock are in
dispute as to what salary the writer-
director should get at her next option.
Radio wants to lift the option on Miss
Tuchock's contract at the same salary
she is now getting, but the latter '
wants the salary stipulated in the con-
tract at this option period.
Her next assignment is an original
story of hers titled "Portrait of a j
Rebel" which she also will direct.
Bernstein Takes Post j
With King Vidor Unit
Isadore Bernstein, former business
manager for the Seven Seas Corpora-
tion, yesterday was engaged by King
Vidor to replace Ed Ralph, who re-
signed as business manager.
Ralph plans to form his own pro-
duction unit and will later take space j'
on the General Service lot for his
production.
Joe 'Mank' to MCM
Joseph Mankiewicz moves over to j
MCM today on a one-picture deal to I
write dialogue on "Streets of New
York." Mankiewicz has completed
his work on the script of "Our Daily
Bread" for King Vidor. "Streets of
New York" is slated to get under way
in a month with Franchot Tone in the
top spot.
Stewart on Wanger Unit
Donald Ogden Stewart has been as-
signed to the Walter Wanger unit at
MCM to script Arthur Freed's origi-
nal, "Good or Summer Time." Stew-
art will move over to the Wanger fold
when he finishes his work on "The
Barretts of Wimpole Street" for Irv-
ing Thalberg at the same studio.
Rogers Sets Second Haley
Charles R. Rogers will make "Here
Comes the Groom," a screen adapta-
tion of the Broadway stage play, as the
second starring vehicle for Jack Haley,
on the letter's two picture deal with
Rogers.
LeonatdPraskins has been signed to
write the screen play and Ralph Mur-
phy will direct.
Mix Starts on Tour
Tom Mix left Hollywood with his
troupe of cowboys and horses for
Dallas, Texas, the Winter quarters of
the Tom Mix-Sam B. Dill Circus. He
will be gone from Hollywood for eight
months. The circus tour will begin
around April 1 .
Gloria Stuart in 'Humbug*
Gloria Stuart has been assigned the
feminine lead opposite Nils Asther in
the Max Marcin play "The Humbug,"
which Marcin will also direct for Uni-
versal. The studio is figuring on Alan
Dinehart for a featured spot in this
production.
Philippine Mgr. Visits
New York. — Eddie Ugast, United
Artists manager in the Philippine Is-
lands, arrived here yesterday.
Raynor Quits in Albany
Albany. N. Y. — William Raynor has
resigned as manager of the local First
Division Exchange.
(<
Used in 1 out of 8
yimerican Pictures in
1933'sTEN BEST"
OF THE Ten Best Pictures of 1933
chosen in the Film Daily s poll, eight
were American productions. Of those eight,
seven were photographed on Eastman ''Gray-
Back." This is outstanding evidence of the
acceptance enjoyed by Eastman Super-Sen-
sitive Panchromatic Negative among camera-
men and producers . . . and a signal tribute
to the versatility and unfailingly high quality
of the film itself Eastman Kodak Company,
Rochester, N. Y. (J. E. Brulatour, Inc., Dis-
tributors, New York, Chicago, Hollywood.)
EASTMAN Super-Sensitive
Pancfiromatic Negative (Gray-Backed)
Page Six
TH
Feb. 28, 1934
CHARGE STVDIOS USED TO
COLLECT IBEW CXIOIM DUES
Charges that some of the major
studios are assisting the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in
forcing their members to pay their
union dues are among the latest of
the complaints that have been lodged
with the Studio Labor Committee by
the various lATSE groups, it was
learned yesterday.
The method used, according to
charges by the labor groups is best ex-
plained by c«ie lATSE man who has
been on the inside of many confer-
ences held to devise ways and means
to get the Studio Labor Committee
to take action on the many complaints
filed with it.
"The head of a studio," explains
this man, "has a list of the members
of the IBEW union on his desk. This
list shows those who are paid up and
those who are in arrears with their
dues. He calls one of the men in ar-
rears and tells him that he plans to
use him on a location trip next week.
The fellow is happy and as he starts
to thank the studio executive, said
executive says, 'By the way, how about
your union dues? Are you paid up?
You know you have to have a paid up
card to go on location. Better get right
down and settle, if you owe anything.'
"The IBEW fellow rushes over and
pays. Then, in more than 75 per cent
of the cases he never hears from the
studio executive again. This is going
on in a lot of the studios. Same thing
is true in connection with the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Join-
ers. It is a distinct violation of the
code."
A lot of these instances are ex-
pected to be brought to the surface
when President Elliott of the lATSE
arrives this week.
Mainwaring Draws Down
Local Reporting Prize
Dan Mainwaring, former Academy
publicity man, now on the staff of the
Herald-Express, was honored last
night by the Squid Society of Los An-
geles, for writing what they consider
the best written story appearing in
Los Angeles papers last month.
Mainwaring got $10 prize and was
honor guest at a dinner given him by
members. Squids is composed of news-
papermen, judges, lawyers and other
civic workers. Winning story was on
the L. A. Night Court.
Mayer Helps Students
The class in dramatics at the Uni-
versity of Southern California is mak-
ing a picture titled "Oval Portrait,"
a screen adaptation of Edgar Allan
jPoe's story, at the MOM studio. Louis
|B. Mayer has given the university the
space and equipment.
Para. Signs Chorus
Paramount yesterday signed Earl
Dancer's chorus for "Murder in the
Vanities," which is now in production
with Mitchell Leisen directing. The
chorus is now appearing weekly on the
Pontiac radio hour over the CBS.
Dent Ends Para. Role
Vernon Dent has completed his role
in Paramount's "You're Telling Me"
and has returned to Arvid Cillstrom's
unit at Western Service Studios.
Supe Turns Actor
Lucijeh Hubbard, now handling
the production reins on "Operator
13," has decided to play the brief
scene in the picture that involves
President Lincoln. What's more,
the MOM make-up department can
show you photos to prove that Lu-
cien can do a Lincoln.
Rogers Starts Four
Pics Before May
Charles R. Rogers is whipping to-
gether plans to push through four pic-
tures between now and May, complet-
ing his ten-picture ticket with Para-
mount.
Four are "Here Comes the Groom,"
with Leonard Praskins on script; "In
Conference," under the Brian Mar-
lowe-Carrett Fort pens; "Canal Boy,"
which Casey Robinson is writing, and
"Lizzy Skerritt," with Frank R. Ad-
ams on the screen play.
Ed Wynn Denies Owing
Goldman on Radio Deal
New York. — Henry Goldman has
filed suit against Ed Wynn for $87,-
500 for alleged breach of contract and
for services rendered. He claims he
was hired by Wynn as an executive
of Amalgamated Radio System, which
folded last autumn, and was to get
$15,000 yearly salary, plus stock.
Now Goldman is trying to collect
$12,500 salary and $75,000, which
he says is equivalent to stock. Wynn
has made general denial, saying he
didn't enter into a personal contract
and that the contract was signed by
Amalgamated.
Dust Off Lederer Yarn
Radio has taken the Don Hartman
story, "Romance of Manhattan,"
which was originally slated to be Fran-
cis Lederer's first starring vehicle for
that company, off the shelf. The yarn
will again be readied for a possible
vehicle for Lederer. Pandro Berman
will produce the picture.
NRA Critic Appointed
Washington. — Leon Henderson, of
the Russell Sage Foundation, and se-
verest critic of the monopolistic ten-
dencies of many codes, was made head
of the NRA Research and Planning
Board yesterday, considered here a
significant move in the future oper-
ation of codes.
Shift in Fawcett Staff
Jewel Smith, staff writer on Faw-
cett fan magazines, leaves that or-
ganization Thursday of this week to
take a place with H^en Ferguson in
her publicity firm. Kay Mulvey, for-
merly with Fox and Paramount, takes
her place,
Laughton Sponsors Play
London. — Charles Laughton, divid-
ing his time between stage and screen,
has also found opportunity to be a co-
sponsor of Andre Obey's play "Don
Juan," which opened here Monday
night.
E^KHIBS WAR OIV CODE
(Continued from Page 1 )
Independent exhibitors, particularly
in key cities where the strength of the
independents is sufficient to worry the
big fellows, are complaining openly
that in all too many cases the appoint-
ments to the important boards were
dictated by distributor and chain thea-
tre interests.
The San Francisco situation is the
one that is apt to blow the lid off.
The appointment of the boards for this
city, has been stalled for two weeks
now, giving chances for an interchange
of letters and wires from New York
to Frisco that may make snappy read-
ing for General Johnson's current lin-
en-washing session in Washington.
Bluntly, San Francisco independent
exhibitors and indie exchanges mince
no words in stating that the steps
taken to remove Morgan Walsh and
George Mann from the "appointment
list" and the later stalling on naming
the Frisco boards until the membership
is "satisfactory to major distributors"
constitute concrete evidence that the
majors have taken the Code and its
administration in exhibition and dis-
tribution into their vest pockets.
New York also is a territory where
there is considerable murmuring, at
present marked by exhibitor apathy
towards signing "assents" and also in-
cluding plenty of talk that Warners,
Loew, and Fox chains are dictating
the appointments to be made.
San Francisco offers the real dyna-
mite of the moment. Here indepen-
dent exhibitors put forth the names
of George Mann and Morgan Walsh
early for consideration on the list of
appointments. Both are independent
exhibitors of long and solid standing
in the exchange territory. Walsh is
president of the Independent Theatre
Owners Association of Northern Cali-
fornia, and Mann is head of Redwood
Theatres.
The story received here is that
three weeks ago Charles C, Pettijohn
wired the San Francisco Film Board
the names of the appointees approved
by the Code Authority and that this
list included the names of Walsh,
Mann, and Grover C, Parson, veteran
exchange manager of the district. All
were appointees satisfactory to the
large body of independent theatre
men in the Bay section.
Then the funny work started.
About a week ago a number of Frisco
film men were requested to make ad-
ditional suggestions for appointments,
and this brought a flood of letters and
wires to New York asking if this
meant that the trio named above were
to be sidetracked.
Apparently they were.
For it is reported that W. Ray
Johnston, Ed Kuykendall and others
wrote to San Francisco stating that
"the major distributors led by Fox and
Warner seriously oppose Morgan
Walsh." Other statements to the
same effect were said to have been
made about the status of Mann and
Parsons.
A highlight was a wire on Saturday
from Kuykendall direct to Walsh
stating that the distributor members
of the Code Authority opposed his
naming and ASKING IF THEY
SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO STATE
PUBLICLY THEIR REASONS FOR SO
DOING, OR WOULD HE WITHDRAW
VOLUNTARILY.
Walsh countered with a left hook
— INSISTING THAT THE DISTRIB-
UTORS PUBLICLY STATE THEIR
REASONS FOR OBJECTING TO HIM.
The distributors merely went into
their shells, and replied "that the ad-
ministrator has decided to withdraw
Walsh's name as he is anxious for
all nominees to the Boards to go on
without opposition."
And incidentally some of the evi-
dence that has been sent back to New
York for possible passing on to Wash-
ington is said to be a telegram from
John Clark, of Fox, to Herman Wobber
in San Francisco stating that "ONE
major distributor still objects to
Walsh" so the theatre owner sending
the word to New York asks, "What is
to be the set-up of the Boards if the
voice of ONE major distributor in any
section is sufficient to overrule any
and all independents?"
Exhibitor leaders here, acquainted
with the facts, take this telegram to
mean that no exhibitor will be se-
lected for any board who is not passed
upon and satisfactory to the major
distributing corporations, and for that
reason the supposedly representative
members for independent exhibitors
will not be truly representative. They
put it this way, "Wherever a nominee
is suggested as strong as Mann or
Walsh, and able to fight theatre bat-
tles, they will oppose him, and fish
around until they get an independent
exhibitor who is not suffciently power-
ful to oppose the big fellows when it
comes to any real action by the
boards."
In New York, Harry Brandt's posi-
tion is that his independent organiza-
tion has not signed the Code and has
no intention of doing so, and for that
reason is expressing no opinions re-
garding the possible personnel of the
local Boards,
The "appointment board" that con-
sists of Sidney R. Kent, George
Schaeffer, Charles O'Reilly, Nathan
Yamins and W. Ray Johnston, refuses
to make any comment on the rumors
and outright statements of dissatisfac-
tion with their work. In side-stepping
the issue it was made known that no
statement would be issued until the
appointments for all cities were made
and announced.
To date about 9000 assents to the
Code have been received from exhibi-
tors. The sudden miraculous jump of
1 500 in the past few days is attrib-
uted to "home office" orders to the
men working for the big circuits in
the last few days to rush in signatures
and take off the chill that was sur-
rounding the whole machinery.
'Stu' Erwin to East
Due to complete his work in the
"Viva Villa" retakes in the next few
days, Stuart Erwin hops off for New
York on a two weeks' vacation. June
Collyer accompanies him. The couple
may do some personal appearances.
Bob Young Renewed
Robert Young's ticket was exercis-
ed yesterday by MGM and the player
stays on the company payroll for an-
other year with a tilt. Understood
the company is preening him for even-
tual stardom.
Feb. 28, 1934
TH
l^ilPOfRTEPl
0.
Page Seven
WRITERS
INDORSES
'Democratic Idea'
Wins Block Praise
Ralph Block, well known screen
writer and member of the Executive
Board of the Screen Writers' Guild,
today joined the vast army of Holly-
wood's picture people who are praising
the Hollywood Reporter Awards of
Merit Competition.
"It is about time that someone
came out with a plan that recognized
distinguished merit in the motion pic-
ture business, that is not limited to a
small, exclusive coterie of hand-picked
voters," says Mr. Block.
"The Reporter is to be commended
on its enterprise and understanding of
the requirements of an industry so
large as this, by devising a plan of
awards which is democratic, uninflu-
enced by special privilege and wide-
spread throughout the industry.
"The Reporter's method offers the
most honest plan of awarding meri-
torious effort yet advanced."
Scores of other writers, actors, di-
rectors, executives and technicians
have written in similar letters praising
The Reporter plan of having the in-
dustry as a whole name the men and
women who deserve public acclaim for
their creative work of the past year.
To those who have not yet sent in
their ballots: Please name the picture
in which your player did his or her
outstanding acting. Some ballots have
come in with just the name of the
player and no picture. These will have
to be excluded in the final ballot.
Read directions carefully and do not
waste your vote. If you have not re-
ceived a ballot, telephone The Re-
porter and one will be sent to you.
'Resurrection' Ready
New York — Rouben Mamoulian
receives the first draft of Maxwell
Anderson's "Resurrection" script to-
morrow. The picture is planned by
Coldwyn for Anna Sten.
Ticket Co. Reorganizes
New York. — W. Tenny, sales man-
ager for General Register Company,
manufacturer of ticket booth ma-
chines, flies to the coast today to re-
organize coast distribution.
Healy Limps to 'Op. 13'
Ted Healy got out of a sick bed
yesterday to report to work at MGM.
With Russell Hardie he joins the fea-
tured player list in "Operator 1 3."
Strayei' on Fox Pic
Frank Strayer goes on loan to Fox
from Chesterfield Pictures to direct
the next Jose Mojica direct-shot Span-
ish picture. John Stone supervises.
George Cooper Files
George Cooper filed a bankruptcy
plea yesterday under his real name,
George Healy. He listed $4,397 in
debts and $1,100 in assets.
Foy Writer Arrives
^^^•^Vallace Thurmond, a noted negro
writer, arrives today from New York
on a ticket to write the sterilization
story for Foy Productions.
GriLD EXECUTIVE
REPORTER AWARDS
Archie Mayo's Next
WB's Dark Tower*
Berman Starts System
Pandro S. Berman has installed
a new system at Radio in devoting
one day every week to each pro-
ducer and in refusing to talk to
anyone else. William Sistrom acts
as liaison man interviewing all visi-
tors with the exception of pro-
ducers.
Trouble in Store
For Code Evaders
Washington. — Words out of the
mouths of NRA leaders and Adminis-
tration intimates at the opening ses-
sions of the grand "NRA Revue" to-
day indicate that there is plenty of,
trouble in store for industries that
have evaded code rules by "reclassifi-
cations" and other subterfuges.
Hillyer to Write While
Waiting for 'Precious'
Columbia has assigned Lambert
Hillyer to script the last of the cur-
rent series of Tim McCoy action pic-
tures. Hillyer works on the story un-
til "The Most Precious Thing in Life"
gets under way, when he returns to
directing. Harold Shumate is now pre-
paring "Fire Patrol" which will be
the next and seventh of the Tim Mc-
Coy subjects.
Andy Devine to Home Lot
Andy Devine has finished his role
in "Stingaree" for Radio and returns
to the Universal lot today for a fea-
tured role in the Edgar Allan Poe
frightener "The Black Cat."
Motor Man Here for Pic
N. E. Wilding arrived here yester-
day to produce an advertising picture
for the Dodge Motor Company on the
General Service lot in association with
R. H. Palenske.
Plan Southern Play
New York. — Leland Hayward office
plans to produce a play dealing with
the south, which Ward Morehouse is
now working on.
Archie Mayo has been assigned by
Warners to direct the Edward C.
Robinson picture "Dark Tower," with
Ricardo Cortez, Mary Astor, and John
Eldridge in the cast of his next picture.
"Dames," which was to have been
Mayo's next picture, will not go into
production until Mayo finishes the
Robinson picture.
Continental Type Show
at Tin^el-Tangel Theatre
Hollywood will be introduced to
Cori^ental type of entertainment on
Ji^ night of March 5, when the Tin-
'gel-Tangel theatre opens at 8553
Santa Monica boulevard.
There will be twenty vaudeville
acts, and a buffet supper will be
served in the lounge during the in-
termission. Herbert Brenon Jr., son
of the director, is business manager
of the new venture, and Frederick
Hollander, who opened a similar thea-
tre in Berlin, is producing the show.
Many foreign acts are slated for the
bill.
Berke to Finish Shorts
When David Sharpe returns from
personal appearances in Seattle next
Tuesday, William Berke will complete
two shorts and start production on a
third. Producer will shoot the latter
aiming toward a major release of a
complete series.
Sign Pair for 'Dames'
Harry Warren and Al Dubin have
been assigned to write the songs for
"Dames," which will co-star Ruby
Keeler and Dick Powell for Warners.
Manny Seff and Delmar Daves are
writing the screen play and Archie
Mayo will direct.
Ceraghty with Warners
Umdon. — Irving Asher has signed
JRjm Ceraghty as a member of his
/vriting staff at the Warner Tedding-
ton plant. The deal will have Cer-
aghty working for the producer on an
indefinite period of time basis.
]\IIA CODE GIIOIJP LAYS LAW
DOWX REGARDINt; EXTRAS
First definite steps m behalf of the
film "extras" was taken yesterday by
the Code Committee for Extras when
the committee forwarded to Washing-
ton recommendations that will force
studios to pay extras for time spent
in fittings, interviews and set a maxi-
mum and minimum meal period.
The new rules which the committee
recommend to put in the Code for
enforcement provide as follows:
That any extra who is required to
be fitted for a costume must be paid
a one-quarter day check or be given
two sucessive days work with that
costume.
That extras detained on interviews
longer than one hour, or called for an
additional interview, be paid on the
basis of the agreed pay rate of extra
for each two hours or fraction thereof
of time in excess of the first hour.
That there be allowed a minimum
meal period of one-half hour and a
maximum meal period of one hour in
each eight-hour working day. And
that only one meal period be allowed
in said eight-hour day. Also provides
that a meal period of one hour be al-
lowed for each four hours or fraction
thereof of overtime.
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of the
committee, declared that heretofore
there has been no protective law for
men as far as meal periods are con-
cerned, but there has been a State law
governing women. She said that stu-
dios have done more or less as they
pleased on all three of these matters,
and the committee wants them fixed
in the Code so the law can be enforced
and the extras protected.
♦ LPTOTH^I^ifW'fE
7* VPTOTHE/li
Jacquelin Wells from B. P. Schul-
berg to Universal for "Black Cat." Al-
so Egon Brecher for the same pictu^,
both deals through the Walter F!fe3-
brun office. "
Charles Sellon for "In Conference,"
Rogers-Paramount. Fred Fralick nego-
tiated.
Lucien LitHefield engaged through
Fred Fralick for "Little Miss Marker,"
Schulberg- Paramount.
William Frawley and Ivy Tell into
"The Witching Hour," Paramount.
Frank Conroy set by Leo Morrison
for "Too Many Women," Fox.
Kane Richmond for "Murder in the
Studio," Columbia, on a ticket set by
Walter Kane of the Weber office.
Paramount has signed Grant Mit-
chell for the role of the Baron in B. P.
Schulberg's "Thirty Day Princess,"
which Marion Gering will direct. Stu-
dio also set George Barbier for a^ea-
tured spot. "^
Universal concluding a deal witti
Lilian Bond for one of the featured
roles in "Men of Affairs," in which
Paul Lukas will occupy the top spot.
Edmund Grainger supervises.
Helen Eby Rock has been signed by
Columbia for "Murder in the Studio."
Deal set by Bernard, Meiklejohn and
McCall agency.
Herman Bing set in "Twentieth
Century," Columbia. Agented by
Menifee I. Johnstone.
Mary Kornman added to "Strictly
Dynamite," Radio. Negotiated by
Bernard -Meiklejohn -McCall agency.
George Irving set by Menifee I.
Johnstone in "The World Moves On,"
Fox. ■*"
Alec B. Francis signed for "I'll Tell
the World," Universal, through the
Bernard -Meiklejohn -McCall agency.
John Larkin signed by Paramount
for "The Witching Hour," Paramount.
Bernard-Meiklejohn and McCall agen-
cy set the deal.
Warners yesterday signed Eugene
Pallette, Berton Churchill, William B.
Davidson, Dorothy Burgess and assign-
ed Robert Barrett to "Friends of Mr.
Sweeney."
Eddie Kane added to the cast of
"The Firebrand" for Twentieth Cen-
tury.
Maude Eburne and Etienne Girardot
added to the cast of "Return of the
Terror" for Warners.
Grant Mitchell and George Baxter
added to "Thirty Day Princess," Para-
mount.
Belle Daube, New York stage ac-
tress, to the cast of "Operator 1 3" at
MGM,
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
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24-HOUR SERVICE
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Loans Arranged by the
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TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, March I, 1934
NE>V DEAL rCR AGENTS
State Labor Commission Lay^
Down Stringent Rules Before
Renewing Licenses Next April
Agents and their clients in Hollywood are both going to get
a lot of fine print reading vvithin the next thirty days as a result
of efforts by the California State Labor Commission to put into
practice a stringent and definite set of rules regarding the rela-
tions of representatives and workers.
• METRO - COLDWYN - MAYER will
soon answer many exhibitor protests
regarding their late start in the box
office field this year with four or five
pictures that should lift MCM back up
to the top, where they belong.
The Thalberg production of "Rip
Tide," with Norma Shearer, Herbert
Marshall and Robert Montgomery, is
touted as a cinch hit by those who
have seen it. It's one of those smart
pictures on the order of "Divorcee,"
and mentioning "Rip Tide" in com-
parison to "Divorcee" immediately
places it in the winner class.
"Viva Villa" is certain to be a
smash. Even the picture we saw some
weeks ago when it was shown as a
first preview had all the moneymaking
qualities, but "Louie" Mayer, satis-
fied that Selznick had turned in a
good production, ordered it back to
make it a GREAT picture.
"Men in V\/hite," already preview-
ed, proved to be excellent entertain-
ment and one that will be pulled into
the big money class through the pres-
ence of Clark Cable. "Queen Chris-
tina," disappointing in spots in its
early release, will bring a lot of peo-
ple back to the movie houses and send
them home satisfied they have been
given an IMPORTANT picture for
their money.
Since "Tarzan" was played, every
exhibitor who was fortunate in get-
ting it has been yelling for a repeat.
"Tarzan and His Mate" has been com-
pleted and will soon be uncovered for
review. It will have to be pretty bad
to keep it out of the top money class
and the chatter around the studio rates
it as better than the first version.
Add to the list of completed big
pictures those that are soon to be
placed in production, such as "The
Merry Widow," "The Duchess of Del-
monico's" and "Treasure Island,"
along with many others, and you will
get a lot of strength from any sinking
feeling you may have had towards
MCM.
Catholic Dignitary
Pans'Anth.Adverse'
New York. — Monsignor M. J. La-
velle, for many years right hand man
to Cardinal Hayes in the administra-
tion of Catholic Church affairs in the
great territory covered from New York,
is quoted in New York papers today
condemning "Anthony Adverse" as
"the rottenest book he had ever read."
Screen rights to the book are owned
by Warner Brothers, who have had
trouble enough trying to figure how
to get it all in the space of one pic-
ture, without this new wallop from
so influential a figure.
Paramount Execs Off
To La Quinta for Cab
The Paramount executives, produc-
ers and department heads, headed by
Emanuel Cohen, will leave tomorrow
afternoon for La Quinta for the week-
end.
This trip is made each year by com-
pany officials for the purpose of dis-
cussing and laying out plans for the
coming year's production. The trip
has waited this year on Russell Hol-
man's arrival from the east.
Schenck Denies 'Roxy'
Signed on Theatre Deal
Nicholas Schenck, MCM chieftain,
denied yesterday that his company had
signed a contract with S. L, Rothafel
to manage the "Roxy" theatre in New
York.
Schenck admitted that a deal to
take over the theatre has been con-
sidered, but that it has not been set-
tled, therefore he says it would be out
of the question to hire a manager.
Presnell Renews at WB
Robert Presnell was handed a new
contract yesterday by Warners to run
for two years.
Some of the ideas proposed by the
State Labor Commission are radical
changes. And the Commission is sit-
ting in the saddle, and taking the
position that unless the agents submit
a standard form of contract which
(Continued on Page 7)
Core Wants 80 PC
Over $75,000 Take
Washington. — Following publicity
of the Federal Trade Commission's re-
port on salaries to the Senate, Senator
Gore yesterday offered an amendment
to the pending tax bill to levy an 80
percent tax upon all salary and other
emolument income above $75,000 an-
nually. All sums above that he term-
ed "excessive salaries."
The feeling here is that the Senate
will adopt this amendment, which is
believed to have the support of the
White House. It will hit the high
salaried picture crowd right on the
nose.
Morris Cain Dies
Morris Cain, representing the Web-
er office on the Jack Dempsey tour,
was killed Friday in an automobile ac-
cident in Georgia, according to word
received by Harry Weber last night.
Dempsey arranged for the burial in
Atlanta, Tuesday.
LASKY-SHEEHAX BATTLE
READY TO BREAK T\ OPEX
Battlefront reports yesterday were
that the Jesse Lasky-Vi/innie Sheehan
situation was reaching the point of
open warfare. Argument has grown
up over new stories being considered,
suggestions for casting, etc.
The understanding is that the ar-
rival of Sidney Kent before the end
of this month is the only thing hold-
ing off the shooting. Lasky, it is
stated, feels that he wouldn't want to
start something without a first oppor-
tunity to talk with Kent.
Frank Joyce Returning
A cable received at the Selznick-
Joyce office yesterday revealed that
Frank Joyce sailed on the Berengaria
Tuesday for New York and will arrive
in Hollywood within two weeks.
17 Grand for 'Nana'
Anna Sten and "Nana" hit the ball
last night for close to $1700 at the
United Artists Theatre. This is close
to the top figure for the theatre.
House Threatens
Imported Actors
Washington. — With evidences of
Administration support behind it, the
Dickstein Bill, aimed to put a curb on
wholesale importing of foreign actors,
is on the road to an early appearance
on the floor of the House.
Yesterday it was reported out of
committee, and immigration members
will ask special rule to get it in House
quickly. It is due any day now, and
the prediction is that if Administration
is shown definitely for it it will pass.
Rothschild in NY Mar.14
New York. — Darryl Zanuck's spe-
cial "The House of Rothschild" is go-
ing to be given to audiences just as
quickly as the United Artists can get
If there. Tne Rivoli date here is set
March 14. The picture arrived at the
\rome office yesterday, was viewed by
all the big wigs, and their enthusiasm
resu'ted in the quick decision to set a
Rivoli opening.
Postpone RKO Meeting
The meeting of the RKO board of
directors slated for yesterday in New
York was postponed until Saturday.
No reason given for delay.
It is believed there is no hitch over
the okaying of new Cooper and Ber-
man contracts, but that Code entan-
glements of board members may be
the reason for holdup.
Mrs. Stroheim Suit Starts
Jury trial on suit by Mrs. Eric Von
Stroheim opened yesterday before Su-
perior Court Judge Bush, director's
wife asking $275,000 for burns re-
ceived in the beauty shop operated as
"Jim the Barber." Panel of jurors is
being selected.
Jack Cain Laid Up
J. J. Cain, Fox studio manager, has
been away from his office at the stu-
dio since Monday with a bad cold. He
is recuperating at home.
[
"NO MORE WOMEN"
Opens at the Paramount Theatre Today
DIRECTED BY
AL ROGELL
Page Two
THE
March 1. 1934
!'
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
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Published every dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year In the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Carey Wilson got his divorce the
other day, so he and Carnnelita Cer-
aghty will be married any minute. . . .
The Sam Coldwyns will be back in
town in a week or so. . . . New York
has been full of talk about what a
swell and lavish spender Sam is when
he has faith in someone — meaning the
Anna Sten campaign, of course.
Didja see that story in the N. Y.
Mirror a while ago about how "Ethel
Barrymore was going to London to
visit her father, Maurice Barrymore"?
Honest! . . . Dorothy Burgess doing
the late spots with Andy Goodman.
. . . Walter Winchell and Ben Bernie
may tour around the great West to-
gether while Bernie is out here for
Paramount. . . . The thing that wor-
ries the David Selznicks most is — will
there be room in the new mansion for
David to play with the electric trains
that David bought for his son, who is
fortunately too young to play with
them?
•
Do you know what well known
writer and his wife invited eight per-
sons to their house at Santa Monica
for the day and for dinner served them
all a baked potato and NOTHING
ELSE? . . . The Darryl Zanucks are
actually making ready for the big
game hunt in Africa — Mrs. Z. is going
along into the wilds, too.
Helen Mack, glimpsed at the Co-
coanut Grove the other night, was
wearing what looked like a great big
engagement ring. Is Charles Irwin
the "guilty" party? . . . Jean Harlow,
with Momma and Poppa and Eddie
Hillman, the Sam Jaffes, Sari Maritza
with Bernie Toplitsky also dancing
around. . . . Hazel Forbes back in
town — and back with Phillip Reed.
. . . Whitney deRham, N. Y. socialite.
is going to stay here and turn actor.
. . . Dorothy Rodgers gave a kid party
yesterday for Wendy Knopf's birthday.
... Do you know why so many Holly-
wood wives are now perfectly willing
to week-end around Caliente by
themselves — some even insisting that
their spouses stay here?
"IT HAPPENED ONE NiCHT"
Columbia prod.; director, Frank Capra; writers, Samuel Adams, Robert Ruskin.
Music Han
Mirror: Always an imaginative and skilled director, Frank Capra has made ar:-
other provocative and appealing picture out of a conventional "He-man
tames spoiled heiress" scenario. From its lively and amusing opening to
its bizarre conclusion it is picked with surprise, excitement, laughs and
romance.
American: One hundred per cent entertainment is provided by this slick, thor-
oughly amusing, romantic comedy, which is just about the best picture
either Mr. Gable or Miss Colbert has made in a long, long time. In other
words, it's a honey. Don't miss it.
Herald-Tribune: It is lively and amusing even if a bit too long for complete
comfort. It has the advantage of some engaging comedy scenes. Mr.
Gable is at his best and Miss Colbert plays with her customary charm and
skill.
News: The co-stars make a good team. They are an attractive pair and they
play their respective roles with a refreshing lightness. The picture's weak-
ness is its artificial plot. However, the direction is excellent. Frank
Capra never lets his picture lag for a moment. It is never very exciting
but it moves along snappily and it is full of amusing situations.
Times: A good piece of fiction, which, with all its feverish stunts, is blessed
with bright dialogue and a good quota of relatively restrained scenes.
World-Telegram: The most charming, thoroughly delightful and diverting film
that has come to Broadway in months. For pure, unadulterated enter-
tainment nothing has equaled it since "The Prizefighter and the Lady."
An ace among ace directors, Frank Capra has done his most adroit piece of
work.
Post-: Mr. Capra's skillful direction, plus the responsive acting of Mr. Gable,
Miss Colbert and Walter Connolly, kept the audiences at the Music Hall
in a constant twitter.
Sun: This is markedly a Capra production, acted and directed in that same
amused and highly amusing fashion. Its values are mainly cinematic,
quick inconsequential little bits of nonsense and drama. From the first
scene to the last the picture is fun.
Journal: One sparkling situation follows another and the adroit turns taken by
the story are at all times delightful. The picture never lets down and the
finish is as gay as the rest. Gable is simply grand. The lines he is given
to say are smart, and he puts them over smartly.
•DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY"
Paramount prod.; director, Mitchell Leisen; writers, Alberto Casella, Maxwell
Anderson, Gladys Lehman.
Paramount Theatre
Times: It is an impressive picture, each scene of which calls for close attention.
Undoubtedly, Maxwell Anderson's share in the adaptation had a great deal
to do with the effectiveness of this screen contribution. There is many
a bright line in this film, which is far from being a gloomy subject. Mr.
March's performance is pleasing, but his enunciation lacks the shading
one would like to hear.
Sun: It is a beautiful and moving film, but one that requires imagination to
appreciate as well as to create. The subject is morbid, but not, somehow,
depressing. It has even humor, a rich sardonic vein of humor. The
picture owes much to its cast, Mr. March, Miss Westley and Sir Guy
Standing, but even more to its cameraman, Charles Lang, and its director,
Mitchell Leisen. Settings and photography help to make this production
worthy of the courage it must have taken to produce it in the first place.
Herald-Tribune: An interesting, frequently striking and occasionally beautiful
dramatic fantasy that somehow ends by being unsatisfactory. Its chief
virtues are the rather sensitive dialogue by Maxwell Anderson and Gladys
Lehman, the intelligent direction by Mitchell Leisen, the settings, the pho-
tography and the playing of Fredric March.
Journal: The theme of the picture is definitely macabre. It is handsomely
mounted. Mr. March attempts to lighten his sombre role and Miss Ven-
able is youthfully appealing.
World-Telegram: That the picture will seem tedious to those who like their
entertainment fast and furious there is no question. But it is a sincere
attempt at something different in the cinema and is eminently worthy of
your attention. This is a lavish and handsome production and the direc-
tor has wroug'ht delicately and knowingly the passages denoting the grim
presence of Death and he has directed his players with precision and tact.
American: An unusual entertainment and a worthy effort to bring to the screen
a story that is removed from the ordinary girl-loves-boy blueprint dramas
of the studio. It is both sparklingly witty and weirdly terrifying.
News: Paramount has achieved in this fine production an artistic triumph and
a picture that will give any one who sees it the horrors. It is built on a
morbid theme which is morbidly presented. It has been beautifully and
intelligently directed by Mitchell Leisen and is one that will haunt you for
days.
Nine Shorts on List
For Acad. Awards
Nine shorts are on the list for final
judging tomorrow night in the Acad-
emy awards competition. More than
fifty were entered. Elimination cut
down to three in cartoon division,
three in comedies and three in novel-
ties. Finals tomorrow night will be at
Paramount studios. Pictures entered
are: i
Cartoon; "Building a Building,",
Walt Disney-Mickey Mouse; "The;
Merry Old Soul," from Walter Lantz-'
Universal, and "Three Little Pigs,"
from Walt Disney.
Comedies: "Mister Mugg," from
Warren Doane-Universal ; "Preferred
List," from Louis Brock-RKO, and "So
This Is Harris," another Brock-RKO
picture.
Novelties: "Krakatoa," from Edu-
cational; "Menu," a Pete Smith-MCM
novelty, and "The Sea," from Educa-
tional.
Winners will not be announced un-
til the night of the awards banquet,
March 16.
Radio Renews Pert
And Boosts Salary
Radio yesterday put through a new
contract with Pert Kelton, the Beyer-
MacArthur office signing and sealing
it. New ticket is a three-picture deal
with a tilt over her former salary fig-
ure, and allows her to work outside.
First assignment will be in "The
Great American Harem," which Wil-
liam Seiter directs under Lou Brock's
supervision.
Cabanne at Monogram
Monogram yesterday signed Christy
Cabanne to direct "Money Means
Nothing," which Frances Hyland is
scripting from the William Anthony
McCuire play "The Cost of Living."
Ben Verschleiser supervises and the
picture is scheduled to start by the
first of next week.
Fox Borrows Carlisle
Fox yesterday borrowed Mary Car-
lisle from MGM for the romantic lead
in "Merry Andrew," the Will Rogers
vehicle which David Butler will direct.
Studio also signed Robert Taylor for a
featured soot.
Bankhead Gets Agent Tag
Tallulah Bankhead was signed yes-
terday to a managerial contract with
the Edington and Vincent office
through their New York affiliation,
Briscoe and Goldsmith.
'Ragged Army' Defeated
New York. — Another quick death
on the Broadway Rialto, "Ragged
Army" closing at the Selwyn Tuesday
night after two performances.
Howard Boys Producers
New York. — Willie and Eugene
Howard plan to become stage pro-
ducers in September, sponsoring "Red
Meat," a play by John Lewiston.
Central Distributors
Will Buy for CASH
FEATURES SHORTS
Quick Action — Prompt Payment
M. LEON LEVINE
599 Fifth Ave.. N. Y. C.
March I, 1934
Page Three
'COME OIV, MARINES' ROrGH,
ROWDY AR[D VERY FUNIVY
Cast, Megger and
Script Hit the Ball
"COME ON, MARINES"
(Paramount)
Direction Henry Hathaway
Story by Philip Wylie
Adaptation Byron Morgan
and Joel Sayre
^•■t Directors Hans Dreier
and Earl Hedrick
Photography Ben Reynolds
Cast: Richard Arlen, Ida Lupino, Ros-
coe Karns, Grace Bradley, Ed-
mund Breese, Monte Blue, Vir-
ginia Hammond, Roger Cray, Ju-
lian Madison, Emil Chautard,
Cwenllian Gill, Clara Lou Sheri-
dan, Toby Wing, Lona Aridre and
' Leo Chalzel.
Well, another good comedy hits the
celluloid. Rough, rowdy, boisterous,
"Come On, Marines" is a far better
than average picture, with a foolproof
comedy angle balanced by really dra-
matic tenseness and a human, believ-
able love story.
Just a couple of snips of the shears
is all that can be recommended. The
last shot in the jungle is entirely too
trite for the originality of the rest of
the piece. Aside from th^s one lapse
from the unusual, the picture packs
good comedy surprises every foot of
the way.
Richard Arlen is a marine who, be-
cause of one scrape after another with
the dames, can't seem to keep his
stripes on his sleeve. As punishment
for his last scrape, he is sent to the
jungles in the Philippine Islands — and
there the fun begins.* He heads a
company to rescue a group of children
who have been shipwrecked down the
coast and are hiding from the bandit,
Celano, in an old monastery with their
chaperone.
The "children" turn out to be Ida
Lupino, Cwenllian Gill, Clara Lou
Sheridan, Toby Wing and Lona Andre,
and the marines turn out to be only
human. And the funniest battle ever
filmed is where the tough, bearded,
dirty fighters don the girls' flimsy eve-
ning dresses (in which they were
wrecked) and saunter forth to lure
Celano into the open. The sight of
the apparently coy, charming, frilly
bits of femininity racing recklessly
through the swamps after the bandit
chief, hurling oaths and machine gun
bullets at him, is splittingly funny.
The preview audience darned near
died. This scene is almost equaled
by the one where the girls and their
hoity-toity chaperone beat it in the
other direction, dressed in the ma-
rines' muddy outfits.
Another highlight of this picture
comes right at the beginning. Of all
the hot, low-down, dances that ever
called for asbestos, Grace Bradley of-
fers the most so. It's a knock down
and drag out.
Richard Arlen troups beautifully as
the marine who is "off women," and
Ida Lupino is nice as the gal who
changes his mind for him. Roscoe
Karns has a swell comedy role and
makes the most of it. Edmund Breese
is well cast as a general, and Monte
Blue is good as a lieutenant. Virginia
Hammond is priceless as the girls*
Exhib Meet- Nears
New York. — Prepare to put the
pressure on for plans in connection
with the MPTOA convention start-
ing in Los Angeles April 10. Ar-
rangements were concluded today
for two of the special trains which
will leave New Orleans and Chi-
cago on April 6.
MGM Cashing In
On Princess Suit
London. — Princess Alexandrovna
may be "asking" for $2,000,000 from
MGM in her libel suit here, but MGM
is "getting" a million dollars worth
of publicity for "Rasputin."
Princess says her character damaged
by the character portrayed by Diana
Wynyard, who plays the mad Monk's
mistress. The papers have taken to it
like ducks to water and the story of
the picture is being dished out daily
in the news.
'Thin Man' Keeps Two
Good Girls at Home
Isabel Jewell yesterday postponed
her trip to New York and Maureen
O'Sullivan delayed her contemplated
trip to Dublin and accepted principal
roles in MGM's "The Thin Man,"
which W. S. Van Dyke will direct.
Cast to date also includes William
Powell, Myrna Loy and Porter Hall.
Rumann Is Licked
Siegfried Rumann, who was brought
out from New York on a two-picture
deal for Fox, has been signed by that
studio for an additional picture. He
is now playing in "The World Moves
On," which John Ford is directing.
The William Morris office made, the
deal.
Rowland Brown Starts
Rowland Brown left last night by
train for New York on the first leg
of his trip to London. He will direct
"Java Head" for Associated Talking
Pictures there.
Ullman Adds to Staff
Wallace Middleton has become as-
sociated with the George Ullman of-
fice as an artist representative. He
was formerly with the Sackin agency.
Rambeau on the Air
Marjorie Rambeau has been signed
to appear on the Shell Oil Hour's next
broadcast, Monday. Walter Kane, of
the Weber office, set it.
chaperone; Roger Cray does wonders
with the small part of Celano, and all
the girls enter heartily into the spirit
of the thing.
Henry Hathaway's direction is re-
sponsible for the general speed and
excellence of the production, and
Philip Wylie can be proud of his grand
yarn. Byron Morgan and Joel Sayre
did a good adaptation; Hans Dreier
and Earl Hedrick did right by the art
direction, and Ben Reynolds photo-
graphed it in good style.
O.K., exhibitors, "Come On, Ma-
rines!"
Pic Code Authority
Wakes Up Late
New York. — The picture business
Ignored the opening sessions of the
grand "NRA REVUE" in Washington,
but there must have been some hur-
ried phoning, because it was announc-
ed yesterday that George Schaeffer,
Sidney Kent, Nathan Yamins, Charles
O'Reilly and John Flinn would be pres-
ent at the hearings Monday.
It appears that until the boys read
the headlines yesterday and learned
that the Administration is going to
swing the whip on evasive employers
in all lines that they had the idea the
NRA grand meetings were just a mer-
ry-go-round for Chamber of Com-
merce purposes.
William Frawley Moves
Into Para 'Magoo' Role
William Frawley yesterday was set
by Paramount to replace Paul Gerritts
in the columnist role of "The Great
Magoo," which Wesley Ruggles will
direct. Gerritts will be used in an-
other picture which has not been an-
nounced as yet.
Dorothy Dell, Roscoe Karns and
Raymond Milland were also added to
the cast of the Ben Hecht and Gene
Fowler stage play yesterday.
MGM Imports Actor
MGM has signed Porter Hall, re-
cently in the stage production of "The
Dark Tower" in New York, for a spot
in Dashiell Hammett's "The Thin
Man," which W. S. Van Dyke directs.
Hall is due to arrive here by the first
of next week.
'Fuzzy' Gets a Spot
Fuzzy Knight was signed by MGM
yesterday to replace Jerry Howard,
Ted Healy's stooge number one, in
the Marion Davies-Gary Cooper pic-
ture "Operator 13," which Richard
Boleslavsky is directing.
Hays Speaks for M.P. Club
New York. — The reorganized Mo-
tion Picture Club will hold its first
meeting today with Will Hays as the
principal speaker.
Rogers-Para. Battle
At Stage of Truce
Charles R. Rogers has apparently
won some of his battles with Para-
mount, and it is understood that the
unit producer has obtained permission
from Manny Cohen to use two of
Paramount's bigger stars, Miriam Hop-
kins and Sylvia Sidney, in two of his
forthcoming pictures.
With this thought in mind Rogers
consummated deals for the purchase
of a story titled "Lizzie Skerritt," In
which he plans to star Sylvia Sidney,
and also "I Love an Actress," for Mir-
iam Hopkins and Adolphe Menjou.
The latter story was purchased from
Radio. It is an original by Gregory
Ratoff, who sold the story to Radio
with the agreement that he be starred
in it. Rogers gets the finished script
on this story, which was written by
Humphrey Pearson.
Whale Returns with Idea
Which Universal Likes
Universal is negotiating for John
^^3ll}^:;orlhyJs_.rPrie More River" and
will produce it~as a special on next
year's program if the deal is con-
summated. R. C. Sherriff will write
the script in London and James Whale,
recently returned from England, will
direct.
Collier, Sr., Ill
Because William Collier Sr. is ill,
B. P. Schulberg was unable to start
"Thirty Day Princess" as scheduled
yesterday. Studio has signed Robert
McWade for the role and will get the
picture before the cameras today.
Marion Gering directs, with Sylvia Sid-
ney and Gary Grant in the top spots.
Roach to Lay Off
With only 13 of the 42 comedies
on the current production program
left to be completed, Hal Roach will
go into a two weeks' layoff period
starting next Monday. Studio has an
"Our Cang" and one of the musicals
in work now, both of which will be
finished Saturday.
Lasky Starts 'Redheads'
Don Hartman and Jay Corney have
been signed by Jesse L. Lasky to col-
laborate with Keene Thompson on the
screen adaptation of "Redheads On
Parade," in which Nancy Carroll will
have the fop spot, for Fox.
UEAVEIV Mr ST PROTECT THE
POOR WORKI]\G E:1TRA GAL
Code Committee for Extras today
is trying to figure the reason for a
squawk yesterday from the attorney
for the Hollywood Picture Players As-
sociation, one of the several groups of
extra players.
The Extra Committee voted unani-
mously to recommend to the Code Au-
thority that the clause in the film
code requiring that women applicants
for work be interviewed by women
and men by men be removed from the
code.
Yesterday Eugene H. Marcus, coun-
sel for the above named picture group,
let out a blast against this decision,
declaring it should be retained to pro-
tect the extra girls from chances of
moral dangers.
"I can't figure it out," said Mrs.
Mabel Kinney, chairman of the com-
mittee. "J. Buckley Russell, president
of Mr. Marcus' group, voted with the
other members of the committee to
recommend elimination of the provi-
sion. Why Mr. Marcus should protest
after that is beyond me. I guess I
don't know Hollywood very well.
"We all felt that such a provision
was a needless expense, and the ex-
tras on the committee declared that
they had never seen any moral danger
in casting offices. Anyway, if a cast-
ing director should overstep his bounds
he would be settled very quickly if
the girl should report him. We feel it
IS a protection that is not needed."
Page Four
March 1, 1934
SIIVG AND WHISTLE' WEAK;
'SHALL NOT DIE' A PROBLEM
Propaganda Too Hot
For Use on Screen
Doesn't Offer Much
For Screen Version
"SING AND WHISTLi"
Play by Milton Herbert Cropper; pre-
sented by Cropper and Truex;
setting by Cleon Throckmorton;
staged by Ernest Truex. Cast:
Sylvia Field, Ernest Truex, Doro-
thy Mathews and Donald Mac-
Donald. At the Fulton Theatre.
New York. — Relishing the aspect
of another evening with Ernest Truex,
a first-night audience set itself avidly
for a bang-up round of rowdy farce.
What ensued proved, despite the very
earnest labors of Cropper and Truex,
tepid dishwater. True enough, there
is a bit of anticipation in the second
act when the wrong couple are very
slowly and gradually preparing to get
into bed.
While the mechanics used by the
author to get Truex and his bed part-
ner, and ex-sweetheart and the wife
of another man, intimately together
via a quart of whiskey, are justifiably
employed, still one is apt to feel
cheated as the curtain descends on
this act with the lady pouring brandy
on the head of maudlin and very sick
Truex. First, because Cropper could
have gotten much more out of this
pregnant situation without forcing its
development entirely by means of
libidos set free in this fashion and
second because of the awkward fash-
ion in which the premise of "Sing and
Whistle" is delineated in the first act.
Truex and Dorothy Mathews ex-
celled with their expert work as in-
ebriated ex-lovers. Truex uses every
trick in his repertoire to good advan-
tage, pleasing the audience immensely
with his work. The Mathews girl
more than held her own in her comical
characterization.
Cropper's story deals in a meagre
way with a marital quadrangle. The
husband of couple No. I is suspected
by his wife of still being in love with
the girl he didn't marry. Husband of
couple No. 2, married to the lady for-
merly beloved by husband No. 1 , is
fed up with hearing continually of the
virtues of the other man whom she
might have married. The irate hus-
band pays a visit to couple No. 1 with
the avowed purpose of laying that
ghost. He makes no bones about it
that he and the missus will visit cou-
ple No. I for a week, during which
time the lady will learn to see that her
ideal man has plenty of faults and is
impossible to live with.
Complications arise, quarrels and
misunderstandings ensue; the wife of
couple No. 1 teams up with husband
of couple No. 2 and they fare forth on
an all night party in Harlem. The
other two left alone in the apartment
wind up in bed after a quiet evening
of drinking. The final act is used to
straighten both couples out — everyone
concerned denying any wrong in their
respective behaviors — couple No. 2
departs for Chicago — everyone has had
an extra-marital fling and a chance
to sing and whistle. The picture
business can't be that bad off= — to
have to fall back on this dull piece
of bedroom farce.
Harmony
New York. — Ceorge Arliss, just
registering his greatest triumph in
the lead of "The House of Roth-
schild," was yesterday elected
president of the Episcopal Actors
Guild of America, clinching the
case for racial harmony in America.
King of Siam on
Way to Hollywood
New York. — The King of Siam will
show up in Hollywood in about a week
or ten days for a short stay and will
be widely entertained.
The Siam King is one of the largest
users of motion pictures from this
market of any country throughout the
world comparatively speaking. He is
intensely interested in movies and his
trip to Hollywood holds great antici-
pation for himself and his entourage.
Echoes Heard from Old
Stage Hit The Bat'
New York. — Echoes of the old
Wagenhals and Kemper producing
company came up in a case carried
through years to the New York Court
of Appeals which today granted a new
trial to "Hopwood Plays," the Avery
Hopwood corporate name, against Co-
lin Kemper, to recover $12,000 claim-
ed to be improperly deducted on the
run of "The Bat."
Fawcetts Party Smith
Local employees of the Fawcett
Publications threw a farewell party
yesterday at their offices for Jewel
Smith, who has been a member of the
Fawcett staff for past four years. She
resigned to go with Helen Ferguson
publicity bureau, starting today.
Batcheller Goes East
Ceorge R. Batcheller, president of
Chesterfield Pictures, left for New
York yesterday, following completion
of "Stolen Sweets." Picture was di-
rected by Richard Thorpe and features
Sally Blane and Charles Starrett.
Col. College Turns Censor
New York. — And now Teachers'
College, at Columbia University, has
turned censor. The institution has
just announced a ban on two Erskine
Caldwell books, "Tobacco Road" and
"Cod's Little Acre."
Rooney in Levine Serial
Mickey Rooney was signed yester-
day by Nat Levine for a featured role
in "Lost Jungle." Walter Kane, of the
Weber office, set the ticket.
Acad. Writers Meet
Executive Committee of the Writers
Branch of the Academy meets tonight
at Academy offices. Members say
just a regular routine meeting.
Major Warner to East
Major Albert Warner left last night
for New York after a ten days' visit on
the coast.
"THEY SHALL NOT DIE"
Play by John Wexley; presented by
the Theatre Cuild at the Royale
Theatre; directed by Philip Moel-
ler; settings designed by Lee Si-
monson. Cast: Linda Watkins,
Ruth Cordon, Helen Westley,
Claude Rains, Thurston Hall, Ers-
kine Sanford, Brandon Peters,
Douglas Gregory and 50 others.
New York. — Any powerful docu-
ment such as "They Shall Not Die"
is certain to create a lasting impres-
sion in the theatre, certain to stir
human hearts and set the old think-
tank in motion. With this play, John
Wexley has not only improved upon
his former works but also carves a
permanent niche for himself in the
Creat American Scene, as the No. 1
dramatist of trampled rights.
His intensely stirring drama of nine
negroes unjustly condemned to death
in the name of southern fairness and
justice, on the trumped up charge of
rape of two White girls will, perhaps,
keep our light-hearted care-free
amusement-seeking element from a
serious evening in the theatre. How-
ever, those who are social conscious
will like this stark realistic play.
With such sterling and expert play-
ers as Ruth Cordon, Helen Westley,
Claude Rains, Bob Ross, Linda Wat-
kins, Louis John Latzer, Thurston Hall
and others delineating the principal
roles, the Theatre Cuild again has
given us as fine a production in cast
and setting as money and brains can
put together.
The play is a summation of the fa-
mous Scottsboro case with which most
of the world is at present familiar and
which has not yet reached its tragic
or happy ending, whichever the future
portends. Wexley goes behind the
scenes and gives his version of the
probable truth — the low character of
the two wantons because of whom
nine colored men may meet their
death — the manner in which they
were hounded into testifying for the
State — the mass of testimony which
presumably exists to show the deliber-
ate frame-up of the nine men.
There are, however, several things
which weaken the play, as it now
stands. For one, it would have been
much better to have opened the play
with the trial scene and flashed back
to the story of the scene of each wit-
ness's version of what really happened.
Wexley has purposely sought to win
his audience's sympathy at the outset
by scenes of brutal terrorizing of the
negroes in jail, before their first trial
— otherwise the incredible happenings
of their second trial, with which the
play primarily deals, might not have
been entirely credible. As propaganda
to awaken people to the true state of
affairs Wexley 's method is good, but
from the standpoint of expertness in
play writing the above suggestion
would have far better advanced the
elements of suspense and curiosity.
Not enough was made of the escape
of Lucy Wells from the vicious and
vindictive circle of law enforcers down
Ziegfeld Follies Use
Pics for Boosting
New York. — New York stage pro-
ducers are going exploitation minded
and using none other than the movies
with which to do the exploiting.
As a plug for the new "Ziegfeld
Follies" Willie Howard will make a
series of shorts at the Astoria studios
the point of which will be that there
will be five deliberate mistakes in each
short, the spectators finding the mis-
takes to get tickets to the Follies.
Mitzi Green to Stage
In Leia Rogers Offering
Mitzi Creen will turn her talents to
the stage in the next play to open at
the Hollytown Theatre, which will be
produced and directed by LeIa Rogers,
mother of Cinger.
The play, "30,000 to Co," was
written by Leon Waykoff, and Earl
Eby will play the male lead.
'Tarzan' Folds Up
Setting some kind of a record for
length of time in actual production,
MCM wound up "Tarzan and His
Mate" yesterday. Picture started
early last August and has been on the
stages since. Cedric Cibbons directed,
with Johnny Weissmuller and Mau-
reen O'Sullivan in the top spots.
Ned Brown to Produce
New York. — Ned Brown, of the |
American Play Company, is braving !
the fates awaiting Broadway producers
with "One More Honeymoon," going
into rehearsal Monday, with an April
2 opening planned.
Seiter on 'Clever' Yarn
William Seiter has been assigned to
direct "And Let Who Will Be Clever"
which Clendon Allvine will supervise
for Radio.
South and she should have been shown
coming up North to divulge her con-
fession of the true state of affairs to
interested attorneys for the defense.
Instead of the stirring appeal she
could have made, the attorney in the
play representing Samuel Liebowitz in
real life is finally convinced he can
win the case by arrival of a telegram
containing favorable testimony.
Neither was enough made of the
persecution of witnesses and the dis-
crediting of palpably perjured witness-
es in the course of the trial. We get
instead a picture of a courtroom full
of inflamed hot-headed lynch-inclined
spectators to whom the State's attor-
neys pander — a picture of an unctious
and hypocritical judge — a vicious and
relentless prosecutor who drags across
the trail of justice the red herring of
Civil War rancor, race hatred of ne-
groes and Jews and the honor and
safety of Southern womanhood.
Claude Rains' performance as the
principal defense attorney has grip-
ping fervor — an impassioned quality
that will stir the coldest of hearts.
Ruth Cordon has never been better
and Linda Watkins does a fine job.
As to the play's suitability for trans-
position to the screen — the time is not
yet. It would be far better to con-
sider it several years hence when the
case has died down and cinema goers
strong enough to stand for a contro-
versial dose of this kind.
earn
Chance
Who
When you look around the Vendome Sunday
night and see ALL THE OTHERS who have
rallied to the cause of
L NIDO CAMP
vsiaiw Jhe space ^' linu
The date is drawing
If minute" avalanche is
avyAcbecause never before wa
a night offered for
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(20) Crooners
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Page Six
THg
March t. 1934
REPORTER AWARD
IVOW EXTEIVDED TO
Gives Full Time For
Guild Voters to Act
At the request of many in the pro-
duction end of the industry, The Hol-
lywood Reporter today extends the
voting time in its Awards of Merit
Competition until March 9.
The original date set for closing the
polls in this competition was yester-
day. However, inasmuch as the idea
of this awards competition is to give
everyone in the industry the chance
to express his or her opinion, this pa-
per gladly extends the time.
Through courtesy of both the Screen
Actors' Guild and the Screen Writ-
ers' Guild, who have shown a splendid
spirit of cooperation in this compe-
tition, ballots were mailed this week
to several thousand people who had
been missed in the original mailing.
Today ballots are being mailed to every
member of the Screen Writers' Guild.
Earlier in the week others were sent
to the members of the Screen Actors'
Guild. This was done through the as-
sistance of these two organizations.
While every effort has been made
to reach all the creative workers, still,
in case any have been missed we are
today printing a ballot on this page
of the Reporter for the use of anyone
who has not received one.
In order to have a part in the se-
lection of those who have done out-
standing creative work during the past
year, just mark this ballot, tear it out
and mail it to the Reporter. If you
wish to see a complete list of the
pictures eligible, just telephone the
Reporter office and one will be sent
you at once. Otherwise, just make
your selection from pictures released
during 1933, which is the period cov-
ered.
If you are a sound technician, vote
for the picture in which you think is
found the best example of sound re-
cording. If a cameraman, vote for best
photography. If a player, vote for out-
standing performance. And EVERY-
ONE may vote for the most outstand-
ing production of the year.
As this is the first time that EV-
ERYONE in the industry has had the
chance to honor creative achievement,
a tremendous vote is being recorded,
and winners of the Reporter awards
medals will be given a prize that has
been voted them by an ENTIRE in-
dustry.
If you haven't voted yet, do so to-
day.
CONFIDENTIAL
Former United States Immigration
Inspector will give information and
assistance to anyone needing pass-
port extensions, re-entry permits,
permanent residence applications,
etc.
CALL
HERBERT HADLEY
OLympia 4341 OLympia 6874
MEDICAL ARTS BLDC.
4759 Hollywood Blvd.
7 years Inspector in charge,
Calexico, California
Just a Private Fight
Because the Wampas will not
select the "baby stars" from con-
tract lists this year. Paramount yes-
terday elected its own by a vote of
all creators at the studio. The six
proteges voted most likely to suc-
ceed are Evelyn Venable, Frances
Drake, Dorothy Dell, Helen Mack,
Elizabeth Young and Ida Lupino.
CONTEST
MARCH 9
Sam Harris Presents
Cantor on Stage
New York. — Eddie Cantor in a Sam
Harris play is the special promised for
Broadway in September. Harris made
the announcement here yesterday.
It will be a comedy drama, which
David Friedman is now writing, as yet
untitled. Cantor returns to the coast
early in April for another picture be-
fore embarking on the play.
Frank Lloyd Makes
One Pic for MGM
MGM today closes a deal with Frank
Lloyd to direct one picture under Wal-
ter Wanger's supervision. Undecided
yet whether or not Lloyd will make his
"Mutiny on the Bounty" on the tick-
et. This is outside his two-picture
agreement with Fox. Edward Small is
negotiating for the director.
Understood that if "Mutiny on the
Bounty" is selected, Lloyd will do the
picture before taking up his Fox con-
tract, whereas preparation on another
assignment will mean his doing the
Fox trick first.
-
Allied Men Enter
Protests on Code ^^^^
Washington. — It became known
yesterday that Abram F. Myers, Syd- i^ * i i >*->. i-
ney Samuelson, Al Steffes and Nathan R A I II I
Yamins, all of Allied, will appear be- D /\ L L V_y I
fore NRA Group Hearing No. 5 and
present their protests against the NRA
code to that group. No. 5 group
hears of NRA's effect upon small busi-
ness complaints exclusively. INIame
The same men are slated to appear
before Group No ^-^^ich is hearing 3^^; ^^. y^ employed
complaints about code administration. ^^ '
It is not known whether they will ap-
pear before both. Classification: (Actor, Director, Sound Man, Writer, Cinema
*Miss Marker' Starts . ^ , a * r>, *^ * \
, , cu u ^ cM..,-,rA tographer. Art Director etc,)
Setting Jack Sheehan and Edward & k • •
Arnold yesterday, B. P. Schulberg puts
"Little Miss Marker" into production ^
today at Paramount. Alexander Hall
directs from a script by Joseph Mon-
cure March from the Damon Runyon Vote for outstanding achievement in my branch
story. Dorothy Dell, Charles Bick-
ford, Shirley Temple, Lynn Overman,
Sam Hardy, )ohn L. Kelly and Warren
Hymer are also in the cast. ( |n case of Actors and Actresses, Actors may only vote for
Taurog on Location Actors an'd Actresses for Actresses) .
Norman Taurog and the "We're
Not Dressing" troupe left last night Special for Writers:
for Catalina Island for location shoot-
mg until next Monday. Bing Crosby, r\ ^ ^ _,■ r\ ■ ■ i c^
Carole Lombard, George Burns, Gracie Outstanding Original StOry
Allen, Ethel Merman and Leon Errol
ar^e^part of the fifty-one in the com- Outstanding Adaptation
Webb Gently Withdraws y^^^ ^^^ outstanding production of the year
Cross suits filed by George Webb °
for divorce from Esther Ralston was
withdrawn yesterday when the pub-
'■"by' Tstakl^-^'piayeS "^Tc^S'^t (All branches vote in this classification)
uncontested.
^ . . \xi- _^_ u.^— To assure that this is my individual vote
Contest Winner rlere '
Claudia Snow, who won the MGM
voice and screen test in Atlanta, Ga., My Signature
arrives today as a guest of the studio.
She is being chaperoned by Mildred p . ,
Seydell, well known newspaper woman Kesioence
of the Atlanta Georgian.
Cleopatra' Is Done! ^^^"^ " "
Cecil B. DeMille and Waldemar
Young returned yesterday from four
days at the DeMille ranch with a com-
pleted script of "Cleopatra." Picture
will go into work in about two weeks.
Doris Kenyon Knot Untied
Doris Kenyon was awarded a di-
vorce from Arthur Hopkins yesterday
by Superior Court judge Schauer.
They had been married three months
and separated six.
Mail This Ballot to AWARD EDITOR
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
6717 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California
FILL OUT AND RETURN IMMEDIATELY
i
March 1, 1934
j||kETftp^f.
Page Seven
New Deal For Agents
(Continued from Page 1 )
embodies the State's ideas, no licenses
will be issued on April 1 . Which
would make it more than April Fool's
Day for the local colony of agents.
Already, however, RIaph Blum act-
ing as attorney for a group of agents,
has been able to secure cooperation
from the Commission which indicates
that compromise may win on April 1.
While securing no changes in the
Commission's attitude and rules, Blum
has secured interpretations and agree-
ments on methods which make the
rules more practicable and workable in
the industry.
The new rules for example, start
out with the statement, "It being un-
derstood that the validity of any con-
tract between parties shall depend up-
on a continuous mutual benefit de-
rived therefrom."
That would solve the headaches of
a lot of clients who claim their agents
haven't shown any "mutual benefits"
for anything like a "continuous" pe-
■ riod. But there is more to come.
Paragraph Two stares that the con-
tract can be terminated whenever the
agent is unable to render services by
"reason of physical incapacity, unreas-
onable absence, or failure to maintain
an office."
Which doesn't mean much, because
it's pretty hard to catch an agent with
a broken leg, and they can always pay
office rent.
The kick of the new regulations is
in the next two clauses:
First: A client shall only be required
to pay a commission where it is clear
that the job has been secured by the
agent;
Second: "Any written contract must
contain a provision that failure of the
agency to procure an engagement
within four months from the date of
the contract, or within four months
after the termination of any engage-
ment" shall be cause for termination
of the contract.
The regulations close with a state-
ment that EVERY — and it says EVERY
— contract between agents and clients
shall be filed at once with the office
of the State Labor Commissioner.
On one clause, that which states
that the client must not pay commis-
sion unless it is shown that the agenr
secured the employment, Blum has se-
cured an agreement with the Commis-
sioner's Deputy that "if the contract
is in writing the agent is not required
to show that he procured the engage-
I ment."
The showdown comes within the
next thirty days when the agents get
together to write a form of uniform
contract which meets with the appro-
' val of the Commissioner, as outlined
above, and faced by the fact that if
they don't submit such a contract by
April 1 no new licenses will be issued.
The "tag" line to that being the
statement in the Labor Commission's
outline, that at any time an agent's
license "expires, is revoked, or sus-
pended" ANY CONTRACT BETWEEN
THE AGENCY AND CLIENT BE-
COMES NULL AND VOID.
Import First of Bergner
Foreign Made Pictures
New York. — "Ariane," the foreign
production starring Elizabeth Bergner,
star of "Catherine the Great," will
open at the Fifty-fifth Street Play-
house March 6.
Improve Best Seller
Though he never actually ap-
pears in the Dashiell Hammett
novel, MCM will use "The Thin
Man" in the screen version of the
book. Studio is looking for a very
thin person, six feet two inches
tall, 50 years old, thin white hair,
mustache, and he must bite his fin-
ger nails.
LOCAL UNIOIVS JUBILANT
OVER WAGIVER UNION BILL
Forced Closed Shop
Would Settle Aches
Local unions in the picture indus-
try were jubilant yesterday over the
news from Washington that Senator
Wagner plans to present a bill to Con-
gress this week that will force em-
ployers to recognize trade unions or
else find themselves faced with fines
that would drive some to bankruptcy.
Union officials yesterday felt that
if the Wagner bill is passed by Con-
gress all the difficulties of forcing the
provisions of the NRA code will van-
ish into thin air and the atmosphere
will clear between labor and employ-
ers in the industry.
Bill, drawn by Senator Wagner,
William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, and re-
search experts of the National Recov-
ery Administration, is said to be really
an effort to put teeth into the labor
provisions of the NRA by equalizing
the bargaining power of labor and cap-
ital and to prevent both strikes and
lockouts.
It provides penalties ranging from
$500 a day for unfair labor practices
up to $5000 and a year in jail for
assault upon a member of the labor
board or any of its agents. Unfair
labor practices as defined by the bill
include:
Interference in any way with rights
of employees to organize and maintain
labor unions; refusal to recognize and
deal with unions and to make every
reasonable effort to reach agreements;
participation on the part of employers
and their agents in the supervision and
formation of labor unions, or in in-
fluencing the formation of such
unions; contributions by employers or
their agents to the financial support
of an organization of employees; com-
pensation by employers or their agents
of any person for services in an organi-
zation of employees; discrimination in
hiring or promoting employees be-
cause of membership in labor unions.
Robson at Pan. Tonight
In one of the few local personal
appearances. May Robson will do a
skit at the Hollywood Pantages tonight
only. House is showing "You Can't
Buy Everything," in which Miss Rob-
son has the top spot.
Estelle Taylor in Florida
Miami Beach, Fla. — Estelle Taylor
opened here at the Palm Casino hotel
yesterday for a weeks appearance. She
returns to New York for more per-
sonals when she completes her work
here.
DeLeon-Binyon Assigned
Walter DeLeon and Claude Binyon
have been teamed by Paramount to
write the screen play on the W. C.
Fields story, "Grease Paint," which
William LeBaron produces.
Radio Starts New Shorts
Radio yesterday signed Dorothy
Granger and Carol Tevis for the new
series of two reelers titled "Blondes
and Redheads" to be made by Lee
Marcus on next year's program.
Illness Hits Radio
On Two Pictures
With two of Radio's players taken
ill and confined to their beds yester-
day, studio was forced to rearrange
the shooting schedule to shoot around
the players.
The players ill are Bette Davis, who
is playing in "Of Human Bondage,"
and Lupe Velez, who appears in
"Strictly Dynamite."
Vince Sherman Does Walk
Four Days Before Closing
Failing even to offer an excuse,
Vincent Sherman walked out of the
top spot in "The Terrible Turk" at
the Pasadena Community Playhouse
last night. Seymour Robertson, direct-
ing and producing the piece, was
forced to assume the role, a diffcult
one running into 1 10 sides.
Player's move left Robertson doing
a burn, claiming it was "completely
unethical and uncalled for." Piece has
four more days to run before closing.
Novarro In and Out
Ramon Novarro gets in the early
part of next week from his personal
appearances in the east and hops off
a few days later for a concert tour of
South America. He intends to be
away more than four months.
Miiland in 'Magoo'
Raymond Miiland, who was recent-
ly signed by Paramount to a term con-
tract, gets the juvenile lead in the Ben
Hecht-Gene Fowler play "Great Ma-
goo," which features Jack Oakie and
Ben Bernie.
Alvarado at Educational
Educational yesterday set Don Al-
varado for the lead in the Mermaid
comedy "Lips That Pass in the Night,"
which goes into work Friday. Deal
was handled by the Ivan Kahn agency.
'Peg' Ettinger Expands
Margaret Ettinger has taken new
offices in the California Bank Build-
ing and wilt check out of her present
spot in the Taft Building next week
for larger quarters.
Kay Johnson Tagged
Kay Johnson was signed yesterday
by Radio for one of the featured roles
in the Leslie Howard picture, "Of
Human Bondage,"
What, No Crooner!
Clarence Brown used 300 extras
yesterday on his "Sadie McKee" set,
and still hasn't found a crooner for
one of the chief male roles.
Seek Clive Brook for
Two British Leads
London. — Indications are that Clive
Brook will have the stellar role in two
pictures here very shortly. A and B
Films are doing the dickering.
They first wanted Laurence Olivier
for the lead in "Blackshirt," but as
the run of the New York play "Green
Bay Tree" is indefinite an effort is
made to get Brook instead. Figure on
lending him to Basil Dean for lead in
"Java Head" with Anna May Wong
as soon as "Blackshirt" is finished.
Eddie Cahn will direct both pictures,
and Anthony Armstrong and John
Paddy Carstairs will do screen plays.
French May Tax Stars
To Boost Nation's Pics
Paris. — French Cambre Syndicale
has been very active of late in effort
to boost French films abroad, and have
decided upon a novel scheme to fur-
ther idea.
Plan being proposed, but likely to
meet opposition from players, is to tax
the highest paid stars a part of their
wages and use this for fund to spread
French picture propaganda.
Milton on 'Bella Donna*
London. — -Robert Milton will direct
the Twickenham picture "Bella Don-
na," from the novel by Robert Hitch-
ens. Conrad Veidt, Mary Ellis and
John Carrick will have big roles.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
A Croup of 24
Grand
Pianos
including Steinway, Knabe, Chick-
ering, Kroeger, Gulbransen, Ampicos
and others from $295.00
RICHARDSON
and MARTIN
730 WEST SEVENTH STREET
Agents for
Europe's Musical Masterpiece
BLUTHNER PIANOS
Announcement!
The Brulatour Bulletin, published for more than two years in
the leading Cinematographers' publications, was discontinued a
few months ago because we felt that the field had been completely
covered.
Meantime, scores of cameramen have asked us to resume
publication of The Brulatour Bulletin.
Heads of camera departments at practically every major stu-
dio have made the same request.
Very recently we have received similar requests from studio
production executives who found The Bulletin most helpful in
identifying the cinematographers associated with important pro-
ductions throughout the industry, during actual production period.
At its inception. The Brulatour Bulletin was frankly a pub-
licity feature, designed to extend t he service and good-will of
Eastman Kodak Company and J. E. Brulatour, Inc., Distributors of
Eastman Films.
It proved to be more than that.
it developed into a barometer of photographic activity —
closely observed by cameramen, their immediate department
heads and top executives alike. This because it was always de-
pendable, reliable, informative and briefly to the point.
Therefore, Eastman Kodak Company and J. E. Brulatour, Inc.,
will extend this vital service and henceforth will publish The
Brulatour Bulletin each Monday as a feature of The Hollywood
Reporter.
First issue Monday, March fifth — every Monday thereafter
— Read it.
It will interest the industry.
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc.
WF.TRO-GOT.D^AYN-MAYER STUDIO
% MH.SA^■u^:L mahx,
CULVE':R CITY.iJALIK.
Vol. XIX. No. 43. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday. March 2, 1934
EXmOITCI^S CATTLE EI^PI
202 New York Indie Houses In
Suit To Recover Alleged Over
Payments on Parts and Service
•THERE have been hundreds of let-
ters that have come to this desk dur-
ing the past two months from men
and women connected with the pro-
duction end of this business, "daring"
us to print them. But they have not
been so BOLD as to sign the letters
even though we have promised, time
and time again, not to use their names
in publishing the squawks nor to di-
vulge the source of the bitter docu-
ments.
In the past two days there have
^ been eighteen such letters and there
' is not one that we would not have
gladly given space in our Op^en Forum,
IF they had identified themselves. We
ask particularly for the name of the
author of the essay on Supervisors.
> It's a most intelligent angle on that
situation and one that would cause
plenty of comment, but if the writer
wants to hide behind his writing with
"A Friend of the Reporter" as his
sign-off, then it must remain unpub-
lished in so far as this paper is con-
cerned.
Hollywood should have an Open
Forum; we have invited such airing
of grievances for publication in our
columns. But we demand a signature
and we pledge that it will never be
•.divulged unless so specified. It is too
easy to sit back and cut some person
or some act to ribbons believing that
we will print it as a manifest of our
independence.
Consequently we suggest that the
anonymous writers save their time and
that of the editors of The Reporter.
Unless there is a name and address,
the letters will not be printed. If
there is a proper identification of the
author, we will be glad to give them
publication should we feel that they
will be of any benefit to the indus-
try. And there is generally benefit
to be had from any legitimate squawk.
And trust us, your name will NEVER
be revealed should you so wish. So
come on, boys and girls, let's have
. your troubles. We may not be able
5 to help you, but they should prove
j good reading, if nothing else.
Western Electric Loses
New York. — Picture companies
are not alone in bad figures for the
year 1933. Western Electric, dad-
dy of the Erpi, reports a net loss
for 1933 of $13,772,504.
Allied Files Blast
At NRA Hearings
Washington. — The Allied Theatres
group, Abram Myers, Sidney Samuel-
son, Al Steffes and Nathan Yamins,
are filing a brief with the "small in-
dustries" body hearing complaints on
the NRA code. The briefs are thought
to contain dynamite. Chairman of the
group receiving them is Leon Hender-
son, who isn't afraid of Johnson or
anybody.
New York. — A suit of far-reaching importance to the thea-
tres of the nation was filed here yesterday by 202 independent
theatres in the Greater New York territory against Erpi to re-
cover alleged excessive payments for sound parts and servicing
of equipment installed in theatres.
Zanuck Bids $60,000
The suit comes on the heels of one
filed February 1 5 by Theatre Electrical
Service, a local organization, against
the American Telegraph and Tele-
phone Company for $3,000,000 alleg-
ing a monopoly in the supplying of
sound equipment parts which forced
exhibitors to pay exorbitant prices.
A Broadway rumor yesterday was
that Erpi had offered to go into a hud-
dle with the exhibitors and work out
a compromise that would settle the
case out of court.
Franklin's 6 Pics
For State Rights
be Say Holly Lawyer
" Hatched MCM Suit
New York. — H. B. Franklin's six
personally produced pictures are to
distributed on the state rights marke
the former theatre head having called
off all distributing deals on tap with
the majors.
Alex Kempner, formerly with the
Fox real estate department, has joined
Franklin to handle distribution on the
pictures.
M. P. Club Alive Again
New York. — The Motion Picture
Club is alive and flourishing again. At
an open meeting yesterday plans for
the future were discussed. Will Hays,
Herb Yates, Jules Brulatour, jack
Cohn, Lee Ochs, Felix Feist, Louis Ni-
zer and Jack Alicoate were on the ros-
trum. Fifty new members joined.
Friedlander Goes East
Max Friedlander, in charge of sales
for Universal in continental Europe,
left last night on his return to Paris.
Friedlander was here for ten days.
London. — Somewhat of a sensation
was created in film circles here yes-
terday when it was declared that Far.-
ny Holzman, a Hollywood woman Idw-
"yer, had prompted Princess Alexan-
drovna to bring the $2,000,000 libel
suit against MCM on the grounds that
her reputation was damaged by scenes
in "Rasputin."
This charge in the trial of the su t
was one of the highlights in a day o'
sensational testimony during which
the prosecution finished its case. Lo-
cal dailies giving it a bigger play than
at any time.
Rothschild' at N.Y. Astor
The New York opening of "The
House of Rothschild" is at the Astor
Theatre, on March 14, and not the
Rivoli, as erroneously reported yester-
day.
MEMBIJSCH AXTl-TRUST
SVIT IX SIIDDEIV COLLAPSE
New York. — The great big Rem-
busch anti-trust suit that actually had
a number of picture execs worrying
collapsed with a squashing noise yes-
terday. Attorneys for Rembusch vol-
untarily withdrew the suit, after be-
coming convinced that they could not
win without the testimony of their cli-
(Continued on Page 2)
'Bedside' in Mayfair
New York. — Warners is in the
midst of a huge ad campaign to launch
Jean Muir as a star, but even that
couldn't keep "Bedside" from going
to the lowly Mayfair for its Broadway
first run. It opens Monday night.
Muir is also in "As the Earth Turns,"
which is yet to see its New York bow.
To Get George Raft
George Raft received an offer from
Darryl Zanuck to make one picture
for $60,000 after Twentieth Century's
shutdown period. He is wanted for
the top spot in the Damon Runyon
story, "Gentlemen, The King," which
has been adapted to the screen by
Gene Towne ^nd Graham Baker.
Raft's contract with Paramount per-
mits him to make one outside picture
a year, but the studio is now talking
a deal with the player for a new ex-
clusive contract. If the new Para-
mount deal does not go through Raft
Will likely accept the Zanuck offer.
Rosy in N. Y. Labor Sit.
Washington. — Sol Rosenblatt today
arranged with Independent Theatre
Cwne''s of New York to appoint a
coTimittee which will meet with the
theatre owners and the lATSE unions
to discuss the general labor situation
in New York. The committee will
probably meet in Washington.
Only $80,000 for '1 Night'
New York. — Final check-up on "It
Happened One Night," Columbia's
picture, at the Music Hall, showed
only a gross $80,000 in the till, not
very husky for this house. Weather
didn't help any.
Maynard to Europe
Ken Maynard and his wife sail from
New York for Europe on the Beren-
garia March 17. Will head straight
for Spain for famous Easter bullfights
at Madrid.
Dietrich's Hubby on Way
New York. — Rudolph Sieber, hus-
band of Marlene Dietrich, left for the
Coast today to join the star, after a
one-day stop-over in New York.
McCuire Fights Flu
William Anthony McCuire is away
from his Universal desk, battling a flu
attack.
HURRY 7o^':r.or.l\T.orTl'i reporter awards |
Page Two
THE
March 2. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
fTOBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
Mew York Office: Abraham Bernstein
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the aci of March 3,
1879.
So it seems there's a beeg attrac-
tion for the femmes down at Cali-
ente — in the form of a Mexican doc-
tor who is supposed to be tres hand-
some and have more sex appeal than
Rex, the Wild Horse. Seems, too,
that he was first discovered by the
wife of a prominent exec — but she
by no means has the "exclusive" on
him. Oh, no — the gals have been
flocking to his more or less profes-
sional side in droves. Which is one
(or maybe the only) reason that a lot
of Hollywood husbands are no longer
urged to "come along to Caliente"
when the wives shuffle off!
New York has gone completely
Hollywood so far as being "camera
conscious" and "opening conscious"
goes. Even at the Mayfair dances the
photographing boys now hop from
table to table with their flashlight
bulbs, snapping celebs here and there.
One of the recent laughs was provided
by Lady Furness and Gloria Vander-
bilt, who, as everyone knows, have
been with A. C. Blumenthal constant-
ly for a long time. But when a cam-
era boy wanted to take their picture
the other night — they made "Blumey"
leave the table while the pictures were
being made! Of course — they let him
come back when the check came
around!
•
We had a loud howl when we heard
the following: Al Green, it seems,
went to the bright, particular produc-
er on a picture he's just finished and
said: "I've just seen Frank Borzage's
picture 'Man's Castle' and I realize
that we have the same opening scene
in our picture that he has. I think
we ought to remake the opening be-
cause the two are identical — a park
bench, a girl, a man — and a similar
situation, etc."
And the producer answered, "HOW
can you say they're the same? One
takes place in the daytime — and the
other at night!" ( !)
Carey Wilson says the only thing
wrong with the story that he and
Carmelita Ceraghty will marry any day
is that the event is really set for about
two months from now.
OPEN FORUM
"MANDALAY"
Warner-First National prod.; director, Michael Curtiz; writers, Paul Hervey Fox,
Austin Parker, Charles Kenyon.
Strand Theatre
Mirror: The story moves too slowly to be burlesque, and the many fine actors
play with perfectly straight faces. It is old-fashioned melodrama which
succeeds in being mildly entertaining through the well-known excellence
of its cast.
American: It is worth the price of admission just to hear Kay's fascinatingly
husky intonation of a first-rate torch song which she sings in varying
tempos as befit the mood of the drama. And it is also worthwhile to
watch the Cortez histrionics in a role of the type in which this trouper
excels. Director Curtiz has done well in establishing the eastern atmos-
phere and save for some repetition tells his tale effectively.
News: The film suffers with lack of reality in continuity and the audience suf-
fers in seeing how the three principals are allowed to overact. This pic-
ture has three assets, good photography, colorful settings and Kay's song,
called "When Tomorrow Comes."
Herald-Tribune: Considering that "Mandalay" was directed by the artistic Mr.
Curtiz and had the darkly beautiful Kay Francis as its star, it is not en-
tirely clear why it turned out to be so dull, unless it is that the plot is a
rubber stamp of all tropical stories since motion picture time began.
TiiTves: The screen of the Strand may be as near as most of us will ever get to
Rangoon; if it is, "Mandalay" will make an adequate vicarious substi-
tute. A fundamental flaw with the film is that Ricardo Cortez generates
so much sympathy as the villain that his demise removes the one char-
acter for whom the audience feels anything like affection.
"Mandalay" is one of the Warners' pleasantly incredible bits of show-
manship. Its facts and motivations do not perhaps bear much investi-
gation. Its timing is too swift, its action too crowded, to require much
background of character. Of its kind, which isn't bad, it's pretty good.
World-Telegram: The woman with a past which is forever casting shadows over
her future is not an unfamiliar figure in the cinema. It is on this plane
that Miss Francis and her supporting players have to work — and have,
indeed, to work doubly hard, for seldom before has this story been told
on the screen with such extreme banality and artificiality.
Sun:
Cut Looms in MGM
Junior Stock List
There is a move on at present at
MGM to weed out a large number of
the 50 or 60 junior actors receiving
from $25 to $100 a week and now
attending the talent school on the lot
run by Oliver Hinsdell.
The few in this group that show
traces of talent will be kept and the
others will be dropped to make room
for a new crop to be given this coach-
ing.
Out of the group enlisted in the past
year jean Parker, Mary Carlisle and
Irene Hervey have stepped right into
the big time, with Miss Parker hitting
stardom.
Newmeyer to England
New York. — Fred Newmeyer former
Harold Lloyd director, sailed Wednes-
day for England to direct for British
International Pictures.
Parsons Joins Para.
New York, — P. A. Parsons has join-
ed the Paramount publicity and adver-
tising department.
Anti-Trust Suit Fails
(Continued from Page 1 )
ent, and Rembusch is incapacitated
by illness from appearing.
The withdrawal of Rembusch's at-
torneys left the Capitol Amusement
Company, of Indianapolis, holding the
bag alone, but this was quickly set-
tled when Attorney Max Steuer of the
defendants moved for dismissal of the
action and had the request granted.
Los Indios in Close Defeat
Los Indios polo four went down to
defeat in a regular moving picture fin-
ish to Midwick yesterday by the mar-
gin of one goal. The game had a
strong motion picture flavor, with
Darryl Zanuck and Hal Roach both
riding in the No. 1 position. The
final score was 13 to 12, with Zanuck
almost upsetting the Midwick cart by
a miraculous shot that just missed the
goal by inches as the eighth chukker
ended. The winning goal was scored
by Eric Pedley in the ninth chukker.
Rodemich Services Today
New York. — Funeral services will
be held today at Larchmont for Gene
Rodemich, famous musician, and most
recently scoring Van Beuren-RKO
comedies, who died here Wednesday
at the age of 42.
McNeil Edits 'Drummond'
Allen McNeil has been assigned to
edit "Bulldog Drummond Strikes
Back" for Twentieth Century. Film
cutter just finished his work on "The
House of Rothschild" for the same
studio.
'Midnight' Tradeshowed
New York. — Chester Erskine's pro-
duction "Midnight" which is to be re-
leased through Universal, will be giv-
en a trade show at the Waldorf Tues-
day.
Spitfire' in N.Y. Palace
New York. — The first public show-
ing of "Spitfire," the Radio picture
with Katharine Hepburn, will be at
the Palace theatre here tonight.
Dear Bill:
Thanks for the good words on
Capra. Any praise for him is a slam
at Pseudoism, and a boost for genu-
ine entertainment and genuineness all
around.
Capra's pictures are what they are
because he is what he is. No gaudy
defenses for inferiority. No swagger'
of imagined genius. No pseudo-pio-
neering, no pretense to Symbolism and
Technique, nor any of the other tricks
of make-up. His simplicity is really
an idiosyncrasy here — and that is a
comment on our sunny town, Bill, and
its product.
Once I found myself defining a suc-
cessful producer as "a man who had a
Capra for a director." I caught my-
self in time. As you know, with more'
Capras, there would be no jobs for
eminent supervisors like myself.
As ever,
MYLES CONNOLLY.
Erwins Co East
Stuart Erwin and wife (June Coli-
yer) will leave about the middle of
April to make personal appearances
together in the east. They will open
at the Capitol in New York.
Sidney Fox to Springs
Sidney Fox leaves for Palm Springs T
today. Returns Monday to start ir I
RKO's "Down To Their Last Yacht."!
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
russell,millerI
and Company H'
Members
NJEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
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Del Monte
I
March 2, )934
THE^S
Page Three
MEMBERS OF WRITERS' GUILD
OKAY NEW 'WORKING RULES'
Walkout Clause
Left to Board
The Screen Writers' Guild an-
nounced yesterday that Articles 12 to
16, inclusive, for its Code of Working
Rules have been adopted by a three-
quarters vote of the active member-
ship; and that all the proposed amend-
ments of the by-laws have been
passed.
The new articles, with the excep-
tion of Article 12, will go into effect
within five days after the publishing
date of the Screen Writers' Bulletin,
which is now going to the printers.
Article 12, which is being with-
held, is to be put into effect at the
discretion of the Executive Board, ac-
cording to the announcement. This
article, it is pointed out, makes it
possible for the Guild, in case of a
strike or walkout, to prevent studios
from signing important writers to con-
tracts and eliminating them from join-
ing their fellow Guild members in any
group action.
Also, under this article the Execu-
tive Board has the right to limit mem-
bers to sign contracts beyond a named
5 date. This, however, they explain,
does not afifect any contracts signed
'now or in future, until the Board is-
'sues such an order. Even after the
» order is issued members may sign con-
tracts if they obtain a clause to the
effect that the contractual member
J may walk out with his fellow Guild
members in case a producer is declared
unfair.
Article 13 is somewhat similar, but
more limited. Under this article the
Executive Board has the power to pro-
hibit signing of contracts with any
producer in cases where the Board is
voting on whether or not the pro-
ducer is unfair.
Article 14 is aimed to insure hon-
esty and fair dealing among members.
It provides the vital information re-
garding term contracts and deals shall
be given the Executive Board. Also
provides that every Guild member file
with Guild a copy of his present con-
tract under which he is working, or
^any new contract he may make. This
japplies to week to week agreements
as well as term, also to contracts for
Jsale of material. Members are also
compelled to furnish full information
as to whether employed and terms.
This part of the article, it is explain-
ed, will not be put into effect until
'the Board has worked out proper ma-
chinery for functioning.
A penalty of $10,000 is to be in-
flicted upon any Guild official who di-
vulges any of the confidential infor-
mation relative to contracts and terms
given by members.
Article 1 5 pertains to story credits
and advertising. Article 16 is devised
for free lance writer employed to do
job for lump sum. In it is the state-
ment that no free lance writer rfiay
write on speculation.
Nissen in the Riot-
Paris. — Police had to extricate
Greta Nissen from center of recent
riot mob when she started for her
train. Came through okay.
Mebbe?
Another cable received by the
Selznick-Joyce office yesterday
from Frank Joyce stated that he
will be detained another week in
London and will sail on the Ma-
jestic. His office doesn't believe
this one either.
New Harlow Deal
Expected in Week
Finishing touches on )ean Harlow's
new contract with MGM are being
made, this business having awaited the
arrival of Nicholas M. Schenck, for
final okay.
Player's return to the studio several
weeks ago was brought about when
the studio agreed to discuss the new
deal. Signing of the document expect-
ed to occur early next week, the
Small-Landau office handling it.
Robertson to Direct
Next Richard Dix
John Robertson was signed yester-
day by Radio on a one picture deal to
direct the next Richard Dix starring
vehicle, "Family Man," based on the
story by Salisbury Fields. Robertson
just finished "Crime Doctor" with
Otto Kruger for Radio. The Selznick-
Joyce office made the deal.
McCarey Sought in East
New York. — Magna Pictures is
dickering with Ray McCarey to return
East to produce additional pictures for
RKO release. It is understood, how-
ever, that McCarey, who made sev-
eral shorts here last year and then re-
turned to MGM on the Coast for a
couple, has offers that will transfer
him to feature ranks.
Lloyd Signs Maxwell
Edwin Maxwell was signed yester-
day for the Harold Lloyd production
"Catspaw" and goes in to play the
role of the district attorney. The
Hoffman-Schlager office set the ticket.
Dumbrille Gets Termer
Liking his work in "Operator 13,"
MGM yesterday signed Douglas Dum-
brille to a seven-year term ticket. The
Small-Landau office negotiated.
Dot Lee in Hospital
Dorothy Lee registered at the Hol-
lywood Hospital yesterday for a fou'-
day arthritis treatment.
New York Ampas
Fight Star Ratings
New York. — Start of a move
that may spread over the country
was made by the local AMPA yes-
terday with the adoption of resolu-
tions against the Daily News prac-
tice of bestowing "stars" in rating
pictures and the appointment of
Ben Atwell to head a committee
which will seek to abo'ish the p'ac-
tice with such aid as the major
companies can give.
Unions Picket N. Y.
On Wholesale Scale
New York. — It was warfare yester-
day on the New York theatre front
when, in the greatest mass picketing
ever attempted in New York, opera-
tors from Local 306 and the Allied
Operators Union picketed all New
York picture theatres.
Union officials would give no offi-
cial reason for the wholesale picket-
ing, but unofficially expressed their
dissatisfaction with the NRA code and
its labor provisions, plus the fact that
their action would gain their organi-
zations a place in the sun.
MGM May Uncover Bet
In Bing Crosby Brother
MGM is about to uncover another
picture bet in the Crosby family. The
studio is after Bob Crosby, Bing's
brother, who is now singing with the
Anson Weeks orchestra, to play the
role of the crooner in the Joan Craw-
ford picture, "Sadie McKee," which
Clarence Brown is directing.
The studio has spent a great deal of
money testing possibilities for this spot
in the picture.
Palooka' Plenty Hot
New York. — Jimmy Durante's first
starring picture, "Joe Palooka," is go-
ing great guns at the Rivoli, indicat-
ing that the comedian's draw is plenty
hot. The Edward Small-Reliance pic-
ture had a $5,500 opening day, com-
ing through with business admitted to
be exceptional even in right weather.
Pathe Calls in Bonds
New York. — Pathe Exchange, Inc.,
has called in for redemption on May
1, 1934, $79,000 worth of 10 year 7
percent Sinking Fund Gold Debentures
which fall due May 1, 1937. Will
pay 104 percent plus accrued interest.
Inca Film in New York
New York. — Pedro Sambarino, of
the Sambarino Studios of Lima, Peru,
is in town with a film shot among
Inca ruins. It is now being edited.
When finished it will be released by
Inter-American Film Corporation.
Doyle Shys at Term
Signed on a one-picture deal ss a
Warners' staff writer, Laird Doyle is
being offered an extended ticket.
Writer is fighting shy of the contract
owing to unsatisfactory terms.
Stroheim Suit Under Way
Jury panel set, the Von Stroheim
suit against Jim's Beauty Parlor got
under way yesterday. Complainant's
husband, the director, was on the
stand.
New Handle for 'Love'
Radio has set "Husbands Come and
Go ' as the new title on "Transient
Love," the Irene Dunne production
which John Cromwell recently com-
pleted.
By BURNEY
"Dodsworth" brought out one of
the swankiest audiences ever seen at
a Broadway play opening . . . Among
the creme de la creme of notables
were Sam Katz, Lawrence Tibbetts,
Edmund Lowe, Lil Tashman, Harry
Warner, Sol Rosenblatt, Clayton Shee-
han, David Sarnoff, Tullio Carminati,
Paul de Kruif, George Palmer Putnam,
Russell Holman, Dick Halliday, John
Bryam and about ten tons of ermine
and sable wraps on the backs of
Society blue-bloods . . . boy, oh, boy,
how a Max Gordon premiere brings
'em out . . . Walter Huston, com-
plete master of himself both in the
play and in his curtain speech and
evidently gratified by the swell recep-
tion accorded the play said: "It is a
great pleasure to be back on the stage
again after four years in Hollywood."
And if he had known how well the
play would go over he would have
come back to the stage much sooner.
Wonder if Spencer Tracy, now on
the top rung of cinema success, can
look back three years ago when he
was rehearsing in a Sam Harris-Owen
Davis play "Dread" ... It was tried
out in only two spots, Washington
and Newark, and then folded . . .
leaving Tracy broke, worried and
discouraged. ... In the cast with
Tracy incidentally were Helen Mack,
Madge Evans and George Meeker.
•
We defy any Hollywood-senseless-
divorce to top this one. . . In Chicago
Mrs. Helen Rowland sued for her free-
dom and got it on the ground that for
27 years of her marriage her husband
never relaxed his formality enough to
sddress her in any other manner than
"Mrs. Rowland." ... In Philadelphia,
the Presbyterian Ministerial Associa-
t on adopted a resolution requesting
nwspapers to eliminate pictures and
articles which refer to motion picture
stars as "Dumb Doras." . . . Will the
Casting Bureaus stand up and give
three cheers?
•
Two fine examples of gallantry
come to mind, both of them extremes.
... A Denver man was divorced by
his wife because he was so cruel he
didn't even hold his wife's chair when
she was seating herself at a dinner
party . . . and in Devonport, England
. . . where fire broke out in a local
shop ... a cat, ignoring smoke and
flame, entered the shop three times
and each time brought out a mouse.
•
The mystery of what makes Flam-
ing Youth so reckless and sex-crazy
is solved at last, according to Profes-
sor Watson of Columbia University.
... It isn't the "movies," joy rides,
dance-halls or just bad gin ... no sir
... as the doc explains it, "The basic
tragedy of American youth in 1934
is that so few have anything to live
for. . . . Boys get mixed up in sex be-
cause they have nothing else to play
around with."
Cain at MGM
MGM
James Cain has been signed by M
to write the screen adaptation of
"Duchess of Delmonico's," which wil
be a Jean Harlow starring vehici
Walter Wanger unit is supervisi
production.
ch will \
le. The \
ng this \
Page Four
March 2. 1934
GORDON'S 'DODSWOHTH' GETS
NEW YORK CRITICS' RAVES
Huston the Hi-Lite
In Sure Screen Bet
"DODSWORTH"
Max Cordon presents Walter Huston
in Sinclair Lewis' famous novel;
dramatized by Sidney Howard;
directed by Robert Sinclair; set-
tings by Jo Mielziner; at the Shu-
bert Theatre. Cast: Walter Hu-
ston, Nan Sunderland, Fay Bain-
ter, Harlan Briggs, John Wil-
liams, Hal K. Dawson, Frederic
Worlock, Kent Smith and 28
others. Three acts, 1 4 scenes.
New York. — "Dodsworth" spells an
evening of substantial adult entertain-
ment in the theatre. With three of
this season's biggest hits already add-
ing lustre to his fame and a modicum
of gold to his pocket, namely: "Her
Master's Voice," "Roberta" and "The
Shining Hour," with "Dodsworth"
Cordon assumes the mantle of New
York's leading producer of legitimate
successes — not alone in point of num-
ber but in quality too. Such tribute
goes not unnoticed, judging by the
smartest and most important audience
of the year.
To the observant Lewis' book and
play, so excellently adapted to the
stage by Sidney Howard, is the old
tale of the eternal triangle in several
versions — plus the saga of Main
Street's leading citizens when they
spread their wings in search of ad-
venture, beauty and love. Neverthe-
less, the sharply etched and poignancy
of bitter realization depicted by Lewis,
Howard, Huston and Bainter, impress-
es one with the inevitable finality of
life: boundaries. The hands of time
move forward inexorably.
In the beginning we may laugh at
and with Sam Dodsworth and his
spouse who thinks 40 is still a splen-
did age for romance in spite of a
humdrum life in a mid-west city as
the wife of a business automaton.
Sam is persuaded by Mrs. Dodsworth
he ought to retire from activity and
the prosaic automobile business in
which he has achieved wealth. Yes,
laugh at their delight in discovering
the charm of the old world and their
initial success at making new friends
among penurious aristocrats of Eng-
land, France, Cermany, Austria and
Italy. But soon your heart goes out
in sympathy to Sam in his disillusion-
ment and Frau's pitiful attempt to
hold on to youth and love of a more
romantic kind than Sam has ever
known how to give.
As the rupture between this Zen-
ith, Ohio, couple widens and Frau's
eyes remain shut to Sam's breaking
heart, you feel that Sam should haul
off and beat some sense into her at-
tractive head. But no, Sam cannot
bring himself to feel that way, hoping
against hope that his wife will return
to him.
Eventually, after her second serious
romance founders on the shoals' of
truth from the lips of an ancient Vien-
nese grandame, Frau's quest for the
unattainable is ended and she calls
off the divorce. But too late to res-
cue the fish from the fire — as Sam
has found solace elsewhere and Frau
"gets the air."
Month from Stage to
Screen on 'Showoff
MCM's production "The Show
Off," starring Spencer Tracy, will
open at the Capitol theatre in New
York the week of March 2. This
sets some kind of a record at
MCM with the picture going into
a theatre a month after it first hit
the stages.
Marx Bros. Close
8 Week Air Deal
The Marx Brothers, Croucho and
Chico, closed a deal yesterday with
the American Oil Cornpany for a series
of eight broadcasts with an option for
five more. The first of the series will
go on the air this Sunday, March 4,
over the Columbia network from 7 to
7:30.
The deal was made by Alan Simpson
of the Selznick and Joyce office in
conjunction with Danny Winkler in
the New York office.
Joan Crawford's Next Is
'Sacred and Profane Love'
Joan Crawford's next picture for
MCM has definitely been set as "Sac-
red and Profane Love" for the David
Selznick unit, following completion
of "Sadie McKee."
Joseph Mankiewicz is writing the
screen adaptation of this yarn.
Virginia Pine Placed
Virginia Pine, who was set on a
term deal at Warners by Kingston-
Harris Wednesday, was yesterday as-
signed a featured role in "Dr. Mon-
ica," the Kay Francis and Warren
William vehicle which William Kiegh-
ley is directing. Studio also signed
Ann Shoemaker and Herbert Bunson
for featured roles.
Muir Talks to Dallas
jean Muir was interviewed over long
distance telephone last night by the
Dallas Dispatch in connection with the
opening of "As The Earth Turns"
there. The Dallas Interstate theatre,
showing the subject, cut their loud
speakers in on the conversation.
Grayson on World Tour
]
£ftarles Grayson has finished his one
cture deal with MCM and will leave
as soon as arrangements can be made
for a trip around the world. He wrote
an original story titled "Triumph,"
which is slated to be a Joan Crawford
vehicle.
As the gruff, bluff, automotive ex-
ecutive, Huston repaid Max Cordon for
his faith in him for this role. Miss
Bainter never had a role as fat as
this nor ever played better. The rest
of the cast, the workmanlike expert
job done by Sinclair and Mielziner's
faithful settings, all were highly sat-
isfactory.
"Dodsworth" as a film is almost
all arranged for in advance, if Huston
plays it in shadowland.
Pasteur Theme Also
On Paramount's List
New York. — They are all climbing
aboard that idea of Winnie Sheehan's,
a picture on the life of Pasteur. Re-
search on this story was the reason
given for his last European trip. A
few days ago it became known that
Warners were considering a yarn on
the subject, and now Paramount has
dug up a play produced here some
years ago by Henry Miller based
on the life of Pasteur.
Paramount has the inside track on
a deal for "Yellow Jack," which opens
here Tuesday night, and is holding the
Miller play up its sleeve in case the
"Yellow Jack" deal falls through.
Ann Sothern Goes Into
Party's Over' Lead
After hunting all over town for a
lead for the top spot in the Felix
Young production "The Party's Over,"
Columbia fell back on its new contract
player, Ann Sothern, for that spot.
With the top spot filled Walter
Lang will put the picture into pro-
duction next week. Stuart Erwin has
the male lead.
'U' Closes Doucet Deal
Katherine Doucet has been signed
by Universal for a featured role in
"Little Man, What Now?" which
Frank Borzage will direct. She will
swing over from Columbia after she
finishes her role in "The Party's Over."
Ben Lundy of the Walter Herzbrun
office made the deal.
Warner Units Return
Two Warner location companies
return to the stages at Burbank when
the "Without Honor" company gets
back from Monterey tonight and the
"Sawdust" troupe leaves El Monte
tomorrow. Latter company has been
shooting material at the Al C. Barnes
circus winter quarters in El Monte.
Two Start at 'U'
Two pictures went into work at
Universal yesterday, both a day in ad-
vance of the scheduled starts. Ken
Maynard's western, "Doomed To Die,"
went before the cameras in Bronson
Canyon and Edgar Ulmer, director on
"The Black Cat," got his subject into
work.
'Dark Tower' Goes Mon.
With Archie Mayo directing, War-
ners will put "The Dark Tower" into
work Monday. Edward C. Robinson,
Mary Astor and Ricardo Cortez have
the top spots. Tom Reed and Niven
Busch have scripted from the Alexan-
der Woollcott and George S. Kauf-
man New York stage play.
Dieterle Megs 'DuBarry'
Warners yesterday assigned Wilhelm
Dieterle to handle the megaphone on
the next Kay Francis vehicle, "Du
Barry," which will go into work in
about two weeks after "Dr. Monica"
is finished. Edward Chodorov has writ-
ten the screen play.
MCM Postpones
Thin Man' Pic
MCM yesterday called off immedi-
ate production on the Dashiell Ham-
mett novel "The Thin Man," in
which William Powell was to have
been starred under the direction of
W. S. Van Dyke, and has switched
both the director and star to do "Man-
hattan Melodrama" instead.
The cast of the latter picture now
includes Clark Gable, William Powell
and Myrna Loy in the top spots. The
David Selznick unit is producing.
Acad. Research Group
Holds Meeting Tonight
The Research Council of the Acad-
emy will meet tonight at the Academy
offices for important technical pro-
gram planning.
There will be reports from sub-
committees on projects that were laid
aside when new by-laws and NRA
Code problems in the Academy stop-
f>ed all technical activity. Council ex-
pects to get back into research harness
with much vigor now that Academy
has come back to life.
Samuel Briskin is chairman of the
Council. It is expected he will name
important research committeeb.
Paris Honors for Benoit
Paris. — Georges Benoit, former well
known Hollywood cameraman, and
member of the American Society of
Cinematographers. has been elected
vice president of the Societe Francaise
des Cinegraphistes, French camefa-
men's organization. Benoit is one of
the organizers of the local group, pat-
terned after the ASC.
Invincible Cast Set
Maury Cohen has set the cast for
his next production for Invincible Pic-
ture, titled "Together Again."
Onslow Stevens has been borrowed
from Universal to play the male lead
opposite Lila Lee. Dickie Moore and
Claude Cillingwater are also in the
cast. Frank Strayer will direct.
Kahn Signs Writers
'-'Bob Thornby, in charge of the story
department in the Ivan Kahn agency,
has returned from a month in New
York. While away he signed a list of
eastern writers including Booth Tar-
kington, James Warner Beulah, Hugh
Wylie, Constance Rourke and Everitt
Rhoads Castle.
Frank Morgan to East
Frank Morgan, having finished his
work in "The Firebrand" at Twenti-
eth Century, leaves for New York by
plane tomorrow night for a ten day
vacation. He will be accompanied by
his wife.
Beaumont on 'Student'
Harry Beaumont has been taken off
£)f "Duchess of the Delmonico's" and
^assigned to handle the directing of
"Student Tour" for MCM. Picture
will be Monta Bell's first production
for the studio.
'Fur Coats' Label Changed
Warners have changed the title of
"Fur Coats" to "A Woman in Her
Thirties." Picture was completed three
weeks ago with Alfred Green direct-
ing and Aline MacMahon in the lead.
March 2. 1934
Page Five
This week's big hand, laurel wreath
and Mister Winchell's orchid go to
Junior Fairbanks for the performance
of his career in Alex Korda's produc-
tion "Catherine the Great." In the
opinion of this scribe young Fairbanks
is going to rank Number One Male
Star in the very near future; one film
critic thought he overacted in this pic,
with another saying he underplayed;
we'll take vanilla because we think he
was swell! . . . The magnetic Elizabeth
Bergner won torrents of applause for
her British talkie debut, but methinks
she was miscast.
•
Paul Muni slipped very quietly into
town and out, as did Tom Moore, just
in time to read Adeia Rogers St. Johns'
opening chapter of the Fairbanks-
Pickford love story. . . . After he had
taken a photo for his paper of James
Whale leaving for Hollywood, the
newshound then asked who Whale
was, a famous actor? ... As another
scribbler wanted to know if Dave Ba-
der (seeing Jimmie off) had played
the part of the Invisible Man, we
think it's high time some of those
Fleet Street boys went to a movie!
•
The Gary Grants took a basin of
tea with the H. W. Bunny Austins
prior to leaving for home here, and the
conversation steered round to things
that one could not say in England and
America — with highly comic and dis-
astrous results! . . . Virginia wanted
to stay just about a day before the
boat sailed because both Gaumont and
BIP increased their very substantial
offers. . . . Bill O'Brien eagerly scan-
ning the American papers for news
of Liz Allen in "Men in White," rea-
son being Metro has taken up her op-
tion and this pic definitely settled it.
. . . Ghris Dee column in the Dispatch
here commented on a letter received
from Tom Mix to say he had just de-
cided to leave the screen and join a
circus — hm, that letter musta taken a
coupla years crossing that ole debbil
Atlantic. . . . The London press did
a few nip-ups over Dorothy Wilson
this week and also wondered when
Hollywoodians would do right by love-
ly Ann Harding (you see we aint seen
"Gallant Lady" yet) . . . Sol G. New-
man and henchman Ralph Hanbury
taking time out after fillum work for
Radio, to look-see legit shows. . . .
Leslie Williams pulled a grand stunt
for Universal with his trade show tic-
kets in a passport form with the tag
"Passport to Universal Entertainment."
Kinda neat, Steve! . . . and Paramount
did a nice exploitation job on "Eight
Girls in a Boat" — sure, we know it
had lotsa exploitation angles and they
did right by it, so there!
•
We'll try and send Rowlie V. Lee
and the Lasky boys a pot of Fortnum
and Mason caviar for that swelegant
job "I Am Suzanne." . . . And what
with every company now going after
long titles we were not surprised when
that caption writer dabbed his soup-
stained bosom with an "I'm a Fugitive
from a Water-covered Shirt Front!"
. . . Dorothy Bouchier (still awaiting
a real screen break) is going back to
"Chili" Bouchier again — it's hotter —
and it suits her!
There is a studio in town where
you can grab yourself a supervisor's
berth for about ten grand. . . . Chris
Mann Savoy Grilling Molly Lamont
t'other evenin', Julius Hagen of St.
Margarets, Director Maurice Elvey,
Lothar Mendes, Actor Donald Calthrop
and Musician Noel Gay also there. . . .
George Grossmith at the Plaza of an
evening.
•
Dave Sarnoff. the Tim Whelans,
Claire Luce, Laura LaPlante and Irv-
ing Asher made up an ail-American
dinner party at the Louis Starlings re-
cently. . . . Ernest Betts had not heard
of Ted Healy until February 10 this
year; fie fie! and Ernest is film critic
to the Sunday Express. . . . Frank
Joyce, Charlie Laughton and Irving
Thalberg had a long London-Holly-
wood tele talk to okay Buster's doing
the job opposite Norma at Culver City.
Gang Films Out
In Switzerland
Basel, Switzerland. — Gangster films
are taboo in this city. Dr. Dudwig,
head of the police department, has is-
sued an order to all theatre owners
telling them not to run them.
Included in the order is forbid on
"sensational" films. Theatre men not
quite clear on what they are. Reason
given is that this type of film is be-
lieved to have been largely responsi-
ble for considerable increase of crime
in Basel.
Nazis Offer Pic Prizes
Berlin, — Reichmmister Goebbels has
announced an annual competition for
the best German film. This year's
award will be given for best produc-
tion made between April 1, 1933, and
March 1, 1934. Winner to be an-
nounced May 1 .
New Hungarian Firm
Budapest. — New film company, the
Thalia Film Productions, has been
formed here. First production of new
company will be "Ida's Romance "
"The Tragedy of Human" is slated for
second.
French Quota Closed
Paris. — Local film importers have
been informed that the contingent of
American prints is exhausted. No
more prints will be allowed in until
new contingent is fixed.
Picture Co. in Venice
Rome. — February 9 will see the
start of a picture producing company
in Venice, city of gondolas. Venezia
Film is the new company anal Dr.
Francesco Pasinetti the manager.
Soviet Boosts Self
Moscow. — Special sound films por-
traying phases of Soviet artistic life
are now being shown in all houses.
They are called "Sovietart."
THE REASON
... I have M. C. Levee as my manager
is he has such a lovel/ secretary,
(Mrs. Levee and Mrs. Borzage please note)
SAYS
FRANK
bOKZAQl
AND
HIS MANAGEMENT INCLUDES:
Personal Representation
and I mean Personal
Secretarial Services
Business Administration
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity & Exploitation
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, JR.
Will Tell You WHY he is a "Levee" client
IN MONDAY'S
POSlTil^
TQOAVi fILM «EWi foOftl'
Page Six
March 2, 1934
ERPI DEMONSTRATES ]\EW
']\ATIJBAL SOUIVD' DEVICE
Electrical Research Products, Inc.,
yesterday announced what it declares
to be a more sensational development
in sound recording than was silent re-
cording. It is a new device which
it is claimed will eliminate all unnat-
uralness in sound on the screen.
This week a demonstration was
given at the Erpi laboratories on Santa
Monica boulevard before the heads of
the sound departmepts of most of the
Hollywood studios. As a result, the
device is being tried out at Warners,
Fox, Columbia, Paramount, MCM and
the United Artists lots.
Blurred sound, huskiness of movie
voices and varied sound distortion
which has many times marred other-
wise perfect recording will be elimi-
nated, according to the Erpi officials'
claims, by the use of this new devel-
opment. Even screen kisses will no
longer sound like a cow pulling its foot
out of the mud or like a pistol shot,
but will be recorded naturally.
Present distortion mostly caused by
difficulty of running a film at an even,
regular speed during the recording
process, Erpi officials point out. The
new device, they claim, controls the
passage of an electric current to a
millionth of a second and thus over-
comes this difficulty. With it they
claim it is possible to record accurate-
ly whether film is intermittently sta-
tionary or moving at an irregular pace.
Device developed here and in Bell
Telephone laboratories in New York.
p/ HOLLYWOOD yg.
PLAZA
C9>
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "buik for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Hugene Stern, Pris.
Th« "Doorway of Hospitality
Vine at Hollywood Blvd
HOLLYWOOD
Ef Tu, Caesar!
In an argument with Henry
Henigson, Arthur Caesar declared
that the writers who slam the pic-
ture business seem to be making
the most money, which is what he
plans. "First thing I'm going to
do is write a book about super-
visors and call it 'Little Mind,
What Now?' "
More Exhib Howls
On Code Authority
New York. — More headaches pil-
ing up for the Code Authority, as ex-
hibitor opposition gains strength and
voice.
The Allied States Theatres of the
Northwest yesterday voted to refuse to
sign the code, with those members
who have already signed withdrawing
their signatures. Their complaint is
that the code favors the producers
and distributors, with the theatres
standing to gain nothing.
Setting Sherman Right
Vincent Sherman, actor, out here
a few months from New York, seems
to be the victim of a twisted news
story in the account of his departure
from "The Terrible Turk" in Pasa-
dena. A check on the facts shows
that Sherman gave ample notice and
left the company for a picture en-
gagement at Columbia under an agree-
ment made when he took the stage
part.
Mona Barrie Tilted
Mona Barries' contract has been
torn up by Fox and the studio handed
the Austrian actress a new long term
ticket with a tilt in salary. The new
ticket takes effect on March 18. The
Bernard-Meiklejohn and McCall office
made the deal.
Grossman on Song job
Bernie Grossman and OIlie Wallace
have been assigned the job of writing
the songs and music for "Broadway
Virgin," the Lois Bull story purchased
by Major Productions.
Fenton Signs for Play
Leslie Fenton has been signed for
the leading role in "Dear Bill," which
went into rehearsal yesterday at the
Pasadena Playbox. Play is by James
Warwick.
Phil Reisman Returns
New York — Phil Reisman, in charge
of Radio foreign distribution, sailed
from London Wednesday. Ambrose
Dowling remains abroad as RKO Euro-
pean manager.
McEwen Option Lifted
Warners yesterday lifted the option
on Walter McEwen, head of the coast
story department. He has been with
the organization for over four years.
MacQuarrie Tags Two
Theresa Maxwell Conover and Greta
Myer have signed managerial contracts
with the MacQuarrie office.
Some Wamps Dazed
By Producer Stand
Wampas members yesterday report-
ed themselves as bewildered at the at-
titude of the producers on the broad-
casting of their "Baby Star" event.
"Warners and Paramount," stated
one member, "had a fight over who
has the right to give free contract
talent to the Pontiac radio hour. War-
ners won, and they're the worst set
against our broadcast idea, which is
hard to understand when they say that
their exhibitors complain against it.
The Pontiac hour goes on Saturday
night during the hour in greatest com-
petition to pictures."
Tuchock Winner in
Radio Salary Tilt
Wanda Tuchock won out on her
salary tiff with Radio, with the studio
taking up her option yesterday at the
increase in salary stipulated in her
contract.
Miss Tuchock is slated to direct
"Portrait of a Rebel," which Cliff Reid
will produce as her next assignment.
'U' Considering Edna Best
Still stuck for the leads in "Human
Side," Universal is seriously consider-
ing Edna Best for the top spot, and is
hunting for a leading man who will
match in with her before concluding
the deal. Miss Best has okayed the
role. Eddie Buzzell is waiting for cast
before going to work on the direction.
Preston Turns Actor
David Preston, secretary to Myles
Connolly at Radio, buds out as an
actor. Short-hand artist takes a top
spot in the Edward Caulfield play "We
Shall Always Be Young," which the
workshop places into rehearsal Mon-
day.
Want Name for 'Man'
Radio is on a title hunt for "Fam-
ily Man," offering a $50 award to any
of the company's employees submit-
ting the best one. Story, originally
for Clive Brook, will star Richard Dix.
New Block Booking Kick
Washington. — The House of Rep-
resentatives today received a petition
and resolution from the junior League
of New York against block booking
of motion pictures, and blind selling.
Ross Opens Agency
Wally Ross has opened an agency in
the Beverly Hills Bank of America
Building. Will handle artists, writers
and directors. Called Wally Ross
Agency.
Pascal Finishes at 'U'
Ernest Pascal yesterday turned in to
Eph Asher his completed script on
"Human Side" and checked off the
Universal salary roster.
Buster Crabbe an Uncle
Buster Crabbe received news from
Honolulu that he is an uncle. His
younger brother Edward, who lives in
Honolulu, is the happy father of a
baby girl.
Child' to Macgowan
Kenneth Macgowan has taken
"Wednesday's Child" under his su-
pervisory wing at Radio.
Lucian Prival signed for "Murder in
the Studio," Columbia. Set by Fred
Robinson.
Paul Hurst for "Sequoia," MOM,
through Fred Robinson.
Russell Hopton set by the MacQuar-
rie office for "Alias the Deacon," Uni-
versal.
Esther Muir for "The Party's Over,"
Columbia, set by Bill Otto of the Gill
office.
Jack Baxley for "Now I'll Tell,"
Fox. MacQuarrie did it.
Walter Brennan into "I'll Tell the
World," Universal, through MacQuar-
rie.
Lew Kelly, Francis Sayles and Louise
Beavers for a Radio short subject.
John Sheehan into "Too Many Wo-
men," Fox. Set by MacQuarrie.
Ray Mayer signed by Fox for com-
edy role in "Gold Rush of 1934." The
Bernard, Meiklejohn and McCall agen-
cy made the deal.
Cullen Johnson has been added to
the cast of the Harold Lloyd picture
"Catspaw."
Virginia Howell to the cast of
"Double Door" for Paramount.
Lucien Littlefield into the cast of
"Thirty Day Princess" for the B. P.
Schulberg unit at Paramount.
Robert Littlefield and Richard Carle
added to "Witching Hour" for Para-
mount.
Clifford Jones set by Walter Herz-
brun agency in "Murder in the Stu-
dio," Columbia.
Dorothy Tree spotted in the Kath-
ryn Sergava role irs "Friends of Mr.
Sweeney," Warners.
Ralph Remley signed for "Double
Door," Paramount. Deal agented by
Walter Herzbrun agency.
Cordon Westcott, Louise Beavers,
Ethel Wales, Edward Keene. Charles
Coleman added to "Happy Family,"
Warners.
Edmund Breese set for two at War-
ners. Goes into "Sawdust" and "The
Return of the Terror." George Hum-
bert and Howard Hickman also added
to the latter.
Paul Hurst added to "Sawdust,"
Warners.
Ralf Harolde for "Witching Hour,"
Paramount.
William Collier Sr. into "Thirty-Day
Princess," Paramount.
Russ Powell set through Max Sha-
grin of "Firebrand," Twentieth Cen-
tury.
Luis Alberni into "Black Cat," Uni-
versal. Ticket set by Max Shagrin.
William Augustin for "Too Many
Women" through Max Shagrin.
Barbara Weeks signed by Fox for
"Now I'll Tell."
Helen Freeman goes into "Sadie
McKee," MGM.
Georgette Rhodes plays the French
girl in "The World Moves On," Fox.
Deal agented by Menifee I. Johnstone.
Ward Bond set for "Murder in the
Studio," Columbia. Negotiated by
Kingston-Harris.
Colin Tapley, Burr Caruth and
Ralph Remly added to the cast of
Paramount's "Double Door."
Richard Cromwell and Donald Cook
assigned spots in the cast of "Most
Precious Thing in Life," Columbia.
Barbara Weeks into "Now I'll Tell,"
Fox, through Harry Spingler of the
Small-Landau office.
March 2, 1934
THE
Page Seven
Extension of Award Date
Meets With Approval
Widespread appreciation was expressed yesterday by many in
the industry for the extension of time given for voting in the Holly-
wood Reporter Awards of Merit Competition.
Origmally intended that polls close on February 28, but flood of
requests for extension resulted in setting March 9 as closing date.
This was done so that EVERYONE in the industry would be given a
chance to vote in this, the first competition in which the industry as
a whole does the selecting of those to be honored for outstanding
achievement.
Judging from the ballots that poured into The Reporter office
yesterday, many had overlooked the closing date. All are urged now
to send in ballets as early as possible so that there will be no slip at
the end and no one will be deprived of voting.
If you have not received a ballot, and did not use the ballot print-
ed in yesterday's Reporter, one will be sent you if you telephone or
write The Reporter office. And — remember — when you mark your
ballot be sure to indicate the name of the picture in which your
player, director or cinematographer does his best work. Otherwise
your vote will not count.
And— Vote NOW!
POLITICS bubble:.^ (9¥JEn
EXTBA COMMITTEIi LIST
Work For Love In
Future, Says Rice
Washington. — Elmer Rice, famous
playwright, speaking at the Jewish
Community Center today, created a
sensation when he belittled motion
picture censors and capitalists, classed
as "trash" the pictures "Grand Hotel"
and "Dinner at Eight," and pointed
with hope to the Soviet theatre.
Rice declared that the commercial
theatre of today is doomed in the fu-
ture, adding that playwrights and ac-
tors would join hands and produce
plays minus the producer, for the sheer
joy of the work, and with no thought
of profits.
Barrymore-Harlow
To Team in Picture
! ^^MCM plans to co-star John Barry-
.^-"wore and Jean Harlow in a David
Selznick production titled "Slcange
Mi5lress," based on an original story
by Michael Simmons.
Simmons has finished the story and
reports to Edward Small Monday on
a one-picture assignment to write an
original musical story for Reliance Pic-
tures.
Dixie Lee on Air
Dixie Lee (Mrs. Bing Crosby) will
be guest artist on Ben Bernie's first
radio broadcast from Hollywood on
March 13. Bernie will broadcast
eight weeks on coast. Ralph Farnum
is spotting the guest talent for him.
The star has just completed "Man-
hattan Love Song" under Len Fields'
direction at Monogram.
Rurick Dialogues 'Cat'
Peter Rurick, who collaborated on
the screen adaptation of Edgar Allan
Poe's yarn "The Black Cat" for Uni-
versal, has been retained by the stu-
dio to act as dialogue director for the
picture. Boris Karloff and Bela Lu-
gosi are co-starred and Edgar Ullmer
will direct.
*Miss Marker' Script
"Little Miss Marker," coming Para-
mount production, was scripted by
Gladys Lehman and William P. Lipp-
man.
Brown Derby Waiters
Stage Picture Scene
A score or more of Hollywood film
stars were treated to an unusual pa-
rade yesterday lunch time when every
waiter in the Hollywood Brown Derby
slipped off his apron and coat and
walked out on strike just as the noon
crowd was thickest.
Anticipating the walkout, officials
of the restaurant had full complement
of strike-breaking waiters on hand.
Collomb Switches Tags
Finishing his assignment on "In
Conference," with Brian Marlow and
Agnes Christine Johnstone, Joseph
Collomb moves over immediately to
the Bayard Veiller unit on a William
Morris office ticket to write the screen
play of an original idea.
Bing Crosby Rests
Bing Crosby is taking a six months
vacation off the air and will take a
rest from pictures as soon as he fin-
ishes his next picture for Paramount
which is "She Loves Me Not."
'Earth Turns' Previewed
New York. — Warners took "As the
Earth Turns" up to Danbury, Conn.,
for a preview last night, the preview
habit of Hollywood becoming a fre-
quent practice here now.
TH6 "MGAN" PRINCE |
of Romance
and the beau
fiful Queen ol Sor,-'
Together for the first lime'
NOVARRO
M^I^NALD
FMRK MORGAN • CHAS. BinERWORTH
JEAN HERSHOLT • VIVIERNE SEGAL
lirecMtTW«.».8wii<..imflTntMTiiM>>
30 M.nuf«i ol Mod Mirlhl
/Laurel & Hardy i
'OUVn 1H1 BOHTH* /
'Pete Smith's
"Goofy Movies"
■ fiU^/jLHL-^/.rr
A well defined movement was on
foot yesterday in the ranks of the
Hollywood extra players to have one
member of the Code Committee for
Extras removed and a woman "exfta"
put on the committee in that mem-
ber's place.
Just how they plan to go about the
shift was not explained, but a num-
ber of prominent extras were out-
spoken in saying that they feel a wo-
man representative of the extras
should be on the committee.
Incidentally it developed that such
a movement solves one of the squawks
of the extra players. While they are
quite satisfied with practically the en-
tire makeup of the committee, there
is a number who are bitterly opposed
to one male member. They figure that
by putting over the idea of having a
woman extra on the committee they
will make it easier to get the one man
off that they are opposed to.
Feeling in favor of Mrs. Mable Kin-
ney is growing by leaps and bounds in
extra ranks. "She is turning out to be
a good egg," is the way many of them
now speak of the chairman of this
committee.
Radio Buys Berlin's
'Manhattan Madness^
Radio yesterday concluded a deal
with Irving Berlin for the purchase of
the song, "Manhattan Madness,"
which will go into "Strictly Dyna-
mite."
The song team of Ross and Sargent,
ether crooners, will deliver it. Studio
also signed Mary Kornman and Bobby
Watson for additional casting spots.
Lazy River' in N. O.
"Lazy River" will get its world pre-
miere in New Orleans one week before
its national release because the picture
is based on that locale. George Seitz
directed for MCM under the working
title of "Louisiana."
Judell Closes for 'Dawn'
Chicago. — Du World Pictures, Inc.
has closed a deal with B. N. judell of
this city, whereby he will distribute
"Dawn to Dawn" in Illinois, Indiana
and Wisconsin territory.
'.'.Vn.'.!.!i|'t
O- HILL
VA-IOII
*£^w«/IOWE
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NOMOREWOMEr
M SALLY BLANE
PERSON
;ind his
|, ROYAL CANADIANS ^
%>y, OwtewJe STAGE , -*
APPEARANCE
Who's Lion Shy?
MGM has been having some lit-
tle difficulty m getting a player for
3 singular role in "Sequoia." A
pet mountain lion made David Lan-
dau and Tully Marshall change
their minds about the part owing
to its playful habit of taking a
jwipe at a player and tripping him
up. Paul Hurst finally signed for
it.
Johnson Puts Teeth
In NRA Code Rules
Washington. — At the NRA open
hearing here yesterday General John-
son made public the new order which
compels all employers to post full
NRA regulations in conspicuous places
and the penalties attached to viola-
tions of the order.
The new order requires conform-
ance with the posting regulation with-
in forty-five days or else facing a fine
of five hundred dollars or six months
imprisonment for failure to do so. In-
dustries must make immediate appli-
cation for the posters necessary.
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WKTRO-GOLD^AYN-V.AYER STUDIOS,
^ MR.SAVUPX MARX.
CULVRR CITY.CALi:-'.
IVol.XiX. No. 44. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Sarurday. March 3, 1934
• THE casting problem is becoming a
greater problem each and every day;
all because the majority of our pro-
duction heads have no vision nor have
they the good sense to advance this
industry by the creation of new casts.
It's a damned shame.
Pictures are being rushed into pro-
duction with the casts all screwy. The
poor director or the writer has NOTH-
ING to say, that is, what they say
means nothing. The producers throw
any person that is available into spots
that ruin the picture even before it
gets started and then we wonder why
most pictures are so bad.
All this cooperation between the
inajor studios to help one another out
in their casting difficulties was — and
is — a lot of bunk. There is not a stu-
dio in town that can properly cast
its yearly output of pictures. And the
worst part of it is that ALL of the
studios are carrying people, who, if
given a chance, might blossom into
production assets instead of studio lia-
bilities or producer comforts.
•
There is absolutely no effort exert-
ed in an attempt to create new screen
faces. They can't be created unless
they are given a chance to show what
they can do and that's just the stum-
bling block. Those in charge of a
production would rather miscast a
name, thereby hurting and possibly
ruining a picture, than give an un-
known a chance.
Occasionally, for one reason or an-
other, a new face is given a chance
and just as often makes good, and on
comes the rush from other producers
trying to borrow that new face, will-
ing to pay a hundred times the price
they could have had the person for
IF they were willing to do a little
gambling.
There has been no real casting in
this town since the LeMaire-Zanuck
combination started to work on all
fours at Warners three years ago.
They took chances and made more
stars in a single year than the others
were able to dig up in the past ten.
Hollywood is filled with important
artists who are virtually starving for
opportunities while the producers are
starving the whole industry because
they won't give them a chance.
You figure it out- — if it requires
that.
CtiURCH WAR ON fllMS
Catholic Church Organizes
Campaign Against Off-Color
Films Says Literary Digest
Warner Trust Suit
To Start March 13
New York. — That oft-postponed
anti-trust suit by the Government
against Warners-First National has
at last been definitely set on the
court calendar for March 1 3 ac-
cording to John Amen, assistant at-
torney general in charge of anti-
trust actions.
Roxy to Europe;
Ducking Para Deal
New York.- — There is much mys-
tery over the sudden collapse of the
deal for Roxy and His Gang to do
twelve weeks of personal appearances
for the Paramount key houses.
On the eve of signing the papers
Rothafel withdrew yesterday and sail-
ed for Europe on the Olympic last
night. The action gave new life to
rumors that he is considering a July
deal with MGM.
Mystery About Names
On San Francisco Boards
New York. — Additional Clearance
and Grievance Boards have been nam-
ed for Washington, Philadelphia and
San Francisco, but will not be made
public until the Code Authority ap-
proves them at the next meeting on
March 9.
Much speculation here about the
identity of the San Francisco names
because of the strong protest of inde-
pendent exhibitors there against ef-
forts to side-track Morgan Walsh and
George Mann.
Cable Formality Done
MGM yesterday clipped a coupon
off the Clark Gable contract, extend-
ing it for another year. A group of
assignments are being lined up which
will keep the player on the hop for
the next few months.
SKOIJRAS FIRES RELATIVE
SO REED BUYS THE HOUSE
New York. — One of those things
that you have often read about but
were never able to have confirmed is
causing the locals here a lot of laughs.
Walter Reed, owner of the Mayfair
Theatre and a string of houses down
in New Jersey, had a relative who was
a doorman at the Skouras operated
City Theatre on Fourteenth street. The
relative was given the gate, and when
(Continued on Page 2)
Literary Digest, in the current issue dated March 3, brings
into the open what it declares is evidence that the sporadic at-
tacks on objectionable motion pictures by Catholic dignitaries
are a part of a concerted campaign that will have a far-reaching
effect on the motion picture industry.
'Rothschild' Will
Play $2 Circuits
New York. — United Artists has de-
cided to roadshow the Twentieth Cen-
tury production of "The House of
Rothschild." It opens at the Astor
here March 14, opening a week later
m Cleveland and Boston at the $2
figure.
U. A. are lining up $2 dates all
over the country for opening during
the week of March 21 or March 28.
Harold Hurley Due
For Para. Boost
When the Paramount executive
staff returns from La Quinta, where
the/ are discussing and arranging the
p.'oduction plans for this season, sev-
eral changes are expected to be made
in the ranks.
It has been reported that Harold
Hurley will move up a notch, being
made general studio manager, the
(Continued on Page 3)
Leonard-Thalberg Huddle
Although Robert Leonard has been
penciled in by every producer on the
MGM lot to direct a picture, the di-
rector has been in a huddle with Irv-
ing Thalberg on the Ann Harding pic-
ture, "Biography," which he is slated
to do as his next.
Flag. Suit on Warners
Philadelphia. — Edward A. Lynch
has filed a plagiarism suit against
Warners in the District Court here
over "Son of a Sailor," which he
claims is based on his story, "When
Homer Comes Marching Home."
Arthur Lubin on Way
New York. — Arthur Lubin left for
the Coast last night having postponed
plans for producing two plays, "Brief
Nocturne" and "The Great Romanc-
er." He returns to New York June 14
to direct a summer stock company.
In addition to Literary Digest, The
Exhibitor, of Philadelphia, this week
editorially complains that exhibitors
are already beginning to feel the ef-
fects of the campaign, and asserts the
(Continued on Page 7)
Pan Berman Ticket
Covers Two Years
Pan Berman's election to the spot
of executive producer at Radio on a
two-year ticket was ratified yesterday
by the company's board of directors
in New York. Confirmed also two-
year contracts with B. B. Kahane, stu-
dio president, and Ned Depinet, dis-
tribution chief.
Berman was given the additional
title of vice-president of the studio
(Continued on Page 21
Lee Tracy Considers Eng.
Lee Tracy finished "I'll Tell The
World" for Universal and is seriously
considering a three picture deal with
British International pictures in Eng-
land. The offer was cabled him by
Frank Joyce.
Erpi Transfers Hawkins
New York. — Stanley Hawkins, of
Eastern Service Studios, left for the
Coast yesterday to assume an execu-
tive post at the General Sound Studos
in Hollywood.
Checking in on Chief
Lew Colder, president of Foy Pro-
ductions, and Joe Bernhard, of War-
ners, check in tonight on the Chief
from New York.
lackCilbertandU Dicker
Universal is negotiating with Jack
Gilbert for the top spot in "Human
Side."
Q
EDGAR SELWYN Directed MYSTERY OF MR. X
E]
Page Two
THE
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office o*
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood <Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193:
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions: Paris. 122 Blvd. Murat:
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception o*
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The "Candid Camera" is getting to
be quite a menace in Hollywood —
flocks of locals now have them, and
one intrepid song-writer snapped Eph
Asher, with two black eyes, smoked
glass and a beautiful girl, lunching at
Palm Springs — and then he hopped
over and all unbeknownst to Mitch
Leisen snapped the director as he was
illustrating a very swishy dance step
on the set at Paramount the other day
to some girls in the scene! ... Do you
know what famous star is dangerously
ill — so ill that she has refused food
or consolation for several days? . . .
After giving that bachelor dinner for
Nat Coldstone, Junior Laemmie has de-
cided that marriage isn't so bad — and
is now in the market! . . . Incidental-
ly, Junior's latest importation from the
N. Y. stage, Jane Wyatt, gets here to-
morrow for her Universal contract —
a lotta producers angled for her serv-
ices, too.
•
Douglass Montgomery caused a sen-
sation when he walked into the Ven-
dome at cocktail time with his huge
Irish wolf-hound. . . . Sidney Fox, Er-
win Celsey, Florine McKinney and
Johnny Machio dining same spot the
night before. . . . Ditto the John Monk
Saunders (Fay Wray), the Johnny
Considines, Dr. and Mrs. Kalmus, the
Charlie Kenyons, the Doug MacLeans,
Jean Harlow and Hal Rosson. . . . Did
you see Winchell's line about the
"Hollywood SMELLEBS at the N. Y.
Mayfair"? Nice feller! Or maybe we
should say SMELLER! . . June Crabi-
ner, who is Howard Hughes' new
flame, is the dotter of the business
manager of the Chicago White Sox — a
Chicago deb — who turned down pic-
ture tests right and left when she was
here last year.
•
The reason why a certain pair of
agents is barred from the Warner lot
has a very funny and very ham angle.
... In case you don't know it "Pan"
Berman IS the production boss at Ra-
dio, any other understanding you may
have to the contrary. And he'll do all
right too. . . . Irving Thalberg being
congratulated on all sides for "Rip
Tide" that had a sneak showing night
before last.
"MYSTERY OF MR. X'
MOM prod.; director, Edgar Selwyn; writers, Phillip MacDonald, Howard
Emmett Rogers, Monckton Hoffe.
Capitol Theatre
Times: An ingenious pot-pourri of excitement, fun and romance. Edgar Sel-
wyn, the director of this production, gives to his task a good pace and a
satisfactory conception of London atmosphere.
Herald-Tribune: We should be grateful for the smooth and finished quality of
the production, the humor and dexterity that have gone into the dialogue
and the situations, the admirable playing of an expert cast and the gen-
eral effectiveness of the narrative.
Mirror: This Scotland Yard thriller is an exceptionally good one. Its harrowing
suspense is relieved with charming humor. Its romantic theme is strong
and appealing. It is tastefully produced and brilliantly acted by an un-
usually attractive cast. The unusual quality of genuine romantic charm
lifts this far above the usual detective thriller. Don't miss it.
Sun: A lot better than its title promises. Rather a jolly picture full of pleasant
little chuckles and merry incident. Director Selwyn has, with a handsome
production, managed to keep the London atmosphere.
News: One of the most exciting adventures I've encountered on a Broadway
screen recently. The picture has been directed with a great deal of skill
by Edgar Selwyn and is thoroughly well acted not only by Montgomery but
by Henry Stephenson.
American: One of the most entertaining mystery comedy dramas seen since
Jimmy Walker was the talk- — -and the toast — of the town. It's full of
laughs, suspense is delightfully maintained and its climactic sequences pos-
sess an excitement that called forth a variety of squeals, shrieks and
screams from a house jammed with paying guests.
World-Telegram: Full of action, suspense, sly humor, romance and good char-
acter drawing, as well as adroit playing by its principal performers.
Post: If you do not insist too much on plausibility you will find it continuously
interesting. It swerves neatly from a pleasant kind of drawing-room
comedy to hair-raising thrills. With the expert acting of Montgomery and
the supporting cast, aided by intelligent dialogue and facile direction, both
these aspects of the picture ring true.
Journal: An entertaining romance is woven into the yarn. Suspense is neatly
sustained in the piece and the cast is excellent. In addition to Mont-
gomery, who is grand in his role, and Miss Allen, who is decorative, the
players include Ralph Forbes, Henry Stephenson and Lewis Stone.
Thin Man' Script Set
^Albert Hackett and Frances Good-
rich turn in their completed script to-
day to Hunt Stromberg on "Thin
Man." Writing team also check off
the MOM payroll on a six month ab-
sence during which they will put a
play on Broadway.
Soviet Offer for Rapper
Irving Rapper, MOM contract di-
rector, received a cable from Moscow
yesterday offering a deal to direct the
stage play, "Five Star Final," at the
Lenin-Soviet theatre. He directed this
play in London about two years ago.
Joe Rivkin Coming
New York. — Joe Rivkin, associated
with Leo Morrison, leaves by plane
for the Coast today to line up film
stars for personal appearances and also
cover the breach while Morrison goes
to Honolulu for a vacation.
Berman Ticket 2 Years
(Continued from Page 1 )
subsidiary for RKO-Radio. Plans and
policies of J. R. McDonough and M.
H. Aylesworth during their recent trip
here were stamped. Former will di-
vide his time between studio and New
York. Purpose is to weld a closer un-
derstanding between the widely sep-
arated divisions of the organization.
The action of the Board and sub-
sequent announcement set at rest ru-
mors that B. B. Kahane was dissatis-
fied with the new deal and contem-
plated resigning.
Film Notables on List
For 'Tingel Tangel' Bow
Frederick Hollander at his tea for
the press gave five selected numbers
from "Allay Oop," the revue that will
open the new Tingel -Tangel theatre
Monday night. Nothing like this show
has been seen in Hollywood since Ba-
lieff brought his "Chauve-Souris"
here. The Tingel-Tangel is a national
institution in Germany.
Reservations for opening night al-
ready include Gloria Swanson, Marlene
Dietrich, Josef von Sternberg, Ernst
Lubitsch and most of the other mem-
bers of the Hollywood German colony.
Repeat 'Snow in August'
"Snow m August," which was pre-
sented at the Pasadena Workshop last
Saturday night, will be repeated to-
night at popular request. Whole flock
of folks from Antelope Valley going
because that is where yarn is laid.
Herb Moulton a Daddy
Herb Moulton, Paramount advertis-
ing man, became the father of a baby
girl yesterday. Mother is at the St.
Vincent's Hospital. Incubator baby
weighed less than two pounds, but is
coming along neatly.
Sparks Buys 'Spit Fire'
New York. — The Sparks Circuit,
covering Florida, has closed a special
deal for early running of "The Spit-
fire" to cash in on the tourist trade
interest in Hepburn.
Dear Bill;
May I add my modest indorsement
to Myles Connolly's letter regarding a
certain Frank Capra. I personally be-
lieve it is time we pushed things aside
and let this genius step out into the
full light.
Concerning your present campaign
to determine the best of this and that
in the motion picture industry for the
past year I personally suggest that you
abandon the contest so far as the di-
rectors are concerned, throw the bal-
lots into the Seine, and allow this
Capra guy to occupy the position he
has deserved for a great number of
years past.
Give him the cup and go back into
the grocery business.
Humbly and sincerely,
GREGORY LA CAVA.
Zirn Knocked Out
But Bobs Up Again
New York. — Attorney Samuel Zirn,
who is leaving no stone unturned in
an effort to upset the present Para-
mount set-up, lost out in the Appel-
late Division of the New York Supreme
Court yesterday, but announced he
will appeal still further to the United
States Supreme Court.
Zirn appeared for Herbert S. Levy,
a Paramount bondholder, who alleges
negligence on the part of Para officers
in allowing stock repurchase deals, and
transfer of negatives to Film Produc-
tions.
Acad. Sets Committee
to Get Research Funds
The research council of the Acad-
emy last night appointed a committee
to provide for financing the schedule
of nine points previously agreed upon.
The committee is Samuel Briskin, Na-
than Levinson and Carl Dreher. Cor-
don S. Mitchell was appointed head of
the technical bureau.
Another Title Change
Radio has changed the label on
"Success Story" to "Success at Any
Price." Picture was completed about
EX weeks ago with Douglas Fairbanks
r. and Colleen Moore in the leads.
Henry Cuttman Returns
Henry Guttman returns this morn-
ing from New York by plane. Figures
on polishing off several details here
for the production on Broadway of his
play "Red Commissar."
Reed Turns Tables
(Continued from Page I )
Reed put in a word for him he was
promised reinstatement. This was
weeks ago.
Yesterday Walter Reed became the
owner of the City, having bought the
75 percent interest in the house held
by Harley Clarke, and the relative
went back on the door.
And that's not all. Reed has made
an offer to the receivers for the whole
Skouras operated metropolitan chain
and one that insiders believe the re-
ceivers will accept.
It would be funny if that firing of
the relative would unseat the Skouras
boys entirely In this sector.
larch 3, 1934
mm
Page Three
[UNION EXPLOSION IS DCE
WITH ARRIVAL OF ELLIOTT
-Fated Strike
Set For Airing
With the arrival here of President
■ William C. Elliott of the lATSE, one
of the biggest "blow-offs" in the his-
tory of the organization is expected.
When the smoke clears, those close
to the situation say that Elliott will
either be in the union doghouse or
else several individuals connected with
the local lATSE unions will find them-
selves out.
The matter has been simmering at
varying degrees of heat ever since the
ill-fated strike was called and lost
last summer. In practically every one
of the lATSE groups there have been
' murmurings and grumblings that at
times have reached an ominous rum-
ble. Charges and counter-charges
have been hurled back and forth via
the sub rosa trail. But, due to the
weakening of the lATSE groups' posi-
tion with the losing of the strike,
nothing has come out in the open.
Chief howl on the part of the
grumblers was anent the calling of the
strike and its handling. Upshot of it
all was that as the buck was passed
back and forth it eventually was toss-
ed into Mr. Elliott's lap, and the gen-
eral impression was given that if any-
one blundered it was Elliott,
There have been many stories told
regarding the way the strike started
and why it was lost. Throughout the
industry it has been pretty generally
accepted that if the first cameramen
who belonged to the ASC had walked
out and stayed out with the others
the complexion of the entire strike
results would have been changed for
all of the lATSE groups.
And so, when some of the grum-
blers charged that certain union of-
ficials had been told these men would
not stand by the strikers, and then
called the strike anyway, it has caused
rankling that has become very bitter.
One of the charges being made is
that certain union officials were called
into conference with the ASC group
the night the strike was to go into
effect. The story is that these offi-
cials were told by ASC men that if the
strike was called they would not sup-
port it. Then, according to the
charges, the union officials talked un-
til after twelve o'clock and finished
the conversation by saying:
"Well, it is twenty minutes after
twelve, gentlemen. Whether you
realize it or not, you have been on
strike for twenty minutes."
Members of the various locals de-
clare that if this is so the strike should
have been stopped before the order
went into effect. They feel that there
is much that must come to the sur-
face, and that if there is any blame it
must be cleared up and placed on the
proper shoulders.
It is understood that Elliott has been
closely in touch with the local situa-
tion, and that before he leaves Holly-
wood the whole matter is due to ex-
p'ode.
Let's Be Rifzy'
Far Too Scorching
Universal had a studio showing
of "Let's Be Ritzy" last night for
the critics, and the high light of
the evening came when a reel
jammed in the machine, burned up,
and caused the calling off the
show. The climax was not in the
original script.
Nothing Hot in
New B'way Plays
New York. — Nothing to excite pic-
ture story buyers in the two openings
on Broadway this week, "Ragged Ar-
my" and "When in Rome."
Openings next week include the
much discussed "Yellow Jack" at the
Martin Beck, Tuesday; and "Too Much
Party" at the Masque, Monday.
"Wednesday's Child," bought for pic-
tures by Radio, closes its run at the
Longacre tonight.
Tuchock-Radio Deal
Remains Up in Air
Radio yesterday refuted the report
that the studio owned "Portrait of a
Rebel."
Company is cold on the yarn and
has not worked out a new deal with
Wanda Tuchock, who was said to be
working on the story. Negotiations,
however, are in progress and writer-
director is scripting her own original
idea untitled.
U. A. Official to Russia
New York. — Arthur W. Kelly, vice
president of United Artists, sails for
Europe shortly. One of the main ob-
jects of trip is visit to Russia to con-
fer with Soviet officials regarding
boosting of his company's pictures
there, this being the only country
throughout the world in which United
Artists has no distributing organiza-
tion.
Nancy Carroll at Springs
A shuffle in the schedule of
"Springtime for Henry" at Fox has
given Nancy Carroll a chance to get
away to Palm Springs for a rest. She
plans a five-day stay.
Weather Wallops
Broadway Crosses
New York. — Picture theatres took
it on the chin in New York last week,
none of the houses giving any signs
of approaching records.
Final check up on "It Happened
One Night" at the Music Hall showed
$86,000. Other figures for the week
are: "Mystery of Mr. X," Capitol,
overcame the weather to a good $53,-
200; "Death Takes a Holiday," Para-
mount, $44,000; "Palooka," at the
Rivoli, will probably do $38,000 for
its first week ending Monday night, a
good figure under conditions; "Hips,
Hips, Hooray," eight days at the
Roxy, $29,500; "Dark Hazard," Ri-
alto, $15,000; "Mandalay," second
week at Strand, $11,500; "Orient
Express," Mayfair, $8300.
NRA to jump on Local
Theatre Cive-Aways
Local theatres indulging in the
practice of giving "passes" good for
admission to theatres upon payment
of a "service charge" will be placed
on the NRA pan very shortly, accord-
ing to announcement yesterday by
Charles E. Cunningham, head of the
local NRA Compliance Board.
Investigation of this practice fol-
lows a ruling from Washington that
such tactics are unfair and a viola-
tion of the code. Survey will be made
and theatre managers will first be
warned to stop the practice.
MacDonald the 'Duchess'
Walter Wanger yesterday stated
jeanette MacDonald would appear in
"Duchess of Delmonico's" after all.
Jean Harlow, who had been slated by
MGM for the production, is being sav-
ed for Irving Thalberg's production of
"China Seas."
Thelma Todd Free
Thelma Todd is a free woman again
today. She secured a divorce yester-
day in Superior Court from Pasquale
deCicco, theatrical agent. They sepa-
rated two weeks ago.
New Soviet Film
New York. — The Soviet film "Bro-
ken Shoes" will be released here this
month. It is first production of Mar-
garita Barskaya.
WIIITEIIS' BOARD SAYS APR.
MEETING CAIV DECIDE ISSl E
The Executive Board of the Screen
Writers' Guild, in a statement issued
last night, threw down the gauntlet
to any dissenting or rebellious mem-
bers of their organization who might
wish change of leadership, and asked
them to attend the annual member-
ship meeting on April 5 and present
their squawks cut in the open at that
time.
Accusing the "rebel" members of
the organization of "hiding behind
anonyrriOUF press attacks," the Board
declared that among this group "is a
ha.ndful of merr.bers who have always
wanted to destroy the Guild and leave
the writers of Hollywood no other or-
ganization for their protection except
the outworn Academy."
The statement points out that the
fact that Articles 12 to 16 of the
Guild's code were passed within the
last few days by a majority vote of
more than 75 percent of the active
members proves the Guild is in no
danger of being disrupted by disservt-
ers. Board also explains that any
member of the Board may be removed
by a vote of only 60 percent of the
active members.
By JERRY WALD
Finding himself lonesome with so
many of the other microphoners down
in Florida, Jack Pearl left for there
after his radio airing last week. . . .
And starting April 22 Jimmy Durante
replaces Eddie Cantor on that coffee
program. . . . The program will be
radioed from the Coast, with Dave Ru-
binoff and his fiddle leaving for those
parts April 1 5. . , . Cantor starts on
his annual picture for Goldwyn, which
we understand is to be an Arabian
background, so you can expect Cantor
has a sheik. . . . And while on the
subject of pictures, it looks like Mas-
ter Phil Harris will be out in Holly-
woodland this summer for a picture.
. . . With what company has us
stumped! . . . March 2 found Sally
Rand, her fans and what-have-you at
the Brooklyn Paramount.
•
There's a newsreel war on between
the Embassy and the Trans-Lux, with
both theatres using all sorts of bally-
hoo methods to bring the folks with
their quarters into their theatres. . . .
Leonard Goldstein (whose twin broth-
er looks after the managerial head-
aches of Abe Lyman) is now looking
after Harold Stern, whose music mak-
ing crew plays at the Montclair Ho-
tel. . , . Ona Munson hikes to Cali-
fornia for a short visit, then shoots
back here and on to London to play
in the English production of "Her
Master's Voice." . . . Tony Canzoneri,
the fighting lad, is the latest to join
the flock of short producers here in
town. . . . Tony's first effort will be
a musical two-reeler with Ozzie Nel-
son and Harriet Hilliard of the Wild
Waves, with Educational set to re-
lease the picture. . . . The flop pf
"Queer People" will set its producers
back some one hundred grarvd, which
in these days is DOUGH.
•
Jack Cohn has a m.ad on against
those "star systems" of reviewing.
. . . Eddie Dowling goes into produc-r
tion on April 1 with "Big Hearted
Herbert" and using Eddie Nugent, who
IS starring in the stage production, in
the screen vehicle. . . . Mary Pickford,
if you care to know, is sitting in with
Elsie Janis on the rehearsals of Leon-
ard Sillman's new revue, which had
suffered backer trouble until last
week. . . . Art Jarrett is a-coming
east with his wife for some personals
around the Loew circuit, while Jarrett,
Sr., might go plane-ing to the Coast at
the call of Bill Rowland. . . . Al Chris-
tie is trying to snare the radio Easy
Aces for a six-picture deal.
Hurley Due For Boost
(Continued from Page 1 )
spot that was occupied by M. C.
Levee about two years ago, but which
has been unoccupied since he left the
organization. Hurley's present duties
of handling the writers will likely be
added to the duties of A. M. Botsford
and the producing of westerns will
also be shifted to someone else.
Page Four
THE
l^ilPOfRTEIR
March 3. 1934
RAGGED ARMY' SOCIAL PLAY
HEAVY FOR ENTERTAIIVMEIVT
/
Screen's Wide Scope
Might Improve It
"RAGGED ARMY"
Play by Beulah Marie Dix and Bertram
Millhauser; presented by Crosby
Caige at the Selwyn Theatre;
staged by Crosby Caige and as-
sisted by Felix Jacoves; settings
by Ramond Sovey. Cast: Alice
Ann Baker, Irby Marshall, Lalive
Brownell, Ann Dere, Mathilde
Baring, Johnny Downs, Justine
Wayne; Emily Lowry, Thomas
Chalmers, Roy Roberts, Lee Ba-
ker, Lloyd Nolan, Edwin Vickery,
Fleming Ward, Roy Gordon, By-
ron Shores, Richard Bartel, For-
rest Taylor, Philip Van Zant and
William Dorbin.
New York. — The most exciting
thing about "Ragged Army" is the fact
that for the second time in less than a
week the Broadway stage has opened
its doors to a play that is neither a
retreat to the musty pages of history
for its drama nor to the shopworn sub-
ject matter of racketeering crime as
presented in the newspapers for its
themes.
Here, as in the Guild play "They
Shall Not Die," we have an attempt
to throw some light, even though it
be the highly artificial light of the
theatre, upon current, social and eco-
nomic problems that have hitherto
dominated the conversation and inter-
est of the speakeasies but had not
succeeded in breaking through the
traditional reserve and caution of the
theatre.
"Ragged Army" tries to show that
our fighting ancestors — of Benning-
ton, Saratoga, Bunker Hill — were Rev-
olutionists no less than the striking
mill-hands and marching waiters of
today. This it tries to show by the
use of a device faintly suggestive of
"Berkeley Square" and only faintly
succeeds in accomplishing its purpose.
The Page family of Dunbury are well-
born, aristocratic, financially powerful
and socially important. At the out-
set of the play they are concerned
about two problems: Mrs. Page, chair-
man of the pageant committee, has
invited Geoffrey Carver, famous
Broadway actor and descendant of one
of the old Dunbury families, to play
the leading role in the tableau to be
given shortly.
Mr. Page, head of the local mill
industry, is concerned about the fact
that the strike of his employees which
has been in progress for several weeks
has resulted in bombings and threats
of riots, all under the instigation of a
radical leader named Rubini.
These two apparently incongruous
themes are merged through the love
affair of the daughter of the house-
hold with a young Irish law student
whose class consciousness causes him
to take sides with the workers.
In a more or less fantastic second
act the authors try to show the at-
tempt of the powerful interests to
down the Revolutionary spirit of the
mob while the real or fantastic char-
acter (this is never explained), Geof-
frey Bryant, brings home to these
pseudo-aristocrats the realization of
the fact their ancestors were inspired
Del Ruth Surprised
Roy Del Ruth is shooting along
on "Bulldog Drummond" ahead of
schedule and about the happiest
director in town. He can't get over
the fact the execs at Twentieth
Century leave him alone to do his
own job.
Chicago Ban on
Newsreel Riot Pix
Chicago. — All news reel scenes
showing rioting in Vienna and other
cities were banned in this city today
by Mayor Edward J. Kelly.
Police officials declared the Mayor
figured such pictures might incite Chi-
cago Communists to disorder. Lid was
clamped down tight.
Karen Morley Sought
For King Vidor Lead
King Vidor is concluding a deal
with MGM for the loan of Karen Mor-
ley for the feminine lead in his inde-
pendent production, "Our Daily
Bread," which goes into production
soon at the General Service Studio.
Miss Morley has just finished a pic-
ture at Radio.
Polan Banks Did the Job
Polan Banks did both the original
and screen job on "Sacred and Pro-
fane Love," and Joseph Mankiewicz
is not on that script as erroneously
reported. "Mank" is at work on
"Manhattan Melodrama."
Barbara Blair Assigned
Barbara Blair, Warners' new con-
tract player, has been assigned a fea-
tured role in "Dark Tower," the Ed-
ward G. Robinson starring vehicle.
and driven by the same feelings and
thoughts that are stirring up the strik-
ers on the other side of town today.
Here s^re the elements of a good
play — a mixture of fantasy and real-
ism, an idea that is important and a
plot that is essentially dramatic. Un-
fortunately, however, these elements
demand a much greater play-writing
skill than has been brought to bear
on the pages of this script. Produc-
er, director and cast struggled vali-
antly with uneven results.
Lloyd Nolan, that vital young actor
who made the appealing drama of
"One Sunday Afternoon" so alive and
real, here recreates a revolutionary of-
ficer of great power, dignity, simplic-
ity and authenticity.
Here is a play that cries for the
freedom in scope that the films can
give it. There are half a dozen fine
directors in Hollywood who could
make this Broadway production seem
puny and ineffectual in comparison
with what they could transfer to the
screen with this material, assuming,
however, the necessary courage to tac-
kle such controversial subject matter
existed. Incidentally, the playwrights
might be more helpful in its screen
adaptation than they were in its stage
production.
Rogers Angles For
Menjou-Hopkins
Charles R. Rogers will likely get
Adolphe Menjou and Miriam Hopkins
from his parent Paramount for the
autobiographical roles of Gregory Rat-
off and Eugenie Leontovich in "I Love
An Actress."
Humphrey Pearson, who wrote the
script for Radio, from which it was
purchased, has joined the Rogers unit
to continue his job. Ralph Murphy di-
rects.
Dorothy Tree Draws
Down Warner Termer
Warners yesterday stretched Doro-
thy Tree's one picture deal into a
term contract. The player has just
finished a featured role in"Fur Coats,"
the Aline MacMahon picture, and
jumps right into a spot in the Charlie
Ruggles picture, "Friends of Mr
Sweeney," which will be the first on
her new contract. The William Mor-
ris office made the deal.
Phil Baker in Shorts
New York. — Phil Baker, Beetle and
Bottle, Mabel Anderson and Baker's
entire radio crew, have been signed
by Meyer Davis-Van Beuren for a ser-
ies of six shorts to be made at the
old Biograph studio, release through
Radio. First starts March 25. Nick
Crinde will direct, jack Murray script-
ing.
Doucet Ticket for Two
Universal has extended Katherine
Doucet's one picture contract into a
two picture deal. The actress will
double up in "Little Man, What
Now?" and "Alias the Deacon." Both
pictures will be in production at the
same -time.
'Firebrand' Under Sched.
Gregory La Cava brings in "The
Firebrand" at Twentieth Century to-
day two days under a 24-day shoot-
ing schedule. Constance Bennett,
Fredric March, Frank Morgan and Fay
Wray headed the cast of the roman-
tic comedy.
Colin Clive Up at U'
Universal is dickering with Colin
Clive for one of the leading roles in
the Max Marcin production, "The
Humbug," in which Nils Asther and
Gloria Stuart occupy the top spots.
Clive is now at Warners in the Wil-
liam Powell picture, "The Key."
MOM Loan to Duffy
MGM yesterday gave the nod to a
loan-out deal for Agnes Anderson to
Henry Duffy, producer wanting her for
a featured spot in "Men in White."
Trick negotiated through Beyer-Mac-
Arthur.
Radio Starts New Shorts
Radio yesterday signed Dot Farley
and Edgar Kennedy for a series of six
"Average Man" comedies. Pictures
will be made on next year's program
under the supervision of Lee Marcus.
Omaha Exhibs Now
Squawk on Code
New York. — And still they come,
kicks by exhibitors against the code
boards. Omaha is the latest, indepen-
dent exhibitors there registering a
complaint yesterday that the boards
for their territory are dominated by
MPTOA exhibitors.
Another item of trouble is coming
to the Code Authority in the neces-
sity of changing boards due to film
company employees being transferred
to other cities.
MGM Planning Record
Campaign for Exhibitors
Playing the field on advertising ar»d
exploitation plugs, MGM is getting
behind a tie-up with the Victor re-
cording company for a series of discs
on their pictures with the idea of
serving them out to exhibitors for
radio splurges.
Discs are timed for from 4 '/z to 14
minute programs aimed at etherizing.
Riding Actors Entertain
Riding Actors' Association, organi-
zation of film cowboys, added music
to NRA discussion last night at their
weekly meetings at 6472 Santa Mon-
ica Boulevard.
Organized to protect their interests
under the Code, the group figured a
little entertainment would go well
with the squawks. So cowboy singers,
members of their own group, were
added to the program last night and
gave a hotcha program.
Burton Directs 'Hellcat'
Columbia has assigned David Bur-
ton to direct "Hellcat" which is sched-
uled to start early next week. Adeie
Buffington and Fred Niblo jr. wrote
the original screen play. Picture is
the third for the director at Columbia,
having handled "Let's Fall in Love"
and "Sisters Under the Skin." No cast
on "Hellcat" as yet.
Make Police Shorts
Aiming at a major release, the Gen-
eral Film Library has assembled the
first in a tentative series of twelve
"Calling All Cars" shorts. Subject
deals with police department activi-
ties and the first has been dialogued
by Los Angeles Police Chief Davis.
Para. Borrows Tom Brown
Paramount has borrowed Tom
Brown from Radio on a one picture as-
signment for the juvenile spot in "The
Witching Hour," with John Halliday
and Judith Allen. Henry Hathaway
will direct.
^"Cordean Will Stick
Jack Gordean yesterday withdrew
his resignation from the Schulberg-
Feldman and Gurney office and will
stay on as an associate of that firm.
Inspiration
When Bernie Grossman was pre-
paring to get married he adver-
tised in a Hollywood paper for "A
Little Green and White House.,"
Then the responsibilities of mar-
riage caused him to turn the line
into a song, and now it looks like
a hit.
March 3. 1934
THE
Page Five
MORE CODERS XAMED
Following is the second group of
names to be announced by the Code
Authority for appointment to Zoning
and Grievance Boards. New York,
Philadelphia, San Francisco and Wash-
ington remain to be named.
ALBANY
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, R. C.
Halligan, RKO; Representative Dis-
tributor Unaffiliated, Charles Johnson,
Columbia; Exhibitor Affiliated, Abe
Stone of Albany, Member N. Y. State
Exhibitors; Impartial Member, Shep-
ard Z. Baum, Albany, attorney.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Ralph Pielow, MOM; Represen-
tative Distributor Unaffiliated, Nate
Sauber, Universal; First Run Exhibi-
tor Affiliated, Charles W. Koener,
RKO; First Run Exhibitor Unaffiliated,
William Benton, Saratoga; Subsequent
Run Exhibitors Unaffiliated, Charles
Wilson, Troy; Fred Mausert, Glens
Falls; Impartial Member, judge David
Wanger, Albany.
ATLANTA
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated. Dave
Prince, Paramount; Representative
Distributor Unaffiliated, A. C. Brom-
berg. Monogram; Exhibitor Affiliated.
Lionel Keene, Loew; Exhibitor Unaf-
filiated, Nat M. Williams, Thomas-
ville; Impartial Member, Roy LeCraw,
Atlanta, State Life Insurance Com-
pany of Indiana.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, ). H. Hamlin, MGM ; Represen-
tative Distributor Unaffiliated, W. S.
Anderson. Columbia; First Run Ex-
hibitor Affiliated, R. B. Wilby. Para-
mount; First Run Exhibitor Unaffili-
ated, Oscar C. Lam. Rome, Ga.; Sub-
sequent Run Exhibitors Unaffiliated,
Mitchel Wolfson, Miami; Willis |.
Davis, Atlanta; Impartial Member, Al-
vin G. Maxwell, Atlanta, vice presi-
dent Citizens' and Southern National
Bank.
MILWAUKEE
Grievance Board : Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Sam
Shurman, MGM; Representative Dis-
tributor Unaffiliated, George Ross, Co-
lumbia; Exhibitor Affiliated, D. E.
Weshner, Warner; Exhibitor Unaffili-
ated, Fred Meyer, Milwaukee; Impar-
tial Member, Pierce Bitker, secretary
Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, R. T. Smith, Warner; Represen-
tative Distributor Unaffiliated, George
L. Levine. Universal; First Run Ex-
hibitor Affiliated. H. J. Fitzgerald, Fox
Midwest; First Run Exhibitor Unaffili-
ated, Tom Saxe, Madison ; Subsequent
Run Exhibitors Unaffiliated. William
Ainsworth, Fondulac; George Fisher.
Milwaukee; Impartial Member, Joseph
G. Rhode.
CLEVELAND
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Edwin
Fontaine, Paramount; Representative
Distributor Unaffiliated, H. C. Bissell,
Columbia; Exhibitor Affiliated, Nat
Wolf, Warners; Exhibitor Unaffiliated.
J. D. Kalafat, Cleveland; Impartial
Member. Judge Joseph H. Ackerman.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Frank Drew, MGM; Representa-
tive Distributor Unaffiliated, Nat Lef-
ton. Monogram; First Run Exhibitor
Affiliated, Nat Holt, RKO; First Run
Exhibitor Unaffiliated, John Huebner,
Marion, Ohio; Subsequent Run Exhibi-
tors Unaffiliated, Martin J. Smith, To-
ledo; Frank Gross, Cleveland; Impar-
tial Member, Jerome M. Friedlander.
CHICAGO
Grievance Board: Representative
National Distributor Affiliated, Charles
Reagan, Paramount; Representative
Distributor Unaffiliated, Irving W.
Mandel, Monogram; Exhibitor Affili-
ated, James Costen, Warners; Exhibi-
tor Unaffiliated, Nate Wolf, Chicago,
Allied; Impartial Member, Lowell B.
Mason, recommended by Chicago
Chamber of Commerce.
Clearance and Zoning Board: Rep-
resentative National Distributor Affili-
ated, Felix Mandelsohn, MGM; Repre-
sentative Distributor Unaffiliated,
Henry Herbel, Universal; First Run Ex-
hibitor Affiliated, Walter Immerman,
Balaban & Katz; First Run Exhibitor
Unaffiliated, Jack Rose, Chicago; Sub-
sequent Run Exhibitors Unaffiliated,
Jack Miller, Aaron Saperstein of Al-
lied; Impartial Member, Judge Hugo
Friend, Circuit Court.
MGM Release Dates
Push Studio Hard
New York. — The closeness to re-
lease dates with which the MGM plant
is operating is evidenced by the fol-
lowing announcement of bookings for
the Capitol Theatre, the company's
Broadway show window.
"The Showoff," March 16; "Lazy
River," March 23; "Rip Tide," March
30; "Tarzan and His Mate," Apnl
13; "Viva Villa," April 20.
Farmer Denies Rift
London. — Michael Farmer today
added his denial of rumors that he and
Gloria Swanson are to be divorced, by
explaining that he will leave for Holly-
wood shortly. He added that the "sep-
aration" is merely an annual affair in
which he comes to Europe to see the
children who are in school on the
Continent.
^Lasky Signs Purcell
^""^Gertrude Purcell has been signed by
Jesse L. Lasky to work with Don Hart-
man and Jay Gorney on the screen
play of "Redheads on Parade," the
musical picture which will feature
Nancy Carroll. Frank Tuttle will di-
rect. The Schulberg-Feldman and
Curney office made the deal.
Tellegen Tries Comeback
Lou Tellegen will attempt to make
a comeback in pictures and has been
signed to a managerial contract by the
Ivan Kahn agency. Player returned
here from New York last week. Telle-
gen was the lead in a number of silent
pictures but has been away from
screen work since.
HILIP
MacDONALD
Adaptation
"MYSTERY OF MR. X"
Metro -Coldwyn- Mayer
From His Own Novel
"MYSTERY OF THE DEAD POLICE"
Story
"LOST PATROL"
RKO-Radio
Page Six
March 3, 1934
^ 1 r-
New Authors Getting
Break in Late Books
It is amazing and encouraging the number of first novels ap-
pearing these days. Peter Neagoe has worked on his first for
longer than four years, during which time he lived in Paris,
Santa Fe and Chatham, New Jersey. The book, "Easter Sun,"
will be published on March 15 simul
taneously in London, Paris and New
York. Coward -McCann will publish
it here.
Stanley Hopkins is also a new writ-
er. His book, "The Ladies," was
published by Harpers last September,
but created more of a furore in Eng-
land than in America. And so Har-
pers is reissuing it with this explana-
tion: "Because of the fact that in this
country it was published at a time
when it was swamped in a flood of
books by famous authors, it is now re-
published in the hope that it will
reach the wide audience it deserves."
Miss Nola Henderson saw her first
book off the press this week. Its
title is intriguing: "This Much Is
Mine!"
Ronald Fangen, a Norwegian novel-
ist, will have his first novel to appear
in English published by Viking. It
is "Duel," and is highly recommended
by Sigrid Undset.
There are two other new authors
appearing on the Viking Spring List.
One is Antonia V\/hite, a young Eng-
lish woman who writes the story of a
girl in a convent school. Her book is
called "Frost in May." The other is
Laura Cilfillan, an American girl who
graduated from Smith College and
then went to live in a mining town
in Pennsylvania. She tells her expe-
riences in "I Went to Pit College."
One of the prize titles of the year
is Branch Cabell's "Smirt." Almost
as surprising as the title is the poem
Cabell has placed opposite the copy-
right page. The poem is titled "For
George Jean Nathan," and reads, in
part:
"Gifted, Smirt forever finds
Everywhere inferior minds;
Jesting, Smirt provokes insanely
Each and all reared less urbanely;
And, derided, Smirt derides."
The great and widespread success
of "Anthony Adverse" brings up an
interesting comment from Paul Sifton
on the present American enthusiasm
for old-fashioned clothes, pictures,
plays and books.
He says: "America is in mass flight
from the present — America is return-
ing to yesterday, to the recent and the
remote past, seeking escape from a
somewhat difficult present and a fu-
ture as yet not wholly clear. It is
a sentimental journey of recollection,
of solace and reassurance, made with
smiles and sighs and courage subtly
renewed."
He goes on to remark that of the
eight successful plays in New York
this season six are laid in prewar times,
and that of the books there are too
many to list.
The books reviewed this week are
consistently fine, and several destined
to be best sellers:
"The Posfman Always Rings
Twice"
Author James M. Cain
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf
Just pick it up and you can't lay it
down. It is tersely bard-boiled; excit-
ing; rowdy; tragic as life and funny as
death; frankly sensual; heartbreaking,
and entirely exciting all the way
around.
It is the story of Frank Chambers,
who was thrown off a hay wagon in
front of one of the many hot-dog
stands in Southern California. The
Creek proprietor is able to argue Frank
into accepting a job . . . after Frank
gets a look at the Greek's sullen, sul-
ky, good-looking wife.
The three of them are ruthless.
They cheat, lie, steal, murder . . . and
love. You'll have to stick your chin
out as you read it and pray for a strong
stomach. It's strong, uneasy stuff.
"Mr. Thompson in thi
Attic"
Author Anna Cordon
Publisher. ..William Morrow & Co.
thy
Keown
This is a tender, fantastic, subtle
and wholly delightful story of Mr.
Thompson, who came to teach school
at Shillingdean, and remained only a
month . . . because he learned to drink
sherry and to love the headmaster's
wife.
"What," asks Mr. Thompson, "is
anxiety but an unwieldly obstacle we
deliberately throw down in our path
in order to put ourselves to the pain
of unnecessary jumping exercises?"
So, when the lady refuses to follow
up her smiles, he joins a tinkers' cara-
van and takes to the open road.
"An Altar in the Field^'/
Author Ludwig Lewisaon
Publisher Harper and Bijos.
One of the finest novels on mar-
riage today is this story of Dick Bel-
den and his wife. Rose, who marry for
better or worse and find it much
worse. They grow apart; they take
refuge from their unhappiness in a
trip to Paris, and they begin to hate
each other. Finally, they make one
more attempt. They take a home in
the country where Dick begins to
raise vegetables and flowers. They be-
gin to build together, they settle down
. . . and Rose has a baby, which seems
to be the answer to everything.
"Women Are Like ThalT
Author Alice Elinor Lambert
Publisher Vanguard Press
The book preaches that every busi-
ness girl leavens her passion for busi-
ness with the hope of winning some
man's admiration. The girl in this one
worships her boss, even after he is a
helpless paralytic, useless and discard-
ed. Then she marries his son.
There is good characterization here.
"The Story of the Sforzas"
Author L. Collison-Morley
Publisher Dutton
Here is the meat and meaning and
the pounding blood of great drama.
This story of the conquest of the
Duchy of Milan by Francesco Sforza
is full of treason and hate and love
and corruption and passion.
Beautifully written, packed full of
swift action and slow treachery and
brief gallantries, this book is a strong
and colorful comment on humanity
and history.
"Come in at the Door"
Author William March
Publisher Smith and Haas
Leaning upon the curious mentality
of the negroes, whites and French set-
tlers of Mobile, Mr. March has written
a striking book of strange supersti-
tions, inhibitions and twisted lives.
His hero is a little boy named Ches-
ter who is influenced by his colored
nurse, indifferent, cruel and ignorant.
She takes him with her to attend a
hanging . . . and Chester suffers over
it for the rest of his life.
His father is always coldly silent;
his uncle is ill and spineless; the wife
he finally marries is a puritan ... all
are totally lacking in understanding,
and Chester comes to believe that
under everything lies a rotten cruelty.
This is a strong, moving and unhap-
py book.
"About Levy"
|^uthor Arthur Calder- Marshal I
Publisher Scribner's
This is an account of a murder trial,
with Dr. Claude Levy suspected of
killing Christopher Hall who is about
to marry the girl Levy loves.
It is the judge who sums up the
case, telling the details. Levy never
appears.
"Salah and His American"
Author Lef>N<^Hall
Publisher ...Alfred A. KjhQpf
Here is a queer, astonishing story,
laid in Morocco.
It tells of an American who acci-
dentally comes into possession of a
black slave, and in turn becomes the
owner of the slave. He is cauglit be-
tween the romantic idea that it would
be novel to have a runaway slave for
a servant and the natural and civilized
hatred for anything that resembles
slavery.
One of the most interesting sections
of the book is where the American de-
termines to get rid of the slave by
teaching him a trade: giving him
driving lessons so he could be a
chauffeur . . . and then the questions
that torture the man as he asks him-
self whether he should put the slave
into the power of our machine age.
Fascinating and strange.
"Richardson's Second Case"
Author Sir Basil Thompson
Publisher The Crime Club
Sir Basil Thompson, who has been
the governor of Dartmoor prison and
of Wormwood Scrubs and knows about
London's underworld backward and
forward, writes a new mystery novel.
Helen Dunn, 50, servant of James
McDougall, is the victim, and the
clues are a parrot and a Mr. Moore,
both of whom are missing, and a wal-
let.
"The Vatican: Yesterday,
Today, Tomorrow"
Author George Seldes
Publisher '.... Harpers
The Catholic Book Club makes this
book by a Jew its monthly selection:
George Seldes, who was ejected
from Italy by Mussolini, freely admits
his admiration for the Catholic church.
He says; The Church will survive Mus-
solini; the Papacy is stronger today
than at any time in the past century;
and there may be some day an Ameri-
ican pope.
"Murder Made in Germany"
Author Heinz Liepmann
Publisher Harpers
Weep over this book. For it is a
bloody, cruel and sorrowful saga of
the sufferings of the jews in Germany
since April last. j
The book is banned in Germany,
but it is appearing simultaneously in
eight languages.
"I will answer with my honor, my
livelihood and my life of the fact thaf
all incidents in this book have actually
happened," the author writes.
The incidents are violent, hateful
and atrocious.
"junglemania"
Author Arthur Torrance, M.D.
Publisher The Macaulay Co.
Here is the account
expeditions conducted
Research Institute into
Africa.
It is an interesting mi
lore and medical facts
full of adventure and
in information that will
cal students.
of two tropical
by the British
the depths of
ixture of jungle
The book is
is not wanting
interest medi-
March 3. 1934
Page Seven
"Bloody Mary's"
Author Geoffrey Dennis
Publisher Simon & Schuster
There has been quite a flood of
stories of youngsters lately, and
'Bloody Mary's" is one of the best.
It is a penetrating inquiry into the
heart of a boy, who can't quite recon-
cile his ideals with the ideals of the
school which he attends.
He is humiliated, jeered at, beaten
up until he can't stand it any more,
and he "peaches." School becomes a
torture for him . . . until he changes
and accepts the morals of a community
life.
One of the most amazing characters
in literature is the headmaster of the
school who gets into such rages that
he feels murderous and yet is able to
inspire into the boys a loving loyalty.
The story is intense and apparently
so autobiographical that it rings too,
too true.
"Lost Man"
Author E. L. Grant Watson
Publisher Harpers
Not for the squeamish, featuring as
it does two remarkably horrible deaths
. one by the bite of a poisonous
snake and the other from fear, thirst
and starvation.
The basis is the old triangle . . .
a brute of a husband, a charming
English girl and the sympathetic lover.
"Private Affairs of George
Washington"
Edited by Stephen Decatur, jr.
Publisher Houghton, Mifflin
Practically anything you want to
know about the Father of his Country
can be found in this fascinating story
of Washington, his life and time.
It is human and amusing.
"The Eight of Swords"
Author John Dickson Carr
Publisher Harper and Bros.
The victim of no apparent motive,
Septimus Depping, a connoisseur of
wines and food, is shot in the Guest
House of a large estate in Glouces-
tershire.
But leave it to Dr. Gideon Fell, the
amusing detective who figured in "The
Mad Hatter Holiday."
"Ogden's Strange Story"
Author Edison Marshall
Publisher W. C. Kinsey & Co.
An airplane crashes in Alaska and
Ogden Rutherford comes to with acute
amnesia. He becomes Og the Dawn
Man, falls in love with an Eskimo lady
and learns all about outdoor life . . .
and love.
"She Was a Lady"
Author Elizabeth Cobb
Publisher Bobbs-Merrill
Irvin S. Cobb's daughter, Elizabeth
Cobb, is a chip off the old literary
'Diock, as her book, "She Was a Lady,"
proves conclusively.
The story is racy and different. The
writing is sparkling. The characteri-
zations are true and vivid.
It is the history of Moira Vane,
daughter of Acoola's prize drunkard.
She inherits from him the aristocratic
Vane strain which he has never quite
lost in any gutter. One day he dies
trying to rescue a little kitten from a
burning house, and Moira determines
to take her rightful place in his Eng-
lish family.
She goes about it in an astonishing
way — some time spent traveling with
a circus, and four lucrative years at
blackmailing. But through it all she
remembers her grammar, her heritage
and her "class."
The book is whimsically gallant and
wholly amusing.
"Rain On The Mountain"
Author Green Peyton
Publisher Little, Brown
Green Peyton, one of the most dis-
tinguished of the younger American
authors, writes a half-good, half-bad
novel of the old South.
His characterizations and general
mood of the locale are superbly han-
dled. But it is in some of the more
intense and dramatic situations where
he weakens.
However, it is one of the better
books of the season.
"Murder Rehearsal"
Author Roger East
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf
You'll have to keep your wits about
you when you read this one. The au-
thor tells, at the same time, of the
writing of a mystery novel, and a ser-
ies of murders that are almost identi-
cal with those in the novel.
It is, at first, a little confusing, but
once you get the hang of the thing
it is completely absorbing.
"Amour-French For Love"
Author Cecil Barr
Publisher Liveright
No beating around the bush in this
one. The author writes of a young
Englishman who, realizing his ignor-
ance in all affairs pertaining to sex,
goes to Paris to correct the situation.
Very amusing and plain-spoken.
GOSSIP OF AfJTHORS
Phil Stong has written his last
book about Iowa, It is called "Vil-
lage Tale," and will be out March 8.
His next novel will be laid in Con-
necticut and -New York.
Gemnany has banned another book
..atSbut present-day Jewish life in that
country. It is "The Forty Days of
Musa Dagh," and is by Franz Werfel.
Viking is going to publish the book
here.
J. Leslie Mitchell, or Lewis Grassic
Gibbon, — one and same person — has
six books due for publication in Eng-
land this year.
Houghton Mifflin will publish in
April "How Peary Reached the Pole,"
by Donald B. MacMillan, who is now
on a nation-wide lecture tour.
An anonymous author has written
the book which is the choice of the
Literary Guild for April. It is "The
New Dealers," and Simon and Schus-
ter will publish it.
"The best mystery thriller I have
ever read" is what E. Phillips Oppen-
heim says about Valentine Williams'
"The Clock Ticks On." Mr. Williams
has a new novel, "The Portcullis
Room," coming out in March.
Here are two books for the lazy:
"The Art of Relaxation," by Walter
B. Pitkin, to be published by Simon
and Shuster, and "A Guide to Civi-
lized Loafing," by H. A. Overstreet,
to be published by Norton.
Readers in Great Britain bought
10,000 copies of Feuchtwanger's
"The Oppermans," during three weeks
of publication. Viking will bring this
book of a Jewish family in Hitler
Germany out here next month.
Horace Stokes has recently returned
from England with two books he will
publish here. One is "Cheap Jack,"
by Phillip Allingha<Ti, the story of a
young man from Oxford who leaves
his family and starts off with a few
shillings to tell fortunes in the British
fairs. The other book is "Faint Har-
mony," by Vivian Ellis, who besides
being an author, is a composer of
popu'.-r songs.
Al'^'ed Knopf is publishing soon a
collection of short stories by Langston
Two New Spring Lists
John Day Co., Inc.
Fiction :
The Mother By Pearl S. Buck
No Confc((jest a novel. .By Henry Hart
The Leanin^nower, a novel
By Fred Rothermell
The Prodigal Father
By Richard Church
Wild Deer, a novel
By J. Hernekin Baptist
Duck's B\f!k (tentative title), a
novel By Kate Mary Bruce
Texas Ranger By Col. E. M. House
and Tyler Mason
General :
On Our Way: The First Year
By Franklin D. Roosevelt
The American Adventure
By M. J. Bonn
People at Work....By Frances Perkins
Do We Want Fascism?
By Carmen Haider
The Crucifixion of Liberty
By Alexander Kerensky
Will Shakespeare. By jos^^fli^uslander
Mongols in Manchauria
By Owen Lattimore
Marx and America .By Bertram Wolfe
]. B. Lippincott Company
The Evil Empress
by the Grand Duke Alexander
Black River. by Carleton Beals
Two Loves I M^l(^. The Romance of
William ShAkesi>eare," by Clara
\l.ongworth de Chambrun.
C^ravan^into Canaan Grant Taylor
Epilogue by Bruce Graeme
Fear by Night. ^..Patricia Wentworth
Rainbow Goitre
V^by Grace Livingston Hill
Hughes called 'The Ways of White
Folks."
H. L. Mencken is now in Europe
for a long vacation. He will be back,
however, in time for the publication
of his new book, "Treatise on Right
and Wrong."
Covici, Friede, who will be from
now on the American publishers jof
Professor Albert Einstein, announce a
new book by the great scientist, "The
World As I See It," to be brought
out late this spring.
Jl^opf reports the third edition of
'fames E. Cain's book, reviewed before,
'The Postman Always Rings Twice,"
and Harcourt, Brace are issuing the
third and enlarged printing of "Fire-
weed," by Mildred Walker. Norton
is happy Over a sell out of the first
edition of "Julia Newberry's Sketch
Book."
John Dos Passo's new book is non-
fiction and is called "In All Coun-
tries." Harcourt, Brace will publish
it in April.
Once upon a time Edwin Palmer
and Phillip Wylie wrote "When
Worlds Collide," a tale that proved
immensely popular. Now they have
written "After Worlds Collide," which
Stokes will publish.
Dr Robert L. Lederer, who supplied
S. S. Van Dine the mathematical data
for the "Bishop Murder Case," and
who has the largest private collection
of fish in New York, is writing a book
for Afred A. Knopf. It is "The Care
and Feeding of Tropical Fish."
Church War on Films
(Continued from Page I )
theatre men are suffering for the sins
of producers.
Literary Digest also declares that
both the Jewish and Protestant
churches will eventually be enlisted in
the wide-spread campaign.
Highlights of the Digest summary
follows:
"All the Catholic priests through-
out the country, and there are 30,000
of them, have been asked to use their
influence with their local congrega-
tions for the success of the drive for
cleaner films. Members of the religi-
ous sisterhoods and brotherhoods in
the Catholic high schools and colleges,
as well as in the parochial schools,
have been enlisted as auxiliaries
"All the Catholic national and dioc-
esan weeklies and monthly maga-
zines have been enlisted in the drive.
They reach a total of 20,000,000 or
more Catholic laymen, and will ask
them to lend a voice in the drive. Par-
ents are called upon to be stricter in
supervising the attendance of their
children at picture houses.
"In one day the Catholic diocesan
weeklies, which have a combined cir-
culation of 7,000,000 subscribers,
made a concerted attack on sugges-
tiveness on the screen. All of them
carried excerpts from a criticism by
Bishop T. Canrwell of Los Angeles in
which he declared that 'some action
of heroic proportions must be taken
if we are to save the youth of America
from a pollution and debauchery the
like of which America has not known
heretofore'."
Mystery of Mr* \.
(A METR0-COLDWYN-MAYER PRODUCTION)
Screen Play
HOWARD
EMMETT
ROGERS
Adaptation
PHILIP
MacDONALD
Additional Dialogue
MONCKTON
HOFFE
Directed by
EDGAR s
Produced by
Lawrence Weingarlen
f
". . . 1^ swerves neatly from a pleasant kind of
drawing-room comedy to hair-raising thrills.!'
-N. Y. Post.
entertaining romance is woven into
Suspense is neatly sustained in the
— N. Y. Journal.
. . An ingenious pot-pourri of excitement,
fun and romance."
— N. Y. Times.
" . . . We should be grateful for the smooth
and finished quality of the production, the hu-
mor and dexterity that have gone into the dia-
logue and situations."
— N. Y. Herald-Tribune.
". . . This Scotland Yard thriller is an excep-
tionally good one. Its romantic theme is strong
and appealing. Its harrowing suspense is re-
lieved with charming humor."
— N. Y. Mirror.
. . Rather a jolly picture full of pleasant
little chuckles and merry incident. . .
— N. Y. Sun.
ne of the most exciting adventures I've
encour^ered on a Broadway screen recently."
— N. Y. News.
mane
uii OT action, suspense, sly humor, ro-
pnd go^ character drawing."
N. Y. World-Telegram.
ind goAd Chi
th^riost (
"One of th^most entertaining mystery com-
edy dramas since Jimmy Walker was the talk
— and the toast — of the town. It's full of
laughs, suspense is delightfully maintained and
its climactic sequences possess an excitement
that called forth a variety of squeals, shrieks
and screams from a house jammed with paying
guests."
— N. Y. American.
M-G-M STUDIOS,
% READING DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
/^
Vol. XIX. No. 45. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, March 5, 1934
N.y. A$r$ PAT CUTS BACr
Christina^StillTops Publication Of Executives
Juicy Bonuses Hits The Home
Offices Hard'-' Morale Low
•THE open forum letters of Myles
Connolly and Gregory LaCava anent
Frank Capra have started a lot of talk
around town. Capra has been the
source of conversation for quite a
while, but suddenly the boys pounced
on the idea that the Capra success was
the greatest argument against the pro-
duction supervisor that could be un-
covered.
"But," says one producer, "there is
only one Frank Capra." Which is a
lot of applesauce. If ten or fifteen
other directors were given the same
opportunities that Frank has enjoyed,
that same freedom of expression in
fashioning his pictures, there would
most certainly be another story re-
garding the quality of our pictures.
•
Capra's greatest asset m his con-
tinued production of good pictures is
the fact that he is the boss of his
production. He stands for no produc-
tion interference and none is even
thought of. He works with a writer,
helps wherever he can; casts his pic-
ture, or okays the casting, and shoots
as his best judgment prompts him.
Suppose Harry Cohn should interfere
with him as he does with others or
as does every other producer in this
town, do you think the Capra product
would be as good? If you think so,
try to get a look at the personally
produced picture that Mr. Cohn made
for his company in London and many
others that are turned out on that lot.
And this is not said as any reflection
on Columbia pictures.
Others argue that Capra's pictures
are expensive. That's silly when
compared to what they take in at
the box office. And taking that
amount in at the box office helps
Columbia's studio, its distributing
organization, the theatres that play
the pictures — in fact almost everyone
connected with this picture business.
•
And we insist that there are many
other Capras; but they are hamstrung
by stupid producer interference, dic-
tation from men who do not know
what they are talking about. And
with such directorial interference, it is
reasonable to assume that the writers
are given the same trouble by the
same producers.
Why not do away with the super-
visor? How many supervisors do you
think could write an acceptable screen
play or direct a good picture?
in Good London Wk.
London. — No complaints from film
men here with business brisk all the
week, especially for "Queen Chris-
tina."
Others that enjoyed good returns
were "Catherine the Great," "Jack
Ahoy," "Duck Soup" and "The
Queen's Affair." They are holding
over, along with "Christina."
Newcomers on the list are "Foot-
light Parade," at the Regal; "Man's
Castle" at the New Gallery; "Waltzes
from Vienna," Marble Arch Pavilion.
'U' Joins Majors in
Cancellation Fight
New York. — Major distributors' op-
position to the ruling of Sol Rosenblatt
allowing the 10 percent cancellation
clause of the code to be retroactive to
December 7 was strengthened Satur-
day by the addition of Universal to
the opponents' ranks.
Columbia has given no official in-
timation of its stand, but is expected
to join the others.
'Treasure island'
About Ready To Co
The MGM production of "Treasure
Island" is about ready to go with
Victor Fleming directing from the
screen play of John Lee Mahin. Wal-
lace Beery will be the star with Jackie
Cooper in chief support.
The plan of going to Hawaii for
locations has been ditched with 90
per cent of the picture to be photo-
graphed on the MGM lot.
M'Donaid In; Ritchie Goes
Bob Ritchie, manager for Jeanette
MacDonald, is sailing for Europe on
the Berengaria March 7. The star and
her mother arrive on The Chief to-
morrow.
New York. — There are seething and turmoil here in the home
office picture ranks, and undercover agitation for some means
of bringing into the open a concerted demand for the restora-
tion of the many pay slashes picture workers have suffered in
the past two years. This is the first
result of the publication of executive
salaries and huge bonuses by the Fed-
eral Trade Commission.
The agitators are willing to admit
that the biggest figures were back a
(Continued on Page 4)
Labor Action From
NRA This Week
Various studio labor groups are hop-
ing that the Studio Labor Committee,
appointed to handle NRA complaints
for labor, will get under way this
week.
Committee was bogged down for
weeks, with explanation that it had
not been officially appointed. Ap-
pointment came through last week
with proper stamps and seals, so all
labor groups that have complaints on'
file are pushing for action.
Frank Lloyd-MCM
Set 'Mutiny' Deal
Although it is several months off,
"Mutiny on the Bounty" will serve
Robert Montgomery as a starring vehi-
cle under Frank /Lloyd's direction.
MGM is polishing off the final de-
tails on the Lloyd deal in order to
purchase the director's story.
Lloyd will first do the Gaynor-
Farrell story for Fox, then going to
MGM to fulfill his one-picture ticket.
MASTROLY TAKES REI]\$
AFTER 'BREAK-IN' PERIOD
After a three months' break-in
period during which he gradually as-
sumed the duties of general manager
of Universal, Frank Mastroly is slated
to take the entire burden of respon-
sibility on his own shoulders this
week.
Henry Henigson, whom he succeed-
ed, severs himself from the manage-
(Continued on Page 2)
Zeidman Backs Whaling
Yarn independently
B. F. Zeidman is financing the Stacy
Woodard feature, which is to be de-
veloped as a whaling epic.
Universal producer started the proj-
ect, it was learned Saturday, before
his present studio ticket went in.
DelRioAs'DuBarry^
And 2 Year Ticket
Warners did themselves proud over
the week-end by signing Dolores Del
Rio to a two year straight contract and
asigning her to the title role in ''Du-
Barry," which they expect to place
in production within the next two
weeks.
The cables are working in an ef-
fort to persuade Charles Laughton to
give up his Old Vic assignment in Lon-
don and come to Burbank and play
Louis XIV in the same picture
Roy Hunter On Job
As 'U' Lab Reopens
Roy Hunter returns to his old post
?: laboratory chief for Universal with
the re-opening of the plant March 15.
Company plans are to start off with
c'a iy process work, taking on the task
cf release printing at a later date.
Release print job involves expansion
in order to cope with several million
feet annually.
Levy-Reisman Radio V-P's
New York. — In addition to con-
firming the Cooper, Berman, Kahane
contracts, last week's meeting of the
Radio-RKO Board also elected Jules
Levy vice-president of the RKO Dis-
tributing Corporation, and Phil Reis-
man, vice president of the RKO Ex-
port Corporation.
Arliss Starts Today
After two weeks of rehearsals, Sid-
ney Lanfield puts "The Head of the
Family" into production today at
Twentieth Century. George Arliss has
the lead with Janet Beecher, Edna May
Oliver, Ralph Morgan and Charlotte
Henry among the supporting players.
No Rest For Selznick
David Selznick has postponed his
vacation at this time until completion
of "Manhattan Melodrama" which
goes into production at MGM within
a week. He plans now to leave in
about six weeks.
r ROBIN and RAiNGER-Writing Song Hits For-PARAMQUN^
Page Two
THg
March 5, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ffOBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
fJew York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat:
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Airas,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published every day with the exception ot
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Walter Winchell announced over
the air last night that the Herbert
Marshails are divorcing — it's not true
— they have no thought of it.
•
The Randy Scott-Kathryn Menjou
amour seems to be in the on again-
off again stage. Leastways, as they
say in the country journals, Randy
beaued Kathryn to the big party that
Mrs. Hugh Murray gave Friday night.
Mrs. M. hired most of the Beverly
Wilshire and entertained, plus many
more, the George Hearsts, the Raoul
Walshes, Ray Long, Edgar Allan
Woolf and Mary Carlisle, the Alan
Dwans, Henry Clive, Lila Lee, the
Charlie Farrells, the Wes Ruggles, Lew
Cody. A very good fortune teller pro-
vided the guests the amazement!
We hear tell that at the time Sam
Coldwyn started "Nana," Dr. Frenke,
husband of Anna Sten, was pretty
much in his way. So Sam is supposed
to have given him a bankroll and told
his to go make a picture of his own.
Whereupon Frenke hired studio space,
wrote a story, signed up actors on the
"co-operative plan" and proceeded
(for months and months) to make a
pfcture. The film was finally finished
and the preview notices are now his-
tory. Sooo — unless Frenke suddenly
gets himself another production berth,
it looks as though Sam will have him
right back "in his hair."
The thing that tickles Dolores Del
Rio most about the new two-year
contract she just signed with Warners,
is a certain clause in that contract.
Dolores won't have to be a "bird of
Paradise" any more — or any other
kind of a bird. She won't have to
play native girls — or let her hair grow.
Which is what she's been striving for
for a long time. Nothing but beauti-
ful modern clothes or costume pictures
from now on. Coming to think of it,
the Del Rio contract is a swell break
for both the star and the stujo^ — •
where, outside of Kay Francis, there
isn't (in our opinion) a glamorous
beauty on the lot!
"HIPS HIPS HOORAY"
RKO-Radio prod.; director, Mark Sandrich; writers, Harry Ruby, Bert Kalmar.
Roxy Theatre
Mirror: This latest production of Wheeler and Woolsey is similar to their pre-
vious ones, a lively series of reliable gags. There is a good song, many
fetching Hollywood cuties, handsome settings and provocative clothes.
The Wheeler-Woolsey enthusiasts will find this less original than their
previous pictures, but if they like the clowns they will be diverted by it.
World-Telegrarn: Messrs. Wheeler and Woolsey are, to put it mildly, pretty
disappointing in the film, and its title confirms all the advance misgivings.
It is a film built on a formula, and one which, unless the central characters
are humorously portrayed, is pretty apt to be stale and tasteless. But it
just about suits the gibberish.
American: It's a better picture than average and it is handsomely embroidered
with girls and music. As usual, there is a running patter of comedy, some
of which is very funny and some not so much. Mark Sandrich has kept
his picture moving all the time, so that there isn't opportunity to do much
but giggle.
Times: This film is up to their usual standard. There are three reasonably
hilarious gags and perhaps fifty more that depend on whether you are for
or against the er-vaudeville clowns to begin with.
A typical Wheeler and Woolsey romp. The comedy, of course, is mainly
slapstick with trick comedy photography usually confined these days to
cartoons and short subjects. In short, it is a picture built to amuse
children.
lournal: Goofier than most of their farces, this has several musical interludes.
The plot really doesn't matter at all; the film is just a succession of gags.
News: Some of the escapades of these comedians are funny, but most of them
are so worn out that they hardly force a weak smile. The dialogue is
less suggestive than that of previous Wheeler and Woolsey films. The
dances are not extravagant, but a nifty powder puff chorus proves enter-
taining.
Herald-Tribune: It is not really up to the standard of their former work. There
just isn't any plot; the lines did not seem overwhelmingly witty nor was
the theme song accompanied by appropriate gestures. The interiors,
however, were well staged and the direction is fast and lively.
Sun:
Carminatti Signed For
Lead With Grace Moore
Columbia has signed Tullio Car-
minatti for the lead opposite Grace
Moore in her first picture for that
studio which will be directed by Vic-
tor Schertzinger. Carminatti will ar-
rive here from New York shortly.
The title "Don't Fall in Love" will
not be used for this picture as orig-
inally intended as it might be con-
fused with "Let's Fall in Love" which
Columbia also produced.
'Witching Hour' Starting
Signing Ferdinand Gottschalk, Pur-
nell Pratt and Frank Sheridan Satur-
day, Paramount puts "The Witching
Hour" into work today with Henry
Hathaway directing. Tom Brown, Ju-
dith Allen and John Halliday head the
cast.
Young Crosby in Short
Featuring Bob Crosby, brother of
Bing, Paramount put a short into pro-
duction at the studio Saturday with
George Arthur directing. Musical is
untitled. Anson Weeks and his or-
chestra make up the cast.
Warners Change A Title
Warners dropped the title of "Hit
Me Again" Saturday and replaced it
with "Smarty." Picture has Joan
Blondell, Warren William and Claire
Dodd in top billing.
Col. Borrows Patrick
Columbia got Gail Patrick from
Paramount Saturday for one of the top
spots in "Murder in the Studio." Ross
Lederman is piloting under Irving Bris-
kin's supervision.
Struss and Marion Repeat
Karl Struss, cameraman, and Fran-
ces Marion, writer, who are finalists
in the Academy Awards of Merit
Competition, hold the unique distinc-
tion of having been winners in their
classes before. Struss won the cine-
matography award once, and Miss
Marion has won the writing award
twice.
New Idea for Stories
New York. — Mo Wax and Ronald
Bank have organized a company to
prepare completed film adaptations
from novels and plays. As a first
step they have acquired film rights to
James Farrell's new novel, "The Young
Msnhood of Studs Lonigan."
Eastern Rep. For Ferguson
Lynde Denig, former head of First
National Home Office publicity de-
partment, has been appointed eastern
representative for Helen Ferguson
publicity bureau. Plan is to give per-
sonal service to clients on both coasts.
Mastroly Takes Reins
(Continued from Page 1 )
rial berth to concentrate on the work
of an associate producer.
In keeping with this, company's ex-
ecutives moved their furniture around
in a mad scramble over the week-end,
getting into new offices. Mastroly
took Henigson's office, Henigson mov-
ed into Eph Asher's office, Asher took
Stanley Bergerman's office, and the
latter took Julius Bernheim's suite.
Whereabouts of Bernheim's office is a
mystery, indicating he will be the only
one whom agents will be unable to
annoy.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
RUSSELL,MILLER,
and Company
Members
^4EW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone Hollywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Montr
Churchill-McCrea
Leads in 'Deacon'
Joel McCrea gave the nod yester-
day to a loan-out deal from Radio to
Universal where he goes into the top
spHDt in "Alias the Deacon," under
Kurt Neumann's direction.
Edmund Grainger, picture's produc-
er, signed Berton Churchill through
Kingston-Harris for the title role,
player re-creating the part he played
on the stage when Broadway first saw j
the play. Madge Evans, at MGM, is
reading the script before deciding on
the spot opposite McCrea. Ralph
Spence, Earl Snell and Clarence Marks jd
on the screen play.
Warners Hold Jory For
Additional Two Pics
Warners took such a yen to Victor
Jory, latter reciprocating, that the
company has received Fox's okay for
another loanout for the player, this
time for two pictures.
He is scheduled for "Dark Tower"
and "DuBarry." Fox gave him permis-
sion to withdraw from its picture,
"Now I'll Tell," signing Robert
Gleckler in his stead.
Milton Cropper On Way
Milton Herbert Cropper leaves New
York this week to arrive here March
10. The Small-Landau office has sev-
eral irons in the fire for him.
Young Burden Engaged
New York. — Flobelle Fairbanks, of
Los Angeles, has become engaged to
Shirley C. Burden, son of the Radio
producer.
March 5, 1934
j^uSM^.f,
Page Three
JOURNAL OF A CHIME
HEAVY
Chatterton Good
And Carries Pic
-JOURNAL OF A CRIME"
( Warners )
Director William Keighiey
Story by Jacques Deval
Screen Play F. Hugh Herbert
and Charles Kenyon
Photography Ernest Haller
Cast: Ruth Chatterton, Adolphe Men-
jou, Phillip Reed, Claire Dodd, Hen-
ry O'Neill, George Barbier, Edward
McWade, Frank Reicher, Henry
Kolker, Leila Bennett, Harold Hu-
ber, Noel Madison.
"Journal of a Crime" emerges as
what might be termed an interesting
picture, even if one that presents a
puzzle when guessing at its general
audience appeal. It is a curiously in-
volved psychological study that
needs light touches, but offers little
room for them if the problem is to
be told sincerely.
Drastic cutting should help liven
the picture considerably. There is, for
example, a scene of Ruth Chatterton
in delirium that can easily be elimi-
nated, since it is both repetitious and
a bit hard to take.
Miss Chatterton proves, in a diffi-
cult, unsympathetic part, that she is
actress sufficient for the role, even if
the choice does not vindicate her
judgment. Menjou is deft in the role
of a cold-blooded husband, no longer
in love with his wife.
The story finds Chatterton, though
obviously desirable, making the mis-
take of being too much in love with
her own husband. Menjou appreci-
ates his wife's devotion, but not so
much that he is prevented from fall-
ing for the wiles of Claire Dodd.
A convenient bank robbery brings
Noel Madison, as the fleeing bandit,
to hide in the theatre where Men-
jou's musical comedy company is re-
hearsing. Dodd is murdered back
stage, with the bank robber caught
and accused of the crime. However,
Menjou finds his own revolver back-
stage and realizes Chatterton has kill-
ed the vamp.
There follows a curious, sadistic in-
terlude during which Menjou waits for
Chatterton to break under the strain.
During his cruel vigil he keeps a diary
of her reactions. Chatterton, on the
verge of a nervous breakdown, desires
to give herself up, but on the way to
the District Attorney's office, miracu-
lously escapes death in an auto acci-
dent, only to come out of it suffering
from amnesia.
There is a happy ending, with Men-
jou teaching Chatterton to say "moun-
tain," "sun," "darling."
There is the story. You can judge
it for your own audiences. It is not a
gay story, though an interesting one.
One has the feeling that it could have
been more adroitly told; or rather,
that it is the individual work of Chat-
terton that is holding the interest that
the picture does possess.
Somewhere between direction and
the script must be placed some blame
for a certain obviousness in the
method of the tale's unfolding; while
at the same time giving credit for
making an American job of a story
PHOHEEM YARN
Quotas Boomerang
In Foreign Theatres
Cameramen, Note!
There should be more cinema-
tographer votes in for the Holly-
wood Reporter Awards of Merit.
Photographers as a class have been
most anxious for a method of re-
warding outstanding merit that
would allow ALL their fellows to
vote. So full advantage should be
taken of this opportunity. Only
a few days left — hurry!
Powell-MGM Deal
Stretched To Two
William Powell's one picture deal
for the top spot in the Dashiell Ham-
mett story, "The Thin Man" has been
stretched into a two picture contract
by MCM. Powell will still do the
Hammett story "Thin Man" after he
finishes "Manhattan Melodrama."
W. S. Van Dyke will direct Powell in
both pictures. The star is getting
$60,000 per picture.
Mrs. August Belmont
Research Council Head
New York. — The Motion Picture
Research Council, which is waging a
Strong fight against block booking as
a means of opposing objectionable pic-
tures, on Saturday elected Mrs. Aug-
ust Belmont active president, with
Dr. A. Lawrence Lowell, president
emeritus of Harvard, retiring to the
post of honarary president.
Dr. Lowell was originally named by
President Roosevelt to the Motion
Picture Code Authority, but withdrew
,when he found he would have an in-
active post and no power to put the
Research Council drastic program into
operation.
Seek Brent For Stage
Danny Wells is after George Brent
to play the male lead opposite Alice
Brady in the stage production of "Bi-
ography" which will open at the Bilt-
more theatre on Monday, April 2.
Edgar MacGregor will direct.
Rankin On Col. Termer
Columbia Saturday handed Arthur
Rankin a term contract and imme-
diately spotted him in two pictures.
Goes into "Murder in the Studio,"
then into "The Party's Over."
Nugent Dons Greasepaint
Elliott Nugent's yen for grease-
paint has made him take a small part
in "Strictly Dynamite," which he is
directing for Radio.
taken from a continental source, and
typically continental in its emotional
aspects. The backstage scenes have
been particularly well handled, and we
could stand seeing and hearing more
of Walter Pidgeon, who possesses a
fascinating stage presence, plus a
beautiful voice. Claire Dodd clicks and
sparkles. Phillip Reed and George
Barbier are seen to advantage.
Ernest Haller's photography is in his
usual excellent style. The picture is
richly staged, with the gowns deserv-
ing special mention.
New York. — Severe contingent and
quota restrictions laid against Ameri-
can pictures are proving a boomerang
in many foreign countries when ex-
hibitors awake to the famine in good
attractions.
Czecho-Slovakia is an example, the
first run theatres now petitioning the
Government to loosen up on Ameri-
cans. The country needs about 350
pictures annually but in 1933 had
only 1 80 sound pictures. There were
only 35 domestic productions. Over
eight hundred sound equipped thea-
tres in the country.
Al Dubin Disappearance
Just A Vacation Trip
Mystery of Al Dubin's whereabouts
during the past two weeks was solv-
ed Saturday when he returned to the
Warner studio from a two weeks'
hideaway at Delmar, California.
Studio had reported itself unable
to find him, his disappearance pre-
venting the starting of "Dames."
With Warren, his team-mate, he had
been writing the song numbers for the
picture.
Universal Seeks Loan
Of Scott From Para.
Universal started the machinery
yesterday for the loan from Paramount
of Randolph Scott. Want him for
"Humbug," which Max Marcin is pro-
ducing under Eph Asher's wing.
Another bid registered at Radio for
William Gargan will likely go cold,
latter planning to put the player
into "The Great American Harem,"
with Pert Kelton.
All Code Yeas Extended
Washington. — General Johnson on
Saturday extended the time for ap-
proval of all elements of the picture
industry to the NRA code until March
10. A similar extension had already
been granted by the Code Authority in
getting exhibitor assents to the dis-
tribution-exhibiion code.
, "Scarlet Letter' in Sound
A "talker" of "The Scarlet Letter"
will be the first feature for the newly
organized Globe Pictures Corporation,
of which Larry Darmour is the head.
The Nathaniel Hawthorne story will
go into production at the Darmour
studio around April 1. No director
or cast signed as yet. yy
Writers Guild Board
Boosted To Fifteen
Increasing its board of governors
from eleven members to fifteen is the
next move decided upon by the Screen
Writers Guild in an effort to get every
faction within Guild ranks represent-
ed among the directors. Machinery of
selecting candidates for the April 5
election has been changed in order
to accomplish the same purpose.
With each ballot distributed, ac-
cording to the new plan, there will
also be a list of Guild members. Each
ballot will have room for fifteen se-
lections by the individual voter. The
thirty candidates receiving the highest
number of votes will form the final
slate from which the new board will
be chosen by the entire Guild mem-
bership at the annual meeting.
Code Extra Committee
Down To Hard Work
The Code Committee for Extras will
be busy this week. Slated for meet-
ing of full membership tonight and
tomorrow night.
Idea of Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chair-
man, is to get the most pressing prob-
lems and complaints of extras settled
as soon as possible. Committee is at-
tempting to get all knotty questions
of extras' section of code untangled
and clarified so there will be easy
sailing on complaints in future.
Prinz Quits Paramount
With Indie Pic Plans
Leroy Prmz, who has been at Para-
mount for the past year directing mu-
sical numbers, has handed in his resig-
nation and plans to go into indepen-
dent production.
Prinz plans on making a series of
shorts with puppets. The puppets are
to be patterned after screen charac-
ters. He has already finished the first
short, with the Mae West character
featured.
'Lr-tHe Man' Moves Today
Universal's "Little Man, What
Now.?" gets under way today, with
Frank Borzage at the megaphone.
This IS the second picture for Marga-
ret Sullavan. Opposite her will be
Douglass Montgomery.
Barrymore Back To Capitol
Lionel Barrymore will return to the
Capitol theatre in New York next
week for another week's personal ap-
pearance. The star is playing in Co-
lumbus, Ohio, this week.
Librettist Writes Play
New York. — Fall production is
planned for a play which has been
written by Richard L. Stokes, noted
opera librettist, in collaboration with
his wife, Muriel Stokes.
Basil Woon On The Way Want Kenyon For Corn'
Basil Woon, author of "Life of
Sarah Bernhardt," arrived in New York
from Europe Friday, according to a
wire received by the Ivan Kahn
agency. He is enroute to Hollywood
to fulfill picture contracts here.
Talbot-WB Talk Terms
His option due within four weeks,
Ly'e Talbot and Warners are dijcuss-
ing terms on a new contract.
Radio is after Doris Kenyon for one
of the featured roles in the Ann Hard-
ing picture, "Alien Corn," which is
scheduled to start in about ten days
under the direction of E. H. Griffith.
Crosland Pic Finished
Alan Crosland wound up shooting
on "One Man's Woman" Saturday at
Warners. Glenda Farrell and Pat
O'Brien in the top brackets.
Page Four
March 5. 1934
THE REASON
"M. C. Levee is my manager
is that an agent who wears
spafs intrigues me,"
s
A
Y
S
DOUGLAS
FAIRBANKS,
A
N
D
HIS MANAGEMENT OFFERS:
Personal Represention
Business Administration
Secretarial Services
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Tax Service — Publicity
KALMAR and RUBY
Will Tell You WHYthey are "Levee" clients
IN FRIDAY'S
TWgjb
TOMY^ HIi. «F»> «VU»
Helen Shipman and Leonard Carey
signed for "Double Door," Paramount.
Frank McClynn Sr. added to "Little
Miss Marker," Paramount.
Robert Homans, William AugiKtin,
Ed Dearing and ). Merrill Holman set
for Paramount's "Thirty Day Princess."
Una Merkle and Nat Pendleton as-
signed featured roles in "Manhattan
Melodrama" at MCM.
Louis Calhern by Warners for role
of the heavy in "Dark Tower."
Sidney Blackmer, Edna May Oliver
and Billie Burke set for the leading
roles m "Let Who Will Be Clever" at
Radio.
Kent Taylor for "Double Door,"
Paramount.
Spencer Charters into "Alias the
Deacon," Universal, through Kingston-
Harris.
Hugh Herbert and Barbara Blair by
Warners for "Dames."
Ben Alexander by Columbia for
"Most Precious Thing in Life."
Frank Dawson for Paramount's
"Double Door."
Dick Rush into "Thirty Day Prin-
cess," Paramount,
William Austin for "Dover Road,"
Radio, through Beyer-MacArthur.
Sidney Toler signed for "Operator
13," MCM. Set by Beyer-MacArthur.
Studio also set Marjorie Cateson and
Walter Long.
Ben Lyon for featured • sp>ot in
"Alien Corn," Radio.
Alden Chase set for "Murder at the
Studio," Columbia, through O'Reilly
and Mann.
Lane Chandler into "Now I'll Tell,"
Fox. O'Reilly and Mann did it.
Harry Jordan added to "The Witch-
ing Hour," Paramount.
Nella Walker set by Menifee I.
Johnstone in the cast of "The World
Is Ours," Fox.
Mary Forbes signed by Columbia for
"The Most Precious Thing in Life."
Deal agented by Freddie Fralick.
Educational signed Betty Compson,
Dorothy Sebastian and Robert War-
wick for principal roles in "Breakers
Ahead," fourth of the Mermaid come-
dies. Don Alvarado has already been
announced for the cast.
Cordon Westcott assigned a featur-
ed role in "Happy Family."
Vernon Steel signed by Radio for
"Dover Road."
Radio Extends Cavell
Ada Cavell has been given an ex-
tension on her one picture deal at
Radio. The period in which she was
to have made a picture at that studio
is up and the studio has extended her
contract for another month in which
time they expect to have a spot for
her.
Johnson Off Para. List
Agnes Christine Johnson has fin-
ished her work at Paramount and has
gone off the payroll. She collaborated
with Brian Marlow and Joseph Col-
lomb on the screen play of "In Con-
ference," which goes into prodCiction
today.
Starting Early
Leslie Howard started yesterday
to keep his promise to make an.
actor of William Gargan's son.
The youngster, eight months old
Leslie Howard Cargan, is working
with Howard in "Of Human Bond-
age."
Mary Brian Closed ^'
For Monogram Lead j
Monogram Saturday set Mary Brian
for the feminine lead in "Numbers of
Monte Carlo" which goes into produc-
tion this week with William Nigh di-
recting. Deal was set by Lew Cantor
of the Humphrey office. Miss Brian
will not now be abje to appear in the
stage production of "Men in White.'"
MCM Buys Saunders'
Oxford Varsity Story
MCM has purchased an original
story by John Monk Saunders titled
"Manners Maketh Man," which is a
story about college life at Oxford.
Robert Montgomery will have the ,
starring role in this vehicle which will
be supervised by John Considine. No
director has been assigned.
To Repeat 'White Cargo'
Leon Gordon will produce his play
"White Cargo" in a local theatre in
the near future. He will attempt to
get as many of the original New York
cast as possible. Theatre and opening
date not set as yet.
Asks Pay Cuts Back
(Continued from Page 1 )
few years and previous to most of
the employees' cuts, but they counter
with the statement that, while many
of the execs wept crocodile tears over
taking the salary cuts themselves, the
published figures make it clear that
the higher-ups did not suffer in any
comparison to the rank and file.
They also point out a few instances
of execs who took ostensible salary
cuts, but still retained bonus and per-
centage privileges that left them very
well protected against the storms and
rigors of the depression.
And United Artists, where Joe
Schenck restored practically all salary
cuts the first of the year, gives them
a shining example to hold up to the
others.
To any observer, the effect of the
publication of the top figures on the
morale of distribution staffs has been
serious. To say that the rank and
file of employees are "resentful" is
putting it mildly. And the result is
the present effort towards some form
of concerted action that will bring the
execs to time, particularly with the
latest picture company figures showing
an upturn in business all around.'
I
JUST ONCE IN A BLUE MOON..
A truly heaven-sent picture
happens . . and here it is . . a
sweetheart'. . nothing short
. . where all members of the
cast realize their dreams of
the one big role of their lives
..blessed with DIALOGUE
that will go deep down in
History.. as the smartest ever
written for the screen . . tell-
ing the startling, sparkling
solution to the secret love
problem faced by EVERY
WOMAN in the world . .
I
as the modern young wife who dared to teach her husband the
A-B-C's of fidelity in . .
TMiAMan lAMineL
From the play Love Flies In the Window' by ANNE MORRISON CHAPiN
with
CONSTANCE CUMMINGS, conscienceless little
hussy who had a yen for RALPH BELLAMY,
who did just what any husband would do . .
except yours.. till KAY JOHNSON exposed
her flirtatious sister-in-law's fickle ways . . while
CHARLES STARRETT had the goods on the
two but refused to tell . . so SIDNEY BLACK-
MER took things in his own
hands . . HE had a novel way
of handling such a woman I
A Pandro S. Berman Production
■Directed by, .John Cromwell
^^Merian C Cooper F
PICTURES
Just watch 'This Aian is Mine' at
the box-office, theti recall this copy'.
Page Six
March 5, 1934
PRODUCTION ABOUT THE SAME WITH 40 IN WORK
BAROMETER
This Week 40 Features
Last Week 39 Features
Year Ago 33 Features
Two Years Ago 24 Features
Columbia
"TWENTIETH CENTURY"
Cast: John Barrymore, Carole Lom-
bard, Roscoe Karns, Charles Levin-
son, Walter Connolly, Etienne Cir-
ardot. Dale Fuller, Edward Kennedy,
Herman Bing, Lee Kohlmar, Ralph
Forbes, Arnold Cray, James Burke,
Anita Brown, Ci-gi Parrish, Gaylord
Pendleton, King Mojave, Billie Se-
ward, Snowflake, Buddy Williams,
Irene Thompson.
Director Howard Hawks
Play by Ben Hecht
and Charles MacArthur
Screen Play Ben Hecht
and Charles MacArthur
Photography Joseph August
Associate Producer Harry Cohn
"THE PARTY'S OVER"
Cast: Stuart Erwin, Ann Sothern, Ar-
line Judge, Patsy Kelly, Chick
Chandler, Billy Bakewell, Esther
Muir, Harold Lloyd, Henry Travers,
Katharine Doucet, Mary Forbes, Ar-
thur Rankin.
Director Walter Lang
Play by Daniel Kussell
Screen Play 5. K. Lauren
Photography John Stumar
Producer Felix Young
"MURDER IN THE STUDIO"
Cast: Ralph Bellamy, Shirley Grey,
Ward Bond, Gail Patrick, Arthur
Rankin, Clifford Jones, Vincent
Sherman, Bradley Page, Lucien Pre-
val, Kane Richmond, Alden Chase,
Frank Mills, Helen Eby Rock.
Director D, Ross Lederman
Original Charles Condon
Screen Play Harold Shumate
Photography Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Irving Briskin
Fox
"FREE COLD"
Cast: Claire Trevor, John Boles, Harry
Green, Monroe Owsley, Ruth Gil-
lette, Roger Imhof, Edward Gargan,
Suzanne Kaaren, Wini Shaw, Blanca
Vischer, Elsie Larson, Gloria Roy,
Myra Bratton.
Director George Marshall
Story by Dudley Nichols
and Lamar Trotti
Screen Play Lester Cole
and Henry Johnson
Dance Director Sammy Lee
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"TOO MANY WOMEN"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Rochelle Hud-
son, Herbert Mundin, Rosemary
Ames, Henrietta Crosman, Mona
Barrie, Lillian Stuart, Fred Santley,
Matt Moore, Addison Richards.
Director James Flood
Story Vera Caspary
Screen Play: Jane Storm, Oscar M.
Sheridan and Lenore Coffee.
Additional Dialogue Lenore Coffee
Photography L. W. O'Connell
Producer Al Rockett
"THE WORLD MOVES ON"
Cast: Madeleine Carroll, Franchot
Tone, Ferdinand Schumann-Heink,
Raul Roulien, Reginald Denny, Sieg-
fried Rumann, Stepin Fetchit, Bren-
da Fowler, Marcelle Corday, Barry
Norton, Dudley Digges, Frank Mel-
ton, Russell Simpson, Halliwell
Hobbes, Ivan Simpson, Jose Mojica,
Lumsden Hare, Walter McGrail,
Charles Bastin, Louise Dresser.
Director John Ford
Story and Screen Play —
Reginald Berkeley
Photography George Schneiderman
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"THE WORLD IS OURS"
Cast: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell,
Sally Eilers, James Dunn, Beryl Mer-
cer, Ginger Rogers, Gustav von
Seyffertitz, Irene Franklin, Fiske
O'Hara, Jane Darwell, Nella Walker.
Director John BIystone
Story Kathleen Norris
Screen Play Sonya Levien
and James Gleason
Add. Dialogue Samuel Hoffenstein
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"SPRINCTIME FOR HENRY"
Cast: Otto Kruger, Nancy Carroll,
Heather Angel, Herbert Mundin,
Nigel Bruce.
Director Frank Tuttle
Based on play by Benn W. Levy
Adaptation Keene Thompson
and Frank Tuttle
Photography John Seitz
Producer Jesse L. Lasky
"NOW ILL TELL"
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Alice Faye, Helen
Twelvetrees, Hobart Cavanaugh, G.
P. Huntley, Jr.
Director Edwin Burke
Story Mrs. Arnold Rothstein
Screen Play Edwin Burke
Photography Ernest Palmer
Producer Winfield Sheehan
Harold Lloyd Company
(Ceneral Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW"
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan, Grace Bradley.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Walter Lundin
Producer Harold Lloyd
MOM
"SEQUOIA"
Cast: Jean Parker, David Landau, Olin
Howland, Willie Fung, Russell
Hardie.
Directors Chester Franklin
and Nick Crinde
Novel Joseph Vance Hoyt
Adaptation: C. Gardner Sullivan, Frank
R. Adams, Anne Cunningham.
Photography Clyde DeVinna
and Chet Lyons
Producer John Considine
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Samuel Hinds, Douglas Dumbrille,
Henry B. Walthall, Mae Clarke,
Four Mills Brothers, Jay Lloyd,
Florine McKinnev, Russell Hardie,
Willard Robertson, Ted Healy,
Reginald Barlow, Francis McDon-
ald, Katharine Alexander, Gene
Austin, Belle Daube, Jerry Howard.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play Harvey Thew
and Zelda Sears
Photography George Folsey
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"HOLLYWOOD PARTY"
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
Jack Pearl, Laurel and Hardy, Polly
Moran, Charles Butterworth, George
Givot, Richard Carle, Edwin Max-
well, Tom Kennedy, Ted Healy and
Stooges, Eddie Quillan, June Clyde,
Frances Williams, MGM Baby Stars.
Director Alan Dwan
Music Rodgers and Hart,
Brown and Freed
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Harry Rapf
"SADIE McKEE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Esther Ralston,
Jean Dixon, Franchot Tone, Edward
Arnold, Akim Tamiroff, Gene Aus-
tin, Leo White, Leo Carroll.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Vitia Delmar
Screen Play John Meehan
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Lawrence Weingarten
Paramount
"WE'RE NOT DRESSINC"
Cast; Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman,
Carole Lombard, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, Raymond Milland, Jay
Henry, Leon Errol, Dick Dickinson.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Walter Hall Smith
Adaptation. .Stephen Morehouse Avery
Music by Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Charles Lang
Producer Benjamin Clazer
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
Cast: Carl Brisson, Victor McLaglen,
Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Lona
Andre, Toby Wing, Dorothy Stick-
ney, Jes§ie Ralph, Charles B. Mid-
dleton, Gertrude Michael, Gail Pat-
rick, Otto Hoffman, Charles Mc-
Avoy, Donald Meek, Beryl Wallace,
Colin Tapley, Barbara Fritchie,
William Arnold, Arthur Rankin,
Cecil Weston, Hal Greene, Teru
Schimada, Roy Crane, Ted Oliver,
Mildred Cober, Stanley BIystone,
Mike Pat Donovan, Edward Mit-
chell, Eddie Bethune, Clara Lou
Sheridan, Gwenllian Gill.
Director Mitchell Leisen
Original Earl Carroll
and Rufus King
Screen Play Carey Wilson
and Joseph Gollomb
Additional Dialogue.. ..Sam Hellman
and Arthur Johnston
Music and Lyrics Sam Coslow
Photography Leo Tover
Producer E. Lloyd Sheldon
"DOUBLE DOOR"
Cast; Kent Taylor, Evelyn Venable,
Mary Morris, Ann Revere, Sir Guy
Standing, Virginia Howell, Frank
Dawson, Helen Shipman, Leonard
Carey, Colin Tapley, Ralph Rem-
ley. Burr Caruth.
Director Charles Vidor
Original Elizabeth McFadden
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Producer E. Lloyd Sheldon
"THE WITCHINC HOUR"
Cast: Tom Brown, Judith Allen, John
Halliday, Richard Carle, Sir Guy
Standing, Olive Tell, John Larkin,
Ralf Harolde, Frank Sheridan, Pur-
nell Pratt, William Frawley, Henry
B. Walthall, Robert Littlefield.
Richard Michael, Ferdinand Gott-
schalk.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original Augustus Thomas
Adaptation Salisbury Field
Screen Play Anthony Veiller
Photography Ben Reynolds
Producer Bayard Veiller
"THIRTY DAY PRINCESS "
Cast: Sylvia Sidney, Gary Grant, Ed-
ward Arnold, Vince Barnett, Ray
Walker, Henry Stephenson, Mar-
George Baxter, Lu-
Robert McWade,
William Augustin,
Dearing, J. MerriFt^
guerite Namara
cien Littlefield,
Robert Homans
Dick Rush, Ed
Holmes.
Director Marion Gering
Original. ...Clarence Budington Kelland
Adaptation and Dialogue: Edwin Jus-
tus Mayer
Photography Leon Shamroy
Producer B. P. Schulberg
"LITTLE MISS MARKER"
Cast; Adolphe Menjou, Dorothy Dell,
Charles Bickford, Shirley Temple,
Lynn Overman, Frank McGlynn Sr.,
Jack Sheehan, Sam Hardy, John L.
Kelly, Warren Hymer, Edward Arn-
old.
Director Alexander Hall
Original Damon Runyon
Adaptation ....Josec>h Moncure March
March 5, 1934
B^ilPOIRTlPl
Page Seven
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 39 LAST WEEK
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Al Cilks
Producer B. P. Schulberg
"IT AIN'T NO SIN"
(Rehearsing)
Cast: Mae West, George Raft, Duke
Ellington and Orchestra.
Director Leo McCarey
Original Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthur Johnston and
Sam Coslow.
Photography Karl Struss
Producer William LeBaron
"IN CONFERENCE "
(Charles R. Rogers)
Cast: Zasu Pitts, Helen Mack, John
Halliday, Grace Bradley, Phillips
Holmes, Ned Sparks.
Director Harry joe Brown
Original: Vera Caspary and Bruce
Manning.
Screen Play: Brian Marlow, Agnes
Christine Johnson and Joseph Gol-
lomb.
Photography Milton Krasner
RKO-Radio
"STRICTLY DYNAMITE"
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
NJorman Foster, Marian Nixon, Wil-
liam Gargan, Eugene Pallette, Four
Mills Brothers, Ruth Etting, Minna
Combell, Sterling Holloway, Stanley
'Fields, Berton Churchill.
Director Elliott Nugent
Original Robert T. Colwell
and Robert A. Simon
Screen lay Maurine Watkins
and Ralph Spence
Photography Eddie Cronjager
Associate Producer H. N. Swanson
"STINCAREE"
Cast: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Mary
Boland, Conway Tearle, Snub Pol-
lard, George Barraud, Andy Devine,
Una O'Connor, Henry Stephenson.
Director William Wellman
Original E. W. Hornung
Screen Play Becky Gardiner
Photography James Van Trees
Associate Producer David Lewis
"DOVER ROAD"
Cast: Clive Brook, Diana Wynyard,
Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray, Regi-
nald Owen, Gilbert Emery, Phyllis
Barry.
Director J. Walter Ruben
Original A. A. Milne
Screen Play H. W. Hanemann
Photography David Abel
Associate Producer David Lewis
"OF HUMAN BONDACE-
Cast: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis,
Reginald Denny, Alan Hale, Regi-
nald Sheffield.
Director John Cromwell
Original W. Somerset Maugham
Screen Play Lester Cohen
Photography Henry Gerrard
Associate Producer. .Pandro S. Berman
United Artists
Twentieth Century
"HEAD OF THE FAMILY"
(Rehearsing)
Cast: George Arliss, Janet Beecher,
Edna May Oliver, Ralph Morgan,
Rafaela Ottiano, Charlotte Henry,
Edward Ellis, Frank Albertson, Don-
ald Meek, Joseph Cawthorn.
Director Sidney Lanfield
Story Katherine Clugston
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Associate Producers: William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith.
"BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES
BACK"
Cast: Ronald Colman, Loretta Young,
Warner Oiand, Charles Butterworth,
Arthur Hohl, Billie Burke, Mischa
Auer, Pedro Regas, Halliwell
Hobbes.
Director ...Roy Del Ruth
Original H. C. McNeille
Screen Play Nunnally Johnson
Photography Peverell Marley
Associate Producers. .William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith
Universal
"UNCERTAIN LADY"
Cast: Genevieve Tobin, Edward Ever-
ett Horton, Dorothy Peterson, Frank
Lyman, Herbert Cortheil, Renee
Gadd, Paul Cavanagh, Mary Nash,
George Meeker, Arthur Hoyt, Gay
Seabrook, James Durkin.
Director Karl Freund
From Play by Harry Segall
Adapted by Daniel Evans and Martin
Brown.
Screen Play: Doris Anderson and
George O'Neil.
Photography Charles Stumar
Asso. Producer Dale Van Every
"THE BLACK CAT"
Cast: Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Jac-
quelyn Wells, David Manners, Lu-
cille Lund, Egon Brecher, Ann Dun-
can, Andy Devine, Herman Bing,
Harry Corday, Luis Alberni, Andre
Cheron, Alphonse Marteil, Tony
Marlow, Paul Weigel, Alber Polet,
Rodney Hildebrant.
Director Edgar Ulmer
Based on story by Edgar Allen Poe
Story Peter Ruric, Edgar Ulmer
Screen Play Peter Ruric
Photography John Mescal
Associate Producer E. M. Asher
Ken Maynard
"DOOMED TO DIE"
Cast: Ken Maynard, Gloria Shay, Frank
Hagney, Walter Miller, Bob Kart-
man, Jack Rockwell, Ed Coxen.
Director Alan James
Original Ken Maynard
Screen Play Nate Gatzert
Photography Ted McCord
Producer Ken Maynard
Warners-First National
"WITHOUT HONOR"
Cast: James Cagney, Joan Blondell,
Victor Jory, Sarah Padden, Ralf
Harolde, Harold Huber, John Qua-
len, Russell Hopton, Frank Craven,
Bradley Page, James Eagle. George
Chandler, Samuel E. Hines.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Original Story Robert Lord
Screen Play Tom Buckingham and
Niven Busch
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"SAWDUST"
Cast: Joe E. Brown, Patricia Ellis, Dor-
othy Burgess, Donald Dilloway,
Charles Wilson, Poodles Hanneford,
Ernest Clarke, Alfreda Codona, Tom
Dugan, William Demarest, Harry
Wood, Earl Hodgins, Joh'. i Shuehan,
Ronie Cosby, (Hordon Evans, Ed-
mund Breese, Gordon Westcott,
William Davidson, Paul Hurst.
Director Ray Enright
Based on Story by
Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby
Revisions by Tom Buckingham
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor James Seymour
"THE KEY"
Cast: William Powell, Edna Best, Co-
lin Clive, J. M. Kerrigan, Hobart
Cavanaugh, Maxine Doyle, Arthur
Treacher, Henry O'Neill, Philip Re-
gan, Halliwell Hobbes, Donald
Crisp, Gertrude Short, Dawn O'Day.
Director Michael Curtiz
Based on the Play by
Robert Gore- Browne, J. L. Hardy
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Music and Lyrics Allie Wrubel
and Mort Dixon
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Robert Presneil
"THE HAPPY FAMILY"
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee,
Allen Jenkins, Hugh Herbert, Helen
Lowell, Joan Wheeler, Frankie
Darro, Gordon Westcott, Louise
Beavers, Harry Beresford, James
Bush, Maidel Turner, Harry C.
Bradley, Ethel Wales, Ed Keane,
Charles Coleman, John Sheldon,
Ivan Linow, Michael Visaroft.
Director Alfred E. Green
Original Screen Play. .Gene Markey
and Kathryn Scola
Photography Arthur Edeson
Supervisor Robert Lord
"RETURN OF THE TERROR"
Cast: Mary Astor, Lyle Talbot, Robert
Barrat, Frank McHugh, John Halli-
day, Irving Pichel, George E. Stone,
J. Carrol Naish, Frank Reicher,
Renee Whitney, Robert E. O'Con-
nor, George Cooper, Etienne Cirar-
dot, Edmund Breese, Cecil Cunning-
ham, George Humbert, Charles
Grapewin, Maude Eburne. Frank
Conroy, Howard Hickman.
Director Howard Bretherton
Suggested by Story by —
Edgar Wallace
Screen Play Eugene Solow
and Peter Milne
Photography Arthur Todd
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"DR. MONICA"
Cast: Kay Francis, Veree Teasdale,
Jean Muir, Warren William.
Director William Keighley
Based on Polish play by —
Marja Morozowicz Szczepkowska
Adaptation by Laura Walker
Screen Play Charles Kenyon
Photography Sol Polito
Suf>ervisor Henry Blanke
"FRIENDS OF MR. SWEENEY"
Cast: Charlie Ruggles, Ann Dvorak,
Eugene Pallette, Dorothy Tree,
Harry Beresford, Berton Churchill,
William Davidson, Harry Tyler,
Herbert Bunson, Ann Shoemaker,
Virginia Pine.
Director Edward Ludwig
Novel Elmer Davis
Screen Play Warren Duff
and Sidney Sutherland
Photography Ira Morgan
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
Independent Productions
Invincible
(Mack Sennett)
"TOGETHER AGAIN"
Cast: Lila Lee, Onslow Stevens, Claude
Gillingwater, Dickie Moore, James
T. Mack.
Director Frank Strayer
Original Screen Play Robert Ellis
Photography M. A, Anderson
Producer Maury Cohen
Mascot
(Mack Sennett)
"THE LOST lUNCLE"
(Serial)
Cast: Clyde Beatty, Sid Saylor, Ce-
cilia Parker, Al Smith, Edward Le
Saint, Warner Richmond, Charles
Whitaker, Max Wagner, Jim Corey,
Maston Williams, Jack Carlyle, Er-
nie Adam, Bud Fine, Wally Wales.
Directors Dave Howard
and Armand Schaefer
Original Screen Play.-Sherman Lowe
and Al Martin
Photography Alvin Wyckoff
Producer Nat Levine
Eastern Productions
All Star Productions
(United Artists Release)
( Biograph Studios )
"FRANKIE AND JOHNNY"
Cast: Helen Morgan, Lilyan Tashman,
Chester Morris, William Harrigan,
Florence Reed, Walter Kingsford,
Sam Wren, Jack Hazzard, Frederic
Worlock. Cora Witherspoon, Pedro
de Cordova, Robert M. Middlemas,
Montagu Love, Percy Welton, Ches-
ter Hale Girls, Victor Young's Or-
chestra.
Director Chester Erskin
Screen Play Moss Hart
Photography joe Ruttenberg
BRUIATOUR BULLETIN
Published Every Monday
|. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastmon Motion Picture Films
Ernie Haller turning in an unusually
artistic job on photography of the Bill
Powell picture, "The Key." Roberts
and Glouner, associates. Direction
Mike Curtiz ... Joe August (Colum-
bia) photographing the classic pro-
■file of John Barrymore in "Twentieth
Century," Howard Hawks, Director.
Dave Regan, Marcel Grand and Jack
Anderson, camera staff. . . . For au-
thentic backgrounds on the same pic-
ture, Andre Barletier and Roy David-
son to New York. . . .
•
Charlie Stumar at the cameras, with
his old friend Karl Freund directing
"Uncertain Lady" with Genevieve
Tobin and Eddie Horton. Assisting Stu-
mar, James Drought and Maury Gerts-
man . . . Alvin Wyckoff anxious to
do a picture of The Sphinx and Pyra-
mids after tackling an animal serial
for Mascot . . . Plenty of camera ac-
tion at Arkayo . . . Nick Musuraca
bossing the boxes on "Dover Road,"
Biroc and Barth, assisting.
•
Henry Gerrard, who contributed
plenty to la Hepburn in "Little
Women" is photographing "Of Hu-
man Bondage," assisted by DeGrasse
and Diskant . . . Jimmy Van Trees
and his staff loaned to R. K. O.
along with Director Bill Wellman,
completing "Stingaree" with Richard
Dix and Irene Dunne. . . . Roy Hunt
completed "Finishing School" . . .
Eddie Cronjager on "Strictly Dyna-
mite" with Jimmy Durante and Lupe
Velez . . . Tony Gaudio whose "Man-
dalay" (Kay Francis-Warner Broth-
ers) is playing locally now, is on brief
rest but starts again any minute at
same lot . . . Henry Sharp turned in
final shots on "Melody in Spring."
•
OIlie Marsh who covered himself
with plenty glory through his work at
the cameras for "Dancing Lady" is
currently turning 'em over for "Sadie
McKee" 'M, G. M.). His assistants.
Mead, Greer and Brigham . . . Hal
Rosson is responsible for the photog-
raphy of "The Cat and The Fiddle"
(Novarro-MacDonald) playing cur-
rently Loew's State . . Solly Halperin
(Fox) back home from New York
with the snow still in his ears . . .
I\tartinq I
20TH CENTURY
McGill
COLUMBIA
Bennie Kline, John Stumar, Al Seigler
EDUCATIONAL
Dwight Warren
CILLSTROM PRODUCTIONS
Gus Petersen
UNIVERSAL
Norbert Brodine George Robinson
WARNERS
Tony Gaudio
DEAR MR. WILKERSOX:
You're a perfectly swell salesman . . . whether it's caviar, rare
vintages or printer's ink. Too, the quality's generally as good as you
claim it to be. So what?
So I agree with you in your statement that the production bosses
are more and more interested in their photography . . . That they want
to know more about their own cameramen as well as the other fellows'
. . . That it's not always easy for your boys to get the dope (and get
it right) . . . but that it's a cinch for us to tell the story (and tell it
right) because we're as close to the camera as you are to the printing
press.
We know the photographers. They know us. We've kept faith
with each other for generations. We've never overlooked a bet when
we could give SERVICE to the photographer or his employer. We agree
with you that The Brulatour Bulletin tied in with the Hollywood Re-
porter is a service natural. Therefore, I accept your suggestion . . .
Here's . . . The Brulatour Bulletin.
And now, Mr. Wilkerson, may I MAKE a suggestion to you . . .
Agreeing that photography (and the cameraman) are just as important
as you claim them to be to EVERY production ... I venture the opin-
ion that the PRODUCERS will read, with genuine interest, anything you
or your writers may have to say about this vital feature of productions
in any review you print.
Lang on Musical
With his splendid camera achieve-
ment, "Farewell To Arms" set up in
the sweepstakes of The Academy as
a top contender for the award on
outstanding photography, CHARLES
LANG of Paramount has turned in
creditable encores with "Cradle Song"
and "Death Takes A Holiday" . . .
(both Paramount) ; and now steps up
to prove his versatility as he com-
pletes the tag shots for the Bing
Crosby-Carole Lombard melody-
mounting, "We're Not Dressing." Bob
Pittack, Harry Hollanberger, Cliff
Shirpser and Irving Glassberg are
Lang's seconds and assistants.
Lyons Continues 'Malibou'
Chester Lyons continues on his
Marathon assignment for M. G. M.,
"Malibou." Picture has been in pro-
duction several months, and the dailies
disclose some of the most unusual
photographic material with wild ani-
mals as subject matter. Lyons has
covered several thousand miles to va-
rious locations during his photographic
work on this production.
Polito With Keighley
Sol Polito, who set up bigger and
better standards for the boys to shoot
at through his work with Bus Berke-
ley in the spectacular dance numbers
of the Warner musicals, has been as-
signed to Director William Keighley,
and is photographing the muchly dis-
cussed, "Dr. Monica."
Edeson Shoots New Star
Warner Bros., launching the star-
ring destiny of Aline McMahon,
placed her photographic fortunes in
the lap of Arthur Edeson, while Al
Green is taking care of the action.
With this fool-proof combination of
cameraman and director, a new star
of even lesser capabilities should be
a cinch.
McCill Returns to Century
Barney "Chick" McGill, contract
lenser of Twentieth Century, who has
been on loan-out to Fox where he ac-
counted for the photography on two
feature productions, returns to his
home lot, where he will be in charge
of the cameras on the George Arliss
production, "Head of the Family,"
with Sid Lanfield directing.
Barnes Completes
De! Monte Location
George Barnes (Warner Bros.)
completed location shots at Del Monte
on the Lloyd Bacon production,
"Without Honor" and resumed studio
work this week.
Applause for Valentine
Camera and laboratory staff at Fox
Hills were unanimous in commending
Joe Valentine for his photographic
work on "Three on a Honeymoon,"
with Sally Eilers. . . . Unusually effec-
tive work, particularly with the star,
whose popularity will never grow less
because of this picture.
IT HAPPENED 0]\E
Asserts The Reporter (discussing Columbia Pictures) . . . that a
producer had cracked, "I'll give a million dollars for the contracts of
Frank Capra, Sam Briskin and Bob Riskin" ... so OKay! . . . But that
same producer would be smart to also offer at least a hundred'G's for
the contract of Joe Walker who turned an uncanny crank on the cam-
eras for ''It Happened One Night." We take not a thing away from
the credit deserved by the million dollar trio above mentioned but we'll
bet real dough that they'll be tfie first to agree with us that Walker
should be included in the deal. . . . Few short years ago and this boy
was photographing program stuff. Today he's crowding the best.
Walker's photography makes you believe Riskin's story and Capra's ac-
tion. Briskin assigned all three of 'em. . . . Any new offers?
(NOTE: Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour, Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION;
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SHOT?
OLIVER MARSH (M. G. M.): "Big
head close-ups — and I mean BIG
close-ups — the bigger the better.
The more vital the expression the
greater the close-up. "You can say
it again: my favorite shot is a big
close-up."
ERNIE PALMER (FOX) : "My favor-
ite shot has always been a marine
view. I do not mean that I am
particularly or exclusively interested
in shooting only sea stories, but
my idea of beauty is the long
sweeping coast line or the silhouette
of a cutter along the horizon."
VERN WALKER (RKO) : "Naturally
a projection background shot, but
it must be so well done that it
defies detection."
EDDIE CRONJAGER (RKO): "What
do
you
mean? Photography
HAL ROSSON (M. G. M.) : "A close-
up of Jean Harlow."
JACKSON ROSE (M. G. M.): "Pic-
torial interiors where the actor
does not detract from the photo-
graphic beauty." (Migawd, Jack,
do they always assign you to Du-
rante's pictures?)
HAL MOHR (FOX): "I am partic-
ularly strong for close-ups of young
and very beautiful girls with classic
features. By the way, have you
seen 'David Harum'?"
L. W. O'CONNELL (FOX): "Exterior
long shots, particularly those where
trees lend themselves to pleasing
composition."
LEN SMITH (M. G. M.) : "Out of a
sand trap with a 9 iron."
LUCIUS LOOSTONE: "A test of the
supervisor's sister."
Hnishtnq
RKO
Eddie Cronjager Nick Musuraca
FOX
Joe Valentine Art Miller
M. G. M.
Hal Rosson, Jimmy Howe, Len Smith
PARAMOUNT
Henry Sharp, Chas. Lang, Leo Tover
WARNERS
Wm. Rees
WFTRO-GOLD^VYN-MAYFR 3TUpI03,
5f MR.SAJ.'UEL MARA,
Vol. XIX. No. 46. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, March 6. 1934
CODE PR€GRM$ $li€>VN
Flinn Report Tells Of Gain
In Employment And Payrolls
In All Branches Of Industry
•TO a time-worn veteran like the
writer it is pretty hard to work up
anything approaching enthusiasm con-
cerning conventions.
But there is an affair shaping up
and heading towards Hollywood that
revives our jaded spirits, and makes
us think, "Maybe here is a convention
that will serve a purpose, and accom-
plish some good."
We refer to the coming gathering
of the Motion Picture Theatre Own-
ers of America, to be held in Holly-
wood April 10,11 and 12.
President Ed Kuykendall, in a letter
to The Reporter, emphasizes the fact
that all the pre-convention publicity
and planning is based on the hope and
the determination to get three days of
real value to exhibitors in their visit
to the source of the merchandise they
sell.
The "play" note is being subordi-
nated.
Exhibitors have come through some
tough years. Just as producers have.
Exhibitors, for much of the time
during those tough years, depression
or no depression, have all too often
placed most of the blame for their
problems on the producers.
They are coming here to see and
be shown.
They will learn a lot.
And may we add a postscript
thought that Hollywood can learn
something from the visiting exhibitors.
Recalling our own days playing the
exhibitor convention cl/cuit, we can't
remember learning anything from the
speeches, but we do recall many a
nugget of hard show wisdom gleaned
in a lobby corner from a battle-scarred
exhibitor just talking "his patrons."
Many a good thought. Many a
valuable tip on titles, on types of
pictures, on whether certain stars
were going UP — or GOING down.
Welcome these exhibitors, boys and
girls of Hollywood. They're playing
in the same game with us — if they
lose, we lose. Inevitably.
National Screen
Profit's Jump
New York. — National Screen
Service Corp. reported a profit of
$107,010.75 for the year 1933.
Profit for 1932 was $95,556.47.
Radio In Jam Over
Play Tobacco Rd/
N^W''York. — Prospects of the play
"JiSSacco Road" winning the Pulit-
^zer prize have thrown a snag into
plans of Radio pictures to buy it for
the screen.
It is claimed that Radio took a
verbal option on the play two weeks
ago, at a tentative price around $35,-
000. Now the play producers are
hemming and hawing on whether
there was an option.
Al Werker Signs To
Meg W. C. Fields
Al Werker, who recently completed
"The House of Rothschild," yesterday
closed with Paramount to direct the
next W. C. Fields picture, "Grease
Paint."
Part of the deal includes a three-
year option by Paramount on Werker's
services.
Walter Connolly Up
For Louis XiV Role
Warners have placed a bid with
Columbia for the loan of Walter Con-
nolly to play the role of Louis XIV in
"DuBarry," Dolores Del Rio's first
starring vehicle under her Warner
contract.
Washington. — A satisfactory increase in numbers of em-
ployees, heavy increases in expenses, especially in production,
and the fact that the code of fair competition for the picture
industry is not yet fulfilling all the hopes of its advocates, are
the main points in the report of prog-
ress, made yesterday by John C. Flinn,
executive secretary for the Code Au-
thority, to Sol Rosenblatt.
The report states that, before the
code provisions were in effect, one
studio, which averaged seven pictures
in production, employed 478 persons
(Continued on Page 2)
Ric Cortez Backs
Out on Salkow Play
New York. — Ricardo Cortez is no
longer a potential play producer, and
Zetroc, Inc., the firm with which he
was to operate in association with
Sidney Salkow, has dissolved.
Cortez and Salkow clashed over
cast and production details of the play
"Shoestring," written b" the latter.
Now the playwright will direct and
produce it on his own.
Morris to Europe
New York. — Sam Morris, Warners
foreign sales manager, is back home
after several weeks in the hospital.
He sails for Europe March 17.
'Green Bay Tree' Ends
New York. — "The Green Bav Tree"
ends its New York run at the Cort
this coming Saturday night.
PRIXCESS TO SIIU EXHIBS
AFTER 'RASPUTI]^' AWARD
London. — Intimations that suits
would be filed against exhibitors in
all countries where "Rasputin" has
been exhibited were the startling af-
termath of the verdict yesterday giving
Princess Youssoupoff an award of
$125,000 damages for alleged libel in
the MCM picture "Rasputin and the
Empress."
No member of the conservative
British solicitors who won the verdict
for the Princess would be quoted di-
rectly on the threat to sue all ex-
(Continued on Page 3)
Labor 'Merry-Co-Round'
Still Running Strong
Local labor groups were grousing
again yesterday about the Studio La-
bor Committee, set up to handle all
studio NRA labor problems.
Committee stalled action for weeks,
saying not properly appointed. Last
week appointment was okayed. Just
as labor boys thought committee would
really start work they were informed
yesterday that Al Berres was leaving
for New York for a short trip.
Elliott to Settle
Jurisdiction Scrap
William C. Elliott, president of the
lATSE, in town for the discussion with
producers of a new Basic Agreement,
has had a full schedule since his ar-
rival. He has met separately with the
business agent of each lATSE local.
His plan is not to try to meet the
unions in a body and make speeches,
but to meet with committees from
(Continued on Page 2)
Kirkpatrick, Veteran
Film Exec, Dies at 53
New York. — Arthur S. Kirkpatrick,
who resigned from Educational Pic-
tures last November as assistant gen-
eral manager after a six months' leave
of absence, died yesterday at River-
side, N. J. He was 53 years old.
Kirkpatrick was a veteran of the
f)lm business, being with the famous
Mutual in the early days, later with
Robertson-Cole, the organization that
after many changes became Radio Pic-
tures.
Franklin-Craven Deal
Harold Franklin is negotiating with
Frank Craven with a three-way ticket
in mind. He is figuring on getting
Craven to write his own stories, direct
and act in them.
Cantor Due in May
Eddie Cantor is planning to return
to Hollywood first week in May. Is
now writing a play which Sam Harris
is understood to have already pur-
chased.
Two Players En Route
New York. — Picture passengers on
today's Century will include Gene
Raymond and Tullio Carminati.
Miljan Loses Father
Frank Miljan, father of John, died
yesterday as a result of complications.
He was 77 years old.
c
ed by ■
IRY I
XWAY J
RICHARD ARLEN
as
"COME ON MARINES"
Directed
HENF
HATHAWAY
Page Two
THE
March 6, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Pttblisher
(TOBERT E. WELSH Managing EditoT
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyv^ood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N Michigan Ave.; London. 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd Murat,
Berlin 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Gratte-Ciel _^
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the acf of March 3,
1879.
Winfield Sheehan was the biggest
individual ticket-buyer for El Nido
charity party Sunday night. . . . And
thanks to all the local scribes whose
mentions of the affair helped make it
a big success — thanks, too, to the one
and only columnist who wouldn't
mention that it was being given given
at the Vendome! Because if there
had been any more people jamming
the place the reserves would have had
to be called out! . . . Among the
movie folk who helped, besides the
sponsors, were Wally Beery, the Al
Rogells, Connie Bennett, the Bill
Coetzes, Lupe Velez, Johnny Weiss-
muller, Adrienne Ames, Bruce Cabot,
the Ric Cortezes, Mary Brian, Dick
Powell, Edgar Allan Woolf, the Mike
Levees, Sol Wurtzel, the Darryl Zan-
ucks, Eddie Buzzell — and more.
•
The Elliott Gibbons-Irene Jones en-
i,agement is now official — Irene
hopped a plane for a rush trip to New
York Sunday night. . . . Sidney Fox
and Charlie Beahan still determined
ufjon a divorce. . . . Dixie Lee Crosby
has her tresses blonde — because Bing
likes 'em that way. . . Mrs. Carl
Brisson is now fretting because Carl
has to wear side-burns in his current
flicker. . . . Irene Dunne sick abed
with a sore throat and "Stingaree"
being held up. . . . There's a move on
to make Humphrey Pearson the Mayor
of Palm Springs! . . . Janet Gaynor
is playing with fire.
Sally Eilers and Harry Joe Brown
have gone goofy over the game of
Russian Bank — the old-time bridge
arguments are as nothing! . . . Alan
Mowbray has written a story called
"Lonely Road" for Clive Brook — and
Radio may buy it for him. . . . The
Herbert Marshalls farewell-dinnered
Mrs. Ernest Torrence Sunday night —
Mrs. T. going around the world. . . .
James Seymour and Jocelyn Lee gave
a big cocktail party for the Tito
Schipas at the Vendome the other day.
. . . Having a change of heart about
vacationing in Honolulu, the Arlens —
Richard, jobyna and junior — make it
Europe instead. Leave Saturday for
New York to catch the Europa March
16. ... Ed Sedgwick, the Charlie
Butterworths, Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon,
the Dick. Rodgers— among the Palm
Springers this week-end.
"SHADOWS OF SING SING"
Columbia prod.; director, Phil Rosen; writer, Warden Lewis E. Lawes.
Mayfair Theatre
Times: The chief point of interest in the production is the background of a po-
lice department bureau of identification through which comes a surprise
ending to the tale of love and woe. Needless to say the arm of coinci-
dence here is no shorter than usual.
Herald-Tribune: Despite its lack of a finished production, is an entertaining and
ingenious little timekiller of considerable merit. The film is not especially
exciting, but the climax is admirably and rather convincingly worked out.
American: While the basic plot is scarcely redolent of stark realism, its little
fictions are plausibly explained and its entire structure is skilfully and sus-
pensefully wrought.
Sun: Those shadows of the title creep too often into the picture, foretelling too
many approaching events. Thanks to its cameraman and its trick ending,
this is a pleasant, unexciting little melodrama.
Post: It is pretty trashy stuff, with only one moment — when the defense attor-
ney springs his big surprise in court — of any dramatic value.
World -Telegram: If you want a bit of good, old-fashioned melodramatic enter-
tainment, this should just about fit the bill. It has practically everything
in it that the average program thriller demands. However, it has been
rather carelessly put together and is told in a static manner.
Journal: It's an entertaining little melodrama that sustains suspense smoothly
and offers several interesting demonstrations of police procedure.
CODE PROGRESS SHOWIV
IN REPORT TO *ROSY'
Levy of RKO Due
For Studio Visit
Jules Levy, RKO-Radio general sales
manager, is due in Hollywood soon for
a visit of several weeks at the studio.
While here he will conduct a west-
ern sales conference of exchange man-
agers, and will hold his annual pre-
season conferences with production
heads. Among those who will at-
tend the western sales conference will
be Harry Cohen, western sales mana-
ger, and the following western branch
managers:
J. H. Ashby, Denver; N. P. Jacobs,
Los Angeles; M. E. Corey, Portland;
T. J. Walsh, Salt Lake City; C. W.
Wolfe, San Francisco; E. A. Lamb,
Seattle.
'U' Signs Alan Hale
Universal yesterday signed Alan
Hale for the part of Jackman in "Little
Man, What Now?" He landed the
job out of twenty tested for the role.
(Continued from Page I I
per picture each day. After the code,
the same studio, with five pictures
average, had a 20 per cent increase in
employment.
"Another studio," said the report,
"estimates that its production costs
will be increased $500,000 in the first
year."
It is the same story in distribution
and exhibition. One national distribu-
tor reports an increase of 83 em-
ployees in the home office and 31 ex-
changes, and a heavy payroll increase.
Another concern reports 61 additional
employees.
In exhibition, average payrolls have
been increased from 10 to 15 per
cent, the report states. It is believed
that the improved business of the
theatres is due to better pictures, as
the public is still shopping for its
screen entertainment and will not take
mediocre product. The increase in at-
tendance since last August is set at
from 1 2 to 15 per cent.
The report details the machinery
that has been set up for the protec-
tion of labor and to insure fair trade
practices, and also the provisions for
the arbitrations of wage disputes. This
abitration machinery centers in 62
quasi-judicial boards in 31 cities, 52
of which have already been named.
while the other ten will be appointed
within a week. The report concludes:
"The Code of Fair Competition for
the motion picture industry has yet to
fulfill in practice and application the
earnest wishes of its advocates, who
worked arduously in its preparation
and for its adoption, and the time has
not yet arrived for criticism or praise."
There was a mass conference yes-
terday of all the motion picture code
members, but today they split into
five groups so that one can attend
each of five meetings held simultane-
ously. The members in attendance are
John C. Flinn, secretary; Ed Kuyken-
dall, W. Ray Johnston, Nathan Yamins
and Charles O'Reilly. R, H. Cochrane
was to have attended, but is ill. Kuy-
kendall, Yamins and Louis Phillips, of
Paramount, will attend the meetings
on the small industry problems, while
Flinn and Johnston will sit in on the
code administration meetings.
In addition to these, the Motion
Picture Laboratory Association is rep-
resented by Stephen Eller, Alan Fried-
man, Herbert Huebner, C. Hurleman,
Frank Myers, E. H. Rosenberg, Arthur
Poole and Herbert Yates.
General Johnson has extended the
evidence of compliance date to March
10, and given Rosenblatt until April
7 to make his report on the salary and
trade practice investigation.
LARGE
OFFICE ROOMS
2nd
floor
6404 Sunset,
$15
and
$20.
Inquire Room
1 or
10.
Phone HEmpstead
0270.
HE'S BUTLER, COOK, VALET
AND CHAUFFEUR
and is efficient, honest and
thoroughly reliable. Writer
leaving Hollywood would like
to place him.
Box 526, Hollywood Reporter
PERSONAL
Anyone desirious of information or
in need of assistance relative to
their immigration status — passport
extensions, re-entry permits, per-
manent residence applications, etc.,
CALL
HERBERT HADLEY
OLympia 4341 OLympia 6874
MEDICAL ARTS BLDG.
4759 Hollywood Blvd.
10 years Inspector U. S. Immigra-
tion Service (last 7 years in charge
of Mexican border port at Calexico,
California)
Elliott to Settle Scrap
(Continued from Page 1 )
each local and go over the many knot-
ty problems that are now facing them.
One of these problems will be the
matter of the jurisdiction in the stu-
dios among the sound men. In a vote'
conducted under NRA supervision toi
decide who would represent sound
men in all NRA discussions, total of
448 votes were cast for sound men's
lATSE union, and only 9 for Locali
40, IBEW. Announcement was made
last week that Local 40 and the ma-
jor studios had signed an agreement
that will give IBEW the say. EI-'
liott will be given that to ponder over.
PRODUCER
Organization formed to
profitably market features
in $20,000 cost class de-
sires to contact producer
capable of delivering sat-
isfactory pictures from
stories by internationally
famous authors. Will deal
only with principal who is
adequately financed. Con-
fidential.
Address
Famous Authors Pictures
c/o Hollywood Reporter
229 WEST 42nd STREET
NEW YORK CITY
M»rch 6. 1934
THE
I^ilPOIRTllR
Page Three
RADIO'S 'CRIME DOCTOR' NEm
II^TERESTING MURDER YARN
Kryger, Morley and
Asther Tops in Cast
"THE CRIME DOCTOR"
(Radio)
Director John Robertson
Original Israel Zangwill
Adaptation Jane Murfin
Art Directors Van Nest Polglase
and Al Herman
Photography Lucien Andriot
Cast: Otto Kruger, Karen Morley, Nils
Asther, Judith Wood, William
Frawley, Donald Crisp, Frank Con-
roy, J. Farrell MacDonald, Fred Kel-
sey, C. Pat Collins.
"The Crime Doctor" is something
new in murder mysteries. The audi-
ence is in on the whole thing from the
start, and, with the exception of one
clue near the beginning of the picture,
is able to predict pretty well the gen-
eral working out of the plot. But
there's a surprise every minute, and
you watch the darned thing, utterly
Intrigued and fascinated all along the
way. And then the ending comes,
and you find that you have been thor-
oughly fooled after all.
There really is no mystery. The
audience sees the murder, knows the
motive, and then has the fun of
watching the detectives send an inno-
cent man in the direction of the elec-
tric chair. The picture is beautifully
timed and the plot is slyly and ex-
pertly worked out.
Otto Kruger is a master-mind de-
tective, and he flatters himself that
he could commit the perfect crime.
An opportunity comes, when he sus-
pects his wife (Karen Morley) of be-
ing unfaithful to him. So when she
tells him that she loves Nils Asther,
he determines to kill Judith Wood,
who has been blackmailing Asther,
and lay the blame on him through a
series of cleverly contrived clues. A
detective — and a jealous one at that —
Is a bad person to be married to.
Everything works out as he plans,
and Asther is condemned to die for
the murder of the girl. But the trick
ending takes care of everything hap-
pily.
Kruger is uncanny in the role of
the detective. No technique is ap-
parent. He just IS Dan Cifford. A
remrakable piece of acting. Karen
Morley is thoroughly good as the wife,
and Nils Asther is splendid in his part.
Judith Wood does nice work as the
hard-boiled blackmailer, and William
Frawley has a role that is not worthy
of his talents. Fred Kelsey is fine,
as usual, as a dumb dick; Donald Crisp
plays the district attorney well, and
J. Farrell MacDonald and C. Pat Col-
lins are outstanding in smaller roles.
John Robertson has gotten a swell
tempo in his direction; Jane Murfin's
adaptation did right by the Israel
Zangwill story, and Lucien Andriot
photographed it with distinction.
This is an above-average murder
mystery, and, with Kruger's perform-
ance added, should be a good hit.
Joel Sayre at Col.
Turning in his script on "High Seas"
for Mitchell and Durant at Fox, Joel
Sayre checked in at Columbia.
Conference All Wet
The songwriting team of Gordon
and Revel along with Lou Diamond,
Paramount exec, and two others
were lost at sea for twelve hours
in a water taxi en route to Cata-
lina Island over the week-end. The
skipper said he was kept so busy
answering questions fired at him
by Revel that he didn't have time
to watch the compass.
Free Lance Writers
Ready For Action
Following three meetings during
which the policy of the committee was
set, the Business Management Com-
mittee of the free lance writers in the
Screen Writers' Guild gets under way
officially tonight. Establishment of
the committee was prompted by a
variety of problems repeatedly facing
the free lancers, who will now get
advice, suggestions and help from the
new body.
Prime purpose of the committee is
announced as an effort to "avoid un-
fair deals" for writers. Body's scope
excludes the major studios. John
Natteford is chairman of the group,
which includes Tristram Tupper, John
Grey, Wilfrid MacDonald and Harold
Shumate. Alternates are George Sayre,
Harry Eraser and Sherman Lowe.
Crosbys Nursing Young
Bob So MCM Deal Cools
The MGM-Bob Crosby deal for the
crooner to play the role of the crooner
in the Joan Crawford picture "Sadie
McKee" is off.
The deal was queered by the croon-
er's brothers, Bing and Everett, who
do not believe that he is ready for a
part as fat as this for his first crack
at pictures and want him to go for a
proper build-up. He is at present
making a short with the Anson-Weeks
for Paramount as an introduction to
the screen.
Tingle-Tangel Theatre
Draws Film Patrons
Frederick Hollender opened his
Tingle-Tangel Theatre last night, pre-
senting his first show, "Allez Oop,"
to a large turnout of film people.
Among those attending were the
Fredric Marches, Walter Pidgeons,
Herman Mankiewiczes, Benn Levys,
Ernest Vajda, Ernst Lubitsch, Francis
Lederer, Maurice Chevalier, Jesse L.
Lasky, Dorothea Wieck and many
others.
Wadsworth Kept Busy
Henry Wadsworth, newly contract-
ed MCM player, is being kept moving
by the studio. Drops today into a
role in "Operator 13," and moves
from that to "The Thin Man."
Judels Coming West
New York.^ — Charles Judels, who
has been working here in comedy
shorts, leaves for Hollywood shortly.
He is under the guidance of Ivan Kahn
agency.
'U' Is Reissuing
'Quiet,' 'Airmail'
Tying in with the news, Universal
is rushing out new prints of "All
Quiet on the Western Front" and
"Airmail," the former having been cut
to seven reels. The idea is to take
advantage of the war photographs be-
ing published in many newspapers and
of the airmail scandal.
"All Quiet" was first released in
1930, and "Airmail" in 1932. No
definite general release has been set
for either picture, but they will be
spotted in various territories as want-
ed. "All Quiet," one of the big pic-
tures of its year, was directed by
Lewis Milestone, and George Cukor
directed the dialogue.
Margaret Lindsay
Barthelmess Lead
When she returns to the studio
from her recent operation, Margaret
Lindsay will get the feminine lead op-
posite Richard Barthelmess in "The
Old Doll House."
Helen Lowell, Phillip Reed, Joan
Wheeler and Gordon Westcott will
have principal roles. Alan Crosland
directs, when the subject gets under
way in about three weeks.
Col. Adds Two Writers
Two writers were added to the Co-
lumbia writing staff yesterday on one
picture assignments, the deals being
made by the Schulberg-Feldman and
Gurney office. Becky Gardner goes to
work on the Carole Lombard story un-
der Sam Jaffe's supervision and Joseph
Moncure March on a yarn for Felix
Young.
Olive Fay with Kahn
Olive Fay, who returned from New
York recently, has been signed to a
managerial contract by the Ivan Kahn
agency. Miss Fay was a child star in
pictures several years ago, but has
since been on the New York stage,
recently appearing in Earl Carroll's
"Vanities."
Princess to Sue Exhibs
(Continued from Page 1 )
hibitors showing the picture, but the
hint was allowed to drift out from
persons close to the legal advisors.
While "Rasputin" has not been
shown generally on the continent, its
British, American, Canadian and Aus-
tralian exhibitions would mean suits
running into the thousands. Film men
here, however, expressed the convic-
tion that on the evidence shown there
would be some doubt of the case
standing up under American libel laws,
far less stringent than the British in
protecting the complainant.
New York. — J. Robert Rubin, of
MCM, today spoke for the company
saying: "We are deeply shocked at
the London verdict and are advised
by our counsel in London that they
feel the judge misdirected the jury,
and the appellate court will reverse
the trial court An appeal will be
filed. A stay of execution pending
£ppea! will be filed tomorrow."
Wampas To Extend
Scope of Baby' Test
At a luncheon of the Wampas board
of directors held yesterday at Levy's
Tavern, arrangements were made to
include in the list of candidates for
baby stardom the names of various
girls who are regarded as promising
material by the various studios, but
who have not yet been placed under
contract.
The first name to be submitted in
this class was Cecilia Parker by Sam
Cohn, publicity director for Hal Roach.
A resolution was passed giving
George Landy, Wampas prexy and
chairman of the baby star committee,
complete authority to establish proper
organization for handling candidates.
This will include setting up a pro-
cedure for screen tests by which this
year's stars will be selected.
Another resolution was passed by
the board, which will be voted upon
at the next meeting, recommending
the reduction of annual dues from $24
to $12.
Beecroft, Fla. Filmer,
Views Holly Studios
Chester Beecroft, for many years
studio executive with Famous Players
and Cpsmopolitan, and in more recent
years active as an independent with
his own studios in Florida, is in Holly-
wood to look over production here.
He is accompanied by William A.
Dawson, scenario editor for his recent
productions.
Beecroft bears the sorrowful dis-
tinction of having held an option on
Mae West's picture services for three
years and being unable to get his Flor-
ida backers to go through with the
deal.
LeMaire an Agent
Rufus LeMaire has tossed overboard
all idea of producing plays in New
York and will, very shortly, open an
office here representing a group of
artists.
LeMaire's first client is George Ar-
liss, whom he will handle for a group
of radio broadcasts that is in the plan-
ning stage in New York. This Arliss
arrangement has no connection with
or any bearing on the deal Twentieth
Century has with that artist.
Tenney with Cen. Register
Announcement was made yesterday
that W. L. Tenney, general sales man-
ager of the reorganized General Reg-
ister Corporation, has opened an office
at 1728 Vermont, where J. F. Schwab
will be in charge. P. Phillipson has
been made managing director of the
company.
Bachmann Promoted
Larry Bachmann has been moved
out of the Radio story department into
a berth as special assistant to Pandro
Berman. He will concentrate on story
materal for the producer and function
as an aide to William Sistrom, the
Berman right hand.
Sherrill a Daddy
Jack Sherrill of the Lichtig and
Englander agency is handing out the
cigars. His wife presented him with
a seven and a half pound baby daugh-
ter Sunday.
Page Four
March 6, 1934
WHEX IN ROME^ SATIRE
" WITH MOSS-GROWX PLOT
Weak on Stage
And Nil for Pics
"WHEN IN ROME"
George Smithfleld presents "When In
Rome,'" a comedy by Austin Major,
staged by Austin MajorffStTings by
Yellenti, at the Forty-Ninth Street
Theatre. With Herbert Weber,
Laurence O'Sullivan, William Stein,
Frank Jacquet, Mabel Kroman,
Robert Toms, Kenneth Daigneau,
Charlotte Reynolds, C. Edwin
Brandt, Frank Rothe, Louise Lati-
mer, Garland Kerr, Maurice Free-
man.
New York. — "When in Rome" is a
slangy satire on modern political cor-
ruption in terms of ancient Rome. But
it takes more than Roman togas and
Vestal Virgins to make present day
municipal skullduggery hilarious, es-
pecially when it is all caught up in a
plot that is essentially decrepit.
It is all about a political boss named
Cataline who is out to grab the con-
sulship of Rome for himself. He is
opposed by an honest and oratorical
senator named Cicero. Cataline is the
sort of boss who stops at nothing. He
is a grafter, puts his enemies on the
spot, frames people, and corrupts
judges and elections in the approved
and orthodox fashion.
But he makes the mistake of se-
ducing a Vestal Virgin. This is going
too far for the yokelry of Rome and
Rubbing It In
On the bulletin board at Local
559, cameramen's union, is a
newspaper clipping showing the
salaries and bonuses of the big fel-
lows in the picture business as re-
vealed to the Senate.
Over the top is penciled:
"Just try to get our ten per cent
back."
Unions granted ten per cent cut
some time ago to help out in the
depression.
old Cicero, who happens to be an un-
cle of Lydia, said virgin. In the end,
deserted by all save Lydia and one
regiment of mercenary mobsters, Cat-
aline goes forth to meet death at the
hands of the legions of civic pride.
The rest of those who add to the
creakings of the plot are Fabius, a
scandalous Roman Walter Winchell,
who bounces in and out; Spartacus,
Cataline's gladiator bodyguard; Abra-
ham, an Hebraic henchman; Aurelia,
madame of many brothels; Fulvia,
Cataline's long suffering spouse; Mar-
cellus, a charioteer who is put on the
spot; Augustus, an honest cop from
Hibernia; and Tiberius, a lecherous
and bibulous judge.
Following an old Roman custom,
this department will not identify the
players — that would be the most un-
kindest cut of all. y
Radio Plays Free
To 84,000 Week
New York. — In excess of 84,000
people weekly take advantage of the
free radio shows in auditoriums, ac-
cording to a survey made by the joint
Legit and Picture Code Committee.
The committee's report condemns
the free shows as unfair competition
with industries which formerly used
such auditoriums exclusively.
George Arthur Withdraws
From Local Play Field
George K. Arthur yesterday an-
nounced his withdrawal from the local
play producing field, severing connec-
tions with the International Group
Players at the Hollywood Playhouse.
Arthur, in association with E. E.
Clive, has run continuously for over
eleven months, making a good record
for the local show business. Clive will
continue to produce at the Hollywood
Playhouse.
Parker-Brown a Team
MGM is planning on teaming jean
Parker and Tom Brown in the Florence
Ryerson yarn, "Mild Oats," a story
dealing with youth. Brown is under
contract to Radio but it is understood
a loan can be obtained. The two play-
ers appeared together in "Wild Birds"
for Radio.
8 in Work at 'U'
On 19th Birthday
Coinciding with the nineteenth an-
niversary of the studio. Universal plans
to have eight subjects in work simul-
taneously by March 1 5. The studio
will start "Little Man, What Now?"
the Frank Borzage production, and
"Alias the Deacon," with Kurt Neu-
man directing, tomorrow. "The Hum-
bug," Max Marcin's original which he
directs, goes before the cameras an
Friday. "The Practical Joker," Ed-
ward Laemmie directing, and "The
Affairs of a Gentleman," Edwin Marin j
megging, both go into production be-
fore a week from Thursday.
The three subjects now in work will
carry through next week. They are
"Uncertain Lady," Karl Freund meg-
ging; "The Black Cat," directed by
Edgar Ulmer, and Ken Maynard's
"Doomed to Die," which Alan James
handles.
Lawson's Play Opens 14th
New York. — John Howard Lawson's
"The Pure of Heart," with Dorothy
Hall, James Bell and Tom Powers, is
slated to reach this city March 1 4.
MGM Seeks Barrie
MGM has placed a bid with Fox for
the loan of Mona Barrie for one of the
featured leads in the Norma Shearer
picture, "Barretts of Wimpole Street."
Selznick-Joyce Addition
New York. — Frank Schaeffer, for-
mer New York trade paper man,
leaves for the Coast today to join the
Selznick-Joyce agency.
/
ROSCOE
K ARNS
SPUD M.
cGURK
"C
in
ome On
Marines"
MY APPRECIATION TO '
DIRECTOR HENRY HATHAWAY
Just Finished
"IT HAPPENE» ONE
Directed by Frank C
NICHT"
apra
Now Playing Publicity Man in
"TWENTIETH CENTURY"
For Columbia
ALBERT LEWIS
HENRY HATHAWAY
PRODUCED
DIRECTED
"Come On Marines"
"Come On Marines"
PARAMOUNT
"COME
ON
MARINES"
"Henry Hathaway's direction is re-
sponsible for the general speed and
excellence of the production." — Hol-
lywood Reporter, Mar. 1, 1934.
PARAMOUNT
The last two
mugs on story
MONTE B
LUE
in
"Come On Marines"
"Come On Marines"
BYRON MORGAN
Management
JOEL SAYRE
Harry Weber Agency
1
Page Six
March 6, 1934
IREaORS
Danny Hall of Universal is the only
art director in Hollywood who is
doubling in brass right now. He is do-
ing the sets for the Margaret Sullavan-
Douglass Montgomery picture, "Little
Man, What Now?" at Universal, and
is also doing special sets for Charlie
Chaplin's next picture. Charlie swears
by him. . . . Incidentally, Hall's sets
for "Little Man" are going to be
something to talk about. He is said to
be doing something really outstand-
ing in his portrayals of scenes in a
German village, also some Berlin ex-
teriors.
•
Willie Pogany is a sort of "Man
Friday" for Busby Berkeley over at
Warners' lot. Berkeley only has to
give Pogany an inkling of the idea and
Willie gives him special set effects
that make 'em gasp when they are
thrown on the screen. Pogany did the
special set effect in "Wonderbar"
and "Fashions of 1934" for the Ber-
keley sequences. He is now doing the
same on the "Dames" picture.
•
Everyone at Universal is talking
about the sets which Stanley Fleischer
designed for the Lee Tracy picture,
"I'll Tell the World," which has just
been finished. Fleischer had a chance
to let his imagination run riot, for a
lot of it is laid in one of those mythi-
cal European kingdoms. Some of his
interiors in that kingdom are said to
be more than unusual.
At RKO, under the general super-
vision of Van Nest Polglase, head of
the Art Department, Al Herman, Car-
roll Clark and Chick Kirk are as busy
as bees. . . . Herman is doing the
sets on "Stingaree," the Richard Dix
picture that William Wellman is di-
recting. This is made with an Aus-
tralian background, and Herman did
considerable research before he started
on it. Some unusual ranch sets are
among the highlights. . . . Herman is
also working on the sets for "Green
Mansions." This is going to give Her-
man and Polglase an opportunity to
create effective settings, for it is laid
in the South American jungle. Some
very fantastic sets will result, accord-
ing to those who have seen the draw-
ings.
•
Carroll Clark is portraying a little
bit of Merrie England in the sets for
"Of Human Bondage." These are be-
ing erected at the RKO ranch, and are
said to be models of authenticity. . .
Chick Kirk had to study up on the
middle west corn belt before he start-
ed on the sets for "Alien Corn." Yes,
sir. That's just where it is laid — right
in the corn belt, and Polglase says
Chick now knows his corn area (no
pun intended) .
•
Esdras Hartley, who is responsible
for the settings in the )oe E. Brown
picture, "Sawdust," at Warners, says
he is glad that he is designing the sets
and doesn't have to handle the lions
that have so playfully slapped Mr.
Brown around. Incidentally, the set-
tings for this picture are eye-popping.
. . . Bob Haas, also on the Warner
lot, is the gentleman responsible for
the settings in "Friends of Mr. Swee-
ney." He won't tell you about them,
but the other folk on the lot say Bob
has done his usual fine job.
'•
Over at the Fox lot Max Parker,
Cordon Wiles, William Darling and
Duncan Cramer are mighty busy, with
"Free Gold," "Too Many Women,"
"The World Moves On," "The World
Is Ours," "Springtime For Henry" and
"Now I'll Tell" in production and oth-
ers coming up.
'•
Jack Okey is doing the sets for
"The Happy Family" at Warners. At
the same lot we find Anton Grot on
"Doctor Monica," and "Without
Honor"; John Hughes doing "The Re-
turn of the Terror."
•
At Paramount, where all the art
directors are working under the per-
sonal supervision of Hans Dreier, Ben
Herzbrun is on "It Ain't No Sin";
W. B. Ihnen is doing "Thirty Day
Princess"; John Goodman, "Little Miss
Marker"; Earl Hadrick on "The
Witching Hour"; Robert O'Dell, "The
Double Door"; and Ernst Fegte the
gorgeous sets for "Murder at the
Vanities."
Jugoslavian Heiress
Back to Hollywood
Planning to build a picture studio
in Jugoslavia, Frances Taucher, one-
time Chicago waitress who fell into
the Taucher macaroni fortune, has ar-
rived in Hollywood to get talent for
her pictures. Attorneys Oscar Collins
and E. E. Morris are incorporating the
company locally.
McDonnell Quits Erpi
H. A. McDonnell, studio manager
for General Service, resigned sudden-
ly Saturday. Stanley Hawkins, on the
way from New York, may be given
the post.
WB Seek Brook
For Francis Lead
Warners are trying to borrow Clive
Brook from Radio on a one-picture
deal to play the lead opposite Kay
Francis in her next picture, "The Fire-
bird," which will follow "Dr. Monica."
Reginald Baker, the London repre-
sentative of Associated Talking Films,
is trying to get Brook to go to Eng-
land and make a picture there under
the production wing of Basil Dean.
Buzz Berkeley's New
Warner Ticket 7 Yrs.
Busby Berkeley was all smiles yes-
terday. Warners handed him a new
seven-year optional ticket negotiated
through M. C. Levee.
Contract specifies he is to direct
pictures outside of the musical class,
although he will be called in when
important filmusicals need his hand
at dance direction.
ConsiderExtras' Transport.
Special group of five members of
the NRA Code Committee for Extras
met last night to frame a resolution
dealing with extras' transportation
problem.
The matter was up at recent meet-
ing of main committee which got no-
where with it. Whipped into shape
last night, and will be presented to
general meeting of entire committee
of fifteen tonight.
Para. Stock in 'Vanities'
Paramount assigned eight of its
younger group of stock players to
"Murder at the Vanities." The group
includes Toby Wing, Gail Patrick, Bar-
bara Fritchie, Clara Lou Sheridan,
Gwenllian Gill, Colin Tapley, Julian
Madison and Alfred Del Cambre.
Kraly Scripts for Harvey
Hans Kraly was signed by Fox yes-
terday to write the screen play of the
next Lilian Harvey starring vehicle
titled "Lottery Lover," which will be
produced by Al Rockett.
Smith Levee Contact Man Ready for Love' Assigned
Charles Smith becomes contact man
for M. C. Levee, severing relations
with the Schulberg-Feldman and Gur-
ney office to take a part of the Levee
responsibilities on himself.
Byron Morgan and Norma Mitchell
kave been signed by Paramount to
write the screen adaptation of "Ready
For Love" which will feature Ida Lu-
pino.
WRITERS, CAMERAMEN IIV
LAST MIIVUTE AWARD RUSH
Writers and cameramen are staging
a last minute voting rush in the Holly-
wood Reporter Awards of Merit Com-
petition.
Actors and directors started voting
early, but the writers and cameramen
lagged. Yesterday their ballots began
to come in like a deluge. And the re-
sults in the cameramen circles will be
surprising when the votes are counted
and the cinematographic winner is
announced.
This is the first time in picture his-
tory that ALL the cameramen have
had the opportunity to vote in the
naming of the best cinematographer of
the year. There have been many bitter
complaints in the past over some se-
lections. Now the cameramen have
the chance to do it themselves. If
any cameraman has not received a
ballot, a telephone call to the Reporter
will bring one immediately.
Among the writers a half dozen pic-
tures are running neck and neck for
original story award honors. About as
many are bunched in the race for first
place among adaptations. So close are
they grouped that it will not be until
the very last ballot is in that one could
safely pick the \A'inner.
Art directors have been sending
their votes in steadily, but there are
still a number who have not voted.
The competition is fast drawing to a
close, so we take the liberty of ad-
vising the art directors who have not
voted to send their ballots along be-
fore it is too late.
We Can Spare Some
Phil Gersdorf received a postcard
addressed to Samuel Goldwyn yes-
terday reading, "Please send me
some of those free lances I have
read about. I saw some in the mov-
ies in Great Falls and would like
to have them."
Tuchock Deal Closed
Radio finally settled the contract
dispute with Wanda Tuchock, after
several days of differences, and hand-
ed the writer-director the tilt in sal-
ary that her option called for. She is
writing an original story titled "Por-
trait," which she will also direct.
Baby' Shorts Fold
Educational is reported having
chucked the second "Baby Burlesque"
series after making two of the six
planned. Jack Hays, working picture-
to-picture for the company, is out
with other production plans up his
sleeve.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
^ Salary - Furniture
or Aufomobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
HOLLYWOOD
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Spttial wtakly and monthly rattt
The Plaza is near ev&ry-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "buik for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugtne Stem, Prtt.
The "Doorway ol Hofpitallty"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
'O
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The "HOT FROM HOLLYWOOD" column, which has been
appearing daily in the NEW YORK MIRROR and some FIFTY
NEWSPAPERS throughout the United States for several months,
was handled until February 14, 1934, by the King Features Syn-
dicate, which at no time held any contract with CWYNN. the
writer of that column.
On February 14, 1934. the "working agreement" between
this writer and the King Features Syndicate (which had placed
this column into several Hearst newspapers) ceased. It ceased
BECAUSE on that day Cwynn signed a long-term contract for
the distribution of the "HOT FROM HOLLYWOOD" column
"with the UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE!
This writer was offered a very good deal to continue with
King Features, but signed with UNITED FEATURES instead,
figuring that this organization, which serves over 1200 news-
papers throughout the world, several hundred of which are in the
U.S.A. (including twenty-six of this country's largest and most
important dailies) is a far more ADVANTAGEOUS set-up for
the interests of the column and its author.
It has always been and will continue to be this writer's
intention to print all the news and gossip of Hollywood, except
such information which could be construed as anti-Hollywood.
The "HOT FROM HOLLYWOOD" column will always be BY,
OF, and FOR HOLLYWOOD!
(Signed)
CWYNN
(Edith Wilkerson)
We Thank..
LOU WERTHEIMER
GEORGE GOLDIE
For Their Monte Carlo Production
AL NEWMAN
MAX STEINER
For Their Orchestras
THE VENDOME
And Its Wonderful Organization
And each and every individual
whose contribution in any way
helped to make our benefit one of
the greatest ever held in Los Angeles
EL NIDO CAMP
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Mrs. Harry Rapf, Chairman
Mrs. Louis B. Mayer
Mrs. Albert Eschner
Mrs. Ida Cummings
METRO-GOLDV.'YN-MAYER 3TUDI03,
% MR.SAN'UF.L MARX,
CULVER CITY.CAI.IK.
Vol. XIX, No. 47. Price 5e
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday. March 7, 1934
CCHNB0y$CNTHEP4N
• A CHAP said to us yesterday, "What
do you mean, Hollywood can learn
something from lobby corner conver-
sations with exhibitors? With all the
high-powered production brains, at
least high-salaried, we have in this
town — do you think some small town
exhibitor playing to three hundred
people a night can tell us anything?"
He didn't put it in quite that con-
ceited way, but you could read be-
tween his breaths and get the mean-
ing.
And we have given the substance.
•
Which brings us to a thought.
We have an old line group of pro-
ducers in Hollywood who grew up in
this game when your company had to
make money or fold.
Louis B. Mayer, who used to sell
'em over an exchange counter; Darryl
Zanuck, who had to MAKE MONEY
out of a dog star to keep his place in
the business; Charles R. Rogers, who
used to hit the Pullman route to sell
'em; Hunt Stromberg, who thought up
pretty pictures and phrases to put 'em
over; Irving Thalberg, who learned in
the greatest school in the business,
Universal, where a company stands or
falls yearly by its pictures; Ben
Schu.lberg— we could go on and on.
And then the business reached a
glorious Seventh Heaven — a span of
years that developed producers and
supervisors who merely had to think
of turning out something to SATISFY
THEMSELVES.
The boys who could shrug a
shoulder if you asked, "Well, did
the company make any money out of
your pictures?"
It was a blissful period.
Three weekly salaries for fellows
who never had to worry about how
the salesman was going to sell their
personally nursed orchid, or the ex-
hibitor to apologize for it.
Shucks — we can forget the higher
realms of creative bunk and come
down to hard pan: Fellows who
wouldn't even cooperate with their
employer to try to meet a release date.
Knowing that missing the date was
giving the company a six figure loss.
•
And with the dawn, we can tell
you something, boys and girls, of
Hollywood. Go back to the school
(Continued on Page 2)
30-Hour Week
Washington. — While dodging
the point of being specifically
quoted, the members of the pic-
ture industry Code Authority here
for sessions with General Johnson
and Administrator Rosenblatt, off
the record expressed themselves as
willing to back the President's ex-
pected demand for a thirty-hour
week. But no quotes.
Zanuck Sends Offer
To Swedish Prince
London. — On behalf of Darryl Zan-
uck, Ray Griffith yesterday made a
picture offer to Prince Sigvard of Swe-
den, and Erika Patzek, the blonde
German screen star who is to be his
bride. Their coming marriage has been
an international headline for weeks.
The offer is not so far from be-
coming a deal as you might imagine.
Not only is the bride of the royal
youngster a screen player, but Prince
Sigvard has had considerable produc-
tion experience both at Ufa in Ger-
many and in English studios. The ne-
gotiations are on in earnest.
Jory for 'Du Barry'
Victor Jory's deal at Warners, on a
loan-out from Fox for one picture and
extended to two as already reported,
was stretched in order to have Jory in
line for the part of the Due D'Aguilon
in "Du Barry."
Two Weeks for 'Spitfire'
New York. — The Katharine Hep-
burn picture, "Spitfire," has been
booked for the RKO Music Hall here
for a two weeks' run. Starts Easter
week, March 29.
Monday Set For Hearing In
Stockholder's Suit Kicking
About Salaries And Bonuses
New York. — Just in time to follow the spread headlines about
big salaries and bonuses in the picture business as disclosed by
the Federal Trade Commission, the Columbia Picture execu-
tives corrje to the gridiron. Supreme Court Justice McCeehan
yesterday set Monday for the hearing
in the suit of Mrs. Emma Cohen,
claiming anything and everything
against the company's heads.
Attorneys House, Grossman and
Voorhaus represent the stockholder.
(Continued on Page 4)
Para. Said Planning
To Do Own Shorts
On the heels of news that Para-
mount would make a short featuring
Bob Crosby, younger brother of Bing,
comes a strong report that the picture
company will make all its own shorts
next year instead of farming to inde-
pendents.
Arvid Gillstrom and Phil Ryan made
the bulk of the Paramount comedies
last year. Both producers have been
in session with Lou Diamond, head of
Para's shorts for the past two weeks,
but no decision reached.
'Schnozzle' in Person
New York — Jimmie Durante is
scheduled into the Capitol Theatre for
personal appearances starting March
16.
Hays to Miami
New York. — Will H. Hays and his
wife are on their way to Miami to
spend a week's vacation.
FOX TRIES TO BEAT GUX
OTV ACADEMY ART AWARD
Loretta Young To
MCM for 3 Pictures
Art director circles buzzed yester-
day as a result of a Fox publicity story,
despatched to all newspapers through-
out the country, giving the impression
that the company had already won the
Academy award for art direction. Stu-
dio announcement inferred Fox had
been given the nod for "Follies" be-
cause of Cordon Wiles' art work.
Wiles was given last year's award for
"Transatlantic."
Offending paragraph in the Fox
blurb reads, "The ingenuity an art di-
(Continued on Page 6)
Loretta Young was signed yesterday
by MGM on a three-picture deal. The
studio has no immediate assignment
for her.
Miss Young is still under contract
to Twentieth Century, but was farmed
out by Darryl Zanuck for these three
pictures during his shutdown period.
Dick Rowland Deal
At Radio Closed
New York. — Indications were yes-
terday that the deal which will bring
Richard A. Rowland into the Radio
Pictures situation in an executive ca-
pacity is closed. J. R. McDonough,
Ben Kahane and Rowland spent an
hour in conference.
It is understood the Rowland spot
will be in the East in an advisory ca-
pacity, much in the same line he fol-
lowed while on the Fox production
staff.
Code Auth. Officials
Report and Co Home
Washington. — The group of picture
executives here to make their report
to NRA higher-ups yesterday decided
that they might as well go home after
filing the report presented by John
Flinn. The feeling is that the picture
code hasn't begun to function yet,
anyway, so there are no particular
problems to iron out.
Next Week's N. Y. Pics
New York. — A very ordinary week
in view for the Broadway picture pal-
aces. Monday brings "Bedside" to
the Mayfair," a drop for a Warner
picture; "Heat Lightning" at the Ri-
alto, Wednesday; "Spitfire" at the
Music Hall, Thursday, and on Friday,
"Six of a Kind" at the Paramount and
"Midnight" at the Roxy.
Taiooka' Goes Big
New York. — In spite of the bliz-
zard, Jimmy Durante's "Palooka" did
the biggest first week business at the
Rivoli here since "Roman Scandals."
It rang the bell in the box-office to
the tune of more than $38,000.
N. Y. Banker Arrives
Arthur Lehman, of the New York
bankers, Lehman Bros., is in town to
look over his Radio property. He was
a guest of David Selznick at MGM
yesterday.
I
LAST CALL - Out Next Week - WRITERS NUMBER
Page Two
THE
March 7, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
gPBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd,
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
r\lew York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St , Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the ac* of March 3.
1879.
There's a story all over town which
spread like wildfire — probably because
so many were glad to hear it. It's
about the composer who was suppos-
edly playing the score for the new
Dietrich picture for Josef von Stern-
berg the other day. He had played
only a few bars, we hear, when the
director said, "I wish I could find
words to tell you how lousy your
music is!"
Whereupon, we are reliably in-
formed, the composer grabbed his
score, tore it in half, and threw it in
Von Sternberg's face, saying, "Well —
this is ONE way!"
A side-light and a high-light on
the opening of "Allez-Ooop" at the
new Tingel-Tangel Theatre, Tuesday
night, is the fact that Francis Lederer
called off that night's performance of
"Autumn Crocus" to be master of
ceremonies at the opening, in which
Steffie Duna was the star. A very nice
gesture, if you ask us! The Duna was
so lovely in her numbers that no doubt
she'll be chased immediately by pic-
ture producers (for pictures, of
course!) and the number "Tears"
composed by Frederick Hollander —
who did everything connected with
the show — is destined to be a hit.
Didja know that Hollander wrote the
music for Marlene Dietrich's "Blue
Angel"?
•
One of your favorite cowboy stars
(or maybe not!) got himself in a nice
mess at Palm Springs the other ivven-
ing. Trying to imitate a sponge, and
absorbing much too much liquid dy-
namite, he proceeded to call his wife
a lotta mean names, and to break up
the furniture in his hotel room. When
the manager tried to interfere, the
cow-boisterous actor pulled a gun —
so the manager retired until morning
when the star was gently but firmly
ejected from the Irtn. Manager may
sue for the damage done — in which
case you'll know whom we're driving
at — not that it matters!
"DARK HAZARD"
Warner-First National prod.; director, Alfred E. Green; writers, Ralph Block,
Brown Holmes, W. R. Burnett.
Rialto Theatre
Times: The film is guilty of an irritating abruptness in its transitions, and it is
apparent that the director has used this as a device to convey a false
illusion of speed.
Mirror: An excellent story by W. R. Burnett proves slightly disappointing as a
movie for Mr. Robinson. He plays his part biavely and he is supported
by one of the usual excellent First National casts.
Herald-Tribune: It has been directed by Mr. Green with a simple, almost home-
spun treatment without frills, but with a human quality which recalls
some of those gripping silent pictures of William DeMille. The picture
has pathos, humor and believability. All in all, we recommend "Dark
Hazard."
Sun: It ambles along peacefully for the most part, with little suspense and not
much excitement. But a colorful background and a competent cast keep
the interest alive. Its main assets are the star's pungent personality and
a new background for motion pictures, the greyhound races.
American: It is difficult for Mr. Robinson to be convincingly sappy and in the
hen-pecked sequences of the film he isn't very happy, for then the one
glamorous character in the yarn is plucked of its fine, dashing feathers.
World-Telegram: In writing, characterization and plot it sets a high standard,
and although the players who attempt to recreate Burnett's story and the
characters on the screen are sufficient in every way, the film lacks the
gusty comedy and bitter tragedy of the original.
Posf: Edward C. Robinson possesses the gift, unhappily not common among his
contemporaries, of bringing a humanizing conviction to most of his film
characterizations, and this altogether welcome quality is to be found in
his current work, "Dark Hazard."
News: Alfred E. Green adds fame to his megaphone with this smooth, fast pro-
duction. Add the work of W. R. Burnett, who wrote "Little Caesar,"
and you have a picture you can bet on.
Journal: It's a milder role than Robinson fans expect of their hero, but the pic-
ture has been nicely handled and has its share of diversion. Genevieve
Tobin does well with the not especially sympathetic characterization of the
nagging wife, and Glenda Farrell is excellent as a breezy blonde who was
part of Turner's past and ultimately becomes his future
A. J. Balaban Going In
With Fanchon & Marco
New York. — Following news from
Chicago that Fanchon and Marco flesh
shows were going into Balaban and
Katz houses comes the information
that A. J. Balaban is to associate him-
self actively with the Fanchon and
Marco organization.
Move is interesting in view of the
incipient revival in flesh shows
throughout the key cities.
Seff-Barf-lett Team
On Latter*s Original
Manny Seff has been assigned to
collaborate with Cy Bartlett on the
screen play of the latter's original
story, "Princess from Kansas City,"
which will co-star Joan Blondell and
Glenda Farrell for Warners.
Compton Driving Out
Juliette Compton is en route from
New York with an automobile party,
'due to arrive in Hollywood next week.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page
that graduated the men whose names
we have mentioned above.
Get a group of exhibitors represent-
ing the Kansas prairie, the Chicago
Loop, the New York Bronx, and the
Boston Back Bay in a corner during
this coming convention.
Let THEM do the talking.
And listen.
We'll all profit.
Cummings-Levy Abroad
Finishing her last retake for
"Glamour" at Universal today, Con-
stance Cummings and her husband,
Benn W. Levy, hop a train tomorrow
for New York on the first leg of their
trip to London. Miss Cummings will
do a play there and Levy will write
screen material for Alexander Korda.
Radio Signs Horman
Radio yesterday signed Arthur Hor-
man to collaborate with Wanda Tuch-
ock on the story of a school teacher
which she is writing. Deal was set by
Fritz Tidden, of the Hoffman-Schlager
agency. Kenneth Macgowan pro-
duces.
Pat Flaherty at Col.
Pat Flaherty was set yesterday
through Flo Bromme, of the Ivan
Kahn agency, for the role of Flanagan
in Columbia's "Twentieth Century."
Flaherty was brought out here some
time ago by Paramount for "Come on
Marines."
Reisner on 'Party'
Charles Reisner has been assigned
to direct the remaining sequences of
"Hollywood Party" for MGM. Alan
Dwan directed a portion of the pic-
ture, as did Richard Boleslavsky.
MCM Crew to Miami
MGM is sending a camera crew
down to Miami, Florida, next week to
shoot exteriors for the Jean Harlow
picture, "Eadie Was a Lady."
Para. Buys One For
Lombard-Marshall
Paramount yesterday announced the
acquisition of the Frederick Irving An-
derson Saturday Evening Post story,
"Notorious Sophie Lang," as a vehicle
for "Carole Lombard, with Herbert
Marshall being discussed as her team-
mate.
William Cameron Menzies will co-
direct with another pilot yet to be
selected. Other cast spots are filled
by Kent Taylor and Barbara Fritchie.
'In Conference' Given
to Murphy to Direct
Harry Joe Brown will not direct "In
Conference" for the Charles R. Rogers
unit as was planned, but will work on
several stories that the unit has just
purchased, turning over the assignment
to Ralph Murphy.
"Canal Boy," which Murphy was to
do next, will be assigned to another
director.
Sylvia Thalberg on
'Honor Bright' Solo:
Sylvia Thalberg is proceeding on
the additional dialogue of "Honor
Bright," which Louis Lighton produces
for Paramount. Austin Parker, who
collaborated with her, has gone to
New York, and Tay Garnett, who was
to direct, has moved over to MGM
to handle a picture there.
Barred Yarn for MGM
MGM yesterday purchased "Forty
Men on a Mountain," a German novel
by Franz Werfel, soon to be published]
in this country. Story was printed in|
Germany, but was barred by the NaziJ
regime. Studio has no plans for it asj
yet.
I
'Life Ends' Foy Title
Bryan Foy has set "Life Ends" as
the title for his steralization picture,
which goes into work this week. Jack
Schultz has been engaged as technical
man. Foy himself will direct the Wal
lace Thurmond story.
Adrian Returns Home
Adrian, MGM's fashion artist, re
turned from a month's trip to New
York yesterday.
RUSSELL.MILLER,
and Company
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
NevK York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone HOIIywood 1181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
I
March 7, 1934
THE
Page Three
'LET'S BE
AND
Cast, Direction and
Photography Okay
' LETS BE RITZY"
(Universal)
Direction Edward Ludwig
Original Play...-Wm. Anthony McCuire
Screen Play Harry Sauber,
Earle Snell
Photography Charles Stunnar
Cast: Lew Ayres, Patricia Ellis, Isabel
Jewell, Frank McHugh, Berton
Churchill, Robert McWade, Hedda
Hopper, Addison Richards, Adrian
Morris, Betty Lawford, Clay Clem-
ent.
While the screen version of William
Anthony McGuire's play, "If I Was
Rich," will set no worlds on fire,
neither will it send people away mut-
tering into their beards. The picture
IS a pleasant, if unimportant, program
attraction, designed simply to enter-
tain. One of its main charms is that
It has no illusions of grandeur. It is
a light comedy, content to be merely
light — and comic.
The story concerns a boy and a
girl, married and living in a New York
one-room flat upon their salaries as
a shipping clerk and a stenographer.
Tne girl accepts attentions from her
boss, while the boy putters about with
the housework. Behind with the rent,
his friend, a loud-mouthed radio an-
nouncer, attempts a bluff to avoid
dispossession. The shipping clerk is
represented to be the son of a mil-
lionaire, struggling because he wants
to make his own way. His landlord,
rising to the bait, invites the young
couple for a week-end party. Hoping
to advance himself by this associa-
tion with wealth, the boy accepts, only
to discover that the landlord is facing
bankruptcy and is bluffing too.
Some of the material has dated a
bit since McGuire wrote his play. The
adaptation is workmanlike but a few
labored spots remain, despite vigorous
direction by Edward Ludwig. Photog-
raphy is standard.
The picture might well have been
stolen by Robert McWade, playing the
grouchy employer of our hero, had not
McWade played with such a heavy
hand. He is too grouchy. Contrast
this performance with the always
adept one contributed by Berton
Churchill.
Lew Ayres and Patricia Ellis have
both been seen to better advantage.
Isabel Jewell and Frank McHugh make
the most of their opportunities as the
friends of the couple. The other parts
are no more than bits.
The keynote of your campaign can
be found in the original title, "If I
Was Rich." Certainly there are
enough variations of this theme to sell
any picture. Promise your patrons a
pleasant evening and leave it to the
picture to deliver.
Asbury at Columbia
Herbert Asbury arrived in town yes-
terday to take up a term writing
ticket at Columbia, where an assign-
ment for him will be selected today.
His deal was set through the William
Morris office.
RITZY' LIGHT
PLEASAJ^T COMEDY
Arliss Contract
ProtecisZOs^h Cent.
Baby LeRoy-Fields
¥eiid HeaEed at Last
If the Hollywood Reporter's
Award Contest does nothing else,
it will go down in picture history
as having been the means of heal-
ing one of the most bitter and
long-standing feuds in the indus-
try, that of W, C. Fields and Baby
LeRoy. Ballots received by the Re-
porter show that each has voted
for the other for the best acting
performance of the year.
Pic Shortage Brings
More Chi 'Vaude'
Chicago. — The Balaban and Katz
Oriental Theatre has added six vaude-
ville acts to the screen bill and capped
it with a reduction in admission prices.
This move steps the Oriental up
alongside the State-Lake Theatre, op-
erated by Jones, Linick and Schaefer.
This house has been doing a big busi-
ness with combination of vaudeville
and pictures.
Barrymore Signed For
Wednesday s Child'
John Barrymore was yesterday sign-
ed by Radio for the lead in "Wed-
nesday's Child," a Broadway play by
Leopold Atlas. Barrymore goes to Ra-
dio when he completes his work in
"Twentieth Century" at Columbia.
Frank M. Thomas, a youngster of
12 who had the top spot in the play,
will be featured. Willis Goldbeck is
scripting.
Beachwood Plant Revives
California Studios, Inc., yesterday
announced it has taken over the plant
and equipment of the Beachwood Stu-
dios at 1420 N. Beachwood Drive.
Announced that many improvements
in lighting, stage and sound equip-
ment have been made.
Morris Back This Week
Chester Morris will return from
New York this week in time to start
his next picture, "Practical Joker,"
for Universal on Monday. Edward
Laemmie will direct and Stanley Ber-
german is producing.
Smith on Radio Mag.
Frederick James Smith is again edit-
ing a radio magazine. Tower publica-
tions today brought out the first issue
of a new radio book with Smith as
managing ed. Last year he introduced
a similar magazine for Fawcett.
Walthall Not at Para.
Henry B. Walthall did not go into
"The Witching Hour" at Paramount
as previously announced by the stu-
dio. Player recently finished his work
in "Operator 13" at MOM.
Fields on West Yarn
Herbert Fields checked in at Para-
mount yesterday to develop an origi-
nal story for a Mae West starring
vehicle, to be produced by the Wil-
liam LeBaron unit.
Rufus LeMaire states that his deal
with George Arltes covers personal
management for future picture con-
tracts, has no relation to radio work,
and that LeMaire himself has not
abandoned plans for stage production.
The Arliss contract with Twentieth
Century is understood to contain a
clause which gives that organization
a six-month period after the release of
his second picture before deciding on
future commitments. With "House
of Rothschild" going out as a two-
dollar road show, this puts the release
date for the next Arliss considerably
in the distance, and consequently also
postpones new negotiations by Le
Maire for his client.
Agents Suffer by MCM
Ban on Solicitors
MCM is putting the screws on
agents in its latest order putting up
the bars against solicitors. Studio is
trying to get rid of he hawkers who
invade offices at all times of day,
selling everything from behind-the-
counter literature to racing turtles.
Artist managers are the unwitting
sufferers, since the ban cancels the
freedom of the lot heretofore enioyed
by them.
Rogers After Title
of 'Stormy Weather'
Charles R. Rogers is dickering with
Arlen and Kohler to purchase the title
of their song hit, "Stormy Weather,"
sans the score. Paramount producer
wants it as the title for his "Canal
Boy" production.
Yacht Club Elects
Mike Boylan succeeded Bill McNutt
as commodore of the Pacific Writers'
Yacht Club as the result of an election,
held yesterday. Other officiers Include,
Dick Schayer, vice-commodore; Har-
vey Gates, rear-commodore; Milton
Cashy, fleet commander; Franklin
Hansen, port commander; and Russell
Coller, fleet secretary.
Adams-Mue'fin to Team
Although he has three more weeks
to go with Charles R. Rogers at Para-
mount where he is writing the script
of "Lizzie Skeritt," Frank R. Adams
was signed by Radio yesterday to join
Jane Murfin at a later date to write a
story for Frances Lederer. The Rebec-
ca and Silton office negotiated.
Somborn Will Okayed
The will of Herbert Somborn, late
proprietor of the Brown Derby restau-
rants, was admitted to probate yes-
terday. The document leaves 60 per
cent of his estate to Gloria Swanson
Somborn, daughter of Gloria Swanson,
whose second husband Somborn was.
Beef Trust' Wanted
Leo McCarey is searching for a
Beef Trust chorus. Director wants a
bulging line for the Mae West pic-
tu-e, "It Ain't No Sin."
By BURNEY
With the entire motion picture in-
dustry almost completely unionized or
codified by this time, about the only
ones left unprotected seem to be pa-
trons of motion picture theatres. So,
a New York editor has devised a code
for the lads who deposit their quarters
at the box-office till — to wit: A de-
mand for the production of a greater
number of comedies — so that our
evenings at the talkies may tickle our
risibilities more and our tear-glands
less. . . . All directors to stop worrying
about "trick" camera angles and to
realize (noting the success of Mae
West) that the public is far more
interested in curves. . . . Sound equip-
ment in all theatres to be reduced in
volume because under the present
conditions members of the audience
can hardly hear what they are saying
to each other.
•
Recognition of the fact that the
Adonis on the screen is not always
the real hero. It's often the man out
front who has the endurance to sit
through the picture. . . . The setting
apart in each theatre of an isolated
section for the exclusive use of young
couples who don't love to go to the
movies, but who go to the movies to
love. . . . And. finally, producers to
give more thought to the stories of
the pictures and stop depending so
m.uch upon their lucky stars.
•
Quite the baldest and boldest move
ever made In this country to dignify
the existence of professional gigolos
was attempted this past week in New
Ycrk. Billy Rose, impresario of the
Casino de Paree, addressed a news-
paper ad to the ladies which reads
as follows: "May I present a group of
sophisticated, amazingly handsome
young men? If Madame's escort
doesn't feel like dancing, she can trip
the light fantastic with Mr. Three or
Mr. Seven (they have no names).
Tney see, they hear, but they remem-
ber nothing! You'll know them by
their lapels. LOOK FOR THE GREEN
CARNATION!" A swell idea, but
the floral decorations should be RED.
•
Anybody in Hollywood who thinks
he or she is being overworked playing
in two productions simultaneously or
something should hide his head in
shame . . . and Jack Williams of the
good old legit Is the lad who puts them
to shame. . . . Playing In "Peace on
Earth," the Theatre Union Group pro-
duction at the Civic Repertory on 14th
street, Jackie establishes what is prob-
ably an all-time record by perform-
ing seven roles in one night. ... As
the play advances he is a striker, a
German sailor, a college alumnus, a
bailiff, an admiral, an army recruiter
and a financier. . . . Only Paul Muni,
to our knowledge, could equal this
feat!
Tight Breeches' For N.Y.
New York. — "Tight Breeches," a
play by Taintor Foote and Herbert
Hayes, will be given a tryout here in
the Spring. Rowland Stebbins recent-
ly gave an amateur performance of it
in Charlotte, N. C.
Page Four
TH
March 7, 1934
LONDON PAPERS DO RAVES
OVER 'QUEEN CHRISTINA'
The Selznick-Joyce gang must be
having a hearty snicker at the people
who have been gagging about Frank
Joyce's extended British "vacation" —
for Frank, despite all the society stuff,
has been working overtime here and
has wangled some ser-well contracts,
and we don't mean maybe. . . . Max
Milder, Warner chief, sitting in the
lobby of the Prince Edward, Derby
hatted and big cigaro in mouth, su-
perintending a booful display for the
trade show of "Fashions for 1934" —
and in our opinion this title can qual-
ify for one of the worst lows of the
year — nevertheless Max and hench-
man Dillon Damen smacked it over
with a beeg bang,
•
Johnnie Farrow taking time out
from Culver City to write his British
Mayfair acquaintances for a suggested
name for his noo scooner. . . . Ana
Lee, now radiantly blonde and going
into the new Al Parker pic, is looking
a million and one dollars these days.
. . . Ned Mann giving London the
once-over, he's going to do the model
stuff for the Korda-Wells fantasy. . . .
Marian Marsh takes Momma around
with her on parties; she should team
up with Miss Ida and Mrs. Stanley
Lupino! . . . Anthony Bushell starting
a new fashion here, red and white
spotted scarf, black hat, coffee col-
ored coat and banana suede shoes —
oh, we nearly forgot, he carried a roll-
ed umbrella!
Betty Stockfeld dancing at the Cafe
de Paris with Russell Fawcus, who
originally put her into tbie flicks; 'tis
rumored Betty may go to Universal
City if she's a good girl. . . . Walt
Disney's "Pied Piper" is re-playing
date after date in this town; they love
it, and what a hand it gets ,too. . . .
Hugh Findlay and Bob Flaherty lunch-
ing to discuss exploitation of Bob's
new epic "Man of Arran." . . . John
Betjman, new movie critic on the
Standard, is still trying to out-Walter
Winchell, and still hasn't mastered
the idea yet. . . . The reason Betty
Astell visits the Royalty Theatre stage
door is — snap! Crackle!! Pop!!! — her
brother is the stage manager.
•
Joe Schenck told a few folk he
thought Aileen Marson was a hit for
pics and in less time than it takes to
say "Cut!" British Lion got her John
Henry to a year's contract; too many
Hollywood talent scouts in town to-
day! . . . Last year our biggest studio
here admitted that it did not have
to sign people; it could always get
them for a pic when needed; but with
featured folk and even bit-players
taking the New York boats with con-
tracts in their pockets, there is a little
more British talent hunting in this
town than there used to be.
•
It is time some one was assigned
to DIRECT Judy Kelly in a flicker;
that girl has got plenty, if only some
one would go after it! . . . Michael E.
Balcon, Herman Fellner, Anna Neagle,
Joe Friedman and Herbert Wilcox
among the celebs watching Carbo
wowing them in "Queen Christina."
. . . Irving Asher lining up a big pro-
duction schedule, but how come, War-
ners, that you are re-making "The
Church Mouse" so soon? Even if it
is only in England?
•
Chris Mann fixed the Gregory
Ratoff-Caumont deal here. . . . There
is a British star who freely admits that
she would fall on her, well, face — if
she ever gets the chance of playing
opposite Junior Fairbanks; now what
do you say about that, Gertie Law-
rence? . . . Buster Laughton, who has
been to the South of France for a few
days' vacation, is back legitimating
again. . . . Dave Bader recuperating
from a bout of flu. . . . When is some
one going to give Pearl Argyle a real
movie break?
Joe Rock Makes One
Pic for Wainwright
London. — Wainwright Brothers have
closed a deal with Joe Rock whereby
he will handle production for them on
a picture for Gaumont.
Picture has been hanging fire for
some time. The Wainwright boys had
the contract with Gaumont, but were
waiting for right yarn. Now they feel
they have it, and with the okay from
Gaumont have Dorothy Farnum doing
the script.
Sweden Goes Cozy
Stockholm. — No more big theatres
will be built in Sweden, unless theatre
men change their present plans. The
idea is that the cozy house, seating
not over 1000 people, gives an at-
mosphere of warmth that attracts,
while big houses are cold and keep
'em away.
New London Company
London. — Charles O'Brien has or-
ganized a new picture company here
with a capital of $250,000. A two-
stage studio will be built at Blackpool,
where the company plans to do six
pictures yearly when operations get
under way. O'Brien formerly managed
the Sporting Club at Cannes.
Picture on Mozart
Prague. — A plan is being developed
here to make a picture around the life
of Mozart. The picturesque back-
ground of old Prague and his music are
figured to make a picture with world
draw.
Same Old Alibi
Paris. — Jacques, whose film com-
pany did a fold, attributed the collapse
of his enterprise to economic depres-
sion and failure of the bank that was
to finance him.
8 Percent for German Co.
Berlin. — The AFIFA film company
did well enough in the past year to
pay out a dividend of 8 percent to
stockholders. Much rejoicing here-
abouts.
Cartoons in Poland
Warsaw. — Wladimir Kawonko is
making first animated cartoons for
Polish film industry.
London. — Greta Garbo's "Queen
Christina" has set a new record for
reviews in the press of London. With-
out exception, the critics lauded Garbo
and the picture to the skies, praising
in terms seldom if ever used before.
Some of the papers even went so far
as to issue special contents bills, an-
nouncing the reviews. Following are
some excerpts:
Daily Herald: Garbo's best ... a tri-
umph . . . never has done better work.
Daily Express: Garbo's new triumph
. . . greatest personality on the screen.
Daily Mirror: Garbo's greatest.
Daily Sketch: An outstandingly fine
picture.
Times: Deliberately brilliantly com-
posed.
Morning Post: Triumph . . . may
easily prove the best American film
shown in London this year . . . should
be seen by everybody.
Daily Mail: Garbo greater than ever
. . . better than ever before . . . one
of the loveliest productions possible to
remember . . . may well be the sen-
sation of the year.
Star: Do not miss this picture. It
has everything.
Sunday Observer: In all this world
of shifting homage, she is still the
Garbo.
Sunday Times: None exceeds for
brilliancy or the power of casting a
spell the glamorous Garbo . . . her
best yet.
Sunday Pictorial: A perfectly gor-
geous film.
Sunday Express: A magnificent pic-
ture.
News-Chronicle: Triumph of acting
. . . more serenely enthroned as the
queen of the screen than ever.
Daily Telegraph: A Greta Garbo tri-
umph . . . memorable acting.
Evening News: One of those pic-
tures you can see and see again. I
have seen it twice and shall go again.
Sunday Chronicle: The ruling queen
of the screen. Her performance is
one of the strongest she has ever
given.
News of the World: Garbo the en-
chantress. The greatest woman star
the moving picture industry has ever
known. The greatest of her triumphs.
The People: Greta's greatest tri-
umph. I went into the Empire Thea-
tre on the first morning of this pic-
ture. Although it was in the middle
of the day, the vast auditorium was
full. Will be the most successful of
all Garbo's pictures.
Sunday Referee: Her finest display.
Beside all the other film stars, Garbo
is a film sun.
Fahrnie Bankroll
Is All Padlocked
Here's a gal with a purpose.
Merry Fahrnie, daughter of Chica-
go's patent medicine king, who
came to Los Angeles for a rest, has
decided to stay in Hollywood until
she gets into pictures. She is tak-
ing a house, and tells promoters
she isn't in line to pay for her own
pictures, even though she has a
big enough bankroll.
A Turkey Show
Istanbul, Turkey. — Ipek Films is
making the first all-Turkish pro-
duction turned out here. The story
is by a Turk, about Turkish life,
and with a Turkish cast.
RKO Closes Latin-Amer.
New York. — With the announce-
ment yesterday by the RKO-Radio ex-
port department of closing of con-
tracts for distribution of its 1933-34
product in Columbia and Cuba, this
company gets practically a 100 per
cent Latin American coverage. Cine
Columbia and Cuban American Film
Company got the above two contracts.
Amato Active in Italy
Rome. — Giuseppe Amato, one of
Italy's most active producers, is mak-
ing a series of three pictures. They
are: "Old Rogue," "Mr. So and So,"
and "The Brothers Castigliano."
Swiss Make Race Film
Zurich, Switzerland. — The Mentor
Film Company has finished big sound
production, "Separation of Races,"
with both German and French ver-
sions. Release early this month.
McLaglen Biography Out
London. — A biography of Victor
McLaglen has just been published
here. It is titled "Express to Holly-
wood."
Cohn Boys on the Pan
(Continued from Page 1 )
As a matter of fact, the suit was filed
over a year ago. But because of the
recent Government publicity on exces-
sive payments to executives in all
lines, it is certain to assume real im-
portance in newspapers next week.
Mrs. Cohen's complaint, through
the long ritual of a legal document,
among other things lists as grievances
the alleged "issuance of false state-
ments regarding profits," "that the
executives have withdrawn excessive
sums from the company under the
guise of bonuses, expenses, etc.," and
that in the fiscal year ended June,
1931, the company over-stated its in-
come by $750,000.
The complaint goes on to claim that
the three executives, Harry Cohn, Jack
Cohn and Joe Brandt, without the
sanction of the stockholders, voted
themselves 25 per cent of the profits;
that no dividends on the common
have been paid since 1931 ; and that
In 1 929 the executives voted them-
selves five year contracts at $1500 a
week, but nevertheless later boosted
Harry's figure to $2800 a week.
A peculiar feature of the suit is
the inclusion of Joe Brandt as a de-
fendant, the latter having been an of-
ficer during the period about which
complaint is being made, but since
having split with the Cohn brothers.
The stockholder's attorneys are
prominent in this city, giving some-
thing of weight to the possibilities of
the suit. But the attitude of the Co-
lumbia attorneys is that the suit only
has nuisance value, and they do not
care to dignify the charges with an
answer before trial.
!<
What A Grand
and Glorious
reeling!
When the Hollywood Reporter Awards of
Merit are announced to know that YOUR
OWN judgment has been vindicated by the
combined judgment of your fellow workers.
And what a petty feeling if you failed to
vote just because you couldn't put some-
one's name on a ballot.
Only a day or two left.
And you owe it to yourself and your branch
il of the industry to be represented.
So here is a ballot. It takes a minute to
fill it out.
And a year to regret not having done so.
Hurry!
BALLOT
Name .-
Studio at which employed
Classification: (Actor, Director, Sound Man, Writer, Cinema-
tographer. Art Director etc,)
Vote for outstanding achievement in my branch
( In case of Actors and Actresses, Actors may only vote for
Actors an~d Actresses for Actresses) .
Special for Writers:
Outstanding Original Story
Outstanding Adaptation
Vote for outstanding production of the year
(All branches vote in this classification)
To assure that this is my individual vote
My i>ignature
Residence - ■
Phone •
Mail This Ballot to AWARD EDITOR
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
6717 Sunset- Boulevard, Hollywood, California
FILL OUT AND RETURN IMMEDIATELY
Page Six
THE
March 7, 1934
PHOTOPLAY
126 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Norma Shearer
(MCM)
Not bad — the April issue of Photo-
play.
Sara Hamilton lets her sense of hu-
mor run riot in her two stories, "Se-
crets of the Fitting Room" and "Sing,
Hollywood, Sing!" Kirtley Baskette is
the only other two-story writer here,
offering "Is It Garbo or Hepburn?"
and "They, Too, Were Stars." Jane
Hampton is very amusing in her
"Sweet Alice Brady."
William F. French tells about the
trials and tribulations of "Wunder-
bar" in "Only Al Wanted to Play";
C. B. Gray writes "Creen-Eyed Jeal-
ousy"; Sylvia issues her usual warn-
ing— this time to Patricia Ellis; Wini-
fred Aydelotte has "Hollywood, the
World's Sculptor"; and Ruth Rankin
has a good yarn, "What's This Muni
Mystery?"
"Happy Landing!" is by Jim Tully
and is about the Bill Boyds; Virginia
Maxwell tells about "Leslie Howard's
Lucky Coin"; and Jeanne Hayes writes
a swell, grand story on Mary Carlisle,
"Little Girl, Don't Cry."
SHADOPLAY
74 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Clara Bow
(Fox)
It is unfortunate that Shadoplay
must so consistently be the "spill-
over" magazine for Photoplay, for it
comes out the little end of the horn
with annoying regularity. The March
issue is no exception.
In fact, Virginia Maxwell's fiction-
ization of "The journal of a Crime"
is the only thing in the mag that is
particularly interesting, with the ex-
ception of Susan Hempstead's amusing
story of "Healy and His Hooligans."
"Apollo in Furs," by O. B. Server is
about Francis Lederer; "Barnstorming
Days," by Crowell Mack, tells of ex-
periences players had on the road;
Vera Mason writes about "Jack Gil-
bert's Latest Heartbreak"; William
Pendleton says nothing very pleasant-
ly in "Kay's Okay with Kenneth";
Rita Ryan has "The 'Best Dressed Wo-
man' Jinx," and Miriam Morris has a
yarn on youthful players in "Little
Men, What Now?"
Art all the way through the maga-
zine tops the reading matter.
SCREENLAND
98 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Lilian Harvey
(Fox)
The April issue of Screenland is
breezy, amusing reading from cover to
cover, with so few dull spots that they
don't matter.
Leonard Hall contributes the bright-
est spots in his two stories, "Star's
Return" and "Hail, Hayes!" They are
well-written accounts of the adven-
tures of Miriam Hopkins and Helen
Hayes on the New York stage.
Ida Zeitlin has "What Happened
to Hepburn on Broadway?" and she
also writes "Maurice Denies It" —
meaning practically all the rumors that
have been tagging around after him.
James M. Fidler is another two-
story contributor — "Janet and Charlie
Tell the Truth About Their Screen Re-
union" and "Why Jean Harlow Al-
most Quit the Screen."
S. R. Mook is very funny in his
yarn on Richard Ralston Arlen Jr.,
"Baby LeRoy's Rival"; Bing Crosby
starts "My Real Life Story," told to
Mr. Mook; Louis E. Bisch, M.D.,
Ph.D., writes rather ramblingly in
"Warning to Hollywood Stars"; Ben
Maddox quotes Leslie Howard in "Is
Movie Love Too Real?" Beth Brown
has an interesting story on Herbert
Marshall in "Marshall vs. 'Bart'," and
Dickson Morley tells about Dick Pow-
ell in "Scared of Movie Women."
MOVIE CLASSIC
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY.. ..Constance Bennett
Most of the stories in the March
Movie Classic hit a nice, average,
readable level, with none standing out
very far.
Dorothy Donnell outlines the lover-
less career of the German star in "No
Romantic Roles for Dorothea Wieck?"
Loretta Young talks to Jack Grant
about Spencer Tracy and other things
in "Get Your Heart Broken Early";
Gladys Hall has "Doug Jr. Speaks Up
for His Dad — and Himself"; Boris
Nicolai quotes Rouben Mamoulian's
father as saying that his son was go-
ing to marry Garbo in "Will Garbo
Marry Her Director?" Mark Dowling
goes over the 1933 awards in "Holly-
wood's New Roll of Honor"; Sonia Lee
writes "Madge Evans Tells Her Big
Secret," and the secret is Tom Gallery;
and Winifred Aydelotte gives the
younger players an intelligence test in
"These Li'l Girls Know the Answers."
Dorothy Roberts' story on "What
Rudy Says About Women Now" is not
so interesting; Faith Service writes a
nice yarn, "Flash! How Otto Kruger
Got to the Top!" Dorothy Calhoun
tells how "Hollywood Starts a Big
Clean-up," concentrating mostly on
art and ads; and Robert Fender has a
very amusing story, "What's a
Stooge? Ted Healy Tells You." Ruth
Biery writes the third chapter in "The
Private Life of Mae West."
Everything O.K. but nothing O.S.
'out-standing) .
MOVIE MIRROR
96 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Mae West
(Paramount)
There are sixteen stories in the
March Movie Mirror and they all, in-
dividually, are worth the price of the
magazine.
One of the best is Douglas Fair-
bank's Jr.'s "The Unknown Leslie
Howard," and for sheer earnest sin-
cerity, read Gladys Hall's "Spencer
Tracy's Love Confession." Faith Bald-
win is fair and clever in "Has Virtue
a Chance in Hollywood?" Helen Louise
Walker has a nice yarn, "Hollywood
Takes Care of Its Own"; Dora Albert
tells about the romances of Ricardo
Cortez and Adolphe Menjou in
"They're Not Afraid of Love"; Susan
Talbot is amusing in her outline of the
stars' busy days, "How To Be Three
People in One Day"; Charles Grayson
has "Its Tough To Be On Top" (Sylvia
Sidney) ; Alice Fuller tells about "The
Salvation of Gary Grant," and Adele
Whiteley writes "How Four Stars Got
Their Man" (Irene Dunne, Norma
Shearer, Claudette Colbert and Helen
Hayes) ; and George Madden wonders
about Gloria Swanson in "Can Gloria
Come Back?"
Dorothy Emerson writes a swell fic-
tionization of "Trigger"; Harry Lang
concludes his life story of Mae West;
Michael Johnson contributes one of
the best Max Baer interviews yet;
Caroline Somers Hoyt tells about
"Hepburn's Hollywood Creations," and
Harold Stevens has "Jimmy Cagney's
Health Road To Success," and Dorothy
Manners lets "Jean Harlow Talk about
Those Divorce Rumors!" and spike
them.
Not bad reading this month.
PICTURE PLAY
66 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Lona Andre
(Paramount)
Picture Play for March is enlivened
by humorous, clever writers whose
stories are entirely entertaining.
Samuel Richard Mook writes about
some unguarded moments in the lives
of certain stars in "Secret Selves Un-
masked"; Malcolm H. Oettinger has
a good time telling about Elissa Landi
in "Sleeping Beauty"; Dudley Early
has a swell story on Paul Kelly in
"Who's Afraid of Kelly?" Florence
Ross is very amusing in "The New
Love Code," and Maude Latham has
a grand interview on Jean Muir in ''A
Blond Natural."
Frances Fink tells all about George
Raft's wife in "Fans, Mrs. Raft"; Kay
Francis gives both sides of the story
to Dorothy Wooldridge in "What Hol-
lywood Has Given Me and What It
Has Taken from Me"; Myrtle Gebhart
has a sympathetic, fair story on Joan
Crawford, "Growth Is Her Coal";
Laura Benham looks around the Holly-
wood Hills and writes "Tragic Man-
sions," and Helen Pade has gotten up
a questionnaire by which the fans can
compare themselves to their favorites
— "What Star Are You Like?"
The March Picture Play is one of its
Dest issues to date.
SILVER SCREEN
74 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Myrna Loy
(MGM)
Elizabeth Wilson, Patricia Keats and
Charles Grayson exercise their sense of
humor to great advantage in the
March Silver Screen.
They write respectively, "A Visit to
Norma Shearer on the set of 'Rip
Tide'"; "I'm in Love" (Myrna Loy)
and "Clicked Twice," all about Doug-
lass Montgomery.
These three stories are good and
funny.
Adela Rogers St. Johns comments
frankly on several stars in "Some
Grow — Some Swell"; Muriel Babcock
points out the influence Hollywood has
upon customs and costumes of the
world at large in "All the World Fol-
lows the Stars"; S. R. Mook flits hu-
morously from studio to studio in his
department, "Stars at Work"; Ruth
Biery is serious — and with reason,
too — in "The Assassins of Holly-
wood"; Lerore Samuels has "Design
for Starring" (Miriam Hopkins), and
Harriet Parsons tells about Miss Wieck
in "There Is Only One Dorothea."
Ted Healy and His
Stooges Split Up
Ted Healy and his stooges defi-
nitely came to the parting of the ways
yesterday. The fight over salary has
been on and off for several weeks
among the gang, and the stooges,
Howard, Fine and Howard, decided to
go on their own.
Healy's deal with MGM, until he
received a new contract, was also for
the stooges, but the new one only
calls for him.
Para. Managers Shift
Boston. — J. Harold Stevens, branch
manager for Paramount in Indian-
apolis, has been appointed manager
of the local Paramount exchange.
Edward Ruff, former manager here,
goes to manage the Portland ex-
change, and J. T. Howard succeeds
Stevens in Indanapolis.
Ludwig Sought by 'U'
Edward Ludwig may return to the
Universal lot shortly to direct another
picture there. At present he is doing
"Friends of Mr. Sweeney," at War-
ners. He recently completed "Let's
Be Ritzy," for Universal, and negotia-
tions are now on for him to return.
Mudie in Xleopatra'
Paramount yesterday signed Leonard
Mudie for a featured spot in "Cleo-
patra," which Cecil B. DeMille di-
rects. Mudie was last in "The Mys-
tery of Mr. X" at MGM. Deal was
set by the Lew Cantor-Humphrey of-
fice.
New Mystery for Radio
Radio yesterday tagged Charles
Marshall to write an original mystery
story, "In the Clouds," for Kenneth
Macgowan to produce. Marshall is
the author of many mystery novels,
the most recent being "Murder of the
Naked Woman."
New Clients Signed
Rebecca and Silton office yesterday
announced the signing of Sheila Terry,
Helen Morgan and Florence Reed to
managerial contracts, getting the lat-
ter two through the New York affilia-
tion, M. S. Bentham.
New Song for Irene
Irene Franklin will sing "I Was
Crying," a burlesque on torch songs,
in Fox's "The World Is Ours," which
John BIystone directs. Miss Franklin
wrote the words and Jerry Jarnagin
the music.
Kent Starts New One
With Lane Chandler as the star,
Willis Kent put "Bandit of Lawless
Valley," the first of a series of six
westerns for the state right market,
into work yesterday. J. P. MacGowan
directs.
Fox Tries To Beat Gun
(Continued from Page 1 )
rector of a motion picture must exer-
cise in order to conceive, prepare and
execute motion picture settings is ex-
plained in an interview with Gordon
Wiles, winner of the Academy of Mo-
tion Picture Arts and Sciences award
and creator of the sets and symbolic
backgrounds for 'The Follies,' for Fox
Film."
March 7, 1934
Page Seven
HOT WORDS SCORCH AIR
AS EXTRA GROVP MEETS
'Elizabeth-Mary'
Still Alive at 'U'
Friedman-Garcia
Exchange Opinions
A verbal row that reached the
'Here's my nose, hit it if you dare"
stage, but which ended in nothing
more exciting than a lot of words and
blatant noise, enlivened the meeting
of the NRA Code Committee for Ex-
tras last night at the committee quar-
ters in the Guaranty Building.
The squabble was between Phil
Friedman, casting director on the Fox
lot, and Allan Garcia, president of
the Hollywood Supporting and Extra
Players' organization.
The meeting had gone along as
smoothly as the code meetings usual-
ly do, and apparently was finally get-
ting somewhere. it was adjourned
and members started to leave. Sud-
denly Friedman jumped up and shout-
ed that he had something to say about
one of the members of the committee.
"Forget it," exclaimed Chairman
Mrs. Mabel Kinney.
"A member of this committee told
a friend of mine he was going to
noke me in the nose the next time
e saw me," shouted Friedman.
' You're the man who said it," he
shouted as he pointed his finger at
Garcia. "Here's my nose! Now poke
it if you dare. You can't scare me,"
he fairly screamed.
The open door to the room was
slammed shut and nothing but a noisy
rumble issued for a few minutes. Then
Friedman, looking very white, came
out with a friend, exclaiming, "He
can't intimidate me."
A few minutes later Garcia came
out, also looking white. Neither
Friedman nor Garcia would talk.
Neither would any of the committee
members.
Mrs. Kinney declared that it was
perfectly ridiculous for grown men to
"act so much like children when they
gather to take up matters of real im-
portance."
She was so disturbed by it all that
she could give no definite announce-
ment of what action took place, ex-
cept to say that the matter of trans-
portation and hazardous risks for ex-
tras was finally settled, but that the
details would have to be obtained
later. She also announced that she
leaves today for Sacramento for a
week. While away, Mrs. Una Hop-
kins will act as chairman of the com-
mittee.
And the dove of peace tucked his
head beneath his wing and shivered
as the blue eagle on the NRA sign
seemed to be about to scream.
She's Typed
Alice White won't be able to
get sore if anyone calls her blonde
poison now. She goes into RKO's
picture, "Blonde Poison" as the
lead.
Award Note
Due to an error in make-up, the
original story, "Six Hours To Live,"
was listed as "an adaptation" m
the list of pictures eligible in the
Reporter Awards of Merit Compet-
ition. It was written by Gordon
Morris and Morton Barteaux, and
was produced by Fox. Therefore,
it should be listed in the originals.
Screen Writer Puts
Dillinger Into Yarn
Taking advantage of the notoriety
that has been and is being heaped
upon John Dillinger, the bandit, Bart-
lett Cormack, of the Paramount writ-
ing staff, has done a story on Dillin-
ger's life and adventures.
It is understood that the story
makes the bandit both the hero and
the villain. Cormack has titled his
story, "Goes Marching On."
Dr. Cimini Signed for
Grace Moore Picture
Dr. Pietro Cimini, conductor of the
operas at the Hollywood Bowl for the
past four years, was signed yesterday
by Columbia to organize and rehearse
the operatic choruses and direct the
orchestra for the opera sequences in
"Don't Bet on Love," the Grace Moore
vehicle. Victor Schertzinger directs.
Deal was set by the Sackin agency.
Paramount Sponsors
Colored Wedding
Paramount opened its doors Mon-
day for the wedding of Gladys Hen-
derson, Negro player in "Murder at
the Vanities," to Wilbur Clayton
band leader leaving for China.
Studio had Duke Ellington and his
orchestra playing the marches, while
Mitchell Leisen gave the bride away.
Reverend Napoleon P. Greggs offici-
ated.
MCM Beauty Winner
Totes Own Historian
Claudia Smaw, beauty contest win-
ner in MGM's traveling studio pro-
ject, has arrived in town to take up
her contract with the company.
Accompanying her is Mildred Sey-
dell, of the Atlanta Georgian, who will
record the girl's doings for "Diary of
a Contest Winner" for her newspaper.
'McFadden's' Again
Charles R. Rogers has closed the
deal for the talkie screen rights to
"McFadden's Flats," which he pro-
duced in association with Edward
Small and Eph Asher as a silent in
1927. Rogers will make this for next
season's program.
Cable Leaves For Home
New York. — After the most sensa-
tional series of personal appearances
that any picture star has enjoyed since
the silent film days, Clark Cable left
for the Coast yesterday.
Philip Barry to MCM
New York. — Philip Barry, play-
wright, goes West this week to adapt
ancy Stair" for the Irving Thalberg
unit at MGM.
With $60,000 already expended for
the production of "Elizabeth and
Mary," most of which was salary for
Lowell Sherman, Universal is making
another attempt to get a suitable
script.
Carl Laemmie Jr. and Sherman were
in a huddle yesterday on the story and,
if the yarn cannot be brought to life,
Sherman will likely do "Left Bank"
next.
Spotlight Theatre To
Reopen on March 12
The Spotlight theatre is scheduled
to reopen on Monday evening, March
12, with the stage play, "Six Months'
Option," by Ansella Hunter.
Edwin O'Connor will direct the
play, according to announcement by
Virginia Kay. Members of tthe ad-
visory board and production staff of
the theatre include: B. E. Brown,
Fred Datig, Bill Friedman, Al Rockett,
Harry Joe Brown, E. A. Asher, Felix
Herman Spitzel, Milton Mitchell and
Milton Black.
Invinc. Completes Cast
On 'Together Again'
Maury Cohen, producer of Invin-
cible Pictures, yesterday added James
T. Mack, Rosita Marstini, Tom Rick-
etts, Clarence Geldert and Lloyd In-
graham to the cast of "Together
Again," which Frank Strayer is direct-
ing, at the Mack Sennett Studios.
Lila Lee and Onslow Stevens head
the cast in this picture, which is being
made from an original story by Robert
Ellis.
Alice White to U'
Alice White returns to Universal,
after doing two outside pictures, to
play one of the leads opposite Paul
Lukas in "Affairs of a Gentleman."
Edmund Grainger is producing.
Lundy Quits Agency
Ben Lundy, who has been with the
Walter Herzbrun agency for the past
six months as an associate, yesterday
handed in his resignation, taking effect
immediately.
Wyler Has Choice
Bringing "Glamour" under the wire
on schedule time, William Wyler's
next directorial trick is a toss-up be-
tween "Sutter's Gold" and "Fanny,"
with latter favored by Universal.
Coffee-Richman Team
MGM yesterday signed Lenore Cof-
fee to collaborate with Arthur Rich-
man on "Vanessa," the Diana Wyn-
yard vehicle. Walter Wanger pro-
duces. No director set as yet.
Randy Bartlett in N. Y.
New York. — Randolph Bartlett,
veteran film editor and screen writer,
is back in New York after three years
spent in Paris for Paramount and
French concerns.
Para. Has New Plan
On Writer Credits
In a7T~e7fort To av'oTd conflict among
staff writers as to who deserves credit
lines on scripts and how those credit
lines should read. Paramount has is-
sued an order removing writer names
from screen plays as they come
through. Proper credits on scripts
have in the past caused much friction
among the scriveners which the com-
pany hopes to eradicate.
Writers now will have to wait until
previews to know how their screen
credit will shape up. Considerable dis-
satisfaction among the staff members
has been heard over the new scheme.
One important writer said: "I won't
know how I stand until the preview
and then it's too late to start fight-
ing for my rights."
Chesterfield to Make
Brown-Thorpe Yarn
George R. Batcheller has purchased
an original, "City Park," by Carl
Brown and Richard Thorpe, and will
put it in work March 26 as the next
Chesterfield production. Brown will
script and Thorpe will direct. The
Hoffman-Schlager agency set the
Brown deal.
When Brown finishes his work on
his original, he moves over to the In-
vincible unit to script an untitled story
for Maury Cohen.
John Lodge, Para. Actor,
Has to Close Law Office
New York. — John Lodge, former
local attorney now a Paramount con-
tract player, finished winding up his
law business here and left for Holly-
wood and Paramount yesterday. He
will stop off at Boston for a brief
visit. From there he goes to Washing-
ton, and then to California.
Col. Settles French Sales
Paris. — J. H. Seidleman is expected
here today to start discussions with
Pathe-Natan regarding distribution of
Columbia product in France. This
territory is one of the final points to
be covered in the new Columbia for-
eign line-up.
Liberty Changes Tag
Liberty Pictures has again changed
the title of the Damon Runyon story,
"The Big Mitten," which Fred New-
meyer directed. Shooting title was
"The Quitter." Now changed to "No
Ransom."
Mrs. 'Schnozzle' to Act
Mrs. Jimmy Durante turns screen
actress for mGm. Studio has set her
in "Hollywood Party." She will play
the role of Mrs. Jimmy Durante in the
picture.
Young Selwyn an Agent
New York. — William Selwyn, son
of Arch Selwyn, has opened offices
at 229 West 42nd Street, where he
will act as personal representative for
stage, screen and radio talent.
Art Ripley at Radio
Radio yesterday signed Arthur Rip-
ley to write and direct the next Edgar
Kennedy "Average Man" short. Lee
Marcus produces.
NOTICE
Inasmuch as what newspapermen call "the Dillinger
Story" is reaching newspaper proportions that will
undoubtedly suggest moving-picturization to picture
makers, major (as the slang term goes) as well as
independent, it is appropriate (to save the rest of the
industry its valuable time, as well as its money) that
PARAMOUNT gives notice that it has a story (an
original by Bartlett Cormack) derived entirely from
"the Dillinger Story" — a comment and a reflection on
this day and age — in which Dillinger, rank individualist
that he is, is both hero and heavy, and which script,
being practically finished (in timeliness time) will go
into production immediately. Its title is "Goes
Marching On." Moreover, the story treatment and the
title have been registered — and discussed — where it
matters legally.
MKTR0-G0LD7/YN-MAYKR STUD 1 03,
% MR. SAMUEL MAPX
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
Vol. XIX, No. 48. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, March 8. 1934
lATSt DECLARES WAR
Elliott Rushing To Capital
To Lay Pi^S it nation In Lap
Of Roosevelt And Congress
• GETTING back to the question of
supervisors.
How much supervision do you think
was offered or was given George
Cukor for his "Little Women?" How
much of the writing of that adapta-
tion do you think the supervisor dic-
tated?
With Cukor on "Little Women,"
and on all his recent pictures, it has
been the same with the writer or the
adaptor. Both of them worked to-
gether in fashioning a story for the
screen and no supervisor or producer
had anything to do with their work
other than to say "that's fine, go
ahead." None would dare say other-
wise, for they would not question the
intelligence, good judgment and pro-
duction ability of the director.
And there are plenty of Cukors and
Capras; the woods are full of them.
Why not give them their production
chance, why not permit them the
use of their abilities, why stifle them
with stupid supervision?
Certainly there is a supervisor here
or there who knows his work, who is
capable of dictating ways and means
of nnaking pictures that will be good
pictures; but they are very few, and
the many others, through their lack
of ability, are accounting for most of
the bad pictures.
Good writers, good directors are
licked by the inane judgments of both
story and direction of groups of men
who have no place in this business
at all. They throw up their hands
in disgust and reason: "If the studio
thinks so little of its product as to
permit such insanities, why not give
It what it wants?" They do — and it's
generally bad.
For a man to be a good supervisor,
he should be a good writer, an ex-
cellent director and an intelligent ex-
ecutive. How many of our supervisors
possess those qualifications?
We are pleading for a freedom of
production expression for the men and
women in this industry WHO KNOW.
We are condemning the practice of
putting relatives in executive seats,
dictating the efforts of those men and
women, because the relatives DO NOT
KNOW and will never know. We are
asking for BETTER PICTURES and
suggesting a way that they may be
had. What do you think?
New Exhib Body?
New York. — An exchange of
speechmaking invitations between
Harry Brandt, of the New York in-
die exhibs, and Martin Smith, of
Ohio's indie group, is thought by
many here to presage a possible
move towards a new national ex-
hibitor organization.
Earl Carroll-Para.
Sued for $270,000
George Rosener yesterday filed suit
for $120,000 against Earl Carroll,
producer of the stage version of "Mur-
der at the Vanities," and against Para-
mount, which is making a picture of
the play, for $150,000, alleging in-
fringement of copyright.
Rosener claims he wrote a play call-
ed "Crease Paint" in 1929, later re-
vised it as "Murder to Music," and
copyrighted it in 1931. Carroll and
others, the complaint alleges, "ap-
propriated" portions of the theme, plot
and characters of this play and em-
bodied them in "Murder at the Vani-
ties." Rosener also asks an account-
ing and an injunction against further
showings.
Radio Plans 8 in England
London. — Radio Pictures is planning
to make about eight quota pictures for
the British market in the coming sea-
son. They will be produced at the Ha-
gen Studios, where it is understood
Universal will also eventually close for
its next year quota productions.
Irene Dunne Recovers
Irene Dunne returns today to the
Radio studio after being laid up for
several days with a throat infection,
and production on "Stingaree
resumed. Richard Dix
with her.
With the departure last night for Washington of International
President William C. Elliott of the lATSE, it was learned that
the lATSE is preparing for war and plans to carry the fight to
Congress and right to the desk of President Roosevelt.
Burned by the merry-go-round ride
he was given in Hollywood, Elliott,
instead of leaving for New York, de-
parted for Washington where he will
go before the Labor Committee of the
House of Representatives and lay bare
a complete report on local labor Code
(Continued on Page 4)
will be
co-starred
'Sailor Beware' Cast-
May Walk on Show
New York. — There is something of
a mystery about the proposal of a
salary cut for the Broadway cast of
"Sailor Beware." All the members of
the cast have handed in their resig-
nations, and the producers announce
plans to bring the Chicago cast back
to the Rialto.
But in the background is the fact
that Paramount, owner of the screen
rights, would be tickled to death to
see the play close now, because un-
der their deal, the longer the play runs
the higher the price to be paid.
Helen Hayes Due Here
For 'Vanessa' Lead May 1
New York. — "Mary of Scotland,"
the Theatre Guild play, will close
around May 1 and Helen Hayes will
return to Hollywood immediately. She
will go into "Vanessa" at MCM,
which will be ready when she returns.
Diana Wynyard has already been cast.
MGM OX BUYIXG SPREE
FOR PLAYS AND i>fOVELS
New York. — A couple of weeks ago
it looked as though Radio was Broad-
way's best customer for screen rights
to plays and novels, but developments
yesterday indicate that the Coast
MGM conferences with Nicholas
Schenck have reached the point where
that organization is ready to go to
market for next year's material.
And when the MGM bankroll is
loosened, things happen. That organi-
I Continued on Page 2)
Radio Cables Doug. Jr.
Radio yesterday cabled Douglas
Fairbanks Jr. in London an offer to
return for a top spot in "Green Man-
sions." Kenneth Macgowan is produc-
ing it.
Vrcki Baum-MCM Part
v^Vicki Baum winds up at MCM next
^ week, after being on and off the writ-
ing staff for the past two years. She
will rest for the next two months.
N. Y. Indies Fight
Majors and Erpi
New York. — More headaches for
the majors. The New York indepen-
dent exhibitor group decided yesterday
that so long as they had got this far
in the season without weakening in
their agreements not to book percen-
tage pictures or give preferential dates,
they might as well continue with the
policy.
Another important angle of the
meeting was a warning to exhibs
against signing the new Erpi agree-
ments being offered on the heels of
the suit against that company alleg-
ing exorbitant charges. The indies
claim the new agreement is virtually
a release to Erpi from all past claims.
Flood of Dillinger
Pictures in Offing
In addition to the story on the ban-
dit, Dillinger, written by Bartlett Cor-
mack for Paramount and announced in
yesterday's Reporter, several other
yarns built around the same personality
are in the making.
Cnarles Furthman wrote one some
time ago, in which he predicted the
jail break, and this is being considered
by Warners, Fox and Radio. The Hays
office has not yet approved the sub-
ject for pictures.
Vita. Close Date Set
New York. — The date is set, the
Vitaphone plant in Brooklyn shuts
down on March 28. Sam Sax, produc-
tion chief, sails for Europe and a rest
on March 1 7.
Kahane Leaves Today
New York. — After a couple jof
false starts it appears that B. B. Ka-
hane will get off to the Coast today,
taking the Century for the first lap.
DeSylva-Sllvers East
Buddy DeSylva and Sid Silvers leave
for a three weeks stay in New York
this Saturday. Trip is all vacation.
P
LAST CALL - Out Next Week - WRITERS NUMBER
»!
Page Two
THEJ^
March 8. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and PLiblisher
gPBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisre Mansions: Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 : Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Clel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
jncludine postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
OPEN FORUM
The list of Hollywooders who are
building or planning to build at Palm
Springs right now — is tareefic! ....
Angela Joyce, who is reported suing
Lord Raveistroke for breach of prom-
ise, has been playing a bit in a show in
Los Angeles. . . May Robson has gone
to Frisco for a rest. . . Ernst Lubitsch
has been taking his big, black cigar
horseback riding every morn these
morns. . . . Latest description of Hol-
lywood is Jerry Horwin's which is,
"Hollywood — the place where your
standing has nothing to do with your
picture success!"
•
The James Seymour-Jocelyn Lee
thing is too serious. . . . Mary Pick-
ford will be back in town in about
three weeks. . . . Ceorgie Raft, all
"wore out" from wearing a costume
weighing seventy-five pounds! . . .
June Brewster, lunching with Earl Car-
roll and looking things over at Para-
mount— or was it vice versa? ....
Bolton Mallory and Johnny Machio
smothering Merrie Fahrnie with atten-
tion— but not getting much encour-
agement.
•
Hear tell that Pan Berman tried to
sign up Steffie Duna the night of the
Tingel-Tangel opening — but she no
talk! . . . Paul Muni saw fourteen
plays in two weeks — not in Noo York
— in Russia! . . . Mary Astor, back
from a week in Palm Springs. . . The
jack Warner reconciliation rumors are
around again — but we don't believe
it. . . . Gene Markey has been living
at the hospital, right next door to
Momma Joan Bennett. . . . Jeanette
MacDonald has put her Cord body on
a new Packard chassis.
•
Norman Foster busy losing an ap-
pendix— and Margaret Lindsay will be
out of the hospital on Monday. . . .
Frances Marion, Mrs. Hunt Stromberg,
Lorraine Walsh, Shirley Lanfield
among those at Mrs. Gardner Sulli-
van's luncheon at the Vendome. . . .
Mrs. Nick Schenck, guest of honor,
couldn't come because of her father's
sudden death. . . . The Sally Eilers-
Harry Joe Brown babying now official
— though Sally asked no denials when
we printed it weeks ago. . . . George
White is still insisting that Bob Kane's
name be taken off the "Scandals"
"DAVID HARUM"
Fox prod.; director, James Cruze; writer, Walter Woods.
Radio City Music Hall
News: There is very little action in the picture, but the story has a nice, homely
quality that keeps the audience interesed.
Times: Another of those welcome, refreshing pictures which, judging by the
constant outbursts of laughter, was enjoyed greatly.
Herald-Tribune: The picture is entirely Will Rogers.
Mirror: Filled with humor and charming tenderness, it has such vivid American
color that it is a Rogers picture of importance.
American: It is essentially heart-throb drama, but it is distinguished by mo-
ments of high hilarity, and, too, there are incidents of gentle gaiety and
simple effectiveness.
Sun: Built all too obviously to glorify one personality, it does just that. The pic-
ture might have been much funnier, certainly more dramatic, if its pur-
pose had not been so important.
World-Telegram: Just an innocent ancient that might better have remained
hidden in some attic.
Journal: It's all very homespun and bucolic.
Post: We can hardly imagine any material less inspiring to work with than the
skimpy story of David Harum.
Radio Going Slowly
On Foreign Market
New York. — Unsettled European fi-
nancial and political conditions will
cause Radio to proceed with caution
in foreign expansion, according to Phil
Reisman, just returned from Europe.
Reisman declares that Radio will
not go into intensive distribution un-
til conditions settle, but meanwhile
expressed his satisfaction with the
British organization, which has had
great success with "Little Women"
and "King Kong."
Incidentally, Reisman confirmed re-
ports printed in The Reporter that
quota restrictions are proving a boom-
erang to foreign exhibitors through
resulting in a cheaper class of product
just made to fill quota requirements.
Song Writers to Dine
The Song Writers Protective Asso-
ciation, on the eve of the annual din-
ner in New York, will hold a dinner
and meeting in Hollywood at Al Levy's
Tavern, next Monday evening, at 7
o'clock. L. Wolfe Gilbert will preside.
Another Murphy
frank Murphy, head of Warners'
electrical department, became the
father of a six-pound boy yesterday
afternoon at the Monte Sano Hospital.
Mrs. Murphy was formerly Louise
Lynch.
Marling on Von's Music
Frank Harling was signed by Para-
mount yesterday to write the music for
Josef von Sternberg's "Catherine the
Great." The deal went through the
Beyer-MacArthur office.
Love Me, Love My Dog
Douglass Montgomery has moved to
the Garden of Allah. He says he mov-
ed there so he could have his dog
with him.
credits — and for plenty of reasons. . .
At the Clover Club last night, Bert
Wheeler, Patsy Parker, Bill Seiter, '
Louise Fazenda, Robert Montgomery,
Lupe Velez, Johnny Weismuller, Patsy
Ruth Miller, Howard Dietz and Henry
Ginsberg.
Reginald Owen To Be
The King in 'Du Barry'
Reginald Owen was signed yester-
day by Warners for the part of King
Louis in "Du Barry," which will star
Dolores Del Rio. The William Morris
office made the deal.
The studio was negotiating with
Columbia for the loan of Walter Con-
nolly but was unable to get him as
he is now in "Twentieth Century,"
after which he goes to Fox.
Dan Clark to Hawaii
Daniel B. Clark, one of the few
cameramen ever to hold the distinc-
tion of twice heading the A.S.C., sail-
ed last night for Honolulu to photo-
graph special scenes for several MGM
pictures. He will be gone about six
weeks.
McCuire Back on Job
William Anthony McGuire reported
for work at Universal yesterday after
a week's battle with the flu. He is
winding up on the script of the Frank
Borzage production, "Little Man, What
Now?"
Roach on Vacation
Hal Roach leaves today for Del
Monte for a ten day vacation to attend
the polo matches there. He will be
accompanied by his wife.
MCM on Buying Spree
(Continued from Page 1 )
zation closed yesterday for the rights
to Max Gordon's production, "The
Shining Hour," as a possible Norma
Sh"ea?ervehTcIe. The price was $47,-
000 — no mean nickels.
"Yellow^Jack," the play about Dr.
Walter Reecl's martyrdom in Cuba
searching for the yellow fever germ,
opened last night to mixed critical
opinions — but it doesn't mean much
anyway since the understanding is that
MCM has the inside track on the pic-
ture rights.
^tkJ to close the day, MGM paid
^'SH'S.OGO for a Nazi novel by Franz
Werfel, titled "Forty Days of Musa
Dagh." It has been published in Ger-
man but wont' be out in this country
until Fall, when Viking will sponsor it.
Yessir, MCM money is in the market.
March 6, 1934.
Dear Bill:
I am one of the "malcontents" re-
garding the Screen Writers' Guild; at
least, I am one of those who have sat
with the "malcontents." I am writ-
ing this note because it has been pub-
lished that all scribblers not at pres-
ent enthusiastic about the Screen
Writers' Guild are critics of the pres-
ent regime.
I am not.
I feel it is coming from me to say
so because I was on the Executive
Board for several months. I saw a
great deal of earnest effort to find
issues for which a writers' organiza-
tion should and could go seriously to
war. In my opinion, we found none.
Also in my opinion, it makes not the
slightest difference who occupies the
official spots. A writer's real prob-
lems are individual and there's noth-
ing for an organization to do.
At the time of the fifty per cent
cut, I was persuaded a spectre was
rising — the sinister monstrosity — a
producers' agreement of some kind
against everything in the world but
themselves. If any such thing ever
did threaten, the President has made
it impossible.
The writer's business is to make
himself valuable. If he does, he's
badly needed.
As far as I am personally concerned,
I have never been more fairly and
courteously treated than I have since I
came to the movies five years ago.
My convictions being what they are,
I intend to take no part in coming
elections. So I'll be obliged to you if
you let me state my case in your
paper.
Sincerely,
JOHN MEEHAN.
Novarro Stop-Over in Chi
Chicago. — A week's engagement at
the Chicago theatre here will break
Ramon Novarro's trip to the Coast.
The MGM star left New York yes-
terday.
U' After Brook
Universal is after Clive Brook for
the top spot in the next James Whale
production for that studio, titled "Trip
to Mars."
Central Distributors
Will Buy for CASH
FEATURES SHORTS
Quick Action — Prompt Payment
M. LEON LEVINE
599 Fifth Ave.. N. Y. C.
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24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
March 8, 1934
Page Three
BRITISH PRODUCERS THROUGH
WITH 'WASHED-UP' STARS
Baker, Visitor Here,
Gives Latest Slant
British motion picture producers
have turned over a new production
leaf, and from now on only the big-
j gest American stars, with names that
mean something at the box-office, will
be able to land contracts that will
carry them to the English studios.
This information comes from no
less an authority than Reginald Baker,
managing director of Associated Talk-
ing Pictures, Ltd., and Associated Brit-
ish Distributors, who is now in Holly-
wood for a brief stay.
Commenting upon the part that
British producers are playing in the
amusement world, Mr. Baker declared
that the time has passed when Ameri-
can players, writers and directors who
are either "washed up" or find them-
selves on the picture skids, may get
juicy picture contracts in England.
"We are more than grateful for the
help of the American picture people,"
said Mr. Baker, "but we have awak-
ened to the fact that in the past we
have frequently hired people who had
practically finished their careers in
America and have taken them to Eng-
land where they were of no real worth
to us. That time has ended. From now
on we will only turn to America for
people who are at the top of the mo-
tion picture ladder; people who will
mean something, and who will be of
material assistance to our pictures.
"Over in England we feel that we
are now really getting somewhere. So
unless we can get the best, we will
use our own people. Of course when
we can get someone like Douglas
Fairbanks, Jr., that is different. We
have been developing some fine pic-
ture people ourselves, and we feel they
i should be given the chance to go
along with us."
Mr. Baker expressed himself as
more than proud of the fact that Eng-
land has produced such a picture as
"Henry the Eighth" and declared that
the reception and praise of that pic-
ture by the American people is con-
sidered by the British as another indi-
cation of the fairmindedness of the
American people.
"I also understand that Mr. Laugh-
ton has been getting a very big vote
in the Academy and Reporter awards
competitions," he added. "That sure-
ly is sporting of your American pic-
ture people. It is a splendid spirit."
Stooge Makes Good
Another stooge makes good. Benny
Baker, one-time foil for Lou Holtz,
comes into his own on a ticket signed
yesterday by Columbia which gives
him the comedy assignment in "Hell
Cat," which Al Rogell directs under
Sid Rogell's supervision. Walter Kane
of the Weber office spotted the deal.
Radio Likes Blackmer
Radio is talking terms to Sidney
Blackmer on a seven year optional
ticket. Player is set for two pictures.
"Down To Their Last Yacht" and
"Let Who Will Be Clever," company
'planning to convert these deals into
the termer.
Mrs. Coolidge As
Film Croup Officer
New York. — Mrs. Calvin Cool-
idge has accepted the honorary
vice-presidency of the Motion Pic-
ture Research Council. The an-
nouncement was made yesterday by
Mrs. August Belmont, president of
the group.
U's 'Sutter's Cold'
May See Stage Rival
New York. — An interesting situa-
tion looms as a result of an announce-
ment from Melvyn Levy that his play,
"Sutter's Gold," was set for Broad-
way production next Fall.
Universal has owned the rights to
Cendrar's novel, "Sutter's Cold," since
1927, and for the past six months has
had George O'Neill at work on a script,
planning the picture for the Fall's big
special. Opinion here is that Uni-
versal will have protection on the title,
though the story is naturally open to
all, being of a historical nature.
Levy has just sold another play
to Anthony Brown, producer of "To-
bacco Road."
This Little Piggie*
Brings Home the Bacon
The song, "This Little Piggie Went
to Market," from Charles R. Rogers'
"Eight Girls in a Boat," has just re-
placed "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" as
the number one tune over the air,
according to word received yesterday
by Bobby Crawford, of DeSylva, Brown
and Henderson. Sam Coslow and Har-
old Lewis wrote the number.
Asst. Directors Boosted
The Academy yesterday announced
that the assistant directors in that or-
ganization have been reclassified and
boosted from the rating of "associate"
members to full "active" membership.
This move will give the assistant di-
rectors the right to vote along with
actors, producers, writers, directors
and technicians.
Schubert on 'Heide'
Sol Lesser has signed Bernard
Schubert to script "Heidi," a classic
by Johanna Spyri, when he finishes
work on "Peck's Bad Boy." Latter
picture will be delayed a month be-
cause Jackie Cooper will not be avail-
able from MGM. Hoffman-Schlager
set the Schubert deal.
Rowland Has 'Adeline'
Announced some months ago for
the Rowland-Brice concern, "Sweet
Adeline" will be made now by William
Rowland alone on his Columbia ticket
as his first picture. Producer has clos-
ed the rights to the Kern-Hammer-
stein stage production.
MCM Signs Novices
MGM yesterday handed long term
contracts to James Elison, Robert M.
Dalton and Robert Levingston, all
graduates of the Oliver Hinsdale school
for acting at the studio.
Chevalier in Suit
Over 'Widow' Cut
M. C. Levee yesterday commissioned
Ronald Button, attorney, to file suit
against Maurice Chevalier for com-
missions on the star's contract with
MGM for "Merry Widow."
Manager stated he had not closed
the deal for the player, but had been
authorized by him to obtain offers on
deals, one of which had been for
"Merry Widow," Chevalier turning it
down only to close it himself at a later
date. Chevalier is said to be getting
$150,000 for the picture.
"In the event my claim is legally
substantiated in the suit," said Levee,
"proceeds will be turned over to the
Motion Picture Relief Fund as a joint
contribution from both Chevalier and
myself after deducting costs."
Merkel-Pendleton in
'Manhattan Melodrama'
MGM yesterday assigned Una Mer-
kel and Nat Pendleton to featured
spots in "Manhattan Melodrama,"
which goes into work Monday with
W. S. Van Dyke piloting.
Joe Mankiewicz, who is scripting,
will attempt to keep three sequences
ahead of the shooting. Clark Gable,
William Powell and Myrna Loy have
the top spots.
Idwal Jones to Write
'Cleopatra' Features
While in San Prancisco over the
week-end, Tom Baily, head of Para-
mount publicity, signed Idwal Jones
to do a special feature writing job on
"Cleopatra."
Jones is dramatic editor of the San
Francisco Examiner and was one of the
first editorial feature writers on the
Hearst paper. He gets down here next
week.
Jolson's Radio Role
The Kraft Cheese radio program
over NBC tonight will feature an ex-
cerpt from the script of MGM's "Viva
Villa." Al jolson will play the role of
the newspaper reporter which Stuart
Erwin portrayed in the film, and the
cast will be made up of radio players.
'In Conference' Starts
With Ralph Murphy directing in
place of Harry Joe Brown, Charles R.
Rogers puts "In Conference" into
work today at Paramount. Cast in-
cludes Zasu Pitts, Helen Mack. John
Halliday, Phillips Holmes, Ned Sparks
and Grace Bradley.
MCM Buys 'Swans'
, MGM has purchased "All His Geese
Were 'Swans," an original by Charles
S. Selden and Frederick Stefani. Selden
"Is now doing the adaptation of his own
yarn, "Fifteen Wives." for Invincible.
Pictures.
Lucille Watson at MCM
MCM yesterday signed Lucille Wat-
son, character actress, on a long term
deal. Player is now appearing in "No
More Ladies," a play by A. E. Thomas,
running on Broadway.
Arliss English Pic
For Next Spring
If, and when, George Arliss accepts
a deal to do a picture in England, it
cannot be done until the Spring of
1935, as per his agreement with
Twentieth Century. The old ticket
expiring on the completion of his pres-
ent picture designates that he can do
a single picture in England but not
until after six months from the re-
lease date of "The Head of the Fam-
ily" and inasmuch as that picture will
not be offered for release before next
December, his English production can-
not go into work before a year from
May I.
It is understood that Arliss has been
offered $75,000 for a series of ten
broadcasts in New York and he coun-
tered with a proposition of $100,000
and for this purpose engaged Rufus
LeMaire to get that additional 25
grand, and negotiate a British deal for
a picture.
RKOinBuild-Up
For Fred Astaire
RKO is planning a big build-up for
Fred Astaire, the musical comedy star
and dancer who was the sensation of
"Flying Down to Rio."
Studio officials are jubilant over the
discovery that Astaire, while being a
marvelous dancer, proved himself to be
a comedian who has caught on with
the public.
4,000-Pound Star to Do
Series of Personals
Following in the footsteps of Rob-
ert Montgomery, Wallace Beery,
Barrymore and Clark Gable, Mary, a
4,000 pound hippopotamus purchased
from the Hagenbeck and Wallace cir-
cus by MGM, will make a personal
appearance tour over the Loew Thea-
tre chain with "Tarzan." Mary had a
role in the jungle picture,
Morgan Abroad for 'U'
Universal's German production unit
yesterday signed Edward Morgan for
a featured role and he leaves tomor-
row for Switzerland. Marian Marsh
and Luis Trenker have the leads, with
the latter directing. Morgan deal was
set by the Ivan Kahn agency.
Burgess Liked by WB
Dorothy Burgess has clicked with
Warners, player getting another ticket
which takes her from the "Sawdust"
cast into a featured assignment in
"Friends of Mr. Sweeney," which Ed-
ward Luddy directs.
Emily Fitzroy Returns
Emily Fitzroy. recently working for
English productions, returns to the
American scene in a spot in Warners
"Dark Tower." It is an Edward G.
Robinson starring picture.
Rosener to Meg Indie
Ken Goldsmith has signed George
Rosener to write and direct his next
independent picture. "Born to Hang."
The Small-Landau office set the dual
ticket.
Cooley Signs 'Em Up
Fred Niblo. Estelle Taylor, Margaret
Seddon and Grant Withers have signed
agency deals with Hallam Cooley.
Page Four
March 8, 1934
lATSE Declares War
(Continued from Page 1 )
violations and complaints, as well as
all the other jurisdictional disputes
that have had local labor men running
round in circles ever since the strike
of last summer.
It v*/as learned he will present the
fight between the IBEW and the Car-
penter's Union for jurisdiction as op-
posed to the lATSE before the com-
mittee. He will also detail the com-
plaints of Code violations laid before
the Studio Labor Committee and on
which it has refused to act.
As a second step in the campaign,
it was also learned that the unions
plan to give the Code authorities one
more week in which to take some ac-
tion on their complaints. Then, if
nothing has been done, they will send
one or more representatives to Wash-
ington to seek an audience direct with
President Roosevelt and tell him their
whole story.
Those close to the situation declar-
ed yesterday that a big labor battle
between battling unions and produc-
ers is slated to take place in Wash-
ington. With Al Berres, chairman of
the Studio Labor Committee, already
en route to Washington, and Elliott
starting on his way, it was learned
las night that Pat Casey, producers'
labor contact man, also plans to go
there this week.
In preparation for the fight, it was
learned that the lATSE group has al-
ready sounded out certain Congress-
men, and that it already has suf-
ficient backing lined up there to as-
sure a real battle if it reaches that
point.
The representatives who will go to
see the President, it is said, will carry
with them copies of every complaint
that labor has filed with the Studio
Labor Committee, and which has not
been acted upon. Plan is to use these
in a publicity campaign if they are
refused an audience with the Presi-
dent.
Each day they plan to release to the
press one violation until they get into
the White House.
"We have great faith in President
Roosevelt," said one union represen-
tative yesterday," and we feel that we
will get some action if he is informed
of what is going on. We feel that he
does not know the situation, so we
shall go direct to him."
When Elliott came to Los Angeles
a week ago he came expecting to at-
tend the meeting between unions and
producers for discussion of the renew-
ing of the Basic Agreement. After a
few days here he found the conference
had been shifted to New York for
March 15. But it is believed that date
will be postponed because some of
those who will have to attend will still
be in Hollywood.
While those opposed to the lATSE
group are predicting that the lATSE
is washed up as far as getting in on
the Basic Agreement is concerned, of-
ficials of that group yesterday declared
they are just starting to fight.
"There has been enough of subter-
fuge and applesauce passed around,"
said one of them. "We will get these
troubles settled soon or know why."
So, they plan to carry the fight
where they feel they will get definite
and final action — to Washington,
with the hope that President Roose-
velt will be the arbiter.
Charles Williams for "Now I'll
Tell" for Fox by Bernard, Meiklejohn
and McCall agency.
Cay Seabrook for "Alias the Dea-
con" for Universal by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall.
Halliwell Hobbes to "Double Door,"
Paramount.
Dewey Robinson for "The Cat's
paw," Harold Lloyd.
Ward Bond in "The Party's Over,"
Columbia, through the Kingston-Har-
ris agency.
Bruce Warren to "Thirty Day Prin-
cess," B. P. Schulberg-Paramount.
Dorothy Burgess in "The Thin Man"
at MCM.
Edward Nugent and Edward Cargan
in "It Ain't No Sin" at Paramount.
Ivan Lebedeff for a featured role In
"Happy Family," Warners.
Edward McWade into "Party's
Over," Columbia, through Herbert G.
Weber.
Frederick Burton engaged for "It
Ain't No Sin," Paramount, on a Her-
bert G. Weber ticket.
Harry C. Bradley for "Head of the
Family," Twentieth Century, by Max
Shagrin.
Edward Earle into "Little Miss
Marker," Paramount. Set by Hallam
Cooley.
Murray Kinnell added to "Too
Many Women," Fox. Deal agented by
Beyer- MacArthur.
Arthur Byron signed for "The Dark
Tower," Warners.
Cecil B. DeMille yesterday signed
Clay Clement for the role of Brutus,
Charles Middleton for Cassius and Ed-
win Maxwell for Casca in "Cleopatra."
Helen Shipman and Leonard Carey
have been added to the cast of "Dou-
ble Door" for Paramount.
Frank Sheridan, Purnell Pratt and
Ferdinand Gottschalk were added to
the cast of "Witching Hour" for Para-
mount.
Lucile Lund will be Ken Maynard's
leading lady in "Doomed To Die."
Stage Bid for Beauty
Cilmore Brown has received Para-
mount's okay for the loan of Cwen
Munro for the spot opposite Leslie
Fenton in "Dear Bill," play which
Brown is putting on at his Pasadena
Playbox.
Girl makes her stage bow in this
one, coming to Paramount as the
Australian winner of their "Search for
Beauty" contest.
Junior Durkin Returns
Junior Durkin has returned from
New York where he was starred in
the Broadway play, "Growing Pains."
Joy and Polimer agency handling him
under personal supervision of Henry
Willson.
Wineland at U'
Ben F. Zeldman has borrowed Sam
K. Wineland from the Meyer Syn-
chronizing Service to supervise the
music on the Universal producer's
latest picture, "Glamour."
It's Getting Popular
Esther Ralston did a Sullavan this
week. She showed up at MGM
with a nice black eye. However,
hers didn't come from a fishhook.
She was riding a bump the bump
at Venice and smacked into a pro-
tecting rail.
Sherwood Completes
*Marie Antoinette'
Robert Sherwood winds up a five-
week deal with MGM next Wednes-
day, leaving on the return hop to New
York. He hands in a finished script to
Irving Thalberg of "Marie Antoin-
ette." This is for Norma Shearer un-
der Sidney Franklin's direction.
Stage Role for Conti
Albert Conti has been signed for a
role in the stage production of "Biog-
raphy," 'which will open at the Bilt-
more Theatre with Alice Brady in the
starring role. The Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall agency made the
deal.
Barris for Tarty'
MGM yesterday signed Harry Bar-
ris to sing a song in "The Hollywood
Party." Picture is still in work, with
Charles Reisner now handling the
megaphone.
Goldsmith Prods.
Unfair, Labor Says
Several of the local lATSE unions
today will file complaints with code
officials, charging that the Ken Gold-
smith Productions have violated the
film code by working technical crews
more than 1 00 hours in six days at
a pay rate one-third less than scale,
and with no overtime.
Cameramen's union, and possibly
the electricians' local, will not only
file complaint with the Studio Labor
Committee, but veill file copies with
the Regional Labor Board, NRA Com-
pliance Board and with Judge Ben
Lindsey, but a copy will be sent to .
Deputy Administrator Rosenblatt.
According to the unions, the cam- j
era crew worked in six days as follows:
19, 21, 19, 17, 11 and 15 hours, re- I
spectively. Electricians' schedule was I
said to be even longer hours.
Two Tickets for Mickey
Mickey Rooney signed two sets of
contracts yesterday negotiated by
Walter Kane of the Weber office.
Player goes into "Alias the Deacon"
for Universal and then moves out to
MGM for a featured spot in "Three
Men."
MCM Tests O'Brien
MGM has made a test of George
O'Brien for a term contract. The
John Zanft agency is now handling
him.
Lanny Ross East
Lanny Ross, Paramount player,
leaves Sunday for New York for a
three week trip.
Gene Lewis
Dialogue Director
it Happened One Night"
A Frank Capra Production
"Lady for a Day"
A Frank Capra Production
"Bitter Tea of General Yen"
A Frank Capra Production
"Countess of Monte Cristo"
Universal Production
Management of
LICHTIG & ENGLANDER
md
Vol. XrX, No. 49. Price 5c
rFTRO-GOLD'A'YN-MAYER STUDIOS,
% MP.SAVUEL MARX,
CULVER CITY.CAI.i:-''.
PORTER
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, March 9, 1934
CCIIRT SOCrS ALTHORS
•IN making the rounds yesterday we
stumbled across some astounding in-
formation regarding Universal. As-
tounding because there has been an
undercurrent of chatter during the
past few months that this company
I was not in the best of condition, that
l! it had to stop production for one rea-
'\ son and the other and it did stop for
a while, giving plausibility to the talk.
But from what we heard yesterday,
from a more than authoritative source,
' "U" is in better shape now than it
; has ever been since sound came in.
It has been collecting an average
of $425,000 a week for the past 1 6
' weeks, it has paid off almost
: $2,000,000 in debts; it does not owe
' a quarter to the bank and has but
eight pictures on the year's program
to finish.
And that may be Mews to you. It
was to us.
I Uncle Carl's company has had more
ups and downs in so far as the rumor
market goes, than all the other com-
panies put together. The foundation
for that talk has always been as a
result of the elder Laemmie fighting
his own financial battles, holding on
to his control of the stock and with-
standing ail shots turned in his direc-
tion in the hope that they could not
shoot him away from control.
I There is no question but what
there have been days when things
looked pretty black to everyone but
the Laemmies, Senior and Junior,
when prospective buyers felt they had
them where they wanted them and
could get the control they were after.
But they were fooled as was everyone
who listened to the talk.
Universal today owes less money
than any company in the business and
that takes in production organizations
of all sizes and types that have been
making pictures for any period of time.
And given any kind of a shove with
a hit picture or two, along with the
steady progress program it has
been churning out, you will be con-
fronted with another major fighting
off all competitors for top rating in
quality product.
So use your sympathies for some
other organization. Universal does not
need them, although it has been
accepting them with a rather guilty
smile of thanks.
Million for Consol.
New York. — The Consolidated
Laboratories statement for 1933
shows a net profit after all de-
ductons of $909,388.
Radio Offers Pan
Berman $50,000 Bit
New York. — Radio Pictures has
•offered Pandro Berman $50,000 cash
for a settlement of his commissions
on the product the studio turned out
during the last 12 months.
When Merian C. Cooper was
placed in charge of the studio he was
given $1 ,500 a week and 1 5 per cent
of the profits on all the product.
Cooper gave Berman 2'/2 per cent of
his 15 and it is the remaining collec-
tions that have not been paid to date
and those that will accrue that he
company is r>ow trying to buy from
Berman.
It is understood that Berman has
rejected the offer.
Universal Settles Plans
For 12 Made Abroad
New York. — Definite confirmation
has been made in New York of Uni-
versal's foreign production plans, the
present intention being to produce
twelve abroad, with England, Austria
and France the location for the shoot-
ing.
Kahane Names Asst.
• New York. — Before starting back
for the Coast B. B. Kahane has ap-
pointed Joe Nolan, formerly assistant
secretary of Radio Pictures, as his as-
sistant.
Ney^ York Body Rules Sale
Of Dramatic Rights' Also
Conveyed Talking Pic Title
New York. — A decision of great importance to authors and
playwrights, and one which has many picture companies worry-
ing about how many thousands of dollars they have thrown away
since the advent of the talkies, was handed down yesterday by
the New York Court of Appeals.
The high court upheld a decision
by a lower court that the sale by a
playwright or author of the "dramatic
rights" to a book or play, even if the
sale were made before the advent of
(Continued on Page 3)
Raft-Para. Argue,
So West Part Off
George Raft and Paramount reached
the deadlock stage yesterday on the
problem of placing George in the next
Mae West picture, and when the ses-
sion was over George had won his
point.
Friends of Raft state that the play-
er objected to the importance, or
rather lack of importance, of the part.^
Paramount's version is that Raft has
been in so many pictures in a row
without rest that he did not feel call-
ed upon to step immediately into an-
other.
Dover in LeMaire Spot
Rufus LeMaire's severing relations
with Twentieth Century as of last
Saturday has resulted in his casting
duties being absorbed by William Doi
ver, assistant to Darryl Zanuck.
HERE'S ONE EXD OF THE
BVSIIVES§ TO MAKE MOIVEY
New York. — The money in the picture
business must be spent in the labora-
tory and the raw stock end. Pathe
Exchange just announced a net profit
of $386,629 for 1933, compared with
a net loss of $109,834 the previous
year. The profits are largely account-
ed for through receipts of dividends
on the forty nine per cent of Du Pont
stock owned by Pathe.
The dividends from Du Pont
amounted to $637,000, which gave
an indication of what the Pathe
statement would have been without
the raw stock gravy.
S & J Representing
Runyon and Kelly
The Selznick-Joyce office is repre-
senting Damon Runyon and Mark
Kelly. The former for his published
stories in affecting deals for the
screen and the planting of the latter
at a writing desk in one of the major
lots.
Sidney Fox III
Sidney Fox has been suffering from
a slight throat ailment for several
days.
Cooper Burned by
Publicity Story
With the ink hardly dry on his sig-
nature to his new Paramount con-
tract, Gary Cooper is all burned up
over a publicity story which is an-
nounced for Sunday's issue of the Los
Angeles Times. The title of the story
is "What I Think of Marriage — Now.
By Gary Cooper."
"I don't want to be made to appear
a sap," said Cooper yesterday. "I
(Continued on Page 3)
Constance Bennett to
Star in 'Green Hat'
Constance Bennett's first picture on
=r new MCM deal will be the lead
■'in the remake of Michael Arlen's "The
Green Hat," which Zoe Akins is
scripting and Irving Thalberg produc-
ing.
Producer is attempting to snare
Robert Z. Leonard from his other as-
signments to direct.
Marquis Busby Dies
From Scarlet Fever
Marquis Busby, well known fan
magazine writer and newspaperman,
died yesterday as a result of scarlet
fever. He was taken ill last Saturday.
His illness was diagnosed erroneously
as a cold.
He was 31 years of age and is sur-
vived by his mother.
Barbara Blair Said To
Have Walked at Warners
It was rumored on the Warner lot
yesterday that Barbara Blair was dis-
satisfied with her role in "Dark
Tower" and had walked off the set.
U' After Fay Wray
A hitch having developed in Uni-
versal's negotiations for Marion Nixon
for the lead opposite Chester Morris
in "Practical Joker," Stanley Berger-
man yesterday put in a bid with
Twentieth Century to get Fay Wray
for the role
MILTON HERBERT CROPPER
AVAILABLE
MARCH 10
MANAGEMENT
ISmall-landau CO,
Pag* Two
March 9. 1934
<». R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat:
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 50) ; Sydney. )98 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
• including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $)0. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter |une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
It looks like Hollywood is going to
lose Connie Talmadge for keeps. We
hear that Connie and T. Netcher are
planning to move to Chicago very
soon, where most of T.'s family reside,
and at the moment are planning to
stay there permanently. The reason,
we hear, is because Hollywood is so
full of association with the memory
of Peg Talmadge for whom Connie's
devotion was only too well knowr».
•
At the private auction of the be-
longings of a local film couple re-
cently a certain writer bought up their
vast collection of foreign and Ameri-
can victrola records for two hundred
dollars. The collection was worth
over $1,000. No sooner had the
writer purchased the discs than he
proceeded to sell them, piece by piece,
to his friends for thirty-five cents
each. In no time at all he had his
investment back, so all his music now
is clear profit.
•
Do you suppose George Kaufman
and Moss Hart are really wn-iting that
play down in Palm Springs all this
time.' Well, anyway — we just thought
of the wire that Kaufman sent a cer-
tain hostess who was giving a party
for him, viz: —
"Sorry Can't Attend Party in My
Honor — It's the Baby's Night Out
and I Have to Stay Home with the
Nurse."
•
Just heard about how Leslie How-
ard begged to be allowed to remain
in England over the Xmas holidays in
order to spend them with his children
there, when hs was being paged for
pictures over here. But no — he had
to "leave immediately — they needed
him so badly!" So he dashed over.
So what happened? So he just sat
around here for six weeks at several
thousand dollars per week — doing
nothing — -before he actually went to
work!
Hutchison Duties Expand
London. — Announcement was made
here today that Walter Hutchison, for
years Fox managing director in Eng-
land, would hereafter control distri-
bution in Continental Europe as well.
Post:
S<in:
"WONDER BAR"
Warner prod.; director, Lloyd Bacon; writers, Karl Farkas, Ceza Herceg. Earl
Baldwin; music and lyrics, Harry Warren, Al Dubin.
Times: "Wonder Bar" depends more upon melody and elaborate staging than it
does on its story. Those who are partial to this type of entertainment will
probably relish it, especially during those interludes where Mr. )olson lifts
his voice to vehement singing.
Herald-Tribune: The story is not of much more dramatic value than is usually
the case in screen musical comedies, but at least it provides a certain mor-
bid interest not ordinarily to be found in such works. "Wonder Bar" on
the whole is pleasant musical entertainment.
Mirror: This excellent entertainment is a worthy successor to "42nd St." and
"Gold Diggers," surpassing them in splendor, in imagination, and in its
song numbers. The book is unusual, the cast is genuinely all-star. The
songs are hits. The production numbers are dazzling and spectacular.
"Wonder Bar," from beginning to end, is splendid entertainment. You
mustn't miss it.
World-Telegram: Although the production is lavish in the manner of all Warner
Brothers' musical extravaganzas, it seems to me to be rather tasteless.
"Lukewarm" is the best this movie thermometer can register for "Wonder
Bar."
fournal: "Wonder Bar," like those other Warner extravaganzas, features a-
couple of lavish dance numbers staged by Busby Berkeley.
The plot is crowded wth events, and the majority of them are interest-
ing. Mr. Berkeley succumbs to the Hollywood tradition, letting loose a
depressing fantasy. This is very bad indeed. It comes as near as any-
thing to spoiling an otherwise lively, tuneful and interesting picture.
The cast, of course, is a glittering one, handsome, beautifully costumed,
well photographed, and with nothing at all to do. "Wonder Bar" is on
a par with the rest of them, built with the same smooth, lavish formula.
American: From any angle it is popular entertainment. Our suggestion is that
you step right up to this "Wonder Bar" and enjoy the entertainment
cocktail the Warners offer.
News: Al jolson's "Wonder Bar" is rich in entertaining elements. TTie fun
and the wisecracks do not always come within the bounds of good taste,
but for the most part the fooling is of a harmless variety that delights the
audience.
THE NINTH GUEST
Columbia prod.; director, Roy Wm. Neill; writers, Owen Davis, Carnett Weston.
Roxy Theatre
World-Telegram: In spite of its grisly massacres, it is a shambling entertain-
ment, slow m its movement, pedestrian in its speech and peopled with
superficial and uninteresting characters.
American: A far better picture than it was a play, the latest murder mystery
film to reach the Roxy screen affords a very fair amount of entertainment
for devotees of the cinematic crime school. The finale of the film is as
startling and as terrifying as its sinister introduction.
Mirror: One-half the characters are killed in this tricky mystery melodrama.
The cast is an excellent one. The always interesting Genevieve Tobin
plays the leading feminine role.
Herald-Tribune: Although the plot developments are not terribly ingenious, the
evening in the penthouse is moderately enlivened by suspense. The acting
is fair enough. Genevieve Tobin is helpful as usual as the heroine.
Times: Even though the pictorial version of Owen Davis' play "The Ninth
Guest" is neatly staged, well photographed and contains an adequate
amount of slaughter, it is all far too unconvincing to be even mildly spine-
chilling.
News: The situations and the characters are mechanically devised, but the story
unwinds on the screen a certain amount of suspense that has been cre-
ated by the director, Roy Wm. Neill. It keeps the attention of the audi-
ence riveted on the screen.
Direction, treatment and acting are good routine stuff. Filmed with a lit-
tle imagination, it might have been one of those popular shockers, which
keeps audiences shrieking, shivering and generally enjoying themselves.
Mystery thriller addicts ought to have a good time at "The Ninth Guest."
There is enough blood and thunder in it to cover up the implausible prem-
ise, and it is a pleasure to see such unholy individuals get what is coming
to them.
lournal: It's a neatly contrived little melodrama, that manages to sustain one's
interest to the point of wanting to know how it was done — even if one
guessed who it was that did it.
Sun:
Post:
Kershner Turns Author
Glenn Kershner, well known Holly-
wood cameraman, has just finished
writing an 80,000 word novel, with
a South Seas locale. He mailed manu-
script to New York yesterday to his
agent who has three publishing houses
anxious to see it. One local major
picture company is already dickering
for the screen rights.
WANTED: SECRETARY for pro-
ducer in major studio. Must have
motion picture studio experience
and be excellent stenographer.
State age, experience and salary
desired.
Box 201, Hollywood Reporter
Outside Writers To
Suggest Own Ticket
A group of prominent writers op-
posed to the present Guild Adminis-
tration met last night at Levy's and
the decision was reached to issue a
ticket of fifteen names which the
group will endorse in coming Guild
Executive Board elections.
The group will make its ticket and
the names of the sponsors public to-
day and meanwhile is asking writers
to refrain from voting until the new
names are offered and the reason for
their selections given.
Foy Signs Guy Belh's
As his first break in pictures since
arriving here, Guy Bellis was signed
yesterday by Bryan Foy for the role
of an English doctor in "Life Ends,"
which starts next week. Player ap-
peared in "His Double Life," produc-
ed in the East. Deal was set by the
Sackin agency.
Warner Sec. East
Ann Weiss, secretary to H. M.
Warner, left last night on her return
to New York via San Francisco, plan-
ning to arrive in the East before War-
ner sails for Europe. She was here for
two weeks.
MCM Wants Huntley
MGM is negotiating with G. P.
Huntley jr. for a role in "Barretts of
Wimpole Street" which Irving Thal-
berg will produce with Norma Shearer
in the lead. Script is now being writ-
ten by Donald Ogden Stewart.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
>■% ■y" 5 > 'vOviC^ <• S**^ 'x.
RUSSELL,MIL(.ER;
(otd Company
Members
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
New York Curb Exchange
Chicago Board of Trade
Los Angeles Curb Exchange
SELMER L. CHALIF
Manager
TOM COLLINS
Asst. Mgr.
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Telephone Hollywood 1 181
Offices
New York Portland
Seattle Oakland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Del Monte
March 9, 1934
THE
P»(e Three
AGEI\TS' 18 LAWYERS
MUCH FOR LAROR
Committee ofThree
To Work Out Rules
Opening the hearing on the pro-
posed rules and regulations controlling
an agent's relations with an artist,
Commissioners Barker and Lowy, of
the Labor Board, yesterday ordered the
election of a committee of three at-
torneys to represent the eighteen law-
yers who crowded the hearing room.
Action was compelled by the confu-
sion of the unexpected number of le-
gal lights handling agency interests.
Turnout of lawyers, each exhibiting
a readiness to argue over rules which
the commission is seeking to get in
force over agents, made it next to im-
possible for the board to conduct the
hearing systematically. To cope with
the situation, Austin Sherman moved
for the committee plan, which was
immediately acted on by the labor of-
ficials. The eighteen attorneys cast
ballots for representatives and select-
ed Sherman, Ralph Blum and Martin
Gang as the committee. Trio will
gather the proposals and arguments of
the remaining fifteen lawyers and pre-
sent them in one batch at the hear-
ing set for March 21 .
Each attorney at yesterday's hear-
ing was given a list of the regula-
tions, the Commission planning to lis-
ten to arguments on each article as
It came up. There were nine ruling
articles proposed, a resume of which
was recently published. The only
change in the list affected the pro-
vision which had agency contracts with
artists voided in the event the agen-
cy went out of business. The revised
article reads: "Every contract shall
contain a recital and agreement that
the agency Is and will continue to be
a duly licensed agency during the
whole period of contract." Effect of
the rewritten codicil was said to be
identical to the provision it replaced.
"The committee of attorneys," said
Ralph Blum, representative commit-
teeman, "will seek to accomplish the
purpose of the entire group of lawyers
by getting all their views together and
presenting them to the Commission in
the hope of obtaining the aims and
purposes of every interest repre-
sented."
Hal Home to Florida
New York. — Hal Home, United
Artists ad head, is on his way to
Florida, for two week's rest.
Xapt.' Van Dyke Now
In recognition of his expedition-
ary film work, W. S. Van Dyke has
been commissioned captain in the
U. S. Marine Corps, Reserve offi-
cers. Don't forget to salute.
Cooper Burns
(Continued from Page 1 )
have been married about three
months and suddenly I am quoted as
to what I think of marriage. That's
idiotic."
It is understood that Gary will in-
sist that a clause be inserted in his
new contract which will provide that
all future publicity stories about nim
shall be submitted for his approval
before being sent out.
The Paramount publicity depart-
ment says that the story was read and
okayed by either Cooper or his mana-
ger.
Van Every Quits 'U'
To Co With Para.
When he winds up the two pictures
he is now producing for Universal,
Dale Van Every will leave his associ-
ate producers berth there and join
Paramount's writing staff on a one
picture deal.
"I'll Tell The World," now being
edited, and "Uncertain Lady," finish-
ing actual shooting in a day or two,
are Van Every's most recent produc-
tions.
Corinne Griffith on Air
Corlnne Griffith was signed yester-
day for the featured guest artist on
the Shell radio program over the Don
Lee broadcasting system next Monday
night. Deal was agented by Bren and
Orsatti.
ASC Places Men
Allan Watt, executive manager of
the ASC, announced yesterday that
the ASC has placed a total of thirty
cameramen in studio jobs during the
past thirty days.
Simmons on Xatalina'
Edward Small is planning a musical
production with a Catalina back-
ground. Set under the title "Cata-
lina," Reliance producer has Michael
Simmons on the screen play.
Court Socks Authors
(Continued from Page 1)
"talkies," carries with It the right to
make a talking picture.
The case revolved around "The
Volga Boatman," which Conrad Ber-
covlcl sold to Cecil DeMllle in 1924,
and which was made into a silent film.
The ruling now is that a talkie can be
made without further payment to the
author on the ground that the con-
tract conveyed "dramatic and stock
production rights" and this phase in-
cludes all the elements essential to
the production of a talking picture.
The decision set picture company
accountants and attorneys scurrying
through their books to determine
how many thousands of dollars they
had thrown away since 1929. The
practice has been to make a separate
deal and payment to authors for talk-
ing picture rights, when the original
contract of sale Included the phase
"all" rights, or "dramatic" rights. Pic-
ture companies have been proceeding
on the old United States Supreme
Court decision in the Kalem-Klaw and
Erianger case which was to the effect
that an author could not convey some-
thing "which did not exist" at the
time he made the sale. In that case
motion picture rights themselves were
involved, but attorneys felt there was
a parallel with the advent of the
talkies.
TOO
BOARD
Indie Producers
Stall Cuild Pact
Independent producers, at their reg-
ular monthly meeting last night, tabled
the invitation from John Natteford, of
the free lance writers of the Screen
Writers' Guild, to work out a basic
contract. Natteford's letter, address-
ed to Sam Wolf, IMPPA attorney, and
I. E. Chadwick, asked the indies to
sit in on discussions to draw up a
standard form of employment contract
between producers and their writers.
The decision of the indies was to
stall the issue until an undetermined
future date. Producers figure it ad-
visable to await the outcome of a
number of Guild problems before com-
mitting themselves to the writers, it
was said. "We don't know yet," one
board member said, "wtiat will happen
between the Guild and the major pro-
ducers. Therefore we can't decide on
our position until that at least is set-
tled."
'Tail Spin Tommy'
Deal Completed at 'U'
Universal yesterday concluded ne-
gotiations with Hal Forrest for the
rights to his comic strip, "Tailspm
Tommy," and will use it as the basis
for the first serial on the current pro-
gram. Henry McRae produces. For-
rest's strip runs daily m 214 papers
on three continents.
Rumann Set for Two
Fox is lining up a series of assign-
ments for Siegfried Rumann, recently
acquired term player, which will keep
him going for some time. The next
two pictures slated with him are
"Marie Galante" and "Servants En-
trance."
Another 'inside' Play
New York. — Another play about
Hollywood's studio life is announced
for Fall production, "Before Please."
Frank Roeder and Lionel" Tijil are list-
ed as the authors.
Albright in 'Biography'
Hardie Albright was yesterday sign-
ed by Alice Brady for her coming
downtown production of "Biography."
Jesse Wadsworth set the deal.
Mae West Set For
Modern 'Du Barry'
Mae West is to do a modernized
version of "Du Barry," from a story
now being developed by the William
Le Baron unit.
The story will not conflict in any
way with the Warner Brothers pro-
duction of "Du Barry," starring
Dolores Del Rio. The idea is to have
Miss West play her famous character
of "Diamond Lil," who has visions of
herself as the famous French woman.
Jane Loring Given
Chance to Direct
Jane Loring, who has been a head
cutter at Paramount for the past few
years, is the latest woman to be given
a chance at directing.
She will co-direct "Lovers in Quar-
antine" with Robert Sparks, now as-
sistant to E. Lloyd Sheldon, who is
also getting his first crack at direct-
ing pictures.
Academy Figures Close
On Awards Banquet
The Academy reports excellent sale
of tickets for its Awards banquet. No
figures given out yet. Officials of the
organization hope to sell 500 tickets.
Price Is $5 per plate. From good au-
thority it is understood that cost is
$2.50, and the Academy steerers fig-
ure on the profit from the dinner to
fake care of the awards overhead.
Osgood Perkins To Do
Richelieu in 'Du Barry'
- ■ Osgood Perkins, New York stage
actor, has been signed by Warners for
the role of Richelieu in "Du Barry"
which will star Dolores Del Rio. Wil-
h^lm Dieterle will direct. The player
w£s set by the Selznick-Joyce office.
'U' Borrows Kelly
Universal closed negotiations yes-
t^'day with Twentieth Century for the
loan of Paul Kelly. He takes a top
spot in "Humbug," which Max Marcin
is directing under Eph Asher's super-
vision.
Darrow Gets a Lead
John Darrow steps up from the
juvenile class to a leading role, get-
ting the bracket spot with Mary Brian
in Monogram's "Numbers at Monte
Carlo." William Nigh is directing.
Ticket was handled by Jack Gardner.
'ROSY' APPROVES MOVE OF
IVRA EXTRA COMMITTEE
Notification to Arllne Judge and
Judith Wood yesterday by Twentieth
Century that options on their term
contracts were being passed up cul-
minated a systematic plan on the part
of the Zanuck company to give the
contract members of the organization
their release.
Twentieth Century for the past six
months has had individual talks with
term holders in which players were
granted their freedom at the expira-
tion of their terms in view of the
company's plan for next year's pro-
gram to produce a limited group of
specials. Players got their freedom
when it became apparent that It was
more to their advantage to free lance
than to be under contract to the com-
pany and going on loan to other com-
panies while not working on Twenti-
eth Century assignments. Agree-
ments permit the players to earn the
profit which the producer would have
received If they continued under con-
tract.
Among those also released on this
understanding were Sally Blane, Mor-
gan Conway and Russ Brown. Star
deals are being held. These Include
Fredric March, Ronald Colman, George
Arliss, Fay Wray, Loretta "Voung, Con-
stance Bennett and Paul Kelly.
Page Four
March 9, 1 934
DICKSTEIBT CARRIES ALIEN
FIGHT TO PIJRLIC VIA AIR
Bill Has Strong
Chance of Passage
Washington. — Representative Dick-
stein, who is leading the fight in
Congress to curb the importation of
foreign actors, last night made a radio
plea over a nationwide hookup for
support of his alien actor bill.
Dickstein declared that opposition
by the motion picture industry to his
bill was unpatriotic and was actuated
by selfish motives.
Among those close to the situation,
it seems the bill has an excellent
chance of passing both Houses. If it
does, it is a certainty it will be signed
by the President. If the bill is pass-
ed it will have a tendency to keep
movie players' salaries up, for it will
stop producers from importing movie
talent at a figure lower than Ameri-
cans will work for.
Vidor Signs Richards
King Vidor yesterday signed Addi-
son Richards for a spot in "Our Daily
Bread," which goes into production
March 19 at the General Service Stu-
dio. Karen Morley, borrowed from
MCM, is the only other player set to
date. Kingston-Harris agency nego-
tiated for Richards.
Huber in 'Family'
Warners yesterday assigned Harold
Huber to replace Cordon Westcott in
"The Happy Family," now in produc-
tion. Westcott is not available, being
tied up in "The Circus Clown," the
new label for the |oe E. Brown veh-
icle, "Sawdust."
New Girl for Warners
Ethelreade Leopold, spotted in Chi-
cago by the Warner office there, has
been signed to a long term contract.
She will arrive here Saturday and will
probably go into the Buzz Berkeley
numbers in "Dames" as her first as-
signment.
Lloyd Pic Held Up
Because Sam Taylor was sick at
home with a bad cold, production on
Harold Lloyd's "The Cat's Paw" was
suspended yesterday. Shooting will re-
sume as soon as Taylor returns.
Barrows at Para.
B. P. Schulberg has set Nick Bar-
rows to direct comedy for "Little Miss
Marker," which Al Hall is directing
for Paramount.
Fox Changes Title
Fox has changed the title on "The
World Is Ours" to "Change of Heart."
Picture is now in production with
Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell be-
ing directed by John BIystone.
Philip Reed to U'
Phillip Reed has been borrowed by
Universal from Warners for a featured
role in the Paul Lukas picture "Affairs
of a Gentleman."
Ric Cortez Guard
Of Oakie Quarters
Jack Oakie, Paramount's pet
cut-up, has a new gag. He lugs
around one of those cut-outs of
•Ricardo Cortez, an exploitation
idea for "Wonder Bar," setting it
up wherever he may be. If the
figure is outside Oakie's dressing
room Jack is out. When Ric is not
on guard. Jack is in.
Mono. May Cut To
20, Boosting Costs
New York. — Monogram may alter
original plans to produce thirty-six
pictures next year and concentrate
on twenty instead in order to increase
production budgets, shooting time,
and concentration on preparation of
stories.
■ Decision on the matter will be
reached by the franchise holders at
the coming sales convention to be held
in Atlantic City. April 4th to 7th.
MGM Buys New Play
MCM yesterday announced the pur-
,chase of "No More Ladies," a play by
A. E. Thomas, now running on Broad-
way. Studio signed Lucille Watson,
who has the lead in the production,
Wednesday.
Term for Humberstone
On the strength of his work on
"Merry Wives of Reno," Warners
yesterday signed Lucky Humberstone
to a long term director's ticket. The
contract takes effect immediately al-
though the studio has no immediate
assignment for him. The deal was
made by the Schulberg-Feldman and
Gurney office.
Erpi Official East
Whitford Drake, vice-president of
Erpi, left last night for San Francisco
where he will spend a few days be-
fore returning to New York. He spent
two weeks in Hollywood having con-
ferences with George Pratt, Western
executive of ERPI.
Two for 'Biography'
Huntley Gordon was Signed yester-
day through Menifee I. Johnston for
the male lead opposite Alice Brady in
"Biography," and George Lewis was
set in the role of the screen actor by
the Ivan Kahn agency. Play opens at
the Biltmore April 2.
Miner Now Scenarist
Worthington Miner has taken on
the added burden of becoming a sce-
nario writer. The director is doing
a screen play on "Sour Grapes," which
he is also to pilot with Clive Brook.
Myles Connolly is supervising the pic-
ture at Radio.
H. B.* Buys '14th Street*
New York. — H. B. Franklin moves
further along in his production plans
with the purchase of rights to the title
"Fourteenth Street" based on the
Simon Gr Shuster book by Percy Shos-
tac. Title will be used in connection
with an original story.
Committee of 12 to
Settle Code Hours
Washington. — The fate of the wage
and hour provision of the motion pic-
ture industry code rests in the hands
of a committee of twelve people who
represent the consumer goods indus-
tries, of which amusements are con-
sidered a part.
This committee, headed by George
A. Sloan of New York, is slated for a
series of conferences with General
Johnson. Sloan is also chairman of
the Textile Code and head of the Cot-
ton Textile Institute.
Pickford Says Industry
Barred to Newcomers
New York. — -"What this industry
needs is a return to the individualistic
pioneer spirit of its earlier days," said
Mary Pickford in an address to the
Ampas yesterday. She made a hit
with the statement Biat the industry
is now in the hands of a few with
no opportunity being given newer and
younger elements.
Dixon Morgan Set
Universal yesterday signed Dixon
Morgan to act as dialogue director on
"The Practical Joker," which Stanley
Bergerman produces and Edward
Laemmie directs when it starts next
week
'Rothschild' Road
Show Bow in Boston
New York. — Road engagements for
the Twentieth Century Special "The
House of Rothschild" outside New
York will start in Boston on March
31st at the Majestic Theater. The
decision to make a $2 two-a-day
show out of the production has pic-
ture people hopped up and hoping
the good old days are back again.
Al Selig left New York last night
to pave the publicity road for the
Boston engagement.
Little Man, What Now?*
Goes Into Work Today
Signing Fred Kohler, Bodil Rosing
and PauL Fix through the Kingston-
Harris agency yesterday, Frank Bor*
zage puts "Little Man, What Now?""
before the cameras today at Univer--
sal.
He will shoot this second Margaret
Sullavan vehicle from an incomplete
script. William Anthony McGuire
hopes to turn in the completed screen
play sometime next week, in time tO
prevent any delay on the shooting.
Arhur Hopkins Tries
To Get Lee Tracy East
Arthur Hopkins wired the Selznick-
Joyce office today asking for Lee Tracy
to make a picture to be produced and
directed by him.
Tracy is interested in the offer and
it is understood that negotiations are
now under way.
I
TO WHOM IT
MAY CONCERN:
In yesterday's issue of the "Hollywood
Reporter," an advertisement appeared, which
stated that I directed the dialogue on the fol-
lowing pictures:
"THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN"
"LADY FOR A DAY"
"IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT"
I wish to state that I DID NOT direct the
dialogue on the above mentioned pictures.
I assisted Mr. Capra only by seeing that the
cast knew their lines.
GENE LEWIS
March 9. 1934
THE^S
Page Five
OPEIV FORUM
March 7. 1934
The Reporter:
I have noted, with satisfaction,
your personal interest in the many
problems of the motion picture indus-
try. I want to bring to your atten-
tion some facts regarding a situation
' which now exists and which I think
you can cause to be remedied.
At the time of the sound men's
strike last year, I went to. work, along
with forty or fifty other men, at MGM.
I was employed as a recorder. We
were all employed at a salary of $50
per week. It was a good job and jobs
of any kind were hard to find. I have
a wife and four children to suppKjrt
and I was glad to get the work.
Sometimes our hours were long, but
when they were we were told to take
the next day off Everyone was ap-
parently happy and we could not un-
derstand why anyone would walk out
of a job like that.
Then came some distant rumors of
the NRA. We heard that salaries
were to be increased and hours to be
cut and. more men employed, it was
all a rumor, however, as we were
told that the sound department would
never go on the code. Then out of a
clear sky we were informed that we
were going on an hourly basis, of 75c
per hour and time and a half for over-
time. We were subject to call. We
asked if this was the new code and
were told it was NOT. Now, as you
can see, our earnings had been cut.
We worked when we were called and
there was no allowance for sickness,
etc. I know of some cases where sound
men did not make more than $10 per
week for several weeks. I know of
one man whose family had toasted dry
bread for Thanksgiving dinner. He
had a wife and five children. Those
of the boys who had a drag with the
right man were making from $18 to
$40 a week. Please bear in mind
that we were employed at $50 per
week.
Now here is the best yet! A week
ago Monday we went on the code!
Our salaries were increased and the
NRA had saved the day! Oh, yeah!
We now get 83 '/2c per hour, but
the most we can work is six hours per
day. If we work every day we can
make $30 per week. I understand
that three new men were hired as a
result of this arrangement and they
were laid off the next day.
What's the answer? Well, all I
know is how it concerns me. I have
received a $90 a month cut in wages.
My cost of living is more than it was
a year ago, but I am making $90 per
month less. I am told that I CAN-
NOT work more than six hours per
day, so I can't get any overtime. When
i was getting 75c per hour and was
allowed to work eight to fourteen
hours I had a chance to break even
and give my family a little happiness.
The studio says it has complied with
the code. I seriously doubt it! I
don't believe the code or the "recov-
ery act" was intended to work this
way. "Raise prices and lower wages"
is not a prosperity slogan.
What can be done about it? I can
quit, of course. I am in no position
to be out of work and I don't believe
there is any great possibility of find-
ing another job. I can't squawk too
'Merry Andrew' Goes
Into Work at Fox Today
Setting Roger Imhof and Mary Car-
lisle for featured roles, Sol Wurtzel
has completed casting on the Will
Rogers' picture, "Merry Andrew," and
places it in work at Fox today under
David Butler's direction. Peggy Wood,
Edward Nugent, Paul Harvey, Frank
Melton, Arlington Brugh and Conchita
Montenegro round out the cast.
The Lewis Beach story was fash-
ioned into a script by Kubec Glasmon
and William Conselman.
Carrillo in Demand
By Warners and Fox
Warners are negotiating for Leo
Carrillo for one of the top spots in
"Oil for the Lamps of China," based
on the Alice Tisdale Hobart story.
Carrillo is also being sought by Fox
to star in a Spanish verion for the
Sol Wurtzel unit.
MGM has signed Leo to make per-
sonal appearances at the Capitol
theatre in conjunction with "Viva
Villa," in which he has one of the
leading roles.
Cordon Has 'Tondeleyo*
Nadja, who has appeared in numer-
ous motion pictures, was yesterday
closed as the Tondeleyo for Leon Gor-
don's coming production of "White
Cargo" at the Hollywood Playhouse.
Wallis Clark and Allan Connor, from
the original New York cast, are also
set. The play opens March I 5.
'Sweeny Todd' Extended
'Sweeny Todd," the old-time melo-
drama being presented at the Troup-
ers' Club, with all the old-time rec-
reational accompaniment that goes
with a "ten nig'hts in a barroom
theme" is getting a play from the pic-
ture folk and will likely extend its
run.
Barrymore on Air
John Barrymore goes on the ai' on
the "Hall of Fame" program April 8,
sponsored by the Hinds company.
Broadcast is from the Radio studio on
the NBC network. Ralph Farnum and
Henry Hotcherer handled the deal.
Crowds Worry Censors
Portrush, Eng. — Local town council
has just appealed to the p>olice to help
solve the difficulty of controlling the
large crowds that block traffic while
trying to get in the movie houses.
Serialize Rothschild*
New York. — United Artists starts the
build-up for "House of Rothschild"
here Monday when a serialization of
the story starts in the Daily Mirror.
Acad. Adds 5 Techs
Announcement was made yesterday
by the Academy that five new mem-
bers have been added to the Techni-
cians Branch during the past week.
much or I will be fired and we are all
in the same fix. We know we are
getting a rotten deal, but we don't
know what to do about it, and I doubt
if anyone of us has guts enough left
to do it even if we were told how.
Sincerely yours,
SIGNATURE WITHHELD.
THE REASON
.we're with Mike Levee is
at nobod/ else will have us,
SAY
KALMAR
(
AND
RUBY
«
AND
HIS MANAGEMENT OFFERS;
Personal Representation
(and we mean Personal)
Business Administration
Secretarial Service
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity & Exploitation
WARREN WILLIAM
Will Tell You WHY he is a "Levee" client
IN MONDAY'S
1htftf|(IK>llTEIt
Page Six
THi
I
March 9, 1934 IM
il
I \
levie^yiiK
MOTION PICTURE
98 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Myrna Loy
(MCM)
Gladys Hall, with her two swell
ttories in the March Motion Picture,
makes it almost imperative to read the
magazine.
"Exclusive! Mary Pickford's Own
Story!" is the best- written and most
sincere yarn on her separation that has
vet appeared. It is kindly and fair
and intelligent. Miss Hall's other
story is one of her "Secrets of the
Stars" series, and this time she tells
one on Constance Bennett.
Jack Grant also has two stories,
"How Hollywood Likes Its Legal
Liquor" and "Give Yourself a Movie
Taknt Test."
Sonia Lee, with the aid of someone
who prefers to remain anonymous,
gives "[>oug's Side of the Story," a
companion yarn to Miss Hall's Pick-
ford story; Constance Champion has
"Katharine Hepburn, Mae West— and
Sex Appeal": Winifred Aydelotte tells
about Lois Weber in "The Little Red
Schoolhouse Becomes a Theatre," and
James M. Fidler wonders naively "Are
They Making a Goddess Out of
Garbo?"
Dorothy Manners has an unusual
story on Bing Crosby, "Almost Di-
vorced After Three Weeks of Mar-
riage"; Faith Service recounts some
amusing items in "You Don't Know
Your Stars Until You Know Their
HOLLYWOOD
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The Plaza is near every-
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Every room has private
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Chas. Danzigtr, Mgr.
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Th« "Doorway of Hotpltallly"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
Habits"; Alice White tells Sonia Lee
"How to Get — and Hold — Your Boy
Friend," and J. M. Ruddy has the first
story on Florence Desmond in "She
Can Show You How to Imitate Stars."
SCREEN PLAY
74 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAV.... Margaret Suliavan
(Universal)
There are three very good stories
in the March Screen Play, with Sid-
ney Skolsky's "Tintype of Ruby
Keeler" heading.
The other stories that are unusually
good are "The Human Side of Holly-
wood's Wildcat — Lupe Velez," by
Jack Jamison, and "My Life Has Been
Full of Confusion" (Jean Parker), by
Dorothy Spensley.
An interesting and much needed
story is contributed by Ruth Biery,
who writes an answer to Baldwin Wal-
lace, who gave the fan magazines a
rousing pan in the December issue of
Plain Talk. Miss Biery's story is call-
ed "The Movie Magazine Racket."
Grace Simpson makes the most of
"When Barthelmess Flew With
Death"; Sonia Lee has a new angle
in "Ralph Morgan Explains Why Ac-
tors Make the Best Husbands"; Eric
L. Ergenbright has "Hollywood Takes
Inventory"; Donald P. Sheldon quotes
several stars in "No Trial Honey-
moons! Hollywood Doesn't Like Fifi
Dorsay's Daring Idea"; Grace Simpson
records "Mae West's Ten Beauty
Commandments"; Gladys McVeigh
tells about "The Romance Hollywood
Couldn't Stop" (Alice White and Cy
Bartlett) ; Clark Warren tells what
Sammy Hahn has to say on the sub-
ject "Are Hollywood Divorces Le-
gal?" Marcella Burke has the same old
story on Margaret Suliavan in "She
Lives Life HER Way," but the same
cannot be said of Harry N. Blair's
Katharine Hepburn story, "It Pays to
Be Independent." Richard English
struggles with no material in "Rudy's
New Love."
PICTURE PLAY
66 pa^es and cover
COVER DISPLAY Mae West
Picture Play comes out cheerily and
brightly for April. Regina Cannon's
amusing and clever query, "Who
Wants New Faces?" William H. Mc-
Kegg's story on Dorothea Wieck,
"Calmly Conquering"; Dena Reed's
yarn about Sterling Holloway, "Funny
Face From Georgia," and Samuel Rich-
ard Mook's story, which is as bitter
Radio Trying Out
Improved Camera
A new type of sound camera has
been developted by William Eglinton
and Harry Cunningham at Radio's en-
gineering staff. It will get its try-out
on "Of Human Bondage," under Hen-
ry Gerrard's hand. Company estimates
a saving on the one picture of four •
days work and $10,000 in budget
shaving, owing to the advanced fea-
tures on the instrument.
Camera weighs 1 1 5 p)Ounds as
against 180 on other machines, is half
the customary size and is exterior con-
trolled, eliminating pulling down the
blimp for lens changes. It is proofed
against light reflections.
Preston Sturges to *U*
Finishing his deal Saturday with
B. P. Schulberg at Paramount, where
he wrote the script for "Thirty Day
Princess," Preston Sturges swung over
to Universal yesterday. He will write
the screen play of the Marcel Pagnol
play, "Fanny," on a contract set by
the William Morris office.
Meglin Kiddies in Indie
Maury Cohen yesterday signed the
entire Ethel Meglin troupe of dancing
kiddies for scenes in "Together Again"
which Frank Strayer is directing at
Mack Sennett Studios for Invincible
Pictures.
Young Waller a Writer
Lewis Waller, son of the noted
actor, has been signed to a six month
writing contract at MGM and is en
route by boat from New York to join
the studio staff. He will operate un-
der the Bernie Hyman wing.
Fence Jumper Cast
Frank Melton, the Alabama boy
who jumped over the fence to secure
a term ticket on the Fox lot, was as-
signed the juvenile lead in the Will
Rogers picture, "Merry Andrew."
as it's title, "Fame's Bitterest Cup,"
are all well worth the reading.
"Hepburn's Mystery Man" is by
Hester Robinson and isn't exactly new
stuff; "Tragedy Is His Teacher," by
Dickson Morley is about Ricardo
Cortez; "Baby Face" is a story on Lew
Ayres by Romney Scott; Malcolm H.
Oettinger waxes enthusiastic over
Miriam Hopkins in "Cream of the
Croup"; Dena Reed tells about Ran-
dolph Scott's new modus vivendi in
"Gentleman — on Holidays"; Ben Mad-
dox does very well with no material
in "Heather's an Angel," and Drum-
mond Tell interviews Claire Trevor
in "Three-Alarm Blonde."
-VodaV
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JULIE
with
HAYDON
ROGER PR.YOR
MIRIAM JORDAN
HEHRY KOLKER
Ami CAST Ot^Q
Foreign Taste
New York. — The taste of Eng-
ladn and Continental Europe in
musicals is summed up by Phil
Reisman, Radio executive, this
way: "They like musicals, but not
jazz. In other words Of>erettas or
subjects where the music is an in-
tegral part of the story."
Lombardo and Bernie
To Tour Pacific Coast
The Guy Lombardo and Ben Bernie
orchestras will make a tour of one
night stands on the Pacific Coast on
completion of their picture work for
Paramount. Phil Stein of the Music
Corporation of America is making the
arrangements and the two bands will
likely follow the same route that the
Anson-Weeks orchestra just com-
pleted.
Clark and McCullough
Sign for Four at Radio
Radio has closed a deal with Clark
and McCullough for four two-reelers
on next season's short program, which
Lee Marcus will produce.
Ben Holmes has been assigned to
write the stories and also direct.
Another Ellington Short
Duke Ellington and his band are
slated to make another short for Ra-
dio, under Lee Marcus' supervision.
Music men made one several years
ago, called "Black and Tan." Freak
featurette was conceived by Dudley
Murphy.
Enfield for Stage
Edgar MacGregor is negotiating with
Universal for the loan of Hugh Enfield
for the male lead opposite Alice Brady
in "Biography." MacGregor is han-
dling the direction of the play, which
opens soon at the Biltmore.
Pic Legislation Rife
New York. — A recent survey shows
that there are 68 bills now pending
in 21 different State Legislatures
which will affect motion pictures
Most of them pertain to taxation.
Dyott Plans Another
New York. — Commander Dyott is
planning to leave soon on another film
expedition. He goes to Borneo and
other Malay points.
Bel^n Sells to Invincible
GKarles S. Belden sold his original
^6iy, "Fifteen Wives," to Invincible
/Pictures yesterday. Maury Cohen did
the buying.
Maurice Chevalier says: "Don't
miss it! The funniest show
in town!"
'ALLEZ-OOP"
Tingel-Tangel Theater
8533 Santa Monica Blvd.
CRestview 6530
Refreshments Curtain at 8:30
March 9. 1934
TH
i
(^iP>©l^Til^
Page Seven
Peeking Around Paris
Owen Moore thinks the city looks
a bit empty, what with no taxicabs.
. . . But to the rest of us — well, it's
no fun in Paris these days. . . . Even
the balcony on the Crillon feels like
the trenches on the Marne in those
rough days in '15. . . . Filnn colony
is wise and stays away from trouble.
... Thus, no casualties among them.
. . . But, oh, the headaches for the
theatre owners. . . . Big white ele-
phants waiting for customers to get
out so they can close up. . . . Even
postponed openings. . . . Blase tour-
ists sore 'cause no place to go. . . .
That's true. Even subways not safe.
Allan Byre served whale pate, snow
chicken and salted tongues of caribou
to press after premiere of "Eskimo."
. . . Senorita Julia Reyes gets a big
hand at Chez Florence at her Paris
debut. She's more Spanish than beau-
ty, but that's not her fault. . . . Anna
May Wong looks like a million walk-
ing down Rue de la Paix shopping—
perfume — and you should hear her
speak "Hollywood." Says she to a
reporter: "I like Hollywood, but as a
foreigner one feels better in Europe."
She should be forgiven. . . . Curt Mel-
nitz smiling from ear to ear on re-
turn from Brussels, where "Catherine"
was a wow.
The Sultan of Morocco, dolled out
in white suit, knocked the ladies cold
at the Favart hotel, where the mana-
ger threw a swell party for him. Swell
looking bunch of ladies, too. Maybe
that's why the Sultan learned to play
bridge. . . . Monty Banks and Irving
Asher are collecting cognac sample
bottles — four a day. . . . Jeanne Boitel
has become a treat for the eye. . . .
It's an evening dress you need — no
more men's breeches. . . . Erich Pom-
mer again in his office. . . . Jean
Cuerlais is raving about his lead in
"Pecheur d'Islande." . . . Pines of
the S. I. C. is very sick — or is it his
secretary with that pan-Russian tem-
perament?
•
I It's a sad Carnival here this year
with everyone having a dime going
down to Nice and Cannes. . . . Entire
Universal office force busy trying to
figure whether Junior will come over
or not — all a-twitter about it. . . . The
Hoffmarm girls are more than popular.
. . . After premiere of "The Bowery"
a local fight promoter cabled Wallace
Beery: "When can you meet Schmel-
ing? How many grand for bout in
London?" Wally didn't answer. . . .
Bob Dowling and Phil Reisman trying
to distance Columbia on opening of
branches all over Europe. . . . H. W.
Leasin sold on possibilities of RKO
over here. . . . Another bottle of wine,
Gaston!
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* 8373 Sunset Blvd. CR. 9245 to
BRITISH PLAX IIVTEXSIVE
DRIVE FOR COLOIVY €OII¥
Definite Program
Set to Crab Market
London. — British motion picture
producers are laying plans for one of
the biggest drives for business during
the coming year that has ever been
made in this infant British industry.
Eyes of the British producers are on
the British Colonies, where they figure
they have been missing a lot of money
that has found its way to other coun-
tries, namely America. So an unusual
attempt will be made to secure a big-
ger share of this business.
Colonies involved in the program in-
clude all the British West Indies, In-
dian Islands, British Guiana, British
Honduras, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the
Gold Coast, Kenya, Nyassaland, Rho-
desia, Zanzibar and Mauritius.
Much of this territory has not been
wired for sound, and present plans are
for intensive drive to get installation
in as much of this as possible. Some
idea of people to be reached is shown
from the fact that 20,000,000 people
live in Nigeria alone.
British producers plan to spend ap-
proximately $20,000,000 in produc-
tion here this year in talking pictures
and feel that this program will give
them sufficient pictures to fill all
needs of the colonies. Two hundred
pictures already planned.
Lou Cuimond Pub. Head
For British Caumont
New York. — British Gaumont has
made a change in its American pub-
licity department as a result of the
resignation of Charles Hynes.
Lou Cuimond, veteran who dates
back to the old Selznick days, is now
in the Gaumont sjsot.
Carbo Life for Film
Stockholm. — Einar Asplund, Swed-
ish photographer, is at work on a
picture built around the life and ca-
reer of Greta Carbo. It will be re-
leased in America under the title,
"The Making of Greta Carbo."
French Make Shakespeare
Paris. — Local company plans to
produce "The Merchant of Venice"
as a screen feature. Work to start
ihortly.
DINNER $1.50
i NO COVER CHARGE ^
Nazi Rebuff
Paris. — When signing her con-
tract to play in "Catherine the
Great," Elizabeth Bergner okayed
the dubbing of the film into any
language but German.
"If they want to hear me play,"
she said, "they will have to be
satisfied with English."
London Film Goes
To Africa on Pic
London. — London Film Productions
are taking a leaf out of American pro-
ducer ideas. They plan to send a
company into Uganda and the Congo
to make "Sanders of the River," from
the Edgar Wallace story of the same
name.
Director Zoltan Korda and G. E. T.
Grossmith, production manager, have
just returned after an 11,000 mile
jaunt through that territory, picking
locations and arranging for the com-
pany which will go down shortly.
Chinese Fans Losing
Interest in Talkies
Shanghai. — Chinese picture fans
seem to be losing their interest in
talking pictures. The novelty has
worn off and the public is showing a
definite preference for Chinese silent
or sound films.
American pictures enjoy more than
80 per cent of the Chinese trade.
There is but little competition from
French or German sources. More and
better British pictures, however, are
appearing and are obtaining a larger
share of the business than heretofore.
Talking pictures in the English lan-
guage have to depend almost entirely
on receipts in Shanghai and Hongkong
for their profits.
17 Weeks for Henry'
Brussels. — The British film, "Henry
the Eighth," has started its seven-
teenth week here at the Studio <les
Beaux-Arts. Still packing them in.
[?
IVM."/l|'
€>Lt)
6- HILL
VA.JoHr
•NOWOMAN EVER HAD
;suc:H,^:LavtRyr. •
German Trade in
Film Failing Off
Berlin. — The foreign trade in mo-
tion picture film in Germany has
shown a decided decrease, especially
with regard to imports. The statis-
tics for 1933 show a heavy decline in
imports and exports of raw stock and
positive, while the foreign trade in
negatives showed an advance.
Total imports of raw stock in 1933
amounted to 5,647,400 meters, com-
pared with 9,243,000 meters in 1932.
The outstanding feature in the 1933
import trade was the heavy decline in
shipments from the United States and
France.
German exports of raw stock in
1933 amounted to 33.170,300 met-
ers, against 39,715,700 meters in
1932.
Total imports of developed nega-
tives in 1933 amounted to 1,378,700
meters, a volume increase of 1 0 per
cent compared with 1932. Exports
totaled 935,700 meters, an advance
of 12.5 in volume over the preceding
year. The improvement in imports
resulted from increased receipts from
the United States, Spain and Great
Britain.
Cracie Fields Rest
London. — Gracie Fields has finished
work in the Basil Dean picture, "Life,
Love, Laughter," and has left for a
vacation at her villa at Capri. She
will be back in two months to do
another for Dean.
Bergner Europe's Star
Brussels. — Local advertising posters
for "Catherine the Great" carry only
Elizabeth Bergner as the star, with
Douglas Fairbanks, jr., far outshad-
owed.
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Vol. XIX, No. 50. Price 5e
TODAY S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, Marcli 10, 1934
WI^ITEI^ SPLIT DENNITE
• IN a conversation recently with one
of the ablest and most intelligent pro-
ducers in Hollywood, the subject of
"better pictures," a subject to which
this publication has devoted much
space, came up. He not only agreed
that pictures should be much better,
from a box-office standpoint, but he
had very definite ideas on how this
end could be attained.
"The spine of a motion picture is
action," he said. "Nothing can take
its place. There has been too much
so-called art in pictures. If an art
finish can be put on an action picture,
that's great. Sort of shellacked ho-
kum, as it were. But without action,
a motion picture is simply an inert
body in which the interest is sus-
tained artificially.
"In my opinion it is a great mis-
take to transfer to the screen the
'mental' plays from the New York
stage. Those precious elements in
Which the critics rejoice are not for
the great mass of the public. Pro-
ducers have gone to these more or
less highbrow pictures as a sort of
window dressing. They have become
too susceptible to criticism.
"The public, I believe, wants more
fun, broader entertainment values, not
merely ideas spread on the screen.
The 'smart picture made for smart
people' has had its day, and it is time
to cater to the tastes of the great au-
diences which go to motion picture
theatres because they supply the most
satisfactory and cheapest entertain-
ment.
"I am not arguing for cheap pic-
tures, even if they have action. I
think that what is usually called the
'program picture,' the type that has
been made simply to have something
to feed to the theatres, must go into
the discard also. There is no use
making a picture which, by the very
characterization given it, announces
that it has no great entertainment
value. The exhibitors don't want it
and the public won't take it.
"More than that, good acting will
not save a picture unless the story
gives sufficient reason for such act-
ing. The public is not interested in
acting as such. I believe the great
majority of picture-goers are person-
ality-conscious, not performance-con-
scious. I have known many instances
in which make-up has led an audi-
(Continued on Page 2)
Indies Hope
New York. — News from the
West Coast that Pantages had gone
to double features, and West Coast
might do the same on an even
greater scale than at present be-
cause of union troubles on stage
shows has indies here scraping up
new bankrolls with real hopes for
a break next season.
Rogers Announces
Parting With Para.
Charles R. Rogers yesterday an-
nounced that he would leave Para-
mount as soon as he had finished work
on the remaining four pictures on his
old contract. These pictures will be
finished by May 1 and, after a short
vacation, he will take his' organization,
including Harry Joe Brown, and p^rk
it on another lot for a series to be
released next year. His first on that
contract will be "McFadden's Flats."
The pictures remaining to be made
at Paramount are "In Conference,"
"Canal Boy," "Lizzie Skerrit" and
"Here Comes the Groom."
Franklin Comes West;
May Produce Here
New York. — H. B. Franklin is due
to leave for the Coast next Tuesday,
with the possibility that he may con-
sider producing his first picture in Hol-
lywood.
The general understanding is that
Franklin was to tie up with the Bio-
graph plant here and Herb Yates.
Film Folk to Europe
New York. — When the steamer
Lafayette sails for Europe tonight it
will have on board Cliff Edwards, Rob-
ert Ritchie and Edward Hope Coffey,
Jr., the playwright.
New Group Labelled 'Libera/'
Puts Complete Ticket Before
Members Of Guild'-Fight On
The split in the Writers' Guild was made a definite matter
yesterday when it passed beyond the stage of conversation into
the issuance of a definite slate of fifteen suggestions for the
Excutive Board by the group calling itself the "Liberals."
Not only did the group opposed to
the present administration announce its
own slate, but is is understood to be
following up the bare announcement
with action by sending ballot and
proxy blanks concerning its ticket to
the entire membership of the Guild.
(Continued on Page 2)
Lee Tracy on New
2-YearTermat'U'
'-''x.ee Tracy signed a new contract
with Universal yesterday to make
three pictures a year for two years,
with options after that. The contract
permits Tracy to make as many pic-
tures on the outside as re desires.
Tracy has just finished "I'll Tell
The World" for Universal and is
awaiting his first assignment on his
new contract.
Mex. Divorce for Nissen
London. — -Greta Nissen yesterday
confirmed the report that she and
her husband, Weldon Heyburn, will
get a divorce in Mexico. They sepa-
rated six months after their marriage
in March, 1932.
Norma Shearer on Air
New York. — Norma Shearer will
broadcast over the Columbia coast-to-
coast network next Wednesday eve-
ning at 10.15 o'clock, Pacific time.
DRAMATISTS GCILD S WII\CiS
I]\TO ACTION ON PIC RIGHTS
New York, — The chaotic situation
of sales of picture rights to Broadway
plays this season has resulted in ac-
tion by the Dramatists Guild . Depres-
sion years brought laxity in the rule
of the Guild which this past season
resulted in half the new plays having
picture company strings tied to them
before production.
And now it is reported that film
producers are trying to buy the rights
(Continued on Page 7)
Cable Arrives Today,
Starts Work Monday
Clark Gable arrives back from his
vacation and personal appearance tour
this afternoon and will start work
Monday at MGM in "Night Over
Broadway," formerly titled '^Manhat-
tan Melodrama."
W. S. Van Dyke will direct the pic-
ture and William Powell and Myrna
Loy will act in support of the star.
Business Fair in
New York Houses
New York. — Motion picture houses
did a fair business the past week, with
"Palooka" taking in $30,000 for its
second week at the Rivoli. ..However,
"David Harum" had a tough week at
the Music Hall, clicking for only
$65,000.
"Spitfire," now in Music Hall, did
around $52,000 last four days of this
week, with estimate for the week of
$85,000 to $90,000. Grosses for
other pictures for the week follow:
"Wonder Bar" did $42,000 at the
Strand; 'Queen Christina" took $31,-
000 at the Capitol; "Death Takes a
Holiday" grossed $30,000 at the Par-
amount, and "Dark Hazard," in its
second week at the Rialto, did $9,000.
'Rome' Dies Quickly
New York. — "When in Rome,"
stage play at the 49th Street Theatre,
closed after seven performances.
Trouble rose when Franke Rothe, who
played Marcellus, refused to enter in-
to a cooperative agreement to extend
the show.
Para. Holds Three
Paramount cut three coupons yes-
terday, taking up the options on Gail
Patrick, Grace Bradley and Frances
Drake. They continue as featured
members of the stock company for
another year.
Cromwell Renewed
John Cromwell signed a new one-
year ticket with Radio yesterday. He
is directing the Somerset Maugham
yarn, "Of Human Bondage," which
stars Leslie Howard.
Term for Gloria Stuart
Universal signed Gloria Stuart yes-
terday to a new three-year contract.
Her first picture will be "The Hum-
bug." with Nils Asther.
lOHN CROMWELL
jUST SIGNED
NEW CONTRACT
RADIO PICTLIRES
Page Two
March 10. 1934
I]
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
Mew York Office: Abraham Bernstejn
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat,
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the aqf .of March 3.
1879. ' :
Bee Stewart, Keridall Claenzer and
Liz Du Pont leaped off the Chief here
last night . . . The Pat O'Briens are
taking the boat to Panama any minute
— just for the ride . . . Esther Ralston
and Earl Oxford are aflame . . .
Adolph Menjou is giving a big dinner
for Veree Teasdale the night of the
"Wonder Bar" opening . . . Charlie
Chaplin left the Vendome Thursday
night to walk to the Fox Wilshire to
meet Paulette Coddard and got lost —
he wound up on Hollywood Boule-
vard— honest! Must be that when
Charlie gets to thinking about some-
thing he gets to thinking . . . and
while on the walking subject, George
Arliss tears up Hollywood boulevard
every afternoon at two-thirty — look-
ing neither to right nor left for miles
on end . . . Aline McMahon will be
off soon for two months with her
husband in N' Yawk — it's in her con-
tract. The vacation — not the destina-
tion . . . The night of a party recently,
Frances Marion's cook inquired naively,
"are you having guests — or picture
people?" (!).
Countess di Frasso is wearing dark
glasses from playing backgammon all
night for countless nights. . . . The
Darryl Zanucks, who haven't gone
hunting yet, are about to build a tro-
phy-room! Sort of to maybe keep the
moths all in one place? . . . Aileen
Pringle, Matt Moore, the Ben Lyons,
the George Hearsts. Carmen Pantages.
the Bing Crosbys, Eddie Kane, Eddie
Graham, Lady Carlyle, among those at
the Raoul Walshes' tea for the Bill
Hearsts Jrs. . . . Angela Joyce, we
find, is not playing a bit in a Los An-
geles show — she is playing the lead-
ing role in "The Big Bird." — No com-
ment! . . . Guy Lombardo's wife like
a green Lincoln so much at the Auto
Show that the maestro wrote out a
check for it on the spot and drove it
off the floor. But now she's doing
the driving.
"THE ORIENT EXPRESS"
Fox prod.; director, Paul Martin; writers, Graham Greene, Carl Hovey,
Paul Martin, Oscar Levant.
Mayfair Theatre
Times: This is the first American work of the Continental director, Paul Mar-
tin, who achieves, in certain individual scenes, a fine liquid movement and
suspense. But the script is an ineffective patchwork.
Herald-Tribune: Due either to bad cutting or an assumption on the part of the
producers of clairvoyance it remains a veiled mystery. The story is a tangle
of loose ends and rough edges which grows increasingly obscure as the tale
unwinds.
Mirror: Though impossible, it is all very lively, and the continental director, Mr.
Martin, has given his setting a high color.
American: It's pretty mediocre material, and players who have demonstrated
their abilities in other vehicles struggle valiantly to lift the piece by its
boot-straps without much success.
World -Telegram: Mediocre entertainment, lazily put together and amateurish-
ly acted and directed.
lournal: The picture emerges as an episodic narrative in which each character
is presented in turn. Each says his or her piece and the camera then moves
over to the next group. It's mild program fare.
-Swn: .''Orient Express" starts off smartly, it keeps up that pace for quite a while,
winding up its melodramatic springs with cheerful briskness.
News: "Orient Express" attempts to be unconventional in atmosphere. The
earlier sequences are pieced together in a crude way, and the latter ones
are unbelievable.
"ROAD TO RUIN"
True Life Photoplay; directors, Mrs. Wallace Reid, Melville Shyer; writer,
Mrs. Wallace Reid.
Cameo Theatre
Post: It is slightly more sordid, more trite, and surely even duller than the usual
run of films of that nature. Mrs. Wallace Reid, widow of the former screen
idol, has directed the picture and it is to be hoped that her next efforts
will be centered on a more worthy subject.
Sun: "The Road to Ruin" is about as unnecessarily sordid a tale as the movies
have ever taken the trouble to film. The acting is about equal to theme
and treatment.
Herald-Tribune: It would be a little clearer had the story been more connected
and a trifle more convincing had the plot been less highly colored. None
of the people seemed to act like the characters they were intended to
represent. The interiors are pretty dreary, but some of the outdoor shots
are pleasing.
Times: The deficiencies of "Road to Ruin" lie not so much in its amateurish
composition as in its dull and unnecessary preoccupation with subject-mat-
ter which belongs in a sociological case history.
American: "The Road To Ruin" is scarcely art, but there is some suspicion that
it is good commercial property for the side streets. It is difficult to tell just
what the film was before censorial shears started snipping, but as it stands
it looks like a quickie depending on title and implication for allure.
Two for Armetta
Henry Armetta has been assigned
comedy roles in two pictures at Uni-
versal. He will double up in "The
Black Cat" and "Practical Joker."
Bennett at Mayfair
Spencer Bennett has been signed to
direct the next Mayfair production,
which goes into work the end of next
week.
Vera Caspary En Route
New York. — -Vera Caspary, author-
ess, leaves for the Coast next Wed-
nesday. Plans to write a play in col-
laboration.
Paf0. Crowd Gives
Dkk Arlen Send-off
Richard Arlen got a surprise party
at luncheon yesterday at Paramount
when the studio's entire executive,
writer and director staffs let him know
how popular he is with them. Speakers
were Emanuel Cohen, who pointed out
that Arlen had never given the com-
pany any trouble, and Jack Oakie.
Arlen himself turned the affair in-
to a testimonial for Charles Barton,
Paramount assistant director, who gave
the player his first break. The occa-
sion celebrated also Arlen's eleventh
year with Paramount and his depar-
ture for Europe. He was presented
with four traveling bags, two of which
were for his wife, Jobyna Ralston,
Sylvia Sidney Fails to
Make Black Eye Club'
Attempt by Sylvia Sidney to emu-
late Margaret Sullavan and Esther
Ralston in joining the "Black Eye
Club," failed yesterday when the orb
refused to discolor.
She received an accidental blow dur-
ing a battle scene between Gary Grant
and George Baxter in "Thirty Day
Princess."
Mrs. Zion Myers ill
Mrs. Zion Myers, wife of the Co-
lumbia shorts producer, has been ill
in bed for the past three days with
a bad case of flu.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1
ence to believe that it was witnessing
some great acting. I am convinced
that, if the story isn't there, no
amount of fine acting will make the
picture a hit, no matter what the
critics may say."
And there is food for thought in
those remarks.
L'Estrange North
For Creel Talks
Richard I'Estrange, labor representa-
tive on the Studio Labor Committee,
left last night for San Francisco to
confer with George Creel, State NRA
Administrator, on the motion picture
labor grievances that have been piling
up since the film code went into ef-
fect.
"I want to get Mr. Creel away from
the Hollywood influence and give him
a real report on what ISN'T being
done here to enforce the film code,"
said I'Estrange. "Our Labor Commit-
tee has failed to function on all these
complaints and I think Mr. Creel
should be informed of all the diffi-
culties and squawks."
ChaSr Crayson to *U'
Charles Grayson was all set to make
his pr\p around the world, but post-
poned it temporarily to go to Univer-
,-^l on a one-picture deal. He will
write an original story.
il
le«
Cai
*
.1
Writer Split Definite
(Continued from Page 1 )
The slate announced by the "Liber- 'F
ais" has an interesting angle with the'
inclusion of the name of Ralph Block,
at present acting president of thai
Guild and always identified as a stal-
wart of the old Administration.
An unofficial explanation given for
this inclusion is that the "Liberals"
are anxious to show willingness to in-
clude all factions and points of view
in the group they aim to have guiding
the destinies of the Guild.
The slate announced yesterday by
the "Liberals" is as follows:
Frances Marion, John Lee Mahin,
Zelda Sears, P. J. Wolfson. John Em-
erson, Bert Kalmar, Ernest Pascal,
Arthur Richman, Jack Natteford, Tris-
tram Tupper, Arthur Ripley, Brian
Marlow, Waldemar Young, James K.
McGuinness and Ralph Block.
Pre-election gossip, based upon the
presence of the names of Jack Natte-
ford and Tristram Tupper in the above
list, has it that the free lance writers,
who total close to a hundred votes
out of a voting total of about three |
hundred and seventy, have the balance
of power and will easily swing the
election towards the new ticket.
The members of this group are in-
teresting in that they include Emer-
son, a former president of Equity;
Richman, former head of the Drama-
tists, novelists and a song writer, in
addition to the screen writers.
Those on the executive committee
sponsoring the new ticket are: RobertjJ
Riskin, Harvey Thew, Jules Furthman,!*
Allen Rivkin, Carey Wilson, Howard
j. Green, P. J. Wolfson, Howard Em-
mett Rogers, Richard Schayer, Anita
Loos, James K. McGuinness and Jack
Cunningham. ^
i
March 10, 1934
THE
P«f« iliWi
2J7» OF HOLLYWOOD PRODUCT
VILE. SAYS BISHOP CAIVTWELL
*Writersand Execs
Must Take Blame'
"Twenty-five per cent of all pic-
tures made in Hollywood in the course
of a year are definitely bad and of-
fensive," declares Bishop John J.
Cantwell, of Los Angeles, in an arti-
cle on "Priests and the Motion Pic-
f ture Industry" in the February issue
of the Ecclesiastical Review, a month-
ly publication for the clergy of the
Roman Catholic Church.
This article is one of the strongest
arguments yet advanced in the battle
of this Church for cleaner pictures, for
Bishop Cantwell minces no words. He
calls a spade a spade, and he lays the
responsibility for these offensive films
directly at the doors of the managing
executives of the studios and the
writers of the stories.
"Some of these pictures," he writes,
"suggest that the motion picture in-
dustry has set itself to the task of
seeing which company can produce the
most vicious films. The subject mat-
ter of most of these offensive films
deals with sex relations of every con-
ceivable kind. When the pictures are
not vile in toto, the films are crowd-
ed with salacious details, smutty talk,
obscene wit, offensive situations. If
one were to glean one's knowledge of
family life in America from the Anr>er-
ican screen presentations, one would,
unerringly, come to believe that adul-
tery is but a slight adventure in ro-
mance that any understanding wife
should easily forgive."
. Bishop Cantwell outlines the themes
of ten pictures, "selected at random
from recent releases," as follows:
1 — "Based upon seduction, rape
and prostitution."
2 — "A foreign — South Sea isle —
locale and offended by a plot embrac-
ing aphrodisiac drugs, rape and re-
venge."
3 — "Also with a foreign locale,
based upon native toxicology and nud-
ity."
4 — "The story of a nudist colony
which, so far, a number of the politi-
cal censor boards have refused to li-
cense for public exhibition."
I 5 — "A vile and revolting story of
f a mother who became a prostitute to
I provide luxury and education for her
[ son."
I 6 — "Deals with an alleged cultured
Vsocial worker who makes it a practice
to bear children to men she never sees
afterwards."
7 — "A new study of the unhappy
small-town girl made happy by the
gay adventurer from the city — she
giving him her body 'on call.' "
8 — "Concerned with the lechery of
a fanatic monk and his two attempts
at rape."
9 — "A rowdy farce with Boccaccian
dialog."
10- — "Adultery justified, or at least
conveniently forgotten, in a discussion
'which sought to show that a man's
mistress can be his wife more truly
'in the sight of God' than the woman
ne married."
. He cites, as a further example, an
. erotic dance in a picture based upon
[■ the early days of Christianity, "which
Censor Thought
London. — The British censors
objected to the title "Nana" and
then, after much cogitation, okayed
this substitute: "Lady of the Boule-
vards."
gave great offense to patrons in all
parts of the world."
Bishop Cantwell, while not placing
the responsibility for these offensive
pictures directly upon the Jewish in-
fluence in the picture industry, makes
the point that Jewish executives are
the responsible men in ninety per cent
of the Hollywood studios and have the
final word on all scenarios.
"Certain it is," he says, "if these
Jewish executives had any desire to
keep the screen free from offensive-
ness, they could do so."
Continuing on the point of respon-
sibility, he writes:
"Along with the director of the pic-
ture, the writer is the person who cre-
ates all the filth of the picture and it
is the writer who is most responsible,
next to the managing executives of
the studios."
He speaks of the rush of stage
writers to Hollywood when the talk-
ies came in and continues:
"Along with these went the authors
of current 'literary' successes, the
writers of the pornographic school
whose books have had a great sale in
recent years. Seventy-five per cent
of these authors are pagans. They
are men and women who care nothing
for decency, good taste or refinement.
Most of them are living lives of in-
fidelity or worse, wherein there is to
be found not a suggestion of respect
for religion or for spiritual values.
"Our writers for the screen spend
much of their talents in glorifying the
female libertine and the public pros-
titute. As panderers of this sort our
motion picture producers have wel-
comed them and shifted the blame
to the public, with the excuse that
the public wants that sort of story
and will have no other."
To offset this charge against the
public Bishop Cantwell cites the car-
toon, "Three Little Pigs"; the musical
play, "Be Mine Tonight," and "Cav-
alcade" as examples of clean pictures
which were enormously successful. He
also mentions a group of "26 over-
sexed pictures," only two of which
were "outstanding financial successes"
and nine were "fair."
Bishop Cantwell reviews briefly the
more or less abortive attempts of the
Hays office to handle the moral issue
in pictures and says that "a new and
complete overhauling is now impera-
tive if the motion picture industry is
to survive unhampered by additional
State censorship bodies or a Federal
censorship law." He concludes:
"Certain it is that some action of
heroic proportions must be taken if
we are to save the youth of America
from a pollution and debauchery the
like of which America has never
known before. In vain do we strug-
gle to rear great educational institu-
tions, if the invidious character of the
cinema is permitted to prostitute the
character of our adolescent youth.
Universal V/ill Hold
Three Conventions
New York. — Indication that Uni-
versal plans to go after business in a
big way during the coming year is dis-
closed in the fact that it will hold
three regional conventions starting in
June.
The first will be staged in New
York. Next will be the gathering of
the midwest group in Chicago. The
wind-up will be the Pacific Coast sec-
tor, which will convene at San Fran-
cisco.
Mae Clarke Borrowed
For 'Dark Tower' Lead
Mae Clarke was borrowed by War-
ners yesterday from MOM for the spot
in the Edward C. Robinson picture,
"Dark Tower," left vacant by Barbara
Blair. Archie Mayo is directing.
Cutting an Old Friend
After thirty years trouping with a
mustache. Sir Guy Standing voted it
goodbye for a featured role in "Witch-
ing Hour" at Paramount, where he
has a term deal. It will be the first
time he has played a part sans the
adornment.
Cracie Allen on Leave
On the The completion of her work
in Paramount's "We're Not Dressing,"
Gracie Allen leaves for San Francisco
for a vacation. Husband George Burns
is slated to stay behind to look after
arrangements for broadcasts.
'Murder' Tab at Para.
New York. — Following its success-
ful run at the Majestic, "Murder at
the Vanities" will open next Friday
night in tabloid form at the Para-
mount. "Green Bay Tree" closes' to-
morrow night.
B'way Plays Unfavorable
New York. — Of the New York
stage openings last week, "Too Much
Party" and "Yellow Jack," the report
must be on both, "Not very hot for
pictures."
"So great is the power of the mo-
tion picture to impress the youth of
the land that one hour spent in the
darkness of a cinema palace, intent
on the unfolding of the wrong kind of
story, can and frequently does nullify
years of careful training on the part
of the Church, the school, the home.
So great is the problem suggested by
the wrong kind of talking picture, that
drastic efforts must be launched at
once if we are to stave off national
disaster."
The current issue of The Tidings,
official Catholic weekly for the South-
ern California diocese, contains a sig-
nificant editorial comment in touching
on the news of Omaha's Catholic
bishop who forbade his faithful to at-
tend the performance of Sally Rand
at the Paramount Theatre there un-
der pain of sin.
The Tidings says: "Perhaps this may
be the means necessary to cope with
objectionable pictures — the specific
mention and banning of specific pic-
tures."
300,000 See MCM's
'Christina' in Lon.
London, — "Queen Christina" has
been seen by 300.000 people in Lon-
don to date, and naturally the picture
holds over into a fourth week. It's the
sensation of the town.
Other pictures doing good business
include "Catherine tl-»3 Great," "Jack
Ahoy" and "Footlight Parade," all be-
ing held over.
Newcomers are "Bolero," at the
Carleton; "Man's Castle," at the New
Gallery; "Six of a Kind" and "Dark
Hazard," at the Plaza.
Publications Must
Show Value to Get Ads
The Publicity Committee of the
Producers' Association yesterday took
action which will curb the advertis-
ing plans of any new publication en-
tering the picture field.
It was decided that, from now on,
the committee will not recognize as
an advertising medium any publica-
tion until it has been published contin-
uously for a period of six months.
Then the publication will have to sub-
mit circulation breakdown for exami-
nation before any action is taken.
More Mae West Fans
Mae West received word yesterday
that the inmates of the Iowa State
Penitentiary have voted her their fa-
vorite, this despite her having been
instrumental in sending a man to
prison recently for robbing her. Jail's
news organ, the Presidio, has asked
her for a photograph and an interview.
Owen Goes to Radio
Finishing his work in "The Dover
Road," Reginald Owen switches over
to the cast of "Of Human Bondage"
at Radio today. Studio yesterday sign-
ed Holmes Herbert for a featured spot
in the production which J. Walter Ru-
ben directs.
Ken Maynard Abroad
Washing up his eight-picture pro-
duction deal with Universal for west-
erns, Ken Maynard takes a two
months' trip to Europe. He leaves
March 1 5 for New York, where he
patches the Berengaria a week later.
Mrs. Maynard goes with him.
Rosener Won't Direct
Ken Goldsmith did not sign George
Rosener to write and direct "Born to
Hang," as erroneously reported,
though there is the possibility he may
be tagged to write the continuity.
Rosener will not direct the picture.
Another Humorist
Second baby to be born within two
weeks to a Paramount publicity man
made Ralph Huston a father yesterday.
It was a girl, weighing eight pounds,
seven ounces. Mother is at the Cali-
fornia Lutheran Hospital.
Bull Fighter Leaves
Brought here by Paramount as tech-
nical advisor on "Trumpet Blows,"
Edouardo Castro, bull fighter, left last
night for Mexico City.
'Henry' Clicks in S. A.
Buenos Aires. — "Henry the Eighth"
created a furore here, breaking every
existing week-day record when it
opened at the Monumental Theatre at
a two-a-day deluxe showing last week.
Page Four
S4arch 10, 1934 it
*TOO MITCH PARTY' ALSO
PROVES TOO MUCH JVXK
Glimpses at MCM
Pic Possibilities
Lost With All Else
"TOO MUCH PARTY"
The Metropolitan Players present "Too
Much Party," by Hiram Sherman;
staged by William B. Friedlander;
settings by Amend, at the Masque
, Theatre. With NA/arda Howard,
Philip Truex, Janet McLeay, Maude
Richmond, Reed McClelland, Mady
Correll, Claire Crenville, Pierre
Watkin, Viola Swayne, George Ali-
son.
New York. — If punning is the low-
est form of wit, remember that
sometimes the provocation may be so
great as not only to condone it but
actually to demand it — as in the case
of this incredible play about an in-
credible creature called Lettice Dean.
Lettice go further and wish that there
might be even a lower form to dis-
pose of such mistakes as "Too Much
Party."
Well, anyhow, this mistake con-
cerns itself with the fantastic doings
of a midwestern matron who is bound
and determined to become a proba-
tion officer in her home town. She
is the sort of nitwit who just dotes
on moral delinquency, and thinks she
knows all about it. But it turns out
that she doesn't, for she has a son,
Kenneth, who goes in for forgery, and
a daughter, Judy, who has been ad-
dicted to too many parties — and we
mean parties. Add an obnoxious fe-
male politician who eggs Lettice on,
a nice husband who hates said poli-
tician, an undefiled freshman, whom
Judy takes advantage of, and a per-
fectly respectable bootlegger daughter
for Kenneth — and you can imagine
the complications for yourself. No,
you can't. Because in order to be
able to do that it is necessary also to
acquaint you with Agnes. Agnes is
a "case," whom Lettice takes out of
a "home" and brings right into her
own household as a servant. Agnes
has had three children by three dif-
ferent fathers, and is definitely a
moral imbecile. Hilarious, isn't it?
Well, if this doesn't break you down
completely, we'll throw in the epilep-
tic fit which Agnes throws at the end
of the second act — how you like dese?
Incidentally, Viola Swayne, as Agnes,
gave a clinically correct performance
— which only made the whole thing
worse.
We thought we could get away
without mentioning Agnes; but, after
all, if we are to give you a complete
idea of the magnificent picture possi-
bilities of "Too Much Party," Agnes
has got to be included.
The cast owes a vote of something
or other to William B, Friedlander's
direction.
Slate Four New Plays
New York. — Four new stage shows
ai^ slated for this town next week.
/New Faces," the Dillingham-Elsie
''Janis revue, opens Thursday at the
Fulton, "The Perfumed Lady" goes
into the Ambassador on Monday.
"Wrong Number" at Provincetown
PJayhouse Monday, and "The Pure at
Heart" at the Longacr.e on Friday.
The Latin Touch
The Chamber of Commerce is
staging a move to have the tele-
phone company change a lot of the
phone prefixes arguing, "they are
not in keeping with the locality,
many of them are too cold, they
should have a Spanish idea in their
treatment."
Ham Beall suggested that they
change the GRanite exchange to
GRAUMAN and the Chamber
wrote back, "We don't feel that
the name Grauman is sufficiently
Spanish."
Academy Banquet
Won't Be Broadcast
The Academy steering committee
met yesterday and turned down re-
quests from the National Broadcasting
Company and the Columbia Broadcast-
ing Company to put the Annual
Awards banquet on a nation-wide
hookup on the night of March 16.
Even though it would cost the
Academy nothing, the committee felt
that such a broadcast would be dull
to listeners unless a special air pro-
gram were prepared. This the com-
mittee does not want to do, as it feels
the affair is one staged within the
industry, and that it should" be confin-
ed solely to honoring those who will
be present to accept awards.
Ticket sale has taken a big bound
in the past twenty-four hours, offici-
als announced, and yesterday after-
noon a total of 250 tickets had al-
ready been sold.
Film Folk Leaving for
East in Special Car
A group of film folk, including Mr.
and Mrs. Nat Coldstone, Buddy De
Sylva, Sid Silvers, Mr. and Mrs. Rich-
ard Arlen, Arthur Kober and Dave
Dryer, will leave tonight on the Chief
for New York. The group will have
a special car that will go straight
through to New York.
Warner Trailers Click
Trailers on "Wonder Bar" and
"Dark Hazard" being shown at the
Warner houses in Hollywood and
downtown this week are getting con-
siderable favorable comment. They
are the product of Warners' special
trailer department.
McCuire Did His Job
The story that Universal started
work on "Little Man" with an incom-
plete script is not quite true, since
William Anthony McGuire completed
the script job in final form on a sick
bed two days before the start of
shooting.
Vacation for O'Brien
Pat O'Brien has been granted a va-
cation by Warners and will leave with
his wife on a boat trip to Panama.
Chester Morris on Way
New York. — Chester Morris leaves
New York for the Coast Saturday to
resume his Universal contract.
Actors* Equity Sees
Revival of Stock
New York. — Actors' Equity offi-
cials yesterctay predicted that there
will be a big increase in the number
of stock companies operating through-
out the country next year. This past
year saw only nineteen stock compa-
nies running in the entire United
States.
The reason for the increase in the
immediate future, they explain, is be-
cause the present crop of Broadway
shows are better suited for stock com-
panies than those for some time. It
was also pointed out that the legiti-
mate theatre code restricting the sale
of film rights before stock and the
road have seen the play will help
stock.
LaCava and Fields on
Del Monte Golf Trip
Gregory LaCava, having completed
"The Firebrand" for Twentieth Cen-
tury, left yesterday for Del Monte with
W. C. Fields for a few days of golf.
He will return Monday to Hollywood
and will then hop a train for New
York for a few weeks.
Warren To Do Chinese
After searching unsuccessfully for
a Chinese to play the role of Tien
Wang, the Chinese merchant, in
"Cat's Paw," Harold Lloyd signed Fred
Warren for the role. Production is
expected to be resumed on Monday,
with Sam Taylor back at work.
Barrows on the Script
Nick Barrows is not doing any di-
recting on "Little Miss Marker," as
published yesterday, but was on a
writing job in connection with the pic-
ture. Al Hall is directing the B. P.
Schulberg subject alone.
Vaude Team at MCM
Shaw and Lee, veteran vaudeville
comedy team, were signed yesterday
to appear in a series of MCM shorts
under Jack Cummings' supervision.
Harry Santley, of the William Morris
office, made the deal.
Rosen to Latvia
London. — Phil Rosen, American di-
rector, wasn't given enough time in
London to even see the sights, before
he was shipped off to Latvia on loca-
tion for his picture.
Larkin Recuperates
John Larkin, screen writer, is re-
cuperating nicely at Hollywood Hos-
pital from a rush surgical job that
resulted in the removal of his ap-
pendix.
Ferguson Opens Offices
Helen Ferguson will open her new
offices at 6615 Sunset boulevard next
Thursday, with an informal gathering
from four to six.
lean Fenwick Leaves
Jean Fenwick, sister of Marian
Marsh, left. last night for England to
do a picture.
y "Louie" Mayer conducting the reg-
y ular Thursday production meeting in
his office. All the producers (with
the exception of Thalberg, who was at
the Academy meeting) , sitting in and
Nicholas Schenck looking on.
Although Wanger walked out on
the present Marion Davies production,
he is still the producer contact for her
interests on that lot and will do her
next picture. And Walter gloating
over the defeat of the Warner Bros,
team at polo by the team on which
he plays.
•
David Selznick staging three differ-
ent previews on "Viva Villa" next
week, not one of which will be for
the press. He wants to see just what
the picture looks like before an audi-
ence with the new material plus a cut
version of the picture he had shown
before. The picture has all the ear-
marks of a hit.
•
There is not an individual in Holly-
wood more interested in the success
of the Academy than Irving Thalberg.
When it began to curve and sink in
the middle about a year ago, he was
not in town to fight for the organi-
zation, but he is doing everything pos-
sible now to put it back on its feet,
believing that its functions are the
best fitted for the harmony of this
industry.
Howard Strickling yelling for clear- ,
ance on stories that have already been N
printed by the trade press. He's 1
handcuffed because the papers have i
not been signed. . . . Frank Whitbeck j
trying to reason with the Fox West
Coast crowd to spend $3,000 on the
exploitation of "Rip Tide." ... If you
take our judgment Louise Henry, just
arrived from New York, will be a star
in less than eighteen months. She is
a combination of Connie Bennett and
Carole Lombard and better looking
and younger than either. . . . Frank
Orsatti "eyeing" the new importation.
•
Johnny Farrow finishing the South
Sea yarn that Selznick will produce.
. . . Jules Furthman talking wine. . . .
M. A. Greenwood saying "I told you
so" on the question of author rights,
that was decided in the New York
Court of Appeals Monday. Eddie
Mannix bowing an assent and tryirig (
to estimate how much MGM has paid
out against its better judgment on
those rights. . . . Marcel la Banet, ,
Selznick's secretary, will not go to ]
the studio stages. She has been made j
assistant to Selznick and becomes one
of the first feminine execs.
•
That song "Rip Tide," that Walter
Donaldson and Gus Kahn wrote for
the Thalberg picture, has caught on
like a storm. . . . Nicholas Schenck is
going back to New York Thursday.
. . . Paul Snell likes his job. . . . That
blonde "sec" in the Thalberg mansion
reminds us of an ad for a sweet scent-
ed toilet soap. . . . Sam Marx looks
as big as Camera.
r
Mardi 10. 1934
THg
Pa9« FKrc
Expert Sound Men
Form New Society
The new Society of Sound Engi-
neers, which is now being formed by
some of the sound men in the picture
industry, will be an exclusive organi-
zation, according to present indica-
tions.
According to those active in the
forming of the organization, there are
not more than 125 men in the indus-
try who will be qualified for member-
ship, due to the high technical re-
quirements. A total of 107 of these
sound engineers and mixers are al-
ready in the group, which has Roger
Marchetti as counsel.
The group at first thought of at-
tempting some sort of affiliation with
the ASC, it is said, but later decided
to form their own organization. C. S.
Pratt is temporary chairman and J.
Aiken is temporary secretary. The
plan is to have no affiliation with the
unions.
More Para. Pub Men
Paramount is increasing its staff of
publicity men, Tom Baiiy, taking on
Andy Hervey and Barney Hutchinson.
Both register a week from Monday,
Hervey is now with Howard Strick-
ling at MCM. Hutchinson's is a return
trip.
Rogers Changes Title
Charles R. Rogers yesterday select-
ed the title "Private Scandal" for the
picture he now has in work under the
tag, "In Conference." Ralph Murphy
is directing a cast topped by Zasu
Pitts, John Halliday and Helen Mack.
Richard Carle by Universal for "A
Gentleman's Affairs." Negotiated by
the John Lancaster office.
Georgia Caine through John Lan-
caster for "Call It Luck," Fox.
E. Alwyn Warren to Harold Lloyd's
"Cat's Paw" by John Lancaster office.
Mabel Colcord set by Freddie Fra-
iick for "Sadie McKee," MGM.
Helen {erome Eddy to "Dr. Mon-
ica," Warners, by Menifee I. John-
stone.
Noel Madison by MGM for "Man-
hattan Melodrama."
H. B. Walthall, John Harron, Tom
O'Brien and Joseph Cirard by Willis
Kent for "Murder in the Museum."
Crauford Kent, Frank Conroy, James
Burke and Lucille Ward for "Little
Miss Marker" at Paramount.
Gertrude Michael for "Cleopatra,"
Paramount.
James Donlan and Frederick Burton
for "It Ain't No Sin," Paramount.
Thomas Monk, Frederic Sullivan
and William Arnold into "Thirty Day
Princess," Paramount.
Jane Darwell signed through Walter
Herzbrun for "Most Precious Thing in
Life," Columbia.
Ralph Remley into "Humbug," Uni-
versal, through Herzbrun.
Walter Woolf by Universal for role
in "Practical Joker."
Fred Kohler and Hedda Hopper by
Universal for roles in "Little Man,
What Now?"
Lew Cody and Harold Waldridge
s^gned by Charles Rogers for "In Con-
ference" at Paramount.
Earl Carroll Offers
June Brewster a Lead
Earl Carroll is negotiating with June
Brewster for the starring role in his
next "Vanities" production in New
York. Miss Brewster was formerly
one of the line girls in the Carroll
show. If she fails to get a term deal
in the near future she will accept the
offer.
Reporter Rep. a Daddy
Washington. — William Silberberg,
newspaper correspondent and Holly-
wood Reporter representative here, is
passing out cigars in honor of a new
son presented him by Mrs. Silberberg
last Friday.
Lackey on 'Derby Day'
Trem Carr has handed the "Derby
Day" story, which is based on the
life of Tod Sloan, to William Lackey
for his supervision. Production on
this picture will get under way next
week.
'Roman Scandals'
Smash in Paris
Paris. — The special charity premiere
of "Roman Scandals" at the Lord By-
ron Theatre Monday night caused al-
most as great a sensation as the re-
cent street riots.
This premiere was ticketed at $10
a copy and was staged under the pa-
tronage of the American Ambassador.
The general public showing started
yesterday morning and the house was
a sell-out ten minutes after the doors
were opened. Both United Artists
and the theatre management expect a
run of four months for this new Can-
tor picture.
J. Walter Ruben East
Cn Route for London
J. Walter Ruben finished "Dover
Road" for Radio yesterday and leaves
Wednesday, accompanied by his wife,
for New York, where he will spend
four or five days before leaving for
London to direct "Java Head," for
Associated Films.
Howard Green on Air
Howard J. Green, writer and first
vice-president of the Academy, will go
on the air over station KMTR next
Thursday night to plug the Academy
awards banquet. He will be inter-
viewed by Edwin Schallert.
Sinclair with Foy
Bryan Foy yesterday signed Diana
Sinclair for the lead in "Life Eends,"
which goes into work March 15 with
Foy directing. Deal was set by the
Kingston-Harris agency.
Leonard M
UDIE
PLAYING
"MR. X"
IN
"MYSTERY OF MR. X"
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
1.
RecenHy Completed: PERSONAL MANAGEMENT:
"House of Rothschild" LEW CANTOR
George Arliss — 20th Century C. S. HUMPHREY
Current' Assignment:
'CLEOPATRA"
C. B. DeMille — Paramount
Page Six
THgP?
March 10, 1 934
Gertrude Stein Receives
Reviewer's Notes This Wk
No book page today would be complete without mention of
Gertrude Stein's opera, "Four Saints in Three Acts," which is
published by Random House, and which is puzzling the New
Yorkers who, besides being able to read it, can also see it per-
formed on the stage. Miss Stein, of
course, is the lady who writes in the
following manner and vein: "The cat
walking cat through the cat walking
slinking through the kitchen through
the cat slinking kitchen door" and
gets away with it. At least, she gets
away with it to the extent of setting
people to talking abo>jt her.
The opera is, according to various
people, "a gorgeous piece of kidding"
. . . "an amazing experinnent" .
and "So what?"
The most intelligible part of the
book is the preface by Carl van Vech-
ten and even that fails to interpret
what obviously Miss Stein doesn't
want interpreted — or knows can't be
interpreted.
Incidentally, Miss Stein reviewed
Robert Coate's "Yesterday's Burdens"
in the March Scribner's. And here's
what she says about it: "And so Rob-
ert Coates has written a book which
is a modern book and which is his
book. And I say very definitely he is
the first young American who has
done so. The very first. May there
be. many more. And what he has
do6e is exciting not because it is mod-
ern, but just because it is exciting,
and it is so exciting because it is
modern."
^nd so we submit the following re-
views which are reviews because they
are following:
"The Cunga Sahib"
Ajuthor Talbot Mundy
Publisher Appleton -Century Co.
More adventures of the Babu Chul-
lunder Chose. This time he helps a
Maharajah's daughter to secure the
thfone for herself.
'He is aided by a grave-digger from
Ph|:ladelphia, who contributes bits of
wipdom, during tiger hunts and ele-
phant tamings, garnered from five-
cent books of philosophy.
"We Ride the Cale!"
Author Emilie Loring
Publisher The Penn Pub. Co.
iiiy.
concerning the Farrs brothers —
Ciiy, the playboy, who was endlessly
getting into scrapes, and Michael, the
reliable one, who was endlessly get-
ting Guy out of them.
He even went to the extent of in-
stalling Sonia Carson and little three-
ye^r-old Richard, who was Guy's il-
legitimate son by Sonia's dead sister,
tn his house.
A political campaign, a treasure
hunt, a jewel robbery and a kidnaping
scare are major complications.
"On the Shore"
Author Albert Halper
Publisher The Viking Press
Fifteen biographical sketches, pos-
sessing more sincerity than humor,
comprise this book by Albert Halper
who, last year, attracted a good deal
of attention for his "Union Square."
He writes colorfully, always using
the slums of Chicago for his back-
grounds, and his sketches, though
sometimes repetitive and a little too
earnest, are for the most part vividly
interesting.
"Red Square"
Author Samuel Andrew Wood
Publisher E. P. Dutton & Co.
Violence, mystery, murders, escapes
— the excitement is continuous in this
book. And it is a red-blooded, gusty,
played-to-the-hilt excitement that re-
volves around the activities of the
Soviet Secret Police.
There is a young English engineer;
an English girl who is a Communist;
a Chinese girl who is a screen star
and a revolutionary leader, and Pro-
hackai, the murderee.
The story is swiftly told and, as
we said before, violent.
"Hide-Away Island"
Author Barry Fox
Publisher Greenberg
Here is a light, charming tale of a
lady who divorced a brute of a hus-
band and found refuge in an old shack
on an island near the South Shore of
Long Island.
Fortunately, it was near a Coast
Guard Station, and the guards, accord-
ing to the story, are remarkably fine
chaps.
They fixed the shack up for her,
found an obstetrician when Beth's
baby arrived, and even succeeded in
bringing a new romance to her life.
"End of an Ancient
Mariner"
Authors: G. D. H. and Margaret
Cole
Publishers The Crime Club
Philip Blakeway kills old Captain
John Day in full view of the reader.
Well — almost in full view. And then
the fun starts while the reader
watches Inspector Henry Wilson try
to fit the puzzling clues together.
Good story, good conversation.
"Summer's Pby"
Author G. B. Stern
Publisher .....Alfred A. Knopf
Miss Stern slyly subtitles her book,
"An Exaggeration," and then proceeds
to weave together a sort of fantasy
and a definite reality.
The result is a highly original and
diverting novel, the like of which has
never been seen before.
It tells of the Leighs who lived the
year around at Clifford's Bay, and who
hated the noisy summer visitors with
a hatred all out of proportion. The
Leigh children were kept away from
the visitors with such fierce vigilance
that they finally came to regard them
as an alien and strange race. Dr. Al-
exander Leigh nicknames the visitors
"The Augs," and secretly encourages
the children to carry on a scientific
investigation of the Augs.
This book is Strang?, vivid and ut-
terly charming.
"Weymouth Sands"
Author John Cowper Powys
Publisher Simon & Schuster
Writing again of Dorsetshire and
Dorsetshire folk, Mr. Powys displays
the same profound pity for his char-
acters, the same gentle understanding
of their faults, foibles and virtues, that
he displays in all of his books. His
analyses are keen and his characters
move around in the plot as if they
had a ri^ht to be there, as indeed they
have.
He writes of Adam Skald, whose
nickname was "The Jobber"; of Cat-
tistock, a rich miser; of Perdita Lane,
a girl from Guernsey, and of Sylvanus
Cobbold, a mystic, who is finally ar-
rested and put away in an insane asy-
lum on the charge of immoral relations
with young girls. The fact that these
relations were not physical, but men-
tal, is a typical Powys touch.
This is a book of tenderness and
compassion and high intelligence.
"Children of Ruth"
Author Marvin Sutton
Publisher Greenberg
Miraculously, Marvin Sutton does
not allow his novel to fall into class
war propaganda. And he had plenty
of opportunity, for the book is funda-
mentally a comment on the gradual
change of outlook among the English
farmers.
Mr. Sutton tells his story simply
and without exaggeration, making his
people, whether they be rich landown-
ers or poverty-stricken tenants, com-
pletely human and understandable.
He tells of Gaffer Garland and his
plowman, Tom Noble, who struggle
endlessly to make the farm yield
enough to supply them with the
money for the never ceasing demands
of the new order. And there is the
old vicar; the country doctor, and fi-
nally Ted, the farm boy, who revolts
against absentee landlordism.
This book is entirely and poignantly
readable.
"This Much Is Minel"
Author Nola Henderson
Publisher Smith & Haas
Although this novel has plenty of
life and action and color, it is inter-
esting chiefly as a Character sketch of
Jo Terry, a girl who is born and lives
her life on a secluded Oklahoma farm.
She is a stubborn, sullen, fierce
child, who quarrels with her mother,
plays with horned toads and rides like
a whirlwind over the surrounding
country. And she grows up to be
stubborn and fierce, determined to
supplant her mother as ruler of the
farm and to enlarge it. However,
when she is eighteen, she is crippled.
Miss Henderson writes fearlessly and
sparingly, and the book is in the bet-
ter-than-average class.
"One-Way Ticket'
Author Ethel Turner
Publisher Smith Cr Haas
Ethel Turner writes of life in San
Quentin, and she knows whereof she
writes, for her father was a prison of- ,
ficial, and she lived at San Quentirj j
for nineteen years. '
She tells of the lives of the offi^!
cials' families, living always in dread |
of attempted escapes on the part of
the desperate convicts; of the high
electric tension on t'he days when a
man is to be hanged; of the servant^
who are convicts and of the general] i
uneasy monotony within the prisorj
walls. f]
This is Ethel Turner's first novelJ !
but it is not in the least amateurish
"Covering Two Years"
Author I. V. Morris
Publisher Reynal & Hitchcock
Here is a first novel impwrtan^
enough to review without using th
old saw, "It gives promise of bette^i^
things to come." =|
The book is a study of Judith Ma+I
hon, 33, who has sunk into an apa-| !
thy, a self-absorption, and an esoteria'
shyness that take her completely out|^
of the world. Something happened;!
to her once, and she fled to her auntij
and uncle in Boston, where she live^:
in almost complete silence, with ij
deadened mind and a crumpled heartjjij
And it is the story of two years of'
her life, when Haliday succeeds irii;
bringing her back to the world, re-^I*:
lighting the fire that made her at one
time a charming and vital womanjL
But when Judith tells him what drovag
her into her emotional solitude, thei^
old, painful shroud falls upon her"
again and the two years come to a
silent end.
March 10. 1934
TH
Pag* Savw
"Such Is My Beloved"
Author Morley Callaghan
Publisher Scribner's
GOSSIP OF AUTHORS
Morley Callaghan has done a clever
thing in taking a very usual plot situ-
ation and developing out of it a novel
of taste and povi/er.
The situation is this: Father Dowl-
ing, a young parish priest, is moved
to try to save two girls from their life
on the streets. He meets them and
helps them along with clothes and
money.
He persuades a business man to
help him . . . and the wife immedi-
ately calls in the bishop to have Father
Dowling and the two girls run out of
town.
Nothing new, but Mr. Callaghan,
recounting the effect of the whole ex-
perience upon the young priest, does
an unusually effective piece of work.
"Cinnamon Seed"
Author Hamilton Basso
Publisher Scribner's
it is said that everything that Harry
Brand does in this book has its foun-
dation in fact, and t'hat the "King
Frog" (Brand's nickname) is unmis-
takably patterned after Huey Long.
Be that as it may, "Cinnamon
Seed" is a tale of the modern South,
pulsing and alive, and worthy of high
recommendations.
The story is too intricate, and in-
volves too many characters, to find
justice in a line or two of synopsis, but
the thing as a whole is a dramatic
contrast of the past and present
South, and well worth reading.
"Fools Rush In"
Author Anne Green
Publisher E. P. Dutton (j Co.
Eleanor Rockwell, daughter of a
scatter-brained mother who made a
runaway marriage, and a father who
finally became mentally deranged, gets
in and out of adventures with a nat-
ural-born agility.
The two main ones were with a
young French art student, and, later
with an eccentric old lady whose
strangeness led to Eleanor's finding
herself an honored guest at a villa
whose owner was absent and unknown
to her.
Very light, unimportant and amus-
ing.
"The Mystery of the Cape
Cod Tavern"
Author Phoebe Atwood Taylor
Publisher W. W. Morton & Co.
Here's something new in the genus
detective. Asey May has no artistic
leanings, he is absolutely unsophisti-
cated, he was born and bred on Cape
Cod, he has no English accent or but-
ler or affectations. He is merely the
hired man, and, in odd moments, a
sleuth.
He it is who solves the mystery sur-
rounding the murder of Eve Precne,
the proprietor of the tavern. Miss
Elspeth Adams, a globe-trotting old
gossip who loves murders, helps him
a bit.
Bermuda is playing host to two dis-
tinguished writers. One is Ida A. R.
Wylie, who is writing a book about
modern Germany, "To the Vanquish-
ed," and the other is Rufus King, who
is working on a novel and a play.
A book to look forward to is Mrs.
Arnold Rothstein's confession, called
"Now I'll Tell," which will be pub-
lished early in April.
Sheldon Dick's literary agency will
change hands — temporarily. Dick is
going to retire to the country on
March 1 to write a novel, and his as-
sistant, Henriette Herz, will conduct
the business.
Richard Aldington is heaving a large
sigh over the completion of the first
draft of his new novel which he ex-
pects to run over 1 00,000 words.
Doubleday objected to "Triduum"
as the name for Kate O'Brien's new
novel, so she changed it to "Ante-
room."
Claude Kendall has just published a
novel called "More Money," which is
by Charles Grant, who is really Wil-
liam C. Lengel, associate editor of Lib-
erty.
Christopher Morley calls George
Cronyn's "The Fool of Venus" one of
the "most singular, colorful and fas-
cinating of the novels of our time."
This is the Book-of-the-Month Club's
premium book for 1934, and Covici-
Friede will print it,on March 5.
It is said that Dr. Axel Munthe,
who is becoming more blind each day,
has finished a new book. All that his
publishers know is that he has been
working on a book for several years
which he called, tentatively, "_Death
and the Doctor."
James Corbett, who lives in Bristol,
England, is reported to have written
three novels in three weeks — all of
them accepted for immediate publica-
tion.
An ambitious undertaking is planned
by Alter Brody, who has decided to
gather together an anthology of Yid-
dish literature in English, beginning
with Mendelee Mocher Sforim's work
and continuing to the present day.
The next Max Miller book will be
"The Second House from the Cor-
ner," inspired by his own house in
La Jolla.
There's an interesting book com-
ing out shortly, published by Long and
Smith. It is "Editor's Choice: Short
Stories for Today," and it is compiled
by Alfred Dashiell, managing editor of
Scribner's Magazine. Stories by Chek-
hov, O. Henry, Thomas Wolfe, Wil-
liam Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway,
Robert Nathan, F. Scott Fitzgerald,
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ambrose
Bierce and Langston Hughes will be
included.
If anyone has any original letters
of Charles Lamb, E. V. Lucas would
like to see them. Mr. Lucas can be
reached through Harper and Brothers,
New York.
Ethel Boileau, the English novelist,
is happy. Her book, "A Gay Family,"
which was published last fall and
which showed no activity, has sudden-
ly become in so much demand that
buttons have gone to press with it
three times in three weeks.
Hendrik Willem Van Loon isn't
wasting his time on his round-the-
world tour. He has written two new
books, "Paris, and How to Like It in
Spite of Everything," and "Salzburg
and the Part of Austria You Will See
While Getting There," both books
taking prizes for the longest titles.
James E. Abbe has just signed a
contract with Robert M. McBride and
Company for a book on his adven-
tures as a press photographer and as
a member of the Soviet Press Bureau
in Russia. Mr. Abbe, who was the
first foreigner to be entertained by
Stalin in the Kremlin, has just finish-
ed photographing President Roosevelt
in the White House.
"Gentleman of Vienna," which will
be brought out by Reynal and Hitch-
cock, was written by Count Hans
Wilczek and is an account of his own
life in the gay, old Vienna that is now
gone forever.
Anne Meredith (pseudonym) went
to a murder trial at the Old Bailey
once, and she left it with the firm
conviction that "the weakness of the
average detective novel is its insistence
on the plot as the thing of first im-
portance, while the really imp>ortant
points should be the characters of the
murderer and murderee." And so she
has written "Portrait of a Murderer,"
in which she allows the reader to be
present at the murder, know all the
facts, see the false clues planted, and
follow the course of police efforts to
solve the crime.
Arthur Pound has three books on
three publishers' spring lists. "Once
a Wilderness" is a story of his native
Michigan; "The Turning Wheel" is a
history of General Motors, and "Gol-
den Earth" is a study of Manhattan
real estate.
Dr. J. Manuel Mayer, of Brooklyn,
is another busy man. He has just fin-
ished a novel, "Step-Children of the
World"; he has also finished a three
act play, "Fling at Life," and is now
working on another novel, "Office
Hours."
For the first time in many months,
another book has edged "Anthony Ad-
verse" out of first place as national
best seller. Sinclair Lewis' "Work
of Art" nosed it out. Gene Fowler's
book, "Timber Line," on the other
hand, has moved away up and has al-
ready outsold his earlier success, "The
Great Mouthpiece."
John V. A. Weaver is hurrying
along with a dramatization of his
novel, "Her Knight Comes Riding," in
order to join his wife, Peggy Wood,
in Hollywood.
Dramat-ists Guild Acts
(Continued from Page 1 )
before production of practically every
worth while appearing play that is on
next Fall's list.
The Guild has named a committee
to iron out the situation. The com-
mittee consists of Marc Connolly,
Owen Davis, Morrie Ryskind. Howard
Lindsay and Edward Childs Carpen-
ter. They will investigate and rec-
ommend a definite policy for the
Dramatists Guild.
"The Mystery of Dead
Man's Heath"
Author J. Jefferson Farjeon
Publisher Dodd, Mead & Co.
If a bat hadn't caused Lionel North
to fall off his motorcycle, he never
would have become involved in the
murder or Sir Rufus Lunt, an old
scoundrel who met a fitting end at
the head of a good-sized hammer.
Patricia Dale is suspected, but she
is the heroine and beautiful ... so
don't worry.
"The Adventures of Davy
Crockett"
Illustrator.. ..John W. Thomason Jr.
Publisher Scribner's
The autobiography of David Crock-
ett, full of wild west adventures and
Indians and massacres, is now avail-
able in a popular edition, and illus-
trated by John W. Thomason.
It is an exciting, genuine Ameri-
cana, and it contains, besides Crock-
ett's own story, "Col. Crockett's Tex-
as Exploits" and an account of the
Alamo disaster.
"First Over Everest"
Authors: Air Commodore Fellowes,
Lord Clydesdale, Colonel Blacker
and Colonel Etherton
Publisher McBnde
It took a year of planning in Eng-
land, a month en route to the flying
base — and only six hours to fly over
the tallest mountain in the world.
All these English fliers added their
bit to the writing of the book, with
the result that it is a little choppy,
but fascinating.
The photographs are superb and ter-
rifying. Nobody who once begins the
book will be able to lay it down.
"Murder to Music"
Author Glen Burne
Publisher Dodd, Mead
Mr. Burne writes his first detective
story . . . and it's a swell one.
It is laid to the tune of a symphony
orchestra m a concert hall, and a music
critic solves the crime while waiting
to catch a boat and win his bride!
"Fireweed"
Author Mildred Walker
Publisher .Harcourt, Brace
Mrs. Walker, 28, with two chil-
dren, enrolled at the University of
Michigan last year and won the $2,-
500 prize for novels from the Avery
and Jule Hopwood fund. She also won
a second $2,500 prize for the best
essay.
Her book, "Fireweed," which won
the novel prize, is a fine, honest re-
countal of the life of a pretty young
girl who wants to go to the big city
and get some color and excitement in
her life. Instead, she marries a lum-
ber worker, and is forced to dedicate
the rest of her days to babies, dishes,
washing, bread-making and small talk
about bargains and whooping cough.
EDWARD
LLDWIC
Directed
tt
LET'S BE RITZY
n
(UNIVERSAL)
i^^^i
VARIETY
"Let's Be Ritzy" has been given top-notch direc-
tion by Edward Ludwig. ... It should have no
trouble standing on its own.
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
"Let's Be Ritzy " is light and pleasant comedy . . .
direction okay . . . designed to entertain, Ludwig's
direction is vigorous.
■♦•♦i
Now Directing
"FRIENDS OF
MR. SWEENEY
For Warners-First National
K'FTRO-GOyiDV.YM-VAYER STUDIOS,
% MR.SAV'JF.L MARX,
C'JLVKR CITY,jALIr'.
Vol. XX, No. 1. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, March 12, 1934
,.>«w^,»^,,:..4..: ■_.>:^^.^5t^.;■lvMflH>^^-
CONSOl. AND ERPI CUSH
Bishop John J. Cantwell,
Los Angeles, California.
My dear Bishop:
Because of the interest it held for
the motion picture industry, particu-
larly those at the seat of production
here in Hollywood, we caused a digest
of your article, "Priests and the Mo-
tion Picture Business," as published in
the Ecclesiastical Review of February,
to be run in the columns of this paper
in the issue of March 1 0, and, along
with the majority here at the seat of
production, we take exception to most
of the remarks aimed at this indus-
try.
I am a Catholic, my dear Bishop, s
member of the Blessed Sacrament par-
ish in Hollywood, and, too, I am a
member of the motion picture indus-
try, as publisher of this paper. I have
always had pride in my Church and
am also proud of my small affiliation
in motion pictures. I feel that you
have shown a gross misunderstanding
of the subject you treat with.
•
My dear Bishop, the producers in
this business, those "pagan" writers
to whom you refer, and each and ev-
ery individual connected with this in-
dustry, succeeds only in so far as he
succeeds in giving the public what it
wants. We are in the business of sell-
ing entertainment to millions. If our
efforts do not produce entertainment,
if our goods do not measure up to
what the public wants, then we are
out of the business — we have no com-
panies, we have no jobs.
Even if our pictures are as bad as
you say, (and they are NOT) if the
men and women and their children
did not want those pictures, we would
try to make what they DO want. Be-
cause of your remarks, my dear Bishop,
you seem to convey the acknowledg-
ment that the Church has failed in
its mission and, because of that fail-
ure, you are blaming us. That's not
right.
The picture business is successful
because its producers, its writers and
all those assisting them make every
effort to keep abreast of the times.
There was a period when the sweet,
homespun story had the popular favor;
pictures of that type were made. The
times then shifted to the flapper age
and we made flapper pictures. When
the bootlegger and the gangster were
the big interest of the day, our in-
(Continued on Page 6)
MPTOA for Aliens
Washington. — The Motion Pic-
ture Theatre Owners of America
have joined the fight against the
Alien immigration bill, filing a brief
today which states the industry
needs new faces and talent, and in
addition the bill will invite retalia-
tion costly to the industry abroad.
MCM Nips Cain
Yam from Col.
The James M. Cain best seller, "The
Postman Always Rings Twice," was
bought by Metro-Coldwyn- Mayer Sat-
urday after a few hectic hours of trad-
ing on the part of that outfit and Co-
lumisia and general runarounds by
William Morris Jr., representing the
author, and the author himself.
Lewis Milestone, in an attempted
washup of his deal with Columbia,
consented to agree on a story with the
studio, place it into immediate pro-
duction, draw pay for that production
and call the Columbia deal an "expe-
rience."
Milestone suggested the "Postman"
story because it did not require star
(Continued on Page 2)
London Reports Doug
And Mary Reconciling
London. — The Sunday Express yes-
terday carried a story that efforts for
a reconciliation between Douglas Fair-
banks and Mary Pickford have reached
the point of lengthy trans-ocean tele-
phone calls between the pair.
More Rip Tide' Work
"Rip Tide" goes back to work at
MCM in the next couple of days to
polish off some rough spots revealed
at the sneak preview in Long Beach
Friday night. Picture has had three
sneak previews.
Laboratory Finally in Picture
Producing and Selling Openly—
Forming States Right Chain
New York. — Consolidated Film Industries, long a financing
factor in the operations of both majors and independents, is now
definitely in the production and distribution ends of the business.
The first step is already under way with Consolidated canvassing
the state right field to build up an or-
ganization of franchise holders who
will handle twelve pictures to be made
at the reopened Biograph studio.
The news is important from two an-
gles, first, in the placing of the tre-
( Continued on Page 4)
Sound Firms Lose
Out on Para. Claims
New York. — On the grounds that
collection is impossible due to the
bankruptcy of the defendant, Referee
Davis, of Paramount, has disallowed
the huge claims filed against the pic-
ture company by General Talking Pic-
tures, American Triergon and DeForest
for alleged infringement of sound pat-
ents. The legality of the cfaims had
previously been upheld by the courts.
MCM Planning to Team
McLaglen and Beery
MCM IS sounding out a deal with
Vjctor McLaglen for a top spot along-
side of Wallace Beery in "Fish Out
of Water," which the David Selznick
unit is making from the Guy Gilpatric
series of short stori'es.
Jean Parker has been assigned a
featured role and Harry Segall has
been set with Richard Schayer to work
out the screen play under Ned Marin's
supervision.
GEIV. JOHNSON COMING TO
HOLLY FOR MPTOA MEET
Barrymore and Harlow
In '100 Per Cent Pure'
Washington. — The big shots will be
at the MPTOA convention next month
in Los Angeles. General Johnson will
head a Washington delegation includ-
ing Sol Rosenblatt, Senator McAdoo,
Senator Hiram Johnson, Frank Walker
and Postmaster General Farley.
Mayor Rossi of San Francisco is also
expected Will Rogers will probably
act as toastmaster at the final ban-
quet
John Barrymore and Jean Harlow
wilf be co-starred in the Anita Loos-
fohn Emerson original story, "100
Per Cent Pure," which will be direct-
ed by Sam Wood for MCM. Patsy
Kelly will also have a featured role in
this picture.
Production will get under way when
Barrymore finishes "Twentieth Cen-
tury" for Columbia
Pryor Replaces
Ceo. Raft with West
Roger Pryor was borrowed from
Universal by Paramount Saturday for
the role in the Mae West picture, "It
Ain't No Sin," which George Raft re-
fused to play. The deal was set by the
William Morris office and Miss West
has consented to the substitution. The
shooting schedule will be arranged by
Director Leo McCarey so that the pic-
ture work will not interfere with Pry-
or's performances in "Men in White"
at El Capitan Theatre.
The change has also caused the sub-
stitution of Johnny Mack Brown for
(Continued on Page 2)
William Wellman To
Direct 'Barbary Coast'
Negotiations are reported to be
concluded for William Wellman to
direct "Barbary Coast," starring Gary
Cooper, for Samuel Goldwyn.
Nunnally Johnson has been signed
to write the screen play.
Nixon Wanted for Two
Universal is trying to arrange its
schedules so that Marian Nixon can
play the feminine lead in both "Prac-
tical Joker," which Stanley Bergerman
IS producing, and "Alias The Deacon,"
Edmund Grainger's production. She
has already been signed for the for-
mer.
White To Shoot in East
New York. — George White an-
nounces that he will probably make
a musical film in the East next sea-
son, coincident with presenting his
next edition of the "Scandals" on the
stage. White's Fox production opens
at the Music Hall March 22.
Dover Coing Abroad
William Dover is planning to take
a month's vacation in Europe, starting
May 1 . The Twentieth Century ex-
ecutive makes it during his company's
production siesta.
BROWN and FREED mu$«c and Lyric$ 'Good Old Summertime
3
Pag* Two
THE
March 12, 193'
\^. R. WILKERSON Editor and Published
gpBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
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Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
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including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the ac< of March 3,
1879.
The Donald Ogden Stewarts threw
an elegant party Saturday night — es-
pecially Don, who almost forgot to tell
his wife 'just arrived) that they were
entertaining that evening. In fact —
they're always entertaining. Guests
were invited to inspect the fountain
in front of the house — but that's as
far as it got. Mrs. S., however, went
for a look and practically swooned for
joy. It seems that Don had moved
into the new mansion while she was
away and neglected to tell her about
the house OR the fountain! While
the fountain merely dripped, the
champagne flowed like a raging river, .
so what kind of a time do you think
was had by all? Music, both profes-
sional and unexpected, was provided,
too — these writers of laff riots cer-
tainly don't "spare the horses," we
always say!
•
Among those who spent the night
(or was it the week-end?) were Vir-
ginia Gilbert, Warreri Leslie, the Gary
Coopers, George Cuk'or, the H. Man-
kiewiczes, Kay Francis, Maurice Che-
valier, Kendall Glaenzer, Lewis Mile-
stone, Liz DuPont, Whitney de Rham.
the Jimmy Bordreos, Lydia Macy',
Grace Moore, Countess di Frasso, Har-
vey Ladew, Mrs. Leslie Howard, the
Walter Wangers and many more. The
high-spot of the evening was provided
by the host, who asked everybody en-
thusiastically, "Have you EVER had a
better time in your life?" (!)
'•
Frances Marion, who works hard
enough to keep ten women busy, has
gone in for music in a big way "on
the side." She takes a singing lesson
every day and piano lessons three
times a week. She calls the ivory-tap-
ping her "waiting-accomplishment"
because the only time she gets to
practice is while waiting for guests to
arrive at her house for dinner. F'in-
stance, if Mary Pickford is invited for
seven o'clock, Frances knows she'll get
in at least an hour's practice. If it Is
the David Selznicks (known in Holly-
wood as "the late David Selznicks")
Miss M is good for two hours or more
of hard work while waiting — and so
on.
•
The Warner Baxters are building a
new house, the construction of which
"PALOOKA"
Edward Small prod.; director, Benjamin Stoloff; writers. Jack Jevne, Gertrude
Purcell, Arthur Kober
Rivoli Theatre
Times: The film gives Mr. Durante an opportunity to express his mortification in
various ways, some new and some old.
Herald-Tribune: The plot formula is routine and the method of narration is not
much better.
Mirror: The story is no conventional scenario of the fight-game. Jimmy never
has been funnier. And he never has had more able clowns cooperating in
his daffy antics. Several gags and lines, aimed right at the smart boys of
Broadway, give the story a resounding ring of conviction. Men particularly
will relish "Palooka" for it is roistering, robust fun, undiluted with mush.
Don't miss it.
American: A laughter-studded fight farce, embroidered with gags and giggles,
and strengthened by a line-up of names, gives good film fun at the- Rivoli,
where it should remain for several weeks by box-office request. The story
gives our Mr. Durante something to do besides "hot-cha," and in a part
holding comedy situations, his clowning is doubly effective.
World-Telegram: Wherever Jimmie Durante is ,fun is never far away. And since
in "Palooka," jimmie is on the screen practically all the time, the film is
far and away the funniest and breeziest that has come this way in many
a blue moon. This "Palooka" seems to me to be Jimmie Durante at his
hilarious best.
Journal: "Palooka" is hilariously goofy, a Jimmie Durante field-day. The picture
is packed with laughs and has a couple of songs, a couple of fights and
some love interest thrown in for good measure.
Post: Though it might be unfair to the other actors, the story and the dialogue
to say that Jimmie Durante in "Palooka" is the whole show, it would have
been a major catastrophe if by some studio oversight the picture at the
Rivoli had been made without him: Here is a vehicle that suits the in-
scrutable flavor of the comedian at every (joint. It is rich, riotous and gor-
geously low.
Sun: "Palooka" is pure Durante. Durante at its loudest, funniest and most co-
herent. "Palooka" is pretty much a man's picture. It is not a picture for
chuckling. Its response is guffaws, loud bursts of masculine laughter. The
audience is nearly as noisy as the picture.
News: "Palooka" is a rowdy, lusty comedy and Jimmie Durante is responsible
for most of the belt-line laughs with which the audience at the Rivoli re-
sponds to it. It IS his picture, for without him it would not amount to
much. The fight scenes are amusing and exciting exhibitions which will
tickle the risibles and interest especially the male observers in the audi-
ence. This is more of a man's film fare than a lady's dish.
Para. Takes Marion
Story Off the Shelf
Paramount yesterday pulled the
George Marion Jr. story, "Here's Your
Quarter-back," from the shelf, hand-
ing it to Louis Lighten for supervi-
sion. The picture was planned as a
musical and is said to be the first
of its type. It was previously sched-
uled for Richard Arlen and Jack Oakie,
with the possibility it may again go
through on this set-up.
Scola-Markey Set
Kathryn Scola and Gene Markey
were set Saturday by Warners to write
the screen play for the Kay Francis
picture, "Lost Lady." James Seymour
will supervise.
Chesterfield May Boost
New York. — Chesterfield Pictures
is now canvassing its franchise hold-
ers on the proposition of increasing
output next season from nine pictures
to twelve.
is practically an electrician's picnic
The new Baxter mansion will have ev-
erything in the way of electrical de-
vices for the home that modern sci-
ence has contrived. An entire room in
the basement is set aside for plugs
and switches and even the silver will
be p)olished by electricity. If a fuse
blows out in the Baxter menage, a
considerable part of the Baxter for-
tune will probably blow out with It.
Pryor Replaces Raft
(Continued from Page 1 )
Eddie Nugent, because of the resemb-
lance between the latter and Pryor.
Meanwhile, Paramount has given
Raft a ten-weeks leave of absence and
he and his stooge, Mack Gray, leave
for New York tomorrow, sailing for
England on the first available steamer.
Raft goes off salary for the ten weeks,
but the time will be added at the end
of his contract.
Schenck-Hatrick East
Nicholas Schenck and E. 8. Hatrick
return to New York Wednesday
SPOTLIGHT THEATRE
CLUB
1011 N. Cole
HO. 9997 OR. 8703
Showcase
for
Professionals
GALA OPENING TONIGHT
Virginia Kay Presents
"SIX MONTHS' OPTION"
Central Distributors
Will Buy for CASH
FEATURES SHORTS
Quick Action — Prompt Payment
M. LEON LEVINE
599 Fifth Ave., N. Y. C.
Cooper for Lead in
Para's'HonorBright'
Gary Cooper has definitely been set
for the starring role in "Honor Bright"
at Paramount, on completion of "Op-
erator 13," which he is now making
for MGM. This assignment is the last
picture on his old contract.
After Cooper finishes this pictures
he goes to Samuel Goldwyn on anr
eight-week loanout to be starred in*
"Barbary Coast."
Mowbray in 'Joker*
Universal has signed Alan MowbrayC
for a featured role in the Stanley Ber-
german production, "Practical Joker,"
which Edward Laemmie will direct.
The William Morris office set the
player.
Silvers Set for Two
Signing a managerial contract with
AI Rosen. Sid Silvers has been set for
two pictures. He goes from "Cata-
Jina," the Edward Small picture, to-
the Jesse L. Lasky unit at Fox for
"Redheads on Parade."
MOM Nips Cain Yarn
(Continued from Page I )
names, it could be made cheaply and
he felt it had great possibilities.
Getting down to cases, Columbia in
sisted that Milestone would have to
agree to any eliminations in story that
the Hays office might demand. Rather
than make such an agreement, "Mil-
lie" suggested that Mr. Hays' office be
called in. But after hearing the Hays
demands he said he could not do the
story.
In the meantime, the author and
his agent were waiting for the three
o'clock deadline they gave Columbia
on its option, and when the clock
struck the hour, they scrammed to
MGM, received their payment ($25
000) and the yarn will be done by
David Selznick as an MGM attraction.
I
i
Maurice Chevalier says: "Don't
miss it! The funniest show
in town!"
"ALLEZ-OOP"
Tingel-Tangel Theater j
8533 Santa Monica Blvd. m
CRestview 6530
Refreshments Curtain at 8:30
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Automobiiei
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly ConfidentUI
Small Monthly Repayments
Loam Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft lldg. IS80 N. Vino
Hlmpatead 1133
«
.Ik
March 12, 193'
THE
Pti^@PlTiil
Pace Tkre«
WARNERS HIT WITH MUSICAL.
FLOP WITH DRAMATIC FILM
*Rhythm in the Air'
Sure-Fire Success
(Warners-First National)
Direction Ray Enright
Original Paul Finder Moss
and Jerry Wald
Screen Play Warren Duff
and Harry Sauber
Music and Lyrics Harry Warren
and Ai Dubin
Photography Sid Hickox
Cast: Pat O'Brien, Dick Powell, Ginger
Rogers, Allen Jenkins, Four Mills
Brothers, Ted Fio Rito and band,
Grant Mitchell, Joseph Cawthorn,
Johnny Arthur, Joan Wheeler, Hen-
ry O'Neill, "Three Radio Rogues";
• Ken Hollingwood, Eddie Bartell,
Henry Taylor.
"Rhythm in the Air" has HIT
written all over it. And the capitali-
zation is not a typographical error.
The general excellence of the piece
is due to every department function-
ing on all eight. With the contribu-
tions of all concerned noteworthy, it
is- impossible to single out any in:-
dividual for undue credit. Credit,
then, the entire cast, direction, dia-
logue— whicki proves fun can be fun
without being dirty — tuneful music,
photography — but this could go on and
on. It was a perfectly synchronized
machine that turned out "Rhythm in
the Air."
The oddest part about it is that the
picture boasts nothing particularly
new in the way of a plot. It tells
the story of a singer who makes good
with the aid of a fast-talking mana-
ger and the sacrifice of the girl who
loves him. When marriage threatens
to interfere with his career, he asks
her to wait, there is a misunderstand-
ing, his career goes smash, then the
happy fade-out with girl, career and
everything regained. It can't be the
plot, so it must be the way it was
put together.
The opening shot is a smart estab-
lishment of locale. The "Three Ra-
dio Rogues" do a series of impersona-
tions of outstanding efher personali-
ties, their voices coming from the
loudspeakers of radios of all types.
From the start, a fast comedy tempo
is set and maintained until the serious
side of the love interest intrudes to
slow up proceedings. The satire on
radio broadcasting is biting without
being bitter. It is perhaps the only
believable burlesque upon its subject
that the screen has given us.
Concerned as the action is with ra-
dio, the song numbers are introduced
naturally. There are no big produc-
tion dance routines, nor are any call-
ed for. The Four Mills Brothers are
in for three numbers, all show stop-
pers. With the other music, Warren
and Dubin have done it again. Their
"I'll String Along With You" has rnore
than hit possibilities. It is sure-fire.
The role of the fast-talking mana-
ger was tailor-made for Pat O'Brien,
and how he carries it off. Nice char-
acterization in not having him as big
a shot as he t'hinks he is. Dick Pow-
ell is the singer O'Brien picks up in
a beer garden anel he shapes up well
Phoney Previews
Thrive in Heat
The heat caused a hectic scram-
ble by theatre men to bolster up
business with a stack of previews
over the week-end, Saturday night
witnessing a record number, the
majority of them from the off-the-
shelf class. Local sector saw
twelve such previews.
Sid Skolsky Story
For Marion Davies
Cosmopolitan productions Saturday
closed negotiations with Sidney Skol-
sky, New York Daily News columnist,
for his original story, "Movie Queen,"
and will use it a a Marion Davies veh-
icle.
Story is a musical and the studio is
negotiating for the loan of a crooner
for the male lead. Donald Ogden Stew-
art will script when he finishes his
work on "The Barretts of Wimpole
Street." Jack Moss handled the deal
for Skolsky.
Radio Wants Child
Player for Dix Film
With a featured spot in "Treasure
Island," the Wallace Beery-Jackie
Cooper co-starring vehicle, practically
set for Cora Sue Collins, Radio is after
the child actress for the most impor-
tant role in her screen career in "Fam-
ily Man," the next Richard Dix star-
ring vehicle.
as a comic m the early sequences.
His part keeps him on. the screen al-
most continually.
Why Ginger Rogers was not given
more to do is something of a mys-
tery. The girl has everything and
shows it in comparatively brief flashes.
She is one of the few personalities who
appear to advantage while singing, yet
IS allotted only one song — possibly be-
cause Powell has so many.
Seldom are three supporting comedy
roles so evenly balanced. Allen Jen-
kins as the grouchy bed-time story
teller, Grant Mitchell as the radio sta-
tion chief, and Joseph Cawthorn, with
the chance to do his German dialect
again, as the soap program sponsor,
all are superb. And there is still room
for an outstanding moment with John-
ny Arthur doing an outraged secret
husband of a movie star. Which
should give you a good idea of the
fun that is literally packed into
"Rhythm in the Air." Remember, too,
that it is all clean fun, with only two
instances of slightly suggestive dia-
logue, both unimportant and quite
easily eliminated.
Ray Enright's direction is expert,
especially in holding to tempo. So
good is the direction that the inevi-
table boudoir shot of a leggy group of
girls listening to the radio crooner
seems like somebody's else idea.
TTnere are so many exploitation an-
gles in a radio comedy that recount-
ing them here would be a waste of
space. -
Upperworld' Dull
With Stale Story
(Warners)
Direction Roy Del Ruth
Story Ben Hecht
Screen Play Ben Markson
Photography Tony Caudio
Cast: Warren William, Mary Astor,
Ginger Rogers, Theodore Newton,
Henry O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Andy
Devine, Dickie Moore, Robert Grieg,
William Gargan, Edward Arnold.
"Upperworld" is about as exciting
as warmed-over souffle, but somehow
or other Warren William seems to
emerge triumphantly in spite of all
the dull stories they throw him into.
There isn't much to be said for this
opus except to chronicle the fact that
Warren William seems to have taken
on qualities that are slaying feminine
audiences right and left.
Having mentioned that fact, there
isn't much left to chronicle about
"Upperworld." It is a dull story,
tepidly told. The formula is familiar,
the man married to a woman whose
social ambitions cause her to neglect
him and their youngster, thus throw-
ing him into the arms of the other
woman.
Have you heard that one before?
Yes, so have we.
In this case, as has happened be-
fore, "the other woman," Ginger Rog-
ers, after starting to play William for
a sucker, eventually falls in love with
him. Of course. And also, another
"of course," the way of the trans-
gressor results in a murder, a trial
scene with some poor efforts at sus-
pense, and an eventual reconciliation
between William and Mary Astor as
his wife.
There is a banal scene where Miss
Astor tells William that she has been
wrong and they must start all over
again, bringing lovable Dickie Moore
home as the piece de resistance, a
typical wifely gesture to hold her man.
Roy Del Ruth did his best, but
couldn't overcome the frayed famil-
iarity of the material and the obvious
method of its intelligence. Cute and
talented Ginger Rogers was excellent,
but it was evident that even the di-
rector was a bit dubious about her re-
lationship to the two men in her life.
Mary Astor looked charming, while
Andy Devine, Dickie Moore and the
balance of an excellent cast tried their
best.
*6 Months' Option' Opens
" Six - Moat hs' Option," a comedy
drama by Ansella Hunter, will have
its initial Pacific Coast staging at the
Spotlight Theatre, 101 1 N. Cole ave-
nue, tonight. Herman Spitzel will
be host. Arthur Lovejoy, Richard
Castle, Bernard Suss, Margaret Bray-
ton, Elsaye Mackaye, Kathryn Shel-
don and Iris Brent comprise the cast.
Osterman with West
jack Osterman has been signed by
Paramount for the role of the prize-
fighter's manager in the Mae West
picture, "It Ain't No Sin," which will
be directed Jby Leo.McCarey.
RKOBuysTountain'
For Harding Film
Th©. Fountain," a novel which,
icroC'time ago, was shunted back and
^^orth between Radio and MGM, has
finally been purchased by the former
company as a starring vehicle for Ann
Harding.
When David Selznick was at Radio,
both he and MGM had options on the
story. Finally the latter bought it,
with the intention of having Selznick
produce it when he went over there..
Now the plans have changed and Ra-
dio has taken it back for Miss Hard-
ing.
Forgotten Girl' Is
Shelved for 2 Months
Production plans going askew, MGM
shelved the Wilsqp Collison story,
J-'Forgotten Girl," as a Robert Mont-
gomery yarn and is planning to re-
turn to it in two months.
Sam Wood, whro was assigned to
direct, moves over to the Bernie Hy-
man unit to pilot Jean Harlow in
"Eadie Was a Lady."
Kelton-Lightner Team
Lou Brock is planning on making a
comedy team of Pert Kelton and Win-
nie Lightner for his forthcoming pro-
duction, "The Great American Har-
em," which will be directed by Wil-
lism Seiter for Radio. Miss Kelton has
been set for the picture and Miss
L ghtner is expected to close this
w ; e k ,
Neil Hamilton on Air
Neil Hamilton was signed Saturday
for a one-time radio appearance over
the National broadcasting coast-to-
coast network. The broadcast will
be from the Palmer House in Chicago
and the hotel is sponsoring the pro-
gram. Date will be March 22.
MGM Wants Forbes
Irving Thalberg is discussing a deal
with Ralph Forbes with a view to hav-
ing the player for a featured spot in
"Barretts of Wimpole Street," which
serves Norma Shearer as a starring
picture under Sidney Franklin's direc-
tion.
DeSylva-Fox Cold
At odds over a new contract, Buddy
DeSylva's answer to Fox overtures on
another deal is said to have been "not
interested." Producer left Saturday
for New York with plans to produce
a play.
Stuart Out of Agency
Nick Stuart returns to the acting
branch of the business, withdrawing
from the agency field today and leav-
ing Dave Kay running the office in
which he was a partner.
Russ Holman East
Russell Holman, of the Paramount
production department in New York,
and his wife left for home last night
by train. They were here for ten
days.
Two for * Barretts*
Maureen O'Sullivan and Ferdinand
Munier were assigned featured roles
by Irving Thalberg Saturday in "Bar-
retts of Wimpole Street" at MGM.
Page Four
I^i(P©[RTEPl
SAarch 12, 1934
THE REASON
! am a Levee clienf is
he gives dog shows and
my pupp/, "Babs," wins
s
A
Y
S
WARREN
m III AM
A
N
D
HIS MANAGEMENT OFFERS:
Personal Representation
(and I mean Personal)
Secretarial Services
Business Administration
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity & Exploitation
BUSBY BERKELEY
Will Tell You WHY he is a "Levee" client
IN FRIDAY'S
POUTEH
wimtmnwi iwM
SEES FORTUIVE IN OLD
PICTURES IX FAR EAST
Robert Brandt, who recently re-
turned from a two and a half years
stay in the Orient, has been huddling
the past few days with one major
company on a unique plan which he
worked out while abroad, and which
he figures will bring in a lot of extra
money for the producers.
Brandt's idea is simply this: Take
pictures that have had their run, not
only in America, but throughout the
world, and do a SF>ecia! narrative sound
track for the various dialects of the
many Far East countries. In India,
alone, he (Xiints out there are about
five dialects that are generally under-
stood. Thus, by adding his type of
sound to such a picture as, say, "The
Thief of Bagdad," his survey indicates
that a large sum can be gleaned from
India on this picture alone.
William Rich is associated with
Brandt in the promotion of his idea.
They have checked India, Siam, Japan,
China and Dutch East Indies, and fig-
ure they can do the necessary sound
track over there with native talkers
for a thousand dollars a feature pic-
ture, with no duty to pay, either.
"From my own personal checkup,"
says Brandt, "I am certain that at
least $500,000 a year can be added
to the income of a major company by
using the old pictures alone."
Consol. and Erpi Clash
(Continued from Page I )
mendous Consolidated resources be-
hind the production revival in the
East; second, as a step in the competi-
tive war betNveen Erpi and RCA for
the independent producing field.
The state rights organization being
formed under Consolidated sponsor-
ship will be headed by Adolph Pollak
and plans twelve productions. With
a $100,000 pool as the basis, one year
franchises are being sold to territorial
buyers, each paying according to the
percentage allotment of his territory
Phil Meyers, of the General Pictures
Exchange, has bought the New York
franchise, assessed at twenty per cent.
On the delivery of the first two pic-
tures he pays in cash $4,000, the
balance of the $20,000 being spread
over forty weekly payments.
The distributor will furnish prints
without cost to the franchise holder,
who will retain forty per cent of the
theatre receipts for his end, turning
over sixty per cent to the distributor
Consolidated will finance the first two
pictures, figuring that receipts from
the sixty f>er cent cut will take care
of the balance. Foreign rights will also
be retained by the distributor. The
exchanges will receive the pictures one
a month.
It is expected that after the new
group is solidified and in operation a
few months arrangements will be made
to handle other product through the
same channel.
The new organization will challenge
the supremacy of Erpi in financing in-
dependent production, and is the first
move by RCA which equipped the Bio-
graph plant, in that direction. Erpi,
through live handling of the Eastern
Service Studios and -a new deal at the
General Service Studios in Hollywood,
has held a practical monoF>oly on the
recording of independent producers.
Oh, Happy Day
IVIyles Connolly, Radio producer,
yesterday discovered that he had
once been a novelist. He received
a check for $17 royalties on "Mr.
Blue," which he wrote ten years
ago.
Poster Association
To Make Own Paper
New York. — With the major dis-
tributors bearing down on enforcing
their copyrights to prevent reselling
of posters by independent dealers, the
National Poster Service Association has
countered with plans to make its own
complete line of posters for pictures.
The Association will turn out one
and three sheets, as well as 11x14
and 22x28 paper, and sell to inde-
pendent poster dealers.
Garber*s Orchestra
Signed at Catalina
Jan Ciarber, brother of David Car-
ber, Charles R. Rogers' art designer,
and his orchestra have been signed to
play in t^e Casino at Catalina Is-
land during July and August. They
will come here from the Trianon ball-
room in Chicago, where they have
been for the past four months.
NBC will handle Garber's Sunday
broadcast and a local daily air pro-
gram.
Schulberg Signs New One
B. P. Schulberg has signed Jean
Chatburn, former chorus girl, to a
personal term contract. The Para-
mount producer has three other play-
ers tagged under a similar arrange-
ment. Miss Chatburn has been as-
signed a bit in "Little Miss Marker.",
Praskins for London
,^ - Although negotiations are yet to be
concluded, indications are that Leon-„
ard Praskins will go to London shortly
to write the script of "Sons o' Guns"
for British and Dominions, which re-
lease through United Artists in the
American territories.
Lubin Back from East
Arthur Lubin returns to town today
from New York, where he has han-
dled stage productions for the Shu-
berts since early last Fall. He went
to Palm Springs Saturday from the
train, getting off at San Bernardino.
French Pathe Buys RCA
Paris. — Pathe Cinema of France has
contracted for five of the latest type
of RCA portable recording units for
the local studio. The fifm has also
equipped more than 300 theatres with
RCA Photophone.
Vienna Opposes Mae
Vienna. — The showing of Mae
West's "She Done Him Wrong" here
resulted in powerful propaganda by
the leading Government organs to baft
all. Mae West pictures from Austria.'
For his kindness, his interest and his
support . . . which made possible the
success of the party given by the
Ladies of El Nido Camp . . . and the
raising of $7,000 which will bring
us comfort and care for so many
months to come . . .
We are grateful for the fine food
and service of the famous Vendome
. . . for the music of the orchestras
of Lou Kosloff, Al Newman and Max
Steiner ... to Mr. Lou Wertheimer
and Mr. Abe Coldie.
Page Six
THg
March 12, 1934
Extras Are Hoist
With Own Petard
Extra players who ■formerly were in
considerable demand because they
were able, when called upon, to step
front and center and speak a few
lines, are now beginning to grouse
over the discovery that the extras'
section of the film code has given
their pocketbooks quite a dent.
That clause which says that extras
who are called upon to speak lines
must be paid $25 per day is the fly in
the ointment. It seems that produc-
ers, not wishing to pay so much for
such a tiny bit, are now signing "bit"
players for a figure below the $25
per day mark, and the talking extras
are finding themselves waiting for
calls while the other chaps are get-
ting the work.
The trouble is that such procedure
is not a violation of the cpde, so some
of the extras are now wondering if
they didn't ask for too much when
making code demands.
New York Exhibs Take
Over Casino for Vaude
New York. — Haring and Blumenthal
and Jack Shapiro, veteran exhibitors
in the New York and New Jersey ter-
ritories, will open the Casino Theatre,
a Broadway theatrical landmark, on
Easter Sunday with the "Casino Varie-
ties," a sort of glorified vaudeville.
It will operate on a two-a-day ba-
sis week days, with three shows Sat-
urdays, Sundays and holidays. Pro-
gram changes every four weeks.
'Suicide Club' May
Have Karloff-Lugosi
Universal has removed the Robert
Louis Stevenson story, "Suicide Club,"
from the shelf and has once more
placed it on the production schedule.
This time it is to bracket Karloff and
Bela Lugosi if an acceptable script
can be worked out of it.
Disney to Tell Secrets
A feature of the Academy awards
banquet next Friday night will be a
demonstration by the Walt Disney stu-
dio of how the sound effects were
produced in the making of "Three
Little Pigs."
Five for Invincible
Larry Steers, Milla Davenport, Billy
Arnold, Pal Weigel and Betty Kendig
have been added to the cast of "To-
gether Again," which InvirKible Pic-
tures is making at Mack Sennett stu-
dios.
Arlens to Europe
Richard Arlen, his wife and son
left Saturday by train for New York
on the first leg of a three months'
vacation in Europe. They hop the
Majestic there March 16.
Bing Crosby Cruising
Bing Crosby left Saturday on Dick
Arlen's yacht for a cruise on the Pa-
cific. He will be back by the end
of the week.
Quillan with Fralick
Fred Fralick has sighed Eddie Quil-
lan to a managerial ticket and will
guide him on the return trip in pic-
tures.
TRADKVIEW
(Continued from Page 1 )
S
dustry flooded the country with pic-
tures of that type.
•
We did not make the flapper, or
the bootlegger or the gangster. They
may have been created because of the
failures of the Catholic and other
Churches, but they were the chief in-
terest of the times and we fashioned
pictures around them and the public
bought them. Just as soon as public
interest started to die, our producers
switched to other subjects.
All the preachings, all the teach-
ings, anything that you or we may do,
will not keep the public from talking
sex, thinking sex; and as long as they
are talking about it, thinking about
it, authors will write stories around it,
publishers will print them, plays will
be produced, and pictures will be
made. Can't you understand, my dear
Bishop, that the men responsible for
making those pictures do not make
them for their own entertainment or
because they like them? They are
made because they are the type of
films that will sell for the time being!
We could (and will if you want)
present you with figures on pictures
of the type that you may like, or we
may like, or the producers may like
best to make, figures that will stagger
you with their tremendous losses. The
public would not go to see them.
They were not of the times, they were
not topical in any sense; they did not
answer the questions the public want-
ed answered and, because of that,
those producers sustained great losses.
We will also show you figures that
will be equally staggering, but in an-
other direction, pictures that made
millions, pictures to which neither you
nor we, nor the producer who made
them would give ten minutes time.
So, my dear Bishop, if your story is
right (and it is NOT right) you can't
blame this business, you can't slander
its producers, you can't defile its au-
thors. They are doing what the pub-
lic wants them to do and, if they
don't do it, they will be out of the
business.
That condition you speak of (if it
IS a condition) can't be corrected by
stories in the Ecclesiastical Review or
any other review. You may try it
from your pulpit. We have seen it
tried from the pulpits of other
churches not of the Catholic faith, and
the few members of the congregation
who happened to be present could not
wait to get to the nearest picture
theatre to see what it was all about.
Suppose we agree, for the moment,
with everything you have said; what
is there to do about it? Shall the
producers stop making pictures alto-
gether, taking whatever profits thev
have made and hoping that it will
keep them for the rest of their days,
or shall they make the pictures that
you would have them make, taking
all those losses until there is no more
to lose and then bow out with the
epitaph over their graves, "He tried
to sell the public what it did not
want." Or maybe the Church, the
Catholic Church, can change that
public taste; maybe it can tell the
f>eople not to buy the pictures we
are making; maybe, through your in-
fluence, we can get the people to
buy the pictures you want to be made,
the pictures we would like to see,
the pictures the producers would like
best to make.
•
Maybe you can, and if you can,
you will be doing this industry and
this and other nations a great service.
There is no doubt about the influence
of the screen, there is no doubt that
it sways public opinion and public
taste to a degree, but our producers
who have tried to sway that opinion
and affect that taste, are no longer in
this business. They were ruled out
by lack of finances brought on through
terrific losses sustained in their at-
tempts to educate the public.
Many of the conditions you speak
of, dear Bishop, are correct, but the
remedy is not in the direction you
choose to dynamite. The producers,
as a whole, are not wrong; they are
only making what the public demands
they make. Failing in that, there
would be no picture business and, if
there is no picture business, we feel
certain the affairs of the Church and
the nation ^ould be in a much more
deplorable condition. Don't you think
so?
Lanny Ross East
Lanny Ross left last night by train
for three weeks in New York. He
will do his next three broadcasts there
and return to Paramount for his role
in "Her Master's Voice."
'U' May Release
Girls' Travel Film
Universal evinced interest over the
week-end in the film which Leila
Roosevelt and Edna Olmstead shot
during their unique tfip around the
globe. Carl Laemmie Sr. asked Miss
Roosevelt to show him the footage be-
fore continuing with her plans to ship
it East for cutting and presentation.
Both girls made the swing around
the world in a motor truck, making a
12,000 foot pictorial record of their
adventures. They were the guests of
Universal at luncheon Saturday. Miss
Roosevelt is the daughter of Andre
Roosevelt and is married to Armand
Denis.
Actress Makes Screen
Debut in 'Cleopatra'
Confident they would sell Eleanor
Phelps to C. B. DeMille for his Para-
mount picture, "Cleopatra," the Wil-
liam Morris office brought the stage
player out from New York two weeks
ago on speculation.
The ticket was closed yesterday and
the player makes her screen debut in
the picture.
Dunne Out of MOM
Handing in his script on "Student
Tour" to Monta Bell, Phillip Dunne
has checked out of MCM, winding up
a two-picture deal. The Jack Gard-
ner office is handling him.
Amity Opens in Frisco
San Francisco. — Amity Pictures has
opened an exchange here under the
management of M. Lubfin.
Lincoln's ^I^Beam*
front axle means
safety for you!
Lincoln engrineers, Americans finest,
know that **I-Beam" construction, used
in earthquake-proof buildings, makes
the best . . . the SAFEST . . . front-axle
design. It. is^ your insurance against
shimmy, >wrear, and collision danger . . .
time-tested aiid PROVED ^ not an
experiment;.
MADDUX
^ ,;, . INC
at3i53N.Vine
GL. 5171
Marcfi 12, 1934
Paca
^ bPTOTHEiyilNifTE
^YELLOW JACK' GOOD HISTORY , .,„.,.^v,
BUT POOR EXTERTAIIVMENT LJ5l!N£Nc»sl
Yellow Fever Epic
HasNothingfor Pics
"YELLOW lACK"
Presented by Guthrie McClintic at the
Martin Beck Theatre; written by
y Sidney Howard in collaboration with
Paul De Kruif; directed by Guthrie
McClintic; production designed by
Jo Mielziner. Cast: Geoffrey Kerr,
Colin Hunter, Francis Compton,
Bernard Jukes, Ltoyd Gough, Kim,
Robert Shayne, Wylie Adams, Chas.
Gerard, Jack Carr, James Stewart,
. Edward Acuff, Samuel Levene, My-
ron McCormick, Katherine Wilson,
Clyde Walters, Frank Stringfellow,
John Miltern, Barton MacLane,
Eduardo Viannelli, Robert Keith,
Richie Ling.
New York. — A dignified audience
saf for two and a half hours while the
history of the fight against yellow
fever was enacted in s series of ani-
mated lantern slides at the Martin
Beck. Without intermission it grew
tiresome, windy and muddled and the
audience which had. first given it rapt
attention grew uneasy and disinterest-
ed. The production has no motion
picture possibilities whatever, in its
present form, and little chance of sur-
viving as theatrical entertainment.
For it just isn't.
Guthrie McClintic hasn't set out to
fool anyone, and should get credit for
that. ^Yellow Jack" is labeled "a his-
tory" and not a drama, and it has been
Ad Men Kick
New York. — There is undercover
complaint from local ad men chaf-
ing under Hays office censorship
that Warners get away with mur-
der. They point particularly to a
Harold Teen ad this week which
pictures Hal LeRoy asking if he can
hold his girl's dog, and her reply:
"Yes, but don't pnaint him at any-
one, he's loaded."
given a splendid production, Mielzin-
er's one set is impressive and beauti-
fully lit, McClintic's direction is fas-
tidious, and Sidney Howard's dialogue
is sincere, but the mosquito hunt just
doesn't hold sustained interest from
8:30 till 1 1.
One alleged critic argued that it
needed an intermission. "Yeh, about
a month," argued another. But a pro-
duction like "Yellow Jack" cannot be
treated flippantly. It must be set
down as a notable recording of the
long experiments in the fight against
a dreaded enemy and the discovery
that the carrier is the villainous mos-
quito. The performances were all ex-
cellent, with James Stewart and Sam-
uel Levene brightening this dark play
most, in minor roles.
Birinski Returns
Leo Birinski returned from New
York Saturday after being there for
t«n days. He went to see plays which
MGM has already purchased.
Powerful Civil Body
Aids Censor Fight
New York. — The Civil Liberties
Union joined the fight against picture
censorship in New York State with a
vigorous appeal to the Assembly to
support a bill now in the legislature
abolishing censorship.
The Union points out that censor-
ship now exists in only six states and
has been so discredited it has not been
extended anywhere else since 1 922.
Stoloff Will Direct
'Catalina' for Small
Ben Stoloff, who directed Edward
Small's "Palooka," has been signed
by the producer for another picture.
He will pilot "Catalina."
Sid Silvers will handle gags and take
a featured spot in the filmusical, book
for which is being done by Mike
Simmons.
Teasdale for 'Du Barry*
upon the completion of her work
in "Dr. Monica," Veree Teasdale will
move into the cast of "Du Barry" for
a featured assignment, Warners de-
ciding Saturday.
Cagney in New York
New York. — Jimmy Cagney has ar-
rived here on a four-week vacation
from the Warner studio.
Isabel Jewel, Thomas Jackson, Mur-
iel Evans and Noel Madison for "Night
Over Manhattan" at MGM.
Emmeli- Vogan for "Three Men,"
David Selznick production at MGM.
Edward Earie by 6. P. Schulberg for
'Little Miss Marker," Paramount.
Deal set by Hallam Cooley.
Georges Renavenf to "Stingaree,"
Radio. Negotiated by Lewis J. Deuser.
Maurice Black to "Friends of Mr.
Sweeney," Warners. Handled by
Hallam Cooley.
James Burke, Frank Conroy, Crau-
furd Kent and Lucille Ward by B. P.
Schulberg at Paramount for "Little
Miss Marker.
Carlos Veldaz in "Little Man, What
Now?" Universal, by Lewis J. Deuser.
Marian Lessing, through Hallam
Cooley, for Warners' "Du Barry."
William Arnold, Frederick Sullivan
and Thomas Monk to "Thirty Day
Princess," B. P. Schulberg-Paramount.
Margaret Brayton set by Hallam
Cooley in "Merry Andrew," Fox.
John Harron into "Murder in the
Museum," Willis Kent. Negotiated by
Hallam Cooley.
Torben Meyer in "Little Man, What
Now?" Universal.
Edgar Norton in "Thirty Day Prin-
cess," Paramount.
Frank McClynn Sr. and Sleep 'n*
lat in "Little Miss Marker," Para-
mount.
Katharine DeMille for "It Ain't No
Sin," Paramount
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BRUIATOUR BULLETIN
Published Every Monday
j. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Filim
Speaking of breaks (I was) . . .
Jim VanTrees, Sr., knocked over with
an attack of lumbago . . . worrying
about a sub-lenser on the Irene
Dunne-Richard Dix picture at RKO .
and notified that 'the picture's held up
a few days. Miss Dunne has the flu.'
. . . All hands okey-dokey now . . .
Jim, Jr., twittering around the valley
all snug in his new home with his
new bride . . . 'nother Century lenser
said "I do" and now Pev Marley and
bride (Virginia McAdoo) are being
pestered by realestaters in Beverly.
. . . County Clerks . . . Ministers . . .
Florists . . . Stand by for Sid Hickox
and 'Lizabeth . . . any second now!
'•
Roy Hunter ail jittery and smiling
as he hustles about in last-minute
plans for the reopening of the Uni-
versal Lab over which he's been King
for a decade . . . Fred Gage . . . high
mogul of Warner Brothers-First Na-
tional labs . . . doing a lousy imita-
tion of Jack Warner in Golf Course
Vocabulary . , . George Seid squawk-
ing account of Columbia loading him
down with five units . . . then tak-
ing two hours for lunch with Arthur
Cottleib (points east) . . . Jack Guerin
crashing the gate of The Jockey Club
at Caliente and coming home with
CASH DOUGH. . . .
•
Ha' Roach Studios going dark for
a fortnight (two weeks, baby) gnd
sending Ken Peach on a two weeks
tour of the golf courses . . . Len Smith
flat on back with pneumonia bugs
pestering him , . . but better now.
. . . Dan Clark (what a grand guy)
off on The Molola for Honolulu to do
some plain and fancy crank-turning
for Johnny Arnold . . . Clyde DeVinna
in Mexico City shooting those added
scenes for Viva Villa . . . Hey Hey
. . . Easter's just around the corner
. . . Lou O'Conneil's necktie just made
me think of that ... Ira (Joe) Mor-
gan at another assignment for Boss
Bill Koenig at Warners. . . .
•
Ted McCord getting gorgeous geog-
raphy (and some swell hoss stuff) in
the Ken Maynard opry "Doomed to
Die" . . . Johnny Mescall laughing
at superstition and deliberately shoot-
ing "The Black Cat" (Universal) . . .
Jack Stevens completed another laugh-
jerker for Warren Doane. . . .
PARAMOUNT
Henry Sharp Victor Milner
Milton Krasner
COLUMBIA
Joe Walker
WARNER BROS.
William Rees
UNIVERSAL
Norbert Brodine George Robinson
Gilbert Warrenton
M.. G. M.
James Wong Howe
SAYS THE CAMERAMAN
Break for Marley
Pev Marley, who focused to fame
with C. B. DeMille, and who dur-
ing the past year has been associated
with Twentieth Century, gets the big
break, which every cameraman craves,
when "House of Rothschild" opens at
Grauman's Chinese as the attraction
succeeding the current run of la Garbo.
Warrenton Back to "U
Gilbert Warrenton, free lance cam-
eraman, who is still taking the bows
on Charles Rogers' "Eight Girls in
a Boat," draws a ticket for feature
production photography at Universal
starting today. Warrenton was for sev-
eral years a permanent member of
the Universal camera staff.
Krasner Renews
Milton Krasner, who is one of the
youngest first cameramen in the busi-
ness, resumes with Charles Rogers
next week, when he takes the camera
for the Rogers' production, "In Con-
ference."
Youngster has made quite a name
for himself with his outstanding work
on Rogers' productions, including
"Strictly Personal," "I Love That
Man," "Golden Harvest," "Sitting
Pretty." "She Made Her Bed."
Milner With De Milk
When C. B. DeMille calls action
on the Claudette Colbert super-fea-
ture, "Cleopatra," at Paramount, Vic
Milner will be for the first time
(strange as it may seem) associated
with Mr. De Mille as his photogra-
pher. Time and again De Mille has
aimed at Milner, but on the ready
date Lubitsch or some other director
has connected.
Marsh Boost<?<^
Purpjose of the Brulatour Bulletin
is frankly to tell the producers facts
about cameramen. Hence this page.
Unusual break for lenser comes in
M. G. M.'s full page display ads car-
ried last week in local trade journals,
ballyhooing "The Mystery of Mr. X,"
and using big bold black type to say
that "Every ... art director, techni-
cal expert and cameraman owes it to
himself to see it!"
OIlie Marsh shot this one.
Rosher Completes
"The Firebrand" (Twentieth Cen-
tury), directed by Greg La Cava,
turned his fade-out last week with
Charles Rosher at the camera, Con-
stance Bennett, star.
-AXD THE PRODUCER
"tPT"
^^^'^
^^
02 1^
:.-',U
(NOTE: Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour, Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION:
WHAT'S YOUR ATTITUDE
REGARDING MAKE-UP?
JERRY ASH (Universal): "| like to
see character people without make-
up; they look more natural. Juve-
niles, leading men and women,
should use make-up intelligently
because in movies it contributes
the same snr>ooth, pleasing effect
that retouching does in stills."
VICTOR MILNER (Paramount) :
Make-up can be as much of a
detriment when used promiscuous-
ly as it is an aid when used prop-
erly. We have many actors who
need little, if any, make-up, but
the majority cannot be photo-
graphed without it."
THEODOR SPARKUHL (Paramount):
"I find since the introduction of
the highly sensitized negatives, the
need for make-up has diminished. I
consider eyebrow and lip make-up
most essential because of their vital
importance to facial expression.
With many women smooth face
powder is sufficient."
HENRY SHARP (Paramount): "In
photographing individuals many
times only slight touches of make-
up are necessary, but in photo-
graphing large casts of men and
women I find it necessary for
everyone to use a make-up because
of the dissimilarity in the photo-
graphic value of complexions. This
is especially true with some of our
sun-tanned ingenues."
TONY GAUDIO (Warners): "In ma-
jority of cases I don't care much
about make-up for men. How-
ever, I have never photographed a
woman whose picture appearance
was not improved by the intelli-
gent use of make-up."
HAROLD MENSTROM (RKO) : "As
you know, I photographed Wally
Beery in 'The Big House,' also Vic-
tor McLagien in 'The Lost Patrol.'
Men in this type of story certainly
should not use make-up with the
exception of a little grease to
strengthen the characterization and
simulate sweat."
pnlshinql
WARNER BROS.
George Barnes Arthur Todd
M. G. M.
Chester Lyons
FOX
L. W. O'Connell Arthur Miller
PARAMOUNT
Charles B. Lang
UNIVERSAL
Jerry Ash
% READiriG DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
h
Vol. XX. No. 2. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday. March 13. 19
11
WRITERS^ ROW fURES LP
•WE bumped into a surprising situa-
tion yesterday. We had an actor, a
good actor who has been freelancing
for quite some time and making more
money than he ever has made before,
tell us, "This freelance thing is not
what it is cracked up to be. When
I was under contract, I only had one
Studio to worry about, now my worries
are directed to every plant in the
business and I am spending most of
my sleeping hours reading scripts, try-
ing to judge whether the part is worth
my accepting, and if I do accept,
what's going to be in the picture af-
ter the preview."
That's an unusual angle and a true
one.
•
A contract player gets a lot of pro-
tection from his home lot even though
he may have to do a lot of fighting
after he gets up into the big chips.
But he has to do that fighting any-
how and our informant told us, "I
would much rather have whatever pro-
tection a contract would give me, be-
ing content that they are at least
working on my development, exploit-
ing my name in advertisements, see-
ing that exhibitors help in the build
and continuing it after I had become
a box-office asset.
"As it is," continued the artist, "I
take only the parts and at the price
I want, but 1 know I am not getting
any of the breaks in the company
advertising, that they are not going
out of their way to exploit me, that
the protection I always got at a con-
tracting studio is washed out alto-
gether."
This fellow told us that during his
last five pictures made in four dif-
ferent studios, not ONE plant request-
ed him to sit for publicity stills either
before or after the picture. "And you
know we have to have plenty of pub-
licity, even though we may be great
artists," he said.
All of which is food for thought,
particularly for those ready to jump to
the freelance market after their pres-
ent contracts expire. Maybe it is bet-
ter to fight all your battles from one
dugout rather than move the shoot-
ing-ground every month or two.
Uncertain Minds
New "Vork. — Columbia cannot
make up its mind whether "No
Greater Glory" is a two-a-day
show or should be turned loose to
grind picture houses in a hurry. So
the company is trying two-week
test engagements in Akron, Hart-
ford and Washington before bring-
ing the pic to New York.
Longer Schedules
Okayed at Warners
The fifteen, sixteen or eighteen-day
shooting schedule has been ditched at
the Warner plant, and Harry Warner's
threat that he would not look at a
Warner picture "if it cost over $250,-
000" has been pushed aside also.
Warners are not throwing away any
production money, but they are set
on getting better pictures and realize
the best means of attaining this is
more time for preparation and shoot-
ing.
MPTOA Prexy Coming
New York. — Ed Kuykendall, presi-
dent of the Motion Picture Theatre
Owners of America, leaves for Los
Angeles April 1 to be on the ground
for preparatory work for the big ex-
hibitor convention April 10-11-12.
Frank Joyce Returns
New York. — Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Joyce arrive here today on the Ma-
jestic. Incidentally the date of arri-
val coincides with the birthday of Mrs.
Joyce, a thoughtful idea on the part
of Frank.
Gen. Harbord Here
Gen. James G. Harbord, chairman of
the board of directors of RCA, arriv-
ed in Hollywood to look over the stu-
dio and confer with B. B. Kahane.
Waldemat Young Withdraws
From Liberal Slate-^Threats
And Treachery Are Charged
The fire which has been smouldering in the Screen Writers'
Guild for several days burst into flame yesterday, fed by charges
of playing politics, double-crossing, treachery, etc., although no
one would stand for being quoted on such accusations. The de-
velopments were:
Sell2Wks.Aheadin
N.Y. on 'Rothschild'
Waldemar Young's withdrawal of
his name from the slate of fifteen
presented last week by the "liberal
element" of the Guild.
An expression of regret over Mr.
Young's action by the Committee of
(Continued on page 4)
Steam Up Fight on
N. Y. Censorship
New York. — An attack on censor-
ship on all fronts is planned at the
Wednesday meeting of the National
Council on Freedom from Censorship.
The meeting will spur action on the
organization's bill to abolish State
censorship in New York, start action
against the Wales Padlock Law,
which makes it possible to padlock a
theatre if the License Commissioner
considers an attraction immoral; and
will also ask for the repeal of the law
by which the postmaster of a city sits
in censoring books. The council would
substitute jury trials in both cases.
Alexander to Produce
Max Alexander, nephew of Carl
Laemmie, who has been manager of
the Cineglow studios for the past
year, is turning his thoughts to pro-
ducing and has purchased an original
story by Jerry Sackheim and Nathan
Asch, titled "Decent."
REOPENING OF LEGIT CODE
GIVES HOPE TO FILM MEN
Washington. — Exhibitor opponents
of the present NRA code machinery
and independent exhibitors took heart
today with the official announcement
that the legit theatre code would be
reopened for an entire overhauling on
March 28th. Public hearings will be
held.
The legit code was one of the
first adopted by the NRA authorities,
and in comparison with the opposition
aroused concerning the picture code,
was thought to be a firmly established
document.
Film Council Honors
Mother of President
New York. — Mrs. James Roosevelt,
mother of the President, has accepted
an honorary vice-presidency of the
Motion Picture Research Council.
Mrs. Calvin Coolidge is the other
honorary vice-president. The hono-
rary president is Dr. A. Lawrence
Lowell.
This is the organization that is lead-
ing the powerful Congressional fight
against block booking.
New York. — "The House of Roth-
schild" was dropped into the ticket
agencies only a few days ago and al-
ready is showing a surprising record of
reservations for two weeks in advance,
first sign to the speculators of a po-
tential hit.
United Artists has completed plans
for four of the road shows to carry
the Darryl Zanuck picture over the
country as a two-a-day show. One
opens at the Ohio Theatre, Cleveland,
March 31; another at the Majestic,
Boston, same date; at the Oneida,
Utica, April 3; and Grauman's Chinese
on the same date.
Gene Raymond Does
Not Like McKee' Script
Gene Raymond returned from New
York Saturday and immediately re-
ported to MCM studios to discuss the
role of the crooner in the Joan Craw-
ford picture, "Sadie McKee."
Raymond turned down the script
and will not accept the role unless
the studio makes a few changes in it.
Runyon Coming to 'U'
Universal has signed Damon Run-
yon to write the screen play of his
Collier's short story, "Princess O'Hara,"
which the studio purchased recently.
Runyon is due to arrive here from the
East April 1 .
Grace Bradley Hurt
Charles R. Rogers was forced to
rearrange his shooting schedule on
"Private Scandal," which started yes-
terday, due to a slight injury to Grace
Bradley, who has a featured role. She
will be unable to work for a few days.
French Filmers Visif
New York. — Arrivals on the i^aris
tomorrow include Jean Du> ier,
French picture director, and \ ■ kita
Balaieff.
ONE MORE DAY!
To Vote for the Outstanding Picture
of 1933— Mail Your Ballot TODAY!
LAST CALL!
Page Two
l^i!P©^TE[R
March 13, 1934
V^. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris. 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Gratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter |une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Gene Fowler Cites Bible
In Replying to Bishop
The current success of "Dods-
worth" in New York reminds us that
Jo Meilziner (Ken MacKenna's broth-
er) has outdone himself on the stage
settings for this show. Meilziner was
faced with the cute little job of ex-
ecuting fifteen changes of scenes for
this production — all quick ones. The
play at the moment is requiring the
use of two revolving stages at the
theatre where it is playing. One
"quick change" is so quick that Fay
Bainter and Waiter Huston have to
change costumes together in the same
spot on one of the stages on a strip
about five feet in diameter. Some
fun!
This sounds like a press agent's
dream, but our informant swears it is
true. Evelyn Venable is a vegetarian
and, even though the title of King
Vidor's picture "Our Daily Bread" is
'.'vegetarian" enough. Miss V. turned
down a role in it because it called
for her to kill a chicken in one scene
and eat a rabbit stew in another. Mi-
gosh — sounds like a food show!
The latest rumors from London
anent the possibility of the Pickford-
Fairbanks reconciliation really sound
authentic and we hope they are. We
happened to know that those close to
Mary have always hoped, regardless of
the separation, that she would take no
steps towards the finality of a divorce.
We know, too, that if Mary divorces
Doug at this time, she will put him
in a spot that we are reliably inform-
ed he no longer desires to be in. We
refer to what would be the chivalrous
necessity of marrying Lady Ashley.
Someone who should know tells us
this supposed romance is ice-cold.
Along with a lot of others, we feel
that if Mary will just wisely stand off
the gossip for awhile longer, it will
mean happiness for both her and Doug
in the end.
'•
A certain writer who was lassoed
into a publicity stunt trial engagement
with a certain young actress decided
against it when he learned that it in-
volved a trial mother-in-law as well.
On the first anniversary of the
"Slight Quake," your newspaper re-
printed certain views of the Right
Reverend John j. Cantwell, regarding
vile motion pictures. The Catholic
Bishop of the Los Angeles Diocese
is quoted as branding twenty-five per
cent of the cinematic product as vio-
lent, obscene and provocative of pag-
anism or heathenism. Indeed, he ar-
rives at an opinion that seventy-five
F>er cent of the offending Hollywood
scriveners are pagans. However, he
liked "Three Little Pigs" and two
other works.
There can and should be some-
thing done about this matter. I pro-
pose a compromise between screen
and church. But first, let us cue-in
from His Grace's benediction of the
three small shoats.
"Three Little Pigs" is from Mother
Goose, and as every pagan writer will
admit (on his deathbed), all our
movie plots are taken from one or
two sources: Mother Goose or the
Bible. Not alone the movies, but
many novels and plays owe their suc-
cess to this very saga of the three tiny
swine. For example, "The Three
Musketeers," "Three Faces East," and
"Three's A Crowd."
While "Three Little Pigs" is largely
a presentation of the gangster prob-
lem, with a modicum of sabotage
thrown in and a bit of cruelty to
animals not permitted in ordinary reels
by the humane society moguls, it is
reasonably free of the usual Mother
Goose themes of violence, robbery and
mayhem. Mother Goose is second
only to the Bible in the number and
scope of crime stories, including mur-
der and heinous chicanery.
The slaying of Cock Robin was as
dastardly a piece of Little Caesar
bumping as any child or adult could
imagine. The kiddies were weaned
on larcenous rhymes, for example,
that one depicting the getaway of
Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son, and his
subsequent pummeling at the hands
of the Vigilantes. Simple Simon,
while not a criminal in fact, was of
such mongoloid development that he
reappears once in while as a Eugene
O'Neill character with a mask. Old
King Cole's household had about it
a certain Faulkener pathology keyed
up to hollow laughter by dint of
much fiddling and more guzzling.
(See "Tugboat Annie," "Anna
Christie" and "Henry the Eighth")
Jack and Jill have been suspected of
various juvenile delinquincies by such
savants as Havelock Ellis and Jung.
After a good and obedient child's
criminal instincts had been whetted
on the Mother Goose wheel, and his
libido nicely feather-faddled, he was
ready for the greater and the heftier
tussle — the biblical phantasmagoria.
Here he could run amok.
He was slightly puzzled by the
symbolism evoked by Adam and Eve
and dreamed of winking fig leaves
drifting on the west wind; but from
there on it was all to the good. The
child's preceptors mumbled in their
beards and tried to translate plain,
rollicking lecheries and skull-crackings,
into something written by Gertrude
Stein. The child, however, knew that
when Noah was on the grass, alas!
he was plenty rummed up and full
of incestuous antics. It was right
there (and so was Noah et filia) for
King James said so.
True, the King's learned translators
had people plighting their oaths on
each other's "loins," whereas the
Hebraic called it something else, and
this nicety escaped juvenile notice.
But there was plenty left to make
up for this delicate mantling of a
touching, robust whimsy. The Ark
story (later known as Mutiny on the
Bounty) was a gentle biological
glimpse, a warning to boys and girls
to take care.
The battles, riots, abandonment of
children, infanticide, the hospitality
of scarlet women, the trickery of Esau
in chiseling Jacob out of a birthright
in exchange for a bowl of Grape Nuts
— all these prankish matters were
bruited from pulpit and school rostra
in the shape of intellectual lollipops.
The Song of Solomon topped Joyce's
'Ulysses' so far that for many years
the latter was not allowed in our
country — the inference being there
was not room enough for both.
So, in considering how vile our
cinema is (to the extent of twenty-
five per cent) and that our plots
evolve from the Uriah's Wife motif
(See "Design for Living"), would it
not be fair for church and screen to
effect a compromise? Let the films
delete such plots as are in corrobo-
ration of bitjlical set-ups. On the
other hand, ask the churches to cut
down on the Bible, eliminating all
murders, rapes, arson and larceny-
from-the-person. And ask the nur-
series to burn those Mother Goose
tales — all except "Three Little Pigs."
GENE FOWLER.
Crover Jones Goes on
6-Weeks Europe Trip
Grover Jones, Paramount writer, and
Mrs. Jones left last night for New
York and Europe, to be gone six
weeks. They travel East by way of
New Orleans and sail for England on
the President Harding.
The trip is a vacation, the first one
Grover has had for a long time, and
is taken because of his health.
Edna Schley Head of
S-J Story Department
Edna Schley has abandoned her
story agency to join the Selznick-
Joyce office and will take charge of
the story department.
Nick Carter, who was in charge
previously, will do some special as-
signments for Myron Selznick.
Juliette Compton Here
Juliette Compton arrived yesterday
from New York, returning to pictures
after a period on the stage. The
Small-Landau office is piloting her.
SUNSHINE
STAMPEDE
By DOTE FULTON
"The real saga of Florida . . . Swell
reading." — John Howard Lawson.
$2. MACAULAY
Cliff Reid and Radio
/ Sign New Contract
Cliff Reid and Radio have signed
and sealed a new ticket for the pro-
ducer, negotiations on which were re-
ported here two weeks ago. Contract
keeps Reid with the studio for an-
other year without options as a result
of the job he turned out on "Lost
Patrol."
He is handling two pictures cur-
rently. They are "A Fugitive from
Glory" and "Sea Girl."
Fairbanks Manager
On Way to Hollywood
New York. — Clarence Erickson,
business manager of the Douglas Fair-
banks Pictures Corporation, arrives in
New York today from London, en
route to Hollywood, after working out
the releasing arrangements with Unit-
ed Artists for the release of the two
pictures which Fairbanks will make for]
London Films, of which Alexander]
Korda is the head.
Lionel, Not John
Due to an error on the part of the
MGM publicity department, this paper
carried the fact that John Barrymore
would have the top spot in the Jean
Harlow picture, "100 Per Cent Pure."
Lionel Barrymore will play one of the
leading roles, not John.
town ' I
C. B. Jarrett in Tow
G. Burling Jarrett arrived in
yesterday by automobile from Atlantic
City on his yearly trip to Hollywood.
Jarrett is proprietor of the Hollywood
motion picture exhibit on the Atlan-
tic City Steel Pier and will be here
three weeks purchasing new material
from the studios.
New Rogers Title
Charles R. Rogers has changed the
title of his next picture for Para-
mount from "In Conference" to "Pri-
vate Scandal." Production started
yesterday.
Keene Lead for Morley
King Vidor yesterday signed Tom
Keene for the lead opposite Karen
Morley in "Our Daily Bread." Pic-
ture is scheduled to get under way
March 26 at the General Service stu-
dios.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repaymanti
Loani Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HSmpitaad 1133
Central Distributors
Will Buy for CASH
FEATURES SHORTS
Quick Action — Prompt Payment
M. LEON LEVINE
599 FifHi Av«., N. Y. C.
March 13, 1934
THF
Thre*'
CREEL DEMAIVDS SHOWDOWN
OI\ LABOR BOARD STALLINC;
Judge Lindsey Hears
Complaints Today
As a result of the barrage of com-
plaints to Washington from various
labor groups complaining that the
Studio Labor Committee was not func-
tioning, George Creel, State NRA Ad-
ministrator, came to town yesterday
and has started the first move to whip
the studios into line in the matter of
living up to code provisions.
According to Mr. Creel, his first
definite action will take place today
when he will hold a hearing in the
Labor Compliance Board offices at
which he will hear the complaints
against the Studio Labor Committee.
"There have been many, many
complaints made to me and to Wash-
ington that the Studio Labor Commit-
tee and other committees out here
were not functioning," said Creel yes-
terday afternoon. "So tomorrow I will
hold a hearing on these complaints.
We want to see if these committees
have not been functioning and why."
It was also learned yesterday that
Creel has straightened out the matter
of the duties of Judge Ben Lindsey,
who was appointed Labor Compliance
Officer some weeks ago. From now on
Judge Lindsey is to hear all labor com-
plaints, whether they have been filed
with other code committees or not, as
long as they have been neglected.
This decision virtually takes the
studio labor complaints out of the
hands of the Studio Labor Committee
which was appointed last January 11,
and which has not functioned yet on
the more than a score of complaints
of code violations that have been filed
with it by studio labor groups.
Richard L'Estrange, labor member
of the Studio Labor Committee, has
been appointed to represent all the
complaints in the cases that are now
on the shelf of the committee. Yester-
day he sent word to various groups
to prepare duplicate complaints and
bring them to him. He will present
them to Creel and Judge Lindsey and
carry on from there.
Among those who have complaints
filed with the Labor Committee, which
is now to pass them along to Judge
Lindsey, are: Local 659 lATSE; Local
37 lATSE, 5 complaints; Studio Po-
lice, 2; Federated Motion Picture
Crafts, 3; Costumers; Plasterers, 2;
Laborers; Upholsterers; Machinists;
Makeup Artists; Assistant Directors;
Crips; Assistant Cutters; Set Dressers;
Sound Men and Truck Drivers.
Many of these cases, the complain-
ants declare have been on file with
the Studio Labor Committee for more
than a month.
"As a member of the Studio Labor
Committee," said L'Estrange, "I tried
to do something. But the committee
only held one meeting since we were
appointed. At that it could not agree
when to meet again, so it hasn't met.
"Every studio in Hollywood has been
violating the Code, and now I'm glad
to say that Mr. Creel is going to give
us action.
"I will represent all complainants,
and the hearings on their complaints
will start imniediately before Judge
Lindsey who.wUI pass on them all."
Exhibs Like Rothschild^
Darryl Zanuck is getting on the
average of ten telegrams a day
from exhibitors throughout the
country praising "Rothschild."
One of the exhibs quips: "Af-
ter looking at 'Rothschild' I have
decided to stay in the business a
while longer."
Paramount at Peak
With Nine in Work
Starting three features yesterday.
Paramount reached peak production
for the past four months with nine
subjects In work.
Cecil B. DeMille got "Cleopatra"
under way yesterday with Claudette
Colbert and Harry Wilcoxson in the
leads. With Leo McCarey directing,
the Mae West vehicle, "It Ain't No
Sin," went before the cameras at the
same time. Charles R. Rogers started
the first of his last four productions
for the studio, "Private Scandal."
Ralph Murphy handles the megaphone.
Six features continue in work. They
are: "We're Not Dressing" Norman
Taurog directing; "Murder at the
Vanities," Mitchell Leisen megging;
"Double Door," Charles Vidor; "The
Witching Hour," Henry Hathaway;
"Thirty Day Princess," Marion Gering;
and "Little Miss Marker," Alexander
Hall.
Wynyard to Co-star
with Brook at Radio
Diana Wynyard was signed by Ra-
dio yesterday on a one-picture loan
from MCM for the co-starring spot
in "Sour Grapes," opposite Clive
Brook. This is the first time this
pair has been together since "Caval-
cade."
MCM Wins Libel Point
London. — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Pictures, Ltd., yesterday won a stay
of execution in the famous "Raspu-
tin" damage suit in which Princess
Youssoupoff won a $125,000 verdict.
The court of appeals decreed that the
full amount of the verdict be paid
into the court, but only $25,000 be
paid to the Princess immediately.
Fowler's 'Pet' Yarn
Gene Fowler, at present doing the
screen play on "Barnum" for Twen-
tieth Century, is chafing at the bit,
anticipating his return to Fire Island
to take up the completion of a book
written around his 1 3 pets.
Raft's Stooge Not
a Stooge, He Says
Mack Grey, George Raft's stooge,
took offense at yesterday's article
in the Hollywood Reporter refer-
ring to him as a stooge and made
the following statement: "I am not
a stooge. I am a high class guy
and companion to George Raft, and
the mob will back me up on that."
Davies Wants To
Get Crosby Again
Cosmopolitan Productions is pound-
ing on Paramount's doors again for
the loan of Bing Crosby for the co-
starring spot opposite Marion Davies
in the Sidney Skolsky yarn, "Movie
Queen," which will follow "Operator
13," now in production at MGM.
Crosby will be granted a vacation
at Paramount when he finishes his
next picture, "She Loves Me Not," af-
ter making four pictures in a row,
and will more than likely go to Cos-
mopolitan for this picture if Para-
mount permits.
Elliott Nugent to
Para, for Crosby Film
Paramount has borrowed Elliott Nu-
gent from Radio on a one-picture deal
to direct the next Bing Crosby pic-
ture, "She Loves Me Not," which
Benjamin Glazer is producing.
Nugent has just finished the Jimmy
Durante picture, "Strictly Dynamite,"
at RKO, and will report to Paramount
after the picture is edited.
Cyril McLaglen May
Do 'Treasure Island'
Cyril McLaglen, brother of Victor,
was tested by MGM yesterday for one
of the leading roles in "Treasure Is-
land," with Wallace Beery and Jackie
Cooper. Victor Fleming will direct.
McLaglen arrived here from Eng-
land a few weeks ago and has been
visiting his brother.
Truex Signs Exclusive
For Educational Series
New York, — Ernest Truex, stage
favorite, has been signed to a two-
year exclusive contract for motion
pictures by Educational and will be
starred in a two-reel series.
Major Bowes Bereaved
New York. — Margaret lllington, for
years a favorite of the American stage,
and wife of Major Bowes, a vice-
president of Loew's, Inc., died Sunday
in Miami Beach, Florida, at the age
of fifty-two.
Ainsworth Morgan at Fox
Fox yesterday signed Ainsworth
Morgan to write the screen play on
Elizabeth Cobb's "She Was a Lady,"
which Al Rockett is producing. Deal
was set by the Lichtig and Englander
office.
'Mank' on 'Timber Line'
Herman Mankiewicz will get the
screen credit for the adaptation of the
Gene Fowler story, "Timber Line,"
when it is released by Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer.
Walter Wanger is the producer.
Perkins on Way
New York. — -Osgood Perkins leaves
the big city for the Coast today by
train.
Congress Threat to
Federal Rec. Judges
New York. — Threats of Represen-
tative Summers, of the House Judi-
ciary Committee, to ask for wholesale
impeachments of Federal Judges sit-
ting in receivership cases, are said to
be behind the delay in numerous deci-
sions from the bench on equity re-
ceivership fees, including that of
Judge Woolsey, expected for some
time to act on the requests of the
Paramount receivers.
Recent broad publication of the
Senate report on receiverships and
terming of many situations as "rac-
kets" has gained importance through
the Representative's declaration that
in addition to new legislation he will
go after impeachment proceedings in
many cases.
Radio Ducks Hall
On 'Lost Patror
New York. — Radio has booked
"The Lost Patrol" into the Rialto
March 31 for a two weeks' minimum
run with the understanding that if
the gross goes over a certain figure
it will be kept indefinitely.
Al Werker Will Direct
'52 Weeks for Florette'
Paramount has switched Al Wer-
ker's first assignment on his term con-'
tract and the director will do "Fifty-
two Weeks for Florette," which was
scripted by William Slavens McNutt
and Crover Jones, under Louis D.
Lighton's supervision. He was first
set for W. C. Fields' story, "Grease
Paint."
Lederman Suit March 21
Suit by Ross Lederman, Columbia
director, against Nat Levine, of Mas-
cot Pictures, for $900 in salary
claimed due, goes on trial March 21.
Director worked three weeks on a
deal for which he was to get $1,500,
receiving $600 of the amount, he
says. Ronald Button represents Led-
erman, while Cordon Levoy will act for
Levine.
'Cat's Paw' Delayed
Although Sam Taylor is improving
rapidly from his recent attack of pneu-
monia, Harold Lloyd has decided to
call off production on "The Cat's
Paw" until the director has fully re-
covered. Company hopes to get back
in production March 26.
Maynard Sails March 21
Winding up "Doomed to Die," with
Alan James directing at Universal,
yesterday. Ken Maynard definitely de-
cided to leave for New York March
16 on the first leg of his vacation in
Europe. He hops the Berengaria
from there March 21.
Hervey Stays at MCM
Andy Hervey has changed his mind
about leaving the MGM publicity de-
partment to go to Paramount and will
remain at his present post.
Cregory Ratoff Sails
New York. — Gregory Ratoff sails
for London to fulfill his British Cau-
mont . contract on March 16.
Pjge Four
March 13, 1934
WALDEMAR YOIJNCi PULLS HIS
NAME OFF LIBERAL TICKET
Academy Loyalty
Given As Reason
(Continued from Page I )
Sponsors which presented the "liberal"
slate, and a plain statement that he
had been threatened by a representa-
tive of the present administration.
A communication signed by Ralph
Block, Frances Marion and Ernest
Pascal, expressing their faith in the
present Guild administration and re-
fusing to stand as nominees on the
"liberal" slate, on which they had
been named.
Mr. Young's letter, which lays his
withdrawal partly to the fact that he
is still a member of the Academy,
follows:
The Committee of Sponsors,
"Liberal Ticket,"
Screen Writers' Guild,
Hollywood, Calif.
Gentlemen:
I must ask you to withdraw my
name from your list of fifteen candi-
dates for the Screen Writers' Guild
board I am, needless to say, wholly
in SiiTipathy with your efforts to
achieve, if possible, a sane and re-
spoi >)ble administration of Guild af-
fairs.
I r nk you have selected an excel-
lent .ket for that purpose. I joined
the _M)iid to give you my support;
and. .vjlieving that only in united ac-
tion s success possible, I will, unless
fur ?r compromises are made with
the pposition, cast my vote for your
tic! But I cannot allow my name
to used.
/ ter a long talk with one other
of ■ jr candidates, I find myself com-
ple y at variance with him (and, I
hav 7 very reason to believe, a ma-
jor: f your ticket) on a matter of
pol He thinks I should resign
froi ^ the Academy. I have no in-
tenfion of resigning from the Acad-
em-. 1 know what the Academy has
dor i. if he does not; I have sat on
the • Dard for more than six years and
I 0 nt to know.
^3 records of the Conciliation
Coi iittee, for one thing, are avail-
ab' 'o the curious; they will show
th; 'he Academy has collected thous-
anc% of dollars for writers that the
wr - would not otherwise have got.
^g those who now cry "Wolf!"
th( iciest, I know several who have
ree on to be grateful to the Academy
an its complete fairness in all dis-
pu ; '. involving writer and producer.
Academy's Writer-Producer
Cc • Practice is the first document
of kind that the writers have
ev .en able to negotiate. Meager
as . IS, it does correct the evil of
coi • r gent compensation for free-lance
wi ers. And it is only a beginning.
Pr ' minary steps have already been
ta to extend and amplify the
Cf - provisions until it will become
ev , tvially a comprehensive instrument
pr ting writers from all abuses.
friend of the ticket — and I have
t\ nighest respect for him — cries,
w fire in his eye: "The Academy
n- ■ '-^f destroyed!" I don't think so.
H it is "a company union." I
Sf 1 a constant check on the pro-
Bitter Sweet
New York. — Frank Morgan was
yesterday elected vice-president of
Angostura-Wupperman Corpora-
tion, American representative for
Angostura bitters, of which his
mother is president. Frank an-
nounces he will not abandon films,
but expects to handle the bitters so
well as a sideline that eventually
all his Hollywood friends will be
using bitters with their grapefruit.
ducers. The character of the men sit-
ting in its councils as representatives
of the four employe branches is my
guarantee of that.
I deeply appreciate the inclusion of
my name on your ticket. But I must
insist that it be withdrawn, at once.
Your sincerely,
WALDEMAR YOUNG.
Serious Changes Made
By Free-Lance Croup
Following is the statement of the
freelances:
"The Free-lance Group of the Com-
mittee of Sponsors deeply regrets Mr.
Waldemar Young's decision to with-
draw from the list of candidates for
the Executive Board of the Screen
Writers' Guild at the coming elec-
tion.
"We note that Mr. Young reached
his decision after a conference with
a self-styled supporter of this Com-
mittee's ticket. Later this politician
turned out to be a henchman of the
present Guild dictatorship, and is on
the ticket which, if elected, will per-
petuate methods which have provoked
dissension and threatened the effec-
tiveness of the Guild.
"By implication, if not more spec-
ifically, Mr. Young received a warning
and threat from a representative of
the present Board, to the effect that
his time and efforts on behalf of the
Guild would be nullified if he were
elected to the new Board.
"We do not necessarily endorse any
of Mr. Young's personal views, and
if he feels that he cannot serve the
Guild whole-heartedly, we agree that
he should withdraw his name. But
we are unalterably opposed to the pol-
icies of coercion, threat and intimida-
tion and shall express that opposition
by submitting a ticket to the Guild
membership before the election."
Guild Members Stand
Pat on Present Record
The statement of Miss Marion and
Messers. Block and Pascal is chiefly
noteworthy because it offers another
complete slate to the members of the
Guild which does not contain the name
of John Natteford, the leader of the
free-lance group. It reads:
"We believe in the policies of the
present board of the Screen Writers'
Guild, of which we are members. Our
names have been included in an op-
position ticket without our authority.
"Obviously we will not stand as
nominees of any group professing to
be opposed to the very policies we
have helped to initiate.
"We believe the best interests of
the Guild will be served by the re-
Freelancers Charge
Threats, Treachery
election of the following members of
the Board: Oliver H. P. Garrett, John
Howard Lawson, Dudley Nichols,
Gladys Lehman, Wells Root, Courtenay
Terrett, Ernest Pascal, Frances Marion,
Ralph Block, and the following names
in addition: John Emerson, Brian Mar-
low, Seton I. Miller, Arthur Richman,
Harlan Thompson, Tristram Tupper.
Ralph Block,
Frances Marion,
Ernest Pascal.
Rosy Wants Action
On N.Y. Operators
New York. — Sol Rosenblatt's pa-
tience with the squabble between
New York theatre owners and opera-
tors is about exhausted. Yesterday
he announced that he would appoint
a new board of representative theatre
owners and operators, regardless of
organization affiliations, and let this
board settle the wage and hour scale.
Rosenblatt refuses personally to re-
cede from the position set down in
the code, which declares for the scale
"that existed on August 23, 1933."
Carroll Beauts Help Out
Just in case there isn't enough heat
up on the stage for the opening
Thursday of "White Cargo," Earl Car-
roll has arranged to be present at the
Playhouse with the eleven beauties im-
ported from New York for "Murder
at the Vanities."
Hunt-Nolan Suit Off
Eleanor Hunt, who recently filed a
divorce action against her husband.
Dr. Frank Nolan, was reconciled to
to him late last week. Player has or-
dered her attorney, Gordon Levoy, to
withdraw her suit.
Small Borrows Woolf
Edgar Allan Woolf has been loaned
by MCM to Edward Small on a one-
picture deal to write the screen play
on the musical comedy, "Catalina,"
which Ben Stoloff will direct for Re-
liance Pictures.
Gibney on 'Adverse*
Sheridan Gibney returned to War-
ners yesterday to resume his contract
at that studio. His first assignment
is the adaptation of the Hervey Allen
novel, "Anthony Adverse."
Pete Dunne Jr. Set
Peter Finley Dunne Jr. has been as-
signed to write dialogue on the C. B.
DeMille production, "Cleopatra." The
writer will sit in on the set with the
director.
O'Brien-Cagney Teamed
Warners will team Pat O'Brien with
James Cagney in an original screen
play by Ben Markson, "Hey, Sailor."
No director or additional cast has
been assigned as yet.
Nat Levine Lists 20
Features Next Year
New York. — Long king of the serial
producers in the indie ranks, Nat Le-
vine announces feature production on
a big scale for next year. In addition
to his four serials, twenty features will
be produced.
The features will be divided into
three groups — exploitation specials,
modern western dramas and action
melodramas.
Three of the serials are announced:
"Lost Jungle," "Burn 'Em Up Barnes"
and "Law of the Wild."
Morris Due Tomorrow
Chester Morris gets in tomorrow
from New York to start work in
"The Practical Joker," which Edward
Laemmie directs for Universal. Mor-
ris was East six weeks, working in
"Frankie and Johnnie" opposite Lilyari^
Tashman.
^
Dumbrille at MGM
MGM has set Douglas Dumbrille for
a featured role in "Treasure Island."
Warners, meanwhile, have registered
a bid for his services.
Lovett with Fox
Josephine Lovett has been signed \'l
by Fox on a one-picture deal to write 'A
the screen adaptation on "She Was I
a Lady," a recently purchased novel. l-^j
M
Weissmuller Renewed
Johnny Weissmuller's option was
exercised yesterday by MGM. Player
enters his third year on a termer set
by the Small-Landau office.
HOLLYWOOD
PLAZA
•a 9
\i"0
jL.
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly rat9t
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas, Danzigtr, Mgr,
Eugene Stern, Pres.
Th* "Doorway of Hoipilality"
Vin* at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
^
RALPH BLOCK
NOW UNDER CONTRACT TO WARNER BROTHERS
u
MASSACRE"
u
DARK HAZARD
rr
with RICHARD BARTHELMESS
Story by ROBT. CESSNER and RALPH BLOCK
SCREEN PLAY By RALPH BLOCK & SHERIDAN CIBNEY
N. Y. JOURNAL: "Easily the best picture Barthelmess
has had in several seasons."
N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM: "One of the few really
worthwhile films in weeks."
N. Y. MIRROR: "Magnificent — here's a lulu."
N. Y. EVENING POST: "The one important picture
of the current season."
with EDWARD G. ROBINSON
SCREEN PLAY By RALPH BLOCK & BROWNE HOLMES
L. A. EXAMINER: "Snappy dialogue — blending of
thrills & comedy . . . credit Ralph Block and Browne
Holmes with some very funny lines."
N. Y. TRIBUNE: "The picture has pathos, humor and
believability . . . we recommend 'Dark Hazard'."
N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM: "In writing, characteriza-
tion and plot the picture sets a high standard."
\^
GAMBLING LADY
rr
\\
THE FIREBIRD
ff
with BARBARA STANWYCK
SCREEN PLAY By RALPH BLOCK GrOORIS MALLOY
for KAY FRANCIS
SCREEN PLAY By RALPH BLOCK Gr DORIS MALLOY
MANAGEMENT
MYRON SELZNICK — FRANK JOYCE. Ltd.
We are happy to have contributed to the score of
B. C. De SYLVA'S
\\
BOTTOMS UP"
cus
RICHARD
KAHN - WHrriMG
"WAITIN' AT THE GATE FOR KATY"
March 13, 1934 mp
t
PRODUCTION ABOUT THE SAME WITH 41 IN WORK
BAROMETER
This Week 41 Features
Last Week 40 Features
Year Ago 29 Features
Two Years Ago 32 Features
"THE WORLD MOVES ON"
Columbia
"TWENTIETH CENTURY"
Cast: John Barrymore, Carole Lom-
bard, Roscoe Karns, Charles Levin-
son, Walter Connolly, Etienne Gir-
ardot, Dale Fuller, Edgar Kennedy,
Herman Bing, Lee Kohlmar, Ralph
Forbes, Arnold Gray, James Burke,
Anita Brown, Ci-gi Parrish, Gaylord
Pendleton, King Mojave, Billie Se-
ward, Snowflake, Buddy Williams,
Irene Thompson.
Director Howard Hawks
Play by Ben Hecht
and Charles MacArthur
Screen Play .Ben Hecht
and Charles MacArthur
Photography Joseph August
Associate Producer Harry Cohn
"THE PARTY'S OVER"
Cast: Stuart Erwin, Ann Sothern, Ar-
line Judge, Patsy Kelly, Chick
Chandler, Billy Bakewell, Esther
Muir, Rollo Lloyd, Henry Travers,
Catharine Ducet, Mary Forbes, Ar-
thur Rankin.
Director Walter Lang
Play by Daniel Kusseil
Screen Play S. K. Lauren
Photography John Stumar
Producer Felix Young
"MURDER IN THE STUDIO"
Cast: Ralph Bellamy, Shirley Grey,
Ward Bond, Gail Patrick, Arthur
Rankin, Clifford Jones, Vincent
Sherman, Bradley Page, Lucien Pre-
val, Kane Richmond, Alden Chase,
Frank Mills, Helen Eby Rock, Ed-
ward Kane.
Director D. Ross Lederman
Original Charles Condon
Screen Play Harold Shumate
Photography Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Irving Briskin
"MOST PRECIOUS THING IN LIFE '
Cast: Jean Arthur, Donald Cook, Rich-
ard Cromwell, Anita Louise, Paul
Stanton, Mary Forbes, Jane Darwell,
Ben Alexander.
Director Lambert Hillyer
Original Travis Ingham
Screen Play Ethel Hill
Photography John Stumar
Associate Producer Robert North
Fox
"TOO MANY WOMEN"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Rochelle Hud-
son, Herbert Mundin, Rosemary
Ames, Henrietta Crosman, Mona
Barrie, Lillian Stuart, Fred Santley,
Matt Moore, Addison Richards,
Richard Carle, Frank Conroy, John
Sheehan, Irving Pichel, Jane Barnes.
Director James Flood
Story Vera Caspary
Screen Play Jane Storm
and Oscar M. Sheridan
Additional Dialogue Lenore Coffee
Photography L. W. O'Connell
Producer Al Rockett
Cast: Madeleine Carroll, Franchot
Tone, Ferdinand Schumann-Heink,
Raul Roulien, Reginald Denny, Sieg-
fried Rumann, Stepin Fetchit, Bren-
da Fowler, Marcelle Corday, Barry
Norton, Dudley Digges, Frank Mel-
ton, Russell Simpson, Halliwell
Hobbes, Ivan Simpson, Jose Mojica,
Lumsden Hare, Walter McGrail,
Charles Bastin, ouise Dresser, Frank
Moran, George Irving.
Director John Ford
Story and Screen Play^
Reginald Berkeley
Photography George Schneiderman
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"CHANCE OF HEARTS"
Cast: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell,
James Dunn, Beryl Mercer, Ginger
Rogers, Gustav von Seyffertitz,
Irene Franklin, Fiske O'Hara, Jane
Darwell, Nella Walker, Drue Ley-
ton, Kenneth Thomson, Mary Carr.
Director John BIystone
Story ...; Kathleen Norris
Screen Play Sonya Levien
and James Gleason
Add. Dialogue Samuel Hoffenstein
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"SPRINGTIME FOR HENRY"
Cast: Otto Kruger, Nancy Carroll,
Heather Angel, Herbert Mundin,
Nigel Bruce.
Director Frank Tuttle
Based on play by Benn W. Levy
Adaptation Keene Thompson
and Frank Tuttle
Photography John Seitz
Producer Jesse L. Lasky
"NOW I'LL TELL"
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Alice Faye, Helen
Tweivetrees, Hobart Cavanaugh, G.
P. Huntley, Jr., Barbara Weeks,
Robert Gleckler, Clarence Hummel
Wilson, Ray Cook, Frank Marlowe.
Director Edwin Burke
Story Mrs. Arnold Rothstein
Screen Play Edwin Burke
Photography Ernest Palmer
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"MERRY ANDREW"
Cast: Will Rogers, Peggy Wood, Mary
Carlisle, Paul Harvey, Frank Melton,
Roger Imhof, Robert Taylor.
Director David Butler
Based on Play by Lewis Beach
Adaptation Kubec Glasmon
Screen Play William Conseiman
and Henry Johnson
Lyrics William Conseiman
Music Richard Whiting
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW •
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan, Grace Bradley.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Walter Lundin
Producer Harold Lloyd
MOM
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Douglas Dumbrille, Four Mills
Brothers, Jay Lloyd, Russell Hardie,
Florine McKinney, Russell Hardie,
Willard Robertson, Ted Healy,
Reginald Barlow, Francis McDon-
ald, Katharine Alexander, Belle
Daube, Jerry Howard, Fuzzy Knight,
Henry Wadsworth, Jean Parker.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play Harvey Thew
and Zelda Sears
Photography George Folsey
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"HOLLYWOOD PARTY"
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
Jack Pearl, Laurel and Hardy, Polly
Moran, Charles Butterworth, George
Givot, Richard Carle, Edwin Max-
well, Tom Kennedy, Ted Healy and
Stooges, Eddie Quillan, June Clyde,
Frances Williams, MGM Baby Stars.
Director Alan Dwan
Music Rodgers and Hart,
Brown and Freed
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Harry Rapf
"SADIE McKEE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Esther Ralston,
Jean Dixon, Franchot Tone, Edward
Arnold, Akim Tamiroff, Gene Aus-
tin, Leo White, Leo Carroll.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Vina Delmar
Screen Play John Meehan
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Lawrence Weingarten
"100 PER CENT PURE "
Director Sam Woods
Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Jean Harlow.
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Emerson
Producer Bernard Hyman
"MANHATTAN MELODRAMA"
Cast: Clark Gable, William Powell,
Myrna Loy, Nat Pendleton, Muriel
Evans, Isabel Jewell, Tommy Jack-
son.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Story Arthur Caesar
Screen Play Oliver H. P. Garrett
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer David O. Selznick
Paramount
"WE'RE NOT DRESSING"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman,
Carole Lombard, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, Raymond Milland, Jay
Henry, Leon Errol, Dick Dickinson.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Walter Hall Smith
Adaptation. .Stephen Morehouse Avery
Musit by Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Charles Lang
Producer Benjamin Glazer
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
Cast: Carl Brisson, Victor McLaglen,
Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Lona
Andre, Toby Wing, Dorothy Stick-
ney, Jessie Ralph, Charles B. Mid-
dleton, Gertrude Michael, Gall Pat-
rick, Otto Hoffman, Charles Mc-
Avoy, Donald Meek, Beryl Wallace,
Colin Tapley, Barbara Fritchie,
William Arnold, Arthur Rankin,
Cecil Weston, Hal Greene, Teru
Schimada, Roy Crane, Ted Oliver,
Mildred Gober, Stanley BIystone,
Mike Pat Donovan, Edward Mit-
chell, Eddie Bethune, Clara Lou
Sheridan, Gwenllian Gill.
Director Mitchell Leisen
Original ...Earl Carroll
and Rufus King
Screen Play Carey Wilson
and Joseph Gollomb
Dialogue Sam Hellman
Music and Lyrics Sam Coslow
and Arttiur Johnston
Photography Leo Tover
Producer E. Lloyd Sheldon
"DOUBLE DOOR"
Cast: Kent Taylor, Evelyn Venable,
Mary Morris, Ann Revere, Sir Guy
Standing, Virginia Howell, Frank
Dawson, Helen Shipman, Leonard'
Carey, Colin Tapley, Ralph Rem-
ley, Caruth, Halliwell Hobbes.
Director Charles Vidor
Original Elizabeth McFadden
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Producer E. Lloyd Sheldon
"THE WITCHING HOUR"
Cast: Tom Brown, Judith Allen, John
Halliday, Richard Carle, Sir Guy
Standing, Olive Tell, John Larkin,
Ralf Harolde, Frank Sheridan, Pur-
nell Pratt, William Frawley, Henry
B. Walthall. Robert Littlefield,
Gertrude Michael, Ferdinand Gott-
Richard Michael, Ferdinand Gott-
Director Henry Hathaway
Original Augustus Thomas
Adaptation Salisbury Field
Screen Play Anthony Veiller
Photography Ben Reynolds
Producer Bayard Veiller
"THIRTY DAY PRINCESS"
Cast: Sylvia Sidney, Gary Grant, Ed-
ward Arnold, Vince Barnett, Ray
Walker, Henry Stephenson, Mar-
guerite Namara, George Baxter, Lu-
cien Littlefield, Robert McWade,
Robert Homans, William Augustin,
Dick Rush, Ed Dearing, J. Merrill
Holmes, Edgar Norton, Eleanor
Wesselhoeft, Bruce Warren.
Director Marion Gering
Original. ...Clarence Budington Kelland
Screen Play: Preston Sturges, Frank
Partos, Sam Hellman, Edwin Justus
Mayer.
Photography Leon Shamroy
Producer B. P. Schulberg
"CLEOPATRA"
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Henry Wil-
coxson, Warren William, Ian Keith,
Charles D. Middletonj Clay Clem-
ent, Leonard Mudie, ■ Irving Pichel,
Gertrude Michael, Eleanor Phelps,
C. Aubrey Smith, John Rutherford,
Edwin Maxwell, Robert Warwick.
March 13, 1934
THEJ^
l^ilPOIRTiPl
r Af# ^W^fli
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 40 LAST WEEK
Director Cecil B. DeMille
Adaptation Bartlett Cormack
Screen Play Waldemar Young
and Vincent Lawrence
Photography Victor Milnor
Producer Cecil B. DeMille
"LITTLE MISS MARKER"
Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Dorothy Dell,
Charles Bickford, Shirley Temple,
Lynn Overman, Jack Sheehan, Sam
Hardy, John L. Kelly, Warren Hy-
mer, Edward Arnold.
Director Alexander Hall
Original Damon Runyon
Screen Play: V/illiam R. Lippman, Sam
Hellman, Gladys Lehman.
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Al Cilks
Producer B. P. Schulberg
*'IT AIN'T NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John
Miijan, Katharine DeMille, James
Donlan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke Ellington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown.
Director Leo McCarey
Original Screen Play Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthuir Johnstor> and
Sam Coslow.
Photography Karl Struss
Producer William LeBaron
"PRIVATE SCANDAL"
(Charles R. Rogers)
Cast: Zasu Pitts, Helen Mack, Grace
Bradley, Phillips Holmes, Ned
Sparks, Lew Cody, Harold Wal-
dridge, Charles Sellon, William Da-
vidson.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original: Vera Caspary and Bruce
Manning.
Screen Play: Brian Mariow, Agnes
Christine Johnson and Joseph Col-
lomb.
Photography Milton Krasner
RKO-Radio
"STINCAREE"
Cast: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Mary
Boland, Conway Tearle, Snub Pol-
lard, George Barraud, Andy Devine,
Una O'Connor, Henry Stephenson.
Director William Wellman
Original E. W. Hornung
Screen Play Becky Gardiner
Photography James Van Trees
Associate Producer David Lewis
"OF HUMAN BONDACE"
Cast: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis,
Reginald Denny, Alan Hale, Regi-
nald Sheffield.
Director John Cromwell
Original W. Somerset Maugham
Screen Play Lester Cohen
Photography Henry Gerrard
Associate Producer. .Pandro S. Berman
United Artists
Twenfieth Century
"HEAD OF THE FAMILY"
(RehearsJirg)
Cast: George Arliss, Janet Beecher,
Edna May Oliver, Ralph Morgan,
Rafaela Ottiano, Charlotte Henry,
Edward Ellis, Frank Albertson, Don-
ald Meek, Joseph Cawthorn.
Director Sidney Lanfield
Story Katherine Clugston
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Associate Producers: William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith.
"BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES
BACK"
Cast: Ronald Colman, Loretta Young,
Warner Oland, Charles Butterworth,
Arthur Hohl, Billie Burke, Mischa
Auer, Pedro Regas, Halliwell
Hobbes.
Director Roy Del Ruth
Original H. C. McNeiWe
Screen Play Nunnally Johnson
Photography Pevereli Marley
Associate Producers. .William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith
Universal
"THE BLACK CAT"
Cast: Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Jac-
quelyn Wells, David Manners, Lu-
cille Lund, Egon Brecher, Ann Dun-
can, Andy Devine, Herman Bing,
Harry Corday, Luis Albemi, Andre
Cheron, Alphonse Martell, Tony
Mariow, Paul Weigel, Alber Polet,
Rodney Hildebrant.
Director Edgar Ulmer
Based on story by Edgar Allen Poe
Story Peter Ruric, Edgar Ulmer
Screen Play Peter Ruric
Photography John Mescal
Associate Producer E. M. Asher
"THE HUMBUG"
Cast: Nils Asther, Gloria Stuart, Erin
O'Brien-Moore.
Director Max Marcin
Play and Screen Play Max Marcin
Photography Gilbert Warrenton
Associate Producer E. M. Asher
"ALIAS THE DEACON"
Cast; Berton Churchill, Sally Blane,
Russell Hopton, Spencer Charters,
Alexandra Carlisle, Micky Rooney,
Gay Seabrook.
Director Kurt Neumann
Play Leroy Clemen
and John B. Hymer
Screen Play......... Earl Snell
and Clarence Marks
Photography George Robinson
Associate Producer.. Edmund Grainger
"LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?"
Cast: Margaret Sullavan, Douglass
Montgomery, Alan Hale, Mae
Marsh, Fred Kohler, Tom Ricketts,
Catherine Doucet, DeWitt Jennings,
Torben Meyer, Frank Reicher, Bodil
Bosing, George Meeker.
Director Frank Borzage
Play Hans Fajlada
Screen Play....Wm. Anthony McGuire
Photography .^',y.r;.....'..Norbert Brodine
Producep/J.i:\.U..l.'..i.j.-^^.Frank Borzage
' , /
Warners-First National
"SAWDUST"
Cast: Joe E. Brown, Patricia Ellis, Dor-
othy Burgess, Donald Dilloway,
Charles Wilson, Poodles Hanneford,
Ernest Clarke, Alfreda Codona, Tom
Dugan, William Demarest, Harry
Wood, Earl Hodgins, Johw Sheehan,
Ronie Cosby, Gordon Evans, Gordon
Westcott, V/illiam Davidson.
Director Ray Enright
Based on Story by
Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby
Revisions by Tom Buckingham
Photography .Sid Hickox
Supervisor James Seymour
"THE KEY"
Cast: William Powell, Edna Best, Co-
lin Clive, J. M. Kerrigan, Hobart
Cavanaugh, Maxine Doyle, Arthur
Treacher, Henry O'Neill, Philip Re-
gan, Halliwell Hobbes, Donald
Crisp, Gertrude Short, Dawn O'Day.
Director Michael Curtiz
Based on the Play by
Robert Gore-Browne, J. L. Hardy
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Music and Lyrics Allie Wrubel
and Mort Dixon
Photography Ernest Haller
Sujservisor Robert Presnell
"THE HAPPY FAMILY"
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee,
Allen Jenkins, Hugh Herbert, Helen
Lowell, Joan Wheeler, Frankie
Darro, Michael Visaroft, Louise
Beavers, Harry Beresford, James
Bush, Maidel Turner, Harry C.
Bradley. Ethel Wales, Ed Keane,
Charles Coleman, John Sheldon,
Ivan Linow.
Director Alfred E. Green
Original Screen Play. .Gene Markey
and Kathryn Scola
Photography Arthur Edeson
Supervisor Robert Lord
"DR. MONICA"
Cast: Kay Francis, Veree Teasdale,
Jean Muir, Warren William, Her-
bert Bunson, Ann Shoemaker.
Director William Keighley
Based on Polish play by —
Marja Morozowicz Szczepkowska
Adaptation by Laura Walker
Screen Play Charles Kenyon
Photography Sol Polito
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"FRIENDS OF MR. SWEENEY"
Cast: Charlie Ruggles, Ann Dvorak,
Eugene Pallette, Dorothy Tree,
Harry Beresford, Berton Churchill,
William Davidson, Harry Tyler,
Herbert Bunson, Ann Shoemaker,
Virginia Pine.
Director Edward Ludwig
Novel Elmer Davis
Screen Play Warren Duff
and Sidney Sutherland
Photography Ira Morgan
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"THE DARK TOWER"
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Mary As-
tor, Ricardo Cortez, Louis Calhern,
John Eldridge, Arthur Byron, Mae
Clarke, Margaret Dale, Virginia Sale,
Harry Tyler.
Director Archie Mayo
Based on Play by: George S. Kaufman
and Alexander Woollcott.
Screen Play Tom Reed and
Niven Busch
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Robert Lord
Independent Productions
Invincible
(Mack Sennett)
"TOGETHER AGAIN"
Cast: Lila Lee, Onslow Stevens, Claude
Gillingwater, Dickie Moore, James
T. Mack.
Director Frank Strayer
Original Screen Play Robert Ellis
Photography M. A. Anderson
Mascot
(Mack Sennett)
"THE LOST JUNGLE"
(Serial)
Cast: Clyde Beatty, Sid Say lor, Ce-
cilia Parker, Al Smith, Edward Le
Saint, Warner Richmond, Charles
Whitaker, Max Wagner, Jim Corey,
Maston Williams, Jack Carlyle, Er-
nie Adam, Bud Fine, Wally Wales.
Directors Dave Howard
and Armand Schaefer
Original Screen Play.-Sherman Lowe
and Al Martin
Photography Alvin Wyckoff
Producer Nat Levine
Monogram
(General Service)
"NUMBERS OF MONTE CARLO"
Cast: Mary Brian, John Darrow, Kate
Campbell, Yola D'Avril, Robert Fra-
zer, Astrid Allyn, Billie Van Every,
George Hayes, George Cleveland,
Andre Cheron, Carl Stockdale.
Director William Nigh
Novel by E. Phillips Oppenheim
Screen Play Norman Houston
Photography Archie Stout
Supervisor Paul Malvern
Eastern Productions
All Star Productions
(United Artists Release)
(Biograph Studios)
"FRANKIE AND JOHNNY"
Cast: Helen Morgan, Lilyan Tashman,
Chester Morris, William Harrigan,
Florence Reed, Walter Kingsford,
Sam Wren, Jack Hazzard, Frederic
Worlock, Cora Witherspoon, Pedro
de Cordova, Robert M. Middlemas,
Montagu Love, Percy Welton, Ches-
ter Hale Girls, Victor Young's Or-
chestra.
Director Chester Erskin
Screen Play Moss Hart
Photography Joe Ruttenberg
Producer Maury Cohen
Meyer Davis-Van Beuren
Productions
(RKO Release)
(Biograph Studios)
"NO MORE WEST"
Cast Bert Lahr and Rhythm Boys
Director Nick Grinde
Photography Joe Ruttenberg
Educational Pictures
(Eastern Service Studios)
"CORONET COMEDY SERIES"
Cast Ritz Bros.
Director Al Christie
Photography George Weber
CORDIALS
Before and After Dinner or During Dinnei
Benedictine
Cointreau
Kimmel — Cilka
Kimmel — Cusenier
Kimmel — Ouds
Kimmel — Grand Marnier
Kimmel — Ahlstromoff
Anisette — Grand Marnier
Anisette — Ouds
Anisette — Bols
Curacao — White-Orange — Bols
Curacao — White-Orange — Ouds
Curacao— Triple Sec — Ouds
Blackberry Liqueur — Garnier
Apricot Liqueur — Cusenier
Peach Liqueur — Ouds
Cherry Liqueur — Ouds
Prunelle — Garnier
Kirsch — Finot
Kirsch Alsace — Parrot
Maraschino— Ouds
Eggertine — Ouds
Mandarin — Ouds
Advocaat — Ouds
Creme de Menthe — Ouds
Creme de Cacao — Ouds
Vieille Cure Liqueur
Goldwasser — Garnier
Chartreuse — Green
Chartreuse — Yellow
Grand Marnier
Amer Picon
Taffel Akvavit
Creme de Cassis — Finot
6666 SUNSET
HO- 1666
^ MP.SA^'UFL MAHX,
CUI-V!'R CITY,CA!.Ir'.
Vol, XX. No. 3. Price 5e
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday. March 14, 1934
DL PONT MAT Buy CCl.
yV K Rumors Deal That May
Transfer Control To The
Du Pont'Pathe Interests
•AT the time this publication an-
nounced its Awards of Merit ballot-
ing, it was our impression that this
function, which had been taken care
of by the Academy since its incep-
tion, was going to be passed up by
that body, due to one thing or an-
other.
It was our desire to keep the fires
burning under this annual honor for
the men and women selected by their
fellow-workers as the "best" in their
line. And that, and only that, was
the reason we stuck our nose in, but
once it was in, we could not pull it
out.
'•
We had no desire then, nor do we
have now any intention of crabbing
this Academy function, but once we
started, we had to go through with it.
Accordingly, the results of the Re-
porter balloting will be announced in
this paper tomorrow. The privilege
of voting closes tonight at 6 p.m. and
the count will be made in this office.
Certainly there will be surprises
and disappointments. There are bound
to be, but we assure you that our
count will be THE results of the bal-
lots that were sent in and these bal-
lots will be held in this office for a
period of a month, subject to the in-
spection of ANYONE in this industry
who may wish to test their authen-
ticity and the correct tabulation.
•
The voting was thrown open to the
entire production industry, with all
voters privileged to vote for the best
picture of th^ year and for the best
achievement in his or her class dur-
ing 1933.
We appreciate the expressions of
approval we have received both from
prominent creators and from workers
In the ranks for this method of de-
termining outstanding achievement
and allowing ALL within the indtistry
to say their say and mark their ballot.
Without in any way detracting from
the importance of the Academy
awards, it is certain that an all-em-
bracing democratic contest such as
this, also has its definite place and
value.
As a token of recognition to the
winners, we have caused to be made
The Hollywood Repofter Award of
Merit medals. One will be presented
to the winner in each class, and the
presentation will be made Friday.
Theatre Prices Riising
Tilting the admission scale at
the Paramount Theatre ten cents
starting Thursday, Marco becomes
the first operator to revise ticket
prices upwards since a year ago
when cuts went into effect. In-
dications are that Warners and
Loews State will follow suit next
week.
Basic Labor Pact
Renewed for2 Yrs.
The Basic Agreement between the
major picture producers and the
unions was renewed yesterday, with
the significant omission of the lATSE
unions in the pacts.
Pat Casey, chairman of the pro-
ducers' labor committee, signed the
agreements for a two-year term with
the International Brotherhood of Elec-
trical Workers, United Brotherhood of
Carpenters, American Federation of
Musicians, International Brotherhood
of Teamsters.
Sound men and electrical workers
come under the IBEW banner, while
cameramen are covered by a separate
agreement with the ASC, leaving the
lATSE out in the cold. International
President Elliott of the lATSE is now
on his way to Washington.
Barrymore Returns;
MCM Comics Leaving
Lionel Barrymore reaches Hollywood
today on his return trip from per-
sonals at the Capitol in New York.
Leaving to replace him are Lou Holtz,
Jimmy Durante and Polly Moran, who
will start March 16 in another Edgar
Allan Woolf sketch at the Capitol.
Coldwyn Leaves Today
New York. — Sam Coldv^^n is sched-
for the Coast by train
New York. — The latest along the "street" in connection with
the desire of the DuPont-Pathe crowd to break into production
and distribution centers around the yarn that they have made
a strong bid for the control of Columbia Pictures with better
than a 50 per cent edge that the bid
will be accepted.
Much credence is given to this new
angle due to the fact that the present
ownership, the control of which is
vested in Harry and Jack Cohn, is ru-
mored in for a very serious stockholder
(Continued on Page 8)
uled to
today.
leave
Saal-KellyToDo
Consoles 12 Films
New York. — The new plans of Con-
solidated Laboratories in its operation
of Biograph studio will reach the point
of signing a deal this week with the
outfit which will produce twelve pic-
tures slated for a new state rights
franchise group.
Bill Saal and Burt Kelly, who with
Sam Bischoff made an enviable record
as KBS, are likely to be the producers
to sign the contract with Yates.
Jones-McNutt Signed
On New Para. Contract
Before Grover Jones left Hollywood
Monday night on a six week's vaca-
tion in Europe, Paramount signed him
and William Slavens McNutt for an-
other year, although their present
contract has not yet expired.
The team just completed the script
of "52 Weeks for Florette." The
Schulberg-Feldman and Curney office
made the deal.
GEO. MAXX SIDETRACKED
OIV FRISCO CODE HOARDS
Laughton Set for
MCM's 'Barretts'
New York. — The Grievance and
Clearance Boards for San Francisco,
seat of independent exhibitor opposi-
tion, were named yesterday — and
George Mann, of Redwood Theatres,
is a name notable by its absence. An
olive branch was offered the kickers
by the naming of Morgan Walsh to
the Clearance Board, representing the
subsequent run unaffiliated exhibitors.
Full membership of the San Fran-
( Continued on Page 2)
Charles Laughton has been cast for
the elder Barrett in the Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer production of "Barretts of
Wimpole Street."
Norma Shearer will star in this pro-
duction that will be made by the
Irving Thalberg unit.
Hepburn-Cukor As
'Joan of Arc' Team
Radio made another bid for big
grosses yesterday when it signed
George Cukor to direct Katherine Hep-
burn in "Joan of Arc," thus re-uniting
the team that made such a hit with
"Little Women." This will be the
first time anyone has attempted this
subject since Paramount made it with
Geraldine Farrar.
Thornton Wilder, author of "The
Bridge of San Luis Rey," has been
signed by Radio to sit in on the treat-
ment of the story. He arrives this
week, having been set by Edington-
Vincent.
Nat Finston Offers
Resignation Again
Nat Finston, who has been with
Paramount for the past nine years,
has again tendered his resignation as
musical director to Emanuel Cohen,
production chief, and is awaiting the
studio's decision.
Finston tendered his resignation five
months ago because he was dissat-
isfied with conditions, but the studio
would not accept it at that time.
Dick Rowland Here
Richard A. Rowland, former First
National chief and Fox executive, is in
town for a studio visit at Radio, having
come west with B. B. Kahane. Row-
land will eventually be associated with
the organization's Eastern story de-
partment.
Joe Brown to Far East
Finishing his work in "The Circus
Clown," the ^new title for "Saw-
dust," in the next few days, Joe E.
Brown will leave March 23 from San
Francisco for a vacation in the Orient.
He will be gone 10 weeks.
'Broomsticks' Closes
New York. — "Broomsticks" closes
its run at the Little Theater tonight.
JOHN CROMWELL ^'R^cted THIS MAN IS MINE'
RKO-
RADIO
Page Two
THg^'^
'I'
March 14. 1934
^ R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH ..■Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
Tvlew York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr , 229 W 42nd St . Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 5 N Michigan Ave . London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Pans, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse : Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Gratte-Ciel.
Published everv dav with the exception of
Sundavs and Holidays Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter |une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the ac* of March 3,
1879.
Give Johnny Weismuller a hand —
for his courage and nerve in actu-
ally riding a rhinoceros through a
scene for "Tarzan" the other day —
after the company had practically
given up hope of getting the shot any
other way. What's more, animal and
circus men around the place say
they've never heard of the stunt be-
ing attempted before. P.S. — Johnny
got away without a scratch, but not
without a lot of hand-shakes from the
crew. Oh, well, this has probably
made the news features by now. . . .
Virginia Gilbert had a big pow-wow
with her lawyers yesterday. . . . Phil
Regan, Warners' singing cop-actor,
who's been going places with Marie
Marks, says he's still true to his gal
in Brooklyn.
•
Harry Cohn has a new desk that is
bigger than all outdoors — equipped
with radio, victrola, cooking appara-
tus, swinging doors and charm. . . .
The Freddy Marches down at La Quin-
ta for two weeks' siesta; so are Pat
Paterson and bridegroom Charles
Bpyer — while the George Fitzmau-
rices, the George Archainbauds, Henry
King, Ketti Gallian week-ended there.
. . . Tullio Carminati back in town
at the Beverly Wilshire. . . . Liz
Dupont also esconced there. . . . Rou-
ben Mamoulian home again, too. . . .
Eleanor Hunt has changed her mind
about divorcing Dr. Frank Nolan— ^
and they're cooing again.
•
As predicted in these pages, the
veree pretty Louis Henry, fresh from
two finishing schools, has been signed
to a long contract by MGM. . . . Ed-
die Lowe, over a flu attack, is per-
sonal appearancing in Chicago — while
Lrl Tashman still toils in New York.
. . . Everybody tickled to see Eddie
Sutherland up and around again —
Eddie, with Monte Brice and Marie
Hammans, dining at the Vendome on
his "first night out." . . . Kay Francis'
fan mail has jumped over two hun-
dred letters a week since "The House
on Fifty-sixth Street." . . . The Lionel
Barrymores back in Hollywood. . . .
What famous star is learning, too late,
that you, can't boss everybody? Her
present husband just won't take it!
Sun:
"HEAT LIGHTNING"
Warner Bros, prod.; director, Mervyn LeRoy; writers, Leon Abrams, George
Abbott, Brown Holmes, Warren Duff.
Rialto Theatre
News: The picture is padded and allowed to sag badly in spots. The acting of
the cast is adequate, but the story which they perform is decidedly second-
rate.
Times: Drab melodrama with occasional flashes of forced comedy. Does not
offer Miss MacMahon the opportunity she deserves.
Herald-Tribune: Just another routine effort, neither better nor worse than the
average film. The adaptation lacked spice, and the dialog the sharp edge
of the original.
There is drama in "Heat Lightning" and a suspense shrewdly built up by
the competent Mr. LeRoy. Warners, I think, will find better material
than this for Miss MacMahon.
American: At best, it's run-of-cargo program fare.
Mirror: A compact, forceful and fairly entertaining play, "Heat Lightning,"
nevertheless, is not quite suited to Aline MacMahon. Her performance is
true, sensitive and stirring.
Post: "Heat Lightning" leaves you with an impression that nothing of impor-
tance has happened, an impression that might be induced by the fact that
a sketchy and superficial play has been sketchily transcribed to the screen.
Journal: The picture emerges as a pleasant little melodrama, nicely played by a
competent cast.
World-Telegram,: In theory, this ought to spell engrossing, exciting entertain-
ment. In practice, it spells an ambling, haphazard, slow-grinding film
that is hardly suitable to the more rigid demands of Broadway standards.
Big Names Rally
To Dickstein's Aid
Washington. — A' statement wals
given out at Representative Dickstein's
office yesterday that hundreds of let-
ters had been received supporting his
bill to bar alien actors. Among some
of the people said to have favored the
measure are Irvin S. Cobb, Fred Stone,
William Caxton, Clark and McCul-
lough, Frank Crumit, Fritzi Scheff,
Pat Rooney David Warfield and the
Friars Club as a body.
It is noticeable that the actor sup-
port seems to come entirely from the
stage, there being no announcements
of support from Hollywood.
Waldemar Young on
Screen Play of 'R.U.R.'
Paramount has revived interest in
the Capek play, "R.U.R.," with Wal-
demar Young going to work on a
screen play for the picture which was
last dropped when Rouben Mamoulian
left the company.
The robot play is to serve as a ve-
hicle for either George Raft or Her-
bert Marshall, pending the final deci-
sion on the story treatment.
Stage Actress to 'U'
Alexandra Carlisle, New York stage
actress, was signed by Universal for
a featured role opposite Berton
Churchill in "Alias the Deacon,"
which Edmund Grainger is producing.
Edington-Vincent office made the
deal.
Cain Seeks Atmosphere
James M. Cain has gone to Arizona
to get local color for "The Duchess of
Delmonico's," which he is scripting for
/MGM. He will be back in about a
week.
'Old Maestro' Here
Ben Bernie and his orchestra arrived
in town yesterday, reporting at Para-
mount for featured billing in "The
Great Magoo."
Rian James Gets His
Release from Warners
Rian James obtained his release
yesterday from his Warner contract,
after efforts to do so for several
months. He had seven more months
to go before the expiration.
James leaves tomorrow night for
New York to make arrangements with
his publisher for his latest novel.
Junior Durkin Set
Junior Durkin, who recently return-
ed from New York, where he appeared
in "Growing Pains," will have the
leading role in the stage play, "Thirty
Thousand to Go," which opens March
29 at Leia E. Rogers' Hollytown
theatre.
Ceo. Mann Sidetracked
(Continued from Page 1 )
Parson_, of MGM, national distributor
affiliated; Floyd St. John, national dis-
tributor unaffiliated; A. M. Bowles,
Fox Wesco, first run exhibitor affil-
iated; George Nasser and Morgan
Walsh for unaffiliated exhibitors, and
W. W. Chapin, publisher of the San
Francisco Argonaut, impartial member.
Grievance Board: C. H. Meuhlman,
of Warners, national distributor, unaf-
filiated; Barney Rose, of Universal, na-
tional distributor, unaffiliated; Aaron
Goldberg, exhibitor unaffiliated; Cliff
Work, RKO, exhibitor affiliated; A. C.
Scales, member of the Chamber of
Commerce, impartial member.
Boards were announced also yester-
day for Boston and Washington,
leaving New York and Philadelphia
the only two cities to be named.
SUNSHINE
STAMPEDE
By DOTE FULTON
"The real saga of Florida . . . Swell
reading." — John Howard Lawson.
$2. MACAU LAY
Hollywood Reporter:
Will you please correct a mis-
statement published by you last Sat-
urday in which you say that I am a
candidate for office in the Screen
Writers' Guild on a so-called Liberal
ticket? My name was used without
my knowledge or consent. I believe
that the interests of the Guild can
best be served by re-electing, with
one or two exceptions, the present
executive board.
BRIAN MARLOW.
Bob Vignola to Direct
Darmour's 'Scarlet Letter'
Larry Darmour, planning to go to
the $100,000 mark on his indepen-
dent production of "The Scarlet Let-
ter," has closed for Robert Vignola,
who recently staged a directorial
comeback with a Monogram picture,
to direct the Nathaniel Hawthorne
classic.
Leonard Fields and David Silverstein
are doing the script.
Lowell Sherman Coes
To the Desert for Cure
Lowell Sherman is in the desert
trying to clear up his throat so that he
may play the lead and direct "The
Human Side" for Universal. Eddie
Buzzell has been slated to direct the
Christine Ames play, but the studio
has held up the start, due to casting
difficulties.
Carolyn Wagner at 'U'
John LeRoy Johnson has signed
Carolyn Wagner, formerly with
Thomas H. Ince and other studios, to
his publicity staff at Universal. She
will handle feature material.
Lederman Finishes One
D. Ross Lederman brought in "Mur-
der in the Studio" at Columbia yester-
day on schedule.
Maurice Chevalier says: "Don't
miss it! The funniest show
in town!"
H
ALLEZ-OOP"
Tingel-Tangel Theater
8533 Santa Monica Blvd.
CRestview 6530
Refreshments Curtain at 8:30
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furnifure
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
March 14, 1934
THE
f»t* Thr««
FOX 'EVER SIXCE EVE' POOR
RREAK FOR GEORGE O'RRIEIV
Star Is Miscast in
Mediocre Story
"EVER SINCE EVE"
Fox
Director George Marshall
Screen Play Henry Johnson
and Stuart Anthony
Photography Arthur Miller
Cast: George O'Brien, Mary Brian,
Herbert Mundin, Betty BIythe, Rog-
er Imhof and Russell Simpson.
George O'Brien strays away from
the horse operas — and not with start-
ling actress^ — in "Ever Since Eve."
It isn't entirely his fault however.
The story itself is so old and hoary
that, no matter how it is dressed
up, the audience is always about ten
jumps ahead of the dialogue and
action.
Herbert Mundin, Roger Imhoff and
Russell Simpson do a lot toward
throwing out comedy life-lines when
the picture shows signs of sinking,
but not even their combined efforts
could save it.
It's the story of a millionaire miner
(George O'Brien) who marries a so-
ciety girl (Mary Brian) and discovers
on their honeymoon that she had
married him just for his money. And
then, of course, when she really does
fall in love with him, he won't believe
it and goes away to China in a huff.
But comes the baby — and every-
thing is fixed up hunky-dory.
O'Brien is ill at ease in the role,
and Mary Brian is sweet, but fails to
give much strength to her part. Betty
BIythe is never quite certain what
kind of a character the mother should
be.
George Marshall's direction is weak
in spots, amusing in others. Henry
Johnson and Stuart Anthony wrote the
story, and Arthur Miller photographed
it well.
The film needs consistent cutting.
O'Brien's delirium scene is quite bad.
The picture will not do at all for met-
ropolitan centers, but might get by in
the outskirts, to a mild extent.
Hersholt on 7-Year
New MCM Confracf
Off salary for three days, Jean Her-
sholt got a new MGM long term con-
tract for seven years, his old termer
having run its course.
Player leaves with his wife and son
tonight on a swing around the United
States. Trip will be strictly a vaca-
tion, trio returning April 1.
Col. Borrows Talbot
For Grace Moore Film
Columbia borrowed Lyie Talbot
from Warners yesterday for a featured
spot in "A Night Of Love," the new
title on the Grace Moore vehicle which
Victor Schertzinger puts into work
tomorrow. Studio also signed Luis Al-
berni.
Barbara Kent at Radio
Barbara Kent has been set by Radio
for the feminine lead in the Richard
Dix starring vehicle, "Family Man,"
which will be directed by John Robert-
son. Harry Hervey is writing the
screen adaptation.
Unruffled Pat
Hearings and investigations
don't ruffle the Pat Casey com-
posure. The producers' labor chair-
man yesterday gave his testimony
in the hearingb before George
Creel and judge Ben Lindsey over
the TELEPHONE.
Rosenblatt Asks
Agency Nominees
The following telegram was received
by the Hollywood Reporter last night
from Sol A. Rosenblatt, NRA division
administrator.
"Respectfully request you to an-
nounce that I would like to receive
immediately from groups of agents,
directors and technicians recommenda-
tions for proposed members of such
classes of employees upon agency
committee, as provided in article five,
division B, part four, section two of
the Motion Picture Industry Code,
and thgt accompanying these recom-
mendations there shall be furnished a
certified list of names and addresses
of all persons subscribing to such rec-
ommendations."
Doug Jr. Unable To
Do 'Green Mansions'
Through M. C. Levee, Douglas
Fairbanks, jr., yesterday notified Radio
of his inability to return in time to
star in "Green Mansions."
Player is committed to co-star with
Gertrude Lawrence in a London play,
rehearsals on which start April J.
Radio's picture is slated for April
shooting.
'Dames' in Rehearsal
Busby Berkeley has started rehear-
sals on his numbers for "Dames,"
which Archie Mayo will direct. Ber-
keley hopes to have his numbers com-
pleted and out of the way by the time
Mayo completes "The Dark Tower,"
and is ready to take over the dra-
matic portion of "Dames."
Henry Menjou an Agent
Henry Menjou, brother of Adolphe,
has gone into the agency business,
becoming an associate of the King-
ston-Harris agency. Makes the third
addition to the office in as many
months.
Actors' Mag Tomorrow
The first issue of the new maga-
zine of the Screen Actors' Guild will
be off the press tomorrow. Due to
space limitations, it had to stop ac-
cepting advertisements two weeks ago.
Banks Out of MGM
Polan .Banks has completed the
original story and screen play of "Sa-
cred and Profane Love" at MGM and
checked off the writing staff. Story
is for Joan Crawford.
Madison with Chadwic*^
I. E. Chadwick has signed James
Madison to script "My Kentucky
Home," which he will shoot as his
next production. No director or
starting date set as yet.
itewash for NRA
Labor Board Is Due
Apologies for the Labor Board and
the Extra Committee seemed to be in
order yesterday after the hearings be-
fore George (Ireel and Judge Ben
Lindsey on the complaints of stalling
on studio labor complaints by the
NRA.
Testimony revealed that 107 com-
plaints had been registered with the
two bodies, and none acted on. But
the publicity statement issued after
the meeting emphasized the difficulty
the boards had in getting organized,
awaiting authority, etc.
Shearer to Talk on
'Rip Tide' Over Air
Radio preview of Norma Shearer's
"Rip Tide" is scheduled to go on the
air this morning at ten o'clock over
the CBS network, broadcasting local-
ly from KHJ.
Louella Parsons will interview Miss
Shearer, with a special edition of the
picture's sound track as part of the
program.
Borcosque Goes South
Carlos Borcosque, former MGM
foreign director, and well known
writer for several Latin-American pic-
ture publications, will accompany
Ramon Novarro on his South American
tour to make a survey of picture ac-
tivities in those countries.
Majestic May Do 18
New York. — Majestic, which went
through some hectic periods following
the withdrawal of Phil Goldstone,
plans definite activity next season and
is now checking territorial buyers on
the basis of producing eighteen pic-
tures.
Taylor on 'Barbary'
Dwight Taylor is writing the screen
play for Sam Goldwyn's "Barbary
Coast," and not Nunnally Johnson, as
was erroneously reported in Monday's
issue of the Reporter.
Arthur in 'Du Barry'
Johnny Arthur signed with Warners
yesterday for a featured role in "Du
Barry," which has Dolores Del Rio in
the top spot. Contract went through
the Edington and Vincent office.
Appel on MGM Dances
MGM yesterday signed Arthur Ap-
pel to handle the dance numbers on
the Ted FioRito short which Jack
Cummings produces. The two-reeler
goes into work in the near future.
John Weaver Here
John V. A. Weaver reached town
yesterday by plane after an absence of
almost two years from screen writing.
He joins his wife, Peggy Wood, here.
New Name for 'Sweeney'
Warner Bros, are hunting for an-
other name for the Edward Ludwig
production, "Friends of Mr. Sweeney,"
which is now in the making.
New Studio Probe
Coming Our Way
New York. — Hollywood can look
forward to another investigation.
After Deputy Administrator Sol Rosen-
blatt's ten day searching probe, there
will be another to see if it is possible
for the industry to comply with Presi-
dent Roosevelt's request for still fur-
ther increase in wages and decreasing
of hours of the industry.
The Code Authority yesterday ap-
pointed H. S. Bareford of the Warner
legal staff, George Schaeffer, General
Manager of Paramount, and Charles
O'Reilly, New York exhibitor, a com-
mittee of three to do the searching.
Not stated when they will start for
Hollywood.
'House of Rothschild' Tops
New York's New Pictures
New York. — "House of Rothschild"
opening today at the Astor, with a
two dollar top and brisk agency busi-
ness, over-shadows the other picture
debuts of the week.
Other new pics on the schedule
include, "The Quitter," at the May-
fair, Monday; "Phantoms" at the
Cameo yesterday; George White's
"Scandals" at the Music Hall, Thurs-
day; "Good Dame" at the Paramount,
Friday, and On the same day "No
More Women" at the Roxy, and "The
Showoff" at the Capitol.
Mary Brian Succeeds
Helen Mack at Para.
Mary Brian was signed yesterday
by Charles R. Rogers for the lead op-
posite Phillips Holmes in "Private
Scandal," replacing Helen Mack, who
was withdrawn from the cast by Para-
mount for another assignment. The
Schulberg-Feldman and Gurney office
made the deal.
Grace Bradley, who is suffering
with an infected hand, will also be re-
placed.
Major Prods. Starting
Major Productions will put "Broad-
way Virgin," a novel by Lois Bull, in-
to work at Educational March 21 as
the first of six features for the com-
ing year. Organization is having cast-
ing problems, being unable to find a
feminine lead. Novel has been script-
ed by F. McGrew Willis.
Spence at Radio
Radio yesterday signed Ralph Spence
to do the dialog on the Wheeler and
Woolsey vehicle, "Cockeyed Cava-
liers," which Mark Sandrich will di-
rect. Spence just completed the dia-
log on "Alias the Deacon" at Uni-
versal.
Two for Weismuller
Lining up assignments for Johnny
Weismuller for the forthcoming period
on his termer, MGM has slated him
for the South Seas picture which the
David Selznick unit iS producing and
another Tarzan feature.
Dorothy Dix to Stage
Dorothy Dix has been set for the
feminine lead in "30,000 to Go," a
play by Leon Waycoff, which opens at
the Hollywood Playhouse March 29.
She is now appearing in Educational
shorts.
RICARDO CORTEZ
IN
<<
WONDER BAR
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Again selected by Photoplay for
the month's outstanding per-
formance. This time in connec-
tion with "Wonder Bar/'
Personal Management of
BREN & ORSATTI
\m^^2^^H ^A^^Hf
I
ROBERT LORD
ASSOCIATE
PRODUCER
((
WONDER BAR
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A Warner Brothers-First National Hit!
BUSBY BERKELEY
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A WARNER BROS.. MUSICAL
ti
This Time
WONDER BAR
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NEXT TIME
DAME S
99
EARL BALDWIN!
ADAPTATION
SCREEN PLAY
and
DIALOGUE
it
WONDER BAR"
Page Eight
TH£
March 13, 1934
'False Dreams' in
Unique Flag. Suit
New York. — "False Dreams, Fare-
well" is a nightmare as far as buy-
ing its picture rights is concerned.
Radio has just let an option drop be-
cause of an argument of playwrights
over the vehicle.
Samuel Warshawsky served notice
that the play was an infringement on
his own work, "The Fastest Thing
Afloat," when the pic negotiations
were the hottest. That stopped every-
thing for awhile. Then Hugh Stange,
author of "False Dreams," brought
suit against Warshawsky to restrain
the latter from contending the play
was stolen. He asks $56,250 damages
of which $6,250 is said to be Stange's
share of the pic rights.
And meanwhile the pic company
has faded from the picture.
'Wonder Bar' Parade
Set- For Boulevard
Harry Maizlish has arranged a pa-
rade in connection with the premiere
of "Wonder Bar" at the Warner Hol-
lywood tonight which will start at La
Brea and proceed down the Boulevard
to the theatre.
Parade will include an orchestra,
40 of the Busby Berkeley girls, and the
"Going to Heaven on a Mule" trolley
car, which will be pulled down the
car tracks by the girls. House is sold
out for the opening.
Stanley Rauh at MGM
MGM has signed Stanley Rauh to
its writing staff to do a special job
for Jack Cummings. Rauh was for-
merly with Universal.
WAMPAS ELECTS OFFICERS,
XOMIXATES BABY STARS
For the second time in the history
of the organization, the Wampas last
night deferred the election of a presi-
dent because of a tie vote between
two candidates for the office. Sam
W. B. Cohn and Phil Cersdorf were
tied, and it was decided to vote again,
for president at the next meeting.
Other officers elected were: J. Le-
Roy Johnston and Carlisle L. Jones,
vice-presidents; Wilson Heller, secre-
tary; John P. Miles, treasurer, and
Bert Dorris, sergeant-at-arms. Harry
Brand, Dick Hunt, Thornton Sargeant,
Maxwell Shane and Ed Thomas were
elected to the Board of Directors.
Thirty-three girls were nominated
for selection as this year's Wampas
Baby Stars. Thirteen will be selected
on March 27. Those nominated were:
Marvelle Andre, Judith Arlen, Betty
Bryson, Helene Cohan, Jean Chatburn,
Wilma Cox, Dorothy Dix, Adalyn
Doyle, Dorothy Drake, Jean Gale, Dor-
othy Granger, Hazel Hayes, Julie
Haydon, Ann Hovey, Mary Kornman,
Lenore Keefe, Julie Kingdon, Marjorie
Lytell, Linda Lee, Lucille Lund, Jean
Lacy, Lu Anne Meredith, Claire
Myers, Mary Mason, Cecilia Parker, Gi
Gi Parish, Yvonne Pelletier, Gloria
Shea, Lucia Randolph, Irene Ware,
Luana Walters, Katherine Williams
and Jacqueline Wells.
Cavanagh Refuses Bid
On the strength of his work in
"Bachelor Wife" for Universal, Paul
Cavanagh was offered a 5-year con-
tract by that studio but turned down
the offer in favor of free-lancing.
Henry O'neill
as
RICHARD
"Wo
Bar"
-O-
WARNER BROS. — FIRST NATIONAL
PRODUCTION
Maureen Starts 'Em
Gasping in Tarzan'
San Diego. — Those people who
were fortunate in grabbing the
"Tarzan" preview here Saturday
night are doing plenty of talking
about the near-nude of Maureen
O'Suilivan in one of the water
shots. It has caused more talk
than the fan dance being staged
at Caliente.
Tibbett Set For
Lead in Musical
Edward Small put the final touches
yesterday on a deal to return Law-
rence Tibbett to pictures. Star will
take top billing in "Waiting for the
Robert E. Lee," an original story by
Stuart Anthony, with music and lyrics
by L. Wolfe Gilbert and I. B. Korn-
blum.
Reliance will place it into work in
August as one of the group of four
on the United Artists new schedule.
Both the star deal and the story sale
were put through by Edington-Vin-
cent.
Philip Klein Writing
Rinehart Yarn at Fox
Philip Klein's first assignment as a
writer since resigning the story editor
post at Fox will be "The State vs.
Elinor Norton," by Mary Roberts Rine-
hart.
Hamilton McFadden is slated to di-
rect and the Sol Wurtzel unit pro-
duce it.
Merry Fahrney's Job
Merry Fahrney, daughter of Chi-
cago's patent medicine king, who an-
nounced last week that she had de-
cided to get into pictures and would
stay here until she does, was tested
by C. B. DeMille Monday, and has a
role in "Cleopatra."
Sally Blane in 'Deacon'
Sally Blane has been signed by Uni-
versal for the spot opposite Joel Mc-
Crea in "Alias the Deacon," negotia-
tions with MGM for the loan of Madge
Evans failing to jell since the studio
had another assignment for her.
Bill Philips A Dad
Shooting on "Head of the Family"
at Twentieth Century stopped for a
few minutes Monday while Bill Philips,
make-up man, passed around cigars.
His wife had just given birth to a
seven-pound girl at the St. Johns Hos-
pital in Oxnard.
Ruben Headed East
J. Walter Ruben leaves tonight on
the Chief for New York on the first
leg of his trip to London. He will
direct "Java Head" for Associated
Talking Pictures on a vacation from
Radio.
Orsatti Loses 'Em
Frank Orsatti had his tonsils re-
moved yesterday at the Cedars of Leb-
anon Hospital. He was resting easily
at a late hour last night.
DuPont May Buy Col.
(Continued from Page 1 )
Cisco Boards follows: Clearance: G. C.
suit for an accounting of the profits
of the company since its shares have
been offered for sale on the stock ex-
change. The wise boys figure that
bidders from DuPont-Pathe have pick-
ed a soft time for any offer that may
hold the least attraction.
Additional credence is offered
through the knowledge that both
Harry and Jack are constantly at odds
over the management of the company
and its production and that the injec-
tion of Nate Spingold into the com-
pany by the brothers in an effort to
act as a go-between, has proven a flop,
that being an impossible task for even
that past master in salving the injured
feelings. The desire of Harry to use
London as a Columbia production cen-
ter and the results of his first effort
("The Lady Is Willing") did little to
help the situation.
Columbia is rated the greatest
money-maker in pictures for the
amount invested and although there
has been talk of deals that would
tend to transfer control ever since
Joe Brandt sold his interest, and the
family feud started between Harry
and Jack, nothing has come of it and
that may be the case with this present
talk .
Schayer Comments
On Writer Tangle
The statement by Ralph Block,
Ernest Pascal and Frances Marion that
they "withdrew" from the Liberal
ticket brought a reply from the Lib-
erals that "there was nothing to
withdraw from." Richard Schayer
expressed the Liberal view as follows:
"We have merely suggested a list
of names, and asked the members of
the Guild to vote for them. We have
as much right to ask the members to
vote for Block, Pascal and Marion as
we have to ask their support for any
other members, unless these members
wish to announce that they are with-
drawing entirely from the election
and do not wish any of the members,
Liberal or otherwise, to vote for
them."
Small Industry Board
Will Meet Tomorrow
Washington. — Clarence Darrow
announced yesterday that the first
public hearing of the Small Industry
Appeal Board will be held tomorrow.
It will take up the question of the
incandescent lamp manufacturers code,
about which there has been much
Senatorial complaint as well as kicks
within the industry. Announcements
of other hearings are expected shortly.
Russ Brown in 'Humbug'
First trick for Russ Brown since the
expiration of his term ticket with
Twentieth Century will be a featured
spot in "Humbug" which Max Marcin
IS directing for Universal. Bill Woolf-
enden of the Small-Landau office set
the contract.
Stavisky Yarn in Work
New York. — Moe Wax and Ronald
Bank are preparing a scenario based
on the Stavisky scandal in France,
which brought about the overthrow of
the Ministry and the recent riots.
»4
% MP.SAf.'UFL MA I'. A,
CULVER CITY.UALIK.
'4 Vol. XX, No. 4. Price 5c
TODAYS FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, March 15, 1934
I ITTIE WCHCN' WINNER
'Cavalcade' Places
Fox on Profit Side
New York. — Fox Film has a profit
to show for the 39-week period from
April 1 to December 1, largely due to
the success in the United Kingdom of
"Cavalcade," arriving simultaneously
with a healthy change in the exchange
rate.
The financial report issued yester-
day shows a profit for the period of
(Continued on Page 41
20th Century Will
Produce on Stage
Twentieth Century Productions will
definitely produce one or more plays
on the New York stage next season.
The Darryl Zanuck organization
will be associated with an outstanding
Broadway producer. Several vehicles
are being considered now for the first
play-
William Powell Signs
To Make Two at Radio
William Powell signed a two-pic-
ture deal with Radio yesterday, to
start after he finishes "Manhattan
Melodrama" and "The Thin Man" for
MCM. The deal was made by Selz-
nick-Joyce.
Powell has one more picture to
make on his Warner contract, which
expires in April. Warners gave him
permission to make outside pictures
at this time, not having a story ready
for him.
Olivier Refuses MCM
Laurence Olivier and Jill Esmond
turned down an offer to return to
Hollywood under a term deal with
MCM. They prefer to free lance, so
that they may be able to return to
the stage whenever they wish.
La Hepburn Abroad
New York. — Katharine Hepburn
sails for Europe Saturday on the Eu-
ropa to stay abroad a month. Rumor
here is that she may get a quiet di-
vorce while abroad.
Rothafel Returns
London. — Sam Rothafel sails today
for New York, with nothing official
to say about rumors he planned a gi-
gantic new picture theatre here.
Schenck-Hatrick East
Nicholas Schenck and E. B. Hatrick
left last night by train on their re-
turn to New York.
Reporter Award Goes To Radio
Picture As Most Outstanding
^Other Results Announced
"Little Women," carried along on an avalanche of votes from
all branches of the industry — executives, directors, players, and
all — wins The Hollywood Reporter Award of Merit as the out-
standing production of 1933.
The Radio picture held a commanding lead over its nearest
competitor, although a strong vote was polled for the next two
pictures, "Cavalcade," and "The Private Life of Henry VIII."
So this morning, glory may be shared by the following who
are listed officially as the group responsible for the year's most
outstanding production, "Little Women":
Producer, Kenneth Macgowan ; director, George Cukor; screen
play by Sarah Y. Mason and Victor Heerman; photography by
Henry Cerrard; art direction. Van Nest Polglase. The story was
adapted from the Louisa M. Alcott novel.
To make the award doubly welcome, they can feel that they
have been winners in a contest in which the ENTIRE personnel
of the industry was allowed to vote, the balloting not being con-
fined to any particular group.
The Fox picture, "Cavalcade," second in the race, was cre-
ated by the following group:
Director, Frank Lloyd; stage play by Noel Coward; screen play
by Reginald Berkeley; continuity editor, Sonya Levien; camera-
man, Ernest Palmer.
London Films production, "The Private Life of Henry VIII,"
lists credits as follows: Directed by Alexander Korda ; story and
(Continued on Page 41
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER AWARD VICTORS
Outstanding Picture: s/
"LITTLE WOMEN"'
Best Direction: if
FRANK CAPRA A
Radio Pictures Corp.
"Lady For a Day"
Outstanding Performance
by an Actor:
CHARLES LAUCHTON
Outstanding Performance
by an Actress:
KATHARINE HEPBURN
"Private Life of Henry VIII"
"Morning Clory"
Best Original Story:
PRESTON STURCES )C
Best Adaptation: ^
ROBERT RISKIN^
"The Power and the Clory"
"Lady For a Day"
Best Art Direction:
CEDRIC GIBBONS\
Best Cinematography:
CHARLES B. LANG, Jr.
"When Ladies Meet"
"Farewell To Arms"
The Reporter regrets that no award is made in the Sound classifica-
tion, workers in that branch not showing sufficient interest in voting
to make any award representative or justifiable.
Rothschild' Lands
K.O. in New York
New York. — "The House of Roth-
schild," opening at the Astor Theatre
last night, smashed through to a suc-
cess exceeding the fondest dreams of
its backers. The audience gave it a
tremendous ovation at the conclusion,
and first editions of the morning pa-
pers show the critics doing the raves
of the year.
The house could have been sold out
several times over for the opening,
and there is already an advance sale
for the balance of the week of $8500.
Film men say the Astor is once more
in for a hit that will run through the
Summer.
Charles Ciblyn Dies;
Was Pioneer Director
Charles Ciblyn, of 723 S. Ogden
Drive, pioneer motion picture direc-
tor, died yesterday at his home.
Mr. Ciblyn formerly was director
general at the old Ince studios, and
had directed pictures at many of Hol-
lywood's major studios. He was
scheduled to go to work yesterday
for MCM.
CoEdwyn Hires Met. Artist
New York. — Before leaving for the
Coast, Samuel Coldwyn signed Serge
Soudeikaine, scenic artist of the Met-
ropolitan Opera House, to act as tech-
nical art consultant on "Resurrection,"
and the Russian will leave shortly to
confer with Richard Day.
Lloyd Separately Sold
New York. — Harold Lloyd's film,
scheduled for Fall release, will not
be sold with the Fox output, but as a
separate attraction, on contracts simi-
lar to the comedian's arrangements
during his Paramount association.
Jed Harris in Town •
Jed Harris, New York stage prO'
ducer, has arrived in Hollywood, hid-
ing behind a beard and seeking stars
who will listen to the call of the
Broadway stage.
Hays Organization Elects
New York. — The Motion Picture
Producers and Distributors hold their
annual election of officers March 26.
No startling upsets expected.
Flu Hits Agnes deMiile
New York. — With the flu for an
unwelcome companion, Agnes de
Mille arrived yesterday from Europe.
40 Critics Acclaim ''Rothschild'' Sensational!— ^^irc?u^si/e) ]|
II
Page Two
THE
m
A h wiLKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH ..Managmg Edtto7
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
rMew York Office: Abraham Bernstein
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-719^
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published everv day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. ForelRn, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Scoop No. 479,535.798,000:— Leo
Tovar and Mary Kornman are plotting
to elope to Yunna for the weddnig
ceremony tonight . . . they'll be off
the minute the last scene for "Mur-
der at the Vanities" is shot . . . The
Joe E. Browns farewell dinnering
themselves in a tremendous way be-
fore leaving on that trip to China . . .
Carbo stepped out to see Eva La Cal-
liene do "Hedda Cabler" the other
night — but why not? . . . Woody Van
Dyke is officially opening the swim-
ming-pool season over the week-end
at his house ... so a lot of people
are already in training for the party
they HAVE to be . . . Connie Ben-
nett, Gilbert Roland, Adolphe Men-
jou, Veree Teasdale. Randy Scott,
Kathryn Carver, the Cary Grants, the
Gary Coopers and the jo.'nnny Weiss-
mullers, practically "side-by-each" at
the very good fights Tuesday night.
•
Rudolph Mate. Rene Clair's camera-
man, who photographed "Jeanne D'
Arc," is coming here to visit the Harry
Lachmans. . . . Three studios are nib-
bling at "Serenade in Brass," brain-
child of Elliott Gibbons. . . Doris
Keane, slipping through Hollywood on
a forty-eight hour visit. . . . Hear that
Georgie Raft may take his son to Eur-
ope with him — if he goes to Europe.
. . . The lad visited George here sev-
eral months ago — or don't you re-
member.' . . . Incidentally, Raft sets
some kind of a record, by being sep-
arated from his wife for ten years or
more, so they tell us.
'•
Arthur Lubin will probably leave
town right away again to stage "The
Drums, Professor!" in Noo York. . .
May Sunday hasn't been home for days
. . . we have her word for it. . . . The
long palship between a certain young
producer and his right hand man and
constant companion, is drawing to a
close — with the battles getting hotter
and more frequent. . . . The Hon.
George Davila, the Hon. Dmitri Di-
mancesco, Roumanian Consul General,
r'orothy di Frasso, Count Carpegna and
M-ureen O'Sullivan at johnny Far-
row's, dinner at the Vendome last
ngHt; . . . You'd DIE if you knew
who :s THAT close to hitting the
front-pages in a divorce suit — hm,
mr^m, cuch en ngenue, too!
"SPITFIRE"
:_/"
RKO-Radio prod.; director, John Cromwell; writers. Lulu Vollmer, Jane Murfin'f
Music Hall
News: The film moves very slowly at first, but it gains in speed and interest as
the story develops. Hepburn's characterization is interesting, although it
isn't always convincing.
Times:As the dominating figure of "Spitfire," the current cinematic offering at
the Radio City Music Hall, Katharine Hepburn gives another talented
screen portrayal. Without Miss Hepburn's vital and persuasive acting, the
story would be a depressing and colorless affair.
Herald-Tribune: Miss Hepburn is as striking a screen actress as those of us
who have always admired her have insisted. "Spitfire" is in reality a
character study, rather than a drama of action, and Miss Hepburn is on
the screen almost constantly. It is entirely her picture and, although It
is far from worthy of her, it is excellent evidence against her detractors.
Sun: Technically "Spitfire" is below average. The photography, even with such
an excellent photographic subject as Miss Hepburn, is flat and lifeless.
There's too much of the studio about those mountain-cabin sets, even
most of the outdoor scenes. The script, although it deals with a mob
out for lynching, is singularly lacking in suspense. "Spitfire," I'm afraid,
is just one of those pictures that didn't jell.
American: The entertainment of the drama centers entirely in Miss Hepburn's
characterization. And this is a thing of pristine beauty, lyric tenderness,
fired with the flame of genius. Miss Hepburn is pretty definitely fore-
most among American dramatic artists in the cinema. In "Spitfire" she
holds the screen alone in an amazing histrionic tour de force.
Mirror: While having none of the prettiness, dressiness and superficial glamor
of the previous Hepburn films, "Spitfire" has a substantial dramatic qual-
ity, a real fire, vigor and punch which piermits Miss Hepburn to establish
herself as an actress. You will be thrilled and deeply stirred by "Spit-
fire." Don't miss it.
Post: Miss Hepburn's attempt to convey the outward and inner conflict of the
girl is hampered somewhat by the failure of the picture as a whole to
capture the quality and mood of the setting, but it is hampered still more
by her own inability to cope with the subtleties of the role. With all its
potentialities, "Spitfire" is a dull and undistinguished production.
{ournal: The role a contradiction of moods, and Miss Hepburn brings to them
all an exuberant sincerity.
World-Telegram: It is Miss Hepburn and Miss Hepburn alone, with her ever
dependable playing, who manages to make this "Spitfire" possibly satis-
fying entertainment.
'Wonder Bar* Opens
To Great Applause
Warner Brothers presented their
latest musical production, "Wonder
Bar," at Warners' Hollywood Theatre
last night at one of the most suc-
cessful openings ever given in Holly-
wood.
The house was completely sold out
and the audience was most enthusias-
tic over the picture, denoting espe-
cial approval of the work of Al Jol-
son, Kay Francis, Ricardo Cortez and
the other principals.
Two More for Agency
Clive Brook and Ernest Pascal have
signed long term managerial contracts
with the Schulberg-Feldman and Gur-
ney office.
Block-Malloy Teamed
Warners have bracketed Ralph
Block with Doris Malloy to shape an
original story under the supervision of
Henry Blanke.
Academy Over-sells
Seats for Its Banquet
The Academy steering committee
and others connected with the han-
dling of its Awards banquet are faced
today with a problem of finding seat-
ing room for those who want to at-
tend.
Originally there were seating ac-
commodations for 750 people. Yes-
terday afternoon a total of 770 reser-
vations had been received and they
were still coming.
Carrillo to Selznick
Leo Carrillo was signed yesterday
by David Selznick to play the third
man in "Manhattan Melodrama," bas-
ed on the Arthur Caesar story, "Three
Men." The deal was made by Leo
Morrison.
To Bogota for MCM
New York. — Dan Greenhouse leaves
here Saturday for Bogota, Colombia,
where he will be permanently station-
ed for MGM.
HELEN FERGUSON
JEWEL SMITH, Associate
LYNDE DENIC, New York Representative
PUBLICITY
66 1 5 Sunset Boulevard
CRanite 2185
March 15. 1934
'Escape Me Never'
For 'Century' Pix
Lon^dn. — Twentieth Century has
dopga for the screen rights to the
^tfrrent London hit, "Escape Me
"Never," that stars Elizabeth Bergner.
She will also star in the picture, which
will be made late in the Summer for
Fall release.
Goldwyn Aides Arrive;
Sam Returns Next Week
Arthur Sheekman, Nat Perrin and I
George Oppenheimer, who arrived in <
Hollywood yesterday, are the first
members of the Sam Goldwyn staff to
return. They are working on the next
Eddie Cantor picture which is yet un-
titled.
Goldwyn was scheduled to leave
New York yesterday, but is remaining
until next week.
Henry Hull Signed to
Universal Contract
Henry Hull, star of the Jack Kirk-
land Broadway stage hit, "Tobacco
Road," has been signed by Universal
to a long-term contract. He will ar-
rive here from New York in about
two weeks.
Hull's contract, like others given out
to stage actors, permits him to return
to the stage from time to time.
Warrenton on 'Humbug'
Gilbert Warrenton, ASC, has been
signed to do the camera work on
Universal's "Humbug." He was set
for the spot by the new ASC agency.
Radio After Pierson
Radio is negotiating with Arthur
Pierson in New York to return to the
Coast for two pictures, "Alien Corn"
and "Murder on the Blackboard."
SUNSHINE
STAMPEDE
By DOTE FULTON
"The real saga of Florida . . . Swell
reading." — John Howard Lawson.
$2. MACAULAY
Central Distributors
Will Buy for CASH
FEATURES SHORTS
Quick Action — Prompt Payment
M. LEON LEVINI
599 Fifrit Ave., N. Y. C
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
March 15, 1934
TH
Pace Tkr*«
CENSORSHIP DENOUNCED
BY V.C.L.A. PROFESSOR
Says Stars' Private
Lives Own Business
"Censorship is always negative and
is generally placed in the hands of
people totally incapable of saying any-
thing except 'don't do that.' "
"The private lives of motion picture
stars are none of the public's busi-
ness, and they should be measured by
their productions rather than by their
personal affairs."
These two statements caused some-
thing of a sensation yesterday when
they were made by Dr. Frederic P.
Woellner, Associate Professor of Edu-
cation at the University of California
in Los Angeles, before 500 Daughters
of the American Revolution at the
Ambassador Hotel.
Dr. Woellner spoke at the motion
picture luncheon, which was the first
social event of the state conference
of the D.A.R. His remarks were es-
pecially well received by the picture
personalities present, who included
Ann Harding, Robert Montgomery,
Kathryn Williams, Katherine deMille,
Raul Roulien, Mrs. T. G. Winter and
Miss Ryllis Hemington.
Following his statement that cen-
sorship is always negative. Dr. Woell-
ner said:
"In theory, censorship has its vir-
tues, but the best of theories go awry
when placed in the hands of fools.
"Not censorship, but enlightened
public opinion, is the solution. This
new art of the motion picture is a
combination of all the arts; a medium
of tremendous influence. Why not
place courses in our schools? Teach
our children the drama, its literary
values, the technic of the motion pic-
ture. This will bring enlightened pub-
lic opinion that is the best censor-
ship."
As for the lives of stars. Dr. Woell-
ner declared: "The important thing to
consider is what effect the star has
on the public. I would rather have a
man who is bad in private life, but
who has a tremendous effect for pub-
lic good, than a man who is privately
good, but who has a tremendous pub-
lic effect for the bad."
Monogram Signs Two
Monogram yesterday signed Maidel
Turner and Vivian Oakland for fea-
tured spots in "Money Means Noth-
ing," the William Anthony McGuire
story which Christy Cabanne puts in-
to production tomorrow. Deal was
agented by Kingston-Harris.
Lead Ready for Foster
If Norman Foster recuperates suffi-
ciently to return to work by the time
Lou Brock places "Great American
Harem" in production at Radio, he will
have the male lead. He was operated
on for appendicitis a week ago.
Two Dog Pix Starting
William Berke places two short
subjects into work today, starring the
dog. Flash. William Desmond and
Gertrude Messenger take featured bill-
ing. Pictures are for the state right
field.
Fairbanks Not in
Roxy London Plan
London. — Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
yesterday denied that he is to be
associated with S. L. "Roxy" Roth-
afel in the building of a Radio City
in London. "Neither I nor my son
is interested in the project in any
way," he said.
Creel May Ask For
Labor Board Shifts
Following the two-day investigation
of why the various code committeees
have not acted upon 107 complaints
of alleged code violations by the stu-
dios, George Creel, State NRA Ad-
ministrator, left town last night.
Through the publicity bureau of the
local Labor Compliance Office, where
the hearings were held, he announced
that he had no statement to make
relative to his findings in the investi-
gation. However, it was reported, un-
officially, that he will render a com-
plete written report to Sol A. Rosen-
blatt. And while it could not be
verified, there were rumblings about
town that his report will recommend
several changes in faces of the com-
mittees.
Meanwhile, Judge Ben Lindsey, spe-
cial Labor Compliance officer, is ex-
pected to start today to hear the 107
complaints of alleged film code vio-
lations that labor asserts have been
made by the studios.
Wells Option Lifted
B. P. Schulberg yesterday lifted the
option on Jacquelyn Wells, who is
under personal contract to him. Player
is now appearing in "The Black Cat"
at Universal and was nominated as a
Wampas Baby Star Tuesday.
Ruth Matteson to MCM
MGM yesterday signed Ruth Matte-
son, now appearing on the New York
stage, to a term contract. Player
worked at the Pasadena Community
Playhouse last year, but was not spot-
ted until she went to New York.
Free Lance Writers
To Name Own Slate
Thrown together by problems af-
fecting them only, the free lance
writers of the Screen Writers' Guild
have formed a solid body, splitting
away from the remaining factions on
the coming election of officers, Apr. 5.
It was authoritatively reported yes-
terday that this group is in a huddle
to chalk up its own slate and will
seek a coalition with the liberal fac-
tion if an agreement on candidates is
reached. Croup controls an estimated
twenty per cent of the Guild's vote
and is headed by John Natteford, the
representative on the present board.
Controversy as to the use of the
Guild mailing list was settled yester-
day when Ralph Block threw the list
open to all factions electioneering.
Rian James Wanted by
Universal As Producer
Universal is negotiating with Rian
James to become an associate pro-
ducer to handle the Lee Tracy pic-
tures. James also received offers from
Fox and MGM, but will not accept any
deal until he returns from New York.
Radio Holds Boiand
Radio yesterday extended Mary Bo-
land's one-picture contract into a two-
picture deal. She goes into a fea-
tured comedy role in the Lou Brock
production, "Down to Their Last
Yacht," which will be directed by
Paul Sloane.
Dubinsky Row Heard
Washington. — Arguments on the
Dubinsky circuit row with labor on the
NRA rules in St. Louis started before
Sol Rosenblatt yesterday afternoon and
were still on at midnight. No hint
given as to the probable decision.
One for Montgomery
Robert Montgomery is slated to play
opposite Jean Harlow in her next
vehicle, "100 Per Cent Pure," which
will be directed by Sam Wood under
Bernie Hyman's supervision for MGM.
ACADEMY SELECTS CODE
COMMITTEE CANDIDATES
The Academy yesterday forwarded
to Deputy Administrator Sol A. Rosen-
blatt names of members of the various
branches of that organization for pos-
sible appointment by the Code Au-
thority to various film code commit-
tees.
While here in January Rosenblatt
requested that the Academy make
these selections. The names were
telegraphed, with information that
signed ballots and a statement of the
voting method used in their selection,
would be mailed. The people named
are:
Writers Branch: Jack Cunningham,
Howard Estabrook, Howard J. Green,
Grover Jones, William Slavens Mc-
Nutt, Jane Murfin, Robert Riskin,
Ernst Vajda, Carey Wilson and Walde-
mar Young.
Directors: Frank Capra, Cecil B. De
Mille, W. K. Howard, Frank Lloyd,
King Vidor and W. S. VanDyke.
Technicians: Carl Dreher, J. M.
Nicholaus, Max Parker and Karl
Struss.
The Actors Branch is sending the
complete list of members, but lists the
following 24 as experienced and eligi-
ble for service on the committees: Lio-
nel Atwill, Warner Baxter. Lionel Bel-
more, Alice Brady, Laura Hope Crews,
W. B. Davidson, Marie Dressier, Irene
Dunne, Raymond Hatton, Helen Hayes,
Del Henderson, Katharine Hepburn,
Jean Hersholt, Walter Huston, George
Irving, DeWitt Jennings, Henry Kol-
ker, J. Farrell MacDonald, Warner
Oland, Nance O'Neil, Elizabeth Patter-
son, Lewis Stone, H. B. Walthall,
Helen Ware.
Treasure Island'
To Location Site
In Hawaiian Isles
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has changed
its mind on the "Treasure Island"
location. The company had decided
to do the exteriors on the back lot at
Culver City, but is now sending the
whole troupe to Honolulu, April 19 for
a month's work.
Wallace Beery will star, supported
by Jackie Cooper, and Victor Fleming
will direct.
Cochrane Comes to Plan
Bergner's N. Y. Debut
New York. — Plans for Elizabeth
Bergner's stage debut here will move
further along with the arrival late
next week of Charles Cochrane to
confer with Arch Selwyn. Cochrane
sails from London in a few days.
He will also discuss possible Amer-
ican production of "Conversation
Piece," the Coward play, and "Nymph
Errant," the Gertrude Lawrence star-
ring vehicle. After a month in New
York he will go to the Coast for con-
ferences with Fox.
LaCava Leaves for East;
Goes to MCM on Return
Gregory LaCava leaves by train to-
night for a four-week vacation in
New York.
On his return he will probably go
to David O. Selznick to handle "The
Postman Always Rings Twice," a novel
by James Cain, which MGM purchased
recently.
Propose 1c Amuse. Tax
Washington. — A proposal that ad-
mission taxes to amusements be put
c^ the straight basis of one cent on
all admissions over forty cents was
rTiade before the Senate Finance Com-
mirt-e yesterday by John F. Kelley, of
Ringling's Circus, who painted a blue
pic lure of the effect of the present
tax on amusements.
White Cargo' Tonight
Opening of "White Cargo" at the
Playhouse tonight will find a strong
representation of picture folk, among
those making reservations being David
Selznick, John Barrymore, Frank Lloyd,
Dimitri Tiomkin, Albertina Rasch, Al
Rockett, Zeppo Marx and Maureen
O'Sullivan.
Ray
Hays to Wed
Ray Hays, business manager for Al
Green, Lloyd Bacon, Thelma Todd and
others, is going to take on a business
manager in the person of Frances
Dietz. It will be done tomorrow
morning, with the couple going to
Carmel for their honeymoon.
Basil Woon Coming
Basil Woon will leave New York
by boat in the next week to take up
his writing contract with a major stu-
dio, arranged out here by the Ivan
Kahn agency.
Para. Buys Spence Yarn
Paramount has purchased an origi-
naJx'Story entitled "Debutantes," by
~ ""ph Spence. Story is a comedy
dealing with the fashion racket.
Page FoHr
March 15, 1934
LAIJGHTOX, HEPBURN, CAPRA
CAPTURE REPORTER AWARDS
Chase Bk.Unloading
Starts New Rumors
Sturgesand Riskin
Win for the Writers
(Continued from Page 1 )
diialogue by Lajos Biro and Arthur
Wimperis; scenario by Arthur Wim-
peris; cameraman, George Perinal;
editorial supervision, Hal Young.
Capra Director Winner
Frank Capra received the votes of
his fellow directors in such volume as
to prove an easy winner of the award
for the year's most outstanding work
of direction — the palm being given
him for "Lady For a Day." In this
classification, "Little Women" popped
up again, with George Cukor ranking
second for his work on that picture,
while Gregory LaCava is in third place
because of "Gabriel Over the White
House."
Hepburn-Laughton Honored
The international touch given the
Reporter Awards by the inclusion of
"Henry VI 1 1" in the honored first
three pictures, is clinched when we
come to the votes of actors for the
outstanding performance by one of
their fellows. Charles Laughton wins
hands down for his characterization of
the King.
Coming second and third, and both
well represented in the voting, are
Spencer Tracy and Paul Muni.
Katharine Hepburn and May Robson
staged a close race for the award
among the actresses, the lead chang-
ing almost daily since the start of the
voting, with Miss Hepburn finally
emerging the winner. Third place was
taken with a goodly representation of
votes by Mae West.
Sturges- Riskin Tops
The writers, registering the heavi-
est vote as a class in the contest, with
a fine exhibition of professional broad-
mindedness, gave an outstanding lead
to Preston Sturges, for the Original
Story Award because of "The Power
and the Glory," Lasky-Fox production.
In second and third places were Rob-
ert Lord, for "One Way Passage," and
Edwin Justus Mayer and Rowland V.
Lee for "I Am Suzanne."
"Lady For a Day," having already
earned its director an award for his
work, also comes to the front to put
Robert Riskin in the top spot for the
best adaptation of the year. Only one
vote apart, the second and third places
in this classification were taken re-
spectively by Sarah Y. Mason and Vic-
tor Heerman for the adaptation of
"Little Women," and Ben Hecht for
"Design For Living."
Charles Lang, Paramount ace, forged
to the front and emerged winner in a
spirited race among the cinematog-
raphers, taking the award for his work
on "Farewell To Arms." Lee Garmes,
for his work on "Zoo in Budapest"
dropped into the second niche, with
Victor Milner close behind because of
"Song of Songs."
The MGM production, "When La-
dies Meet," brought the laurels of
vc'"ory to Cedric Gibbons in the votes
of his fellow Art Directors, and in this
cla's a tie resulted for second place,
'Little ^*/omen" and "Cradle Song"
comin-? u-der the wire neck and neck.
A't direct on o-^ "Little Women" was
That's Putting the
Writer in His Place
At the opening of the Warner
Brothers' production of "Wonder
Bar" last night at Warners' Holly-
wood Theatre, Dick Powell, master
of ceremonies, introduced from the
stage practically every person who
had anything to do with making
the picture EXCEPT EARL BALD-
WIN, who did nothing except
adapt the story and write the
screen play and who was in the
audience.
Gene Raymond Set
For 'Sadie McKee'
MGM and Gene Raymond finally
got together on a deal for Raymond to
play the role of the crooner in the
Joan Crawford picture, "Sadie Mc-
Kee," which Clarence Brown is di-
recting.
Raymond turned down the role sev-
eral times, but finally agreed to do it
after the studio promised changes in
the script. The deal was made by the
Schulberg-Feldman and Gurney office.
U' Wants Peggy Wood
For The Human Side'
Universal is talking to Peggy Wood
to take the top spot with Lowell
Sherman in "The Human Side."
Miss Wood has another picture to
do for Fox, Sol Wurfzel bracketing her
with John Boles in "My Lady's
Dress."
Maizlish Promoted
Harry Maizlish, who has handled
exploitation for Warner theatres lo-
cally, has been promoted to supervise
exploitation for all the Warner West
Coast exchanges. He will leave soon
to take charge of selling "Wonder
Bar" in the Pacific Northwest.
Fox Shows Profit
(Continued from Page 1 )
$1,410,793, comparing with a loss of
$595,100 for the similar period the
year previous.
Gross intake for the 39 weeks was
$24,288,824, an increase of $4,058,-
924.
Operations of Wesco and other sub-
sidiaries are not included in this re-
port. Fox advances to Wesco having
been written down to $1 . The report
states that reserves have been set
aside for any adjustments of values
which may be required as a result of
pending bankruptcy actions against
subsidiaries of Wesco.
The investments and advances by
Fox to affiliates amount to $16,623,-
543.
by Van Nest Polglase and on "Cradle
Song" by Hans Dreier and W. B.
Ihnen.
Beautiful gold plaques, emblematic
of victory in the First Hollywood Re-
porter Awards of Merit Contest, will
be presented to the winners tomor-
row.
New York. — Rumored plans of the
Chase Bank to unload its Fox stock
holdings by an exchange for General
Theatre Equipment Corporation stock
as soon as the latter's reorganization is
complete have film men here wonder-
ing if this is the first step in clearing
the way for a Fox-Radio merger, or
merely due to the desire of Chase to
wash its hands completely of picture
producing and distribution.
General Theatres is a straight mer-
chandising business, more in keeping
with bank sponsorship.
Mona Lisa Theft Will
Be Made by Warners
Darryl Zanuck's idea of two years
ago, "Self Portrait," which is based on
the filching of the Mona Lisa, is off
the shelf at Warners and slated to
star Ricardo Cortez and Bette Davis.
Carl Erickson and Peter Milne turn
in the screen play and Robert Florey
will direct. It is re-titled "Beware
of Imitations."
MCM Holds Segall
Harry Segall's option was taken up
by MGM yesterday, writer going into
the second session on his termer. He
is working with Richard Schayer on
"Fish Out of Water."
London Film Ball
Over the Air Toda]
Two radio chains will carry a broad
cast this afternoon of the Cinema _
graphic Trade Benevolent Fund ball,
which will be held in London tonight,
and the program will originate from
three widely separated sources.
English players will talk from Lon-
don; Will Hays, Richard Arlen and
Mary Pickford will send their greet-
ings from New York, and Jean Har-
low, Ann Harding and Leslie Howard i:
will be heard from here. Program
will be released locally over NBC at
four and over the British Broadcasting
System in England at midnight, their
time. _
June Brewster Set in
Grace Bradley's Place
Charles R. Rogers, at Paramount,
yesterday signed June Brewster to re-
place Grace Bradley, who was injured
on the set Monday In "Private Scan-
dal," which Ralph Murphy is direct-
ing. Jed Prouty was spotted in a
featured role.
"The Pen is mightier
than the 'word' " . .
ILLUSTRATIONS IN THIS ISSUE BY
\V0^
6719 SUNSET BLVD — HO 3957
^
HOLLYWOOD'S
HOME IN
N E W Y O R K
Interesting always . . . diverting . . . entertaining . . .
famous people from all over the world make it their
headquarters in this country . . . convenient to the the-
atres and smart shops.
PUBLICITY SERVICE
DANCING nightly in the NEW CONTINENTAL GRILL
. . . LEON BELASCO'S alluring rhythms . . . divertisse-
ments . . . breakfast, luncheon, cocktails, dinner or
theatre-buffet in RUMPELMAYER'S.
50 CENTRAL PARK SOUTH
NEW YORK
"^llt
DIRECTION
GREGORY TAYLOR
RELEASED THROUGH UNITED ARTISTS
Boris Karloff
. . . AS . . .
Ledrantz
(Featured with Mr. Arliss)
Alfred Werker
Director
Arthur Byron
AS. . .
Baring
Helen Westley
AS.
Gudu/a Rothschild
TlieCriticsTributeto
JERRY ASHER — Associate Editor, Movie Mirror Magazine: "An authentic portrait of a great
story painted by that master artist, George Arliss."
ELEANOR BARNES— Dr a /fi a Editor, Illustrated Daily Netvs: "It flings to film fans a challenge
against wars, racial hatreds and cruelties in a romantic setting."
BARBARA BARRY — New Mo lie Magazine: "The best picture I have ever seen!"
WELFORD BEATON — Hollywood Spectator: "AT cinematic masterpiece that puts heart-throbs in
history!"
JOE BLAIR — Showman's Round-Table: "A powerful historical drama that will be hailed as an
epic of the age!"
HARRISON CARROLL — King Features Syndicate: "Here is real cinema achievement, something
for Hollywood to cheer about!"
DOUGLAS CHURCHILL — Hollywood Correspondent, New York Times: "The most spectacu-
lar of the Arliss films, and one of the most enjoyable."
DOROTHY DONNELL — W^estern Editor, Motion Picture Magazine: "I am proud to say that
Hollywood is giving to the world one of its finest contributions."
KATHRYN DOUGHERTY— £^/Vor and Publisher, Photoplay Magazine: "It's crammed with
historic interest and color and told in an impressive manner . . . Dor^'t miss it!"
JAMES FIDLER — Western Editor, Screenland Magazine: "George Arliss as Nathan Rothschild
gives his greatest screen performance."
JACK GRANT — Motion Picture Magazine: "Arliss rises to new heights in a distinguished career."
HOWARD HALL — Editor, Cinema Hall-Marks: "Easily the most commendable Jilm ever made in
^■''•S* If %
tlV V V
the entire history of the industry.'
JERRY HOFFMAN — Motion Picture Critic, Los Angeles Exa?niner: "Rothschild is the monument
by which George Arliss will be remembered," .>
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER — "About the most important money picture we have seen during the
past two years."
HOLLYWOOD DAILY VARIETY— "Handled with restraint, taste and tactful courage . . . dra-
matic vigor, scope and beauty on the entertainment side."
A. J. KOBLER — President and Publisher, NeuTYofk Daily M/rro^;, "Cannot fijid words to tell
you how much I enjoyed it ... it is truly a masterpiece!" ^^^^r ^ H ^
GEORGE LEWIS — Drama Editor, Post Record: "As dignihbd as 'Disraeli' and a lot more human!"
GUS McCarthy — Quigley Publications: "One of the grandest pieces of entertainment merchan-
dise to reach the screen in years."
'it^M..'
MOLLIE MERRICK — North American Newspaper Alliance: When you find a picture in which all
the elements are surprisingly done it becomes difficult to place praise."
ominq
con
toG
rai
NOW PLAYING ASTOR THEATRE, NEW YORK; MAJESTIC It
PREMIERE RUNS IN ALL KEY
The House of Rothschild
JOHN MITCHELL — Western Editor, New Movie Magazine: "It merits the Academy award as the
best picture for 1934!"
DICK MOOK — Picture Play: "One of the year's best pictures. Don't miss it!"
LOUELLA PARSONS — Motion Picture Editor, Universal Service: "Splendidly real, splendidly
vital, not merely a tribute to a race but to humanity! A great picture."
MAYME OBER PEAKE — Boston Globe: "The most brilliant picture I've seen this year!"
EILEEN PERCY — Block Publications: "The motion picture industry needs a great picture to bring
people back to the theatre — and this is it." ^^s"""^,
WALTER RAMSEY — Western Editor, Modern Screen Magazine: "The best picture of the year."
EDWIN SCHALLERT — Motion Picture Editor, Los Angeles Times: "Impressive . . . invested with
life and surprising timeliness."
ROSALIND SHAFFER — Chicago Tribune Syndicate: "Timely, beautifully conceived and well exe-
cuted, with George Arliss giving the best performance of his motion picture career."
VICTOR SHAPIRO — Hollywood Manager, Quigley Publications: "Supercharged with entertain-
ment and electric with showmanship."
c V
SIDNEY SKOLSKY — New York Daily News: "The most important talkie made in Hollywood
since 'All Quiet on the Western Front.' "
TED SMITS — International News Service: "Great art and great box office."
JIMMY STARR — Motion Picture Editor, Los Angeles Herald-Express: "Hollywood's best in many
years."
WARREN STOKES — Associated Publications: "Finest celluloid entertainment in a decade."
DAN THOMAS — Motion Picture Editor, Newspaper Enterprise Association: "Of all the pictures
ever made hyX^porgp^rliss, this is by far the best!"
ALICE TILDESLEY — Philadelphia Public Ledger Syndicate: "See it — not once, but twice."
ROB WAGNER — Script: "Timely propaganda; wonderful characterization and gripping drama!"
RUTH WATERBURY — Editor, Movie Mirror Magazine: "George Arliss gives a performance
that surpasses in brilliance anything he has ever done and it is one of the greatest pro-
ductions of this or any other season!"
WHITNEY WlLJAAMS—-FawtHt Publications:_!!One of the truly great pictures of this or any
other season!" ^\ ; i- ^ ^*
ELIZABETH WILSON — Western Representative, Silver Screen Magazine: "George Arliss gives
not only his best performance but the year's greatest picture."
JACK WOOLRIDGE—W oolridge Syndicate: "George Arliss at his best."
ELIZABETH YEAMAN— Hollywood Citizen: "Beautifully acted, directed and photographed "
man's Chinese Tlieatre
TRE, BOSTON, and OHIO THEATRE, CLEVELAND, MARCH 31
[TIES AT ROADSHOW PRICES!
^n
Maude T. Howell
A ssocia te Director
Ivan Simpson
as
AMSCHEL
Georges Renavent
^m^m
Noel Madison
as
CARL
(f
^
William Strauss
as
TALLEYRAND
as
THE MESSENGER
Allen S4cNeil
Film Editor
1J9
^^ '-^k}
^J3
Jack Car/y/e
as
THE BAILIFF
CuUen Johnson
Harold Entwistle
as
CARL (As a Boy)
as
Stock Exchange Messenger
Page Eighteen
March 15, 1934>
PRODUCERS
THE REASON
I manage
LOUISE
FA2EMDA
is because she is a grand artist
who is going places. See her in
"Wonder Bar" and you will agree
with me.
M. C. LEVEE
Willie Pogany has shrouded his
special set effects work for Warner
Brothers' "Dames" with a decided air
of mystery. No one is allowed even to
take a peek at what he is doing until
he has the effects ready for the final
okay of Busby Berkeley. Something
very unusual, like the California
weather, is expected.
•
Stanley Fleischer has been given the
job of designing the sets for "Alias
the Deacon" over at Universal. He
set such a pace for himself in "I'll
Tell the World" that many on the lot
are watching with interest to see just
what he will have to offer in this one.
•
Van Nest Polglase will be taking
bows around the Radio lot today when
he, and his fellows discover that "Lit-
tle Women" won The Hollywood Re-
porter Award for being the outstand-
ing production of 1933. He gets
credit for the art direction on it.
'•
Over at MOM, Cedric Gibbons will
also be tipping the hat, for he gets
the Reporter award for the best ex-
ample of art direction for 1933. It
was in "When Ladies Meet" that it
appeared.
Hans Dreier and W. B. Ihnen at
the Paramount lot, and Van Nest Pol-
glase, ran a neck and neck tie for
second place in this Award, with the
Paramount "Cradle Song" and the
Radio "Little Women."
•
The members of the Art Directors
section of the Academy are planning
to hold another one of those stag din-
ners very soon. The idea is to have
one about every six weeks. The Acad-
emy Awards Competition and banquet
have slowed up the plans a trifle, but
as soon as it is over, they figure on
doing it.
•
Robert Usher, an art director at
Paramount for more than a year, ar-
rived in town last Saturday from the
South Seas where he has been staying
on the island of Moorea for the past
six months. Usher has been building
himself a house down there and had
planned an indefinite stay, but was
called back by cable by the studio.
His last work at Paramount was de-
signing sets for "She Done Him
Wrong" and "King of the Jungle."
•
Jack Okey is still getting fan mail
intended for Jack Oakie, the actor,
despite long attempts to set the world
straight. He says he has never receiv-
ed any checks yet, however.
•
A representative of a group of
Australian newspapers paid Al Herman
and Van Nest Polgalse of Radio a
real compliment the other day. She
wanted to see just what the studio's
idea of the Australian background for
"Stingaree" would be. When she
looked at a couple of sets she ex-
claimed that someone who had lived in
Australia must have done them.
Neither Herman nor Polglase know
about this remark. So we pass it
along to them.
Mountain Helps
Seller to Make Par
Lew Seiler is a candidate for the
prize for the freakiest golf shot of
the week. He drove into heavy
rough on the eighth hole at Palm
Springs and, in trying to get out,
overshot the green. The ball hit
the side of the mountain and
bounced back to within inches of
the cup. Lew says he always plays
it that way.
Arthur Stuart Hull, Guy Usher and
Ernest Hiiliar to the cast of "Witch-
ing Hour" at Paramount.
Robert Creig through Freddie Fra-
lick for "The Humbug," Universal.
Michael Visaroff to "The Happy
Family," Warners.
Lew Cody for "Private Scandal,"
Charles R. Rogers-Paramount. Deal by
Freddie Fralick.
Barbara Weeks and Druex Layton
for "Now I'll Tell," Fox.
John Quallen into King Vidor's "Our
Daily Bread," set through Harry Sping-
ler of Small-Landau office.
Harry Woods for "It Ain't No Sin,"
Paramount, by Bill Woolfenden, of the
Small-Landau office.
Harold Waldrige for "Private Scan-
dal," Charles R. Rogers-Paramount.
Set by Max Shagrin.
Walter Long and Marjorie Cateson
in MGM's "Operator 13."
George Irving through Menifee I.
Johnstone for a short at MOM.
John Wray for "Practical Joker,"
Universal, by the Kingston-Harris
agency.
Randolph Scott for "Often a Bride-
groom," Paramount.
Sara Haden to "Gentlemen of Af-
fairs" for Universal.
Emma Dunn and Virginia Hammond
to "Dr. Monica," Warners.
Mary MacLaren, Pat O'Malley and
Bess Flowers to "Dames" at Warners.
Warners Renew Talbot
After trading arguments for two
weeks, Warners notified Lyie Talbot '
yesterday that his option was being
taken up, the company giving in to
the player after an unsuccessful at-
tempt to get a cut on the option
terms. ^
Son for Stu Gilmore
Stuart Gilmore, Paramount film edi-
tor, became the father of an eight-
pound boy at the Mount Sinai Hospital
Tuesday. Both Mrs. Gilmore and the
child are doing well.
Warner Execs Travel
New York. — Harry Warner and
Sam Morris on business, and Sam Sax
vacationing from the Brooklyn Vita-
phone plant, sail for Europe on March
17.
!«
"Give Lloyd Bacon a good share of
bouquets for direction of the story.
... A brilliant and sparkling produc-
tion ... it is a well rounded piece of
picture making."
— Hollywood Reporter,
Feb. 3, 1934
LLOYD BACON
DIRECTED
ft
»i
WONDER BAR
A FIRST NATIONAL PRODUCTION FOR WARNER BROS.
Charles^, /gngjr.
DiredorofPhotograf^hy
Varamount ViBures
■■*i»Sii^'
■ i«^'''>t!.>«TMyUr|Cw
/f Farewell h^rms "
Cradle Song "
DeathTakes a Holiday "
A
9f MP.SAV'JKr; WAP A.
CULVER CITY,CALIK
TMo
7
Vol. XX, No. 5. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, March 16, 1934
EXmCS AfTER RCA NOV
Following Suit Against Erpi
For Excess Sound Charges,
Rival Electric Now On Pan
•OUR hat is off and our hand out-
stretched to whoever did the news-
paper campaign on "Palooka" that
was used in New York and in the lo-
cal papers. We assume it was Hal
Home and believe that Al Lichtman
showed excellent judgment in giving
his okay to such a collection of "ads."
This series on "Palooka" is effec-
tive because it is DIFFERENT. It has
advertising intelligence, it has a theme
that is bound to attract and cause
comment and that, ladies and gentle-
men, sells tickets.
The advertising of our pictures has
gotten into a worse rut than the mak-
ing of the pictures and with the com-
bination of the two, there has been
hell in this business. There has been
no effort, save an occasional MCM
and Warner splurge, to write "copy"
that will attract readers. There has
been no creation whatever to the ads
or their makeup.
Maybe the "Palooka" campaign
will inspire the others to greater ef-
fort; maybe the advertising depart-
ments, in New York, sensing the tick-
ets that were sold through those
newspaper "ads" will go out and have
a try at selling. Yes, and still maybe.
We used to think that our adver-
tising experts in this business wrote
the copy, not to sell pictures, but to
get the nod from their company
heads (who for the most part, have
no idea about advertising values) and
to rib the advertising heads of other
companies. But even that activity hit
the doldrums to such an extent that
the bosses are not nodding, nor are
the authors getting a rise out of the
competing office.
Good ad copy is almost as important
as good pictures. One belongs to the
other if both are to succeed and with-
out that success — oh! well, what's the
use?
Perhaps nothing hurt ad copy in re-
cent years so much as the apparent
feeling that so long as there was a
sex pose in the illustration and a
double meaning sex line for the head,
the job was completed.
At least that's the way the news-
paper theatrical pages began to look.
And we don't suppose it occured to
anyone that with ALL the ad empha-
sis thrown the one way, regardless of
the qualities of the picture itself, we
were very often DRIVING AWAY
from box offices some badly needed
coin.
Relief Fund Break
New York. — The Motion Picture
Relief Fund will share equally in
proceeds of the AMPA dinner,
April 21, on a split with the in-
dustry's New York charity. Film
Daily Relief Fund.
Labor Wins First
Appeal on Wages
Washington. — The first labor dis-
pute in the picture industry to reach
Washington on appeal has resulted in
a victory for labor.
In the fight of operators in St.
Louis against eighteen houses, agree-
ment was yesterday reached to reim-
burse the operators for the difference
between the wages paid since Septem-
ber 1 and the wage scale as in force
on August 23.
The agreement was reached in Sol
Rosenblatt's office, the NRA playing
no part other than as impartial ob-
server.
'Invisible Man' Is
Sensation in Paris
Paris. — The Universal picture, "In-
visible Man," is causing a sensation
here among movie ticket buyers.
It is being run simultaneously in
two first run houses and it is under-
stood that a third first run location
will start showing the picture next
week to take care of the crowds.
No Theatre Strike
New York. — Following a conference
with the heads of various motion pic-
ture chains, the theatre ushers and
doormen decided to call off the strike
which had been slated for next Mon-
day.
New York. — With over two hundred New York exhibitors
suing Erpi and asking refunds on alleged excessive charges for
sound equipment servicing and replacement parts, it now seems
that the rival company, General Electric, and its offspring, RCA
Photophone, may be in for similar ac-
tions. Exhibitors using RCA are re-
ported organizing for a single legal
action which will parallel that of their
fellow exhibs using Western Electric.
Exhibitors throughout the country
are understood to be in close touch
with the New York suits, the pros-
( Continued on Page 2)
George Raft Signs
New Para Contract
Before starting on his ten weeks
leave of absence, George Raft signed
a new contract with Paramount which
calls for his exclusive services. The
old contract, which permitted him to
make outside deals, was torn up.
Raft will do three weeks of per-
sonal appearances in the East before
sailing for Europe. He will play the
New York and Brooklyn Paramount
theatres and also appear in Boston.
Bebe Daniels an Author;
Sells Story to 6!P
London. — British International Pic-
tures has bought an original story
from Bebe Daniels, titled "Cross Your
Fingers." It will be given immedi-
ate production, with Bobby Howes the
star and Fred Newmeyer the director.
CODE AUTHORITY HEADS
ASKED TO MPTOA MEET
New York. — Officials of the
MPTOA have invited all the members
of the Code Authority to attend the
organization's big convention to be
held in Los Angeles next month. If
they accept, it is figured that they will
be the busiest people at the conven-
tion, answering the barrage of ques-
tions that members will want to fire
at them regarding code affairs.
All MPTOA members are being ask-
ed to submit whatever questions they
may have concerning the NRA Code
(Continued on Page 4)
Roxy and Gang Set
For 12 Para. Weeks
New York. — After being in the
on-and-off-again stage a half dozen
times, the Roxy-Paramount deal has
finally been closed and Roxy and His
Gang will do twelve weeks of per-
sonals in principal Paramount thea-
tres.
The engagement will start March
30 in Boston, coming to New York
April 6, then following with Brooklyn,
Chicago and Buffalo.
Alien Corn' Off
As Harding Story
Radio yesterday indefinitely post-
poned production on the Ann Harding
picture, "Alien Corn," and has assign-
ed the star to do "Life of Virgie Win-
ters," based on a short story by Louis
Bromfield, as her next. Jane Murfin
wrote the screen play.
The studio could not get a suitable
screen story out of "Alien Corn" and
assigned Miss Harding to the Brom-
field story in order to meet the re-
lease date on her next picture.
N. Y. Paramount Fights
Capitol with Personals
New York. — The New York Para-
mount is hot after big names for its
stage and is going to give the Capitol
plenty of battle for such attractions
to the public.
The Paramount has set George Raft
for the week of March 30 and Gloria
Swanson for the week of April 13.
Warners Plan to Make
Babbitt' as Talkie
Warners are planning to make a
talkie version of the Sinclair Lewis
novel, "Babbitt," and have assigned
Tom Reed and Nevin Busch to write
the screen adaptation under the pro-
duction wing of Robert Presnell.
The company made a silent picture
of this novel in 1924.
Bob Sherwood East
Robert Sherwood leaves for New
York .tonight, having finished a six
we^s writing assignment at MGM.
He wrote the screen play of "Marie
Antoinette," the Norma Shearer star-
ring vehicle.
Sam Wood-MCM Parting
With the completion of "100 Per-
cent Pure" for MGM, Sam Wood will
end eight years of association as a di-
rector at that studio. He w 11 leave
on a tour of Europe, accompanied by
his wife.
[CQSLOW- JOHNSTON •murdIr^It thTvanities- paramount
Page Two
March 16, 1934
Plg
W, R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
(TOBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193:
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat,
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published everv day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
IncludinR pcstafie, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
■
There's a fellow in town who is
either going to get rich very quick
or get kicked out! He arrived, via
Sweden, carrying several reels of film
for which the one and only Carbo
posed before she was the one and
only. The pictures were made by a
big department store in Sweden for
exploitation purposes there, and
Greta's clothes and make-up of the
period are nothing that either MCM
or the star herself would want the
dear old public to get a look at. Of
course, the gather-upper of these pic-
tures knows this and wants to sell
them to the stujo, which may have to
buy them for their nuisance-value.
But, on the other hand, MCM and
Carbo, with a bunch of lawyers, hope
to thwart the enterprising young man
by keeping these films out of the
country on the ground that they were
made for exploitation purposes in
Sweden only.
•
A few weeks ago, during all the
tareefic weather in the East, Mrs.
Donald Ogden Stewart, who was ac-
tually snowbound in Westbury, Con-
necticut, called up Don, who was in
Hollywood, to tell him that snow-
drifts, THIS high, stood between her
and the outside world.
"There's no coal in the house —
no food — " she wept.
As her voice trailed off, Don (dear,
sweet, sympathetic Don) chuckled,
"Sorry, dear — but I have to go and
play golf now."
P. S. — This story was NOT inspired
by the Los Angeles Chamber of Com-
merce.
A certain Broadway lass (who re-
cently was released from a big stu-
dio) embarrassed her big boss before
her walkout. Seems she had been
under contract at this particular stu-
dio for some time before the head
man discovered the fact. When he
found out, he was not only pleased
that she had been signed, but asked
for an introduction. When they shook
hands, he said he was very glad to
meet her.
"MEET me?" exclaimed the gal, in
front of other execs. "Why — we
spent a week-end together in New
York!" (!)
"BEDSIDE"
Warner Bros, prod.; director, Robert Florey; writers, Manuel Seff, Harvey Thew,
Lillie Hayward, James Wharton; photographer, Sid Hickox.
Mayfair Theatre
Times: Actually the story of "Bedside" is not quite as predictable a thing as it
sounds, but its deviations from the formula are too wild-eyed to be classed
as dramatic virtues. It is all pretty furious stuff, examined coldly.
Herald-Tribune: Unfortunately "Bedside" is a very bad picture. The story is so
confusedly and ineffectively told that the film is completely lacking in any
trace of dramatic value.
American: The material handicapping the players in the production does not
make good motion picture entertainment. It fails to rise above mediocrity.
Mirror: "Bedside" might have been a choice comedy. Instead, the studio de-
cided to be melodramatic and romantic, with a moral, an heroic heroine
and a great crime. Even such reliable factors as these do not make "Sea-
side" convincing. It is a curious story and a pretty weak one.
Even a cast well stuffed with usually competent character actors couldn't
do much for "Bedside." There isn't much to be said for it. It's plot is as
preposterous as its picture of a physician's office is routine.
It is a sordid tale, rendered somewhat less than plausible by a cheap and
ill-devised plot in which the phoniness of the leading character is reflected
in the acting and writing. The picture is full of technical flaws; it is a
strained reaching for sensationalism.
journal: Even to one whose only knowledge of and contact with the medical
profession is an unpaid bill or two, the picture is a bit hard to believe. To
a doctor it would no doubt seem more than just curious.
World-Telegram: Although the film is sincerely gallant in its efforts to expose
this heinous practice, its pace is too ambling, its manner too theatrical, its
situations too melodramatic and its characters too artificial to make for
convincing or engrossing entertainment.
Sun:
Post:
Rian James Signs
3 Way Ticket at U'
Before J«'aving last night for New
York, BrtSn James signed a producing-
wri,tifTg-directing contract at Univer-
saf. His first picture will be the
next Lee Tracy starring vehicle. The
deal was made by the Schulberg-Feld-
man and Curney office.
James will return from New York
in about two weeks.
Term for Muriel Evans
Muriel Evans has been handed a
new term contract at MCM. She has
been assigned a role in "Manhattan
Melodrama," which W. S. Van Dyke
is directing.
Hedda Hopper Moves
Hedda Hopper is slated to return
to agency ranks, moving from the
John Zanft office into a similar berth
with the Rebecca and Silton office.
C B: Sets Claudia Dell
Claudia Dell was signed yesterday
by C. B. deMille for the role of Oc-
tavia in "Cleopatra" at Paramount.
Deal was set by Rebecca and Silton,
Clare Kummer to Para.
Handing in a screen play on "Hap-
pily Unmarried," Clare Kummer mov-
'ed yesterday from MCM to Paramount
where she will write a screen version
of her own play, "Her Master's
Voice." The William Morris office
piloted the change.
Raft-Lombard Again
With "Bolero," the Ceorge Raft-
Carole Lombard vehicle doing great
business all over the country. Para-
mount is preparing another story to
be titled "Rumba," in which Raft will
be starred and Miss Lombard will like-
ly play opposite.
Raphaelson at Fox
>
J
Exhibs After RCA
(Continued from Page I )
pects being a staggering nation-wide
series of suits in the event of exhibi-
tor victory.
Impetus was given the plans of the
RCA kickers yesterday by the news
from Washington that David Carrison
Berger, counsel for the National Elec-
tronic Protective Association, testified
before Clarence Darrow's Consumers'
Board with a definite charge against
General Electric Company of monopo-
listic practices with regards to electri-
cal and sound devices for the motion
picture industry.
Samson Raphaelson has been sign-
ed by Fox to write the screen play of
"QypSy Melody," which will be pro-
•dticed and directed by Eric Charell.
The Selznick-Joyce office made the
deal.
Nydia Westman to Col.
Nydia Westman was signed yester-
day by Columbia for a featured com-
edy role in the Grace Moore picture,
which Victor Schertzinger is direct-
ing. The Rebecca and Silton office
negotiated the deal.
Schildkraut at Para.
Joseph Schildkraut has been bor-
rowed from Columbia by Paramount
for a featured role in the Cecil B.
DeMille picture, "Cleopatra," in which
Claudette Colbert has the title role.
SUNSHINE
STAMPEDE
By DOTE FULTON
"The real saga of Florida . . . Swell
reading." — John Howard Lawson.
$2. MACAULAY
Marco and Skouras
Split; Former Sues
The long association of Marco and
the Skourases went on the rocks yes-
terday in a battle over theatre opera-
tion which was carried into court
when Jules Coldstone, acting for the
Capart Theatres, operated by Marco
and Milton Arthur, obtained an In-
junction against Fox West Coast, re-
straining Skouras from using the Ana-
heim Theatre Corporation to the al-
leged disadvantage of Marco's thea-
tre interests.
Superior Court Judge Collier granted I
the temporary restraining order, set-
ting next Wednesday for the hearing.
Battle between Marco and Skouras
broke out when the former claimed
that Anaheim Theatres, of which he
and Arthur own 49.9 per cent, was
being used in opposition to his inter-
ests in Capart Theatres. Fox West
Coast controls Anaheim with a 50.1
interest, Charles Buckley and Al Leeds
being named in the complaint with
Skouras. Anaheim operates a string
of theatres in Orange county and Mar-
co declares it unfair to have one com-
pany, partly owned by him, operating
to the detriment of his wholly owned
Capart.
Marco's injunction asks the court
to prevent the Fox West Coast opera-
tors from going through with a pro-
posal to transfer property in the Ana-
heim subsidiary to another newly
formed corporation.
Zanuck to Del Monte
Darryl Zanuck left last night for'
Del Monte to prepare for the final of
the California-High Goal polo cham-
pionship that is to be played there
Sunday.
Fagan on Way West
New York. — Myron C. Fagan is en
route to the west coast where he will
prepare for the opening there of his
play, "Memory." Helen Morgan will
be starred. She leaves here March 25.
Oliviers Abroad
New York. — Laurence Olivier and
Jill Esmond will sail today for London,
They staged a dinner party at the
Warwick last night.
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March 16, 1934
tMELODY
3 an
Perj.
court
rtlii
IN SPRING' HITS;
FOX 'HOIVEYMOOIV' POOR
Bouquets for Cast,
Director and Yarn
"MELODY IN SPRING"
( Paramount)
Direction Norman McLeod
Story Frank Leon Smith
Adaptation Benn W. Levy
Art Directors Hans Dreier
and Bernard Herzbrun
Photography Henry Sharp
Music by Lewis E. Censler
Lyrics by Harlan Thompson
Cast: Lanny Ross, Charlie Ruggles,
Mary Boland, Ann Sothern, George
Meeker, Herman Bing, Norma Mit-
chell, Helen Lynd, and Joan, Jane
and June Gale.
"Melody in Spring" is a light, en-
gaging bit of fluff, flecked with glo-
rious music and stiffened with brand
new, infallible comedy.
The picture is as lyrical as its title
and as refreshing as a cool breeze.
There are no ponderous moments, no
dramatic whys and wherefores, and
nothing much for the audience to do
except laugh and enjoy it.
The setting is charming — a small
Swiss village at the foot of the Alps,
famous for its musical cow-bells and
its traditional milking song. There go
Mr. and Mrs. Blodgett (Charlie Rug-
gles and Mary Boland) and their
daughter, Ann Sothern, the entire
family pursued by Lanny Ross, who
wants to win their cheeild and sing
over the Blodgett hour on the radio.
Mr. Blodgett is the world's largest
manufacturer of dog biscuits. Be-
sides this, he is an inveterate collec-
tor of bed knobs, old signs, pieces of
anything historical, and knick-knacks
in general. He will even go to the
extent of petty thievery to obtain a
forbidden object. To him, it is Col-
lecting. To the world, it is stealing,
which is why Mr. Blodgett lands in
jail so frequently.
It's all very amusing, especially
when Lanny Ross gives him a few tips
on snitching, and wins the daughter.
Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland
bolster up their reputation of being a
knock-out comedy team still more by
their superb work in this picture. Lan-
ny Ross' voice is beautiful. His acting
will undoubtedly improve with time.
Ann Sothern will be liked as Jane
Blodgett; George Meeker does well
with his role as her discarded fiance;
Herman Bing is funny as the proprie- ^^,
tor of the Swiss inn; Norma Mitchell ^^^^
makes a small part stand out as does
Helen Lynd, and Joan, Jane and June
Gale, triplets, are seen briefly.
Norman McLeod has given his di-
rection a light, deft touch. Frank
Leon Smith wrote the original amus-
ing story, and Benn W. Levy did right
by the adaptation. Hans Dreier and
Bernard Herzbrun deserve cheers for
their art direction, and Henry Sharp,
photographer, comes in for his share
of praise for the pictorial beauty of the
picture. Lewis E. Gensler, who wrote
the music, and Harlan Thompson, who
wrote the lyrics, contributed plenty to
the film.
Especially outstanding is the milk-
ing song number. And the audience
Billing and Cohning
Six sheet billing on the current
attraction at the Fairfax reads:
"Jack Holt and Fay Wray in 'Once
To Every Woman'." Holt's face ap-
pears in the picture in one scene
and then it's only his likeness on
an eight by ten publicity still. It's
a Columbia picture.
Lindsey Will Hear
Kicks in Groups
Because of the fact that so many of
the complaints of alleged film code
violations are of similar nature, Judge
Ben Lindsey, NRA Labor Compliance
Officer, took time out yesterday to
classify the 107 cases he has on hand.
He plans now to hear them in groups,
and the probability is that he will not
be ready to get under way until Mon-
day morning.
He is anxious to get these cases dis-
posed of as quickly as possible. That
is why he is going to hear them in
groups.
Unless the Judge changes his mind,
the first cases to be heard will be
those of extra players, who have de-
luged his office with complaints. With
these out of the way the complaints
of the various union groups will be
taken up.
Milestone to Direct
Smith Yarn for Col.
Harry Cohn yesterday concluded the
deal for the purchase of the Wallace
Smith novel, 'The Captain Hates the
Sea," paying $15,000.
Lewis Milestone has abandoned all
other story ideas temporarily and will
direct this as his first picture for Co-
lumbia. A deal is on for Smith to
write the screen adaptation of his
novel.
Enfield in Brady Play
Hugh Enfield was yesterday signed
by Alice Brady for her production of
"Biography," opening April 2, replac-
ing George Lewis, who was forced to
withdraw to take a screen engage-
ment.
New Novel for Warners
New York. — Warner Brothers have
purchased "The Story of a Country
s a Paul Muni possibility. The
novel, by Dawn Towell, will be pub-
lished next month by Farrar and Rine-
hart.
$5 Top on 'Rothschild'
New York. — It will be $5 top, un-
usual in the East, for the Palm Beach
opening of "The House of Rothschild"
on March 27. The Miami Beach open-
ing is set for March 24.
applauded vigorously at the "Open
Road" song.
The Ruggles-Boland setup, and en-
thusiastic word of mouth advertising,
will bring in the cash customers, to
say nothing of the Ross voice, which
is swell.
Zasu Pitts High
Spot of Picture
"THREE ON A HONEYMOON'
(Fox)
Direction James Tinling
Novel by Ishbel Ross
Screen Play....Raymond Van Sickle
and E. T. Lowe, Jr.
Dialog George Wright
Photography Joseph Valentine
and Arthur Arling
Dance Direction David Gould
Producer John Stone
Cast: Sally Filers, Charles Starrett,
Zasu Pitts, Henrietta Crosman, John
Mack Brown, Irene Hervey, How-
ard Lally, Cornelius Keefe, Winn
Shaw.
It seems too bad that such a fine
actress as Zasu Pitts should have to
carry the load in such a mediocre pic-
ture as this one. Zasu definitely
saves the day for Fox with her in-
comparably fascinating personality and,
while the audience lolled through a
badly put together yarn, it woke up
every time Zasu appeared and laughed
tumultuously at her slightest gesture
and even applauded her in spots.
The story is one in which the fath-
er of a young madcap girl, Sally Filers,
sends her on a cruise around the world
to take some of her self-will out of
her. She chases a handsome ship's
officer who behaves like a cad. But,
even though he insults her as often
as he can, they are eventually brought
together. Zasu also gets her man.
Mixed up in it all is a dull black-
mail plot, followed by a suicide, which
could easily have been a murder,
judging from the story two sequences
previous. All in all, pretty bad.
Henrietta Crosman gives a finished
and amusingly consistent characteriza-
tion of an intelligent woman of the
world. Miss Filers looks conventional-
ly pretty, but fails to be convincing,
perhaps due to the story.
Stanley Corbett, Hurt
On Set, Gravely III
Stanley Corbett was seriously injur-
ed in the last scene of Ken Maynard's
"Doomed To Die'' early Wednesday
morning and taken to Universal's
emergency hospital.
He contracted double pneumonia
there and yesterday was removed to
the Cedars of Lebanon hospital where
his condition was reported as critical.
Bert Clennon at Fox
Bert Clennon, who recently finish-
ed the photography of "The Scarlet
Empress," the Marlene Dietrich pic-
ture for Paramount, has been signed
by Fox to handle the camera on
"Grand Canary," which Irving Cum-
mings will direct.
'Mr. Sweeney' Finishing
Edward Ludwig is now winding up
the final sequences of Warners'
"Friends of Mr. Sweeney," in which
Charles Ruggles, Ann Dvorak, Eugene
Pallette and Berton Churchill are fea-
tured.
By BURNEY
A publicity blurb sent out by Dou-
bleday, Doran (book publishers) on
Lois Montross, author of "The Perfect
Pair" (which probably belongs in the
Writers' Number) comments on the
assertion of Lois "that she works eas-
ier and naore diligently when her pet
monkey sits by her typewriter." . . .
This astounding piece of business,
which does indeed make the lady and
her pet a perfect pair, ought to put
encouraging ideas into the heads of
notable authors suffering from spring
fever. . . . For instance, the sugges-
tion-— why not go down to the barn
and sit down with pencil and pad
amongst the pigs and chickens — or
how about a visit to the lion house
at the zoo!
•
Representative Dickstein's bill in
Congress to bar alien actors, while
well-intentioned, is raising the very
dickens. ... In New York, Emile
Cauvreau writing an editorial believes
that Dickstein's good intentions would
be carried to a point of absurdity by
empowering the Secretary of Labor
to sit as sole judge of the genius and
ability of foreign artists, since excep-
tions to the ban would only be made
m cases of distinguished merit and
ability. . . . Further, Gauvreau claims
if such a law had always been in
force, America would never have had
the privilege of knowing such artists
as Bernhardt, Modjeska, Sir Beerbohm
Tree, Mme. Sorel, Evelyn Laye, Sir
Henry Irving, George Arliss, Lynn Fon-
tanne, Leslie Howard, Chaplin, Na-
zimova, Roland Young, Greta Carbo,
Eva Le Gallienne and countless others.
... In the picture industry Sam Gold-
wyn appears to be the only one to
have spoken up in agreement . . .
what have the others to say.-*
•
Rodolfo Acosta, pen and brush ar-
tist who formerly flattered the mugs
of Brown Derby-ites in Hollywood, is
now devoting his talents to The Mer-
ry-Go-Round in New York, one of
the more novel and intriguing night
spots. . . . Aiding and abetting him
in novelty entertainment are Sue Hast-
ing's excellent puppet show burlesques
of Greta Garbo, Jimmy Durante, Mae
West and Ed Wynn. . . . Interesting,
the way in which Broadway picture
houses are keeping close check on
each other's business. . . . There has
always been clocking of a sort be-
tween competing theatres, but it is
down to such a fine point that at any
given hour of the day the N. Y. Para-
mount Theatre can tell you how many
people have gone into the Music Hall
and vice versa.
•
Guthrie McClintic is taking bows
for the general excellence of his pro-
duction, "Yellow Jack," at the Mar-
tin Beck, and Joe Mielziner likewise
for his technical achievement in pro-
jecting the play against one setting —
employing light and shadow for the
changing scenes — done in the best
manner of the Greek Theatre. . . .
Doug Jr. is said to be enjoying the
distinction of being the only man in
London to wear zipper pants.
Page Four
THE
March 16, 1934
lliit*
Academy Banquet
Tonight a Sell-out
Publicity directors and other studio
representatives spent most of yester-
day afternoon at the Academy offices,
battling among themselves over the
seating arrangements for tonight's
Avk^ards Banquet at the Ambassador.
In the past years Academy officials
have arranged where the various
guests should sit. There have always
been plenty of squawks after the af-
fair. This year someone hit on the
idea of letting the studios have their
own men do the arranging and take
the yowls from those who always want
to sit right up front.
The big problem yesterday was the
fact that there were many more reser-
vations than there will be chairs. Ex-
tra chairs have been added, but the
telephone calls for more seats made
the banquet officials feel sad.
Dorothy Dell III
Dorothy Dell, who is playing the
lead in "Little Miss Marker" for the
B. P. Schuiberg unit at Paramount,
has been confined to her home with
laryngitis. The studio is shooting
around her until she returns.
Yarn for Gloria Stuart
Carl Laemmie Jr. has purchased
"Long Live The Queen," a French
novel by Sada Lardin, and will adapt
it as a starring vehicle for Gloria
Stuart.
Adela Back to Para.
New York. — ^Adela Rogers St. John
is on her way to California to report
to Paramount on a writing ticket.
AGEXTS MEET TO SOFTEX
LABOR COMMISSION RULES
Representatives of ten leading
agencies met with Attorney Ralph
Blum yesterday to draw up a plan of
defense against the drastic supervision
proposed by the Labor Commission. A
legal committee, headed by Austin
Sherman, will present the findings
Wednesday at the Commission's hear-
ing.
The Blum group decided to work
towards defense of the entire field,
since every individual's business is at
stake. The smaller agents are not be-
ing called in, although they will auto-
matically benefit by any accomplish-
ments of the group.
The meeting discussed a rough draft
of proposed revisions in the Labor
Commission's pending rules and regu-
lations controlling agents' relations
with their clients.
It is understood that a plan is up
for the formation of an association of
large offices, representing the bulk of
the important artists. This will be
outside of the dormant Artists Mana-
gers Association. It was pointed out
that the Labor Commission emergency
is welding the bigger agents into a
single solid body demanding such an
association.
Offices attending the meeting were
William Morris Agency, Schuiberg-
Feldman and Gurney, M. C. Levee,
Rebecca and Silton, Phil Berg, Frank
and Dunlap, Selznick and Joyce, Col-
lier and Wallis, Small-Landau, Harry
Wurtzel.
Maybe Hiding
Warners did a lot of explaining
to Earl Baldwin yesterday over for-
getting he had something to do
with "Wonder Bar" in the pre-
miere introductions. It seems that
no one knew that Earl was in the
house.
J
oan Blondell Cast
For Role in 'Dames'
Warners yesterday assigned Joan
Blondell to one of the leads in
"Dames," which has Ruby Keeler and
Dick Powell in the top spots.
Busiby Berkeley has already started
preparing the dance numbers and
Archie Mayo will handle the dramatic
sequences when he finishes "The
Dark Tower" in two weeks.
Bette Davis Gets Lead
Warners yesterday assigned Bette
Davis to the lead opposite Ricardo
Cortez in "Beware of Imitations," the
Carl Erickson story formerly called
"Self Portrait." Patricia Ellis was set
in a featured role. Robert Florey di-
rects.
Gollomb at Columbia
Joseph Gollomb has completed his
deal with Paramount and journeys over
to Columbia on a writing contract
which went through the William Mor-
ris office. Writer collaborated on
"Murder at the Vanities," "Private
Scandal" and a Bayard Veiiler idea at
Paramount.
New Agency Charter
Certificate of incorporation was is-
sued yesterday to the Harry DeShon-
Mace Nayior Agency, attorneys Con-
roy and Conroy putting it through.
Rothackers Abroad
New York. — W. R. Rothacker, ac-
companied by his wife and daughter,
sailed for Europe last night.
Lasky Wants Evans i
For 'Grand CanaryT
Jesse L. Lasky is negotiating withi
MGM for the loan of Madge Evans .
for the lead opposite Warner Baxter
in "Grand Canary," which Irivng :
Cummings will direct.
Heather A^gel, who was spotted in
the role, has been taken out and will
be given another assignment.
Mississippi River
Story for Hornblow
Arthur Hornblow's next production
following "Pursuit of Happiness" for
Paramount, will be a story with a
Mississippi River background, titled
"Mississippi."
Henry Myers has been signed by
the studio to develop an original story.
Code Authority Invited
(Continued from Page 1 )
to national headquarters. They will be
forwarded to Hollywood where the
code committee, headed by Fred S.
Meyer, wlil undertake to have the
answers ready. All labor problems will
be handled by a committee headed by
Jack Miller. Committees will devote
their time exclusively to Code prob-
lems.
TO MY FAITHFUL FRIENDS AND BALLOT-STUFFERS
THANK YOU
PRESTON ST URGES
534
March 16. 1934
Page Five
for-
)re.
m
THE REASON
have M. C. Levee as my
manager is because he is
the onl/ man who doesn't ask
me how I get my ideas
SAYS
BUSBY
BERKELEY
AND
HIS MANAGEMENT OFFERS:
Personal Representation
(and I mean Personal)
Secretarial Services
Business Administration
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity & Exploitation
DICK POWELL
Will Tell You WHY he is a "Levee" client
IN MONDAY'S
POKTEIt
tuimt wui wi loiw
OPEX FORL'M
The Hollywood Reporter:
Have just finished reading "The
Sad Saga of a Strike Breaker" which
appeared in your "Open Forum" —
March 9.
I would like to state publicly that,
the newest recruits in the picture
business have always been the source
of "squawks." In the past, men
like myself have spent a lifetime help-
ing the picture business progress to
its present magnitude. We took the
lean with the fat, — without any croc-
odile tears, and were finally rewarded
with jobs at the best of pay under
good conditions. Our "investment"
was paying dividends.
Then, sound entered this serene
picture and brought in a new group of
technicians whom we had to accept
as being as necessary to the business
as ourselves. They affiliated with
our group, — a group who had gone
through pioneering hardships, bound
together by an OATH of allegiance.
A small group of these new recruits
got into difficulty with one of the stu-
dios and promptly yelled for HELP —
with capital letters! Five thousand
men, like myself, with No Kick, had
to leave good jobs that took us years
to attain, on their account.
Contrary to appearances, we were
not actuated by any disloyalty to our
employers or the business we helped
to create! We were satisfied with our
share of the profits of the business
and did not WANT to walk out! But,
— we were bound by an OATH to
stick to fellow craftsmen.
Errors of judgment have been com-
mitted by everyone in this business
from the front office to the back yard
but no veteran, — whether he be pro-
ducer or prop man, stops to cry! I
walked out and lost a good job, — my
income now averaging $25 a week
as compared to $125. So what?
"Sucker"? Maybe you're right!
But, — I can't find myself sobbing over
the "squawks" of a fellow who has
not really added anything to the busi-
ness. After all, he merely found him-
self a job in a business it took a lot
of us considerable sweat and missing
of meals to build.
The pioneers and veterans in pic-
tures,— producers, extras, prop men,
etc. — could engulf him in tears if we
wanted to recount "tough" breaks
and sing the blues.
So, — give the boy a "hankie" or a
time-table and have it "Quiet!" so
we can go ahead and and shoot!
Furthermore, you don't have to
WITHHOLD the signature of one who
is still glad he's in the picture busi-
ness after 1 5 years experience as unit-
manager, assistant director, prop man
and what have you.
Sincerely,
ROBERT (BOB) WEBB.
Bennett-King Prods.
Split; King Goes Solo
Bennett-King Productions does a
fade-out with John King parting com-,
pany from Sol Lessor as a result of
recent arguments over releasing con-
tracts through Principal Pictures Out-
fit made two of six pictures slated t<^
star the dog, Kazan. .'f
King will continue production with'
the dog on his own and is lining up_
distribution arrangements, operating
from the California studio.
'Gallant Sir'
Goes Hollywood
Mark Kelly, Gene Fowler and
Harry Brand held a meeting in the
Vendome yesterday to discuss the
big race at Caliente Sunday and
sent out the following bulletin af-
ter that confab:
"Gallant Sir, the favorite of last
week, will not be in the money.
The horse has gone Hollywood and
his marriage will be announced in
a couple of days."
MCM to Release 6
Big Ones in6Wks.
New York. — MGM is lining up to
fire with both barrels for the second
half of the season. Definite release
dates have been set for the following
line-up of specials:
March 30, "Rip Tide"; April 6,
"Tarzan and His Mate"; April 13,
"Laughing Boy"; April 20, "Holly-
wood Party"; April 27, "Sadie Mc-
Kee"; May 4, "Operator 13."
Hull Will Finish Run
Of Tobacco Road'
Signing the contracts yesterday
through the Edington and Vincent of-
fice. Universal granted Henry Hull the
right to continue with "Tobacco Road"
in New York for the run of the play
instead of bringing him out immedi-
ately.
Tentative date for his arrival is June
5, the studio meanwhile going into a
story hunt for his first vehicle.
McLean on Fields Pic
Douglas MacLean yesterday took
over the supervisory reins on "The
Debutante," Ralph Spence's original,
and will whip it into shape as a W. C.
Fields starring vehicle. Story sale was
made by Harry DeShon.
Armstrong in 'Hell Cat'
Robert Armstrong was signed by
Columbia yesterday for the leading
role in "Hell Cat," which goes into
work Monday under Al Rogell's di-
rection, Sid Rogell is supervising.
Aline MacMahon East
Finishing her work in "The Happy
Family" in a few days. Aline Mac-
Mahon leaves March 20 for a vacation
in New York. She will be away a
little over a month.
Gateson Flies East
Marjorie Gateson hopped a plane
for New York to see her mother, who
is seriously ill. MGM is shooting
around her in "Operator 13" until
she returns.
'Catherine' at Rivoli
New York. — "Catherine the Great"
opens Tuesday at the Rivoli, and ca-
pacity business that will be reminis-
cent of the good old days is expected.
Kelly-Dinehart at V
Universal yesterday signed Paul*
Kelly and Alan Dinehart for featured
roles in "The Humbug," which Max
Marcin is directing.
Page Six
March 16, 1934
HOVSE OF ROTHSCHILD'
DRAWS CHORDS OF RAVES
New York. — The local newspaper
critics dusted off the dictionaries and
began looking for adjectives when
they started writing their reviews of
Twentieth Century's "The House of
Rothschild," starring George Arliss.
It has been a long time since the
critics have so universally agreed on a
picture. They have tabbed it as sim-
ply great and advise their readers to
go to see it. Some excerpts from re-
views follow:
Mordant Hall, Times: George Arliss
outshines any performance he has con-
tributed to the screen.
Rose Peiswick, Evening Journal:
Timely, brilliant and filmed with mag-
nificent dignity . . . written and di-
rected with intelligence and taste . . .
George Arliss gives the finest perform-
ance he has yet contributed to the
screen."
Kate Cameron, Daily News: Four
stars . . . George Arliss has never
equalled his playing of the double role
in Twentieth Century's most elaborate
production.
Regina Crewe, American: The rise
of the Rothschilds is pictured with
glamorous beauty and stirring drama in
this latest and greatest contribution of
George Arliss to the cinema. ... A
tower of entertainment.
Daily Mirror: This brave picture is
the most impressive film the great Ar-
liss ever made.
Richard Watts, Herald-Tribune: A
vigorous and arresting hymn of praise
to a valiant family.
PLAZA
to>
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Sptcial weekly and monthly raltt
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "builc for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
Th< "Doorway of Hoipilality"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
Cameramen See
ASC-Union Peace
Some cameramen are figuring
that there may be more than mere
talk to the rumor that there is a
plan afoot for a cooperating agree-
ment between the ASC and Local
659, lATSE, They base their guess
on the fact that one of the first
men to be placed in a camera berth
by the new ASC agency is a mem-
ber of the board of executives of
the union.
'Practical Joker' Goes
Into Work at Warners
Edward Laemmie puts "Practical
Joker," a Stanley Bergerman produc-
tion, into work today at Universal,
with Chester Morris and Marian Nixon
in the leads.
Others in the cast are Alan Mow-
bray, John Wray, Henry Armetta,
Walter Woolf, Charles E. Coleman,
Edward Earle, Wallis Clark, Carl Mil-
ler, Gay Seabrook, Jane Darwell and
Huntley Gordon. Gordon was set by
Menifee I. Johnstone.
Ann Dvorak Set
Ann Dvorak replaced Margaret
Lindsay as the feminine lead opposite
Richard Barthelmess in "The Old Doll's
House," which went into work yes-
terday at Warners with Alan Crosland
directing. Miss Lindsay has not yet
recovered sufficiently from her recent
operation to return to work.
D Arcy Up for Old Role
Roy D'Arcy, original heavy in the
silent version of "The Merry Widow,"
is up for the Lubtisch-Chevalier edi-
tion at MGM with the possibility he
will re-enact his old role.
HOLLYWOOD
66 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Alice White
Nothing much to rave over in the
April Hollywood, but some of the
stories are quite good.
Read "Is Suocess Ruining Hep-
burn?" by Ruth Biery; "You Don't
Know Bill Cargan," by Clark Warren;
"Peg Runs Away," (Margaret Sulla-
van) by Jerry Lane, and "Laughing
Lady" (Colleen Moore) by Maude
Chatham.
Other stories are "The Women In
My Life," by Bing Crosby; "The Man
Who Died," by J. Eugene Chrisman,
an interesting account of Edward G.
Robinson's terrifying experience;
"Garbo Finds Lov6," anonymous;
"Rudy's Vagabond Dreams," by Alyce
Curtis; a double yarn by Jerry Lane in
which Claudette Colbert says "Marry
Young," and Dick Arlen says "Don't";
and "She Finishes What She Starts," a
story of Joan Blondell's good sports-
manship, by Mary Nye.
MOTION PICTURE
1 60 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Katharine Hep-
burn and Robert Young
The April Motion Picture holds up
this magazine's reputation for having
good, new stuff in it that isn't spread
through all the other ones.
"You Can't Kill Those Rumors,"
by Whitney Williams, has a lot of
laughs in it; Helen Hays is original
in "Movies Have Done More For Me
Than The Stage," by Julia Chandler;
Clark Gable offers something to think
about in "Movie Acting Is The Easiest
Job In the World," by Gladys Hall;
the same author writes a dramatic
story about Sylvia Sidney this month
in her "Untold Secrets of the Stars"
series; and Eric L. Ergenbright has a
distinctly new yarn in "Why Don't
YOU Go To The Movies More Often?"
Dorothy Donnell writes "Sex Ap-
peal— and the Clothes You Wear,"
a swell Spring feature; Sonia Lee has
S^ Broadca«lf,«.STAGE.i.KHJ^^
I BORDEN FRIDAY FROLIC |
g^ at 8:45 TONIGHT ^
^n.'.;.:i "
*tOMC ON^
MARINES
RICHARD ARLEN
IDA LUPINO
IIOSCOE ll«>ll$-MOIITE HUE
30' W^J
TO I P M W'A.
40'-50'
b(.. ...
IVtNINGS
•
IT
FANCHON 6^ MARCO
prwscnt
SOLD MAESTRO
»
^^^
"You Don't Need Beauty toi Be a
Star"; Winifred Aydelotte rounds up
society in "Hollywood Goes High-
Hat"; Sara Haardt, who is Mrs. H. L.
Mencken, writes "Hollywood Stars
Have Their Hobbies"; Jerry Lane tells
"At Last — the Truth About Warner
Baxter's Private Life," and Lee Town-
send wanders over the various lots
making predictions in "Newcomers
Today — Stars Tomorrow?"
MOVIE MIRROR
96 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Joan Blondell
(Warners)
Movie Mirror, the only film maga-
zine edited from Hollywood, warrants
the experiment. The April number is
swell. Good stories, good writers, good
make-up.
"And That's How Talkies Are
Born," by Arthur Kober, is slyly amus-
ing; Nina Wilcox Putnam's "Glenda
Farrell's Hidden Romance," and Faith
Baldwin's "Hollywood's Loneliest Peo-
ple," are both movingly written;
Virginia Bruce tells Jerry Asher "Why
Our Marriage Failed," and is extremely
fair about it; Leslie Howard offers
"Doug Jr. As I Know Him"; Gladys
Hall takes a pretty thin idea and
makes a good story out of it in "For-
bidden Loves of Hollywood"; Mary
Sharon has a good yarn, "Clark Gable
Tells About The Greatest Thing In
Life"; Virginia T. Lane writes about
"Janet Gaynor's Great Friendship,"
(Margaret Lindsay) and Sonia Lee
has "What Jean Parker Taught Mary
Carlisle," in which Miss Carlisle talks
quite a bit and earnestly, too.
Marquis Busby's "Wha d'ya Mean,
BIG TOWN!" is amusing. Muriel
Babcock tells about Lewis Stone
in "Romantic at Fifty"; Jack Jamison
interviews Gene Raymond in "A Gen-
tleman of the Old School"; George
Madden offers "Bing Crosby and Rich-
ard Arlen Tell On Each Other," which
is old stuff now; and Dorothy Emer-
son contributes a fictionization of
"Laughing Boy."
Mayor LaCuardia Will
install Brandt in Office
New York. — None other than
Mayor LaGuardia will induct Harry
Brandt into office as the president of
the Independent Theatre Owners As-
sociation at a banquet on March 19.
WHITET
)X FllMS
>' TRIUMPH
of hisBLUJE RIBBON
RADIO HOUR
RUDY VALLEE- JIMMY DURANTE
ALICE FAYE -CUFF EDWARDS
: .***ND. JOO 5CAN-DOli!S . .
.'Sscticiosiiir
;j,--.nc->..,: ,
Page Seven
Florence Desmond back in the me-
tropolis for a pic, and she's brought
with her a booful solid gold telephone
studded with diamonds, from a play-
boy boy-friend who wants her to call
him some time! . . . John Cousins,
former cutter, will take up the mega-
phone for a noo concern this side;
yeah, it's exclusive. . . . Maurice Ev-
ans, Robert Douglas and Tom Helmore,
British leading men, all own dry-
cleaning shops as a sort of side-line
against the depression. . . . Eddie Dry-
hurst, associated with the Virginia
Cherrill quickie here, is burned be-
cause he arranged a party for Cherrill
after the pic and she and Cary showed
up two hours late and then scrammed
after ten minutes! What do you say,
Cherrie?
David Bader and T. Hayes Hunter,
just a coupla 'Merican movie guys,
talking it over in Wardour Street; the
long and short of it. . . . Merle Oberon
happened along to the Coward first
night and grabbed almost as much
space as the show did the next day!
. . . Timmie Whelan called Frank
Joyce on the phone and suggested he
made reservations on the new British
Cunarder; she ought to be ready for
a maiden trip about the Fall of 1936;
kind of a mean crack, huh? . . . This
week's cuppa cawfee goes to Vic Mil-
ner for his photography on "All of
Me," and we want to borrow Mister
Winchell's orchid for Freddie Young,
who lit the new Neagle pic, "Queen's
Affair"; swell job, Freddie! Local boy
makes good.
•
The Jack Votions and the Harold M.
Youngs hopped boats to be present at
the Belgium funeral. . . . Lloyd Knech-
tel grabbing special shots for RKO-
Radio and holding up Piccadilly to get
'em! . . . Anna May Wong giving Bond
Street and the Bond Street crowd a
break by strolling down same, awful
slowly! . . . You made the front page
with that disappearance act, Ginger
Rogers, and maybe you don't realize
how the press boys like you this side.
. . . O — -Oh, Mister Sidney Lanfield,
why did Connie wear that goshawful
hat in "Moulin Rouge"? . . . June
Inverclyde and Lothar Mendes like
the Savoy Grill a lot, don't they? . . .
Oriel Ross, Maurice Elvey, Cyril Gard-
ner, Connie Veidt and Marjorie Mars
also there wining and dining the other
eve. . . . Chili Bouchier goes legit in
Cochran's "Magnolia Street" and
Romney Brent is directing the Tom-
son Twins production, "Why Not To-
night?"
•
Maybe Michael Farmer didn't want
to meet Gloria Gra.fton here, and may-
be she didn't snub him?! . . . Dora
Joyce returned from Paris with a
handful of clothes and stories of the
French riots. . . . John Howard Law-
son's "Success Story" a hit and moved
to a bigger theatre. Tell us why
they did not pull a "Porgy" act in the
"Duck Soup" Harlem spiritual skit,
with effect lighting and so on — shad-
ows on the wall, etc. It would have
been even better; what do you think,
Rouben Mamoulian? . . . Marion Har-
ris back in town and filmland's elite
happy again.
1 5 of 26 Paris Houses
Show American Pix
Paris. — American pictures are
greatly in the ascendency in Paris,
1 5 out of the 26 first-run theatres
showing films from the United
States. Of the others, six are
showing French pictures, two have
English and two have French-Ger-
man.
Laura LaPlante and
Ian Hunter As Team
London. — "Church Mouse," which,
as a play, was presented by Gerald
du Maurier some time ago, is to be
made as a picture at Warners' Ted-
dington studio, with Laura LaPlante
and Ian Hunter in the leads. Monty
Banks will direct.
Following this, Ralph Ince will di-
rect and play in a screen version of
"No Escape," from a screen play by
Scott Darling.
Italian Firm Building
New Studio at Milan
Rome. — A new studio is being
erected at Milan for the Nazional
Fono-Film Company. All the sound
equipment will be of Italian or other
European make.
It is anticipated that there will be
a close affiliation between the new
studio and the producers in Germany.
Pathe-Natan Launching
French History Film
Paris. — Pathe-Natan is making a
retrospective picture, planned as na-
tional propaganda. It will be one of
those productions filled with instruc-
tive details of which the French are
so fond.
It will tell the history of the French
people from 1 789 to the present time.
Short-Reel Theatres
Successful in Sweden
Stockholm. — The movement
towards short-reel theatres, similar to
the American newsreel houses, is
spreading all over Sweden. Already
many theatres are operating with this
policy and all seem to be successful.
New MCM Swedish Head
Stockholm. — Eric Hultman, for
years in the Swedish film trade, has
been appointed manager of the Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer office here.
Vincent Korda, of London Films,
and L. P. Williams, of B and D, are
turning out some lovely art directorial
jobs; British producers beginning to
realize that sumptuous settings often
help the production value of a fillyum.
. . . Hints to that West End house
always in the "red": build some pay
booths as near the sidewalk as you
can, play hit attractions and have a
fixed policy — and there is no charge
for the above information.
Dutch Strong for
American Films
Washington. — American motion
picture films made notable progress
in the Netherlands during the last
year, according to Vice Consul W. M.
Chase, at Amsterdam. Although a
part of the popularity of American
films was due to the restriction on
German motion pictures, the releasing
of a number of American pictures
which greatly appealed to the Dutch
public was a potent factor.
There are approximately 310 mo-
tion picture theatres in the Nether-
lands, of which 246 have been wired
for sound. Two new theatres were
opened in Amsterdam during the past
year, one in The Hague and one in
Schiedam.
Only American and German fea-
ture pictures have been shown in the
Netherlands in any large numbers.
Two moving pictures were produced
by Dutch companies during 1933,
neither one of which achieved any
particular success.
Boost Tariff in India
Calcutta. — The British House of
Commons here has voted to double
the duty on imports of foreign pic-
tures. Present duty is $20 a reel.
New duty will be $40 per reel. It is
believed to be aimed principally at
American films.
New Argentine Para Chief
New York. — John Nathan sails
from here on March 24 to take charge
of Paramount's distribution in Argen-
tine.
British Forum
Elstree, England, Feb. 21, 1934
Hollywood Reporter:
You have lately given gratifying
favorable reviews to two of our re-
cent films — "The Night After"
(known here as "I Spy") and "You
Made Me Love You." Apparently in
neither case were production details
given on the screen and I think per-
haps you may be interested to have
this information:
"The Night After." — Direction and
adaptation, Allan Dwan; story, Fred
Thompson; scenario, Arthur Woods;
photography, James Wilson; sound re-
cording, George Adams; art direction,
Wilfred Arnold; film editor, Leslie
Norman. Sidney Baynes and his broad-
casting orchestra.
"You Made Me Love You." — Di-
rection, Monty Banks; story, Stanley
Lupino; scenario, Frank Launder; pho-
tography, John J. Cox; art direction,
David Rawnsley; sound recording, A.
E. Rudolph; film editor, A. S. Bates;
musical direction, Harry Acres. The
songs, "What's Her Name" and "Why
Can't We," written and composed by
Noel Gay, Stanley Lupino and Clifford
Grey.
Yours faithfully,
WALTER C. MYCROFT,
Director of Production
for British International Pictures Ltd.
P.S. — I notice that "The Night Af-
ter" was incorrectly described in the
Hollywood Reporter as a British-Gau-
mont film.
The Vendome
IS NOW OPEN UNTIL
MIDNIGHT
All the branches of this establishment will be
kept open for your service.
THE WINE SHOP
THE FOOD STORE
THE RESTAURANT
And you may phone in your orders for instant
deliveries at any time up to
MIDNIGHT
HO-1666
Univcrs
o\
WCWTl CBIiTC
PAUL
LUKAS
FAY
WRAY
Patsy Kelly . • Reg'
inald Owen . . Robt. McWade
Stanley
Bergerman
production
DIRECTED BY
KARL FREUND
A Universal
Picture
3rd ANNUAL
vj.^M NUMBER
Wm.
Anthony
McCuire
UNIVERSAL
CURRENT PRODUCTION
"LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?"
IN THIS ISSUE — Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Sidney Sutherland . . Ainsworth
Morgan . . William Anthony McCuire
. Stanley Rauh . . Wilbur Daniel
Steele . . Laird Doyle . . Cene Fowler
. . Boris Ingster . . Sylvia Thalberg . .
Dore Sehary . . Vera Caspary . . Rob-
ert Pirosh . . Frederica Sagor and
Ernest Maas . . Nat J. Ferber.
Hiss! Boom!! Blah!!
AN AMERICAN THREE ACT COMEDY OF SOME MAD YEARS IN FIFTY SCENES
BY
GEORGE MIDDLETON
First stage produ
week of April
a^i^^^^HI
THE DRAMATISTS-
SIR ARTHUR PINERO: "I am fully alive to the earnestness of purpose
and extraordinary skill with which you have built up the work."
GEORGE M. COHAN: "I'll bet that play will be talked about years
from now. It certainly shoots along in the reading. What a title!"
GEORGE S. KAUFMAN: "I read it with great interest — that sort of
thing is my dish, in the first place, and you were just mad enough
to make it even more so. It's exciting, and red hot, and the
country needs it more than a whole box of five cent cigars."
OWEN DAVIS: "Strong, vital and full of enthusiasm."
JOHN DRINKWATER: "I have read it with great interest and pleas-
ure. I like its attack and fine indignation ... It ought to make
an exciting effect on the stage."
ARTHUR RICHMAN: "The tenseness and compression of the dialogue
was magnificent. The extraordinary thing is that he was able to
make a play on the level of a profound discussion while packing
each scene with such vital and exciting drama."
ST. JOHN ERVl'NE: "I have just read it with immense interest and
even greater consternation ... it will test the quality of the finest
director in America. I would like very much to see it performed."
MARTIN FLAVIN: "An extremely interesting cross section of Ameri-
can manners and morals in a technique quite new to the theatre."
JULES ECKERT GOODMAN: "It is a fine job — a great moving play."
CHANNING POLLOCK: "My congratulations on your new play and
especially on your temerity in writing it. Of the validity and co-
gency of your picture there can be no doubt."
PERCY MACKAYE: "Provocative, radical, sincere — in its dynamic
sense of life and theatre — this play represents the virile maturity
of George Middleton's art."
A. E. THOMAS: "A dramatic and thrilling statement of events leading
up to the present situation in America."
AUSTIN STRONG: "It has life and a passionate spirit in the telling."
S. N. BEHRMAN: "It has great humor and gusto and while it is
often very moving, its terrific pace and the vigor of its characteri-
zation keep it from being turgid. It is constantly alive.
I
THE PRESS-
(a few early notices)
PERCY HAMMOND (In New York Tribune): "Mr. Middleton eyes
this wayward era critically, turns it across his knee and trounces
it more in irony than in anger. ... It is a blunt and vicious though
airy satire . . (an) earnest, exciting and reforming play."
WALL STREET JOURNAL: "The play is interesting as one of the few
attempts to deal broadly with this period without propaganda and
with a critical satirical intent. ... It is a conglomeration wherein
personalities are lost in the swift pace and excitement of a boiling
mass of scenes. It is a spectacle, a parade of emotions, vulgari-
ties, prejudices, weaknesses, stupidities — a vast rough canvas of
the madness of America at war, America insane with profits, of
America in fear and famine. ... It is a satirical picture of vigor
and variety."
BROOKLYN EAGLE: "The vivid dialogue and the speed of the action
make the piece pass with unusual celerity . . . the humor is sar-
donic, seldom without a desire to sting."
WASHINGTON STAR: "Surely this is something which every mature
American will thoroughly enjoy and understand. ... It is clever
and interesting from first to last."
SIDNEY WILLIAMS (Philadelphia Inquirer: "Strangely called a com-
edy, it is a bitter indictment of both the propaganda of business
and the propaganda of patriotism. ... Its mood is unquestionably
popular and the writing vigorous."
BOSTON GLOBE: "There is plenty of swift action as various public
questions are presented in striking original form. It is a power-
fully dramatic presentation of matters confronting the United
States as viewed by different active and determined people."
WORCESTER TELEGRAM: "It is an astonishing play . . . here we see I
life rushing before us as it has rushed since I 91 7 ... it is all as ■
intensely real as life itself." j
OAKLAND TRIBUNE: "He has lost nothing of his cunning as a
dramatist."
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL: "Studded with epigrams and political aphor- ^ ^
isms."
LITERARY DIGEST: Worth reading "
CAPITAL TIMES (Madison) : "From the background of his long and
successful experience in the art of play making, he has produced
in his new play a valuable piece of work."
$1.50 At all bookstores $1.50
PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL FRENCH
LOS ANGELES
LONDON
NEW YORK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
It Ruins Their Art .
Nat J. Ferber
4
X-Ray
Arthur Hornblow
5
Reporter's Note Book
Sidney Sutherland
7
Fairway to Arntz
Ainsworth Morgan
9
Should Writers Produce?
Wm. Anthony McCuire
11
Preview Annie ....
Stanley Rauh
13
The Story Conference
Wilbur Daniel Steele
15
'Sa Racket
Laird Doyle
17
Sense or Censors
Gene Fowler
19
Cinema in France
Boris Ingster
21
The Creative Art
Sylvia Thalberg
23
Men in White ....
Dore Schary
25
Don't Write Originals
Vera Caspary
27
Writer's Big Problem
Robert Pirosh
29
Four Complaints
Frederica Sagor and
Ernest Maas
35
Published and copyriPhted by THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd. Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of Publication. 6717 Sunset Eoulevard. Hollywood (Los Angeles), Cali-
fornia. Telephone Hollywood 3957 Published every day with the exception of Sundiys and Holidays. Subscription rates, including postage, per year in the United States and
Canada, $10. Foreign. 515. Single copies 5c. Entered as second class matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office at Los Aneeles, under the act of March 3, 1879.
It Koiii® Their Art
s.
By
NAT J. FERBER
'OME of my best friends are writ-
ing for pictures. I knew them when
they were mere highbrows. I have
fed them strudel, solace and fortitude.
When a tall-templed scrivener is
about to "sell his soul" to Hollywood
he needs solace, the ointment to his
goose-flesh.
Get me straight. I am not con-
cerned with the vulgar fry who betray
their art at thirty cents a word and
use golden toothpicks. The pen wield-
ers whose tears bedewed my coat la-
pels were in for the "finer things" in
exclusive magazines dedicated to lofty
ideals.
I am thinking of Frank Handel
Swane, nee Schwein, the greater
O'Neill (self-styled) ; also of M. Jef-
ferson Kupdrayer. The latter, in near-
ly majestic prose, authored an "ideal-
ized" novel based on the boudour pe-
culiarities of his parents. To supple-
ment their earnings by the "finer
things" this pair came to my desk to
"take in" books for review. It is to
this that I, a creature of the capital-
ist Dress, owe the honor and fortune
of having met them.
They were nearly honest reviewers,
telling the bitter truth about every-
thing and everyone, but not about each
other. The last would be too much to
ask for the bourgeoise readers of my
page. Frank and M. Jefferson had
their own battle ground for their pri-
vate wars. What they really thought
of each other's work could be learned
only in THE CRIER. In microscopic
jewel type, their names were listed
with a hundred others as "associate
editor," like combative roaches under
a Florida sink. In the glare of a
widely-circulated page like mine, in
the Hearst papers, they had only praise
for their species.
In the CRIER they railed against
all predatory interests in which they
included everything substantially en-
dowed, including, of course, the mov-
ies.
It was, therefore, with embarrass-
ment that M. Jefferson Kupdrayer dis-
played before Swane and me a bid at
five hundred dollars per week from
Hollywood. Blushingly he held the
message under my nose.
"But," he apologized, "there's the
three kids. And Mamie is like a
shadow from trying to get by on a few
smackers a week."
"Yeah. But how can a man of your
alleged vision stultify himself by writ-
ing movie truck?" asked Frank Handel
Swane, who hadn't yet received his
offer.
"Five hundred a week . . . thirteen
weeks . . . more than six thousand dol-
lars!" There was a far-away look in
Kuprayer's myopic eyes. Then a new
light broke through the film normally
coating his retina.
"I got it," and his lips parted to re-
veal that if his Mamie was worn to a
shadow, his teeth had receded to bare
gums. "I got it. I'll sock away my six
thousand and quit. By that time I'll
know so much about the dump that
I'll be able to write a book showing
it up."
"That's an idea," agreed Frank
Handel, "And if they make me an of-
fer, I'll write a play about the saps.
Only ..." Bitter realization harassed
Comrade Swane. "Only I ain't got an
offer yet." Proving that the lack of
an offer can wreck the diction of even
a greater O'Neill.
"You'll get an offer," magnani-
mously declared M. Jefferson. "You'll
get — if not five hundred like me —
they'll offer you two hundred and
fifty."
Frank Handel Swane's eyes blazed
in anger.
"Why should you get five hundred
and I only two hundred and fifty?"
"Why should you kick if you're
making less than twenty?" inquired
M. lefferson tartly.
"What did you ever do?" countered
Swane.
"I? Nothing . . . only I wrote a
pretty good review about a rotten play.
That's what I done," proclaimed the
master of prose.
"Look at me," I broke in propitiat-
ingly forgetting that this was a private
fight between giant intellects.
They looked. They looked their con-
tempt so effectively that I curled up.
They left me as a mere slave of the
capitalist press deserves to be left .
alone. But the next day brought
Swane to my desk again. He was wav-
ing a telegram.
"I got my offer," he announced tri-
umphantly.
"How much?" inquired an anxious
M. Jefferson, right on his heels.
"Five . . . five hundred."
M. Jefferson's eyes, normally a dead-
fish blue, turned green.
"With an option?" he inquired ap-
prehensively.
"Yep. And with fare for me and
the wife."
"I got fare for the wife and three
kids." M. Jefferson Kuprayer made
the announcement like a golfer three-
up on the club professional.
The great American dramatist's face
fell. He had no three kids, not even
one.
"I got a Pullman all the way across,"
boasted the people's own playwright.
"You mean an upper?"
"No. A section — lower and an up-
per!"
"Well . . . and WE got a couple of
drawing rooms," announced M. Jef-
ferson with neatly simulated non-
chalance.
Frank Handel dashed to the tele-
phone booth. Unlike the princeling
that wailed for the moon, he yelped for
his drawing room and got it.
Even a book review editor is human,
though this is often denied. I found
myself yearning for five hundred a
week and a drawing room. It was not
without diffidence that I asked my
pair of erstwhile dependents:
"Do you think that I could go to
Hollywood at five hundred a week
and . . ."
I was not permitted to make the
ultimate demand. M. Jefferson cut me
short.
"Sure. When you're better known
like. . . ." Mendel was probably go-
ing to say, himself, but adroitly con-
cluded, "like Swane, over there."
That put me in my place and the
log-rolling technique came automati-
callv into play.
"Sure," agreed Swane. "When you
are as well known as Kupdrayer YOU
will go to Hollywood . . . maybe not
for five hundred a week, but two-
fiftv."
"Or three hundred," generously
added M. Jefferson.
"But . . . but," I tried to defend
my position, "haven't I had a by-line
in the biggest newspapers in the world
for more than twenty years? Haven't
I topped the most widely-circulated
(Continued on Page 58)
X-RAY
I
s
By
ARTHUR HORNBLOW, JR.
'HORTLY after the birth of the
talkies Somerset Maugham and I
were walking along Broadway. Every
picture house was packed, with long
lines waiting. They were exciting
days and Maugham was in a prophetic
mood.
"This." sai'd he, "provides the
writer of tomorrow with the greatest
medium of expression one could hope
for. The talking pictures will take a
Shakespearean form; limitless scenes,
unlimited scope. Playwrights will leap
at this chance to do stunning work."
I agreed. There was nothing else
to think at the time.
We were both wrong.
The first-rate playwrights of the
world have done little leaping and in
cases where staggering sums of money
have lured some of them momentarily
to the films they have done in most
cases their least significant work.
They blame it on "pictures," on
"Hollywood," on censorship, on any-
thing but themselves. The answer to
them lies in the fact that superb mo-
tion pictures are continually being
made and that the screen can match
product for product the output of
every other aesthetic industry in the
world.
For every splendid painting I'll show
you a million daubs; for every Radio
City I'll point out a score of neighbor-
ing architectural nightmares. For a
while I earned my living as a dramatic
critic in New York; for two years I
had to see every play that came in.
The experience finally became unen-
durable.
In other words, any blanket indict-
ment of "pictures" as opposed to the
other art forms is so much broccoli.
For what might be learned from it
I scribbled a list of random of ten great
talking pictures that came readily to
my mind. Here they are: "Caval-
cade," "All Quiet on the Western
Front," "Street Scene," "Maedchen in
Uniform," "Blue Angel," "Henry
VI 11," "Roofs of Paris," "Farewell
to Arms," "Fugitive from a Chain
Gang," "Little Women."
Every one of them is filled with the
excitement and wonder of life. Every
one of them has carried its thrill, its
beauty, its laughter or its power to mil-
lions. In themselves they constitute
an utter and unanswerable argument
in behalf of the film as a worthwhile
form to go after. Five of them were
based on novels; two are originals; two
are based on plays; one may be termed
biographical in its source. Neither of
the originals is by a playwright. The
list, made up without any intention to
stress a point, accidentally stresses a
strong one. The dramatist is letting
us down! Mr. Maugham's prophecy
has not come true. (Even he has made
no interesting contributions to the
form which he hailed.)
Sidney Howard, an outstandingly
gifted contributor to the theatre, has
achieved an equal competence in writ-
\Y\g for the screen. His phobia is two-
fold; a dread of having his material
doctored by directors on the set; and
a strong and often expressed distaste
for the quack atmosphere of Los An-
geles. The first fear was set at rest
by a stipulation in his contract (com-
mon in the theatre but new to pic-
tures) that no one could alter the
script after its completion but the au-
thor or the producer. Nothing can
take care of his preference for the
East but his being allowed to remain
there while doing the bulk of his
screen work.
Elmer Rice, regarded with some un-
easiness by those with whom he set
about doing his picture treatment of
"Street Scene," proved to be not near-
ly so distressed at the enterprise as he
expected until the subject of censor-
ship arose. When the Hays office in-
dicated strongly that the charity
worker in his story should be por-
trayed more leniently because of the
offense that might be given to Ameri-
can charity organizations. Rice boiled
and proceeded to write polemics for
The Nation.
When George Kaufman, notorious-
ly indifferent to pictures, was induced
to write "Roman Scandals" for Can-
tor he chucked the job midway for no
other reason than that it "bored him"
and he wanted to devote himself to
the greater fun of writing "Let Em Eat
Cake" for the stage. In the course
of work on the story Frank Tuttle, the
director, mildly suggested the inclu-
sion of a chariot chase in the picture
(its outstanding sequence.) Kaufman
wrote the query "Why?" on the un-
finished script and vanished.
Frederick Lonsdale has twice been
to Hollywood and has fled from it.
But what must be remembered is that
he flees as fast from New York and
London if the job in hand leaves him
restless and uninspired. His deft hand
has paused on many a job in this man-
ner to the exasperation of theatrical
managers all over the world. He likes
to work where and as he likes to work
and that's all there is to it; no one
works more capably or more brilliant-
ly when in the mood for it.
But enough of these snap-shots.
They suffice to indicate the true na-
ture of Hollywood's apparent strife
with first rate artists. We may be
able to reform ourselves ultimately in
such manner as to suit all the writers
whose talents we seek. But I fear
not. Actually it is my opinion that
the producers have gone a great dis-
tance in the direction of creating con-
genial working conditions for the
writer; the writer must be prepared
to do his share of the reforming.
I'll be told by playwrights now hap-
pily on the Hollywood scene that I
make no allowance for the limitation
of the medium, no allowance for the
inhibiting and frustrating influences
which operate, no allowance for the
absence of free self-expression. I do
make those allowances; they all con-
tribute to the difficulty of the task.
But I know of no other medium of ex-
pression which hasn't its own kind of
miseries, and I make merely the point
that the greatness of a great picture
justifies the effort to create one.
We need our big playwrights in the
field of picture making, need them
badly. The world and the public need
them; the talking motion picture has
become that important not only as an
instrument of entertainment but as an
instrument of socialization. Some are
already here and doing notable work,
especially in the field of adaptation.
But we need more original creation
and it will not start coming until the
leaders of the writing profession are
prepared to acknowledge that the goal
to be reached is well worth reaching.
Anyone who contends that the me-
dium is worthless must face the un-
comfortable realization that he dis-
agrees with the whole wide world.
i
In 1933 * . *
Earl Baldwin
wrote the
following
SCREEN PLAYS
Havana Widows '
Wild Boys of the Road"
Sweet Cheaf
An Honorable Guy'
Wonder Bar '
Dames '
Under Contract To
WARNER BROS.
as
Writer, Supervisor and
Co-Director
*■ Originals
Paragraphs front a
A
YEAR ago in this space I wrote a
few lines in advocacy of the thesis that
in the motion picture industry this is
"The Day of the Writer." Asked to
contribute once more to the Hollywood
Reporter's annual Writers' Number, I
thought at first to reinforce my former
arguments by again insisting that
neither producer nor director nor star
can make a decent picture without a
decent story — and that writers alone
know how to write stories.
I was going to offer a few authentic
observations as to what had happened
of late to certain stories in Hollywood
after certain stars and directors had
finished rewriting and, of course, mu-
tilating them.
But I decided not to embark again
upon so hopeless a venture. Hope-
less is the right word, given the pro-
ducing and supervisory judgment
against which writer intelligence and
talent must ever beat itself with the
mocking futility of a hollow drum.
So, to help Billy Wilkerson amass
sufficient editorial content to observe
the U. S. Postal regulations as to the
percentage of advertising matter in the
Second Class Mail classification, it
struck me that a paragraph or two of
interesting coincidences I have observ-
ed in my reportorial career might serve
to speed an idle moment or two for
Bill's subscribers.
You wouldn't think, would you, that
there was any connection between
Bing Crosby and Fred Merkle? Yet
down the years there is a slender
thread linking these two men, sepa-
rated by more than a quarter of a cen-
tury in the hours of their renown, the
wealthy crooner of February, 1934,
and the culprit in baseball's most fa-
mous blunder in September, 1908.
One midnight in the summer of
1916 I strolled into a tawdry Minne-
apolis honky-tonk night-club run by
one Dan Moriarty. A song plugger was
Reporter's
Notebook
By
SIDNEY SUTHERLAND
standing near the cheap piano singing
something to the effect that he "wish-
ed again that he was back in Michigan,
back on the farm." It wasn't the tune
and it wasn't the words, both banal
and hackneyed, that attracted my at-
tention to the tall, skinny, sandy-hair-
ed singer: It was his weird intonation.
I had never heard anybody sing like
that — and I've heard some strange
singers in some strange places in my
time!
When he finished, the patrons at
the tables — hoodlums doing the best
they could, and berouged girls doing
the hoodlums — responded with a
shower of coins. The pianist picked
them up from the little raised platform
and shared them with the song plug-
ger, probably less than $5.
One night in October, 1908, after
the World's Series which Merkle's his-
toric failure to touch second base toss-
ed into the lap of the Chicago Cubs, I
was seated in Faust's, a popular Colum-
bus Circle night club, drinking with
Merkle, who was trying to drown the
memory of his blunder in a flagon. A
tall, skinny, sandy-haired chap enter-
ed, saw us, and sat our table. The
newcomer was Rube Marquard, the
"$1 1,000 Southpaw Beauty," pitching
for the Giants. He strove to assuage
Merkle's grief.
Merkle replied that it was all very
well for Rube to make light of the
egregious lapse, because he, Marquard,
had nothing to worry about and, be-
sides, was in love with a beautiful girl,
with whom he was shortly to appear
in a vaudeville sketch. Finding Mer-
kle inconsolable. Rube and I, with gal-
lant sacrifice, accompanied our friend
until dawn in his determination to
strangle his remorse in the aforesaid
beverages.
The other night, seated near my
radio out here in Hollywood, all these
disjointed memories came trooping
back as I listened to Bing Crosby on
the air. And, suddenly, the slender
thread tying together all these char-
acters, separated by the passing years
and the leagues of terrain, became
clear and curiously interesting.
The song plugger in Minneapolis
was Benny Fields, and he was the first
crooner in America — for which he re-
ceived $2.50. And his wife is the
beauteous Blossom Seeley, who was
vaudeville partner and first wife of
Rube Marquard! Today we have a
crooner receiving hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars, and quite deservedly
so, for doing precisely the same thing
that Benny was doing at the time Bing
was playing hookey from grammar
school. And, going farther back, I
first saw the lovely actress who was
to be that pioneer crooner's wife, at
a time when the present popular croon-
er vjas in diapers.
In 1908 I was private secretary for
Baxter Morton, head of the Nicholas
Power Co., at 1 15 Nassau Street, New
York City. We were one of the first
makers of projection machines in the
then infant movie industry.
At that time, the whole business
was in the predatory clutches of the
Motion Pictures Patents Company,
which completely dominated the situ-
ation because of control of basic pat-
ents. Nobody seemed to be greatly
exercised by this tyranny, because no-
body envisioned the future magnitude
of the industry. The new form of en-
tertainment struck all of us as a pass-
Continued on Page 51
i
HOWARD
J.
GREEN
SCREEN PLAYWRIGHT
'Blessed Event"
1 Am A Fugitive" +
'Morning Clor/" Now Completing:
'Man of Two Worlds" + "THE GREAT MACOO"
Represented by
In Collaboration Sh 3 1 Ma nda u, Inc.
A Fairi¥aj To Arntz
ARRIVED in Hollywood just as the
bloody California sun sank in the ocean
and hid the sunkist oranges and the
grapefruit and the olives and all the
different things it kisses, in darkness.
I drove up a street which looked like
any other street in any other town, but
it was longer than any other street in
any other town. It was so long I
thought it had no ending to it until
we pulled up in front of a Hotel called
the Roosevelt Hotel. Then I knew
that was the end of the street — or
nearly — because the taxi driver said,
"Here you are." I paid the fare.
Four dollars and sixty cents. I forget
where we had come from. The taxi
driver had a brown face and a nose
which was peeling. He had been kist
by the sun, too. I got a room on the
sixth floor. But I couldn't find the
bed.
"It's in the wall," said the boy who
was waiting for a tip.
"Which wall? There are four."
"That wall." He pointed to the
wall behind me.
"Oh, that wall! How do you sleep
in it if it's in the wall?"
"Pull it out and it falls down."
"Is it safe?"
"Yes. I think so."
"Thanks." I gave the boy twenty-
five cents and he went out and closed
the door behind him and I fooled with
the bed to see if the boy had been right
when he said he thought it was safe.
It worked pretty well, but it had a
squeak and I wished I had some oil to
oil it where it squeaked. But I didn't
have any oil so I finally left the bed
down because I knew I was going to
use it and didn't want to hear it
squeak again that night.
I used the bed from eleven that
night until nine the next morning. If
I propped myself way up on pillows
and craned my neck I could just see
Crauman's Chinese Theatre diagonally
across the street. But I didn't know
it was Crauman's Chinese Theatre un-
til after nine the next morning. I
found it out from a blond haired girl
in the coffee shop of the Hotel. She
was a waitress, I was dunking a
doughnut when I asked her what it
was.
An extract from Ernest
Hemingway's Hollywood Diary
By
AINSWORTH MORGAN
'It's Crauman's Chinese Theatre,"
she said, "Want some more coffee?"
I took some more coffee and while
she was filling my cup from a big
nickel tank behind the counter I had
a chance to see the other side of her.
I had already seen her face when she
told me what it was across the street.
It would have been a pretty face if it
hadn't looked so tired. The other side
of her was attractive too. She was
slim and had flat hips and would have
been pretty without clothes and I won-
dered if she could ever have a baby be-
cause her hips were so slender. When
she came back with the coffee she
said, "Cream?"
"No. I've got some left. Enough."
"In the movies?" she said.
"No. Not yet. I have an appoint-
ment at eleven."
"Are you'n actor?"
"No."
"I didn't think you was."
"Why?"
"Because of your clothes."
"What's the matter with my
clothes?"
"They don't look like an actor's
clothes."
"Don't they?"
"No."
"What do actors clothes look like?'"
"They look different from yours."
"Give me another doughnut."
She gave me another doughnut and
I dunked it in the coffee that was left.
When I whirled it around in the cof-
fee it made little waves in the coffee
and reminded me of throwing a stone
in a smooth lake. A part of the dough-
nut broke off and sank in the coffee
and I had to fish for it with my spoon.
I found it, but it didn't look like a
doughnut any longer. It looked more
like Wheatena.
I got to the X. Y. Z. Studio at five
minutes to eleven.
"Is Mr. Arntz in?" I asked a girl
who sat on a swivel-chair in front of a
mahogany desk with drawers. The
girl turned in the swivel-chair and
looked strangely at me. I thought it
might be because I had my hat on so
I took my hat off and asked her the
question again.
"Is Mr. Arntz in?"
"What's your name?"
"Hemingway "
"What's your business?"
"I write."
"Have you an appointment?"
"I have. "
"Who with?"
"With Mr. Arntz."
"Does Mr. Arntz expect you?"
"I have an appointment with Mr.
Arntz."
"I'll see if Mr. Arntz is in." The
girl went to a switch board and stuck
a plug in a hole which lighted a little
light after she pressed a little handle.
She seemed rather annoyed at me for
asking if Mr. Arntz was in and she got
mad at the little handle and seemed
to think it was the little handle's fault
that Mr. Arntz — or Mr. Arntz's secre-
tary— did not answer the phone on the
other end "
"I guess Mr. Arntz is not in," I
said.
"Mr. Arntz is out," she said.
"Tell Mr. Arntz that Mr. Heming-
way called to see him."
"Mr. Arntz is out."
"I know. But tell Mr. Arntz that
Mr. Hemingway called to see him."
"Mr. Arntz is a busy man."
I walked down the stairs from the
office where I asked the girl if Mr.
Arntz was in. The stairs creaked.
Thev were wooden. I remembered
that most wooden stairs creaked so I
went out in the sunshine wondering
why a big company like X. Y. Z. ever
used wooden stairs. The creak made
me think of the squeak in the bed at
the Roosevelt Hotel. The bed at the
Roosevelt Hotel made me think of the
blond girl in the cofee shop who had
the tired but pretty face. I wondered
if the bed would squeak with her in
it.
I walked around inside the studio
and saw a great many people apparent-
ly doing nothing. I asked a man
dressed as Hamlet if he was Hamlet
and he said no he was not Hamlet al-
though he had on Hamlet's costume.
"Do you know Mr. Arntz?" I asked
Continued on Page 53
1 1
mim
l§hoold Writers Produce
99
I
H
AVINC spent twenty-five years in
the theatre and but three in the mov-
ies, I am most likely presuming when
I express opinions of the one based al-
most entirely upon experience in the
other. And yet, whether producers,
writers or directors admit it or not, the
movies since the advent of talkies have
fallen into the lap of the stage.
I do not mean by this that only
those originating in the theatre may
succeed in the movies — there are too
many examples to the contrary; but I
do maintain that only those who have
assimilated the knowledge of what
theatre audiences demand of the stage
can supply the best in entertainment
to audiences of the movies.
The notes of a piano is an old,
weatherbeaten, but nevertheless true
example of fundamentals. The screen
with all its background, its angles, its
overhead shots, can do no more than
present a drama, a melodrama, a com-
edy, or a musical — all of which the
stage has been offering for centuries.
There is no tradition to the talkies ex-
cept the stage, even to the point of
construction; for Shakespeare wrote In
movie formula when he constructed
his plays into many short, fast mov-
ing scenes. Therefore, my presump-
tion is perhaps pardonable when I base
my opinions of the movies upon my
experience in the theatre.
I have been asked to answer the
question: "SHOULD A WRITER PRO-
DUCE?" and before replying I should
like to define what I consider the
qualifications of a writer; for alas,
many of us scribble, some of us dic-
tate, and others of us type, but few
know how to write — no fewer than is
the average percentage of ability in
other crafts — but few enough to war-
rant caution in the definite application
of the title. For instance, because a
man writes a book, he is not a novel-
ist; if his book is published, his career
is promised — if his book is successful,
his career has begun. All of which in
any other line of work would mean —
he is a beginner. If he repeats him-
self, or if he maintains a good average
of success over a period of years, then,
and not until then, should he be classi-
fied by the nature of his talent — for
not until then will he have gained the
By
WM.
ANTHONY McCUIRE
experience necessary to fully justify
his title.
So it is with the theatre. And when
I say a playwright can direct and pro-
duce, I do not mean the writer of an
unproduced play or the author of one
successful one; I mean the fellow who
has earned his spurs over a period of
years, obtaining in that time a fund of
knowledge applicable in any field of
entertainment; I mean men like
George S. Kaufman and George M.
Cohan, who have written and staged
hit after hit, and whose experiences
with audience reactions transcend any
other study of entertainment psychol-
ogy I know of.
But there are only a few like them
— you will tell me — and they are old
in experience and devoted to the stage.
Make up your mind to it — there can
only be a tew like them in the movies,
and you can only increase the percent-
age by increasing the opportunities.
No one knew that George Kaufman
could stage a play until he did it. His
association with his plays until the rise
of the curtain, his consistent success,
proved his knowledge of showmanship.
So I imagine his producer wisely fig-
ured that he was more trustworthy of
supervising than someone who knew
absolutely nothing about either writ-
ing or showmanship.
But how to increase the percentage
of opportunity among the writers? It's
not a problem. First increase the per-
centage of talent among the writers.
How? Develop it. How? Give them
back their self respect — let them feel
that they are not writing for the ap-
proval of one individual — make them
responsible to the public for their
work. They're not now — because the
public knows that writers for the
screen have little voice in the final de-
cisions, and what is more demoraliz-
ing, the writers are aware of this pub-
lic knowledge. Don't subject them to
the domination of a director; for with
the rarest exceptions, no director is
better than his script, and many of
them not as good. Certainly they
should not have the privilege of alter-
ing an author's script unless the author
be granted the privilege of correcting
the director's work. If it is a good
rule for the one, it should be twice as
good for both. I, however, do not see
why either should suffer indignity. A
picture should be the combined result
of all both author and director have
to give — and one should not be sub-
jugated to the other if the studio de-
sires the best results from both. For,
whether you are willing to admit it
yet or not, the play is the thing even
in the movies; which fact places the
burden of the outcome on the author.
Then why not give him the position
in your midst his work entitles him
to? It will make him more important
to you, and will add to the effort he
will put into everything he writes. Fur-
ther, eliminate high salaries — let the
survival of the fittest apply; pay au-
thors a percentage based on a fair
royalty arrangement — let the one who
gives you a hit share in it.
In order to do this, however, you
must first give him a degree of respon-
sibility— because no author will turn
his script over to another's supervision
on a percentage basis unless he has
some powers of protection.
How to develop authors to warrant
such power? Begin now — by making
dialogue direction a part of every au-
thor's contract. In New York an au-
thor, in accordance with his contract,
not only attends rehearsals of his play,
but must remain with it for two weeks
after its opening. Something of this
sort can apply here. When an author
writes a picture, include in his con-
tract a special arrangement for him
to be on the set to direct dialogue, or
to be on hand for any additions or
scene changes necessary.
The expense of this plan will be
very small in comparison to the di-
recting and producing talent you will
derive from it; and when you develop
a writer with showmanship into a pro-
ducer, you should have a far superior
type of supervision than is being given
many pictures to-day.
In conclusion — Did you ever notice
how the rumble of a railroad train pen-
etrates the night? I hear one now —
sounds like it's passing right by my
door, even though the tracks are over
a mile from here. Yet I can never
hear it during the day time. But it s
comforting tonight — Makes me think
kindly of "THE CHIEF" in case I'm all
wrong about the movies.
Original Stories
"H O U S E W F E"
"WTHOUT HONOR"
"2 0th REUN ON"
Screen Play
"CONVENT ON <
Original Story and Screen Play
C TY" "MERRY WVES OF RENO"
ACADEMY AWARD
ORIGINAL STORY
"ONE WAY
PASSAGE"
ROBERT LORD
Under Contract To
WARNER BROTHERS - FRST NATONA.
13
Previeiv Anoie
r
V_^ OME on, you girls, hurry up . . .
Brush the crumbs off your slacks,
we're going to a preview . . . You too.
Mom, when I step out I don't hold
in . . . What's that, Sadie? You ain't
got nothin' to wear? . . . Famous last
woids . . . What's the matter with your
blue chiffon? ... It's dyed brown? . . .
Oh, you ain't got no shoes to go with
it? . . . Oh, the hat . . . well, what hat
did you wear with your blue dress
before it was dyed to go with your
suede shoes? . . . Aw, wear rubbers
and nobody' 1 1 notice you ain't got a
mutual color vibration ... I think you
look beautiful . . . Are those atheists
or satires you're wearin'? Oh, Lapi-
dus-Leisurely — New, ain't they? . . .
What's that, Shirley? The pitcher
what's playin' there with the pre-
view? . . . I'll call up . . . Hello, in-
formation, the Beverly Theatre, please,
. . . Where is it? Well, it ain't in Cul-
ver City . . . Where's the Beverly, can
you tie that?; the dame's screwy
enough to be a hostess in a nut house
. . . Yeah, in Beverly, right offa Wil-
shire; you turn around the corner to
the right and it's just offen the street
. . . Yeah . . . Hello! Beverly Theatre?
What's the picture there tonight? . . .
'Cross Country Cruise?" Thanks . . .
It's "Cross Country Cruise," Shirley
. . . one of them Grand Hotel ideas on
a bus . . . any day now Grand Hotel
a pay toilet . . . Come on, we'll take a
chance . . . Straighten your hot water
bag, mama . . . that thing you're wear-
ing on your head for a hat . . . Well,
! hope it's good . . . Famous last woids.
•
Leave the car here at the gas sta-
tion. Belle, and save a dime . . Oh,
Mr. Filling Station Man, can we leave
our car here if we buy some gas?
Thanks. Whatja say, Belle ... a quart
of gas? What you think you're driv-
ing, a cigarette lighter? Put in a gal-
lon, mister . . . Hurry up, now. Gee,
look at all the lights and people . . .
Holy Smoke, whose got the candy, . . .
Got the candy, Shirley? . . . Got the
candy. Belle? Got the candy, Sadie?
Got the candy, mama? . . . Who's got
By
STANLEY RAUH
the Hershey bar? . . . Gee, you scared
me there for a minute ... Be care-
ful. Mom, wait'll the lights change . . .
Famous last woids . . . Oh, Oh . . .
pick her up, Shirley, don't let her lie
there in the street all night ... Oh
look, there goes Mabel . . . Hello,
Mabel! Wave to Mabel, mama . . .
Don't be so fussy, you can wave while
you're on your knees, can't you . . .
Did ya see Mabel, Sadie? She's sure
puttin' on the dog . . . I'll say . . . look
at her neck piece? . . . That guy's so
small if he pulled up his socks he'd be
blindfolded . . . Come on, hurry up . . .
Get in line in front of that fat man . . .
Oh, pardon me, mister, I didn't mean
that personal . . . Gee, some folks are
highly sensatized . . . Look, Shirley,
there's a lot of people goin' right in
, . . What! They belong to the studio?
... so what? . . .all the more reason,
we're payin', ain't we? . . . And they
call this a free country . . . Here, you
get the tickets, Shirley . . . No, you get
the tickets. Belle, . . . No, I'll get the
tickets ... Do you want to get the
tickets, mama? . . . Mom better not get
the tickets without her glasses . . .
she's always gettin' lead quarters . . .
Stay in line, 'm going to find out the
name of the preview . . . I'll worm it
out of somebody . . . I'll ask that guy
over there with the pineapple haircut
. . . maybe I can do something for him
some day . . . cast your bread on the
water and it stops up the plumbing . . .
Say mister, could you tell me the name
of the pitcher? . . . Five thousand guys
in this joint and I had to pick out a
Greek . . . Say, Mister, can you tell me
the name of the pitcher? Is that so!
... A preview! ... I had a faint idea
it was a preview on accounta seein'
that big flag there with the word on
it . . . Oh, it's a secret? . . . Well. I'll
write to my senator . . . Famous last
woids.
Oh, there y'are, Shirley! I couldn't
tell you at first from the rear view of
your profile . . . you shouldn't have
had that dress dyed, I can never find
you in crowds . . . No, I didn't find out
the name . . . They keep it incognito
for the other studios with the same
idea . . . Oh, look! the line's movin'
... go on, move up! Pardon me, the
nerve of some people . . . who's push-
in'? . . If I was goin' shark fishin', I'd
use him for bait . . . Five, please . . .
Come on, now, if we get separated,
we'll meet at the corner drug store . . .
Aw right, in the delicatessen; mama
can't get her mind offa food . . .
Hurry up, Shirley, you can read that
on the way out . . . What! the man
takes it in before that time ... so
come down tomorrow and read it . . .
Say, look Belle ... is that an usher or
a guy on his way home from a mas-
querade . . . short pants at his age . . .
What you say, Mr. Usher, up in the
balcony? What's playin' up there?
Why can't we sit in those seats? . .
They belong to the studio? . . . My lit-
tle sister belongs to the studio . . .
Yeah, the Maglin Dance Studio . . .
And they call this a free country . . .
Aw right, girls, come on down front
. . . Gee, we're down far ... if we was
any further we'd be in the cast . . .
Oh, look! Here comes the preview al-
ready . . . we just made it . . . Say
did'^a leave the key out for papa . . .
in the mail box? He said under the
rug . . Poor papa, how can he get in?
The back window is locked, I tell ya.
I locked it myself . . . Aw, shush your-
self , . . The guy back of me wants to
see the picture? . . . He's got a nerve
with papa locked out ... It's all right
for him to shush; sittin' here in a
warm house on a soft seat and poor
papa on the cold steps . . . Oh, look!
Here comes the preview . . . "Between
the Beyond" . . . Well, for God's sake,
I seen that preview up at the West-
wood last night ... I hope they're
handin' out them postal cards . . . Boy,
if my card ever gets in the mail we'l'
all be arrested . . . Feature studio pre-
view
Famous last woids.
SAM
MINTZ
a
NOW IN PREPARATION
BY YOUR LEAVE
RADIO PICTURES
9f
ii
If
SCREEN PLAY
GALLANT
LADY
20th CENTURY
"FORGOTTEN
GIRL
M C M
91
Personal Representative:
WM. STEPHENS
OR. 1167
15
The Story Conference
A
By
WILBUR DANIEL STEELE
BIG proportion of bad screen
stories are bad because they are thin,
and they are thin, not because they
have too little in them, but because
they have too much.
It seems to me that this condition
will subsist as long as the story-con-
ference method of building fiction re-
mains in vogue — that is to say, as a
"constructive" factor. Could it be
content with mere vetoes, its function
might be strongly justified. The trou-
ble with it, once the treatment of the
projected piece has been set (and
there lies the right and necessary job
of the conference of all concerned)
and the writing of the play given into
the author's hands, is that the all-get-
ting-together method is almost certain
to thin the tale.
The one thing above all others
which a piece or fiction must have, if
it is to have a life of its own. Is a body
of its own, of its own growing. And
the "constructive" type of conference
is essentially a device for "getting
more stuff in," grafting bits of meat
from other bodies upon a torso already
held in check from sprouting three
heads and a dozen legs of its own
flesh, only by the sweat of the author's
will.
This coming with gifts is a natural,
an inevitable thing. Not alone is the
author thinking about the story all of
the time^ — others, producer, director,
supervisor et al. are thinking about the
story at least part of the time. The
essence of drama in the making is that
it is having every instant to choose
between two paths forking as its feet.
And though they be both leading in
the same direction, toward the one
goal, yet once your story has taken this
fork and refrained from taking that,
then it can never again be quite the
same-looking story it would have been
had it taken that and let this one go
by. The difficulty Is that In the minds
of others (let's say supervisor and di-
rector each independent) the tale may
have taken that other path. And that
path immediately reforking, no sooner
have they parted company with the
author than they have parted them-
selves— and none of them realizes It
— not one of the three. To each, bus-
ily multiplying separation, there come
imaginative scenes, situations, lights
of character, natural and even inev-
itable in his created scheme — and
grand good picture-stuff too. There
comes a glow. There comes a confer-
ence. And disaster.
To begin with, none of them seems
able to comprehend that they are talk-
ing about three different stories, peo-
pled by twenty-times-three different
characters (unless perhaps the author
may guess it, If he be an old hand at
authoring.) However, it wouldn't
matter much if they did. Were there
a need to sacrifice it would be dif-
ferent. But there isn't. This is "a
picture" — there's room in the footage
for the dream-pets of all the three.
"The more twists the better" seems
to be an axiom of the story-tinkering
trade. In the author's (adapter's)
treatment there are palpable gaps left,
which, in the secret places of his mind,
he had intended to fill with action
something less than violent, whereby
his people might be given a life and a
difference, and their situation take on
a color however faintly its own. But
here the ever-dependable hobgoblin of
the fourteen-year-old in the tenth row,
ready to yawn the instant the pistols
stop shooting, comes to the rescue of
the allied dreamers The chunks of ex-
citement (perfectly good excitement)
which fit so neatly into their several
stories (which they sincerely still be-
lieve to be all the same story) can be
easily whittled to stop up each and
every one of those dull gaps — and
there you have it now — a story with
something doing every moment all the
way.
The truth Is that you have all of that
— except a story. For a story is noth-
ing if it is not the ordered march of
cause and effect across a segment of
human lives, no odds whether the
stage be Elsinore or Chinatown or
Wonderland. But now with such a
plethora of effects, there's little if any
room left for causes, there's no time
for dramatis personae to take breath
and turn into people, no gate of self-
identity for the spectator to enter by
and lose himself and begin passionate-
ly to care, eagerly to wonder what the
end will be. So you have lost the one
quality that brought the art of the
drama into our scheme of things —
(and I believe it to be the one qual-
ity for the want of which most flop-
pictures flop) — the quality of sus-
pense.
I think all authors of experience
know a thing which few non-authors
ever realize; that the job proposed by
anv story- idea worth doing is not one
of building up but one of stripping
down. It is not a job of sowing new
complications; the seeds of too many
lie already in its own soil. It is the
sweaty job of weeding out all these
complications, situations, twists, kicks,
'tempting though they be for an in-
stant's gain), which do not carry that
story strongly along that story's road
to that story's goal. And stripping
down is a thing which one mind (at
a time) seems to do better, in silence,
than four minds full of new angles in
a conference room.
Famous Teams of History
ROMEO and JULIET
WELLS and FARGO
FRANKIE and JOHNNY
HAIG and HAIG
TOWNE and BAKER
20th CENTURY PICTURES
if Clients of
BREN and ORSATTI
17
Set" Racket, That Seeoario !
V y . Mr. Doyle, will you kindly tell
the eager listeners of the Continental
Broadcasting Company tonight how
you happened to begin writing sce-
narios?
A. Certainly, Mr, McNamee. My
father and I were clam-diggers, and
the clams shut down on us.
Q. And you started writing for the
talkies?
A. No, sir. When the clams shut
down — those were the silent days.
Q. Then you were a title-writer?
A. No, indeed. My cousin was a
title-writer. He used to sign checks
"Count-so-and-so" and "Prince-such-
and-such." He's in San Quentin now.
He's still writing. The parole board.
Q. H'm Well, Mr. Doyle, let's
leave your cousin —
A. Yes, we can come back to him.
He'll be in the same place. You asked
me how I started writing scenarios.
My first was a sex movie. I felt I was
fitted for this. My experience was in
the clam beds. I was pretty much at
sea when I first started. Floundering.
Q. How did you happen to come to
Hollywood?
A. On a bicycle. This was one of
the first cycles. About eight years be-
fore the gangster cycle, to be exact.
Q. And how did you get your start?
A. I ran over a supervisor at Holly-
wood boulevard and Vine street and
was unanimously elected president of
the Writers' Club.
Q. Did the supervisor recover?
A. No. That's why they elected
me president. Being president, I
drafted a list of reforms. A producer
saw it and thought it was a scenario.
It made more money than "The Cov-
ered Wagon."
Q. Was it produced as you wrote it?
A. No, indeed. They put eleven
writers on it. But I got screen credit.
I got the eleven writers fighting among
themselves. While they were so en-
gaged I ran to the producer. It was
months before they started speaking
again and by that time the picture had
been released.
Q. Where do you get your ideas for
your scenarios?
in which
MISTER LAIRD DOYLE
gets interviewed
A. I send to the Department of Ag-
riculture for the crop reports. This is
a new source. And I also rely on the
power of suggestion.
Q. That last is very uncanny —
A. Not very. I simply wait for some
other writer to suggest something good
then submit it myself.
Q. Isn't that unethical?
A. No, indeed. Recently a produc-
er told a writer that William Shakes-
peare knew his stuff — and the writer
called the information desk to see
what office Shakespeare had so he
could pick up some fresh ideas.
Q. Then the joke was on him.
A. I'll say it was. All us other boys
knew that Shakespeare was working
over at R-K-0.
Q. Have you ever faced any serious
problems in your writing?
A. I should say. One time I went
temporarily deaf and didn't have any
ideas for a long time.
Q. What did you do?
A. I studied lip-reading. After that
no writer dared eat in the Brown Derby
unless he had his back to me.
Q. Are writers born or made?
A. I'd say, offhand, that masculine
writers are born — and feminine writers
are made. Although not so much so
as actresses. Hollywood is a peculiar
place.
Q. Are there any original stories in
Hollywood?
A. Five. But they've all been used
Q. Do you like writing?
A. Yes, unless it's on the wall.
Q. What do you do then?
A Same as everybody else — get a
job at another studio.
Q. How do writers get by in Holly-
wood?
A. On credits. Grocer. Butcher,
Tailor. Some accounts run for years.
Q. Do you write topical stories?^
A. No. Those South Sea yarns
aren't in vogue much these days.
Q. Timely stories?
A. Time and time again. I once
told a director that if he didn't like
my copy I wouldn't let him shoot my
story.
Q. Did he object?
A. Not all all. He said he'd shot it
five times already.
Q. Do writers have nice quarters?
A. Yes. At Warners they have
rooms with lounges and locks on the
doors.
Q. Do you dream much?
A. No, I sleep quite comfortably
out there.
Q. Do you have long hours?
A. At Warners, I'm often in my of-
fice for three or four days at a time.
Q. Don't they have any code? That's
outrageous.
A. Yes, it is. A carpenter finally
woke me up after breaking the lock,
pulling me off the couch and rubbing
my face with a wet towel.
Q. Do you live comfortably in Hol-
lywood?
A. It's beastly. A ten room house.
A lousy — pardon me, Mr. MacNamee
— ten room house. Tennis court.
Swimming pool. But no golf links.
Imagine that! No golf links! They
treat us like dogs in Hollywood, Mr.
MacNamee. It's disgraceful. Consid-
er the writer. If it wasn't for the
writer where would the screen play
be^ Where would art be? Where
would joe be? Where would busy bee?
But you get the idea —
Q. You mean that you're — down-
trodden?
A. Say, that's the word for it! I
hate Hollywood! I hate producers!
I hate executives! I hate directors,
actors, producers, gatemen — "
Q. What are your plans for the fu-
ture, Mr. Doyle?
A. I'm going right back to the clam
beds. Yes, sir. Immediately. Almost
immediately. Soon as my present five
thousand a week contract's up. I'm
through starving. Yes, it's back to
the clam beds for me — as soon as the
clams open up.
I
I
I
Austin
Pa R K E R
19
Sense or Censors
I N|oW that the Ulysses of Mr.
Joyce has been anointed with judicial
oils, it would appear that something
can be done to garrote censorship in
general The wit-nit babblings, stale
violet fancies and imbecile-antics of
censors have been negatived somewhat
in the so-called literary field. Just
why the motion picture industry has
not tweaked the indigo noses of the
censorial eunuchs is not clear.
The press wears a chastity belt by
constitutional right, and any news-
paper unincumbered by corporate con-
trol or other corrupt leanings may
move virtuously and breathe legally.
The editor, functioning within the
sphere of his publisher's policy, guards
against such libels as might threaten
his economic structure and rules out
such obscenities as might alienate his
readers While amenable to all man-
ner of one-horse laws, the more mod-
ern purveyors of information, propa-
ganda and entertainment — the cinema
and the radio — have no specific and
firm foundation assuring them a de-
cent freedom of expression. This con-
dition directly hampers the writers of
pictures, confronting them with such
monumental problems as; "How much
of Harlow's leg may we show in Kan-
sas?"
Whenever anyone makes a plea for
freedom of any sort, the bible-benders
and thyroidic hymnsters set up a yam-
mer. Guided by their own strangled
preferences — were they free to act and
had the necessary vigor of gland — they
cry that license, not liberty, is the pole
star of the petitioner. Yet, in a script,
the very stifling of convincing dialogue
or honest situation leads to a condition
far more deplorable than the presenta-
tion of an open effect openly arrived
at.
The producer, director and writer,
shackled like a troupe of rheumatic
Houdinis, connive, scheme and risk
mental hernia to circumvent the cen-
sor. Resultant scenes ofttimes are so
dizzy that they offend discerning spec-
tators and drive morons into the park
to swing little girls.
I remember a scene in which Mr.
Somebody suddenly carried Miss Some-
By
GENE FOWLER
body Else into another room for pur-
poses which presumably were giddy
and gay. This was allowed — the scene
I am speaking of — provided no beds
were shown and no dialogue was used
to identify the chamber of horrors.
Still, I don't think anyone looking on
and drooling the while, believed the
lad and lassie were bent upon count-
ing their beads. The scene following
was a masterpiece of censorial eva-
sion. The ostermoor arena was
DARK. But there were subdued
noises, such as are identified with bio-
ological well-being. And then we saw
two small lights — indicating a pair of
cigarettes — being waved like the
batons of weary orchestra leaders. Of
course, we of bawdy minds never once
dreamed that anybody was in bed —
or on the floor — smoking those cigar-
ettes. We all thought we were glimp-
sing the nuptial zooming of fireflies.
A confection such as cited above
does not strike me as an important
contribution to the arts or sciences. It
merely confuses one's sense of honest
taste; or compels the less sturdy of our
kind to reach over and pinch Mrs. Mc-
Cillicuddy's bustle. Monsieur Rosen-
blatt should interview the ushers on
this phase of national fun.
So long as a movie creator indulges
in a hundred yard dash of innuendo, a
few furlongs of double entendre, de-
picts his hero and heroine in coats of
mail while hanging from pretzel-
shaped trapezes, he is permitted to
put over the idea that a shot-gun wed-
ding is in the cards.
The animalistic embrace is allow-
able and certifiable only on the fol-
lowing conditions:
1 . If a lot of mumbo-jumbo words
are said over the grappling twain,
attesting to matrimony.
2. If the senor and senorita are
blindfolded and riding back-to-
back on a wild horse about to go
over a cliff.
3. If accompanied by the magic
words; 'Come up and see me
sometime."
Every writer should endeavor to
kick this picayune censorship directly
in the groin. Presumably the produ-
cers won't, or can't, do anything about
it. Armed with the greatest publicity
weapon of all time — the picture — the
moguls do not realize what opportunity
is theirs in the field of militant propa-
ganda and for sound causes.
What would happen if a choir of
pelvic jailors were to censor the news-
papers? A political blast such as
would change Congressional seats and
drive the hecklers back to the Black
Forest. What would happen if the
picture people were to boycott the
penny ante politicians, keeping their
mugs out of the newsreels (else show-
ing their noses in Technicolor) un-
leashing films of the "Gabriel Over the
White House" variety, exposing the
sham and insincerity of the moral
guardiansr'
Of course we have a few boys here,
who — without a checkrein — would go
on a rowdy spree. This is evidenced
by the tendency to overdo each new
and arresting word that comes to the
screen. I am thinking of the still un-
buried and timesome slang, such as the
word 'Scram " and the constantly re-
curring "Nuts." Perhaps I am too
naive, but I was fourteen years old be-
fore I realized that nuts grew on
trees.
The broad views on censorship as
held in the gallant state of California
have not demoralized anyone. Of a
certainty, those views — like so many
other paternalistic slants — were fos-
tsred by a pecuniary desire to pamper
local industry. But the result is the
important thing to consider.
If writers continue to be bludgeoned
and ha.mstrung by censorship, pictures
will continue to be dull and mislead-
ing. How to cope with all the ver-
botens that make Burgomaster Hays'
headquarters look like the dead letter
office is beyond the ken of any author.
Gulliver is held by Liliputian strings.
Inane censorship is one reason a
writer goes back to New York feeling
as useless as the male udder. Of
course, there are other reasons, but
why say "boo " to the firing squad?
w
MANUEL SEFF
"FOOTLICHT PARADE""
Story — Screen Play — Dialogue
"COLLEGE COACH""
Story — Screen Play — Dialogue
w
A WOMAN IN
HER THIRTIES"
Screen Play — Dialogue
'EASY TO LOVE"
Screen Play — Dialogue
"B E D SI D E"
Story
"GIRL IN 419"
Dialogue
"BLESSED EVENT"
Original Play
w
HOUSEWIFE"
IN PREPARATION
Screen Play — Dialogue
* COLLABORATION
Now under contract to
Warner Brothers - First National
21
^^The Cioema in France
99
T.
By
BORIS
INCSTER
here are 22 theatres in Paris
playing American talking pictures. All
of these theatres usually well pat-
ronized.
This is the situation despite a
nationalisnn in France unknown in this
country save on the stages with George
M. Cohan. The explanation lies in the
patent superiority of American films.
What are the reasons for this wide
variance in quality; or, more pointedly,
why are French pictures so thoroughly
bad?
Two reasons bulk large.
The first is censorship. Hollywood
scenario writers who complain cease-
lessly and bitterly of censorship here,
and insist it drains their work of
reality, should do a script in Pans.
There government, with its daily
cabinet change, exercises a watchdog
authority over the films that is un-
matched in the civilized world outside
of Hitler Germany.
Pictures like "I'm A Fugitive From
A Chain Gang," "Gabriel Over The
White House," or "Big House" (cer-
tainly no documents of radicalism)
would be unthinkable, altho French
audiences applaud such pictures from
other countries.
Then there is the French "system"
of production. The entire industry
resembles our own Poverty Row. Al-
most all films are financed on a shoe-
string. A not inconsiderable number
of major pictures are "angeled" by in-
dividuals of wealth with a non-com-
mercial interest in the feminine star.
Almost all the stars themselves are
free-lancing. Likewise the writers and
directors.
(Editor's Note: The author of this
article just returned from a seven
months stay in Paris, where he did
scenario work for Agrafilms. )
Two influences predominate in
French productions: Russian pictures,
for their photography and directorial
imagination; and American pictures,
for the ir story construction, technical
skill and commercial "finish."
The only original director, Rene
Claire, has no influence or success in
his country.
Enquiring among the more intelli-
gent creators in the Paris studios, I
found that Frank Capra seems to be
the most popular American director.
They believe his pictures are complete-
ly in the American "style."
As for French audiences, they seem
to favor among American pictures the
intimate, human type. "Back Street"
is a tremendous hit there. Mae West
was the sensation of 1933. Kay Fran-
cis is regarded as the model .American
woman, and even the inferior vehicles
of this star are loudly acclaimed.
The worst thing to be encountered
in a Paris movie theatre is a "dubbed"
version of a Hollywood picture. These
are atrocities. The originals are sold
to French exhibitors, generally for a
small price. Then the exhibitor dubs
in voices in the native tongue. But so
carelessly and inartistically is this done
that the result screams for the bonfire
Often extra girls supply the spoken
dialogue for finished American ac-
tresses. The practice is doing a great
deal to destroy the box-office value
of our stars with French audiences.
These random impressions and too
many others to deal with adequately
here, knit into the following conclu-
sions:
That the French film industry, never
apt, continues third-rate.
That French audiences know this,
and steadily patronize American enter-
tainment. (Incidentally, the Russians,
with relaxing of their old policies, will
soon give the Americans real competi-
tion in Europe — in the opinion of
many observers I have talked to. Since
the Nazi control, German pictures
have lost favor abroad entirely.)
That this foreign market can be re-
stored to its pre-talkie pre-eminence,
if Hollywood producers care to take
the proper pains — ^with painstaking
dubbing, with greater emphasis upon
story-telling by image, with pictures
Df guts and honesty.
For French audiences are obviously
lospitable to American pictures.
1
Ralph
u
Stand Up and Cheer'
(Fox)
u
u
Mr. Skitch"
(Fox)
Strictly Dynamite'
(Radio)
'Cockeyed Cavaliers"
(Radio)
"I'll Tell The World"
(Lee Tracy-Universal)
'Alias The Deacon'
(Universal)
'The Debutante''
(Original-Paramount)
-COLLABORATION
MANAGEMENT
PHIL BERG
The Creative Art
Zd
■
By
SYLVIA THALBERC
HAT memo worries the hell outa
me. He wants an idea. He wants it
quick. But where the hell am I gonna
get it? I ain't got no more nails left.
Eatin' em. If only I hadn't had that
sherry before lunch this wouldn't 'a
happened.
'n that dam typewritter keeps grin-
ning in my face. Maybe I oughta have
another cigarette ... or coffee. I
know ... a walk . . . I'll take a walk
around the lot. Deadline at three.
Meet the corpse . . . the writer. Story
conference at three o'clock. If only I
hadn't taken that hat this morning. It's
a jinx. I shouldn't 'a' bought it in the
first place. I think I'll quit smokin'
cigarettes.
I wanted that corner suite in the
first place. It's lighter. You can think
better there.
Listen typewriter, I'll make a deal
with you.' Ill treat you nice . . . you
treat me nice. Dont' look so dam sullen
when I want to get an idea. You've
had it easy for weeks. I ain't touched
you. Now when I want an idea, you
grin at me or look black.
Come on now, let's make a bluff at
it. Maybe if I bang away loud and
fast the thoughts will think they're
comin'. What can I write that's loud
and fast? Bloomberg, gloomberg, ice-
berg, schulberg, thalberg . , . haw!
That's too close to home.
Look at those nervous hands. Neu-
rotic fingers drumming on the key-
board like a tinpanny pianiste idling.
The phone . . . Conference post-
poned til ten in the morning. Relief.
What's this? A linotype:
crreeeeeeaaaattttcnnnnmmiiissssgo-
bwhldd"
There it is — a trifle confusing The
line looks Gaelic.
hhhaavveeeeeeeggi i i i i rrl I Iddddnnnn-
nnooooouuucccwttxpmssf*
Toward the end it's like striking
chords.
It gets to be swell fun; sounds like
a hell of lot of action and takes no
thought at all. Sort of a clattering
cleaning up of the mental Augean
stables.
I must have forty of these crypto-
graphs before I call it a day. Business-
like, I take my day's stint home. That
night, I'm bored. I take up my typo-
graphical hiccoughs and look at them
idly. They invite anagramming.
I look again at the first line . . . the
one that looks Gaelic. I dismember it,
shuffle the parts, try a number of com-
binations. You remember it was like
this:
crreeeeeeaaaattttcnnnnmmiiissssgo-
bwhldd
This is what 1 make of it.
CREATE ANTAGONISM BETWEEN
CHILD AND MISTRESS.
Why, it makes sense! Uncommon
sense! Instinctively, I flatter myself, I
must have subconsciously created the
thought first, then scrambled It up to
make it tough for myself.
The second line works out magnifi-
cently:
HAVE GIRL DENOUNCE HERO
CONCLUDING WITH UNEXPECTED
ADMISSION OF LOVE.
Why . . . it's just like a ouija board!
So, like a type-pecker, I keep pok-
ing away at the keyboard, making cryp-
tic abracadabra that translate into
scenes, dialogue, climax and finale
closeup.
Well, it goes on like that for hours,
my consonantal sentences spitting out
ideas that fit perfectly into my prob-
lem play.
I look up the history of my ma-
chine.
The typewriter originally belonged
to a yogi who couldn't keep up the
payments.
ERNEST
PASCAL
•
"AS THE EARTH
TURNS"
"NAPOLEON"
"THE HUMAN
SIDE"
And a new novel
"A WOMAN
AT THIRTY"
to he published shortly by
Harcourt, Brace & Co.
i
I
I
25
Men in White
(The scene is in a hospital operat-
ing room. Four white-coated figures
stand about the room in varied poses
of relaxation. The doctors are wait-
ing for the patient to be wheeled in
and are occupying their idle moments
with a little shop talk. They are
named, for our convenience, Joe, Ed-
die, Jack, and Bill.)
JOE (adjusting his apron) : This fel-
low Stevens is a prima-donna, all right
— shows up for an hour — and he's out
again.
EDDIE (enjoying the opportunity to
take a rap at somebody) : Yeah — he's
got a snap. That's what happens when
you get in the big-money class.
BILL (he is an innocent young in-
terne) : I hear he's pretty good.
(The others look at BILL quickly).
JACK (scornfully) : Get that?
Pretty good? (he makes a gesture)
He's a washout — getting along on his
rep — he's been getting by on other
people's hard work. He gets a lot of
credit for doing nothing.
JOE: Sure — (he waves a bony
finger at BILL) . I've been in this busi-
ness for two years — and I've done a
lot of work — and the only thing I got
some credit on was on a lousy ton-
sillectomy.
EDDIE (determined to finish his
opinion of Stevens) : Why, Stevens
hasn't done a job yet that didn't stand
restitching.
BILL (a babe in woods) : But I
heard he was good at this type of
thing.
JACK: Yeah — (he shrugs his shoul-
ders)— but this type of thing is out.
(he makes a noble effort to clear up
his statement.) Anybody can do a
simple appendectomy, but when it
comes to something that needs real
skill— like a sarcoma — Stevens doesn't
rate.
By
DORE SCHARY
JOE (reflectively) : I worked with
him once on a cirrhosis — (disgustedly)
— he killed, I tell you!
BILL: How does he get by?
JACK: Knows the right people —
plays the social scale.
BILL: Well, I guess I got a lot to
learn.
EDDIE: You sure have. When you're
in this racket as long as me you'll
know that real merit don't count —
(impressively) — it's who you know.
JOE:That isn't all. They won't give
a fifty-dollar a job man a chance —
it's the fifteen hundred dollar boys
that get the big assignments.
JACK (reminded of something) :
I'd have given my eye-tooth to get that
Rockerbuilt job ... I'd have handled it
differently than Stevens did.
EDDIE: Sure, he ruined it by too
much cutting.
JOE: His big mistake was han-
dling it for cancer — when it was an
out and out tumor.
JACK (nodding his head) : That's
what I say. I told that to the su-
pervisor— but you know — (he makes
a deprecating gesture) — those super-
visors!
JOE: It beats me how most of
these supervisors get in. None of them
are practical men — just a bunch of
dummies.
EDDIE (now on his favorite sub-
ject— supervisors) : Only the other day
one of them asked me if I had seen
Bailey's goitre work — he wanted me
to use the same line-up for a Caesar-
ean ! Can you tie that? ;
BIL: It's certainly discouraging,'
isn't it?
JOE: Humph! If it wasn't for the
chance of getting a real break I'd go
back to New York tomorrow and try
to do something in Mt. Sinai.
JACK: Believe me — I'd do the same
thing if I wasn't tied up. I'm sick of
this. I'd rather be a street-cleaner.
EDDIE (adding salt to his wounds) :
It wouldn't be so bad, if you could
work by yourself — but the guys they
team you with! You can't recognize
your own work when they're through
with it.
JOE: That's it exactly. I had a beau-
tiful acute peritonitis once and they
called in Baumvogel to work on it with
me and he botched it up completely.
JACK: I had the same thing. I had
a t. b. I wanted to try up in Saranac
— Baumvogel sent it out to Arizona.
BILL:How did it do?
JACK: Just as I thought — it died!
• At this point the patient is wheeled
in and Dr. Stevens walks in. He strides
majestically into the room and every-
one snaps to attention.)
STEVENS: Well— (he makes a ges-
ture toward the patient) — let's get
into it fellows.
JACK (as he and the others pre-
pare) : Back to the old grind.
BILL (venturing an opinion in or-
der to impress STEVENS) : How about
starting in with a local?
STEVENS (impericafly) : No — not
on this kind — we'll use a general.
(By this time the patient is pre-
pared and STEVENS is handed a scal-
pel.)
What do you say, boys — let's get
going. I want to get a couple of sets
of tennis in this afternoon.
JOE — Swell — (they are practically
ready) .
STEVENS (lifting his scalpel) : O.K?
JACK: Right!
STEVENS: Turn it over!
(And as the doctors turn the patient
over and STEVENS starts the operation
we gently drop the curtain.)
WILL 1934 BE ANOTHER 1933 FOR US ?
I
SAM
COSLOW
(WORDS AND MUSIC)
THANKS TO
PARAMOUNT
PRODUCTIONS, Inc.
and the
Pararrount Music Depart. (Nat Fin-
ston, head guy) for their invaluable
assistance — and to all the artists, pro-
ducers, directors and co-workers we
have been and are working with.
and
ARTHUR
JOHNSTON
(MUSIC, WORDS & STUFF )
1933 ! !
PICTURES
"Too Much Harmony" "College Humor"
SONGS
Moon Song
The Day You Came Along
Down the Old Ox-Road
Buckin' the Wind
Thanks
Learn to Croon
Moon Struck
Black Moonlight
Twenty Million People
1934 ? ?
THIS LITTLE PICGIE WENT TO MARKET
With Lefty Lewis
From
"EIGHT GIRLS IN A BOAT"
AND IN PREPARATION
MAE WEST IN "ITAINT NO SIN"
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
"YOU'RE TELLING ME"
"OFTEN A BRIDEGROOM"
With Guy Lombardo's Orchestra and Burns and Allen
AND
MORE TO COME
27
''Don't Write Originals!
|99
By
VERA CASPARY
HAVE been warned more often
against the dangers of writing movie
originals than I have against the pit-
falls of drink, dope and loose living
Nearly all of my friends have taken
me aside at some time or other and
warned me, "Don't write originals. "
Even studio editors who had tele-
phoned the day before and wanted
stories in twenty-two minutes for
Janet Caynor, Marlene Dietrich and
Rudy Vallee, have become confiden-
tial over the third highball and whis-
pered, "Because you're a good sport,
I'll give you the lowdown. There's no
use writing originals."
In spite of all this, I notice that
originals continue to sell, to be made
into good pictures and make money
for the companies. I sell them my-
self. Not all that I write by any means,
but three out of six, and considering
the amount of work in an original as
compared with the work in a play or
a book or short story, the percentage
represents a very good way for a writer
to make a living, particularly if he
wants a lot of spare time for his writ-
ing.
A lot of people think that the writ-
ing and selling of originals, but par-
ticularly the selling, requires a secret
almost as precious as the secret of the
alchemist's stone. Since I have had
some luck and a lot of pleasant pub-
licity, I have been pestered with re-
quests that I collaborate, help or reveal
the secret that will enable the others
to share my good fortune. And I am
a good-hearted wench so I read all
their stories, at the risk of some day
being called a plagiarist, and I find in
nine cases out of ten that they haven't
an idea that is suitable for a screen
original any more than the Antigone of
Sophocles would be a story for Jimmie
Durante.
An original, in order to catch the
jaded fancy of editorial boards and pro-
ducers, must be a whole lot better as
story material than the novel, maga-
zine story or play they would buy
without half so much deliberation. The
novel or magazine story that has been
printed, the play that has been pro-
duced, have already received the bene-
diction of investment. Some publisher
has put money into plates: some pro-
ducer has paid a cast a couple of
weeks' salary anyway and invested in
sets, costumes and guaranteed theatre
rental; the story must, therefore, have
some merit.
But an original story that comes to
them, with no other recommendation
than an agent's name on the blue or
red or brown paper binder, must be
as tight structurally as a first-class
murder mystery, it must have as many
twists as a French farce, and it must
be as rich with revelations of human
weakness and human greatness as a
Priestley novel. If a stage play is built
around one situation with three or four
minor situations building it up, the
screen original must have two or three
big situations in it, with ten or twelve
sub-climaxes, contributing to the ex-
citement.
There are two ways of catching the
interest of these jaded story editors.
One is by the presentation of a strik-
ing idea, the other is the construction
of a solid story. A great many origi-
nals are presented as ideas, the stories
built after an option is bought, and
frequently a whole staff of writers en-
gaged merely to build the story frame.
To my mind, and I am often wrong,
the worst pictures result from this
method. For even the building of
stories for canned entertainment is not
a completely mechanical job. When a
lot of tired writers get together and
wearily dig out situations that were
good in other plays, books or pictures,
the result is the canned drivel that pro-
vides vehicles for famous stars and
drives the poor spectators home, bored
and bitter.
The other method is the submis-
sion of a manuscript to studios after a
story is completely worked out. From
a writer's point of view, this has one
big drawback. While the editors and
producers may like his idea, they may
object to some point in the story and
therefore reject the whole manuscript.
On the other hand, that gamble is
worth while because the other ele-
ments of the story may attract the
buyers.
And the main objection to an idea,
submitted forlornly and by itself, is
that no idea is sacred. This is not an
accusation. It is merely a statement.
Ideas are contagious, like measles.
John Jones and William Jones read the
same newspaper every day, hear the
same radio program, are influenced by
the same sounds and smells and colors.
What I wonder at is how two people
in this standardized world ever have
two completely different ideas.
An idea is easy to steal, it meets
its double in the first editorial room,
it is worthless as soon as it is talked
about too freely, and if it isn't talked
about, there is no chance for it to be
acclaimed. A good story, on the other
hand, is a solid possession, a property,
and the idea from which it sprang re-
tains its vigor, originality and impor-
tance because it was not forced into
the stereotyped model.
The prejudice against originals is not
all the fault of the editors and pro-
ducers. So many stories are just so
much garbage. Either an inexpe-
rienced writer is looking for an easy
way to make money without learning
how to construct, or a weary author has
to make payments on his house, his
automobile and the wife's fur coat, and
he doesn't want to bother with dia-
logue or prose rhythms.
But there are some first rate origi-
nal manuscripts. I have seen a few,
written by experienced and careful
writers who understand the needs and
limitations of the screen, that were
much better as stories, as dramatic
frames, and as writing than ninety-
nine out of a hundred magazine stories.
Unfortunately there are not many of
these, and more unfortunately, the
producers will not give them as much
consideration as they give printed stor-
ies, far less appropriate for the screen.
While this prejudice exists, the
writer who wishes to sell an original,
has to take a tremendous gamble in
writing his story. But what writer
doesn't take, a tremendous gambler
Plays, magazine stories, books are cer-
tainly gambling chances. Original
screen stories do not take as long tc
write as any of these others, althougl"
they take longer than most writers are
willing to believe.
Because the prejudice exists as a tre-
mendous handicap which must be
Continued on Page 5"
Nacio Herb
Arthu
BROWN FREED
MUSIC
LYRICS
w
Going Hollywood"
w
I II
Duchess of Delmonico's
w
Sadie McKee
//
w
Good Old Summertime'
METRO - GOLDWYN - MAYER
29
Writer^s Big Problem
By
ROBERT PIROSH
■
"Dear Mister: I have got a Genie
Plotter' and Polti's 'Thirty Six Drama-
tic Situations,' so I can think up good
plots and stories and all like that; but
I am not much of a hand at finding
good names for my heroes and lady
heroes and others. Would appreciate
if you would move a finger to help me
in this matter.
(Signed) Desperate"
Dear Desperate: Clad to move a fin-
ger to help you in this matter, and be-
lieve me it is indeed a matter! I have
on my desk four full length novels and
no less than eighteen short stories —
all of them masterpieces — ^which I
have not submiitted for publication be-
cause I have not yet found suitable
names for the characters.
There are any number of systems
for choosing names; but none of them,
in my opinion, is worth a tinker's d-m.
The first and perhaps the most in-
genious, presupposes a working know-
ledge of the alphabet; viz: a, b, c, d,
e, f, g, etc. The writer, as an instance,
is racking his brain for a good last
name for his hero, a splendid young
chap in a modish Glen Uphart plaid
suit. He concentrates on the letter A.
"What name," he asks himself,
"begins with the letter A?" He thinks
of Arzoumanian, which is just fair;
Applebaum, which doesn't seem to fit
the hero; Anker, which brings up the
disturbing question of "Anker Wat?"
With a sigh, he goes on to the letter
B. Barnes sounds too rustic. Buch-
anan— too hard to spell. Browning —
bad connotations. Then on to C and
D and E and right on up to W. (It is
folly to fool around with X, Y and Z.)
You will readily see that this system
is no snap. You have to be on your
toes every second, and even then you
are by no means assured of success.
With bad breaks, you are liable to
wind up with a hero named Barker, a
heroine named Harper, which would
get the reader all mixed up. So per-
ha'?s vou had better forget the alpha-
bet, if you haven't already, and have a
■ -^vhsr system.
Here is one that will appeal to the
Van Bibber in you. You walk along a
crowded thoroughfare until you spot
someone who resembles the character
you are trying to name. Then all you
have to do, theoretically, is find out
the person's name and you're all set.
In actual practice, however, it doesn't
work out so well. Lloyd's will give you
3 to 1 that your man thinks you're a
process server and runs like hell, 5 to 1
that you can't spell his name if he
does tell you, and even money that
he can't spell it himself.
Maybe a better bet for you is the
"Write the story and let the names
bloody well take care of themselves"
method. This one will be your meat
if you happen to be of an imaginative
turn of mind — the sort of person
whose whole youth can be evoked by
the smell of glue, let us say, or by
the pitter-patter of rain pitter-patter-
ing in through a hole in the roof — the
sort of person who is reminded of
something by everything.
You simply fill in the names as they
suggest themselves while you are writ-
ing the story. For example, you start
the story like this:
'Fancy seeing you here,' sneered
the elegant man-about-town.
What's fancy about it?' nitified
— — — , our inelegant
heroine.'
Right then and there, you fill in the
name that seems most appropriate. It
sounds easy, but I've been thinking
about it these last ten minutes, and
so help me the only name that comes
to my mind is Mae West. So you can
see that this system is just a big bust
as far as I am concerned. I merely pass
it on to you for what it is worth, and
will be pleased to accept your personal
check for that amount.
There is another system — known as
the Bell System — which puts in the
hands of the writer of a book that in-
cludes a long list of names, along with
addresses, phone numbers and other
useful information.
I don't do so well with this phone
book, as it is called in the profession.
Right off the bat, I get to wondering
how many Smiths there are in the
book, and nothing will do but that I
count them. Then of course the total
must be checked aginst the Joneses.
Then I discover that there really is a
Poppodoppoulos and I must call in the
family to show it to them. And in the
end I am pretty sure to come across
the name of a friend I've been neglect-
ing, to give him a ring and to go out
with him for a glass of ale and a talk
about the jolly times we used to have
on the old"World." (I never worked
on the old "World" but the mention
of it certainly does add tone to a piece
of writing. )
I have no patience with Somerset
Maugham or whoever it was who
pointed out the Obituary Column as
the best source of names for fictitious
characters. It would seem to me that
a person of feeling would be above
robbing the dead of their names before
thev are decently buried. It isn't
cricket. And even supposing that you
could waive the question of ethics on
finding just the right name; wouldn't
it cramp your style to know in your
heart of hearts that Grace Whinny,
vcur vivacious heroine, was really the
beloved wife of Willie Whinny, and
that she had died (selig) at the age
of 68?^ (Mineola papers please copy.)
So there you are. Desperate. There's
no magic formula for choosing names.
Every writer is up against the same
oroblem, and even the best of them
fall down on the job now and then.
Take for instance those famous lines
in that famous "June Moon" song:
"Give your child a name,
I mean a last name."
Do you seriously think that the
authors couldn't have married off the
father and mother respectable like. Il
is pretty obvious that the only hitch
in the proceedings was that they jus1
couldn't think of a good last name!
RALPH RAINGER
and
LEO ROBIN
STILL
WRITING
LYRICS
AND
MUSIC
For PARAA^OUNT Pictures
>c
MANAGEMENT
SMALL - LANDAU COMPANY
I ♦ ♦ UNDER THE PERSONAL MANAGEMENT OF * ♦
a
YLVIA
THAISERG
>
AT PARAMOUNT
MILTON E. HOFFMAN
♦ ♦
SIC SCH LAGER
♦ UNDER THE PERSONAL MANAGEMENT OF *
L E VV I
o
V
FOSTER
ADAPTATION and DIALOGUE*
EIGHT GIRLS in a BOAT "
Charles R. Rogers — Paramount
ORIGINAL SCREEN PLAY and DIALOGUE*
LOVE LIFE of a SAILOR
Ben F. Zeldman • — Universal
a
in collaboration
MARGARET
HAW5<IN
V
DIALOGUE TREATMENT
un»
Fifty Years From Now
(Paramount-Lloyd Sheldon Production)
fr
ADAPTATION
U
Presenting Lily Mars
(MGM-Lawrence A. Weingarten Productions)
''Paradine Case"
n
Agents Betray Robert
Ellis; Treachery Seen
Managers Reveal Hidden Secrets in Writer-Actor-
Director's Past
Dear Sig and Milt;
Enclosed are notes requested. They will acquaint you with
details of my lurid career that may encourage some slight effort
toward getting me work. Seven originals and two adaptations
in seven months, sandwiched in between six acting jobs is fair
enough for a fellow without background — but scarcely suffi-
cient for one of my dynamic quality and — er — equipment. Look:
Educated at St. Francis Xavier's Jesuit College, New York City.
While at school was a regular super at $7 per week at the Metropolitan
Opera House. First writing work, reportorial, on the New York Ameri-
can, about two years.
Then went to the box office of the Percy Williams theatres in
New York City as an Assistant Treasurer.
From there to the back stage as an actor in which I spent about
four years in small parts in New York with leading stars . . . Lillian
Russell, Wm. H. Crane . . . and others. . . . Also as a juvenile lead on
the road with traveling companies.
First in pictures with the early independents about 1907. . . . Then
back to the stage and returned for a long stay before and behind the
camera in 1910 when I joined the original Vitagraph Company in Flat-
bush, Brooklyn, as a stock member . . . remaining with them for less
than a year when I joined the Kalem Company on a five-year contract
as feature leading man and Director . . . Stayed with them until they
disbanded in 1915.
Returned to stage under contract to Oliver Morosco . . . Appear-
ing in his New York production of "Upstairs and Down" as lead.
Short time in service with the U. S. Navy, during war. To Los
Angeles as leading man of the Morosco Stock Company.
Back to pictures in 1919 as leading man and Director — a free lance.
1920 and 1921 . . . spent in traveling around the world. Then
three years, as director with the Selznick Company. Part of 1927 and
1928 in Europe.
Since then have been under contract to different major studios . . .
Paramount and last a two-year stretch in the big house at Universal City
1929-'30. Also interspersed in the last ten years have been some ex-
cursions back to the stage.
I have written at different times throughout my entire life.
Also have been always considered a very fine liar . . . the above
accounts however will bear investigation . . . while directing I
wrote most of my own material . . . which, however, was during
the silent days ... I have a very interesting library of both plays
and manuscripts . . . also a pictorial library of manners and cus-
toms which I collected while traveling ... a passion of mine at
all times when I can afford it and many when I can't.
I have lived for protracted stays in . . . England . . . South
America . . . China and India . . . also when let alone in various
parts of the United States . . . have used a typewriter all my
life with two fingers and never learned to spell.
Have never lost an engagement through lack of ability in
any branch of our profession, but have been thrown out the front
doors of some of our best studios through my quarrelsome dis-
position . . . never been accused of undue modesty. I am ex-
pecting that end to my association with the Chesterfield and
Invincible Companies.
Latest yarns . . . Originals . . . dialogue and continuities:
"BY APPOINTMENT ONLY," "DANCE GIRL DANCE."
"IN THE MONEY" "THE QUITTER" "TOGETHER AGAIN."
Adaptations . . . Dialogue and continuity. "MAN OF SENTI-
MENT," "TWIN HUSBANDS"
The others we'll forget . . . Good dresser on and off . . .
can operate a piano without putting a quarter in the slot . . .
and know some of the best people in our business and all of the
worst . . . and as George Ade would say: "Wishing you the
same."
BOB ELLIS
(Reproduction of Confidential Biographical Memo by Robert Ellis)
MILTON E. HOFFMAN
* SIG SCHLAGER
♦ -UNDER THE PERSONAL MANAGEMENT OF* ♦
RAY
DOYLE
♦
At Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer
SCREEN PLAY
"California"
BERHARD
SCHUSERT
♦
)UST COMPLETED
"Peck's Bad Boy "
for Sol Lesser
NOW
"Heidi"
Adaptation, Dialogue
EARLE
SHELL
At Universal
♦
"Let's Be Ritzy"
"Countess of Monte Cristo "
"Her First Mate "
"Fast Companions '
KARL
BROVVH
Three Originals for
Chesterfield Productions
FORTHCOMING RELEASES
"The Curtain Falls"
"Stolen Sweets"
"City Park "
■'Collaboration with Richard Thorpe
Direction Richard Thorpe
VVIHIFRED
DUHH
♦
Untitled Original for
B. F. Zeldman Prods. (Universal)
ORIGINAL, DIALOGUE, CONTINUITY
"Rainbow Over Broadway"
JOHH
MEEHAH, JR.
♦
DIALOGUE
"Loves of A Sailor '
♦
B. F. Zeidman Production
for Universal
M LTON E. HOFFMAN
* ♦ S C SCHLACER
•
DID YOU EVER SEE A 1 EAM WORKING ?
WELL WE ARE
Just Completing
The Musical Treatment
For
PARAMOUNT'S
1
"We're Not Dressing'
Starring
1
Bing Crosby
♦
Our Sincere Appreciation to
•
BARNEY CLAZER
NORMAN TAUROC
TED REED
And everyone connected with
— This — Production — For
Making — Work — a
Pleasure
♦
MACK CORDON
•
And
•
Personal Management
Bobby Crawford
HARRY REVEL
Business Management
Bren-Orsatti
•
UNDER EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT
TO
•
P .
A R A M O U hJ
1 T
66
Four Complaints io
99
PRELUDE: A Narrative of Prepare
for the Worst.
ACT I : Swell Fish half indoors and
half out of doors.
ACT II; Might it be Hollywood if
there were no Swell Fish.
ACT III: Hollywood: Its Saints and
why they are so.
ACT IV: The Saints reassembled
and re-enacting why they do do
like they do do.
PRELUDE
To love to love to love them so.
They make Swell Fish.
Swell Fish.
Swell Fish at least.
Oh at least.
Swell Fish.
Aboriginals and sub.
Suboriginals and ab.
Ab sub sub ab.
Ab.
Sub.
And digga digga doo.
You write them.
Fish.
Swell indeedy.
So what.
Or you don't so what.
So what you don't.
Or don't you.
So what what what so what so what
so what what.
But Swell Fish they make.
Swell indeedy.
Saints love to be teased.
ACT ONE
About Swell Fish.
How would you like to be fried half
indoors and half out of doors? Year
in and year in and in and out and in?
Indoors and out of. Fried half and
half.
Like Swell Fish.
Or versa vice and not profoundly
around the other way or behind the
beyond the beyond of it either. They
make the grandest bouillabaisse.
Which Saints are fond of.
Or should be.
Or would be.
Or may can must might would
should and could be.
But.
But toasted Susie is their ice cream.
Toasted Susie is their ice cream.
Three Acts
Wrapped in Cellophane
By
FREDERICA SACOR
and ERNEST MAAS
'After Gertrude Stein)
Their ice cream.
You're telling us.
The answer is phfui.
ACT TWO
Money money money money money
money money.
Beautiful word.
Burb of a burb.
Money.
But not for Swell Fish.
Positively not.
It would be unsaintly.
To say nothing of heterodoxical
unorthodoxy.
Putting it quaintly.
So always remember to forget it if
you like to remember to forget it if
you like to forget to remember to for-
get to remember to forget it that ice
cream is their toasted Susie. Hey hey.
Ice cream is their toasted Susie.
Toasted Susie is their ice cream.
Their ice cream.
Hey hey.
Some fun eh kid.
Hey hey.
And what hey hey hey hey hey hey
would become of Hollywood if hey hey
there were no Swell Fish to fry year
in and in and out and out half indoors
and half of doors or to put it more
clearly and less plain what would be-
come of it.
Become become become of it.
Become of it.
Become.
Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey what
would of it become.
This is getting too coherent.
That's apparent.
Could four acts be three.
Don't ask foolish questions.
For Art's sake.
All Saints wear Brown Derbies.
ACT THREE
Saints and why they are saints no
one can tell you because no one can
and if one could one wouldn't wood
35
won. Yet the Saints of Hollywood an
Saints because they are not and pro-
ducers is just a lovy dovy nickname
for them. Although associate produ-
cers and producer associates are aisc
that way. Only more so. Oh much.
Swell Fish have no grievance with
the Saints but the FOUR COM
PLAINTS IN THREE ACTS which wil
be four before we get through and af
ter all four complaints in four act:
which are as yet only three is littU
enough about Swell Fish for that mat
ter or any other.
But this is getting too coheren
again. Like some piptures.
And getting like some piptures to<
coherent again is not getting that in
coherence which is so essential t(
nothing at all and destroys that unit>
never intended in the first place. W<
refer of course to Swell Fish.
Swell Fish.
Deliciously Swell Fish.
ACT FOUR
Skol Saints. Skol skol skol skol. Skol
Scene 1
Saint B. P. How do you dc
Saint Emanuel. The same to you
Scene 2
Saint Irving. How do you do
Saint David. The same to you
Saint Walter. How do you do
Saint Harry. How do you do
Saint Hunt. The same to you
Scene 3
Saint Winfield HOW DO YOU DO
Saint Sol. THE SAME TO YOU
Saint Jesse. The same to you
Scene 4
Saint Carl Jr. Hellc
Saint Carl Sr. Wie gehts
Scene 5
Saint Darryl. How do you dc
Scene 6
Saint Jack. The same to yoL
Saint Hal. Wal how do you dc
Scene 7
Saint Samuel. How do you dc
Scene 8
Saint Merian. How do you dc
Saint Pandro. How do you dc
Blessed blessed blessed all.
And blim,ey.
It looks like.
A.
Great.
Year.
For Swell Fish.
Sooooo.
Let Lucy Lily Lily Lucy and let Lil
Lucy Lily.
Who cares.
Which is a fact Gertie.
THE END
GORN
COMPOSER — "BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME"
r
BROADWAY
SHOWS
Americana
Earl Carroll Vanities
Earl Carroll Sketch Book
Ziegfeld Follies
Merry-Co-Round
Top Hole
Sweetheart Time
Ritz Review
(and others)
PICTURES 1933-1934
n ,
"MOONLIGHT AND PRETZELS"
(Universal)
Ah, But Is It Love? Dusty Shoes
Moonlight and Pretzels
Let's Make Love Like the Crocodiles
11
tit
JIMMY AND SALLY'
(Fox)
You're My Thrill It's the Irish in Me
"CAROLINA"
(Fox)
Carolina
ii<
STAND UP AND CHEER"
(Fox)
This Is Our Last Night Together I'm Laughin'
We're Out of the Red
Baby Take a Bow Broadway's Cone Hill Billy
"WILD COLD"
(Fox)
I've Cot You on Top of My List
SPRINGTIME FOR HENRY"
(Fox-Lasky)
Forbidden Lips
And Preparing
Redheads on Parade
(Story* and Music)
Fox-Lasky
Here's to Love
(Story* and Music)
Universal
*ln collaboration
NOW UNDER CONTRACT TO
FOX -:- JESSE L. LASKY
PRODUCTIONS
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
37
Writers and Their Work for 1933
ADAMS, FRANK R.
(1933: MCM-Para. Now: Para.)
"Peg o' My Heart" SPD
"She Made Her Bed" SPTD*
"Sequoia" SPD*
AMES. CHRISTINE
(1933: Univer. Now: Free lance)
"The Human Side" OS
"Today We Live" SP
BAKER, GRAHAM
(1933 and Now: 20th Century)
"I Love That Man" OTD*
"Billion Dollar Scandal". ...OTD*
"Song of the Eagle" OTD*
"One Man's Woman" O*
"Bway Thru Keyhole".. *OSPTD*
"Gentlemen, the King"....SPTD*
BALDWIN, EARL
(1933 and now: Warner)
"Blondie Johnson" OSPD
"Sweet Cheat" OSPD
"Havana Widows" OSPD
"Dames" OSPD
"An Honorable Guy" SPD
"Wonder Bar" SPD
"Wild Boys of the Road". ...SPD
BINYON, CLAUDE
(1933 and now: Paramount)
"Search for Beauty" SP*
"College Humor" SP*
"Girl Without a Room" SP*
"Gambling Ship" T
"The Way to Love" D*
BLOCHMAN, L. C.
(1933 and now: Universal)
"Bombay Mail" OSP*
BREN, J. ROBERT
(1933 and now: 20th Century)
"Looking for Trouble" O
BUSCH, NIVEN
(1933 and now: Warner)
"College Coach" OSPTD
"The Big Shakedown"... .OSPTD
COHEN. LESTER
"Sweepings" OSP
"One Man's journey" SP*
"Of Human Bondage" SP
"The Devil's Disciple" SP
COLLINCS, PIERRE
(1933: Free lance)
"Woman Against Death" O
"British Agent" SPTD
"Mr. Whats His Name" SPD
"The Old Dolls House" T
CONSELMAN. WILLIAM
1933 and now: Fox)
"Arizona to Broadway" OSP*
Mad Game" OSP*
Frontier Marshal" OSP*
I Believed in You" SP
Jimmy & Sally" D
Orient Express" D
CORMACK. BARTLETT
(1933 and now: Paramount)
"This Day and Age" O
"Four Frightened People" SP
"The Trumpet Blows" SP
"Cleopatra" T
CUNNINGHAM, ANN
(1933: MOM; Now: Free lance)
"Sequoia" SPTD*
CUNNINGHAM. JACK
(1933 and now: Paramount)
"Under the Tonto Rim" SPD
"Sunset Pass" SPD
"The Man of the Forest".. ..SPD
"To the Last Man" SPD
"The Thundering Herd" SPD
"The Last Round Up" SPD
Ad .... Adaptation
D Dialogue
C . . . . Continuity
P Play
SP . . . . Sceen Play
S Story
Key To Authorship
O Original
OS . . . Original Story
SV . . . Screen Version
T . . . . Treatment
A Author
Rev Revised
* . . . Collaborated on
§ Additional
wk .... Working on
GerV . . .German Ver.
SpV . . . Spanish Ver.
FrV . . . French Ver.
DAVES, DELMER
( 1933: MCM-Para; Now: Warner)
"No More Women" OSP
"Flirtation Walk" 0
"Half Married" Q
"Clear All Wires" SP
DE LEON, WALTER
(1933: Para.; Now: Free lance) ....
"International House" SPD*
"Her Bodyguard" SPD*
"Tillie and Gus" SPD*
"Six of a Kind" SPD*
DOYLE, RAY
(1933: None; Now: MGM)
Magazine Stories Only.
DUFF, WARREN B.
(1933: Tif.-KBS-Warner; Now:
Warner)
"Fashions of 1934 O*
"I've Got Your Number". .OSPD*
"Crosby Murder Case". ...OSPD*
"Heat Lightning" SPD*
"Hot Air" SPD*
DUNNE, PHILIP
(1933: Lasky-Foxand MGM;
Now: MGM)
"Flight of the Swan" OSP*
"West Point of the Air" SP*
"Student Tour" SF
ERIGKSON, CARL
(1933 and now: Warner-FN)
"Easy to Love" SF
"Fashions of 1934" SP=»
"Hit Me Again" SP*
^
JAME
SEYMOUR
"COLD DIGGERS of 1933
n
( SCREEN PLAY ) *
"FOOTLIGHT PARADE"
(ORIGINAL STORY — SCREEN PLAY — DIALOGUE) *
Now Associate Producer
WARNER BROTHERS
FIRST NATIONAL
* In Collaboration
38
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Just One Hit After Another !
SIDNEY SUTHERLAND
Screen Plays
HI NELLIE
n
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Jan. 24. 1934
Picture Is a skillful piece of screen craftsmanship . . Authen-
tic newspaper atmosphere . . . Special attention to . . . Sidney
Sutherland for sparkling dialogue and a sense of reality — that
is a large part of the picture's appeal.
VARIETY
Jan. 24, 1934
Gets into its stride and . . . travels at a fast pace to the finish
. . . Picture should get into the money . . . handled news-
paper sequences well . . . with strong suspense in cafe scene.
^'Collaboration
\\
IVe Cot Your Number"
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Jan. 20, 1934
Audience breaks out in applause . . . Shouts of laughter greet
the lines . . . Good old action is keynote of this film . . .Crisp,
wise cracking dialogue . . . and a new background.
VARIETY
Jan. 20, 1934
A fast, exciting, comedy . . . and a sustained laugh fest . . .
It has money written all over It . . . Widest audience appeal
in its canny showmanship, racy lines toy ludicrously with the
double entendre around telephone switchboard terms commonly
understood . . . Story treatment by Warren Duff and Sidney
Sutherland gets away from the commonplace . . . and main-
tains breezy freshness.
Under Contract To
Warner Brothers
"STRICTLY DISHONORABLE"
"CHILD OF MANHATTAN"
THE POWER and THE GLORY"
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
39
FARROW. JOHN VILLIERS
(1933 and now: Para.-MCM)
South Seas Story OD
"Melody Bar" OT
"She Made Her Bed" T
"Prisoner of Zenda" T
"How to Treat a Lady" T
"Harbour Master" T
"Don Quixote" DL
FIELDS, HERBERT
(1933: MGM-Col.-Univer.-RKO;
Now: RKO)
"Let's Fall in Love" O
"Down to Their Last Yacht". ...O
"Love Life of a Crooner". ...SP
"Hollywood Party" D*
FORT, GARRETT
(1933: Free lance; Now: Para.)
"Before Dawn" OSPTD
"Tomorrow at Seven" SPTD
"Lost Patrol" SPTD*
FOSTER, LEWIS R.
(1933 and now: Free lance)
"8 Girls in a Boat" SPD*
FURTHMAN, JULES
(1933 and now: MOM)
"Soviet" O
"China Seas" 0
"The Blonde Bombshell" SP
CELSEY, ERWIN
(1933: Radio-Universal; Now: Free
lance)
"Gold Diggers of 1933" ...SP*
"Flying Down to Rio" SP"
"Life of Jimmy Dolan" SP*
CENSLER, LEWIS E.
(1933 and now: Paramount)
"Funny Page" SPM
"Melody in Spring" SPM
GOODRICH, FRANCES
(1933 and now: MGM)
"Secret of Madame Blanche" .-..
SPD*
"Penthouse" SPD*
"Fugitive Lovers" D*
GOODRICH, MARCUS
(1933: Para., Sam. Coldwyn, Inc.;
Now: MGM)
"Barbary Coast" Ad
Navy Story for W. Wanger....O
COLLOMB, JOSEPH
(1933 and Now: Free lance)
"Murder at the Vanities Ad
"In Conference" Ad
"Guilty Girl" O
GORDON, LEON
(1933 and now: MGM)
"Indo-China" O
"The Land of Wonder & Fear"..0
"When Ladies Meet" SP*
"Louisiana Lou" SP
"Tarzan and His Mate" T*
"China Seas" T*
GREENE, EVE
(1933 and now: MGM)
"Tugboat Annie" SP
"Beauty for Sale" SP
"Day of Reckoning" SP
"This Side of Heaven" Ad
"You Can't Buy Everything". .Ad
HACKETT, ALBERT
( 1933 and now: MGM)
"Secret of
Madam Blanche" SPD*
"Penthouse" SPD*
"Fugitive Lovers" D*
HANEMANN, H. W.
(1933 and now: RKO)
"The Great Jasper" . SPD-
"Rafter Romance" SPD*'
"No Marriage Ties" SPD*
'Ace of Aces" SPD*
"Flying Down to Rio" SPD*
HARRIS, ELMER
"Skyscraper Souls" SP
"Looking for Trouble" SP
"Cross Country Cruise" SP
"Her Master's Voice" SP
HAYWARD, LILLIE
(1933: Warner; Now: Free lance)
"Frisco Jenny" O
"Housewife" OSPD
"Registered Nurse" SPTD
"Bedside" SPTD
"Lady Killer" SPD
HECHT, BEN
(1933: MGM-Para.; Now: Free
lance)
"Turn Back Clock" SP
"Design for Living" ....SP
"Viva Villa" SP
HELLMAN, SAM
(1933: Free lance; Now: Para.)
"Good Dame" SP
"Search for Beauty" D
"Murder at the Vanities" D
HERBERT. F. HUGH
(1933 and now: MGM-RKO-War)
"Hit Me Again DSP*
"The Women in His Life"..OSP
"One Year Later" O
"Fashions of 1934" SP*
"By Candlelight" SP
"Journal of a Crime" SP
HERZIC, 5IC
M933: Universal, Par.; now, Par.)
"Moonlight and Pretzels " OSD*
"Lottery Lover" O*.
"Here's to Love" OT*^
"George White's Scandals". ...T
"1 Am Suzanne" T
HILL, ETHEL j
tl933 and now: Columbia) i
"You Made A Bargain" O!
"Fur Coats" O*
"Fury of the Jungle" SPTD*
"Fog" SPTD*
"Most Precious Thing
in Life" SPTD*
HYMAN, ARTHUR S.
"Tarzan and His Mate" SP]
"Incidental Women" SP
JACKSON, HORACE I
(1933: Fox-Para.; Now: Fox)
"Animal Kingdom" SPj
"Dangerously Yours" SP
"I Loved You Wednesday". .SP*
"Bolero" SP
JAMES, RIAN
M933 and now: Warner-Par-Fox)
"Hat Check Girl" O
"Crooner" O
"Parachute Jumper" O
"'Black Sheep" O
"Ladies in Waiting" O
"Forty-Second Street" SP
"Mary Stevens M.D SP
"Private Detective" SP
"She Had to Say Yes" SP
"Central Airport" SP
"The Sandy Hooker" SP
"The Dragon Murder Case"....SP
"Fox Follies" T
"Best of Enemies" D
"Bedside" D
"The Big Shakedown" D
C. GARDNER SULLIVAN
METRO-CO LDWYN -MAYER
:40
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
JOHN LEE MAHIN
Under Contract To
METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER
SARAH Y. MASON
AND
VICTOR HEERMAN
DRAMATIZED
"LITTLE WOMEN"
"THE ACE OF INNOCENCE"
FOR
R. K.O-RADIO
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
41
JOHNSON. NUNNALLY
(1933 and now: Par.-20th Cent.)
"Mamma Loves Papa" SPD*
"Moulin Rouge" OSPD
"House of Rothschild" OSPD
"Bulldog Drummond
Strikes Back" OSPD
KAUFMAN. EDWARD
"Aggie Appleby" SP*
"Hips-Hips-Hooray" SP*
KELLOGG. VIRGINIA
(1933 and now: MCM )
"Mary Stevens, M. D." O
KOBER, ARTHUR
(1933 and now: Fox and Metro)
"Broadway Bad" SP
"Bondage" SP
"Mamma Loves Papa" SP*
"Paiooka" SP
"The Road to Rome" T
"It's Great to Be Alive" D
"Meet the Baron" D
"Headline Shooter" D*
"Hollywood Party" D*
LASKY. {ESSE L. |R.
"Coming Out Party" SPD
LEE, ROBERT N.
(1933 and now: Para- Warner)
"From Headquarters" OSP''
"Kennel Murder Case" SP*
"Fog Over San Francisco". ...SP"
"Return of the Terror" T
"The Big Shakedown" T
LEVIEN. SONYA
"Cavalcade" -.. SP
"State Fair" SP
"Berkeley Square" SP
"Warrior's Husband" SP
"Mr. Skitch" SP
"As Husbands Go" SP
"The World Is Ours" SP
LONG. HAL
(1933 and now: 20th Century)
"Blood Money" SP*
LORD, ROBERT
(1933 and now; Warner)
"Without Honor" O
"Housewife" O
"Merry Wives of Reno". .OSPD
"The Golden Spoon" O
"Convention City" SPD
McEVOY. |. P.
(1933 and now: Paramount)
"Slightly Married" TD
"You're Telling Me" D
MAHIN, JOHN LEE
(1933 and now: MGM)
"Eskimo" SPD
"Blonde Bombshell" SPD*
"Prizefighter & The Lady". .SPD*
"Laughing Boy" SPD*
"Hell Below" D
MANKIEWICZ. HERMAN J.
(1933: MCM; Now: Free lance)
"Meet the Baron" O*
"Dinner at Eight" SP
"Another Language" SP
"The Show-Off" SP
'Timber-Line" T
MARKEY. GENE
(1933: Warner-MGM; Now: Free)
"Female" OSP*
"Blood of China" OSP*
"Coin' to Town" OSP*
"The Happy Family" O*
"Baby Face" SP*
"Lily Turner" SP*
"Midnight Mary" SP*
"A Modern Hero" SP*
MARKS. CLARENCE
I 1933 and now: Free lance)
"Her First Mate" SP*
"Love Birds" SP*
"Horse Play" SP ■
"The Big Cage" D
MARKSON. BEN
(1933 and now: Warner)
"Goodbye Again" SPD
"Lady Killer" SPD*
"Silk Express" SPD*
"Upperworid" SPD
"Girl Missing" SPD
"Lucky Devils" SP*
"Golddiggers of 1933" D*
"Picture Snatcher" D
MARLOW. BRIAN
(1933: Paramount-Columbia;
Now: Free lance)
"My Woman" OSPD
"Brief Moment" SPD*
"Supernatural" SPD*
"Crime of the Century". ...SPD*
MARTIN. FRANCIS
(1933: Para.; Now: Free lance)
"International House" SP*
"Disgraced" - SP*
"Her Body Guard" SP*
"Tillie and Gus" SP*
MEEHAN, JOHN
11933 and now: MGM I
"Prizefighter and the Lady".-.-0*
"Sadie McKee" O*
"Painted Veil" O*
"Hell Below" O*
"When Ladies Meet" O*
MILNE, PETER
(1933 and now: Warner-F. N.)
"Convention City" O
"Kennel Murder Case" SPD*
"From Headquarters" SPD*
"Registered Nurse" SPD*
MINTZ. SAM
1933: 2Gth Century; Now: Free
lance I
"No Marriage Ties" SP
"Rafter Romance" SP
"Gallant Lady" SPD
MORGAN, AINSWORTH
(1933: RKO; Now: Free lance)
"Man of Two Worlds". ...OSPD
"Sea Girl" OSPD*
'Errant Lover" O
"The Tudor Wench" SPD
"White Roses" T
"Martin Eden" T
"City of Beautiful Nonsense". T
MURFIN, JANE
(1933 and now: RKO)
"After Tonight" OSP*
""Silver Cord" SP
""Ann Vickers" SP
"Double Harness" SPD
"Spitfire" SP*
""Transient Love" SP
"Crime Doctor" SPD
MURPHY. DUDLEY
(1933: RKO and United Artists;
Now: Free lance)
"Revolt in the Earth" 0*
"Dawn Over Paris" 0*
"Artists' Model" O*
"Emperor Jones" T
NICHOLS. DUDLEY j
(1933 and now: Fox) i
"Hot Pepper" O;
"Gold Rush of 1934" ....O*
"'You Can't Buy Everything". ...O
"Mardi Gras" O*
"Grand Canary" SP
"Fledglings" SP
"Robbers' Roost SP
"The Man Who Dared" SP*
delmEr davEs
'■' '■ A rare old spelling but
none the less . . . correct
Just Released
"NO MORE WOMEN
(Story and Screen Play*i
Paramount
Ready To Shoot
"FLIRTATION WALK"
(Story and Screen Play)
Warner's
//
w
II
FOUR
WITH
YEARS
M - G - M
NEXT
DAMES
(Story* and Screen Play)
Warner's
IN COLLABORATION
42
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
-y
/
ELMER HARRIS
Having completed work on 22
screen plays and originals for
PARAMOUNT
during the year 1 933
KEENE THOMPSON
is now under contract to the
Jesse L. Lasky unit at
FOX
Preparing
"GRAND CANARY"
"REDHEADS on PARADE"
Finished
"SPRINGTIME for HENRY"
(In collaboration with Director Frank W. Tuttle)
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
"The Lost Patrol' SP
"Pilgrimage SP
"Hold That Girl" SP*
PARKER. AUSTIN
(1933: Fox-Radio-Warner-Para.;
Now: Paramount)
"Shanghai Madness" SP
"The House on 56th Street.. ..SP*
"Broadway and Back" SP*
"Mandalay" SP"
"Honor Bright" ..SP*
PARTOS, FRANK
(1933 and now: Paramount)
"Jennie Cierhardt" Ad
"Her Bodyguard" Ad
"Cradle Song" SP
"Good Dame" SP
"The Man Who
Broke His Heart" SP
PURCELL, GERTRUDE
"Palooka" SP
"Redheads On Parade" SP
RAPHAELSON. SAMSON
(1933: Paramount-Universal; Now:
MGM)
"Trouble in Paradise" SP
"The Merry Widow" SP
RAUH, STANLEY
(1933: Univ.; Now: Free lance)
"Cross Country Cruise" OSP
REED, TOM
(1933: Univ.; Now: Warner)
"S. O. S. Iceberg" OSP*
"The Golden Fleece" OD*
"Bombay Mail" SPD
"Left Bank" SP
RrCHMAN. ARTHUR
(1933 and now:
20th Cent. RKO, Univer.. MGM)
"Only Yesterday" SPD*
RISKIN. ROBERT
'1933 and now: Columbia)
"Ann Carver's Profession". .OSPD
"World's Fair" OSPD
"Lady for a Day" SPD
"It Happened One Night". ...SPD
RIVKIN, ALLEN
(1933 and now: MGM)
"Picture Snatcher" SP*
"Girl in 419" SP*
"Melody Cruise" SP*
"Headline Shooter" SP
"Meet the Baron" SP*
"Dancing Lady" SP*
"Living in a Big Way" SP
"Nana" T
ROBERTS. MARGUERITE
(1933: Fox-Paramount; Now: Free
lance)
"Sailor's Luck" OSPTD
"Jimmy and Sally" OSPT*
"The Whipping" T
ROBINSON. CASEY
(1933 and now: Rogers-Para.)
"I Love That Man" SD*
"Song of the Eagle" SD
"Golden Harvest" SD
"8 Girls in a Boat" SD
"She Had Her Bed" SD*
"Sitting Pretty" AdD
RUSKIN. HARRY
(1933 and now: Paramount)
"Six of a Kind" SPD
"Too Much Harmony D
"We're Not Dressing" D
SCCLA. KATHRYN
(1933: War. -MGM; Now: MGM)
"Female" ....OSP*
"Blood of China" OSP*
"Coin" to Town" OSP*
"The Happy Family" O*
"Baby Face" SP
"Lily Turner" SP*
"Midnight Mary" SP*
"A Modern Hero" SP*
SEARS. ZELDA
(1933 and now: MGM)
"Tugboat Annie" SP
"Beauty for Sale" SP
"Day of Reckoning" SP
"This Side of Heaven" Ad
"You Can't Buy Everything". .Ad
SEFF. MANUEL
(1933: Para. -War.; Now: War.)
"Footlight Parade" OSPD*
"College Coach" OSPD*
"Bedside" O*
"Easy to Love" SPD*
"Fur Coats" SPD
"Girl in 410" D*
SIMMONS. MICHAEL L.
( 1 933 and now:
United Artists, Para., MGM)
"The Bowery" O
"The Second Mrs. Tudor" O
"Cabby" OT
"He Was Terrific" OSPT
"World's Greatest Spender". OT
"The Gate Crasher" OSPT
"Boss Tweed" T
SMITH. PETE
(1933 and now: MGM)
Dialogue, Continuity and Voice
Recording All Pete Smith Shorts
SPIGELCASS. LEONARD
(1933 and now: Universal)
"Escape to Paradise" O
"Storm in the West" O*
"Stingaree" SPD*
STEWART, DONALD OGDEN
(1933 and now: MGM)
"Going Hollywood" OSP
43
"White Sister" SP
"Another Language" SP*
Dinner at Eight" C
STORM. JANE
"Doctor Bull" SP
"Miss Fane's Baby" SP
"Melody in Spring" SP
"Adorable" T
"My Lips Betray" T
SUTHERLAND. SIDNEY
I 1933 and now: Warner)
"The Match King" SPT*
"Ladies They Talk About". .SPT*j
"I Loved a Woman" SPTH
"Hi Nellie" SPT*I
"Ive Got Your Number". ...SPT*!
"Friends of Mr. Sweeney". .SPT*
"Too Many Women" SP*
SWERLINC. 10
(1933 and now: Columbia)
"As the Devil Commands". .SP
"Below the Sea" SP
"The Circus Queen Murder". .SP
"The Woman I Stole" SPI
"The Wrecker" SPC
"East of Fifth Avenue" SPD
"Man's Castle" SPC
"Men of Tomorrow" SPD
"Once to Every Woman". ...SPD
THEW, HARVEY
!1933: Para. -Radio-United Art-)
"Bedside" O*
"She Done Him Wrong". ...SPTC
"Count of Monte Cristo"..SPTC
"Operator 13" SPTC
THOMPSON. HARLAN
(1933: Paramount-MGM-Radio
Now: Paramount)
"I'm No Angel" Sfl
"Funny Page" SPL
"Sailor, Beware!" SP
"Melody in Spring" U
ROBERT RISKIN
•f
"Lady for a Day"
It Happened One Night"
44
THE HOLLYWOOD R
E P 0 R T E R
FRANK
i WEAD
♦
-
1
Representative
HARRY EDINCTON
ORIGINALS
HARRY
THE DEVIL'S in LOVE '
(FOX)
HERVEY
SHANGHAr EXPRESS"
(PARAMOUNT)
"PPINrF of PAPKNFSS''
(PARAMOUNT)
SCREEN PLAYS
COUNT of MONTE CRiSTO
(Edward Small, RELIANCE)
BLACK PEARLS '
(UNIVERSAL)
FAMILY MAN"
(RADIO)
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
45
TOWNE. GENE
(1933 and now: 20th Century)
"I Love That Man" OTD*
"Billion Dollar Scandal". ...OTD*
"Song of the Eagle" OTD*
"One Man's Woman" 0*
"Broadway Thru a
Keyhole" OSPTD*
"Gentleman, the King".. .SPTD*
ULMER, EI>GAR C.
(1933 and now: Col., Universal)
"Damaged Lives" OSPD
"Black Cat" T
WEAD, FRANK
(1933: RKO-Universal-MGM;
now: Free lance)
"Midshipman Jack" OSPD
"Fugitive Lovers" O
"I'll Tell the World" O
WEST, CLAUDINE
(1933: MOM)
"Reunion in Vienna ' SP*
"Barretts of Wimpole St."....SP*
"Marie Antoinette" SP*
WILSON, CAREY
(1933: MOM, Para.; now MCM )
"Bolero" O*
"Murder at the Vanities" SP*
"Gabriel Over the White
House" SP*
WISE, WALTER
"Incidental Woman" SP
"Storm at Daybreak" T
WOOLF, EDGAR ALLAN
(1933 and now: MCM)
"Flesh" SP
"Broadway to Hollywood". ...SPL
"This Side of Heaven" SP
"The Mask of Fu Manchu" T
"Dancing Lady" D
"Going Hollywood" D
WOLFSON, P. |.
(1933 and now: MGM)
"Picture Snatcher" SP*
"Girl in 419" SP*
"Melody Cruise" SP*
"Meet the Baron" SP*
"Dancing Lady" SP*
British Writers
ARLISS. LESLIE
"Jack Ahoy," co-wrote scenario,
Gaumont-British.
'Orders Is Orders," co-wrote adap-
tation and screen play, Gaumont-
British.
"My Old Dutch," original, Gau-
mont-British.
ASQUITH, HON. ANTHONY
"The Lucky Number," scenario,
Gaumont-British.
AYRES, HERBERT
"Doss House," original story, Sound
City.
"Commisionaire," original story,
MGM.
BANKS, MONTY
"Heads We Go," co-wrote scenario,
B.I. P.
BARRINCER. MICHAEL
"Strike It Rich," original screen
story, British-Lion.
"Digging Deep," original screen
story, British-Lion,
"Marooned," original screen story
screen play, Butcher.
"Flat 13," original screen story.
"I'll Stick To You," original screen
story.
"I'm An Explosive," original screen
story, Fox-British.
BENNETT, CHARLES
"Paris Plane," original story, Sound
City.
"Mannequin," original story, Twic-
kenham.
"The House of Trent," co-wrote
"The Monster of Loch Ness," co-
wrote screen play, Wyndhams.
BIRO, LA)OS
"The Girl from Maxim's," co-wrote
screen play, London Films.
"The Private Life of Henry VIII,"
co-wrote screen play, London
Films,
BOLTON, GUY
'Aunt Sally," screen play, Gains-
borough,
BRADDELL, MAURICE
"This Week of Grace," co-wrote
original, Twickenham.
"Love, Life and Laughter," treat-
ment, A.T.P,
BRISTOW. BILLIE
"The Monster of Loch Ness,"
screen story, Wyndhams.
"The House of Trent," screen story.
Butcher,
BUCHANAN, JACK
"That's a Good Girl," co-wrote
screen play, British & Dominions.
BURFORD. ROGER
Red Waggon," co-wrote scenario,
British International,
BUXTON, MARY
Story adviser, British & Dominions.
CARSTAIRS, JOHN PADDY
"It's a Boy!" co-wrote scenario,
Gainsborough,
"Bill in the Legion," original 'with
Norman Lee) , B.I. P.
"Backwash," original and screen
play, Sound City.
"Crazy People," co-wrote scenario,
Gaumont-British.
'Gay Love," treatment, British-
Lion,
"Paris Plane," co-wrote scenario,
Sound City.
"The Love Clinch," screen play,
A, & B, Films.
"It's a Cop!" dialogue, British (j
Dominions.
"Boomerang," screen play, Arthur
Maude-Columbia British,
COURTENAY, SIDNEY
"Money Talks," original, B,I,P.
"Party Politics," co-wrote scenario,
B.I. P.
"The Outcast," co-wrote scenario,
.LP.
WILLIAM R> LIPMAM
Originals
'Good Dame"
Paramount
'Broadway Bad
Fox
Novels
"The Night Is Long"
"Yonder Grow fhe Daisies''
(Produced by Fox as Double Crossroads)
"Sleepwalkers in Valhalla"
(For 1934 publication)
Screen Plays*
'Good Dame"
Paramount
Little Miss Marker"
Paramount
Adaptation
"Little Miss Marker"
Paramount
Mi
Dialogue*
'Good Dame"
Paramount
'Little Miss Marker"
Paramount
"in collaboration
Plays
"Racket's End"
"Ferris Wheel"
I For 1934 production I
■46
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
GROVER JONES
AND
WILLIAM SLAVENS McNUTT
PARAMOUNT:
i
♦
D SCHAYER
METRO
G O L D W Y N
MAYER
♦
Stooges
BREN CrORSAI II
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
47
DARLING. W. SCOTT
"I Adore You," original story, War-
ner-British.
DICKENS, STAFFORD
"Aunt Sally," co-wrote screen play,
Gainsborough.
"The Midshipmaid," co-wrote sce-
nario, Caumont-British.
FAYE, RANDALL
Scenario writer, Warner-British.
FLEMING, BRANDON
"The Flaw," original story, Warner-
British.
"Mayfair Girl," original screen play,
Warner-British.
"Confidential Ladies," original
screen play, Warner-British.
"An Enemy of the Police," original
screen play, Warner-British.
"Eleventh Commandment," original
play, Warner-British.
"Forging Ahead," original play,
Warner-British.
"Great Stuff," original screen play,
Warner-British,
"The Delusion," original story,
Warner-Britih.
FRANKEL, H.
"Jew Suss," co-wrote scenario,
Gaumont- British.
FURBER, DOUGLAS
"Soldiers of the King" original,
Gainsborough.
"That's a Good Girl," co-wrote
screen play, British & Dominions.
GERRARD, GENE
"Leave It To Me," co-wrote scena-
rio, B.I. P.
"Let Me Explain," co-wrote sce-
nario, B.I, P.
"The Love Nest," co-wrote sce-
nario, B,I.P,
GILLIAT, SIDNEY
"Falling For You," original story,
Gainsborough,
"Facing the Music," original story
(with Clifford Grey), B,I,P,
"Friday the 13th," original story
(with Moresby White) , Gains-
borough,
"Jack Ahoy," original story (with
John Orton), scenario (with
Leslie Arliss) , Gaumont-British.
"Orders Is Orders," adaptation and
screen play (with Leslie Arliss) ,
Gaumont-British,
"Chu Chin Chow," scenario, Gau-
mont-British.
"Crazy People," co-wrote original,
Gaumont-British.
GORDON, LESLIE HOWARD
"It's a Boy!" co-wrote scenario,
Gainsborough,
"Crazy People," co-wrote scenario,
Gainsborough,
"Murder at Cambridge," co-wrote
scenario, Gaumont-British.
GREY. CLIFFORD
"Facing the Music," original story
(with Sidney Gilliat), B.I. P.
HARVEY, LOLA
"The Outcast," co-wrote screen
play, B.I.P.
"Pride of the Force," co-wrote
screen play, B.I.P.
HAYWARD, LYDIA
"Sorrell & Son," adaptation, British
& Dominions.
"Bitter Sweet," scenario, British &
Dominions.
HOFFE, MONCKTON
"The Queen," dialogue, British &
Dominions.
"Sorrell & Son," dialogue, British &
Dominions.
KENDALL, VICTOR
"Sleepless Nights,' scenario, B.I.P.
"Heads We Go," scenario, B.I.P,
"Dick Turpin," scenario. John Staf-
ford Productions,
KNOBLOCK, EDWARD
"Red Waggon," screen adaptation,
BI.P,
LEE, NORMAN
"Bill in the Legion," co-wrote sce-
nario (with John Paddy Car-
stairs), B.I.P,
"Money Talks," scenario, B.I, P.
"The Outcast," co-wrote scenario.
B.I.P,
"Party Politics," co-wrote scenario,
B,I,P,
LEE. BOB
"It's a Cop!" story and additional
dialogue, British Or Dominions.
"Trouble," co-wrote adaptation,
British & Dominions,
LIPSCOMB, W. P.
"Good Companions," scenario and
additional dialogue, Gaumont-
British,
"I Was a Spy," scenario and dia-
logue, Caumont-British.
Channel Crossing," scenario and
dialogue, Gaumont-British,
"Colonel Blood," scenario, Sound
City.
LUPINO, STANLEY
'You Made Me Love You," co-
wrote scenario, B,I,P.
MAC PHAIL. ANGUS
"Channel Crossing," co-wrote orig-
inal, Gaumont-British,
MAiNWARING, BERNARD
"The Crimson Circle," original,
MGM,
MALLESON, MILES
"Love, Life and Laughter," treat-
ment, A.T,P,
MALTBY, H. F.
"Over the Garden Wall," original
story, B,I,P.
MALVERN, GERALD
Scenario Editor. Twickenham.
MARKS, JACKIE
"It's a Cop!" co-wrote scenario,
British & Dominions.
"This Week of Grace," additional
dialogue, Twickenham,
MEAR, H. FOWLER
p'ay.
"Wandering Jew," sere
Twickenham.
"Bella Donna," screen play, Twick-
enham,
Paul Schofield
MY APPRECIATION TO
DARRYL ZANUCK
SOL WURTZEL
WILLIAM COETZ
JOHN STONE
LOU OSTROW
48
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
LEO
BIRINSKI
Original Story and Screen Play
•MATA HARI"
with GRETA CARBO
Adaptation and Screen Play
"SONG OF SONGS"
with MARLENE DIETRICH
Adaptation
"NANA"
with ANNA STEM
IN PREPARATION
Original Story and Screen Play
"STAMBOUL QUEST"
with Joan Crawford
Adaptation
•PRISONER OF ZENDA"
with JEANEI IE MacDONALD
Original Story
♦BLONDE SAINT"
with JEAN HARLOW
Directed
•MATING TIME"
for Salient Pictures Corp.
2
o
1
THIRD YEAR — METRO-COLDWYN -MAYER
LEON
CORDON
Next Release
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
(Adaptation)
Jn Preparation
"INDO-CHINA"
(An Original)
Both under the supervision of Mr. Bemie Hyman
Management:
SELZNICK-JOYCE
o
James Gleason
"THE BOWERY"
(WALSH — 20th CENTURY)
SCREEN PLAY BY JAMES GLEASON AND HOWARD ESTABROOK
♦
"CHANGE OF HEART"
(BLYSTONE— FOX)
SCREEN PLAY BY JAMES GLEASON AND SONYA LEVIEN
lt\Ar nio;)<:rkn Hlrtf^rtlnn DlAlnniK^l
THE
GLEASONS
James — Lucile — Russell
DEMMY LAMSON
MANAGER
Ox 8019 Ox 7261
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
49
"Mannequin," scenario, Twicken-
ham.
"The Ghost Camera," scenario,
Twickenham.
"Home Sweet Home," scenario,
Twickenham.
"The Black Abbott," scenario,
Twickenham.
MELFORD, AUSTIN
"It's a Boy!" screen play adapta-
tion, Gainsborough.
"Aunt Sally," screen play, Gains-
borough.
"Night of the Carter," co-wrote
screen play, British & Dominions.
MURRILLO, MARY
"My Old Dutch," co-wrote scena-
rio, Gaumont-British.
"Love, Life and Laughter," co-
wrote scenario, AT. P.
MYCROFT, WALTER
Scenario Editor, British International.
ORTON, J. O. C.
"Tell Me Tonight" (U.S.A. title:
"Be Mine Tonight"), adaptation
and dialogue, Caumont-Ufa.
"Soldiers of the King," screen play
(in collaboration with Jack Hul-
bert) , Gainsborough,
"Just Smith," screen play (in col-
laboration with Frederick Longs-
dale) , Caumont-British.
"Jack Ahoy," story (in collaboration
with Sidney Gilliat) , Gaumont-
British.
"Brown on Resolution," screen
play, Gaumont-British.
PEOELTY, DONOVAN
"The Little Damozel," adaptation,
British & Dominions.
"Love, Life and Laughter," dia-
logue, A.T.P.
"Seeing Is Believing," original and
screen play, Paramount-British.
"That's a Good Girl," continuity,
British & Dominions.
"The Crime at Blossoms," screen
play and additional dialogue.
Paramount -British.
"Tilley's Punctured Revue," original
and screen play, Garrick Film Co
PEMBERTON. W. BARING
"Paris Plane," co-wrote scenario,
Sound City,
"What Shall It Profit a Woman?"
co-wrote scenario, Sound City.
POUNDS, REGINALD
"Song of the Plough," original
screen story, Sound City.
QUiN, JOHN
"Tiger Bay," scenario, Wyndham
Films.
RAPHAELSON, SAMSON
"The Queen," original screen play,
British & Dominions.
RAWLINSON, A. R.
"Jew Suss," co-wrote scenario,
Gaumont-British.
"Aunt Sally," co-wrote additional
dialogue and adaptation, Gains-
borough.
STEVENSON, ROBERT
"Falling for You," dialogue, Gau-
mont-British.
"La Bataille," dialogue (British
version), Gaumont-British.
STOCK, RALPH
"Britannia of Billingsgate," co-
wrote adaptation, Gaumont-Brit-
ish.
STORROCK, CHARLES
"Trouble," original story, British &
Dominions.
THOMPSON, FRED
"Heads We Go," original story,
B.I. P.
"I Spy," original story, B.I. P.
TRAVERS, BEN
"Turkey Time," original and screen
play, Gaumont-British.
"The Cuckoo in the Nest," origi-
nal and screen play, Gaumont-
British.
WALLACE. BRIAN
"My Old Dutch," co-wrote scena-
rio, Gaumont-British.
WELLSLEY, WONG
"Right to Live," screen play, Fox-
British.
"Over the Garden Wall," scenario,
B.I.P.
WESTON, BERT
"It's a Cop!" story and additional
dialogue, British & Dominions.
"Trouble," co-wrote adaptation,
British & Dominions.
WHELAN, TIM
"Aunt Sally," original story, Cains-
borough.
"It's A Boy." screen adaptation,
Gainsborough,
"Crazy People," co-wrote original,
Gaumont-British.
WHITE, MORESBY
"Friday the 13th," original story
with Sidney Gilliat, Gainsborough
WILLIAMS, BROCK
Contract writer, Warner-British.
WILLIAMS, FREDA RHYS
"Jew Suss," co-wrote scenario,
Gaumont-British.
"Murder at Cambridge," co-wrote
scenario, Gaumont-British.
WILLIS. J. ELDER
"Tiger Bay," co-wrote original,
Wyndham Films.
WIMPERIS. ARTHUR
"The Girl From Maxim's," co-wrote
screen play, London Films
"The Private Life of Henry VIII."
co-wrote screen play, London
Films.
WOODS, ARTHUR B.
"Secret Agent," scenario, B.I.P.
"Third Degree," scenario, B.I.P.
"Meet My Sister," scenario, B.I.P.
Policeman's Holiday," scenario,
B.I.P.
"Contraband," scenario, B.I.P.
"Above Suspicion," scenario, B.I.P.
"Phantom of Footplate," scenario,
B.I.P.
"I Spy," scenario, B.I.P.
"Southern Maids," scenario, B.I.P.
"Red Waggon," co-wrote scenario,
B.I.P.
HAXRRY
SHGAL
t
Following F
'lays Sold and Scheduled for New York Production:
lost Ho
r i z o n s '
'Thanks and
Goodbye'
•
'The Perilous Halo'
Now Under
In Preparation at Universal
Contract To
M. G. M.
'The Behavior of Mrs. Crane'
•
50
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
JOHN
MEEHAN
MCM
Stephen
Morehouse
Avery
Management
SELZNICK-JOYCE
FRANK PARTOS
(PARAMOUNT)
Wrote in collaboration
in 1933-34
"Jennie Gerhardt"
Her Bodyguard ' "Cradle Song"
Wharf Angel" "Good Dame"
"Thirty Day Princess"
Now Under Assignment To
B. P. SCHULBERG
HARVEY
THEW
now at
METRO
COLDWYN
MAYER
51
Paragraphs from
A Reporter's Notebook
Continued from Page 7
ing fad. Did I say all of us? Well,
that isn't exactly true — as you shall
see.
One day, as Morton was dictating a
letter, an office boy entered and an-
nounced that a man outside wanted to
see the boss. Unable to remember the
stranger's name, the boy was sent back
to get his business card. He returned
to report that the visitor said he was
too poor to have a business card; and
moreover wouldn't explain why he had
come. The boy described him as a
"funny-looking little Jew."
I have often wondered since that
day what might have happened to the
mammoth picture industry if Morton
had had a hangover, a not infrequent
condition with my employer, at which
times he was a highly irascible indi-
vidual. This morning, however, his
mood was benign; and he told the boy
to show the man in.
He was, indeed, "a funny-looking
little Jew" — but he was a most earn-
est little Jew, and an honest one. He
told Morton that he owned a little
nickelodeon out West; was convinced
that a golden future lay ahead for the
new entertainment; that he intended
to open several new theatres in vacant
stores in his town; and that he wished
to buy our projection machines — on
credit.
Morton asked him why he didn't ap-
ply to the Motion Pictures Patents
Company. The visitor replied that he
was on their blacklist, because he was
an independent; and was not permit-
ted to buy projection machines or cam-
eras from anybody in the big company,
Morton studied the little chap, and
after a while decided to do two things:
First, violate our agreement with the
great corporation by surreptitiously
selling our product to the stranger;
and, second, to take a chance that we
would ever get our money.
The two men shook hands on the
deal ; and then and there began a busi-
ness relationship that lasted until the
tyrannical hold of the octopus was
broken — largely through the efforts of
this same little Jew.
Some time later, I was in Luchow's,
a popular cafe on 14th Street, where
it was my practice and pleasure, when-
ever I had the money, to drop in for a
few seidels of Kulmbacher, of sancti-
fied memory!
Leaving Luchow's I strolled toward
Third Avenue, intending to visit my
old friend, Tom Sharkey, in whose sa-
loon it was likewise my wont to drop
in occasionally for a beaker or two of
rye.
Just before reaching Sharkey's I no-
ticed that a former haberdasher's store
was now occupied by a new business.
The whole front of the place had been
torn out, and hideous metallic music
was blaring from the cylinder of an
Edison gramaphone.
Entering, I discovered that it was a
"peep show," one of the earliest forms
of amusement which utilized the prin-
ciple of the motion picture. A num-
ber of men and women were inserting
pennies and nickels in the slots of the
apparatus around the room; and out of
curiosity I followed suit. Presently, I
talked to the attendant, or manager,
about the new enterprise.
As I started out of the Arcade I saw
two men standing near the entrance.
Pausing to look into another penny
exhibit, I could not help overhearing
their conversation. They were won-
dering where they could raise about a
thousand dollars to open up another
place. The attendant said one of the
men owned the Arcade. After a while
I proceeded on my way.
I have often wondered since that
day what would have happened to me
had I had the happy inspiration to offer
those two men the thousand dollars I
then had on deposit in a bank. Un-
doubtedly, they would have gratefully
given me a handsome share in their
future enterprises.
"The little Jew " who came into
Baxter Morton's office that day was
Carl Laemmie — and one of the t\vo
rren in the "peep show" on Fourteenth
Street was Adolph Zukor.
But, as I said at the start of this
reminiscence, everybody thought the
movies would turn out to be just a
fad. Did I say everybody? Well, ob-
viously that isn't exactly true, either.
Funny, isn't it — how, when you
start to tell a simple little story, you
use up so many words! I intended to
relate four or five little incidents —
and I find that two of them have used
up all my space.
Well, maybe in next year's annual
Writers' Number I'll continue these
episodes. Or maybe, if Billy's readers
are interested, I might narrate other
"Paragraphs from a Reporter's Note-
book" from time to time.
In any event, I still maintain that
only writers can write stories — that
producers should produce, that direc-
tors should direct, that stars should
act — and that all three of them ought
to keep their hands off of the writing
of stories.
52
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
JOHN
FRANCIS
LARKIN
Management,
Edington-Vincent
BESS
MEREDYTH
Under Contract To
TWENTIETH CENTURY PICTURESS
just Completed
SCREEN PLAY
'THE FIREBRAND"
LEWIS
GRAHAM
Published by Macauley
•THE GREAT I AM"
ParanrKJunt Pictures
Original
"MURDER IN THE THEATRE'
Bryan Foy Pictures
Published by Macauley
"LET'S BUY A FARM"
Released November 15, 1933
Published by Macauley
THE GUINEA PIG TURNS"
Release Date March 2. 1934
EDWARD
KAUFMAN
R. K. O.
nil*
Aggie Appleby'
Hips Hips Hooray'
'Cockeyed Cavaliers '
IN COLLABORATION
BREN-ORSATTI
53
A Fairway to Arntz
Continued from Page 9
the man who had on Hamlet's cos-
tume.
He's busy."
"I know. The girl who sits at the
mahogany desk on the second floor
told me that. But do you know him
when you see him?"
"He doesn't know me."
"That's not exactly what I asked
you. I just wondered if you would
know Mr. Arntz if you saw him. "
"He's on Lot. No. Nine. But he's
busy."
I thanked the man who wasn't
Hamlet and was going to give him a
cigarette but I only had one left so
didn't. I was smoking my last cig-
arette when I strolled up beside a man
1 thought might be Mr. Arntz be-
cause he was on Lot Nine. He was
sitting on the floor with five other
people in the middle of a set which
looked like it might be The Mount of
Olives and they were all shooting
crap.
"Shoot the works!" said a lady who
was dressed like the Virgin Mary as
she chucked a fifty-dollar bill in the
center of the circle of players and spit
on the dice.
Til tek it all!" said the man who
I was now pretty sure was Mr. Arntz.
The lady dressed like the Virgin
Mary threw a natural.
"Holy Smoke!" she said, "I'm hot!"
She pulled the two fifty-dollar bills
away and replaced them with a one
dollar bill. Two men who might have
been Apostles each faded her for fifty
cents. She threw a four.
"A hundred she 'fours,' " I said and
I dropped a hundred-dollar bill over
the Virgin Mary's shoulder.
"I'll tek it all!" said the man who
I was now certain was Mr. Arntz. I
was going to introduce myself to Mr.
Arntz, but I was afraid I'd win and
then — if it really was Mr. Arntz — he
might take a sudden dislike to me and
say he never made an appointment
with me by wire and that wouldn't be
the truth and I'd lose my temper and
it would get in the papers and there
would be another scrap like the Tully-
Cilbert bout only it would be the
Arntz-Heminway bout.
Well, the Virgin Mary threw a four
the first crack. Mr. Arntz said,
■Jeez'! and I picked up the two one-
hundred dollar bills and said thanks
and thanked the Virgin Mary for
throwing a four and left the set that
looked like the Mount of Olives and
never met Mr. Arntz because I had
won his hundred dollars and I was
afraid he wouldn't like me.
I walked through the gate and gave
up a pass which someone had sent me
to the Roosevelt Hotel to a man with
a uniform who wasn't very civil for he
didn't say 'thank you' or "good bye' or
anything. I realized I would have to
approach a man as busy as Mr. Arntz
through different channels. Mr. Arntz
was a busy man.
When I stepped off the sidewalk in
front of the X. Y. Z. studios I nearly
got hit by a driver who I know would
have been a hit-and-run driver if he
had hit me. But he didn't hit me be-
cause he put on his brakes and missed
me. His brakes squeaked. The squeak
reminded me of my bed in the Roose-
velt Hotel and the bed in the Roose-
velt Hotel reminded me of the little
blond girl in the coffee shop with the
tired face and slim hips. I wondered
if she knew Mr. Arntz and could say a
good word for me and get me an intro-
duction that would be a better intro-
duction than telling him who I was to
his face after taking a hundred dollars
off him.
I walked into the coffee shop in the
Roosevelt Hotel and found the blond
girl still pouring coffee. She looked
a little more tired than she had in the
morning and I could understand why
because I would get tired myself just
pouring coffee out of the same nickel
tank all day. It would be more fun
to be a cook. She recognized me and
asked me if I wanted some more cof-
fee and doughnuts and if I got my job
in the movies and if I liked Holly-
wood.
"Just coffee," I said, "I'm not
hungry, really."
I watched her as she filled the thick
cup with coffee and I knew I hadn't
been mistaken when I thought her
hips were thin. I hoped, for her
sake, she'd never have a baby because
her hips were too thin to be safe.
"Do you know Mr. Arntz out at
X. Y. Z.r' " I asked her as she wiped
somebody else's coffee off the counter
in front of me.
"Do I know him?"
"Yes, That's what I asked you, I
think."
"I'll say I do The skunk ruined
me when I first come to Hollywood."
"The beast!" I said.
"Why?"
"just because he is, to have done
that to you."
"I mean why do you want to know
if I know him?"
"Because I want to know him. I
have an appointment with him but I
don't know him."
The blond girl put her elbows on the
counter and then put her chin in the
cups of her hands and looked at me.
"I know a lot about him which I
could tell you. And then when you
know what I know it wouldn't be very
difficult for you to get to know him."
The blond girl's idea seemed like a
good one so I paid for my coffee with
Mr. Arntz's hundred dollar bill and
when the blond girl had gone to the
cashier in the Hotel and had brought
me back ninety nine dollars and ninety
cents, I told her to keep the change
and told her I would meet her later
and she could then tell me what she
knew about Mr. Arntz. Her face
looked prettier and less tired when she
tucked the bills in the pocket of her
blue apron and told me to meet her
in the lobby at nine-thirty that night.
I went out onto Hollywood Boulevard.
But I came back again because I had
forgotten to ask her what her name
was and I thought it would be just as
well to know her name insomuch as I
had given her a hundred dollars for a ,
cup of coffee and had only drunk half '
the coffee. And she seemed to think
she knew a lot about Mr. Arntz which
would help me to get to know him.
"Hortense," she said.
"All right, Hortense, I'll see you
later in the lobby." I pressed her hand.
"Dear Hortense," I said and went out.
I met Hortense in the lobby of the
Roosevelt Hotel at nine-thirty and she
had on a dish-like hat with a feather
in it like a feather in the tail of an
African bird I once saw in the Zoo in
Cairo.
"There's too many people here. I
can't hear what you're saying," I said.
"Let's go up to my room on the sixth
floor. It looks out on Crauman's Chi-
nese Theatre and the bed is hidden in
the wall so you have nothing to fear,
Hortense. because it's quite a job to
let it down."
"It isn't if you know the knack."
"The knack of what?"
"Of letting it down."
Continued on Page 56
54
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
ARTHUR SHEEKMAN
and
NAT PERRIN
Under contract
to
SAMUEL GOLDWYN
♦
Management
WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY
^
EDGAR ALLAN
WOOLF
M. C .M.
FOR SEASON OF 1933
This Side of Heaven"
'"Broadway to Hollywood"
"Flesh"
AND
All M. C. M. presentations
by M. C. M. stars in their
personal appearances
At Present
In Collaboration with Florence Ryerson
on "Mild Oats"
CAREY WILSON
S. K.
LAUREN
♦
COLUMBIA
PICTURES
v^wKI .
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
55
JESSE L
LASKY, Jr
Screen Play and Dialogue
'Coming Out Party"
(in collaboration)
Frank R.Adams
''Sequoia''
M. C. M.
"She Made Her Bed''
Charles Rogers • — - Paramount
'Lizzie Skerrit"
Charles Rogers — Paramount
Exclusive Management
REBECCA & SILTON
!
GERTRUDE
PURCELL
CURRENT RELEASE
PALOOKA
(EDW. SMALL PRODUCTION)
PRESENT ASSIGNMENT
REDHEADS
ON PARADE
ILASKY-FOX PRODUCTION)
SAMSON
R
APHAELSO
N
now working on
''The Merry Widow"
OTHER PICTURES
"Trouble in Paradise"
"One Hour With You"
"Smiling Lieutenant"
"Broken Lullaby"
56
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
SONYA LEVIEN
WRITER
(Seven years with FOX)
Screen Credits for this year
"CAVALCADE"
"STATE FAIR"
"BERKELEY SQUARE"
"WARRIOR'S HUSBAND"
"MR. SKITCH"
(Will Rogers)
"AS HUSBANDS CO"
"THE WORLD IS OURS"
(Janet Caynor story in production)
li e r z i g
♦
"moonlight and pretzels"
original story
screen play and dialogue
"here's to love"
original for universal with
jay gorney
"loH-ery lover"
original for fox with
maurice hanline
also special work on
■'in collaboration
"i am Suzanne"
and
'george white scandals"
now
preparing adaptation of
earl Carroll's
"beaux arts bail"
for paramount*
management
small-landau company
A Fairway io Arntz
Continued from Page 53
She said this just as we got in the elevator. The boy driv-
ing the elevator had a mole on the side of his neck which dis-
appared under the edge of his collar when he turned around to
look at Hortense and me. I knew what he was thinking.
"Sixth floor," I said.
He stopped at the sixth floor and let us out and we walked
down the corridor and around the corner to my room.
Hortense told me all I wanted to know about how to get to
know Mr. Arntz and she also told me she liked me because she
knew I wouldn't like Mr. Arntz. I told her I knew I wouldn't
like Mr. Arntz any better than she did. Not much better any-
how. Of course Mr. Arntz hadn't ruined me so I would like him
a little better than she did. But I told her I'd have to pretend
to like him because he would be my boss and if he knew I didn't
like him he might not renew my contract and then I couldn't
pay her a hundred dollars any more for a cup of coffee.
"Are you happy, darling? Because I'm happy as hell," she
said.
fine.
"I'm always happy," I said, "but I'm worrying."
"Don't worry, darling. I ain't worrying. I'm fine.
feel
"Do you really?"
"Yes, grand, darling."
"I feel grand too. But it annoys me. I hoped it wouldn't
happen."
"Hoped what wouldn't happen, darling?"
"Hoped this bed wouldn't squeak again. I meant to buy
some oil or complain to the management."
I went to sleep about three o'clock wondering if, when I
met Mr. Arntz, he would remember that I was the man who bet
a hundred dollars that the lady dressed as the Virgin Mary would
throw a four.
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
57
Don't Write Originals n ^.t a n -n
* Continued from Page 27
overcome, original screen stories have to be better stories than
a great many printed tales. They do not have to be written
so well, for good writing will not sell them. They must be
clear, however, emphatic and logical as any good mechanical
story is logical. There is a technique of presentation that is
individual and economic, and the manuscripts should be as fin-
ished, in their way, as stories submitted for the printer.
A first-rate original for the screen is as spontaneous as
any novel or play idea. It is not an old novel idea, squeezed into
a few pages, to avoid hard work; it is not the outline of a play
discarded because the author could not fit it into the dramatic
form.
A screen original is an original story, conceived for and fit-
ting the screen. It fulfills the standards for stage plays inasmuch
as dramatic construction is concerned, but like the novel, it can
show a number of people in a number of places, heightening
dramatic interest by its flexibiliy. It has, like every other form
of writing, its limitations, and often its very flexibility is one of
its greatest limitations.
But the time will come when authors, and producers, too,
will realize that the screen is a medium for an individual and
original method of story-telling. When that millenium arrives,
the writers will respect the screen form enough to realize that
it deserves better than the cast-off, worn-out plots that turn
editorial boards bitter at mere thought of originals; and the
producers will see the screen story as a screen story, and not
as a vehicle that was holy because it was printed, and there-
fore, twisted and contorted, can make a better picture than a
story planned and written for pictures.
in the meantime, spontaneity gets its chance occasionally
and, while they keep on telling you there is no chance for or-
iginals, they continue to live up to their whimsical reputation by
producing them.
Charles
Kenyon
RICHARD
RODCERS
AND
LORENZ
HART
58
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Hollywood Reporter
Writer Awards
for 1933
Best Original Story:
Preston Sturges
("The Power and the Glory")
\
Best Adaptation:
Robert Riskin
("Lady for a Day")
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Original Story —
ROBERT LORD— "One Way Passage"
EDWIN JUSTUS MAYER and
ROWLAND V. LEE— "I Am Suzanne"
Adaptation —
SARAH Y. MASON and
VICTOR HEERMAN— "Little Women"
BEN HECHT— "Design for Living"
1
THE
VENDOME
is now
Open
Until Midnight
_ THE THEATRE
I\ T T © I EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BE-
^ ^ ■ ■ ^^ ■ COME BORESOME.
THEN
• • •
THE
VENDOME
. . . AFTER ALL
It Ruins Their Art
(Continued from Page 4)
literary page in the world? Didn't I write half a dozen novels
and get pretty good reviews?
I should have said nothing about reviews.
"Reviews? By whom . . by what?" demanded M. Jefferson,
champion of the proletariat.
I had to admit that never had one of THE CRIERS' hundred
editors praised my work. I bowed my head. M. Jefferson was
touched by my humility. He was touched, perhaps, because he
had yet to touch me for the fifty dollars that would pay for the
family's dining car charges.
"You can never tell," he consoled me. "There is Swane over
there with tickets in his pocket."
"Who? Me?" And Swane unlimbered to renew hostilities.
The appearance of the roll that was to have paid the install-
ment on the flivver stopped their bickering. I split the sixty
bucks between them and turned to my own troubles, wondering
what the Missus would say when I appeared before her, a peni-
tent.
They repaid the loan out of the first week's pay. I heard no
more from them until some months later. Then I heard from
them. Apparently their artistry did not get into their pictures.
I have their word for it. From each came substantially the same
note. Here is Kupdrayer's:
"Don't go to see WOMEN ARE LIKE THAT. Von Sternberg
ruined it. My name is on it though, I objected. I refused to see
the finished picture. Wait till you see my book."
I have been waiting vainly for more than two years, and have
seen neither book, play or letter. I did read a piece in THE RE-
PORTER that M. Jefferson Kupdrayer charged Frank Handel
Swane with stealing his credit. I cannot understand why twenty-
dollar-a-week birds earning five hundred, should need credit.
Hollywood seems to do things to people — even to great art-
ists, like my pair. It wrecks their morale, their art. It is ter-
rifying. As for my pair, they never did get wise to Hollywood,
though Hollywood got wise to them. By last accounts they were
lecturing on the "Fascism of Motion Pictures" — to their
creditors.
INTRODUCING
the Speaker of the Evening
Ever sit in on a banquet while a toastmaster,
with more cracks to his line than a syndicated
columnist, introduced a speaker who was a
washout? It happens often.
Think about your theatre the same way.
You book a feature, promote it, stunt it, ad-
vertise it to a fare-thee-well. And you pack
them. You're just like the toastmaster. You've
got your customers on edge, waiting for some-
thing swell.
And then ... up comes the speaker of the
evening — your sound — the most vital part of
vour show. And what do your customers do?
Stage presentations
are on the rebound.
If you plan to go
in for them, re-
member : S t a g e
Sound must now be
as good as Screen
Sound, or else . . .
Sound Reinforcing
is the answer and
we have a com-
pletely standardiz-
ed proposition to
tell you about.
Mail this coupon.
If you have High Fidelity, they sit thrilled
to the most perfect sound that money can
buy. They listen to realism unrivalled by life
itself. In short they listen to natural sound,
and they go home, sold on your house, sure to
come next week.
But, if you haven't High Fidelity . . . Well,
why take the negative angle? Some day in
the interest of your box office, you will have
High Fidelity, and when you do you'll under-
stand and join in the enthusiasm of the hun-
dreds of ear-wise exhibitors who are making
money with their . . .
HIGH FIDELITY
RCA VICTOR
PHOTOPHONE
Make them ear-happy with HIGH FIDELITY
PHOTOPHONE DIVISION
RCA VICTOR CO., Inc.
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
( ) 1
( ) 1
Name ..
Address
City
COUPON
want further informaton about High Fidelity,
want information about Sound Reinforcing.
State
2H
i
CHARLES BEAHAN
WRITE R— E X E C U T I V E
Four Years With Cecil B. DeMille
One Year With Fox Films
Two Years With Universal
At Present With Columbia
Plays and Stories Filmed
"Society Girl"
"Night Court"
"Murder By The Clock"
"Dangerously Yours"
"Don't Fall In Love"
(In production with Grace Moore)
Stage Plays
"Jarnegan"
"The Last Lover"
'Little Orchid Annie"
"Lost Sheep"
"Dearly Beloved"
" Hold Your Horses"
(Now on tour with Joe Cook)
All the above written in collaboration
Novels
"Night For A Lady"
Published by Harrison Smith, Inc.
"Fairy Princess"
For Fall publication, 1934
"The Island Cod Forgot"
Published by Henry Holt. Inc.
^♦C
Management — SELZNICK- JOYCE
. ^ i. \ V^ -^ '
% MP.SA!v!U£I- UAPX,
CULVER CITY,CALlt'
Vol. XX.
Section 2. Price 5c
TODAY*S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, March 19. 1934
• WHY not Will Rogers for President?
President of the Academy.
Head of this industry's creative
branches.
Many years ago they tried to run
Will for the House of Representatives
and later for the Senate. Both bids he
rejected. He might like the sound of
the President title, in fact, he grabbed
himself a vote or two about six years
ago at the Democratic convention, but
that was in fun.
The creators here in Hollywood need
a leader, require a man who represents
everything that Rogers has. Why not
talk him into taking the job? Can you
Imagine the influence the industry
would immediately achieve. Where
we have not one representative in the
Senate or House (and every other
large industry has at least one) we
would have Rogers a representative
who would, at one and the same time,
properly represent us against every
agerKy that is pot-shooting at the pic-
ture industry. And at the same time
he would have the confidence of the
industry, and top it off by being the
American citizen whose heart is clos-
est to the great American heart.
•
And with Rogers sitting at the head
of the table, the producers will think
twice before they start pushing the
creators about. The men and women
who make the pictures in this industry
would have in Rogers a man who
knows most of the answers for the
rackets that are constantly used
against them.
The Academy has been walking on
its heels for the past few months. It
became afflicted with a political
disease that bowed it down. It needs
a stimulant such as only Rogers could
administer and, with such stimulation
it could — and would — become the
greatest power for the GOOD of the
entire business.
What do you think of the idea?
•
And in mentioning the Academy and
Rogers we are not speaking with any
thought of throwing rocks at the
Writers Guild or Actors Guild. Both
are NECESSARYand both can function
— much better with a better Academy.
For with that organization working as
it should, the creators would have a
clearing house for their grievances that
could not be had, to advantage, in any
other body.
INDllSTRy ON P4N T0D4y
Hearings On Patman BUI To
Hamstring Business Start--
Hays Men Deeply Concerned
Hepburn Sees Korda
London — Katharine Hepburn is
expected to go into an immediate
huddle with Alexander Korda about
his offer of $200,000 for one pic-
ture on her arrival here. She sailed
from New York Saturday.
Actors' Guild May
Postpone Election
According to report, it is quite
likely that the Screen Actors' Guild
will postpone its annual election meet-
ing for one month.
The meeting is scheduled for April,
but Eddie Cantor does not return here
until the first week in May, and some
leaders feel that it would be a wise
move to wait until his arrival. The
plan is only in the conversational
stage.
Sam Coldwyn Returns;
Starts Work Next Month
Sam Goldwyn came back from New
York Saturday, all ready to plunge
into production work. "Resurrec-
tion," starring Anna Sten and Fredric
March, will be the first to get under
way, starting April 15.
That will be followed by "Barbary
Coast," with Gary Cooper starred and
William Wellman directing. Eddie
Cantor will be back May 1 to go
into his musical and, after that, an-
other Anna Sten Is set.
Burt King in N. Y.
New York. Burton King, who
has been producing for Freuler the
past few years, is in town on an inde-
pendent deal of his own.
Evelyn Laye Sails
New York. — Evelyn Laye sailed for
Europe on the Majestic Friday evening.
Washington. — With a last-minute bill to prohibit compulsory
block booking of motion pictures added to his previous griev-
ances against the motion picture industry, Representative Pat-
man, Democrat, of Texas, steps into the limelight at the Capitol
today when public hearings start on
the new bill and his original legisla-
tion looking towards a Federal cen-
sorship of motion pictures.
Political leaders here are of the
belief that the legislation, regardless
of what the public hearings bring
forth, has a very good chance of
passage. They base this belief on
(Continued on Page 4)
W. K. Howard Signs
For Two Columbias
New York. — Columbia announced
in this city Saturday that William K.
Howard had been signed to a two-
picture contact and that the director
would start on his return to the Coast
at the Harry Cohn plant.
The revived "World Fair" yarn is
expected to be Howard's first, with
the second still to be selected.
Treasure island' in
Work at MCM Today
"Treasure Island" Is scheduled to
go into production tomorrow under
the direction of Victor Fleming at
MGM.
The supporting cast includes Lionel
Barrymore, Otto Kruger and Douglas
Dumbrille. Wallace Beery and Jackie
Cooper hold the top spots.
'V SHOWS LOSS FOR YEAR;
PROSPECTS RRINC SMILES
New York. — One of the most un-
usual situations in picture history is
presented by Universal, reporting a
loss of $1,016,893 for the fiscal year
ending October 28, and all the offi-
cers still happy because they feel they
have something up their sleeves in the
next quarter's report.
The loss reported above is a de-
crease from the previous year's figure
of $1,250,283, a.nd is a bit better
(Continued on Page 2)
Baxter Signs Straight
2-Year Ticket at Fox
Fox has signed Warner Baxter to a
new two-year straight ticket, with no
options to be lifted during that time.
Baxter has just completed his star-
ring picture, "Too Many Women,"
which Al Rockett produced, and will
go over to the Jesse L. Lasky unit to
star in "The Grand Canary" for Fox.
4 Plays Die in N.Y.,
4 More Make Bows
New York. — Four plays on their
wav„--Kr^Cain's storehouse Saturday
rrtfnt — that's the week's mortality on
Broadway plays. "Peace on Earth,"
"Richard of Bordeaux," "Four Saints"
and "Perfumed Lady" folded their
tents.
But there are four openings for
the week, to take their places. "An-
other Love" comes to the Vanderbilt
Monday; "The Pure In Heart" at the
Longacre, Tuesday; "The Shattered
Lamp" at the Maxine Elliott, Wed-
nesday, and "Gentlewoman" comes to
town Thursday.
Hugh Weir Services
New York. — Funeral services will be
held today for Hugh Weir, editorial
director of Tower Magazines, and a
veteran in both the newspaper and
film fields.
Weir died late Friday after a linger-
ing illness at the Medical Center here.
The magazines he established in 1929
have become an important factor in
the picture field.
Hopkins Returning
New York. — Miriam Hopkins is go-
ing to use the plane to return to
the Coast, leaving Friday, and expect-
ing to report for "She Loves Me Not"
at Paramount on arrival.
'Bottoms Up' on Mar. 22
New York. — Fox makes its Broad-
way bid for musical attention
"Bottoms Up" opening at
Hall on March 22.
with
the Music
Soviet Offers Another
New York. — ^The Soviet picture art
presents a n§w picture for American
consumption next Wednesday at the
Cameo, offering "Broken Shoes."
V Ky4insworth Morgan— screen ptay^^'The Tudor Wench''
Page Two
March 19, 1934
P
ROBERT E WELSH Managing Editot
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP Ltd
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Published everv dav with the exception o1
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Single copies. 5c. Entered as second clas'
fTiatter |une 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3
1879.
So Saturday night there was still
another party in honor of His Excel-
lency Charles Davila, Roumanian Min-
ister (given by Dorothy di Frasso) and
a very gay one that lasted way past
anybody's bedtime. It was an all-
talkie, all-singie, production with
Count Carpegna (at the piano) and
Tullio Carminati, Virginia Gilbert,
Countess Zoppola, Dolores Del Rio and
Don Stewart furnishing the music, if
we may call it that. The Clark Ga-
bles, Lydia Macy, Harvey Ladew, the
Gary Coopers, Kay Francis, Jessica
Barthelmess, Andy Lawlor, Mrs. Phillip
Benkard, the Sonny Chalifs, John Far-
row, Maureen O'Suilivan, the David
Selznicks, among those present.
•
Have a laff! Y'know, when Earl
Carroll brought those eleven beooties
out here with him to be in his "Mur-
der at the Vanities," he also brought
with him Tom Rooney (his business
manager) and Mrs. Rooney, who has
been acting as chaperone de luxe for
the eleven show-girls. Now Mrs.
Rooney is one elegant eyeful. So
much so, that a test of her was made
at Paramount the other day and she
will be seen in "Cleopatra." While
the gals she chaperoned — who were
receiving all the publicity — are still
in the "atmosphere" class.
•
Guy Kibbee spent the entire morn,
the other morn, doing an eating scene
over at Warners. From 9 to 1 2 he
did nothing but eat, and by noon had
naturally reached the bursting point.
Hugh Herbert, who knew perfectly
well what was going on, came on
Kibbee's set just as the 12 o'clock
whistle blew, and walking up to Kib-
bee (just as though he'd suddenly
"arrived in town") said, "Come on,
Guy, I'll buy you that lunch I owe
you today!" Yeh, Hugh is Scotch.
Struss Celebrates
Karl Struss, Paramount cameraman,
celebrated a fifteenth anniversary Sat-
urday. Struss, as a still man, asked
C. B. DeMille for a job fifteen years
ago when DeMille was making "For
Better, For Worse." He is now
shooting DeMills's "Cleopatra."
"SIX OF A KIND"
Paramount prod.; director, Leo McCarey; writers, Keene Thompson. Walter
DeLeon, Harry Ruskin; photographer, Henry Sharp.
Paramount Theatre
World-Telegram: The piece is filled with set after set of situations that are
gorgeous in their nonsense and that make this "Six of a Kind" a grand and
hilarious frolic. People as it is with such excellent downers, it is difficult
to say which one of them is the most side-splitting. But if I had to make
a choice I would say that W. C. Fields gave me my heartiest laughs.
American: A really uproarious farce, presenting a half-dozen of our greatest
current comics supported by a full score of skilled troupers. It is simply
a melange of divine nonsense, which, without rhyme and with no better
reason than Bill Fields, et al., enables the customers to indulge in an en-
joyable hysteria. The direction is swift and sure, and never affords an op-
portunity to quit giggling.
Mirror: The inspired, the glorious Mr. William C. Fields contributes monumen-
tal nonsense to this comedy, stealing the picture neatly and prettily. His
clowning is sublime.
Times: A merry, mad affair detailing alarming happenings on a cross-country
automobile jaunt. All those connected with this farce do excellent work,
including the Great Dane.
News: Leo McCarey, who has a genius for putting over comedy gags and situa-
tions, directed this stimulating comedy that is keeping the audiences of
both theatres in high good humor. The entire film doesn't run more than
an hour with the laughs coming at the rate of about one a minute.
Sun: A friendly, likeable picture with almost no plot but plenty of chuckles.
These six slightly daffy, wholly charming people can manage to carry along
a picture, plot or no plot, jokes or no jokes, all by themselves.
Post: Its comedy situations are laid out on more conventional lines, but it has
moments of hilarious fun; a fact that could hardly be otherwise in the
hands of so variedly gifted a band of comedians.
Journal: It doesn't happen very often that six superb comedians are gathered
together in one picture. Nor that a director, blessed with such a cast, is
wise enough to let the players do the work in which they're so highly skill-
ed. But it all happens on the Paramount screen in a piece known as "Six of
a Kind." It is utterly hilarious. And utterly mad. It is swell entertainment.
"MIDNIGHT-
Universal release; director, Chester Erskin; writers, Claire and Paul Sifton.
Roxy Theatre
Mirror: A unique motion picture in that it makes no compromise with movie
technique. Dignified, heavy and" entirely mental, it is a play of ideas,
thoughts and conversation. Psychological drama may be highly diverting
in the theatre. It makes an odd movie and one with a limited appeal.
Herald-Tribune: Despite Mr. Erskin's earnestness and care and his wise refusal
to inject extraneous humor into his grim narrative, the story remains
equally confused and curiously dull, unconvincing drama. The narrative
loses in force and conviction and ends by seeming only dull.
American: It is a slow, but plodding entertainment, a study in psychology,
which, despite its suspenseful atmosphere, becomes wearying before a
finale is attained. It is, perhaps, too "mental" for a movie.
Post: There is no reason why a theme of this kind couldn't be lathered into a
highly dramatic story. The trappings of melodrama are present in "Mid-
night," but they never succeed in seeming other than if they had been
pulled out of an old trunk. The picture suffers throughout from pon-
derous and uncertain treatment, and its pace is at all times too slow for
comfort.
World-Telegram: Although nothing of vital importance to the welfare of the
cinema has been accomplished by the production of "Midnight," Chester
Erskin, the director, has made a curiously disturbing film For in spite
of its over-stylized direction it is exciting much of the tme and good
melodrama the rest.
Journal: "Midnight" is a lugubrious conversational drama more suited to the
stage than the screen. A stage play can sustain interest in characters
who stand around talking and thinking (if the dialog and thoughts are
interesting), but a motion picture has to move.
Times: Although it has the effective carpentry of melodrama, it is a story of
unusual interest. In Mr. Erskin's direction it emerges on the Roxy screen
as a nervous and somewhat hysterical tale, blurred occasionally in the
telling, but consistently compelling.
'The Show Must Go On'
Carrying out the theatrical tradition that the show must go on,
Frank Borzage returned to the Univesal lot Saturday and resumed
direction on "Little Man, What Now?"
His father died Friday morning from injuries received in an
automobile accident late Thursday night. Universal promptly halted
production on the picture indefinitely, but Frank remained away but
one day, Friday, and was on the set early Saturday morning. Universal
authorities announced that he will stop only long enough to attend
the funeral. Those who know the deep love Frank had for his
father can appreciate his attitude.
Agent Battles May ^
Go to Labor Board
Attorney Milton Silverberg, repre-
senting Robert Riskin, the writer, who
is being sued by the Small-Landau
agency, took a legal step Saturday
which may result in taking all such
suits out of the courts and throwing
them into the lap of the State Labor
Board.
Silverberg filed a demurrer to the
Small-Landau suit in which he claim-
ed that jurisdiction in "such cases
should rest with the Labor Board. The
agents are burned up over the idea
because the Labor Board already plans
to supervise the agency field and, if
Silverberg is successful, the going will
be much harder.
Casting Directors Guests
Leon Gordon will be host tonight at
the "White Cargo" performance at
the Playhouse to the casting directors
of the principal motion picture com-
panies and members of their staffs.
Fox Borrows Westcott
Fox has borrowed Gordon Westcott
from Warners for a top spot in "Call
It Luck," which the Sol Wurtzel unit
is producing. Herbert Mundin and
Pat Paterson have the leading roles
under James Tinling's direction.
U' Shows Loss
(Continued from Page 1 )
picture than it looks because under
Universal's system of bookkeeping it v
includes a half million charge for de-
preciation of assets and amortization.
But the home office boys are smil-
ing, because they feel they have a
surprise to show in the figures cov-
ering October to the end of January.
\
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,1-\
March 19. 1934
THE
Page Three
STAND ON YOUIl FEET' GIVES
FOX FILM A REAL WINNER
Picture a Hit in
Every Department
"STAND ON YOUR FEET"
(Formerly "Fox Follies")
/' Fox
Direction Hamilton MacFadden
ory Idea. ...Will Rogers, Philip Klein
Screen Play and Dialog....Ralph Spence
Music Jay Corney
Songs and Lyrics: Irving Caesar, Jack
Yellen, Lew Brown.
Photography Ernest Palmer
and L. W. O'Connell
Producer Winfield Sheehan
Associate Producer Lew Brown
Cast: Warner Baxter, Madge Evans,
James Dunn, Sylvia Froos, John
Boles, Arthur Byron, Shirley Tem-
ple, Ralph Morgan, Jimmy Dallas,
"Aunt Jemima," Mitchell and Du-
rant, Nick Foran, Nigel Bruce, Step-
in Fetchit.
Oakland. — If audience reaction is
any criterion, Fox has a winner in
"Stand on Your Feet," the re-named
"Fox Follies," which was previewed at
the Grand Lake Theatre here last
last night. It is undoubtedly a stand-
out picture, with a creditable cast,
plenty of action, an opportune theme
that carries a punch, catchy music and
spectacular settings.
The title does not do justice to the
picture. It should have been called
"Out of the Red." The climaxing
song, featuring the grand finale of
^ men and women of all occupations
in a triumphant march back to pros-
perity hits an extremely popular note
and should be one of the smashing
successes of the year.
The plot in its entirety sounds an
optimistic note on the country's de-
termined push out of the depression.
The tuneful music and clever comedy
are paraded in rapid-fire action to
lighten the burden of distress, and
epitomizes the indomitable American
spirit overcoming adversity.
Warner Baxter reaches new heights
in the stellar role of Lawrence Crom-
well, the National Secretary of Amuse-
ment, chosen to aid recovery through
placing the populace in a happy frame
of mind. Ably supporting him is
Madge Evans as the executive of his
juvenile department, whose job is to
build up the morale of the coming
generations.
The inevitable romance adds a
• pleasing note. In its march through
a period of economic stress to pros-
perity and happiness, the picture lets
love, laughter and song hold sway by
means of a galaxy of admirable enter-
tainers and sensational chorus ensem-
bles.
Among the big chorus numbers is
one showing toe dancers on top of
the spray of a fountain, a clever take-
off on a doll dance, in comedy minia-
ture. There is a great comedy num-
ber led by "Aunt Jemima," and the
final plunge into the "March of Pros-
perity," with the chorus girls swarming
all over tall buildings, makes one of
the most spectacular and beautiful ef-
fects yet seen on the screen.
In addition to Warner Baxter and
f Madge Evans, jimmy Dunn makes a
great personal hit. He also aids and
Oscar Tosses Party for
'Darktown Strutters'
Paramount's Oscar Smith played
host yesterday to the elite of Cen-
tral Avenue and had Duke Elling-
ton and his band as guests at a
surprise party given for the birth-
day of his three-year-old daughter.
Little Depression.
'Catherine' Still
Tops in London
London. — "Catherine the Great"
continues to knock 'em over in this
city, and is once again held over for
an additional week. Other pictures
that have proved strong enough to
run into extra weeks are "Jack Ahoy,"
"Footlight Parade," "Man's Castle"
and "Bolero."
New pictures coming to town to
take their chances with the public
are "Emperor Jones,' at the Marble
Arch;"Search for Beauty" at the Plaza,
on the same bill with "Ann Vickers";
and "Mystery of Mr. X" replaces
"Queen Christina" at the Empire af-
ter four terrific weeks for the Garbo
picture.
Ostrow Speculates
In Original Story
Lou Ostrow personally purchased
"Alias Mary Dow," an original story
by Forrest HaFsey and William Allen
Johnston, negotiations going through
the Inloes and France agency.
Monogram producer plans to sell it
to another producer in the same man-
ner that Edgar Selwyn, of MGM, pur-
chased "Baby in the Ice Box" and sold
it to Charles R. Rogers.
Roberts Will Direct
Cooper in 'Honor Bright'
Paramount has set Stephen Roberts
to direct the next Gary Cooper star-
ring vehicle, "Honor Bright," when
the star returns from MGM, where he
is making "Operator 13" with Marion
Davies.
abets in the making of a new child
star, the joint song and dance done
by himself and little Shirley Temple
being one of the most delightful fea-
tures of the production.
Stepin Fetchit and a score of oth-
ers drew hearty applause for their
comedy efforts. The music is fully
up to the high standard of the rest of
the picture. Among the songs that,
judging by their reception, must be
labeled as hits, are "Our Last Night
Together," featuring John Boles; the
Dunn-Temple number, "Baby, Take a
Bow," "I'm Laughing," "Broadway's
Gone Hill-Billy" and the finale, "Out
of the Red.'
No especial credit can be given to
any one person. It must be shared
by Winfield Sheehan, the producer;
Director Hamilton MacFadden; Lew
Brown and Jay Gorney, who did the
music; Will Rogers and Philip Klein,
who suggested the original idea; and,
in fact, everyone who had anything
to do with making the production the
success it is destined to be.
[registrations Must
Se Pared 20 Percent
Real headaches begin tomorrow
night for both the extras and the
NRA code committee for extras. To-
morrow night the committee starts
work on the problem of reclassifica-
tion of this large group of people.
Reclassification, in reality, means
the elimination of many thousands
from the registrations at Central Cast-
ing. There are some 17,000 register-
ed extras now on the Hollywood lists.
The code calls for the paring down of
this group to a figure somewhere be-
tween 2500 and 3000.
Subcommittees of the Extras Com-
mittee have been working on the
problem for some time. Tomorrow
night they will present their sugges-
tions to the main committee, which
meets with Una Hopkins, chairman
pro tem. Mabel Kinney, permanent
chairman, is still in Sacramento, where
she is a witness in a suit against the
State. She expects to return late this
week.
Lew Brown Signed
By Fox for 2 Years
Fox has signed Lew Brown to a
two-year ticket at a salary of $2,500
a week for the first year and $3,500
for the second term.
Brown will be in complete control
of the musicals made on the lot,
which seems to eliminate Buddy De
Sylva and George White from future
Fox reckoning.
United Artists Will
Release Vidor Film
King Vidor has concluded his deal
with United Artists for the release of
his first independent production, "Our
Daily Bread," which will get under
way soon with Karen Morley and Tom
Keene in the top spots and John T.
Qualen, Addison Richards and Barbara
Pepper playing supporting roles.
Vidor moved his unit out of the
General Service Studios, where he had
been preparing for the past two
months, to the United Artists lot be-
cause of his releasing agreement.
Borzage Funeral Today
Funeral services for Louis Borzage,
father of Frank Borzage, the director,
will be held this afternoon at the J.
W. Robinson mortuary. Services will
be at 2 o'clock. Burial will be in
Forest Lawn.
Beecher to Strickling
New York. — Milton Beecher, who
handles fan magazine contacts on the
staff of Howard Dietz at MGM, is
getting a break with a Coast trip to
confer with Howard Strickling at the
studio.
Para. Drops Story
Paramount has relinquished its op-
tion on the Damon Runyon story,
"Lemon Drop Kid " '
lEEMS
It would seem that there is the re-
verse side to the autograph racket
too. That is, according to a friend of
ours who witnessed the following inci-
dent. It happened during the last visit
to New York of a very well known
male "he-man" star. This star had
draped himself over a lounge in the
lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria, one arm
flung over the back of the couch, hand
hanging over the back of it. As he
lounged thus, a couple of cute little
gals walked over to him and asked him
if he would mind signing his autograph
in their memory books. The star lit-
erally jumped into sitting position and
as he did so, the hand that had been
hanging over the back of the settee
came forward and it came forward
with a fountain pen in it and said
fountain pen was all open and ready
for work!
•
Victor Emanuel gave one of those
enormous parties in honor of the
Lionel Barrymores the other evening
and along with them as the star of the
evening was the latest social sensation
of New York, the son of the Aga Khan
of India. Lou Holtz, Phil Baker,
George Gershwin entertained and Jane
Winton obliged with a coupla songs.
Muriel D'Orsa and Ben Finney still go-
ing places together were there, along
with Tallulah Bankhead, Lilyan Tash-
man and a fine spattering of socialites.
•
Mayfair very gay in spite of the
fact that New York is again being
blanketed with snow, (and the die-
hards still insist that the blizzard of
'88 was the best example of that kind
of outdoor sport,) with Harry Evans
dancing Harlem sharpie until the wee
sma' hours and driving the Rhumba
experts currazy. The Morgan gals
were there with Aga Khan, Jr. in tow.
The George Murphys, Billy Seamans,
Ethel Levey, Inez Courtney, Marian
Spitzer, Herb Harris, Johnny Walker,
Frank Hunter, Marge Franklin, Everett
Jacobs, Lil Tashman, Eddie Wasser-
man, Marion Saportas and Winkie
Thomas couldn't quite make up their
minds whether Harry Evans was the
sporting thing to do at the Mayfair.
•
Ed Lowe gets back from Chicago
this week and it looks as though he
and Lil will do personal appearances at
the Paramount. . . . The Frank Mor-
gans celebrated their twentieth wed-
ding anniversary over the week-end by
spending most of their time at Twen-
ty-one. . . . and speakmg of that num-
ber, the main attraction about buying
your liquor from 21 Brands, Inc. is
that Frank Hunter, tennis champ, is
the seller. . . . Jack Kirkland recover-
ing from la grippe, planning to marry
the gal when she arrives from the
coast. ... It looks as though Jock
Whitney is the white hope of the pic-
ture industry. . . . Every time a new
deal is discussed, Whitney is supposed
to be the backer. ... A Spaniard, in
very broken English criticized his own
query neatly when he asked, "What is
is the attraction in that fellow doing
that play in Hollywood now, called
•Autumn CROAKUM'?"
Page Four
March 19, 1934
THE REASON
I am a "Levee" client is
that when I looked for a man-
ager who was honest, forceful
and dependable I found Mike
and signed with him,
SAYS
DICK
PO¥/ELL
AND
HIS MANAGEMENT OFFERS;
Personal Representation
(And I mean Personal)
Business Administration
Secretarial Service
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity & Exploitation
JOAN CRAWFORD
Will Tell You WHY she is a "Levee" client
IN FRIDAY'S
(JPOItTilll.
Fletcher Norton, Harry Strang,
Harry Bowen and John bearing to
"Most Precious Thing in Life," Co-
lumbia.
Harriett Lorraine, Jessie Arnold,
Isabell LeMal, Grace Hayle, Helen
Dixon, Lita Ross and Marion Sheldon
for "The Party's Over," Columbia.
Nick Copeland, Eddie Chandler and
Sherry Hall to Columbia's "Twentieth
Century."
Arthur Stewart Hull and William
Barress for "A Night for Love," Co-
lumbia.
Claire McDowell in "Dames" at
Warners.
Marjorie Lytell into "The Party's
Over," Columbia, through Walter
Herzbrun.
Edward Earle for "Practical Joker,"
Universal, by Hallam Cooley.
Leo Carrillo for "Manhattan Melo-
drama," MOM.
Eric Wilton to "Old Doll's House,"
Warners, by Menifee I. Johnstone.
Huntley Gordon to "The Practical
Joker," Universal, by Menifee I. John-
stone.
Torben Meyer to ''The World
Moves On," Fox.
Harry Barris and Shirley Ross to
"Hollywood Party," MGM.
Alison Skipworth and Rosco Ates
to "Canal Boy" at Paramount.
Howard Lang for "Witching Hour,"
Paramount.
Rollo Lloyd, Charles Middleton,
Hans Joby, Greta Myer, Christian Rub
and William Franey for "Private Scan-
dal," Charles R. Rogers-Paramount.
Ray Mayer into "Call It Luck," Fox,
through Bernard-Meiklejohn office.
George Guhl to "Private Scandal"
for Charles R. Rogers at Paramount.
John Wray and Alan Mowbray for
"Practical Joker," at Universal.
Wilcoxon-Drake Team
In Shoe the Wild Mare'
Paramount has pulled the Gene
Fowler novel, "Shoe the Wild Mare,"
off the shelf once more for prepara-
tion and is planning to co-star a new
team, Henry Wilcoxon and Frances
Drake, in this picture.
Stephen Roberts is penciled in to
direct the picture, which will not go
into production for a few months yet.
Cameramen Meeting
The Executive Board of Local 659,
lATSE, cameramen's union, meets to-
morrow night to prepare details for
the general meeting scheduled for
next Sunday night.
Warners Sign Hazard
Lawrence Hazard was signed Sat-
-•urday by Warners on a one-picture
ticket set by M. C. Levee. Writer
goes to work on "Saturday's Chil-
dren," the Maxwell Anderson play.
New Term for Stanwyck
Warners have exercised their op-
tion on the Barbara Stanwyck contract
for another year. Company has not
yet selected her next starring vehicle.
Four Roles in 10 Days
Some Sort of Record
Evelyn Berrisford, who arrived
here from England two weeks ago
sans ballyhoo, has already worked
in three features and started Sat-
urday n "The Practcal Joker," her
fourth, at Universal. She was a
character woman on the London
stage.
MGM SignsFazenda
As Robson Partner
Louise Fazenda was placed under
a seven-year optional contract by
MGM Saturday, negotiations having
been put through by M. C. Levee.
There is a possibility that the stu-
dio will team Miss Fazenda with May
Robson, with a view to building up
another great team.
Industry on Pan Today
(Continued from Page 1 )
the apparent apathy or befuddlement
of the industry itself.
For example, at a late hour last
night it could not be ascertained
whether the Hays office was going to
take a definite stand at the hearings,
or rest its case on the testimony of
various club and women's groups
which have been allied with it in re-
cent years in the attempted "censor-
ship from within."
Charles C. Pettijohn and other of-
ficials of the Hays office are in Wash-
ington, but they have made no an-
nouncement as to their plans and seem
uncertain just what action they will
take.
Every picture man to whom you
talk in town tonight is a picture of
bewilderment. Local men know how
easily it is possible for the Patman bill
to slip through to become law, in the
present attitude of Congress towards
regulating anything and everything.
The Patman measure would create
a Federal motion picture commission
with power to regulate films in in-
terstate commerce — a roundabout way
of giving it censorship powers through
other clauses which prohibit interstate
commerce to "films which tend to
debase or corrupt morals," or "reflect
disrespect for law or religion."
And the bill introduced by Patman
on Saturday, prohibiting compulsory
block booking, adds a clause com-
pelling distributors to furnish "ac-
curate synopses" of pictures to all
theatres. This would play havoc with
present sales methods, by which pro-
grams are sold in August and Sep-
tember and where, in many cases, the
producer has little more than a theme
or a title on his schedule. If pro-
ducers are compelled to furnish "ac-
curate synopses" — and then later pic-
tures to live up to those synopses —
it is going to mean a revolution in
present picture-making methods.
A
MUSICAL
and DANCE NUMBERS
in
GEORGE
WH TE'S
SCANDALS
Staged by
G
EORGIE
HA\L
FOR 20 YEARS.. Genera
Registers have been standard
cosh conrrol equipment for
theatres . . . restaurants . . . cafe
lerias . . . soda (ountains . . . De-
signed by foremost engineers , . .
manufactured by skilled tedinic-
ions . , serviced by expert mecit
onics . Ibey ore the infofliblo
guardians of cash recerpis
GENERAL REGISTER CORPORATION
^
1540 Broadway, New York
1(H8 S. WABASH AVE. 1726 SO. VERMONT AVE. 57 COLUMBUS AVE.
CHICAGO, ILL LOS /M^CELES. CAL BOSTON, MASS.
307 NO. l3Mi STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Page Six
March 19, 1934
PRODUCTION JUMPS WITH 45 IN WORK
BAROMETER
This Week 45 Features
Last Week 41 Features
Year Ago 29 Features
Two Years Ago 32 Features
Columbia
"TWENTIETH CINTURY"
Cast: John Barrymore, Carole Lom-
bard, Roscoe Karns, Charles Levin-
son, Walter Connolly, Etienne Cir-
ardot, Dale Fuller, Edgar Kennedy,
Herman Bing, Lee Kohlmar, Ralph
Forbes, Arnold Gray, James Burke,
Anita Brown, Ci-gi Parrlsh, Caylord
Pendleton, King Mojave, Billie Se-
ward, Snowflake, Buddy Williams,
Irene Thompson.
Director Howard Hawks
Play by Ben Hecht
and Charles MacArthur
Screen Play Ben Hecht
and Charles MacArthur
Photography Joseph August
Associate Producer Harry Cohn
"THE PARTY'S OVER"
Cast: Stuart Erwin, Ann Sothern, Ar-
line Judge, Patsy Kelly, Chick
Chandler, Billy Bakewell, Esther
Muir, Rollo Lloyd, Henry Travers,
Catharine Ducet, Mary Forbes, Ar-
thur Rankin.
Director Walter Lang
Play by Daniel Kussell
Screen Play S. K. Lauren
Photography John Stumar
Producer Felix Young
"ONE NIGHT OF LOVE"
(Tentative Title)
Cast: Grace Moore, Tullio Carminati,
Lyie Talbot, Luis Aiberni, Andreas
de Segurola, Sam Hayes, Rose Ma-
rie Glosz, Henry Armetta, Jessie
Ralph.
Director Victor Schertzinger
Original Charles Beahan
and Dorothy Speare
Screen Play: S. K. Lauren, Edmund
North and James Gow.
Photography Joseph Walker
Associate Producer... .Everett J. Riskin
"MOST PRECIOUS THING IN LIFE"
Cast: Jean Arthur, Donald Cook, Rich-
ard Cromwell, Anita Louise, Paul
Stanton, Mary Forbes, Jane Darwell,
Ben Alexander.
Director Lambert Hillyer
Original Travis Ingham
Screen Play Ethel Hill
Photography John Stumar
Associate Producer Robert North
Fox
"CALL IT LUCK"
Cast: Herbert Mundin, Pat Paterson,
Charles Starrett, Georgia Caine,
Gordon Westcott, Theodore von
Eltz, Ernest Wood, Susan Fleming.
Director James Tinling
Original and Screen Play: Dudley
Nicholls and Lamar Trotti.
Associate Producer John Stone
"THE WORLD MOVES ON"
Cast: Madeleine Carroll, Franchot
Tone, Ferdinand Schumann-Heink,
Raul Roulien, Reginald Denny, Sieg-
fried Rumann, Stepin Fetchit, Bren-
da Fowler, Marcelle Corday, Barry
Norton, Dudley Digges, Frank Mel-
ton, Russell Simpson, Halliwell
Hobbes, Ivan Simpson, Jose Mojica,
Lumsden Hare, Walter McCrail,
Charles Bastin, Louise Dresser,
Frank Moran, George Irving.
Director John Ford
Story and Screen Play —
Reginald Berkeley
Photography George Schneiderman
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"CHANGE OF HEARTS"
Cast: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell,
James Dunn, Beryl Mercer, Ginger
Rogers, Gustav von Seyffertitz,
Irene FrankHn, Fiske O'Hara, Jane
Darwell, Nella Walker, Drue Ley-
ton, Kenneth Thomson, Mary Carr.
Director John BIystone
Story Kathleen Norris
Screen Play Sonya Levlen
and James Gleason
Add. Dialogue Samuel Hoffenstein
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"SPRINGTIME FOR HENRY"
Cast: Otto Kruger, Nancy Carroll,
Heather Angel, Herbert Mundin,
Nigel Bruce.
Director Frank Tuttle
Based on play by Benn W. Levy
Adaptation Keene Thompson
and Frank Tuttle
Photography John Seitz
Producer „Jesse L. Lasky
"NOW I'LL TELL"
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Alice Faye, Helen
Tweivetrees, Hobart Cavanaugh, G.
P. Huntley, Jr., Barbara Weeks,
Robert Gleckler, Clarence Hummel
Wilson, Ray Cook, Frank Marlowe.
Director Edwin Burke
Story Mrs. Arnold Rothstein
Screen Play Edwin Burke
Photography Ernest Palmer
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"MERRY ANDREW"
Cast: Will Rogers, Peggy Wood, Mary
Carlisle, Paul Harvey, Frank Melton,
Roger Imhof, Robert Taylor.
Director David Butler
Based on Play by Lewis Beach
Adaptation Kubec Glasmon
Screen Play William Conselman
and Henry Johnson
Lyrics William Conselman
Music Richard Whiting
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW"
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan, Grace Bradley.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Walter Lundin
Producer Harold Lloyd
MOM
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Douglas Dumbrille, Four Mills
Brothers, Jay Lloyd, Florine Mc-
Kinney, Russell Hardie, Willard
Robertson, Ted Healy, Reginald
Barlow, Francis McDonald, Kathar-
ine Alexander, Belle Daube, Jerry
Howard, Fuzzy Knight, Henry
Wadsworth, Jean Parker.
Director Richard Boieslavsky
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play: Harvey Thew, Zelda
Sears and Eve Green.
Photography George Folsey
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Charles Laugh-
ton, Maureen O'Sullivan, Ferdinand
Munier.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Producer Irving Thalberg
"HOLLYWOOD PARTY"
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
Jack Pearl, Laurel and Hardy, Polly
Moran, Charles Butterworth, George
Givot, Richard Carle, Edwin Max-
well, Tom Kennedy, Ted Healy and
Stooges, Eddie Quillan, June Clyde,
Frances Williams, MGM Baby Stars.
Director Alan Dwan
Music Rodgers and Hart,
Brown and Freed
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Harry Rapf
"SADIE McKEE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Esther Ralston,
Jean Dixon, Franchot Tone, Edward
Arnold, Akim Tamiroff, Gene Aus-
tin, Leo White, Leo Carroll, Earl
Oxford.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Vina Delmar
Screen Play John Meehan
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Lawrence Weingarten
"100 PER CENT PURE"
Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Jean Harlow.
Director Sam Woods
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Emerson
Producer Bernard Hyman
"MANHATTAN MELODRAMA"
Cast: Clark Gable, William Powell,
Myrna Loy, Nat Pendleton, Muriel
Evans, Isabel Jewell, Tommy Jack-
son.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Story Arthur Caesar
Screen Play Oliver H. P. Garrett
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer David O. Selznick
Paramounf
"MANY HAPPY RETURNS"
Cast; George Burns, Cracie Allen, Joe
Morrison, Joan Marsh, George Bar-
bier, Ray Milland.
Director Norman McLeod
Original.. Lady Mary Cameron
Music Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Sam Coslow
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer William LeBaron
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
Cast: Carl Brisson, Victor McLaglen,
Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Lona
Andre, Toby Wing, Dorothy Stick-
ney, Jessie Ralph, Charles B. Mid-
dleton, Gertrude Michael, Gail Pat-
rick, Otto Hoffman, Charles Mc-
Avoy, Donald Meek, Beryl Wallace,
Colin Tapley, Barbara Fritchie,
William Arnold, Arthur Rankin,
Cecil Weston, Hal Greene, Teru
Schimada, Roy Crane, Ted Oliver,
Mildred Gober, Stanley BIystone,
Mike Pat Donovan, Edward Mit-
chell, Eddie Bethune, Clara Lou
Sheridan, Gwenllian Gill.
Director Mitchell Leisen
Original Earl Carroll
and Rufus King
Screen Play Carey Wilson
and Joseph Gollomb
Dialogue Sam Hellman
Music and Lyrics Sam Coslow
and Arthur Johnston
Photography Leo Tover
Producer E. Lloyd Sheldon
"DOUBLE DOOR"
Cast: Kent Taylor, Evelyn Venable,
Mary Morris, Ann Revere, Sir Guy
Standing, Virginia Howell, Frank
Dawson, Helen Shipman, Leonard
Carey, Colin Tapley, Ralph Rem-
ley, Caruth, Halliwell Hobbes.
Director Charles Vidor
Original Elizabeth McFadden
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Producer E. Lloyd Sheldon
"THE WITCHING HOUR"
Cast: Tom Brown, Judith Allen, John
Halliday, Richard Carle, Sir Guy
Standing, Olive Tell, John Larkin,
Ralf Harolde, Frank Sheridan, Pur-
nell Pratt, William Frawley, Henry
B. Walthall, Robert Littlefield.
Gertrude Michael, Ferdinand Cott-
schalk.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original Augustus Thomas
Adaptation Salisbury Field
Screen Play Anthony Veiller
Photography Ben Reynolds
Producer Bayard Veiller
"THIRTY DAY PRINCESS"
Cast: Sylvia Sidney, Gary Grant, Ed-
ward Arnold, Vince Barnett, Ray
Walker, Henry Stephenson, Mar-
guerite Namara, George Baxter, Lu-
cien Littlefield, Robert McWade,
Robert Homans, William Augustin,
Dick Rush, Ed Dearing, J. Merrill
Holmes, Edgar Norton, Eleanor
Wesselhoeft, Bruce Warren.
Director Marion Gering
Original---. Clarence Budington Kelland
Screen Play: Preston Sturges, Frank
Partos, Sam Hellman, Edwin Justus
Mayer.
Photography Leon Shamroy
Producer B. P. Schulberg
"CLEOPATRA"
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Henry Wil-
coxson, Warren William, Ian Keith,
March 19. 1934
jllklkUp^f^
Page Seven
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 41 LAST WEEK
Charles D. Middleton, Clay Clem-
ent, Leonard Mudie, Irving Pichel,
Gertrude Michael, Eleanor Phelps,
C. Aubrey Snnith, John Rutherford,
Edwin Maxwell, Robert Warwick.
Director Cecil B. DeMille
Adaptation Bartlett Cormack
Screen Play Waldemar Young
and Vincent Lawrence
Photography Victor Milnor
Producer Cecil B. DeMille
"LITTLE MISS MARKER"
Cast; Adolphe Menjou, Dorothy Dell,
Charles Bickford, Shirley Temple,
Lynn Overman, Jack Sheehan, Sam
Hardy, John L. Kelly, Warren Hy-
mer, Edward Arnold.
Director Alexander Hall
Original Damon Runyon
Screen Play: William.R. Lippman, S>am
Hellman, Gladys Lehman.
Music -Ralph Rainger
Lyrics .-.^..u.. Leo Robin
Photography Al Cilks
Producer B. P. Schulberg
"IT AIN'T NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John
Miljanj Katharine DeMille, James
Donlan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke EIFington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown.
Director Leo McCarey
Original Screen Play Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthar Johnston and
Sam Coslow.
Photography Karl Struss
Producer ...: William LeBaron
"PRIVATE SCANDAL"
(Charies R. Rogers)
Cast: Zasu Pitts, Helen Mack, Grace
Bradley, Phillips Holmes, Ned
Sparks, Lew Cody, Harold Wal-
dridge, Charles Sellon, WiHiam Da-
vidson.
Director ...;.; Ralph Murphy
Original: Vera Caspary and Bruce
Manning.
Screen Play: Brian Marlow, Agnes
Christine Johnson and Joseph Col-
lomb.
Photography Milton Krasner
RKO-Radio
"GREAT AMERICAN HAREM"
Cast: Ginger Rogers, William Gargan,
Pert Kelton.
Director William Seiter
Original Vic Halperin
Associate Producer Lou Brock
"STINCAREE"
Cast: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Mary
Boland, Conway Tearle, Snub Pol-
lard, George Barraud, Andy Devine,
Una O'Connor, Henry Stephenson.
Director William Wellman
Original E. W. Hornung
Screen Play Becky Gardiner
Photography James Van Trees
Associate Producer David Lewis
"OF HUMAN BONDAGE'
Cast: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis,
Reginald Denny, Alan Hale, Regi-
nald Sheffield.
Director , John Cromwell
Original W. Somerset Maugham
Screen Play Lester Cohen
Photography Henry Gerrard
Associate Producer. .Pandro S. Berman
United Artists
Twentieth Century
"HEAD OF THE FAMILY"
(Rehearsing)
Cast: George Arliss, Janet Beecher,
Edna May Oliver, Ralph Morgan,
Rafaela Ottiano, Charlotte Henry,
Edward Ellis, Frank Albertson, Don-
ald Meek, Joseph Cawthorn.
Director Sidney Lanfield
Story Katherine Clugston
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Associate Producers: William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith.
"BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES
BACK"
Cast: Ronald Colman, Loretta Young,
Warner Oland, Charles Butterworth,
Arthur Hohl, Billie Burke, Mischa
Auer, Pedro Regas, Halliwell
Hobbes.
Director Roy Del Ruth
Original H. C. McNeiHe
Screen Play Nunnally Johnson
Photography Peverell Marley
Associate Producers-.William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith
Universal
"THE PRACTICAL |OKER"
Cast: Chester Morris, Marion Nixon,
Walter Woolf, Henry Armetta, Alan
Mowbray, John Wray.
Director Edward Laemmie
Original Wm. Anthony McGuire
Screen Play Charles Logue
Associate Producer.. Stanley Bergerman
"THE BLACK CAT"
Cast: Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Jac-
quelyn Wells, David Manners, Lu-
cille Lurvd, Egon Brecher, Ann Dun-
can, Andy Devine, Herman Bing,
Harry Corday, Luis Albemi, Andre
Cheron, Alphonse Martell, Tony
Marlow, Paul Weigel, Alber Polet,
Rodney Hildebrant.
Director Edgar Ulmer
Based on story by Edgar Allen Poe
Adaptation....Peter Ruric, Edgar Ulmer
Screen Play Peter Ruric
Photography John Mescal
Associate Producer E. M. Asher
"THE HUMBUG"
Cast: Nils Asther, Gloria Stuart, Erin
O'Brien-Moore.
Director Max Marcin
Play and Screen Play Max Marcin
Photography Gilbert Warrenton
Associate Producer E. M. Asher
"ALIAS THE DEACON"
Cast: Berton Churchill, Sally Blane,
Russell Hopton, Spencer Charters,
Alexandra Carlisle, Micky Rooney,
Gay Seabrook.
Director Kurt Neumann
Play Leroy Clemen
and John B. Hymer
Screen Play Earl Snell
and Clarence Marks
Photography George Robinson
Associate Producer.. Edmund Grainger
"LITTLE MAN. WHAT NOW?"
Cast: Margaret Sullavan, Douglass
Montgomery, Alan Hale, Mae
Marsh, Fred Kohler, Tom Ricketts,
Catherine Doucet, DeWitt Jennings,
Torben Meyer, Frank Reicher, Bodil
Bosing, George Meeker.
Director Frank Borzage
Play Hans Fallada
Screen Play-.,..Wm. Anthony McGuire
Photography'... ......Norbert Brodine
Producer Frank Borzage
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Ruth Donnelly, Virginia Pine,
Ronny Cosby.
Director Archie Mayo
Dance Director Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Music and Lyrics Harry Warren
and Al Dubin
Supervisor James Seymour
"OLD DOLL'S HOUSE"
Cast: Richard Barthelmess, Helen
Chandler, Ann Dvorak, Helen Low-
ell, Gordon Westcott, Harry Tyler,
Henry O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Guinn
Williams, Eric Wilton.
Director Alan Crosland
Story , Damon Runyon
Screen Play Warren Duff
Photography William Rees
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"FRIENDS OF MR. SWEENEY"
Cast: Charlie Ruggles, Ann Dvorak.
Eugene Pallette. Dorothy Tree.
Harry Beresford, Berton Churchill,
William Davidson, Harry Tyler,
Herbert Bunson, Ann Shoemaker,
Virginia Pine.
Director Edward Ludwig
Novel Elmer Davis
Screen Play Warren Duff
and Sidney Sutherland
Photography Ira Morgan
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"THE DARK TOWER"
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Mary As-
tor, Ricardo Cortez, Louis Calhern,
John Eldridge, Arthur Byron, Mae
Clarke, Margaret Dale, Virginia Sale,
Harry Tyler.
Director Archie Mayo
Based on Play by: George S. Kaufman
and Alexander Woollcott.
Screen Play Tom Reed and
Niven Busch
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Robert Lord
Independent Productions
Mascot
(Mack Sennett)
"THE LOST JUNGLE "
(Serial)
Cast: Clyde Beatty, Sid Saylor, Ce-
cilia Parker, Al Smith, Edward Le
Saint, Warner Richmond, Charles
Whitaker, Max Wagner, Jim Corey,
Maston Williams, Jack Carlyle, Er-
nie Adams, Bud Fine, Wally Wales.
Directors Dave Howard
and Armand Schaefer
Original Screen Play. .Sherman Lowe
and Al Martin
Photography Alvin Wyckoff
Producer Nat Levine
Monogram
(General Service)
"MONEY MEANS NOTHING "
Cast: Wallace Ford, Gloria Shea, Ed
Kennedy, Vivian Oakland, Maidel
Turner, Eddie Tamblyn, Richard
Tucker, Olaf Hyten, Tennen Holtz,
Ann Brody, Allen Davis, Sumner
Ketchel.
Director Christy.. Cabanne
Play ..William Anthony McGuire
Screen Play Frances Hyland
Photography Robert Plank
Associate Producer.... Ben Verschleiser
(Tafisnian)
"MURDER IN THE MUSEUM "
Cast: Henry B. Walthall, John Her-
ron, Phyllis Barrington, Joseph Gir-
ard, Tom O'Brien, Simona Boni-
face, John Elliott.
Director Melville Shyer
Original E. B. Crosswhite
Photography James Diamond
Eastern Productions
All Star Productions
(United Artists Release)
(Biograph Studios)
■FRANKIE AND |OHNNY"
Cast: Helen Morgan, Lilyan Tashman,
Chester Morris, William Harrigan,
Florence Reed, Walter Kingsford,
Sam Wren, Jack Hazzard, Frederic
Worlock, Cora Witherspoon, Pedro
de Cordoba, Robert M. Middlemas,
Montagu Love, Percy Helton, Ches-
ter Hale Girls, Victor Young's Or-
chestra.
Director Chester Erskin
Screen Play Moss Hart
Photography Joe Ruttenberg
Producer Maury Cohen
Meyer Davis- Van Beuren
Productions
(RKO Release)
(Biograph Studios)
"NO MORE WEST"
Cast Bert Lahr and Rhythm Boys
Director Nick Grinde
Photography Joe Ruttenberg
Educational Pictures
(Eastern Service Studios)
"CORONET COMEDY SERIES "
Cast Ritz Bros.
Director Al Christie
Photography .....George Weber
BRIIL4TOUR BULLETIN
WHO'y
WHO
Published Every Monday
j. E. BRULATOUR, inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Films
i^^
.BCS
Shoosh! . . . Cotta get this column
out in another hour and here we are
jush fresh outta ideas . . . Nice elec-
tion results in the Reporter poll . . .
Cameramen themselves pointed to
Charley Lang as the big boy scout
of the lens on the Good Deed for 1933
. . . And what a swell guy this Lang
is . . . pins a bouquet on the art-
director and pats the lab on the back
. . . nice spirit . . .
•
Jimmy Howe is shooting produc-
tion on "Thin Man" ... a swell de-
teckative yarn directed by Van Dyke
. . . Clark Gable and Bob Montgom-
ery boosting for Jimmy . . . Len Smith
(all over the pneumonia thing now)
on his way to Florida (that's a state,
Clarice) to photograph some stuff for
"Edie Was A Lady" . . . Chet Lyons
has finished "Malibu." Coupla grand
picture pilots . . George Schneiderman
and Artie Edeson with local focus of
attention account of their respective
pictures "George White's Scandals"
and "Palooka" . . . both productions
doing no harm to the cameraman . . .
•
Arthur Todd of Warners relaxing
after a spooker . . . Bob Planck comes
back to Monogram for another one
. . . just between pictures at Fox
where the boy has been doing right
well . . . Johnny Stumar sets up a
sweet record at Columbia where he's
turned one-after-another without a
stop . . . and swellish photography,
too . . . Remember when Benny Kline
used to be 'classified' as a western
cameraman? . . . Whoop-de-doo . . .
y'oughta see the swell stuff he's turn-
ing in on Columbia features.
•
. . . Out at Universal ole man George
Robinson gets under way with "Alias
The Deacon" . . . Norb Brodine is at
last turning 'em over on the Borzage
production . . Director Eddie Laemmie
gets a nice break on the photography
of his next . . . Charles Stumar will
shoot it . . . Roy Hunter's lab staff
about set to go . . .
•
Clever dinner party that Boss Sol
Wurtzel threw for the boys and girls
to celebrate completion of "Wild
Gold" . . . Little Joe shot it . . . Artie
Miller will listen to Will Rogers while
watching the lights and shadows for
"Merry Andrew." . . .
UNIVERSAL
Chas. Stumar John Mescal!
FOX
Art Miller joe Valentine
Theodor Sparkuhl
WARNER BROS.
Wm. Rees George Barnes
MONOGRAM
Bob Planck
EDUCATIONAL
Dwight Warren
TRIBVTE
IJourfliB^ is uimnimDushj^nDdalmBd
c> {li^i}purou)n3Bllou)'Grnffeni6a3§^
TMoiiTitfiirt Muslni
I of flmtrica ^
'ki0ii4ljMkll>m^^
Fox Takes Two
Finishing "Scarlet Empress" at
Paramount, Bert Glennon treks to Fox,
closely followed by Theodor Sparkuhl,
another Paramount contracted camera-
man, who is loaned to Fox for an-
other picture beginning today.
Stengler Checks In
Mac Stengler checked in at his
home lot (M. C. M.) after complet-
ing nice assignment on special loca-
tion stuff in Florida. Mostly fishing
stuff for shorts but the footage is
packed with thrills for the hook
hounds.
Warren Sets Record
Over the week-end Dwight Warren
turned fade-out on the two hundredth
production photographed by him for
Educational. Two hundred and first
is under way. In this changing and
changeable business this is a record.
Avii Returns
Gordon Avil, longtime staff camera-
man for M. G. M. at Culver City, and
recently associated with Jam Handy
industrial films of Detroit, is back In
town shooting scenes for a big in-
dustrial; also turning out some back-
grounds on an air epic.
Assistants
Officially Recognized
One of the most unexpected but most pleasing
features of the Academy Awards Banquet was recogni-
tion of six assistant directors. One from each studio
of major importance received a scroll of honor.
When Will Rogers made his snappy little speech
to Charles Lang, he pulled a reply from the winning
photographer which was right in line with the above.
in a few well chosen (and very sincere) words,
Lang gave credit to his crew and the Paramount lab.
We can't even hope (as yet) to have the Academy
recognize the assistant cameramen — but unofficially
there's no rule or reason to deny us that right.
Therefore — we are today presenting to Bob Pittack
(Lang's operative photographer on "Farewell To Arms")
and to Cliff Shirpser (Lang's assistant) The Brulatour
Bulletin Trophies for the winning camera crew. This
will be permanent practice in years to come. To Mr.
Lang we extend our heartiest congratulations.
(NOTE: Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour, Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION:
WHAT'S YOUR FEELING TOWARD
THE PRESENT SPEED OF SUPER-
SENSITIVE EMULSION?
JOHN SEITZ (Fox) : The ideal in pho-
tography is to be able to reproduce
exactly what the eye sees. The
speed of present-day super-sensi-
tive films does not exactly meet
this ideal despite the fact that the
color sensitivity and general photo-
graphic quality are really very fine.
ARTHUR EDESON (Warner Bros.):
The speed of super-sensitive nega-
tives which we're using today seems
quite adequate for all practical pur-
poses. Generally speaking, the
broad improvement in photography
during the past two or three years
may be laid right in the lap of
this fine negative film. I'd like it a
bit slower for exteriors.
CHICK McGILL (Twentieth Century) :
I think it's just right. I certainly
hope you make no change in the
present emulsion speed.
JOHN FULTON (Universal): As my
present work largely consists of
special effects, miniatures, projec-
tion backgrounds, etc., we take ad-
vantage of everything the emul-
sion has to offer in the way of
speed. I think you can never make
a negative too fast for me.
JOE WALKER (Columbia) : If a faster
emulsion could be developed and
consistently maintained without the
sacrifice of any of the present high
quality, I'd certainly welcome it.
CHARLES LANG (Paramount) : I have
felt for a long time that motion
picture photography can be im-
proved further only with the aid
of a more highly sensitized pan-
chromatic emulsion. The quality to-
day is pleasing, but in my opinion
not always a natural visual repro-
duction,
JOE AUGUST (Columbia) : It's per-
fect . . , don't change it.
BENNY KLINE (Columbia) : I
wouldn't know what to do with
more speed, but I certainly don't
want less.
ii
E
liiiimiiii
Al Siegler
UNIVERSAL
John Mescall
COLUMBIA
John Boyle
FOX
Wm. O'Connell
WARNER BROS.
Ernie Haller
M-r,-M SlUDIUo,
^ READirJG LEFT.
CULVER CITY, :":.IF
Vol. XX, No. 8. Price 5c.
TODAY^S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, March 20, 1934
CENSORS TXat IT CN CtilN
Ify ROBERT WELSH
•THERE'S an interesting picture pre-
sented on that Radio lot. A human
interest picture. To get the full kick
of the human interest you have to go
back over the events of a year or so.
You remember those days? When
we read, "Selznick signs new contract;
Selznick won't sign; Selznick in, Selz-
nick out."
Then followed the period, "Cooper
quitting. Cooper staying; Cooper go-
ing away, Cooper coming back."
Those who know their picture busi-
ness can readily see how such hap-
penings encourage the formation of
anvil choruses. At the first breath
hinting that an executive is about to
go, you can usually find the knockers
gathering courage to come from be-
neath the rocks.
Which is the why of the human in-
terest thrill we used to get on our
visits to the Radio lot during those
various periods.
Even after David Selznick had
moved his bag and baggage, his former
associates — and employees — couldn't
seem to say enough good things about
him. (Remember a congratulatory
paid ad they took on the occasion of
"Dinner at Eight's" premiere?)
Even now, with Merian Cooper va-
cationing, and his exact status unde-
cided until he reaches his own decision
on his return, they go out of their way
at the Radio lot — from Pan Berman
down — to lay the credit thick on Mer-
ian Cooper for the great job he did
before illness overtook him.
If you don't think these things are
unusual, just start a rumor on a few
other lots we could mention that an
important executive is on the way out,
and see how quickly the cackler's
chorus gains courage.
Uh-huh!
That chap, Ben Kahane, must have
harmonizing qualities of leadership;
Pan Berman must have straight line
constructive abilities; executives like
Frank O' Heron must be able to keep
their eye on the ball and let the gos-
sips fall where they may.
A gang like that can be expected
to go places.
And a spirit such as you see on the
Radio lot these days rallying behind
(Continued on Page 2)
Katharine's Scene
New York. — Whether Katharine
Hepburn is staging an act, or acting
on a stage, is hard to figure, but
she let intimates know before she
left here that she would be in no
hurry to return to the States if
Radio did not meet her desires on
the future.
Congress Has Law
To Help Bankrupts
New York. — Speed for the appro-
val of reorganization schemes on
which both Paramount and Radio are
anxiously waiting was indicated as a
possibility today with the introduction
in Congress of an amendment to the
Federal bankruptcy law by which Fed-
eral courts could okay new set-ups if
two-thirds of the creditors and a ma-
jority of the stockholders approve.
If the legislation passes both
houses, it would hasten presentation
and probably approval of their respec-
tive reorganization plans.
New Theatre Croup
New York. — Theatre Mart Group
has been organized to produce plays
with offices at 1 520 Broadway. Those
in it are Barry Thomashefsky, Boris
Bernardi and Jay Adier. They will pre-
sent a series of plays similar in nature •
to that which made Group Theatre
popular.
Carr and Ostrow East
Going to attend the Monogram
franchise holders' convention, Trem
Carr hops a train for Atlantic City
March 27 and Lou Ostrow leaves two
days later. Convention will be in ses-
sion from April 4 to 7.
Congress Expected To Drop
Censorship But Will Hold
Hearings On Block Booking
Washington. — Motion picture censors and the entire idea of
censorship took it on the chin for two hours yesterday at the
hearing before the House Committee on Foreign and Interstate
Commerce. When the hearing closed there was grave doubt if
any more time would be wasted on
the Federal censorship idea as con-
tained in the Patman bill, although
more hearings on the block booking
feature are sure to follow.
In the first place. Congress is in
no mood to inflict another eighteenth
amendment trouble on the public and,
(Continued on Page 6)
Kent For Showdown
On Fox West Coast
New York. — As a result of recent
conferences between S. R. Kent and
the Chase National — and the sending
to the Coast for additional auditing
material — it looks as though things
are very hot for a new deal in Fox
West Coast.
Much mystery surrounds the whole
deal, but the understanding here is
(Continued on Page 6)
Kramer Sees Coldwyn
New York. — Earl Kramer, one-
time Universal sales executive, later
in Europe for FBO, and most recent-
ly in the Far East for United Artists,
is on his way to the Coast to confer
with Sam Coldwyn on a deal to rep-
resent Coldwyn as a specialist in Eu-
rope.
LEE TRACY STEPS mi^
PARAMOCXT-UXIV. JAM
Stanley Suit Against
Electrics on April 2
The Paramount-Lee Tracy deal has
left a sour taste in the mouths of
Unversal executives, the latter studio
having signed Rian James to produce
the Tracy pictures and also made
other preparations for the actor, only
to learn that he was concluding a deal
with Paramount for four pictures,
leaving the Laemmie outfit out in the
cold.
The Paramount deal for three pic-
tures a year and possibly a fourth, is
being held up because of a certain
clause in the contract which Tracy ob-
(Continued on Page 2)
New York. — The trial of the anti-
trust suit of Stanley Co. of America
against the A.T.&T., Electrical Re-
search Products and the Western Elec-
tric begins April 2 in the U. S. District
Court ir> Wilmington, Del.
The Warner interests already have a
temfXJrary injunction and are now
seeking to broaden this to prevent the
collection of service charges. If Stan-
ley wins its action, the injunction will
be permanent.
Loew's Slips Over
Deal for Poli Dates
New York. — Big news for MCM
stockholders was contained in the an-
ouncement on Nicholas Schenck's ar-
rival here that the Loew circuit now
controlled Poli, Inc., with its eigh-
teen New England houses. A. C. Blu-
menthal, now president of Poli, re-
ferred all queries to Schenck. In the
absence of any record of a real estate
transfer, local film men interpreted
the whole flurry as really meaning
that MGM had sneaked in and made
a booking deal with the Poli group
for a number of years to come. And
that's control, in one way.
London Scents Conspiracy
In Sarnoff-Rothafel Visit
London. — After America's newspa-
pers have been filled with reams of
stories, later denied and forgotten,
about Roxy starting a Radio City in
London, the aftermath comes: Lon-
don's newspapers are now scenting a
huge conspiracy on the part of Rotha-
fel and Dave Sarnoff to somehow or
other seize control of British broad-
casting and to Americanize it. What-
ever that means.
52 for MCM List
New York. — Nick Schenck, on his
arrival here, made the definite state-
ment that MGM would again figure
fifty-two pictures on its program next
year, thus quieting rumors that the
organization might reduce to a num-
ber of specials.
Kelly Will Stop Here
New York. — Arthur W. Kelly, vice-
president of United Artists and for
years chief of the foreign department,
is going to stop over in Hollywood for
a breathing space on his way to Aus-
tralia. Kelly leaves Saturday by boat,
through the Canal.
AUSTIN PARKER writing Transient Lady ' Screen Piav U ' j
Page Two
THE
■■■/
March 20. 1934
<V. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ffiOBERT E. WELSH ...Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd. ,
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Gratte-Clel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Hmmm, mmm — Mary Carlisle is
"burned to a crisp" after hearing Syl-
via, the massage artist, announce via
radio that she (Sylvia) took ten
pounds off Mary — when the little gal
"herself, with a system all her own,
dropped nearly thirty pounds in no
time at all. Mary was all ready to
start suit or something — but was ad-
vised to calm down and forget about
the injustice of it all. . . Do you know
what famous director (NOT Lubitsch)
will soon have to choose between two
society belles — or go into complete re-
tirement? . . . Helen Ware, who dom-
icles at Carmel, actually commutes to
Hollywood for pictures! . . . Warners
■are going to do a re-make of "Satur-
day's Children" made some years ago
as a silent.
•
■ The Irving Thalbergs' mansion is
right at the ocean's edge — but Thal-
berg has his room sound-proofed so
that he can't hear what the wild waves
are saying. . . . Dave Harris flew east
suddenly yesterday to the bedside of
his father, who is very ill. . . . When
Helen Hayes gets to Hollywood she'll
do "What Every Woman Knows"
ahead of "Mary, Queen of Scots" —
vvonder if Ken MacKenna, who scored
such a hit with her in the stage ver-
sion, will play his role in the picture?
. . . Joan Bennett and the new baybee
will be able to have callers at home
end of this week. . . , Archie Mayo
says that he's going to Russia (wot!
ANOTHER trip??) when "Dark Tow-
er" is finished. . . And Glenda Farrell
says she won't marry Bob Riskin until
he learns the Rhumba — which is put-
ting it all way off in the future.
•
Patsy Ruth Miller, Jean Negulesco,
Tamara Ceva, Erwin Celsey, Al Kauf-
man at the Clover Club (which will
feature the Yacht Club Boys next
week). . . . Maureen O'Sullivan will
go to Ireland soon and try to persuade
her parents to let her ADOPT her four
year old sister and bring her back
here! . . . Mary Brian and Dick Pow-
ell on their fourth date in a week, at
the Joe E. Brown's farewell party. . .
(3^ers there were the Eddie Robin-
idns, Ruby Keeler, the Hal Wallises,
l^le Talbot — with Alice Faye — Joan
Blondell and George Barnes.
'WRONG XrMBER' DCLL BUT
THEME GOOD FOR PICTURES
Odd Columbia Deal
Puzzles Industry
"WRONG NUMBER"
By Eloise Keeler; presented by the In-
timate Theatre Croup at the Prov-
tricetown Playhouse; staged by John
F. Crahame; settings by Alexander
Maissel. Cast: William Bonelli,
Whitner Bissel, Dorothy South,
Helen Bliss, Genevieve Belasco, Pa-
tricia Martin, William S. Phillips,
Alan Flood, Fred Smith, John Mor-
tensen, Harold Bassage and Elsa
Ryan.
New York. — The idea of treating
the subject of numerology seriously in
a drama is a commendable one, and
so is the title. However, an idea is
one thing, and the dramatization of it
is another. The author of "Wrong
Number" tried valiantly, but the in-
ept fashion in which the play is work-
ed out Only brought raucous response
from the audience.
The possibilities of using the sci-
ence of numbers, manipulated by a
saccharinely unctuous villain, appear
unlimited. Miss Keeler fries to show
how it can snare and trap innocent
women and their families into en-
trusting themselves and their posses-
sions to the guidance of a get-rich-
quick fakir, yea, even permitting him
to dictate a young girl's future in
marriage and a youth's choosing of a
career.
Like hypnotism or religious fanati-
cism, some people allow the "vibra-
tion of numbers" to lead them into
extremely foolish decisions, especially
when the exponent of this "science"
is a psychologist as well and knows
how to take advantage of human
weakness and desires. The Mrs. Mor-
rison of this play is a good example.
Genevieve Belasco, Whitner Bissell
and William S. Phillips were well lik-
ed. There may be a good farce drama
in numerology, but this is not it.
Screen Actors' Mag.
Off the Press Today
After a million headaches incidental
to getting the first issue to bed, the
Screen Actors' Guild announced last
night that its new magazine will be
off the press late today.
It was slated for March 15, and is
being eagerly awaited by all players,
as it IS the first chance they have had
to put in print exactly what they want
without the supervision of some hard-
boiled editor.
Cineglow Building
Cineglow Sound System has started
the construction of a sound theatre at
the Alexander Brothers' studio to be
used for dubbing by independent pro-
ducers. Ben Burke is the manager
of Cineglow, instead of Max Alexan-
der, as erroneously published some
time ago.
Lee Tracy Steps into Jam
(Continued from Page 1 )
jects to, but which will be eliminated
today, in order to get the actor's sig-
nature on the agreement.
His first Paramount picture will be
'■'The Son Comes Home," the Julian
Josephson original story which was
adapted to the screen by William
Slavens McNutt and Crover Jones.
New York. — Everyone in the pic-
ture business here was trying to figure
today just what the set-up of Colum-
bia Pictures is. The puzzle came with
a report of the company to the New
York Stock Exchange yesterday which
stated that the company has bought
back 1 ,474 voting trust certificates.
It was learned at the same time
that all the voting trust certificates
are vested in three trustees, namely
Joe Brandt and Harry and Jack Cohn.
BUT — Brandt left the company two
years ago, and the wise ones in the
business here are now trying to figure
what his angle is in the set-up. The
trio are said to hold the voting trus-
teeship for a period of ten years, start-
ing in 1930. There is much specula-
tion as to how come Brandt is in on
this close control of an outfit he is
no longer with publicly.
Carlisle and Michaels
In Bing Crosby Picture
Kitty Carlisle and Gertrude Mi-
chaels were yesterday assigned featur-
ed roles in the next Bing Crosby pic-
ture, "She Loves Me Not," which will
be directed by Elliott Nugent under
the supervision of Benjamin Glazer,
for Paramount.
Austin Parker to 'U'
Austin Parker was signed yesterday
by Universal on a one-picture deal to
write the screen adaptation of "Tran-
sient Lady," which will be directed by
Eddie Buzzell. The Selznick-Joyce
office set the writer.
Jane Storm Slighted
Credits on "Melody in Spring," a
recent Paramount picture which Re-
porter's previewer liked so well,
omitted the credit to jane Storm for
the screen play.
Cay Seabrook Cast
Gay Seabrook has been added to
the cast of "Practical joker" at Uni-
versa.l The Bernard, Meiklejohn and
McCall agency made the deal.
Central Distributors
Will Buy for CASH
FEATURES SHORTS
Quick Action — Prompt Payment
M. LEON LEVINE
599 Fifth Ave.. N. Y. C.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Rapaymentt
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Tatt BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
/ 'i
u.
OPEN FORUM
TELEGRAM
W. R. Wilkerson,-
Hollywood Reporter:
APPLAUSE AND AMEN TO WIL-
BUR STEELE ON STORY CONFER-
ENCE ARTICLE TODAY'S REPORTER.
Jack Preston.
Suss in Ozark Film
Bernard Suss leaves the cast of "Six
Months Option" at the Spotlight
Theatre Club today to head for the
Ozark Mountains where he plays in a
picture with a Hill Billy background.
The picture will be made by Cinema
Tours, Inc., headed by Frank Dono-
van. Cedric Stevens replaces Suss at
the Spotlight.
New Amity Exchange
Amity Pictures Corp. Ltd. has open-
ed a new exchange in Kansas City,
which is incorporated under firm name
of Consolidated Film Distributors, and
will be operated by W. L. Norris and
W. P. Humston, with Russel C. Borg
as general manager. Amity now has
29 exchanges in the U. S.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1
Pan Berman can be expected to arrive
places.
We're glad to chronicle it; and will ' '
be interested to watch it. Because
we are in a business where it is news
if you can headline:
"EXTRY! MAN FAILS TO BITE;
MAN!"
g/ HOLLYWOOD vg.
PLAZA
ff
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly rales
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chai. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hotpitolity
Vine al Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
March 20, 1934
Page Tlirca
PARA. 'YOU'RE TELLIXG ME'
FUXNY RUT NEEDS TRIMMING
W.C.FieldsTopsand
Rest of Cast Good
"YOU'RE TELLING ME"
Par amount
Directiot% Erie Kenton
Author Julian Street
Adaptation: Walter DeLeon and Paul
Jones.
Photography Al Gilks
Cast: W. C. Fields, Joan Marsh, Larry
""^Bustef " -Crabbe, Adrienne Ames,
Louise Carter, Kathleen Howard,
James B. "Pop" Kenton, Robert
Kenton, Robert McKenzie, George
Irving, Jerry Stewart, Del Hender-
son, Nora Cecil, George MacQuarrie,
John M. Sullivan, Venon Dent, Al-
fred Delcambre, Tammany Young.
The Paramount comedy, "You're
Telling Me," is a series of gags strung
on the thread of a very thin plot.
However, with W. C. Fields in the
principal role, the plot doesn't make
so much difference. But what is un-
fortunate is that the Fieldian gags are
elongated and insisted upon arxl drawn
out and played up and hammered in
until they become tiresome.
Consistent and thorough cutting
will do wonders for the picture and
will give it a chance to be what it
certainly deserves to be ... a good,
fast, out-of-the-ordinary comedy.
Fields plays the part of a happy-
go-lucky inventor, who drinks too
much, is a source of complete annoy-
ance to his wife, and finally queers
the marriage between his daughter,
Joan Marsh, and Buster Crabbe, son
of the richest family in Crystal
Springs, by his uncouthness.
However, an accidental meeting
with Princess Lescaboura (Adrienne
ArogStrfb^te^ train, changes all that.
:~F&e=^^sas^comes interested io the .
poor down-trodden man, visits him at
his home, and plays fairy godmother
to all his troubles.
Fields is ridiculously funny except
when forced to prolong his gags, as
witness the one on the golf course that
started out to be screamingly funny
and gradually petered out from sheer
exhaustion. Joan Marsh is charming
as his daughter; Adrienrie" Ames
brings dignity to her role; Louise Car-
ter is Fields' vitriolic wife; Kathleen
Howard is well cast as Crabbe's so-
ciety-struck mother, and Tammany
Young is extremely funny in a small
role.
-T" Walter DeLecm and Paul Jones
adapted the Julian Street story, and
Al Gilks photographed it. Erie Ken-
ton's direction is intelligent, with the
exception of the many over-emphasiz-
ed scenes.
When this picture is cut, don't
worry about it. Your patrons will
like it.
Arnold on the Air
John Arnold, president of the Amer-
ican Society of Cinematographer was
an interesting talker yesterday over
the complete NBC coast network on
the subject "Cameras and Camera-
men."
Beer Replaces Cash
Picture people get a laugh at
Caesar's bright spot on Hollywood
Boulevard when they discover
where the beer is kept. Believe it
or not, it is in a huge money vault
that once housed thousands of dol-
lars. A bank formerly occupied the
place. Instead of removing the
vault, Caesar put the beer tanks
there.
Research Council of
Acad. Meets Again
The Research Council of the Acad-
emy swings info action this week on
the resumption of the program that
was interrupted a year ago.
The first move will be a meeting
Thursday night of the committee that
is working on the problem of pro-
ducing a silent camera. This com-
mittee is composed of the following
technicians: Virgil Miller, chairman;
John Arnold, John Boyle, John Cass,
Bill Eglinton, Bert Glennon, Lauren
Crignon, Kenneth Lambert, Grover
Laube, Lewis Mellor, K. F. Morgan,
William Rudolph, Ted Soderberg, A.
G. Wise and R. C. Willman.
Radio Wants Wellman
To Direct Ann Harding
Radio yesterday registered a bid
with Twentieth Century for the loan
of William Wellman to direct the Ann
Harding picture, "Virgie Winters."
Success of the deal depends upon
the consent of Sam Goldwyn, who has
a prior commitment on the director for
"Barbary Coast."
Pauline Lord Signed by
Parasdfejr 'Mrs. Wiggs'
-Zi-Paulinei^^Si^SKsfeeen signed :kyh
Paramount on a two-picture deal. Her
last play on Broadway was- "The Late
Christopher Bean." This is her first
crack at pictures.
i-\er first picture will be "Mrs.
Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," in
which she will play Mrs. Wiggs.
Jane Wyatt Starts at
Universal on June 15
Jane Wyatt left for New York yes-
terday by train and will return June
I 5 to begin her contract with Univer-
sal. Player came out here on a ten
day option and, after a series of tests';
was handed the term ticket Saturday.
Dinner for joi^^^n
The Warner publicity department is
giving a farewell dinner today for Joe
E. Brown who leaves tomorrow for
San Francisco to hop a boat for a three
months vacation in the Orient. The
player is scheduled to wind up "The
Circus Clown," which Ray Enright di-
rected, this morning.
Camera Union Crows
Fifteen applications for membership
have been received by the camera-
men's union. Local 659, lATSE, dur-
ing the past two weeks, it was an-
nounced yesterday at their headquar-
ters. . . .
Acad. Banquet Cash
Better Than Hoped
Academy officials were smiling yes-
terday as figures on the cost of the
Awards Banquet were being put into
shape, for, due to the sellout, the def-
icit will not be as great as was antici-
pated.
The steering committee expected
the organization would have to take
quite a financial bump, so secured the
cooperation of a group of members to
guarantee the deficit. What this will
amount to will not be known for two
or three more days. Two of the most
expensive details of the affair were
Duke Ellington's band and the statu-
ettes. It was learned yesterday that
the statuettes stood the Academy al-
most an even thousand dollars.
Extras Meet Tonight to
Talk Consolidation'
Members of the Motion Picture
Supporting and Extra Players will
again take up the question of amalga-
mation of the various extras' organi-
zations tonight at a meeting in the
Liberal Arts building of the Holly-
wood high school.
The proposal was advanced some
time ago by Allan Garcia, head of the
group. It has met with first hot and
then cold reception by the various
groups. The junior Screen Actors'
Guild has announced that it will have
no part in the combine.
Lukas Starring Film
Starting at 'U' Today
Edmund Grainger will place the
Paul Lukas starring vehicle, "Affairs
of a Gentleman," into work tomor-
row at Universal under the direction
.of Ed Marin.. ^,l^.:.^ _:u--^£^^^^
The cast to date includes Patricia
Ellis, Dorothy Burgess, Lilian Bond
and Philip Reed.
Pinnacle Sets Distribs.
New York.^ — Pinnacle Productions,
has closed territorial releases for "Hir-
ed Wif-e" and "Chide" with Arthur
Greenblatt in New York: Gold Medal
Film in Philadelphia, Excellent Pic-
tures in Detroit, B. N. Judell in Chi-
cago, St. Louis and Milwaukee; Majes-
tic Pictures in Cincinnati, A. C. Brom-
berg in Atlanta, and the Far West Ex-
changes in Los Angeles and San Fran-
cisco.
Tower "Mag. Off ice Sihut
The Hollywood offices of the Tower
Magazines will be closed all day today
in respect to Hugh Weir, editorial di-
rector of this group, who will be bur-
ied today. He died in New York last
Friday after a long (llness. New Movie
is one of the large group of maga-
zines he directed.
Animated Marriages
The marriage complex appeared re-
cently among the staff of Animated
Pctures Corporation. Lee Blair and
Mary Robinson were married. Then
Murray Griffin wed Eleanor Martin
of Detroit.
miS^.H£LEHGWyNME
There's a big fight going on in a
home office at this moment over what
policy the company will pursue in
story buys for the coming season. The
two warring factions are A: The group
that wants to buy ORIGINALS and
books and, B: Those who are still
holding out for plays and books with
the emphasis on plays. . . . Adapta-
tions of plays for pictures, with just
a few notable exceptions, have never
been particularly happy in screen
translations, and still they are bought
and at high prices too, because it is
so easy to be fooled by three acts that
run along smoothly with curtains ac-
counting for a great deal that cannot
be said or for time lapses. . . . And
then, when they are bought for pic-
tures, pictures that run anywhere from
an hour and fifteen minutes to an
hour and a half with no intermissions,
the difficulties start, as only an adap-
tor can tell you.
•
Books are only slightly less diffi-
cult. With books it is a question of
elimination of extraneous material —
mostly characterization or psychologi-
cal studies or both, and it's a tough
job to make a moving picture out of
them. ... Of course, buys of both
books and plays are governed by the
fact that one is a best seller, (reach-
ng a few HUNDRED THOUSAND peo-
ple if it's sensational) and the other
is a hit reaching a few THOUSAND
people in New York, a few more in
Chicago and a few HUNDRED on the
road. And on the strength of that they
are bought to cater to the common
tastes of MILLIONS in a medium they
were mostly never written for and
never quite jibe with. This applies
mainly to the drayma . . . with com-
edy, they can always call in Arthur
Sheekman or get Jimmy Durante to
make a movie.
•
._lt seerns to us_ that originals and
'ghBirt' Stories, even" the short, short
stories, are the answer to the picture
producer's delimma on material. . . .
And probably the best examples of
that kind of buying are Damon Run-
yon, who is enjoying a vogue at the
moment, and Darryl Zanuck who
knows that an idea clearly expressed
in a few lines can be whipped into
better picture material at lower costs
than paying thousands of dollars for
published books or produced plays
which — at their best, have hidden in
them an idea — or perhaps it's a good
title— and at their worst offer a
hodge-podge in stage or literary tech-
nique that has been so vyell produced
.the^"^61i-^^i''.'*h6ugh-Th^y^.Hs^ be
movies. An"d this is written with ex-
ceptions duly noted and appreciated.
Jules Levy Here
Jules Levy, sales manager for Ra-
dio, arrived in town yesterday by train
from New York. He will be here a
week, conferring on the studio's fu-
ture product.
New Title for Arliss
"Head of the Family," the 20th
Century picture starring George Ar-
liss, has now been renamed "The Last
Gentleman." It is now in the second
week of production.
STEP OUT WITH
COUNTESS OF
MONTE CRISTO
Edna Ferber's
IXLTEU
THE WORLD
i:
UNIVERSAL and
■?l;tf
AYRES
Patricia Ellis, Frank McHugh, Isabel Jewell,
Burton Churchill, Robert McWade, Hedda
Hopper. From a stage play by William
Anthony McGuire. Directed by Edward
Ludwig. Produced by Carl Laemmie, Jr.
PAY WRAY
PAUL LUKAI
With Patsy Kelly, Paul Page, Carmel Myers,
Reginald Owen, Robert McWade, Richard
Tucker. Story by Walter Fleisch. Directed by
Karl Freund. Presented by Carl Laemmie. A
Stanley Bergerman Production.
CONSTANCE
CUMMINOS
PAUL LUKAS
Phillip Reed, Joseph Cawthorn, Doris Lloyd,
Alice Lake and many others. Directed by
WILLIAM WYLER. A B. F. ZEIDMAN
PRODUCTION
LEE
TRACY
6LORIA fTUART
ROGER PRYOR
Onslow Stevens, Alec Fiondt, Lawrence Gront
ond many others. Screenplay by Dale Von Every
ond Rolph Spence. Directed by Edward Sedgwick.
Produced by Corl Loemmle, Jr.
Douglass Montgomery, Mae Marsh, Fred Kohler,
George Meeker, Hedda Hopper and many others.
Novel by Hans Fallada. Screenplay by William
Anthony McGuire. Produced by Carl Laemmie, Jr.
JLA ^L ^P^% ^L ^r E^r ^^^^' ^y "°"^ Fallada. Screenplay by William
a ▼miMLR.\l JP%^LE M Anthony McGuire. Produced by Carl Laemmie, Jr.
$ U L L AVA N PRANK BORZ AGE
ir.r
Production
>d by CARL LAEMMLE
March 20. 1934
RAMBLIXG AROIII\D LOTS
Dick Rowland and L. B. Mayer hav-
ing lunch at the MGM commissary.
That's a picture for the history books.
Brought back memories of the days
when both were First National bud-
dies- L B. with the Boston franchise,
and' Richard A. with the Western
Pennsylvania slice.
'•
Junior Laemmie spotting Preston
Sturges in the Universal restaurant —
after the latter had beeen announced
winner of the Reporter Original Story
Award — and calling across the room:
"Reserve ONE original for me next
year — the prize winner."
Mark Sandrich ducking the bows
on the Academy short subject award
at noon in Radio's eatery and trying to
pass 'em all on to Max Steiner ar>d
the rest of the crew.
•
Larry Weingarten, shoulders hunch-
ed, head down, going down MCM's
main street so deep in thought he did
r>ot see anybody — not even a guy who
said he wanted to repay a sawbuck
touch.
No — Larry, we don't remember the
fellow's name.
That gang at Universal pulling for
Frank Borzage as they never pulled
for anybody. They were already be-
ginning to ooze enthusiasm over "Lit-
tle Man" when Frank was dealt that
terrible blow last week. Now enthus-
iasm is backed by a heart-tug spirit
. that is great.
They tell us up at Paramount that
it looks as though young Charles Vidor
has a picture coming up in "Double
Door" basing opinions on the first
week's rushes.
•
And speaking of young directors,
Manny Cohen deserves a palm for the
vision that is looking ahead in. the dir
rectorial -field;:^ Hall, .Bill McNujt|
and Grover Jones, Bob Sparks, Jar>e
Loring and Harlan Thompson — these
are investments in the future that' are
going to pan out. But more, they evi-
dence a darn good executive trait.
•
Still on the same subject: Over at
Monogram Trem Carr and Lou-,Ostro\y
are raving about another "first^'direc-
torial" effort — "Manhattaa . t-ove
Song," megged by Leonard Fields'.' In
the past Fields has operated asa niem-;-.-
ber of the writing team of Field?, .and, .
Silverstein. '"" " '^
'•
But to make a great jump — there
are a lot of the boys rooting hard for
Bob Vignola, veteran of the wars, as
he gets a real chance with Haw-
thorne's "The Scarlet Letter." Larry
Darmour is shooting close to a hundred
thousand on the classic — and it's Vig-
nola's chance to crash the big tinne
again. Here's how!
Heard a lot of comment yesterday
— and not at the Universal lot, either
— about what looks like a raw deal on
somebody's part for Carl Laemmie, Jr.
The latter took his courage to the
races, signed Lee Tracy for one picture
when everybody else was looking the
other way, then put a climax in the
script when he let it be known that he
had practically closed a long term deal
MCM Claims Youngest
Grandmother in Cal.
MCM claims the youngest Cali-
fornia grandmother. Betty Sanford,
studio manicurist, is thirty-two.
She was married at fifteen and her
daughter, Mrs. Nick Aguilar, was
married at sixteen.
Radio City To Be Star
In Radio Production
H. N. Swanson's idea, which was
born about a year ago, to produce a
picture based on a story written
around Radio City, is finally coming to
light.
Paul Finder Moss and Julius Ep-
stein, who have just finished "Big
Broadcast of 1934" for Paramount,
have been signed to write an original
story based on this idea.
Union Trying to Bring
Cameramen Into Line
Cameramen's Local 659, lATSE,
has sent a letter to cameramen, warn-
ing them that there is a movement on
foot among the producers to cut their
salaries and work them longer hours.
In an apparent attempt to get the
boys back into the union, the letter
calls attention to the fact that the
local is keenly interested in maintain-
ing wages and proper hours.
Roxy Cuts Its Prices
New York. — The Roxy Theatre has
reduced its admission price for Satur-
day, Sunday and holiday matinees
from 65 cents to 50 cents including
tax. The Embassy Newsreel theatre
has reduced the morning prices up to
one o'clock from 25 cents to I 5 cents.
Chas. Wilson to V
Charles Wilson was yesterday tick-
eted, for tWftT4>ielures by Universal,
going^mto^ -"P^^^ft^acWcal joker," first
and then into "The Affairs of a Gen-
tleman," Deajs^ere set by the Kings-
ton.'Harris ageri^.
Sam Taylor Recovers
■ Sam Taylor returned to work yes-
terday at Harold Lloyd's after an at-
tack of pneumonia. "The Cat's Paw"
will resume work Monday with Taylor
•drrec-ting. •., . .-..^-jtf'^ ;•.*:• -;•..■■;
■ Bacon on:ll?ley,;SaUor:'r
; . .Warners .yesterday.; ^assigned .Lloyd
Bacon to direct "Hey" Sailor','' which
'Will- team ■■• James • Cagney ••■and- Pat ■
O'Brien when it goes into work next
week.
Lola Gentry East
Lola Gentry, executive secretary of
the Los Angeles Film Board of Trade,
left yesterday by airplane for Indian-
apolis where her mother is very ill.
with Tracy. Make no mistake about
it — Junior Laemmie was the guy who
was due for the brickbats if there
were any to come. Who knew? So
when nothing happens but praise for
the idea — what else happens? Huh?
The ice having been broken by young
Junior — and no cold water following
on the ice-breaking — the deal is closed
with PARAMOUNT for Tracy. Some-
jthin'jvrong.
Hyman of Standard
Behind New Firm
New York. — ^The new company,
"Famous Authors Pictures," through
which Jacques Kopfstein will present
eight pictures for the state rights mar-
ket, takes on importance with the
news that Mark Hyman, of Standard
Cinema Corporation, is backing it.
Standard Cinema has backed the
Larry Darmour Productions, Continen-
tal Features and Mickey McCuire com-
edies— an RKO release — in the past.
The new company will be called
Coply Productions, with Kopfstein as
president, and the pictures to be made
by some West Coast producer. Mi-
chael Arlen's "Lucky Lady" is planned
for the first.
George Marion Jr. Held
For a Second at Para.
Paramount yesterday worked out an
extension of its contract with George
Marion Jr. to include another script
assignment.
Upon completion of "Kiss and
Make Up" for B. P. Schulberg, he
moves over to the Louis Lighton unit
to write the screen play on his own
original, "Here's Your Quarterback."
Beyer- Mac Arthur negotiated.
Alexander-'U' Deal
Max Alexander has arranged with
Universal to release "I Can't Escape,"
the new title for "Decent," in all for-
eign countries. The Beacon produc-
tion will be state-righted in the Unit-
ed States. Picture goes into work in
the next two weeks.
Writing Team Signed
MCM has signed Albert Hackett
and Frances Goodrich to a new long
term writing ticket. The team has just
finished the screen treatment of the
Dashiell Hammett novel, "The Thin
Man," which will star William Pow-
ell.
New Term for Swerling
Columbia has exercised fho ^Kfift^L.
on Jo Swerling's contract for ah"5TfteF^
six months. The writer is now doing
the .screen adaptation on "Take The
Witness," story based on the career
of the late Earl Rogers.
Felix on MGM Dances
Seymour Felix has been set by
MGM to direct the dance numbers for
the Jimmy Durante-Charles Butter-
worth pj,qfi2re, "Student Tour." Monta
Bell is. producing it.
^^ Hew. House for Rogers
New York. — Elmer Rogers, former
manager of the Palace Theatre, will
manage the Casion Theatre which
opens on Easter Monday with two-a- ...
day vaudeville.
Censors Take It on Chin
(Continued from Pacr*t>
Kent for Showdown
(Continued from Page 1 )
that Kent has asked for a showdown,
and wants to know whether the bank
is going to continue to run the five
hundred houses or whether they can
be returned to his direction, as they
were for a brief period after he took
over the Fox helm.
Because of the advances made by
the parent organization to Wesco,
Kent, as executive of the parent, has
a strong card up his sleeve if he in-
sists on the showdown.
-•. /i,^*.:. Ji ,-■. i it-'-i J S\ 5 .-.- ^ 'ii'-a*
secondly, there are doubts expressed
as to whether Congress has any right
under the Constitution to enact any
legislation whereby children will be
prevented from seeing certain pic-
tures.
Representative Patman, author of
the combined censorship and block
booking measure, opened the hearing
with an attack on the picture indus-
try. He said it had made ten prom-
ises to reform and had kept none. His
proposed legislation, he said, was
merely a project to open up the en-
tire problem and he felt that many
-changes would be necessary before a"
final bill was passed.
Canon William S. Chase, the con-
stant reformer, followed Patman. He
reiterated his usual arguments and also
spoke against block booking. Mrs.
Robbins Oilman, of Minneapolis, also
favored the censorship idea. She is
president of the Federation of Motion
Picture Councils of America and chair-
man of the Motion Picture Committee
of the National Council of Parents and
Teachers.
"Censorship is necessary to protect
children," she said. "The themes of
many pictures are solely of love, sex
and crime. Furthermore, scientific
tests have shown that boys have learn-
ed through the movies eighteen dif-
ferent ways of killing people."
Representative Pettengill, Demo-
crat, of Indiana, interposed with a re-
mark to the effect that he wondered
what Will Hays had done for the mov-
ies to warrant his enormous salary,
this being one of several cracks aimed
at the General.
After Rabbi Israel, of Baltimore, had
spoken in favor of the bill, Represen-
tative Connery, of Massachusetts,
made an eloquent address against it,
alleging that censorship should be a
matter of local autonomy.
Charles C. Pettijohn, of the Hays
office, also spoke against the bill, ar-
-gujng tjiafcflie exisfic^ powersi.-of the
fi^fei's'f^e ■ Commerce^Cottimissidrf are
sufficient to control the shipment of
lewd or salacious material through the
enforcement of heavy penalties. He
pointed td the moral "reputation of
Chicago as an example of a censor-
ruled City.
Speaking of block booking, he said
that less than 20 per cent of all pic-
tures are sold in that fashion and that,
when good pictures come along, ex-.
hibitors riever resort to their cancella-
tion privileges.
"Good moral pictures are usually
bad pictures for the exhibitor," he
said, "and so-called bad pictures are
usually the best for them. For exam-
pte, the Mae West pictures have play-
ed eight or ten repeat engagements in
many places."
There was a little excitement at this
point when Abram Myers, of Allied,
was called, and Representative Chap-
man, of Kentucky, started to heckle
him. Myers said he was filing a brief
in support of another anti -block book-
ing bill and understood that it would
have a hearing later. Chapman asked
a number of questions about Myers'
career in pictures and in exhibitor or-
ganizations, whereup>on Myers retort-
ed heatedly that the representative
was "an unfair duck who must have
had lies whispered in his ears by the
producers." . . ...
METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER
W i 1 1 n e i t h e r
offer me work
nor
release me from
my contract.
1
1
.i
jkcK GILBERT
i
. apNjws^ff?.^ *.» ..-,,....
Page Eight
THg
f^ifPOi'lTll^
March 20, 1934
VPixyme-imNi/TE
ASTING
Luis Alberni by Max Shagrin in
"One Night of Love," Columbia.
Addison Richards for "The Hum-
bug," Universal. Set by Kingston-
Harris.
Robert McWade and Robert Barrat
to "The Old Doll's House," Warners.
Eddie Tamblyn and Harry C. Brad-
ley for "Money Means Nothing,"
Monogram. Set by Max Shagrin.
Donald Kerr by Ivan Kahn in "Mur-
der n the Museum," Willis Kent.
Anita Fay for "She Loves Me Not,"
stage play. Set by Ivan Kahn.
Desmond Roberts by Leo Lance of
the Hoffman-Schlager office in "Bull-
dog Drummond Strikes Back," Twen-
tieth Century.
Charley Williams to "Friends of Mr.
Sweeney" at Warners. Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall made deal.
Charles Irwin by MCM for a role
In "Treasure Island." Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall.
Ferdinand Munier by MCM for a
role in "The Barretts of Wimpole
Street." Bernard, Meiklejohn and Mc-
Call.
Gertrude Sutton and Francis Mc-
Donald to "Sadie McKee," MCM.
Charles B. Middleton, John T. Qga-
len, Hans Joby and Billy Franey to
"Private Scandal" for Charles R. Rog-
ers at Paramount.
Healy Stooges to Col.
To Make Nine Shorts
Columbia got the three Healy
Stooges, Moe and Jerry Howard and
Larry Fine, on a contract yesterday to
make a group of nine short subjects
under Zion Myers' supervision.
Archie Cottier will write and direct
the first. Deal went through Waiter
Kane, of the Weber office.
Old Stars in New Film
Five stars of silent films were yes-
terday signed by Paramount for roles
in "Many Happy Returns," the Burns
and Allen picture which started yes-
terday under the directon of Norman
McLeod. They are Mary MacLaren,
Stanley Taylor, Billy Engle, George
Ovey and Jay Belasco.
Helen Mack Assigned
Paramount has assigned Helen
Mack one of the feminine leads in the
B. P. Schulberg production, "Kiss and
Make-up," with Cary Grant and Car-
ole Lombard filling the other top
spots. Harlan Thompson will direct,
with Jean Negulesco acting as asso-
ciate director.
Field Back to Radio
Salisbury Field returns to the Radio
writing staff today on a Small-Landau
ticket to join Jane Murfin in writing
the screen play for the untitled sec-
ond Francis Lederer production, which
Pan Berman is piloting.
Ruric on 'Suicide Club'
Peter Ruric has finished polishing
up the script of "Affairs of a Gentle-
man" and is writing the screen play
of "Suicide Club" at Universal.
Rosen in Court
Editorial staffs of local dailies
getting all fussed up about tele-
phone calls from "Municipal
Court," "Marshal's Office," etc.,
and what have you — and all be-
cause Francis Martin has a case in
court against Al Rosen. Believe it
or not, those dumb editors suspect-
ing that the calls — and alleged le-
gal information — are cheap propa-
ganda inspired by Al. At the ex-
pense of a five cent call.
Two More Youngsters
Added to 'Our Gang'
Hal Roach yesterday signed Scott
Beckett, 4-year-old boy, to a five-year
contract to play in Our Gang comedies.
Another addition to the gang, al-
though not signed to a long term con-
tract, is Willie Mae Walton, 4-year-
old colored girl, who recently won a
personality contest at Lincoln theatre.
Pabst and Warners
Settle His Contract
G. W. Pabst and Warners yester-
day got together on an amicable set-
tlement of the director's contract. He
made one picture, "Modern Hero,"
requesting his release when he felt he
did not fit in with the Warner pro-
duction scheme. M. C. Levee has
signed him to a managerial ticket.
Fields Assigned to
Role in 'Mrs. Wiggs'
W. C. Fields has been assigned an
important spot in "Mrs. Wiggs of the
Cabbage Patch" at Paramount. He
will first make "Grease Paint," a story
based on his own idea.
Norman Taurog has been assigned
the direction of "Mrs. Wiggs."
Dine Kahane Asst.
New York. — The RKO home office
is giving a farewell dinner tonight to
Joe Nolan, who is leaving for the Coast
this week to take up his post as as-
sistant to B. B. Kahane. Nolan leaves
Thursday, and today's party is at the
Park Central.
Ray June to MCM
Ray June has been signed by MGM
to photograph "Treasure Island,"
along with Clyde DeVinna. June may
leave before the picture is finished in
order to return to Sam Goldwyn to
photograph "Resurrection," the Anna
Sten starrer.
Falkenstein Gets Agent
Fritz Falkenstein has been signed
to a managerial contract by the Ivan
Kahn agency. Falkenstein is the co-
director and producer of "Allez-Oop"
at the Tingel-Tangel Theatre.
Swanson Assigned
H. N. Swanson will supervise "By
Your Leave," which will be directed
by Elliott Nugent upon his return from
loan to Paramount. Sam Mintz is
writing the screen play.
50 th
NEW YORK PERFORMANCE
TONIGHT
W
Sing and Whistle
//
By
MILTON
HERBERT
GROPPER
"Audience laughed and
laughed."
Percy Hammond
N. v. Herald-Tribune
"Immensely funny."
John Anderson
N. v. Evening journal
"First nighters found
the farce comical,
laughing with right
good will."
Arthur Pollock
Brooklyn Eagle
"Good fun,"
Burns Mantle
The News
"Excruciatingly funny, most
amusing in many seasons . . .
MILTON HERBERT CROPPER
IS A MASTER OF COMIC
DIALOCUE."
Kelcey Allen
Management
Small-Landau Company
^ MH.SAVUKL V.A~
CULVER CITY, ; V ^ .
Vol. XX, No. 9. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, March 21, 1934
• WE hate to be a party, in even the
slightest way, to adding to present
studio overhead. It's the Big, Bad
Wolf of every studio right now; and
the Ever Present Alibi for writer, di-
rector and supervisor.
But there is a new job to be added
to the payroll.
Regardless of overhead worries, ne-
cessity forces us to arise in our might
and insist that there is a new job
needed in the picture business, a new
classification that should put at least
a couple of dozen men to work very
soon.
What this business needs is a cou-
ple of dozen:
INTERPRETERS.
•
Interpreters of what?
Why, merely chaps who will sit in
between writers and executives, and
do their best to make one under-
stand the other.
And if you think this is an off-hand
remark, you don't know the actual
making of pictures.
There is more stumbling, stutter-
ing, hemming and hawing, and ex-
pansive gurgitating in the making of
motion pictures because at the cru-
cial point the problem is in the hands
of two tribes that DON'T UNDER-
STAND each other's language, than
you can possibly imagine if you
haven't sat in on one of these ses-
sions.
So — without any NRA prompting —
we think we are right when we ad-
vocate that the industry create a cou-
ple of dozen jobs — well, at least
twenty-two or twenty-three — for
INTERPRETERS!
'•
Picture the author who comes up
for air after three weeks struggling
with what he fondly believes is an
original slant on a creative job!
He is in the inferiority complex
stage, and tries a couple of the slants
on his wife or his mother-in-law, but
they don't seem to react. Their minds
are on the day's budget.
But he has a conference on at 11
a.m. with the "producer." And be-
fore that, there are a couple of points
on which he would like a reaction
from a sympathetic soul.
An author is a peculiar animal at
this stage of his development. He
(Continued on Page 10)
1E6IT CODE WCI^I^IES Pl\
Forty-hour Week And Strong
Labor Element in Authority
Expected in Film Code Also
Big Bid^ Reported
■or Life of Lord'
Jew York. — It is reported here
that Paramount, MCM and War-
ners are all bidding for the screen
rights to Charles Dickens' "Life of
Our Lord," now being serialized in
many newspapers. MCM is said
to have bid $50,000, with the es-
tate asking $150,000.
Laughton Due Apr.
30; Set in 3 Roles
New York. — Charles Laughton, who
is due to arrive in New York on April
30, is already set for three pictures,
and possibly a fourth. His first will
be "The Barretts of Wimpole Street"
for MCM, following which he goes
into "Marie Antoinette' for the same
company.
Then he returns to Paramount for
a picture to be directed by Ernst Lu-
bitsch. After that, Universal wants
him to star in "Sutter's Cold," but
that deal is not yet set. Meanwhile,
Laughton is now playing Macbeth at
the Old Vic Theatre in London.
Radio Managers Here
Managers of all Radio's exchanges
west of Denver arrived in town yes-
terday for a three-day conference with
Jules Levy, sales manager for the com-
pany. They will look at completed
pictures and discuss the studio's fu-
ture product.
MCM Wants LaCava
New York. — Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer
has offered Gregory LaCava a straight
two-year contract, and the director is
considering it. He is set to direct
"Casanova" for Jesse L. Lasky at Fox
before he can take another offer.
Washington. — The proposed new revised Code for the legiti-
mate theatre holds the center of attention here today because
it is felt by those close to the administration that eventually
there will probably be a new Code for the motion picture busi-
ness modelled along the same lines.
And if the labor provisions that are
incorporated in the legitimate theatre
Code are any criteria of what may
transpire some day in the picture
Code, labor and the actors will have
nothing to complain about.
The new legitimate Code hearings
are called for next Wednesday, and
(Continued on Page 10)
MCM Has Huge
Building Project
An extensive construction project
at its Culver City studio was an-
nounced yesterday by MCM.
Plans include a new administration
building for executives, a new emer-
gency hospital, dental office and mod-
ern fire station. The studio restau-
rant will be remodeled and expanded
to include service for a greater num-
ber of diners. Extra vaults for the
storage of film are included.
Rip Tide' at Capitol
New York. — "Rip Tide," the MCM
picture starring Norma Shearer, will
open at the Capitol Theatre on March
29.
Beahan Coing East
Charles Beahan, of Columbia,
leaves for New York soon on a story-
buying trip.
MARY PICKFORD MAY RE
IIVDEPEXDEIVT PRODIJCER
Franklin Makes Big
Offer for Bergner
New York. — From what can be
gathered about the many conferences
that Mary Pickford is holding in New
York, it seems pretty certain that she
is giving grave consideration to a
proposition to produce independently
for United Artists release.
Miss Pickford owns one-sixth of the
United Artists company and has the
right to release eight pictures annu-
ally through that medium. She has
(Continued on Page 10)
New York. — Harold B. Franklin is
understood to have made a definite
offer of $300,000 for three pictures
wtih Elizabeth Bergner as the star.
She is the actress who has made
such a success in the foreign pro-
duction of "Catherine the Great,"
with Douglas Fairbanks Jr., as lead-
ing man.
New Pictures This
Week on Broadway
New York. — Broadway will see six
new pictures at the big picture pal-
aces this week. The list includes:
"Wine, Women and Song," opened
at the Mayfair yesterday; "Catherine
Great" at the Rivoli, and "Once to
Every Woman" at the Rialto today;
"Bottoms Up" at the Music Hall to-
morrow; "Come on Marines" at the
Paramount, and "Hold That Girl" at
the Roxy Friday.
'Rothschild' Demand
Best Since Big Parade'
New York. — "The House of Roth-
schild" at the Astor Theatre is com-
pletely sold out for three weeks, the
demand being the greatest since "The
Big Parade."
United Artists will try roadshows
in Boston and Cleveland and, if they
are okay, will send the picture all over
the country at $2 top.
Mickey Neilan Coming
To Talk With Writers
New York. — Marshall Neilan leaves
for Hollywood today to confer with
writers regarding his next independ-
ent production, entitled "Just Min,"
which he will make in the East.
The story is one from life and
Mickey found it in a newspaper.
12 for Saal and Kelly
New York. — William Saal and Burt
Kelly are set to produce twelve in-
dependent features at the Biograph
studio, but will not yet reveal their
financial arrangements. Each will
cost around $75,000 and the first
one starts next month.
Hull Says No Contract
New York. — Henry Hull, stage ac-
tor, who was said to have been signed
to a term contract by Universal, stat-
ed yesterday that he had consummat-
ed no deal with any company.
I RALPH SPENCE dialoguing "Cock-Eyed Cavaliers" for RaZ|
\
■'1 ^
Page Two
March 21 1934
>v. k wiLKERSON Editor and Publisher
tfOBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
Mew York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published every dav with the exception ot
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Heh, heh! The other day a writer
was interviewing a certain petite bru-
nette star with an Anglo-Saxon name.
He asked her nationality.
"Oh," said the star, "I'm half
Scotch and half Irish."
lust then the mother of the actress
stuck her head in the door of the
room and said: "Dolling, I'll wait for
you dunstairs in de car."
Whereupon the little movie star
laughed it off with, "DEAR Mother —
she still retains some of her brogue!"
A lot of people wondered out loud
how a certain young supervisor has
managed to make good (and he has
made good) at the studio where he
is employed. They point to the fact
that before he was made a supervisor,
he never showed much promise in any
direction. However, some think that
not only is a director-pal of his read-
ing scripts and making the proper
comments upon them for this fellow,
but that the supervisor may have ab-
sorbed a great deal of this director's
knowledge through constant associa-
tion with him. Well, maybe that's
the answer to it all.
•
At a party the other night, Johnny
Weismulier was seated at the table
opposite the wife of a famous star.
Jutting her arm across the table at
him, she asked, "How do you like
my new bracelet?"
Johnny (thinking of Lupe's great
gobs of diamond knick-knacks) took
one look at the inch-wide bracelet,
and without a smile, answered, "I
LIVE with twenty of those!"
New Little Theatre
Another Little Theatre takes a bow
on April )6. It will be the Thresh-
old Experimental Theatre, and will be
in the quarters formerly occupied by
the Beverly Hills Community Players,
on Robertson Boulevard. W. D. Rus-
sell is the organizer.
Storm-Marion Teamed
Jane Storm is collaborating with
George Marion Jr. on the screen play
of the B. P. Schulberg production,
"Kiss and Make Up." Gary Grant,
Edward Everett Horton and Carols
Lombard will be featured,
"THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD"
20th Century prod.; director, Alfred Werker; writers, George Hembert Westley,
Nunnally Johnson.
Astor Theatre
News: George Arliss has given many excellent performances on the stage and
screen, but he has never, in my opinion, quite equalled his playing of the
double roles of the elder and younger Rothschild in Twentieth Century's
latest and most elaborate production. The picture has been beautifully
mounted, with careful attention paid to the detail of the beautiful sets,
and it has been given masterful direction.
Post: The story is presented straightforwardly, without apology or sentimental-
ity. Because of its lack of dramatic sequence, the picture lapses at times
into reiterative passages that become monotonous. But these defects do
not weigh against Mr. Arliss' impressive characterization. The spirit and
purpose of the picture are embodied in him.
World-Telegram: Written beautifully and richly produced, "The House of
Rothschild" moves smoothly and entertainingly. The interpretations by
George Arliss are so smoothly, so calmly, so humorously done, that they
become a very gem of acting. Here, then, without hesitation, is a film
that goes on the recommended list of this department.
lournal: Timely, brilliant and filmed with a magnificent dignity, "The House of
Rothschild" is acted, written and directed with intellgence and taste, and
its star, George Arliss, gives the finest performance he has yet contributed
to the screen. "The House of ,Rothschild" takes its place as one of the
outstanding productions of the screen.
American: The film belongs to Mr. Arliss, and none will begrudge it him any
more than he will hesitate to share his laurels with the cast that gives such
exquisite support. Alfred Werker's direction increases the throb and thrill
of the story. "The House of Rothschild" is a tower of entertainment.
Herald-Tribune: Always an actor of skill, resource and that slightly mystical
quality known as "technique," the distinguished Englishman is decidedly
at his best, playing with ease^ crispness and considerable forthright power.
"The House of Rothschild" is a persuasive piece of anti-Nazi argument,
done handsomely in the costumes of an earlier day.
Sun: "The House of Rothschild" deserves an audience for the general excel-
lence of its production, the strength of its historical background, the vivid
performances of George Arliss, Helen Westley and C. Aubrey Smith. It
should insure a triumphant birthday to Twentieth Century.
Times: Mr. Arliss outshines any performance he has contributed to the screen,
not excepting his expert and highly revealing interpretation of "Disraeli."
He exacts sympathy in the two parts and never fails to make the most of
gentle bits of comedy. The story runs along smoothly and swiftly, cling-
ing substantially to facts in the major points. Where there are embel-
lished bits of history, it is all so well done that it makes a grand show.
In fact, the picture is engrossing throughout.
Mirror: This brave picture is the most impressive film the great George Arliss
ever made. Significant and strong, "The House of Rothschild" is a mag-
nificent picture. A lavish and handsome production has been given the
film. Alfred Werker's direction is distinguished. The dialogue is rich
and vigorous. The costumes are interesting. It is a picture of genuine
importance, stately beauty and stirring dramatic force.
Meehan Applies for
Academy Reinstatement
John Meehan, who resigned from
the Writers' Branch of the Academy
last summer when a large number of
the members withdrew, yesterday ap-
plied for reinstatement.
During the past week, according to
official announcement, two new mem-
bers were also added to the Writers'
Branch. They are Ewart Adamson and
Ernest S. Pagano. George Yohalem,
formerly a member of the Assistant
Directors' Section of the Academy, has
transferred to the Writers' Branch.
Credit for Sammy Lee
Through an error in listing the
credits on the Rejxirter review of Fox's
"Stand Up and Cheer," Sammy Lee's
name was omitted. Mr. Lee directed
the dance ensembles, which were one
of the highlights of the production.
New Play for Columbia
Ne.wYork. — Columbia has obtained
Tnterest in a French play, called
"The_Eed Cat." which A. H. Woods
will produce next Fall.
Burns and Allen Will
Take Four-Months Rest
George Burns and Cracie Allen will
leave for New York on completion of
their current picture, "Many Happy
Returns," for Paramount, to be gone
about four months.
Although the trip East is for the
purpose of a rest, the team will likely
grab off a few personals and radio
jobs while there.
College graduate, intelligent, in-
dustrious and unassuming, expert
typist and bookkeeper, desperately
in need of work, would make ex-
cellent chauffeur, secretary and
handy man. I should appreciate
hearing from anyone that could use
him at a minimum salary.
Kenneth Macgowan
RKO Studios
ASC Tries to Clear
Up Location Tangle
The problem of location work has
been worrying the producers and the
American Society of Cinematographers.
While the ASC has an agreement with
the producers for studio camera con-
trol, they have been worried over the
fact that the American Federation of '
Labor gives jurisdiction over locations
to the lATSE group, claiming the ASC
is a company union.
This has been one of the strong
cards the union has continued to hold
in the picture business, and camera-
men have been very active in getting
their union cards before going on loca-
tions. This week the ASC sent a letter
to all members explaining that it
wishes to clarify this question of
whether or not they must have union
cards. The letter quotes various sec-
tions of the NRA Code, and recom-
mends that members consult the Code
"before allowing yourself to be threat-
ened or persuaded to pay money in
any organization for the purpose of
being allowed to work."
While the letter does not state posi-
tively that ASC men do not have to
belong to the union to work on loca-
ton, the organization's routine notices
carry carry the line at the bottom:
"An ASC Card Is All The Protection
You Need On Location — Anywhere."
Nancy Smith Expands
Nancy Smith, well-known Holly-
wood publicist, yesterday announced
an affiliation between her office here
and the offices of Constance Hoe,
Inc., 545 Fifth Avenue, New York.
Idea is to give personal service to
clients on both coasts.
Jerry Novat Resigns
New York. — Jerry Novat, who has
been with Paramount for fifteen years
and has recently been manager of the
poster department, has resigned.
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J
March 21 1934
Page Three
RIP TIDE' THALBERG S FIRST
SIXCE HIS RETURN. A HIT
Shearer, Goulding,
Marshall Brilliant
"RIP TI-DE"
(MCM)
Direction Edmund Coulding
Story Edmund Coulding
Producer Irving Thalberg
Art Direction.... Alexander Toluboff
and Fredric Hope
Photography Ray June
Starring Norma Shearer
Cast: Herbert Marshall, Robert Mont-
gomery, Mrs. Pat Campbell, Ralph
Forbes, Skeets Gallagher, Lilyan
Tashman, Helen Jerome Eddy,
George K. Arthur, Halliwell Hobbes,
Florine McKinney.
A distinct innovation is "Rip Tide,"
which marks Norma Shearer's screen
return after a long absence, during
which the lady seems to have added
even more to her physical and histri-
onic charms. The film is an innova-
tion inasmuch as it is almost com-
pletely devoid of action, yet the men-
tal "action" is dynamic enough to
carry it along through climaxes that
successfully create the illusion of
swift movement.
With the flawless performance of
Herbert Marshall in a difficult role,
added to the vivid and impressive
moods as portrayed by its star. Norma
Shearer, "Rip Tide," with its great
appeal for any type audience (par-
ticularly the feminine contingent) and
the penetrating direction of Edmund
Coulding, stands to make its produc-
ers and exhibitors a barrel of money.
"Rip Tide" might be limited to
more sophisticated audiences were it
not for the fact that it embodies in
its story elements that at one time
or another have come into the lives
of any and all — from broker to milk-
man— from society belle to milkmaid.
At one point or another, some se-
quence in the picture is bound to "hit
home" with every member of any au-
dience— therefore the assertion that
even though Coulding's dialogue and
direction are sly, subtle and civilized
— he is nevertheless firing at every-
[ body when this yarn unwinds.
"Rip Tide" traces with meticulous
care the path traced in a human be-
ing by the slow, poisonous growth of
a terrific jealousy. The audience sees
the ugly emotion grow from the very
beginning until it brings upon itself
the very thing it fears.
Marshall marries Miss Shearer be-
cause he KNOWS they belong to each
other, in spite of her indiscreet past.
She is madly in love with him, too,
but under the influence of wicked
Aunt Hettie (Mrs. Pat Campbell) she
goes with her to Cannes while Mar-
shall is in the U.S.A. on business.
A glass of champagne — a kiss —
with Bob Montgomery, who later gets
drunk and falls off her hotel balcony;
newspaper headlines — cheap publicity
— and Marshall coming back, eaten
by jealousy — too suspicious to believe
any evidence in his wife's favor. He
tortures her and himself — -decides up-
on divorce, and leaves her. After she
really has been unfaithful to him, he
wants her back and she goes to him —
unable to confess the very thing he
has feared — yet brought about
Hays B-ans Pictures
About Dillinger
New York. — The Hays office
has sent out an official ban on any
picture based on the career of John
Dillinger, the bandit, stating that
such a picture would be "detrimen-
tal to the best public interests."
Three Baby Star'
NomineesWithdraw
The Wampas committee received
three withdrawals from the Wampas
Baby star nominees because they won't
be in town for the elections next
Tuesday. They are Julie Haydon, who
is in San Francisco playing in "Autumn
Crocus," Adalyn Doyle, who is enroute
for Europe, and Marjorie Lytell, also
out of town.
Three other promising young play-
ers were nominated to replace the
withdrawals. They are Dorothy Short,
Katharine Maux, and Rose Bestro.
Tests will be made of all 34 nominees
this Friday and Saturday to be shown
at the Writers' Club the night of the
election.
Atwill Tested at MCM
For 'Treasure Island'
MCM is concluding a deal with
Lionel Atwill for one of the leading
roles in the Wallace Beery-Jackie
Cooper co-starring picture, "Treasure
Island." Tests were made yesterday.
The deal is being held up by a mat-
ter of billing, which is expected to be
ironed out today.
Alice Brady a Guest
The Corn Beef, Cabbage and Cul-
ture Club, composed of newspaper
men and screen writers and whose
motto is "No Women and No Speech-
es," has finally succumbed and has
invited Alice Brady as guest of honor
at luncheon tomorrow.
Dorothy Tree Switches
A change of plans at Warners has
Dorothy Tree going into a featured
spot in the Edward C. Robinson pro-
duction, "Dark Tower," in place of
"Du Barry," when she finishes work
in "Friends of Mr. Sweeney."
through his own jealousy. When he
finally does discover his wife's infi-
delity, they again decide to part, but
ironically, it is at this point that he
utterly recovers his faith in her. Finis.
The fine efforts of Coulding, Mar-
shall and Miss Shearer, together with
the beauty of the production itself,
and the presence of Robert Montgom-
ery, who again is the charming young
rake in the picture-garden, give the
customers plenty to like and talk
about.
Mrs. Pat Campbell is a very amus-
ing Aunt Hettie, and Ralph Forbes a
likable and convincing secretary. Lil-
yan Tashman, George K. Arthur,
Skeets Gallagher, Helen Jerome Eddy
and Florine McKinney appear briefly
but with effect in supporting roles.
Photography by Ray June >j expert
throughout.
ASC Changes Plan
Of Board Election
Members of the ASC, by an almost
unanimous vote, have adopted an
amendment to the organization's by-
laws which changes the set-up of the
Board of Governors.
The new ruling will do away with
the present system of electing an
entire new board each year. Begin-
ning with the next election, only five
members will be chosen for the board.
These will be elected for a three-year
term. Each year thereafter five men
wll be elected, while ten old ones will
carry on.
Members of the present board will
draw lots to see which five resign,
which five will continue for another
year, and which will continue for the
next two years. The election will be
held on April 2, at which time the
new board will elect officers for the
coming year,
MCM Wants Marshall
For 'Antoinette' Lead
MCM is negotiating for Herbert
Marshall for the lead opposite Norma
Shearer in "Marie Antoinette," which
Irving Thalberg will produce after
"Barretts of Wimpole Street." Mar-
shall made tests for the role yester-
day.
The Shearer-Marshall combination
has just completed "Rip Tide,"
Move to East Will Cut
Staff at Educational
Educational cuts down on produc-
tion on its lot here as a result of a
decision to swing a portion of its
short subjects work to the Astoria
plant in New York.
Action gives notice to Lon Young
and his secretary, Janet Rex, both of
whom are considering other proposals.
Beecroft May Stay Here
Chester Beecroft, independent pro-
ducer active in Florida for a few sea-
sons past, came to- Hollywood a few
weeks ago to look things over and
now may stay in our midst due to
two very tempting offers from majors
for exec producing spots.
New Writing Team at Col.
Columbia yesterday signed Wallace
Sullivan and Eddie Seward to script
"The Criminal Within." The writing
team recently finished at Warners.
Al Rogell produces, with no cast or
director set as yet.
MCM Signs jean Dary
MCM has signed Jean Dary to act
as technical director on "Marie An-
toinette" and "Undress Parade." Miss
Dary formerly was connected with
Rene Clair in Paris and Gilbert Mill-
er in New York.
Alice White Bows Out
Alice White announced last night
that she had bowed out of the cast
of the Paul Lukas starring picture,
"Affairs of a Gentleman," at Univer-
sal, feeling that the role did not suit
her.
Of course, we got around to it 0
little late, but since a nation-widie
tour is planned for it, it might bje
just as well to give Hollywood a small
inkling of what's in store for it whe^
"Four Saints in Three Acts" finaify
reaches the Coast. This is the Ger-
trude Stein -Virgil Thompson "opera''
and it's really something you shouldnit
miss. . . . The libretto sounds like ja
collection of all the inane remarks
you've ever heard repeated about rtKi-
vie conferences. But if you think that
Gertrude Stein didn't write a gregt
deal of it with her typewriter in h^r
cheek and take the opportunity to
kid the general and accepted idea Of
opera, why you're just missing a Idt
of fun. j
• !;
The music is perfectly grand, borf-
rowing generously from the classics
and negro spirituals, and deliberately
appropriating quite a few well knowp
folk-songs with a couple of tangc^s
thrown in for good measure. Whether
the music or the words came firit
doesn't really matter because thay
never really got friendly anyway, ex-
cept that Miss Stem has chosen words
that sing well and, for a beautiful
love-duet, the boy and girl merely
repeat the number of scenes that havje
gone before and let it go at that. THe
orchestral overture occurs in the mid-
dle of the third act (or maybe it w4s
the fourth — no matter). The cast is
entirely negro, which undoubtedly ac-
counts for the fact that one critic
claims it has the same quality as
"Green Pastures." Which is some-
thing like saying any place that has
palms looks like California. But
don't miss it. You've never been able
to understand the words to opera any-
way, and every once in a while some
character cracks out with a hearty
laugh line that could be understood
anywhere. Al Jolson could only "take
it" for the prelude and first act. ;
Migosh, how burned-up a certaiji
movie critic is here in town. One of
the major companies that turns them
out in two week schedules got kinda
peeved at a couple of poor reviews its
pictures got at trade-showings and in-
sisted to the publisher of a trade daily
that he send his advertising man along
with his critic to see all future pic-
tures so that they can get "fair" re,-.
views! I '
Ken MacKenna is rehearsing in
"Wife Insurance" that "hit," "By
Your Leave" having done a sudden
nose-dive the week the picture rights
were sold. . . . You've never heard
anything like the reception Mary Pick-
ford got when she showed up at a
big benefit performance. . . . Roland
Young, Ben Wasson, Miriam Hopkins,
Erskine Gwynne helping to keep the
Ritz bar jammed at cocktail hour. . . .
Conversation overheard between a
couple of movie fellers: "I hear so-
and-so is working at Blank Film Com-
pany." "Sure, they had to take him
in. He owes them a hundred and
twenty thousand dollars!"
Distinguished Management
FRANK llOYD
Voted the Best
Directorial Achievement
of the Yeai
"CAVALCADE"
FOX
Small - Landau Company
"ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS
ROBERT LORD
ACADEMY AWARD
original story
ViiSiS'
"ONE WAY PASSAGE"
•' ^- . ^. -A' J ' ' V.
O^O
WARNER BROS. - FIRST NATIONAL
JICADEMY AWARD WINNERS|
k
a CADE MY AWARD WINNERS!
THE ACADEMY AWARD
FOR COMEDIES
Was given to the
lOU bkOCK
Three Reel Musical Comedy
"SO THIS IS HARRIS"
■R C A D E M Y AWARD W I N N E R S'
A C A.D E M Y AWARD WINNERS
MARK SANDRICH
director of the
ACADEMY AWARD
Winner
u
so THIS IS HARRIS
f1
o^o
Extends his appreciation
to his co-workers
BEN HOLMES
For His Collaboration on the Original Story
BERT CLENNON
For His Outstanding Photography
JASON & BURTON
For Their Music and Lyrics
MAX S T E I N E R
For His Important Musical Treatment and the
Production Staff for Their Invaluable Support
pL C A D E M Y AWARD WI N
IL
ACADEMY AWARD WINNER?
BEN HOLME
O
collaborated
on the story
of
"SO THIS IS HARRIS'
o^o
RADIO PICTURE
|a C ADEMY AWARD WINNERS]
March 21 1934
Page Nine
NEW FACES' B'WAY REVIJE
CLEVER, TIJI^EFUL
Hcaly Stooges in
Contract Tangle
BRIGHT,
New Talent in All
Lines Uncovered
"NEW FACES"
Charles Dillingham production; con-
cei!ve4 aind directed by Leonard
Sillman; Lyrics and sketches by
Viola Brothers Shore, Nancy Ham-
ilton andjune Sillman; Music by
Warburton Gilbert, Donald Honarth,
Martha Caples, James Shelton and
Morgan Lewis; Sets by Sergei
Soudeikine; Supiervised by Elsie
Janis. At the Fulton theatre.
New York — Shades of ye olde
Carrick Gaieties. With a group of am-
bitious newcomers, plenty of pep,
bright ideas delivered with freshness
and gay insouciance, a bit of sly satire
now and then and a collection of set-
tings that alone is worth the price
of admission. New York has a revue
that should keep it well amused right
through the summer months.
So far as uncovering talent is con-
cerned, Nancy Hamilton shines above
the crowd, both for her imtations of
Hepburn and Garbo and for her ability
to write bright sketches. Imogene
Coca, who has had chances in a
couple of other revues, here reveals
herself as a pretty swell comic with a
great gift for pantomime.
Of the lads being given their big
opportunity in this show, Henry Fonda
does himself proud all along the line
Frank Joyce Goes
To Hospital Today
New York. — Frank Joyce, who
recently returned from Europe,
goes into the hospital today for an
operation. He will be there about
two weeks and will fhen leave for
Hollywood.
and James Shelton comes through with
a Noel Coward imitation that's pretty
priceless and precious stuff. And then
there are Peggy Hovenden and Dorothy
Kennedy Fox, (a gal who can dance)
and Louise Lynch, who sang in our
better clubs during the prohibition era
and turns out to be a mild Park Ave-
nue Libby Holman, and Leonard Sill-
man, who is an ambitious boy who
likes to sing dramatic songs and in-
terpret them in the dance and who
is also credited with the production.
The latter is very much more to his
credit.
And then there are the sets, prob-
ably the most amusing and lovely that
have been used on the stage in many
and many a musical revue. A very
special bow to Mr. Soudeikine, whose
bright conceptions of backdrops and
scenery more than once saved the
show from being put into the amateur
class.
The material is sprightly and of the
moment, ranging all the way from
Russian conception to good-natured
digs at our more popular idols, includ-
ing an Elsa Maxwell party.
Ted Healy's ex-stooges are always
sticking their fingers in somebody's
eyes. They were signed by Colum-
bia, through the Harry Weber office,
Monday to make a series of nine
shorts, which they will not be able to
make because of a prior deal, made
by the Leo Morrison office, for them
to make a series of ten shorts for
Warren Doane at Universal.
The stooges signed an exclusive
managerial contract with the Leo Mor-
rison office. Walter Kane, of the
Weber office, was granted permission
by Morrison to negotiate a one-pic-
ture deal for them, to be made be-
fore Universal had a call on them,
which is about ten days, and Kane
went ahead and signed them for a
series with Columbia.
Next Mayfair Party
The Mayfair will hold its third af-
fair of the season this Saturday night
at the Biltmore Hotel. A decision
will be reached today as to whether
Ben Bernie's orchestra or Ted Lewis'
will play for the occasion.
Agnes DeMille on Way
New York. — Agnes DeMille has
recovered from the attack of scarlet
fever from which she was suffering
when she returned from Europe, and
left here for Hollywood yesterday.
Agents' Attorneys
Meet Labor Commission
The State Labor Commission and
the committee of attorneys represent-
ing the agents hold their hearing to-
day on the proposed rules and reg-
ulations to control the agency field
through the labor body.
The commrttee, Austin Sherman,
Martin Gang and Ralph Blum, it was
stated yesterday, will seek to mod-
ify the stringent rules which the Com-
mission wants to use to govern all
agents.
'Stingaree' Finished
Even though he was delayed by
sickness during the production, Wil-
liam Wellman brought in "Stinga-
ree" at Radio yesterday only one day
over schedule. At one stage during
the shooting the picture was suspend-
ed for three days while Irene Dunne
was ill.
Herman Bing to MOM
Finishing in "Twentieth Century"
Saturday, Herman Bing moved over
to MGM Monday, for "Manhattan
Melodrama." When he completes his
work there the end of the week, he
goes to Universal for "The Practical
Joker." Deals were set by Menifee
I. Johnstone.
Radio After Grace Yarn
Radio is negotiating with Dick
Grace for his original, "Transporta-
tion,", and hopes to use it for a Joel
McCrea vehicle. Story is woven
around the subject from the ox-cart
to the present day airplane. Robert
Thornby, of the Ivan Kahn agency, is
handling the negotiations.
TlCADEMY AWARD W I N N^ R Sj
MUSICAL SHORT AWARD
w
First Place
so THIS IS HARRIS"
w
Second Place
THE PREFERRED LIST"
MUSIC and LYRICS
written by
BURTON and JASON
our sincere thanks to
LOU BROCK - MARK SANDRICH - LEIGH JASON
A C A D E M
AWARD WINNERS
Page Ten
THE
March 21 1934
Lesser Signs Grid
Star for Westerns
Sol Lesser has signed Reb Russell,
1930 All-American football player
from Northwestern, to a five year con-
tract and will star him in a series
of 16 westerns, the second of which
will be "When a Man's a Man."
Russell, who was raised on a ranch
in Oklahoma, has appeared in stock
in the East recently. Eddie Cline will
direct the first western which starts
in six weeks.
N. Y. U. Alumni Will
Hold Dinner at Vendome
The alumni of New York University
now in pictures are being rounded up
for a banquet.
Invitations for a reunion will be
issued this week by a committee,
headed by William LeBaron. Old
grads are to stage their get-together
at a banquet at the Vendome, March
28. Committee includes J. K. Mc-
Cuinness, Paul Sloane, Edwin L. Marin
and Jerry Horwin.
Leo Carrillo Asked
To Make Over Avalon
p. K. Wrigley has invited Leo Car-
rillo to act as advisor in remodeling
Avalon, Catalina Island. Player, on
assignment at MOM, is an authority
on early California architecture, which
will be the motif in the revision of
the Wrigley community.
ScoH in 'Great Magoo'
Randolph Scott was handed one of
the top spots in "The Great Magoo"
yesterday by Paramount. Jack Oakie,
Dorothy Dell, Roscoe Karns, Arline
Judge, Ben Bernie and Alison Skip-
worth have other leading roles.
Bodyguard for Caesar
Al Burk, personal bodyguard to
Governor John W. Troy, of Alaska,
was signed by Paramount yesterday
for the role of Caesar's bodyguard in
"Cleopatra." He trots at Warren
William's heels in the production.
Estabrook-Cukor Abroad
Howard Estabrook and George Cu-
kor leave late this week for London,
where they will do research work on
the David Selznick production, "David
Copperfield."
Mrs. Roach in Politics
Mrs. C. H. Roach, mother of Hal
Roach, has filed papers to run for
council of Culver City, The elec-
tion will take place April 9.
Bill Pine Coming Back
New York. — Bill Pine, of Para-
mount's advertising department, who
has been at the home office, will re-
turn to the Coast Saturday.
ACADEMY TECHN1CIA]\§I
]\AME XEW COMMITTEES
Pickford May Produce
(Continued from Page 1 )
been talking with bankers and other
people and an announcement of her
plans is expected any day.
If she decides to carry through
these ideas, she probably will use
space both at the United Artists stu-
dio and at the Pathe lot in Culver
City.
The following sub-committees ap--
pointed to carry on the cooperative
technical program of the Academy's
Research Council were announced yes-
terday by Chairman Samuel J. Briskin:
On establishment of a uniform reel
length — J. M. Nickolaus, chairman;
A. J. Cuerin, J. J. Millstein and S. J.
Twining.
On improvement in release print
quality — L. E. Clark, chairman; Ger-
ald Best, Harris Ensign, J. G. Frayne,
Fred Gage, Harvey Giffen, A. J. Cuer-
in, E. H. Hansen, Franklin Hansen,
Emery Huse, Michael Leshing, John P.
Livadary, Hollis Moyse, J. M. Nicko-
laus, George Seid, Douglas Shearer,
Theodore Soderberg and R. C. Will-
man.
On revision of the standard release
print — S. J. Twining, chairman; John
Aalberg, Sidney Burton, Harry Decker,
L. B. Isaac and Harry Rubin.
On establishment of a uniform
screen illumination in studio viewing
rooms — John Aalberg, chairman; Em-
ery Huse, Hollis Moyse and William
Mueller.
Film preservative committee — Har-
ris Ensign, chairman; Fred Gage and
A. J. Guerin.
On more efficient use of the 35mm
area — Douglas Shearer, chairman;
John L. Cass, Carl Dreher, Bert Clen-
non, K. F. Morgan, Harris Ensign and
R. C. Willman.
On economies in recording — E. H.
Hansen, chairman; Lawrence Aicholtz,
Gerald Best and Wesley C. Miller.
The committee on silent camera
was announced previously.
Para. Boosts Youngsters
With Special Trailers
New York. — Paramount is furnish-
ing theatres with a special personality
trailer featuring its "Stars of Tomor-
row." Among the test shots dis-
played are:
Carl Brisson, Kitty Carlisle, Buster
Crabbe, Dorothy Dell, Frances Drake,
Barbara Fritchie, Ida Lupino, Helen
Mack, Ethel Merman, Lanny Ross,
Evelyn Venable and Henry Wilcoxson.
Col. Adds Four Writers
New York. — Columbia has added
Joseph Moncure March, Becky Gardi-
ner, Herbert Asbury and Joel Sayre
to its writing staff.
S-J Sign Schildkraut
Joseph Schildkraut has signed a
five-year managerial contract with the
Selznick-Joyce office.
'Cabby' for May Robson
May Robson is up for the co-star-
ring spot with Wallace Beery in "Cab-
by," which Harry Rapf is shaping in-
to picture form. Jackie Cooper comes
in for the third spot. Leo Birinski is
on the screen play.
MOM Has Fire Dept.
Establishing its own fire depart-
ment, MGM becomes an independent
community all its own. Studio gets
its water from a well on the lot and
generates its own light and power.
Helen Ware in McKee'
Helen Ware was signed by MGM
yesterday for the role of Joan Craw-
ford's mother in "Sadie McKee,"
which Clarence Brown is piloting.
Larry Weingarten is producing.
Legit Code Worries Pix
(Continued from Page 1 )
motion picture executives are already
viewing it with considerable misgiv-
ings and alarm as they realize that
perhaps the fate of their industrial
affairs depends upon it.
Outstanding in the legitimate thea-
ter Code is the fact that no actors
shall be permitted to work in excess
of forty hours a week, except during
rehearsals. This ruling also applies
to chorus girls, company managers,
house treasurers, wardrobe attendants,
clerical help and musicians. It also
includes musicians, stage employees,
engineers, firemen, oilers, or other
skilled mechanics, excepting where
previous contract as of July 1, 1933
calls for less than forty hours. Scenic
artists are limited to thirty-two hours
per week.
The make-up of the legitimate
theatre Code Authority also indicates
what may be expected in a revised
picture Code. Labor holds a tremen-
dous weight therein. On this Au-
thority will be one representative each
from Actors Equity, Chorus Equity,
lATSE, American Federation of Musi-
cians, United Scenic Artists of Ameri-
ca; one representative from a group
of employees not heretofore em-
braced, one from the Dramatist
Guild, three from the National As-
sociation of Legitimate Theatres, Inc.,
one from the National Dramatic
Stock Association ( which shall have
two representatives as members when-
ever questions relating to controlling
stock productions are concerned);
two members with votes to repre-
sent the general public, and one mem-
ber without vote to be appointed by
the Administrator to serve as he may
specify.
It is felt here that there is more
than a possibility that a similar re-
vised Code may be handed the pic-
ture business eventually, due to the
fact that there has been so much
stalling and argument so far as carry-
ing out the present one is concerned.
Labor seems to be on the way to
ga-ning the upper hand and those
close to the situation are advising the
picture producers to trim their sails
and get their individual ships in or-
der before they have it done for
them.
The picture business comes into
the legitimate theatre Code in the
line of unfair practices, it being con-
sidered an unfair trade practice for
an employer to aid, abet or assist in
the voluntary release or dismissal of
any actor for purposes of permitting
accept employment in pictures.
Allied Names Four
Vice-Presidents
New York. — Sidney Samuelson,
president of the Allied States Asso-
ciation, has just appointed four re-
gional vice-presidents.
They are: Walter B. Littlefieid, of
Boston, for the Eastern region; Ray
Branch, of Hastings, Nebraska, for the
Middle West; Aaron Saperstein, of
Chicago, for the Central section;
Harry Cole, of Dallas, for the South.
These men will select the chairmen
of the public relations, business rela-
tions and finance committees for their
sections.
Ruskin Does Script
Re-write in Four Days
With Harry Ruskin turning in a
four-day script job on the George
Burns-<^racie Allen picture, "Many
Happy Returns," Paramount puts the
picture into work today under Nor-
man McLeod's direction.
Script job was done at the request
of the comedy team, who requested
revisions on the ground that the old
script line-up virtually starred them,
a rating which they are ducking.
Franklyn Pangborn and Joan Marsh
were signed for featured spots.
Taurog Will Direct
Her Master's Voice'
Norman Taurog is slated to direct
the B. P. Schulberg production, "Her
Master's Voice," on completion of his
current assignment, "We're Not
Dressing," the Bing Crosby picture for
Paramount. Clare Kummer is writing
th» screen adaptation of her play.
Muriel Evans in Short
Muriel Evans' first trick under her
extended contract with MGM is a
featured spot in the last of the Ted
Healy and Stooges shorts, "The Big
Idea." William Crowley is directing
under Jack Cummings' supervision, and
Bonnie Healy, Healy's wife, gets an-
other featured spot.
Job for Old-Timer
After a two week search for an
announcer who was familiar with the
old-fashioned square dances used in
"Operator 13," MGM yesterday en-
gaged George M. Dull for the role.
Dull is the 75-year-old father of
Bunny Dull, unit manager on the pic-
ture.
Boy at Frank Capra's
Mrs. Frank Capra, nee Lucille Rey-
burn, gave birth to a six and a half
pound boy at the Good Samaritan Hos-
pital yesterday, the Columbia direc-
tor's first child. Couple were mar-
ried in New York, June 28, 1932.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
needs a multitude of things, and less
than anything, a session with a fellow
who doesn't even talk the same lan-
guage. The average supervisor.
So we say: More jobs! Right now. ,
The job of INTERPRETER to sit be- ^
tween supervisor-producer and author. •
March 21 1934
THE
Page Eleveti
Bill Fitelson in town for a terribly
busy week; after ail, taxis or no taxis,
you can't do a month's work in a
week. . . . But Bill doesn't mind, you
know; he just tells his American sto-
ries with the same pep and humor as
if he didn't screen pictures from
morning until midnight. . . . Bill,
what's all this conferencing with Vic-
tor Trivas, with Jean Keim from Cau-
mont and all the others? . . . Film
benefit for American Hospital under
patronage of American Ambassador
Straus to be held with "Roman Scan-
dals"; looks like an affair to fill paper
columns. . . . How about some sym-
pathy for Mr. and Mrs. Sacha Guitry;
they just can't get a divorce. They
are dying to get one, but can't find a
reason — a pity. . . . Paul Muni pilot-
ed through town by Curtis Melnitz.
. . . You bet, Russhhhia is conversation
topic, too. . . . There's hardly an
American left here who wouldn't have
seen "International House." . . . They
take along the Frenchmen and try to
translate dialog as spicily as Parisians
can stand. . . . They can stand a lot,
you might have guessed it, but take it
from me, Americans can stand much
more — in all puritanic purity.
Hakim not well seen around Para,
offices. . . . Never knew that Mr.
Haik speaks English like a 100 per
cent Uncle Sam. ... So does Kastor at
Chambre Syndicale. . . Why not, they
all hope to make pacific invasion into
the States with cash and product. . . .
Seidelman and Friedman lunching with
Zama, Columbia manager, in Paris.
. . . Sokoloff, you should know it,
was formerly with Moscow Art Thea-
tre. . . . He is a real fellow — and has
he got ideas! — almost as many and
as original as his pal Trivas. . . . H.
W. Leasin, of RKO, believes in un-
usual year for his office. . . . Visit of
I ' Card Expert- in Short
Louis Lingoni, card expert and
sleight of hand artist, has been set by
MGM for a featured spot in a Pete
Smth short under the supervision of
Jack Cummings.
Adela St. John at Para.
Adela Rogers St. John has joined
the Paramount writing staff to work
on "A Son Comes Home," which is
scheduled for Lee Tracy.
Osgood Perkins Here
Osgood Perkins arrived yesterday
from New York and checks in at
Warners for a featured spot in "Du
Barry."
Sidney Nephew at MCM
George Sidney, nephew of the
comedian by the same name, has been
engaged by MGM as an assistant cut-
ter.
Rouh'en to Make Tour
Raul Roulien finishes his long term-
er with Fox this week and is slated
to make a tour of South America.
New Novel by Marion
i" .. '^''^"'^^s Marion has finished a novel,
"Dark Sojourn," which John Day will
pubHsh in the Spring.
Phil Reisman and Dowling only
strengthened his enthusiasm. . . . Oli-
vier down to Brussels closing big dis-
tribution deal. . . . Now, Hollywood
girls, this is news, but not a sugges-
tion. . . Yvonne Hautin takes Nun's
vows in modest and impressive cere-
mony, with pals and friends of Come-
die Francaise assisting.
•
"Catherine the Great" still doing
great business. . . . Piccoiis getting a
real hand from local press when re-
turning from assignment at U.S.A. . . .
Mario, puppet No. 1 , consenting to
give interviews on all topics, particu-
larly the film industry and the NRA
code. . . . Leave it to them, the Ital-
ians know how to please anyone. . . .
Why, you know a guy called Musso-
lini; he's an Italian, too, though it's a
secret. . . . Imagine: "After all, we
(Americans) are evolving the most
beautiful race of womanhood in the
world. C'est deja quelque chose!"
says a Herald mail-bag writer and
signs ONE WHO HAS BEEN TO
HOLLYWOOD. . . . How's that for
publicity, girls? . . . Stephen Haggard
doesn't miss a show since he's walk-
ing the streets of Paris. . . . Universal
office staff all loaded with expecta-
tions at announced return of Fried-
land. . . . "Duck Soup" opening to-
day at Studio 28; looks good for a real
run if one may judge by the demands
made for the picture. . . . Bye, bye;
Phil Reisman, Bill Fitelson and Sonia
Heine are waving good-bye to old
continent on top of the Berengaria —
with regrets. . . . But why the re-
grets, after all? . . . Well, happy jour-
ney and so long.
New 'Mountie' Series
John Preston, New York stage ac-
tor, has been signed by Empire Pic-
tures to make a series of twelve
Northwest Mounted Police pictures, to
be produced and directed by Robert
Emmett at the International Studios.
Bob Farfan is assistant director and
production manager.
Lukas Cast Complete
Leila Hyams, Dorothy LeBaire, Sara
Hayden, Onslow Stevens, Murray Kin-
nell, Richard Carle and Wilfred Hari
complete the cast of the Paul Lukas
starring vehicle, "Affairs of a Gentle-
man," which starts today under the
direction of Ed Marin at Universal.
Fairbanks Sec. to Wed
Dorothy McKenna, secretary to
Robert Fairbanks at the United Artists
Studio, leaves the picture business the
last of this month to be married,
March 3 1 , to Harry Blasgen, of San
Francisco. They will reside there.
Mrs. Cleason Better
Mrs. James Gleason is home from
the hospital, where she had her ap-
pendix removed.
Maynards to Spain
Ken Maynard and his wife sail from
New York today for a vacation in
Spain.
w
IT'S DYNAMITE !
Three Queens Fu
II
NOVEL
MIITON
HERBERT
GROPPER
IS ON THE PRESS
THREE LARGE
PRINTINGS IN
ADVANCE OF
PUBLICATION!
"For a snappy book or play, 'THREE
QUEENS FULL' takes the pot, the
kitty, and the gold tweezers prize (if
Winchell would offer such) for the
clothesless poker championship ! I I
George W. Finley
Fiction Editor,
King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Milton Herbert Cropper
Under the Management of
Small-Landau Company
1
When Academy Awards Are Made
Note the JoyceSe/znick clients
Best performance by an actress
KATHARINE HEPBURN . .A Joyce-Selznick Client.
Best performance by an actor
CHARLES LAUGHTON . . A Joyce-Selznick Client
Best original story
ROBERT LORD A Joyce-Selznick Client
Best adaptation
SARAH Y. MASON and
VICTOR HEERMAN .... Joyce-Selznick Clients
+ln conjunction with Leland Hayward, Inc.
~\J twi \Jtv^t^^\^%^^
r READING DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALIF. :^ M-^
pomir
Vol. XX. No. 10. Price 5c.
TODAYS FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, March 22, 1934
WELSH
• CHARLES C. PETTIJOHN, in recent
appearances on behalf of the industry,
is using an argument that is well
worth passing on to creative workers.
Very frequently we also need bits of
factual evidence for the defense.
Pettijohn takes up the chief
squawk now being made by such
groups as the Motion Picture Research
Council in their fight against block
booking, which is: "The poor down-
trodden exhibitor doesn't want to
show those awful pictures, but he
can't help himself. He has to buy
blindly, and take whatever those mon-
sters, the producers, force on him."
It's a favorite argument. And
sounds so pat that we of the industry
almost began to believe it ourselves.
And shamefacedly apologize for the
necessity of block booking.
•
But let's see the facts.
Through the machinery of the Film
Boards of Trade Pettijohn made a sur-
vey in thirty exchange centers. And
here is what the test showed:
"That what these well intentioned
public groups call 'good' pictures —
such as 'Old Ironsides, 'Disraeli,'
'Cradle Song,' 'Little Women,' 'Alice
in Wonderland,' 'Cavalcade' and
'Evangeline' — those are the very
pictures that your theatre owners call
'bad' pictures because they don't
take in money at his box office. Now
some public groups call Mae West
pictures 'bad,' although Judge Wolfe
and I do not. They call 'Little
Caesar,' Eddie Robinson's gangster
picture 'bad.' This survey shows that
when exhibitors had the opportunity
to cancel those pictures they 'did not
choose' to do so. There has not been
a single cancellation in the United
States to date on any Mae West pic-
ture. Not one. They broke all rec-
ords for getting prompt play dates and
repeat engagements. 'Little Caesar,'
which was the picture written around
the life of Al Capone, holds the next
best record."
•
All of which doesn't leave much to
the argument that the lowly exhibitor
is an innocent party forced to present
pictures that he'd rather shelve.
And why should the exhibitor seek
that hypocritical pose? There's no
need of it. He is the servant of the
public, just as the producer is. And
both will exist only so long as they
give that public WHAT IT WANTS.
CCLUMCIA $AIC NOW liCT
Harry Cohn Reported Ready to
Sell His Controlling Interest;
DuPonts Liveliest Bidders Now
Gate Crashing
New York. — Fox foreign impor-
tations continue arriving. Here's
today's list on the Me de France:
Andre Daven, production manager;
Mile. Annabella, Andre Berly, Jean
Murat, Daniel Parola and Pierre
Brasseur. All on their way to Fox
Hills.
Gordon May Film
'Dodsworth' on Own
New York. — All the hot competi-
tive bidding for "Dodsworth" on the
part of the majors may come to
naught, because it now looks as
though Max Cordon will produce the
play for the screen himself, with Erpi
backing, in the East.
Gordon is asking a hundred thous-
and and a split for the screen rights,
and not any too anxious. If he makes
a success of the picture on his own
he will likely produce all his plays for
the screen himself, with Erpi backing.
Gregory LaCava Closes
Two Year MGM Deal
New York. — -Gregory LaCava has
closed his deal for a two-year term
at MGM. LaCava has two pictures
to make first before moving to the
Culver City plant, one for Jesse Lasky
and one for Darryl Zanuck. "Casa-
nova," with Charles Boyer in the
lead, will be the Lasky subject.
Goldwyn Adds Aarons
Samuel Goldwyn yesterday an-
nounced the appointment of Alex A.
Aarons to his staff of producers. The
new appointee was formerly a partner
in the stage producing fi;m of Aarons
and Freedley, which sponsored "Lady
Be Goods" "Hold, Everything" and
"Girl Crazy."
New York. — That forecast The Hollywood Reporter made
over a week ago of a possible change in control of Columbia Pic-
tures reached the boiling point on Broadway yesterday, with
every insider and near-insider ready to tell you that it would be
only a matter of a few weeks before
the reins of the company change
hands.
The Du Pont interests are the fav-
ored bidders. Mixed in the picture is
a mysterious "Mr. Young"not the L,
A. Young, who angeled Tiffany Pic-
tures— but another Young uncjgrstood
(Continued on Page 21
'Rip' for Screen with
W.C. Fields the Star
New York. — Paramount announces
plans here to produce "Rip Van Win-
kle" with W, C. Fields starred. Lyda
Roberti probably will be in the oppo-
site spot.
The picture will be under William
LeBaron's production wing.
Expect Early Action on
New Paramount Set-up
New York. — Prospects of early ac-
tion on the Paramount reorganization
are seen in the series of home office
conferences now in progress. Emanuel
Cohen's visit East is for the purpose
of joining the same confabs.
'Rip Tide' Day and Date
As a result of a number of regional
previews, MGM will open "Rip Tide"
in thirty cities Thursday and Friday of
next week.
MARY PICKFORD TO MAKE
EIGHT FOR U. A. RELEASE
Warner Buys 'Adeline'
New York — Confirming the predic-
tion of the Hollywood Reporter of
yesterday, Mary Pickford officially an-
nounced last night that she is to be-
come an independent producer.
She announced that the directors of
United Artists have put their okay on
her plan, and she will release eight
pictures a year through that organi-
zation. These will all be made on the
United Artists lot, she said. Two of
(Continued on Page 2)
New York. — "Sweet Adeline," the
Jerome Kern musical originally an-
nounced as a Rowland and Brice pro-
duction for the screen, has in the end
become the property of Warner Broth-
ers, the deal being closed yesterday.
Manny Cohen East
Emanuel Cohen, Paramount execu-
tive, left last night for New York.
Selznick-joyce
Drops 100 Clients
The Selznick-Joyce office, which is
reputed to have the largest number of
clients of any agency, is understood to
be tightening up, slicing off nearly
one-quarter of its list. Releases include
number of big names, one of whom is
Bebe Daniels.
Agency has cut its list from 330
to 250, according to the statement
of Ralph Blum at the Labor Commis-
sion hearing yesterday.
L re '^'■'SC'f Si«ns with
Paramount for 4 Years
The Paramount-Lee Tracy deal was
closed yesterday, with Tracy signing
for four years, a one-year straight
ticket with three annual options. The
deal calls for Tracy to make three
pictures a year, and possibly a fourth.
His first picture will be "A Son Comes
Home."
Two for Boles at Radio
Radio yesterday put through an ex-
tension on its loan-out committment
from Fox on John Boles and gets the
star for two pictures instead of one.
He will team with Ann Harding in
"Virgie Winters," and with Irene
Dunne in "Age of Innocence."
'Cheaters' for the Talkies
New York. — Universal has closed
the talking rights to Max Marcin's
play. "Cheating Cheaters," which the
company produced as a silent in 1926.
U. A. Builds in London
London. — The Pavilion Theatre here
is to be razed, and replaced by a
6000 seat picture house, with United
Artists controlling the venture.
Rothschild' April 3
The opening of "The House of
Rothschild" at Grauman's Chinese
theatre has been definitely set for
Tuesday night, April 3.
IE
1
HARRY LACHMAN
"Harry Lachman deserves a
rousing cheer." — N. Y. Mirror.
/ /
White's Scandals
Page Two
March 22, 1934
f»^
in^»Hl4ilPQKirii
<M. k wiLKtRbON Editor and PublishS'
LABOR BOARD HEARING
SHOWS AGENTS DIVIDED
ROBERT E WELSH
Managing Editor
Puuiiiried and Copyrighted bv
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Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
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Mgr., 229 W 42nd St . Wisconsin 7 7193.
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at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879
My friend, Lilyan Tashman,
is dead. The gay, attractive,
lovable Lilyan is dead. I am
only one of those who mourn
her as a friend. To be mourned
as a friend is the last and finest
compliment to be paid her, and
one which Lilyan earned by her
rare and great capacity for
friendship.
Her acquaintances numbered
hundreds — her friends were
few. But those who knew her
intimately and were the recipi-
ents of her confidence for many
years, have known the lasting
sincerity and generosity that
were Lilyan's — and they are re-
membering those qualities now,
with full hearts.
To many, the passing of Lil-
yan Tashman is as though a
bright light had suddenly gone
out. For Lil, with her vivid per-
sonality, her wit, her genius for
entertaining, and the joyous
moments that were afforded by
her lavish hospitality, leaves be-
hind a corner in Hollywood that
will be dim, indeed, without
her.
Among those who sorrow
most at the passing of Lilyan
Tashman are those who were
close to her many years ago,
when she was very young — un-
known. They sorrow deeply,
because, all during the years of
plenty and to the day of her
death, these same friends re-
mained close to her. The sin of
ingratitude was one which Lil-
yan could not forgive — and one
of which she was never guilty.
I shall miss her sparkle and
her cheery companionship. We
shall all miss the very definite
things that Lilyan contributed
to the Hollywood scene. But I
grieve most that I have lost a
stimulating and sincere friend.
EDITH WILKERSON.
Hope of agents getting together in
one organization for self-protection
was smashed yesterday when it be-
came known that the ninety agencies
were split, with one group gathering
with Ralph Blum and another said to
be with I. Bear Newman, attorney.
Newman popped up at yesterday's
Labor Commission hearing on agency
control with an attempt to get Charles
Lowy and Thomas Barker to postpone
final acceptance of the rules and reg-
ulations for agents for ninety days.
The action was a surprise to Austin
Sherman, Ralph Blum and Martin
Gang, legal committee for the agents.
Committee rejected Newman's de-
mands, as did Lowy and Barker.
The agency field, it was said, is
hopelessly divided, due to personal
differences among agents, enmities
which have been carried on for years.
Situation has ten of the larger agents
grouped as the Blum contingent, vyhile
the smaller offices are said to be with
Newman.
Newman's demand for a morator-
ium was said by both Austin Sherman
and Charles Lowy to be unnecessary,
since the agents and the Commission
were agreed on rules and regulations
with but minor change.
Lederer Will Play
Joaquin Murietta Next
Radio has temporarily abandoned
the story with the South Sea back-
ground as Francis Lederer's next star-
ring vehicle and will star him in a
story based on the adventures of Joa-
quin Murietta, the California bandit.
Bert LeVino has been assigned to
develop a story around this character.
Muchnic RKO Secy
New York. — Ned E. Depinet, pres-
ident of the RKO Distributing Corpo-
ration, announces the appointment of
George Muchnic as assistant secretary
of the company, succeeding Joseph
Nolan, who has gone to the Coast as
assistant to B. B. Kahane.
Jim Curley af- Warners
Former Mayor J. J. Curley of Bos-
ton was a special visitor at Warners
yesterday.
Mary to Make Eight
(Continued from Page 1 )
them will have Miss Pickford as the
star. The others will star or feature
other well known players.
Miss Pickford is now organizing her
own company, which she says will
probably bear her name. She is ar-
ranging the finances, and declared
that a large part of the money will be
her own. If the preliminary details
can be ironed out in time, she hopes
to start her first picture in June and
have it ready for Fall release.
Already, she says, many well known
stars and directors have advised her of
their desire to work with her organi-
zation. She will probably have some
of the biggest names in the industry
connected with her.
Mary says she still retains all her
former financial interests in United
Artists and its subsidiaries, having
given up only a one-ninth interest to
Schenck; and that she and Fairbanks
still control the studio ground.
Furthman Excited
Charles Furthman was excited
yesterday over the Will Hays ban
on any Dillinger yarn, and ready
to debate the question on any cor-
ner at any time as to whether
there is any harm to public inter-
est in exposing the truth about the
gangster's career.
Steffi Duna Signs
For Three at Radio
Radio yesterday signed Steffi Duna
to a term contract. She signed to
make three pictures a year for Radio
with the right to make any outside
deals that she and the studio agree
upon.
The studio has taken the Don
Hartman story, "Romance in Manhat-
tan," off the shelf, and assigned Salis-
bury Field to write the screen adap-
tation in which Miss Duna will have
the top spot.
Ray Enright Replaces
Archie Mayo on 'Dames*
Warners have assigned Ray Enright
to replace Archie Mayo on the dra-
matic sequences of "Dames," on
which Busby Berkeley has been work-
ing for the past two weeks.
Mayo is still tied up with "The
Dark Tower" and Enright finished his
work on "The Circus Clown" yester-
day, allowing the studio to make the
change. Mayo will probably direct
another picture before leaving on his
European vacation.
Columbia Safe Now Hot
(Continued from Page 1)
to be a member of the inside DuPont-
General Motors group, and ready to go
for a ride as a picture magnate.
Broadway has it that the change
will come about through Harry Cohn
selling his controlling interest to these
bidders. The attitude of Jack Cohn is
not known.
• LAST 2 DAYS! •
TO SEE THE SEASONS
MUSICAL SENSATIONi fj
l\ GEORGE WHITE'S |J
|\SCANDALS k
STARTS SATURDAY!
GREAT 3 UNIT i/^
HOLIDAY SHOW! iM
"LAZY RIVER"
M-G M PICTURE
"Murder in Trinidad"
FOX FEATURE
BUSTER KEATON
in... 2 REELS OF lAFFSI
"GOID GHOSTS"
LOEWS XTATF
'Harmony' Ticket
By Writers' Guild
The following statement was issued
last night by the Screen Writers'
Guild:
"More than one hundred and twen-
ty-five members of the Screen Writ-
ers' Guild joined in sponsoring a 'har-
mony' ticket to be presented at the
election next April 5.
"The action of the sponsoring group
followed a peace agreement between
members supporting the personnel
and policies of the present Executive
Board and Free Lance members seek-
ing larger representation for their
group on the new board.
"In addition to representatives of
these two groups, the 'harmony' ticket
included three proposed nominees 'at-
large,' to represent any other elements
in the Guild who may have been in
disagreement with the members of the
present Board or its policies.
The proposed ticket recommended
to the membership for nomination fol-
lows:
Ralph Block, Oliver H. P. Garrett,
Rupert Hughes, John Howard Lawson,
Frances Marion, Brian Marlow, Wil-
fred MacDonald, Dudley Nichols, Ern-
est Pascal, Arthur Ripley, Allen Riv-
kin, Wells Root, Raymond Schrock,
Courtenay Terrett, Tristram Tupper.
Allen Rivkin last night stated that
his name was used on the ticket with-
out his permission.
Lynn Overman Signed
For Bing Crosby Film
Lynn Overman was signed yester-
day by Paramount to replace Charlie
Ruggles in a featured role in the Bing
Crosby picture, "She Loves Me Not,"
which will be directed by Elliott Nu-
gent. The Schulberg-Feldman and
Gurney office made the deal.
Overman is now in the B. P. Schul-
berg production, "Little Miss Marker."
Astaire Here May 15
Fred Astaire will return to Holly-
wood from London on May 1 5 to
start preparation on his next picture,
"Gay Divorcee," for Radio. Astaire
is now appearing in this play on the
London stage.
THE GUINEA PIC
TURNS By LEWIS GRAHAM
Ballyhoo, rat poison, and sex appeal
in the whirlwind romance of a
famous beautician.
$2. MACAULAY
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
I
March 22. 1934
JUlkMnfep^p
Page Three
WOMAIV IN THIRTIES' GOOD;
MONOGRAM 'LOVE SONG' HITS
AlineM'MahonTop;
Story,DirectionO,K.
"A WOMAN IN HER THIRTIES"
( Warners )
Direction Alfred J. Green
Authors. ...Ann Carrick and Ethel Hill
Adaptation Manuel Seff
Photography Byron Haskin
Cast: Aline MacMahon, Paul Kelly,
Ann Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, Helen
Lowell, Dorothy Tree, Mayo Met-
hot, Marjorie Cateson, Dorothy
Peterson.
"A Woman in Her Thirties," clev-
erly missing a total submersion in sen-
timentality, is the story of a woman
with a heart as big as all outdoors.
It is thoroughly and beautifully
honest . . . honest as to story, casting,
direction and settings. It is utterly
believable. The only fault to be found
with it, as previewed last night, is its
screaming need for cutting, and
heavy-handed cutting, too, with com-
pression of scenes and mood. Aside
from that, the story, cast and direc-
tion could hardly be improved upon.
Aline MacMahon has one swell
role. She is Madame Valerie, in the
30's, lonely, aching to love someone,
and devoting her entire energies and
time to her fur shop . . . until she
meets Paul Kelly, a sailor who can't
get a job.
They get married, she because of
her overwhelming need to love a hu-
man being, and he because it offers a
soft berth.
Her growing tolerance of his wan-
dering ways; her understanding of the
other women; the little human deeds
of kindliness with which she softens
her hard-headed business dealings,
and his final awakening to the beauty
of the very plain woman who is his
wife, is the story . . . and a terribly
true one.
Aline MacMahon's technique, which
she undoubtedly has, is not apparent
in her Madame Valerie. She IS Ma-
dame Valerie, and poignantly so. A
gorgeous piece of work. Equalling her
performance for sheer, real human-
ness, is Paul Kelly's.
Ann Dvorak has a smaller role, but
she handles it well, and Helen Lowell
contributes an outstanding piece of
character work. Patricia Ellis, Mayo
Methot, Majorie Cateson and Dorothy
Peterson are all well cast in lesser
parts, and Dorothy Tree is effectively
unpleasant as Madame Valerie's de-
signing niece.
Hats off to Al Creen for the quiet
intelligence of his direction; Manuel
Seff adapted the Ann Carrick-Ethel
Hill story, and Byron Raskin photo-
graphed.
This is a completely human and
tender story, admirably acted and di-
rected, and, when cut, should be a
good bet any place.
MCM-Wellman Dicker
MCM is negotiating with William
Wellman to direct "The Postman Al-
rl ways Rings Twice," the James M.
tj Cain best seller. Wellman is com-
mitted to Sam Coldwyn to handle
"Barbary Coast," but the MCM deal
would follow it.
Princely Retinue
Too Big for Zanuck
New York. — The reason that
Prince Sigvaard, who renounced a
throne to marry a commoner, will
not make pictures for Darryl Zan-
uck is said to be that the Prince
demanded transportation for him-
self and retinue of ten persons, and
Zanuck balked.
Agents' Attorneys
Find Labor Bd. Fair
The Labor Commission is seeking to
police and not control the agency field,
according to Charles Lowy, counsel for
the commission, at the agency hearing
yesterday. This is because the agents
have not yet formulated a satisfactory
code.
Austin Sherman, Ralph Blum and
Martin Gang, representing the agents,
made certain suggestions yesterday
which were accepted, subject to the
approval of the State Labor Commis-
sioner. The Commission agreed auto-
matically to approve contracts con-
taining these ideas.
The first provides that, at the de-
sire of either agent or client, the con-
tract may be cancelled if the client
has not been employed for four con-
secutive months, unless in that time
he has refused work found by his
agent where the pay was fair.
The agent must use all reasonable
effort to get his clients set, and all
controversies shall be referred to the
Labor Commissioner.
The committee of attorneys stated
that it found its efforts to draw up
a satisfactory form of agent-client
contract hopeless, because of the di-
verse nature of the agency field. An-
other hearing will be held tomorrow.
Canal Boy' Off, Rogers
Starting Ratoff Yarn
Due to casting difficulties, Charles
R. Rogers has cancelled production on
"Canal Boy," which was among his
last four for Paramount and is replac-
ing it with the Gregory Ratoff yarn,
"I Love an Actress."
Adolphe Menjou and Miriam Hop-
kins are penciled in for the leads.
Martin Not Martyn
Francis Martin, Paramount writer,
wishes the world to know that it is
not he who is suing Jack Oakie for
slander. It is Marty Martyn, the dance
director, who is doing the suing. How-
ever, Francis is besieged by telephone
calls at all hours of the day and night
regarding the suit, and asks that those
wishing to call about the matter notice
the spelling of the name.
McCuire Stays at 'U'
William Anthony McGuire signed a
new ticket for anothre year at Uni-
versal as a producer. He will produce
four pictures during the next year, the
first of which will be "Sutter's Gold."
The deal was made by the Schulberg-
Feldman and Curney office.
Cast, Director and
Story All Score
"MANHATTAN LOVE SONC '
( Monogam )
Direction Leonard Fields
Original novel Cornell Woolrich
Screen play: Leonard Fields, David
Silverstein.
Photography Robert Planck
Cast: Robert Armstrong, Dixie Lee,
Franklyn Pangborn, Nydia West-
man, Helen Flint, Cecil Cunning-
ham, Harold Waldrige, Herman
Bing, George Irving, Harrison
Green, Nick Copeland.
Monogram has given its "Manhat-
tan Love Song" big-time production.
Possessing more plot than is custom-
ary, the picture moves along at a fast
clip due to capital direction, a better
than average story of the poor rich
and an all-around good cast.
Much of the credit for the success
of the film should be awarded Leonard
Fields, director and co-author of the
screen play. With David Silverstein,
he wrote what seems to be a tight
script, frequently high-lighted by ex-
tremely clever pieces of comedy busi-
ness. Too, the story often concedes
its audience has intelligence enough
to appreciate humor without undue
explanation, a concession decidedly
uncommon in independent produc-
tions.
Two wealthy sisters are bankrupt
when their inheritance is misappro-
priated. Apartment rent on Park Ave-
nue has been paid until the first of
the year but there is no money for
food. Only by taking their former
chauffeur and maid as "paying guests"
is catastrophe averted. In this emerg-
ency, the chauffeur takes charge,
leading them into a situation reminis-
cent of "Come Out of the Kitchen."
Robert Armstrong delivers his stan-
dard performance as the chauffeur.
Dixie Lee comes through with a dandy
iob as the blues singing debutante.
Her voice has not been recorded to
best advantage but when she is shown
singing, a certain charm compensates
the lack. She handles her comedy
well.
The supporting cast contributes
particularly outstanding moments.
Cecil Cunningham tops with her Pan-
cake Annie, out of the West to show
her son, Harold Waldrige, life among
the socially elite. Nydia Westman
scores as the servant girl gone high-
brow. Franklyn Pangborn, Herman
Bing — what would we do without
Bing when broken Germanic English
is called for.' — and Helen Flint give
excellent account of themselves.
Photography by Robert Planck is
unusually good.
Sell it for satisfying entertainment,
featuring the pleasant comedy. It
can't disappoint.
LaCava May Direct
Marion Davies' Next
Cosmopolitan Productions is nego-
tiating with Gregory LaCava to direct
the next Marion Davies starring veh-
icle, "Movie Queen," which is based
on an original story by Sidney Skol-
sky. Bing Crosby may have the co-
starring spot.
1^
There's a new kind of agency in
town that does just about everything
to a story except produce it. The let-
terhead reads, "Final Shooting
Scripts; (sic!) Scripts; Adaptations;
Scenarios; Treatment; Montage Ef-
fects; Special Dialogue; Title Sugges-
tions." They also do originals as a side
line. Now if the boys are only good
company, their future is practically
assured. . . . Seriously though, it has
long been a theory in this town that
the better way to sell stories would be
to submit them in screen treatment
form, especially a lot of stuff that has
been lying in the trunk or on the shelf
or that was just overlooked because
so often it's a little difficult for the
buyer to see the screen possibilities
and then again, story styles change
and what might have been too hot a
few years ago is just a program pic-
ture today. So, Mo Wax and Ronald
Bank have gotten together to see what
they can do about the situatior,.
There's one thing about the picture
business; no matter where you put it,
it's always good for a laugh. So they
were about to make a murder mystery
and the front office sent word that
they wanted an actor with a Scotch
accent for the leading role. So they
tested a number of people but could
get no one with a good, Scotch accent.
. Finally they sent an appeal to the
front office to let them use an Irish
accent instead, because they were
easier to find coupled with good act-
ing. And the front office said it would
be impossible to use anything but a
Scotch accent because practically ev-
ery other line in the script referred to
the hero as the man from Scotland
Yard!
Helen Morgan is about to journey
out to San Diego to play the lead m
a play called "Memories." . . • Just
to prove that New York can have any-
thing that California has, "The Drunk-
ard" has come into town for a run. . .
George White is going around telling
the world what a snap picture-making
is which may be another answer to
what's wrong with the picture busi-
ness . . Somebody in commenting
on Mr White's "Scandals" said that
if it had been the first talkie ever
made it would have been a sensation
Moriarity's (Marlborough House)
had to close its doors on account of a
free-for-all that started when some-
one objected to all the "furnners
coming over here to take advantage
of the low dollar. . . . Twenty-One is
blooming and booming again. . . The
Shuberts want Steffi Duna in the
worst way for a new review. . . Have
the Marion Cerings really separated
for "good"? . . . Arthur Kober, the
Sid Perelmans and jack Kirkland and
his bride sail Satiddy on the Rex for
some nights in Spain.
Waycoff Now Ames
Leon Waycoff has changed his
name to Kurt Ames. Player just fin-
ished a featured role in "Now I H
Tell" at Fox, and will be listed under
his new monicker.
Page Four
wammm
THg
March 22, 1934
William Darling, of Fox Studios,
and Cedric Gibbons, at Metro-Cold-
wyn-Mayer, are carrying sore fingers
this week as a result of so much hand-
shaking. Darling won the Academy
award for art direction on "Caval-
cade," and Gibbons won the Holly-
wood Reporter award for the same on
"When Ladies Meet."
•
A lot of complimentary raves are
being passed to Fred Hope and Alex-
ander Toluboff at MCM for their work
as art directors on the Norma Shearer
picture, "Rip Tide." As the art di-
rectors are usually almost completely
forgotten in the studios when com-
pliments are passed out, these two
gentlemen are smiling broadly.
Even the picture critics are raving
publicly about the art direction of
Hans Dreier and Bernard Herzbrun on
Paramount's "Melody in Spring,"
praising the coiorfulness, yet excel-
lent taste shown In the designing of
the settings.
Van Nest Polglase and Al Berman
did the sets for Radio's "Crime Doc-
tor," which the critics predict will
hit with the public. A nice job, too,
according to the opinion of their fel-
low art directors.
•
After studying up on the corn coun-
try of the middle west, Chick Kirk
has had to forget it, for "Alien Corn"
is not to be made right now. That's
what he was iCsearching for, to de-
sign the sets for that picture. He
says he knows a lot about corn, any-
way.
•
Hans Dreier wins the undying re-
spect of his fellow workers for ask-
ing Paramount to let the public know
that Roland Anderson deserved credit
along with him for the art direction
on "Farewell to Arms," which took
second place in the Academy awards
competition. Only Dreier's name was
mentioned, but he says Anderson had
as much to do with it as he.
•
Dave Garber has finished the sets
on the Charles R. Rogers production,
"Private Scandal," and has started de-
signing the settings for "Canal Boy."
•
Oh, yes! Those special effect set-
tings that Willie Pogany is doing for
the Warner Brothers' "Dames" are
still being kept a deep, dark secret.
Busby Berkeley says, "Just wait un-
til you see them and you'll open your
eyes." Willie says nothing.
•
Some studios give public credit for
art direction. Others do not. The
public is becoming art director con-
scious these days, and many persons
in close touch with the art directors
are wondering why practically every-
one in the studios gets publicity but
the art directors.
*U' Closes '1 More River'
New York. — Universal has finally
taken up its option on Galsworthy's
"One More River." The deal was
handled through Pinker and Morrison.
'Speakeasy' Dates
Back 3 Centuries
Oldest allusion to a Speakeasy,
the derivation of which has several
columnists battling, is claimed to
have been discovered by David Sil-
verstein, of the Silverstein-Fields
writing team. Browsing through the
Huntington Library records for the
sake of "The Scarlet Letter," he
found where Minister Increase Ma-
ther, of Boston, used the word in
a sermon dated 1638.
Milestone and Col.
In One-Picture Deal
The Columbia-Lewis Milestone sit-
uation was ironed out yesterday with
his present three-picture deal being
called off and a new one-picture deal
arranged. Milestone will wash up at
Columbia when he finishes directing
the Wallace Smith yarn, "The Cap-
tain Hates the Sea."
On his three-picture deal, the first
picture was to have been "Red
Square," for which the director spent
considerable time in Russia doing re-
search work.
Viva Villa' Broadcast
To Be Repeated April 5
The volume of mail was so great
on the "Viva Villa" broadcast over
NBC on Thursday, March 8, that
Kraft-Phoenix Cheese, the sponsors,
have decided to repeat the entire pro-
gram pril 5.
Skit is an actual scene from the
MGM film, with Al Jolson playing the
role over the air that Stuart Erwin
acted in the film.
Say Hull Deal Closed
Reports reaching Harry Edington
yesterday from his New York office
were that Henry Hull had signed on
the dotted line for his Universal con-
tract, contradicting the statement
credited to Hull in New York Tues-
day that he had signed no picture deal.
Foster Signed by Fox
Preston Foster has been assigned to
a featured spot in "Always Honest,"
which Harry Lachman will put into
work at the Fox Western Avenue
plant Monday. Sally Filers and James
Dunn have the leads.
Reisner on Musical
MGM yesterday assigned Charles
Reisner to direct "Student Tour," a
musical comedy with Charles Butter-
worth and Jimmy Durante in the leads.
Picture will be produced by Monta
Bell.
MCM Holds Erwin
MGM yesterday took up the option
on Stuart Erwin for another term.
Player is now at Columbia on loan for
"Twentieth Century" and from there
leaves on a personal appearance tour.
Thank you
California !
1
T
M
A year in ycur midst has brought forth
the following HIT-SONCS for me:
'Sweetheart Darlin' "
(PegO' My Heart)
Carioca
U
"Orchids in the Moonlight"
S
'Flying Down to Rio"
T
'Music Makes Me"
(Flying Down to Rio)
B
'Rip-Tide"
(Rip-Tide)
E
"One Night of Love"
(One Night of Love)
T
H
"Waitin'-at-the-Gate
for Katy"
(Bottoms Up)
E
'Tonight is Mine"
C
L
'Stingaree Ballad"
(Stingaree)
Tve Had My Moments"
( Hollywood Party)
1
M
A
"The Call of Love"
(Laughing Boy)
All Lyrics for i
(Operator 13)
T
■1
E
CUS KAHNi
I-:
5f MP.SA^'UFL MAPa,
CULVER CITY.CAI.Ir.
Vol. XX, No. 11. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, March 23, 1934
TliRC4TIN CRPI CONTROl
Official Of Exhibitor Body
Says Slew Court Action Will
Force A T& T To Quit Pictures
•THE sad fate of the fight against
double bills is just another lesson to
this industry that it is not its own
boss. In a copy-book motto manner,
we all admit in nonchalant moments
that "the public is the boss." But in
point of fact we don't let it guide all
of our actions.
Then the public rises up every now
and then and smites us one on the
ear.
And we learn that sometimes a
copy-book axiom can mean some-
thing.
•
Remember the start of the sales
season last year, when the major sales
managers with one accord announced
that double features were dead?
And the juggling of the code
phraseology which made it seem cer-
tain that the death verdict had been
clinched?
But men propose, and a great gela-
tinous mass known as the public dis-
poses.
And today, double features are
back stronger than ever.
Why?
Because enough exhibitors, with
their eyes only on the banker down-
town, the butcher on the corner, and
the grocer in the middle of the block
— and having to meet all of them —
found that the public would pay th«
freight for double features.
So executive pronouncements and
code paragraphs can go out the win-
dow.
'•
Speaking from a strictly personal
viewpoint, we are unable to see how
anybody can sit through two present
day features, three reels or so of
shorts, a COUPLE OF REELS of the
local merchants' announcements and
trailers they show nowadays, and con-
sider it an evening of entertainment.
But who are we? And who are the
other folks in the picture business who
agree with us?
People ARE doing it. People who
pay cash, hard-earned cash, for what
they consider entertainment.
People who stayed away in irritat-
ing numbers when their neighborhood
theatres tried to obey the higher-ups
and cut out double features.
People who ought to drive home to
us once more a lesson we all thought
we knew, that the darn PUBLIC is
our boss. Yesterday, today — and next
season.
Tashman Services
New York. — Funeral services for
Lilyan Tashman will be held at two
o'clock this afternoon at the Uni-
versal Funeral Parlors, 97 Lexing-
ton Avenue.
Lloyd Plans to Go
Indie Like Pickford
Right on the heels of the announce-
ment of Mary Pickford's intention of
going into independent production,
making two pictures a year, starring
herself, and six others with other star
names, comes the rumor that Harold
Lloyd is hot on this idea, which he
has been talking about for the past
five years, and is reported to be talk-
ing a deal for a major release of a
series of features which he will pro-
duce and not act in.
There is also talk that he is con-
sidering the Frank Craven play, "The
Nineteenth Hole," as one of his first
productions if his plans go through.
Evelyn Laye Turns Down
MCM for Caumont- Role
New York. — After rejecting an
MCM offer for five pictures at $32,-
500 a picture, Evelyn Laye sailed for
England yesterday to do "Even Song"
for Caumont. No explanations, but
she just feels happier at home.
Hopkins on Way Here
New York. — just to keep those
travel notes straight, Miriam Hopkins
gets off by plane today to return to
Paramount and start work on "She
Loves Me Not."
Technicians Crow
The Technicians Branch of the
Academy announced yesterday that an
average of fifteen new members a
month are being added to its rolls.
'HOSY' PUTTING TEETH IXTO
XRA CODE FOR EXHIBITORS
Paramount Optimistic
And Dusts Off 'Lancer'
New York. — The Code Authority
feels that it has teeth, and what's
more, it is going to use the teeth. For-
ty Minneapolis exhibitors who had
previously signed "assents" to the
motion picture code tried to withdraw
yesterday, but Sol Rosenblatt states
that there is "nothing doing" on the
resignations, as there is no provision
in the code allowing anyone who has
(Continued on Page 2)
New York. — Trouble is brewing for the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company and Erpi, according to a statement
made yesterday by Robert Robins, executive secretary of the
American Society for the Protection of Motion Picture Theatres
and its affiliate, the National Elec-
Wampas to Install
Board at Caliente
The Wampas is planning to hold
an old-fashioned installation party this
year at Agua Caliente, and has ap-
pointed Wilson Heller and Bob Bone-
steele to handle all the details.
The election of a president will be
decided next Tuesday night. With a
new spirit that smacks of the good
old days becoming more and more
evident among the members, the
board of directors felt that the in-
stallation at Caliente would be an
event that would meet with favor.
The date is not decided upon, but will
probably be April 7 and 8.
Ed Butcher Promoted
To Associate Producer
E. W. Butcher, formerly studio
manager at Fox Hills, has been pro-
moted to associate producer and as-
signed to handle the first Stepin
Fetchit starring vehicle.
Story, which is untitled, will be
based on the flight of a colored avia-
tor to Honduras which took place
several years ago.
'Scandals' Does Dive
New York. — The Music Hall — for
so many weeks chalking up those
ninety and one hundred thousand dol-
lars grosses — took another near- nose
dive this week with the Fox produc-
tion of Ceorge White's "Scandals,"
hitting only $65,000 at the turn-
stiles.
Reliance Gets Powell
Edward Small is closing a one-pic-
ture deal with William Powell. Player
will be starred in one of the four
productions Reliance releases on Unit-
ed Artists' new schedule.
Rubens to Europe
New York. — j. Walter Ruben and
Mrs. Ruben sailed yesterday aboard
the Berengaria for Europe.
tronic Association. Mr. Robins pre-
dicts that the A. T. & T. will soon be
forced to divest itself of all its di-
verse subsidiary interests not directly
concerned with telephonic communi-
cation.
This, says Mr. Robins, is the result
of the ten-year fight that has been
(Continued on Page 5)
Para. Shorts Plans
Wait on Diamond
Lou Diamond, general manager of
the Paramount shorts department,
will return to New York next week
after spending a month in Hollywood,
arranging the production set-up on
the two-reelers to be made on the
(Continued on Page 4)
Camera Board Meets
The Board of Executives of Local
659, lATSE, the cameramen's union,
will hold another special session to-
night. This is the second meeting of
the board this week. The purpose is
said to be the preparation of program
for the general meeting Sunday night.
Bob Haas III with Flu
Bob Haas, a Warner art director,
is in bed with a touch of flu.
Paramount is again making plans for
production of "Lives of a Bengal Lan-
cer" and August has been set for the
start of this picture.
Waldemar Young's script will be
used and Stephen Roberts is penciled
in to direct.
UilLLI()m^*$BITER
In
Preparation
"Great American Harem''
Page Two
THE
March 23, 1934
(fOBERT E. WELSH Managing Editoi
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
(Hollywood I Los AngelesI, California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
fNew York Office Abraham Bernstein
Mgr , 229 W 42nd Si Wisconsin 7-7193
Chicago. 6 N Michigan Ave ; London, 41 -A
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San Martin 501 : Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant
werp. Cratte-Clel
Published everv dav with the exceptior, ot
Sundays and Holidays Subscription rates
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c Entered as second clas;
Tialter June 4. 1932. at the Post Office
?t Los Angeles, under the ac' of March 3.
1879
It makes us a little ill to have to
report upon the marital status of a
brilliant actor and his wife, who, if
we can believe some reliable informa-
tion, will soon hit the divorce courts.
The snake in their garden is a famous
femme star, herself a wife and moth-
er, who deliberately and ruthlessly
shattered the happiness of the couple
in question, without waiting for time
to solve their problem, if such could
be the case. With all Hollywood hop-
ing that the actor and his wife would
stand the gaff and see it through, we
now hear that, although a divorce was
denied by the pair a few weeks ago,
they are definitely planning to get
one ... at least the husband wants it.
\f, when he is free, he becomes "still
another husband" to the femme star,
he will not find her so glamorous nor
so sought-after as she might have
been. Because sentiment locally is
heavily against her, and people in their
contempt for her recent actions, no
longer refer to her as anything that
even rhymes with lady.
Before Warner Brothers changed
the name of Milton LeRoy to Philip
Reed, there were a lot of stories
around as to Milton's "stage back-
ground" and so forth, and a lot of lo-
cal scribes were duly impressed — or
were they? Well, anyway, imagine
our surprise to have called to our at-
tention, a book titled "The Rise of
Eisa Potter," full of photographic il-
lustrations. The pictures showed, sure
enough, Milton LeRoy (complete in
B.V.D.'s) in various stages of facial
expession. So, who other than Milton
LeRoy — pardon us, Philip Reed, could
have posed for the pretty pictures?
So it seems that a few weeks be-
fore Joany Bennett's new baby was
born. Gene Markey went to a fortune-
teller for a little advance information.
The woman took his hand, looked into
the crystal ball and said: "You know,
Mr. Markey — you SHOULD have been
a writer," Mr. Markey's face is still
purple.
Fox prod
Thornton Freeland
Sun:
Post:
"CEORCE WHITE'S SCANDALS "
director, George White; musical director, Harry Lachman; writer,
dances, Georgie Hale; music and lyrics, Ray Henderson,
Jack Yellen and Irving Caesar.
Music Hall Theatre
Mr. White put on a lively show. The music is catchy and accompanied by
comedy sketches amusingly presented, jimmy Durante prances through
the film, singing here, making love there, all very Durante. If the "Scan-
dals" continue to keep their Times Square atmosphere as effectively as
this one, there should be a new movie edition along each year.
News: Mr. White presents a series of song and dance ensembles, and in nearly
every one of them he takes a poke at the elaborate and often tedious
routines by making these numbers something to laugh at. Most of the
comedy, including the lyrics of some of the songs, is off color. Jimmy
Durante's stuff isn't as funny as usual and is considerably more vulgar.
The entertainment formula is simple and effective. It consists of songs,
beautiful girls, ensemble dances and songs, beautiful girls and ensemble
dances. The dance numbers are elaborate and colorful, but they are neither
new nor effectively staged. The songs are tuneful and well sung, but for
sheer bad taste we doubt if anything on the screen could touch them since
Will Hays resigned the postmastership.
Mirror: Mr. White's first film "Scandals" is a gorgeous and rollicking revue, and
one which undoubtedly will be a great treat to those Main Streets which
never have been enlivened by a personal visit of one of his characteristic
Broadway productions.
Times: A good deal more can be said in praise of the production than of the
writing, for the narrative of this picture is of even less importance than
those of other musical offerings. There are some clever ideas in the musi-
cal numbers.
Herald-Tribune: Its chief virtues, I should say, are a couple of good song num-
bers, a certain air of good nature and the personal contributions of jimmy
Durante and Miss Alice Faye. High amid its faults should certainly be
placed a lot of unnecessary humor, a feeble narrative, and Mr. Vallee's
earnest efforts to be humorous.
American: An ornate, lavishly produced, exquisitely photographed, but unde-
niably dull revue, this one must depend upon Messrs. Durante, Edwards
and Vallee for whatever entertainment value it possesses.
World-Telegram: At best, the film version of his noted revue is but fair-to-
middling entertainment. Essentially a revue with a backstage romance in-
terpolated between numbers, the screen "Scandals" movs along slothfully
except when one jimmy Durante is on the screen. Then it seems to me
to be boisterously funny.
journal: In picturizing his revues, Mr. White followed his Broadway formula
and the film offers song numbers, each with several reprises, bldv_«outs,
chorus routines and dance ensembles. There are more girls and the sets,
natually, are larger and more lavish, but otherwise it's a White stage pro-
duction done before the camera.
Para, at Production
Peak; 11 in Work
Paramount has reached a production
peak of all time with 3219 now on
the payroll and 1 I pictures in work.
The months of April and May will
also see plenty of activity on that lot
as the studio expects to start 17 pic-
tures during that time.
Due to the number of people work-
ing on the lot, the studio has issued
orders to the staff to cut down on
bringing guests to the commissary in
order to give employees a chance to
eat.
Code Has Teeth
(Continued from Page 1 )
signed an "assent" to change his
mind.
The point is of interest since the
forty exhibitors concerned are mem-
bers of the Allied States group, which
originally started suit against the
Code Authority, and later compro-
mised. If Rosenblatt stands by his
declaration it is very possible that Al-
lied will once more go to the courts,
which is just what every NRA offi-
cial does not want at this time.
Bebe Daniels and Lyon
Set on Stage Showings
Investigation by a Reporter repre-
sentative of the story printed a few
days ago concerning the shaving of
the Selznick-Joyce list by close to a
hundred clients, discloses that Bebe
Daniels, one of the players no longer
under the S-j banner, had asked for
her release over a month ago, and
after a series of amicable conferences
with S-j execs, extending even to
cables to Frank Joyce in London, the
agency had consented to grant Miss
Daniels' release.
Miss Daniels and Ben Lyon are
leaving Hollywood this week to start
a personal appearance tour in Chicago,
the extent of which is only up to their
own decision on accepting bookings.
Ceo. Marion Jr. Will Do
'Cay Divorcee' Script
Radio yesterday put through a deal
with Paramount whereby George Mar-
ion jr, will join the studio's writing
staff to do the "Gay Divorcee" script
for Fred Astaire upon completion of
"Kiss and Make Up" for B, P, Schul-
berg.
Writer then returns to finish his
Paramount ticket for two pictures.
Actors' Guild Hits
WithNewMagazine
The first issue of the Screen Ac-
tors' Guild monthly magazine, the
Screen Player, was put in the mails
yesterday.
Comprising sixteen pages and cover
in two colors, the new publication is
one the actors need not be ashamed
of. In fact, they should be rather
proud of this, their initial effort in
the publication field, for it is attrac-
tively gotten up and has interesting
contents,
Eddie Cantor leads off with an ar-
ticle telling what the Guild stands for,
in which he explains that the Guild
was created because of the "new
deal" of President Roosevelt which
gave the actors the concrete encour-
agement and "political set-up which
has made possible the organization of
the Guild and its growth to date," He
concludes with assurance that the
Guild functions not only to secure the
actor his rights, but to see that the
actor fulfills his obligations to his em-
ployer at all times.
Ann Harding contributes a breezy
"rib" at press agents. Ralph Block
deplores the fact that the individual
expression of the actor has been sac-
rified in pictures. jeannette Sauer
gives New York notes. Claude King
does an acceptable sports article. In
addition there are departments for
Junior Guild notes, organization an-
nouncements and chatter about per-
sonalities.
Hamilton and Nixon
Tops in Liberty Film
M. H. Hoffman gets Neil Hamilton
and Marian Nixon for the top brackets
in his next Liberty picture, "Mad
Honeymoon," William Nigh will di-
rect.
Featured are Aileen Pringle and
Bradley Page, latter signed through
Harry Spingler, of the Small-Landau
office,
Horton on Shell Program
Edward Everett Horton has been
signed to appear as guest artist on
the Shell Oil program over KHJ next
Monday night. Margaret Kuhns, of
the Schulberg-Feldman and Gurney
office made the deal.
THE GUINEA PIC
TURNS By LEWIS GRAHAM
Ballyhoo, rat poison, and sex appeal
in the whirlwind romance of a
famous beautician.
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24-HOUR SERVICE
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Loans Arranged by the
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March 23. 1934
itti^-^ft
PtilPOIRTiPi
Page Three
ACTORS' «V1LD TO ENLARGE
DIRECTORIAL ROARD TO 33
Election May 17;
Slate Made Public
As predicted in the Reporter some
days ago, the Screen Actors' Guild
has postponed its annual election
meeting until May 17 to enable the
entire membership to hear President
Eddie Cantor's report. Announcement
was made yesterday in the Guilds'
new magazine.
Announcement was also made that
the board of directors will be increas-
ed to 33 members. At present the
figure is 21. This change, it is ex-
plained, is in order to make the board
more truly representative of every
trend of thought within the Guild,
giving assurance that the functioning
of the Guild will not be controlled by
a small group.
The following slate was presented
by the nominating committee for
election: For president, Eddie Cantor;
first vice president, Robert Montgorii-
ery; second vice president, Ann Hard-
ing'; third vice president, James Cag-
ney- secretary, Kenneth Thomson; as-
sistant secretary, Richard Tucker;
treasurer, Lucile Gleason; assistant
treasurer, Jean Hersholt.
For board of directors: George Ar-
liss Mary Astor, Arthur Byron, Joseph
Cawthorne, Berton Churchill, C ay
Clement, Henrietta Crosman, Dudley
Digges, Marie Dressier, Leon fcrrol.
Norman Foster, C. Henry Cordon,
Miriam Hopkins, Boris Karloff Ben
Lyon Jeanette MacDonald, Willard
Mack Noel Madison, Ralph Morgan,
Alan Mowbray, Bradley Page, Dorothy
Peterson, Edward C. Robinson, Ivan
Simpson, Lyie Talbot. Thelma Todd,
Saencer Tracy, Arthur Vinton, Leon
Waycoff, Warren William, Lois Wil-
son. ,
Twenty of these will be selected.
The present board will draw lots to
see which eight members end their
term this year.
Rogers on Loy Story
Howard Emmett Rogers has been
assigned to write the screen play of
"Evelyn Prentice," the Myrna Loy
starring vehicle at MCM, which John
Considine is supervising. Rogers is
winding up a year's contract at that
studio with the completion of this as-
signment.
Crabbe Goes on Loan
Larry Crabbe was loaned to May-
fair Pictures by Paramount yesterday
for the top spot in "Badge of Honor,"
which Spencer Bennet directs. Loan
was negotiated by the Hoffman-Schla-
i ger agency.
j 'Sweeney' Washed Up
Edward Ludwig yesterday finished
i shooting on "Friends of Mr. Sweeney,"
which he directed for Warners. The
director is considering a picture at
Universal.
Virginia Kellogg Quits
Virginia Kellogg has resigned from
I the MGM writing staff and has gone
, to Europe for a year. She will study
' at the Sorbonne, in Paris.
Academy Waking Up
Something mysterious seems to
be going on in connection with
the Writers' Branch of the Acad-
emy. Last Tuesday John Meehan
applied for reinstatement, and it
was announced that Ewart Adam-
son and Ernest S. Pagano had
joined. Yesterday the Academy
said that Joseph L. Manckiewicz
has also asked for reinstatement
in the branch and that Wanda
Tuchock has just joined.
Fox-Mono Deadlock
On Angel and 'Eyre'
When Monogram attempted to bor-
row Heather Angel from Fox some
time ago for the lead in "Jane Eyre,"
the bid was refused. NowTox wants
the story for Miss Angel, but Mono-
gram refuses to sell. Adele Comman-
ini scripted and the rriajor plant is said
to''be interested in the script as well.
According to Monogram executives
every major studio has attempted to
buy the story, but since Monogram
will make it, it is not for sale. The
independent wlil import an English
actress for the lead if it is unsuccess-
ful in finding one locally.
J
immy Savo Refuses
Hollywood Offers
Because of the hit he made with
eastern audiences in "The Girl in the
Case," the independent production
written and directed by Dr. Eugene
Frenke, Jimmy Savo has received of-
fers from two Hollywood studios.
Even though long term contracts
have been offered him, Savo has re-
fused to sign because of a pending
assignment wtih Dr. Frenke.
Astor and Teasdale
Set for House Wife'
Mary Astor and Veree Teasdale
have the feminine leads in "House
Wife," an original story by Robert
Lord, which was adapted to the screen
by Manuel Seff and Lillie Hayward.
William Keighley has been assigned
to direct and production will start in
about ten days.
'U' Execs Bow to Editors
The Universal Executive Basketball
team, with Carl Laemmie, Jr., Ed
Grainger and Ed Marin in the ranks,
dropped a close one to the Editorial
team last night by a score of 27 to
26. Landis, Foley, Applebaum and
Fells starred for the victors.
Fox-Raphaelson Dicker
Fox is talking a long tem contract I
to Samson Raphaelson. The writer is i
nowTTri 'the lot on a one picture as-
signment, writing the screen play of
"Gypsy Melody," which will be Eric
Charell's first production.
Lang on Cantor Film
Walter Lang has been signed by
Samuel Goldwyn to direct the next
Eddie Cantor picture. Arthur Sheek-
man and Nat Perrin are writing the
original story and screen play.
Aylesworth Active
On Radio City Pic
Radio Pictures, after watching
Paramount line up good show bets in
the past year with "International
House" and other specialties, has de-
cided to build a big one of its own
for next year.
The picture planned will be the
"NBC Revue of 1934," and is to be
produced jointly by M. H. Aylesworth
in New York and Pan Berman in Hol-
lywood. All of the NBC radio stars
and all of the RKO screen stars will
be used in the cast, making the great-
est assembly of stars ever gathered
in one picture.
The story, which is the romance of
a Radio City usherette and a publicity
man, will have Radio City for a back-
ground. Aylesworth, according to the
plans, will boss the making of these
scenes, while Berman will handle those
in Hollywood. This picture will mark
Aylesworth's debut as a producer.
MacDonald Sells Yarn
And Himself to Para.
Paramount yesterday purchased
Philip MacDonald's latest novel, "The
Menace," through Vivian Gaye, of the
Joy and Polimer office. Bayard Veil-
ler will supervise.
MacDonald at the same time joins
the studio's writing staff on a one-
picture deal to write an original story
and script for George Raft, under
Arthur Hornblow. Writer, when he
finishes, returns to the Sol Wurtzel
unit to handle the script on the next
Charlie Chan yarn.
james-Lasky, jr. Collab.
New York.^ — Rian James and Jesse
Lasky, Jr., will collaborate on the
screen play for "Young Ladies in
White," which James has sold to Las-
ky for the screen. The two leave for
the Coast today. James does not re-
port to Universal on his two-year
deal there until May 1.
New Buildings at Para.
Paramount is starting construction
on two new buildings. One building
will house some of its production staff
in addition to eight dressing-room
suites. The other will house the pub-
licity department, turning the offices
now occupied by the publicity staff
into executive quarters.
Col. Signs Walburn
The William Morris office yesterday
signed a long term coatract for Ray-
mond Walburn with Columbia. Come-
dian, who recently finished with "Pur-
suit of Happiness" in New York, is
due to arrive in ten days.
Tim Whelan to Egypt
London. — Tim Whelan and crew of
forty have left here to film exteriors
of "The Camels Are Coming" in
Egypt for Gaumont.
jerry Goldberg, Agent
Jerry Goldberg, son of the late Joe
Goldberg, has joined the Hoffman-
Schlager office as an associate.
mimm
This code business is still the worry
and laughs around New York, despite
the fact that it everyone pretty jit-
tery. And in connection with codes,
we ran into a Department of Justice
man on his way back to Washington
to report on various codes in Cali-
fornia, including the picture set-up.
And it is curiously irritating to us to
find that the thing that still sticks
in the craw of the government is
not minimum salaries, but maximum
salaries. . . The first crack the De-
partment of Justice man made was:
"How can anyone in the world be
worth ten thousand dollars a week?"
Which question now takes first place
in that old game of "cliche." And
that same question is always asked
without any thought being given to
the answer on the part of the asker.
•
This particular person was a bit
astonished to find out that there is no
way of defintieiy measuring the worth
of a star to a picture . . . that if they
were put on a percentage basis, there
would be even more large incomes
among the stars. He had never
thought of the fact that the buyers of
pictures run into millions, that these
millions know nothing of picture pro-
duction and their main interest is in
the star or stars of the pictures. He
had also never considered the fact
that an actor's lot is not a long term
one and that he must amass in a few
years enough capital to give him a
decent income for the workless years,
that a business man can work all his
life. We repeat these fundamen-
tal truths in the fond hope that some
code men are interested enough in
the industry to read a trade paper,
to stop just one moment to figure out
the more apparent reasons why a star
is entitled to any salary a producer is
willing to pay because no producer
will pay more than he can make a
large profit on. The pay-off to all
this is the fact that the code man
who was trying so hard to save the
industry money by figuring out a wav
to cut salaries, was also complaining
about the fact that he had to pay an
income tax to a government sorely in
need of money and his support.
•
Gregory Ratoff finally got on a
boat and sailed for England, but up
until the last moment, nobody could
be sure he'd make it. All on account
of he's kind of a "man without a
country" since he won't be an Ameri-
can citizen until a few more months
have elapsed and they had to get a
special passport for him. Then the
English consul had to have a consul-
tation about putting a visa on it. Then
there v^^as something about an alien
labor permit. And then there was the
income tax that had to be straightened
out before he could leave. All very
confusing, but the saling was tarrific
and included the Dick Arlens and
Evelyn Laye.
Bob Harris Coming
New York. — Robert Harris, Uni-
versal's eastern story head, left by
train yesterday for story conferences
at the Hollywood plant. He will be
there about ten days.
Page Four
THgP^I
MCM to Lose Its
Famous Fig Tree
No longer will Greta Carbo be able
to overlook the Verboten sign and pick
figs from the famous 36-year-olcl fig
tree at the MGM studios. It is go-
ing to be cut down so newly planned
alterations in the wardrobe buildings
can be made.
The tree was part of a ranch before
Thomas Ince bought the site and built
the first studio buildings. It has stood
there ever since. Beneath it the most
.famous stars of the industry have
stood and plucked its fruit. When
Greta Garbo first came to the studio
there was a sign — "Do not pick the
figs" — on the tree. She couldn't
read English, so picked them. Since
then everyone has followed her ex-
ample.
Boosf for Barton
Charles Barton, assistant director at
Paramount for a number of years, has
been promoted to a gag man on
"Many Happy Returns," the Burns
and Allen picture now in production.
Norman McLeod directs.
March 23, 1934
Para. Shorts Plans
(Continued from Page 1 )
west coast by Paramount and also pre-
paring for "Big Broadcast of 1934."
The production chief of the Para-
mount shorts to be made here has
not been named as yet and will not
be until Diamond's return to Holly-
wood in May. With this new set-up
Diamond will spend half his time in
Hollywood and the other half in New
York.
Vincent Sherman and Paul Hurst
for "Old Doll's House" at Warners.
Charles Wilson, Joyce Compton and
Gregory Cay for "The Affairs of a
Gentleman" at Universal. Wilson set
by the Edington-Vincent agency.
Arthur Treacher to "Du Barry" at
Warners.
Jay Henry for "Grease Paint," Para-
mount.
Grant Washburn for "Cleopatra" at
Paramount.
Shirley Ross to "What Price jazz,"
MGM-Ted Fiorito short.
Dorothy Peterson, Cora Sue Collins
and Burton Beery to "Treasure Island"
at MGM.
Eddie Nugent by Paramount for
"She Loves Me Not."
William Demarest by Paramount for
"Many Happy Returns."
Grace Durkin to "Cleopatra" at
Paramount.
Joan Gale to MGM in the Ted Fio-
rito short, "What Price Jazz."
Maurice Black set by Hallam Cooley
for "Party's Over," Columbia.
Shirley Ross for "Manhattan Melo-
drama," MOM.
Egon Brecher to "Many Happy Re-
turns," Paramount, through the Wal-
ter Herzbrun office.
Theodore Von Eltx by Fox for "Call
It Luck." Dave Thompson set player/
Skolsky in Demand
New York. — Broadway has its
own angle on the news that Cos-
mopolitan is paying Sid Skolsky
$10,000 for an original story for
Marion Davies, which is not even
yet in writing. The Broadway
thought is that this is the first step
in a plan by the Hearst newspapers
to wean the columnist away from
the New York Daily News to be-
come the motion picture editor of
the afternoon Hearst newspapers.
Bacon and Baldwin on
Warner Location Hunt
Lloyd Bacon, who will direct, and
Earl Baldwin, who is writing the
screen play, left Wednesday for a
week at Catalina to look for locations
and get atmosphere for "Hey, Sailor."
Picture will team James Cagney and
Pat O'Brien.
New Play for Threshold
The Threshold Theatre's first pro-
duction will be the Joseph Mankie-
wicz-Claude Binyon play, "The
Stooge," which will be produced and
directed by William D. Russell, for-
mer director of the Dallas Little Thea-
tre.
Wampas Baby Stars
To Show in Person
Miriam Jordan and Muriel Kirkland
have been nominated for selections as
Wampas Baby Stars, bringing the to-
tal of nominees to 36.
The plan of the Wampas organiza-
tion to make individual tests of the I
nominees, to be shown the night of
election, has been called off, due to
the short period of time remaining be-
fore the elections, and instead, the
group will be present at the Writers
Club and be introduced to the mem-
bers before the ballots are placed.
Dorothy Dell Laid Up;
'Miss Marker' Delayed
Dorothy Dell had another attack of
laryngitis yesterday and was sent by
Frank Young, her physician, to the
Cedars of Lebanon hospital.
Production on the B. P. Schulberg
picture, "Little Miss Marker," in
which she has the top spot, has been
suspended until her return.
George Webb Bankrupt
George Webb yesterday filed a
voluntary petition in bankruptcy, list-
ing his debts at $53,100 and assets
at $135,950. Approximately $130,-
000 of the assets, he set forth, is
in real estate holding.
Keaton Option Lifted
Educational yesterday notified Bus-
ter Keaton his option for one more
short for this year's program was ex-
ercised. Studio still has an option
on the comedian for a group of four
shorts to be produced next season.
HARLAN LEWIS E.
THOMPSONnC E N S L E R
(WORDS) (MUSIC)
of the songs in Paramount's
"MELODY 1 N S P R 1 N C "
including
n^ ^\ 1 ^%^*J \ ./ ■ v^ ^^ B>^ V ■ •<% ^m M
ivieioay in opring
"Ending With A Kiss"
"The Open Road"
"Lewis E. Censler, who wrote the
music and Harlan Thompson who
wrote the lyrics, contributed plenty to
the film. Especially outstanding is the
milking song number. And the aud-
ience applauded vigorously at the
'Opsn Road' song."
— Hollywood Reporter, March 16th
Hi
March 23. 1934
THE
Page Five
A.$.C. WARiVS INDUSTRY
OF TOURIVEY SOLICITOR
The officers of the American So-
ciety of Cinematographers, through
their business manager, Allen M.
Watt, last night issued a warning to
everyone in the motion picture busi-
ness against a man they claim has been
solciiting prizes supposedly for use by
the ASC in its golf tournament, to be
held April 8.
Mr. Watt declared that this man is
not connected with the ASC in any
way, has no authority to solicit prizes
or prize money, and asks everyone in
the industry not to contribute to him
or to anyone except members of a
duly authorized committee, who will
present written authorization, bearing
the seal of the society.
He said that the man had already
collected a large check from Carole
Lombard and a $40 golf bag from
Ruby Keeler.
According to Watt, the man ap-
proached him and proposed that he
take over the handling of the tourna-
ment.
"I asked him to bring me in a writ-
ten plan of what he suggested, and
told him that if it met with our ap-
proval we MIGHT then talk business."
said Watt. "He brought in a rough
outline of a proposed poster. I told
him to bring in his plan before we
would talk. The next I heard was
when a major studio telephoned me
that he had put up posters about the
tournament and was at work solicit-
ing. He has nothing to do with us.
"We are going to have the tour-
nament. We will have prizes, but our
own committee will arrange for
them."
Baroness Sues Radio,
Charging Plagiarism
Alleging plagiarism of her story,
"She Spies," Baroness Caria Jensen
filed an action against Radio in Su-
perior Court yesterday asking dam-
ages totalling $750,000.
Suit, entered by Attorney Leroy
Anderson, claimed the studio had
made the Constance Bennett picture,
"After Midnight," from the Jensen
story.
Two Yarns for Chandler
Willis Kent has purchased two
Stories, "Guns for Hire," by E. B.
Mann, and "The Man From Hell,"
by E. E. Repp, and will use them as
the next two Lane Chandler westerns.
"Guns for Hire," which will go be-
fore the cameras in there weeks, was
sold by the Wertheim and Norton
agency.
Dunne with Reliance
Philip Dunne joins the Edward
Small-Reliance writing staff today on
a Jack Gardner ticket to do added
script work on the "Count of Monte
Cristo" screen play. Rowland V. Lee
is preparing it for immediate produc-
tion.
New Title for Rhythm'
Warners yesterday set "Twenty
Million Sweethearts" as the release
title for "Rhythm in the Air." Ray
Enright directed Dick Powell and Pat
O'Brien in the leads.
Just a Naughty King
London. — The Charles Laughton
starring picture, "The Private Life
of Henry VIII," has been barred
from all theatres in British India.
The reason given is that there is
immorality in the picture.
'Glamour' Over the Air
On 'Hollywood' Hour
Universal will use Onslow Stevens,
Lenore Kingston and Dean Benton for
an exploitation burst on "Glamour"
over the "Hollywood On The Air"
radio program next Monday. Stevens
will read the role played by Paul Lu-
kas, Miss Kingston will take the Con-
stance Cummings role, and Benton
will handle the Phillip Reed part.
Program is released over the NBC net-
work and KECA locally.
Frank Dazey to Para.
Frank Mitchell Dazey returns to
picture writing on a contract to do
the screen play for the W. C. Fields
yarn, "Grease Paint," which William
LeBaron is supervising at Paramount.
Ticket was set by Vivian Caye, of the
Joy and Polimer office.
Threaten Erpi Control
(Continued from Page 1 )
waged by his organizations, Warner
Brothers and General Talking Pictures,
against the A. T. & T. monopoly in
the sound field in motion pictures.
Also a formal complaint against the
corporation is being prepared for pres-
entation to Senator Dili, of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission.
Mr. Robins predicts that Erpi will
have to give up the sound picture
equipment field and the actual pro-
duction of pictures, and that the
Western Electric plant will be kept
to manufacture telephone equipment
only. It also means, he says, that
the ten-year licensing agreements with
exhibitors and the 17-year contracts
with producers will come to an end.
The Robins production is based on
opinions of high Government officials
that the monopolistic privileges
granted A. T. & T. originally were
never intended to permit the company
to extend its powers into fields other
than telephonic communication. He
cites also the opinion of Judge Nields,
at Wilmington, last June, when he
said that all the Erpi contracts with
exhibitors and producers were monop-
olistic and in violation of the Clayton
anti-trust laws.
The seriousness of the situation is
indicated by the report that A. T. & T.
has already offered to throw all al-
leged rights and real rights to sound
patents on the open market for any
indie manufacturer to use at a reason-
able fixed price, a concession never
before made.
The permanent injunction suit
brought by General Talking Pictures
against Erpi comes up for trial at Wil-
mington on April 2. Adolph Zukor,
Nicholas Schenck and David Bernstein
made depositions yesterday for use at
this hearing.
THE REASON
I have Mike Levee as my
representative is that he never
asks me whether or not I am
going to marry Franchot Tone
S
A
Y
S
JOA\M
CRAWFORD
AND
HIS MANAGEMENT OFFERS:
Personal Representation
(And I mean Personal)
Business Administration
Secretarial Service
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity & Exploitation
♦
MERVYN LEROY
Will Tell You WHY he is a "Levee" client
IN MONDAY'S
IW^POHTHI
Page Six
jj||k£.Up^f.
itiP>©IRTlPl
March 23, 1934
^ QToimd
Owen Moore going places with wee
Ceorgie Harriss, who is strutting his
Maskers act in variety here in addi-
tion to his movie work. . . The Prince
of Wales took a look-see at Rowlie
V. Lee's "I Am Suzanne" at the New
Gallery; Dorothy Boyd was also there
and all of a dither on account of His
Royal Highness being present. . . Roy
Kellino and Pamela Ostrer are still
That Way. . . . Rae Daggett, sister
to the little lady who keeps out the
Junior Laemmie callers at Universal
City, is in town and liable to stay for
picture work. . . . One of the greatest
studios here opens all the staff's mail
and forbids wives on exteriors
Dorothy "Chili" Bouchier scramming
from Elstree to rehearse for the new
Cochran legit show. . . We saw a
dream walking the other day; it was
Joan Marion, a vision in green, stroll-
ing in the Park. . . . Quote from a
book ad here: "Mae West Done Him
Wrong Seven Shillings and Sixpense!"
. . . No doubt he had his money's
worth.
•
Such fun, such fun, the Frank
Joyces definitely decided to leave Lon-
don for that old debbil Hollywood last
week; no, this was not just the usual
weekly decision this time, but the
genuine thing; so much so that they
actually threw a farewell cocktail par-
ty and had their bags packed; the
Charlie Laughtons, Alfred Hitchcock,
Bennie Hume, Junior Fairbanks, Cyril
Gardner, Fred Astaire, Laura La Plante
and Irving Asher amongst those who
drank their health in cocktails and
then, later that evening the Joyces de-
cided to wait here another week!!! . .
P. S. Was Davie Bader's (and a host
of others) face red!? He went to the
station bright and early the next
morning to see them off and there
weren't nary a sign of them.
Sam Speigal tossing off a party for
Director Jacques Feyder who will meg
a Jannings pic here shortly. . . Freddie
Y. Smith will edit the Whelan-Hubert
pic and leaves for Egypt immediately.
. . . The lovely Pearl Argyle is doing
a flick for Gaumont-British. . . Stan-
ley Lupino (his dotter Ida's at Para)
Savoy Grilling the orner evening (with
a bachelor pal, Mrs. Lupino) . . . Bill
O'Bryen telling all London that Liz
Allan would soon be in town. . . .
They'll be calling Buster Laughton Elsa
Lanchester's husband soon; the gal's
wowing 'em in part after part in this
burg. . . Max Milder made a dash
for Amsterdam to connect there re
the Warner product. . . Alfred Hitch-
cock lunching with Ivor Montagu.
That refreshing personality, Sidney
Bernstein, is back in town after a va-
cash in sunny Spain.
'•
Tom Geraghty also back in the me-
tropolis and looking vury sprightly. . .
If Sidney Lanfield does not meg the
Buchanan-Damita pic, "Sons-o'-
Cuns," then maybe Eddie Sutherland
will. . . . "Java Head" is for Basil
Dean's Associated Talking Pictures,
Anna May Wong gets the top spot,
and maybe Rowlie Brown will meg it.
U. S. Films Are in
Majority in Paris
Paris. — Out of 30 leading thea-
tres, not less than 17 are playing
American product in original ver-
sions; the remaining 13 houses
play seven French, three English,
two German-French and one Ger-
man film. The newcomers this
week are "Duck Soup," "Invisible
Man" and "Roman Scandals."
The king is dead. Long live the
king! . . . Never was a nation mourn-
ing so deeply its king — big film en-
thusiast and devoid of any snobbish-
ness. . . . And never did a nation in-
terrupt in such a dignified manner the
sadness in order to cheer the new one
— the hopeful personification of the
future embodied in youth and physi-
cal attraction. . . . And it's a coin-
cidence that the last service the dead
royalty has done unexpectedly to our
industry, which always found his in-
terest, was the one to demonstrate
the importance of the movies in pub-
lic life. . . . Never in history were
theatres so jammed as on these days,
with crowds cramming sidewalk from
nine in the morning waiting for hours
to be admitted to the house and to
get a glimpse of the special newsreel
shots made at the funeral of the dead
king and the coronation ceremonies of
the new one. . . . Not less than eight
crews were shooting for different
companies.
•
Bill Fitelson around town for a day
before sailing to little Dave he left
way back in U.S.A. . . . And is he a
chess maniac, that Bill! . . . Imagine
a film man going to Paris and play-
ing all the way — chess! ... I bet you
a million you never would have fore-
cast what "If You See My Uncle"
could do — 14 weeks in the same
street. . . So, after all, why make
class films with fortunes invested? . .
Fernand Bourland, former manager and
three prices winner at Universal, cut-
ting expenses in own office — buys
cigars by hundreds instead of by doz-
ens. . . . Loet C. Barnstyn and Croeze
flying down from Amsterdam and
highpressing customers for dates. . .
My, my, was that a beeg party UFA-
ACE gave to press crowd after trade-
show of "Unfinished Symphony." . .
Remember this, boys, if you care for
Bosman's good humor, be careful —
don't look too deeply into Mme.
Renee's eyes. , . . Charley Lengnich,
crack cameraman, rushing to Paris on
sudden assignment to shoot "Train of
8.46" with Bach.
Filmavox grabbing big French prod-
uct in no time with others looking
after. . . . Music Hall attractions
throw roots in certain movies, sur-
prising routiniers. . . . Phonora Films
(Mr. Martin to me) taking over thea-
tre in Antwerp — for no reason at all.
. . . They do work hard at Metroes —
with long hours the daily rule.
Austria Restricts
Uniforms in Films
Vienna. — Should American produc-
ers not have troubles enough to com-
ply with certain wishes of European
governments, here is a new bother
for them. The wearing of uniforms
in films shown in Austria is bound to
certain laws put into force in 1933.
It is forbidden to exhibit or wear in
an unworthy way any uniform of the
former imperial army, navy, or any
other uniform having been in use for
any official employment for the de-
fence of the territory in peace or
wartime.
The Austrian War Ministry has is-
sued the terms and conditions under
which use may be made of uniforms
in films to be shown in Austria. In
several parts of the Austrian territory
commissions will be nominated to su-
pervise production and to advise pro-
ducers on what is allowed and what
is not.
Seven French Firms
Unite For Economy
Paris. — Seven of the smaller French
producers have formed a syndicate to
reduce their producing expenses. One
studio will be used successively by
each of them, thus reducing their
rent. They will engage a staff which
will work for all the firms and make
all their purchases collectively. They
will examine possibility of organizing
a joint distribution service.
Each of the producers will make
two films a year. The syndicate, it
is said, will realize a saving of 100,-
000 francs per film. The members
are Messrs. Aguiar, Boulay, Gandera,
Guerlais, Hourvitch, Kamenka and
Nalpas.
'Catherine' Gets Big
Play All Over Europe
Paris. — "Catherine the Great" is
doing big business all over Europe,
with a draw of 50,875 people in 17
days and being prolonged for a fourth
week in Prague, the eighth week in
Paris and now in its fourth week in
the Plaza, Brussels' leading theatre.
BORDEN FRIDAY FROLIC
'Broadcast from STAGE ^ A t 8 : ft 5
VIA STATION K-HJ TONIGHT
I y 1
O- HILL
VA-lOltl
Queen of the Barbary CoaiU
UIHaRF
AnG€i:
Victor McLAGLEN • Dorothy DELL
Alison SKIPWOnTH
W IflMi^^FANCHON 6- MARCo'**'^
iEWIS
^ with hit HAPPINESS
Million More Seats
Than People in Paris
Paris. — Statistics show that on a
population of 2,871,429 for the
French capital, there are 3,726,533
seats a week in the Paris film thea-
tres. A further increase in the num-
ber of theatres would only be still
more detrimental to the trade.
French film people have come to
the same conclusion as in America and
England that there are enough thea-
tres for the time being.
Albert's Life in Film
Brussels. — A few Belgian film com-
panies have composed a film on the
life of the late King Albert, which is
being shown in all the theatres. ..The
coronation in 1909, some shots taken
during the world war, his funeral and
connected ceremonies are incorporated
in the film.
Cance To Do 'Poliche'
Paris. — Abel Gance will not make
"Captain Fracasse" in spite of earlier
announcements, but will do "Poliche,"
from the play by Henri Bataille. Ma-
rie Bell and Constant Remy will have
the leads.
Midnight Helps Fund
London. — "Midnight," the picture
made by Chester Erskin, and distrib-
uted by Universal, with a star's mati-
nee for the Cinematograph Fund, rais- I
ed fourteen thousand pounds here last '
week. I
Hoffe Gets Handclaps
London. — Monckton Hoffe's dia-
logue on B. and D.'s "Queen's Af-
^aif," starring Anna Neagte, drew the
week's raves here. Hoffe is now at
Culver City.
Star Sells Story
London. — Molly Lamont, British
star, has written a story which Sound
City has purchased. She has the
okay on the director and may play the
lead herself.
„ GRAUMAN S
United ARTISTS
EROADWAY at 9lh . PHON£MA2SII
History's strangj
LOVERS
brought to life
by the creator of
"HENRY Vlll"<^
ROAD SHOW
Coming! DUKE ELLINGTON
ALEXANDER KODDAS PRODUCTION .,
JVTHERINE
^/^GREAT
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, Jr.
ELIZABETH BER 6 N ER
CONTINUOUS 10:45 A. M.' - 11:00
30c to 1P.M. •40c to 6 P.M.* 55c EVES
I
March 23, 1934
Page Seven
|tevie>vinq
I \
me*
SCREEN PLAY
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Norma Shearer
(MCM)
Screen Play for April is interesting
mostly because of a new $1,000 con-
test, which isn't saying so much for
the stories, is it?
However, read "Put Yourself In
Hepburn's Shoes," in which Val Lew-
ton very cleverly puts in a word for
Miss Hepburn; Dick Mook's story,
"Clark Cable's Double Life"; "Mar-
garet Sullavan Explains Herself," by
Sonia Lee; "Steppes to Stardom,"
(Anna Sten) by Sidney Skolsky, and
"Crosby's Hat Still Fits," by jim
Tully.
J. Eugene Chrisman has two stories,
one that appears a little far-fetched,
"The Girl Who Brought Carbo Back,"
(Kathryn Sergava) and another story
on Carbo already done to death, "Love
Comes to Greta Garbo."
! Clark Warren has a yarn on Otto
I Kruger, "His Voice Spells L-O-V-E";
i Nina Wilcox Putnam tells about "One
' Man's Search For Love," (Bruce Ca-
bot) ; Gladys McVeigh has "Jolson
Shares the Spotlight"; Marcella Burke
interviews "Gary's Bride"; and Gene
Raymond says to Helen Burns "I Pre-
fer to Work Like the Devil."
Another department, "Hollywood
Barrage," by Arthur Guy Empey, starts
this month in Screen Play. It's not so
hot.
MOVIE CLASSIC
90 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Lupe Velez
(MGM)
The best story to come out so far
on Anna Sten is "The Man Who Gam-
bled a Million on a New Star," by
Dorothy Calhoun. It is in the April
Movie Classic.
Lynn Fairfield has a swell story,
"The Blue Eagle — and What It Means
to the Movies"; Charles Brock waxes
most amusing in "Explaining the
Moods of Connie Bennett"; Hal Hall
writes a good yarn, "Margaret Sulla-
van's Final Interview — So She Says";
and Jack Grant is clever in "|olson
Says He's Leaving the Movies."
Mark Dowling has "Hollywood
Wastes a Fortune in Fame," and
enumerates the old-time stars whom
the public still wants to see; "Jean
Harlow Turns Author," by Gladys
Hall, is interesting; Elizabeth Gold-
beck lines up all the occasions when
"George Raft Defied Hollywood";
Sonia Lee tells about Warner Baxter's
kidnaping in "A Secret Until Now";
Don Benedict talks about the stars on
the air in "Hepburn's Greatest Rival
Is Hepburn"; Winifred Adyelotte has
"Why American Husbands Fail As
Lovers," interviewing Frank Morgan,
and Ruth Biery concludes her "Private
Life of Mae West."
Junior Actors' Guild
Election Set for Apr. 9
The Junior Screen Actors' Guild
will hold its annual election on April
9, according to announcement made
yesterday. The following ticket has
been presented by the nominating
committee:
President, Lee Phelps; first vice
president, Tom O'Grady; second vice
president, Florence Wix; secretary,
Edward Clayton; treasurer, Edwin
Baker.
For board of directors: Richard
Gordon, Major Harris, Mary Cordon,
Ed Thomas, Robert Ellsworth, Lillian
West, Field Norton, William Begg,
Frank Crane, Ed Parker, Albert Pol-
let, Herbert Farjeon, Dick Rush, Mon-
ty Vandegrift, Betty Blair.
Lois January Cast
Lois January yesterday replaced
Eulalee Ruby in the cast of "Practical
Joker," which Edward Laemmie di-
rects for Universal. Miss Ruby is now
working in "The Humbug" and the
schedule on the picture could not be
worked out for her to take her role in
"Practical Joker."
'Great Magoo' Renamed
Paramount has selected "Thank
Your Stars" as the working title for
"The Great Magoo," which Wesley
Ruggles will direct from the Howard
j. Green script. Film is scheduled to
get under way April 2.
George Stone at 'U'
George Stone was signed by Uni-
versal yesterday on an M. C. Levee
ticket for a role in "Practical Joker,"
which Edward Laemmie is directing.
PlOAConvention
Program Arranged
New York. — Officials of the
MPTOA yesterday announced ttie ten-
tative program for the convention to
be held in Hollywood next month.
April 9 the annual meeting of the
Board of Directors will be held, at
which officers for the coming year
will be elected. April 10 will find
President Kuykendall presenting his
annual report. Secretary Fred S. Mey-
er will give his report the same day,
and the members will decide upon
the place for next year's convention.
April 1 1 will be devoted to special
addresses and an open forum. The
NRA Code will come up for discussion
on April 12, with the banquet wind-
ing up the convention that evening at
the Ambassador.
Doane Short Starts
James W. Home put "There Ain't
No Justice," a Warren Doar>e com-
edy, into work at Universal yesterday.
Herbert Corthell heads the cast, which
also includes Grace Hayle, Paul Hurst,
Gertrude Astor. Alene Carroll and Nea
Beatty.
Wilton Tennis Champ
Jerry Wilton won the Radio studio
tennis tournament at the Los Angeles
Tennis Club. H. N. Swanson was
runner-up.
New Columbia Title
"The Crime of Helen Santley" re-
places "Murder in the Studio" as the
title on the third of Columbia's police-
detective series.
"RHYTHM
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SCREEN
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PLAY
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WHEN ALL
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5f MR.SAf/UKL MAPX.
CULVLR CITY.CALi:^
Vol. XX, No. 13. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, March 26. 1934
BI6 PICS JAM BRC/iDW/ir
Lack of yV K Show Windows to
Exhibit New and Coming Hits
ts Embarrassing The Majors
•WE are in receipt of an anonymous
letter. It had almost reached the
waste basket — because of anonymity
— when our eyes caught lines enough
to know that it was at least a "charm-
ing" letter.
So, despite the fact that Billy Wil-
kerson set the rule against publica-
tion of anonymous letters, the note of
charm about this particular one gains
it at least the right of mention.
It is a letter defending supervisors.
And the "charm" part comes in the
fact that it is evidently a letter from
a supervisor's secretary. Feminine.
Who could resist such an appeal?
•
"Why does everybody pick on the
supervisors?" says the letter.
"I have sat in on more conferences
than I have seen Summers. And I
have heard just as many ridiculous
suggestions from writers and directors
as I will ever hear from supervisors.
"I have seen authors take with a
meek 'yes' suggestions from a super-
visor that I knew were only feelers,
straws thrown in the wind to get re-
actions. Should the supervisor be
blamed afterwards if those writers
didn't have courage enough to speak
up and state their views at that mo-
ment?
"I have heard directors fight for
pet scenes that had no place in the
story, but only came into existence
because they had discovered a new
angle, or had a favorite line of dia-
logue. And I have heard supervisors
who knew better finally agree on these
pet scenes against their better judg-
ment because they knew the director
would never get out of their hair un-
til they did."
And so on. Goes this "charming
letter." From an experienced girl.
Evidently.
•
Bless you, my dear (we always talk
that way when speaking to the charm-
ing sex, in writing! we are not pick-
ing on the supervisors.
We know there is just as much
right in what you have written as in
all the clever diatribes against super-
visors that have ever been published.
But the whole blamed thing is
wrong!
Great books are created by ONE
mind aiming with all its force at a
single target.
(Continued on Page 2)
Mary Pickford Set
On Percentage Plan
New York. — Mary Pickford an-
nounces that she is a firm believer
in percentage deals for outstanding
directorial and acting talent, and
that when she gets under way with
her production plan, she will share
profits with those who become as-
sociated with her. There are ex-
pected to be some big surprises
when the first names are announc-
ed, because Mary already has some
interesting commitments.
Disney Sets 3 Year
Deal With United
New York. — All speculation about
the future distribution of Walt Dis-
ney's classics may be set at rest. Dis-
ney closed Saturday with United Art-
ists for a three year deal that covers
both Mickey Mouse subjects and the
Silly Symphonies.
With this off his mind. Walt Dis-
ney plans to leave for the Coast Tues-
day.
Chas. Rogers Switches
Production Schedule
Charles R. Rogers has postponed
"I Loved an Actress" and instead will
get "Here Comes the Groom" into
work as the next on the three pic-
tures remaining for Paramount release.
Ralph Murphy is busy with "Pri-
vate Scandal," so Harry joe Brown
will get "Here Comes the Groom"
into work April 9 and Murphy will get
under way on "I Loved an Actress"
later.
War Film B'way Hit
New York. — The war film, "For-
gotten Men," closed at the Criterion
Theatre last night after eight weeks
of good business, at this one house,
and fourteen weeks altogether on
Broadway.
New York. — The picture business is in for that joyous — and
also troublesome situation — of having a surplus of big pictures
coming along at the same time. The situation on Broadway, key
artery of the show world, illustrates a condition that, in minor
degree, will soon be duplicated in nu-
merous metropolitan centers. But it
also forecasts a feast of good shows
for the week-to-week houses of the
nation when the big ones get general
release.
Broadway's show windows are chok-
ed up, and the condition has the ma-
(Continued on Page 4)
Kuykendall Starts
MPTOA Meet Rally
New York. — On the first lap of his
trip to Hollywood for the big MPTOA
convention in April, Ed Kuykendall,
president of the organizatin, has left
New York to attend three exhibitor
conventions and drum up trade for
the Coast trip.
He was in Dallas this week-end;
will be in Memphis, April 1, and after
covering New Orleans on April 3 will
return to Memphis for a few days and
then start for the picture colony.
Fox Crabs 'Cigolo'
New York. — Fox has shown red hot
interest in grabbing the talkie rights
to Edna Ferber's "Gigolo." Feeling
here is that it is planned for one of
the recent importations.
U' Buys Smith Novel
New York. — Universal has closed
to the rights for a novel that caused
some bidding here, "Night Life of the
Gods," by Thome Smith.
RCA DROPS ROMBSHELL
IXTO THEATRE SITUATION
New York. — RCA dropped some-
thing of a bombshell into the theatre
sound equipment situation Saturday
with announcement of an entirely
new deal.
Features of the new plan are that
where exhibitors have first rate credit
rating and are in good standing with
(Continued on Page 41
Warners Making Plans
For New *Colddiggers'
Warners are starting early on plans
for a 1934 edition of "Golddiggers."
Earl Baldwin and Lloyd Bacon are
in a huddle over the screen play for
will have every
list doing a turn.
the picture, which
name on the Warner
Pic Interests Get
First Bond Test
Washington. — Picture interests will
learn something of the effect of the
new Securities Act on future attempts
at securing picture credit through the
fact that two theatre flotations are
now before the Federal Trades Com-
mission.
One is an action involving the
Paramount Portland Corporation, in
which $1,100,000 bonds are involved
in a hotel and theatre operation that
was to have been erected and on
which bonds are in default.
The other is the Capitol Theatre
Company, Wheeling, West Virginia,
in which $558,000 in bonds are in-
volved.
Barbara Blair Goes
Back to Warner Lot
Warners have put out the "All is
fcrgiven — come back" notice for Bar-
bara Blair, who walked out several
weeks ago after a tiff over an assign-
met. Player goes into "Dames" and
gives the studio options on a termer.
Marie Dressier Better
Mane Dressier is regaining her
strength rapidly and is due to return
to work at MGM in two months, ac-
cording to Arthur Landau, who re-
ceived word from the star yesterday.
Miss Dressier is suffering more from
exhaustion than anything else. Lan-
dau said.
New 'Glory' Preview
New York. — Columbia, still unable
to make up its own mind about "No
Greater Glory," has set if for a test
preview at the Bijou Theatre, Spring-
field. Mass., tonight.
Lowe Leaves Tomorrow
New York. — Edmund Lowe, dodg-
ing all interviewers in his bereave-
ment, leaves New York for the Coast
on Tuesday.
EIPTIDE'-NORMA SHEARER-Loew's Slate
—Saturday |
Page Two
March 26. 1934
llUflfeiilPOiiriR
yV. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOUywood 3957
New York Office Abraham Bernstein
Mgr„ 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat.
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
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Published every day with the exception ■••.*
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the ac* of March 3.
1879.
HVRD VICTOR IX GREAT
lATSE VNION SHOWDOWN
In spite of the Mayfair being called
off, all the other Satiddy night doings
went off — with a bang! The high-
light was the successful Temple Israel
benefit at the Pantages Theatre. All
the "promised performers" came
through — Grace Moore, with her
beautiful songs; Bing Crosby, Charlie
Butterworth and Frank McHugh with
their inimitable "Boswell" act; Ethel
Merman, Will Rogers, Fred Stone, Ben
Bernie and Ted Lewis with their bands.
Jack Oakie — just a few of those who
entertained.
Around three a.m. most of Holly-
wood was in the Colony Club, where
they spent the rest of the "night."
Glimpsed there were Lee Tracy, Isabel
Jewell, Lyie Talbot, the Clarence
Browns, Kendall Glaenzer, Lewis Mile-
stone, Liz Dupont, Nigel Bruce, Ivan
Lebedeff, Wera Engels, Eddie Buz-
zell. the Sam Jaffes, Harry Cohn, Sam
Harris — and great gobs more.
The John Monk Saunders (Fay
Wray) switched their Mayfair party
to their own domicile and wined the
David Selznicks, the Bill Coetzes, the
Freddie Marches, the )ack Woodys
(Helen Twelvetrees) , the Jack Mor-
gans, Spencer Tracy and Loretta
Young.
•
A little late — but still funny. For
the opening of "Wonder Bar," Jack
LaRue went and bought himself (or
caused to have made) a brand new,
full-dress suit — and very nice too!
He dressed in a terrible rush, he was
so anxious to get himself out in the
new suit. So by mistake he grabbed
a dress vest that he wears in the
stujos — a bright yellow one — the kind
that photograph such a nice white!
So when he got in front of those lights
at the tl\eatre — there he was in his
working vest! In other words — he
was in such a hurry to get to the
opening, he forgot he was going to an
opening!
•
We neiirly passed out at a party the
other .night when we overheard the
following conversation. A writer was
telling a certain actress that reading
certain subjects would widen her
Entire New Set-up
For the Cameramen
The Cameramen's union held a spe-
cial meeting last night, called for the
express purpose of ousting Howard
Hurd, business manager of Local 659
and storm center of the organization
for months. When the verbal fire-
works were over Hurd emerged vic-
torious and more firmly entrenched
than he has been for months.
As a matter of fact, Hurd was the
only union salaried official left on the
rolls when the meeting was over, Ed-
ward T. Estabrook, business manager,
took the floor at the very start of the
meeting and resigned. He explained
that the union must conserve its re-
sources and retrench. His resignation,
he explained, was his contribution to-
ward that policy. He was given a roar-
ing vote of thanks for his service to
the union.
After it had been decided to retain
Hurd, the board of executives then
outlined the plan for cutting the over-
head of the organization. This is what
will be done ;
All salaried employees, with the ex-
ception of Louise Lincoln, stenogra-
pher and bookkeeper, will be dropped
April 1. Thus leaving only Hurd and
one girl to run the business of the or-
ganization. The present ten offices
which the union uses will be cut down
to only three; the general office, the
board room and the office of the busi-
ness representative. The union maga-
zine, The International Photographer,
will be discontinued as the union's
publication and will be disposed of to
an outside party.
For months there has been an un-
dercurrent of feeling against Hurd
among certain quarters of the mem-
bership. It came to a head last week
when they demanded a special meet-
ing to take up the business of ousting
him.
It was the contention of some mem-
bers that Hurd was to blame for the
unsuccessful strike of last summer.
They also declared that his presence
in the organization was keeping a lot
of first cameramen from joining the
union. He had a contract with more
than a year to run. Some months ago
Ed Estabrook was made business man-
ager and Hurd was put in the back-
ground.
Last night every member had a
chance to talk. There were heated
speeches for and against him. Then it
was moved that his office be vacated.
This was defeated by a vote of 100
to 74, and Hurd was retained. Further,
he was placed back in active charge
of the union affairs, beginning April 1 .
The board of executives were instruct-
ed to meet with him and try to read-
just his contract downward.
It was indicated last night that the
union will now start a gradual buildup,
with the hope that it will eventually
regain the spot held before the strike.
scope, improve her acting, and so
forth.
"For instance," he said, "you should
read Zola."
"Okay," said the actress, "I will —
who wrote it?" ( !)
Proud Eddie
Eddie Laemmle's new office at
the "U" has an autographed photo
of Carl Laemmie, Sr., to Eddie,
which not only says some nice per-
sonal things but which adds:
" — and a director who consistently
on his pictures made more money
for Universal than any other man."
Someone has been studying the dis-
tribution records.
Billie Seward Held
Columbia has exercised the option
on Billie Seward's contract for an-
other six month period. The player
has just completed a role in the John
Barrymore picture "Twentieth Cen-
tury."
Len Daly Quits Para.
New York. — ^Len Daly, of the Para-
mount foreign publicity department,
is leaving that organization to join a
similar department at United Artists
under Sammy Cohen.
Martin Beck Abroad
New York. — Martin Beck, vaude-
ville pioneer and for a period active
in RKO theatre operations, sailed for
Europe on the lie de France Saturday,
with some mysterious plans.
Irene Dunne East
Irene Dunne leaves by train tonight
for a vacation in New York. She
will be gone about two weeks.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
Pictures are ruined by ONE mind
compromising with a half dozen half
minds on which target at which to
aim.
When the bird-shot is scattered, it's
not for us to say whether it was the
supervisor, the writer, the director, or
the office boy who nudged somebody's
elbow.
We shouldn't have so many elbows
in the pie.
SUNSHINE
STAMPEDE
By DOTE FULTON
"The real saga of Florida . . . Swell
reading."- — John Howard Lawson.
$2. MACAULAY
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
Sherman Collecting
Heavy From the 'U'
Report has it that Lowell Sherman
has collected to date in excess of
$90,000 from Universal, without yet
actually starting production on a pic-
ture.
The kick to the report is that Sher-
man is in the clear, it being said that
he hasn't refused a single story of-
fered to him for production. Appar-
ently Universal gives him stori^es, then
after a week or so of thought, takes
them away.
Director's contract is for a forty-
week period, during which he was to
make three pictures. But if the forty
weeks are up, and no pictures made,
that's just Universal's hard luck.
Stone Set in 'Island'
Lewis Stone has been assigned the
role of Captain Smollitt in the Wal-
lace Beery-Jackie Cooper film, "Treas-
ure Island," which is being directed by
Victor Fleming under the supervision
of Hunt Stromberg.
Hoffe on Barrie Play
Monckton Hoffe has been assigned
to write a treatment of "What Every
Woman Knows," the J. M. Barrie play,
which will be Helen Hayes' first star-
ring vehicle on her return to Holly-
wood. Irving Thalberg is producing.
py HOLLYWOOD xq.
PLAZA
MOST CONVENIENT
Hotel in Hollywood
$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up, D.>ublc
Special weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thingto see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
iness or pleasure.
Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "buik for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospitality"
Vine at Hollywood Blvd.
HOLLYWOOD
March 26, 1934
jH|iJMp^f.
Page Three
VIVA VILLA' OrXSTANDING
TRIUMPH OF SHOWMAIVSHIP
Should Be One of
Year's Big Smashes
"VIVA VILLA"
(MCM)
Direction Jack Conway
Screen Play Ben Hecht
Suggested by book by Edgcumb Pin-
chon. O. B. Stade.
Photography: James Wong Howe and
Z' Charles C. Clarke.
Cast: Wallace Beery, Leo Carrillo, Fay
Wray, Donald Cook, Stuart Erwin,
Henry B. Walthall, Joseph Schild-
kraut, Katherine DeMille, George
E. Stone, Phillip Cooper, David Dur-
and, Frank Puglia, Francis X. Bush-
man Jr., Adrian Rosley, Henry Ar-
metta, Pedro Regas, George Regas.
Trot out that frequently misused
word "epic." Dust off all of the ad-
jectives you haven't even thought of
since "All Quiet on the Western
Front" and "Big Parade." Dig up a
whole flock of synonyms for "stupen-
dous" and "colossal." Then shout
"Viva Villa" at the top of your lungs.
David Selznick has given it everything
that makes it a showman's picture —
including, of course, an advance legiti-
mate news campaign that money could
not buy.
Mexico should have no quarrel with
this presentation of Its Revolutionary
bandit hero. Pancho Villa, as written
by Ben Hecht and magnificently real-
ized by Wallace Beery, is a simple
soul. As a boy, he watched his father
flogged to death for the sin of pro-
testing when his lands were confis-
cated by tyrannical overlords, already
wealthy. The lad flees to the hills
and emerges a Mexican Robin Hood.
To this uncouth, untutored bandit
chief, there is only one wrong, the
oppression of peons — only one law,
death to the oppressors. His cruel-
ties are Inflicted as a child Is cruel,
without thought that there might be
another way to gain his objective.
Primitive, barbaric, death Is to him a
triviality. What matter If men die
today or tomorrow! They are des-
tined to die some day anyhow. Yet,
despite his grossness, he is essentially
a gay fellow, worshipped by all peons,
followed adoringly by his band of cut-
throats. It is a vivid, unforgettable
portrait of the man Villa that Beery
and MCM give us.
Certain liberties have been taken
with history, more by omission and
suggestion than by deviation from
basic fact. Many characters are en-
tirely fictional, others patterned after
real people. For example. General
Pascal is more than a little suggestive
of Huerta.
The simplicity of the characteriza-
tion of Villa actually vies with the
massive spectacle of the production.
In this respect, the picture Is more
than masterful. Not often Is there
maintained such close affinity between
human Interest in a character and the
grim, uncompromising horror of guer-
rilla warfare. Battles, fought by
ragged men on horseback, have a
graphic Intensity that will leave you
limp In your seat. Yet it is no slight
upon the impressiveness of Imposing
spectacle to say that the real power
of the picture lies in the humanness
Young and Old
In the lobby after the "Viva
Villa" preview — David Selznick
the center of one group of hand-
shakers on the production and, off
in a corner, courtly Henry Walthall
modestly accepting compliments
from hoi pollol.
of Villa — a glorified portrait, if you
will, but nonetheless an always en-
grossing one. Without doubt. Beery
has never given a finer performance
than his Pancho Villa.
Second only to Beery Is Henry B.
Walthall as Madero, a portrayal that
ranks with his Little Colonel of "Birth
of a Nation." Madero is the quiet,
saint-like revolutionary leader for
whom Villa campaigns and from whom
he learns his first refinements — such
as adding a "please" to the com-
mand "Shut up!" To avenge the
assassination of Madero, "the little
feller," Villa returns from exile to
stage a second revolt against the vil-
lainous General Pascal, played ex-
tremely well by Joseph Schlldkraut.
Stuart Erwin wanders through the
story as an American newspaperman
who makes friends with Villa. To
make good the reporter's false dis-
patch to his paper. Villa captures a
town, "just the way Johnny said it
was done." Chalk up another excel-
lent job for Erwin.
Leo Carrillo scores heavily as Si-
erra, Villa's lieutenant. It falls to Si-
erra's lot to commit most of the cru-
elties of the revolution, but In Car-
rlllo's hands the assignment retains
sympathy, In Itself an achievement.
The other parts are smaller, but
Katherine DeMille as Rosita, one of
Villa's many wives (he always mar-
ries his girls if only for the eve-
ning) ; Frank Puglia as Villa's father,
Phillip Cooper as the boy Pancho, Da-
vid Durand as a young bugler, and
George E. Stone as the poetic letter-
writer, all make outstanding their op-
portunities. Fay Wray has one of
the best scenes of her career, a power-
ful one, when she is horsewhipped by
Villa. Donald Cook is convincing.
Direction is credited to Jack Con-
way, to whom was given the tremen-
dous task of filming the version made
in Hollywood around the scenes ob-
tained in Mexico. No greater tribute
to his work can be made than that it
is impossible to tell which Is which,
though fifty per cent of the credit for
the picture's sweep and power must
go to whoever shot the Mexican se-
quences. And to Vorkapich must go
credit for a crashing crescendo of
tempo reminiscent of the "Birth of a
Nation" climax, when the word
spreads from hill to dale, "Villa
Wants You!"
Photographic credits are divided be-
tween James Wong Howe and Charles
G. Clarke. Together they have film-
ed scenes of remarkable beauty and
breath-taking action.
A word, too, about the musical
score of Herbert Stothart, which is in
perfect accord with the theme.
It is to be expected that "Viva
Villa," which ran a few minutes over
two hours at the preview, will be
cut again before release.
RCA Not Involved
In G.E. Investigation
Washington. — Indications in the
initial blast by a "protective commit-
tee" against the General Electric Com-
pany that RCA Photophone would be
involved are completely evaporated on
investigation.
Washington searchers have discov-
ered that RCA has no official connec-
nection with General Electric, and has
had none for the past three years, that
would involve it in the present action.
Bef-ty Compson Signed
For 'Broadway Virgin'
Betty Compson has been signed by
Major Productions for "Broadway Vir-
gin," which will be produced with Lou
Collins as the director. Dorothy Gran-
ger has been signed for the title role,
and William Bakewell plays the juve-
nile lead. Company has offices at the
Educational studios.
F. McCrew Willis adapted the story
to the screen and Joseph O'Donnell
wrote added dialogue and continuity.
The book is by Lois Bull.
May Robson Written
Into Mild Oats' Script
MGM is changing the script of
"Mild Oats," based on the novel by
Florence Ryerson and Colin Clements,
■and is writing in an important role
for May Robson. The script is being
written by Edgar Allan Woolf and
Florence I^yerson.
The cast will Include Henry Wads-
worth, Tom Brown, Mary Carlisle,
Jean Parker and Una Merkel.
John Lodge Returns
John Lodge, leading man for Mar-
lene Dietrich in "Scarlet Empress,"
returns Saturday after a four-weeks
trip East, where he settled his busi-
ness affairs to permit him to remain
on the Coast indefinitely. Paramount
has an option on his services for a
long term ticket.
Para. Signs Dance Team
Paramount has signed the dancing
team of Veioz and Yolanda, now ap-
pearing with the Ted Florito orches-
tra at the Cocoanut Grove, to appear
in "Many Happy Returns," the Burns
and Allen picture, which Norman Mc-
Leod is directing
Claire Trevor a Star
Fox jumps Claire Trevor to star bill-
ing on her next assignment. Sol
Wurtzel has set Lester Cole to write
an original yarn with a Shanghai back-
ground for her, and George Marshall
will direct It.
U' Finds a New Bet
Universal believes it has discovered
a bet in Aleta Freel, of the local
stage version of "Double Door." Stu-
dio is testing her for a long term deal.
Geneva Mitchell at Col.
Columbia Saturday signed Geneva
Mitchell to a long term contract. Play-
er has not been assigned to a picture
as yet.
yi l/PTOTHEjftlNi/TE
ASTINC Kl».c
Robert Creig in "Cock-Eyed Cava-
liers," at Radio.
Anita Louise for "Du Barry" at
Warners, through the Joy and Polimer
office.
Olin Howland by Paramount for the
Charles R. Rogers picture, "Private
Scandal."
Warren Hymer for the Mae West
picture, "It Ain't No Sin," at Para-
mount,
Leila Bennett by Warners for the
Ruby Keeler-Dick Powell picture,
"Dames." The William Morris office
set the player.
Marion Clayton for "Barretts of
Wimpole Street" at MGM
Columbia Finishing
3 Pictures This Week
Three pictures will finish at Colum-
bia this week. They are the John
Barrymore picture, "Twentieth Cen-
tury," with Carole Lombard in the
feminine lead; "The Party's Over,"
with Stuart Erwin and Ann Sothern
sharing top honors, and "The Most
Precious Thing in Life," with Donald
Cook and Jean Arthur.
Hyman and Berke Deal
For Eight Features
Marc Hyman, of Standard Cinema
Finance and backer of Famous Au-
thors Productions, is negotiating with
William Berke to produce eight fea-
tures for state right company.
Berke, located at RKO-Pathe, is
producing a group of pictures for him-
self and IS expected to take on the
extra series outside of his present ac-
tivity.
Lead for jean Parker
Jean Parker has been set by MGM
for the lead in "Student Tour," an
or;ginal story by George Seton and
Arthur Bloc'n, with Charles Butter-
worth and Jimmy Durante playing fea-
tured roles. Charles Reisner will di-
rect under the production wing of
Monta Bell.
Xleopatra' Changes
Paramount made two shifts in the
cast of the deMille picture, "Cleo-
patra," Saturday, borrowing Arthur
Hohl from Warners and signing Ian
MacLaren, free lancer, to fill the spots
vacated by Clay Clements and Charles
Middleton.
Notables at Para.
Paramount entertained two notables
Saturday. Governor Wilbur Cross, of
Connecticut, and Mayor Louis Mar-
cus, of Salt Lake City, did the rounds
at the studio. Besides being the may-
or, Marcus operates the Marcus thea-
tre group in Salt Lake.
New Rogers Title
Charles R. Rogers has set "The
Woman God Forgave" as the release
tag on the Frances Marion story, "Liz-
zie Skerritt," which he is making at
Paramount.
Orsatti Back at Desk
Recuperated from his recent tonsil
operation, Frank Orsatti reported back
to his agency desky Saturday.
Page Four
THE
March 26. 1934
COLUMBIA'S *OXE WAS GUILTY'
ANOTHER OF THOSE THINGS
Never Rises Above
Mediocrity Level
"ONE WAS CUIITY"
(Columbia)
Direction Lambert Hillyer
y. Screen Play Harold Shumate
/ Photography John Stumar
Cast: Ralph Bellamy, Shirley Grey,
Willard Robertson, Lita LaRoy, Vin-
cent Sherman, Ralph Remley.
"One Was Guilty" is just one of
those things that have to be put over
on the other side of the Columbia
ledger to make up for the occasional
Frank Capra picture that goes on the
right side. It's a mystery, but at the
conclusion the only mystery is why the
talents of Ralph Bellamy, a good
trouper, were wasted on such incon-
sequential mediocrity, and why a ca-
pable director like Lambert Hillyer was
called on to struggle with it.
Bellamy is seen as art inspector
who is given incredibly stupid clues to
unravel. The story revolves about the
murder of a heavyweight champion in
a vacant apartment, closed by a mort-
gage and a meanie old banker. Two
janitors and a radio start things going,
helped out by a constantly moving ele-
vator, which is far more mysterious
than any of the humans in the story
who are supposed to be under sus-
picion.
Shirley Grey is seen as a homeless
little stenographer who broke into the
apartment seeking a place to sleep.
Isn't that too pitiful? And, of course,
she is caught up in the web of cir-
cumstantial evidence. Rita LeRoy is
a two-timing wife, and all the inno-
cent but very suspicious characters are
eventually proven okay by Inspector
Bellamy after a series of strange char-
acters run up and down stairs and
in and out of doors like agitated
cuckoo-birds.
Incidentally, there is a thoroughly
inane romance between Ralph Bellamy
and Shirley Grey, but anything that is
said about anything in the picture
must be charged to the situations and
story which are only childish attempts
to baffle a long-suffering public.
Just take it as it comes, Mr, Ex-
hibitor. And don't say "Au Revoir."
It might be more appropriate to say,
"Good night!"
Para. Foreigners Back
New York, — Two foreign Para-
mount execs return to town tomor-
row on the Olympic, John W, Hicks,
vice-president of Paramount Interna-
tional Corporation, and Morris Simp-
son, special representative of the same
corporation,
Mike Simmons East
Mike Simmons, completing his
writing trick with Edward Small on
"Catalina," boarded a plane for New
York to arrange for the production
of a play.
Agnes deMille Here
Agnes deMille reached town Sat-
urday night from London. Today she
takes a featured spot in "Cleopatra,"
at Paramount.
Was He Mortified?
Louis B. Mayer received the fol-
lowing wire from Jimmy Durante
as the latter left Albuquerque, en
route East: "What a time getting
away. They tore the clothes off
my back. In fact I got on the
train in tatters, but finally got away
from the Indians without buying a
blanket."
Paramount Puts Up
Bars Against Visitors
Paramount today installs stringent
pass regulations which will elimi,nate
all visitors from the plant and allow
admittance only to people doing busi-
ness with the studio.
The lot has become so crowded re-
cently that pictures have been delayed
by visitors on the stages and in the
lunch room getting in the way of
players. Several extra studio police-
men have been hired to enforce the
new regulations.
Universal Sets One
"Bread Upon the Waters" will be
the next Stanley Bergerman produc-
tion at Universal on the completion of
"Embarrassing Moments," now in
work. The Edith Wharton story is
being scrip^ed by Gladys Ung'^r Ches-
ter Morris will probably have thr lead,
with no director set as yet.
No New 'Crows' Team
Educational has turned down its
thumbs on a proposal by George Mo-
ran to to;m up v/:tli Al H:rman and
replace the Moran and Mack black-
face team for another series of shorts,
Moran and Herman are said to be re-
turning to vaudeville.
'Blue Steel' Finishing
Monogram's western unit, on loca-
tion in Kernville since last Monday,
returned Saturday and will finish "Blue
Steel" in the next couple of days.
Then R. N, Bradbury, the director,
will get "The Man from Utah" into
work.
RCA Drops Bombshell
(Continued from Page 1 )
RCA they will be accorded unusual
privileges of stretching the initial
payments for equipment over a period
of time, instead of having to plank
down a large first sum on receipt of
the equipment.
Secondly, plan involves the inclu-
sion of extra spare parts such as loud
speakers as part of the regular stand-
ard equipment, and third, an exten-
sion of the emergency service for such
equipment under certain conditions
without extra charge.
An angle of importance in the new
deal is the fact that numerous small
chains throughout the country may
now find it possible to bring sound
equipment up to date with latest sci-
entific developments, a move that has
been impossible to many of them be-
cause of fear of initial costs.
Studios, on the whole, have kept
pace with sound developments, while
theatres have found the cost problem
a stumbling block.
Picture Men Now
At Capital jittery
Washington. — The representatives
of the picture industry now here were
rather jittery last night over what may
happen at the monopoly protest hear-
ings, which start before Clarence Dar-
row's Small Industry board this morn-
ing.
No one knows just what will de-
velop, as the board has kept its list of
witnesses secret, but plenty of fire-
works are expected. Another cause
for worry is that this board reports
direct to President Roosevelt person-
ally.
Pinchon Will Write
Radio's Murietta Yarn
Edgcumb Pinchon, co-author of
"Viva Villa," was signed Saturday
by Radio to write an original story
based on the career of Joaquin Mur-
ietta, early California bandit, who
will be portrayed by Francis Lederer.
Jane Murfin is supervising this pro-
duction. The deal was set by Bert
Marx of the Phil Berg office.
Ruskin on 'Florette'
Paramount Saturday assigned Harry
Ruskin to the script, "Fifty-two
Weeks for Florette," the W. C. Fields
vehicle which Alfred Werker will di-
rect. Picture is scheduled to follow
"Grease Paint," which goes into work
next week,
Sto!off-Krasna Trip
Ben Stoloff and Norman Krasna
leave today on a week's visit to Cata-
lina Island, where the director and
writer will soak in local color for the
sake of the Reliance production which
will have the resort as the background,
Alexander for 'Hat'
MGM is testing Ross Alexander,
newly signed term player, for one of
the top spots in the Constance Ben-
nett starrer, "The Green Hat," Com-
pany figures the youngster may be
another Robert Montgomery,
Estelle Taylor Hits
Miami. — Estelle Taylor, appearing
at the Palm Casino here, has been
extended another two weeks. Will
make a total of four weeks at the
one spot.
Warners Change Title
"Personality Kid" is the new label
for "One Man Woman," the Gene
Towne-Craham Baker story which
Alan Crosland directed at Warners
some time ago.
Mayer Leaves Para.
Turning in his script on "Here in
My Heart," Edwin Justus Mayer
checked off the payroll at Paramount
Saturday,
Foy Seeks New Title
Bryan Foy Saturday discarded the
title, "Life Ends," for his picture and
has posted a $25 offer for a new
tag.
Ginger Rogers in
'Divorcee' Top Spot
Ginger Rogers rates the top spot
alongside Fred Astaire in "Gay Di-
vorcee," as a result of the success of
the team in "Flying Down to Rio."
Helen Broderick gets a featured spot.
Dorothy Yost got a Radio writing
ticket Saturday, checking in at the
studio to collaborate with George
Marion Jr. on the script.
Preston Foster Set
Fox has set Preston Foster for the
next picture teaming Jimmy Dunn and
Sally Eilers, "Going Straight." Ed-
ward Paramore is writing the script,
and Harry Lachman is slated to direct
when Miss Eilers returns to active
work.
Dave Could at Radio
Radio has signed Dave Gould to
stage the dances and musical numbers
for "Down to Their Last Yacht,"
which Paul Sloane will direct and Lou
Brock will produce. Sidney Fox, Mary
Boland, Sidney Blackmer and Polly
Moran comprise the cast,
Rainger-Robin Set
Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin were
assigned to the B. P. Schulberg unit
Saturday, where they will write the
music numbers for "Kiss and Make
Up."
New Stage Production
Olson and Johnson are shaping up
plans to produce "Take a Chance"
at the Mayan and are dickering with
Lilian Miles for one of the leading
roles.
Big Pics Jam Broadway
(Continued from Page 1 )
jors worried because they fear delays
that will have some of their big bets
running into June and July weather
about the time they are turned loose
to the bulk of the customers. It's a
problem.
Here's Broadway's situation: The
Astor is tied up on "House of Roth-
schild" and no prophet in town will
attempt to say when that picture will
end its run. So that means one show
window closed.
The Capitol is tied up on regular
MGM releases, which must be played
here on date in order to turn them
loose for the subsequent revenue, so
MGM is in a spot on "Viva Villa,"
which is roadshow calibre and not to
be wasted on a routine Broadway en-
gagement. This forces MGM to make
a deal for another company's house,
the Criterion, to get a bow on "Villa."
It will open there April 6.
And then Paramount. This com-
pany has "Scarlet Empress" strain-
ing at the leash and with big ex-
pectations. With the Criterion sold
to MGM, the Rivoli booked heavily on
money-making United Artists pictures,
starting with "Looking for Trouble,"
where to put the "Empress"?
The final decision was to use the
New York Paramount, ordinarily a one
or at best two week steady customer
house, and put an extra heavy ex-
ploitation campaign behind the picture
to give it the rating Paramount offi-
cials feel it deserves as a show. The
opening date has not been set.
I
To every exhibitor in the world ... to every patron
who waits— and wonders... «i^^i<: wotJij-
\
NORMA
f^
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Robert
MONTGOMERY
Herbert MARSHALL
Mrs. Patrick CAMPBELL
in
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Written... Directed by EDMUND GOULDING
A K^tent Metro • Goldwyn • Mayer Screen Event
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RIP TIDE
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MONTGOMERY
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RIP TIDE
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W^ I L L I S
Interior decoration
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Alexander
TOLUBOFF
Fredric
HOPE
Art directors
•^
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Norma
Sl
eatet
Robert
MONTGOMERY
Herbert
MARSHALL
RIP TIDE
. an emotion in woman,
stronger than her intel-
lect, stronger than her
reason, which sweeps
her on irresistibly!
An M*G*M Picture
Norma
eatct
Robert
MONTGOMERY
RIP TIDE
with
Herbert Marshall
Mrs. Patrick Campbell
Skeets Gallagher
Ralph Forbes
Lilyan Tashman
Arthur Jarrett
Earl Oxford
Helen Jerome Eddy
George K. Arthur
Marilyn Spinner
Phillis Coghlan
Howard Chaldecott
Halliwell Hobbes
• • •
Recording Director :
DOUGLAS SHEARER
Art Direction: ALEX-
ANDER TOLUBOFF &
FREDRICHOPE«Gowns
by ADRIAN • Photo-
graphed by RAY JUNE,
A. S. C. • Film Editor:
MARGARET BOOTH
Musical Score by HER-
BERT STOTHART
Interior Decorations
by EDWIN B. WILLIS
• • •
teat M • G • M
EEN EVENT
Written . . . Directed by
EDMUND GOULDING
RAY JUNE,A.s.c.
photographed
Norma
Sl
entcc
tn
RIP TIDE
An M • G • M Picture
Negative by
SMITH & ALLER, Ltd-
Pacific Coast Distributor*
I
To every exhibitor in the world ... to every patron
who waits— and v/ondeis ... fuaaic watdj-
NORMA
C/WoAiLX
Robert
MONTGOMERY
Herbert MARSHALL
Mrs. Patrick CAMPBELL
m
m mi
Written... Directed by EDMUND GOULDING
A L^tea^t Metro • Goldwyn • Mayer Screen Event
I
I
March 26, 1934
Page Seventeen
■^ around
Well, the Joyces were finally re-
turned to you, America; and, save for
an occasional broad "a" and some new
clothes, they are just the same. . .
The Charlie Laughtons, the Jack Vo-
tions, Bill O'Bryan, Bill Linnitt and
the Harold Youngs amongst those see-
ing them off — and quite a mob of
people did not show up, all on ac-
count of the fact that they had al-
ready been to the station three times
before on one of those Joyce alarms.
. . . Pierre Fresnay, French actor, will
take over the Noel Coward part, op-
posite Yvonne Printemps in "Conver-
sation Piece." . . . Greta Nissen re-
hearsing for the new Nelson Keys re-
vue and Al Kaufman sending his re-
gards to the latter — in memory of
happy early Plaza days. . . . Diana
Cotton and Glennis Lordner selling
victrola records for the Trade Charity
show.
Howard Welch at the Florida early
in the morning. . . . Billy Watts, fea-
tured player here, is currently filming
his sixth consecutive newspaper re-
porter role — 'twould appear Mister
Watts must be a pretty good screen
scribe. . . Doris Zinkeisen completed
the costumes for Anna Neagle's "Nell
Gwynne" film, in spite of the fact
that she is terribly ill in bed. . . .
Harold M. Young threw a spaghetti
party the other night for a bunch of
Hollywoodians in town. . . . Irving
Asher brought along Laura LaPlante.
. . . Arthur Hornbeck no sooner got
in to town when he was hurried from
his train over to another platform to
say goodbye toother Hollywood home-
scrammers. . . . Tim Whelan sending
deputies to meet Fred Newmeyer —
no, we don't mean the cops — but Tim
couldn't get along himself.
•
Herbert Wilcox took a look-see at
"Cat and the Fiddle," and so did Vic-
tor "I Was a Spy" Savile. . . . Inci-
dentally Bill Howard did his best to
get a spot of movement into Jeanette
MacDonald's lift song in this pic —
idea being, if you can't move the ar-
tiste move the background, huh? . . .
Elsa Lanchester says this column
should be written in English and not
hooey American. . . . Okay, Elsa, why
don't you come up and write it for us
some time? . . . Val Guest, in an at-
tempt to talk to a girl friend at the
Mayfair, was accidentally put through
to Mae Murray, and the conversation
was vurry, vurry funny. . . . Jimmie
Barker's party the other evening got
its full quota of Californians, Lloyd
Knechtel, Wee Georgie Harriss, Rae
Dagette and Bob Wyler all present;
not forgetting the Dorchester dames!
. June has taken over the Lili
Damita role in the musical show
"Here's How!" . . . Says Leslie (Uni-
versal) Williams: "When he's good
he's very, very good; when he's bad,
he's bader — Dave Bader!!" ouch!!
•
1 Marian Marsh (and Momma) have
[gone to Paris for a short vacation. . . .
A bunch of the boys telephoned John
Paddy Carstairs at 4 a.m. and put an
American girl on the line, who told
Paddy it was Joan Marsh — that she'd
French Organize
Against Foreigners
Paris. — Seven federations compris-
ing all the branches of the French
film trade, producers, directors, etc.,
formed some months ago a national
syndicate. The co-operation will now
be conducted still more closely since
the seven, a few days ago, decided to
form a national board in which each
federation is represented by two mem-
bers. President of the executive board
is Andre Berthomieu.
It will be one of the objects of the
Union to protect the French producers
from being outnumbered by foreign-
ers. This, however, does not mean
that France is opposed to the co-
operation with foreigners, but that
she wants to regulate the labor engag-
ed in the French film trade.
LaCuardia May Drop
Theatre Bar for Kids
New York. — If motion picture the-
atre owners will follow the advice of
Mayor LaGuardia, there is a chance
that the present law, prohibiting chil-
dren under 16 from attending picture
theatres unless accompanied by par-
ents, will be amended.
The Mayor, speaking at a meeting
of the ITOA at the Hotel Astor, de-
clared he will sponsor an amendment
permitting youngsters to attend thea-
tres alone on afternoons and holidays
if the theatres will maintain matrons
and only show certain types of pic-
tures.
Society Girl for Pix
London. — Sam Spiegel, of British
and Continental Films, has signed
Penelope Dudley Ward to play oppo-
site Emil Jannings in a picture to be
made at Elstree in April. Story is by
the French dramatist, Yves Mirande,
with a British script by Guy Bolton.
Miss Ward is an 18-year-old society
girl.
Double Board Duties
New York. — The Code Authority is
now trying to set up a provision
whereby all local grievance boards will
become compliance boards with power
to hear complaints on pictures,
vaudeville, burlesque, etc. This would
obviate the necessity for maintaining
the present State compliance boards.
just arrived, and how was he and when
could they get together. Paddy al-
most fell for it — until he realized that
the girl said "Joan" and not "Jo-an"!!
. . . Gertie Lawrence and dotter off to
Majorca for a holiday, prior to Gertie's
going into a legit show with Junior
Fairbanks. . . . The Owen Nares boys
dancing at the Cafe de la Paix of an
evening. . . . Raymond Griffith went
to the olden time music hall show
here but got a bigger kick out of the
street beggars' warblings. . . . Gibson
Gowland and his press agent at
"outs." . . . Columbia getting behind
"It Happened One Night" with a good
press splurge.
THE REASON
CABLEGRAM
Jerusalem
March 23rd. 1934
MCLEVEE
Hollywood,
JUST RETURNED TO HOTEL FROM WAIL-
ING WALL Stop MET MANY PROFES-
SIONAL WAILERS REPRESENTING HOLLY-
WOOD AGENTS Stop YOUR MAN NOT
THERE THEREFORE WILL STICK WITH
YOU Stop LOVE BUT NO KISSES
SIGNED
MERVYN LEROY
THE LEVEE MANAGEMENT OFFERS;
Personal Representation
(And I mean Personal)
Business Administration
Secretarial Service
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity & Exploitation
♦
Bruce Cabot and George E. Stone
Will Tell You WHY they are "Levee" clients
N FRIDAY'S
Kren
Page Eighteen
March 26, 1934
PRODUCTION DROPS WITH 36 IN WORK THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 45 LAST WEEK
BAROMETER
This Week 36 Features
Last Week 45 Features
Year Ago 27 Features
Two Years Ago 26 Features
Columbia
'•THE PARTY'S OVER"
Cast: Stuart Erwin, Ann Sothern, Ar-
line Judge, Patsy Kelly, Chick
Chandler, Billy Bakewell, Esther
Muir, Rollo Lloyd, Henry Travers,
Catharine Ducet, Mary Forbes, Ar-
thur Rankin.
Director Walter Lang
Play by Daniel Kussell
Screen Play S. K. Lauren
Photography John Stumar
Producer Felix Young
"ONE NIGHT OF LOVE "
(Tentative Title)
Cast: Grace Moore, Tuilio Carminati,
Lyie Talbot, Luis Alberni, Andreas
de Segurola, Sam Hayes, Rose Ma-
rie Closz, Henry Armetta, Jessie
Ralph.
Director Victor Schertzinger
Original Charles Beahan
and Dorothy Speare
Screen Play: S. K. Lauren, Edmund
North and James Cow.
Photography Joseph Walker
Associate Producer....Everett J. Riskin
Fox
"CALL IT LUCK"
Cast: Herbert Mundin, Pat Paterson,
Charles Starrett, Georgia Caine,
Gordon Westcott, Theodore von
Eltz, Ernest Wood, Susan Fleming,
Ray Mayer,
Director James Tinling
Original Story: Dudley Nichols, George
Marshall.
Adaptation: Joseph Cunningham and
Harry McCoy.
Screen Play: Dudley Nichols and La-
mar Trotti.
Dance Director Sammy Lee
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer John Stone
"THE WORLD MOVES ON"
Cast: Madeleine Carroll, Franchot
Tone, Ferdinand Schumann-Heink,
Raul Roulien, Reginald Denny, Sieg-
fried Rumann, Stepin Fetchit, Bren-
da Fowler, Marcelle Corday, Barry
Norton, Dudley Digges, Frank Mel-
ton, Russell Simpson, Ivan Simpson,
Jose Mojica, Lumsden Hare, Wal-
ter McCrail, Charles Bastin, Louise
Dresser, Frank Morgan, George Irv-
ing.
Director John Ford
Story and Screen Play —
Reginald Berkeley
Photography George Schneiderman
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"CHANGE OF HEARTS"
Cast: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell,
James Dunn, Beryl Mercer, Ginger
Rogers, Gustav von Seyffertitz,
Irene Franklin, Fiske O'Hara, Jane
Darwell, Nella Walker, Drue Ley-
ton, Kenneth Thomson, Mary Carr,
Barbara Barondess.
Director John BIystone
Story Kathleen Norris
Screen Play Sonya Levien
and James Gleason
Add. Dialogue Samuel Hoffenstein
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"NOW I'LL TELL"
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Alice Faye, Helen
Tweivetrees, Hobart Cavanaugh, G.
P. Huntley, Jr., Barbara Weeks,
Robert Cleckler, Clarence Hummel
Wilson, Ray Cook, Frank Marlovi/e,
Theodore Newton Jr., Clarence Wil-
son, Vince Barnett, Jim Donlon.
Director Edwin Burke
Story Mrs. Arnold Rothstein
Screen Play Edwin Burke
Photography Ernest Palmer
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"MERRY ANDREW"
Cast: Will Rogers, Peggy Wood, Mary
Carlisle, Paul Harvey, Frank Melton,
Roger Imhof, Robert Taylor, Grace
Goodall, Jessie Pringle.
Director David Butler
Based on Play by Lewis Beach
Adaptation Kubec Glasmon
Screen Play William Conselman
and Henry Johnson
Lyrics William Conselman
Music Richard Whiting
Photography Arthur Miller
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW"
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan, Grace Bradley.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Walter Lundin
Producer Harold Lloyd
MOM
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Douglas Dumbrille, Four Mills
Brothers, Jay Lloyd, Russell Hardie,
Willard Robertson, Ted Healy, Reg-
maid Barlow, Francis McDonald,
Katharine Alexander, Belle Daube,
Fuzzy Knight, Henry Wadsworth,
Jean Parker, Wade Boteler, Mar-
jorie Gateson, Walter Long.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play: Harvey Thew, Zelda
Sears and Eve Green.
Photography George Folsey
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katherine
Alexander.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen PIsy Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography Milton Brown
Producer Irving Thalberg
"SADIE McKEE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Esther Ralston,
Jean Dixon, Franchot Tone, Edward
Arnold, Akim Tamlroff, Gene Aus-
tin, Leo White, Leo Carroll, Earl
Oxford.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Vina Delmar
Screen Play John Meehan
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Lawrence Weingarten
"MANHATTAN MELODRAMA"
Cast: Clark Gable, William Powell,
Myrna Loy, Nat Pendleton, Muriel
Evans, Isabel Jewell, Tommy Jack-
son.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Story Arthur Caesar
Screen Play Oliver H. P. Garrett
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer David O. Selznick
"TREASURE ISLAND"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger,
Lewis Stone, Cora Sue Collins, Dor-
othy Peterson.
Director Victor Fleming
Novel Robert Louis Stevenson
Adaptation John Lee Mahin
Photography Ray June
Producer Hunt Stromberg
Paramount
"MANY HAPPY RETURNS"
Cast: George Burns, Gracie Allen, Joan
Marsh, George Barbier, Ray Milland,
Egon Brecher, William Demarest,
Franklyn Pangborn, Morgan Wal-
lace, Guy Lombardo, Larry Adier.
Director Norman McLeod
Original Lady Mary Cameron
Music Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Sam Coslow
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer William LeBaron
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
Cast: Carl Brisson, Victor McLaglen,
Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Lona
Andre, Toby Wing, Dorothy Stick-
ney, Jessie Ralph, Charles B. Mid-
dleton, (liertrude Michael, Gail Pat-
rick, Otto Hoffman, Charles Mc-
Avoy, Donald Meek, Beryl Wallace,
Colin Tapley, Barbara Fritchie.
Director Mitchell Leisen
Original Earl Carroll
and Rufus King
Screen Play Carey Wilson
and Joseph Gollomb
Dialogue Sam Hellman
Music and Lyrics Sam Coslow
and Arthur Johnston
Photography Leo Tover
Producer E. Lloyd Sheldon
"DOUBLE DOOR"
Cast: Kent Taylor, Evelyn Venable,
Mary Morris, Ann Revere, Sir Guy
Standing, Virginia Howell, Frank
Dawson, Helen Shipman, Leonard
Carey, Colin Tapley, Ralph Rem-
ley, Caruth, Halliwell Hobbes.
Director Charles Vidor
Origmal Elizabeth McFadden
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Pi'oducer E. Lloyd Sheldon
"THE WITCHING HOUR"
Cast: Tom Brown, Judith Allen, John
Halliday, Richard Carle, Sir Guy
Standing, Olive Tell. John Larkin,
Ralf Harolde, Frank Sheridan. Pur-
nell Pratt, William Frawley, Henry
B. Walthall. Robert Littlefieid,
Gertrude Michael. Ferdinand (3ott-
Schalk, Guy Usher, George Webb,
Ernest Hilliard, Arthur Stuart Hull[
Howard Lang.
Director Henry Hathaway
0'''g'"a' Augustus Thomas
Adaptation Salisbury Field
Screen Play Anthony Veiller
Photography Ben Reynolds
Producer Bayard Veiller
"THIRTY DAY PRINCESS "
Cast: Sylvia Sidney, Gary Grant, Ed-
ward Arnold, Vince Barnett, Ray
Walker, Henry Stephenson, Mar-
guerite Namara, George Baxter, Lu-
cien Littlefieid, Robert McWade,
Robert Homans, William Augustin,
Dick Rush, Ed Dearing, J. Merrill
Holmes, Edgar Norton, Eleanor
Wesselhoeft, Bruce Warren, Wil-
liam Arnold, Thomas Monk.
Director Marion Gering
Original. ...Clarence Budington Kelland
Screen Play Preston Sturges
and Frank Partos
Adaptation and Dialogue: Sam Hell-
man and Edwin Justus Mayer.
Photography Leon Shamroy
Producer B. P. Schulberg
"CLEOPATRA"
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Henry Wil-
coxson, Warren William, Ian Keith.
Charles D. Middleton, Clay Clem-
ent, Leonard Mudie, Irving Pichel,
Gertrude Michael, Eleanor Phelps,
C. Aubrey Smith, John Rutherford,
Edwin Maxwell, Robert Warwick,
Joseph Schildkraut, Claudia Dell,
Grace Durkin.
Director Cecil B. DeMille
Adaptation Bartlett Cormack
Screen Play Waldemar Young
and Vincent Lawrence
Photography Victor Milnor
Producer Cecil B. DeMille
"HALF WAY DECENT"
Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Dorothy Dell,
Charles Bickford, Shirley Temple.
Lynn Overman, Jack Sheehan, Sam
Hardy, John L. Kelly, Warren Hy-
mer, Frank McGlynn, Sr., Gary Ow-
en, Sleep 'n Eat, Puggy White,
Tammany Young, Edward Earle,
Frank Conroy, James Burke, Lu-
cille Ward, Craufurd Kent.
Director Alexander Hall
Original Damon Runyon
Screen Play: William R. Lippman, Sam
Hellman, Gladys Lehman.
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Al Gilks
Producer B. P. Schulberg
March 26. 1934
Page Nineteen
"IT AINT NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John
Miljan, Katharine DeMille, James
Donlan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke Ellington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown, Stu-
art Holmes, Harry Woods, Edward
Cargan,
Director Leo McCarey
Original Screen Play Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthur Johnston and
Sam Coslow.
Photography Karl Struss
Producer William LeBaron
"PRIVATE SCANDAL"
(Charles R. Rogers)
Cast: Zasu Pitts, Mary Brian, June
Brewster, Phillips Holmes, Ned
Sparks, Lew Cody, Harold Wal-
dridge, Charles Sellon, Jed Prouty,
Rollo Lloyd, George Cuhl, Charles
B. Middleton, John Qualen, Hans
Joby, Greta Meyer, Christian Rub,
Bill Franey.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original Vera Caspary
and Bruce Manning
Adaptation: Brian Marlow, Agnes
Christine Johnson and Joseph Col-
lomb.
Screen Play Garrett Fort
Photography Milton Krasner
RKO-Radio
"OF HUMAN BONDACE"
Cast: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis,
Reginald Denny, Alan Hale, Regi-
nald Sheffield, Frances Dee, Kay
Johnson, Reginald Owen.
Director John Cromwell
Original W. Somerset Maugham
Screen Play Lester Cohen
Photography Henry Cerrard
Associate Producer. Pandro S. Berman
United Artists
Twentieth Century
"THE LAST GENTLEMAN"
(Rehearsing)
Cast: George Arliss, Janet Beecher,
Edna May Oliver, Ralph Morgan,
Rafaela Ottiano, Charlotte Henry,
Edward Ellis, Frank Albertson, Don-
ald Meek, Joseph Cawthorn Harry
C. Bradley.
Director Sidney Lanfield
Story Katherine Clugston
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Associate Producers: William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith.
"BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES
BACK"
Cast: Ronald Colman, Loretta Young,
Warner Oland, Charles Butterworth,
Arthur Hohl, Mischa Auer, George
Regas, Halliwell Hobbes, Una Mer-
kel, C. Aubrey Smith, Ethel Grif-
fies, Douglass Gerrard, E. E. Clive.
t>irector Roy Del Ruth
Original H. C. McNeille
Screen Play Nunnally Johnson
Photography Peverell Marley
Associate Producers. -William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith
Universal
"AFFAIRS OF A GENTLEMAN"
Cast: Paul Lukas, Leila Hyams, Lilian
Bond, Dorothy Burgess, Joyce
Compton, Phillip Reed, Onslow Ste-
vens, Murray Kinnell.
Director Edwin L. Marin
Story Edward and Edith Ellis
Screen Play Cyril Hume
Dialogue Peter Ruric
Photography Johnny Mescall
Associate Producer.. ..Edmund Grainger
"THE PRACTICAL JOKER"
Cast: Chester Morris, Marion Nixon,
WaJter Woolf, Henry Armetta, Alan
Mowbray, John Wray.
Director Edward Laemmie
Original Wm. Anthony McGuire
Screen Play Charles Logue
Photography Charles Stumar
Associate Producer. .Stanley Bergerman
"THE HUMBUG"
Cast: Nils Asther, Gloria Stuart, Paul
Kelly, Renee Gadd, Alan Dinehart,
Russ Brown.
Director Max Marcin
Associate Director Dan Venturini
Play and Screen Play Max Marcin
Photography Gilbert Warrenton
Associate Producer E. M. Asher
"ALIAS THE DEACON"
Cast: Berton Churchill, Sally Blane,
Joel McCrea, Russell Hopton, Spen-
cer Charters, Alexandra Carlisle,
Mickey Rooney, Gay Seabrook.
Director Kurt Neumann
Play Leroy Clemen
and John B. Hymer
Screen Play Earl Snell
and Clarence Marks
Photography George Robinson
Associate Producer. .Edmund Grainger
"LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?"
Cast: Margaret Sullavan, Douglass
Montgomery, Alan Hale, Mae
Marsh, Fred Kohler, Tom Ricketts,
Catherine Doucet, DeWitt Jennings,
Torben Meyer, Frank Reicher, Bodil
Bosing, George Meeker.
Director Frank Borzage
Play Hans Fallada
Screen Play....Wm. Anthony McGuire
Photography Norbert Brodine
Producer Frank Borzage
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby,
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers, Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren.
Directors Ray En right
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"OLD DOLL'S HOUSE"
Cast: Richard Barthelmess, Helen
Chandler, Ann Dvorak, Helen Low-
ell, Boothe Howard, Harry Tyler,
Henry O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Eric
Wilton, Paul Hurst, Vincent Sher-
man.
Director Alan Crosland
Story Damon Runyon
Screen Play Warren Duff
Photography William Rees
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"THE DARK TOWER"
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Mary As-
tor, Ricardo Cortez, Louis Calhem,
John Eldridge, Arthur Byron, Mae
Clarke, Margaret Dale, Virginia Sale,
Harry Tyler, Daivd Landau, Henry
O'Neill, Emily Fitzroy, Dorothy
Tree.
Director Archie Mayo
Based on Play by: George S. Kaufman
and Alexander Woollcott.
Screen Play Tom Reed and
Niven Busch
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Robert Lord
"MADAME DU BARRY"
Cast: Dolores Del Rio, Reginald Owen.
Veree Teasdale, Osgood Perkins,
Helen Lowell, Victor Jory, Henry
O'Neill, Ferdinand Gottschalk, "Fa-
rina."
Director Wilhelm Dieterle
Original Screen Play. .Edward Chodorov
Photography Sol Polito
Supervisor Henry Blanke
Independent Productions
Mayfair
(Darmour Studio)
"BADGE OF HONOR"
Cast: Larry Crabbe, Ruth Hall, Ralph
Lewis, Jack Trent, Broderick O'Far-
rell, Betty BIythe.
Director Spencer Bennett
Original Robert Tansy
Screen Play - George Morgan
Photography James Brown, Jr.
Associate Producer Lester Scott
Monogram
(Lone Star Production)
"BLUE STEEL"
Cast; John Wayne, Eleanor Hunt,
George Hayes, Ed Peil, Yakima
Canutt, George Cleveland, Lafe
McKee, Earl Dwire, George Nash.
Director R. N. Bradbury
Original Screen Play..-.R. N. Bradbury
Photography Archie Stout
Producer Paul Malvern
PROTECT
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MODEL H ALL PURPOSE
REGISTER with top plate
removed thowing me-
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1726 So. Vermont Ave.
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BRULffOLR BULLETIN
■•■4.' -\
Published Every Monday
Betcha didn't know how rich we
were . . . Joe Walker just stopped
us at lunch today and thanked us for
the quarter million dollars we gave
him (In these columns) for his work
on "It Happened One Night" . . .
Petals of posies still blowing around
Paramount account of Academy
awards . . . Harry Ensign, Ray Wil-
kinson and others of the lab gang,
sweepin' them off'n their front p.orch
where they were tossed by Lang and
Hanson . . . Hal Rosson deserting his
cameras at Emgeeem to grab a play
period at Dei Monte and making
whoop-de-doo all over Pebble Beach
course.
Jim Van Trees turned fade-out at
Arkayo and now standing by for next
assignment with only Mickey Mouse
absent in list of bidders . . . Our guess
(if we may make one) is a three let-
ter lot beginning with M and ending
ditto . . . Who said it's impossible to
gild a lily? . . . Just wait'!! you see
"Cleopatra" after Vic Milner turns
her loose . . . Henry Sharp is in pro-
duction on "Slightly Married," un-
der direction of Norman McLeod
. . . Bill Thompson who's camera'd
for Brynie Foy for the past century
or so is hard at it again on "Life
Ends" (temp title, says Lou Colder)
. . . John Nickolaus sitting in on
rushes with a certain M. C. M. direc-
tor was surprised to receive hand-
some cigarette case as a gift . . .
howcum . . . said Nick to the Direc-
tor who's famous for his tragic touch-
es of drammer . . . Hmmmm! . . .
hummed the tragic one . . . weren't
you sniffling while we ran the rushes?
. . . Nick handed the case back . . .
took another aspirin and . . . blew
his nose on another fresh hankie. . . .
Nick Musuraca . . . Eddie Cron-
jager . . . 'Winnie' Wenstrom . . .
Roy Hunt . . . arkayowers . . . stand-
ing by for the starting guns which
Pan Berman and Bill Eglinton will
pop any second now . . . A. S. C.
reaches down into the hat and pulls
cut a golf tournament . . . right NOW
... to be held at Hollywood Country
Club on April 8th . . . this probably
the first public announcement of the
affair . . Fore! . . . Follow focus, boys
and keep 'em straight down the alley.
RKO
Dave Abel
WARNER BROS.
Sol Poll to Arthur Edeson
UNIVERSAL
Jack Stevens
FOX
Bert Clennon
EDUCATIONAL
Dwight Warren
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture FUim
CAMERAMEN OX THE AIR
West Coast N. B. C. . . . Station K. F. I. . . . (Announcer)
. . . "And now the spotlight swings to Johnny Arnold . . ."
Why the spotlight in a radio station ... I don't know. I
do know, however, that Johnny Arnold, head of MCM's
camera department and President of the American Society
of Cinematographers delivered one of the snappiest and
most intelligent interviews ever sent over the ether waves
. . . and naturally Johnny talked about cameramen . . . their
work . . . their problems . . . their ambitions. He painted
a vivid word picture of camera achievements ... a picture
drawn for the public who buys tickets at the box office.
This is swell stuff . . . not alone helpful to the camera-
men but, of greater importance, to the producer who can
afford a new public or fan-interest. Building up additional
interest in photography won't hurt anyone . . . and it might
do a lot of good. These broadcasts will be repeated from
time to time and we bow to the good taste and logic of the
sponsor (not in the M. P. business) who selected John Ar-
nold for the job.
''Reunion in Hollywood"
Theodor Sparkuhl, Paramount cam-
eraman, who was loaned to Fox for
one picture, received as his first as-
signment "Gypsy Melody," which is
also initial job of Eric Charrell, Euro-
pean director imported by the Movie-
tone City bosses. Sparkuhl and Char-
rell were co-workers and friends in
Europe for many years; consequently
this reunion is a most happy one.
Charrell's directorial effort which is
most familiar to American audiences
and which brought him recognition
here is "Congress Dances." Sparkuhl
made overnight reputation for himself
on his initial camera work in this
country, which he performed for
Paramount.
Certzman Promoted
Maury Certzman, long-time as-
sistant cameraman to Norbert Bro-
dine,- has won his patiently sought
promotion, and is now operative cam-
eraman for Charles Stumar. Uni-
versal.
"Bondage"' Bows Blimp
"Of Human Bondage," RKO pro-
duction starring Leslie Howard and
Bette Davis, with Henry Cerrard
("Little Women") at the camera,
bows in initial use of the new sound
camera blimp developed and perfect-
ed by William Eglinton, chief of the
Arkayo camera department, Harry
Cunningham and their respective as-
sociates. Results up to expectations.
Looks like a nice achievement — cer-
tainly a credit to the entire camera
and technical staff at the Radio
plant.
Costumers Revived
Nothing to the rumor that costume
pictures are dead. Wheeler and
Woolsey will prove it when they start
production about mid-week on
"Cock-Eyed Cavaliers" for Radio.
Dave Abel, veteran of the camera,
draws the assignment on this one,
which leaves Wheeler and Woolsey
only one worry — that of getting the
laughs.
Haskin Moves Up
When Fred Jackman, chief of War-
ner Bros. Projection Background,
Miniature and Trick Departments,
pulled anchor at San Pedro last week
for a world cruise with his family,
his spot in the Warner-First National
plant was filled by Byron Haskin, w+io
has been associated with the photo-
graphic department of Warner Bros,
for the past ten years. Associate
first cameramen continuing in cooper-
ation with "Bun" are Hans Koene-
kamp. Rex Wimpy and Willard Van
Enger. Fred Jackman, Jr., younger
member of the Trick and Effects De-
partment staff, went along with the
voyagers and will shoot background
shots from interesting ports through-
out the world.
Mescall With Marin
Johnny Mescall will direct the pho-
tography on the Ed Marin Universal
production, "The Affairs of A Gentle-
man."
Six pictures in production here;
Jack Stevens busy with another War-
ren Doane comedy, Gil Warrenton,
George Robinson, Norbert Brodine and
Charlie Stumar directing photography
on the other four.
TRAVEL NOTE
"Treasure Island" in production at MGM being photographed by
Ray June. Present plans call for Clyde DeVinna to take over camera
work at time entire company goes to Honolulu for exteriors. Dan
Clark, sent on last month to start photography of special exterior shots,
remains in the Islands to continue at lens with De Vinna.
( NOTE : Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour. Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim. )
QUESTION:
WHEN DO YOU USE FILTERS?
DAVE ABEL (RKO) : Only when color
correction is necessary. To over-
come flatness I prefer to use an
aerial filter to increase contrast.
NORBERT BRODINE (Universal):
The use of filters is very essential
for some things; for instance, by
the use of the neutrals and 3N5
and 5N5 it enables me to over-
come undesirable contrast, which
makes it possible for us to obtain
better results.
SOL POL I TO (Warner Bros.): To
me the use of filters is a very in-
teresting subject. There can be no
definite ruling on the specific use
of certain filters. On marine scenes
I have been most fortunate in ob-
taining acceptable results with a
"G." On foggy mornings to in-
crease the separation between sky
and water I used a 23A.
BOB PLANCK (Fox) : I find it neces-
sary to use the combination aero
and neutral density filters on ex-
teriors when the scene has more
than average contrast. Long shorts
with back-lit skies sometimes re-
quire a so-called heavier filter, such
as a G or 23A.
CLYDE DE VINNA (M. G. M.) : I
make the 3N5 almost as much a
part of my camera as the lens when
shooting all ordinary exteriors. As
all cameramen know, a certain
amount of over-correction is very
pleasing on certain types of pic-
torial long shots. Especially those
showing heavy banks of clouds and
those with very decided objects in
the foreground and middle dis-
tance. I find that the heavier
types of filters are very useful in
Southern California because of the
prevalence of water haze which
generally obscures the horizon. It
is imperative that a filter be used
when shooting under these condi-
tions, especially so if the haze is
back-lighted.
JOE VALENTINE (Fox): On days
with good lighting conditions I
find that with the present super-
sensitive films very little added
correction is necessary. The 3N5
filter is a great help when the gen-
eral lighting is too contrasty.
|}nli
RKO
James Van Trees
WARNER BROS.
Ira Joe Morgan Arthur Edeson
Charles Lang
GENERAL SERVICE STUDIES
Bob Planck
5f MR.SAL'UEL MAI';.,
CULVER CITY,iJALIK.
Vol. XX. No. 1 4. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NCWS TODAY
l^ecday, March 27, 1934
DARRCW L$E$ BIG STICr
Sets Rosenblatt Down Hard
And Will Call Code Authority
Members And Sales Heads
by ROBERT WELSH
•WE hope the news from Washing-
ton concerning Clarence Darrow's big
stick massaging of Administrator Sol
Rosenblatt will be read by a few local
committees that have been entrusted
with the operation of the NRA code
in picture studios.
We have no quarrel with their de-
cisions, because they haven't made
any. We have no quarrel with their
activities, because they have not been
active. And it is even possible that,
when they do get into operation, we
would find ourselves in agreement
with everything they did.
But in all kindness of heart we
think a word of caution is needed for
anybody blissfully trying to KID Frank-
lin D. Roosevelt.
•
The Roosevelt "Big Stick" tradi-
tion is apparently an inheritance of
the name.
Leaned to Clarence Darrow, no
mean citizen himself, it yesterday de-
scended on the cranium of Sol A. Ro-
senblatt. When the master takes it
back to do his own swinging, it may
hit heads promiscuously.
And so — this word to the wise.
«
Except for the Extra Committee,
under Mrs. Mabel Kinney, which has
at least TRIED to get into action,
there hasn't been a darned thing hap-
pening in Hollywood in relation to the
NRA and the motion picture industry
since the beneficent visit of the in-
fallible Rosenblatt in our midst.
Mr. Creel, Mr. Casey and Mr Ro-
senblatt exchange politely vague tele-
grams every few days, issue them to
the press, and give another ticket on
the merry-go-round to one Franklin
D. Roosevelt.
With present indications being that
a^ perpetual motion gadget has been
hitched up to the merry-go-round.
•
For our part, when we start giving
merry-go-round rides away, we'll
avoid fellows whose very names are
synonymous with the phrase, "The
Big Stick."
Robinson's 'Mystery
Man' Is Eddie Himself
The much publicized "mystery
man" who has been engaged by
Warners to play one of the impor-
tant roles in the Edward G. Robin-
son picture, "Dark Tower," is none
other than Edward G. Robinson,
who has a dual role. We're let-
ting you in on this just to be a
bunch of old meanies.
Para. Attorneys File
To Shake Fetters
New York. — Attorneys for Para-
mount have filed a petition in Fed-
eral courts here asking that the corn-
parry be discharged from bankruptcy.
While it is the belief here that it
will not be long before a reorganiza-
tion plan is set up that will lift Para-
mount bankruptcy, the legal move
behind yesterday's plea is the fact
that a corporation has to file such an
application within a year from the
date of bankruptcy to assure retaining
its corporate name for the future.
Miriam Hopkins To Be
Delilah' in Para. Film
Cecil B. DeMille will make "Sam-
son and Delilah" as his next picture
for Paramount, following "Cleopatra,"
with Miriam Hopkins and Henry Wll-
coxon sharing the top honors.
The story is now being written by
Jeanie MacPherson.
Dove of Peace Lights
Warners and George Brent have
settled their difficulties with the play-
er back in the good graces of the stu-
dio once more and waiting for an as-
signment. Brent refused to do the role
offered him in "Mandalay" five
months ago and started suit to recover
salary due on his contract.
'ROTHSCHILD'
Washington. — The National Recovery Review Board, headed
by Clarence Darrow, and operating independently under direct
appointment from President Roosevelt, yesterday took Sol Ros-
enblatt, heretofore czar of picture code conditions, for a long,
hard ride over very hot coals. And
after Rosenblatt squirmed, dodged and
twisted on a very hard witness chair,
the meeting terminated with the an-
nouncement from Darrow that every
member of the film industry's Code
Authority would be subpoenaed before
the board for hearings starting Thurs-
( Continued on Page 2)
George Raft's Wife
Sues For Divorce
New York. — Mrs. Grace Mulrooney
Raft, wife of George Raft, Paramount
star, has filed suit for divorce through
her attorneys, Mackey, Herrlich and
Breen. The papers were served yes-
terday.
Mrs. Raft asserts that her husband
has been earning at the rate of $300,-
000 a year and that, when they sepa-
rated in 1932, George agreed to give
her 10 per cent of his earnings. She
alleges further that he will get $1 50,-
000 for his next three pictures, and
she asks $1200 a week alimony.
The reports of Raft's association
with Virginia Peine Lehmann, she
says, have caused her great humilia-
tion.
MCM-Bickford Dicker
MGM is negotiating with Charles
Bickford on a term deal. If the deal
IS concluded, player will probably get
the top spot in "Soviet."
DAYS
OF '39 BACK TO BROADWAY
New York. — United Artists yester-
day exercised its option on the Astor
Theatre until August 1, with the bet-
ting still on Broadway that this is only
the first half of a run of "House of
Rothschild" that will extend around
to the next Christmas holidays.
The Zanuck picture did a sell-out
over the week-end, with the prospects
(Continued on Page 61
New Use for Dark Houses
New York. — Crosby Gaige, in con-
junction with A. G. Montague and
Harry Levey, plans to turn vacant le-
git houses in New York into places
where programs of amateur radio tal-
ent will be offered to the public at
small admissions. If a bank okays the
deal the Selwyn Theatre will be the
first used.
Set Deal forWurtzel
To Do Big Pictures
New York. — Hollywood reports
that Sol Wurtzel would be rewarded
with greater production opportunities
have been confirmed in New York.
As a result of conferences with Sid-
ney Kent the official okay has been
given to include a number of more
expensive pictures in the Western
Avenue output, with stars, directors,
etc., on a par with the output from
the Sheehan fortress at Westwood
Hill9.
Zeppo Marx Buys Into
Bren-Orsatti Agency
Zcppo Marx became ar\ artists'
manager yesterday at a cost of $75,-
000 to hirrself, paying that sum for
a third interest in the Bren-Orsatti
firm. The office has 77 clients.
Xath' Still London Best
London — Three pictures were held
over here this week. They are Para-
mount's "Bolero"; the British film,
"Catherine the Great," which runs on
and on, and "Emperor Jones."
"The Cat and the Fiddle" went in-
to the Empire. "Blood Money" open-
ed at the New Gallery, and "Advice
to the Lovelorn" at the Tivoli.
Coward to Produce
New York. — Noel Coward is seen
behind the formation of a new stage
producing company by John C. Wil-
son, Coward's manager, to produce in
New York and London. The firm has
acquired Keith Winter's play, "The
Ringmaster." - —
Trem Carr Goes East
Trem Carr leaves by train today for
Atlantic City and the Monogram con-
vention, which will be held there April
4 to 7. Floyd St. John, San Fran-
cisco franchise owner, and |. T. Shef-
field, of Seattle, will join him in Salt
Lake City
EDWARD LUDWIG
)UST COMPLETED
FOR WARNERS
"Friends of Hr, Sweeney"
Page Two
THg
March 27, 1934
\V R WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP . Ltd
Executive Editorial OHices and Office o'
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office Abraham Bernstein
Mgr , 229 W 42nd St . Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N Michigan Ave., London, 41 -A
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Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant
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Published everv dav with the exception V
Sundays and Holidays Subscription rates
including ppstage. per year in the United
States and Canada. $10 Foreign. $15
Single copies, 5c Entered as second clas"
matter |une 4, 1932. at the Post Office
3t Los Angeles, under the act of March 3
1879,
DARROW rSES RIG STICK
OIV DEPrTY ROSEiXRLATT
Before she pulled out for N.Y. Sun-
day night, Margie King told everybody
in town that she was eastbound to join
Ceorgie Raft, and added he'd been
calling her! But you can't believe ev-
erything you hear! . . . Besides which
Virginia Peine arrived in Hollywood
last night — and JUST in time for a
long-distance phone call fronn Ceorgie
. . . an dthe love-talk was intense! . .
The big opus which was being auth-
ored by Moss Hart and George Kauf-
man ir:i Palm Springs is finished! . . .
Mary Brian, Sharoo Lynne and Mrs.
Frank Borzage are teaing for Helena
Rubinstein at the Ambassador today.
• • • Peggy Morrow Chadbourne will
be Reno-bound any minute to shed
the fetters.
The millenimum was reached when
the Bruce Cabots, the Gary Coopers,
Lupe Velez and johnny Weissmuiler
partied together Saturday night. . . .
Ben Wasson, back at his toil of being
a well-known literary agent, is back in
town after a very flying trip to Man-
hattan. . . . Why is it that when visit-
ing celebs are introduced to Mae
West, the introducers always act as
though they were doing the visitors a
favor???? We certainly can't imagine!
. . . The George Barneses (Joan Blon-
dell) have been practicing trout-fish-
ing around the house! They can't wait
for the next trip and the place is full
of hooks! . . . We're so ijig-hearted —
so here's another chance for the local
scribes to pen one of those Pollyanna
denials, but we are reliably informed
that George Brent will seek a divorce
from Ruth Chatterton — and very soon,
unless he's talked out of it again!
And as for the Herbert Marshalls —
Edna Best has told some of her inti-
mates that she is definitely through!
. . . The cretty Dorothy Martin Hill-
man Smith (Eddie Hillman's first
bride) arrived in town last night. . . .
Mrs. Jules Claenzer and Liz DuPont
borrowed Dudley Murphy's house
Sunday niffht and gave ^ huPP and
grand partv . . . marvelous Russian
food, waiters and music . , , everybody
(which means about two hundred gay
people) was there, Kendall Claenzer,
herself, looking particularly beautiful
in black, and Ernst Lubitsch, just
looking!
(Continued from Page 1 )
day morning. In addition to the Code
Authority members, the sales mana-
ger of every national distributor will
be handed a piece of paper requiring
his presence to answer searching ques-
tions.
It all happened this way: The Dar-
row committee is named for the spe-
cific purpose of hearing the kicks of
small business men in every line who
assert that various codes are monopo-
listic in tendency.
The Allied exhibitor group, and a
number of independent theatre men
who haven't been able to get to first
base with Johnson, Rosenblatt or the
Code Authority set-up in the picture
business, bided their time. And yes-
terday they walked in, flanked by an
important investigator for the Depart-
ment of Justice, with their guns load-
ed for bear.
The hearings opened with Rosen-
blatt the first asked to testify And
it was immediately evident that Rosy
was in for a grilling. After com-
plaining that the board had not con-
sulted him or his files, he asked per-
mission to make a short preliminary
address, which was met with the
statement that no speeches were de-
sired.
Rosy countered this with the state-
ment that he had never been given
notice of the meetings. To which
Darrow snapped: "Why did you come
at all, if you were not invited?"
That settled skirmish Number 1 ,
Rosenblatt then asked to be excused
until he could consult with General
Johnson, This was granted, but the
hearings ended last night with Rosen-
blatt still declaring he was unable to
find Johnson, who was resting after
his arduous labors with the auto
makers.
Russell Hardy, who has been with
the Department of Justice since 1914
and who has supervised all investiga-
tions of the industry made since that
time, was the next witness. He
stated that the Department had re-
ceived more restraint of trade com-
plaints from the picture industry than
from any other in the country — even
before the NRA was thought of.
Further questioning of Hardy
brought out the general nature of
the complaints: Inability of exhibitors
to buy product they desired; exces-
sive protection periods to favored first
runs; insistence on block booking, and
cornering of the available supply in
competitive situations by the major
circuits.
The boycott provision in the pic-
ture code by which distributors would
refuse to sell theatres that did not
live up to Grievance Board decisions
was also strenuously objected to by
the Department of Justice representa-
tive. Further testimony brought out
the fact that the Government has
brought suits against the picture in-
dustry three times, won two, and has
a third pending, "If it were not for
the NRA," Hardy said, "conditions
as now set up by the Code Authority
would again be cause for Government
anti-trust action,"
Abram Myers, counsel for Allied,
was the next witness, his testimony
aiming to show that independents had
been given no voice in the formation
of the code, and to question the ap-
pointments of R, H, Cochrane and Ed
Kuykendall as "unaffiliated," as well
as that of Charles O'Reilly, who sells
candy slot machines to major circuits.
He ridiculed the present cancellation
provisions of the code
Thornton Kelly, of the Grant Lee
Theatre, Palisades, New Jersey, and
William Biggio, of the Grand Theatre,
Steubenville, Ohio, testified as to the
independent exhibitors' problems in
competition with Fox, Warner and
Paramount circuits.
The Code Authority has an official
meeting scheduled for Thursday. If
the members and the sales managers
don't show up in response to Dar-
row's summons, he announces that "he
doesn't care," but will with pleasure
send the absentees' names on to
President Roosevelt. If they do show
up — they are in for fireworks, if the
humiliating reception given Rosenblatt
yesterday is any guide.
Steel Magnate Buys House
Palm Beach. — J, Leonard Replcgle,
steel magnate, has obtained full con-
trol of Paramount Theatre bidg. here.
Unusua Powers
Artistica y
Prepared and
^resented
Talmadge-Jones Flowers
8008
Sunset Cr. 2911
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
ir Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SCRVICE
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Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
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TICKETS ON SALE AT All AGENCIES OR
AT THE CHINE! E BOX OFFICE CI 51 8<
GEORGE ARLISS
DARRYL F ZANUCK'S production
"CHE HOUSE qf
SCHIID
WITH
LORETTA YOUNC
HELEN WESTLIY
Aj £yeiy Star m Hollywood will ^
posiiively attend this premiere ^
cioRCE ARLISS * mEDMC MARCH
IN PrsON MASTER Of CEREMONIES
Sid ^rauman's
MIGHTY PROLOGUE
Tickets for the Opening $5 ptis tax
rorULAR CRAUMAN »IIICIS THiREAFTIR
GRAUMANS CfllNESE
March 27, 1934
dU
l^iP>©[^Tl[^
Page Thre«
'FlIVISHIIVG SCHOOL' JUST FAIR;
'TELL THE WORLD' ALL TRACY
Weak Story Hurts
Otherwise Good Pic
"FINISHING SCHOOL"
(RKO-Radio)
Direction Wanda Tuchock
and George Nicholls, Jr.
Original David Hempstead
Screen Play Wanda Tuchock
and Laird Doyle
Photography J. Roy Hunt
Cast: Frances Dee, Biliie Burke, Ginger
Rogers, Bruce Cabot, John Halliday,
Beulah Bondi, Sara Haden, Marjory
Lyteli, Adalyn Doyle, Dawn O'Day.
Nice large "A's" can be given the
complete cast, the directors, the dia-
logue writers and the photographer of
"Finishing School." But the story rates
nothing more than a D minus.
Smart production in every depart-
ment only makes more apparent the
shortcomings of the plot. A lot of
talent has been literally thrown away
in attempting to breathe new life in-
to a threadworn theme. Better far to
have thrown the story away in the
first place.
The situation is this: A young girl
is brought by her mother to an ultra-
ultra finishing school. The girl takes
the rules of the institution seriously
until she learns appearances, not es-
sentials, are all that count. A hos-
pital interne working as a waiter in
a cheap hotel rescues her from the un-
welcome attentions of a Yale half-
back.
Up until this point, "Finishing
School" is dandy entertainment. Not
every picture establishes its premise
and sets the scene as interestingly.
Then comes the Christmas vacation
and the girl's parents have other en-
gagements, so she must spend the
holidays at the school. The boy hears
of her abandonment and calls to see
her. At midnight, they meet in the
boathouse — and the snow has covered
their footsteps by dawn. And he a
doctor, too.
Nor is the balance of the yarn any
more original. It is all there, the same
old familiar routine, even to the lad's
timely arrival just as the girl is about
to commit suicide. Had "Finishing
School" preceded instead of followed
"Eight Girls in a Boat" and all the
others, it might have had a chance.
As it is, there can't be much hope.
Frances Dee does a beautifully sin-
cere job as the girl. Bruce Cabot is
acceptable as the boy. Unfortunately
his playing does not make you lose
sight of the fact that it would have
been a pretty poor school that would
not have attempted to keep the lovers
apart.
That Ginger Rogers gal takes an-
other large slice of a picture for her-
self. It's getting to be a habit. Biliie
Burke is utterly delightful in one of
her characterizations of a brittle,
flighty social nitwit. John Halliday, in
for only two brief scenes, makes both
count.
Beulah Bondi scores as the head of
the school, Sara Haden does well by
an instructress, and the three school
Cocktails Offered
For Baby Star Votes
The Wampas Baby Star cam-
paigns this year set a new record.
Every Wampas member has been
deluged with letters, phone calls
and wires, asking his vote, and yes-
terday a cocktail party was thrown
for one of the candidates. An-
other example of women in politics.
Hays Meeting Just
The Usual Routine
New York — The Hays meeting yes-
terday was just as routine as a Hays
meeting could be expected to be, from
the hackneyed familiarity of the an-
nual report down to the election of
officers.
Will Hays was reelected president,
with Carl Milliken, secretary, and
Fred L. Herron, treasurer. Directors
ae M. H. Aylesworth, R. H. Coch-
rane, Jack Cohn, Cecil DeMille,
Earl Hammons, Fred Herron, Nicholas
Schenck, Adolph Zukor and H. M. and
J. L. Warner.
The report was the usual stuff
about the great job the movies had
done to take the people's minds off
the depression, the great number of
films endorsed by educators as fit for
children, and how there was no excuse
for vulgar pictures.
Rosenblatt Wires
Mrs. Kinney Authority
Sol A. Rosenblatt yesterday wired
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of the
Code Committee for Extras, that her
committee is officially to handle the
code complaints of the extra players
as per instructions of the code.
This wire was in reply to one sent
by Mrs. Kinney, asking him to clear
the tangle brought about by the visit
of George Creel, who heard complaints
against the extras committee and then
ordered Judge Lindsey to hear the
ones that have already been filed by
extras.
Radio Signs Clive and
Makes Bid for Wynyard
Radio yesterday signed Colin Clive
for a leading role in "Sour Grapes,"
at the same time placing a bid with
MGM for the loan of Diana Wynyard
for a starring role in the production.
Myles Connolly is supervising the pic-
ture.
kids are neatly played by Marjory Ly-
teli, Adalyn Doyle and Dawn O'Day.
Direction is frequently brilliant, as
are moments in the dialogue. Photog-
raphy maintains a high standard.
You will have no trouble selling
"Finishing School" to the public. But
maybe it won't like being sold if you
claim the picture is more than a pro-
gram attraction. It should have been
better than that.
'U' Picture Fast
And Full of Comedy
"ILL TELL THE WORLD"
(Universal)
Direction Edward Sedgwick
Story Lincoln Quarberg
Adaptation Dale Van Every
and Frank Wead
Photography Jerome Ash
Cast: Lee Tracy, Gloria Stuart, Roger
Pryor, Onslow Stevens, Alec B.
Francis, Lawrence Grant.
There will be enough excitement
attending the first Lee Tracy picture
to be released in a long time to carry
over Universal's "I'll Tell the World."
In addition to the natural interest,
exhibitors can bank on plenty of com-
edy, splendid direction and a story that
holds interest. The faults of the film
are entirely in the construction. It
starts with a bang, sags in the middle
and ends with a bang. The world
news reporting angle is handled with
fascinating speed, but what the re-
porter has to report — mythical king-
dom, attempted assassinations of the
Archduke, and a Brooklyn girl turning
out to be the Queen — might be better
told and presented.
Tracy is the star reporter of United
Press and he is sent to Europe to find
out why so many attempts have been
made on the life of Archduke Ferdi-
nand. He becomes enamored of an
American girl, Gloria Stuart, and trails
her around, never dreaming that he is
in love with the solution of the whole
royal mystery. How he finally learns
of her identity, persuades her to go
back to her country and be a good
queen, discovers a sinister plot to
murder her, rescues her, etc., etc., is
the story. Tracy, as usual, works at
top speed, turning in a corking good
performance.
Roger Pryor, as his rival reporter,
is a swell comedy mate, ringing true
in all scenes. Gloria Stuart is charm-
ing as the poor little queen; Onslow
Stevens is well cast as the prince, and
Alec B. Francis and Lawrence Grant
have smaller roles.
Edward Sedgwick brought a grand
tempo to his direction, which runs
briskly and effectively along. Lincoln
Quarberg let his imagination run riot
on the story, and the actual United
Press angle is good stuff. Jerome Ash
photographed it exceptionally well.
The picture will undoubtedly be cut
and compressed in the middle and
when it is it will be a pretty safe bet,
what with Tracy and the comedy.
Moss Hart Goes East
Moss Hart, who has been in Palm
Springs ever since he arrived on the
West Coast, has turned down picture
offers in order to return to New York
to write a play for Max Cordon, with
whom he already had made a verbal
agreement.
Grainger on Way Here
New York. — James R. Grainger left
here bv train yesterday, headed for
production conferences on the Coast.
He arrives there Saturday after stop-
ping off at Chicago and Kar^sas Citv
Grainger stays at the studio for about
three weeks.
mmm
New York is really an exciting place
for tourists these days, as returning
Hollywoodites will undoubtedly tell
you. There are more strikes going on
than you can wave a banner at, and
the taxi drivers break out in a rash all
over the city at once, which kind of
keeps the police wagon in a dither
over whether it should patrol Forty-
Second Street, Thirty-Fourth or the
Waldorf-Astoria. Gregory LaCava had
a cab pulled right out from under him
the other evening when striking driv-
ers pulled the doors off the taxi,
pulled the driver out of his seat and
beat him up pretty. Nat Goldstone
and his bride had to get out and walk
on the very good advice of a coupla
fellers who had just decided that New
York was no place for working taxis.
Nat and Bernie took in the Empire
State building while they were here
and Nat gave Bernie something to
remember New York by — a brand new
mink coat.
Also, an old, old custom is
about to vanish from New York.
Mayor LaGuardia has decided he does-
n't like the musicians on ferry boats,
(as if anyone ever did), and it looks
as though they'll be abolished or
they'll give the job to Symphony or-
chestras. But no Symphony will ever
collect as much for playing as old-
timers did to make them stop . .
And Jimmy Durante now finds he has
been spouting poetry all these years,
what with Alfred Kreybourg suing him
for plagiarism or may be it's alienation
of the public's affections.
Remember Nicholas Soussanin, that
F:-nd actor of whom Lubitsch made
Eu-H good use.' Well, he's a producer
and director now, and his play, "The
Hcuse of Remsen" is scheduled to
open sometime during Easter week.
James Kirkwood and Francesca Bruning
have the leads . . . Mary and Mel
Baker gave a cocktail party to intro-
duce layne Shattuck to Kirkland's fine
friends in New York and the gal stood
the test right well. Leiand Hayward,
Ruth Weston, Margaret and Bernie
Fineman, Humphrey Bogart, John
Byram, Gil Gabriel, Aline Bernstein,
Ben Wasson, Paul Gangelin, Arthur
Kober among the greeters.
After all that fine talk about not
letting their stars go on the air, MGM
is about to take advantage of their
advertising value and allow them to
do it. Clark Gable will be the first,
just for an evening. Radio agents
burn every time a star goes on the
air to be interviewed by a colyumnists
. . . free of charge . . . Note to Carl
Laemmie, Jr. What ever became of
that grand story, "One Glamorous
Night"? . . . Greenwich Village is
booming again ever since the Left
Bank hadda move back to the U. S.
on account of the dollar . . . TTiere
is more in back of "New Faces" than
meets the eye and it's the nicest ges-
ture of the year . . . Marquee sign:
"Easy to Love" "All of Me."
Page Four
THEJste^
March 27, 1934
JOKE OX AXTI-HIIRD MEI\
IX CAMERA rXIOX FIGHT
A lot of Hollywood cameramen
were laughing yesterday, and many
more were figuratively tearing their
hair, when it became known that a
considerable number of union mem-
bers who voted at Sunday night's
meeting to retain Business Represen-
tative Howard Hurd really didn't mean
to do so.
From the sidewalk conferences,
which were both plenty and hot yes-
terday, leaked the information that
many members didn't even realize
what they had done until they read
the papers yesterday morning. And
then the squawks started. But it was
too late.
It seems that the wording of the
motion that was meant to oust Hurd
from his lATSE job is what confused
a lot of the cameramen. The motion
was to "vacate the office of business
representative." A number of the boys
figured that this would create a sit-
uation whereby the union would have
no head. So they voted against it.
When the ballots were counted there
were 1 00 against vacating the office
and 74 for vacating it. And Hurd was
thus retained in office.
Yesterday there was more argument
and more bitterness expressed around
the union than in many months. Many
members who had fought to oust Hurd
were declaring they will not rest until
there is another meeting at which a
clear motion will be voted upon. The
anti-Hurd group is riled for fair and
gives indications of starting a rebel-
lion that bodes ill for someone.
Huntley Deal at W
Provides for Stage Job
Universal made a deal with C. P.
Huntley Jr., through the Bren-Orsatti-
Marx office, giving the player a fea-
tured spot in "Little Man, What
Now?" and arranging his schedule so
as to allow him to take a role in the
E. E. Clive stage version of "Journey's
End" at the Hollywood Playhouse.
Praskins Signs With
Sam Coldwyn for One
Samuel Coldwyn has signed Leonard
Praskins on a one-picture writing as-
signment. Praskins will report to the
Coldwyn outfit next week and has his
choice of scripting either the Anna
Sten picture, "Resurrection," or the
Cary Cooper yarn, "Barbary Coast."
Felix Young Assigned
Felix Young has been handed the
assignment of supervising the first
Walter Connolly starring vehicle,
"Whom the Cods Destroy," as his
next picture for Columbia, Sidney
Buchman is writing the screen play.
Radio Options Play
New York. — Radio yesterday took
an option on the Albert Hackeft play,
"Ever Afterward." Cliff Reid has ta-
ken it under his supervisory wing to
develop its screen story before the
consummation of the purchasing deal.
Stephani Novel on Sale
The publishing house of Macauley
today places Fritz Stephani's novel,
"My Candle Burns," on the book-
Stands. Author is a story associate at
Paramount.
Show Business
When asked how he did at the
Paramount last week, Ben Bernie
snapped back, "I came within
$19,000 of the house record. It's
eight months before Christmas, you
know."
Wampas Will Pick
Baby Stars Tonight
From a field of 38 candidates, the
Wampas will elect its 13 Baby Stars
for 1934 tonight at a special meeting
at the Writers' Club.
This year's election has attracted
more than usual interest because of
the unprecedented competition, in
number and qualifications of the nom-
inees. Prior to the balloting, the as-
piring young actresses will be intro-
duced to the Wampas members in a
stage presentation to be conducted by
George Landy, president. Each of the
38 candidates will take a bow and
make a personal bid for votes.
This will be the eleventh crop of
Baby Stars which the Wampas has
launched to potential film fame since
the custom was inaugurated in 1922.
Only free-lance actresses are eligible
for baby stardom this year.
Ambitious plans are already under
way for the public presentation of the
1 3 Baby Stars. A number of projects
are being considered, including a na-
tionwide radio broadcast, and a Frolic
and Ball, which may be staged in the
East this year after a transcontinental
junket for the Baby Stars on a special
train.
The Baby Star candidates come from
18 different states, from Canada, and
from England. They range in age
from 16 to 25. with an average age
of 19. They include blondes, bru-
nettes, and red-heads, with blondes
predominating. All have had some ex-
perience before the cameras, and a
number of them have had outstanding
success on the stage.
Besides choosing the Baby Stars,
the Wampas will elect a new presi-
dent tonight, settling a tie vote be-
tween Sam W. B. Cohn and Phil Cers-
dorf.
Harry Always the Cent
Hats off to Harry Ruskin. In the
Reporter of March 21 appeared a story
telling how Ruskin had rewritten the
script of Paramount's "Manv Happy
Returns" in four days. Ruskin says
that Claude Binyon collaborated with
him on that job and asks that the Re-
porter give him credit.
^ Small Borrows Gordon
Leon Cordon leaves the MCM lot
today for the first time in three years.
He has been loaned to Edward Small
for a five-week writing assignment,
to do an original yarn for William
Powell.
New Agency Starts
Forest O. Riek and Cecil B. Har-
rison have opened offices in the Pal-
mer building under the firm name of
PAX. They plan to handle publicity,
advertising and exploitation accounts.
RAFAEL CORIO
GILBERT MILLER
presented
"SEX FABLE"
at the Henry Miller Theatre, N. Y.
and after the opening featured
"RAFAEL CORIO*
because the critics said:
N. Y. TIMES — Rafael Corio, excellent as Carlos Pinto.
N. Y SUN — Rafael Corio stood out as the colorful character of Carlos
Pinto.
N. Y. TRIBUNE — Whenever the action slowed up, Rafael Corio was
on the job to keep it moving. Corio is the importation of Mr. Miller
from the French Capital, where he has been appearing in the same
play as the fiery Carlos Pinto, gave the best performance seen around
this season. He is superb.
N. Y. AMERICAN — Mr. Corio earned the continuous applause after
each of his important scenes.
N. Y. POST — The acting of Rafael Corio as Carlos Pinto is worth the
price of admission.
DAILY NEWS — Rafael Corio does honor to his native Spain.
DAILY MIRROR — The acting honors go to Rafael Corio.
BILLBOARD — Rafael Corio took the third act single-handed.
VARIETY — Excellent performance by Rafael Corio.
LADIES WEAR — You really must see it and learn about women from
that delightful actor, Rafael Corio.
♦ ♦ ♦
EXCLUSIVE MANAGEMENT:
H. E. EDINCTON — F. W. VINCENT, Inc.
Milton Bren and Frank Orsatti
. . . are pleased to announce the affiliation of:
Mr. Zeppo Marx
as a partner in the firm . . .
BREN, ORSATTI & MARX
Page Six
March 27, 1934
New Sound Group
MustCo Into Union
The new Society of Sound Engi-
neers, a group of sound men recently
formed with the expressed purpose of
having no affiliation with any labor
union, now finds itself in a spot where
the leaders and members are wonder-
ing just where their trail leads.
Due to the agreement between the
major studios and the IBEW, the lat-
ter organization has jurisdiction for
the next two years. The sound engi-
neers have been dickering with Local
40, IBEW, for some time to see what
can be done. The latest, it is report-
ed, was the ultimatum that the new
organization will have to affiliate with
the local, and that perhaps later it
may be able to get a separate IBEW
charter.
Five Added to Cast As
'Cat's Paw' Resumes
Harold Lloyd put "The Cat's Paw"
back into work Sunday, a day prior to
the scheduled start, and signed Noel
Madison, Fuzzy Knight, Herman Bing,
Michael Visaroff and Richard Cramer
for featured spots.
Madison was set by Kingston-Har-
ris, and Menifee I. Johnstone placed
Bing.
J. C. Woolf Resigns
j. C. Woolf has resigned as sales
manager of the California Studios, for-
merly the Freeman Lang Beachwood
Studios, and will attempt a venture
not connected with motion picture or
studio rental business. C. F. Kim-
ball, general manager for the concern,
will replace Woolf in the near future.
Walker for 'Princess'
Ray Walker, who is under personal
contract to B. P. Schulberg, has been
assigned a role In the producer's pic-
ture, "Thirty Day Princess," in which
Sylvia Sidney and Gary Grant have the
top spots.
Bob Doman in Town
Bob Doman, publicity director for
United Artists at San Francisco, ar-
rived in Hollywood yesterday for a
series of huddles with the U.A. group
on exploiting "Nana" and "Roth-
schild" in the North.
Ned Sparks to Radio
Upon finishing his work in "Private
Scandal" for Charles R. Rogers-Para-
mount, Ned Sparks goes to Radio for
a role in "Down to Their Last Yacht,"
studio closing the deal yesterday
through the Beyer-MacArthur office.
Now it's Official
Ruth Chatterton issued the follow-
ing statement in New York yester-
day, according to word received at
Warners: "George Brent and myself
have decided to separate."
Jewell-MCM Split
Isabel Jewell completed her con-
tract at MCM yesterday. The studio
failed to take up her option, and she
is understood to be dickering with an-
other company.
Sam Wood Starting
Sam Wood starts work today at
MGM on the filming of "One Hun-
dred Per Gefit Pure."
Tough Luck for Margie
Margie White gets the lead op-
posite the three Healy stooges in
their first Columbia short, which
Archie Cottier is writing under
Zion Myers' supervision.
MCM Unties Knot
On 'Men in White'
W/New York. — MGM has begun to
ork its way out of the jam over hav-
ing a completed picture which it is
unable to release. Because of a deal
that "Men in White" could not be
exhibited until the closing of the show
in New York the picture has been
gathering dust on the shelves. Yes-
terday a deal was closed to release the
picture out of town on April 1 , and in
New York June 1.
Erwin Set for Lead
in 'No More Ladies'
Stuart Erwin has been set for the
lead in the film version of the Broad-
way play, "No More Ladies," which
MCM recently acquired.
Lucille Watson, who was signed by
MCM to a term contract and is now
playing the lead in the stage play,
will have the same role on the screen.
Sheldon Takes 'R.U.R.'
E. Lloyd Sheldon has been assigned
as associate producer on "R.U.R.," the
Cape.k robot play of which Waldemar
Young is writing the screen play.
Mitchell Leisen is up for the direc-
torial spot.
Producers Deny
Lindsey Authority
The major picture producing com-
panies of Hollywood yesterday told
Judge Ben Lindsey, special NRA Labor
Compliance Officer, that they will not
go before him for hearings on the
more than 100 complaints of alleged
violations of the film code.
Furthermore, through their spokes-
man, Pat Casey, they put it up to
the Judge to make the next move,
telling him that he has no jurisdiction
in the matter; that the Studio Labor
Committee and the Code Committee
for Extras were appointed by Sol Ro-
senblatt to handle these problems.
Casey told the Judge that 'if he wants
to go further in the matter he must
get in touch with Rosenblatt and ask
him for a ruling as to who has juris-
diction.
"Now I w^ant a showdown," said
Judge Lindsey last night. "I have sent
word to George Creel, who appointed
me, and have asked him to get in
touch with Rosenblatt at once and get
a final decision. I have tried to be
patient. I worked out a simple sys-
tem to settle the troubles around the
table. I can go no further in the
picture code and shall wait to hear
from Rosenblatt."
One for Weingarten
Larry Weingarten has taken over
the supervisory reins on "California,"
which will serve as a co-starring vehi-
cle for Wallace Beery and Clark Ga-
ble. Ray Doyle wrote the screen
play.
'Wonder Bar's' Record
Gives it Another Week
Because it smashed house records
at the Warper Downtown with a take
of $2O,5O0;'Warners will hold "Won-
der Bar" at both its local theatres for
a third week.
Busiriess at the Hollywood house has
been good, but has not broken rec-
ords. The ticket sales at the down-
town were $1,500 over the record set
by "Forty-second Street."
Joseph Schultz, of
The Reporter, Married
Joseph Schultz, of the Hollywood
Reporter business staff, married Char-
lotte Lehman at the home of the
bride's parents Saturday. The couple
left immediately for Caliente on their
honeymoon.
Rothschild' Going Big
(Continued from Page 1 )
for the second week about $21,600,
in a house where $19,000 is real ca-
pacity. The figure will also be about
$1500 over the first week. All this
in the face of taxi strikes, riots, and
such aids to Broadway business.
Indications are the initial exploita-
tion campaign and other expense will
all be back in about four weeks, after
which weeks of only $14,000 would
show a clear $10,000 a week profit
to the producers. Ten weeks, $100,-
000 — out of ONE engagement on the
picture.
'II
ALL OF (V\Yk
INVESTMENT^)
T«-DAY
HAO PUNTV-
^YOU'LL NeVER Bf MOKCi,
WITH AN ANNUITY IN
A 816 LtftlNSURANCe CO)
.ESCHNEC CALLS
THIS FUTORE-TWCU WASTE ?
EITHfl^ iAVe ON A
ResUtAR SCHEWte, OR
TH«0 tUM9 50M INVESTMCMtS
NO LOSSES. MO WORRieS.
YOUR lNCOV\e CHECIf COMM
EVERY AAONTH BY MAIL
PlANS TO FIT y&t/K fmi\ cc^iEMCE |^J MAkDDMG
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PER MONTH 1
OC THi?-THRO TURlPT 1
STARTS SAVINS
'BE5TTHIM6
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NEVEC MIS6ED
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For details Telephone Albert Eschner, CRanite 1721
HOW IT WORKS
An Annuity is a "life income," for one or more persons, written and guaranteed by an "old
line" Life Insurance Company.
Next month you can receive your first life income check, by investing a sum of money now.
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CRanite 1721
220 Taft Building, Corner Vine and Hollywood
Fear of ghosts handicaps progress ...
than realities.
Lay the ghost of prejudice.There's no need
for fear of the double feature bogey in
the house that plays short subjects with
big box-office names., .one and two-
reel ticket -selling attractions such as
Educational is furnishing in its new era
featurettes of 1934.
^cUtcaUoixal Oa^cIa
^ have brought you such big hit
names from the stage, the screen and
radio as Ernest Truex, Helen Morgan,
Stoopnagle and Budd, Bob Hope and many
others that shine bright on the marquee.
Now they bring the triumphant return of
Buster Keaton in a two-reel comedy masj
terpiece, "The Gold Ghost."
if &d.<ijc<iXlonaji 0 vcIuajlA^
THE SPICE OFTHE PROGRAM"
Distributed in U. S. A. *
by FOX Film Corporation
\
_ present ^^
Jimmv Savo
w
IheGx^miheill^V
written and directed by
Dr.Eiigene Frenke
produced by SCREENART PRODUaiONS,/>yc
//
'^^^^vening Herald-Express
Los Angeles Even.ng ^^^^^ ^^^^^
Rating: UNUSUAL ^^.^^
g'^"'° S flavor of light ff^lf ^.^ a w°'*t'
reality, ^r. tug ,f ,n ^!^^ V^g of the
whi>e,.account of.^^,^,,y is the open-ng^ a pic;
pSrefasonat^ng^^^J^lffj^nV^u^orou^
ture that should ^ec photography and .^^^,^
situations, exceuen w- gccountmg
corr^positions, f '^^j^/the box-off.ce- ■■^^^^,^
ihe passing show. • •
considera*'®"- • ^^^.^
^^^"v^fsaWs comedy is "f/^'^t?" an screen,
'a"^'' vthTng currently on J^f iVs practiced pan-
from a^y^h'lf.rbe relished for its P" ^^
The Film Daily, New York
by PHIL M. DALY
. . . Over in Brooklyn the other
day . . a theatre shot in a com-
edy feature unannounced . . and
the laughs came so fast and
steadily that the house manager
got tired of clocking them . .
the opus is titled "The Girl in
the Case" . . featuring that fine
comic, Jimmy Savo . . . wonder
why no producer grabbed him
long ago? ... a simple sincere
note in his comedy . . he wins
you at the jump-off and holds
you to the end . . directed by
Dr. Eugene Frenke . . wonder
if it's the same Doc Frenke
married to Anna Sten . . he cer-
tainly did one masterly director-
ial job . . a gent who FEELS
comedy. . . .
c.«,„ '""*^ SHERMAN
;/°" picture deJ^^'^d '> 's. byal^L^P'^^iew
thus/asm. . %Sned to sVir the ?..*' ^ '"O"
Chap/in, if fl^ I* ever there is / "^"""st en-
statement-.b:'"°' ^>^ <n Savo ThL*° ^a" if
/he Case" and h«^'^ ^"^'' Vou see ''T^ ^ t'o'd
tain voii'ii ^"®" judep fi ^® '^e CiW .•„
technique^" ^^'^^°n.of c/nemai^c miSf 5^'"era
^"'^ ' don't wanf I '^ ^" artistic o7.I°* ^nd
P'^a'se. For^,T^ ^° «^amn thp ^ P^of'uct.of>-:
^""^ -"d Xe'nt^f'^''^^^^ Side auX'"'^ ''^ ^^
'"'• '^e^ York.
A bold departure from the cut-and-dried Hollywood technique, this
six-reel comedy brings new and welcome note to the screen. It also
serves to introduce that premier buffoon, Jimmy Savo, the nearest
thing to Chaplin this reviewer has ever seen. He has the same com-
bination of pathos and unconscious comedy that has always proven a
popular combination in those rare instances when it was found. Pho-
tography has imagination and the whole treatment is one which
'patrons will find refreshingly different. Directed by Dr. Eugene Frenke.
—BOX OFFICE, New York.
If laughter and applause may be accepted as a criterion the preview
audience thoroughly enjoyed "The Girl in the Case," a motion picture
venture conducted entirely by Dr. Eugene Frenke. ... In itself it is
pleasant enough entertainment to satisfy any audience. It presents a
newcomer to the screen, Jimmy Savo, whose pantomime is delicious
In him Frenke has discovered someone who should become a great
screen favorite. Photography is excellent, particularly in the opening
sequence in which there is superb composition. . . It is a novel offer-
ing, one that indicates that Frenke has a great deal to contribute to
the screen —HOLLYWOOD SPECTATOR.
% MR.SAVURL MAPX.
CULVER CITY,:JALlr
Vol. XX, No. 15. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, March 28. 1934
New York Heads Spend Hectic
Day Deciding Policy And hi ay
Question Darrow Authority
New York. — It was a hectic day in New York, with the
arrival of the peremptory summons to all members of the motion
picture Code Authority and all sales managers of majors to
appear before Clarence Darrow in Washington Thursday.
Authority, the sales
•IN our jaunt to and from New York
last week we were confronted with
some of the most astonishing report-
ing on pictures that we have ever
seen in this business. We saw eigh-
teen different newspaper reviews on
"It Happened One Night" in states
and cities ranging from New York to
Denver and in NOT ONE of those
reviews was the name of Frank Capra
or Bob Riskin mentioned. There was
not a single reviewer who found the
story of sufficient interest to comment
on its adaptor or originator, and
neither did any reviewer make any
mention of the direction, good, bad or
indifferent.
Maybe we asked too much in ex-
pecting comment on the efforts of the
writer and director; maybe that's of
too little interest to newspaper read-
ers; maybe the reviewers are up
against the proposition of not know-
ing where good writing begins or ends
in a picture and where the work of
the director starts or finishes and, for
this reason, skip comment on both.
•
And, too, the reviewer on the news-
paper, no doubt, feels it his sole duty
to report whether the picture is good
or bad and who's in it to catch the
fancy of the fans. The author or
director holds little interest for him
or the men and women who read his
report. If that is the situation, it's
a pretty tough one for the creators of
motion pictures, resulting not so much
from the lack of critical opinion on
the part of the reviewer, but from
the stupidity of the creators them-
selves that permits such reporting.
What's to be done about it? How
are the creators to get around such
reporting? How can it be corrected
and should it be corrected?
•
Answering the last question first
we would say that it should be cor-
rected. Writers and directors account
for 75 per cent of the production of
any picture and their work is of that
much importance. For that reason the
public should be acquainted with their
activities, should be more contented
to buy a picture written by a certain
writer or directed by a certain direc-
tor than is the case now with all inter-
est in the star. A good writer or a
good director should be a more cer-
tain tipoff to the qualities of the
(Continued on Page 2)
jack on the Grid
New York. — April 4 is the date
set for the examination of Jack
Cohn in the suit of Mrs. Emma
Cohn, stockholder, alleging exces-
sive salaries and bonuses for execs
DefXJsitions from Harry Cohn will
be introduced.
Para. 60 To Finish
May], Says Cohen
New York. — Emanuel Cohen, in a
brief talk to newspaper men here,
placed emphasis on the fact that Para-
mount will complete its entire program
of sixty pictures by May 1 .
The studio head would have little
else to say beyond giving the definite
dates on which the productions would
go into work, and a desire to place the
credit on his production aides for hit-
ting the ball in a tough year in a
manner to bring the big list of sixty
through on schedule.
Lou Diamond East
Lou Diamond, general manager of
Paramount's short feature department,
leaves tonight for New York and will
return in May. While in New York
he will line up radio talent for "Big
Broadcast of 1934," which was
scripted by Paul Moss and Jules Ep-
stein.
*Jimmy' Run Short
New York. — "Jimmy the Cent,"
Warners' latest with Jimmy Cagney,
will only stay in the Strand for about
a week and a half, with "Gambling
Lady," set in to follow.
Barry Back at MCM
Phillip Barry arrived in town yes-
terday, reporting at MCM, where he
will write the screen play for "Nancy
•Stair."
CAMERAMEIV
COMPLAINTS
Local 659, lATSE, the cameramen's
union, tossed its Code problems into
the lap of Clarence Darrow, head of
President Roosevelt's National Recov-
ery Review Board yesterday, when
Howard Hurd sent a telegram charg-
ing Sol Rosenblatt, the Code Authority
and the Studio Labor Committee with
giving the union unfair treatment.
The wire also declared that the
Code is of no benefit to the union
(Continued on Page 2)
The Code
managers, and all the king's horses
and all the king's men — the latter
meaning all the brilliant legal lights
who have ever drawn a fat fee from
a picture company — are conferring
long and loudly on just what to do.
Some of the lawyers are arguing
strenuously for outright defiance of
(Continued on Page 101
Universal Has Two
Classics on Its List
New York. — The trend towards the
classics is not going to find Universil
napping. Two favorites of long ago
are on the company's production list
for next year.
A wide range is covered by the s?-
lections — "Swiss Fam-h' Rob!nsoT"
and "Schoot-For-Scandal."
Small Gets Option on
Tibbett for Five More
Edward Small yesterday took an
Option on Lawrence Tibbett's services
for five more pictures, signing the
ticket through the Edington and Vin-
cent office.
Harris Plans Awaited
New York. — Broadway is interested
in hearing the play production plans
that Sam H. Harris will announce on
his arrival here Friday from the Coast.
WIRE THEIR
TO DARROW
New Para. Head in France
Paris. — Henry Klarsfeld has been
appointed head of Paramount activities
in France and will work under Fred
Lange, now in charge of Paramount
distribution for all of Europe.
Clayton Sheehan Sails
New York. — Clayton Sheehan, on
his semi-annual trip, leaves for Eu-
rope today to look over Fox conditions.
NBC Excuse Won't
Stop Rogers Suit
Don Oilman, San Francisco mana-
ger for NBC, co-defendant in the
Ginger Rogers suit against Sylvia for
slander, yesterday notified the player's
attorney, Harry Sokolov, that the
broadcasting chain had secured per-
mission from Radio to impersonate the
star in the interview which is the
basis for the suit.
Sokolov stated that Miss Rogers'
contract with the studio did not
include the right to grant such per-
mission and he would continue with
the court action despite the statement
from NBC.
TalSoo' Off to Europe;
May Do Pic for Korda
New York — Tallulah Bankhead
s'i's f"r London Saturday, with the
undj standing strong here thct she is
gong into a 'uddle with Alexander
Korc'a regarding a screen appearance
en arrival there.
Libel Suit Goes On
Albany. — The Appellate Court has
refused to dismiss the $150,000 libel
suit brought by Mrs. Minerva Brown,
of Norwich, N. Y., against Paramount
Publix Corporation. Mrs. Brown
charges she is the mother of the girl
depicted in the picture, "An Ameri-
can Tragedy."
Hedder Hopper Set
The Rebecca and Silton office yes-
terday concluded negotiations with
JHgdda Hopper to join the office as
associate. As an agent, the former
player will bring in a number of her
own clients.
Joe Schnitzer Here
Joseph I. Schnitzer returned from
New York Monday after a three-
month absence. His plans are indefi-
nite.
[
RALPH SPENCE-diaiogue for- "I'LL TELL THE WORLD
f r
Page Two
THE
March 28, 1934
■■■■■
inN#gfelFOICTiKi
\V. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
i^ObtRI E WELSH
Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive Editorial OHices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. •42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave , London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat,
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel
Published everv day with the exception V
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
includine postage, per year in the United
States arid Canada, $10 Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter )une 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the ac' of March 3.
1879
One of the town's better-known
medicos had his slumbers disturbed
around 4 o'clock the other morning, we
hear — but that's not all. The call
was from the home of a certain actor
who had been staging "the battle of
the century" with his frau. There had
been quite a shooting match, too.
When the doctor arrived, the walls
of the living-room were nicely decor-
ated with bullet holes. The husband
had been shot in the arm. The wife
said the wound was self-inflicted. The
husband said the wife shot him. Such
a loving couple. The wife, whether
she did any shooting or not, had been
beaten quite thoroughly but, of
course, only had two black eyes
because "that's all there is — there
isn't any more!"
•
With Tullio Carminati back in town,
we are reminded of an incident which
befell him a couple of years ago when
Tullio, appearing on the stage in New
York, was approached to take a part
in a show which Ai Jolson was doing
at the time. Carminati didn't like the
part and said so.
"But," said the manager of the
Jolson company, "don't you realize
what it means to p/ay with Jolson? —
Why, in this country he's a tremen-
dous star. It's like playing with Duse.
Do you realize what it means to play
with Duse?"
"Yes," answered Tullio, "I played
with Duse for three years!"
•
Sandra Shaw Cooper was interview-
ing cooks the other day on account
cf sHe needed a new one. Finally she
reached one applicant who had very
fine references and asked her why she
had I eft her last job. The cook
explaned that there had been three
other servants at the home where
she'd been working and almost floored
Mrs. Cooper when she added, "They
had me fired, M'am, because I don't
play cards and I couldn't make a
fourth at bridge."
Wire Complaints
(Continued from Page 1 )
"CCOD DAME
Paramount prod.; director, Marion Gering; writers, William Lipman, Vincent
Lawrence, Frank Partos, Sam Hellman.
Paramount Theatre
World-Telegram: When you go to see it, forget that it required four adaptors
to whip it into shape for the screen and go only on the understanding
that you'll be seeing a couple of good actors wasting their talents in a
desperate effort to sustain a story that is only half-way worthy of them.
Miss Sidney and Mr. March do what they can to make their roles seem
less trite than they are, but they are so handicapped by poorly written and
characterized parts that their efforts are of no avail.
Journal: "Good Dame" is whimsical banter tossed back and forth between Syl-
via Sidney and Fredric March, who do the tossing expertly enough even
if the material assigned to them is mildly diverting.
American: This film belongs in the "Bad Girl" category and, while story and
dialogue are pretty uninspired, snappy direction and excellent characteri-
zations by Miss Sidney and Mr. March elevate the offering to a level wiel
calculated to score with the great movie-going public.
News: March's interpretation is technically all right, but the brilliance which
usually emanates from a March characterization is missing. Miss Sidney
adds another one of her miserably put upon heroines to her collection.
She, too, is all right in her performance, but the story is lacking in variety.
Sun: "Good Dame" has a plot too involved in its action to be a highly effective
film. In spite of some entertaining moments, it is not one of March's
better pictures.
Mirror: Both March and Miss Sidney are attractive personalities and skilled per-
formers. They make the watching less tedious. Supported by an inter-
esting company, given sprightly dialogue, directed with imagination, these
two stars contrive to make their conventional story material mildly en-
tertaining. Sylvia is especially fine, radiantly pretty and entirely sincere.
Times: Sylvia Sidney creates a warm, sympathetic character as the girl. Fredric
March is so far beneath his usual standard that his performance must be
attributed to the part he is forced to play.
Post: Except when they are saddled with an embarrassingly implausible finale,
both Miss Sidney and Mr. March manage to do a good job with their
material. The story is deadly in its obvious pattern, but it is equipped
with racy dialogue and it is saved from complete banality by the liveli-
ness of the acting.
Herald-Tribune: Among all the dullness and feebleness of the story, the two
stars fight their way along nobly, managing to keep afloat surprisingly
well. It wouldn't have been a bad idea, though, if they had a story to
work in.
because of non-cooperation by the
Administration agents in Washington.
The wire follows:
"We desire to place before you the
following facts as further evidence of
the unfair treatment administered this
organization by Deputy Administrator
Rosenblatt, the Code Authority and
their subordinate body, known as the
Code Labor Committee for studio
labor. The undersigned, when in
Washington, was given a letter by
Rosenblatt stating that the final
draft of the Code would provide for
limitation of hours for cameramen.
The Code did not contain this pro-
vision.
"Rosenblatt stated the Interna-
tional presidents prevailed upon him
to withdraw it. Our International
President emphatically denies having
consented or being notified of this
omission. Rosenblatt while here set
up a Code Labor Committee to inves-
tigate studio conditions. Committee,
except Richard L'Estrange, refuses to
function, cla ming appointment not
official. Judge Ben Lindsey, NRA
compliance director for Code, has been
refused recognition by employers' rep-
resentative. Code absolutely no
benefit to us because of non-coopera-
tion by Administration agents in
Washington.
"(Signed) HOWARD E. HURD."
WANTED: A boss by alert young man.
Would be an excellent secretary to an
Executive, Director, Writer, et al.
Well educated. Stenography. Varied
picture experience. Modest salary.
Picture references. For further details
phone or write Hollywood Reporter,
HO 3957; Harry Ellis, 6928 Haw
thorn, Hollywood, GL 1248.
Del Ruth Wanted
For 'Gay Divorcee'
Radio is dickering for Roy Del Ruth
to direct "Gay Divorcee," the Fred
Astaire-Ginger Rogers picture, which
Pandro Berman is supervising.
The only thing holding up the deal
is the amount asked by the director,
which is $40,000, but the deal is
expected to be closed any day now.
Del Ruth is under contract to Twen-
tieth Century, but will make this pic-
ture during the shutdown period.
Tradevaews
(Continued from Page 1 )
entertainment than any cast name.
Stars are made through the publicity
given to their efforts; writers and
directors mean nothing to the pub-
lic because of the lack of that pub-
licity.
We would suggest to writers,
members of the Writers' Guild, that
in ,''at organization there should be
some way to build up newspaper
interest in writers. As for the direc-
tors, the situation is not so easy
because there is no such organization
of directors If we were a good direc-
tor, we would certainly have an intel-
ligent publicist acquainting newspa-
pers with cur activities in the hope
of winning some of the publicity that
rrears mere than any of them think.
To Independent Motion Picture Producers:
The extensive facilities and manv years of
experience of the executives of this organi-
zation are at vour disoosal. A competent
staff of well-trained personnel fully conver-
sant with the insurance problems of the
motion picture industry is prepared to intel-
ligently serve your interests.
Manv of the "Independents" are clients of
this office today.
If you have a troublesome insurance prob-
lem, consult
THE EBENSTEIN-KUNODY CORPORATION
INSURANCE — IN ALL ITS BRANCHES
Equitable Building of Hollywood
Hollywood 5333
March 28, 1934
THE
Page Three
PARA'S 'TRUMPET RLOWS
MARRED RY RAD WRITING
Acad. Chiefs Swing
Into Action Again
Players Hampered
By Weak Material
"THE TRUMPET BLOWS"
(Paramount)
Direction Stephen Roberts
Authors Porter Emerson Browne
and J. Parker Read, Jr.
Adaptation Wallace Smith
Screen Play Bartlett Cormack
Art Direction Hans Dreier
and W. B. Ihnen
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Cast: George Raft, Adolphe Menjou,
Frances Drake, Sidney Toler, Ed-
ward Ellis, Nydia Westman, Douglas
Wood, Lillian Elliott, Katherine De
Mille, Frances McDonald.
Paramount had all the material in
the world to work with to make "The
Trumpet Blows" an outstanding pic-
ture. But, unfortunately, the film is
a swell example of how bad dialogue
and weak direction can muff any set-
up.
The basic plot, although there is too
much of it, is good, workable, dra-
matic stuff. The Mexican setting is
colorful. The bull fights are gorgeous
to watch and are very cleverly handled
to retain all possible thrills for the
audience and yet not to offend the
more humanely inclined.
BUT — interpreting the story and
wandering around among the beauti-
ful patios and haciendas are characters
who attain nothing but hazy outlines
all the way through and speak in
utterly unnatural, trite, clipped, awk-
ward, undistinguished and miserably
meaningless lines. Once in a while,
a flowery speech is slipped in to ac-
cent the Mexican setting.
Two or three rivulets of plot divide
the interest. The strongest is the love
of Adolphe Menjou, a famous bandit,
for his Americanized brother, George
Raft. The next is Raft's love for the
girl his brother loves, Frances Drake,
and the other is how Raft overcomes
his fear of the bulls.
The ending is just an old Spanish
custom. The two men go home with
their forgiving and brotherly arms
around each other, taking the girl
with them, presumably to divide up.
Raft, although his cape work in the
bull ring is graceful, is miscast. How-
ever, he is hampered by some of the
toughest lines an actor ever had to
speak. Menjou is more at home in
his part, and Frances Drake's dancing
is a lot more acceptable than her act-
ing. Sidney Toler's comedy is forced.
Katherine DeMille is beautifully out-
standing and clever in a small role.
Stephen Roberts directed; Porter
Emerson Browne and ]. Parker Read
Jr. wrote the story; Wallace Smith is
responsible for the adaptation, and
Bartlett Cormack did the screen play.
The art direction, by Hans Dreier and
W. B. Ihnen, is about the best feature
of the film, although Harry Fisch-
beck's photography is stunning.
You'll get the Raft fans, but your
audiences will probably be as apathetic
as the one that watched the preview
showing in a dead, dull silence.
Cillmore Remains
Equity President
New York. — Frank Gillmore yes-
terday was re-elected president of
Equity. The vice-presidents are
Osgood Perkins, Florence Reed, Ar-
thur Byron and Peggy Wood. Paul
Dullzell is treasurer, and Louise
Curley, secretary.
msMm
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — Local picture houses
are expecting big grosses the coming
week, with good pictures and added
attractions in most of the houses.
"Wild Cargo" opens tomorrow at the
Music Hall, with Frank Buck making
a personal appearance, plus a special
Easter show and Disney's "Funny Lit-
tle Bunnies."
"Rip Tide" goes into the Capitol
Friday, with Paul Whiteman, the
Biltmore orchestra and a collection of
radio stars. "Melody in Spring" opens
at the Paramount Friday, with George
Raft on the stage. The Roxy will have
"The Countess of Monte Cristo" Fri-
day, and "The Lost Patrol" goes to
the Rialto the same day. "Ever Since
Eve" opened Monday night at the
Mayfair.
Phil Cersdorf New
Wampas President
Phil Cersdorf, publicity man for
Samuel Coldwyn, was elected presi-
det of the Wampas last night, at the
meeting, primarily called to elect the
Wampas Baby Stars, but which served
also as the opportunity to settle the
tie vote between Cersdorf and Sam
W. B. Cohn, which was the result of
the first voting.
The results of the election of the
thirteen Baby Stars from among 38
candidates will not be made known
until tonight. This year's Baby Star
election was by far the most exciting
the Wampas ever has held, and Earl
Carroll, who was a guest of the organi-
zation, complimented it on the beauty
of the candidates.
'McFadden' Deal Closed
New York. — The deal was officially
closed yesterday with Gus Hill by
which Charles Rogers can make
"McFadden's Flats" in talkies. The
subject has been on the producer's
tentative schedule for some time with-
out the details being ironed out.
Al Hall Sick, But Sticks
Second laryngitis victim in the
"Halfway Decent" company at Para-
mount is the picture's director, Al
Hall, who is continuing his work in
spite of it. Dorothy Dell was the first
victim.
Marshall Set for 'Hat'
Herbert Marshall was definitely set
yesterday by MCM for the leading
spot opposite Constance Bennett in
"The Green Hat," which Irving Thal-
berg produces.
The producers put their full
strength behind the revival of the
Academy last night when the Execu-
tive Committee of the Producers'
Branch of that organization met with
the Executive Committees of the Ac-
tors and Technicians branches and the
Assistant Directors Section to lay
plans for resumption of negotiations
between producers and these branches
which were interrupted by film code
negotiations.
Committees were appointed to
begin discussions on relations between
assistant directors and producers, and
to discuss the practical operation of
the Actor-Producer Basic Agreement
of 1930. They will meet next week.
L. B. Mayer was named chairman of
the producers' committee to meet
with the assistant directors. Scott
Beal was named for the assistant di-
rectors. Henry Herzbrun heads the
producers group and Lionel Atwill the
actors in meetings of those two
groups.
Members of Executive Committee
of the Producers Branch who attend-
ed last night's meeting were: B. B.
Kahane, chairman; Samuel Briskin,
Henry Herzbrun, William Koenig,
Jesse Lasky and Louis B. Mayer.
Pommer Coming to
Fox Plant in April
New York. — Erich Pommer, in
charge of Fox production in Europe,
which is at present at pretty much of
a standstill, will come to Hollywood
for the making of two pictures.
The former Ufa head sails from
Europe April 4.
Ethel Merman Signed
For Cantor Picture
Samuel Coldwyn yesterday signed
Ethel Merman for one of the leads in
the next Eddie Cantor picture, which
is being written by Arthur Sheekman
and Nat Perrin.
Miss Merman has just finished a
featured role in the Bing Crosby pic-
ture, "We're Not Dressing," at Para-
mount, and leaves for New York next
week to return in about a month.
Ceballos with Para.
Larry Ceballos was assigned by
Paramount yesterday to finish the
dance numbers in "Murder at the
Vanities," taking over Leroy Prinz's
task, owing to the moving of the lat-
ter to the DeMille picture, "Cleo-
patra."
Kaufman-Kraft East
H. S. Kraft and George S. Kaufman
leave tonight by train for New York.
They will write the finishing touches
On their play, which will be produced
on Broadway early next Fall.
Lillian Moore Signed
Paramount yesterday signed Lillian
Moore to a long term contract. She
was formerly at Roach. Deal was
negotiated by the Frances Bailie office.
They gave Rabbi Stephen S. Wise
a huge testimonial dinner here in New
York on the occasion of his sixtieth
birthday. The money that was col-
lected will be donated by Rabbi Wise
to the anti-Nazi cause in America.
But the object of mentioning the thing
at all is to get in the fact that prac-
tically anyone of any importance to
the stage, screen, business or religion
was present, including Eddie Cantor,
in connection with whom is a funny
story. Wise wired to Cantor while he
was in Florida asking him to act as
master of ceremonies at this dinner
that was to be given for Wise. Eddie,
in a whirl in Florida, forgot all about
answering the request, and about a
week later got another wire from Wise
which read: "When a Rabbi calls a
Cantor should answer."
Hal Home, out of the goodness of
his heart, had a fast one pulled on
him the other day. Hal is in Miami
at present, recuperating from a tough
siege of illness and trying his best to
be a man of leisure. Soooo U. A.
decideci to give "The House of Roth-
schild" the big opening down in
Miami and Home made a terrific dis-
covery about it that he thought war-
ranted a long distance call. And he
called up Al Lichtman very excitedly
all the way from Miami and said:
"I've just found out that the tickets
for the opening of 'The House of
Rothschild' haven't been marked.
What shall I do?" And Lichtman
casually replied, "Mark them." And
promptly hung up.
They almost tagged Gregory LaCava
for a spy or something while he was
in Chicago on his way here. It seems
that LaCava once studied painting in
that fair city and in the Chicago Insti-
tute hangs a Whistler that was always
his favorite, and so LaCava has never
failed to make a pilgrimage every time
he's in Chicago to see it. This time,
he didn't know whether he could
make it or not, but after twelve silver
fizzes, he not only decided to go, but
to take a still-camera along with him
to photograph the picture. And the
guard in the institute must have
thought Gregory was the Black Hand
or something because he almost had
him arrested.
MGM has finally made arrange-
ments to release "Men in White"
OUTSIDE of New York with N. Y.
waiting for the play to close, but the
cast has just taken cuts for the sum-
mer. . . . And speaking of cuts, Frank
Joyce on his way to consult with spe-
cialists about whether he should have
an operation was advised by Dora not
to be led into accepting any "cuts."
. . . Our favorite name of the season,
Katherine Pift-Jones, or as Winchell
would put it, Phfft-Jones. . . . You
should see the new stream-line trol-
leys on Lexington avenue. . . . Harry
Rosenthal celebrates his son's birth-
day every rnonth with a cocktail party.
There have been four of them so far.
s
T
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"STAND UP
AND CHEER"
LEW BROWN
Associate Producer
O^O
Also Collaborator
Story and Dialogue
LYRICS by MUSIC by
Lew Brown
Lew Brown and
Jay Corney
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"STAND UP
AND CHEER"
WARN ER
BAXTER
©♦o
In Production
"GRAND CANARY"
Jesse L Lask/ - Fox
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Thanx, Cast . . . Thanx, Crew . . .
For the spirit that made
"STAND UP AND CHEER"
an exciting adventure and my most
delightful directorial experience . . .
HAMILTON
MACFADDEN
o*o
JAY CORNEY
COMPOSER of the MUSIC
Would Like to
"STAND UP AND CHEER"
for
WINFIELD R. SHEEHAN LEW BROWN HAMILTON MacFADDEN
RALPH SPENCE ARTHUR LANCE
And All Those Who Contributed Their Efforts to the Success of the Production
"NUMBERS ARE ALL SMASH
CALIBRE. Sylvia Froos clicks in
'Broadway's Gone Hill Billy.'
Aunt Jemima does the opening
number, 'I'm Laughin',' that is
a socko and it gets the film off
to a fast pace. Nick Foran does
'Laughin' and 'Out of the Red,'
the latter a George M. Cohan
type of show closer. John Boles
does a sweet tune. "Our Last
Night Together,' which looks
like a real song hit."
— VARIETY. March 19, 1934.
"THE MUSIC IS FULLY UP TO HIGH STANDARD OF THE REST OF THE
PICTURE. .Among the songs that, ludging by their reception, must be
labeled as hits, are 'Our Last Night Together,' featuring John Boles, the
Dunn-Temple number, 'Baby Take a Bow,' 'I'm Laughin',' 'Broadway's
Gone H:II Billy,' and the finale 'Out of the Red.'
"The title does not do justice to the picture. It should have been
called 'Out of the Red.' The climaxing song, featuring the grand finale
of men and women of all occupations in a triumphant march back to
prosperity hits an extremely popular note and should be one of the
smashing successes of the year.
"No especial cedit can be ^iven any one person. It must be shared by
Winfield Sheehan, the producer; the director, Hamilton MacFadden,
Lew Brown and Jay Gorney who did the music. Will Rogers and Philip
Klein, who suggested the o'iginal idea, and in fact, every one who haa
anything to do with the success it is destined to be."
— HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, March 19, 1934
Now Preparing: Story, Lyrics and Music for the Fox-Lasky Production
"RED HEADS ON PARADE"
In Collaboration with Gertrude Purceli and Don Hartman
"S'l'AND UP AND
CHEER"
STORY IDEA
by
PH L P KLE N
o^o
"STAND UP AND
CHEER"
Our Sincere Appreciation To
WNFIELD R. 5HEEHAN
LEW BROWN
HAMILTON
MACFADDEN
We feel it is a great break for us to t
nake our
feature picture debut under the gui
dance of
such outstanding showmen.
FRANK
JACK
MTCHELL DURANT
Page Ten
THE^^ta
March 28, 1934
James Burke and Jack Ray to
"Treasure Island," MCM. Burke deal
by Harry Wurtzel. Ray set by Ber-
nard, Meiklejohn and McCall.
Charles Wilson and Olive Tell for
"Private Scandal," Charles R. Rogers-
Paramount. Wilson set by Bernard
Meiklejohn and McCall. Tell deal
negotiated by Freddie Fralick.
Mary Forbes by Freddie Fralick In
"Now I'll Tell," Fox.
John Hale through Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall for "Du Barry,"
Warners.
Billie Arnold, Warner Richmond
and Russ Clarke through Harry Wurt-
zel for "Mad Honeymoon," Liberty.
Menifee 1. Johnstone set George Irving
in the same picture.
Purnell Pratt and Walter Walker
through Freddie Fralick to Warners for
"Old Doll's House."
Kenneth Thomson for "Broadway
Virgin," Major Productions, by Fred-
die Fralick.
Monroe Owsley for "Little Man,
What Now?" Universal, on a Rebecca
and Silton ticket.
Maude Turner Cordon for "She
Loves Me Not," Paramount.
Edward Pawley and J. M. Kerrigan,
through jack Gardner, for "Treasure
Island," MCM.
Una O'Connor set by Jack Gardner
for "Barretts of Wimpole Street,"
MGM.
Jamison Thomas through Kingston-
Harris for "Call It Luck," Fox.
CarniJe Rovel'e, Maynard Holmes
and Virginia Sale for "Madame Du
Barry," Warners. Kingston-Harris ne-
gotiated for Miss Sale.
Renee Whitney to Warners' "Old
Doll's House."
Arthur Vinton for "Dames," War-
ners.
Paul Stanton for "Call It Luck, '
Fox, on a Beyer-MacArthur ticket.
Sidney Toler for "Operator 13,"
MGM, through Beyer-MacArthur.
David Tillotson in "Double Doors,"
Paramount.
Kenneth Thomson, John Arthur,
and Julie Ann Graham by Paramount
for the Burns and Allen picture "Many
Happy Returns."
Herman Brix by MGM for "Treas-
ure Island."
Harry Beresford and Charles Morris
by Paramount for the Cecil B. DeMille
picture, "Cleopatra."
Bruce Warren to Universal for
"Practical Joker."
Lewis, of Talisman, East
For Monogram Meeting
Harold Lewis, of Talisman Studios,
is a member of the Monogram party,
including Lou Ostrow and Howard
Stubbins, which leaves Los Angeles
today for the Atlantic City conven-
tion of the organization.
The Lewis jaunt is interesting in
view of the fact that it was he who
brought the Monogram business to
the Metropolitan, now General Serv-
ice, lot. There have been rumors that
Monogram would shift bases on com-
pletion of this year's program.
Mary the Rhino For
Personals in East
MGM gave Mary, the Rhino, a
big send-off yesterday, including a
brass band and other trimmings.
Mary goes East for personal ap-
pearances ic onjunction with "Tar-
zan and His Mate."
Indies to Discuss
Writer Proposals
Unofficial negotiations between
the free lance writers of the Screen
Writers Guild and the Independent
producers have been launched, the
writers submitting their version of a
standard basic contract.
Belief of the indies yesterday was
that the contract would have to be
revised before they will talk turkey.
A special meeting of the IMPPA will
be called within the next few days
to discuss it. Pact's objectionable
features, according to one producer,
are a provision giving the writer the
rights to his work after five years
with the exception of picture rights,
and the privilege of deciding how his
credits shall read. The contract pro-
vides a week-to-week basis.
Execs May Defy Darrow
(Continued from Page 1 )
the Darrow edict. They base their
attitude on these claims: The picture
industry has set up its code machinery
in faithful adherence to the rules laid
down by the NRA; the real purpose
of the NRA is to allow industrial
self-government; and, lastly, the code
machinery has had no chance to func-
tion so that criticism of it is begging
the question.
Cooler heads are afraid of the
headlines and the biting tongue of
Clarence Darrow if they fail to show
up for the Thursday hearing. They
point out that Darrow is very close to
President Roosevelt, and that there is
more than a gesture in his statement
that he "does not care whether they
come or not, he will just pass on the
names of the absentees to the Presi-
dent." That would make headline
material which the execs do not relish,
despite the type of legal advice that is
saying, "they can't put you in jail,"
to the prisoner already behind the
bars.
The session ended with nothing
decided, except that the execs would
meet again today to spend a few
hours trying to reach a united attitude
in the event that they do respond to
the Darrow summons.
It is important to note that the
Darrow committee, while holding its
appointment direct from the President,
has no actual power of subpoena. You
can respond or not, and just take your
chance on the publicity accruing from
your absence. y
RadioWill Have Five
In Work Next Week
Coming out of a lull with the start
of "Cockeyed Cavaliers" tomorrow,
the Radio lot will have all available
space in use by the middle of next
week, with overflow production being
taken care of on the ranch and the
Pathe lot. By next Wednesday the
studio will have five pictures in work
and will be preparing sets for at least
one more.
"Virgie Winters," with Al Santell
directing, "Sour Grapes," Worthington
Miner and George Nicholls Jr. meg-
ging, and"Murder on the Blackboard,"
which George Archainbaud handles,
get under way Monday. "Virgie Win-
ters" will work at the Radio ranch,
with the other two subjects shooting
on the Radio lot.
John Robertson handles "Family
Man," which goes before the cameras
a week from today, being followed a
week later by "Down To Their Last
Yacht," which Paul Sloane handles.
Latter picture will be shoved over to
the Pathe lot.
Rip Tide' Getting
Heavy Break Over Air
MGM is getting in a heavy radio
plug on "Rip Tide." Norma Shearer
will be interviewed by Kenneth Niles
from KHJ tonight, with Herbert Mar-
shall, Adrian, Arthur Jarrett and
Shirley Ross on the same program.
From New York tomorrow night,
Robert Montgomery will broadcast,
KFI getting it locally. On another
program, the same night, a "Rip Tide"
air-trailer will be broadcast.
Roach Comedy Starts
With Oscar Apfel, May Wallace
and Marian Byron signed for the cast,
Hal Roach put "It Happened One
Day," a Charley Chase comedy, into
work yesterday with Charles Parrott
directing. The Byron deal was nego-
tiated by the Bernard, Mieklejohn and
McCall agency.
'Little Danny' Back
Daniel Paul, known to the industry
as "Little Danny," has returned to
Hollywood after an absence of two
years. He is free-lancing. He made
a name for himself among the extras
when he appeared at the film code
hearing in Washington and pleaded
in behalf of the extra players.
Noah Beery to Radio
Radio yesterday ticketed Noah
Beery for a role in "Cockeyed Cava-
liers," the Wheeler and Woolsey
vehicle which goes into work tomor-
row with Mark Sandrich directing.
Thelma Todd and Dorothy Lee have
leads in the Lou Brock production.
linger Name Omitted
An error in the listing of credits on
Universal's picture, "Clamour," omit-
ted the name of Gladys Unger, who
should have been credited with con-
tinuity and dialogue on the B. F.
Zeldman production.
Commandini to Majors
MGM yesterday signed Adele Com-
mandini to script an untitled story
which Larry Weingarten will produce.
Deal was set by Fritz Tidden, of the
"Hoffman-Schlager agency.
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Paramount Sets Five
For 'College Rhythm'
Changing "Here's Your Quarter-
back" to "College Rhythm," Para-
mount yesterday placed Lanny Ross,
Jack Oakie, Richard Arlen, Lyda
Roberta and Paul Jerritz in the top
spots.
Walter de Leon and John McDer-
mott have been assigned to write the
screen play of the George Marion Jr.
yarn.
Barney McCill Abroad
To Film 'Sons o' Guns'
Barney McCill, Twentieth Century
cameraman, has been signed by British
and Dominions Productions to go to
London on a one-picture deal.
The picture he will photograph will
likely be "Sons o' Guns," which will
be directed by Sidney Lanfield.
Howard Greens East
Set for another writing assignment
with Paramount, Howard J. Green bids
the studio good-bye for a six-week
hop to New York today. His wife ac-
companies him, both returning May 6.
Emma Dunn Abroad
Emma Dunn shelves picture work
for a five-months period, leaving yes-
terday on the first leg of a trip to
England and Scotland.
March 28, 1934
THEi^
Page Eleven
PLAYWRIGHT LAWSOIV HAS
TWO FAILURES VX ONE WEEK
'Gentlewoman' Is
Confusing Drama
The Croup Theatre, in association with
D. A. Doran, presents "Gentlewo-
man," by John Howard Lawson ;
directed by Lee Strasberg; settings
by Mordecai Corelik. Cast: Claudia
Morgan, Lewis Leverett, Russell
Collins, Morris Carnovsky, Samah
Cunningham, Stella Adier, Roman
Bohnen, Lloyd Nolan, Neill O'Mal-
ley, Frances Williams.
New York. — John Howard Lawson
has become a very confused and con-
fusing playwright. Evidently, Mr.
Lawson has been giving a great deal
of thought recently to the world we
live in and the problems it presents to
individual members of a decadent soci-
ety. And evidently, he is still think-
ing about it, mostly out loud on a
stage without much clarification of
that same thought, without much
direction and lacking any conclusion.
Perhaps if Mr. Lawson had confined
himself to the story of the impover-
ished Lady, the rough, red genius and
the genteel "pushover" who was just
beginning to realize she wasn't hav-
ing much fun; or if he had discarded
his evident fear of having his play
labelled "propaganda" and stuck to
the social problems of today and to-
morrow, he might have written a good
play. As it is, love and sex and poli-
tics are pretty badly mixed up in a lot
of fine talk and nothing happens that
matters.
Stella Adler (pretty much under the
influence of the idea that she has
Inherited the cloak of Sarah Bern-
hardt) is the Society Girl who, after
her husband kills himself and leaves
her penniless, decides to try love in
an attic with a very attractive radical.
It doesn't work out, however, when
they finally admit that he is West
and she is Westhampton, and never
the twain shall meet. So, in spite
of the fact that she is going to have
a baby, she sends Him off to Iowa to
help the farmers and decides to have
the child in order to give her life some
purpose and to help along the revolu-
tion.
That sounds fairly vague and in-
volved, but so does the play. Wan-
dering in and cut is the social flapper,
1934 version, who is jealous of the
fact that the Lady can be so thrilled
by an affaire. And there's a psycho-,,
analyst and a wealthy aunt of Vic-'
torian vmtage but with an alert mind
conditioned by Freud.
The play cou!d easily be reduced to
a fairly convincing tear-jerker for pic-
tures of the type that Helen Hayes
and Irene Dunne have stalked the
screen in, or to make it look sophisti-
''atd, Ann Harding or Norma Shearer.
But when you've admitted that about
the play, you've acknowledged the fact
that as a play it fails in its purpose.
Two Shorts for Austin
Hal Austin is en route to location
in Arizona, where he will make two
short subjects with Lew Seller's back-
ing. Same combination produced "Eat
'Em Alive."
Summing It Up
David Lewis passes it on — but
the story is that someone asked
Mrs. Pat Campbell how she liked
her experiences in the movies and
she replied: "My dear, all the
movies mean to me is Cash and
Climate."
'Etienne' Revived
As 'Another Love'
Milton Stiefel and Frank Lewis pre-
sent "Another Love," by Jacques
Deval; translated and adapted from
the French by George Oppenheim-
er. Cast: Iris Whitney, Raymond
Walburn, Mary Servoss, Romaine
Callender, Suzanne Caubaye, France
Bendsten, Ethel Strickland and Al-
fred Corn. At the Vanderbilt.
New York — Formerly titled 'Etienne"
and under that name now in its fourth
revival in Paris, this play has been kick-
ed around theatrical offices here and
on the road, on and off, for a couple
of seasons. It is still being kicked
around on the New York stage as this
is written, with the chances good for
its being stopped before this is
printed.
Mr. Deval gives us the French idea
of "Seventeen," which is that of a
young boy who loves his mother and
hates his father because dear papa
causes dear mamma much pain with
his chicken chasing. The son of the
house takes it upon his sensitive self
to cure his father of his night wan-
derings and, in the process, appro-
priates for himself what was poten-
tially a mistress for papa and emerges
from the encounter a Man. The idea
is that the ending is a happy one.
The idea used in the play has al-
ways been a good one and, in the
French, it is probably still good, but
the translation given it is so literal
that all the joints creak and the whole
production is a weak attempt by
Americans to play French bourgeois —
strictly in the manner of Sinclair
Lewis. The hardest working mem.ber
of the company was the prompter.
Doris Anderson in Job
To Buy the Baby's Shoes
Completely recovered from the ef-
fects of becoming a mother recently,
■Doris Anderson was handed a new
writing ticket for the B. F. Zeldman
unit at Universal yesterday, the Selz-
nick-Joyce office setting it.
Writer will handle the screen play
for the Vicki Baum story, "I Give My
Love," which will have Wynne Gib-
son in a top spot.
Leslie Howard to Lose
Troublesome Tonsils
Leslie Howard will head straight for
the hospital to have his tonsils re-
moved on completion of his picture,
"Of Human Bondage," which he is
now making for Radio.
The operation will set back the
starting date of his first Warner pic-
ture, "British Agent," which is sched-
uled to get under way in about ten
days.
Tyre in Heart' Sad"
And Sophomoric
Richard Aldrich and Alfred DeLiagre,
Jr., present "The Pure in Heart,"
by John Howard Lawson; music by
Richard Myers; staged by Edward
Massey; settings by Jo Mielziner.
Cast: Dorothy Hall, James Bell, Tom
Powers, Joseph Allenton, Owen
Martin, Ara Gerald, Peter Donald,
Jr., Janet Young, Harold Vermilyea,
Charles C. Leatherbee and Albertina
Rasch dancers. At the Longacre
Theatre.
New York. — Tripe. Made worse by
the fact that Mr, Lawson saw fit to in-
ject an apologetic note in the program
the last lines of which read: "This is
not the poetry of blank verse and
measured sentences. It is the poetry
of the New York streets, the turbulent
crude rhythm of the world in which we
live." And when it is thought nec-
essary thus to confuse the issue before
a line is spoken, you're in for a pretty
tough struggle with the drayma.
Briefly, it is the story of a stage-
struck small town gal in the big city,
willing to "pay and pay, and pay" in
order to be a star. Before she can
give her all to every member of the
company, however, she crosses the
leading lady of the show by giving too
much to that lady's boy friend. And
the leading lady has her fired. So
the stage-struck one falls in love with
an ex-convict and murderer (who also
has a heart of gold beneath it all),
and the two of them are killed as
"the show goes on!"
The play is full of sophomoric
mouthings about "Life" and "What
are we ail here for?" and very de-
liberate epigrams about Love and
Death. There is also a torch song in-
jected into the piece, the sources of
which could have been a whole lot
better, but whose English is pure, be-
ing the first torch song that ever
said, "WHOM shall I go to?" Jam.es
Bell and Ara Gerald are still good ac-
tors and prove it by overcoming a ter-
rific amount of banal lines.
The movies for the past three years
have been giving this theme, the
"poetry of the New York streets, the
turbulent crude rhythm of the world
in which we live," a whole lot better
in a series of backstage musicals.
Two for Gregory Caye
Universal and Fox each signed
Gregory Caye yesterday for individual
assignments on Beypr-MacArthur of-
fice tickets, former getting him for
"Affairs of a Gentleman," latter for
"Merry Andrew."
Mrs. Brooke Under Knife
Mrs. Tyler Brooke underwent an
appendectomy yesterday at the Holly-
wood Hospital and her condition is re-
ported fine. Dr. Franklyn Thorpe per-
formed the operation.
Wallace Ford in Person
Wallace Ford leaves in two weeks
for a six weeks' personal appearance
tour in the East. He has three weeks
booked for New York and three more
m other Eastern cities.
Junior Writers Get
New Trial at MCM
The junior writers group idea has
been given a temporary lease on life
at MCM. Maurice Revnes has taken
on the added duties of supervising the
work of the prospective contract men
imported from colleges and other
sources of supply.
Revnes is understood to have been
given the power to boil the group
down to only those showing positive
proof of ability, studio deciding that
the experiment should not continue
for more than another six months.
Croup has been in existence for more
than a year.
List includes Robert Pirosh, George
Seaton, Arthur Bloch, Jesse Burns,
Roger Porter and Lewis Waller. Of this
number, Seaton and Bloch recently
sold the original story, "Student Tour,"
which Jimmy Durante and Charles
Butterworth will do under Monta
Bell.
Hub Robinson Quits
Warner Theatre Croup
Vacating the post of publicity and
advertising director for Warner thea-
tres after holding it for more than
six years, Hubbard C. Robinson takes
the work that went with the job along
with him to his own art-work com-
pany, the Mercury Advertising Agency.
Warners made the arrangement
with him in accepting his resignation.
Tommy MacLeod will handle special
publicity for the theatre group.
Guests for Warners
With Dolores Del Rio as hostess and
William Koenig and Manuel Reach! as
hosts, Warners entertained Abelardo
Racus, his wife and Senora Lopez Fig-
ueroa at a dinner last night and show-
ed them the Spanish talker, "The For-
tune Teller." Racus is Brazilian am-
bassador to Mexico and Senora Fig-
ueroa is a social leader in Mexico
City.
Seek Lead for Howard
Warners are looking for a feminine
lead to play opposite Leslie Howard iri
"British Agent," which is scheduled
to get under way as soon as Howard
finishes "Of Human Bondage" at Ra-
dio. Michael Curtiz will direct the
picturization of the H. Bruce Lock-
hart novel.
New Role for Sidney
B. P. Schulberg yesterday scheduled
Sylvia Sidney to star in a picture for
Paramount, tentatively titled "The
Notorious Miss X." William R. Lip-
man and Gladys Lehman are teaming
on the story.
Hanemann on Old Job
H. W. Hanemann has again been
assigned to the screen play of "Hide
in the Dark" at Rrdio, goirg back to
work on a script that he h?d been
working on previously. David Lewis is
supervising the production.
Wood in Crosby Pic
Douglas Wood has been assigned
for a role in the Bing Crosby picture,
"She Loves Me Not," which gets un-
der way tomorrow with Miriam Hop-
kins in the feminine lead and Elliott
Nugent directing.
A NEW COCKTAIL
THE RED LION
It is called "The King of Cocktails" and was originated by the
Duke of Manchester. It was adjudged the winner in the cocktail
contest held recently in London and is now getting top billing on
all the New York hotel wine menus.
HERE'S HOW IT IS MADE:
One-third Dry Gin
One-third GRAND MARNIER
One-sixth orange juice
One-sixth lemon juice.
Shake well and serve with lemon and sugar over the brim of the
glass to give it a frosty appearance.
THE VENDOME
6666 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood 1666
Has the sole distributing rights in Southern California for that
king of all cordials.
Vol. XX, No. 16. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday. March 29. 1934
TRUCE IN DARROW WAR
•AFTER we saw the Twentieth Cen-
tury production of "Rothschild" we
rushed to the phone to tell Darryl
Zanuck. "The picture will do a bigger
gross in Greater New York than is be-
ing done throughout all of America by
85 per cent of today's pictures." Zan-
uck laughed; would have liked to
believe it, but didn't.
Forgetting that we authored the
original thought, the Century produc-
tion head rushed at us yesterday with;
"Do you know that 'Rothschild' will do
more business in New York than 50
per cent of our product has done in
its entire American gross this year?"
And when we replied — Yes! — he did
not know what to make of it.
And if you don't believe it, add
these figures.
The picture, in its second week at
the Astor Theatre in New York,
played to over $1,600 more than it
did the opening week. That in itself
is some kind of a new record for
present-day business. To do that busi-
ness it had to gross $22,340 for the
seven days. In doing that it had to
play to full capacity for two shows a
day, four on Saturday and three on
Sunday and THEN stand up over
$4,000 worth of customers for the
shows.
The picture is set for a long run
at the Astor. It will go better than
six months, and at even a third less
business each week will do around
$400,000 at the B.O. for that run
(paying U.A. around $200,000 plus
all its exploitation expense), and after
that run it is safe to estimate that
the picture will gather another $400,-
000 (at least) from the circuits and
neighborhood runs in the big city.
And how many pictures are grossing
$800,000 in America today?
All of which proves — "Give the
public what it wants, etc., etc.," and
you have a great business. "Roth-
schild" was no accident; it was well
conceived and planned to do just what
it is doing. A showman picked the
yarn, believing that it had all the ele-
ments of a winner, and the finished
product turned out to be a swell show.
But how little showmanship there
is in this picture business!
Music Hall Aches
New York. — Local report has it
there are considerable headaches
among the Radio-RKO higher-ups
over what has happened to the
Music Hall since the departure of
Rothafel. Too many $65,000
weeks in a house that needs close
to $100,000 to meet the nut.
Gable, Beery and
Montgomery Cast
ForMCM'Bounty*
Irving Thalberg is shooting the
works on "Mutiny on the Bounty."
Carey Wilson and Johnnie Farrow are
doing the script that Frank Lloyd will
direct, and Clark Gable, Wallace
Beery and Bob Montgomery are tied
in for the male leads.
Picture will go into production at
an early date making third start for
the Thalberg unit as "Merry Widow"
gets under way in rehearsals Monday
and shooting the followng Monday.
Franklin Moves Along
With Legit Stage Plans
New York. — Harold B. Franklin's
probable activity in the legit producing
field is shown by the fact that he will
sail on the Berengaria April 5, accom-
panied by Arch Selwyn, for conferences
with Charles B. Cochran concerning
the proposed American productions of
"Escape Me Never" and Noel Cow-
ard's "Conversation Piece."
Close Rose Pinchot Deal
New York. — MCM announces here
that the deal has been definitely
closed by which Rosamond Pinchot
will embark on a picture career. Has
been expected, since recent favorable
reports on her tests made at the Cul-
ver City studio.
Majors Start Day At Odds
With Review Board Eat End
By Getting Hearing Delayed
New York. — The Code Authority offices buzzed, the legal
departments fumed, and the long distance wires to Washington
hummed yesterday. The day started with some members of the
Authority ready to defy Clarence Darrow's summons and go
through with their scheduled meeting
MacArthur-Hecht
To Make Own Pics
for Thursday, regardless of the fact
that this date conflicted with the
Darrow ukase. Then a wiser head sug-
gested: "Suppose we tell Darrow we
must hold this meeting and ask for
a postponement of the session. Maybe
he will grant it." And, lo and behold,
Darrow did grant an indefnite post-
ponement.
(Continued on Page 8)
Test Radio's House
For Use by Opera
New York. — Prospects of the Rad o
City Center Theatre going to opern
and concert uses seem speeded by th^
fact that yesterday acoustic experts o'
the Metropolitan Opera and Philh?r
monic Symphony Society tested th =
house.
*Lysistrata' for Roach
Hal Roach has ass gned sever?'
staff writers to attempt a tre?*ro"'^*
of Aristophanes' "Lysistrata." If the
scripters are successful. Roach w'l!
make it as a special feature with an
all-star cast.
Trouble' Dated on B'way
New York. — "Looking for Trou-
ble," the Twentieth Century produc-
tion, is dated into the Rivoli for
April 4.
LOOSE TALK MAY KILL
CAMERAME.X'S MERGER
Plans of a conservative group of
cameramen, members of both the
ASC and the lATSE, for a movement
that would bring about an amicable
merging of the groups have been
knocked into a cocked hat because
someone talked too soon.
On the union side, the premature
gabbing brought down the wrath of
the rank and file, who had not been
consulted, and who resented the in-
(Continued on Page 8)
Selwyn Reported New
Assistant to L. B. Mayer
Report late yesterday which could
not be confirmed, had Edgar Selwyn
promoted to story assistant to Louis
B. Mayer personally at MGM and Ruth
Cummings, of the scenario depart-
ment, promoted to become Selwyn's
assistant. Move will take some of
the load off the shoulders of Mayer
and Sam Marx, studio scenario head.
New York. — Charles MacArthur
and Ben Hecht as picture producers
on their own — that's the prospect in-
dicated by conferences the playwrights
now hav(5 on with Captain Baynes, of
the Eastern Service Studios.
Plan is for the two to write their
own material and produce with Erpi
sponsorship, with a major release
assured.
Schenck-Goetz-Fraser
Depart for New York
Joseph Schenck, Ben Goetz and
Will am Eraser left last night on the
Chief — Schenck on United Artists
matters, Goetz to be with his son
n his Easter holidays and Eraser on
irrportant contacts for Harold Lloyd.
Weingarten Gets New
Two Year MGM Ticket
Larry Weingarten signed a new
two-year producers' contract with
Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer yesterday. He
h2s been at the studio for six years.
Barthelmess Still III
Before he could get started again
in "Old Doll's House" at Warners,
Richard Barthelmess was ordered back
to bed by his doctor, owing to an
abscessed ear this time. During the
rest of the week the company will
continue shooting around the star.
Bert Wheeler to BOM
The firm of Bren, Orsatti and Marx
signed Bert Wheeler yesterday to an
exclusive representation contract. This
IS the first deal on the new firm's
ledger.
Radio After Browning
Radio IS negotiating with Tod
Browning to direct "Hide in the
Dark." which will be David Lewis'
next picture tc go into pioduction.
Page Two
March 29, 1934
Tfeife^lPQICTEIR
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywod 3957
New York Offxe: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Pans, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Gratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The Elliott Gibbons-Irene Jones
nuptials are not far off. . . . Note to
sinus-sufferers: Kendall Claenzer had
hers completely cured by an osteo-
path in New York! . . . When Monte
Brice heard that a certain producer
was going to have part of his face
remodeled, Monte chirped, "It's too
late — he's already been established in
the long shots!" . . . Lupe Velez is
tearing her house apart and doing it
over. . . . George Fitzmaurice's new
Cadillac is something to see — it's hard
to see it all at once!
'•
Patsy Ruth Miller, we hear, has had
three articles accepted by Vanity Fair.
. . . Junior Laemmie and Toby Wing
going places. . . . Al Dubin will spend
his vacation at Atlantic City, N. j. . .
and F, Richard Day will be off to
Santa Fe for his'n next week. . . . Kay
Francis, back in town, resting up from
her stay on the desert. . . . The Don
Stewarts feted (others just give par-
ties!) Philip Barry last night. . . .
Frances Goldwyn is Palm Springing for
a week.
•
Do you know what Paramount star
started sending flowers to another
Paramount star, just for a gag — but
now the two are exchanging flowers
every day — and seriously? . . . Her-
bert Marshall. Edmund Goulding,
Jessica Barthelmess, Countess di
Frasso, Bert Taylor, Whitney deRham
(who went East yesterday), Minna
Wallis, Mrs. Harry Rapf, Louella Par-
sons, Wally Beery and Carol Ann,
Hope Loring, among the lunchers at
the Vendome Wednesday.
•
Pat Wing, with twelve stitches in
her pretty head, recovering at home
from an auto smashup. . . . Phyllis
Morgan, having been successfully
tested, is getting ready for a fling at
pictures. . . . Charlie Furthman, Tiom-
kin, the Bill Dovers, late-snacking at
the Beverly Derby. . . . Which reminds
us that if the Beverly Wilshire would
get itself a hot band and turn on some
lights in the restaurant, they'd pack
the place these days — people want to
dance but can't find room!
"THE SHOW-OFF"
MCM prod.; director, Charles F. Reisner; writers, George Kelly and
Herman J. Mankiewicz.
Capitol Theatre
Post: In spite of its treatment, the story manages to hold together, and the
blundering buffooneries of Aubrey Piper lend a touch which verges on a
mild and harmless kind of farce. The performances of the cast are bet-
ter than the material which has been fashioned for them.
Times: Although the film undoubtedly lacks the nimble wit and subtle shadings
of the original, it still possesses a generous fund of laughable incidents.
Mr. Tracy gives a capital performance and, if the picture does not come
up to expectations, it is not his fault, for it would be difficult to select
another play who could do as well by the part.
News: Moves with speed and dispatch through several chapters in the life of
a glib, garrulous railroad office clerk. Madge Evans is seen at her love-
liest in this film, her performance being a capable complement to Tracy's
way of handling himself.
American: It is, perhaps, a trifle dated, and, as in most photographed stage
plays, the story is carried more in the dialogue than by action sequences
which are the life of motion pictures. But a fine cast and the humor
native to the piece make it come through as good program entertainment.
Mr. Reisner has done will with the direction.
Journal: The dialogue is bright and Tracy's supporting cast is capable. Miss
Evans is charming.
World-Telegram: A nicely played, amusingly spoken talking picture, it may be
seen for the week at the Capitol, where it provides sufficiently light and
agreeable screen entertainment. Satisfactory program entertainment,
thanks to Spencer Tracy, is the verdict on "The Show-Off."
Sun: The dialogue is crisp and penetrating, the surrounding cast quietly effec-
fective. It may not be quite George Kelly's "The Show-Off," but it's a
good picture.
Herald-Tribune: The picture is almost entirely a monologue for Mr. Tracy, so
that the other characters are of slight importance. It is at present just
a pleasant little minor comedy, rather than a distinguished piece of Amer-
ican observation.
Set 'Rothschild' for
Cleveland and Hub
New York. — Out of town open-
ings in Cleveland and Boston have
been set for "The House of Roths-
child," Harry Buckley leaving New
York today for the Ohio spot, and
Monroe Greenthal for the Hub, where
the picture opens Saturday.
The Zanuck production is continu-
ing its gait in New York, the approach
of Holy Week apparently making no
difference, business still hittin^,
capacity.
Harlow's '100%
Pure'
Starts at MCM Today
The Jean Harlow starring picture,
"100 Per Cent Pure," gets under
way at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer today
with Sam Wood the director and Lio-
nel Barrymore heading the supporting
cast.
Marjorie Gates Back
Marjorie Gates, who was called
East some time ago to be at the bed-
side of her mother, who was seriously
ill, returned to MCM and her role in
"Operator 13" yesterday. Her mother
is recovering.
Para. Picks Up Options
Yesterday was option day at Para-
mount, with Mae West and Directors
Al Hall and Leo McCarey having their
tickets punched.
Warners Buy Novel
Warners yesterday announced the
purchase of "Country Boy." a novel
by./ Dawn PowelT?
/
Arthur Kelly Here on
Way to Australia
Arthur Kelly, vice-president and
manager of the foreign department of
United Artists, arrived in Hollywood
from New York yesterday, en route
to Australia. He was accompanied by
Mrs. Kelly.
He will remain several days in Hol-
lywood, conferring with Joseph
Schenck and Darryl Zanuck.
Brower with Alexander
Max Alexander, of Beacon Produc-
tions, yesterday signed Otto Brower
to direct the first of six pictures which
will go into production at Alexander
Brothers' studio next week. The pic-
ture is titled "Decent," story by Jerry
Sackheim and Nathan Asch.
Louise Latimer Starts
New York. — Louise Latimer, New
York stage player, signed by Univer-
sal, left for the Coast yesterday.
Zanuck Sets Loans
Of Stars, Directors
With the exception of Ronald Col-
man and George Arliss, Darryl Zanuck
yesterday completed arrangements for
the lending out of stars and directors
under contract to Twentieth Century
during the three month suspension
period which starts in May.
Constance Bennett and Fredric
March were loaned for pictures which
Irving Thalberg will produce at MCM
Miss Bennett will star in "The Green
Hat," while March will appear with
Norma Shearer in "Barretts of Wim-
pole Street." MCM also has Loretta
Young for three pictures.
The directors on loanouts are Wil-
liam Wellman, who will direct
"Barbary Coast" for Samuel Goldwyn;
Walter Lang, also to Goldwyn for the
next Eddie Cantor picture; Sidney
Lanfield, who will direct the Jack
Buchanan picture, "Sons O'Guns," for
British and Dominions in London.
Radio Will Produce
West Point Picture
Following the success of the com-
bination that worked on "Midshipman
Jack," Radio has assigned the same
group, Glendon Allvine, producer;
Christy Cabanne, director, and Bruce
Cabot, male lead, to make a West
Point story. The company will make
most of the picture at West Point.
Pascal on 'Casanova'
Ernest Pascal has been signed by
Jesse L. Lasky to write the screen play
of "Casanova," which the producer
will make for Fox. The Schulberg-
Feldman and Gurney office made the
deal.
Princess Visits 'Du Barry'
Princess Alexandra Kropotkm,
magazine writer, was a visitor at
Warners yesterday where she inter-
viewed Dolores Del Rio and Wilhelm
Dieterle on the "DuBarry" set.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
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or Automobiles
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24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
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EASTER FLOWERS
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GRanite 291
March 29, 1934
THE
itilPORTEl^
Page Three
LAUREL AXD HARDY STEAL
MGM'S 'HOLLYWOOD PARTY
Comics Highlight
Dull Musical Pic
"HOLLYWOOD PARTY"
(MCM)
Direction Alan Dwan et al
Written by Howard Dietz
and Arthur Kober
Music and Lyrics by: Rodgers and
Hart, Brown and Freed, Donaldson
and Kahn.
Photographed by. -James Wong Howe
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
Laurel and Hardy, Polly Moran,
Charles Butterworth, Jack Pearl,
Richard Carle, June Clyde, Eddie
Quillan, George Givit and Mickey
Mouse.
One of the funniest sequences seen
in pictures in many a day is to be
found in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
production of "Hollywood Party,"
with Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel and
Lupe Velez furnishing the laughs. It
had last night's preview audience roll-
ing in the aisles and actually sobbing
with laughter.
That sequence is worth the price
of admission and is the highlight in
an otherwise dull musical, that occa-
sionally sticks its head above water
with a chuckle or two or an exceed-
ingly bright conception of screen en-
tertainment. But patched end to
end, and it is pretty much of a patch-
work, the picture hardly rates the time
and money that MGM has expended.
It will do on the average program, but
will not stand up under any other rec-
ommendation than "LaureT and Hardy
have a gag in etc., etc., etc."
The Mickey Mouse number that
expands into the "Red Hot Chocolate
Soldier" number, written by Brown
and Freed, was another stand-out se-
quence. It is done entirely in the
three-color Technicolor process and
will cause comment.
Of the other bits, the song number
sung by June Clyde and Eddie Quil-
lan, "My One Big Moment," and the
Jimmy Durante number, "Reincarna-
tion," were the best.
There are plenty of names to play
with and a promise of one of the
greatest and longest belly laughs seen
for a long time, but our suggestion is
to treat the whole thing lightly.
Screen Actors' Guild
Takes Up Extras' Case
The Screen Actors' Guild last night
wired President Eddie Cantor a request
that he reach Sol Rosenblatt at once in
behalf of the extras, for the operation
of whose code no machinery is yet able
to function.
The Guild wants all complaints act-
ed upon at once and asks that Mrs.
Mabel Kinney, chairman of the Extras
Committee, be empowered to function
and also to appoint Judge Lindsey to
hear and dispose of all complaint.s.
Bing-Carole on Air
Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard
will give scenes and songs from their
latest Paramount picture, "We're
Not Dressing," on Crosby's radio pro-
gram next Monday night. Program
goes over the entire CBS and is re-
leased locally by KHJ.
Gene Raymond Sings
The "Sadie McKee" unit at
MGM is broadcasting the news that
the picture will uncover a new and
brilliant crooner in the person of
Gene Raymond.
Studio made tests of hundreds
of crooners to sing the two Brown
and Freed numbers in the yarn,
none of whom met the require-
ments. Larry Weingarten asked
Raymond if he could sing and the
player replied "I'll try." And he
did.
Novarro's Big So.
American Dough
Ramon Novarro is on his way to
New York on the first lap of a long
concert tour that will take him to the
principal cities of South America.
Novarro is being guaranteed $50,-
000 (money now in a New York bank)
against 50 per cent of the gross re-
ceipts of the entire tour with the
concert management paying all the
traveling and living expenses of the
star from the time he left here until
he returns in ten weeks.
Loretta Young To Do
'Man and Wife' at MGM
MGM has set the Beth Brown novel,
"Man and Wife," as the first picture
ydn Loretta Young's three picture deal
with that studio. Florence Ryerson
wrote the screen play.
Harry Beaumont has been assigned
to direct, and May Robson will share
the top honors with Miss Young, with
Franchot Tone going into the male
lead if a schedule can be worked out.
Monta Bell is producing. . .
Rogers Sets Robinson
Charles R. Rogers at Paramount has
assigned Casey Robinson to script "The
Woman God Forgot," which was for-
merly titled "Lizzie Skerrit.'^ No
director has been set as yet, though
it IS possible Robinson may get the
assignment.
Sprague Goes to Para.
Chandler Sprague has been signed
by Paramount on a one-picture deal
to write the screen play of a story
which is being supervised by Bayard
.Veiller.
Selznick Tests Two
MGM tested Joseph Schildkraut and
Egon Brecher for the David Selznick
picture, "Manhattan Melodrama,"
which W. S. Van Dyke is directing.
Walker at Universal
Universal yesterday signed H. M.
Walker to write the dialogue for
"Today We Live," the DeShon-Naylor
office setting the deal. Edward Sloman
directs.
Saunders Yarn to MGM
MGM has picked up the option on
the John Monk Saunders original story
dealing with life at Oxford University.
Wampas Announces
Baby Star Winners
Following the most spirited election
in the history of the organization, the
Wampas last night announced the fol-
lowing girls as those chosen to be
this year's "Baby Stars":
Judith Arlen, Betty Bryson, Jean
Carmen, Helene Cohan, Dorothy
Drake, Jean Gale, Hazel Hayes, Ann
Hovey, Lucille Lund, Lu Ann Mere-
dith, Gi Gi Parrish, Jacqueline Wells
and Katherine Williams.
The following six were chosen as
alternates: Jean Chatburn, Dorothy
Granger, Neoma Judge, Leonore Keefe,
Mary Kornman and Irene Ware. This
is the first time more than two alter-
nates have been chosen, and was dus
to the fact that the six girls tier! for
the two places.
It was announced the Wampas is
considering a possible national radio
broadcast, a cross-country cruise with
personal appearances, and other ideas
for presenting the girls to the public.
Vidor Starts First
As Indie Monday
King Vidor gets under way on his
first as a completely independent pro-
ducer next Monday, when shooting
starts at the Tarzana ranch of- Edgar
Rice Burroughs.
Vidor has constructed a "Shanty-
town" set here covering three acres.
Casting on thirty-nine characters to
support the five principals was com-
pleted yesterday and a deal closed for
Robert Planck, of the Fox staff, to
handle the camera. United Artists
will release the picture.
Roach Starting Musical
Hal Roach puts the fifth of the six
musical shorts on the current program
into work Monday, with James Parrott
directing. Jeanette Loff, Eddie Foy
Jr., Don Barclay and Douglas Wake-
field have already been cast for the
picture.
Zukor Denies Outlaw Pic
New York. — Just to make it offi-
cial, Adolph Zukor announced yester-
day that Paramount is not planning,
nor has it ever planned, to produce a
picture based on the life of John Dil-
linger. Number One public enemy.
Rogers Borrows Boland
Paramount has loaned Mary Boland
to Charles R. Rogers for one of the
top spots opposite Jack Haley in
"Here Comes the Groom." Harry
Joe Brown will direct, with the picture
scheduled to get under way April 9.
Bill Pine Returns
Bill Pine, head of Paramount studio
advertising, returned to the local plant
from New York yesterday. He was
away a little over a month.
Rapf to Honolulu
Harry Rapf is leaving Saturday for
a Honolulu vacation. He will be gone
from four to six weeks.
mE2zm
There's one thing about Cecil De
Mille, even his own publicity depart-
ment has fun with him in the stories
they send out. A few weeks ago they
handed around the old story about St.
Peter worrying about God because Cod
thought he was Cecil DeMille, and just
the other day they sent out a note,
headed "Believe it or not," which
read: "A full day's work under Cecil
B. DeMille's direction, and Claudette
Colbert found three gray hairs in the
long auburn wig she wears in 'Cleo-
patra.' " . . . . And we think it's fun
that Paramount thinks C. B. is fun.
But they haven't given out yet with
one of the best stories which con-
cerns Vincent Lawrence and a story
conference with C. B. Lawrence was
called in to lighten the script and
C. B. decided to give him a general
idea of what he thought Mark Antony
should be. So, while Lawrence sat in
the office with his feet comfortably
propped up on the desk, DeMille de-
scribed Mark Antony as a big muscle
man, six foot two in height, hairy-
chested, a devil with the women, a
great hero in battle, a marvelous ath-
lete, a remarkable lover, etc., etc.,
and at the end of TWO hours he
stopped and said to Lawrence: "Well,
what do you think of Antony.'" And
Lawrence, after a moment of thought,
looked up and said: "I think he's a
sissy!"
•
There's a portrait painter in town
who has been pestering the life out
of Al Jolson and the reason for it is
H. M. Warner. Just before Harry
Warner sailed, Jolson went in to see
him and found Warner very busy
posing for his portrait. Warner, in
th3 course of conversation, remarked
that everyone seemed to think that
he and Al weren't on very good
speaking terms and, in order to prove
tnat wasn't so and to also prove War-
ner's affection for Jolson, he wanted
Jolson to have his portrait painted at
Warner's expense. But Jolson won't
do it — says they'll have to pay him
for posing, he doesn't like portraits.
•
Jayne Shadduck and Jack Kirkland
sneaked off to New Jersey to be
quietly married and were only followed
by two photographers — • the rest
caught up with them at Tony's later:
. . . Jayne, incidentally, was asked by
a colyumist out in Hollywood (who
could have it arranged) whether she
wouldn't like to be the first to have
her wedding broadcast in a church
that has recently gone to a lot of
trouble to have itself wired for sound
for just such occasions as marriages.
. . . New York is a whole lot quieter
since Louis Bromfield sailed for Eu-
rope. . . . Elsa Maxwell seems to be
the smart thing to say in plays about
the elite these days; she's in all of
them. Elsa is about to do a series of
Satiddy night entertainments for the
Casino. . . . Buddy DeSylva planning to
write a new show, but NOT with
Peter Arno. . . Corey Ford is plan-
ning a three months trip to Alaska
this summer; says he wants to see if
they have any good Barrymore pelts
and may write a book exposing the
place called "There's No Place Like
Nome."
"Batting average of
20th Century retains its
high rating. Theatre
literally rocked with
laughter. Box-office all
the way/''
— Associated Publications
"A rowdy, funny flicker
with Tracy and Oakie
at their best/"
— Sidney Skolsky
Daily News
"Another hit for Darryl
F. Zanuck/ Tracy and
Oakie a great team/"
— North American
Newspaper Alliance
"The earthquake sequ-
ence is the most thrilling
and effective ever seen/
— Modern Screen Magazine
n
A natural! it'll please
the highbrows and have
the lowbrows doubled
up with laughter!"
— Billboard
"In Tracy and Oakie a
splendid new screen
team is born. Robust
action, tangy lines,
lusty laughs!"
— Mofion Picture Daily
"One of the most excit-
ing comedies I have
ever seen!"
— Alice Tildesley
Philadelphia Public Ledger
"Tracy and Oakie are
great! It moves and
fast!"
— Alason Edwards
United Press
moves
"The team of Tracy and
Oakie should be incor-
porated immediately!
Can't miss being a hit
picture/"
— Hollywood Reporter
"So fast and funny only
an earthquake could
have topped it . . . and
it does!"
— Jack Grant
Motion Picture Magazine
"May very well prove
20th Century's best
money maker to date.
Tracy and Oakie step
out as a bet on the nose
in the team class!"
— Daily Variety
OPENING GRAUMAN S
United Artists Theatre /
FRIDAY, APRIL 6lh f1 §^ ilf
EXHIBITORS Chim4> in /
I've seen all the 20fh
Century releases to
date, and they get
better and better!"
— W. W. Troxe//
Wilber and Sun Theatres
Central City, Iowa.
Excellent comedy!
Very good indeed!"
— John Ludwig
Ludwig Circuit
Milwaukee, Wis.
"Will be splendid at-
traction in our territory"
— Charles Williams
MPTOA, Nebraska
"Very good! Tracy and
Oakie at their best,
with a fine supporting
cast!" —H.Knudsen
Paradise Theatre, WestAllis, Wis.
"Fine entertainment!
Should keep Tracy and
Oakie together . . .
they're a great team!
— Ray Felker, BroadwayTheatrB,
Council Bluffs, Iowa
It
//
/*
Great entertainment!
— Ralph Goldberg
Paramount Theatre, Omaha, Neb.
JOSEPH M. SCHENCK
presents
«?r>j
Oack OAKIE
CONSTANCE CUMMINGS
ARLINE JUDGE • JUDITH WOOD
Directed by William Wellman
A DARRYL F. ZANUCK Production
//
Spencer Tracy
as
JOE GRAHAM
in
'looking For Trouble"
TWENTIETH CENTURY
PICTURE
■
J. Robert Bren
-
Original Story
'looking For Troub e"
■
♦
Now at
20th Century writing
an original story
Agents are now ". . . Bren has written a swell yarn
SMALL-LANDAU CO. — l-iollywood Reporter, Jan. 22, 1934
Arli N E Judge
plays
MAIZIE
in
'looking For Trouble"
20th Century Picture
♦
JUST COMPLETED IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
Phyllis Jackie
in in
"The Part/'s Over" "Thank Your Stars"
Columbia Paramount
♦
Under Contract To
20th Century Pictures
JuDTH Wood
as
*
t
PEARL
in
'looking For Troub e"
A Twentieth Century Picture
• • •
•
Management:
BREN, ORSAI ll-MARX
lust Completed
"Crime Doctor"
Radio
V
Page Eight
March 29, 1934
Walter Brennan to the Stooges
short at Columbia. Agented by Mac-
Quarrie.
|ohn Sheehan for Fox's "Now I'll
Tell." through MacQuarrie.
Charles King for "Mad Honey-
moon," M. H. Hoffman, by MacQuar-
rie.
Richard Tucker for "Operator 13,"
MCM, and "Merry Andrew," Fox. Set
by O'Reilly and Mann.
George Cuhl to "Private Scandal,"
Charles R. Rogers-Paramount. Set by
O'Reilly and Mann.
Vernon Steele, through O'Reilly-
Mann, for "Bulldog Drummond Strikes
Back," Coldwyn.
Charles Wilson and Charles Gaye
to cast of "Affairs of a Gentleman,"
Universal.
Sylvia Picker and Herbert Corthell
for the Warren Doane-Universal short,
"Thrown from the Nest."
William Augustin set by Hal lam
Cooley for "Manhattan Melodrama,"
MCM.
Eula Gwy for "Du Barry," War-
ners, through Hallam Cooley.
Ben Hendricks to "Old Doll's
House," Warners, by Hallam Cooley.
Maurice Black for "Alias the Dea-
con," Universal, by Hallam Cooley.
Del Henderson to "100 Per Cent
Pure," MCM, by Hallam Cooley.
William Davidson and Purnell Pratt
to "Old Doll's House," Warners.
John Beliser for "Manhattan Melo-
drama," MCM, by O'Reilly and Mann.
Forrester Harvey to "Barretts of
Wimpole Street," MCM, through the
MacQuarrie office, and also goes into
his original role in the stage version of
"Journey's End."
Bob A'Dair for "Treasure Island,"
MCM, through MacQuarrie.
Clarence Muse for "Black Moon"
and "On the Nose," Columbia.
Extra Code Committee
Meeting Postponed
A special meeting of the Code
Committee for Extras, slated for last
night, was called off at the last minute
because of the illness of several of the
members.
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman,
stated that as the meeting was to
start the work of cutting down the
registered extra list, she felt all the
members of the committee should be
on hand It was postponed until
Monday night.
Lubitsch Signs Castle
Richard Castle, now appearing in
"Six Months Option" at the Spotlight
Theatre, was selected by Ernst Lu-
bitsch yesterday for a role in "The
Merry Widow." Castle has been in
Hollywood a little over four months.
This is his first picture break.
Show Trio Sails
New York. — Lee Shubert and Jed
Harris accompany Max Cordon when
he sails for Europe today, making a
show trio from which anything might
happen.
Buzz Berkeley Wants
Baby Stars in 'Dames'
Busby Berkeley, Warner dance
director, has swell idea that he is
trying to put over. He wants to
get all thirteen of the Wampas
Baby Stars, elected Tuesday night,
and put them into one number in
"Dames."
Warners Buy Original
By Cohen and Shannon
Seeing the way clear to get another
picture of the "I've Cot our Num-
ber" set-up onto the production
schedule immediately, Warners over-
night closed a deal to purchase an
original story by Albert |. Cohen and
Robert Terry Shannon, called "I'll Sell
Anything."
Pat O'Brien, Joan Blondell and
Allen Jenkins get top billing. Ray
Enright is up for direction under Sam
Bischoff's production.
Russ Columbo Sought
For 'Last Yacht' Lead
Radio is dickering with Universal
for the loan of Russ Columbo for the
male lead in the Lou Brock produc-
tion, "Down to Their Last Yacht,"
with Sidney Fox, Sidney Blackmer,
Mary Boland and Polly Moran in the
top spots. Paul Sloane will direct.
Truce on Darrow War
(Continued from Page 1 )
So there is a temporary truce. Just
when the session before Darrow will
take place is still something of a
question. Aside from the desire to
hold its regular meeting voiced by the
Code Authority, the most pressing
reason for the postponement was the
fact that many members, and the sales
managers subpoenaed, are out of
town. But no major would admit last
night that he has summoned his sales
manager back from the road to stand
by for Darrow's inquisition.
Washington. — All the lobbyists and
friends the picture business ever had
are being rallied to the cause here
and wires bein? pulled without num-
ber to try to heal the breach between
the constituted picture industry code
machinery and the free-lance Review
Board, headed by Clarence Darrow.
Sol Rosenblatt departed for New
York to attend the Code Authority
meeting, refusing to make any state-
ment, and apparently at that time not
knowing definitely whether the pic-
ture body had secured a postpone-
ment from Darrow or was going to
defy him by ignoring his summons.
Darrow is being flooded with ad-
ditional complaints regarding the cod?
machinery, especially from New Yoi'k.
These are believed to be from th°
New York indie group headed' bv
Harry Brandt, which has so far refused
to assent to the code.
Brent Entertains
Press; Says 'Uncle'
George Brent said "Uncle" at the
behest of the Warner Brothers yester-
day, and gave a party for a couple of
score press representatives so that they
could hear him say it. His formal
statement, following his row with the
company, was:
"I am happy to be back again with
Warners and am grateful to them for
giving me this opportunity to continue
m^r screen career."
At the same time he issued this
statement relative to his separation
from Ruth Chatterton: "I have learned
my lesson and that is that two people
engaged in the same line of endeavor
and both intent upon carving careers
should never be married to each
other."
Griffith Will Direct
Harding in 'Biography'
Edward H. Griffith has been signed
by MGM to direct the Ann Harding
starring vehicle, "Biography," with
Robert Montgomery in the male lead,
which will be produced by Irving Thal-
berg.
Griffith will return to Radio to
direct Irene Dunne in "Age of Inno-
cence" on completion of the MGM
assignment.
Ursula Parrott to Wed
New York. — Ursula Parrott, novel-
ist, has filed intention and secured a
-license to wed, the prosf>ective bride-
groom being John J. Wildberg, a law-
yer.
Hersholts Returning
New York. — Jean Hersholt has con-
cluded his vacation and with his fam-
ily left for Hollywood yesterday.
Talk May Kill Merger
(Continued from Page 1)
40 MILLION PEOPLE visited
the Public Libraries last year.
How many of them were actors
in the comedy, the tragedy, the
melodrama that seethes in the
vortex of that great melting
pot?
Ask the little librarian in my
story— THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
— she knows — only too well.
JOHN F. GOODRICH
GRanite 9525
spired twist to the report which had
It that "the ASC is taking over the
union and paying its debts, with the
approval of President Elliott."
"In the first place," these members
declared, "Ellitt's approval or disap-
proval doesn't mean a darn thing,
because the American Federation of
Labor rules make a two- thirds vote of
the local's membership the deciding
faction in any question. In the sec-
ond place, we don't need anyone to
pay our debts, because we haven't
any, and still have a healthy treasury.
In the third place, the ASC needs us
almost as much as we need them,
because, while they have the backing
of the producers and a working
agreement, as long as they have no
union charter they must continue to
alibi to their bosses when location
trips come up."
The reaction from many of the
ASC was almost an echo, "We don't
need the union." In addition, the
ASC found itself on the sp>ot with
some of the producers who sponsored
the recent agreement and do not now
relish the idea that, after being tied
to numerous contracts with strike-
breaking cameramen and to a blanket
agreement with the ASC, they might
suddenly find themselves once more
at the mercy of an lATSE local."
So, all in all, somebody is due to be
a goat for having talked as fact some-
thing that was largely a hope.
DOBBS
HATS
/or
men and women
exclusively at
6320 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.
Near Vine
If It's any BLOOMING Easter Flower
... we have it!
Don I forget our last rriinute Easter Day
Deliveries for lr\-T owners and
Telegraph Orders for Oul-of-T owners
COLONIAL FLORISTS, Inc.
IRMA MAY WEITZENKORN
445 North Beverly Drive Telephone OXford t 1 56
Ill ~\a l?l •-' I
5t READirJG DEPT.
CULVER CITY, Z'UF.
XX, No.
Price 5e.
TODAY'S
NEWS TODAY
Friday. March 30. 1934
lINDSCy CRACrS WHIP
Following Da r row Lead Judge
Issues Demand On All Studios
To A ns werL aborKick s Monday
•THE motion picture industry is still
Staggering around, punch drunk, from
the effects of double features. That
one great evil is sending more people
away from the box office and keeping
them at home, than all other lesser
evils of our trade. But nothing is done
about it, the ruinous practice con-
tinues, v*/ith the major circuits, the
big chains, the theatres owned by the
producers and distributors, the chief
offenders.
All the combined production genius
of this business can not turn out one
good picture a week. People pay to
see good pictures, are attracted to the
theatre with the hope of being enter-
tained. If they are not, it's tough to
attract them to spend again for some
time, resulting in bad business.
•
In suggesting that this business can
not make one good picture a week,
we are a bit optimistic and would be
more to the point in saying that it
can not turn out one good picture a
MONTH. However, be that as it may,
why must the theatres drive away
paying customers by giving them not
one bad picture on 3 program, BUT
TWO BAD PICTURES and a few
shorts and newsreels thrown in to
exhaust them?
Occasionally when a really good
picture is made, the double feature
houses (and there are thousands of
them) sandwich it in with a bad pic-
ture, those shorts and newsreels, with
the result that the patron is too tired,
too annoyed, to enjoy the picture he
paid his money to see.
The double feature idea was origi-
nated in the brain of a man who never
made a quarter in this business and
is not in the business now. He con-
ceived that form of program as a
fighting gesture against his opposition,
which immediately followed the idea
to get even with the originator — and
Other theatres came into line. None
of them has ever made a dime with
the policy, but one won't stop because
of the fear that the opposition might
continue it.
Two features on the same program
show up the production weakness of
this business more than would the
principle of giving the patrons a
single picture with a newsreel and
maybe a carefully selected short. And
the business can't afford to be shown
(Continued on Page 6)
DuPonts Close In?
Information received by the
Hollywood Reporter from New
York last night stated that a deal
was consummated there yesterday
by which the DuPont interests took
over Columbia Pictures. No veri-
fication of the story could be had
last night. Harry Cohn, president
of Columbia, denied it. The story
also stated that the DuPonts had
purchased 3,000 feet of property
on Cole avenue and planned to
build a laboratory to compete with
Consolidated. The property was
said to have been bought from
MOM.
Following the receipt of orders from George Creel, State NRA
Administrator, to go ahead and hear all complaints charging film
code violations that have been filed with the Studio Labor Com-
mittee and which have not been acted upon. Judge Ben B.
Lindsey yesterday mailed notices to
'Nate' Mentioned
In New Para. Deal
New York. — The name of N. L.
Nathanson is being heard around
Paramount corridors again. Some of
the insiders are of the opinion that
"Nate" will have a big berth in the
reorganization, with Adolph Zukor's
position strengthened as a result of
that acquisition.
It is known that Kuhn-Loeb is
particularly anxious to have Nathan-
son in a strong executive capacity at
Paramount.
Para. Quits French Pics
Paris — Latest understanding here is
that Paramount does not plan to re-
sume its own production at the Join-
ville plant, but will place the facilities
at the disposal of independent pro-
ducers.
Jack Alicoate Here
jack Alicoate, publisher of the Film
Daily, is in town on his annual visit
to look over production conditions. He
will probably remain over for the
MPTOA convention.
ten major studios and two indepen-
dents ordering them to have represen-
tatives appear for the first of the
hearings next Tuesday morning.
While Judge Lindsey would make
no announcement, it was authorita-
tively learned that the notices were
sent to Fox, Warner-First National,
Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer, Radio, Para-
(Continued on Page 6)
Otto Kahn's Death
Shocks Industry
New York. — The death of Otto
Kahn here yesterday was a great shock
to the motion picture industry, par-
ticularly to the Paramount organiza-
tion, with which he has been closely
affiliated for many years.
Kahn and Adolph Zukor formed the
closest association between a motion
picture company and the banking ele-
ment that has ever existed in this
business.
J. E. Otterson Here
J. E. Otterson, president of Electri-
cal Research Products, is here for a
short stay contacting studio heads.
Harry Cohn Leaving
Harry Cohn, of Columbia, is sched-
uled to trek eastward late next week
on one of his periodic hops.
ROXY BACK AT THE ROXY,
STARTING SEPTEMBER 1
New York. — Before he left here
yesterday on the first hop of his Para-
mount tour, S. L. Rothafel came to
an agreement with the bondholders of
the Roxy Theatre to take over the
management of that house, starting
September 1 .
The present receiver, Howard Culli-
nan, denies that an agreement has
been reached between the bondholders
and Roxy with the same vehemence
(Continued on Page 4)
Lon Young Will Ask
'Baby Star' Recount
Lon Young, Educational's publicity
director and Wampas member, is lead-
ing a move to ask for a recount of the
Baby Star balloting at the next official
Wampas meeting.
Young doesn't question the integ-
rity of the official counters, but wants
to know the exact returns and the
qualifications of each voter.
Dual Features May
Boost Major Lists
New York. — With Loew's circuit
turning over six important houses to
double features this week, it looks as
though the majors, to keep the indies
from getting all the extra dates cre-
ated by duals, may have to step up
their product lists next year.
Aside from Loew's, double features
are gaining in popularity throughout
the East, despite the declarations at
the start of the season by the major
sales managers that they would kill
off the evil.
'U' Borrows May Robson
On One-Picture Deal
Universal yesterday put through a
deal with MCM to borrow May Rob-
son for one picture, at the same time
closing with Edward Ludwig, through
the Small-Landau office, to direct her.
Choice of a vehicle remains to be
made.
Ludwig has given Warners a sixty-
day extension on their option on his
services for a long-term ticket. Henry
Henigson produces the Robson picture.
Jolson Rests a Year
New York. — Al Jolson won't make
another picture for at least a year, ac-
cording to announcement here today.
He leaves for California on April 13,
to watch Ruby Keeler's work on cur-
rent pictures.
Mrs. Beery in Hospital
Mrs. Wallace Beery has gone to the
Cedars of Lebanon Hospital and will
be under obervation for the next few
days. Dr. E. C. Moore is attending
her.
Delay 'Villa' Opening
New York. — Because of additional
time requested by the studio to fin-
ish the first print, the opening of
"Viva Villa" at the Criterion has been
postponed until April 10.
i
NORMAN McLEOD directed "Melody In Spring" paramount
Page Two
THEp^l^C^
March 30, 1934
intfffePQICTiR
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyvi'ood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
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werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includirig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Why Movie Stars Co Mad. The
other night, as he was leaving the
Ambassador, Gary Cooper was stopped
by an elderly, gray-haired man, who
seemed to be a gentleman. He wanted
Cary's autograph and, holding out a
large calling card of his own, asked
for the signature. Cary willingly took
the card to sign, asking "Have you a
pencil?"
"Whaddaya mean?" snarled the
autograph-seeker, "Don't you carry
your own equipment?"!!)
The daily chuckle. A friend of ours,
who was entraining for the East the
other day, didn't expect a certain di-
rector down at the station for good-
byes because he was in a story
conference. Just before the train
pulled out, however, he dashed
breathlessly into the station.
"How come?" we asked, "How
could you get away from the confer-
ence?"
"Oh," answered the director, "I
just excused myself for a moment
and rushed down here to say good-
ble."
"But won't they miss you?" we
asked.
"Oh, no," he answered. "When I
left, the execs hadn't even decided yet
where to put their FEET during the
conference!"
The biggest kick about the Wam-
pas Baby Star election is also an indi-
rect tribute to the boys. Because the
one girl of the crowd who had the
nerve to tell the boys the other night,
in very delicately chosen words and
hair-line satire, what she thought of
their actions at the election — was
ELECTED one of the stars. Katherine
Williams is the girl, and the orchid
she gets bounces to the Wampas boys
for showing they can take it.
Free-title suggestion to Henri de la
Falaise for the pic'u-e he ^s now film-
ing in the heart of Indo-China Why
not call it, "And so Tibet?"??
CAMERAMEIV'S LOCAL 'Rip Tide' Is A
PLAXXIXG TO OVKT HURD Sensation At Its
If the plans of the Board of Execu-
• fives carry through as expected, How-
ard E. Hurd, business representative
and storm center of Local 659, lATSE,
will not take over the reins of man-
agement of the cameramen's local next
Monday, even though he did win a
vote to retain him at the general
meeting last Sunday night.
Because of the stormy bickerings
and personal bitterness that flared
constantly at meetings of the Board
when it attempted to bring about a
settlement of Hurd's contract, a spe-
cial committee has been appointed to
deal with him. This committee is now
trying to get rid of him and his con-
tract between now and Monday when
he is supposed to take over the busi-
ness management that has been han-
dled by Ed Estabrook for the past few
months. The Board is standing by
for a call for a special meeting to
approve its action.
The entire matter now hinges, it
was learned from a union official last
night, on the matter of how much
Hurd will take and how much the
union will pay him. Hurd's contract
still calls for a total of approximately
$25,000, to run over eighteen months.
Those close to the situation say he has
demanded $10,000 to quit. At first
the Board wanted to pay SOME-
THING. Now the general feeling is
he should be paid NOTHING. How-
ever, an officer of the Local last night
declared that Hurd will get some-
thing as a settlement.
A large number of the Local mem-
bers have been outspoken in their feel-
ings regarding Hurd ever since the
meeting last Sunday, when he won a
surprise victory by a vote of 100 to
74.
The Board of Executives met last
night and discussed the proposed mer-
ger of the ASC and the Local. Opin-
ion was divided as to the advisability.
Nothing was done, so the members de-
clared, in an official way. Just dis-
cussion.
Yesterday carpenters were at work
revamping the main office of the union
in preparation for the cut down Mon-
day from the ten offices the union
now holds to only three.
Three for Schnitzer
Joseph I. Schnitzer, arriving from
New York yesterday, will immediately
go into preparation on three features,
planned for major release, with Erpi
backmg on the production end. Pic-
tures will be shot at the General
Service studios.
Taylor Script Okay
Sam Goldwyn has okayed the script
Dwight Taylor turned in on "Barbary
Coast" and has extended the writer's
deal to include the dialogue assign-
ment, which will have Taylor working
on the set with William Wellman,
who directs.
Experienced Secretary, Valet,
33; well educated and traveled;
3 languages, employed by lead-
ing actor and has had motion
picture experience. Available
around May 1 . Care of Holly-
wood Reporter, Box 200.
Baby Stars Placed
Paramount late last night closed
the deal by which the thirteen
Wampas Baby Stars will be spotted
into the coming production, "Kiss
and Make Up." This is the Hun-
garian play originally on the sched-
ule as "Cosmetics."
Major Productions
Cast 'Broadway Virgin'
Dorothy Burgess, Kenneth Thomson
and George Meeker have been signed
by Major Productions for "Broadway
Virgin." Betty Compson, Dorothy
Granger and William Bakewell head
the cast.
Frank Good was signed as camera-
man and Harry Knight as assistant
production manager.
Roberts on Vacation,
'Honor Bright' in Air
Stephen Roberts has obtained a four
weeks leave of absence from Para-
mount and leaves tonight for Oregon
for a rest.
This leaves the Gary Cooper star-
ring vehicle, "Honor Bright," which
will get under way in two weeks,
without a director.
Ray McKee Embarrassed
Raymond McKee, picture veteran,
was never in the million dollar class,
but he finds that many newspaper
readers are confusing him with the
Raymond McKee of Richfield Oil, who
has just started to serve a sentence
at San Quentin for frauds that brought
him yachts and what not. Ray is
anxious to tell the folks he is still an
actor.
Castings for 'Stooge'
Leo Chalzel, Ferdinand Munier, Va-
lerie Stevens and Jerry Fletcher have
been signed for the Joe Mankiewicz
and Claude Binyon play, "The Stooge,"
which will be produced at the Thres-
hold Theatre, 244 South Robertson,
Beverly Hills, in the near future.
Baker on 'Angel'
Universal yesterday signed Melville
Baker to script "Angel," the French
play by Melchoir Lengyel, which John
Stahl will direct. Margaret Sullavan
will have the lead.
First 2 Openings
Philadelphia. — The Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer production of "RipTide" opened
at the Boyd Wednesday and broke all
existing records for that house for the
past three years with a take of
$4,200, This is astounding business
in view of the fact that the house
has been averaging around $10,000
for seven day runs.
Miami. — The Thalberg-MGM pro-
duction of "Rip Tide" had a $1.10
opening here Monday to standing room
only and indications are that it will
rip any record for the town for the
past five years.
New York. — "Rip Tide" opens at
the Capitol here today and makes its
bow in 29 key spots at the same time.
Beahan Going East
Charles Beahan, Columbia story
head, leaves Sunday for New York.
REVEL
TRAVEL SERVICE
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(HOTEL CHRISTIE)
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Catering especially to people of
the motion picture industry
Let us handle all the details
No extra charge
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tions, Cars Rented With or Without
Chauffeur. Free Travel Information.
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445 North Beve
riy Drive Telephone OXford
1 156
March 30, 1934
TH
Page Three
Can't Take It
New York. — First results of the
Darrow blasts about the picture
business were seen in the state-
ment today by the Code Authority
that it would go easy for a time
enforcing the 10 percent cancella-
tion provisions of the code literally.
Local boards have been instructed
to "use their judgment."
DARROW REHEARSES FOR RIG
SHOTS RY HEARING INDIES
Brandt, of N. Y.,
Steals Limelight
Washington. — Even though the
Code Authority and the high powered
sales executives begged off, the Dar-
row National Recovery Review Board
went ahead today with its probing into
the picture industry, and it was a field
day for the indies, with no one to
oppose them.
The highlight of the day was the
way in which Harry Brandt, president
of the independent theatre owners'
group in New York, stepped into the
limelight, and then, by virtue of ap-
parently being the only witness who
could explain the intricacies of picture
terminology so that board members
could understand the business, became
the star of the day.
Brandt opened the day's testimony,
and was kept overtime on the stand
by sympathetic questioning from Dar-
row. On behalf of the independents
he painted a picture of the code as a
document that entrenched monopoly,
authored by Sol Rosenblatt, who took
his advice from Charles O'Reilly, who
was termed just a "stooge" for the
big interests because of his sideline
of handling candy vending machines.
Milton Wiseman, the indie exhibs'
lawyer, aided Lowell Mason, the able
attorney for the Board, in the ques-
tioning.
Abram Myers and Allied members
from points as far distant as Texas
were there to back up Brandt's testi-
mony and show that his kicks did not
apply to New York alone.
Brandt got the biggest human inter-
est reaction of the day when, after he
had asserted that of the country's six-
teen thousand theatres, thirteen
thousand were independent, he was
asked by a member of the Board;
Why doesn't this vast group go into
the production of pictures?"
Brandt replied, "Because the 'Big
Eight' has burned the bankers so
thoroughly already, it is impossible to
interest new banking capital in the
industry."
Brandt was even recalled to the stand
to help explain some technical points
to the Board.
H. M. Ritchey, Allied's Detroit
manager, and Col. H. A. Cole, of
Texas, one time head of the MPTOA
organization, were other witnesses, all
talking in the same vein.
The Board also heard from a few
lay reformers ready to back up the
exhibitor claim that block booking is
the root of all the industry's evils.
The big fireworks come Monday.
Then it is that the higher-ups who
are members of the Code Authority,
and the sales managers of all the
majors, are expected to respond to the
Darrow summons. And the Board
spent a busy day taking notes of the
testimony from the indies to be primed
for the big shots.
New Song for Lasky
Jay Corney and Don Hartman have
A^ritten a new number, entitled 'For-
Jidden Lips," which will be used in
*the Jesse L. Lasky-Fox production,
Springtime for Henry."
'Cat and Fiddle' Hit
In London Showing
London.— MGM's picture, "The Cat
and the Fiddle," hit the taste of Brit-
ish theatregoers and is being held over
for another week.
Newcomers at local picture palaces
are: "Sorrel and Son," Leicester
Square; "Only Yesterday," New Gal-
lery; "Scandals," at the Capitol;
"Death Takes a Holiday," Carlton;
"The World Changes," Regal; "Good
Dame," Plaza; and the Anna Sten
"Lady of the Boulevards," known in
America as "Nana," at the Tivoli.
Paramount Getting
Two Ready for Tracy
Paramount is preparing two scripts
for immediate production, and the
first finished will be Lee Tracy's first
starring vehicle.
The two are "Son Comes Home,"
the Julian Josephson original story,
which will be directed by Charles
Vidor, and the Tiffany Thayer yarn,
"One Woman," which will be directed
by James Flood. Miriam Hopkins will
be co-starred with Tracy in the latter
story.
Joe Sherman Promoted
To Scenario Staff
Joseph Sherman, assistant to How-
ard Strickling, MGM publicity direc-
tor, has returned from his six weeks
vacation, and was notified that he was
promoted to the MGM scenario staff.
Sherman returns to work immedi-
ately and will get his initial writing
assignment the first of the week.
Wyler Plans for Future
William Wyler's first picture under
the renewal of his contract with Uni-
versal will be based on Marcel Pag-
nol's story, "Fanny," on which Preston
Sturges is now doing the screen play.
This will be followed with the big
special, "Sutter's Gold." Wyler's
new deal at the "U" has called for a
big jump in salary.
Polo Match Tomorrow
The Los Amigos polo team meets
the U.S.C. aggregation at the Warner
ranch tomorrow afternoon, Michael
Curtiz, Cy Bartlett, Niven Busch and
Herman Dryer compose the Amigos
group.
Columbia Caster East
With power to sign up people he
considers possible star material, Wil-
liam Perlberg, Columbia casting chief,
hops off for the East tomorrow. He
will be gone for two weeks.
Extras' Committee
To Have Funds Soon
Funds that will enable the Code
Committee for Extras to function will
be in the hands of the committee
within the next week, according to a
telegram from Eddie Cantor to the
Screen Actors' Guild yesterday.
Cantor said that he had taken up
the matter of the extra situation at
the code meeting in New York yes-
terday morning and that Sidney Kent
and others had assured him they will
look into the extras' complaints imme-
diately. He stated that Rosenblatt
expressed confidence in Mrs. Mabel
Kinney, chairman of the Extras' Com-
mittee, and had requested that she
decide in all complaints.
Zanuck Replaced on
Academy Committees
Due to the fact that he plans to
leave for a lengthy stay in Europe
shortly, Darryl Zanuck this week
asked that he be relieved from duties
as a member of the Board of Gov-
ernors and the Producers Branch Ex-
ecutive Committee of the Academy.
Yesterday it was announced that
Jack L. Warner had been elected to
fill his post on the Board of Governors,
and William Koenig to fill his place
on the Producers Branch Executive
Committee.
Invincible Changes
Title to 'Reunion'
Maury Cohen, producer of Invinci-
ble pictures, yesterday changed the
title of his current production from
"Together Again" to "Reunion." Pic-
ture features Lila Lee, Onslow Ste-
vens, Claude Gillingwater and Dickie
Moore, and was directed by Frank
Strayer.
Warners-Doyle Split
Unable to get together on salary
terms under a term writing ticket.
Laird Doyle and Warners parted com-
pany yesterday. Writer, handing in
his screen play on "British Agent."
checked out to take up a deal with a
prominent advertising agency to write
material for radio broadcasting.
Duna in 'Sour Crapes'
Steffi Duna has been assigned one
of the leading roles in the Clive
Brook-Diana Wynyard picture, "Sour
Grapes," as her first with Radio.
Worthington Miner and George Nich-
olls Jr. will co-direct, under the super-
vision of Myles Connolly.
New Warner Title
Warners have changed the title on
the Joan Blondell-James Cagney veh-
icle, "Without Honor," to "He Was
Her Man." Picture was finished about
two weeks ago with Lloyd Bacon
megging.
Jack Haley Arrives
Jack Haley returned to Hollywood
last night on The Chief and will start
preparation immediately for his pic-
ture, "Here Comes The Groom," for
Charles R, Rogers.
It IS now three months or more
since prohibition was repealed and it
looks as though it's going to take New
York at least three years to get over
it. This town is just as crazily pat-
terned now as it was the day legal
liquor came back, and it's a red letter
day that doesn't see the grand open-
ing of a new bar. In fact, there's one
hotel that is about to have the third
grand opening of its own particular
bar, in the fond hope that after one
of them, the thing will become the
place to go and so far they haven't
won a game.
•
And the play season is by no means
dead — just dull with the prospect of
eight new shows making their bow
Easter week and the possibility of
New York once again seeing "Romeo
and Juliet," this time with an all-
Negro cast. Possibly the fact that
"Juliet" was supposed to have been
so spiritual gave them the idea. And
people keep asking whe^e all the
money is coming from to produce. . .
Well, in one instance a couple of
weeks ago, some people got together
and opened a show for the benefit of
a beloved producer. The highest salary
paid was supposed to have been forty
dollars a week and all the material
was contributed, with the idea that, if
it is a success, the profits will be
worked out on a percentage basis.
Another finally came to town because
the leading character In it has a fam-
ily anxious to have an accredited star
in the old homestead. And still an-
other was financed by the author him-
self after having kicked around several
theatrical offices. Picture companies
are still heavily interested in backing
plavs although not one of them will
admit it, the latest rumor being Co-
lumbia financing Al Woods' produc-
t'on of "The Red Cat" for which Mr.
Woods will try to lure a movie star
ba'k to the stage. But the person
most often spoken of as the backer
of both plays and pictures, Jock Whit-
ney, has thus far contributed not one
cent to any set-up. It must be just
the magic of his name.
•
There's a new game being plaved
around town that was started by Tal-
lulah Bankhead and Ann Andrews.
Frst you think of a person and then
you pin the name of a show or picture
on him that best fits. Or you can try
the whole thing vice versa, it's plenty
fun and, after five minutes, unprint-
able. Tallulah sails for England Satur-
day on the Bremen for a trip that may
last for vears or r^ay just be a t-hr-"
months vacation. . . . Howard Dietz
is telling the story on an extra on the
MGM lot who was relating tall tales
of the old days in Mexico and finally
got around to saying, "Now, you take
this fellow Villa. Why, I knew VIVA,
personally."
Paramount Buys Four
Australian Short Pics
Paramount has purchased four
shorts, of the travel variety, made in
Australia. The deal was made by A.
T. O'Connor, American representative
cf the Australian National Travel As-
sociation.
Page Four
THEJyB
March 30, 1934
THE REASON
we are quitting Mike Levee is
that he has given us a raw deal.
Ever/ other client of his had a
half page to themselves, then he
bulls us into sharing this be-
tween us
SAY
GEORGE
TONE
£.
C»
AND
BRUCE
CA\BOT
and we don'f care if his
management does include
Personal Representation
(And we mean Personal)
Business Adminiitratlon
Secretarial Service
Bookkeeping fir Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity fir Exploitation
MIKE LEVEE
Will Tell You WHY he is for himself
IN MONDAY'S
MGM BLAJ^KETS COVXTRY
BY RIP TIDE' BROADCAST
Norma Shearer clicked with one of
the best radio tie-ups yet recorded
over a national hook-up in a strong
scene from "Rip Tide" with Herbert
Marshall yesterday sfternoon. It was
a sustaining program that was the
culmination of a radio blanket laid by
MCM for the Irving Thalberg pro-
duction.
On the same day, Robert Montgom-
ery, announced as "appearing current-
ly with Norma Shearer in "Rip Tide',"
was on the Vallee national program,
and again on another national hook-up
at 7:45. Today will find the
picture on the air for a number of
breaks, with KFI, KNX, and KCF)
among the stations enlisted.
Radio statisticians figure that an
audience of eighty millions is being
reached by the "Rip Tide" air tie-ups.
Adrian, speaking on the gowns in the
picture, Arthur Jarrett, Kay Thompson
and the Rhythm Kings, and Raymond
Paige's orchestra were other features
of the program with Miss Shearer.
Townley Will Produce
Comedy Shorts for *U'
Jack Townley has formed a new
producing company to make two-reel
comedies for Universal release.
Contracts were signed yesterday,
under which Townley will make, as
his initial group, six musical featur-
ettes in co-operation with the Thal-
ians. Production scheduled to start
about the middle of April. No direc-
tor set as yet.
Jimmy Fidler Boosted
Jimmy Fidler, who has been deliver-
ing Hollywood gossip on Radio's
"Hollywood on the Air" over NBC,
has been commissioned to write a
daily news letter to all the NBC sta-
tions throughout the country to be
called "Jimmy Fidler's Hollywood
Tattle." It will be broadcast at some
time during the day.
What D'ya Mean, $3000?
While his wife was away Wednes-
day afternoon, Fritz Tidden's home at
1413 Sierra Mar Place, was burglar-
ized of $3,000 worth of clothing,
jewelry and furniture. Burglars took
a radio. Two fur coats, a gold watch,
Tidden's specially built golf set, and
many other things.
*Hey Sailor* to Seattle
Warners' "Hey Sailor" company
leaves Sunday night for location in
Seattle. They will be gone two weeks.
Roxy to Be Back at Roxy
(Continued from Page 1 )
that he denied that any member of his
organization had even talked to Roxy
when this paper exclusively reported
it some weeks ago.
After finishing the 12 weeks' tour
with his Gang for Paramount, Roxy
will spend six weeks in England on
that theatre project he started there
and will return in mid-August to start
preparations for his new duties.
There is hardly a doubt that
many of his adherents, now employed
in the Music Hall, will jump those
traces and join their old boss at the
Seventh Avenue theatre.
Writers* Note!
The Executive Board of the
Writers' Guild announces that no
nominating ballots received after
Monday evening, April 2, will be
considered. Nominations may, of
course, still be made from the floor
on the night of the meeting,
April 8.
Sten Trade Show
Gets London Rave
London. — A front page break in the
News-Chronicle, with a circulation of
a million and a half, was one of the
results of the trade showing here of
Anna Sten in Sam Coldwyn's "Nana"
— known here, because of censor de-
sires, as "Lady of the Boulevards."
Other dailies and the film papers
also gave space to raves about the new
star. Among the comments were:
"She is the most beautiful creature
who has ever appeared on the screen."
— News-Chronicle.
"A beautiful and voluptuous new
personality who appears in a story
which enables her to express every
emotion known to the screen." —
Evening News.
"Goldwyn has again backed a win-
ner."— Evening Standard.
"Sten is here to stay. She is pro-
vocative, alluring, electric." — Daily
Film Renter.
"Bewitching Anna Sten held rapt
attention of London critics. Her
future work will be awaited with eager
interest." — The Cinema.
Laughton Sends Thanks
To Academy for Award
The Academy made public yester-
day a telegram from Charles Laughton,
sent when he received notification of
his selection by the cAademy for the
outstanding performance of the past
year. The telegram follows:
"The charming and generous ges-
ture on the part of my American
friends and co-workers finds me un-
able to express in words my real
feelings. I only hope that I will be
able to do a real good part in Amer-
ica which might be good enough to
make a lot of money for whoever pro-
duces it."
Margaret Lindsay Set
Warners have assigned Margaret
Lindsay to the lead opposite James
Cagney and Pat O'Brien in "Hey Sail-
or," which Lloyd Bacon puts into
production Monday. Studio also
slated Dorothy Tree and Frank Mc-
Hugh for spots. Picture will be Miss
Lindsay's first since her operation
about a month ago.
Eilers Out of Cast
Sally Eilers, who is "expecting,"
has been taken out of the cast of
"Always Honest" by Sol Wurtzel at
Fox. Claire Trevor replaces her.
Cagney Here Tomorrow
James Cagney returns tomorrow ■
from a two week vacation in New
York. He starts Monday in "Hey,
Sailor," which Lloyd Bacon directs.
¥/AHDA\ TUCHOCK
WROTE
and
D RECTED
( In Collaboration)
"Finishing School"
•
ff
Page Six
THg
March 30. 1934
Lindsey Cracks Whip
(Continued from Page 1 )
mount, Universal, Hal Roach, Colum-
bia, United Artists and Twentieth
Century Pictures, in addition to the
two independent producing companies.
Apparently taking a cue from Clar-
ence Darrow's policy in Washington,
Judge Lindsey finally quit his long
attempts to get studio representatives
to meet with him and complaining
labor around a "round table" to try
to settle the complaints peacefully
and with as little difficulty as pos-
sible. Now the studios will find
themselves smack up against the Code
Authority if they refuse to comply
with the Judge's notices.
Among the complaints and issues
that are slated to be threshed out will
be the matter of wage scale for the
sound men which is now governed by
the studio contract wtih the IBEW.
The sound men claim Rosenblatt
promised them that if they could show
contracts dating from last August with
the independent companies that the
wage scale therein would be the one
to govern the entire industry.
Local 37, lATSE has four com-
plaints filed. One has to do with lim-
itation of hours for "key men." An-
other charges studios are juggling
classification of men and their duties
in order to get around the code. Then
there is a complant that many studios
are using apprentice painters to do
the work of experts. Film loaders
have a complaint about their pay
scale. Cameramen have a protest
concerning limitation of hours, and
there are many more.
For weeks Judge Lindsey, who was
appointed Special Labor Compliance
Officer, has been trying to get to-
gether with the studios. But there has
been a grand stalling party which
ended this week when Pat Casey,
speaking for the major studios, told
Judge Lindsey that the studios liked
the Judge but could not submit to
have him hear their cases. Now the
Judge will go ahead and hear them,
render his decisions, and then the
question will be whether or not the
studios will accept the decisions.
Donat in 'Monte Cristo'
A newcomer, Robert Donat, is to
get the star spot in "Count of Monte
Cristo," for which deals have been
on with John Barrymore, Fredric
March, John Gilbert and Francis
Lederer. Edward Small is concluding
negotiations with Donat, who played
in "Henry VIII."
Einfeld on Way
New York. — Charles Einfeld has at
last set his date and will leave for the
Warner Coast studios today.
Co-
Deal
and
Harry C. Bradley for "Sadie Mc-
Kee," MOM, through Max Shagrin.
Marion Lord for "100 Percent
Pure," MGM, by Wally Ross.
Sydney Miller for "Hellcat
lumbia, by Max Shagrin.
C. P. Huntley \r. for "Little Man
What Now?" at Universal,
negotiated by the Bren, Orsatt
Marx office.
Hailiwell Hobbes to "Madame Du
Barry," Warners.
Robert Warwick and William
Walker for "Old Doll's House," War-
ners.
Jesse Scott to replace Farina in
Warner's "Madame DuBarry."
Desmond Roberts to MGM's "100
Percent Pure." Deal by Leon Lande,
of the Hoffman-Schlager agency.
Veta Lehman to the cast of "Double
Door," Paramount.
Col. Tim Lonergan to the DeMille
picture, "Cleopatra," at Paramount.
Jack Norton, Baron Friend, Snub
Pollard, Cupid Morgan, Alfred James,
Henry Sedley and Robert Grieg by
Radio for "Cock-Eyed Cavaliers."
Veta Lehman 'to "Double Door,'
Paramount.
Bert Howard and Cilda Keeling to
"Cleopatra," Paramount.
William Stack for "Manhattan
Melodrama," MGM.
Henry Stephenson and Margaret
Armstrong for "She Loves Me Not,"
Paramount.
Addison Richards for "Our Daily
Bread," Vidor-United Artists.
Oscar Apfel and Frank Darien for
"Sour Grapes," Radio.
Hollander to Radio
On Three- Way Contract
Frederick Hollander, who did the
sketches, music, direction and also
produced "Allez Oop," the revue now
playing at the Tingel Tangel Theatre,
is the second person to get a picture
contract because of the show.
Hollander signed a three-way long
term contract with Radio yesterday
to write, direct and also produce.
New Title for 'Deacon'
"Half a Sinner" is the new label se-
lected by Universal to replace "Alias
the Deacon," now in production. Kurt
Neumann directs with Berton Church-
ill, Sally Blane and Joel McCrea head-
ing the cast.
EASTER FLOWERS
There is still time for us to get your orders for Easter
flowers to any part of the world.
And our local service with the best in flowers and plants
for Easter is unexcelled.
"There is a difference in flowers"
TALMADGE JONES FLOWERS
8008 SUNSET BLVD.
GRanite 291
We Do Our Part!
Plastered prominently front and
back, two street cars being used in
a scene yesterday at Fox lot had
big NRA signs. But — inside the
cars were forty "dummies" and not
a payroll extra to keep 'em com-
pany. Picture's title is "Change
of Heart."
New Universal Find
Set in 'I Give My Love'
Louise Lorimer, signed by Universal
recently from a screen test made in
New York, arrives here tomorroow to
start her contract. Her first assign-
ment will be a spot in "I Give My
Love," the Vicki Baum story which
Doris Anderson is scripting. B. F.
Zeldman produces.
Lowell Sherman Busy
Lowell Sherman is busily at work
at the "U" lot on the production plans
for a comedy drama just purchased,
"Night Life of the Gods," by Thome
Smith. Since a change in sales policy
caused the dropping of "Elizabeth and
Mary," Sherman has busied himself on
the adaptation of an original story
slated for production by Universal next
season.
Warburton to Stage
John Warburton has been signed by
E. E. Clive for the lead in the R. C.
Sherriff play, "Journey's End," which
will open at the Hollywood Playhouse
soon. Louis Artigue made the deal.
Pascal on 'Grand Canary'
Yesterday's Reporter carried an item
that Ernest Pascal had been signed
by Jesse L. Lasky to write the screen
play of "Casanova." He will script
"Grand Canary" and not "Casanova."
Borden Friday Frolic
'B,o,„luntjiom STAGE , A t 8:45
VIA STATION KHJ TONIG
Tm
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
up. It should, right at this period,
puts its best foot forward in an effort
to bring customers back to the box
office. But this won't be done, for
the simple reason that our big exhibi-
tors, the operators of the producer-
distributor - chain - circuits will not
discontinue the policy for fear their
small opposition will get the best of
them.
The shutdown on double features
will lessen the demand for pictures,
that lessened demand will give pro-
ducers here more time for thought
and conception in an effort to make
better pictures. And we must have
BETTER PICTURES.
Norma Shearer
Robert Montgomery
MGM'S
11
ti
RIP TIDE
With
HERBERT MARSHALL
Starts Tomorrow
LOEWS STATE THEATRE
.. GRAUMAN'S
United ARTISTS
! » O A 0 WAY or 9th
PHONE MA 2511
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^TRAHGES|f Weirdest
LOVERS m/HISTORy
ERIME
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ELIZABETH B£?;?fER
CONTINUOUS 10:45 A. M:'»^l:00 P.M.
r30c to 1 P.M. • 40c to 6 P.M. • 55c EVES
LOUIS KING
DIRECTED
"MURDER IN TRINIDAD"
for
FOX
NOW PLAYING
LOEWS STATE THEATRE
EASTER TIME
IS
WINE TIME
SEND A WINE BASKET
FOR YOUR EASTER GREETING
Packed in all sizes and assortments
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TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, March 31, 1934
PREDICT EXIT EOR ^RCSy
•THE days of the real exhibitor con-
ventions passed out of the picture
after that famous meeting in Minne-
apolis where Adoiph Zukor was put
on the stand and subjected to one of
the most cruel lashings that we have
ever witnessed.
At Minneapolis, and at all exhibitor
meetings before that time, the actions
of these gatherings were of the great-
est impxjrtance to independent theatre
owners and to the whole motion pic-
ture industry. But since Minneapolis,
most of the conventions have amount-
ed to nothing, as all results were
ordained at a round table conclave in
the Hays office in New York long
before the meetings.
The minute that the big distributors
felt that the exhibitor organization
was getting too important, the heads
of the companies started their tamper-
ing and political bickering, with tho
result that almost all of the important
showmen refused to attend the meets,
figuring they could gain more by stay-
ing at home. And that was the begin-
ning of the end of the Motion Picture
Theatre Owners of America.
This year looks as if much of that
old fighting spirit of Minneapolis will
be revived. The independent theatre
owner has been taught a terrible les-
son as a result of the NRA code con-
ferences held in Washington with Mr.
Rosenblatt at the helm. Those show-
men realize that they have to fight
for their rights, and we look to see
some revolutionary measures passed at
the forthcoming meeting here on April
10, n and 12.
The depression (brought on by bad
pictures) has sort of changed the ex-
hibition map. Many of the big chain-
pwned houses are back in the hands
of independent owners. There are
some strings still attached by the ma-
jor distributors, but not sufficient to
tie the hands of the present operators.
Accordingly, all of the things that the
"indies" thought they would get from
the NRA will be battled for on the
convention floor to the utter disregard
of any and all codes.
New Deal Helps
Detroit. — Fifty-five theatres in
this city have advanced admission
prices due to improved economic
conditions. The move came imme-
diately after the shadow of possible
strikes passed away.
Pics Have Fair
Week on B'way
New York. — Business at New York
theatres for the past week hit so close
to the general averages of recent
weeks that it is hard to say whether
the attractions were good enough to
overcome the Holy Week slump, or
that there just wasn't any slump.
"Bottoms Up" drew $68,000 to the
Music Hall, a few thousand better
than "Scandals" but not healthy for
this house by a long shot. Other fig-
ures were: "Show-Off," second week,
Capitol, $30,000; "Catherine the
Great," second week, Rivoli, $29,000;
"Come On Marines," Paramount,
$22,500; "Jimmy the Gent," $18,-
000, Strand; "Hold That Girl," $16,-
500, Roxy; "Once to Every Woman,"
$10,000, Rialto; "Ever Since Eve,"
$9,000 at the Mayfair.
Ginsberg to Honolulu
Henry Ginsberg, vice-president of
Hal Roach studio, leaves tonight on
the Malola for Honolulu, where he
will join his wife, who is returning
from a six-weeks tour of the Orient.
Ginsberg will remain there ten days
before returning.
Rothschild' Sell-out
With only a little over 350 tickets
left yesterday, a complete sellout for
"The House of Rothschild" premiere
at Grauman's Chinese next Tuesday
appeared certain.
New York Exhibs Ghat After
Return From Darrow Hearing
And See Entire Code Revision
New York. — Independent exhibitors returning here today
were frankly exultant after their experience before Clarence
Darrow, of the National Recovery Review Board, and outspoken
in their forecasts of the dynamite that will explode next Tuesday
when Administrator Rosenblatt and , .^ . ^. . . ^ . . ., .«■
RipTide'N.Y. Start
the members of the Code Authority
are put on the grid before the same
inquisitor.
The New York exhibitors predict
that not only will the code be reopen-
ed and rewritten in its entirety, but
that developments may also see a new
(Continued on Page 2)
Roxy
Rep
London Deal
orted on Ice
London. — Reports are current here
that the association of Roxy with Sir
Malcolm McAlpine to build a theatre
here on the site of the Metropole has
fallen through. Whether the deal
was called off because of Roxy's re-
alignment with the old Roxy Theatre
is not known.
K & C Buy Deborah*
New York. — Krimsky and Cochran,
who are expected to produce for re-
lease through Radio next season, have
bought the rights to a play, "Damn
Deborah," by Walter Charles Roberts.
Merlin on Para. Board
Milton Merlin, formerly with the
Times, was signed by Paramount yes-
terday as a member of Jeff Lazarus'
editorial board.
HEPBURN, ARRIVIXC IN N.Y.
TUESDAY, MAY SUE RADIO
MCM Keeps McCuinness
New York. — Fireworks are due
when Katharine Hepburn arrives from
Europe next Tuesday in the scrap be-
tween the star and Radio. Miss Hep-
burn's advisors will ask her to reach
an immediate decision on suing the
picture company in the Federal courts,
alleging breach of contract, collusion
and restraint of trade.
The suit arises out of the deal by
which Miss Hepburn was to play Para-
(Continued on Page 2)
James K. McGuinness has been
given a new writing ticket at MGM
'for another year. He recently finished
some added scenes for the David Selz-
nick production, "Viva Villa."
Selwyn Buys Novel
New York. — Arch Selwyn has ac-
quired the rights to a novel by Ward
Greene titled "Cora Potts."
FineDespiteHoliday
New York. — Despite the troubles
of Good Friday and Passover, "Rip
Tide" managed to get off to a good
start on Broadway at the Capitol yes-
terday, while "Wild Cargo" and the
personal appearance of George Raft
at ths Paramount also brought fair
business. The rest of the street was
pretty hard hit, however.
Fairbanks May Make
Second Film Abroad
Clarence E. Erickson, business man-
ager of the Douglas Fairbanks Picture
Corporstion, arrived in Hollywood from
London, where he completed arrange-
ments for release of Fairbanks' picture.
He stated that Fairbanks had only
signed for one picture with London
Films, of which Alexander Korda is the
hesd, with an option for a second if
it is needed to comply with the United
Artists' British quota.
'Miracle' Up Again
New York. — Warners have again
resurrected "The Miracle" as a pos-
sible screen spectacle. An option on
the screen rights to the play was sold
to the old First National before that
organization passed into Warner con-
trol. It has been kept alive and was
yesterday taken up.
Lawson Play Closes
New York. — "Gentlewoman" closes
at-'the Cort Theatre tonight. The John
Howard Lawson play had little more
than a week of life.
Radio Editor Coming
New York. — Katharine Brown, story
editor for RKO-Radio, leaves for the
Coast next Thursday for preliminary
conferences on next season's program.
'Merry Widow' Monday
Irving Thalberg places the Lubitsch-
Chevalier - MacDonald production,
"Merry Widow," into work at MCM,
Monday.
Page Two
HJM^n^
March 31, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOllywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St , Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
3an Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includirig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Yesterday we actually heard some-
one on the radio from a local station
announce that "if you go to soandso's
Shoe Store — you are guaranteed a fit!"
We always thought people made those
things up! . . . George Brent having
the time of his life at the fights the
other night — -we hear that Ruthie
never wanted him to go anywhere or
meet anybody — not even his own fam-
ily. . . The Dick Rodgers were dinner-
partied last night by Harry Ruby; Dick
and Dorothy are leaving for N'Yawk
next week.
Carole Lombard, who may be work-
ing too hard, is quite ill, they tell us.
. . . Edwin Justus Mayer leaving for
New York and Europe — and will
write a play in Europe — Emily Hahn
may decide on a long trip, too! . . .
The Billy Joys, back from their honey-
moon, are moving into an Outpost
estate. . . . Someone waited two hours
the other eve for Steffie Duna to
come along for dinner — but she never
showed up! . . . The Harry Rapfs have
postponed their sailing to Honolulu
until next Wednesday. . . . The Kath-
arine Hepburn situation is something
that has even "her best friends" puz-
zled.
The Dick Bennetts (fulla health and
color), Helena Rubinstein, Adrian, the
Harry Lachmans, Sonya Levien, talk-
ing it over at the Sam Hoffensteins
Thursday eve. ... A major studio that
up to now has been free of politics
is facing ruin because of the machina-
tions of its New York group! . . . Mary
Brian and Phillips Holmes are "duet-
ing" around the studio — but about
after hours, we couldn't say! . . .
Ralph Forbes, Eddie Coulding and
Herbert Marshall dining at the Ven-
dome and betaking themselves to
"Men in White." . . . Lewis Mile-
stone, Claudette Colbert, Charlie Feld-
man, the Ric Cortezes, the Don Stew-
arts, Philip Barry, Nigel Bruce, Mau-
reen O'Sullivan and John Farrow also
at dinner there. . . . The lowdown on
the Earl Carroll-"Vanities"-Paramount
set-up would be interesting to know!
And also just why he came here in
the first place! . . . Ida Lupino driving
all over town looking for chocolate
popsicles . . . and not finding any.
"COMING OUT PARTY"
Fox prod.; director, John BIystone; writers, Becky Gardiner, Gladys Unger,
Jesse Lasky, Jr.
Roxy Theatre
News: The plot of "Coming Out Party" has been worn so threadbare that, in
spite of its glittering settings in its Park Avenue locale, it presents a
shabby appearance on the Roxy screen. It is the first production Jesse
Lasky has made for Fox which falls below the high standard he has set
for himself by his other pictures.
Herald-Tribune: Jesse Lasky's latest effort as an individual producer is, for some
reason, disappointing. Disappointing because the story has an original
twist, with a frequently moving screen portrayal. The direction, too, is
competent, and the staging handsome.
Times: It is a well-acted picture, but the story is little more than one misun-
derstanding after another.
Post: It is our quiet suspicion that the picture was produced because of such
interest which might be aroused in the subject matter rather than the
story.
Mirror: It is a naive and artless story, which wastes the talent of a fine cast and
a strong director. The cast is really a fine one. Despite the utterly
banal dialogue, each member of it contrives to lend some sympathy and
plausibility to the characters.
Journal: It's all, as one would say in describing a movie premiere, very gala, and
the scenes of socialites at play serve as a background for the plot. And
while the plot is pretty stereotyped. Miss Dee is lovely to look at.
American: A fairly entertaining program picture has been wrought from this
stereotyped yarn. The film is handsomely invested, and this, plus the
presence of those appealing youngsters, Frances Dee and Gene Raymond,
in its cast, overcome the story fault of obvious pampering to class an-
tagonisms and the faint "Flaming Youth" aura that tinges the drama.
World-Telegram: Jesse L. Lasky, the producer, has fashioned a mildly enter-
taining little picture, better written and played than the average pro-
gram-run of films, but still a photoplay of the so-so sort. All told, this
"Coming Out Party" is satisfactory program entertainment.
'WINE, WOMEN AND SONG"
Syndicate prod.; director, Herbert Brenon; story, Leon D'Usseau; music and
lyrics. Con Conrad.
Mayfair Theatre
American: It is as juvenile an affair as any coming to attention of patient film
shoppers during the current season. The embarrassed players struggle
valiantly with lines and situations dating from way back yonder, nor may
it be said that Director Brenon has been able to imbue the piece with any
semblance of reality.
Mirror: Evidently not intended as a burlesque on the melodrama of the gas-
light era, the picture nevertheless borders on the ludicrous.
Sun: "Wine, Women and Song" is concerned with just. Its tale is quite as
lurid as its name, its production as old-fashioned. And this is more than
a little sad. Herbert Breon's name on this is the most unhappy thing
about the whole business.
News: The chief fault seems to be that someone forgot to include a story in
"Wine, Women and Song." A film blurred by a series of ridiculous
situations and dialogue straight from the horse and carriage days.
Post: We never saw a picture that made such hearty use of old screen material
as does this "Wine, Women and Song." A little girl named Marjorie
Moore is charming. She is, in fact, much better than the picture deserves.
Times: After witnessing "Wine, Women and Song," the current picture at the
Mayfair, one is apt to conclude that the director and the players have
treated this story with the disdain it deserves. A tawdry, amateurish and
frequently offensive back-stage hodgepodge.
Colder Entertains
Passover Guests
Jews throughout the industry last
night commemorated the opening of
the oldest Jewish holiday, Passover.
The first sedar was celebrated by a
group of picture leaders as guests of
Lew Colder at a dinner at the Hill-
crest Country Club.
Guests included Harry Rapf and
famly, Joe Rapf. Mr. and Mrs. Lou
Edelman, Mr. and Mrs. Charles R.
Rogers, the Albert Eschners, the Leon
Schlessingers, the Stanley Bergermans,
Carl Laemmie Sr., Ted Lewis, the Ben
Bernies, Mrs. Jack Warner and son,
the Max Winslows, Mrs. Rufus Le
Maire and mother, the Moe Reingolds,
the Joseph I. Schnitzers, the Ned
Marins. the Jerry Saffrons, the B. B.
Kahanes and the Jules Levys.
Tourney Commif'tees
Announced by ASC
The ASC announced the commit-
tees yesterday which will have charge
of the cameramen's golf tournament,
to be held at the Hollywood Country
Club, Sunday, April 8.
The tournament committee, in
charge of handicapping and general
arrangements, consists of Elmer Dyer,
chairman; Norbert Brodine, Richard
Da'V'ol, George Folsey, Ernest Haller,
Barney McGill, Allen Seigler, Karl
Struss and Joseph Valentine. The tro-
phy committee is made up of John
Arnold, Edward O. Blackburn, Wesley
Smith, Edward Cronjager, Tony Gau-
dio, Virgil Miller, George Schneider-
man, Charles Stumar and James Van
Trees, Sr.
MacLeans to Honolulu
Douglas MacLean and his wife leave
Wednesday for Honolulu. Producer is
taking a two-weeks vacation from his
Paramount desk.
Predict Exit for Rosy
(Continued from Page 1 )
Terms for Kenyon-Seff
Warners yesterday handed Charles
Kenyon and Manny Seff new long
term contracts. Kenyon's ticket goes
into effect April 1 6, Seff's on May 1 2.
The Frank and Dunlap office set them.
Administrator for the picture industry.
The speakers base their belief on
the reaction by Darrow and his com-
mittee to the testimony of Harry
Brandt and others, and their evident
desire to learn all they could of the
technical phases of buying and selling
pictures. This attitude they couple
with the known close friendship of
President Roosevelt and Darrow.
They also hint at lengthy confer-
ences following the official sessions
between some of the exhibitor lead-
ers and members of the Darrow board
who sought further information on the
independent attitude.
Hepburn May Sue Radio
(Continued from Page I )
mount houses on personal appearances.
The star is understood to claim that
Radio's action in preventing her ap-
pearances constituted breach of con-
tract, and that agreements were
reached with Paramount justifying the
collusion charge.
Easter Plants And Flowers—
DEPENDABLE SERVICE
ORDER WITH CONFIDENCE
"There is a difference in flowers"
TALMADGE JONES FLOWERS
8008 SUNSET BLVD. GRanite 291 I
March 31. 1934
TH
Page Three
LIBERTY'S 'NO RAIVSOM' JUST
A TRITE, OUT-DATED STORY
Soudeikin Here
For 'Resurrection'
Robt. McWade the
Only Bright Spot
"NO RANSOM"
(Liberty)
Direction Fred Newmeyer
Based on Story by Damon Runyon
Screen Play Albert DeMond
Photography Harry Neumann
Cast: Leila Hyams, Phillips Holmes,
Jack LaRue, Robert McWade, Hed-
da Hopper, Vince Barnett, Eddie
Nugent, Carl Miller, Irving Bacon,
Christian Rub, Garry Owen, Fritzi
Ridgeway, Mary Foy, Arthur Hoyt.
Except for the sympathy Robert
McWade manages to obtain in his
characterization of a millionaire neg-
lected by his family, "No Ransom"
holds little appeal for a metropolitan
audience. The story is of that very
dated John Golden school wherein
sweetness and light bring a lot of
wayward people to their senses just
before the curtain descends. In its
utter lack of sophistication, the pic-
ture is nearly a museum piece.
Coming about ten years after we
have stopped discussing psycho-analy-
sis and applied psychology, the inter-
est of the millionaire's wife in the
subject makes the first reel quite bor-
ing. Things do not pick up at all until
the husband calls upon a gangster,
offering thirty thousand dollars to be
killed. The gangster likes the old
gentleman and evolves a substitute
scheme. He will have him kidnaped
and the anxious family may reform.
The scheme works, as such plans are
in the habit of doing in plays of the
kind. The son goes to work, the
daughter accepts the right man for
her to marry and the wife forgets
there is a psycho-analysis — even as
you and I have forgotten.
Their parts lick every one of the
players with the noted exception of
McWade, and Vince Barnett. Phil-
lips Holmes, in for three scenes, causes
wonder as to what he did with the
aiternoon of the day he worked.
Direction and screen play are both
spotty, rising occasionally for an en-
joyable moment such as the walk into
the woods when McWade believes
Jack La Rue is going to kill him. Sets
[and photography are above average for
: pictures of the class.
In small community theatres, "No
Ransom" may get by if for no other
reason than it gives its audiences the
I opportunity of feeling superior to mil-
' lionaires.
Regis Toomey to Radio
Regis Toomey returns to the picture .
ranks with a Radio ticket for a leading
role in "Murder on the Blackboard,"
which George Archainbaud places in
A/ork next week. Ralph Farnum nego-
tiated the ticket.
Zanfl- Agency Sets Two
The John Zanft agency yesterday
placed William Wilder and Franz
Schuiz with Fox to do the script on
! "Lottery Lover."
Famous Sculptor Here
I Jo Davidson, internationally famous
sculptor, arrived in town Thursday and
will give the studios the once-over.
'U' in Music Hatl
New York. — Universal has bro-
ken into the Music Hall again, deal
being closed yesterday for early
dating on "Glamour," the B. F.
Zeidman production directed by
William Wyler.
63 Writers Now on
Paramount Staff
Signing Lyn Starling. Julian Joseph-
son and Chandler Sprague. Paramount
yesterday set a new high for its writ-
ing staff. Studio has sixty-three on
assignment.
Starling goes on "52 Weeks for
Fieurette," Josephson on a Ruggles-
Boland story, and Sprague on an origi-
nal for Carole Lombard.
Murphy-MCM Split;
Deal on with Columbia
Irving Thaiberg has paid Dudley
Murphy in advance for the one pic-
ture the director was to have made
by this time, and has freed him to
negotiate outside deals, with the un-
derstanding that he return to MGM
to make a picture within 1 2 months.
Negotiations are now on between
Murphy and Columbia for the director
to do "Black Moon."
Rasch Girls to Warners
By special permission of Irving
Thaiberg, Albertina Rasch and her
dancing girls were loaned yesterday
to Warners for a spectacular dance
sequence in "Du Barry." When the
sequence is finished Miss Rasch and
her twenty-four girls will return to
MGM for work in the "Merry
Widow." —
Storm-McNutt Team
Jane Storm joins William Slavens
McNutt in writing the screen play for
"Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch."
Douglas MacLean has been appointed
associate producer on the picture by
Paramount.
Personals for Alice
Alice White leaves Monday for a
six-weeks personal appearance tour,
starting in Denver, April 6. She is
taking advantage of her six-weeks
layoff at Universal to make the trip.
Lederer on Tish'
G+iarles Lederer has been assigned
Jay Irving Thaiberg to work with
James K. McGuinness on the "Tish"
story for Marie Dressier, another in-
dication that the star will return soon.
Cordon with Small
Leon Gordon was assigned by Ed-
ward Small to write an original story
yesterday for the title, "Showboat of
1934." There is a possibility that it
will star Lawrence Tibbett.
Berlin Composer at 'U*
Heinz Roemheld, former conductor
of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, has
been signed by Universal to write the
musical score for "The Blapk Cat."
Sergei Soudeikin, Metropolitan Op-
era scenic artist, arrived in Hollywood
yesterday to act as sf>ecial art con-
sultant on Samuel Goldwyn's produc-
tion of "Resurrection," starring Anna
Sten.
Soudeikin will work with Art Direc-
tor Richard Day on the settings and
technical details of the Tolstoy pic-
ture.
Figure MCM Used Act
To Better Capitol Deal
New York. — With the news on the
street that Roxy is going back to his
first love, the Seventh Avenue Roxy.
the picture wise guys now figure that
the stories about MCM seeking control
of the house were all part of a deal
to get a better renewal of its lease
on the Capitol.
Whether or not the ruse worked, it
is reported that it will be only a mat-
ter of days before the new lease is
signed which clinches MGM in the
Capitol for the next five years.
Joan Bennett Goes on
Shell Air Program
Joan Bennett has been signed to
appear as guest star on the Shell Oil
program over station KHJ on April 16.
This is Miss Bennett's first appear-
ance on either screen or radio since
she went into retirement a few months
ago. Margaret Kuhns, of the Schul-
berg, Feldman and Gurney radio de-
partment, made the deal.
New One for Kay Francis
Kay Francis is scheduled to star in
■the John van Druten story, "Lost
Beauty," which James Seymour is pro-
ducing. Associate producer has signed
Brian Ma4'low to write the screen play
on a Frank and Dunlap ticket.
Roy and Darryl, Nimrods
When Darryl Zanuck leaves for his
big game hunting trip, he will take
Roy del Ruth with him. The director
expects to finish work on "Bulldog
Drummond Strikes Back" within ten
days.
Trouble' on April 1 1
New York. — The opening date of
"Looking for Trouble," Twentieth
Century production, at the Rivoli, has
been changed to April 1 1 .
Georgie Hale at Para.
Georgie Hale has been signed by
Paramount to direct the musical num-
bers in "Many Happy Returns," which
Norman McLeod is directing.
Chas. Lang Assigned
Charles Lang has been assigned to
photograph the Bing Crosby-Miriam
Hopkins picture, "She Loves Me Not,"
for Paramount.
Grant with Cooley
Hallam Cooley has signed Lawrence
Grant to a managerial contract.
'M'lHi'jmi
It is aston shing and somewhat
gratifying to us to find out what a
"cause celebre" the case of Katharine
Hepburn vs. Radio has become to
people you'd never suspect cared.
Since we've been back in this suppos-
edly thoughtless town, the first ques-
tion that everyone has asked us is
whether we knew if Radio would
meet the demands of the brightest
meteor that has flashed across cinema
skies in years, and if not, why not. It
seems to us that if Hepburn's screen
career is of that much importance to
Mr. and Mrs. Fan, Hepburn MUST be
worth anything and everything she's
asking for.
•
Just consider the gal's career thus
far. She has made five pictures: "Bill
of Divorcement," "Christopher
Strong," "Morning Glory," "Little
Women" and "Spitfire." With the
exception of "Bill of Divorcement."
(which she stole from an accredited
star) and "Little Women," the suc-
cess of her pictures has depended
solely on Hepburn. Hepburn's dynamic
personality and truly fine characteri-
zations have carried the entire burden
of three productions to tremendous
financial success and have made her
one of the very few genuine STARS in
the business. She is one of the few
people whom it is not necessary to
surround with an all-star cast in order
to whet the public's appetite, there-
fore it would seem that the gal is
entitled to something very nearly ap-
proximating the combined salaries of
a number of exoensive olavers, be-
cause Hepburn is enough for any
picture and that is worth PLENTY.
'•
But the most important and sig-
nificant thing of all, is the fact that
the public wants her to the extent of
fighting her battles for her. To the
extent that, even though they've been
aroused to envious indignation over
star salaries, they believe that Hep-
burn has EARNED the right to what-
ever increase she asks for. Above all.
they want to see Hepburn, and if
Radio lets her go, they will have
quibbled over a few thousands with
potential millions at stake. We know
there are two sides to every question,
and a contract is a contract, etc, etc.,
but viewed purely as a business prop-
osition from either side, Hepburn is
worth paying for and keeping.
Florey Going to China
Robert Florey, accompanied by his
wife, leaves Tuesday for the Orient
to get background shots for his next
picture, "Oil for the Lamps of China,"
for Warners. He will be gone about
three months.
Para. Tennis Tourney
The Paramount studio will blossom
out with its annual tennis tournament
at the Los Angeles Tennis Club on
April 8 and 15. It is being super-
vised by Sam Frey.
Brewster Agency Deal
June Brewster has been signed to
a managerial contract by the Rebecca
and Silton agency. Player is now at
Paramount in "Private Scandal."
Page Four
THEjfe^B
March 31, 1934
TAX CUTS
$30,000
Exhibs Appeal to
Govt, for Relief
London. — British exhibitors have
lost a little more than $30,000,000
during the past two years because of
the government entertainment tax, it
was revealed at the C.E.A. annual
meeting here, and they have appealed
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
for relief.
T. Ormiston, who addressed the
meeting and gave out the details,
declared that investigation shows that
patronage at the picture houses
started dropping immediately upon the
application of the present entertain-
ment tax, and has continued to de-
crease until it has reached a point 21
per cent off in two years.
Theatre owners are faced with a
serious problem, and if their appeal
for aid is ignored by the government,
it looks as though a lot of them will
have to close their doors. In a reso-
lution passed at the meeting they
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
to remit the tax on seats up to and
including sixpence. The tax ranges
all the way from 16 2/3 per cent to
33 1 /3 per cent, the latter figure be-
ing the tax on the cheaper threepenny
seats.
It was pointed out at the meeting
that the government was unfair to
those patrons who cannot afford the
expensive seats, as they pay a tax of
twice the amount charged on the
higher-priced seats.
German-Austrian Film
Agreement Extended
Berlin. — The agreement regarding
exchange of German and Austrian
films has been prolonged till March
1, 1935. No particulars have leaked
out, but it is said that no substantial
modifications were made in the old
agreement.
New Plant for Dubbing
Paris. — The French Fox-Film has
opened a large studio in Clignancourt,
near Paris. This synchronization stu-
dio will be used exclusively for the
dubbing of the American Fox produc-
tions and is the third studio in Paris
occupied with dubbing exclusively.
Belgian Tax Lowered
Brussels. — Belgian distributors have
received the government's approval for
tax reductions on admission tickets.
Government's move was dictated by
the difficult exploitation conditions
under which local men are suffering.
D'Arcy Not for 'Widow'
Ray D'Arcy's hopes to re-enact his
original role of the heavy in "Merry
Widow" were lost yesterday when
Irving Thalberg decided the new ver-
sion of the operetta had eliminated
the villain part.
Stothart on Lehar Score
Herbert Stothart, MCM's music de-
partment head, took over ihe task of
adapting the Franz Lehar score for the
"Merry Widow" personally.
BRITISH BUSINESS
,000 IX TWO YEARS
In London Studios
All Stars Look Alike
To the Archbishop
London. — -The Archbishop of
Canterbury was one of the guests
of honor the other evening at a
dinner of some 500 exhibitors, and
brought down the house when he
told the assembled theatre men
that he was unacquainted with the
stars in the film firmament, "but
judging by their pictures I cannot
see that one star differs from an-
other."
Hollywood Idea of
Paris Burns French
Paris. — If Hollywood's film pro-
ducers would limit their Parisian back-
grounds to establishing shots of the
Eifel tower they would find France a
much more prolific user of their mo-
tion pictures.
The local opinion of Hollywood's
idea of Paris causes a burn-up in most
Frenchmen's minds, and frequently
makes them break loose and show
their disgust by tearing up the theatre
seats.
At best, the French market for pic-
tures is a ticklish one. The French
exhibitors refuse to consider any type
of film which they are not exactly
certain will be a howling success.
Pictures like "Invisible Man," "Back
Street," "Kid from Spain," "Henr*'
VIM" and any Charlie Chaplin picture
fit right into the local exhibitor
scheme of things. Other types have
to take a chance.
Expansion Planned
By Fox in England
London. — Fox Film Company is
planning an expansion of its film pro-
duction activities in this country in
the very near future, according to
authoritative reports in film circles
here.
It is believed the company plans a
considerable increase in the number
of films produced here. The first
step towards this expansion has al-
ready been taken in the removal of
the Fox production staff from Berners
Street to much larger offices in New-
man Street.
Discus Champion Gets
'Treasure Island' Role
John Anderson, former national dis-
cus tossing champ, graduates from the
Hinsdale School into a featured spot
in "Treasure Island" at MGM.
Also assigned roles are Richard
Powell, Olin Howland, Charles Mac-
Naughton, Edward Pawley, James
Berke, Robert Anderson, Charles Ir-
win, Tom Mahoney, Frank Dunn and
Matt Gilman.
Sound on British Lots
London. — Of the 23 British picture
studios now in operation, eight are
equipped with RCA recording equip-
ment, five with independent, four
with Visatone, three with British
Acoustic and three with Erpi.
Drastic Changes in
Pittaluga Set-up
Rome. — After the change in the
board of directors which took place
a few months ago in the Pittaluga
concern, a plan of internal modifica-
tions has now been worked out and
part of the company's staff substi-
tuted.
The initiator of the reorganization
is Paolo Giordani. He wants to give
more independence to the several de-
partments of the concern (studios,
distribution, theatre exploitation) each
of them being forced to work on a
remunerative basis. The Pittaluga
concern has made a contract with
United Artists, whose complete pro-
duction it will distribute in Italy.
Three New Foreign
Houses For Paris
Paris.- — The number of foreign film
theatres in Paris is to be increased by
three. They will be used principally
for foreign films presented in the
original language.
One of the three new theatres,
the Crystal Palace, has started already
with the Radio film, "Christopher
Strong." The theatre has 250 seaty.
The next theatre to be opened is the
Studio d'Artois, while the third, Stu-
dio Bertrand, is being built. Paris has
30 foreign theatres.
U. S. Film Firms Might
Produce in Australia
Sydney. — J. W. Loeb, former part-
ner of William Fox, on arrival here on
a tourist cruise, intimated that, in the
event of the Australian Federal Gov-
ernment legislating a film quota, it
might have the effect of forcing
American film producing companies to
establish studios in Australia.
"The introduction of a local quota
system might easily result in Ameri-
can producers taking the same action
as they did with France and Egland
and manufacture pictures in Aus-
tralia," he said.
Director Michael Powell has been
borrowed from Westminster Films to
direct "Something Always Happens"
for Irving Asher's Warner-British
crowd. . . , Scott Darling scripted. . .
Fred Newmeyer will pilot the Leslie
Fuller comedy, "Bill in the Legion,"
for British International. . . , Tamara
Desni gets the top spot in "Forbidden
Territory" for Gaumonts; Phil Rosen
megs it, production manager, Joe
Rock. . . . Monty Banks gets his first
talkie starring comedy again, tentative
title "So You Wan't Talk?" ... for
Warner-British in about five weeks'
time.
•
Glen MacWilliams is photograph-
ing Tim Whelan's "The Camels Are
Coming" for Caumont British
Marcel Varnel's next for British Inter-
national is "The Last Lord," and Paul
Stein's next for this concern is "BI0S7
som Time," starring Richard Tauber.
. . . John Paddy Carstairs will direct
Molly Lament's first starring vehicle
for Sound City early in May. . . Rich-
ard Bird gets the lead in "The Great
Defender" for B.I.P. . . . Wendy Bar-
rie, the Diamond Brothers, Clifford
Mollison and Zelma O'Neal go into
"Give Me A Ring"; Arthur Woods
handles the megaphone.
•
Ralph Ince has just finished "No
Escape" for Irving Asher. . . . Sidney
Lanfield will direct Buchanan in "Sons
O' Guns," with Leonard Praskins on
the script; this is interesting as,
according to the British movie laws,
an Englishman must write the scenario
of a British production. . . . Laura La
Plante will make another here
Greta Nissen is in a new musical com-
edy opening in town in a week or
so's time. . . . and Ana Lee shares the
top honors with John Loder in the
new Al Parker Fox-British production.
Duchy of Luxemburg
Utopia for Pictures
Washington. — That the Grand
Duchy of Luxemburg is an unusually
good market for American motion plc^
tures is the assertion of American
Consul C. P. Waller, in a report to
the Department of Commerce.
Waller points out that 29 of the
30 theatres in the Grand Duchy are
wired for sound, the country is one of
the most prosperous in the world and
there is no censorship of any kind on
pictures.
THERE IS STILL TIME
FOR THE GALLANT GESTURE
Make use of this last-minute reminder of our
LAST-MINUTE EASTER DAY DELIVERIES for
IN-TOWNERS ... and TELEGRAPH ORDERS
for OUT-OF-TOWNERS!
COLONIAL FLORISTS, Inc.
IRMA MAY WEITZENKORN
445 North Beverly Drive Telephone OXford 1 1 56
March 31. 1934
THE
(RilPOPiTlIR
Page Five
PRODUCERS DOURLE-CROSS
OX MPTOA El^TERTAIIVMENT
OPEN FORUM
/
Scrap Agreement,
Make Own Plans
With original plans to give one big
blow-out for the visiting exhibitors of
the MPTOA during their convention
here, the major producers are now
split hgh, wide and handsome, each
trying to outdo the other in planning
entertainment for the theatre owners.
At a meeting of the Producers As-
sociation some time ago, it was agreed
that all major lots should chip in and
foot the bill for a big dinner-dance
to be held on one of the big stages
at Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer. After this
agreement it became known that
Warners intended to walk out on
those arrangements and stage an af-
fair themselves at their own lot.
Hearing this. Junior Laemmie started
plans for a big show, food and dancing
at Universal City, and now the whole
thing is in a jamboree, with some af-
fairs doubling up on the same night.
Warners explain their defection
was due to the fact that Abe Warner
had already committed the Warner
plant to their party before the agree-
ment was reached by the local pro-
ducers, and Junior Laemmie feels that,
if Warners are out to grab that indi-
vidual attention, he is not going to
stand by and see Universal dished.
The affair is going on at Metro-
Coldwyn-Mayer even if MCM has to
foot the bill. Paramount was busy
with plans yesterday for something of
its own. So, between the bunch the
visiting exhibitors will not want for
food, drink or feminine entertainment.
Baum Writes for Sten
Sam Coldwyn yesterday placed
Vicki Baum under a writing contract,
with an assignment immediately lined
up for the author of "Crand Hotel."
This will be an original story for Anna
Sten which Coldwyn plans to put into
production immediately following the
completion of "Resurrection."
MCM Signs Furness
Betty Furness returned from New
York the past week and was immedi-
ately signed by MCM to a term con-
tract. Miss Furness was under contract
to Radio, but obtained her release
from that studio when she left for
New York three months ago.
Nigel Bruce to MCM
MCM has closed a deal with Fox
for the loan of Nigel Bruce on a one-
picture deal to play the role of Squire
Trelawney in "Treasure Island." Vic-
tor Fleming is directing under the pro-
duction wing of Hunt Stromberg.
Hitchcock to Coldwyn
Eddie Hitchcock, former member of
the MCM advertising staff, has joined
the Sarn Coldwyn publicity staff to
handle the exploitation on "Nana"
for the west coast.
Mrs. Cledhill III
Mrs. Margaret Cledhill, wife of
Donald Cledhill, executive secretary of
the Academy, was operated on yester-
day at the Wilshire Hospital.
Little Women' Helps
New York. — Some of the value
of "Little Women" to the motion
picture industry can be seen in the
fact that I 500 Catholic Sisters will
be guests at a special showing in
the RKO Center Theatre next
Monday morning.
Van Dyke Will Start
'Thin Man' Thursday
W. S. Van Dyke will wind up his
work on "Manhattan Melodrama"
Tuesday, two days under schedule,
and will take over the reins of "The
Thin Man" Thursday. The Jack Con-
way unit on "Manhattan Melodrama"
still has ten days of work. Jerry Sack-
heim is the associate producer on the
MCM picture.
Buck in Person Will
Boost 'Wild Cargo'
New York. — The new Frank Buck
picture, "Wild Cargo," is being
counted on by some of the circuit
heads as one of the show bets of the
year. To insure a flying start, Sam
Dembow, of Paramount Theatres, yes-
terday closed a deal with Frank Buck
for an indefinite number of personal
appearances.
The explorer-producer will try the
act out in the Paramount houses in
Dallas, San Antonio and Fort Worth,
starting April 20.
Wilson and Farrow on
'Mutiny on the Bounty'
Irving Thalberg has assigned Carey
Wilson and John Farrow to collabo-
rate on the script of "Mutiny on the
Bounty," which MCM recently ac-
quired.
Frank Lloyd will swing over from
the Fox lot to direct this picture when
the script is ready.
Playhouse Cuts Scale
Starting Monday, prices at the Hol-
lywood Playhouse, where the stage
play "White Cargo" is playing, will
be 25 and 40 cents, according to an
announcement from E. E. Clive, the
producer. Clive further announces
these will be the prices for other
shows slated for future production
there.
Eddy Set for 'Duchess'
First big spot for Nelson Eddy is
slated to be the leading role opposite
Jeanette MacDonald in "Duchess of
Delmonico's," which Walter Wanger
is producing for MCM. James M. Cain
is on the screen play.
Hatton with Liberty
Raymond Hatton has been signed
by M. H. Hoffman for the LibertyX
production, "Mad Honeymoon," fea-
turing Marian Nixon and Neil Hamil-
ton. William Nigh is directing.
Receipts Justify
Roach Added Costs
Henry Cinsberg, Hal Roach general
manager, announced yesterday that,
during the year just concluded, MCM
has lined up 1000 additional exhibi-
tors for the Roach comedies. Studio
has expended $100,000 more than
last year and returns have justified
the expenditure.
"Regardless of double feature bills,
comedies will be played if they are
properly made and are entertaining
That is why we have increased our
budget and expanded our production
facilities," Cinsberg stated.
Ferber Finishes One,
Starts New Original
Nat Ferber has completed his origi-
nal screen play on "Little Napoleon"
and has been assigned to write an
original for Wallace Beery and Marie
Dressier, based on the famous railroad
character, "Roundhouse Annie."
"Little Napoleon" will have Beery
and Cable in the top spots and will
follow "Mutiny on the Bounty" into
production. Laurence Weingarten
produces for MCM.
Para. Sets Hathaway
To Direct Is Zat So?'
Because of the success of "Come
On Marines," his first crack at direct-
ing a picture outside of westerns,
Henry Hathaway has definitely been
taken out of the western class by
Paramout and has been handed the
script of "Is Zat So?" as his next
assignment.
Jack Oakie and either Roscoe Karns
or William Frawley will have the top
spots in this prizefighter yarn.
Maxine Doyle to Stage
Maxine Doyle, Warner contract
player, has obtained a four-weeks
leave of absence from the studio to
accept the lead in "Take a Chance,"
which stars Olsen and Johnson. The
show will open at the Mayan Theatre
soon.
New Writer for Radio
Radio has brought Allan Scott from
New York to write the screen play
of "Ringstrasse," a Viennese play
which was recently purchased by the
studio, dealing with a traveling sales-
man in Vienna. The Selznick-Joyce
office made the deal.
Two for Card Short
Muriel Evans and Irene Hervey have
been assigned the leads in the trick
card short, featuring Lewis Zingone,
sleight of hand artist, which is being
directed by Jack Cummings. Pete
Smith's monologue will be used.
Fott on Mystery Yarn
Carrett Fort has been signed by
Paramount to write the screen play of
"The Strange Case of Mrs. Ames,"
which is being supervised by Bayard
Veiller. Carole Lombard is slated for
the top spot.
March 26, 1934.
The Hollywood Reporter:
It is interesting to know that War-
ner Bros, have organized what is
called the Warner Club. The dues
are twenty-five cents per month. Any
single p>erson belonging to the club
who gets married receives $25 and
any married person who has an addi-
tion to the family receives $50. The
idea of the club is to promote more
marriages and more children.
A certain employee, who is about to
become a mother, asked for a leave
of absence of three weeks. She
couldn't afford to quit her job, as her
husband is out of work and has been
out of work for three months. She
was refused the leave and also the
right to join the club.
Maybe the good fellowship the club
is sponsoring is so much higher than
the average person can understand
that it will take one of the high pow-
ered executives of the theatre depart-
ment to explain why they couldn't
give a kid like this a break.
What's your idea?
READER.
March 29, 1934.
Dear Wilkerson :
If you will throw your brain in re-
verse and go back about ten years,
you'll be looking at the Fairbanks pic-
ture, "Robin Hood." If you go back
a little farther, you'll be in the midst
of a condition of public apathy toward
pictures which was a kind of sketch
plan for the recent and present cir-
cumstances. Come forward and you'll
find the condition rapidly disappear-
ing. "Robin Hood" started 'em com-
ing back.
It is obvious that "Rothschild" will
do the same thing. It will bring back
to the theatre a lot of people who
have been listening to radio, playing
bridge or just looking after their win-
ter's fishing. They'll want to see
pictures — but they won't keep on
wanting to unless they get good ones
— so we get back to the question,
What is a good one? Here is a pos-
sible answer:
A good picture concerns things that
are important to most people and tells
about them in a way that most people
can understand.
Try this on "Lady for a Day," "It
Happened One Night" and "Little
Women."
Yours,
HARRY CHANDLEE.
Story Editor
Jesse L. Lasky Productions.
Mae West Donates Two
Prizes for Athletes
Mae West has donated two trophies
for tournament events. A cup goes
to the winner of the Paramount Studio
tennis tournament, which goes on at
the Los Angeles Club, April 8 and 15.
Star offers a diamond ring as one of
the prizes in the ASC golf tourna-
ment at the Hollywood Country Club.
Carroll Out of MCM
Richard Carroll has completed his
original baseball story for MCM and
has been dropped from the writing
staff.
Page Six
THEP^
M3-ch 31, 1934
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English Offerings Gain
Attention This Week
Several English volumes come to the attention of this
department this week. One of the most interesting is "I Was
a German, " by Ernst Toller, the German dramatist, who tells the
story of his life. The introduction is dated "The day my books
were burnt in Germany," and he dedi
cates the volume to "My nephew,
who shot himself at the age of eigh-
teen years in 1928."
Another outstand'ing book is
Louise Redfield Peattie's "Wife to
Caliban," which tells of Crispin de
Castro, a hunchback who had "the
elements of Cod knows what saints
and beasts caked up together in him."
Crispin marries Eva Carey, who is des-
perately poor and ill in a hospital, and
takes her to his lovely palace over-
looking the Mediterranean. His long,
torturing fight to keep Eva is handled
with literary beauty and taste by Miss
Peattie.
"A Law Unto Themselves," by
Loveday Prior, is her first novel. It
tells of the wanderings of the trouba-
dours in the thirteenth century; the
plunderings of the robber bands; the
tournaments and pageants of chivalry;
kings and cardinals; of murder and
glittering battles.
Books published in America this
week are extraordinarily fine. Of the
books reviewed this week, not more
than four or five are mediocre. The
rest are in the superlative clasb.
"The Story of a Country Boy"
Author, Dawn Powell; publisher,
Farrar and Rinehart.
Here is the simple, vivid story of a
country boy who rose to financial
heights in the big city but never rid
himself of the feeling that he was just
a farmer and one of the boys.
How this attitude reacted on his
$25 a week employees and how Chris
their
Miss
pub-
finally became the target for
irritation is the plot basis for
Powell's best novel to date.
"Strange Harvest"
Author, Inez Haynes Irwin;
Isher, Bobbs-Merrill.
Mrs. Irwin writes of seven sisters,
each of whom has her own personal
problem to solve.
Martha, who is slowly going blind,
finds that her husband has taken unto
himself a mistress; Francie is the vic-
tim of a disease which threatens her
beauty; Lydia has the problem of her
husband's incipient insanity to wrestle
with; Sukey is childless, and Eunice
finds her romance wrecked because
Denny, Boston's most eligible bache-
lor, has no sympathy for her ideals
and convictions.
The book is carefully written, but
leans a little heavily on coincidence.
"So Stood I"
Author, Jane Culver; publisher,
Houghton Mifflin.
Completely intimidated by her
nurse's awful insistence on "God's
punishment" and "God's Will," little
Maybe This Would
Work on Scripts
The magazine Esquire has re-
turned to Ernest Hemingway all the
original manuscripts of the articles
he has been writing. Hemingway
gives the manuscripts to needy lit-
erary friends, who sell them as
collector's items. Highest price to
date is $500.
Nancy grows up with a large black
shadow of fear hanging over her.
Her mother was a flighty, not-too-
careful person; her father was a
Protestant and Nancy never could get
over the idea that she had to pray
consistently for his conversion; her sis-
ter thought of herself as a unique sort
of genius, and there was no one left
for Nancy but her brother, Stephen.
Miss Culver has done a swell job
with Nancy and Stephen, and her
writing throughout is sly and brilliant.
"Dark Angel"
Author, Gina Kaus; publisher,
Macmillan.
Eden and Cedar Paul have trans-
lated this dramatic, brutal, harsh novel
of Alexander, Lottie and Irene.
It is not a pretty story, but it is
a strong one: Alexander has married
Irene, although he falls in love with
her sister, Lottie, after they were
married. When he comes back from
the war, he finds that the child that
he has worshipped is not his wife's at
all, but Lottie's. His sudden outburst
of jealousy opens his wife's eyes to
the fact that he loves Lottie, but the
situation is further heightened by the
terrible admission from Irene that she
has, in order to brng Alexander to her,
brought up a child that, as a matter of
fact, is her husband's as well as her
sister's.
Aside from the essential plot, the
book is a pictorial masterpiece of
Vienna during and just after the war.
"In Sight of Eden'
Author, Roger Vercel; publisher,
Harcourt, Brace.
Here is another translation, this
time of the first novel to receive the
America-France award, and is done by
Alvah C. Bessie, to whom all praises
should go for a sensitized piece of
work.
It is the story of two Breton sea-
men, whose friendship for each other,
against the loneliness of the sea, is
stronger than the ordinary affection
most men have for each other.
The friendship is built up slowly
and deeply, with the result that the
tragedy of their final parting, and the
insanity of one of them, is a tremen-
dous thing. The breaking up of their
trust and faith in each other is ac-
complished by a vicious seaman who
persuades Rochard that his wife has
been unfaithful to him for two years
— and with his friend.
There is depth and strength to this
book and it stands as a particularly
noteworthy achievement.
"The Chronicle of Caroline
Quellen, Centenarian"
Author, Seton Peacey; publisher,
Harrison Smith and Robert Haas.
Mr. Peacey has written a lively and
zestful history of five generations of
people who lived between 1 797 and
1901.
The pivot is Caroline, an exceed-
ingly interesting, frank, energetic,
fascinating young girl who loses noth-
ing of her frankness or energy or gus-
tiness when she reaches a ripe old
age.
She is unconventional for the age
in which she lived, taking over her
husband's business when he died, re-
taining always her attraction for men,
and invariably drawn to the wildest
and most impossible of her many chil-
dren and grandchildren.
All the interesting characters of
that time are in the book, with the
historic occasions — the ascent of Sad-
ler's balloon, and the hectic trip of
the first "steam carriage."
This "chronicle" is a triumphant
thing.
"Children of the Poor"
Author, Anonymous; publisher
Vanguard.
Here is a human document whose
significance and importance cannot be
over-rated.
The author, preferring to remain
anonymous, has written of his boy-
hood, miserably poor, in New Zeal-
and, but the place makes no differ-
ence. It is the story of a child thief
in the making, and, in the case of his
sister, a woman of the streets. It is
a bitter, sarcastic and sincere picture
of abject poverty and complete des-
peration.
With its beautiful prose, its ma-
ture backward glances at a dark boy-
hood, and its superb characterizations,
the book deserves a wide circulation.
"I Have Touched the Earth"
Author, Sylvia Chatfield Bates;
publisher, Bobbs-Merrill.
This is the story of Stella, whose
childhood was torn between an extra-
ordinarily deep love for her father and
an unreasoning, frantic fear of his tre-
mendous rages.
The victim of his coarse jokes and
cruel jibes, Stella found relief in an
ardent but innocent attachment to
another girl, Julie. But her father
spoiled even that. Finally, however,
Stella breaks away, with the help of
her Aunt Ellen, when Julie lies dying
in a sanatorium in Colorado.
But the real tragedy comes when
the father, prey to a tormenting lone-
liness, and Stella, still victim of her
father's strange attraction for her, be-
come dependent upon each other.
"The Fighting Danites"
Author, Dane Coolidge; publish-
er, E. P. Dutton.
This book has the value of a seldom
used scene of American history — Utah
in the 1 870's under Brigham Young.
The story has to do with a young
army officer who accidentally tells
Brigham Young's daughter some secret
plans of the government for Young's
suppression. He is discharged from
the Army but is promised reinstate-
ment if he can find the unidentified
Mormon leader who commanded the
Indians and Danite ruffians at the
Mountain Meadows Massacre.
"But Not the End"
Author, Frederick Nebel; pub-
lisher. Little, Brown.
Poor Fabian!
Harrassed by the most mercenary
wife in literature, he allows himself
to be swallowed in a money-making
business, never emerging long enough
or with a mind clear enough to find
out that she is frequently and thor-
oughoughly unfaithful to him.
When the crash comes in 1 929, she
leaves him and goes to Paris for a di-
vorce, where an unexpected punish-
ment is meted out to her.
The incidents in the book are deftly
handled and the characterizations are
extremely well drawn.
"The Bright Lexicon"
Author, Donald Culcross Peattie;
publisher, G. P. Putnam's Sons.
A child prodigy, as learned as an
encyclopedia but curiously dumb
about the affairs of life, is the central
character in this book.
Speaking five languages when he
was ten years old, and learning a new
one each month; lecturing at Heidel-
berg, playing the world's best chess
players; hailed all around the earth as
the possessor of a prodigious brain,
Kyril nevertheless has the mentality
of a child about the art of living. All
of which takes him into some curious
adventures.
The point with which the author
concerns himself is: What will happ>en
to Kyril.' And he draws an interesting
parallel. . . . Kyril's story being the
story of mankind — too much learning
and no happiness.
Entirely readable and worthwhile.
I
Bookbinding—
by BARBIERI
0X1392 1232NO. Hilldale
Los Ani;eles
. . . Fine leather bindings hand
bound and hand tooled. . . Sol-
ander and slip cases for first
editions. . . . Fortune, Time,
Natl. Geographic bound in vol-
umes. . . . Prices and samples
on request.
March 31, 1934
THE
Page Seven
Mystery Tales Of Week
Rate Unusually High
Ten mysteries are in the publishing output of the week for
the lover of chills and clues, and on the whole a batch that rates
unusually good in quality. Outstanding is the steady improve-
ment shown by Dorothy Sayers, whose latest, "The Nine Tailors,"
is rated her best. The latest Ameri-
GOSSIP OF AUTHORS
can favorite, Valentine Williams, is
also represented on the week's list.
"The Nine Tailors"
Author, Dorothy L. Sayers; pub-
lisher, Harcourt, Brace.
Dorothy Sayers outdoes herself in
this mystery. It is the best of her
books so far.
Lord Peter Wimsey substitutes one
day for one of the regular ringers of
the bells of Fenchurch St, Paul in the
Fen country of East Anglia, and these
bells have an important part in help-
ing Lord Peter to unravel the mystery
surrounding an unidentified corpse
that is found in a grave that didn't
belong to it.
Besides writing a story that is fas-
cinating from cover to cover. Miss
Sayers writes delightfully of the
ancient art of change-ringing.
"The PortcuHis Room"
Author, Valentine Vv'illiams;
publisher, Houghton Mifflin.
Stephen Garrison, an American
millionaire playboy, is horrified to
discover the murdered body of Vi-
comte D'Arenne in a room that is
supposed to be haunted in ancient
Toray Castle that Stephen is trying
to buy.
Suspicion falls on Stephen, because
he has quarreled with the Vicomte
over Phyllis Dean, an American girl.
But there are many other people who
had very good reasons for wishing the
old rake dead.
One of the interesting angles of
the book is that some gangsters take
over the investigation and because
they are armed while the others are
not, and the island is cut off from
all outside communication because of
a heavy storm, they are able to do
pretty much as they like.
"The Case of the Fifth Key"
Author, Gregory Dean; publisher,
Covici, Friede.
Samuel Marks is found dead with
seven bullets in his body.
And he had just about that many
enemies, but they all have such per-
fect alibis that they are suspected
doubly.
No headway at all is made until
Deputy Commissioner Simon comes
buck from his vacation and once more
gets the old brain working.
Exciting and well built up.
""London CaMing'
Author, Val Gielgud and Holt
Marvell; publisher, Doubleday,
Doran.
Murder in the British Broadcasting
company.
The murderee is nobody but a poor,
unnoticed actor playing a small part
in a drama of the air, who is strangled
by one of the other characters in the
play when he is supposed to be
strangled as called for by the script.
The actor, however, is supposed to
be alone with the microphone while
he plays this scene, and the director,
listening from the control room, notes
nothing out of the way.
Inspector Spears of Scotland Yard
is the brainy sleuth.
""The Mystery of the Fiddling
Cracksman"
Author, Harry Stephen Kaaler;
publisher, E. P. Dutton.
Here is a fantastic one. Billy Hem-
pie, who has just sold his first book,
no more than cashes his advance roy-
alty check than he is embroiled in a
series of adventures that make his
own book read like a girl scout vol-
ume. Very complicated, but readable.
"The Lesser Antilles Case"
Author, Rufus King; publisher,
Doubleday, Doran.
A survivor of the wreck of the
yacht Helsinor charges that the owner
and the third mate were murdered,
and Lieutenant Valcour is unable to
make any headway toward solving the
mystery until anottier survivor of the
wreck is murdered in New York.
He unearths the murderer by char-
tering another yacht and taking all the
remaining survivors to the scene of
the wreck.
"'Weeping Willow Murders"
Author, Charles Koonce; pub-
lisher. Burton Pub. Co.
Here are a couple of killings, in-
volving Lillie Browne, who just hap-
pened to see them; Grandfather Yarr
whose greatest joy in life is disinher-
iting people; Toddy McLean, his
granddaughter; Detective Finch, and
several lovers of Toddy.
"'Page Mr, Pomeroy"
Author, Elizabeth Jordan; pub-
lisher, Appleton-Century.
When Bruce Pomeroy, a wealthy
young man, tries to help a young lady
who is being insulted in a park, he
gets knocked out, taken to an island
by a bunch of gangsters and finds
himself with a number of Russian
aristocrats.
This is fast and picturesque.
"'Information Received"
Author, E. R. Punshon; publisher,
Houghton Mifflin Co.
A robbery and a murder are com-
mitted simultaneously. To complicate
matters still further, the murdered
man had made a will leaving his large
fortune to his daughter, Jennie, un-
less she marries. And the trouble is,
she is already married secretly to
Peter Carsley.
Major Herbert O. Yardley, who has
been halted in his revelations concern-
ing wartime Secret Service work, has
turned his attention to the writing of
spy fiction. His first, "The Blonde
Countess," will be published in April
by Longmans, Green and company.
Ann Bridge, who won the $10,000
Atlantic Novel Prize in 1932 with
"Peking Picnic," has written a new
book about a little wild Manchurian
pony. It is called "The Ginger Grif-
fin," griffin being the name of these
ponies.
The same day that the first edition
of 3,000 copies of "Nijinsky" was
published, the edition was exhausted.
Simon and Schuster are issuing imme-
diately a second printing of 3,000
copies.
William Faulkner has temporarily
suspended work on both the Snopes
saga and "Requiem for a Nun," and
has started a new novel called "Dark
House."
Dodd, Mead has just received the
manuscript of George Bernard Shaw's
new collection of stiort stories. The
title will be "Scraps, Shavings and
Short Stories." Published May 2.
The library at Teachers' College,
Columbia University, has banned "To-
bacco Road," and "God's Little Acre,"
by Erskine Caldwell, although both
books are on required reading lists in
some courses at the university.
Another banned book is Louis
Adamic's "The Native's Return." Gov-
ernment decree has banned the book
in Jugoslavia, and any one having the
book in his possession is liable to two
years' imprisonment. The penalty for
bringing it into the country is from
five to ten years. No newspaper or
magazine is allowed even to men-
tion it.
Arnold Zweig and Stefan Zweig are
not related. Arnold is German and
Stefan is Austrian.
A new magazine is about to hit the
newsstands. It is Pollen, edited by
Walker Winslow, Lawrence A. Har-
per and Irene Kilboume, and it is
published right here in Los Angeles at
1 046 ' 2 Ingraham street.
Peter Neagoe does something new.
Instead of announcing that all the
characters in his book are fictitious,
he comes right out and says that all of
the people in his novel, "Easter Sun,"
are real, and that he was once in love
with the principal character, lleana.
Samuel Hopkins Adams will stay in
New York until after the publication,
in April, of his new novel, "Gorgeous
Hussy," after which he will return to
his home in Auburn.
Sinclair Lewis' "Work of Art" is
creeping up on Hervey Aliens "An-
thony Adverse," although the latter is
still rated by Baker and Taylor as the
best renter.
Who's Who and Where
Katharine Brush is in Florida finishing her new novel, . . . Alec
Waugh has just come over from London. . . . Dawn Powell is vaca-
tioning in Nassau. . . . Thome Smith has taken his family to Florida.
. , Joseph Hergesheimer is on his way to England. . , , Erskine Cald-
well is m New York, , , . George Oppenheimer is on his way back to
Hollywood. . . . Octavus Roy Cohen is in New York at the Hotel
Lombardy. , . . Hendrik Willem Van Loon is in Papeete, Tahiti,
Biography And
Adventure in Non-
Fiction of Week
""Nijinsky"
Author, Romola de Pulszky Ni-
jinsky; publisher, Simon and
Schuster,
Nijinsky danced; duels were fought;
Carl Van Vechten was severely beat-
en; Pavlowa fainted because he re-
ceived more applause than she did; a
prince fought for him; Diaghilev kept
him under the sinister guard of a
bearded moujik valet . , . and his,
wife, Romola, writes the story of his
life.
Today Nijinsky sits in an insane
asylum in Switzerland, muttering to
himself and making little circles in
the sand . . . and his wife has dipped
her pen in the blood of her heart and
has written one of the most poignant-
ly moving, heroically conceived and
utterly stunning books of the year.
Romola has written of Nijinsky's
rise in the ballet; of her desperate
wooing of this strange man; of Diag-
hilev's powerful influence; and of the
tragic end of the world's greatest
dancer.
This is a biography that tops any
that have been released this season.
For sheer human drama it is unparal-
leled.
""The Incurable Filibuster"
Author, Colonel Dean Ivan Lamb;
publisher, Farrar and Rinehart.
There probably were a few wars
since 1906 that Colonel Dean Ivafl
Lamb didn't take part in, but they
were going on in another section of
the globe while he was fighting some-
where else, and he just couldn't make
them.
Lamb calls himself "the incurable
filibuster," and his book is a gusty,
lively account of his adventures.
Besides fighting, he wandered
around the world gambling, working
in the Canal Zone, mining, and flying.
The book is a grand adventure to
read and it is important also as a
comment on Central and South Amer-
ican situations.
""No One To Blame: An Afri-
can Adventure"
Author, Margaret Corson Hub-
bard; publisher, Minton, Balch.
Something new in African books —
the author hasn't a single photograph
of herself posing with the big black
savages.
Mrs. Hubbard tells of a trip to
Africa that failed. The Hubbards'
"movie operator" had taken only one
picture before, and that of a horse-
race; visitors from home descended
upon them and ate up their slim sup-
ply of food and borrowed their money;
there was a mutiny, a minor jungle
war, the river rose forty feet, and the
biggest accomplishment of the whole
trip was getting out of it alive.
Mrs, Hubbard writes easily and
humorously, and the book is a tack in
the balloon-tire school of African ad-
venture.
MAKE YOUR EASTER GIFT
A GIFT OF WINE
We have attractive hampers ranging from
$10 to $50 or will make up unusual packages
of one or more bottles selected from our wine
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BE A USEFUL GIFT
COME IN AND MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS
OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT
6666 SUNSET
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^ MP.SAVUF.L MAr^.X,
CULVKR CITY. JALI:''
Vol. XX. No. 1 9. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday. April 2. 1934
lATSE €€C$ INTO ACTION
•NEVER, in the long history of this
picture business, have conditions per-
taining to the production of pictures
been in such an upset state. Pic-
tures of any quality made under those
conditions are the exceptions rather
than the rule. A continuation of the
present condition will spell wreck and
ruin for 90 per cent of the companies
now struggling under their adminis-
trations.
And the remarkable part of it all
is that, instead of fighting to elimi-
nate the evils, more evils are being
heaped up.
It ail starts with the story and its
adaptation for a picture. In most
plants, writers are looked on with
contempt. Directors, good directors,
are given as little credit. There is
no attempt to build personalities, to
encourage performance, to promote
good casting. Costs of production are
twice and three times as much as
they should be for the reason that no
one cares — there is no penalty. Pro-
duction control is turned over to men
who, for the most part, should not
even be in the business.
Yet salaries are paid each and every
week and the business goes on. It
must be earning Its way.
This is, truly, a great business. It
zooms on with hardly any effort, any
capable effort. What would it be,
what would be its returns, if produc-
tion were handled intelligently by men
and women who knew what it was all
about; by individuals interested in
promoting progress, in making good
pictures?
This business is wide open for an
organization whose combined execu-
tives have no other thought than the
making of good pictures, of making
them at a reasonable price, of being
honest with all the people working
with them, of rewarding any forward
suggestion or advance on the part of
their creators. The industry is plead-
ing for better pictures and is offering
more money than has ever been paid
for entertainment, for successful ac-
complishments. But mosi of our
present producers are not attracted by
it, because they can't see it, they
don't understand the business, they
don't know how to go about it. They
can't make good pictures.
Para. Convention Here
New York. — Paramount has de-
cided on holding its annual sales
convention in Los Angeles, with
representation from all the coun-
try, abandoning the plan for re-
gional meetings. The date is June
20.
RKO Elephant'
Still on Its Hands
New York. — RKO's white ele-
phant, the Center Theatre, is produc-
ing more headaches. It is now
reported that officials of the Philhar-
monic and Metropolitan Opera House,
who tested the theatre acoustics last
week, report it will not do for concert
or opera because of excessive echo
and reverberation.
It is thought this is caused by the
unusually large number of ribbon loud
speakers installed in the house for
amplification.
Hays Orders Rewrite
Of Cain's 'Postman'
New York. — The Hays office has
informed MCM that it will not ap-
prove the James M. Cain story, "The
Postman Always Rings Twice," unless
it is re-written to meet the approval
of the censors.
It looks as though the studio is
stuck for its $25,000, the purchase
price. Two associate producers have
refused to date to handle the picture
unless the orginal story line is used.
Postpone Erpi Suit
Wilmington. — At the request of
Erpi, a three week's postponement has
been granted of the suit against that
company by the Stanley Circuit of
Philadelphia and General Talking Pic-
tures. Hearings were scheduled to
start today.
Appeals To Federal Attorney
General, Asking Prosecution
Of Majors On NRA Violation
Washington. — Clear up to United States Attorney General
Cummings the lATSE sound men's local of Hollywood has car-
ried its fight for recognition and establishment of the old wage
scale, with the prospect strong here, according to insiders, that
in line with procedure in other indus-
tries the Federal department will take
action on the kick.
The union demands prosecution of
the producers in the Federal Courts
for alleged violations of Section 7A of
the NRA code governing the motion
picture industry. The complaint was
filed in Los Angeles with Pierson M.
Hall, United States Attorney, and he
in turn filed an official complaint with
(Continued on Page 5)
Weekend Rain Hits
Broadway Grosses
New York. — Theatre grosses on
Broadway this week won't mean much
in the comparative tables, so just make
a note of it now. Heavy rain Satur-
day crippled the first hope the pic-
ture companies had for recovery from
the Holy Week slump, and then it
kept right on through Easter Sunday
to effectually ruin the first half of
the week's business.
Local theatres now figure at least
two-thirds of the week's gross in the
tills between the Friday opening day
and the last show Sunday.
'Bugle Sounds' Again
Joel Sayre joins the MCM writing
staff to write a new screen play for
"Bugle Sounds," the studio's prize
on-again off-again production.
HARRY CORN FIGHTS TO
REM AII\ WITH COLIJMRIA
New York. — With Harry Cohn on
his way here for final disposition of
the majority stock in Columbia Pic-
tures Corp., it is understood that he
will make all efforts to block the sale
unless he is retained as the Co.umbia
production head.
The deal as it is now set provides
for both Harry and Jack Cohn to dis-
pose of their entire stock holdings
which are believed to represent about
(Continued on Page 4)
Grainger Here Today
James R. Grainger, Universal sales
manager, gets in today by train from
New York. He stopf>ed off at Chicago
and Kansas City on the way, and will
remain here three weeks.
Seidelman Returns
New York.-
eign manager
-J. H. Seidelman, for-
of Columbia, returns
from Europe Tuesday.
Para. Will Release
14 British Pictures
New York. — Following the confer-
ences now on with Emanuel Cohen
on Paramount's Coast production plans
for next year, announcement will also
be made that Paramount will include
fourteen British-made pictures in its
coming schedule.
It is not decided yet whether Para-
mount will enter into production
association itself for the pictures or
select the list from product of estab-
lished British producers.
Hays-Carr Reach
Deal on Dual Ban
Following a recent conference of
Trem Carr and Will Hays, the latter
h s agreed to sic his dogs on the con-
tract rubber-stamping evil prevalent
in the Chicago sector, it was reported
Saturday. Hays made the deal with
(Continued on Page 5)
Rip Tide' Breaks All
Loew's State Records
"Rip Tide," the Irving Thalberg
production for MCM, with Norma
Shearer starred, set a new record for
Loew's State Theatre Saturday and
then topped that figure yesterday.
Saturday was several hundred dollars
ahead of the "Tugboat Annie" gross,
which held the record previously.
Radio After Chatterton
Pan Berman is negotiating with
Ruth Chatterton for the star spot in
"By Your Leave" at Radio, deal hing-
ing on the treatment of the play by
Sam Mintz, since the player wants to
okay her own stories.
GTE Receiver Stays
Wilmington. — Efforts of a stock-
holder, Emma A. Shaffer, to secure
the removal of Daniel O. Hastings as
ancillary receiver of General Theatre
Equipment, Inc., were denied by
Judge Patterson Saturday.
BROWN and FREED wrote HOT CHOCOLATE SOLDIERS'
3
I
Page Two
April 2, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includirig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Funny story behind the recent sale
of "I'll Sell Anything" to Warners.
Seems that a while back, the Fox stu-
dio wanted an "auctioneer story" for
Will Rogers, so it called upon Albert
). Cohen and Terry Shannon and sug-
gested that they write up the idea.
So the writers, after due time, re-
turned to Fox with their story, which
consisted of only a few typewritten
pages. So the big, bad Fox said there
wasn't enough to it — why, it was only
an idea, etc., and turned them away.
When Warners cast an eye on this
same brainchild, they leaped to the
newness of the idea with great glee,
and bought it immediately. So now
everybody owes a vote of thanks to
Fox for planting the idea in the first
place.
Friends of Adela Rogers St. John
will tell you that she's here to rush
proceedings for divorce from her hus-
band— and that she's in a big hurry.
And they'll also tell you that the rea-
son for the rush is that Adela plans
to marry Rudy Vallee the minute she's
free! Yeah, honest! And Rudy's
life-story, authored by Adela, has
started in Liberty.
There's going to be plenty of dust
raised around here by the clients of
a certain agent who are fed up with
his recent tactics. In fact, there's
been quite some dust raised already
by indignant actors, etc., who are re-
fusing to pay commissions, and desert-
ing this fellow's management. The
agent took himself an outside job,
and went east, leaving his business
affairs in the hands of one (we are
told) big cluck — and when the clients
complained and cut off the commis-
sions, the agent, from New York,
started attaching their salaries. Nat-
urally the clients are in an uproar^ —
to say nothing of the agent's busi-
ness!
"BOTTOMS UP"
Fox prod.; director, David Butler; writers, B. C. DeSylva, David Butler, Sid
Silvers; music and lyrics, Harold Adamson, Cus Kahn, Burton Lane,
Richard Whiting.
Music Hall
Mirror: This gay and spirited little comedy is real entertainment. It is packed
with laughs. It is played by a great comedy cast. The background of
the film is authentic Hollywood, with its landmarks, its quaint social
customs and its erratic natives.
World-Tele^am: Here, in "Bttoms Up," is a musical film so thoroughly tune-
ful and amusing, so thoroughly free from the usual spectacular song and
dance numbers lavished on such productions, that it is one of the special
cinema delights of recent weeks. There are several ingratiating songs
in "Bottoms Up," the dance numbers are expertly staged and the acting
of the entire cast, notably that of Spencer Tracy, is excellent.
Post: A bright and prankish story is rendered somewhat less bright by the evi-
dent reluctance of the authors to let got of t once they had whipped it
into plot form. It is too long for comfort, and the spots where it sags
have an inevitable tendency to slow up the pace. But, there is imagina-
tion in the telling, smoothness in the direction and some first-class com-
edy by Spencer Tracy, Herbert Mundin, Sid Silvers and Harry Green.
Times: It is a neat, carefree piece of work, which is helped greatly by Spencer
Tracy, Pat Paterson, an English actress who here makes her American
picture bow, Herbert Mundin, Harry Green, and, to a lesser extent, by
John Boles. It is an artless little tale, which, like many of its ilk, proves
to be thoroughly entertaining.
Herald-Tribune: Here is an amiable, inoffensive little musical comedy with
sentimental leanings, considerably brightened by the presence in the cast
of Spencer Tracy and Sid Silvers. Its story is no more original than any
retelling of a national folk legend. "Bottoms Up" is a good enough
program musical.
News: While there are five song numbers in the film, the director, David
Butler, has wisely refrained from using too much footage in the presenta-
tion of these numbers. He has made the story of paramount interest
and he has presented it in a most amusing manner. The plot is far from
new, but is presented in a fresh and amusing manner that makes it thor-
oughly entertaining.
lournaf: A pleasantly diverting comedy with music, set behind the scenes of
the cinema studios. The song numbers are amiably introduced as part
of the story and there are consequently no conventional chorus routines
photographed from the ceiling.
American: It depicts the Sunkist City and its home-folk, not as glamorously
wicked, not as ludicrously funny, but as just plain, ordinary unadulterated
dull. And with the exception of a few bright spots, the same may be
said of the picture. The photography is fine and the production lavish
out of all proportion to the entertainment value of the work.
Sun: Hollywood, with its opportunities for musical numbers and wisecracking,
makes an effective background for a song-and-dance show. "Bottoms
Up" isn't startlingly different from the run of musicals. It does man-
age, however, without tiring out the audience wth over-sumptuous spec-
tacles, to be gay and fairly consistently amusing.
"COME ON MARINES"
Paramount prod.; director, Henry Hathaway; writers, Philip Wylie, Joel Sayre,
Byron Morgan.
Paramount Theatre
World-Telegram: A reasonably amusing and exciting narrative. The love inter-
est between Ida Lupino and Arlen is pretty thin and unconvincing, but
that really doesn't matter. The comedy story, with its adventure inter-
ludes, is what holds your interest — and it does.
Times: It is no noteworthy cinematic achievement which is now on exhibition
at the Paramount, but nevertheless its boisterous humor evidently found
favor with an audience.
Mirror: It is a rowdy action picture, purely. The dialogue is barracks chatter.
The situations are crude. Little boys and the men may be entertained by
"Come On Marines," but the squeamish sex will deplore its complete lack
of glamour.
Herald-Tribune: Most of the time the story has the rather bewildered air of a
musical comedy tale without the required musical comedy. It is no better
than its story, and it should have been.
News: A film that turns out to be a bit of a razz on the Marines. The dia-
logue is risque without being funny. The entire picture lacks suspense
and is spotted with some pretty dull sequences.
American: "Come On Marines" is rapid-fire fun all the way. Lines, situations,
cast, direction and production are all helpful contributions to the general
merit of the finished film. Richard Arlen and Roscoe Karns share top
honors.
Sun: Scenario writers have outfitted this preposterous little melodrama with a
series of wisecracks and comedy situations that only a Hollywood gagman
could have suggested. This is one picture that didn't have much chance
after it left the script-writers', hands. The damage had already been done.
Paring of Extra List
Under Way Tonight
The actual business of starting to
weed out some 1 5,000 extra players
from the list now registered with the
Central Casting Office starts tonight
at a meeting of the Code Committee
for Extras.
For some time a sub-committee has
been working out plans and sugges-
tions which, it is figured, will expe-
dite the gigantic task of deciding who
and who has not the right to consider
themselves extras and ask for motion
picture employment.
This sub-committee will report to
the full committee of fifteen, headed
by Mrs. Mabel Kinney, tonight, and
the re-registration will begin.
It is also expected that the com-
mittee this week will start hearing the
complaints charging violation of the
code, for word has been received that
the necessary funds for carrying on
the investigations and other expense
will be here by the end of the week.
Shelton and Edmunds
Bow in Agency Field
A new agency for stage, screen and
radio talent has been formed by Bar-
bara Shelton, Gilman Shelton and Paul
Edmonds under the firm name of
Shelton and Edmonds, Inc. The firm
will also furnish talent to clubs.
Maurice Kosloff is associated with the
company which opened offices in the
Hollywood Pantages theatre building.
Menjou Lead for Landi
Charles R. Rogers Saturday signed
Adolphe Menjou for the lead opposite
Elissa Landi in "I Loved An Actress,"
which Ralph Murphy will direct.
Script is being written by Leonard
Praskins and v»(ill go into work when
Murphy finishes "Private Scandal,
which he is now directing.
Two for Bergerman
Stanley Bergerman has taken two
new assignments at Universal. He
produce "Bread Upon the Water" and
"Sin for Cinderella." Latter will have
Roger Pryor in the top spot in a
screen play which Barry Trivers is
writing.
DO YOU WANT A COCKER
SPANIEL PUPPY? I have 2, a male
and a female, 8 weeks old. Splen-
did pedigree. Reasonable price.
Write Box A, care of The Holly-
wood Reporter.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Contidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
April 2, 1934
Page Three
BRITISH PRODIJCTIOIV SPURT
HITS LOCAL INDIE FILMERS
Quickie Makers May
Lose Vital Revenue
Local small-budget indies are fac-
ing a crisis more serious than the
recent scare over the death of double
features in the sudden mushrooming
■of production in Great Britain, partic-
ularly pictures of a type to compete
with the Hollywood quickie fare.
And the indies assert, that while
they are feeling the pinch now, next
season will also find the majors wor-
rying if more pictures of the class of
"F.P.I," "Henry the Eighth," and
"Catherine the Great" are turned out
in England.
But the indie's problem is his own.
In many cases his financing is based
largely on having a definite deal in
advance from England, which in most
cases actually runs to one-third of the
proposed production cost.
Even these deals have become
problematical in the past two seascsns
because of tightening of the restric-
tions by British censors who have
borne down extra heavy on the indies.
The result has been numerous con-
tracts which only assure payment
when the picture "has been approved
by British censorship."
Indies returning from New York
say the past isn't a shadow to the
future with the sudden tremendous
increase in British production. All
budgets and plans for next year are
in the tentative stage as a result of
the recent development.
Franchot Tone Set For
Lead With Jean Harlow
Franchot Tone has been assigned
the lead opposite Jean Harlow in "100
Percent Pure," which got under way
last week under the direction of Sam
Wood and supervision of Bernie Hy-
man. Hale Hamilton has also been
spotted in this production for MGM,
which has Lionel Barrymore and Patsy
Kelly in supporting roles.
Kelland Yarn Optioned
Joseph I. Schnitzer has taken an
^ option on Clarence Budington Kel-
land's "The Jealous House," and is
figuring on it as the first of the three
pictures he is preparing to produce
independently. Story is serialized in
the Saturday Evening Post.
Daniels- Warner Deal
New York. — J. L. Warner is clos-
ing a deal with Bebe Daniels to appear
in another picture. She last made
"Registered Nurse" for the company
and is making a series of personals
with Ben Lyon.
Script Hatch Novel
New York. — Moe Wax and Ronald
'ank are preparing a script on Richard
Hatch's novel. "Leave The Salt
Earth," by arrangement with Covici-
Friede, the publishers.
New Term for Hoffe
Monckton Hoffe was given a new
long term writing ticket at MGM
Saturday.
Darrow Hearings
Are On Again Today
Washington. — The Darrow
Board resumes its hearings on the
motion picture code at three this
afternoon, but it is expected that
the real fireworks will not come
until tomorrow when the members
of the Code Authority and the
sales managers of the majors are
scheduled for grilling.
Players, Director
In New MGM Deals
MGM has gone on a contract sign-
ing spree and is handing new deals to
many of its writers, directors ad
players.
Among the artists who received new
long term deals last Saturday are May
Robson, whose next assignment will
likely be "No More Ladies," the A. E.
Thomas play, now running on Broad-
way; Karen Morley, now on loan to
King Vidor for "Our Daily Bread," and
who will return for the lead in "The
Shining Hour," the Keith Winter play
now on Broadway; Mae Clarke, who is
idle at the moment; W. S. Van Dyke-,
who is finishing up on "Manhattan
Melodrama" and starts work on the
"Thin Man" this week, and Maureen
O'Sullivan, who will leave for a vaca-
tion in Ireland on completion of her
role in "Thin Man."
Rodgers-Hart Winding
Up at MGM ; Going East
Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
are ending a one-year contract at
MGM with the completion of work on
"The Merry Widow" for the Irving
Thalberg unit, and plan to leave for
New York in a week to start prepara-
tions on a new musical for the stage.
Radio Signs Up Seven
For *Last Yacht' Cast
Radio Saturday signed Marjorie
Gateson, Irene Franklin, Sterling Hol-
loway, Maude Truax, Tom Kennedy,
Hazel Forbes and Phil Ranken for
principal roles in "Down To Their
Last Yacht," which Paul Sloane will
direct. Sidney Fox and Sidney Black-
mer have the leads.
'Deep Night' for Para.
Paramount Saturday announced the
purchase of "Deep Night," a novel by
Phillip MacDonald, and has assigned
Chandler Sprague to write the script.
Story is for Carole Lombard. No direc-
tor or starting date set as yet.
Writers Elect April 5
The election of a new board for the
Screen Writers' Guild will take place
April 5 at the Writers' Club, and not
on April 8, as erroneously announced.
Boost for Friedlander
New York. — Al Friedlander has
been promoted to the position of as-
sistant to Harry Thomas, president of
the First Division Exchanges.
Agnes Brand Leahy
Dies in Sanatorium
Agnes Brand Leahy, noted scenario
writer and wife of Fred Leahy, Para-
mount studio production manager,
died Friday in a sanatorium just out-
side of San Francisco. Her husband
was with her.
Mrs. Leahy, a native of Portland,
Oregon, studied to be a teacher, but
when she married Leahy and they
found they were interested in pic-
tures, they moved to Hollywood. She
became a stenographer and Fred an
assistant cameraman. Their progress
in the picture industry was rapid. Mrs.
Leahy was a script clerk, reader, as-
sistant director, and then cutter, writer
and title writer for B. P. Schulberg.
For five years or more she has been
writing scenarios, working for various
companies, but most of the time for
Paramount.
No arrangements for the funeral
have been announced.
Erwin, Loaned to Radio,
Has Vacation Held Up
Stuart Erwin is waiting around for
Radio's okay for him to leave on a
four-weeks vacation in New York.
MGM has approved the loan of
Erwin to Radio for a top spot in the
Lou Brock production, "Great Ameri-
can Harem," which is off one day and
on the next, and in the meantime
Erwin has packed his bags and is
waiting for Radio to decide.
Beery Prepares to Fly
To Wife in Hospital
The "Treasure Island" company has
gone to Oakland on location and will
remain there for several days.
Wallace Beery, whose wife is at
the Cedars of Lebanon hospital under
observation, has taken his plane up
there to fly down to Hollywood in
case her illness is serious.
*U' Completes Two
Production on two pictures fin shed
at Universal Saturday and they are
now being edited. They are "Half a
Sinner," formerly called "Alias The
Deacon," with Berton Churchill. Joel
McCrea and Marian Nixon, and "The
Humbug, "with Nils Asther and Gloria
Stuart in the top spots and directed
by Max Marcin.
U.A- To Make Shorts
United Artists is preparing to pro-
duce a list of its own short subjects
to be sold along with the Disney car-
toons and the company's new program
of features.
Foy Decides on Title
Unable to find another title to
satisfy, Foy Productions decided to use
"Sterilization" for the recently com-
pleted picture.
MGM Sets Butterworth
Charles Butterworth is slated for
one of the top spots in the A. E
Thomas play, "No More Ladies,"
which MGM recently purchased.
wmm
There is a picture which we sorely
regret not having seen sooner, in order
to try to give it added impetus so far
as audiences are concerned. Having
caught it at a neighborhood house the
other night, it surprises us that there
was not more editorial comment on it
at the time of its metropolitan debut
We refer to Paramount's "Mrs Fane's
Baby Is Stolen." ... For years now,
critics have been bewailing the fact
that the cinema has not taken full ad-
vantage of its opportunities for doing
good and doing it entertainingly. And
m the meantime, we have been treat-
ed to critical nip-ups over what the
Russians have been providing in the
way of film fare. Now we have no
quarrel with the Russians. To us they
long ago definitely proved that the
word which is anathema to America
propaganda," is not a bugaboo but a
damned interesting topic of conversa-
tion Still, when our own cinema
finally gets around to doing a little
good propaganda work on its own, and
doing it in a well-made, entertaining
picture, none of our critical big-wigs
think it worthy of their attention or
their special applause not even by way
of encouraging more and better along
the same lines.
Well, we do and we hereby wish to
register our grateful approval to Para-
mount for having made "Mrs. Fane's
Baby Is Stolen." The audience we saw
it with thoroughly enjoyed every min-
ute of it and was moved to loud ap-
plause at the final plea to the citizenry
of the fair United States to see to it
that all criminals are brought to jus-
tice. It certainly went our better
known mystery and murder stories one
better by seeing to it that the crimi-
nals involved got their just desserts.
Usually the hunted ones manage to
commit suicide before the law can
get at them. But in this instance, a
picture actually went to the trouble of
showing that law courts serve a good
purpose in our scheme of things and
made it a point to prove that "crime
doesn't pay." Which in itself is a life-
time job to prove in this glorious land
of opportunity. Something should
really be done to encourage picture
companies along these noble lines and
we're more than willing to give Para-
mount a great, big hand and suggest
to them that the next time they feel
inclined to spread the light, they do
it with names that mean more to the
box-office than Baby LeRoy, thus en-
couraging themselves at the same
time.
•
Peggy Fears plans to be on her way
to Hollywood some time in early May
or just as soon as she straightens out
her settlement with A. C. Blumenthal,
which is up in the air at the moment
over the house in Larchmont
Dorothy Cish and Merwyn Williams,
Bela Blau. (looking for a play to
direct,) Betty Dietz. Margalo Cilmore,
Marc Connelly, Helen Vinson, (who
may be back in Hollywood any mo-
ment now and without Lou Holtz.l
Miriam Howell, Margaret Fineman,
Jeanne Cohen among the lunchers at
the Algonquin.
T
Page Four
April 2, 1934
Senate Now Ponders
High Movie Salaries
Washington. — Figures on high sala-
ries and bonuses made public about a
month ago by the Federal Trade Com-
mission were made a part of the Con-
gressional Record on Saturday when
that body filed its report with the
United States Senate.
Nothing new to the figures, except
that the recapitulation gave the pic-
ture industry the headlines, as Win-
field Sheehan and Arthur Loew topped
the salary list with $250,000 or more
each.
H. M. Warner, J. L. Warner, Carl
Laemmie and Harry Cohn were others
over the $100,000 mark.
Boys Set to Portray
Cable-Powell As Kids
Jimmy Butler and Mickey Rooney
have been signed by MOM to portray
Clark Gable and William Powell as
youngsters in the Arthur Caesar story,
"Manhattan Melodrama," which is
being directed by W. S. Van Dyke.
Acad. Committees Meet
Two special committees from the
Producers Branch of the Academy
meet tonight with two special com-
mittees from the Technicians Branch
and the Assistant Directors Section to
take up discussions of negotiations
pending between their groups.
Cohn Fights to Stay
(Continued fronn Page 1 )
66 '/2 per cent of the total stock.
This block is to be purchased by a
group headed by the DuPont faction,
but will include Sam Katz and a pow-
erful picture unit, which, until this
time, has never entered the produc-
tion field. The price is understood to
be placed somewhere between
$2,500,000 and $3,000,000.
The buying group has already had
an understanding with Jack Cohn that
places him in charge of the sales
should the deal go through, but they
want no part of Harry, believing that
his desires to become a major pro-
ducer, in the sense of huge production
expenditures, will defeat the very
purpose of their purchase, and no
amount of bargaining will transfer
Columbia to that group if Harry Cohn
is included.
Of course the chief interest of Du
Pont is to get the raw stock sales and
the printing in a lajDoratory they are
understood to contemplate building in
Hollywood.
Agents Need Stilts
In order to combat the growing
habit on the part of agents to stop
by his window on the MOM lot and
sell him talent over the sill, Ben
Piazza, studio's casting chief, is
having the building remodeled
with the windows raised to eight
feet. Piazza claims the agents will
have to learn how to walk on
stilts before they'll catch him
again.
Ted Lewis Sets New
Record at Paramount
Ted Lewis, the past week, drew
$23,000 at the Paramount Theatre,
setting a new high for the theatre
since Marco took it. Picture was
"Wharf Angel."
FWC, through the William Morris
office, has signed Lewis and his unit
for appearances at Oakland, Long
Beach and San Diego, after which he
returns to Marco for three more
weeks.
Canada Distribs Elect
Toronto. — Officers elected at a
meeting of the Motion Picture Dis-
tributors Association of Canada are:
Col. John A. Cooper, president (re-
elected) ; C. O. Burnett, treasurer
(re-elected). Directors are: N. L.
Nathanson, M. A. Milligan, Leo De-
vaney, M. H. Masters, Clair Hague,
Harry Paynter, A. W. Perry, J. P.
O'Loughlin.
New Spotlight Play
"Six Months Option," current
attraction at the Spotlight Theatre,
closes Sunday night, and will be re-
placed by "Public Opinion," starting
April 9. This play is by Max Cabel,
who will also direct it.
Para. Must Fight Claim
New York. The claim of American
Tri-Ergon and General Talking Pic-
tures against Paramount for $2,000,-
000 which was disallowed by Referee
Davis, is not dead yet. It has been
taken to the United States Court of
Appeals and will come up for hearing
April 4.
MCM Buys Hart Yarn
MGM closed a deal SaturcJay for an
original story by Moss Hart, titled
"Miss Pamela Thorndyke." The deal
was negotiated by the William Morris
agency.
Jules an Agent Now
Jules Schermer, a member of The
Reporter staff for some time, enters
the agency field today as an associate
in the office of Nat Coldstone.
NOW AT THEIR NEW OFFICES
Shelton & Edwards, Inc.
MAURICE KOSLOFF
ASSOCIATE
yi .■ n, ■ 212 Pantages Theatre Bldg.
Arltsts Rcpresenlatwes Hollywood
STAGE— SCREEN— RADIO HEmpstead 6877
Small Buys Murder
Story From Foy
Edward Small has signed a deal
with Foy Productions for the purchase
of "Murder in the Music Hall," an
original screen play by William Jacobs,
and schedules it under the title,
"Showboat of 1934," on the Reliance
program.
Foy planned to make a "third-di-
mension" picture with the story and is
now hunting for a story to replace it.
Small is seeking to line up Loretta
Young, Gene Raymond, Boris Karloff,
Frank McHugh, Jack Benny and
Rubinoff for the cast. Leon Gordon
is writing the screen play and Ben
Stoloff is slated to direct it as his
second picture on a two-picture ticket.
Lay Members for NRA
Washington. — Present plans for
reorganization of the NRA machinery
call for representation, with veto
powers, by both labor and the public
on the Code Authority. Recommen-
dations are to be made by the Con-
sumers Board and Advisory Board for
all industries.
Edmund Coulding East
Edmund Goulding left for New
York Saturday by way of Palm Springs,
where he will stay a couple of days
before continuing East.
llPTOTH^niNVTE
ASTING
/
Earl Oxford, Florine McKinney and
Arthur Jarrett in "Merry Widow" at
MGM.
Georgette Rhodes for MGM's
French version of "Merry Widow."
Set by Menifee I. Johnstone.
Arthur Hoyt for "Sour Grapes" at
Radio.
Tully Marshall to "Murder on the
Blackboard," Radio.
Edith Fellows for Radio's "Family
Man."
Bruce Cabot, Regis Toomey and
Edgar Kennedy to "Murder on the
Blackboard" at Radio.
May Mayer through Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall for "The Hell
Cat," Columbia.
Maidel Turner and Sara Haden to
"Virgie Winters," Radio. Turner deal
set by Kingston-Harris.
Henry Stephenson and Margaret
Armstrong by Paramount for "She
Loves Me Not."
Morgan for 'Widow'
Frank Morgan is slated for the role
of the king in the Irving Thalberg
production, "Merry Widow," which
co-stars Maurice Chevalier and Jean-
ette MacDonald for MGM.
NOW AVAILABLE-
FOR UNUSUAL CHARACTERS
CHARLES BUSHNELL
Hollywood 9419
i
April 2, 1934
THE
Page Five
lATSE ASKS GOV'T ACTIOIV
OIV PRODUCERS AiXD CODE
(Continued from Page 1 )
the Attorney General's office. The
complaint was filed some six weeks
ago, it was revealed, and a quiet in-
vestigation of the charges has been
under way.
The complaint specifically states
that, in violation of the National Re-
covery Act of June 15, 1933, the
International Brotherhood of Electri-
cal Workers negotiated with the
producers and secured a contract from
them on August 4, 1933, during the
Hollywood strike, and adds that only
fifty sound men were represented by
the IBEW. This, it is charged, is a
violation of the law which states that
labor has the right to choose its own
representatives, and that the majority
shall rule.
It is further declared that, at the
Code hearing in September, the wage
scale of Local 695, lATSE, was estab-
lished under an over-riding provision
in Article IV, Section 5. of the Code.
Further, it is pointed out that these
provisions have not been carried out.
In addition, it is charged that, fol-
lowing the Code orders, an election
was held last January 9 and 10 to
decide what group would represent
the sound men in negotiations with
the producers. At that election, held
under the supervision of the Regional
Labor Board, Local 695 received 448
votes, ASC 93, and IBEW only 9
votes.
The complaint charges that, des-
pite this vote, Pat Casey, representing
the producers, and the producers
themselves have refused to negotiate
with Local 695 in direct violation of
the National Industrial Recovery Act.
and in violation of President Roose-
velt's executive order signed February
1. 1934.
The Local charges that the contract
made on August 4, 1933, was a de-
liberate conspiracy on the part of the
producers and the IBEW to evade the
NIRA, and the United States Attorney
General is asked to prosecute these
two groups in Federal Court on the
ground of violation of the Federal
law.
The Local also asks that the con-
tract of August 4 be restrained and
set aside as in violation of the law,
and that the IBEW be restrained from
further negotiations with the pro-
ducers.
Those close to the situation here
[joint out that, if this complaint gets
into the Federal Courts and if the
lATSE wins its case, it will mean that
the contract signed between the stu-
dios and the IBEW last January will
be thrown out and that back pay
covering the difference in the wage
scale from last August will have to
be paid the sound men by the stu-
dios. This, it is figured, would run
into many thousands of dollars.
Opinion here is that the Attorney
General's office has been holding up
the complaint, waiting for decisions
in the steel and automobile industry.
But it is due now, so it is revealed,
for an early airing.
Neither Business Representative
Harold V. Smith nor members of the
Executive Board of Local 695 would
discuss the matter in any way when
contacted yesterday.
What's a Corf Club
To a Rhino Tosser?
As an alibi for his golf game
while playing with Bruce Cabot,
Johnny Weismuller said: "I just
can't get used to these clubs after
tossing Mary the Rhino around."
Stars and M.P. Club
Will Make Whoopee
New York. — Hollywood stars will
join filmland's executives in celebrat-
ing the 1934 reunion of the Motion
Picture Club of New York at 1 560
Broadway on Saturday, April 14. This
will bring together practically every
prominent official of producing and
releasing organizations, as well as
leaders of allied enterprises in the
talking picture field.
Among those expected to appear are
Gloria Swanson, Hope Hampton,
George Raft, Fannie Brice, Polly
Walker, Norma Terris and Many oth-
ers. From 4.30 to 7.30 will be the
cocktail session, celebrating the club's
new bar. At 7.30 the club will hold
a 1934 reunion dinner dance, featured
with an elaborate entertainment. At
midnight there will be the "buffet
supper of the stars."
Committee in charge is Jack Cohn,
chairman, Boris Morros, William Fer-
guson, Louis K. Sidney, Major Edward
Bowes, Si Seadler, William Brandt, Ed
Alperson and Arnold Van Leer.
Cochrane to Bermuda
New York. — R. H. Cochrane is on
his way to Bermuda for a brief vaca-
tion, having sailed Saturday on the
Empress of Britain. This means Coch-
rane will be represented by an alter-
nate at the Darrow hearings.
Agency in New Office
The Kingston-Harris agency has
moved to larger quarters in suite 422
Equitable building. Move is being
made to accommodate the three new
members added to the firm recently.
Rosemary Ames Held
Fox has exercised the option on
Rosemary Ames' contract for another
six-months period.
Hays-Carr Reach Deal
(Continued from Page 1 )
the independent in exchange for an
agreement by the Independent Pro-
ducers Association to abide by the
Hays' censorship code.
The rubber-stamp evil is the most
offensive practise on the part of the
majors now facing the small producers.
The method is to stamp all sales con-
tracts with a clause prohibiting the
exhibitor from double featuring his
product.
Unless the Carr-Hays pact works
out, with the majors discarding their
rubber stamps, the indie association
will take its case into the courts, mak-
ing an issue of the Sherman anti-trust
law as it affects the situation, it was
stated by one important independent.
THE REASON
I'm for myself is because I'm so
good to my clients-the/ get
90%
and I only get 10% but for that
10% I render the following
complete service:
Personal Representation
(And I mean Personal)
Business Administration
Secretarial Service
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity & Exploitation
SO-Ooo
-GOO
if you are paying 10% and not
getting "LEVEE" service . .
Think It Over
M. C LEVEE
8118 Sunset Blvd. CR. 4151
r
Page Six
April 2, 1934
BAROMETER
This Week 39 Features
Last Week 36 Features
Year Ago 26 Features
Two Years Ago 28 Features
Columbia
"ONE NIGHT OF LOVE"
Cast: Grace Moore, Tullio Carminati,
Lyie Talbot, Luis Alberni, Andreas
de Segurola, Sam Hayes, Rose Ma-
rie Closz, Henry Armetta, Jessie
Ralph.
Director Victor Schertzinger
Original Charles Beahan
and Dorothy Speare
Screen Play: S. K. Lauren, Edmund
North and James Cow.
Photography Joseph Walker
Associate Producer.. ..Everett J. Riskin
"THE HELL CAT"
Cast: Robert Armstrong, Ann Sothern,
Minna Gombeil, Benny Baker, James
P. Burtis, Richard Heming, Charles
Wilson, Henry Kolker, Lynn Cowan,
Nick Copeland.
Director Al Rogell
Story and Screen Play: Adele Buffing-
ton and Fred Niblo, Jr.
Photography Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Sid Rogell
Fox
"CALL IT LUCK"
Cast: Herbert Mundin, Pat Paterson,
Charles Starrett, Georgia Caine,
Gordon Westcott, Theodore von
Eltz, Ernest Wood, Susan Fleming,
Ray Mayer.
Director James Tinling
Original Story: Dudley Nichols, George
Marshall.
Adaptation: Joseph Cunningham and
Harry McCoy.
Screen Play: Dudley Nichols and La-
mar Trotti.
Dance Director Sammy Lee
Photography Josep|i Valentine
Producer John Stone
"THE WORLD MOVES ON"
Cast: Madeleine Carroll, Franchot
Tone, Ferdinand Schumann-Heink,
Raul Roulien, Reginald Denny, Sieg-
fried Rumann, Stepin Fetchit, Bren-
da Fowler, Marcelle Corday, Barry
Norton, Dudley Digges, Frank Mel-
ton, Russell Simpson, Ivan Simpson,
Jose Mojica, Lumsden Hare, Wal-
ter McGrail, Charles Bastin, Louise
Dresser, Frank Morgan, George Irv-
ing, Georgette Rhodes.
Director John Ford
Story and Screen Play —
Reginald Berkeley
Photography George Schneiderman
Producer Winfield Sheehan
'CHANCE OF HEARTS"
Cast: Janet Caynor, Charles Farrell,
James Dunn, Beryl Mercer, Ginger
Rogers. Custav von Seyffertltz,
Irene Franklin, Fiske O'Hara, Jane
Darwell, Nella Walker, Drue Ley-
ton, Kenneth Thomson, Mary Carr,
Barbara Barondess.
Director John BIystone
Story Kathleen Norris
Screen Play Sonya Levien
and James Gleason
Add. Dialogue Samuel Hoffenstein
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"NOW I'LL TELL"
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Alice Faye, Helen
Twelvetrees, Hobart Cavanaugh, C.
P. Huntley, Jr., Barbara Weeks,
Robert Gleckler, Clarence Hummel
Wilson, Ray Cook, Frank Marlowe,
Theodore Newton Jr., Clarence Wil-
son, Vince Barnett, Jim Donlon.
Director Edwin Burke
Story Mrs. Arnold Rothstein
Screen Play Edwin Burke
Photography Ernest Palmer
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"MERRY ANDREW"
Cast: Will Rogers, Peggy Wood, Mary
Carlisle, Paul Harvey, Frank Melton,
Roger Imhof, Robert Taylor, Grace
Coodall, Jessie Pringle.
Director .J David Butler
Based on Play by Lewis Beach
Adaptation Kubec Glasmon
Screen Play William Conselman
and Henry Johnson
Lyrics William Conselman
Music Richard Whiting
Photography Arthur Miller
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
"GRAND CANARY"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Marjorie Ram-
beau, John Halliday, Zita Johann.
Director Irving Cummings
Novel A. J. Cronin
Screen Play Keene Thompson
Producer Jesse L. Lasky
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW '
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan, Grace Bradley.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Jack MacKenzie
Producer Harold Lloyd
PRODUCTION UP WITH 39 IN WORK THIS
MCM
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Douglas Dumbrille, Four Mills
Brothers, Jay Lloyd, Russell Hardie,
Willard Robertson, Ted Healy, Reg-
inald Barlow, Francis McDonald,
Katharine Alexander, Belle Daube,
Fuzzy Knight, Henry Wadsworth,
Jean Parker, Wade Boteler, Mar-
jorie Gateson, Walter Lang, Sidney
Toler, Samuel Hinds, Robert Mc-
Wade.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play: Harvey Thew, Zelda
Sears and Eve Green.
Photography George Folsey
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katherine
Alexander.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue. .Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"SADIE McKEE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Esther Ralston,
Jean Dixon, Franchot Tone, Edward
Arnold, Akim Tamiroff, Gene Aus-
tin, Leo White, Leo Carroll, Earl
Oxford, Gene Raymond.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Vina Delmar
Screen Play John Meehan
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Lawrence Weingarten
"MANHATTAN MELODRAMA"
Cast: Clark Gable, William Powell,
Myrna Loy, Nat Pendleton, Muriel
Evans, Isabel Jewell, Tommy Jack-
son, Leo Carrillo, Jimmy Butler,
Mickey Rooney.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Story Arthur Caesar
Screen Play Oliver H. P. Garrett
and Joseph Mankiewicz
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer David 0. Selznick
"TREASURE ISLAND"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger,
Lewis Stone, Cora Sue Collins, Dor-
othy Peterson, William V. Mong,
Douglas Dumbrille.
Director Victor Fleming
Novel Robert Louis Stevenson
Adaptation John Lee Mahin
Photography Ray June
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"100 PERCENT PURE"
Cast: jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore,
Patsy Kelly, Lewis Stone, Franchot
Tone, Hale Hamilton.
Director Sam Wood
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Emerson
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Bernard Hyman
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
(Rehearsing)
Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeaette Mac-
Donald, Earl Oxford, Florlne McKin-
ney, Arthur Jarrett.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Paramount
"MANY HAPPY RETURNS'
Cast: George Burns, Gracie Allen, Joan
Marsh, George Barbier, Ray Milland,
Egon Brecher, William Demarest,
Franklyn Pangborn, Morgan Wal-
lace, Guy Lombardo, Larry Adier.
Director Norman McLeod
Original Lady Mary Cameron
Screen Play J. p. McEvoy
and Claude Binyon
Music Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Sam Coslow
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer William LeBaron
"THIRTY DAY PRINCESS"
Cast: Sylvia Sidney, Gary Grant, Ed-
ward Arnold, Vince Barnett, Ray
Walker, Henry Stephenson, Mar-
guerite Namara, George Baxter, Lu-
cien Littlefield. Robert McWade,
Robert Homans, William Augustin,
Dick Rush, Ed Dearing, J. Merrill
Holmes, Edgar Norton, Eleanor
Wesselhoeft, Bruce Warren, Wil-
liam Arnold, Thomas Monk, Fred-
erick Sullivan.
Director Marion Gering
Original. ...Clarence Budington Kelland
Screen Play Preston Sturges
and Frank Partes
Adaptation and Dialogue: Sam Hell-
man and Edwin Justus Mayer.
Photography Leon Shamroy
Producer B. P. Schulberg
"CLEOPATRA"
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Henry Wil-
coxson, Warren William, Ian Keith,
Charles D. Middleton, Clay Clem-
ent, Leonard Mudie, Irving Pichel,
Gertrude Michael, Eleanor Phelps,
C. Aubrey Smith, John Rutherford,
Edwin Maxwell, Robert Warwick,
Joseph Schildkraut, Claudia Dell,
Grace Durki, Ian MacLaren, Arthur
Hohl, Charles Morris, Harry Beres-
ford.
Director Cecil B. DeMille
Adaptation Bartlett Cormack
Screen Play Waldemar Young
and Vincent Lawrence
Photography Victor Milnor
Producer Cecil B. DeMille
"HALF WAY DECENT"
Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Dorothy Dell,
Charles Bickford, Shirley Temple,
Lynn Overman, Jack Sheehan, Sam
Hardy, John L. Kelly, Warren Hy-
mer, Frank McGlynn, Sr., Gary Ow-
en, Sleep 'n Eat, Puggy White,
Tammany Young, Edward Earle,
Frank Conroy, James Burke, Lu-
cille Ward, Craufurd Went, Mildred
Vober, Nora Cecil.
April 2, 1934
Page Seven
iHMTINCi
WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 36 LAST WEEK
Director Alexander Hall
Original Damon Runyon
Screen Play: William R. Lippman, Sam
Hellman, Gladys Lehman.
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography A! Cilks
Producer B. P. Schulberg
•'IT AIN'T NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John
Miljan, Katharine DeMille, James
Donlan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke Ellington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown, Stu-
art Holmes, Harry Woods, Edward
Cargan, Warren Hymer.
Director Leo McCarey
Original Screen Play Mae West
Music and Lyrics: ArthiUr Johnston and
Sam Coslow.
Photography Karl Struss
Producer William LeBaron
"SHE LOVES ME NOT"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Miriam Hopkins,
Kitty Carlisle, Edward Nugent,
Lynne Overman, Warren Hymer,
Henry Stephenson, Maude Turner
Gordon, Margaret Armstrong.
Director Elliott Nugent
Original Story Howard Lindsay
Based on Novel by Edward Hope
Photography Charles Lang
Producer Benjamin Clazer
"PRIVATE SCANDAL"
(Charles R. Rogers)
Cast: Zasu Pitts, Mary Brian, June
Brewster, Phillips Holmes, Ned
Sparks, Lew Cody, Harold Wal-
dridge, Charles Sellon, Jed Prouty,
Rollo Lloyd, George Cuhl, Charles
B. Middieton, John Qualen, Hans
Joby, Greta Meyer, Christian Rub,
Bill Franey.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original Vera Caspary
and Bruce Manning
Screen Play Garrett Fort
Photography Milton Krasner
RKO-Radio
"OF HUMAN BONDAGE"
Cast: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis,
Reginald Denny, Alan Hale, Regi-
nald Sheffield, Frances Dee, Kay
Johnson, Reginald Owen.
Director John Cromwell
Original W. Somerset Maugham
Screen Play Lester Cohen
Photography Henry Gerrard
Associate Producer. .Pandro S. Berman
"COCK-EYED CAVALIERS"
Cast: Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey,
Thelma Todd, Dorothy Lee, Robert
Creig, Noah Beery, Henry Sedley,
jack Norton, Snub Pollard, Billy
Gilbert, Cupid Morgan, Alfred P.
James, Franklyn Pangborn, Frank
Baker.
Director Mark Sandrich
Story and Screen Play: Edward Kauf-
man, Ben Holmes, Ralph Spence.
Photography David Abel
Associate Producer Lou Brock
"SOUR GRAPES *
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook,
Bruce Cabot, Ada Gavel I, Steffi
Duna, Theodore Newton, Irene
Hervey, Arthur Hoyt, Oscar Apfel,
William Straus, Frank Darien.
Director Worthington Miner
Play by Vincent Lawrence
Screen Play Ernest Pascal
Photography Roy Hunt
Associate Producer Myles Connoly
United Artists
Twenl-ieth Century
"THE LAST GENTLEMAN"
Cast: George Arliss, Janet Beecher,
Edna May Oliver, Ralph Morgan,
Rafaela Ottiano, Charlotte Henry,
Edward Ellis, Frank Albertson, Don-
ald Meek, Joseph Cawthorn, Harry
C. Bradley.
Director Sidney Lanfield
Story Katherine Clugston
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Associate Producers: William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith.
"BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES
BACK"
Cast: Ronald Colman, Loretta Young,
Warner Oland, Charles Butterworth,
Arthur Hohl, Mischa Auer, George
Regas, Halliwell Hobbes, Una Mer-
kel, C. Aubrey Smith, Ethel Grif-
fies, Douglass Gerrard, E. E. Clive.
IJifBCtor Roy Del Ruth
Original H. C. McNeille
Screen Play Nunnally Johnson
Photography Peverell Marley
Associate Producers. .William Goetz
and Raymond Griffith
Viking Productions
"OUR DAILY BREAD"
Cast: Karen Morley, Tom Keene, Bar-
bara Pepper, John T. Qualen, Addi-
son Richards, Madame Bonita, Harry
Holman, Harold Berquist, Marion
Ballow, Alma Ferns, Three Mills-
field Children, Lionel Baccus, Har-
ris Gordon, Bill Engel, Frank Minor,
Henry Hall, Harrison Greene, Si
Clegg, Roy Spiker, Eddie Baker,
Harry Bernard, Doris Kenter, Flor-
ence Enright, Harry Samuels, Sid-
ney Miller, Nellie Nichols, Frank
Hammond, Lynton Brant. Henry
Burroughs, Harry Brown, Harry
Bradley, Captain Anderson, Alex
Schunberg, Bud Roy, Bob Reeves,
Ed Biel, Jack Baldwin.
Director King Vidor
Author King Vidor
Screen Play Betty Hill
Photography Robert Planck
Producer King Vidor
Universal
"AFFAIRS OF A GENTLEMAN '
Cast: Paul Lukas, Leila Hyams, Lilian
Bond, Dorothy Burgess, Joyce
Compton, Phillip Reed, Onslow Ste-
vens, Murray Kinnell, Patricia Ellis,
Dorothy LeBaire, Richard Carle,
Wilfred Hari, Sara Haden, Charles
Wilson, Gregory Gaye.
Director Edwin L. Marin
Story Edward and Edith Ellis
Screen Play Cyril Hume
Dialogue Peter Ruric
Photography Johnny Mescall
Associate Producer.. ..Edmund Grainger
"EMBARRASSING MOMENTS '
Cast: Chester Morris, Marion Nixon,
Walter Woolf, Henry Armetta, Alan
Mowbray, John Wray, Huntley Gor-
don, George Stone, Gay Seabrook,
Herman Bing, Evelyn Beresford,
Charles E. Coleman, Jane Darwell,
Edward Earle, Christen Frank, Paul
Miller, Wallis Clark.
Original Wm. Anthony McCuire
Screen Play Charles Logue
Photography Charles Stumar
Associate Producer. .Stanley Bergerman
"LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?"
Cast: Margaret Sullavan, Douglass
Montgonrrery, Alan Hale, Mae
Marsh, Fred Kohler, Tom Ricketts,
Catherine Doucet, DeWitt Jennings,
Torben Meyer, Frank Reicher, Bodil
Bosing, George Meeker, C. P.
Huntley, Jr.
Director Frank Borzage
Play Hans Fallada
Screen Play....Wm. Anthony McGuire
Photography Norbert Brodine
Producer Frank Borzage
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby,
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers, Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren, Johnny
Arthur, Arthur Vinton, Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett.
Directors Ray Enright
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"OLD DOLL'S HOUSE"
Cast: Richard Barthelmess, Helen
Chandler, Ann Dvorak, Helen Low-
ell, Boothe Howard, Harry Tyler,
Henry O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Eric
Wilton, Paul Hurst, Vincent Sher-
man, Purnell Pratt, William David-
son, Robert McWade.
Director Alan Crosland
Story Damon Runyon
Screen Play Warren Duff
Photography William Rees
Supervisor Robert Presnell
"THE DARK TOWER"
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Mary As-
tor, Ricardo Cortez, Louis Calhem,
John Eldridge, Arthur Byron, Mae
Clarke, Margaret Dale, Virginia Sale,
Harry Tyler, Daivd Landau, Henry
O'Neill, Emily FItzroy, Dorothy
Tree.
Director Archie Mayo
Based on Play by: George S. Kaufman
and Alexander Woollcott.
Screen Play Tom Reed and
Niven Busch
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Robert Lord
"MADAME DU BARRY"
Cast: Dolores Del Rio, Reginald Owen,
Veree Teasdale, Osgood Perkins,
Helen Lowell, Victor Jory, Henry
O'Neill, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Vir-
ginia Sale, Dorothy Tree, Hobart
Cavanaugh, Arthur Treacher, Anita
Louise, Camllle Rovelle, Maynard
Holmes, Halliwell Hobbes, Jesse
Scott.
Director Wilhelm Dieterle
Original Screen Play. .Edward Chodorov
Photography Sol Polito
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"HEY SAILOR"
Cast: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Mar-
garet Lindsay, Dorothy Tree, Frank
McHugh.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Screen Play Al Cohn, Ben Markson
Photography Arthur Edeson
Supervisor Lou Edelman
Independent Productions
Liberty
(PaHte Studio)
"MAD HONEYMOON"
Cast: Marian Nixon, Neil Hamilton,
Raymond Hatton, Catherine How-
ard, Bradley Page.
Director William Nigh
Sfory Eleanor Gates
Screen Play George Waggner
Photography Harry Neumann
Producer M. H. Hoffman
Monogram
( Lone Star Production )
(General Service Studio)
Cast: John Wayne, Polly Ann Young,
George Hayes, Anita Camplllo, Ed
Peil, Yakima Canutt, George Cleve-
land. Lafe McKee, Earl Dwire.
Director . R. N. Bradbury
Original Screen Play...-Llndsley Parsons
Photography Archie Stout
Producer Paul Malvern
I
BRUUTOUR BULLETIN
Published Every Monday
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Films
Tomorrow night's the night for Pev
and Virginia Marley . . . wotta break
for a bride ... to attend the first big
'preemeer' with your new lord and
master (?) when HE'S responsible for
the photography of the picture . . .
"House of Rothschild" at Crauman's.
. . . Kinda swell break for Messrs.
Zanuck, Coetz, Griffith and Dover,
too. . . . Some producers have never
broken that barrier in twenty years.
... It took The Century crowd con-
siderably LESS than a year. . . .
'•
C'wan — yuh big mind reader — le's
hear you guess who's the Star in Hal
Rosson's new picture at Emgeeem. . .
During the Century summer somno-
lence Charlie Rosher is loaned to
M.G.M. with no definite assignment
until the delectable Connie Bennett
gets under way there. ... If you
haven't seen Sol Polito's mirror shots
in the Jolson picture "Wonder Bar"
you can listen to Al say it again —
"You ain't seen nothin' yet." . . . Len
Smith is back in town fresh from Flor-
ida and brown as a berry (Say — who-
inell ever saw a BROWN berry?) . . .
Tony Gaudio lost his citizenship — be-
cause he lost his papers — but he ob-
tained duplicate papers and that makes
him (Oh, you figure it out — I gotta
see a man about a dog). . . Inciden-
tally, Mr. Gaudio did not become ex-
cited— he was only SPEECHLESS. . . .
•
The Old Country Gentleman (Nick
Musuraca) taking time out to plant
the fall sweet corn and summer squash
after completing two in a row which
are photographic nifties — we mean
"Sing and Like It" and "The Dover
Road." . . . Roy Hunt standing by for
the starting bell at Arkayo — and at
the same movie shop they're wonder-
ing how long it's going to take ole
Cap'n Eddie Cronjager to finish that
job of paintin' his boat. ... At the
same spot Henry Gerrard is readying
for the fade out on "Of Human Bond-
age." . . . Winnie Wenstrom — on ihs
mark — ready for the gun — starting
any second. . . .
Sid Hickox takes on "Dames" at
Warners — 'sail okay, 'Lizbeth — 'at's
oney the name of the picture. . . . Bill
Rees continues with Dick Barthelmess
in "Doll's House." . . . Charlie Stumar
on "Practical Joker" at Universal. . . .
Joe August completed "Twentieth
Century" at Columbia and is off on a
musical short same place. . . . Benny
Kline and Johnny Stumar each in the
wind-up stage of their respective Co-
lumbians.
M.G.M.
James Van Trees Charles Rosher
PARAMOUNT
Charles Lang
WARNER BROS.
Sid Hickox Arthur Edeson
Regarding Everybody's Patent
Important money has jingled into attorneys' tills because flock of
people 'alleged, asserted and maintained' patent right to varied and
various background processes. Claim has been hashed, rehashed,
fought, fumbled. Majority of studios go right along with it and —
according to our inquisitive reporters — it's the hot-cha-cha of present
day advancement in picture making. Says Farciot Edouart (Par.)
"Projection background work at Paramount has increased five
hundred per cent since nineteen thirty. Practically all pictures re-
leased by us last year carried important sequences in this process. As
volume has increased the cost has dropped proportionately. Each
individual shot today costs two-thirds less than it did four years ago.
We are constantly working on new improvements in this department
and have the fullest cooperation of the front office who realize that
pictures like "Alice in V^onderland" would simply have been impos-
sible to produce without aid of projection background."
A special negative film has been perfected for this work and is
used extensively for the backgrounds and other shots demanding its
desirable characteristics.
MacKenzie Steps In
"Try to make every single scene in
each picture the best scene of all" —
that advice was given to cameramen
by a top exec when he addressed the
lensers in open meeting about a year
ago. Jack MacKenzie was among
those who took the advice very seri-
ously. Last week the bosses of Harold
Lloyd productions took a squint at
"One Man's Journey" wherein Lionel
Barrymore found reason to start a
rave-campaign for the photographer.
. . . Mr. MacKenzie's business address
is now General Service Studios, where
he's directing the photography of "The
Cat's Paw," the Sam Taylor directed
feature which brings Harold Lloyd
back to the screen after an absence
too long to please his millions of fans.
"Allez-Oop''
When Columbia's one-man-unit
(Ralph Staub) stepped into directorial
shoes for Warner shorts (East) it
looked like a tough spot for the Gower
Street plant to fill. Assistant Camera-
man Bob Tobey asked for a crack at
it. He got his chance. He writes
'em — directs 'em — shoots 'em — and
(incidentally) Staub is ALSO making
good in HIS new job.
Roach Resumes
Easter vacation over, the Roach
plant banged open the gates and Art
Lloyd, Ken Peach and Frank Corby
started the film rolling into the Lab
where Charlie Levin is chief worryer.
Polito and Del Rio
Sol Polito clicked so decisively with
Dolores Del Rio on her photography in
"Wonder Bar" that he automatically
drew the assignment as director of
photography for "DuBarry," which is
Miss Del Rio's first individual starring
vehicle for Warners. And it was only
yesterday we secretly feared that Sol
would be tied in with Buz Berkeley
forever and a day . . . his lens lyrics
on "Cold Diggers," etc., will live long.
Brown With Bennett
Jim Brown holds his spot as High
Mogul of the cameras at the Larry
Darmour plant, where Spence Bennett
is directing Mayfair's "Badge of Hon-
or." Nice cast topped by Ruth Hall
(Mrs. Lee Garmes) and Buster Crabbe.
Backgrounder Flits
Last week we told you about the
Warners' pet boy starting on a world
jaunt. Our eagle-eyed news hawks
now report to an interested camera
community that Ed Hammeras (Fox —
Movietone City) is stowing his ward-
robe trunk in the ship's hold and
cramming his camera into his cabin as
the ship sails this week for Stockholm
and thence to Norway, Germany,
England, Spain and Italy. Object of
the vacation (pardon us) trip is to
garner background plates for forth-
coming Fox films. Last excursion of
this calibre from Fox carried Charlie
Van Enger and Little Joe all over Eu-
rope. Charlie's over there now doing
himself and Hollywood right proud for
British Gaumont. Little Joe's plenty
busy on the home lot.
McCill Goes British
Chick McGill, Twentieth Century
contracted director of photography,
tops many of his brother lensers
who've been 'sold down the river.'
Bill Dover made it an ocean instead
and Chick goes to deah ole Lunnon to
join up with British Dominion Pictures
for one cadenza. Starts the long jump
the very minute he turns final fade
out on the George Arliss picture cur-
rently in production.
Goodbye Broadway!
L. A. (Charlie) Bonn, who was last
Monday night elected to Associate
Membership of The American Society
of Cinematographers, leaves New York
today enroute to Hollywood, where he
will join the cameracrafters in their
big golf shoot next Sunday and also
to be a guest of honor at the annual
banquet for installation of new A.S.C.
officers the following night. Mr. Bonn
is executive assistant to Wm. J. Ger-
man. He returns to Long Island soon.
Goetz Gets Going
Ben Goetz, executive vice president
of Consolidated Film Industries, has
been threatening to jump east and
now ups and makes good. Took off
on "The Chief" with Mrs. Goetz in
time to hit the big stem for the Easter
Parade, where they'll be joined by
their son. Hayes, who's a student at
Dartmouth. Back in Hollywood around
the tenth of April.
( NOTE : Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour. Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION: WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF SUPER-SENSITIVE PANCHRO-
MATIC NEGATIVE, WHAT PHO-
TOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT DO
YOU CONSIDER MOST VALUABLE
TO THE MOTION PICTURE PRO-
DUCER?
JIMMY HOWE (M.G.M.): It is my
considered opinion that the intro-
duction and development of the
projection background process has
been the most valuable contribution
of the photographers to the motion
picture industry in many years.
CHAS. STUMAR (Universal): I feel
that the development of both large
and small cranes has made it pos-
sible for us to obtain shots which
hitherto were impossible to obtain.
They enable the director to give a
smoother action to many scenes,
keeping the action continuous,
rather than cutting to the various
angles.
RAY JUNE (M.G.M.) : From a picto-
rial, a monetary and a showmanship
standpoint I feel sure that most of
us will agree on the projection back-
ground system as the most impor-
tant development in the last few
years.
IRA JOE MORGAN: The development
of incandescent lights. They are
easier to handle, lighter equipment
and more comfortable for the actors
and workers. "•' ~
ALVIN WYCKOFF: The development
of projection background photogra-
phy as applied to present-day pro-
duction.
NICK MUSURACA (RKO) : Unques-
tionably projection background is
the most important development in
recent years. The use of it enables
the producer to obtain authentic
realism in productions which other-
wise entail great expense in send-
ing entire cast and company to
actual location.
FOX
Hal Mohr
Ernie Palmer
UNIVERSAL
Gil Warrenton Charles Stumar ]
George Robinson J
WARNER BROS. COLUMBIA i
Tony Gaudio Joe August ™
RKO MAYFAIR \
Henry Gerrard Jim Brown
ll
y, M?.SA\'UFL MAPX,
CJLVhR CITY, JA:.Ii'-
Vol. XX, No. 20. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, April 3. 1934
r>V4y CIJ$INE$$ B€OM$
•THE Metro-Coldwyn- Mayer sales
organization is yelling "Hail to Irving
Thalberg," and the reason is the busi-
ness that is being done on "Rip Tide"
in the 24 spots it has been released
to date.
Thalberg's first picture to be played
since his year's vacation from picture-
making is doing the same tricks at the
box office that most of the other
Thalberg productions accomplished in
previous years. Felix Feist states that
twelve out of the 24 houses opening
the picture last week did business
far beyond any record held on any
other attraction for the past year or
two, and in the other dozen spots it
has run ahead of anything released in
recent months.
•
And that's Thalberg's showman-
ship. For certainly the story of "Rip
Tide" has been done at least ten
times in that many years and the ma-
jority of them have been pretty bad
at the cash window. But the MCM
production genius has treated what
had been an unimportant yarn with
a flair of importance that brings it
over the line of excellent entertain-
ment.
All of which stamps the Thalberg
comeback with a capital "C" and en-
courages the entire picture business
with a new hope — yes, a certainty —
of future Thalberg productions. And
how this industry has needed a Thal-
berg for the past 1 2 months, needed
pictures that have been given that
production importance, stories that
SELL tickets.
There is that something about Irv-
ing's pictures, even the few that have
not clicked in a big way, that gives
this whole business a lift in the right
place. Some studios call their occa-
sional efforts in that direction "pres-
tige pictures."
But what were "prestige pictures"
in some other studios were HITS for
MCM with Thalberg doing the
producing.
Accordingly, we join with the MCM
sales crew in its "Hail Thalberg"
movement, as does every other indi-
vidual in the business who is inter-
ested in picture progress.
Para. Again Figuring
Production in East
New York. — Possibilities of
Paramount once again considering
production in the East are indicat-
ed by the news today that the
company will probably renew its
lease on the Eastern Service Stu-
dios, the present name of the old
Paramount-Astoria plant.
J
OS. Schenck Blasts
Against Dual Bills
New York. — Joseph Schenck, chief-
tain of United Artists and Twentieth
Century, yesterday again expressed his
belief that double features are an evil
and added the thought that indies who
must depend on double features should
not be aided or encouraged.
The outspoken expression is espe-
cially interesting in view of present
Washington developments which are
laying stress on protection for the in-
dies to aid a wider spread of work.
L'Estrange in Politics
Richard L'Estrange, member of the
Regional Labor Board and labor rep-
resentative on the NRA Studio Labor
Committee, yesterday announced his
candidacy for the position of County
Supervisor from the third supervisorial
district.
Charlie Einfeld Here
S. Charles Einfeld, director of pub-
licity and advertising for Warners, ar-
rived by train yesterday from New
York. He will remain about two
weeks.
Flu Lays Banton Low
Travis Banton, Paramount style
designer, is away from his office with
an attack of flu.
With Lent Over Slew York Sees
Most Sensational Day In Long
Time For Both Legit And Pics
New York. — The week-end rain was dried up yesterday in the
brightest sun and the broadest smiles New York showmen have
seen in long time when Cothamites turned out for legit and
picture theatres in a way that made veteran showmen think of
1929. Business was more than good;
it was sensational. Theatres were
really "jammed."
Business that will probably set new
records for the house packed the
Rialto, where "The Lost Patrol,"
Radio picture, is being shown. Lines
around the corner were on hand be-
fore the house opened, and clear
through to the evening shows the sit-
uation was the same.
(Continued on Page 2)
Col. and Loew Lead
Jump in Pic Stocks
New York. — The boom in business
uptown on Broadway was matched in
Wall Street yesterday by picture
stocks, with Columbia and Loew's
both hitting new highs for the year.
Columbia stepped to twenty-n !n3
and a half, with Loew's preferred hit-
ting ninety-two and a half.
Small Signs Hammett
New York. — Eddie Small's Relianc?
mpany has signed a contract with
Dashiell Hammett to write an original
story.
Myles Gibbons III
New York. — Myles Gibbons, of the
Paramount story staff, is ill with
pneumonia at the Mount Vernon
Hospital.
/Da
LIIVDSEY HEARIIVGS WITH
PRODUCERS STILL OX FEIVCE
Austin Parker Walks
0|>t of Universal Deal
Up to a late hour last night the
producers had come to no official de-
cision as to whether or not they will
have representatives present at the
hearings of code violation complaints
slated to come up before Judge Ben
Lindsey, NRA Labor Compliance Offi-
cer, at ten o'clock this morning.
Judge Lindsey announced last night
that he had received notification from
all of the complainants stating they
will be on hand, but that he had heard
(Continued on Page 7)
itin Parker and Universal could
agree on the treatment of "Tran-
'sient Lady" and the writer did a
walk. No hard feelings on either side
Wurtzel on Way West
New York. — Sol M. Wurtzel has
left by boat for the Coast. He ar-
rives there in two weeks.
Brandt Asks 'How'
On Columbia Sale
New York. — Joe Brandt, former
president of Columbia and one-third
partner with Harry and Jack Cohn,
wants to know the "how and why" of
the proposed Columbia sale to the
DuPonts or anyone else.
When Brandt sold out his interest
to Harry Cohn, it was agreed that
Columbia was to pay him out at the
rate of $100,000 a year for ten years.
Thus the ten year trusteeship that
exists in Columbia.
Alternates to Take
Darrow's Offensive
Washington. — Harold Bareford,
Warner attorney and alternate for H.
M. Warner on the Code Authority,
came to Washington last night for
conferences with Lowell Mason, chief
counsel for the Darrow committee.
He was accompanied to the city by
(Continued on Page 7)
Universal Planning
New $1 Stock Issue
New York. — Universal plans a re-
alignment of its stock procedure. The
Universal common has always been a
no par value stock. The new plan calls
for the issurance of common at $1 a
share, to be exchanged for the old
stock on a one for one basis.
Agnes Leahy Services
Funeral services for Agnes Brand
Leahy were held yesterday at the
Little Church of the Flowers at Forest
Lawn. Ceremony was private, with
only relatives attending.
David Loew, Film Buyer
New York. — David M. Loew is now
head film buyer for the entire Loew
circuit, with Joe Vogel, previously in
the post, assigned to handle house
operation.
DIRECTOR'S NUMBER
H OLLYWOO D
REPORTER
OUT MAY Ist
II
Page Two
Aprils, 1934
mtfjgferoimrEi
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH IVIanaging Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
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Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includirig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Just so you won't be misled by
those rumors — the George Raft- Vir-
ginia Pine amour is hotter than ever,
wot with the long-distance telephones
about worn out — and if you ask us,
they'll be Mr. and Mrs. by the end of
the summer! . . . Sign on a theatre
down in L.A. reads, "It Ain't No Sin"
"By Candlelight" (!) ... Jim Mitchell
in town from his desert stay — looking
very well and feeling ditto. . . Edwin
Justus Mayer gave himself a farewell
cocktail party the other afternoon. . .
A certain breach-of-promise suit
could have been avoided so easily!
And in just the right way, too!! . . .
David Selznick had the Mexican art-
ist, Matias Somtoyo, fashion a head of
his small son, composed of twelve
hundred roses, which he promptly de-
livered to Mrs. S. for a birthday sur-
prise yesterday!
•
Helen Vinson will be back in town
any minute — so can Lou Holtz be far
behind? . . . Kendall Claenzer off to
San Francisco for a stay. . . . That
writer who gave out a lot of rubber
checks last time he was here is back
again — and will have a tough time
explaining it all to the sheriff! . . .
Kathleen Ardelle, having shaken her
beads in "Cleopatra," has just gotten
a part in "Kiss and Make Up." . . .
The Vic Orsatti-Claire Trevor thing is
something these days — wot with pic-
tures of Claire all over the Orsatti
home and office!
Countess di Frasso gave a quiet
party for a hundred intimate friends
Saturday night. . . . Brother Bert Tay-
lor the guest of honor, with the Don
Stewarts, Tullio Carminati, the Clark
Gables, the Ric Cortezes, Maureen
O'Sullivan, John Farrow, the Walter
Moroscos, Olive McClure, Jeanne
Howard, George Cukor among the
guests. . . . Alice Brady has received
kidnapping threats, and her house is
now fully guarded. . , The Harry
Lachmans partied Jo Davidson, famous
sculptor, the other night.
"EVER SINCE EVE'
Fox prod.; director. George Marshall; writers, Henry Johnson, Stuart Anthony.
Mayfair Theatre
Mirror: Pleasant little comedy. The film is produced against attractive set-
tings. It is acted by such reliable character players as Herbert Mundin,
Roger Imhof and Russell Simpson.
News: Some of the nonsense which is provided by Herbert Mundin, Roger Imhof
and Russell Simpson is more than fairly amusing. If you are responsive
to the charms of the two leading players and to the humor that the three
comedians bring to the screen, you may overlook the flaws of the story
and find diversion in "Ever Since Eve."
Sun: "Ever Since Eve" might be called cute even at the risk of distressing the
exceedingly manly Mr. O'Brien. It's a light little comedy, but well done.
Mary Brian looks prettier than ever. The dialogue is often clumsy.
"Ever Since Eve" is lightweight, but diverting.
Herald-Tribune: I trust that it will not bore you as much as it did me.
Times: There is enough wholesome humor in "Ever Since Eve" to atone for its
antiquated plot. Mr. O'Brien does well enough in his part and Miss
Brian is pleasing in hers.
American: At one time or another this one must have been funnier than it
appears now on the screen of the Mayfair Theatre. For if we mistake
not, the vehicle, besides serving as a parent stem for other movies, met
with success on the very Broadway to which it now returns.
Journal: The film never quite makes up its mind as to whether it's melodrama,
comedy, a problem play or a drama of the rugged West.
Post: Though doubtless at one time a diverting and harmless little comedy,
there is very little in the present version that calls for, or could support,
extended comment.
"HOLD THAT CIRL"
Fox prod.; director, Hamilton MacFadden; writers, Dudley Nichols, Lamar Trotti.
Roxy Theatre
World-Telegram: Hamilton MacFadden's direction is swift and sure. All in
all, if you like romance, mixed with reporting, a dash of police work and
a splash of the underworld, you will find "Hold That Girl" pleasantly
palatable.
Sun: "Hold That Girl" doesn't make much sense if considered from a realistic
viewpoint. It must, for entertainment's sake, be regarded as a piece of
melodramatic nonsense; and from that angle it's fairly diverting.
American: Very presentable program entertainment. Of the players, Mr. Dunn
is best in a role which, by repetition, has become second nature to him.
He is still the soft-hearted hard-guy and gives much the same characteri-
zation as in previous endeavors.
Times: A routine romantic comedy, it is broad in its approach and friendly in its
intentions. Mr. Dunn and his new partner are pleasant persons to know
and they make an agreeable team for modest comedies like this one.
Mirror: Miss Trevor and Mr. Dunn are supported by a competent company.
Their dialogue is saucy and amusing. The action is snappy. "Hold That
Girl " is an unpretentious, but qite amusing little comedy romance.
News: "Hold That Girl" is filled with plenty of adventure and some exciting
action. The picture moves quickly and amusingly from its introductory
incident to its satisfactory finish. Hamilton MacFadden, who directed it,
never lets it lag for a minute.
Journal: It's a pleasantly entertaining comedy, unpretentiously devised, but
engagingly played by the two principals.
Herald-Tribune: It is intended as a fast, up-to-the-moment comedy melodrama.
It moves with considerable speed and it offers its share of melodramatic
incidents of one kind or another. My impression is that the whole thing
is pretty stale stuff, not vastly aided by some of the playing, but if you
are a good, sturdy, conservative filmgoer, interested in seeing the same
characters engaged in the same plot manipulations, then at least you will
see them done vigorously enough.
BlackmerWins His
Income Tax Battle
Sidney Blackmer yesterday won his
fight to deduct entertainment ex-
penses from his income tax returns,
according to a decision handed down
by the U. S. Circuit Court, reversing
an earlier decision of the U. S. Bureau
of Tax Appeals.
Blackmer, five years ago, claimed
entertainment expenses incurred by an
actor were legitimate deductions. The
Treasury would not allow their inclu-
sion, and Blackmer has been fighting
the case in court.
Young Man — College graduate, wants
to get into production of motion pic-
tures in major studio. Capable and
intelligent. Experienced sub-executive
with large organization. Knows mo-
tion picture and dramatic technique.
Five languages, practical knowledge of
electricity and stage lighting. Box X,
care of Hollywood Reporter.
IF YOU NEED a secretary who has
motion picture experience, is tact-
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assuming responsibility and highly
recommended, communicate with
DRAWER B, care of Hollywood
Reporter.
Monogram Likely
To Boost Budgets
New York. — Monogram's franchise
holders, after one of the most suc-
cessful years in the company's his-
tory, are converging on Atlantic City
for the annual convention, with the
prospect very strong that they will
boost the ante still higher next year
and aim at the stiffest competition.
The Mono men feel their organi-
zation is in the spot where Columbia
was just before it went over the hill
to green pastures. It has delivered
the full program sold, has exhibitor
confidence in its standards, and Holly-
wood confidence in the production
execs. And its finance is solid.
What more, they ask, is needed?
'Villa' on Air Again
The "Viva Villa" broadcast goes on
the air again from New York Thurs-
day. Al Jolson heads the program,
which goes over the NBC system.
B'way Business Booms
(Continued from Page 1 )
"Rip Tide" drew them in such
droves that despite the rainy Saturday
it is certain to check in a week's fig-
ure up to the house top, phenomenal
after allowing for the rained-out busi-
ness and a Good Friday opening.
"Rothschild" has been selling out
so consistently that the condition
there was nothing unusual, but the
general reflex of bringing theatre
ticket buyers from their hide-outs was
evidenced here in another jump in the
advance sale.
But up and down the White Way
the story was the same, for both pic-
ture theatres and legit shows. The
veterans are keeping their fingers
crossed — there was something about
the spontaneous outpouring today that
makes them think maybe some sort
of turning point has been reached.
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April 3, 1934
TH
Page Three
'WHIRLPOOL' HITS HOLT FAIVS;
HATE WOMEN' GOOD PROGRAM
Story Old But Well
Treated and Acted
"WHIRLPOOL"
(Columbia)
Direction Roy William Neill
Story Howard Emmett Rogers
Screen Play Dorothy Howell
and Ethel Hill
Photography Benjamin Kline
Cast: Jack Holt, Jean Arthur, Donald
Cook, Allen Jenkins, Lila Lee, Rita
LaRoy, John Miljan, Oscar Apfel,
Willard Robertson, Ward Bond.
Once more "Enoch Arden" hits the
screen. This time it is called "Whirl-
pool." There are enough new twists
in the tale, which always has enjoyed
a strangle-hold on t^he public fancy, to
make it a good bet where Jack Holt is
a favorite.
At the start of the film he is seen
as a grifter who sells his show
when he marries Lila Lee. On the
night the deal is to be completed a
riot breaks out over a shady shell
game. A man is killed. Holt gets
twenty years.
Rather than let his wife wait for
his release, he takes advantage of his
position in the warden's office and
sends a faked notice of his death.
On his release, he goes in for big
time racketeering. His wife has mar-
ried a judge. His daughter is working
as a reporter. Assigned to lure confi-
dences out of him, she recognizes her
father. And they spend every possible
minute together. No one knows of
their relationship, a swarm of jeal-
ousies and speculations arise. Climax
comes with Holt ending his life rather
than allow his real identity to bring
disaster to his wife and daughter.
Holt gives a steadily sympathetic
portrayal of an upright hard guy. Par-
ticularly touching and well done are
his scenes with his daughter. He is
given splendid assistance by Jean
Arthur and by the director, Roy Wil-
liam Neill. Without overplaying or
mawkish sentimentality, these scenes
have a natural, human quality that
counts.
Allen Jenkins as a tough mug, with
a heart of gold and stomach trouble,
handles a running gag for plenty of
laughs. Donald Cook takes good care
of the part of the jealous young lover.
Rita La Roy gives a sullen fire to the
role of the suspicious moll. Lila Lee
is sympathetic as the wife. John Mil-
jan does another of those excellent
villains of his. Oscar Apfel, Willard
Robertson and Ward Bond are well
cast in smaller roles.
Screen play by Dorothy Howell and
Ethel Hill from the Howard Emmett
Rogers story does much to make new
the old situation.
Good bet if your audience likes
Holt.
Academy Commiftee
Studies Sound Costs
A subcommittee of the Academy's
Research Council yesterday started an
industry survey of studio methods of
slating and cueing scenes, with a view
to bringing about a standard system
that will cut sound recording costs in
all studios.
One Good Reason
New York. — Walter Abel be-
came the father of another baby
boy today and he says it all started
on the Paramount lot where he
was so long without anything to
do. Mother and child doing well.
Move Started To
Cut 17,000 Extras
Down to Only 1500
The Code Committee for Extras last
night definitely decided on the first
move for cutting down the present list
of motion picture extras, and decided
at the same time that the existing list
of approximately 17,000 registered
extras will be pared to only 1500.
This list shall then be gradually in-
creased, but to an extent not over 20
per cent the first year, and not over
five per cent each year thereafter. At
no time shall it ever exceed a total of
2000 names.
Today letters will be mailed to all
casting agencies, casting directors.
Central Casting, Extra Players' Asso-
ciations, the Motion Picture Relief
Fund and other welfare agencies ask-
ing them to send the committee a list
of people they feel should be retained
in the final list. No agency can send
more than 3000 names. From the
combined lists the final 1 500 names
will be chosen as the only people to
be registered as eligible for extra
work.
In order to determine the correct
ratio of men and women to be chosen,
the placement records of Central cast-
ing will be examined over the past
five years. Final approval of the list
will be asked of the Code Authority.
'U* Convention in
New York, June 1
Carl Laemmie Sr. and J. R. Grain-
ger yesterday agreed to hold one big
convention of the Universal sales or-
ganization and picked New York as
the spot and June 1 as the date.
Grainger announced that Universal
will have completed the current pro-
gram by June 1 . The exchanges have
already received twenty-three pictures,
two are on the way, five are now in
work and six more are to be made.
Laemmie Jr. states that he will have
six of the new year's program by Sep-
tember 1 .
Para. Force Warned
Against Garnishees
The flood of garnishments at vir-
tually all the studios has prompted
Emanuel Cohen to issue a special
notice to Paramount's employees, in-
structing them to avoid getting the
company involved in such troubles.
Studio chief hinted at drastic ac-
tion and pointed out that other indus-
tries dismiss employees whose salaries
have been plastered.
Ford and Director
Win First Honors
"I HATE WOMEN"
(Coldsmit-h)
Direction Aubrey H. Scotto
Author Mary E. McCarthy
Photography Ernest Miller
Cast: Wallace Ford, June Clyde, Fuzzy
Knight, Bradley Page, Barbara Rog-
ers, Alexander Carr, Bobby Watson,
Eleanor Hunt, Douglas Fowley, Ce-
cilia Parker, Margaret Mann, Shirley
Lee.
Goldsmith Productions has taken a
tried and true formula, treated it with
a good deal of respect and turned out
a reliable program picture.
"I Hate Women" isn't going to
send any metropolitan audiences into
raves, but it will satisfy the small
houses. The oldness and triteness of
the story are counteracted by an en-
gaging characterization by Wallace
Ford and occasional fine comedy by
Fuzzy Knight.
Ford is a newspaper man who has
been tricked once too often by a
woman. And so he hates 'em. And so
coming home one night from a spree
all by himelf, a girl (June Clyde)
jumps into his cab and he finds him-
self involved again in the biggest story
of the year and unable to give it to
his paper until he clears the girl of the
suspicion of murdering her mean old
husband.
To do this, he hides out with her
in an apartment and, as he fumes and
fusses around at the trouble she is
causing him, and runs down clue after
clue to find out who really killed her
husband, he falls in love with her.
Ford gives all he has to this part
and it's plenty — one of the best things
he has done. Miss Clyde is appealing
as the girl, and Bradley Page is
strongly cast as a tricky rival reporter.
Fuzzy Knight's comedy is a highlight.
Alexander Carr is noticeably good in
a small role, and Margaret Mann
makes a two-line part shine.
Aubrey H. Scotto's direction gives
the picture a nice tempo; Mary E. Mc-
Carthy wrote the story and Ernest
Miller photographed it.
It's a nice job of production and, if
your audiences aren't overly critical,
it's a pretty safe bet.
Praskins Switches
Handing in his screen play on "Here
Comes the Groom" to Charles R. Rog-
ers at Paramount, Leonard Praskins
today swings over to the Sam Coldwyn
organization at United Artists on a
one-picture ticket.
Bren on Long Lay-Off
J. R. Bren yesterday turned in the
script on his original story, "High
Voltage," to Twentieth Century and
checked out on a three-months lay-off
period, during which he will do out-
side work.
George Sidney to MOM
George Sidney signed a contract
with MCM yesterday to take a fea-
tured comedy assignment in "Man-
hattan Melodrama." Ticket went
through the Small-Landau office.
mmmk
Every once in a while you ask a
question and find out something really
interesting. In response to a request
for some statistics on Censor Boards
throughout the country, it was dis-
covered that there is a law on the
Florida statute books providing for a
Board of Censors, but no one has re-
membered to appoint anyone to it for
years. Which is one way of satisfying
all of the people all of the time and
it's probably a nice thing to have
around just in case something needs
censoring. . . . Then again, up in
Massachusetts, they have censors too,
but they're only allowed to function
on Sunday shows. And heaven knows
what's good enough for Sundays (holi-
day prices) should be good enough for
the rest of the week.
•
The B. P. Finemans entertained at
a cocktail party the other day and for
the moment it looks as though they
will not be journeying out to Holly-
wood. Bernie may do a play any min-
ute. . . . Tonia Selwart, who expects
he'll go to London with "Pursuit of
Happiness," was practicing up on his'
diction, using a stray remark of Mrs.
DeMille's for inspiration, and finally
had everybody in the place saying
"fuschia, flowering gooseberries." . . .
Mr. and Mrs. Delos Chappelle, Nicho-
las Roosevelt (that tribe is a race, not
a family), Humphrey Bogart, Mr. and
Mrs. Ralph Warren, Edward Johnson,
Raymond Massey and Adrianne Allen,
the Lloyd Nolans, the Morrie Ryskinds,
the Strooks and Ken MacKenna among
those present.
•
The intellectuals, headed by Doro-
thy Parker, are keeping themselves
and their fine friends up all night
these days playing the Twenty Ques-
tions Game. . . . Howard Dietz is sup-
posed to be the champ. . . . Evidently
no party for a visiting star is official
without the consent of the picture
company he's working for. . . . MCM
was all upset over the fact that Leon
and Eddie announced and gave a cock-
tail party for Jimmy Durante when
Durante only worked for and with
them for years. . . . A. C. Blumenthal
may fly to the Coast next week to look
over the real estate situation. . . .
Barbara Brandt, daughter of Brandt
and Brandt, well known agents, is
getting a picture break in "Frankie
and Johnnie." . . . Wonder who's
handling her picture career? . . . Mary
Pickford got THE most beautiful
orchids to celebrate an "occasion"
and wouldn't say from whom. . . .
Every time there's an Elsa Maxwell
party the town plays a game of going
through the list of guests to find out
who paid for it. . . . Mrs. Reginald
Vanderbilt sails on the Bremen too,
which should make it jolly for Tallulah
Bankhead.
McKinney to Stage
Florine McKinney has been given a
month's leave of absence by MGM
and will not appear in "The Merry
Widow." Instead she will have the
lead in "Take a Chance," with Olsen
and Johnson, which opens at the
Mayan in the near future.
PICTURES
CORPORATION
IS NOW LAYING PLANS FOR
ITS MOST AMBITIOUS PROGRAM
FOR
1934-35
I
<
We of the Monogram organization wish to thank
all the stars, directors, producers and writers who
helped us with their services during the past year.
They enabled us to turn out a product that has
made the name of Monogram grow steadily in
importance with each new program.
For 1934-35 we are planning to sponsor a line-up
of pictures that will, we hope, command the respect
and attention of the trade, the press and the public.
We trust it will be our pleasure to have you identi-
fied with us once again to our mutual advantage
and growth.
Men, women and children of Hollywood, once again,
we THANK YOU!
Sincerely,
TREM CARR
VICE-PRESIDENT
IN CHARGE of PRODUCTION
I
TREM CARR
I
Congratulations
Mr. JOHNSTON
on the celebration of your
twentieth anniversary in the
motion picture business and
our best wishes for your
JJONTINUED SUCCEI^
CONSOblDATED FILM 1NDU§TR1ES, INC.
NEW YORK
HOLLYWOOD
I
April 3, 1934
THE
Page Seven
OPEN FORUM
f
April 2, 1934.
Dear Mr. Wilkerson:
The nice mention of Bob Shannon's
name and mine in your "Lowdown"
column this morning was appreciated
by us. It so happens that the item
is one hundred per cent right with a
few exceptions and these exceptions
would list as follows:
1 . We never knew that Fox
wanted an auctioneer story for Rogers.
2. They never called upon us to
submit anything.
3. The auction story was entirely
our own brainchild.
4. It was written definitely for a
"fast-talking promoter" character,
such as Pat O'Brien and was one that
would never fit Will Rogers.
5. The story was never written up
in a few pages; the only draft of it
consists of exactly seventy-nine type-
written pages.
Both Mr. Shannon and myself thank
you again for your well meaning, but
we would like just a little credit for
thinking of something original once
in a while.
With best wishes, I am
Sincerely yours,
ALBERT J. COHEN.
Role for Judith Allen
Judith Allen yesterday replaced
Gertrude Michael in "She Loves Me
Not" because the latter is still work-
ing in "Cleopatra" at Paramount.
Vince Barnett was signed for a fea-
tured spot in this Bing Crosby-Miriam
Hopkins vehicle, which Elliott Nugent
directs.
Agency Changes
Inloes and France have given up
their own agency and have become
associated with the Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall agency. They will
handle the story department for the
organization.
New Coldstone Hook-Up
Nat Coldstone yesterday closed a
deal started in New York and becomes
Coast representative for Max Hart,
New York theatrical agent. Hart rep-
resents Coldstone in the East.
Carroll Graham on Way
^^.-^arroll Graham gets in by train to-
morrow from New York. Writer
went there two months ago to adapt
his novel, "Queer People," to the
stage.
Lindsey Hearings
(Continued from Page 1 )
nothing from the producers. Notices
calling upon them to have representa-
tives at the hearing were mailed last
week.
Rumors were current yesterday that
the producers were in communication
with official Washington in an at-
tempt to contact Sol A. Rosenblatt
and get some ruling that would nullify
the hearings before Judge Lindsey.
Asked what his procedure would
be if the producers refused to appear,
or have representation at the hearing,
t Judge Lindsey stated that he will go
on with the hearings just the same,
t and will "do my best to fairly render
my decision on the basis of the evi-
dence presented by the complainants."
300 Booking Days
Offered By Indies
New York. — A group of indepen-
dent exhibitors, in their effort to off-
set the bulk booking time granted
the big circuits for pictures, have
combined and state that "we will be
able to offer distributors over 300
booking days when the new season
sets in."
This is a throwback to similar ef-
forts in the past that have been
"thumbed" for the reason that the
distributors have asked then, as they
do now, "where is the money," and
none of the exhibs has been ready
and willing to back up his ideas with
the dough.
It is understood that this new
thought will have money back of it,
and that each exhibitor will post a
certain amount to guarantee the dis-
tributors in the event they take the
product away from the big circuits
and turn it over to the indies.
Baum and Cohen Now
Producers for Levine
Lou Baum, one-time Sterling Pic-
tures executive, and Marty Cohen,
lately with Majestic, have joined Nat
Levine, of Mascot, as associate pro-
ducesr
Former will handle specials, while
the latter oversees the melodramas on
the program of twenty pictures which
Levine announces for his new pro-
gram.
Ward-Waggner Songs
For Universal Picture
Eddie Ward and George Waggner
have sold two songs to Stanley Ber-
german at Universal to be used in the
Chester Morris picture, "Embarrassing
Moments." They are "What a Fool I
Am" and "I Won't Think About To-
morrow." Edward Laemmle wound up
the picture yesterday.
Job for Princetonian
Paramount has signed Charles
Arnst, Princeton graduate of 1929,
to act as technical advisor on "She
Loves Me Not," which Elliott Nugent
directs. Picture is set in a Princeton
locale.
Small Back from Try-Out
Morris Small yesterday returned
from a flying trip to San Diego, where
he caught the opening try-out of "Bi-
ography," which stars Alice Brady.
Small is the star's manager.
Adolph Mayers Dies
New York. — Adolph Mayers, father
of Archie Mayers of DuWorld Pic-
tures, and Bertram Mayers, film attor-
ney, died yesterday. Funeral services
today.
Darrow's Offensive
(Continued from Page I )
J. Robert Rubin, alternate for Nicho-
las Schenck.
It now looks as though the picture
executives couldn't "take it," but have
decided that their alternates on the
Code Authority would have to be the
recipients of the Darrow questionings.
Warner and Schenck have their alter-
nates here already, and R. H. Cochrane
is on his way to Bermuda, so presum-
ably his alternate will act.
Cargan Stooges
Bill Gargan — just to be a friend
to a pal — did a lot of reciting for
Eddy Eckels and "Hollywood on the
Air" rehearsals yesterday and he
doesn't know yet whether he was
appreciated. And probably doesn't
care.
Schulberg Will
Hold at Least
3 Wampas Babies
According to the contract between
the Wampas and Ben Schulberg at
Paramount for the use of the thirteen
Baby Stars selected by that organi-
zation, the Paramount producer agrees
to give at least three of the thirteen
contracts and give the majority of
them speaking parts in "Kiss and
Make Up."
The Wampas goes to court this
morning to have its contract with the
young ladies verified, where such
ladies are under age.
Warners are doing a burn, due to
their understanding with one of the
Wampas members that they would
get first crack at the girls.
Plans M. P. School
New York — Bud Pollard, indie pro-
ducer, says he has an arrangement
working out with the New York State
Education Department to get a charter
for a motion picture school that will
be dignified by the use of the word
"Academy."
'Private Scandal' Done
Ralph Murphy brought in "Private
Scandal" for Charles R. Rogers at
Paramount Sunday night, three days
ahead of schedule. Zasu Pitts, Mary
Brian, Phillips Holmes, June Brewster
and Ned Sparks headed the cast.
Cropper Books Soon
New York. — Milton Herbert Crop-
per's play, "Sing and Whistle," is to
be published in book form by Long-
mans Green Company. His "Three
Queens Full" will be published by the
same concern in May.
Caster To Play Sec.
Marcia Remy, assistant to Dave
Werner, Universal casting head, was
selected yesterday to play the role of
a secretary in "Affairs of a Gentle-
man." Script called for a secretary
and Werner" thought she looked the
part.
Arnold Heads ASC
For Fourth Term
John Arnold was re-elected presi-
dent of the American Society of Cine-
matographers last night, this being his
fourth term in that office. Victor
Milner and Elmer Dyer were re-elected
first and third vice-presidents respec-
tively, and John Boyle was chosen for
second. George Sc'hneiderman was re-
elected treasurer, also his fourth term,
and Frank Ciood is the new secretary.
Under the new system, only five
new Governors were elected to the
Board, ten holding over. The new
members are Dan Clark, Vernon
Walker, Arthur Edeson, George Folsey
Jr. and Frank Good. The hold-overs
are Messrs. Arnold, Boyle, Dyer, Mil-
ner and Schneiderman, and Al Gilks,
Fred Jackman, Charles Lang Jr., James
Van Trees Sr. and Ray June.
Leonard Smith was chosen sergeant-
at-arms with three assistants — Richard
DaVol, Paul Vogel and Milton Brown.
Sound Men Discuss
Complaint to Cummings
The Board of Executives of the
sound men's local met last night.
While no announcement was made,
it was learned that the principal sub-
ject of discussion was the complaint
filed with United States Attorney
General Cummings, asking that the
producers and the IBEW be prose-
cuted for violation of the National
Industrial Recovery Act, the news of
which was revealed exclusively in
yesterday's Reporter.
Miss Dunckley Returns
Dorothy Dunckley, of Cine Sound
Production, Sydney, Australia, returns
to the homeland tomorrow, after an
extensive visit in Hollywood studying
American production methods.
Miss Dunckley, who will also act as
Hollywood Reporter correspondent for
Australia, expects to do considerable
radio broadcasting on the Hollywood
topic on her arrival.
Acad. Meetings Delayed
The meeting between a sjjecial
committee from the Producers Branch
of the Academy and committees from
the Technicians Branch and the As-
sistant Directors Section scheduled for
last night was postponed.
Wynne Ages Again
Wynne Gibson is scheduled to pass
from youth to old age again in a pic-
ture, and Karl Freund and the star
were busily at work yesterday on
make-up tests for the role. The pic-
ture is "I Give My Love," from a story
by Vicki Baum.
NOW AT THEIR NEW OFFICES
Shelton & Edmonds, Inc
MAURICE KOSLOFF
ASSOCIATE
Artists Representatives
STAGE— SCREEN— RADIO
212 Pantages Theatre Bldg.
Hollywood
HEmpstead 6877
UNITED COSTUMERS
DESIGNED AND EXECUTED ALL COSTUMES*
Including Mr. George Arliss' Personal Costumes
for the
JOSEPH M. SCHENCK
and
DARRYL F, ZANUCK
PRODUCTION
THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD
starring
MR. GEORGE ARLISS
A Twentieth Century Picture
♦
Our thanks to
E. P. LAMBERT
Technical Director, "House of Rothschild"
for his valuable assistance.
U
rf
United Costumers, Inc
WALLACE W. KERRIGAN, Pres.
WALTER J. ISRAEL, Prod. Mgr.
D. R. O. HATSWELL
MARJORIE O. BEST
MARY FOOTE
ETHYL WAHLICHT ISRAEL
JACK CULLEN
-MISS LORETTA YOUNG'S COSTUMES WERE
DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BY CWEN WAKELINC
Technical Advisor
Artist and Designer
Designer — Women's Department
Designer — Women's Department
Designer — Men's Department
CULVKR CITY, 'J a:, I y
Vol. XX, No. 21. Price Sc.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, April 4, 1934
COLN€T f CR SAlt'-CCHN
Columbia Head States There
Is No Deal On For The Sa/e Of
His Company And None In View
•MY, oh my, what a panning some of
the New York critics gave "Rip Tide,"
and for what reason is beyond us.
It's entertainment, it's a good show.
It is attracting plenty of customers;
and they must like it, for they are
going out and sending others back to
see the MGM production.
One producer told us last night:
"Any time you stick under the nose
of the New York reviewers ads telling
them, and the public, how the 'Holly-
wood critics' raved about a picture,
you can be certain of as nice a pan-
ning as you will ever get, regardless
of the quality of your picture. I
know, because it happened to me, not
once, but twice."
That's one answer. You may have
another. But the fact remains that
producers make pictures to attract the
public and give them amusement after
the patrons get into the theatre, and
"Rip Tide" must do both from the
box-office reports sent to this desk
during the past week. It did more
business in ONE day at Loew's State
here than the preceding program of
two pictures did an entire week.
So what?
The metropolitan reviewers do a lot
of writing for each other. They have
that "public be damned" attitude,
they do not know that the majority
of the people of this nation go to bed
with a copy of True Story in their
hands, that they have no interest in
the classics nor the higher arts. They
little realize that the perfect screen
entertainment is one of the True Story
variety, maybe with another cover
on It.
However, those critics are paid to
give their impressions, to tell in print
what they think of a picture and, if
they go nuts at times and pan a "win-
ner," who suffers? Certainly not the
producer who made the picture, nor
the theatre that ran it, nor the public
who paid to see it. And not even
the critic who panned it.
But sensitive producers, stars, writ-
ers and directors should come around
to the thought that there is only one
critic whose word means anything and
that's the man or woman who lays
dough down at the ticket window.
But What Happened
To Marie Antoinette?
The extremes to which Marlene
Dietrich is carrying the "Studio
Queen" attitude at Paramount took
a new jump yesterday when it was
learned that the studio's press de-
partment, in order to obtain an
interview with her, must make an
appointment through her agents,
Edington and Vincent.
Col. Profits for Six
Mos. Over $400,000
New York — Columbia continues in
its stride, the financial report for
six months ended Dec. 30th showing
a net profit of $404,562.93 after all
charges, including the placing of $25,-
891 for preferred dividends.
Net earnings of the company before
deductions for taxes, interest and am-
ortization of film were $2,888,790.
Cash on hand totalled, $653,423.
There are 26,636 shares of common
reserved to the management at $29
per share up to June 30. The stock
closed yesterday at 30.
Warners Get Stuart
Warners closed a deal yesterday
with Universal for the loan of Gloria
Stuart to play a lead opposite James
Cagney in "Hey Sailor." She is va-
cationing at Morro Bay, and was called
home yesterday by telephone.
Ruben Starts in London
Lonodn — J. Walter Ruben yester-
day started filming "Java Head" for
Associated Talking pictures at the
Ealing studios. He was borrowed from
Radio to direct this English produc-
tion.
Columbia is not for sale. There has been no deal discussed,
nor one contemplated so far as I know, and I should know as
the deal would have to be made with me as I am the owner
of the controlling shares of the company."
Thus did Harry Cohn come out of
his silence to deny the yarn that has
been hot in this business for the past
two weeks, a yarn that has been
transferring the control of Columbia
to the lap of the DuPonts and others.
"It's ^11 bunk," says Cohn, "there
is no truth to the rumor, no founda-
tion for the talk. Through the pur-
(Continued on Page 7)
and Charles MacArthur are
see release through Para-
present deals are carried
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — Five new pictures come
into the big houses this week. "Lazy
River" opened yesterday at the May-
fair. Today "Carrrbimg Lady" goes
into the Strand.
"This Man Is Mine" comes to the
Music Hall on Thursady. Friday w "
see "The Contsant Nymph" at the
Roxy and "You're Telling Me," with
Roxy and his gang, at the Paramount
"Rip Tide" holds over at the Captor.
with Paul Whiteman stage show.
Roy Mack to Meg Here
New York- — Roy Mack, who has
been at the Brooklyn Vitaphone plant
for the past two seasons left for
Hollywood yesterday and will probab'/
be assigned to a number of the Tech-
nicolor shorts the company plans for
next season.
MAJORS IGIVORE LIIVDSEY
BUT HE HEARS COIUPLAEVTS
38 Now in the Cast of
Littfe Man, What Now?'
One lone Independent producing
organization was the only motion pic-
ture company yesterday that obeyed
the summons of Judge Ben B. Lind-
sey, special NRA Labor Compliance
Director, to appear before him for
hearings on complaints charging nine
major studios and one independent
with violations of the NRA film code.
Not one major company appeared nor
sent any explanation.
Despite the failure of the majors to
send representatives. Judge Lindsey
(Continued on Page 4)
Ticketing Fritzi Ridgeway, Earle
Foxe, Jean Hart and Owen Corin yes-
terday. Universal brought the total
players signed for "Little Man, What
Now?' to 38.
The Frank Borzage picture will have
the biggest ^ast since "Only Yester-
day, with m - than 50 talking parts.
Picture is scheduled to finish in two
weeks, mak. . a total of eight weeks
in work.
Hecht-MacArthur
Pics for Para Release
New York — The three indepen-
derjtly' produced^ pictures planned by
-Ben Hecht
likely to
mount if
through.
The writers are now negotiating
with the distributor and with Erpi,
production being planned for the
Eastern Service Studios.
Quartette to Produce
New Musical at MGM
AJJerr'Rivkin, P. J. Wolfson, Nacio
Hefb Brown and Arthur Freed take on
the responsibilities of associate pro-
ducers on "Broadway Melody of
1934"atMCM. Rivkin and Wolfson
contribute the original story, while
Brown and Freed write the music and
lyrics.
Astaire and Rogers in
'Ringstrasse' at Radio
Radio has set "Ringstrasse" as the
second picture teaming Fred Astaire
and Ginger Rogers. It is a German
play by Adier Laszio, which is being
scripted by Allan Scott, and will follow
"The Gay Divorcee."
Hayes Due in June
New York — "Mary of Scotland"
closes its successful run on June 2,
with Helen Hayes planning to leave
for the Coast and picture work at
MGM shortly after that date.
Korda Signs Pidgeon
Alexander Korda has signed Walter
Pidgeon for two pictures and the play-
er leaves April 18 for London. Pidgeon
worked with Korda when the latter
was here a number of years ago.
jack Warner on Way
New York — Jack Warner gets un-
der way for the Coast today, leaving
on the Century.
c
GET COPY IN EARLY!
FOR THE SPECIAL
CONVENTION "SSUES
APRIL 10-11-12
Page Two
THE
Aprir 4. 1 934
mtfffalFQICTllR
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIyw/od 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193,
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat,
Berlin 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
Jan Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St ; Ant-
werp. Gratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includirig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
You know that "title and name"
game has spread to this here now
Hollywood. The idea is to get to-
igether a lot of movie and play titles —
and then "fit^' them to the right peo-
ple. Yesterday, during a luncheon
with some of our best rude set, the
following results were obtained:
jimmy Durante. "The Trumpet Blows"
Kay Francis. "The Goose Hangs High"
Gary Grant "One Way Passage"
Garbo "The Son-Daughter"
lack Gilbert -"Once to Every Woman"
Herman Mankiewicz —
. . "Tomorrow and Tomorrow"
Ruth Chatterton "I Was a Spy"
Sally Eilers.."lt Happened One Night"
Harry Lachman "East Is West"
William Wellman —
!,..-. "Old Wives for New"
Countess di Frasso "Africa Speaks"
or "Looking for Trouble"
Ricardo Cortez.... "Bedside"
Adolphe Menjou.... "Fashions of 1934"
Darryl Zanuck "Sittin' Pretty"
Lupe Velez —
"Love, Honor and Oh, Baby!"
Elissa Landi "S.O.S. Iceberg"
Clark Gable...- '....."Dark Hazard"
Mae West--... "Enter, Madame!"
P. J. Wolfson "Going Hollywood"
Winnie Sheehan —
"Peter, the Mad Czar"
Alice White "It Ain't No Sin"
Jimmy Cagney —
"The Man Who Came Back"
Connie Bennett. ."Love Is a Racket"
Mack Cordon —
"The Twelve Pound Look"
Dick Powell .."She Loves Me Not"
Myrna Loy
"Underneath the Red Robe"
Edna Best , "Gallant Lady"
Barbara Blair... ......"Barbary Coast"
Francis Lederer "The Grand
Duchess and the Waiter"
Gloria Swanson "Hollywood Party"
Jean Harlow. ..."Hips, Hips, Hooray!"
Eddie Cantor "Finishing School"
Ceorgie Raft.. .."The Lady Is Willing"
Josef von Sternberg. .."Fu Man Chu"
Corinne Griffith "March of Time"
Jack Warner "Let 'Em Eat ;Cake"
Jeanette MacDonald "Eskimo"
Irving Thalberg----"The Little Giant"
"ONCE TO EVERY WOMAN"
Columbia prod.; director, Lambert Hillyer; writers, A. J. Cronin, Jo Swerling.
Rialto Theatre
News: "Once to Every Woman" is an engaging, faithful and enjoyable photo-
play. You'll like it.
Times: The slightly less than cerebral title of the new Rialto film has at least
the minor virtue of summing up all that is unfortunate in the work.
Here is a story which might have become a screen "Men in White," an
absorbing and thrilling drama. | .
Mirror: It is very well made, skilfully written, and brilliantly acted. But it is
grim. Persons who are frightened by hospitals will find "Once to Every
Woman" confirms their worst fancies. It deals with incompetence, dan-
gerous institutional politics, and wilful neglect of responsibility. It is
made with dignity, however, with restraint and taste. It is an admirable
example of how fine acting, writing and direction can be wasted on an
unentertaining plot,
Herald-Tribune: Its story and treatment are adult and, with the exception of a
few customary cinema moments, manage to hold attention and be infor-
■mative at the same time. The dialogue, is less banal than usual, and
the performance is authoritative.
American: Average program entertainment. It is well cast, nicely produced.
The honors of the piece are shared by Messrs. Connolly and Bellamy, with
mention for Miss Carlisle and j. Farrell MacDonald, Leila Bennett and a
dozen more. The atmosphere is well established and maintained, and
both players and director contribute a sincere, forthright job of it.
Sun: The Rialto's new picture is fortunate enough to have a story somewhat
more credible -and interesting than the usual run of medical talkies. The
plot itself isn't particularly important, ;but "Once to Every Woman" is the
most interesting film this week-end anywayj; .■
World-Telegram: Here,: in "Once to Every Woman," is a hospital film so sim-
ple, sO-genuine, so tense and thrilling ait times, that it is easily the best
and most entertaining the screen has yet given us. Unlike the many
hospital films we have had, and probably always will have with us, this
"Once to Every Woman," in spite of its silly title, is free from the usual
hokum. Its grimness is the very grimness of the subject with which it
deals, and this and not its love element is sufficiently exciting to hold
your attention.
journal: The picture is satisfactorily acted and developed. But it's pretty grim,
with plenty of sickroom atmosphere and a prolonged operating room
sequence that becomes intensely harrowing.
EASTERN PRODtCTION
FOR BOOM XEXT SEASOX
Schofield to Do Screen
Play for Brice Picture
New York. — Eastern production is in
for a boom next year, and this time
there are definite contracts to prove
that it will not be another mirage.
Captain Baynes, of the Eastern
Service Studios, says that contracts
already closed cover twelve produc-
tions, practically all set for major
release, to be produced at the Astoria
plant.
And up at the Biograph plant in
the Bronx, with the backing of Herb
Yates, of Consolidated, definite plans
are under way that will insure pfac-
tically continuous operation on pro-
ductions for independent release, with
a few ma|ors dropped in.
Back to His Old Love
Pat O'Brien, who was in the navy
for a year and a half during the war,
had to wait until yesterday to do pic-
ture work on a battleship. He will be
on the Arizona for 1 2 days, filming
"Hey Sailor." O'Brien was stationed
on the Great Lakes during the war.
Ceo. BroWn Honored^
New York, — Oeorge Brown, ad-
vertising manager of Columbia Pic-
tures, has been appointed member of
a 5<ew committee named by General ■
-}pj«ik5n, of thei NRA, for a cpmipig r
propaganda drive'. ^ •" ^"
Monte Brice has signed Paul Scho-
field to do the screen play of "Bens-
fit Performance," his first production
since the dissolution of the Rowland-
Brice partnership.
Plans are being perfected for the
filming of this picture at the Eastern
Service Studios in New York. As soon
as Schofield completes the screen play,
Brice plans to leave for New York to
start production.
Lombardo to Frisco
Guy Lombardo and his orchestra,
finishing in Paramount's"Many Happy
l^eturris," move off to San Francisco,
April' I I , to broadcast on the White
Owl Hour and put in a week at the
Orpheum Theatre. Unit jumps to Gal-
veston, Texas, for its next broadcast,
ApriJ' 25. The Music Corporation of
Arfi'^iCa books the unit
'R,6thschild'Cets
Away to Big Start
"The House of Rothschild" opened
last night in a blaze of glory at Grau-
man's Chinese to a complete sell-out,
many prominent picture people who
sought to get tickets in the early af-
ternoon finding it an impossible task.
The reception given the picture was
little short of a sensation, and wise-
acres are predicting that the Chines?
is in for a run that will bring back
memories of the good old days at this
house. Fredric March acted as master
of ceremonies, following the showing,
while Laurence Grant officiated at the
forecourt microphone previous to the
show.
Fox to Remake Silent
Fox will do a talkie remake of one
of its last silents, "Ladies Must Dress,"
which was released in December,
1927. Picture is scheduled for next
year's production plans and will be
handled by Sol Wurtzel. No writer has
been signed.
Tim McCoy Starts One
With D. Ross Lederman directing.
Columbia today puts the seventh Tim
McCoy action picture into work,
Ward Bond, set by Kingston-Harris,
is only player cast. Story has been
scripted by Harold Shumate.
Short for Catlett
Walter Catlett was signed by Radio
yesterday for the top spot in the next
Headliner short which Lee Marcos,,, is
producing. . - T
Shirley Crey with Dix
Shirley Grey once again plays oppo-
site Richard Dix, this time in "Family
Man " at Radio. John Robertsori di-
rects.
\\
In Preparation
An Original Story — titled
Our Women
by
Edmund Coulding
n
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
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$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
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Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
CHARLIE CHAPLIN SAYS:
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8533 Santa Monica Boulevard
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8:45
Refreshments served
April 4. 1934
M
RMP©WfmR
Page Three
ISISTERS HINDER !^KIN' FINE
PIECE OF ENTERTAINMENT
Director, Writing,
Cast All Splendid
"SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN"
(Columbia)
Direction David Burton
Author Jo Swerling
Photography Joseph August
Cast: Elissa Landi, Frank Morgan,
Joseph Schildkraut, Doris Lloyd,
Clara Blandick, Shirley Grey.
The Columbia picture, "Sisters Un-
der the Skin," is important for three
reasons: First, because it gives Elissa
Landi a chance at last to prove that
she is an ACTRESS; second, because
it is a completely honest and dramatic
diagram of real, human manners and
emotions, and, third, because it's darn
good entertainment.
Frank Morgan isn't mentioned in
the above, because he has had other
chances to show what he can do, and
the superb performance he gives in
this picture is not a matter of news.
It's just taken for granted.
David Burton, the director, modeled
this picture into a sculptured, balanced
and dramatic whole. But he had
marvelous clay with which to work in
Jo Swerling's story. There's not a line
of dialogue that doesn't ring true and
not a sequence or a single scene that
couldn't stand up under the micro-
scope of human experience. And,
while bouquets are being tossed out,
let a large one be thrown to Joseph
August, whose photography is a thing
of beauty.
Frank Morgan plays the part of an
industrial magnate who reaches the
age of fifty with millions in the bank,
a great desire to play Beethoven's
"Moonlight Sonata," and an un-
quenchable yearning to enjoy life. His
wife, Doris Lloyd, has allowed the
years to rob her of gaiety and, when
he wants to kick up his heels and
roam over the world, she suggests
seeing his doctor.
And so when, under particularly
romantic circumstances, he meets
Elissa Landi, an actress, he attempts
to journey with her back into his youth
and recapture some of that wild,
young fervor.
But she meets a fiery, impetuous,
young composer, Joseph Schildkraut.
And Morgan finds that he puffs up
the stairs as the two youngsters run
laughingly up to the composer's attic;
and that his futile pickings on the
piano at the "Moonlight Sonata" are
pretty feeble compared with Schild-
kraut's sweeping, grand, new sym-
phony.
And so. with a fine gallantry, he
relinquishes the girl to the composer
and goes home to his wife.
The story is too slyly intricate and
emotionally tricky to be hedged about
by an outline. It is fundamentally
true and honest, and entirely enter-
taining.
Schildkraut is happily cast and he
brings a fine spirit to his part. Doris
Lloyd is flawless as the wife. Clara
Blandick is good as Morgan's secre-
tary, and Shirley Grey is seen briefly.
Do your audiences a favor and show
them this picture — and let them see
what Landi really can do.
Henry VIIT Showing
In 30 Berlin Houses
Berlin. — The German dubbed
version of "Henry Vlll" is draw-
ing tremendous crowds here. The
picture is being distributed by Uni-
i'ersal and is showing in a total of
thirty Berlin houses at the same
time.
MCM Going Limit
On Villa' in N. Y.
New York — MCM is gong the limit
for the "Viva Villa" New York debut
at the Criterion, and Broadway pic-
ture goers will not know the famous
house when it reopens for the David
Selznick production.
A new front is to be installed on
the house, commanding Times Square,
new sound and projection systems are
being put in, and from drapes to
lobby the dress will be new.
MGM has the house on sub- lease
from J. P. Coring, for an initial ten
week period. It reverts to the Farmers
Loan and Trust Company on July 1,
with the expectation here that Para-
mount will make a new deal to hold
the theater after that date.
Two Indie Producers
Closing Up Schedules
Chesterfield Pictures has two more
productions to complete on its sched-
ule of nine, according to George R.
Batchellor. These will be "City Park."
a romantic story, and "Green Eyes."
a murder mystery. Both will be di-
rected by Richard Thorpe.
Invincible Pictures, Maury Cohen,
producer, has three more to complete
its schedule of nine pictures. The first
is "Fifteen Valves," written by Charles
S. Belden. Frank Strayer will direct.
MCM After Colyumists
For 'Pamela Thorndyke'
MCM is offering propositions to
New York columnists to take the three
top/ spots in the Moss Hart story,
'■pamela Thorndyke." Studio is talk-
ing to Mark Hellinger. Louis Sobol.
Edward Sullivan. V^/alter Winchell and
Sidney Skolsky. it is reported, with a
view to getting three of the group.
Ed Marin Leaving 'U';
Moving Over to Radio
Edwin L. Marin and Universal will
split when the director cleans up "Af-
fairs of a Gentleman." They were
unable to get together on a new deal
after the director's long term ticket
expired.
He is due to move over to Radio
on a one-picture ticket which has been
set by the William Stephens office.
Lukas in Baum Story
Universal yesterday assigned Paul
Lukas for the lead opposite Wynne
Gibson in the Vicki Baum story. "I
Give My Love." Milton Krims has
written the screen play and Doris An-
derson is now on the continuity. Karl
Freund will direct and B. F. Zeidman
will produce.
Writers Nominate
For Guild Election
The thirty members nominated for
consideration in Thursday's election
of the Writers' Guild Board of Gov-
ernors were made known last night.
From these thirty and any additional
nominations made from the floor the
Guild will choose fifteen members, the
latter group later voting for president,
vice-president, etc.
The thirty names announced follow:
Ralph Block. John Howard Lawson.
Ernest Pascal. Wells Root. Frances
Marion, Oliver H. P. Garrett, Dudley
Nichols, Courtenay Terrett. Brian
Marlow, Tristram Tupper, Arthur Rip-
ley. Rupert Hughes, V^ilfred MacDon-
ald, Raymond Schrock, Allen Rivkin,
Gladys Lehman, John Natteford, Jo
Swerling, Samuel Ornitz, Seton I. Mill-
er, Arthur Richman, Robert Riskin,
Zelda Sears, John Emerson, James K.
McGuinness, Edwin Justus Mayer,
Waldemar Young, James Creelman,
Sonya Levien and Arthur Caesar.
Before the election can proceed,
fifty more votes are needed to ratify
the recent amendment to the by-laws
allowing the increase in the board from
eleven to fifteen.
Wampas Will Install
Officers at Caliente
The installation of the new office's
of the Wampas will be held at Agua
Caliente next Satu.-day and Sunday.
Two bus loads of the publicity gang
will leave the Writers Club at 1.30
o'clock Saturday and a banquet will be
thrown that night.
The boys will double up at the bote'
- — it's a stag party— -and will leave for
home at 4:30 o'clock Sunday. T-^ -
committee announces — and this is the
best news of all^-^there wll be '-■j
charge for the trip.
Bob MacCowan to MGM
Bob MacCowan, director of the
Roach "Our Gang' c omedies, was
signed by MGM yesterday to direct the
first Shaw and Lee short subject which
Jack Cummmgs is producing. The
Beyer-MacArthur office has placed the
director under a managerial contract
and negotiated the deal.
Three for Holloway
Sterling Holloway will be working
in three pictures during the balance
of this month. He is to play in Radio s
"Down to Their Last Yacht." MGM's
"Merry Widow," and in a short f6r
Warren Doane at' Universal. Ralph
Farnum placed him.
Warner Salesmen Due
Gradwell, Sears, Warner sales mana-
ger for the South and West, and Andy
W. Smith, handling sales in the East
and Canada, will arrive Saturday for
the MPTOA convention. They will be
here a week.
Cormack at La Quinta
Bartlett Cormack is at La Quinta
working on "One Woman," yarn
planned by Paramount for Miriam
Hopkins.
JEESm
Here s an exhibitor angle that only
an exhibitor could possibly have
thought out. We were complaining
the other day about how awful Broad-
way looks and how terrible Forty-
second Street looks with all the cheap
movie houses with their ten and fif-
teen cent admission prices doing noth-
ing to help matters. Unfortunately,
an exhibitor overheard us and forth-
A'lth went off into a long harangue
about how, when the whole truth of
the depression years is written up,
cheap movie houses will be given their
place in history. The way he figures
it out, they are swell places for cold,
depressed, unemployed members of
society, and they went into the thea-
tres glum and aching for a fight, but
for a dime they could stay in a thea-
tre and laugh all day and, when the
masses laugh, society is in no danger
of being disturbed.. So the slogan
seems to be "Stop revolutions with a
ten, twenty, thirty house."
•
And speaking of ten, twenty, thirty.
Not so long ago an actor was being
interviewed by Jack Warner about
whether or not he should or could
get a salary tilt. Mr. Warner was of
the opinion that he shouldn't, and
proceeded to try to talk him out of it
with arguments about things not being
wnat they used to be and ending up
with 3 statement to the effect that
movies were back to a ten, twenty,
thirty basis. Did the actor know what
that meant? Whereupon the actor
said yes, he knew all about that. He
had just been reading the papers with
particular reference to the publica-
tion by the government of salaries,
bonuses, etc., in the picture industry.
And he saw that Jack Warner got
ten thousand . . , that was ten, and
Harry Warner got ten thousand . .
that was twenty, and Albert Warner
got ten thousand . . . that made
thirty.
•
With the announcement by Arch
Selwyn that he had acquired the play
rights to that best seller of last year,
"Cora Fitts," and intends to produce
(fin the Fall, there is matter for spec-
ulation. We wonder whether there
will be any offers for it from the
picture companies. Not that it
wouldn't make an elegant picture and
one that cries aloud for Mae West
with some of the rougher sequences
crossed out of the story. BUT it's
material that's been available for
months now. Maybe a picture com-
pany is backing the play to see what
it looks like before they take a
chance.
Add; Oddities m the newsprints.
In one column of the theatrical page
IS a routine announcement of new pic-
tures on Broadway with the "Lost
Patrol" listed as a picture without a
woman in the cast, and directly oppo-
site in the ad it says first and fore-
most: "WOMENI . . . WOMEN . . .
perfumed — with starry eyes and red
lips! WOMEN — warm and alluring —
danced through the skulls of these
men . who grinned tight-lipped at
death!' Which is not exactly mis-
leading, but one of the neatest tricks
of the week.
Page Four
THEJ^
April 4, 1934
ONE LOXE IXDIE AIVSWERS
CALL FROM JrOGE LliXSISEY
(Continued from Page 1 )
began his hearings, listening to the
complaints and testimony of sound
men, cameramen, drapers and uphol-
sterers, grips, property men and elec-
tricians. He announced that he will
render his decisions on the cases after
he has had sufficient time to study
them, and will send his findings on
to Washington to the Chief Labor
Compliance Officer.
Albert E. Levoy appeared for Mas-
cot Pictures Corporation. But Co-
lumbia, Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
Paramount, Hal Roach, Radio, Univer-
sal, United Artists and Warner Broth-
ers-First National failed to appear.
While no official announcement was
given either by Judge Lindsey or the
producers, it was generally rumored
that the majors refused to appear on
the grounds that Judge Lindsey does
not have jurisdiction over the com-
plaints.
When the doors of the headquar-
ters of Judge Lindsey opened at ten
o'clock yesterday morning it looked
like a complete producer walkout, but
there was a considerable number of
labor representatives on hand, some
with counsel. Judge Lindsey gave
until eleven o'clock for producers to
appear, then he called the first group,
the sound men. Their delegation was
headed by Harold V. Smith, business
representative of Local 695.
Charges by Sound Men
Among other complaints, the sound
men charged violation of the code by
all the major studios in that they
refuse to negotiate with the local, al-
though the sound men in an election
under the supervision of the Regional
Labor Board named it, under NRA
rules, as the body representing the
sound technicians. They declared that
the producers are violating the code
in the matter of wage scale and hours,
and a number of witnesses testified,
and evidence was presented showing
the studios have not spread employ-
ment as called for in the code.
Considerable testimony was also in-
troduced by the sound men to support
the charge that the studios are using
coercion to force sound men to join
the IBEW. Testimony was given that
some studios have discharged sound
men when they refused to join the
IBEW. Testimony was also given
showing that the IBEW scale for first
sound men is $72 per week on a
three-weeks basis, while the lATSE
scale is $140 a week.
Mascot Man Shows Up
At two o'clock Levoy appeared for
Mascot Pictures Corporation and told
Judge Lindsey that his company rec-
ognized his authority and that, if it
had done anything wrong, it was un-
intentional and he wished to get it
straightened out, for his company
wishes to live up to the letter of the
code. He said he did not want legal
counsel and was ready for the hearing.
Judge Lindsey then heard the com-
plaint against Mascot and heard the
defense of Levoy, who, at the con-
clusion of the hearing, left to inves-
tigate a couple of points and will re-
port again today to Judge Lindsey.
"The attitude of Mr. Levoy was ad-
mirable," said Judge Lindsey, "and
showed what can be done expedi--
tiously if the proper co-operation is
Come Early and
Avoid the Rush
At 1.30 yesterday afternoon
fourteen persons, eleven women
and three men, had lined up on their
camp chairs in front cf Crauman's
Chinese in order to have front row
spots to look at the celebrities at-
tending the opening of "The House
of Rothschild."
'Rothschild' Boston
Debut Gala Affair
Boston — The Hub C ty made the
opening of the "House of Rothschild"
here Monday evening or 2 of the social
events of the season, b s:des gladden-
ing the hearts of the p cture makers
with a complete sell-out. It was a
brilliant event, with all '^he big names
of the city in attendance
Al Selig handled the idvance cam-
paign.
Warners Plan Dinner
For750of theMPTOA
Warners will entertin the more
than 750 members of the MPTOA at
a dinner the first day cf the conven-
tion, April 10. Studir will convert
one of its stages into r, dining room
and will have every stEr on the pay-
roll prepare a special ac* for the eter-
tainment of the guests
New Songwriters Here
Charles Tobias and .lurray Mun-
cher, song writing tern signed by
Sam Goldwyn on a six v. ceks contract,
arrived from the East y -ferday. They
will write the music anc' lyrics for the
next Eddie Cantor pictu 2, which gets
under way around Jun 1.
Navy Yarn for Warners
Warners have pu. ased JlM.iss
acific Fleet;" a short stc by Frederick
Hazlitt Brennan which n in Collier's
a short time ago. h director or
writer set as yet.
Calhern Boui J East
Lou s Calhern return
yesterday after finisf
"Dark Towers" at W<
shown. There is no d
culties between his o
the complainants can
justed."
Producers N.
Other groups hearc
eluded the cameramen
Herbert Aller; the u
drapers, represented t
man, president of thi
and W. C. Wolfer,
and Local 37, lATSE,
Lew Blix, business ref
Local 37 had a lo
plaints, charging tha'
grips were used as
additional pay. The 1
a kick on wage scale ;
Effort to secure a
ment on the attituc
producers in regard
were without result, t
he had nothing to do ^
and producers refusing
to New York
his role in
IS.
;ot the diffi-
^ization and
■ easily ad-
:sterday in-
)resented by
sterers and
Valter Hop-
abor group,
e-president;
resented by
^ntative.
st of com-
one studio
s with no
'sterers had
)urs.
icial state-
the major
he hearing
asey saying
the matter,
alk.
MUSIC CORPORATION
OF AMERICA
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April 4. 1934
THEkjy
Page Five
DARROW HOARD ROARS
DIE AWAY TO MIJRMIJRS
Washington. — The trumpeted Dar-
row hearings came to a close last night
with something of the effect of a
bubble bursting, in the opinion of ob-
servers here.
In the first place, the members of
the Code Authority and the major
sales managers were not spanked for
failing to appear, but apparently were
successful in having their case pre-
sented in written form by H. Bareford,
Warner attorney.
In the second place, other members
of the committee besides Mr. Darrow
started asking questions yesterday, and
the trend of their queries indicated
that they are willing to admit now
that there are two sides to every ques-
tion, even in the picture industry.
It is probable that the Darrow com-
mittee will recommend some minor
changes in the code, and even some
substitutions on the Code Authority
that will give a better break to inde-
pendents. Rabid indies here still say
that Deputy Administrator Rosenblatt
is in for a spanking, and his removal
will be suggested, but this is dis-
counted by most observers.
Governor Olson, of Minnesota, ap-
pearing "on behalf of the public,"
was the first witness of the day, air-
ing his objections to block booking.
He was followed by Al Staff es, rebel
exhibitor from the same State, who
repeated the castigation of block
booking, and added a description of
what he claimed were "kangaroo
court" methods of the Boards of
Trade, which he asserted are merely
kept alive through the Code Author-
ity's Grievance and Zone Boards.
Alfred Weiss, former indie pro-
ducer and a vice-president of the
original Goidwyn Pictures, put all the
blame on sound pictures and the
strangle-hold given the electrics. At
this point one of the board members
asked why the "13,000 independent
exhibitors" had never tested the A. T.
& T. monopoly in the courts, while
another ventured the remark that
patent rights were a matter entirely
outside the range of the Darrow
board.
Robert Robins, indie sound manu-
facturer and active in a campaign
against the electrics, was the final
witness, he also blaming A. T. & T.
for all the industry's ills and charging
that six out of the eight majors are
now controlled by the phone monop-
oly. Robins also charged that prac-
tically all the Code Authority appoint-
ments had been dictated by A. T. & T.
pressure. He concluded with the
startling suggestion of Government
control for the picture business by
including it under the provisions of
the "communications" bill now before
Congress, which puts radio, telephone
and telegraph under a new commis-
sion.
The highlight of the day really was
a question from one of the board
members, addressed to Steffes, asking:
"If the business of the majors is so
profitable, why are all the companies
bankrupt?" Steffes blamed it on
overseating.
Tear Jerker
They were doing a rave down at
MGM yesterday over an eight-min-
ute death scene shot by Clarence
Brown for "Sadie McKee," with
Joan Crawford and Gene Raymond
doing the trouping.
MGM to Give Stock
Players Stage Work
MGM has decided to establish a
local experimental theatre for its stock
players and has placed Maurice Revnes
^I'n charge of the project, with Oliver
Hinsdale and Samuel Kayser as asso-
ciate executives.
Plan is to use the forty stock players
under contract to the company in a
group of plays to be put on at a thea-
tre yet to be selected. Plays will be
revivals and the players will work
between studio assignments, getting
stage experience. Except for the
start, the project is expected to pay
its own way.
Warners Plan to Put-
Dvorak in 'Hey Sailor*
If the studio IS able to rearrange
the schedules on "Old Doll's House"
and "Hey Sailor," Ann Dvorak will
replace Margaret Lindsay in the latter
picture, which is now shooting aboard
the U. S. warship Arizona. Miss Lind-
say has not yet fully recovered from
her recent appendectomy.
She was scheduled to go into "Old
Doll's House," but at the last minute
the studio switched the assignment
and gave it to Dvorak. Now, with
"Hey Sailor" already in work with
Miss Lindsay set opposite James Cag-
ney and Pat O'Brien, studio is plan-
ning on following the same replace-
ment procedure.
Major Prods. Starting
Major Productions puts the first of
its six features, "Broadway Virgin,"
into work today at the Talisman stu-
dio, with Lou Collins directing. Doro-
thy Gfainger, Betty Bronson, William
Bakewell and George Meeker head the
cast. Story has been scripted by F
McGrew Willis, with additional dia-
logue by Joseph O'Donnell.
Davis for 'Housewife*
Completing her work in "Of Human
Bondage" at Radio, Bette Davis has
returned to Warners, her home lot,
and has been assigned one of the two
leads in "Housewife." AI Green di-
rects from the screen play by Manuel
Seff and Lillie Hayward. Robert Lord
supervises.
Barbier-Horton Set
Irving Thalberg yesterday borrowed
George Barbier from Paramount and
signed Edward Everett Horton for
"The Merry Widow."
Hays Returning Here
New York — Will Hays leaves for
another Coast visit tomorrow.
MISS HEDDA HOPPER
announces
her business affiliation as an associate
with the offices of
REBECCA & SILTON
AGENCY
Hillside 1121
Page Six
THEP^B
April 4, 1934
MODERN SCREEN
1 32 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Greta Carbc
( MCM I
Modern Screen for April is like the
little girl who, when she was good
was very, very good, and when she
was bad she was horrid.
However, there's lots more good
than bad in the mag. The story that
is especially irritating, because of its
glaring bad taste, is "I'm a Terrible
Person, " says Joan Crawford to Kathe-
rine Albert. The fault lies with Miss
Albert, who probably didn't realize
that things in print sometimes are
much worse than the same things said.
Beatrice Macdonald concludes her
life story of Hepburn, "The Career of
an Ugly Duckling"; Walter Ramsey
writes one of the best all-round,
graphically told yarns yet, "The Life
and Loves of Lyie Talbot"; Carter
Bruce is a little vague, but sincere, in
"So You Won't Talk, Connie"; Helen
Hayes tells Nanette Kutner "How
I'm Teaching My Daughter to Face
Life," which is an extraordinary story
after Miss Hayes' frequent declarations
that she won't talk about her daugh-
ter.
Martha Kerr asks "Please, Mr. De
Mille, What Is Glamour?" and gets
/ an interesting answer; Walter Ramsey
has "What's Happened, Gable?" and
the star answers frarikfy and to the
point; Robert Fender has a good idea
in "Guardian Angels of Hollywood";
Dena Reed goes to a lot of trouble in
"He Went Up to See Her One Time"
to add another chapter to the virtues
of Mae West; Jim Kahn writes of Mrs.
March in "Who Is Freddie's Boss?"
and Jack Jamison recounts some
amusing practical jokes in "Tickling
Hollywood's Ribs."
Lynn Farnol has nothing new in
"Anna Sten — 'Passionate Peasant,'
except the title, and Gladys Hall has
a new angle on Lewis Stone in a swell
story, "The Husband Who Never Goes
Home.'
NEW MOVIE
1 06 pages and cover
COVER DISPL7\Y Joan Crawford
(MGM)
Frank Buck still has to fail an inter- '
viewer. He gives another vivid tale
of adventure in far places to Edwin
C. Hill in the April New Movie.
There is good writing and good re-
porting in Barbara Barondess' "I Act
with Carbo " There should be. She
was a New York newspaper woman
after she left the stage and before
she appeared on the screen in "Queen
Christina." Dorothy Manners asks
"Will Garbo Marry Mamoulian?"
without finding the answer.
Wallace Beery tells "My Life Until
Now" to Eric L. Ergenbright. It is
an unusually well done autobiography,
and makes fascinating reading.
Delia Mason discusses Marlene Die-
trich's sudden addiction to skirts and
ruffles in "The New Marlene." Irene
Thirer covers a lot of territory in her
interview with Dolores Del Rio, ques-
tioning her on such subjects as Carbo,
Hepburn, her love life, past and pres-
ent, and her plans for children. David
Ewen tells how generous Paul Muni
IS to old friends among the unem-
ployed in "I Know Muni." Dixie
Dunbar does a vivid, gossipy article on
her career, "Confessions of a Scan-
dals Beauty." Beth Burton tells how
Otto Kruger faced death and yearned
for it — which should just about mop
up that story cycle which has been
hung on practically every player in
the movies.
Barbara Barry does an amusing tale,
all in Lupe's fantastic accent, about
the Mexican hot spot's feelings for
Jimmy Durante. It's called "Rougher
Than Tarzan." Madge Evans dis-
cusses her reactions to her first film
test with Ann Boyd. Grace Kingsley
goes to lots of parties, and then, of
course, there is Herb Howe's always
excellent column.
SILVER SCREEN
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY. .Constance Bennett
(Twentieth Century)
Silver Screen sparkles with a gener-
ous number of unusually good stories
this month. Elizabeth Wilson leads
off with a sprightly and humorous tale,
'That Funny Divorce," about Carole
Lombard and Bill Powell.
Harry Lang's "Anything for a
Laugh" is a neat, good-natured blast
at the nutty things stars do' for pub-
licity. Adela Rogers St, Johns has a
vivid description of what happens in
Hollywood to football stars. It's ad-
vice for Cliff / Montgomery, and is
called "What Happens Then?"
"Fighting for Their Rights," by
Ruth Biery, and "The Last of the
Temperaments," by Bert Allen, are
interesting discussions of how they
behave in the movies.
For the rest S. R. Mook worried and
.worried until Constance Bennett as-
sured him that she is not leaving the
screen; Jack Jamison tells some inter-
esting anecdotes about Eddie Cantor
m "It's That Man Again!" Helen
Louise Walker's tale on Jean Harlow
IS somewhat sensationally called "I'm
That Way"; Patricia Keats does an
amusing story on Una Merkel ; Lenore
Samuels talks intelligently about Paul
Muni in "That's My Business"; Ben
Maddox talks to Gene Raymond,
mainly about the star's love life, in
"All Figured Out."
A high percentage of sensible
stories.
SCREEN BOOK
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Heather Angel
(Fox)
There's a good story in the April
Screen Book that should do quite a bit
for pictures. It is Dr. Louis E. Bisch's
"Movies Are Good Medicine," in
which he tells how he prescribes for
his patients. . , ■ • ■ :
Another swel I j fast yarn is Red Rut-
ledge's interview with Max Baer, "Me
and Mae West!' J. Brien Chapman has
two stories, "Hollywood's Million Dol-
lar Scraps of Paper," reviewing some
contracts, and "Sing Says a Mouth-
ful."
Mono. Meet Starts
At Atlantic City
Atlantic City. — More than fifty
executives of Monogram' Pictures,
headed by President W. Ray Johnston
and Vice-President Trem Carr, arrived
here yesterday for the company's con-
vention, which opens today. Mayor
Harry Bacharach will start the pro-
ceedings with an address of welcome,
being introduced by President John-
ston,
Among those in attendance are
Arthur Bromberg of Atlanta, Howard
Stubbins of Los Angeles, Harry H.
Thomas of First Division, Claude Ezell
and Underwood of Dallas, Flax Broth-
ers of Washington, R. F. Withers of
Kansas City, J. S. Jossey and Lefton of
Cleveland, Nat Steinberg of St. Louis,
Herman Rifkin of Boston, Sam Berko-
witz of Buffalo, and also exchange
managers from Seattle, San Francisco,
Chicago, Albany and other cities.
Home office and studio delegates
include Lou Ostrow, Eddie Golden, Ed
Finney, J. Harrington, J. P. Friedhof
and Norton Ritchey. '
Ceo. Nicholls to Direct
*A Hat, a Coat, a Clove'
As a result' of John Barrymore's go- '
ing to bat for him after expressing
satisfaction with the director's work
in handling a color test, George
Nicholls breaks away from Wanda
Tuchock on his next assignment and
will direct "A Hat, a Coat, a Glove"
alone;
Picture stars Barrymore and has
Kenneth Macgowan producing it for
Radio. Francis Faragoh is writing the
screen play.
Sauber Story Sold
Warners yesterday closed a deal for
the purchase of "Window Panes," an
original by Harry Sauber, the writer
joining the staff to write the screen
play. Max Shagrin set the deal.
Cene Solovv to 'U'
Gene Spiow, having completed his
War nejv'con tract last week, swings
ov^p^to Universal Monday on a term
trcket. Writer has not been given an
assignment as yet.
Eric L. Ergenbright writes two stor-
ies, also, "Hollywood's Alimony Rack-
et Exposed," and "Secrets That Tor-
ture the Stars." Don Harris is among
the million writers vyho are wondering
"Is Garbo Married?" Everetta Love in-
terviewed Mrs. Roosevelt in "What
Abdut Censorship?" Alice Faye says
"I Am Not Jane Doe" in an interview
with Lew Garvey; Grace Mack has
"Putting Hepburn on the Spot"; Al
Sherman tells about "When Mae West'
Went to Jail";- Dorothy Spensley
writes a good yarn about Rosemary
Ames in "Don't Write Anything
About My Baby"; B. F. Wilson asks
",1s Mary Still in Love?" and Lew
fij.yres talks about love in "You Can't
Marry Me Off," by Frank Walsh.
Wellford Dicksori reviews the
Claire Windsor trial in "Too Beauti-
ful"; Marcella Burke has "Love Is the
Bunk," (about Adplphe Menjou), and
Jewel Smith writes about the sisters
Wing, Toby and Pat, in "Two Angel
Wings for Hollywood."
Mae West Causes
Censors in Austria
Vienna. — Due principally to the
flood of public protest against the
Mae West picture, "She Done Him
Wrong," censorship is slated to be
introduced in Austria, it is reliably
reported. Official announcement
has not yet been made.
Agency Strong on Kids
Joy and Polimer, agents, have estab-
lished a special department for the
handling of children. Harry Willson
is in charge. This week he placed
5-year-old Barbara Pepper in King
Vidor's "Our Daily Bread."
Ceo. Stevens for 'Harem'
George Stevens breaks out of the
short subjects class with his next di-
rectorial assignment. He was set
yesterday by Lou Brock at Radio to
direct "Great American Harem."
Madge Evans to Lasky
Madge Evans was borrowed yester-
day from MGM by Jesse Lasky for a
role in "Grand Canary," which will get
under way next week.
Colleen with Levee
Colleen Moore signed a managerial
ticket with M. C. Levee yesterday.
'Nana* Breaks Records
In Second Run Houses
The $7,000 advertising campaign
which Sam Goldwyn gave to the
United Artists opening of "Nana" .
downtown is begining to return a \
profit, with the picture breaking house
records on its second runs in Fox West
Coast houses. Picture, playing a
double bill with MGM's "Mystery of
Mr. X " at the Westwood Village
smashed all existing records for Sun-
day and Monday business and the bill
has been held for an additional day,
the first tirfie- in the history of the
theatre.
Othen second r'un houses report
sensational business on the Sam Gold-
wyn picture.
Edward Cahn to Direct
Picture in London
Edward Cahn leaves New York on
the Berengaria next week to direct a
picture for A. & B. Pictures, releasing
through British-Gaumont. Picture is
"Black Shirt'' and goes into work
April 25. The Edington and Vincent
office swung the deal from here.
Taylor Holmes in 'Herbert'
Madelyn Holmes, daughter of
Taylor Holmes, received a long dis-
tance phone from her father yesterday
that caused her to board the Chief
last night on the way to New York.
Taylor goes into the Nugent part in
"Big Hearted Herbert" on the Broad-
way stage Monday and his daughter
also is in the play.
Mildred Smith East
Midred^K'. Smith, MGM writer,
left la^Knight for New York to con-
fer,:*eTth S. N. Behrman on the screen
ay of "Lola Montez" before the
playwright sails for England Saturday.
Behrman will work on the script while
abroad. Miss Smith returns in two
weeks.
April 4. 1934
THEP^
Page Seven
■TOTHE^niNVTE
ASTINC
Libby Taylor, Mae West's colored
maid, for "It Am't No Sin," Para-
mount.
Wallis Clark, through Kingston-
Harris for Radio's 'Virgie Winters."
Shirley Ross, Russell Hopton, Bert
Roach and Desmon<t Roberts for "100
Percent Pure," MCM.
Gregory Caye to "Merry Andrew,"
Fox, set by Beyer-MacArthur.
Ethel Criffies for two — "Call It
Luck" at Fox and "Sadie McKee" at
MCM. Both through Beyer-MacAr-
thur.
Paul Stanton to "Call It Luck,"
through Beyer-MacArthur.
Cecil Cunningham, Edward van
Sloan and Joseph Whittell for "Virgie
Winters," Radio.
Charles Coleman, Maurice Black and
Ramsey Hill for "Down to Their Last
Yacht," Radio.
Marion Nixon by Radio for "Ara-
bella" on a Schulberg, Feldman and
Gurney ticket.
Henry B. Walthall and Sally Blane
for "City Parks," George Batcheller's
next for Chesterfield.
Adrian Rosley for two pictures
through the Edington and Vincent
office. Player does "Of Human Bond-
age" for Radio and "Merry Andrew"
for Fox.
Theodore Newton by Edington and
Vincent for "Now I'll Tell," Fox.
|ohn Harron for "City Parks," Ches-
terfield, by Hallam Cooley.
Margaret Seddon for "Barretts of
Wimpole Street," MGM, by Hallam
Cooley.
Earle Foxe and William Augustin
by Hallam Cooley for "Little Man,
V/hat Now?" Universal.
Niles Welch into "Hey Sailor," Uni^
versal, by Hallam Cooley. ''
Una Merkel assigned a featured role
in "The Merry Widow." MGM.
Johnny Arthur and Phil Regan for
Warners' "Dames."
Marian Byron to Columbia short,
"Love the Hard Way." Set by Ber-
nard, Meiklejohn and McCall agency.
Ethelreade Leopold for "Madame
DuBarry," Warners.
Sarah Padden and Monroe Owsley
for "Little Man, What Now?" Univer-
sal.
Genevieve Tobin Gets
Lead in Schulberg Pic
Paramount yesterday signed Gene-
vieve Tobin for the Carole Lombard
spot opposite Gary Grant m B. . P:
Schulberg's "Kiss and Make Up,''
which went into production yesterday.
Lombard was needed for another as-
signment. In the cast are Lucien Lit-
tlefield, Toby Wing, Mona Maris,
Milton Wallace, Rafael Storm, Doris
Lloyd, Rita Gould and the 1 3 Wampas
Baby Stars. Harlan Thompson and
jean Negulesco direct.
Houst-on Sells Story
Norman Houston yesterday sold an
untitl^-tSriginal story to Mascot Pic-
tured and joins the writing staff to
f^r\\Q the screen play. Harry Spingler.
of the Small-Landau office, negoti-
ated.
Vigilante Archie
A scenario writer at Warners
ordered a bottle of imported Ger-
man beer the other day and then
wondered why he got a bottle
without a label. Explanations later:
The waitress had seen Archie Mayo
arrive at the table and she wanted
to avoid another anti-Hitler argu-
ment, so she had removed the
label.
Cameramen's Local
Starts Retrenching
The Cameramen's Union yesterday ,
inaugurated ■ its previously announced'
economic retrenchment policy and,
when the dporsl opened yesterday
morifiirig, th'i^y. opehed on only thjr^S
offices instead of the ten which the
local has occupied for years.
No settlement having been leached
between Howard Hurd, business rep-
resentative, and the special commit-
tee that (S negotiating with hirn for
a set.tl^rnent. of I •'bis contract,^ jie,
apfjeared at his office for a time.
However, Herbert Aller, who has been
Hurd's assistant for some time, acted
as buffer and contact man with those
who came to conduct routine busi-
ness.
Vinson Here Today
Helen Vinson arrives by plane from
New York this morning. Player re-
ports to Radio for; a featured role in
"Virgie Wirite'rs;' oin a contract set by
the 5'^hulb,erg, Feldman and Gurney
office'. ' ' '
Col. Not For Sale*
(Continued from Page 1 )
chase of thp stqck of Joe Brandt,
bought with rr)yl lincJney and now re-
posing in my vault at the bank, I
have control of the company and in-
tend holding that control; for what-
ever may be the value of Columbia
now, we, who are interested in the
company, believe it will be tenfold a
few years from now.
"Joe Brandt has. not one dime com-
ing to him from the sale of his stock.
He has been paid in full and the story
printed that, he was getting $100,000,
or any such sum, each year for a term
of years is more bunk. He is paid m
full."
', I Asked for the reason why such a,
'rUmor' 'seemed fo have reached the
"certain" stage during the past two
weeks, Cohn acknowledged it was a
mystery to him.
"I tell you there has not even been
a suggestion of a deal," he said.
"Three years ago there was plenty of
talk of sale and the transfer of con-
trol, but since the Brandt deal there
has been no such talk nor any sug-
gestions made within my hearing of
any possible sale, and for a very good
reason, the company is NOT for sale."
—
—
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PICTURES
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Exclusive Management
BUDDY MASCHKE
, 3t. Beverly VVilshire
THE
WILLIAM STEPHENS
AGENCY
announces
the establishment of new offices
at 5514 Wilshire Boulevard
EXCLUSIVELY REPRESENTING
PRESTON FOSTER
Under Contract to
FOX
EDWIN L. MARIN PHIL ROSEN
Now Directing For Directing For
UNIVERSAL PROGRESS PICTURES
(British-Caumont Release)
SAM MINTZ MILTON KRIMS
Writing For Writing For
RADIO PICTURES UNIVERSAL
HARRY SECALL JACK CLUETT
Under Contract To Writing For
METRO - COLDWYN - MAYER COLUMBIA
!iiiaaiUifiiiififititiibifii^il(
Oregon 1167 Oregon 1168
% READiriG DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CAMF.
V«l yy N« 22_^r
JOD>^j;my^^EWS TODA^
Tku
Aflpil^^^aA
DEMAND ^RCSy OUSTER
Monogram Doubled
Its 1933 Earnings in
Year Just Ended
Atlantic City. — Monogram's con-
vention opened here yesterday with
enthusiasm as the keynote, and the
enthusiasm mounted when President
W. Ray Johnston reported a net profit
of the company from March 1, 1933,
to February 28, 1934, of more than
double the previous year's earnings.
President Johnston also stated that
current billings of the corporation ex-
ceeded the previous twelve months by
$577,021, and the combined film re-
leases of 37 affiliated exchanges dur-
ing the fiscal year of 1933 were in
excess of $4,000,000.
Mr. Johnston was re-elected presi-
dent. The other election results
(Continued on Page 3)
Mother of Hal and
Minna Wallis Dies
Mrs. Eva Wallis, mother of Hal
Wallis, production chief at Warner
Brithers-First National studios, died
yesterday noon at the Cedars of Leba-
non Hospital.
Mrs. Wallis had been ill for some
time. Three weeks ago she was re-
moved to the hospital, but her
condition grew steadily worse. She
was 63 years old and is survived by
one son, Hal; and two daughters,
Minna, of the agency firm of Collier
& Wallis, and Juel.
Funeral services will be held this
afternoon with burial at Forest Lawn.
The services will be strictly private.
Majestic Owners Meet
JMew York. — Majestic Pictures is
calling a meeting of all franchise
holders in New York April 9 to set
production policy and budgets before
Harry Clucksman leaves for the Coast
to make arrangements for completion
of the year's program.
John F. Dillon Dies
John Francis Dillon, well-known
director, died last night of heart fail-
ure. Dillon had most recently been
with Fox, and for many years was an
ace director with First National during
that organization's big years.
Writers Elect Tonight
The Screen Writers' Guild will hold
its annual election tonight at the
Writers' Club at eight o'clock.
Loew's Pays
New York — Loew's Inc., yes-
terday declared the regular quar-
terly dividend of $1.62 a share
on the preferred, payable May 1 5.
Para. Sales Chiefs
Meet in Chicago
Chicago. — Preceding the convention
of the entire Paramount sales organi-
zation, starting in Los Angeles on June
18, the district managers will meet
here at the Edgewater Beach Hotel on
April 21 and 22 to discuss sales poli-
cies for the coming season.
George J. Schaefer, Neil Agnew,
J. J. Unger, Stanley Waite and J. B. G.
Frawley will attend from the home
office and also go to the Los Angeles
gathering.
New Agency Rules Put
Into Effect Yesterday
Official approval by State Labor
Commissioner Joseph C. Creem, wired
yesterday to Deputies Lowy and Bar-
ker, placed the new rules and regula-
tions controlling agents into effect.
New licenses, due at this time, will
be issued under the ordinances, which
establish a code of ethics for the
agency field.
Lombard-Marshall Set
For Para's 'Sophie Lang'
Carole Lombard and Herbert Mar-
shall have been set in the top spots
of "The Notorious Sophie Lang,"
which William Cameron Menzies di-
rects when it goes into work at Para-
mount the last of the month. Anthony
Veiller is collaborating on the script
with Frederick I. Anderson, author of
the original story.
New York Indie Exhibitors Ask
Code Revision And Slew
Line-up On Authority Board
Washington. — Harry Brandt, president of the Independent
Theatre Owners Association of New York, today made a flat
demand before the NRA Board of Review for the ouster of
Deputy Administrator Sol A.
membership of the industry's Code
Authority, and a complete revision
of the code as now written.
Declaring that the 375 theatres he
represented constitute an investment
of over $150,000,000, Brandt de-
clared that the code and the machin-
ery as now set up could not be more
in favor of the "Big Eight" if the
(Continued on Page 2)
Roxy and Gang Not
So Hot in Boston
Boston. — Roxy and His Gang are
not clicking here, at least not getting
figures that will put theatres off the
nut on the $10,000 a week they pay
for the attraction.
Show is well liked, though, and the
explanation given for the poor busi-
ness is the lack of advance exploita-
tion, the Gang being dropped in at
the Metropolitan almost cold as soon
as Roxy closed his deal for the series
of Paramount appearances.
Respite for Jack Cohn
New York — Examination of )ack
Cohn, of Columbia Pictures, m the
stockholders suit claiming excessive
salaries and bonuses for executives,
has again been postponed, this time
to April 1 1 .
PRODUCERS DECIDE TODAY
ATTITUDE AROUT LI.XDSEY
Attorneys for all the major studios
that were summoned to appear before
Judge Ben B. Lindsey, NRA Labor
Compliance Officer, for hearings on
complaints charging them with viola-
tions of the film code, will hold a
conference today to decide what the
policy of the studios will be in the
matter, according to information
relayed to many of the complainants
last night.
It has been the contention of the
producing companies that these cases
(Continued on Page 2)
Coldwyn Designer Here
Omar Kiam, who has gained con-
siderable prominence designing clothes
for New York stage shows, arrived in
Hollywood last night to take up his
post with Sam Goldwyn. He is accom-
panied by his aides, Mme. Becheist
and Arthur Levy.
Doug Shearer East
Douglas Shearer left by plane last
night for a short vacation in New
York. He took a print of "Viva Villa"
with him.
Rosenblatt, a shake-up in the
China Gives O.K.
To Good Earth'
After weeks and weeks of negotia-
tions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has re-
ceived the approval of the authorities
in China for its production of "Good
Earth" in that those authorities have
given their consent to MGM to photo-
graph in China.
The unit, headed by George Hill, is
now shooting full blast, with the di-
rector leaving there in about two
weeks. The Hill unit will stay on the
ground for other pickup shots that
may become necessary after Hill shows
his film to Irving Thalberg here.
Tough Censor Bill
Up in Delaware
Wilmington — A censor bill is to be
introduced here that will give the
broadest powers to a board of three
to ban any picture "disrespiectful of
race, creed, or class of persons or pro-
fessions, and all films which have any
controversial point of view."
The American Civil Liberties Union
is waging a campaign against the bill.
'Wild Cargo^ Hits
New York — With "Wild Cargo"
likely to hit close to $90,000 — a life-
saver for the Music Hall which has
been suffering $65,000 averages — the
picture will be held over for a second
week. Remarkable part is the way
the picture built toward the end of
the week.
Sam Dembow Coming
New York — Sam Dembow, Jr.
chief of Paramount's theater depart-
ment, left New York yesterday to
attend the Motion Picture Theater
Owners convention in Los Angeles
next week.
New Deal for William
Warren William's contract at War-
ners was extended yesterday when the
studio notified him his option had
been taken up.
c
Page Two
THE
April 5, 1934
i^ BERMAX HAS RADIO
STUDIO «;OII\G FULL BLAST
Demand 'Rosy* Ouster
(Continued from Page 1 )
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193:
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includirig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
R
AMBLING
EPORTER
Julie Cruze (Jimmy's dotter) has
written some songs that have a lot
of local lights agog. At a luncheon
yesterday both Chevalier and Eddie
Coulding, Ted Fiorito and others lis-
tened to the tunes, and all wanted to
buy them up pronto! . , . Anita Louise
and Paul Kaye going places together.
. . The Dick Rodgers leaving town
next Tuesday and will be away too
long! . . . Dolores Del Rio expects to
slip out of the DuBarry costumes and
into slacks at Lake Tahoe as soon as
the picture is finished.
The whole "Treasure Island" com-
pany, including Wally Beery and Lio-
nel Barrymore, is up in Oakland, so
Carol Ann Beery has been lunching
with Lou Wertheimer daily at the
Vendome. . . . Sally Blane, Polly Ann
Young, Paul Warburg, Frances Gold-
wyn, Gene Fowler, Gene Markey, Mrs.
Clark Gable, Adela Rogers St. John,
Lou Schreiber (in pale blue), Bert
Taylor (a symphony in beige) also
lunching at the same spot. . . . And
practically everybody was busy with
pencil and paper — on that "name and
title" game! ... By special requests
numbering several thousand, we'll
print some more tomorrow. . . . War-
ners will create a new "Philo Vance"
and go ahead with "The Dragon Mur-
der Case" anyway — either Warren
William or George Brent will get the
character.
•
Ginger Rogers just got a hand-made
ping-pong set from Freddy Astaire.
. . . Garbo is "out of town" again —
and no one knows where! . . . Mar-
garet Lindsay, still "unworkable,"
can't play in "Hey, Sailor," so Gloria
Stuart gets the femme lead. . . .
George Brent is going up to Arrow-
head for some wood-chopping, and
get back to the he-man status again.
. . . Max Steiner has bought himself
an orange grove. . . . Dick Powell will
do personals here before sailing for
Europe — and will more than pay his
way with stage appearances in Berlin
and Paris while over there. . . .
Through this pillar, Mrs. Frank Joyce
wants to thank all Frank's pals here
who have sent flowers and telegrams
to his bedside in New York.
With six pictures in work yester-
day, and four more scheduled to get
under way within two weeks, Pan
Berman, in charge of Radio produc-
tion, expects to have thirty-eight of
the forty pictures on this year's list
clear of the decks before June 1.
In addition, preparatory work on
other stories is sufficiently advanced
to make it certain that ten pictures
of the next season's program will be
on the way to the exchanges by Sep-
tember 1 .
The pictures now in work include
Wheeler and Woolsey in "Cock-Eyed
Cavaliers," directed by Mark Sandrich;
"Sour Grapes," with Clive Brook and
Diana Wynyard, Worthington Minor
directing; "Family Man," in which
John Robertson is directing Richard
Dix; "Virgie Winters," with Ann
Harding and John Boles, under Al San-
tell's direction; "Down to Their Last
Yacht," Paul Sloane directing; and
"Murder on the Blackboard," in which
George Archainbaud is directing the
Edna May Oliver-James Gleason team.
The four scheduled to go into the
works within the next two weeks are:
"Green Mansions," under Ernest B.
Schoedsack's direction; "American
Harem," George Stevens directing;
"Arabella," temporary title, William
Seiter directing, and "A Hat, a Coat,
a Glove," from the New York play,
with John Barrymore starred, under
George Nicholls' direction.
White and McCollom
Head Columbia Shorts
Columbia has promoted Jules
White, short director, and Hugh Mc-
Collom, formerly assistant to Sam
Briskin, to heads of the short depart-
ment, replacing Zion Myers, who
leaves Saturday to join Radio. First
for the new producers will be a Mur-
ray and Sidney short which starts
April 10.
Cortex to Columbia
For Milestone Pix
Warners have agreed to loan Ri-
cardo Cortez for the lead in the Co-
lumbia picture, "The Captain Hates
the Sea," written by Wallace Smith
and to be directed by Lewis Milestone.
Lasky Signs Warner
Jesse Lasky yesterday signed H. B.
Warner for a principal spot in "Grand
Canary," which Irving Cummings
directs with Warner Baxter and
Madge Evans in the leads. Deal was
set by Bernard, Mieklejohn and
McCall.
Maurice Opens Agency
Jack Maurice, well known in pic-
ture circles, has announced the for-
mation of Jack Maurice, Inc., and the
opening of offices at 9000 Sunset
Boulevard for the representation of
picture talent.
Latimer Now Lorimer
Universal has changed Louise Lati-
mer's name to Louise Lorimer. Player
arrived here Saturday to start her
term deal with the studio. She goes
into "I Give My Love," the Wynne
Gibson-Paul Lukas vehicle, as her first.
Foxing the NRA
To get around the $25 tap for
extras who speak lines, some of
the major studios hand the extras
slips to sign before they are given
the work and the slip states that
their pay ($10.00 or $7.50) goes
whether they speak lines or not.
'Crooked Circle' To Co
Through Amity Offices
New York— Bill Sistrom's "Crooked
Circle" picture, originally made for
World Wide, and later transferred to
Fox when Educational merged, is going
to get another break at life.
The picture, which was on the way
to a real gross when caught m the jam
of mergers, has been secured from
Fox by Amity Films, which will release
it in its twenty-eight exchanges. The
firm of Fittleson and Mayers suc-
ceeded in effecting the release of the
film from Fox .
Producers Decide Today
(Continued from Page 1 )
do not come under the jurisdiction of
Judge Lindsey, and eariy last week
they so notified him through Pat
Casey. When he sent notices for
them to appear at the hearings which
started Tuesday morning they neither
sent representatives nor an explana-
tion of their absence.
Judge Lindsey ignored their failure
to appear and opened his hearings. He
heard cases all day Tuesday, and re-
sumed yesterday, hearing the evidence
and testimony of the complainants.
Yesterday the Judge announced
that he had received a letter from
George Creel, reiterating Creel's for-
mer order for the Judge to go ahead
with the hearings, and stating that
Sol A. Rosenblatt was behind him in
his instructions to the Judge.
While no official statement couid
be obtained from the producers as to
their attitude on the matter, it was
reported that they have been burning
the wires to Washington in efforts to
get a ruling that would settle the con-
troversy. Today's meeting of legal
counsel is expected to result in some
definite action.
Meanwhile Judge Lindsey says he
will resume his hearings today. With
the exception of the case involving
Mascot, which sent a representative
to the hearings, all of the complaints
now before the Judge will be finished
today. Decisions are expected to be
handed down early next week.
TOM TE RHI SS
Announces
His New Production
WITH SOUND
of
CHAS. DICKENS
'MYSTERY OF EDWIN
DROOD"
As Produced by Him
IN 1913
document had been written "by Will
Hays himself."
He brought into the record the
statements regarding Rosenblatt's
previous legal connection with Nathan
Surkan, the latter, according to
Brandt, having been a director of two
of the "Big Eight," and even having
represented them in hearings before
Rosenblatt.
Brandt made a strong point of the
claim that the indie exhibitors in the
New York zone will have no represen-
tation on the Grievance and Clearirig
Boards being set up, and that they
were refused permission to have a rep-
resentative present at the original
meetings which framed the code.
"Four thousand independent thea-
tres in the country are closed now,"
he declared, "and many more will be
forced to close if present code provi-
sions and machinery continue in
force."
Abram Myers, counsel for Allied
Exhibitors and a former Federal Trade
Commissioner, summed up for the
indie exhibitors in cool, legal fashion
Contrary to Brandt's demand for an
entire revision of the code, Myers
pointed out the features deemed ob-
jectionable and requested that the
Board recommend to the President an
executive order that would clarify
these points.
He declared that the inclusion of
Columbia and Universal on various
film boards as "independent," in
reality resulted in those bodies being
"packed juries." Block booking, the
fixing of minimum admission prices,
unreasonable protection to circuits,
and the indie's right to buy, were the
points on which he asked the Board's
recommendations.
Harold Bareford's brief on behalf of
the producers created comment right
at the start when it was found it was
on plain paper and in a plain envelope.
The Warner attorney defended the
producers' right to sell to best advan-
tage, and declared that if it were not
for the large revenue from circuits,
producers would not be warranted in
their big production investments. He
dodged any direct menton of blocki
booking, as well as the composition
of the Code Authority, or the Griev-
ance and Clearance Boards.
New One by Rodgers-Hart
Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
have written what they call a new
type of torch song, "The Bad in ,
Every Man," and MGM will use it intf
"Manhattan Melodrama." Shirley
Ross will sing the number.
'
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-<Ar Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
Aprils. 1934
Pago Three
PRODUCER REP:$. O^ CODE
BOARD KEEP EXTRAS QUIET
Fear Blacklisting
If They Complain
Washington. — Another headache
was handed the film code officials this
week when a protest was received in
Sol A. Rosenblatt's office from a Hol-
lywood extra player, who declares that
the make-up of the Code Committee
for Extras, set up in Hollywood to
settle extras' troubles, is a violation
of the code itself.
The player declared that he and
hundreds of other motion picture
extras are afraid to file complaints of
code violations with the committee
because of the fact that Pat Casey,
producers' labor representative, as well
as casting directors, are on the com-
mittee.
"With casting directors from mo-
tion picture studios sitting in on the
committee and watching the com-
plaints," he said in his letter, "you
can figure out very easily how they,
as representatives of the employers,
can dash to the telephone and call up
the casting directors of all the other
studios, tell them the names of the
complainants and thus put them on
the spot."
The player declared in no uncertain
terms that he and hundreds of his
fellows feel that this is just what will
be done, with the result that, if they
squawk, they will find themselves
nailed to the cross on the studio
blacklists.
He painted out in his protest that
the code stipulates that the names of
all complainants shall be kept secret
from the employers. Thus, he de-
clares, the make-up of the commit-
tee, with the producers' labor man and
casting directors on it, violates that
provision of the code and defeats the
end aimed at because fear of this
group keeps extras from filing com-
plaints.
Grid Star Assigned
"Cotton" Warburton, U.S.C. foot-
ball star, gets his first picture break
in MGM's "Manhattan Melodrama."
W}m'iri:m'ii
Mono. Doubles Earnings
(Continued from Page 1 )
were: Trem Carr, vice-president; J. P.
Friedhoff, treasurer; M. S. White, sec-
retary. Executive committee: W. Ray
Johnston, Trem Carr, Herman Rifkin,
Irving Mandel, Norton Ritchey. Board
of Directors: W. Ray Johnston, Trem
Carr, R. F. Withers, Irving Mandel,
Herman Rifkin, ). S. Jossey, Floyd St.
John, S. Seplowin and A. C. Bromberg.
Arthur Bromberg, Nat Lefton, Floyd
St. John, Herman Rifkin, Rosenthal,
Sam Flax, Harry Thomas, Jess Shef-
field, Al Thomas, Jack Berkowitz and
R. F. Withers reported on territorial
conditions. Trem Carr spoke on pro-
duction and stated that the company
has completed fifteen of its twenty
dramas and six of the eight westerns.
Eddie Golden reported on sales and
Advertising Chief Finney gave a report
on his department.
It was announced that fifteen
Monogram managers and district
managers are on various code boards.
Schenck's Opinion
New York — Joe Schenck, of
United Artists, believes bizarre
characters are failing to hold in-
terest of the public, and the trend
now is towards unsophisticated
stories, with sympathetic char-
acters.
Schenck Outlines
U.A. List for •34-35
New York — Joe Schenck, talking
with newspaper men today gave the
following as the prospective United
Artists line-up for next year:
Twelve from Darryl Zanuck's
Twentieth Century Company, two
from Reliance, four from Samuel
Coldwyn, and three or four split be-
tween Alexander Korda's London
Films and British and Dominion.
Equity Rule on Clive
Stops 'Journey's End*
E. E. Clive, who was planning to
open "Journey's End" next week at
the Hollywood Playhouse, cancelled
the production yesterday when he was
notified by Equity that Colin Clive,
British actor, would not be permitted
to play the starring role.
Equity ruled that Clive had played
in two stage plays within six months
in the United States, against the
Equity stipulation that an alien actor
shall not appear in more than one
in that time. He was given exemp-
tion in New York to play in the Hep-
burn play, "The Lake."
New Term for Sandrich
Radio yesterday took up the tenth
option on Mark Sandrich, though the
contract does not come up for renewal
for another month. Sandrich is now
directing the Wheeler and Woolsey
vehicle, "Cock-Eyed Cavaliers."
Powell-Keeler Team
Warners is talking of teaming Dick
Powell and Ruby Keeler in the top
brackets in "Window Panes," the
Harry Sauber story purchased yester-
day. Sam Bischoff has taken over the
supervision.
All Thalberg Units
Hitting on High
With "Rip Tide" a hit and back of
him, Irving Thalberg has all his other
production units hitting on high, with
the result that there will be at least
12 Thalberg pictures made and re-
leased by January 1 .
Three of the Thalberg pictures are
in production now — "Barretts of
Wimpole Street," "Merry Widow"
and "Good Earth"; two others will
be on the stages in about two weeks
— "Green Hat" and "China Seas";
and two others will be in work by the
first of June — "Biography" and "Mu-
tiny on the Bounty."
No Westerns on Coming
Schedule of Universal
Universal drops westerns in its
plans for the new schedule and is the
last of the major studios to elimmate
the cowboy pictures.
Studio closed a deal with Buck
Jones to star in a serial and six adven-
ture melodramas, replacing the west-
erns with this group. Serial will be in
fifteen chapters. Henry MacRae pro-
duces and Louis Friedlander directs
Ann Sothern Signed
For Eddie Cantor Lead
Sam Coldwyn yesterday closed with
Ann Sothern for a principal role in the
cpming Eddie Cantor picture. Ethel
Merman had previously been signed
for the subject, which is still untitled
Sloman Starts April 15
Universal yesterday set April 15 as
the starting date on "There's Always
Tomorrow," which Edward Sloman has
been preparing for several months. It
is the director's own story and Henry
Henigson is associate producer
Knight Due Monday
Universal received word yesterday
that June Knight checks in Monday
after an eight-weeks engagement at
Miami Beach, Florida.
Anne Caldwell to Fox
Anne Caldwell was signed yesterday
by Fox to do the script on the next
Lilian Harvey picture, "Masquerade"
EiXTERTAIiXMENT GALORE
FOR MPTOA DELEGATES
Hollywood's studios are planning to
dish up a million dollars worth of en-
tertainment next week for the dele-
gates to the MPTOA convention,
which gets under way Tuesday
Practically every important star in the
industry will play a part in making
the visitors feel at home.
Tuesday afternoon Warner Bros -
First National will be hosts at a
luncheon at the studios m Burbank
One of the sound stages is being con-
verted into a dining room, and every
star on the lot is preparing a special
act.
Tuesday evening Universal will
entertain the delegates at an infor-
mal dance at the Universal City Club.
All the Universal stars will be present.
Wednesday afternoon Radio will
give a luncheon at the studio and the
delegates will be taken through the
plant, see pictures in the making, and
will be provided with special enter-
tainment by the Radio stars.
Wednesday evening Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer has tentative plans to
entertain them at a dinner at the
studio, with star acts featured.
Thursday afternoon Paramount will
be host and will serve a luncheon on
one of the C. B. DeMille sets. A
stage is being constructed on which
the Paramount stars will strut their
stuff. Mae West, Bing Crosby and
others are on the program.
Long ago the English found out
what to do with old, abandoned stone
quarries by using them as the scenes
for murders in murder-mystery stories.
And lately it has been discovered what
to do with old, abandoned razor
blades. . . . There's a fellow who
makes a habit of eating them. But it
remained for Harry Bannister to find
a good use for old, abandoned
churches. He's turned the one on
East Fifty-fifth street into the Ameri-
can Music Hall and there he presents
nightly "The Drunkard," with free
beer, pretzels, coffee and sandwiches
and community singing all thrown in
for the price of a ticket. And it's
become the thing to do to go to see
"The Drunkard," particularly on Sun-
day nights. . . . The other night saw
Bob Benchley singing away in great
form and solemn John Mason Brown
paying his third or fourth visit, and
Montagu Love, who hasn't been seen
around much since he hid behind a
beard for the role of a Jewish patri-
arch, and Jeanne Cohen and a man
by the name of Moffet, who had writ-
ten and proceeded to sing "That Old
Sweetheart of Mine" — at least it
sounded like that through the beer
fumes.
•
There's a very attractive man named
Jordan, who plays Bill in the show,
who's causing some comment, and our
second favorite name of the year plays
the heroine's role — Dortha Duckworth
— and the name alone is worth some-
thing to a revival. ... A very amus-
ing piece of showmanship took place
up at the Capitol the week before
Durante, Polly Moran and Lou Holtz
took over the place. They had a
trailer announcing the impending
laugh cataclysm, and the picture they
used of Durante was the Steig carica-
ture that showed him munching a
bunch of grapes. Which was okay for
its purpose, but the feature picture
that week happened to be "Queen
Christina," and when Garbo's grape-
eating sequence flashed on the screen,
the audience went into hysterics.
•
Arthur Schwartz has completed the
score for the "Three Cornered Hat"
and is now looking for a story to go
with it. . . . Blanche Sweet and Ray-
mond Hackett are about to play New-
ark in "The Party's Over. . . . There's
a legit producer around town whose
bluff is about to be called any minute
now. . . . He's got plenty of big
schemes and used to make good on
them, but the collectors are about to
catch up with him. . . . The popular-
priced opera in this town is going in
for movie exploitation. . . . What we
thought was a circus parade, with ele-
phants, chariots, camels, ponies, etc.,
turned out to be an ad for "Aida."
. . . Which reminds us that the pub-
licity man for that ciggie company
that sponsors opera broadcasts com-
piled a brilliant set of statistics on
the opera, including information on
what each libretto weighs. Probably
to give the customers a rough idea of
relativity by comparison with the
weight of opera singers.
EDWIN B.WILLIS
INTERIOR DECORATIONS
Norma
1
I
phearer
Robert
MONTGOMERY
Herbert
MARSHA
d
in
LRIP TIDEj
I
Written . . . Directed by
I
Edmund
GOU L D I N
I
A Great M - C - M
SCREEN EVENT
ALEXANDER
TOLUBOFF
AND
FREDRIC
HOPE
ART DIRECTORS
Vol. XX, No. 23. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, April 6, 1934
PATHC SET rCR ACTICN
President Webb Reporting
To Stockholders, Asks New
Set-up To Allow Pic Financing
by ROBERT WELSH
•LET'S all stop and take a breath,
boys and girls of Hollywood.
The buying power of this industry,
the exhibitor, appears on our threshold
next week.
Of course, we've got to give him a
good time. And we will. If we have
to take our guide from the script of
"Convention City."
And how!
•
But behind this convention there
are more serious questions.
Let's say there are two, three, or
five hundred exhibitors present from
points east of San Berdoo.
Then, let us put it right down in
the book that those exhibitors have
been fed on an Eastern editorial
propaganda which paints producers as
fellows who live at Palm Springs;
writers as chaps who spend their days
waiting for the ticket back to New
York, and directors as stubborn ani-
mals who won't do anything the way
it ought to be done.
Don't laugh.
That's the picture most of these
boys have.
And it is the picture most of these
visitors will still retain while you are
entertaining them. Because the more
lavish the entertainment, the more
certain they are that producers don't
know what money means.
So what to do?
Let's all stop and take a breath.
Most of the good writers and direc-
tors in this town come from east of
the Hudson River — some as far east as
the Danube — most of the good pro-
ducers grew up under the same home
conditions that the exhibitor visitors
experienced
•
We will be meeting these exhibitors
in hotel lobby corners, and behind
sets. They are regular fellows; we
try to be. So, mixed with all the good
fellowship, let's hope that we can in-
cidentally give them something of the
real production picture.
They buy the pictures — and in turn
sell them to the public. But even
though they are the buyers, they are
limited pretty well to a choice of what
this town makes.
So let's hope they go back home
with an appreciation of the serious
side of this picture-making A game
where you're wrong if you're right,
and right — only by accident.
Let's tell 'em, boys!
John Cohen, N.Y. Sun
Critic, Quits Post
New York. — John S. Cohen has
resigned as motion picture critic of
the New York Sun, with no suc-
cessor named. Eileen Creelman,
editor of the paper's picture de-
partment, has turned down the
critic's post, but remains as editor.
Cohen has for more than ten years
been considered the "highbrow"
critic of the New York dailies.
Operator Row First
Before NRAJudges
Washington. — A case now coming
up to the National Labor Board is
likely to set a precedent in the deal-
ing with union labor by picture thea-
tres and even studios. It is the first
case actually to reach this body since
the adoption of the code.
The matter concerns an Elkhart,
Indiana, theatre, and the allegation
(Continued on Page 3)
Columbia Sets Deal for
France and Belgium
New York. — Columbia's far reach-
ing foreign organization, started
scarcely a year ago, continues to grow.
J. H. Seidelman, on his return from
Europe, announces consummation of a
deal with Cinematographique Luxem-
bourg, a company recently formed to
distribute Columbia product in France
and Belgium. The deal runs for two
years.
Sid Algier with Para.
Sid Algier, formerly production head
of the ill-fated Sterling Pictures, has
joined Paramount as a business mana-
New York. — All the conjecture about the position of
Pathe Exchange, Inc. in the production picture next year neared
its climax yesterday when Stuart Webb, president of Pathe,
made his annual report and recommendations to the stock-
holders. Webb started off with the
flat statement that the present capi-
talization of the company involved
such complications that they limited
its ability to finance an expansion
plan or to take advantage of the op-
portunities opening up to the com-
pany m the cooperative financing of
producers who would do their labora-
(Continued on Page 41
ger.
Geo. Arthur Abroad
New York. — George K. Arthur
sailed for England yesterday with plans
for a six-weeks stay abroad.
Gable and Harlow
For 'China Seas'
Irving Thalberg will co-star Clark
Gable and Jean Harlow in "China
Seas," which gets into work at MGM
as soon as the players have finished
their roles in "Manhattan Melodrama"
and "100 Percent Pure," respectively.
Tay Garnett, who will direct, is col-
laborating with Jules Furthman on the
screen play and the rewrite of the
lead to fit Harlow.
Doug Fairbanks Starts
London. — Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
started rehearsals yesterday for "The
Private Life of Don Juan," the picture
he is making for London Films, with
Alexander Korda directing. Produc-
tion starts Monday.
Arliss to New York
George Arliss left last night for
New York, where he will do some
radio broadcasting before hopping off
for London. He is not due back here
until the end of October.
EASTERN ADVANCE GUARD
©i\ WAY FOR COIVVE.^TIOI^
New York. — The conventioners are
beginning to gather. Sales represen-
tatives and exhibitors are both repre-
sented among those leaving from the
Eastern section yesterday for the
MPTOA meet in Los Angeles.
Among those on their way are:
From New York, Harvey Day of Edu-
cational, Pat Garyn and j. Cohen of
RKO; from Connecticut, M. Taback-
man, E. G. Levy; from Boston, J. J.
McGinnis; Buffalo, Jules Michaels;
New Jersey, H. Roth; Philadelphia,
George P. Aarons, Lou Berman, M. E.
Comerford, Lew Pizor, Ralph Wilkins,
Charles Kirkel; Washington, Sidney
Lust, A. E. Lichtman, N. Steifel, L.
Zions, J. E. Roth, Oliver Cleveland, A.
J. Halle, O. Fishel.
Columbia Renews
Briskin Contract
Three weeks before it was due, Co-
lumbia informed Irving Briskin the
company was exercising his option.
He is the only associate producer on
the lot with a ticket.
Beside handling the action unit, he
has taken on the production of a series
of eight short subjects, the Minute
Mystery one-reelers.
Barthelmess Winds
Up Warner Contract
With the completion of "Old Doll's
House" yesterday, Richard Barthelmess
has washed up his 1 3 years as a War-
ner player. For nine years Barthel-
mess was a Warner star and for four
more he released through the con-
cern.
Alan Crosland, the director, brought
in "Old Doll's House" two days un-
der schedule,
Cowan Plans to Produce
Lester Cowan will come back into
the picture swim on a production ven-
ture of his own. He is lining up plans
to swing a major release on a group
of pictures he will produce, he said
yesterday.
Doc Riesenfeld III
Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld, free lance mu-
sical director, underwent a tonsilec-
tomy at the Hollywood Hospital yes-
terday. His condition was very good
at a late hour last night, according to
his physician, Dr. Benjamin Katz.
Mayos Hop East
Archie Mayo and his wife leave by
train tonight for a short vacation in
New York. Warner director brought
in "The Dark Tower" Wednesday.
Bill McCuire Better
William Anthony McGuire returned
to Universal yesterday after being sick
for about a week.
n A V I n RIIRT O N DIRECTEo'^sisTERS UNDER THE SKIN I
^-^ f-^ ▼ ■ l-y ■->> i-J MV ■ \-7 1^ THE REASON I AM A SCHULBERC-FELDMAN-CURNEY CLIENT IS BECAUSE ? 1
Page Two
THEji
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave ; London. 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse: Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includirig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
MORE!
Sally Rand "We're Not Dressing'
Harry Cohn "The Barker'
Marlene Dietrich "Male and Female'
Will Hays-- "Alias the Deacon'
Mary Pickford —
"It's Tough to Be Famous'
Sam Coldwyn "Another Language'
Al Jolson "Return of Peter Grimm'
Adrienne Ames "Caught'
Bruce Cabot "Night Flight'
Hyman Fink "Picture Snatcher'
Bette Davis "The White Zombie'
Maurice Chevalier —
"The Great Mouthpiece'
Lou Schreiber "Big Executive'
Edna Ferber...."ONCE in a Lifetime'
Gary Cooper ."Daddy Long Legs'
Janet Gaynor "I'm No Angel'
Robert Montgomery —
"I Love an Actress'
Ramon Novarro..-"No More Women'
Sylvia Sidney.. 'Beauty and the Boss'
Cecil DeMille —
"The Man Who Played Cod'
Harry Rapf "Trader Horn'
Corliss Palmer. .."Brewster's Millions'
Helen Hayes "Search for Beauty'
George Brent —
"The Warrior's Husband'
B. P. Schulberg.. "Young As 'Vou Feel'
Olsen and Johnson. ."Born to Be Bad'
The Marx Brothers —
"Four Frightened People'
W, C. Fields. ."The Scarlet Pimpernel'
Henri de la Falaise —
"Husband's Holiday'
Walter Wanger —
"The Hurricane Horseman'
Gilbert Roland —
"The Cannon-Bali Express'
Miriam Hopkins "Easy to Love'
Herbert Marshall —
"Don't Change Your Wife'
Ronald Colman...."The Invisible Man'
Sam Katz. "I'm a Fugitive
From a Chain Gang'
April 6. 1934
Ase Enters the
;ency Business
Sun:
"JIMMY THE CENT "
Warner Brothers prod.; director, Michael Curtiz; writers. Laird Doyle,
Ray Nazarro, Bertram Millhauser.
Strand Theatre
Times: It is a brisk, slangy piece of work in which Mr. Cagney is as much of a
pepper-pot as ever. He tackles the barbed argot of his lines with speed
and force. Bette Davis is attractive and capable, and Alice White is
laughable as an empty-headed blonde.
World-Telcgrami: The electric and always entertaining James Cagney is again
available in a gusty and explosive, though only tolerably entertaining
extravaganza at the Strand, called "Jimmy the Gent." I suppose that
so long as Mr. Cagney is his own tornado self, screen authors and adapters
feel they may forget all about the rules of story-telling.
"Jimmy the Gent," in addition to its lively, wisecracking melodrama, has
plenty of story padding. Some is rather funny. It is, as far as the
star's performance is concerned, still far from his best.
American: Fast and flip, rough and rowdy, peppered with a running fire of
slang-spiced dialogue, the new Jimmy Cagney picture swaps laughs for
every dime deposited at the Strand box-office.
lournai: It is not one of Cagney's best story vehicles, but Cagney makes it
amusing by sheer force of personality and an expert comedy perform-
ance. Jenkins is grand as his slow-thinking assistant. Miss Davis displays
her latest coiffure, and Alice White plays one of her customary gold-
digging roles.
Post: The galvanic Mr. Jimmy Cagney, in one of the liveliest roles he has had
since "The Public Enemy," comes forward with some valiant rescue work
in his latest picture, "Jimmy the Cent." It is largely Cagney's perform-
ance that gives the picture its entertainment value, for, though the story
is equipped with a perfectly valid idea, the author has not always suc-
ceeded in making it clear. The trouble seems to be in the failure of
the continuity to explain the relationship of the various characters and
the precise purpose which lies behind their exigent behavior.
Herald-Tribune: The reprehensible Mr. Cagney, who is sometimes alleged to
be one of the cinema's subversive moral influences, is in top form at the
Strand Theatre this week in a rough and rowdy screen farce of dubious
ethical value. As a carefully plotted narrative, "Jimmy the Gent" is
perhaps lacking in the necessary deftness. On the other hand, it has
the great virtue of some of the most vigorous and racily entertaining dia-
logue since the days when the Messrs. Glasmon and Bright wrote screen
speeches for Mr. Cagney.
John Maxwell Named f-o
Head British Association
London. — John Maxwell, for many
years one of the most prominent of
British cinematograph figures, is the
new president of the Kinematograph
Renters Society of London, if a nomi-
nation made yesterday is carried
through.
Maxwell will succeed Sam Eckman,
Jr., the MGM representative on this
side.
Tannura on New Deal
London. — Philip Tannura, cinema-
tographer, is on his way to a Holly-
wood vacation, but before leaving for
old haunts was signed to a new long
term contract by Gaumont British, for
whom he has been doing some fine
work the past year.
Levine and Cohen East
Nat Levine, president of Mascot,
and Marty Cohen, recently signed as
a producer with the concern, left by
train Wednesday for New York. They
will confer there on Monday and
Tuesday with exchange men on the
line-up of Mascot's 1934 productions
and return by plane either Friday or
Saturday.
Carnett Sells Novel
Tay Carnett has sold a novel to
Macauley. It is titled "Man Laughs
Back."
"NAMES"
For England At Once
SALARY COMMENSURATE
WITH THE ARTIST'S
ABILITY
Meet British Representative at
MacQuarrie Agency
8355 Sunset Blvd.
Interview by appointment only
Telephone CRanite 0711
it
Hold It Over!
DEMANDS THE PUBLIC —
AND WE AGREE.
NORMA SHEARER
ROBERT MONTGOMERY
RIP TIDE
with Herbert Marshall,
Mrs. Patrick Campbell, etc.
A GREAT MGM PICTURE
Loews State
NOW
?»
Ag<
The American Society of Cinema-
tographers actively fentered the
agency field this week when final op-
erating permits were received for the
organization's subsidiary corporation,
the A.S.C. Agency.
The agency is designed solely fo
the management of cameramen, and
is headed by John Arnold as presi-
dent, and Allen M. Watt as execu-
tive manager.
According to a statement by Watt,
the new agency will not charge the
ten per cent that is customary among
motion picture agencies, but will cut
that price scale considerably, although
no figure was announced. In addi-
tion to handling the professional busi-
ness of the clients, the ASC agency
also provides a service for the han-
dling of the personal business affairs.
The agency is available to all ASC
members, but, according to the an-
nouncement, no member is required
to contract with it.
John Mitchell East
Johnny Mitchell, Western editor of
New Movie magazine, leaves by plane
tonight for New York. He received
a call to attend a conference brought
about by the death of Hugh Weir,
editorial director of the Tower maga-
zines, and expects to be gone a week.
'Earth Turns' Set in N. Y.
New York. — Warners' picture, "As
the Earth Turns," which has been
delayed on its New York break, has
been finally set into the Strand to
open next Wednesday night.
Gloria Swanson III
New York. — Gloria Swanson, who
ca.me East for a vacation and possibly
some personal appearances, arrived
with a heavy cold and was sent to bed
by her physician.
;
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April 6. 1934
TH
PtilPOPlTEl^
Page TTiree
RALPH BLOCK IJNAIVIMOLSLY
CHOSEN WRITER GUILD HEAD
Fireworks Sizzle
But Don't Explode
Ralph Block was unanimously
elected president of the Screen
Writers' Guild last night after he had
received the highest vote of any of
the fifteen members elected to the
Board of Directors. He received 107
votes out of a possible 109 in the
Board election.
Wells Root was unanimously chosen
vice-president; Tristram Tupper, lead-
er of the free lance writers, secretary;
Ernest Pascal unanimously re-elected
treasurer.
In addition to the above-named
officers, the following were elected
members of the Executive Board: Oli-
ver H. P. Garrett, Rupert Hughes,
John Howard Lawson, Frances Marion,
Wilfred MacDonald, Brian Marlow,
Seton I. Miller, Dudley Nichols, Ar-
thur Ripley, Raymond Schrock and
Courtenay Terrett.
Oliver H. P. Garrett was nomi-
nated for vice-president, but asked
that his name be withdrawn, explain-
ing that he felt the meeting was one
called to try to achieve a solidarity
that had not existed for some time.
He further said that he felt that he
was a bone of contention and, in the
interest of unity in the Guild, with-
drew.
The meeting started out with verbal
fireworks immediately after a tele-
graphic report of the year's activities
had been read from the outgoing
president, John Howard Lawson, in
which he briefly outlined the accom-
plishments of the year.
The treasurer read his report, show-
ing income for the year of $28,317.70
and expenses of $23,617.67. He
stated that he recommended to the
incoming board that a small tax be
placed upon each member's income
to provide a steady source of revenue.
This started the argument, and James
K. McGuinness loudly opposed the ac-
ceptance of the report, but was voted
down.
Leading the "liberal" group, Allen
Rivkin declared that they objected to
the "radicals" because they feared the
"radicals" would bring about a strike.
Mary McCarthy heatedly replied
that the "radicals" were merely "pro-
writer" and were not "anti-producer,"
but were belligerent enough to stand
up for the writers' rights.
McGuinness then presented a reso-
lution calling upon Dudley Nichols,
O. H. P. Garrett, Courtenay Terrett
and Sam Ornitz to withdraw their
names from the ballot in the interest
of the organization. But the excite-
ment died down when this failed to
pass, and the voting was started.
Petty personalities were hurled back
and forth for a time while ballots
were being counted, but Chairman
Block stopped this and the meeting
ended almost like a love feast. Block
announced that the "liberal" group
had asked to meet with the new Board
and work out the differences between
the two factions, and had declared
they were whole-heartedly for a uni-
fied Guild.
Police Called To
'Treasure Island'
Oakland. — Victor Fleming, di-
recting the unit of MGM's "Treas-
ure Island" at work in East Bay,
i^'as forced to call on the police
yesterday to restrain the curious
crowds that flocked about the
troupe. The kibitzers made so
much noise it interfered with the
jound recording.
Cochran, Coward
Reported in Split
New York. — In connection with the
sailing of Harold Franklin and Arch
Selwyn for Europe today to confer on
stage producing plans with Charles
B. Cochran, it has become known that
Cochran has split with Noel Coward,
and the latter's play will not be in
the new group's plans.
Coward has a London play of the
current season, "Conversational Piece,"
which it had been thought would be
one to be staged by the Franklin-Sel-
wyn-Cochran group.
Veiller Supervising
*A Son Comes Home*
Bayard Veiller has taken over the
production reins on "A Son Comes
Home." This is the story on which
the writing team of William Slavens
McNutt and Grover Jones relinquished
associate producer responsibilities.
Majestic Pictures to
Handle * Itchy-Scratchy'
Walter Futter yesterday closed a
deal with Majestic Pictures to handle
the distribution of his short, "Itchy-
Scratchy," the subject which ran sec-
ond for the Academy award in its
class.
Lowe-Martin Switch
Sherman Lowe and Al Martin com-
plete their script on an untitled origi-
nal for Mascot Saturday and move
over to the unit preparing the next
serial, "Burn 'Em Up Barnes." Dave
Howard, who has been working on
the serial, takes over the original story
for finishing touches before he starts
directing it, April 30.
Mrs. Siosser Funeral
The funeral of Mrs. Johanna Sios-
ser, mother of Ralph Siosser, assistant
to King Vidor on "Our Daily Bread,"
will be held today at the Scovem
Mortuary in Glendale, with interment
at Forest Lawn. Mrs. Siosser died
Wednesday of heart failure.
Operators Before NRA
(Continued from Page I )
that operators were discharged for
union activity. A previous case, con-
cerning a St. Louis circuit's trouble
with the operator unions was settled
in Rosenblatt's office by a compromise,
and without actually calling in the
machinery of the code. In that case
the operators won.
Mono. Declares 6'
Dividend on Stock
Atlantic City, N. J. — Monogram
closed its sessions here with a blaze
of activity. First was the declaration
of a six per cent dividend on the total
capitalization, payable May 1 ; sec-
ond, authorization to Trem Carr to
boost production budgets next year;
and third, the definite laying out of
the program for next year.
There will be twenty Monogram
pictures and eight Lone Star Westerns
to be handled by the same exchanges.
John Wayne will star in the West-
erns. Four of the twenty regular pic-
tures will be given additional money
to rank as specials.
W. Ray Johnston was tendered a
surprise banquet by the franchise
holders at the Ambassador last night.
'Rothschild' Hits At
Crauman's Chinese
Getting off to a $5,800 opening
and breaking $2,900 for the second
day, the Twentieth Century production
of "Rothschild" took a jump to
$3,100 yesterday, indicating better
than $25,000 for the week.
In New York at the Astor the pic-
ture did $19,700 for the third week,
comparing with $19,200 the opening
week and $20,800 the second week.
In each of the three weeks the ca-
pacity of the house was oversold, as
all the seat checks add up to a little
over $18,000.
Producer Counsel
Discuss Judge Lindsey
The question of how the legal
counsel of the producers will advise
the major studios as regards the Judge
Ben Lindsey hearings came up yes-
terday at a meeting of the studio at-
torneys.
"It was only mentioned casually
towards the end of the meeting, after
which we adjourned. There was no
decision made and we meet again next
week," Henry Herzbrun, of Para-
mount, declared last night.
Arthur Caesar at Radio
Arthur Caesar joins the Radio staff
today to write the screen play for the
Albert Hackett play, "Afterwards,"
under Cliff Reid's supervision. Writer
has also signed a managerial ticket
with the Edington and Vincent office,
which set the deal.
Compton in 'Canary'
Juliette Compton's return trip to
pictures after a year's absence starts
with "Grand Canary," the Jesse L.
Lasky-Fox picture, in which she gets
a featured role. Ticket was set
through the Small-Landau office.
Lou Colder East
Lou Colder left for New York by
plane last night to close the deal for
the distribution of Bryan Foy's latest
picture, "Sterilization." He will be
away about ten days.
Of course, every time you mention
Hollywood in the East, you're bound
to be deluged with hard luck stories
and tales of ingratitude in Cinema-
land, but the following story, which
is absolutely true, really deserves pub-
licity because publicity is its raison
d'etre. Back in about 1925 or there-
abouts, a young actor was trying to
make his way in Hollywood without
getting any of the well-known breaks.
In fact, he was practically starving and
only kept alive through the good
graces of a struggling director and
writer, both of whom had small jobs
at a studio and managed to get the
unknown actor into the commissary
and feed him free of charge. They
also managed to give him lodging. . . .
Well, this actor finally landed a con-
tract with the Shuberts to go East and
appear in plays for them. At the
end of his contract with the Shuberts,
Hollywood "discovered" him and he
was brought back to the land of sun-
shine and fabulous contracts as a
"newcomer" fresh (oh, very) to Hol-
lywood. And this "ham" was so im-
pressed by the publicity given him on
his arrival in Hollywood that he de-
cided it would be best for him NOT
to recognize anyone he had formerly
known in Hollywood — not even those
who had been near-sighted enough to
keep him alive. . . . And the really
funny part of it all is that he never
did get a favorable notice from a New
York critic while he was on the stage
and, even though he's a star today,
nobody can think of a good reason
for it.
•
When Lionel Barrymore was in New
York on his personal appearance tour
he went to a party at Victor Em-
manuel's house one night and Irving
Caesar there outlined for him the
main idea of a movie he had in mind
for Barrymore. Barrymore was so im-
pressed that he told him to write it
down and send it to him. Caesar
called in Aben Kandel and between
them they turned out a full-fledged
script that now has several companies
making bids for it. Caesar, inciden-
tally, has written a scenario called
"Big Business Presents," along the
lines of "Convention City," that
Groucho Marx thinks would be swell
for a play for the Marx Brothers.
Caesar also wants it known that he is
losing money in six different busi-
nesses.
A fellow who worked with a Broad-
way producer on his first screen pro-
duction is not at all sorry over the
fact that it isn't a hit. In fact, all
during the filming of the picture he
had one fight after another with the
producer, who learned about picture-
making in twenty-four hours. So
when he saw the finished product and
read the notices the following day, all
he figured was that the fights he had
had with the producer in filming the
revue in the first place, entitled him
to the Pulitzer prize for the year's
best critical work.
Hervey Leaving Radio
Harry Hervey has completed his
screen glay on "Family Man" at Radio
and turned in his closing notice.
Page Four
THg
April 6. 1934
Cora Sue Collins by Columbia for
"Black Moon.' Small-Landau negoti-
ated.
Charles William by Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall in Warners'
"Dames." Berton Churchill in the
same picture by Kingston-Harris.
Charles Wilson by Kingston-Harris
in "Merry Andrew," Fox.
Matt McHugh for two pictures —
"She Loves Me Not" at Paramount,
and a Warren Doane short at Univer-
sal.
C. Aubrey Smith and Emile Chau-
tard for "By Royal Command," at Fox.
Tickets were landed by the Small-
Landau office.
Herman Bing by Menifee I. John-
stone in "One Night of Love," Colum-
bia.
Lona Andre for "Merry Widow,"
MOM. Negotiated by Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall agency.
Dorothy Christie to "Kiss and Make
Up," Paramount.
Ramsey Hill through Freddie Fralick
in Radio's "Down to Their Last
Yacht."
johnny Arthur to cast of "Dames"
at Warners.
Billy Gilbert borrowed by Radio
from Hal Roach for "Cock-Eyed Cava-
liers."
Edmund Coulding
Recommends a chauffeur who is a
careful driver, and also honest and
reliable in all ways.
His name is H. C. Foster, and you
can reach him at 1415 N. Rich-
mond PI., Phone GLadstone 8693.
GRAUMAN S
m>TvTi
tROADWAY Qt 9th • PHONE MA 2511
DIFFERENT
from dnything
they've ever
done before
•
Jack
OAKIE
Spencer
TRACY
m?3
STARTS
TODAY
Col. Assigns Lauren to
'Orchids and Onions'
Having completed his work on
"One Night of Love," S. K. Lauren
was yesterday assigned by Columbia to
write the script on "Orchids and
Onions," a Dwight Taylor story re-
cently purchased by the studio.
Lauren was the author of "Sisters
Under the Skin," which was errone-
ously credited to Jo Swerling, who
should have been given screen play
credit.
Ludwig Will Direct
Bart pray for W
Universal yesterday assigned Edward
Ludwig to direct "The Man Who Re-
claimed His Head," the Jean Bart play
which has been scripted by George
O'Neill. Studio will bring Claude
Rains back from the East for the lead
when the picture goes into work in a
month.
Cukor on Wan Dyke Unit
George Cukor yesterday took over
the W. S. Van Dyke unit on "Man-
hattan Melodrama" so the latter could
get started on "The Thin Man." Jack
Conway is handling another unit on
the picture, which should wind up by
the middle of next week.
Joe O'Neill at MCM
Joseph Jefferson O'Neill, veteran
newspaper man, has been signed by
MGM as technical advisor on "Man-
hattan Melodrama," which David
Selznick is producing.
Detroit Writer Here
Grace Wilcox, of the Detroit Free
Press, has checked into Hollywood on
an assignment to write a group of
player interviews for her newspaper.
Borden Friday Frolic
'Broadcast from STAGE ^ A t 8 : A 5
VIA STATION KHJ TONIGHT
vyr.v'.'ir;
6- HILL
VA.20iil
//
?$i
It's the Scream of the Century!
^YOU'RE
W. C. FIELDS ,,„.
BUSTiR CRABM /Jl^.'
JOAN MARSH /iM^>^.
^ADRIENNE AMES^^^fA^t^-
FANCHON & IVIARCO preset
9kMlUX
CONTINUOUS 10:45 A.M. • M:00 P.M.
30cto1P.lli«40eto6P.M.*55cEVES
"^IN PERSOK^
Inan ALL-NEW REVUE
^<
Pathe Set For Action
(Contmued from Page 1 )
tory and print work through them.
Webb's belief in the production
and financing plans he has in mind
for the company is evidenced by the
plan he put before the stockholders.
He proposed that:
In order to simplify the capital,
structure and to adjust dividends so
that all stockholders may benefit from
the future growth of the company, a
reorganization plan should be worked
out this year;
Second, that all the stockholders
should be given the privilege at the
meeting on April 24 of passing on a
special stock proposition devised for
President Webb.
And this proposition is that Stuart
Webb, in addition to his salary rights,
be given the right to purchase 12,500
shares of common at $2 per share
over a four year period, together with
an option on 3000 shares of the class
A preferred at $12 a share, to be
purchased over a three year period.
The common is now selling at $3.25
and the preferred at $19.75 a share.
Insiders believe that the whole
story can be summed up in the state-
ment that the Pathe Exchange stock
has suddenly become worth some-
thing, that the control of the com-
mon and the Class A preferred con-
trols the company, but that nothing
can be done with it until the holders
of the eight per cent preferred issue
and the bondholders are taken care
of, and finally, that Pathe Exchange
wants to go into the backing of pic-
ture production, but cannot until
MGM Scouts Off
On Amazon Trip
George Seitz, the director; Harold
Noice, the author, and Joe Cook, unit
manager, leave next week on a 7,000-
mile air trip to the head waters of the
Amazon to make plans for MGM's
exploration special, "Jungle Red
Man." They will be away for more
than two months, returning here to '
pick up equipment and to complete
preparations before leaving to shoot
the picture. |
Present plans call for the subject
to be made with an all-native cast in
the actual locale of the story. After
preparations are completed, expedition
will shoot the picture on a nine-
months schedule.
Towne and Baker Co On
RKO-NBC Pic Review
Gene Towne and Graham Baker
have moved over to Radio from the
Fox lot, both on loan from Twentieth
Century.
The writing team will do the screen
play on the "RKO-NBC Review" that
is to go into production there in June.
someone untangles its complicated
financial structure.
Incidentally, at today's stockholders
meeting it was shown that of the
company's $6,000,000 bonded debt,
only a little over two millions is still
outstanding. And, in addition, Webb .
declared his belief that there was a
srong possibility of recovery on the
$1,696,550 of RKO bonds on which
that company had defaulted.
RAYMOND
SCHROCK
WRITER
FREELANCING
THE MAN I KNEW"
PARAMOUNT STUDIOS
(Presenf Assignment)
INTERMISSION"
In collaboration with
Lawrence Hazan — Columbia
Management
LICHTIC & ENCLANDER
!^^
% MP.SAVURL VAT'.-. .
CULVhR CITY.CALI.-
Vol. XX, No. 24. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, April 7, 1934
MGM GI^/iBS PCII CHAIN
Leo The Lion Entrenches Self
In New England Territory;
Slick Schenck Heads Set-up
•FOR the first time in the history of
the business, the London press is
praising Hollywood; not for any pro-
duction accomplishment, but because
the creators here saw fit to give rec-
ognition to "Cavalcade," "Henry
VIM" and Charles Laughton in the
balloting conducted by the Academy
and this publication. And these
awards have put a stop to all the
propaganda that has been going on
for years in England, directed against
ourAmerican industry and in an effort
to sell the British product.
There should never be any serious
argument between Great Britain and
America with regard to their motion
picture efforts. Both have too much
to lose by such arguments. These
countries should work hand in hand,
help each other, contribute to each
other's progress.
•
The English press, and some British
producers, have always yelled that
America would not open its doors to
British product. All bunk, but there
were a lot of Englishmen who believed
it until our release here of "Henry
VIII." Now, that same press and
those identical producers are singing
our praises, and they should, for the
simple reason that there was never
any basis for their complaints; the
theatres of this country have ALWAYS
been wide open for screen entertain-
ment, regardless of the country of ori-
gin.
But now that this terrific prejudice
has been broken — and it would be
difficult for the press or others to sell
Englishmen the idea that we are
unwilling to recognize real accomp-
lishment— why wouldn't it be a smart
move for some of our major studios to
send a complete production unit to
England for the making of a picture;
with an all English cast if necessary?
Such action would further cement this
present good feeling in addition to
being a good business move on the
part of our producers.
May we suggest that Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer start the ball rolling with
the production of "David Copperfield"
on English soil? How much more do
you think the picture (if good) would
gross in the theatres of Great Britain?
How much more interest do you think
it would have over here? Maybe one
or more of the British producers would
come over here to do a picture with
an American cast.
Harry Cohn Stands Pat
New York wires yesterday re-
newed discussion of the possible
Columbia sale, and mentioned
meetings held in that city with the
Cohn brothers, Nathan Burkan and
N. I. Steers, of DuPont. In re-
sponse to a wire from the Holly-
wood Reporter, Harry Cohn minced
no words. He said: "Gave you my
word the story is ridiculous. That
still goes."
42d Street Going
100% Honky-Tonk
New York. — The famous spot of
the United States — Forty-second
Street, in New York — is going com-
pletely honky-tonk. A deal was closed
yesterday by Max Wilner to put the
Apollo Theatre in burlesque, while the
Brandts have taken over the Times
Square adjoining for a continuous pic-
ture program.
This makes three burlesque houses
on the same street and four picture
houses — all of which have in the past
been dignified representatives of the
legit.
Mary Pickford Breaks
Ail Records in Detroit
Detroit. — Mary Pickford opened
here at the Michigan yesterday, play-
ing to the largest number of people
in the history of the theatre for any
one day.
House was forced to open its doors
one and a half hours earlier than usual
and indications point to the smashing
of all attendance records for the week
run.
Clarence Browns East
Clarence Brown and Alice Joyce left
by plane yesterday for New York to
see Frank Joyce, who is ill there.
Brown finished his work on "Sadie
McKee" at MGM Wednesday.
New York. — The MGM lion is not sitting on its haunches, but
is still ready to grab up good morsels. As witness the fact that
control of the important Poll New England chain yesterday
passed to Loew's Inc. The new set of officers elected for the
circuit includes: Nicholas Schenck,
president; A. C. Blumenthal and David
Bernstein, vice-presidents; S. Z. Poli,
treasurer; Leopold Friedman, secre-
tary, and Louis M. Segal, assistant
treasurer.
Except for Poli, the founder, and
Lewis Segal, long identified with the
circuit, this is entirely an MGM-Loew
set-up, if you want to throw the lone
(Continued on Page 2)
British Company
Plans to Sue RCA
New York. — Prospects of one of
the biggest patent suits since the early
picture days looms out of the claim
made today in New York by Britishers
that a court action would be started
against RCA on its "High Fidelity
Sound" by British Acoustics, Ltd.
The latter company, which manu-
factures studio recording equipment,
is controlled by British Gaumont. It
claims prior rights to the developments
that in this country have become
trademarked by RCA as "High Fidel-
ity Sound."
Mae West in Angel'
Wows Great Britain
London. — The Paramount picture,
"I'm No Angel," is doing a terrific
business throughout the key cities of
Great Britain, even greater than was
done at its first run in London. The
English like Mae West.
B'WAY SMILES AS PICTURE
GROSSES START BOOHillVG
New York. — Broadway feels happy
over the current box-office figures.
"Rip Tide" got the biggest attention
from the film folk, with a gross of
$80,500 at the Capitol, something to
cheer about.
The final check-up on "Wild
Cargo" at the Music Hall showed the
figure at $93,000. "Melody in Spring"
at the Paramount, with George Raft
in a personal appearance, did a healthy
$64,000; "Lost Patrol" brought $30.-
000 to the Rialto, great for this spot;
"Countess of Monte Cristo" hit $25,-
000 at the Seventh Avenue Roxy; and
the third week of "Catherine the
Great" at the Rivoli was good for
$18,000.
Joel McCrea Asks
Release from Radio
Joel McCrea yesterday walked up
to the office of B. B. Kahane and
asked for his release from the Radio
contract.
The player, who was originally
groomed for stardom by Radio, and
who made a spot for himself in "Bird
of Paradise" with Dolores Del Rio,
considers that he hasn't been given
the right break in recent stories and
parts.
McCrea says, "I have been with
Radio for four years and am far from
satisfied with the parts given me. I
recently signed a new five-year con-
tract, but am asking for my release
at once."
Rowland Will Handle
Two Radio Pix in East
New York. — The recent announce-
ment that Richard A. Rowland had
been named an associate producer for
Radio is fully explained by the news
that the company plans the production
of at least two pictures in the East for
next year's program.
Rowland will handle these pictures.
Arrangements have already been con-
cluded to shoot at the Biograph stu-
dios.
MGM Board Re-elected
New York. — Just for matters of
record, because there is no news in
the fact, chronicle that the entire
MGM board of directors was re-elect-
ed at yesterday's meeting.
L.A. Code Sec'y Named
New York. — The Code Authority
yesterday appointed Minnie A. Koppel
as secretary of the Los Angeles Griev-
ance Board.
ASC Golf Tomorrow
Tomorrow is the big golf day for
the ASC, which holds its first golf
tournament for cameramen at the
Hollywood Country Club.
c
COLLEEN MOORE under Personal Management of M. C, LEVEE
Page Two
THE
April 7, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
5an Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel,
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
inciudirig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Eddie Sutherland was signed to a
directorial contract by Fox yesterday.
He will meg the untitled Joe Cook pic.
. . . Can it be? That Ginger Rogers has
switched from Lew Ay res to Dick
Powell after all these here now years?
. . . The Jimmy Grainger family off to
Caliente to rest up for the impending
exhibitor convention. . . . Pert Kelton
has moved back into the Warner-
Kelton Hotel for the fourth time! . . .
D'yu know what very blonde star (out
of ail the days in the year) picked
Easter Sunday to insist upon having
three beauty-parlor operators come
over and bleach, wave and manicure
her? . . . The Manny Seffs' baby is
expected any minute now, and over at
Warners Cy Bartlett has formed a pool
(amounting to forty dollars so far)
and all the fellows in said pool have
to do is guess what day the offspring
will arrive to win all!
•
Clarence Brown diamond-braceleted
Alice Joyce for their first wedding an-
niversary last week. . . . Paul War-
burg leaves for Hollywood on Tuesday,
which is sad news. . . . When a cer-
tain studio basketball team wins, the
boss asks his press agent to get plenty
of publicity, but when the same team
loses, the same boss threatens to go
mad if a word about it gets into print!
. . . Virginia Zanuck gave a luncheon
for bride-to-be Carmelita Ceraghty. . .
Roger Pryor can't make up his mind
whether it's Ann Sotnern or Margaret
Sullavan in his life. . . . Bing and Ever-
ett Crosby have both been made dep-
uties in the Police Force as a result of
those kidnapping threats. . . Mae
Sunday is in a terrific fix — she can't
talk! Mae and the sore throat are
recouping on the Desert.
•
Leslie Howard is toting a sprained
back — a polo back, HE calls it! . . .
Overheard on the Paramount lot — one
Earl Carroll eyeful to another: "Oh —
I'm so bored — so tired, and SO over-
sexed!" . . . Richard Dix has bought
himself a cream-colored cow pony,
after years looking for one just the
right shade.
NevfYo
"RIP TIDE"
MGM prod.; director, Edmund Goulding; writer, Edmund Coulding.
Capitol Theatre
World-Telegram: Returning to the screen after an absence of eighteen months,
Norma Shearer struggles valiantly, but unsuccessfully, with a nickel-weekly
cliche characterization, and such admirable performers as Herbert Marshall,
Robert Montgomery, Ralph Forbes and Mrs. Patrick Campbell are simi-
larly wasted.
Herald-Tribune: Miss Shearer is beautiful and frequently expert as the straying
heroine, and the Messrs. Montgomery and Marshall battle their way
through seas of whimsicality ably. But I fear that "Rip Tide" is too
lengthy and commonplace an effort to be gayly disillusioned to prove
satisfying.
Mirror: Norma Shearer plays with refreshing spirit and makes her role entirely
lovable. Herbert Marshall is fine as the betrayed husband. And Robert
Montgomery has some manly scenes to compensate for the kittenish ones
which follow the pattern scenarists invariably draft for him.
Times: As a narrative, "Rip Tide," which was written and directed by Edmund
Coulding, maintains a certain interest because it holds out promise of
being a triangle mix-up with an original denouement. But, as though the
author had weakened in his intentions in this respect, the bickering and
recrimination eventually wind up in a routine fashion. Thus it is a pic-
ture which depends for its entertainment very much upon its able per-
formers, its glamorous scenic effects and periodical bright bits of dialogue.
Post: It doesn't take mature reflection to spot the redeeming features of "Rip
Tide." There is Herbert Marshall's excellent playing, and Robert Mont-
gomery's genuinely amusing antics. Mrs. Patrick Campbell is likewise
joyously entertaining. But these contributions, worthy as they are, weigh
little against an awkward, overwritten and puerile story.
News: Norma Shearer's return to the screen after an absence of eighteen
months is, unfortunately, in a vehicle that is unworthy of her talents and
that presents her and her two leading men, Robert Montgomery and Her-
bert Marshall, in unsympathetic roles. There are a lot of attractive peo-
ple in the picture, but they all seem to be wasted on their respective roles.
American: "Rip Tide" is excellent adult entertainment, suavely written, skil-
fully directed by the sophisticate Edmund Goulding, warmly played by
an understanding cast and richly endowed with quality production. Miss
Shearer, her glamour accentuated by ravishing gowns and romantic back-
ground, is a joy to behold in a stunning, subtle characterization.
Sun: "Rip Tide" is entirely custom-made, devised and fashioned for the Shearer
public, which likes what Hollywood sometimes calls Continental and some-
times sophisticated drama. Mr. Goulding, author and director, has fol-
lowed up his usual custom of piling up still more sympathy anyway. It
is decidedly of the best-seller type, lightly written, played for its every
scrap of wit and emotion by an excellent cast. Herbert Marshall is cer-
tainly at his best. Miss Shearer gives another of her sure performances.
Robert Montgomery handles a difficult role with charm and conviction.
Journal: The picture was handsomely mounted and produced. In addition to
the attractive principals, the cast includes Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Ralph
Forbes, George Arthur and Skeets Gallagher.
Summerville and Pitts
In Picture at Radio
Radio is closing a loan-out deal on
Slim Summerville from Universal and
is lining up production plans to restore
for at least one more picture the old
Summerville-Zasu Pitts comedy team.
They will be bracketed in "After-
ward," which Mark Sandrich was yes-
terday assigned to direct under Cliff
Reid's supervision. Marion Dix goes
from the script of "Down to Their
Last Yacht" to this picture to work
with Arthur Caesar.
Anderson Out of Para.
Frederick Irving Anderson has com-
pleted his work on "The Notorious
Sophie Lang" and has checked off the
Paramount writing staff. The studio
brought the author of the magazine
stories here to tie up some loose ends
in the series.
Craven in Role at 'U'
Frank Craven was signed by Univer-
sal yesterday for one of the important
roles in "Loves of a Sailor," which the
B. F. Zeldman unit is handling.
Personals for Powell
Dick Powell
weeks persona
II leave on
a four-
appearance tour as
soon as he finishes his work in
"Dames" at Warners. At the com-
pletion of the tour he hops for a short
vacation in Europe. Powell still has
three weeks work on the picture.
Chic Sale for 'Island'
Chic Sale was ticketed yesterday
by MGM to join the"Treasure Island"
company on location in Oakland. Sale
plays one of the principal roles in the
Wallace Beery-Jackie Cooper vehicle
which Victor Fleming directs.
Dunn with Farnum
James Dunn, who is under contract
to Fox, has signed Ralph G. Farnum
to act as his exclusive agent and busi-
ness manager. Dunn's contract with
Fox has two more years to run.
Hill on Blind Date*
^fhel Hill was scheduled by Colum-
bia yesterday to write the screen play
of "Blind Date." No production plans
have been decided for the picture as
yet.
Liz Allen Set For
Dean's Java Head'
London. — Elizabeth Allen has been
loaned to Sir Basil Dean by Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer for his production of
"Java Head."
Miss Allen will complete this pro-
duction before starting work in "David
Copperfield" f or Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer in Hollywood.
Jean Bart at Universal
Jean Bart, who wrote the stage play.
"Man Who Reclaimed His Head,"
joins the Universal writing staff today
to fashion the screen play for the pro-
duction. The deal was set by the
Edington and Vincent office.
Lawler for *Sailor'
Anderson Lawler gets his first break
in pictures, after a long career on the
Broadway stage, with a featured role
in "Loves of a Sailor" at Universal.
Ralph Farnum has signed to manage
the player.
Blondell-Woods on Air
Joan Blondell and Donald Woods
will be interviewed by Louella Parsons
Wednesday morning over KHJ.
MGM Buys Poli Chain
(Continued from Page 1 )
wolf, A. C. Blumenthal, in with the
big company.
The Poli chain, long considered by
sales managers one of the key buys
of the country, ran into the usual de-
pression trouble and several months
ago, by a bank sale of assets, presum-
ably passed into the control of N. L.
Nathanson, Canadian magnate, also
powerful in Paramount affairs. The ;
price quoted for the circuit at the time '
of the bank sale of assets was placed '
at $13,000,000. Though Nathanson
took nominal control, he allowed
Segal to continue as actual operating
head.
At the time of the Nathanson pur-
chase, A. C. Blumenthal was reported
to have a part in the deal, but he has;
never been on record with the new
company until today's action throwing
control of the circuit to Loew.
Edmund Goulding
Recommends a chauffeur who is a
careful driver, and also honest and
reliable in all ways.
His name is H. G. Foster, and you
can reach him at 1415 N. R'ch-
wood PI., Phone GLadstone 8693.
"NAMES''
For England At Once
SALARY COMMENSURATE
WITH THE ARTIST'S
ABILITY
Meet British Representative at
MacQuarrie Agency
8335 Sunset Blvd.
Interview by appointment only
Telephone CRanite 07 1 1
April 7, 1934
THE
l^ilPOIRTlPl
Pa^ Three
TARZAN% PACKED WITH
SlIOWM AIRSHIP. ]VEED§ CUTS
Plenty of Thrills,
But Shocks in Spots
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
y (MCM)
^>irection Cedric Gibbons
Story based upon the characters
created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Screen Play James K. McCuinness
Adaptation Leon Cordon
and Howard Emmett Rogers
Art Director Arnold Gillespie
Photography Charles Clarke
and Clyde DeVinna
Cast: Johnny Weisnnuller, Maureen
O'Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Paul
Cavanagh, Forrester Harvey, Wil-
liam Stack, Desmond Roberts, Na-
than Curry.
The cry of Tarzan will soon be
heard again through the land when
"Tarzan and His Mate" is released.
But the cry will be much less enthu-
siastic this time, unless Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer does a lot of very drastic
cutting.
Encouraged by the success of the
first "Tarzan," the studio went wild
on the second, with the result that
about half the picture is utterly de-
lightful, and the other half just a
gruesome, harrowing, nerve-wracking,
noisy, bloody, unpleasant experience.
Nobody likes to see animals or men,
either, for that matter, killed, tor-
tured, maimed, or writhing in their
death agonies. The latter half of the
picture literally drips with blood — and
it's all so unnecessary, inasmuch as
the film is reels over-long, with sev-
eral nice stopping places before all the
carnage starts.
However, against this very real fault
are miraculous scenes with monkeys;
the exciting acrobatics of Tarzan; the
green mystery of the jungle; spectacu-
lar elephant scenes, and one of the
most beautiful sequences ever filmed
— where Johnny Weismuller and Mau-
reen O'Sullivan swim under water,
their swift white bodies carving intri-
cate and lovely designs in the dark
depths. This sequence, and the one
with the monkeys, make the picture
worth seeing even in its present hor-
rible state.
Weismuller is even better this time
as Tarzan, and Miss O'Sullivan brings
a fine spirit to her difficult role. Neil
Hamilton and Paul Cavanagh are
strongly cast as the two white men
whose search for the elephant tusks
brings all the disaster to Tarzan's
peaceful forest. Nathan Curry, as
Saidi, the leader of the safari, does a
swell piece of work throughout.
Cedric Gibbons, art director at
MGM, turned out a workmanlike job
on his first directorial assignment.
James K. McCuinness didn't miss a
trick with his screen story, based, of
course, on the Edgar Rice Burroughs
yarn. Leon Cordon and Howard Em-
mett Rogers adapted, and Arnold Gil-
lespie's art direction is outstanding.
Charles Clarke and Clyde DeVinna car-
ried off the terrific job of photograph-
ing the picture with honors. Bernie
Hyman produced, and deserves his
share of credit for much that is good
Frances Dee Sick;
300 Extras Lose Out
Three hundred extra players
were deprived of their coffee and
cakes yesterday because of the ill-
ness of Frances Dee. They had
been called for work in "Of Hu-
man Bondage" at Radio, but the
call was cancelled when Miss Dee
could not work.
Picture Possibilities
Show on N.Y. Stage
New York. — There were some pic-
ture possibilities in last week's New
York plays, something unusual as they
have been coming.
Of the list, the report follows:
"House of Remsen," a possibility;
"One More Honeymoon," possible;
"Brain Sweat," very good.
There are four legit premieres
slated for next week: "Furnished
Rooms," Monday; a revival of "Pirates
of Penzance," at the Majestic, Mon-
day; "Wife Insurance," Thursday, at
the Ethel Barrymore; and "Are You
Decent.''" the same night.
Zion Myers to Radio
As Aide to Pan Berman
Zion Myers joins Pan Berman at
Radio to act as associate producer on
all the pictures for the Berman unit.
William Sistrom will handle the busi-
ness end, removing a large part of the
studio burden from the executive's
shoulders.
Stan Laurel Marries
Ruth Rogers in Mexico
Stan Laurel married Ruth Rogers
Tuesday at Ensenada, Mexico, it was
learned yesterday. Laurel's divorce
does not become final until Septem-
ber. His marriage, however, is recog-
nized in all other states except Cali-
fornia.
Fields-LeRoy Make Up
W. C. Fields and Baby LeRoy are
smoking the pipe of peace after their
recent feud and have consented to
appear together in Paramount's "The
Old-Fashioned Way." William Beau-
dine will direct the picture, which is
slated to go before the cameras Mon-
day.-
Castings for 'Widow'
MGM yesterday signed Barbara
Leonard and Sterling Holloway, and
assigned Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Caryl Lincoln, Leona Walters and
Edna Waldes, stock players, to "The
Merry Widow," which Irving Thal-
berg puts into work Monday.
in the picture, though he must also
see to the cutting that is needed.
If the picture is not cut — or, rath-
er, sliced off very neatly toward the
end — parents all over the country will
appreciate warnings to keep their
children away from it. If it is cut,
the parents will probably insist on
taking the kids to the show them-
selves.
Chaplin's Two
Year Program Set
Although he will not acknowledge
It for publication, Charles Chaplin has
about got his picture plans set for
the next two years.
His first picture will star himself,
with Paulette Coddard playing oppo-
site in the "Street Waif" yarn he has
been working on, some atmospheric
and process shots having already been
completed.
On the completion of the above
comedy, he will do "The Woman of
Paris," with Coddard as the star, to
be followed by a starring picture of
his own from a story written around
Napoleon.
Croup Theatre To Take
New Chance on Lawson
New York. — The Group Theatre
shows that it can take it. After hav-
ing a very recent flop with a John
Howard Lawson play, it yesterday
signed contracts to produce the same
playwright's "Marching Son" this Fall.
Selznick, Estabrook
And Cukor Going East
George Cukor, Howard Estabrook
and David Selznick leave for New
York as soon as "Manhattan Melo-
drama" is completed and previewed.
Cukor and Estabrook hop from there
to London.
Para. Shelves 'Rip'
Paramount has shelved "Rip Van
Winkle" until late Fall, owing to Lyda
Roberti's run-of-play contract in the
New York play, "Roberta." Studio
has also been unable to develop a sat-
isfactory screen play to warrant pro-
duction with another player other than
Miss Roberti.
Coodee Montgomery Set
Coodee Montgomery, New York
stage actress and daughter of Dave
Montgomery, gets her first picture
break in a featured spot of "Loves of
a Sailor," which Kurt Neumann di-
rects for Universal. Montgomery deal
negotiated by Hoffman-Schlager.
Parker No Go to England
Austin Parker yesterday turned
down an offer from British Gaumont
to do the adaptation on "Sons of
Guns," the British refusing to meet
his terms. He is working on the final
stages of a new book now which he
hopes to finish shortly.
Harvey Gates at Col.
Harvey Gates yesterday swung over
to Columbia from MCM to collaborate
with Herbert Asbury on the screen
play of "I'll Fix It," the Leonard Spi-
gelgass story which is scheduled to
have Fay Wray in the top spot.
Sears-Green Teamed
MGM has assigned Zelda Sears and
Eve Green to write the screen play
on the George Auerbach original,
"My Brother's Wife." It is planned
as a Jean Harlow vehicle. Laurence
Weingarten produces.
We think we've discovered the
thing that annoys critics most; preten-
sions on the part of a picture. We'll
explain. Whenever a picture appears
that is frankly "hooey," or sentimen-
tal like "Tarzan" or "Lady for a
Day," or frankly romantic like "It
Happened One Night," provided
they're as well made as the above-
mentioned, no picture producer need
fear for the reviews he'll get from
the critics. BUT the minute they try
to gloss "hooey" over with what
passes with the masses for sophisti-
cation, then let the producer beware
because right then and there the "in-
tellectual" critic will take down the
pants of that picture and give it a
sound, if not good walloping. And
the critics on the "mass papers," who,
by their ratings of pictures, have never
given the public credit for anything
approaching an adult mind, will shy
from it with cracks about it's not be-
ing for the kiddies and something
about lack of action.
So far as the intellectual critics are
concerned, they not only refuse to be
taken in" by cultured trash but
they're also afraid they might be and
their fears extend to the public whom
they pretend to despise but for whom
they do everything in their power to
make producers respect that public's
better tastes. Honesty of purpose
seems to be the most important thing
to critics, and the minute the pro-
ducer's wares cease to be frank and
aboveboard, they let them have it
with a flow of rhetoric that Is space-
filling if not altogether amusing. A
western will always be fairly appraised
as a western, but let it try feebly to
disguise itself as an epic or a social
problem and there will be no usable
quotes for the newspaper ads.
•
Spring is here and it seems to have
affected the advertising boys first. Si
Seadler ran an ad on "Viva Villa,"
inspired by a telephone conversation
with Red Kann of Motion Picture
Daily, and the following day Seadler
got a wire from Hal Home, of U. A.,
which read: "Please advise where can
see Red Kann in 'Viva Villa.' "...
New type of social classification as
sent out by a bright p. a.: "Mr.
Charles Beahan, soon to be Sidney
Fox's ex-husband, has arrived at the
Hotel Warwick." That's working
your way up from being a picture
exec. . . . Lotsa chorus pretties
around town have already signed for
E. Cantor's next picture. ... A play-
wright who hasn't had a play on
Broadway in years was asked by a
sweet thing what he was doing to
help the starving actors . . . "Starv-
ing," he answered, quick as a flash.
Brent in 'Housewife*;
William as Philo Vance
George Brent's first assignment
since his return to the Warner fold
will be opposite Bette Davis in
"Housewife," which Al Green will
pilot.
This decision puts it up to Warren
William to take the Philo Vance role
n "Dragon Murder Case."
Complete M.P.T.O.A. Program
MONDAY, APRIL 9
10:00 A.M. Registration of members, delegates and
guests. Registration and Information Office on the
Main Floor, Ambassador Hotel. Important that all
exhibitors and guests register, receive their Offi-
cial Convention Badge, which identifies those at-
tending the Convention for admission to the stu-
dios, studio trips, admits bearer to all local Motion
Picture theatres, convention sessions, luncheons,
parties, including banquet. Registration fee $10.00.
4:00 P. M. Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors
(for the election of officers and other business.
This is a private executive session for directors and
officers only. )
TUESDAY, APRIL 10
9:00 A. M. Busses will leave the hotel at 9:00 A. M.
sharp on sight-seeing trip to the beaches for dele-
gates' families and guests.
10:30 A. M. Invocation of Convention opening by Rev.
Custav A. Briegleb. Convention called to order by
B. N. Berinstein, Chairman of Convention Commit-
tee, who will deliver the opening address and then
will introduce President E. L. Kuykendall, who will
preside. Mr. Kuykendall will then introduce Hon.
Frank L. Shaw, Mayor of Los Angeles, who will give
the address of welcome in behalf of the city.
10:45 A. M. Address of Welcome by Col. Carlos Hunt-
ington, representing the Governor of the State of
California.
1 1 :00 A. M. Response on behalf of the M.P.T.O.A by
M. A. Lightman, Past President of the M.P.T.O.A.
11:15 A.M. Mr. Kuykendall will introduce M. E.
Comerford, of Scranton. Pa., 1st Vice-President, to
preside.
1 1 :20 A. M. Report of the President, E. L. Kuykendall,
President.
1 1 :45 A. M. Report of the Secretary, Fred S. Meyer,
Secretary.
12:00 Noon. Report of the Convention Committee,
B. N. Berinstein, Chairman.
12:15 P. M. Mr. Kuykendall will resume the chair and
make announcement of Standing Committees for
the Convention :
(1 ) Credentials and Rules: Chairman, M. E. Com-
erford, Scranton, Pa.
(2) Resolutions: Chairman, Edward C. Levy, New
Haven, Conn.
(3) Grievances: Chairman, Lewen Pizor, Philadel-
phia, Pa.
(4) NRA Code — Trade Practices: Chairman, Fred
S. Meyer, Milwaukee, Wis.
(5) NRA Code — Labor Provisions: Chairman, Jack
Miller, Chicago, III.
(6) Legislation and Taxes: Chairman, M. A. Light-
man, Memphis, Tenn.
(7) Public Relations and Community Affairs:
Chairman, Fred Wehrenberg, St. Louis, Mo.
12:20 P. M. "Modern Theatre Construction and
Equipment," by George Shutz, Quigley Publications.
12:30 P.M. Adjourn business session until 10:30
A. M. Wednesday.
1 :00 P. M. Trip to Warner Bros. Studios. Luncheon
will be served. Your Convention Badge identifies
you for transportation and admission to the studios.
Our own chartered busses will leave the Ambassa-
dor promptly at 1 :00 P. M.
7:30 P. M. Busses will leave at 7:30 P. M. sharp for
Universal Studio, where a Buffet Dinner will be
served, also a dance on the stage.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11
10:30 A. M. Sharp. Session called to order by President
Kuykendall.
10:35 A.M. "The Theatre's Liability to Its Patrons"
by Edward G. Levy, New Haven, Conn.
"Meeting the Exhibitor Half Way," by Carl Laem-
mle. Universal.
10:45 A. M. A talk on "Production" by Louis B. Mayer,
Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer.
1 1 :15 A. M. "What's the Matter with Exhibition from
the Point of View of an Exhibitor," by Walter Vin-
cent.
1 1 :45 A. M. "Why Pictures Are Improving," by Mrs.
Thomas G. Winter.
12:00 Noon. "How Pictures Are Put Together," by
Cecil B. DeMille.
12:30 P.M. "Self Regulation in Advertising Motion
Pictures," by Jos. I. Breen.
1 :00 P. M. Adjournment of business session until
10:30 A. M. Thursday.
1 :30 P. M. Trip through RKO and Fox Westwood
Studios. Delegates and guests take their choice.
Busses will leave outside of hotel at 1 :30 P. M.
sharp.
7:30 P. M. Busses will leave outside of hotel at 7:30
P. M. sharp for informal banquet and entertainment
at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio.
THURSDAY, APRIL 12
10:30 A. M. Sharp. Business session called to order by
President Kuykendall.
10:35 A.M. "What Motion Pictures Mean in Aid of
Law Enforcement," by Sheriff Gene Biscauliz.
10:40 A.M. "What the Code Means to the Country
Town Exhibitor."
10:50 A. M. "What the Code Means to the Metropoli-
tan Exhibitor," by Morgan A. Walsh, San Francisco.
1 1 :00 A. M. Open Forum on Code Matters Relating to
Trade Practices. Ed. Kuykendall presiding.
30 A. M. Labor Provisions on the Code — Jack Mil-
ler, Chicago, III.
45 A. M. Open Forum on Labor Matters — Jack Mil-
ler, presiding.
12:00 Noon. Report of Resolutions Committee.
Reports of Other Committees.
Installation of Officers.
Business session adjourned.
Sharp. Busses will leave outside the hotel
for Paramount and Columbia studios. Take your
choice. Luncheon will be served.
7:30 P. M. Convention Banquet at the Ambassador.
11
11
12:15 P. M
12:30 P. M
12:45 P. M
1 :30 P. M
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'THE BIRTH OF A NATION^ 'ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT'-AND NOW
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The April Issue of "PHOTOPLAY'
WRAY
plays the beau-
tiful daughter of
the Hacendado
METRO-GOLDWYN-
MAYER TRIUMPH
(DF TRAVAIL HAS EMERGED A PICTURE THAT WILL MAKE HISTORY- yHiTpU^J
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'THE BIRTH OF A NATION', *ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT'- AND N0W..^/)|tt4
The April Issue of "PHOTOPLAY'
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ARRILLO
is the bold, bad
Don Juan-Sierra, pal
of Pancho Villa, in
METROGOLDWYN-
MAYER TRIUMPH
'...OUT OF TRAVAIL HAS EMERGED A PICTURE THAT WILL MAKE HISTORY
THE BIRTH OF A NATION', 'ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT'-AND NOW
The April Issue of "PHOTOPLAY"
•Igl
KATHERINE
DeMILLE
ROSITA
fiery-tempered wife of
Pancho Villa
METROGOLDWYN-
MAYER TRIUMPH
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1^
...OUT OF TRAVAIL HAS EMERGED A PICTURE THAT WILL MAKE HISTORY- ^U^ttyf
™^ ^ MTION', 'ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT'- AND HO}N.,\/f(lL^
The April Issue of "PHOTOPLAY*
# //
JOSEPH
SCHILDKRAUT
laughins killer
GENERAL PASCAL
MErROGOtDWyN
MA.\Bf( TRIUMPH
//
OUT OF TRAVAIL HAS EMERGED A PICTURE THAT WILL MAKE HISTORY- yUn^f
THE BIRTH OF A NATION', 'ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT'-AND NOW..^/||t^'^
The April Issue of "PHOTOPLAY
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EDCCUMB
PINCHON
THE MAN WHO WROTE
VIVA VILLA!
AT PRESENT:
An original story for
FRANCIS LEDERER-RKO
FORTHCOMING:
A new novel "UNTIL I
FIND" to be released by
WILLIAM MORROW &
COMPANY June 1934
Management
PHIL BERC
1
^^wt^yii^'*'
A METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER TRIUMPH
/
'...OUT OF TRAVAIL HAS EMERGED A PICTURE THAT WILL MAKE HISTORY- \/i4^$C^f
THE BIRTH OF A NATION^ ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT'- AND NOW-.^lt*-^"'
The April Issue of "PHOTOPLAY"
A/vit:)
HOWE
METRO-GOLDWYN-
MAYER TRIUMPH
'...OUT OF TRAVAIL HAS EMERGED A PICTURE THAT WILL MAKE HISTORY- yi^H^I
THE BIRTH OF A NATIONS 'ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT'- AND NOW..^/||tt^
The April Issue of "PHOTOPLAY
0 n
METRO-GOLDWYN-
MAYER TRIUMPH
did the
MONTAGE
of Villa's call
to arms
VlVd Wdliy!
with appreciation
to
David O. Sezni(
and Jack Conway
from
HENRY B.
WALTHALI
(Under the person
management of Miltt
E. Hoffman and S
Sclilager)
'o.-OUT OF TRAVAIL HAS EMERGED A PICTURE THAT WILL MAKE HISTORY- \fi4rj^f
THE BIRTH OF A NATION% ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT'- AND fiOW..\/flL'^'A
The April Issue of "PHOTOPLAY"
^ms.-
HERBERT
STOTHART
Composer of the Score of
Thanks his Co-workers
CHARLES MAXWELL
PAUL MAROUARDT
MAURICE DE PACK
WAYNE ALLEN DAVE SNELL
GEORGE SCHNEIDER
MIKE McLaughlin
4' I
CARLOS NAVARRO
Acted as Studio's representative with the
Government of Mexico.
Technical Advisor throughout the production.
Mexico's Official Censor for pictures regard-
ing Mexican themes.
Appointed. by the Def^artment of the Interior
MAYER TRIUMPH
MATIAS '
SANTOYC
I
MEXICAN ART
DIRECTOR
TECHNICAL ASSOCIAT
and
MAIN TITLE
ILLUSTRATIONS
^^'t^ytii-^
A METRO-GOLDWYNMAYER TRIUMPH
f
I
THIS M-G-M
AD is telling
27,000,000
motion pic-
ture fans
about it!
Aprit 7, 1934
THE
Page Seventeen
FRENCH FILM TRADE TO
RLAME FOR POOR STATE
Tee-hee! One company over here
saw "Continuity by SoandSo" on the
screen and they, not honestly knowing
much about this racket, said, "Ha!
They give the continuity girl a credit
in American pictures, do they" — and
there and then they started giving
credit titles to their SCRIPT CLERKS!
Honest . . . which reminds us that
Triumph Pictures publish photographs
of their assistant directors on their
trade show synopsis ... all of which
brings us round to the old, old ques-
tion; isn't it time someone in British
studios realized that it's the story and
the screen writers who matter in ad-
dition to the director and a few
others.' ... by the by, one company
here actually made some scenes in
England recently; it is rumored that
they will probably slip a title into the
picture ahead of these scenes explain-
ing that it is English scenery — the
audience won't recognize it; they've
never seen any yet!!!
Bob Ritchie in town on Jeanette
MacDonald business; or should it be
THE MacDonald business? . . . Boy-
ohboy! the press certainly went for
Rowland Brown in a big way and
Rowlie, when asked for a list of the
pictures he had made, merely replied
"Quick Millions'
III
incidentally
said Mister Brown turned down "Java
Head" here; no likee story. . . . Bob
Flaherty, A. P. Herbert, Molly Castle,
Sidney Bernstein, Cecil Landau and
Stephen Watts among the movieites
at the Cafe Royal. . . . Donald Cal-
throp has had a haircut. . . . Bernard
Vorhaus threw a Sukiakie (we can't
spell it and we're telling you!) party
the other night and the guests includ-
ed Cordon Wellesley, Mike Hamlin-
son, Eric Mount and Chris Mann. . . .
"Lullaby Land" gets this week's cup
of veddy Briddish tea; thanks Mister
Disney and his gang! . . . Maurice
Elvey trying to find a spare seat at
the premiere of "Emperor Jones,"
which was crowded with the psuedo
elite of Mayfair mideah!
•
Clifford (Uke Ikei Edwards rated
a couple of paras in the papers here
in a recent court case in which film
companies were ivolved. . . . When
asked why she did not get her crowd
work through a certain agency, a
movie gal replied: "The gentleman
there prefers blondes"!! Ah yes. it's
the same the film world over, Shang-
hai, Joinville or Hollywood. . . . Paul
Perez moving from his apartment and
getting himself a house; looks as if
he'll stay. . . . The Richard Arlens
press receptioned by Paramount. . . .
Roy Simmonds back from California
and kinda pleased about his spiel to
the Fox salesmen; so much so that it's
being printed in trade sheets this
side. . . . Connery Chappell is taking
a subscription to this paper purely
because he wants his name spelled
right, he says. . . )ohn Hicks in and
out of town before you can snap
"retake." . . . Kenneth "Era" Green
says he never sees Tony Nelson Keys'
name in this column; well, here it is.
Ken!
Capra, Riskin and Jo Walker —
step right up and take a bow; we've
Cledhill Goes Poet
With the arrival of Spring, Don-
old Cledhill, executive secretary of
the Academy, has gone poetical.
One of his verses appears in Rob
Wagner's Script of April 7.
American Films Still
Tops in Paris Houses
Paris — More than half the films
in the 30 leading picture houses of
this city this week are American pro-
duct. There are 17 American pictures,
seven French, two German and one
German -French.
Sullavan Takes
London by Storm
London. — The British movie-goers
have a new star. They have tasted of
Margaret Sullavan in "Only Yester-
day" and that gal is firmly planted on
this side.
Norwegian Tax Doomed
Oslo — Norway film men are feeling
happier, for they are practically cer-
tain the government tax on picture
shows is to be abolished shortly. The
government has been appealed to in
behalf of the Norwegian producers,
who are trying to build up the local
business.
Asher Sets Writers
London. — John Hastings Turner and
Mary Murillo have joined Irving Ash-
er's Warner British concern on one
picture deals. Turner will do the
screen play of "Murder at Monte Cris-
to," and Murillo is scripting a 'Varsity
story as yet untitled.
Big French Deal On
Paris. — It is authoritatively reported
in local film circles that Comite des
Forges (iron industry) is trying to
get control of the biggest film con-
cerns in Francs.
just seen "It Happened One Night."
. . . It's a boy at the Maurice Ostrers
— congratulations! . . . This week's
Bad Smell is the so-called big movie
shot from Wardour Street who takes
the film girls out to dinner and tells
them they had better be nice or else
he'll see that they don't work in flicks
again — yeah, you guessed who we
mean! . . . Georgie Ayre insisting that
Ralph Ince show up at the preview
of a B.I. P. flicker that he was in
here. . . . Ralph now megging for Irv-
ing Asher. . . . Herman Fellner, A. E.
Jympson Harman, Arthur Dent, Horace
Williams and Joe Grossman glimpsed
at trade shows. . . . Quote from a
British picture in which the hero alibis
why there is a piano near the bed (of
course, it's for a song he is about to
put over) : "I get most of my ideas
at night — AND I DON'T WANT TO
LOSE THEM!" . . . When a group of
tough fishermen winding a windlass
was shot from above in a travelogue
here, Val (Fan Scribbler) Guest ups
and says: "Aha! Dances arranged by
Busby Berkeley."
Paris. — Louis Aubert, president of
the Chambre Syndicate and one of the
highest authorities in the film trade
in France, said during an address at
a meeting of French distributors:
"After tremendous efforts during
25 years the invention of Lumiere was
practically realized when people had
to start from the beginning again at
the appearance of the talkies. Sound
film studios had to be created, copy-
ing installations secured, silent artists
substituted by talking actors and sing-
ing artists.
"Three hundred million francs were
invested in the sound film equipment
of the theatres. And most of these
expenses had to be done in a period
of extreme depression, from which the
trade has been suffering for five
years. In 1933, 108 firms in the film
trade were ruined."
He attributed these collapses to
the fact that 60 per cent of the
French theatre owners had not met
their engagements. For this, how-
ever, distributors and producers them-
selves are partly responsible, having
repeatedly sold films which never
were shown and which at the mo-
ment of delivery were refused by the
buyers.
Aubert hopes that the reorganiza-
tion of the French industry, which is
now taking place, will promote the
further development of the French
trade in a sounder way.
Office for French Firm
Paris. — President Andre Chalus, of
Union Films, reveals that his recent
trip to America was for the perfecting
of plans for the opening of a distri-
bution office for French films in New
York, with Valdem.ar D. Bell slated to
head the office.
Rosen May Stay Abroad
London. — Progress Pictures is talk-
ing to Phil Rosen to extend his stay
here for another picture which will
go through British Gaumont. Direc-
tor is finishing "Forbidden Territory."
Jannings to England
Berlin. — Emil Jannings has been
engaged by British & Continental Pro-
ductions for the lead in "The Gentle-
man," to be made in England under
direction of Jacques Feyder.
Hume with Fairbanks
London. — The Selznick-Joyce local
office announces the placing of Benita
Hume in "Exit Don Juan," with Doug
Fairbanks.
Ratoff in British Pic
London. — Gregory Ratoff is here in
"Forbidden Territory," which Phil
Rosen is directing for R. j. Wain-
wright. Tamara Desni has female lead.
Turner Play for B. and D.
London. — British and Dominions
will make a talkie version of the John
Hastings Turner show, "Lilies of the
Field." Norman Walker will direct.
London's Smartest Address-
GROSVENOR HOUSE
PARK LANE . . .
is also London's most modern hotel. An apartment at
Grosvenor House provides an actual "ihome from
home," replete with every modern aidi to greater
comfort.
The location of Grosvenor House is a happy blend of
convenience and charm; in and around the hotel
London's social life moves; near by are the best shops
and the theatres; just across the way is London's great
garden, Hyde Park.
Life is amusing, easy and pleasant at
Grosvenor House, London
Page Eighteen
THEKfel
April 7, 1934
USHER FIGHT BEFORE LABOR
HOARD MAY HIT ALL EXHIBS
ytljPTOTHEi
4STIN6
Elkhart, lnd.,Case
Will Set Precedents
Washington. — The comparatively
middle-sized city of Elkhart, Indiana,
may go down in picture history despite
its size. For a deadlock between an
Elkhart exhibitor and his ushers that
has been brought up to the NRA
chieftains here is likely to furnish the
basis for consideration of all theatre
help in the clerical and usher cate-
gories.
The case before the National Labor
Board concerns the following facts:
Theatre Service Employees Local
19,110, of Elkhart, Indiana, claims
that the Elkhart Amusement Company
discharged nine of its ushers for union
activities and replaced them with ush-
erettes.
Al Manta, president of the com-
pany, asserts that the real question is
whether the management is to run
the theatre or whether it is to be
turned over to the employees. Manta
claims that everybody was happy until
a few high school boys conceived the
idea of starting a union.
The case is being closely watched
because of its possible widespread ef-
fect on the unionizing of all theatre
help. A peculiar feature of the case
is that the NRA scale for ushers of
25 cents an hour is less than the scale
that has been paid by the house — 35
cents an hour.
Cordon Will Produce
'Piker' at Playhouse
Leon Cordon, who tonight com-
pletes a run in his stage play, "White
Cargo," at the Hollywood Playhouse,
will direct another of his plays, "The
Piker," for a limited engagement at
the same theatre, starting May 14.
Cordon is currently at United Art-
ists studio adapting "The Musical
Mystery" for Edward Small.
Lewis Stone to Cruise
Lewis Stone takes his lay-off period
on his straight two-year ticket with
MCM in one lump, getting a six-
months vacation to sail his yacht, the
Aurora, into southern waters. He
gets away in August.
New Warner Title
Warners yesterday set "Side Street"
as the release label for the Aline
MacMahon vehicle, which was pre-
viewed two weeks ago as "A Woman
in Her Thirties." Picture was in
work as "Fur Coats."
Inspiration in Desert
Producer Edward Small, Director
Ben Stoloff and Writer Leon Cordon
left for the desert last night to work
on the story of the coming Reliance
production, "Showboat of 1934."
Hershon in Agency
Robert (Red) Hershon has been
signed as an associate with the Hoff-
man-Schlager agency. Hershon was
recently on the staff of Carl Laemmie
Jr. at Universal.
Warning
With the Universal laboratory
open again, C. King Charney is
back in circulation — with the old
broad smile, and a new line of
funny stories. King has been un-
der a cloud for many moons.
Human Treasures for
MCM Treasure Island'
Billy Elmer, claimed to be filmdom's
first heavy, got the role of a pirate in
"Treasure Island," at MCM yester-
day. He first appeared in "Squaw
Man." Also signed was Scott Mat-
traw, one-time professional fat man.
He lost his drag when he reduced from
310 pounds to 280.
Marcin Plans Long Trip
Max Marcin is figuring on a South
American jaunt, bijt is awaiting the
outcome of negotiations with Univer-
sal for another picture before taking
off. Triple threat man's efforts to
get away this week failed when he
couldn't book passage.
Fussy Music Chief
Herbert Stothart, MCM's music
chief, has tested nineteen orchestras
and is scheduled to test still more be-
fore selecting three for Thalberg's
"Merry Widow."
Three Cartoons in Work
UB Iwerks of Animated Pictures has
three animated cartoons in produc-
tion. They are "Puss in Boots" and
"Queen of Hearts," two ComiColor
cartoons, and "Reducing Creme," a
Willie Whopper.
Woolf for 'Barretts'
Ian Woolf gets the role in MCM's
"Barretts of Wimpole Street," which
he created on the stage. Player,
signed yesterday, is en route to the
Coast from New York.
MOiXOGRAM'S
BUDGET SET
Atlantic City. — Trem Carr, vice-
president in charge of Monogram pro-
duction, yesterday asked the franchise
holders at the convention here for a
budget of $2,500,000 for the coming
season — and got it. This is two and
one-half times the company's budget
for its first year.
Announcing that this budget would
take care of the employment of 200
additional people in his department,
Carr said that the company's program
comprised sixteen pictures, in addi-
tion to two specials for which extra
appropriations were made. One of
these will be "Jane Eyre." The pro-
gram will also include eight "Lone
Star" westerns, starring John Wayne.
The stories and writers of the six-
teen pictures are: "Redhead," a novel
by Vera Brown; "The Healer," a Rob-
ert Herrick novel; "Million Dollar
Baby," a Joseph Santley production;
'Cirl of My Dreams," a college yarn
with track meet atmosphere; "The Big
New Board Named
By Code Authority
New York. — The Code Authority
yesterday named Philadelphia Griev-
ance and Clearance and Zoning
Boards.
On the Grievance Board are F. L.
McNamee, M. S. Landow, M. B. Com-
erford, Lewen Pizor. On the Clear-
ance and Zoning Board are Percy
Bloch of Paramount, Harry Wiener of
Columbia, Leonard Schlesinger of
Warner Brothers, and Lou Linker,
Charles Segal and Milton Rogasner.
Other appointments of the Code
Authority were L. E. Thompson as
permanent alternate for M. H. Ayles-
worth, T. B. Noble instead of H. E.
Huffman to the Denver Clearance and
Zoning Board, Huffman having failed
to sign the Code Assent. The make-
up of the New York Boards is stil'
delayed.
New Job for Segall
Harry Segall yesterday was assigned
by MGM to script the Anne Austin
story, "The Wicked Woman." Charles
Bcabin will direct and Harry Rapf pro-
duces.
Howard Rogers Term
Howard Emmett Rogers was yester-
day handed a new ticket by MGM.
Writer is now scripting "Evelyn Pren-
tice," which is slated for Myrna Loy.
Deal was negotiated by Nat Coldstone.
Lawrence Out of Para.
Vincent Lawrence handed in his
script on "Honor Bright" to Louis
Lighton yesterday and closed out of
Paramount.
Radio-Pabst Dicker
Radio is understood hot on a deal
with G. W. Pabst, director, who re-
cently obtained his release from War-
ners.
PRODUCTIO.^
AT $3,500,000
Top," a story of circus and sideshow
life; "We're in the Army Now, "based
on "Ten Minute Eggs," by Tay Car-
nett and Brewster Morse; "The Fash-
ion Parade," which is tied in with a
newspaper contest covering 200
cities; "Sinners in Sing Sing," by
Harry Stephen Keeler; "Plunder," a
story of the receivership racket, by
Albert Meserow and Elynore Dalk-
hart; "Dancing Feet," by Tristram
Tupper; "Honeymoon Ltd." a Vida
Hurst novel; "Ice Carnival," an ice
hockey yarn by George Waggner;
"Tomorrow's Youth," by Harry Sau-
ber; "Mystery Man," from Albert
Payson Terhune's Saturday Evening
Post story, probably with Bela Lugosi;
"Successful Failure," by Michael
Kane; "Woman Against Woman," by
the Hattons.
President W. Ray Johnston stated
that, when the acting and directorial
talent is announced, exhibitors will be
convinced that Monogram is offering
big time product.
Ver oi Dawning to MCM for "The
Barretts of Wimpole Street."
Edw n Maxwell and Dorothy Sebas-
tian for "The Life of Virgie Winters,"
Radio.
Ray Mayer through Bernard, Meik-
lejohn and McCall, for "The Thin
Man," MGM.
Dot Farley replaces Maude Truax i
in "Down to Their Last Yacht,"Radio.
Helen Collins to the same picture.
Sam Ash through Harry Wurtzel for
"Call It Luck," at Fox.
Jed Prouty to Radio's "Family
Man."
Stanley Fields and John Kelly for
Paramount's "Many Happy Returns."
Frederick Vogeding in "Murder on
the Blackboard," Radio.
Alden Chase and John Dilson to
"Fire Patrol," Columbia.
Howard Hickman for "Virgie Win-
ters," Radio.
J. Carrol Naish and Joseph Creehan
by Columbia for "The Hellcat."
Edna Waldron for "Merry Widow,"
MCM, by Wally Ross.
Elmer Harris East
Elmer Harris leaves April 15 for
Prince Edward Island to complete his
rpe'earch and finish the script on "The
Inner Circle," his own original which
Paramount purchased recently. Sylvia
Sidney is slated for the lead role.
Art Directors Meet
Members of the Art Directors Sec-
tion of the Academy held an informal
meeting last night at the Academy
quarters. It is the plan of the Section
to hold meetings of this nature at
least once a month.
L'Estrange to Speak
Dick L'Estrange, member of the
Regional Labor Board, and candidate
for County Supervisor of the Third
District, will be the chief speaker at
the B'Nai B'Rith Luncheon Club next
Wednesday, April 11.
Radio Holds Cabot
Radio exercised Bruce Cabot's op-
tion yesterday, the third on his ticket.
Player, managed by M. C. Levee, goes
into the studio's West Point story as
his next assignment.
Morris Small Treks
Morris Small left last night on a
three-weeks trip East. His first stop
is at Atlanta, Georgia, to visit his fam-
ily. He then hops to New York.
Walburn Reports to Col.
Raymond Walburn arrived from
New York yesterday to take up the
term contract he signed with Columbia
as a featured player.
Dinehart to New York
Dodging a Paramount assignment,
Alan Dinehart left by plane last night
for New York to settle the affairs of
his late ex-wife.
Sherman Set at Last
Lowell Sherman is definitely set to
do "One Clamorous Night" for Uni-
versal.
MICHAEL
CURTIZ
DIRECTED
"JIMMY THE CENT"
starring
JAMES CAGNEY
\\
NOW IN PREPARATION
BRITISH AGENT"
starring
LESLIE HOWARD
WARNER BROS.- FIRST NATIONAL PRODUCTIONS
r
DIRECTED BY
♦ ♦ ♦
Third Annual Directors Number
of The Hollywood Reporter
OUT MAY I
Vol. XX. No. 25. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, April 9, 1934
•SINCE the very inception of this
publication we have been accused of
carrying a banner for the writer, of
having used every effort to build up
"that ungrateful herd," of having
sided with one branch of the creators
to the detriment of the others. Part
of the finger-pointing is true, and we
take full responsibility for it, while
the other sections are claptrap non-
sense.
The success or failure of any pic-
ture is based on the success or failure
of its story material. Writers are
employed to furnish that story mate-
rial, are paid princely sums to con-
tribute such material, AND, if the
majority of them were given the
proper recognition of their talents, if
they were permitted to WRITE FOR
THE PUBLIC, we would have a lot
more hit pictures.
•
But the writers are not permitted
to put their thoughts down on paper.
They are not permitted to write stories
they believe will interest the public.
They are COMPELLED to write for
their supervisor, who, in the majority
of instances, not only has little idea
of story values, but has little or no
conception of what the public will
like, or how their taste may have
changed for the moment, or any un-
derstanding of a new advancement in
story thought.
We have writers making anywhere
from $3,000 a week down to $150
for the same period, writers who have
catered to the public's fancy for years,
men and women who are abreast of
the times and know what is going on
in the world and have the ability to
capitalize on those values for screen
entertainment. We have writers, but
THEY ARE NOT PERMITTED TO
WRITE. Not only are they forced to
write what their supervisor tells them,
but they are tossed around, given lit-
tle importance in the conception of
pictures, referred to as "that ungrate-
ful herd."
•
Our writers are paid so much money
they are content to report to the stu-
dio, check their brains at the front
entrance, and put down, in their best
English, what the supervisor wants.
It's a bitter pill at times, but sweet-
(Continued on Page 2>
LINDSET STILIIN I^ING
New Labor Body Of Pat Casey
And Ed Smith Does Not Change
NRA Board Reviewing Status
Whe-ew!
Wilmington. — The plans for
Delaware censorship have been
abandoned — but in their place a
bill taxing films ten cents for each
hundred feet released in the State
is now being drawn for early intro-
duction.
Universal Chiefs in
Huddle Thursday
Universal's production heads are
slated to leave Thursday for a week-
end at the Santa Barbara Biltmore
where they will go into a huddle and
map out the new season's program.
Those set to make the trip are the
Carl Laemmles, Senior and Junior,
jimmy Grainger, Stanley Bergerman,
Edmund Grainger, Leonard Spiegel-
gass, B. F. Ziedman, Henry Henigson,
Eph Asher, Frank Mastroly and Julius
Bemheim.
Premiere for Atlanta
Atlanta. — MGM has chosen this
city for the world premiere and trial
engagement of "Hollywood Party."
The picture will unfold on April 20
at the Grand Theatre.
Name Code Watchers
B. Bernard Kreiselman and William
C. Mathes have been named impartial
government representatives on the
motion picture Grievance and Clear-
ance Boards for Southern California.
Bob Cillham on Way
New York. — Bob Gillham left for
Hollywood Sunday for conferences at
the Paramount plant on the advertis-
ing angles of next year's line-up.
Spencer Tracy Assigned
Spencer Tracy has been set by Fox
for the top spot in "Marie Gallant"
which Henry King directs.
Judge Ben B. Lindsey's hat is still in the NRA code ring,
despite published reports yesterday to the effect that the
appointment of a new Studio Labor Committee for the handling
of studio labor problems would probably result in his being
ousted. According to Charles Cun-
ningham, head of the local NRA Com-
pliance Office, and executive assistant
to George Creel, State NRA Director,
the judge will not be ousted, as he
has to hear the complaints of more
than 100 other industry codes in this
section, and the picture code is just a
minor detail in the work of his office.
Cunningham also revealed the fact
(Continued on Page 4)
Swanson Comeback
In 'Barbary Coasf
Gloria Swanson wi
screen in "Barbary
means that she will
wyn picture prior to
return to the
Coast," which
make this Cold-
Three Weeks,"
Barrage Against
A.T.&T. Heavier
New York. — Observers here feel
that with A. T. & T. under fire from
so many angles, the organization may
soon be forced to divorce its picture
interests in some manner.
The last blast is from Dr. W. M.
Splawn, economist, who finished a
three-year intensive study of the A.
T. & T. set-up and ramifications, with
the recommendation that the Federal
Communications Bill supervise the
phone monopoly.
Kane Suit Up Today
New York. — Helen Kane's $250,-
000 suit against Paramount and
Fleischer cartoons, and her request for
an injunction prohibiting further re-
lease of "Betty Boop" cartoons, comes
up for hearing today in the New York
Supreme Court.
M. P. T. O. A. DELEGATES
SWARMING II\TO TOW.^
Trendle Paramount
Operator in Detroit
Headed by a special trainload of
delegates steaming in this morning
over the Southern Pacific from Chi-
cago, New York, Memphis, St. Louis
and New Orleans, hundreds of theatre
men from all parts of the United
States today began to jam Los Angeles
hotels for the annual MPTOA conven-
tion, which starts today and winds up
Thursday.
The influx actually started last
(Continued on Page 41
Detroit. — After several months of
trial operation, George Trendle, for-
mer chief of the Kunsky interests in
Michigan, is to become the perma-
nent operator of the Paramount houses
in this city. A new company is to be
formed, the Detroit Theatre Operat-
ing Company, in which Trendle and
Paramount will be partners.
in which she had been scheduled to
star for MGM.
Irving Thalberg agreed to the ar-
rangement because he feels that Miss
Swanson's role in "Barbary Coast" is
an ideal one for her return appear-
ance and he will put "Three Weeks"
(Continued on Page 4)
Laemmie Sends Letter
Of Cheer to Holders
New York. — Carl Laemmie, presi-
dent of Universal, is sending a letter
to the stockholders today, in which
he says:
"Our domestic sales contracts for
the current selling season are about
$1,800,000 above the previous sea-
son, and, in reality, represent a gain
of $2,800,000 because the company
did not benefit fully from last year's
sales through being forced to curtail
production."
Loretta Young Loaned
to MGM by 20 Century
MGM has concluded negotiations
with 20th Century for the loan of
Loretta Young and will star her in
"Professional Corespondent" which is
based on the Beth Brown novel,
"Man and Wife." Harry Beaumont
will direct. Florence Ryerson scripting.
Hector Turnbull Dies
Hector Turnbull, long prominent in
the industry as a Paramount executive,
and who has been ill for some time,
passed away yesterday in New Hope,
Pennsylvania.
Turnbull, who was a brother-in-
law of Jesse L. Lasky, entered the pic-
ture business from the old New York
Tribune as a writer, later graduating to
an executive post.
fWELCOMEI-M.P.T.O.A. Delegates - W E L C O N E ij
Page Tw*
THg
April 9. 1934
ROBERT E. WELSH Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angelas), California
Telephone HOIIywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
M^r., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
5an Martin 501; Sydney, 198 Pitt St ; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includifig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
That "title and name" game spread
to larger proportions at the David
Selznicks' party Saturday night, with
hilarious results, when the host and
hostess had flashed upon a screen car-
toon-slides of many of the guests, as
the orchestra played "appropriate"
songs simultaneously. The guest v*/ho
took the most ribbing was Harry Joe
Brown, whose caricature appeared sev-
eral times during the show, each time
with a different song-title — and very
funny, too. The huge and gay Selz-
nick party started with cocktails on
the second floor of the Beverly Wil-
shire, and ended in a grill-room all to
itself in another part of the hotel.
Outstanding among the smartly-clad
were Veree Teasdale, Cwili Andre,
Frances Coldwyn, Norma Shearer,
Elizabeth Young, Jessica Barthelmess,
Corinne Griffith and the hostess her-
self. There was a Rhumba band, too,
and while all the Americanos were
shaking themselves silly to its music,
Dolores Del Rio and Tony Moreno just
fox-trotted around! Connie Bennett,
Gilbert Roland, the Clark Gables, the
Freddie Marches, L. B. Mayer (in a
dancing mood!), Irving Thalberg
(ditto), the Sam Jaffes, Mary Brian,
Phillips Holmes, the H. Mankiewiczes,
the Don Stewarts, Adolphe Menjou,
the Bill Howards, the Wes Ruggles,
Bob Riskin (looking naked without
Clenda Farrell), the Eddie Mannixes,
the Dick Rodgers, Jeanette MacDon-
ald, Jeanne Howard, the Neil Hamil-
tons, Eddie Sutherland, Virginia Pine,
Gene Markey and Joan Bennett (first
party since!) among the great gobs
of guests!
Y'know — -they were looking for
days and days for a "wide-eyed" in-
genue to play the part of Iris, the
wide-eyed Virgin, in "Cleopatra."
After many were tested and none had
been chosen, the search finally reached
a certain young blonde under contract
these many months at Paramount.
When told she was to have the role,
she said: "Oh — -Mr. DeMille, I just
can't play that part!"
"Why not?" asked C.B. — -"can't
you look wide-eyed?"
•LOST PATROL"
Radio prod.; director, John Ford; writers, Phillip McDonald, Garrett Fort,
Dudley Nichols.
Rialto Theah-e
Herald-Tribune: The new picture at the Rialto Theatre is a grim, romantic and
genuinely stirring military melodrama. Never is the viewpoint obtrusive
nor does the romanticism fall off Into saccharinity as the film views the
doom of its heroes. "The Lost Patrol" is too direct and striking for any
such defect. Certainly It is the finest of the recent crop of motion
pictures. Admirably directed by John Ford.
American: Stark, vivid, gripping, fairly dripping with drama, an excellent pic-
ture of men without women is presented in thrilling fashion on the screen
of the Rialto Theatre. It is the most exciting film seen at this play-
house in many a long week of movie-going. Indeed, it is as tense an
offering as the season may boast.
World-Telegram: "The Lost Patrol" is almost a great film and certainly one of
the finest that have come out of Hollywood. It has depth, remarkably
complete characterizations, moments of strong animal excitement, pic-
turesque figures of enlisted men, banded but helpless against death, and
excitement that will cause you to hold your breath. A vigorous, grip-
ping, heart-tearing film.
lournai: It's one of the most stirring war pictures to have come out of Holly-
wood. There are no womeij in the cast and there is no compromise with
conventional movie treatment. John Ford's direction is brilliant as he
develops the absorbing document with a chokingly mounting suspense.
It's grim and disturbing. But you'll find it absorbingly impressive.
News: The realism of "The Lost Patrol" makes it the most effective horror film
I've ever seen. There is nothing artificial about it. It Is easy to
believe that the strange adventures pictured here might have happened.
The picture is masterfully directed by John Ford.
Sun: The Rialto's new talkie Is a drama of death, violent death, and the way
men meet it. There is force in "The Lost Patrol," the force of tragedy
and terror. It Is a powerful picture, splendidly directed, acted and pho-
tographed; and it offers about as gruesome an hour as you can find in
the current theatre.
Times: The present production Is highly effective from a photographic stand-
point, but the incidents are often strained. It Is a pity that the dialogue
is too forced and often far from natural In the circumstances, even
granted that several of the men desired to set an example by showing
their coolness. ^__
Universal 'On and Off'
on Plans for Westerns
'U' Drops Plans For
Lowe-Raffles Pic
Two weeks of negotiations with E.
W. Hornung for the rights to one of
the series of "Raffles" stories by the
writer were dropped yesterday by
Universal when the studio could not
match terms.
Story was to star Edmund Lowe.
Edmund Grainger is on a story hunt
for another idea suitable to the
player.
Writers Board Gets Down
To Business Right Away
The first meeting of the newly
elected Executive Board of the Screen
Writers' Guild will be held tonight at
the Guild offices.
Members of the "liberal" group are
expected to be on hand to discuss
vital differences of opinion with the
Board in an effort to bring about a
unified front in the Guild.
Berman Grabs 'Cirr
Story From MGM
Outbidding MGM by $4,000, Pan-
dro Berman has closed a deal with
the Bren-Orsatti-Marx office for the
purchase of an original screen play,
"Richest Girl In the World," by Nor-
man Krasma. Radio got it for $14,-
000.
It IS said to be a possible vehicle
for Ann Harding, pending her approval
of the story.
Partos-Kummer Collab
Paramount on Saturday assigned
Frank Partos to collaborate with Clare
Kummer on the latter's play, "Her
Master's Voice," which B. P. Schul-
berg will produce. Marlon Gering Is
set to direct. Lanny Ross, Charlie
Ruggles and Mary Boland are In the
leads.
Corle Joins MGM Staff
Edwin Corle, whose novel, "Mo-
jave," appeared on the stands last
week, on Saturday was signed to a
term writing deal by MGM. He will
write an original based on the locale
of his book. Deal was set by the
Sackin agency.
Lambert in Town
Glen Lambert arrived by train from
New York Saturday. Lambert was
on the Warner writing staff at the
Vitaphone studio In Brooklyn for th^
past three and a half years
The report last week that Univer-
sal was off westerns has been slight-
ly modified. While the company, on
its deal with Buck Jones, will not pro-
duce features of the cowboy class,
Henry MacRae is figuring on making
the serial a western.
Studio has purchased the W. C.
Tuttle story, "The Redhead From Sun
Dog" and will work it up into serial
shape. Louis Friedlander will direct.
Boland and Ruggles Set
For Hinds Air Hour
Mary Boland and Charles Ruggles
will feature the Hinds Hour via KHJ
next Sunday, the Selznick-Joyce radio
department setting the deal. Same
sponsors are dickering to team Slim
Summervllle and Zasu Pitts on a fu-
ture broadcast.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
ened by the pay envelope at the end
of the week.
Better pictures will be made when
the writers are given more recogni-
tion. They are paid to write, to cre-
ate Ideas for good pictures. They
should be permitted to do that un-
hampered, for the most part, by a
stupid supervision by men who have
little or no qualification for the posi-
tions they hold.
Edmund Goulding
Recommends a chauffeur who is a
careful driver, and also honest and
reliable In all ways.
His name is H. G. Foster, and you
can reach him at 1415 N. Rich-
wood PI., Phone GLadstone 8693.
WILLIAM D. RUSSE LL Director
244 So. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills
Two Blocks South of Wilshire Blvd.
You Can't Afford To Aiiss
'THE STOOGE"
A Strange Comedy by
Claude Binyon and Joseph L. Mankiewicz
OPENING WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 11
PREMIERE $2 THEREAFTER $1
For Reservations Phone OX 2280
April 9, 1934
P^e Three
MOOR BORIV' GOOD THEATRE;
'HOVSE OF REMSEIV' SLOW
Vital Drama Aided
By Cast, Direction
George Bushar and John Tuerk present
"Moor Born" by Dan Totheroh;
staged by Melvyn Douglas, with
Edith Barrett, Helen Cahagan,
Frances Starr, Glenn Anders, Bev-
erly Sitgreaves, Thomas Findlay,
Grace Francis and Arling Alcine.
At the Playhouse Theatre.
New York. — A fine, drarrvatic and
sensitive study and appreciation of the
Bronte sisters that can, first of all, be
recommended as a play and good the-
atre; that has in it, in the roles of the
Bronte sisters, three beautiful and
moving performances, and that brings
Melvyn Douglas very much to the fore
in the capacity of director.
Primarily, the review must be de-
voted to Mr. Totheroh for the way in
which he has condensed his material
and for the dramatic intensity he has
given it. The moors of Yorkshire are
more than just background for the
tragic story of the Bronte family. Mr.
Totheroh has used them as a vital part
of the play, not only to emphasize the
utter loneliness and desolation of the
world the Brontes lived in, but for the
fact that their fierce beauty was a
part of the Brontes, a compelling force
in their lives.
Furthermore, Mr. Totheroh has used
the winds on the moors in much the
same manner as O'Neill used the drum
beats in "Emperor Jones," and the
effect is hair-raising. Thus the story
of Ann Bronte, the gentle, Charlotte
Bronte, the ambitious, and Emily
Bronte, the brooding genius whose
love for her weak brother was an all-
consuming flame, and led her to make
a pitiful and futile gesture to justify
his mis-spent life, results in some
pretty grand theatre.
Helen Gahagan as Emily Bronte
gives a beautiful portrayal of that vic-
tim of an unholy love, and her death
scene is one of the most stirring things
to be seen on the stage. Her whole
performance is so rightly keyed that it
never strays into the field of hysteria.
Frances Starr as Charlotte gives an ex-
cellent performance, and Edith Bar-
rett as Ann lends the necessary balance
of sweetness and light that the play
needed. Glenn Anders as Bramwell
Bronte, in a role that any actor would
sell his soul to pjay, finally works into
a good scene after he discards his
mannerisms, and dies with great act-
ing honors. Thomas Findlay, as the
father of this neurotic family, misses
the significance of his part. Instead
of treating his lines with the fanatic
belief that he had in himself and his
■son's genius, he delivers most of them
as though he were the standing joke
of the family.
Melvyn Douglas has done right well
by this play script, particularly in his
groupings of the actors on the stage
and in the timing of the climaxes. His
work as a director was quite a revela-
tion and its looks as though Mr.
Douglas need never worry about a
career.
Hal Didn't Hear
Joseph M. Schenck stated the
other day that the public taste in
pictures has turned to "unsophisti-
cated Cinderella themes." Prob-
ably Hal Roach wasn't listening,
for he has started preparations to
film "Lysistrata."
'Doomed to Die'
Poor Maynard Pic
"DOOMED TO DIE"
(Universal)
Direction Alan James
Author Ken Maynard
Adaptation Nate Gatzert
Art Direction Ralph Berger
Photography Ted McCord
Cast: Ken Maynard, Gloria Shea, Wal-
ter Miller, Harold Goodwin, Wil-
liam Gould, Bob Kortman, Jack
Rockwell, Ed Coxen, Slim Whitaker,
Martin Turner, Etta McDaniels.
Ken Maynard's latest western,
"Doomed to Die," almost lives up to
its title. It is far below the usual
Maynard opus. The story is unusu-
ally complicated and too far-fetched
to retain much interest; the acting
throughout could have been less self-
conscious, and Maynard's make-up in
the beginning of the picture is fan-
tastic. He appears first in a startling
disguise that suggests Methuselah, but
when he shaves later he emerges as
a very young, very blond boy. The
transition, miraculously unconvincing,
gets the picture off to a bad start.
Maynard's horse, Tarzan, is not
given enough to do. He is a great
drawing card, and could have helped
the film considerably.
Gloria Shea is nice as the girl, and
Harold Goodwin is well cast as the vil-
lain. Walter Miller plays the ranger
sent to get Ken; William Gould does
a swell piece of acting as Ken's old
father; and Martin Turner has a good
comedy role as Cinders. Alan James
directed as well as he could, ham-
pered by the story.
The picture's only recommendation
is that it is a Ken Maynard film, but
his fans will be disappointed.
MOM Gets Its Thin Man'
MCM Saturday succeeded in sign-
ing a thin man for the screen ver-
sion of Dashiell Hammett novel
which W. S. Van Dyke puts into work
today. He is Edward Ellis, six feet
two inches tall, thin, around 50, and
fits all other specifications stated in
the novel.
Katharine Brown Here
Katharine Brown, eastern story
head for Radio, arrived last night on
the Chief. Editor will confer with
the studio executives on production
material before leaving on the return
hop.
Dvorak in Brent Pic
Ann Dvorak was set by Warners
Saturday for the title spot in "House-
wife," sharing billing with Bette
Davis and George Brent. Alfred E.
Green pilots.
Soussanin Play
Good Picture Idea
Nicholas Soussanin presents "House
of Remsen," by Nicholas Soussanin
and William J. Perlman, in collabo-
ration with Marie Baumer; directed
by Soussanin, with James Kirk-
wood, Francesca Bruning, Joy
Lange, Leota Diesel, Raymond Roe,
John Hendricks, Julia Bruner, Karl
Swenson, Ellen Lowe, Houston
Richards, Albert Van Dekker, Edgar
Stehli, Ben Starke, Virginia Curley.
At the Henry Miller Theatre.
New York. — Here is a play with a
really good plot that, with the ex-
ception of one scene, is so lethargic
in pace and so flatly written that the
net impression is that of a record
played without the victrola having
been wound. There is also a lot of
time wasted in explanatory scenes that
could just as well have been omitted
in order to get to the real action and
importance of the play. The object
in taking all this trouble to find the
reason why the play doesn't jell is be-
cause it seems to us that the whole
idea would make a good picture, with
an excellent star part for the charac-
ter of the father and opportunities
galore for a good supporting cast.
Arthur Remsen's wife is killed in
an automobile accident with her lover,
and Remsen discovers, through a letter
found in his wife's effects, that one
of their two children was not fathered
by him. Remsen goes to the hospital
where the lover lies, supposedly dying,
and forces him to confess which child
is his. The lover tells Remsen that
it is the son. And from that time on,
Remsen cannot bear the sight of the
child and manages to keep him away
from home as much as possible.
Unfortunately, the son gets himself
into a jam with a blackmailing, un-
der-age wench, is kicked out of Har-
vard and Remsen forces the boy to
stand trial through his unwillingness
to stand by the boy he thinks is the
son of another man. The dead wife's
lover comes back, however, to advise
Remsen of the fact that the boy is
really his child and that it is the
daughter who belongs to him, and at
the time Remsen wrung a confession
from him he had lied because he had
feared that Remsen's reaction would
blight the innocent victim's life.
As was said before, there is one
really great scene — that between the
father and son when the son is ex-
pelled from college. And Ben Starkie
as that son does a fine piece of acting.
Francesca Bruning, too, manages to
give the play some life, but the rest
of the cast seemed to be magnificently
unconcerned, with Kirkwood still re-
lying on close-ups to show emotion
for him.
Foy Starts Another
Having wound up "Sterilization"
last week, Bryan Foy Saturday as-
signed Wallace Thurmond and Crane
Wilbur to write an original screen
play, "High School Girl," for the con-
cern's next production. Thurmond
scripted the last subject and Wilbur
directed.
Some day we would like to dedicate
a particularly fine specimen of a hymn
of hate to lisping child actors on stage
or screen and to heroines who are all
sweetness and light and take it all
very tremulously, bravely and starry-
eyed and go tripping across the stage
with tiny, birdlike movements of the
head, fluttering hands and little minc-
ing steps. Even though it's all in
(the) play, we can't help getting the
jitters every time we see one of these
sunshine girls, because we keep think-
ing how awful it must be to have any-
thing like that around the house, and
our vote for the Pulitzer prize would
go to any play that killed one of them
off under the heading of justifiable
murder. . . . Heroines like that are
distinctly un-American, anyway. Our
women are taught to "dish it out,"
not to "take it," and the stage this
season has been particularly offensive
in the number of sweet characters it
has given audiences to coo over. Es-
pecially when it comes to costume
dramas or comedies. Give a gal a
hoop-skirt and pantaloons and, ipso
facto, she thinks her feet have been
bound, Chinese fashion, and so she'll
hop, skip and jump or run all over
the stage, but walk to the nearest
exit? Never.
The stage has been pretty offen-
sive lately anyway in what it has pro-
duced. So much so that one critic
was moved to remark that all pro-
ducers should be made as responsible
to audiences for their product as any
salesmen is for the worth of the com-
modity he sells. If you get ptomaine
poisoning from eating canned goods,
or just from eating, you can sue and
collect, but there's absolutely no com-
pensation for the physical disability
engendered by bad plays. And more
and more are we willing to bet that
proportionately there are far more bad
plays than pictures, even though most
of the plays eventually become pic-
tures.
•
Falling out of bathtubs is the cur-
rent popular sport around town, with
Paul Streger and Hobe Erwin both
walking around with their arms in
slings. . . . Erwin is about to join a
union so's he can take advantage of
the offers he's had to do stage set-
tings. . . . Tallulah Bankhead finally
got off to Lunnon in a mess of old
brandy and champagne bottles. . . .
The movies have helped a hard-work-
ing policeman to win his "S." Pa-
trolman Lawrence Barry was snapped
by the newsreels as he broke up a
strike demonstration and, on the
strength of the pictures, was promoted
to sergeant. . . . Moss Hart hot-
footed it over to the Music Box as
soon as he got off the train to count
the number of standees, his favorite
indoor sport. . . . Peggy Fears had to
go see "Melody in Spring" to find out
milk comes from cows. She thought
they made it by adding water to a
powder. ... A reporter interviewing
a picture exec, who wouldn't talk, in-
nocently inquired who had tied the
exec's hands!
Page Four
THEJIS
April 9. 1934
Code Croup Wields
Ax on List Tonight
The Code Committee for Extras
meets tonight to resume deliberations
on how to weed out all but \ 500 of
the registered Hollywood film extra
players.
Last week requests were sent to all
casting agencies, studios, Motion Pic-
ture Relief Fund and others for lists
of extras they feel should be retained.
A sub-committee has been huddling
over a method to do the cutting. To-
night the entire committee will try to
get it started.
Also, providing promised funds have
arrived, the committee will lay the
plans for the start of hearings of a
flock of complaints of alleged code
violations on the part of the producers.
Burns and Allen Wind
Up Pic Work Saturday
Burns and Allen are due to clear in
"Many Happy Returns" by Saturday,
moving off immediately to New York
where they will complete their series
of radio broadcasts and take a six
week jaunt to Europe. Paramount
has an option on their services for
a group of pictures for next year.
Tannura on Way Here
New York. — After a five-year ab-
sence from the Coast, Philip Tannura,
lighting expert from Caumont British,
departed from New York Sunday for
Hollywood, on the second lap of his
vacation trip from the London plant.
ACADEMY MEX OIV TRAIL OE
REALLY SILEIVT CAMERA
Delegates Arriving
(Continued from Page 1 )
night when the first delegates began
arriving in driblets by automobile ad
train. By tonight all are expected to
be on hand, and this afternoon the
first business of the convention gets
under way with the annual meeting
of- the Board of Directors, at which
the election of officers is slated to
take place.
At the Ambassador Hotel, scene of
the convention, a registration and in-
formation office has been established
on the main floor. All delegates and
guests have been requested to register
there and receive the credentials and
official badges which will entitle them
to the various studio trips, theatre
admissions and other convention func-
tions.
Except for the directors' meeting,
the only business of the convention
today will be that of registering. A
big program of entertainment has been
mapped out, starting tomorrow. The
convention program has been arranged
so that each afternoon will be devoted
to the studio functions. The conven-
tion will officially open tomorrow
morning at 10:30 o'clock.
Among the advance guard checking
in last night at the Ambassador were:
George Mann and Morgan Walsh, of
San Francisco; Mr. and Mrs. J. C.
Hunter and Mr. and Mrs. Phil Isley,
of Tulsa; Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Moran,
of Oklahoma City; Mr. and Mrs. Sol
Gordon, of Beaumont, Texas; Gradwell
Sears and A. W. Smith, of the Warner
home office; Herman Robbins, of Na-
tional Screen Service; Sam Dembow
Jr., of Publix, and David Palfreyman,
of the Hays office.
The Academy Research Council to-
day started actual work on the prob-
lem of developing a silent motion pic-
ture camera when a comprehensive
camera questionnaire was mailed out
to more than 1000 cameramen, sound
engineers and camera, projection and
sound maintenance engineers.
This questionnaire was prepared by
the Silent Camera Sub-committee of
the Council, and is designed for the
securing of a correlation of the ideas
of the studio technicians working on
production who are familiar with silent
camera requirements. It is hoped
that specifications may be set up from
these which will perhaps solve the
problem that has been wrestled with
ever since sound recording made nec-
essary a quiet camera.
Members of the committee in
charge of this development are: Virgil
Miller, chairman; John Arnold, John
Boyle, ). L. Cass, William Eglinton,
Bert Glennon, L. D. Grignon, Ray
June, Kenneth Lambert, Lewis Mel-
lor, Crover Laube, K. F. Morgan, Emil
Oster, William Rudolph, Theodore
Soderberg, Al Tondreau, A. C. Wise,
R. C. Willman and Gordon S. Mitchell,
manager of the Research Council.
Mae West Has Cold
Leo McCarey called off production
on "It Ain't No Sin" at Paramount
Saturday when Mae West's cold start-
ed to interfere with her work. If
Miss West has recovered sufficiently,
picture will go back into work to-
day.
Buell Short Showing
Jed Buell's production, "Thar's
Gold," a novelty one-reeler, is show-
ing at the United Artists Theatre.
Photographed by Mack Stengler and
dialogued by Gayne Whitman, the
short subject is Buell's first produc-
tion.
Ed Marin Under the Wire
Edwin Marin brought in "Affairs
of a Gentleman" at Universal Sat-
urday night. Assignment clears the
director on his Universal term deal.
Edmund Grainger supervised the pic-
ture.
Irving Asks $110,126
New York. — Irving Trust Company,
as receiver for Publix Enterprises, has
submitted a bill to the courts for
$110,126. It is expected this amount
will be pared down.
'Borneo' Pic for DuWorld
New York. — Du World Pictures has
taken over for distribution and road
showing "Beast of Borneo," produced
by Far Eastern Productions.
Swanson Comeback
(Continued from Page 1 )
L
into production immediately after-
wards.
Gary Cooper has the male lead, thus
providing an interesting two-star com-
bination to head the cast.
Leonard Praskins is now working
with Dwight Taylor on the script and
William Wellman will direct. Film-
ing is set to start June 1 .
is He Mortified?
New York. — An actor named
Weber has filed suit for $75,000
against the Shuberts because he
was billed in one of their produc-
tions as a Eunuch. He alleges that
it was done to humiliate him and
injure his professional reputation.
Expedition Pictures
Popular Once More
The majority of major producers
have gone in for the "expedition"
type of production, Fox yesterday add-
ing its name to the present list by
commissioning Henry King to take a
unit to South and Central America to
film, "Marie Gallant."
Other studios with expeditions on
their hands are MGM, with the "Good
Earth" company in China, Warners,
with Robert Florey en route to the
same locale for a location shot for
a trio of pictures, and Universal, in-
directly through B. F. Ziedman's
Stacey Woodard exf>edition to Aus-
tralia. MGM will have two com-
panies out when the George Seitz-
Harold Noice unit flies off for the
Amazon in Brazil.
Mack Reports at Burbank
Roy Mack arrived by train Friday
from New York to start work on two
Technicolor shorts at the local War-
ner plant. First goes into production
April 16. Mack has been connected
with the Vitaphone plant in New
York for some time.
Eisner to Open House
Edward Eisner, former dramatic
coach for Fox, has announced that he
will open the Wilshire Dramatic Thea-
tre about the middle of April. The
theatre is now being remodeled and a
25 by 40 foot stage is being built.
He plans to make it one of the most
attractive little theatres in town.
Song for 'Clamour*
Leo Feist will publish "Heaven on
Earth," a song by Roy Turk and Harry
Axst, which Universal bought for
"Glamour." Picture opens in the
Radio City Music Hall the latter part
of the month.
Cavanagh Tagged by Para
Paramount on Saturday signed
Paul Cavanagh for a featured role in
"Thank Your Stars" which Wesley
Ruggles is directing. Jack Oakie, Dor-
othy Dell, Roscoe Karns, Arline Judge
and Ben Bernie have the leads.
Set Louis King's Next
Louis King's next directorial as-
signment is scheduled to be "Painted
Lady" for Fox. Claire Trevor will
rate top-billing in the picture which
Sol Wurtzel's unit will produce.
Perez Clicks in London
London. — Paul Perez is writing for
British International, and has signed
to do an original for the company later
in the year.
Anna Sten, March
Big Hits in London
London. — Fredric March in "Death
Takes a Holiday" and Anna Sten in
"Lady of the Boulevards," the re-
named "Nana," have hit the Londoners
hard, both pictures being held over.
March is always a great favorite here
and his picture is well liked also, but
the Sten hit is a personal one, the
English audiences not going for the
story. Other hold-overs are "Only
Yesterday" and "The World Changes."
The outstanding newcomers for the
week are "Should Ladies Behave?" at
the Empire, and "Good Dame," called
"Good Girl" over here, at the Plaza.
Martha Sleeper and
Hardie Albright Wed
Martha Sleeper, screen actress and
niece of J. J. Murdock, and Hardie
Albright were married yesterday at
Riverside, in St. Francis Chapel. Ethel
Murdock, cousin, attended the bride.
An extended honeymoon will have
to wait on Albright's completion of
the "Biography" engagement. Fami-
lies of both bride and groom were in
attendance yesterday.
Lindsey Still in Ring
(Continued from Page 1 )
that his office, in which Judge Lind-
sey is Labor Compliance Officer, will
act in the nature of a checking and
reviewing board in connection with
the labor cases turned over to the
Studio Labor Committee.
Cunningham stated that he will
turn over all the complaints now in
his office to the new board and that,
at the end of ten days, a check-up
will be made to see if the labor com-
mittee has taken care of them; if not,
an explanation must be given. Also,
he stated, the function of his office
is to take up cases in which it is
charged the labor committee has been
unfair.
"The whole thing," explained Cun-
ningham, "is merely a routine matter
in which Washington is now trying to
carry out the original intent of the
code. That is to have a committee
within the picture industry settle its
own troubles. We should never have
had to step in and handle the cases
which Judge Lindsey heard last week.
But the labor committee was not
functioning, so it was up to us to take
action. If the new committee func-
tions properly, we won't have to han-
dle any more of the cases.
"As to the cases already heard by
Judge Lindsey, I cannot say until after
a conference with the Judge what we
will do with them. If the Judge feels
he has heard sufficient evidence, we
will have him decide on them and
forward his decisions to Washington.
Otherwise, we will turn them over to
the new labor committee. There is
nothing to get excited about. It seems
like a tempest in a teapot. It is sim-
ply a move to carry out the business
in the way it was originally intended.
But I do want you to make it clear
Judge Lindsey is not out."
The new committee contains to
date only the names of Pat Casey and
Ed Smith, both of whom were on the
first studio labor committee. Other
names will be added shortly.
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ASSOCIA
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Harry Joe Brown
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ALPH MURPHY
DIRECTOR
Just Finished
"PRIVATE SCANDAL'
Just Starting
"I MARRIED AN ACTRESS"
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Lef s make this a great MPXO.A, convention-
Please drop in on me at Paramount studios to rene^
this opportunity to thank you personally for your Vi
about my next four pictures and I take pride in a
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CAS E Y
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ROBINSON
//
Now Writing His Ninth Consecutive Screen Play
For Charles R. Rogers and Harry Joe Brown
\ \
GARRETT f=ORT
SCRPEN PLAY
PRIVATE NSCANDAL"
Current Release:
THE LOST PATROL'
RKO
In Preparation
"THE CASE AGAINST MRS. AMES'
Paramount
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JACK HALEY
In Production
HERE COMES THE GROOM"
Recent Release
"SITTING PRETTY"
ARY BOLAND
featured in
CHARLES R. ROGERS PRODUCTION
HERE COMES THE GROOM''
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Tiehmidihrn^OMMUnJilt
dorothV
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WILS
EIGHT CIRHS IN A BOAT"
Under contract to Charles R« Rogers
Management of
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BEYER & M'ACARTMUR
\
FRANK R.xADAMS
"SHE MADE HER BED"
Charles R. Rogers Production
OSEPH KANE
"THE WOMAN COD FORGAVE
Charles R. Rogers Production
In Preparation:
THE OTHER PASSPORT '
RKO
Management
REBECCA and SILTON
t*
FILM EDITOR
VAL PAUL
Vroduction m
W. U. FENDER
ANAGER
NEVILLE REAY
publicity and advertising
s«y:i»»r«**T«s«-««s*'^':<«J5?*«??f*'?«KS^J"^^
WELCOME M. P. T. O. A.
MACK
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HARRY
REVEL
gave you
The Song Hity In Cha$» R. Rogers Production
ff
SITTING PRETTY
/
Will Repeat In The Forthcoming Rogers Production
(We Hops)
HAROLD (Lefty) LEWIS
M P O S E R
and
M y II c s y p E R V I s O' r
for
Chas- R. Rogers Productions
Latest song hit (with Sam Coslow)
'THIS LITTLE PICCIE
WENT TO MARKET '
L. P. ROSEN
& COMPANY
SURETY BONDS
GENERAL INSURANCE
TRANSANERICA BUILDING
SEVENTH & OLIVE STREETS
LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA
TRINITY I8«7
T?iflpn^df/I ihru
Tpa/iamjfnwt
Page Fourteen
April 9, 1934
PRODUCTION DOWN SLIGHTLY WITH 37 IN
BAROMETER
This Week 37 Features
Last Week _ 39 Features
Year Ago _26 Features
Two Years Ago 31 Features
Three Years Ago 24 Features
Columbia
•'ONE NICHT OF LOVE"
Cast: Grace Moore, Tullio Carminati,
Lyie Talbot, Luis Alberni, Andreas
de Segurola, Sam Hayes, Rose Ma-
rie Closz, Henry Armetta, Jessie
Ralph.
Director Victor Schertzinger
Original Charles Beahan
and Dorothy Speare
Screen Play: S. K. Lauren, Edmund
North and James Cow.
Photography Joseph Walker
Associate Producer Everett Riskin
"THE HELL CAT"
Cast: Robert Armstrong, Ann Sothern,
Minna Combell, Benny Baker, James
P. Burtis, Richard Heming, Charles
Wilson, Henry Kolker, Lynn Cowan,
Nick Copeland.
Director Al Rogell
Story and Screen Play: Adele Buffing-
ton and Fred Nibio, Jr.
Photography Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Sid Rogell
"FIRE PATROL"
Cast: Tim McCoy, Ward Bond, De
Witt Jennings, Evalyn Knapp, Pat
Harmon, Mary Gordon, Charles Mc-
Avoy, John Dilson, Alden Chase.
Director D. Ross Lederman
Original Screen Play.. Harold Shumate
Photography Al Zeigler
Associate Producer Irving Briskin
"BLACK MOON"
Cast: Jack Holt, Fay Wray, Dorothy
Burgess, Lumsden Hare, Cora Sue
Collins, Clarence Muse.
Director Roy William Neill
Original Clements Ripley
Screen Play Wells Root
Fox
"CALL IT LUCK"
Cast: Herbert Mundin, Pat Paterson,
Charles Starrett, Georgia Caine,
Gordon Westcott, Theodore von
Eltz, Ernest Wood, Susan Fleming,
Ray Mayer.
Director James Tinling
Original Story: Dudley Nichols, George
Marshall.
Adaptation: Joseph Cunningham and
Harry McCoy.
Screen Play: Dudley Nichols and La-
mar Trotti.
Dance Director Sammy Lee
Photography Joseph Valentine.
Producer John Stone
"NOW I'LL TELL"
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Alice Faye, Helen
Twelvetrees, Hobart Cavanaugh, G.
P. Huntley, Jr., Barbara Weeks,
Robert Gleckler, Clarence Hummel
Wilson, Ray Cook, Frank Marlowe,
Theodore Newton Jr., Clarence Wil-
son, Vince Barnett, Jim Donlon.
Director Edwin Burke
Story Mrs. Arnold Rothstein
Screen Play Edwin Burke
Photography Ernest Palmer
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"MERRY ANDREW"
Cast: Will Rogers, Peggy Wood, Mary
Carlisle, Paul Harvey, Frank Melton,
Roger Imhof, Robert Taylor, Grace
Goodall, Jessie Pringle, Conchita
Montenegro.
Director David Butler
Based on Play by Lewis Beach
Adaptation Kubec Glasmon
Screen Play William Conselman
and Henry Johnson
Lyrics William Conselman
Music Richard Whiting
Photography Arthur Miller
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
"GRAND CANARY"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Marjorie Ram-
beau, John Halliday, Zita Johann.
Director Irving Cummings
Novel A. J. Cronin
Screen Play Keene Thompson
Producer Jesse L. Lasky
"ALWAYS HONEST"
Cast: James Dunn, Claire Trevor,
Preston Foster, Shirley Temple.
Director Harry Lachman
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW"
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan, Grace Bradley.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Jack MacKenzie
Producer Harold Lloyd
MCM
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Douglas Dumbrille, Four Mills
Brothers, jay Lloyd, Russell Hardie,
Willard Robertson, Ted Healy, Reg-
inald Barlow, Francis McDonald,
Katharine Alexander, Belle Daube,
Fuzzy Knight, Henry Wadsworth,
jean Parker, Wade Boteler, Mar-
jorie Cateson, Walter Lang, Sidney
Toler, Samuel Hinds, Robert Mc-
Wade.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play: Harvey Thew, Zelda
Sears and Eve Green.
Photography George Folsey
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katherine
Alexander, Marrian Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue. .Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography ..., William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"MANHATTAN MELODRAMA"
Cast: Clark Gable, William Powell,
Myrna Loy, Nat Pendleton, Muriel
Evans, Isabel Jewell, Tommy Jack-
son, Leo Carrilio, Jimmy Butler,
Mickey Rooney.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Story Arthur Caesar
Screen Play Oliver H. P. Garrett
and Joseph Mankiewicz
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer David O. Selznick
"TREASURE ISLAND"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger,
Lewis Stone, Cora Sue Collins, Dor-
othy Peterson, William V. Mong,
Douglas Dumbrille, Nigel Bruce,
Chic Sale.
Director Victor Fleming
Novel Robert Louis Stevenson
Adaptation John Lee Mahin
Photography Ray June
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"100 PERCENT PURE"
Cast: Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore,
Patsy Kelly, Lewis Stone, Franchot
Tone, Hale Hamilton, Shirley Ross,
Bert Roach, Desmond Roberts.
Director Sam Wood
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Emerson
Photography Hal Rosson
Pr'oducer Bernard Hyman
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast: Maurice Chevalier,Jeanette Mac-
Donald, Earl Oxford, Florine McKin-
ney, Arthur Jarrett, Edward Everett
Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara Leon-
ard, Sterling Holloway, George Bar-
bier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Caryl Lincoln, Leona Walters, Edna
Waldes.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE THIN MAN"
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy,
Maureen O'Sullivan, Porter Hall,
Edward Ellis, Ray Mayer.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Dashiell Hammett
Producer Hunt Stromberg
Paramount
"MANY HAPPY RETURNS"
Cast: George Burns, Gracie Allen, Joan
Marsh, George Barbier, Ray Milland,
Egon Brecher, William Demarest,
Franklyn Pangborn, Morgan Wal-
lace, Larry Adier, Stanley Fields,
John Kelly, John Arthur, Kennet'h
Thomson, Veioz and Yolanda, Guy
Lombardo's Royal Canadians.
Director Norman McLeod
Original Lady Mary Cameron
Screen Play J. P. McEvoy
and Claude Binyon
Adaptation Keene Thompson
and Ray Harris
Music Arthur Johnston
Lyrics Sam Cosiow
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer William LeBaron
"CLEOPATRA"
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Henry Wil-
coxson, Warren William, Ian Keith,
Leonard Mudie, Irving Pichel, Ger-
trude Michael, Eleanor Phelps, C.
Aubrey Smith, John Rutherford,
Edwin Maxwell, Robert Warwick,
Joseph Schildkraut, Claudia Dell,
Grace Durkin, Ian MacLaren, Ar-
thur Hohl, Charles Morris, Harry
Beresford.
Director Cecil B. DeMille
Adaptation Bartlett Cormack
Screen Play Waldemar Young
and Vincent Lawrence
Photography Victor Milnor
Producer Cecil B. DeMille
"IT AIN'T NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John
Miljan, Katharine DeMille, James
Donlan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke Ellington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown, Stu-
art Holmes, Harry Woods, Edward
Gargan, Warren Hymer, Libby Tay-
lor. -. : - •■/
Director Leo McCarey
Original Screen Play Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthuir Johnston and
Sam Cosiow.
Photography Karl Struss
Producer William LeBaron
"SHE LOVES ME NOT"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Miriam Hopkins,
Kitty Carlisle, Edward Nugent,
Lynne Overman, Warren Hymer,
Henry Stephenson, Maude Turner
_^
April 9. 1934
Page Fifteen
WORK THIS WEEK COMPARED WITH 39 LAST WEEK
Cordon, Margaret Armstrong, Judith
Allen, Vince Barnett, Matt Mc-
Hugh.
Director Elliott Nugent
Original Story Howard Lindsay
Based on Novel by Edward Hofje
Music Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Cordon
Photography Charles Lang
Producer Benjamin Clazer
"THANK YOUR STARS"
Cast: Jack Oakie, Dorothy Deli, Ros-
coe Karns, Arline Judge, Ben Ber-
nie, Alison Skipworth, William
Frawley.
Director Wesley Ruggles
Original Ben Hecht
and Gene Fowler
Screen Play Howard J. Creen
and Claude Binyon
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Leo Tover
Producer Albert Lewis
"KISS AND MAKE UP"
Cast: Cary Grant, Genevieve Tobin,
Helen Mack, Edward Everett Hor-
ton, Lucien Littlefield, Mona Maris,
Rafael Storm, Madame Bonita, Doris
Lloyd, Milton Wallace, Toby Wing,
Rita Could, Katherine Williams, Lu-
cille Lud, Judith Arlen, Joan Gale,
Hazel Hayes, Lu Ann Meredith,
Dorothy Drake, Helene Cohan, Jean
Carmen, Gi Gi Parrish, Ann Hovey.
Betty Bryson, Jacqueline Wells,
Dorothy Christy.
Directors Harlan Thompson
and Jean Negulesco
Original Stephen Bekeffi
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Leon Shamroy
Producer B. P. Schulberg
RKO-Radio
"OF HUMAN BONDACE"
Cast: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis,
Reginald Denny, Alan Hale, Regi-
nald Sheffield, Frances Dee, Kay
Johnson, Reginald Owen.
Director John Cromwell
Original W. Somerset Maugham
Screen Play Lester Cohen
Photography Henry Gerrard
Associate Producer. .Pandro S. Berman
"COCK-EYED CAVALIERS"
Cast: Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey,
Thelma Todd, Dorothy Lee, Robert
Greig, Noah Beery, Henry Sedley,
Jack Norton, Snub Pollard, Billy
Gilbert, Cupid Morgan, Alfred P.
James, Franklyn Pangborn, Frank
Baker.
Director Mark Sandrich
Story and Screen Play: Edward Kauf-
man, Ben Holmes, Ralph Spence.
Photography David Abel
Associate Producer Lou Brock
"SOUR CRAPES"
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook,
Bruce Cabot, Ada Cavell, Steffi
Duna, Theodore Newton, Irene
Hervey, Arthur Hoyt, Oscar Apfel,
William Straus, Frank Darien.
Director Worthington Miner
Play by Vincent Lawrence
Screen Play Ernest Pascal
Photography Roy Hunt
Associate Producer Myles Connoly
"MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD"
Cast: Ednd May Oliver, James Cleason,
Bruce Cabot, Gertrude Michael,
Regis Toomey, Edgar Kennedy, Tully
Marshall, Jackie Searl, Frederick
Vogeding, Barbara Fritchie.
Director George Archainbaud
Novel Stuart Palmer
Screen Play Willis Goldbeck
Photography Nick Musuraca
"VIRCIE WINTERS"
Cast: Ann Harding, John Boles, Helen
Vinson, Betty Furness, Molly O'Day,
Creighton Chaney, Sara Haden,
Maidel Turner, Wesley Barry, Wal-
lis Clark, Edward Van Sloan, Ben
Alexander, Edwin Stanley, Donald
Crisp.
Director : Alfred Santell
Story '. Louis Bromfield
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Lucien Andriot
Producer Pandro S. Berman
"FAMILY MAN"
Cast: Richard Dix, Bruce Cabot, Bar-
bara Kent, Erin O'Brien-Moore,
Edith Fellows, Leonard Carey.
Director John Robertson
Story Salisbury Field
Screen Play ...Sidney Buchman
and Harry Hervey
Photography Teddy Tetzlaff
Producer Myles Connolly
"DOWN TO THEIR LAST YACHT"
Cast: Sidney Fox, Mary Boland, Sidney
Blackmer, Polly Moran, Sterling
Holloway, Ned Sparks, Irene Frank-
lin, Marjorie Gateson, Tom Ken-
nedy, Charles Coleman, Ramsay
Hill, Dot Farley, Phil Dunham, Betty
Farrington, Hazel Forbes, Martin
Cichi, Harry Semels, Maurice Black,
Gi Gi Parrish, Alice Moore, Peggy
Combel, Cynthia Hobart, Virginia
Reid, Maxine Topper, Peter Han-
cock.
Director Paul Sloane
Story Herbert Fields
Screen Play Marion Dix
and Lynn Starling
Photography Eddie Cronjager
Producer Lou Brock
United Artists
Viking Productions
"OUR DAILY BREAD"
Cast: Karen Morley, Tom Keene, Bar-
bara Pepper, John T. Qualen, Addi-
son Richards, Madame Bonita, Harry
Holman, Harold Berquist, Marion
Ballow, Alma Ferns, Three Mills-
field Children, Lionel Baccus, Har-
ris Cordon, Bill Engel, Frank Minor,
Henry Hall, Harrison Greene, Si
Clegg, Roy Spiker, Eddie Baker,
Harry Bernard, Doris Kenter, Flor-
ence Enright, Harry Samuels, Sid-
ney Miller, Nellie Nichols, Frank
Hammond, Lynton Brant, Henry
Burroughs, Harry Brown, Harry
Bradley, Captain Anderson, Alex
Schunberg, Bud Roy, Bob Reeves,
Ed Biel, Jack Baldwin.
Director King Vidor
Author King Vidor
Screen Play Betty Hill
Photography Robert Planck
Producer King Vidor
Universal
"LITTLE MAN. WHAT NOW?"
Cast: Margaret Sullavan, Douglass
Montgomery, Alan Hale, Mae
Marsh, Fred Kohler, Tom Ricketts,
Catherine Doucet, DeWitt Jennings,
Torben Meyer, Frank Reicher, Bodil
Bosing, George Meeker, G. P.
Huntley, Jr.
Director Frank Borzage
Play Hans Fallada
Screen Play... .Wm. Anthony McCuire
Photography Norbert Brodine
Producer Frank Borzage
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby,
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers, Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren, Johnny
Arthur, Arthur Vinton, Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett.
Directors Ray Enright
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"MADAME DU BARRY '
Cast: Dolores Del Rio, Reginald Owen,
Veree Teasdale, Osgood Perkins,
Helen Lowell, Victor Jory, Henry
O'Neill, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Vir-
ginia Sale, Dorothy Tree, Hobart
Cavanaugh, Arthur Treacher, Anita
Louise, Camille Rovelle, Maynard
Holmes, Halliwell Hobbes, Jesse
Scott.
Director Wilhelm Dieterle
Original Screen Play.-Edward Chodorov
Photography Sol Polito
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"HEY SAILOR"
Cast: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien,
Gloria Stuart, Dorothy Tree, Frank
McHugh.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Screen Play Al Cohn, Ben Markson
Photography Arthur Edeson
Supervisor Lou Edelman
Independent Productions
Chesterfield
(Universal Studio)
"CITY PARK "
Cast: Sally Blane, Henry B. Walthall,
Hale Hamilton, Edmund Breese,
Johnny Harron, Matty Kemp, Gwen
Lee, Wilson Benge, Lafe McKee.
Director Richard Thorpe
Original Screen Play Karl Brown
Photography Andy Anderson
Producer George R. Batcheller
Major Productions
(Talisman Studo)
"BROADWAY VIRGIN'
Cast: Dorothy Granger, Betty Compson,
George Meeker, William Bakewell,
Harry Holman, Alphonse Martell.
Director Lou Collins
Novel Lois Bull
Adaptation F. McCrew Willis
Add. Dialogue Joseph O'Donnell
Photography James Brown
Production Manager „. Harry Knight
S'*Si«*S*SS:gS:i;:
■mm
Published Every Monday
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Films
Being an alumnus of a correspond-
ence school — there's plenty I don't
know. ... I've always wondered about
the words on coat of arms of The
Prince of Wales — "Ich Dien." ... I
just found out that it means "I serve"
. . . swell and elegant! . . . I'm going
to find out if it's copyrighted — I'd
like to pass it along to Johnny Arnold
— John Boyle — Elmer Dyer — Frank
Good — Jimmy Van Trees — Vic Milner
— George Schneiderman — Ray June —
Charlie Lang and a few other great
guys who serve (WITHOUT PAY) as
officers of the A.S.C. . . . What these
men are doing for the entire industry
is known to only a few and appreci-
ated by about the same number. . .
They never talk about it — that's why
I'm doing it.
•
Speaking of Columbia — Joe Walker
continues with Grace Moore on the
Schertzinger picture. . . . Al Siegler
returns to turn out another one for
Irving Briskin. . . . Roy Davidson and
Andre Barlatier are at Catalina shoot-
ing backgrounds which will be used in
"Black Moon" to be photographed by
Joe August.
Norb Brodine reigns at Universal in
solitary grandeur — he's the only one
shooting there this day. ... At Para-
mount tests are being shot by Milt
Krasner with Landi in front of his lens
for the Charles Rogers opus "I Loved
an Actress." . . . Vic Milner still play-
ing with Cleo. . . . Henry Sharp pho-
tographing "Many Happy Returns"
and Charles Lang at the cameras for
Bing Crosby in "She Loves Me Not."
Ernie Haller and Tony Caudio spent
last week rehearsing for Sunday's golf
tussle — (See official scores for re-
sults). . . . Arthur Todd, Ira Joe Mor-
gan and George Barnes sleeping late
these mornings — but it won't be long
Ray June with Ray Ramsey and Eli
Fredericks trailing him on location in
Oakland for "Treasure Island." . . .
OIlie Marsh starting "The Merry
Widow" at Emgeeem — Lubitsch di-
recting— grand team. . . . Harry Jack-
son starting at Fox and at the same
plant Louiewilliamo'connell shooting
for Harry Lachman. . . . And by the
time you've read this I'll know more
about the fish stories of Pyramid Lake.
WARNER BROS
Wm. Rees
RKO
Nick Musuraca
Roy Hunt
Teddy Tetzlaff
COLUMBIA
Al Seigler
Joe August
UNIVERSAL
Jack Stevens
FOX
Bert Clennon
Harry Jackson
Theodor Sparkuhl
Ernie Palmer
M. C. M.
OIlie Marsh
THE PERFECT "LIE"
Yesterday the A.S.C. held its first annual golf tournament at the
Hollywood Country Club. Golfers descended on the course as the sun
ascended, and as the last rays of Old Sol died behind the hills, the
last weary foursome plodded up to the score keeper — who totaled
up and found that more than 200 players had done their best — or
worst.
The great sight was Mescal's 20-yard tee shot. Cecil Meyers, of
First National, was low with a 77 — Johnny Fulton, Bert Six, Al
Lebowitz tied at 78. C. L. Lewis, Len Smith, Sherman Clark, E.
Kronenwenth, Bert Clennon, Gordon Jennings totaled in the eighties
for low gross honors. We may have missed a few eighty scores. The
ninety scores were too numerous to mention. The hundred scores
were greater, but everyone had a swell time. The trophies will be
awarded tonight at an open meeting for all members and golfers at
the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
Arkayo Rolling
Several pages have been torn from
the old family almanac since the boys
at R.K.O. have experienced the fast
action launched in the production de-
partment there this week. Roy Hunt
gets going with his focus-eye set on
dainty Diana Wynyard and her first
American leading man, Clive Brook.
Story is ticketed "Sour Grapes."
Nick Musuraca plays spooky shad-
ows again in "Murder on the Black-
board."
Teddy Tetzlaff, who made a swell
name for himself (while photograph-
ing some of Columbia's outstanding
hits during the past five years) now
sets up for ole Bill Eglinton to photo-
graph Richard Dix in "Family Man."
Dave Abel clocking out laughs by
the gross with Wheeler and Woolsey
in "Cavaliers."
Henry Gerrard puts the finishing
touches to "Of Human Bondage,"
while Winnie Wenstrom shoots the
tests for his next production which
gets under way about mid-week.
Sex Question Again
Red Crawford, who is Pev Marley's
assistant, apparently very much
ashamed of himself for leaving the set
so often to run to the telephone,
finally inveigled Harry Davis, Pev's
operative cameraman, to make a call
for him. Davis rushed back out of
breath and excited. "It's here! . . .
Everything's Jake! . . . Boy, are you
lucky?" "What — " whatted Red, "is
it, a boy or a girl?" "Omigosh!" gar-
gled Harry, "I forgot to ask." (Our
reporter also forgot the same impor-
tant question) .
M. C. M. At Tops
Heaviest production scheduled in
more than a year is buzzing along at
the Culver City plant. Cameramen in
actual production: Clyde De Vinna,
Oliver Marsh, Charles Rosher, Ray
June, James Van Trees, Hal Rosson,
Len Smith, Jack Rose and James Wong
Howe. Dan Clark is locationing in
Honolulu, Chet Lyons continues to
struggle along with "Malibou," and
Charlie Clarke postcards from China
that, popular belief to the contrary,
tea is not the national drink.
More Recognition
Our fight (yes sir, we said fight)
for more recognition of the camera-
man hasn't been exactly in vain.
We've carried our point in important
spots during the past year or two and
we popped the buttons right off our
vest at a happy happening Tuesday
night when "House of Rothschild"
opened at the Chinese.
Entering the forecourt of the thea-
tre— through the mob of several
thousand tourist and native spectators
— we observed boss Darryl Zanuck
standing at the head of the camera
and microphone battery line. We were
with Pev and Virginia Marley. A sig-
nal from Mr. Zanuck and Pev and his
bride were being photographed by
twenty cameras and also led before
the "mikes" for a "Hello, everybody."
It's never happened before to ANY
cameraman in Hollywood.
Seitz South
Headed to Panama, Johnny Seitz is
assigned to Henry King's newest pic-
ture, "Marie Gallant," sailing April
eighth for Panama. Seitz will select
locations and photograph preliminary
scenes for the production before being
joined by the troupe, who plan to ar-
rive on location about a week later.
Seitz is accompanied by Joe McDon-
ald, his operative cameraman.
Foxy Clennon
You never know where to find him
next. Now Bert Clennon bobs up
with Fox, where he will direct the
photography on the Irving Cummings
production, "Grand Canary," star-
ring Warner Baxter. Glennon's fine
achievement on the most recent Von
Sternberg-Marlene Dietrich (Para-
mount) picture is creating plenty of
pre-release comment. Glennon has
had an unusually active and successful
year.
Similar Letters
A short time ago we were plenty
thrilled when advised of our election
to honorary membership of A. S. C.
Charlie Lang, Academy award win-
ner for best chotography. was last
week elecred to honorary memoersriip
in Chapter Theta-Psi, U. S. C, a local,
which on Friday, April sixth, went
national, Chi-Phi. Lang formerly
studied law at the college which made
football famous — out here.
(NOTE: Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour. Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION: WHERE AND WHEN IS
DIFFUSION USED TO GREATEST
ADVANTAGE?
JOHNNY STUMAR (Columbia): The
matter of diffusion is solely depen-
dent on the mood of the scene. I
use a certain amount in every scene
I photograph because it takes some
rawness out of the scene. My pref-
erence is gauzes and the various
diffusion discs.
BILL REES (Warner Bros.): In addi-
tion to the regular close-up day
scenes, I like to use diffusion discs
on exterior night effects and fog
effects, because it softens shadows
and tends to deepen the illusion of
night and its attendant invisibility.
MILT KRASNER (Paramount): For
diffusion in my pictures I do not
depend solely on discs or gauze. I
utilize lights as much as possible in
conjunction with my diffusion.
JOE WALKER (Columbia) : I think
the best use of diffusion is to cre-
ate atmosphere and to subordinate
unnecessary detail so that to some
extent each member of the audi-
ence can create his own mental
picture of the scene.
ERNIE PALMER (Fox) : I find that
with the exception of extreme long
shots, practically all scenes need
some diffusion. This, of course,
runs from very light to rather heavy,
according to the subject. Generally
close-up work demands the heaviest
we now use.
KENNETH PEACH (Roach) : In com-
edy work, which constitutes most
of the subjects made at my studio,
very little diffusion is ever used. It
does, however, come in handy on
some of the effect shots used in
musicals made by this studio.
HAL ROSSON (M.G.M.) : Though the
star I am at present photographing
needs very little diffusion, I find
that practically all close-ups and
medium shots need diffusion of
some degree.
Hnfehtno
WARNER BROS.
Tony Gaudio
Wm. Rees
UNIVERSAL
Chas. Stumar
Gil. Warrenton
John Mescall
PARAMOUNT
Milt Krasner
RKO
Henry Gerrard
COLUMBIA
John Stumar
Joe August
UNITED ARTISTS
Pev Marley
Chick McGill
(Tl "-"J ^ HI •-' * v.' fc^ * '
% readtjo dept.
cuLVFJ< cnY, -J a:. IF,
Vol. XX, No. 26. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday. April 10, 1934
MPT€A ^SlS CliAN PICS
Ed Kuykendall Is Re- Elected
President In First Business
Transacted By Convention
•MEMBERS of the Motion Picture
Theatre Owners of America, Holly-
wood welcomes you, this publication
greets you. All of us here in the
production industry hope that your
convention is a great success and that
your hours away from the meeting
rooms will be most entertaining.
There are a hundred and one, or
more questions to be discussed by your
membership during your present meet-
ing; all of them of some importance,
but not one of them as necessary for
the welfare and advancement of this
industry as is the question of DOUBLE
FEATURES. And we have not seen
or heard the slightest hint that this
matter will even be brought up before
your body.
Gentlemen, Hollywood or six Holly-
woods, can not supply the number of
pictures that are required to fill in
your double bills. By pictures, we
mean GOOD PICTURES. It can't be
done. And speaking of Hollywood,
we include all sources of motion pic-
ture supply — the majors, the indepen-
dents and the quickie makers. Holly-
wood never was nor ever will be able
to make 365 pictures a year, of even
fair quality. The combined producers
of this industry have not been able to
turn out even ONE HUNDRED
MONEY MAKERS during a 12-month
period, and by no stretch of the imag-
ination could you gentlemen figure on
FIFTY GOOD PICTURES and certainly
not half that number of HITS.
As a consequence, why must you
encourage the making of bad pictures?
Why must you insist that the studios
turn out groups of pictures that drive
people out of your theatres and away
from your box-offices? Why are you
taxing this industry with more than it
can deliver? And you are doing it by
your play of dual programs.
Talking pictures are tough to make.
They require time, plenty of time, for
preparation. They can not be made
as easily as the old silent pictures of
yesterday. There are not enough
ideas, there are not sufficient stories
to make them at a pace that will per-
mit you to play two on one program.
It's not in the cards. And just as
long as you will book them for double
features, just so long will they be
made — BAD PICTURES. Anything
that you could do here at your con-
(Continued on Page 12)
Exhibs Must Pay
New York. — Estimates issued
today are that the annual cost of
operating the Motion Picture Code
Authority will be $320,000 —
which is to be split, with half
being met by producers and dis-
tributors, and the other half by
exhibitors. This is just an esti-
mate. The final budget will be
set Friday of this week.
MCM Plans to Try
'Postman' on Stage
MGM is considering a way out on
its "Postman Always Rings Twice"
property, which the Hays office
banned. Studio will produce it as a
play, owning the dramatic rights, and
put it on Broadway.
If sufficient interest is aroused by
such a production, the company will
then go to bat in an effort to revamp
it for approval in pictures. Company
has had offers from Sam Harris and
Thomas Mitchell for the dramatic
rights.
Reliance Gets Land!
For 'Monte Cristo'
lEIissa Landi signed with Edward
Small yesterday for the top spot in
"Count of Monte Cristo," Robert
Donat playing opposite her under Row-
land V. Lee's direction. Pat de Cicco,
of the Small-Landau office, set the
ticket.
Lanfields Start East
Sidney Lanfield and his wife left
by train last night for New York on
the first leg of a trip to England,
where Lanfield will direct "Sons o"
Guns" for British and Dominions. Di-
rector will not sail until a writer is
signed here to accompany him to pre-
pare the story en route.
The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America swooped
down on Los Angeles yesterday, captured the Ambassador Hotel
and invaded the studios during the afternoon, following the
meeting of the Board of Directors at which officers for the en-
suing year were elected. A few more
than 200 delegates arrived yesterday.
The results of the balloting were
the re-election of President Ed Kuy-
kendall, M. E. Comerford and A. J.
Brylawski as first and fifth vice-presi-
dents, Fred S. Meyer as secretary,
Walter Vincent as treasurer, and Fred
Wehrenberg as chairman of the
Board. Edward G. Levy remains as
counsel.
(Continued on Page 22)
London Films All
British Finance
London. — With the resignation of
the Italian banker, Toepiitz, from the
board of London Films Produrtions,
the company now goes 1 00 per cent
British finance, with Alexander Korda
elevated to the seat of Managing Di-
rector.
There are two pictures currently in
production for this company: the new
Douglas Fairbanks Sr., production and
the picture that is being made in Mor-
occo.
New Stage at Universal
Universal started construction yes-
terday on a new stage which will con-
vert the oldest stage on the lot into a
modern sound unit. New building
will contain 25,000 square feet of
working space and will cost $75,000.
lATSE Head Fails
To Face Darrow
— William Elliott,
lATSE, did not ap-
Darrow board yes-
he file a brief as
B. S. MOSS PLANS BE-EIVTRY
WITH I\ABORHOOD HOUSES
New York. — B. S. Moss, veteran of
the New York theater field, who be-
gan to withdraw his touches just
about the time the depression hit the
United States, has finally decided to
reenter the picture business, and again
as a theater man, despite the many
rumors about his hankering for pro-
duction.
Moss' first plans will involve the
struction of a half dozen modern
(Continued on Page 22)
Ed Sedgwick Gets His
First Para. Assignment
Charles R. Rogers yesterday signed
Edward Sedgwick to direct Jack Haley
and Mary Boland in "Here Comes the
Groom," which goes into work April
16.
Though Sedgwick has directed pic-
tures for 21 years at all other major
plants, this is his first assignment at
Paramount.
Washington. -
president of the
pear before the
terdiay, nor did
scheduled.
He, with all others in the indus-
try, were given 48 hours to appear,
as after that time the board will hear
no more picture troubles. It plans to
begin serious consideration of all it
has heard and attempt to reach some
unanimous agreement for Darrow to
report to the President.
MCM Sets Dupont for
My Brother's Wife'
E. A. Dupont has been assigned to
direct "My Brother's Wife," which
Lawrence Weingarten will produce for
MGM.
Story is an original by George Auer-
bach, Weingarten's assistant, and is
being scripted by Zelda Sears and Eve
Greene for a Jean Harlow and Clark
Gable vehicle.
Blumenthal Denied
Greenfield Suit Review
Washington. — The U. S. Supreme
Court yesterday denied A. C. Blumen-
thal's application for a review of his
pending suit to recover a share of
$300,000 which Albert M. Green-
field received as part of a stock op-
tion agreement obtained on Fox Film
stock.
MGM After Hopkins
MGM is talking to Paramount with
a view to getting the loan of Miriam
Hopkins for the leading role in "For-
saking All Others." Frank Davis and
Irving Rapper are slated to co-direct.
Services for Turnbull
New Hope, Pa. — Funeral services
for Hector Turnbull, well known pic-
ture executive, will be held here Wed-
nesday afternoon.
I RIAN JAMES NOW producing at UNIVERSAlI
w
Page Two
THE
April 10. 1934
W
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE .Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 5717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyw/ood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone HOIIywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includifig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Hysteria Note: Gene Towne and
Graham Baker sold Warners a story
written around a Chinese lighthouse,
with a Chinese background, of course,
titled "Chinese Light" — and it has
emerged as a prizefighter yarn called
"One Man's Woman" (!) ... Vir-
ginia Gilbert has a lovely singing voice
that seems to be practically undiscov-
ered. . . . Billy Haines and Jimmy
Shields are cavorting in Greece at the
moment . . . and a card from Eleanor
Boardman says she's "out of Spain,
which is full of Spaniards, and having
one swello time in Paris." . . . The
long attachment of a young actress
and a big film man will end soon —
with the gal marrying a much younger
man !
•
Dick Powell has found that purse
of his with the lucky four-leaf-clover
in it — but where he found it would
knock you over! . . . Walter Wanger
is debuting his young brother, Harry,
around town. . . . Joan Crawford (with
her coiffure a la "Little Women")
with Franchot Tone, Lupe and Johnny
Weissmuller, the Bruce Cabots, Mack
Sennett with Vivian Keefer, dancing
around the Cocoanut Grove Satiddy
night. . . . Sam Katz rumored on his
way here for quite a stay. . . The
real reason Harry Cohn went East was
to attend that Gridiron Dinner in
Washington. . . . The Simeon Gests
entertained Albertina Rasch, Dimitri
Tiomkin, Richard Boleslavsky, Coun-
tess Mcllvaine and other pals, for a
real Russian Easter with all the trim-
mings Sunday.
•
When MGM saw the registration
list of exhibitors, it had to reseat the
entire banquet hall for the dinner to-
night— pulling it down from a thous-
and to three hundred! . . . May Sun-
day back from the desert sands — with
the sand out of her throat. . . . Coun-
tess di Frasso, Bert Taylor and Olive
McClure entrain for the East tomor-
row. ... A wire from Dora Joyce
reports Frank slightly improved- — we
don't have to add that we hope it
continues!
PARA 'WE'RE NOT
FORMULA PLOT
N.Y. Indies Still
Talk of Code Suit
New York. — Despite the fact that
two of their members are appointed
on local Grievance and Clearance
Boards, the local independent theatre
organization men are still considering
court action against the code on the
ground that it is unconstitutional.
Decision will be reached this week.
Henry Shiffman and Lawrence Bo-
lognino are the two indies placed on
the boards. The latter is expected to
decline because of ill health.
Seff-Bartlett Team
Manny Seff has been teamed with
Sy Bartlett on the screen play of
"Blondie of Kansas City" at Warners.
It will star Joan Blondell.
Wood Picture Held Up
MGM's "100 Per Cent Pure," Sam
Wood director, is being held up by
Franchot Tone, who is still busy in
"Sadie McKee."
How Did He Know?
A major studio writer lost his
temper in a story conference the
other day, grabbed his script, threw
it out of the window and walked
out. The next day the supervisor
sent for him and said, gently: "You
won't mind if we take you off this
story, will you? We really think
you're not in sympathy with it."
Lee Phelps Heads
Jr. Actors' Guild
After plenty of wrangling and some
hot electioneering, Lee Phelps was
elected president of the Junior Actors'
Guild (extras) at its meeting last
night. Carmel Grady was set in as
first vice-president, and Florence Wix
as the second. Edwin Baker was
elected treasurer.
The voting was so close for the sec-
retarial job that the tellers' commit-
tee is to meet again tomorrow for a
recounting, and members of board of
directors will be announced also.
Today's Convention Program
For M. P. T. 0. A. Delegates
9:00 A. M. Busses will leave the Ambassador Hotel at 9:00 A. M.
sharp on sight-seeing trip to the beaches for delegates' families
and guests.
10:30 A.M. Invocation of Convention opening by Rev. Gustav A.
Briegleb. Convention called to order by B. N. Berinstein, Chair-
man of Convention Committee, who will deliver the opening
address and then will introduce President E. L. Kuykendall,
who will preside. Mr. Kuykendall will then introduce Hon.
Frank L. Shaw, Mayor of Los Angeles, who will give the address
of welcome in behalf of the city.
10:45 A. M. Address of Welcome by Col. Carlos Huntington, repre-
senting the Governor of the State of California.
1 1 :00 A. M. Response on behalf of the M.P.T.O.A. by M. A. Light-
man, Past President of the M.P.T.O.A.
11 :15 A.M. Mr. Kuykendall will introduce M. E. Comerford, of
Scranton, Pa., First Vice-President, to preside.
1 1 :20 A. M. Report of the President, E. L. Kuykendall, President.
1 1 :45 A. M. Report of the Secretary, Fred S. Meyer, Secretary.
12:00 Noon. Report of the Convention Committee, B. N. Berinstein,
Chairman.
12:15 P.M. Mr. Kuykendall will resume the chair and make an-
nouncement of Standing Committees for the Convention:
(1) Credentials and Rules: Chairman, M. E. Comerford, Scran-
ton, Pa.
Resolutions: Chairman, Edward G. Levy, New Haven, Conn.
Grievances: Chairman, Lewen Pizor, Philadelphia, Pa.
NRA Code — Trade Practices: Chairman, Fred S. Meyer,
Milwaukee, Wis.
NRA Code — Labor Provisions: Chairman, Jack Miller, Chi-
cago, III.
Legislation and Taxes: Chairman, M. A. Lightman, Mem-
phis, Tenn.
Public Relations and Community Affairs: Chairman, Fred
Wehrenberg, St. Louis, Mo.
12:20 P. M. "Modern Theatre Construction and Equipment," by
George Shutz, Quigley Publications.
12:30 P. M. Adjourn business session until 10:30 A.M. Wednesday.
1 :00 P. M. Trip to Warner Bros. Studios. Luncheon will be served.
Your Convention Badge identifies you for transportation and
admission to the studios. Our own chartered busses will leave
the Ambassador promptly at 1 :00 P. M.
7:30 P.M. Busses will leave at 7:30 P. M. sharp for Universal
Studio, where a Buffet Dinner will be served, also a dance on
the stage.
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
DRESSING'
MUSICAL
Cast Names Are
A Cinch Big Draw
"WE'RE NOT DRESSING"
(Paramount)
Direction Norman Taurog
Story Benjamin Glazer
Screen Play: George Marion Jr., Horace
Jackson, Francis Martin.
Music and Lyrics.. ..Gordon and Revel
Photography Charles Lang
Cast: Bing Crosby, Carole Lombard,
George Burns, Gracie Allen, Ethel
Merman, Leon Errol, Jay Henry, Ray
Milland, John Irwin, Charles Mor-
ris, Ben Hendricks, Ted Oliver.
The word was spread around Holly-
wood and Westwood yesterday that
the new Bing Crosby picture was go-
ing to be previewed at the Fox-West-
wood The answer was that all the
seats, other than those reserved In the
preview section, were sold out and
occupied by 7 o'clock and a complete
house sellout, standing room and
otherwise, by 7.30. When the pic-
ture went on each of the side aisles
was packed with standees and the
center aisles were littered with boys
and girls sitting on the floor, it was
one of the largest turnouts we have
ever seen for a preview.
And this, Mr. Exhibitor, will prob-
ably happen when you put out the
Crosby banner for this latest Para-
mount "We're Not Dressing," for
that boy has one of the largest sales
of any star in this business right at
this point, but a picture or two or
the quality of "We're Not Dressing"
will kill off that draw.
"We're Not Dressing" is from
Formula 666 further catalogued un-
der the heading of the "Shipwreck —
Deserted Isle Idea." It is no differ-
ent in plot construction or story-tell-
ing than the hundreds of others that
have gone before You know all the
answers after five hundred feet of the
film has been unravelled. Only this
one has Crosby, Carole Lombard,
Ethel Merman and Burns and Allen
and that's something.
Mack Cordon and Harry Revel have
written some catchy tunes, all beau-
tifully sung by Crosby, with the ex-
ception of the one done by Ethel
Merman and Leon Errol, and it was
swell.
Photography was excellent.
Double Feature Exponent
Stretches Out in N. Y.
New York. — Double features are
apt to spread on Broadway, supposed
heart of the amusement sector of the
world. Max Cohen, who has been
operating the Harris and Wallack
Theaters on 42nd Street with double
features has just taken a long term
lease on the Selwyn Theater.
New Vidor Assignment
Charles Vidor is slated to direct on
"A Son Comes Home," under the su-
pervision of Bayard Veiller at Para-
mount as his next assignment.
I
April 10, 1934
THE
Page Three
'WHERE SIIVXERS MEET' FLUFF;
WILD GOLD' PRETTY RAD
Story Admirably
Played, Directed
■'WHERE SINNERS MEET"
(Radio)
Direction J. Walter Ruben
Author A. A. Milne
Adaptation H. W. Hanemann
Art Direction Van Nest Polglase
and Perry Ferguson
Photography Nick Musuraca
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook,
Billie Burke, Reginald Owen, Alan
Mowbray, Gilbert Emery, Phyllis
Barry, Walter Armitage, Katherine
Williams, Robert Adair, Vernon
Steele.
"Where Sinners Meet," based on
"The Dover Road," is A. A. Milne at
his Milne-ist. Which is to say that is
too utterly, utterly whimsy.
It is the meringue without the
lemon pie — whipped cream without
any cake. It is a fairy tale without
the gusty humor and fantastic comedy
that usually accompany a fairy tale.
And whether its lightness of mood,
its skimming sparrow of a plot, its
little chirping dialogue will prove too
effervescent for the theatre-going pal-
ate, accustomed as it is to more lusty
and muscled entertainment, is a ques-
tion that will worry many an exhibi-
tor.
However, the picture is, in its own
peculiar way, rather amusing. The
story at least has the advantage of
being different.
Clive Brook plays Mr. Latimer, an
eccentric millionaire who lives on the
Dover Road, over which most English
couples elope because it connects with
the boat to France. By means of a
"spy" system, Mr. Latimer is in-
formed of the plans of these couples,
made usually in the unthinking ro-
mance of the moment, and he abducts
them to his house where he forces
them to remain for a week of consid-
eration.
Alan Mowbray, eloping with Billie
Burke, Reginald Owen's wife, finds
that her continual fussing and cooing
over him become deadly even in the
short space of a week. Diana Wyn-
yard, eloping with Reginald Owen,
finds that he is unbearable when he
has a cold in the head. While Owen,
hurt because his sneezes don't arouse
sympathy in Miss Wynyard, wel-
comes back the worried, fluttering at-
tentions of his own wife.
Clive Brook plays his role with a
more ease and naturalness than usual;
Billie Burke gives a perfectly delight-
ful performance as the woman who
must always be fussing over some-
body; Miss Wynyard is charming and
expert, giving a good deal of warmth
to a rather colorless role; Alan Mow-
bray is excellent as always, and Regi-
nald Owen's characterization of the
dull, stupid, sneezing Romeo is com-
pletely amusing. Gilbert Emery, as
the butler, is outstandingly effective.
j. Walter Ruben directed with the
light touch the story demands; H. W.
Hanemann adapted the Milne play;
Nick Musuraca's photography is in-
triguingly stunning.
Crauman Happy
Sid Crauman is happy. The ad-
vance seat sale on "Rothschild" has
caused the old maestro to put a
fresh coat of paint on the side of
the Chinese, announcing that the
picture is there for a season, with
seats eight weeks in adaance.
This is the first time the build-
ing has been used for a painted sign
for the past two years.
Mono-Division
Trouble Fixed Up
Atlantic City. — The rift that deveF-
oped between Monogram Pictures and
First Division Pictures, and Ray John-
ston and Harry Thomas has been fixed
up and First Division continues to dis-
tribute Monogram attractions in the
Greater New York territory.
The cause of the rift was the rumor
that First Division, with its series of
exchanges throughout the country, had
decided to go into production on its
own and form a competing production-
distributing organization to Mono-
gram.
Although there is a clause in the
Monogram contract that cancels it
only by mutual consent of both par-
ties, it evidently meant nothing in this
breach between the two companies.
But Harry Thomas, of First Divi-
sion, and Ray Johnston, of Monogram,
got together here at the convention
and everything Is now hunky-dory.
Vince Barnett Saved
from Fire by LaRue
Vince Barnett was knocked out by
smoke and rescued by Jack LaRue
when Eddie Brandstatter's house near
Barstow burned down Sunday. Flames,
caused by a defective flue, swept the
house before its source could be found.
Party, hunting over the week-end,
included Mattie Brooks, Irving Pilson
and Mort Mandel.
Staub on Way Here For
Warner Color Shorts
New York. — Ralph Staub has left
for the coast to continue his direc-
tion of Warner shorts that was in-
terupted here by the temporary shut-
down of the Warner Brooklyn stu-
dio.
He will direct two musical shorts
that are to be done in Technicolor.
Lawyers Plague Para.
New York. — Though there is still
some doubt as to whether the Root,
Clark, Buckner law firm will get the
$125,000 fees it asked in the
Paramount receivership case, the firm
yesterday put in an additional bill of
$18,266. The referee has the new
bill under consideration.
Mintz Back at Work
Sam Mintz reported back to Radio
yesterday after a three-day absence
nursing an attack Df tonsilitis. He
takes up where he left off on the
script of "By Your Leave."
Cast dould Not
Overcome Story
"WILD COLD"
(Fox)
Direction George Marshall
Screen Play Lester Cole
and Henry Johnson
Photography Joseph Valentine
Cast: John Boles, Claire Trevor, Harry
Green, Monroe Owsley, Roger Im-
hof, Ruth Gillette, Edward Gargan,
Suzanne Kaaren, Wini Shaw, Elsie
Larson, Blanca Vischer, Gloria Roy,
Myra Bratton.
It seems doubtful that there was
ever an actual script for this picture,
it has all the earmarks of something
that was made up as they went along.
Against a topical background, that
of the modern-day gold fields where
armies of unemployed pan a meager
living from abandoned '49 claims,
there has been patterned a tale that
passes belief and very nearly passes
understanding. It has all of the fa-
miliar elements of a score of good
mellers, strung together so Inexpertly
that the result will confuse any au-
dience. As the picture doesn't know
itself where it is going, how can any-
one else tell?
Roger Imhof contributes the only
sustained characterization in his
role of a desert prospector and he is
killed before the plot has run half
its course. His death, by the way, is
twice regrettable, first, because of the
hole left in the cast, and secondly,
because it offers an excuse for a musi-
cal show, perhaps the worst moti-
vated excuse yet devised.
For the rest of the story or rather
several half-developed stories, there is
John Boles as a drunken construction
engineer who never succeeds in win-
ning back sympathy after his childish
behavior with the girl (who couldPI :
Claire Trevor as the dance-hall sin^^er
married to Monroe Owsley, an even
dirtier dog than usual; and Harrv
Green, proprietor of a stranded musi-
cal troupe, who becomes proprietor of
nearly every other business. Second
honors, such as thev are, belong to
Green. With Imhof, he stages a bar-
room cracker race that is the one
highlight of the evening.
The story had Director George
Marshall, in common with the cast,
stymied before it started. That he
was able to get anything at all out
of it is an achievement. Joe Valen-
tine's camera work is very good and
the miniatures for the dam break are
splendid.
Cutting can do out little to rem-
edy such an obvious flop, but it is
respectfully suggested that the musi-
cal scoring, which suddenly breaks out
after Claire Trevor has knocked Boles
cold, could be eliminated. And nol
missed.
The locale of California's gold
fields for the unemployed offers nu-
merous sales angles. A picture should
be made about it sometime.
Karloff Losing *Em
Boris Karloff goes to the Good Sa-
maritan Hospital tomorrow for a ton-
silecfomy.
For years now, everyone has ex-
pressed himself at one time or another
on the subject of the opera and what
could be done about it. Leopold Sto-
kowski was supposed to be experi-
menting with the idea of having all
the singers in the orchestra pit, while
attractive looking actors engaged in
drama on the stage, and rumor had
even gone so far as to state that Mr.
Stokowski was considering opera
through the medium of the screen.
But that was all talk. However, while
we were all talking, William deMille
got to work on the idea and sold it
to some entrepreneurs (backers to
you), and has just finished a sample
in one reel of what opera will be like
in the talkies. This sample will be
released by Educational Pictures in
the Treasure Chest series and is worth
serious consideration.
•
DeMille chose to start off with a
couple of scenes from "Pagliacci" and
in the title role is Henry Hull. Clara
Beranger has done the scenario and
John Erskine haS written an English
libretto for it. Alexander Smallens,
of the Philadelphia Symphony, is the
director of the orchestral accompani-
ment, and the singers were all drafted
from the operatic stage. And while
capable actors visually work out the
drama for you, excellent singers inter-
pret the actions musically, and the
result is decidedly pleasant and enter-
taining. The only objection we could
find was in the use of sub-titles, but
it seems to us that the sub-titles were
necessary due to the fact that the
entire opera was not performed, be-
cause surely, with the text in English,
there is no necessity for adding an
English libretto in the form of written
titles and explaining the obvious.
•
Outside of that, however, the ex-
periment is all to the good and we're
anxous to see an entire opera done
in the same manner. John Erskine's
translation is not only good, but sings
well and can certainly be better un-
derstood than most operas written in
English. We have yet to be able to
understand more than a stray word or
two of Edna St. Vincent Millay's script
of the "King's Henchman." And
despite the fact that Henry Hull goes
in for plenty of emoting as the clown
with the breaking heart, it's still a
hundred percent better than watching
a tenor, and oh, the joy of not having
to peer down dark and empty throats
while somebody warbles away or grips
a high note very much sostenuto.
•
Leo Bulgakov, who produced and
directed the highly successful "One
Sunday Afternoon," will be on his way
to the Coast any minute now and
probably for Columbia. . . . Capt. Jef-
ferson Davis Cohen is still a house
guest of A. C. Blumenthal, and Blu-
mey gets first hand accounts of the
President's fishing ability from Willie
Stewart, who is a guest on the Nour-
mahal. . . . And speaking of the Presi-
dent, a writer was challenged the
other day when he claimed that Holly-
wood had changed, so he explained
(Continued on Page 10)
JOHN M. STAHL
III
JOHN
M. STAHL PRODUCTIONS
FOR UNIVERSAL
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STRICTLY DISHONORABLE
NLY YESTER
In preparation
Fanny Hurst's "IMITATION OF LIFE"
CARL LAEMMLE presents
EDNA FERBER'S
Produced by
B. F. ZEIDMAN
With
PAUL LUKAS
CONSTANCE
CUMMINCS
PHILLIP REED
JOSEPH CAWTHORN
Directed bv
WILLIAM WYLER
Screen Play by DORIS ANDERSON
Continuity by GLADYS UNCER
W^'M
Booked in the World's Biggest Theatre
CARL LAEMMLE presents
A DISTINCTIVE PICTURIZATION
OF A WIDELY READ STORY IN
WHICH ROMANCE, DRAMA, MUSIC,
HEART APPEAL, COMEDY ARE SO
CLEVERLY INTERWOVEN THAT,
WITH A REAL BOX OFFICE TITLE,
''GLAMOUR'' POSSESSES ALL THE
ELEMENTS OF A TRULY GREAT BIG
ATTRACTION FOR ANY THEATRE . .
EDNA
F E S
CUM
PHILLIP REED, JCS
U N I VE
^ADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
3 E R ' S
LUKAS
>TANCE
MINGS
H CAWTHORN, DORIS LLOYD
ISAL PICTURE
Directed by
WILLIAM WYLER
Screen Play by
DORIS ANDERSON
Continuity by
GLADYS UNCER
Photographed by Settings by
GEORGE ROBINSON CHARLES D. HALL
B.
Produced by
F. ZEI DM AN
V.AKL LAC/VI/VILC //i^«^3cr#f«3
EDNA FERBER'S
With
PAUL LUKAS and!
CONSTANCE CUMMINCS
DIRECTED
by
WILLIAM
W Y L E R
I
u
JOHN BARRYMORE
in
COU NSELLOR-AT-LA W"
\\
If
W
Now Preparing
MARCEL PAGNOL'S
FANNY
and
Universalis Most Pretentious
Historical Drama
SUTTER'S COLD
11
UNDER CONTRACT TO
UNIVERSAL
iiaiiiiiiimii
I
Page Ten
April 10, 1934
WOMEN'S
PICTURES
Warner Brothers
Worst Offenders
The group of organizations of
women which makes a practice of re-
viewing motioa pictures, looked over
343 features during the past year and
decided that 55 of them were not
suitable for public consumption be-
cause of "objectionable themes or un-
savory treatment."
There were several others which
were passed by the group in spite of
the fact that they were found to con-
tain some objectionable features
which could easily have been omitted
without affecting the entertainment
value.
Of the 55 disapproved, the largest
number from any one studio came
from Warner-First National, which
had fifteen in the objectionable cate-
gory. Paramount had 13, Fox had
seven, MCM had seven. Radio had six,
Universal three, Columbia two.
In view of the industry's contin-
uous fight against censorship, such
figures are dangerous, according to re-
ports made tojhe Hays office by Dr.
James Wingate. His report takes
some of the Warner pictures as ex-
amples of what should not be made,
and he states that the censors in sev-
eral places cut some of the product
of this studio to ribbons.
The most deeply cut picture on the
list is "Convention City," which
stung the various censorship boards
into putting it through the wringer.
As high as three pages of cuts were
ordered in such territories as Chicago
and Ohio. British Columbia banned it
entirely on the grounds that "depiction
of a 'convention of lecherous sales-
men,' as described by one of the ac-
tresses in dialogue, seems fitting and
would make this orgy of drunkenness
and sensuality unsuitable for family
theatres. Sufficient eliminations
would make the picture useless from
entertainment angle."
Warner's "Heat Lightning" even
got a rise out of the Hays stronghold.
New York, where eleven deletions
were compelled before the picture
got through to the exhibitors.
Pennsylvania ripped into "The Big
Shakedown," slicing it with two
pages of ordered eliminations. Ohio
treated "Heat Lightning" in the
same manner, extending itself in the
case of "I've Got Your Number," on
which three pages of deletions were
slapped on before it got by
Some of the other pictures and the
criticisms were: —
Baby Face: — "Sex angle decidedly
offensive."
Bedside: — "Unwholesome theme."
Easy to Love: — "Unwholesome."
Ex-Lady: — "Sex emphasis — un-
wholesome."
Goodbye Again: — "Offensive lines
and situations."
Havana Widows: — "Offensive
theme and dialog.
Lily Turner: — "Unwholesome sex
treatment."
She Had to Say Yes: — "Risque —
suggestive."
The women's groups which con-
curred in these opinions are D. A. R.:
National Society of New England
CLUBS FIND 16% OF
TOO BAD TO SDOW
Mary Hears from Doug
New York. — Mary Pickford cel-
ebrated her forty first birthday
here today— -and not the least
pleasant part of the day was the
fact that she had received flowers
and cables from Douglas Fairbanks.
The fact was made known to the
papers without comment.
Turnbull Play on
H. B. Franklin List
New York. — -The plans of H. B.
Franklin, former picture theater exec-
utive, and Arch Selwyn, for stage pro-
ductions have reached the point of
signing Harry Wagstaff Gribble to di-
rect two plays for them next season.
The vehicles at present on the list
are "The Lady Is Tired" by Frances
Marion, screen writer, and a drama-
tization of the book "Cora Potts," by
Hector Turnbull, well known picture
producer who died Sunday.
Wild Cargo' Held Over
In Several Cities
New York. — "Wild Cargo" is be-
ing held over for second week at the
Music Hall, here and also in Keith's
in Washington and the Golden Gate
in San Francisco.
Frank Buck will make six weeks'
personal appearances at the Palace
Theatre in Chicago, San Antonio, Fort
Worth and Los Angeles.
Segall Dialogues
MGM's 'Corespondent'
Harry Segall has just completed the
dialogue writing job on "Professional
Corespondent," which will be direct-
ed by Harry Beaumont, with Loretta
Young, May Robson, Franchot Tone,
Ted Healey, Patsy Kelly and C. Henry
Gordon in the cast.
Cohen Signs Brown
Maury Cohen, producer of Invinci-
ble Pictures, has signed Karl Brown
to write an original story to follow
"Fifteen Wives," which is scheduled
to go before the cameras shortly.
Brown's story is entitled "Anything
Once."
Mrs. Belmont at A.M.P.A.
New York. — Mrs. August Belmont
will speak to more than 1,000 peo-
ple of the motion picture industry, in-
cluding executives and leading produ-
cers, at the annual dinner of the
AMPA in Hotel Astor, April 21.
Women; General Federation of Wom-
en's Clubs, west coast committee;
California Congress of Parents and
Teachers;; National Council of Jew-
ish Women, Los Angeles section;
Women's University Club of Los An-
geles; United Church Brotherhood,
representing California and Los An-
geles federations; National Catholic
Council of Women, California com-
mittee; American Library Associa-
ton. These organizations see these
pictures under the guidance of Mrs.
Thomas G. Winter.
Pulpifs Selling
Rothschild' Pic
New York. — Rabbi Stephen Wise
used as his sermon here Sunday, "The
House of Rothschild," dwelling on the
merits of the picture and suggesting
that every person in the synagogue
go to see the picture at the Astor and
cause others to see it.
iLos Angeles. — Rev. G. A. Briegleb,
rector of St. Paul's Presbyterian
Church, not only used "The House of
Rothschild" as a topic for his sermon
Sunday, but questioned his congrega-
tion on the historTcal characters on
which the picture was based and
handed out three pairs of seats to
those giving the best answers. He
also ran an ad in Saturday's papers,
announcing his intended discussion of
the picture.
Universal Trying to
Sign Louis Heyward
London. — Louis Heyward, currently
in Noel Coward's "Conversation
Piece" here, has been approached by
Dave Bader of Universal to sign a five-
year contract, with the young actor
shrugging his shoulders at the jeal.
Curiously enough, Paramount's
scout this side tried to interest the
coast in Heyward with Marathon
Street turning down the idea.
'Rip Tide' Crabs
Frisco Records
San Francisco. — The MCM pro-
duction of "Rip Tide" sort of ripped
the Warfield records for the past 14
months during its first three-day
showing.
The picture opened to $3800 Fri-I
day, jump>ed to $5,000 Saturday and|
did a Sunday gross of $4,700.
New York. — "Rip Tide," going'
into the second week at the Capitol,
did $23,000 on Saturday and Sun-
day, just a little over $1,000 short
of the first Saturday and Sunday.
Tacoma. — The Metro-Coldwryn-
Mayer production of "Rip Tide"
knocked off one of the best weeks
for this spot in a long time. The
audience went for the picture in a
big way and its run is a cinch to stim-
ulate picture-going for some time.
Fain Dons Crease Paint
Sammy Fain, song-writer, turns ac-
for with a part in "Dames," Warners.
New York
(Continued from Page 3)
that it was different because under
the NRA all the stupidity had been
organized! . . . Pola Negri is full of
claims these days; says she's going to
marry McCormick in May and go to
Hollywood in June and that she has
the picture rights to "Enter Madame."
. . . Julie Hornblow, just arrived in
New York, looking over the new bar
at the Elysee with Marion Saportas.
The bar is right cute, with monkeys
carrying on all over the walls.
MEMBERS OF THE M.P.T.O.A.
Don't Leave Hollywood
WITHOUT VISITING
The Vendome
It's One Of America's Greatest Food
Emporiums And The Gathering Place
Of This Industry's Highlights.
IT'S EASY TO FIND
6666 SUNSET BOULEVARD
Phone Hollywood 1666
THE PRODUCERS
OF AMERICA'S
OUTSTANDING
PICTURE
)
House
i
othschild
WELCOMES
M. P. T. O. A
TO HOLLYWOOD
Page Twelve
THE
April 5, 1934
OPEN FORIIM
ESSANESS THEATRES CORPORATION
540 North Michigan Avenue
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Superior 9420
April 5, 1934.
Dear Mr. Wilkerson:
I wonder if you realize how important and potent the subject, and the
manner in which you describe it, contained in your trade news of March 30th,
really is.
Your paper, to which I have subscribed for a long time, is informative and
valuable. On an average you do, without exception, give us the best reports
on pictures, but when you attack the double-feature situation you are attacking
one of the twin cancers of the busi-
Quittner Anti-Trust
Lionel Barrymore
25 Years in Pics
Lionel Barrymore today cele-
brates the 25th anniversary of his
first appearance in pictures. His
first film was "The New York
Hat" and Mary Pickford was in
the cast. His current one is "100
Percent Pure," with Jean Harlow.
ness, the other being ridiculously
cheap admission prices which prevail
in some territories.
Two bad pictures do definitely
more harm than does one bad picture.
This policy has a two-bladed effect,
because it drives people away from
theatres and it gives the opportunity
to the producer of an inferior picture
to get revenue which would otherwise
not be available. As long as they can
salvage production cost and make a
profit at the same time producers are
not going to worry as much about an
inferior quality as they would if they
were penalized for a poor picture by
losing money with it. The indepen-
dent producer-distributor expects to
be protected against an anti-double-
feature plan, so that he can dispose
of pictures which cannot receive play-
ing time otherwise. After all, a good
picture will always be booked and in-
dependents would, undoubtedly, be
better off making one good picture
than twelve mediocre productons,
which build no stars, develop very
little talent in any other respect, and
cannot do any particular good for the
industry. It is true that the double-
feature advocate will cite New Eng-
land, where this policy has been in
vogue for years, but I cannot help but
feel that the only reason it is still
in existence there is because the ex-
hibitors, as a whole, in that terri-
tory have been sticking to the line of
least resistance and have been afraid
to take a definite stand and give their
public a chance to prove to them that
they would rather have a well-bal-
anced program of one feature and
shorts than their present policy.
There are any number of pictures
coming through from major compa-
nies this year which, undoubtedly,
would have been shelved if there were
not so much double-feature time
available.
Other industries are trying to ele-
vate the quality of their product and
the plane of their merchandising, but
in this business far too many are still
sticking to double-fea<ures and when
that fails to pull they, in some ter-
ritories, are resorting to 10 cent ad-
mission prices and the giving away of
every conceivable kind of gifts from
chinaware and crockery to clothing.
Such procedure is the worst kind of
merchandising and is bound to act as
a steady drain on the appeal of the
motion picture to the public
I would suggest that when the
M.P.T.O.A. convenes in your city next
week you get in touch with Mr. Jack
Miller of Chicago, at the Ambassa-
dor, who can give you definite infor-
mation regarding the situation in Chi-
cago, where major product is not dou-
ble-featured and motion picture ex-
Two British Pictures
On Double Bill in N.E.
Springfield, Mass. -^Probably for
the first time, two British pictures
were shown on a double bill at the
Broadway Theatre here. They were
"The Choul" and "Orders Is Orders,"
both made by British Caumont.
Suit Is Still Alive Kelton Extends Tour
New York. — After the majors had
figured they won a complete victory
in the Quittner anti-trust suit a new
angle has cropped up. Quittner has
resorted to the pauper privileges on
appeals and his case will step further
for another hearing in the United
States Circuit Court of Appeals.
By using the "pauper" basis for ap-
peal the complainants will save about
$10,000 in legal fees. It is expected
that the argument on appeal will
come up about June or July.
Four Carroll Girls Stay
Anyo Faranda, one of the eleven
Earl Carroll beauties brought out here
for Paramount's "Murder at the Van-
ities," is sick in her apartment with
flu and consequently was unable to
leave when seven of the girls returned
home. Miss Faranda and three other
girls will remain here in the hopes
of getting picture breaks.
Zeida Sears Abroad
Zelda Sears has been granted a
leave of absence from her MCM writ-
ing ticket and is set to take a trip
with her husband to Great Britain.
They leave in three weeks.
Spence Goes to MGM
Ralph Spence yesterday checked in
at MCM to handle the dialogue job
on the screen play of "Student Tour,"
which Monta Bell is producing.
Wead-Reyher on 'Ace'
Frank Wead and Ferdinand Reyher
check in at Fox today to write the
screen play for "The Ace," which Al
Rockett is producing. The Edington
and Vincent office set the ticket.
Delmars on Vacation
Vina Delmar, her husband and son
left yesterday for a vacation at Palm
Springs.
hibition is on a more intelligent plane
than any other large city in the
United States. Furthermore, nothing
is done unless the majority of the
exhibitors in this city concur.
This is the first letter that I have
ever written to a trade journal and
it is prompted because of my pride
in and respect for the business and
disgust with practices going on in
certain parts of the country.
Yours very truly,
Essaness Theatres Corporation,
EDV/IN SILVERMAN, President
Radio has given Pert Kelton per-
mission to extend her personal ap-
pearances another week, the player
hopping from Chicago to Buffalo, for
an extra week on a deal booked by
Beyer- MacArthur. She returns April
23 to go into "Great American
Harem."
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
vention and follow up after you get
back home will be of little benefit
unless you get BETTER PICTURES,
and that won't be done if you force
the producers to turn out more than
they are able to make.
One bad picture on a program is
pretty tough, but when you have two
bad ones, it's more than twice as bad.
And you know and we know that you
can't get two good pictures for any
one program without robbing yourself
of a good attraction later. Assuming
you have one good picture and you
double it up with a bad one, what is
the effect? The same as if you had
a couple of palookas instead of one.
Any of you, all of you, are kidding
yourselves when you argue that you
can make more money with a program
of two features and an assemblage of
shorts, even if they are all GOOD,
than you could with a single feature
of QUALITY and a surrounding pro-
gram of short reels. And the funny
part of it all is that you can't run a
double feature policy and get satisfy-
ing entertainment.
You are also kidding yourself with
the chatter that you have to run dou-
ble bills to compete with your oppo-
sition. That's bunk! If you could
get one good picture a week, or an
engagement, your competitor with his
double bills would have to close his
theatre or meet your competition with
GOOD ENTERTAINMENT.
Nothing matters in this business but
GOOD PICTURES. All your codes,
your clearances, your labor problems,
block booking and everything that
goes with them, mean nothing if you
can't get good pictures, and the longer
you pursue the policy of running two
pictures on the same program, just so
long will you keep people, who are
seeking entertainment, out of your
theatre.
KILL THAT DOUBLE FEATURE
EVIL!
'Rothschild' Gets
$24,131 in Its First
Week at Chinese
The Twentieth Century Production
of "The House of Rothschild," re-
leased through United Artists, re-
stored prosperity to Grauman's Chi-
nese Theatre here last week with a
take of $24,131 for the first seven
days. This is more than $7,000 bet-
ter than the first week of the pre-
vious attraction and $3,000 better
than any picture that has played the
house during the past 14 months.
Vv^eekend business in New York,
Boston and Cleveland, the three other
key spots now running the picture,
topped the business of last weekend,
according to reports from U. A. home
office.
The picture opens at San Francisco,
April 17.
Thurman Novel Sold
Bryan Foy has just sold the latest
novel of Wallace Thurman, "The In-
terne," to Macauley for publication.
Thurman, former U.S.C. athlete, wrote
"Sterilization" and is now collaborat-
ing with Crane Wilbur on "High
School Girl."
WML
JNTHEATRE *
244 So. Robertson Blvd.,
Beverly Hills
Two blocks south of Wilshire
THE STOOGE"
By Claude Binyon
and Joseph Mankiewicz
OPENING TOMORROW EVENING
For a Limited Engagement
For Reservations Phone OX 2280
REVEL
TRAVEL SERVICE
6724 Hollywood Blvd. HO. 2241
(HOTEL CHRISTIE)
Travel Specialists
Catering especially to people of
the motion picture industry
Let us handle all the details
No extra charge
Planes, Steamship, Bus, Hotel Reserva-
tions, Cars Rented With or Without
Chauffeur. Free Travel Information.
INTERNATIONALLY REPRESENTED
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
VISITING MEMBERS
of the
M. P. T. O. A
NOW AT FOX
on a loan from
Twentieth Century
FRONT PAGE News Everywhere is 2('
ere ts
'Marches On
1
(l/Is Time, country's No. 1 news-
maga:(tney deems Darryl F, Zanuck^s
production of GEORGE ARLISS
in ''THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD**
most important news of weekly devotes
front cover and Jive columns of space to
smash hit now in its Jifth capacity-
plus week^ ^t the two-a-day Astor
on Broadway.
Released thru
UNITED ARTISTS
Presented hy Joseph M. Schenck^
(^entury and its rarade of TIMELY HITS !
]MmFAWJCMmmt'^
iMiMm.
r ^
RKO-RADIO EXTENDS
.t
1933-34
PRODU
..EXHIBITOR
IS GREETINGS! . . . .
WE PROMISED YOU
riONS...NOT PREDICTIONS
[
CNOW THAT RKO-RADIO HAS KEPT ITS WORD
Page Eighteen
April 10, 1934
PEEKING AROIIXD PARIS
Some affair for Universal at newly
inaugurated Club d'Artois, with glare
of projectors, and society folks in
white ties and gorgeous dresses an-
nouncing opening of "S.O.S. Iceberg"
and bringing movement into otherwise
quiet section. . . . Paul Kohner, pro-
ducer of "S.O.S.," makes appointment
with friends from foreign countries for
opening — but Mrs. can't miss him in
St. Moritz — so here you are. . . .
Friedland, Keller, Perez, Chalmandier
and all the misses and Mrs. from the
"U" office looking like a million just
for the fun of it. . . . Albert Marx
brings us regards from Dave Bader.
. . And do they go hard for Para-
mount's old stuff; you should hear
them scream at "Studio 28" when
the tragedeee of Uncle Tom (edition
1905!!) passes on the white sheet.
. . . With "Duck Soup" on the bill,
program is a real wow. . . Edouard
Cross (why wasn't he born in Creen-
wich Village!) doesn't know a word
of English, but understands films. . . .
That's why he delivers always genuine
entertainment; now, boys, give the
Paris showman a real hand.
•
(RKO) Leasin off on a trip AGAIN.
It's FLY INC DOWN TO — Austria this
time — and (Columbia) Zama back
from London instead with Juan Ber-
rone under his arm. . . . Speaking of
Berrone, remember he's a great sculp-
tor and a bigger film man yet. . . .
Here in Paris he's producing; in Italy
and Switzerland distributing, and in
Belgium he's going to DO big things.
. My goodness, Hollywood has come
to life in Paris at the American Hos-
pital gala of "Roman Scandals" with
bunch of cutest looking nurses selling
programs. . . . Richard Arien and his
Mrs. strolling down Blvd. des Itaiiens
— almost like love birds. . . . Harry
Blue and Bob Robson are crazy about
Paris even before leaving the station.
. . . Everybody would — having a well
signed up job in Europe's show win-
dow. . . . Tarara, Tarara! Max Fried-
land is here again — and didn't speak
to press since visit to Pa Laemmle.
There must be big things brewed on
the fourth floor of the Trudaine build-
ing with Friedland holding key of de-
cisions.
•
The Souhami-Paramount fight gets
plenty of publicity and gossip with
Lange, new Para, boss, quite annoyed.
, . . Kastner hopping off to Brussels
to study Belgian situation of United.
. . . Coldwyn as magnanimous with
publicity for Anna Sten in Europe as
he's been in America; and the boys of
the pen don't dislike it, honestly they
don't. . . . The Bal des Petits Luts
Blanc was an immense affair. . . .
Leave it to Bailby, me boys. ... A big
friend of the films and film people, he
always gets the cream of creams
among artists and performers. . . .
Cameramen just raving of marvelous
shooting conditions given to them
with lights enough to flood three Hol-
lywood premieres. . . . Just take a
peek at those newsreel sequels made
by Fox, Paramount, etc., and you will
attend to good two-reelers of genuine
attractions.
•
Brigitte Helm, having specially
driven down in her car from Berlin,
Nazis Censor Selves
But Not Abroad
Berlin. — The German govern-
ment isn't doing any worrying
about foreign morals, judging from
the new film law.
One section makes allowance for
the difference in moral views in
various countries and permits the
office of the censor to approve for
release abroad pictures not consid-
ered suitable for home moral con-
sumption.
Big Scandal Due on
French Censorship
Paris. — The French republic lives
under the sign of cleaning up. The
Stavisky affair has called the public
attention to the fact that certain in-
fuences could always be bought
through politcians.
This awakening having spread over
the film industry, a big scandal is
on the point of breaking out, due to
the accusations which are going to
be launched by certain companies
against unfair methods within the
French censorship board.
Mendes Has Finished
'Jew Suss' for Caumont
London. — Lothar Mendes has com-
pleted "Jew Suss" for British Cau-
mont at a cost of $500,000. Conrad
Veidt has the lead. As a token of
appreciation. Cameraman B e r n i e
Knowles gave Mendes a gold foun-
tain pen on the day the last shot was
made.
New Danish Company
Copenhagen. — A new Danish com-
pany, the Film and Emulsion Factory,
has been organized here for the pur-
pose of manufacturing and trading in
photographic film, emulsion and allied
articles.
gets big hand, showing that French-
men are gentlemen and forget poli-
tics. And is the big Brigitte timid —
and grateful! She understands. . . .
Saint Cranier as funny as ever as con-
ferencier. . . . Some sport this French
Cancan (the original) is doing, jump-
ing like the "Mexican jumping
beans." . . And is Madeleine Renaud,
famous "La Maternelle" star, charm-
ing, appearing on the Pont d'Argent
(Silver Bridge) with Poil de Garotte,
Lynen and little Paulette Elambert at
each hand. . . . Entire cast of "Les
Miserables" looks like a million. . . .
And Lisette Lanvin and Gaby Morlay
and almost everyone of name in Paris
film colony is her? — well dressed and
joyful. . . . Harry Bauer, always most
popular even among colleagues, domi-
nating crowd of male film stars by
stature and distinction. . . . Well, here
is the business-film-circle too: Gallo,
Kamenka, Lange, Klarsfeld, Keim,
Natan, Vandal — you couldn't find
them all in this moving ocean of
heads. . . . Better let's drink another
glass of champagne — and live in new
expectation of the next year's affair.
. . . And Herve Lauwick should pilot
us — to all the nice debutantes.
GOVT. I]\ FVLL CUARGE
OF GERMAN PRODIJCTIO]^ L
Berlin. — The new German film law, '
which became effective on March 1 ,
1 934, gives the Government complete
control of every phase of motion pic-
ture production in Germany.
The Government is said to consider
itself responsible to a great extent
for the welfare of the moving pic-
ture industry, since motion pictures
are considered a good medium for ad-
vancing national aims and ideas, as
well as an instrument of culture.
Until the effective date of the new
law, film production was completed
before the picture was shown to the
censors. In case of total rejection of
a film the entire amount of time,
work and capital invested in produc-
tion was lost. The new law provides
for a Federal Film Critic who will
work under the orders of the Fed-
eral Ministry for propaganda and Pub-
lic Enlightenment. The work of the
Film Critic will consist of assisting
the film industry in all dramatic ques-
tions; providing advice regarding
manuscripts and arrangement of film
subjects; examining manuscripts and
scenarios submitted by the industry
to determine if they are in accord-
ance with the new law; advising pro-
ducers of objectionable films as to
necessary changes and preventing the
production of objectionable pictures.
The responsibility for permission of
a film rests entirely with the presi-
dent of the Berlin censor office. This
official will be in a position to rely
on the assistance and cooperation of
four experienced persons from the
film trade, art, and literature, on
whom he can call for this purpose.
While these men formerly had a voice
in the approval or rejection of films,
their activity will now become mere-
ly advisory.
Flaherty to Launch
His Picture in New York
London. — With the intention of
being on the spot for the New York
preview of his new pic, "Man of
Aran," and to give it a personal ex-
ploitation boost. Bob Flaherty will go
to New York after the British preview
here.
Flaherty is said to have another
winner in his "Man of Aran" follow-
ing the same style of subject as his
"Moana."
Big Italian Loss
Rome — Statistics now being com-
piled indicate that the Italian film
industry took a loss of more than 72 j
million lire during the year 1933.
This is more than double the loss of
1932 and is 72 times as great as that
of 1931 when only one million lire
was chalked in the red.
Welch to Expand
London. — Howard Welch, recently
making quotas here for Columbia, has |
laid plans for the making of more
expensive features during the coming
year. He plans to spend approxi- .
mately $100,000 on each production. I
ATTENTION MR, EXHIBITORII
If you must be refreshed . .
Get it from
The Vendome
Whose cellars have the widest selection
of fine Wines and Spirits of any house
in America.
Come In And Look At Our Stores
Or phone in your order and it
will be delivered promptly.
Remember this number
Hollywood 1666
The Address is
6666 SUNSET BOULEVARD
WELCOME M. P. T. O. A
^
RELIANCE PICTURES
INC.
HARRY M. COETZ EDWARD SMALL
PRESIDENT AND TREASURER VICE-PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY
PREPARING
A BOX OFFICE PROGRAM
OF
E D WA R D
SMALL
PRODUCTIONS
RELEASED THRU UNITED ARTISTS
EXHIBITORS RELY
ON RELIANCE
1
Page Twervfy
THgP^
April 10, 1934
MP. TO. A. REGISTRATIONS AT AMBASSADOR
Million Francs a Day
For French Theatres
Ackerman, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel, De-
troit, Mich., 123 S. La Jolla, East
Side Theater.
Alicoate, John W.. New York, N. Y.,
Roosevelt, Film Daily.
Alperstein, A., Los Angeles, Calif.,
354 So. Cohuane, Melrose.
Anderson, Robert, Alberta, Canada,
514 Azusa Ave., Azusa, Rex
Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie, Brady,
Texas, Ambassador 316, Palace.
Baron, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. H., Pratt,
Kans., Ambassador 361, Baroa
Benton, Mr. and Mrs. William H.,
Saratoga, N. Y., Ambassador 578,
Congress.
Blanco, A., Mountain View, Calif.,
Mountain View.
Bradshaw, Mr. and Mrs. Joe, Forrest
City, Ark., Ambassador 301, Im-
perial.
Brewer, O. L., Fort Atkinson, Miss.,
839 So. Wilton Place, Fort.
Brown, Mr. and Mrs. H. )., Martin,
Tenn., Ambassador 353, Capitol.
Cameron, Mr. and Mrs. P. C, Dallas,
Texas, 234 So. Tower Drive, Mel-
rose.
Cartwright, R. A., Osceola, Ark., Am-
bassador 560, Gem.
Chatmas, George, Hearne, Texas, Am-
bassador 257, Queen.
Clark, Mr. and Mrs. R. M., Okla-
homa, Okla., Ambassador 322,
Griffith Amusement Co.
Cluster, Mr. and Mrs. R. C, Salem,
III., Ambassador 172, Lyric.
Creal, Walter, Omaha, Neb., Ambas-
sador, Beacon.
Denniston, Mr. and Mrs. J. R., Mon-
roe, Mich., Ambassador 473, Fam-
ily and Dixie.
De Stefano, Arthur, Memphis, Tenn.,
Ambassador 379, National.
I>Ddge, James, Ventura, Calif., Ver-
sailles Apt., Mission.
Dutton, G. R., Mountain View, Calif.,
Mountain View.
Engiebrecht, O. A., Georgetown,
Texas, Ambassador 310, Palace.
Flannery, Jack, Seattle, Wash., Am-
bassador 583, Natl. Screen Service.
Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. Sol E., Beau-
mont, Texas, Ambassador 168-9,
Jefferson Amusement Co., E. Texas
Theatres.
Greer, Mr. and Mrs. John E., Santa
Fe., N. M., Ambassador 362, Len-
sic.
Crunaeur, Los Angeles, Calif., home,
Balboa.
Cumbiner, Robert, and Miss, Los An-
geles, Calif., home. Tower and
Cameo.
Gutenberg, Mr. and Mrs. A. C, Mil-
waukee, Wis., Ambassador 345-6,
Grand.
Hunter, Mr. and Mrs. J. C, Tulsa,
Okla., Ambassador 342, Ritz.
Haven, Mr. and Mrs. L. F., Forrest
City, Ark., Ambassador, Imperial.
Hurley, Art, Tucumcari, N. Mex.,
Ambassador 1 2, bungalow, Princess.
Hamm, L. S., San Francisco, Calif.,
Ambassador 2 19, Counsel I.T.C. of
Northern California.
Harrison, C. I., Chicago, III., Ambas-
sador 166, Marshall Square.
Immerman, Mr. and Mrs. Walter,
Chicago, III., Ambassador 231, Bal-
aban & Katz.
Immerman, Mrs. John, Chicago, 111.,
Ambassador 232.
Isley, Mr. and Mrs. P. R., Tulsa, Okla.,
Ambassador 678, So. Western The-
atres.
Jackson, Mack, Alexander City, Ala.,
Ambassador 275, Strand.
Knoll, A. D., Milwaukee, Wis., Am-
bassador, Saxe Theatres.
Lam, J. H., Rome, Cal., Ambassador,
DeSota.
Lam, O. C, Rome, Cal., Ambassador,
DeSota.
Lichtman, Mr. and Mrs. A. E., Wash-
ington, D. C., Ambassador, Lincoln.
Lightman, M. A., Memphis, Tenn.,
Ambassador 478, Malco.
Lust, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney, Wash-
ington, D. C, Ambassador, Sidney
Lust Theatres.
MacDougald, B. V., Monticello, Ark.,
Ambassador 560, Amusen.
MacDonald, Mr. and Mrs. C. A., Col-
umbus, Ohio, Ambassador, South-
land.
Mann, Geo. M., San Francisco, Am-
bassador 217, Redwood Theatres.
McGuinness, Mr. and Mrs. James J.,
Boston, Mass., Ambassador, Allied
Theatres.
McGuinness, Mr. Edmund J., Boston,
Mass., Ambassador, Allied Theatres.
Mercy, Frederick Sr., Yakima, Wash.,
Chapman Park, Liberty.
Mercy, Frederick, Yakima, Wash.,
Chapman Park, Liberty.
Miller, Jack, Chicago, III., Ambassa-
dor 2 Bungalow, MPTOA.
Miller, Walter, Alberta, Canada,
Azusa, Calif., Tabor.
McCutchen, Mr. and Mrs. O. W. and
Miss Betty, BIytheville, Ark., Am-
bassador 451 , Ritz.
Metzger, C. A., Los Angeles, 147 So.
Detroit, Fairfax.
Olive, C. H., Washington, D. C, Am-
bassador, Princess.
Ostrow, Mrs. Joseph, Los Angeles, 123
S. La Jolla.
Palfreymann, David, New York City,
Ambassador, R.K.O.
Potter Stevens Ann, Miss, BIytheville,
Ark., Ambassador 451.
Remijas, Emily, Chicago, III., Ambas-
sador, Galic.
Remijas, Anna E., Chicago, III., Am-
bassador, Arcadia.
Robb, H. B., Dallas, Texas, Ambassa-
dor, Robb Rowley Circ.
Roberts, Annette, Lampasas, Texas,
Ambassador.
Roth, Mr. and Mrs. Harry, Norris-
town, N. J., Ambassador, Allied
Theatres.
Rosenberg, Mr. Ben F., New York,
N. Y., Ambassador 581, Natl.
Screen Serv.
Rowley, Ed., Dallas, Tex., Ambassa-
dor, Robb Rowley Circ.
Ruffin, W. F., Covington, Tenn., Am-
bassador, Palace.
Saxe, E. J., Milwaukee, Wis., Am-
bassador, Garfield.
Schneider, L. E., Yuma, Ariz., Am-
bassador, Lyric.
Shanklin, Mr. and Mrs. J. C, Charles-
ton, W. Va., Ambassador 284,
Greenbrier.
Slothower, Mrs. T. H., Wichita, Kan.,
Ambassador, State.
Simpson, J. E., Gastonia, N. C, Am-
bassador, Lyric.
Smith, Fred C, Tulsa, Okla., 1367 N.
Beverly Dr., Bev. Hills, Plaza.
Smith, Patsy, Tulsa, Okla., 1367 N.
Beverly Dr., Bev. Hills, Plaza.
Sobelson, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph, Ban-
gor, Pa., Ambassador 453, Strand.
Stiefel, Nathan A., Washington, D.
C, Ambassador, Howard.
Swift, Stanley H., Cameron, Texas,
Ambassador, Cameron.
Tague, Mr. S., Chicago, III., Ambas-
sador 586, Calo.
Tague, Mr. Phil, Chicago, III., Am-
bassador 586, Bryn Mawr.
Tidball, L. C, Fort Worth, Tex., Am-
bassador, Isis.
Trampe, C. W., Wilwaukee, Wis.,
Ambassador, Climax.
Vollendorf, E. P., Milwaukee, Wis.,
Ambassador, Sax.
Ward, Tom, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Am-
bassador, Palace.
Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Roy L., and
Miss Mary Catherine Walker, Lam-
pases, Texas, Ambassador, Leroy.
Walsh, Morgan A., San Francisco,
Calif., Ambassador 218, T. D. The-
atres, Oakland.
Welsman, Mrs. W. N., Toronto, Can-
ada, 221 No. Rampart, Brighton.
Wehrenberg, Fred, St. Louis, Mo.,
Ambassador 409, Wehrenberg, Cir-
cuit.
Wharton, H. D., Warren, Ark., Am-
bassador 569, Pastime.
Whitson, R. D., Los Angeles, Home,
Huntley's.
Whitson, W. W., Los Angeles, Home,
Vista.
Williams, C. E., Omaha, Neb., Am-
bassador, Park.
Williams, Nat. M., Thomasville, Ga.,
Ambassador, Rose.
Wood, Miss Wellington, Washington,
Ga., Ambassador, Straub.
Woods, Mr. T. B., Martin, Tenn.,
Ambassador, Capitol.
Young, Mr. J. M., Los Angeles, Cal.,
Home, Hollywood Theatres, Inc.
Zions, Louis, Washington, D. C, Am-
bassador, Howard.
Paris. — In the course of 1933 the
total receipts of French film theatres
amounted to 360 million francs or
about one million francs a day. The
Olympia Theatre figures in these sta-
tistics with the sum of nineteen mil-
lions, Gaumont-Palace twenty mil-
lions and Paramount twenty-seven
millions.
Out of the 570 films produced to
screen in France in 1933, only 150
were French-made pictures. America
supplied 230 films, Germany 113,
England 34 and Italy 17. These fig-
ures refer to features. Cartoons and
other shorts are not included.
Trophies Presented
To Camera Golfers
C. Myers and Bert Six, of First
National; J. Fulton, of Universal, and
Al Lebowitz, of Fox, carried away the
trophies in the American Society of
Cinematographers golf tournament,
held Sunday at the Hollywood Coun-
try Club. Lowest score of 77 was
shot by Myers. Highest score, 191,
was turned in by W. Vogel.
Prizes valued at $2,500 were given
to participants, ranging from the Mae
West diamond ring to a toy camera.
Talbot Jennings Here
Talbot Jennings, New York play-
wright, arrived yesterday to take up
a term writing ticket with MGM.
GREETINGS and
BEST WISHES
M. P. T. O. A.
+++
ALBERT LEWIS
Associate Producer
Paramount
WELCOME M.P.T.O.A.
The Hal Roach Studios
''A Lot of Fun''
BID YOU WELCOME
to the
MOTION PICTURE CAPITAL
' OF THE WORLD!
Visif the Home Studio of
Laurel and Hardy
Charley Chase
Tlielma Todd
Patsy Kelly
Our Gang
and many other stellar comics
(Note: Your official badge is your ticket of
admittance to our studio)
I
HAL ROACH STUDIOS
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
Twenfy-two
TH
HiPOIlTiiR
AiMil 10, 1934
Serial Cameramen
Get Pay Increase
According to a revision in the Cine-
matographer-Producer contract, serial
cinematographers go on the same
wage scale as feature production cam-
eramen when serials are made in one
consecutive working period. This
clarifies the bone of contention in the
present contract with the producers.
Serial men claim they work harder
than feature men and were on "short
subject" cameraman pay.
Revision also starts Sunday overtime
at 6 a.m. Sunday instead of midnight
Saturday.
"Golden Hour" penalty time ap-
plies to all classes according to recent
interpretation.
Six regular holidays will prevail in
each year: New Year's Day, Decora-
tion Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving and Christmas. When
the holiday falls on Sunday, Monday
will be considered as holiday with
double time paid if work is done on
that day.
Doyle-Warners Make Up
Warners and Laird Doyle finally got
together on a long-term writing ticket
yesterday, both parties patching terms
after a falling out last week which
had Doyle checking off the lot. His
new ticket was negotiated through
the Small-Landau office.
Big Musical for Ross
Paramount is planning big musical
production, starring Lanny Ross. It
will be a story of the old South and
the tentative title is "Mississippi."
KVYKEXDALL RE-ELECTED
PRESIDENT OF THE MPTOA
(Continued from Page 1 )
The new officers elected are W.
S. Butterfield, second vice-president;
M. A. Lightman, third vice-president;
B. N. Berinstein, fourth vice-presi-
dent. Berinstein is a member of the
MPTOA, although the Independent
Theatre Owners of Southern Califor-
nia, of which he is president, is not
affiliated with the national body.
Jules Michaels was appointed chair-
man of the Grievance Commttee in
place of Lewen Pizor, who was un-
able to make the trip here because
of illness. Michaels has been chosen
by New York and New England as
their representative on the executive
board, although the other five zones
will not announce their choices until
tomorrow.
The executive board adopted a res-
olution praising the work of Michael
O'Toole for the exhibitors and regret-
ting his inability to attend the con-
vention. In contradiction of some of
the reports that have been spread
about the organizaton. Secretary
Meyer said last night: —
"Certain sources have spread propa-
ganda that we have made this trip
simply to play around with the pro-
ducers. The MPTOA is working for
the good of the industry, and if by
mingling with local people we can get
better pictures, pictures free from
filth, cleaner pictures for the whole
family, we will accept the accusation."
The convention gets down to seri-
ous business this morning. The wives
and daughters will go sight-seeing
while the delegates work. Mayor
Shaw and a representative of Governor
Rolph will welcome the members to
the city and state, and M. A. Light-
man will resfjond for the organization.
Vice-President Comerford will preside
while President Kuykendall makes his
report, which will be followed by re-
ports of Secretary Meyer and Chair-
man Berinstein, of the Convention
Committee.
All standing committees will be ap-
pointed before lunch. The session
will adjourn at 12:30 o'clock and the
afternoon will be spent visiting various
studios, after luncheon at Warner-
First National. Entertainment will be
provided by the Warner stars and
players, and the guests will watch the
shooting of "Dames," as well as being
permitted to see a screening of
"Twenty Million Sweethearts."
This evening, Universal will be host.
Universal City Club and Whiteman
Hall have been converted into ball-
rooms where dancing will be enjoyed
after a dinner.
The speech of welcome for the in-
dustry will be made by Louis B. Mayer
tomorrow night at a grand banquet
at the MGM studios, where a host of
entertainers will strut their stuff, with
Pete Smith as master of ceremonies.
Dan Kelly Back at Col.
Dan Kelly is back in the old saddle
as casting chief at Columbia. He is
substituting for William Perlberg dur-
ing the latter's New York trip.
Wrifers Plan for
Harmony in Guild
Frankly anxious to solidify the
Screen Writers' Guild ranks and elim-
inate factionalism, the new board of
governors of the organization held its
first official meeting last night and
issued a blanket invitation to all
groups within the Guild, opposing the
governors, to meet Monday night and
iron out their differences.
The board also set in motion a plan
to form an Advisory Council. The
purpose of the council will be to look
into all writer problems and seek ways
of improving certain conditions.
'Harold Teen' Record
Warners' "Harold Teen" set a new
house record at the Earle Theatrp in
Philadelphia, according to a wire re-
ceived from the manager last night.
Picture, which Murray Roth directed,
cracked the $40,000 mark.
Moss Back in Came
(Continyad from Paffa I )
neghborhood theaters, newly designed
for sound pictures, and to cost about
a half million each. The first, ac-
cording to plans already filed, is to
construction of a half dozen modern
Broadway corner.
Moss believes that the time is ripe
for such theaters in sections which
are not overseated, particularly in
view of the opportunities to show the
advances in sound reproduction. The
plan is for all the houses to be of
the intimate style, not to exceed
1500 seats.
BORIS KARLOFF
"LOST PATROL"
RKO
THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD'
20TH CENTURY
THE BLACK CAT"
UNIVERSAL
▼
Demmy Lamson
MANAGER
OX. 7261 OX. 8019
M
P
T
O
A
A |I a E V O I R
COME AGAIN
You ve probably bad a iTiillion lau^bs since
you came to Hollywooa . . . but you missed
tbe bi^^est lau^b oi your liietime.
II you bad been a lew days earlier you would
bave cau^bt tbe preview^ ol tbe greatest en-
tertainment Jobn Barrymore bas ever made,
"Tw^entietb Century, w^itb Carole Lombard,
Walter Connolly and Roscoe Karns.
It s tbe row^diest, most riotous comedy tbe
stajSe or screen bas ever onered . . . tbe outstand-
ing sta^e bit ol last season... tbe outstanding
talking picture bit ol tbis season,
HARRY COHN
Cyi'osiclerti
COLUMBIA PICTURES CORP
SPRINGTIME FOR LEO IS
MONEYTIMEFOR YOU!
T A TELCOME — Mr. and Mrs. Exhibitor . . .
V V relax and have a good time — enjoy yourselves !
You can afford to play . . and make merry — because
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is delivering to you the
greatest line-up of box-office record smashers this old
business has ever known!
Here . . and on their way - NORMA SHEARER in "Rip Tide." CLARK GABLE "Men in White."
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE," "HOLLYWOOD PARTY" and more coming . . . Tomorrow!
KhTi-CU-CiULiUWIN-MAYtR STUDIOS,
% MR.SAMUKL MARX,
CULVER CITY. CALIF.
Vol. XX, No. 27. Price Sc.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
We<tnesaay, April 11, 1934
MPTC4 46AIN$T DlJ/iL$
Double Features And Smutty
Pictures Condemned At First
Business Meet Of Convention
mm
•WITH the demands set forth by
theatre owners throughout the coun-
try for more pictures than the studios
here can SUCCESSFULY make, the
theatre owner must accept the respon-
sibility for so many bad pictures and
the resulting bad business.
No community is so small that it
could not run a good picture twice and
three times as long as the junk now
being served in daily doses. And
those daily doses are being passed up
as bad medicine. There are too few
to patronize them. But just as long
as the exhibitor will buy that type of
picture, just so long will producers
make them.
The men behind the guns here, that
is, those who are turning out from 36
to 60 pictures a year, grinding them
out at a price and as best they can,
acknowledge that a GOOD PICTURE
will earn their company five and ten
times the amount that will come
throiJgh on a programmer. Their logic
is that it's too dangerous to put in the
time and the money on those IMPOR-
TANT PICTURES because, if they
flop, the flop goes into big money,
whereas if the programmer flops, they
can always get their cost back, WITH
A PROFIT, no matter how bad it is.
•
There are 1 000 people who want to
go to the theatre and have the money
to buy a ticket, providing they can
get ENTERTAINMENT, where there is
only one who goes day after day and
takes the licking with those in-and-
out quickies. And that's what makes
this business so remarkable, to think it
pays off even with that small audi-
ence, together with the knowledge of
so much greater profit in GOOD PIC-
TURES.
Columbia will do FIVE TIMES AS
MUCH with "It Happened One Night"
as it will do on its average program-
mer, and the cost of the Capra picture
was, at most, twice that of the pro-
gram attraction. And if Columbia will
turn in that profit with that attrac-
tion, how much do you think the the-
atres that play it will grab? And the
same goes for a picture like "The
House of Rothschild." Both of those
pictures required time and care in
their preparation, time and care that
cost a little more money than the rush
work done on the quickies. But bal-
ance the two and see the difference.
Double features must go if this in-
dustry is to progress.
Exhibitor's Tip
A tip to the stars was officially
handed down by MPTOA President
Ed Kuykendall when he said: "We,
as an organization, sincerely hope
that the number of picture stars
who allow themselves to become
involved in scandals and sensational
episodes will become less and less
as time goes on. Scandal helps
create censorship."
*Winnie' Airs 'Lew'
In Credit Battle
New York. — "Winnie" Sheehan has
given Lew Brown the air and behind
it is a swell story.
Of the three musicals made by Fox,
the only one having any appearance of
a success is "Stand Up and Cheer,"
which was produced by Brown.
"White's Scandals" checked in a flop
at a $650,000 production cost, and
the Buddy DeSylva yarn, "Bottoms
(Continued on Page 6)
Radio Wants Pabst to
Direct Francis Lederer
C. W. Pabst will direct the next
Francis Lederer vehicle, "The Life of
Joaquin Murietta," if the negotiations
with Radio which have been on for
the past week are concluded. Edg-
cumb Pinchon is now writing the
original screen play.
Clarence Brown Back
Clarence Brown returned to town
by plane from New York yesterday
and immediately started preparations
for pick-up shots for "Sadie McKee."
MCM director accompanied his wife,
Alice Joyce, to New York Thursday to
be at the bedside of the latter's broth-
er, Frank Joyce, who is sick there.
The double-feature evil came in for a heavy condemnation
at the first business session of the MPTOA convention at the
Hotel Ambassador yesterday. Ed Kuykendall, president of the
exhibitor body, brought the issue up in his opening speech. Ex-
hibitor feeling against smut in pic-
tures was also aired, Fred Meyer, con-
vention secretary, again hitting this
all- important topic in his report.
The session, late in getting started,
opened with the invocation by Rev.
Dr. Gustav Briegleb, Ben Berinstein
then calling the convention to order
and turning it over to Kuykendall.
(Continued on Page 2)
Personal Corps.Cet
Income Tax K. 0.
Washington. — The "incorporated
pocketbook," otherwise the personal
holding company so common in the
picture industry, was punched right in
the nose yesterday when the Senate
voted an income tax amendment which
will take 30 per cent of the first
$100,000 of such income and 40 per
cent of all over that.
This was done to counter-balance
the Senate action in defeating the ad-
ditional 10 per cent of the income tax
for everyone next year.
Warners Buy Play
New York. — Warner Brothers have
bought the Dowling play, "Big-Heart-
ed Herbert,^' now on Broadway, for
"$357700. It is intended for Guy Kib-
bee.
JUDGE LIIVDSEY TO DEFY
SOL ROSEi^BLATT ORDER
Judge Ben B. Lindsey is not afraid
of the "big, bad wolf" of the film
code, Sol A. Rosenblatt. In no un-
certain terms last night the Judge de-
clared that Rosenblatt has no right
to order him to turn over complaints
now in his hands to the newly ap-
pointed Studio Labor Committee, es-
pecially as that committee has on it
as a member a paid representative of
the Producers' Association.
"The Code specifically provides,"
said the Judge, "that the names of
(Continued on Page 6)
Helen Hayes Due June 1
At MCM for 'Vanessa'
Helen Hayes will arrive in Holly-
wood June 1 at the close of her stage
play, "Mary of Scotland.' Her next
assignment at MGM is "Vanessa," by
Hugh Walpole. Walter Wanger will
produce and W. K. Howard will direct.
Carr Due Saturday
Trem Carr, vice-president of Mono-
gram, is expected home from New
York Satu-day from the convention.
Dupont Believed
Ready To Lower
Negative Price
New York. — In its effort to get a
stronger hold on the raw stock field
111 the picture business, it is being
rumored around the streets here that
Dupont, starting May 1, will drop the
price of its negative by thirty points,
bringing it in at 3 7/10.
The standard negative rate of East-
man, Dupont and Agfa is 4 cents a
foot, and should Dupont drop its price,
it is a cinch the other manufacturers
will do the same thing and maybe go
lower, developing a raw stock war.
Extras Committee to
Start Hearings Tonight
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of the
Code Committee for Extras, announced
\zs\ night that her committee will be-
gin tonight to hear complaints from
extra players.
A special sub-committee has been
selected to handle the complaints and
will meet one night each week from
now on. Mrs. Kinney announced that
all complaints will have to be made
in writing by the individuals them-
selves in order to be considered.
*U' Stockholders
Will Meet April 19
Wilmington. — The annual stock-
holders' meeting of Universal Pictures
Corporation will be held here April 19.
Linden Back with U'
Eric Linden returns to the screen
after many months in "I Give My
Love" for Universal. In addition to
Linden, Reginald Denny, Tad Alexan-
der and Johnny Darrow also signed.
Lanfields Sail Saturday
New York. — Sidney Lanfield and
his wife sail for England Saturday on
the lie de France. Lanfield is to di-
rect "Sons o' Guns" in London.
I RALPH SPENCE ""C^S^ "STAND UP AND CHEER
i
//
Page Twro
THg
hi-
April 11, 1934
■■■■■■II
intfgfelPQKJii
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE .Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. ■42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and HoTtdays. Subscrfptoin rates,
includirig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
M.P.T.O.A. COMMITTEES FOR
EI\Sri]\G YEAR ARE NAMED
A certain singing-actor is getting an
awful blow to his ego these days from
a gal he's been courting sub rosa. He
has to do it sub rosa because he's been
married these many years, but the gal
not only doesn't want him — she won't
even accept a job in pictures through
him! She wants to go in pictures,
however, and the lassie's Momma is so
anxious for her to succeed that she
has been encouraging the visits of the
male star to their house, even though,
every time the doorbell rings, he leaps
out a back door or window — just in
case! The actor told Momma that he
positively can get the daug^hter a con-
tract— but it's a cinch he'll never get
the daughter!
•
Mrs. Jack Warner is opening a hat
shop in Beverly Hills the middle of
this month, and her partner will be
the owner of Sally's Dress Shop, which
will be right across the street from the
hat shop! They'll copy all the "latest
from Paris" and promise to be "rea-
sonable." The shop will be called
"Irma's."
•
Federico Salazar, big newspaper and
theatrical man of Buenos Aires who
has been in Hollywood for about a
month, left last night. He took with
him Lita Santos, who has been ap-
pearing in Spanish versions of pictures
here, and will star her on the stage in
South America. It seems the lady not
only acts, but sings and dances. Sala-
zar, we also hear, had a few confer-
ences with Doris Kenyon while here,
and it's possible that she too may
trek southward for a concert tour.
•
Eddie Sutherland, while seated at
the Vendome the other day, was
handed the following wire from Robert
Benchley: "WHEN LUNG IS FULLY
EXPANDED FILL WITH EQUAL
PARTS OF GIN COMMA BACARDI
AND ABSINTHE COMMA AND THEN
INHALE DEEPLY STOP LOVE TO
"HE OTHER LUNG AND MONTE
BRICE."
(Continued from Page 1 )
Mayor Frank L. Shaw and Carlos
Huntington, latter representing Gov.
Rolph, welcomed the delegates. M.
A. Lightman made the response for
his fellow exhibitors. M. E. Comer-
ford and Walter Vincent spoke briefly
and were followed by President Kuy-
kendall, whose keynote speech will
be found on page 8.
Secretary Meyer submitted a reso-
lution pledging the exhibitors to the
principles of President Roosevelt's
NRA, getting a unanimous endorse-
ment of a wire to the President in-
forming him of their support.
The small-town exhibitor was se-
lected for special attention by both
Kuykendall and Meyer. The latter
said: "Ours is not only the right but
the solemn duty to regulate trade
practices, and we've got to start at
the top. There is no such thing as
'the king can do no wrong.' The lit-
tle fellow who may only have $2500
invested has as much at stake as the
million dollar first-run structure,
whether independently operated or
producer-controlled. MPTOA has
taken the leadership in advocating a
Code of Fair Competition for our busi-
ness."
Meyer's report brought up the cam-
paign by the Catholic Church against
indecent pictures. "There is a pro-
nounced antagonistic feeling against
our industry," he added, "which is
now growing by leaps and bounds be-
cause of the unnecessary smut and
filth which is constantly injected into
all too many scenes of all types of pic-
tures."
Meyer introduced John LeRoy John-
ston, Universal's publicity director,
who brought the gathering the mes-
sage that Carl Laemmie Sr. was com-
pelled to leave last night for San
Francisco and was unable to put in
his scheduled appearance.
Johnston, having heard several
statements regarding eliminating pub-
licity unfavorable to the industry, took
the opportunity as chairman of the
Hays office Publicity Committee to
offer the exhibitors the co-operation
of his group.
Before adjourning shortly after
noon, Kuykendall named the stand-
ing committees as follows:
Resolutions Committee: Edward I.
Levy, chairman; O. C. Lam, Califor-
nia; E. M. Fay, Rhode Island; Harry
Hicks, California; M. A. Lightman,
Tennessee; A. C. Gutenberg, Wiscon-
sin; Walter Griffith, North Carolina;
E. O. Kadane, Oklahoma.
Credentials and Rules Committee:
M. E. Comerford, chairman; J. J. Mc-
Guinness, Massachusetts; Benjamin
Pitts, Virginia; Charles E. Williams,
Nebraska; A. F. Baker, Kansas.
Grievances Committee: Jules H.
Michael, chairman; Nat M. Williams,
Georgia; H. W. Harvey, California;
Sidney Lust, Washington, D. C; C.
Walsh, Oklahoma; William Benton,
N. Trampe, Wisconsin.
NRA Code-Trade Practices Com-
mittee: Fred S. Meyer, chairman; R.
M. Clark, Oklahoma; Morgan A.
New York; Wales Imneiman, Illinois;
Roy L. Walker, Texas; A. E. Licht-
man, Washington, D. C.
NRA Code-Labor Practices Com-
mittee: jack Miller, chairman; A. D.
Kvool, Wisconsin; Love B. Harrell,
Georgia; Oscar C. Lehr, Misouri; Wal-
ter Vincent, New York; L. S. Har-
mon, California.
Public Relations-Community Af-
fairs Committee: Fred Wehrenberg,
chairman; Nat Williams, Georgia; W.
L. Answorth, Wisconsin; W, S. But-
terfield, Michigan; Sidney Lust,,
Washington, D. C; W. P. Moran, Ok-
lahoma.
Legislations and Taxes Committee:
M. A, Lightman, chairman; M. E.
Comerford, Pennsylvania; R. B. Wilby,
Georgia; W. H. Lollier, California; B.
K. Fischer, Wisconsin; j. E. Loth, Vir-
ginia; Max Tabackman, Connecticut.
Following an afternoon sight-see-
ing tour at the Warner studio. Uni-
versal played host to the showmen
last night, tendering them a buffet
dinner and an old-fashioned dance at
the studio clubhouse. The studio's
entire executive personnel turned out,
with the Universal player list putting
on their best for the event.
In store for the exhibitors tonight
is a huge banquet on twin stages at
MGM. All the majors are combining
to make it an all-star "Night In
Hollywood," an impressive list of en-
tertainers having been corralled from
every studio player list for the oc-
casion
Today's M. P. T. 0. A. Program
10:30 A. M. Sharp. Session called to order by President Kuykendall.
10:35 A. M. "The Theatre's Liability to Its Patrons," by Edward G.
Levy, New Haven, Conn.
10:45 A.M. A talk on "Production," by Louis B. Mayer, Metro-
Go Id wyn- Mayer.
11:15A.M. "What's the Matter with Exhibition from the Point
of View of an Exhibitor," by Walter Vincent.
"Why Pictures Are Improving," by Mrs. Thomas G.
"How Pictures Are Put Together," by Cecil B. DeMille.
"Self-Regulation in Advertising Motion Pictures," by
Breen.
Adjournment of business session until 10:30 A. M.
11:45 A M.
Winter.
12:00 Noon.
12:30 P. M.
Joseph 1.
1:00 P. M.
Thursday
1:30 P. M.
Trip through RKO and Fox Westwood Studios. Dele-
gates and guests take their choice. Busses will leave outside of
hotel at 1 :30 P. M. sharp.
7:30 P. M. .Busses will leave outside of hotel at 7:30 P. M. sharp
fo;r ipfbrnnal banquet and entertainment at the Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer Studio.
League of Nations
Recommends 'Mickey'
New York. — The Associated
Press reports that the League of
Nations has recommended Mickey
Mouse for children instead of gang-
ster and Hollywood love films. As
usual the League is ten years be-
hind in its recommendations.
Monogram Getting
Definite Play Dates
New York. — It is understood here
that Ray Johnston, head of Monogram
Pictures, has already made deals with
quite a few exhibitors whereby the
product of that organization will be
given definite playing time during the
next season.
This new arrangement was made
possible through Johnston's promise
that Monogram is going ahead this
year, will spend more money on its
pictures, will gather more and better
name draws, and for this effort the
company would have to have guaran-
teed playing time, not sandwiched in
here or there as has been the case in
some of the best spots.
Harris Flying Back for
'U' Production Meeting
New York. — Robert Harris, Eastern
production manager for Universal, is
flying back to the Coast to attend the
DP<5<Juction conference of company of-
/ fcials at Santa Barbara.
Universal has signed Eugene and
Ralph Berton, authors of "Roman
Holiday," to write originals and adapt,
and they are due in Hollywood next
week.
Allen in N. Y. with Print
New York. — I. A. Allen, producer
of the Jackie Coogan featurettes, has
arrived here with the print of the
first picture.
244 So. Robertson Blvd.,
Beverly Hills
Two blocks south of Wilshire
OPENING TONIGHTI
FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
THE STOOGE"
By Claude Binyon
and Joseph Mankiewicz
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
■^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
fr£6l 'II IM«'V
THE
Pag« Three
WITCHING HOUR' A THRILLER;
HALF A SINNER' PLEASING
Cast and Director
Get Fine Results
"THE WITCHING HOUR"
(Paramount')
Direction Henry Hathaway
Atfthor Augustus Thomas
/Screen Play Anthony Veiller
Adaptation Salisbury Field
Photography Ben Reynolds
Cast: Sir Guy Standing, John Halliday,
William Frawley, Judith Allen, Tom
Brown, Olive Tell, Richard Carle,
Purnell Pratt.
One of the most beautifully photo-
graphed, most expertly produced and
most deftly acted films of the season
is Paramount's "The Witching Hour."
When you come right down to it,
it's a lot of hokum., but while you're
in the theatre your hands are clammy.
Using a fundamental principle of
psychology as a peg upon which to
hang its drama, the picture mounts to
a firm seat on the theory of hypno-
tism and offers some rare and exquis-
ite moments of suspense.
The title is peculiarly inappropri-
ate— as is the scene that probably
suggested it (which should be cut, by
the way) — where the ghost of Sir Guy
Standing's old sweetheart wafts
through the room and implores him
to come out of his retirement and de-
fend her grandson. The scene, while
better done than most scenes of this
type, weakens belief in the otherwise
splendidly built-up story.
John Halliday, owner of an elabo-
rate gambling house in Louisville, Ky.,
has, unknown to himself, the power
of hypnotism. He accidentally hypno-
tizes Tom Brown, suitor for his
daughter's hand, the same night he
tells a cheap grafter that "some day
someone is going to come into your
office with a gun in his hands and
blow your brains out." The next
morning, after Brown has dressed to
go downtown to meet his mother, he
looks at the cat's-eye ring he had been
holding the night before when Halli-
day hypnotized him.
Immediately the power of Halli-
day's thought takes possession of
him, and he kills the grafter. The
rest of the picture is the courtroom
scene, wherein old Judge Prentiss (Sir
Guy Standing) by a dramatic trick
', convinces the jury of the fact of hyp-
notism.
The film is beautifully acted. Sir
Guy Standing plays with complete sin-
I cerity and strength; John Halliday's
performance is flawless, and Tom
Brown is surprisingly effective as the
boy. Judith Allen as his fiancee and
Olive Tell as his mother are both well
cast. That splendid actor, William
Frawley, does a lot with a small role;
Richard Carle is excellent as usual,
and Purnell Pratt makes the district
attorney particularly disagreeable.
Henry Hathaway directed for sus-
pense and got it. Anthony Veiller
wrote the screen play based on the
i old Augustus Thomas play and Salis-
■ bury Field adapted. Ben Reynolds'
, photography is a work of art, no less.
i The costuming of the film might
1 have been more definitely done. One
J is never quite sure whether it is laid
Increase in Theatre
Licenses Up in N. Y.
New York — Alderman Baum has
introduced an ordinance increas-
ing the license fees of motion pic-
ture theatres from $150 flat to a
scale running from $300 to $2000
annually, according to capacity.
Erpi To Continue
Picture Financing
New York. — Electrical Research
Products announced yesterday that J.
E. Otterson is authority for the state-
ment that "Erpi will continue to
fiiiance independent producers, but
will not go into production on its
own.." This is due to the fact that
contracts with producers will not per-
mit Erpi to enter the production field.
Erpi is understood to have vouched
for the money to make 26 indepen-
dent pictures for the new season. This
amount will probably be doubled by
the time the season is well on its way.
Erpi would rather have its producers
do all production in the Eastern stu-
dio, but will not fight the making of
pictures in the Hollywood plant.
N. Y. Audience Goes
Big for *Viva Villa'
New York. — "Viva Villa," the
MCM picture, had a most enthusiastic
welcome from a packed house at the
Criterion Theatre last night. The pa-
trons were extremely generous with
applause and obviously enjoyed the
picture.
There was one marvelous reaction.
Ben Hecht broke his record and said
it was a good picture.
Coslow-Johnston East
Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston,
having completed the music and lyrics
for "Many Happy Returns" at Para-
mount, leave Saturday for an extended
vacation. Coslow plans to go to Lon-
don, while Johnston will go to New
York.
Cable-Beery Teamed
Clark Gable and Wallace Beery will
have the top brackets in "Hell Hole,"
the new title for "Ghost City," which
Edwin Corle is scripting for MGM.
Story is an original by Sam Marx and
George Auerbach.
Waggner Back to Col.
George Waggner, who recently fin-
ished an original story for M. H. Hoff-
man, has gone back to Columbia to
work with Sid Rogell on an untitled
original.
in the present day or fifty years ago.
The women's clothes, and cettain at-
mospheric touches — like the police-
men in the old patrol wagon — indi-
cate the past, while the men's cloth-
ing seems quite modern.
You've got great acting and pro-
duction values here. And the faults
of the film can very easily be elimi-
nated.
Berton Churchill
Steals the Picture
^ "HALF A SINNER"
-< (Universal)
Direction Kurt Neumann
Original Play John B. Hymer
and Leroy Clemen
Screen Play Earl Snell
and Clarence Marks
Add. Dialogue Ralph Spence
Photography George Robinson
Cast: Joel McCrea, Sally Blane, Berton
Churchill, Russell Hopton, Spencer
Charters, Alexandra Carlisle, Mickey
Rooney, Gay Seabrook, Big Boy
Williams.
Completely satisfying entertainment
from start to finish, "Alias the Dea-
con," renamed "Half a Sinner," can-
not fail to please. Viewed in pre-
view at eighty-odd minutes running
time, judicious cutting will doubtless
cure its one fault, a slowness in com-
edy tempo.
In cutting, it would be wise to
remember the history of the original
Hymer-Clemen play. When first pre-
sented in try-out, the role of the Dea-
con was little more than a bit. Ber-
ton Churchill, playing the part, stole
the show. A rewrite added to his
opportunities and, when he again
scored heavily, the piece was entire-
ly rewritten to make him the star.
Churchill repeats his delightful
characterization in the current ver-
sion, making premier honors wholely
his. All the other action is supple-
mentary to his charming rascal, a
card-sharp masquerading in Deacon's
clothing. Not a single scene in
which he apc>ears fails to register. You
cannot help but wish he had more
scenes.
The story makes use of many char-
acters in a small town, all played with
distinction. The only major change
introduces a wrestling match in which
the boy attempts to win money for
an engagement ring. Even this does
not intrude upon the homey spirit
of the cheating-cheaters theme. With
the Deacon practicing his chicanery,
all wrongs are righted.
Sally Blane contributes a very love-
ly heroine and Joel McCrea a stal-
wart hero. Russell Hopton as the
wrestler's manager. Big Bov Williams
as the wrestler, Spencer Charters as
the small-town big-shot, Alexandra
Carlisle is the bridge-playing hotel
proprietor, Mickey Rooney as her son,
— in fact, every member of the large
cast is excellent.
Kurt Neumann's direction is note-
worthv for develooment of individual
characters. Dialogue, for which
Ralnh Spence is cred'^'ed, keeos the
audience smiling. Photography by
George Robinson is above average.
Promise your patrons their money's
worth in entertainment, assured that
the picture will deliver.
Caynor Free Again
The County Clerk's office advised
Janet Gaynor that she was free of all
marital relations as of yesterday. This
due to an interlocutory decree the ac-
tress secured from Lydell Peck a year
ago.
Apropos of our article on original
stories, a kind friend sent us the fol-
lowing letter, and, if any producer
would like to take advantage of it,
just give us a ring:
"Dear ■
"I am a newsboy and keep up with
the Motion picture Articles which you
write. To this wonderful business
which I average weekly $4, I am a
canvasser of coffee in the afternoon.
In the evening I have some time so
I started to write stories so I wouldn't
waste it. I submitted them to agents
who wanted money to copyright them.
After telling them about the wages I
earn I couldn't get anywhere.
"I was where I started! I then
went to a Editor of a paper and he
advised me to send them to the story
dept. of each studio. Neither I or the
story received an answer. It is nearly
eight months and I feel it is gone. It
is very hard to get in if you haven't
any red tape or plenty dough for the
producers to take it away.
"In the last year I have written sev-
eral stories, two of which I have
turned into plays. Each one is impor-
tant and I'm positive that it will be
a Great Hit on Broadway. I also wrote
the Words to the Pieces which I in-
tend to publish and copyright it as
soon as this story can get into the pro-
ducers eyes. In the meatime I am
working on the melodies on a friends
piano. The first story which I am
most stuck on is called 'American
Children.' I'm sure that this will be
a hit. The second which will be a
greater hit than any picture that has
ever reached the stage or screen for
the last 1 0 or 15 years. Not a story
on the shelf that has more thrills,
drama, of torture, love, romance, the
drama of starvation. Bloodshed, Ad-
venture and exploring. No author or
group of authors would or has ever
written a plot so interesting as this
one.
"I am only 18 years of age and I
feel that it is possible for me to be
a sensational actor or writer. Al-
though my English is slum, but I can-
not spend any time at the present to
study.
"These stories, one which contains
14 and the other 10 chapters, is not
easy to distribute to the different stu-
dios in Hollywood or N. Y. Each story
contains about 150 pages. It isn't
easy and I know that if I send it they
might copy it and I wouldn't have any
protection against Plaguerism. I am
sending this letter with one hope.
Either you can help me get in touch
a Motion Picture Agent who have
contacts with producers or a method
of which I would be able to do it my-
self. Thanking you I remain."
Follows the signature and under-
neath it, "A True Blue Writer." This
letter as printed here is absolutely
bona fide, although it is funny, be-
lieve us, it's no joke. The boy may
never be an author, but with a little
toning down what an advertising man
he'd make!
IMI^
r,^5?'^.
'Mi^^'^'Vt.. v,:->.
^O
5v>
gi\o
t4*
a**-
o^
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Page Six
THE
April 1 1 , 1 934
KUYKEXDALL HAPS DUALS,
SMUT AJVD OTHER EVILS
The necessity for clean pictures to
forestall censorship, percentage book-
ings, score charges, the separation of
production and exhibition, and the
double-feature evil were the hight-
lights touched upon by President Ed.
Kuykendall, of the MPTOA, in his
speech at the first business session of
the convention yesterday.
"Double and triple features, two-
for-ones, give-aways and various pre-
mium plans are cheapening and tend
to promote indifference on the part
of our patrons," he declared. "A poll
of the various organizations, such as
women's clubs, proves that these
women do not appreciate double bills;
they prefer quality rather than quan-
tity.
"If we can give two or three fea-
tures for 25 cents the public won-
ders why we should get over a nickel
for one feature."
Of the producer-exhibitor rela-
tions, he said: "The two do not go
together. They unconsciously influ-
ence each othe.r to the detriment of
both if allowed to operate together
under one guidling influence. Sep-
aration -will improve the quality of
pictures and enable us to make con-
structive progress."
Percentage deals are becoming the
practice, he said, and threaten to
ruin the showmen if percentages con-
tinue to mount.
"The distributor must not be un-
reasonable as to the amount of the
percentage," he ofTered. "After all,
it is a partnership between exhibitor
and distributor and it must be on a
live and let live basis or both will
fail. I know of many instances
where the [percentage has been 35 per
cent; the shorts, because of poor busi-
ness, amounted to another 1 0 per
cent, and the score another 5 per
cent, making the cost of film 50 per
cent. This on an ordinary picture
I am not referring to the ones the
make us pay 50 per cent for, plus
the shorts and score. This is mani-
festly unfair.
"I say in all sincerity the distribu-
tor should furnish the entire pro-
gram, shorts, score and all when he
plays percentage. The average ex-
hibitor cannot stay in business and
pay as film rental 50 per cent of
the gross."
The showmen resent the score
charge most, he said, cataloguing it
as an unfair trade practice and "a
racket in every sense of the word."
A film is valueless minus the score,
he pointed out.
At the same time, he urged the
exhibHorb to mlaintai'n closest rela-
tions with the nation's newspapers.
"The editor of your paper can do you
more good or harm than any one man
in the community. Both of you are
in the same kind of business, both
have something to sell that must be
sold today, yet I have found instances
where, because of some little differ-
ences, the theatre manager and the
editor of the paper are not friends.
This is destructive to both. Theatre-
men and news2:apers have a tremen-
dous community influence.
"The exhibitor must keep himself
informed as to what is going on in the
moving picture industry at all times.
The only way this can be done is
by continually reading the trade
papers. They carry the story, day by
day, week by week. They were par-
ticularly helpful at the Washington
Code hearings; they kept the contact
between all phases of this industry.
Read the trade papers."
The MPTOA president insisted the
showmen maintain good sound and
screen conditions, pointing out how
millions of production money is
wasted if the motion picture is not
reproduced properly.
Mr. Kuykendall was most emphatic
on the subject of indecent pictures.
Speaking of the "many little indecen-
cies that are allowed to creep into
pictures in increasing numbers of
late," he said: —
"Most of them have nothing to
do with the continuity and are in
many instances plain, crude, ordinary
vulgarity. They are doing us tremen-
dous damage with the sane thinking,
decent men and women who patron-
ize our theaters.
"It is not so much the regular so-
called sex pictures that do us dam-
age; it is the vulgar sayings and
scenes that are injected into what the
public has reason to believe is whole-
some entertainment. It is not the
function of the screen to moralize,
but we must adhere to the funda-
mentals of common decency.
"Injecting obscenities into what
would otherwise be a clean picture
must be stopped. We owe it to our
patrons and to this industry to use
every possible means to bring it
about."
Radio Options Play at
Hollyf-own Theatre
Radio yestei^'day took an option on
"Thirty Thousand To Co," a play by
Kurt. Ames, now playing at Leia E.
ers' Hollytown Theatre. This is
The fourth play produced by Mrs.
Rogers to be sold for pictures.
"Thirty Thousand To Co" is a com-
edy about a young promoter who in-
duces his father-in-law to sell the
family hardware store and produce a
motion picture in Hollywood.
Eastman Board Meets
Rochester. — A meeting of the board
of directors of Eastman Kodak Com-
pany will be held today for the pur-
pose of electing new officers or con-
firming those who are now in for an-
other period. At the annual stock-
holders' meeting of the company last
month five new directors were elected.
Will Defy Rosenblatt
(Continued from Page 1 )
the complainants be kept secret from
their employers. To turn these com-
plaints over to this committee would
be breaking faith with the workers
and be a violation of the Code. Un-
less the complainants themselves come
to me and tell me they are willing
to have their complaints passed on
to this committee, I shall never turn
them over. I am for justice for the
workers and no one can force me to
do what I feel is not right. And it
would not be right to turn these com-
plaints over to the new committee."
Salesman Sells Self
Instead of His Client
Leo Lance, agent, took a player
to MCM Saturday as a candidate
for the Trotsky role in "Manhattan
Melodrama." Ben Piazza turned
down the player, but signed the
agent for the role. Now Lance
must take 10 percent of his actor's
salary and pay it to himself as an
agent.
Thomas To Produce
For Own Exchanges
New York. — The agreement that
was reached in Atlantic City between
Monogram Pictures and First Division
Pictures does not prevent the latter
from going into production on the
coast to take care of the demands of
its exchanges for product.
Harry Thomas said: "We will have
to go out and make some pictures for
our own organization. Our progress
demands it. We expect to make at
least twelve during the next year."
Roxy Confirmed As
Head of the Roxy
New York. — Confirming the ex-
clusive story printed in this publica-
tion weeks ago, the trustees of the
Roxy Theatre announced that Samuel
Rothafel will take over the operation
of that theatre July 1 . He will be
assisted in the management by Her-
bert Lubin.
Big Stock Deal on
If DupontsGetCol.
New York. — There are still plenty
of rumblings on the Columbia-Duponts
deal, despite denials on both sides.
From an authoritative source it be-
came known yesterday that, should
the deal go through and Duponts and
the partners get control of Columbia,
the group will go gunning for another
major outfit. Then, the plan is to
combine the two and cause a big stock
issue to be floated through the Atlas
Corporation, one of the largest in-
vestment houses in the country.
Ann Sothern to Rogers
Charles R. Rogers yesterday bor-
rowed Ann Sothern from Columbia for
the romantic lead opposite Jack Haley
in "Here Comes the Groom," which
Edward Sedgwick puts into production
at Paramount Monday.
'Winnie' Airs Xew'
(Continued from Page 1 )
Up," the cheapest of the three at
$400,000, was not so hot.
After the Brown picture was pre-
viewed, Sheehan started talking more
pictures with Lew, but Lew was con-
siderably burned by Sheehan demand-
ing all the credit for the picture. Ac-
cordingly, the "other picture" ques-
tion was left until after the release of
"Stand Up and Cheer," and that's
cold now, as Sheehan is supposed to
have heard that Brown was doing a
lot of talking around New York, tell-
ing listeners how little he (Sheehan)
had to do with the picture.
(
OPENING TOMORROW NIGHT
KING's'cLUB
Presents
For a Limited Engagement
STUART |0E
ROSS and SARGENT
The sensations of two continents — Direct
from their triumphs at the smartest night
clubs of Paris, London and Vienna.
also
THE THREE BROWNIES
Thelma, Melba and Vera
The Hottest Trso This Side of Harlem
FINE FOOD EXCELLENT SERVICE
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL CR. 9403
THE KING'S CLUB
8730 Sunset Boulevard
I
I
I
A Hearty Welcome to the M.P.T.OA
Tom
STANLEY BERCERMAN PRODUCTIONS
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
BOX OFFICE SUCCESSES
"MOONLIGHT AND PRETZELS"
"I LIKE IT THAT WAY"
"COUNTESS OF MONTE CRISTO"
I
Just Completed
"EMBARRASSING MOMENTS"
IN PREPARATION
"A SIN FOR CINDERELLA"
A New Musical Romance
by the authors of
"Moonlight and Pretzels"
"BREAD UPON THE WATERS"
by Edith Wharton
"CHEATING CHEATERS"
by Max Marcin
Page Eight
)ohn Hale through Bernard, Meikel-
john and McCall in "Dames," War-
ners.
Nella Walker by Menifee I. John-
stone for "Madame DuBarry," War-
ners.
Larry Burke and Manny Harmon for
Radio's "Down to Their Last Yacht,"
by Bernard, Meikeljohn and McCall.
George Irving to Warners' "Hey
Sailor," by Menifee I. )ohnstone.
Charles Irwin by Bernard, Meikel-
john and McCall for an MCM short.
|ohn Eldridge and Phillip Reed to
"British Agent," Warners.
Jay Henry to "The Old-Fashioned
Way," Paramount.
Lew Cody, Ben Bernie, Jack Oakie
and Dorothy Dell to "Thank Your
Stars" at Paramount.
Katherine Alexander, Marion Clay-
ton and Una O'Connor for "The Bar-
retts of Wimpole Street" at MCM.
Barbara Leonard, Sterling Holloway
and George Barbier with MCM for
"Merry Widow."
Children Dislike
'Namby- Pamby*
Pix, Says Kersey
I Reprinted from L. A. Examiner, April 10)
Sacramento. — California school chil-
dren prefer healthy motion pictures —
nqt the "namby pamby" kind.
This was the conclusion reached
today by Vierling Kersey, superinten-
dent of public instruction, after a pre-
liminary survey of motion picture re-
actions of 20,000 school children In
selected urban and rural districts.
"The rank and file of California
school children prefer healthy but not
the namby pamby pictures, and with
intelligent guidance and cooperation
will avoid films of unwholesome na-
ture," Kersey reported in pointing out
the lack of any reliable source of in-
formation available to children by
which they or their parents may make
a selection of a suitable picture.
The school chief's report showed
that thus far in California schools no
program is available by which the child
may be advised about the more im-
portant phases of his out-of-school
learning and experience.
"A surprisingly large number of
children today are expressing a real
desire to know what kind of pictures
they will see when they attend mo-
tion pictures depicting crime and cru-
elty. They know enough to discrimi-
nate against improper pictures, but
lack active guidance in selection of
this kind of entertainment."
Kersey also discovered in his film
school survey that "many of these
children, too, recognize that much
of the so-called criticism and review
of pictures is nothing more than thinly
veiled publicity."
"Children reveal that the most pow-
erful factor in their motion picture
selection is the home," Kersey said.
"The public school and home working
together have an opportunity to im-
prove this situation and to secure the
cooperation of the motion picture in-
dustry in the interests of youth."
April 11, 1934
HevfYo
"MELODY IN SPRING"
Paramount prod.; director, Norman McLeod; writers, Frank Leon Smith,
Benn W. Levy.
Paramount Theatre
Post: The story is an attempt, and sometimes a quite successful one, to combine
a mildly farcical fantasy with regulation screen operetta. It isn't quite
as funny as it might be, but at that it is a good deal better than the
backstage story.
Herald-Tribune: The work is a musical romance called "Melody in Spring."
Mr. Ross' voice is attractive, but he is more of a radio than a screen per-
sonality. The script is lightweight. The songs are melodious and, except
for the Ruggles-Boland comedy, were the best things in the piece.
World-Telegram: It begins rather well, with a fine vein of satire which pokes
fun not only at radio but at "hobbyists," and, as long as this vein of
satire predominates, the film is thoroughly amusing, thanks to the price-
lessly insane antics of the incomparable Mary Boland and Charles Ruggles.
However, the story suddenly turns on itself and goes romantic, and with
this turn go all the amiable and promising qualities it gave evidence of
possessing.
Mirror: A supremely funny trifle which is distinguished by a unique setting, a
rollicking spirit, a light directorial touch. It is exhilarating nonsense.
The characters are exquisitely drawn and are consistent in all their absurdi-
ties. The songs are catchy. The settings are romantic. The dialogue
is inspired. The situations are absurdly plausible.
Timies; The Paramount's new picture is a joy about half the time and unsteadily
pleasant the other half. Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland inspire affec-
tion as well as amusement.
News: With what they have to work, Ruggles and Miss Boland turn in capable
performances. "Melody in Spring" will doubtless prove interesting to
those who want to see Lanny Ross as well as hear him.
American: Light, gaily amusing comedy. There is a laugh in every line of dia-
logue and a snicker in every situation, so Mr. Ross is fortunate. First
honors must go to Mr. Ruggles, with Miss Boland a close second.
Sun: A light-hearted little musical comedy, "Melody in Spring" is tuneful,
romantic, sometimes funny and sometimes just plain silly. Mr. Ross,
with two or three catchy songs, does well by the music. His acting is
pretty bad. He came up against difficult competition when he played,
in his first picture with such deft comedians as Mr. Ruggles and Miss
Boland.
Journal: Lanny Ross sings several songs and has a good voice, but is as yet so
unaccustomed to the camera that judgment on his acting ability will have
to be withheld until his next film. It's Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland
who walk off with all the honors. Their scenes are delightfully goofy.
"WILD CARGO"
RKO-Frank Buck prod.; director, Frank Buck; writers, Frank Buck and
Edward Anthony; narative, Courtney Ryley Cooper.
Music Hall
World-Telegram: It is not only a fascinating record of an exciting journey into
the Asiatic jungles, but is also a valuable educational document.
Herald-Tribune: One thing which distinguishes Mr. Buck's animal pictures
from those of his rivals is the care with which they are photographed and
edited, and their authenticity. Mr. Buck accompanies his pictures with
a running dialogue, carefully edited and pruned.
Mirror: "Wild Cargo" wears the mark of careful staging. The photography
is dazzingly beautiful, particularly a dark blue sequence representing
the jungle at night.
Times: Although it may seem as though several incidents in the screen work
were pre-arranged, they are nevertheless quite thrilling. if Mr. Buck's
lecture is occasionally melodramatic, it does not detract from the general
interest.
Post: Though not sanguinary as Mr. Buck's previous "Bring 'em Back Alive,"
It is every bit as entertaining and a shade more instructive. Though
"Wild Cargo" lacks the rousing climax of certain other wild animal pic-
tures. Its interest is kept alive by the wealth and variety of the material.
News: The picture is packed with much suspense and many thrills. It is as
exciting an adventure as the first film, but because there have been so
many wild pictures exhibited on the Broadway theatre screens within
the last two years the novelty has worn off, and "Wild Cargo" just
misses our highest star rating.
American: There have, of course, been other animal pictures, but this one
merits the distinction of being different. The picture is beautifully photo-
graphed, and while Mr. Buck's running fire of explanation and comment
accompanies the action, the film is far from silent. The film is thrilling
entertainment and a liberal education in natural history and the cap-
turing of "Wild Cargo."
Sun: "Wild Cargo" turns out to be a well photographed, ably directed travel-
ogue through a jungle. The settings are often beautiful, and many of
the animal shots have a real quality.
Journal: It's a thrilling narrative. Mr. Buck's pleasant voice comments on his
adventures through-out the film. You'll find "Wild Cargo" exciting,
interesting and informative.
Many Stars on Air
With George Arliss
Constance Bennett, Ronald Col-
man, Jackie Cooper and Alfred New-
man's 20th Century radio orchestra
have been added to the radio program,
of which George Arliss will be the
principal star, that will be broadcast
from WEAF and 59 other stations
Saturday evening, April 14, to cele-
brate the first birthday anniversary of
the 20th Century Pictures Company.
This program, marking the first ap-
pearance over the air-waves of Mr.
Arliss, will last a full hour, beginning
at 7 p. m. eastern standard time. The
appearance of Mr. Arliss is of special
interest at this time, just as "The
House of Rothschild" is being shown
in principal cities.
Record Interior Set
For kittle Man* at 'U*
Frank Borzage used the largest in-
side set ever constructed at Univer-
sal yesterday shooting the Berlin ar-
rival sequence for "Little Man, What
Now.-'", the Margaret Sullavan and
Douglass Montgomery vehicle.
Set filled the entire new process
stage, is 360 feet long, and required
400 extras for one scene.
Lasky Buys Original
^ MCM yesterday bid on the Rian
James-Jesse Lasky Jr. original, "Youn^
Ladies in White," but was too late,,
smce Jesse Lasky purchased the story
for Fox last week. James and Lasky
Jr. are making a novel of the story ■
for early publication.
Stephenson in Demand
Warners is seeking to work out its
production slate on "British Agent" in
order to get Henry Stephenson into a
featured role between "She Loves Me
Not" at Paramount and Universal's
"One More River," for which the
player is already set.
Gertrude Purcell Set
Certrude Purcell registers at Fox
today to work under Al Rockett's su-
rvision on "Lottery Lover" the next
Lilian Harvey starring picture. Schul-
berg, Feldman and Curney nego-
tiated the deal.
Sparks for 'Callante*
Ned Sparks signed a Fox; contract
yesterday to take a featured role in
"Marie Callante," moving over this
week after finishing at Radio in
"Down to Their Last Yacht." The
Beyer-MacArthur office set the con-
tract.
Insull Picture Out
Four studios which announced and
registered stories based on the Insull
exploits have released the idea as be-
ing'' too susceptible to libel suits
MCM, Universal, Paramount and Fox
each had the idea in preparation.
Solow on Yarn for Hull
Universal has signed Gene Solow to ^
do a treatment on an untitled origi- I
nal idea which will be Henry Hull's I
first vehicle. Rian James produces as
the second subject under his new deal
with the studio.
cmi memmhe
//resents
JRflRqflReT SuLLflUfln
11
in a
FRflinK BORZfiqe productiod
Wl
Douqmss flRonTqom6RY
directed bij Frank Borzage
A Refreshing and Distinct-ive Drama of Youth Today; of 3(
Young Man, His Dreams and Problems; of a Young Wife, Her
Inspiring Devotion, and of the Merry, Mad World in Which
They Live. As a Book the Sensation of Two Continents; As a
Picture Universal's Finest Since "All Quiet on the Western
Front."
Novel by HANS FALLADA
Screenplay by WILLIAM ANTHONY McCUIRE
pRflnK
BoRZflGG
PRODUCER-
DIRECTOR
CARL LAEMMLE presents
MARGARET SULLA VAN
with
DOUGLASS MONTGOMERY
UNIVERSAL
PICTURE
,^lgl
'si
*
^
SuLLflUfin
who became a star by virtue of her
exceptional performance in "ONLY
YESTERDAY" plays the stellar role
LAMMCHEN" in
//
A FRANK BORZAGE PRODUCTION
A UNIVERSAL
PICTURE
Presented by
CARL LAEMMLE
' 7
i
Douqmss
JKonTGOiR€RY
recently featured in "Little Women''
and "Eight Girls In A Boat' plays the
title role in
A FRANK BORZAGE PRODUCTION
A UNIVERSAL
PICTURE
Presented by
CARL LAEMMLE
AUTHOR OF
"EMBARRASSING MOMENTS '
KING FOR A NIGHT'
"ROMAN SCANDALS"
"LET'S BE RITZY '
WROTE THE SCREEN PLAY
for
(l) ILLWffl
flnTHODY
n)cGuiR€
'
with
MARGARET SULLAVAN
and
DOUGLASS MONTGOMERY
FRANK BORZAGE
PRO D U CTiON
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE
April 11, 1934
THE
Seventeen
Rush of New Plays
After Easter Lull
New York. — With the pre- Easter
doldrums out of the way, Broadway
is getting a rush of new plays this
week, , eight being scheduled. The
opepfhgs slated for last night were
"ikaces" at the Ethel Barrymore Thea-
'^re, "The House of Remsen" at Henry
Miller's, and a revival of "The Mi-
kado" at the Majestic.
The program for the rest of the
week is: Tonight, "Moor Born" at the
playhouse; tomorrow, "Wife Insur-
ance" at the Longacre; Saturday,
"Furnished Rooms," "Brain Sweat"
and "Are You Decent?" the houses
for these not having been announced
as yet.
John Loder Goes Back
To A.T.P. for 3 Pictures
London. — On completion of his
work in "Warn London" for British
Lion, John Loder returns to Asso-
ciated Talking Pictures, the Basil
Dean company, for three in a row.
He will appear in "Java Head," the
new Cracie Fields picture and oppo-
site Victoria Hopper in "Lorna
Doone." Chis Mann fixed the deal.
Globe Goes First Run
New York. — ■ "The Unknown
Blonde" a Majestic picture, will have
its Broadway premiere at the Globe
Theatre on April 16. For this pic-
ture the Globe is turned into a first
run house and the admission prices
will be the same as other first run
theatres on Broadway.
New Act for Comedians
New York.- — Clark and McCul-
lough, who have been together for
over 30 years, are appearing in per-
son at the RKO Albee Theatre with
a brand new version of their famous
characterizations of "The Senators"
and "Three Cheers for the Red, White
and Blue." "Wild Cargo" is the pic-
ture.
Boost for Talooka*
Edward Small is using a full cov-
erage of 24-sheet boards in the Wil-
shire to Hollywood district for the
first neighborhood run of "Palooka"
at the Fox Wilshire. First time in a
number of months that 24 sheets
have been used to exploit a second
run.
Col. Signs Walter Lang
Walter Lang has been signed by
Columbia to handle the first Walter
Connolly starring vehicle, "Whom the
Cods Destroy," which goes before the
cameras Thursday. Sidney Buchman
has scripted and Felix Young is the
associate producer.
Break for Director
Edgar Ulmer, Universal director,
learned yesterday that his uncle,
Jacques Eisenstein, had died in Buda-
pest and willed him a library valued
at $150,000. Eisenstein was a book
publisher in Hungary.
Orry-Keliy East
Orry-Kelly, Warner fashion de-
signer, leaves the end of this month
or the first of May for New York.
He will be away about a month, get-
ting a line on current fashion trends.
Revie^vinq
I \
mei.
SCREEN BOOK
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Greta Garbo
(MGM)
The May Screen Book has a cover
line, "Ann Harding's Love Affair with
Her Ex-Husband," but Welford Dick-
son's story is not quite so tactless as
the title, although it takes some sort
of prize for vagueness.
Whitney Williams has two stories,
"Hollywood's Most Shocking Wo-
man," in which he nominates Carole
Lombard, and "Don't Call Them Up!"
a story of the telephonic difficulties of
the stars.
One of the nicest things about
Screen Book is that it introduces some
new names — John Peere Miles, J. P.
McEvoy, Henry Albert Phillips and
Irene Thirer. Miles' story is "Why
Stars Shy at Motherhood"; McEvoy
writes an amusing letter to a popular
youngster, "Shame on You, Baby Le
Roy"; Phillips has "Hollywood De-
bunked," in which Clark Gable says
a few pertinent things; and Miss
Thirer wonders and wanders around in
"Will the Jungle Jinx Doom This Ro-
mance?" all about Marion Burns, Kane
Richmond and Bruce McFarlane.
There seems to be always some-
thing to write about Katharine Hep-
burn, and this time Lionel Pape, who
played her father in "The Lake," tells
all about it to Josephine Sauer. Don
Harris has a not unusual story on Sam
Goldwryn's discovery in "What Holly-
wood Did to Anna Sten"; Val Lewton
offers "An Emotional Check-up on
Joan Crawford," and Ned Williams
writes about "Marie Dressier and the
Roosevelts."
Al Sherman went out a few nights
in New York gathering material for
"Looking Over Beauties the Movies
Overlook"; George White emphasizes
smiles in "Do You Want to Be a
Chorus Girl?" Creighton Chaney is
briefly inarticulate in "My Father —
Lon Chaney," and Ann Dvorak gives
an interview to Fred Rutledge in
which she says "I'm a beautiful girl
— not an actress."
PHOTOPLAY
128 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY..Katharine Hepburn
(Radio)
Adolphe Menjou does a bit toward
setting impressionable girls on the
right sartorial track in an interview
with Kirtley Basquette, "Ladies As
Mr. Menjou Likes Them," in the April
Photoplay. Illustrations of what he
considers bad taste seem to be clipped
from portraits of very famous femi-
nine stars. More fun guessing who!
In "Is Walt Disney a Menace to
Our Children?" David Frederick Mc-
Cord writes in a psychological strain
— and strain is the right word. It's
all about how the Big Bad Wolf gives
children nightmares. Too, too bad
about the little darlings who go for
a nice quiet evening with the latest
sex melodrama or gangster opus and
have the horrors over Pluto the Pup.
Sara Hamilton does another of her
silly and inspired pieces, "Spring! 'Tis
Forgiving Time in Hollywood." Jean
Harlow denies to Ruth Rankin that
she is going to have a divorce or a
baby; Virginia Bruce tells Virginia
Maxwell "I Had to Leave John Gil-
bert" without rancor, and Dolores Del
Rio "Extols Passive Love" to Katha-
rine Franklin.
Another story, interesting but with-
out news, is "Clark Gable Cuts the
Apron Strings," by William F. French.
"The Jungle Is No Place for a Wo-
man" is an excellent, colorful inter-
view by Virginia Maxwell with Mrs.
Frank Buck, who just returned from
a trip on which her husband filmed
"Wild Cargo." Hilary Lynn does
"Anna Sten, the Million Dollar Gam-
ble," pointing out the unHollywood-
like qualities of the Russian star.
Sylvia contributes another of her
always vivid stories. This time, find-
ing nothing wrong physically, for a
change, she tells Mae Clarke how to
gain energy — same old grapefruit
juice.
Rudy Vallee is still giving out that
same interview about how he looks
and looks but can't find his dream
girl, with Nina Remen writing it down
this time. Particularly interesting is
a tale by Beauregard Brown on a
director, Wesley Ruggles, "His Third
Time on Top."
"Polly with a Future," by William
P. Gaines, is an amusing biography of
Polly Walters. The same author has
another story, "Hollywood Snubs
Paris," starring Travis Banton.
Australia Still
Wrangling Over
Censor Question
Sydney. — Since the Australian State
premiers turned down the idea of a
Commonwealth film control at their
conference in February, all parts of
Australia are battling for some kind
of censorship that will hold good in
each State.
South Australia is fighting with
West Australia, New South Wales and
Queensland can't and won't get to-
gether. Magistrates in separate divi-
sions are over-riding bans placed on
pictures by the Federal film censor.
Minister of Customs White an-
nounced that the Federal Government
will endeavor to secure some uniform-
ity in censorship through a bill that
will soon be submitted to the six
States.
Writers Turn Radio Job
Gene Towne and Graham Baker
were unable to accept the Radio as-
signment to write the "RKO-NBC Re-
vue" because of a previous commit-
ment to Fox where they are now
working. Team is scripting an un-
titled special which will be directed
by Raoul Walsh.
Music for Foy Pic
Bryon Foy is planning on a musical
score for his latest picture, "Sterili-
zation." It will first be tried at a
preview, silent. If the score is added,
it will be first Foy picture with musi-
cal score.
i<
GLAMOUR
ff
(Universal)
CONTINUITY
BY
Gladys Unger
GREETINGS
TO THE
MOTION
P I C T U RE
THEATRE
OWNERS
ASSOCIATION
FROM
CECIL B. DEMILLE
DIRECTING
"C L E O P A T R A"
FOR PARAMOUNT
MONOGRAM
EXCHANGEMEN & EXECUTIVES
in convention at Atlantic City
Greet and wish Success to the
PT 0 A
in convention in Hollywood
and are sorry they cannot be
with the MPTOA men in person.
1VI0N0GRAIVIKEPT ALL
ITS 1933-34 PROMISES
//
THE SWEETHEART OF SIGMA CHI
II
"THE AVENGER"
BEGGARS IN ERMINE
//
//
//
BROKEN DREAMS"
CITY LIMITS"
Hi
"MANHATTAN LOVE SONG
II II
WOMAN'S MAN
//
"MONTE CARLO NIGHTS
// //
THE LOUDSPEAKER"
//
MONEY MEANS NOTHING
//
W. RAY JOHNSTON
PRESIDENT
TREM CARR
VICE- PRESIDENT
IN CHARGE OF PRODUCTION
^ A^ONOG/?/^M /S PREPARED TO DELIVER AGAIN!
N^^
Kll^^
Of
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8 MONTHS ON BROADWAY !
5 MONTHS IN LONDON !
AND NOW
THE SCREEN MAKES THE
WHOLE WORLD LAUGH
WITH
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TIMED FOR SPRING RELEASE
THE NEXT
JESSE L LASKY
PRODUCTION
FOR FOX FILM
GREETINGS
•1 ~ ji ■' V u •/ <■' %!,- . -)
Current Release
'COUNSELLOR AT LAW"
WILLIAM
W Y L E R
LATEST PRODUCTION
w
CLAMOUR"
I
In Preparation
"F A N N Y"
ALL FOR UNIVERSAL
GREETINGS M. P T. O. A.
FASHION FOLLIES OF 1934
Was Written By
W
ILHELM
D
ETERLE
Now In Production
"MADAME DU BARRY"
Both For
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
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to the
Theatre Owners
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America
from
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WALT DISNEY
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AN IN S T I TUT I O* N AS
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ONCE A CRAFT
NOW AN EXACT
SCIENCE
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THANKS TO OUR ENGINEERS AND CHEMISTS
"Certified Prints" are always the finest expression of the sound and action in your
negative because they're made by science on the world's most modern machinery
CONSOLIDATED FILM INDUSTRIES, INC.
NEW YORK
HOLLYWOOD
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SPRINGTIME FOR LEO IS MONEYTIME FOR
M-G-M STUDIOS,
% READING DEPT,
CULVER CITY, CALIF,
^
Vol. XX, No. 28. Price 5e.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, April 12, 1934
^^n^amiss^
rrtg^^Bj
CREEl OVER-RLICS 'lli)%r
•WE wonder if Mr. Kuykendall and
his gathering of exhibitors have taken
stock of their suggestion, "We must
have clean pictures?" We wonder
what the MPTOA members mean by
"clean pictures." We would like to
ask each and every man attending the
convention if, by this demand for
"clean pictures," he means that he in-
tends cancelling all pictures that he
judges not to be clean. We would
like to inquire if he believes the Mae
West attractions are unclean and if
so, will he cancel them.
We would like to ask the mem-
bers of this convention and, in fact,
all exhibitors, IF YOU WERE MAK-
ING PICTURES, WHAT KIND OF
PICTURES WOULD YOU MAKE? We
believe the theatre owner knows bet-
ter than anyone else what will sell in
screen entertainment and with this
knowledge, he should be able to tell
Hollywood producers what to make.
<•
If the exhibitors are honest with
themselves and if they are TALKING
FOR THEMSELVES they could advise
Hollywood what pictures would IN-
TEREST AND ENTERTAIN THE
PUBLIC. We believe no better ma-
terial could be had than is now be-
ing purchased. Maybe production of
that material could be improved, but
no one could get better stories, typi-
fying public tastes.
Producers are buying the books that
the public is reading. They are ac-
quiring the plays the public is flocking
to see. They are dipping into maga-
zines and newspapers, drawing on that
material, because readers have dem-
onstrated their liking for that ma-
terial. What else can they do? What
else should they do? Planted here in
Hollywood, they can only grasp the
public's viewpoint as it reacts through
that public's purchase of other enter-
tainment, whether it be between the
covers of a book, in a magazine, a
newspaper or on the stage.
•
Hollywood attempts the fashioning
of entertainment to sell to the pub-
lic. It is not making pictures for its
own amusement. Pictures are being
made to make money for the pro-
ducer, the distributor and the exhibi-
tor. If there were a market for
Grimm's Fairy Tales, they would be
made into a picture, but the proba-
bility is that the public is NOT IN-
(Continued on Page 4)
Earnings by Loew's
New York. — According to pres-
ent indications, the earnings of
Loew's Inc. for the year ended Au-
gust 31, 1933, will amount to $4
a share on the company's stock
Harry-Jack Cohn
Expected to Split
New York. — It is expected in pic-
ture circles close to the Columbia
home office that Harry and Jack Cohn
will reach a definite parting of the
ways on Harry's present trip East,
with the present Columbia president
and the holder of the majority of Co-
lumbia's stock buying out Jack.
The low-down on the whole Co-
lumbia-Dupont sale is that Harry Cohn
(Continued on Page 3)
Keith-Albee-Orpheum
Shows Heavy Net- Loss
New York. — The sixth annual re-
port to the stockholders of Keith-AI-
bee-Orpheum Corporation for the year
ended December 31, 1933, reveals an
operating deficit of $2,950,744.38
and a net loss for the year of $642,-
293.07.
The capital surplus now stands at
$6,391,409.78, and the cash on hand
is $1,676,489.25.
Laemmie Sr. East
Carl Laemmie Sr. left for New York
on the Chief last night to attend the
Universal stockholders' meeting, at
which the troublesome stockholder suit
is to be discussed.
'Wild Cargo' Strong
New York. — The Frank Buck pic-
ture, "Wild Cargo," got $65,000 for
its second week at the Music Hall.
Backs Lindsey In His Refusal
To Turn Complaints Over To
The New Labor Committee
George Creel yesterday definitely backed Judge Ben B.
Lindsey in his defiance of Sol A. Rosenblatt's order to turn over
to the newly-named Studio Labor Committee all complaints that
studio workers have filed before the judge. The backing of
Creel came with startling suddenness
and lack of fanfare in the form of
a brief telegram, instructing the
Judge not to turn over any com-
plaints without further instructions
from him.
Judge Lindsey, on Tuesday, had al-
ready announced that under no cir-
cumstances would he jeopardize the
(Continued on Page 13)
Communication Bill
Worrying Film Men
Washington. — Motion picture men
and A. T. & T. representatives are
anxiously awaiting the return of Presi-
dent Roosevelt tomorrow to find out
just what will happen under the Com-
munications Control bill, which is now
gaining momentum in committee.
The picture men fear the Govern-
ment may declare talkies a means of
communication and thereby bring
them under the measure. The A. T.
& T. crowd is deeply concerned and
is working at fever heat to beat the
bill in committee.
Cohn Probe Delayed
New York. — The examination of
Harry and Jack Cohn, of Columbia,
in the stockholders suit alleging ex-
cessive salaries, has been delayed
again, this time until April 18.
EXHIB YELLS ABOUT SMUT
ABE THE BUXK, SAYS MAYEB
Louis B. Mayer talked straight from
the shoulder to the MPTOA conven-
tion yesterday, telling the exhibitors
that they were unfair and dishonest
when they said that block booking
kept them from cancelling indecent
pictures.
"Many of you exhibitors," he said,
"are charging that indecencies are
creeping into all kinds of films, but
some of you who yell the loudest
(Continued on Page 15)
Leo Carrillo Signs
MOM Term Contract
Leo Carillo has just signed a long
term contract with MGM. This is
the first time Carrillo has ever been
under a long time deal with anyone.
He recently finished in "Viva Villa."
Chas. Feldman Laid Up
Charles Feldman went to the Cedars
of Lebanon hospital yesterday, where
he will undergo an operation for ap-
pendicitis.
Erpi Will Back
New Distributing
Outfit For Indies
New York. — Electrical Research
Products Inc. will go one step fur-
ther in its effort to corner as much of
the independent production business
as possible. It has agreed to furnish
the finances for a new exchange sys-
tem that William Saal and Burt Kelly
will organize.
Kelly and Saal will only devote
their efforts to opening the exchange
system and then it will be passed to
other hands for actual operation, as
their big interest will be in the pro-
duction of a group of 1 2 pictures,
financed by Erpi.
Present plans call for the distribu-
tion of 32 Erpi-financed pictures by
this Erpi-backed distributing organi-
zation.
'Limehouse* for Raft
George Hsf'^'s first picture for
Paramount on his return from his tour
will be "Limehouse Nights," an origi-
nal by Phillip McDonald. Helen Mack
will play opposite and James Flood
will direct.
Van Beurens Separate
New York — Arrvedee Van Beuren
has announced that he will no longer
be responsible for debts incurred by
his wife. This is taken to indicate
that a legal separation or divorce will
follow shortly.
'Richelieu' for Arliss
New York. — It is announced here
that George Arliss' next picture for
Twentieth Century will be based on
the life of Cardinal Richelieu. It will
be made this Fall.
Countess Frasso East
Countess Di Frasso and her brother,
Bert Taylor, left for New York last
night on the Chief, escorting the body
of their father, who died recently.
I
ROBERT LORD
Author and Supervisor f^r) WZW2'~W'^ TUf^ K.A r> "T i^ A
of 'Dames' for Warners ^KtHl I 3 I rlll IM.K* I .U^A,
Page Two
in
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Aprir U. 1934
of
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Fxecutive-Editorial Offices and Office
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193,
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Pans, 122 Blvd. Murat.
Berlin 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St ; Ant-
werp, Gratte-Ciel,
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includuig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c, Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
A director who died just recently
left his wife and family destitute, so
now Mrs. Tod Browning, Morry Cohn
(Lowell Sherman's secretary) and Mrs.
)ohn Ford are handling a fund to be
used for the widow's use until she can
find something to do — you are all
asked to contribute up to a limited
amount. A nice gesture, we calls it!
. , . Vivian Caye has been abed since
Sunday with sunstroke! And that's
no fun! . . . Phillip Barry left for New
York Tuesday night — he says he won't
write a picture until he can do it with
Don Stewart! . . . Minna Wallis leav-
ing for N. Y. tomorrow for a rest.
•
It's been decided to let Ruthie get
the divorce, so George Brent is ex-
pecting the legal papers any minute,
. . . Joan Crawford, who is off on a
mysterious vacation somewhere, dash-
ed in for a lunch with Franchot Tone
yesterday and dashed off into the
nowhere again. . . . Jeanette MacDon-
ald has imported her voice-teacher
from Chicago. . . . Which reminds us,
there's a song-studio on Sunset run
by Mr. Howell! (!) ... Mrs. Lou
Brock (unbeknownst to her husband)
got herself a job in "Down to Their
Last Yacht" the other day, and when
Brock came on the set in the morn-
ing he gave her the "double-take."
. , . Josephine Hutchinson will make
two or three pictures for Warners
over the Summer, but her ticket per-
mits her to go back to Eva LeCalli-
enne's company in the Fall. . . . The
Dean Markham-Barbara Fritchie thing
is intense.
•
There were just a few dozen Dues-
enbergs on the Paramount lot yester-
day from which Mae West was to
pick herself one. ... A certain not-
so-well known foreign actress at-
tempted suicide over a very famous
foreign director here the other night!
Bet you never thought he was THAT
desirable! . . . The visiting exhibs will
eat lunch BEFORE they lunch at Para-
mount today, we hear — because at
the Warner "Luncheon" yesterday
they were treated to a magnificent
feast of sandwiches, ice cream and
beer !
"VIVA VILLA"
MGM prod.; director, Jack Conway; writers, Edgcumb Pinchon, O. B. Stade,
Ben Hecht.
Criterion Theatre
Mordaunt Hall, Times: It is a fast, furious and compelling tale. Ben Hecht's
story of Villa's career set forth with expertness and ingenuity.
Richard Watts, Herald-Tribune: The already legendary Pancho Villa dashes
gustily across the screen in a hearty and exciting chronicle melodrama.
Splendidly played by Wallace Beery. Joseph Schildkraut is excellent,
Walthall immensely moving.
Bland Johaneson, Mirror: A wildly exciting melodrama, providing Beery with
another stunning character role. This rousing thriller recalls splendid
days when movies really moved. Beery is supported by a great cast.
The film is photographed with exceptional artistry, the dialogue is terse
and punchy, and a splendid musical score accompanies the brisk action.
"Viva Villa" is giving a rousing and inflammatory account of the injus-
tice which prevailed in Old Mexico. Its battle scenes are wildly thrilling,
its massiveness is impressive.
Wanda Hale, News: The reaction is Viva Beery. Jack Conway has contributed
scenes of hard, wild riding and thrilling battles that are epic in their
surge and power. A good measure of praise must go to Walthall and
Schildkraut. The wildness, color and pathos of Villa's magnificent life
are happily caught by this ambitious production.
Regina Crewe, American: So skilfully are fact and fancy blended that truth
seems to dominate the entire romance. Thrilling as a bugle call, vivid
as a campfire flame, vital as the crimsoned pages that he lived, Pancho
Villa marches again to the mad music of "La Cucuracha." Here is war
with all the trimmings, war with wine, women and song on the side. A
stirring subject, startlingly portrayed in broad strokes and splashes of
cinematic artistry. "Viva Villa" awaits you at the Criterion, a picture
that you'll never forget.
Rose Pelswick, |ournal: Beery magnificently plays the hero of the film depict-
ing Mexico's birth of a nation. It is rousing, vigorous and exciting enter-
tainment. It is by far Beery's most ambitious performance and he plays
the part magnificently. The supporting cast is excellent, Carrillo being
especially good. It is Walthall's most effective role since the Griffith
spectacle, and Schildkraut gives an outstanding performance.
Thornton Delehanty, Post: In "Viva Villa" MGM has stepped in where the
Russians have feared to tread, making a lusty, gory, full-throated melo-
drama from the colorful trail which Mexico's bandit left behind him
The vigorous, cruel and sentimental portrait which Beery draws of Villa
is persuasively real. It is the kind of performance which makes your
blood run hot or cold. By being the real thing himself. Beery succeeds
in making you believe his Villa is the real thing too. You could not ask
more of any actor. "Viva Villa" bases its appeal on the exciting, the
spectacular and the human. With its beautifully directed mass scenes,
its pictorial loveliness, it is an intelligent and courageous study of a
memorable character. There should be special credit for Jack Conway's
direction, for the solid performance of Stuart Erwin and for all those re-
sponsible for the absence of cheap melodrama and murky sentimentality.
These factors have helped make it an illustrious motion picture.
William Boehnel, World-Telegrami: Hecht has spun a savagely realistic, stirring
and dramatic picture of Villa's life, with Beery giving a magnificent per-
formance. In all principal roles "Viva Villa" enjoys the luxury of accom-
plished actors. Walthall gives the most direct and finely modeled
performance since his "Little Colonel," and Carrillo is excellent. It is a
truly sweeping, magnificent film.
MGM Crew Starts
7300-Mile Air Trip
George B. Seitz, director, Harold H.
Noice, explorer, and Joseph Cook,
business manager, leave today from
Grand Central Airport on their 7300-
mile flight to the South American
jungles to prepare for the filming of
MCM'S "Jungle Red Man," an origi-
nal story by Noice.
They will stop at the Indian vil-
lage, Yarawate, to assemble an all-
native cast. This flight of eight days
in the air is one of the longest In
aviation history. Four months later a
complete company will be sent to film
the picture. Harry Rapf will produce,
with Ned Marin associate. John T.
Neville, Florence Ryerson and Ray
Doyle will do the screen play.
Today's M. P. T. 0. A. Program
Business session called to order by President
n Aid of Law Enforce-
the Country Town
10:30 A. M.Sharp.
Kuykendall.
10:35 A. M. "What Motion Pictures Mean
ment," by Sheriff Gene Biscauliz.
10:40 A.M. "What the Code Means to
Exhibitor."
10:50 A.M. "What the Code Means to the Metropolitan Exhibi-
tor," by Morgan A. Walsh, San Francisco.
1 1 :00 A. M. Open Forum on Code Matters Relating to Trade Prac-
tices. Ed. Kuykendall presiding.
1 1 :30 A. M. Labor Provisions on the Code — Jack Miller, Chicago
Open Forum on Labor Matters — Jack Miller presiding
Report of Resolutions Committee.
Reports of Other Committees.
Installation of Officers.
Business session adjourned.
1 :30 P. M. Sharp. Busses will leave outside the hotel for Para-
mount and Columbia studios. Take your choice. Luncheon will
be served.
7:30 P. M. Convention Banquet at the Ambassador.
1 1:45 A. M.
12:00 Noon.
12:15 P. M.
12:30 P. M.
12:45 P. M.
OPEN FOP.UM
The Hollywood Reporter;
You are deserving of great credit on
your stand on the writers' question..
As a writer I agree with you that the
time has come when writers, unlike
children, should not only be seen, but
also heard.
However, frequently, I have cause
to wonder if your news editor ever
reads your editorials, and vice versa.
I mean that while you take the
writer's part in your editorial column,
you, too. seem to forget all about his
existence in your news items.
Thus, we read that "Harold Teen,"
the picture which Murray Roth di-
rected, broke a Philadelphia house rec-
ord.* Didn't anybody write "Harold
Teen"?
We read that Spencer Tracy has
been set for a top spot in "Marie
Gallant," which Henry King will di-
rect.* But which, evidently, no one
will write.
We read that Edward Ellis goes into
the Dashiell Hammett story, which W
S Van Dyke will direct.* But which
no ore will write either, presumably.
We read that Ann Dvorak goes into
Housewife," which will be piloted
by Alfred E. Green.* But evidently,
"HoJsewife" was just "born,;" and
isn't being written either.
In short, what I am driving at is
that, if you, who are so staunchly for
us editorially, forget all about us when
it comes to your news columns — what
can we expect of those to whom we
are merely sublimated stenographers?
Best regards,
RIAN JAMES
'"Cleaned from the news columns of the
Reporter.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
1^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Ta»t BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
April 12, 1934
THE
Pag« Three
FOX 'WOMEN ARE DANGEROUS*
I^INCERE ANO CONVINCING
Baxter and Flood
Share First Honors
"SJCH WOMEN ARE DANGEROUS"
(Fox)
Direction James Flood
Author Vera Caspary
Adaptation Jane Storm
and Oscar M. Sheridan
Photography L. W. O'Connell
Cast: Warner Baxter, Rosemary Ames,
Rochelle Hudson, Henrietta Cros-
man, Mona Barrie, Irving Pichel,
Herbert Mundin, Richard Carle.
"Such Women Are Dangerous" has
the advantage of a cleverly devised
plot, worked out convincingly on an
entirely credible basis — a young girl
dramatically, desperately and pitifully
infatuated w'tih an older man.
The first half of the picture is a
little slow. It seems to be too pains-
taking in planting the desperation of
the girl's love. Surely some of the
scenes could be suggested, instead of
emphasized. The latter half of the
picture swings into a nice speed and
tempo and ends with fine excitement.
Rochelle Hudson is the girl, who
leaves her home town and goes to
New York to show her poems to
Warner Baxter, a successful, glamor-
ous novelist. She becomes an awful
nuisance, but the author is overly kind
and considerate of her youth, and so
when circumstances force him to tell
her at last that she must go home —
that she bores him — the shock is so
great that she kills herself, leaving
circumstantial evidence that points to
Baxter as her murderer. Unable to
explain where he had been the eve-
ning of her death, the net slowly
closes around him, until a surprise
witness saves him fom conviction.
Baxter, as the kind, gentle, roman-
tic novelist, will disappoint not a sin-
gle fan. Miss Hudson offers an ap-
pealing and finely etched characteri-
zation of the girl, and Rosemary Ames
is gracious and sincere as the secre-
tary. Henrietta Crosman, as his
crotchety old aunt, scores a distinct
hit, as does Irving Pichel in a com-
paratively small role. Herbert Mundin
contributes his usual comedy; Richard
Carle makes a fine real estate agent,
and Mona Barrie is well cast as one
of Baxter's many lady friends.
James Flood directed intelligently;
Jane Storm and Oscar M. Sheridan
adapted Vera Caspary's story, and L.
W. O'Connell photographed.
Exhibitors have a good dramatic
yarn here, and splendid acting. It is
a reliable programmer.
Para. Can't Get CarneH
MCM yesterday turned down a re-
quest from Paramount for the loan of
Tay Carnett, Paramount planning on
having him direct "Honor Bright" be-
fore MOM'S "China Seas" goes into
work. MCM declared the deal
would upset its production schedule
on the Cable-Harlow picture.
Rogers Signs Hamilton
Charles R. Rogers Productions yes-
terday signed Neil Hamilton for the
lead opposite Ann Sothern in "Here
Comes the Croom."
Rosy Ducks Report on
Big M. P. Salaries
New York. — Sol Rosenblatt's re-
port On the results of his investi-
gation of big salaries in the motion
picture industry will not be made
until July, Rosy having asked for
more time for preparation.
U. S. Millionaires
lake Pix in Russia
Order Out to Jump
Code Violators
Washington. — Attorney General
Cummings revealed yesterday that
district attorneys all over the country
have been given the "go" signal for
all NRA code violators without the
necessity of consulting with Washing-
ton.
It is believed here that this is part
of the new code enforcement drive,
whereby the NRA is entering the
"compliance" stage.
Anniversary Makes
MCM Party Big Hit
More than 1 500 MPTOA visitors
and Hollywood notables attended the
b^g celebration at the MCM studio
last night for dinner and entertain-
ment. L. B. Mayer told the guests
that ten years ago yesterday he and
Irving Thalberg joined MCM, so the
occasion was a double celebration.
Pete Smith, as M. C, introduced a
number of noted film people and
President Kuykendall presented
MPTOA leaders. The entertainers,
drawn from various studios, included
Will Rogers, Irene Franklin, Jeanette
MacDonald and many more.
Serial from Universal
Film in 85 Newspapers
Universal, through a deal with the
United Press, is getting a big news-
paper play on "I'll Tell the World."
The story, serialized by Ed Church-
ill of the Universal publicity depart-
ment, is being syndicated through 85
daily newspapers starting next week.
Rasch Back to MCM
Albertina Rasch has completed her
loan-out to Warners and checks in
again at MCM to pilot the dance
numbers in Irving Thalberg's "Merry
Widow."
Two for City Park'
Chesterfield Productions yesterday
added Judith Voselli and Mary Foy
to the cast of "City Park," which
they are producing at Universal.
Checks for Members
Of Authors' Society
New York. — -The American So-
ciety of Authors, Composers and
Publishers yesterday started mail-
ing dividend checks to its mem-
bers for the first quarter of 1934
The dividend is the largest in the
history of the organization.
New York. — Three American mil-
lionaires, William Osgood Field Jr., L.
K. Bigelow and J. Withrow Jr., have,
with Arthur Menken, formerly of the
Pathe News, formed a company known
as the American Croup Inc. to make
pictures in Russia. This is the first
company to photograph in that coun-
try with a Government franchise.
Henry Shapiro is the executive direc-
tor in Russia.
The first pictures of the series that
this group is producing has been com-
pleted and is now in this country.
A new production crew leaves for
Russia in two weeks.
U' Will Put Karloff
In Bluebeard' Role
In line with its cycle of super-hor-
ror pictures, Universal plans to bring
one of the most famous characters of
literature to the screen early on next
year's program. The picture will be
"Bluebeard," and will probably have
Boris Karloff in the stellar role.
Edgar Ulmer who directed the last
horror picture, "Black Cat," for Uni-
versal, will be given the directorial
assignment, and plans call for an
elaborate production.
47 Cameramen Sign
With New ASC Agency
Executive Manager Allen Watt o^
the ASC announced yesterday that 47
cameramen have signed contracts
with the new ASC Agency fc per-
sonal management.
The Agency was established April
I . Of the cameramen signed, 26 are
first cameramen and 21 are seconds.
John Lodge Gets Long
Term Deal from Para.
John Lodge, who had a leading role
with Marlene Dietrich in her recently
completed "Scarlet Empress," has had
his option taken up by Paramount and
IS now on a seven-year term. His next
assignment has not yet been decided.
Roach Goes Fishing
Hal Roach leaves today with James
Parrott, director, and Cus Shy, writer,
on a combined business and pleasure
trip. They will fly in Roach's private
plane to Pyramid Lake, Nevada, to
fish and perhaps work on stories.
Report Cohns to Split
(Continued from Page 1 )
knew nothing about dickers that were
going on in New York, promoted by
Jack, and Harry is understood to have
said on arrival here: "If Jack wants to
sell his interest, I will buy it." So
that's probably what will happen
The Cohns have never been able to
agree on the production policy of the
company. Harry, the production head,
has been for a policy of progress in
production and with larger budgets for
that purpose. Jack has been more
in the line of cheap negatives and
large volume.
Of course, you're all more or less
aware of the fact that Sam Coldwyn
was not exactly niggardly about the
money he spent in the publicity and
advertising campaign he put over for
Anna Sten. Very well, with that in
mind, we just want to show you what
a really "cute" person Dr. Eugene
Frenke is. In regard to the picture
he recently produced, Dr. Frenke was
very anxious that it be reviewed, not
only by trade papers, etc., but he also
wanted it brought to the attention of
readers of artier magazines, so he
marched himself into the office of Ex-
perimental Cinema and explained that
he thought they ought to send a critic
over to see it and give it a notice.
The editor agreed and Dr. Frenke
started to leave. As he got to the
door, he turned to the editor and
said, "And maybe you could give my
wife a mention, too, somehow.-'"
•
Now about that agent who came to
New York and left his clients in Hol-
lywood to another person. Said agent
IS no longer connected with that busi-
ness at all and it was not he who
brought suit for back commissions by
attaching salaries. In fact, only one
attachment has been made and the
story back of that one is supposed to
be a case of base ingratitude. The
actor whose salary is tied up at the
moment came to the agent with a
hard luck story some time ago and
the agent voluntarily granted the actor
3 ten weeks moratorium on the pay-
ment of commissions. So it seems
this non-payment of commissions got
to be a beloved habit with the actor
and naturally something had to be
done about it. Anyway, that's the
ether side of the story, and, out of
justice toward none and malice toward
all, let the shoe fit who butters it.
•
This business of movie stars broad-
casting scenes from coming attrac-
tions is a piece of swell advertising
for everyone concerned — the movie
company, the corrimercial hour it gets
the use of and the broadcasting com-
pany. BUT it seems there is a racket
in back of it. The stars contribute
their time for nothing, which is fair
enough IF the time used is what they
call "sustaining" periods. If not, the
stars' time should be worth some-
thing for the value they bring to it
and they ought to be paid by some-
body anyway, because someone with
a bright mind IS collecting on it.
The idea is that someone goes to a
picture company and says: "Look, I
can get you free time over the air and
you'll reach millions if you can get
the stars to broadcast." Then that
someone goes to a national advertiser
and says: "I can get you a grand pro-
gram filled with stars for nothing —
if you PAY ME for getting them."
Which is one way of being an agent
without having to bother with clients
and it nets more than 10 per cent.
Ralph Staub Here
Ralph Staub has arrived in Holly-
wood from New York on assignment
at Warners, where he will direct two
Technicolor shorts.
Page Four
THE
April 12, 1934
Chinese Producers
To Make Jungle Pix
Shanghai. — The Luen Hua Film
Company of this city, one of the larg-
est film producers in China, has com-
pleted arrangements for the filming
of four jungle pictures in British
Malaya.
The first picture, titled "Menace of
Wild Animals to Humanity," will be
shot entirely in one of the forasts
in the Unfederated Malay State of
Johore, near Batu Pahat. The second
picture will be "When the World Was
Young," and the third "Beauty Spots
of Malaya." The fourth has not been
selected. Four Chinese stars will be
taken along to play the leads, and na-
tives will have the other parts.
Extras' Committee
Takes Up 57 Complaints
The Code Committee for Extras last
night started hearing complaints from
extra players, charging studios with
code violations, when the Grievance
Subcommittee took up a total of 57
complaints, all that have been filed
to date.
Two were referred to the State
Labor Board, 34 were referred by tele-
graph to Sol Sosenblatt because of the
question of the committee's jurisdic-
tion. Two were held for additional in-
formation, and 1 8 were referred to the
studios for the studios' version of the
cases. Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman
of the committee, explained that no
decisions were given.
Melton with Beacon
Beacon Productions yesterday bor-
rowed Frank Melton from Fox for
a principal role in "I Can't Escape,"
which Otto Brower will direct. Mel-
ton, who was signed for the stage
play of "Ah, Wilderness," cancelled
the assignment to accept the Beacon
deal. Kingston-Harris negotiated.
Sam Weisenthal will produce.
Kraft Returns to 'U'
H. S. Kraft, who iett for New York
a little over a week ago, has been
signed to a writing deal by Universal
and returns here by plane to start
work Monday. He will not be given
his assignment until he arrives. Deal
negotiated by Kingston-Harris,
Swerlings on Vacation
Jo Swerling, Columbia writer, and
his wife left yesterday by train for
New York on a three weeks' vaca-
tion, the first for the writer in two
years. Swerling just completed the
script of the Al Cohen-joseph Chis-
holm novel, "Take the Witness,"
which Sam Briskin will produce.
Fox Buys Foster Yarn
Fox yesterday purchased "Face of
An Angel," an original by Lew Fos-
ter, and signed the writer to develop
the story. Winfield Sheehan will pro-
duce. Deal was negotiated by Hoff-
man-Schlager.
Donald Woods for 'Chan'
fPox yesterday borrowed Donald
Woods from Warners for the juvenile
lead in "Charlie Cnan's Last Case,"
which goes into work at Fox West-
ern next week.
TRADE VIE W
(Continued from Page 1 )
Big New Theatre
Program in England
TERESTED in that kind of a story.
Picture patrons want life, discussions
of humanity as it is being lived to-
day; they want to see their every day
problems acted out for them on the
screen; they want the same, (and
better,) entertainment on the screen
that is offered them on the stage, in
novels, in newspapers and magazines.
If you exhibitors would like to
know why you have had so many bad
pictures during the past year, would
like to have reasons for so many weak
stories, talk to some of our best writ-
ers here working in the studios. They
will tell you they are not permitted to
make an adaptation from a success-
ful book. They will show you how
impossible it is to transfer a hit play
to the screen. They will give you
the reasons why it is impossible to
make into picture entertainment the
same stories that the public is buy-
ing every day in magazines and news-
papers.
THEY WILL PROVE THAT OUR
STORY MATERIAL (FOR THE MOST
PART) IS TEN AND TWENTY
YEARS BEHIND THE TIMES. ALL
BECAUSE OF THE THOUSANDS OF
"MUST NOTS" THAT ARE BEING
SHOVED UNDER THEIR NOSES
EVERY DAY.
Those of you who may be inter-
ested will find that, just as soon as
a writer gets to a point in a story
that is really expressive of life as it
is lived today, he has to stop, he has
to go back 20 years and write it as
it was lived then. Accordingly, the
picture from that story is unbeliev-
able and holds little interest for ticket
buyers.
If some of vou theatre owners
would corral a little GUTS and fight
for your rights in the same manner
that publishers of books, magazines
Columbia Starts One
Having borrowed Robert Young
from MGM yesterday and signed
Doris Kenyon for the lead, Colum-
bia today puts Walter Connolly's first
starring picture, "Whom the Gods
Destroy," into work. Walter Lang di-
rects the Felix Young production.
Webb to Produce One
Millard Webb will produce inde-
pendently and direct "International
Cabaret," an original story by Hans
Tiedeman. The sfory is written
around Haus Vaterland in Berlin. Pro-
duction will be at Pathe studios.
New Jungle Film Ready
New York. — Showman's Pictures
Inc. has acquired the jungle film,
"Beyond Bengal," for distribution.
Brains at Premium
Here, Says DeMille
C. B. DeMille told the MPTOA
delegates yesterday: "You've heard
that Hollywood is crowded. It's
a desert when you're looking for
brains." He got a howl, but he
explained that available ability was
scarce because the majors had the
most important people under con-
tract.
and newspapers fight for theirs; if
you would tell a lot of those long-
hairs, with their dried palms extend-
ed, to go fly a kite; if you would stand
behind any and all effort to make
PICTURE ENTERTAINMENT, you
would be making a lot more money
than you ever thought existed in this
business.
We don't advocate dirt pictures.
We are not fostering smut. We are
pleading for stories that will interest
audiences and send them back to your
theatres tomorrow. We ask only the
same right to photograph, that is
given publishers to print. We are
yelling for picturizations of what is
going on in the country today and a
frank discussion in dramatic form of
those happenings.
It's easy for Mr. Kuykendall and
others to mount a platform and de-
mand CLEAN PICTURES, but what
are they talking about? What do they
mean by CLEAN? Producers here are
striving to give them pictures that will
sell. If the pictures that are avail-
able will not sell, then, Mr. Kuyken-
dall, tell us what will and it will be
delivered to you. Define the word
"CLEAN" as pertaining to picture en-
tertainment. Give the writers a stop
and a go, Mr. Kuykendall, and if those
pictures will draw audiences, will pay
the bills, you will have done a great
service to this business.
Somebody has to do some kind of
a service tihat will get the picture
business back on its feet and keep it
there.
London. — Business throughout Eng-
land in the motion picture theatres has
determined many individuals and com-
panies to start construction of new
houses, and it is expected that there
will be over 100 new theatres here
before January 1 .
All the new houses are designed to
seat 2000 and more, and every mod-
ern improvement in theatre construc-
tion will be utilized.
Protest Filed on Extra
Re-Registration Board
While the members of the Code
Committee for Extras yesterday were
speeding the work of re-registration,
petitions were being circulated among
extra players calling upon So! A. Ro-
senblatt to prevent the present com-
mittee from carrying out the work.
Reasons given for the request were
that on the committee are individuals
belonging to organizations calling
themselves representatives of picture
players and the signers believe those
not members will not get a fair deal.
Also, that the signers believe the
board is not qualified to pass on the
capability of the players.
W After Helmers Novel
Universal is negotiating with Peter
Otto Helmers, formerly with UFA in
Germany and editor of "Scherl" there,
for one of the three novels he brought
here. Helmers arrived in town Mon-
day fom New York.
GREET NCS
to
M. P. T. O. A.
from
AL
ROCKETT
Producer
FOX
FILM CORP.
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W. C. FIELDS
YOU'RE
TELLING ME
with
Larry "Buster" Crabbe
Joan Marsh
Ad r ien ne Ames
Directed by Erie C. Kenton
It
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GEORGE RAFT
/'The
TRUMPET
BLOWSl
ADOLPHE MENJOU
and Frances Drake
Directed by Stephen Roberts
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Evelyn Venable
Nipry Morris
"Kent Taylor
Sir Guy Standing
Directed by Charles Yldor
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MELODY
IN SPRING
Lanny Ross
Charlie Ruggles
Mary Boland
Ann Sothern
Directed by Norman McLeod
WE'RE NOT
DRESSING
with
BING CROSBY
Carole Lombard
George Bu rns & Grade Ai len
Ethel Merman & Leon Errol
Directed by Norman Taurog
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Earl Carroll's
MURDER AT
THE VANITIES
Most Beautiful Girls
in the World and
CorlBrisson Victor McLaglen
Jack Oaki* Kitty Carlisle
A Duke Ellington & Band
Oircctcc/ by Mitchtll Lti^,n
Damor| Runyon's
MALI
DE
Adolph^l
Do roth
Chcirles
SMrley
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fenjou
Dell
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tander Hall
lulberg
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//
SYLVIA SIDNEY «
I RTY- DAY
rinceIs
with
ARY GRANT
1 1 reefed by Marion G ering
B.P«Schulberg
Production
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with Roger Pryor
John Mack Brown
Duke Ellington & Band
0/ reefed fay Leo McC a rey
:^
UNIVERSAL GREETS the
WITH A TIMELY GROUP
//
CARL LAEMNLE presents
LEE TRACY in
I LL TELL THE WORLD
with
GLORIA STUART, ROGER PRYOR, ONSLOW STEVENS
Directed by Edward Sedgwicl(
ff
/>
PAUL LUKAS in
AFFAIRS of a GENTLEMAN
with
LEILA HYAMS, PATRICIA ELLIS, DOROTHY BURGESS, LILIAN BOND,
ONSLOW STEVENS, JOYCE COMPTON
Directed by Edwin L. Marin
ff
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UNCERTAIN LADY
with
EDWARD EVERETT NORTON - GENEVIEVE TOBIN - MARY NASH
PAUL CAVANAGH - RENEE CADD
Directed by Karl Freund
//
BLACK CAT
with
KARLOFF( Frankenstein) BELA LUCOSI (Dracula)
DAV ID MANNERS
JACQUELINE WELLS - LUCILLE LUND
Directed btLJidgar Ulmer
Prod a
CARL LAh
SHOWMEN of the M.P.T.O.A.
OF SHOWMEN'S PICTURES
ced by
MMLE, Jr,
ANGEROLS TO WOMEN"
with
NILS ASTHER - GLORIA STUART - PAUL KELLY - ALAN DINEHART
Written and Directed by Max Marcin
//
HALF A SINNER
with
JOEL McCREA, BERTON CHURCHILL and SALLIE BLANE
MICKEY ROONEY
Directed by Kurt Neumann
If
CHESTER MORRIS in
EMBARRASSING MOMENTS
. mth
MARIAN NIXON - ALAN MOWBRAY - WALTER WOOLF
Directed by Edward Laemmle
A STANLEY BERCERMAN PRODUCTION
//
'GLAMOUR
//
with
PAUL LUKAS - CONSTANCE CUMMINCS
PHILLIP RW, JOSEPH CAWTHORN, DORIS LLOYD
Directed by IVilliam Wyler
A B. F. ZEIDMAN PRODUCTION
A |J R E V O I R
COME AGAIX
You ve probably bad a million lau^bs since
you came to Hollyw^ood , . . but you missed
tbe bi^^est lau^b ol your lifetime.
It you bad been a lew days earlier you would
bave cau^bt tbe preview oi tbe greatest en-
tertainment Jobn Barrymore bas ever made,
"Twentietb Century," witb Carole Lombard,
Walter Connolly and Roscoe Karns.
Its tbe rowdiest, most riotous comedy tbe
sta^e or screen bas ever orfered . . , tbe outstand-
ing sta^e bit of last season... tbe outstanding
talking picture bit of tbis season.
HARRY COHN
Cyt'psiaen{
r
<» L U
B 1
PICTURES
iThis Advertisement Published Tuesday in Error)
C O R PJ
A
April 12, 11934
THE
Page Thirteen
Zanuck Will Visit
Foreign Exchanges
On his first visit to United Artists
foreign film exchanges to discuss ma-
terial with exchange managers for
next year's production schedule,
Darryl Zanuck, 20th Century Pictures
producer, leaves Hollywood with his
family May 7.
Zanuck will be absent for at least
two months, his itinerary including
London, Paris, Rome and Vienna in
Europe, and Cairo and Capetown in
Africa, where United Artists ex-
changes arfe located. He will confer
with all foreign exchange managers
with a view toward shaping his fu-
ture productions for a more world-
wide market.
While in Africa, Zanuck will join
a big game hunting expedition into
the interior.
New Plays on Broadway
Set- For Coming Week
New York. — "Broadway Interlude"
goes into the Forrest Theatre on April
19. Play is by Achmed Abdullah and
William Almon Wolff.
"Are You Decent" goes into the
Ambassador on April 19. Also open-
ing next week are "Trial by Jury" at
the Majestic, April 16; "Stevedore"
at the Civic Repertory Theatre, April
18.
MCM Holds Kruger
MOM has signed Otto Kruger for
another term. He is now working in
"Treasure Island."
CREEL JOI]\$ Lli^USEY
11% l»EiF¥irV« ll#fiE]\BLATT
(Continued from Page 1 )
welfare of the studio employees by
turning the complaints over to a com-
mittee on which there was a paid rep-
resentative of the producers. He
questioned Rosenblatt's right to order
such an act under the Code.
Charles Cunningham, head of the
Local NRA Compliance Board wired
Creel regarding it. Yesterday morn-
ing the wire arrived from Creel, or-
dering the halt in carrying out Rosen-
blatt's orders. At the moment all
proceedings are halted awaiting a
final showdown.
"I am glad to get the firm back-
mg of Mr. Creel," said judge Lindsey
yesterday. "I mean no disrespect to
Mr. Rosenblatt, but I cannot concede
that he has the authority under the
code to jeopardize the signers of these
complaints."
Meanwhile Lew Blix, business rep-
resentative of Local 37, lATSE, rep-
resenting grips, property men and
electricians, both wired and wrote
Creel protesting against Rosenblatt's
order, and also wrote Rosenblatt pro-
testing in behalf of his men the ap-
pointment of Pat Casey to the new
Studio Labor Board.
Blix in his letter stated that the
turning over of the complaints bear-
ing the names of the employees would
not be in keeping with the Code.
"The integrity of identification of
men guaranteed by the Administra-
tion would be violated and severe loss
result," he wrote.
In his protest to Rosenblatt against
the appointment of Casey to the Stu-
dio Labor Board, he stated that Casey
is a leader of the producer group, has
already interpreted the code wrongly,
stands in a prejudicial light with the
workers, and does not have and can-
not get the confidence of the em-
ployees. He pointed out that he had
nothing personal against Casey, but
his official position makes his pres-
ence on the board unbearable.
"Lindsey has the faith and confi-
dence of the workers," he added
"He has started to do a good job
Why not keep him?"
The new Studio Labor Committee
has taken quarters in the Guaranty
Building, but to date only Casey and
Ed Smith have been announced as
members.
Ernest Truex Plans
Summer Stock Company
New York. — Ernest Truex has an-
nounced that he will head a stock
company during the summer months
in White Plains.
Its home will be at the Contem-
porary Theatre Club and his son Philip
will be associated with him. Accord-
ing to plans the theatre will open early
in June.
L'Estrange to Phoenix
Dick L'Estrange, candidate for su-
pervisor of the Third District and
member of the Regional Labor Board,
will leave tomorrow for Phoenix to
hear complaints of violations of the
NRA Code.
Pommer Praises
American Pictures
New York. — -Erich Pommer, noted
German director, arrived here today
on the lie de France, en route to the
Fox studios. On landing Pommer said:
"The American motion picture leads
the world in furnishing fine entertain-
ment for movie-goers. Their position
has been considerably strengthened
strengthened throughout Europie, not
so much due to the failure of Euro-
pean producers as to the astounding
progress your studios have made.
America used to litter Europe with
commercial trash, but that has now
been supplanted by excellent pic-
tures."
Pommer will leave here next week,
accompanied by Sidney R. Kent, for
Hollywood.
M. P. Research Council
Invading New England
New York. — The Motion Picture
Research Council will carry its activi-
ties to New England, and the first
conference will be held at a luncheon
on April 14 at the Hotel Somerset in
Boston.
Fox Song Writers Set
When they finish the music and
lyrics on "Red Heads on Parade" for
Jesse L Lasky, Jay Gorney and Lon
Hartman will do the music for "Lot-
tery Lover," which Al Rockett is pro-
ducing for Fox. Gorney recently com-
pleted the music for "Stand Up and
CHeer."
THE MOTION PICTURE PRODUC
WERE DELIGHTED TO HAVE BEEN
THEATRE OWNERS OF AMERICA
COLUMBIA PICTURES CORP.
EDUCATIONAL STUDIOS, INC.
FIRST NATIONAL PICTURES, INC.
FOX FILM CORPORATION
HAL E. ROACH STUDIO, INC.
ERS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
HOST TO THE MOTION PICTURE
LAST NIGHT AT MGM STUDIO.
HAROLD LLOYD CORPORATION
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER CORP.
PARAMOUNT PRODUCTIONS, INC
RKO-RADIO PICTURES, INC
WARNER BROS PICTURES INC
April 12, I9S4
Page Fifteen
MAYER HANDLES EXHIBS
ROVGHLY OIV SMUT ISSUE
Care For Cash, Not
For Morals, He Says
(Continued from Page 1 )
don't care what you buy as long as
the pictures have box-office draw.
"You, as an industry, condemn
block booking and howl because you
can't cancel pictures you claim are
unclean, but the truth is that the ones
you want to cancel are the ones you
have heard are not money-makers,
regardless of their tyfje.
"I thoroughly agree with you that
indecencies should be eliminated. But
I'll tell you this: I have talked to
many leaders in churches and I have
found that most of them are fairer in
their criticisms than some of you."
The MCM chieftain, speaking to
the exhibitors gathered at the Hotel
Ambassador for the MPTOA Conven-
tion, was declared by observers to
have made the first "fighting speech"
of the season, standing up to the
exhibitors and giving them fire in-
stead of soft-soap.
"I started in the exhibition end of
this business twenty-seven years ago,"
he said, "and I am as thoroughly ac-
quainted with that branch of the in-
dustry as with production. I sold pic-
tures, and then my ego got the better
of me and I became a producei.
"The producer on Broadway who
has one or two hits out of seven is a
successful producer. Now, then, is
it conceivably just to expect us to
produce one a week, fifty- two weeks
of the year? We make the pictures,
seeking to make successes out of them
all. But what are we going to do
with them if they do not click —
swallow them?
"Back of the exhibitor's complaint
against block-booking is a very sel-
fish principle. He figures it out for
himself that he wants to play only
the successful pictures. He will then
make all the money. But who will
stand for the cost of the other pic-
tures?"
Answering the showmen's com-
plaint against percentage bookings,
Mayer declared that he did not be-
|. lieve it worked hardship on them as
claimed.
"We offered our product for a year
to one exhibitor who made the com-
plaint and simply asked him in re-
. turn to show us his books at the end
of the year. He refused."
He selected for a concentrated at-
tack the general plea for "fine pic-
tures," asserting he is repeatedly
fighting battles with important pic-
ture people on this subject.
Double and triple bills were
slammed by him on the same
grounds. He said: "A restaurant
serving poor food decides to increase
patronage by doubling its portions.
How much chance has it to suc-
ceed?"
The $25,000 independent, he said,
contributed to the double-bill situa-
tion and he would rather "see them
out of the way" than to continue
over-dosing the public. Eight years
ago he predicted the exhibitor's mis-
treatment of producers would drive
the latter eithe.r into ruin or into thea-
Correction
In the page ad run by William
Dieterle in this publication yester-
day he was credited with the writ-
ing of Warners "Fashion Follies of
1934." Our typesetter was
wrong. It should have read "di-
rected by." Our apologies, Mr.
Dieterle.
tre-operation. His predictions, he
said, were being fulfilled. He de-
fended high salarieirs in pictures and
wound up by asking for greater co-
operation between exhibitor and pro-
ducer.
MPTOA Undecided
About Extension of
Convention Sessions
Expressing exhibitor sentiment
against the publishing of box-office
reports, Ed Kuykendall opened yester-
day's session at the MPTOA conven-
tion, introducing the general counsel,
Edward Levy. The eastern attorney
spoke on various legal questions af-
fecting the theatremen. Assemblyman
Lawrence Cobb succeeding him on the
floor to advise closer contact between
exhibitor and legislator.
Fred Meyer, MPTOA secretary,
when queried in regard to extending
the convention, said that there was
a semi-official understanding that the
exhibitor huddle would be stretched,
"providing we are unable to transact
our business in the period alotted."
Mrs. Thomas C. Winter talked on
"family entertainment," socked the
so-called "intelligentsia for their in-
fluence on picture-making," and was
followed by joe Breen, of the Pro-
ducers Association, delivering a eul-
ogy on clean advertising.
Louis B. Mayer's subsequent talk
lifted the session to its high spot,
with Cecil B. DeMille's address on
"How To Put Pictures Together" get-
ting close attention from the crowd.
Accompanying the director was
nearly a ton of exhibits, artist sketches
on scenes, sets, props and gowns for
Paramount's "Cleopatra." He topped
his lecture by showing an artist's il-
lustration of his bath-tub scene from
the picture, claiming it was the "big-
gest bath-tub I've ever had." He
also declared that to him the laws
of censorship were unreasonable and
that they are not based on good com-
mon sense.
Walter Vincent's talk was put over
until this morning, owing to the late-
ness of the session... Kuykendall an-
nounced the golf tournament and
asked for registrations.
Nearly 300 exhibitors and their
families visited Radio yesterday, an-
other group taking In a tour of the
Fox studio. It was a 100 per cent
attendance at the MCM soiree at
night.
The program for today includes an
open forum for all delegates at the
business session in the morning, trips
to the Paramount and Columbia stu-
dios in the afternoon and the enter-
tainment climax at night with the
convention banquet at the Ambassa-
dor.
Cantor LeavingN.Y.
For Picture Here
New York. — Eddie Cantor will leave
here Saturday for Hollywood and
United Artists studio to start prepara-
tion for his picture, "The Treasure
Hunt" (tentative title) that will go
into production June 1.
The "Treasure Hunt" idea is being
developed by Arthur Sheekman, Nat
Perrin and Nunnally Johnson, and the
only casting done on the picture to
date are the twfo feminine leads, Ethel
Merman and Ann Sothern.
Visiting Delegates to
Coif for Cups and Beer
Featuring a keg of beer at the fifth
hole and another at the thirteenth,
the MPTOA Golf Tournament gets
off tomorrow at Lakeside, with plans
set for 1 00 entries, handicaps set at
the players' discretion.
The jtheatfemen will tee off in'
foursomes and aim for forty prizes
donated by picture people for the
event. The Fox West Coast Theatre
organization is sponsoring the tourna-
ment.
Real Rebel Yell
MCM finally got a Confederate
veteran to give the. rebel yell in "Op-
erator 13." S. S. Simmons, ninety-
year-old major general of the Con-
federate army, has been signed.
Goldwyn Will Have
3 in Work by June 1
For the first time in his history,
Sam Goldwyn plans to have three pic-
tures in work simultaneously around
June I . The United Artists lot will
be cleared for Coldwyn's use, with
20th Century going into a four month
dark period May 1 and Edward Small
moving his production unit to RKO-
Pathe.
The Anna Sten-Frederic March ve-
hicle, "Resurrection," will head the
list, getting under way May I 5, with
Rouben Mamoulian directing. "Bar-
bary Coast," which William Wellman
handles with Gary Cooper and Gloria
Swanson in the top brackets, follows
two weeks later. Leonard Praskins and
Dwight Taylor are shaping the script.
The Cantor picture is the third.
Cameramen Serious
About Silent Camera
Members of the Research Council
of the Academy were rejoicing yes-
terday over the reception given their
silent camera questionnaire, which
was mailed recently to more than 1,-
000 techicians in the industry.
Already scores of the question-
naires have been filled out and re-
turned, and the Council expects to
start work shortly on the consolida-
tion of the information.
Chase Stays at Roach
Qharley Chase has) just signed a
new long term contract with Hal
Roach. He has been with Roach Stu-
dios more than a decade.
GROSVENOR HOUSE
PARK LANE .... LONDON
THEY SAY IT IS LONDON'S BEST HOTEL
Experienced travellers stay at GROSVENOR HOUSE because:
It has the finest location in London — facing Hyde Park.
It IS the ideal "home from home" — rooms, suites, and also charming
private apartments.
It is convenient for all theatres, shopping centres, etc.
It is the haunt of London Society, and the chosen hotel of celebrities
throughout the world
Its rates are surprisingly reasonable although the address is
GROSVENOR HOUSE, PARK LANE, LONDON
I
GREETINGS!
Theatre Owners
ROY
(
F
RUT
k
r
Just Completed
The Twentieth Century Production
BULLDOG DRUMMOND
STRIKES BACK
I
Starring
RONALD COLMAN
/
AND NOW
ON A VACATION
VARIETY'S DOC HOUSE
Says
MACK CORDON
For
cracking that he was on
the pedestal that Buddy
DeSylva had hoped to
be on.
Ain't Sof
I NEVER SAID IT-
and Variety Knows It—
MACK GORDON
(Working For Paramount)
P. S.: Dear Budd/: Daily Variet/ always
seems to get things "BOTTOMS UP"...
Besides, imagine how silly I would look
on a pedestal.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF MY THOUGHTS FOR YOU, MR. EXHIBITOR
GREETING S-
M. P. T. O. A.
FROM
John
Cromwell
DIRECTOR
"S I L V E R COR D '
with IRENE DUNNE
"ANN VI C K E R S"
with IRENE DUNNE
"SPITFIRE" (Trigger)
with KATHARINE HEPBURN
"THIS MAN IS MINE '
with IRENE DUNNE
and
"Of Human Bondage"
with LESLIE HOWARD
THERE
ARE MORE
EXHIBITORS
READING
THAN ANY OTHER
DAILY FILM TRADE
PAPER
I
SPRINGTIME FOR LEO IS MONEYTIME FOR YOU!
MFTR0-G0LD7JYN-MAYRR STUDIOS,
% MP. SAMUEL MAPX,
CULVER GITV,CALIl''.
Vol. XX, No. 29. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, April 13, 1934
WAR ON SMLTORG/iNIZCD
•M.P.T.O.A. Members: —
If you have accomplished nothing
else other than a sane discussion of
the double feature evil, a discussion
that may bring results later, you will
have done more during your conven-
tion this year than any other group
has done in the past ten years at
these meetings.
The importance of the COMPLETE
ELIMINATION of double features in
representative houses throughout the
country (and the small ones) is not
a guess — it means BETTER PICTURES,
and better pictures mean better
grosses, better profits.
Hollywood has shown you that it
can't turn out sufficient pictures to
permit you to double them up on the
same program, and, in their effort,
the producers are not giving the time
and attention they should to their im-
portant pictures.
•
You know, and we all know, that a
good picture will not only run twice
as long as an ordinary attraction, but
will get four and five times the gross.
When you see one of the big New
York theatres doing $70,000 one
week and as low as $17,000 the next
week, YOU MUST KNOW the answer.
When the Music Hall does $100,000
or better in a week and then drops
to $60,000 the following week, the
same answer holds good.
And think of the difference in the
grosses. THINK what good pictures
can really draw. You don't need a
pencil to figure the difference in your
profits. And what is true with the
big city houses is true with the thea-
tres in the neighborhoods and small
towns. ATTRACTIONS will attract.
•
If you will make up your minds,
assist others in arriving at the same
conclusion and REFUSE TO PLAY
DOUBLE FEATURES, our studios here
will have to cut down their production
schedules and, in cutting them down,
they will have more time to devote to
the important pictures — the pictures
that will sell.
MCM, with the largest production
organization in the business, can't
make 50 pictures a year and make
• them right, nor can Paramount,
Warners, Radio, Universal, Fox or any
of the smaller plants. If any one of
them would turn out 25 GOOD PIC-
TURES, it would take the Bank of
(Continued on Page 3)
Washington Feels
Rosy's Job Is Safe
Washington. — There has been a
change of opinion about Sol Rosen-
blatt being supplanted, and official
circles now think his job is safe.
It is pointed out that his division
has been handed more codes to
handle than any other, and it is
also felt that he will stay as long
as General Johnson does.
George Voick Quits
Selznick and Joyce
A. George VoIck, identified with
the Selznick-Joyce office almost since
its inception, resigned yesterday and
is going in business for himself.
The VoIck activities will be com-
bined in two organizations, A. George
VoIck, Inc., which will handle stories
and plays and is headed by Helen
VoIck, and the Hawks-Voick Corpo-
ration, which will be conducted as a
general agency, with William B.
Hawks and VoIck taking care of a se-
lected list of artists, writers and di-
rectors.
Ruggles To Do 'Rhumba'
Para.mount yesterday assigned Wes-
ley Ruggles to direct "Rhumba,"
which will be a Carole Lombard-
George Raft vehicle. Story, an or-
iginal by Guy Endome, has not been
assigned to a writer as yet.
Mystery For Warners
Warner Brothers have bought "The
Case of the Howling Dog," a Liberty
story by Erie Stanley Gardner. Ben
Markson will adapt and Warren Wil-
liam is likely to star.
MPTOA Directors Will Meet
With Producers And Insist
That Films Be Cleaned Up
A determined effort is to be made by the MP' A to con-
vince the producers that smut and vulgarity must be eliminated
from all pictures. To this end the board of directors of the ex-
hibitor organization will remain in town for a few days after the
close of the convention and will hold
Expect Dynamite
In Da r row Report
Washington. — A load of dynamite
conferences with a representative
group of producers. On this subject,
Secretary Fred Mever, of the MPTOA,
said yesterday: —
"A resolution is being prepared for
this purpose and will be presented to
the delegates before we adjourn the
convention. If we are successful in
getting the producers to eliminate
(Continued on Page 15)
Television Tubes
Being Made Secretly
New York. — RCA has at least 100
men at work in its Harrison, New
Jersey, tube factory, turning out the
new giant cathode tubes for use in
television. The work is being carried
on in great secrecy.
These tubes are the very latest de-
velopment for large television projec-
tion and all the men employed are
closely guarded to prevent any com-
petitor getting hold of samples.
Rivkin-Wolfson Abroad
Winding up their contract at MCM
on June 2, Allen Rivkin and P. j.
Wolfson leave for Russia for a two
months' vacation before taking a
writing assignment in London. Latter
deal was negotiated some time ago.
WARNERS TRYIXG TO HCY
THEATRES WITH RONDS
Ernst Lubitsch Starts
New York. — Warner Brothers have
embarked upon another theatre-buy-
ing spree, planning to increase very
largely their present string of 450
houses.
They are offering theatre owners,
particularly in the New Jersey section,
Warner bonds as payment for taking
over the houses. Their argument is
that the purchase price is guaranteed
by the expected increased value of
the bonds.
These deals are similar to those
guaranteed by Paramount, which got
that company into so much trouble.
'Merry Widow' Today
Ernst Lubitsch puts "The Merry
Widow" into production today at
IS expected to be wrapped up in the
report of the Darrow NRA Review
Board, which has just completed a
lengthy hearing of charges against the
Motion Picture Code Authority by the
Independents.
The report, which goes directly to
President Roosevelt, will contain find-
ings based solely on the charges, with
no defence in evidence.
This was revealed today when the
Review Board dropped a bombshell
(Continued on Page 4)
Montgomery Set For
'Mutiny on the Bounty'
Robert Montgomery has been as-
signed to a principal role in "Mutiny
on the Bounty," a novel by Charles
Nordehoff and James Norman Hall,
which Frank Lloyd will direct for
MGM.
Wallace Beery and Clark Gable fill
the top brackets. Novel is being
scripted by Carey Wilson and John
Farrow.
Henry Ginsberg Back
Henry Ginsberg returned to his
desk as general manager of Hal Roach
yesterday, after a quick vacation in
Honolulu. Ginsberg left two weeks
ago to meet his wife there on her re-
turn from a tour of the Orient.
Dave Selznick East
.David Selznick leaves for New York
MCM after two weeks of rehearsals ^^unday accompanying George Cukor
■^ and Howard Estabrook, who hop from
and four days recording of the songs.
Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette
MacDonald have the top spots in the
Irving Thalberg production.
'U' Premiere Monday
New York. — Universal's "I Like It
That Way" will have its premiere at
the Mayfair Theatre Monday night.
there to England to prepare "David
Copperfield." Selznick will be gone six
weeks.
Kent on Way to Coast
New York. — Sidney R. Kent, Presi-
dent of Fox Film, left here today for
the coast and the Fox studios.
RALPH
and
LEO
RAINGER ROBIN
JUST
COMPLETED
Musical Numbers "Kiss And Make Up"
Page Two
THEjfe^
April 13. 1934
intfgfepoiCTii
W R WILKFRSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
M^r.. 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 41 -A
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscriptoin rates,
includirig postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879
The N. Y. dailies are headlining the
most recent suicide attempt by Mar-
jorie King. The papers are playing
it up big because of her name being
linked with that of Georgie Raft and
making him the heavy because he
happens to be a picture star. It's too
bad that the newshounds are not
aware of the fact that Margie has a
suicide complex and that she has tried
it many times before!
•
The serious illness of Frank Joyce
in New York has sent many in Holly-
wood scurrying to their doctors for a
thorough looking over, just to be on
the safe side. Two results we know
of are Charlie Beahan, who is now
busy losing his appendix at the
Cedars; and today Ricardo Cortez hies
himself to the same spot for a slight
(and slightly embarrassing) operation.
Incidentally, Frank Joyce was reported
as somewhat improved yesterday.
•
Well, it's gotten to the point in
New York where they're paraphrasing
play and picture titles now — if they
can't make them fit the people any
other way. Which gives the players
much more leeway and twice as much
fun. F'rinstance:
William Powell —
"The Powell and the Glory"
Junior Laemmie —
"Fifty Million Henchmen"
Clifton Webb —
"Lavender and Old Face"
And here are some more "straight"
ones:
Johnny Weissmuller —
"Animal Kingdom"
Archie Mayo "The Thin Man"
Maureen O'Sullivan —
"Johnny Get Your Gun"
Mrs. Pat Campbell —
"Turn Back the Clock"
Edmund Goulding —
"I Like It That Way"
Bing Crosby "Of Thee I Sing"
George Cukor "My Lips Betray"
Mary Brian "No One Man"
Al Newman "Face the Music"
It could go on for years!
IteaiaFANi
"THE COUNTESS OF MONTE CRISTO"
Universal prod.; director, Karl Freund; writers. Walter Fliesch, Karen DeWolf,
Gene Lewis.
Roxy Theatre
American: We've had this one before, quite frequently in fact, and most re-
cently just the other week in one of the German imports. Of the players,
Paul Lukas, with a sincere, unaffected portrayal, manages to make his
role ring true, and garners to himself the lion's share both of honors and
sympathy.
Sun: The picture needed cinematic wit to point up its trifling comedy. It
needed some good light comedy acting. It got neither. Mr. Freund has
directed the story smoothly enough; but there are no champagne bubbles
in this talkie. It is light melodrama rather than light comedy.
Herald-Tribune: "The Countess of Monte Cristo" is a curious blend of genu-
inely amusing entertainment and tedium. Mr. Karl Freund, we venture
to say, is finding himself, as a director, since this picture is an improve-
ment on his last two films.
News: Even though "The Countess of Monte Cristo" has in its cast such capable
names as Fay Wray, Paul Lukas, Patsy Kelly and Reginald Owen, there is
precious little that can be said of its entertainment value.
Mirror: Fay gives one of her usual competent performances. Lukas displays his
usual charm. Their support is good. It includes such interesting per-
formers as Reginald Owen, Patsy Kelly and Paul Page.
Times: The new work is weak on credibility and less than overwhelming on
general interest. Its allure, if any, is predicated on its ability to leap from
surprise to surprise in the matter of identifying its principal players. The
most heartening item in the film from the entertainment standpoint is
Patsy Kelly's amusing performance.
World-Telegram: An earnest, well bred, uneventful film, which one can see
and hear without boredom or discomfort, but which leaves the state of
the current Broadway cinema just about where it found it. Karl Freund
has directed the film with such a sure touch that one feels it is a pity to
waste such expert direction on such an arid and labored story.
Journal: While there isn't anything especially new in the Cinderella idea, "The
Countess of Monte Cristo" manages to disguise a stock situation so
adroitly that the film emerges as amusing entertainment. Smartly di-
rected, with Fay Wray and Paul Lukas as the principals, and Patsy Kelly
as comedy relief that is not only relief but also hilarious comedy.
'Mystery Woman' Not
Interested in Films
Local NRA Code offices were ex-
cited yesterday when it was learned
that a mysterious woman named
Barry was coming to act in a liaison
capacity with State and Federal of-
fices. No one seemed to know why,
and rumor even had her replacing
Mrs. Mabel Kinney on the Code Com-
mittee for Extras,
Last night Mrs. Kinney revealed
that Aleska Barry, former worker in
the State Social Welfare Department,,/'
is coming as a field coordinator, not
to take part in picture code troubles,
but to check up complaints about em-
ployment of infirm women in indus-
try.
Shell Holds Ardell
Because of the fan mail received
from his broadcast last Monday, the
Shell Oil company has again signed
Franklyn Ardell. comed an, to appear
on Its program next Monday. Pro-
g'am is released locally by KHj. Deal
was n"gotiated by Kingston-Harris.
Lukases at Springs
Pau! ' u'^?s and his wife left for
Pa'm Springs yesterday for a week's
v-cation. When he returns, he goes
into "I Give My Love," with Wynne
Gibson, at Universal.
Hardy for U' Picture
Sam Hardy replaces Reginald Denny
in "I Give My Love." at Universal.
Denny is working at the present time
and could not get released.
Show For the Sailors
James Cagney, Pat O'Brien and
Frank McHugh, now making" "Hey
Sailor" for Warners, put on a show
for the benefit of 100 men of the
U.S.S. Arizona Wednesday night.
Fifty Busby Berkeley girls were also
present.
New Play for MCM
New_,.-York. — MGM has acquired
the ^ef'een rights to "Her Excellency's
Je^acco Shop," a play by Laszio Bus
Tekete, Hungarian playwright.
POSITION WANTED
On Editorial Board of Major Studio
or in Agency in Hollywood by
young, attractive girl, graduate of
Bryn Mawr College with highest
honors.
Magazine Experience in New York:
5 years Literary Editor
Forum Magazine
2 years Fiction Editor
McCall's Magazine
1 year Literary Advisor
C. P. Putnam's Publishing Co.
Author of two best-selling novels,
both sold to pictures. Latest novel
just delivered to publishers.
One year in writing department of
local major studio. Thoroughly fa-
miliar with treatments and screen
plays, as well as highly productive
3f original ideas for stories. Finely
organized for executive work.
Box 295, Reporter
Seff Gets Daughter and
Contract on Same Day
Manny Seff is the proud father of
^ri eight-pound daughter. She ar-
■^rived at the Cedars of Lebanon hos-
pital yesterday morning. Also War-
ners presented Manny with a new
one-year contract. The studio gang
formed a^ pool for the exact time of
the baby's arrival and the $40 was
won by Robert Presnell.
OPEN FORUM
Dear Mr. Wilkerson:
Have noticed that you often men-
tion the need for better pictures of
the higher type both morally and fun-
damentally, yet some of us wonder
how pictures like these will ever re-
turn on a majority basis with many
interferences and falling blocks put in
their paths by unthinking, unwilling
supervisors and others too numerous
to mention.
Writers have many beautiful scenes
with perfect acting called for in their
stories, but these must be removed
from the scripts because the expense
of the shots, ectetera, is a trifle higher
than the regular stock stuff. The
director does not ask for these re-
movals. The actor or actress does
not ask for these removals. They
would rather have the shots made in
order that the picture would be more
finished and therefore not only be
better for the audiences (which pay
plenty) but for the reputations of the
directors, the artists and the studios.
If these supervisors, producers and
the other forms of efficiency experts
don't care about improving pictures,
it is hardly feasible that our present
day pictures will see any drastic
changes for the better until the Wall
Street bosses put pressure on them
or perhaps, do away with a large per-
centage of these "Bonus Drawing"
drawbacks.
BOBBY HANSON,
King Vidor Productions
REVEL
TRAVEL SERVICE
6724 Hollywood Blvd. HO. 2241
(HOTEL CHRISTII)
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the motion picture industry
Let us handle all the detaHs
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INTERNATIONALLY REPRESENTED
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24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
April 13. 1934
IKilP@PlTiR
Page Three
COLUMBIA HAS KJ^OCK-OUT
IX 'TWEIVTIETH CENTUKY
Direction, Acting,
Story All Superb
"TWENTIETH CENTURY"
(Columbia)
Direction Howard Hawks
Authors Charles MacArthur
and Ben Hecht
^Photography Joseph August
Cast: John Barrymore, Carole Lombard,
Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns,
Charles Levison, Etienne Girardot,
Dale Fuller, Ralph Forbes, Clifford
Thompson, James P. Burtis, Ci-Ci
Parrish, Edgar Kennedy, Ed Cargan,
Snowflake, Herman Bing, Lee Kohl-
mar, Pat Flaherty.
If Moses had chiseled out an elev-
enth commandment on those stone
tablets, it would have been: THOU
SHALT NOT LET COLUMBIA'S
•TWENTIETH CENTURY" PASS
THEE BY.
This picture is so excitingly good
that superlatives suddenly seem feeble.
Perfect production, perfect acting,
perfect story and then string a lot of
"perfects" together for the dialogue.
It is farce that touches art; it is
entertainment that makes dreams
come true; it is satire that borders on
the diabolical, and it is characteriza-
tion that IS genius.
One of the BIG hit pictures of the
year, this comedy will blow the dust
off of any theatre's cash register. And
repeaters will be legion, coming back
to catch the priceless lines that were
lost in the laughter.
John Barrymore has the role of his
life as Oscar Jaffe, a big theatrical
producer whose acting (when people
are within sight and hearing) puts to
shame his most famous stars. With
arms waving like a windmill, his hair
in acute astonishment, his eyebrows
continually taking a dramatic stance,
his voice thundering with maledic-
tions, or softly cunning, and always
either on the brink of suicide or on
; the wings of joy, Barrymore has cre-
I ated in Jaffe a character that will go
I down in screen history.
I' Carole Lombard, as Lily Garland, a
little shop girl whom Jaffe builds into
a famous star and who deserts him
to go to Hollywood when she can't
stand his theatrics any longer, does
almost as much tor her role. She is
as temperamental and dramatic as
Jaffe, and one of the funniest scenes
in the picture is where they both go
on an emotional jag at the same time
in a compartment on the train with-
out benefit of audience, until they
suddenly realize that neither is being
impressed.
Walter Connolly as Jaffe's long-
suffering "advisor" is priceless and his
comedy is superb. Roscoe Karns is
better than he has ever been as Jaffe's
press agent. Etienne Girardot contrib-
utes a new, fantastic humor as a
slightly insane man, who goes around
pasting religious signs on everybody
and everything in the train. Herman
Bing and Lee Kohlmar are amusing as
two players from the Passion Play;
Charles Levison is well cast as a rival
producer; Ralph Forbes does beauti-
fully with a small role; Dale Fuller
M.P. Code Authority
To Open Office Here
New York. — The Motion Picture
Code Authority, which has been
established in New York for some
time, will open an office in Holly-
wood very shortly to handle pro-
duction disputes on the ground.
Majestic Plans to
Make 12 Pictures
New York. — The reorganization
plan of Majestic Pictures has been
completed and the company will
make twelve pictures, to be produced
by Larry Darmour and Harold Hopper.
Ample financing is said to have been
arranged.
The company's first picture of the
new season will be "The Scarlet Let-
ter," which will be ready July 1.
Film Folk Plastered
With Income Tax Liens
Income tax liens were filed yester-
day in Federal Court against Sidney
Fox, Herbert Brenon and Joseph P.
McEvoy.
Miss Fox was tagged $256 addi-
tional on her 1931 earnings. Brenon
was named in two liens for 1931 and
1932 in the amounts of $177 and
$535. McEvoy was named in a 1930
lien for $2017.
Bill Koenig Marries
It was revealed at the MPTOA din-
ner last night that William Koenig.
Warner-First National executive, and
Barbara Rogers, a Warner player,
wee married early this week in Mex-
ico. Jack Warner confirmed the
story.
"U" Buys Runyon Yarn
Universal has purchased the Damon
Runyon story, "Ransom — $1,000,-
000," which was published in Cos-
mopolitan, and will continue its loan
of Murray Roth from Warners to di-
rect it.
Laemmie Jr. North
Carl Laemmie Jr. left for Santa
Barbara last night and the rest of the
Universal executive staff joins him to-
day for a production conference.
is good as Lily Garland's maid, and
Edgar Kennedy is a detective.
Most of the picture takes place on
the Twentieth Century going from
Chicago to New York. The action
concerns Jaffe's desperate, fantastic
and screamingly funny efforts to get
Lily Garland to sign up with him again
and save him from ruin.
Howard Hawks' direction is a mir-
acle and a thing of beauty; Charles
MacArthur and Ben Hecht wrote the
story, which is a perfect setting for
the jewels of dialogue, and Joseph
August photographed it flawlessly.
Exhibitors will have to padlock
their theatres to keep patrons from
seeing this one. And it is the kind
of picture that will take the padlocks
off a lot of houses.
Lindsey Continues
on Code Complaints
Judge Ben B. Lindsey, NRA Labor
Compliance Officer, announced last
night that he is planning to hear sev-
eral more witnesses in one of the
complaints against a studio that is
now in his hands.
"The complaint is one of those that
I heard last week," explained the
Judge. "Several witnesses could not
appear at the time, so I postponed the
hearing. Just as soon as the wit-
nesses can come I shall continue hear-
ing the case regardless of Mr. Rosen-
blatt's order to turn it over to the
Studio Labor Board."
Meanwhile matters were at a
standstill last night in the matter of
the numerous complaints which the
Judge, backed by George Creel, re-
fuses to turn over to the board.
Script Trouble Delays
'Here Comes the Groom'
Due to script trouble, Charles R.
Rogers has postponed the start of
"Here Comes the Groom" from Mon-
day to Thursday of next week.
Organization will, however, get "I
Love an Actress" into work Monday,
wtih Ralph Murphy directing from
the Humphrey Pearson script. Casey
Robinson is polishing off the Leonard
Praskins screen play on "Here Comes
the Groom," and Edward Sedgwick
will direct.
Blackmer at Radio
Radio yesterday signed Sidney
Blackmer for the lead in "After-
wards," a London stage play by Wal-
ter Hackett which is being scripted by
Marian Dix and Arthur Caesar. Player
is now on the lot in "Down to Their
Last Yacht." Cliff Reid produces "Af-
terwards."
Hayden Replaces Duna
Julie Hayden replaces Steffi Duna
in "Sour Grapes" at Radio, and Duna
replaces Dolores Del Rio in "Sea Girl."
Julie appeared opposite Francis Led-
erer in "Autumn Crocus" at El Capi-
tan.
Could Starts Dance
Dave Gould started rehearsals yes-
terday on the South Sea Bolero, which
will be a feature of "Down to Their
Last Yacht" at Radio. Dance num-
ber is slated to be something entire-
ly different and new.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1
England to hold the money. If they
can come through with TEN HITS,
yes even FIVE HITS, they will have
reached their limit.
You know that, just as long as you
book poor pictures, they will make
them, and as long as you play them,
you continue to stifle not only your
own progress, but the progress of
production
KILL THAT DOUBLE FEATURE
EVIL.
Fox Will Be Heard
In $2,000,000 Suit
New York. — William Fox will be
cxammed next Tuesday, prior to the
trial of the suit for $2,011,000
brought against him by John D. Elms,
an inventor. The suit will be heard
in a Staten Island court.
Elms claims that, in 1927, he made
a contract with Fox through Courtland
Smith, for Fox to exploit and market
a device which gives the effect of the
third dimension in pictures. The in-
vention is based on a system of re-
volving lenses on the camera and pro-
jector.
Vidor Quits Location
For Few Studio Shots
King Vidor returned from location
today to film a few scenes at the
United Artists lot on "Our Daily
Bread." He will return to the Tar-
zana ranch to continue production.
Almost the entire cast of forty are
living at Encino during the filming of
the location scenes. Karen Morley
and Tom Keene head the cast.
Paris Photographer
To Snap Movie Stars
Baron George Huene, Paris photog-
rapher for the Conde Nast publca-
tions, will arrive in Hollywood, April
19, to make special photographic
studies of Marlene Deitrich, Sylvia
Sydney, Claudette Colbert and Miriam
Hopkins.
Marjorie Klein at Para.
Paramount yesterday signed Mar-
jorie Klein to prepare the continuity
on "A Son Comes Home," the Adela
Rogers St. Johns original. Story will
be the first Lee Tracy picture on his
new Paramount deal and will be di-
rected by Charles Vidor. Bayard
Veiller produces.
Morris Starting at *U'
Chester Morris arrived in Holly-
wood last night after a two weeks'
vacation at Palm Springs. He starts
work Monday at Universal in "Loves
of A Sailor," which Kurt Neumann
will direct.
Del Andrews Injured
Del Andrews, director and writer,
was run down by a hit and run driver
wjjffe crossing the street last night
^d was taken to the Good Samaritan
Hospital, where it was said his skull
was fractured.
Dick Wallace to Fox
Richard Wallace has signed with
Fox to direct two pictures, starting in
August. His first will be "Angel
Face" and the other will be a Janet
Gaynor production.
Extras Get a Break
Paul Sloane used 450 extras yes-
terday in his big set for "Down to
Their Last Yacht," which he is direct-
ing for Radio.
Manners Set For Lead
David Manners has been engaged
by Charles R. Rogers for the leading
role in "I Love an Actress," which
will be produced for Paramount.
Page Four
jEiiEjy
April 13. 1934
BltAIX SWEAT' ONE OF THE
SEASON'S BEST COMEDIES
Good Picture in
/
Play of Negro Life
James Montgomery and Henry R. Stern
present "Brain Sweat," by John
Charles Brownell; directed by Rob-
ert Ober, with Billy Higgins, Rose
McClendon, Barrington Guy, A. B.
Comathiere, Pearl Wright, Dick
Campbell, Viola Dean, Marie
Young, Adrew Tribble, E. J. Blun-
kall, plus the Russell Wooding
Choir.
New York. — With the handicap of
the worst title of the year, a decided-
ly pleasant and at all times amusing
comedy of negro life along the Missis-
sippi came quietly into the Longacre
Theatre and surprised the assembled
audience into the merriest first night
it has had in weeks and weeks. In
its quiet and unpretentious way, it
offers one of the best comedies of
the year, played by a cast that is not
only expert, but that seems to be
enjoying itself to the utmost all the
way, and the attitude is contagious.
We have here the case of Henry
Washington, who, deprived of the
privilege of manual labor on the good
ship Cotton Blossom, decided to give
up that same manual labor in favor of
using his brain like the white folks
do, to make a lot of money for him-
self and family. In the process of
exercising that brain, he manages to
give the family rocking chair ample
patronage for over two years while
his wife and son support him. Fi-
nally, his loving wife sends him out
of the house to go drown himself
but instead, good old Henry puts over
his "big project" and, at the end of
the play, is richer by ten thousand
dollars.
Needless to say that, with an all-
negro cast, there is bound to be at
least one scene devoted to the sing-
ing of spirituals, so, with appropriate
comedy overtones, Henry Washing-
ton s funeral is celebrated with all
the fine trimmings that one has come
to expect of such carryings on in
negro plays. Above and beyond that
however, John Charles Brownell has
written consistently humorous dia-
logue and Billy Higgms m the part
ot Henry Washington contributes a
Well, a Poor Excuse
Is Better Than None
Universal decided to change the
spelling of Sally Blane's name to
SALLIE, in the billing on "Half a
Sinner," explaining that it was to
avoid conflict with the name of
Sally Rand, the fan dancer.
characterization to put in the memory
book along with the kind of thing that
made Frank Craven and Ernest Truex
and George M. Cohan dear to the
hearts of audiences.
Rose McClendon, who, they tell us,
is Harlem's first actress, is very good
indeed as Henry's wife, and Pearl
Wright as the carping, sharp-tongued
sister is perfectly grand. The rest of
the cast, including the choir, are all
more than adequate in their parts and
the direction keeps things moving
right along.
There isn't much chance of the
movies doing this with a negro cast,
but the casting needn't worry pic-
tures. The idea could be just as
amusing played by whites, provided
they'd play it in the same homely
spirit and with the same very evident
good humor.
MCM-Ted Lewis Dicker
MGM is negotiating with Ted
Lewis and his band for a top spot in
"Student Tour," which Charles Reis-
ner will direct, but the studio can-
not see the $30,000 asked by the
band. Original has been written by
George Seaton and Arthur Bloch, and
is being scripted by Ralph Spence.
Monta Bell will produce.
'U's' Spring Soiree
New York. — Eight hundred Univer-
sal employees, all members of the
Universal Club, will attend the annual
"Spring Soiree" at the Hotel Lismore
tomorrow night.
Beauty Winner Set
Dorothy Short, formerly a "Miss
Atl?nt c City," was signed yesterday
by Fusby Berkeley for dance sequences
in "Dames."
BUBBLY WITH LOVE!
SPARKLING WITH LAUGHTER!
..iliilf
'PAT' PATERSON
lYOUR NEW SCREEN THRILL)
SPENCER TRACY • JOHN BOLES
HERBERT MUNDIN • HARRY GREEN
THEIMA TODD • • SID SILVERS
Starts SATURDAY
IOEW5 SYAf E
Mae West Orders
Bullet-Proof Car
When a gangster threatens Mae
West, she believes him. So, in addi-
tion to having a couple of bodyguards
since she testified against the man
who stole her jewels, she has now
ordered an armored car to protect the
precious lives of herself and Manager
Timoney.
The armor-plated limousine will
cost $13,500, of which $7000 goes
for the safety element. Non-break-
able glass and shields to protect the
tires will be used, and not even ma-
chine gun bullets will be able to crash
their way in.
Famous Authors Outfit
Gets Four New Stories
New York. — The Famous Authors
Pictures Corporation has acquired four
new properties for pictures.
They are "The Unforbidden Sin,"
a novel by Roy Vickers; the book to
be published simultaneously with the
release of the picture; a serial en-
titled "A Life for Sale," by Sydney
Horler; "Burned Evidence," a novel
by Mrs. Wilson Woodrow, and an or-
iginal by Beth Brown, called "Jazz
Beau."
Darrow Report Feared
(Continued trom Page 1 )
into the lap of the Motion Picture
Code Authority by refusing to admit
as evidence a lengthy, formal brief
filed by that body, stating its case and
believed to be in answer to the In-
dependents' charges. The brief will
be considered solely as a demurrer.
This means that, as Wm. Elliott, of
the lATSE, and the Code Authority
both failed to appear before the
Board, the report will have to be made
on the evidence of the Independents
with no counter defence.
^^s.-~...
kOt
W:45,
BORDEN Broadcast
FRIDAY* STAGE
FROLIC vSakHJ
■:vTr.;-:ii:iia
THI MOST TEMPESTUOUS
ROMANCE SINCfllOOD AND JANP''
GEORGE
"in Paramounl s -;-■ >.-■?
*%TRUMPET
BLOWS^
ADOLPHE . FBANCES^y
' MENJOU " D B A k E .-J
FANCHON &> MARCO
present
[ I V m^KA m featuring
I'M mW The ORIGINAL CARIOCA
DANCERS of "Flying Down
V^^^IjMA to r;o- in pe soni
50PE0PLE on STAGE.
/RIOTOUS THRILLS
/ HILARIOUS LAFFS
f SPENCER TRACY
& JACK OAKIE
«1 In Darryl F. Zanuck's Production
\ TROUBIE"/
'^- T'WEEK '
CONTINUOUS 10:45 A.M. - 11:00 P.M.
30c to 1P.M.* 40c to.6 P.M. -SSe EVES
'Blumey's' Mansion
Destroyed by Fire
New York. — A. C. Blumenthal's
$20,000 gold-leaf bathroom and the
22-room mansion that surrounded it
at Larchmont, were destroyed by fire
yesterday, the loss being estimated at
from $300,000 to $500,000. The
owner and his wife, Peggy Fears, from
whom he is separated, have not occu-
pied the house for about six months.
Blumey's collection of antiques,
paintings, and art objects, some of
them priceless, were all burned. The
little "manor house," as it was called,
which was a private motion picture
theatre and swimming pool, was not
damaged.
Columbo Lead in 'U'
Tonight's the Night'
Russ Columbo and Universal got to-
gether yesterday after arguments
stretching over a couple of months,
and he has been cast in the leading
role of "Tonight's the Night," a B. F.
Zeldman production.
Columbo refused three different
pictures at Universal, including "Gla-
mour," because he felt that he would
not be given a sufficiently good sing-
ing break.
MCM Buys Sea Story
MGM yesterday bought "Man
Against the Sea," a novel by Charles
Norffehoff and James Norman Hall.
SjC'ry is a sequel to "Mutiny on the
^Bounty" and studio will not worry
about it until the latter is out of the
way.
Reynolds Assigned
Ben Reynolds has been assigned to
the cinematography on Paramount's
"The Old-Fashioned Way," starring
W. C. Fields. William Beaudine will
direct.
„ GRAUMAN S
United ARTISTS
BROADWAY at 9fh • PHONE MA 2SII
1
^^ WAS IN THE BiACK BEFORE
IT PLAYED A SINGLE THEATRE -
YET IT HAS PLAYED THOOSANOSl
ONLY ONE REALIZED THAT SHE PLAYED
WR£B ROLES INSTEAD OF TWO,A% ADVEI?TISEDi
IT WAS NEWS EVEN TO THE PRODUCERS 1
S
,^%^m
WHICH SHATTERED ALL
RECORDS; HAS PLAYED
EVERYWHERE IN THE
WORLD ~ EXCEPT
THE BOWERy
iAST YEAR
EXHIBITORS WERE
TRYING TO KEEP
THE Bl<j BAD
WOLF FROM
THE DOOR. NOW
THEY'RE FIGHT-
ING EACH OTHER
JO GET HIM INTO
THEIR H0U3ES
OF COURSE !
-tl^.^ '>..,'
Robert
Lord
Supervised
For Warner Productions
DARK TOWERS
HE WAS A MAN
THE MERRY FRINKS
ff
rr
fj
w
DAMES
jf
GOODBYE M. P T. O. A.
COME AND SEE US AGAIN
MR. EXHIBITOR
Arthur Freed
and
Nacio Herb Brown
are writing the music and lyrics
for Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer pictures
^A
Recent Contributions
Going Hollywood
11
\\
Hollywood Party'
Now Preparing
Student Tour
OY WILLIAM NEILL
I
DIRECTED
I
w
WHIRLPOOL
II
for
"Particularly touching and well done
are the scenes with his daughter. He
is given splendid assistance by the
director, Roy William Neill."
— Hollywood Reporter, Apr. 3, 1934
I
COLUMBIA
W H I
K
p:
^
ETHEL HILL
w
SCREEN PLAY
(In Collaboration)
WHIRLPOOL
//
(
creen play by Dorothy Howel
Eth(|l Hill does much to make
and
the
situation.
eporter, Apr. 3, 1934
-Holh^ood Re
A
"A story development by Dorothy
Howell and Ethel Hill is an excellent
combination of entertainment ele-
ments, with dramatic punch."
— Variety, April 3, 1934
ROBERT NORTH
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
"WHIRLPOOL
II
"There are enough new twists in the
tale, which always has enjoyed a
strangle-hold on the public fancy, to
make it a good bet."
— Hollywood Reporter, Apr. 3, 1934
"Built on one of the finest father and
daughter stories ever screened, con-
vincingly and movingly enacted and
directed with feeling and expert sense
of box office appeal, 'Whirlpool' should
pay good dividends."
— Variety, April 3, 1934
W H I
^
POO
LILA LEE
a s
HELEN
I n
W
WHIRLPOOL
II
M. P. T. O. A}
HOPE YOU HAD
A GOOD TIME
//
THE ADAPTATION AND DIALOGUE
for PARAMOUNT'S
THANK YOUR STARS
Formerly 'The Great Magoo"
//
were written by
HOWARD J. GREEN
NOW VACATIONING
1
f
M. P. T. O. A.
CLAD TO HAVE HAD YOU WITH US
HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON
HARRY S£AUMONT
M. C. M.
DIRECTOR
GREETINGS!
M. P. T. O. A.
LACHMAN
DIRECTED
"George White's Scandals"
"Paddy, The Next Best Thing"
STARTS MONDAY
"ALWAYS HONEST"
ALL FOR FOX FILM CORPORATION
Page Fourteen
TRE
April 13, 1934
Ferdinand Cot-tschalk to "Little
Man, What Now?" at Universal.
Christian Rub through Kingston-
Harris for Universal's "Little Man,
What Now?" Robert Cravss through
Hallam Cooley for the same picture.
Zeffie Tilbury for comedy lead in
Lee Marcus-Radio short, by Hallam
Cooley.
Monte Collins and Vivian Oakland
through Kingston-Harris in Jules
White short at Columbia.
Miles Welch by Hallam Cooley for
"Whom the Gods Destroy," Columbia.
John Wray for "The Cat's Paw,"
Harold Lloyd, by Kingston-Harris.
Henry Wadsworth to "The Thin
Man," MCM, by Kingston-Harris.
Sheila Mannors for "The Merry
Widow," MOM, by Kingston-Harris.
Martha Sleeper and Buster Phelps
for "Professional Corespondent" at
MCM.
Eleanor Wesselhoeft through King-
ston-Harris to "Black Moon," Colum-
bia.
Marguerite Namara to "Thirty Day
Princess," Paramount.
Robert McWade to "Operator 13,"
MCM.
Robert Barry for two at Warners —
"Madam DuBarry" and "Housewife."
Nella Walker at Warners for "Mad-
am DuBarry."
Beverly Little Theatre
Will Present Caprice'
Hope Loring (Mrs. Louis Lighten)
is directing "Caprice," which will
open at the Beverly Hills Little Thea-
ter for Professionals on May 7.
In the cast will be Virginia Valli,
Walter Bryon, David Scott, Dorothy
Phillips, Mrs. Frank Borzage, Fred
Sullivan and Anne O'Neil.
Durante on Coffee Hour
Jack- Harvey and Milton Raison,
whp' wrote Jimmy Durante's dialogue
fpr the Radio picture, "Strictly Dyna-
ym\te," have been engaged by Durante
y^ to write his material for a series of
24 broadcasts. The comedian follows
Eddie Cantor on the Chase and San-
born hour beginning April 22.
N. Y. Publisher Here
Lee Furman, president of Macauley
Publishing Company, arrived in town
yesterday from New York. He will
be here ten days, lining up material
from his Hollywood clients.
Dorothy Cray Signed
Dorothy Cray who has a featured
role in Warners' "As the Earth
Turns," was signed yesterday by Ra-
dio to play Ann Harding's daughter
in "Vergie Winters."
Phil Regan on Air
Phil Regan, Warner Brothers' new
singing star now appearing in
"Dames," will be guest artist on KHJ
anniversary program this evening at
8:45.
Leila Bennett and Ronnie Cosby at
Warners for "Housewife."
Eily Malyon in "Family Man," RKO.
Richard Carle, through John Lan-
caster, for "By Royal Command," Fox.
Harry Pyler and John T. Murray to
"Housewife," Warners.
Charles William through Bernard,
Meikeljohn and McCall for MGM's
"The Thin Man." Minna Combell to
the same picture.
George Davis for "The Merry
Widow," MCM, by John Lancaster.
Willard Robertson to "Hey Sailor,"
Warners.
Claudia Coleman, through Bernard,
Meikeljohn and McCall, for "Operator
13," MCM.
Roll© Lloyd to Columbia's "Whom
the Cods Destroy," by Nat Goldstone.
Ann Shoemaker set for lead oppo-
site Will Rogers in stage production,
"Ah Wilderness." Handled by John
Lancaster.
William C. Furman to MCM for
"Sadie McKee."
Chief Davis Cuest at
Masquers Easter Revel
The Masquers will stage an Easter
Revel at their Clubhouse Sunday night
and will have Chief of Police Davis
as their guest of honor. Several
sketches will be presented, with much
of the talent of the club in the casts.
Features of the evening will be the
signing of Bing Crosby and some com-
edy stunts by Frank McHugh and
Charles Butterworth.
'Bad Boy' Starts Apr. 20
Sol Lesser starts production on
"Peck's Bad Boy" April 20, since
Jackie Cooper will be available at that
time. Producer had planned to get
the picture under way a month ago
but at the last minute MCM decided
to put "Treasure Island" into work.
Cargan Loaned to MCM
MCM yesterday borrowed William
Cargan from Radio for a top spot in
"Professional Corespondent," which
Harry Beaumont directs. Studio pre-
viously borrowed Loretta Young from
Twentieth Century for the lead.
Hillyer to Try Shorts
Lambert Hillyer, Columbia contract
director, will try his hand at piloting
short subjects. He was assigned yes-
terday to handle the first two of the
"Minute Mysteries" which Irving Bris-
kin produces.
'jane Eyre' to Start
The first production to get under
way at Monogram after Trem Carr's
■return will be "Jane Eyre." Ben Ver-
schleiser will produce and Adele Com-
mandini will do the screen play.
One for Fitzpatrick
New York. — James A. Fitzpatrick
is making plans for a picture to be
made in the East, production to start
in September.
GREETINGS
M. P. T. O. A.
ti
of 1934"
was directed by
WILHELM
DIETERLE
Now in production
"MADAME
DU BARRY"
Both for
Warner Bros. Pictures
I
iuSi
April 13, 1934
THE
IRilP^OiiTiPi
Page Fifteen
EXHIBS PLAN ROUND TABLE
CONFERENCE AGAINST DIRT
Hope For Closer
Producer Contacts
(Continued from Page 1 )
smut and vulgarity in pictures it will
be the most important accomplish-
ment of the convention. There is ab-
solutely no justification for indecent
pictures, and we will seek by direct
means to come to an understanding
with the picture makers."
The exhibitor-producer conference
is the answer to the producers' plea
for a round-table discussion of mutual
interests. It is expected that, out of
the conference will come a means of
contact between the two branches of
the industry in order to overcome the
charges each has been flinging at the
other that neither group gives the
other the understanding or interest it
wants.
The producers' complaint is that
the exhibitor refuses to take an ac-
tive interest in production problems,
while the exhibitors claim that the
film makers ignore the demands of
their organization.
The exhibitor-producer conference
plan was disclosed by Meyer just prior
to the opening of yesterday's business
session of the MPTOA convention. At
the same time, from another source,
came a report that a resolution will
be introduced seeking a revision of
the NRA film code to enable exhibi-
tors to cancel out, under the block-
booking system, all indecent films.
Before adjournment, a general plea
will be issued to all exhibitors for co-
operation vk/ith community organiza-
tions of the Better Films Council
type.
The session yesterday had Superior
Court Judge Frank C. Collier and
Sheriff Eugene Biscailuz speak on
crime in pictures. William Ains-
worth, Wisconsin MPTOA secretary,
concerned himself with the small-
town exhibitor, lashing out at metro-
politan operators invading small com-
munities in opposition of the local
theatre men. He declared this a vio-
lation of the NRA code.
Morgan A. Walsh, a metropolitan
operator, touched code matters by pe-
titioning for an absence of red tape
about the clearance, zoning and griev-
ance boards, and took a sock at dis-
tributors for encouraging chiseling to
get sales. He then went on record
against the producers by taking excep-
tions to Louis B. Mayer's speech of
the day before.
Following him was Walter Vin-
cent, whose anti-producer barbs were
neatly clothed in wit. He returned
the Louis B. Mayer attack with ven-
geance, also slammmg glorification of
the criminal in pictures, film cycles
and over-production. Jack Miller got
the floor to launch a heavy attack on
the American Federation of Labor.
He demanded that exhibitors counter-
organize against unions, declaring
Washington had "condoned and legal-
ized violence, union bombs and in-
timidation."
On a resolution presented by Fred
Meyer, the convention passed a vote
to continue sessions today and Satur-
day mornino owing to the pressure of
business. The session was called for
Fruitful Comment'
The MPTOA brought its own
Will Rogers to Los Angeles, in the
person of Walter Vincent, the or-
ganization's treasurer. Speaking at
the session yesterday, he remarked
fhat "the producers send us oranges
to the train and lemons to our
theatres."
this afternoon in view of the FWC
golf tournament at Lakeside this
morning.
The delegates devoted yesterday af-
ternoon to visiting Paramount and
Columbia. Former studio presented a
lavish welcome, serving a buffet
luncheon on the "Cleopatra" set and
all the stars entertaining.
The program for today has the golf
tournament at Lakeside getting away
at 8:15, gallery arriving by bus from
the Hotel Ambassador at 9 o'clock.
The business session opens at two
o'clock this afternoon and will have
an open forum to thresh out all prob-
lems presented by delegates and com-
mittees. Fred Wehrenberg, of the
Public Relations Committee' is sched-
uled to present his report in which
he will ask producers to make the
"family type" of product.
Exhibitors Slap
Back at Producers,
Answering Mayer
Stirred to resentment by Louis
B. Mayer's convention speech of
Wednesday, exhibitor feeling was un-
leashed against producers at yester-
day session of the MPTOA conven-
tion. Virtually every speaker sought
to get his anti-producer sentiments
on record. President Ed Kuykendall,
in an interview, vented his feelings,
assailing the film makers.
He interpreted Mayer's talk as "a
veiled threat that the producers are
intent upon entering the theatre field
stronger than ever." As to forcing
them into it, he said: "that is so
much poppycock. I can go out and
buy as many theatres as I want for
fifteen cents on the dollar.
"Instead of listening to the voices
of the exhibitors in making their pic-
tures, producers ignore them entire-
ly. They make pictures to satisfy
the whims of a director or some other
studio pet. This is the direct rea-
son for smut and filth in pictures."
Even sharper was Walter Vincent,
who operates twenty houses in Penn-
sylvania and Virginia. He opened in
a ribbing vein, but quickly became
serious.
"I cannot understand why, in this
country of citrus fruits, Maver chose
to give us applesauce. Don't misun-
derstand. I do not accuse the gentle-
man of deliberate falsehood, but there
is a chance that he was mistaken — ■
that we all make mistakes. The truth
of the matter is there are too many
pictures being made.
"As a play producer, I produced
n^us'cal comedies, had successes and
failures and I know that none of us
here expects the producers to deliver
to us one hit a week. The producer
makes such large numbers of pictures
Convention Dinner
Wonderful Success
The great Fiesta Room at the Am-
bassador was crowded to the doors last
night by exhibitors, studio executives
and stars for the annual MPTOA con-
vention banquet. Every studio turned
out all its notables and the gathering
was one of the most brilliant the
room has seen.
President Ed Kuykendall ruled the
dinner and Will Rogers acted as mas-
ter of ceremonies. Among the speak-
ers were Dr. Giannini, Will Hays and
Jack L. Warner. Entertainment was
provided by the studios, with Mae
West heading a long list of talent.
Set Dressers Dine
The Set Dressers Association was
host last night at a dinner given for
the set dressing and prop department
heads at the Tavern de Savoia. Ray
Moyer of the Charles R. Rogers unit
at Paramount was 'n charge of the
affair.
Scott Beal Back to 'U'
Scott R. Beal who won an assistant
director's certificate in the Acadamy
awards, has returned to Universal to
assist Edward Sloman in "There's Al-
ways Tomorrow," which goes into
production April 19.
'Alice' Goes to Stage
Henry Duffy yesterday borrowed
Charlotte Henry from Paramount for
the juvenile lead in his legitimate pro-
duction of Eugene O'Neill's "Ah,
Wilderness."
Cordon and Revel Set
Mack Cordon and Harry Revel have
been signed by Paramount to write
the musical score for "The Old Fash-
ioned Way." William Beaudine will
direct.
Roemheld Band at 'U'
Heinz Roemheld and his concert
orchestra of fifty will handle the
musical arrangement for "The Black
Cat" at Universal, starring Boris Kar-
loff and Bela Lugosi.
Donat Due April 20
New York. — Robert Donat, who
will have the title role in "Count of
Monte Cristo" for Reliance, arrives
here on the Berengaria, April 20.
because he is afraid some other pro-
ducer will sell more pictures than he
will a year. There will be 500 or 600
pictures made this year. That is far
more than any first-run house can
play."
He scored producers for romanticiz-
ing criminals, bringmg up recent at-
tempts of the majors to plan Dillinger
P'Ctures. hit "picture cycles and epi-
demics." deplored the "China wall"
su-rounding Hollywood, whose produ-
cers refuse to visit exhibitors, and said
he wanted a community of interest
between exhibitor and producer.
Women to PickCood
Films, Not Slam Bad
Establishing a policy of "construc-
tive censorship," the Federation of
Women's Clubs of Milwaukee has de-
cided to voice its approval of pictures
it considers worth seeing rather than
to condemn films as in the past.
The Federation is a potent factor
in mid-western censorship activities.
Notification of the inauguration of
the new policy was made in a letter
to William Wyler whose picture,
"Counsellor-at-Law," was chosen as
the outstanding one of the month.
'StambouT Shelved
After planning to get the picture
into work immediately and assigning
Richard Schayer to polish up the
script, MCM yesterday decided to
shelve "Stamboul Quest," the Leo Bir-
inski original. Studio had tried to
borrow a player from another studio
for the lead but the deal fell
through.
Island' Off to Island
MGM's "Treasure Island" company
left yesterday for Catalina Island for
a two-weeks' location trip. Wallace
Beery and Jackie Cooper head the cast
^which is directed by Victor Fleming.
Hunt Stromberg produces.
RKO Deficit Expected
New York. — It is anticipated that
the deficit of RKO Theatres will
amount to $1.58 per share on last
year's business.
(oy HOLLYWOOD ^j)
PLAZA
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$2. so up. Single
$3.00 up. Double
Special weekly and monthly rates
The Plaza is near every-
thing to see and do in
Hollywood. Ideal for bus-
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Every room has private
dressing room, bath and
shower. Beds "built for
rest." Every modern con-
venience. Fine foods at
reasonable prices. Conven-
ient parking for your car.
Chas. Danziger, Mgr.
Eugene Stern, Pres.
The "Doorway of Hospitality'
Vine at Hollywood Blvd
HOLLYWOOD
>i
MEMBERS
M. P. T. O. A.
GREETINGS
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SINCERELY
GARY COOPER
M-G-M STUDIU5,
% READING DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALI
-T^
Vol. XX. No. 30. Price 5e.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, April 14, 1934
CCDt DEfENSE BY M4J0R$
•ONE of the most constructive moves
ever made in this industry is the deter-
mination of the MPTOA directors to
get together with a group of producers
with regard to what type of pictures
shall be made and what shall not.
The original premise for such a con-
ference is to stop the making of inde-
cent pictures, to prevent unnecessary
vulgarity from creeping into pictures,
vulgarity that obviously is tossed in
without the slightest excuse because
some one thinks the public wants that
sort of stuff.
But the conference should not be
permitted to stop at that point. There
are many other features about pictures
as they are being made that should
be corrected. Certainly the exhibitor,
being closer to the public than any-
one else in the business, should have
a good idea of what that public wants.
He has a chance to catch audience
reactions that no one else has, and
his opinions and advice should prove
of inestimable benefit to the producers
— if they will listen.
•
That is going to be the great trou-
ble. The average producer never has
been famed for listening to anyone.
He assumes a Czaristic, know-it-all
attitude, and nobody is permitted to
tell him what he should or should not
produce. Perhaps the producers have
come to the point where they doubt
their own infallibility. If that is so,
if they will listen to the men who
should know, there is more hope for
the industry and for its box-offices.
The question of smut is, of course,
of paramount importance. When the
churches and the women of the coun-
try begin waging campaigns against
dirty pictures, it is time for producers
to watch their steps. And no one
who reads the newspapers can doubt
that such campaigns are on in earnest.
But there are other errors which
should engage the attention of such
a conference, and one of the main
ones is the double feature evil. Ex-
hibitors at the MPTOA convention
have inveighed against this practise
and producers also have expressed op-
position. But it doesn't stop. Per-
haps the planned conferences can stop
it before it stops the picture business.
It is to be hoped that both pro-
ducers and exhibitors, when they get
together, will come into the meetings
(Continued on Page 4)
A. T. & T. Dumping
It-s Loew Holdings
New York. — The heavy trading
in Loew's stock this week was due
to A. T. & T. disposing of most
of its holdings of that issue, which
it obtained from Film Securities
Corporation.
M.P. Code Budget
Plan Approved
New York. — Sol Rosenblatt an-
nounced yesterday that the budgeting
and financing plan for the motion pic-
ture industry has been approved by
the NRA in Washington and will be
mads public next week.
Bills will be sent to nearly 8000
theatres for their shares, as well as
to all producers and distributors.
Sam Jaffe Coming Back
For *Barbary Coast'
After seeing "The Scarlet Empress"
in the projection room yesterday, Sam
Coldwyn signed Sam Jaffe and will
bring the player back here for a prin-
cipal role in "Barbary Coast." Jaffe
did his first screen work in the Mar-
lene Dietrich-Paramount picture.
William Wellman directs Gary
Cooper and Gloria Swanson in "Bar-
bary Coast."
'Greater Glory' Sags
New York.- — ^Columbia's "No Great-
er Glory" did not go so hot in the
four preview spots — Hartford, Spring-
field, Akron and Washington — so it
is expected that the Seventh Avenue
Roxy will be its New York house.
The general release is April 20.
Bnef Submitted To Darrow
Dec/ares 99.9 Per Cent Of
Provisions Benefit Indies
Washington. — The defense of the major producers against the
charges made by independents before the Clarence Darrow
Review Board was submitted to that board yesterday in a 79-
page brief from seven of the eight majors, Columbia being the
missing one. Fox, MGM, Paramount,
Selznick Abroad on
'Copperfield' Cast
RKO-Radio, Univsrsal, United Artists
and Warners all concu-'red.
The brief is entitled: "Answering
statement to witnesses who appeared
before the National Recovery Review
Board in complaint against the code of
fair competition for th^ motion p:c-
(Continued on Page 4)
$2,500,000 Claim Is
Filed Against Para.
New York. — The Metropolitan
Theatre of Boston yesterday presented
an unliquidated claim for $2,500,000
against Paramount-Publix before Ref-
eree Davis, alleging excess charges for
film rentals and management and serv-
ice charges from 1925 to 1933.
The Paramount trustees have asked
for a bill of particulars.
'Dancing Fadeout' New
idea For 'Merry Widow'
Ernst Lubitsch will introduce the
dancing fadeout in the forthcoming
production, "The Merry Widow." This
means of recording any dancing rou-
tine has been created by Albertina
Rasch and Herbert Stothart. This in-
tricate idea will be in the musical
number, "Girls, Girls, Girls."
AGENCY BOARD XAMED BY
CODE AXD ROSE]\BLATT
Rivkin and Wolfson
Switched to 'Dolly'
New York. — The Code Authority
and Sol A. Rosenblatt yesterday ap-
pointed the long awaited Hollywood
Agency Committee, made up of five
producers, an agent, writer, actor, di-
rector and technician.
The producers named are Trem
Carr, Emanuel Cohen, Jack L. War-
ner, B. 8. Kahane and W. R. Sheehan.
These were named by the Code
Authority.
The other members, named by
Rosenblatt, are: Adolphe Menjou, for
the actors, with Berton Churchill as
(Continued on Page 2)
Shelving the preparation of "Broad-
way Melody of 1934" for three weeks,
MGM yesterday assigned Allen Rivkin
and P. J. Wolfson to write the script
on the Wilson Collison novel, "Dolly."
Bernard Hyman is producing. No di-
rector or cast set as yet.
RKO-Radio Meeting
New York. — The convention of
RKO-Radio is set for Chicago, June
18-20.
David Selznick is going to England
with Director George Cukor and How-
ard Estabrook, writer, to assist in the
selection of important characters in
the production of "David Copperfield."
They leave for New York Tuesday and
the sailing date has not yet been set.
Over 300 English players have been
assembled by the MGM English of-
fices for the selection of three of the
most important characters — ■ David
Copperfield as a man, Mr. Micawber
and Uriah Heap. Elizabeth Allen, who
is now in England, is the only one
selected so far, as one of the sixty-
eight characters.
Harry Cohn to Capital
On Stock Flotation Talk
New York. — Harry Cohn has gone
to Washington to attend the Gridiron
Dinner and will be gone until Mon-
day.
It is rumored that he will also con-
fer with Federal Securities officials
regarding the possible Atlas-Dupont
stock flotation, exclusively reported in
this paper a few days ago.
Warner Execs Leaving
S. Charles Einfeld, Andy W. Smith
and Gradwell Sears, Warner execu-
tives, leave Tuesday on their return to
New York. They came here a week
ago for the MPTOA convention and
for production conferences.
Birth Control Feature
New York. — It is understood that
Margaret Sanger, the birth control
advocate, and Bud Pollard are getting
together on a deal to produce a birth
control feature.
Fifty For Pete Smith
Pete Smith, who, less than two
years ago, began making shorts and
screen oddities for MGM, today starts
his fiftieth two-reeler.
DIRECTORS' NUMBER
AND YOU SHOULDN'T
OVERLOOK IT
OUT MAY I
Page Two
THg
April 1 4, 1 934
1
W. R. WILKCRSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOllywod 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
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States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Merger of Camera
Groups Seems Near
All indications yesterday pointed to
the eventual merging of the American
Society of Cinematographers and Lo-
cal 659, lATSE, following a lengthy
meeting of the Local's executive board
at which a report was rendered by a
committee that has been discussing
the matter with an ASC group.
While no one present at the board
meeting would give out any of the
details of the discussion, some of them
stated that "consolidation of the two
organizations looks inevitable."
Onslow Stevens and
Lila Lee to Alexander
Max Alexander yesterday borrowed
Onslow Stevens from Universal and
signed Lila Lee for the top brackets in
"I Can't Escape," which Otto Brower
puts into work Monday. Original
screen play has been written by Jerry
Sackheim and Nathan Asch.
Asbury-Niblo Teamed
Columbia yesterday assigned Her-
bert Asbury to collaborate with Fred
Niblo Jr. on the script of "Too Tough
to Kill," which will be the fourth Jack
Holt vehicle, following "Mud Turtle"
into production. Asbury has com-
pleted his work on the Leonard Spigel-
gass original, "I'll Fix It."
McCarey on Col. Short
Ray McCarey has been ticketed by
Columbia to direct "Get Along Little
Hubby," the second short under Jules
White's supervision at the studio,
which goes into work Monday. Wal-
ter Catlett has the lead, with Vivian
Oakland and Monte Collins only oth-
ers set to date.
Woolf To Do Cook Book
Edgar Allan Woolf, MCM writer,
has been signed by Simon and Schus-
ter, New York publishers, to write a
cook book titled "Hollywood Recipes."
Not Beahan's Appendix
Through a compositor's error,
yesterday's Lowdown said that
Charles Beahan was in the hospital
to lose his appendix. Charles Feld-
man is the unfortunate, not Bea-
'YOU'RE TELLING ME"
Paramount prod.; director, Erie Kenton; writers, Julian Street, Walter DeLeon,
Paul Jones.
Paramount Theatre
News: For the followers of the funny looking, raucous-voiced comic's peculiar
brand of buffoonery there are situations galore which give Fields every
opportunity to take the matters in hand and serve them up highly gar-
nished with the most ludicrous condiments. You either take Fields' stuff
or leave it. Most fun lovers take it and like it.
American: Farce has a field day at the Paramount this week, with the highly
ludicrous comic, W. C. Fields, gagging the audience into hysteria with a
series of giggle-getting episodes that make a happy hour for anybody's
money.
Mirror: W. C. Fields' first picture as a star is one long, lusty laugh; a carnival
of nonsense to make you ache with glee. Of course, he is the whole
picture. The dialogue, happily, is funny enough to match the action.
You will laugh yourself limp over "You're Telling Me."
lournal: The Fields film is delightfully idiotic. It's built entirely around Fields,
and that superb pantomimist provides one laugh after another with his
sure and effortless comedy technique.
Post: Being a star in his own right, he is p>ermitted to take hold of the picture
from the beginning. The first sequence is given over to him and there-
after there is scarcely a moment when the Fieldian antics are not wholly
responsible for the humorous twists and explosions of the story.
Times: W. C. Fields, whose peculiar brand of clowning has stood him in good
stead in Hollywood, is the principal performer in "You're Telling Me."
In this rough-and-tumble frolic, Mr. Fields succeeds admirably in making
most of the episodes very funny. The film is neatly directed and ex-
pertly acted.
Herald-Tribune: In the new W. C. Fields vehicle, the funniest man of them all
appears in almost every scene, offers several of his latest inventions and
plays his immortal golf game. After this information it is hardly neces-
sary to state that this picture supplies just about as much hilarity as it
would be fair for one to expect in this still slightly imperfect world.
World-Telegrami: If it is laughter you crave — good, healthy laughter that
springs from away down deep — then the place to visit these days is the
theatre where "You're Telling Me," featuring W. C. Fields, the most
amiable, ingratiating and satisfying comic on the screen, is holding forth.
METROTOME
FOX; WILL
New York. — The agreement be-
tween Fox Newsreel and Hearst
Metrotone, which has existed since
1929, will expire in September and
will not be renewed. The chief cause
of the split is said to be differences
over sales policies.
Metrotone will resume its own ex-
clusive newsreel production and is
already starting to build an organiza-
tion sufficiently large to meet all
requirements.
After the split, Metrotone will
specialize in subjects of greater vari-
ety and greater news mobility, and not
subordinate such subjects to the lim-
ited range where portable sound
equipment can be used. It will have
more silently shot subjects, with the
"Globe Trotter" running comment
superimposed.
The twelve Metrotone sound trucks
will be re-distributed in strategic
news spots and about 18 additional
cameramen will get jobs, five of them
in New York. Herman Stockoff, chief
MGM news cameraman, is now inter-
viewing applicants for the new jobs.
Mike Clofine will continue as editor.
The company will also start at once
to reorganize its foreign staff to be
ready to start activities next Fall.
Mary Blackford Cast
Mary Blackford, recently under con-
tract to Warner Brothers, has just
signed for "Ah, Wilderness," opening
at El Capitan Theatre.
SPLITS WITH
GO IT ALOIVE
Jack Warner Denies
Elimination of Shorts
Jack L. Warner yesterday issued a
formal statement, denying that War-
ner Brothers would eliminate shorts
from the program "next year or any
other year." On the contrary, he says,
the company will turn out as many
shorts as usual, if not more, both here
and in New York.
Starr with Reliance
Irving Starr, until recently con-
nected with the Kingston-Harris
agency, has been signed as casting
director for Edward Small's Reliance
pictures Starr was a producer for
Majestic before joining the agency.
Lee Tracy's Birthday
Lee Tracy, whose first picture on
his Paramount contract will be "A
Son Comes Home," is celebrating his
birthday today.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page
)
with open minds and that each will
listen to and consider what the other
has to say. Some sane, sensible action
is needed to bring this business back
where it belongs, and perhaps these
conferences will develop such action.
Let's hope so.
*Only Yesterday/
'Nana/ London Hits
London. — London has two more pet
picture stars — Anna Sten and Marga-
ret Sullavan. Both "Lady of the
Boulevards" — the English title of
"Nana" — and "Only Yesterday" are
held over and are doing immense busi-
ness.
The newcomers are "Rip Tide" at
the Empire, and "Easy to Love" at the
Regal. Opening Monday will be
"Wonder Bar" at the Carlton, "Roman
Scandals" at the Leicester Square, and
"The Battle," a British version of a
French picture, at the Capitol.
Fernstrom to Make
World Color Shots
Ray Fernstrom, formerly one of the
best known cameramen in America
and Europe for Paramount News,
leaves Hollywood today on a twelve
months' world tour, to photograph
travel shorts in Technicolor for a major
release. The ASC agency placed him.
Lyons & Lyons Broke
New York. — Lyons and Lyons, Inc.,
a firm of theatrical booking agents,
has filed a petition in bankruptcy,
with liabilities of $180,122 and as-
sets of $30,942. Arthur Lyons filed
a personal petition with liabilities of
$177,758 and no assets; Samuel T.
Lyons filed a petition with liabilities
of $176,378 and no assets.
No Stage For Jean Dixon
Due to added scenes on "Sadie Mc-
Kee," starring Joan Crawford, MGM
could not release Jean Dixon to go to
New York to accept the offer for the
Theatre Guild play. Miss Dixon has
an offer for a later Guild play and
will accept if it is possible at the time.
Guild Plays to Road
New York. — The Theatre Guild will
send "Ah Wilderness" and "Mary of
Scotland" on extensive road tours
next season. George M. Cohan will
play his original role in "Ah Wilder-
ness" and Helen Hayes, Philip Meri-
vale and Helen Menken will play
their roles in "Mary of Scotland."
Agents Sign Mrs. Healy
Betty Healy, wife of Ted Healy, has
been signed to a managerial contract
by Lichtig and Englander.
Agency Board Named
(Continued from Page 1 )
alternate; Wells Root for the writers,
with Ernest Pascal alternate; Frank
Lloyd for the directors, with W. K.
Howard alternate; John Nickolaus for
the technicians, with Max Parker al-
ternate; George Frank representing
the agents, with M. C. Levee alter-
nate.
The purpose of this committee, ac-
cording to the film code, is to set up
rules of fair practice governing the
relations between producers, agents,
writers, actors, directors and techni-
cians. Special elections were held by
the Screen Actors and Screen Writers
Guilds, and by the Academy to select
their nominees.
April 14, 1934
Page Three
FIREBRAND' LIGHT, AMIJSIIVG;
PARTY'S OVER' PRETTY LAME
Frank Morgan Again
Grabs Acting Honors
I "THE FIREBRAND"
Twentieth Century
Direction Gregory LaCava
Author Edwin Justus Mayer
Adaptation Bess Meredyth
Art Direction Richard Day
Photography Charles Rosher
Cast: Constance Bennett, Fredric
March, Frank Morgan, Fay Wray,
Vince Barnett, Jessie Ralph, Louis
Calhern, Jay Eaton, Paul Harvey,
John Rutherford.
One of the most superbly mounted,
gorgeously produced pictures released
in lo, these many years is Twentieth
Century's "The Firebrand."
The art direction by Richard Day
is enough to send any critic into the
dithers, and the costumes, by Owen
Wakeling, are stunning.
As much cannot be said for the
writing or acting. "The Firebrand"
now is a swell farce of the 16th cen-
tury, making up in comedy what it
lacks in drama, and relying upon its
mounting for atmosphere and color.
All acting honors go to Frank Mor-
gan as the dumb, willy-nilly, bewild-
ered, vague, Duke Allessandro. By a
miracle, or by sheer genius, he keeps
his characterization just this side of
burlesque, and practically carries the
entire picture by virtue of one of the
most diabolically clever performances
ever caught in celluloid.
Unfortunate, the lines given Fredric
March and Constance Bennett are so
colorless compared with Morgan's, and
their opportunities for acting are so
limited that the picture is no sort of
gauge of their capabilities.
Fay Wray scores heavily as Angela,
who is almost as dumb as Allessandro.
Vince Barnett and Louis Calhern are
also outstanding in smaller roles.
The story is of Benvenuto Cellini,
the great artist and goldsmith of the
16th century in Florence, and his
amours — particularly his conquest of
the Duchess, Miss Bennett. His modus
operandi is complicated by the Duke's
sudden infatuation for Angela, and
the action is composed of furtive en-
trances and runnings around and sud-
den escapes from the palace, as both
the Duchess and the Duke seek to
keep their emotional adventures secret
from each other,
i Gregory La Cava seemingly directed
for light comedy tempo and farce
mood, and he succeeded. "The Fire-
brand" IS grand, light comedy. Bess
Meredyth adapted the play by Edwin
Justus Mayer, and Charles Rosher
photographed it beautifully.
Exhibitors have a flock of swell
names here and the story is certainly
a drawing card. But those who come
to see March and Miss Bennett will
remain to cheer Frank Morgan.
Suf-herland-Holmes Team
Warners have assigned Sidney Suth-
erland and Brown Holmes to write the
script on "I'll Sell Anything," an origi-
nal by Albert Cohen and Robert Shan-
non. Pat O'Brien will have the lead,
with no director set as yet.
Marsh on Camera for
'Widow' Third Time
Oliver Marsh yesterday started
at MGM photographing "The Merry
Merry Widow" for the third time.
First was a two-reel version. Then
the silent, with Mae Murray and
Gilbert. Now the talkie, with Che-
valier and Jeanette MacDonald.
Brandt Adds 5 to
Chain; Now Has 20
New York. — The Brandt interests
have just acquired five more thea-
tres. They are the Dewey, Brooklyn
and Lakeland in Brooklyn, and the
Times Square and St. Marks in Man-
hattan.
This gives the Brandt outfit twenty
theatres and it is planned to add
enough more to establish the chain as
one of the strongest in Greater New
York. This, Brandt feels, would mean
better deals for product and extended
playing time.
Craves To Do Screen
Play on Sennett's Life
Mack Sennett has assigned Ralph
Graves to write the screen adaptation
of "Cavalcade of Motion Pictures,"
the life story of Sennett now being
written by Gene Fowler. Picture will
go into production upon completion of
the story.
D'Avril Set For 'Widow'
Yola D'Avril has postponed her an-
ticipated trip to Europe and has been
signed by MGM for a featured spot in
"The Merry Widow." Deal was ne-
gotiated by Jonathan Smith, of the
Ivan Kahn agency.
Norman Moray East
Norman H. Moray, in charge of
short subject sales at Warners, left
by train last night for Dallas on his
return to New York. He arrives there
May 1, after making a swing through
the South.
Daves on 'Herbert'
Warners have assigned Delmer
Daves to write the script on "Big-
Hearted Herbert," the Sophie Kerr
and Stresse Richardson play which the
studio recently purchased,
Hervey-Myers Teamed
Paramount yesterday signed Harry
Hervey to collaborate with Henry
Myers on his original story, "Missis-
sippi," for Lanny Ross. Arthur Horn-
blow is producing.
New Home For Marches
Fredric March and his wife will
celebrate their seventh wedding anni-
versary May 30, with the opening of
their twenty-four room French Provin-
cial estate in Beverly Hills.
Setay Profits Off
New York. — Setay Co., Inc. (the
Yates Realty Company) reports for
1933 a net profit, after deducting
interest, taxes, etc., $7,325, against
$21,871 for 1932.
Indifferent Script
Hampers the Cast
"THE PARTY'S OVER"
(Columbia)
Direction Walter Lang
Original Play Daniel Kusell
Screen Play S. K. Lauren
Photography Benjamin Kline
Cast: Stuart Erwin, Ann Sothern, Ar-
line Judge, Chick Chandler, Patsy
Kelly, Catharine Doucet, Marjorie
Lytell, Henry Travers, William
Bakewell, Esther Muir, Rollo Lloyd.
This is not one of those specials
that Columbia has been so consistently
turning out recently. The best that
it can aspire to is ordinary program
rating — and none too high in that.
For a couple of reels, "The Party's
Over" seems to be going the way of
the Rimplegars, that delightfully mad
family of "Three-Cornered Moon"
fame. Then all vestige of similarity
vanishes with the single exception
that Billy Bakewell is in both casts.
In "The Party's Over," we have
Stuart Erwin as an accountant, en-
gaged in a business he does not like
because of the necessity of supporting
his large family in the manner to
which he has accustomed them. There
is Henry Travers, his father of the
roving eye (especially for maids — they
can't keep one) ; Catharine Doucet,
his mother, a clubwoman and budding
social butterfly; Arline Judge, his sis-
ter who loves, marries and brings home
to live Chick Chandler, a particularly
obnoxious, aspiring radio crooner who
can't even croon; and, finally, Wil-
liam Bakewell, his college-student
brother, who also marries — a waitress.
Ann Sothern is Erwin's secretary
and it is she who urges him to chuck
the whole kit and caboodle of rela-
tives that he may be free to become
a painter, his secret ambition. In a
final scene, he does just that, telling
one and all that the party's over.
The dialogue is of that school of
anything for a laugh. Thus we have
what might have been keenly etched
characters sacrificed to gag situations.
The familiar plot formula is not strong
enough to carry indifferent writing
and some indifferent acting.
Erwin's assignment is routine and
does not give him a chance to rise
above it. Henry Travers garners most
of the laughs, although allowed to
overplay. Ann Sothern shows inex-
perience in what little she has to do.
Arline Judge is pert and clever but
limited. Patsy Kelly, hampered by
impossible business such as the piano
playing in the parlor, none the less
scores as one of the procession of
maids. Catharine Doucet, Bakewell
and others are standard or below.
Walter Lang's direction is guilty of
several careless moments. Production
and photography are big-time.
Make no extravagant promises for
"The Party's Over." You have some
good names in the cast but the ex-
ploitation angles are slim.
Swanson at N.Y. Para.
New York. — Gloria Swanson starts
her personal appearances at the New
York Paramount Theatre next week.
m^^H£LEH QWYHH
Every day sees the plan to establish
a National theatre a step nearer the
goal, only it won't be the kind of
National theatre patterned after those
now flourishing in Europe. It will
really come more under the heading
of Stage Relief, because so far as
we've been able to make head or tail
out of it, the government is going to
back plays to the extent of one mil-
lion dollars. That money will be dis-
bursed by Secretary Ickes and he will
be empowered to hand it over out of
the employment funds he handles and
the Public Works something or other
for the obvious reason that the thea-
tre stands for both.
At any rate, Herman Gantvoort,
who's been in and out of both the
theatre and pictures these many years,
seems to be the pivot in all the plans
and it looks as though the Shuberts
will have plenty to say and do and
then it will be up to the public to
make the whole thing permanent.
The bright idea is to keep politics
out of it, so there won't be just one
theatre, but the government will set
itself up as the backer of what some-
one will deem "worthy plays" and
New York will be the center of the
activities and road companies will take
care of the entertainment of the hin-
terland.
And so, dear kiddies, a lot of actors
and directors and property men will be
given employment and producers will
have something to work at again with-
out having to appeal to Jock Whitney
and at least somebody will be happy.
'•
The Motion Picture Club is getting
itself all dressed up for the grand
opening of its brand new bar. Ladies
are invited, and the big event takes
place this afternoon, at which time
they will unveil a startling, new cock-
tail, the name of which is to be a
great, big surprise. Great changes are
taking place in the old club and
they're doing everything possible to
inject new life into it, even to the
extent of having women in the place.
And they tell us that the business of
inviting the "girls" almost called forth
a very amusing system of red and
green lights just because the place was
never made to accommodate ladies.
•
The colyumists in town were soooo
happy over the return of Marc Lach-
man that they all, every darned one
of them, Sobol, Sullivan, Yawitz and
Winchell, took him out for a big eve-
ning that included the Hollywood and
the Casino de Paree and Lew Brown
warbling songs at about four a.m. . . .
Buddy DeSylva is going to write him-
self a show — and without the verbal
assistance of Peter Arno. ... If Irene
Barrymore can ever tear herself away
from Harlem she may yet go back to
Hollywood. . . . The next time you
go to Harlem yourself, drop in at the
"Cubanacan," 1 14th street and Lenox
avenoo, which is the latest jernt to
become the rage. . . . The Rhumba is
the cause of it all, and you'll run into
dignified bankers shaking a mean hip
with the hostesses who don't speak a
word of English. . . . They don't have
to.
Page Four
THEjya
April 14, 1934
MPTOA RAPS PRODUCER
IIVFLIJEIVCE OX HOARDS
New York Crosses
Charges that territorial code board
appointments are influenced by the
producers' home offices in New York
to the detriment of the exhibitors were
made by the Resolutions Committee
of the MPTOA at yesterday's conven-
tion business session.
It was declared that the producers,
by making personal contacts with code
authority official? '^urceed in estting
representatives of their own selection
appointed to important posts on the
boards. Allegations were made by Ed
Levy, MPTOA legal counsel and com-
mittee chairman, who said he had
found evidence enough to warrant a
resolution from the convention, seek-
ing to get the code authority to iso-
late the boards from this "home
rule."
Opposition, headed by Walter Vin-
cent, developed on the resolution and
succeeded in getting action on it de-
ferred to this morning's session when
a redraft will be presented. The new
resolution, it was said, will limit itself
to endorsing the principle of isolation.
An early morning code committee
hearing brought out Morgan Walsh's
claim that the double-bill evil was a
fault of the major producer's over-
production of pictures. Exhibitors
voiced the expression that their thea-
tres would soon play as many as five
features on a single program if the
majors hold to their plans for the
new season.
The preview racket, the showmen
declared, was spreading into a na-
tional issue and greedy distributors
were largely to blame.
Late in starting, yesterday's busi-
ness meet accomplished the largest
portion of work by the convention.
Jack Miller advised the exhibs against
arbitration in strikes "because we got
licked in the past." President Ed
Kuykendall accused unions of misusing
the code selfishly to gain increased
wages unfairly.
The exhibitors then passed favorably
on resolutions endorsing block-book-
ing, but with a 1 5 percent rejection
clause instead of 10; an objection
against non-theatrical competion; one
against secret buying of films under
clearance and zoning restrictions; au-
diences at radio stations; and one
against the score charge, which was
labeled "a racket." Reasonable per-
centage deals were endorsed. Sex hy-
giene pictures and salacious advertis-
ing were condemned and a resolution
suggested, asking producers to put
more action and less dialogue in pic-
tures. Fred Wehrenberg's report
from the Public Relations Committee
stressed "family type" pictures.
The session this morning will see a
battle on the floor over the Cutting
bill on international copyright and the
possible passage of the "Home Rule"
resolution. The convention then offi-
cially adjourns.
Sec. Meyer Breaks Down
Fred Meyer, convention secretary
for the MPTOA, collapsed yesterday
during his code committee's hearing
and was confined to his room at the
Hotel Ambassador under the care of a
physician. Carrying the burden of the
week's work on his shoulders, Meyer's
breakdown was attributed to over-
exertion.
Not Very Exciting
New York. — There was little about
the New York grosses for the past
week to cause wild excitement. "Viva
Villa" at the Criterion is doing all
right and about $13,000 is estimated
?s its gross for the week ending next
Wednesday.
"Wild Cargo" got $63,000 for its
second week at the Music Hall, and
"Rip Tide" at the Capitol grabbed
$55,300. The Paramount did nearly
$30,000 with "You're Telling Me";
"Looking for Trouble" will run to
$29,000 at the Rivoli; second week of
"Lost Patrol" gives the Rialto $20,-
000; "The Constant Nymph" got
$24,000 at the Roxy; week of "As
the Earth Turns" at the Strand will
go around $18,000.
Exhibitors Put in
Coff Day at Lakeside
Every exhibitor teeing off in the
FWC golf tournament for the visiting
MPTOA won a prize yesterday, owing
to the fact that an exceptionally large
number of trophies had been contrib-
uted by picture people. No low scores
were tabulated for the match, since
it was played off in flights, prizes go-
ing to each bracket.
Event saw fifty-two entrants, trail-
ed by a gallery of seventy-five exhibi-
tors and their families. A luncheon
was tendered at the Lakeside club-
house following the match.
Eleanor Quits Again
Eleanor Packer, who handles the
film magazine contacts in the pub-
licity office of MOM, has resigned,
effective at once. Miss Packer has
accepted several contracts for free
lance writing.
Coulding with MCM
MGM has signed Alf Coulding to
handle the Shaw and Lee short which
goes into production today. Dewey
Robinson is the only other member of
the cast. Jack Cummings produces.
Milhauser at Warners
Bertram Milhauser has been assign-
ed by Warners to write the script of
"Story of a Country Boy." Dawn
Powell original was purchased recently
by the studio.
Del Ruth Cuts Budget
Roy Del Ruth feels that he has
earned the vacation he is going to
take with Darryl Zanuck because he
brought in "Bulldog Drummond Strikes
Back" $22,000 under the budget.
Harold Hopper on Way
New York. — Harold Hopper left
here for the coast yesterday to pre-
pare for Majestic's new production
activities. The work will continue at
Universal.
New Play Not For Films
New York. — The picture possibili-
ties of the new play, "Wife Insur-
ance," which opened here Thursday
night, are unfavorable.
Yes— It Was Red
Lucien Hubbard agreed to play
Abraham Lincoln in "Operator 13"
for MCM, provided no guests were
allowed on the set. His fifteen-
year-old daughter crashed the set
and Father Hubbard became so
embarrassed that production was
halted until the blushes subsided
and stopped ruining the make-up.
Tri Ergon-Exhibs
Decision Reversed
New York. — The appellate division
of the New York Supreme Court has
reversed the decision of the lower
court in the suit of the American Tri
Ergon Corporation against Max Gold-
berg, of Associated Cinemas, and Leo
Brecher.
Tri Ergon sued the exhibs for al-
leged violations of its rights by run-
ning films that had been recorded by
Tri Ergon apparatus and demanded
payment of royalties. The exhibitors
got the case dismissed on the ground
that it did not state a cause of action.
Louis Nizer, representing the exhibi-
tors, will take the case to the New
York Court of Appeals.
Ceo. Walcott at MCM
George Walcott, New York stage
juvenile, has arrived in Hollywood to
start on his contract with MGM.
Ralph Farnum is managing him.
Code Defen
(Continued from Page 1 )
ture industry," and it is a remarkably
able presentation of the case of the
majors. Although it will not be ad-
mitted as evidence, it is almost certain
to affect the members of the Darrow
board.
The brief states that it is not
intended as a defense of any member
of the Code Authority or the code it-
self, but is simply an attempt to
analyze the code and show that most
of the complaints were personal busi-
ness grievances. It attacks Harry
Brandt by stating that he acquired 16
theatres (he has 20 now) during the
time he claimed the independents
were being driven out of business, and
adds that Blumenthal now has nine.
"This ability," it says, "not merely to
survive, but to thrive during the de-
pression, is a tribute to the healthy,
competitive soil of this industry in
which the independent operator has
set his roots."
The brief explains that all but two
of the majors are in receiverships or
bankruptcy, while the indies have
been growing. It attacks the slogan,
"Big Eight," by showing intensely
competitive conditions among that
group. The document goes into great
detail. It explains that Grievance
Boards have no jurisdiction over con-
tract disputes and that they and the
Clearance Boards offer the exhibitor a
forum which he never had before.
Arbitration boards, it says, are the
only ones empowered to hear contract
disputes. Speaking of fair trade prac-
tices, it says:
"If the fair trade practices were
eliminated from the code, the affili-
ated producers and distributors (the
majors) would be reinvested with
many rights thev voluntarily surrend-
ered and would be the sole benefic-
aries of such action."
Attention is called to the "cut-
Door Sign Jams Up
Extras and Labor Bd.
Unless the new Studio Labor Com-
mittee removes a sign that now re-
poses on its office door before next
Monday night, there will probably be
a lot of fireworks at the meeting that
evening of the Code Committee for
Extras.
The reason is that yesterday a sign
was placed on the Labor Committee's
door telling the world that it was the
office of both the Labor Committee
and the Extras' Committee.
Actually, the headquarters of the
Extras' Committee is across the corri-
dor, and Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chair-
man, has her own sign. She was puz-
zled yesterday when she saw the sign
on Pat Casey's door and stated that
she would put the matter up to the
committee Monday night if the sign
is still there. Casey is head of the
Labor Committee and a member of
the Extras' Committee.
Walsh and O'Brien
Sign with John Zanft
Raoul Walsh and George O'Brien
yesterday decided to put their affairs
in the hands of the John Zanft Ltd.
agency and signed a five-year mana-
gerial contract.
se by Majors
throat" competition among the ma-
jors for stars as an argument against
the charge that they act in concert,
saying that this was the cause of the
condition which made President
Roosevelt take notice of the high
salaries.
The brief contends that 99.9 per
cent of the code provisions give the
indies rights they never have had, that
only four per cent benefit the majors,
and that no part of the four per cent
gives the majors anything they did
not have before. The big exhibitor is
favored in 2.2 per cent of the provi-
sions but, taken in the light of the
practical bankruptcy of most of the
large ones, "this represents a real con-
cession."
The personnel of the Code Author-
ity is explained and it is pointed out
that executive order still can dismiss
anyone from that body. The functions
of the Code Authority, except one, it
says, are purely administrative, and
that one merely gives authority to
review decisions of the various boards.
The term, "metphysical aberra-
tion" is used in discussing the testi-
mony of Abram Myers, and the brief
says that the testimony of Russell
Hardy, of the Department of justice,
was due to the type of complaints
which he investigated, the complain-
ants talking from purely personal bus-
iness standpoints.
The majors admit over-seating,
stating that there is one seat for every
fifteen persons in the country and, in
New York, one for every six, but
allege this is due to the "racket" of
building a theatre to force a competi-
tor to buy it.
While there is only one reference
to Sol Rosenblatt in the brief, that
about his honesty being questioned,
Washington sees his hand in the prep-
aration of the brief.
5f MP.SAVUFL MAF^X.
CULVFR CI TV, CALIF.
Vol. XX, No. 31. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, April 16, 1934
CODE riRCWORrS T€NITC
Head Of Extras Committee
Will Demand Showdown With
Rosenblatt And Pat Casey
One of the biggest explosions that has yet occurred in local
NRA film code circles is expected this week, with Mrs. Mabel
Kinney, chairman of the Code Committee for Extras, demanding
a showdown with Pat Casey, head of the newly named Studio
Labor Committee as well as a member , ,, , »«».ii^i
Lubitsch Will Shoot
French and English
'Widow'at OneTime
IfJ^ FRANK T. POPE
•THERE is obviously a lamentable
lack of confidence between the major
producers-distributors and ttie exhibi-
tors of the MPTOA who have just
completed their annual convention at
the Ambassador Hotel.
Neither side has been impolite
enough to call the representatives of
the other side liars, but the belief has
been intimated strongly. For example,
the exhibitors lay all the blame for in-
decent films, for vulgarity in pictures,
at the doors of the producers. Mr.
Mayer, representing the producers,
told the delegates that the morals of
the pictures did not enter into the
question with the theatre owner so
long as a picture would draw at the
box-office. You can take your choice
as to which is right.
■ Both sides inveigh against the dou-
ble feature evil, but the exhibitors say
they are forced to play duals because
of the number of pictures they have
t6 buy, and the producers contend that
they have to make that number be-
cause the theatres want them. Again,
take your choice.
Now the e>fhibitors have learned—
or say they have — that, because of
the ten per cent elimination clause in
the code, every major producer is
planning to make a dozen or more
cheap "quickies" this season. The
exhibs say that these will be so bad
that they will have to cancel them
and, therefore, play all the rest of the
product. Whether or not that is true
remains to be seen, but, if it is true,
it seems to be rather a new form of
"chiseling," which is rapidly becoming
the favorite indoor sport of the motion
picture industry.
It seems a pity that producers-dis-
tributors and the exhibitors, all of
whom, figuratively speaking, have to
sleep in the same bed, cannot do so
without each of them trying to get
the softest spot at the expense of the
others. It's pretty hard for a man to
sleep comfortably when his bedmate
IS wearing spurs and is likely to use
them at any minute.
Maybe some of these differences
will be fixed up this week when the
MPTOA directors go into conference
with a group of producers. It is a
(Continued on Page 2)
Nat. Screen Votes
Forty-Cent Dividend
New York — The National Screen
Service has just voted a forty-cent
dividend on its common stock, fjay-
able May 1 . This is a resumption
of the dividend payments which
were abandoned in January, 1933.
Para. Fighting Suit
By Vincc Lawrence
New York. — Paramount has filed
formal objection to the claims entered
by Vincent Lawrence, writer, for
$1 13,000 for alleged breach of con-
tract.
Lawrer>ce alleges that he was en-
gaged at a salary of $1750 a week
and that' the Paramount trustees in
bankruptcy voided the contract last
May. Lawrence has been working at
Paramount since then, his most recent
assignment having been on the De
Mille production of "Cleopatra."
Calhern Returning For
'Count of Monte Cristo'
Louis Calhern, for the third time
in as many months, treks back to
Hollywood from New York, the Eding-
ton and Vincent office Saturday clos-
ing a deal with Edward Small for a
featured role in "Count of Monte
Cristo" for the player. He returns by
May 15.
New One For Stanwyck
Setting it on the production sched-
ule as a starring vehicle for Barbara
Stanwyck, Warners purchased "Trav-
eling Saleslady," by Frank Howard
Clark Saturday. The Edington and
Vincent office negotiated the deal.
of the Extras' Committee.
High spots in the showdown will
be the revelation of an attempt by
someone, thus far unnamed, to have
every action of the Extras' Committee
to date declared illegal and unconsti-
tutional; and the revealing of an ef-
fort on the part of J. B. Russell, a
member of the Extras' Committee, to
have Herta Reinachs added to the
committee to represent the extra
women, and Eugene Marcus appointed
as counsel for the committee.
Developments over the week-end
indicated that both Sidnev Kent.
(Continued on Page 7)
Fox Demands Cash
To Set Foster Free
Preston Foster and Fox are in a
huddle trying to settle the player's
contract and release him to the free
lance field.
Foster is dissatisfied with the as-
signments he has been given and this
is the second time he has sought free-
dom. This time it apf>ears serious,
for Fox has stipulated he return sev-
eral weeks' salary before granting him
his wish.
EXHIBS FEAR SCHEME TO
OUTWIT CANCELLATION
Al Jolson Returning ^
But Just to Get Ruby
Each major studio in Hollywood has
set plans to increase the new season's
production slate by fifteen or twenty
pictures of the "quickie" type, aim-
ing directly at circumventing the ten
percent elimination clause under the
block-booking system as provided in
the code, according to MPTOA
leaders.
This was announced by M. A.
Lightman and corroborated by Ben
Berinstein at the closing session of
the exhibitors' convention Saturday.
"No matter what percentage of
elimination you get through the code,"
Lightman told the exhibitors, "this is
(Continued on Page 4)
Al Jolson will not make another pic-
ture during his visit here, according
to present plans, but will leave with
Ruby Keeler by boat for New York
as soon as she completes her work in
"Dames" at Warners in the next three
weeks. Jolson gets in today by train.
Graham to Warners
Carroll Graham goes to Warners for
screen preparation of his latest novel,
"Border Town." Graham is also co-
author of "Queer People."
Based on an idea worked out by
Irving Thalberg, Ernst Lubitsch will
direct two versions of "The Merry
Widow" at the same time. This is
the first instance in Hollywood his-
tory in which both the English and
French have been shot simultaneously
with the same leads. Maurice Cheva-
ler and jeanette MacDonald wiH
appear in both versions.
The English part will be filmed first
and, immediately following, all char-
( Continued on Page 2)
Invited Audience To
See 'As the Earth Turns*
In order to exploit the picture,
Warners will preview "As the Earth
Turns" at its Hollywood Theatre Wed-
nesday morning to a specially invited
iudience.
Group will consist of educators,
clubwomen, ministers and others who
have recently censored the studio's
product. Picture op>ens at both the
Hollywood and Downtown on Thurs-
day.
Phil Ryan in New York
Dickering For Release
New York. — Phil Ryan has arrived
here from the coast and is negotiating
for a release for a group of indepen-
dent features which he is planning to
produce in Hollywood.
Col. Holds Mulhall
Jack Mulhall was unable to take
his role in Paramount's "The Old
Fashioned Way" because of a previous
commitment to Columbia. Player has
not been replaced as yet.
Doane Starts Fortieth
Warren Doane starts his fortieth
short for Universal, the present title
being "Beau Bashful." It stars Her-
bert Cortheli and Sylvia Picker.
[
SAM ARTHUR
COSLOW - JOHNSTON
Wrote the
Musical Numbers
MURDER AT THE VANITIES'
,. n
April 16, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
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1879. •
Free Lance Writers
Name Governors
The free lance group of writers
within the Screen Writers* Guild has
perfected the organization of its busi-
ness management committee, which is
virtually the board of governors for
that group in the Guild. The follow-
ing is the make-up of this committee:
Jack Natteford, chairman; Tristram
TuBper, John Grey, Wilfred ' McDon-
ald, Sherman Lowe, George Sayre,
Harold Shumate, Adele BuffingtOn and
At Martin. This group will meetevery
Wednesday night to discuss the prob-
lems of the free lance writers
Craham-Olmstead Novel
Taken by Publishers
New York. — Covici Friede has ac-
cepted for publication a novel by
Lewis Graham and Ed Olmstead, call-
ed "The Unsinkable Mrs. Jay." Gra-
ham has previously published "The
Great I Am," "Let's Buy a Farm" and
"The Guinea Pig."
Cordon-Revel Flying
Having finished their work on the
music and lyrics for "Thank Your
Stars" at Paramount, Harry Revel and
Mack Gordon leave by plane Friday
f(Dr New York. They will be gone
two weeks.
Art Director to Tour
Wiard Boppohrnen, art director at
Paramount for a number of years, has
been granted a leave of absence and
leaves soon for a trip around the
world. He will be gone for a year.
Ahlert-Turk Teamed
Fred Ahlert leaves New York today
to team with Roy Turk to write music
and lyrics They have written a num-
ber of musical comedies ard song hits
?s a team.
Tradeviews
lContiru:d from Pa-e ! i
Step in the right direction anyway.
But it's an even money bet that every
one at the conference will pack a gun
or, at least, a black;ack, expecting
trouble It is sincerely to be hoped
that all will be peaceful and that
amicable agreements will be reached,
but — well, wait and see.
'LAZY RIVER"
MOM prod.; director, George Seitz; writer, Lucien Hubbard.
Maiyfair Theatre
Herald-Tribune: Many of the scenes are pleasant in their lazy inactivity, leav-
ened with gossip and an appealing humor. Had more pains been taken
with this picture and a better story and performance aided it, it might
have resulted in a genuine folk drama of the type of the waterfront play
"Marseilles," offered here a season or two ago.
Sun: Its plot is good, old-fashioned hero, heroine and villain stuff. For all
its obviousness "Lazy Rizer" is entertaining. Old-fashioned as it rnay
be, it is the best picture the Mayfair has had in several weeks.
American: The film is good fun. Rather unfortunately for Miss. Parker and
Mr. Young, both romantic and melodramatic interest is thrust into the
ground by the clowning of Mr. Healy and the husky Pendleton, and to this
pair the film's fi.rst honors must go.
Mirror: Pretty Jean Parker and pleasing Robert Young carry the leading parts.
The character roles are admirably interpreted by Maude Eburne, Irene
Franklin and C. Henry Gordon. Ted Healy. assisted by Nat Pendleton,
contribute the fun. Making no concessions to credibility or realism, "Lazy
River" ' is frankly a lurid melodrama of the conventional pattern. Jt is
brisk and rnildly entertaining.
Post: £veryttiing you can think of in the way of story material has been
crammed into the picture. We are sorry to report this attempt to sat-
isfy all tastes has resulted in a shabby and puerile picture, Its flamboyant
■ ructions are definitely on the phony side so that the calculated "big mo-
ment" IS entirely lacking in credibility.
Times: The narrative, besides being slothful, is unimportant, but the episodes
afford a certain interest. The performers also lend distinction to the
production and the photography and sound recording are extraordinarily
good.
World-Telegram: A generally preposterous melodrama which encounters
more and more difficulties as it moves along. It finally surrenders and
calls it a day and allows the customers to walk out much the same as
they had entered. The chief casualty of the whole thing is a trifling
loss of time.
News: There is so much of the Healy-Pendleton business that the p>hoto-
play's 5tory has a hard time impressing itself on the audience. This is quite
as it should be. however, for the drama of "Lazy River" is too fanciful
when it IS not altogether impossible. You'll probably like "Lazy River."
"GAMBLING LADY '
Warner Bros, prod.; director. Archie Mayo; writers, Doris Malloy, Ralph Block.
Strand Theatre
Times: The dialogue in this picture is somewhat chilling. It is a film which is
strong on action and weak on plausibility. Miss Stanwyck gives an ade-
quate portrayal. Joel McCrea does well as Garry Madison.
Post: The story is shallow and absurdly sentimental, and Miss Stanwyck has a
difficult time in making the simple earnestness of her acting weigh against
the incredible happenings with which the authors have saddled her. The
• : artificialities of the story place a heavy handicap on Miss Stanwyck and
• the suf>porting players.
Herald-Tribune: Miss Stanwyck is invariably a sincere and straightforward
actress znd she makes the gambling lady of this story a believable figure
which is something of a feat. The story, as a whole, is a good enough
routine melodrama that will suffice as a time killer.
American: Miss Stanwyck plays her colorful role with a directness and sim-
plicity that make a somewhat fictional character seem real. She handles
.•^^ every emotional phase of the film story with utmost skill and holds audi-
ence sympathy throughout the picture. Director Mayo makes the most
of the many novel elements woven into the story structure.
Mirror: Colorful, exciting, authentic. Colorful setting, smart dialogue, and
strong dramatic situations give the film punch and substance.
World-Telegram: There is quite a forceful magic in Miss Stanwyck's impersona-
tion of the title role, and the film moves steadily from start to finish and
is seldom interrupted by the less plausible tricks of melodrama. In short,
it is a lively and entertaining page from the chronicles of present-day
Americans. It is, for tl-e greater part, a valid, stimulating and urbane
melodrama.
Journal: Crisply written and directed, the picture is filled with plenty of what
movie scenarists like to call situations. Through it all moves Miss Stan-
wyck with an unruffled poise, a sense of humor, and becoming frocks.
Her performance is sure, colorful and convincing.
Sun: An unreal but lively melodrama. Miss Stanwyck, by her usual simplicity
of method, is able to make a good deal of her part. The motivation of
the story gets a little cock-eyed every now and then. As a light, not
too important melodrama, it's well enough.
News: Entertaining in spite of a story that is hard to believe. It has been
given a smooth direction by Archie Mayo and moves quickly to its satis-
factory finish. It is not an important picture, but it furnishes a fair
amount of entertainment.
Business Women in
Pix Will Broadcast
New York. — ^A series of eight
broadcasts over WEAF, starting this
week, will bring into the limelight the
careers of eight women executives in
the motion picture business. The
women, their subjects and the dates
are:
Helen Hughes, personnel officer for
Universal, "The Right Person for the
Right Job," April 18.
Julia Kelly, secretary to Will H.
Hays, "How Movie Titles Originate,"
April 25.
Mollie Grill, of Fox publicity de-
'Breaking Into Headlines,"
partment.
May 2.
Tessie
publicity
Michaels, United Artists
department, "When Stars
Come to New York," May 9.
Cwen Heller, style scout for Warr
ners, "Hollywood Becomes Style-Conr
scious," May 17. ,■•■.
Mrs. Lyon, of Paramount, "How
Motion Picture Prints Get to Thea-
tres," May 24.
Lillian Messenger, in charge of
RKO-Radio screen tests, "Scouting for
Screen Prospects," May 31.
Florence Browning, assistant to j.
Robert Rubin of MCM, "Where Mo-
tion Picture Stories Come From,"
June 7.
Cerman-PoKsh Swap
Warsaw. — ^Representatives of Polish
film interests have left for Berlin to
try to arrange for the exchange of piCr
tures with Germany. Poland has 760
theatres, of which 350 are wired.
Germany is interested, it is said, in
this market, and as Pola dnis desirous
of protecting her own film business, it
looks for a swap.
Claudia Morgan Cast
Claudia Morgan, daughter of Ralph
Morgan, will be seen in the leading
role of the stage play, "Indecent,"
which opens in New York within ten
days. She had the lead in "Gentle-
woman," which recently closed.
Two Versions at Once
(Continued from Page 1)
acters, with the exception of the two
principals, will be replaced by French
characters. Thalberg has imported
three principals for the French ver-
sion, these being Marcel Vallee, Daniel
Parola and Emila Delys. Others in
the French version are Fifi Dorsay.
Yola D'Avril, Pauline Garon, Lya Lys,
Anita Pike, Odette Duval -and Cedr-'
gette Rhodes. In addition to these,
Thalberg brought Marcel Achard to do
the screen play and Andre Hornez for
the rrusical score.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can bortow o"
ir Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to 5300
2* HOUR StRViCI
Stricflv Confidential
Smjll Monthly Rcpaymcnr.
Lo<jnt Arran^c^d bv th.
'OCA! lOAN CO
«0« !.»♦» etdg 1680 N »'"■
HEmpttcdd nii
April 16. 1934
Pago Three
MANHATTAN MELODRAMA'
SMASH SUCCESS FOR MGM
'MonteCarloNights'
Far Below Standard
Direction, Writing,
Cast Share Honors
"MANHATTAN MELODRAMA"
(MCM)
Direction W. S. Van Dyke
Original Arthur Caesar
Screen Play Oliver H. P. Garrett
and Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Photography James Wong Howe
Cast: Clark Cable, William Powell,
Myrna Loy, Leo Carrillo, Nat Pen-
dleton, George Sidney, Isabel Jew-
ell, Muriel Evans, Thomas Jackson,
Claudelle Kaye, Frank Conroy, Istoel
Madison, Jimmy Butler, Mickey
Rooney.
Even if "Manhattan Melodrama"
were only half as good as it is, you
would have a hit picture in the com-
bination of Gable, Powell and Myrna
Loy. But with the sure-fire audi-
ence plot contained in the story by
Arthur Caesar and screen play by Gar-
rett and Mankiewicz, plus the power-
ful direction by Van Dyke, it has all
the elements of a sensational smash
hit. Chalk up another for David O.
Selznick and MGM.
The story opens with not one, but
two spectacular scenes, strong enough
to serve as climaxes for ordinary thrill-
ers. The first is a fire aboard a pleas-
ure-cruising Hudson River boat in
which young Blackie and Jim lose
their parents; the second, a Com-
munistic riot in which the kindly old
Russian, wrho had adopted these East
Side kids, is killed as an innocent
bystander.
Many films, to make comparisons
again, would suffer a letdown after
such a breathless beginning. There are
no let-downs in "Manhattan Melo-
drama." A bit of montage following
the 1904 prologue quickly establishes,
via contrast on a split screen, the
gambling proclivities of one youth and
the studiousness of the other.
When we again meet Blackie, play-
ed by Gable, he is a big-time gambler.
Jim (Powell) has become a lawyer,
preparing his campaign for district
attorney. It is obvious that their
friendship, which has endured, will be
complicated by the separate paths they
have taken.
Further complications arise when
Myrna Loy, who has been Cable's mis-
tress, leaves him because of his re-
fusal to stop gambling. She later falls
in love with Powell and marries him,
after confessing her past. Cable is
invited to be best man, but fails to
put In an ap>pearance for fear that his
association with Powell, now district
attorney, may injure the latter's
chances in the impending election, in
which he is running for governor.
A crooked politician threatens to
use a shooting of which Gable was
guilty, although Powell could not ob-
tain evidence enough for prosecution,
against the district attorney. Cable
learns of the threat from Myrna and,
to protect his friend from the scan-
dal, kills the crook. He is caught,
fr ed and convicted, Powell conducting
the case against him. The trial
c' nches the governorship for Powell.
Cable is condemned to the electric
chair.
It is within his friend's power to
Briney Goes Highbrow
Since completing "Elysia" and
his latest picture, "Sterilization,"
Bryan Foy is said to have joined the
Human Betterment Foundation, an
organization dedicated to the men-
tal, moral and physical improve-
ment of the human race.
mtmi%
save him by pardon, a situation that
could have been met by mock heroics.
The solution, however, is worked out
as cleverly and convirKingly as all of
the incidents leading up to it. Even
a contingency that must suggest itself
to thinking spectators Is provided for
— that of a pardon, a resignation and
a joyous sailing of the pals on their
yacht for the South Seas. Certainly
such a gesture to a happy ending
would have destroyed the entire struc-
ture of the piece. This is specifically
mentioned so that you will not feel
any qualms from the knowledge that
Gable is electrocuted. Wait until you
see how his death is motivated. It is
the only possible satisfactory ending.
A brief synopsis, it must be real-
ized, cannot do justice to the plot.
Highbrow critics may find fault, over-
looking the fact that it is the best of
theatre. Audiences will not fail to re-
act emotionally to the intelligent writ-
ing of it. Credit, too, Caesar, Garrett
and Mankiewicz for presenting a story,
essentially episodic, as a continuously
engrossing narrative.
So unobtrusive is W. S. Van Dyke's
smoothly-paced direction that it is
difficult to say what is script and
what is direction. Each situation is
milked dry, yet never overplayed.
That, at least, is direction at its best.
The photography of Jimmy Howe is,
of course, superb.
The playing of Cable, Powell and
Miss Loy rates the highest superla-
tives. It is a dead heat for first hon-
ors. Nat Pendleton takes care of the
comedy relief as dumb gangster, with
some neat assistance from Isabel
Jewell. Blackie and jim as boys are
splendidly played by Mickey Rooney
and jimmy Butler. There is a mem-
orable bit by George Sidney. Leo
Carrillo and others round out a uni-
formly excellent cast.
Shout "Manhattan Melodrama"
from the housetops. It will make
good even the most extravagant prom-
ises.
Roger Imhof in 'Canary'
Because of a previous commitment
to Warners, John Hallidsy was unable
to take his role in Jesse L. Lasky's
"Grand Canary" and was replaced by
Roger Imhof. Halliday started Sat-
urday in the romantic lead in "House-
wife" at Warners.
'U* Signs Ann Darling
Universal Saturday signed Ann
Darling, 18-year-old actress, to a long
term deal. Contract will be ratified
in court this week. Hoffman-Schla-
ger negotiated.
Austin Short Starting
Radio starts a Gene Austin untitled
short today, with Sam White direct-
ing and Lee Marcus producing. Script
has been written by Johnny Cray and
Joe Fields.
"MONTE CARLO NIGHTS"
( Monogram )
Direction William Nigh
Author E. Phillips Oppenheim
Adaptation Norman Houston
Cast: Mary Brian, John Darrow, Ycla
D'Avril, Astrid Allyn, George Hayes,
Kate Campbell.
The story of "Monte Carlo Nights"
is the only thing that saves the pic-
ture from limbo. The acting and di-
rection are too weak for the strength
of the plot.
If the picture had been made on
a more costly and careful basis, with
more definite direction and a better
cast, it would have been good average
program entertainment. As it is, the
film will be popular only in the small-
er, less critical houses.
E. Phillips Oppenheim's story has
good dramatic meat in it, with honest
characterization, logical sequences, and
an adventurous spirit that deserved
better production seasoning than they
got.
John Darrow is a young millionaire
playboy who, on the eve of his mar-
riage to Mary Brian, is arrested for
the murder of the proprietor of a gam-
bling casino. He is convicted, but,
on his way to prison, is assisted to
escape by a hard-boiled ex-convict
who swears to the authorities that
Darrow was drowned in the escape
attecnpt. He is free, therefore, to
look for the real murderer, his only
clue being that the man plays certain
numbers consistently at roulette.
The rest of the story takes place in
Monte Carlo, with the real murderer
being caught after a good many com-
plications.
John Darrow looks to be a good
bet, with Mary Brian doing her usual
adequate stuff, Yola D'Avril is well
cast, and Astrid Allyn, George Hayes
and Kat^e Campbell have smaller roles.
Steer clear of this one, unless your
audiences are easily impressed.
(Other reviews on Page 4)
Four Educationals on
Broadway at One Time
New York — With "The Big Meow,"
a new Tom Howard comedy in the
Roxy, Educational Pictures has f^r
subjects appearing simultaneously on
Boradway. "The Owl and the Pussy-
cat," a Terry-Toon, and "Managed
Money," a Frolics of Youth, are play-
ing at the Mayfair, and "Going Span-
ish" is at the Rivoli theatre.
Ralph Ceder at Para.
Ralph Ceder has been signed by
Paramount to handle a special comedy
sequence in the W. C. Fields-Babv
LeRo • picture, "The O'd Fsshionedf
Wtv ■' William Beaudme directs,
frcr- a s'ory scripted by j. P Mc-
Evcv and Carnett Weston and adapted
by Walter DeLeon.
Sutton for 'Harem'
Grady Sutton, now mak'ng a serfs
of sho Is for Radio is s'ated for a rolp
in "Tl-e Croat Arrerican Harem, '
wK ch C3or<-e Stephens w:l! direct
Radio City, not content with being
the world's largest cinema center, is
now housing what surely must be the
world's largest Art Exhibit. It's cer-
tainly not the best, but it includes
5000 works by 1500 oddly assorted
artists, and you walk through miles
and miles of labyrinthian ways in or-
der to see it all. It includes oil paint-
ings, sketches, water colors, sculpture,
photography, etchings and whatnot,
and they're all pretty generally mixed
together in the vain hope that, if
you're confused enough, you may
think it's all in the name of Art. How-
ever, the movie colony is well repre-
sented.
And the most interesting thing to
note about that is that the old idols
are entirely arr>ong the missing. In the
old days no exhibit of this kind would
have been complete without a picture
or caricature of Doug Fairbanks, Char-
lie Chaplin, Mary Pickford or Gloria
Swanson. Today, they are replaced by
Garbo, Hepburn, Sylvia Sidney, Clark
Gable and Jimmy Durante. A gal by
the name of Hariette Kay has done a
sculptured caricature of Garbo that is
really a classic for humor and execu-
tion, and her head of Hepburn doesn't
lag very far behind for quality. Miss
Kay, they tell us, used to be a chorus
girl, but any gal that facile with her
hands should just use her feet to stand
on. Hepburn is also represented in a
couple of drawings. And believe it or
not, there is a head of Jimmy Durante
done in MINIATURE! At least, in
back of that schnozzola is the outline
of a head.
•
And while on the subject of art, the
outdoor advertising boys have done a
perfectly grand job on the front of the
Criterion Theatre with a head of Wal-
lace Beery as Villa. We had been fol-
lowed for blocks by a gushing girl
from the hinterland and a friend of
hers who evidently was a native New
Yorker. As we got opposite the Cri-
terion, the gushing one looked up and
went into raptures over the Beery
painting and turned to her companion
and said: "Oh, isn't that wonderfuL
So natural. Did you ever see anything
rr>ore natural than that eye. . . The one
that's open I mean.'" And the native
New Yorker answered, "Yeah . . the
eye that's closed!"
That heart-breaking actor whose
wife tried to tie up his income lately,
isn't exactly two-timing his real girl
friend, but is making life plenty tough
for her. He really did send for her to
come east, but he can't appear in pub-
lic with her on account of his irate
spouse, arKd then he will keep calling
up Chicago. He's plenty tough with
the gals but they like it that way. . . .
The self-Vyled "playboy of Paris" is
heading hirrself for a mess of trou'")lc,
not because he tr es to chisel in but
because ne talks about it bes'des. . . .
He's taken a couple of beatings up in
the past two weeks. . . . Charlie Bec-
han IS go ng througS bankruptcy ;t ♦'ir?
moment, which makes him a poo' rran
to divorce. . . An old time exhibitor
WPS ?sked the oth°r dav whrt picture
in the past year htd g ven him tho
most pleasu'e a-d he prr~f '. replied,
■THREE LITTLE WCK'EN' '
Page Four
THE^e
April 16. 1934
FOX FILM 'IVOW I'LL TELL'
IS GOOD EIVTERTAINMEIVT
Spencer Tracy Fine
In Rothstein Role
"NOW VLL TELL "
~ (Fox) .
Direction -.;...,'.... :..:. ...Edwin Burke
Author.'.. .V......;Mps: ■■'Arnold- Rothstein
Adapfation'' ...-V..-.. ':.... ...Edwin Burke
Photography ....!...; Ernest Palmer
Cast: Spericer Tracy, Helen Twelve-
i • trees, AUce. Faye, Hobart Cava-
' naugh, Robert Cleckley, C. P.
' Hurittey )r.,- Vince Barnett, Ray
Gook, Frank Marlowe, Theodore
- Newton Jr., Barbara Weeks.
Although Spencer Tracy is not ex-
actly the type anyone would pick as
the ideal actor to portray Arnold Roth-
Stein, he has a perfect opportunity
irt the Fox picture, "Now I'll Tell," to
sflow what an exceptionally fine, ver-
satile' actor he is.
Apparently miscast, as far as the
popular conceptioa of the famous
gambler is concerned, Tracy neverthe-
less turns in a performance that is a
beautiful work of art and one which
will rank among his best characteri-
zations.
Mrs. Arnold Rothstein has written
this story — the facts of the career of
her late husband, one of the most
notorious gamblers vi^o ever lived,
and if it serves to glorify Rothstein's
memory — ^well — it is still swell enter-
tainment.
The story starts in 1909, with
Rothstein dabbling in hundred dollar
bets. In 1914, he owns an enor-
mous gambling house and makes ten
thousand dollar bets. In 1919, he is
a "king" in New York. Then mis-
fortunes begin to come to him. He
is involved, although at long distance,
in a murder; his "girl friend" is killed
in an auto accident, and his wife — the
only thing in the world he ever cared
for, besides money — leaves him.
His downfall is rapid, his final death
is heroic and dramatic, and by his
death he wins the biggest bet he ever
made.
Helen Twelvetrees gives a sincere,
moving performance as his wife; Alice
Faye is intriguing as the "girl friend";
Hobart Cavanaugh is splendid, as usu-
al, as his right hand man, and the
small roles in the picture are filled
excellently.
Edwin Burke adapted the story, and
also directed — with notable success
in both fields. Ernest Palmer photo-
graphed.
Although the picture is a trifle
over-long, it will undoubtedly be cut.
Even if it isn't, it's a sure gamble for
any house, and Tracy's fan following
will be enlarged tremendously.
David Boehm at Para
David Boehm joined the Paramount
writing staff on a William Morris of-
fice ticket to work on the screen play
of "Big Broadcast of 1934" under
Benjamin Clazer's supervision.
Ed Prinz with Vidor
Eddjie Priinz hap been signed bf^
King Victor to handle the dance num-
ber of "Our Daily Bread,'' now in
production. Picture will have one
dance number.
Plan on Foot To Give
France a Will Hays
Paris. — The unsettled condition of
the picture indsutry in France has
given rise to reports that there is to
be an organization started like the
Hays body in the United States.
The most prominent candidate at
present for the job of being the Will
Hays of France is Henri Clerc, a mem-
ber of the Chamber of Deputies, who
h^s always been deeply interested in
the. film business. .
Burns and Allen Going
On Vacation Till Fall
'Cracie Allen left Saturday for a four
days' vacation in San Francisco. She
returns Wednesday and then accom-
panies her husband, George Burns, to
New York, April 25.
There the team will complete a
radio contract before hopping a boat
for four weeks in Europe, around
June 1. They return to Paramount
early in Fall for another picture.
Brice To Do Parts of
Pix Here and in N.Y.
Monte Brice will use both Holly-
wood and New York for the produc-
tion of his picture "Benefit Perform-
ance." The original story was writ-
ten by Keene Thompson and Brice.
Release not set.
Ginger Rogers on Air
Ginger Rogers has just arranged,
through Ralph Farnum, to appear as
guest artist on Ben Bernie's Pabst pro-
gram over the air tomorrow. Fol-
lowing this she goes to Chicago to
appear on a big Century of Progress
broadcast.
Errol in Warner Shorts
Warners Saturday signed Leon Errol
for two Technicolor shorts, the first
of which gets under way today with
Roy Mack directing. Benny Hall, Billy
Dooley, Harry Seymour and Marie
Wells make up the balance of the cast.
Exhibs Fear Scheme
(Continued from Page I )
evidence that the producers will only
increase their number of pictures,
tOMing you enough quickies to cover
'tHe number of pictures you have the
right to cross off."
Lightman then named every major
organization in Hollywood, declaring
that these studios were already set to
produce the increased number of short
budget pictures. The exhibitor body
instructed its leaders to take the issue
up with the producers at the post-
convention meeting today or tomor-
row.
President Kuykendall said a wire
had been sent to Louis B. Mayer, ac-
cepting the producer's invitation to
a conference and asking Mayer to
make the arrangements. The exhibi-
tor committee named includes Kuy-
kendall, Fred Meyer, Ed Levy, Jack
Miller, Sidney Lust, Jules Michaels,
C. E. Williams, E. L. Thompson, O. C.
Lam, Walter Vincent and Fred Wehr-
enberg. This committee represents
every section of the country.
E. K. Lincoln Gets
Back in Production
New York — E. K. Lincoln has com-
pleted the organization of Lincoln
Productions Inc. and is planning to
produce six independent features.
He will take over the old Lincoln
studios in Crantwood, N, J., and the
plant will be equipped with RCA
sound. He expects to sign his con-
tracts for distribution this week.
2 Assignments for Gensler
Lew Gensler has just been set on a
double assignment at Paramount. He
is working with Frank Partes on the
screen play of "Her Master's Voice,"
and also collaborating with Leo Robin
on the lyrics for this Schulberg pro-
duction.
MCM Jungle Party
Gets Tough Breaks
MGM's pioneering expedition for
"Jungle Red Man" on the first lap of
its 7300-mile flight to South Amer-
ica was forced down twice by dust
and rain storms.
The party finally left Miami on its
way to the village of Para, at the
mouth of the Amazon. From there the
group will ffy 1000 miles up the riveV
and the last 700 miles will be cov-
ered in a- chartered flying boat. Thrf
destinatiohv Yarawate,- • will not be
reached-:' for two weeks yet. Gasoline
and provisiaHs^-'4re'''now t>eing laid^
d6wh 'albngf the route bf the flight;
-This' expedition consists of George
8! Seitz, director; Harold H:.'Noice,
ekplbrer-writer, and Joseph -Gook,
business manager. The party will re-
turn to Hollywood in about three
months to lead a-completei company
into the wilderness for a year. The
cast will be Indians living along the
headwaters of the Amazon. j . •
VELOZ
and
YOLANDA
The Nation's
Finest Dancers
HARRISON CARROLL, distinguished critic, says: "Veioz
and Yolanda offer the most sophisticated rhythm and
charm ever seen on a Los Angeles dance floor. Don't
miss them."*
•
LOU ELLA PARSONS says: "VeIoz and Yolanda are a
sensation." .^;.>i-:./*»
ASHTON STEVENS, famed author and dean of Chicago's
dramatic critics and columnists, had this to say; "I don't
know how many times I have seen VeIoz and Ybfanda
dance, but I do know that I have not seen them dance
enough; and that many another Chicago diner-about-
town feels as I do about them — that their apparently
effortless grace is incomparable."
Due to the tremendous appeal of this remarkable team
of artists, fheir engagement at the
AMBASSADOR
COCOANLIT GROVE
//i
//
HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MAY 15th
J
V
HATE WOMEN
A KEN GOLDSMITH PRODUCTION
U
....,■'1
The HOLLYWOOD LOW-DOWN:
"Another hit from Ken Goldsmith.
VARIETY:
"Excellent comedy treatment and good
performances by Wallace Ford end
Fu2zy Knight.
•
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER:
"Ford gives ail he has to this part and
it's plenty... one of the best things he
has done."
WITH
WALLACE FORD
JUNE CLYDE
FUZZY KNIGHT
BRADLEY PAGE
BARBARA ROGERS
ALEX CARR
BOBBY
WATSON
CECILIA
PARKER
Warren Stokes ... BOX OFFICE:
"Brisk dialogue, fast moving, snappy
entertainment."
Jim Crow. ..CITIZEN-NEWS:
"Abundant comedy moments... Ford
handles them all expertly."
•
SCr.cEN WORLD:
"One of the fastest moving end most
intriguing stories since Front Page'."
P*Ca Six
THE
April 16. 1934
'FLESH' MAY
DUALS, SAY
A boom in vaudeville and ot+ier
classes of "flesh" entertainment was
predicted Saturday by A. E. Licht-
man, Washington exhibitor and dele-
gate last week to the MPTOA con-
vention. The showman based his pre-
diction upon the elimination of the
dual feature policy, asserting that ex-
hibitors who have found it profitable
to operate on a double bill standard
will seek to replace the second feature
with stage attractions.
"Something will have to be done
in the drive against double bills to
provide against the revived use of
vaudeville," he maintained. "It will
certainly hurt the efforts of exhibitor
organizations fighting for the single
bill policy, load still more the shoul-
ders of the overburdened small opera-
tor and give the first run deluxe
houses a weapon which may ruin the
smaller competitor.
"Flesh attractions eliminated them-
selves. The collapse of vaudeville was
no doing of the exhibitor or theatre
owner. There simply was no demand
for it up to several months ago, but
a renewed interest by audiences in
this class of entertainment may be
fostered once more. We are not dis-
criminating against vaudeville, but we
are against its unfair use. The deluxe
operator can afford to play it where
the small operator cannot and, to
countenance such a development,
means destruction of all our plans for
the advancement of our group.
"The answer to the problem is in
the power soon to be invoked by the
REPLACE
EXHIBITORS
He Can Fill Shelves
With Own Books Now
Since word got around that he
had inherited a $150,000 library
from an uncle in Vienna, Edgar
Ullmer, Universal director, is being
asked by his friends to return the
books he has borrowed from them.
Irene Ware Signed For
Tove Life of a Sailor*
Irene Ware has been signed by
Universal for a lead with Chester Mor-
ris and Slim Summerville in "Love
Life of a Sailor," which Kurt Neu-
mann directs and B. F. Zeidman pro-
duces.
Original screen play is by Dore
Schary and Lewis Foster. Ware deal
was set by Kingston-Harris.
regional code boards. The zonjng,
clearance and grievance boards are of
vital importance.
"Morgan Walsh, of San Francisco,
has made a study of the boards and
is their strongest sponsor. He has
pointed out that, when they go into
action, they can control the situation
by predicating zoning on admission
price. This will result in the exhibi-
tor who offers vaudeville with a single
feature having an admission scale
based as though he were showing two
features. Thus the small showman
will have a proportionate admission
scale which will protect him."
London's Smartest Address—
GROSVENOR HOUSE
PARK LANE . . .
is also London's most modern hotel. An apartment at
Crosvenor House provides an actual "home from
home," replete with every modern aid to greater
comfort.
The location of Crosvenor House is a happy blend of
convenience and charm; in and around the hotel
London's social life moves; near by are the best shops
and the theatres; just across the way is London's great
garden, Hyde Park.
Life is amusing, easy and pleasant at
Crosvenor House, London
M
^
fWWWW
IRENE FRANKLIN
CURRENT ENGAGEMENT
♦DOWN TO THEIR LAST YACHT*
RKO PRODUCTION
RECENT PICTURES
"CAT AND THE FIDDLE"
MCM
"WOMEN IN HIS LIFE"
"RXISTIRED nU^lSI'"
'A VIRY H0N0RA3'.E G'JY"
Wa.nif Bros.
"LAZY RIVER"
MCM
"STRICTLY DYNAMITE"
RKO
"riNISHlNC SCHOOL"
RKD
"CHANCE C7 HEART"
Fox
• • •
ii! ^
Management: LEO MORRISON
J
April 16, 1934
itti
RiPORtiP:
Page Seven
I
es;tra committke head
out huxtixg for trouble
(Continued from Page I )
member of the Code Authority, and
Will Hays may be drawn into the bat-
tle, with the probability that Kent
will be on hand at tonight's meeting
of the Extras' Committee when the
fireworks are expected to be touched
off. *jt
It was learned yesterday that Mrs.
Kinney plans to ask Kent to attend
the meeting, and, if he cannot be on
hand tonight, it will be postponed to
whatever night this week he will be
able to come. Mrs. Kinney, who dis-
covered Saturday that developments
have been in progress in regard to her
committee about which she knew
nothing, has decided that the time
has come for a clearing of the atmos-
phere, feeling that there can be no
confidence in any of the code com-
mittees unless all the cards are laid on
the table and the studio employees
given to understand that an honest
effort is being made to give them a
square deal.
The first information to reach Mrs.
Kinney and cause the burn-up to start
was the discovery that Sol Rosenblatt
had sent a wire to Pat Casey last
week, informing him that he had or-
dered George Creel, Judge Ben B.
Lindsey and Charles Cunningham,
local head of the Labor Compliance
Board, to turn over all complaints of
both studio labor and extra players to
the new committee which Casey
heads, stating It would take care of
the cases. The wire also informed
Casey that the Studio Labor Commit-
tee and the Extras' Committee were
to have "joint headquarters."
Mrs. Kinney states that she was not
informed of this wire, and wants to
know just what is going on. Those
close to the situation now feel that
this explains why Casey had a sign
placed on the door of the Studio La-
bor Committee offices last week stat-
ing that it is also headquarters of the
Extras' Committee, although Mrs.
Kinney's office is across the corridor.
Next, Mrs. Kinney also learned that
someone has sent word to Rosenblatt
questioning the legality of the work
of her committee on the grounds that
some members have not been present
at meetings and have had representa-
tives there. It was learned that ), R.
Jackson, of Rosenblatt's office, has
written a letter saying that, because
of this and because the entire com-
mittee has not always been present,
the legality of the actions of the com-
mittee now may be questioned.
It was stated that Sol Rosenblatt
himself set a precedent for Mrs. Kir
ney to follow in this matter, and it
will be dumped right In his lap if
there is any difficulty. Mrs. Kinney
states that, at the first meeting of the
committee at which Rosenblatt was
present, Dr. Glannlnl could not be
present, so he sent a Mr. Normanly
to represent him. Rosenblatt, she
points out, officially okayed the pro-
cedure of allowing this man to act for
Dr. Glannlnl, and thus set a precedent
to follow. She points out that, if it is
not correct, it Is the ruling of Rosen-
blatt.
Next, Mrs. Kinney learned that ).
Buckley Russell had sent a communi-
cation to Rosenblatt stating that he
had read in the papers.that the Extras'
Committee was to be increased, and
recommending that Herta Relnachs be
added to the committee to represent
the women extras, pointing out that
she is better qualified than an,
woman in Hollywood for the job. In
the same communication, Mrs. Kinney
learned that Russell had also suggest-
ed that Eugene Marcus be appointed
as counsel for the committee, stating
that he would serve without remun-
eration.
Mrs. Kinney wants to know why a
member of her committee is sending
such communications and making such
suggestions without taking the matter
up with the committee and herself.
Some members of the committee
yesterday recalled the fact that Mrs.
Kinney came out very strongly at one
meeting in behalf of the extra women
players in opposition to a determined
block of committee members who, en
the surface, did not seem to have the
interest of the women quite so mu:!n
at heart. It was soon after this epi-
sode that the legality of the acts of
the committee was questioned bv the
unnamed person. An attempt will be
made at tonight's meeting to learn
who first questioned It.
From those close to Mrs. Kinney It
was learned yesterday that, if there is
any attempt to prevent the presence
of Kent at the committee meeting.
she will appeal to Will Hays for as-
sistance, as she feels that Kent has th=)
interest of the extras a+ heart arri
will help materially to get the alleged
under-current work nss uo 'o the :u'-
face and off to a fresh start.
Academy Majority on
Agency Committee
The fact that six of the ten mem-
bers of the NRA film code's Agency
Committee, named last Fr day nisht,
are members of the Academy, Is caus-
ing rejoicing in the ranks of th-'t
organization.
Four of the producers P B Kahane.
W. R. Sheehan, jack L. Warner and
Emanuel Cohen, are Academy r-em-
bers. John Nickolaus and Frank Lloyd,
named to represent th<> t°':h"l':i?i"-s
and directors, also also of the A'ad-
emy.
L*Estrange To Speak
Dick L'Estrange, member or tii.
Regional Labor Board, and ca didate
for County Supervisor, will speak to-
morrow night at the first meeting of
the new Hollywood Democratic Ciub,
an organization corrposed entirely o."
members of the film industry.
Schubert on Cohen Yarn
Universal Saturday signed Bernard
Schubert to write the screen play on
the Octavius Roy Cohen novel, "Tran-
sient Lady," which Edward Buzzell
will direct. Julius Bernstein Is the
associate producer. Deal was negoti-
ated by Hoffman-Schlager.
Kay Mulvey at MOM
Kay Mulvey, formerly of Fawcett
publications, starts at MGM today to
handle the fan magazine contacts in
the publicity department. She replaces
Eleanor Packer who resigned Saturday.
LUXURY and
NCOLNS
FOR THOSE gifted and fortunate persons
who can afford to gratify their good taste
for the better things of life, there is
nothing quite so fine as luxurious
possessions.
THAT'S WHY so many stars of the
Screen . . . like successful ones in other
lines of endeavor . . . are such strong
devotees of the LINCOLN VI 2 motor car.
®
FOR THE NEW and finer Lincoln 15
luxurious. It has both luxury of appear-
ance and of appointments. And one ride
will convince anyone that it is as flawless
in perform.ance as it is in smart, unradical
looks.
9
The new Lincoin VlZ's are all
powered with the same big 150
horse-power engine , . . but can
bs had in two wheel-bases —
the "136" standard an J th'i
"145" custom models. Priced
right, too — as low as $3845,
delivered in Hollywood.
JNCORPORATED
1353 NORTH VIN5 ® GLADSTONE 5171
SALES SERVICE
41 precision performance prestige ^
Page Eigh»
liIP^©I^¥il
April 16, 1934
THEATME ©WNEKS CLEAN TP
ALL BIJSLVESS AND ADJOVRN
Many Resolutions
Pass at Final Meet
The concluding session of the
MPTOA brought a resolution from
Fred Wehrenberg, of the Public Rela-
tions Committee, for a "family night"
in theatres. This was passed.
M. A. Lightman, past president of
the organization, took up the subject
of Walkathons in the report of his
Legislative and Tax Committee. He
declared them a menace and the sug-
gestion was made to induce all exhibi-
tors to secure, through their city coun-
cils and state legislatures, ordinances
prohibiting them.
A slam at the publication of high
grosses by producers was made
through Ed Kuykendall, who pointed
out that politicians of every nature
see them and promptly formulate tax
bills under the impression that the
industry is growing fat. He said big
town grosses "p*nean nothing to the
small town exhibitor at whom they
are directed through publication and
only are misrepresenting the pictures.
That a picture is a success in a met-
ropolitan center is rK3 proof that it
will be a success for the little fel-
low."
The convention subsequently en-
dorsed a move to make Lightman's
committee a permanent feature to
cope with constantly materializing leg-
Writer No Ostrich
In line with the Paramount chef
getting ptomaine poisoning las'
year, Allen Rivkin is looking for a
new place to eat after almost
swallowing a half inch tack in his
chop suey at the MCM commissary
Saturday.
islation antagonistic to the industry.
Sidney Lust assailed tent shows and
got a motion passed to instruct ex-
hibitors to go to work on their coun-
cilmen to get them to raise license
fees from $30 to $500 in order to
keep out "thieving carnivals" and per-
mit legitimate large tent shows entry.
A heated discussion resulted from
the next resolution, introduced by Ed
Levy, against double bills and resulted
in a definite expression of opposition.
|. J. McGuinness, of Boston, voted
against the resolution, after battling
It on the ground that Massachusetts
and Connecticut had grown up with
dual features and could not abandon
them.
Out of a floor discussion between
Walter Vincent and Sidney Lust came
a definite understanding on admission
scales. Both sides agreed to protect
the other's scale, the large exhibitor
getting clearance protection in ex-
change for agreeing to maintain a high
ticket price for his de luxe houses.
Jack Miller, the MPTOA whip
against labor, caused a ripple of
amazement when he called upon the
members to assume a portion of the
producer's burden. He said exhibitors
were shelving an average of one and a
half features a week due to over-
production and that this could be cut
down if the exhibitor co-operated with
the producer.
Led by Sidney Lust, sponsoring an
antagonistic move against the Cutting
bill m the Senate which would have
the United States joining the Berne
convention and consenting to the In-
ternational Copyright Union's dictates,
the showshop owners denounced the
bill as mimical to the industry.
Unethical practices by producer-
distributors had Paramount on the car-
pet for a panning by R. A. MacNeil,
of Santa Cruz, who complained that
he had been unable to get together
on a deal with the company, with
Pa.-amount virtually giving its pictures
away to an American Legion Post.
He was followed by Jules Michaels,
Buffalo delegate, whose Grievance
Committee succeeded in getting a
motion passed to recommend that
"press agents avoid involving stars in
scandal for publicity purposes."
After Morgan Walsh had a favor-
able reception on his Code Commit-
tee's suggestion for a plea to regional
boards for zoning based on admission
scales. President Kuykendall adjourned
the convention.
Engineers Oppose
Acad. Reel Length
New York. — The Exchange Prac-
tice Committee of the Society of
Motion Picture Engineers has decided
to oppose the campaign of the Acad-
emy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences to make 1700 feet the
standard length of a reel.
At the convention of the Society
at Atlantic City, April 23-26, it will
be recommended that the present
1000-foot reel is the best adapted for
present exchange practices.
Both Harry Rubin, of the Projection
Practice Committee, and Trevor
Faulkner, of the Exchange Practice
Committee, state that the 1700-foot
reel would not prevent the doubling
of film in the projectors.
Agfa Starts 'Contract
For Snapshot* Contest
New York. — "A movie contract for
a snapshot" will be offered by Agfa
Ansco Corp. in a contest to be pro-
moted nationally from May to Sep-
tember 1 5 in newspapers and maga-
zines.
Ten million snapshots are expected
to come in this summer from screen
hopes to Agfa's new photographic
casting office in Hollywood, headed by
Myron C. Fagan. In addition to a
guaranteed contract in the movies,
other prizes are to be given. The
company expects to spend $500,000
in advertising.
r
Many Than ks-
To RKO-RADO and DAV D LEWS
for the opportunity given me to
portray the roe of /lEONARD" in
V/HERE LOVERS MEEI'' which 1
1
cons der my most important to date
L
WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY K L Cj IN A L L) CJ W L IN
I
The following artists (thousands of let-
ters have requested them) will person-
ally enter the homes of millions of motion picture fans . . . via the NATIONAL
BROADCASTING COMPANY network ... with entertainment that is truly
syrobolic of the spirit of Hollywood ...LISTEN/
I
'/
EvEkY
WEEK
r
A
DIANA WYNYARD
CLIVE BROOK
The uriforgetttihle stars of 'Cavalcade,^ en-
acting ad^dmcitic scene from their newest
co-starring vehicht ^Where Sinners Meet.'
MITZI GREEN
with her famous impersonations of stage
and: screen celebrities . . . and a special
mong arraMgffment.^f that rihythmic tun^^
^0oin* the Uptown Lowdown,'
•
STUART ERWIN
This week's TOW^ LIAR . . .who promises
to out-Valley- Vallee and out-Burn Bernie
. . . with a nonsensical line of foolishness in
his own languorous, laughable style.
VAL BURTON
WILL JASON
Composers of ^Penthouse Serenade,' '/sn'f
This A Night For Love' and scores of other
hit tunes . . . introducing their newest num-
ber 'LITTLE FIISGEW from the motion pic-
ture 'Down To Their Last Yacht.^
WALTER WOOLF
Famous musical comedy star singing '/.
Want To Think About Tom'iirrotc^ from the
motion picture, 'Embarrassing Moments.'
JIMMIE FIDLER
y'BC's Hollywood-On-The-Air Tattler .. .ivith
all the latest neics and gossip of movieland.
(Maybe he's talking about you' )
y^ DIRECT FROM THE RKO*NBC BROADCAfTING fTUDIOf •
Pige Ten
IliPOIRTlR
April 16, 1934
PRODUCTION ABOUT THE SAME WITH 36 IN WORK
BAROMETER
Tliis Week 36 Features
Last Week 37 Features
Year Ago 22 Features
Twc Years Ago 34 Features
Three Years Ago 28 Features
Columbia
•ONE NIGHT OF LOVE"
Cast: Grace Moore, Tullio Carminati,
Lyie Talbot, Luis Alberni, Andreas
de Segurola, Sam Hayes, Rose Ma-
rie Closz, Henry Armetta, Jessie
Ralph.
Director Victor Schertztnger
Original Charles Beahan
and Dorothy Speare
Screen Play: S. K. Lauren, Edmund
North and James Cow.
Photography Joseph Walker
Associate Producer Everett Riskin
•FIRE PATROL"
Cast: Tim McCoy, Ward Bond. De
Witt Jennings, Evalyn Knapp, Pat
Harmon, Mary Cordon, Charles Mc-
Avoy, John Dilson, Alden Chase.
Director D. Ross Lederman
Original Screen Play. .Harold Shumate
Ph6tography A! Zeigler
As^ciate Producer Irving Briskin
■BLACK MOON"
CaSj; jack Holt, Fay Wray, Dorothy
Burgess, Lumsden Hare, Cora Sue
Collins, Clarence Muse, Eleanor
Wessehoeft.
Director.. Roy William Neill
Original Clements Ripley
Screen Play Wells Root
Phonography Joseph August
i - " "
f^WHOM THE CODS DESTROY"
Casf". Walter Connolly, George Cas-
iidy, Doris Kenyon, Robert Young,
Scotty Beckett, Rollo Lloyd, Lillian
West, Arnold West, Henry Kolker.
Director Walter Lang
Original Screen Play.. ..Sidney Buchman
Photography Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Felix Young
« Fox
"CALL IT LUCK"
Cast: Herbert Mundin, Pat Peterson,
Charles Starrett. Georgia Caine,
Cordon Westcott, Theodore von
Eltz, Ernest Wood, Susan Fleming,
Ray Mayer.
Director James Tinling
Original Story: Dudley Nichols, George
Marshall.
Adaptation; Joseph Cunningham and
Harry McCoy.
Screen Play: Dudley Nichols and La-
mar Trotti.
Dance Director Sammy Lee
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer John Stcne
"NOW I'LL TELL"
Cast : Spencer Tracy, Alice Faye, Helen
Twelvetrees, Hobart Cavanaugh, G.
P Huntley, Jr., Barbara Weeks,
Robert Gleckler, Clarence Hummel
Wilson, Ray Cook, Frank Marlowe,
Theodore Newton jr., Clarence Wil-
son, Vince Barnett, Jim Donlon.
Director Edwin Burke
Story Mrs. Arnold Rothstein
Screen Play Edwin Burke
Photography Ernest Palmer
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"MERRY ANDREW"
Cast: Will Rogers, Peggy Wood, Mary
Carlisle, Paul Harvey, Frank Melton,
Roger Imhof, Robert Taylor, Grace
Goodall, Jessie Pringle, Conchita
Montenegro.
Director David Butler
Based on Play by Lewis Beach
Adaptation Kubec Glasmon
Screen Play William Conselman
and Henry Johnson
Lyrics William Conselman
Music Richard Whiting
Photography Arthur Miller
Producer Sol M. Wurtzel
"GRAND CANARY"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Marjorie Ram-
beau, Zita Johann, Madge Evans,
Roger Imhof, Barry Norton, John
Rogers, Juliette Compton, H. B.
Warner, Gilbert Emery, Gerald Rog-
ers, Desmond Roberts.
Director Irving Cummings
Novel A. J. Cronin
Screen Play Ernest Pascal
Photography Bert Glennon
Producer Jesse L. Lasky
"ALWAYS HONEST"
Cast: James Dunn, Claire Trevor,
Preston Foster, Shirley Temple.
Director Harry Lachman
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW"
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Grant
Mitchell, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan, Grace Bradley.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography Jack MacKenzie
Producer Harold Lloyd
MOM
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Douglas Dumbrille, Four Mills
Brothers, Jay Lloyd, Russell Hardie,
Willard Robertson, Ted Healy, Reg-
inald Barlow, Francis McDonald,
Katharine Alexander, Belle Daube,
Fuzzy Knight, Henry Wadsworth,
Jean Park, Sidney Toler, Samuel
Hinds, Robert McWade.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play: Harvey Thew, Zelda
Sears and Eve Green.
Photography George Folsey
Producer Luclen Hubbard
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STRirT'
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katherine
Alexander, Marrian Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue.. Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalbcrg
"TREASURE ISLAND"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger,
Lewis Stone, Cora Sue Collins, Dor-
othy Peterson, William V. Mong,
Douglas Dumbrille, Nigel Bruce,
Chic Sale.
Director Victor Fleming
Novel Robert Louis Stevenson
Adaptation .. John Lee Mahin
Photography Ray June
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"100% PURE"
Cast : Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore,
Patsy Kelly, Lewis Stone, FrarKhot
Tone, Hale Hamilton, Shirley Ross,
Bert Roach, Desmond Roberts.
Director Sam Wood
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Enr>erson
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Bernard Hyman
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast: Maurice Chevalier,Jeanette Mac-
Donald, Earl Oxford, Florine McKln-
ney, Arthur Jarrett, Edward Everett
Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara Leon-
ard, Sterling Holloway, George Bar-
bier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Caryl Lincoln, Leona Walters, Edna
Waldes.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE THIN MAN •
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy,
Maureen O'Sullivan, Porter Hall,
Edwsrd Ellis, Ray Mayer, Nat Pen-
dleton, Isabel Jewell, Minna Com-
bel, Henry Wadsworth. Natalie
Moorhead, Edward Brophy, Caesar
Romero.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Dashiell Hammett
Screen Play: Albert Hackett and Fran-
ces Goodrich.
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer Hunt Stromberg
Paramount
"CLEOPATRA"
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Henry Wll-
coxson, Warren William, Ian Keith,
Leonard Mudie, Irving Pichel, Ger-
trude Michael, Elear>or Phelps, C.
Aubrey Smith, John Rutherford,
Edw:in Maxwell, Robert Warwick,
Joseph Schildkraut, Claudia Dell,
Grace Durkin, Ian MacLaren, Ar-
thur Hohl, Charles Morris, Harry
Beresford.
Director Cecil B. DeMille
Adaptation Bartlett Cormack
Screen Play Waldemar Young
and Vincent Lawrence
Photography Victor Milnor
Producer Cecil B DeMltle
"IT AIN'T NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John
Miljan, Katharine DeMille, James
Dontan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke Ellington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown, Stu-
art Holnries, Harry Woods, Edward
Gargan, Warren Hynr»er, Libby Tay-
lor.
Director Leo McCarey
Original Screen Play..._ Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthur Johnston and
Sam Coslcw.
Photography Karl Strusc
Producer William LeBaron
"SHE LOVES ME NOr*
Cast: Bing Crosby, Miriam Hopkirts,
Kitty Carlisle, Edward Nugent,
Lynne Overman, Warren Hymer,
l-tenry Stephenson, Maude Turner
Cordon, Margaret Armstrong, Judith
Allen, Vince Barnett, Matt Mc-
Hugh, Ralf Harolde.
Director „EIIiott Nugent
Original Story Howard Lindsay
Based on Novel by Edward Hope
Music Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Cordon
Photography Charles Lang
Producer Benjamin Clazer
THANK YOUR STARS"
Cast: Jack Oakie, Dorothy Dell, Ros-
coe Krrns. Arline Judge, Ben Ber-
ri:e, Al son Skipworth. William
F aw'ey, Lew Cody.
Director Wesley Ruggles
Original Ben Hecht
and Gene Fowler
Screen Play... . . Howard I. Green
and Claude Binyon
Music Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Photography Leo Tover
Producer Albert Lewis
April 16. 1934
THE
REIIdlltEt
Page Eleven
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 37 LAST WEEK
"KISS AND MAKE UP"
Cast: Gary Grant, Genevieve Tobin,
Helen Mack, Edward Everett Mor-
ton, Lucien Littlefield, Mona Maris,
Rafael Storm, Madame Bonita, Doris
Lloyd, Milton Wallace, Toby Wing,
Rita Gould, Katherine Williams, Lu-
cille Lud, Judith Arlen, Joan Gale,
. Hazel Hayes, Lu Ann Meredith,
Dorothy Drake, Helens Cohan, Jean
Carrnen, Ci Ci Parrish, Ann Hovey,
Betty Bryson, Jacqueline Wells,
Dorothy Christy.
Directors Harlan Thompson
and Jean Neg'ulesco
Original Stephen Bekeffi
Adaptation Jane Hinton
Screen Play: Harlan Thompson and
George Marion, Jr.
Music: Ralph Rainger and Harry Revel
Lyrics: Leo Robin and Mack Gordon
Photography Leon Shamroy
Producer ,.B. P. Schulberg
"THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY"
Cast: W. C. Fidds. Baby Lef^oy. Ju-
dith Allen, Joe Morrison, Samuel
Etheridge, Ruth Marion, William
Bletchford, Jan Duggan.
Director William Beaudine
Original W. C. Fields
Adaptation Walter De Leon
Screen Play: J. P. McEvoy and Carnett
Weston.
Producer ...William LeBaron
"I MARRIED AN ACTRESS"
Charles R. Rogers
Cast: Elissa Landi, Adolphe Menjou,
David Manners, Alan Mowbray, Paul
Porcasi, George Baxter, Judith Vo-
selli.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original 1....;.-;: ....Gregory Ratoft
Screen Play.... Humphrey Pearson
Photography , Milton Krasner
RKO-Radio
"COCK-EYED CAVALIERS"
Cast: Bert Wheeler. Robert Woolsey.
Thelma Todd, Dorothy Lee, Robert
Creig, Noah Beery, Henry Sediey,
Jack Norton, Snub Pollard, Billy
Gilbert, Cupid Morgan, Alfred P.
James, Franklyn Pangborn, Frank
Baker.
Director Mark Sandrich
Story and Screen Play: Edward Kauf-
man, Ben Holmes, Ralph Spence.
Photography David Abel
Associate Producer Lou Brock
"SOUR GRAPES"
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook,
Bruce Cabot, Ada Cavell, Julie
Hayden, Theodore Newton. Irene
Hervey, Arthur Hoyt. Oscar Apfel,
William Straus, Frank Darien.
Director Worthington Miner
Play by Vincent Lawrence
Screen Play Ernest Pascal
Photogra(>hy Roy Hunt
Associate Producer.. Myles Connoly
"MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD"
Cast: Edna May Oliver. James Cleason,
Bruce Cabot, Gertrude Michael,
Regis Toomey, Edgar Kennedy. Tully
Marshall, Jackie Searl, Frederick
Vogeding, Barbara Fntchie
Director George Archainbaud
Novel Stuart Palmer
Screen Play Willis Coldbeck
Photography Nick Musuraca
. "VtRCIE WINTERS"
Cast; Ann Harding, John Boles. Helen
Vinson, Betty Furness, Molly O'Day.
Creighton Chaney, Sara Haden,
Maidel Turner, Wesley Barry, Wal-
lis C'ark, Edward Van Sloan. Ben
Alexander, Edwin Stanley, Donald
Crisp, Dorothy Sebastian.
Director Alfred Santell
Story Louis Bromfield
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Lucien Andnot
Producer Pandro S. Berman
"FAMILY MAN •
Cast: Richard" Dix. Bruce Cabot. Bar-
bara Kent. Erin O'Brien-Moore,
Edith Fellows, Leonard Carey, Dor-
othy Wilson.
Director John Robertson
Story Salisbury Field
Screen Play. ...........Sidney Buchman
and Harry Hervey
Photography -..Teddy Tetzlaff
Producer Myles Connolly
"DOWN TO THEIR LAST YACHT"
Cast: Sidney Fox, Mary Boland, Sidney
Blackmer, Polly Moran, Sterling
Holloway, Ned Sparks, Irene Frank-
lin. Marjorie Cateson, Tom Ken-
nedy, Charles Coleman, Ramsay
Hill, Dot Farley, Phil Dunham, Betty
Farrington, Hazel Forbes, Martin
Cichi. Harry Semels. Maurice Black,
Gi Ci Parrish, Alice Moore, Peggy
Combel, Cynthia Hobart. Virginia
Reid. Maxine Topper, Peter Han-
cock.
Director Paul Sloan^e
Story Herbert Fields
Screen Play Marion Dix
and Lynn Starling
Photography Eddie Cronjager
Producer Lou Brock
United Artists
Viking Productions
"OUR DAILY BREAD"
Cast: Karen Morley, Tom Keene, Bar-
bara Pepper, John T. Qualen, Addi-
son Richards. Madame Bonita. Harry
Holman. Harold Berquist. Marion
Ballow. Alma Ferns, Three Mills-
field Children, Lionel Baccus, Har-
ris Gordon, Bill Engel. Frank Minor.
Henry Hall. Harrison Greene, Si
Clegg, Roy Spiker, Eddie Baker,
Harry Bernard, Doris Kenter. Flor-
■ ence Enright. Harry Samuels. Sid-
ney Miller, Nellie Nichols, Frank
Hammond. Lynton Brant, Henry
Burroughs, Harry Brown. Harry
Bradley, Captain Anderson, Alex
Schunberg, Bud Roy. Bob Reeves.
Ed Biel, Jack Baldwin
Director King Vidor
Author King Vidor
Screen Play Betty Hill
Photography Robert Planck
Producer King Vidor
Universal
"LITTLE MAN. WHAT NOW?"
Cast: Margaret Sullavan, Douglass
Montgomery. Alan Hale, Mae
Marsh, Fred Kohler, Tom Ricketts.
Catherine Doucet. DeWitt Jennings,
Torben Meyer, Frank Reicher, Bodil
Bosing. George Meeker. C. P
Muntley, jr.. Muriel Kirkland. Don-
ald Haynes, Paul Fix, Carlos De Val-
dez, Hedda Hof>per. Sarah Padden.
Ferdinand Cottschalk, Monroe Ows-
ley, Christian Rub, Earie Foxe, Max
Asher.
Director Frank Borzage
Play Hans Fallada
Screen Play....Wm. Anthony McGuire
Photography Norbert Brodine
Producer Frank Borzage
Wnrners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler. Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby.
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers, Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren. Johnny
Arthur, Arthur Vinton. Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett.
Directors .' Ray Ennght
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play ..Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, A1
Dubin. Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal.
Mort Dixon. Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor ;... .Robert Lord
"MADAME DU BARRY"
Cast: Dolores Del Rio. Reginald Owen.
Veree Teasdale, Osgood Perkins,
Helen Lowell, Victor Jory. Henry
O'Neill. Ferdinand Cottschalk, Vir-
ginia Sale, Dorothy Tree, Hobart
Cavanaugh, Arthur Treacher, Anita
Louise, Camille Rovelle, Maynard
HoJmes, Halliwell Hobbes. Jesse
Scott, Nella Walker.
Director .!.Wilhelm Dieterle
Original Screen Play. .Edward Chodorov
Photography Sol Polito
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"HEY SAILOR"
Cast: James Cagney. Pat O'Brien.
Gloria Stuart, Dorothy Tree. Frank
McHugh, Niles Welch, Willard
Robertson.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Screen Play Al Cohn, Ben Markson
Photography Arthur Edeson
Supervisor Lou Edelman
"HOUSEWIFE"
Cast: Bette Davis, George Brent, Ann
' Dvorak, Robert Barrat. John HalH-
day, Ruth Donnelly. Hobart Cava-
naugh, Ronnie Cosby, Arthur Ayles-
worth, Leila Bennett.
Director Al Green
Original Story: Robert Lord and Lillie
Hay ward.
Screen Play: Manuel Seff and Lillie
Hayward.
Photography William Rees
Supervisor Robert Lord
.Independent Productions
Beacon Productions
(Alexander Bros. Studio
't CANT ESCAPE •
Cast: Onslow Stevens. Lila Lee, F.-ar^k
Melton.
Director O to Brewer
Original Screen Play: Jerry Sackheim
ard Nathan Asch.
Photography Jerry Ash
Producer Max Alexander
S*iS*^SSs6sfe'!*'
Published Every Monday
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Films
"The shouting and the tumult dies
..."... The first annual golf tour-
nament of the A.S.C. is history . . .
and a darned pleasant memory. . . .
The trophy awards brought a pleasing
climax last Monday night. . . . Bert
Ciennon proved that sportsmanship
isn't confined to the golf course. . . .
Eddie Cohen was all steamed up when
someone told him Mae West would
pull the lucky ticket. . . . Miss West
didn't show but they called on an-
other seductive personage . . . ar>d
now Eddie's wearing the Mae West
sparkler annyhoo! Sv*«ll opening to
pull the line . . "C'mon up 'nd . . ."
. . . but it's been used . . . it's been
used ...
•
"Morning, Mr. Seid . . as a bridge
player you're a swell hyp>o boy" . . .
and speaking of bridge, give Virg Mil-
ler anyone except Mae West's sub-
stitute for a partner and he'd probably
do right well. . . . Grand Duke Michael
(Leshing) transferred Monte Carlo to
Santa Monica and demonstrated some
remarkable sound effects in cubes. . .
Keith Clennan wanted to meet some
technicians ... he did, keedies . . .
and he'll remember them a long tinr>e,
too. . . . Emil Oster's bark is (NOW)
much worse than his bite . . . and now
that Prexy Johnny is formally 'install-
ed' . . . we'll ALL get to work!
«
Vern Walker has cut all night life
(excepting work at the studio) ....
Henry Sharp all set to start another
production at Paramount where he's
just completed one with Bums and
Allen and that swell Guy Lombardo's
orchestra. ... Joe Walker still in
(photographic) harmony with Grace
Moore. . . . Benny Kline had a full
day between pictures — now he's
started "Whom The Gods Destroy."
. . . "Twentieth Century" has been
previewed and Joe August is sharing
the applause . . . swell cameracraft-
ing . . . now he's away to repeat on
"Black Moon." . . . Henry Cerrard
vacationing at Arrowhead.
•
Hal Mohr, Louiewilliamo'connell
and Ernie Palmer resting for a minute
at Fox but set to start another flock
of footage tomorrow or next day. . . .
Jack Mackenzie turning a swell cam-
era for Harold Lloyd with end of the
picture stiH ahead. . . . Milt Krasner
takes off on camera work for Charles
Rogers at Paramount with "1 Married
An Actress." . . . Bob Pitack adding
to his camera inventory.
COLUMBIA
Benny Kline
FOX
Theodor Sparkuhi Ernie Palmer
Lou O'Connell Artie Miller
PARAMOUNT
Henrv Sharp Milton Krasner
UNIVERSAL
George Robinson Chas. Stumar
QIIESTIONI
What's in a name? . . . Plenty! . . . Since the days of the old
cedar boxes with a lens on the front and crank on the side . . . the
men who've been responsible for the picture's photography have been
called Cameramen. . . . Those who guard the portals of the studios
are called Gatemen. . . The fellows who handle the front end of
the trolley cars are labeled Motormen . . . and on and on and on. . . .
The photographer deserves a BETTER and more dignified indenti-
fication. . . .
Recently there's been a movement (and not bad, at that) toward
"Director of Photography." . . . It's colorful and it boasts some im-
portance and size but we're wondering if someone can do better.
We're afraid that it's too king to get a break on the main credit
title and we're pretty sure that our brother (?) editors aren't going
to give it much of a tumble for the same reason. We might find a
coined word (and frankly we haven't an idea at this nnoment) which
will carry everything embraced in "Director of Photography" . . . bu'
we feel that something must be done. Here's why . . . Johnny Arnold
has asked us to stop reference to the photographers as "Cameran^n"
. . . and Johnny, we've hor>estly tried to do it, but the long tag as
recommended just doesn't seem to click in our copy . . . but here's
our pledge that we'll use it anyway unless some of the boys can come
through with a ticket that ticks! . . . Let's have your suggestions.
Color - Color!
Color
The much discussed and long
awaited Technicolor three-color pro-
cess starts in a big way today at War-
ner Bros.-First National Studio. The
first of a series of shorts went into
production. Ray Rannahan, who has
been with Technicolor for years, is in
charge of the cameras. Associated
with him are Willford Cline, formerly
with Universal, and William Skall,
wfK) has been with Hal Mohr for years
at Fox.
Good luck . . . best wishes!
Ray Fernstrom, the popular news
hawk, left Saturday for Eurof>e with
a three-color Technicolor camera. He
will go directly to Holland to photo-
graph a travelog for Fitzpatrick.
Another Technicolor three-color
camera has been sent to New York to
E. R. P. I. This camera will be used
for some animated paintings, and up>on
completion of this work, will be pick-
ed up by Robt. C. Bruce on May 1 6.
Mr. Bruce is well known; for years he
shot those glorious Bruce Outdoor
Series. Mr. Bruce will take the cam-
era to Europe to shoot a series of
Bruce "Musical Moods."
Tannura Back Home
Phil Tannura, who for many years
was one of our leading cameramen in
Hollyvvood, is here from England.
Tannura has for the p>ast six years
been domiciled in France and Eng-
land, and is at the moment associated
with British Gaumont in an execu-
tive capacity. He is here for a stay of
several weeks, and will look over all
of the studios during this time.
Tannura spent a day at Movietone
City with his old sidekick. Lou O'Con-
nell, and expressed his astonishment
at the many changes, both physical
and technical which have taken place
during his long stay in Europe.
Valentine Away
Joe Valentine starts work this
morning on location at Stockton, Cali-
fornia, shooting special horse race
scenes for the. Fox production, "Call It
Luck." Back to ' the Westwood lo*
abdut Thursday or-friday.
;*Hey, Sailor!"
Here's another argument for those
skeptics who give the lip a funny lit-
tle turn when you start to talk about
the importance of the cameramen.
When the Pacific fleet sailed away
last week, they very kincHy and con-
siderately left behind them the battle-
ship Arizona, so that Arthur Edeson
and his gang could have a free swing
in making scenes for "Hey, Sailor,"
Warner Bros, production.
Again
Clyde De Vinna, globe-trotting
camera-crafter ar>d one of the old
guard of the MGM staff, takes over
"Treasure Island" at the Culver City
plant, and pulls anchor for Catalina,
where he'll be located for the next
several weeks. The company will do
the boat and island sequences during
tfiis location. Probably the first time
in at least five years that Clyde has
been located within amplified shout-
ing distance of his home roost.
Paramount Steams Up
Present production plans at this
studio contemplate busiest period in
recent history. Chances are that at
least a dozen units will be under way
on production not later than first week
in May. This is a good break inas-
much as it is highly probable all con-
tracted cinematographers on this lot
will be assigned and busy with over-
flow of production, making it neces-
sary to recruit three or fjerhaps four
additional camera chiefs from outside.
Warrenton's Welcome
Gil Warrenton and his charming
six-fifths, having completed the new
guest houses at their ranch in Carls-
bad, will be deprived of their oppor-
tunity to welcome flock of friends fo-
the next few week-ends because Gil
will be back on the job at one of the
major studios.
Rosher Applauded
For his camera achievement in the
Twentieth Century-Constance Bennett
production, "Firebrand," which was
previewed end of the week, Charlie
Rosher \vas given a big hand by all the
local critics.
(NOTE: Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour. Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION:
SETS?
DO YOU LIKE WHITE
JOE AUGUST (Columbia) : I lilce
them. They give us greater oppor-
tunities to portray light compK)S>-
tions.
ROY HUNT (R.K.O.) :
YES!
HENRY SHARP (Paramount): Yes, «
do, but the white sets, to obtain
the best results, should be well
broken up with arches, doors and
windows. Considerable thought
should be given to this subject by
the Art Director, so that not too
many white sets apjjear in any given
picture.
ERNIE HALLER (Warner Bros.): I
like white sets if they are in keep-
ing with the mood and character of
the sequence.
OLIVER MARSH (M.G.M.): Yes, .1
like white sets — in their place. At
our place (M.G.M.) they're all over
the place.
ARTIE MILLER (Fox) : While we do
not have a preponderance of white
sets at our studio, those that we
have had have worked out very sat-
isfactorily, arwd I have enjoyed
working on them when they are
properly constructed.
TONY GAUDIO (Warner Bros.) : NO,
because white sets have been un-
reasonably overdone. Recently I
have had a picture that was almost
entirely white sets, ballroom, living,
room, bedroom, breakfast room,
halls, and even the old annkay.
There seems to be no limit to an
idea once somebody launches it and
it rings the bell. Personally, I'm
tired of them.
pnishinq
COLUMBIA
Benny, Kline Al Siegler
^ UNIVERSAL
Jack Stevens
FOX
Joe Valentine Ceo. Schneiderman.^
PARAMOUNT .
Henry Sharp ^ r'''* "'^'^
%'^ROACH^ -^^^:^ ..
Frank Ccffby Kenneth f^Badh'
Art Lloyd-- -^ STtr>...i.-:
Ill i ^ . \\y <^ V^ i_i 4-r I« « t « itl i k ^ 4.>X \ t^AVJA-'^V./'^f
5f MH.SAVUFL MAPX.
CULVFR CITY.OAi.Ir'.
-T «•..'•:
Vol. XX, No. 32. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, April 17, 1934
PI^€D$.-E\lilE$ AGRIt
Both Sides Concur At First
Joint Meeting That Indecent
Pictures And Duals Must Go
•CRITICAL opinion on the result of
the showing of a picture at a preview
is merely the opinion of the person
who wrote the review. He or she may
be right or wrong in that judgment,
but it is still the opinion of the writer
and should be judged as such.
Occasionally the reviewer steps out
of his character for a moment, and
attempts to tell the producer how his
picture should have been produced,
the changes that should be effected
to help the picture. And that, too, is
but an opinion. But when a company
accepts that review and follows the
suggestions that, it was thought,
would greatly benefit the picture, then
it must be considered as quite a com-
pliment to the opinion of the reviewer.
•
And that's just what happened with
the Reporter review of the Metro-
Coldwyn-Mayer production of "Tarzan
and His Mate." The critical notice
in this paper gave credit to an unusual
production achievement, a great show,
but took exceptions to certain features
of that fine production as being en-
tirely out of tune with all the elements
that contributed to the successful
making of the picture.
After the review was published,
both the author of that review and
the entire staff of this publication
were shoved into the doghouse by
MCM for daring to call attention to
things that might have hurt the value
of the picture, even though the review
credited it as a good picture.
But MCM and Bernie Hyman evi-
dently thought the whole matter over.
They started cutting and, when they
finished, they had eliminated all those
objectionable features, and their as-
tonishment was terrific after the
showing of the cut version. This new
"Tarzan" now stands as one of the
best shows an exhibitor will be able
to buy for many a day. It out-cir-
cuses any circus you have ever seen.
It has entertainment that will satisfy
the appetite of any type audience.
Kids will go nuts about it and the
grown-ups will get a great kick out
of it. Long before the end of the
engagement the exhibitor will know
that he has a solid hit on his hands,
and, after all, that makes picture busi-
ness.
"Tarzan and His Mate," as it has
been finally cut, is recommended to
any exhibitor in any type house. It's
a cinch to pack them in and send them
out cheering
The Purity Brigade
"Winnie" Sheehan, who started
the vogue of off-color pictures with
"What Price Glory," and Jack War-
ner, whose pictures have been the
cause of more censor slaps than
those of any other studio, cast the
deciding votes that eliminated one
of the most beautiful scenes in
"Tarzan and His Mate."
Rosenblatt Ouster
Is Reported Again
Those close to the film code situa-
tion yesterday hinted strongly that,
despite Washington denials, a deter-
mined effort is being made to have Sol
A. Rosenblatt removed as code admin-
istrator.
Helen V. Barry, Field Representa-
tive of the Compliance Division of the
NRA, now in town, is believed to be
one of these steps. It was given out
that she came here only on routine
(Continued on Page 2)
Ruth Chatterton in
Dicker with Thalberg
New York. — Ruth Chatterton is on
her way to Hollywood and it is under-
stood here that she is on the point of
signing a contract with Irving Thal-
berg at MCM.
The hitch is said to be her demand
that she shall select her own stories.
Harlow Cold Delays Pic
Starting the picture again Saturday
after suspending it for a week, Sam
Wood was once more forced to hold
up production of "100% Pure" at
MCM yesterday when jean Harlow de-
veloped a cold.
Following a week during which each accused the other of
responsibility for all the ills of the picture business, MPTOA
leaders and a group of major producers got together yesterday at
the Beverly-Wilshire in the first huddle of the kind ever held in
the industry. They met at luncheon
to thresh out all problems, including
those of indecent pictures and double
bills.
On the former subject, Louis B.
Mayer again defended the producers,
saying: "We have no desire for smut
in pictures, any more than the exhibi-
tor has. It has always been his desires
(Continued on Page 3)
Philip Moeller To
Be Radio Director
New York. — Philip Moeller, one of
the founders of the Theatre Guild and
for a long time director of all its pro-
ductions, has been signed to a three-
year directorial contract by Radio Pic-
tures. He will leave for the Coast
about May 1 5.
The plan is to have Moeller direct
pictures during the Summer, vi^hen he
IS not engaged on the Guild produc-
tions.
Pev Marley with Small
Edward Small has signed Peverell
Marley to handle the photography on
"The Count of Monte Cristo," which
goes into production May 7 at Pathe
with Rowland V. Lee directing.
Darrow Expected To
Ask U.S. Regulation
Of All Playing Time
New York. — Robert Robins, of the
American Society for the Protection of
Motion Picture Theatres, in his secret
testimony before the Clarence Darrow
Review Board last week, advocated
not Government control, but Govern-
ment regulation of the motion picture
business by setting up an agency to
allocate playing time on an equal di-
vision basis.
That is to say, instead of permit-
ting major producer-distributors with
(Continued on Page 2)
Sec. Meyer, of MPTOA,
In Critical Condition
Fred Meyer, secretary of the
MPTOA, who was operated on for
appendicitis at the Cedars of Lebanon
Hospital, was reported last night as
being "a little better," although still
in critical condition.
Meyer's work during the conven-
tion was so arduous that he collapsed
Friday and was rushed to the hospital
for the operation. Complications de-
veloped and at noon yesterday it was
feared he would not recover.
ACTORS' GUILD IN VICIOUS
ATTACK OX THE ACADEMY indies Meet to Oppose
In a scathing editorial in the April
issue of its magazine. The Screen
Player, the Screen Actors' Guild yes-
terday charged that the producers
have a well-organized scheme for the
disruption of the Guild, and are fin-
ancing the Academy as the tool to be
used in wiping out the Guild, or in
destroying its usefulness.
"Hidden behind the mask of an
arbiter of taste," says the editorial,
"and obscured under the cloak of re-
search, what the Academy is really
trying to do is to destroy the possi-
(Continued on Page 4)
Theatre Owners Will
Fight License Raise
New York. — The proposed city or-
dinance to increase the license fees
paid by New York theatres is to be
fought by the ITOA of New York.
Bernard Barr, of that organization's
legislative committee, will lead the
battle before the Board of Aldermen.
Politics For Warners
New York. — Martin Mooney is in
Washington getting material for an
original story with a political back-
ground for Warner production.
War Against Duals
Trem Carr has called an emergency
meeting of the independent producers
organization for noon today, and it is
planned, according to report, to take
steps to combat the deluge of propa-
ganda launched against double bills
by the MPTOA convention last week.
'Barretts' Delayed
Production on "The Barretts of
Wimpole Street" will be delayed at
MGM due to the late arrival from
London of Charles Laughton, who is
due May 1 .
^OUR COPY
1N EARLY FOR
DIRECTORS' NLIMBER OUT MAY
B
Page Twfo
April 17. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
HoMyvk'Ood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris. 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Add Hollywood feuds: Mae Sunday
and Eddie Hiilman, who no speak no
more — especially Mae! . . . Production
cost headaches over at Paramount
with Mae West and Claudette Col-
bert on the sick list for days. . . .
Ralph Forbes with Kathleen Ardelle at
the Kings Club Saturday night, and a
goodly crowd was there. . . . The Col-
ony too was packed until dawn and
the rings under Lou Wertheimer's
eyes are down to THERE! . . . Ger-
trude Michael says she's done ten pic-
tures since December and will rush to
a hideout for a rest any minute. . . .
Raquel Torres and Stephen Ames will
leave for Honolulu on their honeymoon
today.
Adolphe Menjou is going mad trying
to watch his new house being built
and watching Veree Teasdale work
at the stujo at the same time. It's
love in both places! . , , Bets are that
Norma Talmadge and George Jessel
will be wed before you can say Gustav
von Seyffertitz! . . . Tullio Carminati
is a Count, but doesn't bother to use
the title! And besides, the Italian
Government decorated Tullio for his
directorial work with Duse! . . . An-
other wire from Frank Joyce reports
him much on the mend! It's the
best news we've heard in years! . . .
Dorothy Wilson, who once stenogged
there, is back on the Radio lot playing
a lead with Richard Dix in "Family
Man." , . . The Austin Parker-Irene
Bentley amour waxes warmer. . . . The
Rufus LeMaires are throwing a party
for the Ted Lewises tonight.
The yacht that was jointly owned
by a plastic surgeon and a famous
make-up artist now belongs to the
make-up artist — and thereby hangs a
tale! ... A burglar tried to burgle at
Ruby Keeler's house the other night
and scared the youknowhat outa Ruby!
. . . Dorothy Sebastian has given up
the ranch life and is back at work at
Radio. . . . Leon Gordon is off to the
desert to write a sea story! . . . Didja
know that Dimitri Tiomkin once had
charge of the Petrograd Zoo? Sounds
like swell qualification for a studio
job! . . Mrs. Jack Warner has changed
her mind about going into the milli-
nery business.
"CONSTANT NYMPH"
British prod., Fox release; director, Basil Dean; writers. Dorothy Farnum,
Margaret Kennedy, Basil Dean.
Roxy Theatre
News: Calloused to the malformed and mutilated screen offspring spawned by
charming novels, it was hard to believe that the movies had done so right
by the gay, mad, tragic people created by Margaret Kennedy's pen. But
it is right, beautifully right, by virtue of the understanding, delicate
direction of Basil Dean, and actors who interpret roles instead of twisting
characters entrusted to them to fit their own troublesome personalities.
Maybe it is the British touch. The English understand restraint so much
better than Hollywood.
Su«: Occasionally too British for its own good, as far as American (Xipularity is
concerned. The actors speak in slipped tones, making their sentences
often quite incomprehensible. This very Englishness of the picture is
also one of its chiefest merits. There is about it a tenderness, a poetic
wistfulness quite free from any maudlin quality. It is a quite tender
and effective picture.
American: A fine and fascinating translation of the famous Sanger Saga comes
from the British studios to charm appreciative American audiences. The
story has been sensitively adapted by our own Dorothy Farnum, and both
Director Dean and the author, Margaret Kennedy, assisted with the dia-
logue.
Mirror: The remarkable Sangers, who have appeared in both a best-selling novel
and in a stage hit, are as charming and entertaining as ever in this
delightfully made English film. Acted with skill, directed with taste,
charmingly photographed, the picture follows the play faithfully.
lournal: Effective scenic views of the Austrian Tyrol and interesting musical
accompaniment are the principal attractions of the film. Miss Kennedy's
novel is charming reading, but Director Basil Dean, too literal in his trans-
lation, concentrated more on bookish detail than on the action demanded
by the more flexible medium of the screen.
Times: Although the new film is sometimes blurred and confused in the telling,
it is also filled with nervous gaiety, tragic laughter and beauty.
Herald-Tribune: Margaret Kennedy's lovely, introspective novel, "The Constant
Nymph," is not helped by its transfer to the screen. In essence a lyrical
study of a musician's family, it is the intangible quality, the gossamer
thread of fantasy running through it, which makes it a beautiful book to
read, but as a dramatic vehicle not so important. Nor has it received
much aid from Mr. Dean.
World-Telegram: Written with much grace and sentiment, and a fine sense of
humor and true character observation, this shy, gentle, steadfast little
comedy-drama goes far toward adding to the already established prestige
of recent British films. A mighty fine piece of screen writing, to my way
of thinking, too.
15 'Blessed Events'
Holding Up 'Sequoia*
MGM expects to resume production
within two weeks on "Sequoia," which
was suspended some time ago because
fifteen members of the cast were ex-
pecting blessed events.
Hold everything! The above players
were fifteen of the female deer, com-
monly called does. Instead of cutting
the youngsters up for steaks, the stu-
dio will use them in place of their
parents in the picture.
Cukor Doing Re-Takes
MGM's "Manhattan Melodrama,"
starring Clark Gable, William Powell
and Myrna Ley which was previewed
Saturday night, will have scenes added
today under the direction of George
Cukor. W. S. Van Dyke, who origin-
ally directed the picture, has already
begun work on "The Thin Man."
Trivers Stays at 'U'
At the completion of his one-pic-
ture deal with the original screen play
of "A Sin for Cinderella" Saturday,
Universal yesterday signed Barry
Trivers to another ticket. He will
write the script of Thorne Smith's
"Night Life of the Cods," which
Lowell Sherman will direct.
'Lucky' on Van Dine Yarn
Warners yesterday assigned H.
Bruce "Lucky" Humberstone to direct
S. S. Van Dine's "Dragon Murder
Case," which has Warren William and
Margaret Lindsay in the top brackets.
Rian James and Robert N. Lee have
written the screen play. Picture starts
the first of next week.
Parsons Sells Another
Lone Star Productions at Monogram
yesterday purchased "Randy Rides
Alone," a western by Lindsley Par-
sons, and signed Harry Eraser to direct.
John Wayne has the lead. Story is
the third purchased from Parsons, who
is publicity director at the studio.
Rosy Ouster Again in Air
(Continued from Page 1 )
matters and to look into the work of
women in the textile industry, but
yesterday it was declared by those
close to Washington that she is here
investigating the trouble between
Rosenblatt, George Creel and Judge
Ben Lindsey.
She has already heard Creel's story
and Judge Lindsey's, and even sat in
on a hearing of one of the cases Ros-
enblatt ordered Lindsey to turn over
to Pat Casey, and which he refused
to do.
2600 Exhibs Sign
Releases For Erpi
New York. — Electrical Research
Products Inc. has, it is learned, al-
ready succeeded in getting 2600 ex-
hibitors who have Erpi equipment to
sign the "Double R" contracts in lieu
of the original agreements.
This "Double R" contract is the
one which requires exhibitors to re-
lease Erpi from any possible liability
as a result of alleged monopolistic
practices.
'Sisters Under Skin'
For Music Hall, May 3
New York. — The Columbia picture,
"Sisters Under The Skin," which was
directed by David Burton, goes into
the Music Hall the week of May 3.
To Remake 'Red Lights'
MGM will remake the silent suc-
cess that promoted Raymond Griffith
to stardom in 1923, "Red Lights,"
and will probably have Charles Butter-
worth in the lead. Harvey Thew is
scripting the story, which is from the
Edward A. Rose play, "Rear Car."
Lucien Hubbard produces.
May Ask Regulation
(Continued from Page 1 )
their own or affiliated first runs to
corner all the best first run situations,
the Government agency would put
major companies in class A and inde-
pendent producers in class B or C, de-
pending on their importance or type
of production. Then each class of
producer would be given a first run
every other week alternately.
It is expected that the Darrow
board will submit this recommenda-
tion to the White House with a de-
mand for a Federal motion picture
commission to regulate the industry,
similar to the manner in which the
Federal Radio Commission rules that
business.
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April 17. 1934
THg
Page Three
PARA'S 'SCARLET EMPRESS'
EXPEIVSIVE, RORIIVG PICTURE
Photography Only
Redeeming Feature
"THE SCARLET EMPRESS"
(Paramount)
Direction Josef von Sternberg
Based on a Diary of Catlnerine the
Great.
Arranged by Manuel Komroff
Photography Bert Ciennon
Starring Marlene Dietrich
Cast: John Lodge, Louise Dresser, Sam
jaffee, C. Aubrey Smith, Maria Sie-
ber, Ruthelma Stevens, Olive Tell.
Gavin Cordon, Jameson Thomas,
John Davidson.
When one considers the vast ex-
penditure on the part of Paramount,
the great amount of time, and the
lavish and stupendous settings with
which "The Scarlet Empress" has been
invested, its complete and ludicrous
flop as motion picture entertainment
is positively appalling.
Were it not for the fact that we
are duly considering that neither time
nor money was spared in the produc-
tion of this latest Dietrich opus, we
would "laff the picture off" with a
paragraph or two. But when a film
has been months in the making and
its director has been given carte
blanche with pelf and players, and
the picture itself is heralded as an
"important" one, then there are
phases that must be taken up in
print, which otherwise could be par-
donably ignored.
Whatever historical or entertain-
ment value "The Scarlet Empress"
may have possessed in its original con-
ception is lost in the mad jumble and
clash of pageantry, tableaux, mechani-
cal clocks (a la "Chauve Souris"),
symbolism and cymbals. The picture,
although an occasional scene is
breathtakingly beautiful (as a paint-
ing is beautiful) is so bad that it is
extremely difficult to treat it seri-
ously in criticism. It is such a colos-
sal fake; such a mighty exhibition of
director-ego, such a boring, ponder-
ous parade of splendor and cruelty,
that any value it might even possess
as a vehicle for Dietrich fans alone, re-
gardless of its appeal as a motion
picture, is gone.
This appeal is doubly lost, for in
"The Scarlet Empress" Dietrich again
is "put through her paces" in the Von
Sternberg manner — with little varia-
tion from the mannerisms or postur-
ings that have characterized her roles
in the past. Only her costumes are
different. In "Shanghai Express,"
Miss Dietrich chewed on a rose. In
"The Scarlet Empress," she tears one
apart. One is permitted endless
close-ups of the star first through
gauze, then through fish-net and later
through what seemed like a tennis-
racket — or was it a sieve?
All the close-ups are very beauti-
ful, for Marlene has never looked
more lovely, but we doubt whether
even the masses, to whom this sort
of thing used to pass for "art," will
get any spiritual lift from it now,
though a few critics may stilt be im-
pressed.
There is never a moment during the
entire picture that carries conviction
New York Kills Bill
To Abolish Censors
New York. — The Ways and
Means Committee of the State
Legislature has killed the Brownell
bill to abolish motion picture cen-
sors. The apathetic attitude of the
picture industry in not getting be-
hind the bill is blamed for its
death.
Rosy to Test Code
Through ITOA Case
New York. — It is understood here
that Sol Rosenblatt will grant the
ITOA of New York permission to sign
a qualified assent to the code, the pur-
pose being to establish a test case to
be brought before the New York
Grievance Board.
John Monk Saunders
To Adapt Own Story
New York. — John Monk Saunders
has been engaged by MGM to do the
adaptation of his original, "Oxford
^tory."
Holmes on Shorts
Ben Holmes, having just returned
from New York City from a business
and pleasure trip, was immediately
signed by Radio to do a series of shorts
with Chick Chandler. Johnny Grey
will collaborate on the stories.
or any sense of reality. There isn't a
scene which, except for its pictorial
beauty, would strike a note of sym-
pathy or response in any audience.
There are innumerable and confusing
sequences of riding Cossacks, clanging
bells, marching soldiers and frenzied
people — all to no avail. Oh — the
waste of it all!
Sam Jaffee, a fine actor, is per-
mitted to stalk through the film look-
ing and acting like Harpo Marx, so
that his every appearance is funny
rather than sinister. John Lodge speaks
every line through clenched teeth
though he probably wasn't to blame.
Louise Dresser bears no resemblance
to a Queen, regardless of how "tough"
the Empress may have been. Miss
Dresser shouts her speeches in the
manner of an East Side fishwife with-
out shading or dignity at any time.
The entire production can be likened
only to an "indoor Western with gar-
goyles thrown in" — that is the final
impression which was left on this
reviewer, what with its countless
stampedes through marble halls.
We venture the theory that only
those audiences which have already
viewed the English production,
"Catherine the Great," will have even
a vague idea of what "The Scarlet
Empress" is all about — the others cer-
tainly won't care.
It is a great pity that "Scarlet
Empress" isn't what Paramount and
waiting exhibs are expecting in the
way of a new Dietrich picture — it
couldn't be. Do what you can with
the exploitation values in the star and
the subject at hand . . . and don't
blame the actors!
Sol Lesser Moving
To Sennett Studio
A deal by which Sol Lesser will
make all his future productions at the
Mack Sennett studios has been put
over by Jed Buell, of the Sennett or-
ganization. Although the other in-
dependents who are producing there
will remain. Lesser is the most im-
portant tenant, occupying by far the
greater space.
Among the productions which he
will make there are "Peck's Bad Boy."
which is scheduled to start May 21 ;
a serial, "Chandu," with Gayne Whit-
man in the title role; a Harold Bell
Wright story, "When a Man's a Man,"
and a series of westerns.
Para. Extends Option
On Detroit Theatres
New York. — Referee Davis yester-
day granted Paramount permission to
extend until July 16 its option on
George W. Trendle's proposed pur-
chase of a half interest in United De-
troit Theatres for $50,000.
Davis also approved the charge of
$18,266 made by Root. Clark and
Buckner for legal expenses in the
Paramount bankruptcy.
New Foy Exchanges
Three new exchanges have been
established for Foy Productions Ltd.
at Salt Lake City, Des Moines and
Atlanta. This makes a total of twen-
ty-one exchanges for Foy.
Casey Absent, Extra
Board MeetingTame
Pat Casey failed to show up at the
meeting of the Code Committee for
Extras last night at which it was ex-
pected that Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chair-
man, would call for a showdown with
the head of the Studio Labor Com-
mittee on matters pertaining to the
jurisdiction of her committee and his
in the handling of complaints of
extras.
He sent word that he was indis-
posed and his physician had advised
him against going out. So there were
none of the anticipated fireworks, and,
as one member of the committee
stated when it was over, "the code
merry-go-round is still running."
Communications from the Code
Authority were read explaining that
alternates cannot vote for members
they are representing, and it was es-
tablished that at all meetings a major-
ity has been present, making all
actions legal.
Foy Tests School Kids
Crane Wilbur, who is to direct
"High School Girl" for Bryan Foy Pro-
ductions Ltd., gave a test yesterday to
three high school students in an effort
to find suitable types for the leading
roles.
Those tested were Pauline True.
Maurice Murphy and June Earle.
June Knight Delayed
June Knight, due back at Universal
last week, will stay away another
month. She is to do two weeks per-
sonal appearances in New York and
one week in Chicago.
Producers and Exhibitors Agree
(Continued from Page 1 )
that have dictated our production
plans."
Following the meeting. President
Kuykendall, of the MPTOA, said that
both sides were in accord on these
two important points and each would
do all in its power to find satisfactory
solutions.
Mr. Mayer did most of the talking
for the producers, while the MPTOA
men split up the talking task. Mr.
Mayer took the exhibitors to task for
their criticisms of pictures and picture-
makers, saying that they should be the
last to try to tear down the business
and should keep their criticism con-
structive and inside the industry.
The producers declined to make any
statement after the meeting, saying:
"It was the exhibitors' party. Let them
do the talking." President Kuykendall
later issued a statement in which he
said:
"Practical working machinery for a
more direct contact between theatre
owners in the field and the producers
of motion pictures with a view to pro-
viding a channel for the fuller expres-
sion of public reaction to motion
pictures is expected to follow this
afternoon's conference.
"A committee of theatre owners has
accepted responsibility to relate from
time to time to the production chiefs
in Hollyv^ood the public reaction to
types and kinds of pictures, with a
view to stimulating greater interest
among theatre-goers in screen offer-
ings. The producers have invited the
fullest possible commentary and criti-
cism of their product and the exhibi-
tors have agreed to supply this.
"Considerable discussion dealmg
with what was termed good taste in
the production of screen plays was
carried on at the round-table confer-
ence and the fullest possible co-opera-
tion on the part of the producer was
pledged as part of an all-industry ef-
fort to keep the screen free from
offensiveness. The menace of double-
features and other cut-throat methods
of theatre operation and their effect
on the production of high-quality pic-
tures were also discussed.
"It was agreed that the general
public wants quality rather than quan-
tity in its screen entertainment and
an understanding was reached pledging
both theatre owners and producers to
discourage, wherever possible, the
showing of two features for one ad-
mission."
Attending the meeting were Presi-
dent Kuykendall, M. A. Lightman M.
E Comerford. Walter Vincent. Jules
Michaels, Jack Miller. A. E. Williams,
L E Thompson, Sidney Lust, O. C.
Lam and Fred Wehrenberg for the
exhibitors, and L. B. Mayer Irving
Thalberg, Eddie Mannix, Fred Beetson,
Joe Breen, Winfield Sheehan, B. B.
Kahane, Albert Kaufman and Sam
Briskin for the producers.
Page Four
April 17, 1934
IT' WITH BIGGER BUDGET
WILL MAKE 40 THIS YEAR
Roxy Expected Back
At the Roxy May 1
Universal will make forty features
for the coming season with a largely
increased budget, according to an an-
nouncement made yesterday by Carl
Laemmie Jr. after a conference of
Universal executives held at Santa
Barbara. Last year's program had 36
features and the year before 26 were
produced. The forty for this year,
Laemmie Jr. said, will not include
serials, but will include six adventure
pictures to be made by Buck Jones.
Leonard Spigelgass, scenario editor,
said that the company had considered
300 stories, plays and original ideas in
framing the new program and added
that the chief purchasing interest of
the company this year would be in
novels and plays as against originals.
"We expect to spend a great deal
more money this year than any year
since 1929," said young Laemmie.
"Returning prosperity warrants it and,
also, we want to give the public, now
returning to the theatre, intelligent
stories, capably acted and directed,
with realistic backgrounds.
At the Santa Barbara conference, in
addition to young Laemmie, were
James R. Grainger, the sales manager;
Leonard Spigelgass, Robert Harris, of
the Eastern story department, Henry
Henigson, Frank Mastroly, Martin
Murphy, Stanley Bergerman, Julius
Bernheim, B. F. Zeidman, E, M. Asher,
Edmund Grainger, Rian James, David
Werner, William Anthony McGuire,
Maurice Pivar, Harry Zehner, Clar-
ence Marks and John LeRoy Johnston.
Helen Vinson Set For
Two Pictures at Radio
Radio yesterday stretched Helen
Vinson's contract into a two-picture
deal, the player going from "Virgie
Winters" to a spot in "Sour Grapes."
Studio has also signed Henry Kol-
ker for the picture, arranging to match
the production schedule with the stage
play, "Men in White," in which he
is appearing.
Jean Muir in Person
Jean Muir will make a personal ap-
pearance in connection with the pre-
view of "As the Earth Turns" at the
Warner Hollywood Theatre tomorrow
morning and again Thursday night
when the picture starts its run. Pre-
view tomorrow is for an invited audi-
ence.
Child Actress a Hit
Edith Fellows, an eight year old
child playing with Richard Dix in
"Family Man" for Radio, proved her
ability so well that she has been as-
signed a role with Ann Harding in
"The Life of Virgie Winters."
Party For Sloane
Paul Sloane, now directing "Down
to Their Last Yacht" at Radio, was
given a surprise birthday party yester-
day on the set by the members of the
company to celebrate his forty-first
birthday. Lou Brock was the M.C.
U' Seeks New Title
Universal is looking for a new title
for the picture, "Loves of a Sailor,"
which goes into production today.
New York. — S. L. Rothafel, it is
reported, will cut short his personal
appearance tour with his Gang after
finishing in Brooklyn this week, and
will step into the operation of the
Roxy Theatre on May 1 .
The house is planning to sp>end con-
siderable money in revamping its
backstage equipment and bringing it
up to date before Roxy takes hold.
Karl Freund Starts
M Give My Love' at *U'
Karl Freund started rehearsals yes-
terday at Universal on the Vicki Baum
story, "I Give My Love," with Wynne
Gibson and Paul Lukas in the top
spots, and tomorrow he puts it before
the cameras. Cast to date, besides
the principals, includes Tad Alexander,
Eric Linden, Sam Hardy, John Dar-
row and Dorothy Appleby. Milton
Krim adapted and Doris Anderson
wrote the screen play and dialogue.
B. F. Zeidman produces.
'Hey Sailor* Returns
Warners' '"Hey Sailor" company,
headed by James Cagney and Pat
O'Brien, returned to town yesterday,
after being on location at San Pedro
and the U.S.S, Arizona for the past
two weeks.
Lamont on Col. Short
Charles Lamont, Educational direc-
tor, moves to Columbia on a one-pic-
ture ticket to direct the next Charlie
Murray-George Sidney short. This will
be the first picture Lamont has made
outside the Educational fold for two
years.
New Name for *Humbug'
Universal has changed the title of
"Humbug"to "Dangerous to Women."
The picture is now in the cutting
rooms.
Warners May Build
New Strand Theatre
New York. — Warner Brothers
have taken another five year ex-
tension of their lease on the Strand
theatre and are planning to raze
the old building and erect a new
theatre on the site next year.
Fox and Educational
War Over Child Actress
Fox and Educational are reported at
an impasse over baby Shirley Temple.
Kid is committed to Educational for
the two remaining pictures in the
"Frolics of Youth" series, an arrange-
ment made at the time Fox placed her
under contract.
Fox, however, anxious to take her
out of shorts, has offered Educational
a lump sum to release her, the offer
being turned down. Now it is said.
Fox plans to keep the child assigned in
order to avoid releasing her to the
shorts producers.
Isabel Jewell Must Double
At Paramount and MCM
With the start of "Here Comes
the Groom" delayed until the end of
this week, Isabel Jewel! will work in
the Paramount picture as well as "The
Thin Man" at MGM. Player is under
contract for both subjects and the
changes in shooting schedules brought
about the necessity for doubling in
both.
Becky Gardiner East
Becky Gardiner left by train yes-
terday for a month's vacation in New
York. She recently completed the
script of "Stingaree" in collaboration
with Lynn Riggs and Leonard Spigel-
gass at Radio.
Cleason with Beacon
Beacon Productions yesterday signed
Russell Gleason to replace Frank Mel-
ton, who was not available, in "1
Can't Escape." Company also signed
Otis Harlan and Hooper Atchley.
Actors' Guild Attacks Academy
(Continued from Page 1 )
bility of an honest actor organization
— of, by and for the actors."
The Guild charges that the Acad-
emy "sold the actor down the river"
during the framing of the first draft
of the NRA film code, when "the
Academy representative participated in
the framing of the first draft, which
was completely inimical to the inter-
ests of actors." It declares that now
the producers are contributing $3000
a month to the Academy's support in
order to complete the task of defeat-
ing the actors.
The editorial says that the produc-
ers' plan is first, to play up the
"revival" of the Academy, emphasiz-
ing its research value to the industry.
Then, if possible, start a fight in the
Guild. And if that can't be done, to
get as many actors as possible into the
Academy and get them quarreling with
those in the Guild.
Then, says the editorial, the scheme
is to "give actors some concessions,
and get them to sign a new five-year
contract not to strike. (The old one
is just about to expire)". With the
Guild out of the way, the editorial
charges, the producers will then disre-
gard the concessions as far as practice
is concerned.
"We do not doubt," says the Guild
charges, "that most, if not all, the
actor members of the Academy are
actuated by the highest motives. Un-
wittingly, however, they are being
made the tools of producers in the
old shell game.
"The Guild is not going to be de-
stroyed. But the Academy cannot exist
and claim jurisdiction over actors
without throwing a constant harpoon
into Guild efforts for betterment of
actor conditions."
The Screen Player board of editors
consists of Lucile Gleason, Fredric
March, Ainn Harding, Robert Mont-
gomery and Kenneth Thomson.
MCM Takes Care of
Karl Dane Funeral
Metro-Coldviryn-Mayer studios yes-
terday saved the once-famous Karl
Dane from being burred in a pauper's
grave when officials notified the cor-
oner the studio will take charge of the
funeral arrangements.
It was at MGM that Dane, who
committed suicide Saturday night be-
cause he could not take what fate had
handed him, won honor, money and
picture stardom. Starting as a car-
penter, he became a star and, when
sound came in, returned to the labor-
ing ranks again because his voice
barred him.
Liberals' Confer With
Writers' Guild Board
A committee of the "liberal ele-
ment" of the Screen Writers' Guild,
consisting of John Emerson, Allen
Rivkin and James K. McGuinness, met
the Governors of the Guild, by invi-
tation of the latter, last night to dis-
cuss points on which the two groups
seemed at variance.
No statements as to the results
were given out, nor will any be made
public until the "liberals" have re-
ported back to their fellows.
Swerling at Cheese Club
New York. — Jo Swerling, Columbia
writer here on vacation, will speak to
the Cheese Club today on "Newspa-
perman As Scenario Writers."
OPEN FORUM
April 16.
Hollywood Reporter:
Published statements today an-
nouncing that Howard Hurd's contract
with Local 659, lATSE and MPMO
has been settled for a sum of $12,000
are untrue.
The implication that the Executive
Board of the Cameramen's Union has
"thrown out Mr. Hurd" with a cloud
of blame for the failure of the recent
strike is also untrue. The members of
this Board have nothing but the very
finest of feeling toward Mr. Hurd.
It is true that Mr. Hurd has offered
his resignation, but to date it has not
been accepted. Negotiations are going
on for the settlement of his contract
and, in all probability, will not be
completed for another two weeks. Mr.
Hurd has shown a splendid spirit to-
ward the organization in offering his
resignation at a time when this union
is bending every effort to gather up
the loose ends and once again become
a clean cut united unit.
Mr. Hurd desires to go into other
fields and, if and when his resignation
is accepted and his contract consum-
mated, he will take with him the
deepest feeling of regard of every
member of the Executive Board, which
I again reiterate has in no way ousted
him.
It is the plan and desire of the
Executive Board to bring the union
into a high class excellent condition
before we ever seriously consider the
possible merger with the A.S.C., which
is now being discussed.
ALVIN WYCKOFF,
President, Local 659,
President, Local 659 lATSE & MPMO
K!FTRO-GOL.D^AYN-MAYKR STUDIOo,
% MR.SAK'UKL MAI^a.
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•SOMEONE in the Screen Actors'
Guild obviously is a student of history.
He or she knows that, to keep the
members interested in such an organi-
zation as the Guild, a good, live issue
is necessary. Without that issue, in-
terest lags and the organization dies.
There is no proof that the vicious
attack on the Academy and the pro-
ducers in the April number of the
Screen Player, official publication of
the Guild, is merely an issue. Perhaps
the person or persons who write it be-
lieve it is true. Perhaps they can
prove it. But its very violence de-
feats its own ends.
"Hidden behind the mask of an
arbiter of taste," says the attack, "and
obscured under the cloak of research,
what the Academy is really trying to
do is to destroy the possibility of an
honest actor organization — of, by and
for the actors."
The nefarious plot is told in detail.
A fight is to be started in the Guild
through producer and Academy influ-
ence, actors are to be given some con-
cessions and then induced to sign a
new five-year contract not to strike,
the old one being "just about to ex-
pire." The expiration date, incident-
ally, is next March. Then, the Guild
being destroyed, the producers will
ignore their promises. In all this, the
Academy is the tool.
Well, maybe. Producers have been
known to be guilty of unethical prac-
tices. So have actors. But we would
like to know just what the members
of the Guild who are still members of
the Academy think about the plot and,
if they believe it, why are they still
in the Academy?
We hold no brief for the Academy
nor for the producers. But, even in war
time, we like to see common sense
used and we feel that the Guild attack
is rather childish, especially in its
language. If the Guild has any real
grievances that can be stated in sen-
sible, believable terms, such action
should be taken. But to throw wild
verbal punches, as in the Screen Player
article, looks too much like an at-
tempt to create an issue.
Lew Brown Expected
To Sign Up with MCM
New York. — Lew Brown, re-
cently let out by Winfield Sheehan
after he had made "Stand Up and
Cheer" for Fox, is on the point of
signing with MGM to do a musical
at that studio. It is said his salary
m\\ be twice what he received with
Fox.
LocationSound Men
Must Be In I.B.E.W.
According to a communication from
Pat Casey to all Hollywood studio
managers, no sound technician will be
allowed to work on location after next
Monday, April 23, unless he is a mem-
ber of the IBEW union.
The communication states that this
decision was unanimously reached at
a meeting of studio managers and of-
ficers of the IBEW held on March 24.
It also states that the union officials
will not permit non-union sound men
to work on location after next Monday.
Frank Merriwell To
Make Picture Debut
New York. — Burt L. Standish, au-
thor of the famous "Frank Merriwell"
stories, has arranged with Mo Wax
and Ronald Bank to prepare a series
of movie scripts from his yarns. The
Elisabeth Marbury agency is handling
the deal.
Lasky Yarn in Liberty
A v^-y interesting story will be
foup<Kin Liberty which reaches the
i^sstands today. It was told to Ruth
''Cummings, MGM writer, by Jesse
Lasky, and deals with Hollywood, the
stars, their personalities and salaries.
Reported Ready To Hand Over
Handling Of Sound Equipment
To Gen. Ta/king And Warners
Washington. — It is authoritatively reported here that, faced
with the probability of a permanent injunction in the suit
brought by General Talking Pictures and Warner Brothers, Erpi
will agree to step out of the picture theatre business and let the
two plaintiff companies handle the
distribution of all talkie equipment.
This was in accordance with the
agreement made in the original con-
tract between Erpi and Warners in
1926. Whether Warners and Gen-
eral Talking will be permitted to
assume by transference the monopoly
now exercised by Erpi is very doubtful.
Another report is that, in spite of
the statement issued some days ago
by J. E. Otterson, the Erpi directors
(Continued on Page 6)
Para, to Make Color
Shorts With Kids
Paramount yesterday set a series of
1 3 one-reel Technicolor comedies on
its program and signed Bob Mac-
Cowan, formerly director of "Our
Gang" comedies for Hal Roach, to
produce them independently.
Plan is to design a short for chil-
dren and animals to compete with
Technicolor cartoons. MacGowan will
ret studio space by next week, when
he will get the first into production.
'U' Meeting Delayed
New York. — The meeting of the
Universal stockholders at Wilmington
has been postponed until tomorrow.
EXHIBS AGREE IKDIE
PRODUCERS ARE NEEDED
Leaders of the MPTOA disagreed
with Louis B. Mayer's opinion of the
independent producer when, at a con-
ference with a group of these small
producers yesterday, they stated that
the indie was necessary to the exhibi-
tor and should be encouraged.
The exhibitor group, however,
maintained its attitude against double
bills and endorsed again the idea of
fewer pictures, feeling that in that
way quality would be improved.
The MPTOA was represented at the
meeting by President Ed Kuykendall.
(Continued on Page 2)
Rip Tide' Gets $50,000
In Capitol Second Week
In its second week at the Capitol,
New York, "Rip Tide" rolled up a
$50,000 gross, holding up well. First
two days of the third week grossed
$15,000, according to MGM figures.
Vidor Stays at Para.
Paramount yesterday took up
Charles Vidor's ticket for another
term, director continuing with the
preparation of "A Son Comes Home,"
the Lee Tracy vehicle.
Unions Start Fight
To Oust Casey and
Code Labor Board
Charging that there is no provision
in the film code for such a committee,
and claiming that Sol A. Rosenblatt
had no right to appoint it, a group of
Hollywood studio employees have
started a move to eliminate the much-
discussed Studio Labor Committee,
that now consists of Pat Casey and
Ed Smith.
This was revealed yesterday by a
prominent labor man, who declared
that his group will carry the matter
directiv to President Roosevelt if nec-
essary," to get justice for Hollywood's
workers."
This man further said that, in case
the attempt is unsuccessful, it is plan-
( Continued on Page 3)
Korda Starts Work on
Wells' First Original
London. — -Production of H. G.
Weljs' story, "The Hundred Years to
Catfie," written by him for London
-^ilm Productions, has begun at the
Whitehall Studios, Elstree. This is
Wells' first story written directly for
the screen.
Alexander Korda will supervise this,
which will be released by United
Artists.
Schnitzer Buys One
With no release set, but operating
on an assurance from J. E. Otterson,
of Erpi, that one would be obtained,
). I. Schnitzer has closed a deal for
the purchase of "The Jealous House,"
a Clarence Budington Kelland story.
Muni-Graham to Mexico
Carroll Graham, author of "Border
Town," and Paul Muni, for Warner
Brothers, leave tomorrow for Mexicali
to make a study of the town and to
obtain local color for the production,
which will star Muni.
1
ust Complete
S
MANUEL SEFF i„ collaboration "PriHcess of Kansas City" warnerj
Page Two
April 18, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
NevfYn
Heh, heh! Even if this isn't true it's
funny — but it was relayed to us by
someone who swears that it happened.
Seems that a few weeks ago Hal Wal-
lis and Bill Koenig decided to take a
jaunt to Europe with their wives.
They called the French line and asked
to reserve the Imperial suite on the
lie de France- — nothing else would do.
They were informed that this particu-
lar suite was taken for that particular
voyage, but that the company would
make efforts to switch the holders of
that suite to another. Several days
passed and then Wallis and Koenig
were told that the thing could not be
arranged; the occupant would not
budge.
"But," Wallis or Koenig or both are
said to have said, "we must have that
suite — can't you tell the people who
we are — that we're big picture men
and must have that suite, etc.? Who
has the reservation anyway? We'll
ask the guy ourselves."
"Darryl Zanuck," replied the French
line man.
There is no truth to the current
rumor that the ex-husband of a fa-
mous star is about to marry a certain
blonde. There is also no truth to a
lot of rumors going around about this
particular fellow. Fact is that his ex-
wife, though she hasn't had any
claims on him for years, is still jeal-
ous of anybody within ten miles of
him and has been spreading all sorts
of stories around about him herself,
many of which have hit the papers in
the East, where she happens to be at
the moment. The thing that burns
the lady most, however, is his asso-
ciation with anyone, male or female,
who "knew them when" — when they
were married and she was making
life plenty miserable for him!
Dimitri Tiomkin rises to state that
he never had charge of the Petrograd
Zoo, and therefore that had nothing
ro do with his fitness for studio work,
but he was general manager of the
racing stable of the Grand Lama of
Tibet, which makes him a good piano
player.
Dave Thomas Buys
9 Yarns for Pictures
"I BELIEVED IN YOU "
Fox prod.; director, Irving Cummings; writers, William Anthony McCuire,
William Conselman.
Mayfair Theatre
Mirror: It is a fanciful little drama about the worthless radicals and the worthy
rich, not quite convincing. The story, which is artificial, gives Miss Ames
little real acting to do. She is attractive and deserves a better one.
World-Telegram: One of the screen's minor irritations, calling for a mood of
tolerance rather than of wrath. Somehow I can't help feeling that here
was the beginning of a fairly interesting idea, but as worked out in the
film it is just about as superficial as the Greenwich Village it tries to
satirize.
Herald-Tribune: The manner in which the idea is dramatized has a way of mak-
ing the entire conception so foolish and annoying that we skeptics cannot
help suspecting that the film was made under direct orders from the
Commintern.
Times: The actors who participate in this parable are good and the direction
successfully avoids the temptation to belabor the theme with facile bur-
lesque. Rosemary Ames gives an affecting performance as the girl.
Post-: The Mayfair's new screen offering has at least the merit of a story idea,
but the garbled scenario, the inane dialogue and the absurdly exaggerated
caricatures of Village types prevent the possibility of taking the picture
seriously.
Journal: In a film called "I Believed in You," a Hollywood scenario writer lets
his imagination run riot and pictures Washington Square and its vicinity as
a sort of exaggerated Left Bank. And its residents as the type of wild-
eyed Bohemians known to imagination riot-runners.
"I Believed in You," in these days of change and discussion, presents a
viewpoint so conservative that, in contrast to the usual more fiery utter-
ances, it is almost startling The Mayfair talkie had an excellent idea to go
on. The working out of it is hardly fortunate.
News: The theme is somewhat original, but there are spots here and there
which make you wonder. Miss Ames' work, however, always comes to the
rescue, with the result that "I Believed in You" doesn't stagger as much
as it might otherwise.
Amercian: Mediocre entertainment is offered by this innocuous little picture.
But despite its lack of brilliance, there are two items which distinguish it.
Most important is the presence in the cast of one Rosemary Ames, who
makes her bow herewith.
Sun:
Helen Barry Making
Probe of Complaints
The importance that official Wash-
ington is attaching to the efforts of
Sol A. Rosenblatt to force Judge Ben
B. Lindsey to turn over to the Studio
Labor Committee all complaints by
workers of alleged code violations by
the studios was emphasized yesterday,
when it was learned that Helen V.
Barry, the special investigator now
here, has been conferring with com-
plainants.
She was sent here hurriedly when
Lindsey, backed by George Creel, re-
fused to turn over the complaints, and
has heard the stories of Creel, Lind-
sey, Cunningham and Pat Casey. To-
morrow she is slated to confer with
Mabel Kinney, head of the Code Com-
mittee for Extras.
However, she has not been satis-
fied with the information from the
officials alone, but wanted to get from
the workers the reasons why they do
not want their complaints to get into
the hands of the Studio Labor Com-
mittee. She reports direct to Wash-
ington.
Darmour Ends Shorts
Larry Darmour has completed his
program of six "Mickey McCuire"
shorts for the current Columbia pro-
gram and will not produce any more
personally. He will form an indepen-
dent unit to keep his short department
intact if his contract is renewed.
Hollywood on the Air
Announces Big Program
Three comedians, three dramatic
artists and Gene Austin will be fea-
tured in the Hollywood on the Air
program to be heard over the NBC
network next Monday night at 9
o'clock Pacific time.
The comedians will be Polly Moran
in a humorous monologue on "The
Rights of Women," and James and
Russell Cleason, father and son, who
will present a new radio skit.
Karen Morley, Nils Asther and Ju-
dith Wood will offer a scene from the
motion picture, "The Crime Doctor."
World Cruise For Dix
Richard Dix will take a world cruise
for several months at the completion
of his present Radio picture, "Family
Man." This production under the di-
rection of John Robertson will be com-
pleted in approximately two weeks.
Fox Starting One
With Claire Trevor and James Dunn
in the leads. Fox puts "Always Hon-
est" into work today. Harry Lach-
man directs. Ray Walker, Shirley
Temple and Dorothy LeBaire have fea-
tured spots.
Cagney in Auction Yarn
James Cagney is slated to star in
the auctioneer story, "I'll Sell Any-
thing," which Warners is producing.
This is the Albert J. Cohen-Terry
Shannon story which Sam Bischoff is
supervising.
York. — Dave Thomas, a broth -
Harry Thomas of First Division,
rchased nine stories to be used
dependent productions in the
East. All the yarns are by George Boyle
and the titles are "Convention Girl,"
"Men Must Have Women," "Madame
Secretary," "On Margin," "Love,
Honor and ?", "Alimony God," "Won-
der Worker," "The Diamond Horse-
shoe" and "Flesh Parade."
The purchase is significant in view
of the statement of Harry Thomas
recently that First Division would go
into production.
Exhibs Need indies
(Continued from Page 1 )
M. A. Lightman, Walter Vincent and
C. E. Williams. The producer group
included Trem Carr, of Monogram,
I. E. Chadwick and J. Boyce-Smith,
all members of the Independent Mo-
tion Picture Producers Association.
The two groups found themselves in
accord on practically every point and,
after the meeting, President Kuyken-
dall gave out a statement in which
he said:
"The discussion of the problems of
the Independent Producers lasted
about two hours, and while the
MPTOA would not recede from its
opposition to double features, the
sentiment was unmistakable in that
the Independent Producers must be
encouraged in the making of product.
It was the unanimous opinion of the
MPTOA Executive Committee that in-
dependent production had a definite
place in this industry because of the
necessity for new and independent
ideas in production. The Independent
Producers Were commended (by the
MPTOA for their efforts and again
the MPTOA went on record as en-
dorsing the production of fewer pic-
tures, feeling that this is the only way
that quality product can prevail.
"The Independent Producers and
the MPTOA were in thorough accord
in that complete encouragement
should be given to any good picture,
by way of play dates, regardless of
who produced it."
FOR RENT
Beautifully furnished house, four bed-
rooms and sleeping porch. Attractive
post-repeal play room with billiard
table, in addition to usual rooms down-
stairs'. Exceptionally large garden. Rent
reasonable direct from owner. Groucho
Marx For inspection, phone FEderal
6937.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
April 18, 1934
TILE
Page Three
PARAMOUNT 'DOUBLE DOOR'
FAIVTASTIC RUT THRILLINIi^
Direction, Acting
Fine in Weird Yarn
"DOUBLE DOOR"
(Paramount)
Direction Charles Vidor
Author Elizabeth McFadden
Adaptation Gladys Lehman
/ and jack Cunningham
Art Direction Hans Dreier
and Robert Odeli
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Cast: Mary Morris, Evelyn Venable,
Kent Taylor, Guy Standing, Anne
Revere, Colin Tapley, Virginia How-
ell, Halliwell Hobbes, Frank Daw-
son, Helen Shipman, Leonard Carey,
Ralph Remley, Burr Caruth.
The Paramount picture, "Double
Door," has very much the same fan-
tastic, incredible, melodramatic plot
that used to thrill the readers of those
paper-backed novels in the '90's.
It is of the Marie Corelli, Mrs.
E. D.E.N. Southworth and Bertha M.
Clay school, with villainesses, heroes
and heroines that could do nothing
less than demand hisses or loud shouts
of approval from the audience. Even
the preview audience so forgot its ac-
customed blase detachment as to shout
instructions to the heroine and call
loudly for her lover when the wicked
old woman was about to shut her up
in the secret vault.
Were it not for the fact that "Dou-
ble Door" is superbly directed, stun-
ningly photographed and more than
competently acted, it would be a swell
burlesque. As it is, it carries consid-
erable pictorial and mechanical weight,
which partly makes up for the heavy-
handed, leering plot.
Mary Morris plays Victoria Van
Brett, the meanest woman in the
world, who reigns like a vindictive
empress over the immense Van Brett
mansion in New York and keeps her
sister, Caroline (Anne Revere) and
her step-brother, Rip (Kent Taylor),
virtually prisoners, semi-hypnotized in
the rich, dark old tomb of a house.
Things reach a blood-curdling crisis
when the old woman, hating Rip's
young wife and failing to separate
them by means of unusually bitter per-
secution, attempts to murder the girl
by locking her into the air-tight vault
in which the family jewels are kept
Miss Morris turns in an exception-
ally strong, vivid performance; Anne
Revere, as Caroline, is completely and
cleverly convincing as the sister with
no will of her own; Kent Taylor is
likeable as Rip, who finally dares to
defy Victoria, and Evelyn Venable ful-
fills perfectly the promise she gave in
her earlier films. Guy Standing gives
a flawless performance in a role that
might have passed unnoticed in other
hands; Colin Tapley is well cast and
appealing as a family friend; Virginia
Howell is good as the long-suffering
Avery, and Halliwell Hobbes is seen
briefly but to advantage.
Charles Vidor's direction is a mir-
acle, considering the story, guiding
moments to peaks of real excitement.
Elizabeth McFadden is the author,
with the idea suggested by Hermine
Klepac, and Gladys Lehman and Jack
Cunningham made the adaptation.
'Rip Tide' Smash
Success in London
London. — "Rip Tide" is doing
enormous business at the big Em-
pire Theatre here and is being held
over for a second week, with a
strong probability that it will run
three weeks. The Empire is a
grind house.
James M. Cain Buys
His MGM Contract
James M. Cain has returned $3,330
to MGM and begged out of writing
the^treen play for "Duchess of Del-
mcJnico," on the ground that he had
no desire to go through with the as-
signment and preferred to work on a
novel he had already started.
The William Morris office returned
its commission on the deal, having set
a contract for $10,000 for the writer,
one-third of which was paid down.
Sol Rosenblatt- Turns
Down Vaude Labor Bd.
New York. — Sol Rosenblatt has re-
fused to take any action at this
time on the recommendations of the
Vaudeville Actors' Labor Committee.
He says that action now would
mean the re-opening of the entire
code and require open hearings at
which all sections of the code would
be discussed. This he is unwilling to
see happen.
Loretta Young Figures
In Double Loan Deal
Due to the postponement of the
starting date on "Professional Corres-
pondent," MGM yesterday loaned Lor-
etta Young to Fox. The arrangement
was made with Twentieth Century's
consent, latter having given MGM a
three-picture committment on the
actress.
This is said to be the first sub-loan
ever put through. Fox gives her an
assignment today.
Waycoff with Small
Edward Small yesterday signed Irv-
ing Waycoff as production manager
on "The Count of Monte Cristo,"
which Rowland V. Lee directs when it
goes before the cameras next month
at Pathe. Waycoff was formerly busi-
ness manager for the Gloria Swanson
productions.
Revue For Playhouse
Moe Morton has taken a lease on
the Hollywood Playhouse with plans
to put on a revue, "Shim Shams of
1934," which Dave Gould will stage.
Too much praise cannot be given
to Hans Dreier and Robert Odell for
their art direction, and Harry Fisch-
beck's photography is utterly and
beautifully in the mood of this extra-
ordinary story.
This is a page out of the past; a
chapter out of an old thriller, and be-
cause it is so remarkably well done, it
will enjoy a certain popularity as a
novelty. It needs cutting badly in the
beginning and some toward the end.
ew Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — MGM's "Tarzan and
His Mate" and Fox's "Stand Up and
Cheer" are the outstanding pictures
among the new ones to be seen at
the Broadway picture palaces this
week. The list comprises:
"I Like It That Way" at the May-
fair Monday; "Modern Hero" at the
Strand today; "Stand Up and Cheer"
at the Music Hall tomorrow; "Wharf
Angel," with Gloria Swanson on the
stage, at the Paramount; "I'll Tell the
World" at the Roxy, and "Tarzan and
His Mate," with radio stars on the
stage, at the Capitol on Friday.
Ullman Exonerated in
Valentino Estate Row
San Francisco. — The District Court
of Appeals yesterday exonerated S.
George Ullman of charges of misman-
agement of the estate of Rudolph
Valentino, of which he was executor,
when it reversed an order of the Los
Angeles Probate Court.
Ullman's management had been
objected to by Jean Guglielmi, nephew
and heir to the estate, who charged
Ullman had made too many cash ad-
vances to the other heirs. The Appel-
late Court praised Ullman for his
work.
Twelvetrees Wins Suit
Rebecca and Silton lost their suit
for $236 against Helen Twelvetrees
yesterday in Superior Court when
Judge Thomas C. Gould sustained a
demurrer claiming the court had no
jurisdiction because of the amount of
the suit.
New Universal Title
Universal has set "Funny Thing
Called Love" as the new handle for
"Love Life of a Sailor," the Chester
Morris-Mae Clarke vehicle which went
into work yesterday with Kurt Neu-
mann directing.
WEMk
Fight to Oust Casey
(Continued from Page 1 )
ned to appeal to Washington to have
Casey removed from the committee
on the ground that it is a violation of
the code for a man to sit on a griev-
ance board on any matter involving his
own or his company's interests.
"We maintain," says the labor man.
"that Casey, who also heads the pro-
ducers' committee, comes under this
head, because it is his job to work for
the studios in labor matters. The labor
troubles of the studios are Casey's
troubles. Therefore, according to
Article VI, Part 2, Section 6, he has
no right to sit on complaints involv-
ing the studios he represents. We are
not going to let this thing die. We
are going to carry on until we get the
committee or Casey out."
President W. C. Elloitt, of the
lATSE, has written to one of the
lATSE locals, stating that he is going
to start a battle in Washington to
have Casey removed.
Just one more story on the "Three
Little Pigs" because it happens to be
true and "goes to show" how far a
good picture shines in the world. A
friend of ours, while spending some
time in Europe, took up skiing and
became quite proficient at it. So
much so, that his instructor decided
to take him on a difficult seven-mile
run around a famous mountain in the
Austrian Tyrol. The instructor warned
the boy to take it easy, not go too
fast and follow him at a safe distance
and that, if he watched him, he'd be
all right. So they started on the run
and everything was proceeding
smoothly when the boy noticed the
instructor frequently turning around
and evidently saying something.
Thinking the instructor wanted to ad-
vise him of something important that
he should know, the lad speeded it
up and finally caught up with the in-
structor. Now the instructor spoke
very little English and, when the boy
rushed up excitedly and asked him
what he wanted to say, the instructor
just grinned and finally came outwith:
"Who's afraid uff der Big Bad Volf?"
Add to the evils of double features,
the torture of sitting through two and
a half hours of stage show. The
other evening, as we were about to
collapse from stage-show fatigue, a
big brawny out-of-towner walked over
to the usher and loudly demanded the
manager, and when he got the mana-
ger asked him to refund his money.
He claimed that when he came into
the place, they had promised him
that the stage show would be over in
a few minutes. He said that had
been two hours ago, that there were
no signs of the show stopping, that
he had paid his money to see a PIC-
TURE and, as a final argument to
cinch matters, he came out with:
"Hell, I'm not scheduled to stay in
New York long enough to wait to see
the picture!"
It begins to look as though every-
one is going out for Summer stock
again and Ernest Truex will join the
ranks by taking over the Contemporary
Theatre Club in White Plains. . . .
His son, Philip, will go with him. . . .
So while Peggy and Blumey were ar-
guing over whose house it was, the
darned thing went and burned down,
but not before Peggy got a bad sore
throat and lost her voice from argu-
ing. . . . Believe it or not, the baby
frightener who got herself a picture
contract has a husband who hasn't
drawn a sober breath since she went
to Hollywood, and wonders when she's
coming back. . . . Wonder why they
make such a fuss over bad notices
when "Rip Tide" breaks records and
stays three weeks in spite of them!
. . . And how did a certain person
know a picture was going to get four
stars before the picture was shown?
. . . Add Famous Last Words: "I'd
like you to meet a little girl who's
just crazy about you, Mr. Raft!"
GUY STANDING
as
JUDGE MARTIN PRENTICE
in
W
THE WITCHING HOUR
//
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Directed b/ HENRY HATHAWAY
JOHN HALLIDAY
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JACK BROOKFIELD
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THE WITCHING HOUR
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Directed by HENRY HATHAWAY
i
HENRY
HATHAWAY
DIRECTED
"THE WITCHING HOUR"
"One of the most beautifully photo-
graphed, most expertly produced and
most deftly acted films of the season
is Paramount's "The Witching Hour.
. . . Henry Hathaway directed for sus-
pense and got it."
— Hollywood Reporter,
April 11, 1934.
"From a directorial standpoint it is a
triumph for Henry Hathaway, who,
only recently elevated from Westerns,
turns in class megging that puts him
in line for future top notch material."
— Variety, April 1 1, 1934.
■■•
JUDITH ALLEN
as
w
NANCY BROOKFIELD
in
THE WITCHINC HOUR"
Directed by Henry Hathaway
NOW PLAYING
"SHE LOVES ME NOT"
and
"THE OLD FASHIONED WAY"
ALL PARAMOUNT PICTURES
BEN REYNOLDS
PHOTOGRAPHED
"THE WITCHINC HOUR"
"One of the most beautifully photo-
graphed films of the season."
"Ben Reynolds' photography is a work
of art no less."
— Hollywood Reporter,
April 11, 1934.
OLIVE TELL
as
MRS. THORNE
in
"THE WITCHINC HOUR"
Oirected by Henry Hathaway
JUST FINISHED
"THE SCARLET EMPRESS"
Directed by Josef Von Sternberg
"PRIVATE SCANDAL"
Directed by Ralph Murphy
MANAGEMENT: FREDDIE FRALICK
Page Six
THE
April 18. 1934
*WIFE INSIJRAIVCE' THIIV Al^D
ONLY MODERATELY AMUSING
New Farce Holds
Nothing For Films
/Wife Insurance," by Frederic Jack-
son; staged by Arthur j. Beckhard,
with Ilka Chase, Kenneth Mac-
Kenna, Helen Huberth, Walter
Abel, Lillian Emerson and Harvey
Stephens.
A very thin piece of material in-
deed, stretched right up to the break-
ing point to make a moderately amus-
ing essay into farce, tempered by one
good drawing-room comedy scene. The
redeeming feature of the evening was
the acting, with Ilka Chase and Ken
MacKenna really giving the play far
more credit than the writing war-
ranted and, being thoroughly experi-
enced in light comedy, they gave it
a great deal more life and imagina-
tion than the direction ever thought
of.
Take two business men and their
wives. Add one successful novelist
who is also a devil with the women.
Shake thoroughly into misunderstand-
ings, jealousy, one carefully planned
evening by the smart wife to teach
both her husband and the novelist a
lesson in manners, and pepper with
the right amount of door-slamming,
and you at least have the skeleton of
a farce. The trimmings (dialogue)
in this case, while they are never
quite dull, are not too often quite
bright either, so that the net result
is something better than poor, but less
than good.
Ilka Chase, in the first big, carry-
ing role of her career, definitely es-
tablishes herself as one of the very
deftest comediennes on the stage. In
fact, she's so good that one gets the
impression that the part is written a
whole lot better than is actually the
case. Ken MacKenna, as her hus-
band, is swell in a completely routine
role. Lillian Emerson has improved
considerably since her society debut
and is okay as a rather silly, discon-
tented wife. Harvey Stephens was
a little confused and bewildered by
his part as the novelist, but no more
so than the author was in writing him.
However, in the pseudo-seduction
scene, the lad is all right. Walter
Abel, a really capable dramatic actor,
is not exactly at ease in a farce com-
edy part and we suspect that a lot of
his suffering was genuine. The piece
has little if anything for pictures.
Joan Crawford on Air
Joan Crawford makes her first radio
broadcast over the Hall of Fame pro-
gram. May 6. Franchot Tone will
appear with her. M. C. Levee ar-
ranged the deal.
Myrna Loy in 'Stamboul'
Myrna Loy will star in "Stamboul
Quest" for MOM. Walter Wanger
is producing the spy picture from a
script by Leo Birinski and Wells Root.
Hazel Hayes Soloist
Hazel Hayes, Wampas baby star,
will be guest soloist and Nat Finston,
guest conductor, at the Philharmonic,
April 26.
It's a Long, Long Way
From Frisco to L. A.
James Bartram, English husband
of Juliette Compton, arrived Sat-
urday at San Francisco from the
Orient and is enroute to Los Ange-
les by foot, hiking being his chief
amusement.
Fay Wray Borrowed
For Liberty Picture
M. H. Hoffman put through a deal
with Twentieth Century yesterday for
the loan of Fay Wray for the leading
role in Liberty's next picture, "Two
Heads On One Pillow."
William Nigh will direct, the indie
producer signing him yesterday
through the MacQuarrie office on a
two-picture ticket.
Mae Clarke to *U'
Mae Clarke was borrowed by Uni-
versal from MCM for a leading role
in "Funny Thing Called Love," which
the B. F. Zeidman unit put into work
yesterday.
Crosby Pic at Rivoli
New York. — "We're Not Dress-
ing," the Paramount picture starring
Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard, goes
into the Rivoli on April 25.
Erpi Quitting Theatres
(Continued from Page 1 )
have ordered him to stop financing
independent producers, and it is be-
lieved that Erpi may give up both its
Eastern and Western studios.
This hooks in with the report that
Paramount will transfer some of its
production to the Astoria plant and
will operate there with Erpi money.
If that is so, it would give an excuse
for Erpi discontinuing financing of in-
dies because of the amount needed to
finance the Paramount product.
In any event, it looks as if Erpi is
washed up with the theatres, and
General Talking and Warners are in
the saddle. The suit which is settled
if this news is correct was brought by
General Talking Pictures and Warner
Brothers, the latter accepting an invi-
tation to be a party. The suit was
based on grounds of restraint of trade
and monopolistic practices. General
Talking had acquired the American
rights to Kuchenmeister patents and
the De Forest sound patents. Warners
joined because of their allegation that
Erpi had broken an agreement to fur-
nish Warners with sound equipment
free, after Warners had pioneered the
sound movement.
The Federal Court granted a tem-
porary injunction against Erpi and,
when the case came up again recently,
Erpi asked for a three weeks post-
ponement. It is figured that Erpi,
fearing that the temporary injunction
would be made permanent, wanted
that time to arrange the settlement.
The success of the plaintiffs means
much to General Talking because of
the replacements that are always
needed in the picture theatres and
also because of the service charges
that the houses have to pay.
Theatre Men Get
Behind NVA Drive
New York. — At a luncheon given
by Major L. E. Thompson, of RKO,
chairman of this year's NVA Drive, all
individual theatre owners of the Times
Square section and operators of all in-
dependent circuits in the metropolitan
zone announced they will get behind
the drive.
Publix, RKO, Warner Brothers,
Loew, Fox West Coast and Skouras
theatres have already agreed to spon-
sor this year's drive, which Major
Thompson asks them to make the
most successful in NVA history.
Karl Dane Funeral
Services This Morning
Karl Dane comes to the end of the
picture trail today when he will be
buried in Hollywood cemetery. Serv-
ices will be held this morning at 10
o'clock at Pierce Brothers funeral
chapel.
Jean Hersholt and a few more of
Dane's friends will attend the services.
There will be no relatives, as none can
be located. MGM is paying for the
funeral.
Lloyd Near Finish
Harold Lloyd, now producing "The
Cats Paw," will finish actual shooting
early next week.
ajestic Schedule
Boosted to Sixteen
With Harold Hopper back in town,
Majestic announces that it has set 16
pictures as the minimum to be made
on the current production program,
with the possibility that the number
may be increased. First to get under
way will be "The Scarlet Letter,"
which goes into work some time next
month.
New set-up has Larry Darmour as
production head, assisted by Harold
Hopper out here, and Herman Glucks-
man in New York in charge of dis-
tribution. The deal eliminates the
necessity for Globe Pictures and ex-
changes which Darmour and Hopper
had planned to establish.
Leonard Fields and David Silverstein
have completed the script on the Na-
thaniel Hawthorne classic, which
Hobart Henley will direct.
Helen Kane-Para. Suit
Comes Up For Hearing
New York. — Judge McGoldrick
heard testimony yesterday in the suit
of Helen Kane against Paramount and
Fleischer cartoons.
He ruled that the sole issue is to
decide whether or not Paramount had
used Miss Kane's name or picture in
advertising the Betty Boop cartoons.
The hearing was continued.
Marlow Committee Head
Brian Marlow has been chosen
chairman of the membership commit-
tee of the Screen Writers' Guild.
GEORGE
MANKER
WAITERS
Author of "BURLESQUE"
WRITER
FREELANCING
Paramount Studios
(Present Assignment)
"THE END OF THE WORLD"
Collaborating with
Renaud Hoffman
Management
Lichtig & Englander
V-i
April 18, 1934
THE
Page Seven
CODE AUTHORITY SEIVDS
OUT ASSESSMEIVT LISTS
New Indie Distrib
Company Formed
New York. — The Motion Picture
Code Authority yesterday sent out its
assessments to 7800 theatres for their
shares of financing the code for the
first half of 1934. The shares are:
In cities of over 1,000,000 popu-
lation, 120 first run theatres will pay
$96 each annually, 178 second runs
will pay $48, and 571 subsequent
runs will pay $36.
In cities between 700,000 and a
million, 88 first run houses will pay
$72, and 1 34 subsequent runs will
pay $42.
In cities of 500,000 to 700,000,
the 75 first runs will pay $48, and the
1 53 subsequent runs, $36.
From 300,000 to 500,000, the 74
first runs are assessed $42, and 283
subsequent runs $30.
Cities 100,000 to 300,000, the
266 first runs will pay $36, and 553
subsequent runs, $24.
Cities 25,000 to 100,000, 676
theatres will pay $24, and 448 houses,
$18.
Theatres with seating capacity of
over 500 must pay $18 and there are
1794 of these in towns of less than
25,000. Houses seating less than 500
will pay $12, this affecting 2387 the-
atres. The total assessments of all
theatres which have assented to the
code will be $181,362.
The share of the budget to be borne
by producers and distributors has not
been drawn yet.
So What?
Merry Fahrney orders her tooth
paste from Paris in dozen lots. The
paste is bright red in color and
leaves the gums a deep crimson
after using, says Nancy Smith.
New York. — ^Realart Distributing
Corporation has been organized to
handle the distribution of several
series of independent productions,
which will be made at the Biograph
studios with Consolidated financing.
The new company will have its own
exchanges in key cities.
The group of pictures to be made
at Biograph by the William Saal En-
terprises will be among the first to
be made and distributed under this
new deal.
Lament's First For Col.
Charles Lamont's first short for
Columbia will be "Plumbing for Gold,"
which has been written by Ewart Ad-
amson. The Charles Murray and
George Sidney subject will get into
work next week.
Foster Through at Fox
Preston Foster returned $2,000 to
Fox yesterday, representing salary, and
got his release from a contract. Ne-
gotiations went through the William
Stephens office.
Bartlett-Seff Finish
Sy Bartlett and Manny Seff have just
completed the screen play for "Prin-
cess of Kansas City" at Warners. Bart-
lett gets credit for the original story.
Actors' Guild Will
Open Fiesta May 18
The Screen Actors' Guild will open
the Gilmore Stadium on May 18 with
a Fiesta. It will consist of five per-
formances, starting with the night of
May 18, running through matinees
and evening performances on May 19
and 20.
Many of the stars in the Guild will
participate by running concessions and
taking part in a grand pageant. Ar-
rangements have been made with Earl
Gilmore to conduct this Fiesta once a
year in his stadium. In addition to
adequate parking space, special bus
lines will be run to the stadium dur-
ing the three days of the Fiesta.
Richard Tucker, ctiairman in charge,
has arranged for twenty acts and is
negotiating for additional numbers.
Shamrock Reorganizes
New York. — ■ Shamrock Pictures
Corporation has completed reorganiza-
tion and the following officers were
elected: B. C. Fassio, president; Wal-
ter E. Rodda, vice-president; Paul A.
Hartwig, secretary; Standish T. Cox,
treasurer. They were also elected as
the board of directors.
Mascot To Make 10
Action Melodramas
Nat Levine returned from New York
by plane Monday with revised plans
for his production schedule, based on
conferences with leading exchangemen
in the East. Under the new plan,
Mascot will make 10 action melo-
drams, only two exploitation features
instead of the four previously an-
nounced, and four serials.
Organization will work on the same
plan as used by Monogram, with super-
visors in full charge of a limited num-
ber of pictures under Levine. Com-
pany has already signed Lou Baum,
Marty Cohen and Lou Sarecky for
these spots and is negotiating for a
fourth.
Mascot has nine writers on the staff
and intends to add several more. The
first group to go into work will in-
clude "Crimson Dawn," being scripted
by Prescott Chaplin and David Howard
and supervised by Marty Cohen; "The
Marines Have Landed," which Bert
Clarke and John Rathmell are writing;
"Headquarters," being prepared by
Larry Wickland, Sherman Lowe and
Barney Sarecky. Writers will be
signed to work on "Waterfront Lady,"
and "Behind the News," an original
by Ford Beebe.
Breslow on Short
Columbia yesterday signed Lou
Breslow to direct the second Howard,
Fine and Howard short, "Symphony in
Punches," which Jules White will
produce. Subject has been scripted
by Jack Cluett.
APRIL and MAY
—two glorious months on the Desert
PALM SPRINGS EVENTS
for APRiL'-A^A Y
The Dunes will remain open
during April and May
Al WertheimeT
APRIL 22 — TED FIO-RITO Dinner Dance at Desert Inn
Also — Baseball game: Fio-Rito players vs. Al
Wertheimer picture stars and celebrities
APRIL 29 — HAL ROBERTS and his entertainers, Dinner Dance
at Desert Inn
MAY 6 — WYLIE-SYKES College Court Orchestra, Dinner Dance
at Desert Inn
AND A CAY ROUND OF DESERT PLEASURES
. . riding . . swimming . . tennis . . golf . . cycling . .
TEMPERATURE
The mean temperature during the
month of April is 66 degrees. . . .
It's Delightful at Palm Springs
u
As the Earth Turns
ft
Opening Tomorrow
Warner's Hollywood and
Downtown Theatres
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Bm^nBBBHMBfflaiHBninnna^niis^nnB^BHHBBn
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MFTHO-GOL.U/iYN-MAYt.h( "oTUUlUo,
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CULVER GITY.CALIK.
Vol. XX, No. 34. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday. April 19. 1934
NEW PAR4. DEAL CICSER
Officials Feel Measure Now
Before Senate Will Greatly
The Reorganization
• THE slant that some exhibitors out-
side the big cities have on pictures is
an interesting thing for some of the
picture producers to study if they are
really in earnest in their promise to
make better pictures.
The producers learned, or should
have learned, a number of things from
the delegates to the MPTOA conven-
tion last week and, possibly, they did.
As a rule, the exhibitors in the smaller
cities are closest to the public and,
through personal acquaintance with
their patrons, get the slant on what
those patrons want and do not want.
This paper yesterday received a letter
from such an exhibitor, a man in Kan-
sas. He writes:
"A customer recently said to me:
'Does Hollywood think a boy and girl
can't be in love without spending a
night with each other? I'm sick and
tired of having that kind of stuff
shown to my children as if it were the
regular thing.'
The writer also comments on the
prevalence of drinking scenes and
says:
"There are good customers who will
tell you that the liquor manufacturers
are paying picture companies to run
such scenes in order to make the
young people think that drinking is
the proper thing and thus increase the
number of liquor consumers. When
parents feel that way they are very
liable to start reducing allowances for
the kids' picture shows."
He cites another complaint which
he hears many times. He says: "Peo-
ple are against the worn-out 'girl is
going to have a baby' theme. A pa-
tron said to me recently that they
never get married in the movies unless
the girl finds out she is going to have
a baby. I don't mean there never
should be pictures with these happen-
ings. My point is that they are in-
jected many times without adding
entertainment. They seem to be
dragged in as though someone has an
idea that it isn't a picture without
something of that kind."
•
Picture patrons exp>ect suggestive
stuff in some pictures and are not
offended, he says, and cites the
Wheeler and Woolsey productions.
He also speaks of "Eskimo" and says
the "blunt presentation of sex rela-
(Continued on Page 6)
'Rosy' Challenged
To Debate on Code
New York. — The IOTA of New
York yesterday challenged Sol Ro-
senblatt to an open debate on the
motion picture code. The exhibi-
tors are anxious to have him show
them how 91 per cent of the code
as it now stands benefits the inde-
pendents.
Help
Films of Classics
Needed for Schools
reducing their debts, cancelling their
stocks and bonds and issuing new
obligations, if a majority of the credi-
tors agree. The bill is said to be be-
fore the Senate now, and it is under-
stood that President Roosevelt has sig-
nified his willingness to sign such a
measure.
In view of this and the progress
made in the plans for the reorganiza-
tion, the more optimistic in Paramount
(Continued on Page 7)
White Plains, N. Y, — A new era
in motion picture production in which
the great classics of American and
'European literature will forge to the
front was predicted here by William
Lewin, Chairman of the Committee on
Photoplay Appreciation of the Na-
tional Council of English Teachers. He
(Continued on Page 6)
'U' Borrows Wynyard, .. n i •
Wants Bob Montgomery WamerS Kushing
Universal has obtained an okay from
MCM on a loan-out deal for Diana
Wynyard and is negotiating for a simi-
lar deal on Robert Montgomery, plan-
ning to bracket the stars in "One
More River."
Dickens Novel Set
Universal has decided to produce
the Charles Dickens story, "Great Ex-
pectations," Stanley Bergerman taking
over the supervision of the picture and
signing Gladys Unger to write the
screen play.
DARROW REPORT MAY ASK
AXTI-TRUST LAWS II\ CODE
Flood of Operations
Washington. — The advisability of
the restoration of the anti -trust laws
in all NRA codes is expected to be
the feature of the report of the Clar-
ence Darrow Review Board, which will
go to President Roosevelt either Sat-
urday or Monday.
The report will give the President
a complete story of the findings of the
board with respect to all complaints
heard by it, together with specific
recommendations for individual codes.
It is believed that the contents of the
report will go far to confirm charges
brought by Senators Borah and Nye
that the NRA is creating a monopoly.
While there is much speculation,
especially among the picture men, as
to the exact nature of the report,
nothing definite is known.
New York. — Plans for the reorganization of Paramount are
rounding into shape and a definite announcement is expected
very shortly. Paramount officials are immensely cheered by the
report from Washington that the House has passed a bill to
permit corporations to reorganize by
$250,000 to Sheehan
For Two More Years
New York. — At the first annual
meeting of the Fox Film Corporation
since its recapitalization, it was dis-
closed that Winfield Sheehan received
a salary of $250,000 last year and
has a contract covering 1934 and
1935 at the same figure.
In the absence of President Sidney
Kent, W. C. Michel, executive vice-
president presided at the meeting,
which re-elected all retiring directors.
Ou "^ toned by stockholders as to the'
possibility of dividends in the near
future. Michel refused to commit
himself and said such action was up
to the directors.
Film Notables Start
East in Private Car
Reserving their own private car, a
party of Hollywood people left last
night by train for the East.
Group included David O. Selznick
and wife, Howard Estabrook and his
secretary, j. P. Greenwood, George
Cukor, and ]. H. Stenbock and wife.
Selznick, Estabrook and Cukor go to
England from New York.
Irv Cobb and Daughter
Here from New York
Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb, the first
citizen of Paducah, Kentucky, and his
daughter, Mrs. Alton Brody, arrived
on the Chief last night for an indefi-
nite stay.
Mrs. Brody is the author of "She
Was a Lady," which Fox is producing.
London Likes Cantor
London. — Sam Goldwyn's "Roman
Scandals" premiered here Tuesday
night at the Leicester Square theatre
to an audience of notables. Reviews
in the local papers yesterday were,
unanimous in piraise of the Cantor
picture.
Plans for 'Miracle'
New York. — Warner Brothers are
hard at work trying to clear up the
legal tangle that stands in the way of
their production of "The Miracle,"
(Continued on Page 7)
Sackheim Aide to Marx
Jerry Sackheim, who was producing
under David Selznick at MGM. returns
Monday from San Francisco as assist-
ant scenario editor to Sam Marx.
Hits Picture Colony
The hospitals are cleaning up on
the picture business these days. Vic-
tor McLaglen is in Hollywood Hospital,
where he was operated on Tuesday.
Watterson Rothacker underwent an
operation on his arm in Good Samari-
tan the same day, and Sam Engle,
writer for Twentieth Century, went
into the Cedars of Lebanon yesterday.
Marks to Supervise
Clarence Marks is understood set
to become a supervisor at Universal,
going up to a berth as head of a com-
edy unit from the writing staff.
[
G* W. PABST Under the Exclusive Management of M. ۥ LEVEE
Page Two
m
April 19. 1934
m
$
w
ilPOifii
W. R.
WILKERSON
Editor and Publisher
FRANK
T.
POPE
Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorral Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Stevie Ames bought Raquel Torres
a fifteen thousand dollar Rolls Royce
roadster the other day — he's building
a new home in Beverly for the gal too.
. . . And that reminds us — we hear
that the Roils Royce pipple are com-
ing out with a "Ford" any minute —
we mean a medium priced car to cost
around three thousand dollars — some
fun! A Rolls for everybody, we always
say! . . . There's an actor around
town looking for jobs and calling him-
self "the Jewish Lee Tracy" (!) . . .
Watty Rothacker nursing an infected
arm at the Good Samaritan. . . . Some
of the little "art theatres" are now
billing Anna Sten as "The Russian
Passion Flower." . . . Allen Rivkin,
whose wife is New Yorking it, is doing
the bachelor act about town.
Ric Cortez, at the Cedars, has to
listen to Charlie Feidman's groans
from across the hail all day — Feldman
groans because Ric has highballs while
Charlie has pains. . . . Mrs. Jack Cum-
mings likes to gamble so much that
she does the Ocean Park concessions
all by herself. . . . Three studios want
to buy the book, "Let's Have a Baby"
. . but Poppa Hays says the title is
immoral! Imagine! Strikes us the tag
would me much more immoral if it
read. "Let's NOT!"
Well, the David Selznicks, George
Cukor and Howard Estabrook finally
got off to London (via New York)
last night — and in a blaze of glory
and burst of flashlight bulbs. . . . Jean
Muir made appearances at two differ-
ent radio stations last night — and had
to have a motorcycle escort between
places, with only fifteen minutes be-
tween broadcasts! . . . The Lucien
Hubbards are partying the departing
Darryl Zanucks tomorrow eve
Jimmy Cagney has taken up wood-
carving and his life is full of statuary.
. . . The chic Gwili Andre is thinking
of trekking East again. . . . Zingone,
famous card manipulator, went to
MGM to make a short, and is being
tested for a long term contract. . . .
O. 0. Mclntyre, the Ed Nolans, Jesse
Lasky, Sid Grauman, E. H. Griffith,
Sam Mintz, Keene Thompson, Harry
Crocker among the diners at the
Vendome Tuesday night — it must
h^ve beef "bachelor night."
"THIS MAN IS MINE"
RKO prod.; director, John Cromwell; writers, Ann Morrison Chapin, Jane Murfin
Music Hall Theatre
Mirror: Splendidly played by a finished cast, smartly dialogued and smoothly
directed. "This Man is Mine" is a highly entertaining representative of
the marriage problem movie.
World-Telegram: The sets in "This Man is Mine" are stunning, the direction is
expert and the cast, which includes, besides Miss Dunne, Ralph Bellamy,
Constance Cummings, Kay Johnson, Sidney Blackmer and Charles Starrett,
is excellent. All they need, really, is a good story. Now is that asking
too much?
Herald-Tribune: Miss Dunne is excellent, her supporting cast is quite good, the
dialogue is frequently amusing and sensible, and so the photoplay becomes
one of the things you can see without pain and enjoy without too much
excitement.
American: Pretty well devoid of action, the vehicle is obviously a filmed stage
play, with a first act devoted to exposition and the establishment of char-
acters, a pretty good second curtain and a third stanza that falls into
shreds as it washes up the various situations and leaves things in status
quo ante belium, so to speak.
Times: It is a mediocre, verbose picture, which might possibly have made a good
light comedy or perhaps a farce.
journal: The picture consists almost entirely of conversation. The players form
into small groups and have lengthy talks about what has happened, what
is happening and what is going to happen.
Sun: A very talkative little film it is. This play, possibly effective upon the
stage, hardly seems to be screen material.
News: Wherever the conversation gets out of its ethereal atmosphere, the cir-
cumstances of the plot jump out to shake your last fibre of credulity.
Post: Even if there were anything worthwhile in the story, "This Man Is Mine"
could hardly survive the banalities of the writing and direction. Nor could
we think of a less interesting group of people than that so uninterestingly
played by all in the cast save Miss Cummings.
'LOOKING FOR TROUBLE'
20th Century prod.; director, William Wellman; writers, J. R. Bren,
Leonard Praskins.
Rivoli Theatre
Journal: It's lightly entertaining comedy, and moves fast. Oakie, who's become
a bit portly, repeats on the Southern drawl that he first tried out in "Too
Much Harmony."
Post: It is a wild and incredible story, made less than praiseworthy by the cow-
shed quality of its humor. Spencer Tracy, Jack Oakie, Constance Cum-
mings and others are utterly wasted on a cheap and shoddily handled story.
World-Telegram: However far-fetched the film becomes at times, it at least
moves rapidly, so that the story's absurdities are for the most part forgot-
ten in the whirlwind pace at which they take place. The result is fair-to-
middling entertainment.
Herald-Tribune: The acting is quite good and the film has a lot of vitality, but
it would have been more entertaining, I imagine, had it been a trifle more
restrained.
Times: Mr. Tracy does all that is possible to make his part believable. Mr. Oakie
helps matters by his comic behavior. Miss Cummings has a thankless task
in acting the gril.
News: Perhaps it's a bit too exciting. In any event it's hardly plausible. Yet the
laughs come often and easily enough to keep the audience amused and
satisfied.
Sun: It is unabashedly an action picture, with no time to waste on subtleties,
and, in its own careless high speed way, it's quite a jolly picture.
American: Live wire entertainment in more ways than one, this electrifying
comedy drama has all it takes to make excellent movie amusement.
Mirror: It is filled with laughs, with thrills and action. Red-blooded and mascu-
line, it is a spirited comedy which will entertain the men.
Show Folk from Europe
New York. — Arriving on the Cham-
plain today are Martin Beck, of RKO;
Robert Hurel, president of France
Films; Ben Blue, and Helen Sonnen-
chein, secretary to Erich Pommer, the
German director now with Fox. Fred
Astaire is coming in on the Bremen.
Compliment from Cohen
Charles Vidor was quite chesty yes-
terday over a telegram he had received
from Emanuel Cohen, in New York,
saying nice things about "Double
Door," Vidor's latest Pararnbiint pic-
ture.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
^Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
Jed Harris Planning
Plays with Film Stars
New York. — Jed Harris is bobbing
up again with some ambitious plans
for the coming season, said plans in-
volving several picture names.
His first production will be Louis
Bromfield's "De Luxe" and he exf)ects
to have Margaret Sullavan in the lead.
Another announced is "A Room in
Red and White," in which he antici-
pates casting Frank Morgan, and he
hopes to get Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
also.
OPEN FORUM
April 17, 1934.
The Hollywood Reporter:
I notice in this morning's issue of
The Reporter at the top of the last
column on page 2, an item regarding
Electrical Research Products obtaining
2600 exhibitors to sign what you refer
to as "the Double R contracts." In
this it is stated that the Double R
contract is the one which requires the
exhibitor to release Erpi from any pos-
sible liability as a result of alleged
monopolistic practices.
This is entirely incorrect, as what
you refer to as the Double R contract
are Repair and Replacement contracts
which we offer to exhibitors for a
stipulated charge per week, under
which we furnish them all the repair
and replacement parts required for
their Western Electric equipment dur-
ing the period of the contract. This
Double R contract is not in lieu of
any original agreement, but is an addi-
tion thereto and is in no form in the
nature of a release from liability. The
contract has proven most satisfactory
to exhibitors.
Knowing that you desire to print
only correct statements, I am calling
this to your attention.
Yours very sincerely,
CEO. C. PRATT,
Vice-President.
MacMahon To Be Starred
Aline MacMahon, now in New York
on a vacation, will be co-starred on
her return to Warners with Guy Kib-
bee in "Btg^Hearted Herbert," the
play by Anna Steese Richardson and
Sophie Kerr. No director has been
selected as yet.
Another Man Dies
FIRST QUESTION: What did he leave
his family?
SECOND QUESTION: Is his wife
equipped to hold down a job, in or-
der to feed the kiddies? (if a job
can be found) .
ANSWER: (,f he had the foresight)
His "Family Income Policy" will pay
her $200.00 every month until 1954,
and then give her $20,000.00 for her
own old age.
This entire protection only costs
$512.80 annually at age 35.
ALBERT ESCHNER
Annuities and Life Insurance
220 Taft BIdg. Vine at Hollywood
CRanite 1721
*
Aprir 19. 1934
Page Three
SPRINGTIME' DELIGHTFUL;
•STMICTLY DYNAMITE' POOK
Orchids Due Cast,
Director, Writers
"SPRINGTIME FOR HENRY"
(Fox)
Direction Frank Tuttle
Author Benn W. Levy
Adaptation Frank Tuttle
and Keene Thompson
Photography John Seitz
Cast: Otto Kruger, Nancy Carroll,
Nigel Bruce, Heather Angel, Her-
bert Mundin.
The Fox picture, "Springtime For
Henry," is a charming, impudent, little
bit of propaganda for the pursuit of
life, love and happiness. It is ut-
terly delightful, completely amusing,
and grand entertainment.
It is a gay dig at the lengths to
which a man, otherwise sane, will go
for the sake of love, and it is a beau-
tiful satiric sneer at the ease with
which an experienced man can be
hoodwinked by "a good, pure, inno-
cent woman."
All in good fun, it is a persuasive
gesture toward a little wickedness.
Henry gets along all right when he is
himself. Too susceptible to women,
who find him irresistible, he is the
most popular man in his club, the most
sought-after bachelor in town, and
even his employees at his automobile
factory are fond of him.
But a "good" woman changes all
that. Just because it is Spring, and
Henry finds his secretary attractive,
he persuades himself that he is in
love with her and should reform and
elevate himself to her standard of liv-
ing, which is pure, dull, and has a
vegetarian flavor. Instantly he gets
into all sorts of trouble and loses all
his friends. The climax comes when
the wife of his best friend, in love
with him and horrified at the change
in his life, inveigles him into taking
her to a meeting at the Ray of Hope
Mission and there gives testimony
about his spiritual uplift that results
in one of the best free-for-all fights
ever staged, and the re-reformation
of Henry.
Otto Kruger never has been more
charming than as Henry. His per-
formance, a clever blending of the
sublime and the ridiculous, is a mira-
cle of contrast. Nigel Bruce, as the
dumb, dull friend who finally wins
the dumb, dull secretary, turns in a
characterization that is wholly amus-
ing and artistically superb. Nancy
Carroll as his wife, who likes Henry
better, has a new poise and dignity
and is very well cast. Heather Angel
is astonishingly convincing as the sec-
retary, and Herbert Mundin is funny
as the valet.
Frank Tuttle did two jobs well. He
adapted the Benn W. Levy play, with
Keene Thompson, and he also direct-
ed, achieving one of the best comedies
seen in a long time. John Seitz pho-
tographed the picture well, and the
art direction deserves raves.
Exhibitors should welcome this film.
It's swell Spring tonic for the box-
office.
Earning His Money
Leo Carrillo, since he signed a
new term deal witfh MGM five
days ago, has officiated at five civic
banquets, a breakfast club meeting
and three luncheons — all as
MGM's representative. He has not
been assigned to a picture as yet.
Max Cordon to Take
RKOCenterTheatre
New York. — The discussions that
have been going on relative to the fu-
ture of the RKO Center Theatre seem
to have ended with the belief that
Max Cordon will take over the house
instead of Arch Selwyn and Harold B.
Franklin, as previously announced.
Cordon plans to turn the house into
a legitimate theatre, opening it with
his forthcoming "Waltzes from
Vienna." Hassard Short will stage
this musical, which has been a great
hit abroad. He also intends to stage
"Three Sisters," the Kern-Hammer-
stein operetta that opened recently in
London.
Hec Turnbull Estate
Goes to Relatives
New York. — The will of Hector
Turnbull, filed for probate here, dis-
posed of an estate valued at more
than $10,000.
A sister, Mrs. Isabel Turnbull
Cooley, of New Hope, Pa., receives a
legacy of $1,000. The residue was
left to four sisters and a brother, Jean
Westwood Turnbull, Mary Elizabeth
Turnbull and Margaret McP. Turnbull,
of New Hope; Mrs. Alice Turnbull
Stratton and Donald R. Turnbull, of
New York.
Cabanne Wanted For
Monogram's *Jane Eyre'
Monogram is closing a deal with
Christy Cabanne to direct "Jane Eyre,"
and is awaiting a clearance from Radio,
to whom Cabanne is committed to
pilot "West Point."
Starting date on the Radio picture
is expected to be set sufficiently in
the future to permit Cabanne to direct
the Monogram production.
Moses Quits Columbia
New York, — Vivian Moses, who has
been handling special publicity and
exploitation for Columbia Pictures for
the past few months, has resigned.
Harold Davis Emerson, also in Colum-
bia's publicity, leaves the company
April 20.
Halsey Goes to 'U'
Forrest Halsey was signed by Uni-
versal yesterday to work on his own
original story, "Alias Mary Jones,"
Henry Henigson is supervising.
Kramer Back with U.A.
New York. — Earl Kramer has re-
joined United Artists and will handle
the distribution of British pictures in
this country.
CastUnable toCope
With Weak Story
"STRICTLY DYNAMITE"
( Radio )
Direction Elliott Nugent
Original Robert T. Colwell
and Robert A. Simon
Screen Play Maurine Watkins
and Ralph Spence
Added Dialogue Milton Raison
and Jack Harvey
Photography Edward Cronjager
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez,
Norman Foster, William Cargan,
Marian Nixon, Mills Brothers, Eu-
gene Pallette, Minna Combell,
Sterling Holloway, Leila Bennett,
Stanley Fields, Tom Kennedy,
Franklin Pangborn, Irene Franklin,
Berton Churchill, Jackie Searl.
This is an attempted radio satire
that fails to jell either as satire or as
entertainment. Other than telling a
simple little tale of a lad who couldn't
stand success, there is no plot, just
a series of more or less disconnected
gags. Vague and meandering, it starts
nowhere and ends in the same place.
What there is of a story opens with
the struggles of a small-town author
in New York. His wife interests an
agent and, because a radio comic is
in need of a ghost writer, the boy
is given copies of all the old joke
books in existence and sold as a gag
man. Overnight he becomes the talk
of the town and, when the comic's
hotcha girl goes on the make, he loses
his head. There is an indefinite sug-
gestion of monkey business in Atlan-
tic City. Then, again overnight, he
is washed up by his wife, the comic,
the hot number and the agent. The
situation is saved when one of his old
poems is sent the comic by mistake,
and what he had intended seriously is
taken as evidence of humorous genius.
It is a mistake to label Jimmy Dur-
ante as a funny man. An audience
prefers to laugh at him rather than
with him. Consequently much of h;s
familiar material falls flat in this pic-
ture, Lupe Velez has precious little
to do as Durante's radio team-mate.
Lupe has outgrown these straight
vamp parts,
Norman Foster and Marian Nixon
have the nearest opportunities afford-
ed by the script to deliver characteri-
zations. They are both very good.
William Cargan is sacrificed in the
agent's assignment. And why so much
lip make-up, Bill?
Sterling Holloway registers the only
solid hit in the piece. It is a walk-on
part, but he walks away with it. The
others are merely one, two or three-
scene roles.
"Strictly Dynamite" has all the ear-
marks of too many writers, all with
different ideas. Elliott Nugent's direc-
tion was not able to weave the many
conflicting elements into anything
that approaches a whole. But it was
probably not his fault. Photography
by Edward Cronjager is standard.
With the strength of the cast
names, you will experience no trouble
in selling this to the public. And, of
course, there is always the possibility
somebody may like it.
w;/d'»;/i
We have finally heard a picture
man admit that there is plenty of
picture material to be had if one will
only take the time to find it. And
these old ears were both astonished
and gratified to hear it, particularly
from one who is in a position to buy.
Somehow or other it has always seem-
ed to us that, with the thousands of
stones, novels and plays that have
been published, it is almost impossible
that there should be a dearth of
material. And there must be hun-
dreds of stories and books at least,
that even if they cannot be used iri
their entirety, should give forth an
idea that could be used. Add to this
the fact that there are thousands of
people writing today, many of them
well-schooled in the technique of pic-
tures, and material is the one thing
that should not be lacking. It's a
question of vision and the ability to
get out of established ruts and having
the courage of one's convictions.
There is no subject that pictures can-
not sell to the public — if the produc-
tion is good and there is salesmanship
in back of it.
We have heard people say that "the
public doesn't want war pictures."
So "Forgotten Men" ran eight weeks
at the Criterion. We've heard them
say "the public doesn't want pictures
without women." So "The Lost Pa-
trol'' is packing them in at the Rialto.
We've heard them say "the public is
tired of triangles, of sophisticated
dramas." So "Rip Tide" stays three
weeks at the Capitol, And that's just
to give examples in current produc-
tions. You've all heard stories, true
stories of the sneers that have greeted
certain story buys because of this be-
lief in what the public DOESN'T want
and the amazing success most of them
have had. Remember how they
laughed when they started to produce
"Little Women"? The public doesn't
know what it wants until pictures
give it to them. And if it's good —
the public wants it.
The campaign is certainly on to
try to get Mary Taylor a break on
the stage or in pictures. The World-
Telegram interviewed her in a Page
Two feature story and, quoting Elsa
Maxwell, term her "the most beautiful
girl in New York," Well, depending
on whom she goes around with, if
she's not the most beautiful, she's
the next thing to it. . . . Things we're
tired of seeing rehashed in print in-
clude the Pickford-Fairbanks opera
bouffe, Rudy Vallee (incidentally,
Alice Faye refused to be photographed
with him in the vain hope that it
would stop stories) and Margie King,
, . , Advertising is being very carefully
watched indeed since they passed the
buck on picture morality to that de-
partment, but take a look at the note
that was received on an "ad" for a
current picture: "The posterior of this
woman is too prominent. Please
change the can!" Such language from
a censor.
EDMUND GRAINGER
//
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
HALF A SINNER
11
Just Completed
AFFAIRS OF A GENTLEMAN"
Universal Pictures
"Sure-fire box office entertainment"
Hollywood Reporter
"Modernized with shrewdness for
homespun values, smart showman-
ship has aimed it at the masses and
it completely hits the mark."
— Motion Picture Daily
"Half A Sinner," well made picture
should do good business in all spots."
Varietty
KURT NEUMANN
Dl RECTED
"HALF A SINNER
//
Now in Production
FUNNY THING CALLED LOVE' UNIVERSAL PICTURES
"HALF A SINNER
If
DIALOGUE BY
RALPH SPENCE
/>
HALF A SINNER"! MICKEY ROONEY
Screen Play
by
EARL SNELL
and
CLARENCE MARKS
/>
plays WILLIE in
HALF A SINNER
UNIVERSAL
f>
UNIVERSAL
CLARK GABLE AS A BOY IN
MANHATTAN MELODRAMA
METRO-GOLD WYN-MAYER
Page Six
THg
April 19, 1934
William Augustin for a Radio short,
by Hallam Cooley.
Raymond Borzage to a Pete Smith
short, MCM, by Hallam Cooley.
Eddie Cribbon to "I Can't Escape,"
Beacon, by Hallam Cooley.
Eula Guy for "Housewife," War-
ners.
Mathew Betx to "Fighting Rookie,"
Mayfair.
Nils Welch for "Whom The Gods
Destroy," Columbia.
Dot Farley and Craufurd Kent for
"Down to Their Last Yacht," Radio.
Spec O'Donnell, William Robyns,
Mary Carr, Jack Byron, Reginald Ma-
son. Arthur Stuart Hull to Columbia
for "One Night of Love."
Ralph Morgan and Sidney Blackmer
to Radio for "Afterwards."
Charles Levison through Kingston-
Harris for "Funny Thing Called Love,"
Universal.
Henry Armetta, Helena Phillips,
Phillips Smalley and Sam Ashe for
"Kiss and Make Up," B. P. Schulberg-
Paramount.
Edgar Kennedy through Freddie
Fralick to "Caravan," Fox.
Neville Clark, Vernon Downing,
Matthew Smith, Robert Carlton, Allan
Conrad and Peter Hobbes for "Barretts
of Wimpole Street," MCM.
Ed Thomas to Paramount's "Thank
Your Stars."
Robert Creig, through Freddie Fra-
lick. for "Madame DuBarry," War-
ners.
Clay Clement, Claudelle Kay,
Creighton Hale, Tommy Jackson, Huey
White, Walter Long and Charles Wil-
liams to MCM's "The Thin Man,"
Franklyn Ardell by Kingston-Harris
for "She Loves Me Not," Paramount.
Davison Clark to "The Oid-Fashion-
ed Way," Paramount.
E. H. Calvert and Larry Gray to
Charles R. Rogers' "Here Comes The
Groom," Paramount.
Kenneth Howell to "I Give My
Love" at Universal.
Christian Rub and John Ince for
"Little Man, What Now?" at Univer-
sal.
John Warburton, Lois January, Earle
Eby, Tommy Dugan and two Ear! Car-
roll girls, Wanda Perry and Dorothy
Dawes, for "Funny Thing Called Love"
at Universal.
Leo White for "Hey Sailor" at War-
ners.
Patricia Ellis for "Here Comes the
Groom" at Paramount.
Donald Meek for "Merry Widow,"
MCM.
Alan Mowbray into "Edie Was a
Lady," MGM.
Reginald Owen for "Green Hat" at
MCM.
George Blackwood, through Ber-
nard, Meiklejohn and McCall, for
"Funny Thing Called Love," Universal.
Spencer Charters by Kingston-Har-
ris for "Caravan," Fox.
Mary Kornman to "Madame Du
Barry," Warners, by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall.
Alec B. Francis to "The Cat's Paw"
through Bernard, Meiklejohn and Mc-
Call.
Sterling Holloway with MGM for
"Operator 13."
William Janney for juvenile lead in
stage play, "Ah Wilderness," at El
Capitan theatre.
George Humbert for "Virgie Win-
ters," Radio.
Luis Alberni and Lionel Belmore for
"Caravan" Fox, by Max Shagrin.
Alan Mowbray, Paul Porcasi, George
Baxter and Judith Vosselli to Para-
mount for Charles R. Rogers' "I Mar-
ried an Actress."
Richard Carle to Paramount for
"Old Fashioned Way."
Minna Gombell to MGM for "The
Merry Widow."
Mary Russell to Technicolor short,
"Motor o' Mine," at Warners.
Daniel Boone for Columbia short.
Universal Borrows
Libby Young from Para.
Universal yesterday borrowed Eliza-
beth Young from Paramount for a
leading assignment in "There's Al-
ways Tomorrow," which Edward Slo-
man places into production Monday.
Dickie Winslow, Maurice Murphy,
Margaret Hamilton and Helen Parrish
are also set for cast spots.
Clark-McCullough on Way
A telegram has just been received
from Clark and McCullough that they
will arrive Monday from New York
to begin work on their new comedy
series for Radio.
Mrs. Kinney North
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of the
Code Committee for Extras, leaves Sat-
urday for Sacramento for a week on
business connected with the State
Welfare Department.
Termer for Society Cirl
MGM yesterday signed Louise
Henry, New York society girl, to a
long term contract. Player's only pic-
ture work was in "Hollywood Party"
at the same studio.
40-Piece Band at Col.
Pietro Cimini, Hollywood Bowl
conductor, and his forty-piece orches-
tra are handling the musical numbers
for the "Carmen" and "Madame But-
terfly" scenes at Columbia in "One
Night of Love," starring Grace Moore.
Warners Hold Jory
Victor Jory was assigned a top spot
in "The Dragon Murder Case" at
Warners yesterday, the studio obtain-
ing from Fox an extension on its loan-
out deal.
Wynne Gibson with S.-F.
The Schulberg-Feldman and Gurney
office has just signed Wynne Gibson
to a new long term managerial con-
tract.
Lasky-Preston Novel
Macauley publishing house has just
purchased a new novel by Jesse Lasky
Jr. and Jack Preston, titled "Curtain
of Life." Jerry Horwin set the deal.
Dickson Morgan Will
Stage 'Bitter Harvest'
Dickson Morgan, stage director, will
be guest director for "Bitter Harvest,"
opening at the Beverly Hills Commun-
ity theatre for one week, beginning
May 7.
The play is a story of Lady Byron,
written by Catherine Turney. Leslie
Fenton will be starred. Others in the
cast are Jeanette Nolan, Katherine
Manners, Rosa Rarcella, Lindsay Mc-
Harrie and Cyril Armbrister.
Alexandra Carlisle
To Open School Here
Alexandra Carlisle, stage star for
many years, is planning to open a
dramatic school in Hollywood for the
training of screen and stage aspirants.
Miss Carlisle in private life is Mrs.
John Elliott Jenkins, of Chicago. Re-
cently she came here after a long
absence to play in "Half a Sinner" at
Universal.
Warners Sign Connolly
New York. — Warners have signed
Bobby Connolly to a contract to stage
dances in the company's pictures at
the West Coast plant. Ticket was
handled by Leo Morrison and the
dance director leaves by train to-
morrow.
'Hey Sailor' Location
Lloyd Bacon left last night with
Warners' "Hey Sailor" company for
Sunnyvale, where they will spend the
next few days on location before re-
turning to complete the picture at the
studio.
Ben Kohn with U'
Ben Grauman Kohn was signed
yesterday by Universal to do the
screen play of Damon Runyon's maga-
/'zine story, "Million Dollar Ransom,"
which Murray Roth will direct, jerry
Horwin made the deal.
Fox After Talbot
Fox registered a bid with Warners
yesterday for the loan of Lyie Talbot.
Studio v\^nts the player for the spot
opposite Alice Faye in an as yet un-
titled production.
Harry Brand Better
Harry Brand returns to his desk at
United Artists today after a slight ill-
ness.
Classics For Schools
(Continued from Page 1 )
spoke at the annual meeting of the
Westchester County Teachers Associa-
tion.
Mr. Lewin pointed out that already
a list of twenty-eight classics are
slated to be produced by the big pic-
ture companies. Among these he said
were "Joan of Arc," "Pride and Prej-
udice," "What Every Woman Knows,"
"Vanity Fair," "David Copperfield"
and "Gulliver's Travels."
He urged that government subsidy
for production of the classics be ad-
vocated, and stated that if such were
done and sufficient pictures of this
type were made, every school audi-
torium in the country soon would be
equipped with sound picture appa-
ratus.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
Two Noted Ex-Stars
Buried on Same Day
Yesterday marked the earthly end-
ing for two former motion picture
celebrities, both of whom had been
practically forgotten by the industry
in which they once gained fame.
One was Karl Dane, former carpen-
ter who rose for a brief period from
obscurity to stardom, then hit the pic-
ture skids and shot himself when all
hope was gone. The other was
George A. Billings, famous for his por-
trayals of Abraham Lincoln on stage
and screen, who died in obscurity at
the Soldiers Home in Sawtelle.
Both were buried yesterday. Only
a mere handful of picture people at-
tended Dane's funeral. None were
present when Billings was laid to rest.
Urban Military Lad
Gets Contract at MGM
William Henry, 19-year-old student
of Urban Military Academy, has been
signed by MGM to a contract.
He was discovered by Miss Ida Ko-
verman, executive secretary to Louis
B. Mayer, and for several months he
has been under the tutoring eye of
Oliver Hinsdale. His first important
role will be in "The Thin Man."
Dramatists to Dine
New York. — The Dramatists' Guild
will hold its annual dinner April 23,
at Keen's Chop House. At this din-
ner it is the custom to award the Roi
Cooper Megrue prize for the best
comedy of the season.
Harris to Arrowhead
Robert Harris left yesterday for a
trip to Arrowhead before returning to
his New York post. Executive has
rrfade three air trips to the studio dur-
ing the past five weeks.
tions" in that was natural and seemed
to belong.
"It seems to me," he continues,
"that when a picture is evidently just
ordinary in entertainment, someone
connected with its making thinks a
shot in the arm of sex, wild party or
shotgun wedding will pep it up, and it
only makes matters worse.
"Someone has said that dirt is any-
thing out of its proper place and I
believe that applies to motion pic-
tures. A picture may be sexy and
not offensive because it is that kind
of a picture. Murder, theft and
drunkenness may all be in pictures if
they fit.
"My slant may be wrong because I
don't know much about this business. |
But I do know that when we have j
what we think is a good, clean pic- 1
ture, fit for the whole family, we
would like to be able to advertise it
that way without fear of having from
one to half a dozen scenes of dirt that
add nothing to the picture and may
cause some customer to ask us where
we got the idea it was a clean pic-
ture."
So, Mr. Producer, there is informa-
tion straight from the feed box. And,
naturally, there is only one answer;
BETTER AND CLEANER PICTURES,
April 19, 1934
THE
HilPOIRTll^
Page Seven
PCBLIC OPIIVIOIV THE BEST
CEIVSOR, SAYS MRS. BELMONT
Explains Aims of
Research Council
New York. — Lasting reforms in
screen productions are due to result
from the failure of the motion picture
industry to live up to its self-adopted
code forbidding the exhibition of bru-
talizing and indecent pictures, accord-
ing to Mrs. August Belmont, presi-
dent of the newly-formed Motion
Picture Research Council.
Mrs. Belmont declares that this fail-
ure on the part of the picture indus-
try has resulted in a widespread re-
sentment, which will be crystallized
by her Council into a general policy
which, she believes, will bring suffi-
cient pressure to bear upon producers
to force them to make more accept-
able films.
Many of the stories depicted in pic-
tures, she declares, "may belong in the
lower depths of life, perhaps in the
clinic or in the jails, but why do we
have to see them in every hamlet and
town of the nation under the guise
of entertainment?"
Mrs. Belmont, speaking of whether
or not Will H. Hays has been suc-
cessful in his attempts to censor the
films of the industry, declared that
such work as he does is "no more cen-
sorship than if you say you will give
up candy during Lent."
Particularly did she emphasize the
point that her Council does not want
official censorship. Instead, she de-
clares, it is planning to secure a na-
tion-wide membership of individuals
and groups who believe in the funda-
mental idea that citizens have the
right to choose the type of motion
picture they wish to have shown in
their community, but who desire that
that type be wholesome and fit for
their families. Thus the Council
hopes, by the force of an educated
public opinion, to bring about a con-
dition whereby the producers will find
that they must furnish cleaner and
more wholesome pictures or else they
will find no one going to see them.
Canf-or Tribe Arriving
Eddie Cantor gets in today by train
from New York, accompanied by his
wife, two daughters and Fred Kohl-
mar, Sam Coldwyn's production as-
sistant who has been conferring on
the picture with Cantor in the East.
Comic wound up his radio program last
Sunday.
Ceballos Out of Para.
Having completed his work on the
added dance numbers for "Murder at
the Vanities," Larry Ceballos yester-
day checked off the Paramount pay-
roll. Picture, with the exception of
the dance number, was completed
some time ago.
Hoffman-Watters Out
Renaud Hoffman and George Man-
ker Watters have finished the adapta-
tion and dialogue on "The End of the
World" for Paramount and have
checked off the payroll. Albert Lewis
is the producer.
Tucson Makes Harlow
A Deputy Sheriff
The city of Tucson handed a
pair of handcuffs to bandit Dil-
linger when he visited there, but
to Jean Harlow it has handed a
gold badge, telling the world she is
now a deputy sheriff. That gives
her the right to carry a gun.
Conway Tearle Gets
* Fifteen Wives* Lead
Conway Tearle was signed yesterday
by Maury Cohen to play the lead in
"Fifteen Wives," a murder mystery
which Cohen is producing for Invinci-
ble Pictures at Universal.
In addition to Tearle, Cohen has
lined up a cast including Natalie
Moorhead, Raymond Hatton, Noel
Francis, John Wray, Ralf Harolde,
Oscar Apfel and Robert Frazier. Frank
Strayer is directing from an original
story by Charles S. Belden.
MCM*s Jungle Party
Hops Off For Brazil
After a day's rest in San Juan, Porto
Rico, yesterday, MCM's "Jungle Red
Man" exploration party left by plane
for Para, Brazil. From there they go
1 ,700 miles up the Amazon River to
Yarawate to set the base for the ex-
pedition which follows later.
Burtis on 'Mosaic*
Thomson Burtis yesterday joined the
Warner writing staff to develop frhe
screen play on the G. B. Stern novel,
"N/fosaic." Writer has an option on
the purchase of the story and has in-
cluded it in his understanding with
the company.
Stooges on Personals
Howard, Fine and Howard have
been signed to open tomorrow at the
Fox Warfield Theatre, San Francisco,
for a week's personal appearance.
Comedy trio return to make their sec-
ond short for Columbia.
Dinehart at Fox
Alan Dinehart was signed by Fox
yesterday for a featured role in "Al-
ways Honest," which the Sol Wurtzel
unit is producing. Harry Spingler, of
the Small-Landau office, negotiated
the contract.
Celsey-Erickson Team
Erwin Gelsey and Carl Erickson were
yesterday assigned to write the screen
play of "Miss Pacific Fleet" at War-
ners. Team is working under the
supervision of Lou Edelman.
Denny for 'Arabella'
Extending the player's contract.
Radio yesterday signed Reginald
Denny for an important spot in "Ara-
bella," which William Seiter directs
under Glendon Allvine's supervision.
Hampton To Start Here
New York. — David Hampton is
leaving for Hollywood within the next
three weeks to establish a branch of-
fice there.
Rearguard of Exhib
Convention Leaving
Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA president,
and Abe Lichtman, Washington, D.C.,
exhibitor, left last night for San Fran-
cisco, where they will be the guests
of Morgan Walsh and address the ex-
hibitors' association of Northern Cali-
fornia. After a three-day visit, they
will head for New York.
M. E. Comerford and Walter Vin-
cent, the two remaining exhibitor ex-
ecutives besides Fred Meyer, who is
at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, re-
main here for a week before moving
off.
Child Player Signed For
Fox's 'She Was a Lady'
Edith Fellows, eight-year-old ac-
tress, was signed yesterday by Fox to
appear in "She Was a Lady" with
Helen Twelvetrees. Al Rockett will
direct.
This is an original story by Elizabeth
Cobb Brody, daughter of Irvin S. Cobb.
Definite starting date has not been
announced.
Hatton to Invincible
Raymond Hatton has been cast for
the featured role of the detective ser-
geant in "Fifteen Wives," an Invin-
cible production. Hatton recently
completed work in "Mad Honeymoon"
for Liberty.
Garrett Leaves Para.
Oliver H. P. Garrett completed his
work on "One Way Ticket" for B. P.
Schulberg at Paramount yesterday and
checked off the lot. Picture is plan-
ned for Sylvia Sidney.
New 'Firebrand' Title
Darryl Zanuck has switched the
title on "The Firebrand" to "The Af-
fairs of Cellini." Constance Bennett
and Fredric March have the star spots
in this Twentieth Century picture.
Jarrett Renewed
Arthur Jarrett's contract with the
Union Oil Company for a series of
radio broadcast every Thursday night
on the company's program has been
renewed.
Para. New Deal Near
(Continued from Page 1 )
are saying that the new deal can be
put through by May 1 5, although this
seems hardly possible.
The plan as at present constituted,
it is learned, provides for the satisfac-
tion of both bondholders and common
creditors. The common stock prob-
ably will remain as is, but there will
be an issue of debentures and an-
other of preferred stock ahead of the
common to take care of claims.
It is understood that the company
is in better shape than for a long
time and that, during the past year,
its earnings have amounted to a dol-
lar a share.
Educational-Amity
Settle Their Suit
New York. — Educational Pictures
has settled its suit with Amity, agree-
ing to turn over to the latter for dis-
tribution through Amity exchanges six
Bob Steele Westerns, one Ken May-
nard and "The Man Called Back."
Amity has also acquired the distri-
bution rights to a mystery drama,
called "Before Morning," which stars
Leo Carrillo. It was produced by
Stage and Screen Productions last Fall.
Sol Lesser Moving to
Sennett Lot Next Week
Sol Lesser moves his unit to the
Mack Sennett studio next Wednesday
to start preparation on "Peck's Bad
Boy," which goes into work there
May 21.
Frank Melton, production manager,
Eddie Cline, director, Frank Good,
cameraman, and Bill Plant, publicity
man, go to the new spot. Lesser keeps
the balance of his organization in the
Taft building offices.
Warners Rush 'Miracle'
(Continued from Page 1 )
hoping to get the picture into work
shortly.
Their attorneys are conferring with
various representatives over the Hum-
perdinck music rights, the author's
rights with Carl Vollmuller, and the
production rights with Max Reinhardt
and C. B. Cochrane.
They will not attempt to select a
cast or director until these matters
are straightened out.
^^BEVEEY-WILSHIRE
Wilshife Boulevord in Beverly Hills
C'jnnounai
A Night in Honor of
HELEN
MORGAN
Glanderous, Glorious Ziegfeld Singing Star
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TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday. April 20, 1934
GOlDWrN-WARNER Cl4$li
Buzz Berkeley's Services
Again Bone Of Contention
Between The Two Producers
• THERE are rumors afloat, both in
Hollywood and in New York, that the
many stumbling blocks that are being
found in the pathway of the motion
picture code are being placed there
deliberately for the purpose of embar-
rassing the Administration.
It seems hardly credible that there
are any leaders in this business who,
after all the promises of co-operation
they have made, would plan deliber-
ately to prevent the proper function-
ing of the code. They may not be
WITH the policies of the Administra-
tion; in fact, it is known that some
of them are not, but it was thought
that they would give these policies an
even break, that they would be con-
tent to watch and not toss a wrench
into the works.
This publication has no definite
knowledge that this is being done, but
it is evident that Washington believes
something of the kind is on foot be-
cause there have been under-cover
investigators here for some time,
checking into various aspects of the
situation. One report is already on
its way to Washington which is said
to contain plenty of dynamite about
the film code's troubles and who is
causing them.
Exhibitors have told these investi-
gators that they have squawked about
some of the things they have been
advised to do, and have been told to
shut up if they want to be able to
get pictures.
It is pointed out that the film in-
dustry code has been of more trouble
to the NRA than that of almost any
other business and still is not func-
tioning. There have been scores of
complaints filed by labor sources, but
the producers have ignored them. As
yet, not a producer has appeared at
any hearing given on these complaints.
Some time ago a Studio Labor Com-
mittee was appointed, but it never
found anything to do and was finally
dropped and replaced by the present
inactive one.
Possibly all these rumors come from
disgruntled individuals and groups, but
usually where there is smoke, there
is fire. If there is any foundation for
the reports, there might be some fin-
gers burned before many weeks pass.
Harry Cohn May Buy
Out- Jack with Dupont
New York. — Rumors of the Du-
pont deal for Columbia are still in
the air. The latest is that Harry
Cohn wants to buy Jack out, but
doesn't want to use his own
money, so is willing to listen to a
deal for Dupont to do the financing.
Universal Meeting
Elects Directors
New York. — At the annual meet-
ing of Universal, held yesterday, J.
Myer Shine and Simon ). Klee were
elected directors for the first preferred
stock, and R. H. Cochrane for the
second preferred. Directors chosen
for the common stockholders are Carl
Laemmie Sr., P. D. Cochrane, C. B.
Paine, Helen Hughes, James R. Grain-
ger and Willard F. McKay. The direc-
tors will elect officers of the corpora-
tion within the next few days.
Roberts For Hepburn
Radio is closing a deal with Para-
mount for the loan of Stephen Roberts
for one picture in June, wanting him
for Katharine Hepburn's first picture
on her return.
Trans-Lux Profits Up
New York.- — Trans-Lux Daylight
Picture Screen Corporation reports net
profits for 1933 of $114,926 after
deducting taxes and charges, com-
pared with $93,175 for 1932.
The feud between Samuel Coldwyn and Warners broke out
again yesterday. As occurred eight months ago, the battle once
more has Busby Berkeley as the bone of contention.
Coldwyn touched off the fireworks Wednesday when his
attorneys, Loeb, Walker and Loeb,
asked Superior Court Judge Frank C.
Collier to order Warners to stop using
the dance director immediately, al-
though he is working on "Dames."
Judge Collier granted a temporary
restraining order after Coldwyn alleg-
ed that Warners are violating their
contract with him for a two-picture
per year loan on Berkeley and are pre-
( Continued on Page 3)
Reuter's News Agency
To Open Branch Here
Reuter's, one of the largest news
agencies in the world, has decided to
open a Hollywood office.
Yesterday Colonel R. A. Duck-
worth-Ford arrived from the Philip-
pines for the purpose of establishing
the local branch of the agency.
Wells Root to MCM
MOM yesterday signed Wells Root
to adapt "All Good Americans," a
play by Laura and S. J. Perelman.
Lucien Hubbard produces. Deal was
negotiated by Bren, Orsatti and Marx.
DRAMATISTS SEE HELP
IX BERCOVICI DECISIOIV
British Dickering For
Blane and O'Sullivan
Because of the stir created among
writers and dramatists by the decision
of the New York Court of Appeals
in the suit between Konrad Bercovici
and C. B. DeMille over the ownership
of the talking picture rights of the
novel, "The Volga Boatman," the
Dramatists' Guild has sent out the fol-
lowing opinion:
"While in this case, because the
author had parted with his dramatic
rights, the decision was adverse to
him, we feel that the effect of the
decision is to strengthen the position
of other authors with respect to the
ownership of talking picture rights.
It is clear from this decision that, even
though an author parted with the mo-
tion picture rights before talking pic-
(Continued on Page 2)
London. — Christopher Mann is of-
fering Sallie Blane, Marian Nixon and
maybe Maureen O'Sullivan to major
concerns this side.
B.I.P. is interested in Blane and
Caumont likes Maureen. Understand
Maureen would make pic in between
MCM assignments.
Film Folk to Bermuda
New York. — Joseph M. Schenck, Al
Lichtman, Sam H. Harris, Harpo Marx
and Oscar Levant sail for Bermuda
today for a two weeks' vacation.
South Carolina
Kills Picture Tax
Charleston, S. C. — Motion picture
exhibitors throughout South Carolina
were rejoicing today over the repeal
yesterday by the State Legislature of
the ten per cent admission tax for
theatres.
This tax was imposed in 1918 and
f.:r years motion picture and theatre
men of the State have been vainly at-
tempting to have It repealed, inas-
much cS they claimed it was put in
as a war-time measure. '.Exhibitors
feel the repeal will boost theatre at-
tendance tremendously.
New Theatre Will Show
Only British Pictures
New York. — A new motion picture
theatre, the Westminster Cinema,
opens tonight in West 49th street.
A syndicate, Westminster Cinema,
Inc., has been formed to operate the
house, which will present British pic-
tures exclusively on a continuous run
policy, but with reserved seats for the
evening performances. Two Caumont
British pictures are scheduled for the
opening program — "The Prince of
Wales" and "Just Smith."
Colleen Moore Sought
For 'Scarlet Letter*
Larry Darmour is negotiating with
Colleen Moore for the lead in "The
Scarlet Letter," which Majestic gets
into work in the next month. Robert
Vignola will direct from a script by
Leonard Fields and David Silverstein.
'U' Borrows Morgan
Universal yesterday borrowed Frank
Morgan from MCM for the lead oppo-
site Elizabeth Young, previously bor-
rowed from Paramount, in "There's
Always Tomorrow." Edward Sloman
directs from his own original screen
play when the picture starts Monday.
AffRT^^^CREEN Directed A$ The Earth Turns™
Page Two
P[iP>©PlTEI^l
April 20, 1934
IfMfefelFOifil^
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE
Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Oftices and Oftice of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyvk'ood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
A famous novelist and screen writer
was asked recently to read the script
of a big production with a Civil War
background. He read it. When he had
finished, they asked him:
"Do you think it will offend the
South?"
"Yes," replied the writer, "And the
North too!" (!)
Victor |ory has just moved into a
new house in Pasadena, of all places.
He lived in one in Pasadena before —
and the place had six thousand books
in it! When he decided to move, his
landlady decided to sell the books and
asked him to "take a few along." Jory
bought part of the collection — a mere
hundred tomes. He got them for fifty
cents apiece and says that among
them are a few real treasures— but
he's going to read 'em — not sell 'em,
he says.
Wonder why everybody is being so
careful not to link in print the name
of the almost ex-husband of a red-
haired star with any particular girl on
whom he happens to be foisting his
attentions. Heaven knows, he's "tried
hard" with many a gal in the past
few months, but doesn't seem to have
much success. But so far as coming
divorce proceedings and what they
might lead to — why, the gander has
plenty on the goose, too. At the
moment the red-haired actress is see-
ing more than enough of a certain
producer — but very much under
cover, of course! Look! We're be-
ing careful, too!
Russ Columbo has the grandest
scheme for getting out of appearing
at benefits, singing for charity, etc.
Whenever he is asked to do so, he
says: "I really am sorry. I'd like to
do it, but my voice is not my own."
You see, Russ has had himself incor-
porated and "Columbo Inc. won't let
Columbo personally sing unless there
is somethijjg.in ,it,.
"AS THE EARTH TURNS"
Warners prod.; director, Alfred E. Green; writers, Gladys Hasty Carroll.
Ernest Pascal.
Strand Theatre
World-Telegram: Here is a film depicting the real America and one that is well
worth your support and attention. Each of the characters is finely drawn,
and each is excellently played. The direction, photography and staging
are all of the high order, and the locale during the seasons of winter,
spring .summer and autumn is convincingly presented.
American: A sweet rural romance of the New England farm country, "As the
Earth Turns" is an effort marked by sincerity and success.
Times: It is a picture that gives food for thought. Many of its episodes are
which is unique as a Hollywood film. Rural types are figures in the
story. They are skillfully drawn and well acted.
Herald-Tribune: "As the Earth Turns" is interesting, if not breathtaking,
drama. There is none of the customary manufactured menace of the run
of screen dramas. The action and mood of the story seem honestly gov-
erned, not so much from plot motives as from a genuine reaction to en-
vironment.
Times It is a picture that gives food for thought. Many of its episodes are
marked with the same reticence and sincerity which distinguished the
book, but occasionally the film becomes a trifle too blatant. Alfred E.
Green, the director, gives effective glimpses of farm work during the four
seasons.
Post: The Warner Bros., with considerable aid from Alfred Green's direction
and Ernest Pascal's adaptation, have msde an interesting and credible pic-
ture of Gladys Carroll's book. The film is not exciting; for a good portion
of it is uneventful, but the picture comes forth as an honest screen pro-
duction becruse there is no attempt to exaggerate or sent-imentalize; the
characters are drawn with a restrained hand, and they happen to be in-
teresting enough in their respective selves to compensate for w'Tat w;uld
otherwise be a lack of d'amatic fervor.
Journal: "As the Earth Turns" departs from the customary formula of movie
plots. It's a simple, quiet and effective mirroring of life on a Maine farm.
Sun: "As the Earth Turns." with its quiet beauty of setting and theme, is a
refreshing item in this spring season's crop of pictures. It is as welcome
as the first garden asparagus and strawberries. It is well acted, this story,
and directed with a pleasant lack of pretension.
Para. Changes Dale of
District Managers Meet
New York, — Paramount has chang-
ed the date for the district managers'
meeting at the Edgewater Beach Hotel
in Chicago from April 21-22 to April
28-29. This meeting is to precede
the general annual sales convention
in Los Angeles on June 1 8-20.
At the Chicago meeting George J.
Schaefer will preside, assisted by Neil
Agnew, Stanley Waite and J. J. Unger.
New AM PA Officers
New York. — The election of offi-
cers by the AMPA yesterday resulted
in the choice of William Ferguson of
MGM as president, Monroe Greenthal
of United Artists as vice-president,
Paul Benjamin as treasurer, and Harry
Blair as secretary.
Doyle on 'Red Man'
Ray Doyle has been assigned by
MGM to do added script work on
"Jungle Red Man," portions of the
script as he writes being sent down
to Brazil where George Seitz and Har-
old Noice are on location.
Cable In and Out
Clark Gable returned Wednesday
night from a fishing trip in Nevada
with 160 pounds of fish and left last
night, after a visit to the MGM stu-
dio, for a two weeks' stay at San
Simeon, where he will try his tuck at
hunting.
New Job For Mintz
Radio is holding Sam Mintz to
write the script of "Anne of Green
Gables." the L. M. Montgomery story,
when he completes his present assign-
ment. "By Your Leave." Both pictures
will be produced by Kenneth Mac-
gowan.
Schildkraut-Berg Split
Joseph Schildkraut announced last
night that his managerial contract with
Phil Berg was dissolved yesterday by
mutual consent. He has been under
the Berg wing for the past year.
Decision Aid to Authors
(Continued from Page 1 )
tures were in existence, no talking
picture can be made without his con-
sent, provided he has not parted with
the dramatic rights."
In the case of Bercovici. the court
found that,, he had parted with all
rights, including dramatic, and thus
had no clafhn to the talking picture'
rights. -.rJi&iMiSsti*?-.---
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
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y ■-
Mrs. Kinney Tells
Studios She's Boss
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of
the Code Committee for Extras, yes-
terday sent a letter to the various stu-
dios, casting agencies and other or-
ganizations dealing with extra players,
informing everyone in the industry
that no complaint in connection with
extras and the film code will be con-
sidered unless it is filed directly with
her committee.
This letter is interpreted as a move
on the part of Mrs. Kinney to block
the effort to throw extra players' code
complaints into the lap of the Studio
Labor Committee, of which Pat Casey
is head.
Para Sets *One Woman'
As Second Lee Tracy
Lee Tracy's second starring vehicle
for Paramount, following "A Son
Comes Home." is scheduled to be
"One Woman." the Tiffany Thayer
story which Barney Glazer is super-
vising.
Peter Ruric was engaged through
the Schulberg-Feldman and Gurney
office yesterday to write the screen
play.
REVEL
TRAVEL SERVICE
6724 Hollywood Blvd. HO. 2241
(HOTEL CHRISTII)
Travel Specialists
Catering especially to people of
the motion picture industry
Let us handle all the detail*
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INTERNATIONALLY REPRESENTED
Dorothy Cray
ACE 10 — as BUNNY in
"AS THE EARTH TURNS"
NOW PLAYING WARNERS-
HOLLYWOOD AND DOWNTOWN
.-.^ — — THEATRES -^'^---^
Coming'Retease:
"MEN IN WHITE!'— 4^K;M
«
TARZAN AND HIS MATE
Jf
Johnny
IS BACK AGAIN
AS
TARZAN"
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TAEZAN AND HIS MATE
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Maureen O'SuUivan
PORTRAYS ONCE MORE
THE ROLE
OF
"JANE PARKER"
«
TARZAN AND HIS MATE
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IMP
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^
ARZAN AND HIS MATE
If
Paul Cavanagh
PLAYS
'MARTIN ARLINGTON"
\
ARZAN AND HIS MATE
99
4 CEDRIC GIBBONS
WISHES TO EXPRESS HIS
APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE
^
TO
JAMES McKAY
THOMAS HELD
EARL TAGGART
WHO FOR THE PAST YEAR
WITH MANY OTHERS HAVE
WORKED UNTIRINGLY TO
SURMOUNT DIFFICULTIES
AND ACHIEVE THRILLS
NOT H ITHERTO
ATTEMPTED
<«»
mil
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■^ilRZAN AND HIS MATE"
S'^i '«!
James Kevin McGuinness
SCREEN PLAY
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TARZAN AND HIS MATE
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LEON GORDON
ADAPTATION
'When Ladies Meet"
M-C-M
"Son-Daughter"
M-C-M
"Susan Lennox"
M-C-M
H
TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
JAMES
McKAY
STAGED
THE
LION
MONKEY
AND
HIPPO
SCENES
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April 20. 1934
IRiP>©i
Page Eleven
MAIVY HAPPY RETURNS' RIOT;
UNCERTAIN LADY' IS TAME
Good Plot Marred
By Poor Handling
Audience Howls at
Burns and Allen Pic
"MANY HAPPY RETURNS"
(Paramount)
Direction Norman McLeod
Original Lady Mary Cameron
Screen Play J. P. McEvoy
and Claude Binyon
Adaptation Keene Thompson
and Ray Harris
Music and Lyrics.... Arthur Johnston
and Sam Coslow
Photography Henry Sharp
Cast: George Burns, Gracie Allen, Joan
Marsh, George Barbier, Ray Mil-
land, Egon Brecher, William Dema-
rest, Franklin Pangborn, Morgan
Wallace, Larry Adier, Stanley Fields,
John Kelly, Johnny Arthur, Kenneth
Thomson, Velos and Yolanda, Guy
Lombardo's Royal Canadians.
Never have Gracie Allen and George
Burns been given such an opportunity
as; in "Many Happy Returns." The
piece is neatly tailored to fit their
brand of comedy. And how it fits!
it's a near riot from beginning to end.
"Many Happy Returns" should spell
just that at the box-office.
George Barbier comes back from
Europe to discover a wrecking crew
tearing down his store. His daugh-
ter, Gracie, has ordered it because she
wants to build an aviary on the site.
He has her psycho-analyzed, but she
drives the psycho-analyist crazy.
All else failing, the father makes
a deal with George Burns, radio an-
nouncer for Guy Lombardo's orchestra,
to marry Gracie and take her away.
He offers $10 a mile and the further
the better. Burns is headed for Hol-
lywood and pictures with Lombardo,
so Gracie is taken along.
On the same train is Grade's sane
sister, winner of a beauty contest, also
Hollywood-bound with her fiance. The
father orders her kidnapped rather
than see her enter the movies. Gracie
is talked into substituting for the
missing contest winner, which leads to
a hilarious scene wherein she upsets
an entire studio. The finale has Burns
and Gracie aboard a steamship headed
for foreign shores and Burns is com-
puting his profits at the increased rate
of $30 a mile.
Burns and Allen are, of course, the
picture. They score in every appear-
ance and Gracie is photographed to
excellent advantage. Joan Marsh does
well in the limited role of the sister,
and George Barbier delivers his stand-
ard job. Others are uniformly good.
The direction of Norman McLeod
strikes and maintains a fast farce pace.
Music by Johnston and Coslow has at
least one sure-fire hit tune in the
number played in the Pullman car.
The rendition is by Lombardo and that
means the best. Photography good.
There is a dance routine by Veioz
and Yolanda that means but little and
should be drastically trimmed. It is
one of the few slow spots in an other-
wise swiftly-paced comedy wow.
Don't under-rate the drawing
power of Burns and Allen in your ad-
vance campaign. At the Pomona pre-
view last evening, the audience burst
into applause at the sight of their
names, a rare demonstration there.
'Stand Up and Cheer'
Day $12,000; Not Big
New York. — Business for "Stand
Up and Cheer" for its opening day
at the Music Hall was approxi-
mately $12,000, which is good,
but still far from top figures for
that house.
Pathe to Distribute
Six Vogue Pictures
London. — Confirming the report
published exclusively in the Hollywood
Reporter, Howard Welsh's new com-
pany, Vogue Film Productions, an-
nounces the production of six fea-
tures, to cost around $100,000 cash,
for distribution through Pathe Pic-
tures Ltd.
Desmond Tew, general manager of
the Archibald Nettleford Productions,
will make them for Vogue.
Lord Starting Two
Robert Lord gets two of his super-
visory charges into work at Warners
April 25. They are "British Agent,"
with Leslie Howard and Kay Francis,
and "The Dragon Murder Case," with
Warren William.
Coldwyn-Warner Clash
(Continued from Page 1 )
venting him from getting the dance
director for the next Eddie Cantor
picture.
After the Warner attorneys got in
their say, the Judge dissolved the order
yesterday morning, stating that a
hearing had been set for Monday and
that it was unreasonable to take Ber-
keley off the Warner production for
the three days.
Warners, according to the com-
plaint, signed Berkeley to a long term
ticket October 27, 1932, at the same
time agreeing to let Goldwyn have
him for two musicals a year in ex-
change for Goldwyn's prior rights on
the d rector. The Warner-Goldwyn
agreement stipulated 45 days notice
on his services from Goldwyn.
Abe Lehr sent a registered letter to
Warners in January, requesting Ber-
kelev for the first of this month.
"Warners have failed to comply,"
Goldwyn's complaint states, "and re-
fuse to comply with the terms of the
agreement. Warners refused on April
I and ever since have refused to per-
mit Berkeley to perform any services
for Goldwyn or make him available
and, on the contrary, ever since April
1 have used the exclusive services of
the director in violation of Goldwyn's
rights u"der the terms of the October
27 1932, contract."
The feud started when Goldwyn is
said *^o have fallen out with Warners
last September because of Berkeley
and "Roman Scandals." Goldwyn was
making "Nana" at th^t time and had
Warren William on loan, but overran
his time, and Warners yanked Wil-
liam before the picture was finished.
Goldwyn had to re-cast and re-shoot
the production.
"UNCERTArN LADY '
(Universal)
Direction Karl Freund
Adaptation Daniel Evans
and Martin Brown
Screen Play George O'Neil
and Doris Anderson
Photography Charles Stumar
Cast; Edward Everett Horton, Gene-
vieve Tobin, Mary Nash, Paul Cav-
anagh, Renee Gadd, Donald Reed,
Dorothy Peterson, George Meeker,
Arthour Hoyt, Gay Seabrook.
Universal's "Uncertain Lady" is a
very uncertain picture. It never quite
makes up its mind whether or not to
broaden its comedy into pure farce,
and the audience is never quite cer-
tain as to who was the most uncer-
tain— -the authors, the director, or the
cast — about the whole thing.
George O'Neil and Doris Anderson,
the authors, brought rather uninspired
writing to a good comedy plot, and
Karl Freund, the director, was unable
to shake off his lethargy except in a
few rare instances. The cast, for the
most part, wavered between a stub-
born determination to see the thing
through and discouragement.
Genevieve Tobin is the head of a
large business concern, who is so busy
that her husband, Edward Everett Hor-
ton, finds time to fancy himself in
love with Renee Gadd. When they
both come to the wife to ask her to
divorce him, Miss Tobin says that she
will IF they will find her another hus-
band.
Their candidates are not so attrac-
tive, so Miss Tobin invites a man
(Paul Cavanagh) in whom she really
is interested, to her house party in
order to arouse Horton's jealousy.
And, of course, she falls in love with
Cavanagh.
It is unfortunate that the good,
workable basis of this comedy is glazed
over with unimpressive dialogue and
listless direction. The cast really
hasn't a chance, although Cavanagh
gets the best breaks. Both Miss Tobin
and Horton fail to give their usual ex-
cellent performances. George Meeker
takes advantage of the opportunity
for a good characterization. Renee
Gadd's acting is pretty obvious. Mary
Nash, Donald Reed and Dorothy Peter-
son have small roles.
Not very many audiences will go
for this. Its entertainment value is
definitely low.
Helen Hayes Slated As
'Lost Horizons' Star
Helen Hayes is slated to star in
"Lost Horizons," the unproduced
Harry Segall play which MGM yester-
day purchased for $1 5,000. Deal was
handled by William Stephens.
Para. Buys Original
Paramount has purchased a story
by Melville Baker and Jack Kirkland,
titled "Intimate," as a possible star-
ring vehicle for Miriam Hopkins.
Migosh, wot excitement was caused
by a tactical error. And your old pal
"Schnozzola" Durante was the cause
of it all. Durante, as you probably
know, will replace Cantor on the
Chase and Sanborn hour. (And irKi-
dentally, Cantor spent so much time
plugging Chase and Sanborn at the
testimonial dinner given to Cohan and
Harris, that telegrams of protest came
in and he was told to stop). Well,
anyway, "Palooka" played the State
Theatre and, as an added plug for it,
a bright p. a. in the Loew offices made
a tie-up for much window space with
a coffee company, which was okay,
only the company happened to be
Maxwell House and there was a great
big picture of Durante saying: "It's a
pleasure to dunk if you have the
RIGHT coffee." So they had the right
person but the wrong coffee and Chase
and Sanborn burned up the wires over
it.
•
It just goes to show you what a
really bad title can do to a play. These
days, when a show is put on, there
never is too much money back of it
and unless it "takes" immediately,
most of them don't get a chance to
build into anything. Well, along came
a play called "Brain Sweat," a really
revolting title, and we noticed that
even on opening night the house was
not full and was mainly occupied by
those whose business it was to attend.
It turned out to be a comedy, and a
pretty swell one at that. The criti-
cal notices the following day were
unanimous in praise, with nip-ups
over the performance of Billy Higgins.
Three nights later, the show closed.
The producers, however, claim that
they will re-open it at another thea-
tre but, under the financial arrange-
ments they had made, they couldn't
wait for the good word to get around.
We still think the title is something
to hurdle for the public.
«
A really inexcusable movie boner
crept into "As the Earth Turns." The
first sequences of the film go to a
great deal of trouble to plant the idea
that it's terribly cold — more than
twelve below zero, etc., etc. In spite
of the cold, however, not once can you
see the actors' breaths in the icy air.
Guess the actors themselves must have
been pretty cold propositions, or may-
be the air was penetrating.
London Studios Start
Two Important Films
London. — Two big productions have
just gone before the cameras in Lon-
don. They are the London Films-Alex
Korda picture, starring Douglas Fair-
banks Sr., entitled "The Private Life
of Don Juan," with Merle Oberon,
Benita Hume and Elsa Lanchester in
support; and "Java Head," directed
by J. Walter Ruben, for Basil Dean-
Associated Talking Pictures, with Eliz-
abeth Allan, John Loder, Edmund
Gwenn and George Curzon.
Lombard with Cooper
Carole Lombard has been assigned
to "You Belong to Me" at Paramount
opposite Gary Cooper.
Pag« Twelve
THE^^
April 20, 1934
NEW MOVIE
I 1 0 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY. ..Margaret Sullavan
(Universal )
The stories in the May New Movie
are like the nursery rhyme — when
they're good, they're very, very good,
and when they're bad, they're — not
so good.
Edwin C. Hill writes a swell por-
trait, vivid, alive and convincing, in
"Hepburn Is Dynamite"; an anony-
mous article, "Could You Take It As
an Extra Girl?" is easy to take as
reading matter; another unsigned
story, "The Norma Shearer- Irving
Thalberg Loves," is good fan mag
stuff; Dorothy Manners does right by
Isabel Jewell in "Love Moves in on
Lee Tracy," and Herb Howe goes
beautifully columnistic in "Royalty Is
Rampant."
Harry N. Blair has "The Movie
Scouts May Get You," a history to
date of "discoveries"; Irene Thirer in-
terviews Douglass Montgomery in
"Young Man from Hollywood"; and
Eric L. Ergenbright concludes his yarn
on Wallace Beery, "My Life Until
Now."
Grace Kingsley covers the parties;
the close-ups this month are fascinat-
ing; but the question is, why did the
editors waste the page on "Daughter
of Will Rogers," by George Wilkins?
MOTION PICTURE
1 06 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Anna Sten
Trust Motion Picture to have the
unusual in stories.
Read "How the Blind See the
Movies," by Eric L. Ergenbright;
"Carole Lombard Tells Why Holly-
wood Marriages Can't Succeed," by
Sonia Lee, which is nothing if not
frank; "How June Knight, Once an
Invalid, Became a Star," by Hal Hall,
which is real drama; "The Tortures
That Stars Endure," by Robert Fender;
"How They Get Baby LeRoy to Do
Those Things," by Elisabeth Goldbeck;
and "How Warren William Gets Away
from It All," by Dorothy Donnell.
Read also jack Grant's new depart-
ment, "Movies in the Making."
There is a second story on Carole
Lombard — all about her house. It Is
by Dorothy Calhoun and fans will
love it.
Robert Montgomery says the usual
things, but says them well in "Don't
Let Anyone Tell You Acting Isn't
Hard Work," by Gladys Hall; Madge
Evans is "The College Boys' Favorite,"
according to Richard English; Dorothy
Manners covers the ground pretty
thoroughly in "Is Jean Harlow Holly-
wood's Most Underpaid Star?" and
Jack Grant writes about "Hollywood
Recognizes Russia."
The effect of the film capital on
two players is discussed by Franc
Dillon in "Hollywood Is Ruining Me
As an Actress" (Gloria Stuart), and
by Gladys Hall in "Hollywood Hasn't
Ruined Barthelmess, BUT — ■"
The stories are all good and out of
the ordinary.
Webb To Be Examined
In Suit By Embassy
New York. — Stuart Webb, presi-
dent of Pathe, will be examined by
Fitelson & Mayer before the trial on
April 24 of the suit brought by Em-
bassy Pictures.
The suit is to restrain Pathe from
distributing re-issues of Harold Lloyd
comedies.
Melford Lesser Mgr.
Frank Melford is the production
manager on Sol Lesser's "Peck's Bad
Boy," and not Frank Melton, as er-
roneously reported yesterday.
GRAUMANS
llii\:< W
BROADWAY at 9lh • PHONE MA 2511
LAUGHS
GALORE
and
SMASH HIT
TUNES OF
1934
Sing
CR0S6/
WERE
NOr n
DRESSING
CAROLE
LOMBARD
• URNS A ALIEN
■ tMCl MERMAN
LEON ERROL
'■■!
'HENRY THE ACHE' Comedy
SCREEN SNAPSHOTS -NEWS
Harry Brandt Gets
Two More Theatres
New York. — The Brandt interests
now have 22 theatres in their chain,
having just acquired the City Hall in
Manhattan, and the New Broadway in
Brooklyn. Brandt is negotiating for
nine more houses in his attempt to
build his chain into one of the most
important in New York.
A deal has also been set by which
Brandt will book pictures for the Re-
public, a burlesque house which runs
pictures occasionally.
U' Picture Rushed
In To Help Pantages
Because of a shortage of pictures,
Pantages Theatre yesterday opened
with Universal's "Uncertain Lady,"
which has just been completed, but
which has not been finished long
enough to be previewed.
As an accommodation to the thea-
tre, which couldn't find a satisfactory
picture, Universal let it go in without
previewing.
Sam Engel Going to MCM
Recuperating at the Cedars of Leb-
anon Hospital, following an operation,
Sam Engel is set to report to MCM
on loan from Twentieth Century when
he checks out.
Fazenda to Fox
Louise Fazenda, signed to an MGM
ticket, goes to Fox for her first as-
signment for the comedy lead in
"Caravan," the Erik Charel production.
2600-Pound Star in
N.Y. For Personals
New York. — The only 2600-
pound movie star has arrived in
New York to do personal appear-
ances. She is Mary the Rhino, and
will appear with the MCM picture,
"Tarzan and His Mate," at the
Capitol. She was honored here by
an escort of motorcycle cops.
Next For Hepburn
P<atharine Hepburn's first picture
for Radio upon her return in June will
be the Lester Cohen story, "Break of
Hearts," which 'was pnce before
slated for her and John Barrymore.
Pan Berman supervises.
Starts Tomorrow!
THE ONE... THE REAL...
THE ONLY
TARZAN
and his
MATE
JOHNNY WEISSMULLER
MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN
MCM'S Big Thrill Picture
LOEWS STATE
JAY HENRY
as
Prince Alexander Stofani
in
"WE'RE NOT DRESSING
n
now playing
Paramount Theatre Downtown
Personal Management
ALFRED C. SHAUER
\'F:T?{0-GiO:.DV,YN-:.'AYHR STUDIOS,
% MR.SAVUEL MARA,
CULVER GITY.CALIr-.
Vol. XX. No. 36. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, April 21. 1934
Pl\ WITHCLT PICTLRtS
•THE efforts of the producers and
exhibitors to rid the picture industry
of the double feature evil will be, if
successful, one of the longest strides
ever made by the business toward in-
creased prosperity and, what is even
more important, better pictures.
At the recent conference between
the MPTOA executive committee and
the major producers, both sides agreed
that there were two important things
to be eliminated — smut and double
bills. Each promised to work to that
desired end. Later when the MPTOA
crowd met the independent producers,
the exhibs maintained the same atT''^
titude — double features must go.
That undoubtedly was a bit painful
to some of the small producers, but
the exhibs were adamant.
•
There are so many evils in the
double feature practice that it is hard
to see how anyone can support it.
The necessity of making enough
features to supply double bills means
poorer average pictures, because, with
the number that must be turned out,
not enough time can be given to
the important productions. The in-
dustry simply can not produce enough
GOOD PICTURES to satisfy the double
bill demands and, in trying to do so,
they have to skimp on the whole pro-
gram.
BETTER PICTURES give the answer
to all the ills of the industry. Better
pictures mean longer runs, larger
grosses, satisfied audiences. Better
pictures will draw people back to the
theatres not keep them going away
as the type shown on double bills does.
The motion picture patrons are not
saps. The day has passed when they
laid down their money for anything
and evervthine on the screen. They
want ENTERTAINMENT now and
they don't get it from duals
•
The most important party to this
effort to kill off doubles is the ex-
hibitor. If he refuses to play two or
more features on the same bill, the
studios won't make so many pictures.
But so long as he plays them, the
type suitable for duals will be made.
Demand always governs supply. If the
demand is for quantity, the consumer
will get quantity. If the demand is
for quality, the producer will have to
supolv that.
The producers are willing. The>
(Continued on Page 3)
Thirfy-Hour Bill
Gaining Strength
Washington. — The Connery
thirty-hour bill is gaining so much
support that it is believed certain
it will pass when it comes to a
vote, unless the Wagner bill, es-
tablishing a permanent National
Labor Board, becomes a reality.
Mae West Will Play
'Queen of Sheba'
Mae West will star in "Queen of
Sheba" as her next production, which
William LeBaron will handle.
Paramount will use the Da-
vid Boehm story, "For My Coun-
try," for the title, purchasing the
property through the William Morris
office yesterday. The star has can-
celled plans for personal appearances
and goes to work on the screen play of
her picture immediately on the finish
of "It Ain't No Sin."
Publicity Depts. of U.A.
And 20th Century Merge
New York. — The publicity depart-
ments of United Artists and Twentieth
Century in New York have been con-
solidated. Karl Krug has resigned and
Bernard Simon is now in charge of
publicity, under Hal Home.
Swanson Draw is Fair
New York. — Gloria Swanson's per-
sonal appearance at the Paramount
yesterday put perhaps $5,000 into
the house. This is not considered
very hot, but the attendance is ex-
pected to build from women fans
later.
Foreign Producers Experi-
ment With Films Which Have
Only Noise And Sub-titles
London. — Motion pictures without pictures! That sounds
insane, and yet that is just what some of the British and German
producers are making. It is all in the nature of an experiment,
and a most interesting one, which may mean the end of motion
pictures as they are known now and
the development of a new form of
entertainment.
In Berlin now three picture houses
are running films that have only sound
and no pictures. Recently in London
a film was shown which had merely
flashes and spots of light, moving to
the rhythm of a melody. At Elstree, a
producer is making a picture of the
(Continued on Page 4)
Clara Kimball Young
For 'I Can't Escape'
Max Alexander yesterday signed
Clara Kimball Young for a featured
spot in "I Can't Escape," which Otto
Brower is directing for Beacon Produc-
tions. Nat Carr has also been signed
for the picture. Onslow Stevens and
Lila Lee have the top brackets.
Paramount Takes Up
Sylvia Sidney Option
Paramount exercised its option on
Sylvia Sidney's contract yesterday and
the player starts her third year with
the company.
Her next starring vehicle is sched-
uled to be "One Way Ticket," which
the B. P. Schulberg unit produces.
CODE AUTHORITY PUTS
SCREWS OIV EXHIBITORS
New York. — The Motion Picture
Code Authority yesterday made public
a resolution, which was adopted April
6, and which, in effect, tells exhibi-
tors that, if they do not pay their as-
sessments for the expenses of the code
functioning, they will get no product.
The resolution, which was not an-
nounced until after the bills for the
assessments had been sent out, stated
that if any exhibitor fails to pay the
amount assessed against his theatre
within 30 days, and if the local Griev-
ance Board does not extend that time,
"such exhibitor shall refrain from
(Continued on Page 2)
Four Walls,' Old Silent,
Will Be Remade by MOM
MGM will remake "Four Walls,"
one of the last silents which the com-
pany turned out in 1928 when jack
Gilbert had the lead. (Paul Muni
played the role on the stage.
No director, writer or cast has been
assigned as yet.
Henry Ginsberg East
Henry Ginsberg, general manager
for Hal Roach, left for New York last
night to confer with MGM officials
on plans for next season's production.
Harry joe Brown
Going to Warners
)ack Warner is reported closing a
deal with Harry Joe Brown which will
have the vice-president of the Charles
R. Rogers unit at Paramount moving
into the Warner organization as an
c-ssociate producer.
Frown has until late next month
to go on his Paramount contract and
It is understood that he chose the
Warner ticket in preference to propo-
sitions from two other majors. War-
ners will have him as a writer, direc-
tor and producer.
Ulmer Freed From 'U'
Contract by Request
Universal yesterday granted the
request of Edgar Ulmer for release
from his contract, due to difficulties
over salary. The director has just fin-
ished "The Black Cat," starring Boris
Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Ulmer an-
ncunced he would free lance.
Col. Buys Party Wire'
And Signs the Author
Wew York. — Columbia has pur-
^chased a story by Vera Caspary and
Bruce Manning, called "Party Wire."
Miss Caspary has also Been signed to
a contract, which runs five years.
*U' Wants May Robson
Having closed with Warners for the
loan of Mary Astor, Universal is con-
cluding a deal with MGM for the loan
of May Robson, both going into "One
More River," the Galsworthy script.
McMorrow with Fox
New York — Fox has signed Thomas
McMorrow, noted Saturday Evening
Post writer, to do an original for Will
Rogers. He leaves for Hollywood next
week.
[JOHN CROMWELL Directed "Of HuKian Bondage'' RKo-Rad.o
Page Two
April 21, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON . Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE
Manag ng Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Otfices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angelest . California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
Hew York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The Warner studio is getting more
demands for the loan of Veree Teas-
dale's services than for any actress
they've ever had under contract . . .
Veree, by the way, has been our per-
sonal nomination for "screen's best
dressed woman" for a long, long time
. . . The Lola Lane-AI Hall amour is
colder than Kelsey's ice-box . . . and
not just because he happens to be out
of town either . . . It's amazing — the
number of friends the wife of a
famous star lost — because of a stunt
she thought was very smart, but was
really only snide and common . . .
Wish we could tell you the priceless
crack that Richard Bennett made
when he was introduced to Barbara
Fritchie for the first time ... If
you look like Trotsky, Lenin, Keren-
sky or Lloyd George, make a dash for
Warners — they want 'em all for
"British Agent."
•
Lotsa pipple are ^making a dash,
for the Dier at San Pedro — because
Raquel Torres and Steve Ames are
throwing a huge cocktail party aboard
the Lurline before sailing this after-
noon . . . Sign on a theatre down
town reads. "It Ain't No Sin" "By
Candlelight" (!) ... No matter how
many closeups they give Eddie Rob-
inson— he just can't get enough of
'em . . . Half of Hollywood at the
Cirrus the other night, with Margaret
Lird-.ay, back from her desert re-coup-
ing, Mary Brian with Gene Raymond,
Don Cook, Gene Towne among the
peanut eaters . . . Hear that three
stujos want to borrow Randy Scott
for roles — but Paramount wont lend
— it's a strange case.
The Hal Roaches big-partying for
Irvin Cobb and dotter, "Buff", Tues-
day night . . . The Dick Barthelmesses
(off to Santa Barbara for the week
end), Billie Burke, with Patricia Zieg-
feld, the Walter Wangers, the Gary
Coopers, William Anthony McGuire,
Wallace Beery and Carol Ann, the
Charlie Kenyons. Phillip McDonald
with Doris Kenyon, the Pan Bermans,
Elliott Gibbons and Irene Jones. Bemie
FIneman and Agnes de Mille, t/no
Frank Morgans, Max Steiner, Bayard
"SING AND LIKE IT "
RKO-Rad;o prod.; director, William Seiter; writers. Laird Doyle, Marion Dix;
music and lyrics, Dave Dreyer and Roy Turk.
Roxy Theatre
Mirror: With riotous dialogue, daffy situations and mad characters this rowdy
kidcJing of th= gangsters in show business provides first rate fun. A
splendid company of comedians is headed by Nat Pendleton and Zasu
Pitts, who have never been funnier.
Herald-Tribune: "Sing and Like It" is a combination of surprise laughs and
such very thin plot material that one is apprehensive lest the thread will
break from strain. Yet it is good fun most of the time and a genuine
take-off on a number of things. Much of the credit is due Laird Doyle
and Marion Dix, who wrote the pointed dialogue.
Times: The new film, in its good natured way, is an entertaining if less than
brilliant burlesque of two once popular dramatic themes. Those who
provided the dialogue for the story have slipped in a number of wise-
cracks which achieve the ultimate in comedy delivery.
World-Telegram: Here is a film so funny that it will leave you limp from
laughter, since it doesn't let up tickling the funny bone from the minute
it begins until the final fadeout. Writers, directors, supervisor and the cast
are to be congratulated.
Journal: One of the goofiest, giddiest and most hilarious comedies seen here
abouts in a long, long time. You'll do more than like it. You'll howl and
be thoroughly and gorgeously entertained.
Sun: "Sing and Like It" is an amusing notion, and equipped with sufficient
wisecracks and puns to cull plenty of easy laughs. Mr. Seiter's direction
keeps the picture lively and close to slapstick. It's silly, extravagant, and
funny.
Post: A pleasant little farce which disappointingly falls short of hilarity. A
defter touch in the writing, a little more expertness in the direction and
playing would have provided the fillip for a genuinely diverting comedy.
News: Looking over the cast you feel that you're in for a session of side-split-
ting laughter. You can think of Zasu Pitts. Pert Kelton, Edward Everett
Horton, Ned Sparks and Nat Pendleton only as mirth provokers. But
"Sing and Like It" is disappointing. The gaps between laughs give you
pause to do too much thinking abcut what goes on. And what goes on is
not at all to be desired.
American: There is a great deal that is grimly ludicrous in this thoroughly
amusing satire. It's full of giggles, and loud laughs are interspersed.
The cast is fine.
■I LIKE IT THAT WAY"
Universal prod.; director, Harry Lachman; writers, Harrv Sauber, Chandler
Spragus and Joseph Santley; songs. Conrad, Mitchell and Cottier.
^^syf-sir Theatre
Sun: A p3le little offering which is neither very musical nor very comic nor,
for that matter very objectionable. Oie of the mildest of the song and
dance films.
News: Two good tuies. some capable singing by Gloria Stuart, and a good deal
of Roger Pryor's usual aggressiveness constitute the goings-on of "I Like
It That Wav." Ycu will like the song after which the picture is titled, but
ycu are likely to feel that you've seen this so-'t of thing before.
American: A moderately amusing motion picture, which pauses in its routine
pfot long enough to feature a pleasant song or so. While thsy don't
succeed in making this little venture epochal, they do add considerably to
its entertainment merit.
Mirror: A mild little musical romance, pleasantly played by the attractive Gloria
Stuart and the exuberant Roger Pryor. The songs are entertaining. The
direction is brisk.
Post: The assortment of run-of-the-mill blondes in "I Like It That Way"
rather defeats any attempt to gather much sense from the plot. It is all
very muddled and inconsequential.
Times: It is a dull, inept affair. The picture was directed by Harry Lachman
and Messrs. Conrad, Mitchell and Goltler are responsible for the songs.
So it takes several minds to make even a very poor picture.
Herald-Tribune "I Like It That Way" will hardly fill you with enthusiasm for
the cinema.
Journal. The new film at the Mayfair Theatre this week must have started out
to be musical. But the musical theme becomes lost in the shuffle and,
after a bit, the piece turns out to be composed of a couple of other ideas.
Veiller, Wm. Le Baron and Kitty
Kelly. Robert Presnell, among the
diners at the Vendome Thursday
night. . . M. C. Levee, Leslie Howard,
Ruth Roland, Ben Bard, Margie White
and lack Oakie at the Jack Ke^rns
Wclkathon. . . . Vince Barnett, Ruby
Keeler and jack LaRue are sponsoring
cruples in the contest. . . . Louis B.
Mayer is taking about half the picture
business to the Hearst ranch at San
Simeon for the week-end.
Henry Stephenson in
Set with MCM and U'
With two more weeks to go on his
contract with Paramount in "She
Loves Me Not," Henry Stephenson has
been signed by MGM and Universal
for future pictures. He goes to MGM
for a spot in "The Green Hat," and
then to Universal in "One More Riv-
er," tickets going through the Beyer-
MacArthur office.
Govt. Prober Ends
Code Trouble Task
Miss Helen V. Barry, special field
investigator for the NRA Compliance
Office in Washington, left yesterday
after a week spent here investigating
the difficulty between Sol Rosenblatt,
Judoe Ben Lindsey, George Creel and
Pat Casey regarding the turning over
of labor complaints to the Casey com-
mittee.
It developed that Miss Barry made
a very complete investigation into the
entire Code situation with respect to
both the extra players and the studio
labor people who are supposed to have
their difficulties straightened out by
the Code Committee for Extras and
the Studio Labor Committee, respec-
tively. Her report will be rendered to
Washington.
Decision Reserved in
Helen Kane-Para. Suit
New York. — Judge McGoldrick
yesterday reserved decision on the
civil rights angle of the suit brought
by Helen Kane against Paramount and
Fleischer cartoons about the Betty
Boop shorts.
The court refused to grant Miss
Kane a jury trial, but will hear the
charge of unfair competition Monday.
Futter Reports Theft
Walter Futter yesterday reported to
the Hollywood police that 6000 feet
of film, showing the workings of the
opium industry in Siam, have been
mysteriously stolen from the vaults in
his plant at 1426 North Beachwood
Drive. He stated that only he, his
brother Fred, and a cutter knew the
combination to the safe.
Fay Wray Ducks Indie
Fay Wray, said to have been bor-
rowed from Twentieth Century by M.
H. Hoffman for a leading role in a
Liberty production, has decided that
she will not accept the role.
Lipman on Vacation
After six months of consecutive as-
signments, although he was on a
week-to-week basis, William R. Lip-
man checked out of Paramount for a
two weeks vacation and a trip to San
Francisco.
Exhibs Told to Pay
(Continued from Page 1)
exhibiting in his theatre any picture
which bears the Blue Eagle trade-
mark." Any violation of this resolu-
tion will be deemed a violation of the
NRA Fair Competition Code for the
Motion Picture Industry.
There is not the slightest doubt
that this will be fought in the courts
to test the right of the Government
to drive anyone out of business by
withholding product.
LOST
A jade and diamond bar pin.
$100 REWARD.
Phone TUcker 1650
April 21. 1934
Page Three
'IJIVKNOWIV BLONDE-
PLOT BLT SHORT ON
Timely Subject But
lot For Big Cities
"UNKNOWN BLONDE"
Majestic Pictures
(Reviewed in New York)
Direefion Hobart Henley
FrfJm the novel "Collusion" by Theo-
/^ dore Irwin.
I Screen Play: Leonaid Fields and David
' Silverstein.
Photography Ira Morgan
Cast: Edward Arnold, Barbara Baron-
dess, Barry Norton, John Miljan,
Dorothy Revier, Leila Bennett,
Walter Catlett, Helen Jerome Eddy,
Claude Gillingwater, Arietta Dun-
can, Maidel Turner, Franklyn Pang-
born, Esther Muir, Clarence Wilson,
Arthur Hoyt.
This picture is something like the
stock market. When you get through
' selling the name and exploiting the
subject matter, what have you got
yet? So, discounting the fact that this
is supposedly an expose of the divorce
racket prevalent in some states, and,
due to a current serial in the Mirror,
a timely subject that can be luridly
sold, actually what is produced is a
fantastically bad story, elegantly trim-
med for an independent picture, with
a cast of well known players of whom
one catches occasional glimpses dur-
ing the lengthy proceedings.
The story is literally choked with
plot, starting off with an honest law-
yer being forced to take a framed di-
vorce case in order to make good a
$3500 check given out by his un-
faithful wife. He is caught in his own
plot for another's divorce by this same
wife, who thereupon marries a banker,
taking the cheeild with her and pois-
oning the child's mind against her
father.
The lawyer then decides to go in
for the divorce racket in a really big
way. He makes a fortune and re-
makes his wife, framing it for her
second husband to sue her for divorce.
And, of course, the whole nasty busi-
ness ends up with the lawyer uncon-
sciously framing his own darling,
innocent daughter and being forced
^ to expose the whole works in order to
preserve her happiness.
Ma estic has really sought to do
well by this kind of schnitzel, giving
it an expensive air and using a lot of
tricks that the majors do, including
hiring a number of their well known
players. But even so, the thing just
doesn't stand up. Despite which fact,
because of its subject matter, the pic-
ture can be sold and sold well, par-
ticularly when you get outside the
metropolitan areas, on short runs.
Ed Kennedy Working
At Fox and Radio Both
Ed Kennedy will double in two pic-
tures at different studios next week,
having been signed by Radio fot "Ara-
bella." He will be working in "Cara-
van" at Fox at the same time.
Radio would like to get another
Kennedy short in work and may sand-
wch that in next week too, if pos-
sible. Deals were negotiated by Fred-
die Fralick.
Pix and Vaude For
New York Casino
New York. — The old Casino
theatre goes into a policy of pic-
tures and vaudeville next Friday.
The opening attraction will be
"The Whirlpool," which will have
its New York premiere.
'U' Directors Name
Board of Officers
New York. — The Universal Board
of Directors yesterday elected officers
of the corporation. Carl Laemmie Sr.
was, of course, re-elected president.
Other officers are :
R. H. Cochrane, first vice-president;
Samuel Sedran, second vice-president;
W. S. McKay, secretary; Helen E.
Hughes, assistant secretary; C. B.
Paine, treasurer; E. F. Walsh, assist-
ant treasurer.
Laemmie Sr. left ror the coast yes-
terday with Jack Ross.
Beery-Montgomery in
West Point of the Air'
Wallace Beery and Robert Mont-
gomery were set by MGM yesterday
for the leading roles in "West Point
of the Air," the John Monk Saunders
story on which lames K. McCuinness
and Phillip Dunne delivered a screen
play.
Richard Rosson is slated to direct,
with Monta Bell producing. Production
goes on the stage May 25.
Columbia Starts Last
Tim McCoy Wednesday
Columbia starts the eighth and last
Tim McCoy action picture, with D.
Ross Lederman directing, next Wed-
nesday. 0,'iginal screen play, which is
untitled, has been written by Harold
Shumate.
Studio finished "Fire Patrol," the
seventh on the program, last Tues-
day. Irving Briskin produces.
Bruckman Para. Writer
Clyde Bruckman joined the Para-
mount writing staff yesterday, the
veteran director taking an assignment
to work with Harry Ruskin and Lynn
Starling on the screen play of "52
Weeks for Florette," which Al Werker
directs The Small-Landau office set
the ticket.
Horton to Stage in Fall
Edward Everett Horton has been
signed by Arthur Lubin to appear in
a play the latter will direct early next
Fall in New York. Lubin directs "The
Green Bay Tree" for Louis Macloon,
which opens in San Francisco next
month.
Fox Calls For Carey
Fox IS negotiating with Harry Carey
for the player to return from New
York for a picture which goes into
work the latter part of next week.
Carey left last week to visit his par-
ents in the East.
LOXG ON
INTEREST
New York Crosses
Hit Poor Average
New York. — The grosses of the
New York picture houses are not so
good. "Rip Tide' got $34,200 for its
third week at Capitol, and "This Man
Is Mine" grossed only $63,000 at the
Music Hall.
"The Trumpet Blows" at the Para-
mount was poor with about $27,000
and "The House of Rothschild" drew
$23,000 for its fifth week at the
Astor. "Sing and Like It" could get
only $20,500 at the Roxy; "Looking
For Trouble" took $17,600 at the
Rivoli; the Strand got $15,000 with
"Modern Hero"; "Viva Villa" at the
Criterion grossed $6000 for four days;
"I Like It That Way" grabbed $9000
at the Mayfair, and the third week of
"The Lost Patrol" gave the Rialto
$14,000.
Five of *The Drunkard'
Cast Sign at Paramount
Five members of the cast of "The
Drunkard" were signed yesterday by
Paramount for featured roles in "Old
Fashioned Way." They are Jan Dug-
gan, Ruth Marion, Sam Etheridge,
Larry Grenier and William Blatchford.
Contracts went through the Beyer-
MacArthur office.
Rogers Sets Jevne on
*Here Comes the Groom'
Charles R. Rogers has set jack Jevne
on the screen play of "Here Comes
the Groom," with instructions to keep
pace with the shooting of the picture,
which went into work Thursday at
Paramount. Writer is doing extra
script work.
MGM Signs Brabin
Charles Brabin has been assigned
by MGM to direct "Wicked Woman,"
the Anne Austin play. Harry Segall is
scripting, and picture will be produced
by Harry Rapf. No cast set as yet.
Original For Warners
Warners have purchased an original
storv by Harrison Jacobs, titled "The .
Little Big Shot." This deals with a
little shot who is always imitating the
big shots.
'Dark Towers' Re-Named
Warners have changed the title of
"Dark Towers" Edward G. Robinson's
next to "The Strange Case of Mr.
Chautard."
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page
don't want to make poor pictures.
They get more money and greater
satisfaction out of successes than they
do out of the run of the mill product.
Besides that, better pictures mean
progress for the entire industry. The
business can't stand still. It must
progress. And the only wav to make it
go ahead is to make BETTER PIC-
TURES.
So a friendship that has long amus-
ed the town is gradually being cleared
up to the extent of bets being made
as to which of the duo will get what
he wants. An erstwhile producer has
gone in heavily for society, with the
scion of a very old family indeed giv-
ing him more attention than anyone
thaught he could rate. It now devel-
ops that the scion of the old family
expects to increase his insurance busi-
ness and the bets are that the pro-
ducer is too smart to turn over his
insurance until he's firmly established
in society or maybe never.
•
Ever since that article appeared in
the New Yorker, Mac, up at Twenty-
one has taken over the job of run-
ning a Cook's Tour for the benefit of
anyone interested in sliding panels,
doors that are walls and walls that
are doors, secret chambers and pas-
sageways that lead from one house
to another until you don't know
where you're at, except that you're in
g(Ood cc,m;pany and any bottle you
pick up will provide a good drink. In
case you haven't read the New Yorker
article, it was all about how and why,
when Twenty-one was raided, al-
though the federal agents spent twelve
hours in the place with a crew of
about twenty men, they couldn't find
any liquor, ^nd for anyone who's
ever been a lover of mystery stories,
tales of haunted castles and the like,
going through that labyrinth of secret
ways is a rare treat. It's a new form
of entertainment, anyway and gives
you a sentimental feeling about pro-
hibition. These days must have been
exciting.
Mr. and Mrs. Esmond O'Brien,
Everett Jacobs and Eileen Percy, Dor-
othy Mackaill and Julian Bach, Mr.
and Mrs. Julian Field, Charlie Beahan
and Caroline Esmundson, Vivienne
Segal, the George Murphys, Beth
Leary and "Shipwreck" Kelly danc-
ing around at the Mayfair. Incident-
ally you'll be hearing more about Miss
Edmundson, with whom the films are
flirting desperately, because she's a
gal of talent and plenty of looks who
draws and poses for Harper's Bazaar
. . . Moss Hart has bought himself
a flivver on account of he can't go
to the country this year wot with
three shows on or rather in his mind,
so he wants to go bouncing in Cen-
tral Park if it gets too hot . . . Leland
Hayward may fly to the coast any
dav now for a business visit . . .
Unless Edna Best is deceiving her best
friends, she will NOT file suit for
divorce at the moment — not even if
she wanted it . . . June Knight and
Paul Ames, Steve's brother are break-
ing Harry Richman's heart.
Lawrence No Show, So
Para. Suit Called Off
New York. — The claim brought by
Vincent Lawrence against Paramount
for $11 3,000, alleging breach of con-
tract, was disallowed by Referee Davis
yesterday. Lawrence did not show up,
so the case went against him by
default.
Page Four
April 21, 1934
SOUND MEIV FORM NEW ASSN.
WITHOUT UNION AFFILIATION
200 Important Ones
Joining New Croup
As a result of a series of secret
meetings that have been going on
since last January, more than 200 of
the most important sound technicians
in the industry have formed a new
association which they plan eventu-
ally to make the controlling factor in
the handling of all studio labor prob-
lems for sound men.
The new association, the name of
which at present is being kept secret,
is not to be affiliated in any way with
the American Federation of Labor or
any labor union. In fact, the members
of the new organization are outspoken
against any idea of such a hook-up.
The new group is composed prin-
cipally of dissatisfied members of Lo-
cal 695. lATSE, and a large number
of the members of the recently formed
American Society of Sound Engineers,
which was reported to have been a
group inspired by producer suggestion,
but which later found it had to get
under the IBEW wing or else get out
of the picture.
While no one would issue an offi-
cial statement in the name of the new
organization, it was formally stated
that all of the men in the new group
will withdraw from the lATSE local,
leaving that organization with a very
limited membership.
From members of the new organi-
zation it was learned that the move to
form the new body was started as a
result of the refusal of the A. F. of L.
to settle the jurisdictional dispute be-
tween the lATSE local and the IBEW,
both affiliated with the A. F. of L.
"We figured that it was time the
sound men did something to protect
themselves,' said one of the men.
"So we started the move with a meet-
ing of a few men. The idea has grown
as the men have become more and
more dissatisfied with the lATSE and
the A. F. of L. We have finally decid-
ed that we will be with no union
group, and we expect that, before we
get through, we will have the entire
sound situation in our hands, and
won't have to monkey with jurisdic-
tional fights among sister unions. It
will be Sound Men for Sound Men,
and to the devil with so-called labor
unions."
Knechtel Will Help on
'David Copperfield'
London. — Lloyd Knechtel has re-
turned from Paris, where he has been
grabbing scenes for Leslie Howard's
picture, "Of Human Bondage," and
backgrounds for Irving Asher-Warner
British.
Knechtel has been signed by Dave
Selznick to collaborate with Cukor in
getting British locations and atmos-
phere stuff for "David Copperfield."
Bosworth Ends Personals
Hobart Bosworth is en route here
by car from Detroit, and is expected
to arrive tomorrow or Monday. Player
last week completed 36 weeks of per-
sonal appearances, having played all
the RKO houses in the East.
Ostrow Reported
Going to Universal
It was reported last night that
Carl Laemmie Jr. and Lou Ostrow,
who IS producing for Monogram,
had practically completed a deal by
which Lou will join the Universal
forces as an associate producer.
'Arabella' Goes into
Work at Radio Monday
Signing Gloria Shea yesterday for the
role planned for Mary Carlisle, who
was unavailable. Radio gets "Arabella"
into production Monday, with William
Salter directing.
Marian Nixon and Reginald Denny
head the cast, which includes Grant
Mitchell. Billie Burke. Edna May Oli-
ver. Buster Crabbe and Warren Hy-
mer. Glendon Allvine produces.
Lead For Frances Drake,
Taking Lombard Spot
Paramount yesterday set Frances
Drake in the leading role in 'Notori-
ous Sophie Lang" instead of Carole
Lombard.
Frederick Irving Anderson and
Anthony Veiller are writing the
screen play of the former's original
story. Bayard Veiller is associate pro-
ducer.
Betty Grabie at Radio
Betty Crable, who has been warb-
ling with Jay Whidden in San Fran-
cisco, has returned to Hollywood to
continue her screen work. She is now
at Radio for "Headliner" with Gene
Austin and his Stooges, Candy and
Coco. Sam White directing.
Vidor Back to Studio
King Vidor will complete his loca-
tion snooting Monday night and will
return to the United Artist studio for
interior scenes. During the next few
days he will use over 100 extras a day
in "Our Daily Bread."
Para. Signs Sid Toler
'Finishing yesterday in "Operator
1 3," at MGM, Sidney Toler goes to
Paramount for a featured role in"Here
Comes the Groom." The Beyer-Mac-
Arthur office set the ticket.
Two Plays Poor For Pix
New York. — The picture possibili-
ties of "Are You Decent?" an
"Stevedore" are not so good. The lat-
ter might do, but is propaganda.
LaCava Starts at MGM
Gregory La Cava has been signed by
MGM and starts his deal there Mon-
day. He will be given an assignment
then.
New One For Hathaway
Henry Hathaway slips out of direct-
ing "Is Zat So?" and has been sched-
uled bv Paramount to direct "To The
Ladies."
Harry Rapf Returns
Harry Rapf returns today from a
vacation in Honolulu.
N.Y. Theatre Union
Strike Is Postponed
New York. — The threatened strike
of the Amusement Employees Union
against the Loew houses, scheduled
for this morning, was postponed yes-
terday, pending a check-up of the
union strength by Sol Rosenblatt.
If it is found that the union has
sufficient strength to warrant it, a
settlement will be negotiated.
Helen Morgan Starts
At Beverly Wilshire
The Gold Room of the Beverly Wil-
shire Hotel is scheduled to present
Helen Morgan, Ziegfeld singing star,
as guest of honor tomorrow night.
There will be no advance in prices
for this affair.
Miss Morgan is rehearsing for My-
ron C. Fagan's play "Memory," which
opens at the Biltmore Theatre on May
7. Carol Lofner and his "Dancing
Music" will be another attraction Sun-
day evening.
Dorothy Jordan Set
For One Woman's Life'
Radio has started the preparation
of the first picture in which Dorothy
Jordan will appear on her return, al-
though the date of the resumption of
her contract still remains indefinite.
Player will have the top spot in
"Doll's House," now re-titled "One
Woman's Life."
Buchman on Col. Yarn
Columbia has assigned Sidney Buch-
man to write an original screen play
^fef the title, "Hello. Big Boy." Buch-
man makes the fourth writer on the
story. Joseph Moncure March having
finished his trick last week.
Burtons on Old Comedy
Ralph and Eugene Burton have
been signed by Universal to write the
modern screen version of "School for
Scandal." Carl Laemmie Jr. will per-
sonally produce it.
Novel by Mayer's Niece
Ruth Cummings, MGM writer, and
niece of -L. B. Mayer, steps into the
novelist class in June when her first
npv>el, "Song of Flesh," will be pub-
shed by Macaulay.
Mary Jo Ellis on Stage
Mary Jo Ellis, whose last picture
performance was in Radio's "Little
Women," is playing in the stage play,
"Men in White," now in its sixth
week at El Capitan,
Crosby For Personals
Bing Crosby is scheduled to make
a series of personal appearances upon
the completion of "She Loves Me
Not" at Paramount.
'Green Hat' Starting
Irving Thalberg starts "The Green
Hat" at MGM Monday, with Con-
stance Bennett and Herbert Marshall
bracketed.
Darrow Report To
Be Made NextWeek
Wash.ngton. — The report of the
Clarence Darrow Review Board will
not be made to President Roosevelt
before late next week. It is certain
that it will contain explicit recom-
mendations for a revision of the mo-
tion picture code. New impetus which
has just been given the board, appar-
ently direct from the White House,
has weakened the belief that it will be
disbanded.
The board will hear a Monogram
official today, probably about the in-
dependents' side of the double feature
question, as well as on the monopolis-
tic tendencies of the code itself.
The President's approval of the
anti-price cutting agreement among
tire manufacturers yesterday was tak-
en as a sign that he would disapprove
any cut in admission prices by the
movie houses.
George Raft Settles With
His Wife Out of Court
New York. — An amicable settle-
ment has been reached by George Raft
and his wife, Grace Mulrooney Raft.
The terms were not stated. In her
suit, Mrs. Raft asked $1200 a week
alimony and $25,000 attorney fees.
She charged cruelty, abandonment and
non-support.
Pix Without Pictures
(Continued from Page 1 )
recent Paris riots, which will be en-
tirely noises and printed titles.
These pioneers in this new depar-
ture believe that the public should
and will be interested in films in
which they will follow not a star, not
a personality, but an idea. Edward
Blattner, who is making the Paris riot
film at Elstree, says:
"There will be no actual scenes.
The sub-titles will tell the story of
the noises which follow them, and I
believe we will be able to produce an
extremely realistic vision of Paris dur-
ing the rioting."
The film of the future, these pio-
neers say, will depend far more on
sound than in the past. Already a
novel stunt is being used in Berlin
to do away with orchestras. The mu-
sic played by the projector,/ some-
what weird as yet, is created artifici-
ally by drawing outlines, similar to
those made by certain notes as re-
corded by the sound-on-film system,
on sheets of cardboard. These are
photographed on film and become
audible for the first time when they
are run through the projector.
Speaking of this new departure,
one of the pioneer producers said:
"The film drama of the future will
be a drama of actuality, a story of
history in the making, its theme the
problems which we all face. Its hero
may be a field of standing corn, its
villain the stock ticker, its heroine a
trans-Atlantic liner. But it will have
an IDEA. The story film has outlived
its usefulness. New and vital ideas
help the world on its way and it is
for these new ideas that the film pro-
ducers are groping. The films can be
used for better purposes than show-
ing men and women ploughing
through a story book drama."
5f MP.SAVUFL MAPX.
CUI-VrK JITY, JAl.I/
Vol. XX. No. 37. Price 5e.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday. April 23. 1934
I
WARNERS Btr ING. PL4NT
I •NEVER in the world ot industry has
! there been such a high premiurr
placed on mistakes as is the case with
the motion picture industry, particu-
larly that portion of it that concerns
itself with the production of its pic-
tures.
Mistakes, GLARING MISTAKES, ex-
pensive mistakes are made day in and
day out here in the studios and not
only is there no penalty placed on
such errors, BUT there is little or no
effort to correct them, to profit by
, such blunders.
1 How is it and WHY is it?
' When a producer is found wanting,
when his product results in flops, why
is that same producer kept on, his sal-
ary raised and given the opportunities
to make other and more costly mis-
takes and THE SAME MISTAKES? Is
it for the reason that the studio head
is of the opinion that, mistakes or no
mistakes, his production crew is the
best that is available?
The stupidity in production ranks,
right at this time, is wrecking some
of our best stars, sending some of our
most competent writers into hysterics
and causing some of the industry's
leading directors to throw up their
hands and yell, "What's the use."
There is less protection given to our
big box-office draws now than ever
in the history of the business. There
seems to be no other thought or de-
sire than to grind out pictures, to
meet release dates, with an entire dis-
regard for the quality of the product,
of what it will mean to the stars and
important artists in the pictures. There
seems to be no understanding what-
ever of what a DRAW name means
to this business and how easy it is to
wreck that draw.
We remember, two or three years
ago, when important stars were kept
sitting on their fannies for weeks and
months because the studio did not
have acceptable material for them.
The studio heads then (and the same
crowd is in power now, or are they?)
figured it was far better to keep a
big name draw inactive than to send
him out in a picture that would kill
off that draw. Why the change now?
Why the continuous production of
BAD PICTURES when there is such a
great reward for GOOD PICTURES?
Why such stupid production blun-
ders? Why the same mistakes?
'Hollywood Party' Is
Sent Back For Revision
New York. — Following the pre-
view of MGM's "Hollywood Party"
at Atlanta ,the home office offi-
cials are sending the picture back
to the studio for revised cutting.
Five American Pix
Held Over in London
London. — Of the six pictures held
over at the big houses here this week,
five are American. The list comprises
"Wonder Bar," "Rip Tide," "Roman
Scandals," "Only Yesterday" and
"Lady of the Boulevards, "which is the
re-named "Nana." The only British
picture held over is "The Battle."
The newcomers for the week are
"Lady Killer" at the Regal, "Melody
in Spring" at the Plaza, and "Mor-
genrot," a German submarine picture,
at the New Curzon.
Harry A/ Warner Announces
The Purchase Of Teddington,
Which Firm Has Been Leasing
New York. — Harry M. Warner, who has just returned from
Europe, announced Saturday that his company had purchased
the Teddington studios, near London, which it has been operat-
ing under lease. Warner closed the deal on April 10, just before
he left England.
Warners plan to make at least
thirty pictures at the British studio
this year and hope that at least half
of them will be released in the United
States through their exchanges. Here-
tofore, the pictures made in England
by this firm have been simply for
quota and have cost from $15,000 to
$30,000 each.
It is not likely that there will be
any exchange of players between the
(Continued on Page 2)
Howard in New MCM Wamers, Caumont
Deal; Will Direct Hayes Both Plan Tickwick'
MGM is closing a new long-term
Two producing companies, practi-
cally simultaneously, have announced
a picture based on Dickens' "Pickwick
Papers" and, strangely enough, both
have announced the same title, "Mr.
Pjckwick."
The two are Warner Brothers and
British Gaumont. Warner plans to
(Continued on Page 3)
Sutherland on Trip
Eddie Sutherland left by boat Sat-
urday for Panama on a health trip,
returning in two weeks to take up his
Fox contract.
deal with William K. Howard and,
while the contracts have not been
signed, the director is scheduled to
handle the Helen Hayes picture, "Va-
nessa." The Walter Wanger unit will
produce it.
Mintz Held For Third
Radio Saturday stretched Sam
Mintz' deal into a three-picture writ-
ing ticket, granting him permission to
work on "Anne of Green Gables" at
Palm Springs, where he will recuper-
ate from a flu attack. William Ste-
phens handled the ticket.
EXHIBS DEMAND CEIVSOR
CUTS BE MADE PUBLIC
Philadelphia. — Bitterly condemning
the Pennsylvania State Board of Cen-
sors for keeping film eliminations
secret, the Motion Picture Theatre
Owners of Eastern Pennsylvania,
Southern New Jersey and Delaware
passed a resolution pledging members
to support a) I measures necessary to
force the censor board to make these
eliminations public.
At the same time, the same group
of exhibitors passed another resolution
endorsing the activities of the Penna.
Civil Liberties Committee, a group of
Pennsylvania citizens formed for the
(Continued on Page 6)
Miriam Hopkins Hurt,
Her Picture Delayed
Paramount was forced to suspend
production Saturday on "She Loves
Me Not" when it was learned that
Miriam Hopkins would be away from
work at least two weeks, due to an
injury she sustained Friday. She fell
on the set and sprained her ankle.
Bob Cillham East
Robert Gillham, publicity and ad-
vertising director for Paramount in
New York, left by plane Saturday for
the East. He was here for ten days.
'U' Shows $24,507
Quarterly Profit
New York. — The report of Univer-
sal for the three months ended Janu-
ary 27 last shows a consolidated net
profit of $24,507.60, after all charges,
including depreciation of fixed assets
in the amount of $131,699. This
compares with a loss of $213,211.74
for the corresponding period in the
previous year.
It was announced that, owing to
business conditions for the past three
months, a substantial profit may be
expected for the quarter ending
April 28.
MCM and May Robson
To Sign New Deal Today
May Robson and MGM get together
today to place their signatures on a
new contract for the player, the old
txket, option on which was exercised
three weeks ago, gomg into the waste
basket.
The new deal will give her starring
and co-starring rank, with a tilt in
salary.
Coldwyn-Warner Clash
Up For Hearing Today
The Coldwyn-Warner feud comes
up again this morning when a hearing
will be held in Superior Court on
Coldwyn's petition for an order re-
straining Warners frbm continuing to
use Busby Berkeley for "Dames."
Lord Signs New Ticket
Robert Lord's old contract expired
Saturday and Warners signed him to
a new writing, directing, producing
ticket. Lord has been with the studio
for more than nine years.
Hervey Coes to MCM
Harry Hervey joined the MGM staff
Saturday to write the screen play of
"Indo-China," under the supervision
of Bernie Hyman.
I
1
WILLIAM WYLER directed "GLAMOUR"
Page Two
April 23, 1934
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE ■■■ Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Gratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States anH Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Siiife. copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Daily chuckle department: Junior
Laemmie became such a basketball
enthusiast during the big inter-studio
season that we hear tell that he went
out and purchased a huge silver tro-
phy to be given to the championship
team. Universal, y'know, led the field
right up until three weeks ago, when
things didn't go s'good. Well, so
Columbia finally won and wot did
they get yet? They got a little "lov-
ing cup" just a few sizes bigger than
a thimble! So what, if anything, be-
came of the big silver cup that Junior
is supposed to have bought for the
winner?
•
Speaking of Columbia, reminds us
that the great success of "Twentieth
Century" at its preview may be at-
tributed perhaps to the "personal gen-
erosity" of Howard Hawks, its direc-
tor. We hear that Hawks was far
from satisfied with the original script
and wanted Hecht and MacArthur to
write a new one. The scribes wanted
ten thousand dollars for the job and
Columbia wouldn't "go for" that
amount. So Hawks paid five thous-
and of it out of his own pocket —
Ben and Charlie got their ten grand
and wrote a new script in seven days
— and Columbia has a swell picture!
•
Grace Moore and Valentin Pererra
gave a large buffet Saturday night for
a visiting South American diseuse,
who entertained the guests during the
evening. Among the diners and lis-
teners were Kay Francis, Ruth Chat-
terson, Irving Thalberg, Maurice Che-
valier, the Don Stewarts, Adolphe
Menjou, Veree Teasdale, the Sam
Goldwyns, Jeanette MacDonaid, Edgar
Selwyn, Ida Koverman, the Walter
Moroscos, the Felton Elkins and many
more.
•
Charlie Pettijohn has a forceful and
colloquial way of putting things. In a
debate over salacious pictures recent-
ly, he said: "When you see Mae
West, you know what you're getting.
What I object to is the inclusion of
salacious scenes in supposedly clean
pictures. The public thinks it is get-
ting ice cream soda, and you give 'em
gin."
Hew¥n
"THE TRUMPET BLOWS "
Paramount prod.; director, Stephen Roberts; writers. Porter Emerson Brown,
J. Parker Reed, Jr., Bartlett Cormack, Wallace Smith
Paramount Theatre
News: Paramount gave "The Trumpet Blows" a downright handsome produc-
tion, with plenty of glitter and finish in the settings and production.
But Raft, with his Tenth Avenue interpretation of a dashing Mexican
bull fighter, is a pretty bulky pill to gulp.
American: The trumpet blows a sour note at the New York Paramount this
week, and its off-key echoes reach over the water to the house in
Brooklyn. The production is about as Mexican as Dave's Blue Room, and
you have no idea how un-Spanish Mr. Raft can be.
Mirror: Much of the film is unintentionally funny. The story requires much
dialogue, and dialogue does make the Raft boy ill at ease. No other
character is much more credible.
Herald-Tribune: A few episodes, apparently photographed in the bullrings of
Mexico City provide it with a suggestion of life, but on the whole the
photoplay is a dramatization that is never sure whether its serious scenes
will provide humor or will be greeted by audience reverence.
Times: This synthetic affair offers some glamorous glimpses of Mexico and
also colorful flashes of alert matadors, but the story is muddled and sadly
unconvincing.
World-Telegram: The film contains some of the most inane dialogue that has
been heard on the screen in some time. It is utterly trite and undis-
tinguished and causes just as much embarrassment to the spectator as it
must have caused to the players.
Sun: The most strenuous efforts of Director Roberts and his crew of writers
couldn't make the subject matter of "The Trumpet Blows" of much im-
portance. As a matter to become emotional over, the great Amrican
movie public will probably go right on preferring baseball.
Post: The falsity of the story is reflected in the direction and the acting.
Menjou has been saddled with a colorless role; the plot is overcrowded
with detail, and Frances Drake has nothing to offer in the way of person-
ality or acting ability.
Journal: Mr. Menjou, equal to any role assigned to him, walks off with the
acting honors. Despite his resemblance to Valentino, Mr. Raft is less than
happily cast as a Latin matador, and Frances Drake over-acts the part
of the dancing Chilita.
Kent Taylor Teamed
With Alice Faye at Fox
Unable to get Lyie Talbot from
Warners, Sol Wurtzel borrowed Kent
Taylor from Paramount and brackets
him with Alice Faye in the leading
roles in "She Learned About Sailors."
Mitchell and Durant also get lead-
ing parts. Fox stretching Harry Green's
two-picture ticket into three to in-
clude a featured role. George Mar-
shall directs.
Broadway Theatre To Be
Radio Audition House
New York. — Crosby Gaige and as-
sociates have taken a lease on a Broad-
way theatre at 53d street, and will
open it May 1 9 as a radio audition
house, with a scale of popular prices.
How Old Is Eckels?
Eddy Eckels, publicity director at
Radio studio, celebrated a birthday
Saturday. He kept his age a dark
secret, but admitted he did not mind
getting old.
Tarshis-Waggner Team
Columbia has signed Harold Tarshis
to collaborate with George Waggner
on "Criminal Within," under the su-
pervision of Sid Rogell.
Pert Kelton Returns
Pert Kelton arrived yesterday by
plane from a personal appearance tour
through the East.
Cohen-Shannon Signed
W^twefs has signed Albert J. Cohen
arrrf^obert Terry Shannon to a writ- '
ing ticket to go into effect early next
month. It is a one-picture deal, and
the studio is looking around for an
assignment for them.
Marguerite Roberts Set
Finishing a script job on Principal's
"Peck's Bad Boy," Marguerite Rob-
erts moves over to Paramount to work
on the screen play of "End of the
World," the Vina Delmar yarn which
Al Lewis is supervising.
Son For Wells Root
Mrs. Wells Root became the mother
of a son — 6'/2 pounds — at the Good
Samaritan Hospital Saturday. All con-
cerned doing well.
Warners Buy Brit. Plant
(Continued from Page 1 )
Pickford Personal
Tour a Triumph
New York. — If anyone thinks that
Mary Pickford is not still an idol of
the American picture-goers, he shouki
look over the reports of her personal
appearance tour in the East.
According to Manager McKay, she
played to 350,000 people in three
weeks at Chicago, Boston and Detroit,
and gave the Earle in Philadelphia its
biggest week in months. In almost
every house, according to McKay, the
overage gave her nearly fifty per cent
more than her guarantee. Last week,
in Philadelphia, she had a police guard
every night, both at the theatre and
at the hotel, to hold the crowds of
autograph-seekers away from her.
Rosen Gets His German
Film For His 'Mad Dog*
Al Rosen's jam with Collector of
Customs Al Cohn over the two reels
of German film to be used in "Mad
Dog of Europe" was cleared up Satur-
day, after a four month impasse, and
the agent-producer got his film.
Rosen said the withholding of the
film, Nazi concentration camp shots,
held up his picture.
Florida Boy Gets Break
In Harold Lloyd Film
Harold Lloyd has signed David Jack
Holt, a 5 '/2 year old Jacksonville,
Florida, youngster for the role of Lloyd
as a youngster in "The Cat's Paw."
Lloyd spotted young Holt on the stage
at the Spotlight Theatre the other
night and gave him his first picture
break.
McGuire Going East
^^' To Stage Segall Play
William Anthony McGuire will col-
laborate with Harry Segall on the let-
ter's play, "Knock Wood," and will
journey to Broadway in September
during his three months lay-off from
Universal, to put the play on the New
York boards.
Two For Presnell
Warners are putting two pictures
into work this week — "British Agent"
with Leslie Howard and Kay Francis,
and "The Dragon Murder Case" with
Warren William. Both are supervised
by Robert Presnell.
Horsley Set at MGM
John David Horsley has been en-
gaged by MGM for the role of a life-
guard in the Jean Harlow picture,
"100% Pure," which Sam Wood is
directing.
two studios, owing to bad casting con-
ditions in Hollywood, although some
of the English players used here may
make pictures at Teddington.
No mention was made by Warner
of the purchase price, but he said that
many changes and improvements will
be made. Practically the entire plant
will be reconstructed to make it ca-
pable of carrying out the plans for
bigger and better production. New
buildings will be erected, new equip-
ment installed and everything in the
studio will be brought up to date.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vin«
HEmpstead 1133
April 23, 1934
THg
Page Three
PRIVATE SCAIVDAL' MURDER
MYSTERY, RVT GOOD COMEDY
Capital Acting Aids
Novel Treatment
"PRIVATE SCANDAL"
(Charles R. Rogers-Paramount)
Direction Ralph Murphy
Authors Vera Caspary
and Bruce Manning
Screen Play Garrett Fort
Photography Milton Krasner
Cast: Mary Brian, Phillips Holmes,
Zasu Pitts, Ned Sparks, Lew Cody,
Olin Rowland, )une Brewster, Jed
Prouty, Charles Sellon, Harold Wal-
dridge, Charles Middieton, Rollo
Lloyd, Olive Tell.
"Private Scandal" is a murder mys-
tery with comedy taking the place of
chills and very funny dialogue sup-
planting the sliding panels and gasps.
With the exception of one point to
which an audience here and there
might object, the picture is a good,
fast, amusing piece of entertainment.
Lew Cody, the murderee, is a nice, de-
cent, honorable business man, who en-
lists' the audience's sympathies so
thoroughly that the callousness of his
employees and the unfeeling comedy
of the proceedings after his death
might cause a twinge in some people.
The funny business starts immedi-
ately when Ned Sparks, as the detec-
tive arrives on the scene and tries
to unravel the mystery surrounding
Cody's murder. Because every one of
the office employees was where he
shouldn't have been when the body
was discovered, they all lie. June
Brewster, the telephone girl, was in
Jed Prouty's office having a pick-me-
up; Harold Waldridge, the office boy,
was acquiring a ten dollar bill from
the till, while the bookkeeper, Charles
Sellon, was enjoying a forbidden cigar
in the stock room, and Zasu Pitts was
in "Ladies."
Phillips Holmes, the dead mans
partner, is the one to whom all the
evidence points as the guilty party, m
spite of the fact that he is Cody s
prospective son-in-law.
While the plot is air-tight and the
solution extremely logical and well
handled, the focal point of interest is
Sparks' hard-boiled efforts to pm the
office employees down to the truth.
His performance will swell his fan fol-
lowing. Holmes seems stiff and un-
inspired, although he hasn't much to
do- Mary Brian cringes and sobs most
convincingly; Zasu Pitts and her busi-
ness with the key to "Ladies" is a
scream; June Brewster is exception-
ally fine as the telephone girl; Charles
Sellon makes a lot of his part, as does
Jed Prouty, and Harold Waldridge is
good, as usual. Rollo Lloyd and Olive
Tell have small roles and Olin How-
land surprised the preview audience
into giving him a spontaneous and en-
thusiastic burst of applause for his ex-
cellent, unusual and superb bit of
characterization as the coroner.
Ralph Murphy directed for high
comedy; Garrett Fort adapted the
story by Vera Caspary and Bruce Man-
ning, and Milton Krasner photo-
graphed.
This is above the average program-
mer, having the advantage of swell,
funny dialogue and reliable, original
comedy added to the mystery angle.
Did You Know Villa
Was a Centipede?
Since Wallace Beery finished
"Viva Villa" for MGM, he has re-
ceived over 200 letters, offering
him "authentic" apparel and
equipment used by Pancho Villa,
all at very low prices. He has had
three offers of Villa's bullet-torn
and blood-stained shirt, the low
price being 65 pesos. Other offers:
Four left boots, 40 pesos; 7 white
sombreros, stained with Villa's per-
spiration, 100 pesos; 19 pistols
used by the bandit, 250 pesos.
B. & K. Turn 1932
Loss Into 33 Profit
Chicago. — Balaban and Katz and
subsidiaries report for 1933 consoli-
dated net profit of $95,191, after
taxes, interest, depreciation, provisions
for impairment of investment in sub-
sidiaries and accrued dividends on-
preferred stock of subsidiaries.
This is equivalent to $3.31 a share
on 28,700 shares of 7 percent cumu-
lative preferred stock outstanding.
For 53 weeks, ended December 31,
1932, consolidated loss was $993,-
638.
Eddy and MacDonald
In Naughty Marietta'
Nelson Eddy has been assigned to
the spot spot opposite Jeanette Mac-
Donald in MCM's "Naughty Mari-
etta," which Hunt Stromberg will put
into work as soon as "The Merry
Widow" is completed. Lawrence
Eyre is now scripting the operetta.
Charlie Farrell Off
To Do British Picture
Charles Farrell leaves this week for
England to make a picture under the
direction of Monty Banks. Gregory
Ratoff and Jessie Mathews will also
appear in the cast.
Farrell will return in August to
make one more Farrell and Gaynor
picture. His wife, Virginia Valli, will
join him in England in a few weeks.
Hugh Williams to MOM
MGM Saturday borrowed Hugh
Williams from Fox for a role in Mi-
chael Arlen's "The Green Hat," which
Robert Z. Leonard puts into work to-
day. Herbert Marshall and Constance
Bennett head the cast.
Cordon-Revel Delayed
Because Mack Gordon became ill,
he and Harry Revel were unable to
leave for New York Saturday on their
vacation, as previously planned. They
will go as soon as Gordon is well again.
'U' and Foster Dicker
Universal is dickering with Preston
Foster for a long-term contract and
is considering "Sutter's Gold," which
William Anthony McCuire is handling,
as his first assignment.
Pulp Mag Writers
To Get MGM Break
■^ MGM gives the pulp-magazine
writers a break with a deal that was
put through Saturday, on a plan sub-
mitted by the William Stephens office.
The plan, to which the studio has
subscribed on a term-contract on Sam
Marx's approval, will have Marx con-
tacting Stephens with orders for spe-
cific types of story to fit stars, ac-
cording to the demands of MGM's
production schedule. The agency,
which contacts nearly 200 pulp
writers, will relay the order to the
scriveners, who will go to work on
ideas for the stories. Yarns will be
written in fiction style so as to make
them salable to magazines.
Stephens maintains a reading de-
partment for the material, sifts the
stories and submits the best bets. The
writer loses nothing, since he can sell
his story to a magazine, and still have
the possibility of a studio sale.
TerCaTririo Set With
Jean Harlow in 'Repeal'
Leo Carrillo's first assignment for
MGM is scheduled to be an important
role in the Jean Harlow picture, "Re-
peal." He was previously set for "The
Postman Always Rings Twice," but
the studio shelved the story.
Sam and Bella Spewack have pre-
pared a screen play for Charles Fran-
cis Coe's "Repeal" and John Considine
will produce it.
MCM Wants Colbert
For 'Red Pepper' Lead
MGM is negotiating for the loan of
Claudette Colbert for a leading role
with Nelson Eddy in "Red Pepper."
Leo Birinski and the music writing
team of Brown and Freed are looking
after the screen play.
Boy Scout Serial
Signing Vin Moore to direct Satur-
day, Romance Productions today starts
a Boy Scout serial at Mack Sennett's
for the state rights market, George
W. Stout is producing, with Carter
Dixon and two Eagle scouts at the
head of the cast.
'U' Wants Ralston
Universal is negotiating with MGM
for the loan of Esther Ralston for the
lead in "There's Always Tomorrow,"
which Edward Sloman directs. Frank
Morgan and Elizabeth Young have al-
ready been borrowed.
New Term For Markson
Warners yesterday checked off an-
other option on Ben Markson's con-
tract, the writer rounding out his
second year with the studio on a
ticket set by the Beyer-MacArthur
office.
Interlude' N.C. For Pix
New York. — The new play, "Broad-
way Interlude," is unfavorable for
pictures. It closed Saturday night af-
ter three performances.
Here's a rough idea of imaginative
art as practiced by a movie fan maga-
zine. Les Grady, the editor of Film
Fun, and a former Notre Dame foot-
ball husky, actually poses for those
undressed damsel pictures on the cover
of his magazine. It seems that his
artist can draw lovely faces and fig-
ures from memory, but he likes to
have a model (anyone will do), just
so as to be sure to get the body angles
and arms and legs in graceful posi-
tions. Soooo, once a month, Grady
obligingly assumes a most bewitching
attitude and gradually his large, -mus-
cular frame becomes the voluptuous
cutie for the cover design. Maybe
the right heading for this story should
be, "Through Different Eyes."
•
Bets are being made around town
that a little gal by the name of Elea-
nor Raymond will top her career with
a movie contract if the movie moguls
can persuade her that playing oppo-
site actors is more fun than playing
with lions and elephants. They call
her the "Elephant Woman" so, nat-
urally, the suggestion is that she join
the same lot as the "Panther Wo-
man" and eventually have a real cir-
cus in Hollywood. However, no pub-
licity man could ever have thought
up a fake story about anyone that
would read more strangely than Miss
Raymond's history. The gal just got
out of a convent and, because of fam-
ily finances, had to get a job. Some-
one who knew Ringling got her a job
riding horses in the circus, but Miss
Raymond thought playing with ele-
phants more fun, so she's now the gal
the elephants toss around and the
reason Broadway got to know her was
because a well known man-about-
town fell in love with her at first
sight and almost went crazy until he
could arrange to meet her and has
been spending his days and nights at
the circus ever since and the gal's
been getting a big break ever since.
BUT her ambition is to train lions and
Clyde Beatty is her ideal.
•
Victor Wittgenstein, who's a pian-
ist, too, sails for the coast on May 5
to look over a couple of his plays,
"Encore" and "Brief Nocturne," the
latter of which has been up for pro-
duction here. ... It must be tough to
fall in love with twins. . . . The Rocky
sisters are driving a certain somebody
mad because he suspects one of them
is cheating and they look so much
alike he can't tell which. . . . Have
you heard the Anthony Adverse song,
dedicated to anyone who might have
to adapt it? . . . It's "Aggravatin*
Author, Don't You Try to Two TOME
Me."
Two Plan Pickwick'
(Continued from Page 1 )
put Guy Kibbee in the leading role,
but no announcement of cast has
been made by the British company.
This will make four Dickens stories
planned for the screen. MGM is pre-
paring "David Copperfield," Warners
will do "Tale of Two Cities," and
Universal is to make "Great Expecta-
tions."
"Probably the most bril-
liant of the costume pic-
tures yet to arrive. . . The
brilliant dialogue, the
manner in which the pic-
ture is staged and the
excellent direction by
Gregory LaCava render this
cinema event notable."
EDWIN SCHALLERT
Dramatic Critic
Los Angeles Times
"Most rollicking farce of
the season!"
WHITNEY WILLIAMS
Fawcett Publications
"One of the truly delight
ful and rollicking comedies
of the season!"
DOUGLAS CHURCHILL
Hollywood Representative
New York Times
Joseph A/. Schenck presents a DARRYL F, ZA\
fFAIPS
"The finest and most en-
tertaining comedy of the
year! The entire cast is
superb and the settings are
magnificent!"
ALICE TILDESLEY
Hollywood Correspondent
Philadelphia Public Ledger
"It is one of those rip-roar-
ing, swashbuckling, slight-
ly brawdy numbers gorge-
ously mounted with cos-
tume and background. You
will have tots of fun at
this one!"
KATHRYN DOUGHERTY
Editor and Publisher
Photoplay Magazine
DIRECTED BY
GREGORY
LA CAVA
(previewed as
'■.
sta
CONSTANC
WALTER RAMSEY
Western Editor
Modern Screen Magazine
The H(|i
of ROTH!
now in its fourth se
QO^ CfNTURM
Production
Released thru UNITED ARTISTS
EL L INI
//
'irebrand")
BENNETT
AARCH
RCAN
AY
Frank Morgan gives a
erformance that should
in the Academy Award
>r 1934. 20th Century
:ores again with this gay
nd giddy farce!"
lUTH WATERBURY
Editor
Viovie Mirror Magazine
"It is the best picture 20th
Century ever has turned
out!"
ELEANOR BARNES
Drama Editor
Illustrated Daily News
"An achievement of
sprightliness not often
achieved in costume pic-
tures!"
ROSILAND SHAFFER
Klollywood Correspondent
Chicago Tribune and
New York Daily News
"Outstanding dramatic
comedy in a setting as ar-
tistically perfect as one of
Cellini's own master-
pieces!
EUGENE CHRISMAN
Western Editor
Fawcett Publications
"Smart adult entertain-
ment, yet not too sophisti-
cated to register prosper-
ously over wide territory.
Its romantic comedy pro-
vides precisely what is*
needed to fill the mats
with women, without be-
ing short on genera'
draw."
HOLLYWOOD VARIETY
SCREEN PLAY by
BESS MEREDYTH
From the sensational
New York Play,
•THE FIREBRAND"
by
EDWIN JUSTUS MAYER
Mahches On
"Frank Morgan's pofform-
aoce is one of the bright
spots of this year's cin-
ema!"
ROB WAGNER
Editor, Script
"Side-splitting comedy
made with perfect art. One
of the knock-out pictures
of the year!"
MOLLIE MERRICK
North American
Newspaper Alliance
"One of the most superbly
mounted, gorgeously pro-
duced pictures, released in
lo. these many years. . . .
Exhibitors have a flock of
swell names here and the
story is certainly a drawing
card."
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Page Six
THg
April 23, 1934
Revie^nq
I \
we*
MOVIE CLASSIC
90 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Kay Francis
(Warners)
"SCCX)P!" announces the May
Movie Classic . . . "an interview start-
ling in its honesty, its frank self-
analysis and its deep emotion."
And for once, an editor does not
exaggerate. Gladys Hall's story, "I
Am Destined for Divorce" (Gloria
Swanson) lives up to its ballyhoo. It's
a grand yarn.
Miss Hall has another story — very
amusine. this one — "The Private Life
(if any) of Burns and Allen." Jack
Grant is another two-story writer. He
has one on George Hurell, "How To
Be Photographed Like a Star," and
"How One Star Lost Thirty-two
Pounds" (Joan Marsh).
Gretchen Colnik has an interesting
psychological treatise, "Why Women
Look Up to Garbo"; Rosalind Shaffer
lists the eligible bachelors in Holly-
wood in "Movie Actors Who Sidestep
Marriage"; Lee Tracy breaks into
print with "Now I Know Who My
Friends Are"; Lilian Harvey tells Sonia
Lee that "Hollywood Has Broken My
Heart"; and Mark Dowling asks "Is
Young Doug Headed for the Altar?"
including some interesting quotes. By
the way, IS his name Dowling or Lar-
kin? The index and the signature
on the story do not agree.
Elisabeth Goldbeck has "Would You
Care to Change Places with These
Girls?" stressing the lack of childhood
pleasures in the lives of Ida Lupino
and Patricia Ellis; and Winifred Ayde-
lotte tells of the MGM trek to Mexico
iri "They Dared the Impossible to
Make 'Viva Villa.' "
PICTURE PLAY
66 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY.. ..Katharine Hepburn
(Radio)
There seems to be always something
to say about the poor gal whose face
decorates the cover of the May Pic-
ture Play. This time M. Oakley Chris-
toph, supposedly from her home town,
has "Oh, Hepburn, Behave!" in which
the author begs Katharine to be nice
to fans, photographers and writers.
Dorothy Herzog comes right out in
meeting and asks "Is Mae West a
Fizzle?" and is quite intelligent about
it; William H. McKegg has an unusual
story, "Too Much Rope," in which he
tells about some faults that have cut
short the careers of promising players;
Robert Fender goes into a rave over
Mary Boland in "Sitting Pretty," and
justifies it; Hal Hall tells about a
strange Hollywood racket, "How to
Phone a Star," revealing the methods
of "telephones"; and Laura Benham
has "The Strange Case of Phillips
Holmes."
Leroy Keleher does right by Fredric
March in "Good Guy"; Fanya Graham
touches the high spots of Gregory
Ratoff's colorful life in "Roguish
Ratoff"; James Roy Fuller is amusing
in "Is the Screen Too Sexy?" and
Kathleen Key offers some interesting
reminiscences in "My Friend Ramon."
Karen Hollis is still keeping her
department, "They Say In New York,"
bright, cheerful and spirited.
Diana Wynyard Lead
In 'One More River'
Universal Saturday closed nego-
tiations with MGM for the loan of
Diana Wynyard for the top spot in
"One More River," John Galswor-
thy's novel which James Whale
directs. Wynyard deal was nego-
tiated by Bren, Orsatti and Marx.
Flinn Will Visit
Code Sees on Coast
New York. — John Flinn, executive
secretary of the Motion Picture Code
Authority, who is flying to Hollywood
today, will confer with code secretar-
ies of San Francisco, Portland, Seattle
and Salt Lake while on the trip. He
probably will establish the Code Au-
thority office in Los Angeles while
there.
On his way back he will see the
secretaries of Dallas, Oklahoma City,
Denver, New Orleans, Des Moines and
St. Louis, and later visit Chicago for
meetings with the midwest boards.
Barbara Pepper Hurt
In Automobile Crash
Barbara Pepper, the "blonde men-
ace" in King Vidor's "Our Daily
Bread," was painfully but not seri-
ously hurt in an auto accident Sat-
urday night on Wilshire boulevard.
She was coming back from loca-
tion with her father when the crash
occurred. Miss Pepper has a sprained
arm and many bruises, and probably
will lay off not more than two days.
'Can't Escape' Finished
Max Alexander wound up his first
picture as an independent producer
yesterday, when Otto Brower brought
in "I Can't Escape" a day ahead of
schedule. Lila Lee and Onslow Ste-
vens had the top spots in the Beacon
production.
MGM Signs Schubert
MGM .-Saturday signed Bernard
Schubepi^'to write the screen play for
an ur^tled original which the studio
ovjni. Lucien Hubbard will produce.
Dj?sl was negotiated by Hoffman-
Schlager.
Warners Hold Regan
Two weeks earlier than required in
the contract, Warners Saturday
punched Phil Regan's ticket for an-
other term. Player just completed a
featured role in "Dames" and this
week goes into "Housewife."
Liz Allen on Way Here
Elizabeth Allen leaves this week
from London for the MGM studio, ac-
cording to word received here. She is
set as Mrs. Copperfield in the pro-
duction of "David Copperfield."
Cordon After Stone
Leon Gordon, planning to revive his
play, "The Piker," at the Hollywood
Playhouse, is negotiating with (3eorge
Stone to play the leading assignment.
Merger of lATSE
And ASC Cooling
While no statement is forthcoming
from executives of either the ASC or
Local 659, lATSE, those close to the
situation stated yesterday that all in-
dications at the present time point
to a collapse of the proposed merger
of the two cameramen's organizations.
One indication is the decision by
the lATSE locals to send delegates
next June to the annual convention
of the national lATSE body, to be held
at Louisville. At lease three, prob-
ably five, members of Local 659 will
go.
According to information given un-
officially by one of the union leaders,
it looks as though the merger, which
seemed hot a short time ago, has
grown cold, and the union is going
ahead with plans to rebuild its struc-
ture.
Cillmore May Leave
Legit Code Authority
New York. — The Council of the
Actors Equity has advised Frank Gill-
more, its president, that he may with-
draw from the Legitimate Theatre
Code Authority at any time he thinks
best for the Equity.
This follows General Johnson's
statement to the legit Code Authority
that arbitration of disputes is manda-
tory, which is opposed by the asso-
ciation.
Clive Dickers With Para.
Before Starting at 'U'
Colin Clive goes back to Universal
for another picture, taking a featured
role in "One More River" on a Leo
Morrison ticket.
Paramount is negotiating with Clive
for "Notorious Sophie Lang" and, if
this jells today, the player will do it
prior to the Universal production.
Solow on Own Yarn at *U'
Gene Solow checks in at Universal
to write the screen play of his own
untitled original story, which will
serve as a starring picture for Henry
Hull when the player arrives here.
Tibbett-Small Disagree
Unable to agree on an option for
two 'friore pictures as part of their
coi;>^ract, Lawrence Tibbett and Ed-
ward Small have placed their deal in
cfamphor.
Ames Tops in 'Wanted'
Rosemary Ames, instead of Claire
Trevor, gets the top spot in"Wanted,"
the new title for "Painted Lady,"
which Sol Wurtzel produces at Fox.
Col. After Trevor
Columbia is negotiating with Sol
Wurtzel at Fox for a three-picture
loan on Claire Trevor, to be spread
over a period of several months.
Morris Small Back
Canceling his New York trip, Mor-
ris Small returned yesterday to Holly-
wood after a two-week visit to At-
lanta, Georgia.
Kolker at Radio
Henry Kolker replaces Oscar Apfel
at Radio in "Sour Grapes."
John Wray through Kingston-Har-
ris for Invincible's "Fifteen Wives."
Mary Forbes through Freddie Fralick
to "British Agent," Warners.
Charles Wilson to MGM for "100%
Pure." Negotiated by Kingston-Harris.
Phillips Holmes to Fox for "Cara-
van."
Frank Albertson to Radio for "Life
of Virgie Winters."
Wade Boteler to Radio for "Murder
on the Blackboard."
Billy Sevan for "Caravan," Fox.
Murray Kinnell to "Charlie Chan's
Last Case," Fox.
Gregory Caye for "British Agent,"
Warners.
Charles Butterworth, Mary Carlisle,
Russell Hardie, Ted Healy and Una
Merkel in "Rear Car," at MGM.
Nora Cecil into "Old Hashioned
Way," Paramount.
Doris Lloyd for "Du Barry," War-
ners, by Max Shagrin.
Renee Whitney at Warners for
"Madame Du Barry."
'Beyond Bengal' Set
For Indefinite Runs
New York. — Showmen's Pictures
Inc., through the sales manager,
Howard C. Hummell, has closed con-
tracts with the Shubert booking of-
fices for the showing of Harry
Schenck's "Beyond Bengal," for the
Hartman Theatre, Columbus, Ohio,
starting May 2; Shubert Theatre, Cin-
cinnati, May 6; Ohio Theatre, Cleve-
land, May 12, all for indefinite runs.
Other deals with the Shubert office
are being closed for New York pre-
miere May 14, and ten other cities.
Harry Schenck will make personal ap-
pearances.
Tea For Princess
Sonya Levien was host yesterday at
a farewell tea for Princess Kropotkin,
Liberty writer, who has been here for
,^everal weeks interviewing picture
people.
Demand to Know Cuts
(Continued from Page 1 )
purpose of aiding the motion picture
industry by forcing the publication of
the censor board's eliminations.
The exhibitors point out that the
censor board is not only making from
300 to 400 per cent more elimina-
tions than the board in any other
state, but is being unfair to the pic-
ture industry in not telling what the
eliminations are.
It is stated by exhibitors that pub-
lication of the eliminations would af-
ford the industry the opportunity of
correcting any evil that exists, and
thus protect the exhibitors, who are
either compelled to play the picture
after it has been censored or pay for
it without playing it because of the
injury to the picture by the cuts.
It is further pointed out that the
proceedings of other state boards are
public property and there is no rea-
son why the censor board should be
an exception.
r
PHIL BERG
Agency
and
THE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Announce
the consolidation of their organizations, where, for
the first time, a service will be offered to the
personnel of the motion picture industry combining
in one, organization a complete
AGENCY AND PERSONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SERVICE
BERG, STEBBINS, ALLENBERG and BLUM, Inc.
Present Address
California bank Building
Beverly Hills
Calif.
After May 1 st
9484 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, California
(Opposite Beverly-Wilshire Hotel)
PHIL BERG
ARTHUR W. STEBBINS
BERT ALLENBERG
MYRT BLUM
BRUIATOUR BULLETIN
Published Every Monday
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Films
"No, Leonette, we will NOT run a
'Dust and Dirt' column — you'll find
one by another writer on another page
— but some day we'll write a stinging
expose under the tag of 'Love Life of
a Lenzer' "... And Helen — thanks
for your nice note . . . when the
wives start reading us we're made
(editorially, of course). . . . And while
we're devoting tops to the wives, Ruth
Hall (Mrs. Lee Carmes) is wardrobing
tor the New York trip. . . . Gorgeous
Jean Harlow suppered with hubby Hal
Rosson in the booth adjoining us at
the Vendome t'other night. . . Joyce
O'Connell is bossing the contractors'
boys on the new Louiewilliamo'connell
hut while Conny grinds for the sugar
at Fox.
Youse guys who've phoned in this
week — Charlie Bonn's address is 1 54
Crescent Street, Long Island City,
N. Y. — y'wekkum! . . . Milt Krasner's
slate at Par sets his production as
Number 1001. Number I was "Squaw
Man" — made while Milt's ma was
changing his diapers. . . . Charlie
Stumar grounds his plane and grinds
on "Loves of a Sailor" at Universal.
... At the same plant George Robin-
son is photographing for good old Karl
Freund, who's directing "I Give My
Love." . . . Eddie Snyder testing and
Johnny Hickson on some hot pick-ups
while Brodine puts finishing touches to
Borzage's "Little Man, What Now?"
. . . and Jack Stevens is away on an-
other laugh litter for Warren Doane.
'•
"Oh, Columbia The Gem of The Call
Board — " four pictures in production
at Gower Street but every one of them
using EXTRA cameras and EXTRA
cameramen — to be exact fifteen were
turning on Thursday and Friday . . .
hi-dee-dye-dee-doo — very satisfactory
footage, thanks. . . . Joe August, Ben-
nie Kline, Joe Walker and Henry
Freulich (yep, Henry's shooting first
now) the number one boys — and at
Arkayo peak production prevails pret-
tily with Lucien Andriot topping all
previous efforts with his camerawork
in the Ann Harding picture. . . . Teddy
Tetzlaff happy in his new surround-
ings while he turns swell stuff for Dix.
. . . Nick Musuraca completing on
"Murder on the Blackboard." . . . Roy
Hunt further beautifying Diana Wyn-
yard. . . . Dave Abel also finishing on
Wheeler and Woolsey. . . . Henry
Cerrard called in from his mountain
retreat to do added scenes and Winnie
Wenstrom doing a swell stanza for
Lou Brock. . . . Joe Valentine can be
had — so can Tad McCord and Gil
Warrenton.
Starting
WARNER BROS.
Ernie Haller Tony Gaudio
RKO M.G.M.
Nick Musuraca Charles Rosher
FOX EDUCATIONAL
Lou O'Connell Dwight Warren
CLASSIFIED!
Is it fair to classify a cameraman?
Graduated from the ranks of the seconds at a major production plant
a few years ago, a cameraman moved to another lot where he was
assigned to start shooting picture starring a young woman who was then
top bell ringer at the box office cash registers all over the country. First
day's rushes were sensational — ditto second and third — it was in the bag
for this lenzer — he got the big break. He was still tops as photographer
when the star faded out three or four years later. He'd been identified
with her for so long that despite his rich artistry he started to find the
sledding tough. At last he accepted assignment on a Western unit.
The front office raved. Gorgeous— —beautiful — magnificent! The home
office wired, "Give us more photography like this in our future West-
erns" . . other producers tried to borrow this man when they wanted
unusual 'Western' stuff . . overnight Hollywood labeled him a "camera-
man for Westerns." Today we phoned an executive of a major studio,
who had just last night asked us to line up a good photographer . . we
offered the man who's the subject of this little editorial. Said the exec:
"But you must have misunderstood me — I want a man for a farce com-
edy— not a Western!" However, Western — drama — comedy — farce —
feature or short — it makes no difference; if he's an accepted fellow in
that body of cinema photographers who select their membership — he can
photograph ANY picture and turn in a creditable job and should there-
fore NOT be CLASSIFIED!
L
Carmes to Gotham
After deserting the camera for sev-
eral months during which time he has
been preparing for his debut as a
director, Lee Garmes lends an atten-
tive ear to the important jingle of a
heavy offer from New York, and will
be a passenger on the eastbound Chief
Wednesday night, accompanied by his
wife (Ruth Hall). Special contract
provides for an eight week engage-
ment on a super-feature, to be made
at Eastern Service Studios, and at the
expiration of this time Lee will trek
back to Hollywood.
Haskin Locationing
Bun Haskin, boss pro tem. of the
Warner Bros. Special Effects Depart-
ment, is in Sunnyvale, California, with
his crew shooting backgrounds for
Arthur Edeson's current production,
"Hey, Sailor!"
"Empress'' Swell Pic
Paramount's "The Scarlet Empress,"
previewed last week, brought one of
the big photographic thrills of the sea-
son. Whole picture actually breath-
taking in its beauty and imaginative
intelligence. Photographer Bert Glen-
non has been not only audacious, but
unorthodox in his lighting, and the
ultimate effect is a revelation. Von
Sternberg comes in for plenty credit
on giving the camera such a free and
daring swing from the usual shadow
routine.
Figure This Out
Jerry Ash (the big brute) is at the
camera for Alexander Brothers' Beacon
production, the title of which (asso-
ciated with Jerry) hands us a terrific
wallop ... "I Can't Escape" . . .
(You're telling ME!)
Thompson Continues
William C. (Bill) Thompson, chief
staff cameraman for Foy Productions,
Culver City, has turned final scenes
on "Tomorrow's Children," and on
Tuesday or Wednesday of this week
starts photography on "High School
Girls."
Sedgwick's Sharpshooter
Director Eddie Sedgwick gets away
at Paramount on "Here Comes The
Groom" with Henry Sharp responsible
for the photography. Current pro-
duction tops a fine record of achieve-
ment at Paramount for Sharp, who has
accounted for "Duck Soup," "Alice in
Wonderland," "Six of a Kind," "Mel-
ody in Spring," and "Many Happy Re-
turns."
Jackson Finishes
Some weeks ago Fox Studios as-
signed Harry Jackson to John Rein-
hardt, and they leaped into production
on a wild Cossack story. The pro-
duction finished Saturday, everyone
satisfied with manner in which Harry
handled photographic assignment.
Marley Signs
Another period production looms
before the lens for Pev Marley, who
has signed on the dotted line to as-
sume camera responsibility for "The
Count of Monte Cristo," to be pro-
duced by Edward Small. Starting date
is ticketed for early May.
Marley made one of those over-
night 'once-in-a-lifetime' top reputa-
tions result of his splendid achieve-
ment on "House of Rothschild," with
George Arliss, for Twentieth Century,
currently restoring prosperity to the
box office at Grauman's Chinese.
Do Your Fishing Early
... If you're going to do it at all.
Because — the summer promises to be
so busy that vacation plans are due for
a blow-up.
Last week saw seven more units in
production than during previous week.
At Warners several pictures are being
rushed to production. Columbia has a
lull of two or three weeks, and then
will go into full speed. Paramount is
getting into its biggest program in
several years. Same applies to Uni-
versal, while MGM, within three or
four weeks, will have at least ten
units. RKO has eight in production.
Only studio inactive is 20th Cen-
tury, which will resume August 15.
(NOTE: Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour, Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION: DO YOU PREFER
SHOOTING NATURAL EXTERIORS
OR EXTERIORS BUILT ON THE
STAGE?
BENNY KLINE (Columbia) : There
can be no definite ruling on this
subject. There are some natural
pictorial exteriors that could never
be reproduced properly inside on
the stage.
GEORGE BARNES (Warner Bros.):
Unless the natural exterior set is
exceptionally beautiful, I would
prefer shooting exteriors inside, be-
cause you have so much more con-
trol over the lighting.
MILTON KRASNER (Paramount): If
the schedule is not too tight and
the director is willing to wait for
good light conditions, by all means
use natural exteriors. If the exte-
rior scenes must be made in limited
time, build them on the stage.
CHARLES LANG (Paramount): For
intimate scenes where only mciden-
tal backgrounds are necessary I like
to shoot exteriors on the stage.
When it becomes necessary to show
skylines and distant backgrounds
the panoramic drop becomes inade-
quate, and we should move to nat-
ural exteriors.
LEN SMITH (M.G.M.) : Natural ex-
teriors when possible. However,
musical and costume pictures are
sometimes easier to handle with the
exteriors built on the stage.
TAD McCORD: I like to shoot exte-
riors built on the stage when al-
lowed sufficient lighting equipment
and time to do the job right. I
prefer intimate type of scenes for
artificial exteriors. Large pano-
ramas become obviously artificial,
and no conscientious photographer
can tolerate that.
Hnfehtng
RKO
Nick Musuraca
BEACON PRODUCTIONS
Jerry Ash
FOX
Harry Jackson Joe Valentine
ttiJt
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Sbillti
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'fit s,
MFTrRO-GOLDWYN-MAYKR
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CULVFR CITY,JALI:' .
STUDIOo,
Vol. XX. No. 38. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, April 24, 1934
iUS
•THERE is not a studio in Hollywood
that is not holding up one or more
pictures due to casting, and this hold-
up, this fight for artists, is costing the
industry tons and tons of money each
month. All because producers choose
to play the thing safe, selecting only
those people they believe to be right
for the parts, but in that selection only
a small percentage of the available
artists are called on.
Of course, EVERY producer wants
to head his cast with a star, a draw
name. Such names are few and far
between and, as a result, as long as
they can get that name they care
little whether that person fits the
part. This results, in the majority of
cases, of stars being badly cast.
•
But, finished with the star name,
the casting of the rest of the picture
becomes equally as difficult, because
the producers WILL NOT give oppor-
tunities to men and women whose
every training argues for that oppor-
tunity. They will not give really fine
artists a chance. And Hollywood is
filled with artists who, given an op-
portunity, would develop into stars.
There is less effort exerted in the
creation of new stars, names that will
draw at the box-office, right at this
time than ever before in the history
of this business. Producers are not
interested in new faces, new names,
new performances, for the simple rea-
son they will not take a chance. They
want to play the casting problem safe,
even though that delays production
and runs up the cost of the picture.
•
The Zanuck-LeMaire organization
of the old Warner days was the last
combination of producer and casting
office that was willing to take a
chance and, in a short period, they
uncovered a half dozen stars and 10
to 1 5 important supporting players
that are, even now, the backbone of
that company. They took a chance,
and Warners and the whole picture
business benefited.
Confronted with almost an impos-
sibility in casting most of the pictures
that are ready for production today,
why not go out and give some new
personalities an opportunity? Why not
give some of the important support-
ing players a chance at star roles?
Why not use some effort to progress
In the development of new box-office
draws?
L. $. Bl€Cr$ f RPI PEACE
Government Understood To
Frown Upon Any Settlement
Out Of Court With Warners
Washington. — It is understood here that the reported settle-
ment of the Erpi-Vitaphone-Ceneral Talking Pictures suit, which
was scheduled to be made out of court, has been stepped on by
the Department of Justice, which does not look with favor on
this form of adjustment. In that
Extras' 50-50 Break
Extra players employed on the
Mae West set at Paramount yes-
terday were squawking long and
loud last night because, they de-
clared, 200 "dummies" were used
and only 210 extra players.
Fox's 'Caravan' To
Be a Super-Special
Fox has made up its mind to push
"Caravan," the Erik Charel picture,
into the super-special class and has
budgeted the production to cost better
than a million dollars on a three
months shooting schedule.
The extension of the shooting
schedule compelled Conchita Monte-
negro to abandon a deal to leave in
early May for South America, where
she was to make a series of Spanish
pictures.
Jolson Signs Five-Year
Contract with Warners
Al Jolson yesterday reconsidered his
announced retirement from the screen
and signed a five year deal with War-
ners to make one musical a year. The
success of "Wonder Bar" was a big
factor in his reconsideration of his
retirement.
George and Norma Wed
Atlantic City. — Norma Talmadge
and George Jessel were married at
the Hotel Amdassador here today.
Mayor Bacharach performing the cere-
mony.
event, the trial of the royalty suit, set
for May at Wilmington, probably will
go on.
The terms of the proposed settle-
ment are said to be based on Erpi's
willingness to turn over to Warners
and General Talking Pictures all the
handling of its sound equipment and
take itself out of active participation
in the motion picture field. A vice-
president of Erpi, the day after the
Hollywood Reporter published the
news of this alleged agreement, denied
(Continued on Page 2)
Xat's Paw' Finished
Sam Taylor yesterday brought in
"The Cat's Paw," which Harold Lloyd
produced for Fox release. Picture,
which has been in production since
January 29, was held up several times
due to Taylor's illness.
Katherine Brown East
Bringing a two weeks story huddle
to a close, Katherine Brown, Radio's
Eastern story head, leaves tonight for
her New York post.
PARA. REXEWIXG ACTIVITY
AT LONG ISLAND STUDIO
New York. — Paramount is again
getting busy with production plans for
the Long Island studio. It has taken
over two of the stages and is moving
in there with its shorts production
department, under the supervision of
Fred Waller. This department is pro-
ducing the "Headliner" series, the
Paramount Pictorial and "Screen Sou-
venirs," which have been made here-
tofore in another building near the
old studio.
It is also understood that Paramount
will have at least six features pro-
duced at Astoria for its release this
year. The three pictures to be made
by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur
account for half of the six, but no
announcement has been made about
the other three.
Mervyn LeRoy and Wife
Are Due Home Saturday
Mervyn LeRoy and his wife, Doris
Warner, return Saturday from their
honeymoon cruise around the world.
They arrive in San Francisco Thurs-
day and remain on the boat, docking
here Saturday. Warner director has
been away since the middle of De-
cember.
Radio Signs John Beal
New York. — After all the studios
tried to get him for picture work, John
Beal yesterday signed a term contract
with Radio. Player cannot leave for
the coast until he completes his stage
work in "She Loves Me Not," in
which he is now appearing.
Warners Sued Again
Over 'Lady Killer'
A second suit against Warner
Brothers, based on alleged illegal use
of the title, "The Lady Killer," was
filed yesterday by Attorney Harold
Fengler, $50,000 damages being
asked. This suit is by Alice and
Frank Mandel, who allege that War-
ners took the title of their play, "The
Lady Killer," which was produced here
and in New York ten years ago.
The first suit, filed last week, was
by William Selig, who produced a
picture with that title in 1914 and
had the title copyrighted, he claimed.
He also asked $50,000.
Cable May Be Starred
in 'Blonde Countess*
MGM is seriously considering "The
Blonde Countess" as a possible star-
ring vehicle for Clark Gable. It is an
oji^inal by Major Herbert O. Yards-
Aey, who, with C. Gardner Sullivan,
will do the screen play and Larry
Weingarten will produce.
Coldwyn Plea Delayed
The Superior Court hearing on the
Coldwyn application for a restraining
order against Warners on Busby Ber-
keley's services was pushed over to
this morning when neither party was
prepared yesterday to proceed with
the case.
Carl Laemmie Back
Carl Laemmie Sr. yesterday return-
ed from the East, where he attended
the board meeting of Universal and
was again elected president of the
company for the twentieth time. He
was away two weeks.
'Forsyte Saga' to Radio
London. ^Radio is closing a deal
with the Galsworthy estate for the
purchase of "Forsyte Saga" and will
make it as a starring vehicle for Irene
Dunne.
[
SAM MINTZ
NOW
SCRI PTI N
//
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES" RKO
Page Two
April 24, 1934
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Well, we see that the Chatterton-
Brent and Swanson-Farmer divorces
are conning right along, as registered
here some time ago. . . . Hear tell that
when Junior Laemmie ties the knot
(which is supposed to be very soon)
it will be with a young society girl
from the East who is due in Hollywood
with her family next month when she
finishes finishing school! . . . Alice
Brady took her four non-housebroken
dogs with her to a hotel in San Fran-
cisco— whoops! . . . Maurice Chevalier
bought some songs for himself from
the pen of Julie Cruze. . . . The Mer-
vyn LeRoys will be back in Hollywood
Saturday . . . and the Warren Wil-
liams leave this week on their boat
for the Santa Cruz islands, where they
will hunt wild boars, of all things! . . .
Mitzi Cummings has just signed a
contract with Photoplay, and Ruth
Cummings is having her first novel
published by Macauley, so Sunday Mrs.
Ida (Momma) Cummings gave a party
to celebrate the events — who
wouldn't?
The Liz Dupont-Buster Collier
flames were fanned at the Colony Sat-
urday night — and a "bunch of the
boys" including Charles Rogers, Darryl
Zanuck, Eddie Buzzell, Joseph Schnit-
zer, did right well for themselves. . . .
A girl named Majel McConnell, who
won a contest in Spokane because she
looked so much like Janet Gaynor,
walked across the Warner lot yester-
day and was stopped three times and
addressed as Bette Davis! So who's
crazy now?
Jackie Cooper having his first stand-
in in the person of Johnny Dunsmuir
— both kids having a swell time over
at Catalina. . . . The wife of what
famous comedian is in a sanitarium
for the steenth time at the moment
with "pink elephant" trouble? . . .
Maureen O'Sullivan going to Ireland
when "The Barretts" is finished — bets
are that Johnny Farrow stays behind.
• . . The beauteous Madeleine Car-
roll, Rosemary Ames, Heather Angel,
Billie Burke, Frances Coldwyn, Al
Newman, Capt. Richard Day, Virginia
Sun:
Post:
"A MODERN HERO"
Warner Bros, prod.; director, G. W. Pabst; writers, Louis Bromfield,
Gene Markey, Kathryn Scola
Strand Theatre
Herald-Tribune: Mr. Pabst has set his picture excellently, obtaining atmosphere
in the opening circus scenes as well as in later ones. It is photographed,
too, with a nice quality. Buts its tempo is too slow. Its dialogue not very
adult, and for some reason its interest is not sustained. The supporting
cast is good.
Times: The film is competently, if somewhat morosely acted in the leading roles
by Mr. Barthelmess and Jean Muir. Marjorie Rambeau and Florence
Eldridge also contribute good performances.
Mirror: Louis Bromfield's novel, however interesting as a book, presents a very
trying obstacle to the star who would assume the title role. The character
is totally unsympathetic. Richard Barthelmess makes a neat job of acting
it, though it isn't suited to him.
American: Mr. Barthelmess plays so sincerely, so believably that the man he
creates stands forth staunch and solid in the film fable. He is ever the
star of the production, but he is helped materially by the quality of his
cast. The picturejs well directed and has been given quality production.
News: In spite of Barthelmess' consistently good performance of the title role
and the able assistance he receives from an excellent cast, "A Modern
Hero" must be classified as just fair in entertainment value.
As a novel, Mr. Bromfield's story may have had more chance to explain
its hero, to alleviate the ruthlessness of his climb to power. The picture
has to satisfy itself with a simple relation of the plot, a long and rather
involved one. Marjorie Rambeau's performance did a good deal for this
flim. Still it couldn't tighten up the story sufficiently for a motion pic-
ture. Less obvious and stagey direction might have resulted in a more
interesting picture.
"A Modern Hero" on the screen is as dull, pointless and unprofitable a
treatise as we have encountered in a decade of movie-going. The plot is
diffuse and overcrowded with detail; it meanders along at a sticky pace
and never once does Mr. Barthelmess succeed in bringing a semblance of
interest to the character.
World-Telegram: It is a well intended drama, but, I fear, somewhat too faint
and uneven for general effectiveness. Adapted into a somewhat stilted
screen play and acted for the most part good and hard, it seemed, to my
notion, excessively tedious.
"STAND UP AND CHEER '
Fox prod.; director. Hamilton MacFadden; writers. Will Rogers, Phliip Klein,
Ralph Spence; music and lyrics. Jay Corney, Irving Caesar, Jack Yellen,
Lew Brown.
Music Hall
Times: The jollity of the film increases as it develops. It looks as if all Holly-
wood had taken part in this summing up of "Stand Up and Cheer."
Mirror: Richly satiric, the story introduces hilarious types and presents a de-
lightfully mad picture of Washington. Gay and exhilarating, "Stand Up
and Cheer" is an attractive and unusual musical film.
World-Telegram: What promised for the first half of its unreeling to be a satir-
ical revue of superlative virtue suddenly became, along about its middle
section, a routine song and dance production. Even so, I should be a carp-
ing fellow, indeed, if I objected too strenuously to the commonplace ele-
ments in "Stand Up and Cheer!" because it has much in its that is genu-
inely fine, amusing and entertaining. "Stand Up and Cheer" is something
to cheer about.
American: A gay idea is amusingly developed, and provides a goodly measure
of fresh and unusual film fun. The piece is well conceived and well
directed.
Sun: "Stand Up and Cheer" is one of those deliberately cheerful productions
with so insistent an emphasis on optimism that the result is occasionally
depressing. It is at least a different type of musical.
Post: The picture is blessed with a lively and satirical plot idea. There is a
wealth and diversity of material in the song and dance numbers. It is a
lavish, gay and crack-brained musical revue.
News: Although "Stand Up and Cheer" was designed to wipe away our fears
and blues over these hard times by insisting that the depression is over,
I'm afraid it is going to have just the opposite effect. Little Shirley Tem-
pie earned the only burst of spontaneous applause.
Herald-Tribune: It is my private opinion that it is successful neither as musical
comedy nor hilarious fantasy, but it must be granted certain pleasant fea-
tures. Amazingly enough, one of them is a child actress.
Journal: It is all very light and gay and diverting. Despite the fact that the
cast contains plenty of high-powered names, an individual triumph is
scored by four-year-old Shirley Temple.
LaborAsksRosyHow
It Can Get Rights
In a sarcastic letter. Lew C. G. Blix,
business representative of Local 37,
lATSE, composed of carpenters, prop-
erty men and grips, yesterday took
Sol A. Rosenblatt to task for his re-
ported statements that any complaints
of alleged film code violations filed
by studio workers in any channel ex-
cept through the office of the Casey
committee would go in the waste
basket.
"Just what is necessary for an em-
ployee to do (outside of keeping his
mouth shut and taking his beating in
silence) to obtain the rights which are
supposed to be provided him under
the code?" asks Blix.
He calls Rosenblatt's attention
to Section 5, page 7, Bulletin No. 7,
Manual of Adjustment of Complaints
by the State Directors and Code Au-
thorities, which states that "even
though an industrial adjustment
agency has been authorized to handle
complaints, a complainant always has
the right to file his complaint with
the NRA, either in Washington or
through the State Directors in order to
protect his or the public interest."
Gilbert, Dudley Murphy, Monte Brice,
Paul Schofield, Ethel Butterworth, Max
Marcin, Mrs. Tom May, Louise Dress-
er, among the lunchers at the Ven-
dome yesterday.
V
Leon Cordon on Air
Leon Gordon gets an air interview
tomorrow night via station KRKD,
when Eleanor Barnes will feature the
writer on her regular program.
U. S. Blocks Erpi Peace
(Continued from Page 1 )
that there was any truth in it, but the
belief still exists in Washington that
it was set until the Department of
Justice stepped in.
There is another report, given some
credence here, that Erpi may turn its
picture business over to its employees
to be run by them with supervision by
Warners and General Talking Pictures.
This plan resembles the step taken
some time ago by the Graybar Electric
Company.
OUR
SINCERE
THANKS
to the
HILLMAN*
*(
SHANE
AGENCY
f
or a swe
II
Advertising and
E X p I o i t a {: i o n
Campaign on our
Pacific Coast
Engagements!
/*WE LIKED IT TOQ! .
MUSIC CORPORATION
• OF AMERICA r
i
April 24. 1934
THE
Page Three
STEVEDORE' REAL PIC THEME,
BUT IVEEDS BRAVE PRODUCER
2 More N.Y. Plays
Simply Hopeless
The Theatre Union presents "Steve-
dore," by Paul Peters and George
Sklar; staged by Michael Blank-
fort; settings by S. Syrjala; with
/ Millicent Green, Georgette Harvey,
Edna Thonnas, Jack Carter, Rex In-
gram, Leigh Whipper. At the Civic
Repertory Theatre.
New York. — Continuing in its work
of presenting plays with a purpose,
the Theatre Union here uncovers an-
other vigorous, thrilling diatribe
against the existing state of injustice
in this country, this time choosing as
the subject the Negro and his prob-
lems. George Sklar is again called
upon to assist in the writing, and he
is to the propaganda play what George
S. Kaufman is to the Uptown Thea-
tre— the craftsman who knows how
to make good theatre out of hysteria.
The story over which the authors
drape their soap-box speeches is that
of a white woman who is beaten up
by her lover and found screaming by
her husband. Unable to tell the
truth, she says she's been attacked
by a negro. Immediately all the ne-
groes in the southern town are round-
ed up, but no identification is made
and, just as the whole matter is about
to be dropped, the foreman of the
Stuyvesant Dock Company makes use
of the case in order to rid himself of
a young negro who is trying to organ-
ize his fellow workers into demanding
equal rights for themselves and liv-
ing wages. But, of course, the story
is soon lost in a complete resume of all
the woes afflicting the colored race,
and they are manv and vital.
The thing that recommends this
play to us is its unashamed frank-
ness, its lack of fear of being labeled
anything but what it sets out to be,
which gives it all the latitude in the
world for hearty emotional appeal that
never insults the intelligence with
cheap philosophical veneers.
Both "Stevedore" and "Peace on
Earth" offer really moving motion
picture material, the subject matter of
which, unfortunately, is too much of
a challenge to the very narrow scope
to which pictures confine themselves.
But it must be repeated that here is
definitely good movie material for
anyone with the courage to make use
of it.
The cast is almost entirely negro
and uniformly excellent, with stand-
out performances by those mentioned
in the casting at the top of the re-
view. It was impossible to record all
the names of the biggest cast out-
side of a Hippodrome show that's
come to town in a long while. And
the whole production offers an ex-
citing adventure in the theatre.
'Broadway Interlude' Bad
Theodore Hammerstein and Denis
Du-For present "Broadway Inter-
lude," by Achmed Abdullah in col-
laboration with Almon Wolff;
staged by Mr. Hammerstein; set-
ting by Amend; with Robert Em-
/mett Keane, Hans Hansen, Robert
Lynn, Claire Whitney, Margot Al-
lain, Sally Starr, Neil Moore, Arthur
Mervyn LeRoy Will
Run Warner Studio
New York. — Mervyn LeRoy will
take over the reins as studio pro-
duction manager for Warners-
First National when Hal Wallis
goes to Europe about the middle of
next month.
/k
Pierson, Paul Everton, Suzanne Cau-
baye, Leslie Dennison, Peter Whit-
man, Janice Dawson, Dorothy
Knapp. At the Forrest Theatre.
New York. — The OTHER trouble
with plays like this is that you cannot
print a review on them before they
close up. There isn't the time and
it's wasting your substance to offer
any critical writing talent on them.
Just in case anyone might be in-
terested in knowing what the subject
matter was, it purported to depict
the life of David Belasco as a theatri-
cal entrepreneur. And in all fairness
to the late Mr. Belasco, it must be
said that the man couldn't possibly
have been as stupid in the exercising
of his charm and have attained the
position he held for so many years in
the theatrical world.
"Are You Decent?" Isn't
Albert Bannister presents "Are You
Decent?" by Crane Wilbur; staged
by Dmitri Ostrow; with Zamah
Cunningham, Royal Stout, Beatrice
Hendricks, A. J. Herbert, Claudia
Morgan, Eric Dressier, Lester Vail.
yAt the Ambassador Theatre.
New York. — More sex didoes that
will not last the week and had no
business wasting an evening. Unpar-
donably dull, the kind of thing that
censors should use as examples of how
to disgust people with sex so's they'll
never touch the nasty stuff again.
This time a sassiety wench with a
strong libido, but a horror of mar-
riage, consoles herself with the fact
that she is suffering from "maternal
instinct" and decides to have a child
without benefit of a wedding ring.
Add to this the character of a female
Grumpy, stomping all over the place,
and two of the most repulsive drunks
ever seen on a stage and then hope
the curtain is forever unable to rise.
Muni-Craham Return
Paul Muni and Carroll Graham yes-
terday returned from Mexicali where
they have been doing research work
for "Border Town." Graham is writ-
ing the screen play of his novel, which
will be Muni's next picture for War-
ners.
Warners Buy Original
/Warners yesterday purchased_JJJusL
JOut.pf College," an original by Robert
^Lee Johnson. The story deals wrtH~the
experiences of a boy just out of col-
lege and his efforts to adapt himself
to commercial endeavors.
Fox Signs jack Carter
Fox yesterday got a yen for Jack
Carter, player who recently arrived
from New York, and signed him for a
featured spot in "Always Honest,"
while discussing a long-term deal for
his services through the Hallam Cooley j-'tess Baggage," which Harry Rapf will
office. >r produce. It was once made as a silent.
Three-Color Short
First For Whitney
Jock Whitney enters the motion
picture production field on May 15
with a one-reel picture to be made
with the newly perfected three-color
Technicolor process as his first.
This picture will be "La Cucurachi,"
a song and dance numb>er with a
Mexican locale and plenty of color.
It will be the first of a series which
will be produced by Merian Cooper
and released by Radio. All are to be
made in the three-color process, in
which Whitney has a financial inter-
est, if the first turns out as expected.
Cooper returns from Honolulu the day
the picture is slated to start.
MCM Finds Six Boys
For Barrett Brothers
MGM has tested more than 100
young actors in an effort to find six
who looked sufficiently alike to be
cast as brothers in "The Barretts of
Wimpole Street."
Those selected are; Vernon Down-
ing, Neville Clark, Mathew Smith,
Robert Carlton, Allan Conrad and
Peter Hobbes.
Columbia Planning
Two Shorts in Two Days
Columbia will make the first two
of the "Minute Mysteries" in two
days, Lambert Hillyer directing under
Irving Briskin's supervision, Sam
Hinds, Charles Wilson and Arthur
Rankin go into "Death in the Office"
and also into "Stolen Poils," Geneva
Mitchell getting the leading role in
the latter.
Clasmon and Kline on
*A Son Comes Home'
Kubec Clasmon and Mar|orie Kline
have been selected by Paramount to
write the screen play of Julian Joseph-
son's original, "A Son Comes Home,"
starring Lee Tracy. Bayard Veiller
will supervise.
Lindsay Play Wins
Megrue Comedy Prize
New York. — Howard Lindsay's play,
"She Loves Me Not," has been
awarded the Roi Cooper Megrue prize
for the best comedy of the year. The
announcement was made at the Dram-
atists' Guild dinner last night by Marc
Connelly, acting as master of cere-
monies.
Lab Code Member Named
Washington. — A. J. Rosenberg, for-
merly in the laboratory business in
New York, but now not connected
with the picture industry, has been
appointed as the administration mem-
ber of the Motion Picture Laboratory
Code Authority.
'Excess Baggage' Again
John F. Larkin has been signed by
MCM to do the screen play on "Ex-
Two things that were bound to
happen sooner or later really did oc-
cur this week. One in the news-
paper world and the other in the pic-
ture game, as they like to call that
particular sport. In the first instance
there appeared in a New York morn-
ing paper a long criticism of a con-
cert, right down to the audience re-
action and applause. The only un-
fortunate thing about the criticism
was that the concert had been post-
poned, so the whole thing was like an
essay on whether or not there is sound
if there is no ear to catch it.
•
The other thing was one of those
cocktail parties for the press given
by a major company for a visiting star.
Well, the assembled press waited and
waited and drank and talked and
waited and waited and no star. Finally
someone made the announcement that
the star in question had contracted
ptomaine poisoning from some crab
meat eaten at lunch. Still later the
truth of the matter inadvertently came
out. The star thought to fortify
himself for the coming ordeal and did
so well in the process that he was
unable to face it at all. And we
don't blame him. Nobody has yet
discovered why such parties are given,
since it's no longer necessary to have
an excuse to serve liquor.
•
There's a short soon to be released
about which there has been no little
controversy of late, due to the fact
that a feature picture on the same
subject has just been completed.
However, that's something that will
have to straighten itself out. The
story of how the short happened to
get to these shores is a good exam-
ple of a surprise package, however.
The company that will distribute the
short in this country was approached
some weeks back by a film importer
and told that there was a batch of
pictures o'n which they could make a
good deal if they'd pay the duty on
them to get them in. Which meant
that part of the money involved in the
deal would be spent blind and the
seller had no idea of what the pic-
tures were. Well, the distributing
company decided to take a chance and
when they opened the packages they
hadn't even got prints, just negatives.
Then, looking through the negatives,
they came upon a two-reel picture,
starring an actor now famous on the
stages and screens both of England
and the United States. The picture
was made some years ago and was the
only one in the batch worth bothering
about at all and, with this particular
star in it, that was enough to make it
a bright, gold nugget. Because the
star happens to be Charles Laughton.
Montgomery Wanted
For Stage with Wieck
Douglass Montgomery yesterday re-
ceived an offer from Harmon and Ull-
man, producers of "Waltz In Fire,"
to take the top spot alongside Doro-
thea Weick in the play which will be
put into rehearsal late next month in
New York.
Page Four
THE
April 24, 1 934
AUSTRIAN FILM PRODUCTION
UNDER HEEL OF NAZI ROARD
New Move Against
All Jewish Artists
Vienna. — With the recent renewal
of the motion picture trade agree-
ment between Germany and Austria,
all Austrian picture production has
been placed under the dictatorship of
the Nazi government, and Austrian
producers fear that it spells the death
knell of Austrian motion picture suc-
cess.
Some idea of how thoroughly the
German Nazi government controls the
Austrian situation may be gained from
the fact that the scenarios and casts
of every Austrian picture must be
submitted to the German Film Cham-
ber before they start production. If
either the story or any member of the
cast displeases the Germans it is bar-
red until such changes in writers,
directors, story and players as the
Germans dictate are made.
The flocking of Jewish picture art-
ists and technicians to Vienna after
they were banned from German pro-
duction is said to be responsible for
the recent placing of the strangle-hold
on Austrian picture-making. German
pictures have been falling off in qual-
ity since the Nazi drove the jew out.
Austria gained, as they rushed to
Vienna, and their talents have given
Austrian pictures a big boost.
However, when the film trade
agreement between the two countries
came up for renewal. Germany made
demands which give her virtual con-
trol of the Austrian situation, (if
Austria would not accede, Germany
would not renew the agreement and
would not allow Austrian pictures in
Germany. Neither would she allow
her pictures to be shown in Austria.
Austrian film and government offi-
cials shrugged their shoulders, butf
agreed, as they need the German
market and the German pcitures.
When the Nazi ultimatum was
given, the Austrians were frankly told
that Germany would not alldW anyone
to take any part in the making of
Austrian pictures who would be ob-
iectionable to the Nazi government.
This is interpreted to mean only one
thing: that all the Jewish players,
cameramen, director, sound men and
writers who have in the past helped
build up German pictures, and are now
in Austria, will be barred, and Austria
will drop back into the production
doldrums.
Joan Crawford to Open
Private Theatre Soon
Joan Crawford will open the little
theatre in her home when it is com-
pleted in about two weeks,
Francis Lederer will dedicate it the
opening night, at which time a play
will be presented. The theatre will
accommodate 36 people.
McLeod Fast and Saving
Norman McLeod has just finished
his latest picture for Paramount,
"Many Happy Returns" with George
Burns and Cracie Allen, four days
ahead of shooting schedule and $25,-
000 under budget.
Hal Home Wins Honor
For 'Palooka* Campaign
New York. — Ha! Home and
United Artists yesterday received
the annual award offered by the
American Spectator, which judged
the advertising campaign on "Pa-
looka" the best of the year. The
Spectator's award for the best play
went to "Richard of Bordeaux."
Swanson Plans to
Divorce Farmer
New York. — The statement cabled
from Paris yesterday that Michael
Farmer admitted he and Gloria Swan-
son had separated, brought the state-
ment from Miss Swanson that she
planned to sue for divorce. She set no
date and gave no details.
Regarding Farmer's statement that
their daughter was in Paris and would
"remain there," Miss Swanson de-
clared she did not believe he had said
it and that she was sure Farmer would
not try to keep her child away from
her.
'20 Million Sweethearts'
Trailer Drawing Praise
The advance trailer on Warners'
production of "Twenty Million Sweet-
hearts," which is being shown at the
Warner houses in conjunction with
"As the Earth Turns," is causing a
lot of favorable comment about the
work of George Bilson, who wrote and
directed it.
It is a novelty short, with Dick
Powell lecturing on different typ>es of
sweethearts, and is being shown two
weeks in advance of the picture.
Riggs to Stage His Play
LwTn Riggs will leave for Chicago
early in'~jcjfy for a tryout of his latest
play, "More Sky." Writer will direct
and produce it at Northwestern Uni-
versity before turning the play over to
New York producers for its Broadway
run.
Short For Phil Regan
Warners yesterday assigned Phil
Regan to a lead in the second Leon
Errol Technicolor short, "Skirt City,"
which Ralph Staub directs. Comedy
will not start until the early part of
next week, after Regan completes his
work in "Housewife."
Lugosi on Shell Hour
Bela Lugosi was yesterday signed to
be guest star on the Shell radio pro-
gram over the Don Lee station. Deal
was negotiated by Kingston-Harris.
Player just finished in ''The Black
Cat" at Universal.
Block-Malloy Finish
Ralph Block and Doris Malloy have
completed their original screen play,
"I Am a Thief," for Warners and will
be given another assignment. Henry
Blanke is supervising.
'Painted Veil' Set
As Next for Carbo
There have been many rumors as to
Carbo's next starring picture, but
MGM has definitely decided on "The
Painted Veil," under the direction of
Richard Boleslavsky. He is now di-
recting "Operator 13" and will begin
immediately on Garbo's next at the
completion of his present assignment.
The story is based on a novel by
Somerset Maugham. John Meehan and
Salka Viertel will do the screen play,
dnd Hunt Stromberg will produce.
Woodard Putting His
Whaling Pic in Shape
With negotiations on to get a re-
lease through United Artists, Stacey
Woodard tomorrow starts work on
cut-in shots for his untitled whaling
feature, to which he devoted three
months off Australia.
Helene Barclay was signed yester-
day through William S. Gill for a fea-
tured role, location work taking place
at Laguna.
Mystery Yarn Writer
Will Adapt Own Story
New York.
lourtland Fitzsim-
mons, sales manager for the Viking
Press, who writes mystery stories as
a side line, is on his way to Holly-
wood to adapt his new story, "Death
on the Diamond," for the screen.
Edwin Willis East
Edwin B. Willis, in charge of the
interior decorating department at
MGM, leaves tonight by plane for a
three weeks visit to New York in
search of new ideas and materials for
stage settings.
Bloch-Seaton Team
Arthur Bloch and George Seaton,
MGM writers, having finished the
story, "Paris to New York," based on
an original idea by Sam Marx, are now
preparing the screen play for the story.
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the motion picture industry
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INTERNATIONALLY REPRESENTED
Big Saving Seen in
Revised Print Rule
Minimum savings to all Hollywood
major studios of from $7500 to
$10,000 per year for each studio are
due to result from the adoption by
the Research Council of the Academy
of revisions in the standard release
print.
The new revisions go into effect
May 1, and from then on all release
print film processed in Hollywood and
eastern laboratories will be under the
new order. The revisions consist of
the elimination of nine and a half feet
from the leader of each release print
for feature pictures.
The committee figures for the sav-
ing are computed from an estimate of
fifty pictures per year per studio.
Margaret Sullavan Off
On Six Weeks Vacation
Margaret Sullavan leaves today by
plane for New York where she will
hop a ship for a short vacation in
England. Player returns to the studio
in six weeks to do her next picture,
which may be either "Angel" or
"Fanny."
Miss Sullavan yesterday completed
her work in "Little Man, What Now?"
a Frank Borzage production. Picture
winds up tomorrow.
Pynchon Finishes At
Radio and Goes to Para.
Edgcumb Pynchon has finished the
scre^en play on "Marietta" for Radio,
aWd goes to Paramount to do the
screen play of "Rhumba."
George Raft will be starred, and
William LeBaron will produce it.
Bill Hanlon in New Spot
Sacramento. — Bill Hanlon, former
boxing commissioner, and known to
all Hollywood location managers, has
taken over the management of the
Hotel Senator here.
WANTED
Experienced animators. Apply
BERT CILLETT
Van Beuren Corporation
729 Seventh Ave., New York City
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
PRODUCERS
who desire national or states rights and foreign distribu-
tion of motion pictures are invited to communicate with
CONTINENTAL PICTURES CORP.
723 Seventh Avenue New York City
i
i
April 24. 1934
THg
Page Five
PICTURE HOUSES TAXED
TO SUBSIDIZE THE LEGIT
Belgrade. — Yugoslavian motion pic-
ture exhibitors are yelling their heads
off over the imposition by the govern-
ment of what is charged as one of the
\ most amazing tax demands ever
placed upon the picture industry any-
where in the world.
On April I the government imposed
' - a ten per cent tax on all motion pic-
ture house seats so as to secure funds
with which to subsidize the legitimate
drama houses, which are the direct
competitors of the movie houses.
The large exhibitors fought the
new law bitterly, but without avail,
and they say that the new tax is
knocking the bottom out of the thea-
tres where the admission prices have
been low. A ten dinar seat is slapped
with a one dinar tax, and the trade
won't stand for it; neither can the
exhibitors pay it out of their own
pockets.
New Ettinger Aides
L Mary Barbier, who had charge of
» stills at MCM for 1 1 years, has joined
the Margaret Ettinger office to do the
same work. Marion Wolcott has re-
placed Muriel Babcock in the same
office.
Maynard Due in N.Y.
New York. — Ken Maynard arrives
here today aboard the Olympic from
Europe. He plans to go directly to
Hollywood, where he will do a serial
for Mascot.
Belgian Censors to
Supervise Kisses
Brussels. — There will be no more
kissing on the mouth in motion
pictures for youngsters up to 16
years to see, according to a new
government decree here. Decree
doesn't say where the children
should be taught to kiss.
Julie Lang Quits Para;
Virginia Wood in Spot
Julie Lang, who has been in the
publicity department at Paramount for
the past ten years, is leaving for New
York, May 1 9, to free lance in the
magazine field. Virginia Wood will
replace her on four magazine contacts.
McNelis in Weir Spot
Johnny Mitchell, western editor of
New Movie magazine, returned yes-
terday from a week of conferences in
New York. He announced that Frank
McNelis has been made editor of the
magazine, taking the place of the late
Hugh Weir.
Pessis in New Office
Erman Pessis, publicity and ex-
ploitation agent, yesterday announced
the opening of his new offices at Room
504 in the Equitable Building. He
handles advertising and publicity for
several night clubs as well as for pic-
ture stars.
'U.S. Lie Campaign/
German Press Says
Berlin. — The local trade press flatly
declares that Samuel Untermyer and
Congressman Dickstein, advocates of
a bill to halt import of alien actors,
are conducting a "lie campaign"
against Germany.
The papers say that Untermyer is
falsely accusing the Germans of cre-
ating a war atmosphere in the world
and making fresh reprisals on the
Jews. They say that Dickstein is
spreading the idea that the German
stage and picture artists should be
barred because of the hostile attitude
of Germans now in America. There
is much nervousness here because of
the reports.
Lou Samuelson Going
Into Business For Self
Lou Samuelson has resigned an
executive post with the Western Cos-
tume Company and, after seven years
of contacting the various studios for a
group of producer-servicing compan-
ies, is striking out for himself.
He has formed a partnership with
Jeff Wally and will specialize in fab-
rics and material props for the studios.
Bob Hill with Steele
Bob Hill was signed by Sam Katz-
man yesterday to direct the first
western to star Bob Steele, Jack Nat-
teford wriitng the screen play. Cow-
boy-player is set for a series of eight
state righters, which Katzman and
A. W. Hackle will produce.
bpTOTmniNUTE
ASTING
Charles Wilson, through Kingston-
Harris, to "100% Pure," MGM, then
to Columbia for two Minute Mysteries.
Joan Wheeler, Mary Kornman and
Doris Lloyd to "Madame Du Barry,"
Warners.
Maidel Turner and Charles Middle-
ton for "Whom the Gods Destroy,"
Columbia, by Kingston-Harris.
Mary Russell to "Housewife," War-
ners.
Anita Louise for Universal's "I Give
My Love."
Helen MacKellar to "High School
Girl" for Bryan Foy.
Olive Tell to Fox for "Always Hon-
est."
Paiul Porcasi for "I Married an Ac-
tress, Paramount.
Roger Cluett to "Little Man, What
Now?" at Universal, through Hallam
Cooley.
Eddie Earle for "Motor of Mine,"
Warners, by Hallam Cooley.
Charles Coleman to "Housewife,"
Warners, by Hallam Cooley.
William Augustin to "I Give My
Love," Universal, by Hallam Cooley.
George Berange* for "Kiss and
Make Up," Paramount, by Hallam
Cooley.
George Lewis for an Educational
short.
Margaret Dumont, Lou Kelly, Ala-
meda Fowler, John Elliott, Alex Pol-
lett, "Slickem," Harry C. Bradley, Ed-
die Boland and Carl Stockdale to In-
vincible Pictures' "Fifteen Wives."
THE NEW
NORMAN FOSTER
STRICTLY DYNAMITE!
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY—
"HE'S TORIFFIC (LOilSY TO
YOUSE)"
—JIMMY STARR
TD RATHER NOT SAY"
—LOU ELLA PARSONS
"THE MAN HAS AN INDEFIN-
ABLE EFFLUVIA"
—HARRISON CARROLL
"I'M MORTIFIED"
-JIMMY DURANTE
"TOO TOO DEVONE BUT WHAT "I HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH
CAN YOU DO" FOSTER"
—LLOYD PANTACES —ELLIOTT NUGENT
"THIS SPACE IS PAID FOR"
— BILLY WILKERSON
Page Six
April 24, 1934
PRODUCTION INCREASES WITH 39 IN
BAROMETER
This Week 39 Features
Last Week 36 Features
Year Ago 22 Features
Two Years Ago 34 Features
Three Years Ago 28 Features
Columbia
"BLACK MOON"
Cast: jack Holt, Fay Wray, Dorothy
Burgess, Lumsden Hare, Cora Sue
, Collins, Clarence Muse, Eleanor
Wessehoeft, Madam Sul-Te-Wan,
Arnold Korff, Lawrence Criner.
Director ..Roy William Neill
Original Clements Ripley
Screen Play.. Wells Root
Photography ..Joseph August
•WHOM THE COM DESTROY"
Cast: Walter Connolly, George Cas-
sidy, Doris Kenyon, Robert Young,
Scotty Beckett, Rollo Lloyd, Lillian
West, Arnold West, Henry Kolker.
Director Walter Lang
Original Screen Play .Sidney Buchman
Photography Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Felix Young
Fox
"CRAND CANARY"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Marjorie Ram-
beau, Zita Johann, Madge Evans,
Roger Imhof, Barry Norton, John
Rogers, Juliette Compton, H. B.
Warner, Gilbert Emery, Gerald Rog-
ers, Desmond Roberts.
Director Irving Cummings
Novel A. J. Cronin
Screen Play Ernest Pascal
Photography Bert Clennon
Producer Jesse L. Lasky
"ALWAYS HONEST"
Cast: James Dunn, Claire Trevor,
Shirley Temple, Alan Dinehart.
Director Harry Lachman
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"CARAVAN"
Cast: Charles Boyer, Loretta Young,
Jean Parker, Phillips Holmes, Louise
Fazenda, Eugene Pallette, C. Aubrey
Smith, Dudley Digges, Richard
Carle, Charles Grapewin, Billy
Bevan, Armand Kaliz, Harry Brad-
ley.
Director Eric Charell
Original Story Melchoir Lengyel
Screen Play Samson Raphaelson
Photography Ernest G. Palmer
and Theodor Sparkuhl
Producer Robert Kane
Harold Lloyd Company
(General Service Studio)
"THE CATSPAW"
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Una Merkel, Nat
Pendleton, George Barbier, Ctant
Mitchen, Alan Dinehart, Warren
Hymer, James Dolan, Frank Sheri-
dan, Grace Bradley.
Director Sam Taylor
Original Story —
Clarence Budington Kelland
Photography ...Jack MacKenzie
Producer Harold Lloyd
MCM
"OPERATOR 13"
Cast: Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Douglas Dumbrille, Four Mills
Brothers, Jay Lloyd, Russell Hardie,
Willard Robertson, Ted Healy, Reg-
inald Barlow, Francis McDonald,
Katharine Alexander, Belle Daube,
Fuzzy Knight, Henry Wadsworth,
Jean Park, Sidney Toler, Samuel
Hinds, Robert McWade.
Director Richard Boleslavsky
Original Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play: Harvey Thew, Zelda
Sears and Eve Green.
Photography George Folsey
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katherine
Alexander, Marrian Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue. .Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"TREASURE ISLAND"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger,
Lewis Stone, Cora Sue Collins, Dor-
othy Peterson, William V. Mong,
Douglas Dumbrille, Nigel Bruce,
Chic Sale.
Director Victor Fleming
Novel Robert Louis Stevenson
Adaptation John Lee Mahin
Photography Ray June
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"100% PURE"
Cast: Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore,
Patsy Kelly, Lewis Stone, Franchot
Tone, Hale Hamilton, Shirley Ross,
Bert Roach, Desmond Roberts.
Director Sam Wood
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Emerson
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Bernard Hyman
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette Mac-
Donald, Earl Oxford, Florine McKin-
ney, Arthur Jarrett, Edward Everett
Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara Leon-
ard, Sterling Holloway, George Bar-
bier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Caryl Lincoln, Leona Walters, Edna
Waldes, Minna Gombell.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE THIN MAN "
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy,
Maureen O'Sullivan, Porter Hall,
Edward Ellis, Ray Mayer, Nat Pen-
dleton, Isabel Jewell, Minna Gom-
bel, Henry Wadsworth, Natalie
Moorhead, Edward Brophy, Caesar
Romero.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Dashiell Hammett
Screen Play: Albert Hackett and Fran-
ces Goodrich.
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"THE CREEN HAT"
Cast: Constance Bennett, Herbert
Marshall, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Pat Campbell, Leo Carroll.
Director Robert Z. Leonard
Novel Michael Arlen
Photography Charles Rosher
Producer Irving Thalberg
Paramount
"CLEOPATRA"
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Henry Wil-
coxson, Warren William, Ian Keith,
Leonard Mudie, Irving Pichel, Ger-
trude Michael, Eleanor Phelps, C.
Aubrey Smith, John Rutherford,
Edwin Maxwell, Robert Warwick,
Joseph Schildkraut, Claudia Dell,
Grace Durkin, Ian MacLaren, Ar-
thur Hohl, Charles Morris, Harry
Beresford.
Director Cecil B. DeMille
Adaptation Bartlett Cormack
Screen Play Waldemar Young
and Vincent Lawrence
Photography Victor Milnor
Producer Cecil B DeMille
"IT AIN'T NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John
Miljan, Katharine DeMille, James
Donlan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke Ellington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown, Stu-
art Holmes, Harry Woods, Edward
Gargan, Warren Hymer, Libby Tay-
lor.
Director Leo McCarey
Original Screen Play Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthur Johnston and
Sam Coslow.
Photography Karl Struss
Producer William LeBaron
"SHE LOVES ME NOT"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Miriam Hopkins,
Kitty Carlisle, Edward Nugent,
Lynne Overman, Warren Hymer,
Henry Stephenson, Maude Turner
Gordon, Margaret Armstrong, Judith
Allen, Vince Barnett, Matt Mc-
Hugh, Ralf Harolde.
Director Elliott Nugent
Original Story Howard Lindsay
Based on Novel by Edward Hope
Music Harry Revel, Ralph Rainger
Lyrics.. Mack Gordon, Leo Robin
Photography Charles Lang
Producer Benjamin Glazer
"THANK YOUR STARS"
Cast: Jack Oakie, Dorothy Dell, Ros-
coe Karns, Arline Judge, Ben Ber-
nie, Alison Skipworth, William
Frawley, Lew Cody, Paul Cavanagh.
Director Wesley Ruggles
Original Ben Hecht
and Gene Fowler
Screen Play Howard J. Green
and Claude Binyon
Music Ralph Rainger, Harry Revel
Lyrics Leo Robin, Mack Gordon
photography Leo Tover
Producer Albert Lewis
"KISS AND MAKE UP "
Cast: Gary Grant, Genevieve Tobin,
Helen Mack, Edward Everett Hor-
ton, Lucien Littlefield, Mona Maris,
Rafael Storm, Madame Bonita, Doris
Lloyd, Milton Wallace, Toby Wing,
Rita Gould, Katherine Williams, Lu-
cille Lud, Judith Arlen, Joan Gale,
Hazel Hayes, Lu Ann Meredith,
Dorothy Drake, Helene Cohan, Jean
Carmen, Gi Gi Parrish, Ann Hovey,
Betty Bryson, Jacqueline Wells,
Dorothy Christy.
Directors Harlan Thompson
and Jean Negulesco
Original Stephen Bekeffi
Adaptation Jane Hinton
Screen Play: Harlan Thompson and
George Marion, Jr.
Music: Ralph Rainger and Harry Revel
Lyrics: Leo Robin and Mack Gordon
Producer B. P. Schulberg
Photography Leon Shamroy
"THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY "
Cast: W. C. Fields. Baby LeRoy, Ju-
dith Allen, Joe Morrison, Samuel
Etheridge, Ruth Marion, William
Bletchford, Jan Duggan.
Director William Beaudine
Original W. C. Fields
Adaptation Walter De Leon
Screen Play: J. P. McEvoy and Garnett
Weston.
Music Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Ben Reynolds
Producer William LeBaron
"I MARRIED AN ACTRESS"
Charles R. Rogers
Cast: Elissa Landi, Adolphe Menjou,
David Manners, Alan Mowbray, Paul
Porcasi, George Baxter, Judith Vos-
April 24, 1934
THE
Page Seven
litis
WORK AS COMPARED WITH 36 LA^T WEEK
selli, Lynne Overman, Adrian Ros-
ley, Olin Howland.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original Gregory Ratoff
Screen Play Humphrey Pearson
Photography Milton Krasner
"HERE COMES THE GROOM"
Charles R. Rogers
Cast: Jack Haley, Patricia Ellis, Mary
Boland, Neil Hamilton, Isabel Jew-
ell, E. H. Calvert, Larry Gray.
Director Edward Sedgwick
Original Richard Flourney
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Photography Henry Sharp
RKO-Radio
"COCK-EYED CAVALIERS"
Cast: Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey,
Thelma Todd, Dorothy Lee, Robert
Greig, Noah Beery, Henry Sedley,
Jack Norton, Snub Pollard, Billy
Gilbert, Cupid Morgan, Alfred P.
James, Franklyn Pangborn, Frank
Baker.
Director Mark Sandrich
Story and Screen Play: Edward Kauf-
man, Ben Holmes, Ralph Spence.
Photography David Abel
Associate Producer Lou Brock
"SOUR GRAPES"
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook,
Bruce Cabot, Ada Cavell, Theodore
Newton, Irene Hervey, Arthur Hoyt,
William Straus, Frank Darien, Helen
Vinson, Henry Kolker.
Director Worthington Miner
Play by Vincent Lawrence
Screen Play Ernest Pascal
Photography Roy Hunt
Associate Producer Myles Connoly
"MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD"
Cast: Edna May Oliver, James Cleason,
Bruce Cabot, Gertrude Michael,
Regis Toomey, Edgar Kennedy, Tully
Marshall, Jackie Searl, Frederick
Vogeding, Barbara Fritchie, Gustav
Von Seyffertitz.
Director George Archainbaud
Novel Stuart Palmer
Screen Play Willis Goldbeck
Photography Nick Musuraca
"VIRGIE WINTERS"
Cast: Ann Harding, John Boles, Helen
Vinson, Betty Furness, Molly O'Day,
Creighton Chaney, Sara Haden,
Maidel Turner, Wesley Barry, Wal-
lis Clark, Edward Van Sloan, Ben
Alexander, Edwin Stanley, Donald
Crisp, Dorothy Sebastian, Edith Fel-
lows.
Director Alfred Santell
Story Louis Bromfield
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Lucien Andriot
Producer Pandro S. Berman
"FAMILY MAN"
Cast; Richard Dix, Bruce Cabot, Bar-
bara Kent, Erin O'Brien-Moore,
Edith Fellows, Leonard Carey, Dor-
othy Wilson, Shirley Grey.
Director John Robertson
Story Salisbury Field
Screen Play Sidney Buchman
and Harry Hervey
Photography Teddy Tetzlaff
Producer Myles Connolly
"DOWN TO THEIR LAST YACHT"
Cast: Sidney Fox, Mary Boland, Sidney
Blackmer, Polly Moran, Sterling
Holloway, Ned Sparks, Irene Frank-
lin, Marjorie Gateson, Tom Ken-
nedy, Charles Coleman, Ramsay
Hill, Dot Farley, Phil Dunham, Betty
Farrington, Hazel Forbes, Martin
Cichi, Harry Semels, Maurice Black,
Gi Gi Parrish, Alice Moore, Peggy
Combel, Cynthia Hobart, Virginia
Reid, Maxine Topper, Peter Han-
cock.
Director Paul Sloane
Story Herbert Fields, Lou Brock
Screen Play Marion Dix
and Lynn Starling
Photography Eddie Cronjager
Producer Lou Brock
"LET WHO WILL BE CLEVER"
Cast: Marian Nixon, Billie Burke, Edna
May Oliver, Grant Mitchell, Buster
Crabbe, Joan Marsh.
Director William Seiter
Original Alden Nash
Screen Play Ray Harris
Producer Glendon Allvine
United Artists
Viking Productions
"OUR DAILY BREAD"
Cast: Karen Morley, Tom Keene, Bar-
bara Pepper, John T. Qualen, Addi-
son Richards, Madame Bonita, Harry
Holman, Harold Berquist, Marion
Ballow, Alma Ferns, Three Mills-
field Children, Lionel Baccus, Har-
ris Gordon, Bill Engel, Frank Minor,
Henry Hall, Harrison Greene, Si
Clegg, Roy Spiker, Eddie Baker,
Harry Bernard, Doris Kenter, Flor-
ence Enright, Harry Samuels, Sid-
ney Miller, Nellie Nichols, Frank
Hammond, Lynton Brant, Henry
Burroughs, Harry Brown, Harry
Bradley, Captain Anderson, Alex
Schunberg, Bud Roy, Bob Reeves,
Ed Biel, Jack Baldwin.
Director King Vidor
Author King Vidor
Screen Play Betty Hill
Photography Robert Planck
Producer King Vidor
Universal
"LITTLE MAN. WHAT NOW?"
Cast: Margaret Sullavan, Douglass
Montgomery, Alan Hale, Mae
Marsh, Fred Kohler, Tom Ricketts,
Catherine Doucet, DeWitt Jennings,
Torben Meyer, Frank Reicher, Bodil
Rosing, George Meker, G. P.
Huntley, Jr., Muriel Kirkland, Don-
ald Haynes, Paul Fix, Carlos De Val-
dez, Hedda Hopper, Sarah Padden,
Ferdinand Cottschalk, Monroe Ows-
ley, Christian Rub, Earle Foxe, Max
Asher.
Director Frank Borzage
Play Hans Fallada
Screen Play.... Wm. Anthony McCuire
Photography Norbert Brodine
Producer Frank Borzage
"I GIVE MY LOVE"
Cast: Wynne Gibson, Paul Lukas, John
Darrow, Sam Hardy, Tad Alexander,
Eric Linden, Dorothy Appleby.
Director Karl Freund
Original Story Vicki Baum
Adaptation Milton Krims
Screen Play and Dialogue —
Doris Anderson
Producer B. F. Zeidman
"FUNNY THING CALLED LOVE"
Cast: Chester Morris, Mae Clarke,
Frank Craven, Irene Ware, Andy
Devine, Lois January, Goodee Mont-
gomery, Russ Brown, Tom Dugan,
Anderson Lawler, John Warburton,
Wanda Perry, Dorothy Dawes, Her-
bert Corthell, Douglas Fowley, Earle
Eby.
Director Kurt Neumann
Original Dore Schary, Lewis Foster
Screen Play and Dialogue —
John Meehan Jr.
Photography Charles Stumar
Producer B. F. Zeidman
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby,
Zasu Pitts. Bess Flowers, Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren. Johnny
Arthur, Arthur Vinton, Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett, Phil Regan.
Directors Ray Enright
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor ...Robert Lord
"MADAME DU BARRY"
Cast: Dolores Del Rio, Reginald Owen,
Veree Teasdale, Osgood Perkins,
Helen Lowell, Victor )ory, Henry
O'Neill, Ferdinand Cottschalk, Vir-
ginia Sale, Dorothy Tree, Hobart
Cavanaugh, Arthur Treacher, Anita
Louise, Camille Rovelle, Maynard
Holmes, Halliwell Hobbes, Jesse
Scott, Nella Walker.
Director Wilhelm Dieterle
Original Screen Play. .Edward Chodorov
Photography Sol Polito
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"HEY SAILOR"
Cast: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien.
Gloria Stuart, Dorothy Tree, Frank
McHugh. Niles Welch, Willard
Robertson.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Screen Play Al Cohn, Ben Markson
Photography Arthur Edeson
Supervisor Lou Edelman
"HOUSEWIFE"
Cast: Bette Davis, George Brent, Ann
Dvorak, Robert Barrat, John Halli-
day, Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cava-
naugh, Ronnie Cosby, Arthur Ayles-
worth, Leila Bennett, Phil Regan.
Director Al Green
Original Story: Robert Lord and Lillie
Hayward.
Screen Play: Manuel Seff and Lillie
Hayward.
Photography William Rees
Supervisor Robert Lord
Independent Productions
Mayfair Pictures
(Larry Darmour Studio)
"FIGHTING ROOKIE"
Cast; Jack LaRue, Ada Ince, DeWitt
Jennings, Mathew Betz, Arthur Be-
lasco.
Director Spencer Bennet
Original Screen Play.. ..George Morgan
Photography James Brown Jr.
Producer Lester Scott
Romance Productions
(Mack Sennett Studio)
"YOUNG EAGLES"
(Serial)
Cast; Carter Dixon, Bobby Ford, Jim
Adams.
Director Vin Moore
Original Story Harry O. Hoyt
Photography Bill Hyer, Eddie Kull
Producer George W. Stout
Invincible Pictures
(Universal Studio)
"FIFTEEN WIVES"
Cast: Conway Tearle, Natalie Moor-
head, Raymond Hatton, Noel Fran-
cis. John Wray, Ralf Harolde, Oscar
Apfel, Robert Frazier.
Director Frank Strayer
Original and Screen Play —
Charles S. Belden
Photography Andy Andersen
Producer Maury Cohen
AGENCY
London Representation:
W. J. O'BRYEN & S. E. LINNIT
New York Representation:
WILLIAM HONIC
CALIFORNIA BANK BUILDING
9441 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, Calif.
•
CRestviev^ 0137
Cablecode — Hawvol
A. GEORGE VOLCK
WILLIAM B. HAWKS
I"
% MP.SA\'UKL MA.r-A,
CULVFR CITY,.'JALI«-.
:tudio.
Vol. XX, No. 39. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, April 25, 1934
REVOLT AGAINST CASEY
I
•REFERRING once more to the topic
of "What's the matter with Motion
Pictures?" we would like, even at the
risk of being thought captious, to say
a few words about newsreels. It
seems to be the concensus of opinion
that newsreels should not be cen-
sored. Several states have held that
view. The newsreel depicts events
that really happen, so why not show
them?
But is there any special reason why
the newsreel editors should select
scenes that are brutal and revolting
and place them on the screen? There
is being shown in this vicinity now a
short which may well be classified as
newsreel since it is made up of scenes
showing the long chances these news-
reel photographers take. One of these
scenes depicts a battle between a lion
and a bull, which is both brutal and
revolting, so much so that we heard
many women comment upon it at the
theatre a few nights ago.
•
The animals are in a big cage. The
lion gets first hold, ripping the bull's
flank. Then the bull turns the tables
and gores the lion. The big cat runs
up and down the barrier, trying to
escape, and every time he turns the
bull gores and tosses him.
Americans consider bull-fighting in
Mexico more or less uncivilized, but
this is infinitely worse than any well-
conducted bull fight. Presumably the
lion was killed by the bull, although
the newsreel people did have decency
enough to leave out that part. And,
by the way, what is the S.P.C.A. do-
ing about this picture, if anything?
Some time ago a newsreel showed
a scene of a big flatfoot questioning
a boy — a mere child — about the death
of his mother, whose murder had just
been discovered. The youngster was
crying so that he could hardly talk,
his sobs being caught by the micro-
phone, but the flattie kept him in
front of the camera and kept question-
ing him so that the American public
could enjoy the edifying spectacle of
a heartbroken child.
Another reel recently had shots of
the exhumation of a body in France.
The man had been buried some time.
It wasn't pretty — nor did it seem en-
tirely necessary.
These are only a few instances,
picked at random. Anyone who has
(Continued on Page 2)
SAIvf
.'Rip Tide' Held For
Third London Week
London. — "Rip Tide," the MCM
picture starring Norma Shearer, has
been and still is doing a terrific
business at the big Empire Theatre
and announcement has been made
that it will be held for a third
week.
Para. Schedules 9
At Astoria Studio
New York— Paramount has defin-
itely scheduled nine features to be
made at the studio at Astoria, Long
Island, for the coming year's program,
in addition to the shorts production
there. Three of these, as already an-
nounced, will be made by Ben Hecht
and Charles MacArthur.
Slavko Vorkapich has been engaged
to come East from Hollywood to as-
sist Hecht and MacArthur, in place
of Del Andrews, who had been con-
sidered.
Edwin Marin Out of U'
And Signs Up with MCM^
MCM yesterday took Edwin L.
Marin away from Universal, signing
the director to a long-term ticket
through William Stephens. Universal
lost out after protracted negotiations
over a new salary arrangement with
Marin, MGM outbidding the company.
Director's first assignment will be
"Four Walls," which Bernard Schu-
bert is writing under the supervision
of Lucien Hubbard.
St. Clair to Warners
Mai St. Clair was signed by War-
ners yesterday, through Harry Wurt-
zel, to direct the Joan Blondell-Clenda
Farrell picture, "Princess of Kansas
City."
Union Labor Will Not File
Complaints With Committee
Which Has Him As A Member
Union labor yesterday definitely revolted against Pat Casey,
chairman of the NRA Studio Labor Committee and chairman of
the Producers' Labor Committee, when Local 37, lATSE, and
the Federated Motion Picture Crafts, representing a total of
approximately 6200 studio work-
ers flatly served notice that no com-
plaints will be filed with the Studio
Labor Committee because of Casey's
merbership thereon.
In Local 37 are electricians, property
men, grips, property makers, special
effect and miniature workers and <;p'
(Continued on Page 6)
Marx to Supervise
LupeVelez Picture
Sam Marx is preparing to take his
first try at the task of supervising for
jvIGM and is understood set to handle
"Indecent Lady," a starring vehicle
for Lupe Velez, as his first assign-
ment.
Appointment of Jerry Sackheim as
his assistant makes it possible for the
story chief to venture into associate
producer fields.
Grainger Home Sunday
James R. Grainger, general sales
manager for Universal, who has been
here for two weeks, leaves Sunday to
return to his duties in the New York
office.
Feist Jr. Set As Writer
Felix Feist Jr. moves into a spot on
the MGM writing staff, the studio
"scheduling him for assignment today.
PATHE MOVES TO GET BACK
ON THE PRODUCTION MAP
New York — The first move by
Pathe Exchange to get back into pro-
duction, either in its own name or
through financing others, came at the
stockholders' meeting yesterday wher
President Stuart Webb was given an
option to purchase blocks of both the
class A and the common stock at a
price agreed upon. All the officers
were re-elected.
According to the story published in
the Reporter on April 6, Webb wanted
(Continued on Page 7)
ARTHUR
W. C. Fields Signs New
Ticket at Paramount
After exercising its option on W. C.
Fields, Paramount yesterday discarded
the old contract and wrote out a new
ticket for the player, giving him a
salary tilt and a four-picture per year
arrangement.
"Old Fashioned Way" cleans up the
old slate, "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch" starting the new one. Beyer-
MacArthur office handled the ticket.
RKO Plans to Split
Theatres-Pictures
New York. — J. R. McDonough,
president of RKO Theatres, appears
to be planning to separate the theatre
interests from those of RKO-Radio
Pictures, and there is also a move-
ment on foot to divorce the interests
of Keith-Albee-Orpheum from the
RKO interests.
Bob Sisk has been instructed to de-
vote all his time hereafter to handling
ddvertising and publicity for the Radio
pictures and will do nothing more for
the theatres.
'100% Pure' Shelved
Indefinitely by MCM
Because he did not agree with the
changes in the story as ordered by the
Hays office, Sam Wood yesterday
asked to be relieved from the direc-
tion of "100% Pure" at MCM.
The studio has postponed the pic-
ture indefinitely. Wood immediatefy
was assigned to handle "Stamboul
Quest."
Spence To Do Screen
Play of Skolsky Yarn
MGM yesterday assigned Ralph
Spence to write the screen play for
"Movie Queen," the Sidney Skolsky
original. Writer just completed his
work on "Student Tour," an original
by Arthur Bloch and George Seaton,
which Monfa Bell will produce.
Lynn Farnol Sailing
NewYork — Lynn Farnol, publicity
director for Samuel Coldwyn, will sail
from Ireland for New York Friday,
arriving May 3 and leaving for Holly-
wood three days later.
Radio-Pabst Close
Radio yesterday closed its deal with
G. W. Pabst, through M. C. Levee,
for the director to handle the next
Francis Lederer picture, "Murietta."
COSLOW- JOHNSTON Husical Numbers "MANY HAPPY RETURNS '
Page Two
Ai«i2§v1534
W R. WILKERSON
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Ottice of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr . 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in. the United
Stales and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
In spite of the "all is peace" bulle-
tins broadcast from Fox last week, we
hear tell that the telephone conver-
sation which really climaxed the bust-
up between Winnie Sheehan and Lew
Brown was full of "sound effects."
When Lew got through telling Win-
nie that he was responsible for the
success of "Stand Up and Cheer," but
that he wasn't getting enough credit,
etc., he got very mad and said he was
going to tear up his contract, which
had been signed with Sheehan but not
yet okayed by the N. Y. office.
"Co ahead!" said Winnie. So
Brown grabbed the contract sheets
and TORE them over the telephone,
right in Winnie's ears. Of course,
there's no law against drawing up still
another contract!
There is an angle to William Car-
gan's return to the MCM lot which
all the chatterers seemed to miss — or
maybe they just forgot. Bill Is sup-
posed to play opposite Loretta Young
in "Professional Corespondent" — but
about a year ago you couldn't get a
nickel for his chances of working on
that lot again. Because, at the time,
one of their big stars was in an up-
roar over an interview which Cargan
was supposed to have given out and
in which he referred to this lady as a
"very bad actress." The supposed re-
mark cost him a job as her leading
man at the time — and nobody ever
thought he'd be putting in an ap-
pearance at MCM so long as this ac-
tress was there.
The assistant to a big film man is
suffering from shock and chagrin at
the moment, and here's why. On
three different occasions during the
past two weeks this fellow has caught
the girl he thought was his very own,
leaving (at very late hours) the apart-
ment, of his boss, who has taken an
apartment in the same building for a
hideaway. The fellow can't make a
crack to either of the guilty parties
for fear of losing "his" gal, or his
job — or both!
"TARZAN AND HIS MATE"
MCM prod.; directof, Cedric Gibbons; writers, Edgar Rice Burroughs, James
Kevin McCuinness, Howard Emmett Rogers, Leon Cordon,
Capit-ol Theatre
Sun: "Tarzan and His Mate," fantastic, half burlesque, quite incredible as it
is, is still a lot of fun. It has all the thrills of a dozen dime novels, and
with that former art director, Cedric Cibbons, in charge of direction, some
highly effective movie jungle backgrounds, too.
Post: The second picture of the series, this "Tarzan" is, to borrow the circus
phrase, bigger, better and more exciting than ever. For sheer entertain-
ment, you could hardly ask anything better. A happy combination of
showmanship, directorial skill and technical resourcefulness.
Journal: Here's one of the most exciting — and at the same time hilarious —
jungle films ever made, even though the jungles are those of the Cali-
fornia studios. It's packed with thrills that are piled one on top of the
other. Fantasy and realism are merged in swift tempo.
News: There are thrills and thrills galore in the new Tarzan picture which
opened before an almost hysterical audience at the Capitol Theatre yes-
terday, Cedric Gibbons, art director of MCM, handled his first mega-
phone job with great skill.
Herald-Tribune: The latest adventure of Hollywood's favorite ape man is not
only a grand cinema show, but is, I believe, a genuinely brilliant motion
picture. It has spectacular prowess, melodrama, imagination and humor,
both intentional and unconscious, and it combines the virtues of fantasy
and occasional realism.
American: There hasn't been anything like this one since the days of the
Circus Maximus. "Tarzan and His Mate" is truly an amazing movie.
It's one you mustn't miss.
World-Telegram: A movie natural. That's the only way to describe "Tarzan
and His Mate." For it is one of the swellest entertainments of the year.
Times: "Tarzan and His Mate" is, if anything, even more fantastic than its
predecessor. Aside from the wild tale, this film is a marvel from a
photographic standpoint. Provides first rate fun for the fans of adven-
ture thrillers,
"I'LL TELL THE WORLD"
Universal prod.; director, Edward Sedgwick; writers, Lincoln Quarberg,
Frank Wead, Dale Van Every and Ralph Spence.
Roxy Theatre
American: We shudder a little to think how poor this one might have been
without Lee Tracy. With him, even, it never rises above hackneyed medi-
ocrity. ,
Sun: The Roxy's new film is a good deal better than most of its kind. In spite
of its revolutionary setting, there is nothing phoney about the atmosphere.
Journal: Pleasantly diverting. The supporting cast is satisfactory.
News: It isn't Tracy's fault that "I'll Tell The World" isn't a smash hit as pic-
ture entertainment. It's the fault of the authors for letting a good news-
paper yarn that started off with a bang get too fantastic in its plot.
Herald-Tribune: That Mr, Tracy can play a reporter with consummate skill is
not to be denied. This accounts largely for the entertainment of "I'll Tell
the World," whose tale has been repeated in pictures rather too often for
comfort.
World-Telegram: A fast-moving, thoroughly entertaining little picture. In ad-
dition to a sprightly and eventful story, "I'll Tell the World" has the ad-
vantage of really authentic scenes.
Times: Mr. Tracy performs these assorted feats of reportorial derring-do in his
own nervous, perfervid style, admirably combining a comic effervescence
with an advanced state of apoplexy. His performance is an heroic effort
to convince his audience that the lines he speaks and the things he does
are fresh and funny, which they really are not.
kosenblatt to Talk
MP. Code Over Air
Washington. — Sol A. Rosenblatt
will be the first person officially to
discuss the motion picture code over
the air when his address before the
Society of Motion Picture Engineers,
now convening at Atlantic City, will
be broadcast tonight over a nation-
wide NBC hook-up,
Rosenblatt will discuss the filrr.
code and will also speak on other NRA
policies. It is the first time he has
been on the air since his installation
in office last summer.
Doris Kenyon fo Tour
In Concert in 5 Cities
Completing her work in "Whom
the Cods Destroy" early next week,
Doris Kenyon leaves for a concert tour
in five mid-western cities before re-
turning here for her next assignment
at Columbia,
Player goes into "Broadway Bill,"
the Mark Hellinger story, which Frank
Capra directs.
Louis Hyman on Trip
Louis Hyman, sales manager and
vice-president of Principal Distributing
Corporation, left yesterday on a five
weeks business trip to exchanges in
the E^st. Hyman returns in time for
the start of "Peck's Bad Boy" at Mack
Ssnnett studio.
Songsters For Coldwyn
Sam Coldwyn yesterday signed Wal-
ter Donaldson and Cus Kahn to write
the music and lyrics for the Eddie
Cantor picture. Leo Morrison set the
ticket,
Mrs. Foy in Hospital
Mrs, Bryan Foy, wife of the pro-
ducer, underwent a major operation
yesterday at the California Lutheran
Hospital,
June Knight Returns
June Knight returns today on the
Chief, after a three months' vacation
in Florida,
Noffka Manager in U.S.
For DeBrie Camera Firm
New York, — George Noffka has
been appointed general manager in the
United States for the Andre DeBrie
cameras. H. R. Kossman remains as
general sales manager,
Noffka leaves for the coast shortly
to establish an office there and to
show the new super-Parvo silent cam-
era in the studios,
Emile Chautard Dies
Emile Chautard, formerly a director
'in the silent days and more recently
known as an actor, died last evening
at his home in Westwood, He was
the stepfather of George Archainbaud,
Funeral services will be held tomorrow.
Billie Burke Hostess
Billie Burke entertained at a lunch-
eon yesterday in the commissary on
the Radio lot in honor of Mrs. Frank
Hutton, Among those present were
Mrs. Will Hays, Dorothy Arzner,
Glen Allvine, Patricia Zeigfeld, John
Robertson, Diana Wynyard and Rich-
ard Dix,
Farjeon Set on 'Sailors'
Fox yesterday signed Herbert Far-
jeon to handle the dialogue direction
on "She Learned About Sailors,"
which George Marshall directs, Far-
jeon just completed a similar job on
"Merry Andrew" for the same studio.
Deal was negotiated by the Sackin
agency.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
seen newsreels can recall many more,
just as bad. Aren't there enough in-
teresting things happening in the
world to make up newsreels without
showing stuff that turns the stomach?
Or do the newsreel editors feel that
a good slogan is "nausea with every
reel,"
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
i^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL^LOAN CO.
406 Tatt BIdg. I 680 N, Vint
HEmpstead 1133
April 25, 1934
THE
Page Three
CHESTERFIELD'S 'QVITTER'
EXCELLEIVT PROGRAMMER
Direcf-ion, Acting,
Writing All Good
•THE QUITTER"
(Chesterfield)
Direction Richard Thorpe
Original and Screen Play.. Robert Ellis
Photography M. A. Anderson
Cast: Emma Dunn, Charles Grapewin,
William Bakewell, Barbara Weeks,
Mary Kornman, Hale Hamilton,
jane Keckley, Edmund Burns (cast-
ing credits incomplete).
This is as nice a little program pic-
ture as you have seen in many a day.
It is a homey, down-to-earth story,
best described as comedy-drama, alt
about homey, familiar people. It is
guaranteed to please any type of audi-
ence.
A mother has raised two sons, after
their father, a man suffering from in-
curable wanderlust, has deserted her.
The boys believe their father a hero
killed in the war and revere his mem-
ory. Their mother has supported and
educated them from the proceeds of
a small community newspaper.
One boy returns from college with
modern ideas about the newspaper
business. Seeking to impress the
wealthy girl he hopes to marry, he
takes over the editorship and promptly
throws the business into bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, the father has come
back and is living unknown to his
sons with the old printer who has
stayed on the job all the years he has
been gone. The father does not re-
veal himself until the time comes to
set aright his priggish son. Then he
again departs.
A simple tale but extremely well
told, albeit almost entirely by dialogue.
Yet Robert Ellis' dialogue is so good,
few will notice the talkiness of the
picture. Richard Thorpe has directed
with a sympathetic understanding of
the characters and takes full advan-
tage of the frequent naturally humor-
ous interludes. Photography of M. A.
Anderson and production throughout is
top-notch.
The performances of Emma Dunn
and Charles Grapewin as the mother
and father are flawless, two beauti-
fully human portrayals. William
Bakewell plays the selfish son, a deft-
ly sustained piece of work. The other
boy could not be identified by this
reviewer from the limited screen
credits at hands. He contributes one
of the most believable adolescents we
have ever seen. You will be hearing
more of him.
Two other characters deserving no-
tice are the maid Hannah, and the
old printer, Zack. Unfortunately at
this writing, we cannot sav who
played these roles either. Barbara
Weeks, as the rich girl, Mary Korn-
man and others were uniformly excel-
lent.
"The Quitter" is not the best sales
title for as entertaining a picture as
this.
New Fan Magazine
A new fan magazine, Hollywood
Mirror, will make its appearance to-
day. Jack Grant is the editor.
y
Flash! He Never
Heard of Mae West
A professor in a girls' college in
the South, explaining a point to a
^^udent, said: "If that isn't clear,
come up and see me some time."
The class giggled and the girl ex-
plained that Mae West had made
that remark famous. Whereupon,
said the professor, puzzled: "Mae
West? Mae West? She isn't in my
class, is she?"
Swanson Will Not
Do 'Barbary Coast'
Gloria Swanson will not play the
lead in Sam Goldwyn's "Barbary
Coast," as had been planned.
Yesterday she arranged for the ex-
tension of her personal appearance
tour to six weeks and, immediately
upon her return to Hollywood, she
will go into Irving Thalberg's "Three
Weeks." Thalberg insists on start-
ing his picture on schedule, and she
will have to pass up the Goldwyn film.
Billy Caxton to Radio
For 'Afterwards' Cast
Radio yesterday signed William
Gaxton to a long term deal and will
give the player a spot in "After-
wards," which James Cruze directs.
Caxton recently arri\<ed here from
New York, where he had the' lead in
the stage production, "Let 'Em Eat
Cake."
Henry Hathaway Set
For 'Honor Bright'
Following his successful work with
"The Witching Hour," Henry Hatha-
way has been signed by Paramount to
direct "Honor Bright." Gary Cooper,
Carole Lombard and Guy Standing will
be in it. The screen play is by Sylvia
Thalberg and Austin Parker.
Venable-Taylor Team
Since "Double Door," Paramount
has taken a liking to Evelyn Venable
and Kent Taylor as a team and yes-
terday listed them for top spots along-
side Pauline Lord, W. C. Fields and
Zasu Pitts in "Mrs. Wiggs of Cabbage
Patch."
Archainbaud Finishes
George Archainbaud y e st e r d a y
brought in "Murder on the Black-
board" at Radio on schedule. Edna
May Oliver and James Gleason headed
the cast, which included Bruce Cabot,
Gertrude Mitchell, Regis Toomey and
Edgar Kennedy.
Butterworth Renewed
MGM exercised its option on
Charles Butterworth, extending the
player's ticket into his second year
and putting him in the top spot in
"Rear Car."
Flood Back to Para.
James Flood returned to Paramount
yesterday and was assigned to direct
"A Son Comes Home" as his next
trick. "•■ ■ '-'■■ ■ • *'^"- — '--
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — "Tarzan and His
Mate" and "Stand Up and Cheer" are
the holdovers for the week at the
New York picture palaces. The new-
comers are:
"Beggars in Ermine," which op>ened
at the Mayfair last night; "She Made
Her Bed," at the Rialto, "We're Not
Dressing," at the Rivoli, and "Twenty
Million Sweethearts," at the Strand,
today; "The Witching Hour" at the
Paramount Friday, with George Jessel,
Ethel Merman and Harriet Hoctor on
the stage and, on the same day, "Jour-
nal of a Crime" at the Roxy and "Fin-
ishing School" at the Casino; "Upper
World" at the Hollywood Saturday.
LaCava's First at MOM
'Duchess of Delmonico'
Gregory LaCava's first assignment
for MGM will be "The Duchess of
Delmonico," MGM yesterday an-
nounced, at the same time setting
Clark Gable for the bracket spot with
Jeanette MacDonald.
Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed
have been assigned to contribute the
songs.
Chas. Christie to Make
World Tour for Camera
Charles Christie, former comedy
producer, has been made a vice-presi-
dent of the Mitchell Camera Company
and leaves shortly on a tour of the
world in connection with the com-
pany's product.
He will sail next month for Japan
and, after touring the Orient, will re-
turn through Europe, visiting all cen-
ters of motion picture production.
Buchman Bros. Teamed
Columbia yesterday signed Harold
Buchman to collaborate with his broth-
er, Sidney Buchman, on the original
screen play of "Hello, Big Boy."
Buchman recently completed his work
on "Our Daily Bread" for Viking.
Ferber-MCM Part
Nat Ferber yesterday turned in his
original, "Roundhouse Annie," wind-
ing up a two-picture deal with MGM.
Ferber will complete a new novel he
is writing about the New York City
Italian colony.
Boasberg on 'Rear Car'
AlBoasberg checks in at MGM
again as a writer, this time to handle
Itie comedy in "Rear Car," which
Harry Beaumont directs and Harvey
Thew is writing under Lucien Hub-
bard's supervision.
'U' Signs Earl Eby
Earl Eby, leading man for some
time time at Leia Rogers' Hollytown
Theatre, was signed by Universal yes-
terday on a long term contract.
Connolly Due Today
Bobby Connolly arrives in town to-
d,ay, reporting to Warners on a term
dance directing ticket.'
SZ22ZZ]
If business was poor in the picture
houses this past week, there's a good
alibi for it. Helen Kane was putting
on a free show in court that had the
public flocking to it in droves to hear
all the variations of "Boop-oop-a-
doop" that Helen and her alleged
imitators could give. As a matter of
fact, the courtroom was so crowded
that it was impossible for reporters to
get in unless they spent the night in
the courthouse. But one trade paper
representative had a sudden rush of
inspiration and got one side of the case
to issue a subpoena for him, demand-
ing his presence in the courtroom.
Not only did that enable the reporter
to get in, but it entitled him to a seat
'way up front. Damned clever, these
newshounds.
George Ross' book, "Tips on Ta-
bles," is the newest book on restau-
rants and night clubs to go into the
best-seller class. Not only does Ross
discuss wining and dining, but he
takes time out to mention the celebri-
ties and habitues of all the more fa-
mous places. However, that is not the
point of the story. Some months be-
fore publication, he announced the
title of his book and, a few days later,
was surprised to get an offer from a
theatrical producer, asking for the
d'amatization rights. The producer
thought it was a story about spiritual-
ism, and imagine her chagrin when
she learned it was just a Cook's Tour
cf night spots.
You hear an awful lot about the
silly statements that are made in mov-
ing picture advertising and there's a
whole lot to be said on the subject,
but picture advertising has yet to
attain the high-water mark for non-
sense that has been reached by adver-
tising on standard products. Spring
or something must have seriously
affected the boys recently, because all
in two days we found the following:
"Imprisoned Carbon" as a catch line
for a Club Soda. Surely that can't be
exclusive with the manufacturers of
that particular soda — some of our
best friends suffer from the same
thing. Then did you ever know you
could buy a pre-shrunk bacon? Evi-
dently the advertisers believe your
stomach should get the same consider-
ation that your back does and, if there
are pre-shrunk shirts, why not bacon?
Gimbels came out with the announce-
ment of a sale of "Hurt Soap"! We
didn't even know you could rub it
the wrong way. Also there's an
"Evaporated Horseradish" we'd like to
try on some disappearing oysters some
tfrhe; 'Arid for all the Hollywood golf
enthusiasts there is now on the mar-
ket a "Honey Center Golf Ball," which
should enable any game to turn itself
into a picnic on the links. It looks
to us as though picture advertising
offers the more sensible bargain for
your money, even if you do hope that
every picture will be better than co-
lossal.
i*±**.
^%
Charles Vidor
Directed
44
■Double [)oor
rr
"Double Door" is superbly directed."
— Hollywood Reporter,
April 18, 1934.
"Direction by Charles Vidor is flaw-
less."
—Variety, April 18. 1934.
Management
BREN, ORSATTI & MARX
1
A^
Double Door
ff
-O'
Screen Play
by
GLADYS LEHMAN
and
JACK CUNNINGHAM
jSk
**♦,
»2^^^Bm>^
Page Six
THg
April 25, 1934
STATES MEETI]^C
TALKS PRODIJCTIOIV PLAI^
Para. Trustees Turn
DownDeMilleClaim
New York. — The question of the
Allied States Exhibitors taking a
plunge into the production field,
which was discussed some weeks ago,
came up for serious confabs at the
Allied meeting at the Park Central
Hotel yesterday.
The Eastern units of Allied were in-
formed that, if $100,000 in cash
could be placed on the line, Pathe was
willing to back the series with raw
stock and laboratory work to the ex-
tent of $900,000. The Allied leaders
feel that, under this arrangement,
they would be safe in going ahead.
The discussion yesterday even got
as far as talk about players who are
available, and among the names men-
tioned and agreed upon as good draw-
ing cards were Conrad Nagel, Conway
Tearle and Clive Brook.
The general sentiment of the meet-
ing seemed to be that the entrance
into the production field would be a
wise step.
Technicians Sailing
To Join Korda Firm
Lawrence Butler and George Teague,
experts in process work, leave here
Friday for London to join Alexander
Korda's London Films Company. They
sail from New York on he Aquitania
on May 9.
They have been engaged particu-
larly for work on the Fairbanks pic-
ture, "The Private Life of Don Juan,"
and the picture to be made from H. G.
Wells original, "100 Years to Come."
Two Units For Yacht'
In order to speed up the produc-
tion, Lou Brock has split the "Down
to Their Last Yacht" company at Ra-
dio into two units and is handling one
himself. Paul Sloane directs the pic-
ture.
New York. — The Paramount trus-
tees met yesterday to take action on
a number of claims against the com-
pany. They decided to oppose the
payment of about $180,000 to Cecil
B. DeMille, which he claims as per-
centage on a series of pictures he pro-
duced for Paramount before he re-
joined the company the last time. Ref-
eree Davis will consider the case next
week.
The trustees made three settle-
ments. They gave $500 to the estate
of Will MacMahon which had 'asked
$7500 on the grounds that the Para-
mount picture, "Gun Smoke," was
plagiarized from MacMahon's story,
"Guns Aflame." The rights to John
Colton's story, "China," written for
the company, were given back to him
to settle his claim, and the payment
Qf $7500 to H. and M.,Cort in the
claim over .'-'Once, aV Lady" was ' ap~ -
proved.
Rochelle Hudson East
Rochelle Hudson left yesterday
with her mother on a motor trip t,6
her home in Claremore, Oklahoma. She
will return in three weeks to start
another picture at Fox.
Players to Aid Shrine
Margaret Lindsay and Lyie Talbot
will leave Saturday for San Francisco
to participate in the Shrine conven-
tion at Tanforan racetrack.
Legit Player For MCM
New York. — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
has signed Gladys George, an actress
from the legitimate stage, and she is
expected to leave for Hollywood soon.
Labor Revolts Against Casey
(Continued from Page 1 )
dressers. In the Federated Crafts are
assistant directors, script clerks, cos-
tumers, scenic artists, plumbers,
sheet metal workers, plasterers, bill
posters, laborers, machinists , mold-
ers, pattern makers, motion picture
airplane pilots and upholsterers.
Laying the matter directly in the
lap of Casey, Dick L'Estrange, secre-
tary-treasurer of the Federated group
in a letter to E. F. Smith, of the Stu-
dio Labor Committee, stated:
"This Federation must refuse to
furnish complaints signed by individ-
uals to your committee while the set-
up continues as at present. Mr. Pat
Casey, member of the Labor Commit-
tee, is also chairman of the Producers'
Committee, and we feel that he must
be unfair to all complainants, or else
dishonest in his dealings with the pro-
ducers who pay him his salary."
Further, the letter stated that the
members feel that if any of them
filed a ' complaint with this commit-
tee, "he would be deliberately cruci-
fying himself," and would be placirirg
his livelihood in jeopardy. ^
The letter w^s sent .tJffiiJin;!. ir^^ecjy
to a letter that was mailed by him a
few days ago to both Local 37 and
the Federated group, informing them
that all complaints would have to bear
the name of the complainant.
The reply sent by Lew Blix, busi-
ness manager of Local 37, challenged
the jurisdictional rights of the Studio
Labor Committee, and declared that
any and all complaints filed by the
members of Local 37 would be sent
directly to the NRA in Washington,
and that none would be filed with
the Studio Labor Committee.
The letter declared that this ac-
tion is based on the belief that the
workers cannot gel' fair treatment -be-
cause Pat Casey, chairman of the labor
committee, "being under the employ
of the producers, is both directly and
indirectly interested in having all
complaints which might be submitted
by employees, subdued or decided
in favor of his employers."
Blix: also charges that Casey in
the past has been reported to have
said that he thinks complainants are
subjects "fit for psychopathic re-
vievy'';. and thaj the preserit fipmmit-
tee is definitely prejudicial.'
Chicago Mayor Lets
Hitler Film Be Shown
Chicago. — The Mayor has re-
versed his decision and "Hitler's
Reign of Terror," which was closed
at the Majestic Theatre, will be
reopened tomorrow morning.
Thalberg Talks on Pix to
Chamber of Commerce
Irving Thalberg was the principal
speakef yesterday at a special lunch-
eon of the Exploitation Committee and
Advertising Club of the Los Angeles
Chamber of Commerce.
He spoke briefly on what the pic-
ture industry means to California, and
urged that everyone put his shoulder
to the wheel and help climb back to
complete business recovery.
Hopkins Holds Up Pic
Paramount yesterday decided to call
off production on "She Loves Me
Not" for at least two weeks when it
was found that the company could not
shoot around Miriam Hopkins during
the mendin^iof the player's fractured
ankle; ^'^ ^
Keaton Short Starts
Charles Lamont puts the second
Buster Keaton short for Educational,
"Allez-Oop," into work today. Doro-
thy Sebastian and George Lewis have
been signed for the cast.
Vacation For Muni
Paul Muni, who recently returned
from Mexico, left last night for San
Francisco on a week's vacation.
Hurd Officially Out
Of Camera Local
Howard Hurd, for the past five
years business representative of Local
659, lATSE, the cameramen's union,
yesterday officially severed that con-
nection.
For months Hurd has been the cen-
ter of a controversy in the union ranks.
Many of the men blarrved him for
the failure of the strike of last sum-
mer, while others rallied to his sup-
port. When a showdown came at a
general meeting some weeks ago the
union voted to retain him. However,
he offered his resignation. The board
finally accepted it, and negotiations
toward the settlement of the contract,
which still had more than a year to
run and called for $23,000, were be-
gun.
Yesterday the contract was wiped
out. Hurd accepted a 50 per cent
settlement, 10 per cent of which was
in cash. Hurd would issue no state-
ment yesterday.
McCreal to Warners
Mike McGreal, formerly assistant to
John Arnold, head of the camera de-
partment at MGM, has been made
head of the camera department at
Warners, replacing Charles Glawner.
'Agent' Tests Done
Warners completed their sound tests
yesterday of Leslie Howard and Kay
Francis in preparation for "British
Agent," which will begin production in
a few days.
/>
Double Door
ff
SETTINGS BY
HANS DREIER
AND
ROBERT ODELL
April 25. 1934
John Flinn Arrives
For Code Meetings
John C. Flinn, executive secretary
of the Motion Picture Code Author-
ity, arrived by plane yesterday from
New York for conferences with sec-
retaries of Pacific Coast Grievance
and Zoning boards and also to look
into the workings of the code in the
production end of the indusrty. He
will meet Friday with the secretaries
from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco,
Salt Lake and Los Angeles. On his
return trip, in about a week, he will
hold similar meetings in Kansas City
and Chicago.
He refused to make any statement
about code conditions here, saying
that he was not conversant with the
situation as yet and therefore could
not discuss it.
j||klkUp^f.
Page Seven
Pathe Getting Active
(Continued from Page 1 )
12,500 shares of common at $2 per
share and 3000 shares of the class
A preferred at $12 a share.
The whole proceeding is an at-
tempt to straighten out Pathe's com-
plicated financial set-up \So that it
may get back into the financing of
picture production, even if it does not
itself resume as a producing company.
The fifteen directors elected are
Charles Fleming, Daniel Frankel,
Thomas P. Loach, ]. C. Walsh, B. W.
Atkins, Paul Fuller Jr., Henry Guild,
E. W. Mann, C. S. Montgomery Jr.,
A. B. Poole, Arthur Sewall, C. A.
Stone, T. C. Streibert, Stuart Webb
and Charles B. Wiggin.
VESTING
A/thur Rankin, Guy Usher and Wal-
lace MacDonald to "Death in the Of-
fice," a Columbia short.
Olive Tell by Freddie Fralick to
"Baby Takes a Bow," Fox.
Virginia True Boardman to Colum-
bia's "Whom the Gods Destroy."
Alden Chase to "Stolen Pearls," Co-
lumbia short.
Lew Kelly for "Old Fashioned
Way," Paramount.
Chic Collins and Johnny Sinclair to
"Kiss and Make Up," Paramount.
Ward Bond, Sidney Toler, James
Burtis, jantes Farley, Ernesh S. Adams
and Edwin Sturgis to "Here Comes the
Groom," Paramount.
Hale Hamilton for "Edie Was a
Lady," MCM, by Beyer-MacArthur.
Oscar Apfel to "Old Fashioned
Way," Paramount, by Beyer-MacAr-
thur.
Alan Mowbray for "One More Riv-
er," Universal.
Ruth Channing and Gertrude Short
for "Thin Man," MGM.
Alec B. Francis to "Green Hat,"
MGM.
Frank Albertson to Radio for "Life
of Virgie Winters."
Alan Mowbray, Hallam Cooley,
Robert Agnew, Roger Cluett, Edward
Phillips, Jack Mower and Etienne Cir-
ardot for "Little Man, What Now?" at
Universal.
John Wayne's Illness
Delays Start of 'Randy'
John Wayne's sudden illness yes-
terday prevented the starting of
"Randy Rides Again" at Monogram.
Cecilia Parker is lost to the cast due
to the late starting, as she had pre-
viously signed for another picture im-
mediately upon the finish of the
western. Alberta Vaughn replaces
her.
Harry Fraser will direct the origi-
nal story and screen play by Lindsley
Parsons.
Grey Lead with McCoy
Columbia yesterday signed Shirley
Grey for the lead opposite Tim Mc-
Coy in "Railroad Detective," which D.
Ross Lederman directs when it goes
before the cameras today. Stanley
Mack and Addison Richards also in the
cast. Richards deal negotiated by
Kingston-Harris.
New Home For Santell
Al Santell, who will complete his
present assignment for Radio, "The
Life of Virgie Winters," starring Ann
Harding, in eight days, will take his
hammer and nails and leave for Idyl-
wild, to help the carpenters on his new
home, now nearing completion.
Warners-Coldwyn
Case Off Till May 1
Sam Coldwyn yesterday dropped his
intention to obtain a restraining order
against Warners for continuing to use
Busby Berkeley on "Dames" and paved
the way, through this decision, to go
to trial on his case in an effort to get
a permanent injunction against the
company.
An agreement was reached between
Freston and Files, representing War-
ners, and Loeb, Walker and Loeb, for
Goldwyn, whereby each will present
the case May 1 to Superior Court
Judge Emmett Wilson.
New Agency Starts to
Handle Writers Only
/^th
Alex Paule, quitting acting, opened
fices as an agent yesterday under
the name of Paule and Wilma, cele-
brating the event by selling a story
to Monogram.
The story, "If You Call the Dance,"
is by Helen Doherty, who joins the
studio to write the screen play. The
agency is located at 6538 Sunset
boulevard. It will handle writers only.
Dick Powell As M.C.
Dick Powell will be master of cere-
monies Saturday night at a dinner
dance at the Ship Cafe in Venice, the
proceeds to go to Los Angeles Sani-
tarium at Duarte.
Armstrong with Conlon
Sam Armstrong, formerly of MGM,
is now associated with the Tom Con-
Ion agency.
AN INSTITUTION AS GREAT AS THE INDUSTRY IT SERVES
CONSOblDATED FILM INDUSTRIES, INC.
NEW YORK
HOLLYWOOD
BRITISH and DOMINIONS
London Production of
^^
The Queen's Affair
Produced and Directed by
Herbert Wilcox
rr
LONDON DAILY MAIL:
"... All the merit- here is in the dialogue
of Monckton Hoffe . . ."
LONDON DAILY EXPRESS:
"... A medal fo Monckton Hoffe for the
wit and wisdom of his dialogue. 'The
Queen's Affair' is a delightful entertain-
ment certain to appeal to all film goers with
a sense of humor and a sense of beauty . . ."
LONDON SUNDAY TIMES:
"... I have also warmly to congratulate
Herbert Wilcox on the dialogue provided
for his story by that brilliant writer Monck-
ton Hoffe . . ."
T. HAYES-HUNTER
Film Rights, Limited
24 Whitcomb Street,
London W. C. 2
ri'Y , :AMy. ■
Vol. XX, No. 40. Price 5c.
TODAYS FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday. April 26, 1934
PAI^A.DII^ECT€I^$ IN $IJIT
•ONCE upon a time, my children,
there was a Big Shot named Belshaz-
zar. He was a king of Babylon, and
he made a lot of money and he didn't
care a rap what people said about him.
He did exactly as he pleased, and if
the people didn't like it, why, that
was just too bad.
One night he was throwing a big
party when, ail of a sudden, some
flaming writing appeared on the wall.
Everyone was scared, but no one knew
what it meant. Belshazzar offered a
reward to anyone who could translate
the words — "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Up-
harsin" — and along came Daniel, who
knew. He told the king that he had
been weighed in the balance and
found wanting, that his kingdom
would be taken away and he would
die. And that night Belshazzar died
and his kingdom was lost.
•
And the difference, my children,
between Belshazzar and the moguls of
the picture business is that Belshaz-
zar was frightened by the writing on
the wall and wanted to know about
it, while the moguls either can't see
the writing, or don't care how much
writing there is about indecent pic-
tures.
The warning is plain enough. The
letters flame brighter every week.
They have been written by organiza-
tions representing millions of people.
The MPTOA wrote them a few days
ago. The Roman Catholic Church has
written them all over the country.
The recent convention of the Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution has
sounded the same warning, as have
the Parent-Teachers Association and
almost every big women's organization
in the country. Mrs. August Belmont's
Motion Picture Research Council is
broadcasting the message all over the
East. The Los Angeles Bar Associa-
tion spread it here last week. No
Daniel is needed to tell what it means.
•
"Dirt is anything out of place," a
Kansas exhibitor wrote this paper last
week. There are certain pictures, he
admitted, in which smut and sugges-
tiveness belong and, because they be-
long, there are few if any kicks. But
it is the injection of smut "out of
place" about which the loudest howls
are being heard. It is the putting into
pictures, without reason or excuse, of
IContinued on Page 2)
Theatre Headaches
In D.C. Boxing Bill
Washington. — President Roose-
velt gave local theatre owners a lot
of headaches yesterday when he
signed the bill, which Congress
passed last week, pjermitting both
a^nateur and professional boxing in
the District of Columbia.
Steve Roberts Goes
To Radio For Four
Stephen Roberts yesterday signed a
contract which will take him to Radio
Pictures for four productions as soon
as he completes his present Para-
mount contract. His first picture
there probably will be the next Kath-
arine Hepburn starring vehicle. Schul-
berg, Feldman and Gurney set the
deal.
Roberts has been at Paramount for
some time, one of his latest pictures
having been "One Sunday Afternoon."
He was set a couple of times to direct
"Lives of a Bengal Lancer," but the
story was shelved.
Sheldon to Europe
For 6-Weeks Vacation
E. Lloyd Sheldon leaves May 1 5 on
a trip to Europe, returning in six
weeks to Paramount to place "R.U.R."
into work. Waldemar Young will
have the script ready for him, Mitchell
Leisen to direct with Herbert Marshall
up for the top spot.
Eckmann on Way Here
London. — Sam Eckmann Jr., British
representative for MCM, sailed for
-^ew York today and probably will also
visit the studios.
Trustees Trying To Recover
$12,237,071 Expended in The
Repurchase of Company Stock
New York. — Suit is to be filed today in the New York
Supreme Court against the directors of Paramount-Publix who,
between September 9, 1931, and March 7, 1932, authorized
and approved the repurchase by Paramount of its own stock
from various stockholders, the amount ■
involved being $12,237,071.25. The
trustees were instructed by Referee
Davis to take this action after they
had petitioned for permission to do so.
Root, Clark, Buckner and Ballan-
tine, counsel for the trustees, advised
them that, based on that firm's in-
vestigation of the facts and the law,
(Continued on Page 4)
Columbia Making Tests
For Talent in New York
New York. — Columbia is doing
some extensive testing at the Lynn
Shores studio in search of new talent.
Bill Perlman came on from the coast
with a cameraman and make-up man
to do the work, and Harry Cohn is
supervising it.
Doug MacLean Returns
Douglas MacLean returned to his
office at Paramount yesterday after a
three weeks vacation in Honolulu.
His next for the studio will be "Mrs.
Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch."
Three Doubles a Week
New York. — The Cameo Theatre,
on Forty-second street, has now
switched to double features and will
change three times weekly.
ERPI IVAMED \1% AXTI-TRCST
SVIT ASKING $15,000,000
Ziegfeld' Off Shelf
New York. — A suit for $15,000,-
000, brought under the Sherman and
Clayton anti-trust laws, was filed
yesterday in the Federal Court for the
Southern District of New York against
American Telephone and Telegraph
Co., Western Electric and Erpi. The
plaintiff is the Biophone Sound Repro-
ducing Corporation, of which Alfred
Weiss is president, and the claim is
for $5,000,000 actual damages, with
triple damages under the anti-trust
law.
The complaint alleges that the three
corporations named caused a monop-
( Continued on Page 11)
With Big Plans at 'U'
Universal has taken "The Great
Ziegfeld" off the shelf and is mulling
over it with the idea of making it
one of the big guns on its forthcoming
program. There is talk of either Wil-
liam Powell or Fredric March for the
character of Broadway's master show-
man.
Heather Wants Release
Fox is having difficulty with
Heather Angel's contract, the player
asking for her release.
'Upstarting Hunt
For New Talent
Prompted by casting difficulties on
several productions, notably "The Hu-
man Side," during the past few
months, Carl Laemmie )r. is launching
a campaign to find a list of players
with star potentialities. The Univer-
sal production head has had to resort
to numerous loan-out requests in the
last three weeks.
Rian James has been assigned to
operate the hunt locally, testing pos-
sibilities. Dave Werner, casting head,
leaves for a swing around the coun-
try next week and a trip to Europe
with the same instructions. He will
be gone for three months, the longest
period given a scout by the company.
Dan Kelly is slated to move into
Werner's spot during his absence.
Para. Holds Nugent For
*Ladies Should Listen'
Paramount has extended Elliott
Nugent's loan from Radio and has
penciled the director in to handle "La-
dies Should Listen" when he com-
pletes his work on "She Loves Me
Not. " Claude Binyon and Frank But-
ler have written the script and Doug-
las MacLean will produce. No cast
assigned as yet.
Markey-Scola Will Do
'Adeline' Screen Play
Gene Markey and Kathryn Scola
have been assigned to write the screen
play of "Sweet Adeline," the Ham-
merstein-Curran musical, for Warners.
Hugh Herbert has been assigned to
the top spot.
Col. Buys Two Stories
New York. — Columbia has bought a
story, called "100 Million Dollars,"
by Mel Baker and Jack Kirkland, and
is closing negotiations for a story by
Katherine Brush, titled "Maid of
Honor."
[
DIRECTORS' NUMBER- Just a Reminder-OUT SOON
IBB
Page Two
THg
April 26, 1934
Irtj^EfclFOilllR
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Otfices and Otfice of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957 /
New York Office: Abraham Bernsteir^,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Billy La Hiff, well known Broadway-
its, is seriously ill at the Medical Arts
Hospital, 57 W, 57th St., New York.
. . . Nancy Carroll, his niece, left for
New York by plane last night. . . .
A lot of the gals are "doubling up"
. . . f'rinstance, Dorothy Tree sheds
the royal robes of "DuBarry" to be a
tough gal in "Hey Sailor" . . . and over
at'Radio Helen Vinson is leaping be-
tween the stages of "Virgie Winters"
and "Sour Crapes," playing a forty
year old woman and an ingenue at the
same time. . . . Al Jolson is going to
London in July for a personal appear-
ance for plenty money. . . . Laff note:
Sidney Skolsky has written a book for
kiddies titled, "The Rover Boys on
Fanny Hill"(!).
•
Howard Strickling, back from a visit
to Marie Dressier, reports her very
much on the mend and almost her old
self again! . . . Hazel Forbes and Dave
Lewis are romancing, believe it or not!
. . . Billie Burke will spend the week-
end on the huge Ed Hutton yacht, now
harbored here. . . . Lyle Talbot off to
San Francisco to take a bow at the
Tanforan Race Track. ... It will be
"Shrine Day" when he gets there or
something. . . . The first stage job that
Hobart Cavanaugh ever had (as a
cheeild) was playing the part of an
angel! . . Harriet Parsons has had such
a success directing and dialoguing
those Screen Snapshots for Columbia
that her salary's been tilted to the
skies! . . . Monty Brice is expected to
make his picture here after all, start-
ing any minute now.
•
The French Line wants Dolores
Del Rio to sail on one of their boats,
free for nothing, for the opening of
"Du Barry" in Paris. . . The Sam Cold-
wyns party the departing Darryl Zan-
ucks Saturday night — and the Bill
Coetzes ditto — only Sunday. . . 0. 0.
Mclntyre, with his famous bulldog and
two other pals, the Don Stewarts, Kay
Francis, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Wm.
LeBaron, the Al Newmans, Wm. Wy-
ler, the Leslie Howards, Bill Dover
among the Vendome diners Toosday
night. . . . Herbert Marshall and
Sheila Hennessy glimpsed there at
lunch.
TRAPPIST MOIVK TO PLAY
CHRIST I^ KORDA FILM
London. — What is expected to be
the most ambitious film yet attempted
by London Films is slated to go into
production within the next few
months, according to report. It will
be a picture of the life of Christ.
Present plans call for the portrayal
of the role of Jesus by an unknown
Trappist monk, who will leave his
monastic cell to play the part and,
when it is finished, will return with
the full knowledge that the world
will never know who played the
Christ.
The entire picture will be made
under the most reverent conditions
and in an atmosphere of religion such
as has never been seen in the making
of any film. No one connected with
the making of the picture will be
given any screen or newspaper credit,
not even Alexander Korda, who will
direct it. It is expected that in the
making of the film one of the most
capable casts yet assembled will be
gathered by Mr. Korda, who feels that
the making of such a film is but a
partial fulfilment of his sacred duty.
Expense will not be considered in
the making of the picture, which will
be done on an unparallelled scale of
grandeur and magnificence. Many se-
quences will be photographed in the
Holy Land.
C. Roy Hunter East
C. Roy Hunter, superintendent of
the laboratory and photography de-
partment at Universal, left last night
for the East to inspect some new
equipment now in the experimental
stage.
Goldsmith Buys Yarn
Ken Goldsmith has optioned "I Take
This Man," an original story by Fran-
ces Hyland, which will probably be
the next on his program. Lewis
Rachmil closed the deal for Goldsmith,
who is in New York.
Casters to Play Golf
The casting directors and their as-
sistants of all studios will gather Sun-
day afternoon for their golf tourna-
ment at the Hollywood Country Club.
Trophies will be presented to the top-
notchers.
Joe Traub on Short
Joe Traub, who recently wrote the
additional dialogue on "Hey Sailor"
at Warners, has been assigned to col-
laborate with Ralph Staub on the sec-
ond Technicolor short, "Skirt City."
Orchid For Glen Boles
The young actor who played the
adolescent boy in Chesterfield's "The
Quitter" so admirably and whose name
the Reporter reviewer did not get at
the preview, is Glen Boles.
>yahl Back to Warners
^'jerry Wahl registers at Warners
/again, working with Carl Erickson on
the script for "Say It With Music."
Picture is scheduled to star Dick Pow-
ell. Sam Bischoff will produce it.
Boles Married First
Time — On the Screen
John Boles, who has been in pic-
tures for seven years, yesterday
appeared in the first wedding scene
of his career at Radio in "The Life
of Virgie Winters," on which he is
working with Ann Harding. Al
Santell is directing.
Para. Backs Spanish
Producing Company
New York. — Paramount is backing
the formation of a new company
which will make six Spanish features
at the Eastern Service Studio at As-
toria for Paramount distribution.
The star is Carlos Gardell, reported
to be the greatest singer of the Argen-
tine, who made three features for
Paramount at the French studio at
Joinville last year. The first of the
three gets under way May 7.
Hushing 'Cat's Paw'
Harold Lloyd has decided to lay
aside his desire to take his time in
editing "Cat's Paw" and will rush it
through during the next four weeks
in order to have it ready for the Fox
sales convention at Atlantic City
May 30.
Term Deal for Fowley
Douglas Fowley was placed under
a term deal by Universal yesterday
through O'Reilly and Mann. Player
takes it up when he finishes a con-
tract with MCM.
Kibbee As 'Babbitt'
Warners will make "Babbitt" again,
this time with Guy Kibbee in the most
important role. Tom Reed and Niven
Busch are working together on the
screen play.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1
smut, of suggestive lines and situa-
tions, in much the same manner that
small boys write dirty words on fences
or on sidewalks.
We know that the great majority of
the motion picture patrons of this or
any other country do not want dirty
pictures. Not only are they basically
clean-minded themselves, but they
certainly do not want their children
to see and hear filth.
One would think that the sight of
clergymen standing in their pulpits and
warning their congregations not to go
to certain pictures would open the
eyes of the men who make those pic-
tures, but it seems to have no effect.
They promise clean pictures, they an-
nounce clean pictures, and then, in
the middle of one, without reason,
they write dirty words on the fences
and the sidewalks.
Belshazzar was frightened and
learned what the writing meant, but
too late to save his kingdom. Some-
times history repeats itself.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^ Salary - Furniture
or Aufomobiies
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
N.V.A.ShortToBe
Seen By Millions
New York. — Major L. E. Thompson,
chairman of the N.V.A. Drive, has
announced the completion of the short
subject which is to be the basis of
this year's campaign. Stars who con-
tributed their services include Walter
Huston, Robert Montgomery, Lanny
Ross, Jimmy Durante and Block and
Sully.
The picture will be shown for seven
days, beginning May 4 (N.V.A.
Week) in all the theatres in the Para-
mount Publix, RKO, Loew, Warner
Bros., Fox West Coast and United
Artists circuits. About 2,500 non-
circuit theatres from coast to coast
have also agreed to run this short that
week.
Lone Star Starting
Seventh Wayne Western
Signing Cecilia Parker for the lead
yesterday, Lone Star production at
Monogram today puts the seventh
John Wayne western, "Randy Rides
Alone" into work with Harry Fraser
directing from Lindsley Parson's orig-
inal screen play.
Balance of the cast includes George
Hayes, Yakima Canutt, Earl Dwire,
Arthur Orteogo and Tex Phelps.
Mrs. Agnes Murphy Dies
Mrs. Agnes Murphy, 65, mother of
Frank Murphy, chief electrical engi-
neer at Warners, died yesterday at her
son's home in Hollywood of a heart
attack. Funeral services will be held
tomorrow morning at nine from the i
Church of the Blessed Sacrament. Mrs.
Murphy is survived by two other sons, l.
Martin and Jay.
KIDDING
YOURSELF?
Do you try to make yourself be-
lieve that you will some day have
enough savings to enable you to quit
work and live comfortably?
WELL, if you haven't started
monthly payments on your ANNUITY,
you are surely just kidding yourself.
Don't put it off any longer.
Get the details.
ALBERT ESCHNER
Annuities and Life Insurance
220 Taft BIdg. Vine at Hollywood
CRanite 1721
April 26, 1934
THE
Page Three
THIRTY DAY PRINCESS' AN
EXCITING, AMUSING COMEDY
Sidney, Grant and
Cering High Spots
"THIRTY DAY PRINCESS"
( Paramount)
Direction Marion Cering
Author Clarence Budington Keiland
Screen Play Preston Sturges
and Frank Partes
Adaptation Sam Hellman
and Edwin Justus Mayer
Art Direction Hans Dreier
and Bill Ihnen
Photography Leon Shamroy
Cast: Sylvia Sidney, Cary Grant, Ed-
ward Arnold, Henry Stephenson,
Vince Barnett, Edgar Norton, Ray
Walker, Lucien Littlefield, Robert
McWade, George Baxter, Margue-
rite Namara.
Even with the impressive list of
good mythical kingdom pictures for
competition, Paramount's "Thirty Day
Princess" makes a swell showing.
It is a lovely bit of hokum — un-
believable, exciting, romantic and gay.
Its fantastic plot is embellished with
dialogue that is witty, impudent and
meaty, and with acting that is hyper
and with direction that is super.
Occasionally the film verges on the
satirical, but throughout it never loses
its sense of humor or its spirit of
good, honest fun.
Sylvia Sidney is blessed with a dual
role that fits her Both ways. She is
seen as the Crown Princess of Taronia,
and comes to make a tour of America
under the auspices of an influential
banker, Edward Arnold, who hopes to
float a loan for Taronia. On the eve
of her arrival in America, the Prin-
cess is hit with the mumps. One of
the funniest scenes in the entire pic-
ture is where the banker in despera-
tion addresses a gathering of detec-
tives, all looking exactly alike in black
derbies and with cigars, and instructs
them to find a girl in New York who
looks exactly like the Princess. And
so they find Nancy Lane, a starving
but still struggling actress, and Nancy
becomes the Princess for thirty days.
One of her biggest jobs is to vamp
the publisher of a paper, Cary Grant,"
into printing boosts for her country's
bonds. And, of course, they fall in
love with each other, Grant being mis-
erable because of the gulf between
him and the Princess, and Nancy being
miserable because of the gulf between
her and the great publisher. -'
Miss Sidney is very, very charming
as the Princess, and very, very funny
as the little actress. Cary Grant has
never put more genuine spirit and vi-
tality into a part than he does here.
Arnold is good as the banker, Henry
Stephenson is the King of Taronia,
Vince Barnett is extremely amusing
as the Princess' dumb fiance, Edgar
Norton is well cast as the prime min-
ister, Lucien Littlefield is amusing, as
is Robert McWade, and Ray Walker,
George Baxter and Marguerite Namara
contribute a lot to the picture in
smaller roles.
Marion Cering directed cleverly and
with a keen sense of comedy; Pres-
ton Sturges and Frank Partos wrote
the screen play, based on a Clarence
Budington Keiland story, and Sam
Maybe Mussolini Is
Interested In It
New York. — "The Life of Mus-
solini," written, directed, super-
vised and produced in Italy by II
Duce, has been sold for American
distribution to Fairhaven Produc-
tions, the company formed by H. H.
Rogers Jr., Lou Snitzer and Bill
Alexander.
Monogram Signs
Welsh As Producer
As the first step in his expansion
program for Monogram Pictures, Trem
Carr yesterday announced the signing
of Robert Welsh, formerly with Uni-
versal and Paramount, as executive
producer.
Welsh will take up his new duties
immediately, and, on June 1, will take
over the position now held by Lou
Ostrow, present production executive,
who goes to Universal June 1.
Laughton Due Here For
Barretts' Next Month
Charles Laughton leaves London
May 5 on the Berengaria, accompanied
by his wife, Elsa Lanchester, and re-
turns to Hollywood to do his role in
"The Barretts of Wimpole Street" for
MGM.
Studio will shoot as much of the
picture as possible before suspending
it to await Laughton's arrival.
Walburn with Rogers
Charles R. Rogers has signed Ray-
mond Walburn to replace Alan Mow-
bray in "I Married An Actress," now
in production at Paramount. Mowbray
was committed to Universal previously
and was unavailable.
Myers Out of Para.
Completing his one-picture deal
with the script of "Mississippi," Henry
Myers yesterday checked off the Para-
mount payroll. Picture will be the
next for Lanny Ross and will be pro-
duced by Arthur Hornblow.
James on Hull Pic
Rian James will supervise the first
of the Henry Hull starring pictures
..and is also collaborating with Gene
Solow on the story for the Universal
production.
Arlen Due Back May 15
New York. — According to cable
advices at the Paramount office Rich-
ard Arlen will be back in Hollywood
on May 1 5. He expects to sail from
Europe on May 2.
Hellman and Edwin Justus Mayer made
the totally amusing adaptation. Art
direction by Hans Dreier and Bill Ihnen
is notable, and Leon Shamroy's pho-
tography is artistically outstanding.
No exhibitor in any town in the
country will have difficulty selling this
picture to his patrons. It is squawk-
proof, and will make any audience
happy.
e and the King'
Set for Mae West
Mae West will star in "Me and
the King," an original story by Marcel
Ventura and Alexis Thurn-Taxis, Para-
mount buying the yarn yesterday at
her request.
It will serve as the second on her
two-picture a year contract with the
company. "Queen of Sheba" is her
next. She will write the screen play
and William LeBaron will produce.
Cecilia Parker Signs
For High School Girl'
Bryan Foy yesterday signed Cecilia
Parker for the lead in "High School
Girl," which Crane Wilbur gets before
the cameras today. Others in the cast
include Helen MacKellar, Noel War-
wick, Carlyle Moore Jr., and Mahlon
Hamilton. Script has been written by
Wilbur and Wallace Thurmond.
George Marion Held at
Radio For One More
Radio yesterday made another
agreement with Paramount on George
Marion Jr.'s services, getting the lat-
ter studio to push up its preparation
on "Here's Your Quarter Back" until
the writer can do one more job.
He will work under Pandro Berman
on an original idea to co-star Fred
Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
MGM Troupe at Para.
MGM's "Jungle Red Man" explora-
tioaparty has arrived at Para, Brazil,
W+iere it will outfit for the 1700 mile
hop to Yarawate, which will serve as
the expedition's base. It leaves for
there the early part of next week.
Skipworth to Goldwyn
Alison Skipworth has been loaned
to Samuel Goldwyn by Paramount for
a top spot in "Barbary Coast," star-
ring Anna Sten and Gary Cooper.
William Wellman directs.
John Seal Assigned
John Beal's first assignment at
Radio when he finishes the run of
"She Loves Me Not" in New York
will be in "A Hat, a Coat, a Glove."
The William Morris office set the
ticket.
Robson Not For 'U'
Universal lost out yesterday on its
deal to borrow May Robson from MGM
for "One More River" in view of the
new contract which she is getting call-
ing for starring and co-starring billing.
New Term for Meredyth
Bess Meredyth, who recently com-
pleted "Firebrand" and "Barnum," has
been given a new contract for one
year at Twentieth Century. Schulberg,
Feldman and Curney made the deal.
Ruben Back at Radio
Eddie Rubin has returned to the
Radio lot to assist J. B. L. Lawrence,
producer of "Hollywood on the Air."
'^^H£L£HGWyHH
We can now give you a rough idea
of the kind of reaction a strictly anti-
Nazi picture would get if released
throughout the country and you can
draw your own conclusions as to the
advisability of such a step and how
much good it would do. The other
day, someone went into the projection
room to find out what was holding up
the showing of "Unknown Blonde" at
its preview, and found that a picture
purporting to be the truth about Hit-
ler was being run for an especially
hand-picked audience. This film was
made by the scion of a well known
family while he was traveling in Ger-
many some months ago. So those
who had come to see "Unknown
Blonde" waited and waited and wait-
ed, and finally someone again went
into the projection room and a mem-
ber of audience had started to make
a speech, but he hadn't gone very far
when the speech turned into an argu-
ment as to whether the scenes in the
picture other than the newsreel shots
were genuine. Which quickly led to
a verbal battle as to the truth of the
whole thing, its political and racial
bias, etc., and just as quickly threat-
ened to turn into a riot.
•
Fortunately, the hand-picked audi-
ence was summarily ejected from the
projection room because their time
was up. BUT the argument con-
tinued out into the hall and the first
two reels of "Unknown Blonde" were
p.-actically completely lost because of
the rumpus going on in the hallway.
And this reaction, mind you, came
from a group of people who had been
asked because it was thought the pic-
ture would get sympathetic support
from them. It seems to us that any
picture of this kind is pretty danger-
ous material. It is impossible to get
the truth, the whole truth of that
particular situation, just as it has been
impossible to get the truth about
Russia, and certainly the newspapers
have given it and are still giving it all
the "exposure" it could possibly have.
A far more subtle and far better
propaganda can be spread by a picture
like "House of Rothschild" and in a
way that cannot possibly incite people
to riot.
The newsreel end of the picture
business has evidently come to a
pretty sorry state. And practically the
last straw in the matter was the sepa-
ration of Fox Movietone and Hearst.
At any rate, newsreels are hard to sell
these days and there's certainly no
room for another newsreel, so one
company at least is resorting to black-
jack methods in order to make exhibi-
tors buy them. The head of a large
chain of independent theatres in
Greater New York was offered the
choice of taking a major company's
newsreel along with its feature prod-
uct or not getting the feature product,
and the exhibitor refused under those
conditions, since he already had a
newsreel for his houses. The sales-
man was apologetic and explained he
was only acting under orders and the
exhib could take it or leave it. This
one left it and we hope there's enough
product to go around for everyone else
to refuse a bargain like that.
Page Four
THE
PARA. DIRECTORS TO RE
SUED TODAY FOR MILLIONS
April 26, 1934
/
JI/P'TOTHE-niNVn
jssmm
(Continued from Page 1 )
the suit should be brought on the
grounds that the capital of the com-
pany was impaired by reasons of the
stock repurchases.
The directors against whom the suit
is aimed are Adolph Zukor, Sidney R.
Kent, Sam Katz, John Hertz, Frank
Bailey, Jules Brulatour, William H.
English, Daniel Frohman, Felix Kahn,
Gilbert Kahn, Austin Keough, Ralph
Kohn, Jesse L. Lasky, EIek John Lud-
wigh. Sir William Wiseman, Eugene
Zukor, Donald Stralem as executor of
the estate of Casimir Stralem, and Eu-
gene Zukor, Mel Shauer and Julia
Shauer for the estate of Emil Shauer.
In addition to the amount already
stated, the F>etition indicates that the
recovery of interest is also possible.
The trustees are also investigating
the (Xissible liability of those stock-
holders who were the recipients of
money or property in connection with
these transactions. This is understood
to mean the many theatre circuits
who sold their chains to Paramount for
stock and later took advantage of
their contracts to force Paramount to
repurchase that stock.
Adolph Zukor said yesterday that
no officer or director of Paramount
had had any interest in any of the
theatre stock repurchase contracts and,
in addition, the Paramount directors
in these transactions had relied upon
audits made by Price, Waterhouse and
Company and Haskins and Sells. These
audits showed, according to Mr. Zu-
kor, that in December, 1931, the con-
solidated earned surplus of Paramount
was over $29,000,000 before deduct-
ing $8,711,917 of the stock repur-
chases. He added that other account-
ing firms sustained the directors in
performing the company's obligations
to repurchase the stock.
Saul Rogers, counsel for the bond-
holders, said that, in his opinion, the
suit of the trustees is being brought
in good faith, and that, if they had
not sued, he would have done so.
This is the second big suit filed by
the trustees in their efforts to recover
monies or preferences alleged to have
been illegally given, the first having
been the suit for $13,000,000 against
the 1 2 banks which got preference
as creditors through the Film Produc-
tions deal.
New Novel by Fallada
New York. — Hans Fallada, author
of "Little Man, What Now?" has
written a new novel now appearing
in German, "He Who Has Eaten from
the Tin Plate." The first edition of
'20,000 copies was exhausted and a
new edition will be published by Simon
and Schuster early in the Fall.
First WoollcoH Short
New York — "Mr. W's Little Game,"
Alexander Woolcott's first short, went
into the Rivoli theatre yesterday.
Lynn Shores directed and George Go-
man supervised.
E. E. Clive by Universal for "One
More River," through Kingston-Harris
office.
Forrester Harvey to "Green Hat,"
MGM, by MacQuarrie.
Carry Owen for "Thin Man," MGM,
by MacQuarrie.
Louise Beavers for "I Give My
Love," Universal, by MacQuarrie.
Armand Kaliz and Matilde Comont
to "Caravan," Fox, by MacQuarrie.
Gerald Rogers to Fox for "Grand
Canary."
Eddie Kane to "Dames," Warners.
Tony Merlo and Katharine Sutton to
"Thank Your Stars," Paramount.
Ferdinand Munier to MGM's "Bar-
retts of Wimpole Street."
Henry Kolker for "She Loves Me
Not," Paramount.
Robert Lorraine to "The Green
Hat," MGM.
Maxine Elliott Hicks for "The Old-
Fashioned Way," Paramount.
Constance Kent by Bryan Foy for
his stock company.
Embassy Bill Bigger
New York. — The Embassy Theatre,
which has been playing only Pathe
News, has taken on Hearst-Metrotone
News, Paramount News and the Uni-
versal-Graham McNamee reel and, in
addition to this, a weekly scenic or a
travelog short.
Flinn Digs Into
Code Conditions
John C. Flinn, executive secretary
of the Film Code Authority, met with
the Los Angeles Grievance and Zoning
Boards yesterday and discussed their
problems and methods of procedure.
Mrs. Kopple remains as secretary. He
also met Pat Casey for a lengthy con-
ference, but would give no statement
regarding the discussion.
In the afternoon Flinn conferred
with Lew Blix, business representative
of Local 37, lATSE, and Dick L'Es-
trange, secretary-treasurer of the Fed-
erated Motion Picture Crafts and
member of the Regional Labor Board,
who laid the problems of their mem-
bers before him.
Today he meets the secretaries of
the Zoning and Grievance Boards of
the west coast, and on Monday with
the newly appointed Agency Commit-
tee, comprised of five producers, one
agent, an actor, director, writer and
technician. Flinn stated yesterday that
the information he secures will be
submitted to the Code Authority.
Pioneer Color Features
Postponed Until Fall
Due to the absence of Merian C.
Cooper, Pioneer Pictures has decided
to postpone the making of its first
feature by the new Technicolor three-
component process until Fall.
Several stories are under considera-
tion and a definite announcement is
expected as soon as Cooper returns.
Meanwhile plans are going ahead.
M
'MANY HAPPY RETrRNS' A RIOT
Audience Howls at
Burns and Allen Pic ^
"MANY HAPPY RETURNS"
(Paramount)
Direction Norman McLeod i i U f> j_
Original Lady Mary Cameron MaRV HaPPy KetUmS
Screen Play J. p. McEvoy and # i- i- #
Claude Binyon
Adaptation Keene Thompson and
Music and Lyrics Arthur Johnston and ^^ ^ ^^\ f^% ^^ [" _| ^^ ^^ A ^^ I F"
p^o o.,.p., s:,^?,'- vjCvjkvjC and u k a v- 1 c
Cast: George Burns, Gracie Allen, Joan
Marsh, George Barbier, Ray Milland, Egon
Brecher, William Demarest, Franklin Pang-
born, Morgan Wallace, Larry Adier, Stanley . . . ,
Fields, John Kelly, Johnny Arthur, Ken- HaV^ 7\ t!\C%C%t\ \\TX\&
neth Thomson, Velos and Yolando, Guy lIOYCSayWWVI IIIIIC?
Lombardo's Royal Canadians. , . .
Never have Gra"^;7^ii;7and George Burns ^" Y^"^ ^ '' ' P aD^Oad
been given such an opportunity as in "Many
Happy Returns." The piece is neatly tail-
ored to fit their brand of comedy. And
how it fits! It's a near riot from begin-
ning to end. "Many Happy Returns" should
spell just that at the box-office . . . Burns T LJ C
and Allen are, of course, the picture. They ■ n C
score in every appearance and Gracie is
photographed to excellent advantage . . . VSAV \A/II I I A kl i 1 ^% Pk r> I ^ /^ ■" I" I ^ F \AAA/
Don t underrate the drawing power of Burns WhK WILL I AAA AAUKKIN CJ T P I C_ t >W\
and Allen in your advance campaign. At ^^ ■ fci ■- 1 ^^f ▼ I ff T 1 V,^ IX IX I <../ V*^ I I I Vii« b
the Pomona preview last evening, the audi-
ence burst into applause at the sight of
their names, a rare demonstration there.
M
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MONTA BELL
Producer
Richard Boleslavsky
M
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Director
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Waldemar Young
Screen Play
i/
Jean
Hersholt
plays
DR. HOCHBERC
Clark
Gable
plays
DR. FERGUSON
M
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Donald
Douglas
plays
"MAC"
just finished lead in
Bryan Foy's
"Children of Tonnorrow
Management
RALPH FARNUM
I
Folsey
PHOTOGRAPHY
Th
e Reporter
Believes What It Prints
There is not a news item in this edition or any edition
that is pubh'shed, but what the originators of that news
item, and the editorial staff, believe it to be a fact.
The opinions on previews ARE THE OPINIONS of the
reviewers covering the pictures
WE DO NOT PRINT NEWS OR REVIEWS TO PLEASE
THE ADVERTISER, nor do we place any penalty on
firms or individuals for NOT ADVERTISING.
We Will Not Permit
Our Subscribers
To Be Cheated
through hushed loyalties or hidden alliances.
i.
Read The Reporter
And Get The Facts
April 26, 1934
i^ilPOPiTiPi
Page Eleven
I V
levie^iK
'1m
PHOTOPLAY
131 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY.. .Claudette Colbert
( Paramount)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Paramount 1058 sq. inches
MCM 581 sq. inches
Warners 556 sq. inches
Radio 290 sq. inches
Fox 290 sq. inches
Universal 198 sq. inches
Twentieth Century .... 80 sq. inches
With the May issue, Photoplay
starts something new in the fan mag-
azine field. It is running, in short
installments, a fiction story, called "I
Want a Baby," by Marilyn Herd.
Paramount grabs off the most space
with "Beauty Pursues Earl Carroll,"
by Sara Hamilton; "I'd Never Let My
Daughter Be a Star" (Sylvia Sidney),
by Virginia Maxwell; a contest, "No
More Crooners," conducted by the
magazine and the studio, for a new
tag for Bing Crosby; "Gentleman
George," a rave on Raft by Kenneth
Baker; and an amusing story in which
Baby LeRoy tells about the Arlen
baby in "ME Jealous of That Kid?
Phooey!"
Leonard Clairmont writes "Greta
Garbo Wanted to Be a Tight Rope
Walker"; Mildred Mastin has an in-
teresting yarn on D. W. Griffith, "The
Star-Maker Whose Dreams Turned to
Dust"; Ruth Rankin tells of Gloria
Stuart's troubles in "And Was Gloria
Burned Up!" James T. Tynan remem-
bers when the Belgian royal family
visited the old Thomas H. Ince stu-
dio, in "Just Leopold"; Kirtley Bas-
kette has "Cruising Cowboy," in
which he tells of Hoot Gibson's plans
to make a picture in the Warners Lon-
don studio, and Ruth Rankin offers
two contrasting stories on Barrymore,
"Jack the Bachelor" and "John the
Husband."
George Kent has by far the most
>^l<iliS
Cropper Seeking
Pix Stars for Plays
New York. — Picture stars for two
plays that he wrote and will produce
are being sought by Milton Herbert
Cropper. He is now completing one,
which he will produce this Fall and in
which he hopes to set a well known
name, and the other star is wanted
for the road tour of "Sing and Whis-
tle," which will open in Boston.
Cropper will also produce "Gallop-
ing Grandma," by Everett Dale, and
Cropper's own "Every Minute Counts"
is to be done by Edward Clark, of the
Stage and Screen Academy, after Wil-
lard Mack's "Scarlet Fox."
'Ah Wilderness* Crowd
Leaves on Try-out Trip
The "Ah, Wilderness" company left
last night for Fresno to try out the
Henry Duffy production Friday night
before opening in San Francisco Mon-
day.
The cast is headed by Will Rogers,
and in supporting roles are William
Janney and Mary Blackford. Russell
Fillmore directed. The play will open
at El Capitan in two or three weeks.
Treasure Hunt' Title
Of Eddie Cantor's Next
New York. — The title of Eddie
Cantor's next picture for Samuel Gold-
wyn will be "The Treasure Hunt."
Eddie will have the role of an African
explorer.
interesting story in the mag- — ^"The
Mammy and Daddy of Us All," in
which he offers a brand new reason
for the popularity of Mae West and
Will Rogers.
Erpi Named in Anti-Trust Suit
(Continued from Page I )
oly by pooling patents used in motion
picture sound production and repro-
duction and that this forced Biophone
out of business. Biophone, the com-
plaint states, was in the business of
manufacturing sound reproduction
equipment and selling or leasing it to
exhibitors, and four years ago Erpi
filed suit against Biophone to restrain
further sale of its product. This suit,
Biophone says, has not since been
prosecuted. Among the further alle-
gations are :
That Erpi threatened exhibitors that,
if they continued to use Biophone
apparatus, they would be sued for in-
fringement of Erpi patents;
That in the first four months Bio-
phone was in business it sold $500,-
000 worth of equipment outright to
exhibitors and subsequently got an
offer of $750,000 from a banking
house for a 49 per cent interest. This
Weiss accepted but, before negotia-
tions were completed, he was served
with a notice of Erpi's patent infringe-
ment suit which caused the offer to
be withdrawn;
That under the Erpi agreement with
Vitaphone in 1926, Erpi forced Vita-
phone to agree not to deal in any
competing equipment, which had the
effect of lessening competition and
increasing the alleged monopoly;
That in 1928 Erpi granted other
licenses to major producers and dis-
tributors, forcing them also to agree
to use only Erpi equipment in their
theatres;
That Vitaphone was also prevented
by Erpi from leasing its pictures to
any theatre not equipped with Erpi
apparatus and that Erpi's licenses with
exhibitors generally prevented them
from using pictures made with sound
equipment other than Erpi's.
It is believed here that this suit is
the first of several that are to be
filed against the same defendants, all
with similar allegations. It is thought
the total damages claimed will run
from $50,000,000 to $100,000,000.
Harold Smith Quits
Sound Men's Union
Harold V. Smith, business represen-
tative of Local 695, lATSE, the sound
men's union, handed in his resigna-
tion yesterday. It will become effec-
tive today. Smith has been with the
organization since its inception, and
had a contract which still has four
years to run.
Neither Smith_nor officials of the
union would comment upon the settle-
ment of the contract, other than to
state that a satisfactory arrangement
has been reached. Smith plans to
take a vacation, he said, and would
not discuss future plans.
The resignation follows close on
the heels of the revelation a few days
ago of the forming of a new sound
men's association by sound recording
technicians who have been dissatisfied
with the way things have worked out
in the union.
Herbert Van Dyke Dies
Herbert Van Dyke, for many years
a second cameraman at MCM, died
suddenly Tuesday night. Funeral
services will be held Saturday at 2
o'clock from the Hollywood Funeral
Chapel. Van Dyke was a member of
the American Society of Cinematog-
raphers.
Para. Crip Killed
Bill Keeler, a grip at Paramount,
was killed yesterday morning when
his automobile figured in a crash on
his way to work.
U. S. Films in 23 of
33 Paris Theatres
Paris. — The popularity of Amer-
ican films is increasing here, in
spite of the antagonism of the
French picture industry. Out of 33
major houses in Paris, 23 this week
are playing pictures from the
United States. Universal's "Invisi-
ble Man" is at three houses.
Strict Censorship on
All Broadcast Scripts
The National Broadcasting Company
has ordered a strict censorship on
scripts prior to program broadcasting
as a result of several suits instigated
against the company because of mate-
rial that got out over the air, alleg-
edly damaging film players. The most
recent of these is the Ginger Rogers
suit.
Carlos Borcosque Big
Shot in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires. — Carlos Borcosque,
Hollywood picture director, got a great
reception when he arrived here with
Ramon Novarro.
A squadron of planes bearing his
name flew out over the bay to wel-
come him, Borcosque having been a
pioneer in aviation in the Argentine.
Jean Jagger to Para.
Paramount yesterday signed Jean
Jagger to a term contract and will
bring the New York stage actor out
here May 25. Jagger has appeared in
"They Shall Not Die" and more re-
cently in "Tobacco Road."
Walter Connolly
as
OLIVER
in
"Twentieth Century"
A
COLUMBIA
PICTURE
HOWARD HAWKS
Directed
Twentieth Century
>
"Howard Hawks' direction is a miracle and
a thing of beauty."
— Hollywood Reporter, April 13, 1934.
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Vol. XX. No. 41. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, April 27. 1934
CHASE DUMPS f€\ $TOCI\
•IF one may believe Mr. Hays, who
represents the producers who make the
bulk of the motion pictures of the
country, we are in for an era of better
pictures. In his capacity of atten-
tion-caller, he calls attention to the
coming productions of "David Cop-
perfield," "Vanity Fair," "Monte
Cristo." "Rip Van Winkle," "Pick-
wick" and other great classics. In
addition to these he promises "sim-
ple human pictures, dealing with
everyday life, pictures that will reflect
the great social trends of the day."
But — can one believe Mr. Hays im-
plicitly? There have been times when
his predictions have not been verified
The promise is the voice of Hays, but
the performance is in the hands of
the producers.
•
Now, the question is, just what will
those hands do. They may make clas-
sics, they may make "simple, human
pictures," but will they make BETTER
PICTURES? After all, that is the
answer, and the only answer, to the
problems that beset the industry. Bet-
ter pictures mean more money at the
box-office, more money all down the
line and, what is most vital, the end
of the double feature evil.
It is impossible to see how anyone
can consider the grosses done by
GOOD PICTURES and then believe
that it pays to make mediocre ones.
When the Music Hall in New York
does $100,000 one week and $60,-
000 the next, that should tell some-
thing. And here are a few more
facts:
In another column will be found
some amazing figures on "The House
of Rothschild." and add to these the
fact that it is selling out week after
week in New York, doing $22,800 in
its sixth week at the Astor. "Rip Tide"
has been held for three weeks in Lon-
don at one of the biggests houses there
and undoubtedly will go into a fourth
at least. "Nana," called "Lady of the
Boulevards," goes into a fourth Lon-
don week. "Roman Scandals" goes
into a second there and has a guar-
antee of twelve weeks. "Only Yes-
terday" and "Wonder Bar" are other
London sensations.
There is only one answer — GOOD
PICTURES. If they are good they do
business. If they are not, they do
not. It is as simple as ABC. Yet,
(Continued on Page 4)
Korda 'Catherine'
Barred in Rumania
Paris. — Fearing that the situa-
tion between the King and Queen
in "Catherine the Great" might
suggest to the citizens the delicate
situation between King Carol and
Helene, the government has ban-
ned the English picture in Rumania.
NewN.Y.CityTax
To Soak Industry
New York. — The proposed New
York City tax of one-twentieth of one
per cent on all gross business will be
a blow both to theatres and to all
film companies incorporated in New
York State.
If the tax goes through, neighbor-
hood houses of the 600-seat type will
pay approximately $18 a year, 1500-
seat houses about $90, 3000-seat
houses around $780, and the big the-
atres, with 5000 to 6000 seats, about
$2000.
The plan is to have the tax run one
year. The New York film corpora-
tions will get heavy blows, although it
cannot yet be estimated just how
much.
Hechf-MacArthur Will
Sfart Production May 20
New York. — Ben Hecht and Charles
MacArthur, who are to make three
pictures at the Astoria studio for Para-
mount release, will start the first one
on May 20.
This will be one of their own sto-
ries, as yet untitled. Casting will
start next week.
RESOLIJTIOX
DEMANDS A
Washington. — Government investi-
gation of the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company came closer yes-
terday when Senator Dill introduced
a resolution in the Senate authorizing
the Senate Interstate Commerce Com-
mittee to investigate the A. T. & T.
and all its subsidiary companies.
Among things to be looked into,
if the resolution carries, will be the
extent of the inter-service contract
between the parent company and
Western Electric, which will reach in-
to Erpi. It will also investigate the
holding company structure, which en-
ables the communication concern to
evade state and federal regulation and
taxation.
One-third Of Ho/dings Sold
To yV K And British Interests
And Option Given On Balance
New York. — The Chase National Bank is divesting itself of
all its holdings of Fox Film Corporation stock. It has already
closed a deal by which one-third of its holdings, or 583,135
shares, go to a New York financial group which has some British
interests associated with it. The sell-
ing price is said to be $15 a share,
which makes Chase take a heavy loss.
With this sale goes an option to
the buying group for the remaining
two-thirds. The news of the deal
affected the stock market, the Fox
stock jumping to a close of 17%.
It is expected that the new inter-
ests will have representation on the
(Continued on Page 4J
Cohen Leaving for Coast;
Zukor Follows Shortly
New York. — Emanuel Cohen, pro-
duction head of Paramount who has
been here for some time for confer-
ences with home office executives,
leaves for the studios Sunday. Adolph
Zukor will follow him early next
month.
Warners to Produce
Lewis' 'Main Street'
With "Babbitt" already scheduled,
Warners has decided to make two pic-
tures from Sinclair Lewis' books and
has also placed "Main Street" on the
production sheet. Erwin Gelsey will
write the screen play.
IIV SENATE
.T.&T. PROBE
'Mme. Du Barry' Finished,
Del Rio Goes to 'Orchid'
Wilhelm Dieterle brought in "Ma-
dame Du Barry" at Warners yesterday
on schedule. Dolores Del Rio, who had
the lead, now goes into "Shanghai
Orchid," which has been scripted by
Gene Markey and Kathryn Scola.
MCM Borrows Brent
MGM yesterday borrowed George
Brent from Warners for the lead op-
posite Myrna Loy in "Stamboul
Quest," which Sam Wood will direct.
Richard Schayer is now polishing the
script and Walter Wanger will pro-
duce.
Rothschild' Rolls
Up Record Receipts
"The House of Rothschild" is do-
ing some amazing stunts at box-offices
in various sections of the country. Its
first three openings, outside of the
road show engagements, were at
Portland, Oregon, Stamford, Conn.,
and Chicago.
Figures received at the offices of
Twentieth Century here show that, in
Portland, it did more business in its
first four days than "The Bowery"
did in a week and "The Bowery" was
held over. In Stamford its first week
topped "The Bowery" by $1500, and
in Chicago, where it opened Wednes-
day, the opening day receipts were
$600 more than "The Bowery." And
in each of these places "The Bowery"
business was called capacity.
Pathe Plan Due Soon
New York. — Stuart Webb, presi-
dent of Pathe, said yesterday that the
plan for the recapitalization of the
company will be settled within the
next thirty days.
Borzage to Warners
Frank Borzage, director, who com-
pleted "Little Man What Now?"
Wednesday at Universal, moves to
Warners. No assignment has yet been
given him.
$90,000 for Stand Up'
New York. — The first week of the
Fox picture, "Stand Up and Cheer,"
at the Music Hall gave the house a
gross of approximately $90,000.
Birthday for Junior
William Anthony McCuire will be
host Saturday night at a birthday
party at the Colony Club for Carl
Laemmle, Jr., who is 26 tomorrow.
Archie Mayo Returning
New York. — Archie Mayo, Warner
director, who has been here on vaca-
tion, leaves for the coast today.
NORMAN McLEOD directed MANY HAPPY RETURNS'
Page Two
April 27, 1934
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, %/5-
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second dass
matter June 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Some of the wise ones around town
are betting that a once-big star re-
cently signed up for her "fourth come-
back" by a big studio, will never make
a picture there. Y'see, when a cer-
tain producer on that lot first wanted
to sign her, his family was very much
against it. They argued that the star
was not only passe, but would probably
get herself front-paged again for some
more unpleasant publicity and that
she was a bad risk. The producer ar-
gued that he thought she was still a
good bet — but promised that if the
star got herself into any scandal, he
would never make a picture with her.
Well, the star is once again on the
verge of a front-page mess, which all
the insiders are already aware of. So
the bets are that the actress now on
a personal appearance tour, will
either stay on the tour indefinitely
or be stalled, far as pictures go.
•
lean Muir is all burned up at the
Warner publicity department for let-
ting those stories be planted about her
supposed big crush on George Brent.
Maybe she has one and maybe she
hasn't — but when Brent read in the
papers that he and Jean Muir were
exchanging glances — he cancelled all
dates to take Jean flying around in his
flying-machine. Brent is the cagey
type about romances, it seems — and
he was a little annoyed on his own
account.
•
MCM hasn't made up its mind yet
whether it will be an all-Chinese cast
in "Good Earth" or not. But we hear
that the stuff which has already ar-
rived from China, where George Hill
has been shooting, is super-extra. In-
cidentally, Frances Marion leaves Hol-
lywood Saturday and will meet Hill
and the returning company in Hono-
lulu and come back here with them
immediately, getting in a lot of hectic
writing on the trip.
Fox Buys 'Serenade*
Fox has purchased "Serenade," an
original by Rex Beach'^and Richard
Carroll, and has assigned Sally Sandlin
to do a treatment. Paul Martin will
direct and Sol Wurtzel will produce.
'SADIE McKEE' SWELL PICTURE;
IJ'si 'AFFAIRS' GOOD THRILLER
Crawford, Arnold,
Brown Highlights
"SADIE McKEE"
MCM)
Direction Clarence Brown
Story by Vina Delmar
Screen Play John Meehan
Photography Oliver Marsh
Starring Joan Crawford
Cast; Gene Raymond, Franchot Tone,
Esther Ralston, -Edward Arnold,
Jean Dixon, Akim Tamiroff, Gene
Austin, Earl Oxford.
A picture well-tailored for the tal-
ents of Joan Crawford, and a surefire
audience bumper is 'Sadie McKee."
It is still another and very modern
version of the Cinderella theme, gor-
geously mounted, with melodramatic
and comedy overtones. The picture
in preview dragged in several spots,
but it is obvious that a little trimming
(mostly in the latter half) will put
"Sadie" right into the swell enter-
tainment class.
You'd have to go a long way to find
a finer cast than that which fills the
bill on "Sadie McKee," and the direc-
tion of Clarence Brown is something
to rave about. Particularly his atten-
tion to detail and his handling of the
picture's lighter moments. Personally,
we regret that these lighter moments
were not retained for the film's
length, though we are fully aware that
heavier sequences are made of the
stuff that fans cry for.
It is a credit to the lovely Joan
Crawford that her fine, straightfor-
ward performance was not completely
overshadowed by the seasoned and
rousing work of Edward Arnold, who
all but "wraps the picture up and
walks away with it." He is the drunk-
en, party-loving millionaire who mar-
ries Joan in a moment of sentimental
bibbing, only later to love her deeply
and lose her. Arnold's drunken screen
moments are classics, and the scenes
in which they occur are the comedy
highlights of the picture, but he
matches his own comedy talents with
equally swell dramatic ability in later
scenes.
Gene Raymond, (he can sing!) is
very good as the real love interest;
while Franchot Tone, burdened with
a thankless, sanctimonious role, is
O. K. jean Dixon registers heavily as
the hard-boiled companion of Joan . .
she got the laughs. And that goes
for Zelda Sears in her brief appear-
ances as a boarding-house keeper.
Esther Ralston, Earl Oxford, Gene Aus-
tin, "Candy and Coco" too, must be
mentioned for effective contributions.
The screen play of John Meehan's
with its expert writing and amusing
dialogue, raises the picture to a level
it might otherwise not have attained,
making it a definite attraction for any
theatre. "Sadie McKee" is a hum-
dinger for the femme patrons — what
more can you ask?
Pagano Out of Educ.
Ernest Pagano is out of Educational
"Snd leaves on a trip to South America,
bringing to a close nearly three years
with the short subiect producing com-
pany where he has been story editor
and scenario writer.
Jessica Dragonette
Signed by Paramount
New York. — Paramount has
added to its list of radio luminaries
by signing Jessica Dragonette to a
term contract. She will not go to
the coast until late in the Summer.
Hornblow Halts Start of
'Pursuit of Happiness'
The start of "Pursuit of Happiness,"
Arthur Hornblow's first production for
Paramount, has been set back to the
end of May. The script has been
completed and approved for immediate
shooting, but the subject loomed up
as important enough to be held until
a suitable male star is secured for the
lead.
It is reported that Paramount is
interested in Francis Lederer for the
role, with RKO watching development
of its own next Lederer story before
consenting to the deal.
Coldwyn Productions
Going Big in London
London. — Sam Goldwyn's two pic-
tures have settled down for healthy
runs here, with Anna Sten in "Lady
of the Boulevards" ("Nana"! starting
on its fourth week at the Tivoli and
Eddie Cantor's "Roman Scandals" be-
ginning its second week at the Lei-
cester Square. Box office receipts for
the first week of the latter have
caused the theatre to give Goldwyn
a twelve-week minimum guarantee.
Fox Term for Pascal
FoxXesterday signed Ernest Pascal
to a/Mong-term contract, the writer
finishing a one-picture deal on the
s<freen play of "Grand Canary" for
/Jesse Lasky. The Schulberg, Feldman
and Gurney office negotiated the deal.
Para. Buys Woollcotts
New York, — The first of the Alex-
ander Woollcott shorts, called "Mr.
W.'s Little Game," has been pur-
cKased outright by Paramount, and it
is understood the company will buy
the series.
Classic for Monogram
New York. — Monogram has gone
for classics, W. Ray Johnston an-
nouncing yesterday that the company
has bought Edjjyard., Eggleston's "The
Hoosier Schoolmaster," a best-seller
fifty years ago.
'Hey Sailor' on Location
The Warner "Hey Sailor" company
leaves for San Diego Monday for more
location work under Lloyd Bacon's
direction. Ben Markson and Earl
Baldwin did the screen play from
Markson's original.
'Green Hat' Starts
MGM started production yesterday
on "The Green Hat," starring Con-
stance Bennett and Herbert Marshall.
Robert Z. Leonard directs.
I
Novel Treatment of
Fine Mystery Yarn |
"AFFAIRS OF A GENTLEMAN"
(Universal)
Direction Edwin L. Marin
Authors Edith and Edward Ellis
Adaptation Cyril Hume •
and Peter Ruric 1
Photography John Mescal U
Cast; Paul Lukas, Leila Hyams, Pa-
tricia Ellis, Onslow Stevens, Phillip
Reed, Dorothy Burgess, Lilian Bond,
Joyce Compton, Murray Kinnell,
Dorothy LeBaire, Richard Carle,
Wilfred Hari, Sara Haden, Charles
Wilson, Gregory Gaye.
Based on the play, "Women in His
Life," the Universal picture, "Affairs
of a Gentleman," offers a novel way
of presenting a murder mystery.
Furthermore, it offers a highly in-
teresting group of characters, each one
of whom is believable, human and ex-
cellently drawn, and each unwittingly
adds to the mystery.
The film opens with a shot, and
Gresham, a famous novelist (Paul
Lukas) is found dead at his desk.
The bewildered butler and Chinese
chef finally pull themselves together
sufficiently to phone the police and
Gresham's publisher, Richard Carle.
In the meantime, and quite naturally,
the group of friends has gathered.
The inspector gets nowhere rapidly,
until a chance slip on the publisher's
part leads to his decision: "Well, I'm ♦*
going to keep you all here until each :
one of you tells all you know."
Then the picture goes back and
picks up the series of events begin-
ning with the publisher's inadvertent
remark.
So many complications pile up that
the perfectly simple solution for the
murder (which looks like a suicide)
is doubly effective, and the solution
reaches the audience just before the
inspector arrives, ending the picture
exactly where it began. Whether or
not the inspector ever solves the mys-
tery is left to the audience's imagi-
nation.
The picture is intriguing now be-
cause of its mechanics. It will be
dramatically interesting when a lot of
much-needed cutting is done and the
thing speeded up considerably. The
direction, by Edwin L. Marin, is spotty,
achieving at moments good suspense
and going suddenly listless at other
times.
Paul Lukas is polished, as usual;
Dorothy Burgess turns in a good job
as the girl with the jag; Sara Haden
is uncannily fine as the secretary.
Patricia Ellis, Lilian Bond, Leila Hy-
ams, Joyce Compton and Dorothy Le
Daire are good types for their parts.
Richard Carle brings a callous, emo-
tional shrug to his part that is stun-
ning characterization. Onslow Stevens
is the enraged husband, and Phillip jj
Reed is Miss Ellis' fiance.
Cyril Hume and Peter Ruric adapted
the play by Edith and Edward Ellis.
When the picture is cut, exhibitors
may bank on a pretty fair entertain-
ment feature, distinguished principally
by Sara Haden's performance and the
dramatic novelty of the story.
April 27, 1934
THEJfee
Page Three
*LAST GEIVTLEMAN' SURE FIRE;
'MISS MARKER' CERTAIN HIT
New Arliss Comedy
Worthy of the Star
"THE LAST GENTLEMAN"
(Twentieth Century)
Direction Sidney Lanfield
Author Katharine Klugston
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Art Direction Richard Day
Photography Barney McCill
Cast: George Arliss, Edna May Oliver,
Janet Beecher, Charlotte Henry,
Ralph Morgan, Edward Ellis, Frank
Albertson, Rafaela Ottiano, Donald
Meek, Joseph Cawthorn, Harry C.
Bradley.
A brand new comedy about a cro-
chety old gent who has a fortune to
give away, that has a novelty finish
that will wow the paying customers,
and there is no doubt of the fact that
there will be plenty of paying cus-
tomers for this latest George Arliss
opus. Arliss goes back to being his old
gruff, but kindly self, gives it every-
thing he's got and, with the aid of a
story that does his pet characteriza-
tion proud, gives Twentieth Century
another winner that is good news for
the whole family.
Old Cabot Barr calls his family to-
gether to "celebrate" memorial serv-
ices for a niece who died in China.
Not that he cared so much for the
niece, but he was anxious to see the
family and have them see him. He
has only one living son, a worthless
bounder who is out to insure the fact
that he will be Barr's sole heir. Barr's
other son had died and had left as
issue only a daughter, and daughters
were strictly against old Barr's wishes.
A sister of Barr's has adopted a boy.
To make the story come to a quick
end, Barr succeeds in marrying off the
grand-daughter to the adopted son and
making them keep the name of Barr
so that the family will not die. BUT,
the way in which he accomplishes his
ends is the surprise kick of the pic-
ture and it's so good we can see no
reason for spoiling the pleasure of it
by giving it away. See it for yourself.
I As usual, Mr. Arliss takes first hon-
ors for the success of the picture, but
make no mistake about the fact that
Leonard Praskins' writing keeps that
success at a high level, and the origi-
nal idea of Katherine Klugston's is a
honey. Besides which, the memorial
services held for the dead niece, with
■ Joseph Cawthorn in the role of a min-
ister whose voice keeps fading away,
are high spots that will rock your
house with laughter. Edna May Oli-
ver, Janet Beecher and Edward Ellis
are simply elegant, with Ellis giving a
standout performance as the butler.
Frank Albertson is a pleasant juvenile,
whom it is a pleasure to see again,
but the kindest thing to say about
Miss Charlotte Henry is nothing.
Barney McCill's camera work isn't
quite up to his usual standard. In
fact there are a few scenes in which
|he principals talk almost completely
rn the dark. Lanfield's direction is
brisk and accounts greatly for the fact
that the picture seems a whole lot
shorter than it is. All in all it is a
worthy follow-up to Arliss' "House of
Rothschild" and keeps his career well-
b.a+anced between drama and comedy.
Ray Enright Gets
7-Year Warner Term
Warners yesterday gave Ray
Enright a new seven year ticket.
Director, who started with the
company as an assistant film cut-
ter 12 years ago, is now directing
the dramatic sequences in
"Dames."
Fox and Paramount
Bidding for Dei Ruth
Fox and Paramount have offered
Roy Del Ruth deals to direct pictures
during the Twentieth Century pro-
duction lull.
Scripts have been submitted but he
has so far declined to accept on the
ground that he does not wish to take
the studio's money unless he is con-
vinced he can deliver a satisfactory
picture. If he cannot get one that he
wants to do, he will take a trip to
Europe.
'Edwin Drood' Second
Dickens Yarn for 'U'
Universal will make two Charles
Dickens stories on its new slate, hand-
ing Edmund Grainger the task of su-
pervising "Edwin Drood." while Stan-
ley Bergerman, as previously announc-
ed here, looks after "Great Expecta-
tions.'..'
Lynn Riggs was signed yesterday
throOgh—the Edington and Vincent
office to write the screen play for
"Edwin Drood."
Rose Franken to Fox
Rose Franken takes her first try at
picture writing, joining the Fox West-
ern Avenue unit under Sol Wurtzel
yesterday to collaborate with Phillip
Klein on "The State vs. Eleanor Nor-
ton." The Edington and Vincent office
set the ticket.
Mary McCall to Warners
Warners has purchased "A Lady
Surrenders," an original by Mary Mc-
Call, and has signed the author to do
t-he script. Studio has no definite
' production plan on the picture as yet.
Bruckman-Long at MOM
Clyde Bruckman and Hal Long have
been given writing contracts at MGM
and assigned to the Lucien Hubbard
unit. No writing assignments have
yet been given them.
Bertholon Back to Mono.
George Bertholon returned to Mono-
gram yesterday to handle the produc-
tion of "King Kelly of the U. S. A.,"
which he authored in collaboration
with Howard Higgin.
Hazard Signed by Fox
Warners has signed Lawrence Haz-
ard to write the screen play of "Sat-
urday's Children," Maxwell Anderson's
play. No cast or director set as yet.
Hall on Sidney Pic
Alexander Hall has replaced Stephen
Roberts as director on "One Way
Ticket" at Paramount, starring Sylvia
Sidney.
Cast, Direction,
Story All Score
"LITTLE MISS MARKER "
(Paramount)
Direction Alexander Hall
Original Damon Runyon
Screen Play: William R. Lipman, Sam
Hellman, Gladys Lehman.
Music and Lyrics Ralph Rainger
and Leo Robin
Photography Alfred Gilks
Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Dorothy Dell,
Charles Bickford, Shirley Temple,
Lynne Overman, Frank McGlynn
Sr., Jack Sheehan, Gary Owen,
Puggy White, Sleep 'n Eat, Tam-
many Young, Sam Hardy, Edward
Earle, John Kelly, Warren Hymer.
Here is a large helping of sentimen-
tality, served with a lavish hand.
Based upon the same formula, in fact,
by the same original author, Damon
Runyon, it should appeal to the same
audiences that laughed and cried at
"Lady for a Day. " And you know
what that means to the box-office.
This is the second B. P. Schulberg
production on successive evenings and
the second hit.
It is a baby girl instead of an old
lady whom the tough gamblers take
to heart in "Little Miss Marker." She
gets her name because she was left as
security by her father for a "marker,"
more easily identified as an 1,0. U. for
a racing bet. As the father does not
return to redeem the human security,
bookmaker is compelled to keep the
child. She immediately starts win-
ning over the rowdy denizens of the
racing racket. They do not realize
their interest in the kid'until she be-
gins to pick up their rough language
and equally rough ways.
The baby's mother had taught her
the tales of Knighthood in King Ar-
thur's court. Hoping to re-establish
the legends in her mind, her under-
world friends agree to a masquerade
in knightly armor. Mounted on the
race horse, her "charger," she leads
the muggs in parade, while they sing
"East Side, West Side." A fall from
the horse sends the little one to the
hospital and a last-minute blood trans-
fusion serves for a real tear-jerking
finale.
Interwoven with this basic plot is
a crooked scheme to frame a race and
the love interest of the shabby book-
maker for the big-shot gangster's moll.
That amazing four-year-old, Shir-
ley Temple, delivers a truly astound-
ing performance. If we may advance
a suggestion, however, her singing of a
torch song could be cut to advantage.
All right, suppose it did get a hand
at the preview (mostly from the stu-
dio section), the subsequent reaction
was unfavorable. Having a baby sing
something about a "son of a gun" only
unduly stresses her precociousness,
which should not be stressed. A nat-
ural child is far more appealing.
It is to the distinct credit of the
adult members of the cast that they
were not all merely feeders for Shir-
ley. Adolphe Menjou, stripped of
every familiar mannerism, contributes
probably his finest characterization as
the bookie. Dorothy Dell looks better
Radio Sound Men
Resent Orphaning
A storm of protest broke yesterday
among the 350 radio sound men who
comprise the radio section of Local
695, lATSE, when they learned of the
resignation of Harold V. Smith as
business representative.
Their squawk was that, after they
had been sold on the lATSE and had
been organized in all the big cities of
the Pacific Coast, they are now to be
left hanging on a limb as the sound
men pull out of Local 695 and go into
the new sound recording engineers'
association.
A committee of two, Ernest Rob-
erts and James Brown, saw Smith yes-
terday. Today a larger group will
meet him in an effort to work out
some deal whereby they will not be
left as orphans.
Paul Kelly Signed Up
For *Barbary Coast'
Although "Barbary Coast" cannot
go into production until Anna Sten
finishes "Resurrection," casting on the
Sten-Cooper feature is being continued
by Sam Goldwyn. Paul Kelly was
signed yesterday.
Rouben Mamoulian expects to start
camera work on "Resurrection" by
June 1, with William Wellman being
ready to start "Barbary Coast" im-
mediately afterward.
Para. Sells Original
To Liberty Magazine
Liberty magazine has purchased the
publication rights from Paramount to
"Twenty Hours By Air."
~ Paramount purchased the original
f cm the authors, Bogart Rogers and
Frank Dazey and will use it for Claud-
ette Colbert and Garv Cooper.
V/arners Plan to Make
26 at Teddington Plant
London. — The program of pictures
to be made by Warner Brothers at
their newly-purchased Teddington stu-
dio will include 26 features. It is
undei-stood that they will cost around
$1,250,000.
Pertwee-Boylan Team
Roland Pertwee and Malcolm Stuart
icylan have been signed by Warners
o handle the dialogue for "British
Agent" under the supervision of Rob-
ert Presnell.
and better with each picture. Her
screen success is assured. Charles
Bick;ford plays a gangster with his
usual assurance, and Lynne Overman
scores heavily with every line. The
others all have their moments, and all
good, with Warren Hymer and John
Kelly particularly outstanding as
nursemaids, nee prizefighters.
The screen play by William Lip-
man, Sam Hellman and Gladys Leh-
man, contains some fine dialogue, and
Alexander Hall's direction does not
miss a trick. Several times obvious
situations threaten, only to be avoided
by a deft twist. Camera work by Al-
fred Gilks excellent.
Your campaign will have to explain
the title, which should not be diffi-
cult. Once explained, it will intrigue
and the rest is clear sailing. "Little
Miss Marker" is sure-fire sentiment.
Page Four
THE
April 27, 1934
BRITISH PRODUCTION ROOMS, Spain to Protect
WITH MAXY RIG ONES IN WORK
Its Own Pictures^
Korda London Films
Leads The Parade
London. — With the spectacular
rise of the London Film Productions,
Ltd., producers of "Henry VIM" and
"Catherine the Great," British film
production has taken an unprecedent-
ed spurt, and present indications are
that from now on British pictures will
cut a big figure in the amusement
field throughout the world.
For years there has been a belief
that no great world film could be
turned out in the British Isles. But,
with the coming of London Film Pro-
ductions and the production mind of
Alexander Korda this bugbear was de-
stroyed, and Britishers have discovered
that they can crash the theatre gates
of the world.
When "Henry VIH" appeared, Brit-
ishers sat back aghast and wondered
if it was a flash in the pan or just the
start. In practically every great city
in the world the picture was packing
tfiousands into the theatres. In Amer-
ica alone it was booked into 5800
theatres.
Then came "Catherine the Great."
Again the theatres of the world wel-
comed a British picture. More than
6000 theatres in the United States
booked it.
Now, every film producing com-
pany in England is plunging ahead into
a fever of production such as this
country has never known, with every
company endeavoring to produce pic-
tures with stuff in them that will
make them a world product.
London Film Productions, Ltd., has
the most ambitious program of all.
"The Private Life of Don )uan," with
the Senior Fairbanks in the starring
role, is the next picture on the list,
and now in production.
On the schedule is "The Hun-
dred Years to Come;" an original by
H. C. Wells. "Commissioner Sanders
of the River," by Edgar Wallace, is
another. Already a company has spent
five months in the jungles of Africa
filming scenes in which twenty thou-
sand natives take part.
The company will star Charles
Laughton in two specials, one written
by Frederick Lonsdale, the other by
Lajos Biro and Arthur Wimperis, who
created for him his "Henry VIII."
Baroness Orczy's "The Scarlet Pimp-
ernel" is another on the list. Robert
Sherwood will write a story for Maur-
ice Chevalier. "The Field of the Cloth
of Cold," picturing another chapter
of English history, will be another
Laughton picture, and in the cast will
be Chevalier, Fairbanks. )r.. Merle
Oberon and Flora Robson. Alexander
Korda will supervise them all.
In other studios, Sound City Films
is producing "Radio Pirate," with
Tamara Desni and Anthony Kimmins
heading the cast and ivar Campbell
directing. Irving Asher is producing
"Something Always Happens" for
Warner British at Teddington.
At the Stoli studios "Danny Boy,"
a Butcher production, is at work, with
Dorothy Dickson, Frank Forbes- Rob-
ertson and Archie Pitt in the cast, and
Paramount to Build
Big Glasgow Theatre
London. — Paramount is planning
to build a theatre in Glasgow that
will be in the "super" class. In
view of the extensive plans, the
city government has agreed to re-
lax certain of its building regula-
tions to permit novel features to
be installed.
Manning Haynes directing. J. Walter
Ruben is directing "Java Head" for
Associated Talking Pictures.
At the Gaumont British and Gains-
borough Studios, "Chu Chin Chow"
is in production, under the direction
of Walter Forde, and Tim Whelan is
directing "The Camels Are Coming."
"Forbidden Territory," a Wainwright
production, is also in production at
the same studio, with Phil Rosen di-
recting. "Little Friend" is another at
this studio.
At British International "Blossom
"'"ime" is being produced under the
direction of Paul Stein. "Tfie Great
Defender" is another in production.
Others for this company are "The Lost
Lord," directed by Marcel Varnel;
"Death on the Footplate." directed by
Walter Summers; "Give Me a Ring,"
directed by Arthur Woods; and "Lost
in the Legion," which Fred Newmeyer
is directing.
British Lion is making"Night Mail,"
with Herbert Smith directing. At St.
Margaret's Julius Hagen is producing
"Bella Donna," with Conrad Veidt
heading the cast and Robert Milton
directing.
"Nell Gwynn" is in production at
British and Dominions under the di»
rection of Herbert Wilcox. The same
company is also making "The Girl in
the Flat," with Redd Davis directing
a cast headed by Belle Chrystall, Vera
Bogetti, Stewart Rome, John Turbull
and Ada Peel.
WANTED
Experienced animators. Apply
BERT CILLETT
Van Beuren Corporation
729 Seventh Ave., New York City
A MILLION WOMEK
J I demanded that Fox
I film the great novel
I "ALL MEN
ARE ENEMIES"
by Richard Aldington
HUGH WILtrAMS'
HELEN TWELVETREES
MONA BARRIE
HERBERT MUNDIN
SI..." S...I,
H^KlAmUV
LOEWiS STATE
N.S.W. Film Probe
Angers Taxpayers
Sydney. — Local taxpayers are be-
ginning to wonder whether or not the
New South Wales Government Film
Inquiry will be worth the cost. Al-
ready the expense has reached an esti-
mated $65,000, and the inquiry drags
on.
Close to 100 witnesses have been
examined, and the testimony now fills
2265 pages of foolscap. Much dirty
linen has been aired in public, and a
lot of it has been hung out to dry in
secret, but John Public is yelling that
there have been no results.
Chase Dumps Fox Stock
(Continued from Page 1 )
Fox directorate. The present Chase
directors are H. Donald Campbell and
H. G. Place. Harley Clarke is also
still a director. Until such time as
the option is taken up. Chase will
still retain financial control of Fox.
Hollywood. — Sidney R. Kent, presi-
dent of Fox Film, when asked last
night about this deal, said that he
knew it had been on and he under-
stood it had been completed so far as
the sale of one-third of the bank's
holdings was concerned. He did not
know, he said, who the New York
interests are, nor did he know the
identity of the British group, although
he was sure that the New York rumor
that it was British Gaumont was in-
correct.
MOUNTAIN CABIN FOR SALE — (Stone).
100 ft. front on permanent stream. Large
trees, 25m. from L.A., Fur. comp., 1 Ige.
rm., 1 scr. lined sleep, pch. Log fire. 5 bed.
New shower, toilet, rockgas stove, 10-ft.
view window. New con. floors, colored,
hardened, waterproofed. Secluded. Must
walk 1/4 mile trail. Daily pack train service.
Sacrifice $1200.00 cash. CRanite 4851.
Robt. B. Stacy-Judd, 2100 N.Beachwood Dr.
BORDEN FRIDAY FROLIC
'BnvM^/^ STAGE , At 8:45
VIA STATION K-H-J TONIGHT
^^
•SCREEN*
Sa//y EILERS
RichardARLEH
"SHE MADE
HER BED"
R«kl.ARMSTRONO
Richnd ARLEN, J,
FANCHON T^ ^
& MARCO preset
m PERSON -CO. of 70
^^ in «h. MUSICAL COMEDY
Oohe. a Chance"
• Direct from the MAYAN THEATRE •
AT REGULAR. ^/%c TO
PARAMOUNT PRICES ^ W IP.
COMING! TED LEWIS
Madrid. — A plan is now before the \
Spanish Cabinet which, if it is approv- \
ed, will result in the forcing of Span- \
ish theatres to show five per cent \
Spanish pictures, will bar foreign talk- \
ing films carrying Spanish subtitles, \
and will decree that all "dubbing" of ' y
films in the Spanish language will y
have to be done in this country. y
The proposed plan was conceived y
by Ricardo Samper, the Spanish Min- y
ister of Industry and Commerce for y
the purpose of protecting the Spanish r
picture industr and furthering its y
production plans.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
for some inexplicable reason, picture
producers can't see it. One would
think that figures would open their
eyes, would spur them on to make
other pictures that would be as profit-
able as the good ones that are playing
now. But they keep along in the same
old rut. If they want to put the busi-
ness back on its feet, if they want to
see black figures instead of red, there
is just one way:
BETTER PICTURES.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
•^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
GRAUMANS
BROADWAY at 9th • PHONE MA 2SII
WEEK
. NOW
\ih'i
so«S,
s\«%^
Tio*» '
HENRY THE ACHE' Comedy continuoui
SCREEN SNAPSHOTS. NEWS * lou'.Z
:
LOTHAR
MEMOES
DIRECTED
\\
JEW SUSS
ft
/h J/C-
,^7^^^ o
0-^
/ ;^ /-■ , . yi '^
Starring
CONRAD VEIDT
for
^^^^
CAUMONT-BRITISH
MM'Hr'
/)
J^^^
.d>-
THIS IS ONE OF
TIM WHELAN'S
FOUR SUCCESSFUL BRITISH PRODUCTIONS
♦
WATCH
UNIVERSAL DURING
1934
DAVID A. BADER
W. J. O'BRYEN
and
S. E. LINNIT
27 Old Bond Street London, W. 1
Cables: Obrylin, London.
European Representatives For
Hawks-Voick Corporation
♦ ♦ ♦
LLOYD KNECHTEL
A. S. C.
Just completed Background and Process Shots, London and
Paris for RKO's "Of Human Bondage" and for Warner Bros.
FORMERLY IN CHARGE OF RADIO PICTURES TRICK DEPARTMENT
SENDS GREETINGS TO ALL HIS HOLLYWOOD FRIENDS
FROM LONDON
FREE-LANCE TRICK AND PROCESS PHOTOGRAPHY
IN ALL ITS BRANCHES
PROCESS BACKGROUNDS AND ATMOSPHERE SHOTS
OF LONDON AND EUROPE A SPECIALTY
Happily Associated with the Most Progressive and Best Equipped
Laboratory for Motion Picture Film Processing in London
GEORGE HUMPHRIES & CO.
71 WHITFIELD STREET LONDON. W. 1.
Cable Address BESTLAB. London
BERG, STEBBINS, ALLENBERC & BLUM, INC.
Agency
and its
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Offer
AGENCY REPRESENTATION
In every Branch of the Amusement World
and
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Seasoned, Organized and Specialized
Embracing the following
COMPLETE ACCOUNTING and BOOK-
KEEPING Department in charge of our
Certified Public Accountant.
ESTATE DEVELOPMENT through a con
trolled budget and sound investment
program.
INVESTIGATION of all business, in
vestmer\t, insurance and real estate
problems.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT— Complete
and thorough.
INCOME TAX SERVICE in charge of our
Tax Attorney and Certified Public Ac-
countant.
GENERAL BUSINESS COUNSEL and
action by the entire personnel of the
Business Management Corporation.
ALL FOR THE FEE HERETOFORE PAID FOR AGENCY REPRESENTATION ONLY
BERG, STEBBINS, ALLENBERC & BLUM, INC
Present Address
California Bank Building
Beverly Hills
Calif.
After May 1st
9484 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, Calif.
(Opposite Beverly-Wilshire Hotel)
PHIL BERC
ARTHUR W. STEBBINS
BERT ALLENBERC
MYRT BLUM
?< MP.SAVUFL MAI^A,
ru:.VKR OITY. JAM-'.
Vol. XX No. 42. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday. April 28, 1934
rCX-GAIJM€NT MAT J€IN
New international Set-up
Seen Following Sa/e Of Fox
Stock To British Interests
•IN an interview given in New York
recently, Adolph Zukor said:
"Wc (Paramount) pioneered in
many fields, but alwayr. with the
showman's angle in mind. We got
into trouble only when we lost sight
of the all-important fact that we were
showmen, first, last and always."
Mr. Zukor has a habit of hitting
the nail on the head. This time he
hit it squarely. The great, the cry-
ing need of the picture business today
is SHOWMANSHIP,
For a long time past everyone in
the picture business seems to have
forgotten that it is SHOW BUSINESS.
They have forgotten that, if the busi-
ness is to succeed, every person in it
must be a SHOWMAN.
Everything came too easily until
the crash arrived. Money was plenti-
ful. If a picture company needed
money for financing production, all it
had to do was to ask one of many
banks. Sometimes it did not even
have to ask; finances were offered.
It was all plain sailing. Executives
did not have to use their brains. The
public had money and bought any-
thing offered. The producing com-
panies could coast — and did.
Then — as we used to say in pic-
tures— came the crash. The golden
days have passed. The banks have
drawn their purse strings. They don't
want to get into the picture business
any more; they want to get out of it.
There is just one source now from
which the business can get the money
it needs to produce pictures — THE
BOX OFFICE.
To get money from the box office,
tickets must be sold. To sell tickets
the theatres must have good pictures,
pictures that will attract the public,
pictures of a quality that will make
that public come back for more. And
that means SHOWMANSHIP.
•
Mr. Zukor, in his interview, says
that he is convinced that we are
rapidly getting back to "practical show
business," which he defines as "the
business of selling the best possible
entertainment to the greatest possible
num.ber of theatre patrons."
It is sincerely to be hoped that he
is right, that SHOWMANSHIP will
soon be the dominant characteristic
(Continued on Page 2)
Dr. Ciannini Finds
Himself in a Spot-
it was announced yesterday that
Dr. A. H. Ciannini has been made
the third trustee in Columbia Pic-
tures, the other two being Harry
and Jack Cohn. The doctor says
he has no stock interest, his job
being to keep peace between Harry
and jack. Some job!
Broadway Grosses
Arouse No Cheers
New York. — There is no wild en-
thusiasm manifested over the grosses
of the Broadway picture palaces,
although some of them are doing all
right.
"Tarzan and His Mate" at the
Capitol got a little under $49,000,
which is not so hot for that picture,
and "Wharf Angel" at the Paramount
got only $22,000, which is very bad.
"We're Not Dressing" will get
around $37,000 for the week at the
(Continued on Page 7)
Zirn to Supreme Court
New York. — Samuel Zirn will file
an appeal in the U. S. Supreme Court
today against the decision of the New
York Appellate Division on his suit to
contest the Paramount bankruptcy.
Small Signing Bergner
Edward Small in a long-distance
telephone call to Rufus LeMaire in
London yesterday set a deal to bring
Elizabeth Bergner to Hollywood.
STUDIOS CO-
WITH EXTRAS
New York. — A new and gigantic international film enterprise,
embracing both Fox Film and Gaumont-British, is seen as a
result of the deal, announced exclusively in the Reporter yester-
day, whereby the Chase Bank is divesting itself of a heavy
percentage of its holdings of Fox
Most of the major studios, notabi/
MCM and Fox, are now co-operating
with the Code Committee for Extras
100 per cent, according to a state-
ment last night by Mrs. Mabel Kinney,
chairman of the committee, who re-
turned yesterday after a week in Sac-
ramento.
"It is decidedly heartening the way
the studios are now trying to work
with us," she declared. "Every deci-
sion the committee has made on com-
plaints by the extras, in which we
decided the studio in question was at
fault, has been accepted and money
we decided due the extras has been
paid promptly.
"Most of the studios, especially
MCM and Fox, are calling us daily to
(Continued on Page 7)
stock
Dixon Boardman, of the British
inves'ment firm of Balfour, Boardman
& Company, sails for Europe today
with the deal, signed and sealed, in
his pocket. The interests he repre-
sents have acquired 200,000 shares of
Fox stock outright and have two op-
tions for 200,000 shares each, making
600,000 shares in all. This represents
(Continued on Page 4)
I'utHe Back to Para, for
3 3ld Ladies Listen'
Paramount signed Frank Tuttle
yesterday to direct "Shcu'd Ladies Lis-
ten," for which Csry Grant is slated.
Claude Binyon and Frank Butler
were teamed to write th3 screen play
of the Alfred Savoir-Cu/ Bolton play.
Douglas MacLean supervises.
Home Folks to See Mary
New York. — Mary Pickford leaves
May 6 for Toronto to appear at the
Toronto Centennial on May 7 and 8,
having been invited by the Mayor.
Toronto is her home town.
OPERATHVG
COMMITTEE
First Hecht-MacArthur
'Crime Without Passion'
New York. — The first of the three
pictures to be made at the Astoria
studio for Paramount release by Ben
Hecht and Charles MacArthur, will
be "Crime Without Passion."
niis is being adapted from a Sat-
urday Evening Post story by Hecht.
LeRoys Home Today
Mervyn LeRoy and his wife arrive
today on the Empress of Britain from
their world tour. They will entertain
Governor Poindexter of Hawaii and
forty passengers of the ship at the
Warner studio.
RKO Names New
Set-up of Officers
New York. — J. K. McDonough,
p.esident of RKO Theatres and RKO-
Radio Pictures, announced yesterday
that M. H. Aylesworth will continue
as chairman of the board of Keith-
Albee-Orpheum.
Malcolm Kingsberg has been made
first vice president, and Major L. E.
Thompson second vice president, in
charge of theatre operations. Leon
Goldberg, formerly with Goldman,
Sachs & Company, becomes a vice-
president and treasurer, and I. E.
Lambert was elected a vice-president,
secretary and general attorney. Lam-
bert was formerly with RCA-Victor.
Herman Zohbel continues as treas-
urer and William Lambert as secretary
of all other RKO companies.
Capra Goes North
For Racetrack Shots
Frank Capra, Columbia director,
and his cameraman, Joe Walker, left
yesterday for Tanforan race track '
where they will photograph the races
today and tomorrow. Material will be
used for backgrounds in "Broadw^
Bill," which goes into work in about
three weeks.
Zeidman Will Produce
Russ Columbo Picture
B. F. Zeidman will produce the first
Russ Columbo picture at Universal,
titled "Castles in the Air," an original
by John Meehan Jr. Production will
begin about June 1 .
Roxy Theatre Will
Close for Two Months
New York. — The Roxy Theatre will
close June 1 for renovation, altera-
tions and new equipment, and will re-
open early in August under the man-
agement of S. L. Rothafel.
[ALFRED WERKER Directed The House of Rothschild ^
Page Two
Aprir 29, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE .Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Suns«t Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10, Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
W. C. Van Schmus is a supervisor
af Radio City — WHAT a name for a
supervisor! . . . "Buff Cobb" (dotter
of Irvin S. ) just out of the Cedars of
Lebanon after a siege. . . . And Frank
Joyce reported doing very well in New
York. . . . Alice Faye and Jack Du-
rante are doing all right around places.
. . . Slickum, MCM's pet-bootblack,
has reached his zenith in annbition!
He's been loaned to Universal for a
part in "Fifteen Wives"! . . . Irene
Castle and Tony Moreno dancing
around at the Biltmore Bowl, . . .
Ernst Lubitsch regaling his pals with
pictures of himself as an actor, taken
twenty years ago! Why, he must
have been a child!
•
The latest day-dream of Bill Pow-
ell, Dick Barthelmess and Ronald Col-
man is to rent a sixty-foot boat and
cruise to Mexican waters before they
do anything else. . . . Patsy Ruth Mill-
er and Margaret Sullavan off to New
York via plane — incidentally, the Sul-
lavan's send-off party consisted of her
sepia maid! . . . Tullio Carminati ex-
pecting to leave for the East tonight
unless he's forcibly halted! . . . Two
of the fish that Clark Cable snared
on his recent trip are on display (with
banners) in the window of a down-
town market! . . . Virginia Valli, Wal-
ter Byron, Dorothy Phillips (remem-
ber her as a movie star.') and David
Scott open in "Caprice" at the Little
Theatre in Beverly Monday night.
Hope Loring staged the piece.
•
While in the hospital, Charlie Feld-
man received this wire: "Think you
should only suffer ten percent." . . .
Lowell Sherman, sans Geneva Mit-
chell, Mary Brian, Russ Cleason, Henry
Wadsworth, Mary Carlisle, Mai St.
Clair, enjoying the super-swell enter-
tainment by Sargent and Ross at the
Kings Club Thursday eve. . . . These
boys (Sargent is the husband of Greta
Keller! are THE last word! . , . Irene
Bentley and Austin Parker tete-a-
teting at the Vendome. . . . Jean Har-
low, Hal Rosson, Reese Taylor, Doug-
lass Montgomery, Barbara Barondess.
Irlerbert Marshall, Dolores Barrymore,
fhe Alan Croslands, Walter Donald-
son, th§ George Fitzmaurices. HugK
Williams, Lord Berkley, the Bill
"UNKNOWN BLONDE'
Majestic prod.; director, Hobart Henley; writers, Theodore D. Irwin, Leonard
Fields and David Silverstein.
Globe Theatre
American: The story is fairly complicated, not always believable, and upon
occasion fails to maintain its mood through the introduction of not too
brilliant comedy episodes, but on the whole it is better than average
entertainment.
Suni: The Globe has a rather dreary film, all about cads and their feminine
equivalents. It is a rather incredible film about people who never seem
very real.
lournal: There's one point of similarity in practically all movie plots about mem-
bers of the legal profession. Invariably the hero is an upright character
who, for one reason or another, is propelled into circumstances that
change him into a cynic. So he decides to get even by turning his talents
to shady dealings. And he becomes unscrupulously successful until he's
either caught or reformed. And that, with variations, is how it is here.
Post: Notwithstanding a certain ingeniousness in the plot, it is too pat for
either credibility or comfort. Everything is tied up into a neat little
package which, on opening, is found to be empty.
World-Telegrami: An intensely artificial affair, full of amazing coincidences,
limping movement and pedestrian dialogue. All of it is pretty routine
and giddy stuff.
Times: It is a story illustration of puppet-dangling, and therefore a tedious at-
tempt to attract attention. Its unsavory details are seldom convincing,
and most of the incidents are depicted with amateurish abruptness and
the employment of all too convenient coincidences.
News: The picture could be timely and pertinent, but there is too wide a gap
between the production's claim and the sordid facts of the matter.
Herald-Tribune: "Unknown Blonde" seems so old-fashioned that you wonder
why it isn't staged in crinolines. It is the unfortunate sort of work which
it is difficult to believe even when it is telling the truth. The cast is not
at all bad.
Mirror: Neatly directed, nicely produced, acted with restraint, "Unknown
Blonde" never violates good taste or plausibility. It is sensational only
because it deals with sensational conditions.
"THE WHARF ANGEL "
Paramount prod.; directors,
writers, Frederick Schlick
William Cameron Menzies and Georges Somnes;
Samuel Hoffenstein, Frank Partos and Stephen
Morehouse Avery.
Paramount Theatre
Mirror: It Is a faintly unreal story, but Miss Dell is such a convincing little ac-
tress she arouses your sympathy and makes you believe her troubles.
Time:s Although there is no fault to find with the performances of the players
the story is like a short story drawn out to novel length. The picture
however, has been ably directed by William Cameron Menzies and George
Somnes, but one rather wonders why they put so much efforts into sucf
a thankless yarn.
World -Telegram: The new film is not a very good one. The lines and the situ-
Somnes, but one rather wonders why they put so much effort into such
entirely wasted.
News: It is a story that the movies have used before, and, despite the very ca-
pable Victor McLaglen and the shooting-star, Dorothy Dell, there is very
little about the piece which is likely to stir your pulse.
Herald-Tribune: The settings and the atmospheric effects are successful enough,
and the performance of Miss Dell is entirely helpful, but that is almost all
that a friendly observer can say on the work's behalf. Among the defects
the dialogue must be placed pretty high. I fear that the work must be set
down among Paramount's lesser efforts.
Journal: Miss Dell's movie debut presents her as a sort of wistful Mae West,
and to Paramount's newest acquisition goes much of the credit for sus-
taining interest in a pretty routine script. You won't have much trouble
anticipating the end of it.
"The Wharf Angel" isn't a major picture; but it doesn't rely entirely upon
formula characters. There is, on the part of writers, directors and cast, an
attempt at a realistic idyll of the water front. It doesn't, unfortunately,
entirely succeed. The fault may lie somewhat in the plot manipulations,
a little too 'obvious for good showmanhsip. It moves rather slowly and
jerkily in spite of its melodrama.
American: The idea is developed too sketchily to be as effective as intended,
and Preston Foster's portrayal of his role lacks strength and the power
essential to making the part appear impressive. Miss Dell is surprisingly
good in her characterization. It seems that all she lacks is opportunity.
Sun:
Goetzes, also dining. . . . Marcia
Remy, sec. for Dave Werner, over at
Universal, playing a sec. in "Affairs of
a Gentleman" and doing right welt.
_.;'' . .Rex Cole off to Palm Springs fat
the. week -endj..__ _.
Schildkrauf' with Zanff-
Joseph Schildkraut telephoned yes-
terday that he had just signed an ex-
clusive managerial contr^t with .j(^n
.Zanft agency.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
M^P. Golf Tourney
AtCaliente May 12
Golf stars of the silver screen will
gather at Agua Caliente May 12 and
1 3 for the playing of the annual mo-
tion picture golf championship. It
seems certain that the four man teams
will be from Warner Bros., Radio,
MGM, Twentieth Century, Paramount
and Universal studios who will com-
pete for the handsome shield won last
year by Warner Brothers, captained by
Bobby Jones.
The added feature of the tourna-
ment will be the annual champion-
ship of the Divot Diggers, Inc. Among
those who will play at Caliente, and
who are diehards, are Jesse Lasky,
Eddie Mannix, Nat Deverich, Jack
Warner, Albert Kaufman, Dave But-
ler, W. C. Fields, Jim Oviatt, Herman
Politz, Leon Errol, Adolphe Menjou
and a host of others.
Flinn Straightens Out
Coast Code Secretaries
Secretaries of the Zoning and Griev-
ance Boards of the Pacific Coast con-
ferred all day yesterday with John C.
Flinn, secretary of the Film Code
Authority. Flinn stated that the entire
conference was devoted to routine
matters and the straightening out of
details of procedure with which the
secretaries will be faced when they
start operating.
Monday he meets Mrs. Mabel Kin-
ney, chairman of the Code Committee
for Extras, and also the newly ap-
pointed Agency Committee.
Dixon and Revere East
Two Broadyvray players who came
out here for single assignments board-
ed planes on the returrj trip eastward
yesterday. They are Jean Dixon, who
appeared in "Sadie McKee" for MGM,
and Anne Revere, who finished in
"Double Door" for Paramount.
Ethel Criffies Set
Sam Goldwyn yesterday signed Ethel
Griffies for a spot in "Resurrection,"
which Rouben Mamoulian puts into
production early in June. Miss Grif-
fies is the first woman set for the pic-
ture besides Anna Sten, who has the
leading role.
Count de Miollis Dies
Count Francois de Miollis, former
member of MGM's foreign depart-
ment, died of a sudden heart attack
yesterday. He was sixty. Services
will be held this morning at the
Blessed Sacrament Church.
of the industry and of the men and
women in it. But it means work —
hard work by everyone. We've got
to have better pictures, better ex-
ploitation, better everything that goes
to create ENTERTAINMENT for the
public.
People are once more able and will-
ing to buy. Entertainment is as much
of a necessity as anything else that is
sold. But it must ATTRACT and
there is^ just one quality that will
make it attractive — SHOWMANSHIP.
Aprir 28, 1934
THg
Page Three
HAPPY ANDREW* ROGERS' HIT;
CHEATERS' FAIR PROGRAMME
Boyd, Collyer and
Mackaill Capital
Best Pic Comedian
Has Had in Years
"HAPPY ANDREW"
Fox
Direction David Butler
Author Lewis Beach
Screen Play: William Conselman and
Henry Johnson.
Adaptation Kubec Clasmon
Photography Arthur Miller
Cast: Will Rogers, Mary Carlisle,
Roger Imhof, Peggy Wood, Paul
, Harvey, Robert Taylor, Frank Mel-
' ton, Edward J. Nugent, Conchita
Montenegro, Grace Goodall and Jes-
sie Pringle.
All you exhibitors who greet Will
Rogers' films with grins and busy cash
registers . . . here comes a picture
that will make you hop and throw
your hats up into the air.
It's "Happy Andrew," and the best
Rogers comedy in years and years. It
goes places and does things, and your
audiences will shriek every step of the
way.
The story isn't startiingly new —
it's a typical Rogersism — but writing,
direction and acting, plus swell gags
and unusually good comedy, lift it up
above the average class.
Rogers is again inflicted with a
wife, Peggy Wood, who is embar-
rassed by his business — an old comer
drug store — and his uncouthness. She
gets him to sell the store and retire
like a gentleman. He retires all right,
but becomes bored to the point of
indulging in hobbies, like pigeons,
geese and his own miniature drug
store in the basement, where he fills
orders from the town doctor for poor
people.
His wife has a terrible time with
him, which is climaxed when she drags
him off to New Orleans to the Mardi
Cras and he finally shows her, after
her eternal nagging about relaxing
and playing and having a good time,
just how much of a playboy he can be.
His dance, one-third tango, a third
Apache, and a third bewilderment,
with Conchita Montenegro at the very
elegant ball which tops the Mardi
Cras festivities, is a knock-out, with
Rogers dressed in tiger skins and tights
and carrying a huge club.
Rogers has never been funnier, and
Miss Wood is charming, although her
part is difficult. Mary Carlisle, their
daughter, gets better with each pic-
ture. Robert Taylor is appealing as
her sweetheart, and Frank Melton
carries off an unpleasant part with
distinction. Roger Imhof, Paul Har-
vey, Edward J. Nugent, Grace Goodell
and Jessie Pringle add a lot to the
picture, their individual performances
being outstandingly fine. Miss Mon-
tenegro is beautiful and excellently
cast.
David Butler's direction is speedy
and pointed for comedy; Lewis Beach
wrote the original play; William Con-
selman and Henry Johnson wrote the
screen play, and Kubec Clasmon
adapted. Arthur Miller photographed.
This picture is more darn fun ,and
your audiences will have more darn
fun watching it.
Wonder If Double
Bills Fill This One
Washington. — A report to the
Department of Commerce gives
Burma a record for big theatres.
The King Cinema, in Yonanguaung,
which is in the oil district of Upper
Burma, has 13,000 seats. The
Music Hall in New York has 6200.
Tate Wisdom' Bust
For Stage or Screen
"LATE WISDOM '
Presented by Mark Newman at the
Mansfield Theatre; written and di-
rected by Nathan Sherman; settings
by Walter Street and S. L. Tabor.
Cast: Walter O. Hill, Carleton
Young, Miss Franc Hale, Jay Fas-
sett, Horace Casselberry, Eric Kalk-
hurst.
New York. — The season's worst
brainstorm. There should be a spe-
cial heaven for the unwarned first
nighters who choose to sit through al-
leged plays as boring as "Late Wis-
dom."
The producer and author display no
early or late wisdom at any stage of
the proceedings of this terribly bad
duologue. What plot there is con-
cerns itself with the middle-aged
president of a rubber corporation, a
married man, who falls in love with
his secretary.
Despite family troubles and almost
the loss of his business, love goes
marching on — that is, until the third
act, when all too late the late wis-
dom of this comic situation forces the
two apart. The stage is occupied
during almost the entire three acts by
Jay Fassett, who plays the rubber
magnate, and Miss Franc Hale, the
secretary.
The audience, very much insulted
by the amateurish story and the worse
acting of the cast, continuously
coughed and laughed during the per-
formance, making it practically im-
possible to know what it was all
about.
Impossible as a play, it is hopeless
for pictures.
Film Row Hears All
First Runs Co Dual
Los Angeles' film row buzzed yes-
terday with the rumor that all first-
run theatres in this sector would go
double-bill after the run of their pres-
ent bookings.
Report included the Warner, FWC
and Marco houses, but was spiked by
them as "entirely unthought of."
Wanda Tuchock East- ^
Wanda Tuchock leaves tonight for
a four weeks trip to New York. /
Meanwhile, a deal is_on with MGM to
write and direct.
Col. Pic in Music Hall
New York. — "Twentieth Century,"
produced by Colurrtbia Pictures, goes
into the Music Hall next Friday.
"CHEATERS'
(Liberty)
Direction Phil Rosen
Original Fannie Heaslip Lea
Screen Play Adele Buffington
Photography Harry Neuman
and Tom Galligan
Cast: Bill Boyd, June Collyer, Doro-
thy Mackaill, William Collier Sr.,
Alan Mowbray, Guinn Williams,
Louise Beavers.
There is no better answer to the
alleged shortage of talent in Holly-
wood than this picture. Here are
presented a trio of top names that
haven't been so prominent recently.
After seeing their work in "Cheaters,"
we feel compelled to ask why.
Bill Boyd comes through with a
corking performance as the dapper
leader of a band of society crooks,
working a marriage racket upon a
millionaire recluse. June Collyer is
lovely and appealing as the drab ex-
convict transformed into a dazzling
beauty that she may win enough ali-
mony after the wedding to make the
whole gang wealthy. Dorothy Mac-
kaill, another member of the gang,
does one of her hard, brittle women
as magnificently as ever, scoring with
every line. Yet all three work against
direction that can only be described
as spotty and photography that cer-
tainly could have been kinder.
It took courage on the part of the
producers of "Cheaters" to stand be-
hind the casting of their leads. Run-
ning in a lot of contemporary
"names" in walk-through assign-
ments would have been protection in-
surance for their investment. Yet
such a move would have cluttered up
the action and interrupted the flow
of the story. It must be- gratifying,
in view of the producers' gamble, to
have had their stars justify their faith
so splendidly.
Strictly upon its entertainment val-
ues, "Cheaters" is quite satsifactory
as a program attraction. If you will
get behind the return of Bill Boyd,
June Collyer and Dorothy Mackaill to
give the event the ballyhoo it de-
serves, the picture may do even more
for you. And don't overlook Wil-
liam Collier Sr., who registers a de-
cisive individual hit. His name will
always mean plenty.
Stephen Foster's Life
To Be Mascot Feature
Mascot is planning to make a fea-
ture picture with a musical theme,
based on thejife and songs of Stephen
Foster. "
TWftbn Krims was engaged to write
the screen play yesterday on a Wil-
liam Stephens ticket.
Another for Brandt
New York. — The Brandts are open-
ing the Times Square Theatre on 42nd
Street as a continuous picture house.
The opening bill will consist of two
features, "Streets of Chance" and
"Virtue."
There's always been something pe-
culiar about thinking up a title and
writing a story around it. Like build-
ing a house to go around an old fire-
place, or something. However, there's
a picture company, practically in the
major class, that seems to build up
a whole program of pictures in just
that way. At least, it looks that way
because, once a year, all the home
office employees are told to submit
as many titles as they can think of
for the coming year's product. All the
employees know about that product is
the number of pictures they plan to
make and a rough idea of who's going
to be in them. So, with that as 3
basis, they start busily putting down
on paper titles they think can be used,
gauging their creative efforts by the
kind of stuff Soandso usually appears
in. Thus, for a western star, they
try to think up a few apt titles for
horse operas, etc. Incidentally, if any
of these titles is used, there is no
monetary reward for same. Guess the
copyright cost offsets the effort.
'•
People often stop to wonder just
what sources a cOlyumist goes to for
his news. Being no small wonderer,
ourself, we were amazed to find out
that there is a garage in town run by
the Messrs. Colligan and Raphael (we
think that's the other name) , that not
only houses Everyone's car, but is a
general gathering place for Broadway-
ites, stooges, chauffeurs, etc. And
there isn't an employee in the place
who can't tell you more about anyone
than the most popular bartender in
town. Their favorite subject is blessed
events, which they look out for with-
an avid interest equalled only by their •
sentiment over the business. Colligan '
is an ardent air enthusiast and flies
about quite a bit. Once he took up
a colored mechanic and tried to make
him change color by stunting about a
bit over Long Island Sound. Later,
when somebody asked the mechanic
how the trip had been, he answered:
"Well, there I was looking up down
into the ocean!" Well, that's New
York for you, my lads, as the New
York colyumists see it.
Poor Claudia Morgan — four plays in
one season and not a run in the car-
load. . . . One thing, though, the gal
has no trouble getting a job and she's
so attractive it's a pity she can't pick
a success. ... A long distance call
from here to the coast put Lew
Brown's name back on the advertis-
ing for "Stand Up and Cheer," but
he's only credited with being an as-
sociate producer, in very small type,
. . . Carl Brisson, who's writing his
impressions of Hollywood for an Eng-
lish paper while acting out there, gave
the Vendome a big blurb. . . . Thinks
the place is "ducky." . . . Morrie Rys-
kind is about to be a father again.
. . . Migod, Norma Talmadge has been
getting letters from Nazi cranks on
her marriage to Georgie Jessel.
Contract for United
United Costumers yesterday signed
a contract with Edwarfl Small Produc-
tions to furnish the costumes for .
"Count of Monte Cristo," which is
slated to start next week.
Page Four
Revie^ng
I \ meL
April 28. 1934
SCREEN PLAY
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Katharine Hepburn
(Radio)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Paramount' 499 sq. inches
MCM 488 sq. inches
Fox 399 sq. inches
Warners 278 sq. inches
Universal 202 sq. inches
Radio 159 sq. inches
Charles Chaplin 96 sq. inches
Twentieth Century 55 sq. inches
Columbia 28 sq. inches
One of the best of the perennial
yarns, "What Chance Have YOU in
the Movies?", is contributed by Jerry
Lane in the May issue of Screen Play.
Another story that makes good read-
ing is Nina Wilcox Putnam's "If I
Could Find a Man Like This", in
which she quotes a number of femi-
nine stars.
- Edgar Rice Burroughs writes "Tar-
zan's Seven Lives", a resume of the
various incarnations of his favorite
(character; Jim Tully fails to be in-
spired in "Arkansas Traveler — Dick
Powell"; Marcella Burke is dignified
in "Chaplin Lives Again", all about
the little Paulette; and Jack Grant tells
for the thousandth time, but inter-
estingly, "Who Is Francis Lederer.'"
Roy D'Arcy is very frank and vivid
rn "I Was a Fool," written by Helen
Burns; Alice Faye tells Maude Cheat-
ham to "Live for Today"; Sidney
Skolsky writes this month of Jean
Harlow, giving a full description from
left ankle to right ear; Dean Van
Ouyn has "A Flier in Neckties — Cary
Grant", and Hal Hall tells about June
Knight and Jimmy Dunn in "The Ro-
mance Shattered by a Penny."
SCREENLAND
98 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY. Katharine Hepburn
(Radio)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Warners 464 sq. inches
fox 447 sq. inches
Paramount 425 sq. inches
Universal 413 sq. inches
MCM 382 sq. inches
Radio 243 sq. inches
United Artists 56 sq. inches
Twentieth Century 51 sq. inches
Screenland offers the usual number
of stories for May, and, in addition,
a new contest with various prizes
dangling, and a new department,
"Taking the Air," which is radio news.
Isabel Jewell comes right out in
meeting and says "I'm Proud to Be
Lee Tracy's Girl Friend" to Ben Mad-
dox, who also writes "Baby-Face
Crows Up" (Lew Ay res).
Dena Reed lets "Ricardo and Chris-
tine Cortez Tell Their Love Story";
Betty Shannon tells how "Society In-
vades the Films"; Bing Crosby contin-
ues his life story; and Ruth Tildesley
interviews Russell Patterson on the
"Home of the Future".
James Marion rakes up an old ques-
tion, "Have They a Right to a Pri-
vate Life?"; Sydney Valentine has a
yarn on Ralph Bellamy, "The Picture-
a-Month Man"; Joan Blondell tells
hiw to go camping in "Screen Star
ASC Agency Takes
Larger Quarters
In order to provide for the ex-
pansion of the ASC-Agency, the
American Society of Cinematographers
yesterday took over an additional four-
roo.Ti suite on the twelfth floor of the
Guaranty Building. This makes a to-
tal of ten offices.
Allen Watt, executive manager,
stated that the new offices will house
the personal division of the agency
which will look after the professional
and business affairs of members under
contract. Services covered by this di-
vision, he said, include insurance,
legal, publicity, secretarial and tax
accounting.
Watt announced that a total of 57
cameramen have been placed under
contract by the agency.
Di. Ciannini Quits
Extras' Committee
Announcement was made yester-
day of the resignation of Dr. A. H.
Ciannini, from the Code Committee
for Extras. The Code Authority has
named ). P. Normanly of the Bank of
America to replace him.
Doty-Sayre Teamed
Douglas Doty and George Sayre
have been assigned by Nat Levine to
write the screen play of "Barbecue,"
an original by Adele Buffington, re-
cently purchased by the studio. Sig
Neufeld is supervising for Mascot.
Horman with Waggner
Arthur Horman, who was signed
Thursday by Columbia, has been as-
signed to collaborate with George
Waggner on "The Criminal Within,"
which Sid Rogell will produce. Hor-
man deal was negotiated by Hoffman-
Schlager.
Smith on Clyde Short
Educational has signed Vernon
Smith to write the script on the next
Andy Clyde short, v\/hich gets into
work in three weeks. Story is an
origVial by Harry McCoy and John
Waldron.
Services for Van Dyke
Funeral services for Herbert Van
Dyke, MGM cameraman who died last
Tuesday, will be held at 2 o'clock
today from the Hollywood Cemetery
Chapel. Joint Episcopal and Masonic
services will be used. He will be
buried with military honors.
'Operator 13' Done
Final shots on MGM's "Operator
13" were made yesterday. Richard
Boleslavsky directed and Lucien Hub-
bard produced.
Roughs It"; Leonard Hall has a swell
interview with Sam Jaffe on Marlene
Dietrich, "No More Pants", and James
M. Fidler tells "Why Stars Are Stars".
Indie Owners Kick
At Assessments
New York. — P. J. Wood, business
manager of the Independent Theatre
Owners of Ohio, has protested against
the schedule of assessments made by
the Code Authority on the indepen-
dent theatres.
He says that, in Columbus, the first
run houses are assessed $35 a year
and the second runs $24 a year,
meaning that every small theatre must
pay that amount. He claims that the
small independent will pay most of
the code enforcement.
Tarzan, Dog Actor, May
Have to Change Name
New York. — Stephen Slesinger is
taking action to prevent the produc-
tion of short series using "Tarzan",
the police dog. He states that the
name of "Tarzan" is registered in the
patent office and license for its use
can only be had from Edgar Rice Bur-
roughs Inc. or Stephen Slesinger Inc.
Lon Young to Handle
Publicity for Mascot
New York. — Mascot has appointed
Lon Young to handle advertising and
publicity for the company on the west
coast. A! Sherman has a similar job in
New York.
'Villa' Book in Spanish
With the acceptance for publication
of a Latin-American edition by a
Buenos A'res concern, Edgcomb Pin-
chon's novel, "Viva Villa," will be
distributed in 20 countries. R-ul
Currachaga, Hollywood representative
of "El Razon," is now finishing the
Spanish translation.
Writer for Levine
Nat Levine has signed Bernard
Hershey in New York to write an
original screen play, "Confidential," a
secret service story. Possibility the
producer will bring Hershey here to
join his local writing staff.
Frances Marion Sailing
Frances Marion sails today on the
Malola to meet the "Good Earth"
company in Honolulu. Writer will
return with the unit, polishing off the
script for the Irving Thalberg picture
on the way.
Bradbury on Air Pic
Trem Carr has assigned R. N. Brad-
bury to direct "Happy Landings,"
Monogram production, from Stuart
Anthony's air story. Paul Malvern
will supervise.
Cawthorn to Warners
Joseph Cawthorn has been signed
by Warners for a comedy role in
"Housewife," with Bette Davis and
George Brent. Al Green directs.
Harry Cohn Put in
Place by Taxi Man
New York. — Harry Cohn, head
of Columbia, has a pet taxi that he
uses most of the time and, having
no studio staff to yell at while
here, he yells at the driver. That
is, he did, until the other day when
the man stopped the taxi, turned
around and said: "You stick to
making pictures. I'll drive this
:ab."
Fox-Caumont May Join
(Continued from Page 1 )
Mascot to Start 2
In May at Sennett's
Getting started on the most ambi-
tious program it has ever undertaken.
Mascot puts the second serial on this
year's schedule, "Burn 'Em Up
Barnes," into work May 10 and, ten
days later, the first of ten action
melodramas, "Crimson Romance," gets
under way.
Frankie Darro has been signed
through Kingston-Harris for a top
spot in "Burn 'Em Up Barnes," which
will be directed by Bert Clark and
Armand Schaeffer. David Howard will
handle "Crimson Romance" with no
cast signed as yet.
Both pictures will be shot at the
Sennett lot,
Carminati East
Completing his work in "One Night
of Love" at Columbia, Tullio Car-
minati leaves tonight for New York.
While there he will appear in a play,
"Marion's House," opposite Laurette
Taylor.
Lupino in Stage Lead
Ida Lupino will have the lead in
the stage play, "Pursuit of Happiness,"
which will be staged at the Para-
mount Studio Theatre. Her next pic-
ture assignment will be opposite
Richard Arlen in "Ready for Love."
Caye as Kerensky
The Kerensky role in "British
Agent" went to Gregory Gaye, War-
ners signing the player yesterday for
the spot. Beyer-MacArthur set the'
ticket.
Apologies to Harris
Through a stenographic error,
the name of Elmer Harris was
omitted from the list of writers
given with the excerpts from the
New York reviews of "Looking for
Trouble." We apologize.
approximately one-third of the Chase
holdings.
It is understood here that the cli-
ents represented by Balfour, Board-
man & Company are heavily interested
in Gaumont-British and are dissatis-
fied with the present control and
management. They have acquired the
Fox stock, it is believed, in further-
ance of a plan to effect a merger
whereby, with British capital in con-
trol of both British-Gaumont and Fox,
an extensive program of British pic-
tures for America and American pic-
tures for the British market will bs i
worked out. The plan is more or less
along the lines of the activity now
going on between United Artists and
British and Dominions, and undoubt-
edly will include an interchange of
stars, directors and writers.
I
T
I
E
w
SPITFIRE"
WITH
KATHARINE
HEPBURN
DIRECTED BY
JOHN CROMWELL
RKO-Hillstreet Theatre
NOW
10,000 Dependent Children
are being cared for by the Community Chest
It takes twenty-three cents of every
dollar given to the Chest to provide this
care.
For this work this year about $1 ,CX)0,000
is needed.
Besides this, lunches, clothing and other
help are given daily to more than 14,000
needy school children.
Help the Community Chest
April 28, 1934
Page Seven
OPEIV FORUM
Hollywood Reporter: Your Kansas
exhibitor, writing of dirt in pictures,
is right. He's right from a psycho-
logical as well as a practical view-
point. To me, one of the most amaz-
ing things about pictures is the ap-
palling waste of money due to the
producers' disinclination — even fiat
refusal — to profit by well established
.psychological laws of group reactions
to given situations. Don't they know
that for years scientists have been
analyzing mental reactions in labora-
tories just as precise as chemical lab-
oratories, and that, through these far-
flung and minutely recorded observa-
tions, definite laws have been estab-
lished, as constant as the laws of
physics?
Surely they are ignorant of these
facts or they could not continue to
resort to the hit and miss tactics that
account for over half the flops and
almost all the censure heaped upon
pictures. Any intelligent psychologist
will tell them that there is a natural
tendency towards vulgarity and com-
monness in every man and woman.
Most people as they become more
civilized, subject these tendencies to
rigid discipline prescribed by the rules
of social ethics. The more these ten-
dencies are held in check the greater
the enjoyment of seeing and hearing
vulgarity and commonness.
A man loves to see the curves of
another man's wife, but he wants his
own wife on the square. Therein lies
the success of the Mae West pictures.
I am not, in any way, casting any
criticisms on Mae personally, but she
is the luscious personification of the
common and vulgar. Therefore, any
censure that may fall on her person-
ality or her pictures is unfair to her.
The censure should fall upon the
minds of the audience, because Mae
is presenting in a perfectly natural
way what the people in the audience
would like to do and say but dare not.
The producers see Mae get away
with it and immediately jump to the
conclusion that it is what Mae is
saying that counts, but in this they
are childishly wrong. Mae saying and
doing something is all right; Loretta
Young or Janet Gaynor saying and
doing the same thing is immoral and
dirty. Why? Because Mae is es-
tablished as a definite norm of action
and thought. Loretta and Janet are
definitely established as other norms
of entirely different characters.
Therefore, when the producer forces
a sweet young girl to do things that
are all right and proper for Mae to
do, there is but one reaction in the
minds of the audience — -some foul-
minded employer is prostituting a
sweet young thing.
There is a natural place for dirt,
in its place it is enjoyed by all. Out
of its place it is censured justly. If
the producers would subject their pic-
tures to an intelligent, scientific, psy-
chological analysis, all dirt would be
allocated to its proper environment
and to proper characters and not onty
would such dirt be entertaining, but
censure would be absent.
Your Kansas exhibitor spoke wisely
when he defined dirt as anything out
of place. The problem is a simple
one: don't show anything or say any-
thing out of place and there is no
dirt. There are probably more cou-
ples on this earth living out of wed-
lock than in, but we happen to be
living in a country and our pictures
shown in countries where law demands
that couples living together should be
wed.
The millions who are not married
have perfectly good and just reasons
for so living and we think nothing of
it — take their tribal customs, their
social ethics as a matter of course.
But when we show a couple living out
of wedlock, unless we show a good
and valid reason for their living thus-
ly, we affront the morals of a huge
audience.
The means to eradicate censure are
at the producers' hands — will they
accept them? They are glad to get
the developments from the Bell Lab-
oratories, from the reesarch depart-
ments of the companies manufactur-
ing mechanical equipment, yet they
stubbornly close their eyes and minds
to mental and moral developments
which are as precise as the mechanical
and even more important in the ulti-
mate profits of his pictures.
JOHN F. GOODRICH.
Nichols-Trof-ti to Do
Dunn-Trevor Yarn
Handing in their screen play on
"Old Judge Priest," for Will Rogers,
Dudley Nichols and Lamar Trotti have
been assigned by Fox to write an
original story to team Jimmy Dunn
and Claire Trevor.
'Harem' Starts Monday
George Stevens puts "The Great
American Harem" before the cameras
at Radio Monday, with Stuart Erwin,
Pert Kelton and Chick Chandler in the
leads. Original story by Victor and
Edward Haiperin has been scripted by
Glenn Tryon. Lou Brock produces.
Hanline-Sarecky Team
Mascot has signed A. Hanline to
collaborate with Lou Sarecky on the
original screen play, "Waterfront
Lady." Sarecky is supervising.
Crosses Get No Cheers
(Continued from Page 1 )
Rivoli, and "Twenty Million Sweet-
hearts" will take ai)Out $30,000 at
the Strand. The Roxy got $23,500
with "I'll Tell the World," "Lost
Patrol" in its final week gave the
Rialto $9000, and the Mayfair got
$8500 with "Beggars in Ermine."
"Viva Villa" took $12,390 for its
second week at the Criterion
The best figures were the $90,000
for "Stand Up and Cheer" at the
Music Hall, and $22,800 for the sixth
week of "House of Rothschild" at the
Astor.
Stars Barred from
'Melodies' Hour
A blanket order against the appear-
ance of film notables on the California
Melodies Hour, piloted by Eleanor
Barnes, was issued yesterday by the
Columbia Broadcasting System, ema-
nating locally from KHJ.
Paramount, which had arranged for
Carl Brisson's appearance tomorrow
night, was informed of the order
when told that the program would not
go through as scheduled. Miss Barnes
stated that the program has been sus-
pended for three weeks, after which
it will be resumed.
It is believed that this action will
cause a showdown on the question of
paying stars for picture appearances.
Studios have been giving talent free
of charge while, at the same time,
stars, negotiating their own deals,
have succeeded in obtaining fancy
fancy prices.
Sam Krellberg Coming
On Production Deal
Sam Krellberg, of the Amusement
Finance Corporation, is due in Holly-
wood today with plans for producing
an independent feature, "The Lost
City."
Zelma Carroll did the story and
treatment, and Harry Revier will di-
rect.
'Wolf for Music Hall
New York. — Walt Disney's sequel
to the "Three Little Pigs," titled "The
Big Bad Wolf," will be shown at the
Radio City Music Hall for the week
beginning May 3.
^y'^bpTOTHe-niNi/TB
<\STING
John Hale, through Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall, for "Housewife,"
Warners.
John Wray for "Green Eyes," Ches-
terfield, by Kingston-Harris.
Lona Andre to "A School for Girls,"
Liberty, by Bernard, Meiklejohn and
McCall.
Harold Huber for "Railroad Detec-
tive," Columbia.
J. Carrol Naish, Tenen Holti, Alec
B. Francis and Gregory Caye to War-
ners for "British Agent."
Mary Forbes to "British Agent,"
Warners, by Freddie Fralick.
Robert Creig to "One More River,"
Universal, by Freddie Fralick.
Doris Lloyd and Thomas Braidon for
"British Agent," Warners, by Max
Shagrin,
Harry C. Bradley for "Caravan,"
Fox, by Max Shagrin.
Neil Hamilton by Liberty for "Two
Heads on a Pillow."
Charles Williams, through Bernard,
Meiklejohn and McCall, for MCM's
"100% Pure."
John Larkin for "Thank Your Stars,"
Paramount, and "Thin Man," MGM,
by Bernard, Meiklejohn and McCall.
Mary Kornman by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall, to a Warren Doane
comedy. Universal.
Ferdinand Munier for "The Merry
Widow"by Bernard, Meiklejohn and
McCall.
Leonard St. Leo by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall, to "Down to Their
Last Yacht," Radio.
NBA EXPLAINS POWER
OF CODE AUTHORITIES
Washington. — The National Recov-
ery Administration yesterday issued an
explanation of the power given to
certain code authorities to handle
trade practice complaints, particularly
referring to the motion picture code,
and also ordered a public hearing on
modification proposals submitted by
the motion picture laboratory industry.
It was explained that, in handling
trade practice complaints, there are
two types of authorization: those
where complaints have to be filed
with State Compliance Directors and
then referred to the code authorities,
and those which go to the code
authority direct. It was explained that
the motion picture Code Authority is
empowered to handle complaints
direct.
The official release also stated that
Charles O'Reilly and Robert Rubin
vote, and Sol Rosenblatt without vote,
but with veto power subject to review
by the NRA, have been named a trade
practice complaints committee and
authorized to set up as local indus-
trial adjustment agencies the present
local grievance boards to handle all
complaints except production, vaude-
ville and labor.
The public hearing for the labora-
tory industry will start May 9 before
Deputy Administrator W. P. Farns-
worth. The purpose is to discuss the
trade practice amendment, involving
standard cost accounting methods and
lowest reasonable cost of product.
Laemmie Will Shoot
Added Scenes Sunday
Added scenes for "Embarrassing
Moments" at Universal, starring Ches-
ter Morris, Director Edward Laemmie
will be shot today and tomorrow so as
not to conflict with production sched-
ule of "Funny Thing Called Love," in
which Morris is now working.
Col. Buying Wylie Yarn
New York. — Columbia is closing
negotiations for a story by I. A. R.
Wylie, entitled "A Feather in Her
Hat." ■
Ruggles Coming Back
New York. — Charles Ruggles, Par-
amount comedian, who has been in
the East for some time, leaves for
Hollywood today.
Studios Co-operating
(Continued from Page 1 )
see what the rate of pay should be
for various extra groups they contem-
plate hiring. They seem really to want
to do the right thing and many of
them explain that they would rather
get the scales and other points
straightened out beforehand than have
complaints filed later for their mis-
takes. That is real co-operation and,
if it keeps up, I feel that the extras
will have a smooth road to travel."
Used in 1 out of 8
American Pictures in
"1933'sTEN BEST"
OF THE Ten Best Pictures of 1933
chosen in the Film Daily s poll, eight
were American productions. Of those eight,
seven were photographed on Eastman ''Gray-
Back." This is outstanding evidence of the
acceptance enjoyed by Eastman Super-Sen-
sitive Panchromatic Negative among camera-
men and producers . . . and a signal tribute
to the versatility and unfailingly high quality
of the film itself Eastman Kodak Company,
Rochester, N. Y. (J. E. Brulatour, Inc., Dis-
tributors, New York, Chicago, Hollywood.)
EASTMAN Super-Sensitive
Panchromatic Negative (Gray-Backed)
Jc MP.SAk-UFI, '.
CULViiR CIT>,'JALi,
Vol. XX, No. 43. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, April 30, 1934
A.T.&T. PROBE CERTAIN
Favorable Report On Dill
Resolution Predicted And
Senate Will Pass Measure
• A CAMERAMAN, under contract to
a major studio, dropped into this of-
fice the other day and said he was
enjoying a brief vacation. He is an
ace, one of those who is always work-
ing, and we asked him why the lay-
off. "Well, I'll tell you," he said.
"It's taking the company so long to
clean up some stories and make them
fit to shoot, that there isn't anything
for me to do just now."
Which, once again, brings up the
subject of dirt in pictures. We would
like to ask why companies buy stories
that have to be "cleaned up" before
they can be produced. And, as a co-
rollary, why all the companies do not
"clean 'em up" before making them.
Anyway, it is a healthy sign that the
cleaning process is at work even in
one major studio. Most producers
recently have seemed to be trying to
find places where they could inject
unnecessary and unreasonable dirt in-
stead of taking it out. Maybe some
of the top executives are hearing
things about smut.
One of the wisest moves that has
been made in the picture industry re-
^ cently is the naming of Dr. Ciannini
as the third Columbia Pictures trus-
tee. His long friendship with Harry
and Jack Cohn, the other trustees, his
familiarity with their affairs and his
intimate knowledge of the picture
business and its financial problems
should make him one of the most
valuable assets of the corporation.
Furthermore, both the Cohns have im-
plicit faith in him and will trust his
judgment on all matters pertaining to
the finances of the company.
It really looks as if there is to be
an investigation of the alleged monop-
oly of the A. T. & T. by the United
States Senate. Washington dispatches
are very emphatic in saying that both
the Interstate Commerce Committee
of that body and the Senate itself fa-
vor such a probe. It will, of course,
extend to Erpi and other subsidiaries,
which will interest the picture busi-
ness. Whatever the outcome, it's a
good idea. The only thing is that the
corporation has a long arm which
reaches into many places. Maybe it
can arrange to have the probe "die
a-borning."
Maryland M PTC Kicks
Af Exhibs Producing
Baltimore. — The Motion Picture
Theatre Owners of Maryland have
adopted a resolution opposing the
plan of Allied and other indie ex-
hibitors to enter the producing
field. Also they object to pro-
ducers being exhibitors.
Ann Harding to Star
In 'Sun Also Rises'
A syndicate, composed of Ann
Harding, E. H. Griffith, Horace Jack-
son and others, has purchased the
screen rights to Ernest Hemingway's
"The Sun Also Rises" from Radio, and
will produce for Fox release. It is
understood, but not confirmed, that
Sidney Kent has an interest.
Miss Harding will star in the pic-
ture, Griffith will direct, and Jackson
will do the screen play. The picture
will be shot in Spain, the locale of the
original story.
Lou Brock to Europe
After Three More Pix
Upon the completion of the three
pictures he now has in production,
Lou Brock leaves for a vacation and
a rest in Europe.
Producer is handling "Down to
Their Last Yacht," "Cockeyed Cava-
liers" and "Bachelor Bait," all of
which are shooting.
Wood Sailing June 9
Sam Wood sails for Europe June 9,
after completing his contract with
MGM. Director will handle "Stam-
boul Quest" as his last for the stu-
dio, with the picture starting next
week.
Washington. — It is conceded at the Capitol that the resolu-
tion introduced by Senator Dill for a Senatorial investigation of
the American Telephone and Telegraph Company will be favor-
ably reported by the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce
and also that it will pass the Senate
by an overwhelming majority.
The proponents of the bill state
that they have private information
that the White House approves of the
resolution.
Another charge has been added to
the many already made against A.T.
& T. Robert Robins, of the Society for
the Protection of Motion Picture
Theatres, now accuses the corporation
and its subsidiaries of attempting to
control the publicity channels of the
motion picture trade press. In just
what way this has been done, Robins
has not stated publicly. He has asked
Senator Dill to have this phase of the
alleged monopoly included in the Sen-
atorial investigation.
Van Dyke Completes
'Thin Man' in 16 Days
W. S. Van Dyke brought in "The
Thin Man" at MGM late Friday — 16
days after the cameras had started to
grind on the Dashiell Hammett story.
William Powell and Myrna Loy filled
the top brackets. Hunt Stromberg
produced.
H. B. Franklin in N.Y.
New York. — H. B. Franklin and his
son, Elbert, arrive in New York today
on the lie de France from a three
weeks trip to London and Paris.
COI\TROL OF GAVMOXT FOR
BRITISH BACK OF FOX BUY
New York. — The main reason for the
purchase of part of the Fox holdings
from Chase bank by British interests is
the desire to have the control of Cau-
mont-British held by British capital
and not, as at present, with approxi-
mately a 65 per cent interest in the
hands of Fox.
Two of the actual purchasers, as
named Saturday, are the Atlas Cor-
poration, of New York, and Robert
Fleming & Company, of London, both
being backed by British money. Atlas
has held interests in picture companies
(Continued on Page 2)
MCM May Put Tone
In Four Walls' Lead
MGM is trying to make up its mind
to having Franchot Tone take a radi-
cal step in his career by going into the
role in "Four Walls" which Paul Muni
created on the stage. Tone has had
conservative assignments and this one
will be the first virile one handed
him, if he gets it.
Karen Morley, Mae Clark and Nat
Pendleton have been slated for roles.
Shearer and Cantor
Still Grip London
London. — Three American pictures
are holding over here, two of them,
"Rip Tide," with Norman Shearer, and
Eddie Cantor's "Roman Scandals" go-
ing very big. The third is "Wonder
Bar," which is trailing them very
closely.
The newcomers this week are "Bot-
toms Up" at the Capitol; "Son of
Kong" and "You're Telling Me" at
the Plaza; "It Happened One Night"
at the Tivoli; "Bulldog Drummond," a
British International, at the Regal,
and Bob Flaherty's Caumont epic,
"Man of Aran," a lovely piece of cine-
matography, at the New Gallery.
'Napoleon' First For
Borzage at Warners
Frank Borzage reported to Warners
over the week-end to take up his
straight two-year ticket, on which he
will pilot "Napoleon," starring Ed-
ward G. Robinson, as his first produc-
tion.
The director has just completed
'Little Man, What Now.'" for Uni-
versal.
Robert Harris East
Robert Harris leaves tonight by
plane for his post as Eastern produc-
tion manager for Universal in New
York. He brought to a close a two-
week stay.
Cohen Start Delayed
New York. — Emanuel Cohen, pro-
duction head of Paramount, who was
to have left for Hollywood yesterday,
will leave today or tomorrow.
Viva Villa' Release
New York. — "Viva Villa" will end
its run at the Criterion Theatre on
May 6 and the picture goes on gen-
eral release the same day.
[
GET YOUR SPACE
EARLY FOR THE
DIRECTOR
NUMBER OUT SOON
>o^
Page Two
April 30, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Gratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Have you a little "rug-salesman"
in your home? The following was
put over on Wynne Gibson a few
weeks ago — and she's not over it yet:
A man in sailor's uniform thrust him-
self onto the set where Wynne was
working and introduced himself as the
wireless operator of one of our best
boats. Then he gave out a talk on
how badly he needed some cash to
get a big liquor supply out of hock.
He asked Miss G. to lend him the
money and left with her two rugs for
security, which he said were worth
several hundred dollars. So, of course,
Wynne gave him the money and the
fellow never came back- — and, of
course, Wynne discovered the rugs to
be worth around five dollars!
We are reminded of the devotion
that Wally Beery has shown for his
wife during these past weeks that
she has been confined in a hospital.
While the "Treasure Island" com-
pany has been living over around Cat-
alina, Wally has been commuting. And
daily he's been arising at five a.m.,
rushing to the hospital, getting his
plane and flying himself to the island,
leaping into a speedboat and joining
the troupe. At the end of each day
he's been reversing the process — boat,
plane, hospital, home! When we told
him we thought it was pretty sweet,
he just said, "If it were me, she'd
swim!"
•
The Sam Goldwyns gave a gay party
to help get the Zanucks off into the
wilds Saturday night. Madeleine Car-
roll, who is taking her beautiful face
back to England for four pictures, was
among the guests, and full of antici-
pation about a Paris honeymoon with
her own husband, of all people! Ernst
Lubitsch, the Walter Wangers, the
Don Stewarts (in rare form), the Ray
Griffiths. Al Kaufman, Bill Powell,
Zoe Akins, Jeanette MacDonald, Ed-
gar Selwyn among the guests.
Caesar Stays at Radio
Radio extended Arthur Caesar's
deal Saturday, the writer staying on
to write "Romance of Manhattan" for
Francis Lederer, The Edington and
Vincent office set the ticket.
CHA]\GEI§! IN EXTRA LIST
WILL TAKE TWO MONTHS
Despite the many rumors current
in extra circles and elsewhere, it will
probably be close to two more months
before any eliminations are made in
the list of registered extras by the
Code Committee for Extras.
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of the
committee, stated Saturday that not a
name will be removed from the list
until the completion of what she de-
scribes as one of the most exhaustive
investigations humanly possible to
make.
"We want to be absolutely fair in
the re-registration," said Mrs. Kin-
ney. "And to be sure of fairness we
are delving into the records of every
name on the list. We realize it is a
serious job, and that there will be
a lot of kicks when it is done, so we
will not rush blindly into it.
Morris Considering
Offer for Personals
Chester Morris is seriously consid-
ering a contract for six weeks of per-
sonal appearance when he finishes
work in his current Universal pic-
ture, "Funny Thing Called Love."
The schedule calls for time in New
York, Boston, Chicago and St. Paul.
It is understood that Morris has had
a special dramatic sketch prepared in
case he decides to accept the offer.
'British Agent' Starts
Today; Presnell Super
Warners put "British Agent" into
work today with Robert Presnell su-
pervising. He also did the adaptation,
and Laird Doyle wrote the screen play,
assisted on some of the British dialog
by Roland Pertwee.
Leslie Howard and Kay Francis have
the leads, and Michael Curtiz directs.
Schwab Preparing Play
New York. • — ■ Lawrence Schwab
leaves Miami tomorrow for New York
to start preparations for his new pro-
tion, "Snatch as Snatch Can," a melo-
dramatic farce with a gangster back-
ground. He expects to open in Aug-
ust.
Cohen Pic for Casino
"In Love with Life," a Maury
Cohen production for Invincible Pic-
tures, opens May 1 I at the Casino
Theatre in New York. Picture, which
stars Lila Lee and Onslow Stevens,
will be the only feature on the bill.
Sargent-Ross to MOM
Sargent and Ross, songsters whom
the Kings Club has top-billed, have
been signed by MCM for "Stamboul
Quest," which Walter Wanger pro-
duces.
Brice Starts This Week
Monte Brice will locate at General
Service Studip to produce "Benefit
Performance," casting on which starts
this week.
Retakes for Howard
Leslie Howard returns to the Radio
lot today for retakes on his recent
picture, "Human Bondage."
Cable and Loy Give
Fine Air Program
Clark Gable and Myrna Loy gave
an effective broadcast last night,
doing several scenes from their re-
cent picture, "Manhattan Melo-
drama," with Director "Woody"
Van Dyke giving the explanations.
It made a grand boost for the pic-
ture.
Small-Foy Deal Off;
Cordon To Do Original
The deal for Reliance to purchase
from Foy Productions the latter's
"Murder in the Theatre," a screen
play by William Jacobs, has flopped.
Contracts had been signed for
$15,000, when Edward Small changed
his mind with the claim that the yarn
would not fit his "Showboat of 1934"
title. Small has engaged Leon Gordon
to write an original instead.
Shirley Temple Goes
To Para. For Another
Paramount Saturday borrowed Shir-
ley Temple from Fox for a spot in
"You Belong to Me," the new title
for "Honor Bright." Henry Hatha-
way will direct, with Gary Cooper
and Carole Lombard in the top spots.
Shirley recently completed her work
in "Little Miss Marker" for B. P.
Schulberg at the same studio.
Eric Wilkinson Dies
Eric Wilkinson, assistant to the
head of the Universal prop depart-
ment, died Saturday in the Good Sa-
maritan Hospital after a seven month
illness. More than forty blood trans-
fusions had been given him by prop
men in an effort to save him.
I. A. R. Wylie to Russia
I. A. R. Wylie, famous novelist, is
sailir\g for Russia in June to gather
material for a novel she is writing.
Columbia is reported having bought
one of her latest stories, "A Feather
in Her Hat."
B'klyn Para. Closing
New York. — The Brooklyn Para-
mount Theatre will close May 11,
"We're Not Dressing" being the final
attraction. It will reopen in the Fall.
Caumont Control
(Continued from Page 1 )
before this, having had a large block
of Loew's, secured through the Film
Securities Corporation, and a block of
$3,000,000 worth of the Warner
convertible debentures. The present
deal with Chase, when the 600,000
shares have all been picked up, will
run to about $10,000,000.
London financial writers are of the
opinion that the plan is to dispose of
this Fox stock to the British investing
public, but the idea of a new inter-
national company seems to be the
favored one. it is known that the
British Government is looking into the
transaction, there being some sus-
picion that it may violate the ban on
exports of capital.
Agency Committee
Meets Flinn Today
One of the most important confer-
ences, from the point of view of pro-
duction, since his arrival in Holly-
wood will be held today by John C.
Flinn, secretary of the Film Code Au-
thority, and the members of the
newly appointed agency committee.
This committee, composed of five
producers and one agent, an actor, a
writer, a technician and a director, has
been appointed to work out a system
of fair practice between agent, pro-
ducer and artist, and to see that some
conditions that have existed in the
past do not crop up again, such as the
barring of an artist's agent from a
studio lot on which the artist is work-
ing, etc.
Flinn will also confer today with
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of the
Code Committee for Extras.
'Dragon Murder Case' in
Production Wednesday
Warnrs will start "The Dragon
Murder Case," new Philo Vance de-
tective story by S. S. Van Dine, on
Wednesday.
Phillip Reed and Arthur Aylesworth
have been given principal roles. War-
ren William will create a new Philo
Vance, with Margaret Lindsay as his
leading woman. Lucky Humberstone
will direct.
Allen to Free Lance
Judith Allen plans to free lance
when her contract expires with Para-
mount at the finish of "The Old
Fashioned Way," in which she is play-
ing.
Tests for 'China Seas'
Director Tay Garnett starts testing
today for two of the important roles
in "China Seas" at MGM. Clark
Gable and Jean Harlow have the leads.
Jimmy Dunn to Broadcast
Jimmy Dunn has been set for a
series of broadcasts over NBC, ema-
nating from Hollywood.
Complete
NEW
STOCKS
VAndike
2221
17-Tube
Superheterodyne
RADIO
plus
AUTOMATIC
Phonograph
Now at
rToutkernCalirornia Music Co.
■ 737S«HllLSf ^
NOTE NEW ADDRESS
April 30, 1934
THg
Page Three
STINGAREE' FULL OF ACTIOX;
'BEYOND BEIVGAL' THRILLER
Picture Has Charm
But Poor Handling
"STINCAREE"
(Radio)
Direction William A. Wellman
Author E. W. Hornung
Screen Play Becky Gardiner
Music by Franke Marling
Lyrics by Cus Kahn
Photography James Van Trees
Cast: Irene Dunne, Richard Dix, Mary
Boland, Conway Tearle, Andy De-
vine, Henry Stephenson, Una
O'Connor and George Barraud.
"Stingaree' 'isn't what it might
have been. It might have been a
charming, romantic light opera, or it
might have been a burlesque on one.
As it is, it hovers between the two,
but it is only fair to add hastily that
it only occasionally and very faintly
touches burlesque.
The story is too swashbuckling and
fantastic for anything but a light opera
treatment, with operatic scenery,
choruses and posing. It has the pos-
ing, but the excuses for it are lack-
ing. It is unfortunate that Radio took
it so seriously.
But there is another side to the
question. It is undoubtedly effective,
from the standpoints of costuming,
locale and the romantic spirit of the
thing. Audiences which are easily im-
pressed will overlook the faulty direc-
tion, the dull moments and the inef-
fectual swagger of the picture, and
will remember the gorgeous scenery,
the adventurous bravado of Richard
Dix and the lovely voice and gowns
of Irene Dunne. Nothing much can
be said for their acting, for the im-
possibility of the story as a whol,e and
the mis-direction of William A. Well-
man, gave them too slim a chance.
Richard Dix plays Stingaree, a dash-
ing, romantic outlaw in Australia in
the year 1875. Irene Dunne is a poor
girl who has been given a home by
some wealthy ranchers, Henry Steph-
enson and Mary Boland. By a series
of daring escapades, Dix, at the point
of a gun, forces the famous impres-
' sario, Conway Tearle, to hear Miss
Dunne's voice, even going to the
lengths of getting shot for his pains,
i By losing his liberty, the outlaw has
given Miss Dunne hers, and, because
she loves him, she obeys his wishes
and goes to London to study with
Tearle. She becomes a great and fa-
I mous singer. But she can never for-
I get Stingaree and his gallantry. So
' she gives a concert in Melbourne,
hoping that he will come back to her,
wherever he is. Which is what he
does, in spite of the police, and he
I carries her off, romantically wrapped
! in his dark cloak, and together they
gallop away on Rudolph Valentino's
old white horse to an outlaw peace.
Conway Tearle is left with a broken
■ heart.
Miss Dunne and Dix are both
I charming in their roles but their com-
• bined efforts cannot make the picture
the completely lovely thing it should
have been. Mary Boland is funny; so
are Andy Devine and Una O'Connor.
Henry Stephenson has the only cred-
Flash! No Hollywood
On Winchell Program
For what is probably the first
time since he went on the air,
Walter Winchell did not have a
single Hollywood item in his broad-
cast last night. Maybe he's sore;
maybe his Hollywood stooge fell
down.
McCuire Signs at
'U' For Four More
After jockeying around for four
months. Universal and William An-
thony McCuire finally got together on
a new writing-producing contract for
four pictures, contracts to be signed
when Charlie Feldman, who agented,
returns this week to the Schulberg,
Feldman and Gurney offices from the
hospital.
The new deal was clinched after
the studio got the first look at a
rough-cut on the Frank Borzage pic-
ture, "Little Man, What Now?" for
which McCuire contributed the screen
play. McGuire's next is slated to be
"Sutter's Gold" and, later, "The Great
Ziegfeld."
Balderston on New
Trankenstein' Yarn
John Balderston has been signed by
Universal to prepare the script of "Re-
turn of Frankenstein," the next Boris
Karloff thriller.
Balderston will report to Universal
about May 1 at the completion of
his present assignment at Radio.
Schulberg, Feldman and Gurney made
the deal.
Jessica Dragonette in
Para. Big Broadcast'
Paramount Saturday concluded ne-
gotiations with Jessica Dragonette,
NBC soprano, for a spot in "The Big
Broadcast of 1934," being the first
player signed for the picture.
David Boehm is writing the screen
play and Benjamin Glazer will pro-
duce.
New Term for Durante
MGM Saturday took up the option
on jimmy Durante for another term.
Player returns here this week after
personal appearances in the East. Du-
rante will continue his Chase and San-
born radio programs from here while
doing his assignment in "Student
Tour."
ibie role. George Barraud is the police
captain.
There is one song in the film that
is utterly captivating — "Tonight Is
Mine." Miss Dunne sings it well and
has opportunity also to sing two or
three arias. Franke Harling wrote the
music and Gus Kahn the lyrics.
E. W. Tornung wrote the story;
Becky Gardiner did the screen play,
and James Van Trees' photography is
one of the film's greatest assets.
Discriminating audiences will be
disappointed in "Stingaree," while
others, less exacting, will be im-
pressed.
New Jungle Pic is
Over-Full of Killing
"BEYOND BENGAL"
(Showman's Pictures, Inc.)
Written, produced and directed by
Harry Schenck.
(Reviewed in New York)
New York. — Produced by Harry
Schenck, starting some seven years
ago, this jungle animal hunt which
was photographed in the Malay States
and Siam is as exciting as the majority
of similar films which have been seen
in this country in recent years. While
Mr. Schenck gives as the intention of
this film expedition the primary pur-
pose of hunting the stars of the jungle
solely for photographic purposes,
squeamish critics will take him to task
for the almost continual slaying of
these beasts.
As the film progresses and we see
the long lines of elephants, hunters,
beaters, etc., wind their tortuous way
through the jungles, fording danger-
ous, crocodile- infested streams, an al-
most constant shooting and spearing
of tigers, elephants, panthers and
crocodiles unwjnds and one gets the
feeling that the excuse of killings is
self-defense wears pretty thin.
The photography, however, with
frequent close-ups and telescopic
shots, is striking enough, and there
are plenty of thrills and action. The
two outstanding sequences of this
"hunt" revolve around a wild elephant
stampede through marshy grasses, and
the problem of getting across a croco-
dile-infested river. Quite a good deal
of this last sequence, particularly in
close-ups of jaws snapping feverishly
at the natives seeking to escape them,
appears to have had the benefit of
Mr. Schenck fine Italian hand. How-
ever, it detracts none from the intens-
ity of the action and resultant thrills.
In territories where jungle films
have not been over-played, exhibitors
will do as well with "Beyond Bengal"
as can be done by the best pictures
of this type. Plenty of lurid animal
and jungle paper out front where the
box-office begins will do the trick,
and there will be no dearth of young
males flocking to see it.
MCM-Atwill Dicker
For 'Stamboul Quest'
MGM is negotiating with Lionel
Atwill for a spot in "Stamboul Quest"
in which George Brent and Myrna
Loy have the leads.
Sam Wood directs, from a screen
play by Richard Schayer and addi-
tional dialogue by Allen Rivkin and
P. J. Wolfson. Picture starts May 7.
Col. Buys Murder Yarn
New York. — Columbia has bought
"Murder Island." a story by Leiand
JaWieson, which ran in Blue Book,
through Paul • Reynolds, New York
agent.
Ceo. Hill Due May 10
George Hill and his camera crew
on "The Good Earth" return May 10,
after photographing backgrounds in
China for the past three months.
By BURNEY
Believe it or not, there is a New
Deal in progress at Radio City and its
High Priest is W. G. Van Schmus,
managing director of the Radio City
Theatres. In an informal get-together
with the press recently this gentle-
man proved to be not only a delight-
ful host, but also to be on the right
track in his intent to make Radio City
theatres the unique institution they
deserve to be. Van Schmus' infectious
enthusiasm and good will have been
communicated likewise to his own
executive staff and creative artists —
even down to that excellent group of
troupers, now known as the Rock-
ettes. Where, formerly, one suspected
that all was not well with that great,
big, happy family which served its
first impressario, there are assurances
on every hand that, for the first time,
proper organization and incentive go
hand in hand and all are pulling to-
gether for ultimate success of the
enterprise.
•
Rehearsals of "Caviar," a musical
production with Nanette Guilford,
George Houston and Hugh Cameron,
are scheduled to begin shortly. The
producer has chosen this title because
he claims the tide has turned and peo-
ple are tired of corned-beef-and-hash-
dspression-era shows. Therefore, the
password from now on, is "Rolls-
Royces and Humming-bird's Wings."
•
An amusing note is that given out
by the Shuberts, who are planning the
production of a revue called "Life Be-
gins at 8:40." One of the features in
the revue will be two Cuban dancers
who call themselves Ofelia and Pimi-
enta. We'll take American cheese on
rye. . . . Crosby Gaige's apparent rout
in the legitimate field appears com-
plete, with news of an auction to be
held of his library of first editions,
autographs and fine bindings, among
which are 1 00 documents and letters
signed by the Stuarts, James the First,
Charles the First, Napoleon, Robert
Louis Stevenson and others.
•
One often hears about the agonies
some legit authors undergo at the pre-
miere of their brain-children. To hear
them tell it, they suffer a thousand
deaths. Yet one seldom hears of any
writer jumping off a building or such.
In Vienna, however, one day last
week, Fritz Vrede took poison and
cut his wrists after witnessing the pre-
miere of his production, "Little Cafe"
at the Folk Theatre. There is a happy
ending. He will recover and live to
commit suicide over some other play.
Binnie Barnes to Small
Binnie Barnes, who played one of
the wives with Charles Laughton in
"Henry VIII," has been signed by
Edward Small, of Reliance, after a
trans-Atlantic phone talk with Rufus
LeMaire.
Santell with Schnitzer
Joseph I. Schnitzer has concluded
a deal with Al Santell to direct his first
picture, "The Jealous House," which
the producer will make at General
Service.
Page Four
THE
April 30, 1934
GOSSIP AROUND PARIS
Victor Trivas off to Amsterdam for
opening of "Dans les Rues," sez he;
to study exteriors, sez I. . . . Jed Har-
ris, you) know, N. Y. theatrical mana-
ger, as cold with his French as Slim
Summerville with his grin. . . Brigitte
Helm cocktailing comedians and fillum
critics at Georges V . . . for the sake
of good health. . . . Devotees of the
uncrowned King Mickey celebrating
at Cine I'Auto, where complete pro-
gram of cartoons is being given first
time on Continent. . . . Aha! "the
furriners" is the slogan at the Club du
Faubourg. . . . Crock, world famous
clown and hero of good French talkie,
sad and melancholic. . . . Seldom is he
in "France la Douce"; more often in
Berlin where he's very popular. . . so
what.' . . . Lily Damita looking for
"flying" companions. . . . Who could
resist; ain't she really charming.'
•
Julien Duvivier IS a film director;
at the pier he is DIRECTING magic-
ally the newshawks ... to somebody
else. . . . f. i. to Max Cordon . . who
doesn't dislike it, in spite of being a
theatrical producer. . . . Clayton Shee-
han conquering entire manager staff
of Fox with . . . real Sandeman Porto.
. . . But Ken Maynard getting the
very real publicity stuff; or is it his
horse. . . . Now imagine Maynard
meeting his voice double dubbing his
pictures into French. . . . It's a de-
light, says that very Mr. Argus to
Kenny, if I make a pitcher, you MUST
dub me too; but don't brag about it.
. . . Juan Berrone busy, busy. . . Mar-
cel Coppens dashing down from Brus-
sels to shake hands with Karstner. . .
R.K.O. Leasin smiling from ear to ear
Hitler Film Backer
SuesCerman Consul
Chicago. — The stopping of the
Vanderbilt film. "Hitler's Reign of
Terror," and the subsequent permis-
sion for it to resume showings, have
kicked up quite a mess.
Samuel Cummins, sponsor of the
picture, accuses Dr. Roife Jaeger, Ger-
man consul-general, of Chicago, of
having influenced Mayor Kelly to can-
cel the showings and he is suing Jae-
ger for $250,000 for slander and
libel. He also charges that Repre-
sentative Dickstein used his influence
with the mayor to stop the picture.
New York. — The picture, "Hitler's
Reign of Terror," is scheduled ;to
open at the Mayfair Theatre here to-
day and it is not believed that there
will be any official interference.
Robert Donat Arrives
To Play 'Monte Cristo'
Robert Donat, who was borrowed
from Alexander Korda by Edward
Small for the lead in "Count of Monte
Cristo," arrived by train from New
York yesterday.
Small puts the picture into work
next week at Pathe, with Rowland V.
Lee directing and Elissa Landi in the
top spot.
Allied Hires Counsel
New York. — The Allied Theatre
Owners of New Jersey have engaged
David P. Wilentz, attorney-general of
after closed deal in" Holland New Jersey, to represent the exhibi-
tors in code matters and in adjust-
ments of disputes before the Clear-
ance and Zoning boards.
Catherine, Catherine, when are you
coming back?!?
Marcelle Chantal looks a million
dollars in Pathe-Natan's "Amok." . .
With Marcelle speaking Engleesh they
should have given her a choice in an
English version. . . . But the obvious
is too hard to think, says our pal.
Collison at Warners
Wilson CoiJison was signed Satur-
day by Warners to write the screen
play ior^ "Traveling Saleslady," the
nexf^arbara Stanwyck picture, which
Cyril Gardner, between four and 5_,,^nenry Blanke will produce. Small
A. M. of course. ... It looks like Landau set it
genuine invasion of Americans (par-
ticularly artists) this year to French
capital. . . . Why, the king of Siam is
already here shopping a carload of . .
jazz records. ... Is there more proof
of His Majesty's sympathy for Uncle
Sam? . . . Hollywood's loud speaker,
Richard Arlen, has great time with
entire world. . . . Sez he: "There's no
excuse for Snooty Stars . . . even in
Hollywood; stories, production and
directors are ever important to a play-
er's presentation, and no one person
need to take a solo bow for his or her
success in pictures." . . . Richard, how
would you like to write a few Trade-
views in the Reporter, just like in
Duluth Tribune times.
Martha Eggerth a steady triumph
with the "Unfinished Symphony." .
Anna Sten's hundred faces and expres-
sions getting as popular as Stavisky's
checks. . . Must you know that Fritz
Kreisler was around here for a king's
lunch with library of a dozen rare
bottles? . . . S.O.S. Iceberg a bit
freezing. . . . Get it, Bebe Daniels is
now English star; so what are you go-
Two for Rochelle
Rochelle Hudson was signed to two
major studio contracts Saturday, Radio
tagging her for "Bachelor Bait," while
Fox signed her for the next Rogers
production. "Old Judge Priest." Small-
Landau set the deals.
Eddy Arriving at MOM
Completing a concert tour. Nelson
Eddy reaches Hollywood tomorrow,
reporting to MGM to take up his con-
tract.
3 For Small-Landau
Jackie Coogan, Mrs. Leslie Carter
and Anne Revere have signed mana-
gerial contracts with the Small-Landau
office.
ing to do about it? . . . Hays man and
United Artists crowd conferring on . .
possible . . trouble . . with Zama lis-
tening in. . . . Public protesting too
many details — and are they gruesome
— shown at exhumation of Stavisky's
body. ... So let's better run along.
2B way Plays Off;
3 Open This Week
New York. — Two of the current
Broadway plays closed Saturday night.
They are "Her Master's Voice,"
which Paramount is to produce as a
picture, and "Broadway Interlude."
Three openings are set for this
week. The Theatre Guild will pre-
sent "Jig Saw" tonight; "Love Kills"
comes to the Forrest tomorrow night,
and "Picnic" to the National Wed-
nesday night.
Consol. To Be Receiver
For 'Broadway Virgin'
Creditors of Major Productions'
"Broadway Virgin" have signed a
trust agreement allowing Consolidated
to act as receiver for the picture with
the latter planning to dispose of it to
Principal Distributing Corp.
By this deal. Consolidated will re-
ceive $10,000 to distribute to the
creditors, mainly players in the pic-
ture.
Jack Robbins Better
Jack Robbins returns to the MGM
lot today after being in the hospital
for the past week with an abscessed
ear. Robbins went to bed immedi-
ately upon his arrival here by train
from New York.
Frank Scully to Fox
New York. — Fox has signed Frank
Scully to its writing staff and he is
on his way to Hollywood by way of
the Canal.
Eternal Fitness
Bill Lackey, Monogram supervi-
sor, is back at work after two
weeks of convalescence following
an operation, and the first picture
handed him to supervise is entitled
"Shock."
New Buildings and
New Equipment for Foy
Bryan Foy will tear down one of the
old office buildings on his lot and
replace it with a modern office build-
ing to house writers, cutting depart-
ment and a large projection room.
Contracts for the $25,000 job will
be let in the next month. As a start
in an expansion program, Foy purchas-
ed $17,000 worth of new lighting
equipment last week.
Holman in Demand
Harry Holman got two deals Satur-
day when King Vidor engaged him for
"Our Daily Bread" and MGM signed
him for "Merry Widow." Leo Morri-
son set the contracts.
New Gag Man for Fox
Dave Chasen, Joe Cook's stooge and
gag man, arrived in Hollywood Satur-
day. He joins the Fox writing staff to-
day to handle the comedy material in
the Cook production.
Chic Sale to 'Island'
Chic Sale arrived from personals in
Denver yesterday and reports today to
MGM to take up his contract for a
featured role in "Treasure Island."
Joan Marsh
as
FLORENCE ALLEN
in
"MANY HAPPY RETURNS"
r**±*.
Cpa/umount
1
ii
drawing h^ /
W'ORJtt
S...Long!
ff
GEORGE
BURNS
and
GRACIE
ALLEN
Management
WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY
Page Six
April 30, 1934
PRODUCTION DOWN SLIGHTLY WITH 37 IN
BAROMETER
This Week 37 Features
Last Week ....39 Features
Year Ago 23 Features
Two Years Ago 34 Features
Three Years Ago 33 Features
Columbia
"BLACK MOON"
Cast: Jack Holt, Fay Wray, Dorothy
Burgess, Lumsden Hare, Cora Sue
Collins, Clarence Muse, Eleanor
Wessehoeft, Madam Sul-Te-Wan,
Arnold Korff, Lawrence Criner.
Director Roy William Neill
Original Clements Ripley
Screen Play Wells Root
Photography Joseph August
Associate Producer Everett Riskin
"WHOM THE CODS DESTROY"
Cast: Walter Connolly, George Cas-
sidy, Doris Kenyon, Robert Young,
Scotty Beckett, Rollo Lloyd, Lillian
West, Henry Kolker, Arnold Korff,
Director Walter Lang
Original Screen Play. ...Sidney Buchman
Photography Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Felix Young
•RAILROAD DETECTIVE"
Cast: Tim McCoy, Shirley Grey, Ad-
dison Richards, Harry C. Bradley,
Charles Hickman, Ray Brown,
Charles Wilson, Harold Hubert,
Steve Clark, Claude Celdert.
Director D. Ross Lederman
Original Screen Play.. ..Harold Shumate
Photography Al Siegler
Associate Producer Irving Briskin
Fox
"GRAND CANARY"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Marjorie Ram-
beau, Zita Johann, Madge Evans,
Roger Imhof, Barry Norton, John
Rogers, Juliette Compton, H. B.
Warner, Gilbert Emery, Gerald Rog-
ers, Desmond Roberts.
Director Irving Cummings
Novel A. J. Cronin
Screen Play Ernest Pascal
Photography Bert Glennon
Producer Jesse L. Lasky
"BABY TAKE A BOW "
Cast: James Dunn, Claire Trevor, Shir-
ley Temple, Alan Dinehart, Dorothy
Libaire, Ray Walker, Ralf Harolde,
James Flavin.
Di:ecfor Harry Lachman
Story Edward Paramore
Screen Play Philip Klein
Photography L. W. O'Connell
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"CARAVAN"
Cast: Charles Boyer, Loretta Young,
Jean Parker, Phillips Holmes, Louise
Fazenda, Eugene Pallette, C. Aubrey
Smith, Dudley Digges, Richard
Carle, Charles Grapewin, Billy
Bevan, Armand Kaliz, Harry Brad-
ley.
Director Erik Charell
Original Story Melchoir Lengyel
Screen Play and Dialogue — •
Samson Raphaelson
Continuity Robert Liebmann
Lyrics Werner Richard Heymann
and Gus Kahn
Photography Ernest C. Palmer
and Theodor Sparkuhl
Producer Robert Kane
"SHE LEARNED ABOUT SAILORS"
Cast: Lew Ayres, Alice Faye, Frank
Mitchell, Jack Durant, Nick Foran,
Harry Green.
Director George Marshall
Original Screen Play: William Consel-
man and Henry Johnson.
Photography Harry Jackson
Producer John Stone
"CHARLIE CHAN'S COURAGE"
Cast: Warner Oland, Drue Leyton,
Donald Woods, Paul Harvey, Mur-
ray Kinnell, Reginald Mason, Si
Jenks, Virginia Hammond, Harvey
Clark, Jerry Jerome, Jack Carter,
James Wang, Wade Boteler, Paul
Hurst, Frank Rice, Paul McVey.
Directors George Hadden
and Eugene Forde
Novel Earl Derr Biggers
Screen Play Seton 1. Miller
Photography Arthur Miller
Producer ...John Stone
MCM
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katharine
Alexander, Marion Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor, Vernon
Downing, Neville Clark, Matthew
Smith, Robert Carlton, Allan Con-
rad, Peter Hobbes.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue. .Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"TREASURE ISLAND"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger,
Lewis Stone, Cora Sue Collins, Dor-
othy Peterson, William V. Mong,
Douglas Dumbrille, Nigel Bruce,
Chic Sale.
Director Victor Fleming
Novel Robert Louis Stevenson
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography Ray June
Producer Hunt Strnmberg
"100% PURE"
Cast: Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore,
Patsy Kelly, Lewis Stone, Franchot
Tone, Hale Hamilton, Shirley Ross,
Bert Roach, Desmond Roberts, John
David Horsley.
Director Jack Conway
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Emerson
Photography Ha! Rosson
Producer Bernard Hyman
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette Mac-
Donald, Arthur Jarrett, Edward Ev-
erett Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara
Leonard, Sterling Holloway, George
Barbier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Caryl Lincoln, Leona Walters, Edna
Waldes, Minna Gombell.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE GREEN HAT"
Cast: Constance Bennett, Herbert
Marshall, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Pat Campbell, Leo Carroll, Hugh
Williams, Alec B. Francis, Eliza-
beth Allen, Robert Lorraine.
Director Robert Z. Leonard
Novel Michael Arlen
Photography Charles Rosher
Producer Irving Thalberg
Paramount
"CLEOPATRA"
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Henry Wil-
coxson, Warren William, Ian Keith,
Leonard Mudie, Irving Pichel, Ger-
trude Michael, Eleanor Phelps, C.
Aubrey Smith, John Rutherford,
Edwin Maxwell, Robert Warwick,
Joseph Schildkraut, Claudia Dell,
Grace Durkin, Ian MacLaren, Ar-
thur Hohl, Charles Morris, Harry
Berestord.
Director Cecil B. DeMille
Adaptation Bartlett Cormack
Screen Play Waldemar Young
and Vincent Lawrence
Photography Victor Mitnor
Producer Cecil B DeMille
"IT AIN'T NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John
Miljan, Katharine DeMille, James
Donlan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke Ellington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown, Stu-
art Holmes, Harry Woods, Edward
Gargan, Warren Hymer, Libby Tay-
lor.
Director Leo McCarey
Original Screen Play Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthur Johnston and
Sam Coslow.
Photography Karl Struss
Producer William LeBaron
"SHE LOVES ME NOT"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Miriam Hopkins,
Kitty Carlisle, Edward Nugent,
Lynne Overman, Warren Hymer,
Henry Stephenson, Maude Turner
Gordon, Margaret Armstrong, Judith
Allen, Vince Barnett, Matt Mc-
Hugh, Ralf Harolde.
Director Elliott Nugent
Original Story Howard Lindsay
Based on Novel by Edward Hope
Music Harry Revel, Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Mack Gordon, Leo Robin
Photography Charles Lang
Producer Benjamin Clazer
"THANK YOUR STARS"
Cast: Jack Oakie, Dorothy Dell, Ros-
coe Karns, Arline Judge, Ben Ber-
nie, Alison Skipworth, William
Frawley, Lew Cody, Paul Cavanagh.
Director Wesley Ruggles
Original Ben Hecht
and Gene Fowler
Screen Play Howard J. Green
and Claude Binyon
Music Ralph Rainger, Harry Revel
Lyrics Leo Robin, Mack Gordon
Photography Leo Tover
Producer Albert Lewis
"KISS AND MAKE UP"
Cast: Gary Grant, Genevieve Tobin,
Helen Mack, Edward Everett Hor-
ton, Lucien Littlefield, Mona Maris,
Rafael Storm, Madame Bonita, Doris
Lloyd, Milton Wallace, Toby Wing,
Rita Gould, Katherine Williams, Lu-
cille Lud, Judith Arlen, Joan Gale,
Hazel Hayes, Lu Ann Meredith,
Dorothy Drake, Helene Cohan, Jean
Carmen, Gi Gi Parrish, Ann Hovey,
Betty Bryson, Jacqueline Wells,
Dorothy Christy.
Directors Harlan Thompson
and Jean Negulesco
Original Stephen BekeffI
Adaptation Jane Hinton
Screen Play: Harlan Thompson and
George Marion, Jr.
Music: Ralph Rainger and Harry Revel
Lyrics: Leo Robin and Mack Gordon
Producer B. P. Schulberg
Photography Leon Shamroy
"THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY"
Cast: W. C. Fields, Baby LeRoy, Ju-
dith Allen, Joe Morrison, Samuel
Etheridge, Ruth Marion, William
Bletchford, Jan Duggan.
Director William Beaudine
Original W. C. Fields
Adaptation Walter De Leon
Screen Play: J. P. McEvoy and Garnett
Weston.
Music Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Ben Reynolds
Producer William LeBaron
"THE GREAT FLIRTATION"
Charles R. Rogers
Cast: Elissa Landi, Adolphe Menjou,
David Manners, Alan Mowbray, Paul
Porcasi, George Baxter, Judith Vos-
April 30, 1934
Page Seven
WORK AS COMPARED TO 39 LAST WEEK
selli, Lynne Overman, Adrian Ros-
ley, Olin Howland.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original Gregory Ratoff
Screen Play Humphrey Pearson
Photography Milton Krasner
"HERE COMES THE GROOM"
Charles R. Rogers
Cast: Jack Haley, Patricia Ellis, Mary
Boland, Neil Hamilton, Isabel Jew-
ell, E. H. Calvert, Larry Gray.
Director Edward Sedgwick
Original Richard Flourney
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Photography Henry Sharp
RKO-Radio
"COCK-EYED CAVALIERS"
Cast: Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey,
Thelma Todd, Dorothy Lee, Robert
Creig, Noah Beery, Henry Sedley,
Jack Norton, Snub Pollard, Billy
Gilbert, Cupid Morgan, Alfred P.
James, Franklyn Pangborn, Frank
Baker.
Director Mark Sandrich
Story and Screen Play: Edward Kauf-
man, Ben Holmes, Ralph Spence.
Photography David Abel
Associate Producer Lou Brock
"VIRCIE WINTERS"
Cast: Ann Harding, John Boles, Helen
Vinson, Betty Furness, Molly O'Day,
Creighton Chaney, Sara Haden,
Maidel Turner, Wesley Barry, Wal-
lis Clark, Edward Van Sloan, Ben
Alexander, Edwin Stanley, Donald
Crisp, Dorothy Sebastian, Edith Fel-
lows.
Director Alfred Santell
Story Louis Bromfield
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Lucien Andriot
Producer Pandro S. Berman
"BACHELOR BAIT"
Cast: Pert Kelton, Chick Chandler,
Stuart Erwin.
Director George Stevens
Original... Victor and Edward Halperin
Screen Play Glenn Tryon
Photography Dave Abel
Producer Lou Brock
"FAMILY MAN"
Cast: Richard Dix, Bruce Cabot, Bar-
bara Kent, Erin O'Brien-Moore,
Edith Fellows, Leonard Carey, Dor-
othy Wilson, Shirley Grey.
Director John Robertson
Story Salisbury Field
Screen Play Sidney Buchman
and Harry Hervey
Photography Teddy Tetzlaff
Producer Myles Connolly
"DOWN TO THEIR LAST YACHT"
Cast: Sidney Fox, Mary Boland, Sidney
Blackmer, Polly Moran, Sterling
Holloway, Ned Sparks, Irene Frank-
lin, Marjorie Gateson, Tom Ken-
nedy, Charles Coleman, Ramsay
Hill, Dot Farley, Phil Dunham, Betty
Farrington, Hazel Forbes, Martin
Cichi, Harry Semels, Maurice Black,
Ci Gi Parrish, Alice Moore, Peggy
Combel, Cynthia Hobart, Virginia
Reid, Maxine Topper, Peter Han-
cock.
Director Paul Sloane
Story Herbert Fields, Lou Brock
Screen Play Marion Dix
and Lynn Starling
Photography Eddie Cronjager
Producer Lou Brock
LET THOSE WHO WILL BE CLEVER'
Cast: Marian Nixon, Billie Burke, Edna
May Oliver, Grant Mitchell, Buster
Crabbe, Joan Marsh.
Director William Seiter
Original Alden Nash
Screen Play Ray Harris
Photography Nick Musuraca
Producer Glendon Allvine
United Artists
Viking Productions
"OUR DAILY BREAD"
Cast: Karen Morley, Tom Keene, Bar-
bara Pepper, John T. Qualen, Addi-
son Richards, Madame Bonita, Harry
Holman, Harold Berquist, Marion
Ballow, Alma Ferns, Three Mills-
field Children, Lionel Baccus, Har-
ris Gordon, Bill Engel, Frank Minor,
Henry Hall, Harrison Greene, Si
Clegg, Roy Spiker, Eddie Baker,
Harry Bernard, Doris Kenter, Flor-
ence Enright, Harry Samuels, Sid-
ney Miller, Nellie Nichols, Frank
Hammond, Lynton Brant, Henry
Burroughs, Harry Brown, Harry
Bradley, Captain Anderson, Alex
Schunberg, Buddy Rae, Bob Reeves,
Ed Biel, Jack Baldwin.
Director King Vidor
Author King Vidor
Screen Play Betty Hill
Photography Robert Planck
Producer King Vidor
Universal
"I GIVE MY LOVE"
Cast: Wynne Gibson, Paul Lukas, John
Darrow, Sam Hardy, Tad Alexander,
Eric Linden, Dorothy Appleby.
Director Karl Freund
Original Story Vicki Baum
Adaptation Milton Krims
Screen Play and Dialogue —
Doris Anderson
Producer B. F. Zeldman
"FUNNY THING CALLED LOVE"
Cast: Chester Morris, Mae Clarke,
Frank Craven, Irene Ware, Andy
Devine, Lois January, Goodee Mont-
gomery, Russ Brown, Tom Dugan,
Anderson Lawler, John Warburton,
Wanda Perry, Dorothy Dawes, Her-
bert Corthell, Douglas Fowley, Earle
Eby.
Director Kurt Neumann
Original Dore Schary, Lewis Foster
Screen Play and Dialogue —
John Meehan Jr.
Photography Charles Stumar
Producer B. F. Zeldman
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby,
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers, Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren, Johnny
Arthur, Arthur Vinton, Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett, Phil Regan.
Directors Ray Enright
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"MADAME DU BARRY"
Cast: Dolores Del Rio, Reginald Owen,
Veree Teasdale, Osgood Perkins,
Helen Lowell, Victor Jory, Henry
O'Neill, Ferdinand Cottschalk, Vir-
ginia Sale, Dorothy Tree, Hobart
Cavanaugh, Arthur Treacher, Anita
Louise, Camille Rovelle, Maynard
Holmes, Halliwell Hobbes, Jesse
Scott, Nella Walker.
Director Wilhelm Dieterle
Original Screen Play.. Edward Chodorov
Photography Sol Polito
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"HEY SAILOR'
Cast: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien,
Gloria Stuart, Dorothy Tree, Frank
McHugh, Niles Welch, Willard
Robertson.
Director Lloyd Bacon
Original Ben Markson
Screen Play: Al Cohn, Ben Markson,
Earl Baldwin.
Photography Arthur Edeson
Supervisor Lou Edelman
"HOUSEWIFE"
Cast: Bette Davis, George Brent, Ann
Dvorak, Robert Barrat, John Halli-
day, Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cava-
naugh, Ronnie Cosby, Arthur Ayles-
worth, Leila Bennett, Phil Regan.
Director Al Green
Original Story: Robert Lord and Lillie
Hayward.
Screen Play: Manuel Seff and Lillie
Hayward.
Photography William Rees
Supervisor Robert Lord
"BRITISH AGENT "
Cast: Leslie Howard, Kay Francis,
Phillip Reed, John Eldredge, Tenen
Holtz, J. Carrol Naish, Alec B.
Francis, Gregory Gaye, Halliwell
Hobbes, Doris Lloyd, Alphonse
Ethier.
Director Michael Curtiz
Novel H. Bruce Lockhart
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Photography Tony Gaudio
and Ernest Haller
Supervisor Robert Presnell
Independent Productions
Monogram
Lone Star Productions
(General Service Studio)
"RANDY RIDES ALONE'
Cast: John Wayne, Alberta Vaughn,
George Hayes, Yakima Canutt, Earl
Duire, Arthur Ortega. Tex Phelps.
Director Harry Eraser
Story and Screen Play —
Lindsley Parsons
Photography Archie Stout
Producer Paul Malvern
Romance Productions
(Mack Sennett Studio)
"YOUNG EAGLES"
(Serial)
Cast: Carter Dixon. Bobby Ford, Jim
Adams.
Director Vm Moore
Original Story Harry O. Hoyt
Photography Bill Hyer, Eddie Kull
Producer George W. Stout
Foy Productions
"HIGH SCHOOL GIRL"
Cast: Cecelia Parker, Carlyle Moore
jr., Noel Warwick, Helen MacKel-
lar', Mahlon Hamilton, Mildred
Cover, Crane Wilbur, Arthur Wan-
zer, Eula Guy, Treli Scott.
Director Crane Wilbur
Story Crane Wilbur
and Wallace Thurman
Photography William Thompson
Producer Bryan Foy
BRUUTOIR BULLETIN
Published Every Monday
Dozens of cameramen will regret
seeing Charles Clooner leave the pic-
ture business for a new line of en-
deavor. . . . Charlie's one of the real
old-timers who claims the good and
true friendship of almost every man in
the business . . . and it takes a certain
amount of courage (I like to say
CUTS) to quit any job when you're
ON TOP and while you're HITTING
THE BALL — and step out into a new
and untried field after you've spent
the best part of a score of years in
this picture business . . . but that's
what this game guy is doing and we'll
string with the rest of his pals m
wishing him all the luck in the world
and listen, young Michael McCreal
you can take a good lesson from
Clouner just as you evidently learned
plenty from Johnny Arnold.
•
Charlie Lang is rehearsing at Bel
Air with brassie and putter while Mir-
iam Hopkins' foot injury clears up. . _.
The rushes on "I Married An Actress"
confirm again the good judgment of
Charles Rogers who assigned Milt
Krasner to this one. . . . Coyly scratch-
ing his nose Len (Big Moose) Smith
refused to quote any figures or num-
bers at the birthday party Marion Da-
vies gave for him on the set . . . our
guess is ninety-two 'for his golf
score) . . . Hal Rosson is taking full
advantage of the pre-summer days
while they rewrite the script on "One
Hundred Per Cent Pure." . . . and
from China comes the roar that Char-
lie Clark has only a few more days
work there before starting home. . . .
Jackson Rose thinking up new and
terribly interesting charts and graphs
for his new camera hand-book. . . 01-
lie Marsh well along with Lubitsch
photographing (for the third time)
"The Merry Widow" . . but this the
first time with sound.
•
Artie Miller took what the doctor
ordered . . . popped out of bed and
back to Movietone City where he re-
lieved Hal Mohr who'd relieved him.
. . . Bert Clennon and Solly Halperin
doing a swell scene with Madge Evans
and Warner Baxter in front of a pro-
jected background at Fox. . . . Norbert
Brodine scheduled to start "There's
Always Tomorrow" at Universal. . . .
Charlie Stumar turning merrily along
with "Loves of a Sailor" and George
Robinson with Karl Freund on "I Give
My Love." . . . Universal Lab worrying
along without Roy Hunter who took
off for Nooyawk by plane Choosday
night leaving the plant in hands of
Claude Baldridge and Wilson Leahy
. . . and speaking of Lab boss-men . .
Jawnemnickolaus of meegeem is re-
viving his mastery of naughty words
on the golluf course. . . . Nice weather
we're havin'. . . .
WARNER BROS.
Ernie Haller Tony Gaudio
RKO
Dave Abel Roy Hunt
Harold Wenstrom
PARAMOUNT FOX
Al Gilks Harry Jackson
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Films
i
What's On YOVR Mind?
Brulatour Bulletin: Culver City, Calif., Apr. 26, 1934
/ suppose you get lots of letters from cameramen and others that
read your Bulletin every week- Well I have been reading it ever since
you first published it and now I Want to say I think it is belter than it
was at first because you give the boys a showing on their problems. 1
like what you said about some of the boys being classified and this is
sure right up my alley and fits my case almost exactly. I think a lot of
the boys have ideas and things that they would like to see printed to all
the studio officials as well as other cameramen so they could say what
is on their mind. I think it Would be a swell idea of you Would tell the
boys to write letters to you on any special ideas or problems they have
and that you print these letters in your Brulatour Bulletin provided
these letters are not personal and that the real idea back of them is to
keep on making better improvements for the cameraman and his work-
ing conditions. — "A Second who used to be a first."
Thanks, old boy — It's an idea that we're glad to go for. However, we
want to get on record on a couple of things. We will NOT publish per-
sonal letters of complaint and we will NOT in the future publish any let-
ter unless it is signed with the full and true name of the writer. We
want to be helpful to every cameraman and to all cameramen but we
hope we're smart enough to avoid unnecessary controversial arguments.
So get it off your chest — you write it and we'll print and publish it.
—BRULATOUR BULLETIN.
McCreal Vice Clouner
Charles Clouner, many years head
of camera department at Universal and
a year ago moved over to Warner
Bros. -First National in same position,
resigned this week to devote his en-
tire time to private business in which
he has been interested for several
years. From studio manager Bill Koe-
nig down to the gateman, Clouner
leaves a host of friends at the Warner
plant.
As Glouner's successor Mr. Koenig
has appointed Mike McCreal, who was
for three years assistant to John Arn-
old, head of camera department Met-
ro-Goldwyn-Mayer. McCreal is pecu-
liarly fitted for the position and has
entered upon the duties of his new job
ably assisted by Cecil Meyers, who has
been in same spot as assistant to
Glouner.
Fox Signs Clennon
Just last week we reported enthusi-
astic reception by all who have seen
the photography of "The Scarlet Em-
press," photographed by Bert Clennon.
In the same story we reported that
Clennon had been assigned to the Irv-
ing Cummings picture at Fox.
Now we're delighted to chronicle
the good news that Clennon was this
week signed to a long term contract
by the Fox company. This is most
encouraging to some of the camera-
men, who felt there was little chance
of making new and important connec-
tions because of the great number of
photographers contracted by all the'
maior studios. Glennon's business is
handled by the A.S.C. agency.
No Relation to Charlie
"The Notorious Sophie Lang"
swings into production, under the di-
rection of Bill Menzies, at Paramount
next week, with photography in the
very capable hands of Al Gilks, who
was persuaded to come out from under
that new house he's building.
Bus Man's Holiday
Vic Milner, one of Paramount's ace
cameramen, is granted a four months
leave of absence by Paramount Studio,
and within a few days takes off on an
extended trip through Southern Pacific
waters with George Mitchell, (Mitchell
Camera Company), on the latter's
schooner. Principal item of cargo
seems to be cameras and several cases
of super-sensitive panchromatic nega-
tive for exposure at interesting points
among the famous South Sea Islands.
Present schedule contemplates absence
of four months.
Milner is one of the executive op-
erating committee of three represent-
ing the Board of Governors of the
A.S.C, and another of this trio, Fred
Jackman, is also at present on a world
voyage, and was last heard from late
in the week when a cable from him,
bearing Shanghai, China, date line,
reached production boss Bill Koenig
at Warners.
Marshall Up
Charlie Marshall, famous flying
cameraman, has signed with MGM to
take care of the air photography of
"Cadets of the Air" for the Culver
City Studios. With Director Dick Ros-
son the flying photographer takes off
for San Antonio, Texas, where he will
have the cooperation of the American
air forces at Randolph Field, and is
quietly promising something entirely
new in the way of thrilling air stuff
on the screen. Happy landings!
Rosher Coes Over
When Constance Bennett completed
her most recent 20th Century produc-
tion, "Affairs of Cellini," she moved
to Culver City, where she was accom-
panied by her chief photographer,
Charles Rosher, who is presently pho-
tographing the star under direction of
Bob Leonard. Roy Clark and Tom
Dowling associated with Rosher on
this one.
HERBERT VAN DYKE
BORN: September 22, 1896
DIED: April 24, 1934
)C\ri
CARLMEISTER
BORN: February 3, 1898
DIED: April 18, 1934
i^^^
U//ER
(NOTE: Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour, Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION: WHAT'S THE MOST IM-
PORTANT DUTY OF THE ASSIST-
ANT CAMERAMAN?
CHARLES E. BURKE, assistant to
Henry Gerrard, (RKO) : To be ob-
servant and acquaint yourself with
the individual methods of the first
cameraman with whom you are
working.
GEORGE F. KELLY, assistant to joe
Walker, (Columbia) : Being alert,
gaining the confidence of the first
cameraman, so that he will not
worry about mechanical details, and i;
will know that unexpected moves of j
the actors will be carried in focus.
PAUL G. HILL, assistant to Jack Ste-
vens, (Universal) : Because of the
heavy diffusion used by most cam^
eramen, I believe an adequate
knowledge of the focus change to
be the most essential duty of the
assistant. There are, however, other
duties which are almost as impor-
tant, though not evident on the
screen.
IRVING GLASSBURG, assistant to ^
Milton Krasner, (Paramount): The:
assistant cameraman's most impor-
tant duty is to see that the scene is
in as sharp focus at all times as
possible. Mistakes in this direction
are very harmful to the final screen
result
CLIFF SHIRPSER, assistant to Charles
Lang, (Paramount) : I feel that the
assistant's paramount duty is to
continually inspect the cameras and
the magazines, so that there is no
possibility of scratches, abrasions or
other defects resulting from me-
chanical imperfections.
BERN LARSON, assistant to Sid
Hickox, (Warners*: Keep first
cameramen happy and the shots in
focus.
FREDDIE TERZO, assistant to Sol Po-
lito, (Warners) : Be on the jump
ahead of the first cameraman, and,
"yes" the second.
RKO Roars
RKO-Radio is humming, with starts
almost over-lapping finishes. Roy
Hunt is assigned to start "A Hat, a
Coat, a Glove" and Dave Abel is start-
ing "Bachelor Bait" — (What a title!)
Winny Wenstrom is slated to start
"Afterwards." Lucien Andriot and
Teddy Tetzlaff continue their respec-
tive pictures, while Nick Musuraca has
a good start on "Arabella."
I
infehinq
WARNER BROS.
Sid Hickox Sol Polito
COLUMBIA
Al Siegler Henry Freulich
RKO
Teddy Tetzlaff Lucien Andriot i
GENERAL SERVICE
Jack Mackenzie, Harold Lloyd Co.
UNIVERSAL PARAMOUNT
Jack Stevens Vic Milner
% READING DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
Vol. XX, No. 44. Price 5e.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, May 1, 1934
PAR. DIRECTORS AT €DD$
• PRESIDENT KUYKENDALL, of the
MPTOA, in an address in San Fran-
cisco recently on the evils of the
double feature practise, said that the
remedy lay in the film industry code,
which "is flexible so that this men-
ace can be attacked easily." Basic-
ally, Mr. Kuykendall Is right, but to
attack the double feature under the
code makes it purely a local matter,
one to be dealt with by grievance
boards in different localities.
That would mean that the ques-
tion of double bills would be dealt
with as it came up in hundreds of
spots, all of which would take time
and, moreover, would give no general
ruling as grievance boards might not
decide the same way in all spots.
•
It seems to us that there is a much
simpler way of solving the problem.
Suppose the major producers said to
the exhibitors of the country: "We
will not sell you our pictures unless
you agree not to double-bill them."
Of course, the majors lay the blame
for double billing at the doors of the
independents, but all the indie pro-
ducers do not make enough pictures
to supply doubles for the houses of
the country. And it is not the indie
pictures which go to make up the
double bills.
Take the local situation for exam-
ple. Practically every theatre in the
Los Angeles district, with the excep-
tion of a few first runs, is playing
double bills and every bill has two
major features — no indies. Presum-
ably the situation is the same in other
sections of the country, so why are
the majors yelling about double fea-
tures from indies?
Moreover, these pictures are not of
the ordinary program variety. On
many double bills there can be found
"Tarzan and His Mate," "Rip Tide,"
"Little Women," "Wonder Bar" and
other new pictures which have been
big hits. These go into double bills
almost before they complete their first
runs.
Seemingly, the remedy- is in the
hands of the majors themselves. Just
what would be the result if they stood
by their promises made to the exhibi-
tors at the recent MPTOA convention
here and made a sincere and con-
(Continued on Page 2)
Men in White' Wins
The Pulitzer Prize
New York. — Sidney Kingsley's
play, "Men in White," which was
presented here last Fall and has
since been screened by Metro-
Coldwyn-Mayer, has been awarded
the Pulitzer prize for the play for
the year.
New Grievance Bd.
Shows Its Teeth
Two-for-ones and the practice of
giving cash prizes to theatre patrons
were ruled out yesterday by the new
Los Angeles Grievance and Zoning
Board when it held its first official
session and heard three complaints of
alleged violations of the code.
The two-for-one complaint was
against the National Theatre by the
Pacific Theatres. National officers
(Continued on Page 5)
Radio Head Coming
New York. — J. L. McDonough,
president of Radio Pictures, has left
for the coast to confer with studio
officials as to production plans for
the coming year. McDonough will
arrive there Wednesday.
Wm. H. English Dies
New York. — William H. English,
chairman of the Paramount board of
directors, died at his home in Brook-
lyn yesterday.
Bebe and Ben at Para.
New York. — Bebe Daniels and Ben
Lyon will open at the New York Para-
mount Friday. The feature on the bill
is "Murder at the Vanities."
Cannot Agree On Counsel To
Conduct Defense Against The
Trustees' SIZOOO^OOO Suit
New York. — Those present and former members of the Para-
mount board of directors against whom the trustees for the
corporation have filed suit for $12,237,071 are bitterly at odds
over the question of their defense. Some of them want the
defense to be a joint affair, while
others declare that they will be repre-
sented by lawyers of their own choos-
ing.
A meeting was held a few days ago
for the purpose of deciding whether or
not the firm of Cravath, De Cersdorf,
Swaine and Wood should conduct a
joint defense. 'Many differences of
opinion arose and the argument grew
a bit heated at times, both about the
(Continued on Page 5)
Labor Asks Roosevelt
To Aid the 30-Hour Bill
Washmgton. — ■ William Green,
president of the American Federation
of Labor, and Representative William
Connery appealed to President Roose-
velt yesterday for his support of the
Connery bill, providing for a 30-hour
week for labor.
Neither would indicate in any way
what reception the President gave
their appeal.
U' After Sloane
Universal is negotiating with Paul
Sloane, through Bren and Orsatti, to
direct "After You Dear," a musical
comedy in which Gloria Stuart and
John Boles will be starred.
BILL CAXAVAX WILL RCX
FOR lATSE HEAD AGAIX
William F. Canavan, president of
the lATSE from I 91 9 to 1 93 1 , is go-
ing to throw his hat back in the lATSE
political ring and will run for the pres-
idency again tfiis June against the
present incumbent, William C. El-
liott.
This was revealed yesterday by
close friends of Canavan in Hollywood
who have received definite assurance
that he is going to run. Those close
to lATSE circles predict that his offi-
cial announcement of his candidacy,
when it is made, will start one of the
hottest battles for the presidential
(Continued on Page 4)
Jack Conway No Like
'100% Pure' Assignment
It was rumored around the MGM
lot yesterday that Jack Conway, who
had been assigned to succeed Sam
Wood as the director of "100%
Pure," had refused the assignment.
No verification could be had from the
studio, which said the picture still
stands indefinitely postponed.
Leiand Hayward Coming
New York. — -Leiand Hayward is
leaving for Hollywood today by plane
and will remain there a week or two.
Hitler Film Packs
New York Mayfair
New York. — The Vanderbilt pic-
ture, "Hitler's Reign of Terror,"
which has had a stormy career in
Chicago, opened at the Mayfair here
yesterday and gave the house the big-
gest opening day in its history, sur-
passing even that of "Bring 'Em Back
Alive." The gross for the day ran
between $5000 and $5500.
Because of its success, the evening
prices have been advanced to 75
cents and $1, with the expectation
that the week will be approximately
$40,000. Police guarded the theatre
yesterday, but there were no disturb-
ances.
Co^ien-Keough on Way
\Yi9-h Season's Line-up
New York. — Emanuel Cohen, pro-
duction head of Paramount, and Aus-
tin Keough, chief counsel for the
company, left here yesterday for the
coast.
Cohen has the complete Paramount
line-up for next season and Keough
is going in connection with reorgani-
zation matters in connection with
theatre holdings and real estate.
Ginsberg Back Friday
Henry Ginsberg returns to his desk
at Hal Roach studio Friday after a trip
to New York, where he has been con-
ferring with MGM officials about the
distribution of Roach productions.
Clarke Due from China
Charles Clarke, MGM cameraman,
returns next week from China where
he has photographed approximately
50,000 feet of film for the "Good
Earth" picture.
Academy Picking Up
Nine new members joined the
Academy during the month of April.
Most of them joined the Technicians
Branch.
Page Two
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE..
.Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIyw/ood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp^
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Virginia Peine, who left Hollywood
incognito to meet George Raft in New
York, will be back with him the end
of this week — as mentioned here,
they will be wed any minute
Hmm-mm, there were big doings
at the cross-roads the other night, so
now Willie Wellman has a busted
hand — and Lee Tracy has remorse!
. . . Daily chuckle — or mebbe we
should say "chukker" — Cy Bartiett's
pony (on the Warner team) made a
goal for the opposing team in the
Polo Came Sunday! Nothing like
lending a helping hand — we always
say! . . . Steve Avery and Gertrude
Vlichaels are still aflame — but for two
other people! . . . It's getting so that
^11 you have to do to get your name
in print these days is to crack out and
state that soandso is Hollywood's best
dressed woman! It wouldn't be so
bad if some of the picker-outers had
a sense of humor! . . . Paul Muni,
back from Frisco, and Jimmy Cagney
being interviewed by Alva Johnston
for the Woman's Home Companion!
. . . Arthur Lake and Betty Furness
taking up where they left off before
the big spat. . . . That almost insepa-
rable dining combination. Will Hays
and O. O. Mclntyre, at the Vendome
last night.
■ Woody Van Dyke gave a swimming
party for fifty kids up at his pool
Sunday, with Johnny Weissmuller and
John Warburton furnishing some fan-
cy aquatics. . . . Leo White just pop-
pa'ed a seven and three quarter pound
baby girl — his first child in twenty
.years! He has a son in collitch! . . .
Joseph Cawthorn back from the Jack
Barrymore fishing trip with a self-
caught 185-pound swordfish. . . .
Watty Rothacker home from his stay
at the Good Samaritan, and poor Vic
McLaglen still at the Hollywood Hos-
pital with Hollywood's latest annoy-
ance! . . . Ruth Donnelly is about to
publish her first novel, "Tripping
Through Life" — up to now only her
versifying has been in print.
Helen Vinson and Pat de Cicco are
in the throes. . . . Eddie Sutherland
and Jack Peine are practically in Pan-
"WERE NOT DRESSING"
Paramount prod.; director, Norman Taurog; writers, Benjamin Glazer, George
Marion Jr., Horace Jackson, Francis Martin; music and lyrics, Gordon and Revel.
Rivoli Theatre
Herald-Tribune: The musical picture called "We're Not Dressing" is a gay,
amiable and modestly entertaining screen comedy that gives evidence of
being a pleasantly madcap edition of the apologetic sort of pseudo-social
satire which was called "The Admirable Crichton."
Times: It has all the plausibility and romantic flavor of the average musical
comedy. It is nicely photographed and cleverly directed, the sort of thing
that is invariably diverting.
Sun: There is nothing satiric, nothing whimsical, nor anything particularly witty
about this newest desert island comedy. The story is a fairly successful
combination of two familiar patterns.
World-Telegram: It is first rate entertainment for the ear and funny bone; a
gay, melodious, entertaining bit of musical comedy fluff which frequently
"kids" itself.
journal: Just about all one needs to say about "We're Not Dressing" is that
Bing Crosby sings. He sings gaily. He sings romantically. He sings often
enough to suit his most ardent enthusiasts and, of course, he sings delight-
fully. It's lightly diverting entertainment.
American: The film is a melange of something old, something new, something
borrowed, something blue, but because of Bing and Ethel, George and
Gracie, Leon and Carole, Revel and Gordon, Droopy and the Stofani boys,
its good popular entertainment, bound to please a large public.
Mirror: A gay and rowdy musical comedy. Bing Crosby fans will delight in
"We're Not Dressing," which is funny as well as tuneful.
News: Its thin plot is bolstered up with a lot of slapstick work and Crosby's
charming voice. The whole picture is a lot of nonsense, but it is entertain-
ing nonsense.
Post: The picture is labored, banal and dull-witted, relieved only by Bing Cros-
by's singing, which would be all right if there weren't too much of it.
"TWENTY MILLION SWEETHEARTS"
Warner prod.; director, Ray Enright; writers, Paul Finder Moss, Warren Duff,
Harry Sauber; music and lyrics, Harry Warren and Al Dubin.
Strand Theatre
World-Telegram: "Twenty Million Sweethearts" seems to me to be the spright-
liest, briefest and least consciously precious of the many musical films that
Warners-First National has produced. An amiable, tuneful, jolly, well-
acted offering.
It is a straight comedy, with Mr. Powell's songs worked neatly into the
story, and it's the most amusing film the Strand has enjoyed for some
time.
Herald-Tribune: The new picture is a straight romantic tale, rather than any
brilliant effort at satire. Anyway, the whole affair is quite bearable.
Mirror: With smart dialogue, an ingenious plot, neat direction and a great com-
pany of comedians, it is a sparkling picture, one of the cleverest musical
movies which have yet come out of Hollywood.
News: Opportunities galore for high iinx, comedy, and to be sure, a list of new
songs. The producers of "42nd Street" have done it again.
Times: It is a rollicking porpourri of fun, song and romance. It Is a film with a
wide appeal, for the story always holds one's interest, the humor is keen
and the melodies, which are rendered as natural incidents to the narrative,
are very agreeable.
Post: There is nothing spectacularly original about the story, but it is developed
with sprightliness and interspersed with enough good songs to keep the
interest at a fairly high key.
American: Lots of laughs, plenty of melody, satisfying romance, pleasing play-
ers, "Twenty Million Sweethearts" is a honey for anybody's money.
Journal: With some satirical, though good-natured jabs at the ether industry,
several distinctly tuneful songs and an excellent cast to put over a smartly
written and directed comedy, the film is grand entertainment.
Sun:
ama — they just went for the ride.
. . . Irvin Cobb, with dotter Buff,
Douglass Montgomery with Barbara
Barondess, Walter Connolly, and
Krishnamurti, among the late Sunday
breakfasters at the Vendome. . . .
Driving with May Sunday is flirting
with death! . . . The Mike Curtizes,
Connie Bennett, Gilbert Roland, the
John Monk Saunders (Fay Wray), the
C. Gardner Sullivans, Joan Bennett
and Gene Markey, the Abe Lehrs, the
Ray Griffiths, the Sam Goldwyns, Lou
Schreiber, Joan Gale at the Bill Goetzes
Sunday night for another Darryl Zan-
uck good-bye!
Creditors To Be Paid
From 'Virgin' Advances
Cliff Elfelt, of Major Productions,
stated yesterday that, while Consoli-
dated will handle his recently com-
pleted picture, "Broadway Virgin,"
Ihe distribution arrangements will not
be made with Principal Distributing,
as he has his own distributing con-
tract with Imperial.
Consolidated does not stand in the
position of receiver for the picture,
but will collect the advances from
Imperial and satisfy tVie claims of the
creditors.
Casters Not So Hot
Oh the Golf Course
James Ryan, of Fox Western Ave-
nue studios, led all entries in the Cast-
ing Directors' Golf Tournament Sun-
day, with a low gross score of 84. Vir-
gil Hart, of the same office, was low
net with 76. Bill Mayberry was sec-
ond low net with 77.
In Division 2, Phil Friedman, of Fox, I
won low gross with 104. Frank Stem-
pie, of Central Casting, took low net |
with an 80, and Holley Morse was
second low net with an 86. In Divi-
sion 3, Bob Palmer, of RKO, won low
gross with 112. Paul Wilkins, of
MGM,was low net with an 86 and Gus
Demling, of Central Casting, was sec-
ond with an 87. Billy Gordon, of
Paramount, took the high score prize
with a total of 185 strokes, while Dan
Kelly, of Columbia, was given a con-
solation prize for his 133.
Cedric Gibbons Now a
Xocktair Architect
Cedric Gibbons, MGM director, has
originated a new type of architecture
to be used in the sets of "The Merry
Widow."
This step was taken to avoid fur-
ther criticism from foreign countries
as to the incorrect style of architec-
ture used in past productions. Gibbons
has titled this particular creation
"Cocktail Architecture."
Col. Signs Chas. Sabin
New York. — Charles Sabin, former
dancing partner of Mary Hay, has
been signed by Columbia and will
leave for the coast soon.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
certed effort to stop this evil is per-
haps problematical. But it would be
an interesting experiment.
Also, it would be interesting to
note how such a ruling would be re-
ceived by the exhibitors who have so
strongly inveighed against double
features.
HOMEY
ON EASY
^PAYMENTS
ENOUGH MONEY TO
LAST ALL YOUR LIFE
Can be bought through an
ANNUITY
You can complete all the payments
during the term of your contract, or
in 5, 1 0, or 15 years, etc.
Your monthly income checks start
at any age you may select, and
CONTINUE FOR LIFE
Large cash values are available as
an emergency fund. Your family col-
lects if you die.
Telephone For Details
ALBERT ESCHNER
Annuities and Life Insurance
220 Taft BIdg. Vine at HollywootI
CRanite 1721
Jl
May 1. 1934
THE
Pace Three
MONOGRAM'S 'LOUDSPEAKER'
JIIS'T FAIR ENTERTAINMENT
Cast and Director
Hampered by Story
"THE LOUDSPEAKER"
(Monogram)
Direction .: ...-- Joseph Santley
Author ..;..:. ...Ralph Spence
Screen Play Albert E. DeMond
Dialogue: Ralph Spence and Albert E.
DeMond.
Photography ... .....Gilbert Warrenton
Cast: Ray Walker, Jacqueline Wells,
Charles Grapewin, Noel Francis,
Wilbur Mack, Lorin Raker, Spencer
Charters, Sherwood Bailey, Billy Ir-
win, Ruth Romaine, Lawrence
Wheat and Mary Carr.
With only a fair story, a fair'cast
and fair dialogue, it is only natural
that "The Loudspeaker" is rather less
than fair entertainment.
The direction by Joseph Santley is
only fair, too, but it is enlivened by
clever spots which indicate that, given
better material to work with, Santley
would be consistently above that rat-
ing.
'. It's all about a young fellow named
Joe Miller (Ray Walker) who, by
sheer conceit and loud talking, works
his way from dragging a baggage truck
around a depot to the position of New
York's most popular radio announcer.
f V . His success goes to his already
swelled head, making him a pretty
hard persp/i to get along with, until
his girF frfend, Jacqueline Wells, makes
a hit on his radio prograrh, tells him
a few things about his conceit and re-
fuses to marry" him. Whereuporr he
yyr^cks his Cafeer and drinks all his
savjngs up. But he finally comes to
his: senses and, upon his reappearance
On I the radio, is given a tremendous
I pvition.
1 j; Walker tries hard, but fails to be
a very good radio favorite, even on
the screen. Jacqueline Wells has a
sw4et singing voice. Charles Grapewin
is, pf course, excellent in a small role.
Spencer Charters plays the sponsor of
the radio program, and Wilbur Mack
and Lorin Raker are well cast.
Ralph Spence wrote the story and
dialogue and Albert E. DeMond did the
screen play and collaborated on dia-
fogue. Gilbert Warrenton photograph-
ed. Cutting and a general speeding
up will help this film wonderfully.
Itadio Builds Picture
Around Astaire-Rogers
Radio is planning to build its big
broadcasting special, now tentatively
called "Radio City Revels," around
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The
studio will top-bill the team, con-
structing the story with them as the
central characters.
Several story ideas are up for con-
sideration, but the original which
George Marion is writing leads the
field. Dorothy Yost has joined him to
handle the continuity.
Rains for Hecht Film
New York. — Claude Rains has been
engaged by Hecht and MacArthur for
the leading role in "Crime Without
Passion," their first production for
Paramount release. They are after
Jimmy Savo for the comedy lead.
$7000 a Week for
Winchell in Vaude
New York. — Walter Winchell is
opening at the Palace Theatre in
Chicago: next week with an act
and goes to Detroit the following
week. It is understood that the
act is "getting Walter $7000 a
week.
Indie Owners Meet
To Discuss Duals
Members of the Independent Thea-
tre Owners of Southern California will
meet today noon at the Hotel May-
fair to thresh o.ut the matter of
whether or not they go on record fa-
voring dual bills.
A hot session is expected, for there
are a number of exhibitors who are
bitterly opposed to dual bills as well
as a faction which feels that double
bills must continue or the indepen-
dent theatre men must pass out of
the picture. A vote on the matter
is expected at the meeting
Warners Borrow jory
Foi 'British Agent'
War.'.ers yesterday concluded ne-
gotiations with Fox for the loan of
Victor Jory foe .a . spot in ''British
Agent," which starts tomorrow, hav-
ing been postponed from Monday.
Studio also signed Ivan Simpson,
Warfer'Byron, Paul PorcaSi and Don-
ald Crisp for roles. Michael Curtiz
directs and Robert Presnell produces.
Terms for Boland-Wing
Paramount presented new contracts
yesterday to Mary Boland and Toby
Wing. Boland's next assignment will
be "Her Master's Voice," starring
Charles Ruggles and Lanny Ross. Toby
has not been given any new assign-
ment as yet.
Stooges Starting
The three former Healy stooges,
Howard, Fine and Howard, start
"Punch Drunks" at Columbia tomor-
row, Lou Breslow directing the two-
reeler for which Jack Cluett and Bres-
low contribute the screen play.
Ellis To Do Original
Robert Ellis was engaged by George
Batcheller, of Chesterfield, to write an
original story as the company's next
picture to follow "Green Eyes." Harry
Spingler of the Small-Landau office
set the deal.
Novel Yarn for MCM
MGM purchased yesterday an origi-
nal play, titled "Sasha Gerhard," by
Harry Thomashefsky. The story deals
with a race of mechanical men who
are brought to life by mad inventors.
Thelma Todd for Radio
Thelma Todd was slated by Radio
yesterday for a leading role in the next
Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers picture,
"Gay Divorce." This will be followed
by the Radio City picture.
Extra Board Delayed
By Code Authority
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of the
Code Committee for Extras, yesterday
told John C. Flinn, executive secre-
tary of the Code Authority, that the
Extras' Committee is being held up
and retarded in its work because of
the delay On the part of the Code
Authority in passing on the commit-
tee's recommendations and requests
for rulings.
Also present at the meeting were
Sidney Kent, member of the Code
Authority, and Pat Casey, a member
of the Extras' Committee and chair-
man of the Studio Labor Committee.
As a result of the conference, Flinn
assured Mrs. Kinney that, immediately
upon his return to New York, the
Code Authority will take quick action
on the Extras' Committee matters and
will rush the decisions here.
Mrs K.nney gave a complete report
of the activities of the committee, to-
gether with data on the number of
complaints flied with it and those dis-
posed of. ■
Hearst's Birthday
Guests Returning
All the notabfes frorn the picture
colony who went to the Hearst ranch
at San. Simeon to celebrate the pub-
lisher's"? 1 st birthday, are dn'their way
home. Some left last night by" train
or car and others leave today by 'plane.
.CharJes Roger&rMaLy-.Dlo . ..
Xarral Boy' As Final
Although "The Woman God For-
gave" has been announced as the last
Charles R. Rogers production on his
Paramount contract, there?' ,rs a poSsi-"
bility now that "Canal, Bby" will be
used to complete the schedule.
Inability to cast "The Woman God
Forgave" will be ironed out when
Emanuel Cohen returns, with "Canal!.
Boy" as the alternate. Both scripts
are completed.
Cast for 'Green Eyes'
Charles Starrett and Shirley Grey
have been signed by George R. Bat-
cheller for the leads in the last pic-
ture on the current Chesterfield pro-
gram, "Green Eyes," which Richard
Thorpe puts before the -cameras Fri-
day.
Others signed include William
Bakewell, John Wray, Dorothy Re-
vere, Ben Hendricks Jr. and Alden
Chase.
'Cleopatra' to Desert
Cecil B. DeMille and company of
200 left yesterday on a location trip
to Muroc dry lake in Mojave desert
to shoot scenes of the trek of the
chariots of "Cleopatra." The company
will remain in the desert area for sev-
eral days.
European Arrivals
New York. — Arriving on the lie
de France today are Louis Gasnier,
who will direct Spanish productions
at the Paramount Long Island studio;
Samuel Eckmann, British representa-
tive of MGM; Lee Shubert, Mitzi
Mayfair and Robert Newman.
NOT THAT IT
MATTERS
By HELEN CWYNN
You all know the horrors of being
the face on the cutting room floor,
but Mady Christians' stage career irv
this country has been every bit as
horrible and discouraging, despite the
fact that the gal is a marvelous ac-f
tress and succeeded in getting re-
markably good notices. Her first
effort over here was in "The Divirve
Drudge," produced by John Golden.
Miss Christians triumphed, but the
show flopped and in two weeks it
closed. Mr. Golden immediately . ah--
nounced plans for a new starring
vehicle for Miss Christians, which duty
went into rehearsal. It rehearsed for
weeks, had eight rnvitation perform^
ances and never opened! The Thea-
tre Guild had by this time bought a
play called "Races," which' it was
anxious to put into production white
the Nazi indignation was at its height.'
They approached Miss Christians- and
offered her the leading role and Miss
Christians accepted. ' The play went
into rehearsal irhrtriediately arid the
Guild took it oVer to Philadelphia.-
Miss Christians received great" cvititat
acclaim, but somehow the play 'didrt't
jell and the Guild abandoned the' idea
of bringing it into New York this Sea-
s6h. Now Miss Christians is' a fdr-
eign actress and the Equity ru'lmgs"(5i^
foreign invasion's of " the A'mericaH
theatre are^ very strict, so, after the
closing of >he' Guild play. Miss Cbiis-
ti'ahs was 'iKformed'fhaf she'coi/Td' hot
Accept another stage ehgageme'hf 'Tor
at least six months, regardless of the
- f-aci^ ihat-she hsS^^f t©-H3v#^3rpyM4»^j
that mi^ht really be called a stagi"!
"engagement" — such announcement >l
being premature to say the least, j So
now Miss Christians is in HollywolscJ
..and ior the sake of Miss Christien^
and the movie industry, We hope ih s
makes pictures,- because that galj is
an actress and should be working! a |
it. - - j I
Which also brings us down to th I
fact that this department hencefci-tii
will operate from Hollywood instSai^
of New York, the inspiration for mfn, ^
tal burpings in that town having sfet ■?
tied down to a summer drone, With
the bars being filled with tourlsM
and predatory women; Harlem bejnk
taken over by the Cubans; the th^a^
tre having gone into the doldrums and
because a sign on a Sunset Boulevertt
excavation says we can get "Fcee
Dirt" out here while in New Y|)rb
you just pay and pay. ; jj
One echo from New York distifl-bsj
us, though. The latest report on ihQ
awarding of the Pulitzer prize haK
"Men in White" as the winner and
it must have taken a difficult merital;
operation to put that in the running.:
Sidney Howard surely contributed twp'
American pictures that more richly!
deserve it, to say nothing of "To^
oacco Road," by Jack Kirkland, but
the latter play happens to deat
with a portion of Americana that nci
one is anxious to recognize. In fact,;
one of our better known critical pro--
fessors of the drayma refused to go
to see it because he claimed that,
even if it were good, he wouldn't
like it or recommend it.
Page Fp«r
THFkJa
May 1, 1934
AGEIVTS SPLIT 0\V,Vt LABOR
BOARD'S RULES CHANGE
The minority group of agents had
their inning before the State Labor
Commission yesterday on their griev-
ances against the Commission's set of
rules controlling the managers. Sam
Zagon, of Zagon and Aaron, and Da-
vid Tannebaum met with Charles F.
Lowy, attorney for the Commission.
Lowy listened to the claim that the
rules, establishing a code of ethics for
agents, were unconstitutional and
then pointed a way to smoothing the
situation. Zagon and Tannenbaum de-
clared that the clause in the agency
rules compelling the managers to pre-
sent their disputes to the Commission
took away the rights of agents to go
to court. The same clause, it was
pointed out, is part of the State
Agency Act, but has been outlawed
by numerous court decisions.
The outstanding objection from the
attorneys was that the clause forced
the agents to sign contracts agreeing
to arbitration of disputes before the
commission, thus placing a powerful
weapon in the Commission's hands by
appointing it a judicial office instead
of an executive one. Lowy rejected
a proposal to eliminate the clause, but
agreed to amending it.
The revision will have the agents
agreeing to take their disputes to
Court on condition that, at the same
time, they ask the Court to appoint
the Labor Commission as arbitrator.
The latter's findings in disputes would
then be acted on by the court.
This arrangement preserves the
Commission's power to control agents
Retort Courteous
Radio asked Hazel Forbes, of the
cast of "Down to Their Last
Yacht," if she would go on the
"Hollywood on the Air" program.
She declined, politely, remarking:
"If I really wanted to go on the
air, there are two hours for which
I am paying." She controls a
widely known tooth paste and a
hair lotion, and is in pictures be-
cause she likes the work.
Durante Coming Back
New York. — Jimmy Durante, who
has been making personal appear-
ances in the East, leaves for the coast
by plane tomorrow. Milton Raison
accompanies him and also Arthur
Tracy.
and gives the latter a means to put
through attachment proceedings
against clients which would otherwise
be denied them.
The arrangement last night also
split the minority group. Harry Soko-
lov broke away from the Zagon and
Tannenbaum group, expressing dissat-
isfaction with the Lowy agreement.
"The agent must continue to recog-
nize the Labor Commission as a judi-
cial officer or have his license refused.
Since there is no higher court than the
Labor Commission, there would be no
way to appeal decisions. I intend to
carry our fight to the courts."
Monogram Product
All Set for Italy
New York. — N. V. Ritchey, of the
Ritchey International Corporation, has
completed a deal for the distribution
of twenty Monogram features of this
season's program for Italy.
According to Ritchey, this is the
first time the entire program of an
independent producer has been sold
in that country.
Jack Warner on Air
Jack Warner will be the headliner
on the KFWB radio program Wednes-
day night, exploiting "Twenty Mil-
lion Sweethearts," which opens at the
local theatres Thursday. Studio has
promises from every member of the
cast to appear on the air.
Canavan Will Run
(Continued from Page 1 )
chair in the history of the organiza-
tion.
He is said ot have been persuaded
to run because of tremendous pressure
that has been brought to bear by
lATSE locals throughout the country,
which feel that the organization has
been slipping since Canavan stepped
out.
In the picture production industry
a landslide to Canavan is expected be-
cause of the failure of Elliott to settle
jurisdictional problems that have aris-
en and which members feel helped
lose the strike last year. Canavan has
been connected officially with lATSE
for more than twenty years.
4STIN6
Gwendolen Logan through Sackin
for "The Green Hat," MOM.
Alden Chase by Kingston-Harris to
Chesterfield's "Green Eyes."
Barlowe Borland in Warners' "Brit-
ish Agent," by Sackin.
Jean Perry by Sackin to French ver-
sion of "The Merry Widow," MGM.
Henry Stephenson to "One More
River," Universal.
Andre Ferier by Sackin for "Cara-
van," Fox, and French version "The
Merry Widow," MGM.
Douglas Cosgrove, Thomas McCuire,
Mischa Auer and Charles Brinley for
"Railroad Detective," Columbia.
Ethel Sykes, Philip Maxwell. Billy
Scott and Babe Lawrence for "Whom
the Gods Destroy," Columbia.
George and Pedro Regas to Fox for
"Grand Canary."
Easton Tennis Champ
Ted Easton defeated Karl Struss
Sunday at the Los Angeles Tennis Club
for the Mae West trophy in the Para-
mount tennis tournament. In the
doubles matches for the C. B. De
Mille trophy, Ted Easton and F. J.
Lucid Jr. won over H. B. Wood and
Leo Gregg, 6-1 and 6-2.
Don't Blame Us
Through an oversight on the part
of the studio publicity department,
the names of Lynn Riggs and Leonard
Spigelgass, who did the adaptations of
Radio's "Stingaree," were not on the
official credit sheet.
APPRECIATION
AND THANKS
TO
ALBERT A. KAUFMAN
AND
WILLIAM LE BARON
W. C. FIELDS
May 1, 1934
THE
P[i[p©lRTiIR
Page Five
O P E X
F O R V M
Hollywood Reporter:
Enclosed please find a clipping from
the New York World-Telegram of
April 4, 1934.
Kindly note that the staff writer,
Miss Irene Kuhn, has brought to the
attention of us stockholders who are
interested in the Fox Film Companies
something of great importance.
A section of this article notes that
Mr. Winfield Sheehan, in the year
1929, received a salary of $128,727.
plus a bonus for the year to the
amount of $20. This particular year
was the greatest and most success-
ful year in the history of the Fox Film
Corporation, and. as we read further
we find that Mr. Winfield Sheehan.
in the year 1933, received a salary of
$250,000. In that same year many
of us stockholders asked for a receiv-
ership, due to the fact that the com-
pany had lost millions of dollars. The
same applied in the year 1932.
I cannot uriderstand why a com-
pany in the terrible condition that the
Fox Film Corporation has been in
during those years when Mr. Sheehan
was receiving $250,000 a year did
not abide with the other companies
who reduced the salaries of their ex-
ecutives instead of almost doubling
them.
I also know that Mr. Sidney Kent,
who at present is the President of the
Fox Film Corporation, only receives a
salary in the neighborhood of $75,000
a year. I cannot understand why Mr.
Sheehan, who is only the Vice-Presi-
dent, receives $250,000 a year. If,
in the event that Mr. Sheehan has a
contract calling for this amount, I
know of other existing contracts in
the same company that have been
reduced.
If there is a political machine in
the Fox Film Corporation such as is
existing in our politics, then I am
sorry to state that my life savings of
$9,000. which I have invested in the
stock of this company, have been a
one hundred percent loss.
Thanking you very kindly for your
courtesy in reading my long letter, I
remain.
Very truly yours,
A STOCKHOLDER.
Snap for Cameramen
Bert Shipman and Edward Garvin,
cameramen, got a choice assignment
from Sam Goldwyn when they were
ordered to sail on the Empress of
Britain to get sea-going shots for the
Eddie Cantor picture. The cameramen
get off at Balboa, Canal Zone, and
board a plane for the return trip.
Board Shows Teeth
(Continued from Page 1 )
admitted the charge and were ordered
to cease within 48 hours or their film
will be taken away and they will have
no shows.
Two other cases were heard; one a
leasing argument, the other a charge
by the Garfield Theatre, of Alhambra,
against Fox West Coast of holding out
on product. The lease case will prob-
ably go to New York for settlement.
The other will be decided this morn-
ing,
Code Agency Board
Has First Meeting
First steps in the work, of the Film
Code Agency Committee were taken
last night when the members met with
John C. Flinn, secretary of the Code
Authority.
Flinn explained the purpose of the
committee, which, in brief, is simply
to set up a system of fair practice be-
tween producer-agent-artist and see
that it is carried out. Thursday of this
week the committee will meet at the
Beverly-Wilshire at noon to organize.
Trem Carr, B. B. Kahane, W. R.
Sheehan, Jack Gain and Jack Warner
were present for the producers. Ber-
ton Churchill, Frank Lloyd, Wells
Root, Ernest Pascal and J. M. Nicko-
laus represented the employees, and
George Frank the agents.
'Dames' Drama Done
Ray Enright completed the dra-
matic sequences of "Dames" at War-
ners late Sunday. Busby Berkeley
still has at least several weeks of work
rounding out the musical sequences.
Freuh'ch Promoted
Henry Freulich, second cameraman,
has just been boosted to the rank of
first cameraman and is photographing
the Minute Mysteries series at Co-
lumbia.
Allen Scott Assigned
Allen Scott has been signed by Ra-
dio to do the screen play of "By Your
Leave."
Para. Directors at Odds
(Continued from Page 1 )
questions of a joint defense and about
the law firm mentioned.
It is understood that Sidney Kent
and Sam Katz refused flatly to be par-
ties to the joint defense plan by that
firm and that Kent has already ar-
ranged with Nathan Burkan to repre-
sent him. Katz has not made any an-
nouncement as to his counsel yet, but
is expected to do so without a few
days.
This suit is the result of the auth-
orization given by the Paramount
directors, between September 9. 1931.
and March 7, 1932, for the repur-
chase by Paramount of its own stock
from various stockholders. The suit
was filed by the trustees after they
had asked permission of Referee Davis
and he had granted it. In bringing
the suit the trustees acted on the
advice of their own counsel. Root,
Clark, Buckner and Ballantine.
The directors named as defendants
are Adolph Zukor, Sidney R. Kent,
Sam Katz, John Hertz, Frank Bailey.
Jules Brulatour, William H, English,
Daniel Frohman, Felix Kahn, Gilbert
Kahn, Austin Keough, Ralph Kohn,
Jesse L. Lasky, Elek John Ludvigh, Sir
William Wiseman, Eugene Zukor,
Donald Stralem as executor of the
estate of Casimir Stralem, and Eugene
Zukor, Mel Shauer and Julia Shauer
for the estate of Emil Shauer.
THE REASON
I signed with LEVEE, TROTSKY,
LENIN & DILLINCER, Inc., is they
were POSITIVELY THE
FIRST in this racket to give
a complete service for 10 percent.
s
A
Y
S
Ichabod
Throttlebottom
and
THEIR MANAGEMENT OFFERS:
Personal Representation
Cand I mean personal)
Business Administration
Secretarial Service
Bookkeeping & Accounting
Income Tax Service
Publicity & Exploitation
I !
T. Mortimer Printwhistle
will tell you almost any minute
WHY
he is an L. T. L. & U. client
EDWARD H. GRIFFITH
Present Assignment
(< T% *
Biography
99
for
IRVING G. THALBERG
M. G. M.
^ Clieni af^
^^^-Yntc
al
CORPORATION
M-G-M SIUDIUS,
% READI.'JG tEPT.
CULVER CITY. UALIF.
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Vol. XX, No. 46. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, May 3. 1934
C o mp any Trying To Corral
Several Hundred New York
Houses^ But Bid Is Too Low
• WHILE Louis B. Mayer was de-
nouncing the exhibitors of Southern
California on the double bill question
Tuesday afternoon, another meeting
was being held a short distance away
at which there was discussed a picture
topic of equally vital importance to
the industry. That was the gathering
of the Regional Conference of the
Council of Catholic Women and the
subject was indecent pictures.
Mr. Mayer, in his speech, diverged
from the double bill topic long enough
to admit that producers will not be
allowed to go on forever turning out
dirty pictures. He did not explain
what is going to stop them, but Mr.
Mayer is a canny soul and usually has
his ear pretty close to the ground.
Maybe the rumblings of the opposi-
tion to such films by the women and
the churches of the country have
reached that ear. They certainly have
been loud enough to reach most ears
in the picture industry.
•
These Catholic Women enthusias-
tically approved of a resolution which
urged that all Catholics remain away
from pictures "which flaunt inde-
cency, glorify crime and criminals,
condone sex sins and scoff at the
sanctity of marriage and the home."
This voice has been added to the
voices of practically every important
organization of women in the country,
and all the voices are saying the same
thing. It is admitted that the pat-
ronage of the picture theatres rests
largely on the tastes of women and
children. If the women stay away
from theatres and keep their children
away, what happens to grosses?
Leaving the moral side of indecent
pictures entirely out of the question,
there is a business side. These Catho-
lic women call on the mothers to keep
their children away from improper
pictures. Statistics show that, of the
average weekly attendance of 77,-
000,000 in this country, nearly one-
third are under 21 years of age.
What percentage of those and of
their parents can the theatres afford
to lose?
•
The Catholic Church backs the
views of these Catholic women 100
per cent. It has formed a "Legion
of Decency" and is circulating pledges
(Continued on Page 2)
Loew's Net Profit
Makes Big Advance
New York. — Loew's Inc. yester-
day reported net profit of $3,973,-
472 for the 28 weeks ended March
1 5 after subsidiaries dividends, this
equaling $2.38 a share on the
common. This compares with $2,-
013,281, or $1.04 a common
share, for the corresponding period
in 1933.
Music Hall to Give
Opera Next Week
New York. — The presentation of
opera at the Radio City Music Hall,
which has been discussed for some
time, will become a reality next week
when "Madame Butterfly" will be
staged there, beginning Thursday. The
picture on the bill will be "Change
of Heart."
Leonidoff will stage the opera,
which will be run continuously for an
hour and twenty minutes. There will
be no curtains, the revolving stages
being used for the changes. Some of
the dialogue and minor details will be
cut out, but all the principal arias
and melodies are left in. If this ex-
periment is successful, other operas
will be given.
Laemmle Jr. Still III
Carl Laemmle Jr. was out for the
third day yesterday with a sinus at-
tack, operating a considerable portion
of his Universal job from his home
in Beverly Hills.
Perc Westmore Honored
Percy Westmore has been elected
president of the Motion Picture Make-
up Artists Association. It is his third
session.
New York. — In an effort to increase their theatre holdings,
Warner Brothers are trying to snare several hundred indepen-
dent theatres in and around New York. They are negotiating for
the Fox Metropolitan Playhouses, the Skouras houses and the
Randforce chain.
It is understood that Warners are
ready to lay down $6,000,000 for
what they want, but this offer is con-
sidered childish as the control of the
Metropolitan Playhouses alone would
set them back around $13,000,000.
It is not believed the company is
either willing or prepared to go that
high.
Whether or not the Warners pro-
pose to pay all or even part cash for
the theatres has not been stated. It
(Continued on Page 2)
Paramount Not to Make
Its Shorts at Astoria
New York. — Paramount has chang-
ed its mind about transferring its
shorts production to the Long Island
studio and will continue to make them
at the 43rd street plant. The space
at Astoria is needed for feature pro-
duction.
Warners Sign Newman
For More Traveltalks
E. M. Newman, producing the
Traveltalk shorts for Warners, got a
new contract for thirteen more one-
reelers yesterday and leaves May 12
for New York to start production on
the group. He will operate at the
Vitaphone Studio in Brooklyn.
EASTERN EXHIBS PLA\'XIIVG
BIC; WAB OIV PEBCEiVTACES
New York. — The leaders of the
theatre owners in New York, Phila-
delphia and along the entire Atlantic
seaboard will hold an important meet-
ing at the Motion Picture Club next
Tuesday to lay out plans for a deter-
mined fight against high percentages
and prefifirred' playing time. Exhibi-
tors from as far west as Ohio have
signified their intention of attending.
The present plan is to arrange for
a great mass meeting to be held in
Madison Square Garden, which will be
(Continued on Page 4)
Coldwyn-Warner Bros.
Case Comes Up Today
The trial of Sam Coldwyn's suit
against Warners for an injunction re-
straining the latter from continuing
the use of Busby Berkeley's services
starts today before judge Emmett
Wilson.
A two-day hold-over was due to a
petition from Milton Cohen, attorney
for Berkeley, who was projected into
the case as co-defendant with War-
ners.
Fox Net Profit for
Quarter $805,376
New York. — The Fox Film Corpo-
ration reports for the thirteen weeks
ended March 31 a consolidated net
profit of $805,376, after deducting
reserve for taxes, interest, deprecia-
tion and other charges .
This compares with a loss of
$557,122 for the corresponding
period of 1933, and makes the con-
solidated net earned surplus $2,509,-
625 on March 31, all of which has
been accumulated since the reorgani-
zation of April 1, 1933.
?s?s. TaSking Picture
Work to Bernt Balchen
Paramount was reported yesterday
discussing a deal with Bernt Balchen
to make his first appearance in pic-
tures other than newsreels. Studio is
said to have an aviation picture in
mind for him.
The noted Arctic flier slipped
quietly into town during the past
week on a mission for the Byrd ex-
pedition and is due to leave for the
South Pole June 1 .
Radio President Here
j. L. McDonough, president of Ra-
dio Pictures, who left New York Sun-
day, arrived here on The Chief yester-
day to confer with studio officials
concerning productions for the com-
ing year.
Lou Brock East May 15
Lou Brock, Radio associate produc-
er, leaves for New York May 1 5 to
discuss details of the formation of an
independent producing company. His
contract with Radio expires June 1.
Hy Daab Turns Writer
New York. — Hy Daab has resigned
from the advertising department of
Warner Brothers, effective May 12,
and plans to go to Hollywood on a
writing assignment.
E
JAY GORNEY
COMPOSED
THE MUSIC
STAND UP AND CHEER"
Page Two
THE
May 3,1534
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
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Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Gregory Ratoff will be back in Hol-
lywood any minute — and with an Eng-
lish accent! ... He says so himself!
. . . Vivian Caye and Sari Maritza,
who went to Mexico to wait for their
new quota number, are having plenty
of re-entry trouble — Sari, it seems can
come on back here when she wants
to — but Miss Caye is having one heck
of a delay! ... So both of 'em are
doing the waiting act at Caliente. . . .
The C. Gardner Sullivans — up to their
necks in house-building. . . . Laff
note: Alice Terry and Barry Norton
(!) are out together "night after
night." . . . Nat Ferber has dedicated
his latest book, just out, to Ad Schul-
berg and the Sam Jaffes.
Bill Powells idea of "roughing it"
is a place where you have to drink
your champagne out of tin cups! . . .
Wini Shaw, who didn't get a tumble
from Fox while under contract to
them, is such a hit in the current
"Shim Sham Revue" that three stujos
are on her trail at the moment. ... It
took Olive, the Bill Coetzes' cookess,
to make the world Potroast-conscious!
. . Miriam Hopkins threw a big party
last night and most of the guests were
planning to autograph the plaster cast
which still encases her broken foot.
. . . Doug Fairbanks, Sr., has cabled
the Darryl Zanucks that he will join
them in Naples and go on to Africa
for the big game hunt with them. . .
Bert Wheeler, Mr. and Mrs. Jack
Chertok, Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Felix,
Frank Morgan and Sammy Lee at Tom
Gallery's Olympic fights.
•
It took a truck to get Mae West
from one set to another yesterday, wot
with the amount of costume she was
wearing — which is news! . . . Michael
Pearman, fresh from English pictures,
iust arrived in town. . . . Sport item:
The grizzly bear season is now open
— which gives Clark Gable another
terrible urge to go places. . . . Add to
that title list: Peggy Joyce — "The Old
Lady Shows Her Medals." . . . . Al
Kaufman was standing in front of a
friend's house the other night, and a
huge Collie jumped out and bit him in
the rear! He'll be very glad to prove
itj"
"THE WITCHING HOUR "
Paramount prod.; director, Henry Hathaway; writers, Augustus Thomas,
Anthony Veiller, Salisbury Field.
Paramount Theatre
Mirror: Thought transference and the release of the subconscious by hypnotism
make "The Witching Hour" a little artless, a theatrical melodrama which
is deficient in suspense and glutted with whimsey.
Herald-Tribune: "The Witching Hour" remains one of the finest of the early
American exercises in dramaturgy. The production is chiefly interesting
for the way in which it suggests that a fine production can provide vast
help these days for a skilful archaic melodrama. At the same time it is
so attractively staged that the production achieves pictorial and dramatic
excellence.
Times: Although "The Witching Hour" is somewhat stiff in the joints, it has
a certain quaint appeal. This film is no shining example of plausibility and
it has an utter disregard for accuracy in criminal court procedure.
World-Telegram: A civilized little anecdote from Augustus Thomas' play of the
same name, affably told by a company of pleasant and competent Holly-
wood players under Henry Hathaway's expert guidance. One of the merits
of the film is that it shows none of the usual signs of having been merely
flung together. It is handsomely mounted, carefully directed and expertly
played, especially by John Halliday and Sir Guy Standing. Reasonably en-
tertaining melodrama.
Journal: A tensely absorbing melodrama that concerns itself with hypnotism.
Superbly played by John Halliday in the principal role, the film has an un-
usual theme and develops it arrestingly. Suspense is vividly sustained by
Director Henry Hathaway.
News: Although the story is kept in the period in which it was written, the idea
on which the plot revolves is so lacking in novelty that the whole proceed-
ings are a little out of tune with its modern screen presentation.
"BEGGARS IN ERMINE"
Monogram prod.; director, Phil Rosen; writers, Esther Lynd Day, Tristram
Tupper
Mayfair Theatre
World-Telegram: The film is so well managed by its director and leading players
that, in spite of its implausibilities, it never becomes too fantastic or melo-
dramatic. This makes for interesting entertainment.
Times: After witnessing the strange incidents in "Beggars in Ermine," one is
inclined to be thankful that few pictures quite as implausible as this of-
fering have ever reached the screen. It is, as might be surmised, a film
which succeeds in being both boring and irritating. The dialogue is crude
and nothing need be said in favor of the acting.
Mirror: However fantastic the story, there is entertainment in "Beggars in Er-
mine." It is one of those films in which the wicked are punished and the
good are rewarded, always a gratifying story solution.
American: Although author and scenarist are at some pains to explain most
meticulously each of the film's contentions, the story never rings true, and,
despite the efforts of those hard-working thespians, Messrs. Atwill, Wal-
thall and Thomas, the picture, at best, provides only mediocre entertain-
ment.
Journal: Recalling "The Beggars' Opera," the picture has a sufficiently novel
theme to hold one's interest. Well dramatized and directed, it emerges as
one of the better offerings from the independent studios. Mr. Atwill gives
an effective and creditable performance.
News: Displeasure arises at the thought that any scenario could be written
along lines that are so far-fetched and implausible. For all the manifold
shortcomings of the picture, there are two qualities which lift it from utter
hopelessness. These are to be found in the performances of Lionel Atwill
and Henry B. Walthall.
Herald-Tribune: Perhaps plausibility is not the chief feature of the story called
"Beggars in Ermine," but that is far from its most serious fault. The film,
it appears, is a rather vague attempt to combine some of the melodramatic
eeriness of the German picture called "M" and one of the efforts of the
immortal Mr. Chaney.
Carlos Schipa at Col.
Carlos Schipa, brother of Tito
Schipa, has been signed by Columbia
for role in "Whom the Gods Destroy,"
featuring Walter Connolly, Doris Ken-
yon and Robert Young. Walter Lang
directs.
Liz Allan Refurning
Elizabeth Allan left on the steamer
Champlain yesterday on her return
here from England. She will first go
into MCM's "The Green Hat" and
then to '.'David Copperfield."
TradeWMii lEH
( Continued from Pngi Q , ag{
which bind the signers to stay away
from indecent pictures. The pledge
declares the salacious picture is the
"greatest menace of this country".
-The movement has gone beyond the
moral stage, Mr. Producer. It has
become a question of dollars and
cents, and you are interested in that
phase if not in the morals.
Cprnmittee Cleans
Up All Extra Kicks
The Complaints and Grievance sub-
committee of the Code Committee for
Extras yesterday cleaned up all com-
plaints of alleged code violations by
the studios when it met and decided
thirty cases.
This, according to Mrs. Mabel Kin-
ney, chairman of the committee,
makes a total of 87 complaints that
have been handled since the commit-
tee started functioning. She stated
that, in cases decided against the stu-
dios, checks are sent to the commit-
tee which turns them over to the
complainants. Thus far, she says, not
a studio has refused to abide by the
decision of the committee.
"We hope to keep these complaints
cleaned up," said Mrs. Kinney, "and
guarantee immediate action on all filed
with us. If the extras will send them
in, we'll give quick action."
Rose Queen Signed for
High School Girl'
Bryan Foy has signed Treva Scott,
queen of the 1934 Tournament of
Roses, to a term contract and gives
the girl her first picture break as the
second lead in "High School Girl."
She is a student at the Pasadena
high school and has had some stage
experience.
Sanf-ell Finishes One
Al Santell completes "Life of Virgie
Winters," starring Ann Harding and
John Boles, at Radio today. Boles re-
ports to Fox Western Avenue studio
for another assignment Friday.
Lee Tracy Laid Up
Lee Tracy is confined to his bed
with a severe case of influenza. His
condition has been so bad that he has
had two nurses in attendance for sev-
eral days.
Jacksons to Bermuda
Horace Jackson and his wife leave
Saturday for a four weeks vacation.
They go first to New York, then to
Bermuda and Mexico.
Doyle on 'China' Yarn
Robert Presnell has assigned Laird
Doyle to do the screen play for "Oil
For the Lamps of China' at Warner
Brothers.
Warners' Theatre Crab
(Continued from Page 1 )
may be that they expect to make the
same kind of a deal which they offer-
ed theatre owners in New Jersey a
few weeks ago. That was that the
theatre man should turn over his
house, taking Warner bonds in pay-
ment. The argument advanced by
Warners was that the expected in-
crease in the value of the bonds would
guarantee the payment for the house.
The proposed deal was similar to the
ones made by Paramount some years
ago which got that company into a
lot of grief and has resulted m ths
granting by Referee Davis of the ap-
plication of the trustees to bring suit
for over $12,000,000 against Para-
mount directors. '>
May 3, 1934
Page Three
'BVLLDOG DRVMMOXD' A WOW;
*CHANGE OF HEART' PLEASIIVG
New Colman Film
Gay and Delightful
■BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES
BACK"
(Twentieth Century)
Direction Roy Del Ruth
Author .-.. H. C. McNeile
Screen Play Nunnally Johnson
Photography Peverell Marley
Cast: Ronald Colman, Charles Butter-
worth, Loretta Young, Warner
Oland, Una Merkel, C. Aubrey
Smith, Arthur Hohl, George Regas,
Ethel Griffies, Mischa Auer, Doug-
las Gerrard, Halliwell Hobbes, E. E.
Clive.
With tongue in cheek and a hot-
cha-cha, here is the gayest, most en-
gaging mystery-murder story that has
reached the films in years. Bodies
disappear and a laugh comes tumbling
after. An important radiogram means
life or death to the hero and heroine
and Charlie Butterworth has a field
day.
It's thrilling and it's fun. It's Ron-
ald Colman at his debonair best. It's
Nunnally Johnson having a swell time
writing a lot of things he always
wanted to see in a murder mystery.
It's Roy Del Ruth directing at a pace
and with a sly sense of humor that
mystery stories have been crying aloud
for ever since the first "Bulldog
Drummond" story hit the screen. It
is our opinion that this Drummond
story will play an even merrier tune
at the box office than the first. And
that is to say that it's the best news
you can hear for your new season pro-
gram.
If you know your legends, or read
your Woollcott regularly, you'll rec-
ognize the basis of this story. An
oriental prince has slipped in a cargo
of valuable furs that he wishes to
sell in England. The man who brought
them in is mysteriously murdered. His
wife is kidnapped. His niece thinks
she is going mad because no one in
London is willing to acknowledge her
identity. Even the hotel at which
they all register will not admit that
anyone of them was ever seen in the
place.
Drummond manages to stumble in-
to the heart of the story while walk-
ing through the fog, but every time
he thinks he has someone safely in
his rooms to be questioned by Inspec-
tor Nielson, that person just as
promptly disappears, so that finally
Nielson posts a guard to arrest Drum-
mond if he bothers anyone. The
guard actually saves Drummond's life
so that he can unravel the mystery
and also why it was necessary to kill
anyone who knew the contents of a
radiogram to the oriental prince. It's
because a member of the crew had
died of cholera, and so Drummond
finally manages to burn the cargo that
might have spread the black death in
England.
Where to begin ladling out the
praise is a mystery in itself, because
every department has been so capably
handled that they all make the best
possible example of the resultant per-
fect whole. Johnson's writing is
Mae West Too Hot for
Aussies and Letrs
According to the Hays office,
both Australia and Latvia have
banned the Mae West picture, "She
Done Him Wrong." The former
government also turned thumbs
down on "Eskimo" and on "Twin
Screws," an MGM short.
N.Y.Will Insist on
Licensing Agents
New York. — All theatrical agents
operating in New York City will have
to be licensed in the near future, ac-
cording to announcement yesterday by
License Commissioner Paul Moss. He
declared it is to be done to protect
actors against "chiselers."
"My interest has been aroused for
performers who are constantly com-
plaining because of their inability to
collect their money after they have
workecj^" Moss said. "The actors are
threatened with a black list if they
appeal to the authorities. Licensing
all agents is the only way we can pro-
tect them."
Bill Cargan Replaces
Eldridge in 'Agent'
Warners took John Eldridge out of
"British Agent" yesterday when it
succeeded in putting through a loan-
out deal for William Gargan from
Radio to take his place.
Eldridge moves into a featured spot
in "Big Hearted Herbert," which has
Guy Kibbee and Aline MacMahon
bracketed.
'Black Moon' Finished
Roy Willibm Neill will complete
"Black Moon," starring Jack Holt, at
Columbia today. He is slated to start
"Blind Date" Monday. No cast has
been selected at yet.
Cavanagh to Para.
Paul Cavanagh has been given a top
spot in "The Notorious Sophie Lang"
at Paramount.
grand, and Del Ruth's direction makes
all the highlights the more elegant,
particularly in the "bell" sequence.
The only possible objection to the
script is the over-emphasis of the
Butterworth-Merkel wedding night
situation to the point of obvious
cheapness. But a few snips of the
scissors will fix that.
Butterworth practically walks off
with the picture. His lines are the
best and his delivery of them as bril-
liant as only a Butterworth can make
it. Colman is delightful as Drum-
mond and seems to be having the time
of his life. Loretta Young is sooo
lovely and, right now, we might just
as well give loud applause for the
photography of Peverell Marley, be-
cause Young never looks so beautiful
as when he is behind the camera. C.
Aubrey Smith is just grand, and
George Regas, Warner Oland, Halli-
well Hobbes and the others are all
excellent. It's elegant entertainment
you can't afford to miss.
Gaynor and Farrell
Are Together Again
"CHANCE OF HEART"
(Fox)
Direction John G. BIystone
Author Kathleen Norris
Screen Play Sonya Levien
and James Gleason
Add. Dialogue Samuel Hoffenstein
Photography Hal Mohr
Cast: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell,
James Dunn, Beryl Mercer, Ginger
Rogers, Gustav von Seyffertitz,
Irene Franklin, Fiske O'Hara, jane
Darwell, Nella Walker, Drue Ley-
ton, Kenneth Thomson, Mary Carr,
Barbara Barondess.
"Change of Heart," the Fox pic-
ture which offers Janet Gaynor and
Charles Farrell together again, will be
proof of the popularity of this team.
As a vehicle, it is just adequate —
not excitingly satisfactory. But superb
direction by John G. BIystone, who in-
jected more subtlety, humor and
humanness into the story than it de-
served, and the acting of the four
principals, Gaynor, Farrell, Ginger
Rogers and James Dunn, work miracles
in making the very ordinary story good
entertainment.
To New York goes the quartet after
graduation from college, each intent
upon making a big success in the be-
wildering city. Dunn is in love with
Gaynor, who, of course, casts longing
eyes at Farrell, who sees nobody but
Ginger. Each of the youngsters, after
the usual number of disappointments,
obtains a job — except Ginger, who
breaks Farrell's heart by marrying a
rich bounder. Farrell is taken seri-
ously ill and Janet nurses him back
to health and, of course, he realizes
that he loves her and they marry.
Ginger comes back, her purse bulg-
ing with alimony, and attempts to re-
capture Farrell. But he finally sees
her for what she is, and is promoted
to junior partner of his firm and every-
thing is happy forever afterwards
No one can get very excited over
the story. But any audience will be
interested in watching the two stars
work together again — AND with such
direction. James Dunn turns in a
performance that hits a new high for
him, and Miss Rogers is extremely
effective.
Gustav von Seyffertitz and Beryl
Mercer both make swell roles stand
out beautifully; Irene Franklin is
seen briefly, and Kenneth Thomson is
a nice heavy.
Kathleen Norris wrote the original
which was adapted by Sonya Levien
and James Gleason, the latter, by the
way, turning in a swell, strong job at
dialogue direction. Hal Mohr photo-
graphed well.
The picture needs some cutting.
But exhibitors need not worry about
the film. The Gaynor-Farrell fans will
flock to see it, and they will be re-
warded by very excellent perform-
ances. The last scene especially is a
grand example of good direction and
good acting working harmoniously to-
gether.
NOT THAT IT
MATTERS
By HELE.M CWYNN
It is also Darryl Zanuck's favorite
hobby to count the house every night
at Grauman's Chinese in between
dashing off a hit picture a week. But
the other night that habit of his got
him into a funny situation. He was
up in the offices when a couple of
fellows came in who were scheduled
to have an audition with Sid Grauman.
One of them was a singer and the
other his manager. Unfortunately,
they had forgotten to bring along an
accompanist for the singer, thinking
they'd find one hanging around the
place. And the manager thought they
had when he spotted Zanuck. With-
out so much as a by your leave, he
sat Zanuck down at the piano and
started explaining to him just how the
music should be played to best offset
the singer's voice. Zanuck took it
for as long as he could stand it and
then finally broke down and admitted
he couldn't play the piano. "Oh,"
said the manager, "you're just up
here for an audition yourself, eh?"
And walked away disgustedly.
•
It happened at a sneak preview a
few nights ago. One of the execu-
tives cornered a critic who had sneak-
ed in and excitedly asked him what
he thought of the picture and what
they ought to do with it. The critic
took one look at the exec and said:
"If I were you, I'd arrange for a good
sneak release of the whole thing."
•
Good heavens, Warren Hymer, one
of our pet dumb bunnies on the
screen, has gone high hat or some-
thing and has hired himself a secre-
tary who speaks English as a lan-
guage. The other day a newspaper
man called him up and a feminine
voice informed him that it was Mr.
Hymer's secretary on the wire and
what did he want. He said he wanted
to ask Mr. Hymer about a publicity
story he wanted to print. The sec-
retary asked him to hold the line a
moment and a moment later she came
back and out with: "Mr. Hymer does
not wish to converse, just now!"
And just to finish up our column
of human interest stories about the
great in the picture business. Over
on the "Merry Widow" set t'other
afternoon, a feller was perched high
up in the rafters trying to adjust a
camera for a trick shot. This feller
was trying awfully hard to hear what
the number of the scene was. Not
only that, but he was trying awfully
hard to make himself heard so's he
could hear what the number was.
The only difficulty was that someone
was doggedly, if not beautifully, play-
ing the piano on the set, and nothing
could be heard above that. Finally
the lad up in the rafters yelled down
a particularly impwlite series of invi-
tations to the piano-player to stop.
And with that, Ernst Lubitsch rose
from the piano bench and, with a
mild "Okay, I'll stop," walked away.
But the boy in the rafters almost fell
out and broke his neck, he was that
embarrassed.
Page Four
THEkjy
May 3, 1934
AGEXTS PLAX TO BATTLE
LABOR BOARD IN COURTS
Chase-Cen.Theatre
Fireworks are due to break out this
week when the State Labor Commis-
sior> starts an investigation of the
agency field in its plan to determine
whether or not the agents have signed
the contracts by which they agree to
obey the new rules and regulations.
A number of agents have failed to
send in their signatures and at least
three are determined to battle with
the Commission through the courts.
Swung over the heads of the recal-
citrants is the threat of license can-
cellation, the minority group taking
the position that they will stand pat
until the Commission shows its teeth.
Three stand-patters have placed
their cases in the hands of Harry Sok-
olov. who declared that he has the
encouragement of most of the agency
attorneys in his determination to get
the Labor Commission to discard its
whip.
Sokolov yesterday let go a blast
against the Commission for its efforts
to compel the agents to arbitrate their
disputes solely before the board.
"Once the agent signs a contract
agreeing to arbitrate before the Com-
mission, that contract must be com-
plied with," he said. "The dangers of
this are manifold. In the first place,
the right of attachment is lost and, by
the time the matter is arbitrated, the
artist may be judgment-proof. Sec-
ondly, the agents would like to have
their legal matters determined by a
competent judge, trained in experience
in judging and determining controver-
sies. They are willing to take their
chances with any judge that is assign-
ed to them by the presiding judge of
either the municipal or superior court
rather than have Mr. Lowy or the La-
bor Commissioner, who are not so
experienced and so trained in deter-
mining legal issues, be the judge and
arbitrator for all.
"While the agent has no feeling
against Mr. Lowy or the Labor Com-
missioner and respects their ability
and integrity, the opportunity present-
ed for favoritism and discrimination,
either in favor of the agent or the
artists, is quite apparent."
*20,000,000 Sweefhearts'
Plugged Over the Air
Warners spread itself last night in
a special broadcast over the California
network, emanating from KFWB,
plugging "20,000,000 Sweethearts."
J. L. Warner appeared with Dick
Powell, Allen Jenkins, Pat O'Brien, Joe
Cawthorn, A! Dubin and Ted Fiorita
and his orchestra.
Starbuck Funeral
Charles Starbuck, part time camera
assistant at Paramount, who was killed
in an automobile accident Tuesday,
was buried yesterday from a private
chapel. W. C. Fields, on whose pic-
ture he was working, has started
plans for a benefit to raise money for
Sfarbuck's widow.
Eddy Back from Tour
Nelson Eddy returned to MCM yes-
terday from a concert tour, which in-
cluded 50 recitals in 26 cities. He
goes into "Naughty Marietta," with
Jeanette MacDonald, as his next pic-
ture.
Compromise Fought
Wilmington. — At a court hearing
on the General Theatre Equipment
receivership yesterday, attorneys for
the William Fox bondholders, and
Ivan Culbertson, representing the All-
Continent Corporation, opposed a
suggested compromise with the Chase
bank. The proposed agreement
would compromise the claims of the
two organizations by Chase reducing
the General Theatre indebtedness by
$5,000,000.
The opposing attorneys argued that
there is no reason to compromise and
contended that General Theatre
Equipment has claims of $14,000,000
against Chase, which should be
pressed.
Chevalier Going to
England for Korda Pic
As soon as he completes "The
Merry Widow" in July, Maurice Che-
valier leaves for London, where he
will have the lead in a picture for
Alexander Korda, of London Films.
Marcel Achard and Henri Jeanson
have written the story, set in Napo-
leon's time, especially for Chevalier.
Picture gets under way the last of
September or early in October,
Rochelle Hudson Called
Back from Her Vacation
Rochelle Hudson was forced to cut
short her visit to her Oklahoma home
due to a call from Radio to report
immediately for the lead in "Bachelor
Bait," opposite Stuart Erwin.
She had been in Claremore only a
day when the call came, and hopped
the first plane for Hollywood, arriv-
ing here Tuesday night.
Three Stars in Person
With The Black Cat'
Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Jac-
queline Wells, the three leads of Uni-
versal's "The Black Cat," make
personal appearances with the local
opening of the picti.'re at the Pan-
tages theatre tonight.
Herman Wohl Quits MCM
Herman Wohl, associated with
David Miller in producing a group of
MGM shorts, has resigned. Miller con-
tinuing his work under Jack Cum-
mings Wohl is negotiating a pro-
duction deal with another major stu-
dio.
Menjou for 'Dolly'
MCM yesterday signed Adolphe
Menjou for a spot in "Dolly," which
Gregory LaCava will direct. Bernard
Hyman produces, with picture sched-
uled to get under way in three weeks.
Beauty Winners Held
Paramount yesterday lifted the op-
tions on Alfred Delcambre and Eldred
Tidbury, both "Search for Beauty"
contest winners. Delcambre is from
Texas and Tidbury from British South
Africa.
Split Reported in
Darrow Committees
Washington. — It was rumored
here tonight that a definite rift
has developed in the ranks of the
Darrow Recovery Review Board,
probably over the details of the
report which is expected to go to
the President tomorrow.
lATSE Locals Get
Behind Bill Canavan
A committee of 100 has been or-
ganized among the ranks of the lATSE
in the East to back the move to put
William F. Canavan back into the
lATSE presidential chair. The com-
mittee is sending letters to all locals
throughout the United States, asking
them to get behind the Canavan move.
The letter states that it is reliably
reported that William C. Elliott will
not be a candidate for re-election.
Russian Characters in
'Agent' Get New Names
To avoid possible legal action, War-
ners yesterday changed the names of
every character, except Lenin's, in
"British Agent."
The script had all the Russian rev-
olutionary characters identified bv
their real names, but the studio's legal
counsel advised the change.
Paramount May Make
Betty Boop an Orphan
New York. — Paramount is under-
stood to be considering dropping the
production of Fleischer's "Betty
Boop" series because of the trouble it
is having with the Helen Kane suit,
and substituting a new series of color
cartoons.
Real Reports to Radio
John Beal arrived yesterday from
New York and reported to Radio for
a role in "A Hat, a Coat, a Glove."
Beal just finished the lead in the
New York production of "She Loves
Me Not." He has a two-picture con-
tract with Radio.
Betty Furness on Leave
Betty Furness and her mother leave
today for a week's vacation in Santa
Barbara Miss Furness was recently
signed by MGM.
New One for Shumate
Harold Shumate has been assigned
to adapt the screen play for Colum-
bia's "By Persons Unknown." Irving
Briskin will supervise.
Exhibs Hit Percentages
(Continued from Page 1 )
addressed by exhibitor leaders and
which will try to weld all the theatre
men into a solid body for their own
defence.
Loud squawks have been coming
from all sections. The exhibitors
point out that, in the Philadelphia
territory. Fox is insisting on booking
thirty of next season's pictures on
percentages ranging from 25 to 35
per cent. Other companies are be-
lieved to be trying to sell their prod-
uct on similar terms and the exhibs
cay they cannot stand it.
Wampas Baby Stars
In Mascot Picture
Nat Levine yesterday concluded a
deal with the Wampas for the 1934
Baby Stars and will use them in
"Young and Beautiful," an original by
Joseph Santley, who will direct. Con-
tract, which was negotiated by George
Landy and approved by the Wampas
board of directors, allows the girls to
make their own deals with Mascot,
either through their agents or person-
ally, but in any event they are to re-
ceive a minimum of $125 a week and
a guarantee of two weeks work.
Story has been fashioned so as to
give each Baby Star an individual role.
Bits in the picture will be played by
Wampas members who are out of
work. Agreement also provides that
Mascot will not release the picture
until August 1, giving B. P. Schul-
berg a month leeway on his subject,
"Kiss and Make IJp," in which the
Baby Stars worked.
Corinne Griffith and
Morosco Divorced
Corinne Griffith yesterday divorced
Walter M. Morosco in Juarez, Mexico.
The divorce was secured by mutual
consent, no grounds being necessary
under Chihuahua laws. Morosco ar-
rived in El Paso early yesterday morn-
ing. The papers were filed at 10
oclock and the divorce was granted at
12:30.
The Moroscos were married in Tia
Juana in 1924. Only a few days ago
both Miss Griffith and Morosco vig-
orously denied a rumored rift, and in-
sisted they were very happy in their
married life.
Brendel-Regan Team
Warners signed El Brendel yester-
day and bracketed him with Phil Re-
gan in two Technicolor shorts which
Ralph Staub will direct. Paul Gerard
Smith and Joe Traub are handling the
screen plays. The first will be "What,
No Man!"
Jones Starting at 'U'
Buck Jones starts "The Redhead,"
his first picture on his Universal con-
tract, next week. Henry McRae will
supervise it and unless there is a new
development in the situation, it will
mark McRae's windup at Universal.
Louis Friedlander will direct.
Buff Cobb Yarn Set
Al Rockett will start "She Was a
Lady" May 14 at Fox. Helen
Twelvetrees and Robert Young are in
the top spots, under Hamilton Mac-
Fadden's direction. The story is by
Elizabeth Cobb.
Para. Holds Carlisle
Paramount has exercised its option
on Kitty Carlisle and she goes into
a three-picture deal, the first of which
is "She Loves Me Not." Ticket was
negotiated by Walter Kane, of the
Weber office.
Bill Conklin Robbed
Sneak thieves entered the office of
William Conklin, in charge of Actor-
Producer relations at the Academy,
this week and stole an expensive desk
pen set while Conklin was out for
lunch.
i
Gentlemen :-
Studios,
California.
In reference to the advertisement
claiming priority of an idea about, and
entitled "BENEFIT PERFORMANCE," that
appeared in yesterday's Hollywood Reporter
and Variety, we wish to thank you for your
confidence in feeling you are duly protected
on your registered story
TOR THE LADIES' BENEFIT"
which embodies a
Benefit Performance angle
Written by our clients
GENE TOWNE & GRAHAM BAKER
Sincerely,
BREN, ORSATTI & MARX
Page Six
■
May 3, 1934
HOLLYWOOD MIRROR
30 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY )oan Crawford
( MCM )
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 480 sq. inches
Paramount 240 sq. inches
Radio 240 sq. inches
Warners 80 sq. inches
Universal 80 sq. inches
Fox 80 sq. inches
Twentieth Century 80 sq. inches
Samuel Coldwyn 80 sq. inches
Columbia 40 sq. inches
The most interesting news in the
fan magazine realm is the appearance
of a new magazine, Hollywood Mir-
ror, written, edited and published right
here in Hollywood.
It is not, however, a typical fan
magazine. it avoids the gossip an-
gle, the fictional attitude, the verbal
and basic exaggerations, the occasional
guesswork, and the spectacular strug-
gle for the sensational that feature
some of the other magazines that seek
to interpret Hollywood.
Hollywood Mirror has a note of
dignity, of honesty and of authenticity
that fills a definite need in the film
magazine field. The stories are done
with quiet sincerity and good taste,
and, from all appearances, are written
by Jack Grant, the editor. The sto-
ries are unsigned and his is the only
name appearing as possible author.
The typography of the book is ex-
cellently handled, the type clear and
bold, and the make-up of the whole
thing is very effective. The art is
exceptionally fine.
The Hollywood Mirror that is dis-
tributed in California has a special
Los Angeles section of ads and news.
The issues distributed elsewhere have
special sections devoted to the cities
in which they are sold, franchises hav-
ing been sold in the larger cities. The
mag will not be on sale at any book
or magazine stand. Address: 1622
North Highland avenue, Hollywood.
The stories are "Half-Truths of
Hollywood," tracing the origins of
various legends; "Young Enough —
That's Loretta"; "Explaining Irene
Dunne"; "Ask Mr. Pomeroy"; "Hol-
lywood Telephony"; "Always 'Little
Caesar'"; "Taking a Little Liberty";
"Portrait of a Lady" (Karen Morley) ;
"The Heart Is Cone", all about the
gateman at Paramount; "Discovering
Madeleine Carroll"; "Actors in the
News", and "What Hollywood Has in
Store".
Tony Veiller East
Anthony Veiller leaves the end of
the week for New York, where he
will work on plays, one of which al-
ready is set for early Fall production.
He just completed his work on the
screen play of "The Notorious Sophie
Lang," at Paramount.
Warners Clear Title
For 'Sweet Adeline'
Warners succeeded in cutting away
the last bit of red-tape on "Sweet
Adeline" yesterday and secured the
ownership of the property which has
been jockeyed between William Row-
land and the company for several
months.
The studio is talking to Helen Mor-
gan for a top spot and has scheduled
Phil Regan for another. Gene Markey
and Katherine Scola are teamed on the
script.
Voight Asks Divorce
On Grounds of Cruelty
Hubert Voight, publicity chief at
Columbia studios, filed suit yesterday
for divorce from Olive Hatch, famous
swimmer. He charged cruelty.
Voight declared his wife would not
spend her evenings at home and often
left the house early in the morning,
disturbing his rest. He also charged
that she would typewrite late at night
in the room where he was trying to
sleep.
Deal on for Wesco
New York. — William T. Powers,
attorney representing Fox Wesco, is
now at the Paramount home office,
trying to complete the details of the
reorganization of the principal Wesco
houses.
European Arrivals
New York. — Arriving on the S.S.
Washington today are H. G. Wells,
the noted writer, Lynn Farnol, and
Leighton Brill, playwright.
Cameramen Burn
Over Note Demands
Indignation waxed hotter yesterday
among the members of Local 659,
lATSE, over the demand that they pay
up their promissory notes which were
turned over to Howard Hurd when the
union settled his contract.
An unorganized attempt was being
made by some members to halt any
effort at collection, but no definite
plan had been decided upon. It was
reported that the notes have been dis-
posed of by Hurd and that he has
nothing to do with the attempt to
force collection.
There were reports that many of
the men would resign from the union
as a protest against the handing over
of their notes to Hurd, but Herbert
Aller, business representative, stated
last night that no resignations had
been received.
Chas. Lamont Starting
Fifth Sidney-Murray
Charles Lamont, director, begins his
fifth George Sidney-Charlie Murray
comedy tomorrow for Columbia, titled
"Plumbing For Gold."
Geneva Mitchell, Billie Seward, Pa-
tricia Caron, Allyn Drake, Herbert
Evan, Bobbie Burns, Al Thompson and
Jack Shutta complete the cas>.
William F. Kay East
William F. Kay is leaving for New
York in connection with the publica-
tion of his books, "Bed and Bored,"
written in collaboration with Morris
Fink, and "Grub Street, Hollywood."
JAMES CLEASON
♦ 4 ♦
SCREEN PLAY
In Collaboration
with Sonya Levien
♦ ♦ ♦
M
DIALOGUE DIRECTION
♦ ♦ ♦
CHANCE OF HEART
FOX
SOLITAIRE MAN '
MCM
LUCILE CLEASON
RECENT PICTURES
"MUSICAL ROMANCE" "I LIKE IT THAT WAY"
Universal
Universal
RUSSELL CLEASON
JUVENILE LEAD
I CANT ESCAPE"
DEMMY LAMSON
Mgr.
OX. 7261 -OX. 8019
i
Ralph
Spence
wrote the
ADAPTATION,
COMEDY SCENES
and DIALOGUE
for
"STAND UP AND CHEER"
from
A Swell idea
furnished by
Will Rogers
And
Philip Klein
*
f
SIDNEY LANFIELD
Directed
it
THE LAST GENTLEMAN
Starring
MR. GEORGE ARLISS
' 20th Century Production
United Artists Release
If
Now Directing
"SONS O' GUNS"
BRITISH-DOMINIONS
FILM CORP., LTD.
fc^rtyii^^^-t^=
H
ARRY
C.B
RADLEY
as
Professor Schumacker
in
THE LAST GENTLEMAN"
George Arliss - 20th Century Picture
Management
MAX SHACRIN
Agency
Jo
SEPH
C
AWTHORN
as
Dr. Wilson
m
THE LAST GENTLEMAN'
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Tlie first moke-up to give
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created for Rudolph Valen-
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SIX GREAT STEPS
IN MAKE-UP
19 2 3
The first perspiration-proof
liquid body make-up created
for Douglas Fairbanks . . .
in "The Thief of Bagdad"
19 2 6
The first make-up to be used
and photographed under
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19 2 8
The Academy of Motion
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oward for the perfection
of Panchromatic Make-Up
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1934 BRWGS
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Vol. XX, No. 45. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, May 2, 1934
RALPH r€HN OUT Of PAR.
Resignation Said To Have
Been Demanded By Trustees;
New Deal For Para. Building
•ABOUT three months ago the Los
Angeles Times sent out a question-
naire to different groups of people in
or connected with the motion picture
industry, asking for selections of the
ten most consistent directors in the
business. The groups covered direc-
tors, actors, executives, writers, pro-
ducers, critics and others, all the
names being among the most promi-
nent available.
When the lists were tabulated
there was just one name that appeared
on every list. That was the name of
Sam Wood. On the list turned in by
"fRe^producers, his name stood at the
head and, although he did not top
every list, he received more votes in
the total than any other director.
•
That seems to us to be something
of which to be justly proud. When a
man has been in the directing game
for nearly nineteen years — ten years
with Paramount and nine with MCM
— and still can be up with the leaders
in the field, there can be no question
of his ability. Moreover, Sam is a
hold-over from the silent days, having
successfully made the transition to
sound pictures which balked so many.
He has been a steady money-maker
for his company. Among his latest
productions have been "The Late
Christopher Bean," "Prosperity," "The
Barbarian" and "Hold Your Man," and
he is at present on "Stamboul Quest."
•
When he completes that he is going
away for a long rest. He sails for Eur-
ope next month and will stay over
there three or four months. He in-
tends to forget pictures and picture-
making if he can, but the habits of
nineteen years are hard to shake.
That he will be snapped up when he
returns, if, indeed, that is not done
before he leaves, seems certain. No
man with such a record will be al-
lowed to leave the business, no matter
what his private wishes may bt.
If, as some famous writer once
said, "consistency is a jewel," Sam
Wood must be all hung over with
gems. And he has been so bedecked,
not by himself, not by his press agent,
but by the concensus of opinion of
leaders of his own industry, by col-
leagues, by the people who have work-
ed fey him, by the men for whom his
pictures have made money and by the
people whose business it is to pass on
the quality of those pictures.
Jack Conway Starts
100% Pure' Today
Someone induced Jack Conway
to change his mind about directing
"100% Pure" for Metro-Coldwyn-
Mayer, and he will put the picture
into production at one o'clock to-
day. Ray June will be on the
camera.
Western Electric
Dumps Loew Stock
New York. — The Western Electric
Company, a subsidiary of the A.T.&T.,
has disposed of 164,000 shares of its
holdings of 264,000 shares of Lcew's
Inc. The shares were sold on the open
market.
No reason was given by the com-
pany for its action in divesting itself
of the holdings, but it is believed that
there may be some idea of forestalling
any charges of monopoly in the motion
picture business that might be made
by the Government. The Loew's stock
was originally acquired as a result of
Western Electric's holdings of Film
Securities notes.
Zanucks Leave Today
To Shoot Lions and Such
The Darryl Zanucks and William
Coetz leave by train today for New
York, where the Zanucks board the
Conte de Savoia for a two months tour
of Europe and Africa. They will visit
United Artists exchanges abroad and
then hunt big game in Africa.
Billy La Hiff Better
Billy La Hiff, who has been seri-
ously ill in New York, is well on the
road to recovery, it was learned last
night. Nancy Carroll, his niece, who
flew east last week, will return with-
in the week.
New York. — The resignation of Ralph Kohn, vice-president
and a director of Paramount-Publix and its subsidiaries, was
announced yesterday. It is effective immediately. Kohn has
been in charge of operations of the company's theatres for some
time, and it is understood that S. A.
RKO's Quarterly
Lynch will take over this department.
It is believed that Kohn's resigna-
tion was not voluntary. The story is
that the three Paramount trustees,
Messrs. Richardson, Leake and Hilles,
asked for it, although their reasons
for such action are not known. One
report is that the creditors were op-
posed to his remaining as head of the
theatres, and another, which is more
generally credited, is that he was
eased out because of friction between
(Continued on Page 3)
Crawford and Cable
Bracketed in 'Chains'
Joan Crawford and Clark Gable will
be' bracketed in their fifth picture to-
-gether, "Chains," which Hunt Strom-
berg produces for MGM.
Story is an original by Edgar Sel-
wyn, and John Lee Mahin contributes
the screen play.
Fox Convention May 30
New York. — The annual conven-
tion of the Fox Film Corporation will
be held at the St. Moritz Hotel here,
starting May 30.
Joan Blondell III
Joan Blondell, who has just com-
pleted "Dames" for Warners, has
been confined to her bed for the past
three days with a severe cold.
INDIE EXHIBS IIXAIVIMOUS
AGAINST DOUBLE BILLS
By practically a unanimous vote,
the members of the Independent
Theatre Owners of Southern Califor-
nia yesterday went on record, at a
meeting at the Mayfair Hotel, as op-
posed to double billing.
The four-hour meeting was featur-
ed by a heated debate between Louis
B. Mayer and I. E. Chadwick, during
which Mr. Mayer told the exhibitors
that, if they do not go back to single
feature bills, distributors will find a
(Continued on Page 7)
Werner Starts Friday on
Universal Talent Hunt
David C. Werner, casting director
at Universal, leaves Friday for a three
months trip in search of new talent.
During his absence Dan Kelly will
do the interviewing.
Al Christie Here
Al Christie arrived from New York
for a short visit to be with his mother
on her birthday.
Earnings $403,616
New York. — At the annual meet-
ing of ths stockholders of the Radio-
Keith-Orpheum Corporation, David
Sarnoff, president of RCA, announced
that RKO had earned a net profit of
$403,616 for the first quarter of this
year, as compared with a loss of
$1,297,947 for the corresponding
period of 1 933.
Since the first of the year, Mf.
Sarnoff said, RCA has improved its
cash position. On March 31, 1934,
cash and marketable securities
amounted to $22,800,000 against
$20,545,000 at the end of 1933, an
increase of $2,255,000.
Conference Due This
Week on 30-Hour Bill
Washington. — Fate of the Thirty-
Hour bill, which the Administration is
now holding as a "club" over employ-
ers, rests on a conference later this
week between Representative Con-
nery, its sponsor, and Donald Rich-
berg and Secretary of Labor Perkins.
Lab Code Hearings Off
Washington. — Hearings on the
Motion Picture Laboratory amend-
ments to the film code, set for May 9,
have been indefinitely postponed, with
no indication of when they might
come up again.
'Dolly' for LaCava
Gregory La Cava will direct "Dolly,"
the Wilson Collison story, as his first
on his new MCM contract. Allen
Rivkin and P. J. Wolfson are writing
the screen play and Bernard Hyman
will produce. No cast signed as yfet.
Chas. Farrell Sailing
New York. — Charles Farrell arrived
here last night, enroute to England,
where he will make a picture under
the direction of Monty Banks. He sails
Friday on the Majestic.
ROBERT Z. LEONARD now directing "The Green Hat" at mgm
I
Page Two
THE
May 2, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holiddys. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Consider the plight of the wife of
a well known and popular director. Or
perhaps we should say "one of his
wives." The girl separated from the
megaphone wielder several months ago
and was doing right well for herself
in the sincere affections of a famous
producer. In fact, everyone expected
that she would get a quick divorce
and marry the man. But the gal has
thrown her chances for a "good
match" away along with a lot of other
things, and at the moment is giving
all her time to her one true love — the
bottle! She is flat broke and jobless
— but, worst of all — doesn't seem to
give a dern!
So Joan Crawford opened her private
theatre in her own back yard Saturday
night. Francis Lederer was there —
but he didn't appear in a play. In fact,
there wasn't any play! The audience
consisted of Joan, Franchot Tone, Jerry
Ascher and a couple of others. So what
did they do? They ran "Men in
White" — and, anyway, they had a
swell time!
Warners, we hear tell, are threat-
ened with another walk-out. It's not
a "general strike" — and it's not
Jimmy Cagney — not THIS time. It's
one of their pet crooners, who threat-
ens to leave the premises permanently
unless he is given a substantial raise
within forty-eight hours!
The secret of Janet Beecher's "sap-
phire hair" is out. She was prema-
turely white anyway and decided she
wanted all snow-white hair. So act-,
ing on the advice of some kind friends,
she put bluing in the washing water.
Now that might be all right to most
people, but something in Miss Beech-
er's hair made the blue shade stick,
so, desiring white, she got blue, kindly
referred to as "sapphire."
•JOURNAL OF CRIME"
Warners prod.; director, William Keighley; writers, Jacques Devai, F. Hugh
Herbert and Charles Kenyon
Roxy Theatre
Mirror: The film is smoothly directed, handsomely produced, and very well act-
ed. Miss Chatterton makes her agonies very moving and she is assisted by
a great cast. The story is wholly fantastic, of course, but it is handled with
sufficient skill to make it moderately entertaining.
World-Telegram: At least, "Journal of Crime," is a little bit different, even if
some of its incidents are fashioned pretty much after a pat formula. The
film is a heavy, sombre, psychological study that has its interesting mo-
ments, but affords little in the way of entertainment.
Times: "Journal of Crime" is neither a plain murder story nor a fancy psycho-
logical study, but a pale and vaguely idiotic hybrid, of the sort generally
labeled passable.
News: It is an absorbing and somewhat morbid study of the degeneration of a
woman. Miss Chatterton's performance isn't downright bad, but, in spite
of the excellent supporting cast headed by Adolphe Menjou, it isn't good
enough to make "Journal of Crime" an outstanding production.
Herald-Tribune: In a picture whose title is more intriguing than its story, Ruth
Chatterton gives another of her highly prima donna performances which
leave much to be desired. William Keighley, the director, has brought to
his picture tasteful settings, careful photography and a nice atmospheric
quality.
Post: In "Journal of Crime" Miss Chatterton's elocutionary diction and calcu-
lated expressions turn what might have been an absorbing psychological
drama into an interesting but uninspired case history of a crime.
American: A sombre psychological study of a woman's emotional instability adds
little to the gaiety of nations or the pleasure of picture-goers. For the
most part it's pretty morbid material.
Journal: It's sombre drama, but handled with a sure and deft understanding.
Director William Keighley strikes and maintains a sensitively meditative
mood. Miss Chatterton gives an excellent performance and is ably assist-
ed by Mr. Menjou.
Sun: In its own way "Journal of Crime" is interesting and out of the ordinary
run of films. It is, in themes, characters, and methods of narration, very
Continental. It is also a little dreary.
"SHE MADE HER BED"
Paramount prod.; director, Ralph Murphy; writers, James M. Cain,
Casey Robinson, Frank R. Adams.
Rialto Theatre
News: Young Richard Arlen Jr., aged 8 months, is the best performer in "She
Made Her Bed." It is based on a melodramatic story by James M. Cain.
Journal: It's a pleasant program picture, nicely acted by an agreeable cast that
has been given the benefit of good dialogue and direction. The characters
are well drawn.
Mirror: The dialogue is so realistic, the types so genuine, the tragic climax so
inevitable that the film grips your interest. It is admirably acted.
Herald-Tribune: A melodrama of the first water, whose harried characters sel-
dom have a light moment. If lots of action, speed and novel situations
make a good picture, this one should do well at the box-office.
Times: It is the fascination of horror — of horror that any person, or group of
persons, should ever have conceived its prepKDsterous characters and situa-
tions, or, conceiving, should have ventured to commit them to even so
ephemeral a medium as the films.
World-Telegram: It is a singularly inept, slow-moving, far-fetched screen melo-
drama. The cast is a good one, and gives a fine set of performances.
American: The present drama is an interesting, sometimes thrilling story. Both
dialogue and story are well done, and the players act in a natural, sincere
fashion.
"She Made Her Bed" is a highly moral melodrama, a little slow in working
up to its exciting moment perhaps, but firm indeed, about the righteous
behavior of its characters. When the melodrama does get going, some-
where near the last reel, it makes up for lost time.
Sun:
Carmefita Ceraghty to
Marry Wilson Sunday
'armelita Ceraghty and Carey Wil-
_«&n will be married Sunday at the
home of Phil Berg. Jean Harlow took
them down to the license bureau yes-
terday and fixed things up for them.
Wallis Sails May 12
New York. — Hal Wallis is booked
to sail for Europe on May 12 on the
same steamer with Darryl Zanuck.
Writers Appoint
Advisory Council
The Screen Writers' Guild last night
announced the formation of an Ad-
visory Council, composed of 25 mem-
bers. Its object is to study the prob-
lems of writers and bring them to the
attention of the Executive Board.
The Council meets once a month
with the Board, and holds meetings
of its own when it sees fit. Resolu-
tions of the Council will receive defi-
nite action by the Board. If such
resolutions are not approved, a ma-
jority vote of the Council brings them
back to the Board for reconsideration.
The following are on the Council:
Jo Swerling, William Conselman,
Sonya Levien, John Emerson, Donald
Ogden Stewart, John Lee Mahin, Wal-
demar Young, William Slavens Mc-
Nutt, Gladys Lehman, Sarah Y. Ma-
son, Ray Harris, R. N. Lee, Doris
Malloy, Sidney Sutherland, Gladys
Unger, Nunnally Johnson, Arthur
Richman, Don Gordon, Jack Natteford,
Mary McCarthy, Adele Buffington,
John Grey, Sherman Lowe, Al Martin
and George Sayre.
Warners Co On Buying
Spree For Stories
New York. — Warners are buying
stories right and left, having acquired
three new pieces of material in the
past day or two. I
They have bought "AJPresgnt from^
Margate," a play by A. E. W. Mfasoiii'
and Ian Hay which was produced in
England last month, and have also ac-
quired "A Lady Surrenders," by Mary
McCall, and "Concealment," by Leon-
ard Ide. "
Johnny Goes with Lupe
Johnny Weissmuller accompanies
Lupe Velez when she goes by plane
tomorrow on her personal appearance
tour. Pair make Columibus, Ohio,
their first stop.
Woolf on 'Rear Car'
E^gar Allan Woolf joins Al Boas-
Ja^g in handling the comedy sequences
for "Rear Car" at MGM.
Hellman Out of Para.
S^' Hellman closed out of Para-
rpertjnt yesterday, turning in his script
/on "Is Zat So."
Gordon Warren
for Economical Transport ation
Another Bread-Winner
Eleanore Griffin, the wife of Nev-
ille Reay, Paramount unit publicity
man, has sold articles about pictures
to Delineator and MacLean's Canadian
weekly.
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May 2, 1934
THg
Page Three
FIRST REAL STEP IN PARA.
REORGANIZATION IS TAKEN
New Deal Arranged
For Para-Broadway
(Continued from Page 1 )
The trustees and other important in-
terests in the company over matters
of policy. Kohn has always been a
Zukor man, but even the president
was unable to save him.
Kohn was a vice-president and di-
rector of Paramount-Publix, Para-
mount Pictures Corp., Paramount Pro-
ductions Inc., Paramount Pictures
Distributing Corp., Paramount Inter-
national Corp., Paramount News Inc.
Another important development
yesterday in the affairs of Paramount-
Publix and one which is seen as the
first actual step towards reorganiza-
tion was an agreement between the
Bondholders' Protective Committee
and the Paramount Broadway Corpora-
tion, which controls the New York
Paramount Theatre building. This
agreement is effective at once. Under
the plan all arrears of taxes were paid
yesterday, new bonds will be issued
and a sinking fund provided for the
retirement of half of the present out-
standing bonds.
After the reorganization of the
Paramount-Publix Corporation, that
company will take a ten-year lease of
whatever space it needs in the build-
ing and will also take a new lease
on the Paramount theatre at a mini-
mum fixed rental, to be increased if
the grosses warrant it. Furthermore,
Paramount-Publix will release all
claims against the Paramount Broad-
way Corporation and its bondholders
in connection with any charges that
might be made that the interest pay-
ments made to the latter corporation
by the former last January constituted
preferential payments.
The news of this agreement sent
the price of Paramount Broadway
bonds up five points yesterday to
equal the year's high.
Developments in the Paramount
Publix situation are expected to come
rapidly now. Two weeks ago it was
reported from Washington that a bill
to permit corporations to reorganize by
reducing their debts, cancelling their
stocks and bonds and issuing new ob-
ligations had been passed by the
House of Representatives and that, as
it was understood to have White
House approval, it would pass the
Senate Paramount officials at that
time felt that this bill would be of
great benefit to the company and pre-
dicted that the entire Paramount Pub-
lix reorganization would be in shape
for announcement by May 1 5.
Van Dyke Plans to Make
'Hideout' in Record Time
MGM yesterday assigned W. S. Van
Dyke to direct "Hideout," an original
by Mauri Grashin, for which Loretta
Young is tentatively set in the lead.
Van Dyke, who has completed two
Dictures for the studio in the past 60
Gays, will start "HTdeouf'-Jn the next
two weeks. He hopes to get it out of
'he way in time to see Ba%r and Car-
nera tangle in a reail fi^ht,\ having
directed theV^icturg^f^ight i^ "The
Prizefighter' ^rVd the Lady^'--^
'■- -^-J
Buddy DeSylva and
MGM Close a Deal
New York. — The deal that has
been pending for some time be-
tween Buddy DeSylva and MGM
was closed up yesterday when a
contract calling for DeSylva's serv-
ices on three pictures was signed.
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — Six new pictures will
make their bows at the big Broadway
houses this week. The list comprises:
"Success at Any Price" at the Rialto
today; Columbia's "Twentieth Cen-
tury" at the Music Hall tomorrow;
"Manhattan Melodrama" at the Capi-
tol, "No Greater Glory" at the Roxy,
"Whirlpool" at the Casino, and "Dou-
ble Door" at the Paramount, all on
Friday.
Monogram^ in Trouble
Over 'jane Eyre' Lead
.x-'Monogram is experiencing much
/^ifficulty in the casting of the lead
jfor "Jane Eyre," soon to go in pro-
jduction.
The two most suitable that have
■been considered for the role could not
obtain release from their present stu-
dio. The casting of other characters
will be delayed until the lead is defi-
nitely set.
Film Stars' Frolic
To Open New Stadium
More than 500 screen celebrities
will take part in the first annual Film
Stars' Frolic, to be staged by the
Screen Actors' Guild on May 18, 19
and 20 at the Gilmore Stadium.
The Frolic will open the new stad-
ium, and will be open to the public.
Practically every star is Hollywood is
expected to be on hand for the event.
Party at 20th Century
Twentieth Century will be host to-
day at a cocktail party at the United
Artists studio for the press, players,
actors and writers. Affair celebrates
the washing up of the current produc-
tion schedule.
'Daily Bread' Finishes
King Vidor will complete his shoot-
ing schedule today on "Our Daily
Bread" for United Artists release. The
studio will begin editing immediately
in an effort to rush the production
East.
River' Ready to Start
James Whale will begin production
Monday at Universal on "One More
River." New additions to the cast are
Kathleen Howard, Gilbert Emory, Rob-
ert Grieg and Henry Stephenson.
Bren Minus Tonsils
Milton Bren had his tonsils removed
yesterday at the Cedars of Lebanon
Hospital. His partner, Frank Orsatti,
underwent the same type of opera-
^tion about a month ago.
RKO- Indie Chains
in Booking Combine
New York. — RKO Theatres, the
A. H. Schwartz Century circuit and
Jack Springer, of the Springer-Cocalis
ch^in, have entered into a booking
combine for product in all their New
York houses.
There are 105 theatres involved,
and of these there are no more than
five which are In opposition to one
another. The new combine is likely
to affect the Loew New York houses
more than any others.
Warners Refuse to
Loan Muni to MGM
Warners yesterday put the damper
on a deal between MGM and Paul
Muni.
Lucien Hubbard sought to sign
Muni for "Four Walls," with Paul
willing to accept if Warners okayed
it. Latter refused in view of Muni's
determination to make only two pic-
tures a year and Warners having sign-
ed him for both. Warners would have
to waive one picture to MGM, which
it declined to do.
Jeanette MacDonald
Cancels Concert Tour
Jeanette MacDonald has canceled
her plans to make a concert tour of
South America and Europe, owing to
the pressure of production at MGM.
Robert Ritchie, her manager, leaves
Berlin next Friday to join her here.
From "Merry Widow" she goes into
"Duchess of Delmonico's" and
"Naughty Marietta."
Alvarado for Short
Radio yesterday signed Don Alvar-
ado for the lead in the first Techni-
color short, "La Cucaracha," to be
produced by Pioneer Pictures. Lloyd
Corrigan will direct when it starts
May 15.
Warners CeJ- a Tenor
Terry La Franconi, Italian tenor,
who has been appearing at the Casino
in Caliente for the past 17 months,
reported to Warners yesterday for the
beginning of his contract. He has
been given no assignment as yet.
Lipton Here on Visit
Lew Lipton, who has been in Lon-
don for the past four months, is here
for a two weeks visit combining busi-
ness and pleasure. Lew just completed
an original for British-Gaumont, titled
"Present Arms."
Foy Picture Booked
Foy Productions' "Tomorrow's Chil-
dren" gets its first break locally at
the Pantages, where it is set to open
May 1 0 on a double bill. "Take the
Stand" gets the other spot with it.
Neill on 'Blind Date'
Columbia yesterday assigned Roy
William Neill to direct "Blind Date,"
which goes into production Monday.
Ethel Hill has written the screen play.
NOT THAT IT
MATTERS
By HELEN CWYNN
Ycu may not remember the actor
who plays the main role in the follow-
ing story, but surely it is a tale of
the most involved acting career that's
been heard qf in years and years.
Fritz Feld, a German actor, came
over to this country about ten years
ago under the sponsorship of Max
Reinhardt. He played numerous en-
gagements on the New York stage and
then journeyed out to Hollywood,
where he was signed by a movie com-
pany and more or less settled down
to enjoy life as a Hollywood actor,
just as everything was going along
smoothly and pleasantly, along came
the talkies, and Fritz Feld, because
of his accent, found himself pretty
much out of the picture. Sooooo, he
hied himself back to his native Ger-
many and there divided his time be-
tween making movies and doing stage
work. And, just as everything was
going along smoothly and pleasantly.
Hitler became dictator and Feld was
forced to leave his native land.
Since he was a Jew and had just
found out that he had no right to
call Germany his native land, he de-
cided to go to his people's country.
So he took himself off to Palestine.
Feld could speak no Hebrew or Arabic,
but he still had to make a living and,
finally, in desperation, he picked up
a second-hand soda fountain, of all
things, and went about making a pay-
ing business out of it. He made up
his mind to save as much money as
he could to buy passage back to
America and give himself another
chance at acting.
About a year or so ago, Feld looked
over his bank accoun,t found it good
enough to enable him to set sail for
the U.S.A., and thereupon made boat
reservations. About two days before
he was to leave, a delegation of men
called on him to inform him that he
COULDN'T leave the country. As-
tonished, to say the least, Feld asked
why and was told that they had just
found out that he had been in pic-
tures. Not only that, but he had
made pictures in Hollywood and knew
what production was all about, using
American methods. Not only that,
but they were forming a picture com-
pany in Palestine and needed men
with experience to run the darned
thing and, from what they had heard,
Feld was a number one man and, un-
der the circumstances, he couldn't
leave Palestine.
So, after being forced to leave two
countries because he couldn't be an
actor in them, Feld finally found him-
self in a place he wanted to leave and
couldn't because he was an actor.
And today, dear kiddies, Fritz Feld is
the Director General of the Oriental
Film Company of Palestine. And it
gets to be a small world after all, no
matter where you leave it. "-.
'Tish' Script Done
James K. McGuinness has com-
pleted the "Tish" script at MGM.
GltAHD SHiltRIES
are these
brought from Spain's finest and oldest
Sherry cellars by the Vendome.
4^ 4
Again the results of great care and discrimination
are shown in the selection of these fine sherries
Eleven different and distinctive types
SHERRIES OF MARQUES DEL MERITO
are of world renown. Marques del Merito, the proprietor of the cele-
brated vineyards, Cortadedos (San Julian) Jerez de la Frontera.
Canido
Old pale sherry with a delightful bouquet.
$4.50 bottle, $50 per case
Fino Meritt)
Light, pale, dry sherry; an excellent apertif.
$3.00 bottle, $34 per case
-^ -^ Fino Primo Pepe
Very old pale sherry, of rare quality.
$4.75 bottle, $52 per case
Choice Old Oloroso
A full flavored, deep colored, medium dry sherry.
$4.00 bottle, $45 per case
San Hilario
Golden sherry of good age.
$4.50 bottle, $50 per case
Solera Merito
Very old brown sherry.
$6.00 bottle, $66 per case
BERRY BROS.
Amontillado Sherry
•^ -^ An excellent light dry sherry with fine mild bouquet. It has
become one of our most popular.
$3.50 bottle, $38 per cast
BELLOWS & COMPANY
Importers of famed sherries of De Coni, Feuerheerd cellars.
Corona Imperial
Full flavored, light wine with a dry finish.
$4.00 bottle, $45.00 per case
Emperador
Very old, full flavored, medium dry wine; a splendid sherry.
$4.75 bottle, $52 per case
Fine Amontillado
■^ -A- A dry pale wine, of fine age.
$4.25 bottle, $47.50 per case
Fine Manzanilla
Very dry, pale wine. For those who like fine light dry winas.
$3.50 bottle, $40 per case
VISIT OUR TASTING BAR
Any description we may give cannot properly justify the rare quality, flavor and bouquet of these
excellent wines, therefore we invite you to come in and make selection from our tasting bar
♦ ♦
4- -f
Hollywood 1666
as»^\
"Benefit Performance"
A Monte Brice Production
(For Major Release)
Ready for Production
at
General Service Studios, Hollywcxxd . . . and
Eastern Service Studios, Astoria, Long Island
♦
Original Story by MONTE BRICE and KEENE THOMPSON
Screen Play by PAUL SCHOFIELD
♦
The theme of this story is completely indicated by the title, and
-
the producer is taking this means of notifying the industry of his
prior rights to the idea, which, in the form of a complete shoot-
ing script, has been properly registered. Therefore, the producer
requests that his rights be respected by the industry.
Monte Brice Productions
GENERAL SERVICE STUDIOS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
Page Six
May 2, 1934
'LES MISERABLE^' IN THREE
PARTS IN FRENCH, IMPOSSIRLE
Russia Training
Own Screen Actors
Reeling Aroynd London
Makes Good Start
But Falls to Pieces
"LES MISERABLES"
(Pathe-Natan)
Direction Raymond Bernard
Novel Victor Hugo
Adapted by Andre Lang
MOsical Score by Arthur Honegger
/ast: Harry Bauer, Charles Vanel,
Henry Krauss, Florelle.
(Reviewed in Paris)
Paris. — While there are some mo-
ments when this film rises to great
heights, the producers have spoiled
whatever chance it had of being a
good picture by making it in three
episodes, each of which takes a full
evening to show.
Despite a valiant and very praise-
worthy directorial effort on the part
of Raymond Bernard, the film will
never be one which can be sent
abroad, and it is doubtful if it will
catch on in France, due to the length
and the unnecessary footage.
The first episode, which carries the
story up to the point where the im-
mortal Jean Valjean, now the mayor
of a small city, is discovered by a
police spy who knew him as a con-
vict, is the best of the three. It has
suspense, drama, thrills, a gripping
story. And the acting of Harry Bauer
is simply magnificent. But even in
this episode the photographers de-
L tracted by an over-abundance of un-
P usual angle shots that hurt the picture.
The less said about the last two
episodes the better. The second is
i the weakest of all and takes the story
up to the time of the start of the
French revolution.
In the third there is too much revo-
lution; too much barricades and shoot-
ing and flag waving. If the entire
second episode had been left out and
most of the third left on the cutting
room floor, it is possible that a great
picture might have resulted.
U.S. Film to Dominate
The Czech Market
Prague. — The Czechoslovakian gov-
Iernment has decided to issue no more
film import licenses until further no-
tice. It is believed here this means
that American film men have an un-
derstanding with the government that
will result in complete domination of
II the local film market by the Ameri-
cans.
France and Sweden
Will Swap Pictures
Paris. — Due to negotiations be-
tween members of the French and
Swedish film industries, there will be
an interchange of pictures between
the two countries. One Swedish pic-
ture has already been bought and will
be shown shortly in Paris.
Organization in Poland
Warsaw. — Poland is going to have
a Film Chamber. Polish distributors
and exhibitors held a meeting recently
and decided they need protection.
They plan new duties and other wrin-
kles aimed to help theJocal film men.
U.S. Films Still
The Tops in Paris
Paris. — American films continue
to lead the picture parade in this
:ity, with 20 Yankee pictures
showing in the thirty first run
houses. The other ten included
seven French, one German-French,
Dne Austrian and one English.
$250,000 Expansion
For Interworld
London. — Interworld Films is spend-
ing $250,000 in constructing a new
sound stage and administration build-
ing and in remodeling two other
stages in the studio at Worton Hall,
Isleworth,
The new studio will include a stage
1 30 by 86 feet, executive offices,
dressing rooms, projection rooms, cut-
ting rooms, etc. The other stages are
100 by 56 feet and 100 by 45 feet.
The studios will have their own light-
ing plant and will be thrown open for
rental purposes.
RKO Will Do Its Own
French Distribution
Paris. — Failing to come to an agree-
ment with the French distributors, and
in order to avoid further postpone-
ment of its big hits, such as "Little
Women," "Flying Down to Rio," etc.,
RKO has decided to distribute its own
product in France.
W. H. Leasin plans to open distrib-
uting offices, so it is reported here,
in all those countries where the RKO
pictures have not been placed or re-
leased.
Universal Won't Cut
German Production
Berlin.- — In local trade papers Uni-
versal states that it does not intend
either to give up or cut down its pro-
duction of films in Germany. At pres-
ent it is producing the big Trenker
film, "The Lost Son," Paul Kohner
directing. "The Cousin From Dings-
da" will be started shortly.
Rules for Dubbed Films
Vienna. — A change in the regula-
tions governing import of films now
gives firms producing "dubbed" films
the right to sell eight pictures per
year in Austria. This maximum may
be surpassed if the producer brings on
the market a film "dubbed" in Aus-
tria.
German Talent Short
Berlin. — The German film industry
is faced with a shortage of new tal-
ent. Manager von Reiht, of the UFA
casting office, has just completed a
tour of Germany in search of stage
players for use in pictures.
Best French Picture
Paris. — The French film, "Once
Upon a Time," is heading the list in
the voting for the best French picture
of 1933, which is being conducted by
the French paper "Pour Vous."
Moscow. — In a short time Soviet
Russia expects to have developed a
large number of screen players espe-
cially grounded in the art of acting
for sound pictures, as a result of a
joint decision of the Art Workers
Trade Union, the Commissariat of
Education and film executives to es-
tablish schools of the cinema.
This was brought about by the de-
lays caused in securing players for the
pictures. The stage people turned
their noses up at pictures most of the
time, and, in other instances, players
would leave a film company flat and
go on tour, holding up production for
months. The Soviets hope to remedy
the situation by training people di-
rectly for the screen.
McLaglen Productions
Of London Plans Three
London. — Kenneth McLaglen, of
Kenneth McLaglen Productions, has
announced that his company plans to
make three feature films at a cost of
from $100,000 to $200,000 per pic-
ture.
McLaglen states that his company
is almost ready to start shooting on
the first picture. He adds that he is
not interested in "quota" pictures,
and all made by his company will be
for the international market and will
be made on a big scale.
Pole Invents New and
Cheap Color Process
Warsaw. — A new natural color
system of photography has been
brought out here which is the product
of a Polish inventor. It is said to
have proven very satisfactory in all
demonstrations, and costs only two
percent more than black and white
to make.
Czechs Want U.S. Pix
Prague. — A determined effort is
being made by the Czechoslovakian
film industry to get American pictures
back on the Czech screen again after
many years absence. Negotiations
have been started to this end through
diplomatic circles.
Dean Signs Hyson
London. — Dorothy Hyson, most
promising of the younger stars here,
has been signed to a long-term con-
tract by Basil Dean for Associate Talk-
ing Pictures. Dean signed John Loder
to a three-picture contract recently.
Dutch Actor Coming
The Hague. — Cruys Voorbergh, one
of Holland's most famous stage actors,
has quit the stage here and is leaving
for America, where he hopes to crash
the American studio gates.
Paris House for Fox
Paris. — Fox Films have leased the
Edward VII Theatre, and will use it
shortly as a "show window" for th3
presentation of the Fox films in this
city. Pictures shown will be original
American versions.
Sam Eckmann is having his home
revamped with Moorish decor in the
dining room. . . . Bob Montgomery
had his "rooms" in an old corner of
London in "Mystery of Mr. X" (why,
oh why not "Mystery of the Dead Po-
lice"?) . . . According to the back
projection shots he and Liz Allan
were making their way down towards
the Law Courts!! . . . Snap, crackle,
pop! wedding bells shortly for Jimmie
Hutchinson, of MCM. . . . Cecil Lan-
deau, Gaumont scribbler and Bright
Idea Merchant, is that good-looking,
people mistake him for an actor. . . .
Rather nice the way London Films
gives its technical staff a "break" on
press announcements. . . . The "Jew
Suss" unit gave Lothar Mendes a gold
fountain pen on completion of that pic
for British-Gaumont. . . . The Richard
Arlens well liked by the space-boys
here. . . . Connie Cummings and hub-
bie Benn Levy took up several columns
on their return here, with Mrs. Levy
enngeeing the idea that she was giv-
ing up pics for domestic life. . . . Who
was Cicely Courtneidge visiting at that
hospital the other day and why?
•
Cyril Gardner and Dave Bader send-
ing sassy postal cards all the way from
Brussels. . . . Glamorous Gloria Pierre,
of the Dorchester Midnite Follies, at
the flicks with Val Guest and Jimmie
Barker. . . . Marion Harriss returning
to the Cafe de Paris and the movie
elite thrilled plenty. . . . Cliff Edwards
warming up for that Palladium ap-
pearance. . . . Clive Brook may do one
for Basil Dean in the summer. . . .
Charlie Laughton has been eating,
sleeping and living "Macbeth" here
for days now. . . . Rae Daggett, sister
of Junior's sec, buddy and movie ac-
tress in her own right, currently in
the metropolis with a very likable
American accent, was offered a part
in a flick here; turned out the part
was that of a London cockney bar-
maid!!!!
It is on the cards that Anna Neagle
will get a release from her present
British and Dominion contract to do
several pictures in Hollywood; on the
strict understanding that she returns
later for more pics, when Hollywood
has given her a swell build-up; at
least the idea is a good one — for Eng-
land. . . . Elsa Lanchester is rated as
one of the finest "Ariels" ever to
have played Bill Shakespeare's "Tem-
pest." . . . Flo Desmond turned down
a big part in a British International
picture because she would have to do
her imitations in it; Florence made
her reputation on the impersonations,
so what?
Swedes to Film 'Hamlet'
Stockholm. — In view of the local
success of "Hamlet" on the stage,
with Greta Ekman playing the title
role, Dr. Per Lindberg is going to film
the play with the same artist starred.
Slump in Germany
Berlin. — Warner Brothers' business
is falling off in Germany, and Robert
Schless, Warner European representa-
tive, is making a tour of all the branch
offices in an attempt to pep it up.
May 2, 1934
Page Seven
MAYER TELLS INDIE EXHIBS Darrow Board May
DUALS ARE ALL THEIR FAULT Be Made Permanent
Ruining Industry
and MustBeStopped
(Continued from Page 1 )
way to force them to do so. And in
the same breath he declared that In-
dependent producers who make fea^
tures for $6000 to $8000 are injuring
the business and should be ousted.
"Double features," declared Mayer,
"are simple an overdose of film that
is wrecking the industry. They must
be stopped or the industry cannot go
on. The practice is the result of indi-
viduals thinking only of themselves.
A theatre owner wants to kill off op-
position. He puts in double features.
In some cases, as in one case I was
told of today right here in this city,
two features and two previews are
advertised on one bill. That is das-
tardly. It is criminal. It must stop.
"All of us must stop thinking only
of the present moment. We must look
to the future and to the good of the
industry as a whole. You yell about
block booking and how the studios
give you bad pictures and make you
take them. Then you say you have to
run double bills in order to get cus-
tomers.
"True, we all make some pictures
that are not always an attraction. But
we are always STRIVING to make
them good. Therefore, you should
cooperate with the producers. We
cannot afford to burn these pictures
and give you nothing but the big suc-
cesses. You must take your share of
the loss. You must consider the good
of the whole rather than just one indi-
vidual.
"Double billing has got to stop. If
you do not stop it yourselves I am
telling you the distributors will get
their heads together back in New
York and find a way to stop you.
"I am with them in that move. I
am willing to face the United States
Supreme Court, or the President of
the United States, to defend my atti-
tude of stopping you. I tell you I am
going back there and I'm going to
raise hell. This destruction of the in-
dustry has to stop. It can't go on."
He took a shot at the independent
producers who "make pictures in six
days." He said that they can't turn
out good product, and that by using
their pictures in the double bills the
exhibitors are giving the theatre pa-
trons film poison. He declared that a
good picture can't be made in six days
and for from $6000 to $8000, and
that, while he sympathizes with those
producers, if they can't do any good,
they ought to be ousted.
I. E. Chadwick, independent pro-
ducer, declared that no one has the
right to take the opportunity away
from any man who is trying to earn a
living. He said:
"Mr. Mayer's remarks take me back
to the time when Selig and Blackton
were saying the same thing about Mr.
^ Mayer, who was then one of the inde-
I pendents he now decries. It is easy
'• to sit on the heights of Olympus and
give advice, but success does not give
anyone the Divine right to tell other
men how to live. That's what makes
dictators and an unhappy world."
He declared that exhibitors and in-
Pulitzer Novel Prize to
'Lamb in His Bosom'
New York. — The Pulitzer prize,
^warded annually for the best novel
''of the year, goes this year to Caro-
lyn Miller for her novel, "The
Lamb in His Bosom," which was
published by Harpers.
dependent producers have responsibil-
ity to no one but their public, and no
one has the right to say whether a
man may run one feature or two.
Mayer shouted: "You have no right
to run your own business. No one has
the right to do as he pleases. We have
to think of the other fellow. If you
think you can get along with just in-
dependent pictures, why not tell
MCM to go to hell? Why, it is ridicu-
lous.
"Independent producers can't give
you what we can. We burned the first
film of 'Prosperity' at a cost of half
a million dollars because it was not
good. We made another at the same
cost. That's what we do for you. We
maintain a stock company so we can
have the best players. Last year MCM
lost $750,000 on that stock com-
pany."
B. B. Kahane spoke briefly and said
that he believed the double bills are
ruining the industry. 'He explained
that, unless the houses found a way
to be successful and pay a propter
price, the producers could not make
good product.
It came to light in the general dis-
cussion that studio previews are the
fly in the single bill ointment. Ex-
hibitors complained that, if single bills
are resumed, some theatres will have
previews which will be the same as
two features, which, they say, is un-
fair.
Finally, Mayer promised the co-op-
eration of his studio in getting pre-
views into theatres where there is no
competition. A rising vote was taken
of the 1 40 members and the result
was 1 39 votes in favor of the single
features and one in favor of double
bills. A committee was then ap-
pointed to meet with Fox West Coast
Theatres and with Warner Brothers'
Theatres to work out the details and
fix a starting date when single fea-
tures will be the rule. Ben Berinstein
stated that he has the assurance of
Charles Skouras that Fox West Coast
will go along with the independents.
Dr. Fleischmann
Opens New Studio
Louis A. Fleischmann, D.V.Ph.,
who gets credit for having perfected
the development of Anna Sten's Eng-
lish for pictures, has opened his own
studio. After two years with Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer as vocal correction-
ist and diction coach. Dr. Fleischmann
has embarked upon a unique venture.
At his studio on Outpost Drive he
has test and recording stages. Dr.
Fleischmann is best known for his
ability to eliminate foreign and local
accents, for correction of diction, ar-
ticulation and idiosyncrasies of speech,
and for the restoration of lost or im-
paired voices.
Theatres Have to
BuckSoldiers'Home
Complaints against the National
Soldiers' Home Theatre at Sawtelle,
charging it with giving free picture
shows two nights a week at which
others than inmates of the Home are
allowed to attend, were filed yesterday
with the Los Angeles Grievance and
Zoning Board. The complainants are
the Newart and Tivoli theatres of
West Los Angeles, and the Brentwood.
The case will be heard tomorrow.
The hearing of a complaint by the
Garfield theatre, of Alhambra, against
Fox West Coast, charging holding out
on product, will also be resumed to-
morrow. A complaint by J. T. Ren-
nie against Feldstein and Dietrich over
a leasing argument was referred to
the Code Authority.
Walburn Loaned for
'Monte Cristo' Cast
Raymond Walburn was loaned by
Columbia to Edward Small yesterday
for "Count of Monte Cristo."
This is the second assignment for
the player on loan-outs. He finishes
tomorrow in "I Married An Actress"
at Paramount, while Columbia, which
has him under a term deal, has yet to
give him his first picture.
Original for Warners
^ar\ Templin. former Los Angeles
newspaper man who has been in Las
Vegas recently, yesterday sold Warner
Brothers an original story with a Las
Vegas locale. It is called "The
Cinch" and is intended for James
CagheyT
Washington. — After a conference
yesterday between President Roosevelt
and Chairman Darrow and John F.
Sinclair of the President's Recovery
Review Board, it was understood that
an attempt will be made to have this
board made a permanent part of the
NRA.
The conference lasted a half hour,
but at its conclusion neither Darrow
nor Sinclair would issue a statement,
referring all questioners to the Presi-
dent, who had no statement either. It
was learned, however, that the discus-
sion dealt with the generalities of the
board's findings. No written report
has been completed yet. As the re-
port on each Code is finished, it will
be handed directly to the President.
Brown Will Co to
Warners on July 1
Harry Joe Brown yesterday signed
his contract with Warner Brothers
and will join that company as direc-
tor and producer on July 1 , after a
trip to Honolulu with his wife, Sally
Eilers.
Brown's association of eight years
with Charles Rogers, now producing
for Paramount, will terminate May
12, the Browns sailing a week later.
Jack Kearns Beats
Police to the Punch
Jack Kearns was a mile ahead of
the Hollywood police yesterday. Cap-
tain Hager went over to close Kearns'
famous "Walkathon," only to find
Jack had already closed it. He told
them he will seek another restraining
order so he can reopen.
PAYMENT DEMANDED OIV
VXIOX XOTES GIVE]\ HURD
A storm of protest burst forth yes-
terday from members of Local 659,
lATSE, the cameramen's union, when
they received letters demanding pay-
ment of promissory notes which were
turned over to Howard Hurd, former
business agent of the union, when his
contract was settled recently and he
left the service of the union.
The notes were given by union
members who have borrowed money
from the Local during the past year.
Most of these notes were of the "de-
mand" type, but the union has done
nothing to push payment of them.
However, yesterday some of the note
signers received letters giving them
until May 5 to pay up.
The letters, signed by an attorney,
stated the notes are in the hands of
the Hollywood State Bank, and that,
if arrangements are not made by May
5, legal steps may be taken.
Some union members last night
were starting a movement to try to
stop the collection, declaring that the
Executive Board of the union had no
legal right to turn over the notes as
they represent part of a fund that is to
be used only for aid of members. A
meeting of note signers is being called
for today to see what can be done in
a legal way.
Norman McLeod Sailing
To Meet Wife in Paris
Norman McLeod, Paramount direc-
tor, left for New York by plane last
night and will sail on the lie de France
for a vacation in Europe.
In Paris, he will meet Mrs. McLeod,
who has been touring with the Rich-
ard Arlens and who is awaiting her
husband. McLeod will be gone a
month.
Could to Stage Dances
Radio yesterday assigned Dave
Gould to stage the dance numbers for
"Gay Divorce," the next Fred Astaire-
Ginger Rogers picture, which Pandro
Berman is producing.
New Coldstone Clients
Wini Shaw and Cully Richards have
signed a managerial contract with Nat
Goldstone. They are now appearing in
the "Shim Sham Revue" at the Music
Box.
'Dragon* Start Delayed
Start of "The Dragon Murder Case"
at Warners has been postponed until
next Monday. Robert Presnell will
supervise.
Cable: JacArt Phone CRestview 4194
Jack Maurice - Arthur Klein Ltd.
AGENCY
Offer Distinctive Representation
ARTISTS
DIRECTORS
AUTHORS
9000 SUNSET BLVD. HOLLYWOOD. CAL.
% MH.SAVUFL MAP A,
CULVKR CITY.CALIr'.
Vol. XX, No. 47. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, May 4, 1934
•WE wonder just how much the won-
derful advance in picture-making that
is being evidenced in British produc-
tion is going to cut into the foreign
grosses of American pictures. This
foreign situation is bad enough any-
way, what with quotas and contin-
gents and what not.
Heretofore the Hollywood product
has had things pretty much its own
way. There have been, in years past,
some German and one or two Russian
pictures which have created mild
furores, both in Europe and among the
highbrows in this country, but up to
a short time ago England did not
come through with anything that
would cause Hollywood to lose a min-
ute's rest.
•
Now, however, led by Alexander
Korda and his London Films Com-
pany, British production is taking its
place in the sun. Korda has already
turned out two pictures — "Henry
Vi.i" and "Catherine the Great" —
which compare favorably with any
that have been made here. As a mat-
ter of fact, his "Catherine" is far
superior to the one Josef Von Stern-
berg made with Dietrich. Korda has
other big ones up his sleeve. "The
Private Life of Don Juan," with Fair-
banks Sr., is one of them. Charles
Laughton is set for two for London
Films and will have Chevalier and
Fairbanks Jr. in the cast of one.
British producers are feeling their
oats. British financial interests have
discovered that pictures, good pic-
tures, can be made in England and
are loosening the pursestrings to
finance production. American play-
ers, directors and writers are being
engaged to work over there.
•
United Artists has a tie-up with
British and Dominions to handle each
other's pictures, a deal which may
entail an interchange of artists. The
recent deal by which British interests
bought heavily into Fox Film un-
doubtedly will be another "hands
across the sea" arrangement for loans.
Warner Brothers are expanding their
British production plans and have
bought the Teddington studio.
If the other British producing com-
panies, animated by the Korda exam-
ple, begin to turn out real box-office
pictures, they are going to give Holly-
( Continued on Page 2)
VITAPHONC-W. E. SETTLE
Warners Reported Getting
S3,500,000 In Suit Dating
Back To The Start Of Sound
Regular Dividend
On MOM Preferred
New York. • — Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer yesterday declared the regu-
lar quarterly dividend of one and
three-quarters percent on its pre-
ferred stock, payable June 1 5.
Para. Makes Agnew
Gen. Sales Manager
New York. — Neil S, Agnew, who
has been assistant general sales mana-
ger and Western division manager for
Paramount, was yesterday promoted
to general sales manager in charge of
distribution.
The appointment is for the purpose
of taking some of the burden off the
shoulders of George Schaefer, general
manager of Paramount-Publix and its
subsidiaries. Schaefer made the an-
nouncement about Agnew, but gave
no intimation of his successor in the
division manager's berth.
Chas. Brackett Signed
For Dialogue on Two
Charles Brackett signed a contract
throIigR The Edington and Vincent of-
fice yesterday on a two-picture writ-
ing ticket with Paramount.
The writer leaves New York by plane
to reach here Sunday, reporting to the
studio the following day to write the
dialogue for "Her Master's Voice,"
under B. P. Schulberg, and "The
Debutante," for Douglas MacLean.
Powell in Hospital
Dick Powell checked in at the Ced-
ars of Lebanon Hospital yesterday for
observation for sinus trouble.
New York. — The old legal battle over royalties between Vita-
phone and Western Electric, dating back to the time when
Warners were pioneering sound, is understood to have been
settled out of court yesterday, Warners receiving $3,500,000
cash and other considerations which
Big Allied Meeting
were not named.
The first agreement made between
Warner-Vitaphone and Western Elec-
tric at the inception of sound was vio-
lated by the latter, according to
Vitaphone, and then a new one was
made under the terms of which West-
ern Electric was to pay Vitaphone
(Continued on Page 7)
Berkeley Accuses
Coldwyn of Deceit
Charges of misrepresentation and
deceit were made yesterday by Busby
Berkeley, in the answer which the
dance director's attorney, Milton
Cohen, filed to the Sam Goldwyn suit
against Warners.
Berkeley's move came on the eve
of the court battle between the two
(Continued on Page 5)
Boost for Johnson
Nunnally Johnson, who did the
screerf play for "Bulldog Drummond
Strikes Back," got a new contract and
a big boost from Darryl Zanuck just
before the latter left for Europe Wed-
nesday. Johnson is now on the Can-
tor picture.
DARROW BOARD'S REPORT
OX FILM CODE DEEP SECRET
Washington. — Clarence Darrow's
National Recovery Review Board com-
pleted its long-awaited report on the
movie code, and seven other codes,
last night. The contents of the report
were not revealed, and indications last
night were that they may never be
made public.
The report, it was learned, contains
recommendations for specific amend-
ments to the movie code, as well as
the others. But the recommendations
do not come from all the members of
the board. One member, John F. Sin-
clair, dissented, and would not sign or
(Continued on Page 6)
Gil Pratt to Direct
Para's Honor Bright'
Gil Pratt returns to the ranks of the
directors on a contract signed yester-
day by Paramount. He steps up from
a writer's berth, the Beyer-MacArthur
office negotiating the ticket.
His first assignment will be "Honor
Bright," under Louis Lighton.
'U' Buys an Original
Universal has just purchased an
original story, called "Gift of Cab,"
written by Jerry Wald and Philip Ep-
stein. Rian James will produce.
To Talk Production
New York. — A special two-day
meeting of all Allied States directors,
vice-presidents and regional chairman,
has been called for May 12 and 13
in Chicago. Abram F. Myers will
preside. It will be held at the Con-
gress Hotel.
Discussion will be held on various
plans in tying up the organization
with an independent producing com-
pany. Meetings had been held in
various units on this production plan,
but in getting together the national
chiefs a definite plan will be taken up.
Selznick-Hayward Fly
East; Former for London
Myron Selznick and Leiand Hay-
ward left for New York by plane yes-
terday. Selznick is bound for Lon-
don, to be gone several weeks, and
will sail on the same liner with David
Selznick, George Cukor and Charles
Farrell.
Hayward will fly back Saturday and
wilL be in charge of the Selznick-
Joyce office while Myron is away.
New Term for Taurog
Norman Taurog was presented a
new one- year contract by Paramount
yesterday. His first on the new ticket
will be "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch." Schulberg, Feldman and
Curney set the deal.
'20th Century' Good
New York. — Columbia's "Twenti-
eth Century," which opened at the
Music Hall yesterday, grossed approxi-
mately $10,000 for its opening day,
which is considered good.
Weingarten East
Larry Weingarten, MGM producer,
left>a'st night by plane for New York
for'' a two weeks visit to Broadway
•'in search of material.
I
MICHAEL CURTIZ
NOW
DIRECTING
> /
BRITISH AGENT warners
I
Page Two
May 4, 1934
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIiywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holiddys. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
True story about a true son of his
Pa. The other day Sann Coldwyn with
a friend of his went to the Military
Academy, where Sammy jr. is a stu-
dent, to watch his son in the school
parade. When Coldwyn and friend
arrived, the parade hadn't started, so
Sam proudly led the way to the class-
room where his youngster was sup-
posed to be. When they reached the
floor, there was Sam Jr., standing out-
side the classroom with his face to the
wall. Inquiry revealed the following:
The teacher had started to read a story
and young Coldwyn kept interrupting.
The teacher said, "Sammy, if you
don't stop interrupting, you'll have to
stand outside."
Said Sammy: "I'd rather stand out-
side than listen to a poor story!" And
that's where he was when Sam, senior,
found him!
Listen to this one — about the ma-
jor studio which is the prime offender
in the matter of signing up players
and such for thousands of dollars per
week, having them sit around until
option time (or longer) and then let-
ting them out. This same studio which
has wasted countless thousands in the
past two years, has been "dickering"
with a hard-up writer for several
weeks now. The fellow is so broke
that he offered to write a story for
them (which they had read and
wanted) for two hundred a week un-
til the script was finished. He worked
at home and completed the job in four
weeks, the total being of course,
eight hundred dollars. Now, the stu-
dio is "thinking it over" . . . they
can't risk the small change unless
they're SURE they like it!
'•
Just heard a funny story about Mrs.
Pat Campbell which is worth telling
even if it isn't all true . . . but our
informant swears to it. Seems that
several years ago Mrs. Pat was playing
a London music-hall and on the same
bill was a trained seal act which got
the most applause at every perform-
ance, and that made the actress mad
something terrible. So mad, in fact,
that at the end of the week she could
stand it no longer and, before curtain
time, fed the seals so much fish (she
attended to the matter personally!)
that when their turn came they fell
fast asleep on the stage!
"FINISHING SCHOOL "
RKO prod.; directors, Wanda Tuchock and George Nicholls Jr.
David Hempstead, Wanda Tuchock, Laird Doyle.
Casino Theatre
writers.
Herald-Tribune: "Finishing School" sets a standard for those interested in
intelligent screen productions. While it is not a masterpiece, it gives
careful consideration to a certain type of American snobbery whose expose
follows the pattern set by the Cerman picture, "Maedchen in Uniform."
The picture has an adult point of view. It has been directed too slowly,
to this way of thinking, but painstakingly, and has been photographed
well. Its dialogue is sensible and it is told with a logical continuity.
Sun: This, in spite of a list of competent players, all of them giving competent
performances, too, comes close to being a burlesque of all the recent films
about sub-debutantes and their prospective babies. Frances Dee has the
misfortune again to find herself in a badly written part to which she yet
manages to bring dignity and some slight degree of tenderness. A few
more films like this, and Hollywood may find itself responsible for a
revival of good, old-fashioned chaperonage.
News: In which some favorite youngsters do all they can to prove that the life
of a rich man's daughter is fraught with disadvantages. The otherwise
trite proceedings of this production are considerably enlivened by Ginger
Rogers.
American: A first-rate program feature film which mingles comedy with drama
in a tale of feminine adolescents and the big, bad boarding scohol. The
picture provides better than average entertainment.
World-Telegram: I found it an interesting drama. This "Finishing School"
has not, of course, the tragedy or muted sorrow of "Maedchen," but in
its own way — a thoroughly dramatic and embittered way it is a plea
for the individual against mob psychology that is as tense and penetrating
and as full of appeal and heartbreak as was the appeal for poor, misun-
derstood little Manuela in "Maedchen."
Times: Unfortunately, it can scarcely be classed as intelligent entertainment.
In the haphazard and tedious story there is little, if anything, that rings
true and the dialogue is often extraordinarily crude; in fact, at times un-
consciously funny. If the narrative were not so fatuous it might be
harmful.
Journal: It's a fair program offering, animated chiefly by a genuinely effective
performance by Miss Dee.
Mirror: It is a diverting little program picture, cleverly written, filled with
laughs, tastefully directed and well cast. Skilled and attractive players
lift the feature out of the ordinary.
Liberty Prods. Ask
$50,000 from Para.
New York, — The $50,000 claim of
Liberty Productions Ltd. against Para-
mount came up for discussion before
Referee Davis yesterday. Liberty al-
leges that Paramount released the pic-
ture "Mad Parade," after shelving a
Liberty picture that was very similar.
Liberty declares that Paramount
agreed to pay it the first $200,000 of
intake and then 32 percent of all
over this amount up to $460,000.
The Paramount trustees say that re-
ceipts up to the present time have
been only $205,000 and the most
that Paramount can still gross is only
$3000. Therefore, the claim should
not be allowed, they contend. The
referee deferred a ruling.
James Novel Accepted
Rian James has set his novel,
"Young Ladies in White," with Al-
fred H. King, who will publish it
July I . Jesse Lasky has purchased the
story and Jesse L. Lasky Jr. is collabo-
rating with James on the screen play.
Boasberg on 'Rear Car'
Al Boasberg, comedy director, put
aside his megaphone at MCM to col-
laborate with Edgar Allan Woolf on
the dialogue for "Rear Car,' adapted
by Harvey Thew.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
wood real competition, because the
"Buy British" slogan still cuts a lot
of ice with the British people.
Competition, they say, is the life
of trade. American producers have
had things their own way too long.
The awakening of the British industry
should open their eyes and make them
realize that, for consumption both
here and abroad, the great need is
BETTER PICTURES.
IRISH SETTERS
3 MALE PUPPIES
Eight weeks old, fine pedigree.
hunting strain, for sale
reasonable.
CHARLES STARRETT
706 N. Palm Drive Beverly Hills
COMPLETE AD and
EXPLOITATION
CAMPAIGN for
OLSEN and
JOHNSON'S
PACIFIC COAST TOUR
HILLMAN-SHANE
ADVERTISINGAGENCY
When Good
Things Are
Being Given
Away--
— you might as well
be one of the smart
ones to pick them up.
WE OPENED LAST
WEEK, AND
ALREADY-
Jack Conway, the
M-C-M director, took 24
acres.
Four other wise people
took 6 acres.
Leaving just 90 acres —
of what the experts say is
the finest level and roll-
ing, close-in, land in Cali-
fornia, at —
ONE-TENTH OF
FORMER PRICES
It is on Beverly Blvd., 2
miles west of Uplifters
Polo Field near the Bern-
heimer Japanese Gardens.
$750 to $3,000
per acre
(an acre is equal to 5 city lots)
With paid improvements
of roads, water, electricity.
Giving you an estate in
the highest grade, close-
in, residential district at
lowest ranch land prices.
Drive out to the beach
via Beverly Blvd. and stop
at "BROADACRES" Tract
Office just before you get
to Bernheimer Japanese
Gardens.
Read & Wright
SALES AGENTS
FOR "BROADACRES"
9815 Wilshire Blvd.
BEVERLY HILLS
Phone Oxford 6177
F0fi'5Ai.t
Look for this Tract Office
on Beverly Blvd.
May 4, 1934
THE
Page Three
VANITIES' SWELL PICTURE;
'BLACK CAT' PRETTY DULL
NoUhatiL
Gorgeous Girl Show,
Fine in Every Way
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
(Paramount)
Direction Mitchell Leisen
Based on play by Earl Carroll
and Rufus King
Screen Play Carey Wilson
and Joseph Gollomb
Dialogue Sam Hellman
Music and Lyrics Arthur Johnson
and Sam Coslow
Photography Leo Tover
Cast: Jack Oakie, Victor McLaglen,
Carl Brisson, Kitty Carlisle, Dorothy
Stickney, Gertrude Michael, Toby
Wing, Jessie Ralph, Charles B.
Middleton, Donald Meek, Gail Pat-
rick.
Paramount has pulled a musical
winner out of the hat and one that
skilfully and successfully combines
moving picture camera technique with
that of the stage in its gorgeous pro-
duction numbers. It's a brilliant
girlie-girlie show, the kind you like
to entertain out-of-town buyers with,
and so far as masculine audiences are
concerned, it just cant miss. The gals
can make up their minds whether
they want to go for Carl Brisson or
not. He's very old school, musical
comedy idol, with a smile that won't
wear off even though murder is com-
mitted.
However, let it be repeated, that
Paramount has crashed through with
a pretty swell musical that is by far
the loveliest thing to look at that has
been produced in a whole season full
of musicals.
For good measure in this backstage
opus, a murder mystery is thrown in
that involves the killing off of a lady
detective by the soubrette who in turn
is bumped off by her maid. Both
murders, of course, involve the hero
and leading lady, but everything is
cleared up satisfactorily in the end and
to the accompaniment of the best song
in the picture.
The photography of Leo Tover is
the very bright and shining star of the
picture. How that boy and Mitchell
Leisen have used the camera is some-
thing for every producer of musicals
to learn about. And it's a real pleas-
ure to see some dancing again instead
of a batch of trick numbers that could
never possibly have taken place upon
a stage.
The writing is bright and not too
forced in its comedy, except for a
rather cheap running gag between
Toby Wing and jack Oakie that could
very well be cut down considerably.
Dorothy Stickney, as the maid, turns
in a grand performance, and her re-
cital of the murder of the soubrette
stops the show Kitty Carlisle is a
most attractive wench, whose voice,
figger and personality score heavily
and will carry her far. Gertrude Mi-
chael has a thankless part that only
allows her to leer heavily throughout
most of her scenes, but the gal can
sing blues.
And, speaking of blues, Duke Elli-
lington plays them to a fare-thee-well
and the recording of that orchestra is
something. In fact the sound record-
ing of Martin Paggi is plenty to be
Lew Brown To Do 3
Musicals for MGM
New York. — Lew Brown yester-
day signed to make three musicals
for MGM. Studio plans to make
nine, the other six being split
evenly between Buddy DeSylva
and the group composed of Brown
and Freed, Rivkin and Wolfson.
Player Tie-ups for
Liquor Ads Are Out
All studios belonging to the Pro-
ducers Association yesterday definitely
decided to turn thumbs down on all
advertising tie-ups for players with
any alcoholic beverage, even beer
The action was taken at a meet-
ing of the Studio Publicity Executive
Committee of the Producers Associa-
tion, and every studio publicity head
voted for the ban. The studios and
players have been swamped by adver-
tising concerns seeking to have the
stars photographed mixing cocktails,
uncorking bottles, burying their noses
in foaming glasses of beer, etc. The
publicity executives feel that the stars
have no place in the liquor ads.
Novarro and MGM Sign
Bi-Lingual Contract
Ramon Novarro signed a new long
term contract with MGM yesterday,
yyhtle in South America on his con-
cert tour. Details of the contract
were telegraphed to South America
in English and translated into Spanish.
His acceptance was sent back in Span-
ish and translated into English.
Dividend by Loew's
London Theatres inc.
New York. — Loew's London Thea-
tres Ltd. announced a dividend, pay-
able on account of accumulations, of
35 cents a share on the $10 par value
seven per cent preferred stock, pay-
able May 1 5 to stock of record May 5.
'U' Borrows Angel
Universal yesterday concluded a
deal with Fox for the loan of Heather
Angel for the lead in "The Mystery
of Edwin Drood," the Charles Dickens
novel. Picture will get under way in
about a month.
Brook Out of Radio
The completion of "Sour Grapes"
washes up Clive rook's three-picture
ticket with Radio. The player is tak-
ing a trip to London during negotia-
tions with Fox and Universal on indi-
vidual deals.
thankful for in this production. Jack
Oakie gives out with his comedy and
has McLaglen as foil in the role of a
dumb detective. Jessie Ralph turns in
a good performance, and Gail Patrick
is really too attractive to have to be
just a dead body for most of the pic-
ture.
Play this one up heavily, because it
won't fail you, and it deserves the best
break it can get.
Too Much'Mugging'
In Tedious Story
"THE BLACK CAT"
( Universal )
Direction -— Edgar Ulmer
Author Edgar Allan Poe
Adaptation: Peter Ruric and Edgar
Ulmer.
Screen Play Peter Ruric
Photography John Mescal
Cast: Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Jac-
quelyn Wells, David Manners, Lu-
cille Lund, Egon Brecher, Ann Dun-
can, Henry Armetta, Albert Conti.
Karloff and Bela Lugosi, the Wam-
pas Baby-Frighteners of 1934, fight
it out for seven reels for the mugging
championship of the picture. Beyond
that, there is little or no action in this
so-called thriller, and the writing and
directing both combine to do the al-
most impossible — to make an Edgar
Allan Poe story dull.
That's not quite fair to Mr. Poe,
either, because outside of the title
and the fact that a black cat does
stalk around every once in a while,
this is not the story your customers
may have thrilled to in their reading
days. Take full advantage of the ex-
ploitation possibilities and your fans'
love of the Karloff-Lugosi brand of
horrors, and sell it fast. It won't hold
up on a long run.
The script is so vaguely written and
the picture so tediously and loosely
put together, that it's up to the pa-
trons to use their imagination to put
any kind of story together. So far as
we could gather, a doctor has come
to call on an old war "pal" who has
built his house over the remains of a
fort and arsenal. A young couple, hurt
in an accident, are brought to this
sinister house by the doctor. The
owner of the house is given to mur-
dering women and preserving their
bodies in glass cases. One of the
women is the doctor's wife. The doc-
tor's daughter has been made the wife
of the killer-owner.
Then comes the night of the dark
of the moon and the gay host thinks
it would be fun to sacrifice the female
half of the young couple to some kind
of Lucifer festival. But no such luck
for our host. He and the doctor and
the daughter and the house are all
blown to pieces, while the young
couple get away.
jacquelyn Wells, David Manners
and Lucille Lund are a trio of attrac-
tive people who surely deserve a bet-
ter break than they get in this pic-
ture. Henry Armetta and Albert Conti
are literally dug up and dragged in to
provide a light moment that even they
have to work hard on to make funny.
Karloff and Lugosi make improper
faces at each other.
But. let it be remembered, that a
funereal walk and talking through the
teeth do not a thrilling horror story
make.
Thorpe to Universal
Upon the completion of "Green
Eyes" for Chesterfield, Richard Thorpe
will join the Universal staff as a direc-
tor. Deal was negotiated by Hoff-
man-Schlager.
K
ATTER^
bii Helen Qwqnn
We see by the papers (British) that
England seems to be having film critic
trouble, even as you and I. It is
claimed that picture criticism is fast
fading away over there, even as it
passed out of the public prints in this
country, "two or three years ago."
Of course, that's just a dig that our
British cousins couldn't resist, but the
fact remains that everything possible
is being done over here now to kill
off any school of critical thought that
may still be alive.
And this, we think, will eventually
be a bad thing for both the picture
industry and the public. Criticism is
the one thing that can help raise the
standard of pictures to the benefit
of the industry and the fans. Your
honest critic, giving his personal opin-
ion of the technical and entertain-
ment value of a film, has done a great
deal toward the making of better pic-
tures The critical mind is the first
to appreciate the better efforts of the
producers and to shout their praises
to the public and encourage them to
pay their money to see the pictures.
There is no good and sound reason
for the making of poor pictures and
not even the removal of critical thun-
derbolts will do them any good at the
box office.
•
Recently a number of papers have
resorted to giving only the bare out-
lines of current attractions, and that's
even worse than giving an opinion.
Too often the outline of a picture plot
is enough to keep more people away
than any criticism might do. En-
thusiasm for performances, comment
on the handling of the situations, the
quality of the production, remarks on
amusing incidents or highlights in a
production, will tend to make fans
want to see a picture for some reason
or other, but given just a skeleton
story to decide on, it may be one
they think they don't like to see.
•
The only form of criticism that can
possibly be objected to with any de-
gree of fairness is the "Star System."
And the reason for that is that the
lazy public, not wanting to read zn
entire review, will buy or dismiss a
picture on the number of stars it re-
ceives. Very often in the body of the
review of a picture accorded two stars,
will be a lot to recommend it, but
that damning, dogmatic allotment of
the meagre two stars blinds the pub-
lic and they won't take the trouble
to read the entire review.
Besides which, that star business
makes the paper an oracle that can't
go wrong, according to their way of
figuring, and that's assuming much
too much, because criticism was, is
and always will be just one person's
reaction to a film and that film's
power to please, and it's only fair to
the producers and public to keep it
on that plane.
OUR
READERS
BELIEVE
WHAT
THE
REPORTER
PRINTS
ESSANESS THEATRES CORPORATION
540 North Michigan Avenue
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Superior 9420
April 5, 1934.
Dear Mr. Wiikerson:
I wonder if you realize how important and potent the sub-
ject, and the manner in which you describe it, contained in
your trade news of March 30th, really is.
Your paper, to which I have subscribed for a long time, is
informative and valuable. On an average you do, without ex-
ception, give us the best reports on pictures, but when you
attack the double-feature situation you are attacking one of the
twin cancers of the business, the other being ridiculously cheap
admission prices which prevail in some territories.
Essaness Theatres Corporation,
EDWIN SILVERMAN, President.
We will not permit our
subscribers to be cheated
We have no axes to grind
We are for the picture business
first, last and all the time
THE
REPORTER
GIVES
YOU
THE
FACTS
i
May 4, 1934
THE
Page Five
MGM SHORTS WILL BE
HELP TO ANY PROGRAM
MCM has four short novelties ready
for release, any one of which will be
an interesting addition to any pro-
gram.
"Little Feller," starring Charles
"Chic" Sale is a tear-jerker, but a
good one. It is a monologue, but so
cleverly is it handled that one never
notices the fact. Sale plays an old
ranch owner, whose grandson, in
• whom he has placed all his hopes and
ambitions for the future, has just
died. Unable to bear the sight of the
youngster's pinto pony, he gives it
away to a neighboring rancher for his
little boy. His lonely confidences,
given to the ppny and to the rancher,
are heart-breaking.
E. A. Brininstool wrote it, and Jack
Cummings directed. The picture is a
credit to all concerned.
•
"Attention — Suckers!" is a Pete
Smith novelty, directed by Jack Cum-
mings, and revealing a number of fas-
cinating card tricks. The tricks are
not confined to sleight-of-hand, but
include all those employed by profes-
sional gamblers, and, as the shots are
made up through a glass table, the
modus operandi of those people who
make poker a business is cleverly
shown.
•
"Goofy Movies," with explanatory
remarks by Pete Smith, is another one
of those Wotaphony Newsreels. It is
amusing, well done, and Smith's re-
marks are grand. It's all about a high-
minded sheriff, a low-minded bandit,
and a LUVLY lady.
•
The other Pete Smith oddity is
"Flying Hunters." This film is an ex-
citing and dizzy trip in an airplane
with those men who skim the frozen
surface of Montana looking for coy-
otes.
Flying at a terrific rate of speed as
close to the earth as they dare, they
chase these furtive sheep-killers and
shoot them from the air with a shot-
gun mounted on springs at the side
of the plane.
The picture is not bloody enough to
hurt anyone's sensibilities, but it is
exciting enough to keep the attention
of any audience engaged. Lauron A.
Draper did a swell job, photographing
and directing.
Writers' Guild in New
Deal with Writers' Club
The Screen Writers' Guild has ac-
cepted the proposal of the Writers'
Club to open the facilities of the club
to all members of the Guild, with-
out payment of initiation fee or dues.
The Guild will conduct all of its
general meetings at the club, but will
continue to maintain its offices at
1655 North Cherokee.
Monta Bell Seeking
Oarsmen for Picture
Monta Bell, MCM producer now
preparing "Student Tour," is search-
ing for a crack rowing crew to be
used in the picture. This crew must
be bonafide college men in addition
to having acting ability, as each will
have a definite part in the production.
Grace George To Be
In Dolly' for MGM
New York.- — Grace George, wife
of William A. Brady and for years
one of the leading actresses of the
American stage, was signed yes-
terday by MGM and will be given
an assignment in "Dolly."
Warners Face New
Suit Over 'Miracle'
New York. — Another knot ap-
peared in the legal tangle which
enshrouds the attempts of Warner
Brothers to produce "The Miracle"
when Philip Minor, a Cleveland capi-
talist, announced yesterday that he
intends to start legal action to prevent
the production. Minor, some years
ago, sponsored the production of the
play in Cleveland.
He declares that Warners will never
make the picture because he controls
the picture rights. He intimates that
he was concerned in a suit some years
ago which resulted in MGM being re-
strained from making the picture. This
suit was brought by Al Woods, and
First National joined in it. As a re-
sult, MGM, Minor says, cancelled its
plans.
Warners, however, do not seem to
be discouraged and are still trying to
cut all the legal red tape that stands
in their way. It is understood that
they are trying to get Reinhardt to
come over to produce the picture, but
whether or not he is agreeable, no one
seems to know. He was coming once
before to make "Darling of the Cods"
for United Artists, but nothing hap-
pened.
Berkeley-Goldwyn
(Continued from Page 1 )
producers over the dance director's
services. The trial starts this morning.
Judge Emmett Wilson having pushed
it into another court yesterday, owing
to his own overcrowded schedule.
"The contract between Goldwyn and
Warners," Berkeley alleges, "was se-
cured by Goldwyn through misrepre-
sentation and deceit. Goldwyn claimed
he had certain rights over me when,
in fact, he had none. At the time
that Goldwyn negotiated his contract
with Warners, he had no written com-
mitment, oral understanding or any
other contract with me. Nor was I
receiving any royalty, salary or other
compensation from him.
"Goldwyn is not entitled to equita-
ble relief in that he does not come
into court with clean hands," the di-
rector states. Berkeley's answer fur-
ther alleges that, after he had made
his deal with Warners, he told Gold-
wyn about it and the latter "became
very abusive to this defendant, called
him names, threatened him and finally
importuned him to break the contract,
stating that he would accept the re-
sponsibility."
Over the telephone last night, Mr.
Goldwyn declined to discuss the
Berkeley answer.
Louis A. Fleischmann
D. V. Ph.
After two years with Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer
ANNOUNCES
THE OPENING OF HIS
NEW STUDIO
The adaptation of voices to mic-
rophonic use.
The absolute elimination of for-
eign or local accents.
The correction of diction, articu-
lation and idiosyncracies of speech.
Dramatic delineation as applied to
ci'nematic use.
The coaching and direction of
dialogue.
The restoration of lost or impaired
voices. (During production this
service saves many thousands of
dollars otherwise lost by production
delay.)
In addition, our service includes
the making of electrical recordings,
sound tracks, and photographic and
sound tests of those under instruc-
tion to the studio.
STUDIO, TEST AND
RECORDING STAGES
1819 OUTPOST DRIVE
HOLLYWOOD CRanife 5334
Page Six
May 4J 934
IVEW sorivD
SWINGING I
The American Society of Sound
Engineers is the name selected by the
new organization which has been
formed by leading sound technicians
after months of preliminary meetings.
At a meeting this week the leaders
decided that it is now time to come
out in the open as a definite factor m
the industry. Within the next week
an executive manager will be en-
gaged, permanent quarters will be
secured, the organization will file
incorporation papers at Sacramento
and a drive for members will be start-
ed. More than 200 sound men are
already in the group.
The new society was formed, so it
was stated by several of the organiz-
ers, for the express purpose of getting
the sound men away from jurisdic-
tional disputes and labor union diffi-
culities. Most of the men in the new
group feel that they have not had a
square deal from the unions during the
past year, and practically all of the
members of Local 695, lATSE, the
sound mens union, are expected to
flock to the banner of the new society
which will not be affiliated in any
way with labor unions.
*U' Signs Lois Wilson
Lois Wilson was signed by Universal
through Hal lam Cooley yesterday for
the bracket spot with Frank Morgan
in "Today We Live," which Ed Sloman
places in work today. Morgan was
borrowed from MCM for the role.
MEX'S GROUP
XTO ACTIOX
Code Agency Board
Meeting Postponed
Because of the inability of two
members to be present, the meeting
of the newly appointed Code Agency
Committee set for yesterday, was
postponed until Tuesday.
Emanuel Cohen was out of the city,
and Jack Warner could not be present.
As this was to have been a meeting
at which a permanent chairman and a
paid secretary were to be chosen, it
was deemed wiser to postpone the
meeting until all members could be
on hand.
Darrow's Report Secret
(Continued from Page 1 )
sanction the recommendations signed
by the other five. Sinclair was ap-
pointed to the board by General John-
son.
What disposition of the report will
be made by President Roosevelt after
he reads it is the subject of much
speculation. Some guess Senators Nye
and Borah may get a look at it, while
others figure it may be turned over
to NRA officials. Still others suggest
that the report details may be with-
held until after Congress adjourns, if
they ever become public.
Darrow denied that the report had
ever been to the White House before
and had been sent back for changes.
Pete Knows All About
Babies, But Mothers — !
Pete Smith is sunk. He is cast-
ing for a short, "How to Take Care
of Babies," and he is being be-
sieged by hundreds of mothers, all
of whom want to have their babies
in the picture and also want to tell
Pete just how they should be cared
for.
School Kids As Extras
Bryan Foy yesterday used 1 50 Bev-
erly Hills high school students for a
barn dance sequence in "High School
Girl," now in production.
Parry Option Lifted
Fox yesterday lifted the first option
on Paul Parry's seven-year contract
and gave him a spot in "Chralie
Chan's Courage."
corAfc
tOSA
HG^
Para, and Col. on
Labor Unfair' List
It was revealed yesterday that the
Los Angeles Building Trade Council
has started a move to establish a boy-
cott among the workers of Los Ange-
les against films made by Columbia
and Paramount studios.
A resolution was adopted by the
Council on April 13, placing the prod-
uct of these two studios on their
"unfair and we do not patronize" list.
The resolution also called for a "mili-
tant boycott."
The reason for the action is an al-
leged discrimination by the two stu-
dios against craftsmen in the matter
of wage scales on building projects.
The Council charges the studios with
demanding that contractors do the
building work at such a low figure
that they cannot pay their workers a
fair living wage.
Kr»**
'W^
H
g^^^-
I
Daily Variety Says
About Sneak Preview
Or
MAX MARGIN'S
"THE LOVE CAPTIVE"
formerly
"DANGEROUS TO WOMEN"
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE
PDnniirpn ry cdu acucd
"Screen version of Max Marcin's
'The Humbug' neatly accomplishes
what it set out to do, presenting
a suspenseful tale about a hypnotist
whose uncanny works turn back
upon him, and offering an hour's
absorbing entertainment in dramatic
Max Marcin
novelty. It is throughout an excellent
piece of craftsmanship, with Marcin
as author, co-adaptor and director
chiefly responsible."
Management
SCHULBERC, FELDMAN, CURNEY
May 4, 1934
IR[ilP©fRTiPl
Page Seven
i/Pfom^mi>iB\
Berton Churchill for two — "Old
Judge Priest," Fox, and "Bachelor
Bait," Radio, both through Kingston-
Harris.
Will Stanton, from a group of Radio
shorts, to a feature, "Bachelor Bait,"
on the same lot.
Kay Johnson to "Afterwards," Ra-
dio.
William Augustin for a Radio short,
by Hallam Cooley.
Mathew Betx to a Warren Doane
short. Universal, by Hallam Cooley.
Emily Fitzroy by Allied for "Two
Heads on a Pillow."
George Walsh, Tyler Brook, Eddie
Borden and Fuzzy Knight to Para-
mount for "It Ain't No Sin."
Ralph Bushman to MCM for
"100% Pure."
Dick Winslow by Universal for "Al-
ways Tomorrow."
Robert Barrat to "Dragon Murder
Case," Warners.
Mischa Auer to Columbia for a Tim
McCoy picture.
Gilbert Emery to Universal for "One
More River."
Ralph Morgan and Huntley Cordon
to Radio for "Afterwards"
Tamara Geva to Radio for "After-
wards."
Sidney Blackmer by Reliance for
"Count of Monte Cristo."
Andreas De Segurola to Radio for
"Let Who Will Be Clever."
Henry Kolker, Tom Ricketts, Wal-
ter Bennan, George Humbert and Ho-
bart Bosworth to Columbia for "Whom
the Cods Destroy."
Vitaphone-W.E. Settle
(Contlrujed from Page 1 )
eight per cent of every dollar taken in
by the Electric on talking pictures,
made or shown with its equipment.
The amount has been variously esti-
mated from $5,000,000 to $50,000,-
000. It is extremely improbable that
anyone knows the exact figures, ex-
cept Western Electric or its subsidiary,
Erpi, which was not in existence in
tho,se early days.
Western Electric fought the case
when Warners sued, and finally lost
the decision. An appeal was taken
and, last July, in the Federal Court
at Wilmington, Judge Penniwell de-
nied the Electric's application for
modification of the decision that it
must pay.
This court action followed several
attempts to settle the matter by arbi-
tration, Warners finally deciding that
that could not be done and bringing
legal action.
Helen Vinson Signed
By Radio for 3 More
Radio signed Helen Vinson yester-
day to a three-picture contract. Her
first will be "Afterwards," which she
begins tomorrow.
Miss Vinson just completed a two-
picture assignment at the same stu-
dio, having finished "Life of Virgie
Winters" and "Sour Crapes." Schul-
berg, Feldman and Curney made the
deal.
BORDEN Friday Frouc
'BnaJtaH/mitSJAGE , At 6:45
VIA STATION K-H-J TONIGHT
1
nARANOUNT
O- HILL
VA-2041
*SCREEN*
DOUBlflKm
EVELYN VENABLE
Mary MORRIS • Kent TAYLOR
SIR GUY STANDING
Fanchon & Marco
present
i .Tk
*INPERSON*.
'^ with his NEW ^
HAPPINESiS ROAD SHOW
30 PEOPLE •
McWade for 'Dragon*
Warners yesterday signed Robert
McWade for the role of Markham,
the district attorney, in "The Dragon
Murder Case," which Lucky Humber-
stone directs when it starts Monday.
McWade played the same character in
another S. S. Van Dine story.
GR/UJMANS
BROAOWAY at 9th • PHONE MA 2511
_T SPEARS THE
LANGUAGE Of
^ THE HEART
H. B. WARNER
•
WARWICK DEEPING'S
IMMORTAL MOVIE
LIVES ANEW
KRAZY KAT COMED
• and THE TUNE DETECTIV
Warren Duff
SCREEN PLAY=^=
W
TWENTY MILLION SWEETHEARTS"
'A rollicking potpourri of fun."
— N. Y. Times
'A honey for anybody's money."
-N. Y. American
"Of the many musical films . . . the best of the lot."
— N. Y. World-Telegram
"The most amusing film the Strand has enjoyed for
some time."
— N. Y. Sun
■'Mn Collaboration
"A smartly written and directed comedy . . . Grand
for entertainment."
— N. Y. Journal
tt::: ::= =:= 1
1/2=:="
-N. Y. Daily News
May 3d, 1934.
MR. JACK ROBBINS,
Robbins Music Corporation.
Thanks for your enthusiasm about our
song in
JOAN CRAWFORD'S
picture
"SADIE McKEE"
called
"ALL I DO IS DREAM OF YOU"
I hope that this number will live up to
all your expectations and compensate you
for making it your firm's Number One song.
of the picture
We know you will get a big thrill out
"SADIE McKEE"
which
CLARENCE BROWN
directed
NACIO HERB BROWN
ARTHUR FREED
5? MR.SAVUFL MAPX .
CULVER CITY.'JALiy
Vol. XX, No. 48. Price 5c.
TODAYS FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, May 5, 1934
rilM TRADE MONOPOiy
Gen. Johnson States Block
Booking And Patent Pools
h4ake It Only One In NRA
• TALKING the other day with one of
the sanest exhibitors in Southern Cali-
fornia, we got rather a new slant on
the double feature question. This
man, who probably would be consid-
ered a renegade by his fellow-exhibi-
tors, pins the bulk of the blame for
the dual evil right on the theatre men
themselves. He says:
"The exhibitors are constantly stir-
ring up a fuss and trying to lay the
blame for all their troubles at the
doors of the producers, the distribu-
tors, the public, professional boxing,
football — anywhere except where it
belongs, which is right on their own
doorsteps.
"The real crux of the situation is
that the exhibitors out here will not
stick together. If they would, their
troubles would be ended and their
problems solved.
•
"Ever since I can remember any-
thing about the local business, there
have been a few exhibitors, really just
a mere handful, who will double-cross
the others, and then the mess is all
stirred up again. If these few could
be whipped into line and made to
stick with the rest, we would be able
to wipe out double bills, get back to
where we show one GOOD picture,
surrounded by a real bill of entertain-
ing shorts, and once more we would
see ourselves out of the red.
"But I despair when I think of
trying to get them to hold fast. Here's
the trouble: In' the past, when we
went to single features, some little
houses, not more than half a dozen,
that never made money anyway and
which should be wiped out for the
good of their owners and the picture
business in general, would grab a cou-
ple of fairly good pictures and maybe,
as a result, take fifteen or twenty
patrons away from a nearby house.
•
"Instead of sitting back and let-
ting the little fellow go on and show
two pictures and cut his own throat,
the manager or owner of the nearby
house ran out, forgot his promises to
the other theatre owners and grabbed
a couple of pictures and put on his
own double bill. Then the rush would
be on.
"They'd do better to buy the tiny
theatres outright than to follow their
example and double-cross THEM-
(Continued on Page 2)
Will Hays Makes His
Debut As a Singer
Will Hays swept an audience,
composed largely of motion picture
people, off its feet Thursday night
at the Theatre Mart. Following a
performance of "The Drunkard,"
Hays rose and sang "The Tale of a
Kangaroo," a hit from the old mu-
sical show, "The Prince of Pilsen."
Gable-Colbert Pic
Smash in London
London. — "It Happened One
Night," with Clark Gable and Clau-
dette Colbert starred, which opened
at the Tivoli last week, has taken its
place with the other smash hits from
Hollywood and is held over for at
least another week. Other holdovers
are "Roman Scandals" and Bob Flah-
erty's beautiful production of "Man of
Aran." "Rip Tide" is closing after
an extremely successful engagement.
The newcomers of the week are
"Viva Villa" at the Empire, "Man of
Two V\/orlds" at the Plaza, and "Fash-
ions of 1934" at the Regal.
Heather Angel Signs
Term Ticket with 'U'
Carl Laemmie Jr. yesterday signed
Heather Angel to a term deal and
plans to use her in several stories
on the new program.
It is understood that Miss Angel
has completed her Fox contract and
was free to accept the Universal deal.
Hays and 'Odd East
Will Hays left for New York last
night aboard the Chief. With him
were Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Mclntyre.
Washington.— In an address at the State Fair Stadium, at
Columbus, Ohio, tonight, which was broadcast nationally. Gen.
Hugh Johnson declared that the motion picture code makes that
industry a monopoly, the only one, he added, created by any
code. He pleaded for the principles of
the NRA and lashed out at critics who
said codes promoted monopolies or
oppressed the "little fellow." The one
glaring exception, he said, is the movie
code.
"There is one qualification and one
exception to these general state-
ments," he said. "The qualification is
that there are cases of monopoly based
on statutory patent pools. There is
block booking in the movies based on
copyright laws and various other dis-
(Continued on Page 2)
Hecht and MacArthur
May Do Four For Para.
New York. — The deal by which
Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur
will write and produce three pictures
for Paramount at the Long Island stu-
dio may be extended to four, the
making of the fourth being optional
with each side.
Cordon a Supervisor
Expanding Leon Cordon's duties
with. Reliance, Edward Small has plac-
ed the writer in a supervisory capa-
city on "Count of Monte Cristo." He
continues on the screen play of
"Transatlantic Showboat" at the same
time.
WARMER THEATRE DEAL
FINDS THE GOUVd ROUGH
New York. — The big deal which
Warner Brothers have under way in
their attempt to acquire control of
some 1 10 independent theatres in the
New York sector is meeting with dif-
ficulties and there are several con-
flicting reports about it.
One report, which seemingly ema-
nates from the Warner side, is that a
deal has been closed for the control of
the Fox Metropolitan group and sev-
eral of the Manhattan Playhouses, of
which Si Fabian was trustee for the
mortgagee. Skouras, according to this
report, will be out completely, and
(Continued on Page 4)
Preston Sturges Will
Direct Own Yarn at U'
Preston Sturges has been signed by
Universal to do the screen play and
also direct his own story, "A Cup of
Coffee." Henry Henigson is the pro-
ducer.
Raft Off To Europe
New York. — Sailing on the lie de
France today are George Raft, Wil-
liam Koenig, G. N. Charington and
A. A. Zinchinio, scenario writers, the
team of Jans and Whalen, and Monty
Banks.
New York Grosses
Keep Low Average
New York. — The grosses at the big
New York picture houses are still far
from the figures that the managers
would like to see. "The House of
Rothschild" is still the pick of the
lot, getting around $20,000 for its
seventh week at the Astor. "Hit-
ler's Reign of Terror," which opened
very big at the Mayfair Monday,
slipped, and will do a little better
(Continued on Page 2)
Sam CoSdwyn Borrows
Del Ruth For Cantor
Sam Goldwyn yesterday borrowed
Roy Del Ruth from 20th Century to
direct "Treasure Hunt," the Eddie
Cantor picture, which starts June 1 .
Nat Perrin, Arthur Sheekman and
Nunnally Johnson are preparing the
screen play. Del Ruth last directed
"Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back,"
which was written by Johnson.
Mady Christians May
Do 'Wicked Woman'
Charles Brabin has made tests this
week of Mady Christians for the star-
ring role in "The Wicked Woman,"
which is scheduled to start at MGM
in three weeks under his direction.
Understood that the slight accent of
the foreign actress Is the only stumb-
ling block.
jean Arthur for Lead
In Columbia Picture
Jean Arthur has been signed by
Columbia for the lead in "The De-
fense Rests," which, with Jack Holt
starred, goes into work next week.
Ralph Farnum set the deal.
'Chains' for Brown
Clarence Brown was selected yes-
terday by MGM to direct the Craw-
ford-Cable production, "Chains."
E
GLADYS LEHMAN
JACK CUNNINGHAM
Screen Play "DOUBLE DOOR '
Paramount Theatre
NOW
Page Two
THE
May 5, 1934
m^lMilPQICTit
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
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werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c, Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
JOH]\$Oi\ DECLARES FILM
INDUSTRY IS MONOPOLY
New Bill of Plays
At Writers' Club
Calm yourselves, my little ones—
because Katharine Hepburn can't
marry that personable agent for some
time yet — he's not divorced himself!
... So yesterday a.m. Sidney Black-
mer's brother Luke took the best fam-
ily car out and smashed it up — it's a
mess — but then who isn't? . . . Joan
Blondell, off to the desert for a few
days, relaxing. . . . That Paramount
comic has been on a bottle rampage
again — and sits in his dressing room
all day playing the victrola — with no-
body able to get him down on the
set! . . . Horror note: In the L. A.
Times the column headed "What's
Doing Today," is on the same page
with the death and funeral notices!
•
The Erich Pommers have rented the
Tom Mix mansion for a long stay. . .
Lloyd Bacon will fly East Monday and
spend a few days in N'Yawk with the
Hal Wallises before they cross the
pond. . . . Guy Kibbee and his palsy
walsy, Hugh Herbert, are fishing up
in the high Sierras — there don't seem
to be any low Sierras! . . . Andy Her-
vey, MCM's pet publicity purveyor, is
home with an abscessed ear. . . . Iris
Tree, Leiand Heyward, Phillips
HImes, Irvin Cobb, the Elliott Nu-
gents, John Balderston, Ben Wasson,
Salva Viertel, at Miriam Hopkins'
party the other night. . . . After hear-
ing Jack Warner via radio the other
night, his pals are advising him to
stick to polo.
•
That Chicago Romeo of Pert Kel-
ton's is now bombarding her with
wires and flowers. . . . Hmmm, do you
know what blonde star gave forth a
small fortune to keep her Poppa out
of jail one night last week? . . . When
Lupe Velez gets through with her
house-revamping, Johnny Weissmuller
will have a private steam-room. . . .
Julie (Mrs. Arthur) Hornblow, sur-
prising everyone with a sudden dash
into the Vendome at lunch — she flew
here for a two weeks visit. . . . Sally
Eilers, Ann Sothern, Virginia Gilbert,
Arthur Sheekman, Dorothy Mackaill,
Mme. Frances Spingold, Mona Maris,
Wally Beery, Louella Parsons, Al
Cohn, Frances Goldwyn, Max Marcin,
Betty Lawford, also lunching same
day.
(Continued from Page 1 )
advantages to small operators with
which the NRA has nothing to do and
over which it has no power of con-
trol. They are permitted under other
laws, and in my opinion these laws
should be changed. But the charge
that any code of fair competition hurts
any small operator is the exact reverse
of fact."
Gen. Johnson's speech followed by
a few hours the presentation to Presi-
dent Roosevelt of the report of the
Clarence Darrow Recovery Review
Board. This, although it has not yet
been made public, is understood to
declare that NRA codes create mo-
nopolies in eight major industries,
including the motion picture business.
The document was presented at
noon and, later in the day, the White
House stated that the President would
read the report over the week-end
and that it would be made public
later.
It is considered here that Gen.
Johnson's speech admitting monopoly
in the picture industry rather takes
the wind out of Darrow's sails, as
the attack on the picture business in
the Darrow report is believed to be
the most bitter of the lot.
Official Washington tonight points
to the report, the Johnson speech and
the pending inquiry into the A. T. &
T. as conclusive proof that the next
year or so will see a completely
changed motion picture industry. It
is felt that the Administration will
give its support to amendments of the
copyright and patent laws, to legisla-
tion to outlaw block booking and to
prevent preferential treatment being
given producer-affiliated theatres.
Film Salesmen May Be
Put Under Hour and
Wage Code Provisions
Washington. — Traveling salesmen,
including those in the motion picture
business, probably will find them-
selves under the wage and hour pro-
visions of the NRA code within a
short time.
It was announced today that public
hearings will be held May 24 in the
Commerce building to determine the
question of whether or not traveling
salesmen, now excluded from these
wage and hour provisions, shall be
placed under them. This will affect
all manufacturing industries and
wholesale trades. With the present
attitude of officialdom towards the
codes, it seems certain that the wage
and hour provisions will prevail.
Another development in the NRA
today was the release of a Manual of
Procedure on Appeal to the National
Labor Board. This was signed by
Robert F. Wagner, chairman of the
board, and is taken to mean that the
board is going to be greatly strength-
ened, either by legislative action or
an executive order, entrenching it
more firmly than ever as a powerful
labor appeals board.
Term For Sheridan
Clara Lou Sheridan, Texas "Search
for Beauty" player, had her option
lifted by Paramount yesterday.
OPEN FORUM
The Hollywood Reporter;
I read on two or three occasions
in the Hollywood Reporter that I was
to play in a London picture with
Charles Laughton and Douglas Fair-
banks Jr.
This information is wrong and the
real facts are as follows:
After I finish "The Merry Widow,"
I will make one picture for the Lon-
don Film Productions, titled "Mr. The
Marshal," directed by Alexander
Korda, The story is being written for
me by Marcel Achard and Henri Jean-
son,
I have no other agreement with the
London Film Productions or Alexan-
der Korda, or any other foreign pro-
ducing company.
I would be greatly obliged if you
would correct in the next issue of the
Hollywood Reporter this erroneous in-
formation.
MAURICE CHEVALIER.
Ed. Note. — The information that
Mr. Chevalier would play in a picture
with Charles Laughton and Doug
Fairbanks Jr. is contained in the offi-
cial announcement of Alexander
Korda's London Films.
Hollywood Cricketers to
Hold Dinner and Revel
The annual dinner dance and revel
of the Hollywood Cricket Club, a
British organization, will be held at
the Roosevelt Hotel at 8 o'clock Sun-
day night to celebrate the result of
the cricket clash between the "gen-
tlemen" and the "actors" of the or-
ganization.
The event follows a meeting of the
two teams at the C. Aubrey Smith
field, one mile east of the Warner-
First National studios on Riverside
Drive, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon.
Goldsmith Leaving N.Y.
Ken Goldsmith leaves New York
Monday on his return here after be-
ing away about a month. He will stop
off at Southern exchanges, and gets
back May 1 5.
Dunne Here Today
Irene Dunne gets in today by train
from New York. She has been away
since finishing her role in Radio's
"Stingaree."
Crosses Not So Good
(Continued from Page 1 )
than $20,000 for the week. Other
figures are:
"Stand Up and Cheer," second
week at Music Hall, $59,000; "Tar-
zan and His Mate," second week at
Capitol, $22,750; "We're Not Dress-
ing," second week at Rivoli, $26,500;
"Journal of a Crime" at the Roxy,
$21,600; "Twenty Million Sweet-
hearts" at the Strand, about $18,000;
"Witching Hour" at the Paramount,
$21,000; "Viva Villa," third week
at Criterion, about $10,000; "She
Made Her Bed" at the Rialto, $6300.
Two one-act plays and four sketches
were presented by the Writers' Club
last night before an audience that
packed the club auditorium.
The plays were: "Rings on Her
Fingers," by Kerry Conway, and
"Morning Shows the Day," by Made-
line Brandeis. The first was directed
by Craufurd Kent. The cast included
Mr. Kent, Minna Gombell and Cleor-
gia Cains. The second was directed
by Paul Gerard Smith. The cast:
Douglas Scott, Yvonne Pelletier, Kenn
Randall, Clarence Geldert, Wilbur
Higby, Vesey O'Davoren, Milton
Kahn, Marion Starling and Al Jerome.
The four sketches, under the gen-
eral title of "After Such Pleasures,"
were written by Dorothy Parker, and
were taken from her books. The
first was "The Mantle of Whistler,"
with Shirley Chambers, James Guil-
foyle and Laura Breska in the cast.
The second was "You Were Perfectly
Fine," with Clara Kimball Young and
Hyram Hoover. Third was "The Lady
from Paris," with Ruthelma Stevens
and Byron Bishop. Last was "Dusk
Before Fireworks," with Adele Row-
land and Walter Armitage.
The plays will be repeated tonight.
'Memory' Opens at the
Biltmore Monday Night
With Helen Morgan as the star,
Myron C. Pagan's play, "Memory,"
will open at the Biltmore Theatre
Monday night. In the cast with Miss
Morgan are Kay Hammond, Jackie
Searl, Bryant Washburn, Leon Way-
coff, Rafael Corio, Mia Marvin and
Vera Lewis.
Miss Morgan has one song in the
play, "A Fool There Was," by Fred
Fischer and Stella Ungar. The en-
gagement is for a limited time and
Summer prices will prevail.
Beverly Hills Players
To Do 'Bitter Harvest'
"Bitter Harvest," a play based on
the life of Lord Byron, will be pre-
sented Monday night at the Haw-
thorne School by the Beverly Hills
Community Players.
Leslie Fenton has the lead, and
Dickson Morgan is the director.
Levinson in Agency
Leonard Levinson has joined the
Hillman-Shane advertising agency an-j
will have charge of the newly-created
publicity and exploitation department.
Foster to Honolulu
Norman Foster leaves Monday fori
a four weeks trip to Honolulu.
I
%
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
SELVES. It looks as though we'll go |
back to single bills now. If we stick;
together and stay honest with each
other, we'll put it over and get back
to normal. Otherwise, it will be a
flop. It's up to the exhibitors en-
tirely."
And there, Mr. Exhibitor, is food
for thought right from one of your
own people. Think it over. You I
know whether or not he is right.'e-i-
May 5, 1934
TRE
Page Three
SOUND MEN BURNED OVER
SCHOOL BACKED BY IBEW
Hays Office Will
Investigate Plan
Sound technicians of Hollywood
were burned yesterday when it was
revealed that Local 40, IBEW, is cir-
culating among its members a four-
page pamphlet, announcing that the
Executive Board is officially co-oper-
ating with F. W. Corbett in the pro-
motion of classes in Motion Picture
Sound Recording and Projection Ma-
chine Operating at the Motion Picture
Engineering Institute.
The sound men bitterly denounced
this move on the part of the IBEW
as a step to try to bring new men into
the sound field to replace those who
object to the IBEW union. They
pointed out that, even if men can be-
come proficient in sound technique
through the courses suggested, fifty
per cent of the sound men in town
now are unemployed because there are
more men than are needed.
The course offered in the pamphlet
is a ten-week one, at a cost of $50,
payable $5 weekly, and the range of
subjects covers every angle of the en-
tire sound and projection field. "Only
in this school,' says the IBEW pamph-
let, "can such a course be taught in
such a short time."
The pamphlet states that the union
has "every confidence" in the ability
of Corbett to "successfully instruct
our members in the many subjects re-
lating to sound."
The pamphlet also reveals that Cor-
bett is a member of Local 40, and
adds: "We are proud to have in our
membership a man of the ability of
Brother Corbett, and suggest that, if
you are interested in a course of this
kind, you personally investigate and be
assured that you will receive unlimited
co-operation to further your particular
interests in this field."
An unusual angle of the situation,
according to sound men, is that the
Hays office has for years warred
against the various schools that have
sprung up, purporting to teach various
phases of the picture business. As the
IBEW has a contract, covering sound
men, with the producers, the other
sound men were wondering yesterday
just what it all means
However, it was learned last night
that the Hays orgianization here is
going to investigate the school. An
executive of the Hays office yesterday
stated that it had not heard of the
new school.
Pratt Assigned to
Direct 'Ladies First'
Gilbert Pratt goes from screen
writing to his first directorial assign-
ment with Paramount on "Ladies
First," the George Bancroft starring
picture, instead of "Honor Bright,"
which Henry Hathaway will direct.
Lead For Michael
Gertrude Michael, Paramount con-
tract player, gets her first important
break in the title spot in "Notorious
Sophie Lang," which William Cam-
eron Menzies will direct under Bayard
Veiller's supervision. It is Frederick
Irving Anderson's story.
Mumps Stops Personal
Appearances of Bebe
New York. — Bebe Daniels and
Ben Lyon did not appear at the
Paramount yesterday. Bebe — and
she is very much ashamed — is
down with the mumps. However,
their engagement will be deferred
for only one week.
Rush of New Plays
on B'w'y Next Week
New York. — First-nighters are go-
ing to be busy next week, for five
new plays are scheduled for their
Broadway debuts.
The Henry Miller starts the week
off Monday night with "These Two,'
by Lionel Hall. Tuesday comes "The
Milky Way," by Lynn Root and Harry
Clark, at the Cort, and on Wednes-
day the Mansfield offers "I, Myself,"
by Adelyn Bushnell, while the Prov-
incetown Playhouse presents a revue,
called "Don't Mind the Rain." Thurs-
day night's opening at the Royale is
"Every Thursday," by Doty Hobart.
Mary Carlisle Lead
For MCM's Rear Car'
MCM yesterday definitely set Mary
Carlisle for the lead in "Rear Car,"
which goes into production under the
direction of Harry Beaumont Monday.
The studio also assigned Porter Hall
to the same picture. Hall came to
Hollywood for "Thin Man," and plans
to return East when "Rear Car" is
completed.
New York Composer on
Music For Brock's First
Lou Brock has signed Jimmy Base,
a New York composer, to write the
music and lyrics for "Johnny Loves
Mary,' his first independent picture.
The story is by Gregory Wortsen.
Kids For U' Picture
'Universal has signed two of the
youngsters who appeared in "Seed"
with Lois Wilson for similar parts in
"There's Always Tomorrow" which
begins today under Edward Sloman's
direction. The kids are Helen Parrish
and Dick Winslow.
Kelly' Lead Signed
Trem Carr has signed Guy Robert-
son, now in "All the King's Horses"
in New York, to a term deal and will
bring the player here for the lead in
"King Kelly of the U.S.A." It will
be his first screen appearance.
'U' After Robinson
Casey Robinson, who washes up
y^ith Charles R. Rogers next week,
'may move over to Universal to do the
script for the re-make of "The
Hunchback of Notre Dame."
New Radio Title
Radio has changed the title of "Let
Who Will Be Clever" to "We're Rich
Again." William Seiter directsi
Union Guarantees
HurdNotePayments
Herbert Aller, business representa-
tive of Local 659, lATSE, announced
last night that the union will stand
100 per cent behind all the members
whose notes were turned over to
Howard Hurd in the settlement of his
contract, payment of which has been
demanded by today with threat of le-
gal action if the money is not forth-
coming.
Aller explained that the union will
furnish legal counsel for the signers
of the notes in case the matter goes
to court, will attempt to arrange with
the present note holders to allow the
men to pay the moff at the rate of
ten per cent of their earnings weekly
when they work, which was the ar-
rangement with the Local. And, if
any of the men cannot get work and
are pushed, the union will make
weekly payments on the notes at the
rate of ten per cent of what the men
would earn if they were working.
"We will not fall down on our
members," said Aller, "and we will
not allow them to suffer any hard-
ship through this transaction."
Marcus Starting Two
Shorts at Radio Today
Lee Marcus gets the first of two
new series of shorts into work today
at Radio, when Ben Holmes directs
the first of the Chick Chandler series
and Alf Goulding starts the first Edgar
Kennedy.
Tom Kennedy, Ed Deering and
Jeanie Roberts have been signed for
the former. Florence Lake, Dot Far-
ley, Jack Rice and Bill Augustin go
into the latter.
Three Out of Four New
Plays Not For Pictures
New York. — Three out of four
new plays on Broadway are definitely
not for pictures. They are "Love
Kills," "Lady from the Sea" and
"Picnic." The fourth, "Jig Saw," is
a good possibility.
Pallette For 'Dragon'
Warners signed Eugene Pallette yes-
terday for a detective role in "The
Dragon Murder Case" which begins
Monday under the direction of Lucky
Humberstone. Pallette created the
same character in other S S. Van Dine
stories.
Farnol Leaving N. Y.
Lynn Farnol leaves tomorrow by
train from New York for the coast.
The Goldwyn publicity man arrived in
New York Thursday from London,
where he handled the campaigns on
"Nana" and "Roman Scandals."
Lou Brock with Zanft
The John Zanft Ltd. agency an-
nounced yesterday that it had signed
a five-year managerial contract with
Lou Brock, who will become an inde-
pendent producer shortly.
ATTER$
bifHelmQwunn
Because lack of time and space
prevented it before, we want to take
time out here to give a vote of thanks
to Larry Ceballos and LeRoy Prinz for
the perfectly grand dances they staged
for "Murder at the Vanities." First
of all, it was a genuine pleasure to
watch chorus girls doing chorus dances
instead of being flower petals. It was
fun to see them dancing, facing the
audience, instead of having to look
at the tops of a lot of heads going
around in circles. But best of all,
there isn't a dance in the picture that
couldn't have been done on the stage,
and, since they all took place in a
review, the fact that they looked as
if they belonged in one is something
very much to the credit of Messrs.
Ceballos and Prinz.
Furthermore, in staging the dances
that way, they didn't slow up the
action, and better than that, they
combined pictorial beauty with move-
ment without digging for trick effects.
Especially lovely is the number that
Carl Brisson sings about "What are
the wild waves saying" (or something
like that), wherein the chorus does
things with fans that make you think
of what a nice place the seashore
really is.
•
And having mentioned Carl Bris-
son, we might as well give out what
he had to say to a friend of his about
his first American picture role. This
friend knew him from England and so
Carl was saying, "You know, over
there 1 am always playing light-
hearted, gay, happy-go-lucky parts
and here in this picture I am a mur-
derer. Imagine, me, a murderer, who
am always so happy-go-lucky. But it
doesn't really matter — I still have my
aimples!"
Aha, there's a new racket being
worked around these here parts by a
publicity agent who evidently isn't
quite bright. It is his idea to go
around to newcomers to the screen
and offer his services to them for
nothing until such time as he has put
them over in a big way or until they
are making $250 a week, and then
they are supposed to remember him
and pay him off accordingly. But
there is a cute little catch in the ar-
rangement. In order to get this re-
markable service, absolutely free,
ladies and gents, all the prospective
clients have to do is to subscribe to
a clipping bureau that will cost them
FIFTY dollars a month.
•
Our mention of a movie boner to
the effect that in "As the Earth
Turns," despite the fact that it was
below zero weather, no one had a
frosty breath, has had good results.
Dr. Nolan called in to tell us that his
invention for creating frosty breaths
on the screen is about to be snapped
up by all the studios going in for cold
weather scenes. It's an ill breath
that blows nobody some good, we al-
ways say.
Page Four
THg
May 5, 1934
Para. Denies It Is
Unfair to Labor
Frank Brandow, studio manager at
the Paramount studios, yesterday is-
sued a statement in which he denied
any intent on the part of Paramount
to discriminate against any building
trades craftsmen in Los Angeles.
The statement was in reply to the
report that the Los Angeles Building
Trades Council had passed a resolu-
tion calling for a boycott of Para-
mount pictures on the ground that the
studio has been unfair to labor in
the letting of contracts for building
projects at its plant. Mr. Brandow
states that the wage scale of the con-
tractors doing the work comes under
the buildings trades NRA code, and
is something outside the studio's
jurisdiction, and adds that the studio
is living up to the code and will con-
tinue to do so.
Lewis Foster Goes to
Para. For 'Fleurette'
Completing his work today on the
treatment of his own original, "Face
of an Angel," at Fox, Lewis Foster
moves to Paramount Monday to write
the screen play of "52 Weeks For
Fleurette," which Alfred Werker di-
rects.
Lynn Starling, Walter De Leon and
Harry Ruskin, who were on the story,
have completed their work and will
be given new assignments Hoffman-
Schlager set the Foster deal.
Radio Player Coming
Barbara Robbins arrives by train
from New York Monday to start her
term contract with Radio. Her first
assignment will be the lead opposite
John Barrymore in "A Hat, a Coat, a
Glove," which George Nicholls Jr. puts
before the cameras Tuesday. Kenneth
Macgowan produces.
Agents Sue Nixon
Rebecca and Silton yesterday filed
suit against Marian Nixon for $393
in commissions on "Strictly Dynamite."
Harry Sokolov acted for the com-
plainant.
Beatrice Van an Agent
Beatrice Van drops out of the writ-
ing ranks to become an agent, joining
the Hallam Cooley office to operate a
writers' and story department.
Mary Morris East
With Paramount still holding an
option for her services, Mary Morris
started last night on the return trip
to New York. She was in "Double
Door."
'Cleopatra' Returns
The "Cleopatra" unit of 15, head-
ed by C. B. DeMille, returned yester-
day from a week's location at the
Mojave desert.
Arthur Loew Returning
New York. — Arthur Loew, who
has been in Europe inspecting the
continental offices, returns to New
York Tuesday.
Dorothy Ates to London
Dorothy Ates is sailing for London
next week to fill an engagement at
the Kit-Kat Club.
BRUSSELS ONCE A MOIVTH
Prominent exhibitor — no fooling,
he's an exhibitor — looking for very
beeg pitcher on Wednesday to be
opened on Friday. . . So he's asking
for "Rothschild." . . . with preparatory
publicity campaign to be launched . .
afterwards. . . Be patient, boys, here's
a better one and just as true. . . Same
exhibitor won't sign up "Roman Scan-
dals" because they are "too funny"
(now imagine a picture of Eddie Can-
tor beino TOGO funny!!) ; but "Sorrel
and Son" is TOGO sad. ... So United
Artists manager desperately calls up
Paris asking if they can't deliver film
made "to measure." . . . Cyril Gardner
studying Yourop . . . with table phones
at the "Broadway" and absinthe
glasses (filled, and something like a
dozen if we are still able to count) at
the Antwerp "Claridge." . . . Now, be
in expectation world. . . . Cyril will
remember the crying BAMBINA in
his next, we bet. . . . Gather all the
sympathy you have, my friends.
•
Dave Bader is boiling over, the boil
spoiling his vacation. . . . And can he
fight the fever! . . . It's his secret
how he's guessing of what sex are the
germs; it's a healing gift. . . . Sam
Goldwyn "angeling" press through
medium of Anna Sten, and a plenty.
. . . Widy, Paramount publicity doc-
tor, missing at Tuesday's Round Table
film-press lunch; but it's not the wife
. . just a cold. . . . The Frank Film
Corp. decided to be life-saver of trade;
sez they. . . Such fun for everybody!
There ain't no bird around here not
guessing who's the lucky getter of
Columbia product; or is it RKO. . .
Habib and Gouron (read Metro and
Paramount) making a dash to Paris,
well, for conferences.
•
"I'm No Angel" is a lie, Mae; you
are that to the Studio des Beaux-Arts.
. . . What do you think Mr. Putzeys
is keeping you for on TWO screens
at the same time? . . . Monogram
Pictures getting hooked up here with
Auror Films, while Mayfair (and Ac-
tion) moving into Filmax office. . . .
Bosman looking everywhere for orchids
for efficient work in getting popular
Bourland as partner. . . . American
product getting new chance at Me-
tropole. . . . (Metro-Goldwyn) Byre
from Paris down to Antwerp with
Habib conclaving with Roxy crowd.
. . . Marcel Coppens packing for Paris
to meet Harold L. Smith from Hays
office on current problems . . . and
headaches.
•
Mosjoukine and Tania Fedor smil-
ing from ear to ear at cordial recep-
tion offered to press when new "Casa-
nova" version is released. . . Members
of Belgian Film Chamber hot on re-
organization of association including
everybody connected with film busi-
ness here, based on plan realized in
Holland. . . . Business downtrodden,
so both distributor and exhibitor want
to be protected mutually. . . Shoukens
gets few"angeling" offers from France
to produce new moneymakers
Boris of the Sala ain't too cordial
these days; but he will get over it.
. . . You don't hear much about War-
ners these days. . . . Well, see you
soon mebbe, with transatlantics al-
most over-crowded.
Goldwyn and Warner
Hearing Continued
Trial of Sam Goldwyn's petition for
an injunction against Warners contin-
uing to use Busby Berkeley finally got
under way yesterday before Judge
Frank Smith in Superior Court.
Eddie Cantor was called as a wit-
ness for Goldwyn and the day's session
was devoted to defining the meaning
of the technical term "rehearsal." The
definition, it is said, may be the focal
point in the trial in view of Warners'
contention that the studio was unable
to deliver the dance director because,
at the time Goldwyn's demand for him
was served, he was rehearsing
"Dames." The case continues Monday
morning.
Eight Fox-World Wide
Features for Amity
New York — Amity Pictures has ac-
quired eight of the Fox-World Wide
features for distribution through Am-
ity exchanges.
They are "The Man Called Back,"
"Hell-Fire Austin" and six Bob Steele
Westerns. Amity now has 27 pic-
tures for release.
United Films Corp.
Plans Florida Studio
New York. — United Films Corpora-
tion announces that it is planning the
construction of a sound studio with
two stages at Hollywood, Florida. It
will be available to independents.
'Dynamite' Retakes
Additional scenes and retakes will
be made Sunday at Radio on "Strictly
Dynamite." Those in the cast who
were recalled are Jimmy Durante, Nor-
man Foster, Marian Nixon, William
Gargan, Tom Kennedy and Stanley
Fields.
Roy Jones Will Wed
Roy C. Jones, prop department head
at Paramount, and Irene Hulbert, ex-
pect to fly to Las Vegas today to be
married. Miss Hulbert was formerly
in Paramount's wardrobe department.
Now n\ Teir Shifts
New York. — The Fox picture,
"Now I'll Tell," originally scheduled
for the Music Hall, will go into the
Roxy instead, opening May 25.
Snell With Mascot
Mascot has signed Earle Snell to
collaborate with Joseph Santley on the
latter's original, "Young and Beauti-
ful." Lou Baum supervises.
Bartlett on 'Cinch'
Sy Bartlett has been assigned to
adapt the screen play of "The Cinch"
at Warners, a story dealing with Boul-
der Dam, by Dan Templin.
Van Upp-McEvoy Team
Virginia Van Upp has been assigned
by Paramount to collaborate with J. P.
McEvoy on the screen play of "Ready
for Love."
Warner Deal Lagging
(Continued from Page 1 )
Laboratory Theatre
of MCM Sets Debut
MGM tossed its hat into the talent-
hunt cfrcle yesterday through its Lab-
oratory Theatre, which will serve as
the medium of finding new players
and writers.
Official debut takes place May 14
at the Hawthorne High School audito-
rium, which the studio has leased.
Five one-act plays will be presented,
studio executives, directors, writers
and players constituting the audience.
Maurice Revnes, Oliver Hinsdale and
Samuel Kayser head the Laboratory,
with Dr. Garland Greever of USC as
advisory counsel.
Mussolini Biographer
Luncheon Guest at MGM
MGM tendered a banquet yesterday
to Margherita Sarfatti, biographer of
Mussolini. L. B. Mayer acted as host
to a number of prominent Italians.
The Italian Consul, Dr. A. P. Giannini,
Frank Capra and Will Hays attended.
20th Century Changes
Twentieth Century has started ex-
tensive alterations to its executive
offices, which will include the addi-
tion of a private dining room for the
executives. Bill Dover is the only
official of the company still in town,
and he leaves on his vacation June 1.
Ratony With Radio
Radio yesterday signed Dan Ratony
to collaborate with H. W. Hanemann,
Frank R. Adams and Jane Murfin on
"The Other Passport," which is slated
as the next Francis Lederer vehicle.
John Cromwell will direct and Pandro
Berman will produce.
Stuart-Gleason on Air
Gloria Stuart and James Gleason will
head the "Hollywood on the Air" ra-
dio program, which now goes over
NBC Sunday night from 8:15 to 9.
Berton Churchill, Joan Marsh, Noah
Beery and Jan Rubini's orchestra will
also be heard.
Randforce will operate the chain un-
der the Warner theatre department.
If this report is true, Skouras will be
confined to operations in Fox West
Coast.
It is reported that Warners ex-
pect to be called upon to make a cash
outlay of about $2,500,000, the bal-
ance to be guaranteed by Warner
bonds.
However, a conflicting report comes
from financial sources close to Fox
Metropolitan. That is that any claim
that Warners may make that they
have closed for these houses is ridicu-
lous. The Fox Metropolitan reorgani-
zation plan will go through next week,
it is said, and thirty days after that
offers will be entertained. Further-
more, this authority says, no offer has
been received.
So, "you pays your money and takes
your choice." If the deal goes through,
Warners will have approximately 600 | i
houses and will rank in New York
with Loew's and RKO.
RENE
DUNNE
IN
W
STINCAREE
>I(TIJRES
RICHARD
X
AS
STINCAREE
//
CURRENT PICTURE
FAMILY MAN"
KTURES
UNA
O'CONNOR
P AS
ANNIE
^>^^>^.^^^cvK*^i
BECKY
GARDINER
SCREEN PLAY
w
STINCAREE
//
:^
A GREAT ARTIST
. . . . PROVES HERSELF
A GREAT SINGER
MISS IRENE DUNNE
SINGS
W
TONIGHT
IS MINE"
IN
"STINCAREE"
WRITTEN BY
W. FRANKE
HARLINC
CUS KAHN
ADAPTATION
OF
W
STINCAREE
//
BY
n.
LYNN Rices
AND
LEONARD
SPICELCASS
COOLNESS A\ND COMFORT
+
An enticing
BUFFET MENU
for warm Summer days
An excellent selection of
LONG COOL DRINKS
to refresh one's spirit
An assortment of
FINE WINES & SPIRITS
The finest of any store in America
For your convenience, a
TASTI NG BAR
to aid in making your selections
OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT
Delivery Service to all parts of the City
■f
THIS IS
6666 SUNSET
Hollywood 1666
'
THE WORLD
TOMORROW rSanc/ay; w.u lI^teh to
HOLLYWOOD-ON-THE-AIR is the
first program to prove the PERFECT
wedding of screen and radio. That's why
it is the one broadcast that carries the
hearty endorsement of motion picture
theatre owners and exhibitors through-
out the nation. They KNOW that Holly-
wood-On-The-Air this week . . and EVERY
week. . presents the outstanding artists
personally in the homes of millions of
motion picture fans . . via the National
Broadcasting Company Network . . with
ENTERTAINMENT that sells Hollywood's
outstanding celebrities . .and the pictures
in which they appear . . in a way that
BUILDS THEATRE PATRONAGE!
*
This SUNDAY NIGHT:
Jimmy and Lucille . .the truest trouper
family of stage and screen . . enacting their
newest laugh skit entitled 'Married Thirty
Years — So What!''— It's positively a riot!
THE GLEASONS
* *
One of screendom''s youngest and most
beautiful new stars . . singing 'Oh Me, Oh
My, Oh You' from the motion picture
'Strictly Dynamite.'
JOAN MARSH
*
The internationally famous violin virtu-
oso, composer and conductor . . playing
'Star Dust\ . and directing the greater 1^ BC
orchestra in 'The Melody Parade of Hits'.,
featuring the never-to-be-forgotten tunes
from 'Syncopation,' 'Rio Rita,' 'Bird of
Paradise,' and 'Flying Doicn to Rio.'
JAN RUBINI
Introducing for the first time on the air. .
a new tune that's destined to be one of the
year's greatest musical hits entitled'The Big
Bad Wolf Is Dead'. . from the new Wheeler
and Woolsey starring vehicle 'Cockeyed
Cavaliers' . .as sung by that screen-stage-
radio basso sensation . .
NOAH BEERY
*
In a special interview with Jimmie Fidler. .
this popular new film star will reveal why
and hotc she started out to become an act-
ress . . and now, what happens in a highly
dramatic scene . . when her director calls for
a real 'take'!
GLORIA STUART
•
Hot news and choice gossip by iVBC's fa-
mous Hollywood-On-The-Air tattler..
JIMMIE FIDLER
i STAR^ i
DIRECT FROM THE
RKO^NBC
BROADCASTING
STUDIOS
TUNE IN (Locally on) KECA ♦ 8:15 t
^ MP.SAN'UFL MAP.-;.
CULVER CITY.CALIb'
Vol. XX, No. 50. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, May 8. 1934
rWC T€ riGHT C€DC SlAP
Will Carry Its Appeal From
Grievance Board Ruling To
Supretne Court If Necessary
•ONE of the most important and far-
reaching decisions ever given in the
motion picture industry was that of
the Los Angeles Grievance Board in
ruling that Fox West Coast and Prin-
cipal Theatres had over-bought prod-
uct and must relinquish twenty pic-
tures to a competing independent
independent house in Alhambra.
We heard several conflicting opin-
ions yesterday, but all agreed on the
importance of the ruling, IF it is up-
held by the Code Authority and other
authorities or courts who may con-
sider it. That it will be carried to
the highest courts in the land if the
decision of the Code Authority goes
against the chains is certain.
•
The conflict of opinion came over
the effect of the ruling on block
booking. A number of industry lead-
ers expressed the belief that it meant
the end of that practise; that, if the
Code Authority has the right to say
how pictures shall be divided in a
certain territory, to allocate product,
selling in block is over because an
exhibitor or chain could not be certain
that he would get what he had pur-
chased.
On the other hand, the Grievance
Board's decision is understood to have
been largely influenced by the fact
that the Alhambra independent had
had the Warner product last year and
that this year the chains had taken it
away from him. So a sufficient num-
ber of pictures to make up this loss
was awarded him. A member of the
Grievance Board said that he could
not see how the ruling would affect
block booking in any way.
•
Whatever may be the ultimate ef-
fect, the Code has suddenly assumed
added importance. Heretofore, there
hasn't been very much interest in it
among the leaders in the industry.
This ruling is the first time it has
really shown its teeth and showed
also that it can bite. Gen Johnson
has said right along that the NRA
would protect the "little fellow." In
the present instance, that is what has
been done.
The ruling also establishes a prece-
dent for other territories. No one
can have any doubt that similar con-
ditions exist all over the country and,
if the present decision is finally up-
(Continued on Page 2)
Hot Weather Hits
New York Crosses
New York. — The sudden hot
weather yesterday played havoc
with the grosses of the Broadway
picture houses and spoiled the pros-
pects for a good week. The tem-
perature ran up to well over 80
degrees, too hot for shows.
Jerry Sackheim New
'U' Story Dept.Head
Universal yesterday signed Jerry
Sackheim to a long term contract as
head of the story department. Leonard
Spigelgass remains as scenario head
and will become an associate producer.
Sackheim checks out as Sam Marx's
assistant at MGM Saturday, moving to
Universal Monday.
Deal was negotiated by Noll Gurney
of the Schulberg, Feldman and Gurney
office.
Laughton on Way to
Take 'Barretts' Role
Southampton. — Charles Laughton
and his wife, Elsa Lanchester, sailed
Saturday for America. The two
"Henry the Eighth" protagonists are
due to reach Hollywood about Mayl 5.
Laughton is cast for the demoniacal
dad of "The Barretts of Wimpole
Street" at MGM.
Lou Metzger Made BIP
Representative in U. S.
New York. — Lou Metzger, of San
Diego, has been appointed American
representative for British International
Pictures. He is due here from England
next week and will open New York
offices.
Fox West Coast and Principal Theatres are going to fight the
decision of the Los Angeles Grievance Board which found them
guilty of over-buying product and withholding pictures from an
independent competitor, and will carry the battle clear up to the
United States Supreme Court if neces-
sary.
The decision to fight was reached
yesterday immediately after executives
had received the ruling of the Griev-
ance Board, which ordered them to
turn over twenty first-run pictures to
the Garfield theatre in Alhambra.
Legal counsel set to work at once
drafting an appeal from the local
Grievance Board's decision. This will
(Continued on Page 4)
Selznick, Cukor and
Estabrook in London
London. — David O. Selznick arrived
today to seek authentic Dickensonian
types for "David Copperfield" princi-
pals. He is accompanied by George
Cukor and Howard Estabrook, the di-
rector and scenarist of the projected
MGM picture.
Faces to fit the traditional illustra-
tions for Mr. Micawber, Uriah Heep
and Copperfield as a young man are
sought. ^
Mrs. Viertel to Korda
Salka Viertel has been signed by
Alexander Korda to go to England on
a. Writing ticket with London Films.
Deal was negotiated via cable and
Mrs. Viertel leaves in two weeks for
London.
ZAXCCK WANTS TO SCREEN
SHAKESPEARE AIVD OPERA
'Murder at Vanities'
Opens at U.A. Saturday
New York. — In his first interview
given here yesterday, Darryl Zanuck,
who is sailing for Europe and Africa
shortly, said that he hopes in the near
future to be able to transfer Shakes-
peare's plays and some grand operas
to the screen.
Zanuck touched on several angles
of the picture business in his talk. He
spoke emphatically against the double
feature evil and condemned the star
system. He also came out flatly in
favor of criticism of pictures and said
he did not care how severe it was. He
(Continued on Page 6)
Sid Grauman has selected the Para-
mount production, "Murder at the
Vanities," as the next attraction at
the United Artists theatre. It will
start its engagement there Saturday.
FBrtemssi Radio Producer
Radio yesterday signed B. P. Fine-
man as an associate producer and will
give him his first assignment soon.
He was formerly on MGM executive.
Trmnrrnin
Boycott Urged on
Improper Pictures
Declaring that the motion picture
producers and exhibitors have not kept
faith with their public, a virtual boy-
cott of motion picture theatres until
pictures are cleared up was rec-
ommended yesterday at a conference
at the Biltmore hotel of educators,
churchmen, and members of women's
organizations.
The opinion of those present was
that the boycott should be maintained
until the subject matter of pictures is
improved to conform to the ideals
upon which our country was founded.
Rev. Martin McNicholas, head of the
Catcholic schools in the diocese of Los
Angeles and San Diego, said that pic-
tures have great responsibilities, but
must be regulated and their force di-
rected in the proper channel or else
no children should be permitted to see
them.
Irv Cobb May Star in
Feature Film For MGM
The possibility of Irvin Cobb star-
ring in a feature to be written by
himself has been discussed by the
humorist with Hal Roach.
The first two or three shorts of the
Cobb series of eight will be the test
of his aptitude as a screen actor, and
of his interest in going big-time for
an MGM feature.
John Daumery Dies
London — John Daumery, one of the
best known of British directors, is dead
in Lausanne, Switzerland. Irving
Asher, Warner's British representative,
started for Lausanne by plane when
he heard of Daumery's condition, but
arrived too late.
Jane Murfin to Produce
Jane Murfin is listed on the Radio
production slate as an associate pro-
ducer and it is understood that she
moves into that spot on the comple-
tion of her script work on "The Other
Passport."
DON T OVERLOOK
GETTING YOUR
COPY IN FOR THE
^S
DIRECTORS' NUMBErI
■■■■^■■■^■■■■■■^^ ■ ■ - — I ■ ■■.■■ ^J(^
Page Two
May 8, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W, 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7 1 93;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Night-clubbing in the Hoilywoods
was practically at a standstill over the
week-end . . . but parties at the Wal-
ter Wangers and the Dick Wallaces,
the Ceraghty-Wilson wedding et al,
helped some. . . . Stu Erwin's bulldog
won two (count 'em) prizes at the
Ambassador show. . . . The gal in the
Shim-Sham Revue who seems to be
causing the biggest stir among pro-
ducers is fifteen-year-old Maybelle
Lewis, sister of Maxine, former night-
club queen. . . . You'd pass out if you
knew what famous publisher's son is
now "taking care of" the ex-ina-
morata of a big director — and in grand
style, too! . . . The Sam Woods plan-
ning to leave for Europe in a couple
of weeks.
•
Virginia Pine arrives here Saturday
on the Chief — George Raft having
leaped abroad for some quick appear-
ances before saying the "I do's." . . .
The Gene Markeys (Joan Bennett) off
for Rome, Paris and London last night.
. . . Miriam Hopkins' foot is out of
the cast, so Miriam goes back into the
cast of "She Loves Me Not" tomor-
row. . . . Louis B. Mayer gave a
luncheon for the Sultan of Johore yes-
terday. . . . Mrs. Wally Beery reported
much improved, so Wally beams with
joy. . . . Al Jolson will drive to N.Y.
end of the month. . . . Warren Wil-
liam has bought a big estate in En-
cino — near Van Nuys. . . . Nancy Car-
roll, with Van Smith; Carl Laemmie
Sr. with his family, Mickey Neilan
and party — among the Cocoanut
Grovers Friday night.
•
The Frank Tuttles celebrated their
wedding anniversary in a large way
Sunday night. . . . John Beal, fresh
from the N. Y. stage, reporting for
work with John Barrymore at Radio.
. . . When Lois Moran reaches for
almost any note — her vocal cords
stand out to THERE! It's very con-
fusing! . . . Laff note: A certain
writer was fired from Warners, but
was rehired after he scored against
the Warner team at polo the other
day! . . . Irene Dunne back from her
Eastern jaunt. . . . And Elizabeth Allan
hopped a plane in N. Y. yesterday to
rush here for her "Green Hat" role.
"SUCCESS AT ANY PRICE '
Radio prod.; director, j. Walter Ruben; writers, John Howard Lawson,
Howard J. Green
Rialto Theatre
Times: With the connivance of the author, the screen version of John Howard
Lawson's sardonic success story has been managed with considerable effec-
tiveness. Fortunately, the dramatic instinct, or lack of it, which was re-
sponsible for crudely renovating the original title to "Success At Any
Price" has not extended its sinister influence to the work itself.
News: Douglas Fairbanks Jr. presents a splendid performance in the role of Joe
Martin. The direction is skilful and the settings are good.
World-Telegram: Enough of the intensity and fervor, vehemence and bitterness
of the original have been preserved to make the film really interesting
screen entertainment. Douglas Fairbanks jr. is excellent as Martin.
Mirror: A moderately impressive movie, though it lacks the movie qualities of
speed and action. It is intelligently directed and skilfully played.
Post: Though the plot is vigorous and the dialogue penetrating, the whole affair
has a tendency to put you into one of those what-of-it moods. Probably
one reason why all of this matters so little is due to the inordinate medi-
ocrity of the acting.
American: The play has gained nothing in transition to the screen, and so the
new entertainment at the Rialto is very mediocre movie. Mr. Fairbanks
lends strength to a bitterly unattractive and flamboyantly written role.
Herald-Tribune: Considered as screen entertainment, "Success At Any Price" is
an intelligent, if a somewhat melodramatic story, in which Douglas Fair-
banks Jr. gives an interesting portrayal.
Even to one who has not seen or read the stage play, it is easy to surmise
that the film version has been tempered, sweetened somewhat — a few
punches pulled and the ending changed, perhaps. "Succss At Any Price"
is shrewdly effective movie fare. It is well done and you'll probably find
it worth your time.
Sun:
Radio Testing New
Lamp in Color Work
Radio yesterday put to test a new
device, the Bishop lamp, with a view
to using it in the first Technicolor
short if it is passed on favorably.
The lamp controls rapid changes of
colored lights and also blends them
accurately at the same time. Lloyd
Corrigan conducted the tests, with
Don Alvarado and Steffi Dunni enact-
ing a scene from "La Cucaracha" for
the purpose.
Cantor Will Tell of
Talk With President
First information as to what took
place at the conferences between
President Roosevelt and Eddie Cantor
during the comedian's Washington
visit recently will be revealed by Can-
tor Sunday night at the meeting of
the Screen Actors' Guild.
This will be at El Capitan Theatre.
Annual election of officers will be
held.
Big Fish For Cordon
Leon Gordon hooked a 43-pound
halibut at Malibu Sunday, with Frank
Lloyd and Al Rockett along to prove
it. Lloyd and Rockett also made nice
catches, but were edged out of the
super class.
Col. Release For Foy
Columbia will release the Frank
Craven production, "That's Gratitude,"
Bryan Foy yesterday putting the deal
through.
. . . Whatever became of the script
that Gene Fowler and Ben Hecht
wrote that was to have co-starred
Marie Dressier and W. C. Fields?. We
know the answer — and it's very
funny!
Paramount Cuts Its
Shorts Program by 25
New York. — Paramount has reduc-
ed its short schedule for next year by
25, having eliminated 24 two-reelers
and one single, as announced by Lou
Diamond, in charge of shorts.
The schedule now calls for 100 one-
reelers and 1 04 issues of Paramount
newsreels. There will be six "Color
Classics," 26 "Paramount Varieties,"
18 "Headliners," 13 "Pictorials," 13
"Grantland Rice Sportlights," 12 issues
of "Popeye, the Sailor" and 12 "Betty
Boops."
Helen Vinson III
A flu attack that confined her to
her home yesterday forced Helen Vin-
son to pull out of the cast of "After-
wards." Radio signed Julie Hayden
to fill the role.
Cormack on Vacation
Bartlett Cormack handed in his
§0npt of "Pursuit of Happiness" at
/paramount yesterday and today hops
off for his first vacation in five years.
He goes to his native Chicago.
IRISH SETTERS
3 MALE PUPPIES
Eight weeks old, fine pedigree,
hunting strain, for sale
reasonable.
CHARLES STARRETT
706 N. Palm Drive Beverly Hills
European with years of com-
mercial experience abroad wants
connection with motion picture
or an independent producer for
distributing or contact man.
BOX 105
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Erpi Execs East As |*
Smoot Suit Nears
The two-year-old suit against Elec-
trical Research Products, Inc., brought
by Mrs. Alice Smoot and claiming
commissions on the sale of sound
equipment to the Mormon Church at
Salt Lake City, is set for trial in New
York next Monday.
Morris Ridge, head of Erpi's West-
ern Service Studio, Arthur Lamb, sales
manager, and George Pratt, vice-
president, will be in New York when
the trial is slated to start. Ridge and
Lamb have already left and Pratt
leaves Thursday. One of the execu-
tives stated yesterday that the trio
will testify at the suit if called upon,
but that it is expected the case will
be settled out of court between now
and Monday.
Lawrence-Fairbanks
Play Interests London
London. — Most of London is wait-
ing for reports from Manchester, Eng-
land, on the opening of "The Wind-
ing Journey," which co-stars Gertrude
Lawrence and Doug Fairbanks Jr.
iwrence and uoug rairoanKs jr.
It is Doug's first stage shot and, if
IT IS uoug s Tirsr stage briut anu, ii
tne idea clicks, it is his intention to
divide his time in the future between
theatre and films.
Bill Clark With Educ.
New York. — William J. Clark, for-
merly managing director of Paramount
Pictures in Australia, has been ap-
pointed assistant sales manager for
Educational Pictures and starts next
Monday on a tour of Fox exchanges
that handle Educational product.
Bijou Scout For Fox
Bijou Fernandez, former New York
agent, left last night for San Francisco
to scout around the Bay District's lit-
tle theatres for possible talen for Fox.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
held, it means trouble for the big
circuits. However, appeals to the
Code Authority, to Washington and,
if necessary, to the Supreme Court,
undoubtedly will be made and there
is enough legal machinery to tie the
question up for a long time.
The BErr
PICTUI^E
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Then call me up and I'll submit a plan
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The World's Largest Annuity Co. is
represented by
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Annuities and Life Insurance
220 Taft BIdg. Vine at Hollywood
CRanite 1721 j
1
May 8. 1934
Page Three
WHEN §iTRA]\GER§ MEET" IS
ONLY FOR THE SMALL TIME
rnvtam.
Story Better Than
Acting or Direction
"WHEN STRANGERS MEET"
(Liberty)
Direction William Christy Cabanne
Author Adele Buffington
Photography ..,- Johnson
Cast: Arline Judge, Richard Cromwell,
Lucien Littlefield, Charles Middle-
ton Sarah Padden, Sheila Terry,
Ray Walker, Julie Haydon, Vera
Gordon, Luis Alberni.
Well, you'd think that the Grand
Hotel cycle would be over by this
time But no. It isn't. Here comes
the Crand-Hotel-in-a-Bungalow-Court
drammer, entitled "When Strangers
Meet." It's a Liberty production.
While the story isn't original, it
has enough interest to keep it going.
Rather, it would have, if the cast and
direction gave it a break. Oddly
enough, all the bit players turn in re-
markably fine performances, but the
principals, and the slow, listless di-
rection of Christy Cabanne, weaken
the whole thing. Considerable cut-
ting would help a lot.
Charles Middleton plays the mean
old owner of the bungalow court, who
keeps his wife, Sarah Padden, in a
continual state of abject fright, and
his son, Richard Cromwell, in inef-
fectual rebellion. Cromwell, in love
with Arline Judge, the daughter of a
quaint old drunk, Lucien Littlefield, is
unable to accept a splendid position
in another city because he is afraid
to leave his mother to the untender
mercies of his father. Finally, how-
ever, because a double murder is com-
mitted in the bungalow court, the vil-
lain is exposed with all his misdeeds,
and everything turns out fine.
The story is less important than
the characterizations. There is the
wife who fails to pay the rent each
month because she can't resist gam-
bling her husband's hard-earned dol-
lars on the races; a charming Jewish
couple whose son is learning to play
the drums and who practices long and
hard; a couple of golddiggers; a Ger-
man tenor whose home-brew just will
explode; an excitable cobbler, and a
young couple with a baby.
Arline Judge has fine moments in
her performance, and Richard Crom-
well gets away rather well with his
role of the weak boy. Sarah Padden
is ineffective, and so is Charles Mid-
dleton, both over-playing. Lucien
Littlefield is splendid as the drunk,
Ray Walker is a fast-working reporter,
Julie Haydon is the girl whose charms
contribute to Middleton's downfall,
and Sheila Terry has a small role. Vera
Cordon contributes a high note to the
picture as the Jewish mother; Luis Al-
berni is fascinating as the cobbler,
and the man who played the tenor is
grand. Adele Buffington wrote the
story.
This one is not for the big houses,
and the less critical audiences will be
only half-way pleased with it unless it
it pepped up.
Col. Picture Gefs
$5,000 in Four Days
New York. — Columbia's produc-
tion of "Twentieth Century,"
which is now playing at the Radio
City Music Hall, rolled up a gross
of $56,000 for its first four days,
about the best the house has had
recently.
'Social' Interests
Start Agency Fuss
An agency war has broken out
between the Small-Landau office and
the Schulberg, Feldman and Curney
over two players, Rochelle Hudson and
Helen Vinson.
The Small-Landau office accuses
Johnny Madgio, of Schulberg, Feldman
and Gurney, of attempting to ring
their client, Rochelle Hudson, while
the latter office accuses Pat De Cicco,
of Small-Landau, of trying to lasso
Helen Vinson. Each disclaims raiding
intentions, asserting the respective
interests are "social."
MOM Signs Actress at
Her Stage Play Opening
New York. — Gladys George was
signed by MGM to a term contract
iust before opening last night in
"Milky Way," at the Cort theatre.
The picture contract goes into ef-
fect after the run of the play, making
Miss George probably the first example
of talent bought "in galley proof."
She does character leads.
Les Whalen in East on
Sales of 'Cat's Paw'
New York. — Les Whalen, who is
now in New York on sales promotion
work for Harold Lloyd's "The Cat's
Paw," leaves tomorrow for a trip
through the Fox Western exchanges.
Ethel Jackson Coming
Back to Hollywood
Ethel Shannon Jackson, widow of
Joseph A. Jackson, has recently been
visiting Cuba and has written friends
she will shortly return to Hollywood
after an absence of about two years.
Warners Buy Novel
Warners have purchased "C.o_Jn.tp_,
Your Dance," e novel by Bradford
Ropes and will use it as a musical,
probably for Dick Powell and Ruby
Keeler. Ropes wrote "42nd Street"
which started the current list of
musicals
'Hell's Angels' Footage
The Howard Hughes office denied
yesterday that Nat Levine had op-
tioned all the remaining unused foot-
age of "Hell's Angels." Mr. Levine
was said to have purchased a small
quantity, but there is plenty left.
Fishing Short For Cobb
Irvin Cobb's first picture for Hal
Roach will be "Fisherman's Luck" and
will be directed by James Parrot when
it starts next week. He will be sup-
ported by an all-star cast.
Small Chain Fights
Ban on 2-for-Ones
Pacific National Theatres, Inc., of
National City, yesterday filed an ap-
peal with the Code Authority from the
decision of the Los Angeles Grievance
Board, which last week ordered the
concern to stop the practice of "two
for ones" and the giving of cash in-
ducements to its patrons at the Na-
tional theatre.
The complaint was brought against
the National by the Seville theatre of
Chula Vista. In its appeal, the Na-
tional claimed that it is five miles
from the nearest competitor, and that
as Wednesday, Thursday and Satur-
days are dull nights, such practices
had to be resorted to in order to keep
the doors open.
The Grievance Board has ordered
the National Soldiers Home at Saw-
telle to cease admitting the public free
of charge to the theatre conducted for
the inmates of the home.
Aarons and Coldwyn
Split After Dispute
Alex Aarons, of the producing firm
of Aarons and Freedley, brought here
from New York by Samuel Goldwyn
to handle the next Eddie Cantor pic-
ture, has come to a parting of the
ways with Goldwyn.
Yesterday he revealed that he and
Goldwyn have had a friendly differ-
ence of opinion, and the deal between
them is all off.
Colleen Moore Lead in
'The Scarlet Letter' |
Majestic yesterday concluded a deal j
for Colleen Moore for the lead in "The
Scarlet Letter," negotiations for which i
were reported exclusively in the Re-
porter about a month ago.
Picture, the first production by
Larry Darmour for the company, will
be directed by Robert Vignola and
starts in two weeks.
Fox Buys Sealing Yarn
For Lowe and McLaglen
Fox yesterday purchased "The Seal
Poachersjj.an original story by Nor-
man Reily Raine, and will probably
use it as an Edmund Lowe-Victor
McLaglen vehicle. Deal was negoti-
ated by the Hawks-Volck Corporation.
Term For Brisson
Carl Brisson is set for a term at
Paramount for his work in "Murder
at the Vanities," his camera bow in
this country. The Danish actor is
known on both stage and screen in
Europe. No assignment has been
made yet under his new contract.
Frances White Here
Frances White, formerly with
George White's "Scandals" and other
musical shows, has arrived in Holly-
wood to talk picture work. She is
under the management of Bren, Or-
satti and Marx.
Harmon Ising For MGM
New York. — MGM's new series of
color cartoons will be produced by the
Harmon Ising outfit.
uatterS
We've been listening to a lot of
complaints lately to the effect that
the picture industry doesn't make use
of the best writing talent there is.
That may be true to a certain degree,
but we have noticed that the "giant
brains" amongst the writing crew of
this country are the very ones who
have done the least to remedy the
writer's situation in the picture in-
dustry. And they are the ones who,
long ago (had they been sufficiently
interested), could have demanded and
gotten innumerable reforms.
The reasons why they didn't are
fairly numerous. The most significant
of them is the fact that most writers
of great reputation have no love for
pictures as a medium of expression.
They have no faith in the enormous
potentialities of pictures. They do
not or will not see them as a really
great composite art. To them, pic-
tures are a stepchild whom they will
tolerate for the money involved, but
whom they will not recognize as be-
longing to the family. Their attitude
is a contemptuous one.
Hence, when they are signed up at
tremendous salaries, instead of digging
in and fighting for something they
want to do, they are content to let
themselves be kicked around just so
long as they are collecting that goodly
weekly stipend. When their contracts
are up, they are content to return to
what they call "white people" and
discuss the unbelievable stupidities of
the picture industry.
But raise a voice to correct those
stupidities? Never! They are prob-
ably too good copy for them to de-
stroy. And the sad part of it is, that
ihey have the power to correct many
evils. The writer is supposedly an
imaginative person. A person who
can envision the possibilities of visual
movement and good writing. They
represent the fundamentals of good
picture-making. And they don't care,
most of them — the big-wigs who are
brought out here on the strength of
their reputations as writers, who are
in a position because of their indepen-
dence and the salaries they command,
to get some respectful attention for
their ideas.
These ideas may not all be practi-
cal but surely some of them would
help to raise the level of both picture-
making and the writers' situation.
There are, of course, notable excep-
tions to these various prejudices
among writers and everyone of them
has been successful and happy in the
picture industry. The latest one to
make good is Nunnally Johnson, who,
in two short years in the picture busi-
ness, has established himself as an
invaluable writing asset to that indus-
try, and the real basis for that suc-
cess has been not alone his writing
talent (which is something), but his
enthusiasm for the medium in which
he works. It is reflected both in the
pictures he has written, which are all
way above average, and in his own
personal success.
Page Four
May 8, 1934
PROGRESS
^MC,^
Patiently, assidously, without blare of trumpet,
or beating of drum, Max Factor has worked
through many silent years ... to build up an
invincible supremacy. Straight to the forefront
on merit and merit alone.
Today, backed by a record of progress and
achievement, comes Satin Smooth, a smoother,
faster make-up, easier to apply and easier to
remove ... a make-up of delicate tones that
photographs beautifully.
Satin Smooth is the achievement of a lifetime.
Try it and thrill.
MAX FACTOR'S
MAKE-UP STUDIOS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
FWC WILL CARRY APPEAL
TO U.S. SUPREME COURT
(Continued from Page 1)
be filed with the Code Authority some
time between now and Friday, the
deadline for appealing the decision.
While the grounds for the appeal
were not outlined, the statements
from representatives of the companies
declared that Fox West Coast and
Principal Theatres acted strictly within
the letter of the film code in stocking
their theatres, and that any producer
may license to its affiliated exhibitor
all of its motion pictures, as the Fox
Company has done, and still be abso-
lutely within the rulings of the code.
Further, the statement asserted that
the Los Angeles Grievance Board had
acted contrary to the code in taking
five of the Fox pictures away from
West Coast and Principal Theatres and
turning them over to the Garfield.
It was pointed out that Fox West
Coast and Principal Theatres must
provide a total of 208 feature pictures
yearly for the affiliated Alhambra, as
that house has a double feature pol-
icy. In order to be certain that the
theatre has sufficient product, and
that it will not be left in the air by
unlooked-for under-production, the
chain licensed 225 pictures for it.
This, it was alleged, .,i provided for in
the code.
The statement further dsiciarpd that
the Garfield theatre, which was the
one that alleged it was being deprived
of sufficient first-run product to do
business, had a total of 283 pictures
available for its use. It was indicated
"George Waggner has written a lively
and amusing story, full of corking
gags and business.
"The discussion of the fifty-cent dol-
lar is masterly diaglogue."
— Rob (no relation) Wagner's Script
says about
W
CITY LIMITS"
by
george waCCner
Who Wants "VARSITY"?
A college football story with a new twist.
Management
COLLIER & WALLIS
that this will be one of the big points
brought out in the appeal for a rever-
sal of the decision.
While independent theatre owners
throughout the district were rejoicing
over the decision, the concensus of
opinion was that the case will be
fought bitterly, as it will set a prece-
dent that may upset the entire big
theatre chain apple-cart throughout
the entire country if it is upheld.
Charles Skouras, vice-president of
Fox West Coast, is in the East now,
and while no statement could be ob-
tained regarding his plans, those close
to the situation felt yesterday that he
will probably remain there and carry
the fight to Washington in case the
Code Authority upholds the decision.
The Code Authority must pass upon
the appeal within fifteen days from
the time it is filed.
Edith Van Cleve Here
Edith Van Cleve, who three years
ago gave a performance in "June
Moon" on the stage that was voted
among the ten best of the year, ar-
rived yesterday in Hollywood.
She plans to visit 'here through the
summer and return in the Fall to
New York for a new play.
Harry Jolson Agent
Harry Jolson, brother of AI, has
joined the William Morris office as an
associate.
I
May 8, 1934
mm
Pag« Five
COMMVXICATIOiXS CODE
WILL E^KTEND TO ERPI
Washington. — The new code which
the Government proposes to impose on
the telegraph industry is said to have
so many loopholes in it that it will be
perfectly feasible to extend its opera-
tions to include Western Electric, Erpi
or any other company controlling
means of record communication.
According to the announcement, it
js aimed at the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company, Western
Union, Postal Telegraph, R.C.A. Com-
munications and all subsidiaries of any
description.
Some of the definitions in the pro-
posed code are also so loosely drawn,
perhaps purposely, that they may in-
clude sound transmission. This is be-
lieved possible, especially as A. T. &
T. is mentioned as one of the com-
panies that, up to this time, has re-
fused to submit to the NRA at all.
The announcement of the plan was
rather timely, evidently being matched
with the pending Senate resolution for
an investigation of the A. T. & T. It
is taken to mean that, inasmuch as
all codes may be amended at any time,
if certain facts develop out of the in
vestigation, they could conceivably be
remedied in an NRA code in lieu o'
the proposed Communications Com-
mission.
Janef- Rex to Mascot
Janet Rex has been engaged by
Mascot as assistant to Lon Young,
director of publicity and advertising.
Robert Robins Keeps
UpFlghtonA.T.&T.
Chicago. — Robert Robins, of the
American Society for the Protection
of Motion Picture Theatres, is going
right on with his fight against the
A. T. & T. He spoke here yesterday,
asserting that at least $50,000,000
a year used by the corporation in re-
search comes out of the pockets of
the public, who should have lower
rates.
He speaks in Detroit today and in
Cleveland tomorrow.
Joe Schenck Throwing
Big Party For Zanuck
New York. — Joseph M. Schenck is
throwing a big party for Darryl Zanuck
at the Stork Club tomorrow afternoon
to meet the representatives of the
press.
New Columbia Writer
M. Coats Webster was signed by
ainbia yesterday to a long-term
writing ticket through the Rebecca
and Silton office. He gets his first
assignment today.
Westmore on Vacation
Wally Westmore, head of Para-
mount's make-up department, left
Monday on a two-weeks motor tour
to the Rogue River country in Oregon.
Up-to-the-Minute
CASTINGS
Helen Lowell and Dorothy Tree to
"Dragon Murder Case," Warners.
Charles Wilson by Kingston- Harris for
the same picture.
William Burress by Hallam Cooley
for "100% Pure," MCM.
Raymond Hafton, John Wray and
Ward Bond, through Kingston-Harris
for untitled Jack Holt picture at Co-
lumbia. Sarah Padden for the same.
Anne Darling to "There's Always
Tomorrow," Universal.
George Lewis by Hallam Cooley to
"Two Heads on a Pillow," Liberty.
Edward Everett Norton in "Gay Di-
vorce," at Radio.
Arthur Byron by Paramount through
Nat Goldstone for "Notorious Sophie
Lang."
Charles Judels by Paramount for
"Notorious Sophie Lang." The Ivan
Kahn office set the ticket,
Etienne Cirardot to Warners for
"The Dragon Murder Case," by Harry
Spingler, of the Small-Landau office.
Charlotte Granville and Tetsu Komai
for "You Belong to Me" at Para-
mount.
Grady Sutton for "Bachelor Bait"
at Radio.
Johnston to Hawaii
Arthur Johnston finishes the musi-
cal score for Mae West's "It Ain't
No Sin" this week and sails for Hono-
lulu on a six-weeks leave. His team-
mate, Sam Coslow ,is vacationing in
Europe. -^"^
Cameramen Back
New Cemetery Plan
Four of Hollywood's best known
cameramen have launched a unique
business venture, namely the develop-
ment and operation of a modern
cemetery, open only to non-Cau-
casians.
It is the Lincoln Memorial Park,
controlled by Memorial Parks, Inc.
Daniel B. Clark, long noted as Tom
Mix's cameraman, is president, Charles
M. Glouner, for years head of the
camera department at Universal and
recently resigned, is vice-president.
C. Roy Hunter, superintendent of pho-
tography at Universal, is secretary-
treasurer. On the board of directors
are Virgil E. Miller, head of Para-
mounts camera department, and
Michael M. Leshing, superintendent of
the laboratory at Fox studios.
Stan Laurel Becomes
A Lord of the Manor
Stan Laurel has acquired an estate
in Cheviot Hills, including the Franz
Nelson house, first built in the tract.
He is knee-deep in redecorations.
His new neighbors are Buster Kea-
ton, Guy Kibbee, Matt O'Brien and a
golf course. The Roach comic reports
an early crop of stray golf balls.
Deeping Novel For C.-B.
New York'— Gaumont British has
purchased the Warwick Deeping novel,
..J^gyfin- Men Came Back.' ' The sale
was made by Anne Watkins.
"HALF A SINNER"
Just Completed
EDMUND
GRAINGER
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
"AFFAIRS OF
"Interesting story, well told and well
produced . . . box office entertain-
ment." — ^Hollywood Reporter.
A GENTLEMAN"
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE
"MYSTERY
In Preparation:
OF EDWIN DROOD"
Page Six
May 8, 1934
'JIG-SAW AN AMrSIl^G FARCE; Mascot Building Up
LOVE KILLS' DVLL AND TRAGIC '^^ ^"*'"S ^^^^
Former Suited For
Pix, But Not Latter
"JIC SAW
Presented by the Theatre Guild at the
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, by Dawn
Powell; staged by Philip Moeller;
settings by Lee Simonson. Cast:
Virginia Tracy, Albert Bergh, James
York, Cora Witherspoon, Ernest
Truex, Spring Byington, Eliot Cabot,
Charles Richman, Gertrude Flynn,
Helen Westley, Mabel Kroman,
Shepperd Strudwick.
New York. — As the sixth and last
Theatre Guild production of the cur-
rent season, "Jig Saw" seemed to be
designed to send subscribers oft to
the country for the summer with a
pat on the back for a good season s
support and the pleasant taste of a
piquant appetizer for good things to
come next September in their mouths.
While the play could hardly be
construed as worthy of the hitherto
serious endeavors for which this pro-
ducing organization is noted, it has
nevertheless a saucy wit and sparkle.
Dawn Powell's dialogue and construc-
tion cannot top such a farce as "No
More Ladies," yet, in full measure of
clever good humor, and belly-tickling
laughs, it surpasses it. There is enough
good material in the first act and
even beyond to make more than a
satisfactory farce picture.
With such expert farceurs as Ern-
est Truex, Eliot Cabot, Cora Wither-
spoon and Spring Byington doing a
neat job by Miss Powell, the slight
fabric of farce plot scores heavily in
its first two acts, but thereafter comes
perilously near proving a dud. As
the ingenue, Gertrude Flynn mustn't
be overlooked for her capable work.
Such action as there is centers
around the amours of a romantic lady
who maintains a separate menage of
her own in a Central Park penthouse
— apart from her husband's establish-
ment in the country. This has been
going on for a long time. For some
fifteen years the lady has kept open
house, particularly for her gentlemen
friends — one of whom found the lady
and her apartment so adequate that
he moved in and stayed on. Her
daughter, who has been sequestered
abroad in various schools, finally ar-
rives home — just in the midst of an-
other of her mother's hectic affairs
of the heart.
Mother's long estrangement from
her child has hardly prepared her for
the resultant shock of discovering
that her daughter is no longer a shel-
tered innocent young lady of 18.
Picture also her amazement, chagrin
and despair at discovering that young
daughter's sophistication has progress-
ed, so much so that Mother is In
danger of losing her latest romantic
acquisition to the daughter.
In the resultant battle for posses-
sion of the male. Mother stands only
a ghost of a chance, daughter win-
ning out by sheer persistence and de-
termination. The young unattached
bachelor struggles very feebly at the
tossing about between the two women
and finally succumbs. Nothing
Cavalcade Wins For
Lloyd Second Time
Sentimentality paid for Frank
Lloyd. The director of "Caval-
cade," two weeks ago placed a bet
on the horse that won the Ken-
tucky Derby last Saturday, netting
him $1,000.
left for Mother
her sugar daddy
antly to mainta
able status in
penthouse, and
gist in affairs of
paratively easy
to his lady love
good deed done
romance.
but to fall back upon
, who fought so vali-
in his cozy comfort-
the freedom of the
this skilled psycholo-
the heart has a corn-
time in giving back
the self-respect of a
nstead of a broken
A Formula Tragedy
"LOVE KILLS"
Presented by Ida Lublenski Ehrlich at
the Forrest Theatre; written by Ida
Lublenski Ehrlich; staged by Perci-
val Vivian. Cast: Marion Green,
Harry Hanlon, John Parrish, Vivian
Giesen, Bram Nossen, Hendrick
Joyner.
New York. — "Love Kills," written
and presented by the author, was, to
most of the audience, one of the
minor tragedies of the season. Badly
written and directed, the play never
did reach the point of making the
audience sit up.
The actors were terribly miscast
and one wonders upon whose judg-
ment the play was presented. Vivian
Ciesen, the heroine and only female in
the cast, gave a perfect example of
how not to act and we speculate how
she could possibly have been a protege
of the late David Belasco. Harry
Hanlon and Marion Green did the best
they could, but even they knew that
it was hopeless.
The plot must have been taken
from formula number 9. The father,
faced with ruin and disgrace, begs his
Zanuck For Big Pix
(Continued from Page 1 )
IS
believed that fair criticism, even if
severe, is a benefit to the producer.
Asked about the future of color
pictures, he said that he did not be-
lieve they would ever become popular.
He felt that they could not be as good
photographically as black and white.
His predictions as to the public
taste in pictures is that, this year, he
thinks productions of great scope are
desired. He cited, as examples, pro-
ductions dealing with British rule in
India, or war pictures with a definite
anti-war slant and with a distinct
patriotic angle.
He is not at all worried over the
future of the industry. Its troubles
now, he said, are due to past huge real
estate and theatre committments.
"This resulted," he said, "in pro-
ducing companies being obliged to
make too many pictures, only a few of
which were good, and so they lost
money both on the pictures and in
their theatres."
Vaude For The Lyric
Dramatic Stock and
New York. — Chamberlain Brown
has taken over the old Lyric Theatre
in Forty-second street and will run it
as a combination dramatic stock and
vaudeville theatre. He opens it un-
der the new policy on May 14.
His plan is to present condensed
versions of popular plays with the
stock company, performances to be
made continuous by the use of vaude-
ville acts. The bill will be changed
weekly.
only daughter to marry the man who
could save him. The girl sacrifices
herself and marries the rich old bank-
er for her father's sake and lives un-
happily with him, until her former
lover comes on the scene again and
she runs away and lives with him un-
til she can secure her divorce decree.
In the meantime her lover has grown
tired of her, and when he tells her
so, she commits suicide. Nothing in
this for pictures.
New York. — Mascot has added
seven writers to its list, giving it a
staff of a dozen scenarists. The list
includes; Earle Snell, who is collabo-
rating with Joseph Santley on "Young
and Beautiful"; C. Edward Roberts,
working on treatment of "Waterfront
Lady"; Dore Schary working on
"Crimson Romance"; Douglas Doty
and George Sayre on "Along Came a
Woman"; Marion Orth doing dialogue
on "Crimson Romance". Other staff
writers are Wyndham Gittens, John
Rathnell, Al Martin, Sherman Lowe
and Barney Sarecky.
The company has bought a play by
John S. Twist and William Worthing-
ton, called "The Skeleton in the
Closet," which will be produced un-
der the title of "One Frightened
Night."
Safron Drive Winner
The Western Division of Columbia,
under Jerry Safron's jurisdiction, won
the national sales drive for March, the
Salt Lake City branch getting top hon-
ors in the pep campaign for the com-
pany. The employees of the division
get a bonus.
/\ nnouncinq..,;
MADDUX
INCORPORATED
presents a spring
showing of latest
Lincoln V12 motor
cars in the Go le ria,
Hotel Biltmore
Display open daily
11 a. m. till 10:30 p. m.
In Hollywood at 1353 North Vine
LINCOLN
precision
performance » prestige
May 8, 1934
Page Seven
THALBERG AXD f^HEEHAX
EXPERTS FOR GOLDWYIV
18 Months to Make
Irving Thalberg, Lou Brock and
Winfield Sheehan were witnesses at
the resumption of the trial of Sam
Coldwyn's suit against Warners yes-
terday before Superior Court Judge
Frank Smith. The three producers
testified for Coldwyn, who is seeking
an injunction to prevent Warners
from continuing to use Busby Berke-
leys services.
Each was asked, as an expert, to
define the meaning of "rehearsal."
The defense by Warners is that Ber-
keley had been assigned to rehearse
"Dames," on which he is still working,
while directing the dances in "Won-
der Bar" last December. All three
concurred in the opinion that a pic-
ture was in rehearsal only after a
script had been prepared and a com-
pany called. Warners claim that,
because Dick Powell sang a song from
"Dames" last December for Berkeley,
the latter had been "rehearsing" the
production.
An effort by Milton Schwartz, of
Loeb, Walker and Loeb, Coldwyn at-
torneys, to place in evidence a depo-
sition taken from Darryl Zanuck
before he left for Europe last week,
caused an objection from Berkeley's
counsel, Milton Cohen. He asked that
the deposition be ruled out because
it had been taken before the dance
director had been made party to the
suit as co-defendant with Warners.
Judge Smith reserved ruling on this
point, but Schwartz stated he would
read the deposition into the record in
view of Warners failing to object.
j The trial proceeds this morning.
Novel Russian Film
Moscow. — Another six months will
see the completion of an animated
film novelty, "New Culliver," which
Ptoushko is directing at the Soyuz-
fiim studio. He has been on it for
the past year.
The picture is being made with a
combination of living characters and
sculptured miniature dolls. There are
1000 dolls in the cast, and some of
these wear as many as 1 00 different
masks. The picture is expected to
be startling when completed.
Hamilton-Jordan Set
Neil Hamilton and Miriam Jordan
have been signed by Liberty for the
leads in "Two Heads on a Pillow."
Liberty has changed the title of its
"Strange Honeymoon" to "Once To
Every Bachelor"
Royalty Visits MCM
Louis B. Mayer and MCM execs en-
tertained the Sultan and Sultana of
Jahore, Malay State, at luncheon yes-
terday. The regal pair naturally made
the grand tour of the studio.
Fox Musical Shelved
"Music in the Air," Fox's stock set-
back, is again on the tentative future
list after its latest reconsideration for
production. This time is for another
six or eight months postponement.
Yohalem to Produce
'Shock' For Monogram
Monogram yesterday signed Ceorge
Yohalem for the production of"Shock"
in place of W. T. Lackey, who is still
sick. Roy Pomeroy will direct his own
original, which has been scripted by
Madeline Ruthven. Ralph Forbes will
have the lead when the picture gets
into work in the next two weeks.
Nicholls III, Minor
On Directorial Job
An urgent operation compelled
Ceorge Nicholls to withdraw from di-
recting "A Hat, a Coat, a Clove"
yesterday, with Radio placing Worth-
ington Minor on the production.
Nicholls, whose first break was due
on the Barrymore picture that goes
into work today, will be out of the
running for four weeks. He will
direct "Anne of Creen Cables" in-
stead.
Connolly Assigned
Bobby Connolly yesterday was as-
signed to direct the musical numbers
in Warners' Technicolor short, "What,
No Men?" which Ralph Staub directs
with Phil Regan and El Brendel in the
leads. Sammy Fain and Irving Kahil
have written two songs for the piece.
O. p. Heggie Delayed
O. p. Heggie was due to arrive by
plane Sunday night for "The Count of
Monte Cristo,' but did not show up at
the studio yesterday. The Reliance
picture is scheduled to start Wednes-
day, Rowland V. Lee directing.
Guild Board and
lew Council Meet
The Executive Board of the Screen
Writers' Cuild and the new Advisory
Council held their first joint meeting
at the Writers' Club last night
Most important business was the
discussion of a new fiscal plan for the
Cuild. Several suggestions were ad-
vanced, and committees from both
groups were named to recommend one
of the suggestions. From the Execu-
tive Board, Ernest Pascal and Wells
Root were appointed. From the Coun-
cil; William Conselman, Cladys Leh-
man, Nunnally Johnson, John Crey and
Jack Natteford. This committee will
meet next Monday evening with the
Council and offer their suggestions.
Donald Ogden Stewart was elected
chairman of the advisory council to
conduct their meetings with William
Conselman, vice chairman and Doris
Malloy, secretary.
Silent Camera Will Be
Academy's Next Task
One of the greatest periods of re-
search activity in the history of the
Academy will be undertaken shortly by
the Technical Research Council.
Practically 1000 replies to ques-
tionnaires, asking for suggestions re-
garding construction of a really noise-
less camera for studio use, have been
sent back to the Council. Starting this
week, the committee vj\\\ begin a
study of the suggestions, and shortly
a program of actual work will be
started.
(<
MORNING
GLORY"
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CONVENTION
CITY"
EASY TO
LOVE"
LITTLE MISS
MARKER"
'GREAT
FLIRTATION'
ALL HITS
ADOLPHE MEN JOU
RONALD COLMAN
"BULLDOG DRUMAAOND STRIKES BACK"
Jl Client of^
CQRPDRATION
5? MP.SAVUPL ^!A•^^ .
CULVKR 'JITY.'.ALIr'.
^-y A, \^ -^ t
Vol. XXI. No. 1. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, May 9, 1934
msiBssss£i^sa
A$C-LNI€N MEI^6EI^ Off
• DID you ever start a snowball roll-
ing down hill and watch it gather not
only impetus, but snow on the way?
That is what is happening in this
country to the revolt against smut in
motion pictures. All over the land
the cry for clean pictures is being
taken up. The churches, educators,
bar associations and, most important
of all, the great national organizations
of women are shouting their disap-
proval of dirt and their demand for
more healthful entertainment for
themselves and their children.
This week there was a general
motion picture conference in Los An-
geles. At the meeting the Rev. Martin
McNicholas, head of all the Los An-
geles and San Diego Catholic schools,
openly accused the motion picture
producers of breaking their word to
the public. He said:
"When the film code was signed, it
was hailed in Hollywood as a great
step forward, and statements ema-
nated from that source that the indus-
try was on its way to self-government
and that the result would be whole-
some, entertaining pictures.
"Since that time, 229 pictures
have been released. Of that number,
41 dealt with gangsters, racketeers
and the like; 27 portrayed stories of
prostitutes and mistresses; 65 depicted
illicit relations between men and wo-
men, and in three the heroine gave
up her virtue to save another.
"If that is the type of wholesome
pictures that is a result of the code
and the best we can expect, the only
way we can combat such productions
is through the box-office by staying
away from the theatres."
•
In spite of the fact that represen-
tatives of several producing companies
have taken exception to Father Mc-
Nicholas' figures, the conference went
on record as recommending a boycott
on theatres which ran indecent pic-
tures. Those at the meeting were
obviously deeply impressed by Father
McNicholas' remarks and also by his
statement that 28,000,000 minors
attend the picture theatres every
week.
It must be remembered that such
action in Los Angeles is not an iso-
lated case. Similar talks are being
'Continued on Page 2)
Code Assessments
Fall Below Quota
New York. — The exhibitors of
the country are not hurrying any
in sending in their film code as-
sessments. So far only about
$23,000 has been received, which
IS far below what was expected.
A dunning letter is being sent out.
Kohn May Produce
With Zukor Backing
New York. — Ralph Kohn, who
recently resigned his positions as
vice-president and director of Para-
mount-Publix and its subsidiaries, is
understood to be planning the organi-
zation of a new producing company.
He has taken offices in the Paramount
building, but has made no announce-
ment as to his plans.
It is believed that, if he does go
into production, he will have the
backing of Adolph Zukor. Mr. Zukor
left here for the coast yesterday and
would not discuss the Kohn matter
before he left.
Butterworth Sick,
MOM Gets Ruggles
Charlie Ruggles was borrowed from
Paramount yesterday by MCM for the
top spot in "Rear Car," Charlie But-
terworth being forced out, due to a
sinus siege.
Picture started yesterday under
Harry Beaumont's direction and Lu-
cien Hubbard's supervision. Russell
Hardie, Cliff Thompson and Willard
Robertson joined the cast.
JLeon Cordon Boosted
''^Going up still another notch, Leon
Cordon was made associate producer
on all Reliance productions. Former
writer will relieve Edward Small of a
portion of the executive duties.
iA TSE Members Will Not Go
For Plan-'Matter Of Location
Work Still Studio Headache
The proposed merger of the American Society of Cinematog-
raphers and the cameramen's union, Local 659, lATSE, has
flopped.
As far as the majority of executives and members of the union
are concerned, the merger is dead, and
Coldwyn Testifies
there will be no more discussions re
garding it or about the terms on
which the ASC is said to have been
willing to absorb the union and take
over the charter.
If the merger had gone through it
would have made the ASC one of the
most powerful labor factors ever to
operate in the picture iindustry, for
the society already has a contract wit'i
the major studios where it controls
(Continued on Page 5)
Lesser Announces Two
With Ceo. O'Brien Star
New York. — Sol Lesser has an-
nounced that he will produce two
Harold Bell Wright stories, with
George O'Brien as the star.
The stories are "That Printer of
Udell's" and "When a Man's a Man."
Powell-Warners Pals
Differences between Dick Powell
and Warners, which reached a point
where the player had threatened a
walk-out, have been amicably settled.
Player wanted a salary increase and
an agreement was made.
Radio After Colbert
Radio is dickering with Claudette
Colbert for the top spot in "By Your
Leave." Player is reading the script
pending her decision.
IVEW FILM CODE AftEiXCY
COMMITTEE GETS BUSY
The newly appointed Film Code
Agency Committee met yesterday, se-
lected a paid secretary, decided on a
rotating system of chairmanship and
appointed two sub-committees to take
up what are considered the two most
important problems in connection with
the agency situation.
One committee was named to work
cut a code of fair practice between
(Continued on Page 6)
Presnell Drops Notch
At His Own Request
Dissatisfied with conditions m his
present job of associate producer at
Warner Brothers, Robert Presnell yes-
terday asked to be relieved of his su-
pervisorial duties and returned to his
status as a writer.
The matter was taken up with Jack
Warner, who granted the request.
In Berkeley Suit
With Sam Goldwyn taking the
stand in his suit against Warners over
Busby Berkeley, the United Artists
producer closed his case. He declared
the Eddie Cantor picture was being
held up because of the wait for the
dance director.
He said that on the loan-out deal
on Ann Sothern from Columbia he
was paying $500 a week, "and if we
(Continued on Page 2)
Sidney Harmon Signs
As Warner Producer
New York, — Sidney Harmon, of
the firm of Ullman and Harmon, who
produced "Men in White," the play
which won the Pulitzer prize, is sign-
ing with Warner Brothers as a pro-
ducer.
His contract, which is for one year,
will give him time off to produce
other plays.
'Melodrama' Hitting
A gross of $22,000 for the two
days, Saturday and Sunday, for "Man-
hattan Melodrama" at the Capitol
Theatre, New York, was reported yes-
terd£y by MCM.
Fox Meet at Waldorf
New York. — The Fox convention,
set for May 30, has been switched
from the St. Moritz Hotel to the Wal-
dorf.
Depinet-Sisk Coming
New York. — Ned Depinet and
Robert Sisk left last night for Holly-
wood to discuss the Radio product for
next seascn.
Bernie Losing Tonsils
Ben Bernie checked in last night
at the Cedars of Lebanon for a ton-
silectorny.
!
CHARLES VIDOR directed "Double Door"
Paramount Thealr
NOW
Page Two
May 9, 1934
inNifefe^oMrEt
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood iLos Angeles). California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193,
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
Stales and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The lowdown on the Jean Harlow-
Hal Rosson bust-up seems to be that
it was far from sudden. In fact, we're
told that they had planned a definite
rift some months ago, but the powers
that be at the stujo persuaded jean
to hold off on any such publicity until
her current flicker was finished. )ean
really meant to put off the front-page
stuff until the last scene had been
shot — but there were such hectic
goings-on in the Rosson menage over
the week-end that the marriage broke
up and the news broke out at the
same time! We hear, too, that home
was just a place to hang his hat to
Rosson for the last two months — and
even though they dined together, jean
and Hal might just as well have been
living miles apart!
When Gene Fowler made his deal
with Darryl Zanuck to write the story
of "Barnum," he was to get one-
third of his huge stipend when he
started to work, one-third when the
story was finished, and the last third
when they started shooting. But when
Fowler turned in his "manuscript,"
Zanuck was so delighted with the
thing that he paid the scribe his re-
maining two-thirds dough pronto and
signed him all over again to do the
script and dialogue for his brainchild.
What's more, Zanuck asked Fowler's
permission to have copies of his "Bar-
num" story made for all the other
writers on the lot to get a good
healthy glance at — as a perfect exam-
ple of an A-) picture story.
A certain young Warner player told
the world recently that he was all fed
up with Hollywood blondes. In fact,
he was sick of Hollywood gals of any
type. So just recently there came in-
to his life a debutante from an east-
ern town — and oh, so nice! She came
into his life in more ways than one —
and at the moment the actor wishes
he'd never laid eyes on her. He made
such a startling discovery after they
became "engaged" — that he bounced
right back to the local beauties — and
is doing very well!
"TWENTIETH CENTURY
Columbia prod.; director, Howard Hawks; writers, Charles MacArthur,
Ben Hecht and Charles Mulholland.
Radio City Music Hall
Mirror: Everyone concerned in this screen version of the Hecht-MacArthur
Broadway hit seems to have been in love with his work. Zest and spirit
went into its production and it represents a rollicking actors' carnival,
speedy and diverting.
World-Telegram: A wild-eyed, rattle-brained, hilariously amusing picture. It is
without doubt one of the most impish, devastatingly satirical, downright
amusing films that have come along in weeks. John Barrymore is brilliant
and excellent work is contributed by all the supporting players.
News: Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht have transferred their stage satire to
the screen intact. All the screamingly funny situations of the play are re-
tained and a number of new ones added to the picture. Howard Hawks,
who directed the picture, keeps his players in action constantly and is re-
sponsible for turning out a first class production.
Journal: With an excellent supporting cast and good direction of the amusing
Ben Hecht-Charles MacArthur dialogue, the new film is hilarious enter-
tainment. It's grand entertainment, smartly done and swiftly paced.
American: An utterly mad, devastating, uproarious riot of mirthfulness. As a
stage vehicle it induced hysterical paralysis among our most hardened
theatregoers. As a picture its screaming hilarity tom-toms a tattoo upon
the risibilities in a fever of insane fun.
Post: Not in a long while has John Barrymore had a role more suited to his ex-
travagant humors. The picture could stand cutting. It is overdetailed in
the opening sequences and it misses the frenzied tempo of the stage play.
Sun: It IS one of the most entertaining talkies of the season, thanks largely tD
the efforts of John Barrymore, who proved that he is as much a surefire
comedian as he ever was.
Herald-Tribune: "Twentieth Century," one of the brightest exhibits of last
season, has lost none of its sardonic hilarity on the screen. You will find
it an extremely funny comedy, distinguished by one of the most brilliant
performances John Barrymore has given during a long and illustrious
career.
Times: Messrs. Hecht and MacArthur have made certain changes in doing this
task, but it seems a pity that they were tempted to stray occasionally too
far from the realm of restrained comedy and indulge their fancy for bois-
terous humor.
Rights of Miracle'
Still in Legal Tangle
New York. — Joseph Hazen, legal
representative in Europe for Warner
Brothers, arrives here on the Cham-
plain today to discuss the details of
"The Miracle" production with Hal
Wallis and Jake Wilk.
Warners have been trying for
months to clear the title to this play
so that they can produce it, but it
is still rather a mess.
Two For Monogram
Monogram puts "Shock" into pro-
duction next week and, if "Jane Eyre"
can be cast in time, will have two
starters. Roy Pomeroy will direct
"Shock," on which he and Madeline
Ruthven completed the script yester-
day. Ralph Forbes is starred.
European Arrivals
New York. — Richard Arlen and his
family are due on Conte de Savoia to-
morrow, and Charles Laughton and his
wife arrive on the Berengaria. Cliff
Edwards gets in on the Champlain
today.
Roach Star Sailing
New York — Lilian Ellis, Hal Roach's
new Danish star, sails from Cherbourg
on the Paris today.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
Kelly and Saal in
NewProducingFirm
New York. — In spite of their de-
nials that they will produce a series
of pictures at the Biograph studio with
Consolidated backing, Burt Kelly and
William Saal have formed the Select
Productions Inc. and are scheduling
twelve pictures.
The first to go into work will be
a Dashiell Hammett story and nego-
tiations are on with Walter Huston
to play the lead before he leaves for
Colorado next month. Burnett Her-
shey is doing the adaptation.
Central Labor Council
To Discuss Boycott
The Los Angeles Central Labor
Council has asked representatives of
all the union Locals connected with
the picture industry to attend a special
meeting of the Council tonight at
which the subject of a proposed boy-
cott of Paramount and Columbia pic-
tures will be discussed.
Some time ago the Council passed
a resolution calling for the boycott on
the grounds that the two studios were
unfair to craftsmen of the building
trades in connection with new build-
ing projects. Paramount issued a state-
ment denying this.
Shumate on Tec Yarn
Harold Shumate has been assigned
to write the fourth police-detective
story, "By Persons Unknown," which
Columbia puts into work next week.
Ralph Bellamy has the lead and Irv-
ing Briskin produces.
'Blind Date' Delayed
Columbia has postponed the start of
"Blind Date" until next week and
has returned the script to Ethel Hill
for revisions. Roy William Neill will
direct.
Farnol Here Today
Lynn Farnol gets in this morning by
train from New York. He will be
hare all summer,
Herbert Fields East
Herbert Fields, Paramount writer
leaves tomorrow by train for New
York. He will be gone three weeks
Coldwyn on Stand
(Continued from Page 1 )
made to similar meetings all over the
United States. Every speech, every
meeting adds a little snow and a lit-
tle impetus to the snowball as it rolls.
If it grows large enough and travels
rapidly enough, something is likely to
go to smash when it hits.
DISTRIBUTOR
Well known organization will pur-
chase for immediate cash feature
pictures for world wide distribution.
Address I. M., Hollywood Reporter,
229 West 42nd St., New York
don't get the picture started we'll
have to pay her more on another con-
tract."
Superior Court judge Frank Smith
ruled that the disputed Darryl Zanuck
deposition could not be entered as evi-
dence so far as Berkeley is concerned,
but permitted a portion of it so far as
Warners is concerned. Zanuck's tes-
timony as an expert on the meaning
of "rehearsal" was allowed.
j. H. Files, for Warners, entered a
motion for non-suit. judge Smith
will act on the motion this morning.
MOTHER'S DAY, MAY 13th
A definite opportunity to do
wl-iat you should do more often
—REMEMBER YOUR MOTHER
Talmadge Jones Flowers
8908 SUNSET
GLidstone 291 1
May 9, 1934
THE^
Page Three
'TWIN HUSBANDS' EFFECTIVE,
INTERESTING AND WELL MADE
Story, Direction,
Acting, All Good
"TWIN HUSBANDS"
( Invincible I
Direction Frank R. Strayer
Authors: Robert Ellis and Anthony
Coldewey.
Photography Andy Andersen
Art Direction Ed Jewell
Cast: John Miljan, Shirley Grey, Mon-
roe Owsley, Hale Hamilton, Robert
Elliott, Maurice Black, William
Franklin and Winson Benge.
"Twin Husbands" is a distinct tri-
umph for Invincible Pictures and for
Maury Cohen, producer. It is a pic-
ture that stacks up favorably against
almost any film that isn't a million
dollar epic.
For originality of story, strength of
direction and fluency of acting, it is
definitely effective. No amateurish
awkwardness or hesitancy in any de-
partment is discernible.
It is a charming, sophisticated, civ-
ilized story of a gentleman crook, John
Miljan, a big guy — called "The Spar-
row" by an admiring underworld. A
minor crook, Monroe Owsley, is un-
fortunate enough to shanghai the
Sparrow into posing as the husband
of a widow he wants to rob. Inas-
much as nobody knows the husband is
dead, and the Sparrow bears a re-
markable resemblance to him, the job
looks like a cinch until Miljan falls
in love with his "wife" and manages
to outwit Owsley. By a series of clever
manipulations he convinces everybody
that he really IS the husband, and he
saves the large fortune from the de-
signs of the villain. Of course, he re-
forms and wins Shirley Grey and ev-
erything is swell.
John Miljan plays easily and with
sure intelligence. His looks, his voice
and his subtle humor make his part
outstanding. Shirley Grey is charm-
ing, and Owsley is sufficiently dis-
tasteful as the crooked secretary. Hale
Hamilton is splendid as the weak ad-
ministrator of the estate, who bounces
with ease to whatever side seems to
be winning; Robert Elliott is well cast
as one of the Sparrow's fake police-
men, and Wilson Benge has a grand
part as the butler. Maurice Black and
William Franklin are seen briefly but
to advantage in small roles.
Frank R. Strayer directed beauti-
fully. He had good material to work
with. The original story is by Robert
Ellis and Anthony Coldewey, and Andy
Andersen photographed. Ed Jewell's
are direction is noteworthy.
Don't be afraid of this independent
production. It's OK with no reserva-
tions.
Joan Blondell Wins
Nash Baby Star Trophy
Joan Blondell last night was award-
ed the C. W. Nash trophy for the
Wampas Baby Star in the past three
years who has shown the greatest ad-
vance in her profession.
The presentation was made at a
party thrown by the Wampas at the
Elks' Club. John LeRoy Jo.hnston made
the presentation speech, Mr. Nash be-
ing unable to attend.
Columbia Declares
Dividend on Pfd.
New York. — Columbia Pictures
yesterday declared its regular
quarterly dividend of seventy-five
cents a share on its preferred stock.
The dividend is payable on June 1 .
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — Five new pictures and
four holdovers constitute the menu
for patrons of the Broadway picture
houses this week. "Change of Heart"
goes into the Music Hall tomorrow,
with the condensed version of "Ma-
dame Butterfly," the first opera at the
house, on the stage. On the same day
"Crime Doctor" opens at the Rialto.
On Friday "Glamour" comes to the
Roxy, "Thirty Day Princess" to the
Paramount, and "In Love With Life"
to the Casino.
The holdovers are "Manhattan
Melodrama," "Hitler's Reign of Ter-
ror," "We're Not Dressing" and
"Twenty Million Sweethearts."
*Burn 'Em Up Barnes'
To Be Made Three Wavs
Nat Levine will shoot "Burn 'Em
Up Barnes" for three types of release
when it goes into work at Mack Sen-
nett's tomorrow. Picture will be a
12-chapter serial, a two-episode short
for the start with 10 episodes fol-
lowing, and a regular eight-reel fea-
ture. Story has been planned with
definite breaks to meet the special
requirements.
Bertholon Sells Yarn
"Dames and Dynamite," an original
by George berfholoh, has been bought
by Robert Welsh for Monogram's Au-
gust production. Bertholon will super-
vise his own story.
Moss-Schary at Para.
Paul Moss and Dore Schary joined
the Paramount writing staff yester-
day. Former goes on "The Big
Broadcast of 1934" while the latter
will script "Mississippi."
Friedlander Promoted
Anzel Friedlander, former assistant
director at Universal, has been ele-
vated to a spot as assistant associate
producer on serials for the company.
Agents Sign Three
Tom Moore, John Marsden and
Garry Owen have signed managerial
contracts with the O'Reilly and Mann
office.
Berman After 'Phantom'
Pandro Berman is negotiating for
the rights to "Phantom of the Opera"
for Radio. Picture starred Lon
Chaney in 1925.
Briskin Goes North
Irving Briskin left by train yester-
day for Vancouver. He will be gone
ten days.
Cut PriceCom plaint
To Grievance Board
H. M. Popkin, proprietor of the
Crystal Theatre, 2806 Whittier boule-
vard, yesterday filed a complaint with
the Los Angeles Grievance Board
against Abe Levy, a Mr. Mitchell, a
Mr. Titus and three South Main street
movie theatres, charging them with
failing to maintain the minimum ad-
mission price specified in their exhibi-
tor-distributor contracts.
Specifically, the charge is that at
the Muse, Rosslyn and Wonderland
theatres, alleged to be run by Levy,
Mitchell and Titus, the admission
price has been cut to five cents,
whereas the contract calls for a mini-
mum price of ten cents. The shows,
the complaint charges, are changed
two and three times a week. It was
understood that two of the houses
play double bills and one triple bills.
Hearing of the case is set for next
Tuesday.
Beauties Rush For Jobs
As 'Coldwyn Girls'
More than 300 girls showed up at
United Artists last night, the first day
of a series of interviews in an effort
to secure a new set of "Goldwyn
Girls" for the Eddie Cantor picture.
Bob Mclntyre singled out those who
most nearly met the requirements and
will make his final selections after
mora are interviewed tomorrow and
Tuesday and Thursday of next week.
People Will Talk'
For Ruggles-Boland
Listing it as the third production to
team Charlie Ruggles and Mary Bo-
land, Paramount yesterday purchased
"People Will Talk," an original by
Ralph Spence.
Kent Taylor and Ida Lupino will be
in the cast and Norman McLeod will
direct.
Gerrard on 'Fountain*
Henry Gerrard, cameraman on "Lit-
tle Women," has been assigned to
photograph "The Fountain," Radio's
next Ann Harding starring vehicle. He
leaves for Pine Crest today for a
week's vacation before starting shoot-
ing.
Liam OTIaherty Here
Liam O'Flaherty arrived yesterday
frc5m Ireland and is headed for a try
at writing screen plays. He was signed
yesterday to an M. C. Levee mana-
gerial contract.
Lead For Standing
Sir Guy Standing was set by Para-
mount yesterday for the leading role
in "The End of the World," the Vina
Delmar story.
Bing Buys a Fighter
Bing Crosby went from horse-rais-
ing to prize-fighting yesterday, pur-
chasing a half interest in Welter-
weight Freddie Steele for $7,500.
IMOaUL
jJATTE
^j^l^l^lQwijnil^
The Beverly Hills Community Play-
ers uncovered a nice piece of play-
wrighting when they brought forth
"Bitter Harvest" the other night. It's
the story of Byron and his great love
for his half-sister which succeeded in
blighting his life in England. Cathe-
rine Turney reveals herself as a writer
of excellent dialogue and possessing
a good sense of the dramatic. Un-
fortunately, no one bothered to do
much cutting and, as a play, it is
slightly too much cluttered up with
characters and incidents that cause
it to drag considerably in the middle
stretches. However, the play has no
faults that cannot be easily remedied
and there is good reason to suppose
that Miss Turney's efforts could be
rewarded with a Broadway showing.
Byron may have been tough to live
with, but the man was always good
copy and the incest angle, while it
would never get past the Little White
Father for pictures, is something to
make chatter over the bridge tables.
•
Leslie Fenton (in the kind of a part
John Barrymore used to thrive on in
the Vitaphone days) gives a well-
balanced performance of a man half
mad, half genius. In fact, he did so
well in one of his madder moments,
that his agent was moved to remark,
"And that's for nothing!" Of the
other players, Jeannette Nolan was
the only one who crashed through
with a really professional performance.
The gal's very good.
Probably the most nervous perform-
ance of the evening was Ann
Dvorak's, in an audience role. The
poor gal was having the jitters. Her-
bert Wilcoxon and Frances Drake
(who has a cousin in the cast), Ar-
thur Lubin. Eddie Buzzell, Ruth Don-
nelly and Glenda Farrell gave out with
recommendations. Glenda Farrell orig-
inally said the show was "swell", then
decided she was trying to get away
from Warner dialogue and said it was
"a delightful evening in the theatre."
But the gal is still chewing gum.
•
Hepburn is certainly making up for
lost time with her bright sayings to
the press. A New York paper the
other day wrote as follows: "When
Miss Hepburn returned, she had her
traveling companion. Miss Laura
Harding, give a reporter a Mexican
p=so and commanded: 'You give that
to Walter Winchell. It's worth thirty
cents. That's what I think of Mr.
Winchell.' " ( And Irving Hoffman
comments bitterly, "That guy Win-
chell can't help but make dough!
Arthur Kober is back looking over
New York night life once more before
coming back to the coast and taking
Lillian Kober to the play. Lillian has
sold her play to Herman Shumlin .. .
There's a gal named Marion Martin
whose vocation is playing the chief
nude at the Hollywood restaurant,
who's got the boys commenting on
her future possibilities on the screen
because she looks so good in the
Woolcott short now at the Rivoli.
EDWARD ELLIS
Management
SCHULBERG - FELDMAN - CURNEY
May 9, 1934
THg
Page Five
lATSE LOCAL KILLS OFF
PLANI^ED ASC MERGER
(Continued from Page 1 )
the camera work. The charter would
have given it control of location work,
which is what has made the union the
fly in the picture ointment ever since
the strike, when it lost its power in
the maior studios.
One vital factor responsible for the
cooling of the union toward the pro-
posal was the possible reaction that
the 35,000 members of the lATSE
might have to the turning over of
charter to an organization that had
fought the union during the strike,
and which the members still feel is
opposing it at every turn.
"We feel that perhaps the thou-
sands of lATSE men in the locals
throughout the country, who have
been affected considerably by the loss
of our strike, might rightly take an
attitude that would be anything but a
pleasing one," explained a union man
close to the situation. "So, although
it is possible that the proposal may be
presented to the annual convention in
Kentucky next month, I really doubt
it. That would be the only way such a
merger could ever go through, for the
general membership must be consid-
ered.
"Then, too, we feel that the de-
mands of the ASC far overbalance any
possible benefits that our members
might receive by the merger. As a
matter of fact, there is a lot of doubt
as to whether or not the men would
benefit at all, for it has been rumored
for weeks that the ASC plan is to try^
to eliminate a lot of cameramen who
are now in Hollywood, on the grounds
that there are too many men for the
amount of work.
"We of Local 659 are confident
that our organization is here to stay.
We have given many years of earnest
effort to building it up, and just be-
cause we lost a strike and are tem-
porarily out of power in the major stu-
dios does not mean that we will always
be that way."
So the situation is doomed to re-
main as it has been for some time,
with the ASC in command of the
camera work in the major studios, the
union still working with the indepen-
dents, and with the location problem
a constant headache to the producers,
for the A.F. of L. affiliation of the
lATSE has made it necessary for cam-
eramen to carry a union card on loca-
tions.
DeSylva-MCM Can't
Agree on Cont-ract
New York. — Buddy DeSylva and
MGM cannot agree on the deal
which would bring DeSylva in as a
producer of musical pictures be-
cause of his insistence on a six
months contract. DeSylva has gone
to Atlantic City to work on his
forthcoming musical with Sid Sil-
vers.
Darrow Board Wants
To Become Part of NRA
Washington — The Darrow Recovery
Review Board yesterday made a bid to
become a part of the NRA when it
sent a letter to Alvin Brown, of that
organization, requesting the co-opera-
tion of the NRA itself and the loan of
j. N. Freeman, one of the NRA offi-
cers.
Gen. Johnson said this was the first
time the Darrow board had sought
NRA help.
White Directing Again New Term For Herbert
Jules White personally will direct
the last of the current series of George
Sidney-Charles Murray shorts for Co-
lumbia, "Pay Dirt," which goes into
work next week. Ewart Adamson has
written the script.
Para. Writer Arrives
Charles Brackett arrived by plane
yesterday from New York to take up
his two picture ticket with Paramount,
where he will write dialogue on "Her
Master's Voice" first.
Hugh Herbtert, the reformed writer
who has been doing comedy for War-
ners the past 1 8 months, yesterday
received a six-months extension on his
acting ticket. He has just finished in
"Dames."
Lipman to Universal
William R. Lipman was signed by
Universal yesterday to write the
screen play for the Damon Runyon
story, "Ransom — One Million Dollars."
Eph Asher is handling the production.
Harry DeShon set the ticket.
College Head Asks
Contror of Films
Washington. — Another angle of the
"New Deal" hit motion pictures yes-
terday when Dr. Arthur E. Morgan,
president of Antioch College and
chairman of the Tennessee Valley Au-
thority, advocated putting the press,
motion pictures and radio under some
form of social "control" that would
represent a trusteeship in the best in-
terests of all the people.
He doesn't mean governmental con-
trol, he says, but some means where-
by the alleged commercial exploita-
tions of newspapers, pictures and radio
could be controlled. Just how this
can be done, he doesn't explain.
Pacific National On
Wrong Side of Fence
Through an unintentional error, not
on the part of the Reporter, this paper
yesterday stated that the Pacific Na-
tional Theatres, Inc., had filed an ap-
peal with the Code Authority from a
decision of the Los Angeles Grievance
Board ordering them to stop the prac-
tice of "two for ones" and the giving
of cash inducements at the National
theatre.
It was the Pacific National Thea-
tres which made the complaint against
the National on behalf of the Seville
theatre of Chula Vista.
Leslie and Cray Move
Eli H. Leslie and Eddie Gray, busi-
ness managers, have removed their of-
fices from Hollywood to the Califor-
nia Bank Building in Beverly Hills.
wes:.
tl
AN INSTITUTION AS GREAT AS THE INDUSTRY IT SERVES
s
CIENTIFK VONTROL
LDS QUALITY INTO
CERTIFIED prints"
VERY modern scientific device that can add to the quality and
dependability of release prints is to be found at Consolidated
Park. That is why Certified Prints are the fin-
est possible expression of the sound and
action in the master negative.
CONSOblDATED FILM INDUSTRIES, INC.
NEW YORK
HOLLYWOOD
Page Six
THE
May 9, 1934
CODE AVTHORITY MAKE-UP
<^lIESTIOIVED IX FW€ CASE
Speculation was rife yesterday along
Film Row as to which members of the
Code Authority will and which will
not be permitted to hear the appeal
of Fox West Coast and Principal Thea-
tres from the decision of the Los An-
geles Grievance Board when it is filed
and comes up for a hearing in New
York.
The Film Code rules in Article 2,
Section 9, that no member of the
Code Authority shall sit on any mat-
ter involving his company's or his own
interest directly and not as a class.
In such case the Authority shall desig-
nate an alternate of the same class,
but not of the same company, to re-
place the member.
tt was the concensus of opinion
among theatre men yesterday that Sid-
ney Kent will be barred from sitting on
the case, due to his connection with
Fox, which, they point out, would
make the case one of interest to his
company.
George Schaefer, of Paramount,
Nicholas M. Schenck, of MCM, and
Harry M. Warner, of Warner Broth-
ers, are three other Code Authority
members about whom the theatre men
are wondering. As it is their product,
along with Fox pictures, that the the-
atre chain is accused of over-buying,
there is some speculation as to
whether or not they will be barred
from the case also.
Legal counsel for Fox West Coast
and Principal Theatres continued yes-
terday working on the preparation of
the appeal, and it had not been filed
at the close of business yesterday.
White Wants Warner
House For 'Scandals'
New York. — George White is ne-
gotiating with Warner Brothers to
take over their Hollywood Theatre in
New York for his coming production
of "Scandals."
'Monte Cristo' Starts
Edward Small puts "The Count of
Monte Cristo" into work today at
Pathe, with Rowland V. Lee directing.
Robert Donat and Elissa Landi have
the leads, with Louis Calhern, Sidney
Blackmer, O. P. Heggie, Luis Alberni
and Georgia Caine in the cast.
Scott on 'By Your Leave'
Allan Scott has been assigned to
write the continuity on "By Your
Leave," which H. N. Swanson will
produce for Radio. Nils Asther will
have the lead. No director has been
set as yet.
White Back at Radio
Sam White has returned to Radio
after undergoing a tonsil operation.
He will direct the Ted Fio-Rito short
which goes into work by the end of
the month, with Lee Marcus produc-
ing.
The New Plays
"MEMORY "
Presented and staged by the author,
Myron C. Fagan, at the Biltmore
Theatre; settings by Carl G. Cooper
and Rita Glover; with Helen Mor-
gan, )ackie Sear!, Kay Hammond,
Bryant Washburn, Vera Lewis, Leon
Waycoff, Mia Marvin, Rafael Corio,
Frances Routa, Zezan Anglan and
Cyclone.
A good play idea nearly gets lost
at the Biltmore in the shuffle of two
acts of dull and pointless conversa-
tion. Helen Morgan and Jackie Searl
come to the rescue of Myron C. Pa-
gan's play "Memory" and in the four
short scenes of the last act make the
audience forget what it has suffered
by trite and boring situations and con-
versation in the first two acts.
Helen Morgan, with her mop of
curly hair and her husky voice, can
call Los Angeles home any time she
wants to. And with a glow of civic
pride we point to Jackie Searl, who
gives one of the finest performances
that we have seen by a child actor.
The play, however, does not begin
to have interest until the first scene
of the last act. If it weren't for
missing Helen Morgan's second-act
song, "A Fool There Was," one might
drop in about ten-thirty and catch
the best of it. To save you the trou-
ble of the first two acts, here is the
situation: Leon Waycoff plays a young
playwright and composer, very much
in love with his wife, Kay Hammond.
Kay, however, is being lured away
from her home and husband by her
mother. Vera Lewis, who has social
aspirations for her daughter. Into the
breach made by the wandering wife
comes Helen Morgan, musical comedy
star, for whom the playwright writes
a show. While he is writing, he falls
in love with her, and she with him.
But, meanwhile, she has won the
heart of Waycoff's eight-year-old son,
made a pal of him, and told him that
if he ever was in trouble he could
come to her. When the penitent
wife returns, at the beginning of the
third act, she finds a husband who
wants his freedom to marry the ac-
tress. The young son finds out that
there is to be a divorce, and, not
knowing who the woman is, comes to
Helen Morgan, his pal, to beg her to
talk to his father and not let him
break up their home. By this time
the play is moving fast, and the situ-
ations are human and throat-catching.
"Memory" is well cast. All the
players give capable performances, in
spite of the fact that they have to
struggle with long and lustreless
speeches.
Haley With Rowland Writers to Boulder Dam
Warners Start Two
Pictures This Week
Warner Brothers launch two feature
productions this week, "Kansas City
Princess" today and "The Dragon
Murder Case" Friday.
"Princess" is probably Joan Blon-
dell's final pre-baby picture. New
members of the cast are Cordon West-
cott and Osgood Perkins. The latter
was about to return to New York
when cast as a French detective for
the film.
Late recruits for "The Dragon Mur-
der Case" are Robert Warwick, George
Stone and William B. Davidson. Lucky
Humberstone directs.
"Hey Sailor!" the current Cagney,
is due to wind up this week. Robert
Barrat has been engaged for final
scenes.
Bletcher and 35 Girls
In Warner Two-reeler
Billy Bletcher, comedian, is picked
to work in front of the 36 girls in
Warners' two-reel Technicolor, "What,
No Men?" The short will be made at
the old Sunset lot, apparently so the
shapely 36 won't disrupt studio rou-
tine.
Mrs. Reid to Monogram
Monogram yesterday signed Mrs.
Wallace Reid to produce "The Red
Head," from a novel by Vera Brown.
The picture will not go into produc-
tion until July.
It's LitHe Things
In Life That Count
Harry Albiez, MCM prop man,
accompanied W. S. Van Dyke on
his picture expeditions, handled
wild animals and came through
without a scratch, but he opened
a locker yesterday and was bitten
on the finger by a mouse.
Appeal Up to Code
Authority Friday
New York. — The first hearing to I
be given by the Code Authority on ]
an appeal will be held Friday. The
complaint is that of the Saxe Amuse-
ment Co., of Milwaukee, and involves
charges of over-buying.
Jane Wyatt Reports
Jane Wyatt, who flew to the coast
for a Universal test last January, land-
ed here for the second time last night.
She will start work on her contract,
probably in the lead of William Wy-
ler's production of "Fanny."
Warners Buy Novel
Erie Stanley Gardner's novel, "The
Case of the Curious Bride," a black-
mailing twist on the Enoch Arden sit-
uation, has been bought by Warners.
No assignments mentioned.
Term For Toby Wing
Paramount lifted Toby Wing's op-
tion yesterday and the player stays on
with the studio for another session.
I
New Agency Committee Busy
(Continued from Page 1 )
agents, producers and talent. B. B.
Kahane is chairman, with George
Frank, Frank Lloyd, Adolphe Menjou
and Ernest Pascal as members.
The second cor.imittee will stud/
the problem of regulating motion pic-
ture employment agencies. It consists
of Winfield Sheehan, chairman; Ber-
ton Churchill and M. C. Levee. With
registration of agents (demanded in
New York, it was felt that the ques-
tion should be looked into thoroughly
here. Both committees will report
back on Tuesday, May 22.
Temporary office space was offered
the committee by Jack Warner in the
Warner Theatre building, Hollywood.
This will be used temporarily until
John C. Flinn, secretary of the Code
Authority, returns, at which time a
permanent office will be selected.
Wells Root acted as chairman yes-
terday. Starting with Trem Carr, the
chairmanship will be rotated among
the members alphabetically, beginning
at the next meeting. The members'
of the committee are Berton Church-
ill, Emanuel Cohen, George Frank,
B. B. Ka,hane, frank Lloyd, J.V M.
Nickolaus, Ernest Pascal, Wells Root,
W. R. Sheehan and Jack Warner.
William Rowland has borrowed Jack
Haley from Charles R. Rogers for he
lead in his picture for Columbia, "The
Girl Friend." Rodgers and Hart are
writing new songs for their operetta.
Herbert Fields wrote the book.
Sy Bartlett, adaptor of "The Cinch,"
leaves for Boulder Dam today with
Dan Templin, the former Las Vegas
news editor who wrote the yarn. It's
a color-absorbing expedition for the
Warner writers
Prominent Actor's Retreat
FOR SALE
Luxurious mountain home near Arrowhead to be sacri-
ficed at 25c on the dollar. Six acres improved with
beautiful mountain lodge, guest house and help quarters.
All appropriately and very completely furnished. Also
4 box-stall stable, and corral. Very private, yet adjoining
the expensive estates of others prominent in motion
picture circles. Words cannot describe the completeness
of this hide-out, or retreat — IT MUST BE SEEN.
NO TRADES $16,000 ALL CASH
Call MR. DUNN for appointment
833 Title Ins. BIdg. VAndike 5101
IV. I li\V-' — 'ulV^LJL/ffil'i iii*Vl.L-lV *^XVJi-'a.V-'*-^f
^ MR.SAK'UEL MAPa,
CULVf':R CITY,CALIK
Vol. XXI, No. 2. Price 5e.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Ihursday. May 10. 1934
PAI^. IN rLliN-LCEC CAI^E
Wiseman Quits Bondholders
Committee To Work Out Plan
For Reorganization Of Corp.
• THE coming production season will
witness one of the greatest fights for
name draws, for stars whose drawing
power at the box-offices means big
(or even little) business, that has
ever been staged in this business. All
because the exhibitor has given up all
hope of getting really big drawing
pictures, entertainment that will draw
even over star names, and has now
sent out the word that the pictures
he books, as bad as they may be in
entertainment qualities, MUST HAVE
NAMES, must have casts that are fa-
vored by the ticket buyer.
And the ticket buyer is in pretty
much the same frame of mind as the
j exhibitor. As a matter of fact, it is
; the reflection from that quarter that
{ has caused the theatre men to make
j their "name" demands. Mr. and Mrs.
I Entertainment Seeker also have given
i up all idea of trying to find screen
; entertainment, so they are making
their pictures purchases on the
! strength of their favorites.
•
All this will result m the fight for
names and in more money being paid
to artists during the next twelve
months than was ever doled out to
them before, because there are too
few names, because there has been
too little development, because of too
few good pictures. There has never
been a star made, nor will there ever
one be made, except through the
medium of good pictures. A star
may have everything that any star is
required to have, but unless he or she
is mounted in good entertainment, the
drawing power will always remain nil.
And the rise of Katharine Hepburn is
no exception to this rule. You may
not have liked her pictures, the ma-
jority of them, but the stories gave
her plenty of opportunities to display
attractive qualities, and up to her last
picture — -"Spitfire" — Katie was one
of our greatest headfliners.
•
So, with the demand for names and
the very meagre supply, maybe our
producers will set out to develop some
new ones through the medium of
GOOD PICTURES. Maybe they will
forget about that BILLION DOLLARS
that will be spent on any kind of
screen fare, together with the knowl-
edge that it costs less than ONE HUN-
DRED AND SEVENTY FIVE MILLION
to get that BILLION, and go out with
(Continued on Page 2)
Loew's Net Expected
To Co Over $4 a Share
New York. — The prognostica-
tions of Wall Street interests about
the showing that will be made by
Loew's Inc. in the annual report
on August 1 are strongly optimis-
tic. It is confidently expected
expected that the net will exceed
$4 a share.
Lesser-Zanft Will
Do Six with O'Brien
Sol Lesser and John Zanft yesterday
announced that they will produce six
pictures within the next eighteen
months, with George O'Brien as the
star. The company is called the
George O'Brien Pictures Corporation
and the pictures will be released
through Fox.
This new project will not interfere
in any way with Lesser's connection
with Principal Pictures nor with the
conduct of the John Zanft agency.
Hecht-MacArthur To Get
Savo For Five Years
New York. — The deal between
jimmy Savo and the Ben Hecht-
Charles MacArthur producing combin-
ation, is all set, although not yet
signed.
It involves a five-year contract for
the comedian, with three pictures
slated for the first year. The first will
start in August.
'Napoleon' Shelved
Warners has tossed "Napoleon" on
the shelf, fighting shy of laying
$750,000 on the line to produce it.
Depinet and Sisk Due
Ned Depinet and Robert F. Sisk,
RKO director of publicity and adver-
tising, arrive from New York this
morning.
New York. — Sir William Wiseman, a partner in Kuhn, Loeb
and Company and a Paramount director, has retired from the
Paramount-Publix Bondholders Protective Committee to work
on a plan for the reorganization of Paramount-Publix. This plan
is being supported by the committee,
New Union Tries to
Sign Theatre Help
New York. — Another union has
entered the theatrical and motion pic-
ture field to add a few more labor
complications. It is called the Asso-
ciation of Theatrical Agents and Man-
agers and it has been chartered by the
American Federation of Labor.
The union is not only making a
drive to enroll managers, press agents,
treasurers and ticket sellers, but it is
said to be threatening that any such
employees not enrolled by August 1
will be unable to get a job.
iill Seiter Signs New
Contract With Radio
William Seiter is a Radio director
on a permanent basis with the sign-
ing of an 18-month contract yester-
day. He has previously been engaged
by the picture.
After "We're Rich Again," which
is supposed to be in the cans by May
15, Seiter will direct the Wheeler and
Wcolsey feature, starting next month.
SSiake-up Expected In
Fox Advertising Dep^.
New York. — It is understood that a
shake-up in the Fox advertising de-
partment is imminent, as Winfield
Sheehan has expressed himself as not
at all pleased with the campaigns on
recent pictures.
which has engaged Kuhn, Loeb to
handle the matter.
This information was contained in
a letter sent to bondholders yesterday.
The letter further states that an
agreement has been reached for the
withdrawal of the $178,000,000
claim against Paramount, which in-
volves the Paramount building.
If a comprehensive plan acceptable
to the creditors can be worked out,
retaining substantially all present sub-
sidiaries, data thus far collected war-
rants the belief that assets and earn-
ings will be adequate to afford a sub-
stantial recovery on all provable claims.
In conclusion, the letter indicates
that the bondholders committee and
other creditors have agreed that the
Kuhn, Loeb firm is the best fitted to
handle such reorganization plans.
Regan Succeeds Agr.ew
New York. — Neil Agnew, the new
general sales manager for Paramount,
has appointed Charles Regan, of Chi-
cago, Western divisional sales mana-
ger, the post formerly held by Agnew
himself.
Zanuck Buys 'Ciive'
New York, Darryl Zanuck
..purchased
has
"Clive of India," a bio-
graphical story of the famous British
soldier and statesman.
PASADEIVA HOUSE FILES
^EW^ CDARGE AGAINST 1^ IVC p^^, sioane, who completed "Down
Theda Bara To Stage
For 'Bella Donna'
Theda Bara will return to the stage
Another independent theatre took
a slap at Fox West Coast Theatres
yesterday when the Colcata Corpora-
tion, owners of the Colorado theatre,
in ' Pasadena, filed a complaint with
the Los Angeles Grievance Board
charging Fox West Coast with over-
buying and depriving them of suffi-
cient first-run pictures for their house.
The complaint, which was signed
by L. L. Bard, president of the Col-
(Continued on Page 6)
on May 21 at the Little Theatre of
Beverly Hills, on Rexford Drive, taking
the leading role in "Bella Donna."
In the cast will be John T. Murray.
Gerald Fielding, Walter Amitage,
Ramsey Hill, Arthur Loft, Olaf Hig-
ton. Lady Carlisle and Mario Ramirez.
Monte Collins is directing.
pieted uown
To Their Last Yacht" at Radio this
week, is reported to be slated to go
to MCM to direct one picture as soon
as he completes the assembly of the
Radio film, which he figures will take
about a week.
Smith-Warners Split
Paul Gerard Smith walked out of
W.afrrers when differences on a salary
-tiit could not be straightened out. He
had no contract.
Page Two
jMn^fQMm
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
May 10, 1934
jimmy Durante is being burdened
with some of the world's worst radio
material these days and something
should be done about It — or the air
will lose a great bet! And besides,
jimmy deserves better! .... Tom
Ceraghty (in London) was invited to
a big party given by Harold Young,
and in Tom's usual fashion, he went
to the wrong address, found a swell
party in progress, joined the throng,
had a swell time and bawled Young
out the next day for not being at his
own shindig! . . . Edna May Oliver is
taking swimming lessons from Buster
Crabbe — but there is no romance in
the air OR water! . . . Somebody sent
Vic McLaglen (yeah, he's STILL in
the hospital!) a few thousand pansies
yesterday — and Vic took it very big!
. . . He's fit to be tied anyway!
•
Diana Fitzmaurice threw a tennis-
luncheon for Julie Hornblow Tuesday.
. . . Al Christie goes back to New
York to make some more movies soon.
. . . Beulah Bondi, recovered from her
illness, back from the desert stay. . . .
The Douglass Montgomery- Barbara
Barondess combination is more than
steady. . . . Countess di Frasso, ex-
pected back in Hollywood any minute.
... Do you know what famous star
is determined to "blessed event' in
an effort to change her husband's de-
termination to leave home perma-
nently? , . . He's been away before —
but never for long!
•
Eddie Lowe just returned from his
brother's ranch outside of San Fran-
cisco, and came back this way: Eddie
and five cowboys rustled fifteen hun-
dred head of cattle from the ranch to
Saugus! Which is slow but exciting
travel! . . . The Bruce Cabots (Adri-
enne Ames) , the Al Jolsons, Lionel
Atwill and Mae West among the
fight-seers Tuesday night. . . Hysteria
note: Someone suggested during a
week-end recently, that Marion Davies
do "L'Aiglon." . . . Lionel Barrymore,
laid up at home with a touch of arth-
ritis. . . . Harry Sinclair, Tommy Wan-
amaker, jeanette MacDonald, Junior
Laemmie, Paul Schofield, Harlan
Thompson, Kenneth Kingsbury among
the diners at the Vendome.
"MANHATTAN MELODRAMA"
MCM prod.; director, W. S. Van Dyke; writers, Arthur Caesar,
Oliver H. P. Garrett, Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
Capitol Theatre
Mirror: A colorful and exciting account of a metropolis and its influence on two
youngsters. Admirably acted, skilfully directed and lavishly produced, it is
a highly entertaining melodrama.
News: A fast moving picture. It is packed with thrills, love and many spectacu-
lar incidents. From the beginning, you know that the picture promises
plenty of excitement and it lives up to that promise. W. S. Van Dyke has
directed the picture with force.
Times: In "Manhattan Melodrama" one finds a mechanical plot which is scarce-
ly worthy of the cast, which includes Clark Gable, William Powell, Myrna
Loy and Leo Carrillo. The story was written by Arthur Caesar, who is evi-
dently a better hand at comedy than such sturdy stuff.
American: A pulsing saga of New York's seething sidewalks, rife with romance,
with thrills rampant, this colorful, exciting drama of the Big City is made-
to-measure motion picture entertainment, tailored to perfection for popu-
lar approval by the expert cinematic craftsmen of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Post: "Manhattan Melodrama" if you leave out a couple of murders, is actually
a love idyll, as tender as "Little Women"; a nostalgic adieu to the good
old days of Al Capone and Arnold Rothstein. It is a formula story, how-
ever. But the actors do a great deal to make it seem plausible.
Journal: There's grand entertainment at the Capitol Theatre this week. Excel-
lently acted by its three stars and smartly turned out, "Manhattan Melo-
drama" teems with all the excitement and color that make up the city
from which the picture takes its name. The background is vivid, the dia-
logue crisp and flavorous and action moves swiftly under the expert direc-
tion of W. S. Van Dyke.
Times: "Manhattan Melodrama" is gloomy but interesting. It will bring tears
to the eyes of even sophisticated movie-goers.
World-Telegram: A keen, adult, exciting melodrama. "Manhattan Melodrama"
is one of the hardest hitting and most entertaining examples of that typa
yet produced. The cast is admirable, all the players contributing excellent
performances. And so, too, is W. S. Van Dyke's direction. A fine, electric,
arresting piece of entertainment.
/
Court Denies Non-Suit
Asked For by Warners
At the hearing in Superior Court
yesterday of Sam Goldwyn's suit by
which he is attempting to secure an
injunction prohibiting Warner Broth-
ers' continued employment of Busby
Berkeley, judge Frank Smith over-
ruled a motion for non-suit, filed by
the defendants.
Warners then opened t.heir defense
and entered a deposition from Harry
Warren, of the Warren and Dubin
song-writing team. It will be read
today. Berkeley and Mervyn LeRoy
are expected to testify today.
MCM Writer Discovers
New Star in Waitress
Valeie De Lorenzo, one of the Brown
Derby waitresses, has been signed for
the MCM stock company. She was
discovered by one of the MGM writ-
ers and, after being coached by Jos-
ephine Dillon, passed her tests suc-
cessfully.
'Mighty Barnum' Now
"The Mighty Barnum" is the title
picked for the romance written about
the daddy of ballyhoo by Gene Fowler
and Bess Meredyth. Production is
supposed to be Twentieth Century's
next, with Wallace Beery in the name
part.
Brown For Fox Picture
Tom Brown goes to Fox on loan
from Radio for a featured spot in "Old
Judge Priest," the Will Rogers picture.
Loan-out will wash the player up on
his term ticket.
Keene Thompson Laid Up
Keene Thompson checked in at the
Cedars of Lebanon Hospital yesterday
for an operation for Hollywood's most
prevalent trouble.
Crayson Out of 'U'
Charles Crayson has turned in his
unfitled original story at Universal and
has checked off the payroll.
Darrow Report An
'Unknown Soldier'
Washington. — The report of the
Darrow Recovery Review Board, which
slaps eight industries and the picture
business the hardest, seems destined
to sink gracefully into innocuous
desuetude. In other words, if it ever
sees the light of day in the papers,:
official Washington will be greatly
surprised.
The report, which was submitted to
the President last week, is now on its
way to the Department of justice, the
Federal Trade Commission and perhaps
some of the other governmental agen-
cies which are always convenient
when burial is desired. The reason
given is that the report is too volumin-
ous to be turned over to the press,
and digests and abstracts are essential.
The President has not yet accepted
the resignation of John F. Sinclair, the
minority member of the Darrow Board,
but even if Sinclair were out. he could
not talk about the report because, un-
der a law passed last year, it is a
severe criminal offense to divulge any
state secret or any confidential Gov-
ernment business upon leaving Gov-
ernment employ. So, if the report
ever becomes public, it will be because
the President himself gives it out.
'ScarBet Empress' Has
Premiere in London
London. — Paramount's "The Scarlet
Empress," with Marlene Dietrich
starred, had its world premiere here
last night before a distinguished audi-
ence which crowded the Carlton.
The company expects to gain con-
siderable prestige by throwing this
showing and makes it possible to set
an earlier British release.
Double Job For James
Besidtes supervising two pictures,
Rian James has added a writing job to
his Universal duties. He is handling
the script on "Transient Lady," which
Edward Buzzell directs, and supervis-
ing "Walking On Air" and "Gift of
Gab."
What, Another One?
Vicki Baum returned to MGM yes
terday from Sam Goldwyn and was
assigned to write the screen play of
"The Bugle Sounds," in collaboration
with Joel Sayre. Miss Baum worked
on "Resurrection" for Goldwyn.
*
:i
DISTRIBUTOR
Well known organization will pur-
chase for immediate cash feature
pictures for world wide distribution.
Address I. M., Hollywood Reporter,
229 West 42nd St.. New York
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 >
a sincere desire to make GOOD EN-
TERTAINMENT. If those producers
switch on us, make some GOOD
PICTURES, then you will find be-
tween 1 5 and 20 new stars this time
next year. If they don't, those ladies
and gentlemen wearing that star tag
will have to find new banks to house
their surplus cash, for the bidding will
be so .high that one vault will not be
large enough to hold their receipts.
MOTHER'S DAY, MAY 13th
there can be no belter way of saying it
—THAN WITH FLOWERS
Talmadge Jones Flowers
8008 SUNSET
CLadstone 291
May 10, 1934
THE
Page Three
'THE THIT¥ MAN' IS SVRE-FIRE;
'MERRY WIVES' DISAPPOINTS
NoithcAiL
Writing, Direction,
Acting, All Grand
"THE THIN MAN"
(MCM)
Direction W. S. Van Dyke
Author Dashiell Hammett
Screen Play Albert Hackett
and Frances Goodrich
photography James Wong Howe
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Ed-
ward Ellis, Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat
Pendleton, Minna Combell, Porter
Hall, Henry Wadsworth, William
Henry, Harold Huber, Cesar Ro-
mero, Natalie Moorhead, Edward
Brophy, Cyril Thornton.
A smart honey, a sophisticated wow.
A murder story with a brilliant cast,
a brilliant script, brilliant direction,
and photography that tells the story
in no mean terms. Don't spare the
enthusiasm on this one because if the
book had thousands of readers, this
picture will have millions of custom-
ers— well satisfied and with that well-
fed look.
TNlere isn't any sense in going into
the murder mystery part of the story.
Suffice it to say that all the charac-
ters are there and the person you
least expect turns out to be the guilty
man. BUT let it be shouted from
the roof-tops that the writing, acting
and direction of those characters all
spell movie with a capital "M", and
so let us hasten the good work of
handing out the bouquets.
Albert Hackett and Frances Good-
rich have written a screen play for
this best seller that never lets down
on the humor or the quality of that
humor. For sheer "nut" dialogue and
characterization, you'll have to wait
a long time before t.heir sustained rec-
ord is broken.
William Powell has the time of his
life as that elegant detective, Nick
Charles, who never finds himself sober
enough to have it interfere with his
work. Powell is great and your pa-
trons will revel with him in the best
role he's had since "Manhattan Melo-
drama," which is by way of informing
you that there is no let-down in the
man's capabilities or for his fans.
Myrna Loy makes positive the fact
that she should stick to being a
comedienne. Edward Brophy as Mo-
relli does a scene that stops the show
and rocks the house with laughter.
Minna Gombell is grand as the one
person definitely registered as insane,
even though everyone in the cast is a
little bit mad. Maureen O'Sullivan,
Nat Pendleton, Edward Ellis, Cesar
Romero and Porter Hall must each be
separately mentioned for their excel-
lent contributions. And Henry Wads-
worth is attractive enough to warrant
a part that would give him greater
latitude.
And now for Mr. Van Dyke, who
has yet to do anything slipshod in the
way of picture-making. His pace is
steadfastly on the move. His comedy
sequences are beautifully timed and
the last laugh gotten out of them
without obvious squeezing. He's a
production master. And hand in hand
with him is the camera work of Jimmy
Howe, which is perfect for the thrills
and chills and presents some beauti-
ful portraits.
Eastman Increases
Dividend on Common
New York. — The Eastman Ko-
dak Company has increased the
dividend on its common stock from
$3 to $4 and has also declared the
regular quarterly dividend of $1,50
a share on its preferred, both pay-
able July 2.
All Monogram Help
In Group Insurance
New York. — All employees of
Monogram Pictures and its affiliated
exchanges throughout the country
have been given the benefit of a
group insurance plan, the policies be-
ing placed through Equitable Life by
Herbert Ebenstein, of Stebbins, Leter-
man and Gates.
The face value of each policy will
be the annual salary of the employee
to whom it is issued.
George Brown Slated to
Leave Columbia Post
New York. — George Brown is un-
derstood to be leaving Columbia Pic-
tures very soon and may become ad-
vertising and publicity for the RKO
Theatres.
Columbia is said to have offered
him a contract to remain in his pres-
ent post.
Invincible Sells One
To the Loew Circuit
New York. — The biggest indepen-
dent buy for months went on record
yesterday when the Loew's circuit
closed a deal for Invincible's "In Love
With Life."
Thayer With Wanger
Walter Wanger has assigned Tiffany
Thayer to write the screen play of
"Duchess of Delmonico's." Gregory La
Cava will direct as his second MGM
assignment, upon the completion of
"Dolly" which starts in two weeks.
Hoffe on Hayes Story
Irving Thalberg .has assigned
Mohckton Hoffe to write the screen
play of "What Every Woman
Knows." Picture will be the next
for Helen Hayes when she returns
from the East June 23.
New Player For Coldwyn
London. — It is reported here that
Jane Baxter, recently featured in a
British International picture, has been
signed by Sam Goldwyn and will leave
for Hollywood soon.
LeRoy Host to Sultan
Warners get their chance to enter-
tain the Sultan of Jahore Saturday,
when he will be the guest at the stu-
dio of Mervyn LeRoy.
Warner Star Arrives
Josephine Hutchinson arrived yes-
terday by plane from New York to
take up her two-picture starring
ticket with Warners.
Fine Cast Balked
By Labored Story
"MERRY WIVES OF RENO"
(Warners)
Direction H. Bruce Humberstone
Author Robert Lord
Art Direction Jack Okey
Photography Ernest Haller
Cast: Margaret Lindsay, Donald
Woods, Guy Kibbee, Glenda Farrell,
Hugh Herbert, Frank McHugh, Ros-
co Ates, Ruth Donnelly and Hobart
Cavanaug,h.
In spite of the fact that a grand
cast gives its all, "Merry Wives of
Reno" (Warners) will prove a liability
in most houses.
Nothing is worse than a farce badly
done, and while this picture has mo-
ments that get laughs, the thing as a
whole is labored, forced and tiresome.
Hugh Herbert is the one bright spot,
although his pet sheep muscles in on
.his fun.
The cast works hard, but each
member, usually highly effective, is
lost in the general shuffle. Herbert's
lines and business are funny, but
nothing else rates a nod.
It's all a mix-up involving three
couples and two overcoats. Donald
Woods, husband of Margaret Lindsay,
goes to Glenda Farrell's apartment to
sell her a boat. While there, Guy
Kibbee, her boy friend, arrives, and
then her husband, Hugh Herbert..
Both Kibbee and Woods exit down
the fire escape, leaving t.heir coats.
And so their wives go to Reno and
everybody involved follows. The rest
of the film consists of parties, wrong
and right bedrooms with wrong and
right spouses, and the quaint machi-
nations of a bellboy, Frank McHugh.
Margaret Lindsay is beautiful, and
gives exciting promise of better work
to come, in spite of her tough role.
And no fault can be found with the
attractive Donald Woods. Guy Kibbee
and Glenda Farrell are a good team;
Rosco Ates is very amusing, and Ruth
Donnelly and Hobart Cavanaugh are
well cast. It's Herbert's picture,
though — what there is of it.
Robert Lord wrote it; H. Bruce
Humberstone directed, and Ernest Hal-
ler photographed. The gowns, by Orry-
Kelly, are really stunning, and the
sheep IS grand.
Don't be too optimistic about this
one. It is definitely disappointing.
Cripples Back So Para.
Gets Two Pix Working
The return of two players from the
sick list yesterday allowed Paramount
one new picture into work and a sus-
pended subject back on the stages.
With Gertrude Michael back from
her attack of bronchitis, William Cam-
eron Menzies put "The Notorious So-
phie Lang" before the cameras, and
the return of Miriam Hopkins, after
being away almost three weeks with
a sprained ankle, allowed Elliott Nu-
gent to re-start "She Loves Me Not."
'Letter' Starts May 23
Starting date for "The Scarlet Let-
ter" is set at May 23 by Larry Dar-
mour.
Now that "Men in White" has won
the Pulitzer prize, we might as well
make history out of the story of its
career as a play. Approximately six
years ago, Sidney Kingsley spent a
month living with an interne up at
Lebanon Hospital in the Bronx. The
result of that sojourn was that the
interne and Kingsley got together and
wrote a play about life in a hospital.
The play was then submitted to many
producers who, each in his own way,
turned it down. By some strange
chance, the play fell into the hands
of an interne at Mt. Sinai hospital.
The interne was so impressed by the
utter impossibility of some of the sit-
uations, that he decided it would be
a swell idea to use it as a basis for
the annual internes' show at the hos-
pital. "Men in White" was forthwith
burlesqued and scored its first hit as
the funniest show ever put on by the
internes of Mt. Sinai hospital.
Finally, after Kingsley had spent
some time under contract to a picture
company, he came back to New York
and his play once more went the
rounds. It reached the picture pro-
ducers for backing and fell into the
hands of the Warners. They would
have none of it, but Doris Warner de-
cided that, even if she had to put up
some of her own money, the play
would be produced. So she put up the
money, the play was produced. It was
approved by both public and doctors
and the final stamp of approval given
to its exposition of the way of an in-
terne with a nurse as an old American
custom, by being awarded the Pulitzer
prize.
So far as its medical technicalities
<->re concerned though, it is only fair
••o say that it's impossible to get to-
■gether a group of doctors as technical
pdvsors on a thing of that kind and
get them to agree absolutely as to the
proper procedure. It would seem that
everv doctor has his own technique.
And, iust as a warning, never eo to see
a courtroom picture with a lawyer if
you want to enjoy a courtroom scene.
A friend of ours writes from New
York that, as he was passing a Broad-
way movie house the other day, he
noticed a crowd gathered in front of
it. On closer inspection, the crowd
turned out to be a group of Boy
Scouts waiting for a good deed to
happen, all talking away at a great
rate. The scoutmaster blew a whistle
and, when he had gotten complete
silence, started a little speech. "Men,"
he said, "when we go inside I want
vou to be quiet and orderly. No talk-
ing while the picture is on. You can
LAUH when the funny parts come,
but otherwise I want complete sil-
ence." And the picture with the sup-
posed FUNNY parts was "Forgotten
Men!" a complete collection of the
more gruesome episodes of war.
I
ROY DEL RUTH
DIRECTED
BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES BACK
A TWENTIETH CENTURY PRODUCTION
Now on loan to
Samuel Coldwyn from
Twentieth Century
to direct the next
Eddie Cantor
picture
i
ARTHUR HOHL
AS
DR. OWEN SOTHERN
WILLIAM MORRIS
Agency, Inc.
BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES BACK"
A TWENTIETH CENTURY PRODUCTION
PEVERELL MARLEY
A.S.C.
CHIEF CINEMATOCRAPHER
VARIETY . . .
"Photography by Peverell Marley Is
unsually fine."
HOLLWOOD REPORTER ...
"Loretta Young is sooo lovely and,
right now, we might just as well give
loud applause for the photography of
Peverell Marley, because Young never
looks so beautiful as when he is be-
hind the camera"
GEORGE REGAS
AS
SINGH
THANKS TO:
Darryl Zanuck and his associates, Ray-
mond Griffith and William Coetz;
Nunnally Johnson, Roy Del Ruth, Pev-
erell Marley, and everyone engaged in
making "Bulldog Drummond Strikes
Back."
Management
HARRY M. COULD
Pace Six
THg
May 10, 1934
FWC FACES NEW CHARGE BY
IIVDEPEXDEJVT THEATRE
(Continued from Page 1 )
cata Corporation, specifically stated
that when Fox West Coast went into
bankruptcy in 1933, it turned the
Colorado theatre back to the Colcata
Corporation. However, the charges
assert, when they turned back the
theatre Fox West Coast retained all
the pictures that had been bought for
the Colorado, United Artists (Pasa-
dena), and the Strand.
Bard charges that his organization
argued that one-third of the pictures
really belonged to the Colorado, but
that the Fox West Coast officials re-
fused to give them up, leaving his
house in a spot that endangered the
company's investment.
The complaint further charges that
Fox West Coast bought up all the
first-run pictures for 1933-34 of all
the major companies, with the excep-
tion of Columbia and Universal, leav-
ing an insufficient number of Class
"A" pictures for a de luxe house such
as the Colorado.
"We claim," reads the complaint,
"that for the season of 1933-34 Fox
West Coast has bought more pictures
than it could reasonably use at the
United Artists and the Strand, and
that in order to absorb this excess
they are not allowing sufficient play-
ing time for most pictures in their
size houses, and that from November
12, 1933, to April 7, 1934 (21
weeks), they used twenty-eight first
run pictures in the Pasadena, a second
run house."
The hearing has been set for 1 1
o'clock next Tuesday morning.
FWC and Principal
File Appeal From
Alhambra Decision
Fox West Coast Theatres and Prin-
cipal Theatres yesterday filed an ap-
peal with the Code Authority from the
decision of the Los Angeles Grievance
Board which found them guilty of
over-buying and ordered them to turn
over twenty first-run pictures to the
Garfield Theatre in Alhambra.
According to a statement from
John B. Bertero, counsel for the com-
pany, the appeal is based mainly on
the ground that the Los Angeles
Grievance Board has no authority to
pass on the quality of pictures.
Mr. Bertero stated that the code
forbids the over-buying of pictures,
but says nothing about the quality of
pictures. He further declared that it
is the assertion of his organization
that the Grievance Board took the
view that Fox West Coast and Prin-
cipal Theatres had better pictures than
the complaining theatre, and on that
based their decision, but that there
was no evidence that they had over-
bough.
Notice of the appeal was formally
filed with the Grievance Board, but
the brief and arguments will be sent
direct to the Code Authority in New
York.
Laughton Due Saturday
Charles Laughton is due in town
Saturday. He comes to play in
MGM's "The Barretts of Wimpole
Street."
Interest on Hurd
Notes Raises Row
More squawks developed yesterday
among members of the cameramen's
union when it was learned that the
present holder of the notes turned
over to Howard Hurd in settlement of
his contract with the union Is asking
interest at the rate of one per cent
per month on notes which cameramen
signed during the strike and w.hich
called for no interest charges.
According to note signers, the
union charged interest on money
loaned its members before the strike,
but on money borrowed during the
labor difficulty no interest was to be
charged. Some union men yesterday
declared that they stand ready to pay
their notes as soon as they get work
and are able, but stated emphatically
that they will fight against paying in-
terest.
Virginia Bruce Gets
Lead in 'jane Eyre*
Virginia Bruce picked up the
threads of the past yesterday when
she was signed by MGM on a term
contract. Actually, the studio picked
up her contract where it was dropped
when she quit acting to marry John
Gilbert.
She was loaned immediately to
Monogram to do the lead in "Jane
Eyre," which Christy Cabanne starts
within the next few days. Adele
Commandini wrote the screen play
and Ben Verschleiser will supervise.
Taradine Case' Set
For Diana Wynyard
MGM has taken "The Paradine
Case" off the shelf again and has as-
signed Ethel Borden to do a treatment
of the story, which is planned as a
Diana Wynyard vehicle.
Miss Borden arrived here from the
East last week to start her writing
contract at the studio.
Leigh on MGM Musical
MGM has assigned Rowland Leigh
to develop "Live While You May," a
musical idea by Edgar Selwyn. Brown
and Freed are on the score. Picture
is planned for Jeanette MacDonald
and Nelson Eddy to follow "Naughty
Marietta."
Santell With Rowland
William Rowland has signed Al
Santell to direct "The Girl Friend,"
which he will produce for Columbia.
Director just completed his trick at
Radio, where he handled "The Life of
Virgie Winters." "w
New Ross-Sargent Deal
MGM has extended the Ross and
Sargent deal into a two-picture ticket.
The Kings Club entertainers were set
by Ben Lundy.
Wm. Watson to *U'
William Watson, formerly test di-
rector for Fox, has joined Universal in
the same capacity.
Up-to-the-Minute
CASTINGS
Nat Pendleton for "The Defense
Rests," at Columbia.
Lionel Atwill, Alan Mowbray and
Reginald Denny by Universal for "One
More River."
Grant Withers to "Red Rider" at
Universal.
Vince Barnett for "Kansas City
Princess," Warners.
Caesar Romero for "British Agent,"
Warners.
John Eldridge for "Flirtation Walk,"
Warners.
William Farnum for "Count of
Monte Cristo," Reliance, by the Small-
Landau office.
)anet Chandler and Margaret La
Marr for "Redhead from Sun Dog,"
Universal, by Leo Lance, of Max Sha-
grin office.
Lionel Belmore and Harry Cording
for "Count of Monte Cristo," Reliance,
by Max Shagrin.
Eddie Cribbson for a Radio short, by
Hallam Cooley.
Claudia Coleman by Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall, and Ray Cook to
"Rear Car," MGM.
John Davidson by Kingston-Harris
to "Burn 'Em Up Barnes," Mascot.
Ferdinand Munier by Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall to "Merry Wid-
ow," MGM, and "The Count of Monte
Cristo," Edward Small. Wilfred Lucas
to the latter picture.
Ben Bard to "100% Pure," MGM.
Lona Andre, Eddie Kane and Doro-
thy and Jerry Noble by Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall for "Two Heads
on One Pillow," Liberty.
Marion Cyron by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall for a Pete Smith short
at MGM.
Barbara Barondess by Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall to MGM's "Merry
Widow."
Billy Johnson and Roy Duker for
"Always Honest," Fox, by Bernard,
Meiklejohn and McCall. ''
Mascot Preparing
14 For Production
With 14 feature scripts being pre-
pared at present for Mascot, the four
Mascot producers are jockeying their
leading literary entries in a race to
the starting line, with the prospect of
two or more getting under way simul-
taneously.
Martin Cohn's No. 1 entry, "Crim-
son Romance," is the studio favorite
in the preparedness race. Milton
Krims was assigned yesterday to the
final revision of Marion Orth's script.
David Howard will direct.
Sig Neufeld's starter, "Came a
Wpman," is being groomed by Doug-
las Doty and George Sayre. Neufeld,
like Cohn, has three scripts in prepa-
ration.
Lou Sarecky has three writers, Nor-
man Houston, C. Edward Roberts and
Maurice Hanline, readying "Water-
front Lady." After doing this and
possibly "The Marines Have Landed,"
which Colbert Clark is writing on a
by-the-picture basis, .he will discuss a
deal to make a block.
Louis Baum is producing two ex-
ploitation features. Earl Snell writing
the first, "Young and Beautiful," the
Wampas baby star round-up. Joseph
Santley will direct.
'Within the Rock' Goes
Into Production Today
"Within the Rock," fifth of Al
Alt's dozen states righters branded as
Showman Pictures, starts today on
location at Crestline, near Lake Ar-
rowhead.
Al Ray is directing a cast including
Lila Lee, Creighton Chaney, Edmund
Breese, Charles French and Vic Potel.
Green on Runyon Yarn
Howard J. Green, who returned
from a six weeks vacation in New
York last week, has been assigned to
script "The Lemon Drop Kid," a Da-
mon Runyon story, at Paramount.
CRITICS IIV 10 CITIES TO
SEE 'VANITIES' IIV 3 DAYS
Bennie Ray Finishes
Jack Perrin Six-Reeler
The motion picture critics in ten
key cities will get their first look at
Paramount's "Murder at the Vanities"
within three days next week, the pic-
ture being shown by Earl Carroll per-
sonally. The final showing of the trip
will be next Wednesday night when
the picture will open at the Rivoli iri
New York.
Carroll will show the picture in San
Francisco at midnight Sunday and, on
Monday morning, will leave in a char-
tered plane, piloted by Paul Mantz.
He will land at Salt Lake, Denver,
Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, De-
troit, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh be-
fore reaching New York, remain in
each place long enough to screen the
picture and then take off for the next
stop. His itinerary has been arranged
so that he will not be in any place
more than three or four hours. Tom
Rooney. Carroll's manager, Teet Carle
and Bill Pine of Paramount will ac-
company him.
Carroll expects to remain in New
York about a week and then fly back.
Bennie Ray wound up his Jack Per-
rin six-reeler, "Rawhide's Mail," at
California studio yesterday. It's the
first of four Reliables for William
Steiner release.
Next week Ray makes the fifth of
the "Bud and Ben" three-reelers, with
Jack Perrin and Ben Corbett. This
will be followed by the fourth of six
Tcm Tylers for Reliable.
Allan Here Today
Elizabeth Allan gets in today by
plane after a fast return from her
vacation in London. She goes into
"The Green Hat" immediately at
MGM, and later will work in "David
Copperfield."
Dunn Option Lifted
Fox yesterday exercised its option
on Jimmy Dunn's contract. Player's
deal was handled by Ralph Farnum.
AND NOW 1934 BRINGS
Joining a mighty parade of hits comes SATIN SMOOTH .... Max Factor's
greatest achievement! .... Smoother, faster, easier to apply and easier to
remove .... a make-up of delicate tones that photographs beautifully ....
SATIN SMOOTH rightfully takes its place as a leader for all times . . . It's
1934's make-up sensation. Try it and thrill.
MAX FACTOR'S MAKE-UP STUDIOS
HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA
COMPLETE
DIRECTORY
OF DIRECTORS AND
THEIR ACTIVITIES
THE BEST "MONEY"
DIRECTOR OF THE
PAST TWELVE MONTHS
EXECUTIVES FORCET-
THEY MUST BE REMINDED
WHO DIRECTED WHAT . .. ?
AND FOR WHOM . . . ?
AND WHEN . . . ?
FOURTH ANNUAL
DIRECTORS' NUMBER
OUT SOON
% MR.SAVUEL MAP.\,
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
Vol. XXI, No. 3. Price 5c.
TODAY^S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday. May 11, 1934
•THE motion picture industry in
France is greatly upset by the ban that
has been placed on "The House of
Rothschild" in that country on the
ground that it is feared exhibition of
it might cause racial disturbances in
the theatres, especially in Paris.
Strangely enough, it is reported
from the French capital that the ban
is largely the result of protest against
the picture by the French branch of
the Rothschild bank. The heads of
this famous institution are said to be
afraid that a picture which might be
construed as pro-Jewish propaganda
would prove dangerous in the present
political atmosphere in France.
Perhaps there is some danger, for
otherwise it seems hardly possible that
a banking house which is as closely
connected with the picture industry
as is the Rothschild firm would object
to showing a film which deals as kind-
ly with the forbears of the family as
this one does.
Incidentally, the French censors
seem somewhat inconsistent, for they
have banned another picture, a French
production, called "The Bank Nemo,"
which is a satirical comedy, based on
political and financial corruption, al-
though, as a play, it was a stage suc-
cess for several months.
However, so far as "Rothschild" is
concerned, it is France's loss and Bel-
gium's gain, for the Continental pre-
miere of the picture in Brussels was
one of the big events of the year.
One of our reviewers was granted
unusual courtesy at a recent preview
at the Colorado Theatre, Pasadena.
Arriving just as the last frame of the
film credits flashed off the screen, the
reviewer might have had to postpone
the preview notice had not R. K. Sims,
the house manager, come to his aid.
The studio had no credit sheets avail-
able, so Mr. Sims kindly had the first
reel rewound for the reviewer's bene-
fit. It is with pleasure that we ac-
knowledge such exceptional courtesy.
Cheer note: Karl Dane, with big
roles in big pictures for years and, at
times, getting star billing, left an es-
tate of $225, comprising an old auto-
mobile and a few personal effects.
That ought to point some kind of a
moral, but we are not sure just what.
AGENCIES CASHING IN
Studio Demands For Talent
Giving The Artist-Managers
Their Best Time In Months
Para. Paying Air Comic
$75,000 For Picture
New York. — Paramount has
signed Joe Penner, famous radio
comic, for "The Big Broadcast of
1934" and is authoritatively re-
ported to be paying him $75,000
for the picture, in which his part
will be hardly more than a bit.
Robinson May Get
Four Walls' Lead
Warners are due to announce today
the signing of a new deal with Ed-
ward G. Robinson for another series
of starring pictures.
The new deal relaxes the exclu-
sive hold that Warners has had on
Robinson and he will be allowed to
make one picture off the lot. He was
in a huddle last night with Lucien
Hubbard, of MGM, discussing a pos-
sible ticket for the top spot in "Four
Wails," which the studio has taken
out of the short-budget class and list-
ed as a higher bracket production.
Sam Wood Signed by
MCM For Year's Term
MGM yesterday handed Sam Wood
a new 52-week contract and granted
the director a leave of absence for a
vacation in Europe on the completion
of "Stamboul Quest," which he puts
into work next week. Deal was nego-
tiated by John Zanft.
John Clark on Way
New York. — John D. Clark, sales
manager of Fox Film, left here for the
coast yesterday.
If the business being done by the agents who handle talent
is any barometer, picture production is definitely on the up-
swing and the production heads are getting their eyes opened
to the necessity of corraling some real talent for their pictures.
Practically everv agency — and there
are eighty-one recognized offices in
Hollywood and Beverly Hills in addi-
tion to a host of little agents — reports
better demand for talent in all lines
than they have had in months.
Virtually all the top offices are ex-
panding their staffs of field men to
cope with the increased business, th^,
Selznick and Joyce and Small-Landau
offices having divided the studio
among their staffs, one agency man
(Continued on Page 71
Capra Sfory Shelved
The racetrack story which Frank
Capra was set to produce for Colum-
bia has been shelved because of cast-
ing difficulties. Capra and Robert
Riskin are now working on an original
in which the company hopes to star
Claudette Colbert.
Mickey Captures Rome
Rome. — The film trade press is ac-
claiming the latest creations of Walt
Disney, following a special showing
staged for them by United Artists.
Dave Butler to MCM
David Butler is on the MGM lot to
pfepafe a screen original. He will
probably direct it, as well.
VICIOUS ATTACK Ol^ PIX
BURIES DARROW REPORT
Julius Klein Special
Aide to Laemmie Sr.
Washington. — Official Washington
and the newspapers are all burned up
over the fact that the Darrow Recov-
ery Board report is meeting the same
fate as the famous Wickersham pro-
hibition report, which was suppressed
by Hoover. It was the main topic of
conversation at the Capitol yesterday
and the reason is conceded to be the
vicious things that the report holds
about the picture industry
It has leaked out that the views ex-
pressed about the film business are
the most poisonous of any of the eight
industries which the report slams, and
(Continued on Page 2)
Julius Klein, for many years one
of Hearst's star writers in Chicago and
all over the world, has been engaged
by Carl Laemmie Sr. as a special as-
sistant.
He will specialize in advice on stor-
ies and probably will do some writing
himself. Klein has been decorated by
two governments and brings to his
new job a wide knowledge of inter-
national affairs.
MCM Takes Over
Presnell Contract
Robert Presnell's difficulities with
Warners were washed off the board
yesterday when MGM bought the bal
ance of the writer-director-producer's
ticket, w,h,ch has eleven months to go
Presnell's difficulties, it was said
^nofh ""^ u/^ tampering tact,cs whicf;
another Warner executive practised
on Br.t,sh Agent" and "Dragon Mur-
der Case, which Presnell had been
producing. He takes up his spot at
the other studio Monday and starts as
a writer, and his first assignment is
understood to be on "Sascha Cer-
I'u f^ '?^°^ P'^y •'y Harry Thom-
asheffsky. M. C. Levee handled the
deal.
Henry Blanke takes over the pro-
ducer responsibilities on "British
Agent and "Dragon Murder Case"
at Warners.
R
Murphy To Direct
For Para. Exclusively
Paramount signed Ralph Murphy to
an exclusive five-year contract
terdav and wil
- yes-
ay and will not share him with
Charles R. Rogers, as was recently re-
ported.
leaves Rogers when he
"The Great Flirtation."
Dunlap negotiated the
Murphy
completes
Frank and
ticket.
Ceraghty With B and D
London. — Tom Ceraghty is writing
the script of "Sons 0' Guns," the Jack
Buchanan picture which Sidney Lan-
field will direct for British and Domin-
ions. Lili Damita gets the female
lead.
Hayward Here Today
Leiand Hayward gets in by plane at
7:45 this morning to take charge of
the Frank Joyce-Myron Selznick office
during Myron Selznick's four weeks in
Europe.
Page Two
IftefefelPQIlCTIER
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office; Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Seems like we've been wasting a
lot of sympathy on a famous star
who's been "confined" in a local hos-
pital about three weeks come next
Michaelmas! The fellow went in for
a slight operation and really should
have been out in a few days. Fact is,
he COULD have been out in a few
days, but he's still there — and having
one swelegant time of it! He hangs
around his hospital room during the
day — but goes out at night and
carouses around town with a freedom
he hasn't enjoyed in years! Of course,
he can well use each day to recuperate
from the night before, and his wife
is none the wiser! He's been dis-
missed by the hospital several times
as a cured patient — but he comes
right back there to roost every night —
such fun!
•
A major studio lot, noted for its
chiseling proclivities, Is at it again!
Y'know — the NRA code provides for
ten dollars a day minimum wage for
chorus girls — and this lot uses a great
number of chorus girls. Sooooo — in-
stead of paying them the required
stipend, they've put a lot of gals un-
der contract — "in stock" as t'were —
for thirty-five dollars a week — and the
gals work like dawgs! They work in
features and they work in shorts —
but the weekly salary eliminates even
the necessity of paying them overtime
— and they do plenty of overtime!
Phooey I
•
The Al Newmans were throwing
still another party for Julie Hornblow
the other night — and faced a terrify-
ing situation. The Newmans' home is
ALMOST furnis.hed. It's brand new,
and the living room has yet to be
graced by anything but drapes. They
asked gobs of people and were faced
with furniture shortage, so the day of
the party Mrs. N. borrowed Harry
Ruby's entire living room , including
the ash-trays, and hired a truck to
bring the stuff to her own place. Ruby
was among the guests that night and
had to leave early. He also had to
be forcibly restrained from taking his
chairs, sofas, rugs, et al, along with
him!
"DOUBLE DOOR"
Paramount prod.; director, Charles Vldor; writers, Elizabeth A. McFadden,
Gladys Lehman and Jack Cunningham.
Paramount Theatre
Post: Though it has a climax gruesome enough to satisfy the horror fiends,
"Double Door" does not quite manage to qualify as the type of picture to
make your blood run cold. The best It can achieve is a lukewarm pulsa-
tion. It strives for mood and atmosphere rather than action.
JouTnal:The story marches grimly toward its climax and Director Charles Vldor
sustains suspense admirably, but Miss Morris Is the principal reason for
the picture.
Mirror: A grim drama, moderately entertaining. Excellently acted, the film is
a grim thriller, set In a gloomy background and unrelieved by fun. De-
signed to Induce jimjams In the beholder, it does that with fair success.
World -Telegrami: A blood-curdling bit of screen melodrama, based on Elizabeth
McFadden's play of the same name. Here are all the perfectly good and
staple elements of melodrama and they are managed so skilfully by the
director and the players that "Double Door" emerges a thriller that keeps
you glued to your chair and that sends chills up and down your spine from
beginning to end.
News: Perhaps when you see the picture you will be able to predict the denoue-
ment, but to the majority of fans at the premiere of this film the climax
came as a surprise — and a very agreeable one It seemed. For that reason
this report will conclude with the advice that if you like a dash of re-
strained horror with your film fare you'll enjoy "Double Door."
Herald-Tribune: A macabre and authentic thriller, "Double Door" constitutes
a notable example of what can be achieved In the way of film melodrama
from a successful play script. It Is superlatively good entertainment.
You ought to like it.
Sun: A faithful adaptation of the stage play with Miss Mary Morris and Miss
Evelyn Venable in their original roles.
"NO GREATER GLORY"
Columbia prod.; director, Frank Borzage; writers, Ferenc Molnar, jo Swerling.
Roxy Theatre
Post: An interesting and profoundly touching study of modern youth under the
shadow of militarism. The effectiveness of the picture Is due Immeasur-
ably to the sensitive direction of Frank Borzage.
American: Departing completely from the formula, this unusual picture, won-
derfully wrought, is as fine and sensitive a piece of cinema art as ever
cameras brought to the screen. Frank Borzage has transferred his story to
the screen with a wealth of sympathy and understanding, creating a docu-
ment at once fragile in its beauty and titanic in Its drama.
Sun: A strong harrowing melodrama, with a theme more adult than Its plot
would promise. Frank Borzage, the director, has managed to build the
picture to an exciting and sorrowful climax.
World-Telegram: An astonishing quality of simplicity and sincerity, as well as
a tender study in child psychology has been created in "No Greater
Glory.' A picture worthy of respect and attention, it is a human and affect-
ing story. I wish to honor Frank Borzage's direction of the film and the
heart-breaking performance of young George Breakson.
News: Frank Borzage has made for Columbia a highly sentimental and touching
picture from Ferenc Molnars novel, "The Paul Street Boys." The juvenile
drama is impressive, but it is done entirely without humor.
Times: Frank Borzage has fashioned a provocative and an unusual picture. It
is rather too sentimental at times, but, nevertheless, compelling because
of it vitality and the good work of the moys who portray the leading roles.
Journal: A poignant little drama with and about youngsters. Directed with
compassionate understanding by Frank Borzage and acted by a cast of boys
who play their parts with all the serious concentration of youth, the picture
is an unusual and genuinely Impressive document.
Herald-Tribune: Its most distinguishing quality lies in the haunting portrayal
of a kingdom of children. Never once does the adult point of view obstruct
this fanciful, absorbed life of theirs, with its magnified hurts, lilting gaiety
and desperate seriousness. The performance is beautiful.
May 11, 1934
J
I
A
Curtains in Sight
For Tony Pastor's
Tony Pastor's, the Sunset Boule-
vard all-the-beer-and-vaudeville-you-
can-stand-for-$l .65 enterprise, is
carrying on at least through Saturday
night on agreement of employees to
be satisfied with the nightly takei
after expenditures for beer, food
and advertising are deducted. The
salary kitty Wednesday night was re-
ported around $13, divided among ap-
proximately 40 persons.
Original salaries promised the 35
performers ranged from $5.50 to $25
a week. Nathan Friedman, attorney k[j
and reputed major angel of the beer
garden, held a stormy conference with
his personnel in the early hours yes-
terday, when he informed them the
corporation would not be in position
to guarantee salaries. John Decker is
also said to be interested, a third pro-
moter, J. B. Hall, having disposed of
his 25 per cent for $50 cash.
Co-operative continuance of thei
enterprise has been mentioned, but
the employees have so far been differ-
ing too strongly among thmselves to
get together.
Mae West- Gets Some
Good News From Texas
Mae West received some box office
figures on the set yesterday from John
Smith, general manager of the Inter-
state Circuit of around 90 Texas the-
atres.
Mr. Smith declared that "I'm No
Angel" was a 3-to-l better draw than
"She Done Him Wrong," taking in
$24,000 its first week at his Dallas
house, compared with $9,000 at the
same house for "She Done Him
Wrong."
Vicious Attack on Pix
(Continued from Page 1 )
It is believed that the President has|
thought It wise not to publish thesel
views at this time.
The picture industry itself is blamed;
for the virulence of the report, because
the Film Code Authority was the only
one which did not bother to defend
itself before the Darrow board.
Senator Nye threatens a senatorial
investigation If the report is not made
public quickly. He says that the story
that the report is too "voluminous"
to be given out is ridiculous, because
he knows that it does not contain
more than 6000 words. It is felt here
that Congressional pressure will cause
the President to release it, but it
probably will be 'deleted' to a great
extent.
Caruso Jr. on Air
Enrico Caruso Jr. will make his first
radio appearance Tuesday over KFWB
as a plug for Warners' Spanis.h talker,
"The Fortune Teller." Picture opens
at the Filmarte May 18 with a $1
premiere and all the ballyhoo that goes
with an American premie're.
Gersdorf on Vacation
Phil Gersdorf gets a month's leave
of absence from the Sam Goldwyn
aorgnlzation starting Monday, return-
ing to work with Lynn Farnol on the
three productions which the producer
has In preparation.
SPECIAL
For Mother's Day only we have an air shipment of
Eastern American Beauty roses with all their rich
fragrance and deep color.
TALMADGE-JONES FLOWERS
B008 SUNSET BOULEVARD
CRanite 2911
I
May II, 1934
Page Three
MARION DAVIES HAS SURE
SUCCESS IN OPERATOR 13
Admirable Cast in
Fine Production
"OPERATOR 13"
(MCM)
Direction Richard Boleslavsky
Novel by Robert W. Chambers
Screen Play: Harvey Thew, Zelda
Sears, Eve Greene.
Photography George Folsey
Cast; Marion Davies, Gary Cooper,
Douglas Dumbrille, Katherine Alex-
ander, Ted Healy, Russell Hardie,
Four Mills Brothers, Willard Rob-
ertson, Belle Daube, Reginald Bar-
low, Francis McDonald, Jay Lloyd,
Fuzzy Knight, Henry Wadsworth,
Jean Parker, Sidney Toler, Samuel
Hinds, Robert McWade, Walter
Lang.
I With a production of great beauty,
glamorous performance by its star,
Marion Davies, and a thousand and
one exploitation angles offered by the
story, "Operator 13" simply cannot
j miss . There are few pictures in re-
i cent years that can match the advance
word-of-mouth campaign this one has
. had.
There are those who will quarrel
with the screen transcription of Rob-
I ert W. Chambers' widely-read navel.
I This fault should not be charged to
1 the script by Harvey Thew, Zelda
I Sears and Eve Green, but to the sub-
i ject matter of the novel itself. No
; amount of lavish prodluction, fine per-
; formances or expert direction can dis-
guise the fact that it is the same old
spy stuff, this time with a Civil War
locale. Like many other novels be-
fore it, it reads better than it plays.
The adapters have kept faith with
the book, the plot of which sends a
Northern girl behind the Confederate
lines as a spy. There she meets a
dashing officer, also a spy, and there
follows a love affair. All is fair in
love and war, yet somehow the two
do not seem to mix ... as enter-
tainment.
I The recent Hearst newspaper anti-
war propaganda has been extended to
the picture. The battle scenes are
unduly gruesome, with the screams of
men and horses in combat being heav-
ily emphasized on the sound track.
Several close-ups in montage flashes
are reminiscent of the dead men we
have been seeing in Sunday supple-
ments, a particularly horrible one
showing a soldier being bayonetted
through the neck. Much of this
should be cut for the picture's benefit.
After all, the Civil War is an episode
I in history of which America is none
too proud. Brutalizing it will only re-
sult in unfavorable intersectional re-
action.
Marion Davies has never been more
charming. She is offered a wide range
for characterization and takes full ad-
vantage of her opportunity. Gary
Cooper is given co-star billing, but
his role is little more than a conven-
tional lead. He does nicely with what
he has which, as may may be gathered,
isn't much.
The supporting cast is nothing short
of magnificent. They are all inciden-
tal characters, yet each manages to
Move to Stop Irving
'Receivership Trust'
Washington. — A petition was
presented to the Supreme Court
yesterday, asking that the laws of
the Southern District of New York
be changed so that the Irving Trust
Company could not grab off all re-
ceivership cases.
Evelyn Laye Signed
ForMusical byMCM
London. — Evelyn Laye, blonde Eng-
lish musical comedy star, put her name
on a contract in MCM's London office
today. She was told to report at Cul-
ver City September 1 to be featured
in a musical.
Reports that Ramon Novarro will
sail from South America for home
about the same time Miss Laye leaves
led to speculation whether they will
appear together.
Miss Laye appeared in Hollywood in
"One Heavenly Night" several years
ago. She was in the recent British
film, "Luck of the Navy."
Hepburn Gets Boost
In Pay, Percentage
New York. — Katharine Hepburn's
new deal with Radio has been straight-
ened out. While the details will not
be made public until her manager,
Leiand Hayward, arrives in Holly-
wood, it is certain that she gets a
substantial advance in salary as well as
a percentage split.
Furthermore, it is understood that
she will make three pictures a year
instead of two.
Schayer on Script
For Beery and Cooper
Richard Schayer has completed his
work on the screen play of "Stam-
boul Quest" for Walter Wanger and
has returned to the Harry Rapf unit at
MGM.
He is now writing the screen play
of "Any Port in a Storm," the Guy
Gilpatric story, which is planned for
Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper.
make his or her moment count. Espe-
cially outstanding are Katherine Alex-
ander as the other woman spy, Wil-
lard Robertson as the Confederate
intelligence officer, Sidney Toler as the
Union spy chief, Jean Parker as the
Southern bride and Walter Lang, as
the Northern soldier. The Four Mills
Brothers are in for three songs.
"Sleepy Head" and "Jungle Fever"
having hit possibilities. Two other
numbers are handled by Miss Davies,,
including the lilting "Once in a Life-
time."
Richard Boleslavsky directed with
an excellent regard for the pageantry
of the Civil War background. In mass
movement, he is particularly effective
and will be more so if the obvious
propaganda rs minimized. The pic-
ture has all too little humor as it is.
Photography by George Folsey is ex-
ceptionally fine.
Foy Sterilization
Picture is Dull
"TOMORROWS CHILDREN"
(Foy Production)
Direction Crane Wilbur
Author Wallace Thurman
Screen Play Wallace Thurman
Photography William Thompson
Cast: Diane Sinclair, Don Douglas,
John Preston, Carlyle Moore jr.,
Sterling Holloway.
Taking a leaf out of Ivan Abram-
son's notebook, Mr. Foy here makes
use of a sensational topic to create a
dull picture for the booboisie. Flanked
by statements from health boards and
objections from the Church, the pic-
ture gets exactly nowhere in an hour
and fifteen minutes and your patrons
will be grateful if you soft pedal the
whole thing, even if you're tempted
to sell it heavy to them on the
strength of the obvious exploitation
possibilities.
The story that is hung on this eu-
genic problem of whether children are
to be or not to be, is that of a family
called Mason. The mother and father
are habitual drunkards and their
progeny consist of a son in jail, a con-
genital cripple and two congenital idi-
ots. There is a daughter named Alice
who is okay, only she's not really their
daughter. The family is finally per-
suaded by the Welfare Board that the
best thing for them to do is to all be
sterilized, including the supposed
daughter Alice. But a young, ideal-
istic doctor takes an interest (purely
professional) in Alice's plight, gets the
truth of the situation and saves the
gal from a fate worse than poverty,
so's she can marry the boy and have
kiddies.
Crane Wilbur shows up as the
director of the film and contributes
no more than his title to that great
work. He isn't given much .help by
the screen play by Wallace Thurman,
who evidently read about such things
in a newspaper and decided it was a
timely subject, and then let it take
care of itself.
Diane Sinclair is a very lovely look-
ing Miss who could learn a lot about
acting if she had the chance, and
there's no reason why she shouldn't
get it. The rest of the cast does no
more than required of it and, in Ster-
ling Holloway's case, the requirements
were just one small scene.
First Two Productions
Are Set by Kelly-Saal
New York — Select Productions, the
new Burt Kelly, William Saal produc-
ing organization, has set the first two
of the program to be produced.
They will be "Woman in the Dark,"
a story by Dashiell Hammett, which
Sada Cowan has been engaged to
adapt, and "The Corcorans," on which
Burnet Hershey is doing the adapta-
tion.
Caudio on 'Dragon'
Tony Caudio has been assigned to
do the photography on Warner
Brothers' "The Dragon Murder Case,"
which starts tocfay.
mmiK
ATTER$
^^ Helen QwifnnM
We've been puzzling and puzzling
over what comment to make on the
following article, or rather item, fresh
from Germany. It seems to us that
it should be brought into the bright
glare of cold print, and perhaps the
best thing to do is just to print it and
let the reader see if he can figure out
what makes the wheels go round in
that narrow corner of the world.
"What Germans Consider a Provo-
cation in American Films. Berlin:
Metro-C3oldwyn-Mayer Film, of Ber-
lin, laid down a complaint against pro-
hibition of film in which Max Baer
(who defeated German idol Schmel-
ing) is playing one of the leading
roles. After film having first been
allowed in English version by censor
board, it was afterwards forbidden in
Germany and at the same time license
for English version withdrawn.
"The case was brought before the
court in Berlin, which, after advice
received from the Propaganda Minis-
try, rejected the plaint of MGM. De-
cision is based on the fact that Max
Baer, being a Jew, this picture is con-
sidered to be a provocation for the
German people and, in order not tO'
injure the feelings of German race ac-
cording to article seven of the film-
act of February sixteenth, authoriza-
tion cannot be granted for its exhibi-
tion in Germany."
It IS interesting and rather amus-
ing to read further the reasons on
which the decision is based: "Baer
is, according to the highest censor
board, not only a Jew but he is a
negroid type." Further, it is said that,
on account of Germany animosity to
the Jews, the censor board has to be
extremely severe in this respect to
films in which Jewish artists are play-
ing one part or another. In the case
of Max Baer's film it is further said
that the "national socialistic feeling is
injured by the fact that a Jewish
negroid type like Baer is glorified as
a Sport Hero."
Another reason offending Nazi feel-
ing is the fact that in this film a "Jew
has love affairs with non-Aryan wo-
men, endangering therefore the con-
tinuity of a clean race!" Well, Baer
may be just 3,r\ actor to some people
now, but we'd put all our money on
him as a fighter after he'd read a re-
port like that.
•
Have you seen the twenty-four
sheet poster on "Finishing School"?
Take a look at it and, if that isn't
the last word in finishing off a nice
gal, it's at least the beginning of a
beautiful friendship!
New Russian Advisor
Warners have signed Nicholas Ko-
lianski to act as technical advisor on
"British Agent" and to teach Leslie
Howard Russian for his leading role.
He was a member of the Duma and
assistant prosecutor during the Czar-
ist regime in Russia.
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HOLLYWOOD
74 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY.. -Constance Bennett
(Twentieth Century)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Paramount 659 sq. inches
Fox 296 sq. inches
Radio 233 sq. inches
Universal 213 sq. inches
MCM 181 sq. inches
Warners 174 sq. inches
Goldwyn 1 16 sq. inches
Twentieth Century 81 sq. inches
Columbia 55 sq. inches
Lloyd 20 sq. indies
You can take or leave most of the
stories in the June Hollywood — for
example, "Lilyan Tashman's Last In-
terview," by Harry N. Blair, which
contains no interview material at all;
and "The Man in Carbo's Past" (Carl
Brisson) , by Al Sherman, which is not,
as blurbed, "the true story of Carbo's
first love".
For a fascinating half hour, read
"The Camera Does Lie!" by Robert
Eichberg; if you want a ghost story,
there is "I Was Terrified" (Pert Kel-
ton), by Dorothy Spensley; and about
Tom Brown's experiences in gangland,
read "He's a 'Right Guy'."
Alyce Curtis has a swell yarn on
Muriel Kirkland, "Without Beauty";
Charles Grayson is amusing in a story
on Douglass Montgomery, "I'm Sure
He's Nuts!" Fred Rutledge tells how
"Janet Gaynor Rebels" and isn't lonely
any more; Clark Warren has Claudette
Colbert's life story in "Stepping
Stones to Fame"; Ned Williams tells
about two little boys back home in
"The Men in Mae West's Life," and
Mary Watkins Reeves gets Fifi Dorsay
to give a "Prescription for Personal-
ity." It's laughter, no less.
PICTURE PLAY
66 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Gloria Stuart
(Universal)
Publicity Space (Approximiate)
MCM 903 sq. inches
Paramount 631 sq. inches
Warners 314 sq. inches
Universal 215 sq. inches
Radio 200 sq. inches
Columbia 175 sq. inches
Fox 160 sq. inches
Twentieth Century 90 sq. inches
Dignity, humor and good writing
distinguish the June Picture Play.
"Gable Gets a New Deal," by Judith
Field; "Hand It to Helen" (Helen
Mack), by Ben Maddox; "Found — a
Happy Star," by Carole Lombard, as
told to Dorothy Wooldridge; and "To-
day She Lives" (Joan Crawford), by
Malcolm H. Oettinger, are all stories
that raise the mag's standard this
month.
Others are "What a Pal Jean"
(Harlow), by Maude Lathem; "These
Charming Thieves," by Judith Ann
Ice; "The Strange Case of Miss
Brent," by Dorothy Herzog; "Sizing
Up Dubs" (Douglass Montgomery) , by
Molly Lewin; "She's Muzzi May"
(May Robson), by Dana Rush, and
"The Busiest Bee" (Fay Wray), by.
Laura Benham.
New Agency to Spot
Screen Stars on Air
Morton Milman, one of the big
figures in the world of radio and the
man who handles the "Hall of Fame"
hour, is opening offices in the Cali-
fornia Bank building in Beverly Hills
to handle air appearances of screen
personalities.
Milman, formerly with NBC, is
given credit for bringing out and de-
veloping many of the leading radio
names, including Joe Penner, and with
having been the means of putting
Jimmy Durante on the air.
*U' Finishes Two and
Now Has Two in Work
Universal yesterday wound up "Let's
Talk It Over" and "I Give My Love,"
and now has only two in work. Karl
Freund, who directed "I Give My
Love," leaves next week for a month's
vacation in Honolulu.
Paul Lukas, the lead in the same
picture, hops off Saturday in his own
plane for Yucatan, for a three-weeks
vacation.
David Hertz to Adapt
Own Original Yarn
Universal yesterday signed David
Hertz to do the script on his own
story, "Storm Without Thunder."
William Anthony McGuire is the as-
sociate producer. Deal was set by
Jerry Horwin.
Hertz has set his play, "Waltz in
Fire," for Fall production by Har-
mon and Ullman, the producers of
"Men in White."
Agency Signs Writers
The Berg, Stebbins, Allenberg and
Blum agency has signed Albert J.
Cohen and Robert Terry Shannon to
a managerial contract. The writing
team has a one-picture commitment to
Warners which is to go into effect
this month when the studio finds an
assignment.
Gene a Cocktail Host
Gene Chrisman, western editor of
Screen Play and Hollywood magazines,
and Mrs. Chrisman were hosts to the
writers for the Fawcett publications
yesterday afternoon at a cocktail
party at the Chrisman home.
Schley-Binyon Settle
Edna Schley's suit against Claude
Binyon for $1,400 on the writer's
Paramount ticket, which the agent set
before joining the Selznick-Joyce of-
fice, was settled out of court yesterday
by Harry Sokolov, her attorney.
Ferber on Runyon Yarn
Nat Ferber was signed yesterday by
Universal to do the screen play of the
Damon Runyon story, "Princess
O'Hara." The deal was set by the
Schulberg-Feldman-Gurney agency.
Utopia Promised
By A.T.& T. Probe
New York. — Robert Robins, who is
shouting for the investigation of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company, is telling exhibitors that, if
they force the Senate to conduct the
probe, a Utopia for exhibs will result.
He says, in a letter mailed to 10,-
000 exhibs, that the net results of
the probe will be the abolition of
score charges, no more exorbitant
prices for services and equipment, re-
striction against buying first runs and
other unfair practices, to say nothing
of lower telephone rates
Barney Balaban Now on
Para. Theatre Council
New York. — Sam Dembow, vice-
president of the Paramount Theatre
Service Corporation, yesterday an-
nounced the appointment of Barney
Balaban as a member of the National
Advisory Council of Theatre Operators,
which Paramount has just created.
John Balaban will be Barney's alter-
nate.
Previously appointed to this board
are E. V. Richards, N. L. Nathanson,
Karl Hoblitzelle and A, H. Blank.
Bert and Bob Will Be
Hill-Biliies in Next
The next Wheeler and Woolsey
production is scheduled to have a Ken-
tucky mountain background. Kalmar
and Ruby are writing the screen play
for William Seiter's direction. H. N.
Swanson is supervising.
Patman Bill Opposed
New York. — Charles C. Pettijohn,
of the Hays office, has filed a brief
ppoosing the Patman bill which calls
for Federal regulation of the motion
picture industry.
Kingston on His Own
Al Kingston has bought out Dave
Harris and the Kingston-Harris
agency becomes Al Kingston Inc. Har-^.
ris leaves for Chicago next week for
a short vacation.
More For 'Thin Man'
MGM yesterday sent "Thin Man"
back for added scenes and has signed
William Augustin for a spot in the
additions.
GREATER THAN THE STAGE PLAY
The Pulitzer
prize winner
now reaches
new glory
on the screen
GABLE
JEAN HERSHOLT
ELIZABETH ALLAN
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"SOUP AND fISH'
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Claire Myers to "Bachelor Bait" at
Radio.
Jameson Thomas to "You Belong to
Me" at Paramount.
Monte Vandergrift to "Shoot the
Works" at Paramount.
Ray Cook to "Rear Car" at MGM.
Spencer Charters and Vivian Oak-
land by Al Kingston to Columbia's
"Blind Date."
Clarence Wilson to Radio's "Bach-
elor Bait."
Charles Wilson by Al Kingston to
"The Dragon Murder Case," Warners.
Cordon Westcott to Warners'
"Kansas City Princess."
Lawrence Grant for "Count of
Monte Cristo," Hallam Cooley nego-
tiating.
Roscoe Karns in "To the Ladies" at
Paramount.
Arthur Clayton for "Green Eyes" by
Chesterfield.
H. B. Warner Lead in
Mono's 'Jane Eyre'
Monogram yesterday signed H. B.
Warner through Bernard, Meiklejohn
and McCall for the lead opposite Vir-
ginia Bruce in "Jane Eyre," which
Christy Cabanne directs and Ben Ver-
schleiser supervises.
Mary Forbes and Clyde Cook also
spotted in the picture by Freddie Fra-
lick.
Durante Takes the Hint
Ink was hardly dry on the "some-
thing should be done about it," in
yesterday's Rambling Reporter's re-
marks about Jimmy Durante's radio
material, when the comedian signed
Bert Levine to fix him up chatter for
1 3 broadcasts. Bernard, Meiklejohn
and McCall set the deal.
O'Flaherty at Radio
Liam O'Flaherty yesterday joined
the Radio writing staff to write an
original screen play. M. C. Levee
negotiated the deal.
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May 11. 1934
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Page Seven
THREE ]^EW PLAYS FAIL TO
PLEASE BROADWAY TASTE
Old Ibsen Tragedy
With Happy Ending
"THE LADY FROM THE SEA"
Nathan Zatkin presents "The Lady
from the Sea," by Henrik Ibsen;
directed by John Houseman; pro-
duction designed by Donald Oen-
slager; with Rose Keane, Margaret
English, Richard Whorf, Moffat
Johnston, Roman Bohnen, Mary
Hone and Clem Wilenchick. At
the Little Theatre.
New York. — Nathan Zatkin and
John Houseman have re-written Ib-
sen's "The Lady from the Sea" and
in so doing have speeded it up con-
siderably and done a very good job
with one of Ibsen's weakest plays.
The story is laid in a small Fjord
town of Norway, and concerns itself
with Dr. Wangel and his second wife,
Ellida. Ellida confesses to her hus-
band that the reason she has been a
stranger to him during the last three
years of their wedded life is due to
the fact that she had previously con-
tracted a symbolic marriage with a
sailor named Johnson, who had taken
a ring from his finger and one from
her own and, after coupling them, had
thrown them into the sea, saying that
they were both now wedded to each
other and to the sea.
Johnson, because he had murdered
the captain of his ship, was compelled
to flee and vowed he would return.
Ellida had received word from a ship-
wrecked friend, which convinced her
that Johnson was still alive and was
going to claim her as his bride. That
she is really the wife of Johnson and
must go with him anywhere has be-
come an obsession with her. All
Wangel's pleadings apparently have
no effect, and when Johnson finally
makes his appearance she is ready to
go with him.
The big scene occurs in the fifth
act when Wangel, realizing that noth-
ing he can do will hold her, and lov-
ing her in spite of all, renounces his
claim to her and tells her she can go
freely. This renunciation breaks the
spell and Ellida at last realizes that
she is really Wangel's true wife and
that Johnson has no claim on her.
Johnson, his hold over Ellida broken,
leaves, claiming that in the future she
will be as a stranger to him The
play ends with Ellida's step-children
accepting her into the intimacies of
the family circle.
Portrayed by a fairly competent
cast, the outstanding performance is
that given by Richard Whorf in a
lesser role, that of Lyngstrand, a
would-be sculptor. Mary Hone, as
Ellida, "The Lady from the Sea," gives
a compelling performance as the suf-
fering, hypnotized heroine.
At best it is an old-fashioned play,
with little real merit, and would make
a heavy and lumbering motion pic-
ture.
Liberty Starting One
Liberty starts production Monday
on "Two Heads on a Pillow," Miriam
Jordan and Neil Hamilton in the leads.
William Nigh directs.
'Delayed by Storm'
Leo Carrillo was invited by offi-
cials of Maddox Airline to ride to
New York in the maiden trip of a
new plane Tuesday. It took Leo
so long to get his wife's permission
to fly that the plane was gone
when he reached the airport.
^Picnic' Is Crude
And Badly Written
"PICNIC"
Arthur J. Beckhard presents "Picnic,"
a play by Cretchen Damrosch;
staged by Kaye Lowe; settings by
P. Dodd Ackerman, at the National
Theatre; with Jean Adair, Esther
Dale, Marvin Kline, Frieda Altman,
Olive Corn, Jan Ullrich, Fred Lislie,
Percy Waram, Millard Mitchell,
Joanna Roos, Hugh Rennie.
New York. — Miss Damrosch has
pointed a way out of all our troubles.
Just take all the Communists and give
them a week-end in a pleasant coun-
try house — and by Monday morning
everything will be hotsy totsy and
Capitalism and Communism will be
ready to be joined in holy wedlock.
Of course — and this is most impor-
tant— there must be a picnic. A
fresh air, Sunday picnic, in the second
act, where there can be a lot of talk
about the grandness of nature, and a
few remarks, not too many, about
freedom, the real freedom, of life. To
wit, the right to fall in love with any-
one you please. After all, love is love,
and a gal from Union Square can fall
for a Wall Street lawyer — especially
if there happens to be the right kind
of moon and he knows how to grab
her.
The trouble with Miss Damrosch is
twofold: she doesn't know her sub-
ject, nor does she know very much
about the writing of plays. Which
is unfortunate, for her heart seems
to be in the right place, and one got
the feeling that there was really some-
thing interesting in what she was try-
ing to convey.
It is worth mentioning that the
mere presence of Joanna Roos, as
Vera, the Communist spellbinder, in-
dicated the possibilities of the idea
which Miss Damrosch muffed. Which
is praise for Miss Roos, and so in-
tended. Because Miss Roos can be
recommended for pictures, even if
"Picnic" cannot.
English Actor and
Beauty Winner in 'Shock'
Alex Courtney, English juvenile w,ho
appeaVs in the Pasadena Community
Theatre's production of "Cavalcade"
next week, gets his first film break
with an engagement for "Shock" at
Monogram. Ralph Forbes is also added
to "Shock."
The only girl in the otherwise all-
male line-up is Gwenllian Gill, the
Scotch prize beauty, a Paramount loan
to Monogram.
These Two' Sombre
And Unsatisfactory
"THESE TWO"
Presented by Leslie J. Casey and James
W. Liddle at the Henry Miller The-
atre; by Lionel Hale; cast: A. E.
Mathews, Hilda Spong, Howard
Emery, Bramwell Fletcher, Helen
Chandler, Kay Strozzi and Egbert
Jones.
New York. — A rather sombre trag-
edy of marriage was unfortunately
marred by indecision in its writing.
The author seems confused with the
Issue at hand and does not know what
he wants to say, or so it seemed to
this reviewer. His hero is too nega-
tive and inconsistent in his emotional
outlook and, after practically insisting
upon the performance of a noble deed
in rescuing the fair lady from her
troublesome sex life, later turns
around and scorns her love which was
not .his in the first place and which he
demanded.
While much of the play held inter-
est, the plot is old-fashioned and
hardly up to the demands of present-
day screen audiences. Such seasoned
performers as Mathews, Spong,
Strozzi, Chandler and Bramwell
Fletcher do swell jobs.
Our foolish heroine finds she is to
have a baby and the scoundrel refuses
to marry her. She goes to the man's
best friend with her troubles and he
insists on marrying her to save her the
disgrace. They can be divorced later.
The baby dies. For a year the boy
and girl live together, with Simon dis- '
covering in time that he cannot en-
dure his enforced intimacy while the
girl he really loves won't have him
The time comes when the girl he _
rescues really falls in love with him.
The barriers go down when he gets
a good job and they have high hopes
for the future. They are rapturously
happy, until she makes the mistake of
giving up her work. The husband gets
bored and takes up with a few side-
lines in fluff. His wife learns about
his amours and he lies to her about
them. She begs him not to allow the
flame of their love to die and to give
up his other women. He thinks oth-
erwise and cannot decide whether he
will ever come back to her. She
threatens suicide, but this doesn't
phase him, and the curtain rings down
on the approaching end of our young
heroine.
Thespian Writers Get
An Agent All Their Own
Sol Blanc, interested for several
years in a company operating three
boulevard gown shops, is branching
out as a story broker, working from
Beverly Hills with Stanley Morgan as
associate. Blanc expects to special-
ize on originals written by actors and
actresses.
Darling-Eby Start
Anne Darling and Earl Eby start
their new Universal contracts in
"There's Always Tomorrow." Edward
Sloman directs.
Monogram to Make
Two Porter Novels
Monogram yesterday concluded ne-
gotiations with the estate of Gene
Stratton Porter for "The Keeper of
the Bees" and "The Girl of the Lim-
berlost," two best-seller novels for a
number of years.
Studio has retained Mrs. Jeanette
Porter Meehan in an advisory capacity
and assigned "The Girl of the Limber-
lost" to W. T. Lackey for June pro-
duction. Both books were made as
silents by F. B. O. around ten years
ago, but ownership reverted to the
estate.
Lilian Ellis Maybe Set
For Todd Spot at Roach
Lilian Ellis, Hal Roach's Danish
blond import, is due to reach Los An-
geles May 18 by train. Her first
assignment is tests, no spot being pre-
ordained for her.
She is a possible threat to Thelma
Todd, whose contract terminates next
week with no mention yet of continu-
ance. If Roach decides against using
the newcomer in comedies, he will
probably farm her to some major.
Hall For Rear Car'
Porter Hall, who was brought here
from New York by MCM for "The
Thin Man," has been signed for a spot
in "Rear Car," which Harry Beaumont
directs. Deal was negotiated by A!
Kingston.'
Adams Novel For MCM
MGM has optioned "The Glorious
Hussy,',!- a novel by Samuel Hopkins
Adarffs. Story deals with Peggy O'Neil
^ton.
Cluett Radio Writer
Jack Cluett joins the Radio writing
. st-aff today to work on shorts under
Lee Marcus' supervision.
Agencies Cashing In
(Continued from Page 1 )
being responsible for two studios each
day. Other offices are falling into line
on this plan.
Since the agents are always the first
to complain and the last to admit
growing grosses, the expressions of
satisfaction are regarded generally as
a reflection of production conditions.
Many agents have changed their tune
of six months ago, when they depre-
cated the failure by the majors to
sign promising players to term deals.
The agents declare that the past few
months have seen more term deals
signed than any similar period in two
years.
"It looks as if this year will be the
biggest we've ever had," one import-
ant agent said. "The growing volume
of business has forced us to take larg-
er quarters and add four men to our
agency staff. This was done against
our own desires, for it appeared last
year that we would be shunted off the
production scene entirely, so bad were
the indications at that time.
"Codes, restrictive measures such as
agency rules and all other controlling
devices will not affect the field. The
need for more and fresh talent makes
the agent essential."
Connoisseurs of
fine Cognacs
Here again, genuine
proof is given of the
knowledge and abil-
ity of The Vendome
as a purveyor of fine
liquor
will experience great enthusiasm for this
excellent collection of fine Cognac Brandies.
Not only will they recognise Cognacs of Fine
Quality-but a medley of great vintages
and wide price range as wel
GRAND MARNIER (4 Bees)
An excellent Cognac, and one of our most popular
COURVOISIER
The Brandy of Napoleon (20 years old)
CHATEAU COURVOISIER
Fine Champagne Cognac (50 years old)
GRAND FINE CHAMPAGNE (Vintage 1875)
Here is a Cognac of great age, flavor, fragrance and fineness, and
moderately priced,
BERRY BROS. LIQUEUR (30 years old)
The name itself implies its fine quality,
"MAISON ' RESERVE SPECIAL
Over 30 years old.
VERY OLD GRAND FINE CHAMPAGNE COGNAC
RESERVE SPECIALS
(Vintages 1811, 1830, 1858, 1865)
Antiques we may say, but with their age there has grown fine, smooth
mellowness and fragrance that only great age can produce.
BELLOWS fir CO. COGNACS
Fine Cognacs of the Premiere Zone of Cognac district. Obtainable In the
following: V. O. (10 years old) ; V. S. O. P. (25 years old).
Vintage 1858.
ARMAGNAC (1893)
One of the rarest on our shelves.
SAMPLE THEM BEFORE YOU BUY THEM
You will find our list of ^SCOTCH" praise-
worthy and interesting, too. We invite you
to stop in today and look over our selection.
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% MR.SA^"UFL MAPX.
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Vol. XXI, No. 4. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, May 1 2, 1 934
PARA. OUTLOOI^ EPIGliT
Kuhn-Loeb Auditors Report
Obligations Can Be Met And
Common Stock Equity Left
$3,000,000 Cross
Is Believed Sure
For 'Rothschild'
New York. — The staggering busi-
ness that is being done by Twentieth
Century's "The House of Rothschild"
at every engagement has led experts
to the belief that the picture is headed
for a gross of at least $3,000,000.
The picture has played or is now
playing in approximately 150 theatres
throughout the country and is being
held over for a second week in at
least fifty per cent of these places.
It has opened in five cities in Can-
ada and has been held over in each of
the five. The London opening is set
for May 27 and it is expected that its
success in England will duplicate if not
surpass that in this country.
Darryl Zanuck, who is sailing for
Europe today, believes that the ban
in France is only temporary and that
it is largely due to the resentment felt
I by the French Rothschilds against the
Napoleonic angle.
Marshall Carbo Lead
In The Painted Veil'
Herbert Marshall was announced by
MOM yesterday for the spot opposite
Greta Carbo in "The Painted Veil,"
which Richard Boleslavsky directs.
John Meehan and Salka Viertel are
finishing the screen play of the Som-
erset Maugham story, under Hunt
Stromberg's supervision.
Cooper Back to Radio
Meriam C. Cooper returned to Ra-
dio yesterday after being away since
he relinquished the reins of the studio
to Pandro Berman last February. He
immediately closeted himself in story
conference and hung out the "Don't
Disturb" sign.
Cromwell With Harding
Radio yesterday assigned John
Cromwell to direct "The Fountain,"
* which will have Ann Harding in the
lead. Pandro Berman is producing.
Beery to Fly to Mexico
Wallace Beery is set to fly in his
own plane to Mexico City early next
motnh to appear at the opening there
of "Viva Villa."
Leisen to Honolulu
Mitchell Leisen leaves tonight on a
four-weeks vacation in Honolulu, get-
ting a leave from Paramount.
Men in White' Has
$2600 Opening Day
Clicking $800 better than the
spening day of the preceding pic-
ture, "Stand Up and Cheer,"
Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer's "Men in
White" did the unexpected on its
opening day at the Loew's State,
Los Angeles, reaching the $2,600
mark, according to MCM.
Shake-upScheduled
At Radio Studios
New York. — From those close to
the inside workings of Radio Pictures,
it is understood that the conferences
that are now being staged on the
coast between J. R. McDonough, B. B.
Kahane and Ned Depinet will result in
a shake-up that will not only change
the production seat in the studio, but
will bring in at least two important
new production faces.
It is believed that one last effort
will be exerted to swing Merian C.
(Continued on Page 6)
'Lottery Lover' First
For Hellman at Fox
Sam Hellman gets "Lottery Lover"
as Ihe first assignment on his new
Fox long-term ticket and will write
the screen play under Al Rockett's
supervision.
Picture was once slated for Lilian
Harvey, but now has Pat Paterson in
the leading role, with Lew Ayres and
Sterling Holloway in other spots.
Zukor Due Tomorrow
Adolph Zukor arrives tomorrow by
train and will remain in Hollywood
for several months.
New York. — The preliminary report of the Kuhn, Loeb and
Company auditors at work on the Paramount reorganization plan
under the instructions of the bondholders is very optimistic. The
earnings for the first quarter of this year are estimated at
$1,500,000 before the deduction of
the interest charges, w.hich, inciden-
tally, are not being paid.
The cash on hand of the trustees
and the operating subsidiaries amounts
to more than $12,000,000. But, to
offset everything, the auditors admit
that the actual liabilities of the cor-
poration are approximately $50,000,-
000, which includes bond obligations,
(Continued on Page 2)
Si Fabian Gets 20
Manhattan Houses
New York. — Si Fabian yesterday
closed negotiations to take over
twenty theatres of the Manhattan
Playhouses chain in New York.
Although he insists that he is acting
for himself alone, it is generally be-
lieved that he is playing the game for
the Warners as part of that company's
effort to increase its New York thea-
tres.
Pecora A.T.& T. Prober
New York. — Ferdinand Pecora, who
conducted the recent investigations of
financial institutions, is said to have
accepted Senator Dill's invitation to
handle the probe of the A.T.& T.
CODE HEADS BACK LOCAL
BOARD OIV OVER-BIJYIl\[G
New York. — The motion picture
Code Authority last night stepped
heavily and decisively on the practise
of over-buying pictures on the com-
plaint made by the Saxe Amusement
Company, of Milwaukee, against the
Ashley Theatre Corporation and Vita-
graph Inc.
The charge was that Ashley had
over-bought 30 Warner pictures and
Saxe asked that it be awarded that
product. The local Milwaukee griev-
ance board decided in favor of Saxe
(Continued on Page 2)
Fox Sued By Writer,
Asking $1,500,000
Walter S. Lawrence, writer, yester-
day filed suit in Federal court against
Fox Film Corporation, charging it with
infringement of copyright and asking
damages of $1,500,000.
Lawrence claims essential parts of
his book, "The Marathon Dancer,"
were used in "Sailor's Luck." He
charges he submitted his manuscript
to the Fox studio in 1932, but that it
was rejected.
Can't Cut Hours of
Labor, Says Board
New York. — It is impractical fur-
ther to reduce hours of labor in the
picture studios to aid the spread of
employment, according to the com-
mittee, composed of George Schaefer,
H. S Bareford and Charles O'Reilly,
which has been investigating.
The committee finds that there is
no substantial unemployment in the
industry, which has gone as far as it
can go in the matters of reducing
hours of labor and increasing wages.
If an added financial burden is in-
flicted, the committee feels, produc-
tion would suffer. There are probably
some thousands in Hollywood who
would not agree about "no substan-
tial unemployment."
March or Colman Set
For Xlive of India'
New York. — The "Clive of India"
story w.hich DarryT Zanuck has just
purchased, is a play, now running in
London, with Leslie Banks in the lead-
ing role.
When Twentieth Century produces
it as a picture, it probably will have
either Fredric March or Ronald Col-
man in the title role.
'Viva Villa' Opening
In view of Governor Rolp.h's procla-
mation that May 18 will be Mexico
Day, MCM has set "Viva Villa" to
open at the Loew's State the same
day.
Mayer to Frisco
L. B. Mayer, accompanied by John
Zanft and Howard Strickling, flew to
Frisco yesterday and will stay in the
Bay City until Monday.
U' Buys Eric Dorn'
New York. — Universal has pur-
chased the Ben Hecht novel, "Eric
Dorn," and Thomas Mitchell is doing
the adaptation.
MARION GERING DIRECTED /Thirty Day Princess" Th:re°NowJ
Page Two
May 12, 1934
m^ifefelPQICTilR
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave. ; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
There will be two new studio heads
in two major studios within two
weeks! . . . Mrs. Wally Beery, home
after her long stay in the hospital, and
getting along beautifully. . . . Gene
Fowler's next tome will be about
household and other pets . . . and
promises to be a honey! . . . The Dick
Barthelmesses have changed their
minds about Europe (this week) and
will go to New York any minute in-
stead. . . . Add to current heart-beats,
Mary Carlisle and Dick Powell. . . Al
Hall and Lola Lane, together again for
lunch at the Vendome. . . . And Viv-
ian Caye, back from the Mexican ad-
venture, same place. . . . Ditto Phil-
lips Holmes, Diana Wynyard, Sylvia
Sidney, Ric Cortez, Charles Rodgers,
Phillip McDonald, Irene Bentley, Aus-
tin Parker, the Carey Grants, et al. .
Edward Griffith is building an addition
to his Laguna Beach home.
•
Patricia Ellis, off to Detroit, her
home town for some personal appear-
ances. . . . Nellie Newburt, partying
for the Honolulu-bound Harry )oe
Browns and the Milton Brens tonight.
. . . Lloyd Sheldon once bought 1 2000
shares of Paramount stock at twelve
and a half cents per share and sold
them all the way up to five dollars!
. . . Andy Lawior just finished his big-
gest part to date in "Funny Thing
Called Love." . . . Lou Wertheimer
and George Goldie are turning over the
Colony Club to Mme. Frances Spingold
tomorrow night and all the proceeds
will go to the feeding and housing of
poor children. . . . You'd never guess
what big studio exec and his higher-
up's secretary were actually caught
necking in the Beverly Hills the other
dawning!
•
The Gary Coopers are about to take
possession of the Florence Vidor man-
sion. . . . The Steffi Duna-Juies
Schermer throbbing has stopped! . . It
took eight prop men and a few studio
cops to get Sidney Franklin out of a
suit of armor that he playfully got
into yesterday at the studio! . . Kath-
leen Ardelle, with Ralph Forbes, the
Clarence Browns, L. B. Mayer, Ida
Koverman, Dorothy Mackaill, at the
Cocoanut Grove Thursday eve. . . Kay
Viva Villa' Going
Very Big in London
London. — "Viva Villa," which
opened at the Empire last week, has
caught on with a bang and is doing
terrific business. Columbia's "If Hap-
pened One Night" goes into its third
week with business undiminished, and
Bob Flaherty's "Man of Aran" is also
a sell-out.
"Fashions of 1934" at the Regal,
and "Roman Scandals" at the Leices-
ter Square, are getting much better
than average grosses. The newcomers
for the week are "Scarlet Empress"
at the Carlton; "The Trumpet Blows"
at the Plaza; "Mick, the Miller," a
Gaumont dog picture, at the Capitol.
The weather is getting hot and the
week-end business is expected to fall
off.
MCM Will Plug lt§
Product Over the Air
MCM is going in for extensive radio
exploitation. Studio has set Robert
Young on the Shell hour Monday to
broadcast a plug for "Men in White,"
with thirty-six other broadcasts on the
picture slated for the ensuing five
days.
From KFAC each Monday night the
studio will air a fifteen-minute pic-
ture chatter program, "Air Pockets."
Lee Tracy Switched
To Star in 'Florette'
Discarding other plans previously
announced for Lee Tracy, Paramount
yesterday decided upon "52 Weeks
for Florette" as the player's first star-
ring assignment. It was originally set
for W. C. Fields.
Helen Mack will have the opposite
s(X>t to Tracy and Alfred Werker di-
rects.
George Brent Lead in
MCM 'Stamboul Quest'
MGM yesterday put through a defi-
nite commitment from Warners on
George Brent for "Stamboul Quest,"
first announced a week ago.
Also signed are C. Henry Gordon,
Douglas Dumbrille, Christian Rub, Ru-
dolph Amendt, Robert Gleckler and
Reginald Barlow. Sam Wood directs
the Leo Birinski story.
Para. Buys Original
By Stephen M. Avery
Paramount bought Stephen More-
house Avery's original story, "Target,"
yesterday and set Sir Guy Standing,
Richard Arlen, Evelyn Venable, Ros-
coe Karns and Gail Patrick for the
principal roles. No director or writer
assignments have been made as yet.
Jed Buell Promoted
Jed Buell was made assistant gen-
eral manager of the Mack Sennett
studio this week, a promotion from
rental manager. Buell was drafted
into publicity work by Mr. Sennett
soon after the studio opened in 1928.
Francis, with her new best beau, Jos-
eph Bryan III, dining at the Vendome
. . . the Don Stewarts (enjoying the
"forty dollar blue-plate special"),
Adolphe Menjou, Veree Teasdale, the
Sam Raphaelsons, Sidney Fox, Eddie
Hillman also there. . . . Margaret Et-
tinger is doing the publicity for the
Brown Derby.
Karloff Buys Estate
For Pet Kangaroo
The real reason why Boris Kar-
loff bought a three-acre estate in
Cold Water Canyon a week age
was revealed yesterday when Kar-
loff disclosed that the Australian
Cricketeers are sending him a
kangaroo, and he wants a place for
it to play.
New York Crosses
Lowest of Season
New York. — -The hot weather took
its toll of the picture house grosses
this week, receipts dropping to the
lowest point of the season.
At the Music Hall, "Twentieth
Century" got $65,000. "Manhattan
Melodrama" drew $65,400 at the
Capitol, and "Rothschild" got $18,000
for its eighth week at the Astor.
"No Greater Glory" grabbed $18,000
at the Roxy, "Double Door," at the
Paramount, took $16,000, and
"Twenty Million Sweethearts" grossed
$14,800 for its third week. The
Rialto got $7000 with "Success at
Any Price," the Casino took $6500
with "Whirlpool," and the last three
days of "Hitler's Reign of Terror"
drew $2800.
New Play For Universal
Carl Laemmle, Jr. yesterday pur-
chased "Take My Hand," a play by
Jacques Lardin, which opened in
France last week. He plans it as a
Gloria Stuart vehicle.
Over-buying Slapped
(Continued from Page 1 )
and the case went to the Code Au-
thority on appeal.
The Code Authority upheld the rul-
ing of the local board and the Code
Authority legal committee was autho-
ized to draft the decision, with proper
safeguards for Warners for faithful
performance of the pictures awarded
to Saxe.
F. H. Fallas, attorney for the Saxe
interests, suggested that the Code
Authority should, as a matter of pol-
icy, discourage the hearing of appeals
and allow decisions of the local boards
to stand. The exhibitors, he pointed
out, often are at a disadvantage
through not being able to send repre-
sentatives to New York.
This decision is taken to indicate
that the Code Authority will take the
same attitude when the case of the
Garfield Theatre, of Alhambra, against
Fox West Coast and Principal Theatres
comes before it.
Pickford Triumph
In Her Home Town
Toronto. — Mary Pickford opened
yesterday at the Imperial theatre in a
tabloid version of "The Church
Mouse," with Harland Tucker in sup-
port, after a triumphal entry to this
city Thursday that almost outdid the
enthusiasm at the last visit of the
Prince of Wales.
Thousands viewed the official
greeting on the city hall steps, after
which a procession formed to escort
her to luncheon, where she made a
speech. Thirty schools were closed to
permit children to watch her pass on
the way to visit the military hospital
and Red Cross headquarters.
This was Miss Pickford's first offi-
cial visit to her birthplace, although
she has made many quiet personal
trips to Toronto.
Still Wrangling Over
Warner-Coldwyn Case
The largest part of yesterday's ses-
sion at the Goldwyn-V/arner trial be-
fore Superior Court Judge Frank Smith
was devoted to a wrangle between
opposing counsel on the contract
which the two prdoucers had made for
Berkeley's service*.
The dance director finally took the
stand in his own defense late in the
afternoon. He re-appears Monday
morning when the case will be re-
sumed.
DeMond Assigned
Albert E. DeMond is assigned to
write the screen play for "Dames and
Dynamite," Monogram original by
George Bertholon.
Para. Prospects Bright
(Continued from Page 1 )
loans from bankers, stock obligations
and general creditors.
As the auditors see the problem, the
primary difficulty will be the settle-
ment with the general creditors,
which will run between $12,000,000
and $1 5,000,000. Most of this, they
believe, can be taken care of out of
the cash now on hand and to come
within the next six months .
In view of the current earning
power of the company, the auditors
believe that there will be a consider-
able equity left for the common stock
if a favorable reorganization can be
effected. This being purely a cut-
and-dried financial report, the pros-
pects of such a reorganization are not
considered, but from other sources it
is learned that these prospects are
extremely bright.
TODAY
An air shipment of Eastern American Beauty Roses for
MOTHER'S DAY.
Also the usual large stock of unusual
plants and flowers.
TALHADGE-JONES
FLOWERS
8008 SUNSET BOULEVARD
CRanite 291 1
\
\
CARL BRISSON
in "MURDER AT THE VANITIES '
I
MITCHELL
L E I S E N
DIRECTOR
\
MY APPRECIATION
to the Staff, Cast and Chorus
for their splendid coopera-
tion in the making of
MURDER
AT THE
VANITIES
ff
MANAGEMENT
SCHUL6ERC - FELDMAN - CURNEY
Earl Carroll's
MURDER
AT THE
VANITIES
f1
H E L L M A N
DIALOGUE
AND
WHATEVER NOT—
WITH OTHERS —
t*±±*
\\
Earl Carroll's
MURDER
AT THE
VANITIES
'LITTLE MISS MARKER"
THIRTY-DAY PRINCESS"
"GOOD DAME'
"SEARCH FOR BEAUTY"
All Paramount Releases, 19ii4
ff
Now with FOX
I
SAM COSLOW
and
ARTHUR JOHNSTON
Wrote
Another Croup of Song Hits
for
w
Earl Carroll's
MURDER
AT THE
VANITIES
Including
ff I
n
COCKTAILS FOR TWO
( ALREADY A HIT ! )
Sung by
CARL BRISSON
The new European sensation
n
P.S. — Wait till you hear MAE WEST sing
"MY OLD FLAME!* in "IT AINT NO SIN "
ALSO
"LIVE AND LOVE TONIGHT'
(Sung by Carl Brisson and Kitty Carlisle'
(Idea conceived by Lew Censler and Larry Ceballos)
"MARAHUANA"
(Sung by Gertrude Michaels)
(Staged by Leroy Prim >
"WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?"
I And Where Do They Co?'
(Sung by Kitty Carlisle)
"LOVELY ONE"
(Featuring the Earl Carroll Girls)
AND
"EBONY RHAPSODY"
(with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
>\
TOBY WING
as
Nancy
in
MURDER at the VANITIES"
JOSEPH COLLOMB
and
CAREY WILSON
WROTE THE
Screen Play
for
EARL CARROLL S
MURDER
AT THE
VANITIES
\y
ff
Something New in Fans
An Ocean of Feathers
created and directed
by
LARRY
CEBALLOS
in
EARL CARROLL S
MURDER
AT THE
VANITIES
If
. . . "Especially lovely is the number,
"What Are the Wild Waves Saying,"
wherein the chorus does things with
fans that make you think of what a
nice place the seashore really is."
(Hollywood Reporter, May 5, 1934i
TELL
The Contract Signers
WHAT YOU HAVE DIRECTED
\\
TELL THEM
in the
DIRECTORS NUMBER
of the
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
/
OUT
SOON
EXECUTIVES FORCET-
AND
MUST BE REMINDED
THE ACES
WHAT THEY DIRECTED
WHO THEY ARE . . .
WHERE . . .
WHEN ...
FOR WHOM . . .
And a lot of other interest-
ing facts about directors
SEND IN YOUR OUESTIONNAIRES
May 12. 1934
THE kM
Page Eleven
Darrow Report Row
To Force Release
Washington. — The uproar that re-
sulted when it was hinted the Darrow
report would not be released has alter-
ed the official minds here, and the
report probably will be given to the
public on Monday.
General Johnson told reporters yes-
terday that he had requested the
report be withheld until he and his
divisional code administrators could
prepare their answers to the Darrow
charges in the report. He said he
thinks they will be ready by Monday
and will be released simultaneously
with the report.
Sol, Rosenblatt is giving all his time
to his answer, and it is believed that
both the charges of Darrow and the
reply of Rosenblatt will be more than
hot.
New Society of Sound
Men Elects Officers
Officials of the Society of Sound
Engineers, Inc., the organization of
top sound men formed some time ago,
yesterday announced that they are go-
ing to ask the newly formed American
Society of Sound Engineers to change
Its name.
Recent election of officers of the
Society of Sound Engineers resulted in
the election of Carrol Pratt, of MCM,
as president; Harold Bumbaugh, first
vice president; E. C. Ward, second;
Harold Lewis, third; Joseph Aiken,
secretary, and Robert Shirley, treas-
urer.
Actors Guild to Elect
The Screen Actors Guild yesterday
announced that the results of its an-
nual election tomorrow night at El
Capitan Theatre will be announced
immediately after the last ballot has
been tabulated. Eddie Cantor presides.
Sackheim Starts at 'U'
Jerry Sackheim starts his new du-
ties as Universal story editor Monday.
This will be the first time Universal
.»^as had such an official in five
months, Leonard Spigelgass having
combined its duties with scenario
editing.
Strausberg Expanding
New York. — Sam Strausberg, for-
mer head of the Strausberg circuit, has
taken over the Nelson and Renner
chain in Brooklyn, which brings his
holdings up to 16 houses. He is plan-
ning to build six more.
Pendleton Borrowed
Columbia yesterday borrowed Nat
Pendleton from MGM for "The De-
fense Rests," which Lambert Hillyer
directs. Jack Holt and Jean Arthur are
in the top brackets.
Murder Yarn For Col.
Columbia yesterday purchased
"Murder Island," by Leiand Jamieson,
and will use it as an action feature.
Story was printed serially in Blue
Book.
Para. Buys Original
Paramount yesterday purchased
"Outrage," an original story by Ber-
tram Milhauser. Story has a gangster-
kidnapping angle to ft.
Shirley Ross, Barbara Barondess,
Shirley Chambers, Jill Oennetf, Patri-
cia Farley, Dorothy Grainger, Jean
Hart, Dorothy Wilson and Eleanor
Hunt for "Merry Widow" at MGM.
Fred Kelsey and William Wagner
to "I'll Be Suing You" at Roach.
Spanky, of "Our Gang," to Sol Les-
ser for "Peck's Bad Boy."
Paul Porcasi through Leo Morrison
for "La Curacha," Radio.
Hale Hamilton to "100% Pure" at
MGM.
Charles Coleman to "100% Pure,"
MGM, by Hallam Cooley.
Charles Stevens to "La Cucaracha,"
Radio.
Wilma Cox, by Bernard, Meiklejohn
and McCail, to "She Learned About
Sailors," Fox.
John MerkyI and "Pop" Byron, by
Sackin, to "Merry Widow," MGM.
Lya Lys to same picture.
Walter Walker, by Freddie Fralick,
to "The Count of Monte Cristo," for
Reliance.
Cwendolin Logan and Helena Grant,
by Sackin, to "One More River," Uni-
versal.
Ernest Hilliard to "Merry Widow,"
MGM, by Bernard, Meiklejohn and
McCall.
Batcheller-Cohen East
For Exchange Confabs
George Batcheller and Maury Cohen,
producers of Chesterfield and Invinc-
ible pictures respectively, will leave
for New York May 24 to confer with
the exchanges and to line up next
year's program.
Chesterfield wound up the current
schedule with "Green Eyes" complet-
ed this week, and Invincible will wash
up with two more on the return of its
executives.
Binnie Barnes Sails
London. — Binnie Barnes, who
played in "Henry VI 11" and has just
finished a role with Fairbanks Sr. in
"The Private Life of Don Juan," sails
today for New York en route to Holly-
wood, where she will join the cast of
Universal's "There's Always Tomor-
row."
Radio Shake-up Looms
(Continued from Page 1 )
Cooper back to his old duties, and by
that is meant all the production du-
ties in the studio. If this fails (and
many believe that it will) it is whis-
pered that two top men in two com-
peting studios will be drafted to give
Pandro Berman a lift with the output.
One of these men, it is said, will head
production, the other and Berman be-
coming his chief assistants.
Radio has no intention of permit-
ting production to slip. It had a
taste of good pictures and money last
year and realizes how easy it is to get
ahead with anything resembling good
pictures.
Before Depinet returns here here
he expects to have his whole yearly
folio filled with Radio's production
activities in order to place it in the
sales book announcement.
DANCES
ENSEMBLES
CHOROCRAPHY
LE ROYPRINZ
U
MURDER
AT THE
VANITIES
n
Now Preparing
"CLEOPATRA "
"SHE LOVES ME NOT "
'We're Not Dressing"
"Trumpet Blows"
"Bolero"
"Melody in Spring"
'Alice in Wonderland"
"Come On Marines"
1934 PARAMOUNT PRODUCTIONS
I
Page Twelve
THg
May 12, 1934
MOMEXTS' CLEVER COMEDY;
FINISH SAVES *CALL IT LUCK
MthaliL
Morris is Swell,
Direction Capital
"EMBARRASSING MOMENTS"
(Universal)
Direction Edward Laemmie
Original Wm. Anthony McCuire
Screen Play: Gladys Unger, Charles
Logue.
Added Dialogue Dickson Morgan
Photography Charles Stumar
Cast; Chester Morris, Marian Nixon,
Walter Woolf, Alan Mowbray, John
Wray, George Stone, Henry Armet-
ta. Gay Seabrook, Herman Bing,Jane
Darwell, Charles Colennan, Virginia
Sale, Edward Earle, John T. Murray,
Wallis Clark.
A dandy little comedy, guaranteed
to hold its own on any program.
Laughs and thrills are deftly inter-
mingled for the type of entertainment
we used to have before pictures began
talking so much. There is action in
"Embarrassing Moments" and plenty
of it.
The plot has to do with a practical
joker who simply is unable to resist
any opportunity to perpetrate a gag.
His girl and his best friend plan a cure
after he has worked a telephone rib
on the friend, a particularly hilarious
sequence, by the way. Tne "friend
feigns suicide so that the joker may
be accused of murder, but the frame-
up goes wrong when the lad flees
town.
Thrown into association with a band
of counterfeiters, he is made an inno-
cent dupe and nearly lands in jail
across the border. An escape by plane
makes a neat chase finish.
Only one sequence mars the smooth
unfolding of the story. That is the
duel wherein the joker bests his op-
ponent,a revolutionary general. The
idea is definitely slap-stick, even to
the point of the general losing his
pants. It just isn't funny enough and
the improbability of the situation in-
terrupts the air of reality the rest of
the yarn has built.
Chester Morris is nothing short of
swell as the practical joker. He plays
with fine authority a role that can
only be described as exacting because
it combines so many conflicting moods.
Marian Nixon acquits herself capably
as the girl in the case. Walter Woolf
is ill at ease as the friend, although
handling the several songs well. Alan
Mowbray is outstanding in the sup-
porting cast.
Direction by Edward Laemmie main-
tains a fast tempo. The script, from
an original by William Anthony Mc-
Cuire, has all the appearances of being
a tight job of writing. The several
loose ends and false leads are cutting
faults. Photography and lighting a bit
spotty.
Get behind Morris in your cam-
paign, not so much because of this
release as because of what his name
will mean to you in subsequent films.
This trouper is headed right for the
top.
Brown Buys Original
Clarence Brown personally has pur-
chased "Contact," an original by
Lieut. John Hildegard. (Story deals
with an aviatrix.
Laird Doyle Makes
$1410 Profit on Ford
Laird Doyle no longer owns his
1910 Ford — having sold it yester-
day to a dealer for $500 for display
purposes. Writer bought the auto-
mobile a year ago for $90 to attend
a class reunion in Pomona. Since
that time he has received $1,000
renting it to studios as a prop.
Liberty 'Bachelor'
Formula Picture
"ONCE TO EVERY BACHELOR"
(Liberty)
Direction William Nigh
Author George Waggner
Photography Harry Neuman
Cast: Neil Hamilton, Marion Nixon,
Raymond Hatton, Aileen Pringle,
Kathleen Howard, Ralf Harolde,
George Irving, Don Alvarado.
In spite of the fact that the Liberty
picture, "Once to Every Bachelor,"
adheres too closely for entertainment
to a very familiar formula, the acting
of Neil Hamilton almost makes the
picture worth considering.
Originality in treatment, direction
and photography is conspicuous by its
absence, with the result that Hamil-
ton's willing and capable shoulders
sag under the weight. Almost any
audience, unfortunately, will be two
jumps ahead of those little celluloid
strips that wind through a projection
machine.
Hamilton plays the young rake of a
nephew (you've met him before, al-
though not in such charming guise,
perhaps), who is about to be disin-
herited by his aunt (you've met her
before, too, although in a more dis-
tinctive guise). As he is out strolling
one afternoon he rescues a young wo-
man in distress, who is the object of
the attention of the entire New York
Police Department. She seems to be
mixed up in a gangster killing. In or-
der to retain his inheritance and to
allay his aunt's suspicions as to his
relationship with a certain married
woman, Hamilton marries the gal, who
is persuaded into the step by the
wails of police sirens.
And then what do you suppose
happens? Why, he falls in love with
her and has one heck of a time get-
ting any reciprocation, dodging the
irate married lady and rescuing his
wife from the jaws of justice.
Marian Nixon is easy to look at as
the girl. Aileen Pringle is miscast.
Raymond Hatton will draw laughs in
a comedy role. Kathleen Howard is
the aunt, and Ralf Harolde, George
Irving and Don Alvarado have small
parts. William Nigh directed; George
Waggner wrote it and Harry Neuman
photographed.
This one is not for the discriminat-.
ing metropolitan audience. Small
towns might like it to while away an
evening. (The love scenes are rather
well done) .
Mundin High Spot
In Horsey Comedy
"CALL IT LUCK"
(Fo«)
Direction James Tinling
Original: Dudley Nichols, George
Mars.hall.
Adaptation: Joseph Cunningham, Har-
ry McCoy.
Screen Play: Dudley Nichols, Lamar
Trotti.
Dance Direction Sammy Lee
Photography Joseph Valentine
Cast: Herbert Mundin, Pat Paterson,
Georgia Caine, Gordon Westcott,
Charles Starrett, Theodore von Eltz,
Ernest Wood, Susan Fleming, Ray
Mayer.
If it were not screamingly funny
race finale in which a retired cavalry
plug wins for his cabby owner, "Call
It Luck" would be merely moderately
amusing. There was a great comedy
idea in a London cabby winning the
£25,000 sweepstakes, only to come to
America to fall prey of slick confi-
dence men. Unfortunately it took five
credited writers to get the idea on
the screen and the outcome is some-
what muddled. Couldn't they have
thought of any more novel racket than
a variation of the badger game?
A part of the cabby's winnings are
taken from him by the sale of a brok-
en-down cavalry nag which he believes
to be "Sabre," one of England's fin-
est. He comes to race the horse in
America and is met by a gang of
slickers representing themselves to be
city officials. When they .have taken
his letter of credit, all that is left for
him is to turn cabby again, driving
the fictitious "Sabre." Blowing
"Charge" on the bugle for Boy Scouts,
he learns that the horse responds. The
knowledge becomes valuable on the
day of the big race. "Sabre" is hope-
lessly behind when the cabby seizes a
bugle to blow him to victory.
Interwoven with the comedy plot is
the slight romance of the cabby's
niece and a young American.
Herbert Mundin's characterization
of the cabby is the high spot of the
picture. It is a walkaway for Mundin
and he gives the role its share of
pathos. Pat Paterson is the niece and
has a chance to do several musical
numbers as a cabaret entertainer. She
scores pleasantly with what she has to
do, especially in a horsey floor-show
number staged by Sammy Lee.
Gordon Westcott is splendid as the
leader of the crooks, never once over-
playing a role that many would have
performed too heavily. Theodore von
Eltz is able as another confidence man,
and Georgia Caine is very good as the
landlady. A conventional leading man
was handed Charles Starrett.
The direction by James Tinling is
evenly paced and makes the speedy
finish a delight. Joseph Valentine's
photography is excellent.
Avoid overselling this picture or
your audiences may feel disappoint-
ment that the comedy possibilities
were not more fully realized. Teaser
campaigns based on the winning of the
sweepstakes are probably the best.
ATTER!
Migoodness, guess what's being
dragged off'n the shelf again. None
other than "Lives of a Bengal Lancer."
Which is about to stack up quite a
career for itself. First it was found
well nigh impossible to cast. Then
they decided that the story wasn't
right, so they got together eighty or
ninety scripts on the darned thing, and
finally called in that great Syrian or
Armenian expert on things East In-
dian, Rabindranath Tagore, and there
the matter was dropped. Now it de-
velops that England has stepped into
the matter by making it known that
there will be vehement protests and
proscribings if there is anything in the
story that comments adversely on
British rule in India.
Ho, hum, they probably thought it
was the story of a tiger hunt when
they bought it and it turned out to
be about an Englishman who wanted
to turn Hindu, so they'll most likely
make an Indian epic out of It, and
Paramount can put a new "Nautch"
in its gun for a big killing.
Lynn Farnol is back in town fresh
from England and Ireland. You'll
have to get him to tell you about the
English Hunts Ball, but we can tell
you about the circulating movies they
have in Ireland. Seems as how, over
in Ireland, they actually have innum-
erable towns that are too small to
maintain a movie house and most peo-
ple can't afford to travel too far to
go and see a movie, so the movies
come to them. They come to them
in ox-carts. One ox-cart is for the
screen and one for the projector, and
canvas makes a roof between the two
and the audience sits under that roof.
It costs them thruppence, or six cents
to you, and they're that anxious to see
pictures that they sit outside in all
kinds of weather just to get a look.
The pictures are all silent.
Just because we wrote a squib in
defense of criticism, don't be misled
into thinking we have any love for
picture critics. We're not getting that
soft As a matter of fact, we object
strongly to most of them on the
grounds that they don't know what
they're talking about and that they,
too, suffer from the fact that most of
them have no genuine love for pic-
tures. We think they ought at least
to take time out to learn the correct
picture terms and then some day, if
they're really interested, learn how to
apply them. Mostly though, they just
don't like pictures. In fact, one met-
ropolitan critic definitely took his 'ob
with the firm conviction that even if
pictures were good, he wouldn't like
them. And that attitude doesn't do
anyone any good. The one time they
really have fun is when a picture is
made from a book they have read or
a play they have seen and then they
become book and play critics.
5f MH.SA^•UK•L MAHX .
CULVER CITY.CALIv.
Vol. XXI, No. 5. Price 5e.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, May 14, 1934
ACAD. MLST GO'-CANT€R
•THIS code thing has the major stu-
dios in a tough spot, one of the
toughest they have ever experienced.
To sell contracts for those block
booking deals they must have a list
of pictures to present to the exhibi-
tor. In former years this was easy.
They could grind out a beautiful sales
announcement, giving four pictures to
Sadie Clutz, six to Horatio Stephens,
etc., etc., knowing at the time the
announcement is made that neither of
those players will appear in those pic-
tures or under the direction of that
big director or with a supporting cast
of the many important names listed.
But the distributor would get some
idea of what his studio was going to
make and then cause that beautiful
announcement to be printed and .have
the salesmen sell from that announce-
ment.
Not so this year. If Mr. Distribu-
tor announces Sadie Clutz in a story,
if he designates Horatio Stephens in
a given yarn and, yes, even if he
announces the director or some of the
supporting cast for those stars, HE
WILL HAVE TO DELIVER JUST
THAT or Mr. Exhibitor can, by the
code, cancel the pictures. And you
know those exhibitors with their can-
cellations. Boy, they will use every
item on the code list to get out of a
picture if it is bad.
Add to the above ten per cent
of the list that the exhibitor can
cancel, even though no misrepresen-
tation has been made, and you have
a pretty tough situation for the pro-
ducers and a reason for doing damned
little announcing this year until they
KNOW where they are at.
And how many studios do you
think, have any idea where they are
situated regarding their next year's
production? Maybe MCM, with its
tremendous big name list and just as
many competent producers, writers
and directors. But with MCM you
have to stop.
So there is worry in the production
camps, and plenty more with their
distribution quarters in New York.
And Mr. Exhibitor is rubbing his
hands, awaiting the results. What
will they be? Certainly an astounding
situation.
K. of C. Demand That
Films Be Censored
New York. — The Knights of Co-
lumbus of New Jersey have sent a
demand to Covernor Moore for a
film censorship board, asserting
that all producers are in a contest
to see who can produce the most
vicious picture.
Monogram's Entire
Group Set For Japan
New York. — The entire output of
Monogram Pictures has been set for
distribution in Japan through a deal
just closed by Norton Ritchey. All
will be shown with Japanese super-
imposed titles.
A survey made by Ritchey shows
that, of the total pictures shown in
Japan last season, twelve per cent
were American, 85 per cent Japanese
and the other three per cent European.
Wanger Will Produce
'Five Days' As Musical Rogers May Drop One
Te//s Actors The President
Killed Bad Features Of The
Code When Told About Them
Declaring that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences is a "company union" and operates only to prevent the
actors from accomplishing moves for the betterment of actor
conditions, Eddie Cantor last night brought the annual meeting
of the Screen Actors Cuild to its feet
with wild applause when he declared
that the Academy must be destroyed.
Cantor led up to his attack on the
Academy by briefly outlining what the
Cuild has done for the actor in con-
nection with the NRA film code. He
declared that "the Academy last Oc-
tober had sold the actors down the
river for the benefit of the tjroducer,"
and that, if it had not been for the
Cuild, the code would in all likelihood
have contained provisions for the con-
trol of actors' salaries, anti-raiding
provisions, which he said would have
(Continued on Page 4)
Walter Wanger has taken over the
production reins on "Five Days," the
Eric Hatch novel, and will produce it
as ja musical.
Picture was shelved when Lou Edel-
man left the MCM lot to go to War-
ners. No writers or director assigned
as yet.
Al Green Will Direct
Stanwyck in 'Lost Lady'
Al Creen was elected by Warners
to direct the next Barbara Stanwyck
picture, "Lost Lady."
It is the Willa Cather story for
which Cene Markey and Katherine
Scola are writing the screen pfay.
From His Para. Schedule
Indications are that Charles R.
Rogers will shelve "Lizzie Skerritt"
and round out nine pictures for Para-
mount instead of ten as originally
planned.
Deals for Irene Dunne and Ann
Harding have both gone cold, with
casting making it a practical impossi-
bility to make the picture on this sea-
son's slate.
Wellman For 'Barbary'
William Wellman has the direc-
torial assignment for Sam Coldwyn's
"Barbary Coast." Screen play is in the
writing by Dwight Taylor.
INDIES TO FIGHT MAJORS
BY IXCREASIXG PROGRAMS
Colman Definitely Set
The plan of the major producers to
make a number of short-budget pic-
tures to compete with the indies and
for cancellation purposes has not had
the effect of frightening the indepen-
dents a little bit. On the contrary,
they are planning to fight back by
increasing their own production sched-
ules.
Chesterfield, Invincible and Mascot
are leading the field in this respect,
the former two having announced
(Continued on Page 2)
For Clive of India'
New York. — Before he sailed for
Europe Saturday, Darryl Zanuck said
that Ronald Colman would have the
title role in "Clive of India," which
Twentieth Century has bought.
Zanuck did not close for any other
material before he left, but has taken
a raft of stuff with him to read on
the boat.
Donovan Aims To
Speed Code Work
With the appointment of Major
Joseph O. Donovan as Coast Executive
Secretary of the Film Code Authority,
indications are that there will be a
general speeding up of all code mat-
ters in the production end of the in-
dustry.
Major Donovan received official
appointment Saturday by telegraph,
and stated yesterday that full instruc-
tions are following in a letter from
John C. Flinn, secretary of the Code
Authority.
"Until the letter arrives," explained
Major Donovan, "I cannot say much
(Continued on Page 4)
Alternates Named For
Code Agency Committee
New York. — The following alter-
nates have been named for the Code
Agency Committee members:
Nat Levine for Trem Carr; Joseph
M. Schenck for Emanuel Cohen; Louis
B. Mayer for B. B. Kahane; Harry
Cohn for Jack Warner; Carl Laemmie
Jr. for Winfield Sheehan.
Nancy Carroll Will Do
One Picture For Small
Nancy Carroll has been set by
Schulberg, Feldman and Curney to
make one picture for Edward Small's
Reliance company before she starts
her four-picture deal with Columbia.
Adolph Zukor Here
Adolph Zukor, president of Para-
mount, arrived on The Chief last night
and is at the Ambassador. He had
nothing to say about business, except
that Paramount would continue pro-
duction straight through the Summer
without any lay-off.
Bickford-Para. Closing
Paramount is closing a three-picture
contract with Charles Bickford, an-
nouncement on which will be made
this week.
!
I Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich
SCREEN PLAY
and
DIALOGUE
>/
The Thin Man" MCM
Page Two
May 14, 1934
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 4t-A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays, Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Hmmm-mmm, just discovered why
jt takes so extra long for a cer-
tain blonde Paramount star's pictures
to be made. Her pictures are never
super-epics — nor are they supposed to
be. Yet they always take epic time
to make — and here's why: The star
doesn't get paid every week in the
year — and she hasn't one of those
forty week guarantees. BUT .her deal
calls for her to go on salary the min-
ute work on the script of her pictures
starts. Her contract also calls for her
to approve the story, cast, script, etc.,
and everything else that happens to
be lying around, so she takes plenty
of time to approve of anything! Also
the star writes a great deal of the
material that goes into her pictures
and she takes plenty of time for that
too! Nice work — if you can get it!
•
Another prize crack from our own
pet maker of cracks: The producer
in question was discussing a certa'in
actor and wound up with, "That guy
is the drollest fellow I've ever known!
NO sense of humor at all!" (!)
•
Hearing that Barbara Blair was on
her way back here reminds us that
the last time she hit town she had
sixteen trunks with her. Actually!
But don't get excited, because the
trunks didn't hold much to make oth-
er femmes gasp with envy. We're
told that the luggage was jammed full
of clothes ranging anywhere from two
to five years old, and that when some-
one suggested to Miss B. that she give
some of the antiquated stuff to some-
one who might be able to use it, she
was horrified and wouldn't part with
the garments because they all had
swank labels in them! So maybe she
just lugs the clothes around for their
reading value!
•
Hear that the Memory Productions
Company, Inc., filed charges against
Helen Morgan with the Actors' Equity
last week. They say they had to close
the show, "Memory" in which La
Morgan -opened here only a week or
so ago, because they had no under-
study to replace her, and that she was
continually absent from rehearsals and
the direct cause of the show's flop.
•THE WHIRLPOOL"
Columbia prod.; director, Roy William Neill; writers, Dorothy Howell,
Ethel Hill, Howard Emmett Rogers.
Casino Theatre
World-Telegram: A heavy thriller, a thriller that never quite comes off. It is
just a little too much to believe in.
Post: "Whirlpool" would be rather a dull affair if it were not for the lovely
Jean Arthur. Her charm and sincerity keep the picture from being merely
a hodge-podge of improbable events.
Mirror: Jack Holt, of the heroic chin and the mighty right, has another of his
two-fisted roles in this production. It is an action drama of the type
characteristic of the popular.
Journal: A routine action film with an agreeable cast.
Sun: The picture, like most film melodramas, makes no attempts at realism.
It simply skims the surface of a tale that, because of its treatment, loses
its true element of tragedy. "Whirlpool" belongs pretty definitely in the
ranks of routine, competently produced and acted melodrama.
American: Rather entertaining little picture. The star is the best of the cast,
but receives wonderful help from his associates. Roy Neill's direction
keeps the drama moving.
Herald-Tribune: If "Whirlpool" fails to entertain you completely, it is the fault
neither of the backgrounds nor of Jean Arthur. Miss Arthur gives a
brilliant and thoroughly plausible portrayal of a difficult role.
Times: The actors are present for a lively bit of melodrama, but "Whirlpool"
does not give them much of a workout.
News: For the most part the film deals with effects which proceed from very
fanciful causes. The bright spots of the photoplay are contributed by
Jack Holt and Allen Jenkins.
"THE CRIME DOCTOR"
Radio prod.; director, John Robertson; writers, Israel Zangwill, jane Murfin.
Rialto Theatre
American: One of the best murder yarns recently wrought into a picture. The
story is keenly suspenseful from the very first sequence, and it holds grip-
ping interest right through to the thrilling denoument. Otto Kruger is
superb.
Herald-Tribune: The work achieves horror and suspense, while remaining always
credible — an excellent film celebration of homicide. Most of the credit for
the mood must go to Otto Kruger in the title role.
Post: It has the supreme virtue of holding your interest right up to the surprise
climax, and its entertainment value is no little enhanced by the flawless
work of Otto Kruger.
Sun: Not an ambitious work, but in its way, diverting. It is a detective melo-
jdrama, screened with a careful eye to movie effects. Never very exciting,
it still manages to hold the interest until that faked ending.
World-Telegram: An ingenious and irresistible tale of homicide that is full of
excitement. The cast is precisely right and the direction is so restrained
that the film becomes a fascinating game of wit and out-wit.
Daily News: The plot, being somewhat intricate, is better left untold. But it
can't spoil anyone's enjoyment of the story to know that, along with the
absorbing detective work, a thrilling love drama is woven.
Mirror: Highly entertaining and splendidly played.
Hill Brings Back
Props From China
George Hill returned Friday night
from four months scouting in China
for the atmospheric work and native
props required for "The Good Earth."
/■He brought back 250 cases of props
for the MCM picture.
Frank Messenger, production man-
ager, Charles Clarke, cameraman, John
Miller, property man, and their staff
of 19 are still working in China.
Frances Marion, who is preparing!
the screen play, met Hill at Honolulu
and returned with him.
MCM's Talent Lab
Has Debut Tonight
MCM inaugurates its little theatre
talent laboratory tonight at the Haw-
thorne High School in Beverly Hills.
Five one-act plays will be performed
before an audience composed exclus-
ively of executives, producers, direc-
tors and writers — all from MCM.
The tryout plays are "The Road of
Poplars," by Vernon Sylvaine: "The
First and the Last," by John Gals-
worthy; "Another Way Out," by Lau-
rence Langner; "The Critic," by Val
Clarke; "The Badger," by Lawrence
Rising. The talent laboratory is Maur-
ice Revnes' idea.
Para. Signs Westman
Nydia Westman, completing a
group-picture deal with Radio, goes
to Paramount for a featured role in
"Ladies Should Listen." Rebecca and
Si I ton set the ticket.
Indies to Make More Pix
(Continued from Page 1 )
twenty-eight features, while Mascot
has announced fourteen.
One of the leading independents
asserts that this move is a measure of
self-defense.
"The answer is," he said, "that
where indies were formerly satisfied to
supply part of a year's product to an
exhibitor, they are going out after
larger sales contracts with those ex-
hibitors they have been servicing.
Those theatre men who have been
using the indie product and can be
sold again this year, will buy more
pictures.
"The really important money comes
from the large circuit buys. Few in-
dies get in, but a larger number of
pictures increases their chances for in-
dividual bookings. One good picture
that gets in pays for several that are
forced to play the indepencfent
houses."
OPEN FORUM
Hollywood Reporter;
As an exhibitor I read your Holly-
wood Reporter regularly and find that
you are opposed to double programs.
So is every other legitimate exhibitor.
Enclosed herewith you will find
newspaper advertisements of a Warner
theatre in St. Louis whereby they play
two of the biggest money making pic-
turestures of the year on a joint pro-
gram for 25 cents; "It Happened One
Night" and "David Harum." If that
continues, God help the business.
It's bad enough to pal two "cluck"
pictures, but when a major producing
company permits its theatres to run
two of the best money getters of the
year, what can the poor little inde-
pendent exhibitor do? Probably run |
four pictures to combat this. 5
HARRY STALZ.
PRODUCER
WANTED
An opportunity is offered
a responsible producer
who can make satisfac-
tory features in the
$20,000 class by a dis-
tributing organization
with excellent domestic
and state rights connec-
tions. Producer must be
financed for at least one
picture. Principals only
should give full particu-
lars in strictest confi-
dence.
Address
DISTRIBUTOR
care Hollywood Reporter
229 W. 42nd St.
New York City
i
May 14. 1934
THEpfe^
Page Three
MIDNIGHT ALIBI' EXCELLENT;
SMARTY' €ORMII\G COMEDY
Director, Cast and
Writers Win Honors
mUhatiL
Barthelmess Has
Best Pic in Months
"MIDNIGHT ALIBI"
(Warners)
Direction Alan Crosland
Author Damon Runyon
Screen Play Warren Duff
Photography William Rees
Cast: Richard Barthelmess, Ann Dvo-
rak, Helen Chandler, Helen Lowell,
Henry O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Rob-
ert McWade, Purnell Pratt, Henry
Tyler, Paul Hurst, Arthur Ayles-
worth, Vincent Sherman.
Here is a gangster film, "Midnight
Alibi," that has a brand new angle
and a swell role, besides, for Richard
Barthelmess.
Excellently written and directed,
the entire cast has a good chance to
speak credible, meaty lines and to give
performances that ring true in every
instance. Entertainment in this film
rates high, and there is just enough
sentiment and drama, neatly balanced,
to please any audience.
Barthelmess is a minor gangster
who falls in love with the sister (Ann
Dvorak) of Robert Barrat, the biggest
and meanest racketeer in New York
City. Barthelmess escapes from his
machine-gun wrath one night by scal-
ing the wall that surrounds the man-
sion of the ancient Abigail Ardsley,
an old lady who lives all alone in mil-
lion dollar loneliness.
While Barthelmess waits until it is
safe for him to venture forth again,
the old lady tells him the story of
her thwarted love (with Barthelmess
in a flash-back taking the part of the
lover of the olden days) and begs him
not to let anything stand in the way
of .his love. Encouraged by her, he
goes to see Barrat and endeavors to
explain his good intentions to the
gangster. Barrat pulls a gun on him,
but, before he can shoot him, Barrat
is killed by a Barthelmess henchman.
Then the trial — and the first ap-
pearance of the little old lady in fifty
years, and her surprise testimony that
smoothes the way for the young lovers.
Sentimental — yes. But so expertly
written, played and directed that it
never goes out of bounds.
Helen Lowell, as "the old doll," is
excellent and sympathetic. Miracu-
lously she re-creates the atmosphere
of the old days in New York and the
tender, deathless love she felt for her
old sweetheart. Her superb, hilari-
ous appearance in court is something
to be remembered.
Barthelmess is better than he has
been in some time, and Ann Dvorak
is well cast as the girl. Helen Chand-
ler is charming and utterly convincing
as the "old doll" when she was young
and in love. Henry O'Neill is the
mean old father. Barrat is perfect
as Angle, the gangster. Robert Mc-
Wade makes the most of a good part;
Purnell Pratt is a baffled lawyer, and
Harry Tyler, Paul Hurst, Arthur Ayles-
worth and Vincent Sherman have
lesser, but important roles.
Alan Crosland directed sensitively;
Warren Duff made a bang-up adapta-
tion of the Damon Runyon story, and
William Rees photographed.
5000 To Be af Party
For Birfrhday of MCM
The hyphens in Metro-Coldwyn-
Mayer will be ten years old Wed-
nesday, and next Sunday approxi-
mately 5,000 present, past and
future MCM employees will cele-
brate the merger anniversary with
3 picnic at the Grand Hotel, Santa
Vionica.
Harry Rapf, arranging events,
aromises dancing, sports and other
oicnic festivities.
ii
ATTERI
'House of Mystery'
Strong on Comedy
"HOUSE OF MYSTERY"
(Monogram)
Direction William Nigh
Original Adam Hull Shirk
Screen Play Albert E. DeMond
Photography Archie Stout
Cast: Ed Lowry, Verna Hillie, Brandon
Hurst, John Sheehan, Laya Joy (Joy-
zelle) , Clay Clement, George Hayes,
Dale Fuller, Harry Bradley, Irving
Bacon, Mary Foy, Samuel Godfrey,
George Cleveland.
Involved mystery melodrama, liber-
ally enlivened with broad comedy that
will afford an interesting hour for not
too critical audiences. A lack of name
strength in the cast automatically
relegates the picture to the program
class for smaller theatres.
The plot concerns an Asiatic curse,
called down upon the head of an ex-
ploring archaeologist who kills a
sacred monkey. He schemes to use
the "Curse of Kai" to defraud his
backers of the expedition and is suc-
cessful in murdering two of his Eng-
lish associates. Twenty years later,
he is discovered hiding out in Amer-
ica. The surviving backers and their
heirs are assembled for the split of
two million. But first they must spend
a week in the explorer's house that
they may decide for themselves
whether they want money with a curse
upon it. Three murders quickly occur
and there would have been more had
not Scotland Yard intervened to solve
the case.
In its comedy, amounting to bur-
lesque, the picture is more successful
than in its mystery. Plausibility is
not one of the stronger points and
many details are left unexplained. The
use of an ape practically trademarks
the original as the work of Adam Hull
Shirk. Dialogue by Albert DeMond
offers frequent amusing highlig,ht3.
Direction by William Nigh stresses the
humor. It would have been better
if the whole affair had been a parody
on mystery mellers.
The cast works hard and first rate
performances are delivered by Clay
Clement as the explorer, Harry Brad-
ley as an absent-minded professor,
John Sheehan as a comic plumber,
Irving Bacon as an equally comic de-
tective and Joyzelle, now rechristened
Laya Joy, as a Temple dancer, Verna
Hillie and Ed Lowry carry the roman-
tic interest, Lowry having a bit of
comedy, too.
"SMARTY"
( Warners )
Direction Robert Florey
Author F. Hugh Herbert
Screen Play: F. Hugh Herbert and Carl
Erickson.
Photography George Barnes
Cast: Joan Blondell, Warren William,
Edward Everett Horton, Frank Mc-
Hugh, Claire Dodd, Joan Wheleer,
Virginia Sale, Leonard Carey.
One of the most intriguing of the
Warner output of the past few months
is "Smarty."
It is a light, happy, irresponsible
little comedy, that twinkles and grins
and occasionally even gets a little
slapstick. It's lots of fun and is as
inconsequential as the foam on a beer
glass.
Not inconsequential, however, is
the keen, clever direction; the whole-
hearted, .humorous acting, and the
perfectly swell dialogue. There's not
a line in the thing that doesn't get a
laugh, and they are lines that are very
human and credible.
Joan Blondell is cast as a silly,
flighty, exasfserating, maddening wo-
man who drives her husband, Warren
William, to distraction, and finally
into giving her a good, hearty sock
on the jaw. Instantly, with one eye
on her lawyer, Edward Everett Hor-
ton, and the other on the possibility
of Williams' retrieving jealousy, she
gets a divorce . . . and marries Horton.
Horton finds, in due time, that liv-
ing with her is a perfectly good excuse
for extreme cruelty, and one evening,
exasperated beyond endurance, he also
gives her a good sock.
There's not much more to the plot
than that — except that the whole thing
is handled for the maximum of enter-
tainment. Miss Blondell is expertly
maddening as the flighty wife; Wil-
liam does good work as her first hus-
band, and Edward Everett Horton is
extremely amusing as her second.
Claire Dodd is utterly charming as a
friend; Frank McHugh is funny, Joan
Wheeler makes a good deal out of a
small role, and Virginia Sale and Leon-
ard Carey are well cast.
Robert Florey directed lightly and
easily; F. Hugh Herbert and Carl
Erickson made a beautiful adaptation
of the story by Herbert; and George
Barnes photographed with his usual
taste.
Don't worry about this one. It
starts intriguingly and gets better.
Claudette Colbert For
Lead in Stahl Picture
Claudette Colbert will have the
lead in "Imitation of Life," w.hich
John M. Stahl will direct for Universal.
Picture will not start for several
weeks.
Before the picture starts she goes
on the Lehn and Fink hour on the air,
doing scenes from "Cleopatra," her
current Paramount picture. Schul-
berg, Feldman and Gurney set both
deals.
T
One thing we can't understand
about Hollywood is why it hasn't got
the finest theatrical fare in the coun-
try. When you stop to consider, prac-
tically all the best playwrights, actors,
actresses and directors in the country
manage to spend the best part of their
time in Hollywood. Ever since the
talkies came in ,the majority of these
people have come from the stage. And
once you've ever had anything to do
with the stage, that form of Art never
quite releases its strangle hold on the
people who have contributed to it.
We hear talk all the time of how
soandso would like to go back East
for a season on or with the stage.
But why go East.' Why shouldn't all
the desire for audiences and applause
be gratified in the first place in the
territory to which it eventually comes
back anyway?
•
We also constantly hear talk of how
this major company or that major
company is seriously considering back-
ing a number of plays each year on
Broadway because audience reaction
is so valuable in determining a play's
screen possibilities. Why should
Broadway be the first and final judge?
Why should producers be so anxious
to spend their money on Broadway
proQuctions, with casting difficulties
Deing even worse than they are here,
when eventually there must be an
exchange of opinion between the East
and West coast story departments on
w.hether or not they are good buys?
It is thought necessary in many in-
stances to send people from West to
tast to look the plays over and, then
when they are bought, in the majority
ot cases, picture companies put their
own contract players in the movie
version, use their own directors and
have their own writers doctor up the
script.
•
Why shouldn't all this heavy pro-
duction get its best chance here? If
it's new talent the producers are seek-
ing, heaven knows the woods around
these parts are full of talent awaiting
its chance, and since movies are no
longer in a position to build their own
star material, surely the stage in Hol-
lywood should offer a good cultivating
ground.
Surely the audience reaction in
Hollywood or Los Angeles should have
every bit as much value as that of
Broadway. Perhaps even a bit more,
because the population of Southern
California is native to the whole wide
world and is one of the most amaz-
ing combinations of big town and
small talk in the world. Why not
recognize Los Angeles as one of the
greatest centers in the country, give it
a stage that is worth supporting in-
stead of treating it as a sort of out-
house stock company and waiting for
Broadway to dictate the price of en-
tertainment and the type of enter-
tainment?
Why not the best theatre in the
country in Hollywood at much less
expense and trouble?
Page Four
THE
May 14, 1934
SEIVXETT AS
MAKE FILM
Mack Sennett will move back into
his former office at the Mack Sennett
studio Monday, this time as an inde-
pendent producer, leasing space in the
studio that bears his name.
Sennett was discharged from bank-
ruptcy last week by Federal Judge
George Cosgrave, having complied
with all requirements of the bank-
ruptcy laws.
■ Walter C. Durst, trustee for Mack
Sennett Inc., yesterday made the third
payment to preferred claimants, mak-
ing a total of 62'/2 per cent of the
$7,600 labor claims that has been
paid off. Approximately $5,000 in
preferred claims remain to be settled.
Other liabilities listed in the bank-
ruptcy proceedings last December
totaled $150,000.
Sennett, on re-entering the studio,
wJll bring in Ralph Craves to prepare
a feature story, tentatively called
"The Cavalcade of Motion Pictures."
This will be based on the same Holly-
woodiana being compiled for Gene
Fowler's "Custard Pie Epic," for Co-
vici-Fried's October publication. Fow-
ler has had a staff of five research
ghosts collecting Hollywood lore and
anecdotes for the last month, and ex-
pects to go east a week from today
to start actual work on his book.
Sennett hopes to start work on his
picture in July. He will personally
supervise, but, although the work is
ostensibly his biography, he is not
likely to appear in it.
With the current phobia toward
biographical pitfalls. Fowler will pre-
serve the anonymity of many charac-
ters in his book. This will likewise
be the rule for the picture, with no
likelihood that any players will be
engaged to impersonae themselves.
Ilackie Searl Washed
Up With Mean Kid Roles
•Jackie Searl has turned down Sol
Lesser's deal for the part of Horace in
'•'Peck's Bad Boy," which is the heavy
role opposite Jackie Cooper.
Jackie's manager has found it to the
boy's disadvantage to enact nasty
characters, has lost a number of other
parts and radio bookings owing to it,
and has determined to stop it defi-
nitely.
Bookings For Foy Pic
The local division of Foy Produc-
tions Ltd. has "Tomorrow's Children"
booked May 23 in Bard's Colorado
Theatre, Pasadena. The sterilization
picture also has its bookings for Long
Beach, San Pedro, San Diego and other
Southern California spots.
Sabin Joins Columbia
Charles Sabin, whom Columbia
signed in New York, arrived yester-
day in Hollywood and checks in at
the studio today to take up his new
long-term contract as a featured
player.
Keighley Assigned
Warners assigned William Keighley
Saturday to direct "Kansas City Prin-
cess," also setting Maxine Doyle and
Arthur Hoyt in featured roles in a
cast topped by Joan Blondell and
Clenda Farrell.
I]\DIE WILL
OF OWN LIFE
23rd Psalm Being
Made By Texans
Bill Farnum appears as Tubal Cain
in a Cinecolor version of the 23d
Psalm, titled "The Song of the Shep-
herd," which National Pictures Cor-
poration of San Antonio is producing
at the Sennett studio. Others in the
three-reeler, first of a series planned
by the Texas firm, include Jean
Houghton, and Paul Durst, four-year-
old son of the Sennett, Inc., trustee,
W. C. Durst.
A. H. Phillips and W. J. Kerr, heads
of the San Antonio company, have re-
turned to Texas to prepare exterior
locations after seeing Interiors com-
pleted at the Ventura Boulevard lot.
Max Stengler, cameraman, will follow
the first of the week, and Babe Staf-
ford, who is directing, will go later.
The screen adaptation is by Gene
Lijder.
National operates the Gulf Coast
Studio at San Antonio, where six
westerns were produced last year.
Emerson and Loos on
Script of 'Biography'
MGM has assigned Anita Loos and
John Emerson to write the screen play
on S. N. Behrman's "Biography." No
cast or director set as yet, though
Alice Brady will probably do the same
role in the picture as she did in the
local stage play.
Sarecky-Mascot Split
Lou Sarecky and Mascot split Sat-
urday, the associate producer bowing
out after story difficulties on "Water-
front Lady," which he was to pro-
duce. Picture has been shelved.
Horsley in 'Rear Car'
John David Horsley is in MGM's
"Rear Car," playing a bodyguard to
Mary Carlisle. Horsley just completed
a part in "100% Pure."
American Pix Lead
10 to 1 in Budapest
Budapest. — American pictures
are the greatest favorites in all the
Budapest houses. At present the
ratio is about ten American for one
German picture, which is just the
reverse from two years ago.
Personnel Changes
At General Service
A number of changes have been
made in the official personnel at the
General Service Studios, the idea being
to build greater efficiency in the con-
duct of the plant and increase the
rentals for Erpi.
S. E. Hawkins, who has been in
charge of the Eastern Service Studios
at Long Island, has been made studio
manager and is in charge of all de-
partments except sound. Dr. E. M.
Honan continues as sound director.
C. Bardwell has been made chief
electrician, W. MacDonald is the new
construction superintendent, and Oscar
Wright is the purchasing agent. The
last two are formerly of the Harold
Lloyd organization.
Paramount Getting
Rodgers and Hart Back
New York, — Paramount is polish-
ing off a deal to return Dick Rodgers
and' Larry Hart to Hollywood. The
rfiusic men are considering writing the
numbers for "Mississippi," which Ar-
thur Hornblow is producing.
Charlie Ray To Write
Charlie Ray will return to .the pic-
ture scene, after a long illness, via
the writing route. He has completed
a novel, "Deep Night," and .has sent
it east to a New York publishing
house which is negotiating for it.
Stephani on Script
Frederick Stephani has been assign-
ed to script Alice Duer Miller's play,
"The Charm School," which the studio
will make as a musical. William Le
Baron produces.
Cantor Says Acad. Must Be Destroyed
(Continued
accomplished the same end, and a pro-
vision whereby the actors' agents
would be licensed by the producers.
"I conferred with the President of
the United States," said Cantor, "and
left him a brief stating our case. In a
few days he suspended the three ob-
jectionable provisions which would
have controlled our salaries and put
our agents in the producers' hands."
Cantor then outlined some of the
plans of the Guild. One is to get a
new contract for the free lance actor
containing a provision giving the actor
a 36-hour rest period between the
time he finishes work Saturday night
and when he returns Monday. Another
move on foot is to change the "day
player' basis so that an actor won't
have to wait three weeks for one day's
work after he has been signed.
Cantor brought another cheer when
he declared the Guild does not intend
to plunge its members into a strike,
but intends to accomplish its ends by
quiet, patient and co-operative meth-
ods of negotiation and use of the code.
He also declared the Guild is going
from Page 1 )
after a new minimum basic contract
which will take the settlement of dis-
agreements between actors and pro-
ducers out of the Academy's hands
and put them within the Guild.
Following Cantor's speech the an-
nual election of officers was an-
nounced. Cantor was re-elected pres-
ident. Other officers were: Robert
Montgomery, first vice-president; Ann
Harding, second vice-president; James
Cagney, third vice-president; Kenneth
Thomson, secretary; Richard Tucker,
assistant secretary; Lucile Gleason,
treasurer, and Jean Hersholt, assistant
treasurer.
The following were elected to the
Executive Board; George Arliss, Mary
Astor, Arthur Byron, James Cagney,
Joseph Cawthorn, Berton Churchill,
Dudley Digges, Leon Errol, C. Henry
Gordon, Jean Hersholt, Miriam Hop-
kins, Boris Karloff, Jeanette MacDon-
ald. Noel Madison, Ralph Morgan,
Alan Mowbray, Edward C. Robinson,
Ivan Simpson, Spencer Tracy, Richard
Tucker, Arthur Vinton and Warren
William.
Actors Play Better
Polo Than Bosses
The actors beat the producers by
nine goals to three at the match play-
ed yesterday afternoon at the Uplifters
Field, the proceeds — and the place
was packed — going to the Marion
Davies clinic.
Will Rogers came back from San
Francisco to play, and the others on
the actor team were Leslie Howard,
Johnny Mack Brown, James Gleason
and Spencer Tracy. The producers
were jack Warner, Walt Disney, Lu-
cien Hubbard, Ray Griffith and Frank
Borzage.
They played eight chukkers, which
were more fun than polo and, at the
conclusion, each of the winning team
was presented with a Marion Davies
trophy — a cocktail shaker — Carole
Lombard making the presentations.
Jack Holt refereed the match, Bar-
bara Stanwyck was the time-keepei*
and Leo Carrillo, in a weird costume,
announced the results polylingually.
Also Fred Stone did stunts with a
whip between the Blondes and Bru-
nettes match and the big event.
U Making Red Rider'
Extra Length Serial
Universal serial, "Red Rider," gets
under way Thursday and will be
stretched three chapters more than
the regular serial of twelve episodes.
Buck Jones is starred, Louis Fried-
lander directs and Henry MacRae pro-
duces. Ella O'Neil made the screen
play from the W. C. Tuttle story.
British Execs Coming
With Nell Cwynn' Print
New York. — Hubert Marsh, chair-
man and managing director of British
and Dominions, and Herbert Wilcox,
who has just completed "Nell Gwynn"
for that company, will arrive here
May 31 with a print of the picture.
New Levine Distrib.
Nat Levine, of Mascot, closed a
deal Saturday with Sam Berkowitz to
handle his product for the new sea-
son in this territory.
Bren to Honolulu
Milton Bren leaves Friday for a
month's vacation in Honolulu. He will
sail on the same boat with Harry Joe
Brown and Sally Eilers.
Will Speed Code Work
(Continued from Page 1 )
that is specific. But, from what I do
know about it,, my job will be to
speed things up and straighten out
matters that at present have to go by
wire or mail back to New York and
there take their turn in being handled.
My office will be a general clearing
house for all the production code corn-
mittees and I hope that I shall be able
to get action in a speedy fashion.'
Maior Donovan has been here tor
the past two months. He has been
located in the offices of the Studio
Labor Committee in the Guarantee
Building. He will continue his office
there for the present, although he says
he will probably change after Flinn
returns.
May 14, 1934
TRE
lage Five
MILKY WAY' JOYOUS FARCE;
% MYSELF' PLAIX DRIVEL
Just Another Bad
One to End Season
Would Be Fine Bet
For Film Purposes
"THE MILKY WAY"
Sidney Harmon and James R. Ullman
present "The Milky Way," a com-
edy by Lynn Root and Harry Clork;
directed by William W. Schorr;
setting by Sointu Syrjala; with Wil-
liam Foran, Brian Donlevy, Gladys
George, Leo Donnelly, Hugh O'Con-
nell, Emily Lowry, John Brown,
Edward Emerson and Bernard Pathe.
At the Cort Theatre.
New York. — "The Milky Way" is
a new farce which looks as though it
was destined for a long and success-
ful run. It compares favorably with
the best of the successful rowdy farces
of the current season.
The story concerns itself with one
Burleigh Sullivan, a milk delivery man,
who, through an accident, is credited
with a knockout of the middleweight
champion. This makes Sullivan a big
figure and the champion's manager
builds him up by fixed fights as a
potential contender for the champion-
ship. Sullivan is no fighter and does
not want to be, but, in spite of him-
self, achieves the crown. His sister
and the real champion fall in love and
this provides the dramatic interest in
the play.
Hugh O'Connell, as Burleigh Sulli-
van, the man w.ho did not want to
be a fighter, had the audience hang-
ing to the sides of their seats every
moment he was on the stage and he
was in evidence for a major portion.
Leo Donnelly as Cabby Sloan, the
fighter's manager, played his part
wih gusto, and Brian Donlevy as the
champion was all that could be asked
for. The outstanding feminine char-
acter was played by Gladys George,
who portrayed the role of the sweet-
heart of the manager. Her wisecracks
and comedy helped considerably to
enliven the evening. The rest of the
cast were competent in their roles.
The actual fight between the cham-
pion and the contender was conveyed
to the audience by means of lowering
the curtain during the third act and
having the reports apparently come
over radio broadcast.
It is most interesting to know that
Gladys George .has been signed by
MGM for pictures. She is a sort of
combination of junior May West and
Glenda Farrell rolled into one. She
plays her part for everything there is
in it and MGM is to be congratu-
lated.
"The Milky Way" was written a
year before "Palooka" hit the screen.
This may affect its picture value
somewhat, as the character portrayed
by Stuart Erwin in "Palooka" is some-
what similar to that created by O'Con-
nell as Burleigh Sullivan. However,
"The Milky Way" is a much better
situation farce for picture purposes
and filled with more gags. It should
make a much better and funnier
screen farce with its burlesque on
prize fights actually shown on the
screen, than the stage offering.
Brandt Getting 1 1
More; Chain Now 35
New York. — The Brandt Circuit
of New York is closing for eleven
more theatres in the New York
territory. These additions will make
the holdings of the circuit 35
houses.
Ginger Rogers and
NBC Settle Suit
Ginger Rogers, who filed a $100,-
000 suit against the National Broad-
casting Company, Radio Station KFI,
Madame Sylvia, Health Bread Com-
pany and others, on charges that she
had been impersonated over the air
without her consent, settled the suit
Saturday.
A part of this settlement was Miss
Rogers' insistence that all interested
parties make a public apology in the
effort to dispel any damaging impres-
sions the broadcast may have caused.
Ginger Rogers was not played on the
radio program by the star, but by an
impersonator hired by Madame Sylvia.
New Distrib For Duce
And Camera Pictures
New York. — "The Black Shirt," the
picture of his own life supervised by
Mussolini, will be distributed in this
country by Samuel Cummins and Jack
Koerpel instead of by the H. H. Rog-
ers Fairhaven Productions.
Cummins and Koerpel have also ac-
quired a picture on the life of Primo
Camera for distribution.
Russian Due in N.Y. to
Buy Sound Equipment
New York. — M. Usievitch, Russian
film executive, is due here today to
purchase sound equipment and to ar-
range for showings of American films
in Russia.
M. Verlinsky has just been made
American head of Amkino, replacing
M. Gordiev.
Hedda Hopper a Writer
Hedda Hopper, who dropped acting
for the agency field, is also branching
out into fan magazine work. Dorothy
Calhoun, of the Motion Picture Maga-
zine, has signed her to contribute a
regular column of picture chatter.
Vincent Sec. Marries
Noreen Phillips, secretary to Frank
Vincent, of the Edington and Vincent
office, was married to Maitland Rice
at Hearst's San Simeon Ranch Satur-
day. Marion Davies served as maid
of honor.
'Hitler' Coast Dates
New York. — "Hitler's Reign of
Terror" will open at the Olympic the-
atre in Los Angeles and at the Strand
in San Francisco next Thursday.
500 Butlers For Bracy
Sidney Bracy is playing his 500th
butler in "The Green Hat," MGM.
"I, MYSELF."
Malcolm L. Pearson and Donald E.
Baruch present "I, Myself," a new
play in three acts by Adelyn Bush-
nell; staged by Charles Hopkins;
setting by Adrian Cracraft; with
Eleanor King, Regina Wallace, Ed-
mund MacDonald, Frank Wilcox,
Charles Trowbridge, Harry M.
Cooke, Walter Baldwin, V/illiam
Bonelli, Larry Bolton, Robert J.
Mulligan, Warren Trent, Frank
Roberts, David Bern, Frank Verigun,
Martin Howe, David Hughes, Wil-
liam David. At the Mansfield
Theatre.
New York. — At the Mansfield
there was unfolded another alleged
drama to join the parade of bad plays
that usually closes the season.
In brief the story concerns itself
with one William Trent, an unsuc-
cessful New England lawyer, who
turns to selling insurance, in which
he also proves unsuccessful. To a
bum soliciting a handout, he reveals
the fact that he has a $50,000 policy
and induces the hobo to bump him
off, in the belief that the money will
prove a boon to his family. The shoot-
ing is successful, with the exception
of the fact that his ghost must stick
around, and stick around it does for
the rest of the three acts, raving and
'anting all over the stage.
As a companion ghost he has a for-
mer service man, who was in the same
regiment with him and who commit-
ted suicide. This second ghost is sup-
posed to show him the way to belief
in the Great Spirit. Several compli-
cations occur. Trent's wife is accused
of the murder; his daughter has an
dffair with a millionaire's son, who
marries her to do right by Nell, and
finally the tramp comes back and con-
fesses to clear up the situation.
A short play, of two hours dura-
tion, played in one set, it seemed
never ending. The applause at the
finish was probably the audience's
thanks that the funeral service was
at last over. Any motion picture pro-
ducer that would attempt to film this
should have his head examined.
There is very little one can say for
the actors in a play of this kind, as it
IS most unusual for a very bad play
to reveal any potential picture stars
in its cast. This is particularly true
of this play, which did not reveal any
personages who might lend glamour
to the silent drama.
Lionel Atwill Signed
For 'Stamboul Quest'
Lionel Atwill gets the third impor-
tant spot in "Stamboul Quest" at
MGM, next to Myrna Loy and George
Brent.
The picture is due to start today,
Sam Wood directing.
Orry-Kelly East
Orry-Kelly leaves May 19 for a
month in New York, where the War-
ner fashion designer will look over
modes.
L.B.MayerCuestof
Notables in North
Louis B. Mayer's flying trip north
Thursday night, with John Zanft and
Howard Strickling as planemates, was
to address the congregation of the
Presbyterian Church at Richmond, Cai.
He discussed motion pictures and cen-
sorship.
Mayer took the opportunity to visit
his friend, Governor Rolph, who is ill
in San Francisco, and himself was
given a surprise testimonial luncheon,
attended by 40 jurists, civic leaders
and political notables, including John
Quinn, one of the gubernatorial candi-
dates.
Mayer, Zanft and Strickling landed
at Los Angeles Saturday after a
bumpy return ride.
Paramount Buys Four
'Superstition' Shorts
Paramount purchased Saturday for
release four "Superstition" one-reel-
ers made last November by Borden
Pictures at General Service Studio.
The deal was made by W. C. Durst,
trustee for the production company,
who will personally complete produc-
tion on "Rabbit's Foot," last of the
series. The others are "Black Cat,"
"Three On a Match" and "Walking
Under a Ladder." Ray Nazarro wrote
and directed the series.
Warner and Monogram
Fail to Get Together
H. B. Warner and "Jane Eyre" de-
cided to skip it mutually, when the
actor and Monogram failed to agree
on details connected with production.
Colin Clive has been mentioned for
the part, but no decision had been
made Saturday.
Manhattan Opera House
Goes For Fix and Vaude
New York. — The Manhattan Opera
House, with a seating capacity of five
thousand, goes into a policy of motion
pictures and vaudeville on Labor Day.
Jerome Rosenberg has taken a 21-
year lease and will operate the house.
Fields the Fowler Angel
W. C. Fields is said to be the liter-
ary angel who financed the limited
edition (24 mimeographed copies) of
Gene Fowler's sketch, "A Night
Among the Book Sellers," featuring
Stanley Rose. Although out less than
a week, all existing copies are report-
ed already dog-earred.
Anthony Script Done
Stuart Anthony has turned in the
completed script for "Happy Land-
ings," which Monogram will put into
production week after next with Ray
Walker starred. R. N. Bradbury directs
under Paul Malvern's supervision.
Para. Buys Fox Story
Paramount Saturday closed a deal for
the purchase of "The Goddess,' an
original story by Paul Hervey Fox. The
Small-Landau office set the deal.
Exhibs Paying Up
New York.- — The Code Authority
reports that, to date, 3179 exhibitors
have paid in $31,755 on their assess-
ments for code operation.
TWO IN A liOW FKO
PREVIEWED THURSDAY. APRIL 26.
THIRTY DAY PRINCESS' AN
EXCITING, AMUSING COMEDY
"SWSW
Sidney, Grant and
Cering High Spots
■THIRTY DAY PRINCESS"
(Paramount)
Direction Marion Cering
Author ... Clarence Budmgton Kelland
Screen Play Preston Sturges
and Frank Partos
Adaptation Sam Heilman
anti Edwin lustus Mayer
Art Direction . Hans Dreier
and SiM Ihnen
Photography Leon Shamroy
Cast: Sylvia Sidney. Cary Grant. Ed-
ward Arnold, Henry Stephenson.
Vince Barnett, Edgar Norton. Ray
Walker, Lucien Littlefield, Robert
McWade. George Baxter. Margue-
rite Namara.
Even with the impressive list of
good mythical kingdom pictures for
competition, Paramount's "Thirty Day
Princess" makes a swell showing.
It is a lovely bit of hokum — un-
'believable, exciting, romantic and gay.
Its fantastic plot is embellished with
dialogue that is witty, impudent and
|meaty, and with acting that is hyper
and with direction that is super.
Occasionally the film verges on the
satirical, but throughout it never loses
its sense of humor or its spirit of
good, honest fun.
Miss Sidney is very, very charming
as the Princess, and very, very funny
as the little actress Cary Grant has
never put more genuine spirit and vi-
tality into a part than he does here.
Arnold is good as the banker, Henry
Stephenson is the King of Taronia,
Vince Barnett is extremely amusing
as the Princess' dumb fiance, Edgar
Norton is well cast as the prime min-
ister, Lucien Littlefield is amusing, as
IS Robert McWade. and Ray Walker,'
George Baxter and Marguerite Namara
contribute a lot to the picture in
smaller roles.
Marion Cering directed cleverly and
with a keen sense of comedy; Pres-
ton Sturges and Frank Partos wrote
the screen play, based on a Clarence
Budington Kelland story, and Sam
Heilman and Edwin Justus Mayer made
the totally amusing adaptation. Art
direction by Hans Dreier and Bill Ihnen
IS notable, and Leon Shamroy's pho-
tography is artistically outstanding.
No exhibitor in any town in the
country will have difficulty selling this
picture to his patrons. It is squawk-
roof, and will make any audience
appy.
:E-Ki' rS ssH;n- 3?s'£* t^^s^
oncef
not
\>rc
.& Ao-
bvit
recott
tbe
\avi<'
B. P. SCHULBEI
BUILT FOR BOIf
NOT FOR CRi
BUT STI
B.P. SCHULDERG!
PREVIEWED FRJDAY. APRIL27.
'MISS MARKER' CERTAIN HIT
(R.
{-^e
*<0]
/*'cri
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ec/
IC(
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PRODUCTIONS
=FICE RETURNS
KL PRAISE
ETTINC BOTH!
Cast-, Direction,
Story All Score
■LITTLE MISS MARKER"
< Paramount)
Direction Alexander Hall
Original Damon Runyon
Screen Play: William R. Lipman, Sam
Hellman, Gladys Lehman.
Music and Lyrics Ralph Rainger
and Leo Robin
Photography Alfred Cilks
Cast: Adolphe Meniou, Dorothy Dell,
Charles Bickford. Shirley Temple,
Lynne Overman, Frank McCIynn
Sr.. Jack Sheehan, Cary Owen.
Puggy White, Sleep 'n Eat, Tam-
many Young, Sam Hardy, Edward
Earle, John Kelly, Warren Hymer.
y\eTe is a large helping of sentimen-
tality, served with a lavish hand
Based upon the same formula, in fact,
by the same original author, Damon
Runyon, it should appeal to the same
audiences that laughed and cried at
"Lady for a Day." And you know
what that means to the box-office
This is the second B. P. Schulberg
production on successive evenings and
the second hit.
That amazing four-year-old, Shir-
ley Temple, delivers a truly astound-
ing performance.
It is to the distinct credit of the
adult members of the cast that they
were not all merely feeders for Shir-
ley. Adolphe Menjou, stripped of
every familiar mannerism, contributes
probably his finest characterization as
the bcK>kie Dorottiy Dell looks better
and better with each picture. Her
screen success is assured. Charles
Bickford plays a gangster with his
usual assurance, and Lynne Overr,-,an
scores heavily with every line. The
others all have their moments, and all
good, with Warren Hymer and John
Kelly particularly outstanding as
nursemaids, nee prizefighters.
The screen play by William Lip-
man, Sam Hellman and Gladys Leh-
man, contains some fine dialogue, and
Alexander Hall's direction does not
miss a trick. Several times obvious
situations threaten, only to be avoided
by a deft twist. Camera work by Al-
fred Gilks excellent.
Your campaign will have to explain
iho title, which should not be diffi-
cult. Once explained, it will intrigue
and the rest is clear sailing. "Little
Miss Marker" is sure-fire sentiment
■s*?>*5^Tff;-':jS( «is3=?w7CTe'xaKBm=?5' ""^t TSS?^Ea-v;?Ta»«"S3SR«^vv?*r3iFi!'ft«*;^"*^*j^^ -gj^^ygga^j
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3tls.
5 PKTURE STEALERS
UNDER PERSONAL CONTRACT TO B.P.SCHULBEKG-
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CORP.
For information as fo availability
phone
CR 4184
• EDUJRRD nnnoLD •
w
FORCEFUL"- "VIRILE
"Edward Arnold ... all but wraps
the picture up and walks away with
it." (Sadie McKee) He is the drunk-
en, party-loving millionaire who mar-
ries Joan (Crawford) in a moment of
sentimental bibbing, only later to love
her deeply and lose her. Arnold's
drunken screen moments are classics,
and the scenes in which they occur
TT ^^
VERSATILE
11
are comedy highlights of the picture,
but he matches his own comedy tal-
ents with equally swell dramatic abil-
ity in later scenes." — Hollywood
Reporter.
"Edward Arnold, as the playboy
stew, wraps the picture up and car-
ries it out the door." — Daily Variety.
• jnCOUELinE WELLS-
WAMPAS BABY STAR OF 19 34—
LOVELY'-^ "ATTRACTIVE '-^'TALENTED'
"Jacqueline Wells is so lovely." —
Grace Kingsley in Los Angeles Times.
"... Attractive young Jacqueline
Wells . . . " — Jerry Hoffman in Los
Angeles Examiner.
"Jacqueline Wells is attractive." —
Mordaunt Hall in New York Times.
"Jacqueline Wells has a sweet sing-
ing voice." — Hollywood Reporter.
TT
• RRV UJnLKER •
FUNNY" - "LIKEABLE "~ "PEPPY"
"If a composite photograph were
made of Jack Oakie, Lee Tracy, Spen-
cer Tracy and James Cagney, the re-
sultant likeness would have a pro-
nounced resemblance to Ray Walker.
I do not mean by these statements to
indicate that Walker is a paragon of
all the movie virtues, or, contrariwise,
that he has no personality of his own.
I mean only that he appears to be an
unusually valuable handy man to have
about the studio — an actor who seems
capable of enacting almost any kind
of a role, and one who ought to be
reckoned with in prognostications of
who is going to be who in the movies
in the days to come." — Hollywood
Citizen-News.
•JERM CHRTBURH*
'THE IN&ENUE FIND' OF THE YEAR I
NEW STORY
"UNUSUAL BEAUTY AND BRAINS
combined brought film triumph to
Jean Chatburn yesterday, when she
was given a featured player's seven-
year contract by B. P. Schulberg, inde-
pendent producer at the Paramount
studios." — Los Angeles Illustrated
Daily News.
*LEOn SHflmROV, R.S.C.
"ARTISTIC '- "DEPEN DABLE "- "ECONOM ICAL'
"Leon Shamroy's photography is a
lesson in that art." (Good Dame) —
Hollywood Reporter.
"Camera is well handled." (Good
Dame) — Daily Variety.
"Leon Shamroy has delivered a most
satisfactory job from behind the cam-
era." (Three Cornered Moon) — Hol-
lywood Herald.
"Photography is exceptionally
good." (Thirty Day Princess) — Daily
Variety.
"Leon Shamroy's photography is ar-
tistically outstanding." (Thirty Day
Princess) — Hollywood Reporter.
_. ^1
Our
APPR
ECIATION AND APPL.
To
flURE
1 \j
AL H ALL
for his excellent direction
•
SHIRLEY TEMPLE
for
her fine singing performance of
*'Laugh You Son of a Gun"
DOROTHY DELL
for
her swell rendition
of
'Low Down Lullaby"
and
'I'm A Black Sheep Who s Blue"
in
B. P. SCHULBERC'S
"LITTLE MISS MARKER"
RALF
>HRAINCER - LEOR<
Under Contract To
PARAMOUNT
■f
Management
SMALL-LANDAU CO.
DBIN
Page Ten
May 14, 1934
PRODUCTION UP SLIGHTLY WITH 36 IN WORK
This Week 36 Features
Last Week 35 Features
Year Ago 21 Features
Two Years Ago 31 Features
Three Years Ago 26 Features
Columbia
"WHOM THE COOS DESTROY"
Cast: Walter Connolly, George Cas-
sldy, Doris Kenyon, Robert Young,
Scotty Beckett, Rollo Lloyd, Lillian
West, Henry Kolker, Arnold Korff,
Director Walter Lang
Original Screen Play.. ..Sidney Buchman
Photography Benjamin Kline
Associate Producer Felix Young
"THE DEFENSE RESTS"
Cast: )ack Holt, Jean Arthur, Nat
Pendleton, Donald Meek, Ward
Bond, Sarah Padden, John Wray,
Raymond Hatton, Raymond Wal-
burn.
Director Lambert Hillyer
Original Screen Play |o Swerling
Photography Joseph August
Associate Producer Robert North
"BLIND DATE"
Cast Ann Sothern, Paul Kelly, Mickey
Rooney, Spencer Charters, Vivian
Oakland, Jane Darwell, Joan Gale,
Geneva Mitchell, Arthur Rankin.
Director Roy William Neill
Original Screen Play Ethel Hill
Photography Al Siegler
Associate Producer Robert North
Fox
"BABY TAKE A BOW"
Cast: James Dunn, Claire Trevor, Shir-
ley Temple, Alan Dinehart, Dorothy
Libaire, Ray Walker, Ralf Harolde,
James Flavin.
Director Harry Lachman
Story Edward Paramore
Screen Play Philip Klein
Photography L. W. O'Conneil
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"CARAVAN"
Cast: Charles Boyer, Loretta Young,
Jean Parker, Phillips Holmes, Louise
Fazenda, Eugene Pallette, C. Aubrey
Smith, Dudley Digges, Richard
Carle, Charles Grapewin, Billy
Bevan, Armand Kaliz, Harry Brad-
ley.
Director Erik Charell
Original Story Melchoir Lengyel
Screen Play and Dialogue —
Samson Raphaeison
Continuity Robert Liebmann
Lyrics Werner Richard Heymann
and Gus Kahn
Photography Ernest G. Palmer
and Theodor Sparkuhl
Producer Robert Kane
"SHE LEARNED ABOUT SAILORS"
Cast: Lew Ayres, Alice Faye, Frank
Mitchell, Jack Durant, Nick Foran,
Harry Green.
Director George Marshall
Original Screen Play: William Consel-
man and Henry Johnson.
Photography Harry Jackson
Producer John Stone
"CHARLIE CHAN'S COURAGE"
Cast: Warner Oland, Drue Leyton,
Donald Woods, Paul Harvey, Mur-
ray Kinnell, Reginald Mason, Si
Jenks, Virginia Hammond, Harvey
Clark, Jerry Jerome, Jack Carter,
James Wang, Wade Boteler, Paul
Hurst, John David Horsley, Frank
Rice, Paul McVey.
Directors George Hadden
and Eugene Forde
Novel Earl Derr Biggers
Screen Play Seton I. Miller
Photography Arthur Miller
Producer John Stone
MCM
"BARRETTS OF WIMFOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katharine
Alexander, Marion Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor, Vernon
Downing, Neville Clark, Matthew
Smith, Robert Carlton, Allan Con-
rad, Peter Hobbes.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue. .Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"TREASURE ISLAND"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger,
Lewis Stone, Cora Sue Collins, Dor-
othy Peterson, William V. Mong,
Douglas Dumbrille, Nigel Bruce,
Chic Sale.
Director Victor Fleming
Novel Robert Louis Stevenson
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"100% PURE"
Cast: Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore,
Patsy Kelly, Lewis Stone, Franchot
Tone, Hale Hamilton, Shirley Ross,
Bert Roach, Desmond Roberts, John
David Horsley.
Director Jack Conway
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Enr»erson
Photography Ray June
Producer Bernard Hyman
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette Mac-
Donald, Minna Combell, Edward Ev-
erett Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara
Leonard, Sterling Holloway, George
Barbier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Caryl Lincoln, Leona Walters, Edna
Waldes.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta...; Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaeison
Dance Director Albertina Rasch
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE GREEN HAT"
Cast: Constance Bennett, Herbert
Marshall, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Pat Campbell, Leo Carroll, Hugh
Williams, Alec B. Francis, Eliza-
beth Allan, Robert Lorraine.
Director Robert Z. Leonard
Novel Michael Arlen
Photography Charles Rosher
Producer Irving Thalberg
"REAR CAR"
Cast: Charlie Ruggles, Una Mer-
kel, Mary Carlisle, Russell Hardie,
Porter Hall, Cliff Thompson, Wil-
lard Robertson, Sterling Holloway,
"Snowflake."
Director Harry Beaumont
Play Edward E. Rose
Screen Play Harvey Thew
and Al Boasberg
Photography James Van Trees
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"STAMBOUL QUEST"
Cast: Myrna Loy, George Brent, Lionel
Atwill, C Henry Gordon, Douglas
Dumbrille, Christian Rub, Rudolph
Amendt, Robert Gleckler, Reginald
Barlow.
Director Sam Wood
Original Leo Birinski
Producer Walter Wanger
Paramount
"IT AIN'T NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John
Miljan, Katharine DeMille, James
Donlan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke Ellington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown, Stu-
art Holmes, Harry Woods, Edward
lor, Tom Herbert, Benny Baker,
Morrie Cohen.
Director Leo McCarey
Original Screen Play Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthur Johnston and
Sam Coslow.
Photography Karl Struss
Sound Harry Mills
Producer William LeBaron
"SHE LOVES ME NOT"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Miriam Hopkins,
Kitty Carlisle, Edward Nugent,
Lynne Overman, Warren Hymer,
Henry Stephenson, Maude Turner
Gordon, Margaret Armstrong, Judith
Allen, Vince Barnett, Matt Mc-
Hugh, Ralf Harolde, Henry Kolker,
George Barbier, Franklin Ardell.
Director Elliott Nugent
Original Story Howard Lindsay
Based on Novel by Edward Hope
Music Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Charles Lang
Sound Harold C. Lewis
Producer Benjamin Glazer
"SHOOT THE WORKS"
Cast: Jack Oakie, Dorothy Dell, Ros-
coe Karns, Arline Judge, Ben Ber-
nie, Alison Skipworth, William
Frawley, Lew Cody, Paul Cavanagh,
Tony Merlo.
Director Wesley Ruggles
Original Ben Hecht
and Gene Fowler
Screen Play.... Howard J. Green
and Claude Binyon
Music Ralph Rainger, Harry Revet
Lyrics Leo Robin, Mack Gordon
Photography Leo Tover
Sound M. M. Paggi
Producer Albert Lewis
"THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY"
Cast: W. C. Fields, Baby LeRoy, Ju-
dith Allen, Joe Morrison, Samuel
Ethridge, Ruth Marion, William
Blatchford, Jan Duggan, Tammany
Young, Jack Mulhall, Oscar Apfel,
Joe Mills, Emma Ray, Otis Harlan,
Nora Cecil, Richard Carle, Lew
Kelly, Oscar Smith, Edward J. Le
Saint, Davison Clark, Dorothy Bay,
May 14, 1934
Page Eleven
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 35 LAST WEEK
Maxine Elliott Hicks, Larry Cre-
nler, Ruth Marion, Jeffrey Wil-
liams, Dei! Henderson.
Director William Beaudine
Original W. C. Fields
Adaptation Waiter De Leon
Screen Play: J. P. McEvoy and Garnett
Weston.
Music Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Cordon
Photography Ben Reynolds
Sound .P. J. Wisdom
Producer William LeBaron
"THE NOTORIOUS SOPHIE LANG"
Cast: Certrude Michael, Paul Cavan-
agh, Arthur Byron, Alison Skip-
worth, Ben Taggart, Leon Errol,
Charles Judels, Franklin Pangborn.
Director ....William Cameron Menzies
Original.. ..Frederick Irving Anderson
Screen Play Anthony Veiller
and Frederick Irving Anderson
Photography Al Cilks
Sound Henry Lindgren
Producer Bayard Veiller
RKO-Radio
"BACHELOR BAIT"
Cast: Pert Kelton, Chick Chandler,
Stuart Erwin, Skeets Gallagher, Ro-
chelle Hudson, Berton Churchill.
Director George Stevens
Original. ...Victor and Edward Halperin
Screen Play Glenn Tryon
Photography Dave Abel
Sound Clem Portman
Producer Lou Brock
"WE'RE RICH AGAIN"
Cast: Marian Nixon, Billie Burke, Edna
May Oliver, Grant Mitchell, Buster
Crabbe, Joan Marsh, Reginald Den-
ny, Gloria Shea, Edgar Kennedy.
Director William Seiter
I Original Alden Nash
Screen Play Ray Harris
Photography Nick Musuraca
Sound John L. Cass
Producer Glendon Allvine
"AFTERWARDS"
Cast: Zasu Pitts, Slim Summerville,
Ralph Morgan, Bruce Cabot, Wil-
liam Gaxton, Huntley Gordon.
Director James Cruze
Screen Play Walter Hackett
Continuity Marion Dix
Dialogue Arthur Caesar
Photography Harold Wenstrom
Producer Cliff Reid
"HAT, COAT AND GLOVE"
Cast: John Barrymore, Barbara Rob-
bins, John Beal.
Director i Worthington Minor
Play Wilhelm Speyer
Screen Play Francis Faragoh
Producer Kenneth Macgowan
Reliance Pictures, Inc.
(RKO-Pafhe)
COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO"
Cast: Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Louis
Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, O. P.
Heggie, Raymond Walburn, Law-
rence Grant, Luis Alberni, Georgia
Caine, Lionel Belmore, William
Farnum, Wilfred Lucas, Tom
Ricketts.
Director Rowland V. Lee
Original Alexandre Dumas
Screen Play and Dialogue
Phillip Dunne :;nd Dan Totheroh
Adaptation Harry Thew
and Harry Hervey
Photograpihy Peverell Marley
Producer Edward Small
Universal
"ONE MORE RIVER"
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Frank Lawton,
Colin Clive, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Patrick Campbell, Jane Wyatt, C.
Aubrey Smith, Reginald Denny,
Kathleen Howard, Lionel Atwill,
Alan Mowbray, Gilbert Emery, E.
E. Clive, Robert Creig, Gunnis
Davis, Tempe Pigott.
Director James Whale
Story John Galsworthy
Screen Play R. C. Sherriff
Photography John Mescal
Producer Carl Laemmie, Jr.
"THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW "
Cast: Frank Morgan, Lois Wilson,
Louise Latimer, Elizabeth Young,
Robert Taylor, Helen Parrish, Dick
Winslow.
Director Edward Sloman
Original Screen Play....Edward Sloman
Continuity Christine Ames
and William Hurlbut
Photography Norbert Brodine
Producer Henry Henigson
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby,
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers, Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren, Johnny
Arthur, Arthur Vinton, Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett, Phil Regan.
Directors Ray Enright
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"BRITISH AGENT "
Cast: Leslie Howard, Kay Francis,
Phillip Reed, John Eldredge, Tenen
Holtz, J. Carrol Naish, Alec E.
Francis, Gregory Gaye, Halliwell
Hobbes, Doris Lloyd, Alphonse
Ethier, Irving Pichel, Walter Byron,
Dorothy Tree, William Cargan,
Ivan Simpson, Paul Porcasi, George
Pearce, Walter Armitage.
Director Michael Curtiz
Novel H. Bruce Lockhart
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Dialogue Roland Pertwee
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"THE DRAGON MURDER CASE "
Cast: Warren William, Margaret
Lindsay, Lyie Talbot, Robert Barrat,
Philip Reed, Arthur Aylesworth,
Robert McWade, Hobart Cavan-
augh, Eugene Pallette.
Director H Bruce Humberstone
Story S. S. Van Dine
Screen Play F. Hugh Herbert
and Robert N. Lee
Adaptation Rian James
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"KANSAS CITY PRINCESS "
Cast: Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell,
Hugh Herbert, Robert Armstrong,
Gordon Westcott.
Director William Keighley
Screen Play Manuel Seff
•nd Sy Bartleti
Supervisor Lou Edelman
Independent Productions
Liberty
(RKO-Pathe)
"TWO HEADS ON A PILLOW "
Cast: Neil Hamilton, Miriam Jordan,
Henry Armetta, Hardie Albright,
Lona Andre, Edward Martindel,
Dorothy Appleby, Mary Forbes,
Emily Fitzroy, Claude King, Claire
McDowell, Eddie Kane, Dorothy
Grainger, Betty BIythe, Nellie
Nichols, George Lewis, Mary Foy,
Julda Ford.
Director William Nigh
Novel Dorothy Canfield
Screen Play ..Al De Mond
Photography Harry Neuman
Producer M. H. Hoffman
Monogram
(General Service Studios)
(Lone Star Production)
"THE STAR PACKER "
Cast: John Wayne, Verna Hillie,
George Hayes, Ed Parker, Yakima
Canutt, Earl Dwire, George Cleve-
land.
Director R. N. Bradbury
Original Screen Play... .R. N. Bradbury
Photography Archie Stout
Producer Paul Malvern
"SHOCK "
Cast: Ralph Forbes, Cwenllian Gill,
Monroe Owsley, Reginald Sharland,
Billy Bevan, Clyde Cook, Douglas
Walton, Alex Courtney, Olaf Hyt-
ten, Montague Shaw.
Director Roy J. Pomeroy
Story Roy J. Pomeroy
Screen Play Madeline Ruthven
Photography Jack MacKenzie
Mascot
(Mack Sennett Studio)
"BURN EM UP BARNES "
(Serial)
Cast: Jack Mulhall, Frankie Darro,
Lola Lane, Julian Rivero, Edwin
Maxwell, James Bush, Jason Ro-
bards, Francis McDonald, John Da-
vidson, Eddie Hearn, Stanley Bly-
stone, Alan Bridge.
Directors: Bert Clark and Armand
Schaeffer.
Original Screen Play: Al Martin, Sher-
man Lowe and Wyndham Gittens.
Photography Ernie Miller
Supervisor Victor Zobel
Romance Productions
(Mack Sennett Studio)
"YOUNG EAGLES"
(Serial)
Cast: Carter Dixon, Bobby Ford, Jim
Adams, PhMo McCullough, Jack
MacDonald.
Director Vin Moore
Original Story Harry O. Hoyt
Photography Bill Hyer, Eddie Kull
Producer George W. Stout
Showmen's Pictures
(Alexander Brothers Studio)
"WITHIN THE ROCK"
Cast: Lila Lee, Creighton Chaney, Ed-
mund Breese.
Director Al Ray
Photography George Meehan
Supervisor Al Alt
BRULATOUR BULLETIN
?^^??^^™i*5???S:S?»s?f^ss?Sf* tey/?;:;ja«ai»!%g^i.\t;sgj^
Published Every Monday
Artie Miller says "thank you" to
the boys who called at Hollywood
Hospital . . . he's home again now and
feeling great . . . back on the job in a
coupla weeks. . . . Here's a fine ex-
pression of confidence in the intelli-
gence of a cameraman — Director
George Hill (MCM) arrived home this
week and left Charlie Clark, his pho-
tographer, in Peking and Shanghai
where the lenser will use his noodle
as well as camera equipment in com-
pleting shots and scenes for "Good
Earth." . . . 'Nother MGM camerchief
ported from a big liner last week
when Dan Clark returned from Hono-
lulu where's wickie-wackie-hoola-
hoola to make things at least inter-
esting when the "liquid sunshine" pre-
vents procedure with the cameras . . .
but Dan's most enthusiastic and al-
lows that between showers he did get
some lovely shots.
Bert Glennon finished first picture
under his new contract with Fox at
Movietone City and everybody seems
glad the deal was made. . . . Bert and
Mike Leshing got through the picture
without a single argument . . . magi-
cian, this guy Glennon. ... At the
same big stoojo the sound de-
partment will continue along under
Eddie Hanson without interruption be-
cause Ed's vacation to Alaska has been
moved up several notches . . . looks
like late July, now. . . . Our old friend
Harry Jackson is doing a swellish job
on Sol Wurtzel's outfit. . . . "She
Learned About Sailors" is his latest.
. . . Henry Sharp completed at Para-
mount . . . ditto Milt Krasner . . . and
Charlie Lang is called in off the Bel-
Air course to resume his picture ac-
count of Miriam Hopkins' "puppy" is
okey-dokey again. ... At Radio a
resting spell allows Roy Hunt to tin-
ker with his radio receivers while
Teddy Tetzlaff, Jack Mackenzie and
Tad McCord turn final fadeouts on re-
spective assignments.
Nothing's confidential or private in
Hollywood . . . dailies here last week
told the world that George Barnes will
soon be pacing the corridors waiting
for the announcement as to whether
it's another cameraman or another
dainty star like mamma Joan Blondell.
. . . And we know a certain major
studio where the head of camera de-
partment is also expecting old Doc
Stork's arrival at his Hollywood home
any SECOND now. . . . Ernie Hailer's
up and back at work after giving the
flu-bugs a kick under the wing stern.
. . . bid Hickox keeps a straight face
while relating tales of TWELVE one
pound trout caught by HIM at his
place EVERY day since season opened.
. . . Art Todd says his next produc-
tion will be Merry-Go- Round . . why
NEXT(?) . . Cecil Meyers off to the
goliuf tournament at Caliente and
we're layin' dollars to doughnuts he
cops plenty of honors and so forth and
so forth . . . !
Jimmy Howe Set
"Stamboul Quest," M. G. M. pro-
duction starring Myrna Loy and di-
rected by Sam Wood, throws the cam-
era job into the lap of Jimmy Howe,
contracted photographer at the Culver
City Studio.
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
A. S. C. Ansi¥ers S-O-S
Late last week John Arnold, President of The American Society of
Cinematographers, received a long letter from Charlie Clark (Cameraman
for M. G. M. on the George Hill unit producing "Good Earth"* telling all
about Fred Jackman's visit to the company in Peking (China) and advis-
ing that they'd held an official session of the A.S.C. which is probably
first meeting called in the Orient. Closely on top of this message came
another letter from Jackman to Arnold telling interesting highlights of
his world journey. Same day he received Jackman's letter, Arnold received
a wireless from Fred advising he'd just heard that Paul Perry is stranded
about forty miles from Shanghai. Arnold radioed back officially instruct-
ing Jackman to spare no expense in making thorough investigation and if
rumor confirmed to go to rescue and relief of Perry in behalf of the
A.S.C, of which the reported strandee is a charter member. President
Arnold is awaiting further advice, news of which will break in the local
daily trade papers before the next issue of The Brulatour Bulletin.
Van Trees to Metro
Deal made by Bill Dover, Twenti-
eth Century executive, with M. G. M.
sends Jim Van Trees and his crew in-
to the Culver City plant, where they're
given the job of photographing "The
Rear Car," under the directorship of
Harry Beaumont. Lou Jennings, op-
erative cameraman, and Jim Van
Trees, Jr., assistant.
Second unit in charge of Len (Big
Moose) Smith, with Harry Waters,
has gone to Tucson, Arizona, where
runaway trains, smashing box cars and
other types of rail ripping will be
photographed.
Planck on 'Shock"
Bob Planck, for past several years
one of Sol Wurtzel's favorite photog-
raphers, comes back into General
Service Studios, rejoining Monogram
staff, where he will photograph
"Shock," starting tomorrow morning.
Production will be personally directed
by Roy Pomeroy, famous for his work
during early years of sound.
Polito Commuting
Frequent trips carry Sol Polito and
his family to Lake Arrowhead, where
popular Warner cameraman is build-
ing a new summer home. Sol's get-
ting a chance to give plenty of time
and attention to his personal project
while his director, Bus Berkeley, is
tied up in the litigation between Sam
Goldwyn and the Warners.
Edeson Completes
The James Cagney-Warner Bros,
production, "Hey, Sailor" completed,
and Artie Edeson taking a well-de-
served rest at his Malibou Lake home.
Time Out For Gibson
George Gibson of the Brulatour sales
and service staff, confined home last
week — Doctor says lumbago — Gibby
says its lust a pain in the back — Due
to return on job this morning.
Columbia Clicking
Schedule of the Cower Street plant
swinging along at top speed, as re-
ported in these columns several weeks
ago.
"Black Moon" finished by Joe Aug-
ust, who has started on another with
Lambert Hillyer in the director's chair.
Scheduled to start this morning,
Al Siegler, with Director Roy Neill on
"Blind Date."
Henry Freulich making good in a
big way as first cameraman and con-
tinuing in that spot on the All-Star
comedy. Starting another this mid-
week.
Joe Walker is assigned to the Frank
Capra picture, which it is hoped will
get under way before the week is out.
Boyle at Paramount
John Boyle, globe-trotting camera-
man, who is now completing deal for
showing of his Swedish (Multicolor!
feature in Southern California, pauses
in theatre booking negotiation long
enough to step into Paramount, where
he's doing photography on special
scenes of the Mae West picture, "It
Ain't No Sin."
Sponable Here
E. I. Sponable, sound director,
Movietone News, Inc., Fox subsidiary,
in Hollywood for a few days, looking
over new developments in the studio
sound field, which may be applicable
to news work.
Bill Rees Flits
(Following item should establish
good reason for strengthening repor-
torial staff of the Bulletin — get this) :
"Bill Rees of Warner Bros, camera
department, has left town for four
weeks. Destination loway or Wash-
ington, I couldn't find out which."
When Bill returns we'll send a spe-
cial reporter to ask him just where
he's been.
Pomp and Circomstaoce
Pulling away from in front of a fire hydrant where he'd been defiantly
parked for three or four hours on Hollywood Boulevard, Tony Gaudio
drove his big sedan deliberately through the red light at Vine and Holly-
wood and was promptly nailed by one of those be-goggled boys on a
white motorcycle. Copper yelped and ravad and wrote a ficket which
carried so many charges that he might as well have "thrown the book"
at Tony. . . . Gaudio laughed like a demon as he tore up the tag and
threw it in the cop's face. . . .
By the way — maybe you hadn't heard about it — Tony's oldest son
(Tony, Jr.) passed the Caliornia State Bar examination on the first try
and he's now a full-fledged lawyer. Ethics or no ethics — Tony's out to
see that his boy gets plenty of business. . . . !
Eastman Motion Picture Films
(NOTE: Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour, Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION: DO YOU PREFER TO
WORK GENERALLY IN A HICH
OR A LOW KEY OF LIGHT?
GIL WARRENTON: I prefer a moder-
ately low key of lighting as to me
it is easier and certainly much sim-
pler to handle the modelling and
balance with our present types of
very light sets and highly sensitive
negative emulsions. However, I
think you should point out that too
many people confuse the phrase of
low key lighting with effect light-
ing. There is a vast difference, as
every photographer well knows.
HENRY SHARP (Paramount) : A
moderately high key of lighting is
my preference because I feel that
there are so many general incon-
sistencies under ordinary production
conditions, especially in theatre pro-
jection, that one achieves a better
all-round projection quality with
the high key type of illumination.
ROY HUNT (RKO) : I enjoy working
with any type of lighting, and am
influenced largely by the character
of the scene and setting.
GEORGE ROBINSON (Universal):
My personal preference is for the
so-called low key types of lighting.
I feel that the photographic effect
can be achieved much better in this
key. There are a number of reasons
for this, most of them too obvious
to even mention.
TONY GAUDIO (Warner Bros.): A
reasonably high key of lighting
seems to me to be more satisfac-
tory in general than the low key.
which is sometimes carried too far
to meet commercial requirements.
We've got to consider theatre pro-
jection and we've got to bear In
mind that to meet all of the ups
and downs in this latter field we
must produce a fairly rich negative
for the average good type of screen
presentation.
LOU O'CONNELL (Fox): I broadly
prefer low key lighting because the
artistic effects which every photog-
rapher strives to achieve are more
striking and impressive with this
method. However, sad to relate, we
can't always follow our fullest in-
clination because we must not lose
sight of the proiection bugaboo in
the theatres.
SID HICKOX (First National): My
preference has always been for low
key photography wherever and
whenever possible. When negative
is intelligently handled in the lab-
oratory, low key photography gives
me just the effect that I consider
most pleasing in any picture.
Warren's Vacation
Dwight Warren, chief photographer jr
for Educational, will take longest va-
cation in his entire career when he
leaves the studio next week on a fun
and frolic expedition, booked for six
weeks and threatened to run eight.
fit
llie
KiV L nU -ijvJljUJ* I I'J — art i c.ia o i uui.\j-j ,
% MR.SAVUFL f.! A [•:.■>,
CULVER CITY,'.JAi.I:<'.
Vol. XXI. No. 6. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, May 15. 1934
WI^ITEI^S T€ BE eiJAI^DEE)
Participation By America
In International Copyright
Pact Favored By President
•THE largest part of this industry that
has been worrying about Metro-Cold-
wyn- Mayer and its product for these
last eight, ten or twelve months, can
now pack up their worries and put on
a few smiles, for that organization
has come back with a bang, has found
the key to its old HIT formula and
is clicking off the type picture that
kept this business going ifor the past
few years.
For months we have tried to ana-
lyze the flop of MCM, how a company
with all the natural resources it had
and has, with all the HIT experience
that is packed in its studios, could
turn out such stupid screen entertain-
ment.
Of course, the illness of Thalberg
had a lot to do with it, but that's not
the answer, as it would take a long
time for the production organization
that Thalberg created to flop in the
manner that it did. Louis Mayer is no
slouch in production matters, nor are
Eddie Mannix and the gang of pro-
ducers working under them anything
to be sneezed at; and they were all
working as hard or harder than they
ever worked before. Maybe they
were working too hard. The whole
thing was a mystery then and now,
especially now that they are dyna-
miting the industry with the kind of
picture that keeps the customers
standing in line for a look.
And it's a great thing. It is almost
impossible for anyone to reckon what
MCM's flop cost this business, but a
BILLION or TWO would not be very
far wrong, and those losses were in
the wrong places. They were mostly
with theatre owners, but all the in-
dustry shared them.
'•
And while on the subject of pro-
duction progress, Warners MUST be
mentioned for their consistency in the
type picture that caused that organi-
zation to more than uphold its end in
furnishing entertainment for this busi-
ness to sell and the movie patrons to
enjoy. Of course, Warners make a
different brand of picture than MCM.
They grind them out faster and at a
smaller cost. They do not take such
expensive chances. So, the more rea-
son for a pat on the back for that
organization.
If MCM will maintain its late sea-
(Continued on Page 2)
Arliss Gets $300,000
For Caumont Picture
London. — George Arliss has ac-
cepted the Caumont-Brltish offer
of $300,000 for a picture to be
made here. He turned down the
bid of $175,000 made by British
International although that in-
cluded transportation and enough
to pay his income tax.
'Buccaneer' Next
DeMille For Para.
Cecil B. DeMille's next production
for Paramount will be "Buccaneer,"
a story based on the life of the Brit-
ish pirate, Sjr Henry Morgan.
Paramount yesterday engaged Max-
well Anderson and Laurence Stallings
to do the screen play. Cast will be all-
star, and production will be on a spec-
tacular scale, with the budget an-
nounced as $1,000,000.
Incidentally, Paramount has in
Frances Drake an actress who claims
lineal descent from Sir Henry Morgan.
Are Men Worth It?' Set
For Tracy and Colbert
New York. — Paramount is to pro-
duce a picture called "Are Men Worth
It.'", based on the Tiffany Thayer
novel, "One Woman," with Lee Tracy
and Claudette Colbert in the leads.
Marian Marsh Returning
New York. — Marian Marsh arrives
here on the Aquitania Friday and will
proceed directly to Hollywood. While
abroad Miss Marsh did three pictures
and was offered two others by Cau-
mont, but decided the Hollywood of-
fers held more attractions.
New York. — International copyright protection for American
authors, playwrights and scenario writers, for which the Authors*
League has been fighting for ten years, took a long step toward
realization yesterday when Dr. Robert Underwood Johnson said
that President Roosevelt favored the
plan.
Dr. Johnson announced that the
President had advised him that he
would support the proposed bill which
gives the writers automatic protection
under the Rome copyright treaty of
1928. This protection extends to 53
countries. It was also announced that
it will be necessary to abolish the
non-importation clause in the present
copyright statute.
There has been severe criticism for
years because the United States is not
a signatory to the International Copy-
(Continued on Page 3)
'U and Stuart Walker
Closing Deal For Three
Universal is drawing up contracts
today for three picture deal with Stu-
art Walker, who was set by Bren-
Orsatti and Marx.
The director will handle "Romance
in the Rain," under Stanley Berger-
man, as his first.
Fowler Going East
Gene Fowler leaves Friday for his
Fire Island home to complete his biog-
raphy of Mack Sennett He just com-
pleted his script of "The Creat Bar-
num" for 20th Century.
BERLIN A €EMETER¥
OF FILM COMPAIVIES
Berlin. — This city is rapidly becom-
ing a cemetery for film companies.
Daily the list of dead or dying ones is
growing at an alarming rate.
The latest firm to ask for liquida-
tion of its business is the Sudfilm
outfit, engaged both in production and
distribution. Two years ago this, was
a flourishing company. The film busi-
ness was booming and Germany was
attracting attention from all quarters
of the globe.
With the ousting by the Nazi re-
gime of many of the people whose
(Continued on Page 3)
Barney Clazer Denies
He Will Quit Paramount
The report current that Barney
Clazer is washing up with Paramount
at the expiration of his present con-
tract is vehemently denied by him.
Clazer says that he has not signed
a new contract yet because there are
one or two details to be ironed out,
and Emanuel Cohen has been away.
He has a couple more pictures to do
before he leaves on his vacation and
expects the contract matter will be
settled before he goes.
Hepburn To Star
In 'Forsyte Saga'
London. — Radio is expected to star
Katharine Hepburn in "Forsyte Saga"
as her next picture.
Company's office here is closing a
deal with Mrs. John Galsworthy for the
property. Radio will get it for about
$25,000, taking an option pending
Mrs. Galsworthy's approval of the
screen play made from the book.
Rowland Brown Signs
To Direct One For Korda
London. — Rowland Brown is defi-
nitely set to direct "The Scarlet Pim-
pernel" for Alexander Korda's London
Films Company. It will start in July,
with Leslie Howard starred.
Curtiz III, But Works
Though suffering from an attack
of influenza, Michael Curtiz contin-
ued with the direction of "British
Agent" at Warners yesterday. Studio
yesterday signed Marina Schubert,
daughter of Nina Koschetz, Russian
opera singer, for a spot in the picture.
Term For Ceo. Stevens
Clicking with "Bachelor Bait," his
first feature assignment for Radio,
George Stevens was handed a new
long-term contract taking him out of
the short subjects class definitely.
Bren-Orsatti and Marx negotiated the
deal.
'Stamboul' Starts
Sam Wood put "Stamboul Quest"
into production yesterday at MCM.
Leads held by Myrna Loy, George
Brent and Lionel Atwill.
Schlaifer Quits U.A.
New York. — L. J. Schlaifer, West-
ern sales manager for United Artists,
has resigned. No announcement is
made of future plans.
I
BB
MANUEL SEFF wrote
"KANSAS CITY PRINCESS"
NOW SHOOTING
W. B.
Collaboration
Page Two
THg
May 15, 1934
1\
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Ottice of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New? York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 41 -A
Carlisle Mansions; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Gratte-Ciel,
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Virginie Pine arrived here Sunday
night and went directly to the Cedars
of Lebanon for observation — she may
have to be operated upon. . . George
Raft, not yet divorced, gets here in
about two weeks. . . . The Leslie
Fentons (Ann Dvorak) moving to
their forty-acre ranch in San Fer-
nando. . . . Katharine Hepburn will
fly to N'Yawk in a coupla days for a
fling before starting the new flicker.
. . . Tommy Thompson is up at Alan
Vincent's mountain retreat with a
broken leg! . . . Kendall Claenzer,
back in Hollywood with a brand new
Reno divorce from Jules. . . . Whitney
de Rham here from New York and
says its for the rest of his life. .
Julie Hornblow leaving for tTie East
today. . . . Jean Negulesco taking out
his first citizenship papers and loving
it.
•
Tallulah Bankhead is writing some
hilarious articles about Hollywood for
a London paper — not panning — )ust
funny; .... The Donald Ogden
Stewarts partied for Irvin Cobb and
dotter Buff Sunday night. . . Imagine
the chagrin of Mrs. S. who pulled the
curtains apart for some air, and got
bright morning sunshine! .... The
SatTj Coidwyns, Grace Moore, Valentin
Perrara, Ruth Chatterton, the Dick
Barthelmesses, Charles Brackett, Mrs.
Harrison Russell, Joseph Bryan among
the guests. . . . Gene Fowler (who
leaves here Friday) sent W. C. Fields
a huge basket of flowers for Mother's
Day, dedicated to "the grandmother
of comedy"! . . . Ross and Sargent
packed 'em in at the Kings Club —
Eddie Cantor, Jean Lacy, Paul Lukas,
Eddie Hillman, Toby Wing, Lyie Tal-
bot, Colleen Moore, Ralph Morgan
there — the night of the raid.
•
Josephine Hutchinson (all wore out
from her season with Eva La Galli-
enrie) is trying to put on some
weight for her picture contract. . . .
Andy Hervey, well again, back at his
MGM desk. . . . The gang at Radio
got a big kick out of Noah Beery's
marvelous basso voice in the Wheeler-
Woolsey picture just finished! ....
Hear tell that the Warner stujo hired
a hundred extras and told them to
Publicity Dragged
Into Berkeley Suit
With the Goldwyn-Warner trial
scheduled to wind up today, J. R.
Files, the Warner attorney, said yes-
terday that Warners will .=eek to shew
that Goldwyn violated his contract for
Busby Berkeley's services. The con-
tention, according to Files, is based on
the lack of exploitation given the
dance director during past services for
Goldwyn.
The dance director, continuing on
the stand yesterday, summed uo the
substance of his formal answer to
Goldwyn's complaint, reiterating his
claim that the United Artists producer
had acted unethically in securing his
contract with Warners for the loan of
Berkeley. Ed Selzer, Warner publicity
man, was put on tne stand and goes
on again this morning. Through him
Files is entering evidence of the extent
to which Warners claim they went in
publicising the dance director.
Watanabe and Hon.Archie
Now on National Hook-up
Frank Watanabe and the Hon.
Archie, a popular radio feature on the
coast, have just started on a national
hook-up over NBC, exclusive of the
Pacific Coast.
The new program will be broadcast
five days a week, Saturdays and Sun-
days out, and will emanate from the
station on the Radio lot. The regular
program from KNX will continue.
Cohen-Shannon Sell
Another to Warners
Warners yesterday purchased a sec-
ond original from the writing team of
Albert J. Cohen and Robert Terrv
Shannon, It is "King of the Ritz,"
and the company will offer William
Powell the starring assignment.
The writers join the studio to write
the screen play under Sam Bischoff's
supervision.
Hepburn Back in Town
Katharine Hepburn checked in at
the Radio studio yesterday and had a
conference with Pandro Berman, who
produces her next picture. She re-
turns to New York in a couple of
days.
Selznick's Sec. East
Marcella Bannatt, secretary of David
Selznick, left for New York Saturday
night to meet her boss on his return
from Europe. Selznick is due back in
two weeks.
Henry O Neill Back
Henry O'Neill, Warner contract
player, returned yesterday from a six
week vacation in New York. He left
on the completion of his role in "Ma-
dame Du Barry."
Lead For Carol Tevis
Carol Tevis has been signed for
the lead in the new Tom Kennedy
comedy at RKO, as yet untitled.
bring an extra suit of clothes — then
the actors discovered that the extra
suits were to go on a hundred dum-
mies which were also used in the
same scene! But the supers didn't
get any extra money for the wear and
tear!
Russia Making Its
Own Mikki Maus'
Berlin. — Soviet producers have
started a series of cartoons which
the Soviet press calls "Mikki
Maus." Mickey, in Russia, is a
hedgehog who engages in various
battles in capitalistic countries and
is always victorious.
Laughton King In
'Marie Antoinette'
Charles Laughton was informed, on
his arrival by plane yesterday morning
to play the father of "The Barretts of
Wimpole Street," that he is also to
impersonate Louis VI for MGM in
"Marie Antoinette," starring Norma
Shearer.
Laughton was accompanied to Hol-
lywood by his wife, Elsa Lancaster.
L. A. Newspaper Men
Invited to Join Guild
Trade paper reporters and Holly-
wood correspondents for eastern papers
were invited to join with men of met-
ropolitan and county dailies in organi-
zation of a Los Angeles Newspaper
Guild by the tentative by-laws and
charter committee, which met in t.he
press room of the Los Angeles City
Hali.
Organization meeting is set for next
Sunday evening at 8 in the council
chamber. Jonathan Eddy, executive
secretary of the American Newspaper
Guild, flies to the coast this week to
attend the meeting.
Two New Shows Open
In New York Tonight
New York. — Broadway first-night-
ers have a choice of two new plays
tonight. "Come What May," starring
Hal Skelly, opens at the Plymouth, and
"Invitation to a Murder," written by
Rufus King, at the Masque.
Sound Men Organizing
Fifteen of the organizers of t.he
newly formed American Society of
Sound Engineers met last night at their
offices in the Professional building to
work out details of financing and or-
ganization. Formal announcement of
plans will be made within the next
week, according to Harold V. Smith,
executive manager.
Crabbe to Mayfair
Mayfair yesterday borrowed Buster
Crabbe from Paramount for the lead
in an untitled feature which Spencer
Bennet directs when it starts Thurs-
day at Darmour studio. Deal was ne-
gotiated by Hoffman-Schlager.
Neil Hamilton to Col.
Neil Hamilton today joins the cast
of "Blind Date," at Columbia, taking
a featured role.
Tradeviews
(Contirwied from Page 1 )
son spurt, and it will; and if Warners,
encouraged by their successes with
their short budgets, would increase
those budgets and shooting time; and
if two or three of the other majors
jump in with a few hits, the picture
business is in for a great year.
Jack Lebowitz Wins
AtCaliente Golf
Jack Lewoitz, from the Fox studio,
won the Agua Caliente motion picture
golf tournament with a 36-hole score
of 72-77 — 149. Henry Batista, of
Columbia, and Ted Masters, of Para-
mount, tied for second with 1 52, and
Masters won the play-off. Eddie Shu-
bert, Warner actor, got the low net
with 157-24 — 133.
The Fox quartet, composed of Jack
and Al Lebowitz, Sid Martin and Lloyd
Nobles, won the team championship
with a score of 631, leading the War-
ner entries of Cecil Myers, Eddie Shu-
bert. Bill Davidson and Bert Six by
one stroke.
The Divot Diggers also played
around, Herman Politz winning this
event with an 82. Mrs. Kyrle Bellew
won the ladies' prize and the guest
prizes went to Jack McAdams and
R. E. Hicks.
More than 1 00 picture people com-
peted and the thrill of the day was
when Desmond Roberts, English actor,
made the 1 60-yard hole in one.
OPEN FORUM
Hollywood Reporter:
In reference to your story, "Cur-
tains in Sight for Tony Pastor's,"
please be advised as to the true story
of conditions. The writer, represent-
ing the artists, assures you that there
is an absolute harmonious situation.
In spite of the fact that we are
going through the usual period of es-
tablishing a clientele which, as you
know, takes from one to two weeks,
the artists are whole-heartedly help-
ing the situation.
The play and entire performance at
Tony Pastor's, including the variety
show, has been acclaimed by critics as
a success and is playing nightly.
We regret that the animosity of
anyone should jeopardize the liveli-
hood of forty people and we would
appreciate it if you would print these
THEODORE LORCH,
Artist's Representative.
OLE M. NESS, Director.
DISTRIBUTOR
Well known organization will pur-
chase for immediate cash feature
pictures for world wide distribution.
Address I. M., Hollywood Reporter,
229 West 42nd St.. New York
Actor's Mountain Lodge
Near Arrowhead
TO BE SACRIFICED
Unusual mountain home, furniture,
guest house and stables. Adjoins
the estates of others prominent in
motion picture circles. Very priv-
ate. Marvelous view.
Cost Over $60,000
ONLY $16,000 — ALL CASH
Call MR. DUNN for appointment
833 Title ins. BIdg. VA 5101
May 15, 1934
THE
Page Three
CREEL DVE TODAY TO SETTLE
LABOR COMPLAINT DISPUTES
Lindsey Decisions
All Ready For Him
NotthaliL
With the arrival here today of
George Creel, director of the National
Emergency Council and chief of NRA
activities for the State of California,
the final decision is expected to be
reached on whether or not complaints
of alleged studio film code violations,
filed with Judge Ben Lindsey, are to
be turned over to the Studio Labor
Committee, or whether Judge Lindsey
will render decisions on the cases and
forward them to Washington.
The appointment some time ago of
Judge Lindsey as Special Labor Com-
pliance Officer for Southern California
let loose a bombshell in the film pro-
duction circles. Judge Lindsey an-
nounced that he would hear the com-
plaints that studio labor had filed with
the NRA Studio Labor Committee,
which board had not functioned at
that time.
The studios refused to recognize
the authority of Judge Lindsey, so he
heard the complainants' testimony in
more than a score of cases. More
than 100 additional complaints were
on his docket. Sol Rosenblatt then
discharged the Studio Labor Commit-
tee and appointed another, which, to
date, consists only of Pat Casey and
Ed Smith, and ordered Judge Lindsey
to turn all complaints over to them.
The Judge refused, and was backed by
Creel, who had appointed him to his
position.
It was learned last night that Judge
Lindsey has his decisions on the cases
ready and will take up future action
on them and the unheard complaints
with Creel. The various labor unions
have told Judge Lindsey they will not
.have their complaints turned over to
the Studio Labor Committee because
of the presence of Casey upon the
committee. Scores of telegrams and
letters from studio workers have been
sent to Rosenblatt and the Code Au-
thority, asking that Judge Lindsey be
retained to hear these cases, and stat-
ing they will not file complaints with
the Casey committee.
As Creel has backed Judge Lindsey
and the workers in their stand, specu-
lation last night was rife as to whether
or not he will order Judge Lindsey to
render his decisions and let the mat-
ter be finally fought out in Washing-
ton.
Warners Sign Lead of
The Shim Sham Revue*
Warners yesterday signed Wirii
Shaw, now in the"Shim Sham Revue,"
for the lead opposite Phil Regan and
El Brendel in the Technicolor short,
"What, No Men?" Studio has an op-
tion on her for the lead in "Sweet
Adeline," depending upon her work in
the short.
Jean Parker to Star
Jean Parker goes to a starring spot
\ in her next assignment for MOM. It
/will be the David Butler story, "Have
q_tleart,*' which the studio closed for
yesterday through Bren-Orsatti and
Marx. John Considine produces.
Lederer Receives
Bid To Co Stupid
Charlie MacArthur and Ben
Hecht have wired Charlie Lederer
an offer to become General Super-
visor in charge of production for
the Hecht-MacArthur productions
at a salary of $25 a week. Charlie
has not replied to the wired offer,
but is flying East tomorrow to in-
vestigate it.
Para.-Wesco Settle
$2,000,000 Claim
New York. — ^The $2,000,000 claim
of Paramount-Publlx against Wesco is
said to have been settled, with Wesco
getting renewals of leases on theatres
in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle,
and Paramount getting ten-year fran-
chises for product.
Although all details of the agree-
ment have been settled, the actual
fixing up of the deal will have to be
approved by the Federal courts.
Penner, Comedy Lead
In 'College Rhythm'
joe Penner has been assigned the
comedy lead of "College Rhythm" by
Paramount, instead of the part in "Big
Broadcast of 1934" for which he was
originally signed.
"College Rhythm" is a George
Marion Jr. original, the screen play
now being prepared by Walter De
Leon and Jack McDermott. While set
for July production, no director has
been assigned. Co-featured with
Penner will be Lanny Ross, Joe Mor-
rison, Lyda Roberti, Ida Lupino.
Tracy Starts Thursday
Lee Tracy returns from Lake Ar-
rowhead Thursday to start his first
Paramount picture, "52 Weeks for
Fleurette," which Alfred Werker di-
rects. He went there Sunday to re-
cover from a bad cold.
Klein on Writing Job
Julius Klein's first trick as Carl
Laemmie Sr.'s assistant will be to
write a treatment of his story sugges-
tion, "My Mother." His job is to
conceive and develop ideas, with Joe
Weil continuing on as business assist-
ant.
Berlin Film Firms Dying
(Continued from Page 1 )
brilliant minds and ability were re-
sponsible for the development of the
film industry, the business here start-
ed on the decline. It is a well known
fact that in other countries German
films are now falling off. It has hit
the pocketbooks and the firms are
staggering.
However, the standardized press
continues to praise the good that the
new regime has brought to the film
business, even though on another
page they tell of another film company
failure.
Complaints Pile
Up Against FWC
Two more complaints against Fox
West Coast Theatres were tiled over
the week-end with the Los Angeles
Grievance Board. One was filed by the
Cosmo Theatre in Glendale, the other
by the Egyptian Theatre of Mayv/ood.
The Egyptian complaint was that
the Alcazar theatre in Bell cut its 25
cent admission price to fifteen cents
and then flooded Maywood with
handbills, thus allegedly drawing trade
from the Maywood house. Further it
is alleged that in one instance, the
Alcazar ran the same picture as the
Egyptian at the same time and cut the
price.
The other complaint was against
United West Coast Theatres
Corporation, United Artists Theatre
Circuit, Inc., and Fox West Coast,
and charges that the respondents have
bought up all major product for four
runs, and that it is impossible for the
Cosmo to secure pictures until they
have had 63 days clearance in Glen-
dale. It is also charged that the re-
spondents have only six houses there
and cannot use all the product they
have bought. Price-cutting is also al-
leged.
Both cases have been set for a hear-
ing Thursday.
Lesser Moves to Pathe;
Oliver Art Director
Sol Lesser today moves his entire
production staff from the Mack Sen-
nett studio to RKO-Pathe, where he
will make his series of pictures.
One of the first pictures on his
schedule is "Peck's Bad Boy," for
which he has hired Harry Oliver to as-
sign the sets.
Felix on 'Ziegfeld'
Seymour Felix will stage the dances
in "The Great Ziegfeld" for Universal
on a ticket set yesterday by the Bren-
Orsatti and Marx office. William An-
thony McGuire is handling the pro-
duction.
Wallis Delays Sailing
New York. — Hal Wallis did not
sail on the Conte de Savoia Saturday
as he intended, but may tail today.
Writers To Be Guarded
(Continued from Page 1 )
right law. It has meant that American
writers were forced to get •separate
copyrights to protect their works in
foreign countries, just as foreign
authors had to get them here.
If the proposed bill passes, it will
mean that the mere act of writing a
story, novel, play or scenario automat-
ically copyrights it in every country
affected and that all the red tape
which has tied up the copyright prob-
lems of American authors will be cut
and thrown away.
Furthermore, it will lessen the
number of plagiarism suits that have
been brought for years and will give
the American author a sense of pro-
tection he never has had.
UATTER^
^^^^^2^
Mi
Whew, we've never heard so many
protests as were called forth by the
article mentioning the fact that Holly-
wood should ought by rights to be the
theatrical center of the country. The
greatest argument against the claim
being that Hollywood is not a theatre
town. Evidently we didn't make (he
main point quite clear.
If Hollywood is not a theatre town,
it's because it's never had anything
much in the way of theatre. It's quite
true that Broadway productions have
been brought out here, but, by the
time they get on the stage in Holly-
wood, they're hard to recognize as
Broadway productions. And the rea-
son for that is because no one has seen
the sense in putting up enough money
to make a production pay.
•
Occasionally, a show has come to
town here that has been well produc-
ed and carefully done and its reward
has been a good, healthy run. The
same thing goes for the stage as for
pictures; if it's entertainment, well
done, there will always be an audience
for it. But when shows are brought
in and expected to run merely on the
strength of the reputation they made
for themselves on Broadway, with
cheap productions, slipshod direction
and complete distortion of the
author's original idea, there's no rea-
son why any town should become
theatre-conscious, particularly Holly-
wood, which is overrun with cheap
movie houses showing A. 1 productions
on the screen for a quarter or less.
However, we still insist that it's a
damned shame that Hollywood hasn't
got good theatre. That Hollywood
doesn't encourage good theatre by
backing it instead of sending the
money east for production and letting
the home office fight it out with the
coast boys, when the coast boys
should have had first crack at it.
'•
Dick Rowland could have had a lot
of fun at the Academy Awards Dinner
if he'd wanted to illustrate "the irony
of it all." Rowland was in town at the
time and still carrying the letters he
got from the coast and from Harley
Clarke on his "ridiculous, absurd, and
crazy" purchase of "Cavalcade." He
was told at the time that the thing
was sooo British that even the English
wouldn't like it. So the picture just
scooped up a mess of prizes and, so
far, has grossed over four million dol-
lars, with everybody taking the big
bows for its success, except Dick Row-
land.
Thanks to Dr. Nolan for thanking
us for mentioning his "frosted breath"
invention because it seems it made the
producers breath-conscious and by the
end of the week, you'll all know the
name of the major company that is
buying it.
MGM After Dunn
MGM has registered a bid with Fox
for the loan of Jimmy Dunn for the
spot opposite Jean Parker in "Have A
Heart."
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Page Six
THE
May 15, 1934
Berton Churchill to "Rear Car" at
MCM.
Larry Cray to "Here Comes the
Groom," Charles Rogers production at
Paramount, by Harry Wurtzel.
Cilda Ford to "Two Heads on a Pil-
low," Liberty, by Harry Wurtzel.
Russ Clarke to "She Learned About
Sailors," Fox, by Bill Charney of Harry
Wurtzel's office.
John Sheehan to "Caravan," Fox,
by MacQuarrie Bros. Also for its
French version.
Armand Kaliz to "Merry Widow,"
MCM, by MacQuarrie Bros.
Mickey Daniels to comedy short at
Radio, by MacQuarrie Bros.
Louise Beavers to "Hat, Coat and
Clove," Radio, by MacQuarrie Bros.
David Jack Holt to "Shock," Mono-
gram.
Marcelle Corday by Menifee I.
Johnstone to "Hat, Coat and Glove,"
Radio.
William Farnum, Lawrence Grant
and Tom Ricketts to "The Count of
Monte Cristo," Reliance.
William Burress by Hallam Cooley
to "jane Eyre," Monogram.
Evelyn Venable by Paramount to
"Mississippi."
William Frawley to "Ladies First"
at Paramount.
Tyler Brooke, Cosm'o Kyrle Bellew,
Ceorge Lewis and Charles Requa to
"The Merry Widow" at MCM.
Mickey Rooney to Columbia for
"Blind Date." Set by Walter Kane, of
the Weber office.
New Agency Formed
Percival Montague, former stage
director, and Victor Houser, former
head of the Barnes-Crosby Advertis-
ing Corp. of St. Louis, have formed
the Houser-Montague Agency, with
offices in the Beverly Professional
Building.
Carroll Hops Off
On Air Preview Trip
Earl Carroll's personally conducted
1 1 -spot transcontinental preview of
"Murder at the Vanities" got under
way yesterday with Carroll and his
studio escort showing the picture to
critics and exhibs at San Francisco,
Salt Lake City and Denver.
Today Carroll flies his preview suc-
cessively to Kansas City, St. Louis and
Chicago. Tomorrow he shows his
Paramount production to Detroit,
Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and New York.
Thursday the party hops to Boston for
the final.
Oxnard Theatre Case
Up to Code Authority
New York. — The Code Authority on
Friday will hear the complaint made
by John T. Rennie against Felstein and
Dietrich, involving the lease of the
Oxnard Theatre, at Oxnard, California.
Rennie declares the firm unfairly
competed for the lease of the house
while he was negotiating.
The appeal of Fox West Coast and
Principal Theatres from the decision
favoring the Garfield Theatre in Al-
hambra has been set for May 26.
I
Lamb Not in Club For
19 Years, But Pays Dues
Bill Conklin, in charge of actor-
producer relations at the Academy,
claims the distinction of being the
oldest "absentee" member of the
Lambs Club. It is nineteen years
since he has entered the portals of
the club, but he keeps up his dues.
Bergner Pic Great
Hit in Budapest;
Budapest. — The Elizabeth Bergner
pidture, "Catherine the Great,"
opened here to one of the biggest hits
of the season. The house has been a
sell-out ever since the opening.
"Island of Lost Souls," with Charles
Laughton, was held over at the Palace,
and "Dancing Lady," with Joan Craw-
ford, is doing tremendous business in
its second week at the Radius. "Invis-
ible Man" and "Queen Christina" also
going big, but the Al Jolson picture
flopped.
Jolson to Arrowhead
Earl Baldwin and Al Jolson have
gone to Lake Arrowhead to work on
the Warner story for Jolson.
(
I
May 15. 1934
TH
Page Seven
IRV COBB, COMEDY ACTOB,
IS STILL A PHILOSOPHEB
Italy Financing
Its Own Hollywood
After the ordeal of his screen and
voice tests for the series of Roach
comedies in which he plays a retired
sea captain, Irvin Cobb yesterday re-
laxed with a few remarks about pic-
tures, Pepys, and advertising
"What impresses me as a picture-
goer is not that there are so many bad
pictures, but that fhere are so many
good ones," he said.
He declared that the smell of film
stock and lab dip could not replace in
his affections the smell of printers'
ink and damp paper.
He remarked that the finest news-
paper writing was usually done under
pressure, and suggested that an inter-
esting anthology would be "The 25
Best News Stories of All Time."
But from the standpoint of news
or historical interest, "the modern
syndicate columnist talks too much
about himself and with insufficient
frankness to have the fascination in
future years that we feel about Pepys,
because he wrote about the extra row
■of buttons on his coat and the mis-
doings of his maids."
Cobb looks upon conventional his-
tory as mere gilding. "Show me what
people want to buy, or sell, or give
away at any period, and I will write
their real history," he said. "Adver-
tisements are the picture of a people."
Then he went out on the lot, back
to work.
'Jane Eyre' Starting
At Monogram Today
Signing a number of players yester-
day, Monogram today puts "Jane
Eyre" on the stages for two days of
rehearsals before actual shooting starts
Thursday.
Christy Cabanne directs, with Vir-
ginia Bruce and Colin Clive in the top
brackets. Those spotted yesterday are
Jamison Thomas, Aileen Pringle, Doris
Lloyd, Lionel Belmore, Ethel Griffies,
David Torrance, Joan Standing, Olaf
Hytten, William Burress and Desmond
Roberts. Ben Verschleiser supervises.
Albright and Walthall
For 'Scarlet Letter'
Larry Darmour yesterday signed
Hardie Albright for the lead opposite
Colleen Moore in his first Majestic
picture, "The Scarlet Letter," which
Robert Vignola directs when it starts
May 23.
Henry B. Walthall has been signed
for the same role he played in the
MGM silent version.
Wera Engels Set
First assignment for Wera Engels,
European actress signed by Reliance,
will be "Transatlantic Showboat."
This picture and "Catalina" are both
in writing, with a toss up for which
will follow "Count of Monte Cristo"
into production. Dick Whiting is at
the studio writing musical numbers.
Lead For Cromwell
Richard Cromwell was chosen by
Columbia yesterday to head the cast
of "Criminal Within." Production will
be fully cast by Thursday, the starting
date. The screen play is by Herbert
Asbury and Fred Niblo Jr.
Rome. — Financed principally by
government funds, the Forzano Com-
pany has laid plans for the creation
at Terrenii, between Pisa and Livorno,
of an "Italian Hollywood."
The enterprise will be the biggest
film venture in the history of the
country. A tract of 200,000 square
meters will be used. New studios
will be erected, streets laid out, and
laboratories and administration build-
ings be constructed that will make
this one of the most complete and
modern plants on the Continent.
Swanson Files Suit
To Divorce Farmer
Gloria Swanson yesterday filed suit
for divorce from her fourth husband,
Michael Farmer. She charged him
with mental cruelty, alleging that he
nagged her, made her extremely up-
set, and often quarreled with .her
throughout the night. She said he
also found fault with her and her
friends.
There is no community property in-
volved, and Miss Swanson is not ask-
ing for alimony.
Ed Griffith Working
With Emerson and Loos
Edward H. Griffith, who has been
assigned by MGM to direct "Biogra-
phy," is working on the treatment and
screen play with John Emerson and
Anito Loos, who have just been set
on the job.
Victor Moore Signed
For Universal Picture
Stanley Bergerman yesterday signed
Victor Moore, of the cast of "Let 'Em
Eat Cake," for a spot in "Romance in
the Rain," the new title for "A Sin
for Cinderella," which Stuart Walker
will direct.
Actors' Frolic Friday
The Screen Actors' Guild hopes to
gross $50,000 at its "Film Stars
Frolic," to be held next Friday, Sat-
urday and Sunday at the Gilmore Sta-
dium.
Warners Hold Westcott
Warners yesterday picked up Gor-
don Westcott's option, the player con-
tinuing with the studio for another
period.
Liberty Starts One
"Two Heads on a Pillow" went in-
to production on the Pathe lot yester-
day. William Nigh is directing for
Liberty.
Exhibs Advised How
To Enter Complaints
Any exhibitor or group of exhib-
itors within the Los Angeles dis-
trict who wish to make any com-
ment or suggestions relative to the
Clearance and Zoning now being
set up by the Los Angeles Clear-
ance and Zoning Board, may do so
if they will write to the Board,
634 South Western Ave.
IHCERITY
^a^Cnvoo^
"No man was ever big enough to
build an enduring success on the
basis of insincerity."
— BRUCE BARTON
• SATIN SMOOTH is produced by an or-
ganization proud of its name .... it was
created to meet the demands of a new era
of progress in the film industry.
• CREATED with sincerity and backed by
integrity. Satin Smooth is a smoother, faster
make-up that keeps pace with the needs of
today .... a make-up that writes a new
chapter in a history of achievement.
MAX FACTOR'S
MAKE-UP STUDIO
HOLLYWOOD
* CALIFORNIA *
MIDIVIGHT ALIBI' EXCELLENT;
'SMARTY' CORKING COMEDY
Director, Cast and
Writers Win Honors
Barthelmess Has
Best Pic in Months
'MrONICHT ALIBI'
(Warners)
Direction Alan Crosland
Author Damon Runyon
Screen Play Warren Duff
Photography William Rees
Cast: Richard Barthelmess, Ann Dvo-
rak, Helen Chandler, Helen Lowell,
Henry O'Neill, Robert Barrat, Rob-
ert McWade, Purnell Pratt, Henry
Tyler, Paul Hurst, Arthur Ayles-
worth, Vincent Sherman.
Here is a gangster film, "Midnight
Alibi," that has a brand new angle
and a swell role, besides, for Richard
Barthelmess.
Excellently written and directed,
the entire cast has a good chance to
speak credible meaty lines and to give
performances that ring true in every
instance. Entertainment in this film
rates high, and there is just enough
sentiment and drama, neatly balanced,
to please any audience.
Barthelmess is a minor gangster
who falls in love with the sister (Ann
Dvorak) of Robert Barrat, the biggest
and meanest racketeer in New York
City. Barthelmess escapes from his
machine-gun wrath one night by scal-
ing the wall that surrounds the man-
sion of the ancient Abigail Ardsley,
an old lady who lives all alone in mil-
lion dollar loneliness.
While Barthelmess waits until it is
safe for him to venture forth again,
the old lady tells him the story of
her thwarted love (with Barthelmess
in a flash-back taking the part of the
lover of the olden days) and begs him
not to let anything stand in the way
of his love. Encouraged by her, he
goes to see Barrat and endeavors to
explain his good intentions to the
gangster. Barrat pulls a gun on him,
but, before he can shoot him, Barrat
is killed by a Barthelmess henchman.
Then the trial — and the first ap-
pearance of the little old lady in fifty
years, and her surprise testimony that
smooths the way for the young lovers.
Sentiment — yes. But so expertly
written, played and directed that it
never goes out of bounds.
Helen Lowell, as "the old doll," is
excellent and sympathetic. Miracu-
lously she recreates the atmosphere
of the old days in New York and the
tender, deathless love she felt for her
old sweetheart. Her superb, hilarious
appearance in court is something to be
remembered.
Barthelmess is better than he has
been in some time, and Ann Dvorak
is well cast as the girl. Helen Chand-
ler is charming and utterly convincing
as the "old doll" when she was young
and in love. Henry O'Neill is the
mean old father. Barrat is perfect as
Angie, the gangster. Robert Mc-
Wade makes the most of a good part;
Purnell Pratt is a baffled lawyer, and
Harry Tyler, Paul Hurst, Arthur Ayles-
worth and Vincent Sherman have
lesser, but important roles.
Alan Crosland directed sensitively;
Warren Duff made a bang-up adapta-
tion of the Damon Runyon story, and
William Rees photographed.
PRODUCED
BY
ROBERT
«
PRESNEU
FOR
WARNER BROS.-FIRST NATIONAL
Now Under Contract to M.C.M.
^
^
Two More Reasons Why
ROBERT PRESNELL
is an M. C. Levee Client
"SMARTY"
(Warners)
Direction Robert Florey
Author F. Hugh Herbert
Screen Play: F. Hugh Herbert and Carl
Erickson.
Photography George Barnes
Cast: Joan Blondell, Warren William,
Edward Everett Horton, Frank Mc-
Hugh, Claire Dodd, Joan Wheeler,
Virginia Sale, Leonard Carey.
One of the most intriguing of the
Warner output of the past few months
is "Smarty."
It is a light, happy, irresponsible
little comedy, that twinkles and grins
and bccasionally even gets a little
slapstick. It's lots of fun and is as
inconsequential as the foam on a beer
glass.
Not inconsequential, however, is
the keen, clever direction; the whole-
hearted, humorous acting, and the
perfectly swell dialogue. There's not
a line in the thing that doesn't get a
laugh, and they are lines that are very
human and credible.
Joan Blondell is cast as a s'lly,
flighty, exasperating, maddening wo-
man who drives her husband, Warren
William, to distraction, and finally
into giving her a good, hearty sock
on the law. Instantly, with one eye
on her lawyer, Edward Everett Hor-
ton, and the other on the possibility
of William's retrieving jealousy, she
gets a divorce . . . and marries Horton.
Horton finds, in due time, that liv-
ing with her is a perfectly good excuse
for extreme cruelty, and one evening,
exasperated beyond endurance, he also
gives her a good sock.
There's not much more to the plot
than that — except that the whole
thing is handled for the maximum of
entertainment. Miss Blondell is ex-
pertly maddening as the flighty wife;
William does good work as her first
husband, and Edward Everett Horton
is extremely amusing as her second.
Claire Dodd is utterly charming as a
friend; Frank McHugh is funny, Joan
Wheeler makes a good deal out of a
small role, and Virginia Sale and Leon-
ard Carey are well cast.
Robert Florey directed lightly and
easily; F. Hugh Herbert and Carl
Erickson made a beautiful adaptation
of the story by Herbert; and George
Barnes photographed with his usual
taste.
Don't worry about this one. It
starts intriguingly and gets better.
7c MP.SAVIJFI, MAP/.,
CULVb:R CITY.'jALIiv
POI^ITER
Vol. XXI, No. 7. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday. May 16, 1934
lyjjay
CRiEl DEMANDS ACTION
Wires Washington For Ruling
On Disposition Of The Labor
Complaints Held By Lindsey
• WHAT influence do the kids have on
the box-offices of the country and
what kind of pictures should be made
to make that influence financially
beneficial? In other words, what do
the kids want?
Of their influence, there can be no
doubt. The fight being made against
dirt in pictures by the Catholic Church
and women's organizations all over the
nation revealed the other day that, of
the 77,000,000 people who go to the
movies every week, about one-third
are minors. Many of those, of course,
go where they please and see what
they please, but even that leaves a
good many millions of youngsters to
w.hom "sophisticated" pictures mean
little. What are the producers doing
to get and hold the trade of those
millions of kids? Apparently, not
much.
Recently State Superintendent of
Instruction Kersey made the statement
that children prefer healthy pictures,
but do not like the "namby-pamby"
type. They want action. Many of
them go for the horror pictures, but
those old enough to attend without
parents are not at all frightened by
the "Frankensteins" and "Draculas."
Such pictures are more or less of a
joke, especially to boys.
Clean comedies. Westerns, adven-
ture pictures of any kind always hit
the boys, and most of them please the
girls too. Surveys have shown that
such stars as Janet Gaynor, Richard
Dix, Charlie Farrell, George O'Brien,
Jackie Cooper and the outdoor players
always appeal. Dirty black-outs such
as are injected into many musicals,
salaciousness of any kind, "other wo-
man" stories, suit only a very small
percentage of the youngsters. Even
if they understand what it is all about
— and plenty of them do — they prefer
stories with action, with a thrill.
It is out of the question, of course,
to pick any particular type of picture
with the idea that it will be for the
kids, but it should be easy to select
stories that will not offend them and
will not make immorality or indecency
glamorous.
And, leaving the moral question en-
tirely to one side, it certainly should
be worth while to make a play for the
(Continued on Page 2)
Pathe Shows Profit
For First Quarter
New York. — The report of
Pathe Exchange Inc. shows a net
profit of $14,148 for the quarter
ended March 31, the increase be-
ing credited by President Stuart
Webb to more business at the
Bound Brook laboratories.
Loew's May Lose
Warners' Product
New York. — The quarrel between
Warner Brothers and the Loew circuit,
which has been simmering for some
time, has broken into the open with
Warners planning to take their prod-
uct away from Loew's next season.
No definite announcement of any
other hook-up has been made, but it
is considered probable that the War-
ner product will go to the RKO first
runs.
The trouble dates back to the time
Warners held "Colddiggers" over at
the Strand Theatre beyond the date
on which they had promised it for re-
lease to the Loew theatres.
Ralph Doyle Due From
Australia Saturday
Ralph Doyle, for years with United
Artists and now managing director of
RKO for Australasia, arrives here Sat-
urday. He will .hold conferences with
J, R. McDonough and Ned Depinet at
the Radio studio regarding the new
program and sales angles.
'U' After Cummings
Uinversal is discussing via cable a
three-picture deal with Constance
Cummings.
George Creel, State Director of the NRA for California, yes-
terday sent a communication to Professor Altmeyer, Chief of
the Compliance Division of the NRA at Washington, demanding
an immediate decision on the jurisdictional battle between
Judge Ben B. Lindsey and the Studio
Labor Committee.
The decision to carry the battle for
a showdown to Washington and over
the head of Sol A. Rosenblatt, admin-
istrator of the Film Code, came at a
conference yesterday between Creel,
Judge Lindsey and Attorney B. P. Cal-
houn, legal counsel for the NRA in
Southern California.
While no statement was forthcom-
ing from Creel, it was learned that he
has not backed down an inch from his
decision to defy Rosenblatt, who or-
dered Judge Lindsey some weeks ago
(Continued on Page 61
Ginger Rogers Gets
5-Year Term at Radio
Radio and Ginger Rogers went in-
to a huddle yesterday, and when they
came out Ginger had been signed to
a new contract, reported to call for a
much larger salary than she has been
receiving.
The contract is for 52 weeks, and
yearly options for the next five years.
Sidney Kent Due Today
New York. — Sidney R. Kent, presi-
dent of Fox, left by plane yesterday in
answer to a hurry call from the coast.
He is due there this morning.
SEIVATE PASSES RIGID
COMMVNICATIOXS BILL
Frenke to Universal
On One-Picture Deal
Washington. — -It took the Senate
just four hours to pass the extremely
rigid Communications bill yesterday,
and Government regulation of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company drew a step hearer.
The measure consolidates the pow-
ers of the Federal Radio Commission
and the jurisdiction of the Interstate
Commerce Commission over them into
one unit, and definitely broadens the
Government's power to regulate the
A.T.&T. monopoly. It provides for the
regulations of all forms of communi-
cation, including sound pictures, and
(Continued on Page 6)
Carl Laemmie Jr. yesterday signed
Dr. Eugene Frenke to a one-picture
deal to direct his own untitled origi-
nal story, with a Russian background.
"The Girl In the Case" was his
first American picture.
'U'Holds Rian James
Uriiversal yesterday exercised its op-
xtfon on the contract of Rian
a producer. The deal was
Schulberg
ames as
set by
Feldman and Gurney office.
Radio Holds Brock;
To Handle Musicals
Lou Brock, abandoning his indepen-
dent production plans, yesterday signed
a new term contract with Radio, ne-
gotiated by John Zanft, The new
agreement takes effect May 21 and
covers a two-year period.
Under it all Radio musicals will be
in Brock's charge and will be desig-
nated as Lou Brock Productions. Ra-
dio also takes over his independent
assets, including Gregory Wortsen's
story, "Johnny Loves Mary," and Jim-
my Base, who has been writing the
score for it.
Brock is cutting and assembling
"Cock-Eyed Cavaliers." On its com-
pletion he leaves for Europe with Mrs.
Brock on a six-weeks voyage of dis-
covery and inspiration. Brock started
with Radio about six years ago making
shorts, and broke into big-time with
"Flying Down to Rio."
'Lafayette' Is Headed
For Sta^e and Screen
New York. — Lafayette is to be the
next historical cHaracfer to be seen on
both stage and screen, Denis King
having announced that he will play
the character next season in a drama
by Austin Strong.
It is understood that several film
companies are already considering the
piece as picture material.
Garmes May Be Director
New York. — Lee Garmes, who is
handling the camera for "Crime With-
out Passion," the first Hecht-MacAr-
thur production for Paramount, is
expected to become a director for the
firm at the finish of this picture.
MGM Signs Christians
MGM yesterday signed Mady Chris-
tians to a three-year contract and will
probably spot her in the lead of "The
Wicked Woman" as her first Ameri-
can picture. Charles Brabin directs.
SAM WOOD NOW DIRECTING ' STAMBOUL QUEST" mcm
Page Two
THF
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Gratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
May 16, 1934
Just got a card from Arthur Kober
— from Spain. He says (among other
things) that "Spain is a wonderful
place. You can walk up to people
Snd say 'Lou Schreiber,' and nobody
knows what you're talking about!
Spanish people are crazy about pic-
tures too and am now on my way to
see 'The Ten Commandments,' one of
the latest releases! Having a won-
derful time — wish you were here — in-
stead of us!" (!)
'•
From what we gather, Jean Muir
is one of the hardest- working of the
younger actresses — in fact, she always
has been. For years s.he has studied
the theatre and its people religiously,
with a terrific determination to pro-
ceed. And she's doing well. But we
also gather that if and when La Muir
gets to the very top, the studio will
have plenty of headaches with the
lass, because already she has exhibited
several signs of terrific temperament.
We hear that, on more than one oc-
casion, Jean, playing only a secondary
part in a picture, has put on "the
works" and stormed around (and off)
the set in a flood of tears. Hmm-mm
and at THIS stage!
•
Another Mrs. Pat Campbell yarn:
Seems that, a certain point in her
career, Mrs. Pat decided to econo-
mize— -in fact, she found it quite nec-
essary. But she didn't know where
to begin. A friend suggested that she
could do with just one servant instead
of the several she had been accus-
tomed to.
"What!" exclaimed Mrs. Campbell,
"just one servant? Do you mean I
am to turn down my own bed when I
come home at night? Migod! Do you
mean I should live in SQUALOR???"
•
The dock workers' strike sort of
interfered with the plans of some of
the picture folk when the Santa Elena
arrived from New York Monday night.
Irving Thalberg went down to meet
his mother and couldn't get near the
landing stage, and T. Netcher was in
the same fix when he tried to find his
brother, Irving, and Mrs. Irving (Rosie
Dolly) . However, the strikers didn't
pull any rough stuff on the visitors,
confining their maiming activities to
their own gang, and everyone got
home safely.
Sun:
in a big city,
their parts
"CHANCE OF HEART "
Fox prod.; director, John G. BIystone; writers, Kathleen Norris, Sonya Levien,
James Gleason and Samuel Hoffensteln.
Music Hall
Mirror: Their vehicle is up-to-date and it provides a delightful hour of enter-
tainment. The picture is splendidly directed and played by an excellent
cast. The New York background has authority and color.
Timies: It is an innocuous little romance which steadfastly refrains from indulg-
ing in any suggestion of subtlety, but nevertheless a tale which probably
will meet with the approval of sweethearts and wives. It can boast of its
excellent photography and expert direction.
Herald-Tribune: It is with regret we report that "Change of Heart" does not
help either Miss Gaynor or Mr. Farrell. In a saccharine romance of
youth's struggle in the big city, Kathleen Norris again embroiders another
of their little doilies.
W'orld-Telegram: All the staple elements of the conventional happy-ending
romance have been crowded into "Change of Heart." Every sure-fire bit
of hokum is brought into the narrative so that, in spite of the film's fine
direction and the neat playing of an expert cast, the whole thing has an
air of staleness.
Post: "Change of Heart" would have been a good title for this currer.t picture
if, in the middle of the production, they had decided not to go through
with it. For it is not in a long while that any film of major pretensions
has proved so witless. It is a weakly plotted story told with a high de-
gree of banality and saturated in saccharine.
A pretty bit of wholesome candy that will raise no temperature, cause no
indignation and probably please millions who crave no stronger fare. It
is utterly inconsequential as drama, a little tedious at times, but cheerful
and wholesome enough in mood.
American: The play is ferociously frail, and the burden rests entirely on the four
youngsters who have the leads and on Director BIystone. The personnel
of the picture is far more interesting than the work itself.
News: The picture is a sweet unsophisticated story of young love
Journal: A romantic little narrative. The four principals play
nicely, and the story unfolds in a leisurely, whimsical manner,
"THIRTY DAY PRINCESS"
Paramount prod.; director, Marion Gering; writers, Clarence Budington Kelland,
Preston Sturges, Frank Partos, Sam Hellman.
Paramount Theatre
World-Telegram: A sufficiently light and attractive little Cinderella romance
that often turns upon itself in a chiding fashion. Witty, gay, unpreten-
tious, it further enjoys the benefit of some deft direction, neat writing
and expert acting.
Mirror: It is a pretty little tale, a pleasant fairy story. The film makes no
severe demands upon the real acting talents of its star, but it is a pleasant
and amusing little light comedy.
Times: It is a film which gives Miss Sidney a busy time, and also one which
has its fund of amusing incidents. This amiable light affair has a gener-
ous share of imaginative turns, and it is further endowed with a .highly
competent supporting cast.
News: The picture is a Cinderella story of the type that is generally used for
musical comedy productions. It needs a musical score. Without music
the farcical situations grow a little strained at timse.
Herald-Tribune: For some reason the piece misses, possibly because it soon
ceases to be surprising, and because its dialogue consists of such rare in-
quiries. The picture seems to waver, in Mr. Gering's mind, between a
straight Graustarkian treatment and a half-hearted attempt at burlesque.
Post: The inexhaustible possibilities of the mythical kingdom theme are well
nigh exhausted once more in "Thirty Day Princess," a picture which
almost succeeds in recovering from a dull and obvious beginning. What
the picture needed more than anything else was a swift pace.
journal: A charming little romance, a gay piece of fluff. It is, as a matter of
fact. Miss Sidney's most diverting picture in some time.
American: Paramount has a winner in Sylvia Sidney, that sly, crinkly-eyed, in-
fectiously appealing and talented young actress, and the Paramount Thea-
tre has a winner in her latest screen vehicle, as amusing a romantic
comer as recent weeks have disclosed, and oh, what a relief from the
current sultry doldrums! The dialogue is bright, the situations fraught
with wit and romance, the cast excellent, the star superb and the direc-
tion just about all that may be desired by an entertainment hungry public.
Christie on World
Tour For Mitchell
Charles H. Christie left for the
north last night to sail May 19 from
Vancouver on the Empress of Asia on
a globe-girdling mission of goodwill
for Mitchell cameras.
Christie, who is sales vice-president
of the Mitchell Camera Corp., carries
with him two cameras and a complete
line of Mitchell equipment. He will
operate the cameras for demonstra-
tions but will work with local Mitchell
representatives in Asia and Europe in
making contacts.
He will establish a Mitchell branch
in England, and possibly may open
branches in the Orient if conditions
warrant. His first stop is Yokohama,
starting his two weeks in Japan. His
itinerary includes India (with 10 days
at Bombay), Russia, Germany, and
England. He returns by way of New
York.
Robbins Sets Record
For Music Shipments
Jack Robbins set a transcontinental
record for music publication, having
200 copies of 'The Loveliness of It
Air delivered by air express in Los
Angeles five days after he was handed
the manuscript of the "Shim Sham
Revue" number.
The music had been sent to New
York, piano arrangement made, plates
engraved, cover designed, the edition
printed and shipped back. Number is
by A. C. Lewis, Jr.
Sid Saunders on Tour
Sid Saunders, inventor of the Saun-
ders cellulose process screen, has left
on a tour of the world, having sailed
on the President Hoover. He has been
in the scenic department at Radio
studios for nine years.
Universal May Delay
Huirs First Picture
New York. — The producers of "To-
bacco Road" are negotiating with
Universal, which has Henry Hull under
contract, to defer the start of his first
picture until the play shall have com-
pleted its run.
Meyer Branch at Pathe
Meyer Synchronizing Service, with
headquarters at eneral Service Studio,
last week opened a branch at the
RKO-Pathe lot in Culver City. Abe
Meyer announces a second branch for
the Mack Sennett lot on Ventura
boulevard, to be established next
week.
Tradeviews
(Contiruied from Page 1 )
friendship and patronage of twenty or
thirty million youngsters, if only for
the effect on the box-office. And
don't forget that those twenty or thir-
ty millions influence the picture-going
of a lot of adults also.
FOR SALE-
At A Great
ISargaio
What is generally regarded as one
of the most charming homes in
Malibo Beach
4 bedrooms, 2 bath rooms upstairs,
pine panelled living room, 2 dress-
ing rooms with showers attached
on lower floor. Furniture and
drapes excellent quality and in
good taste. Built-in electric fans
and heaters in each room. Maid's
room and bath, etc., etc.
Box 555
Hollywood Reporter
May 16, 1934
Page Three
BRITISH 'ORDERS IS ORDERS'
LAUGHS FROM START TO END
Gleason,Creenwood
CreatComedyTeam
mtiam
■ORDERS IS ORDERS'
(BriHsh-Caumont)
Direction Walter Forde
Authors Ian Hay and
Anthony Armstrong
Add. Dialogue James Cleason
Cast: James Cleason, Charlotte Creen-
wood, Cyril Maude, Finlay Currier,
Percy Parsons, Cedric Hardwicke,
Donald Calthrop, Ian Hunter, Jane
Carr, Ray Milland, Eliot Makeham,
Ray Plumb, Clennie Lorimer, Syd-
ney Keither.
The British picture, "Orders Is Or-
ders," is important for three reasons:
first, it's swell entertainment; sec-
ond, it is an eloquent comment on the
oversight of American producers who
never thought to team James Cleason
and Charlotte Greenwood; and, third,
it is a grand exa'mple of good taste in
ribbing.
With a little cutting, and a stronger
ending, the picture will be one, long,
loud laugh. The story is funny; the
dialogue is amusing; the action is hi-
larious, and the direction has it all
under control.
James Cleason plays a haywire,
nervy, loud, crazy American film di-
rector, who, aided by Charlotte
Greenwood, manages to upset the en-
tire British army. Miss Greenwood
gets the colonel of the regiment to
agree to loan his barracks and men
for a big film epic, by beating him at
billiards. The minute the victory is
won, the film company takes posses-
sion. The barracks are turned topsy-
turvy. The mess hall is converted into
everything from the interior of a pal-
ace to a dive in Arabia before Cleason
can make up his mind what kind of
an epic he wants to make. The sol-
diers trot around in every kind of cos-
tume that Cleason can imagine, and
the Colonel is drafted into playing
an important role.
Cleason and Greenwood, both ar-
rayed in loud, checkered suits, make
an unbeatable team. Their timing and
cooperation are flawless. And no one
will resent their travesty on American
film technique. It's too funny. Cyril
Maude, as the stifi Colonel, is, of
course, perfect.
Walter Forde directed the picture,
which is based on a London stage play
by Ian Hay and Anthony Armstrong.
Don't worry about this film. It has
a wide range of appeal.
Dean Jagger Reports
Dean Jagger, Theatre Guild player
whom Paramount signed in New York,
arrived in Hollywood yesterday, re-
ported at the studio and goes into "52
Weeks For Fleurette" as his first as-
signment.
Warner Sales Meetings
New York, — Warners will hold
two regional sales meetings, one at
Montreal on May 28 and one at At-
lantic City, June 4.
Werfels Book For MGM
New York. — MGM has taken up its
option on the Frank Werfels book,
"Forty Days on the Mountain."
Long Lunch Hour Set
For C.B.,C.& C.Council
Crover Jones will be the princi-
pal— and only — speaker at the
luncheon of the Corned Beef, Cab-
bage and Culture Council at the
Writers' Club today, talking on —
and on — "London Goes Holly-
wood." The members of the
Council have arranged to take the
afternoon off.
Cooper-Radio Deal
Is On Or Off Today
Merian Cooper and Radio are re-
ported not yet at an accord, with the
departure of tonight's Owl for San
Francisco thought to be the final
deadline.
B. B. Kahane declared last night
that negotiations with Radio's former
production executive would still be
open today. The grapevine report is
that, if no deal today, Cooper proceeds
to San Francisco and sails to Honolulu
to spend the Summer and Fall with
his wife and children, leaving Cower
Street to glower.
Universal Starting
Jones Serial Tomorrow
"The Red Rider," 1 5-chapter serial
starring Buck Jones, goes into pro-
duction tomorrow at Universal. Grant
Withers, Janet Chandler and Margaret
LaMarr are cast for it. Lewis Fried-
lander directs.
Ella O'Neill prepared the script from
a novel by W. C. Tuttle.
Sarah Mason to 'U'
Universal yesterday borrowed Sarah
Y. Mason from Radio to do a rewrite
of Fannie Hurst's "Imitation of Life,"
necessitated by the spotting of Clau-
dette Colbert in the lead. John Stahl
directs and produces.
Start For 'Showboat'
June 5 is the tentative starting date
for "Transatlantic Showboat," Leon
Cordon's original and screen adapta-
tion for Reliance. Nancy Carroll, Gene
Raymond and Wera Engels are set
for it.
Sutherland Returns
Eddie Sutherland returned from a
three weeks vacation in Panama yes-
terday, feeling completely recovered
and ready to return to work at Fox.
He will handle the Joe Cook picture.
More For 'Operator 1 3'
Richard Boleslavsky today puts
"Operator 13" back on the stages at
MGM to shoot a new ending. Work
will be rushed so that Marion Davies
may leave for Europe early next week.
Writers Out of MGM
Harry Hervey and Leo Birinski have
completed their MGM writing tickets
and are off the studio payroll. For-
mer turned in his work on "Indo
China," Birinski finishing an original.
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — Broadway gets a large
crop of new pictures this week, eight
being scheduled for the eyes of the
critical New Yorkers. The list com-
prises:
"Murder in Trinidad" at the May-
fair yesterday; "He Was Her Man" at
the Strand, and "Beyond Bengal" at
the Gaiety today; "Stingaree" at the
Music Hall, with "Madame Butterfly"
holding over on the stage, tomorrow;
"Little Miss Marker" at the Para-
mount, "Sadie McKee" at the Capi-
tol, and "The Black Cat" at the Roxy,
on Friday; "Murder at the Vanities" at
the Rivoli Saturday.
"Hollywood Party" opens at the
Rialto next week.
'Shock' in Production;
'Eyre' Starts Tomorrow
Monogram put "Shock" into pro-
duction yesterday and started rehear-
sals of "Jane Eyre," with tomorrow
set for the shooting date.
R. N. Bradbury starts picking his
cast today for "Happy Landings," Ray
Walker's seventh starring film for
Monogram.
Arlen in Tracy Spot
Richard Arlen is again slated to
head the cast of "A Son Comes
Home," which was originally placed
on the schedule for him, switched to
Lee Tracy and then back again to
him. Bayard Veiller is producing it
for Paramount.
Sloane and MGM Dicker
Paul Sloane and Lucien Hubbard
had a huddle yesterday, discussing the
possibility of the director handling
"All Good Americans" on a one-pic-
ture ticket for MGM. Wells Root is
writing the screen play.
Lebedeff at Warners
Warners yesterday signed Ivan
Lebedeff through Al Kingston for a
spot in "Kansas City Princess." When
he completes his role, June 1 5, he
leaves for New York to negotiate for
a stage play.
Retakes For 'Virgie'
Al Santell brought "Virgie Winters"
back to the stages at Radio yesterday
for added scenes and retakes. Picture
was completed two weeks ago with
Ann Harding and John Boles in the top
brackets.
Mercer in 'Jane Eyre'
Beryl Mercer went into the cast of
Monogram's "Jane Eyre" yesterday,
replacing Doris Lloyd. Miss Lloyd was
obliged to answer a call for a six
weeks engagement at Fox.
Howard Sails May 26
New York. — Sydney Howard, Brit-
ish comedian, who is being loaned to
United Artists by British and Domin-
ions, sails from England on the
Bremen, May 26.
M
ATTE
bif Helen Qwqna
Our own foreign department writes
in to say that London is now Holly-
wood's gift to the King of ngland.
Seems as how the Dorchester Hotel
has been entirely taken over by
Americans and Jack Kirkland, honey-
mooning there with his bride, says that
Ratoff helps them all out with their
English. Ratoff, by the way, won't
hit these shores again until August,
"Redheads on Parade" having been
shoved off until that time. He fig-
ures to toss off at least fourteen more
reels of English film while the pounds
are still rolling in.
•
Sooo, to get back to the good old
U.S.A. (New York), Clifton Webb is
happily back at work in "As Thous-
ands Cheer" after an absence of two
weeks. He was laid low by a "crease"
in his tummy and a well known wag
says he'll bet it's what every well
dressed man will wear. Dorothy
Stone's husband subbed for Webb
while he was ill. . . . Lillian Kober
and Dashiell Hammett gave out with
a cocktail party over the week-end
that rated the presence of Arthur
Kober (come on home, all is forgot-
ten!), F. P. A., Buck Grouse, Ira
Gershwin and Herman Shumlin. . . .
Jimmy Cannon sent Winchell one of
the best wires of the season when
W. W. opened .his act in Chicago. It
read: "Booking you there at seven
thousand per weet is the biggest Chi-
cago crime since the Loeb-Leopold
murder. The only way they can fill
the theatre is if the posse chases Dil-
linger in. Stick a flag on that balcony
and claim it for America."
•
"The Milky Way" seems to be the
tag end-of-the-season hit for the
Broadway stage and, if you can go by
the bidding, it will be an early season
movie in no time at all. Broadway is
pulling for Paramount to buy it be-
cause Paramount has Jack Haley un-
der contract and everyone wants him
to get the break . . . and we'd like
to see that, too. He's one grand co-
median whose name should have been
plastered on movie marquees long ago
and much oftener. . . . And while
we're on the subject of Paramount,
Bayard Veiller is going around the lot
looking like a green salad and making
the boys dizzy with his bright green
double-breasted coat and spotless
white pants. Swank, we calls it, spot-
less white pants on a week day. . . .
And to get back to New York once
more, the prize marquee signs of the
week were: " 'Hold That Girl,' 'Bot-
toms Up' and 'She Made Her Bed"
with Richard Arlen." Which just
about lays New York low for the week
and we'll be seein' ya in Hollywood
tomorrow. It breaks down a column
something fierce to get mail.
'Fanny' Starts June 1
William Wyler expects to start pro-
duction of "Fanny" about June 1 at
Universal. Adaptation is by Preston
Sturges.
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Page Six
May 16. 1934 m^,,
CREEL DEMABTDS ACTION
ON LABOR'S COMPLAINTS
'U' Sets Spigelgass
As Associate Prod.
(Continued from Page 1 )
to turc all complaints from studio
workers, charging the studios with
code violations, over to the Studio La-
bor Committee, headed by Pat Casey.
It was also learned that he has ex-
pressed himself as fully determined
never to permit these complaints to
go to the Studio Labor Committee un-
til he has been convinced that the
committee was appointed fairly and is
functioning fairly.
Both he and Judge Lindsey have
sent numerous letters and wires to
Washington, trying to get the matter
of the complaints settled, but to date
no satisfactory replies have been re-
ceived. Most of the communications
have found their way into the hands
of Rosenblatt. So, yesterday, wishing
to get the matter settled before he
gives up the reins as State NRA Di-
rector to run for Governor, Creel de-
cided to go to the highest authority
in the NRA enforcement division.
Creel, it was learned, feels that the
men who filed the complaints against
the studios should have protection,
and that their names should not be
disclosed to anyone connected with
the studios. Therefore, according to
those close to him, he feels that their
complaints should not go to the Studio
Labor Committee, inasmuch as the
complainants have all sent him defi-
nite word that they are opposed to
such a move.
At present more than 100 com-
plaints are in the hands of Judge Lind-
sey. He has heard the complainants'
testimony, but the producers have re-
fused to recognize him. Rosenblatt
has declared judge Lindsey has no
jurisdiction. Now it will be up to Pro-
fessor Altmeyer, one of the President's
"Brain Trust" and formerly from the
University of Wisconsin, to decide.
Judge Lindsey has his decisions
ready, but what to do with them is
the problem. As Professor Altmeyer
heads the division of the NRA that is
supposed to enforce the code, Creel
feels that perhaps a final decision can
and will be rendered by him.
In the meantirne, a number of the
men whose complaints are in Judge
Lindsey's hands, have written him
saying they wish to withdraw their
complaints in case the final decision
is that the Studio Labor Committee is
to get them.
Hobart Henley to Wed
Girl From New Orleans
Hobart Henley, who has been qui-
escent the past two years, and Doro-
thy March, New Orleans socialite, plan
to be married Friday, according to
friends. They will sail Saturday for
Honolulu.
Henley on returning from his hon-
eymoon intends to resume his direc-
torial career in pictures.
Robinson to Warners
Casey Robinson has completed his
Charles R. Rogers contract and checks
in at Warners to work on an original,
which will be Harry Joe Brown's first
as an associate producer there. Brown
leaves this week for Honolulu, return-
ing in time to start his contract on
July 1.
Universal yesterday signed Leonard
Spigelgass to a long term contract, re-
placing his present ticket which had
two weeks to go.
Under the new set-up, he remains
as scenario head and becomes an asso-
ciate producer, with "Princess O'Hara"
being the first picture under his wing.
Nat Ferber is scripting the Damon
Runyon yarn.
Bitter Harvest' Will
Be Moved to Hollywood
Because of the great popularity of
the play at the Beverly Hills Commu-
nity Playhouse last week, Melville A.
Brown, former picture director, yester-
day purchased "Bitter Harvest," by
Catherine Turney, with the intention
of opening it at the Hollywood Play-
.house May 28. He will produce it
in New York early next fall in col-
laboration with a well known pro-
ducer. Deal was negotiated by Jerry
Horwin.
Leslie Fenton and Jeanette Nolan,
the leads in the Beverly Hills produc-
tion, have been signed for the Holly-
wood showing.
Brown's Father to Act
Tom Brown's father, Harry Brown,
has become tired of being just the
parent of a motion picture player, so
he has decided to try the picture game
himself. Henry Willson, of the Joy
and Polimer office, set him for his
first part in King Vidor's "Our Daily
Bread."
One For Invincible
Invincible's production, "The House
of Strangers,' is supposed to start Fri-
day or Saturday at Universal under di-
rection of Frank R. Strayer. The story
has an Austrian border military set-
ting. Cast not yet chosen.
Senate Passes Bill
(Continued from Page 1 )
all in which wires are used, radio
broadcasting being put in. Television
will also be supervised under the same
commission.
No specific reference is made to
motion pictures, but it is thought cer-
tain that the transmission of sound
pictures will include supervision of
companies manufacturing equipment,
inasmuch as reference is made to all
forms of licensees, manufacturers of
equipment, subsidiaries, holding com-
panies, interlocking directorates, etc.
It is believed that the House will
pass the measure swiftly and that it
will be signed by the President. The
church and reform groups took a lick-
ing on a proposed amendment which
would require all radio stations to de-
vote one-fourth of their time to non-
profit programs of religious or educa-
tional nature, but an amendment was
put in which gives the new commis-
sion power to revoke any broadcasting
license if it constitutes a monopoly in
any locality.
Claire Du Bray, Clarissa Selwyn and
Edith Kington, all by Sackin, to Mon-
ogram's "Jane Eyre." Desmond Roberts
by Leon Lance of the Max Shagrin
agency to the same picture.
Dorothy Burgess to "Hat, Coat and
Glove," Radio.
Barlowe Borland to "Stamboul
Quest," MCM, by Sackin.
Theodore Newton for Columbia's
"Blind Date."
Lola Lane to "Burn 'Em Up Barns,"
Mascot.
Olaf Hytten, Hugh Huntley, Gilbert
Emery, Isabel Vecki and Akim Tamir-
off to "Whom the Cods Destroy," Co-
lumbia.
Berton Churchill for "Rear Car,"
MGM.
CIno Cordio and George Davis to
"Merry Widow," MGM.
Lilian Harmer for "Princess of
Kansas City," Warners, by Beyer-
MacArthur.
Donald Meek for "One Way Tick-
et," Paramount, by William Morris
office.
Lillian Drew to "Old Fashioned
Way," Paramount.
Charles E. Arnt for "Ladies Should
Listen," Paramount.
Academy's Research
Council Meets Tonight
The Academy's Research Council
will hold its monthly business meeting
tonight. It will also check up on the
work of the various sub-committees
and their progress to date on the nu-
merous technical projects now in the
hands of the Council. Of particular
importance will be the presentation of
a report showing how much the vari-
ous studios have saved as a result of
the recent revision of the standard re-
least print brought about by the
Council.
New Paramount Title
Paramount yesterday decided that
"Now and Forever" will be the final
title on "Honor Bright," the Gary
Cooper-Carole Lombard story, which
Henry Hathaway directs. Sylvia Thal-
berg's screen play was supervised by
Louis Lighten.
Break For Extras
Michael Curtiz poured extras yes-
terday into the four city blocks of
Moscow constructed at Warners for
"British Agent," and the official tally
showed the mob to total 571, all in
Moscovite and Cossack costumes.
John Cueron Resigns
John Geuron, head of the Consoli-
dated Laboratory, has handed in his
resignation after refusing to take a
salary cut.
Beebe on Original
Nat Levine yesterday signed Ford
Beebe to write an original for the fea-
ture Ken Maynard will make for Mas-
cot. Marty Cohen is the supervisor.
Keefe With McCuire
Jim Keefe has been engaged on
William Anthony McGuire's personal
staff at Universal.
3 Houses Accused
Of Price-Cutting
The Los Angeles Grievance Board
yesterday heard the evidence in the
complaint of the Crystal Theatre,
2806 Whittier boulevard, against the
proprietors of the Muse, Rosslyn and
Wonderland theatres, charged with
cutting prices.
Double bills for a nickel were al-
leged, which is below the minimum
price called for in the exhibitor-dis-
tributor contracts. The decision of
the Board will be given tomorrow just
before the start of hearings of two
cases against Fox West Coast.
Singing Not Speaking,
Says Code Authority
One of the few decisions from the
Code Committee for Extras that has
been in favor of the studios was hand-
ed down yesterday when thumbs were
turned down on the complaint of a
group of players who took part in a
group song in a picture at Fox and
then asked that they be paid $25 per
day for speaking lines.
The Grievance Sub-Commitee of
the Extras' Committee referred the
complaint to the Code Authority,
which decided that group singing,
even though the lines of the song do
have to be memorized, is not the
speaking of individual lines. The
singers received $15 per day.
Caruso Jr. in Singing
Debut Over the Air
Enrico Caruso Jr. made .his first
public^appearance as a singer last
night over KFWB when he appeared
for an interview by George Fischer.
"La Buenaventura," Spanish pro-
duction of "The Fortune Teller," in
which Caruso stars, will be given a
standard Hollywood premiere when it
opens at the Filmarte Theatre Friday,
with studio lights and the attendance
of the contract lists in person.
Garrett to Europe
New York. — Oliver H. P. Garrett,
who arrived here from the coast last
week for a vacation, is planning on
hopping off to Europe for a three-
mont.hs ramble before returning to
Hollywood for the writing grind.
Pickford Coming Home
New York. — Mary Pickford, who
has been making personal appearances
and w.ho wound up her tour with a
triumphal reception at Toronto, her
home town, leaves for Hollywood Fri-
day.
Three For Bevan
Billy Bevan has a trio of contracts
lined up for him. From "Caravan,"
at Fox, he goes to "Shock" at Mono-
gram and "One More River" at Uni-
^versal. Tickets were set by Beyer-
MacArthur.
MGM Decorator Back
Edwin Willis, head of the MGM in-
terior decorating department, returned
from New York Monday. He was
there three weeks buying materials
and searching for new ideas to use in
future pictures.
/
May 16, 1934
jBi'^-^fc
P^ilP>©lRTiPi
Page Seven
rXIVERSAL STARTS MAKING
ALL RELEASE PRINTS HERE
Radio Pix Set For
All Scandinavia
Plant Will Handle
All Work Hereafter
Production of Universal's release
prints here instead of in the East
started yesterday at the Royal Labora-
tories at Universal City, when Roy
Hunter ordered the printing of footage
that this week will exceed 2,000,000
feet.
It is the first time since the $500,-
000 laboratory's completion three
years ago that it has been used for
its intended purpose or has been oper-
ated anywhere near capacity.
The first pictures being printed for
release are Frank Borzage's "Little
Man, What Now?", Eddie Laemmle's
"Embarrassing Moments," a Doane
comedy, "Pleasing Grandpa," and a
Lance cartoon, "Annie Moved Away."
With the exception of a few weeks
twelve years ago when new machinery
was being installed at the Fort Lee
Laboratories, release prints have never
been made at the studio lab. Here-
after it will handle ail but news shots
and foreign version titles.
The laboratory was planned for the
handling of Universal's entire develop-
ing and printing requirements, but,
before it was completed, Universal
sold its eastern lab to Consolidated
and guaranteed its print business for
four years as part of the deai.
Result here was the incorporation
of Royal Laboratories to operate the
expensive new Universal City property,
and the engagement of King Charney,
then Agfa representative, as outside
man to bring in independent business
for the plant superintended by Roy
Hunter.
The lab was shut down completely
in February, 1933, by a forced oper-
ating economy, and for a year Uni-
versal's production dailies were han-
dled by Consolidated. Charney re-
mained to the end of the year and
then was released.
Since the laboratory resumed print-
ing dailies on February 25, it has been
averaging about 500,000 feet weekly,
or one-fifth its capacity. Hunter, who
has been in Universal laboratory con-
tinuously since February, 1916, esti-
mates that normal output from now
on will be one to one-and-a-half mil-
lion feet weekly.
Novarro's Next- Set
Ramon Novarro will star in "Her
Excellency's Tobacco Shop" as his first
picture on his return to MGM. The
studio has closed a deal for the pur-
chase of the continental play by Bus
Fekete.
Prinz in Demand
Paramount has assigned Leroy Prinz
to handle the dance numbers in "52
Weeks for Fleurette' 'and "The Big
Broadcast," while Edward Small is ne-
gotiating with him to direct the num-
bers in "Transatlantic Showboat."
Lord-Swerling Leaving
New York. — Pauline Lord leaves
for the coast today to appear in Para-
mount's "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch." Jo Swerling also leaves today
for the Columbia studios.
Rosy To Hold Job
In Spite of Darrow
Washington. — The reports that
Clarence Darrow, chairman of the
now famous Darrow committee,
asked that Sol Rosenblatt be dis-
missed from the motion picture
code are true, but it is not believed
this will be done because of the
strong in that Rosy has with John-
son and the administration.
New York. — Phil Reisman, vice-
president of the RKO Export Corpora-
tion, has closed a deal with Gloria
Films, of Copenhagen, for the distrj-
bution of all the Radio Pictures prod-
uct in Denmark.
This deal completes 100 per cent
distribution for this product in all
Scandinavian countries.
Laurel and Hardy
Get Together Again ^^^ ^^'^ Tourney
Set For Palos Verdes
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy re-
sume work together Monday after
four months off the Roach lot They
start the fourth of their series of six
shorts, interrupted after "Oliver the
Eighth" last January by Laurel's do-
mestic affairs.
Charles Rogers and Frank Terry
were assigned yesterday by Henry
Ginsberg to work with Laurel on the
story.
Berkeley Has Several
Weeks to Co on 'Dames'
The first of Busby Berkeley's dance
numbers or "Dames" has been com-
pleted, and three more dancing se-
quences remain to be staged in special
sets.
Berkeley is directing Dick Powell,
Ruby Keeler and 60 girls in the num-
bers, with an estimate of three to four
weeks yet required at Warners for
completion.
Mitchell and Durant
Get Bid From Cochrane
Mitchell and Durante yesterday had
a wire from the English producer, C.
B. Cochrane, offering to star them in
a revue he plans to open at the Pal-
ace, New York, next August.
The slapabout team, currently in
"She Learned About Sailors" at Fox,
is indicating willingness if picture ob-
ligations permit.
Delmar Yarn For MCM
Schulberg, Feldman and Curney
■yesterday sold Vina Delmar's new
story, "Man Crazy," to MGM as a
possible Joan Crawford vehicle. The
story comes out in Liberty magazine
soon.
Kid Actress For 'Eyre'
Eight-year-old Edith Fellows has
been signed by Monogram for "Jane
Eyre," while Paramount is setting her
in "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch." Beyer-MacArthur represents
her.
Stage Actress Coming
New York. — Charlotte Granville,
for years a noted stage actress, left for
the coast today to appear in "You
Belong to Me" for Paramount.
Bulgakov to Columbia
New York. — Leo Bulgakov, stage
director, leaves for the coast tomor-
row to direct pictures for Columbia.
MCM's sixth annual golf meet will
be held at the Palos Verdes Club,
June 17, with more than 400 entries
already registered.
Committee includes E. D. Smith, D.
J. Gray, Fred Gabourie, Lou Kolb,
F. M. Harris, George Schneider, D. W.
Robinson, Bill Newberry and W. P.
Henly.
Butterworth O.K. Again
Charles Butterworth has recovered
from the illness which kept him out
of the lead of "The Rear Car" and is
returning to MGM for his co-starring
role with Jimmy Durante in "Student
Tour." Chuck Reisner directs when
the picture starts in two weeks.
Decision Due Today
In Berkeley Case
Sam Goldwyn and Warners yester-
day engaged in demonstrating the
extent to which each had publicized
Busby Berkeley, Goldwyn and Lynn
Farnol going on the stand before
Superior Court Judge Frank Smith to
refute allegations made by J. R. Files,
defense attorney, that the contract
which Goldwyn made with Warners
for the periodical loan of the dance
director had been voided.
A judgment, either granting or de-
nying Goldwyn his petition for an
injunction against Warners continuing
to use Berkeley, is due to be handed
down today by Judge Smith.
Dorothy Arzner Set For
Fox 'Captive Bride'
Dorothy Arzner is slated to direct
the next Jesse Lasky production at
Fox. Formerly called "Proud Princess"
the new title is "Captive Bride" and
will have Charles Boyer heading the
cast list. Schulberg-Feldman-Gurney
set the deal.
With this assignment, Sonya Levien
joins the Lasky unit as a regular mem-
ber of the Lasky staff. She collabor-
ates on the script with Salisbury Field
and Sam Hoffenstein.
McCuire With S-F-C
William Anthony McGuire yester-
day signed a five-year managerial con-
tract with Schulberg, Feldman and
Gurney office.
NOTICE
COLOR PATENTS
The trade is hereby given notice that Cinecolor owns
outright or owns the exclusive license to the following
patents:
No. 1,744,459, Issued Jan. 21, 1930
No. 1,595,295, Issued Aug. 10,1926
No. 1,562,319, Issued Nov. 17, 1925
No. 1,784,515, Issued Dec. 9, 1930
No. 1,633,652, Issued )une 28, 1927
No. 1,686,907, Issued Oct. 9, 1927
No. 1,696,739, Issued Dec. 25, 1928
No. 1,734,476, Issued Nov. 5, 1929
No. 1,897,368. Issued Feb. 14,1933
No. 1,897,369, Issued Feb. 14,1933
No. 1,893,698, Issued Jan. 10, 1933
No. 1,927,887, Issued Sept. 26, 1933
No. 1,922,725, Issued Aug. 15, 1933
No. 1,928,235, Issued Sept. 26, 1933
No. 1,927,886, Issued Sept. 26, 1933
Many of the above issuad in foreign countries.
Cinecolor has always respected the patent rights of
others. All infringements of the above as soon as dis-
covered will be vigorously prosecuted.
CINECOLOR
Incorporated
201-217 N. Occidental Blvd.
Los Angeles, California
FItzroy 2556
ll
Fourth Annual Directors' Number
Who Are The
ACE DIRECTORS
And How Did
They Get That Way?
Do Directors Have
Box-Office Draw?
And What Are Their
Production Values?
OUT SOON
% MR.SA^'UEL MAR A,
CULVFR CITY, C a:, IK.
Vol. XXI. No. 8. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday. May 17. 1934
TEST CODE AUTHORITY
Indies Of Iowa And Nebraska
Retract Assents In Spite
Of The Threat Of Product Loss
New York. — What may prove to be the first test of the
power of the Motion Picture Code Authority started yesterday
when a group of independent exhibitors in the Iowa and
Nebraska territory retracted their code assents and their finant
cial obligations. This was done as a
•"PRODUCERS who make indecent
pictures, who inject dirt into pictures
without excuse, should be driven out
of the business."
That was the opinion expressed by
Adolph Zukor, president of Para-
mount-Publix, who, with the reor-
ganization of the company on in New
York, has come to Hollywood to sit
in with Emanuel Cohen on the pro-
duction of the coming program.
"But," he went on, "it is a terrible
thing that the whole industry should
be condemned by the church people
and the reformers just because a few
producers have lost, if they ever had,
any vestige of good taste. If these
reformers want to 'clean up' pictures,
let them name the pictures to which
they object. Let them post the title
of the picture, the names of the pro-
ducers, the writer, the director, the
players. Place the blame, the respon-
sibility where it belongs and do not
malign an entire industry for the
i faults of a few."
Mr. Zukor obviously feels keenly
the criticisms that have been leveled
at pictures by the Catholic Church
and various women's organizations.
"Paramount does not and will not
make dirty pictures," he continued.
"I have been in this business 25
years. I have made a thousand pic-
tures and I am not ashamed of any
of them. I can make 'Mrs. Wiggs
of the Cabbage Patch' or 'One Sunday
Afternoon' and make it just as at-
tractive to the public as any picture
with smut in it. If Paramount wants
to make 'Anna Karenina,' it will be
made according to the story, but it
will not be offensive. It doesn't have
to be.
"Of course, pictures must reflect
life, and life is not always as beautiful
and moral as the reformers would like
to have it. But neither does it have to
be offensive to clean-minded people.
"The church and the reformers
yell, 'Pictures are a menace.' All
right, I admit that some of them are.
But if the people who make these
'menaces' are pilloried, if the blame
is pinned right where it belongs, if
the title, the producer, the director,
the writer and everyone concerned is
shoved into the spotlight, they will
think seriously before they repeat the
offence."
Warners Have Sixty
Set; 30 More Planned
Warner Brothers declared yes-
terday that the company has sixty
stories actually set for the new
program and that thirty more will
be set for production before the
new line-up is made public.
Owners Say Cowan
Won't Produce 'Sun'
The statement, emanating from
Lester Cowan's publicity agent, that
he would produce "The Sun Also
Rises," was denied last night by E. H.
Griffith, one of the syndicate reported
to have bought the story from Radio,
and by Harry Edington, who is hand-
ling the deal.
The syndicate was said to consist
of Griffith, Ann Harding, who was to
(Continued on Page 4)
Von Stroheim Lead
In Invincible Picture
Erich von Stroheim was set yester-
day by Lichtig and Englander for the
lead in the Invincible picture, "House
of Strangers," which Maury Cohen
starts tomorrow. He is also trying to
borrow Wera Engels from Reliance.
Bill Coetz Returns
William Goetz, vice-president of
20th Century, returned to Hollywood
by plane last night. He accompanied
Darryl Zanuck east.
protest against the appointment of
four MPTOA members to the local
boards in Omaha. Added protest was
made by C. E. Williams, president of
the MPTO of Iowa and Nebraska, who
resigned from the local zoning and
grievance boards.
When the Code Authority sent out
notices of assessments to exhibitors,
it notified them that non-payment of
the assessments would result in their
not getting product for their houses.
The Iowa and Nebraska rebels are
now waiting to see just what the
Code Authority can do about it, if
anything.
Dana Burnet At Para.
Dana Burnet, nationally known
author, arrived yesterday to start his
term writing deal at Paramount.
Writer has not been given an assign-
ment as yet.
Morris Small HI
Morris Small dropped cut of his
spot at the Small-Landau office yes-
terday with an attack of laryngitis.
FOX MET. PLAYHOUSES
PLAX REORGAIVIZATIOI\
New York. — The bondholders of
the Fox Metropolitan Playhouses, rep-
resenting $14,000,000 in outstand-
ing bonds, filed their reorganization
plan with the Federal Court yesterday.
The plan provides for the payment
to bondholders of $5 cash for each
bond held, a new $50 bond bearing
five per cent interest, and $45 worth
of common stock. This would total
100 per cent settlement of each bond.
The idea is to issue $7,000,000 in
new bonds for the $14,000,000 out-
standing, and the report states that
there is sufficient cash on hand and
current income to pay the interest on
the new issue. The main trouble with
the plan seems to be that the com-
mon stockholders are left out in the
cold and probably will take action to
block the deal.
Para. Buys Dialogue
Rights To Juggles'
New York. — Paramount .has closed
for the dialogue rights to "Ruggles of
Red Gap," which it made as a silent
about ten years ago, with Edward
Everett Horton.
The talkie version probably will
have Charlie Ruggles in the title role
and will be called "A Gentleman's
Gentleman."
*U' Wants Carrillo
Universal yesterday asked MGM for
the loan of Leo Carrillo for a top spot
in "Ransom — One Million Dollars,"
which Eph Asher produces and Mur-
ray Roth directs.
Rogers Gives Notice
To Half His Staff
Having wound up his Paramount
contract with the two pictures com-
pleted last week, Charles R. Rogers
yesterday gave two week dismissal
notices to half of his production or-
ganization and prepared to close up
shop temporarily. He leaves for a va-
cation in Europe the middle of June,
as soon as his son finishes school, and
returns August 1 .
In the meantime, the half of the
organization remaining will go ahead
with preparations for the next series
of features Rogers will make at an as
yet unrevealed major studio.
Para, and U.A. Houses
Install Golden Rule
Seeking to better downtown theatre
business for each other, Marco's Para-
mount theatre and Grauman's United
Artists put into effect today a pact to
run trailers boosting pictures running
in each other's houses.
This is said to be the first time
that opposition .houses have plugged
each other's screen offerings.
Yates to Direct Cobb
Henry Ginsberg yesterday signed
Hal Yates, formerly a writer on the
lot and more recently in the same
capacity at Paramount, to direct Irvin
Cobb's first comedy for Hal Roach,
"Fisherman's Luck," which starts a
week from today. Frank Darien also
spotted in the short.
Larry Weingarten Back
Laurence Weingarten, MGM pro-
ducer, returned yesterday by train
from New York. He was away about
a month.
Mike Shea Passes On
New York. — Mike Shea, of Buf-
falo, one of the oldest and best known
showmen in the United States, died
yesterday, after a long illness.
*fSAM MINTZ Now Scripting Anne Of Green Gables'' RKo]
Page Two
May 17, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIlywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave. ; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse ; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 196 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
J879.
Gregory Ratoff, getting Britisher
every day, is appearing at the Palla-
dium between pictures in London. . .
Ruth Channing and Bill Henry are
aflame. . . . And so are Henry Wads-
worth and Patricia Ellis. . . . And it
looks like fire between Vivian Caye
and Phillip MacDonald if tete-a-tete
luncheons are any encouragement to
that sort of thing. . . . Henry O'Neill,
famous character actor, back on the
Warner lot from N'Yawk. . . . Kay
Francis will be Europe-bound for a
long vacation the minute .her current
flicker is finished. . . . They call J. R.
McDonough the "Sphinx of Radio."
. . . And 'tis said that Pandro Berman
doesn't want the job of running that
studio, no matter what they offer
him. . . . The Mel Shauer-Helen Mack
amour is greatly exaggerated. . . Tom
Douglas, still another actor who click-
ed on the stage and then "sat out" a
movie contract, is back in Hollywood
for a better reason.
Clark Gable spent most of last week
skeet-shooting ... he won a few
medals, too! . . Looks like the Garbo-
Mamculian rumpus was "only a paper
moon." . . . Gladys Young, secretary
to Connie Bennett, is readying herself
for another European trip and she
usually does her traveling with La
Bennett. . . . Madame Frances Spin-
gold o'lected over $1,400 for her
pet char ty the other evening at the
Colony and among the contributors to
the affair were Lady Carlyle and Ro-
land Leigh, the Netchers, en masse,
Carole Lombard, (looking too, too
beautiful,) and Russ Columbo, the
Sam Jaffes, Ad Schulberg, Rose
Cohen and hundreds of others. . . .
Charles Laughton helped MGM cele-
brate its tenth anniversary by doing
his first day's work in "Barretts" with
Shearer and March. . . . While Stu
Erwin took advantage of his fifth an-
niversary to cop a reel of film of him-
self wrapped in a Turkish towel, the
reel having been salvaged from his
first picture "Sweetie."
Leslie Howard got a telephone call
from Alexander Korda informing him
that "Scarlet Pimpernel" was going
into work and for him to hurry over.
"CLAMOUR"
Universal prod.; director, William Wyler; writers, Edna Ferber,
Doris Anderson, Gladys Unger.
Roxy Theatre
World-Telegram: Paul Lukas, Constance Cummings, Philip Reed and Joseph
Cawthorn act with fine skill and understanding so that it emerges a
highly effective piece of entertainment. The story is a simple and effec-
tive one, filled with natural dialogue and keen character observation.
Mirror: The complicated emotions of actors are exposed in this drama. The
performers play their roles competently, though the leading roles are
trying.
Times: Several brainy persons have had a hand in the making of "Glamour,"
but the final result is somewhat disappointing. It is the sort of story
which could go on and on. so long as the good looks of the leading femi-
nine player last.
Herald-Tribune: A haphazard and utterly unconvincing entertainment that
leaves one with a feeling of mingled bewilderment and ennui. The hand-
some settings and calculated tempo of "Glamour," even the occasionally
fine acting that has gone into it, serve only to make the badly managed
narrative more incredible.
Sun: Constance Cummings is forever getting herself miscast. She manages,
nevertheless, very nicely with her role. William Wyler has directed the
film shrewdly, keeping the general atmosphere as light as possible.
News: "Glamour" Is excellent entertainment for any adult, but it is designed
especially to appeal to women. Constance Cummings plays the role of
Linda Fayne as she has never played before.
Journal: Miss Cummings' role isn't exactly a sympathetic one, but it's a fair
program offering with nice work by Mr. Lukas.
American: A little on the dull side as to story, the strictly blue-print plot of
the picture is nonetheless lent sufficient semblance of life by players and
director to draw a passing mark from teacher.
Times: If you are a consistent movie-goer. If you see, say, three or four pic-
tures a year, you have doubtless run across this theme before.
Jurisdictional Row
To Land in A.F.of L
According to information received
by lATSE members in Hollywood this
week, an effort is being made to bring
the jurisdictional fight between the
lATSE and the IBEW to the floor of
the next convention of the A. F. of L.
The fight came to a head last sum-
mer when IBEW men stepped in at
the studios at the time of the lATSE
studio strike . The IBEW had been
trying to swing all studio electricians
and sound men into its group. When
the strike came and the IBEW carried
on, efforts were made to get the juris-
diction settled, but to no avail.
Now that IBEW is a signatory to
the Basic Agreement and the lATSE
Is out as far as the major producers
are concerned, it is understood that
other locals throughout the country
have started to put the pressure on
in official circles in an effort to get
the locals of the production field back
in the picture.
Mainwaring An Author
Dan Mainwaring, formerly publicity
man for the Academy, now on the
Herald- Express, sold a fiction story
this week to Harpers magazine. It is
called "Fruit Tramp," with the locale
laid in Northern California.
Struss Assigned
Karl Struss, who has just completed
the photographing of Mae West's "It
Ain't No Sin," has been assigned by
Paramount to photograph "52 Weeks
With Fleurette."
Hubbard Will Finish
Three By End of June
Completing the one picture now in
work and the three In preparation by
the end of June, Luclen Hubbard,
MGM producer, plans to leave for a
vacation in Europe by the middle of
July.
He will finish "The Rear Car,
"Four Walls," "All Good Americans"
and "Death on the Diamond" before
he leaves. "The Rear Car' is now in
work, with the other three hitting the
stages soon.
Claudette Colbert
Won't Do High Yaller'
Claudette Colbert was greatly upset
yesterday over the report that she Is
to play a "high yaller" In John M.
Stahl's next picture at Universal.
Mr. Stahl's search for a colored ac-
tress who could look like a white girl
started the story.
Joe Ruttenberg Here
Joseph Ruttenberg, one of New
York's best known cameramen, arriv-
ed In Hollywood yesterday for a brief
vacation.
McCuinness Patching
James K. McCuinness Is writing
some scenes that are to be added to
"Operator 13" at MGM.
. . . Max Relnhardt will do a Cecil
DeMllle by directing the "Life of
Christ" for Korda. . . . Ramon Novarro
F>ostcards that Rio de Janeiro is hotter
than that, but It's really "unusual"
weather. . . . Veree Teasdale is suf-
fering from sunburn and is sick abed,
with the doctor.
Dancing
FROM NOON
The RENDEZVOUS
ANOTHCrt ailTMORi HOTil FtATURf
Luncheon
NO $1
COVER CHARGE
k
lilt'
May 17, 1934
Page Three
"DR. MOIVICA' DISTINCTLY BAD;
'I CAN'T ESCAPE' SMALL-TIME
Kay Francis Sunk By
Role;Jcan Muir Fine
"DR. MONICA"
( Warners )
Direction William Keighley
Author: Marja Morozowicz Szczep-
kowska.
Screen Play Charles Kenyon
Photography So! Polite
Cast: Kay Francis, Warren William,
Jean Muir, Veree Teasdale, Phillip
Reed, Emma Dunn, Herbert Bun-
ston, Ann Shoemaker, Virginia
Hammond, Hale Hamilton, Virginia
Pine.
After seeing the new Kay Francis
vehicle for Warners, "Dr. Monica,"
one is apt to remark, with a deep sigh
of relief, "Well, that's over!" or "So
what?" or "What of it?" or even just
plain "What"?
[ This picture is a lot of to-do over
nothing. The story itself isn't at all
interesting and it certainly isn't palat-
able; the writing is pretty dull; War-
ren William is so bad in a bad part
that it is pitiful; Kay Francis has one
or two minutes when she is able to
be her own charming self, but the
rest of the time she is hampered by
clothes, dialogue or the story; the di-
rector must have had a tough task to
make what he did out of it; the end-
ing is positively the poorest, weakest,
most senseless and thoroughly ridicu-
lous ending ever tacked onto a film —
especially the very last line; and — oh,
well, let it go at that.
Miss Francis plays a very successful
woman doctor, who has two ruling
passions. One is her love for her hus-
band, and the other is her desire to
have a baby. When she finds out that
she never can have a baby, it is a
terrible blow, but that is nothing com-
pared to the sock on the jaw she gets
when she discovers that one of her
best friends is going to have a baby
and that her own husband is the papa.
Anyway, the poor lady brings the
baby into the world; plans to leave
her husband and then is stopped by
the baby's mother, who, very dramat-
ically and bravely, kills herself a la
Hepburn in "Christopher Strong," so
that the little cheeild can bring the
couple together again.
Kay Francis struggles heroically but
futilely; William, as mentioned be-
fore, is pitiful; Veree Teasdale is well
cast as a friend, but it is really Jean
Muir, with her sorry young fright, her
.hysteria and her sincerity, who keeps
the picture from falling to pieces.
William Keighley directed; Charles
Kenyon made the adaptation from the
play by Marja Morozowicz Szczep-
kowska; and Sol Polito photographed.
Anton Grot's art direction is really
distinctive.
So, if you can sell your audiences a
picture on its art direction and one
p>erformance, go ahead. But if they
demand entertainment, avoid this one.
Reynolds Too Good
Ben Reynolds, cameraman on
the W. C. Fields picture, "The Old
Fashioned Way," yesterday was
bawled out by a producer because
his photography is too good. One
scene calls for photography of the
type of twenty years ago, and Ben
doesn't know how to do it so
badly.
[
Lang Finishes One
Walter Lang finished "Whom The
Cods Destroy" Tuesday at Columbia
after 28 shooting days.
Rosenblatt Goat
In Darrow Report
Washington. — The much discussed
Darrow report is slated to be released
today or tomorrow. With its release
those close to the siutation here ex-
pect to see the wrath of the entire
Administration fall upon the board
because it has singled out one man,
Sol Rosenblatt, for personal insinua-
tions.
It is understood that neither the
White House nor anyone connected
with the Administration expected the
board to make any personal references
when it had heard only one side of
the case. As a result, General John-
son has prepared an answer, Rosen-
blatt has written a 67-page report,
and Donald Richberg, chief NRA
counsel, has written what is said to
be the most vitriolic report ever pen-
ned by a government official. Betting
here is that the White House will take
no action on the findings, due to the
personal attack on Rosenblatt.
Leigh Jason To Direct
Radio Musical Shorts
Lee Marcus has engaged Leigh
Jason to direct short musicals for Ra-
dio. The first one will star Walter
Woolf.
"La Cucarocha," short Spanish
musical featuring Steffi Duna and Don
Alvarado, is now shooting after a
week's rehearsals. This gives Radio
three shorts in the make. Marcus
reports that by Saturday his 1933-34
quota will be finished and he will have
six subjects ready on the 1934-34
list.
MacMahon and Kibbee
Will Be Teamed Again
Warners like the Aline MacMahon
and Guy Kibbee team and is on a .hunt
for stories in which to continue co-
starring them. Decision to bracket
them came after the reviews on "The
Merry Frinks." Their next will be
"Big Hearted Herbert."
Binnie Barnes Due
New York. — Binnie Barnes, one of
England's favorite screen actresses,
arrives on the Aquitania tomorrow and
leaves at once for Hollywood to take
a role in "There's Always Tomorrow"
for Universal.
Presnell on 'Benefit'
MGM has assigned Robert Presnell
to write the screen play on "The Big
Benefit," an original by Milton Raison
and Jack Harvey. Harry Rapf pro-
duces.
Onslow Stevens Is
High Spot of Film
"I CAN'T ESCAPE"
Beacon Productions
(Universal Release)
Direction Otto Brower
Story: Jerry Sackheim and Nathan
Asch.
Continuity Faith Thomas
Photography Jerome Asch
Cast: Onslow Stevens, Lila Lee, Rus-
sell Gleason, Otis Harlan, Hooper
Atchley, Bill Desmond, Eddie Grib-
bon, Kane Richmond, Clara Kimball
Young, Nat Carr, John Elliott.
He wore rented dinner clothes. She
was on call for parties. He was on
parole. She claimed that her profes-
sion gave her a life sentence. He broke
his parole in her defense. She an-
nounced that she would wash dishes
for a square guy. So dawned love
among the well-dressed derelicts.
"I Can't Escape" is the title chosen
by Max Alexander for his Beacon
production. The title is a bit baffling,
considering that the ex-convict es-
cafjes, not only a murderer but a
frame-up.
Onslow Stevens plays Steve, who
was a fall guy for a crooked stock
deal. His pride demands that he get
a job to keep Mae, played by Lila
Lee, washing dishes quietly at home.
His record defeats him, until he falls
into the hands of a second set of
crooked brokers.
Things are complicated by a boy
who thirsts for his blood. A good
old chase to beat the crooks escaping
with ill-gotten gains leads up to ex-
planations of all suspicions.
Onslow Stevens holds the film to-
gether. He has a number of excellent
moments, especially when he is look-
ing for a job. Russell Gleason deals
adequately with the boy who is strug-
gling with desire for revenge, for his
best friend's wife, and food. Hard
job. Clara Kimball Young appears only
momentarily. Others in the cast are
defeated occasionally by dialogue
which bristles with sentimentality.
The film will be speeded by some
judicious cutting, particularly of a long
dance sequence. Dance team is all
right, in itself, but the spotting at the
first of the film, before characters are
established, is bad judgment.
Considering the low cost of the
film, it will do for market at which it
Is aimed.
Eyre-Lovett Teamed
MGM has signed Lawrence Eyre to
collaborate with Josephine Lovett on
the script of Victor Herbert's "Naugh-
ty Marietta," which Irving Thalberg
will produce. Jeanette MacDonald and
Nelson Eddy have been bracketed in
the top spots.
Ruskin On 'Broadcast'
Harry Ruskin yesterday finished the
script of "52 Weeks With Fleurette,"
Al Werker's next directorial subject
at Paramount, and was assigned to
the treatment of "Big Broadcast."
u
ATTER}
We've just about decided that,
next to the people who know every-
thing, our pet hate against the world
is people who expwse everything. We
really don't see why pictures, of all
things, shouldn't be allowed to make
their illusions and keep them too.
And by that statement we do not
refer to anything that may be said
about actors. One never gets the
truth about them anyway, because
even if the truth were good, no pub-
licity office could see the sense in
giving that out. No, actors are not
what's troubling us today. It's the
technical side of picture.
•
As a consistently avid movie fan
whose tastes cover a wide range from
East to Mae West, we must admit
that we'd just as lief not have any-
one destroy the magical properties of
pictures by explaining to us in detail
just how a certain effect is produced.
It is sufficient to us that the effect
has been produced and produced well
enough to make us believe that it's
genuine. And when someone "in the
know" goes deliberately out of his
way to tell us how cleverly something
has been faked, we don't thank him
for it. We think it's just a piece of
dirty snitching on the part of an old
meanie whose indigestion won't let
him enjoy anything but nightmares.
And we believe there are many thou-
sands of people who feel the same
way about it.
For instance, in the case of animal
pictures. Practically any person of
average intelligence knows, deep
down in his heart, that at least a mir-
acle a day would have to occur for a
cameraman to be on the spot every
time an animal acts up in the jungle.
Well, he knows it's not real and he
knows you know it's not real but it s
entertaining, and it's exciting until the
moment some smart aleck is unkind
enough to remind them and prove to
them what they knew all along, but
weren't admitting because it was
more good fun not to.
Remember those ads that ciggie
company ran about, "It's fun to be
foiled, but it's more fun to know?
Well, they were wrong about that,
too. The protests on that campaign
came not only from the professional
magicians, but from audiences who
enjoyed being fooled and couldn't get
any kick at all when they no longer
had to puzzle their brains out as to
how it was done.
Pictures, too, have to rely in great
part on "magic," magic that makes
the world wonder and marvel at that
wonder, and it's decidedly unfair to
the enjoyment of any picture for any-
one to come out in cold print and take
away the magic from the spell that
pictures cast. After all, if a beautiful
girl walks down the street, no one
wants to be reminded of the fact that
underneath is just another skull and
bones, and it isn't right that skele-
tons should stalk the illusions of
beauty created by pictures.
Page Four
THE
May 17, 1934
ASTING
'VW
Grant Withers for "Red Rider," at
Universal.
Cora Sue Collins for "Caravan" at
Fox.
Theodore Newton for "Blind Date,"
Columbia.
Alan Hale into "Scarlet Letter,"
Majestic.
Jack Kennedy for "Two Heads On
a Pillow," Liberty, by O'Reilly-Mann.
Berton Churchill by Al Kingston for
"Judge Priest," Fox.
Nella Walker, by Menifee I. John-
stone, George Barbier, Charles Sellon
and Helene Phillips to Paramount's
"Ladies First."
Irene Hervey and Marion "Peanuts"
Byron for "Taking Care of Baby," a
Pete Smith short at MOM. .
Wade B'oteler and Phil Tead to "It
Ain't No Sin," Paramount.
Thomas Jackson and Charles Wilson
by Al Kingston to "The Criminal
Within," Columbia.
Norman Ainsley for Paramount's
"The Notorious Sop.hie Lang."
Clara Blandick to "One Way Tick-
et," B. P. Schulberg-Paramount.
Helen Freeman for MCM's "Stam-
boul Quest."
Murray Kinnell by Radio for "Hat,
Coat and Clove."
Judith Vosselli to "Stamboul Quest,"
MCM, through ). C. Mayer.
Dorothy Granger and Henry Arm-
etta to "The Merry Widow," MCM,
through J. G. Mayer.
Boy Scouts To Help
Make Official Picture
Boy Scouts from all the Los Angeles
troups will have a big day next Sat-
urday when they will take part in the
shooting of the final scenes of the of-
ficial Boy Scout picture, "Young
Eagles." The scenes will be filmed at
one of A the airports. The picture is
being made by Romance Productions.
Rush of Talent From
East to West This Week
New York. — Richard Arlen and his
family left for the coast yesterday as
did Philip Moeller, of the Theatre
Guild, who is to direct for Radio.
J. Harold Murray, actor, leaves to-
day, as does John Buckler, who is
headed for Columbia. Rufus LeMaire
will hop off in a day or two.
Cowan Story Denied
(Continued from Page 1 )
star in the picture, Horace Jackson,
the writer, and possibly Sidney R.
Kent. The picture, according to ear-
lier stories, was to be released by Fox.
Cowan is moving into offices at the
General Service Studios today and is
understood to have authorized the
story that he would produce the pic-
ture. Griffith said he knew nothing
of such a plan, and Edington said that
not only was the story untrue, but the
deal for the property was not even
completed. Cowan, he said, had ne-
gotiated with Fox for the release.
Hecht-MacArthur
Start First Monday
New York — Ben Hecht and Charles
MacArthur, having completed casting
for "Crime Without Passion," their
first for Paramount release, will start
shooting Monday. In addition to
Claude Rains, the cast includes Whit-
ney Bourne, Stanley Ridges, Margot —
a dancer — Leslie Adams, Esther Dale
and Greta Cranstedt.
Hecht and MacArthur will do their
own directing, with Art Rosson as as-
sociate director, Slavko Vorkapich in
charge of technical effects, Joe Nadel
as production manager, and Harold
Codsoe as his assistant. The story is
of a noted criminal lawyer and the
locale is New York.
June Knight To Star
In 'Castles in Air'
June Knight's first assignment since
her return from Florida will be oppo-
site Russ Columbo in "Castles in the
Air," the John Meehan Jr. original
which B. F. Zeidman produces for
Universal.
Kurt Neumann is up for the direc-
torial assignment. Russ Brown, Henry
Armetta and Andy Devine have fea-
tured roles.
Coldwyn Signs Comic
From 'Shim Sham' Revue
Cully Richards, the "dead pan"
comic in the "Shim Sham Revue" at
the Music Box, was signed yesterday
by Sam Goldwyn for the cast of "Bar-
bary Coast." He will have the role
originally intended for Buster Keaton.
Lois Wiss Promoted
Tom Baily, head of publicity at
Paramount, yesterday promoted Lois
Wiss to the spot vacated by Virginia
Wood when she became fan magazine
contact. Miss Wiss has been with the
department for two two years, re-
cently as Kenneth Whitmore's assis-
tant.
Rogell Starts At Col.
Al Rogell starts "Criminal Within"
at Columbia tomorrow with Richard
Cromwell featured and Charles Wil-
son, Bradley Page and Guy Usher in
supporting parts. The girl lead is to
be picked today.
Within The Rock' Done
"Within the Rock," Showman pic-
ture, finished at Alexander Brothers
studio yesterday after seven days
shooting.
DISTRIBUTOR
Well known organization will pur-
chase for immediate cash feature
pictures for world wide distribution.
Address I. M., Hollywood Reporter,
229 West 42nd St., New York
Extras Get Strikers
Off Columbia Job
Ten striking longshoremen from
San Pedro, hired by Columbia this
week for scenes in "Whom The Gods
Destroy," were let go by the studio
at the end of their first half day's
work when the Screen Actors' Guild
protested that the men were taking
the place of ten regular extra players.
In explaining the matter, an exec-
utive of the studio stated that the
men were hired for a scene in which
they took the part of sailors handling
a lifeboat, and that the studio felt
that their technical ability in this line
warranted their employment. How-
ever, he explained the studio paid the
longshorerfien a full day's check and
immediately replaced them with ten
extra players when the complaint was
made.
Chapter of Jewish
Actors' Guild Planned
More than 50 prominent Jews in
the industry yesterday attended a
luncheon at the Hillcrest Country
Club for the formation of a California
chapter of the Jewish Theatrical Ac-
tors' Guild, a charitable organization.
Eddie Cantor acted as chairman of the
meeting and outlined plans for a
membership drive.
Raquel Torres Returns
Raquel Torres and her husband,
Stephen Ames, arrive today from
Honolulu w.here they have been hom-
eymooning.
Why Are We Weeping?
Kaunas, Lithuania. — Visitors
here are simply knocked cold when
they go to the movies and discover
that Lithuania imposes a tax of 20
per cent on 10 cent seats, 30 per
cent on 20 cent tickets and 40 per
cent on all movie house seats over
20 cents.
Para. Completes Its
Theatre Service Bd.
New York. — The national advisory
board of the Paramount Theatre Serv-
ice Corporation has been completed
by the appointments of Martin Mullin
to represent Paramount's New Eng-
land partners, and M. E. Comerford
for the Middle Atlantic territory.
The board will hold its first meeting
in connection with the Paramount
convention in Los Angeles in June.
E. V. Richards, N. L. Nathanson, Karl
Hoblitzelle and A. H. Blank are ex-
pected to attend.
Ryerson-Woolf Team
On MCM's Have a Heart'
Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan
Woolf have been teamed again by
MCM, this time to write the script
of "Have a Heart," the Buddy De
Sylva and David Butler original, which
the latter was borrowed from Fox to
direct.
Jean Parker has the lead and John
W. Considine Jr. produces.
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Vol. XXI, No. 9. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, May 18, 1934
WANGER CIJIT$ M.G.M.
•ONE of the 'main fights which the
motion picture Industry has on its
hands right now is that against the
Patman bill, which would establish a
Federal Motion Picture Commission or,
in other words, Federal censorship, and
which is now before Cngress.
The agitation by the church people
and reformers against indecent pic-
tures is doing much to strengthen
sentiment for this measure, which
would be a heavy blow to the industry
if passed. There are so many com-
mon-sense objections to it that to try
to list them would be futile, but the
arguements were summed up very
convincingly by Charles C. Pettijohn
recently in his brief against the meas-
ure. He cited 23 arguments in op-
position, some of them especially
trenchant.
•
Primarily, Mr. Pettijohn says, the
measure repudiates the NRA and cre-
ates a conflict of authority, the NRA
having already set up machinery to
do what the bill is designed to do. It
would not prevent State censorship
nor would it eliminate the six boards
already operating. Moreover, there is
nothing in it that would prevent the
Other 42 states from forming censor
boards in addition to the Federal.
The censorship it would establish,
according to Pettijohn, would be iden-
tical in principle with the European
censorship of news. So far as its ef-
fect on salacious films is concerned,
it would place a premium on them.
We would have producers boot-leg-
ging such pictures without any control,
even by the industry itself,
•
The cost would be staggering as It
would require constant Federal super-
vision, both of all studios and all
theatres. The power of any commis-
sion established under such a measure
would even extend to newsreels,
which means censorship of a pictorial
press. Still another serious objection
is that it would attempt to exercise
supervision over all motion picture ad-
vertising which, of course, is imprac-
ticable, and also unnecessary, as the
industry does fairly well at that job
itself.
Under any ordinary conditions there
would not be much danger of the bill
passing because the American people,
as a body, are opposed to censorship,
'Continued on Page 2)
Heirs of Zola Move
To Suppress 'Nana'
Paris. — The heirs of Emile Zola
have applied to the French courts
for permission to sue United Ar-
tists on the ground that the novel
In that company's production of
"Nana" Is "disfigured to a point
where it is unrecognizable." The
heirs want damages and the sup-
pression of the picture.
Barrymore Out;
Radio After Kruger
Radio will re-make three days
work on "A Hat, a Coat, a Glove,"
owing to John Barrymore's withdraw-
ing from the starring assignment.
Player, according to the studio, de-
cided he did not want to go through
with the role.
Releasing him from his contract,
the studio will get him for one picture
on its new program Instead. Negotia-
tions are on with MOM for the loan of
Otto Kruger to replace him. Worth-
Ington Minor is directing.
Theatre Workers in
New York on Strike
New York — Ushers, ticket takers
and out-front announcers of Loew's
and KAO theatres in New York City
went on strike yesterday. The union
claims 2000 walked out, but Charles
Moskowitz, of Loew's, says the strik-
ers number just 53.
He also says that a check-up by the
Federal Department of Labor showed
that 84 per cent of the 2200 theatre
workers opposed joining the union.
Resigns And Mayer Accepts;
Understood To Be Rejoining
Para. After Trip To Europe
Walter Wanger walked into Louis B. Mayer's office yesterday
morning and asked to be relieved of his contract that had two
years to go. He is understood to have reasoned that it was im-
possible for him to work under the burdens that MCM places
on all its producers (with the excep-
tion of Thalberg), and when Mayer
realized the sincerity of the request,
he tore up Wanger's contract and gave
him a clean bill of health.
The move back of Wanger's resig-
nation, prompted first by the supposed
production limitations at MCM, was
(Continued on Page 3)
Schulberg-Erpi
Dicker on Big Deal
New York. — B. P. Schulberg and
Electrical Research Products Inc. are
working on a deal that will provide for
the latter to finance the former in
eight pictures to be made next year,
with the release going to either Para-
mount or Radio.
Schulberg has two more pictures to
make on his old Paramunt deal and, it
Is understood, will not renew.
'Stingaree' Opens Big
Opening to a gross of $2,750 for
its first day, Wednesday, at the Col-
den Cate in San Francisco, Radio's
"Stingaree" barely missed repeating
the business pulled into the house on
the run of "Little Women."
BRISKIIV MAKES OFFER
FOR COLUMBIA STOCK
Spencer Tracy Set
For Lasky Picture
New York. — The stew that has
been going on for years between the
Cohn boys and their running of Co-
lumbia may be solved if a deal that Is
now on the fire goes through. The
deal concerns the purchase of the one-
third interest .held by jack Cohn in
Columbia, by Sam Briskin, general
manager of the Columbia plant. It Is
said the price will be $750,000 cash.
It Is quite definite that Columbia
is not large enough to house the two
battling Cohns, and inasmuch as Harry
has refused even to listen to a pur-
chaser for his majority interest, It Is
(Continued on Page 5)
Jesse L. Lasky yesterday announced
that Spencer Tracy will star in "Hel-
dorado" as the producer's second pic-
ture on his new series for Fox.
Production is slated for July 16.
The story is by Frank Mitchell
Dazey, with Ernest Pascal and Jesse
Lasky Jr. writing the screen play.
Spigelgass III
Leonard Spigelgass, Universal story
head, Is away from the office with
laryngitis. He will be back at the stu-
dio next Monday.
Cooper-RKO Deal
2 Or 4 Pictures
Radio Pictures and Merian C.
Cooper have worked out their agree-
ment and it calls for a minimum of
two pictures a year, and a maximum
of four a year for the next five years.
This deal removes Cooper from any
activity in the management of the
studio, an occupation he has abhorred
from the start, and although those In
the know on the lot will tell you that
J. R. McDonough is not going to bring
in a production head, but will run the
plant himself on a unit production
set-up, don't be surprised if a very
important producer now connected at
another plant will be designated pro-
duction head before June 1.
L oisg!as MacLean Signs
New Para. Contract
Completing his first year as a Para-
mount producer, Douglas MacLean has
signed for another year, with six to
make on the new ticket.
His first group this past season In-
cluded "Mama Loves Papa," "Tiliie
and Cus," "Six of a Kind" and "Mel-
ody in Spring." MacLean has now in
work, "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch" and "Ladies Should Listen."
Bill Menzies III and
Off Para. 'Sophie Lang'
A laryngitis attack yesterday forced
William Cameron Menzies to with-
draw from the direction of "The No-
torious Sophie Lang" for Paramount.
Ralph Murphy went to bat for the
director.
Educ. Closing June 26
Educational is to go Into Its siesta
locally June 26, with only E. H. Allen
maintaining an office at this end. Earle
Hammons leaves for London from New
York, June 4. He will be gone three
weeks.
I ROWLAND V. LEE Now p.rect.ng The Count of Monte CrJsto^
^^'^'■^mwwwrrriFiiiiUiiiiiiiiuiiiiWiiniiniii iiiwiiiiiiiiyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiKMa^MrTiiiiiiiiiiiiiBiiiiiiiiiiwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiini^ imiiiii ii iiiffiJ
Page Two
May 18, 1934
TiMMEroiKiriEii FWC Al^D SEVEX PRODUCERS
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE." Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holloays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Prince Alexis Thurn-Taxis, now in
Hollywood, sold his original story,
"Me and the King," to Paramount for
Mae West, as you know. But the
Prince, who is full of charm, is also
full of bright ideas so far as that
story is concerned. Alexis is a good
friend (nay, we might even say, a
pal) of the ex-King Alfonso of Spain,
and he thinks it would be simply ele-
gant if Alfonso came over to Holly-
wood and appeared in the picture!
Not in the leading role, mind you —
just in a small part. And strangely
enough, there is more than a slight
possibility that Alfonso, who is a swell
sport, may actually do it. Anyway.
Alexis has Paramount's permission to
"negotiate" with the King — and
that's exactly what he's doing! Think
of the poobleeecity!
'•
An ironical situation (not without
its laff side) came to pass a coupla
weeks ago, when the wife of a prom-
inent actor decided to sue him for
divorce. The woman's daughter (her-
self a picture actress) visited her, and
by turns demanded and begged that
there be no scandal connected with
Momma's proceedings. The reason
that the visit struck the suing lady
rather funny is the fact that the
daughter never paid the least bit of
attention to her while she was mar-
ried to the actor — and also the fact
that the daughter's life has been any-
thing but pure, either in private or in
print! The daughter was sooo afraid
that any scandal connected with Poppa
would injure HER career. Imagine!
Film Stars Frolic at
New Stadium Tonight
The Film Stars Frolic is all set to
get under way tonight at the newly-
erected Cilmore Stadium. Proceeds of
the five performances will go to char-
ity, and it is expected that the net
will be nearly $50,000. Eddie Can-
tor has the most important part in
the proceedings.
'Serenade' For Harvey
Lilian Harvey's next picture at Fox,
in place of "Lottery Lover," will be
the Rex Beach story, "Serenade," with
a Viennese background, Paul Mar-
tin directs under Sol Wurtzel's super-
vision.
XAMED IIV AI^TI-TRIJST SUIT
Chotiners Demand
$300,000 Damages
H. W. and M. C. Chotiner, owners
of the Chotiner Parisian and the Cho-
tiner Ravenna theatres, today will file
suit through Attorney Nat C. Recht
in the United States District Court
against Fox West Coast Theatres and
seven major picture producing organi-
zations, charging violation of the
Sherman and Clayton Anti-Trust Acts,
and asking damages of $300,000.
The picture companies named in
suit are: RKO-Radio, Fox Film Cor-
poration, Warner Brothers-First Na-
tional, United Artists, Universal Pic-
tures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Co-
lumbia.
The Chotiners charge that Fox
West Coast and the picture compan-
ies, through their distributors, entered
into a conspiracy about August, 1 932,
to monopolize the picture film indus-
try in this section of the country, and
to ruin and put the Chotiner theatres
out of business, and that they have
put the conspiracy into effect with the
result that, whereas the two Chotiner
theatres previous to the alleged con-
spiracy earned a profit of $1000 a
month, now they are running at a loss.
The complaint alleges that the de-
fendants agreed among themselves to
sell all of their pictures for first run
showing to Fox West Coast and
agreed also that these pictures could
not be shown in the Parisian until
14 days and the Ravenna 21 days
after they had been shown in the
Belmont, a Fox West Coast theatre.
Then, according to the complaint.
Fox West Coast ran the pictures in all
the other theatres it owned or con-
trolled before showing them in the
Belmont, thus making it impossible for
the Chotiner theatres to show the pic-
tures until long after most of the
other theatres had run them, and pre-
venting the Chotiner theatres from
showing them in competition with
theatres of Fox West Coast. The Cho-
tiners allege that this conspiracy has
put them in a spot where they cannot
play the pictures of the companies
complained against until from 60 to
75 days after they have been shown
in down-town Los Angeles.
Due to these allegedly unfair tac-
tics, the Chotiners now claim that
their theatres, which were reasonably
worth $100,000 before the conspir-
acy, are now practically valueless. So
they ask $300,000 damages and
$10,000 attorneys fees, and that the
Fox West Coast Theatres and the pic-
ture companies named be enjoined by
the court from continuing their "pres-
ent illegal practice."
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
but the danger lies in the recent agi-
tations against certain types of pic-
tures that have been released and in
the possible demands made upon
members of Congress by the reformers
who back such agitations. The busi-
ness has fought Federal censorship for
years, but the present situation with
regard to that evil needs constant
watching and concerted opposition.
Barthelmess and
Para. Negotiating
Richard Barthelmess and Para-
mount have been negotiating a
deal, which is said to be about
ready for signing and which will
take the star to that company for
one picture at least. The choice of
story is the only thing holding up
the agreement.
Dave Allen Is Held
On Morals Charge
Dave Allen, head of the Central
Casting Bureau, was held in $2500
bail yesterday on a morals charge,
having been indicted by the Grand
Jury for alleged violation of section
288A of the penal code. A girl
named Gloria Marsh is named in the
indictment.
The accusation against Allen was
made by an extra girl, named June De
Long, and the offense is said to have
been committed in her apartment.
Allen, whose hearing is set for May
24. declares the case is a "frame-up."
Another of *Shim Sham'
Cast Gets Film Break
Paramount yesterday outbid every
studio in town and signed Maebelle
Lewis of the "Shim Sham Revue" cast
to a long term deal.
Two studios have already lodged
bids with Paramount for the loan of
the player. Deal was negotiated by
Jerry Horwin.
Skouras Bros. Lose
In Overbuying Case
New York. — The first complaint of
over-buying to be brought before the
New York Grievance Board resulted
in a decision against Skouras Brothers,
the respondents.
The complaint was filed by Rogow-
sky Brothers, of Portchester. The
board found in favor of the com-
plainants and ruled that Skouras must
turn over to the competitor 22 pic-
tures at the rate of two a week. All
companies except Paramount are af-
fected.
OPEN FORUM
To the Author of The
Lowdown column:
You remarked in your column that I
"stormed around (and off) the set
in a flood of tears."
I've "stormed," yes; but I am of-
fended at the "tears." I just wanted
you to know that I prefer to "storm"
with a little more dignity.
To be really truthful about the
whole thing: I am usually put in my
place before I even can do much
storming — •
But — thank you for the publicity!
Sincerely.
JEAN MUIR.
Plymouth 6 Airflow DeSoto
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A small class meets every Tuesday eve-
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instruction by Professor Uyttenhove of
Heidelberg. Phone West Los Angeles
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May 18, 1934
THE
Page Three
*THE KEY
BUT HURT
Colin Clive Takes
The Acting Honors
"THE KEY"
(Warners)
Direction Michael Curtiz
Authors R. Core-Browne
[ ■: ' and ). L. Hardy
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Photography Ernest Haller
Cast: William Powell, Edna Best, Colin
Clive, Hobart Cavanaugh, Halliwell
Hobbes, Donald Crisp, J. M. Kerri-
r gan, Henry O'Neill, Phil Regan. Ar-
P thur Treacher, Maxine Doyle, Ar-
thur Aylesworth, Gertrude Short,
Dawn O'Day.
Dublin. Ireland, in 1920, is the lo-
cale for "The Key," and it's the best
thing about the picture, with the ex-
ception of some splendidly directed
scenes of encounters between the
English and the Sinn Feiners, and the
acting of one or two minor characters.
Unfortunately, the story that is
played against this tense, dramatic
background is so familiar that it can't
even draw any strength from its sur-
roundings, and doubly unfortunate is
the fact that William Powell is just
too utterly debonair and heroic and
suave for any use. The preview audi-
ence, a little weary of his ,high-handed
"charm" at the beginning of the pic-
ture, tittered openly toward the last
at an especially obvious swagger.
Powell plays the ex-lover of Edna
Best, married to Colin Clive. who is in
the intelligence department of the
British army in Ireland. She thinks
she is still in love with Powell, and
when Clive finally captures the leader
of the Sinn Feiners and learns on the
same night that .his wife loves the ,-
other man, he wanders forth and is ''
instantly captured by the Irish, who
swear to hang him the day their leader
is hanged.
In the meantime, Miss Best finds
out that she loves Clive after all and
not Powell, so there is nothing left for
Powell to do but jeopardize his career
and his life to return Clive to the
arms of his wife. Which he does —
Ooooh. so gallantly.
Clive brings a tremendous sincerity
to his part and a warm humaness.
Miss Best has little to do and Powell
does too much. Halliwell Hobbes is
grand as the general; J. M. Kerrigan
makes a small part stand out strongly,
as does Gertrude Short as a barmaid.
Donald Crisp is well cast as Conlan,
the Sinn Feiner leader.
Michael Curtiz directed a lot of
action and color into the film, but no
suspense. The story, by R. Core-
Browne and J. L. Hardy, adapted by
Laird Doyle, doesn't allow for sus-
pense. Photography by Ernest Haller
is as outstanding as the direction.
It is too bad that Powell is so un-
believable in this picture and that the
story and writing are weak. For ev-
erything else is there to make a good
film. Small boys may like some of it.
WELL DIRECTED
BY POOR WRITING
IMIltam
Business of Circus
Shows Better Times
New York. — Better times are
here, if the circus business is any
criterion. The Al C. Fields show
reports 65 per cent increase over
1933, Hagenbeck-Wallace reports
45 per cent increase, and the
Ringling Brothers about 40 per
cent.
Warner Bros. Win
In Goldwyn Suit
Sam Goldwyn was yesterday denied
his petition for an injunction against
Warners on Busby Berkeley's services
and the dance director will continue
his work on "Dames."
Superior Court Judge Frank Smith
overruled Goldwyn by deciding that
the contract made by the producer
with Warners for the periodical loan
of Berkeley failed to provide for the
dance director as a party to the deal
The court's action voided the two-
year-old contract.
'Peck's Bad Boy' May
Be Serialized on Air
A national air sponsorship of a 52-
record radio transcription of "Peck's
Bad Boy" is being worked on by Wal-
ter Dahlquist, of American Radio Fea-
tures Syndicate.
As in the "Tarzan" air tie-up,
Dahlquist hopes to line up sponsors on
both sides of the continent.
To the Ladies' Dialog
Rights Bought by Para.
New York. — Paramount has bought
the dialog rights to the George S.
Kaufman-Marc Connelly play , "To
,tfie Ladies." It will star George Ban-
croft under the title of "Ladies
First." Gil Pratt will direct.
Lowe in 'Gift of Cab'
Universal yesterday set the Jerry
Wald story, "The Gift of Gab," as the
next Edmund Lowe vehicle and started
negotiations with MGM for the loan
of Madge Evans. Picture is not sched-
uled to get under way until July 1.
Rian James is writing the screen play
and producing.
Para. Seeks Colbert
Paramount is paging Claudette Col-
bert, who went holidaying after
"Cleopatra" finished and left no for-
warding address. Studio wants her
urgently, possibly for retakes.
Marion Dix Assigned
Marion Dix has been assigned to
work on the set of "Afterwards" at
Radio, writing dialogue as James Cruze
directs the production.
Brown With Coldstone
Karl Brown has been engaged by
Phil Coldstone to write the screen play
for "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,"
the Jules Verne story.
Soviets to Spend
$40,000,000 on Pix
New York. — V. A. Usievich, chief
of the Foreign Trade Division of the
Soviet film industry, stated today that
the Soviets plan to produce 100 major
features this coming year at an aver-
age cost of $435,000. They are also
going after distribution of their films
in this and other countries.
The Soviets will try to interest
American producers in sending actors
to Russia to make English versions
simultaneously with the Russian.
Usievich says there are 32,000 thea-
tres in Russia, but only 2000 are
wired.
Weingarten Looking
Over Pollock Play
Lawrence Weingarten, who return-
ed Wednesday from a short stay in
New, York seeing plays, brought back
ajcr' untitled Channing Pollock play
/that is to be produced in New York
in the fall.
Weingarten is now reading the play
and MGM is considering its purchase
as a Robert Montgomery vehicle.
Two New MGM Writers
Two writers moved m at MGM yes-
terday. Lynn Riggs signed to work
on "Wicked Woman." John Russell,
author of "Pagan," comes on to write
an original for Ramon Novarro.
Change Role For Searl
Sol Lesser yesterday agreed to
change the characterization of the
part in "Peck's Bad Boy" for which
he wanted Jackie Searl, eliminating
the mean taint in order to have Searl
in the picture after all.
Wanger Quits MGM
(Continued from Page 1 )
accelerated by the knowledge that he
will return to Paramount in one of
the top production spots when the re-
organization of that company is an-
nounced in about two weeks.
This reorganization of Paramount,
it is understood, will include both
Sam Katz and Jesse Lasky in addition
to Wanger, returning much of the
production force that made the slo-
gan, "If it's a Paramount picture, it
is the best show in town."
Wanger denies the Paramount
hook-up, stating: "I am leaving for
New York Monday to confer with my
attorney, Nathan Burkan, pass on one
of three deals he has ready for me,
and I will then take the first boat for
Europe for a month's search for mate-
rial for my new production job. All
that I can say is that I will be back to
Hollywood in one of three spots."
Wanger had charge of six produc-
tions, only one of which, "Stamboul
Quest," is in work. The other five are
"Duchess of Delmonico's," "Vanessa,"
"Timberline,""Five Days" and "Movie
Queen " These will be distributed
among the other producers on the lot.
ATTElO
buHelet^
Honestly, if a person feels called
upon to rush into print with his opin-
ions on any given subject, it's all right
by us. But when that person does it
in the guise of an expert, then he has
already thrown himself to the wolves
and deserves to be torn apart for any
exhibition of ignorance. For instance,
in this month's "Screen Book." one
Dr. Louis E. Bisch. M.D.. Ph.D.. who
wrote a couple of plays, once, takes
it upon himself to write an article en-
titled "Why The Stars Don't Know
How to Act" and comes out with
some pretty phoney statements about
the picture industry.
First of all, he blames the movies
for the fact that screen players are
mostly not very good on the stage
and. of course, cites the example of
Katharine Hepburn. He claims, along
the same lines, that the director on a
picture does all the thinking and tim-
ing for the actors and thus renders
them incapable of thinking for them-
selves.
'•
To us, he's wrong in both in-
stances. In the first place, stage
technique and movie technique are
two separate and distinct schools of
thought and action. There may be a
happy combination of the two on a
co-operative basis, but it is obvious
that they must be different. And a
movie director does no more thinking
for an actor than a good stage direc-
tor does. That's any director's job —
the timing and the correct interpreta-
tion of the author's idea.
He also claims that the screen ac-
tor becomes stereotyped. Tut, tut.
Dr. Bisch, an actor may be typed, but
if he becomes stereotyped in his act-
ing, it's his own fault. Surely the
screen cannot be blamed for that
when the actor is going through a
new part every few months and
doesn't have to fear going stale in a
part he must go through night after
night on the stage. One of the
screen's greatest assets is the fact
that, no matter how many times a pic-
ture is shown, the performances can-
not falter. Only the best gets into the
can. Whereas on the stage any pro-
ducer, author or director will tell you
a cast needs constant looking after in
order to make each performance of a
play, good.
He says that the biggest legitimate
acting names are deserting the screen
and wonders what will happen to pic-
tures. Well, by his own arguments,
this cannot hurt the screen one bit
since in order to be a picture star it
is not necessary to have had stage ex-
perience because picture technique is
so different it can make its own stars.
And then the good doctor wonders
what the poor picture star will do
when pictures no longer want him,
and the stage just can't use him. Pity
the poor actor, my children, who has
been making thousands of dollars a
year for at least five years, and then
ask yourself why he can't retire with
good grace and good income and
write articles about the good, old
days.
Paige Four
TH
May 18, 1934
LABOR BOARD REINSTATES
STED UXION L'SHERS
Swanson In Person
Washington — One of the most mo-
mentous decisions in the history of
the conflict between employer and
labor in the theatre was handed down
here yesterday by the National Labor
Board when it ruled that nine ushers
discharged from theatres in Elkhart,
Ind., because they had former a union
and had applied for an A.F. of L.
charter, be restored to their jobs.
The decision means that employers
must not try to prevent their employ-
ees from forming unions subsidiary to
the American Federation of Labor, and
it cannot be appealed. The ruling af-
firmed a similar one made by the
Indianapolis Regional Labor Board.
The ushers involved were employed
by the Warner and Bucklen Theatres.
Last August they planned to apply for
a charter, but were persuaded to re-
frain, and from then until December a
company union prevailed. In Decem-
ber they applied for their charter and
were fired at once, allegedly for union
activities, and girls were put in their
places.
Fenton and Engels For
'House of Strangers'
"House of Strangers," Invincible's
story of the Austro- Italian war front,
goes into production next Tuesday at
Universal, with Frank R. Strayer di-
recting.
Leslie Fenton was engaged for it
yesterday through Seiznick & Joyce.
Maury Cohen's deal borrowing Wera
Engels from Reliance also went
through. Both support Eric von Stro-
.heim.
'Spanky' a Hero
"Spanky" McFarland, Roach baby
gangster, got back Wednesday from
a three weeks visit to his home town,
Dallas, Texas. The 5 '/a -year-old is
now a hero in his family, having fish-
ed his 6 '/z-year-old brother out of the
water when he tumbled off a yacht's
gangplank during the vacation.
Fan Mail For Caruso Jr.
As a result of Enrico Caruso, )r's.
first radio broadcast Tuesday, KFWB
received 470 letters from listeners, a
record for any one personality at the
station. Most of the letters came from
foreigners, 28 of whom were named
Caruso.
Falkenstein to 'U'
Fp+2 Falkenstein joins the Universal
^j>^ today to write with Julius Klein
^ the script for Carl Laemmie Sr.'s pro-
duction of "My Mother," inspired by
the Whistler painting. The Mac-
Quarrie office set the deal.
Gordon and Revel Back
Harry Revel and Mack Cordon are
back at Paramount after shopping on
Broadway for musical suggestions for
numbers for "Big Broadcast of 1934."
Production starts the first week of
July.
Thew Out of MCM
Harvey Thew finished his end of
"The Rear Car" script and left the
MCM lot yesterday. He teamed with
A! Boasberg on the adaptation.
Causes Extra Shows
Chicago. — The personal appearance
of Gloria Swanson at the Chicago
Theatre Wednesday and yesterday
caused the house to run five shows
each day, the first time in over twelve
weeks that this has happened. It was
the same story in Detroit, crowds
storming the theatre.
After the fiasco at the New York
Paramount, she started on tour under
the management of Dan Winkler and
the results have proved that she is
still one of the great drawing cards
of the screen world.
Bill Cagney Signed by
Monogram For Three
Monogram yesterday signed Bill
Cagney to a three picture deal and
will spot him in "The Redhead," a
novel by Vera Brown, as his first.
Script has been written by Betty Bur-
bridge under Mrs. Wallace Reid's su-
pervision.
He then goes into "Dames and Dy-
namite," which Al DeMond is script-
ing and George Bertholon supervising.
His last subject will be "Reckless
Romeo," based on an original by N.
Brewster Morse, "Ten Minute Eggs."
Paramount to Start
'Mrs. Wiggs' May 28
"Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch" is on Paramount's production
sheet to start the week of May 28.
Pauline Lord is on the way from New
York for it.
The screen play is being prepared
by William Slavens McNutt and Jane
Storm. Norman Taurog directs.
Corney-Hartman Set
Stanley Bergerman has signed Jay
Corney and Don Hartman to write two
musical numbers for "Romance in the
Rain," which Stuart Walker directs
when it starts June 1. Studio is nego-
tiating with Harold Hecht to stage a
musical number in the picture.
New Term For Meins
Gus Meins yesterday had the pleas-
ure of tearing up his old Roach con-
tract and receiving a new deal from
the hands of Henry Ginsberg. Meins
has directed the Todd-Kellys and Our
Gang for several months.
Wald Story For MCM
MGM is concluding a deal with
Jerry Wald for the purchase of his
original story, "Nigh_t §chopJ." Studio
has no definite plans for it as yet.
Air Yarn For Crant
Paramount has acquired an aviation
story by Nell Shipman for Gary Crant.
The title is "Eye of the Eagle." Fran-
ces Drake will have the girl lead.
Genevieve Tobin Sails
New York. — Genevieve Tobin sail-
ed for Europe yesterday on the Mau-
retania. She will be there two months.
Marjorie Rambeau May
Do 'Klondike Kate' Yarn
Willard Mack and Edward Paul-
ton are writing a story around the
life of Kate Rockwell Natson, bet-
ter known to the world as "Klon-
dike Kate."
Harry Weber plans to produce it
with Marjorie Rambeau in the role
of Kate. He is negotiating for a
major release.
Referee Settling
Paramount Cases
New York. — Referee Ehrhorn, sit-
ting in for Referee Davis in the Para-
mount bankruptcy hearings, yesterday
approved the plans of the trustees to
effect a reorganization of the Gold-
stein Brothers circuit and the Olympia
Theatres, both in New England.
There was no opposition.
He also approved the settlement of
the claim of the Artfilm Studio Inc.
for alleged infringement of the Stam-
baugh patent on the blue transparency
method. Paramount is to pay Artfilm
$500 and buy the patent for $2000.
High Yaller' For Stahl
John Stahl yesterday tested Freddie
Washington, colored actress, for the
"high yaller" role in "Imitation of
Life" and so far she has the insids
track for the role.
NOW BOOKING ENTIRE COUNTRY
JEWEL PROD.. 723 7 Ave., N.
GRAUMANS
TTFfJl^ MK^
BROADWAY at 9th • PHONE MA 3511
[ BEAUTIFUL/
tHE WORLD I
Entangled in
a baffling
MYSTERY
Gani GoMjo&L
MURDER
AT THE
UNITIES
CARL BRISSON
Victor McUGLEN
JACK OAXIE
KITTY CARLISLE
DUKE ELLINGTON
and his orchestra
^ MITCHUI lEISEN
SEE the
EARL CARROLL
SLEEPING
BEAUTY
on our Marquee
FWC Exonerated
On Two Complaints
The Los Angeles CrievarKe Board
yesterday decided that Fox West-
Theatres were not guilty of charges
brought against the corporation by the
Egyptian Theatre, of Maywood, and
the Cosm Theatre, of Clendale.
The Egyptian charged a violation
of the film code in that the Alcazar,
a Fox West Coast house, in Bell, had
cut prices and had flooded Maywood
with advertising that cut into the
Egyptian's trade. The Cosmo charged
over-buying by FWC.
A third case yesterday was that of
the Crystal Theatre, charging that the
Muse, Rosslyn and Wonderland thea-
tres, on Main street, had cut prices.
This was referred to the Code Au-
thority.
Paramount Publicity
Will Move Next Week
Paramount studio publicity depart-
ment moves one block west to a new
one-story building at the end of next
week. The move will concentrate the
publicity, fan mail, publicity stills and
foreign departments under one roof,
with Tom Baily chief mogul.
Irving Briskin Back
Irving Briskin returned to .his super-
visor's desk at Columbia yesterday
after a nine-day trip to Victoria, B.C.
Viva-Villa
starring
Wallace Beery
Cast includes
,e:> carrillo, fay wray,
sluart erwin, katherine
D3MILLE, H. B. WALTHALL and
JOSEPH SCHILDKRAUT
An MGM Picture
Loew's State
l| U «U ^ V ^ >
Paramount's Comedy Mystery
"SCflnDQL
ZASU PITTS • Phillips HOLMES
MARY BRIAN'NED SPARKS
LEW CODY
FANCHON& MARCO
Present
25V;S'35V;s-40'.
mi»E»so>M
with her sensational ROAD. SHOW
"SWANEE REVUE"
• Com.V HELEN MORGAN ■ JAYC FLIPPEN In Person*
I
f
May 18, 1934
TRE
Page Five
ZAIVIICK WOVLD LIMIT
SCOPE OF CRITICISM
New York. — Darryl Zanuck, who,
ten days ago, came out in favor of
criticism of pictures, stating that he
did not care how severe it was, now
feels that the criticism should be con-
fined to what is in the picture and the
reviewers should not go beyond that.
This later opinion grew out of a re-
view of "The Affairs of Cellini" in one
of the local picture trade papers. Re-
viewer included in his notice a warn-
ing to exhibitors not to play the pic-
ture if they did not want to encounter
censorship troubles. This, Zanuck be-
lieves, is not within the province of
any reviewer and he expressed his
opinion in an admonition to the paper.
"I do not question the right of re-
viewers to express any critical opinion
they see fit on the merits of what is
in the picture," he said, "but I feel
that such remarks do not come within
the province of a critic."
Two New Ones Start at
Para; Six Now in Work
Paramount started two new features
this week, "Ladies Should Listen" go-
ing in first, and "Ladies First" fol-
lowing yesterday. Frank Tuttle and
Gil Pratt are the respective directors.
Rosita Moreno was added yesterday
to the "Ladies Should Listen" cast,
headed by Gary Grant and Frances
Drake.
Wesley Ruggles wound up the Jack
Oakie picture, "Shoot the Works,"
Tuesday, leaving six features active at
Paramount.
Bars Put Up at '[)'
Against All Visitors
Because the lot was over-run with
salesmen, agents and many other peo-
ple who bothered the employees, Carl
Laemmie Jr. yesterday put stringent
pass regulations into effect at Uni-
versal.
Hereafter, non-employees will be
admitted to the lot only by appoint-
ment, okayed at the information desk.
Chester Hale on 'Tour'
Jack Chertok, head of the MGM
musical department, yesterday as-
signed Chester Hale to direct the mu-
sical numbers on "Student Tour," in
which Jimmy Durante and Charles
Butterworth have the leads. Charles
j Reisner directs the Monta Bell pro-
duction.
Tupper Finishes One
Tristram Tupper has completed his
^script of "The Healer," a novel by
Robert Herrick, and will be given an-
other assignment by Monogram. Story
is planned for Lionel Atwill, with no
supervisor or director set as yet.
Shumate With Rogeli
Sid Rogeli has borrowed Harold
Shumate from the Irving Briskin unit
at Columbia to write the screen play
for "Produce the Body."
Arnold in Agency
Hank Arnold joins the Landy and
Hunt publicity office as an associate.
Mind Reader Picking
Pay Spots For Frolic
The Screen Actors' Guild isn't
missing a bet in the handling of
its Film Stars Frolic. It has even
hired a professional "mind reader"
to spot the places where it will
stake out its concessions, hoping he
picks paying spots.
Lawrence Re-opens
Para. Claim As Test
New York. — The claim of Vincent
Lawrence against Paramount for
$1 13,000 for contract services, which
was disallowed recently by Referee
Davis, was re-opened yesterday. The
claim liias been amended to $24,500,
covering only the period of services
from May 24, 1933, when the con-
tract was disaffirmed, to September 6,
1933. During this time, Lawrence al-
leges, he was unable to get employ-
ment.
The trustees see in this claim a test
case, and their answer sets up that the
New York corporation laws permit
contracts to become invalid whenever
the employer desires, under bank-
ruptcy. Additional briefs will be filed
within a week.
Edward Arnold Gets
Lead in U' Picture
Edward Arnold breaks into starring
ranks in Universal's "Ransom, One
Million Dollars," the studio failing to
put through its deal with MGM for
the loan of Leo Carrillo. Murray Roth
directs under Eph Asher's supervision.
The deal was set by Schulberg,
Feldman and Gurney through an ar-
rangement with B. P. Schulberg, to
whom Arnold is under contract.
Raphaelson Assigned
Signed to a long-term deal, Samson
Raphaelson has been assigned by Fox
to write the script for "Servants' En-
trance," which will star Janet Gaynor
Two More For Agency
The Small-Landau office has signed
Leon Gordon and Irving Caesar to
managerial contracts.
Briskin After Col. Stock
(Continued from Page 1 )
believed that both brothers would wel-
come the Briskin purchase.
The Columbia-Briskin contract has
expired and Briskin .has let it be
known that he is not interested in
signing a new deal unless there are a
lot of changes in the ticket, especially
in view of the fact that at least three
other major plants have offered him
better working conditions and more
pay. Consequently, permitting Bris-
kin to buy into the company will be
the one way to cinch his services.
If the deal goes through, one of the
best sales managers, now connected
with a major outfit, will go over to
Columbia to .handle the sales.
We Are Privileged
b/ Carl Laemmie, Jr.,
to Announce that
Toda/
RICHARD THORPE
n
Becomes A Universal
Director and Has Been
Assigned by Mr. Laemmie
to
RIAN JAMES'
Unit.
He Will Direct
"Walking On Air."
Richard Thorpe /s
Personally Represented by
Milton E* Hoffman
and Sig Sch lager
Hoffman-Schlager, Inc*
FJ3»_"acaHF-^ 3r.
MADY CHRISTIANS
UNDER CONTRACT
METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER
Business Management
JOHN ZANFT, Ltd
% MP.SAVIJFL MAI^.\ .
CULVER GITY.'JALIr'
Vol. XXI. No. 10. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, May 19. 1934
ZtrOR PRCDLCING HEAD
•THE boys around New York are still
talking about that exploitation blast
Sam Coldwyn put behind the Music
Hall showing of "Nana." Sam spent
$48,000 for that blast, took 50 per
cent of every dollar that was paid at
the Music Hall box-office, over $60,-
000, and checked about even on the
deal for the two weeks showing. Even
so far as the engagement was con-
cerned, but he SOLD "Nana" all over
the country as a result of the cam-
paign and launched Anna Sten as a
star, in fact, a star who is much bet-
ter than the picture she was in.
But where Coldwyn came out even
on his big belch, many other produc-
ers have shot — and LOST — the wad in
their effort to sell New York and
America on a picture that did not
meet with favor. Witness the case of
Fox recently with "Stand Up and
Cheer" in the same house in New
York. Fox figured it had a bet (and
so did this paper) and decided to help
chase people over to the Music Hall
for that engagement. They splashed
$28,000 in the papers and on the
billboards, to no avail. As a conse-
quence, when RKO said the picture
was not doing sufficient to stick for a
second week, Fox said IT MUST
STAY, and stay it did, but it cost the
Fox organization a pretty penny.
•
In order to keep "Stand Up and
Cheer" for a second week at the
Music Hall, Fox agreed to take four
Fox pictures that RKO had contracted
for, but did not want to play, back
from RKO at a cast of $7,500 a pic-
ture— $30,000 for the four, in addi-
tion to not taking a dime for the play
of "Cheer" for the second week. In
short the two weeks engagement cost
Fox around $58,000. A pretty expen-
sive venture.
•
And on the thought of getting rid
of "shelved" pictures, the past year
will probably go down in the record
books as setting forth more pictures
put on the shelf and PAID for than
any other year in this business. Ex-
hibitors have been up against a pretty
tough proposition during the year,
what with the quality of the product
sent them by Hollywood. When they
did get a picture that had any re-
semblance to entertainment, they held
it for the limit and shelved other pic-
(Continued on Page 2)
Johnson Will Not
Remove Rosenblatt
Washington. — Cen. Johnson said
last night that Sol Rosenblatt
would not be removed from .his
jurisdiction over the film industry.
He admitted there might be
changes in the NRA, but said that
the NRA staff would make them,
and that they would not be results
of the Darrow report.
MCM Prof it Three
Times Last Year's
New York. — The financial report of
Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer for the twen-
ty-eight weeks ended March 1 5
showed a net profit of more than
three times that shown for the corre-
sponding period last year. The fig-
ures are $3,037,088 as against
$966,173. This is after deductions
for amortization, depreciation and
Federal taxes.
The report shows a net operating
income of $16,147,265 and miscella-
neous income of $452,453.
Wanger Buys Two Yarns
By Transatlantic Phone
Walter Wanger, by transatlantic
telephone with London agents yester-
,-<lay, closed for the purchase of "There
Goes the Groom," a novel by Cardin
Layton, and optioned "Sir Humphrey,"
Austin Murdock's novel.
He will use the stories in connection
with his new production set-up, either
as an independent or with some major
.here.
''Adolph Zukor Presents" To
Appear On Siain Titles Of
All Paramount's Pictures
New York. — Adolph Zukor is now in charge of production at
the Paramount studios. This became known yesterday when an
order went through that the main titles of all future Paramount
pictures should read "Adolph Zukor presents," instead of credit-
ing Paramount or any producer.
This also goes for all pictures made
by independent producers for Para-
mount release, because the first pic-
ture which will carry the new-style
title is "Kiss and Make Up," a B. P.
Schulberg production. The names of
Schulberg, Rogers or any other inde-
pendent producer will be on the main
title, but secondary to Zukor's.
This brings the Paramount president
directly into the branch of the indus-
try in which he always has been the
(Continued on Page 51
Sam Wood Refuses Bid
To Direct in England
Sam Wood has turned down the
offer by Associated Talking Pictures
of Lortdon to direct "The Moon Was
All Aglow" during his vacation in
England.
The director will rest only during
his four months vacation which starts
as soon as he completes "Stamboul
Quest" for MCM.
Gene Fowler Really Goes
Gene Fowler finally entrained for
J)Fxe East yesterday, the next stop being
Fire Island.
I]\DIE EXHIBS ORCAMZE
REVOLT AGAIXST PRICES
Holzman and Daab on
Way Here by Steamer
New York. — Driven to united op-
position by the percentage demands
that are being made by the major
companies for product for the coming
season, independent exhibitors from
the East and Middle West met at the
Motion Picture Club yesterday to out-
line plans for a battle which, they be-
lieve, affects their existence.
According to Sidney Samuelson, of
the Allied States organization, and
Lou Blumenthal, of New York, a
check-up showed that those who were
at the meeting represented nearly 75
(Continued on Page 41
New York. — Ben Holzman, Eddie
Cantor's manager, and Hy Daab, who
has given up publicity work to write
scenarios, are sailing for Hollywood
today on the S.S. California.
It is understood that Daab has a
writing deal on with Warners.
Pickford Due Tomorrow
Mary Pickford flies in Sunday morn-
ing, the day's delay due to a holdover
on her Toronto appearance.
French Ask 3-Mos.
Ban on U.S. Films
Paris — Representatives of American
film companies were amazed yester-
day when it was learned that French
producers are pushing a move that wilt
virtually spell ruin to American films
here, if the effort is successful.
The French producers are asking
the government to prohibit importa-
tion of all American films for a period
of three months; to increase the tariff
on negative copies of films by more
than 3000 per cent; and to grant a
favorable tariff to French versions of
films made in Germany, which would
give German films the inside track
here.
Millie Wanted Abroad
New York. — Lewis Milestone has
received an offer to direct "One Hun-
dred Years to Come" for Alexander
Korda's London Films and may accept.
This is the original written by H. C.
Wells.
Mannix on 'Vanessa'
Eddie Mannix goes in as associate
producer on "Vanessa," at MCM.
Picture will star Helen Hayes, under
William K. Howard's direction. Ar-
thur Richman and Lenore Coffee are
writing the screen play.
Frances Fuller Here
Frances Fuller arrived in Hollywood
yesterday, after a six months absence,
and goes into the spot opposite George
Bancroft in "Ladies First" at Para-
mount. Gilbert Pratt directs.
Scoop For Pathe News
New York. — The Pathe newsreel
obtained exclusive news shots of the
running down of the Nantucket light-
ship by the Olympic
E
w
O U I S KING
NOW
PREPARING
W A N T E D" for Fox
Page Two
THE
May 19, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
" Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193:
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
J 879.
COME WHAT MAY' OUT DATED;
EVERY TDVRSDAY' AMVSI]\«
Merian C. Cooper has decided to
live in Honolulu permanently — that
is, between the occasional pictures he
may make! . . . And what of Doro-
thy Jordan's career? . . . The Dick
Wallaces, off on a trip to Scotland
Monday. ... Do you know what fa-
mous English theatrical man is said to
be handling the Irish Sweeptakes in
this country? . . . Mrs. Paul Warburg
iust unleashed herself in Reno
Jt was Lloyd Sheldon who once asked
for a "coloratura-baritone" for one
pf his pictures! .... Patricia Ellis has
called off the personal appearance tour
and will sail up to Seattle maybe in-
stead.
•
Eddie Lowe, lounging on the Malibu
sands all week — and Mae Sunday in
the same place recouping from the
Al Rogells' cocktail party. . . . Billy
Haines, homeward bound via the high
seas at the moment. . . . Edna May
Oliver is taking Virginia Hammond to
Italy for a vacation — they sail on the
Rex right soon .... Over at MCM
they're referring to "Laughing Boy"
as "The Sad Indian" (!). ... A girl
named Letitia Ciapsaddle works in the
Security-First National Bank
I Really think that Maureen O'Sullivan
' and )ohn Farrow are secretly wed. .
A feller named Carl Miller is trying
to get Stu Erwin to finance a Robot
that stands behind your bar and mixes
the drinks — that is, if you have a
bar!
•
Richard Halliburton, author and
globe-trotter, around town — he swam
the Hellespont once. . . . Virginia
Pine's hospital room one mass of
flowers from Hollywood pals — that
beooty will never be a "lonesome
Pine!" . . . Herbert Marshall, Arthur
Richman, Bessie Love, Phillips
Holmes, Ray Griffith, Hedda Hopper,
Ben Coetz, Mrs. Clark Gable, Al New-
man, Ruth Roland, Mrs. Walter Con-
nolly, among the lunchers at the Ven-
dome yesterday. . . . Adolphe Menjou
may do the Barrymore role in "Hat,
Coat and Glove." . . . Marian Nixon
off to the Redwoods tomorrow for a
trip.
Mary Philips Is
Good Picture Bet
"COME WHAT MAY"
Hal Skelly presents "Come What
May," by Richard F. Flournoy; di-
rected by Leo Bulgakov; settings by
Clement M. Williams; with Hal
Skelly, Mary Philips, Stanton Bier,
Granville Bates, Sara Perry, Robert
Mayors, Robert Sloane, Alfred Corn,
Harry Clancy, W. W. Shuttleworth,
Nancy Evans, John Bennethum. At
the Plymouth Theatre.
New York. — Hal Skelly demon-
strates in "Come What May" his ver-
satility as an actor, in an almostplot-
less play, which starts in 1896 and
ends thirty-two years later. We be-
hold the transition of Hal Skelly from
a small-town typesetter in his early
twenties, to a man in his late fifties.
Skelly is ably abetted by Mary Philips,
who plays his wife.
The play is an old-fashioned drama
that lacks punch. It is another "Cav-
alcade" type of play without the pag-
eantry, and concerns itself with the
marriage of the two principal charac-
ters— Chet Harrison, played by Skelly,
and Eve Hayward, played by Mary
Philips — Skelly's call to arms during
the Spanish-American war, and the
birth of their son. After a ten-year
lapse we are again introduced to the
family, with Skelly losing his job and
their boy, now ten years of age, get-
ting his first position. There is an-
other lapse of ten years and we find
the son called to the colors during the
great war and his subsequent death.
After the war, a nephew whom the
couple have raised and who has taken
their son's place in their affections,
announces his desire to leave them
and make his way in the world, leav-
ing them all alone. The play ends
with the elderly lovers commenting
on the fact that the world has used
them very decently and things look
very happy and prosperous.
Leo Bulgakov, who directed this
play in a manner reminiscent of his
earlier success, "One Sunday After-
noon," handled the direction with
consummate skill. The characteriza-
tions of the cast were done with ar-
tistry and restraint, and particularly is
the performance given by Mary Philips,
as Eve Hayward, to be commended.
Because of the absence of plot
Come What May" apparently would
make a weak picture. Hal Skelly's
performance was excellent; Mary Phil-
ips got everything that was possible
out of a very human role. If she pho-
tographs well, she should be a fairly
good bet for pictures, as she is a dra-
matic artist of ability.
Kind Heart Leads Cobb
To Refuse Personals
Irvin Cobb has been offered ten
weeks personals on an eastern circuit
when "Fisherman's Luck" is released,
although he hasn't started shooting
the Roach comedy yet.
Cobb turned it down with the com-
ment that he feared that, ater sitting
through the picture, the audience
would have suffered enough.
Fox Takes Joe May
For 'Music in Air*
Joe May, the German director
who has been sitting out his con-
tract at Columbia for three months
or more without an assignment,
winds up his term in about two
weeks and goes over to Fox to di-
rect "Music in the Air."
'Scarlet Empress' Is
Held Over in London
London. — '"Scarlet Empress," the
Marlene Dietrich picture, caught on
in its opening week and is held over
for a second. Other holdovers are
"It Happened One Night," "Roman
Scandals" and Bob Flaherty's "Man of
Aran."
The newcomers for the week are
"Tarzan and His Mate" at the Em-
pire, "We're Not Dressing" at the
Plaza, "Flying Down to Rio" at the
Regal, and "Hips, Hips, Hooray" at
the Capitol. "The House of Roth-
schild" will open at the Tivoli next
Thursday.
'Young Eagles' Winds
Up at Sennett's Today
George W. Stout, producer of the
Romance serial, flew east yesterday
for a couple of days business in New
York.
Ashton Dearholt, who succeeded
Vin Moore as director of "Young
Eagles," is set to wind up the serial
today at Mack Sennett studio.
'Fascist Parade' in Work
New York. — David Calcagni, presi-
dent of the Integrity Film Corporation,
announces the forthcoming appear-
ance of a feature called "The Fascist
Parade," which is now in production.
European Sailings
New York. — Sailing on the Paris
today are Hal Wallis and Louise Fa-
zenda, Charlie Farrell and Virginia
Valli, and Charles Caldwell Dobie,
noted writer.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page I )
tures they knew would do nothing but
hurt the business.
A big chain operator told us re-
cently that his chain had shelved (and
PAID for) over a third of the product
it contracted for, and even with that
big luxury in booking, had the best
year in some time. All of which proves
what a great business this picture bus-
iness really is and what just a few
good pictures will do in earning profits
for all concerned. Consequently, why
is there so little effort put forth in
making BETTER PICTURES?
Has Possibilities
For Film Purposes
"EVERY THURSDAY"
Presented by Wee Cr Leventhal inc. at
the Royale Theatre; written by
Doty Hobart; staged by Theodore
Viehman; settings by Martin Tur-
ner; with George Carleton, Ann
Dere, Queenie Smith, Leon Janney,
Tucker McGuire, Frederick Forres-
ter, Jack Davis, Sheila Trent.
New York. — Queenie Smith came
back to town in a mildly amusing
comedy by Doty Hobart, called "Every
Thursday" and presented by the
amazing Wee and Leventhal, who
have already shown themselves to be
among the most alert showmen of the
season.
Leon Janney, of the pictures, makes
his debut as a legitimate stage actor,
taking the part of the adolescent boy
who is always getting into jams with
women, only to be rescued by Miss
Smith.
The plot of the play itself is very
amusing and easily adaptable for pic-
tures: The Clarks cannot imagine
their son growing up, and consequent-
ly still treat him as a child. Sadie,
the hired girl (Miss Smith) is always
getting the boy out of jams and even-
tually develops a crush for the boy.
Things between Sadie and the boy are
kept a secret until Mrs. Clark over-
hears a conversation which leads her
to believe that Sadie is going to have
a child by her son, and then the fire-
works begin.
However, it is all straightened out
when Sadie explains that she was just
trying to get back five dollars from
the boy that she had loaned him some
time before. Sadie plays the martyr
and gives the boy up to the girl next
door, who also loves him.
Miss Smith does the best that she
can with the part of Sadie and often
stirred the audience with her eccen-
tricity.
Possibilities in this one for pictures.
Picture Folk to Form
Naval Militia Branch
Hollywood will soon have its own
special Division in the California State
Naval Militia. Yesterday authorization
was given Lieut. Gene Owen Hagberg,
of the C.S.N.M., to organize the spe-
cial Hollywood Division which will be-
come a part of the 1st Regiment.
There will be 100 men in the divi-
sion, of which four will be commis-
sioned officers and 1 6 petty officers.
Lieutenant Hagberg is a cemarman,
and expects to recruit most of the di-
vision from the picture industry.
Hull Due in Month
New York. — Henry Hull, finished
in "Tobacco Road," is signed by Uni-
versal to go west in a month for the
lead in "Great Expectations," from
the Dickens novel.
Little Theatre of Beverly Hills
for Professionals
624 North Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills
THEDA BARA
in "BELLA DONNA"
$1.10 and 5Sc tax included
Oxford 5903
Oxford 0555
May 21-25
inclusive
I
May 19, 1934
THEPfeJa
Page Three
FOG OVER FRISCO' CORKIXG;
'LET'S TALK IT OVER' FINE
Dieterle Direction
Novel, Enthralling
"FOC OVER FRISCO"
(Warners- First National)
Direction Wilhelm Dieterle
Original George Dyer
Adaptation Robert N. Lee
and Eugene Solow
Screen Play Robert N. Lee
Photography Tony Caudio
Cast: Bette Davis, Donald Woods,
Margaret Lindsay, Lyie Talbot,
Hugh Herbert, Arthur Byron, Rob-
ert Barrat, Henry O'Neill, Irving
Pichel, Douglas Dumbrille, Alan
Hale, Cordon Westcott, Charles
Wilson, Harold Minjir, William
Demarest, Douglas Cosgrove, Wil-
liam Davidson, Ceorge Chandler.
If "Fog Over Frisco" doesn't start
a vogue for mystery pictures, we miss
our guess. The mystery formula, so
successful in modern-day novels, has
long eluded satisfactory screen tran-
scription— unless based upon a cen-
tral character of a detective, as are
the Philo Vance stories, among others.
Producers have claimed that the lit-
eral minds of movie audiences reject
the far-fetched situations generally
employed without criticism by novel-
ists. These producers are invited to
view "Fog Over Frisco."
The picture is almost entirely a di-
rectorial triumph. Wilhelm Dieterle
has evolved a treatment as distinguish-
ed as it is distinctive. He tells his
story in a series of only slightly re-
lated incidents, almost montage, and
does not pause to explain anything
until the finale when, in one fell
swoop, he explains everything. The
treatment achieves a tempo of furious
intensity. We are quite aware that
this is an inept simile, but the effect
is like a top that spins madly at first,
to take shape only as it begins to stop.
But then you must see the picture, so
make your own similes.
In comparison to the direction, the
Story is relatively unimportant, being
a more or less conventional mystery
yarn. The racket concerned is the
disposition of stolen securities, and
several people are murdered in the
course of the plot. Adaptation by
Robert N. Lee and Eugene Solow is
workmanlike, leaving no loose ends in
the solution. Explanations for a few
mysterious happenings are merely in-
dicated and the audience is thereby
given credit for intelligence enough to
figure things out for itself.
And did the patrons love to figure?
They were still talking about it as
Ihey came out of the preview and
probably continued all the way home.
It was the first opportunity they had
had to talk, for they sat more than
ordinarily tense in the theatre, almost
afraid to breathe lest an important
point in the story be missed.
Performances in the main, very
good. Bette Davis has a strange char-
acter to perform, skirting upon the
pathological, and she acquits herself
splendidly. Margaret Lindsay is at all
times charming and more than usually
competent. Donald Woods seems a
bit too determined a hero, and Lyle
Talbot has nothing to do. Hugh Her-
Charwomen Strike in
New York Theatres
New York. — The janitors and
charwomen of the Loew's and
RKO Radio City theatres have join-
ed the strike started Thursday by
the ushers, doormen and ticket
takers, members of a new employ-
ees' union.
New York Crosses
Show No Animation
New York. — There is no apparent
improvement in the grosses of the big
New York picture palaces. Good re-
ceipts are scarce.
At the Music Hall, "Change of
Heart" could get only $67,300.
"Manhattan Melodrama" grabbed
$48,475 for its second week at the
Capitol, and "He Was Her Man" at
the Strand, for its second week ending
next Tuesday, will take about $27,-
500. The Paramount was poor with
around $20,000 for "Thirty Day Prin-
cess," "Clamour" gave the Roxy about
$19,000, and "Murder in Trinidad"
took $10,500. "Rothschild" in its
tenth week at the Astor held up with
nearly $17,000.
Lloyd Nolan Gets Term
Contract With Para.
Paramount is closing negotiations
on a long-term contract for Lloyd
Nolan, who starred in the Broadway
edition of "One Sunday Afternoon."
He is due here in ten days from
New York. The ticket is being han-
dled by Small-Landau in conjunction
with Jane Broder.
Kahn-Donaldson Set;
Coldwyn-Felix Dicker
Cus Kahn and Walter Donaldson
have been engaged by Sam Coldwyn
to write songs for the new Eddie Can-
tor picture.
Coldwyn is dickering with Seymour
Felix to stage the dances, the attempt
to get Busby Berkeley having failed.
Term For Jean Parker
jean Parker's option was exercised
by MCM yesterday. The player, head-
ed by the company for stardom, goes
into "Have a Heart," the Butler-De
Sylva picture which John Considine
produces as her next.
bert carries all of the comedy, work-
ing .hard. He has a couple of lines in
photographing a corpse that could be
eliminated to advantage. The other
members of the cast are uniformly
good, with Douglas Dumbrille, Robert
Barrat, Arthur Byron and Alan Hale
particularly outstanding. Lighting and
photography by Tony Caudio excep-
tionally fine.
Your only difficulty with "Fog Over
Fricco" will be in turn-over. Too many
of your audience will want to sit
through it a second time. It's that
kind of a picture.
Play it up as a really intelligent
mystery thriller.
Chester Morris Does
Extraordinary Job
"LET'S TALK IT OVER"
(Universal)
Direction Kurt Neumann
Authors Dore Schary
and Lewis Foster
Screen Play John Meehan Jr.
Photography Charles Stumar
Cast: Chester Morris, Mae Clarke,
Frank Craven, Irene Ware, Andy
Devine, Anderson Lawler, John
Warburton, Coodee Montgomery,
Russ Brown, Henry Armetta.
Chester Morris gives one of the-
finest performances of his career as
the gob, Mike McCann, in the Uni-
versal picture, "Let's Talk It Over."
His keen sense of dramatic value,
his timing, his simplicity and utter
honesty to type, his superb sincerity —
these all make his characterization a
miracle of emotional lights and shad-
ows. His Mike McCann is an ex-
tremely interesting human being.
Direction is strong and vivid and
the writing is exceptionally smooth.
With bouquets going to all depart-
ments, "Let's Talk It Over" is one of
Universal's best. But why the title?
Morris is a sailor who accidentally
rescues Mae Clarke, heiress to twenty
millions, from drowning. Taking full
advantage of the situation, he calls on
her and, because he is such a cock-
sure, impossible, boastful young up-
start, she introduces him to her
friends, who all watch to see w.hat
the freak will do next. Taking her
interest in him seriously, he quits the
navy and goes to work in her uncle's
bond house. Mae gets him the job
on a bet — a hundred dollars that she
can make something out of him. In-
stead, he makes something out of
himself, and she finally falls very
much out of love with her idle, rest-
less, scatter-brained existence, and
very much in love with him.
One of the beauties of Morris' char-
acterization is that he never quite gets
over being the gob. The polish is
there, but his essential SELF remains
the same. It is a great performance.
Miss Clarke is more than acceptable
as the rich, unthinking girl; Frank
Craven has a swell part as her very
understanding uncle; Andy Devine is
a comic sailor; John Warburton is the
snobbish fiance of Miss Clarke; Irene
Ware makes a small role memorable;
Coodee Montgomery has a vamp part,
and Russ Brown and Henry Armetta
are well cast.
Kurt Neumann directed; John Mge-
han Jr. made the screen play from the
story by Dore Schary and Lewis Fos-
ter, and Charles Stumar photographed.
Young and old will like this picture.
It's good, reliable stuff, made ex-
traordinarily entertaining by M^rris'
performance.
(Other Review on Page 4)
Berkeley Starts 300
Busby Berkeley set 300 girls at
work yesterday on a special set for
"Dames" that required 30 tons of
steel in construction. Happy conclu-
s on to the Coldwyn-Warner suit was
the signal for on with the dance num-
bers.
bifHetertilwmfk
Still one of the most astonishing
things about Hollywood to the visiting
foreigner is the thousands of people
who are lured to the Cinema Capitol
In the fond hope that they will be
stars some day. They tell us that
they've heard about and read about
Hollywood in the foreign prints, but
that nothing they've said can com-
pare to the vastness of the picture in-
dustry and the terrible feeling of dis-
couragement it engenders in the
stranger. They cannot quite fathom
the terrific attraction that Hollywood
has, the enormity of the possible re-
ward, in the face of what looks like
the complete impossibility of attaining
that reward. They cannot understand
why steps haven't been taken to keep
people out of Hollywood. They can't
understand that such a thing is im-
possible.
•
Not until the glamour of existence
in Hollywood is completely taken
away; nat until fame and fortune be-
come meaningless words to beauty
that is struggling for a livelihood, will
it be at all possible to assure anyone
of the futility of trying to crash the
gates. It's too much worth while for
the one who does, by some queer trick
of fate or luck or accident, become a
star to convince the thousands of
there's that it's of no use, because
there's no guarantee that the same
thing cannot happen to them.
•
That's a right expensive experiment
that Radio is conducting with that
two-reeler in color, but definitely, if
anything is to come out of color (jho-
tography at all, it's worth spending
the money to get it just right and
finally find out just what it is that
they're working with and how to use
it. To date, so far as color films are
concerned, not enough time has been
spent on the study of lights and col-
ors and their relation to each other.
That's where stage training comes in
and that's where Robert Edmond Jones
fits in so helpfully; Robert Edmond
Jones and a staff of experts that
should be able to turn out an artistic
masterpiece in color. Being somewhat
of an old die-hard, we hope that the
black and white medium will not be
entirely eliminated. But if color is
successful, it will be grand to see pic-
tures that require a great deal of out-
door shots and atmospheric beauty,
done in color, and other types of pic-
tures can still use the effective black
and white. Who knows, there may be
a whole new school of cinema art
evolved from it. The black and white
to belong to the etcher's group and
the color photograp^hy sort of por-
traits in oils or something.
At any rate it seems proper and
fittin' for Radio to try the experiment,
because it has a piece of property on
the schedule that cries aloud for color
photography, and that is "Creen Man-
sions."
Page Four
THE
May 19, 1934
IJ's 'LITTLE MAIV' IS SLOW;
ACTIIVG BETTER THAN STORY
Sullavan Shines, As
Does Montgomery
"LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?"
(Universal)
• Oifection Frank Borzage
Kidvel Hans Fallada
Screen Play..-.Wm. Anthony McGuire
photography Norbert Brodine
Cast: Margaret Sullavan, Douglass
Montgomery, Alan Hale, Catherine
*' boucet, DeWitt Jennings, Bodil
'■"Rosing, Muriel Kirkland, Donald
1 Haynes, George Meeker, Paul Fix,
. ..Carlos de Valdez, Hedda Hopper,
, ; Fred Kohler, Mae Marsh, Sarah
Padden, Tom Ricketts, Frank Reich-
' er, Monroe Owsley, C. P. Huntley
'■■■Jr., Christian Rub, Alan Mowbray,
Etienne Girardot, Earle Fox, Max
,, , Asher.
There is a far greater chance that
•the individual performances in this
picture will give more pleasure than
the entertainment value of the story
so carefully and thinly spread across
the screen. It is a tale so elaborately
simple, so carefully casual, so much
the picturization of every day trage-
dies, deliberately underwritten and
underplayed, that most of the dra-
matic values and entertainment val-
ines come out slightly underdone.
' Play up the appearance of Marga-
ret Sullavan, Douglass Montgomery
and a fine supporting cast, and the
fact that the title was a best seller,
but don't bank too heavily on the
.tears or laughs.
A boy and a girl get married be-
cause they are in love and the girl is
going to have a baby. They go to a
small town where the boy gets a job
because he says he is a bachelor. The
boy is fired when he is forced to con-
■fess he is married because his em-
ployer's daughter wants him for a hus-
band. The boy and girl go to Berlin,
to the boy's stepmother. The step-
mother is a not so nice gal, running
a not too good establishment, and
when the boy finds it out, he and the
girl move out. The boy loses his job.
The baby is born. The boy is about
to get a good job as the picture ends.
Just like that — it all happens just
'like that and, despite, the fact that
there are moments that could have
been incisive and dramatic, moments
to wring the heart and moments for
laughter through tears, nothing is
'done with the cause to bring about
the effect. It's all quite true to life,
but it isn't especially good theatre,
and somehow Mr. Borzage's garret
doesn't seem to have as much charm
as it once possessed.
Margaret Sullavan is very lovely and
completely good, but for a gal who
rose to sensational stardom in her first
picture, her role is hardly big enough
for her — she's out of the picture for
far too long at a time and the star
■part is really Douglass Montgomery's.
Montgomery is excellent in a role that
makes him a fairly dull and slightly
'stuffy person.
The really interesting performances
and people are the minor characteriza-
tions, headed by Alan Hale and Chris-
tian Rub. Hale goes out of the pic-
ture all too soon and Rub comes in
Bill Daniels Set Up
As Ace Cameraman
MGM in its house organ has just
announced a list of what it calls
the thirty best pictures the studio
has produced in its history. Out of
this thirty. Bill Daniels has photo-
graphed nine.
'U' Has Seven Ready
To Start In June
"Walking on Air" is the next start-
er on Universal's production schedule,
set for June 1 , Rian James on the
screen play, and it is Dick Thorpe's
first Universal direction.
"Fanny," William Wyler directing;
Bennie Zeldman's production, "Castles
in the Air"; and Stanley Bergerman's
"Romance in the Rain" are also sup-
posed to start in Jane.
John Stahl's production, "imitation
0_f Life," and Eph Asher's "Ransom —
One Million Dollars," may also get
under the lights the same month.
Connolly Will Stage
Dances in 'Flirtation'
Bobby Connolly, Broadway dance
director imported by Warners as an
ace in the hole during the Busby
Berkeley litigation, will stay on his
merits.
Result of his Technicolor short, fin-
ished Wednesday, is assignment to do
the dances for "Flirtation Walk," the
Dick Powell-Ruby Keeler musical, on
the June schedule. Meantime he
starts another color short next week.
New One For Caruso
Warners yesterday optioned Enrico
Caruso Jr. for another short Spanish
musical. This time it may have an
English version. William McGann
again directs for Manuel Reachi.
MGM Borrows Regan
MGM is borrowing Phil Regan,
Warner's radio name, for "Student
Tour." MGM originally tested Regan
as a Crawford lead, but Warners
signed him.
Hyman Takes 'Quest'
Bernie Hyman has taken over the
production reins on "Stamboul Quest,"
which Walter Wanger had in work at
MGM.
Vicki Baum to S-F-C
Vicki Baum yesterday signed a
managerial contract with the Schul-
berg, Feldman and Gurney office.
far too late, but in between is a good
scene by Alan Mowbray that is a joy
because he gives it so much pace.
Muriel Kirkland is soooo annoyingly
good as the girl trying to get a hus-
band, and Catherine Doucet, G. P.
Huntley, Jr. and Monroe Owsley win
individual mention for their perform-
ances.
The photography by Norbert Bro-
dine is excellent throughout.
Heavy Guards Set
On Johnson Reply
Washington. — Due to the "leak"
on the famous Darrow film code re-
port, an ironclad censorship was placed
around the reply of General Johnson
here yesterday while it was being
printed.
Special guards were thrown about
the section of the printing plant
handling the reply in order to keep
reporters and others from obtaining
adMar^ZQ tips on its contents. Gov-
ernment employees leaving the print-
ing room were searched, and every
possible precaution taken to keep the
reply secret until it is officially re-
leased.
Eugene Walter To Do
McCuire Screen Play
_,Eugene Walter has been engaged
by William Anthony McGuire to write
the screen play of the Universal pro-
ducer's story, "A Saint in the Cellar."
McGuire is undecided whether he
will add this picture to his list of four
under his Universal contract or pro-
duce it independently.
New England Village
Built For 'Letter'
Splurging on his first Majestic pic-
ture, Larry Darmour has constructed a
complete New England village in Lau-
rel Canyon for exteriors of "The Scar-
let Letter."
Robert Vignola puts the picture be-
fore the cameras next Wednesday.
Interiors will be shot at the Darmour
studio.
Bancroft and Karns
To Sing in Para. Pic
"The Tattooed Lady" will be sung
by George Bancroft and Roscoe Karns
in Paramount's "Ladies First." The
Robbins number, Walter O'Keefe se-
quel to "Man on the Flying Trapeze,"
was sold for the picture by Abe Meyer.
Martin-Lowe Finish
Al Martin and Sherman Lowe have
completed their original, "Crimson
Romance," for Mascot, and Milton
Krims is now writing the continuity
and screen play. Dave Howard prob-
ably will direct. Marty Cohen is su-
pervising.
Ceballos With Small
Edward Small signed Larry Ceballos
yesterday to direct the dances in
"Transatlantic Showboat," Leroy Prinz
dropping out owing to prior assign-
ments. The Small-Landau office
made the deal.
Fox Signs Morgan
Ralph Morgan was signed yesterday
by Fox for a part in "She Was a
Lady." Morgan finishes work Mon-
day night in "Afterwards" at Radio,
and starts work in the Fox picture
Tuesday morning.
Court Won't Kill
Para. Libel Suit
New York. — The Appellate Division
of the Supreme Court yesterday de-
nied the request of Paramount-Publix
for permission to carry to the Court
of Appeals its motion for the dismis-
sal of the $150,000 libel suit brought
against the corporation by Mrs.
Minerva Brown, of Norwich, New
York.
Mrs. Brown's suit is based on the
picturization of Dreiser's "American
Tragedy," which Paramount made.
The plaintiff is the mother of the girl
who was killed by Chester Gillette.
Seven Seas Corp. Head
Here For Production
William Fisk III, president of the
Seven Seas Corp., is due from New
York today or Monday after five
months absence.
Fisk has been arranging release for
"Cane Fire," Hawaiian feature direct-
ed by Lois Weber last fall, and is ex-
pected to have new production plans.
The company quarters at General Ser-
vice Studio.
Monogram Starting
Production With Rush
Monogram finished "The Star
Packer" Tuesday, started "Jane Eyre"
Thursday, and has "Happy Landings"
set for a start next Wednesday. Bill
Cagney's first for Monogram, "Red-
head," starts some time in June. Guy
Robertson also arrives in June for
"King Kelly of the U.S.A."
Pierson Back to Para.
Arthur Pierson, recently under
term contract to Paramount, returned
to that organization yesterday for a
featured role as a free lancer in "52
Weeks for Fleurette." Al Werker di-
rects.
Frances Drake Set
Frances Drake was .handed the role
opposite Herbert Wilcoxon yesterday
by Paramount in "Shoe the Wild
Mare," the Gene Fowler story.
Exhibs Hit Percentages
(Continued from Page 1 )
per cent of the independent buying
power of the entire country.
The problem of buying film this
coming season, the independent lead-
ers say, is the most pressing they have
to face. Philadelphia exhibitors are
primarily responsible for this cam-
paign because of their squawks that
Fox is insisting on booking thirty of
its pictures for next season at rates
ranging from 25 to 35 per cent. Such
demands, they say, will put them out
of business.
The principal result of yesterday's
meeting was a determination to hold
a mass gathering, probably in Madison
Square Garden, which will be ad-
dressed by leaders from all sections.
The sentiment of those who met yes-
terday indicated that, on this alleged
grievance at least, the great bulk of
the independent exhibitors will stand
together, being convinced that they
must do so for their own protection.
Another meeting will be held shortly.
1
May 19, 1934
THE^e
Pace Five
Mitzi Green Wins
$5000 Agency Suit
An agent must prove himself di-
rectly responsible for securing a posi-
tion on which commission is disputed,
ruled Superior Judge Parker yesterday
in dismissing the $5,000 commiission
suit brought by William Melkiejohn
and Arthur Esberg against Mitzi
Green and her father, Joe Keno.
Judge Parker's decision is in line
with recent New York court rulings.
Mitzi Green and her father were rep-
resented by F. B. McCarthy and J. F.
Rosen. Meiklejohn and Esberg, who
sued on a contract in which they were
engaged to secure Mitzi for a Ward
Baking Co. broadcast transcription
were represented by Martin Gang.
Joe Keno convinced the court that
he and the program sponsor had put
over the $50,000 deal with World
Broadcasting Co. The case has been
under submission since the trial two
weeks ago.
Irish Sweepstakes
Basis of MCM Picture
The stamp of approval was placed
by MGM yesterday on a Robert Hop-
kins idea to make a picture based on
the Irish Sweepstakes, and the studio
schedules it for immediate production
under the title, "The Winning
Ticket."
It will be a comedy and Ray Doyle
has been assigned to write the screen
play. Harry Rapf produces it. Other
production plans are not set.
One Play Good and One
No Good For Pictures
New York. — Of the two plays that
opened on Broadway this week, "In-
vitation to a Murder" is favorable for
pictures and "Come What May" is
unfavorable.
Inez Courtney Here
Inez Courtney, comedienne of Joe
Cook's "Hold Your Horses" on the
New York stage, arrived yesterday
from the East on the steamship Penn-
sylvania to start her term deal at
Columbia. Player has not been given
an assignment as yet.
Gloria Shea at Mayfair
Mayfair yesterday signed Gloria
Shea for the lead opposite Buster
Crabbe in "Alice Takes a Hand," an
original by Rex Taylor. Picture goes
into work Monday at the Darmour
studio, with Spencer Bennet directing.
Lee With Mamoulian
Sam Goldwyn has signed Bob Lee
to be Rouben Mamoulian's assistant
director on "Resurrection," which goes
into work June 1 . Leonard Praskins
is completing his job of polishing up
the script.
George Rosenor East
George Rosenor, accompanied by his
wife and son, left on an automobile
trip to New York yesterday. Actor-
writer will return to the Shubert fold.
New Staub Comedy
Ralph Staub is starting in a few
days on another Warner short, featur-
ing El Brendel and Phil Regan. Staub
is both producer and director.
Arthur Hoyt and Edward McWade
for "Notorious Sophie Lang," for
Paramount.
C. Aubrey Smith for "One More
River," Universal, by Small-Landau.
Margaret Seddon into "Jane Eyre,"
Monogram, by Hallam Cooley.
Charles Coleman for "Shock," Mon-
ogram, by Hallam Cooley.
Gloria Shea in "The Vicious Cir-
cle," Mayfair, through Lichtig and
Englander.
Vernon Downing to "Treasure Is-
land," MGM, through Max Shagrin.
Charles French and Solidad Jimenez
to "The Red Rider," Universal serial,
by Bill Charney, of the Harry Wurtzel
office.
Frank Moran to "Three Chumps
Ahead," Todd-Kelly short at Hal
Roach.
Lionel Belmore for "Caravan," Fox,
by Leo Lance of Max Shagrin office.
Clarence Muse to "Count of Monte
Cristo," Reliance, through MacQuarrie.
Keith Kenneth for "Grand Canary,"
Fox, by MacQuarrie.
New Play For Arthur
London. — George K. Arthur, over
here on business, has taken a six
months option on Temple Thurston's
new play, "The Wandering Jew," and
will produce it on Broadway next Fall.
He has started negotiations with Paul
Muni and Philip Merivale for the lead.
Mrs. Farnol Arriving
Mrs. Lynn Farnol, wife of the Sam
Goldwyn publicity diretcor, gets in
today from Austin, Texas, where she
stopped off to visit on her return here
from New York. She has been on
her parents' ranch near Austin for the
past two weeks.
Zukor Production Head
(Continued from Page 1 )
most deeply interested. Some years
ago, when Jesse L. Lasky was in the
company, the pictures were split in
the matter of presentation credits.
Zukor would present one, and the
next would carry Lasky's name. Now,
however, Zukor will have the title
field to himself.
"I have always taken a great in-
terest in production," he said the
other day to a representative of the
Reporter. "Nothing gives me keener
pleasure than to lay out in front of
me a story and then visualize the
writers, directors and cast who should
handle it. To me it is the most fas-
cinating part of the business.
"Now that the reorganization of
the company is under way in New
York, 1 can be relieved of some of
the duties that have kept me there
and can do what 1 have always wanted
to do — make pictures."
There have been few outside of the
Paramount organization who have
realized what a keen production mind
Adolph Zukor has. In the past it was
his advice, his hints which made vast
improvements in many Paramount pic-
tures. His presence at the studio
should make for greatly improved
Paramount product.
HEMRY B.
WALTHALL
Contracts for the Future
\^
The Scarlet Letter"
(Majestic Pictures —
Larry Darmour, Producer)
JOHN FORD'S PRODUCTION
of
JUDGE PRIESr
FOX
Second Fox production
to be directed by
LOUIS KING
Mr. Walthall Is Personally
Represented by
Milton E. Hoffman
and Sig Schlager
Hoffman-Schlager, Inc
Fourth Annual Directors' Number
Who Are The
ACE DIRECTORS
And How Did
They Get That Way?
we
0*
K
S0[
Do Directors Have
Box-Office Draw?
And What Are Their
Production Values?
OUT SOON
t
Ill — J — .11 lO I tJU i.V'J f ^^^ Jc ^
1- READI.-iO [;EPT^^^^^'^^
CULVEx-! CITY, O-^LIF.
Vol. XXI, No. n. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, May 21, 1934
DARR€W PUT ON THE PAN
Servicing Firms To
Co After ^Slickers'
Aroused by the "confidence man"
tactics of two independent production
companies, which have since vanished
In thin air, the Hollywood service men
are uniting in a plan to eliminate this
type of producer. In both cases, last
week the life savings of elderly wid-
ows were lost and it is out of indig-
nation against the unscrupulous per-
sons involved that the servicing group
is determined to eradicate the "confi-
dence man producer."
In the first case a woman posted
$23,000 to make a group of short
subjects She "was "promoted" by a
man who had never made a picture
(Continued on Page 8)
Cooper To Produce
'Pompeii' For Radio
Merian Cooper's first production for
Radio under his new arrangement will
be a spectacle, based on Bulwer-Lyt-
ton's "Last Days of Pompeii." He is
also to do a second spectacle, the na-
ture of which has not been announced.
Mr. Cooper is returning to Honolulu
tomorrow. He expects to make a trip
to Italy for material on the "Pompeii"
picture and will start production on it
about September 1 .
Fleet Visit Brings
War Films to Broadway
New York. — The visit of the United
States fleet to New York ,has caused
the Broadway houses to concentrate
on war films.
The Globe Theatre has booked
"War's End," the Columbia will re-
vive "Forgotten Men," and the May-
fair will show "The Unknown Sol-
dier."
No Rogers- Warner Deal
Charles R. Rogers' negotiations
with Warners were called off last
week when satisfactory percentage
arrangements could not be worked
out. Negotiations were exclusively
reported in the Reporter a number of
months ago and later denied by Rog-
ers, who was then still under con-
tract to Paramount.
Pabst-Radio Split
C. W. Pabst and Radio are sepa-
rating by mutual consent after the
studio and the director could not agree
on an assignment for him. He moves
to another major studio, w.here a deal
is being closed today.
Sol Rosenblatt, Richberg And
Johnson Say His Suggestions
Mean Facism Or Communism
Washington. — Five of the most important government
reports ever issued concerning the motion picture industry were
released by the White House last night. They consisted of two
reports by Clarence Darrow and his Review Board, one by J. F.
Sinclair, minority member of the Darrow board, one by Donald
Richberg, NRA chief legal counsel, and the combined replies of
General Hugh Johnson and Sol A. Rosenblatt to the charges by Darrow
In Darrow's two reports, he and his board attack practically everything
in the film code, advocate the ousting of Sol Rosenblatt, call for sweeping
changes in the entire code set-up, declare the NRA is futile, shock advocates
of true democracy by declaring that we must have either monopoly by govern-
ment or a planned economy which demands socialized ownership and control,
and wind up by stating that hope for American people lies in the latter plan.
In biting and vitriolic phrases, Johnson, Richberg and Rosenblatt attack
Darrow and .his board, defend the film code and those connected with it, and
charge the Darrow board with being unfair, prejudiced, ignorant of the mean-
ing of the code, and advocates of either Fascism or Communism, and demand
that the board be abolished.
In other words, Johnson, Richberg and Rosenblatt defend self-government
of industry, while Darrow and his Review Board declare that the only thing
that will work is absolute government ownership of all industry.
Darrow's advocacy of government monopoly of the film industry was con-
tained in the supplemental report which has been kept secret while the first
report of his board was being discussed and its contents were leaking to the
press. This report was written by Darrow and W. O. Thomson.
"Fascism or Communism The Choice"
It was to this report that General Johnson issued his most vitriolic replies.
He declared that "stripped of shadowy verbiage, this means that the choice of
the American people is between Fascism and Communism, neither of which
can be espoused by any one who believes in our democratic institutions of self-
government. Nor can any public official who .has taken oath to defend the
Constitution of the United States adopt or officially advocate such a program.
The supplementary report demonstrates completely the propriety of my recom-
mendation that the Review Board should be abolished."
Summed up, the Darrow report favors double bills, opposes fixing mini-
mum admissions, calls for a sweeping revision of the film code, a complete
change in the make-up of the Code Authority, changes in trade practices, im-
mediate ousting of Rosenblatt as administrator of the film code, development
of a new leasing system for films, establishment of the right to buy, the abo-
lition of block booking, and the giving of equal powers to the independents,
majors and the government in the code.
The ousting of Rosenblatt is called for on the grounds that he was for-
merly associated with "a lawyer, many of whose clients were and are now,
engaged in the theatrical and motion picture industries. This attorney is a
member of the Board of United Artists." This refers to Nathan Burkan.
Continuing, the report says: "It would appear from the testimony before
this board that the Deputy Administrator may be prejudiced against the inde-
pendent exhibitors." One witness, the report states, "testified that at a
meeting of independent exhibitors held with the Administrator the objection
was made that the Deputy Administrator was biased and prejudiced against
independent exhibitors, and he admitted it was so."
The report further states, "because of the defiance by the Deputy
Administrator of this board, and because of testimony to the effect that he is
prejudiced against the independent exhibitors, distributors and producers in
the industry, this board recommends that the Deputy Administrator be removed
from all connection with the motion picture code and another Deputy Admin-
istrator be appointed."
In declaring the film code is monopolistic, the report says that Section
(Continued on Page 41
Columbia Declares
Common Dividend
New York. — Columbia Pictures
Saturday declared a dividend of 25
cents a share on its common stock,
payable July 2. This is the first divi-
dend on this issue since October,
1931, when it paid 18% cents a
share. The company also declared a
2'/2 per cent semi-annual payment in
stock on the common, payable Aug-
ust 2.
This action is thought to have been
the result of the stockholders' suit
brought by Mrs. Cohen, in which she
complained because of the lack of div-
idends on the common stock in the
face of the company's statements of
continued prosperity.
Menjou in Barrymore
Role at Radio Studio
Adolphe Menjou was reported clos-
ed Saturday for the John Barrymore
role in "Hat, Coat and Glove."
At the same time, Universal was
said to be polishing off a deal for the
player in "Human Side," which comes
off the shelf for Edward Buzzell's
direction. Eph Asher produces.
AH-Star Cast Set For
'Ruggles' at Paramount
Paramount will produce "Ruggles
of Red Gap" with an all-star cast
headed by Charles Laughton, Charles
Ruggles and Mary Boland. Studio has
also spotted Sir Guy Standing, Evelyn
Venable and Kent Taylor in the cast.
No director, writers or a definite pro-
duction date set as yet.
Carole Lombard III
Carole Lombard was sent home Sat-
urday with an attack of intestinal flu
and, as a result, Henry Hathaway is
shooting around her in "Now and
Forever" at Paramount. Picture start-
ed last week with Gary Cooper in
the other lead.
Hammerstein to MCM
Oscar Hammerstein II. arrives to-
morrow from New York with a con-
tract to work on MGM musicals. He
has just finished collaboration with
Jerome Kern on "Three Sisters," Lon-
don musical show.
Sedgwick to MCM
Edward Sedgwick returns to MCM
to direct "King of the Diamond." The
deal was set by Phil Berg.
i
Page Two
May 21, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Hollcfays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The other night a big production
exec went to one of the newer night-
places and played himself a few games
of chance. For the first time in his
long career of gaming, he won a little
over ten thousand dollars! He was
that excited! But not as upset as the
management. Because they couldn't
pay him off! They gave him a check
for twenty-five hundred and notes for
the balance owed him. So now the
question arises as to whether the exec
will ever get the rest of his winnings
— or be offered the club itself as a
gift instead! (And its not the Colony.)
Rumors of an engagement between
Lothar Mendes and Pamela Ostrer,
whose pappy is one of the biggest
stockholders in British Caumont. But's
there's lots more to the story. Seems
Lothar, when he started romancing
with Pamela, also suggested that the
lass take the feminine lead in "Jew
Suss" which he was about to direct.
Now, the company had no intention
of spending a vast fortune on this pic-
ture, but when Pamela stepped into
the cast, the whole aspect changed.
Maybe Mendes changed it — or maybe
it was love, but when the thing got
into production it went on for months
and months and has cost close to a
million dollars.
Rufus LeMaire got back to town
Saturday night just in time for the
big party thrown by the Ned Marins.
Inez Courtney just made the soiree
too and is here for a spell. LeMaire
left the party early — but might just as
well have stayed to the bitter end —
because the guests who remained
made him feel like a bridegroom by
calling him up every five minutes un-
til dawn. Others at the party were
the Al Rocketts, Ernst Lubitsch, Jean-
ette MacDonald, the Felix Youngs,
Eddie Mannix, the Richard Rowlands,
the Harry Rapfs, Mrs. Jack Warner,
Edgar Allan Woolf, Dick Powell, the
Mike Levees and many more.
'DIJ BARRY' WEAK ON HISTORY,
BUT GRAND ENTERTAINMENT
Dieterle, Chodorov,
Owen, Highlights
"MADAME DU BARRY"
(Warners)
Direction Wilhelm Dieterle
Original Screen Play. .Edward Chodorov
Photography ^....Sol Polito
Cast: Dolores Del Rio, Reginald Owen,
Veree Teasdale, Osgood Perkins,
Helen Lowell, Victor Jory, Henry
O'Neill, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Vir-
ginia Sale, Dorothy Tree, Hobart
Cavanaugh, Arthur Treacher, Anita
Louise, Camilla Rovelle, Maynard
Holmes, Halliwell Hobbes, Jesse
Scott, Nella Walker.
It isn't history, but it's awfully
good company, this celluloid ac-
count of the doings of the famous
Madame DuBarry. Wilhelm Dieterle
has crashed through with a comedy
version of the story of this famous
favorite of a king that leaves nothing
to be desired in the way of laughs
and lavishness. He obviously directed
for laughs, and he certainly was suc-
cessful in creating them.
The story is built around the esca-
pades of DuBarry (Dolores Del Rio)
at the French court. She has a fer-
tile imagination when it comes to
thinking up ways of making trouble
for everyone concerned and of taking
care of her favorites. Her word is
law and she can make or break a
minister by raising her finger. The
king and the courtiers are her slaves
and she drives them mercilessly, al-
though usually good-naturedly.
The story, an original by Edward
Chodorov, is a brilliant piece of writ-
ing and both cast and director catch
and maintain the spirit. Chodorov ob-
viously .has remembered the last lines
of a lot of good stories and has adapt-
ed them in the French bedroom man-
ner, which gave the preview audience
plenty of enjoyment.
The whole offering is charming and
made even more so by the excellent
playing of the cast. Miss Del Rio
never has been more beautiful, and
she brings to her role a freshness, a
grace and a sense of comedy that are
delightful. Reginald Owen, as the
king, is superb. He never has done a
better piece of work during his entire
career.
Osgood Perkins gives the type of
performance for which he is noted,
which means that no one could pos-
sibly have played better the role of
the great Cardinal Richelieu. Veree
Teasdale as a sister of the Due de
Choiseul, and Ferdinand Cootschalk
as a master of ceremonies are also
admirable.
The photography, by Sol Polito, is
nothing short of stunning. Some of
the scenes are breat.h-takingly beau-
tiful.
Exhibitors should have no trouble
selling this one. With the names in
the cast and the interest that the Du
Barry story has always had, it ought
to be in the bag. It is a picture which
stresses the laughs and plenty of
them, even if it is not a perfect .his-
torical document.
Wanger Planning To
Sign Up Noted Stars
Walter Wanger has postponed
his departure for New York until
Wednesday in order to complete
his negotiations with two noted
stars whom he anticipates signing
to contracts for his coming pro-
duction venture.
New Producer Will
Present Plays Here
New York. — Thomas H. Wilkes,
who has been out of the play produc-
tion field for the past seven years, is
returning to the game and will pro-
duce both in New York and in Los
Angeles.
He plans to offer the Eugene O'Neill
play, "Mourning Becomes Electra," on
the west coast with Judith Anderson,
Alia Nazimova and Earle Larimore in
the cast. The tentative opening date
is June 18, and Frank Reicher will
direct.
Elissa Landi Brings
Her Suit For Divorce
Elissa Landi has filed suit for
divorce from John Cecil Lawrence, ac-
cording to an announcement made
yesterday by her attorney, Roderick
Johnston. The suit is filed in Los
Angeles and the cause given is mental
cruelty.
Miss Landi and Lawrence were
married in England in 1928. She
came to this country in 1930 and has
been here ever since, while he has re-
mained in England.
Hull's Arrival Stops
Brook-Universal Deal
Negotiations between Universal and
Clive Brook have been placed on ice.
Deal was originally in work to have
the player take the top spot in "Great
Expectations," which was placed on
the production schedule at his sug-
gestion. However, assigning of Henry
Hull to the star role changes this.
Max Cordon To Produce
DeSylva-Silvers Show
New York. — Max Gordon will pro-
duce the Buddy DeSylva-Sid Silvers
musical show in October. Music for
the production will be furnished by
Koehler and Victor Arden.
Seiter on 'By Your Leave*
William Seiter was set by Radio
Saturday to direct "By Your Leave"
and Frank Morgan will be borrowed
from MGM for a leading role.
Sheridan on Script
Oscar M. Sheridan has been assign-
ed by MGM to do the script of "Indo
China."
Agency Signs Wood
Sam Wood signed a managerial
contract Saturday with Berg, Stebbins,
Allenberg and Blum.
Festival Proposed
To Find New Talent
Through the efforts of the Women's
Community Service Auxiliary of the
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce,
all of the would-be scenario writers,
photographers, make-up artists and
costume designers who have an eye on
the picture field, will have an oppor-
tunity to show their wares to picture
judges next month.
The WCSA is conducting a com-
petitive Festival of the Allied Arts in
an effort to bring out latent talent in
Southern California. In this competi-
tion are the picture activities outlined
above. The committee that will judge
these efforts will include John Boles,
Fred Beetson, Max Parker, Julian
Johnson and Mabel E. Kinney.
Mankiewicz and Young
Wedding Celebrated
Joe Mankiewicz and Elizabeth
Young were married yesterday at
Herman Mankiewicz's home in Bev-
erly Hills, Judge Billings officiating.
Mrs. Herman Mankiewicz was the
matron of honor, Gail Patrick the maid
of honor, and Phillips Holmes best
man. The couple drove north on
their honeymoon.
Tribute to Schencks
At Palisades Opening
New York. — Governor Harry Moore,
of New Jersey, participated in the
tribute to Nicholas and Joseph M.
Schenck at the opening of Palisades
Park for the Summer.
The occasion was the twenty-fifth
anniversary of t.he Schencks' control
of the amusement park.
London Paper Praises
Jaffe and Lodge Acting
London. — The London Daily Ex-
press, commenting on the Dietrich
picture, "The Scarlet Empress," says
it is "an essay in brave film pageantry
and braver nonsense."
The paper remarks that Sam Jaffe
and John Lodge give the best perform-
ances.
Julie Lang East
Julie Lang, wife of Dick Hunt, left
Saturday by train for New York to
set contracts for her free lance fan
magazine articles. She will be gone
a month. Miss Lang formerly was in
charge of fan magazine contacts for
Paramount.
Stu Erwin Assigned
Stu Erwin gets one of the important
cast spots in MGM's "Sacred and Pro-
fane Love," the Crawford-Gable pic-
ture which Clarence Brown directs.
Lesser After Alexander
Sol Lesser is negotiating a deal with
MGM for the loan of Katharine Alex-
ander for a top spot in "Peck's Bad
Boy."
Robertson Assigned
John Robertson will direct "Wed-
nesday's Child" as his next assignment
for Radio. i
(Oil!
HCl
le
"Th
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C
IVf
ton
May 21, 1934
THg
Page Three
*T£RROR' THRILLY MYSTERY;
'I GIVE MY LOVE' HACKNEYED
NomaliL
arked By Good
Writing, Direction
•RETURN OF THE TERROR"
( Warners )
Direction Howard Bretherton
Author Edgar Wallace
Screen Play Eugene Solow
and Peter Milne
Photography Arthur Todd
Cast: Mary Astor, Lyie Talbot, John
Halliday, Frank McHugh, Robert
Barrat, Irving Pichel, George E.
Stone, J. Carrol Naish, Frank Rei-
cher, Robert Emmett O'Connor,
Renee Whitney, Etienne Girardot,
Maude Eburne, Charles Grapewin,
George Humbert, Edmund Breese,
George Cooper, Cecil Cunningham,
Frank Conroy, Howard Hickman.
There's an icy chill in every reel of
"Return of the Terror." While the
solution of the thing at the very end,
with such a lot of names bandied back
and forth in the explanation, is not as
clear as it might be, the terrified
shrieks of the audience throughout
make such a criticism seem puny.
Laid as it is against the background
of an insane asylum, the picture is
rather unpleasant to watch, but it is
undeniably effective and exciting.
John Halliday, a doctor engaged to
Mary Astor, is accused of murdering
a few inmates of his hospital. False
evidence against him makes a convic-
tion certain, so he pleads insanity and
is sent to ZTi asylum. In the mean-
time, other murders take place in his
hospital, which is run by LyIe Tal-
bot, a doctor-colleague of Halliday.
All the murders are committed by
a fiend who signs himself "The Ter-
ror," and it isn't until all the patients
are driven crazier than ever, and Hal-
i liday escapes from the asylum, that the
, mystery is solved.
\ Frank McHugh and Robert Emmett
j O'Connor are amusing as they work
I together to find the fiend. Mary As-
: tor has very little to do; Halliday is
; splendid as Dr. Redmayne; George E.
, Stone and Robert Barrat are a couple
of minor gangsters; Frank Reicher has
' a swell characterization, and Irving
i Pichel is a grand lawyer. Maude
1 Eburne is funny, and so is Charles
j Grapewin.
Howard Bretherton directed for
I gasps; Eugene Solow and Peter Milne
'■ didn't skip a chill in their adaptation
of the Edgar Wallace yarn, and Arthur
Todd helped it all along by good pho-
tography.
If your audiences go for mysteries —
especially the creepy kind — here it is.
Presnell Assigned
To 'Blonde Countess'
Robert Presnell has completed his
polishing job on "The Big Benefit" at
MGM and has been assigned to write
the screen play of Herbert Yardley's
"The Blonde Countess," which is
planned for Clark Gable.
C. Gardiner Sullivan and the author
have completed their treatment of the
story. Lawrence Weingarten pro-
duces.
Earmuffs on Welcome
Committee Stop Arlen
Richard Arlen and family re-
turned from Europe Saturday, with
Dick full of stories about the trip.
When they stepped off the train
the entire Toluca Lake gang was
waiting to welcome them — and
every one of them wore earmuffs.
Warners Lead For
Control of Fox Met.
New York. — The question of who
shall get the Fox Metropolitan Play-
houses is expected to be settled on
June 20 when the hearing will be held
on the reorganization plan of the
bondholders. Bids are expected from
Warner Brothers, Walter Reade, and
interests represented by Attorney D.
W. Kahn who, in some quarters, is
suspected of being a Warner agent.
In view of the apparent desire of
several concerns for this chain, the
consolidated corporate and receiver's
income report is interesting. For the
period from June 4, 1932, to Decem-
ber 31, 1933, the net loss, after in-
terest and other charges, was
$2,095,226.
Jack Benny Arriving
For Reliance Picture
Jack Benny arrives in Hollywood
next Saturday and will make this his
national broadcasting headquarters
during the production of "Transatlan-
tic Showboat," Edward Small's musi-
cal, in which he gets a top spot.
Ben Stoloff gets the megaphone on
the production, set to start the first
week of June.
Hervey and Muse For
'Count of Monte Cristo'
Irene Hervey is being borrowed
from MGM by Edward Small for "The
Count of Monte Cristo," current Re-
liance production at the Pathe lot,
Sm.Tll also engaged Clarence Muse
Saturday for the part of Ali, the mute.
Lindsey to Talk on NRA
Judge Ben Lindsey will speak on
"The Relation of the NRA to the
Future of the Office Employees" next
Wednesday night at a mass meeting
of white collar workers, sponsored by
the Office Employees Association of
Los Angeles.
Cormack on 'Buccaneer'
Paramount has assigned Bartlett
Cormack to write the script on "Buc-
caneer," which will be Cecil B. De
Mille's next for the studio. Story is
based on the life of Sir Henry Morgan,
famous pirate.
Beauty Set in 'Tour'
Dorothy Short, who won transpor-
tation to Hollywood last year as an
Atlantic City beauty prize, gets a part
in "Student Tour." Chuck Reisner
starts production at MGM today or
tomorrow.
Acting, Direction,
Good; Story Stale
"I GIVE MY LOVE"
(Universal)
Direction Karl Freund
Original Vicki Baum
Screen Play Doris Anderson
Photography George Robinson
Cast: Paul Lukas, Wynne Gibson, Eric
Linden, John Darrow, Tad Alexan-
der, Sam Hardy, Anita Louise.
Even if Vicki Baum did write it, as
IS modestly attested by the 50 per-
cent billing above title, "I Give My
Love" is still variation number 162 of
the "Madame X" theme. Or is it
163?
The basic formula must still be a
good one, for the final scenes are un-
deniably powerful, .however maudlin.
The mother, by now a drink-sodden
hag on the streets of Paris, attracts
the attention of her artist son, who
sees in her face the perfect realiza-
tion of a character portrait he decides
to title "Defeat." In posing for him,
the mother learns his identity and
there is a pitiful moment when she
arrives at his studio, attempting to
look her best in a stolen lace collar.
The painting is nearly finished when
the arrival of the man the boy calls
Father leads to revelations, so long
delayed. The painting is exhibited,
but the face wears a different expres-
sion. It is now titled "Sacrifice."
This much and little more than this
much of the story is excellent. The
rest is a hodge-podge of situations, by
turns sensitive and just penny-dread-
ful. An obvious effort has been made
by all concerned to remove the stigma
of familiarity from the treatment, but
not until the climaxing sequence is
anyone very successful.
Wynne Gibson does yeoman service
as the mother, suffering long and vali-
antly. It is a much more convincing
performance than her material de-
served. Paul Lukas' work is of the
pattern he has made distinctly his
own, the quiet romantic, the under-
standing friend. Eric Linden is well-
nigh perfect as the grown-up son, a
keenly etched portrayal. John Dar-
row does the despicable husband, a
role broadly written and performed to
the hilt, but it should lead to better
things for this thoroughly capable
young actor. Anita Louise is appeal-
ing in a brief opportunity which she
makes count. Tad Alexander contrib-
utes a canny youngster of twelve, and
Dorothy Appleby is in for only a flash.
Photography by George Robinson is
standard.
The direction of Karl Freund is
splendid when it has a chance to be
splendid — meaning again the latter
scenes. He can be commended for
several nice touches that unfortu-
nately are lost in the welter of an in-
adequate, painfully slow and even
more painfully familiar story. The
audience that can't call every turn of
this plot is an audience that has never
seen a picture before. It hasn't a
chance in the larger metropolitan
houses, which automatically relegates
it to small communities, where tear-
jerkers may still be liked.
ii
ATTERS
bii Helen Qtygnn
nr
Every dog has his day and these are
the dog days in Hollywood productiorv.
Summer is upon u« and the season is
practically over, BUT there is still a
schedule to be filled by every com-
pany to complete this season's pro-
gram and so the "dogs" are having
their day.
Now is the time to sell something
you've had lying around in your trunk
for the last few years. The price you
get may not be too high, but in order
to gather in the three or four hundred
thousand dollar grosses that represent
the summer colonies out for an eve-
ning's entertainment, the major com-
panies go in for making what they
laughingly call "quickies," or keeping
their negative costs down to a very
low level.
Or, better yet, the producing com-
panies do a little Spring cleaning of
their shelves and dust off a few old
ones that they couldn't make a go of
on their regular season's program.
Now, if by any chance, one of these
quickies should turn out to be a
"wow," you can rest assured it will
be quickly jerked and saved for the
new season splash and another
"quickie" hastily substituted.
•
The strange part of it all is that
the same thing happens every year, in
spite of all the beautiful planning. In
the marvelous press books, (that are
even now being prepared to help the
high pressure salesman), will always
be the glowing accounts of anywhere
from fifty-two to sixty-four feature
pctures a year. These are divided
into two groups, the specials and the
program pictures. But you will notice
that only a small percentage of these
coming attractions are fully described
as to type and casting, etc.
Just why it never occurs to them to
cut down on the number of scheduled
pictures in the first place is one of the
wonders of the picture industry. How-
ever, having sold the exhibitor a set of
pictures, the producer cannot afford
to leave gaps in the schedule because
of the bad effect it will have on the
sale of his next season's product. And
that sale is always just about to start
at the same time that the producer
has run out of material. And, of
course, the other consideration is the
three or four hundred thousand dol-
lars that even a bad picture can gross
because some of the people have to
have their movies all the time.
•
Somehow, it seems to us that the
better part of production valor would
be more discretion in the number of
pictures they agree to turn out each
year. It seems to us that, if the pic-
tures were fewer but of better qual-
ity, that is, in entertainment value,
they'd never have to worry about
picking up that "small change" in the
Summer time but would keep the
grosses at a high average all through
the year. The public soon gets wise
to the fact that for a couple of months
they can expect nothing much, and
so the ones that could be persuaded
to go see a good picture stay at home,
while fans cut dow nto once a week.
Pags Four
THE
May 21, 1934
SOL ROSENBLATT DEFENDS HIMSELF
AGAINST DARROW BOARD ATTACKS
Johnson, Richberg,
Also Justify Him
(Continued from Page 1 )
ten is so worded that it gives affili-
ates the opportunity to lease theatres
to "straw men" and have them classed
as independent exhibitors.
Another recommendation is that the
Code Authority be changed so that it
represents all divisions of industry,
claiming that the present set-up rep-
resents eight to two against the inde-
pendent. Also claiming the Code Au-
thority is self-perpetuating under the
present system, it is suggested that
this be made impossible. And it is
recommended that government repre-
sentatives be given the right to vote.
The new Code Aufhority set-up
recommended is: five representatives
of affiliates, five unaffiliates and five
representatives to be chosen by the
President; all members have the right
to vote, with a majority vote ruling.
Not more than two of the unaffiliates
shall be producers, distributors or ex-
hibitors who belong to the Hays or-
ganization, and neither shall they be
members of any trade association sup-
ported in whole or part by affiliates-
This hits the MPTOA.
No Forcing of Shorts
The report demands that the forc-
ing of shorts with features be banned
and recommends the cancellation pro-
vision of ten per cent be increased to
fifteen per cent.
In rapid succession the report hits
at the make-up of clearance boards,
selection of clearance board secre-
taries from film boards of trade, and
hits at grievance boards, saying the
code gives them no power to hear
cases involving pictures of producers
going to their own theatres. It also
hits at the right of the Code Authority
to hear additional evidence when a
case is appealed from a grievance
board, stating this is contrary to law.
The right to buy in the open mar-
ket and the problem of block booking
next come, with the explanation that
the problem is too big to set forth in
the report. A committee is suggested ■
to come from within the industry to
handle the problem and work it out
so block booking will be eliminated
and the right to buy be granted, this
committee to be appointed by Dar-
row, and render a report to the Presi-
dent by August 1, 1934.
If its report is not in by then, Dar-
row suggests that a clause be inserted
in the code to the effect that "it shall
be an unfair method of competition
to deny to any exhibitor the right to
buy in free and open competition
whatever run or runs of pictures he
requires for the operation of his thea-
tre."
Socialization Urged
In his supplemental report Darrow
comes out flatly with the assertion
that "the choice is between monopoly
by government and a planned econ-
omy w.hich demands socialized owner-
ship and control, since only by collec-
tive ownership can the inevitable con-
flict of separately owned units for the
market be eliminated in favor of
planned production. The hope of the
Highlights Of Reports
Clarence Darrow says: Rosenblatt should be ousted; film code is
monopolistic; indies, majors and government should have equal pow-
ers; Recovery Act futile, and socialization of all industry with col-
lective ownership is only solution.
Cen. Johnson says: Darrow supplemental report means choice
between Fascism and Communism; Darrow board should be abolished
as it is prejudiced and partisan and unfair in its methods.
Donald Richberg says: Darrow board acted only on basis of largely
false testimony of a few malcontents; is ignorant of contents of the
code and gave findings contrary to fact and conclusions contrary to
intelligent opinion.
Sol Rosenblatt says: Darrow report wholly unwarranted, unjust,
prejudiced and ignorantly contrived. Attack on me based on vicious
mouthings, innuendos and conjecture of few enemies of NRA and
picture code.
American people lies in the planned
use of America's resources following
socialization."
In attacking the Darrow report.
General Johnson declared: "The board
was established at my suggestion to
supply fair and constructive criticism.
It is clearly incapable of fulfilling this
function and therefore I recommend
that it be abolished forthwith."
Rising to the defence of Rosenblatt,
General Johnson declares that Darrow's
attack on the film code administrator
"impugns the motives of the Divisional
Administrator because he formerly
worked for an attorney who has cli-
ents in that field, and asks for his
removal. Nobody here has rendered
more public-spirited, disinterested and
intelligent service than this Divisional
Administrator."
Richberg takes up the club in de-
fence of Rosenblatt when he declares
that irrefutable evidence shows that
Rosenblatt not only offered to testify
before Darrow, but offered to make
all of .his records available to Dar-
row's board.
Discredited Witnesses
Richberg declared that the code,
Which Darrow attacks, was assented
to by 9039 members of the industry,
but f-at Darrow's board heard only 21
witnesses, representing but 15 out of
7500 theatre operators, and made its
rulings on evidence such as that. He
pointed out that Darrow took only 14
hours and 21 minutes of hearings to
condemn a code that required more
than 1200 hours in drafting, and
which was drafted only after 206 wit-
nesses had been heard.
"The board," says Richberg, "acted
solely on the basis of a disorderly
mess of sworn and largely false testi-
mony of a few malcontents (many of
them discredited by previously illegal
practices) covering only 8 out of 288
subdivisions of the code, and arrived
at sweeping conclusions upon the en-
tire code founded on obvious ignor-
ance of the code, of the industry and
the law. The detailed analysis of the
board's action shows conclusively that
the investigation was carried on with
utter disregard for fair play, and that
the conclusions of the board are un-
worthy of the slightest consideration."
Richberg then points out that it is
plainly evident to anyone that the film
code is of incalculable benefit to the
small enterprises and affords great re-
lief from monopolistic effects of the
copyright laws and other property
rights which have previously given
legal advantages of an oppressive na-
ture to large enterprises. He declares
that a return to the "savage, wolfish"
competition advocated by the Darrow
board would mean an enlargement of
monopolistic power sanctioned by the
law.
Richberg accuses the Darrow board
of refusing even to receive correct in-
formation, citing the fact that seven
producing companies filed a brief
which was not considered.
Rosy Defends Himself
Rosenblatt, in defending himself
and the film code, declared that the
Darrow attack upon him is "wholely
unwarranted, unjust, prejudiced and
ignorantly contrived." Speaking of
the recommendation that he be re-
moved from office he said: "The re-
port itself does not even pretend to
justify this recommendation, which is
totally unsupported by even the slight-
est proof of any kind, and is based
solely upon the vicious mouthings, in-
nuendos and conjecture of a few dis-
gruntled and disappointed enemies of
the National Industrial Recovery Act
and particularly of the motion picture
code."
He then cites the fact that while
for thirty years no agreement ever
could be arrived at between the con-
tending film forces, through his efforts
an agreement (the code) has been
reached which is substantially satisfac-
tory to all but an insignificant, rau-
cous minority.
Speaking of the hearing of the
Darrow board, Rosenblatt says: "It
was not even a star chamber proceed-
ing. It was no proceeding at all. The
statements of a few discredited and
disgruntled witnesses, some of whom
have been found guilty by the Supreme
Court of New York of being violators
of the code provisions with respect to
labor, and who, it will be demon-
strated later, brazenly misstated facts,
constitute the basis of the report."
Rosenblatt then introduced a letter
showing he had offered to testify be-
fore Darrow at any time, and make his
records available to the Review Board.
He cited court decisions declaring
block booking legal.
Code Boards Defended
He further stated that distributors
cannot force exhibitors to purchase
more shorts than they need. Desig-
nation of play dates, he says, is taken
care by grievance boards. Likewise
minimum price fixing. He hit the
1
Ousting of Review
Board Is Expected
suggestion of a board to study block
booking, and vigorously defended the
various code boards.
Going further into the attack upon
himself by the board, Rosenblatt de-
clares that, if anything, he really fa-
vors the independents, citing that it
was .his law firm that won the cele-
brated Singer case that made new law
in the industry. He also cited fake
telegrams sent last Fall against him,
and declared that racketeering "lead-
er" got $9000 from Detroit exhibitors
and others and came to Washington
in an attempt to impugn 'his character,
but to no avail.
Those close to the Administration
here predict that the Darrow board
will soon be abolished by Executive
order, first because it heard mostly
one-sided testimony, and second be-
cause what it proposes is nothing more
or less than socialism.
It is believed doubtful that there
will be any radical changes in the film
code, and unless General Johnson re-
signs under Congressional fire, Rosen-
blatt will not leave, either.
Todd and Keily Finish;
Laurel and Hardy Starf
Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly
wound up their Hal Roach series Fri-
day. Today Laurel and Hardy resume
their interrupted series, starting "Pub-
lic Enemies" with Charles Rogers di-
recting. Walter Long, Harry Dunkin-
son and Mae Busch play in it with the
comedians.
It is a directing debut for Rogers,
who has previously worked with Lau-
rel and Hardy as writer and actor. He
replaces Lloyd French, who went east
to make Warner shorts recently.
World Broadcasting
Outfit to New Offices!
The World Broadcasting Company
has moved its offices from the
General Service studios to the Rich-
field Oil building at Sixth and Flower.
The recording will still be done at
the General! Service plant, but the
manager, P. W. Campbell, explains
that the office move is needed so that
he may be closer to advertisers and
agencies.
Dick Diggs Promoted
Richard Diggs, who has been hand-
ling matters pertaining to censorship
at the Paramount studios, has been
promoted to be assistant to Bayard
Veiller, associate producer.
'Nell C'wynn' Premiere
New York. — "Nell Gwynn," a print
of which was brought from England
by executives of British and Dominions
will have a Broadway premiere, but
the house is not yet picked.
New One For Bellamy
Next feature into production at
Columbia will be "By Persons Un-
known," fourth of the police-detec- P
tive series featuring Ralph Bellamy.
Director yet unassigned.
May 21, 1934
THE
Page Five
STEPS PROPOSED TO CURB
DISHONEST 'PRODUCERS'
(Continued from Page 1 )
before. He managed to keep within
the law by making a few pictures
which finally went to a receiver and
were sold for less than their cost,
! leaving the woman without the only
funds she had for the support of her-
self and her family.
The second case involved a pro-
ducer who also promoted a widow
into backing a group of features. With
no distribution set, the pictures are
out somewhere in the state right field,
with no chance of recouping the orig-
inal investment. The backer was also
taken for everything.
The service men who supplied the
materials for the producers were ac-
quainted with both cases and volun-
tarily pooled funds to keep the women
from want.
John Jasper, business manager for
the Davidge laboratory, said: "The
tragedy left in the wake of the confi-
dence man type of producer is beyond
the power of even the District Attor-
ney to remedy. In each case, recently,
investigation showed that the produc-
ers could not be touched on any sort
of charge that would hold. There was
no chance of getting back the money
for the helpless widows and their chil-
dren and, rather than seek a means of
bringing the producers to book, the
cases were dropped and charity raised
for the women from the service men.
"The only way to put a stop to it
will be the close co-operation of all
servicing companies which, even at a
cost to themselves, will refuse to serv-
ice this type of producer. Before
granting credit, or even if on a cash
basis, every newcomer to the inde-
pendent field must be carefully inves-
tigated and, if he has no authorized
release or any prospects of earning
back the cost of his film, service will
be refused him. It will cost us some-
thing, but it will be worth it to avoid
having the tragedies we have recently
seen."
Milliken in Europe
On Good Will Mission
London. — Carl Milliken, of the
Hays office, is in London on behalf
of the organization.
The London press believes that his
visit is connected with Hollywood's
concern over the change in British
taste about pictures and that he has
plans for an interchange of ideas and
personalities to promote closer co-
operation.
Max Manne Bankrupt
New York. — Max Manne, former
director of sound effect for Hugo Rie-
senfeld and Paramount's Long Island
studio, has filed a petition in bank-
ruptcy, listing liabilities of $2852 and
no assets.
Steele Starts June 1
Bob Steele's first picture for Sam
Katzman's Supreme Pictures goes into
work June 1 , with a deal on for space
at Talisman Studios. Bob Hill directs
a story by Jack Natteford.
Harris After Muni
To Play Nijinski
New York. — Sam Harris is after
Paul Muni again. This time he
wants him for the leading role in
a play about Nijinski, the famous
dancer, which he will produce this
Fall. Nijinski is now in a sanita-
rium in Switzerland and interest in
him has been re-created recently
through the biography written by
his wife.
New York Operators To
Fight 'Request System'
New York. — About 250 members
of Motion Picture Operators Local 306
have organized the "Progressive Club"
within the union to fight the Harry
Sherman regime.
They also seek the end of the "re-
quest system," whereby chief opera-
tors on theatre chains keep their
favorites working. Lester Isaacs, of
Loew's, and Harry Ruben, of Para-
mount, are named as the principal
offenders.
Team to Warners
Albert J. Cohen and Robert Terry
Shannon register today at Warners to
write the screen play for their origi-
nal story, "King of the Ritz," under
Sam Bischoff's supervision.
Donald Woods to Fox
Donald Woods was borrowed from
Warners by Fox Saturday for the role
opposite Helen Twelvetrees jn "She
Was a Lady," which Al Rockett is
producing.
Code HeadsWorried
Over Exhibs' Revolt
New York. — The Film Code Au-
thority is worried over the recent re-
volt in Iowa and Nebraska, where
many exhibitors retracted their code
assents and their assessments, charg-
ing that the distributors dominated
the local boards. Charles O'Reilly has
been sent to pacify them.
The authority is also concerned over
the attitude of the local boards about
whose interests shall come first in
their decisions and has notified all
members that the "best interests of
the nation and the industry" shall be
regarded as the primal obligation.
Musical Completed by
Mentone in New York
New York. — Mentone Pictures has
just completed a two-reel musical for
Universal at the Fox Movietone studio
here. It is called "Soup to Nuts" and
was directed by Milton Schwartzwald
and Joe Bannon.
In the cast are Donald Brian, Viv-
ienne Segal, Bob Hope and AI Good-
man's orchestra.
Para. Calls Roberts
Marguerite Roberts, w.ho prepared
the screen treatment of Vina Del-
mar's original, "End of the World,"
IS being called back to that picture by
Al Lewis to work on the dialog and
screen play. First she completes her
adaptation of "Intimate," also to b«
an Al Lewis production for Paramount.
Most Played on Air
To familiarize the rest of the coun-
try with the tunes most on the air
around New York, the following is the
compilation for last week.
Plugs are figured on a Saturday-
through-Friday week, regularly.
Only the chain stations are listed as
indicative of general plug popularity.
Data obtained from Radio Log com-
piled by Accurate Reporting Service.
Title WEAF, WIZ, WABC
RIPTIDE 29|.
1,000 Good Nites 27^^
Love Co Wrong 24 ^W
Little Man, Busy Day 23 ^^
Beat 0' My Heart 23 ^^^
Cocktails For Two 21 ^^^
Love Thy Neighbor 20 ^^^.
True 20 >
I Ain't Lazy 19
Play To Me Gypsy... 19
Do I Know Sunday 16
Had My Moments 16
Nite on the Desert 16
Easy Come, Easy Go 15
Reminds Me of You 15
House is Haunted 14
Waitin' For Katy 14
Old Water Mill 14
III Wind 14
Loves My Marguerite 13
Goodnite Lovely Lady 13
Nasty Man 13
My Shawl 12
Madamoiselte 12
Touch Your Hand - 12
Your Love 12
— From "Variety" May 15th
WRITTEN BY
GUS KAHN
and
WALTER
DONALDSON
CARL LAEMMLE
PRESENTS
CHESTER MORRIS
I N
U
EMBARRASSING MOMENTS
f1
WITH
MARION NIXON and WALTER WOOLF
>4^^ <^
%o«
**^
«\®^
*te
^''
s*'*^ v"'*'
1<
<■ .o««^' .»< ^ -o5*'
^t'*"
<«^*" O^'" o«*'
STANLEY BERGERMAN
PRODUCTION
MOMENTS
Morris Is Swell,
Direction Capital
"EMBARRASSING MOMENTS"
( Universal)
Direction Edward Laemmie
Original Wm. Anthony McCuire
Screen Play: Gladys Unger, Charles
Logue.
Added Dialogue Dickson Morgan
Photography Charles Stumar
Cast: Chester Morris, Marian Nixon,
Walter Woolf, Alan Mowbray, John
Wray, George Stone, Henry Armet-
ta, Gay Seabrook, Herman Bing.Jane
Darwell, Charles Coleman, Virginia
Sale, Edward Earle, John T. Murray,
Wailis Clark.
A dandy little comedy, guaranteed
to hold its own on any program.
Laughs and thrills are deftly inter-
mingled for the type of entertainment
we used to have before pictures began
talking so much. There is action in
"Embarrassing Moments" and plenty
of it.
The plot has to do with a practical
joker who simply is unable to resist
any opportunity to perpetrate a gag.
His girl and his best friend plan a cure
after he has worked a telephone rib
on the friend, a particularly hilarious
sequence, by the way. The friend
feigns suicide so that the joker may
be accused of murder, but the frame-
up goes wrong when the lad flees
town.
Thrown into association with a band
of counterfeiters, he is made an inno-
cent dupe and nearly lands in jail
across the border. An escape by plane
makes a neat chase finish.
Only one sequence mars the smooth
unfolding of the story. That is the
duel wherein the joker bests his op-
ponent, a revolutionary general. The
idea is definitely slap-stick, even to
the point of the general losing his
pants. It just isn'l funny enough and
the improbability of the situation in-
terrupts the air of reality the rest of
the yarn has built.
Chester Morris is nothing short of
swell as the practical joker. He plays
with fine authority a role that can
only be described as exacting because
it combines so many conflicting
moods. Marian Nixon acquits herself
capably as the girl in the case. Walter
Woolf is ill at ease as the friend, al-
though handling the several songs
well. Alan Mowbray is outstanding
in the supporting cast.
Direction by Edward Laemmie main-
tains a fast tempo. The script, from
an original by Willam Anthony Mc-
Cuire, has all the appearances of being
a tight job of writing. The several
loose ends and false leads are cutting
faults. Photography and lighting a bit
spotty.
Get behind Morris in your cam-
paign, not so much because of this
release as because of what his name
w'll mean to you in subsequent films.
This trouper is headed right for the
top.
' CLEVER COMEDY'
'LET'S TALK IT OVER' FIXE
ChesterMorris Does
Extraordinary job
"EMBARRASSING --,;- - <>-
(Universal)
M^^ k^ C kkl T C" Direction Kurt Neumann
^J lyl t N I O Authors Dore Schary and
Lewis Foster
Screen Play John Meehan Jr.
for Photography Charles Stumar
Cast: Chester Morris, Mae Clarke,
STANLEY BERCERMAN ^'^"^ c^^^^" '^^"^ ^^-^^ ^"^^
Devine, Anderson Lawler, John
Warburton, Goodee Montgomery,
Russ Brown, Henry Armetta.
Chester Morris gives one of the
-^ A ■ i^ ■■V .«^% Mww^n ^'"^^^ performances of his career as
I FT >TAI K ITO V FR *^^ ^°^- ^'^^ McCann, in the Uni-
L.L. I ^1 A^LIX I I V^ ▼ LilV ^ersal picture, "Let's Talk It Over."
His keen sense of dramatic value,
for his timing, his simplicity and utter
honesty to type, his superb sincerity —
D c TFinMAN these all make his characterization a
D. r. ^cibnviMi^ miracle of emotional lights and shad-
ows. His Mike McCann is an ex-
tremely interesting human being.
Direction is strong and vivid and
the writing is exceptionally smooth.
With bouqets going to all depart-
ments, "Let's Talk It Over" is one of
Universal's best. But why the title?
Morris is a sailor who accidentally
rescues Mae Clarke, heiress to twenty
millions, from drowning. Taking full
rw ^ ^^ ^B^ ^^^ ^^ ^v advantage of the situation, he calls on
M m ^^ ^^ B !■ Wm her and, because he is such a cock-
■■■ B^ ^v I Hk ^m sure, impossible, boastful young up-
^ ^ I I ,^. S ^ I ,^v •% start, she introduces him to her
^■^ ^ "^ ^^ ^^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ friends, who all watch to see what
the freak will do next. Taking her
M^^i^ ^v ^y ^ ^^ interest in him seriously, he quits the
^r^\ Fa Wk ■ T ^ navy and goes to work in her uncle's
W m ^^ )^ ■ ^V bond house. Mae gets him the job
^ ^ M\ JX m >^ on a bet— a hundred dollars that she
^^^ ^^ ^^ ^ ^^ can make something out of him. In-
stead, he makes something out of
himself, and she finally falls very
T%A^.**. kA ^^mt.^!^ C^m^m^m^lm'^ jfm rnuch out of love with her idle, rest-
I WO iVlOr© OTarriny less, scatter brained existence, and
very much in love with him.
P» ^1 • ^M One of the beauties of Morris' char-
ir'TlirOC I niC YO^r acterization is that he never quite gets
1^1 Ul^^ I 111^ I KJCMt o^gr being the gob. The polish is
there, but his essential SELF remains
C.-»,M I |«^ !«,.«. „^ _, I the same. It is a great performance.
POr LJlllVerSdl Miss Clarke is more than acceptable
-Wl ■■ T V*-! •#«■ ^^^1^^ ^.^^^ unthinking girl; Frank
Craven has a swell part as her very
understanding uncle; Andy Devine is
,M r,r,.-r,AnA-T-,^M a comic sailor; John Warburton is the
IN PREPARATION snobbish fiance of Miss Clarke; Irene
"THF PHAMTON/I PPPI N/1FKIT" Ware makes a small role memorable;
I Nt KNAIN I UM KtLjJMbN I ^^^^^^ Montgomery has a vamp part,
and Russ Brown and Henry Armetta
are well cast.
Kurt Neumann directed; John Mee-
han Jr. made the screen play from the
story by Dore Schary and Lewis Fos-
MANAGEMENT ^^^^.^^^ Charles Stumar photographed.
Young and old will like this picture.
REBECCA and SILTON it's good, reliable stuff, made ex-
traordinarily entertaining by Morris'
performance.
Page Eight
^arOuitdl
May 21, 1934
Most of movieland's big shots were
at Frances Day's second home the
other night; we refer to the Savoy
Grill! Edna Best, Richard Norton,
Claude Allister, Cyril Gardner, Rufus
LeMaire, Alfred Drayton amongst
them. . . . Gregory Ratoff with Chris-
topher Mann, Gregory hoping to stay
over for another picture. . . . Benita
Hume was wearing this week's crazi-
est and biggest hat. . . Connie
Sparks looking very well — and a host
of others. . . . The latest line .here is
"Come up and see me some time, I'm
no agent!!" . . . Ernest Betts and Paul
Holt, British movie critics, talking it
over in Piccadilly. . . . Even if Sidney
Lanfield is here to meg the new Jack
Buchanan pic, it's little daughter,
She,ila Lanfield, who is getting all the
press breaks. . . . Bert Ambrose, the
Diamond Brothers and Cyril Gardner
discussing Elstree at three-thirty a.m.
at the Mayfair. . . . The Jannings pic
for Sam Speigal is definitely off.
R. C. Sherriff, Dave Bader and Lloyd
Knechtel grabbing backgrounds for
Jimmie Whale's next Universal opus.
. . . Eddie Cahn In town and sore be-
cause his "Blackshirt" deal is cold
here — no fault of Eddie's; the com-
pany just gone out of the business and
that's that! . . . Lee R. Loeb here and
all pepped up about it. . . . We liked
your golf short commentary, Pete
Smith, on that Leo two-reeler. . . .
Ah me! with stage and screen Shots
grabbing themselves titles (if there
are any left after the Midnite Folly
Gals ha\/e had their fill) it's getting
difficult to know who dons the grease
paint for lurve and who for, well,
whatever-goes-with-it. . . Jack Kirk-
land is busy on a new play, leastways
that's what he says. . . . Jack Votion
at British tradeshows. . . . Tush, tush.
Bob Kane, Georgie White, Harry
Lachman, John BIystone et al (who is
that guy Al?), that was a meanie —
re-running some of those early num-
bers again later in the pic in "Scan-
dals."
•
Billy Hornbeck will probably edit a
biggie this side before he heads back
for Hollywood, that land of milk and
honies. . . . There are six good reasons
for "Rip Tide" being a hit here, apart
from the swell production, of course —
Shearer is four of them, Montgomery
and Marshall are the other two. . . .
Teddy Joyce, formerly of the Pantages
on the Boulevard, is staying on at the
Kit-Cat; they like him that way. . . .
John MacDonnell, former B.B.C. chief-
tain, is British Production Contact for
Fox; whatever that may mean. . . . T.
Hayes Hunter favors the Capitol Grill
for lunch. . . . Arthur Dent doing his
best to seat all the many clamoring
for tickets to see the B.I. P. "Bulldog
Drummond" pic.
Suit on Ownership
of Within the Rock'
Filing of an action in Superior
Court against Davidge Laboratories by
Screencraft Productions Saturday dis-
closed a battle among the defunct
production company's board of direc-
tors for the ownership of their last
picture, "Within the Rock," which
Al Ray directed. Davidge is holding
the film until the owner is deter-
mined.
Dispute started with Sam Katzman
and Al Alt, founders of the company,
which operated last season through
Dave Mountain's Showmen's Pictures
in New York. The two other board
members are Abe Prall and A. W.
Hackel.
Katzman and Hackel started the
suit against Davidge with the purpose
of getting a legal interpretation of the
situation, Katzman maintaining the
picture has been sold to Showmen's
and claiming he wants to deliver it
in order to get his portion of the
finances out of it.
Hazard to Warners
Lawrence Hazard signed a long
term deal with Warners over the
week-end, M. C. Levee handling the
ticket. Writer's first assignment is
"Pickwick Papers."
Maxine Doyle on Loan
Maxine Doyle was borrowed from
Warners by MGM Saturday for the
bracket spot with Phil Regan, also
from Warners, in "Student Tour."
(4STINC>J„
Eric Mayne and Caryl Lincoln to
"The Merry Widow" at MGM.
Herman Bing by Menifee I. John-
stone to "Merry Widow," MGM.
Sir Guy Standing to "Shoe the Wild
Mare," Paramount.
George Irving for Mayfair's "Alice
Takes a Hand," by Menifee I. John-
stone.
Dell Henderson to "The Notorious
Sophie Lang," Paramount.
White and Fowser Plan
Siam and Indo-China Trip
Tom White and Hugh Fowser are
planning a picture expedition this Fal
into Northern Siam and Indio-China,
White specializing on picture-makin
and Fowser on the capture of wil
animals.
The ten shorts White made for the
Huntipgton Expedition are now being
released, and he has his latest pic-
ture, "Dusturan," nearly ready for dis
tribution. "Dusturan" is seven reels
of his Ceylon adventures last
A United Artists release fo
armed at.
HI
,e ,
>g I
' Tor ais-
en reels 1
Spring. I
3r it is I
Coodrich-Hackett Set
Francis Goodrich and Albert Hac-
kett are doing the adaptation of
"Hide Out," Mauri Grashin gang
story In which Robert Montgomery j
wifT star for MGM. Direction is as-
signed to W. S. Van Dyke. The pic-
ture is on the June production sched-
ule.
Edward Laemmle
DIRECTED
EMBARRASSING MOMENTS"
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE
i
YOUR
Can't Contact the
Contract-Signing Executive
EVERY MORNING
BUT-
The Fourth Annual
DIRECTORS' NUMBER
Does— And How
OUT SOON
^fHCTl^OURQ
QUESTI
Page Ten
M
i^iPOMTlM
May 21, 1934
PRODUCTION ABOUT THE SAME W5TH 37 IN WORK
BAROMETER
This Week 37 Fcamres
Last Week 36 Features
Year Ago... 26 Features
Two Years Ago 31 Features
Three Years Ago 30 Features
Columbia
"THE DEFENSE RESTS"
Cast: Jack Holt, Jean Arthur, Nat
Pendleton, Donald Meek, Ward
Bond, Sarah Padden, John Wray,
Raymond Hatton, Raynnond Wal-
burn, Arthur Hohl, Shirley Grey.
Director Lambert Hillyer
Original Screen Play Jo Swerling
Photography Joseph August
Associate Producer Robert North
"BLIND DATE"
Cast Ann Sothern, Paul Kelly, Mickey
Rooney, Spencer Charters, Jane
Darwell, Joan Gale, Geneva Mitch-
ell, Neil Hamilton, Theodore New-
ton, Tyler Brooke.
Director Roy William Neill
Original Screen Play Ethel Hill
Photography Al Siegler
Associate Producer Robert North
"THE CRIMINAL WITHIN"
Cast: Richard Cromwell, Arline Judge,
Guy Usher, Rita La Roy, Crane
Wilbur, Bradley Page. Purnell
Pratt, Wallis Clark, Thomas Jack,
Bill Davidson, George Humbert.
Director A! RogeM
Original Screen Play: Herbert Asbury
and Fred Niblo Jr.
Photography John Stumar
Producer Sid RogeM
Fox
"BABY TAKE A BOW"
Cast: James Dunn, Claire Trevor, Shir-
ley Temple, Alan Dinehart, Dorothy
Libaire, Ray Walker, Ralf Harolde,
James Flavin.
Director Harry Lachman
Story Edward Paramore
Screen Play Philip Klein
Photography L. W. O'Connell
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"CARAVAN"
I Cast: Charles Boyer, Loretta Young,
Jean Parker, Phillips Holmes, Louise
Fazenda, Eugene Pallette, C. Aubrey
Smith, Dudley Digges, Richard
Carle, Charles Grapewin, Billy
Bevan, Armand Kaliz, Harry Brad-
tley.
Director Erik Charell
Original Story Melchoir Lengyel
Screen Play and Dialogue —
Samson Raphaelson
Continuity Robert Liebmann
Lyrics Werner Richard Heymann
and Gus Kahn
Photography Ernest G. Palmer
and Theodor Sparkuhl
Producer Robert Kane
"SHE LEARNED ABOUT SAILORS"
Cast: Lew Ayres, Alice Faye, Frank
Mitchell, Jack Durant, Nick Foran,
Harry Green.
Director George Marshall
Original Screen Play: William Consel-
man and Henry Johnson.
Photography Harry Jackson
Producer John Stone
"CHARLIE CHAN'S COURAGE"
Cast: Warner Oland, Drue Leyton,
Donald Woods, Paul Harvey, Mur-
ray Kinnell, Reginald Mason, Si
Jenks, Virginia Hammond, Harvey
Clark, Jerry Jerome, Jack Carter,
James Wang, Wade Boteler, Paul
Hurst, John David Horsley, Frank
Rice, Paul McVey.
Directors George Hadden
and Eugene Forde
Novel Earl Derr Biggers
Screen Play Seton I. Miller
Photography Arthur Miller
Producer John Stone
MGM
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katharine
Alexander, Marion Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor, Vernon
Downing, Neville Clark, Matthew
Smith, Robert Carlton, Allan Con-
rad, Peter Hobbes.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add, Dialogue. .Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"TREASURE ISLAND"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger,
Lewis Stone, Cora Sue Collins, Dor-
othy Peterson, William V. Mong,
Douglas Dumbrille, Nigel Bruce,
Chic Sale.
Director Victor Fleming
Novel Robert Louis Stevenson
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"100% PURE"
Cast: Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore,
Patsy Kelly, Lewis Stone, Franchot
Tone, Hale Hamilton, Clara Blan-
dick, Alan Mowbray, Henry Kolker,
Russell Hopton, Gary Owen, Ben
Bard.
Director Jack Conway
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Emerson
Photography Ray June
Producer Bernard Hyman
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast:Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette Mac-
Donald, Minna Combell, Edward Ev-
erett Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara
Leonard, Sterling Holloway, George
Barbier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Leona Walters, Edna Walde, Bar-
bara Barondess, Shirley Ross, Doro-
thy Granger, Jean Hart, Elinor Hunt,
Dorothy Wilson, Jill Dennett, Maria
Troubetylcoy, Tyler Brooke, Cosmo
Kyrle Bellew, George Lewis, John
MerkyI, Charles Requa, Fifi D'Or-
say.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Dance Director Albertina Rasch
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE GREEN HAT"
Cast: Constance Bennett, Herbert
Marshall, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Pat Campbell, Leo Carroll, Hugh
Williams, Alec B. Francis, Eliza-
beth Allan, Robert Lorraine.
Director Robert Z. Leonard
Novel Michael Arlen
Photography Charles Rosher
Producer Irving Thalberg
"REAR CAR"
Cast: Charlie Ruggles, Una Mer-
kel, Mary Carlisle, Russell Hardie,
Porter Hall, Cliff Thompson, Wil-
lard Robertson, Sterling Holloway,
"Snowflake," Berton Churchill,
Wilfred Lukas, Akim Tamiroff,
John David Horsley.
Director Harry Beaumont
Play Edward E. Rose
Adaptation Harvey Thew
Screen Play: Ralph Spence, Edgar Al-
lan Woolf and Al Boasberg.
Photography James Van Trees
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"STAMBOUL QUEST"
Cast: Myrna Loy, George Brent, Lionel
Atwill, C Henry Gordon, Douglas
Dumbrille, Christian Rub, Rudolph
Amendt, Robert Gleckler, Reginald
Barlow.
Director Sam Wood
Original Leo Birinski
Producer Walter Wanger
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer Bernard Hyman
Paramount
"IT AIN'T NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John
Miljan, Katharine DeMille, James
Donlan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke Ellington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown, Stu-
art Holmes, Harry Woods, Benny
Baker, Morrie Cohen, Warren Hy-
mer, Wade Boteler, George Walsh,
Eddie Borden, Fuzzy Knight, Tyler
Brooke.
Director Leo McCarey
Orrginal Screen Play Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthur Johnston and
Sam Coslow.
Photography Karl Struss
Sound Harry Mills
Producer William LeBaron
"SHE LOVES ME NOT"
Cast: Bing Crosby, Miriam Hopkins,
Kitty Carlisle, Edward Nugent,
Lynne Overman, Warren Hymer,
Henry Stephenson, Maude Turner
Gordon, Margaret Armstrong, Judith
Allen, Vince Barnett, Matt Mc-
Hugh, Ralf Harolde, Henry Kolker,
George Barbier, Franklin Ardell.
Director Elliott Nugent
Original Story Howard Lindsay
Based on Novel by Edward Hope
Music: Harry Revel and Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Mack Gordon and Leo Robin
Photography Charles Lang
Sound Harold C. Lewis
Producer Benjamin Glazer
"SHOOT THE WORKS"
Cast: Jack Oakie, Dorothy Dell, Ros-
coe Karns, Arline Judge, Ben Ber-
nie, Alison Skipworth, William
Frawley, Lew Cody, Paul Cavanagh,
Tony Merlo, Monte Vandergrift.
Director Wesley Ruggles
Original Ben Hecht
and Gene Fowler
Screen Play.... Howard J. Green
and Claude Binyon
Music Ralph Rainger, Harry Revel
Lyrics Leo Robin, Mack Gordon
Photography Leo Tover
Sound M. M. Paggi
Producer Albert Lewis
"THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY"
Cast: W. C. Fields, Baby LeRoy, Ju-
dith Allen. Joe Morrison, Samuel
Ethridge, Ruth Marion, William
Blatchford, Jan Duggan, Tammany
Young, Jack Mulhall, Oscar Apfel,
Joe Mills, Emma Ray, Otis Harlan,
Nora Cecil, Richard Carle, Lew
Kelly, Oscar Smith, Edward J. Le
Saint, Davison Clark, Dorothy Bay,
Maxine Elliott Hicks, Larry Gre-
nier, Ruth Marion, Jeffrey Wil-
liams, Dell Henderson.
Director William Beaudine
Original W. C. Fields
Adaptation: Walter DeLeon and Gar-
nett Weston.
Screen Play: J. P. McEvoy and Jack
Cunningham.
Music Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Ben Reynolds
Sound P. J. Wisdom
Producer William LeBaron
"THE NOTORIOUS SOPHIE LANG"
Cast: Gertrude Michael, Paul Cavan-
agh, Arthur Byron, Alison Skip-
worth, Ben Taggart, Leon Errol,
Charles Judels, Franklin Pangborn.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original. ...Frecferiak Irving Anderson
Screen Play Anthony Veiller
and Frederick Irving Anderson
May 21, 1934
THEP
f^ilP©itiriPi
Page Eleven
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 36 LAST WEEK
United Artists
Reliance Pictures, Inc.
Photography Al Cilks
Sound Henry Lindgren
Producer Bayard Veiller
"NOW AND FOREVER"
4
Cast: Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard,
Shirley Temple, Sir Guy Standing,
Charlotte Granville, Tetsu Komai,
Jameson Thomas.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original: Jack Kirkland and Melville
Baker.
Adaptation Austin Parker
Screen Play: Vincent Lawrence and
Sylvia Thalberg.
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Producer Louis D. Lighton
"LADIES SHOULD LISTEN"
Cast: Gary Grant, Frances Drake, Ed-
ward Everett Horton, Charles E.
Arnt, Nydia Westman, George Bar-
bier, Rafael Corio.
Director Frank Tuttle
Original: Alfred Savoir and Guy Bolton
Adaptation Guy Bolton
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer Louis D. Lighton
"LADIES FIRST"
Cast: George Bancroft, Frances Fuller,
Roscoe Karns, George Barbier, Nella
Walker, Charles Sellon, Helena
Phillips.
Director Gilbert Pratt
Original: George S. Kaufman and
Marc Connelly.
Screen Play Humphrey Pearson
Photography William Mellor
Producer Douglas MacLean
RKO-Radio
"AFTERWARDS"
Cast: Zasu Pitts, Slim Summerville,
Ralph Morgan, Bruce Cabot, Wil-
lian Gaxton, Huntley Gordon, Kay
Johnson, Julie Haydon.
Director James Cruze
Original Play Walter Hackett
Screen Play: Marion Dix and Arthur
Caesar.
Photography Harold Wenstrom
Sound P. J. Faulkner
Producer Cliff Reid
"HAT, COAT AND CLOVE"
Cast: Barbara Robbins, John Beal, Sara
Hayden, Samuel Hinds, Murray
Kinnell, Margaret Hamilton.
Director Worthington Minor
Play Wilhelm Speyer
Screen Play Francis Faragoh
Photography Roy Hunt
Sound George Ellis
Producer Kenneth Macgowan
(RKO-Pathe)
COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO"
Cast: Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Louis
Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, 0. P.
Heggie, Raymond Walburn, Law-
rence Grant, Luis Alberni, Georgia
Caine, Irene Hervey, Ferdinand
Munier, Lionel Belmore, William
Farnum, Wilfred Lucas, Tom Rick-
etts, Clarence Muse.
Director Rowland V. Lee
Original Alexandre Dumas
Screen Play and Dialogue
Phillip Dunne and Dan Totheroh
Adaptation Harry Thew
and Harry Hervey
Photograpihy Peverell Marley
Producer Edward Small
Universal
"ONE MORE RIVER"
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Frank Lawton,
Colin Clive, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Patrick Campbell, Jane Wyatt, C.
Aubrey Smith, Reginald Denny,
Kathleen Howard, Lionel Atwill,
Alan Mowbray, Gilbert Emery, E.
E. Clive, Robert Greig, Cunnis
Davis, Tempe Pigott.
Director James Whale
Story John Galsworthy
Screen Play R. C. Sherriff
Photography John Mescal
Producer Carl Laemmie, Jr.
"THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW"
Cast: Frank Morgan, Binnie Barnes,
Lois Wilson, Louise Latimer, Eliza-
beth Young, Robert Taylor, Helen
Parrish, Dick Winslow.
Director Edward Sloman
Original Screen Play... .Edward Sloman
Continuity Christine Ames
and William Hurlbut
Photography Norbert Brodine
Producer Henry Henigson
"THE RED RIDER"
(Serial)
Cast: Buck Jones, Grant Withers,
Janet Chandler, Walter Miller,
Richard Cramer, Margaret La Marr,
Charles French, Edmund Cobb, J. P.
McGowan, William Desmond, Mart
LaVare, Frank Rice, Monte Mon-
tague, Jim Thorpe, Jim Corey, Bud
Osborne, Al Ferguson, Silver, Lee
Beggs, Dennie Meadows, Cliff
Lyons.
Director Louis Friedlander
Original W. C. Tuttle
Screen Play: George Plympton, Bin
Moore, Ella O'Neill, Basil Dickey.
Photography Richard Fryer
Sound Charles Carroll
Associate Producer Henry MacRae
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby,
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers, Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren, Johnny
Arthur, Arthur Vinton, Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett, Phil Regan.
Directors Ray Enright
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Aliie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"BRITISH AGENT"
Cast: Leslie Howard, Kay Francis,
Phillip Reed, Tenen Holtz, J. Car-
rol Naish, Gregory Gaye, Halliwell
Hobbes, Doris Lloyd, Alphonse
Ethier, Irving Pichel, Walter Byron,
William Gargan, Ivan Simpson, Paul
Porcasi, George Pearce, Walter
Armitage, Cesar Romero, Arthur
Aylesworth, Mariana Schubert.
Director Michael Curtiz
Novel H. Bruce Lockhart
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Dialogue Roland Pertwee
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"THE DRAGON MURDER CASE "
Cast: Warren William, Margaret
Lindsay, Lyie Talbot, Robert Barrat,
Arthur Aylesworth, Robert Mc-
Wade, Eugene Pallette, George
Meeker, Etienne Girardot, Dorothy
Tree, George S. Stone, Helen Low-
ell, William Davidson, Robert War-
wick.
Director H Bruce Humberstone
Story S. S. Van Dine
Screen Play F. Hugh Herbert
and Robert N. Lee
Adaptation Rian James
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"KANSAS CITY PRINCESS"
Cast: Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell,
Hugh Herbert, Robert Armstrong,
Gordon Westcott, T. Roy Barnes,
Osgood Perkins, Ivan Lebedeff,
Vince Barnett.
Director William Keighley
Screen Play Manuel Seff
and Sy Bartlett
Supervisor Lou Edelman
Independent Productions
Liberty
(RKO-Pathe)
"TWO HEADS ON A PILLOW "
Cast: Neil Hamilton, Miriam Jordan,
Henry Armetta, Hardie Albright.
Lona Andre, Edward Martindel,
Dorothy Appleby, Mary Forbes,
Emily Fitzroy, Claude King, Claire
McDowell, Eddie Kane, Dorothy
Grainger, Betty BIythe, Nellie
Nichols, George Lewis, Mary Foy,
Julda Ford.
Director William Nigh
Novel Dorothy Canfield
Screen Play Al De Mond
Photography Harry Neuman
Producer M. H. Hoffman
Mascot
(Mack Sennett Studro)
"BURN EM UP BARNES "
(Serial)
Cast: Jack Mulhall, Frankie Darro,
Lola Lane, Julian Rivero, Edwin
Maxwell, James Bush, Jason Ro-
bards, Francis McDonald, John Da-
vidson, Eddie Hearn, Stanley Bly-
stone, Alan Bridge.
Directors: Bert Clark and Armand
Schaeffer.
Original Screen Play: Al Martin, Sher-
man Lowe and Wyndham Gittens.
Photography Ernie Miller
Supervisor Victor Zobel
Mayfair
( Darmour)
"ALICE TAKES A HAND"
Cast: Buster Crabbe Gloria Shea,
George Irving, Emmett Vogan, Max
Wagner.
Director Spencer Bennett
Original Rex Taylor
Screen Play George Morgan
Photography Edward Snyder
Monogram
(General Service Studios)
(Lone Star Production)
"SHOCK"
Cast: Ralph Forbes, Cwenllian Gill,
Monroe Owsley, Reginald Sharland,
Billy Bevan, Clyde Cook, Douglas
Walton, Alex Courtney, Olaf Hyt-
ten, Montague Shaw, Mary Forbes,
David Jack Holt.
Director Roy J. Pomeroy
Story Roy J. Pomeroy
Screen Play Madeline Ruthven
Photography Jack MacKenzie
"JANE EYRE"
Cast: Virginia Bruce, Colin Clive,
Beryl Mercer, Aileen Pringle, Jame-
son Thomas, Lionel Belmore, Joan
Standing, Ethel Griffies, Edith King-
don, Edith Fellowes, William Wag-
ner, Claire DuBrey, Jean Darling,
Richard Quine, Anne Howard,
Clarice Selwyn, Hylda Tyson, John
Rogers, David Torrence, Greta
Gould. Gail Kay, Olaf Hytten, Wil-
liam Burress, Desmond Roberts.
Director Christy Cabanne
Novel Charlotte Bronte
Screen Play Adele Commandini
Photography Robert Planck
Supervisor Ben Verschleiser
WHATi
WHAT
BRUIATOUR BULLETIN
Published Every Monday
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Films
?m.
.cs
Playboys (at times) — these lab-
chiefs — summer sunshine does funny
things to them same as the rest of us.
. . . Roy Hunter, majordomo of Uni-
versal, spends his noon hours pulling
the bright sun through intricate
lenses on a specially prepared Leica
for the registration of natural-color
stills . . . and they're sooo beautiful,
too. . . . Jawnem Nicholaus slinking
into his second young-manhood as a
golf-o- maniac and bravely trudging
the canyons at Bel-Air to reduce his
waist-line and enlarge his smile. . . .
George Seid of Columbia finds his
newest hobby in split-bamboo casting
rods and shiny smooth-running reels
with silky lines and gaudy lures de-
signed to attract the poor fish
Mike Leshing of Fox thinks in the
same direction and will start a fishin'
trip justlikethat. . . . Harry Ensign at
Paramount sticks to the mountain
stuff when he's not playing off some
sort of golf finals . . . and Charlie
Levin at Roach shoots a mean game
of croquet.
•
Louiewilliamo'connell putting the
finishing toucjies to "Baby Take a
Bow" at Fox. ... At the same studio
a newcomer in the camera depart-
ment, George Schneidermann, comes
in off'n his boat to do a few added
scenes for Jack Ford, "The World
Moves On." . . . Earlier in the year
out at EMgeeem a young fellow nam-
ed OIlie Marsh started shooting with
Ernst Lubitsch directing "The Merry
Widow" . . . and stilt going strong,
thankyuh . . . and a coupla hundred
yards away on another stage Jimmy
Howe is busy outshooting himself
with Sam Wood on "Stamboul Quest."
. . . Pev Marley runs the camera in
and out of synthetic tunnels as he
keeps busy rolling the footage on Ed-
die Small's production of "Monte
Cristo" at Pathe, and he's getting
plenty of exercise for a boy who's had
only four idle days in eight months.
. . . Jim Brown of Larry Darmour is
off on a long career today and will
do a dozen in a row for his old boss.
«
Art Lloyd just waiting the starting
gun at Roach, which will go off this
week sometime. . . . Roy Hunt at
RKO actively in production on "A
Hat, A Coat, A Glove." . . . Ray Ren-
nahan and Bill Skall turning the cam-
eras on a Technicolor short for the
same studio. . . . Harold Wenstrom
finishing up on his current production,
and will then have a few weeks off
to enjoy his new beach house
According to advices most of the boys
at RKO are going to have a short va-
cation, and the studio expects to be
going again in full swing about the
end of June.
Errata
In last week's Bulletin we published
a story to the effect that Bob Planck
was to take over the cameras on Roy
Pomeroy's picture, "Shock," with
Monogtam.
However, about the time this story
was being printed Trem Carr made a
few magic passes, and switched his
program, which sent Jack Mackenzie
into the spot which we had announced
for Planck. Mackenzie will complete
production late this week.
Thanks From Tannura
Phil Tannura, one of the old timers from the camera ranks, has re-
turned to his British post after a month's visit with his old pals and
associates here.
Writing to George Gibson of the Brulatour staff, Tannura says: "I
wonder if it would be asking too much for you to publish a few lines in
your Brulatour Bulletin, telling the boys in the camera departments, labo-
ratories and sound departments of my sincere appreciation for the kind-
ness everyone has shown to me during my visit in Hollywood. Particu-
larly am I grateful to the heads of the camera departments at every studio
on the Coast. What they showed me and told me was a delightful rev-
elation and has made my vacation a real pleasure from which I expect to
profit greatly. I enjoyed very much your interesting Bulletin, and in case
I find any news which I consider sufficiently important in our studio in
London, I'll send it on to you.
"I wish also you would publish my address, because from time to
time many of the Hollywood cameramen have questions regarding con-
ditions in Europe, and I'd be very glad to answer any of these to the best
of my ability. Address me at: 9 Arcade House, Hampstead Way, N.W.
11, London, England."
Mellor Elevated
Again it's happened. Another op-
erative cameraman steps from the
ranks and up to the top in his profes-
sion.
Bill Mellor, who for the past sev-
eral years has been associated with
Paramount as operative cameraman for
Victor Milner, now gets the big break
on his home lot, and is in work on his
first production, "Ladies First," star-
ring George Bancroft. Picture got
under way during the past week, and
while Bill was as nervous as the pro-
verbial bride — (he'll probably deny
this) — his first day's work (and every
day's since) clicked like a clock with
the front office bosses, the cast, the
lab and even Bill himself.
Seitz Does It
Some very interesting things hap-
pen without a bit of warning at the
Movietone Studios. Not the least of
these was brought to light late last
week, when a contingent from the
camera department came marching in
with a large wedding cake, placed it
in Johnny Seitz' lap with cheers and
congratulations.
Then came the general studio
broadcast of the news that Seitz and
Miss Mary Boyle took a quick run out
of the state and had the ceremony
performed about six weeks ago, and
until middle of last week were wholly
successful in keeping the happy event
an absolute secret from even their
most intimate friends.
Jerry Best East
Major Levinson at the Warner Bros.-
First National Studio, temporarily lost
his right hand man, Jerry Best, who
left for New York and other points
East of the Mississippi. Best will visit
his family in New York, and is also
scheduled to spend several days in the
Bell Laboratories in New York.
Viva Caudio
Tony Caudio, the stormy petrel of
the camera, loudly declares he wants
everybody to know that it was he who
conceived the idea of the disc and
filter combination in the same piece
of glass.
In the disc itself, Caudio states, he
has had Eastman Kodak Company
place the filter, instead of having sep-
arate pieces for each.
It's an accepted fact that Caudio
has pioneered many important factors
in improvement of camera technique,
and he promises to announce very
shortly another one of great import-
ance to every cameraman.
Ruttenberg Here
Joe Ruttenberg, one of the out-
standing cameramen of New York,
arrived in Hollywood early last week,
and is spending his time visiting the
major studios where he has many
friends in the photographic, laboratory
and other technical departments. Rut-
tenberg is very much interested in
new equipment. Ht is also inspecting
and devoting long hours to rigid in-
vestigation of projection background
systems employed by all studios. He
will remain in Hollywood for some
time before returning east to resume
his work there.
Starts at Fox
Hal Mohr has been assigned to the
camera and is scheduled to start work
this week with Frank Lloyd on the
new Janet Gaynor production, "Serv-
ants' Entrance."
Bert Glennon draws immediate as-
signment for Number Two under his
new contract, and starts with Hamil-
ton McFadden on the Helen Twelve-
trees picture, "She Was a Lady."
The Sol Wurtzel unit, "Charlie
Chan's Courage," is being given fin-
ishing touches by Joe Valentine.
False Alarm
Follow-up on last week's story regarding Paul Perry, reported by Fred
Jackman to be stranded in China, now indicates that even in the land of
laundries they experience exaggerations.
Jackman has radioed Hollywood that Paul Perry is fine and dandy, has
practically finished his work in China for Chester Bennett; and further
advises that Bennett has signed Perry to a new contract and will continus
on 'round the world.
Sorry if our story upset some of Paul's friends, and we unite with
them in giving three cheers that the rumor was just that.
(NOTE: Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour, Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION: WHAT ARE YOUR
OPINIONS CONCERNING THE
USE OF SHORT FOCAL LENGTH
LENSES SUCH AS 24, 28 and 32?
HAL ROSSON (M.C.M.): These
lenses should never be used in full
shots unless the set is designed es-
pecially for them. Their value gen-
erally is nil and should be used only
for effect and the distorted per-
spective shots.
PEV MARLEY (U.A.): Except in
special cases where one is cramped
for space and must use this type of
lens, they should only be used
where grotesque effects are desired.
JACK MACKENZIE (Monogram): I
find it necessary to hide these
lenses from most directors, as, hav-
rng achieved an odd effect with one
at some time or other, they insist
on trying to use them too much.
They have no value except when
used as effect lenses.
HARRY JACKSON (Fox) : I find
these lenses useful sometimes in
photographing musical numbers to
give certain desired effects, but un-
less they are very high type I find
that they fall away at the edges,
both in exposure and focally.
SOL POLITO (Warners) : I have had
some success in using these lenses
for certain types of shots in musi-
cal pictures, but would not advise
their use without very definite
thought and planning in building
the set and spotting the people.
HAROLD WENSTROM (RKO) : If the
set is properly designed and suffi-
cient space given to the cameraman
to use the longer focal length
lenses, I know of no time in regular
production when these lenses should
be used. They are effect lenses or
for distorted perspective shots only.
Noffka Arrives
George Noffka, who has been a top
production executive with M.G.M. and
Fox for many years, arrived in Holly-
wood from New York mid-week as
American representative for DeBrie
Camera Company, Paris.
Accompanying Noffka is a mechani-
cal technician from the Paris plant.
Latest model of the DeBrie Super
Parvo is being exhibited by Noffka,
w.ho is making his headquarters at the
General Service Studios. ^
Out 'n In For Sharp
At Paramount Henry Sharp finished
production on Saturday night and im-
mediately jumped into "Ladies Should
Listen," Frank Tuttle's new picture
starring Gary Grant and Ida Lupino.
Brodine Continues
At Universal Studios the Edward
Sloman production, "There's Always
Tomorrow," continues with Norbert
Brodine in charge of the photography.
J
M-'.i-M MUUlUi,
% READING DEPT.
Vol. XXI. No. 13. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, May 23, 1934
•MR. C. A. ATKINSON does us the
honor of reprinting in his London Era
one of our tradeviews that had to do
with our remarks that the doors are
always open here for good British pic-
tures, that there should never be any
misunderstanding or arguments be-
tween America and Great Britain re-
garding their pictures. Mr. Atkinson
in rebuttal states:
•
"Strange, isn't it, that British pro-
ducers should still continue to miss
that wide-open door, but the facts
can be easily tested.
"Hollywood produced about 500
films last year, and it is safe to as-
sume that practically all these films
were shown in Britain.
"London produced nearly 200 films
last year, of which about 100 were
made for purely quota purposes.
"How many of the remaining 100
were shown in America, or seen in
Hollywood?
"The truth is, of course, that
America will only take from us pic-
tures that are better than her own
best, which is reasonable; but why
should we take from America pictures
that are inferior to our own average —
or even our worst?"
•
And if Mr. Atkinson is right in
asserting that England takes Ameri-
can pictures that are inferior to those
of her own make, then the only an-
swer is that the American pictures,
good or bad, must draw more money
than those made by the British stu-
dios.
That can be the only answer, for
certainly if our exhibitors found pic-
tures of another country better box-
office than those made here in Holly-
wood, that's the product they would
buy. Patriotism or sentiment will not
sell theatre tickets and the picture
business is based on selling tickets.
•
It is, of course, true, as Mr. At-
kinson says, that most of the 500 pic-
tures he mentions as having been
made in Hollywood were shown in
Great Britain, and it is also true that
few of Britain's pictures were shown
in this country. Obviously the British
exhibitors think along the same lines
as the Americans; they go for the best
box-office product, no matter who
produces it.
Rr€ PLUING OUT €f RED
Receiver's Report Reveals
Small Profits This Year As
Against Heavy Losses In 1933
Frank Joyce Able to
Leave Bed For Walk
New "^ork. — Frank Joyce was
well enough yesterday to leave the
Midtown Hospital for a short
walk, and is expected to leave for
Hollywood within a few weeks.
'Black Chamber^
For Powell at MCM
William Powell's first starring pic-
ture on his new contract at Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer will be "Black Cham-
ber," which has had the tentative title
of "The Blonde Countess."
The picture is an adaptation of a
book by Herbert O. Yardley, entitled
"The American Black Chamber,"
which was the sobriquet of a depart-
ment of the United States Secret Serv-
ice during the war.
In addition to Powell, Myrna Loy
and Charles Butterworth will be in
the cast.
Paul Lukas Lead For
'Hat-, Coat and Clove'
Paul Lukas is understood set for
the part in Radio's "Hat, Coat and
Glove," from which John Barrymore
pulled out and which Adolphe Men-
jou declined.
The deal is a loan from Universal
and Radio is to start work immediate-
ly on the production.
Beahan-Cohn Coming
New York. — Charles Beahan post-
poned his departure for Hollywood so
that .he might accompany his boss,
Harry Cohn, who leaves on today's
plane.
New York. — Radio-Keith-Orpheum and its subsidiaries are
pulling out of the red and are seeing black figures on the balance
sheet. The Irving Trust Company, equity receiver for the cor-
poration, filed its third report yesterday with the Federal Court,
showing a profit for the first quarter
of this year, before deducting income
taxes, of $498,131. This compares
with a loss for the year 1933 of $4,-
384,064, and a loss for 1932 of
$10,695,503.
It is the same story with regard to
the subsidiaries. RKO-Radio Pictures
and RKO-Pathe Pictures show a
profit for the first quarter of 1934
of $308,602, compared with a loss of
$603,293 for the corresponding period
(Continued on Page 21
General Motors Offers
Winchell $2500 Weekly
New York. — General Motors has
offered Walter Winchell 26 weeks on
the air at $2500 a week, but he may
turn it down and remain with Jergens
on a 40-weeks contract for $2000
weekly.
Winchell is leaving for the coast
Tuesday. Sidney Skolsky and Louis
Sobol are starting West Friday.
New Deal For Leisen
Paramount has discarded Mitchell
Leisen's old contract and has .handed
him a new deal which he takes up on
his return from Honolulu in three
weeks.
UNIVERSAL CHAI\GI]VG
ITS PRODUCTIOIV SET-UP
Joan Bennett Goes to
A revised production set-up at Uni-
versal City, whereby serfals and at
least two groups of features will be
made by independently financed pro-
ducers for Universal release, will be
officially disclosed at the Universal
convention in New York, June 5.
Four serials are to be produced by
Milton Gatzert, "The Red Rider," now
in the making, with Buck Jones star-
ring, being the first. The status of
Henry McRae as Universal serial pro-
ducer is to be determined today, prob-
ability being he will continue his past
(Continued on Page 7)
'U' For Runyon Story
Universal yesterday signed Joan
Bennett and borrowed Edward Arnold
from B. P. Schulberg for the leads in
"Million Dollar Ransom," the Damon
Runyon story which Murray Roth will
direct.
William Lipman scripted and Eph
Asher is the associate producer. The
Bennett and Arnold deals were nego-
tiated by Schulberg, Feldman and
Curney.
FWC Assets Will Be
Sold Before July 10
New York. — It is probable that
sales of the Fox West Coast assets
will take place before July 10. The
reorganization plan will probably be
in effect some time in August.
This is all part of the plan that has
been laid out, because the Chase Na-
tional and Fox Film, as the principal
creditors of Fox West Coast, would
control any group taking over the as-
sets at a sale.
Schenck Wants to Team
Gable-Colbert Again
New York. — Darryl Zanuck's plan
to team Clark Gable and Constance
Bennett in the one picture for which
he has signed Gable, was somewhat
amended yesterday when Joseph
Schenck started .hunting for a story
which would fit Cable and Claudette
Colbert.
He wants to get Colbert for the
picture in view of the great success
of "It Happened One Night."
Depinet-Sisk East
Ned E. Depinet, Radio vice-presi-
dent, and Robert F. Sisk, in charge of
advertising for the company, left last
night by plane on their return to New
York. They were here two weeks,
conferring on future pictures.
John Barrymore III
John Barrymore is in the Good
Samaritan Hospital, seriously ill with
an acute infection contracted while on
his yacht. Dr. Sam Hirschfeld is at-
tending him.
Lull at Radio Lot
With the completion yesterday of
"Afterwards," Radio studios go into
a temporary production lull. Only one
short is scheduled for the stages today.
I AUSTIN PARKER Now Writing For COLLIMBIA f
Page Two
May 23, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Gratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
r879.
tm
Just remembered what a certain
young well-known writer told us of
his experiences with Von Sternberg
while "Scarlet Empress" was still in
the script stage. It's really a "believe
it or not" — but here y're: Seems that
Von wanted a "little extra writing"
on the script, and asked this particu-
lar writer to do the job. He did it
and turned it in. Then the director
called him up, complimented him on
his work and added: "I like your
writing very much; I shall use several
of the words!" (!) Which is exactly
what he did — being particularly im-
pressed with a phrase or two — and
that's all of the writer's work which
reached the screen. But here's the
payoff: When the script was handed
to the writer he noticed that his mim-
eographed copy was without punctua-
tion of any kind — all the sentences
running into each other. He asked
Von Sternberg about it and also how
he expected actors to interpret their
roles properly from such a script. Von
replied that he didn't want the actors
to have any preconceived NOTIONS
about how to read their lines! They
were to learn the words, that's all —
HE would tell them how to read them!
And they shot Lincoln!
•
Someone standing on the sidelines
of the set where Elissa Landi was
working in "Count of Monte Cristo"
the other day, heard the lady spout-
ing French during the scene. And it
was extraordinarily bad French. Know-
ing that Elissa knew much better, he
asked .her about it. He was informed
that only one or two in the troupe
could speak good French, and Direc-
tor Rowland V. Lee didn't want just
a little good French here and there —
so they were all speaking bad French!
'•
The William R. Hearst party which
sails Saturday to spend the Summer
abroad together consists of Marion
Davies, the George Hearsts, the Bill
Hearsts, Buster Collier, Dorothy Mac-
kaill, Eileen Percy, Harry Crocker, the
Jack Hearsts, Joe Willicombe, and a
few maids, secretaries and tooth-
brushes. In the meantime, what is
Eddie Kane going to doooo?
"HE WAS HER MAN"
Warners prod.; director, Lloyd Bacon; writers, Niven Busch, Tom Buckingham,
Robert Lord.
Strand Theatre
Mirror: Joan Blondell and James Cagney are such a plausible team of performers
that any film they make can hold your interest. They succeed in making
fair entertainment from this rather unsatisfactory story. Director Bacon
has handled it with imagination.
Herald-Tribune: Mr. Cagney steadies the plot continually. That he carries the
motion picture through some of its sensational interludes is something of
a fact. Lloyd Bacon has directed the production and has done as proficient
a job as one might ask for with the material at hand.
American: "He Was Her Man" is a satisfying picture of program variety, full of
suspense and elevated above the average by the presence of its star. It is
well cast and nicely directed. The entire cast does creditable work, with
Cagney's characterization best.
News: Although the story lets Cagney down and Blondell is obviously unsuited
to her role of the morose Rose, the picture is not without its excitement
and moments of suspense.
Times: Mr. Cagney once more reveals himself to be a genuinely expert actor.
Miss Blondell does well as Rose.
World-Telegram: Now and again it gives promise of stirring itself out of the
doldrums, but it never quite comes to life. The cast is good — the produc-
tion excellent. But at best "He Was Her Man" is only so-so underworld
melodrama.
Sun: The Warners know how to make this sort of melodrama. They've kept
both stars from overplaying their toughness, and they've mingled an ele-
ment of tenderness, instead of hard-boiled comedy, along with the excite-
ment.
Post: The tale lacks the virility of the early gangster pictures. It is interesting
chiefly because of the playing of Cagney and Miss Blondell in the principal
roles.
Journal: It is a combination of sentiment and underworld melodramatics. And
the combination of moods extends to the players as well as to the plot.
For while Cagney does his customary hard-boiled characterization during
the first part of the story, the ending bows him out with self-sacrificial
heroics.
uch New Blood
For U' Writing List
Wholesale infusion of new writing
blood is underway at Universal. Leo-
pold Atlas, reporting at the studio to-
day, is the 21st name on the active
writing list.
A dozen others most recently en-
rolled by Leonard Spigelgass are John
Balderston, Jean Bart, Forrest Halsey,
Victor Herman, Sarah Y. Mason, Wil-
liam Lipman, Eugene Burton, Ralph
Burton, Karen De Wolf, John Meehan,
Jr., Gene Solow and Nat Ferber (the
latter was last on the John McCraw
story at MOM) .
Previously, Universal added Jacques
Deval, Barry Trivers, David Hertz and
William Hurlbut to its literary staff.
The veterans among Universal's
writers are now Gladys Unger, Clar-
ence Marks, L. C. Blochman and Dons
Anderson.
Lilian Bond to Stage
Lilian Bond will play the lead op-
posite Leslie Fenton in "Bitter Har-
vest," which will be produced by Mel-
ville Brown at the Hollywood Play-
house, May 28. Ralph Farnum han-
dled the deal.
NOTICE!
The largest annuity company in the
world is represented by
ALBERT ESCHNER
220 Taft BIdg. HEmpstead 4139
Ray Rockett Joins
Edington and Vincent
Edington and Vincent announced
yesterday that Ray Rockett had be-
come an associate of the firm in its
agency business.
Rockett has been in the picture
game for a long time, and was former-
ly production manager for First Na-
tional.
European Arrivals
New York. — Arriving on the lie de
France today are Elmer Rice, the play-
wright, and William Haines.
RKO Pulling Out of Red
(Continued from Page 1 )
last year. The entire 1933 loss was
$1,290,685, after all charges, and the
1932 loss was $5,381,051.
The operations of the Radio City
theatres for seven months ended
March 31 gave the corporation a share
amounting to $58,282. The RKO
Vaudeville Exchange and the Vaude-
ville Collection Agency showed a quar-
ter's profit of $9036.
The total claims that have been
filed against RKO amount to $35,-
41 3,733, of which, claims aggregating
$2,031,000 have been withdrawn.
Special Master Thomas D. Thatcher
has given hearings on claims, totaling
$24,000,000, but so far has not ren-
dered decisions on any.
The receivers report that prospects
for increased admissions are not very
bright, both because of probable les-
sened attendance and because of the
deterring influence of the Federal tax.
RUTH COLLIER
is pleased to announce
HOUSTON BRANCH
(author of "Tiger Shark,"
"Hard To Handle," etc.)
has completed an operetta
(music by Charles Wakefield Cadman)
which will be produced in
September by
J. J. SHUBERT
May 23,1934
THF
Page Three
'VlRCilE WINTERS' EXCELLENT:
*Lt>VE CAPTIVE' PRETTY POOR
NoHhaliL
Fine Direction,
Writing, Acting
"VIRCIE WINTERS"
(Radio)
Direction Alfred Santell
Original Story Louis Bromfield
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography Lucien Andriot
Cast: Ann Harding, John Boles, Helen
Vinson, Betty Furness, Frank Al-
bertson, Creighton Chaney, Sara
Haden, Molly O'Day, Ben Alexan-
der, Donald Crisp, Wesley Barry.
A wholly absorbing, moving story
of the life and one great love of a
small town milliner and what life and
love and that small town did to her.
It is completely box-office so far as
universal appeal is concerned, but,
more than that, it is a superb piece
of picture-making that will delight
those who look beneath the enter-
tainment value in a film and appreci-
ate the small, fine qualities and finesse
that go to make that entertainment
better than most.
The picture has all the same qual-
ity that went into the writing of Ed-
gar Lee Master's "Spoon River An-
thology " It is almost like a page
out of that book for the beautiful
simplicity and atmosphere of the small
town life it describes. To Alfred
Santell must be given the credit for
having thought of all the little
touches, seemingly unimportant in
themselves, that go to make this such
a perfect example of what can be
done with an almost routine plot if
care is observed in its setting and
characterization.
Along with that is the grand adap-
tation that Jane Murfin has made from
the Louis Bromfield short story. It
must have been a difficult job to keep
up the interest in this Virgie Winters
because, under a number of other
names, this heroine has made her ap-
pearance in many pictures in the last
few seasons, but never so appealingly,
nor so intelligently.
Virgie Winters' story is that of the
faithful, loving mistress who must give
up her man for the sake of his career.
She has a child by .him which he man-
ages to adopt. Finally, as Virgie is
about to reap her reward in marriage
to this man, he is killed by his wife,
and Virgie, thinking always of her
child, takes the rap. In the end, how-
ever, she is pardoned because the wife
confesses to the child on her death-
bed and it is presumed that Virgie
will live .happily ever after in the sun-
shine of her daughter's love.
Ann Harding as Virgie Winters
gives one of the best performances of
her life and looks simply beautiful in
the old-fashioned costumes she wears
throughout most of the picture. John
Boles again plays the role of the ca-
reer-man and is still doing well by it.
Betty Furness, as the daughter, defi-
nitely registers as a darned good little
actress, and Helen Vinson, in the one
big scene given her as the wife, walks
away with plenty of .honors. Donald
Crisp shows up as an actor again in
the part of Mike, the bartender, and
is plenty good, as are Creighton Cha-
Life Sues Cantor
And Air Sponsors
New York. — Life, the magazine,
filed suit in the Federal Court yes-
terday asking $25,000 from Stand-
ard Brands and Eddie Cantor on the
ground that material Life had copy-
righted was used in Cantor broad-
casts without permission.
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New "/ork. — Six new pictures are
making their bows to Broadway this
week and two of last week's attrac-
tions are held over. These two are
"Murder at the Vanities" at the Riv-
oli, and "Beyond Bengal" at the
Gaiety.
The newcomers are "Upper World"
at the Strand today; "Where Sinners
Meet" at the Music Hall, and "Holly-
wood Party" at the Rialto tomorrow;
"Viva Villa" at the Capitol, with Ev-
erett Marshall, Patricia Bowman and
Borra Minevitch in the stage show;
"Many Happy Returns" at the Para-
mount, and "Now I'll Tell" at the
Roxy, all on Friday. "Sorrell and Son"
opens at the Mayfair next Monday.
Ed Hat-rick Sailing
For Europe With Hearst
New York. — E. B. Hatrick is sail-
ing for Europe next Saturday with the
William R. Hearst party.
Hatrick yesterday confirmed the re-
port that DeLuxe Laboratories will do
the printing for the Metrotone news-
reels.
Felix Ferry to Produce
Musical Picture Here
New York. — Felix Ferry, European
producer, is flying to the coast Friday
and will produce a musical picture
there, entitled "Music and a Woman."
The release is not set yet, nor is
the studio at which he will make the
production.
Butterworth Better
Charles Butterworth left the hos-
pital Monday after treatment for sinus
and goes into his role in "Student
Tour' for MOM today.
Jack Cummings ill
Jack Cummings, MCM shorts pro-
ducer, is home ill with the flu.
ney, Sara Haden, Ben Alexander, Molly
O'Day, Wesley Barry and Frank Al-
bertson in small parts that all stand
out for their excellence.
Lucien Andriot, by his photogra-
phy, has contributed a great deal
toward the atmospheric quality of the
picture. For those scenes laid in the
days of twenty-two years ago, his
camera work gives the impression of
an old tintype and, as the years go
on, so does .his photography.
It's really a great picture and the
exhib who sells it as such will be more
than repaid for his efforts.
lOTHER REVIEW ON PACE 6)
Players Hampered
By Muddled Story
"THE LOVE CAPTIVE'
( Universal)
Direction Max Marcin
Original Max Marcin
Continuity Karen de Wolf
Photography Gilbert Warrenton
Cast: Nils Asther, Gloria Stuart, Paul
Kelly, Alan Dinehart, Renee Gadd,
Virginia Kami, Russ Brown, John
Wray, Robert Greig, Ellalee Ruby,
Franklyn Ardell.
Universal has a weak sister in "The
Love Captive," alias "The Humbug,"
unless it goes through the process of
considerable retakes. Cutting won't
help, for the fault is a major one.
Dealing with the highly incredible
subject of hypnosis, the story has to
fight for every bit of audience appeal.
Then it commits the cardinal sin of
confusing its audience. There is more
than a little confusion as to which de-
serves the sympathy, the M.D. who
charges the hypnotist with malpractice
or the hypnotist who faces the charge
of being a charlatan.
On the hypnotist's side of the con-
troversy— and that's just what it is, a
controversy — to his credit, there are
the cures of a dope fiend, a habitual
drunkard and a chap with the hic-
coughs, three in all and all miracu-
lous. To his discredit, there is a name-
less charge brought against him by a
former girl assistant, the conquest of
the heroine, now his assistant, and an-
other conquest of an attorney's wife.
Hardly enough to justify his murder,
however near to the perfect crime this
murder is, for if we justified the mur-
ders of all doctors who have conquests
— well, we wouldn't have many doc-
tors left alive.
On the other side of the argument,
there is the regular M.D. with noth-
ing much against the hypnotist except
that his girl has been stolen. So mud-
dled is the writing of this role that
even Paul Kelly, one of the finest
actors on the screen today, can't do
anything with it.
All of which leaves only one con-
clusion. The hypnotist must be bru-
talized— and in the early reels — if the
picture is going to get anywhere with
its audiences.
Nils Asther turns in a nice job as
the hypnotist. His English is much
improved. Gloria Stuart is beautiful
as the heroine, although having preci-
ous little to do. Alan Dinehart scores
as the attorney, one of the few char-
acters completely understandable.
Renee Gadd, a new foreign importa-
tion, is acceptable in her American de-
but. The others have scant opportuni-
ties.
Max Marcin's direction is halting,
very definitely lacking in tempo. The
film has no comedy excepting Robert
Grieg's butler, but several uninten-
tional ^aughs. Photograp^hy good
enough.
Kruger-Erwin Cast
Otto Kruger and Stu Erwin were set
by MGM yesterday for leading roles
in support of Clark Gable and Joan
Crawford in "Sacred and Profane
Love."
UatterS
I T L^ /^^>fey (jwtim M:
At last reports, "Mother Machree"
had been sold to Fox for early pro-
duction. Which is okay by us, but
before the sale was made to Fox, that
story had been optioned by a well-
known independent producer. At the
time that Mrs. Scott, the authoress,
sold that option she was very anxious
to have a certain actress and good
friend of hers play the title role. In
fact, the story had been written with
this actress very much in mind. And
the name of the actress was Mary
Carr.
Well, sir, Mrs. Scott asked the in-
dependent producer if he would mind
if she made a suggestion as to who
should play the part and the producer
said certainly not, to fire away.
Whereupon Mrs. Scott mentioned
Mary Carr. "Oh, no," said the pro-
ducer. "We couldn't use her. You
see, I bought the story because we
have an actress under contract who
just fits the part."
"And who is that.?" asked Mrs
Scott.
"Vera Gordon!" came the answer.
There's one thing about writers —
you just never know w.hen you're
talking to one. F'rinstance, Gilbert
Roland, as you've probably never sus-
pected, IS a writer. Short stories are
his forte and, from all reports and
rumors, they're not only short stories,
but they're good short stories. They're
so good, in fact, that a publishing
house in New York is definitely inter-
ested in putting them into a book and
you may look forward to seeing Ro-
land's name on the list of best sellers
any season now.
•
Carl Brisson is slightly hurt and put
out over the seeming neglect of one
Greta Garbo. It seems that he feels
that he's a Scandinavian and so is the
glamorous Garbo and .he's the first
one to visit and join the film colony
since Garbo's dramatic rise to fame,
and he thinks it would be only fittin'
and right if she should welcome him
as a compatriot, if not as a friend of
her youth. But Brisson forgets all the
publicity he gave to the effect that
he and Garbo were likethat at one
time back in the old days. And pub-
licity IS not exactly a pass key to
Garbo's house. Besides which, if he
did kiss her once, why should he tell,
unless he thought it was good pub-
licity, and that should be welcome
enough. . . . Marian Spitzer has
thought up a brand new business for
herself, just in case all else should
fail. She's gonna cross homing pig-
eons with stool pigeons and do her
own interior decorating.
Dorothy Dare Set For
'Sweet Adeline' Lead
Dorothy Dare, Joe Cook's lead in
"Hold Your Horses," will be trans-
planted from Broadway by Warners
for a term ticket.
First assignment for the Broadway
girl is "Sweet Adeline." i
Page Four
May 23, 1934
MINNA COMBELL
played M I M I in
N
V
N
Management
HARRY WURTZEL
Now Playing MARCELLE in "THE MERRY WIDOW
also for MCM
PORTER HALL
plays the lawyer MacCAULAY in
\\
V
\
Management:
AL KINGSTON
MCM
May 23.1934
l^iIP>©lTiii
Page Five
'BRAIN-TRU
HELP ROSY
Washington. — While the report
could not be verified, the Washington
"grapevine' today carried the persis-
tent rumor that President Roosevelt
is seriously considering calling in a
member of his celebrated "brain
trust" to help Sol Rosenblatt un-
scramble some of the problems of the
picture code.
The names of Raymond Moley and
Rexford Guy Tugwell were mentioned
as the most likely men to be called
if the President decides Rosenblatt
needs help. Moley was in session with
the President yesterday for some t'lT^s.
Tugwell long ago made some pertinent
suggestions regarding the picture in-
dustry, and is known to believe in
complete government control of every-
thing.
iRepresentatives of the Hays office,
stirred by the attacks upon the pic-
ture industry which both Gen. Johnson
and Donald Richberg have declared is
a monopoly, were running around in
circles yesterday in an effort to avert
the growing onslaught against the
business. The fear is growing here
among picture people that a drive is
on in all parts of the country to have
the government take over the same
kind of control of the picture busi-
ness as it did of the meat packing in-
dustry thirty years ago. Any way you
look at it, the industry is faced by
turmoil.
STER' MAY
ON FILM CODE
Glen Boies Signed to
Term Deal by Warners
Glen Boles, 21 -year-old Hollywood
stock and radio juvenile, whose only
picture work has been in the indie,
"Quitters," and MCM's "Cellini," was
signed by Warners yesterday for a
term, and assigned to "Flirtation
Walk," the next picture to go into
production at the Burbank studio.
There's a possibility that Dick Pow-
ell, Ruby Keeler and Pat O'Brien, the
featured trio, may take a jaunt to
West Point to appear in background
shots.
Dowling and Brownell
On Boulder Dam Film
Pat Dowling and H. H. Brownell
arose before daylight Sunday and set
off in the direction of Boulder Dam to
film material for an industrial picture.
Dowling and Brownell did a Boul-
der Dam industrial a few years ago
for the International Harvester Corp.
Hamilton to Columbia
Finishing yesterday in "Two Heads
on a Pillow" for Liberty, Neil Hamil-
ton goes to Columbia to take a top
spot in "Blind Date."
June Loses Tonsils
June Knight had her tonsils re-
moved yesterday at the California
Lutheran Hospital.
OPEN FORUM
Hollywood Reporter:
I think the article in the "Low-
down" in regard to a film executive
winning money at a gambling house is
entirely unfair to the club.
For your personal and confidential
information the executive was myself.
It is a fact that I won the money and
a fact that the club paid off one hun-
dred cents on the dollar, so if you can,
without mentioning my name, give the
club the same boost as you gave them
a rib.
If you knew these boys you would
put yourself out to do them a good
turn. When you meet a regular fel-
low give him a chance and that is
what I can say about these boys.
EXECUTIVE.
Film Tennis Tourney
Starting Next Sunday
The annual motion picture tennis
tournament gets under way next Sun-
day at the Los Angeles Tennis Club,
with a record entry list in prospect.
Among the topnotchers entered are
Fredric March, Gilbert Roland, Theo-
dore Von Eltz and Ted Easton, the lat-
ter former intercollegiate singles
champion.
The tournament will be held Sun-
day, Memorial Day and the following
Sunday. Entries close Friday. Entries
may be sent to Von Eltz at the Ten-
nis Club.
LindseyAsks Probe
Of Film Monopoly
Defying the orders of Deputy Ad-
ministrator Sol A. Rosenblatt, Judge
Ben B. Lindsey, it was learned last
night, has prepared his report on the
studio labor complaints filed with him
and heard by him, and has forwarded
the report to George Creel, State head
of the NRA for California.
The report is understood to pre-
sent to the Federal government
charges that the motion picture code
is fostering a dangerous monopoly con-
trolled by the major producers, and
recommending to the national admin-
istration a sweeping investigation of
these charges.
While the report is said to defend
the principles of the NRA, it is un-
derstood to point out numerous de-
fects in the administration of the
code, with recommendations for their
correction. The full and complete
reasons why Judge Lindsey took issue
with Rosenblatt are also said to be
contained in the report, together with
a general airing of conditions as ob-
served by the Judge in Hollywood.
Term For Ray Turner
Ray Turner, Paramount's music de-
partment pianist, was handed a new
contract yesterday and goes into his
fourth year with the studio.
Forbes For 'Barretts'
Ralph Forbes was signed by Irving
Thalberg at MGM yesterday for an
important spot in "Barretts of Wim-
pole Street."
NATALIE MOORHEAD
plays JULIA WOLF in
k
V
N
MGM
Page Six
THE
May 23, 1934
Ml
I
MURDER
GOOD,
Edna May Oliver
Carries Off Honors
"MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD"
(RKO-Radio)
Direction George Archainbaud
Author Stuart Palmer
Screen Play Willis Coldbeck
Photography Nick Musuraca
Cast: Edna May Oliver, James Cleason,
Bruce Cabot, Gertrude Michael,
Regis Toomey, Edgar Kennedy, Tul-
ly Marshall, Jackie Searl, Fredrik
Vogeding and Barbara Fritchie.
A particularly gory murder commit-
ted in the echoing silence of a deserted
classroom, just a little while after the
children have all gone home, is the
unusually effective beginning of the
RKO-Radio picture, "Murder on the
Blackboard."
From then on, with Edna May Oli-
ver and James Gleason supplying the
sleuthing and the comedy, the picture
hits a fairly good tempo, although it is
undeniably true that a little speeding
up wouldn't hurt it at all in places.
However, Miss Oliver and Gleason
work so well together, and their busi-
ness is so funny, that the picture is a
good bet the way it stands now.
There are two young teachers in
this school, Barbara Fritchie and Ger-
trude Michael. Besides rooming to-
gether, they both love the same man,
Bruce Cabot. An older teacher, whom
everyone calls Snoopy Withers (Miss
Oliver) is horrified to discover this
certain afternoon the dead body of
Miss Fritchie. Knowing practically
everything that goes on within her
eyesight or earshot, she elects herself
aide de sleuth to Inspector Piper
(Gleason.)
After a series of horrifying experi-
ences, another near murder, the dis-
covery that violence was not needed
to kill the young teacher as she was
rapidly dying from a poison that was
being administered her. Snoopy With-
ers unearths the whole plot which,
miraculously, corresponds to the ideas
that Gleason has .had all along — AF-
TER she tells him all about it.
Miss Oliver is priceless as Snoopy.
Her indignant sniffs, her important
adjusting of her ratty little fur piece,
and her knowing glances at dead ants
and lighter fluid, make grand comedy.
Gleason is clever and amusing as the
inspector. Regis Toomey does a bit
well; Gertrude Michael is more than
pleasing as the murderee's friend;
Edgar Kennedy is funny as Detective
Donahue; Tully Marshall is the prin-
cipal; Jackie Searl is splendid as a bad
little boy; Fredrik Vogeding staggers
neatly through the role of a drunken
janitor, and Bruce Cabot is ineffec-
tive.
George Archainbaud imbued the
piece with real eeriness; Willis Cold-
beck adapted the Stuart Palmer story,
and the photography by Nick Musu-
raca is just what a mystery needs.
The picture is good now. With a
little speeding up, it will go in any
house that likes mysteries.
ON RLACKROARD'
EXCITING MYSTERY
ImpartialMemberof
Labor Com. Named
Thar's Cold in Them
Thar Sherman Vines
When Lowell Sherman went out
to Universal several months ago to
direct a picture, he was given a
neat little bungalow, with nicely
trimmed vines about it. To date
he has drawn total salary of $120,-
000, directed no picture, and the
vines have grown about the bunga-
low door so heavily it can hardly
be opened.
Elsa Lanchester Cast
in 'Marie Antoinette'
Elsa Lanchester, wife of Charles
Laughton, joins the cast of "Marie
Antoinette" for a featured assign-
ment.
Sidney Franklin directs the Norma
Shearer picture, which the Irving
Thalberg unit produces for MGM.
Oland Option Lifted
Warner Oland has had his option
taken up by Fox and will appear in
some more "Charlie Chan" pictures.
Jack Gardner set the deal.
'U' Changing Set-up
(Continued from Page 1 )
responsibilities, but as an aide to
Gatzert.
Lou Ostrow's deal with Universal is
also slated for final signatures today,
or", at latest, before Carl Laemmle
starts East this week-end. The ar-
rangement is expected to call for six
Royal Productions for Universal re-
lease, and two pictures to be made by
Ostrow as a Universal producer.
Ostrow is about set on two of his
stories, one said to have a French lo-
cale, but is withholding titles for the
time. The only other serial story so
far decided on by Gatzert is "Tail-
spin Tommy," from the Hal Forrest
cartoon series.
Universal is also expected to an-
nounce a curtailed shorts output for
next season at the convention. The
universality of the double-feature is
blamed for a lessened market in the
short-subject field.
Warren Doane, independent pro-
ducer of two-reel comedies for Uni-
versal the past two years, is anxious
to go into the production of feature-
length comedies. He has given Uni-
versal the quits notice, permitted
either party each May during their
eleven-year contract, but Mastroly and
the Senior Laemmle do not consider
it final and expect him to continue
with the two-reelers. This will also
be decided this week.
However, the John Hix "Strange As
It Seems," a monthly novelty release
by Universal for over three years, has
been definitely dropped.
Universal's Mentone musical shorts,
made in the East by Rowland and
Rice, are on the teeter board, their
fate to be decided before the conven-
tion.
Sol A. Rosenblatt yesterday ap-
pointed W. Jefferson Davis, an attor-
ney, of 458 South Spring street, Los
Angeles, as the third and impartial
member of the Studio Labor Com-
mittee.
The committee, whose duty is to
handle complaints on the part of stu-
dio labor, now consists of Pat Casey,
chairman, representing the studios; Ed
Smith, representing labor, and Davis.
It replaces a former committee com-
posed of Casey, Smith, Al Berres and
Dick L'Estrange.
Chas. Burr Crashing
Into Production Again
Charles C. Burr is setting up head-
quarters at General Service with plans
for an untitled outdoor feature.
His claim against Educational for
cash alleged due as director on his last
Educational comedy is set for hearing
in Superior Court tomorrow.
Monogram Boosts
Ante on Westerns
Paramount's inclusion of westerns
in next season's program has encour-
aged Monogram to order a new set
of Lone Star pictures, with a tilt of
25 percent in the production budget.
First of the new feature westerns
will be "The Wolf Hunters," a James
Oliver Curwood story, which will go
into production in June as John
Wayne's first vehicle for the season.
Lindsley Parsons was assigned last
night to the adaptation, screen play
and dialog. R. N. Bradbury will direct.
Parsons also received from Paul
Malvern, Lone Star producer, the story
of "The Texas Terror" to adapt as
one of the three Waynes to follow.
Chicago Tribune Digs
Into Alleged Film Dirt
Philip Kinsley, one of the star re-
porters of the Chicago Tribune, has
arrived in Hollywood with an assign-
ment from his paper to get at the
facts about the alleged smut in recent
motion pictures.
There has been so much talk about
this subject by church people and wo-
men's organizations that the Tribune
wants the truth.
LINCOLN V12-
It's harmonized!
There's real melody in the mighty motor of
the new Lincoln . . . and the music of the
motor is in perfect harmony with the safe
chassis — the beautiful and luxurious bodies.
No wonder famous stars of song such as Mr.
BING CROSBY and Mr. GUY LOM-
BARDO have recently taken delivery of
1934 Lincoln VI2's from Maddux in
Hollywood.
MADDUX
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May 23,1934
Page Seven
FRAUD CHARGES TOSSED
AROVT IN IIVDIES' RATTLE
The fight among the board of di-
rectors of Screencrafts Productions
over the ownership of its last picture,
"Within the Rock," broke in court
yesterday. Superior Court Judge Frank
C. Collier granted Sam Katzman a
temporary injunction against Al Alt
and Abe Prell from taking over the
property. Hearing was set for June 8.
The Davidge Laboratory is holding the
negative. , i
Katzman, in his complaint, accused
Alt, Prell, Dr. Benjamin Naidis and
their Showman's Productions of'sham,
fraud and conspiracy," alleging that
the trio had the releasing contract be-
tween Screencrafts and the New York
firm of Showmens Pictures cancelled
with the intent to taTce it over them-
selves. Katzman claims that he and
A. W. Hackle were forced out of de-
funct company.
Dr. Benjamin Naidis, the complaint
declares, is Prell's brother-in-law and
insolvent, and entered a third party
claim against the picture on an alleged
chattel mortgage and note which are
"sham and fraud." Naidis was used as
a dummy in Alt and Prell's scheme,
according to Katzman, in order to
compel the complainant to post a
$28,000 bond or lose the rights to
the picture.
Para. Signs Ann Ronell
Ann Ronell was signed by Para-
mount yesterday to write songs for
"The Big Broadcast of 1934."
Mae West Finishes
In It Ain't No Sin'
"It Ain't No Sin" is completed so
far as Mae West personally is con-
cerned. Leo McCarey is cleaning up
musical sequences and expects to go
off the shooting schedule Friday.
While Paramount has "Me and the
King" as next for the star, no writing
assignments have been announced, and
Miss West has been weighing the at-
tractions of Honolulu vs. the Baer-
Carnera fight in New York as be-
tween-picture relaxations.
Thew Back to MCM For
'Death on the Diamond'
Off the salary list at MCM for five
days when he finished the script on
"Rear Car" last week, Harvey Thew
was recalled yesterday to handle the
screen play on "Death on the Dia-
mond."
Edward Sedgwick directs under
Lucien Hubbard's supervision.
Buffington Polishing
Mascot has signed Adele Buffing-
ton to polish up the script on her own
original, "Along Came a Woman."
Screen play has been written by
Douglas Doty and George Sayre. Pic-
ture will be one of the first of the
studio's series of features to get into
work.
1/^ ijPTOTHEJ^Mi/T.
Claudia Coleman by Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall and Lucien Prival
by Hallam Cooley to MCM's "Merry
Widow."
Hyram Hoover to "Happy Land-
ings," Monogram.
John Hale by Bernard, Meiklejohn
and McCall to "Student Tour," MCM.
Doris Lloyd by Max Shagrin to "She
Was A Lady," Fox.
Cay Seabrook to "She Learned
About Sailors," Fox, by Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall.
Russ Powell by Max Shagrin for
Reliance's "The Count of Monte
Cristo."
Reginald Sheffield by Bernard, Mei-
klejo.hn and McCall for "One More
River," Universal.
Charles Crapewin for "Old Judge
Priest," Fox, by Beyer-MacArthur.
Dick Quine for "Jane Eyre," Mono-
gram, by Max Shagrin.
Albert Conti by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall for Paramount's
"Ladies First."
Chansior to Warners
New York. — Roy Chansior was
signed by Warners yesterday on a
three months writing deal. He will
arrive in Hollywood May 28.
Boston Writer Coming
Elizabeth Borton, of the Boston
Traveler and Herald staff, arrives here
June 1 5 to write a series of star inter-
views for her paper.
Reed To Direct One
For Beauty Winners
New York. — Luther Reed is to di-
rect a picture in the East which will
have a tie-up with the Atlantic City
beauty contest next month and will
have four of the contestants in the
cast.
The picture is called "Convention
Girl" and will be produced by Dave
Thomas' Major Productions in the
Photocolor studios at Irvington-on-
the-Hudson. Starting date is June 25.
Barker Will Direct
Mono's 'Moonstone'
Reginald Barker will direct "Moon-
stone" for Monogram. The picture is
based on the Wilkie Collins mystery
novel.
Either "Moonstone," "King Kelly
of the U.S.A.," or "Redhead," which
Mrs. Wallace Reid is adapting with
Betty Burbridge, will be the next
Monogram feature in production.
Kolker to Columbia
Columbia yesterday signed Henry
Kolker to replace Guy Usher in the
cast of "The Criminal Within," the
latter being previously committed to
another studio. Richard Cromwell
and Arline Judge have the top spots
in the picture, which Al Rogell directs.
Doty-Sayre Set
Douglas Doty and George Sayre
have been assigned to do the continu-
ity on "One Frightened Night" for
Mascot. George Rosener has com-
pleted his treatment of the story.
AN INSTITUTION AS GREAT AS THE INDUSTRY IT SERVES
l^tlNG
morning
noon
and night
THE motion picture industry requires speedy
service — sometimes overnight deliveries.
And Consolidated is organized to give it. When
the occasion demands, our plants operate the en-
tire 24 hours — continuously.
C0N50MI1ATED FILM INDUSTRIES. iNC
HOLLYWOOD
TELL
The Contract Signers
WHAT YOU HAVE DIRECTED
TELL THEM
in
the
DIRECTORS' NUMBER
of the
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
/
OUT
SOON
EXECUTIVES FORGET-
AND
MUST BE REMINDED
THE ACES
WHO THEY ARE
• • •
WHAT THEY DIRECTED
WHERE . . .
WHEN . . .
FOR WHOM . . .
And a lot of other interest-
ng facts about directors
LAST CALL FOR COPY
M-G-M STUDIOS,
% READING DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
Vol. XXI, No. 14. Price 5c.
TODAY^S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, May 24, 1934
in^^rt'^rfflt.Tfir^'-t^'^^p
PARA. PLAN SHAPING LP
• ONE of the most popular and saga-
cious moves that Paramount has made
during recent years was the elevation
of George Schaefer to the spot he
now holds in that organization. They
have given him a flock of titles (not
even Schaefer knows how many), but
with each title goes a certain amount
of duty that will be exercised in a
manner that will be of the greatest
benefit to Paramount and the whole
picture industry.
The worst that anyone can say
about Schaefer is that he is "bull-
headed." He is that to the nth de-
gree. He gets an idea he believes in,
and it takes a cyclone to move him
from that stand and not even then
unless he is convinced he is wrong.
But even his severest critic (and he
has plenty who are inspired by jeal-
ousy) can not point a finger at him
and accuse him of trickery, dishon-
esty or in any way fashioning his
moves or decisions to suit some politi-
cal move. And it is for those reasons
that George is at the top today and
at that spot he will remain until he
desires to step down or out.
•
Schaefer divides the affections of
exhibitors throughout the country with
Jimmie Grainger, because both of
them operate the same way in han-
dling theatre owners. They make
tough deals, but stand up behind those
deals, and any showman can bank on
the word of Schaefer or Grainger. For
that reason all that either has to do
is to write a letter, send a wire or put
in a phone call to do 90 percent of
his selling.
We have known Schaefer since the
early World Film days. He was one
of the first exchange managers we
ever worked for in the New York ex-
change of World and, even at that
early period of his selling, he won the
respect of the men working under
him and, as a result, had the best pay-
ing office in the organization.
•
There are all kinds of whispers
about who will be brought into Para-
mount when the reorganization sets
in and there will be plenty brought in
and quite a few let out, but it is our
opinion, from reading between the
lines and knowing George Schaefer,
that nothing will happen without his
(Continued on Page 2)
Rockefellers Now
In Show Business
New York. — The operating of
the Radio City Music Hall is now
directly in the hands of the Rocke-
fellers. RKO must consult with
them on bookings and everything
else pertaining to the big amuse-
ment palace.
Moeller Likely to
Direct 'Fountain'
"The Fountain" will probably be
the first feature to stop Radio's cur-
rent production gap, possibly getting
started before the end of next week.
Jean Hersholt was signed for it yes-
terday to support Ann Harding.
Philip Moeller, Theatre Guild direc-
tor who arrived from the East Sunday,
is likely to be given direction.
Mark Sandrich is supposed to start
"The Gay Divorce" a week later, with
(Continued on Page 4)
Wesley Ruggles Signs
For New Term at Para.
Paramount yesterday signed Wesley
Ruggles to a new contract to start im-
mediately on the completion of his
present deal. It is a one year ticket,
set by the Berg, Stebbins, Allenberg
and Blum office, which has signed the
director to a managerial deal.
Charlie Beahan Back
Changing his mind about waiting
for Harry Cohn, Charles Beahan reach-
ed here by plane yesterday. Cohn is
remaining in New York, to fly back
over the week-end.
More ThanHalfOfSix Percent
Bonds Depositedin Kuhn-L oeb
Scheme Of Reorganization
New York. — The reorganization plan being worked out by
Kuhn, Loeb and Company for Paramount-Publix is rounding into
shape and a definite announcement about it is expected any day.
Already more than one-half of the six per cent bonds of the
Paramount- Famous- Lasky Corporation
have been deposited, according to a
report made to the New York Stock
Exchange yesterday.
The report shows that, of the bonds
originally listed, $5,944,000 remain,
while $5,974,000 have been removed
from listing and relisted under certifi-
cates of deposit. No mention is made
of how many of the two issues of
Paramount-Publix SVz per cent bonds
have been depisited.
Samuel Zirn, counsel for one group
of Paramount creditors, renewed hie
(Continued on Page 2)
Marshall and Carlisle
For 'Enter Madame'
Paramount yesterday purchased
"Enter Madame," an original by Gilda
Varesi and Dolly Byrne, and will spot
Herbert Marshall and Kitty Carlisle m
the top spots. Jacques Duval and
Gladys Lehman have been assigned to
write the screen play.
U. A. Convention June 2
New York. — The date of the
United Artists sales convention has
been changed to June 2, at the Hotel
Drake, Chicago. The line-up will be
20 features and the Disney shorts.
CASEY LEAVES, SPIKING
LABOR BOARD'S WORK
Pat Casey, chairman of the Pro-
ducers Committee and chairman of the
NRA Studio Labor Committee, left for
New York last night.
When it was learned yesterday that
he was leaving there were loud howls
from labor men who pointed out that,
by his departure, the Studio Labor
Committee is once more placed in a
spot where it cannot function, and the
labor men are again left out on a limb
as far as having their complaints at-
tended to.
"It is just the old merry-go-round, '
exclaimed one labor man yesterday.
"When Judge Lindsey started to take
(Continued on Page 4)
MOM Allows Option
On Lupe Velez to Lapse
MGM omitting to call its option on
Lupe Velez this week means that she
is free for new alliances about June
20. She is now in Washington, one of
her early stands in a six weeks per-
sonal tour.
Her last assignment was in "Laugh-
ing Boy" with Ramon Novarro.
Eddie Mannix East
E. J. Mannix, MGM executive, leaves
by plane tonight for New York.
Royalty May View
'Are We Civilized?'
New York. — Edwin Carewe and his
editorial associate, Dan Milner, ex-
pect to sail for England this week-end
with a print of "Are We Civilized?"
It is understood that a command
preview will be given before King
George as a sequel to the private
American showing given President
Roosevelt, May 3. Mrs. Roosevelt, in
her international peace talk on a na-
tional hook-up the following evening,
stated that the President .had pre-
viewed a picture for the first time,
and, without identifying it, called It
"one of the finest pictures against
war" she had ever seen, coupling it
with "Cavalcade."
Cortex, Not Lukas, In
'Hat, Coat and Clove*
Radio finally settled the problem
yesterday of w.ho will play the lead in
"Hat, Coat and Glove." Ricardo Cor-
tez will have the role, being loaned
by Warner Brothers.
John Barrymore had the part first,
and pulled out. Adolphe Menjou de-
clined it, and Paul Lukas was under-
stood to bs set for it.
Wanger Sails Saturday
New York. — Walter Wanger sails
for Europe on the lie de France Sat-
urday in search of material for his
independent production venture.
Howard Hawks to 'U'
Howard Hawks has been signed by
Universal to direct one picture and
will report there as soon as the story
is selected.
Brands to Honolulu
Harry and Mrs. Brand sail for
Honolulu at the end of next week for
a fortnight's vacation.
E
WrLLIAN R, LIPMAN
(Management: DESHON-NAYLOR )
ADAPTATION
(Screenplay and Dialogue
In Collaboration)
LITTLE MISS MARKER"
(OPENS PARAMOUNT THEATRE TODAY)
]
Page Two
THE
May 24, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Joe Schenck gets back to town to-
day. . . , and Kendall Claenzer left
for N. Y. last night. . . . Jean Muir is
mad at the publicity boys for linking
her name via print with so many fel-
lers . . . there being nothing serious in
her love-life, it seems. . . . The Ben
Hecht script on "Viva Villa" is being
published in book form in New York
— first time that we know of. . . . Did
you know that C. Aubrey Smith is
seventy-one years old and still one
swell cricketer? . . . The "Shim Sham
Revue" in condensed form will prob-
ably go into the Pantages end of this
month. . . . Davie Harris, back from
a jaunt to Frisco. . . . Carole Lombard
throwing a cocktail party for Mme.
Frances Spingold this afternoon. . . .
Eddie Lowe's house-guest, Desmond
Gallagher, is a recitation specialist de
luxe.
•
Bette Davis and husband are up in
the High Sierras. . . . Gary Cooper has
bought his bride a new Packard . . .
and Norman Krasna is sporting a fancy
Rolls-Royce — migod! the UPKEEP.
The home (almost completed) of
Adolphe Menjou and Veree Teasdale,
will boast a fourteen hundred dollar
refrigerator with a gold plaque, read-
ing, "Donated by Jesse Lasky and Al-
bert Kaufman" — Adolphe won the
money from them at golf. . . . Mae
V^est (laden down with false eye-
lashes), the Stephen Ameses, the Jack
Haleys, B. P. Schulberg, Sylvia Sidney,
Adolph Zukor, the Mervyn LeRoys en-
joying the fights Tuesday night.
•
V^hat famous French writer at a
major studio took the "precaution" to
bring two mistresses with him from
Europe? And there's an angle to the
whole thing that is even funnier than
that! . . . Phillip Reed has bought a
house at Malibu. . . . Gloria Swanson,
Louella Parsons, Wm. E. Goodman Jr.,
Consul to Siam, Mrs. Walter Winch-
ell, Hedda Hopper, Wally Beery, Lola
Lane with Al Hall, Alice White, the
Al Newmans, Nigel Bruce, Heather
Angel, Bill Goetz, Mrs. Leslie Howard,
Moliie Merrick, glimpsed at the Ven-
dome yesterday. . . . Mae Sunday,
house-hunting for Virginia Pine who
will leave the hospital in a few days.
"SADIE McKEE"
MGM prod.; director, Clarence Brown; writers, Vina Delmar, Jo.hn Meehan;
music and lyrics, Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed.
Capitol Theatre
Mirror: Joan Crawford gives two admirable performances in this handsome and
highly entertaining film. She performs brilliantly as an actress and just
as brilliantly as a sport in permitting Edward Arnold to steal her film.
Arnold plays one of the finest character roles ever exhibited on the screen.
Post: Though it would be accurate to say that the plot is the heartiest kind of
tripe, the same cannot be said of the picture, for the good reason that
Edward Arnold's performance is a brilliant piece of redemption. It is not
only one of the best drunk characterizations we have ever seen, but Mr.
Arnold's presence together with that of Jean Dixon supply the only genu-
ine acting contributions to the picture.
Sun: Another of those innately cheap stories which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
knows how to handle so expertly. Glazed, varnished, fitted up with
smooth dialogue and direction, acted by such players as Joan Crawford,
Franchot Tone and Gene Raymond, "Sadie McKee" is good box-office
stuff. As drama it's pretty second rate.
Times: Clarence Brown's direction of this film is studied and in its way effec-
tive, but it scarcely improves the flow of the story. There are many static
interludes, a great deal of talk, which is by no means as interesting as the
producers evidently thought it to be. It is, in fact, an exasperating type
of motion picture.
News: "Sadie McKee" is not a pretty picture, but it is a singularly truthful
transcription of a novel to the screen. Clarence Brown has taken off his
kid gloves for the Vina Delmar story and has given us a bare-knuckle,
two-fisted screen version of it. The unpleasant, but nevertheless interest-
ing group of characters emerges on the screen just as Miss Delmar created
them.
Herald-Tribune: In a series of panels printed by Clarence Brown with bold
sweeping strokes, the story of "Sadie McKee" comes to life on the screen
as a fascinating study of one woman's life. That the film is, in its writing
and treatment, a lurid canvas cannot be denied; nor is its melodrama
typical, yet certain of the characters ring so true that the false ending
may be discounted.
Journal: "Sadie McKee" was expertly tailored for its star, Joan Crawford. With
a story by Vina Delmar that brings in a bit of "Bad Girl," a bit of "Danc-
ing Lady" and an ending that gives the glamorous Miss Crawford every
opportunity to be glamorous, the picture will undoubtedly delight Craw-
ford fans.
World-Telegram: It is a quite standardized plot, but it is extremely well worked
out and capitally played by its entire cast, so that it results in a thor-
oughly effective and entertaining melodrama. Miss Crawford plays Sadie
quietly and forcefully, but the film belongs, by the sheer brilliance of his
acting, to Mr. Arnold.
American: The production is skilfully aimed at the bull's eye of popular appeal
and, with the svelte star heading a superb cast, the film is destined for
wide approval. Despite the excellence of Miss Crawford, and notwith-
standing the infectiousness of Gene Raymond's portrayal, first histrionic
honors go lock, stock and barrel to that superb player, Edward Arnold.
Clarence Brown's skilful direction is another asset.
Paul Muni Will Play
Nijinski For Harris
New York. — Paul Muni has agreed
to play the role of Nijinski, the fa-
mous dancer, in the piece to be pro-
duced by Sam H. Harris, provided the
Melchior Lengyl play satisfies him.
Harris made arrangements to pro-
duce the play through Alexander
Korda, who controls both the stage
and screen rights.
Tannura Going Home
New York. — Phil Tannura, camera-
man, sails tomorrow for England and
the British Gaumont studios.
Una O'Connor Signed
David Selznick closed a deal with
Jack Gardner, via cable from London
yesterday, for Una O'Connor's appear-
ance in "David Copperfield." Player
is now in "Barretts of Wimpole
Street."
FOR RENT
Beautifully Furnished
5 ROOM DUPLEX APT.
Corner Fountain and Harper.
Reasonable. Nt> Agents
Phone HE-2737
Authors' League
HitsAtRichberg
New York. — Marc Connelly and
Elmer Davis, president and vice-presi-
dent of the Authors' League of Amer-
ica, yesterday issued a statement
questioning several phases of Donal
Richbergs reply to the Darrow Boan
The statement quotes one phrase from
the Richberg answer, which says:
"The Code affords great relief from
the monopolistic effect of the copy-
right law."
"The Authors' League," the state-
ment says, "had not understood that
the Motion Picture Code nor any other
code deprives the author of a literary
work of his monopoly right in it until
he sells it to someone else. Do we
understand that if a large enterprise
buys a work from its author, it no
longer has the exclusive right to pro-
duce it as a book, play or motion pic-
ture, and that that right is open to
anybody who chooses to take it with-
out paying for it We hope that this
is not what Mr. Richberg means, but
it is what his language seems to
mean."
Para. Plans Shaping Up
(Continued from Page 1 )
attack on the trustees yesterday, fol-
lowing the answer, filed by counsel
for the trustees, that in his applica-
tion for their removal he had proved
neither disqualification nor improper
election.
Replying to this, Zirn said that the
Chase bank has secured virtual con-
trol of Paramount by having as two of
the trustees "its direct representa-
tives" in Fox and Loew's, two com-
peting concerns. These two, Zirn says,
are controlled by Chase and he ques-
tions the likelihood of these two trus-
tees, who owe their livelihood to
Chase, prosecuting the preference suit
against the banks and prosecuting
Chase for its alleged connivance and
participation In preference deals.
1 2 Years
EXPERIENCE
of Mr. Bo C. Roos,
Manager of our
personal property
department, is of-
fered to all our
clients.
Beverly Management Corp.
332 California Bank Building
Beverly Hills
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
sanction, nothing will be done with-
out his approval. And that's as it
should be, for Paramount or any oth-
er company never had a more loyal,
yes, a more successful, worker than
George Schaefer.
UeIFarI{ ^
BEVERLY HILLS K^
Wilshire Blvd. ai Beverly Drive
Lovely Intimate Wear
Lovely Ladies
Love to Wear
Exclusive Lingerie
and Hosiery
May 24. 1934
THg
Page Three
Super-Chiseling
A director worked out a new gag
this week for saving the studio
$25. He had an extra bend over a
fallen man, and, while the extra's
back was to the camera, the direc-
tor said; "I know that man." Then
the extra turned around facing the
camera. On the screen the extra
appears to have done the speaking.
*MAX WITH TWO FACES' GOOD;
RADIO 'CAVALIERS' GREAT FUN
Plenty of Honors
For All Concerned
"THE MAN WITH TWO FACES"
(Warners)
Plrection Archie Mayo
From play by Alexander Woollcott
and George S. Kaufman
Screen Play Tom Reed
and Nevin Busch
Photography Tony Gaudio
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Mary Astor,
Ricardo Cortez, Mae Clarke, Louis
Calhern, Arthur Byron, David Lan-
dau, John Eldredge, Emily Fitzroy,
Henry O'Neil, Margaret Dale.
We don't know what changes or
treatment the Kaufman-Woollcott
play, "Dark Tower," may or may not
have undergone in its transference to
the screen, but we are fully aware that
the play has emerged as more than
satisfactory picture entertainment. It's
a first-rate mystery yarn WITHOUT a
mystery so far as the audience is con-
cerned, for the only ones who are the
least bit baffled by the crime which
is committed are a couple of detec-
tives. But the yarn holds interest
from start to finish nevertheless,
partly because the characters are so
well drawn and played, and partly be-
cause what the film lacks in acute
suspense it makes up in charm, for the
whole thing has been handled in a
comedy vein.
Acting honors are sahred by all w.ho
take part m "The Man With Two
Faces," the meatiest role, of course,
being' Edward Robinson's, and he plays
expertly. However, a slimier, more
obnoxious heavy has never been seen
than that which Louis Calhern con-
tributes to this opus — which is paying
him a compliment — at least, that's
the way we mean it.
Mary Astor does a grand job as the
young actress, whose career and life
are almost ruined by the hypnotic spell
under which she is held by Calhern,
her good-for-nothing husband. Rob-
inson, as her actor-brother, assumes
another identity in real life, kills the
blackguard and gets away with it very
cleverly, though his chances for evad-
ing the law are almost spoiled at the
last minute by a dick who is even
cleverer than he. It's a pleasure to
see Ricardo Cortez in a sympathetic
role for a change, and he makes an
attractive love interest for the dis-
tracted Miss Astor. Bouquets must
be tossed to Mae Clarke, in a com-
edy role, and to Margaret Dale, a
beautiful and capable elderly lady.
David Landau cops one of the best
scenes in the picture at the finish,
and he well deserved it. Emily Fitz-
roy, Arthur Byron and John Eldridge
are O.K. in brief parts.
Archie Mayo's direction and the
screen play of Tom Reed and Nevin
Busch combine to make "Man With
Two Faces" better than average film
fare. Robinson fans will get a kick
out of his impersonation of a French-
man, and with the other star names
and subject matter, it should please
'em anywhere.
m&ai/i
Reisner-Cummings
Teamed on Features
MCM has teamed Charles F. Reis-
ner and Jack Cummings as a new
feature comedy producing unit to pro-
duce four feature comedies on the
coming program. The first will go
into work as soon as Reisner completes
his directing assignment on "Student
Tour," which starts next Monday.
Marty Brooks, who was Cummings'
assistant, has been promoted to charge
of the shorts department under Harry
Rapf. Sam Baerwitz, a short subject
producer, has resigned and left for
New York.
Cordon and Revel Back;
Two Assignments Set
Mack Gordon and Harry Revel,
Paramount song writers, returned from
a three-week vacation in New York
yesterday and were handed two as-
signments.
They will do the numbers for
"Here's My Heart," the Bing Crosby-
Claudette Colbert picture, and for
"College Rhythm," the musical to fea-
ture Lanny Ross, Joe Penner and other
names.
Col. to Have Elevators
In New Studio Buildig
Columbia's new electrical building
on Beachwood Drive, first unit in the
studio's $350,000 building program,
is nearly completed.
Next unit to be started will be
writers- wardrobe- makeup -still build-
ing, which will introduce elevators to
Hollywood as a means of intra-studio
communication.
Clifton Short Done
Elmer Clifton has finished the third
of a novelty travel series, presenting
American rodeo performers in exotic
locales. Duncan Renaldo and Harry
Myers worked in the latest one, which
had India for setting. Clifton works
at Prudential studio.
Gladys George Here
Gladys George arrived by train yes-
terday from New York to start her
term deal with MCM. Her most re-
cent stage vehicles were "Milky Way"
and "Queer People."
Vidor Rushing Bread'
King Vidor .has a synchronizing and
editing staff of 35 spread over a 24-
hour schedule to get "Our Daily
Bread" ready for its United Artists re-
lease.
Director Scores
With Bert and Bob
"COCKEYED CAVALIERS"
(RKO-Radio)
Direction Mark Sandrich
Authors: Edward Kaufman and Ben
Holmes.
Additional Dialogue: Grant Carratt
and Ralph Spence.
Photography: David Abel and Vern
Walker.
Art Direction: Van Nest Polglase and
Carroll Clark.
Music by Will Jason and Val Burton
Cast: Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey,
Thelma Todd, Dorothy Lee, Noah
Beery, Robert Greig, Henry Sedley.
With not much originality, but with
a good deal of vim, vigor and spirit,
Wheeler and Woolsey go back to the
Medieval Ages for the setting for their
new comedy, "Cockeyed Cavaliers."
Because of the elbow room allowed
by the setting, the piece is featured
by more comedy than usual and fewer
puns, and one or two individual se-
quences alone are worth the price of
admission.
We first see the comedians riding
the rods of a coach and four. Wool-
sey has been having quite a lot of
trouble because Wheeler is a klepto-
maniac, and so, when first the four
horses disappear and then the coach,
Woolsey knows just where to look for
them. However, their return helps
none at all, and the two friends find
themselves m the pillory. They are
aided to escape by Dorothy Lee, who,
dressed as a boy, is trying to escapa
the persistent attentions of the fat,
old Duke.
By a fluke, they are mistaken for
the King's physician and his entour-
age, and they live in great style at the
Duke's castle, until a wild boar hunt
and the subsequent discovery of their
real identities brings everything to an
amusing climax.
Wheeler and Woolsey are excep-
tionally ridiculous in the costumes of
that time. Dorothy Lee and Thelma
Todd, unfortunately, have little to do.
Noah Beery is grand as Miss Todd's
jealous spouse, and Robert Greig and
Henry Sedley both add many laughs
to the film.
The story, by Edward Kaufmann
and Ben Holmes, is highlighted by
some really hilarious sequences. The
rest is the usual Wheeler and Wool-
sey stuff. Art direction, by Van Nest
Polglase and Carroll Clark, and pho-
tography, by David Abel and Vern
Walker, are both outstanding. Will
Jason and Val Burton wrote the mu-
sic, and one song is a knockout, "And
the Big Bad Wolf Was Dead." The
picture owes most, however, to the
director, Mark Sandrich, whose sense
of the ridiculous is only excelled by
his control. There is a Great Dane in
this film which is a joy to watch.
If your audiences like the Wheeler-
Woolsey brand of comedy, this is one
of the best.
Para. Drops Ticket'
"One Way Ticket," which was to
have been made by B. P. Schulberg for
Paramount with Sylvia Sidney in the
lead, has been definitely shelved.
ATTER^
fl^^K ^^^H ^-■' — ^ — "- — ' — "^ — — — ~ — * ■ ■ ■ ■
A visiting English stage actor re-
cently voiced a very sage observation
on the reason for the various attitudes
assumed in public by screen actors
an«l actresses, as against the usually
conservative actions of a stage star
when out for an evening among the
common people. He said that actually
a screen star has no public. He may
have a million fans, but to the fans
he is only a picture and to him the
fans are just so many thousands of
letters his press agent tells him about.
Hence, when he gets out in public,
he usually puts on an act. Whereas,
a stage player is constantly acting be-
fore a public and, with each perform-
ance of a play, that public's reaction
demands a slightly different brand of
acting, so that when the stage player
appears in public, it's more or less re-
laxation for him. He's heard his ap-
plause for the evening and can be
himself.
•
After all, a screen star is every bit
as public-conscious as the public is
star-conscious, and unconsciously most
of the screen stars try to play the
leading role, no matter where they
may be. That's why so often, when
screen stars marry, whenever they are
seen together in public there is much
billing and cooing, and external evi-
dence of great domestic bliss as only
two screen stars could play it. And
usually the break-up is accomplished
with the same fine regard for how it
registers. Even at the fights out here,
it is evident that most of the stars
who attend, in some way during the
course of the evening, manage to draw
attention to themselves. They are out
in public — mostly their public whom
they have never seen, whom they
have never personally played to, and
it's hard to resist seeing how effective
they can make their presence.
And, of course, practically every-
thing they do is written off to good
publicity and showmanship as under-
stood bv those people trying to bring
screen shadows to Mfe for the benefit
of an avid public, th-it craves personal
contact as much as screen stars crave
an audience.
•
Good heavens, they're not shooting
two versions of the "Merry Widow"
— they're practically shooting four of
them all at once. They all come under
the heading of English and French,
but for distribution in England all ref-
erences to the king or royal family
must be eliminated, and for Belgian
consumption the same restrictions ap-
ply so that it is necessary to make four
takes of one scene whenever royalty
rears its head. . . . Heh, heh, they're
calling the Sten picture, "Resurrec-
tion," "Nana Strikes Back."
Mrs. Kalmus Injured
Mrs. Natalie Kalmus, wife of Dr.
Herbert T. Kalmus. head of Techni-
color, is at St. Vincent's Hospital, suf-
fering from cuts and bruises received
in an automobile accident at Cole and
Willoughby avenues.
p3ge Four
THEkiy
May 24, 1934 IM(
ll
I \
:evieiVii|
MODERN SCREEN
1 32 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Norma Shearer
(MGM)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 1304 sq. inches
Paramount 860 sq. inches
Fox 516 sq. inches
Warners 383 sq. inches
Universal 182sq. inches
Columbia 1 10 sq. inches
United Artists 90 sq. inches
Radio 60 sq. inches
Twentieth Century 35 sq. inches
Walter Ramsey begins, in the
June Modern Screen, the best life story
ever written on Spencer Tracy, and
one of the cleverest and most reveal-
ing life stories ever written about any-
body.
S. R. Mook has a lot of fun in
"Bing Means to Quit"; Gladys Hall
has "Risking All," a story of how
movie-struck girls and boys go about
attracting attention; Dena Reed has
an extraordinary, but rather thin story,
"Spies Infest Hollywood"; Gertrude
Hill writes the 'steenth yarn on Baby
LeRoy, "Public Enemy No. 1"; Ramon
Romero reviews the status of those
who have "No Mothers to Guide
Them"; John Lodge breaks down and
offers "Let Me Tell You About Mar-
lene Dietrich"; Maude Lathem writes
well in "Will Gloria (Swanson) Come
Back Again?" and Katherine Albert
does right by "Will Rogers — Father
and Husband."
Regina Cannon drags up the old
question of Miss Brian's marital hesi-
tation in "What's the Matter with
Mary?"; Cyril Vandour writes with
apparent authority on the old topic,
"The Man Garbo Loves"; Jack Jami-
son tells about Jean Muir in "She
Knew What She Wanted"; Dorothy
Manners interviews Miss Francis in
"Kay Has Fooled Us All"; and also
Jean Harlow in "Stop Gossiping About
Me"; Carter Bruce quotes Helen
Mack in "I Want to Be Bad"; Gladys
Hall goes sentimental in "With a Song
in His Heart" (Otto Kruger) ; and
Walter Ramsey talks with Lee Tracy
about Mexico and fans in "Thank
You, My Friends."
The mag has lots of meat in it,
served well.
MOVIE CLASSIC
90 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Dolores Del Rio
(Warners)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Paramount 849 sq. inches
Warners 464 sq. inches
MCM 425 sq. inches
Fox 335 sq. inches
Universal 182 sq. inches
United Artists 180sq. inches
Radio 120sq. inches
Chaplin 70 sq. inches
Columbia ..- 55 sq. inches
Movie Classic does something inter-
esting this month. It features short,
one-page stories, extremely well writ-
ten and carrying a miximum of either
news or interest.
They are "Chaplin's Secret Out —
Wed at Sea Last June," by Boris
Nicholai ; Dortothea Wieck Denies Ru-
mors of Nazi Ties, But Faces Boy-
cott," by Elisabeth Goldbeck; "Sally
Filers Helps Husband in Balm Suit,
But He Loses," by Joan Standish; and
"Coopers, Weissmullers and Cabots
Form Hollywood's Strangest Sextet,"
by Esther Mead.
Another interesting departure from
the usual fan mag routine is the Jack
Grant yarn, "His Roles Changed Her
Life," a true Hollywood short, short
story. It is exceptionally well han-
dled.
Winifred Aydelotte reviews the roy-
alty situation in "Hollywood Makes
Over the Queens of History"; Dorothy
Donnell has a grand story, "Bing Cros-
by Talks About Songs"; Franc Dillon
has "The Brents' Break-up Gives
George a Break"; Sonia Lee offers
"George Raft's Own Story of His Mar-
riage"; and Dorothy Manners tells
about Fay Wray in "The Girl Who
Got Ahead By Not 'Going Holly-
wood'."
Richard English has an interesting
angle in "Why Foreign Stars Leave
Their Husbands at Home"; Mark Lar-
kin is fascinating in "Why Von Stern-
berg Makes Films That Are Differ-
ent"; Elza Schallert has a good,
rounded story in "Will Ronald Colman
Marry Again?"; Mark Dowling writes
"Esther Ralston Stages a Comeback,"
and Dorothy Calhoun brings up the
perennial question, "Is Garbo Losing
Her Popularity?"
SILVER SCREEN
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Jean Harlow
(MGM)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Paramount 528 sq. inches
Warners 515 sq. inches
MCM 427 sq. inches
Fox 278 sq. inches
Universal 244 sq. inches
Columbia 229 sq. inches
Radio 153 sq. inches
Coldwyn 102 sq. inches
Twentieth Century 90 sq. inches
Lloyd - 86 sq. inches
Two stories bring a lot of laughs to
the June Silver Screen. They are
"Burning Their Emotions at Both
Ends," by Elizabeth Wilson, and "Can
She Repeat?" (Margaret Sullavan), by
Patricia Keats.
Harriet Parsons writes dramatically
in "Magic!" all about Dolores Del
Rio's success formula; Lenore Samuels
writes about Walter Huston in "A
Giant on Broadway"; Muriel Babcock
contributes another Anna Sten yarn,
"The Victory for Beauty"; Maude
Cheatham has a nice, human story
called, simply, "Raft"; Margaret Et-
tinger tells of Ann Sothern's struggles
in "It's Worth It"; Helen Louise
Walker describes some newcomers in
"New Girls to Satisfy Hollywood's
Insatiable Demand"; and James M.
Fidler must feel kinda funny about
his Jean Harlow yarn, "Whispering
Tongues."
Appel on MGM Dances
Arthur Appel has been signed by
MGM to stage the dance numbers in
"100% Pure," which Jack Conway is
directing. Upon its completion, Appel
will co-diect the dance sequences on
"Student Tour," with Chester Hale.
Meeting Planned to
Ratify Basic Pact
From sources close to the situation
it was revealed yesterday that the
two-year extension of the Basic
Agreement between the major studios
and several International unions has
not been ratified by the studios, and
will be taken up early next month at
a special meeting between producers
and union heads in New York.
The extension, according to the in-
formation, was a deal handled solely
by Pat Casey. The unions involved
were the IBEW, the Musicians, Car-
penters and Joiners, and Painters, Dec-
orators and Paperhangers. The exten-
sion was granted last March after con-
ferences in Hollywood between Casey
and union heads.
UPTOTH^MINVTE
ASTING
*
Labor Board Spiked
(Continued from Page 1 )
over the complaints, Rosenblatt ap-
pointed a new labor committee, but
only named Pat Casey and Ed Smith.
For weeks that committee has been of
no use, for it could not function with
only two men appointed.
"And now just as Rosenblatt com-
pletes the committee by the appoint-
ment of W. Jefferson Davis as the im-
partial member, what happens? Pat
Casey, the chairman, ducks to New
York for an indefinite stay, and goes
before Davis gets back to Los Angeles
for even an organization meeting.
With Casey, representing the studios,
away there can be no action, for it
would be lopsided."
Herbert Vigran for "Happy Land- '
ings," Monogram.
Ruth Clifford for Paramount's "La-
dies First."
O. P. Heggie to Sol Lesser's "Peck's
Bad Boy."
Dewey Robinson for two at MGM,
"Student Tour" and "Merry Widow."
William Von Brinken to MGM's
"Stamboul Quest."
C. Aubrey Smith for "Resurrec-
tion" at Goldwyn's by Small-Landau.
Mischa Auer to "Stamboul Quest,"
MGM, by Beyer-MacArthur.
Addison Richards for "British
Agent," Warners, through Al King-
ston.
John Eldridge and Phillip Reed by
Warners for "Lost Lady."
Roland Young, Mary Astor and
Mary Kornman by Radio for "By Your
Leave."
Moeller on 'Fountain'
(Continued from Page 1 )
Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire and Ed-
ward Everett Horton in leading parts.
Con Conrad has written three song
numbers for this.
Ahead of these two pictures on the
official Radio schedule are listed
"Wednesday's Child" and "Romance
in Manhattan," but no directors or
cast assignments have been made on
either. Arthur Caesar is adapting
"Romance."
EXPERIENCE
^ YEARS of experience are back of
Saf-in Smooth Make-Up . . . the ex-
perience responsible for success
after success; the experience re-
sponsible for practically every great
contribution to make-up art.
9 THE result of this experience has
made Satin Smooth a smoother,
faster make-up, easier to apply and
easier to remove ... a make-up of
delicate tones that blend easily, giv-
ing perfect photographic control.
MAX FACTOR'S
MAKE-VP STUDIOS
May 24, 1934
THEf
I^il?>©I^iriii
Page Five
Warners Postpone
Jolson Pic to Fall
Warners, with one musical nearing
completion and "Flirtation Walk" and
"Sweet Adeline" in Summer spots on
the schedule, is putting Al Jolson's
"Co Into Your Dance" over to a prob-
able October start.
Jolson goes to New York next week
to look over the shows. His broken
finger is not recovering satisfactorily
and has to go back in splints. Earl
Baldwin is doing the screen play for
the next Jolson piece, which is based
on Bradford Ropes' novel.
Rogers and Astaire
For 'Radio City Revels'
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire are
in mind for "Radio City Revels," orig-
inal story for which is being written
by Dorothy Yost for H. N. Swanson's
Radio production.
The story of boy and girl romance,
with the Rockefeller Foundation de-
velopment for background, is aimed
towards a mid-July starting date.
Griffith-Jackson Team
Horace Jackson and Edward Griffith
are collaborating on the screen play of
"An Imperfect Gentleman," their own
original, at MCM. Griffith will direct
and Irving Thalberg produces.
Marion on 'Riffraff
Irving Thalberg has assigned Fran-
ces Marion to adapt her own original,
"Riffraff," at MGM. The studio has
no definite production plans on it as
yet.
Correction
Owing to misinformation receiv-
ed from the Washington correspon-
dent, this publication on Tuesday
printed an incorrect version of the
outcome of the RCA-DeForest pat-
ent suit in the U. S. Supreme
Court. The decision of the court
was in favor of RCA.
Lucile Watson May
Do 'No More Ladies'
MGM yesterday took up its option
on the New York stage play by A. E.
Thomas, "No More Ladies," and will
probably use it as a vehicle for Lucile
Watson, recently signed to a term
deal because of her work in it opposite
Melvyn Douglas. The play is now in its
fifth month at the Morosco in New
York.
Monte Blue Goes to MGM
For First Time in 6 Years
MGM yesterday signed Monte Blue
for the one serious role that runs
throughout "Student Tour," the part
of Jeff, the college coach. Deal was
negotiated by Bernard, Meiklejohn
and McCall and is the player's first on
the lot since "White Shadows of the
South Seas" in 1928.
Hawks and Voick III
Both partners in the Hawks-Voick
office gave in to illness yesterday,
William Hawks weathering the day
out before going home last night to
fight off a heavy cold. VoIck dropped
out the night before with an attack of
nervous indigestion.
Marshall Again
For Shearer Lead
If he can work out his schedule,
Herbert Marshall will play the lead
opposite Norma Shearer in "Marie
Antoinette" at MGM.
He is now in "The Green Hat,"
next goes into "The Painted Veil,"
opposite Greta Garbo, then to "Enter
Madame" at Paramount. He must be
in New York September 10 to start
rehearsals on a play which Gilbert
Miller is producing.
Radio Completes Its
Current Shorts Today
Lloyd Corrigan expects to turn in
the final Technicolor today on "La
Cucarocha," the Spanish musical short
made by Whitney Productions for
Radio.
The second of the Edgar Kennedy
series was turned in Tuesday night by
Alf Coulding, and absence of further
starting dates on Lee Marcus' schedule
leaves the Radio lot short-less as well
as feature- less for a few days.
'Letter' Started
Robert Vignola puts "The Scarlet
Letter" into production at Darmour
studio Wednesday. Colleen Moore,
Hardie Albright and Henry B. Wal-
thall in the principal parts.
Halperins East
Edward and Victor Halperin are
planning another production venture
and leave shortly for New York where
they will complete their plans.
OPEN FORUM
The Hollywood Reporter;
It is ungratful quibbling after your
grand review of "Du Barry" — -but
apropos of the historical authenticity:
even the recognized authorities differ
widely as to the behind-the-scenes
incidents of the period, but the polit-
ical aspects, as presented, are con-
curred in by all of them. Further,
while it is hard to believe that the
tone of the court was as flip and triv-
ial as shown — that very tone is the
unanimously stressed viewpoint of
biographers. The sleigh-riding epi-
sode was frankly transplanted from the
antics of a previous incumbent — and
I'll SHENK you the nightgown busi-
ness.
But while we are being exact, may
I point out that you erred slightly in
designating our Richelieu "the great
Cardinal"? The great Cardinal had
been dead over a hundred years and
would .have hung his dissolute grand-
nephew — had he known him.
The only other possible point of
dispute is Marie Antoinette's fore-
knowledge of Du Barry. Zweig says
no — but there are ten who say yes —
and it always struck this old scholar
as dubious that the most talked-of
scandal of Europe never reached the
gossip-loving ears of Marie.
All in all, we felt your "historical"
slur rather keenly over here, as it is
well known that to the last man we
would lay down our lives for the au-
thenticity of our epics.
EDWARD CHODOROV.
WILLIS COLDBECK
Dialogue, Adaptation, Continuity-
u
Murder On The Blackboard
rr
Hollywood Reporter . . .
"Good Exciting Mystery"
Variety . . .
"Sure Fire For All Classes in All Houses"
In preparation: "WEDNESDAY'S CHILD'
For
RKO-RADIO
WE'RE
NOT
BRAGGING
WE'RE
JUST
HAPPY
why?
WE WRITE FOR
5 Song Hits
in
\\
n
Paramount's
WE'RE NOT DRESSING
Starring Bing Crosby
DIRECTED BY NORMAN TAUROC
1— Love Thy Neighbor
2-May I?
(She Walks Like You — She Talks Like You)
3— She Reminds Me
Of You
4— Goodnight, Lovely
Little Lady
5-Once In A Blue Moon
THANKFULLY
MACK
GORDON
AND
HARRY
REVEL
% MP.SAVUFL MARX,
CULVER GITY.GALIK
Vol. XXI, No. 15. Price 5c.
TODAYS FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, May 25, 1934
WARNERS BATTLE ECEW $
Court Rejects Bid For Fox
Met Chain Which Would Make
Them Tops In N. K Theatres
New York. — In spite of the fact that Warner Brothers' bid of
$3,500,000 for the Fox Metropolitan Playhouses chain was re-
fused, Warners are still keeping up their battle with Loew's for
control of the New York theatre situation.
The refusal of their bid for the
• EVERY day the mail brings us a lot
of letters from exhibitors all over the
country and most of the letters con-
tain squawks about something or
other. The majority of them are on
the quality of the pictures the exhibs
are forced to play. Recently the
squawks have been getting longer and
louder, seemingly because the end-of-
the-season product ,has contained an
unusual number of cats and dogs.
The principal worry of our corre-
spondents seems to be that this below-
average screen fare will continue
through the Summer when it is hard
enough to drag customers in, even
with good pictures,
•
"The trouble is," writes one house
owner, "that the majority of the pro-
duction executives don't know their
business. They seem to have no minds
of their own, no conception of what
is needed to make a box-office draw.
Added to that, most of them believe
they are infallible and know what the
public wants better than that public
does. So we get the same bunk,
month after month.
"There apparently isn't an ounce of
originality in the production ranks.
About all they seem to be able to do
is to copy one another, and so we
get those terrible cycles of films on
the same subject, each one being a
little worse than its predecessors. The
only difference is in titles and casts.
"The public is too wise to be fooled
by this sort of stuff nowadays and
shows it by cheerfully staying away
from the theatres. When we do get
a picture that is different, that has
something out of the ordinary to rec-
ommend it, we have no trouble.
"But when we get picture after
picture which not only have little or
no entertainment value, but also are
liable to spring stuff on us that of-
fends our best patrons — and we .have
been and are getting plenty of that
smut — the receipts drop off to the
vanishing point and we house mana-
gers get bawled out besides.
"We have kicked individually and
in groups, but it does no good. We
still get the same old tripe, no mat-
ter what promises are made. The
Reporter has the right idea. There is
just one thing that can remedy pres-
ent conditions in the theatres and
that is — BETTER PICTURES.
Broadway Holds Over
Marker' and McKee'
New York. — "Little Miss Mark-
er" is doing such good business at
the Paramount that it is being held
over for a second week, setting
back the engagement of "Many
Happy Returns." The same is true
of "Sadie McKee" at the Capitol,
w.hich holds "Viva Villa" back a
week.
Meighan Returns
ForTeck^sBadBoy'
Thomas Meighan, at a phone in
Great Neck, L. I., and Sol Lesser, in
Los Angeles, consummated a long dis-
tance contract yesterday that brings
Meighan to the coast to play Bill Peck
in "Peck's Bad Boy." It is Meighan's
first picture work since he worked in
"Cheaters at Play" for Fox, a Febru-
ary, 1932, release. Production will
start about June 9 at the Pathe stu-
dio.
"Dude Ranger," Zane Grey story,
will be George O'Brien's first of the
six Lesser-Zanft productions at Fox.
Wallace to Scot-land
On Fox Location Trip
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wallace
leave here Monday for New York and
then take the boat to Scotland.
Wallace will shoot a lot of back-
ground shots for the Fox production
of "Marigold," which will be placed
in work on his return here in late July.
Harold Young Director
London. — Harold Young, supervis-
ing editor for Alexander Korda, has
been assigned to direct "February
29th" for Warners.
chain came from the courts, which
figured it entirely too low, as it would
give the Fox Met. bondholders only
25 cents on the dollar. Warners have
now engaged Samuel Untermyer to
handle further negotiations for the
chain and he will make another at-
tempt to induce the bondholders to
accep the Warner bid.
The Warners believe they will have
no trouble with Washington and the
anti-trust regulations if they can ac-
quire the chain because of the influen-
(Continued on Page 2)
Warner Baxter Signed
For Capra Film at Col.
Warner Baxter was signed yester-
day through the Schulberg, Feldman
and Gurney office, for the leading role
in "Broadway Bill," which Frank
Capra will produce for Columbia.
There was some difficulty in getting
the consent of Fox to the loan, bui"
the deal finally went through.
It is probable that Lynn Overman
will also be a member of the cast.
Cohn-Schenck Flying
New York. — Harry Cohn and Joseph
M. Schenck left for Hollywood last
night by plane.
PRODUCERS WILL TRY TO
CHECK CEl^SOR DAxXCER
A meeting of the heads of the ma-
jor producing companies was held yes-
terday to discuss ways and means to
check the campaign in favor of cen-
sorship which is growing rapidly in all
parts of the country. This movement
has attained a size and an impetus
which make it alarming to the indus-
try.
Professional reformers and petty
politicians see a chance for publciity
or cash in it and are swinging into line
with the churches, the women's or-
(Continued on Page 3)
Collomb to MCM For
'Casino Murder Case'
Joseph Collomb was signed by MCM
yesterday to write the screen play for
"The Casino Murder Case," the Van
Dine story w.hich will have William
Powell doing his Philo Vance again.
New Term For Steiner
Max Steiner, Radio music depart-
ment chief, was signed yesterday to
a new straight two-year contract by
the company.
Hays Office Steps
On Seven Pictures
New York. — Rigid orders for dras-
tic cuts in at least seven pictures have
been sent out by the advertising and
censorship committee of the Hays of-
fice. Among the pictures said to be
affected are Paramount's "It Ain't No
Sin," starring Mae West; Warner
Brothers' "Du Barry" and "Dr. Mon-
ica," and MGM's "The Postman Al-
ways Rings Twice."
It is understood that the required
cuts have been or are being made, but
a warning has gone to Paramount,
according to the report, that, if there
is a single offensive line or situation
in the West picture, it will be banned
in its entirety.
MGM Gives New Terms
To Rivkin and Wolfson
Tearing up the old ticket before its
expiration, MCM yesterday handed
Allen Rivkin and P. J. Wolfson a new
52-week contract.
They are currently working on
"Dolly," which Gregory La Cava will
direct. This puts the damper on the
team's deals in Russia and England.
Austin Keough East
Austin Keough, legal counsel for
both the production and distribution
branches of Paramount, left last night
by train on the return trip to New
York. He spent two weeks here going
over a large number of company mat-
ters involving production and policy.
Vallee to Warners
New York. — Warners are today
closing a term deal with Rudy Vallee
for one picture a year. It is under-
stood the first will be made in August,
with no definite story set as yet.
Murphy For MGM
MCM yesterday signed Dudley Mur-
phy to a term ticket to direct. Deal
was negotiated by Hawks-Volck.
1
I
AL HALL Directed "LITTLE MISS MARKER'
Paramount Theatre
NOW
Page Two
TH
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
PRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 2
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Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Don't be surprised if a "love
match" that was so sentimental as
to be positively sloppy all during the
engagement and knot-tying stage,
goes on the rocks any minute. If
there is any devotion, it's all on the
wife's side — and the husband never
deserved any particle of it anyway.
She now seems to realize what a heel
he is and the fact that he only gets
through doors because of her, with
the result that she is sipping cock-
tails that she never sipped before,
and it looks like curtains.
•
In discussing the Chinese episode
in which he and some of his staff
were supposedly arrested for photo-
graphing a Chinese funeral, George
Hill, just back from China, denies all!
He explains that, so far as the pic-
ture company was concerned, all was
peace and good will. BUT w.hen the
Chinese government found out how
much the undertaker was charging
the movie lads to photograph the fu-
neral— why, they arrested the under-
taker!
•
The printed statement in one of
the dailies yesterday that "Gertrude
Lawrence is only three years older
than Doug Fairbanks, Jr." threw us
(and a lot of other people) into a gale
of hysterics. Miss L., y'know, has a
daughter in the young lady stage, and
young Fairbanks really is young — in
case you've forgotten — just twenty-
four! Maybe the "statement" was
anent Gertie's daughter — or maybe
they meant Gertie is only three years
older than Bert Taylor. Anyway — we
give up!
•
Carole Lombard's chic little bar was
jammed to the rafters yesterday at
cocktail time. Russ Columbo, Rosie
Dolly and Irving Netcher, T. Netcher
(devastating in yellow boutonniere) ,
Mme. Frances, guest of honor, Lloyd
Pantages, Whitney de Rham, Alan
Tomblin, Gloria Foy, Walter Lang and,
of course, "Fieldsie" — made merry. A
whole gang of Billy Haines' friends
will be at the Pasadena station this
afternoon to meet him — and most of
them will be in Grecian, Venetian and
Egyptian costumes.
Post:
Sun:
"STINCAREE"
RKO-Radio prod.; director, William A, Wellman; writers, E. W. Hornung,
Lynn Riggs, Leonard Spigelgass.
Music Hall
Mirror: It is a thin picture, but a charming one, handsomely staged and delight-
fully played by an interesting company. Miss Dunne uses her fine voice,
brilliantly singing some ambitious numbers in the plausible role of an
opera star.
It is a preposterous tale, with Mr. Dix doing his best to prevent it from
being even faintly credible. Miss Dunne's share in the story is more
believable, since her activities are confined largely to pleasant vocalizing.
"Stingaree," although presented as a drama, is really an operetta with only
occasional songs. The plot at least is straight operetta stuff of the old-
fashioned kind. Irene Dunne and her voice save the day. She has sev-
eral songs to render and does them with real charm. "Stingaree" falls
flat because of its poor handling.
Times: The picture is a pleasant narration of a highly improbable fable. Miss
Dunne gives a charming performance and she sings several songs very
agreeably. Mr. Dix does quite well as Stingaree.
News: E. W. Hornung's picaresque tale about an Australian bandit has been
used as the basis for the movie "Stingaree." Under the able direction
of William Wellman, a romantic and glamorous moving picture has been
made of one of the outlaw's most gallant gestures.
Herald-Tribune: It is an elegant horse opera, punctuated with episodes in a
concert diva's career. Its mood of improbable romance is its chief
charm. Rich in backgrounds, pleasantly acted, and graced with some
delightful songs, it proves a moderately diverting entertainment.
Journal: It's an amiably romantic melodrama of another era. Miss Dunne sings
pleasingly, and the old-fashioned costumes are becoming to her. Mary
Boland gives one of her characteristic comedy performances.
World -Telegrami: A fair-to-middling blend of romance and music which may
be attended without much harm, since the chief casualty that results is a
trifling loss of time. Taken all in all, the best that can be said of
"Stingaree" is that it is just fair screen entertainment.
American: Without Irene Dunne, we fear that this successful enterprise would
have emerged a rather witless, disjointed piece of business, seldom tran-
scending mediocrity. Both the dialogue and action of the piece are
repetitions and not too inspired.
!Suit Brought Over
Merriwell Yarns
New York. — Gilbert Patten, who,
under the pen name of Burt L. Stan-
dish, wrote the Frank Merriwell sto- j
ries, yesterday filed suit in the Federal I
court against Superior Talking Pictures!;
for $250,000 damages.
Superior recently advertised the dis-''
tribution of a series of twelve "Frank
Merriwell" pictures, featuring Flash,;
the "talking horse," and Captain, the:!
"King of Dogs." :
Violet Kemble Cooper i
Signed For 'Fountain'!
Violet Kemble Cooper was signed,
through Edington and Vincent, in New
York yesterday by Radio for an im- ;
portant role in the Ann Harding pic-'
ture, "The Fountain." The player;
closes a Summer stock season at Ann
Arbor, Mich., July 4, for the trip to
Hollywood.
Warners Battle Loew's
(Continued from Page 1 )
tial connections that they have in the
Capital.
Fox Metropolitan bonds dropped
two and one-half points yesterday, and
there is a suspicion among the bond-
holders that the Warners are trying
to break the price, which is now
around $33.
Meanwhile Loew's, which is still
tops in the New York territory, is
saying nothing, but insiders are sure
that company has something up its
sleeve which it will pull if Warners
get the Fox Met. chain.
Marian Marsh and Her
Brother Return Monday
With his name changed to Anthony
Marsh to match his sister's, Eddie
Morgan and Marian Marsh will return
to Hollywood Monday after playing
brother and sister in "Prodigal," Uni-
versal production just completed in
Germany under Paul Kohner's super-
vision. Romantic lead for Miss Marsh
was Louis Trenker.
On the strength of his German
work, a spot at Universal City is be-
ing negotiated for the new Marsh by
Ivan Kahn.
7 Pounds, 1 1 Ounces
Added to the Baldwins
Earl Baldwin, Warner writer, spent
yesterday telling friends about the new
member of his family. Miss Phyllis
Ella Baldwin, who weighed in at seven
pounds, eleven ounces, the night be-
fore at St. Vincent's Hospital. Her
mother is the former Mildred Lamb,
dancer.
Clean-up Week at 'U'
Directors' Row at Universal was
roped off at each end yesterday, and
furniture was piled in the street for
a general housecleaning. Redecora-
tions in William Wyler's bungalow
showed up the rest of the row, and
other directors demanded a brighten-
up campaign.
Neville at MCM
Jack Neville is shaping up a crime
mystery original for Ned Marin at
MCM.
London's Smartest Address—
GROSVENOR HOUSE
PARK LANE . . .
is also London's most modern hotel. An apartment at
Grosvenor House provides an actual "home from
home," replete with every modern aid to greater
comfort.
The location of Grosvenor House is a happy blend of
convenience and charm; in and around the hotel
London's social life moves; near by are the best shops
and the theatres; just across the way is London's great
garden, Hyde Park.
Life is amusing, easy and pleasant at
Grosvenor House, London
Cable Address for Reservations: CROVHOWS, AUDLEY, LONDON
-J
1
kday 25, 1934
THE
Page Three
'KISS AND MAKE UP' AMIJSING
BURLESQUE ON BEAUTY GAME
FineActing,Writing,
masa.
In Clever Comedy
-KISS AND MAKE UP"
(Paramount)
'Direction Harlan Thompson,
Jean Negulesco
Original Stephen bekeffi
\daptation Jane Hinton
Jcreen Play Harlan Thompson,
George Marion Jr.
Vlusic and Lyrics Ralph Rainger,
Leo Kobin
Photography Leon Shamroy
ast: Gary Grant, Genevieve Tobin,
Helen Mack, Edward Everett Hor-
ton, Lucien Littlefield, Mona Maris,
Rafael Storm, Madame Bonita, Doris
Lloyd, Milton Wallace, Toby Wing,
Rita Gould, Katherine Williams,
Lucile Lund, Judith Allen, Jean
Gale, Hazel Hayes, Lu Ann Mere-
dith, Dorothy Drake, Helene Cohan,
Jean Garmen, Gi Ci Parrish, Ann
Hovey, Betty Bryson, Jacqueline
Wells, Dorothy Christy, Sam Ashe,
Helena Phillips, Henry Armetta,
Chick Collins, John Sinclair, George
Andre Beranger.
"Kiss and Make Up" will be a slick
picture after some drastic cutting has
jeen done. The first half is incredi-
jly slow, but It is over-length and can
jasily be shortened and speeded up.
The second half, however, makes up
for everything, being a riot of love and
;omedy which will send any audience
into spasms.
The story burlesques woman's eter-
nal search for beauty. Gary Grant
Igives an exceptionally fine perform-
ance as a health and beauty doctor
;.v.ho makes all women beautiful. His
(masterpiece is Genevieve Tobin and it
Ihas taken him a year to do the job.
In that time he has succeeded in
arousing the jealousy of her husband,
Edward Everett Horton. He divorces
Tobin, much to her delight, and she
promptly ensnares Grant into mar-
-iage. They go to the Riviera for their
wedding trip, but their honeymoon is
ruined by Tobin's abundance of both
:old nature and cold cream.
Accompanying them on t.he trip is
Helen Mack, Grant's secretary who, of
course, is in love with him. She meets
Horton, who makes love to her syn-
thetically. His curly hair catches her
fancy and she encourages him. Then
the Grant-Tobin marriage suddenly
goes on the rocks, Grant realizes that
he loves Mack, so he gives up the
beauty parlor, gets an old college pal
to be his partner in medical research
and starts to find Mack. Meanwhile
Tobin, deserted, besmears her face
with more cold cream and starts her
:ampaign for a third husband.
At this point the riot starts. Hor-
ton and Mack are in a taxi, with
Grant and his friend, Dr. Roberts,
chasing them in another cab. Grant
las acquired a lot of guinea pigs for
Tis research work and in the cab they
suddenly begin to multiply by the
hundreds. Finally Horton's taxi is
wrecked and in the crash it develops
that his curly hair is a toupee. So
Mack leaves him for Grant whose hair
is his own.
Everyone in the cast does extreme-
Poland Bars Three'
Film Cos. For Slurs
Dispatches from Warsaw yester-
day stated that Poland had barred
from showing in that country the
product of three American motion
picture companies. The three are
Warner Brothers, First National
and Vitaphone. The cause is al-
leged slurs in three Warner pic-
tures on the names of three of
Rolands national heroes.
Joan
Joan
China,'
Halperins Form Co.
To Produce Eight
Edward and Victor Halperin an-
nounced yesterday the formation of a
production unit under their own name
for release through a major channel.
The brothers pull out tonight, accom-
panied by^ Richard Carroll, for their
trip to New York, where final details
on their plans will be set.
They have decided to make eight
pictures and already have stories by
Rex Beach, Vicki Baum, Garnett Wes-
ton, George Manker Watters, Nina
Wilcox Putnam and Albert Payson
Terhune. Negotiations are on with
Elissa Landi, Bebe Daniels, Edmund
Lowe, John Boles and Gregory Ratoff.
Production headquarters will be estab-
lished at RKO-Pathe.
Crawford Will
Star in 'Indo-China'
Crawford will star in "Indo-
which was previously slated
for Constance Bennett at MGM.
Arthur Richmond will write the
screen play when he finishes on the
Garbo picture. Bernie Hyman produces.
Roberts on Lederer Pic
"Romance of Manhattan," starring
Francis Lederer, will probably be Ste-
phen Roberts' first directorial assign-
ment at Radio. Roberts was signed by
Radio last month for four pictures.
May Robson's New Deal
May Robson's MGM contract was
torn up and a brand new one issued
to her yesterday. She is 51 years old,
professionally.
Bradley King Signs
Bradley King has signed a mana-
gerial ticket with Edington and Vin-
cent office.
ly fine work, and there is one flash
of Mona Maris which is worth the
price of admission. The new directing
team of Harlan Thompson and Jean
Negulesco did exceptionally well, and
the art director deserves a special
medal.
The adaptation and screen play by
Jane Hinton, Harlan Thompson and
George Marion Jr. are cleverly han-
dled, the dialogue being bright and
witty. The music and lyrics are by
Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin. Leon
Shamroy's photography is in keeping
with the rest of the production.
When this is cut into proper shape,
no exhib need be afraid of it. It will
please any audience.
Settlement Near
Warner-Erpi Suit
New York. — Once more the in-
junction and royalties suit of Vita-
phone against Electrical Research
Products Inc., which has been string-
ing along since October, 1932, is re-
ported to be near settlement. It has
been twice before the Federal court
in Wilmington and was submitted to
arbitration until Warners felt they
could ge.t no settlement that way and
threw it back into the courts.
Three weeks ago it was said that
the case had been settled, with War-
ners getting $3,500,000 cash and
other considerations which were be-
lieved to be the right to handle Erpi's
sound equipment, but the Government
stepped in and stopped that settle-
ment.
Under a second agreement, after
Erpi had violated the first one made
when Warners were pioneering sound,
Erpi — or, rather. Western Electric —
was to pay Warners eight percent roy-
alties. It was for this money, vari-
ously estimated at from $5,000,000
to $50,000,000, that Warners sued.
New Vina Delmar Yarn
Purchased by MGM
New York. — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
has bought the screen rights to
"Bright Girl," a new Vina Delmar
novel which starts as a serial in Lib-
.erty next week.
The company is also understood to
be backing Lawrence Schwab's new
play, "Snatch As Snatch Can."
Cobb Starts As Actor
Irvin Cobb started his acting career
yesterday in "Angle Worms" at the
Roach studio. Frank Darien, Kathe-
rine Ward, Benny Baker and Frank
Brownlee are the humorist's fellow ac-
tors. Hal Yates directs.
Harold Lloyd East
Harold Lloyd leaves for New York
tomorrow, by train to attend the Fox
sales convention, at which he will
show a print of "The Cat's Paw." He
will be accompanied by Bernie Burdon,
his film editor.
Censorship Discussed
(Continued from Page 1 )
AITEI^
ganizations and others which ,are
campaigning for drastic restrictions on
pictures.
The situation, with the Patman bill
for a Federal Motion Picture Com-
mission now before Congress, has
grown serious. The crusade being con-
ducted by the Catholic church is hav-
ing its effect, and the one being run
by Mrs. August Belmont and her Mo-
tion Picture Research Council, is
growing in strength daily. There is
not the slightest doubt that members
of Congress are being bombarded by
supporters of this censorship campaign
to aid the Patman bill and the pro-
ducers feel that they must do some-
thing, by propaganda or otherwise, to
offset it.
yl^bu Helen Qwiinn
The old wholesale method of giving
tests is still going on despite so many
statements and reports to the contrary.
Only the other day a young boy was
scheduled to make a test over on one
of the major lots. Now the test had
been ordered by one of the executives,
so the lad's agent didn't think it nec-
essary to appear with him, but just
sent him over at the appointed time.
The boy walked into the studio and
finally made it clear that he was to
have a test. He was then told to go
to a certain stage. He finally found
the stage and also found a picture in
production. After looking around for
a bit, he spied a camera and a couple
of fellows 'way off in a corner and
walked over to them. Whereupon a
small, dark fellow came up to him
and asked him what he wanted. He
explained that he was to have a test.
The small, dark fellow then wanted
to know what kind. Nobody seemed
to know, so they decided to call up
the front office.
•
At last it was all straightened out
— it was to be a silent test, and as
soon as the word came through, the
small, dark fellow turned to the as-
piring actor and told him everything
was set. The boy then cautiously in-
quired about make-up and was told
that if he wanted to, he could go and
have some make-up put on.
Arriving back with the make-up
en, he was given three or four orders
while the cameras were grinding and
then t.he test was over. He never
did find out the name of the small,
dark fellow, nor does he know or ex-
actly want to know what that "test"
looked like.
Tests like that only try a person's
patience and are a pretty poor exam-
ple of the intelligence used in this
never-ending hunt for talent. There's
screaming and carrying on every day
to the effect that it is almost impos-
sible to find any talent, but just how
they expect to discover it, using those
methods of looking for it, is a bit dif-
ficult to understand. Tests of that
kind are a waste of time and money
to the company and simple suicide
for the would-be actor.
•
Helen Morgan is our idea of an all
rig.ht person. With all the opportu-
nity in the world to scream her story
for the front pages and hand out
plenty statements to the public, Miss
Morgan deliberately said nothing in
all this controversy over "Memory"
and will tell her story to the proper
people at the proper time. It must
have taken a lot of self-control, in
view of all the one-sided stories that
did see print, but in the end that dig-
nified silence should be all to Mor-
gan's benefit. The real story is a
honey, anyway.
Pearson on 'Ruggles*
Humphrey Pearson was signed by
Paramount yesterday to write the
screen play for "Ruggles of Red Gap."
Page Four
THE
May 25, 1934
'IJ^VITATIOIV TO A MVRDER'
WILD AXD LVRID MELODRAMA
Okay For Pictures
If You Like Murder
"INVITATION TO A MURDER"
Presented by Ben Stein at the Masque
Theatre; written by Rufus King;
staged by A. H. Van Buren; settings
by Robert Barnhart.i Cast: Wm.
^Valentine, Warren Wilson Hum-
■ phrey Bogart, James Shelburne, juan
Varro, Sherling Oliver, Gale Sonder-
f gaard, Walter Abel, Jane Seymour,
/ Edgar Charles and Walter Plinge.
New York. — This is lurid melo-
drama at its best. A skilfully and
expertly written murder mystery with
all the trimmings — trap doors, poison-
ings, suspended animation and feigned
death — a fiendish she-murderer,
grasping voracious relatives and mo-
ments of thrilling stark horror. Yes,
even the inevitable pistol shot — but a
devilishly conceived and executed pis-
tol shot. All this taking place in the
sombre, massive, walled library of the
wealthy and eccentric Channings on
the wild West Coast shore of Cali-
fornia.
What differentiates this mystery
play from its predecessors is the genius
of Rufus King's technique, in which
he leaves no gaps or loopholes and
keeps his audience guessing up to the
very last moment how the story will
turn out. He has done a vastly su-
perior job than that seen in "Murder
at the Vanities."
Walter Abel's realistic work as the
doctor, whose one slip almost leads
to the destruction of his sanity and
life, is the highlight of the perform-
ance, and he ahares top honors with
the author and producer for a very
interesting evening in the theatre.
Lorinda Channing, head of the dis-
integrating house of Channing, de-
scendants of pirates and early gold-
discovering settlers of California,
whose motto was "to the victor and
the strong belong the spoils," suspects
a plot on the part of one of her rela-
tives to kill her — two attempts hav-
ing been made, once with poisoned
perfume which her maid was indis-
creet enough to use, and again when
she receives poisoned grapes and tests
out her theory on her pet parrot. The
huge Channing fortune is at stake.
She conceives the idea of feigning
death in order to trap the guilty one.
She invites in a strange doctor and
persuades him to administer a drug
that will put her in a cataleptic state,
later to be revived in her coffin by
an antidote. After her supposed fu-
neral, when all have retired for the
night, she leaves her coffin with the
aid of her butler and sets about trap-
ping one of her cousins who made the
poison attempts. She kills him with
a Maxim silencer on the gun, then
traps the doctor into firing the same
gun at her, this time with a blank
bullet. ' She then vanishes and the
doctor is held for the murder of Wal-
ter Channing.
She reappears on the scene the next
day and does her utmost to convince
everyone that the doctor is the guilty
one. However, as all murderers are
supposed to do, she has left a clue
to the guilty one, via fingerprints on
Old English City
Gets First Cinema
Rochester, one of the oldest cit-
ies in England, is just building its
first motion picture theatre. Here-
tofore when residents of Rochester
wanted to see a picture they jour-
neyed to neighboring Strood or
Chatham.
Walton Gets Juvenile
Lead in 'Monte Cristo'
Romantic leads for "The Count of
Monte Cristo" were completed yes-
terday when Edward Small engaged
Douglas Walton to play opposite Irene
Hervey. Walton is a young freelance
who appeared in "Lost Patrol," "Mur-
der in Trinidad" and "Madame Spy."
Laurel and Hardy Will
Finish One Tomorrow
Laurel and Hardy will finish "Public
Enemies," tomorrow, and next week
will work out an idea for their fifth
in the interrupted series.
James Morton was an addition to
the "Public Enemies" cast yesterday.
Picture Execs Handle
Frolic For Charity
Harry Rapf, Sam Briskin, Jacob
Milstein and Henry Ginsberg are man-
aging a frolic to be held at the Colony
Club, June 7, as a benefit for the Con-
sumptives' Home of Denver, one of
the most important American-Jewish
welfare institutions.
Allen Arraignment
Set For Next Tuesday
Dave Allen, Central Casting head,
will be arraigned next Tuesday on the
morals charge brought against him.
Postponement until that date was
granted yesterday by Judge Bowron on
motion of Attorney Jerry Geisler.
Natteford Story Head
Jack Natteford has been made story
editor of Supreme Pictures, the Sam
Katzman-A. W Hackle company.
While also writing for the indepen-
dent company, he is on the original
and screen play for the second Bob
Steele picture, "Brand of Hate,"
which goes into work July 18.
'U' Wants Torres
Universal is negotiating with Bren,
Orsatti and Marx for Raquel Torres
for the lead in "'Neath Southern
Skies." No director or writer has been
assigned as yet.
Aron Mathieu Here
Aaron Mathieu, editor of the Writ-
ers' Digest, published in Cincinnati, is
in Hollywood on business and is at
the Hotel Christie.
a cigarette case, and her own relatives
turn on her. She cheats the law by
suicide.
Film producers whose clientele
must .have their murder a day dished
up in hair-raising style should do
well with this one.
Lindsey Report
Up to Washington
George Creel, State head of the
NRA, yesterday dumped into the lap
of official Washington the question
of whether Judge Ben Lindsey or the
Studio Labor Committee has jurisdic-
tion over the labor complaints filed
some time ago with Lindsey, and
which the Judge refuses to turn over
to the labor committee.
Creel passed the problem on w.hen
he forwarded to NRA officials in
Washington the 24-page report made
to him last Wednesday by Judge Lind-
sey, who asked that a Federal investi-
gation be made of the attitude of Sol
Rosenblatt in the handling of studio
labor complaints. Creel asked for an
official ruling on the jurisdiction.
Tristram Tupper to
Para. For 'Outrage'
Monogram yesterday granted Tris-
tram Tupper a leave of absence to go
to Paramount and write the screen
play of "Outrage," an original by Beu-
'lah Marie Dix and Bertram Milhauser.
James Flood will direct and Benja-
min Clazer produces. Tupper leaves
Mo"Ogr~m as soon as he completes
"The Healer," which he is scripting.
LAST WEEK!
M-G-M Triumph
WALLACE
BEERY
LEOCARRILLO • FAY WRAY
Stuart ERWIN » Jos.SCHILDKRAUT
ADDED: Pete Smith's 'Goofy Movies'
lij iVl-lLii n i
Para. Directors Get
Army Of Lawyers
New York. — A veritable army of
legal talent has been engaged to de-
fend the Paramount directors who are
being sued by the trustees for some-
thing more than $12,000,000 that
was expended in the repurchase of
Paramount stock.
Adolph Zukor, Ralph Kohn, Austin
Keough, Sir William Wiseman, Felix
and Gilbert Kahn and the Stralem es-
tate will entrust their case to Cravath,
DeGersdorf, Swaine and Wood. Sam
Katz has engaged Sam Spring. Sidney
Kent, Jesse Lasky, Daniel Frohman I
and EIek John Ludvigh will probably
have Hughes, Schurman and Dwight.
J. E. Brulatour will be represented by
Konta, Kirchwey and Engel, w.hile H.
W. Fried will act for the estate of
Emil Shauer.
New Publicity Firm
Shane Ryan and Hal Wiener, two
well known publicity purveyors, have
joined forces and have opened offices
at 1 509 North Vine Street. Miss
Ryan was associated with many big
theatrical producers in New York.
Wiener was formerly assistant dra-
matic editor on the Los Angeles Her-
ald-Express.
|.vrM".;iri'
A- HILL
VA-Jom
DAMON RUNYON'S
MOST HUMAN STORY
Little Miss
MARKER"
Miith
SHIRLEY TEMPLE
ADOLPHE MENJOU
DOROTHY DELI
CHARLES BICKFORD
* STAGE ♦
FANCHON 6- MARCO present
HELEN MORGAN
fJU DCDC/llU Direct from He, BILTMORE
"» rCflOWni THEATRE ENGAGEMENT
•
JAY C. FLIPPEN
and his "RADIO CITY- REVUE
wmmmmmm
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HOLIVWOOD PIAYHOUIE'
Mdville W. Brown. Presents
PHONE
GRanite
1131
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^^^ LILLIAN BOND v
Staged byPicks^Mor^ii.
Opening Mondaii Eve
MAY 13^
BOX OFFICE
OPEN
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NI6HTLY,8-50 — 50< *I.OO AND M.SO Pto I'ajc
MATINEES_WED^ANDSAT.,2:30-40< 50< 75< PUxs lax
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May 25, 1934
(^iIP©I^Til^
Page Five
Casting Troubles
Delay 'Four Walls'
Despite its having the largest and
most important list of star players,
MCM has run up against the same sort
of casting snag that has bothered Ra-
dio and Columbia. Studio's problem is
on "Four Walls."
The decision to splurge on the pro-
duction and give it a top-name cast
had the studio dickering with Paul
Muni, who originated the leading part
on the stage, and also Edward C. Rob-
inson, Ricardo Cortez and Chester
Morris. With Clark Gable favored
above all, the plan now being consid-
ered Is to shelve the picture for three
months until he is available. The
screen play, by Bernard Schubert, is
nearly finished. Edward Marin is to
direct, but will likely be moved over
to "All Good Americans" first.
Langdon West Engaged
As Technical Advisor
New York. — Langdon West, who
aided in the production of such stage
spectacles as "The Wanderer," "Chu
Chin Chow" and "Aphrodite," has
Ibeen engaged by Warner Brothers as
(technical advisor for their coming pro-
.duction of "The Miracle." He will
leave for Hollywood soon.
Sidney With S-F-C
Sylvia Sidney yesterday signed an
exclusive five-year managerial con-
tract with Charles Feldman, of the
Schulberg, Feldman and Gurney
lagency.
Search For Kid Delays
'Fleurette' at Para.
Al Werker won't get "52 Weeks
for Fleurette" going at Paramount un-
til next week.
The delay is due to the difficulty of
casting Helen Mack's eight-year-old
boy in the picture. Must be a typical
American kid who talks and acts as if
raised in show business. The studio
says the part is good enough to make
the reputation of the kid getting it.
Clarence Brown Starts
New Crawford Picture
Clarence Brown put "Sacred and
Profane Love" into production at
MGM yesterday with Joan Crawford,
Clark Cable, Otto Kruger and Stuart
Erwin in the cast.
The story is an Edgar Selwyn orig-
inal, adapted for the screen by John
Lee Mahin, with the Arnold Bennett
title now owned by MGM tacked on.
Burnet on Delmar Yarn
Dana Burnett's first writing assign-
ment on his Paramount contract is the
screen play for "The End of the
World," Vina Delmar's original on
which Renaud Hoffman, George Man-
ker Watters and Marguerite Roberts
have done the preliminary writing.
Seff on 'Colddiggers'
Warners has assigned Manny Seff
to work on the screen play for "Gold-
diggers of 1935," which the company
plans as a yearly musical with a list
of top-name contract players.
TO THE MOTION
PICTURE INDUSTRY:
For years Milton Krims has been gathering accurate
data and material on the life of
STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER
writer of those immortal melodies, "Old Black Joe,"
"My Old Kentucky Home," "Oh, Susanna . . ," "Old
Folks at Home" and many others.
The intensely dramatic circumstances in the life of
this most important figure in the musical develop-
ment of our country have now been crystallized
into a motion picture scenario by Mr. Krims,
entitled
\\
HARMONY LANE
n
Announcement books to the trade and considerable
other expense incidental to active preparation and
early production of the picture have already been
incurred.
Because of this and also because of the definite
value already established in this motion picture
property, I hereby ask the motion picture industry
to kindly respect my priority rights.
MASCOT PICTURES
NAT LEVINE, President
TERROR" THRILLY MYSTERY
Marked by good writing, direction.
There's an icy thrill in every reel
of "The Return of the Terror" . . .
Eugene Solow and Peter Milne didn't
skip a chill in their adaptation of the
Edgar Wallace yarn.
— Hollywood Reporter, May 21, 1934
EUGENE
>dF
THE RETURN OF THE TERROR"
Picture has all the elements for the
detective thriller patrons but devoid
of those generally inexplicable holes
in such films, due largely to good
script work by Eugene Solow and
Peter Milne. "Return of the Terror"
is one of those chilling wholesale
murder mystery yarns that spells sure
box-office.
— Variety, May 21, 1934
Management
NAT COLDSTONE
"FOG OVER FRISCO"
. . . The adaptation by Robert N. Lee
and Eugene Solow is workmanlike,
leaving no loose ends in their solu-
tion. Your only difficulty with "Fog
Over Frisco" will be in turnover, for
many of your audiences will want to
sit through it a second time. It's
that kind of a picture. Play it up
as a really intelligent mystery thriller.
— Hollywood Reporter, May 19, 1934
O I O ¥/
FOR UNIVERSAL
(Completing!
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(Original Screen Play)
Starring vehicle for
Henry Hull
RIAN JAMES — PRODUCING
The Vendome
Will Cater Your
Cocktail Party
Bridge Tea
Buffet Dinner
at a cost so small it will astound you, giving you
a selection of the finest foods, rarest delicacies
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Phone Hollywood 1666
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Vol. XXI, No. 16. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, May 26, 1934
WOMEN $LAM 2 MAJORS
Federation Claims Warners
And A/GA/ Will Not Play Ball;
Others Trying; Body Split
Over Picture Department
Hot Springs, Ar'k. — The Federation ofi Womens Clubs, in
convention here, heard the report of its motion picture depart-
ment yesterday and the body, representing over 2,000,000
women, was divided in opinion regarding the activity of that
department and felt there was little
Radio May Lend
Kahn and Wiseman
Sons BackWanger;
Para. Hook-up Seen
New York. — The belief that, when
the Paramount re-organization has
been completed, Walter Wanger will
again be found as one of the top exec-
utives is being strengthened here
through the knowledge of the close
association of Wanger with Roger
Wolfe Kahn and young Wiseman, son
of Sir William Wiseman, of Kuhn,
Loeb and Company.
Wall Street hears that these two
young men will be Wanger's backers
in his coming productiotn venture and
see in this a sign that Kuhn, Loeb and
Company have Wanger tabbed for a
Paramount berth a little later.
Wanger, who says he is not going
back to Paramount, is not sailing for
Europe tomorrow, as he had announc-
ed, saying that he has personal busi-
ness to settle here and may sail next
week.
Added weight is given the Para-
mount rumor by the tact that Sir Wil-
liam Wiseman recently took over the
framing of the Paramount re-organiza-
tion plan, which will be handled by
his firm.
Canadian Actress
Signed by Warners
New York. — Helen Trenholme, 22-
year-old Canadian girl, whose dramatic
broadcasting in Montreal brought her
to Broadway where she has been ap-
pearing in "The Strange Orchestra,"
yesterday was signed for a term with
Warner Brothers.
Coldwyn Wants New Tag
Sam Coldwyn is discarding the title
"Resurrection" for the next Anna
Sten picture and has sent word
throughout his organization for sug-
gestions which will give an impres-
sion of lightness, instead of the heavy
gloom of the present tag.
Lead For Mary Astor
Mary Astor was assigned the lead
opposite Warren William in "The Case
of the Howling Dog" yesterday by
Warners. Story is by Earl Stanley
Gardner. Production is about five
weeks ahead.
Toeplitz in N.Y. on Deal
New York. — L. Toeplitz, formerly
associated with Alexander Korda in
London Films, is in New York on a
production deal which he will not dis-
cuss.
Receivership For
Warner Bros. Asked
New York. — A suit to throw
Warner Brothers into receivership
was filed in the New York Supreme
Court yesterday by M. B. Levine,
who charges mismanagement and
demands the return to the stock-
holders of the 100,000 shares of
stock which the directors voted to
the three Warners.
'Rothschild' Sets
Record For 1 Show
London. — "The House of Roths-
child" set a new record for one per-
formance at its opening showing at
the Tivoli Theatre, grossing $46,000.
The performance was for charity and
tickets sold as high as $50 each. The
beneficiaries are the Personal Service
League and the Fund for German-Jew-
ish Women and Children.
The great audience was most en-
thusiastic about the picture and the
enthusiasm was echoed in all the press
reviews.
value in the report.
The report, as read by Mrs. Richard
R. McClure, chairman, indicated that
MGM and Warners have shown little
or no inclination to cleanse their
stories for the screen, "still believing
that the type of pictures they turn
(Continued on Page 2)
MGM Execs Sailing
London. — David Selznick, Howard
Estabrook and George Cukor leave
her^'lune 6 on the He de France on
return to Hollywood.
her^''
th^r
M
J^ HM^ '■V^VI^^^^ ,^FlMK'':'^iiMll|<MjjL'#^ ifj
W,
>Vil^JKERSON
MR. MOTION PICTURE!
STAND UP AND DEFEND YOURSELF.
You have to now.
You should have long ago.
But you didn't.
And look what they are doing to you.
They are trying to destroy you AND WILL DESTROY YOU,
if you don't stand up and defend yourself.
There are no "ifs, ands or buts" about it this time. THEY have labeled
you with every crime,' they are accusing you of everything, they are using as
campaign slogans SAVE THE AMERICAN HOME— PROTECT OUR CHILDREN,
etc., etc. They have you in a corner and you have to fight. You can't sit back
and' take it this time, as you have done for the past 25 years when professional
reformers and cheap politicians have seen fit to attack you. You can't pass the
buck to Will Hays, because he will do nothing, AS USUAL, and as a matter of
fact, many believe that he started the whole thing, that he gave the Catholic
Church its first ammunition. You have to pass Hays up in this defense of your
industry. You have to do it yourself and do it quick.
•
This "Clean the Screen of its Filth" program has reached astounding pro-
portions. It has filtrated to sources that are more than dangerous. It is now
reaching the press with the most damaging propaganda that has ever been di-
rected at this or any other legitimate industry.
As an example, Mr. Motion Picture, did you see the McCutcheon cartoon
that was published by the New York Herald-Tribune on Sunday, May 16? Did
(Continued on Page 4)
Lederer to Para.
ToCetBarrieYarn
A deal is on between Radio and
Paramount which, if it is consum-
mated, will send Francis Lederer to
the Paramount studio on a loan to
play the lead in "Pursuit of Happi-
ness" in exchange for the screen
rights to J. M. Barrie's "The Little
Mmister," which Radio wants for
Katharine Hepburn.
Both Hepburn and Radio are hot on
the idea of the Barrie novel and Ar-
thur Hornblow, who will produce
"Pursuit of Happiness," is just as
strong for the idea of getting Lederer.
Radio has heretofore refused to lend
him, figuring it should get all the
benefit of his pictures.
A! Green Starting
'The Lost Lady' Monday
"The Lost Lady" goes into produc-
tion Monday at Warners, with Al
Green directing Barbara Stanwyck.
The cast as signed yesterday had
Henry Kolker, Rafaelo Ottiano, Frank
Morgan, Walter Walker, Henry
O'Neill, Samuel E. Hinds and Virginia
Hammofid. Green's assignment puts
"Firebird" over to later this Summer.
Foy Signs Robles Kid
Bryan Foy yesterday signed June
Robles for personal appearances and
wij-l possibly use the girl in a feature.
^Youngster gained world wide publicity
when she was kidnapped in Tucson,
Arizona, several weeks ago.
Radio Sets Moeller
Radio yesterday set "Age of Inno-
cence" as Philip Moeller's first pic-
ture assignment. He will co-direct
with George Nicholls jr.
[
PHILIP DLINNE
WROTE THE SCREEN PLAY AND
DIALOGUE *in collaboration
"Count of Monte Cristo
u
Page Two
THE
May 26, 1934
I
Tntfrfe^©mR FOY'S 'HIGH SCHOOL GIRL'
JUST A MORAL PREACHMENT
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 50] ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at tos Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
A! Hall and Lola Lane were sup-
posed to elope to Yuma last night. . .
Angela )oyce, the wench who is
suing Lord Revelstoke for breach of a
few promises, left via boat yesterday
for England to testify. . . . Arthui'
Johnson, w.k. song-maker and fiance
of Loretta Sayers, sails for Honolulu
today . . . Loretta can't go because
she has to be bridesmaid at her sister's
wedding in New York. . . . The Coun-
tess di Frasso arrives in Hollywood for
a ten-day stay. . . . Bill Powell, Ron-
nie Colman, Warner Baxter and
Reginald Berkeley are over at Catalina
on that 1) 0-foot yacht they hired,
just waiting for Dick Barthelmess to
jern them for a fishing and hunting
trip way down the coast— none of the
crowd has ever hunted before! . . .
Claudette Colbert sick abed at home
these past coupla days. . . . Sign on a
Beverly Hills theatre reads, "Little
Womeh" — "Bottoms Up"(!) . . . .
Walter Winchell will be in our midst
next week. . . . The Baron Rothschild
is the "handiest" man in town.
•
Virginia Pine moving from the hos-
pital into Doug )r's. old house in Bev-
erly. . . . The Chick Chandlers very
together again after a "trial separa-
tion" that almost lasted a whole
week! . . . The Stanley Bergermans
and Junior Laemmie are throwi'hg a
big masquerade party for the Mervyn
LeRoys Saturday night next week. . .
The Alan Dineharts are actually get-
ting to look alike. . . Sari LeMaire is
in training to carry around a particular
new top-piece. . . . Michael Pearman
and Frances Drake haven't seen any-
one but each other for days!
'•
Mrs. Wally Beery doing very nicely
in her own menage. . . . And Frank
Joyce taking daily walks around the
biQck in New York! . . . The cheapest
streak in Hollywood belongs to a male
actor on the Universal lot. . . Travis
Banton is giving another of the famous
Banton teas on Monday. . . . Dolores
Del Rio, lunching /he brides, Martha
Sleeper, Carmelita Ceraghty and Ra-
quel Torres. . . . Miriam Hopkins and
Jean Dary are on fire! ... Is it true
that Louis B. Mayer and Pat Casey
have a mad on? . . . Warner produc-
tion costs have been cut twenty-five
Production, Story,
In Very Good Taste
"HIGH SCHOOL GIRL "
(Bryan Foy)
Direction Crane Wilbur
Original Crane Wilbur
Adaptation Crane Wilbur
and Wallace Thurman
Photography William Thompson
Cast: Cecelia Parker, Helen MacKel-
lar, Crane Wilbur, Carlyle Moore
Jr., Noel Warwick, Mahlon Hamil-
ton.
Obviously a preachment, "High
School Girl" has received a better pro-
duction than its theme generally war-
rants. Ordinarily, a moralizing pic-
ture of the sort is designed to play
the ten cent .houses on our cities'
"Main Streets," coupled with flam-
boyant "Men Only" and "Women
Only" advertising. "High School Girl"
can be sold legitimately, for there isn't
an offensive second in the entire hour
of its running time.
The story does not attempt to dis-
guise its moralizing. It tells of an
unsophisticated school girl, neglected
by her clubwoman mother. Involved
in a puppy-love affair, she asks for
instruction, only to be told that she is
too young to know about such things.
The inevitable occurs and the girl is
taken away by her understanding old-
er brother to have her baby secretly.
Her constant worry causes complica-
tions and her parents have to be told.
With the telling, comes acknowledg-
ment of their error in raising the girl
in ignorance.
Throughout the plot wanders the
character of a biology professor who
preaches the doctrine of frankness.
The part is played effectively by
Crane Wilbur, also credited with di-
rection, the original story and co-
adaptation. It must be that Mr. Wil-
bur has neglected to join the camera-
man's union.
Although the complete unsophisti-
cation of the girl dates the piece
slightly, she is beautifully played by
Cecelia Parker, who looks of high-^
school age. Nice performances too by
Carlyle Moore Jr., as the brother, and
Noel Warwick as the youthful swain.
An unprogrammed colored girl playing
the maid runs away with the comedy
honors.
Helen MacKellar does the mother a
bit too heavily-handed, and Mahlon
Hamilton is the father. The writing
is entirely in good taste and the di-
rection, unwavering to the theme, is
noteworthy for development of char-
acterizations. Production and William
Thompsons photography are above
standard.
You are the best judge as to
whether a story of this sort will ap-
peal to your audiences. You should
encounter no censorship difficulties,
for the picture is innocuous enough to
pass any restrictions. If there must be
screen preachments of the kind, this
could hardly be improved.
to fifty thousand, but the cuts never
seem to hurt their pictures any! . . .
They practically carried Harry Cohn
off the plane here last night — for the
first time 'arry was air sick!
Paris Film Workers
Protest U.S. Films
Paris. — The French Association
of Film Workers staged a demon-
stration last night against the com-
petition of foreign pictures, espe-
cially American. In busses and on
foot, carrying banners, they pa-
raded up the Champs Elysees. The
idea was to call the attention of
the government to their difficult
situation.
Ostrow Hangs Out
His Shingle at 'U'
Lou Ostrow's shingle was hung out
at Universal yesterday, although he is
not officially through as Monogram's
executive producer until Thursday.
The gun is also being jumped at
the General Service lot Monday, when
Robert Welsh moves into Ostrow's of-
fice, and Herman Schlom goes from
the Universal leasing office into
Welsh's office as Monogram's produc-
tion manager, assisting Welsh. All
the changes take place as of June 1.
Alfred Stern next week takes over
the Universal leasing department, with
Clara A. Toney continuing as secre-
tary.
Henry B. Walthall
Set For Two at Fox
When he finished his work in "The
Scarlet Letter' for Majestic the end o<
next week, Henry B. Walthall moves
over to Fox for two pictures, having
been set yesterday by Hoffman-
Schlager for the second, "Wanted,"
which Lou King will direct.
He will 'work in "Judge Priest"
first.
John Arnold a Father
John Arnold, president of the ASC
and head of the MGM camera depart-
ment, became the father of a daughter
.last night. The baby was born at the
Hollywood hospital where she and her
mother are gettihg on nicely.
Rosy Coming Out to
Settle Labor Rows
According to information received
yesterday by the local unions of the
lATSE, Deputy Administrator Sol A.
Resnblatt will leave for Hollywood
June 15 for the purpose of attempting
to settle the labor troubles of the
lATSE.
This information was sent by tele-
gram by Louis Krause, assistant presi-
dent of the lATSE. Krause stated tfiat
Rosenblatt had said that he would
be agreeable to doing this, and to hav-
ing a representative of the Alliance
accompany him on the trip.
George Stout Back to
Finish 'Young Eagles'
George W. Stout returned from
New York yesterday after a flying trip
to deliver the first five episodes of the
Romance serial, "Young Eagles." States
righting all set, with First Division
taking 60 per cent of the territory.
Stout is supervising the editing of
the remaining seven episodes at Sen-
nett studio and will then plan for his
next Romance serial, to be started in
60 days.
'Chain Gang' Suits Off
Atlanta. — Two suits for $100,000
each, brought against Warner Broth-
ers because of the filming of "I'm a
Fugitive from a Chain Gang," were
dismissed yesterday at the request of
the plaintiffs, E. L. Rainey and G. A.
Johns, of the State Prison Commission.
Moore Due June 5
Victor Moore is due to arrive June
5 from New York for Universal's "Ro-
mance in the Rain," which Stuart
Walker directs.
Bellamy Buys Farm
Ralph Bellamy has purchased 1 50
acres of land in Salem County, Con-
necticut. He plans eventually to build
a .home there.
I
Women Slam Two Majors
(Continued from Page 1 I
out are satisfactory from every point
of view and no new policy is neces-
sary." Mrs. McClure's board indorsed
Radio Pictures, Fox, Columbia and
Universal for the progress they have
made in dispensing clean pictures.
Paramount was placed on the fence,
but it was felt "its attitude will
change to the extent that it can be
included with the above group."
The report further states that, of
almost 350 pictures reviewed by the
board, 55 were banned entirely in the
opinion of the reviewers. Of this num-
ber, Warners had 15, Paramount 13,
MGM 7, and the remainder split in
small lots between the rest of the
major companies.
It was easy to be seen that many
of those present were neither satisfied
with the "report or the activities of the
motion picture department and, al-
though nothing was brought out in
the open meeting, it is felt that those
not favoring those activities will be
heard from before the convention
closes. One member stated: "Most
of that committee are entirely too
close to those in charge of production
and exhibition. They permit them-
selves to be dined and entertained in
Hollywood and elsewhere, and that
may or may not have clouded much
of their work."
Another member stated: "The
screen has to be cleansed and we have
a mighty weapon in our hands. Im-
agine what would happen if every
member of our Federation should stay
away from the movies for a week, or
even a day! That means 2,000,000
paid admissions would be denied the
theatres on those days. And this will
happen if those picture-makers don't
adjust their attitude. I know we will
be joined by at least a million Catho-
lics, the entire body of the Federal
Council of Churches and organizations
headed by the Jews."
■I
<!'
May 26, 1934
Page Three
^SWEENEY' FALLS
^PRECIOUS THING'
Badly Written and
Not at All Funny
"FRIENDS OF MR. SWEENEY"
(Warners)
Direction Edward Ludwig
Original Story Elmer Davis
Screen Play Warren Duff
and Sidney Sutherland
Photography Ira Morgan
Cast: Charles Ruggles, Ann Dvorak,
Eugene Pallette, Dorothy Tree,
Harry Beresford, Berton Churchill,
William Davidson, Herbert Bunson,
Harry Tyler, Dorothy Burgess.
This picture is labeled a comedy.
In order to prove it, they've dug up
an old story about the worm turns
and planted every gag with a steam
shovel, and if you have the intelli-
gence of a two-year-old you have your
choice of taking the broad hint or
leaving it unsmiled at.
The only thing that saves it, so far
as Warners is concerned, is the fact
that it looks as though it had been
budgeted in at even less cost than
usual, because evidently nobody
thought it worth while to spend
enough money to stop up the holes in
the picture or to waste film by ex-
plaining the appearance of several
characters or the significance of any-
thing in the plot.
Mr. Elmer Davis will certainly not
be able to recognize anything in this
picture as his original story except the
title and the names of the characters.
The whole "plot" revolves around one,
Asaph Holliday, who was a wow in his
college days, but who has become a
browbeaten wage slave and forced to
write an article supporting a crook as
candidate for Governor. An old col-
lege pal comes into town and they
get drunk together, and the college
pal gives back Holliday his old fightin'
spirit, and Holliday goes back to the
office and rewrites the article and,
as final proof of .his emancipation, we
are allowed to see him sling the equiv-
alent of a custard pie into the face
of a fresh soda fountain clerk.
There are more, if not better ex-
amples of flat comedy writing and di-
rection than have been seen in many
a day. Two whole sequences, sup-
f>osedly funny, fall to the ground with
a sickening thud with no effort made
to revive them.
Charlie Ruggles should insist on
staying on his home lot. At least,
they know what to do with his com-
edy talents. In fact, everybody should
have known much better and the best
thing to do with the picture is to
double feature it where it won't hurt.
Charlie Ray Staging
A Comeback at Para.
Charlie Ray is planning a come-
back. He will play a part in Para-
mount's "Ladies Should Listen,"
his first screen appearance since
1928 when he played opposite
Connne Griffith in "The Garden of
Eden."
VERY FLAT;
ALSO FLOPS
Jean Arthur The
Only Saving Grace
Black Ink Again
On Warners' Books
New York. — Warner Brothers and
subsidiaries report a profit of $38,855
for the 26 weeks ended February 24,
1934, as compared with a net loss of
$3,422,326 for the corresponding
period last year. This is after all de-
ductions for amortization of film costs,
depreciation, interest and Federal
taxes. A total of $905,01 5 was cred-
ited to the deficit account represent-
ing profit on redemption of funded
indebtedness, adjustme^it of income
tax and profits on sales of capital
assets.
Binnie Barnes Makes
*U' Debut in Trailer
Binnie Barnes made her first cam-
era appearance under her Universal
contract in the three-reel convention
trailer, directed by Charles Gould un-
der the supervision of John LeRoy
Johnston.
Twenty Universal players made
bows and speeches to the sales con-
vention in the film, Russ Brown lead-
ing off.
'Gang' Goes Musical
In Its Next Picture
"Our Gang" plays an early return
date this year at the Hal Roach stu-
dio, starting a picture next Thursday
under direction of Gus Meins.
It will be the Gang's first "musi-
cal," calling for instrumental and vocal
performances by Spanky, Scotty and
Stymie.
Montgomery Returns
Robert Montgomery checks in today
at MGM, returning from his ten
weeks vacation on his farm in Massa-
chusetts. He goes into "Hideout" as
his first assignment and is slated also
for the bracket spot with Loretta
Young in "Forsaking All Others."
A
Glennan in Ridge Spot
T. Keith Glennan takes over the
management of General Service Stu-
dios next week, succeeding J. M.
Ridge, who returns to Erpi after six
months in charge of the Hollywood
studios. Glennan has been on the
coast two months.
Graham Out of Warners
Carroll Graham completed the adap-
tattoti of his book, "Border Town,"
br Warner Brothers, and left the lot
The story is for Paul Muni
Lasky Sets Berkeley
Jesse L. Lasky yesterday signed
Reginald Berkeley to write a new
screen play for "Marie Gallante,"
v^hich will star Spencer Tracy. The
Hawks-Voick office signed the writer
to a managerial deal and set the Fox
ticket.
Para. Term For Overman
Lynn Overman was placed under
long-term contract to Paramount yes-
terday and will get a featured role in
"52 Weeks for Fleurette" as his next
assignment. The Broadway stage star
made his picture debut in "Little Miss
Marker."
"MOST PRECIOUS THING IN LIFE"
(Columbia)
Directed by Lambert Hillyer
Sfory Travis Ingham
Screen Play Dore Schary
and Ethel Hill
Photography John Stumar
Cast: Jean Arthur, Richard Cromwell,
Donald Cook, Anita Louise, Mary
Forbes.
There is absolutely nothing in this
one to recommend it except the ele-
gant and completely wasted perform-
ance of Jean Arthur, who proves long
before the finish that she should have
been saved for Jbetter things.
How in the name of anything, this
script or story could have passed an
official O.K. in this day and age is
beyond us. And seemingly beyond the
preview audience, too, for it tittered
and all but hooted during a great part
of the film.
"Most Precious Thing in Life" is
Version No. 18967543000 of the
Madame X theme. This time, though,
the mother in the mother-love yarn
is not a Madame — just a scrublady.
She starts out as just a small time
gal in a college town — just a nice,
sweet nobody who marries the rich
boy as he graduates, and they go to
live with his family — the mean old
snobs! They manage to separate her
and her husband and convince her
that the baby will be better off with
them. (Where have we heard that one
before????)
Well, so, years later (for no reason
— because the gal is comely and
shapely — ) she is a scrublady at the
same college where she had her ro-
mance and, of course, her son comes
under her wing as she cleans up his
dormitory. He participates in a ro-
mance identical with that of her
youth, and just when Poppa is about
to break it up, dear ole scrublady saves
the day and never, never lets on that
she is the boy's mommy!
Well, it's pretty awful. Obvious
every foot of the way and containing
some godawful passages of elementary
psychology. Richard Cromwell tries
hard with the dull and slow stuff at
hand. So do the others, including
Don Cook, Anita Louise, Mary Forbes.
Jean Arthur (in character make-up
most of the footage) really comes
through, and looks very pretty in
earlier scenes.
Best thing to do with this is tear
it up and forget it. Only the most
provincial audiences could possibly sit
through it.
Joe Brown to Hawaii
Joe E. Brown sails June 1 from San
Francisco for a Honolulu vacation. His
next assignment at Warners is "The
Six-day Bike Race," which Earl Bald-
win wrote and adapted.
Virginia Pine Better
Virginia Pine's condition was re-
ported much better yesterday. It is
believed the Warner contract girl will
not have to undergo an operation.
Flop of Vanities'
Features Crosses
New York. — The big feature of the
week's grosses at the Broadway houses
was the flop of "Murder at the Vani-
ties," which did only $11,000 at the
Rivoli.
"Stingaree" got $73,000 at the
Music Hall, "Sadie McKee" took
$46,000 at the Capitol, and "Little
Miss Marker" chalked up $37,000 at
the Paramount. "The Black Cat" at
the Roxy grossed $18,500, "Beyond
Bengal" at the Gaiety took $7200,
and "Murder in Trinidad" got $5500
for five days of its second week at
the Mayfair. "Rothschild" grabbed
$15,800 for its eleventh week at the
Astor, and "Upper World," for the
week ending next Tuesday, will give
the Strand about $15,000.
'Flying Down to Rio'
Held Over in London
London.- — In addition to "The
House of Rothschild" at the Tivoli,
the new pictures in London this week
are "Let's Fall in Love" at the New
Gallery, "All Men Are Enemies" at
the Capitol, "Manhattan Melodrama"
at the Empire, and "Lost Patrol" at
the Plaza.
"Scarlet Empress" and "Roman
Scandals" are still doing big business,
and "Flying Down to Rio" is also one
of the holdovers.
Texas Rain Holds Up
'Song of the Shepherd'
San Antonio. — Seven days of rain
and cloudy weather at the location
wanted by A. H. Phillips and W. J.
Kerr for their three-reel Cinecolor,
"The Song of the Shepherd," are de-
laying production.
Babe Stafford will be summoned
from Hollywood to finish the picture
as soon as the weather improves.
N.Y. Agent Hooks in Here
Johnny DeSilva, formerly of the
firm of Grady and DeSilva, New York
theatrical agents, has become associ-
ated with Lichtig and Englander. He
was connected with the Shuberts and
Flo Ziegfeld for a number of years,
handling the personal business of their
stars.
Holmes Starting One
Ben Holmes puts the second of the
1934-35 Clark and McCullough series
of shorts into work at Radio the mid-
dle of next week. In addition to the
leads, the cast includes Eddie Gribbon,
Bud jamieson, Marty Collins, Con-
stance Bergen, and Claire Myers.
'Hat, Coat, Glove' Starts
With Ricardo Cortez filling the
John Barrymore role. Radio yesterday
put "Hat, Coat and Glove" back on
the stages. Worthington Minor di-
rects and Barbara Robbins and John
Beal are in the cast.
Morris Gets Vacation
Chester Morris will get no further
Universal assignments for a couple of
months, although he is still subject to
call for two pictures. He gets the
vacation because he appears in pic-
tures for release in June and July.
Page Four
THE
l^ilPOPiTllR
May 26, 1934
Extras Lose Dough
By NotComplaining
Scores of extra players in Hollywood
are depriving themselves of hundreds
of dollars by refusing to file com-
plaints of alleged code violations by
the studios with the Code Committee
for Extras, according to one member
of the committee.
"The impression seems to be that
those who file complaints with us will
be barred from further work in the
studios," said this member. "In this
belief the extras are wrong. Our
grievance sub-committee has handled
a lot of complaints and has collected
a lot of money from the studios for
the extras, and we have watched care-
fully and have yet to find one instance
where the complaining extra has been
barred by the studios."
Acad. Research Com.
Finds New Economy
The Academy Research Council yes-
terday accepted and approved a con-
fidential report covering sound and
camera motor starting and stopping
systems, and scene cueing and slat-
ing methods, which it is expected will
result in tremendous savings for the
major studios that are maintaining the
Council.
The Council also accepted the final
report of the sub-committee on revi-
sion of the standard release print, and
decided to continue the committee as
a permanent one.
Ah, Wilderness' Will
Play Holiday Matinee
Will Rogers will give a special
Decoration Day matinee of Eugene
O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness" at El Capi-
tan Theatre.
This extra holiday matinee will be
in addition to the regular Saturday
matinee and will mark Rogers' only
Wednesday afternoon performance
during his engagement.
Newman Scoring 'Bread'
Alfred Newman, musical director
for United Artists companies, is start-
ing on what he considers a unique
scoring assignment, the music for King
Vidor's "Our Daily Bread." Much
of the action and sound effects were
timed to a metronome for rhythmic
effects.
Agency Moves Offices
The Berg, Stebbins, Allenberg and
Blum office yesterday moved into its
own building at 9484 Wilshire boule-
vard. The Business Management Cor-
poration, the office's subsidiary, was
moved from the California Bank
Building at the same time.
Voight Gets Divorce
Hubert Voight, Columbia publicity
head, yesterday was granted an inter-
locutory decree from .his wife, Olive
Hatch Voight, in Judge Carlos West-
over's court. Attorney Hiram C.
Kellog represented Voight.
Roberts Band in Short
Lee Marcus yesterday signed up Hal
Roberts and his Trojan band for a
short to be called "Songs of the Col-
leges." Fourteen college songs will be
featured.
Roxy Theatre Shows
Much Smaller Loss
New York. — Howard Cullman,
receiver for the Roxy Theatre, yes-
terday reported to the court that,
for the 25 weeks ended May 3 the
net loss of the house was $27,079,
as compared with $143,187 for the
corresponding period a year before.
Lindsey Quits NRA
To Run Forjudge
Judge Ben B. Lindsey, for weeks a
storm center in studio labor disputes
because of his defiance of Deputy Ad-
ministrator Sol A. Rosenblatt's orders
to turn over labor complaints to the
Studio Labor Committee, resigned last
night as Labor Committee Compliance
Officer for the NRA.
He will become a candidate for the
Superior Court Bench Vacancy created
by the retirement of Judge Edwin F.
Hahn and made it plain that he is not
quitting because of his difficulties
with Rosenblatt.
From East to West
New York. — Jack Benny, Mary Liv-
ingston, Don Wilson and Frank Parker
are all leaving for Hollywood today.
Smith to Make Pic
With Cast of Aztecs
Wallace Smith, novelist and screen
writer, who today completes the adap-
tation for Columbia of his own novel,
"The Captain Hates the Sea," leaves
next Tuesday for Mexico where he
will produce a picture in the jungles
some four hundred miles from Mexico
City.
The picture will be written and di-
rected by Smith, will be financed by
Mexican capital and made with the
cooperation of the Mexican Depart-
ment of Education. It will be a story
of an Aztec Indian tribe that has been
one of the most mysterious of all the
tribes in Mexico. Through the co-op-
eration of the Mexican government
the picture will be made in the village
of the tribe, the members of which
are said to have never been photo-
graphed before, even with still cam-
eras. Smith will be accompanied by
Bolton Mallory.
Goldwyn Girl Hunt On
Still not satisfied with the selection
of "Goldwyn Girls" for the current
Eddie Cantor picture, Sam Goldwyn
will hold auditions again next Tues-
day and Thursday. Company has op-
tioned around 1 50 beauties in the past
three weeks.
TRADEVIKWS
(Continued from Page 1 )
you see cartooned the big man sitting
in the center of a lot of yes men and
his chair labeled SALACIOUS PRO-
DUCER, and did you read the re-
marks that were made to that pro-
ducer by those yes men?
One of them said: "Why you're one
o' th' great educational influences o'
th' country, Chief! Look what Amer-
ica was when you started educatin'
'em and look what it is today." With
another squawking: "Yes, an' look
what the children knew before you
started educating them! NOW THEY
KNOW EVERYTHING." And still an-
other chirped: "You're giving the
people what they want, Chief. Is it
yoyr fault that they've learned to like
it rare?" (And that fellow just speak-
ing was seated in the star's chair and
he had three service stripes on his arm
labeled "divorce service stripes." And
Mr. Salacious Film Producer was read-
ing a newspaper headline. "NATION
WIDE WAR AGAINST FILTHY
FILMS," and he looked worried.
•
That, Mr. Motion Picture, is just
one of the things that they are hurling
at you, and there are thousands of
others equally as damaging. What are
you going to do about it? Are you
going to sit back and pass the buck
along to someone else, who in turn
passes it right back to you? Or are
you going to try to protect your in-
dustry from this unjust attack and go
about educating the public, movie-
goers and otherwise, to the TRUE
CONDITIONS of the motion picture
industry AS AN INDUSTRY? You have
to think fast, old boy. There is no
time for tarrying. You must bestir
yourself.
You know and we all know that
there is less filth in pictures today
than at any time in the industry. Cer-
tainly there are occasional slips by
producers who have no place in this
business, who should have been chased
out long ago, but who have been per-
mitted to carry on and cause others
to carry their burden. But they are
few and far between. Occasional bits
of vulgarity HAVE CAUSED ALL THIS
TROUBLE, but only a slip-up that
would happen in any business, from
time to time.
For those slip-ups, Mr. Motion Pic-
ture, you are being crucified, WITH-
OUT A TRIAL, WITHOUT A HEAR-
ING. Accordingly, you must make your
own trial, you must conduct your own
hearing, and it must be in the news-
papers of the country and the better
magazines; NOT FAN MAGAZINES,
but recognized publications that reach
the people who do and do not frequent
the picture theatres.
You have been threatened before by
a disorganized, money-seeking, politi-
cal-minded gang of cheap reformers.
But, old boy, don't fail in your recog-
nition of the people who are doing the
attacking now. They may be reform-
ers, they may have political tenden-
cies, but they are not cheap and they
are not looking for publicity or no-
toriety.
THEY BELIEVE the screen is ruin-
ing the American home. THEY
BELIEVE the screen is debauching our
youth. THEY BELIEVE the screen in-
cites crime, and THEY BELIEVE the
screen must be curbed, and uViless you
can have your side of the story heard,
IT WILL BE CURBED to such an ex-
tent that your very life will be
threatened.
THINK IT OVER, OLD BOY, AND
WE WILL BE WITH YOU IN THE
NEXT ISSUE WITH SOME
THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS.
The Love Captive'
Directed and Written
by
Max Marcin
DAILY VARIETY Says:
Screen version of Max Marcin's
"The Humbug" neatly accomplishes
what it sets out to do, presenting a
suspenseful tale about a hypnotist
whose uncanny works turn back up'on
him, and offering an hour's absorbing
entertainment in dramatic novelty. It
is throughout an excellent piece of
craftsmanship, with Marcin as author,
co-adaptor and director, chiefly re-
sponsible.
The technology of .hypnosis is au-
thentically shown without the hocus-
pocus usually ascribed to t.he power
of suggestion, in the plot which Nils
Asther weaves about his patients and
victims and eventually himself in the
guise of the professional hypnotic
practitioner. Gloria Stuart becomes
his office nurse and his beloved after
cutting off her engagement to Paul
Kelly. Kelly, believing Asther has
befuddled her with his powers, threat-
ens to kill him, but is dissuaded by
Alan Dinehart, his brother-in-law,
who in turn goes gunning for Asther
when he suspects he has transferred
his spell to his own wife, played by
Renee Gadd.
Climax comes when Asther, seeking
to save his reputation, puts on a sort
of clinic called by an investigating
committee of doctors. Committee
presents Dinehart, who is in a jealous
rage, as his hypnosis subject. Test of
the so-called charlatan's powers is the
presumed inability of his subject to
pull the hair-trigger of a loaded pistol.
But under the goad of seeing his wife
with the hypnotist, as she is about to
defend the latter, he shoots and kills
Asther.
Picture ends with question, pro-
pounded to t.he audience over the head
of one of the characters: Was the
man who killed the hypnotist in a
state of mental and moral irresponsi-
bility, or did he take knowing advan-
tage of a perfect alibi provided by
the victim himself?
Principals give excellent perform-
ances, and rest of the cast is good, in
lesser parts. Photography is okay.
Picture will hold any audience.
MAX MARCIN
Management
Schulberg-Feldman-Curney
>•" (VI«l^t^A\ KU'L\J»^^\yi^t
% MR. SAMUEL MARX,
CULVER CITY.CALIr.
Vol. XXI. No. 17. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, May 28, 1934
PARA'S INDIE PRODUCT
Derr-Sullivan In
With Para. Release
E. B. Derr and Charles Sullivan will
soon get under way with the produc-
tion of a group of pictures with the
Pathe studios to be used as their pro-
duction base.
The schedule calls for twelve pic-
tures during the year and it is under-
stood that from four to six of the
twelve will be released by Paramount,
with a probable Fox release for the
rest.
The D-S duo that functioned so
well in getting out the Pathe product
three years ago have been ready to go
since last November, having had their
full financing at that time and also all
the stories they intended to do for the
first year, but the release held them
up until Zukor gave them the nod for
a starter.
'Mutiny on the Bounty'
To Have Big 'Name' Cast
Irving Thalberg is crowding "Mu-
tiny on the Bounty" with a name cast.
He has slated Robert Montgomery,
Wallace Beery, Clark Cable and Myrna
Loy, with Douglas Dumbrille getting
a featured spot.
This is the Frank Lloyd picture
which the director takes up for MCM
when he finishes the Janet Caynor
production, "Servants' Entrance," at
Fox.
Irv Cobb's First on
Current Roach Program
While Irvin Cobb is signed for eight
Hal Roach comedies, his first one,
"Angle Worms," now in the making,
will be issued this year as the con-
cluding number on Roach's all-star
series.
Exhibitors thus get a break with the
humorist's first comedy at no extra
cost. On the other hand, the release
is expected to act as an audience ap-
petizer for the seven to come next
season.
Musical For Freund
The first picture to be directed by
Karl Freund under his new contract
with Universal, which the Nat Cold-
stone office negotiated, will be a mu-
sical with original story and score.
Eddie Robinson East
Edward C. Robinson and .his wife
left by train Saturday for New York.
While the length of the vacation is
indefinite, they will be away at least
two weeks.
Columbia Goes High
For Warner Baxter
In order to get the services of
Warner Baxter for the Frank Capra
picture, Columbia had to fork over
$82,000 to Fox and Baxter. A
record price for Columbia.
Rothacker To Head
Erpi Studio Here
Watterson Rothacker will take over
the desk vacated by J. M. Ridge as
the boss of the General Service stu-
dios here, controlled by Electrical Re-
search Products Inc.
The former First National boss will
not only tend to the leasing space at
that plant, but will have the first
O.K. on all Erpi financing of produc-
tion units in this sector.
'20th Century' Goes Big
Aided and abetted by a high-pow-
ered exploitation campaign engineerec
by Mike Newman, of the Columbia
Exchange here, "Twentieth Century"
at the RKO-Hillstreet drew in $4800
for the first three days' showing. This
is nearly double normal business.
Zukor Organization Will
Release At Least 24 Outside
Pictures During Coming Year
New York. — Paramount will release at least 24 outside pic-
tures during the coming year, a distinct departure from the policy
the company has been working under almost since its inception.
This change of the Paramount production front was made pos-
sible after months of hectic debate on
the part of the top men in the Para-
mount organization, who were divided
in their opinions about the plan.
The new setup will give Electrical
Research from eight to twelve pictures
(Continued on Page 4)
Gable Definitely Set
For Four Walls' Lead
Decidirjg to star Clark Cable m
"Four.-Walls," MCM Saturday pushed
th^^production up the schedule for a
Tree months period until the player
IS available.
Edwin L. Marin moves over to di-
rect "All Good Americans," but will
return to the former assignment when
It comes up at a later date. Wells
Root is writing the screen play.
RADE
^w.
IE\V€|
French Exhibs Want
More American Pix
Paris.- — Members of the French
Cinema Owners Association have
risen to the defence of American pic-
tures and have voted a protest
against the government's proposal to
restrict American films.
The Cinema Owners, in a resolu-
tion presented to the government, de-
clared that imports of American films
should be increased, if anything, and
added that of the 174 French films
rrade in 1933, only 20 were good,
while 65 were average, and the oth-
ers thcoughly unworthy.
!'a!perins Set Two
For Early Production
"Celebrities," a Hollywood story by
George Manker Watters, and "The
Man Who Couldn't Die," a Wander-
ing Jew fantasy by Garnett Weston,
are held by the Halperin Brothers for
production in their new indie plans.
Authors of the yarns will probably do
the screen treatments.
There is little doubt in the minds of any student of motion
pictures, or of any branch of the entertainment business, that
the Catholic Church, or any Church or all the Churches, can NOT A! Lichtman Appoints
keep people out of the picture houses or away from entertain-
ment they want to see. As a matter of fact, it has always proved
just the reverse; that just as soon as a priest or a minister calls
attention to a picture, advising his flock not to see it, the theatre
is generally packed with those congregations eager to see what
all the shooting is about.
As a consequence, the war now being conducted against the
screen by the Catholic and other churches, by the Parent-Teach-
ers Association, the Federation of Women's Clubs and other
organizations, holds but one GREAT DANCER and that is unfair
legislation directed against this industry in the States and by th
Federal Government. That's the trouble, that's the war to be
fought. And this industry MUST give combat or lock up its doors
and go out of business, because the effects of such legislation
will put 90 per cent of the industry out of business anyhow.
The only way to fight that legislation is with the same weap-
ons that are being used against this industry — PROPAGANDA.
(Continued on Page 4)
Lazarus His Assistant
New York. — Al Lichtman, general
sales manager for United Artists, has
appointed Paul Lazarus his assistant.
Steve McGrath steps into the Laz-
arus job as head of the contract de-
partment.
Laughton As Pirate
Paramoun+ will star Charles Laugh-
ton, u:>--^uccaneer," based on the life
'the pirate, Sir Henry Morgan.
Lawrence Stallings is writing the origi-
nal.
French Para. Pictures
Paris. — For the third time, and they
say it is serious now. Paramount has
officially announced it will go into the
production of French films. No start-
ing date has been given.
I^^^^Iacio
Lb r q V
BROWN and
ARTHUR WORDS and
FREED ^MUSic
> /
STUDENT TOUR
f f\
Page Two
May 28, 1934
,|Ma
I
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave. ; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
When Gene Fowler was at MCM
he, of course, figured in a lot of story
conferences. He was diligent about it
too, and took notes all through the
doings. Allen Rivkin and P. J. Wolf-
son, who happened to be working with
Fowler on a particular story, were
plenty impressed by Gene's seemingly
rapt attention and his continual jot-
tings. Rivkin figured that perhaps
taking notes at conferences was the
secret of the novelist's great success
and, after one of the sessions, asked
to see Fowler's notes. "Sure!" said
Gene, handing over the papers. The
sheets were full of notes for Fowler's
new book on Pets!(!)
Oliver Marsh, y'know, has been
Joan Crawford's bright, particular
cameraman for many a moon now,
having cameraed all her latest pictures.
But Joan couldn't have Marsh for
"Sacred and Profane Love" (just
started) because he is busy on "The
Merry Widow." Well, so, the other
day Joan visited the "Widow" set and
took Oliver a gardenia. After she left
the set, Jeanette MacDonald sent out
for a whole corsage of gardenias and,
when they arrived, presented them to
Marsh and made him wear them all
day. All for a gag.
The Joe Mays gave a party Saturday
night, because May starts at Fox to-
day, directing "Music in the Air,"
with Erich Pommer producing. There
was lots of bowling, billiards and
music, and among those who partici-
pated were the Dick Wallaces (who
get off to Scotland this week posi-
tively), Eddie Lowe, the Phil Bergs
(Leila Hyams), the Sam Jaffes, the
Eddie Knopfs, Annabelle (remember
her in "July 14th"?) and her good-
looking actor husband.
•
So Saturday night May Sunday
locked her front door and went up
stairs to sleep. But she forgot to lock
her car. In fact she forgot to put her
car in the garage at all. So when she
woke up the car was gone! Stolen, of
all things! And if there's anything la
Sunday hates, it's walking!
Post:
"LITTLE MISS MARKER"
Paramount prod.; director, Al Hall; writers, Damon Runyon, William R. Lipman,
Sam Hellman and Gladys Lehman.
Paramount Theatre
Mirror: Remarkable Shirley Temple, the most bewitching and talented child
ever in the movies, plays the title role in this pleasant, sentimental little
film. Little Miss Temple is so completely captivating, she stirs your inter-
est in all the peculiar situations she develops.
It may be a formula, but at least it isn't an overworked one, and its most
enviable quality is the unexpected intrusion of comedy 'Into situations
which lie perilously close to sentimentality. It is this skilful mixture of
moods which furnishes the chief delight of "Little Miss Marker" — this
and the incredible acting of that incredible child, Shirley Temple. "Little
Miss Marker" is Miss Temple's picture. Remarkably enough it is not clas-
sifiable as a sob picture. It has the saving grace of humor, and it has Shir-
ley Temple.
Times: This picture is a delight in many respects, for it has been produced so
pleasingly and with such efficient portrayals that only a dyed-in-the-wool
cynic could fail to be affected by its sterling humor and pathos. Little
Shirley Temple, the lovely tiny lass of "Stand Up and Cheer," is virtually
the stellar performer and no more engaging child has been beheld on the
screen.
News: One of the most amusing and touching films of the season. It is my ad-
vice that you beg, borrow or lift the price of admission to see it. The pic-
ture has, besides its lively plot, a bit of child acting that has not been seen
since Jackie Coogan was a babe in Charlie Chaplin's arms.
Herald-Tribune: The picture is not without its affecting moments, but it would
have had more of them had the direction been swifter. Shirley Temple
most of all brings a lump to the throat by her naturalness. The cast enters
into the spirit of the piece with vim, and there are really mJny amusing
moments in it.
American: A load of laughter, salted with a tear or two, characterizes the excel-
lent entertainment of "Little Miss Marker," for nothing less than your
enthusiastic approval. Little Miss Temple is distinctly the star of the pro-
ceedings, and the promise given in her previous appearance is generously
fulfilled by her exquisite achievement here.
World-Telegram: A good and pleasant little film. The really witty, often truly
human and touching things make this sentimental little tale a grand piece
of entertainment. It actually manages to be immensely moving and
charming.
Sun: The picture has the same skilful blending of hard-boiled comedy and
wholesale sentiment as "Lady For A Day" — the same background of
tough mugs and dolls, the same kind of lively dialogue, and a whole new
set of slangy lovable characters. "Little Miss Marker" is thoroughly de-
lightful, and as funny a picture as you're likely to see for a good many
months.
Journal: A heart-warming yarn that alternates comedy and sobs and emerges as
utterly delightful entertainment. It's tenderly sentimental without being
maudlin, and charming without being affected. You'll have a lot of laughs,
an elegant cry and enjoy yourself immensely.
European DanceCag
'Dancing Lady' Plug
Amsterdam. — "Dancing Lady" will
have its first European showing here,
at The Hague and at Rotterdam on
June I. Tied up with this showing
will be one of the biggest exploitation
stunts ever pulled in Europe.
A dance contest, embracing the
countries of Holland, Belgium, Den-
mark, France, Hungary, Norway, Po-
land, Rumania, Spain and Switzerland,
IS being held, with MGM offering a
free trip to Hollywood to the winners
of the contest. The finals will be held
here in conjunction with the opening
of the picture.
Heming For Duffy Play
Henry Duffy will bring Violet '
Heming to the Coast June 1 8. Play-
er opens in "Always Juliet" at San
Francisco, following it with an ap-
pearance .here in the same play.
Virgil Apger Promoted
Virgil Apger, assistant to Clarence
Bull in MGM's portrait studio, has
been promoted to publicity stills.
George Barbier Loaned
For 'Resurrection' Role
Paramount is loaning George Bar-
bier to Samuel Goldwyn for a part
with Anna Sten in "Resurrection,"
which will probably go into production
three weeks from today.
The assignment means Brian Foy
will not be able to get Barbier to re-
peat his stage part in "That's Grati-
tude," which Frank Craven starts
June 15. Foy is dickering with Co-
lumbia to borrow Walter Connolly.
/
Caesar Out of Radio
Code to Yank 215
Theatres Into Line
New York. — The Code Authority
on Saturday made public the names
of 215 theatres in seventeen key cit-
ies which did not sign the Motion
Picture Code, but which have taken
advantage of privileges under it.
The Code Authority, therefore, is
issuing a ruling that they are subject
to assessments for expenses. The rul-
ing also states that the payment of
these assessments will not give these
theatres the right to file protests and
complaints, that right being reserved
for theatres which signed the code
assents.
Warners Set Brent
Although he has still some time to
go in "Stamboul Quest" for MGM,
George Brent was yesterday scheduled
by Warners to go into the bracket
spot with Jean Muir in "A Lady Sur-
renders" when he reports back to his
home lot. The story is an original
by Mary McCarthy Jr.
Arthur Caesar turned in his com-
pleted screen play on "Romance in
Manhattan" at Radio Saturday and
checked off the studio's payroll. Script
is one of two up as Francis Lederer's
next, which must be delivered to the
theatres by August 31.
Al Santell Married
Alfred Santell was married Saturday
at Yuma, Arizona, to Jane N. Kiethley,
of Michigan City, Ind. The ceremony
was performed by Justice of the Peace
Earl A. Freeman.
OPEN FORUM
Dear Open Forum:
One of my secretaries was able to
get in and see me yesterday — I must
fire my doorman — and showed me
your item anent my Rolls.
I resent it. Keep your dirty editorial
hands off my nice, new 1928 car.
Or it'll fall to pieces.
I am decrying all of Hollywood's at-
titude to Rolls-Royces. In the first
place it isn't putting on the dog at all
because I counted the Rollses in town
yesterday and there are sixty-four
more than Fords.
Secondly, it's necessary for a bach-
elor. Anyway, this bachelor. So far
I've had out two featured players, a
supervisor, and a substitute Goldwyn
girl. Tie that, if you can. What I'm
trying to do is tie the Goldwyn girl.
If Joe Mankiewicz can get married
1 can get a Rolls. You mentioned
"upkeep." Let me see Joe end up the
year having spent only four hundred
bucks on Elizabeth Young, counting
insurance and a new seat cover.
And if Joe thinks he can rent Young
out to studios, well, I can rent out
my car. I don't know what he's ask-
ing for Young, but I get a hundred
dollars a day.
Business managers may get in touch
with Bren, Orsatti and Marx, who'll
probably rent them their own cars,
the crooks.
Sincerely,
NORMAN KRASNA
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406TaftBldg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
"ill May 28, 1934
^1
THgP^B
Page Three
NIGHT OF LOVE' CHARMING:
THE PERSONALITY KID' GOOD
NomaliL
Star, Director and
Talbot High Spots
"ONE NIGHT OF LOVE"
(Columbia)
Direction Victor Schertzinger
• Original Story Charles Beahan,
Dorothy Speare
Screen Play: S, K. Lauren, Edmund
North and James Cow.
Music Victor Schertzinger
and Cus Kahn
Photography Josepti Walker
Cast: Grace Moore, Tullio Carminati,
Lyie Talbot, Luis Alberni, An-
dreas de Segurola, Mona Barrie,
Henry Armetta, Jessie Ralph.
The making of an opera star, told
with a great deal of good humor, a
great deal of good taste and a great
deal of good music, that will provide
an altogether charming evening's en-
tertainment in the theatre for prac-
tically the entire family.
Grace Moore comes back to pictures
a really radiant singer — pounds light-
er in both weight and temperament —
her voice a complete pleasure to hear
(and brilliantly recorded) and so
beautifully photographed that you
don't mind the fact that, through fifty
percent of the picture, the gal's mouth
is wide open, trilling out thrilling
notes. Her singing of the exquisite
aria from "Madame Butterfly" is not
only the perfect triumphal climax of
the picture story, but is actually the
most beautiful rendition of song in the
production, and you leave the theatre
doubly convinced that you have really
seen and heard the crowning success
of a singer's career.
The heroine of the picture starts
out by losing a radio contest, but de-
cides to go to Italy to study anyway.
While in Italy she is forced to take a
job in a night club and is there dis-
covered by t.he Maestro. The Maestro
is through with mixing love and busi-
ness and his training of our heroine
is all business — he thinks, until our
heroine walks out on him and goes
to America. There she is about to>
make zee grand flop when just in
the nick of time the Maestro s'hows
up to lead her to success and the altar.
It's nothing new in the way of
such stories, but it is told very de-
lightfully and humanly by both writers
and director. Victor Schertzinger be-
sides contributing the directorial
touches, also helped write the one
original song, "One Night of Love,"
which will be heard around. Carminati
is the great Maestro and weary lover,
and his performance is nicely balanced
between comedy and a Maestro's fiery
temperament.
LyIe Talbot is a grand surprise pack-
age in the role of the discarded suitor.
He plays a light comedy role and does
so well by it that you're sorry he's
not around more often. Luis Alberni
is simply grand as the accompanist,
walking off with two swell scenes.
Jessie Ralph is very good as the
duenna of the heroine. Mona Barrie
as the menace does all right in a
routine part but it isn't very exciting.
Jewish Wife Barred,
German Actor Quits
Berlin. — Albert Bassermann, fa-
mous theatre and film artist, had
the courage to quit the profession
because the government wouldn't
allow his wife to appear on the
Leipzig stage. She was barred be-
cause her grandmother was not
Aryan.
Barthelmess-Erpi
Talking About Deal
"Watty" Rothacker and Richard
Barthelmess will go into a huddle to-
day that may tend to place Dick in a
production immediately, with Erpi fi-
nancing the show and with Paramount
to do the releasing
In the event that negotiations flop,
Barthelmess will leave tomorrow for
New York and probably Europe on an
extended vacation.
Ernst Frank to Direct
'What Women Dream'
Universal has assigned Ernst L.
Frank to direct "W'hat Women
Dream," which William Hurlbut is
scripting.
Picture will be an English version
of a German picture, the second one
recently handled in this manner by
the studio, "The Secret of the Blue
Room" was the American remake of
a German talkie.
Frank Borzage Taking
Troupe to West Point
Frank Borzage leaves for West
Point next Friday with five members
of the cast of "Flirtation Walk" to
get them in scenes with the com-
mencement exercises as background
for the Warner picture.
Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Pat
O'Brien and two players to be cast
this week will make the trip.
Robinson Out of Warners
Casey Robinson turned in his clos-
mg notice at Warners Saturday. He
finished work on "Earthworm Trac-
tor" for Joe E. Brown, under Sam
Bischoff's supervision.
3 For Hawks-Voick
Hans Kraly, Courtenay Terrett and
Noel Francis have signed managerial
tickets with the Hawks-VoIck
office.
Joseph Walker's photography is on a
par with the rest of the production.
Without seeming to quibble with a
good picture, it is hereby suggested
that, for the benefit of the production
as a whole, most of the cutting be
done on the "Carmen" scenes, which
are not only too long but not for Miss
Moore's operatic talents — just not her
type, and slightly jarring in a musical
performance so thrilling.
Crosland, O'Brien
And Farrell Score
"THE PERSONALITY KID'
(Warners)
Direction Alan Crosland
Authors Gene Towne,
C. Graham Baker
Screen Play F. Hugh Herbert,
Erwin Celsey
Adaptation David Boehm
Photography William Reese
Cast: Pat O'Brien, Glenda Farrell,
Claire Dodd, Henry O'Neill, Robert
Cleckler, Thomas Jackson, Arthur
Vinton, Clarence Muse, Clay Clem-
ent, George Cooper, George Pat
Collins, Al Hill.
At first glance, the Warner picture,
"The Personality Kid," looks like just
another one of those yarns about the
pork and beaner w.ho makes a big
splash in the prize ring through a
series of framed fights.
But on second glance, the film is
an expertly directed, wholly satisfac-
tory piece of entertainment which, if
not bristling with originality, is dis-
tinguished by swell, balanced produc-
tion.
The story is almost too familiar to
repeat, but there are just enough
clever touches, and the whole thing is
enlivened by such deft, honest direc-
tion, that the picture takes on a brand
new aspect.
Pat O'Brien is the egotistical fight-
er, who climbs up near the champion-
ship, never dreaming that his sensa-
tional rise is due entirely to the abil-
ity of his opponents to lie down in
the fifth round to the tune of a hun-
dred bucks. Glenda Farrell is his wife
and his manager, and she, with one
eye on retirement to a little farm,
doesn't care how the fights are won.
When he finally realizes the frame-
up, he quits and begins standing in
bread lines. However, when he hears
that his wife is going to have a baby,
he accepts an offer to throw a fight.
At the last moment, though, he
crashes through and wins.
The story, by Gene Towne and C.
Graham Baker, and adapted by David
Boehm, could never have stood on its
own merits without the strong direc-
tion of Alan Crosland, and the per-
formances of Pat O'Brien and Glenda
Farrell.
Clarence Muse is amusing as Sham-
rock; Claire Dodd has a grand role
and makes the most of it; Thomas
Jackson is well cast as a sports writer;
and Henry O'Neill is seen to advan-
tage.
William Reese's photography is
worthy of Crosland's direction. F.
Hugh Herbert and Erwin Gelsey wrote
the screen play.
This one is a very reliable pro-
grammer, with a sustained good humor
and .honesty.
New Scrfpt For Roberts
Marguerite Roberts turned in .her
adaptation of "Intimate" at Para-
mount Friday and was assigned to
work with Dana Burnet on "The End
of the World" screen play. She pre-
viously worked on the treatment.
M
ATTERS.
bif Helen (jtuifttn m.
We understand Mark Hellinger is
seriously considering giving up his
newspaper work. Not that we want
to hasten his decision one way or the
other, but we hereby submit a sample
copy of a true story of a song writer
in Hollywood. Of course, the names
of the people are necessarily fictitious,
as are the names of the city and the
studio.
The Boy had just been called in by
the head of a music publishing house
m New York and had been given a
six months contract to go to Holly-
wood and write music for the films.
His Mother: "He was ALWAYS a
good boy."
His Father: "He WAS always a
good boy."
His Sweetheart: "He was always a
GOOD boy."
The Other Woman: "Why, the big
poop."
As for the Boy, it was the dream
of four years spent in the eighth grade
of public school come true.
And so the Boy journeyed out to
Hollywood and reported at the Big
Studio and soon he was called in to
the Front Office and given as his first
assignment a Two Weeks Vacation.
Fresh from his Vacation, the Boy
came back to Hollywood and in due
time he was called in to the Front
Office and given his second assign-
ment. He was to write a song for a
Big Picture even then in Production.
Just a little number because in the
Big Picture this particular song was to
be hooted off the screen.
So the Boy, Thinking It Over, de-
cided to brush up a Little Number
that he had dashed off and tried to
sell in New York and it was put into
the Big Picture and a lot of Time and
Money were spent in Putting It Over,
to be Hooted Off the Screen.
But when the songs in the Big Pic-
ture were submitted to the Music
Publishers in New York, Lo! the Boy's
Little Number which was hooted off
the screen was found to be the "Pop"
(for popular) Number of them all.
And the Boy found himself a Success
and returned to New York and mar-
ried his Sweetheart, and his home-
town Ne,iv York newspapers inter-
viewed the Boy's family and it was
interesting to see how it affected each
one of them.
His Mother: "He was ALWAYS
a good boy."
His Father: "He WAS always a
good boy."
His W'ife: "He was always a GOOD
boy."
The Other Woman: "Why, t.he BIG
poop."
Well, the part about the vacation
and the song are true, anyways, and
that's Hollywood for you, my lads. —
(Ed.'s Note.)
Valentine at MCM
Joe Valentine has been set to do
the photography on MGM's "Student
Tour," which gets under way today.
The deal was set by the ASC agency.
Page Four
THE
May 28, 1934
Brandt and Physioc
To Do Six in Orient
Neale Brandt and Lewis Physioc are
planning to make a series of six short
subjects of highly dramatic nature,
laid in the jungles of the Federated
Malay States and China.
Both Physioc and Brandt have spent
much time in the Malay country and,
through their contacts there, they fig-
ure on making their pictures at much
less cost than would ordinarily be en-
tailed. They are dickering with two
major companies now for a release,
and expect to leave for the Far East
as soon as this is set.
The pictures slated are: "The
Faithful Pet," "Monkeys, Malays and
Cocoanuts," "The Python Feast,"
"Tamil Coolies and the Man-Eating
Tiger," "Hok-Kein Chinese Ceremon-
ies" and "Just Elephants."
Baptists Praise Films,
Denounce Radio Bills
Rochester. — Delegates to the an-
nual Northern Baptists convention
Saturday were told that the motion
picture is one of the greatest means
of public education, and urged that
radio programs be cleaned up. These
statements were contained in a report
of the committee on the American
home.
. The report urged that an effort be
made to eliminate the exciting broad-
casts, featuring crime, murder and
other horrors.
Cagney and O'Brien to
Be Team in 'Air Devils'
Warners has definitely decided to
wean James Cagney away from the
tough, gangster type of character he
has been enacting and will team him
with Pat O'Brien again in "Air Dev-
ils," an original John Monk Saunders
story which the studio has just pur-
chased.
Cagney and O'Brien were teamed
in "Hey, Sailor."
John Boles Gets Lead
In Fox 'Music in the Air'
Eric Pommer will get John Boles
for the leading role in "Music in the
Air," which he is producing for Fox.
The player has yet to take the bracket
spot with Irene Dunne in "Age of In-
nocence" for Radio, reporting back to
Fox after .he has gone through with
that commitment. Joe May directs
the Pommer picture.
Foster Set For Two
Preston Foster's first work on his
new MCM contract will be in "Sacred
and Profane Love." He also has a
spot in Garbo's "Painted Veil," which
goes into production next week.
Morosco Turns Agent
Walter Morosco drops the produc-
tion mantle to venture into the agency
field, today joining the Small-Landau
office as an associate. He recently
held a supervisory spot at Fox.
Crane Wilbur at Col.
Crane Wilbur was signed by Co-
lumbia Saturday for a featured role
in "The Criminal Within." Ivan Kahn
set the ticket.
TRADEVIEWS
(Continued from Page 1 )
Seated in this chair, we are of the
firm belief that there is nothing wrong
with the subjects used for the produc-
tion of our pictures or the finished
pictures, save an occasional bit of vul-
garity that is brought about by the
stupidity of some of our producers.
That can and will be eliminated. But
as for the rest, we are making the
same type pictures (only better enter-
tainment) now that have been made
during the many years since the in-
ception of the business. The same
type subjects are being used, must be
used in order to attract the public to
our halls to see our shows. Our pro-
ducers must reflect life and, to do
that, they must produce stories that
have as their background love, passion
and crime. What kind of a story are
you going to tell without these three
ingredients? Yes, certainly, an occas-
sional travel picture whose very edu-
cational value makes it interesting, but
otherwise we must stick to the same
fundamentals of drama that were used
at the time of Christ and his Apostles;
must use the same mirror that reflect-
ed the writing of the Bible.
•
The first picture we ever saw was
"The Great Train Robbery," and most
of our stories since the day of the
production of that picture concerned
themselves with some kind of robbery.
We are using the same type story to-
day that was used last year, the year
before and every year before that. We
are telling the same tale that was told
during the time of Christ, during the
period in which the Bible was written.
Consequently, why this damaging
propaganda against our industry right
at this time? Why not ban the spoken
word of Christ? Why not deny the
teachings of the Bible? Why not bar
that Bible from public reading?
There's nothing wrong with this
business now that was not wrong be-
fore. There is no reason for the Cath-
olic and other churches jumping on us
'All Good Americans'
First For Marin at MGM
First directorial assignment at MGM
for Edwin L. Marin will be "All Good
Americans," a comedy of American
expatriates in Paris, written for the
stage by Laura and S. J. Perelman.
Screen adaptation is by Wells Root.
The picture will be cast this week,
for production starting next week.
Lucien Hubbard is the supervisor.
David Landau to Fox
David Landau was signed by Fox
Saturday for a top spot in the Will
Rogers supporting cast in "Old Judge
Priest," Harry Spingler, of the Small-
Landau office, setting the deal.
Walker Casting at U'
Stuart Walker starts casting today
for "Romance in the Rain," which is
scheduled to start at Universal June 4.
Principals are Heather Angel, Victor
Moore and June Knight.
Miriam Jordan East
Miriam Jordan has gone to New
York by plane to arrange a deal which
will take her to the stage this Fall.
right at this time other than our own
timidity in permitting them to do it
without offering some form of de-
fense, without offering a fight for
OUR RIGHTS. We don't mean that
our leaders should fight the Church,
for that's a losing fight, but we should
fight this propaganda that is smoth-
ering us with propaganda that will
defend us.
•
How far do you think the Churches,
reform organizations and even the
Government itself would get with a
fight directed against the newspapers
and what they printed? There will be
no such fight for the simple reason
that the Church and the Government
KNOW the press will fight back and
will win that fight.
Suppose the producers of motion
pictures should attempt to screen some
of the things that the newspapers of
this nation foist on their reading pub-
lic every day, what do you think would
happen? We know a very successful
editor of one of the country's big tab-
loids who recently directed that a pic-
ture of an attractive girl in some
degree of nudity, should be run EVERY
DAY in a given position in that sheet,
explaining, "That's for our masturbat-
ing readers." Suppose our pictures
were built on such a foundation.
The press fights its battles, when
there is one to fight. Why must the
motion picture industry sit with its
hands folded and permit its very vitals
to be torn out with hardly a move to
protect itself?
Our more intelligent leaders should
get together and map out an answer
to this WAR ON PICTURES. Map it
out and tell it to the world. FIGHT
PROPAGANDA WITH PROPAGANDA
and let all the professional reformers
and money-starved politicians know
that we are going to have a hand in
any battle directed against this busi-
ness by SHOWING THEM THE
POWER OF THE SCREEN .which can
have greater effect than the press ever
thought of having.
Schary Sells Play
Sidney Harmon purchased "Vio-
lence," a play by Dore Schary, Satur-
day. The producer will offer it to
Paul Muni and plans to put it on
Broadway in the Fall. Warners is ne-
gotiating a supervisory berth for Har-
mon.
Technical Troupe Back
MGM's auxiliary "Rear Car" troupe
is due back at the studio today or to-
morrow from a week's stand at
Truckee for railroad tunnel and snow
shots and sound. John Watters heads
the unit, which is entirely technical.
New French Censors
Paris. — According to a new decree
of the government, all films will be
censored by the "Direction Generale
des Beaux Arts" instead of by the
Chambre Syndicale as in the past.
Elsa Buchanan Set
With her status as an English ac-
tress ironed out with Equity, Elsa
Buchanan opens tonight in support of
Lilian Bond in "Bitter Harvest" at the
Playhouse.
Raymond Upset by
Levine's Foster Ad
New York. — Gene Raymond is all
hot and bothered over Nat Levine's ad
in the Reporter, announcing a picture
called "Harmony Lane," based on the
life of Stephen Collins Foster.
The reason is that, for ten years,
Raytnond has been collecting data and
material about Foster, with the idea
of eventually making a picture. He
'has acquired screen rights to fiction-
ized episodes from Foster's life and
has bought the John Tasker Howard
biography, and a Foster play, by Innes
Osborne. Other material has been ac-
quired from the National Broadcast-
ing Company, and now Gene sees all
his time and work gone to waste. At
present he is trying to see what action,
if any, he can take to protect him-
self.
More Stench Bombs in
Operators' Union War
New York. — Two ex-convicts were
held without bail here yesterday on
charges of dropping stench bombs in
a motion picture theatre.
The bombs are another move in the
war between the rival operators'
unions. These bombers were out of
luck because police, who have been
watching the theatres, were in the
house when the bombs were broken.
Verne Yarn Starts Soon
Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand
Leagues Under the Sea," w.hich Phil
Coldstone will produce, is slated to
get under way about June 10.
Para's Indie Product
(Continued from Page 1 )
for Paramount release, B. P. Schulberg
six to twelve, the Derr-Sullivan group
four to six and a possibility of the
same number from Charles R. Rogers,
with a space left on the program for
about six other pictures of outstanding
quality that may bob up during the
year.
In each instance Paramount reserves
the right of okay on everything. It
must approve of the story, the cast
and the direction and, in instances
where it can help without hurting its
own production set-up, will loan play- '^
ers. writers and directors to the inde-
pendent producers.
From all that can be gathered,
George Schaefer was the power that
fought it through, but not getting it
through until he had sold Adolph Zu-
kor firmly on the idea that Paramount t
could not produce from 50 to 60 pic- '
tures a year and come out with the
right quality. Emanuel Cohen, Para-
mount's production head, was dead set
against the outside production and
weathered the storm until Zukor gave
his approval
It is understood that only in the
instance of the B. P. Schulberg pro-
ductions does Paramount participate
in any of the financing and in that
instance with but 50 per cent of the
costs. With the others, the production ^
must be financed 100 per cent by the •
producers, with Paramount to okay all
production budgets and the profits to
be split 50-50 after the producer is i|
returned his full 100 per cent out of
the first money, with a 30 per cent
deduction for releasing expense.
Ai
Si<
\i
O
N
C
E
M
O
R
E
MY GRATEFUL THANKS
TO ALL WHO
MADE POSSIBLE
'^CABR EL OVER THE
WHTE HOUSE"
"ANOTHER LANGUAGE"
"CO NC HOLLYWOOD"
"QUEEN CHRSTNA"
w
A
L
T
E
R
W
A
N
G
E
R
Page Ten
May 28. 1934
PRODUCTION DOWN SLIGHTLY WITH 35 IN WORK
L
BAROMETER
This Week 35 Features
Last Week 37 Features
Year Ago 25 Features
Two Years Ago 30 Features
Three Years Ago 36 Features
Columbia
"THE DEFENSE RESTS"
Cast: Jack Holt, Jean Arthur, Nat
Pendleton, Donald Meek, Ward
Bond, Sarah Padden, John Wray,
Raymond Hatton, Raymond Wal-
burn, Arthur Hohl, Shirley Grey,
Samuel Hinds, Robert Cleckler.
Director Lambert Hillyer
Original Screen Play jo Swerling
Photography Joseph August
Associate Producer Robert North
"BLIND DATE"
Cast Ann Sothern, Paul Kelly, Mickey
Rooney, Spencer Charters, Jane
Darwell, Joan Gale, Geneva Mitch-
ell, Neil Hamilton, Theodore New-
ton, Tyler Brooke.
Director Roy William Neill
Original Screen Play Ethel Hill
Photography Al Siegler
Associate Producer Robert North
"THE CRIMINAL WITHIN"
Cast: Richard Cromwell, Arline Judge,
Rita La Roy, Henry Kolker, Bradley
Page, Purnell Pratt, Wallis Clark,
Thomas Jack, Bill Davidson, George
Humbert.
Director Al Rogell
Original Screen Play: Herbert Asbury
and Fred Niblo Jr.
Photography John Stumar
Producer Sid Rogell
Fox
"CARAVAN"
Cast: Charles Boyer, Loretta Young,
Jean Parker, Phillips Holmes, Louise
Fazenda, Eugene Pallette, C. Aubrey
Smith, Dudley Digges, Richard
Carle, Charles Grapewin, Billy
Bevan, Armand Kaliz, Harry Brad-
ley.
Director Erik Charell
Original Story Melchoir Lengyel
Screen Play and Dialogue —
Samson Raphaelson
Continuity Robert Liebmann
Music Werner Richard Heymann
Lyrics Cus Kahn
Photography Ernest G. Palmer
Sound A. L. Von Kirbach
Producer Robert Kane
"SHE WAS A LADY"
Cast: Helen Twelvetrees, Donald
Woods, Ralph Morgan, Paul Harvey,
Jackie Seari, Carol Kay, Doris Lloyd,
Ann Howard.
Director Hamilton MacFadden
Novel Elisabeth Cobb
Screen Play Gertrude Purcell
Photography Bert Glennon
Sound Don Flick
Producer Al Rockett
MCM
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katharine
Alexander, Marion Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor, Vernon
Downing, Neville Clark, Matthew
Smith, Robert Carlton, Allan Con-
rad, Peter Hobbes, Ralph Forbes,
Lowden Adams, Leo G. Carroll.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue. -Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"TREASURE ISLAND"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger,
Lewis Stone, Cora Sue Collins, Dor-
othy Peterson, William V. Mong,
Douglas Dumbrille, Nigel Bruce,
Chic Sale.
Director Victor Fleming
Novel Robert Louis Stevenson
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"100% PURE"
Cast: Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore,
Patsy Kelly, Lewis Stone, Franchot
Tone, Hale Hamilton, Clara Blan-
dick, Alan Mowbray, Henry Kolker,
Russell Hopton, Gary Owen, Ben
Bard.
Director Jack Conway
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Emerson
Photography Ray June
Producer Bernard Hyman
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette Mac-
Donald, Minna Gombell, Edward Ev-
erett Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara
Leonard, Sterling Holloway, George
Barbier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Leona Walters, Edna Walde, Bar-
bara Barondess, Shirley Ross, Doro-
thy Granger, Jean Hart, Elinor Hunt,
Dorothy Wilson, Jill Dennett, Maria
Troubetylcoy, Tyler Brooke, Cosmo
Kyrle Bellew, George Lewis, John
MerkyI, Charles Requa, Fifi D'Or-
say.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Dance Director Albertina Rasch
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE GREEN HAT"
Cast: Constance Bennett, Herbert
Marshall, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Pat Campbell, Leo Carroll, Hugh
Williams, Alec B. Francis, Eliza-
beth Allan, Robert Lorraine.
Director Robert Z. Leonard
Novel Michael Arlen
Photography Charles Rosher
Producer Irving Thalberg
"REAR CAR"
Cast: Charlie Ruggles, Una Mer-
kel, Mary Carlisle, Russell Hardie,
Porter Hall, Cliff Thompson, Wil-
lard Robertson, Sterling Holloway,
"Snowflake," Berton Churchill,
Wilfred Lukas, Akim Tamiroff,
John David Horsley.
Director Harry Beaumont
Play Edward E. Rose
Adaptation Harvey Thew
Screen Play: Ralph Spence, Edgar Al-
lan Woolf and Al Boasberg.
Photography James Van Trees
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"STAMBOUL QUEST"
Cast: Myrna Loy, George Brent, Lionel
Atwill, C Henry Gordon, Douglas
Dumbrille, Christian Rub, Rudolph
Amendt, Robert Gleckler, Reginald
Barlow, Leo Carroll, Judith Vosselli.
Director Sam Wood
Original Leo Birinski
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer Bernard Hyman
"SACRED AND PROFANE LOVE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Clark Gable,
Otto Kruger, Stuart Erwin.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Edgar Selwyn
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography George Folsey
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"THE STUDENT TOUR"
Chast: Charles Butterworth, Jimmy
Durante, Phil Regan, Maxine Doyle.
Director Charles F. Reisner
Original Screen Play: Arthur Bloch and
George Seaton.
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer Monta Bell
Paramount
"IT AIN'T NO SIN"
Cast: Mae West. Roger Pryor, John
Miljan, Katharine DeMille, James
Donlan, Frederick Burton, Augusta
Anderson, Duke Ellington and or-
chestra, Johnny Mack Brown, Stu-
art Holmes, Harry Woods, Benny
Baker, Morrie Cohen, Warren Hy-
mer, Wade Boteler, George Walsh,
Eddie Borden, Fuzzy Knight, Tyler
Brooke.
'^''■ector Leo McCarey
Original Screen Play Mae West
Music and Lyrics: Arthur Johnston and
Sam Coslow.
Photography Karl Struss
Sound Harry Mills
P''0ducer William LeBaron
"THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY"
Cast: W. C. Fields, Baby LeRoy, Ju-
dith Allen. Joe Morrison, Samuel
Ethridge, Ruth Marion, William
Blatchford, Jan Duggan, Tammany
Young, Jack Mulhall, Oscar Apfel,
Joe Mills, Emma Ray, Otis Harlan,
Nora Cecil, Richard Carle, Lew
Kelly, Oscar Smith, Edward J. Le
Saint, Davison Clark, Dorothy Bay,
Maxine Elliott Hicks, Larry Gre-
nier, Ruth Marion, Jeffrey Wil-
liams, Dell Henderson.
Director William Beaudine
Original W. C. Fields
Adaptation: Walter DeLeon and Gar-
nett Weston.
Screen Play: J, P. McEvoy and Jack
Cunningham.
Music Harry Revel
Lyics Mack Gordon
Photography Ben Reynolds
Sound P. J. Wisdom
Producer William LeBaron
"THE NOTORIOUS SOPHIE LANG"
Cast: Gertrud'^ Michael, Paul Cavan-
agh, Arthur Byron, Alison Skip-
worth, Ben Taggart, Leon Errol,
Charles Judels, Franklin Pangborn.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original-... Frederick Irving Anderson
Screen Play Anthony Veiller
and Frederick Irving Anderson
Photography Al Gilks
Sound Henry Lindgren
Producer Bayard Veiller
"NOW AND FOREVER"
Cast: Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard,
Shirley Temple, Sir Guy Standing,
Charlotte Granville, Tetsu Komai,
Jameson Thomas, Gilbert Emery,
Henry Kolker, Harry Stubbs.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original: Jack Kirkland and Melville
Baker.
Adaptation Austin Parker
Screen Play: Vincent Lawrence and
Sylvia Thalberg.
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Producer Louis D. Lighten
May 28, 1934
Page Eleven
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 37 LAST WEEK
-LADIES SHOULD LISTEN"
Cast: Gary Grant, Frances Drake, Ed-
ward Everett Norton, Gharles E.
Arnt, Nydia Westman, George Bar-
bier, Rafael Gorio, Rosita Moreno,
Charlie Ray.
Director Frank Tuttle
Original: Alfred Savoir and Guy Bolton
Adaptation Guy Bolton
Screen Play: Frank Butler and Claude
Binyon.
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer Douglas MacLean
"LADIES FIRST"
Cast: George Bancroft, Frances Fuller,
Roscoe Karns, George Barbier, Nella
Walker, Charles Sellon, Helena
Phillips Evans, Ruth Clifford, Albert
Conti,Vera Stedman, Helene Lynch,
Marie Wells, Eddie Baker, Duke
York, William Robins, Alf P.
James.
Director Gilbert Pratt
Original: George S. Kaufman and
Marc Connelly.
Screen Play Humphrey Pearson
Photography William Mellor
Producer Louis D. Lighten
RKO-Radio
"HAT. COAT AND CLOVE"
Cast: Ricardo Cortez, Barbara Robbins,
John Beal, Sara Hayden, Samuel
Hinds, Murray Kinnell, Margaret
Hamilton.
Director Worthington Minor
Play Wilhelm Speyer
Screen Play Francis Faragoh
Photography Roy Hunt
Sound George Ellis
Producer Kenneth Macgowan
United Artists
Reliance Pictures, Inc.
(RKO-Pathe)
•'COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO"
Cast: Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Louis
Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, O. P.
Heggie, Raymond Walburn, Law-
rence Grant, Luis Alberni, Georgia
Caine, Irene Hervey, Douglas Wal-
ton, Ferdinand Munier, Lionel Bel-
more, William Farnum, Wilfred
Lucas, Clarence Wilson, Tom Rick-
etts, Clarence Muse.
Director Rowland V. Lee
Original Alexandre Dumas
Adaptation Harvey Thew
and Harry Hervey
Screen Play and Dialogue
Philip Dunne and Dan Totheroh
Photography Peverell Marley
Producer Edward Small
Universal
"ONE MORE RIVER"
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Frank Lawton,
Colin Clive, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Patrick Campbell, Jane Wyatt, C.
Aubrey Smith, Reginald Denny,
Kathleen Howard, Lionel Atwill,
Alan Mowbray, Gilbert Emery, E.
E. Clive, Robert Greig, Cunnis
Davis, Tempe Pigott.
Director James Whale
Story John Galsworthy
Screen Play R. C. Sherriff
Photography John Mescal
"THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW"
Cast: Frank Morgan, Binnie Barnes,
Lois Wilson, Louise Latimer, Eliza-
beth Young, Robert Taylor, Helen
Parrish, Dick Winsiow, Alan Hale,
Maurice Murphy, Margaret Hamil-
ton, Anne Darling, Dean Benton.
Director Edward Sloman
Original Screen Play.. ..Edward Sloman
Continuity Christine Ames
and William Hurlbut
Photography Norbert Brodine
Producer Henry Henigson
"THE RED RIDER "
(Serial)
Cast; Buck Jones, Grant Withers,
Janet Chandlei, Walter Miller,
Richard Cramer, Margaret La Marr,
Charles French, Edmund Cobb, J. P.
McCowan, William Desmond, Mert
LaVare, Frank Rice, Monte Mon-
tague, Jim Thorpe, Jim Corey, Bud
Osborne, Al Ferguson, Silver, Lee
Beggs, Dennie Meadows, Cliff
Lyons.
Director Louis Friedlander
Original W. C. Tuttle
Screen Play: George Plympton, Bin
Moore, Ella O'Neill, Basil Dickey.
Photography Richard Fryer
Sound Charles Carroll
Associate Producer Henry MacRae
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby,
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers, Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren, Johnny
Arthur, Arthur Vinton, Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett, Phil Regan.
Directors Ray En right
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Deimer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"BRITISH ACENT "
Cast: Leslie Howard, Kay Francis,
Phillip Reed, Tenen Holtz, J. Car-
rol Naish, Gregory Caye, Halliwell
Hobbes, Doris Lloyd, Alphonse
Ethier, Irving Pichel, Walter Byron,
William Cargan, Ivan Simpson, Paul
Porcasi, George Pearce, Walter
Armitage, Cesar Romero, Arthur
Aylesworth, Mariana Schubert.
Director Michael Curtiz
Novel H. Bruce Lockhart
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Dialogue Roland Pertwee
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"THE DRAGON MURDER CASE "
Cast: Warren William, Margaret
Lindsay, Lyie Talbot, Robert Barrat,
Arthur Aylesworth, Robert Mc-
Wade, Eugene Pallette, George
Meeker, Etienne Girardot, Dorothy
Tree, George S. Stone, Helen Low-
ell, William Davidson, Robert War-
wick.
Director H Bruce Humberstone
Story S. S. Van Dine
Screen Play F. Hugh Herbert
and Robert N. Lee
Adaptation Rian James
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"KANSAS CITY PRINCESS "
Cast: Joan Blondell, Gienda Farreil,
Hugh Herbert, Robert Armstrong,
Gordon Westcott, T. Roy Barnes,
Osgood Perkins, Ivan Lebedeff,
Vince Barnett, Hobart Cavanaugh.
Director William Keighley
Original Screen Play Manuel Seff
and Sy Bartlett
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Lou Edelman
independent Productions
Invincible
(Universal Studio)
'HOUSE OF STRANGERS"
Cast: Erich Von Stroheim, Wera En-
...gels, Leslie Fenton, George Hum-
bert, William von Brincken, Anna
de Metrio, Hans Ferberg, Michael
Visaroff, Ferdinand Schumann-
Heink, Hank Mann, Harry Holman.
Director Frank Strayer
Original Charles S. Belden
Continuity and Dialogue: Charles S.
Belden and Robert Ellis.
Photography Andy Anderson
Producer Maury Cohen
Majestic
(Darmour Studio)
"THE SCARLET LETTER "
Cast: Colleen Moore, Hardie Albright,
Henry B. Walthall. William Far-
num, Alan Hale, William Kent,
Betty BIythe, Cora Sue Collins, Vir-
ginia Howell, Jules Cowles, Alma
Chester, Flora Finch.
Director Robert Vignola
Novel Nathaniel Hawthorne
Screen Play: Leonard Fields and David
Silverstein.
Photography James S. Brown Jr.
Producer Larry Darmour
Mascot
(Mack Sennen Studi'o)
"BURN EM UP BARNES"
(Serial)
Cast: Jack Mulhall, Frankie Darro,
Lola Lane, Julian RIvero, Edwin
Maxwell, James Bush, Jason Ro-
bards, Francis McDonald, John Da-
vidson, Eddie Hearn, Stanley Bly-
stone, Alan Bridge.
Directors: Bert Clark and Armand
Schaeffer.
Original Screen Play: Al Martin, Sher-
man Lowe and Wyndham Gittens.
Photography Ernie Miller
Supervisor Victor Zobel
Monogram
(General Service Studios)
(Lone Star Production)
"JANE EYRE"
Cast: Virginia Bruce, Colin Clive,
Beryl Mercer, Aileen Pringle, Jame-
son Thomas, Lionel Belmore, Joan
Standing, Ethel Griffies, Edith King-
don, Edith Fellowes, William Wag-
ner,- Claire DuBrev. Jean Darling,
Richard Quine, Anne Howard,
Clarice Selwyn, Hylda Tyson, John
Rogers, David Torrence, Greta
Gould, Gail Kay, Olaf Hytten, Wil-
liam Burress, Desmond Roberts.
Director Christy Cabanne
Novel Charlotte Bronte
Screen Play Adele Commandini
Photography Robert Planck
Supervisor Ben Verschleiser
"HAPPY LANDINGS"
Cast: Ray Walker, Jacqueline Wells,
Noah Beery, William Farnum, Mor-
gan Conway, Hiram Hoover, War-
ner Richmond, Eddie Featherstone,
Ruth Romaine, Tom Brower, BilMe
Erwin, Leon Holmes, Herbert Vig-
ran, Donald Reed.
Director R. N. Bradbury
Original Screen Play.. ..Stuart Anthony
Photography Archie Stout
Producer Paul Malvern
Willis Kent
(Infernational Studio)
"GUNS FOR HIRE "
Cast: Lane Chandler, Sally Darling,
John Ince, Ben Corbett, Steve Cle-
mente, Frank Morris, Yakima Can-
utt, Charles Whitaker, Bill Patton,
Jack Rothwell, Nelson McDowell,
John McGuire.
Director Lew Collins
Story C. D. Mann
Adaptation: Willis Kent and Oliver
Drake.
Photography James Diamond
Producer Willis Kent
BRUUTOUR BULLETIN
■K*»>»;iy:¥>ibi«i«>»»iijij^^
■;«%xS^K*Mw;-:W:i«S>x<Ki»-AaK;
Published Every Monday
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Films
New pictures continue to bring new
photographic thrills along with better
stories and perfect casting . . . "Twen-
tieth Century," produced by Colum-
bia, pins a new medal on the manly
chest of Joe August . . . There's one
shot of Barrymore with his BACK to
the camera that equals anything that
any photographer has ever done of the
famous face — and boys and girls —
you'll agree with us when you see
this picture . . . And while we're toss-
ing the orchids, this fellow Seid is
keeping pace with his own studio in
progress . . . meaning that he's in the
front row of labchiefs along with the
others of the beeg majors.
•
And while we're chatting about
labchiefs, we just bumped into Frank
Carbutt in the corridor on the mater-
nity floor at Good Samaritan Hospital
and this time it's a girl. . . . We
positively know of several 'expecta-
tions' in top camera ranks skedded for
this summer . . . fine bunch of
YOUNGSTERS, these cameramen.
•
Independent production is looking
up . . . Eddie Small is now producing
"Monte Cristo" and readying another
for a quick start . . . Joe Schnitzer is
getting set to resume as an indepen-
dent producer . . . Charlie Rogers'
plans are crystalizing . . . Two new
outfits here from New York will be
shooting within ten days . . . Trem
Carr has a schedule of serious size and
generally has two or more clicking at
the same time . . . Larry Darmour and
Harold Hopper are in production with
two at the same time at Darmour
Studio and a dozen features are set to
go before August first under the ban-
ner of independents not named here
... so it looks like Independence Day
this year will mean fireworks.
•
Fox Studios are in the midst of a
slight lull this week, with O'Connell,
Mohr, Schneiderman, waiting for new
assignments . . . Artie Miller at the
same studio is still home, but doing
very nicely . . . Charlie Lang getting
another week's vacation due to his
production being stopped; possibly
will go back to work tomorrow . . .
Bill Mellor, whose elevation to first
cameraman we reported last week,
doing very nicely after his second week
on his first Paramount picture . . .
Roy Hunt, RKO, is also enjoying a
week's vacation, due to changes in
the cast of his picture . . . Winnie
Wenstrom washed up "Afterwards"
with Jim Cruze, and will have a few
weeks to himself — too bad it's not
duck season, as Winnie's a strenuous
hunter — of ducks . . . Ray Rennahan
and Bill Skall have been knocking out
an average of one Technicolor short a
week, and have made two in a row at
RKO, and seem to love it.
Clennon Locationing
Bert Glennon, who drew the assign-
ment on photography for Hamilton
McFadden's Fox production, "She Was
A Lady," left last week with the en-
tire company for the mountain district
north of Bishop — (right in the very
heart of the trout country) — where
they will remain for a week or ten
days shooting exteriors.
"Wasn't The Depression Awful?'
During two days of last week approximately one hundred — this is
NOT a typographical error: we repeat, 100 — operative cameramen and
assistants were on the MGM payroll — and active. This is undoubtedly
a new all-time record for one studio, and is an excellent barometer of
production activity for the present summer in Hollywood.
Among the busiest of the cinematographers on the MGM staff, Hal
Rosson set out for Catalina on week-end location with Victor Fleming;
Jimmy Howe starts a new one with Sam Wood; Ollie Marsh continues
with Lubitsch photographing "The Wedding March"; Bob Leonard is
giving the starting cue to Charlie Rosher; Jimmy V^ Trees taking care
of the cameras on the Harry Beaumont unit; Len Smith is locationing in
Arizona on special work, also for the Beaumont unit; Clyde De Vinna
again jumped to Catalina for additional shots on the Clarence Brown pic-
ture; Jackson Rose, Irving Lipstein and Harold Marzoratti are all on
special effects for a number of current MGM productions, and this trio is
keeping constantly busy with this work.
At Columbia
Rushing to cast three or four im-
portant features scheduled for early
production, the Columbia Gower street
plant is hitting its peak of the year.
"The Criminal Within," under the
direction of Al Rogell, is being pho-
tographed by Johnny Stumar, with re-
sults highly pleasing to everybody
concerned.
Al Siegler is assigned to the Roy
Neal picture, "Blind Date"; while Joe
August is photographing the Jack Holt
vehicle, "The Defense Rests."
Benny Kline is taking a quick vaca-
tion, and Henry Freulich, recently ele-
vated to the ranks of first cameramen,
has completed his fourth assignment
as the Number One boy.
Entire Columbia camera staff will
be occupied within another week and
production will continue here at too
speed until mid-August or first of
September.
Musuraca's Vacation
Nick Musuraca hops into his new
car and off on a well-earned vacation.
Nick is one of those quiet fellows who
does not say a great deal, and conse-
quently is not so well known off his
home lot (RKO), but his fine, consis-
tent, artistic photographic results on
the screen have earned for him an en-
viable record with every director and
star he has ever been associated with.
His last three features made in quick
succession were, "Arabella," "Murder
on the Blackboard" and "Sine and
Like It."
Arnold Proud
That long-awaited event at the
Arnold household became an actuality
Friday evening when a six pound baby
girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. John
Arnold. Mrs. Arnold and the new
heir are doing splendidly and will re-
ceive their friends for several weeks at
the Hollywood Hospital. John was
busy over the week-end receiving con-
gratulations from his myriad friends
and associates. He's already had them
from us so we won't repeat them here.
De Vinna Off Again
Bored to tears with a couple of
quick jumps to Mexico and to Cata-
lina, Clyde De Vinna is polishing up
his well-worn seven league boots for
a jump to Indo-China, where he will
be locationing for the next couple of
months on an assignment for back-
grounds on the forthcoming Garbo
picture, "The Painted Veil."
Accompanying De Vinna will be
Harry Parkins, who is making his first
long location jump with the globe-
trotting photographer. Also in the
party will be H, D. Watson, sound
engineer, who was with De Vinna on
the Alaska trip during the filming of
"Eskimo." Jimmy MacKay, associate
supervisor, will be in charge of the
troupe, all scheduled to leave within
a few days.
Valentine Moves West
Joe Valentine has been rapidly forg-
ing to the very front ranks of photog-
raphy since his return to Fox earlier
this year. Result of his fine achieve-
ment is reflected in his engagement
by John Arnold of M. G. M., where he
has started work on his initial pro-
duction, "Hide-out," being directed
by Chuck Reisner. Valentine has
been doing some really remarkable
work and is highly deserving of this
latest good break.
At Universal
Dick Fryer is in charge of the cam-
eras on the current Buck Jones serial,
"The Redhead From Sundog," which
Lou Friedlander directs.
John Mescall continues with James
Whale on "One More River."
Norbert Brodine will soon be finish-
ing "There's Always Tomorrow" with
Sloman.
Snyder With Mayfair
Mayfair Productions, who have been
plugging right along and making pic-
tures for the past two years, and do-
ing right well, thank you, have put
"Alice Takes A Hand" into produc-
tion, with Eddie Snyder at the camera
and Spencer Bennet directing.
Edeson-Milestone Reunion
After repeated attempts by themselves, as well as by producers,
Arthur Edeson and Lewis Milestone are reunited through a deal made this
week by George Seid, in charge of Division of Photography, Columbia
Pictures Studios.
Milestone has been working for many weeks on preparation of the
story, "The Captain Hates the Sea," and was delighted when advised by
General Manager Sam Briskin of Columbia that Seid had made the deal
with Edeson.
(NOTE; Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour, Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
WHAT ARE YOUR OPINOINS
CONCERNING DOLLY SHOTS?
ERNIE HALLER (First National):
There must be some very good rea-
son for making a dolly shot; other-
wise it is a waste of time, footage
and effort.
BILL MELLOR (Paramount) : In my
opinion the use of dolly shots can
be greatly overdone, and should be
carefully thought out, and should
have some definite place at which
the camera stops so that actors can
be allowed time to exit.
JOE VALENTINE (MGM): Personally
I am not in favor of making dolly
shots unless the people are actually
in motion. Swinging the camera
from one subject to another is only
disconcerting and confusing.
MILTON KRASNER (Paramount):
Aside from musical numbers where
motion is many times helpful to the
scene, dollying from long shot to
close-up and from person to person
seems to me to be a waste of foot-
age, and, except in special cases,
can be achieved more smoothly and
logically by direct cuts.
CHARLES LANG (Paramount) Intel-
ligently conceived and well execut-
ed dolly shot can be, in my opinion,
a great aid to any sequence, but
moving from one subject to another
just to cover lines of dialogue seems
a waste of time and footage, as di-
rect cuts are more practical.
TONY GAUDIO (Warners) : Peram-
bulating shots, like everything else,
are definitely effective in their
place, but it seems to me that many
of our pictures have moving shots
that do nothing except show the
audience the camera can move.
NORBERT BRODINE (Universal):
Dolly shots are of great importance
to many sequences, but I think most
cameramen will agree that moving
the camera just to be moving can
be overdone.
Van Trees to Radio
Although still in production on "The
Rear Car" at MGM, where he was
placed in charge of photography
through a deal made with Twentieth
Century, his contract producers, Jim-
my Van Trees over the week-end ne-
gotiated deal with Arkayo, whereby
he will take charge of the cameras on
the Irene Dunne production scheduled
to start shooting on June 15. This
is Van Trees second production as a
member of Radio's camera staff, he
having photographed "Stingaree" with
Dunne and Dix at the Gower Street
plant earlier this se.ason.
Darmour Resumes
Larry Darmour, during the past
week, started his first picture under
his new corporate set-up and one of
his most ambitious efforts to date.
"The Scarlet Letter," originally done
years ago by Lillian Gish for MGM,
was put into production, and the pho-
tography is in charge of Jim Brown.
Darmour's favorite cameraman
J \
V11.^X^\\X ^v-'*
t«( 4 1 i^ t—X t kw'
-b s^ s^ 1
% MP.SAN'UF.L MARX,
CULVER GITY,CALIK
ilim
Vol. XXI. No. 18. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday. May 29, 1934
• WE say that the HAYS POLICY of
protecting this business is all wrong.
We say that MR. HAYS IS ALL
WRONG. We say that, unless some-
thing is done to offset the damaging
propaganda that is smothering motion
pictures, there will be little left of
motion pictures.
We feel that Mr. Hays and his or-
ganization, since the inception of that
organization, have played right in the
hands of the enemies of the picture
business and only a miracle can save
that business at this point. There
have been miracles and one will have
to strike us now, but this will not
happen under the WILL HAYS LEAD-
ERSHIP.
This is not written to pan Mr. Hays,
but in an attempt to arouse the lead-
ers of this industry to come out of
their hiding in an effort to DEFEND
this GREAT INDUSTRY, to stop pass-
ing the buck to Hays, who seemingly
has always done the wrong thing in
his attempted defense.
Since Hays has been in office, this
business has been continually slapped,
first on one cheek and then the oth-
er. Now those professional reform-
ers, cheap politicians and publicity-
seeking churchmen have socked us
right in the nose, and a good healthy
sock at that, and nothing is done
about it. What kind of leaders have
we that will permit this industry to
be smothered by such unjust attacks?
This industry has always .atten^,ot-
ed to compromise with its enemies.
What have we to compromise about?
Either we are everything they say we
are, or we are right. Where is there
a compromise?
Talking to most production heads
here in Hollywood they admit the
business is in a spot, but other than
Irving Thalberg there is nothing being
done about it, and goodness knows
Thalberg can not and will not carry
the fight for the whole business.
Why not get someone to fight our
battles? Why not appoint a man
with a little guts to stand up and
tell our side of the story? Why not
ask our accusers; "W'hat is a salacious
picture and who are you to judge it?"
ZtrCI^ DENIES INDIES
Para. Head Asserts Policy
Unchanged; Hecht-M' Arthur,
Schulberg, Only Outsiders
Reporter Will Not Be
Published Tomorrov/
Tomorrow being Decoration Day
and a legal holiday, there will be
no issue of the Hollywood Reporter.
Church Convention
Again Slams Films
Saratoga Springs, N. Y. — Motion
pictures yesterday came in for another
unwarranted denunciation at the con-
vention of the Roman Catholic socie-
ties of New York state, in session
here.
Two or three speakers reiterated
the criticism of allegedly indecent
pictures, decried the prevalence of
"smut" in screen entertainment and
also took shots at the gangster and
crime films. A resolution to join
in a boycott of such pictures as could
not be approved was offered, but ac-
tion on it was postponed.
Dunne and Lederer
To Co-star in 'Roberta'
Radio has purchased, "Roberta," get-
ting it away from PaJ'amount, which
had previously been reported buying
it. Pandro Berman will produce it and
is scheduling it as a co-starring picture
for Irene Dunne and Francis Lederer.
E. A. Schiller Arrives
E. A. Schiller, in charge of all the
Loew theatres except those in Met-
ropolitan New York, arrived last night
on the Santa Lucia for a visit to the
MGM studios. Mrs. Schiller accom-
panies him.
"Paramount is not planning to rely upon independent produc-
ers for twenty-four of its 1934-35 pictures," and "other than
the series of four Hecht-MacArthur productions and the series
to be made by B. P. Schulberg, Paramount has not entered into
any contracts for feature pictures from
Fox Trying To Buy
Ah, Wilderness'
In recognition of the great stage
success Will Rogers is having in "Ah,
Wilderness," the Fox organization is
now trying to buy the picture rights
to the O'Neill play from MGM, and
FRENCH PRODUCERS NOW
PIANXIIVG TO IXVADE C. S.
New York. — Cable dispatches from
Paris state that the French picture
producers are planning to carry their
war against American product to the
point of invading this country with
English versions of French films. They
expect a Government subsidy to help
defray the costs.
The idea is to translate 25 French
pictures into English and to raise a
fund of 5,000,000 francs for exploi-
tation and sales expense. It is esti-
mated that it will cost about $15,000
for the translation and marketing of
each picture.
The government subsidy is asked on
the ground that these pictures will
(Continued on Page 71
outside producers
The above statement, from Adolph
Zukor, is a frank denial of the story
printed by the Reporter yesterday that
Paramount would release at least
twenty-four outside pictures on its
next year's program.
Zukor stated: "Paramount is fully
capable of making the necessary num-
ber of pictures called for by the dis- ,
tribution department and the theatres, ^;.*^'\"V° ^tar Rogers,
and your story is without the slightest '^V'^ purchased the play for a re-
foundation." P"^^<^ P''"^e of $100,000, with the
thought of having George M. Cohen
enact his stage role in the film, but
Geo. M. is sort of burned at pictures
and asked a cool $150,000 for the
work. MGM turned this down and,
finding it pretty tough to cast that
part, there is more than a possibility
that a deal will be made with Fox,
provided that company is willing to
part with $100,000.
'Three Musketeers'
For Lederer At Radio
Radio has decided to make the fa-
mous Alexandre Dumas classic, "Three
Musketeers," as a starring vehicle Tor
Francis Lederer, with John Ford to di-
rect it when he takes up his contract
with the company.
Kenneth Macgowan is handling the
production, which is scheduled for
work in September.
Hugh Williams Signed
For 'David Copperfield'
Hugh Williams has been signed by
MGM for a featured spot in its pro-
duction of "David Copperfield." The
company is endeavoring to gather an
all-English cast for the picture.
Boleslavsky's New Term
Richard Boleslavsky was set for an-
other term at MGM yesterday. His
first assignment under it is the direc-
tion of Greta Garbo in "The Painted
Veil," to start late in June.
Astaire Due Friday
Fred Astaire arrives on the Chief
Friday to report to Radio on his pic-
ture deal.
Zanft May Join
Schulberg-Feldman
It IS understood that the papers are
all drawn for the combination of the
offices of Schulberg-Feldman-Gurney
with that of John Zanft.
This deal has been on and off on
several occasions, but looks now to be
a certainty.
Edwin Knopf at MGM
Edwm Knopf has a writer's desk at
MGM, doing a screen play of the Ed-
g^r Seiwyn-Sam Marx original, "Paris
/to New York."
Paramount Financing
Two Broadway Plays
New York. — Paramount is supply-
ing the finances for two plays which
Thomas Mitchell will produce on
Broadway this Fall.
One is a play by Sophie Treadwell
and the other a new work by Ben
Hecht and Charles MacArthur.
Pathe V. P. Arriving
A. B. Pool, vice-president of Pathe,
is slated to arrive today from New
York. It is believed he is coming to
Hollywood to settle the details on the
plans of several independent produc-
tion companies financed by Pathe.
SAM WOOD directing "STAHBQLL_QUEST" MGM
Page Two
May 29. 1934
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave. ; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
187^.
The Freddie Marches have adopted
their second baby — a little boy, four
months old, named Anthony. . . . Bob
Montgomery back in town from an
eastern farm. . . . The reason why a
certain writer-director stays on in
England would astound you! . . . May
Sunday's car (absolutely denuded)
was found yesterday by the gendarmes
— 'way down near the beach! . . .
Ernst Lubitsch's new Bel Air mansion
is almost finished and the ole maestro
will move in end of the week — but
when is the house-warming???.'?
The Leslie Howards hope to leap to
England next week. ... Joe Bryan,
the third, is doing a Profile of Katha-
rine Hepburn for fhe New Yorker.
. . . Ketti Callian is Winnie Sheehan's
latest.
•
Bee Stewart went to the doctors
about her bad knee and discovered
that she had a broken nose too! Don
says he didn't do it — "why, he
wouldn't hit the dearest, sweetest girl
in the world!" . . . The Clara Bow-
Rex Bell blessed event is expected in
time for Christmas — and there are
rumors of the Phil Bergs storking.
. . . Ross and Sargent (at the Kings
Club) are singing a song called
"Doris," all about agents, that is a
pip! . . . The Clark Gables, the Dick
Barthelmesses, Whitney de Rham,
down at the airport to meet Countess
di Frasso, here for a few days whoopee
before taking half of Hollywood back
to Europe.
•
George Cukor bought himself four-
teen suits of clothes, twelve pairs of
shoes and a few other knick knacks
his first day in London — he's gone
MAD! . . . Walter Armitage (who
really caused a stir in the Theda Bara
show) will play the Oliver role in the
local production of "Green Bay Tree."
. . . The newlywed Joe Mankiewiczes
beaming at about two hundred guests
at their reception at brother Herman's
house Sunday — everybody frolicked in
the garden. . . . The Johnny Monk
Saunders (Fay Wray) , Charles Brac-
kett, the Bob Presnells, the Paul
Sloanes, Max Steiner, Wally Beery,
Hedda Hopper, Al Lewis, Irene Jones,
ROXY BONDHOLDERS ASK
FOR RIGHT TO FORECLOSE
Charley Chase Able
To Report- For Work
New York. — Application for per-
mission to foreclose on the Roxy Thea-
tre was made to Federal Judge Caffey
yesterday by the Continental Bank
and Trust Company, trustees for the
first mortgage bondholders. The
claim for unpaid bonds and interest
amounts to $4,084,574. Attorneys
for the Chase bank, as trustees for
the second mortgage bondholders, also
appeared with a claim of about $2,-
000,000.
Judge Caffey withheld his decision
because of the possibility of a reor-
ganization plan being perfected before
foreclosure, and also because of
anticipated help through President
Roosevelt's new law to aid bankrupt
companies.
If the reorganization goes through,
the Bondholders Protective Commit-
tee, which holds 65 per cent of the
bonds, probably will bid for control
and plans to convert Howard Cull-
man, the present receiver, into a
trustee.
Judge Caffey will hold a meeting
of creditors on June 8 and at that
time will decide whether or not to
continue the receivership another six
months in case the reorganization plan
is not ready.
Mrs. Lasky's Paintings
Shown at Stendahl's
An exhibition of oil paintings by
Mrs. Bessie Lasky opened yesterday
at the Stendahl Galleries, and will
continue until June 16. The exhibit
comprises 60 canvases , especially de-
signed for white rooms.
Mrs. Lasky has an international
reputation as an artist. Her works
have been exhibited in the Paris Salon,
in the Cooling Galleries, London, in
the Brooklyn Museum of Art, in the
Anderson Galleries, New York City,
and in other cities throughout the
world. Besides her painting, Mrs.
Lasky is famed for her music and
poetry.
Paul Gerard Smith East;
Universal Deal Is Off
Unable to close a deal with Uni-
versal for his play, "Mad Marriage,"
Paul Gerard Smith has called off all
negotiations and leaves tonight by
train for New York with the piece,
which Jed Harris is planning to pro-
duce this Fall. Smith wound up his
term deal at Warners last week.
Keep It In The Family
loan Crawford's stand-in for "Sac-
red and Profane Love" is her sister-
in-law, Mrs. Charles LeSeuer. The job
is permanent from now on, according
to the MGM star.
Believe It or Not
Mrs. Dave Epstein is throwing a
party tonight to celebrate the fact that
she has been married to Dave for ten
years.
Elliott Gibbons, Judith Allen among
the diners at the Vendome Sunday
night. ... A word to the wise is often
sufficient. Especially in the case of
Jimmy Durante. Sunday's program
was a really amusing broadcast with
the Superman rated as having a smart
routine.
Charley Chase showed up at the
Roach studios yesterday for the first
time in a month. He became ill after
eating lobster in Chicago ten days ago,
?nd flew to the coast to recuperate
under his home physician.
Chase is preparing the story for his
first comedy of the '34-35 season,
supposed to start in a couple of weeks.
Dickie Moore's Dog Lost
Dickie Moore, convalescing at home
following his recent operation, lost his
dog Saturday. It is a Scottie, the gift
of John Considine who presented it to
the boy when he was working on
"Disorderly Conduct" for Fox.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-]|^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
Talk
About
Annuities
With An
Expert
I HAVE spent years in
specializing on annuities for mem-
bers of the motion picture profes-
sion. I can tell you the exact type
of annuity to meet your income,
your plans for the future, your
immediate needs.
BEFORE you decide on
an annuity, it will be to your ad-
vantage to consult me.
Telephone
HE 3682 or HO 1161
Benjamin Leven
ANNUITY COUNSELLOR
310 Guaranty Building
6331 Hollywood Blvd.
Hoi I y w o o d
SERVICE
e SATIN SMOOTH make-up is the
achievement of an organization
whose h'fetime has been devoted to
a sympathetic study of the problems
of the Industry.
OTHIS devotion to service has pro-
duced in Satin Smooth a make-up of
unchallenged perfection — a smooth-
er, faster, make-up that photographs
beautifully and sets a pace for all
times for performance.
MAX FACTOR'S
MAKE-VP STUDIOS
HOLLYWOOD. CALIFORNIA
i
WORLD PREMIERE JUNE 1
ADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, NEW YORK
(The World's Largest Playhouse)
|immy Fidier in
^GREENLAND MAGAZINE:
The 'Seventh Heaven' of the talk-
ies v^ith the same type of underly-
ing spiritual romance that made
Seventh Heaven' the greatest silent
.picture."
"A smash hit. Done with taste, feeling and honesty — an impor-
tant picture both from the money and artistic standpoints and
will add to the prestige of all concerned. Frank Borzage at his
best. Every sequence has excellent build-up and cracking climax.
Another Margaret Sullavan triumph. Douglass Montgomery ably
supplements the main dramatic tale as 'the little man.' William
Anthony McCuire's rich and selective adaptation provides fine
balance of comedy, pathos, human detail and dramatic punch."
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE
WINS CRi:
Directed by FRANK BORZAGE
Screenplay by William Anthony McGuire
Produced by Carl Laemmle. Jr.
Novel by Hans Fa'.lada
Vict'or Shapiro in
MOTION PICTURE DAILY:
"Rises to heights of magnificent entertainment. It's today's story
of youth in any land. ... Miss Sullavan again demonstrates her
outstanding artistry and charm; Montgomery gives a sterling per-
formance; Alan Hale, DeWitt Jennings. Christian Rub. and Mur-
iel Kirkland contribute gems. Frank Borzage industry's great
heart director. Production is flawless and refreshing; rich in
Qualities that stir the masses."
Phil Scheuer,
LOS ANGELES SUNDAY TIMES:
Laemmle performs social service .
makes you glow a little,"
. beautifully transcribed
Warren St-okes in
BOX OFFICE,
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS:
"Another triumph for Margaret Sul-
lavan, Frank Borzage and Universal
Universal can feel proud of this of-
fering. A real down-to-earth story
that should register with both mass
and class."
Eugene Chrisman in
HOLLYWOOD SCREENPLAY
AND SCREEN BOOK:
"Four stars. Highest rating."
UNrVERSALi
:S' RAVES
4>
-^^.
>!^..
Directed by FRANK BORZAGE
Screenplay by William Anthony McGuire
Produced by Carl Laemmle, Jr.
Novel by Hans Fa'lada
Kafhryn Daugherty in
PHOTOPLAY MAGAZINE:
"From any standpoint a tremen-
dously important film achievement.
. . . Approaches the highest plane of
art on the screen. . . . Free from any
veneer of superficiality or dramatic
subterfuge. . . . Borzage achieves his
masterpiece . . . wholesome triumph
for Margaret Sullavan . . . more than
seconds her sensational debut. . . .
Douglass Montgomery, Alan Hale,
DeWitt Jennings and Christian Rub
are grand."
Edwin Schallert in
LOS ANGELES TIMES:
"Borzage comes near the 'Seventh Heaven' summit if he does not
actually attain it. , . . Certainly his greatest since. A beautiful
achievement and heart moving if there ever was one, . . . Blends
talents of Sullavan and Montgomery. Sheer enchantment distin-
guishes Miss Sullavan. As radiant a depiction of motherhood as
has been shown in any picture. Alan Hale justifies stardom.
DeWitt Jennings excellent. Christian Rub superb. , . . Excellent
ensemble."
Jerry Hoffman,
LOS ANGELES SUNDAY EXAMINER:
"Sullavan definitely registers as a fine actress. . . . Not one of
those one performance stars. . . . Montgomery stands out vividly
. . . Adds to Borzage's laurels."
ORES AGAIN
WESTERN PREMIERE
MARCO'S ORPHEUM THEATRE
(San Francisco)
Mi\tmm9,imw
/^resents
rnqmej
llTO
in a
FRflRK BORZfiqe PRODUCTIOn
|immy Starr in
LOS ANGELES HERALD-EXPRESS,
NEW YORK DAILY MIRROR:
Not since the cinema history-making 'Seventh
Heaven' has the screen offered such a love story
. not since the same 'Seventh Heaven' has Fr3nk.
Borzage been able to find two characters for such
delicate molding by his directorial hands . . . and,
not since 'All Quiet on the Western Front' has
Universal produced such a stirring film, a produc-
tion of quality and of such rare entertainment . . .
McCuire's treatment superb . . . Borzage should
win another Academy award . . . Margaret Sullavan
will bring forth even greater adjectives to sing her
praises . . . Douglass Montgomery undoubtedly the
new 'rave' of film fans."
Directed by FRANK BORZAGE
Screenplay by William Anthoriy McGuire
Produced by Carl Laemmle, Jr.
Novel by Hans Fallada
Cus McCarthy in
MOTION PICTURE HERALD:
"One of the most valuable pieces of screen mer-
chandise from standpoint of prestige building, en-
tertainment and showmanship in months; full of
appeal; impressive but not ponderous; sincere en-
tertainment for young and old of both sexes. . . .
There is in this picture nearly everything a show-
man needs to kindle interest. . . . Sullavan makes
good every promise. . . . Montgomery fully keeps
pace. . . . Sell it with dignified realism.
Dan Thomas in
N.E.A. NEWSPAPERS:
"Frank Borzage's direction has made this real enter-
tainment. . . . Definitely established Margaret Sulla-
van as one of the screen's outstanding stars."
'
(
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE
^
May 29. 1934
mm
Page Seven
SHIRLEY TEMPLE A SENSATION;
LITTLE MISS MARKER' CASHES
15 P.C. of Broadway
Plays Sold For Fix
New York Holds Pic
For the Third Week
New York. — Shirley Temple is the
sensation of the East. Yes, the West
and the North and the South, and the
Paramount production of "Little Miss
Marker" is cashing in heavy every-
where as a result.
This Terriple child is the type at-
traction that causes a ticket buyer to
go home and tell the family about her
and then entertain the neighbors for
days about her antics, with the result
that "Miss Marker" builds during its
run, day for day.
The chief topic of conversation at
home, at the office, at the club and
wherever you go is Shirley Temple,
and unless Hollywood producers rush
'her, that tiny tot will develop into one
of the greatest attractions in this busi-
ness and an attraction that will serve
as an answer to many of the attacks
that are being hurled at pictures.
Hollywood. — Shirley Temple is
more of a sensation here in the stu-
dios than she is in the theatres. Pro-
ducers and directors who have come
in contact with her are pushing each
other aside to tell their version of this
child genius.
Her selection by W. R. Sheehan
for "Stand Up and Cheer" was the
talk of the studio. Standing in Shee-
han's office with thirty or forty other
children, she grew impatient at the
tests that Sheehan was making and,
walking out of line, she approached
Sheehan's desk with, "Do I get the
part or not? I'm tired of standing."
And she got the part.
On the set, the director gives her
mother the lines that Shirley is to
read. The mother takes her to one
side and, in a few minutes, she comes
back with her part letter perfect.
Also she knows the dialogue of every
other character and should someone
blow up in his or her lines, she is
heard (in a whisper) correcting them.
Her memory astonishes everyone.
Jackie Cooper Starts
in 'Bad Boy' June 12
Dorothy Peterson was engaged yes-
terday by Sol Lesser to play the only
feminine role in "Peck's Bad Boy"
outside that of a colored cook. She will
be Aunt Lily, Jackie Searl's mother in
the picture.
Jackie Cooper finished his part in
"Treasure Island" at MGM yesterday.
Lesser immediately set June 12 as the
starting date for "Peck's Bad Boy,"
which has been marking time for five
months.
Diana Wynyard Abroad
On the completion of "One More
River," in which she is now appearing,
around June 1 5, Diana Wynyard will
leave for London for a vacation. She
plans to remain there six months.
Ray McCarey to MGM
Ray McCarey, who has just com-
pleted a short at Columbia, goes to
MGM to direct a Rugby short for Pete
Smith.
Hugh Walpole Set For
Xopperfield' Script
London. — David Selznick has
signed Hugh Walpole, noted Eng-
lish writer, to collaborate on the
adaptation of "David Copperfield."
He will sail for America with the
Selznick party on June 6.
New Pictures on
BVay This Week
New York. — Six new pictures are
announced for the big Broadway
houses this week.
The newcomers are "Sorrell and
Son" at the Mayfair yesterday; "The
Key" at the Strand, and "You Made
Me Love You" and the McLarnin-
Ross fight pictures at the Criterion
today; "Born to Be Bad" at the Riv-
oli tomorrow; "Little Man, What
Now?" at the Music Hall Thursday;
"Viva Villa" at the Capitol Friday.
Charles Logue Gets
'Wagon Wheels' Job
Charles Logue was handed the
"Wagon Wheels" assignment at Para-
mount yesterday, and will write the
screen play for the first of the three
outdoor adventure yarns, starring Ran-
doph Scott.
Frank R. Adams, Harry Ruskin and
David Boehm had previously worked
on the story.
No Stage or Screen
For Robles Youngster
The parents of June Robles, whose
kidnapping in Arizona was a nation-
wide sensation, have decided that they
will not accept any of the offers for
her stage or screen appearances.
A deal was about set with Bryan
Foy, but the family finally decided to
call it off.
Spence On 'Diamond'
MGM has assigned Ralph Spence to
write the dialogue on "Death on the
Diamond," the Courtland Fitzsimmons
original which Edward Sedgwick puts
into work next week. Fitzsimmons
and Joe Sherman have written the
screen play and Lucien Hubbard pro-
duces.
Cobb Finishes First
Irvin Cobb's first comedy goes in
the bag tonight, with a final title
change from "Angle Worms" to
"Speaking of Relations." Cobb and the
Roach writers are working on the next
idea.
Lawrence Assigned
Vincent Lawrence yesterday receiv-
ed the F. Scott Fitzgerald play, "A
Man I Knew," to make into a screen
play for Paramount. Cary Grant prob-
ably gets the star spot.
Mason-Heerman Back
Sarah Y. Mason and Victor Heer-
Heerman reported back to Radio after
their loan-out deal to Universal, and
have gone to work on the screen play
of "Little Minister."
New York. — Of the 118 plays and
seven musical shows produced on
Broadway this season, only 18 plays
and one musical were bought for pic-
tures. The top prices wer« around
$75,000, with "Ah, Wilderness" re-
ported bringing $100,000.
Several plays were sold on a per-
centage plan, whereby the longer the
play runs, the more the picture pro-
ducer pays for it. These included
"Sailor Beware" and "Pursuit of Hap-
piness," bought by Paramount, and
"Men in White," which MGM has al-
ready produced.
Some of the important ones not yet
sold are "Roberta," "Milky Way,"
"Dodsworth," "Tobacco Road" and
"Mary of Scotland."
Segall Play Rights
Bought Back from MGM
New York. ^Howard Stebbins has
repurchased from Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer the rights to the Harry Segall
play, "Lost Horizons."
^Stebbins will have to pay royalties
>6'MGM instead of to Segall, and the
screen rights will be offered again
next Fall on the open market.
'Three Stand Alone'
Taken Off Radio Shelf
Planned for production months ago
and shelved after MGM turned down
a loan-out deal on johnny Weissmul-
ler, "Three Stand Alone" was again
placed on the slate yesterday by Radio,
after MGM okayed a loan at this time
on the player.
Two For Sarah Haden
Sarah Haden was handed a two-
picture contract by Radio yesterday.
She goes into "Hat, Coat and Clove"
and "The Fountain."
Julian Johnson East
Julian Johnson, head of the Fox
story department, left Sunday by train
for New York. He will be away three
weeks.
French Film Invasion
(Continued from Page 1 )
help cement "good will" between
France and America. The interests
behind the new plan are the same
which are trying to ban American pic-
tures in France. They are still trying
to get a three months ban on Ameri-
can product and the "good will" cry
doesn't seem to fit in with that action.
The French film industry itself is
badly split over the plan. The French
producers are the ones who are back-
ing it, while the exhibitors are vio-
lently opposed to any ban. They know
that they can do business only with
American pictures and they demand
that the importation of them be in-
creased rather than lessened.
That the exhibitors are in earnest
is shown by the fact that they have
declared an advertising boycott on the
trade papers that support the demand
for the ban.
Mebbe you've noticed lately that
somewhere in most every picture
that's been made recently there's been
a part for or a glimpse of some actor
or actress who was sitting on top of
the world just a few years ago. This
is being deliberately done not only out
of kindness, (and that has plenty to
do with it too,) but because it has
been discovered to be good business.
The first few times it was done, it was
because there was a part that they
liked to fill with someone looking for
a comeback or needing the job badly.
But the audience response was so ter-
rific on the "old timers" that any
number of directors and producers
make sure that somewhere in their
pictures a once well-known and well-
liked face appears. It evidently makes
the fans happy to greet an old friend
again and probably gives the old-tim-
ers in the audience a chance to remin-
isce on "remember when Soandso was
a star and the pictures she used to
make?"
•
We like the idea too. Not only
because it gives work where it's need-
ed, but because we resent the fact
that so many stars who were great in
their time and not only brought pleas-
ure to so many people but made
money for so many people, should be
so quickly put into oblivion. It seems
to us that some tribute of gratitude
should be forever due them and, if
they need jobs or if they're willing to
appear in small roles, it's okay by us.
Ernst Lubitsch has been greatly an-
noyed for the last week by rumors
linking his name with that of a widow
recently arrived in Hollywood from
New York. After the third newspaper
man had gotten in to see him in order
to question him about her, Lubitsch
got pretty mad and demanded to know
where the rumor had started but nat-
urally nobody could tell him. Finally
he mentioned the whole business on
the set and Jeanette MacDonald re-
minded him that he had started the
rumor himself. It seems that someone
had asked him what he'd been doing
with his time and Lubitsch had said,
laughingly, he'd been spending all his
time with the "Widow," who was the
love of his life at the moment. Ot
course, he meant the "Merry Widow
and the suspicion is that some bright
publicity lad overheard the remark and
tipped off a couple of people thinking
it would be a good publicity break. . .
Seems the p. a. wasn't exactly wrong.
Rian James Writing
Three, Casting Fourth
Rian James is writing the screen
plays of three pictures at the same
time at Universal and is attempting to
cast a fourth. He is scripting "Tran-
sient Lady" by Octavus Roy Cohen;
"Gift of Cab," a Jerry Wald original,
and "The Human Side," a play by
Christine Ames.
At the same time he is trying to
cast "It Happened in New York," the
new title for the Ward Morehouse
original, "Walking on Air."
Page Eight
THg
May 29, 1934
'Bitter Harvest'
Sensitive Play and
Beautifully Done
•BITTER HARVEST"
Presented by Melville W. Brown at
the Hollywood Playhouse; play by
Catherine Turney; staged and di-
rected by Dickson Margan. Cast:
Leslie Fenton, Lilian Bond, Elsa
Buchanan, May Beatty, Lindsay
MacHarrie, Nola Luxford, Catherine
Manners, Darwin Rudd, Alfred
Cross, Benjamin Brindley, Finis
Barton.
A rare opportunity awaits Holly-
wood playgoers — if they have the in-
telligence to grasp it. A new play, a
beautiful play, a sensitive play is being
offered by Mel Brown at the Holly-
wood Playhouse. It does not bear
New York's stamp of approval because
New York has not yet seen it. Now
we can determine whether Hollywood
deserves a theatre. The answer will
be "No" if Hollywood lacks the in-
telligence to seize upon "Bitter Har-
vest" and give it the run it should
have here.
Based upon an episode in the life
of Lord Byron, the piece is a first play
by Catherine Turney. The plot is
delicately conceived and exquisitely
executed. It concerns the love of
Byron for his 'half-sister, Augusta
Leigh, and his struggle against the in-
evitable fate of this love. To protect
her name, he marries another, only to
find his problem still unsolved. With
his marriage ended, he plans to leave
England, offering to take Augusta with
•him. But she cries, "I am afraid."
Leslie Fenton, although slightly un-
even last evening, is a magnificent
Byron. He lends the role of this half-
mad genius a genuine color and reads
superbly the actual speeches of the
poet, so lovingly collected by the
playwright.
As Augusta, Lilian Bond gives a
hauntingly beautiful performance. She
displays a warmth and a depth in her
playing that the screen never realized
she possessed. The colorful Lady Mel-
bourne is portrayed by May Beatty and
she does it justice, as does Alfred
Cross as Walter Scott and Nola Lux-
ford as Lady Oxford. Elsa Buchanan
plays the unloved wife, a thankless
assignment but one not fully realized.
The direction by Dickson Morgan is
in perfect harmony. Both have a qual-
ity of dignity and sincerity.
Markson Finishes 'Dog'
Script; Starts New One
Ben Markson completed the screen
play of "The Case of the Howling
Dog" at Warners yesterday, and was
handed Frank Howard Clark's original,
"Traveling Saleslady," to script.
"Howling Dog" is on the Warner
schedule for June 1 5 starting, with
Alan Crosland directing Warren Wil-
liam and Mary Astor.
Redmond Services
Funeral services for William J.
Redmond, who died after being struck
by a car driven by Thelma Allen, will
be held at the Wee Kirk of the
Heather, Forest Lawn, at 1 1 o'clock
Thursday. Redmond was t.he son of
Harry Redmond, of the special effects
department at Radio.
New High Attained
By Columbia Stock
New York. — The stock of Col-
umbia Pictures continues to ad-
vance and yesterday it reached a
new high mark, closing at 34%.
Radio Closes Deal
For 'Forsyte Saga'
A screen treatment by Larry Bach-
man has resulted in Radio's getting
"Forsyte Saga," the John Galsworthy
work, as a possible Katharine Hepburn
production.
The treatment received the approval
of the late author's widow, Bachmann
stepping out of his spot as assistant
to Pan Berman to write it after bring-
ing the idea in and getting Berman
interested. The studio is looking for
another writer to complete the screen
play and there is a possibility that it
will be the star's first picture, since
she has given it her okay.
Fineman Supervising
Radio City Revels'
Bernie Fineman has taken over the
supervision of the Radio-NBC picture,
"Radio City Revels," which was for-
merly handled by H. N. Swanson.
Two other assignments handed the
new Radio associate producer are
"Murietta," for Francis Lederer, and
the first of the William Powell star-
ring pictures.
Lloyd Nolan Gets Lead
in 'Outrage' at Para.
New York. — Lloyd Nolan landed a
Paramount contract yesterday for his
Broadway work in "One Sunday After-
noon."
His first assignment is the lead op-
posite Evelyn Venable in "Outrage,"
set for production in Hollywood the
first week in August.
Blochman and U' Split
Universal yesterday granted L._ G.
Blochman a release from his long term
writing contract so he might complete
an untitled novel which Little, Brown
and Co. will publish this Summer.
Writer was at the studio for ten
months, during which he wrote the
screen plays for "Bombay Mail" and
"The Golden Fleece."
Nick Crinde To Roach
Nick Grinde signed on with Frank
Butler's writing squad at the Roach
studio yesterday. After preliminary
work with the idea staff, he will prob-
ably be handed a megaphone.
Saving Nature Wins
Judgment For Prinz
Because he had not thrown away a
managerial agreement signed in Janu-
ary, 1933, Leroy Prinz won a judg-
ment Saturday in the commission suit
brought by William S. Gill.
Yesterday, however, a new suit was
filed against him in behalf of Max
Hart, Ltd., claiming $1220 commis-
sion on Prinz' Paramount contract.
This agency corporation is said to be
sole property of Bill Gill.
At the trial last week Prinz was
placed on the stand by his attorneys
to identify his copy of the contract.
It bore the Max Hart, Ltd., imprint,
whereas the contract presented by the
plaintiffs had the name crossed out
and Gill's written in. Result was the
judgment against the agent.
All Territory Sold
For 'Young Eagles'
Ben Cohen, general sales manager
for Romance Productions, announces
that he has sold all the territory for
"Young Eagles," the serial that has
the official endorsement of the Boy
Scouts of America. The clean-up deal
was for territory supplied through ex-
changes in Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake
and Denver.
The official release date is June 10.
Solow Out of Universal
Eugene Solow has completed his one
picture deal at Universal with his orig-
inal screen play, "Lost American," and
has checked off the payroll. Picture,
which Rian James is producing, will
be Henry Hull's first for the studio.
TERRACE ROOM
MIRAMAR
SANTA MONICA
OPENS
Kay Kyser
"The Old Man from the South"
California's finest supper club is
opening for the summer season. Come
and dance to the romantic melodies
of Kay Kyser and his famous orches-
tra. The cool Pacific breezes, the de-
lightful cuisine, the unique entertain-
ment . . all have made the Miramar
the long-established rendezvous of
the smart set
Opening
DINNER •^c§i;"v^r $3
Thereafter Convert
Week Nights $1 -Sunday $1.50
Dancing nigiitly except Monday
Telephone Santa Monica 23257
for Reservations
Produced in Germany by
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, Jr.
Dialogue and Commentation by
EDWIN C. HILL
Foremost Radio )ournalist
Samuel Cummins
jewel Productions, Inc.
723 Seventh Avenue. N. Y. C.
EXCITEMENT AND ACTION— FOR ADULTS AS
WELL AS AMERICA'S 30,000,000 CHILDREN
Write, wire or long distance phone
ROMANCE PRODUCnONS, Inc,
Mack Sennett Studios, Hollywood, California
IT'SAMOP-LP
IT'S A BOX-OFFICE SMASH IT'S THE FIRST
REAL NATURAL FOR SHOWMEN IN YEARS
IT'S COT EXPLOITATION THAT SKINS THE HIDE
OFF ANYTHING RELEASED IN A DECADE . .
YOUNG EAGLES i
Produced by ROMANCE PRODUCTIONS, Inc. and officially
endorsed by the entire organization of the Boy Scouts of America
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TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, May 31. 1934
CATHOLICS €N WARPATH
Important Indies
Of Country Form
Protective Group
New York— The first really impor-
tant film-buying combine in the East
was organized at the Hotel Astor
Tuesday by representatives of 75 per
cent of the independent theatre
groups east of the Mississippi. It is
to be known as the Independent Film
Buyers Protective Croup.
A committee, consisting of Lou
Blumenthal, chairman. Dr. |. B. Fish-
man, John Bemas, Eddie Ansin and
David Barrist, was named to explore
all possible sources of new product,
either British or American, that can
be purchased on "fair play" terms.
It will also seek tie-ups with certain
producers whereby additional product
will be made available to the indie
theatres, and will formulate protective
measures against unfair percentages
and preferred playing time. Harry
Brandt and Sidney Samuelson are ex-
officio members of the committee.
Laemmie Sr. Leaves
For Vacation Abroad
Carl Laemmic Sr. entrained for the
East yesterday to sail June 16 on the
lie de France for his annual six weeks
in London, Paris and Carlsbad. Busi-
ness and relaxation.
Universal's president is accompan-
ied by his executive assistant, Joe
Weil, and his secretary, Jack Ross.
Colbert and Grant
For The Gilded Lily'
Paramount closed Tuesday for the
Jack Kirkland-Melville Baker story,
"The Cilded Lily," and will co-star
Claudette Colbert and Cary Grant in
it. Marguerite Roberts is writing the
screen play.
Adolph Zukor East
Adolph Zukor left Tuesday nighl
for conferences with the Paramount
home office staff in New York. The
Paramount chief returns for the com-
pany convention here June 18.
Fox Convention Starts
New York. — The Fox Film conven-
tion, which is in session at the Wal-
dorf, will hear announcements of 58
features for the coming season.
Maurice Schwartz Here
Maurice Schwartz arrived Tuesday
in Hollywood to take up his MCM
contract.
Television Test at
90 Miles a Success
New York. — The RCA-Victor
Company has succeeded in sending
television ninety miles, from New
York to Camden, with satisfactory
results. An ordinary movie camera
lens was used, the light being taken
by the Zworykin inconoscope and
transformed inside a cathode ray
tube by means of an electron beam
playing on a photo-electric screen.
Sound and picture were carried
simultaneously.
Every Bishop In The Country
Sending Letters To Exhibs
Demanding Rigid Ban On Filth
New ork. — The Catholic Church is carrying its campaign for
what it terms "the elimination of filth in motion pictures" right
to the offices of the exhibitors of the nation in a letter demand-
ing that the showmen carry the message to the producers in
Hollywood. Every Catholic Bis'hop in
Cromwell Signs at
Radio For 5 More
With four pictures yet to go on .his
old deal, John Cromwell has been
handed another ticket for five more
for Radio.
The director had a three-picture
ticket when the studio bought the
Twentieth Century contract for one.
Adding the extra five will keep him
with the company for two years.
Mae Clarke to Col.
Mae Clarke goes into the Lewis
Milestone production of "The Cap-
tain Hates the Sea" at Columbia.
America has been instructed by the
hierarchy of the Church to write a let-
ter to every theatre in his diocese.
Every Catholic diocese has been in-
structed to print in its Catholic organ
a list of the indecent films named by
the Church weekly.
This list of indecent films is sent
to every member of the diocese, in
addition to every theatre in that zone.
Should the exhibitor advertise for
(Continued on Page 3)
Tone Lead in 'Diamond'
Franchot Tone gets the role of the
baseball pitcher in "Death on the
Diamond." This is the leading role in
the story which Edward Sedgwick di-
rects, under Lucien Hubbard's super-
visions at MCM.
[
DEAR MR. PRODUCER:
This war against "filthy pictures" is being fought on every
front AND YOU MUST GET INTO ACTION.
If you are guilty of the charges, (and we believe you are
NOT) then clean your house IMMEDIATELY. If you deny the
guilt, then YOU MUST start a campaign of your own and start
it right now. You can't wait a minute; you have no time to pass
the buck; there is hardly a moment for discussion. You must
ACT QUICKLY or you will find yourselves in the toughest spot
you have ever been in in the history of the business.
The Catholic Church and MANY OTHER CHURCHES are in
action. They have accused you of debauching the youth of the
nation, of contaminating the homes of America, of almost every
crime that is known in history. The accusation was passed with
not a word in defense uttered by you. They waited for your reply,
they waited for a denial of the accusations, but none was pre-
sented, so they are now telling the world of your guilt, they have
the people believing their charges because of your silence.
Yes, Mr. Producer, they have even gone further. They are
publishing weekly blacklists of pictures THEY DEEM unfit for
the public eye, be that eye of man, woman or child; and, with
(Continued on Page 4)
Indie Exhibs Vote
9 to 1 For Singles
Indications today are that the mo-
tion picture theatres, at least in the
greater Los Angeles district, will go
to single feature bills within the very
near future.
More than 75 per cent of the cards
sent out by the Independent Theatre
Owners, Inc., of Southern California,
have been returned and the balance
are coming in rapidly. To date, ac-
cording to Ben Berinstein, president of
the organization, slightly more than
90 per cent of the theatre owners
who have voted have signified their
desire to eliminate the double bills.
Fox West Coast officials have as-
sured the Independents that, if the
indies will go single feature, they will
do the same.
'School For Scandal'
To Be Modernized at 'U'
Universal has ordered a modern
treatment of Sheridan's "School For
Scandal" from Eugene and Ralph Bur-
ton and Carron DeWolf. The company
is thinking about Lowell Sherman for
direction. Production would go in this
Fall.
$65,000 For Roberta'
New York. — Radio is paying $65,-
000 for the rights to "Roberta," one
of the season's musical successes. The
contract wtih Max Cordon will be
signed today. It is slated for Irene
Dunne.
Milky Way' For Oakie
New York. — Paramount has bought
the screen rights to"The Milky Way,"
one of the Broadway TSTts, and will
star Jack Oakie in it. The play is by
Lynn Root and Harry Clork.
British Execs Arrive
New York. — Hubert Marsh and
Herbert Wilcox, of British and Do-
minions, arrive today on the Europa,
bringing a print of "Nell Gwynn,"
which company recently completed.
NORNAN McLEOD directed "MANY HAPPY RETURNS"
]
Page Two
May 31, 1934
TltfffelP©ICTlt
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Edrtorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
>87^.
Al Kaufman and Dorothy Dell are
soggy. . . . The Alan Mowbrays are
blessed-eventing and expect the stork
in the Fall. . . . Katharine Hepburn
has taken a two-year lease on a house
in Bel Air. . . . Someone who really
knows tells us that a visiting titled
person has actually CLEARED rooms
In Europe with that gal he brought
with him to Hollywood — yet he's do-
ing all right with her here at local
dinner parties. . . . Georgie Raft will
be back here in about ten days — he's
still doing the personals in Chicago
and Detroit.
•
Bet that the hair-dressers at Co-
lumbia aren't a bit sorry that the
Grace Moore picture is finished! . . .
Ah — ze temperament was tareefic —
especially with so many curling irons
lying around! . . . Leo Birinski has a
cook who cooks him so much every
nig'ht that he has to eat dinner in one
hour shifts! . . . Rosie Dolly says that
the Vendome has the best food in
America! . . . Mrs. Sidney Lanfield,
with baby, back from London — but
Sid is still there. . . . Dimitri Tiomkin
got over-athletic, fell on his hands and
has practically ruined his wrists! Has
to have 'em massaged every day — and
he loves it!
Countess di Frasso, with Capt. Ma-
son, Vivian Gaye with Randy Scott,
Marlene Dietrich, among the Kings
Clubbers Tuesday night . . . and Lee
Tracy and Isabel Jewell, together at
the Colony the other night . . . and
thousands of people turned out to
Travis Banton's to say good-bye to
Mme. Frances — among them Clau-
dette Colbert, Carole Lombard, Vivian
Tobin, Walter Lang, the Alan Ed-
wardses, jobyna Howiand, Raquel
Torres and Stephen Ames, Hedda Hop-
per, jetta Coudal. . . . Arthur Sheek-
man and Richard Dix went to the St.
Paul high school together, at which
time Dix flunked in dramatics! . . .
The dramatic study, incidentally,
which Betty Furness indulged in while
in New York, did that little gal plenty
It good. . . . Sign on a theatre on
Western Ave. reads: "Bottoms Up"
"I Like It That Way" — Honest!
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
Paramount prod.; directors, Mitchell Leisen, Earl Carroll; writers. Earl Carroll,
Rufus King, Carey Wilson, Joseph Gollomb; dialogue, Sam Hellman;
Music and lyrics, Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnson.
Rivoli Theatre
American: The Carroll strength and the Carroll weakness are both apparent in
the production. The former lies in exquisite artistry, the latter in a
dearth of humor, and the badly conceived, ill-written roles thrust upon
Messrs. Oakie and McLaglen. The show is remarkable in its presentation
of new talent. "Murder at the Vanities" is a killing for Paramount.
Herald-Tribune: While lacking the exciting color and verve of the stage offer-
ing, nevertheless it is absorbing for its rapid pace in story-telling, its
plot, which includes not one but two murders, and the characteristic Car-
roll alertness. Mr. Leisen has directed his picture ably and the adapters
have made a smooth script of it.
World-Telegram: At least it may be said of the screen version of "Murder at
the Vanities" that it is much better entertainment than the stage pro-
duction from which it stems and that its dance numbers have been staged
with commendable restraint.
Times: Earl Carroll's stage offering, "Murder at the Vanities," appeals rather
to the eye than to the ear. It can boast of its lavish staging, certain
tuneful melodies, and its host of attractive girls. But the mystery con-
cerning its two murders is never particularly disturbing. Occasionally
there is a flash of good comedy.
Sun: "Murder at the Vanities" turns out to be a .humorless, elaborate girl show,
with bits of confusing plot interpolated between song and dance num-
bers. The picture gives the effect of having been done in two parts by
entirely disassociated directors, one concentrating on the chorus girl num-
bers, the other on the murder mystery story. The result is a choppy con-
tinuity. The effect is disconcerting.
Post: Not only is the picture excellent from the point of view of dancing ensem-
bles, costumes and girls, but Mitchell Leisen, the director, has achieved
some stunning effects with his cameras. Unfortunately these scenes are
constantly being interrupted by the intrusion of the murder mystery. The
story does not build to a climax because its separate phases run parallel
to each other.
Mitchell and Durant
East For Baer Fight
Frank Mitchell and Jack Durant hop
East June 8 to catch the Carnera-Baer
fight and return at once to be on call
for Fox, where they are set for two
more pictures this year.
The heavy-slugging comedians have
turned down two weeks offered them
at the Capitol, New York, for a June 7
opening, fearing it might keep them
too long from Westwood Hills.
Halperins Tie Up With
Railroads For Picture
The Halperins, now in the East,
have completed negotiations with va-
^rious railroads for the use of equip-
' ment, railroad yards and workshops in
connection with "Juggernaut," which
they have had in preparation for the
past eight months. Victor Halperin,
who will direct, is now shooting mate-
rial to be used in transparencies and
trick shots.
Fred Keating Arrives
Fred Keating arrived by automobile
Tuesday, after a five and a half day
trip from New York, to start his Co-
lumbia deal in "The Captain Hates the
Sea." His last work on Broadway was
opposite Tallulah Bankhead in "For-
saking All Others."
European Arrivals
New York. — Arriving on the
Champlain are J. S. Hummel, War-
ners' European sales manager; the
"Folies Bergere" company of 75 for
the Chicago fair, and the London "She
Loves Me Not" company, headed by
William Harrigan and Elizabeth Love.
Dramatists Pass Up
Legit Theatre Code
New York. — The Dramatists Guild
has withdrawn from the jurisdiction of
the Code Authority of the legitimate
theatre and the resignation has been
accepted.
The Guild takes the position that
its members are not employers of la-
bor, nor do they receive wages, and
therefore they get no benefits from
the code. The revised legit code
comes up for a hearing on June 1 3.
Catholic Film Company
Wants 'Great Apostle*
Reversal of the Hollywood process
of importing film material from Europe
occurs in a request received by H. 0.
Stechan for the Austrian translation
rights of his unproduced play, "The
Great Apostle," based on the life of
St. Paul.
The play is under consideration as
one of the first productions of the
Catholic Film Company, being organ-
ized in Austria to produce religious
pictures. The translation rights are
sought by the Countess Hedvig Schaff-
gotsch, of Salzburg, Parsch.
Klein and Ruric Out
Marjorie Klein and Peter Ruric have
completed their one picture deal with
Paramount on the script of "A Son
Comes Home" and have checked off
the payroll. The story is an original
by Julian Josephson, which will prob-
ably be for Richard Arlen and Ida
Lupino.
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May 31, 1934
THE
P[iP©iiTiPi
Page Three
l^il
CHURCH WAR AGAINST SMUT
HURTUVG THEATERS ALL OVER
I
Campaign Carried
Direct To Exhibs
(Continued from Pagel )
showing any one of the pictures on the
blacklist, this fact is made known to
every Catholic in each and every par-
ish adjacent to the theatre, with a re-
quest to keep away from the theatre
on the days the picture is being shown.
That this campaign Is having its
effect IS shown by the number of
wires being received daily by distri-
bution offices, salesmen and sales
managers out in the territory, in ad-
dition to the fact that exhibitors are
reporting a drop in business of from
25 percent to 35 percent as a result
of running any of the pictures that
the Church has banned since the start
of this campaign.
Exhibitors report that, not only has
their business dropped as a result of
showing pictures on t+ie Catholic
blacklist, but they are being bombard-
ed with letters and telephone calls,
reminding them that they are show-
ing pictures that have been adjudged
indecent, and on each and every oc-
casion of such showing they (the
writers or the persons doing the phon-
ing) will remain away from the thea-
tre.
The letter that is being sent out
by every Bishop in America, on his
official letter head, reads as follows:
Dear Sir:
This letter is to inform you
that the Catholic Bishops of the
United States have inaugurated
a campaign against indecent
shows, which are corrupting the
youth of our country.
As you know, the Catholic
Church has continually been on
the liberal side of the amuse-
ment question. We have not
opposed, for example, baseball or
theatrical amusements on Sun-
days. We are not supporters of
the so-called blue laws. We en-
courage clean, wholesome recrea-
tion for our people at all times,
and we shall continue to do so.
In waging this campaign against
indecent shows we want you, as
manager of a local theatre, to
know that the campaign is not
against you. We know that many
managers of our theatres are just
as anxious as any of us to elimi-
nate indecent or demoralizing
shows, but these shows are more
or less thrust upon them.
To show you that we shall
gladly support you in this busi-
business we draw your attention
to the fact that we give weekly
in our official paper, "The Reg-
ister," which goes into every
Catholic home in the diocese, a
list of decent plays. We believe
as much in supporting clean
shows as in condemning bad
ones. Obviously, though, the
whole performance must be
clean, not merely a part of it.
We know that some of fhe
most outstanding film successes
this year have been above re-
proach, which proves that enter-
tainment value and box office
Rothschild' Sets
New London Record
London. — "The House of Roths-
child," the Twentieth Century pro-
duction starring George Arliss, has
broken all records of the Tivoli
theatre for the past year in spite
of very hot weather.
receipts do not depend upon
filth.
We would very much appre-
ciate your bringing this campaign
to the attention of film produc-
ers, and assure them that it is
not our wish to injure their busi-
ness. But we do insist on decent
shows, are urging our people to
sign the enclosed pledge, and in-
tend to work with other organi-
zations, and to do everything in
our power to compel the elimi-
nation of filth, and thus safe-
guard the youth of the country
from corruption.
The pledge card that is attached to
the letter is titled "Pledge of the
Legion of Decency" and is herewith
printed in full, having been referred
to on several occasions in The Re-
porter during the past several weeks.
Pledge of the Legion of Decency
(Sign and give to your Pastor)
1 wish to join the Legion of
Decency, which condemns vile
and unwholesome moving pic-
tures. I unite with all who pro-
test against t.hem as a grave
menace to youth, to home life, to
country and to religion.
I condemn absolutely those sa-
lacious motion pictures which,
with other degrading agencies,
are corrupting public morals and
promoting a sex mania in our
land.
I shall do all that I can to
arouse public opinion against the
portrayal of vice as a normal
condition of affairs, and against
depicting criminals of any class
as heroes and heroines, present-
ing their filthy philosophy of life
as something acceptable to de-
cent men and women.
I unite with all who condemn
the display of suggestive adver-
tisements on bill boards, at thea-
tre entrances and in newspapers,
and the favorable reviews often
given to immoral motion pictures
in the daily press.
Considering these evils, I
hereby promise to remain away
from all motion pictures except
those which do not offend de-
cency and Christian morality. I
promise further to secure as
many members as possible for
the Legion of Decency.
I make this protest in a spirit
of self-respect, and with the
conviction that the American
public does not demand filthy
pictures, but clean entertain-
ment and educational features.
Name
No dues whatever for the Le-
gion of Decency.
No meetings.
Millions of Americans, pledg-
ing themselves individually, can
jacobson-Barton
Now Full Directors
Arthur jacobson and Charles Bar-
ton, veteran Paramount assistant di-
rectors, were promoted to full-fledged
directors Tuesday and will pilot the
series of outdoor specials which Har-
old Hurley is superivsing.
They will CO - direct "Wagon
Wheels," with Randolph Scott and
Gail Patrick, and split on the next
two productions, handling them alone.
The outdoor pictures have been the
stepping stones for other one-time as-
sistant directors at the studio, namely
Otto Brower and Henry Hathaway.
Paramount Closes For
'Enter Madame' Rights
New York. — -Paramount has closed
its deal for the talking picture rights
to "Enter Madame" and probably will
make it a starring vehicle for Elissa
Landi. Jacques Deval and Gladys Leh-
man are doing the adaptation.
New Novel by Cordon
Leon Gordon, Reliance scenarist-
supervisor, will have his third novel,
"All Men Are Married," published by
Four Seas Company o-f Boston this
Fall.
3 Writers Out of U'
Forrest Halsey, Jacques Deval, and
David Hertz finished their writing as-
signments at Universal and went off
the payroll this week.
U. A. Theatre Dark
The closing of "Murder at the Van-
ities" at the United Artists Theatre
yesterday leaves the house dark for an
indefinite period.
rid the country of its greatest
menace — the salacious motion
picture.
Exhibitors, particularly those with
small town and neighborhood houses,
are feeling the weight of the Cath-
olic drive and are approaching the
exchanges for advice. Some have
taken the bull by the horns and have
cancelled all pictures that are on the
Catholic blacklist, particularly those
exhibitors who have houses in sec-
tions known to be heavily Catholic.
It is understood that the producers
are working night and day on a propa-
ganda campaign that is to be placed
m the advertising columns of the big
newspapers of the nation. This cam-
paign will not refer to the Church
propaganda in any way, but will con-
cern itself with what the motion pic-
ture industry means to the nation,
what it has done for the nation, and
its plans for the future.
There is no doubt that such a cam-
paign is in the works, but none of the
producers in the West or their distri-
bution offices in New York will con-
firm this fact or give out any inkling
of the type ads they are contemplat-
ing in presenting their side of the
subject to the public.
There's one thing we'd like very
much to know. If the censors and
bluenoses are going to take it upon
themselves to educate the screen, who
is going to educate the people into
liking it? We'll grant you that most
of the pictures made especially lof
the kiddies have held far more enter-
tainment and amusement for the eld-
ers, but that's because children are so
much more exacting. However, even
the grown-ups tire of playing with
children's toys and, after that first
pleasure of trying to be kids again
has exhausted itself, the whole idea
becomes a bore, and if their mentality
has kept pace with their growth, it's
a relief to get back to grown-up prob-
lems and games.
And still another question: If the
censors and bluenoses succeed in sell-
ing all their points to the industry,
who's going to sell the pictures to
the public? Granted the fact that for
years the industry has been able to
sell practically ANYTHING to every-
body at the same time, that industry
has had practically EVERYTHING to
sell to anybody. But if the industry
is to be reduced to making pictures
dictated by the smallest, meanest mi-
nority in the world, who's going to
convince the majority that they will
enjoy spending their money to see
them? If all this censorship bugaboo
really comes to pass, the censors will
have only themselves to thank for
throwing the country right back to
the burlesque houses.
We think we have discovered a
sign of progress in Hollywood. The
other day the head of a major studio
called m a well-known agent. He
told the agent tiiat he would gladly
pay a large salary, plus all traveling
expenses, to a man the agent could
recommend as being good at discov-
ering talent. And what do you think
the agent said? He said be thought
the whole idea was ridiculous. That
there is more talent in Hollywood than
pictures could ever make use of and
that it was about time that Hollywood
began to take advantage of its own
natural resources.
And that statement is so true that
it's just pitiful. So far this week we
have heard that same statement made
by agents, publicity men and directors.
The only people who seem to be un-
convinced of the fact are the produc-
ers, but the idea is gradually working
its way up and any day now they may
make use of it. The best illustration
of the truth of the idea is that the
top-notch box-office stars are all
Hollywood products (not Broadway),
including Clark Gable, but Gable had
to take himself out of the extra ranks
and do a show on Broadway before
the producers could see n!m.
Page Four
THE
May 31, 1934
MCM Melodrama'
Gets London Raves
London. — The press here went into
a panic over MCM's "Manhattan
Melodrama," which opened at the
Empire Theatre Tuesday. Excerpts:
Sunday Pictorial — "Manhattan Mel-
odrama" has three stars in the pic-
ture. I give it four.
Daily Mail — The perfect illustration
of the drama of reality which Holly-
wood has completely mastered.
Observer — Sensationally written and
produced.
Buck Planning Series
Of Wild Animal Shorts
A deal whereby Frank Buck, pro-
ducer of "Bring 'Em Back Alive," will
go to Africa to make a series of short
subjects with dramatic exposition, is
reported under way. A. ). Van Beuren
is mentioned as working on the distri-
bution and financial end of the deal
with Buck.
Short stories involving wild animals
would be purchased for the series.
MCM Puts 'Duchess of
Delmonico's' on Shelf
MCM Tuesday shelved "The Duch-
ess of Delmonico's", which was
planned for Jeanette MacDonald and
Clark Cable, and Tiffany Thayer, who
was scripting, has checked off the
payroll.
Cregory LaCava. who was to direct
as his second assignment for MCM,
will be given another picture to han-
dle. Harry Rapf was scheduled to
produce.
'Master's Voice' Delay
B. P. Schulberg has shelved work
on "Her Master's Voice," the second
picture postponement this week. Ac-
tion was due to the difficulty in get-
ting the proper cast, the producer
deciding he will wait until he can get
the players he wants.
Marion on 'Cay Divorce'
George Marion Jr. has dropped work
on "Radio City Revels" in order to
polish off the screen play on "Cay
Divorce" for Radio. Ed Kaufman is
handling the comedy in t.he script.
Cene Raymond Back
Cene Raymond checked in Tuesday
after a month's vacation in New York.
He has been offered a spot in the
Eddie Small production of "Show-
boat."
Howard For Reliance
Sydney Howard will get a featured
role in Edward Small's "Transatlantic
Showboat" on an exchange deal by
United Artists with British and Do-
minions.
•U' Tests Eddie Foy
Universal is testing Eddie Foy for
a featured role in "The Creat Zieg-
feld," which William Anthony Mc-
Cuire is producing.
Deal For Aylesworth
Warners notified Arthur Aylesworth
that his option was exercised. Player
will round out a year with the com-
pany's stock group.
TRADEVIEWS
(Continued from Page 1 )
the publication, are asking their flocks
to keep away from the theatre on the
days those pictures are being shown.
And now they have gone further,
Mr. Producer. They are in touch with
every theatre in the nation in an ef-
fort to persuade the exhibitor that you
are wrong and that he dare not show
those pictures. The theatre man is in
a spot. If he shows the pictures, IT
HAS BEEN PROVEN, in many in-
stances, that his business reaches the
flop stage, and the theatre owner is
worried because he is getting letters
and phone calls from his patrons de-
manding that he eliminate those pic-
tures from his program.
•
You may think this war is being
fought with blank cartridges, that it
is only a flash in the pan. And you
may be right. But that does not ab-
solve you of guilt unless you prove
yourself innocent. That does not pre-
vent them from starting another war
on a different front — Federal censor-
ship and other legal restrictions. You
SIMPLY MUST STATE YOUR CASE,
you must give your side of the story.
You can't sit and hold your thumbs
and pass it off with "they are a lot of
cheap reformers 'looking for publicity
and maybe a handout."
Mr. Producer, you have never been
confronted with such opposition since
you have been making pictures. You
have facing you a Church that never
lost a battle, a Church that is known
for its liberal views, a Church that is
convinced the screen is demoralizing
this nation. It may be wrong (and
we believe it is) but it must be con-
vinced, NOT by an attack against the
beliefs, but by good sound reasoning,
by convincing propaganda, by FACTS.
SO, WHAT ARE YOU COINC TO
DO ABOUT IT?
•
Letters have reached this desk from
exhibitors, beseeching us to appeal to
you for help. Your New York offices
have been flooded with mail, tele-
grams and phone calls from members
of your own organizations out in the
field, pleading for an answer. What
have you done? NOTHING. What are
you eoino to do? As of this hour,
NOTHING. And what do you think
will be the result?
If the Church substantiates its
charges, AS IT IS DOING because of a
lack of defense on your part, it has
only reached the first stage of its
campaign "to purge the screen of its
filth." If there is no filth to purge,
they will purge something and that
something will purge the income of
this business by many millions of dol-
lars of cash admissions and inflict a
censorship that will make it almost
impossible for you to photograph
ENTERTAINING pictures.
•
You can prove your case before the
nation's jury if you go before that
'ury. represented by good counsel, and
TELL THE FACTS. You can prove that
the Bible is your scenario; that your
drama is an expurgated leaf of every
day life; that your pictures are treat-
ments of saintly subjects when com-
pared to the front page of any news-
paper, or the contents of many maga-
zines. You are not the scoundrels that
you are represented to be; you are not
trying to demoralize your clientele;
you are simply trying to furnish EN-
TERTAINMENT to people who seek it
and are willing to pay for it.
The Church or any of the other or-
ganizations who have seen fit to at-
tack you have not given you credit for
anything and they are blaming you for
everything. They have not told their
listeners the education that has been
given this and other nations via the
screen. They have not told them how
the people of the world have been
brought to the front doors of others,
with their work, their play and their
customs. They have not given you
credit for teaching the history of the
world through screen entertainment.
They have not done it. BUT YOU
CAN AND YOU MUST. You have a
case, a good case. Co out and prove it.
Smith-Mallory Leave
On Mexico Expedition
Wallace Smith and Bolton Mallory
hopped off yesterday on their picture
location into Mexico.
They go by train to Acapuico, char-
ter a boat to shoot alligators, and then
swing into the interior.
Baxter-Callian Team
Warner Baxter and Ketti Gallian
will be co-starred by Fox in "Hell in
the Heavens." Original play was call-
ed "The Ace," and served Gallian on
the French stage .
Co-operative Plan
For Tony Pastor's
The cast of "The Ticket of Leave
Man" has taken over Tony Pastor's,
which closed May 20, and will re-
open the theatre next Saturday night
with everyone working on a co-opera-
tive basis, and with business affairs
in the hands of a special committee.
All members of the cast are sell-
ing tickets now for the first three
nights. The receipts of these nights
will not be divided, but will be set
aside as a sinking fund to take care
of supplying t.he house with groceries
and refreshments. Starting Tuesday
the receipts will be divided.
Ted Lorch, Ole Ness and Joe Top-
kin comprise the committee handling
the business affairs.
Meehan To Do Script
Of Own Original at 'U*
John Meehan Jr. was commissioned
Tuesday by Universal to prepare con-
tinuity and dialogue for his original,
"Castles in the Air," which Kirk Neu-
mann will direct under the eye of
B. F. Zeldman.
Henry Armetta is added to the cast,
for which Russ Columbo, June Knight
and Russ Brown were previously set.
Arnold Option Lifted
B. P. Schulberg Tuesday clipped
the third option off Edward Arnold's
long term ticket. He was in "Thirty j i
Day Princess" for Paramount and is I
now on loan to Universal.
i
SERVICE
^aW'jmW^
e SATIN SMOOTH make-up is the
achievement of an organization
whose h'fetime has been devoted to
a sympathetic study of the problems
of the Industry.
0THIS devotion to service has pro-
duced in Satin Smooth a make-up of
unchallenged perfection — a smooth-
er, faster, make-up that photographs
beautifully and sets a pace for all
times for performance.
MAX FACTOR'S^
MAKE-UP STUDIOS
HOLLYWOOD. CALIFORNIA
1
REMEMBER THE DATE!!
YOUR FRIENDS WILL BE THERE
. . . THE GREATEST OF THE GREAT
WILL PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT
A CHANCE TO HELP OTHERS WHO NEED IT
. . . WHILE YOU DINE AND DANCE
. . . at the COLONY CLUB
DINNER- $5.00 THE PLATE
All receipts for the evening will be turned over by the Club to the
JEWISH CONSUMPTIVE HOME AT DENVER, COLO.
THURSDAY NIGHT. JUNE 7th
(This ad furnished Hirough the courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter
9
Page Six
THg
May 31, 1934
Cohen-Batcheller
Plan Bigger Pix
Declaring that the Invincible and
Chesterfield programs for next sea-
son would include an undetermined
number of specials and a more elabo-
rate production policy, Maury M.
Cohn took the plane for New York
yesterday to join his partner, George
Batcheller, who went East two weeks
ago.
Cohen and Batcheller contemplate
a trip to Europe to extend their for-
eign outlets. Their product is now
handled for England by British Gau-
mont, and has some continental re-
leases. Invincible's "House of Stran-
gers," just completed, and the last
Chesterfield, "Green Eyes," will be
presented to the continent as samples
of product offered.
The partnership will continue with
each member heading his own corpo-
ration and handling his own produc-
tions.
Oswald the Rabbit To
Be a History Teacher
Oswald, Walter Lantz' cartoon rab-
bit, will hop through an "Outline of
History" for Universal's 34-35 pro-
gram.
The series starts on the June 30 re-
lease with "Christopher Columbus )r."
followed by "Happy Pilgrims," "Civil
War Days," "Daniel Boone," "The
First Steam Boat," etc. Authentic
dates will be used so the kids may
learn something.
J. P. Kennedy May Be
New Paramount Head
New York — It is reported here that
Joseph P. Kennedy may be chosen to
head the reorganized Paramount, some
credence being given to the rumor by
the desire of the bankers to have not
only a man who knows something
about the picture business, but also
one who knows banking and the stock
market.
Stahl Starts June 18
Louise Beavers and Freddie Wash-
ington look set for the two principal
colored parts in "Imitation of Life,"
the Claudette Colbert picture to be
made by )ohn M. Stahl for Universal.
Production is scheduled to start on
June 18.
Ruth Etting to Radio
Ruth Etting arrives tomorrow from
Omaha, where she has been making
personal appearances. She goes to Ra-
dio for four shorts which Lee Marcus
will produce for the new program.
Original For Holt
Columbia has assigned Jyl, Coats-
Webster to write an untitled original
screen play which will probably be
used for a jack Holt vehicle. Everett
Riskin is producing.
John Cecil Graham Sails
London. — John Cecil Graham, Para-
mount British head, sails Saturday to
attend the company's convention in
Los Angeles. Sol Newman, of Radio,
sails on the same ship.
Complaint Board Meets
The Complaint and Grievance sub-
committee of the Code Committee for
Extras will meet today to clean up all
complaints of exlras t'lat are on hand.
The Racket' Again
With Eddie Robinson
New York. — Howard Hawks,
who has left here for the coast, is
understood to be set to direct the
talking version of "The Racket"
for Paramount, with E. G. Robinson
starred. Gene Fowler is doing the
adaptation.
$2,000,000 Budget
For Epic of Alaska
New York. — Floyd Crosby, one of
the producers of "Tabu," is heading a
new expedition to make a picture in
Alaska and Northern Canada. The
backer is Charles Bedaux, who is said
to have put up a bankroll of $2,-
000,000.
Crosby starts on June 25 and is
taking with him a complete develop-
ing and printing equipment.
'House of Strangers'
Done Under Schedule
For the first time in motion picture
history a production involving Erich
von Stroheim finished, not merely on
schedule, but half a day under, when
Frank Strayer turned in the last take
of Invincible's "House of Strangers"
at Universal Monday.
Invincible's final production on the
current program will be "A Girl Must
Live," an original which Carl Brown is
now adapting. Strayer will direct.
Jones Aide to LeBaron
Paramount promoted John Paul
Jones, gagman, writer and assistant
director, to the spot as assistant to
William LeBaron Tuesday.
OPEN FORUM
AVALON THEATRE
Montgomery, W. Va.
Hollywood Reporter:
For some time you and thousands
of people have been condemning inde-
cent photoplays. Just what is consid-
ered indecent? Some people say they
didn't send their child to see "I'm No
Angel" because of Mae West's
"smut." But "Angel" drew them in
at the box-office the country over.
As Groucho Marx said: "I like smut
if it is told by the right smutter." In
my opinion 95 per cent of the show-
going public likes a little dirt here and
rhere.
The children are not keeping the
theatres out of the red, but the par-
ents are, and they must like dirt.
What about the grosses on "So This
Is Africa," the most sugf^stive picture
I have ever seen.' And they liked it.
Let's have more angles for smutty
pictures in the right way.
RAMON COLLINS.
The Hollywood Reporter:
You printed something in your pa-
per to the effect that Chester Morris
was negotiating with t.he Halperin
brothers on a picture engagement.
Both Mr. Morris and this office
would appreciate your denial of this,
as no negotiations have been made for
any production with the Halperins.
REBECCA & SILTON.
Distribs Named In
Conspiracy Suit
Philadelphia. — Harry Perelman, in-
dependent theatre owner, has filed a
suit under the anti-trust laws againts
several major distributors, alleging
conspiracy to drive the independent
exhibitors out of business. The suit
also asks nullification of a contract
which he has with the distributors
which prohibits him from showing
double features.
The exhibitors are getting behind
Perelman in this suit and have formed
the Independent Exhibitors Protective
Association.
Jolson and Wife Sail
For New York Tomorrow
Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler sail from
Los Angeles on the Santa Elena to-
morrow for New York, where they are
due June 17. Jolson puts in the sum-
mer broadcasting, returning for "Go
Into Your Dance," on which Warners
start preparations in September.
Ruby Keeler will appear in the West
Point commencement background for
"Flirtation Walk."
Little Women' Has
Crossed $2,000,000
New York. — The Radio Pictures
production of "Little Women,"
which cost around $450,000 to
produce, has already grossed ap-
proximately $2,000,000 in the
United States alone.
Harman-lsing Will Make
Fourteen MCM Shorts
New York. — Hugh Harman and
Rudolf Ising have closed a deal with
MGM to make thirteen one-reel and
one featured two-reel animated car-
toons in color.
The first one-reeler will be "The
Discontented Canary" and the two-
reeler will be Tschaikowsky's "Nut
cracker Suite."
Long Term For Krims
Al Levoy, business manager for
Mascot, yesterday converted Milton
Krims' one-picture deal into a long
term contract. He has completed the
screen play of "Harmony Lane" and is
now polishing up the script of "Crim-
son Romance."
4
Lovely Ladies
Love to Wear
Lovely Intimate Wear
Exclusive Lingerie
and Hosiery
c fuELRi .
K^ BEVERLY HILLS \Cy
Wilshire Blvd a^Bever^ Drive
London's Smartest Address—
GROSVENOR HOUSE
PARK LANE . . .
IS also London's most modern hotel. An apartment at
Grosvenor House provides an actual "home from
home," replete with every modern aid to greater
comfort.
The location of Grosvenor House is a happy blend of
convenience and charm; in and around the hotel
London's social life moves; near by are the best shops
and the theatres; just across the way is London's great
garden, Hyde Park.
Life is amusing, easy and pleasant at
Grosvenor House, London
:able Address for Reservations: CROVHOWS, AUDLEY, LONDON
Congratulations
Directors
We are very happy to have been
of assistance to the Wardrobe
Departments in the production of so
many fine costume pictures, during
the season 1933 - 1934
Western
Costume
Corporation
peauti/ui /romance yuu naiaraou9\
Qdveniure Qsswes Positive/
^^— ^ Box Office Draui.^ '
^atri son's
'"^^ Tlost every animal picture
"l have seen *^"*°'''. ^h^ United States.
^^-^-T^Ue^n nettisasfascinat-
but never have 1 *««: ^ bengal.' • • •
i„g and thrilUng -/^r^.^.ct that human
The thrills are caused bvth ^^^^^^^ ^^^
members of the ^^^ ^i,,^, of their com-
every occasion tosave the l^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^
rades. There is a sort o ^^^^^^^^
^---^^ntrfTct of this spirit is felt
productions. The ^ ^^^^^ „,„
most P-o^^f ""^'J.^ i, rescued from the
-''"'""' lle^n; flue either), and his
3-^ t^r::^ leaning over hisbodv
sweetheart • • • -h ^^^.^^^ ^^^^^ U-
grief-stricken, bursts o f ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^
i,g down her cheeks •^. ^^^ ^^^^^^ 3.
Mr. Schenck -"^ hi^.^^^ .^ ,^,, most excU-
tempting to cross tn Crocodiles are
i,g ever seen - P-- ^ ^^^ ,He elephants
seen attackmg the cara ^^^^^.^^ ^^
themselves. Another excmng^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^
where the --":^"7;r,;;pKants ... All goes
photograph a herd of eleP ^^^^ ^^^^^
-^^^T^'':ottr::fnrc-eramenand
upset the canoes. ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ per
natives into the ri^ . ^.^^^^.^^ ^^, a
(or their lives . • • ^n seriously a
^--^^^^ThlTrr-n^ade-up affair.
cameraman. These ^ ^^^^^^ ^^ l,t,
onecanseeplainW^^^;-^^^^^,,houldbe
or death . • •
shown everywhere.
Shov/mns
)Ound idble
— 1{dves
"Exploitation should bring in great returns
for you on this offering. It moves rapidly,
isn't too long, and the photoKraphv, con-
sidering the handicaps under which camera-
men were forced to work, is fine."
SHOWMENS PICTURES, IN
D. J. MOUNTAN, President
723 SEVENTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. ^\
iniEKIIIIS
•THE boys were batting the ball
around the other evening and talking
about the picture business in general
and good pictures in particular. The
conclusion was that two or three really
GREAT PICTURES would do wonders
for this business and some sort of
propaganda should be started in this
town in an effort to stir up production
imagination and actual production
tending to the making of a great pic-
ture or two.
That's a pretty tough assignment.
It is our opinion that there has not
been a really great picture since "All
Quiet" and there's hardly a chance
that there will be one for some time,
as producers, the men heading the
studios, give little encouragement to
the men and women working under
them that would inspire such efforts.
In the first place (with the pos-
sible exception of MCM) there is not
a plant in the business which would
take a chance on the making of a
GREAT PICTURE, they would not
care to risk that money, they would
not give the time for the writing or
the adaptation or sufficient time to
shoot such a picture. And because of
this writers are not writing in that
direction, they are attempting to de-
liver what the producers want and it
does not seem to be GREAT PIC-
TURES.
But getting back to the first para-
graph a GREAT PICTURE would do
this business more good right at this
time than anything that could happen
— a picture that would send audi-
ences out screaming their delight, a
picture that would be discussed in the
'home, in the office, from the church
pulpit; one that would be commented
en by the press, editorially and other-
wise. This business needs such a lift,
but w.ho's to do it? Who is going
after that big picture? Who has the
brains and the desire to make it?
Picture audiences, past and present,
should be aroused by something im-
portant, something really big. The
stay-at-homes should be brought back
to the theatres and the only way to do
it would be through an outstanding
production, a GREAT PICTURE.
How about it?
Feb. 21, 1934
BILLY WILKERSON
Here s Your Answer !
\x
OUR
DAILY
BREAD"
A PICTURE
NSPIRED BY HEADLINES
OF TODAY
UNITED ARTISTS RELEASE
ROY
DEL
RUTH
DIRECTOR
UNDER CONTRACT TO
TWENTIETH CENTURY
JUST COMPLETED
u
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
ff
IN PREPARATION
A SAMUEL GOLDWYN — UNITED ARTISTS PRODUCTION
STARRING EDDIE CANTOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Future of the Director
By IRVING THALBERC
The Menace of the "Big Four"
By RICHARD WALLACE
What Is Smut Worth?
By FRANK CAPRA
Be Yourself - - - - -
By GREGORY LA CAVA
Comically Speaking
By ROY DEL RUTH
"Just One of Those Things"
By HENRY HATHAWAY
just a Joiner -----
VAN DYKE
Looking Backwards on Direction
By ROBERT Z. LEONARD
No Rest For the Wicked -
By NORMAN TAUROG
What About Good Music in Pictures?
By VICTOR SCHERTZINGER
The World Is Round
By MERVYN LeROY
Cameraman or Director of Photography?
By KARL FREUND
Let's Make a Different Musical
By MARK SANDRICH
9
11
13
15
17
19
21
23
25
27
29
31
33
Published and copyrighted by THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd. Executive-Editorial
Offices and Office of Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood (Los Angeles), Calif.
Telephone HOIIywood 3957. Published every day with the exception of Sundays and
Holidays. Subscription rates, including postage, per year in the United States and Canada,
$10 Foreign, $15. Single copies 5c. Entered as second class matter |une 4, 1932, at the
Post Office at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3, 1879.
; 1
THE BEST TEN
BOX-OFFICE DIRECTORS
FOR 1933-34
As Selected by Exhibitor
Subscribers of the hlollywood Reporter
FRANK CAPRA
GEORGE CUKOR
WESLEY RUGGLES
M E R VYN L E ROY
RAOUL WALSH
ALEXANDER HALL
RICHARD BOLESLAVSKY
W. S. VANDYKE
ARCHIE MAYO
LOWELL SHERMAN
From the questionnaires that were sent out to exhibitors
this year asking their selections of the Best Ten Box Office
Directors of the past year, and the number of replies sent in, it
is most evident that the showmen had little interest in the
Director and his work during the past twelve months. There
were fewer replies this year than either of the other two years
that this publication solicited this information.
Capra copped first place with his "Lady For a Day" and "It
Happened One Night," both from the exchanges of Columbia.
George Cukor gave him a run with "Little Women" from Radio
and "Dinner at Eight" from Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer. Wesley
Ruggles had little competition for third place with "College
Humor," "Bolero" and "I'm No Angel," released by Paramount.
Mervyn LeRoy stepped through nicely to grab the fourth posi-
tion with "Tugboat Annie" from MCM, "Golddiggers of 1933,"
"Hi Nellie," "The World Changes" and "Heat Lightning" from
Warner-First National, and Raoul Walsh brought up the rear in
the first bracket of directors due to his "The Bowery" for Twen-
tieth Century and "Going Hollywood" for MGM.
In the second group a dark horse raced through to cop the
top honors in the person of Alexander Hall, whose "The Torch
Singer. "Mrs. Fane's Baby Is Stolen," "Girl in 419" (co-directed
with George Somnes) and "The Midnight Club" caught the
exhibitors' fancy. All of them for Paramount. Richard
Boleslavsky trailed Hall by just a few votes due to his "Storm
at Daybreak," "Beauty For Sale," "Fugitive Lovers" and "Men
in White," all for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Another MGM
director, W. S. Van Dyke, copped the next position for the direc-
tion of "Penthouse," "Eskimo," 'The Prizefighter and the Lady"
and "Manhattan Melodrama." "Convention City" pushed
Archie Mayo into the charmed circle, helped by "Mayor of Hell,"
'Ever in My Heart" and "Gambling Lady." Those who favored
Lowell Sherman as a big money director insisted on listing "She
Done Him Wrong" on last year's pictures, when in fact it was
on the Paramount program of the year before, but inasmuch as
a large percentage of the houses played this great attraction for
several repeats that ran over into the past year, he must be
given recognition for that along with "Morning Glory" for
Radio and "Broadway Thru a Keyhole" for Twentieth Century.
Robert Z. Leonard
^^
DANCING LADY
rr
IN PRODUCTION
\\
THE GREEN HAT
II
(Temporary Title)
METRO - COLDWYN - MAYER
•so THIS IS HARRIS"
Academy Award Short Subject
"MELODY CRUISE"
"AGGIE APPLEBY"
"HIPS, HIPS, HOORAY"
Wheeler and Woolsey
Just Completed
"COCKEYED CAVALIERS"
Wheeler and Woolsey
In Preparation
"GAY DIVORCE"
featuring
Fred Astaire — Ginger Rogers
mark sandrich
DIRECTOR
RKO-Radio Pictures
BEST
DIRECTOR
1954 '
Raoul Walsh
Directed
"THE BOWERY"
"GOING HOLLYWOOD"
A
BOUT five years ago, when sound
was first introduced, I was asked what
the future of the motion picture director
would be. With dialogue directors being
requested right and left, and with the en-
tire form of motion pictures seeming to
the future of the motion picture director
undergo radical changes, and — not the
least — with our tremendous financial
commitment in directors' contracts, it
seemed a serious question at the time.
My reply was then just as now — that the
future of the director seemed brighter
than ever.
More and more it is increasingly evi-
dent that the opportunity to get com-
pletely original stories is diminishing and
the demand for style and treatment falls
heavier upon the producer of pictures. To
the director who can stylize his direction
there is an ever-increasing opportunity
substantially to improve the box-office
value of the material and the cast with
which he is working.
it would be unnecessary to name the
director outstanding for his human qual-
ity, as a vast majority of the people in the
industry would agree on the name of the
man whose work is so characterized.
The same may be said of another who
has specialized in a humorous American,
whimsical style.
Another directors' ability to turn every
situation into sly humor has caused that
type of direction to be named after him
— so that when others employ the same
method it is called the "So-And-So"
touch.
The Future of The Director
By
IRVING THALBERC
I could name countless exampfes of
men who have stylized their work so that
their pictures represent freshness and
novelty even when the stories they por-
tray are, at times, a little well-known.
Personally, I am of the belief that this
represents the most favorable factor in
the future oF motion pictures.
The director's ability to help actors has
been greatly diminished by talking pic-
tures. There is no question about that.
The day when an actor could be made out
of a rank amateur is over. There will, of
course, come up out of nowhere many
new and great actors — but they will be
people of extraordinary talent.
The day is over, also, when the actor
can appear on the set hardly knowing the
story he may be in. Today every smalf-
part actor is a serious-thinking man or
woman, capable of giving an interesting
interpretation; and the great and impor-
tant stars and featured players are, prac-
tically without exception, deep-thinking
men and women of extraordinary talent
and genius in their line of endeavor. The
director to them is no longer an instruc- a
tor in their own work — but by his styliz- fl
ing of his story, the successful director ^
presents the actor to the public constant- V
ly in a new light and adds tremendously ^
to the actor's prestige and popularity.
jW
PADDY, THE NEXT BEST THING
GEORGE WHITE'S SCANDALS
I LIKE IT THAT WAY
Just Completed
BABY TAKES A BOW
SHIRLEY TEMPLE
JIMMY DUNN
11 -
T
i, HE motion picture industry today is
faced by four tremendously big problems
within itself. These must be solved or
we all will have something to worry
about. I don't refer to poor stories, poor
acting and other perennial problems, but
to more serious factors.
The most important of the four is the
tendency to forget the children. The in-
dustry has done a perfect swing-back.
There is nothing to bemoan about this, for
it happens again and again among us poor
mortals. People drink too much and they
suddenly become prohibitionists — they
hear too much radio music and they dash
to the silence of desert islands. Our lives
are a matter of constant contrast, the
swinging of giant pendulums.
For years, the industry was accused by
millions of being childish. It was said
that those who created and directed mo-
tion pictures were morons appealing to
twelve-year-old minds. The direct result
of this was that producers, bitten to the
quick by the charges, suddenly became
sophisticated. They became super-smart.
They began making pictures which
were very subtle — so subtle in fact that
after the censors got through with them.
Gopher Prairie didn't know what they
were all about. This is still going on,
with good old Gopher Prairie still strug-
gling to catch on and the producers being
terribly sophisticated.
I speak of normal adult minds who do
not know what pictures are aiming at.
Think of the children! They used to
have their Petes and Toms and Bucks and
Kens, and loved them. Today, one of the
most pitiful sights in the world, with
these players in action pictures gone, is to
see a bunch of kids congregating for a
"children's matinee" at a neighborhood
playhouse to see "Sex Is Merry" and
"Three Peculiar People."
I stopped a nine-year-old girl on the
street in front of a theatre not long ago
and asked her what she thought of the
picture playing there. She replied:
"I didn't know exactly what was going
on, but when the man came into the
lady's room, with another man there, and
shot her, I thought that was swell!"
This is just bad news for the motion
picture industry. At the rate we are go-
ing now, so help me, no respectable par-
ents are going to let youngsters inside of
the theatres. The children of today are
the cash customers of tomorrow and,
looking at the matter selfishly, aside from
the moral aspects, we must educate them
to like motion pictures. I can't see cap-
turing the childish imagination with bed-
room farces and bedroom dramas, both
from a moral and a box office standpoint.
The Menace of the "Big Four"
Problem number two is that motion
pictures are going stale. With approxi-
mately 600 feature pictures being made
yearly, backgrounds are being exhausted.
Plots are unvarying. The novelty lies in
the new background or "idea". We are
running short on ideas, with producers
playing the mimic more than ever before.
The depression seems to be over. Hol-
lywood now has a chance to make good
with new and fresh ideas. The people
who have stayed away from theatres be-
cause they have had little or no money
are coming back.
We should show them good samples,
but we are not doing it. Every director
in pictures today knows that we are drop-
ping the atmosphere of motion pictures
— eliminating crowds and settings — and
making two-shots and three-shots. This
is not the time to economize. We want
to show these returning customers pic-
tures which will bring them again to the
box office. We are not doing it.
We are "cheating" with an excess of
dialog instead of showing our customers
the action for which motion pictures are
noted and on which they got their start.
The fact that motion pictures have broad
latitude in the matter of action, as com-
pared to the stage, is forgotten com-
pletely.
Problem number three has to do with
the development of talent. Something
has to be done. We used to get all the
material we wanted from stock compa-
nies, road shows, Broadway productions
and vaudeville acts. Today, all of these
sources, with the exception of Broadway,
are exhausted. Broadway may not be
exhausted, but it is plenty tired. As ar
infant industry, subservient to the so-
called legitimate theatre we "borrowed"
players who had had their schooling, and
often forgot to return them. Today, mo-
tion pictures outrank any other form of
theatrical and radio entertainment.
We are not reaching up for talent and
pulling it down to us, but we are reaching
down and pulling it UP to us. We are
not getting the type of material we need.
The Valentinos, the Reids, are of a past
generation and we are developing no new
romantic characters except a few flashes
in the pan. Our stars of today rank in
age from forty to sixty years! I refer to
By
RICHARD WALLACE
Marie Dressier, Wally Beery, W.C. Fields,
Alison Skipworth, Lewis Stone and May
Robson, just to mention a few. Our
comedian is Chaplin with gray hair. Our
dramatist is the Beery of "Viva Villa,"
and our heart throb is May Robson of
"Lady for a Day."
Somehow, somewhere, we nrrust get
hold of new talent with a punch- thrill-
ing people in thrilling stories who will
not be the rage of today and the outrage
of tomorrow. Some of the moderns have
failed to last as long as miniature golf and
the bicycle craze.
Problem number four goes into psy-
chology. It is unfair to blame producers
or directors, because we are just reflect-
ing the times. However, the screen is
losing a wholesomeness. It is develop-
ing characters on the screen that the man
from Jallopi, Ohio, would not welcome in-
to his own home. In fact, he would kick
them down the front steps.
I firmly believe that the character of
an actor or actress shows in his or her
face. Therefore, players should leave the
flesh-pots alone and lead clean and exem-
plary lives. This is a tremendous order.
However, I do feel that the reason the
present crop of players has such a short
life with the public is that it isn't whole-
some. And wholesome players should be
followed up with wholesome stories.
There are still things which are fine,
beautiful and even holy in American life
today. I would like to see these situa-
tions, these motivations and these char-
acters developed on the screen. Pro-
ducers and directors may believe that in
becoming raw, rancid, suggestive, pan-
dering and dirty, they are appealing to
today's American "civilization".
I do not agree. I think we are clean
people working in a clean industry. I do
not believe that we should follow public
taste — I think we should educate it. I
think that every man and woman work-
ing in the motion picture industry has a
sacred charge — and that is to show the
coming generation that the things which
seem to appeal to them today — the things
which are fundamentally, socially and
morally wrong — are just that. This may
be done quite easily.
The actors who play in this type of pro-
duction will be the idols of tomorrow.
:«^
marion gering
Management
Schulberg-Feldman and Curney
''Ladies of the Big House"
"Madame Butterfly"
"Pick Up"
"Jennie Cerhardt"
"Good Dame"
"Thirty Day Princess".
\\
Now in Preparation
Her Master's Voice"
(For Paramount)
13 -
J. HAVE been asked whether the box-
office value of smut is waning.
This raises the question: "Does smut
have ANY box-office value?"
Personally I do not think it has — ex-
cept to a very limited clientele and for a
very limited time.
Smutty pictures have done more harm
than good to the exhibitors' business.
While they temporarily attract a certain
class, they definitely repel others to
whom this type of production is repulsive.
The harm is not confined to that picture
alone; those who dislike smut stay away
from all moving picture theatres for some
time after they, or their children, witness
such a picture.
The New York stage passed through a
cycle of smutty plays and spectacles fea-
turing the nude. It was an expedient
adopted when box-offices began to suffer
severely from the general depression.
Clean-minded persons who were always
steady patrons stayed away, and the pro-
ducers only aggravated the box-office sit-
uation by further limiting patronage.
Smut, like profanity, is the expedient
of the man too lazy to express himself
without its use. It is easy to be profane
or smutty of speech; difficult to be
clever.
The temporary box-office value of
smut is offset by the lasting injury it in-
flicts on subsequent box-office figures.
Its value lay in its "shock" effect, and
even this temporary value has been de-
stroyed, just as the shock and effect of
a cold shower is lost after the first burst
of the icy water. Further attempts to
surpass such spectacles only further dis-
gust a very large percentage of the thea-
tre-going public.
An instance of the effect of the recent
cycle of "smut" pictures was related by
a San Francisco attorney. With his fam-
ily, he wished to attend a motion picture
theatre. The advertisements of their
favorite showhouse featured a picture
with a lascivious title. The attorney and
his family stayed home.
Some time later he was in a small Cali-
fornia city on business. As there was no
other place to go during the evening, he
What Is Smut Worth ?
sought out the local motion picture house
and entered without glancing at the name
of the attraction. The picture was the
one he had kept his family from seeing in
San Francisco.
Much to his amazement the produc-
tion was innocuous and harmless in spite
of its patently "box-office" title, and was
really good entertainment.
In this instance, a mistaken effort to
inject questionable box-office had kept
the lawyer and his family from attending
the theatre, and an innocent picture suf-
fered from the sins of others.
The situation has been reversed too
often to point out any one instance where
a family has attended a motion picture
theatre, knowing nothing of the kind of
an attraction outside of a seemingly
harmless title, and became disgusted by
a smutty, suggestive picture, followed by
a resolve on the part of the parents to
keep their children from motion pictures,
except when they could be absolutely
certain that the kind of entertainment
was such as they would wish their chil-
dren to see.
That patronage will come to pictures
that are entirely clean of smut is attested
by the success of "The House of Roths-
By
FRANK CAPRA
child," "Lost Patrol," "Little Women,"
and Frank Borzage's early "Seventh
Heaven" or his recent, "No Greater
Glory" and of "Cimarron."
Widespread censorship, rigidly en-
forced, is another item which must be
taken into consideration when the ques-
tion of whether or not smut pays is dis-
cussed. The continued appearance of pic-
tures in which smut predominates will
certainly lead to more and more censor-
ship, and in states where the screen is
now free from this bureaucratic cutting
and slashing of all productions.
The large radio chains took a lesson
from the experience of the motion pic-
ture business and immediately instituted
a self-censorship that has kept the air
clean of smut. The big advertisers and
the big radio chains know that, even
though any individual advertiser could
enlist a huge air-audience through the
use of smutty programs, it would lead
immediately to a much greater portion of
the radio listeners shutting out from their
homes, not only the offending program,
but others which were innocent and free
from anything offensive.
I do not argue against sex in pictures,
provided it is handled cleverly. But there
is more sex in a flash of a pair of pretty
ankles than there is in a scene of a thou-
sand bare legs; more allurement in what
is not shown than in that which is blat-
antly and crudely smeared on the screen
to the point of nausea in an attempt to
outdo some other production which had
made a questionable success through its
use.
'jW
15 -
I
F I were running a school for motion
picture actors, the first request I would
make is: "Please don't act." Many years
ago when theatres had GALLERIES, there
were many systems of imitation called
"schools of acting." The first thing re-
quired of the pupil was to submerge his
or her own PERSONALITY.
If she were an ingenue, for instance,
she was told that by the simple mechani-
cal expedient of crossing her arms over
her bosom, holding her head back in a
gargling position and gazing heavenward,
she would be able to convey a spirit of
untrammeled virtue to the far reaches of
the gallery.
By assuming position "B," which con-
sisted of dropping her arms to a parallel
position across her abdomen, lowering her
head from the gargling position and gaz-
ing cow-eyed, straight ahead, she had
performed the miracle of becoming the
mother type.
But the miracle had not ceased. By
dropping her hands still further, placing
the palms on either side of her caboose,
elbows akimbo, assuming a rolling motion
with hips, head thrown back in flaunt-
ing manner, she had now metamorphosed
into a wicked, Carmen type of female.
This she sometimes varied by holding a
rose between her shining teeth.
All of this, my children, may have been
necessary in the dark ages when the man
in the gallery had to know precisely what
was going on. It is not necessary in the
motion picture theatre. The close-up has
moved the gallery down to that well-
known front row where hirsute adorn-
ment is considered a luxury.
An audience today will accept the
premise that you are either virtuous,
wicked or motherly if you state the fact
quietly and naturally. In the days of the-
atrical ranting, people went to the theatre
to be frightened. They now go to be en-
tertained. The theatre was once a world
apart. Today each member of the audi-
ence is a shareholder.
Today's audience (hereinafter referred
to as John Doe) enters the theatre,
slumps in a seat, lowers his guard, relaxes
completely, and enters his world of make-
believe which is being enacted before him
on the screen. He is the hero bound and
gagged. Due to his complete state of re-
laxation, there before him his baser, vil-
lainous self is threatening his softer side
in the form of the ingenue — he struggles
to free himself to squelch his baser na-
ture— to no avail — BUT — it is not too
Be Yourself
late — here comes the cavalry — and WHO
do you think is riding at its head? Correct.
John Doe himself. He severs the bonds
which hold his heroic aide captive,
squelches his baser self in a hand to hand
struggle, places his arm around the waist
of his softer counterpart and, reunited,
they wander into the rising run toward
the beginning of a fresh start in life.
Having had this emotional catharsis,
John Doe goes home and writes himself
a fan letter. He addresses it to some ac-
tor at some studio, telling him what a fine
performance he gave when, as a matter of
fact, he has only given John Doe an op-
portunity to perform HIMSELF.
John Doe doesn't want an actor to
ACT. He simply demands that he REACT
normally to the situation at hand. He re-
sents your imitation of someone else.
Having moved from the gallery to the
front row, he is in a position to sense any-
thing false in a performance. He resents
this because it makes him self-conscious.
When an actor with a perfectly healthy,
normal, Connecticut background dons the
garb of a Tennessee mountaineer,
slouches into a cabin built for the pur-
pose and says: "Maw, I cain't see you
suffer no longer nohow — I jest shot Paw
down the road a piece," he senses the
fake immediately, and returns to his
home with the feeling that he has seen
a bad picture. The actor was not himself,
therefore John Doe couldn't be himself
and his evening was spoiled.
The screen is no place for acting as we
have known it in the past. An actor's
problem is to break down the barriers of
falsehood between his own personality
and the reflexes of John Doe. After a
By
GREGORY LA CAVA
young actor has reached say, the age of
thirty, it stands to reason that his own
personality must be richer in every way
than any imitation he may possibly give
of someone else. He should not read lines
that are unnatural to him nor make mo-
tions that he does not feel, just because
it says so in a script.
Movie-goers do not write fan letters to
an actor's performance. On the contrary,
they write letters to an actor's personal-
ity. Because that personality is real and
John Doe likes real things. If you are
yourself, John Doe can be himself and
there is a liquid camaraderie and under-
standing between the two of you.
It is my belief that costume features
are usually not successful because John
Doe has difficulty in imagining himself in
strange garments, saying strange things.
He resents the veneer that keeps the per-
sonality of his favorite from shining
through. A notable exception is "Little
Women," wherein, while it was a period
picture, nevertheless the problems of the
people were the same as John Doe's prob-
lems.
If every actor on the screen would oc-
casionally re-acquaint himself with his
OWN personality, he would soon discover
how rich he is and consequently would ^
have little time or inclination for the I
imitation of someone else. .
If "can't" is your natural form of ex- y
pressing "no can do," leave the "cawn't" ^
to the fellow who expresses it naturally.
This is your best chance for establishing
a communion with your friend, Mr. Doe.
If you are square pegs, don't try to fit
into round holes, my little ones.
Be yourselves.
'jW
EVER IN MY
HEART''
MAYOR OF
HELL"
BEST
DIRECTOR
1954
A R C H I £
MAYO
Directed
CONVENTION CITY"
GAMBLING
LADY"
1
MAN WITH
TWO FACES '
t
17 I
J, F you must go into motion pictures,
disregard the blushing heroines, the stal-
wart heroes and the gripping character
actors. Head instead for the comedy
field. If you are a good comedian or
comedienne, it is here that you will make
a fortune. You'll make it quickly and
easily. You'll be respected in your com-
munity, which is something no good Ro-
tarian will ignore.
But never, as long as you live, try to be
a comedy director! I've been through the
mill, I've had the works, I know the an-
swers and I'm wise to the racket.
Before we discuss directing comedies,
let's consider the actors and actresses.
Who, of the various players, ha? the most
gold in the old sock? Harold Lloyd, who
is such a success that he has a golf course
on his estate. Charles Chaplin, who has
so much money that he eats his cream of
wheat out of a tin plate. Marie Dressier,
who stands quite high in our industry.
Why?
Because people feel a little sorry for
the gal who has to race across the ice to
get away from the Big Bad Wolf. They
feel just as sorry for the young clerk
whose wife is about to have a baby, but
who can't get a raise. That's something.
BUT — they love a comedian or come-
dienne because he or she makes them
laugh, and laughing at the moment is at
a premium.
All this is very nice.
But did you ever see the directors who
direct the comedians and comediennes
who send you into stitches?
No, indeed!
Nobody ever sees a comedy director.
He's usually under a rug somewhere. I
should know. In a moment of misguided
youth, I became one. I have a face so
long that if anyone wanted to make a pic-
ture of me — as if anyone wanted to —
they'd have to print it on the floor of a
hallway in a medieval castle. And I'm
no exception. Whenever you see a man
in the corner in Hollywood, away back
from the rest of the world, studying the
possibilities of the infinite, you know
you've seen a comedy director.
What a job!
The comedy directors of Hollywood are
a race apart. They are usually thin, have
long, sad faces which make undertakers
look like the spirit of springtime, and
they sulk. And they have a reason.
A successful drama is easily produced.
You collect a couple of tears, about three
weak moments, a hero, heroine and vil-
lain, and everything is in the bag. You
just follow the script and that's that.
Comically Speaking
With a comedy, all is different. Espe-
cially since talking pictures have come in,
you never know where your laughs are.
And that's something! Imagine — you
know where your home is, where beer
can be bought and where practically ev-
erything is, except the laughs. So you
shove them in.
You wrestle through a script with a
comedian and a comedienne. You know
what drama is. That's tangible. Over
and above all, you can put your finger on
a dramatic moment. But did you ever
try to put your finger on a gag? It's like
trying to stick a cannon through a one-
inch hole with a blindfold on.
You work and work and work.
You figure that you are a very funny
fellow.
You get into a lather and you direct
your picture. You build funny situation
after situation. Then figure the audience
is going to roll in the aisles. You cut the
picture. You rush it dovyn to the most
comical audience you know, and they all
sit on their hands when the big moments
come along!
This is tough. But, tougher than even
this is the fact that the customers laugh
at things you didn't think were funny at
all. In fact, you probably put them in
for dramatic emphasis. Now, maybe you
understand why directors runaroundwith
chins that don't need to be shaved be-
cause they're always being scraped off on
the ground.
Comedy direction has other incoherent
moments. For instance, the director has
a very screwy sense of humor and thinks
that he has picked funny people for his
cast. After working fior six weeks he
previews the picture and discovers that
what he thought were snickers from the
audience were sobs! What a swell break
these guys who direct epics get.
Maybe you think this is bad news, but
let's go back even farther, to the writers.
Millions of serious things are published
every day — ■ newspapers, magazines,
books and what have you. But the funny
books come out very seldom. Why? Be-
cause writers are funny only seldom.
Here I am, a director, with a seldom
By
ROY DEL RUTH
funny writer, working on a comedy.
That's when the trouble starts, after you
have a funny idea. It drives the writer
into hysterics and, before you get
through, he has written his own idea, af-
ter forgetting yours.
From the beginning, things go from
bad to worse. The late lamented depres-
sion was a piker. People were supposed
to be low. They weren't half as low as
a comedy director with a writer re-writ-
ing his script and telling him what was
wrong with it.
All right. You get it done. You have
your actors. You make the picture. You
cut it. And you preview it. Possibly,
by hook or crook, you have two laughs.
Do you know what happens? The laughs
come so close together that they sound
like one! You try to figure out how to
get the two laughs apart, and you end up
by cutting paper dolls out of anything
handy.
The saddest moment of all is when you
show it to the producer, the man who
has sunk his money into it. He sits and
looks and you are leaning back waiting
for a chuckle. The man can't chuckle,
because he has sunk about $250,000 into
it. Thats not funny, even in the Scandi-
navian.
"Tairly good," he says, after giving the
once over to your funny idea, the funny
story, and those funny people whom you
helped buy a new Rolls Royce. You hold
your breath. The picture is released, and
millions of people who have read the ad-
vertisements think that they are going to
roar their heads off.
They go to see it, and you are in a much
larger Dog House than you were with the
producer. The critics even go so far as
to suggest that you were trying to be
funny.
The whole answer is that no matter
what happens, don't direct comedy in any
form. Steer clear of it, just as if it was
quarantined for fifty years. Let the
comedian and the comedienne build their
Italian villas. Don't go in for it.
And, in conclusion, just let me get my
hands on an epic.
I'll retire!
J O H M
C R O M¥/ Ell
R-K-O
RADIO
19 -
q
k^ O, you'd like to be a director, would
you? You'd like to have somebody write
the stories, hire the actors, build the sets,
construct the dialogue, light the scene
and turn the camera. All you have to do
is sit in your easy chair, say "Action!"
and "Cut!" at proper intervals, and every
once in a while remark condescendingly,
"Print that one!" That's what you think.
You arrive at the studio bright and
early, eager for the day's labors. It is
spring. Little birds chirp cheerily. The
sun beams lovingly. You are even with
schedule, and the producer is smiling.
It's a lovely world, after all.
Then your star walks on the set.
"Wait a minute," you remark. "You're
supposed to wear that brown suit in this
scene."
"I definitely was told the blue."
"Well, get back to the dressing room
and change — if the brown isn't at the
cleaners."
Up comes your assistant director.
"Say, we gotta shoot around that kid
for a few days. She's got the measles or
mumps or sumpin. We can shoot the in-
terior of that chateau — "
A man from casting horns in.
"No, yuh can't. Joe Blitz won't be
available for three days, and he's in that
scene. But you could do that night club
stuff."
"But," wails your leading lady, "my
costume for that scene isn't done! I don't
want to wear that old rag you tried to
palm off on me that Olga Olgawitz wore
in that thing she did. I won't wear any-
thing but my new outfit."
"Well," you suggest, "maybe we could
do the transparencies on the boat."
"Notta chance," says the assistant.
"Jones' company is in there for another
week."
By this time your star is back with his
brown suit. Maybe you can't get the kid,
but you can worry about that later. Let's
get this scene now. First a rehearsal.
You explain the action. They walk
through it, perfectly.
"Let's make one." And things start
In the midst of everything you hear a
loud buzzing noise. You look at the
sound man. He frowns and shakes his
head. "Cut!"
"Fix that damn sun-arc!"
While it is being fixed you sit. Your
dialogue writer comes up.
"We otta change this scene," he says.
"In the script the guy says, 'It is impera-
Just One of Those Things
>f
five that this transaction be consum-
mated.' Now you know nine-tenths of
the clucks that go to see this opera won't
know what the hell he's talkin' about. I
don't think the guy can say it anyway.
He's got a one-syllable mind."
"Suit yourself," you say, thinking
wearily how bright it seemed that morn-
ing. The sun-arc is fixed, and you start
again.
In the middle of the scene, with every-
thing going smoothly the second camera-
man says "Cut!"
"Somethin' wrong with this box," he
explains brightly. He pries around inside,
muttering darkly to himself. All the
cameramen take a look inside.
"What's the matter?" you remark.
"Somebody lose his lunch?"
"That's an idea," says the cameraman.
"It's lunchtime now."
So you knock off while the camera is
being repaired. An hour later, fortified
with a thin slice of ancient beef, lumpy
potatoes and a cup of something vaguely
reminiscent of coffee, you return to the
wars.
"I feel terribly," your leading lady
greets you. "I guess I shouldn't have
had those cucumbers. Do you think we
can knock off early today?"
"It's fixed," the cameraman cheers
you up. "Film got off the track, and got
chewed up, but we cleaned her out, and
she's oke now."
"Think we can make one?"
"Why not?"
Your principals are placed, the extras
lined up. The cameraman decides one
light isn't hitting just right. He floods it,
tips it up, and is satisfied. You shoot.
"Cut!" It's a perfect take.
"Say," says the wardrobe girl, timidly,
"is she wearing the right shoes?"
"Oh, my gosh," wails your leading lady.
"I took those things off before lunch be-
cause they hurt my feet. And those
By
HENRY HATHAWAY
cucumbers made me forget to put 'em
back on."
"Let's do it over," you suggest. While
you're lining up, a troupe of visitors pa-
rades in. They're breathless. TTiey're
actually seeing pictures made. You shoot
again. It gets halfway through, when —
"Say," demands a visitor, "do you
really —
"Cut! Who in hell let those people in?
Get everybody off the stage who isn't
working!"
"Look," says a publicity man, horning
in, "I wanta get a statement from you
about what you attribute your success
to."
"Nuts! I ain't got time. Can't you see
I'm busy? Tell 'em I'm born lucky; tell
em it's a gift — and I'm figuring on giv-
ing it back. Tell 'em anything! Don't
bother me!"
"Let's try it again," you remark wear-
ily. Eventually you get a shot, and "one
for protection." You change setups, and
the whole rigamarole starts in again.
Lamps burn out, cameras reload, people
forget dialogue and bits of business, ex-
tras blunder in front of principals, a car-
penter starts hammering in the middle of
a take. But, by God, you've got three
shots.
"Look," says the assistant, "I told you
we can't get the kid for those shots to-
morrow, whaddaya want to do?"
"See if we can get Bill Clutz for the
fight scenes. And then we'll hope to Cod
that Bill don't hit our star hard enough
to scar him up for the rest of the pic-
ture."
"I beg your pardon," says a voice, "but
this is Miss Tucker from one of the fan
magazines, and she'd like to do an inter-
view with you."
"Oh, Mr. Director," trills Miss Tucker,
"I have a marvelous idea for a story. I
want to tell my readers all about pictures.
Tell me, just what does a director do?"
'jW^
'Professional Sweethearts '
n
Rafter Romance
ft
"Chance at Heaven"
"Sons of the Desert"
with Laurel and Hardy
"Love Birds"
with Zasu Pitts and Slim Summerville
"Sing and Like It"
All Star Cast
"We're Rich Again"
All Star Cast
IN PREPARATION
"By Your Leave"
llllLLIOnil().$EITER
Wj
21
Y
V
OU'VE got me, boys.
You've caught me with the goods and
I'd like to get my fingers on the stool-
pigeon that tipped you off to my record.
Sure, I've got a record. How could I
deny it? You've found enough evidence
on the cards in my pocket, so I might as
well break down and confess.
But first take the handcuffs off, will
you, boys? I can talk better then.
I admit I am a joiner. I'll even go
further than that. I admit I am the
World's Champion joiner — but through
no fault of my own, understand.
I remember the day when I didn't have
a card to my name, not even an ace or a
deuce. But today, I have scores of them
— maybe millions of them — and they
keep multiplying like guinea pigs. But
you can't blame me for that because I
have been a victim of circumstances.
I recall vividly how it all began. As
long as I stayed on the home lot and di-
rected pictures I was let alone. Nobody
invited me to speak at banquets or hung
ribbons around my neck, for there wasn't
any reason to do it.
Then somebody got an idea that a
South Sea picture had not been filmed
for a week or two and I was pushed
aboard a boat with a camera crew. I was
commanded to go to the South Seas and
go for the natives or go native or some-
thing like that, and not to come back un-
til I had a South Sea picture. I went, and
that's where it all began.
The natives probably are to be blamed
for the predicament I am in today. They
hung a lei of tribal blood around my neck
and took me into their lodge. It was the
first offense. Then, when I came back
with "White Shadows in the South Seas,"
my troubles began.
These cards you have spread out before
you began to rain down upon me. Ap-
parently I was mistaken for a world trav-
eler, an intrepid adventurer.
True, I belong to the Los Angeles Ath-
letic Club, the Hollywood Athletic Club,
the Beverly Hills Athletic Club, the Bel-
Air Club, and a flock of others — but, up-
on my word as a Kentucky Colonel, I have
never set my foot across the threshold of
any of them, not once.
I have memberships in the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the
Masquers, the 233 Club, the Los Angeles
Turf Club and the Army and Navy Club
— yet, I must confess, I have never bro-
ken bread at their tables.
You will find me a member in good
standing in the Los Angeles Advertising
Club, yet I have never made a speech
Just A Joiner
there. I am a Knight of Labor, yet the
Lord only knows why. I am an angel of
mercy in the Japanese Red Cross, though
with bowed head I confess I have not
even bandaged the finger of a Japanese
schoolboy.
When the storm of life memberships
subsided, I was content to toast my feet
before my fireplace and stay home for
the rest of my existence. But do -? No.
It seems that a garrulous old chap
down around the tip of South Africa had
a habit of spinning yarns to a woman
writer for an occasional cup of tea. The
writer took him seriously and wrote a
book about Mr. Aloysius Horn.
So I was sent to Africa to film "Trader
Horn." Seven long months I perspired
down there and not even the blacks
would give me a moment's rest. They
made me king. They made me several
kings. And today I probably wear more
mythical crowns than all of the kings to-
gether. Please don't ask me the names of
the tribes I'm supposed to rule. I couldn't
pronounce them even if I knew. But it's
true, s'help me.
Upon my return from Africa, it started
all over again. I began joining again.
Not that I asked for it. I was requested
to join. These various societies would
urge — -almost demand — me to join their
organizations. And I did.
So I became a member in the Interna-
tional Adventurers, the National Sojourn-
ers, the Beloved Vagabonds, the Explorers
Club, and many more.
Application blanks poured in from the
American Geographical Society, the Na-
tional Geographic Society, the Pacific
Geographical Society. Yes, gentlemen, I
signed them all, although I admit geogra-
phy was way beyond me in my kid days.
Again, I dug myself out of the ava-
lanche of memlberships that had fallen
upon me and crawled back to my own
fireside. I had hoped that never again
would I be pushed to a remote corner of
the globe on a motion picture expedition.
But my hopes were promptly blasted,
and I awoke in the Arctic Circle, filming
"Eskimo." Even in that faraway region
I was unable to escape the curse of "join-
ing." I joined the Arctic Brotherhood.
By
W. S. VAN DYKE
And when I once more staggered back
to civilization my back was bowed heav-
ily by more memberships.
The Women's International Associa-
tion of Aeronautics, junior Division. This
has always been a mystery to me. I do
not believe there is any doubt about my
sex and no longer am I a junior.
But as long as we are at it, let the
cards fall where they may. I am enrolled
in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps As-
sociation, the Army and Navy Club, the
U. S. Marine Corps and the Kentucky Na-
tional Guard.
I am proud of these memberships, even
as I am equally proud of every other or-
ganization to which I belong, though I
do not attend any of their meetings.
Yet I am proudest of those associations'
which I honestly inherited through my;
family — the Society of Colonial Wars,
the Sons of the American Revolution, the:
Society of the Sons of the Revolution, the:
Founders and Patriots of America.
These were handed down to me by my;
grandfathers and their grandfathers . . .!
jan Thomasse Van Dyke, who came tO:
America in 1652, and was one of the
founders of Utrecht, Long Island;
Captain Jan janse Van Dyke, magis-
trate of New Utrecht, a captain in the
Colonial Army and who died in 1736;
jan Van Dyke, Alderman of the First
Board of New Brunswick in 1730;
jan Van Dyke, one of the oldest sol-
diers in the Revolution, killed at the Bat-
tle of Monmouth in 1778;
John Honeyman, Washington's favor-
ite spy, who supplied the information
that led Washington to cross the Dela-
ware and win the Battle of Trenton.
I am a Mason and an Elk. These, I
think, comprise most of my "joinings" — j
unless you want to include my chieftain-
ships, for which I blame the "Laughing
Boy" expedition.
As long as I am telling all unashamed,
I confess that I am a full-fledged chief in
the Nez Perc and Navajo tribes.
That is all, gentlemen. May I have a
glass of water? I feel fatigued. What?
I've just been accepted into the Califor-
nia Peace Officers Association? Change
that water for a slug of gin!
+
When I finish directing "Stamboul
Quest", it will mark the completion of
nine consecutive and appreciative years with
Metro-Coldwyn Mayer; also the fulfillment
of a perennial promise when I board the
"lie de France" on June 16th for a
three months vacation.
SAM WOOD
I
Exclusive Management
BERG, STEBBINS, ALLENBERC AND BLUM
wm
-A
23 --
T
HERE probably isn't a tougher job
than trying to write a story of this sort.
You are caught on the horns of a di-
lemma. If you express any personal theo-
ries, you immediately involve yourself in
controversy with others who have con-
flicting ideas. That is apt to have its
unpleasant phases. And, in any case,
contemporary discussions of this nature
smack too much of conceit.
However, there is a safe ground on
which a director may verbally tread. That
is the past. The other day I realized that
it is just twenty-four years since I first
reported to Director Francis Boggs as an
actor.
Looking backwards, I am impressed by
the changes which have taken place in
the attitudes assumed towards the direc-
tor, both within and without the industry.
The director has gone through a vari-
ety of stages. In the first, he had the
aspect of a sort of adventurer-magician.
Literary aptitude wasn't an outstanding
essential. Above all things, he had to be
quick on the trigger, instantaneous on the
up-take. It was quite the usual thing for
him to leave the studio in the morning
with no physical accoutrements except a
camera and a little film; nothing on his
mind except a vague idea. The story
would be written en route to location and
shot in toto that day. Bystanders were
roped in as "extras," sans pay if possible.
Elaborate assistance was out of the ques-
tion, and direction took on the aspects of
day labor when things had to be moved.
And a good director became pretty clever
at using houses, bits of garden, etc.,
where the absence of the owner made
the rental nothing — or perhaps a couple
of dollars paid to a complaisant servant.
Quick-thinking, qUick movement, were
more necessary than creative effort.
Then the public began to tire of stories
shot largely in the sunlight, minus any
great degree of photographic quality.
Studio work became more important.
"Open" stages were covered over and
electric illumination developed, requiring
of the director a greater, more intense
understanding of technical photographic
essentials. Also, becoming more intimate,
the scenes of pictures gained a greater
amount of compilation. The director had
to concentrate on exits, entrances, crosses
etc.
In other words, the game had evolved
from a rather adventurous, care-free
"racket" into a definite profession, one
with rules which continued to grow
tighter with each passing year.
Looking Backwards on Direction
The next phase was that of the "star
director." In this period directors who
had given the public consistently good
pictures were "starred," billed exactly as
are and were the principal players. Con-
soling as this was to directors, this was
not entirely a sincere move on the part
of the producers of the time. Then they
were all a bit jittery. The public adula-
tion of stars was just getting under way.
Salaries were shooting up. Company ex-
ecutives were in a corresponding dither.
They thought the upward shoot of stellar
salaries could be offset by boosting the
director in the public prints.
I have no wish to get into an argument
with anybody, but I have always felt that
this artificial period was harmful to the
director.
Directors should have reasonable pub-
licity, of course. Certainly I want my
share. But we must remember that the
great interest for the public lies in what
they SEE on the screen. It is an old psy-
chological principle that that which is
hidden from view can't make its pres-
ence click in comparison to things which
are in plain sight. And the director must
always be hidden from view by the bulk
of the camera.
The efforts to pull the director out
from behind the camera, put him into the
same publicity class as a star, only led to
a series of misconceptions which were
not too good for the industry. For ex-
ample, the public was given the impres-
sion of the director as an unsmiling, sar-
castic, domineering despot, a veritable
Czar. It was not to be wondered that
many theatre-goers couldn't understand
how light, delicate comedy, lovely, sub-
tle humor could be developed by such a
man, pictured as sort of a combination of
Satan, Mussolini and Simon Legree.
The latter part of the silent picture era
saw the director growing into the niche
which he likes best, which proved best
for the industry. More and more he be-
came a part of the actual creation of the
story. (It should be explained here, to
any unfamiliar with their past cinematic
history, that after the first period where
the director wrote his own yarns, "on the
By
ROBERT Z. LEONARD
cuff" — there came a time when speciali-
zation reared its ugly head — when the
director was handed a script and told,
"here, direct this." In that era it was
considered treason if the man with the
megaphone even mildly suggested an in-
terest in the creative building of the
story). More and more physical details
were lifted from his shoulders so that he
might give more attention to subtleties,
to new twists, etc. This followed in nat-
ural course the increasing critical atti-
tude of the public. Errors of omission
and commission to which they paid no
attention in the days when films were a
novelty, now bulked as serious obstacles
in the way of the director who persisted
in them.
Sound, of course, brought the greatest
change to directors. The first phase in
the sound period was that of super-cau-
tion. We had grown used to a silent
medium that had become, through long
usage, very supple. Its pictorial possibili-
ties had been rather thoroughly explored.
Then, suddenly, came talk. Because
it was new, talk assumed a terrific im-
portance. Directors were afraid to do the
new, striking, pictorial twists for fear
thev would interrupt the dialogue. The
first talkies were made merely as photo-
graphed stage plays. Of course, at first,
this caution was due in large part to thei
very heavy, unwieldy sound apparatus;'
the cameras in their huge ice boxes, etc.
As we grew used to sound, however,
as invention lightened the sound appa-
ratus, fear and caution diminished. Di-
rectors began to think once again in
terms of MOVING pictures. We began
to see that talk in no way interfered
with the striking pictorial images which
made photoplays originally great. Our
wings spread out again — and today we
are undoubtedly at the threshold of the
most interesting age direction has ever
had.
It has been for me a great, a most in-
teresting twenty-four years — but I hon-
estly and sincerely believe that the next
twenty-four will be far more worthwhile
and vital than those which have passed.
Jack Conway
♦
"HELL BELOW"
"THE NU SANCE"
"V VA V LLA"
♦
METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER
25
T
HIS little playlet takes place in the
Paramount Studio commissary at a round
table where, when the lunch whistle
blows, congregate directors, writers and
producers Who have never heard of
Helping Hand Societies and who think
that Sympathy is the female of the spe-
cies Simp.
What's worse, the following act has
been playing for so long that it makes the
New York run of "Abie's Irish Rose" look
like a one-night stand.
The cast of characters changes slightly
from time to time, but in this sad in-
stance we have Barney Clazer, Louis D.
Lighton, Waldemar Young, Walter De
Leon, Bartlett Cormack and myself, Nor-
man Taurog — two producers, three writ-
ers and — Heaven help me — a director.
Waldemar Young, after dragging him-
self wearily across the floor, plumps into
a chair next to the other five.
YOUNG: So help me, I'll never write
another picture.
GLAZER (pleading) : Please, boys, we
promised not to talk shop.
CHOf^US (sotto voce) : That's right.
No shop.
(They are all stricken dumb).
CORMACK : Talking about writing, did
I ever tell you the story about the time I
was back on the paper in Chicago?
CHORUS: Yes!
TAUROG (to Young) : If you think
you're tired, you should have seen the
time I had with that bear on "We're Not
Dressing."
LIGHTON: Animals are grand pals.
You ought to see my horse ranch.
YOUNG: Methods of transportation
have changed. What I need is another
trip around the world. You have no idea
what this "Cleopatra" script did to me.
DE LEON: Scripts aren't what they
used to be in the good old days. Now
when I wrote "The Campus" . . .
CORMACK: That was ten years ago
when I was back on the paper in Chi-
cago.
DE LEON: What of it? As I was say-
ing . . .
GLAZER: If this doesn't stop, so help
me, I'm going to eat at the Ambassador
tomorrow.
LIGHTON: We've heard that for a
year. The trouble is tomorrow never
comes.
CORMACK: That's a swell idea.
GLAZER: It certainly is. I'm going to
eat at the Ambassador tomorrow.
CORMACK: No, not the Ambassador.
"Tomorrow Never Comes." Has anyone
used that title yet?
No Rest for The Wicked
TAUROG: Who cares? Think up
something original like "We're Not
Dressing."
YOUNG: Vincent Lawrence and I are
through with the DeMille script, so we're
not yessing.
CHORUS: jack Cunningham's losing a
lot of weight.
(Jack Cunningham never gained nor
lost an ounce in his life. But that's neith-
re here nor there. It's the stock answer
to all puns) .
LIGHTON: There is a time and place
for puns. By the way, did you hear the
swell line that I'm going to have in my
next picture?
CHORUS: Yes!
LIGHTON (to himself) : That's funny.
I only just thought of it myself.
TAUROG: Lines alone don't mean any-
thing. I've got a grand situation in "Mrs.
Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch." Maybe
you fellows could help me with a little
suggestion.
YOUNG : Here I'm dying with Cleopat-
ra and he asks me riddles about cabbages.
GLAZER (blue in the face and mut-
tering something which sounds like) : I'm
surely going to eat at the Ambassador to-
morroNA^.
LIGHTON: Oh for a quiet afternoon
on my horse ranch.
YOUNG: Horses? Listen, DeMille
wanted a scene in which the Egyptian
and the Roman cavalry . . .
CORMACK: Who the hell caresi' You
think you're a martyr. I did two pictures
with DeMille, but that's nothing com-
pared to when I was back on the paper in
Chicago.
TAUROG (who had apparently been
talking throughout the foregoing) : . . .
so when Europena runs out to the cab-
bage patch to tell Mrs. Wiggs . . .
DE LEON: Lighton, will you please
turn your horses loose in Norman's cab-
bage patch.
TAUROG: No. No. There are no horses
in it. Didn't you ever read "Mrs. Wiggs
of the Cabbage Patch"?
CHORUS (fearing that Taurog would
read it to them) : Yes!
TAUROG: I wouldn't have a horse in
it. Not after that bear.
LIGHTON : A bear ran after one of the
horses on my ranch, and when the horse
fell . . .
By
NORMAN TAUROG
DE LEON: ... It was a horse on the
bear.
CHORUS: Jack Cunningham's losing a
lot of weight.
GLAZER (moaning) : I should have
gone to eat at the Ambassador today.
TAUROG: Now, take that scene from
"Mrs. Wiggs" ...
DE LEON: You're the director. You
take it.
TAUROG: Have a heart, boys. I'm in
a spot on this scene. It's worse than the
time I had with that bear.
YOUNG: I'll give you some of the lines
left over from Cleopatra. They're ter-
rific. I wrote them.
LIGHTON: I'll lend you some horses
from my ranch.
CORMACK: I'll let you read a story I
wrote when I was back on the paper in
Chicago. You might get something from
that.
DE LEON: There's a swell situation in
"The Campus" which you could copy.
CLAZER (his face flushed and his eyes
rolling wildly) : Tomorrow I'm going to
get on my horse and take Cleopatra to eat
bear steak and cabbage at the Ambassa-
dor back in Chicago.
(As he faints onto the table, his head
would have fallen into his soup plate had
not Taurog, who swooned a moment pri-
or, preceded him.
(The remaining four cases of acute in-
digestion rise wearily, lift Barney Glazer,
and lay him to rest on top of the table.
Then they rifle Taurog's pants pockets
for enough money to pay their checks and
leave him as he is with his head in Gla-
zer's soup plate, for, after all, he is only
a director.
(Before they can exit, divine retribu-
tion (it's really indigestion) overtakes
these four weary figures and they fall in
sprawling positions on the floor.
(As we fade out, the music swells to I
magnificent proportions and we hear the '
stirring strains of "Love Thy Neighbor," '
sung by Bing Crosby in "We're Not '
Dressing," which was directed by Nor-
man Taurog. )
EPILOGUE
'"We're Not Dressing" was directed by
Norman Taurog.
THE END.
Norman Taurog
DIRECTOR
"WERE NOT DRESSING"
This musical offers things that entertain . . .
"We're Not Dressing" will prove popular. —
Mae Tinee, Chicago Tribune.
All in all a cinch audience picture . . . any
audience. — ^Variety.
Orchids to Cordon and Revel's "We're Not
Dressing" score, and the picture. — Walter
Winchell.
Cay and rowdy musical comedy . . . lively
and nonsensical . . . catchy songs . . . his fans
will delight in "We're Not Dressing," which
is funny as well as tuneful. — N. Y. Mirror.
It is good popular entertainment, bound to
please a large public. — N. Y. American.
It is first rate entertainment for the ear and
funny-bone ... a gay .melodious bit of musi-
cal comedy fluff. — N. Y. World Telegram.
A show shop hit. — Edwin Schallert, L. A.
Times.
The whole picture is a lot of nonsense, but
it IS entertaining nonsense that will delight
the Bing Crosby fans and tickle the followers
of Burns and Allen. — N. Y. News.
Bing Crosby sings gaily . . . romantically . . .
delightfully . . . grand voice . . . engaging per-
sonality . . . sense of humor . . . lightly divert-
ing entertainment . . . you'll enjoy "We're Not
Dressing." — N. Y. American.
Norman Taurog has captured much of Bing's
boyishness in directing him. — Eleanor Barnes.
— L. A. Daily News.
In it Bing is at his best — vocally and his-
trionically. ... It was produced by Paramount
and directed with skill by Norman Taurog. You
will enjoy it. — Seattle Times.
Never has Bing Crosby had a role that gave
him richer opportunities for acting as well as
singing ... a highly diverting film. — Seattle
Post- Intelligencer.
In Preparation
MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH'
Management-
Schulberg-Feldman and Gurney
27
XS THERE a place for classical music in
pictures?
It is difficult to refrain from giving an
impertinent answer to this ridiculous
question.
Is there a place for a fine, sensitive,
dramatic actor in pictures?
Of course there is, but a producer
would not think of casting Katharine
Hepburn in a part suited to Marie Dress-
ier, would he? Nor would the composer
of "Pagliacci" think of interpolating a
few bars of "Hi, Boy, How Ya' Doin'."
Music is just as much a character in
motion picture production as the names
that appear on the screen. It must be
cast just as carefully and, when it is, the
results are tremendously effective, for
there was no drama ever written that can
compare with the drama of music.
In the average studio the scenario de-
partment is usually located about two
blocks from the music department and
they never seem to get much closer, even
on the screen. The result of this situa-
tion is obvious. Music is poorly cast.
To ask whether there is a place for
good music in pictures is the same as
asking if there is a place for electricity
in the development of light. If electric-
ity is not handled and controlled in the
highest scientific manner, the result is
disastrous. So it is with music.
Like every other innovation, we at-
tacked the subject of music in pictures
at the point of least resistance. In this
case it was popular music. Stories were
written and gauged with the distinct pur-
pose of bringing in some popular song.
"Broadway Melody" was a tremendous
financial success. Since that time prob-
ably a hundred musical productions were
made after the same pattern and accord-
ing to the same formula.
When the subject of classical music
was mentioned, most executives threw up
their hands and looked at the man who
had the temerity to make the suggestion
as if he were two degrees this side of a
raving maniac. The public is not educat-
ed to it, they said. And I say that the
public is not only educated TO it, but
BEYOND it! One does not have to look
further than his living room radio for
proof of this assertion.
There are few who will attempt to deny
that the most popular programs on the air
are those that deal with good music.
When one of the greatest commercial
organizations in the world, run by hard-
headed business men whose every move
is guided by the reaction of the cash reg-
What About
Good Music in Pictures ?
ister, sees fit to spend thousands of dol-
lars to broadcast two-and-one-half hours
of classical music from the Metropolitan
Opera House every week, it is proof
enough for me that the public is educated
to good music. We must take our hats off
to radio, but even if there were no radios
to help expand the appreciation of good
music, the classics still would have their
place in motion pictures. Motion pictures
are drama. Music is drama. It is the
proper blending of the two that is the
only question.
As for the appeal of music, it is too
ridiculous even to discuss. Why do you
suppose, for instance, that during all the
depression period the only branch of the
theatre that flourished was the concert
stage? Lily Pons, Tibbett, Rosa Ponselle
— they all packed them in. And why?
Because, while other theatres were grind-
ing out hot-cha syncopations, they were
singing the fine old music, the beautiful
selections from "La Boheme," "Manon,"
"Cavalleria Rusticana," the music that
has thrilled the world for centuries. Cer-
tainly, they have a place in motion pic-
tures.
Understand, I do not think it practic-
able to put upon the screen the standard
operas of Wagner and other composers,
as operas. There are too many obstacles
to the proper presentation of these works.
The librettos of most operas are too nar-
row for the camera. By this, I mean that
in most operas much of the story is told
in terms of music. I dare say that in Wag-
ner's works one-third of the story is told
in words and two-thirds by the orchestra.
Naturally, such a condition offers diffi-
culties to an entertainment medium that,
first of all, appeals to the eye.
There are a few exceptions to this,
such as "Carmen," but in the case of
By
VICTOR SCHERTZINCER
most operas, for pictures to tell the com-
plete story it would be necessary for them
to supply visually much of the story that
is conveyed in music. That, we must ad-
mit, might bring the righteous wrath of
an indignant music-loving public down
upon the already battered head of our in-
dustry. We would be lustily accused of
taking liberties with sacred things.
This, however, does not lessen the im-
portance of fine music in motion pictures.
Its dramatic value cannot be overlooked,
and again I say. Music, the Actor, must
be properly cast. There are many ways
in which it can be used. If I may be par-
doned for referring to one of my own pic-
tures, I believe that we have struck a new
note in the use of the classics in "One
Night of Love," which we have just com-
pleted at Columbia with Miss Grace
Moore in the leading role.
The story is that of a girl, ambitious to
become an opera singer, and tells of her
struggles to reach the top. At one part of
the story she makes her debut in a Vien-
nese Opera House. We might have se-
lected any opera for this sequence but
we chose "Carmen" with a purpose. The
girl at that time of the story is thrilled
with the thought of success. Spirited,
alive, ambitious, she is throwing herself
into life. Now, although the story of
"Carmen" had nothing to do with the sit-
uation in our story, the music of 'Haban-
ero," which Miss Moore sang, was in the
spirit of the situation. As a musical back-
ground to that particular part of our
story, it became an actor in the play. Its
effect was tremendously important. The
audience did not necessarily have to know
the story of "Carmen" — although in this
particular case it probably did — to get the
reaction we were after.
(Continued on Page 63)
BEST
DIRECTOR
1954 '
¥/ESl£Y RUGGl
ALL
ti
BOLERO"
"I'M NO ANGEL"
a
COLLEGE HUMOR
»f
a
THANK YOUR STARS"
FOR
PARAMOU NT
29
w.
P
ELL, here we are back in Holly-
wood, the land of the free and the home
of the slaves of motion pictures. And by
slaves, I mean slaves, because on our
travels around the world we never once
found anyone who slaved as hard as they
do here in the land of celluloid.
People from practically every part of
the globe who have drifted, for one rea-
son or another, to Hollywood for the pur-
pose of giving their best to the American
picture industry, seem to forget the out-
side world when once they have passed
the Rockies. We become all absorbed in
our work; we talk, live and breathe mo-
tion pictures. There is a certain desire
among some of us to give of what is es-
sentially the basis of this business, and
that is nothing but — showmanship. A
feeling for what will appeal to the popu-
lace, the magnet that will draw people
into the theatres.
In this country alone, few people real-
ize that there are some 12,000 theatres
open. In the space between the Atlantic
and the Pacific, sailing around the world,
there are about the same number. On
practically every piece of inhabited land
that looms up out of the various oceans,
when circling the earth, are theatres, and
American pictures are playing. It is quite
difficult to try to express the hugeness of
this business.
My wife and I sailed from New York
with the earnest wish to see the world
and to realize that there was something
else in the world besides motion pictures.
Our first stop was the island of Madeira.
Walking down the gang-plank, we were
really thrilled at the gorgeous surround-
ings that greeted our eyes, and also the
odd type of people confronting us. I said,
"Look, Honey, isn't this marvelous? Peo-
ple in costume and not actors, waiting to
hear me say, 'come on the set and go to
work'." As we left the pier on a bullock-
cart, with Hollywood far from our
thoughts, we said to the driver, "Where
can we go in this place?" To which the
driver responded with a cute Portuguese
smile and accent, "You can go to the top
of Tierra da Luca, have lunch and make
sled ride down the mountain." Not being
satisfied with that, I said, "What's doing
here tonight?" And like a bolt out of the
blue, he pointed to a twenty-four sheet
poster of Warner Brothers' "42nd Street"
playing at some theatre there. So Doris
and myself just closed our eyes and said,
"Drive on."
Well, we soon found out on our
voyage, that seeing Warner pictures play-
The World Is Round
ing was such a common occurence every-
where from Madeira to Bangkok and from
Zamboanga to Hollywood, that it was just
like seeing another Mosque.
If any of you think that you will forget
Hollywood by going around the world
take a tip from the LeRoys that you will
learn more about it than you did in all
your years in town. In Italy "I'm A Fugi-
tive" had just broken the record at the
big theatre in Rome, and there were
twenty-four sheets all over town, "Paul
Muni in 'lo Sono un vaso,' registra Mer-
vyn LeRoy." Believe it or not, but in all
these foreign countries the director, if he
is a good one, is as well-known as the
star.
The salesmen for the various compan-
ies told us that there were certain direc-
tors that they couldn't sell, and some that
the theatre owners took everything they
made without knowing a thing about the
picture. (We found that this wasn't all
flattery.) It would open your eyes, as it
did mine to see big buildings with Metro-
Coidwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. -First
National and other of the majors' names
across them. There are thousands of men
selling and building American personali-
ties abroad. We were met by reporters
in almost every one of the various coun-
tries, who asked us, "What do you think
of Mae West?" Can you imagine trying
to answer that to a Hindu!'
One reporter in Japan remembered my
playing a song and dance man in the old
Warner picture, "Broadway After Dark,"
and that's knowing your movies!
The Japanese picture industry is colos-
sal. There are about five major compan-
ies making, each, 400 pictures a year.
They make two different kinds of pic-
By
MERVYN LEROY
tures, the classical and the modern. One
program at a theatre consists of an
American feature, a costume and a mod-
ern Japanese picture and all the shorts
This theatre opened with the bill, "Cold-
features! We visited one theatre in Tokio
called the Neon Cegejo. which is almost
as big as the Radio City Music Hall and
just as attractive in just as modern a way.
This thetre opened with the bill "Cold-
diggers of 1934" and "Cavalcade."
One of the leading directors of Japan
took us through a studio. They have all
Western Electric equipment and all the
new devices we use. japan is by far the
most progressive of all the countries. In
Egypt they are starting to make pictures
for the Arabic market, but as yet, the
American picture is the thing. We saw
"I'm A Fugitive" there also with the Eng-
lish dialogue, French titles on the bottom,
Arabic titles to the left of the screen and
Creek titles on the right of the screen.
Even on the supposedly most primitive
island left, Bali, there are two picture
houses.
And although the women wear nothing
above the waist, as is their custom, the
censorship is stricter than Pennsylvania
ever thought of being.
Censorship is a tremendous problem all
over the Far East, but take a tip from us
and by no means overlook the foreign
market, as the theatres are just as good,
just as well run and take in money the
same as we do. I could go on indefinitely
talking and explaining about the thirty-
three countries we visited but, in conclu-
sion, all I have to say is, that the world is
round and so is our dollar, so if you want
to get dollars into your coffers, remember
THE WORLD IS ROUND.
HARRY BEAUMONT
DIRECTED
I
I
When Ladies Meet"
"Should Ladies Behave"
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
31
T
HE story is told (and it is supposed
to be true) of a certain director at one of
our major studios, who awoke one morn-
ing, after having spent most of the night
finishing a picture, to find the studio
frantically calling him to hurry down and
take over a half-completed production
for another director who was ill. He
hurried to the studio, walked onto the
set, and the assistant director handed him
a script, saying, "There's the lead, this
fellow's the heavy, and Miss X over there
is the heroine. Are you ready?" And he
was supposed, with that preparation, to
carry on and turn out a good picture!
An unusually bad break, you say? Un-
fair to start a man cold on a story he isn't
familiar with? An unusual incident?
Ask any cameraman; he'll tell you it
happens every day. He does it himself —
finishes a picture tonight, and tomorrow
morning he starts photographing a new
production, without so much as a glance
at the script, a word with the director, or
even a glimmer of an idea of what the
story is about. If he's lucky, the director
(or maybe the assistant director) will
find time to whisper, "Psst! Joe — this
one's a drama." That night, he may be
able to borrow somebody else's script,
glance it over hastily between dinner and
bedtime, and carry on with at least a hazy
idea of the story he is putting on the
screen.
Now, I'm no crusader; there are too
many people already who are ready to tell
the world what's wrong with the movies.
But — does it strike you that such a sys-
tem is efficient?
Here we have a director — a man trust-
ed with the job of turning several hun-
dred thousand dollars into a successful
motion picture. To do that, he must get
pictures of the action onto a strip of cel-
luloid, which represents the tangible,
salable product of all the effort and ex-
penditure of the production. He has a
man whose duty it is to direct the photo-
graphing of the story and action, so that
every scene reaches the screen as the
author and director have visualized it.
This director of photography has the in-
tricate task of bringing the production to
the screen so that the visual mood of the
picture matches the emotional or dra-
matic mood of action and dialog. He
must present the characters to their best
physical advantage, often using a world
of photographic skill to enhance their ap-
pearance, or to build up a definite visual
personality.
This work requires the highest type of
technical and artistic skill. Moreover, if
the best results are to be had, it demands
that the Director of Photography must be
Cameraman
or Director of Photography ?
By
KARL FREUND. A.S.C.
familiar with the script; he must know
how to build his photographic values to
co-ordinate with the dramatic values of
the story, in order to give each the most
suitable photographic treatment. He
should, in a word, be as familiar with
every phase of the production — ^before
starting to shoot — as is the director.
That the average cameraman is so uni-
formly successful in this work is due
largely to a combination of inherent artis-
tic and dramatic instinct, technical skill,
and experience. It certainly isn't because
the rest of us give him a break! And he
does it under conditions that any director
would call "impossible" — no preparation,
no understanding of the story until he is
actually shooting, and a constant grind of
being rushed from one picture into an-
other.
Perhaps this is an efficient, economical
system — but I doubt it. In nearly thirty
years in the motion picture business, I
have been both cameraman and director.
I have photographed and directed pic-
tures both here and in Europe, I have
worked where the cameraman is really a
part of the production — and where he is
simply a technician, rushed in at the last
moment. My own experience has proven
that when the cameraman is considered
in his true position — -that of a Director of
Photography — everyone gains.
In Europe the cameraman is really a
co-director: the Director of Photography.
He joins the unit early in the preparatory
stages; he participates in the story con-
ferences, collaborates with the art direc-
tor in designing the sets, directs the pho-
tography of the film, and then collabo-
rates with the director and the editor in
cutting the film. Then, if he wishes, he
can enjoy a comfortable vacation before
starting his next film.
What is the result? Instead of getting
the benefit of the cameraman's brains
and experience (which is what we are
actually buying) only during the rela-
tively short period of the actual shooting,
we get it throughout the whole produc-
tion. When we start to prepare the story,
the cameraman is there to give us advice
on how we can best tell our story in pic-
tures— and he is rested — fresh; not stale
and tired. At the same time, he gains a
thorough understanding of all the ideas
underlying and motivating the scenes he
is to photograph.
He knows what we are driving at; he
knows when conventional treatment will
be best, and when he can employ novel
angles and other photo-dramatic tricks
He helps in the design of the sets; there
can be nothing to alter once the sets are
ready — no repainting, nor rebuilding.
Thus, when we start shooting, he is as
well prepared as the director; he knows
exactly what we are trying to convey in
each scene, and how it fits into the pic-
ture as a whole. He has planned every
phase of his photographic treatment be-
forehand, so that each scene may best
carry out its motivating thought. His
plans for each shot are as well matured
beforehand as those of a good director.
As a result, the picture is produced
faster, and tells its story more graphically
than could be possible otherwise. It is
net only photographed better, but it is
also a more finished example of visual
drama. And the director can con-
centrate his attention on the actors
and their work; he knows that the cam-
eraman knows as well as he does what is
wanted. No explanations or discussions
are necessary; all of this has been done
before the shooting commenced. Each
understands the other's ideas, and each is
free to do his work perfectly.
Making a motion picture is no place
for rugged individualism. It can never
be a one-man job; it is an intensely co-
operative, collectivized enterprise. No
one concerned can be safely allowed to
work blindly or selfishly. We cannot have
directors directing for their own glorifi-
cation. We cannot — or perhaps I should
say should not — have actors acting for
their own applause. And we cannot have
cinematographers who view their work
as being limited only to photography.
The cinema demands good photogra-
phy— often beautiful photography, but at
the same time, even the most beautiful
shot can be harmful if used in the wrong
(Continued on Page 66)
I
B
U
s
B
Y
B
BUSBY BERKELEY
R
K
E
L
E
Y
I
33
(Cast of Characters: Associate Producer,
Director and a Writer. Scene; Any stu-
dio, any time. The associate producer
has called the director and writer into a
very important meeting.)
Associate Producer: Boys, I've got a
great idea. Let's make a different musi-
cal!
Director: Swell! That's what I have
been trying to tell you for months. The
public is getting tired of these big spec-
tacles, crooners, dance routines, top shots
and back stage stories. What they want
is something more intimate, more sophis-
ticated, more . . .
Writer: But —
Associate Producer: You got my idea
right away. And, I don't want any hit
songs. The public is sick of them too.
Disregard the commercial song numbers,
boys. What I want back of this picture
is a tine symphonic score. Something
that will . . .
• Writer: But —
Associate Producer: I got it ... a mar-
velous idea.
Director: I know just what you mean.
Our story takes place . . .
Associate Producer: I'm way ahead of
you. My wife saw the Mozart music fes-
tival in Salzburg, Austria, last year. She
says it will make the kind of different
musical that will revolutionize the indus-
try.
Writer: But, Mr. —
Director: The public would never un-
derstand German. Now get my idea.
You take a boy and a girl in any big city.
I want a simple love story. Look at
Antony and Cleopatra, Napoleon and
Josephine. Simple, human, elemental
love stories. That's what put them over.
Writer: But, Mr. —
Associate Producer: I knew you would
like my idea.
Director: Now we're getting some-
where. The boy is a clerk in a depart-
ment store.
Associate Producer: But how can he
sing then?
Director: Ah, that's where my novelty
comes in. He can't sing!
Associate Producer: Great. He is in
love with the little girl that works at the
ribbon counter. That's great. We won't
Let's Make A Different Musical
By
MARK SANDRICH
have to spend a lot of dough for big
names. I know a little girl I want to
make . . .
Director: Yeah, I know. But I got a
better idea. The girl sells washing ma-
chines in the basement. Can you imagine
a rhythmic number back of those wash-
ing machine shots? I tell you, it's down
to earth, it's popular appeal, it's box
office. Every housewife . . .
Writer: But —
Associate Producer: That sounds okay.
Director: Sure it's okay. The head
buyer is the heavy. Goes on the make
for the boy . . .
Associate Producer: Wait a minute.
The Hays organization would never stand
for that.
Director: Nuts. It's a woman buyer.
Associate Producer: Oh, that's okay.
Director: Wait a minute. I got an-
other great idea. The buyer breaks her
leg coming down the escalator, and the
girl takes her place.
Associate Producer: Escalator?
Director: Yeah, escalator. Visualize
it, boys. That escalator going up and
down with a big chorus of sales girls.
The boy and girl can do a hot tap dance
on the escalator.
Associate Producer: Boy, that's mar-
velous. Get Jack Warner and Sam Gold-
wyn on the phone and see if we can bor-
row Buzz Berkeley.
Writer: But —
Director: Wait. I've got a title for a
hit song for the escalator number. I Got
to Pass Your Floor to Get to My Floor.
Associate Producer: How about Com-
ing Down the Stairs to You?
Director: The song writers are going to
be nuts about I Got to Pass Your Floor to
Get to My Floor. Say, do you suppose we
could get Gordon and Revel, or Warren
and Dubin?
Associate Producer: Hell, we'll get
both teams. What an idea. Think of
what those four boys could do together!
Director: Now you're showing me
some co-operation. The boy can sing the
number . . .
Associate Producer: I thought you said
the boy couldn't sing.
Director: Well, we can dub his voice.
Associate Producer: Listen, boys, let's
do this right. To hell with the expense.
I have a great idea for you. How would
you like to see Bing Crosby play the part
of the boy?
Director: And we can borrow Ruby
Keeler for the girl. Get a load of Bing
and Ruby doing that escalator number.
And we give that guy Berkeley something
to shoot at with some new angles. I'll
get some great shots of that chorus from
the fifth floor, coming up the escalator.
Associate Producer: Boys, this picture
will be the most terrific hit of the year.
Director: Sensational!
Associate Producer (to the writer):
There's the idea. All you have to do now
is to go ahead and write it.
Director: And be sure you keep it sim-
ple and elemental.
Writer (rising and taking script out of
his pocket) : Pardon me, gentlemen, but
here it is. I've already written it. Of
course, it's a back stage story, but we can
easily change it.
(Associate Producer and Director leap
to their feet, shouting simultaneously:)
Marvelous. That's just what we've
been looking for.
'M"
WHEN THE CRI
(EXCERPTS FROM THE HOLL
LUCiEN ANDRIOT
The Right to Romance ' — R.K.O.
"Miss Harding is photographed beautifully in this film.
Lucien Andriot wielded a clever camera."
The Crime Doctor'— R.K.O.
"Lucien Andriot photographed it with distinction."
M. A. ANDERSON
The Quitter "—Chesterfield
"Photography of M. A. Anderson and production
throughout is top-notch."
WILLIAM DANIELS
•Dinner at Eight "—M-C-M
"William Daniels, who has many extremely fine photo-
graphic accomplishments to his credit, comes through
with another bit of creative photography."
'Christopher Bean"— M-C-M
"Photography is excellent."
"Queen Christina"— M-C-M
"Bill Daniels' camera work is a photographic master-
piece."
FAXON DEAN
"One Year Later"— Allied
"The photography is stunning. Faxon Dean and
Tom Calligan cover themselves with glory for the
photography."
HARRY FISCHBECK
"The Trumpet Blows"" — Paramount
"Harry Fischbeck's photography is stunning."
"Double Door"" — Paramount
"Harry Fischbeck's photography is utterly and beauti-
fully in the mood of this extraordinary story."
AL CILKS
"Little Miss Marker" — Paramount
"Camera work by Alfred Cilks excellent."
or
CEORCE FOLSEY
"Stage Mother" —M-C-M
"The camera workl);
throughout." [
"Coing Hollywood" —M-C
"George Folsey's wor
of art."
"Men in White"— M-C-K"
"The photography b|jC(
rave about." I
RAY JUNE
"Rip Tide "-M-C-M
"Photography by Ray
PEVERELL MARLEY
"This Day and Age" — Partioi
"Photography by Pevfsll
ii
ERNEST MILLER I
"Laughing at Life"" — Mastil
"Photography through
BEN REYNOLDS [
"Thundering Herd" — Parfioi
"Ben Reynolds photcjjjap
"Come on, Marines"" — Paki.
"Ben Reynolds photcjap
"The Witching Hour "—Ik
"Ben Reynolds' photfa[
THERE'S /
PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTI:;
NEGi
i|f
SMITH & ALLER. Ltd.
nCS COMMENT
'WOOD REPORTER REVIEWS)
•y George Folsey is excellent
C«4
on 'Going Hollywood' is a work
George Folsey is something to
ine is expert throughout."
arjiount
evfsll Marley is swell.
3S(I
ugl)ut is excellent."
sraount
)toaphed it beautifully."
Paimounf
)toaphed it in good style."
-P^'amount-
otcraphy is a work of art, no less."
}
REASON!
LEON SHAMROY
''Thirty Day Princess" — Paramount
"Leon Shamroy's photography is artistically out-
standing."
"Jennie Cerhardt" — Paramount
"Leon Shamroy bent an intelligent camera upon the
film."
ARCHIE STOUT
"The Last Roundup" — Paramount
"Archie Stout's photography is memorable."
"Mystery Liner" — Monogram
"Archie Stout's photography is remarkably fine."
KARL STRUSS
"Four Frightened People" — Paramount
"The picture was expertly photographed by Karl
Struss."
"Story of Temple Drake" — Paramount
"Fine photography by Karl Struss."
GREGG TOLAND
"Tugboat Annie"— M-G-M
"Gregg Toland's photography was excellent."
"Roman Scandals" — Samuel Coldwyn
"The photography of Gregg Toland, Ray June and John
Boyle was in keeping with the class of the rest of the
production."
"Nana" — Samuel Goldwyn
"Gregg Toland's photography and the settings combine
to give 'Nana' an atmosphere that not only is exquisite
but so foreign as to create a perfect illusion."
LEO TOVER
"Bolero" — Paramount
"Leo Tover's photography is in harmony."
"Murder at the Vanities" — Paramount
"The photography of Leo Tover is the very bright and
shining star of the picture."
ITRY COMBINED WITH
illVE
Pacific Coast Distributors
lO¥/£ll
o
HERMAN
SHE DONE HIM WRONG
MORNING GLORY
B'WAY THRU A KEYHOLE
PREPARINC-
NIGHT LIFE OF THE GODS
FRANK and DUNLAP, Ltd.
GEORGE
STEVENS
STEPHEN
R.
ROBERTS
NOW
UNDER CONTRACT
TO
K-K-O
k
RECENT RELEASES
For Paramount
"Lady and Cent'*
"One Sunday Afternoon"
"Story of Temple Drake"
"Night of June 13th"
"The Trumpet Blows"
•
Exclusive Management
Schulberg-Feldman and Gurney
ALFRED
GREEN
1933 — 1934 RELEASES
n
n
I Loved A Woman"
Edward C. Robinson and Kay Francis
As The Earth Turns"
All Star Cast-
'Dark Hazard"
Edward C. Robinson
"Side Streets'
Aline MacMahon and Paul Kelly
'The Merry Frinks"
Aline MacMahon, Hugh Herbert
Guy Kibbee and Allen Jenkins
Housewite
Ann Dvorak, Bette Davis and
George Brent
DIRECTING
WARNER BROS.
FIRST NATIONAL
PRODUCTIONS
SIDNEY A. FRANKLIN
DIRECTOR
M ETRO-COLDW YN - M A YER
LOU IS
KING
DIRECTED
"MURDER IN TRINIDAD
n
NOW PREPARING
n
WANTED
(Tentative Title)
//
BOTH
PICTURES FOR
FOX
MANAGEMENT
HARRY WURTZEL. Inc.
MICHAEL CURTIZ
"The Kennel Murder Case
tf
"Female"
"Mandalay"
"Jimmy The Cent
ft
"The Key
n
Now in ProducHon
"British Agent"
WARNER BROS. — FIRST NATIONAL
PICTURES
EDWARD
lUDVVIG
DIRECTED
"Let's Be Ritzy "
A Woman's Man
ft
'Friends of Mr. Sweeney"
NOW DIRECTING
'The Man Who Reclaimed His Head'
FOR
UNIVERSAL
BEN HOLMES
DIRECTING
CLARK and McCULLOUCH
CHICK CHANDLER
in
R K O - RADIO COMEDIES
Produced by
LEE MARCUS
GREGORY
L A C A V A
w
BED OF ROSES'-Radio
"GALLANT LADY"-20th Century
"THE AFFAIRS OF CELLINI"-20th Century
("THE FIREBRAND")
UNDER CONTRACT TO
METRO -COLDWYN -MAYER
TAV CARNETT
NOW PREPARING
"CHINA SEAS"
CLARK GABLE - JEAN HARLOW
IRVING THALBERG PRODUCTION
METRO-GOLDWYN- MAYER
w
ONE MAN'S JOURNEY"
WITH LIONEL BARRYMORE
"CRIME DOCTOR"
WITH OTTO KRUCER
"FAMILY MAN"
(Temporary Title)
WITH RICHARD DIX
IN PREPARATION
^WEDNESDAY'S CHILD"
JOHN ROBERTSON
M
TAY CAKNITT
NOW PREPARING
"CHINA SEAS"
CLARK GABLE - JEAN HARLOW
IRVING THALBERG PRODUCTION
METRO-GOLDWYN- MAYER
I
w
ONE MAN'S JOURNEY"
WITH LIONEL BARRYMORE
"CRIME DOCTOR"
WITH OTTO KRUGER
"FAMILY MAN"
(Temporary Title)
WITH RICHARD DIX
IN PREPARATION
"WEDNESDAY'S CHILD"
JOHN ROBERTSON
ELLIOTT NUGENT
DIRECTOR
In Production
SHE LOVES ME NOT"
Wifk BINC CROSBY - MIRIAM HOPKINS
PARAMOUNT
1934
"STRICTLY DYNAMITE"
With JIMMY DURANTE - LUPE VELEZ - NORMAN FOSTER
MARION NIXON - WM. CARCAN - MILLS BROS.
R.K.O.
"TWO ALONE"
With lEAN PARKER - TOM BROWN . ARTHUR BYRON
R.K.O.
1933
"IF I WERE FREE"
Starring IRENE DUNNE - CLIVE BROOK
R.K.O.
"Three Cornered Moon"
With CLAUDETTE COLBERT - MARY BOLAND
RICHARD ARLEN
PARAMOUNT
Chosen as one of 1 0 best pictures by National Board
of Review
Whistling In The Dark"
M.C.M.
1932
THE MOUTHPIECE
WARNERS-lst NATIONAL
LIFE BEGINS"
WARNERS-lst NATIONAL
ALEXANDER HALL
BEST
DIRECTOR
1954 '
directed
"Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen"
ALEXANDER HALL
directed
"Little Miss Marker"
ALEXANDER HALL
is under contract to
PARAMOUNT
Rl AN
JAMES
+
1^
WILHELM DIETERLE
"ADORABLE"
(Fox)
"THE DEVIL'S IN LOVE"
(Fox)
"FROM HEADQUARTERS"
(Warners)
"FASHIONS OF 1934"
(Warners)
"FOG OVER FRISCO"
(Warners)
"DU BARRY"
(Warners)
4
UNDER CONTRACT TO Vs/ARNER BROS. - FIRST NATIONAL
I
V
/ILLIAM WyLER
LATEST RELEASES
"COUNSELOR-AT-LAW"
"CLAMOUR"
+
IN PREPARATION
MARCEL PACNOLS
"FANNY"
Adapted by
PRESTON STURCES
F R A\ N K
C A P R A
DIRECTOR
BEST
DIRECTOR
1954
LADY FOR A DAY"
"IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT"
7;iy;777iwBByg«^..yf-sg-;j;gjHa^vf>->^^ i, 1 1^ .y;.»w^
loWDOWN
&%r
BEST
DIRECTOR
1954
mervyn leroy
jjt
Jl
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
55
DIRECTORS and THEIR WORK
AMY, CEORCE
"She Had To Say Yes" Warners
ARCHAINBAUD, CEORCE
"The Big Brain" Radio
"The Woman Spy"
"Keep 'Em Rolling" Radio
"Murder on the Blackboard". .Radio
"After Tonight" Radio
ARZNER. I>OROTHY
"Nana" Coldwyn-U.A.
AUSTIN, HAROLD
"Eat 'Em Alive" Real Life
BACON, LLOYD
"A Very Honorable Guy". -Warners
"Wonder Bar" Warners
"Mary Stevens, M.D." Warners
"Footlight Parade" Warners
"Son of a Sailor" Warners
"Hey, Sailor" Warners
"He Was Her Man" Warners
BEAUDINE, WILLIAM
"Her Bodyguard" Paramount
BEAUMONT, HARRY
"When Ladies Meet" MCM
"Should Ladies Behave" MCM
BEEBE, FORD
"Laughing at Life" Nat Levne
BELL, MONTA
"Worst Woman in Paris" Fox
BENNET, SPENCER
"Ferocious Pal" Principal
BERKELEY BUSBY
"She Had to Say Yes" Warners
Dance Director on;
"Roman Scandals". ...Coldwyn-U.A.
"Coiddiggers of 1933 Warners
"Footlight Parade" Warners
"Wonder Bar" Warners
"Fashions of 1934" Warners
BERNE, JOSEF
"Black Dawn"
Cameron O'Day-Pearson
BIRDWELL, RUSSELL
"Flying Devils" Radio
BLYSTONE, JOHN
"Shanghai Madness" Fox
"Coming Out Party" Fox
"Change of Heart" Fox
BOASBERC, AL
"Myrt and Marge" Universal
BORZACE, FRANK
"Man's Castle" Columbia
"Little Man, What Now?" Univ.
"No Creater Clory' Columbia
BOLESLAVSKY. RICHARD
"Storm at Daybreak" MCM
"Beauty For Sale" MCM
"Fugitive Lovers" MCM
"Men in White" MCM
"Operator 1 3" MCM
Co-director on:
"Hollywood Party" MCM
BRABIN, CHARLES
"Stage Mother" MCM
"Day of Reckoning" MCM
BRETHERTON, HOWARD
"Return of the Terror" Warners
BRENON, HERBERT
"Wine, Women and Song"
Chadwick
IN THE PAST YEAR
BRICE, MONTE
Dialogue Director on:
"Moonlight and Pretzels" Univ.
Co-director on:
"Take a Chance" Paramount
BROWER, OTTO
"Speed Wings" Columbia
"I Can't Escape" Universal
"Headline Shooter" Radio
BROWN, CLARENCE
"Night Flight" MCM
"Sadie McKee" MCM
BROWN, HARRY JOE
"Sitting Pretty" Paramount
BROWN, ROWLAND
"Blood Money" 20th Cent.
BURKE, EDWIN
"Now I'll Tell" Fox
BURR, C. C.
"Totchy's Loud Speaker" Educ.
BURTON, DAVID
"Sisters Under the Skin". .Columbia
"Brief Moment" Columbia
"Let's Fall in Love" Columbia
BUTLER, DAVID
"Bottoms Up" Fox
"Happy Andrew" Fox
"My Weakness" Fox
BUZZELL, EDDIE
"Love, Honor and Oh Baby". .Univ.
"Cross Country Cruise".. ..Universal
CABANNE, WM. CHRISTY
"World Cone Mad" Majestic
"Midshipman Jack" Radio
"When Strangers Meet" Liberty
"Money Means Nothing"
Monogram
CAHN, EDWARD
"Emergency Call" Radio
CAPRA, FRANK
"Lady for a Day" Columbia
"It Happened One Night" -Col.
CHRISTY, HOWARD
"Sing, Sinner, Sing" Majestic
COHEN, MAURY M.
"Rainbow Over Broadway"
Chesterfield
CONWAY, JACK
"Viva Villa" MCM
"Solitaire Man" MCM
"The Nuisance" MCM
COWAN, WILLIAM J.
"Woman Unafraid" Coldsmith
CROMWELL, JOHN
"Double Harness" Radio
"Ann Vickers" Radio
"Spitfire" Radio
"This Man Is Mine" Radio
"Of Human Bondage" Radio
CROSLAND, ALAN
"Massacre" Warners
"Midnight Alibi" Warners
"The Personality Kid" Warners
CRUZE, JAMES
"Mr. Skitch" Fox
"David Harum" Fox
"Afterwards" .Radio
CUKOR, CEORCE
"Dinner at Eight" MCM
"Little Women" Radio
CURTIZ, MICHAEL
"Coodbye Again" Warners
"Kennel Murder Case" Warners
"Female" Warners
"Mandalay" Warners
"Jimmy the Cent" Warners
"The Key" Warners
CUMMINCS, IRVING
"The Mad Came" Fox
"I Believed in You" Fox
CZINNER, DR. PAUL
"Catherine the Creat"...-Lon. Films
DENIS, ARMAND
"Wild Cargo" Radio
DEL RUTH, ROY
"Upperworld" Warners
"Captured" Warners
"Bureau of Missing
Persons" - Warners
"Lady Killer" Warners
"Bulldog Drummond Strikes
Back" 20th Cent.
DE MILLE, CECIL
"This Day and Age" Paramount
"Four Frightened People" Para.
DIETERLE, WILHELM
"Adorable" Fox
"The Devil's in Love" Fox
"From Headquarters" Warners
"Fashions of 1934" Warners
"Fog Over Frisco" Warners
"Du Barry" Warners
DILLON, JOHN FRANCIS
"The Shakedown" Warners
DWAN, ALAN
"Hollywood Party" MCM
"The Morning After" Brit.-Cau.
DUPONT, E. A.
"Ladies Must Love" Universal
ENRICHT, RAY
"Tomorrow at Seven"
Radio-Jefferson
"Silk Express" Warners
"20 Million Sweethearts". .Warners
"Havana Widows" Warners
"I've Cot Your Number Warners
"The Circus Clown" Warners
EISENSTEIN, SERGEI
"Thunder Over Mexico" Lesser
FIELDS, LEONARD
"Manhattan Love Song". .Monogram
FEIST, JR.. FELIX
"Deluge" KBS
FITZMAURICE, GEORGE
"All Men Are Enemies" Fox
FLEMING, VICTOR
"Blonde Bombshell" MCM
FLOOD, JAMES
"Such Women Are Dangerous".. Fox
"All of Me" Paramount
FORD, JOHN
"The Lost Patrol" Radio
"The World Moves On" Fox
FORD. WESLEY
"Her Forgotten Past" Mayfair
FORDE, EUGENE
"Smoky" Fox
FORDE. WALTER
"Orders Is Orders"..-. Brit. -Caumont
FLOREY, ROBERT
"House on 56th Street".. ..Warners
"Registered Nurse" Warners
"Smarty" Warners
"Bedside" Warners
FREELAND, THORNTON
"Ceorge White's Scandals" Fox
"Flying Down to Rio" Radio
FRENKE, DR. EUGENE
"The Cirl in the Case". .Screen Arts
FREUND, KARL
"Moonlight and Pretzels" Univ.
"Madame Spy" Universal
"Countess of Monte Cristo"....Univ.
"I Cive My Love" Universal
"Uncertain Lady" Universal
FRIEDLANDER. LOUIS
"The Vanishing Shadow". .Universal
CARNETT, TAY
"SOS. Iceberg" Universal
CARSON, HARRY
"Tambur"
CASNIER, LOUIS
"Cambling Ship" Paramount
GERING, MARION
"Jennie Cerhardt" Parannount
"Good Dame" Paramount
"Thirty Day Princess". ...Paramount
GIBBONS, CEDRiC
"Tarzan and His Mate" MCM
GREEN. ALFRED E.
"The Narrow Corner" Warners
"Woman in Her Thirties"..Warners
"I Loved a Woman" Warners
"Dark Hazard" Warners
"As the Earth Turns" Warners
"The Merry Frinks" Warners
"Housewife" Warners
GRIFFITH. EDWARD H.
"Another Language" MCM
GOTTLER. ARCHI-E
Columbia Shorts:
"Um-Pah"
"Roamin' Thru the Roses"
"School for Romance"
"Love Detectives"
"Woman Haters"
"Susie's Affairs"
GOULDING, ALF.
"Music in Her Hair" Radio
GOULDING, EDMUND
"Rip Tide" MCM
HALL, ALEXANDER
"The Midnight Club". -..Paramount
"The Torch Singer" Paramount
"Miss Fane's Baby Is
Stolen" Paramount
"Cirl in 419" Paramount
"Little Miss Marker" Paramount
HARK WAY, W. VICTOR
"No Funny Business" B.I.P.
HA1
STOIOFF
D
I
R
E
C
• T
E
D
"PALOOKA"
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HO
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;' ■(
HO
HC
NOW
DIRECTING
"TRANSATLANTIC SHOWBOAT"
FOR
UNITED ARTISTS
i
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
57
HATHAWAY, HENRY
"Sunset Pass" Paramount
"The Witching Hour". ... Paramount
"Man of the Forest" Paramount
"To the Last Man" Paramount
' "Thundering Herd" Paramount
- "The Last Round-up". ...Paramount
"Come On, Marines" Paramount
HAWKS, HOWARD
"Twentieth Century" Columbia
HENLEY, HOBART
"Unknown Blonde" Majestic
HILLYER, LAMBERT
"Dangerous Crossroads". ...Columbia
"Master of Men.." Columbia
"One Was Guilty" Columbia
"Once To Every Woman". .Columbia
HOLMES, BEN
Clark and McCullough Comedies
' Chick Chandler Comedies
HOPKINS, ARTHUR
: "His Double Life" Paramount
HOPPER, F. MASON
"One Year Later" Allied
HOWARD, WILLIAM K.
"The Power and the Glory" Fox
; "This Side of Heaven" MOM
: "The Cat and the Fiddle"— -MOM
HUMBERSTONE, H. BRUCE
"Goodbye, Love" Radio
"Merry Wives of Reno".. ..Warners
JAMES, ALAN
"King of the Arena"
Maynard- Universal
"Wheels of Destiny".. ..May'd-Univ.
"Doomed to Die" Mayn'd-Univ.
"The Trail Drive" Mayn'd-Univ.
"Strawberry Roan".... Mayn'd-Univ.
"Riders of Justice". ...Mayn'd-Univ.
"Honor of the West" Mayn'd-Univ.
JAMES, RIAN
"The Best of Enemies" Fox
JONES, CROVER
Co-directed:
"Hell and High Water". .Paramount
KEICHLEY, WILLIAM
"Easy to Love" Warners
"Journal of Crime" Warners
"Dr. Monica" Warners
KENTON, ERLE C
"You're Telling Me" Paramount
"Disgraced" Paramount
"Big Executive" Paramount
"Search for Beauty" Paramount
KING, HENRY
"I Loved You Wednesday" Fox
KNOPF, EDWIN
"The Rebel" Universal
KORDA, ALEXANDER
"Henry VIII" U. A. -London
LA CAVA, GREGORY
"Affairs of Cellini" 20th Cent.
"Bed of Roses" Radio
"Gallant Lady" 20th Cent.
LACHMAN, HARRY
"I Like It That Way" Universal
"George White's Scandals" Fox
LAEMMLE, EDWARD
"Embarrassing Moments" Univ.
LANFIELD, SIDNEY
"Moulin Rouge" 20th Cent.
"The Last Gentleman". .20th Cent.
LANG, WALTER
"The Party's Over" Columbia
"Meet the Baron" MCM
LAMONT, CHARLES
"The Big Squeal" Educational
LEE. ROWLAND V.
"I Am Suzanne" Fox
LEISEN, MITCHELL
"Cradle Song" Paramount
"Death Takes Holiday". .Paramount
"Murder at the Vanities" Para.
LEONARD, ROBERT Z.
"Dancing Lady"
.MCM
LE ROY. MERVYN
"Golddiggers of 1933" Warners
"Tugboat Annie" MCM
"The World Changes" Warners
"Hi, Nellie" Warners
"Heat Lightning" Warners
LLOYD, FRANK
"Berkeley Square" Lasky-Fox
"Hoopla" Fox
LUBITSCH, ERNST
"Design For Living" Paramount
LUDWIG, EDWARD
"Let's Be Ritzy" Universal
"A Woman's Man" Monogram
"Friends of Mr. Sweeney". .Warners
MACK, WILLARD
"Broadway to Hollywood"....MGM
MACK, RUSSELL
"Meanest Gal in Town" Radio
MAMOULIAN, ROUBEN
"Song of Songs" Paramount
"Queen Christina" MCM
MANSFIELD. DUNCAN
"Strings" Duncan Mansfield
MARGIN, MAX
"Gambling Ship" Paramount
"Love Captive" Universal
MARIN, EDWIN L.
"Sweetheart of Sigma Chi"
Monogram
"Special Investigator" Universal
"Bombay Mail" Universal
"Affairs of a Gentleman" Univ.
MARSHALL, GEORGE
"Ever Since Eve" Fox
"Wild Gold" Fox
MARTIN, FRANCIS
"Tillie and Gus" Paramount
MARTIN, PAUL
"Orient Express" Fox
MAYNARD, KEN
"The Fiddling Buckaroos"
Maynard- Universal
MAYO, ARCHIE
"Mayor of Hell" Warners
"Ever in My Heart" Warners
"Convention City" Warners
"Gambling Lady" Warners
"Man with Two Faces" Warners
McCAREY, LEO
"Duck Soup" Paramount
"Six of a Kind". Paramount
MacDONALD, FRANK
Dialogue Director on:
"Smarty" Warners
"The Key" Warners
McFADDEN, HAMILTON
"Stand Up and Cheer" Fox
"The Man Who Dared" ...Fox
"Charlie Chan's Greatest Case".. Fox
"As Husbands Go" Fox
MacKENNA, KENNETH
"Walls of Cold" Fox
"Sleepers East" Fox
McLEOD, NORMAN
"Melody in Spring" Paramount
"Mama Loves Papa" Paramount
"Alice in Wonderland". .Paramount
"Many Happy Returns". .Paramount
McNUTT, WM. SLAVENS
Co-director on:
"Hell and High Water". .Paramount
MEINS, GUS
Roach Shorts:
"Beauty and the Bus"
"Backs to Nature"
"Air Fright"
"Babes in the Goods"
"Soup and Fish"
"Maid in Hollywood"
"I'll Be Suing You"
"Three Chumps Ahead"
"Hi, Neighbor"
"For Pete's Sake"
"Tha First Roundup"
"Honky- Donkey"
MENZIES, WM. CAMERON
"I Loved You Wednesday" Fox
"Wharf Angel" Paramount
MERRICK, GEORGE M.
"Secrets of Hollywood"
Lester Scott Prod.
MOISE, NINA
Co-director on:
"Cradle Song" Paramount
Associate Director on:
"Come On, Marines" Paramount
MURPHY, RALPH
"Great Flirtation" Rogers-Para.
"She Made Her Bed". .Rogers-Para.
"Private Scandal" Rogers-Para.
"Golden Harvest" Rogers- Para.
"The Girl Without a
Room" Rogers- Para.
MURPHY, DUDLEY
"Emperor Jones" U.A.
NEGULESCO, JEAN
"Kiss and Make Up". ...Paramount
NEILL, ROY WILLIAM
"Whirlpool" Columbia
"Circus Queen Murder". ...Columbia
NEILSON, LESTER
"My Side of the Story" Foy
NICHOLLS, JR., GEORGE
"Finishing School" Radio
NIGH, WILLIAM
"Monte Carlo Nights".... Monogram
"He Couldn't Take It". .Monogram
"Mystery Liner" Monogram
"Once to Every Bachelor".. ..Liberty
"House of Mystery" Monogram
"City Limits" Monogram
NUGENT, ELLIOTT
"If I Were Free" Radio
"Three Cornered Moon" Para.
"Two Alone" Radio
"Strictly Dynamite" ..Radio
"She Loves Me Not" Paramount
NEUMANN, KURT
"Half a Sinner" ....Universal
"King for a Night" Universal
"Let's Talk It Over" Universal
NEWMEYER. FRED
"No Ransom" Liberty
RAYMOND. JACK
"Sorrell and Son' British & Domin.
REED, DANI-EL
Dialogue Director on:
"Jimmy the Gent" Warners
"Merry Wives of Reno".. ..Warners
"Fog Over Frisco" Warners
"Du Barry" Warners
REISNER, CHARLES F.
"You Can't Buy Everything". .MCM
"The Chief" MCM
"The Showoff" MCM
RIPLEY, ARTHUR
"The Barber Shop"....Sennett-Para.
ROBERTS, STEPHEN
"Story of Temple Drake" Para.
"The Trumpet Blows".... Paramount
"One Sunday Afternoon" Para.
ROBERTSON, JOHN
"The Crime Doctor" Radio
"One Man's Journey" Radio
"Family Man" Radio
ROGELL, AL
"Hell Cat" Columbia
"Fog" Columbia
"No More Women". ...Rogers-Para.
"East of Fifth Ave." Columbia
ROGERS, CHARLES
"Me and My Pal" Roach
Co-director on:
"Fra Diavolo" Roach
ROSEN, PHIL
"The Sphinx"
"Devil's Mate" Monogram
"Picture Brides" Allied
"Beggars in Ermine" Monogram
"Cheaters" Liberty
ROTH. MURRAY
"Harold Teen" Warners
"Don't Bet on Love" Universal
RUGGLES. WESLEY
"College Humor" Paramount
"Bolero" Paramount
"I'm No Angel" Paramount
RUBEN, J. WALTER
"Where Sinners Meet' Radio
"No Marriage Ties" Radio
"Ace of Aces" Radio
"Man of Two Worlds" Radio
"Success at Any Price" Radio
SANDRICH, MARK
"Melody Cruise" Radio
"Aggie Appleby" Radio
"Hips, Hips Hooray" Radio
"Cockeyed Cavaliers" Radio
SANTLEY. JOSEPH
"The Loudspeaker" Monogram
SANTELL. ALFRED
"The Right to Ranee" Radio
"Bondage" Fox
"Virgie Winters" Radio
SCHERTZINGER. VICTOR
"My Woman" Columbia
"Beloved" Universal
"One Night of Love" Columbia
SCHWAB. LAWRENCE
"Take a Chance" Paramount
SCHOEDSACK. ERNEST
"Blind Adventure" Radio
"Long Lost Father" Radio
"Son of Kong" Radio
SCOTTO, AUBREY
"I Hate Women" Goldsmith
SEDGWICK, EDWARD
Til Tell the World" Universal
"Saturday's Millions" Universal
"Horseplay" Universal
"The Poor Rich" Universal
"Here Comes the Groom" Para.
SEILER, LEW
"The Frontier Marshal" Fox
58
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
ALBERT
ROCELL
■
ALWAYS UNDE
+
R CONTRACT
1925 — 1926
To UNIVERSAL
•
1927 — 1928 — 1929
To FIRST NATIONAL and CHARLES R. ROGERS
•
1930
ALBERT ROCELL PRODUCTIONS
•
1931 — 1932
To R, K. 0. PATHE
•
1933 — 1934
To COLUMBIA STUDIOS
+
THKRE'S A
REASON
^
LEO Mc CAREY
Now Directing
MAE WEST
in
'IT AINT NO SIN "
Recent Release
» — —
•SIX OF A KIND" ^
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
59
SEITER, WILLIAM
"Love Birds" Universal
"Professional Sweetheart" Radio
"Rafter Romance" Fox
"Sons of the Desert". .Roach-MCM
"Sing and Like It" Radio
SEITZ. GEORGE B.
"The Women in His Life"....MCM
"Lazy River" MGM
SELWYN, EiX;AR
"Turn Back the Clock" MCM
"Mystery of Mr. X" MGM
SEVILLE. VICTOR
"The Good Companions"
Fox-Gaumont
"I Was a Spy Fox-Gaumont
SHERMAN, LOWELL
"Morning Glory" Radio
"Broadway Through a
Keyhole" 20th Cent.
"Born to Be Bad" U.A.
SLOANE. PAUL
"Lone Cowboy" Paramount
SOMNES. GEORGE
"The Midnight Club". ...Paramount
"The Torch Singer" Paramount
"The Girl in 419" Paramount
STAFFORD, JOHN
"No Funny Business" B.I.P.
STAHL, JOHN
"Only Yesterday" Universal
STEVENS. GEORGE
"Bachelor Bait" Radio
STOLOFF, BEN
"Called on Account of
Darkness" Foy-Col.
"Palooka" Small -Reliance
STRAYER, FRANK
"Dance, Girl, Dance" Invincible
"Twin Husbands" Invincible
ST. CLAIR, MAL
"Olsens Big Moment" Fox
SUTHERLAND, EDWARD
"International House".-.. Paramount
"Too Much Harmony". ...Paramount
TAUROG, NORMAN
"The Way to Love" Paramount
"We're Not Dressing". ...Paramount
THOMPSON. HARLAN
"Kiss and Make Up" Paramount
THORPE. RICHARD
"The Quitter" Chesterfield
TINLING, JAMES
"Three on a Honeymoon" Fox
"Arizona to Broadway" Fox
"The Last Trail" Fox
"jimmy and Sally" Fox
"Call It Luck" Fox
TUCHOCK, WANDA
"Finis.hing School" Radio
TUTTLE, FRANK
"Roman Scandals".... Coldwyn- U.A.
"Springtime for Henry" Fox
ULMER, EDGAR
"The Black Cat" Universal
"Damaged Lives" Beacon
UTTERSTROM, JOHN
"Itchy Scratchy" Futter Prod.
VAN DYKE, W. S.
"Manhattan Melodrama" MGM
"Penthouse" MGM
"Eskimo" MGM
"Prizefighter and the Lady". .MGM
"The Thin Man" MGM
"Laughing Boy" MGM
VIDOR, CHARLES
"Double Door" Paramount
VIDOR, KING
"The Stranger's Return" MGM
"Our Daily Bread" Viking-U.A.
VIGNOLA, ROBERT
"Broken Dreams" Monogram
VON STERNBERG, JOSEF
"Scarlet Empress" Paramount
WALLACE, RICHARD
"Eight Girls in a Boat" Para.
WALKER. STUART
"White Woman" Paramount
WALSH, RAOUL
"The Bowery" 20th Cent.
"Going Hollywood" MGM
WEBB, MILLARD
"The Woman Who Dares"
Wm. Berke Prod.
WELLMAN, WILLfAM
"Heroes For Sale" Warners
"Midnight Mary" MGM
"Wild Boys of the Road".. ..Warners
"College Coach" Warners
"Looking for Trouble". ...20th Cent.
"Stingaree" Radio
WERKER. ALFRED
"It's Great to Be Alive" Fox
"Advice to the Lovelorn"
20th Cent.
"House of Rothsdiild"....20th Cent.
WHALE, JAMES
"Invisible Man" Universal
"By Candlelight" Universal
WHITE, JULES
"King of the Jungle" Paramount
Eight Pete Smith Shorts MGM
First Goofy Movie
"Ten Baby Fingers" Col. Short
"Elmer Steps Out" Columbia
"Stable Mates" Columbia
WILBUR. CRANE
"Tomorrow's Children" Foy
"High School Girl" Foy
WOOD. SAM
"Hold Your Man" MGM
"Christopher Bean" MGM
WYLER, WILLIAM
"Clamour" Universal
"Her First Mate" Universal
"Counsellor at Law" Universal
ROUBEN MaMOULIAN
In Production:
"RESURRECTION"
For
SAMUEL COLDWYN
60
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
John G. Blystone
FOX
FILMS
Richard Boleslavsky
M-C- M
RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS"
"STORM AT DAYBREAK"
"BEAUTY FOR SALE"
"FUGITIVE LOVERS"
"MEN IN WHITE"
=^- "OPERATOR 13" — =
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
61
ERNST LUBITSCH
NOW DIRECTING
'The Merry Widow''
for
Irving Thalberg
Metro - Coldwyn - Mayer
E. A. Du Pont
\\
\\
VARIETY"
UFA — BERLIN
PICCADILLY"
B. I. P. — LONDON
n
MOULIN ROUGE
B. L P. — LONDON
rr
\\
ATLANTIC
B. I. P. — LONDON
rr
NOW WITH
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
w
\\
SALTO MORTALE
CHRONOS FILMS — BERLIN
TWO WORLDS
B. LP. — LONDON
rr
rr
62
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
David
Butler
DIRECTED
"MY WEAKNESS"
Lilian Harvey
"BOTTOMS UP"
Spencer Tracy
"HAPPY ANDY"
Will Rogers
FOR FOX FILMS
•
UNDER
IN PREPARATION
CONTRACT TO
"HAVE A HEART"
FOX
FOR METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER
MITCHELL
LEI SEN
. . DIRECTOR .
'^MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
''DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY"
'CRADLE SONG"
'THE EAGLE AND THE HAWK"
"TONIGHT IS OURS"
ALL
PARAMOUNT PRODUCTIONS
1933 - 1934
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
63
What About
Good Music in Pictures ?
By
VICTOR SCHERTZINCER
(Continued from Page 27)
At the end of the picture we employed the music of one of
the classics even more effectively. In this case we selected the
music of "Madame Butterfly." The situation in the story was
that Miss Moore was to make her debut in the Metropolitan
Opera House in New York. She was about to achieve what she
had believed was her greatest goal in life. But, in the mean-
time, she had fallen in love with her teacher, who, through a
lovers' misunderstanding, was not present. The girl finds her
achievement empty. She is broken in spirit. She is ready to
throw everything over, when the teacher appears in the
prompter's box and pantomimes to her that he loves her.
Miss Moore sings that beautiful song, "One Fine Day," which
tells of a girl separated from her lover and her hope that he will
return. The story of "Madame Butterfly" does not parallel our
story, but the music of that song told very definitely of two
hearts torn apart. The audience did not have to know the story
of the opera to get the effect of that music. It was carefully
selected to fit the situation. Music, the Actor, I believe, was
properly cast. When Miss Moore sings "One Fine Day," appar-
ently to an audience, but in reality to her lover who is there un-
seen by others, the effect means much to the story.
Yes, there is a place for the finest music, providing it is cast
properly. Everyone unconsciously is swayed by music. They do
not necessarily have to know the history behind it as long as it
fits the situation definitely.
If I might digress a minute to illustrate the importance of
music, an incident comes to me that occurred during the making
of "The Redskin," with Richard Dix, on the desert. We were
using several hundred Navajo Indians in the picture and they
were getting pretty hard to handle. We could not keep them
on location. Finally I hit upon the idea of having an organist and
violinist whom we had with the company — the picture was a
silent one — give an impromptu concert. After that we couldn't
get rid of the Navajos. They stuck around and stuck around,
even after we were through shooting, until finally we had to
announce that there would be no more music after six o'clock.
And, believe it or not, the music that was played was from the
CLASSICS! Certainly, if half-civilized Indians can appreciate
good music to that extent, it is not over the heads of our Ameri-
can audiences.
One of the finest illustrations of the proper use of good music
in pictures that comes to my mind was in "Be Mine Tonight."
In that case, music was a real dramatic factor in the story. It
was part of the plot. Music was actually a character. It was used
as a means of identifying the hero. Another and more recent
case was in Clarence Brown's picture, "Sadie McKee." The song
number in that production was used with tremendous effect and
was actually a part of the story.
So, let's forget all this nonsense about good music being over
the heads of the public. It is not. Radio has proved that defi-
nitely. The real problem is the proper selection of music. Just
because a scene happens to be laid in Italy is no reason that we
must have a background of Italian music. The same thing that
is happening to the lovers in the story probably could happen to
two lovers in any other country. We must dig deeper in the
choice of music and give scenes a background that is in complete
harmony with the DRAMA. In order to do this properly, I think
that the music departments ought to move closer to the scenario
departments in the various studios. Maybe that would help.
cT
w
oN
M'
Just Completed
SOUR GRAPES'
for
R.K.O.- Radio
64
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER T
i
KARL FREUND
DIRECTED
VICKI BAUM'S
"1 GIVE MY LOVE"
ALSO
"The Mummy" 'Madam Spy"
"Moonlight and Pretzels" "Countess of Monte Cristo"
"Uncertain Lady"
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
!
EDWARD SEDGWICK
1934
"I'LL TELL THE WORLD" "HERE COMES THE CROOM"
with with
LEE TRACY I^CK HALEY
for
^°'' CHAS. R. ROGERS
UNIVERSAL PARAMOUNT
NOW WITH M. C. M.
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
65
Richard Wa l l a c e
DIRECTOR
"THE MASQUERADER"
(SAMUEL COLDWYN ^ UNITED ARTISTS)
"EIGHT GIRLS IN A BOAT"
(CHARLES R. ROGERS PARAMOUNT)
In PreparaHofl
MVlarigold"
1 Starring Janet Caynor)
The Face of An Angel'
(All Star Cast)
FOX PRODUCTIONS
•
Note: 1 own the film rights to
"La Chienne" ("The Poor Sap")
French play and novel.
Rowland V. Lee
NOW DIRECTING
"THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO'
EDWARD SMALL — UNITED ARTISTS
LAST YEAR
"ZOO IN BUDAPEST"
"I AM SUZANNE"
JESSE LASKY — FOX
66
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Cameraman
or Director of Photography ?
By
KARL FREUND, A.S.C.
(Continued from Page 31 )
place. It is the instinct of every cinematographer worthy of the
name to make each shot as pictorial as is possible. He will al-
ways do so, unless he knows of a sound dramatic reason for doing
otherwise.
Working blindly, with no knowledge of the script, or of the
underlying dramatic motivation of a story, the cinematographer
cannot do otherwise than strive to make each shot a perfect
example of photography. But were he treated as a co-director,
in charge of photography, participating in the preparation of the
story, knowing exactly what is being striven for in each scene —
each line of dialogue — he would be better able to turn out a
really perfectly photographed production — one which showed,
not merely good camerawork, but good dramatic cinematogra-
phy, which is often something quite different. He would know
when to be daring, and when to be conservative. He would be
able to really utilize his knowledge, experience and skill, and
thereby double his value to the director and to the production.
In my own work as a cameraman, I know that the films
which I feel showed my best work — like "Tartuffe," "Variety,"
'The Last Laugh" and "Metropolis"--were made in this manner.
As a director, I cannot too strongly advocate such a system, for
I know that having a cameraman who was really a co-director in
charge of photography, who was as close to the production from
start to finish as I, would make me a better, more efficient
director.
CRANE WILBUR
DIRECTED
y\
Tomorrow's Children'
AND
"High School Girl"
"Expertly presented, 'Tomorrow's Child-
ren' presents a striking arraignment against
sterilization, which presently is compulsory
in 27 states . . . There's plenty of the un-
usual in it, and Crane Wilbur's expert dir-
ection points a strong finger of indictment
against many of the subject's phases, while
at the same time proving undoubtedly that
prevention of procreation is of inestimable
value to the race."
— VARIETY, May 11, 1934
Management
IVAN KAHN AGENCY
Edwin L. Marin
Under Contract
to
METRO - COLDWYN - MAYER
in preparation
TOUR WALLS"
management
William Stephens
WALTER LANG
D
R
T
O
R
AT
COLUMBIA
Management
SELZNICK — JOYCE
A.
DIRECTION
Is Most Important
IN ANY BUSINESS
WITH A WINE SHOP
Direction is required to acquire the
right Wine and Spirits at the right
price, but above all THE RIGHT
QUALITY and the right service to
its patrons.
WITH A RESTAURANT
Direction is most important in the
preparation of the best food served
under the best conditions.
HAS DIRECTION
Eventually you will designate us as
your wine merchants, you will gather
around our table for your best food,
you will appoint us to cater your cock-
tail party, bridge luncheon or buffet
supper. Why not nowi^
Hollywood 1666
INSIDE
INpOi^M^TION
JUST FINISHED
w
SPRINGTIME FOR HENRY
//
at Fox
FOR JESSE LAS|^Y
NOW SHOOxINC
"LADIES SHOyLD LISyEN
AT PARAMOUNj
FOR DOUGLAS MACLEAN
II
\1 FTR 0 - G OLi Uh Y N -M AY hR
% MR.SAf;'UP;L MARX,
CULVER CITY.CALIr'.
;TUDiU
o,
Vol. XXI, No. 20. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, June 1, 1934
•WE talked to a theatre operator who
has big holdings in small towns
throughout Southern California, and
he gave us an angle about kids and
their pictures that should be passed
along to you, it's that funny.
Said the exhibitor: "The Parent-
Teachers Association has been on my
back for months to arrange my pro-
grams over the week-ends so they
would be particularly entertaining to
children. As a consequence, I booked
the several pictures that were avail-
able that met with the approval of the
teachers. Then we were faced with
the problem of being able to secure no
more pictures that would be given
their O.K. Accordingly, I went back
and booked in some silents.
"On each and every occasion,
whether my program was sound or sil-
ent, I found that my receipts were cut
in two, for both the parents and the
kids were going to my opposition
house, as he was running pictures of
current release."
•
"The blow-off, so far as I'm con-
cerned," continued the showman,
"came when I put on a big show for
the kids in one of my houses last
week, with a special program of Dis-
ney shorts and a kid show on the
stage, and gave it FOR NOTHING,
only to find that my opposition has
brought charges against me with the
Code Authority for running a free
show.
"After this the ladies who are guard-
■.-^g the 'morals' of the children will
have to go to some other house for
support. I did all I could, lost money
and am facing an NRA penalty as a
result of it,"
•
We have wondered many times if
the kids, the real kids, have any idea
of what is going on in a screen play
that is termed objectionable by the
teachers and the churches, and if
those kids who have attained an age
that permits their getting full value
out of such entertainment are not
"demoralized" more through reading
the newspapers, magazines and pub-
lished books?
There has been discussion in the
past about running some theatre
strictly for adult trade. We can't see
why this is necessary. The kids old
enough to read have free access to
newspapers and magazines, and these,
(Continued on Page 2)
E\lilE$AI^HAGAINSTr€\
yV K Theatre Owners Threaten
Boycott Of Product if Kent
Insists On Percentage Deals
Bill Powell Gets Lead
In Great Ziegfeld'
Universal yesterday signed Wil-
liam Powell for the lead in "The
Great Ziegfeld, which William An-
thony McGuire is scripting and will
produce. No director or additional
cast has been set for the picture
which is scheduled to get under
way some time in July.
Exhib Appeals To
Court AgainstCode
Buffalo — The first court case grow-
ing out of the ruling of the Code
Authority started here yesterday when
Edwin Wick, exhibitor, secured an in-
junction to restrain exchanges from
refusing to furnish him with pictures.
Complaint was filed with the local
grievance board against Wick for cut-
ting admission prices, and the board
ordered all film exchanges to cease
delivering film to him. Wick went to
the Supreme Court and got an order
directed against Universal, Vitagraph,
RKO-Radio, MGM, First Division and
all members of the Buffalo local board.
The hearing will be held today.
Manners to Monogram
David Manners was signed yester-
day by Monogram to play the lead in
"The Moonstone,' mystery novel by
Wilkie Collins. The picture goes into
production next Wednesday under the
direction of Reginald Barker.
New York. — Addressing the Fox sales convention yesterday,
Sidney R. Kent advised the salesmen that he expected them to
sell at least eight of the new season's pictures on a percentage
basis, which immediately caused an uproar in the exhibitor ranks
locally, with the leaders claiming a
Lew Cody Dies in
Sleep at His Home
Lew Cody, prominent in pictures
for twenty years, was found dead in
his bed yesterday about 3 p.m. He
had been dead several hours, but his
house staff thought he was still sleep-
ing after his return from a party at
hs Malibu Beach house early in the
morning.
Cody died in his 47th year, of a
heart attack. He suffered a break-
down four years ago, but apparently
(Continued on Page 3)
boycott would be instituted against
the Fox product, similar to the one
that has been in force against Radio
pictures.
Although Kent did not list the pic-
tures that were to be dealt out to the
theatres on a percentage basis, it is
assumed that "The Inferno," "The
Fox Follies" and five or six of the
eleven musicals the organization will
make, would be the ones selected.
This change in the Fox selling pol-
icy is aimed at higher revenue for the
Fox product for the coming year, and
(Continued on Page 4)
Stallings and Thomas
With Fox Movietone
New York. — Laurence Stallings has
been appointed editor of the pox Mov-
ietone newsreel, and Lowell Thomas
has been made the chief commentator.
Hopkins For Radio
Radio has borrowed Miriam Hop-
kins for one picture from Paramount
and is on a story hunt for the assign-
ment.
HOWARD SHEEHAX SUES
SKOIJRAS FOR $7.10,000
Charging Charles Skouras and Fox
West Coast with deliberately operat-
ing the Hollywood and Iris theatres to
their disadvantage. Earl Sinks and
Howard Sheehan have filed a Superior
Court action, asking $750,000 dam-
ages.
Also named in the complaint are
William H. Moore and Charles C. Ir-
win, trustees for FWC with Skouras.
Sinks and Sheehan allege that, in
view of the impending sale of the Fox
West Coast chain, Skouras sought to
run down the two houses. As he is
claimed to be one of the prospective
purchasers of the bankrupt chain, he
was in a position to profit by the losses
of the theatres.
The circuit made a deal with Sinks
in 1929 to get the exclusive first-run
(Continued on Page 3)
Fleming Will Direct
High School' at MCM
MGM yesterday assigned Victor
Fleming to direct "High School,"
which will have Mary Carlisle and
Jean Parker in the leads.
He will put it into production as
soon as he finishes "Treasure Island,"
which he is now directing. John Lee
Mahin has written the screen play and
Hunt Stromberg will produce.
Bradley King at U'
Bradley King was signed by Uni-
versal yesterday to work with Leopold
/Atlas on the screen play of "Mystery
of Edwin Drood." Edmund Grainger is
supervising, and the production will
have Heather Angel and Frank Law-
ton in the leading roles.
Berres Alternate For
Casey on Labor Board
New Ycrk. — The Code Authority
yesterday appointed A. J. Berres as
temporary' alternate for Pat Casey on
the Studio Labor Committee during
Cfsey's absence in New York.
This means that the board will now
have its full membership and can
function.
jason-Burton Sign For
Musical Short Series
Will Jason and Val Burton have
been signed for a series of six musi-
cal shorts at Radio. Walter Woolf
will star in the first one, which will
be directed by Leigh Jason. Lee Mar-
cus produces
Hume on 'Limehouse'
Cyril Hume is doing the screen play
on "Limehouse Nights," the Arthur
Phillips original with Sylvia Sidney and
George Raft co-starring, to start at
Paramount late this month.
Woods Held For Second
Fox has extended its loan on Donald
Woods from Warners to include a sec-
ond picture. He is in "She Was a
Lady." an Al Rockett picture.
MICHAEL CLRTIZ directing BRITISH AGENT" WamerT
Page Two
pj^^uvvS
Junel, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Otfices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Hollclays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The reason why a certain young
writer-director remains in London, in
spite of the fact that he's been offered
a couple of good jobs to return here,
is strange indeed, but reliably vouched
for. It seems that, some months ago,
before leaving these shores, this fellow
went to a fortune teller in Hollywood.
The soothsayer told him that he was
going to England, because, while he
was abroad his mother and father
would die and he would be close to
them. The writer-director sailed and
had been in London but a short time
when both of his parents passed away.
But the reason he stays on is this:
The fortune teller also told him that
he should remain in Europe, because
that if he got on a boat to come back
to America, he would die on the
voyage. And he's that scairt.
We predicted in this column sev-
eral months ago, "Evelyn Brent will
return to Hollywood — but not to
her husband — " and that is just what
has happened. The Brent left here a
while ago, discouraged and bitter.
But a successful stage tour has given
her what it takes to "start all over
again." Besides which, her pais feel
sure that Betty will hit the high movie
spots again just as she did before —
before she was bound to a lot
of bad advice. There's almost a "role
a day" that cries out for Evelyn Brent
— and we hope she gets 'em all.
The Fox lot these days, even with
a casual examination (for who would
go further?) looks like the American
U. F. A. Company. Just look at the
list of former German U.F.A. workers,
now toiling for Sheehan : Erich Pom-
mer, Eric Charell, Paul Martin, Hans
Swatz and )oe May among the direc-
tors. Then there's Werner Haymann,
music; Professor Stern, said to be one
of the world's best scenic artists; Ber-
nard Zimmer and Wm. Wilder among
the writers, and Charles Boyer and
Lillian Harvey on the star list.
"THE BLACK CAT"
Univ. prod.; director, Edgar Ulmer; writers, Edgar Allen Poe, Peter Ruric.
Roxy Theatre
Mirror: With a title borrowed from Poe, Universal has fashioned a very modern
horror thriller, with a post-war period and bizarre modernistic settings. It
is a fairly entertaining thriller. The extreme settings preserve the gruesome
spirit of the story. The photography is admirably foggy and sinister.
Post: Though "The Black Cat" is carefully charged with elements calculated to
freeze your blood, the picture somehow leaves you with the feeling that its
bark is worse than its bite. As a horror story, "The Black Cat" falls short
of the requirements because its denouement is discernible from the begin-
ning. The tale lacks suspense and never quite achieves the atmosphere of
a truly stirring mystery thriller.
Herald-Tribune: The film serves chiefly to bring together the screen's two most
baleful figures, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, in a technical exercise of
malignancy. The work frequently verges on the borderline between genu-
ine melodrama and burlesque. It has, however, a moderate amount of
suspense.
American: It's a long, long hoot from the American de Maupassant's sleep-
stealing story of the black cat to the implausible shocker masquerading
under Poe's title at the Roxy Theatre. The action is never convincing, and
more frequently dull than thrilling.
Sun: It is a wild and hair-raising thriller of the scream in the dark variety. The
less closely you look at its plot the more chance you have of enjoying it.
It won't stand much inspection.
Times: A clammy and excessively ghoulish tale of hi-jinks with appropriate
hysteria. The staging is good and the camera devotes a proper amount of
attention to shadows and hypnotic eyes. But "The Black Cat" is more
foolish than horrible.
News: The new story that was written to fit the title is so fantastically unreal
that it is more apt to make one laugh at its absurdities than quake from
its effects of horror.
World-Telegram: In spite of its macabre and diabolical mood, its characters are
so commonplace, its movement so halted and confused and its speech so
wooden that it emerges a less than satisfactory exercise in blood and thun-
der. The result is a second rate shocker.
Borzage Company j
Off to West Point!
Headed by Frank Borzage, who di-
rects, a production staff of 24 and
four baggage cars of equipment leave
tonight for West Point to film scenes
for Warners' "Flirtation Walk." Sol
Polito, who will photograph, gets away
tomorrow or Sunday by plane to join
the crew there, after finishing shoot-
ing the Busby Berkeley numbers in
"Dames."
The cast, headed by Dick Powell,
Pot O'Brien and Henry O'Neill, leave
Monday or Tuesday. Ruby Keeler,
who is en route to New York, will go-
to West Point from there around June
14. The company will be away a lit-
tle more than two weeks.
Delmar Daves has written the screen
play and Robert Lord supervises.
Jennings on 'Bounty*
MGM has assigned Talbot Jennings
to write the screen play of "Mutiny
on the Bounty," which Frank Lloyd
will direct and Irving Thalberg will
produce. Carey Wilson and John Far-
row, who were on the script, have
been given another assignment.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page
with their daily hodge-podge of crime
and sex, are infinitely more undesir-
able than even the worst of pictures.
And those who are not old enough to
read certainly wouldn't be able to un-
derstand any picture that the reform-
ers consider objectionable.
Yale Crad Arrives To
Learn To Be Director
John Flory, 24-year-old Yale gradu-
ate, arrived at Paramount yesterday to
learn the directing business under
Frank Tuttle in the "Ladies Should
Listen" production.
Flory appealed to Emanuel Cohen
as a megaphonic bet after Cohen saw
600 feet of 16mm., entitled "Mr.
Motorboat's Last Stand," made by the
young man on his own in New York.
Uilman With Kingston
George Uilman has given up his
own agency and joined forces with Al
Kingston in the letter's agency. He is
adding his own clients to the new
connection.
Stephani Book Hits
Frederick Stephani, of Paramount's
writing staff, has just received word
from the Macaulay Company that his
new book, "My Candle Burns," has
gone into its second edition.
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June 1, 1934
Page Three
SERVICE COMPANIES STOP
CREDIT FOR FLY-RY-IVIGHTS
Officers Must Be
Personally Liable
The reason for the bearish condi-
tion of the independent field as re-
• gards active production became known
yesterday when it was learned that
the Hollywood servicing companies,
which extend production credit to the
pndies, have placed a ban on service
for corporations whose individual offi-
cers refuse personally to endorse their
company's paper. This is claimed to
be the most drastic credit action yet
taken.
Prior to this ban, it was customary
for the independents to form corpora-
tions to produce pictures, and receive
credit and service in the name of their
company. The high rate of financial
fatalities among the small producers,
however, has compelled the servicing
companies to insist on individual en-
dorsements, according to the service
men.
"There will be fewer independent
producers this year than in other
years," one service man said yester-
day, "but those who continue to make
pictures will be absolutely certified.
We have had, anJ are still getting,
a great many howls from the indepen-
dents who refuse to stake their per-
sonal credit on their production ven-
tures. In spite of it, the rule will
continue.
"The structure of corporate law
permits an individual to escape his
responsibility in a production company
by hiding behind the skirts of a cor-
porate title. For the larger indepen-
dent producers, it may be said that
we have virtually no trouble as regards
getting our money. In their cases,
their officers never have questioned
adding their personal endorsements to
their company trading paper.
"The conniver who is out to make
a profit at the least possible risk is
the one who is howling. He is gener-
ally causing us no end of trouble. His
operations are never backed by his
own money. He prefers to gamble
with the funds of others and it is im-
possible to nail him down to assume
the responsibilities of a business man
in good standing.
"This sort of producer would be
better out of the business than in it,
and at a saving to us in the long run.
His money is usually obtained from
private sources off the beaten path,
and when he flops he slips out of the
situation and lets some innocent party
bear the brunt of the losses. It is
against this type of producer that the
ban is aimed."
Paramore With Mascot
E. E. Paramore has joined the Mas-
cot writing staff to replace Mike Sim-
mons on "Young and Beautiful."
Writer collaborates with Earle Snell.
Joseph Santley directs under Louis
Baum's supervision.
Ben Turpin in Serial
Ben Turpin returns to active picture
work in Mascot's "The Law of the
\Vild," a serial which Al Martin, John
Rathmell, Wyndham Cittens, Sherman
Lowe and Breezy Eason are preparing
for the latter's direction.
WeH, Anyway, They
Know What They Like
A commercial attache, stationed
at Bogota, Colombia, reports to the
Motion Picture Division, U. S. De-
partment of Commerce, that "com-
edy, comedy-drama, westerns, mel-
odrama, tragedy and sex pictures
seem to be most favored" in that
country.
Exhibs Object To
MCM Trailer Plan
New York. — The announcement of
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that it will
produce its own trailers has drawn a
violent protest from the Allied States
Association.
Warner Brothers are already doing
this, and the exhibs say that, judging
from the effect on their operation
costs by the Warner action, the en-
trance of MCM into the trailer field
will mean an even heavier expense on
them.
Judith Kandel Signed
As Writer by Columbia
New York. — Judith Kandel, wife of
Aben Kandel, has been signed as a
member of the Columbia writing staff
and left for Hollywood yesterday.
She is a playwright, having written
"First Love," "Prodigy" and "Wed-
ding,"the last-named two having been
sold for Fall production on Broadway.
Lilly Messenger Made
Radio European Scout
New York — Lilly Messenger, of the
RKO-Radio home office scenario de-
partment, has been promoted to scout
for talent and material for Radio Pic-
tures in Europe. She sails for London
on July 1 .
Lew Cody Dies
(Continued from Page 1
pulled himself out of it and has been
freelancing actively, last working in
"Shoot the Works," with Ben Bernie
and Jack Oakie at Paramount a few
weeks ago.
He was born in New England and
had begun the study of medicine be-
fore he entered theatrical work. His
first stage appearance was in New
York in "Pierre of the Plains." At
one time he owned five stock com-
panies. He came to the coast in a
Shubert show, "Whirl of the World,"
in 1914 and went to Inceville for his
first film work, with Bessie Barriscale
in "Mating." When Robertson-Cole
was active in the early 20's, Cody had
his own producing unit and starred.
Then, for about seven years, he was
a contract player for MCM.
Lew Cody's first wife was Dorothy
Dalton. They were divorced in 1916.
In 1926 he married Mabel Normand,
who died four years ago. Cody was
well liked among picture people, and
had a generous heart and pocketbook.
Arrangements for his funeral are to
be completed this morning. His bodv
is at the Pierce Brothers establishment.
Warners Accused of
Over-working Girls
Warner Brothers-First National is
facing possible state action in connec-
tion with the alleged working hours of
a group of dancers employed at the
studio.
Following many complaints over the
holiday, the Screen Actors' Cuild yes-
terday sent out investigators, who re-
ported that the studio worked the
dancing girls from 7 a.m. Tuesday,
May 29, until 6 a.m. Wednesday,
May 30.
Cuild officials immediately reported
the case to Mrs. Mabel Kinney, in
charge of the State Welfare Depart-
ment for Women, and asked that
some action be taken in her depart-
ment. According to Cuild officials,
the State law forbids the working of
women, drawing $65 a week or less,
for more than 1 6 hours.
William Cowen East
William Cowen, director, left yes-
terday by train for New York to set
the dramatization of his novel, "Man
With Four Lives." The book was pub-
lished by Farrar and Reinhardt last
month.
Two Arrive For Radio
Violet Kemble Cooper and Fred As-
taire arrive today on The Chief. Both
go to Radio.
Sheehan Sues Skouras
(Continued from Page 1 '
Hollywood rights to all major pictu-es
with the exception of Warners. Sinks
had the first-run franchise at that
time for the Pantages and Egyptian
theatres, and took ,t away from these
houses in order to give it to the Holly-
wood and Iris. West Coast Hollywood
was organized with FWC, Sinks and
J. Leslie Swope, J. M. Young and Frank
A. Grant, operators of the Hollywood
and Iris, taking a third interest in the
new firm. Howard Sheehan then
bought out the third interest held by
Swope, Young and Grant.
For the year 1932, according to the
complaint, the two theatres earned a
net profit of $43,000.
FWC then took over the Egyptian
theatre, operating in competition to
the Hollywood and Iris. In order to
supply the Egyptian with first-run
Hollywood pictures, the chain made an
agreement with Sinks and Sheehan to
include the house in the first-run
deal. The Egyptian, however, went
double-bill in December, 1933, the
plaintiffs claiming that this violated
their agreement.
With the Egyptian on a dual picture
basis, it received the best pictures,
leaving no first-class features for its
competitors, according to the com-
plaint. "Skouras deliberately advised
the policy of appropriating all choice
films, increasing the Egyptian's profits
to the detriment of the Hollywood and
Iris," it says.
Actual damages asked amount to
$500,000, while another $250,000 is
asked for exemplary damages.
IfifJMMSo/tim
^
It looks as though "Archie the
Cockroach" is about to come into his
own again. At any rate, a man by the
name of Phillips, who is a writer in
what must be his spare time for Para-
mount, breeds and trains cockroaches
for racing purposes. No fooling, he's
acquired quite a stable of them over
at Paramount and we'll thank you all
to keep a civil tongue in your heads
when you mention it to any one else.
It seems that cockroach racing is quite
a sport, for which special racing tracks
have been built, the tough part being
to keep the cockroaches going in the
right direction. They call it the sport
of Kitchen Kings and rumor has it that
Joe Schenck is interested in it to the
extent of considering it for a feature
at Caliente. Well, we've been invited
to come up and see etchings, books
and tropical fish, but cockroaches as
a come-on is something new to us.
Every once in a while, a fellah try-
ing to take advantage of all the stories
he's heard about the fabulous sums
paid by Hollywood producers for any-
thing and everything, outsmarts him-
self. For instance, the other day over
at Warners, a song had been written
and a whole sequence conceived for
It to be interpolated into a current
production. The only thing holding it
up was that the title they needed for
song belonged to somebody else and
that title just fitted the song and se-
quence.
So Warners made a perfectly reas-
onable offer of two hundred and fifty
dollars for the use of the title. But
the feller who owned it thought he
saw a chance to get rich quick so he
turned down the offer and advised
them they could buy it for TEN
THOUSAND dollars. When they found
out he wasn't kidding, all they did
was to strike out the sequence from
the picture, thereby saving themselves
thousands anyway and the feller still
is the proud owner of one good song
title
On the other hand, Bart Cormack,
while on his vacation, visited his old
managing editor boss and kiddingly
asked him if he could have his old job
back when "comes de ravolution."
The editor took it straight and said
he thought so, but of course he could-
n't pay him as mucjh as pictures,
but could start him at one hundred
dollars a week, which was what Bart
had been making when he quit the
newspaper "game."
So Cormack told him he couldn't
take the job just yet, he was still
under contract. The editor asked Cor-
mack how much he was making and
when Cormack mentioned his four fig-
ure salary, right then and there the
editor thought he was kidding and
threw him right out of the office for
being a blankety blank liar. Star sal-
aries have become believable, but
you can't convince a man on the out-
side of how much a writer is worth.
Page Four
THE
June 1, 1934
CODE COMPLAINTS FILED
AGAIXST FWC AND U. A.
Four complaints were filed yester-
day with the Los Angeles Grievance
Board, charging two picture distribut-
ing organizations and three amuse-
ment corporations with violations of
the film code.
Heading the list is the complaint
of the Cirstrand Theatres, Ltd., of
Alhambra, charging that Fox West
Coast, Principal Theatres and the Al-
hambra Amusement Company violated
the code last Saturday, May 26, by
giving a free children's matinee at the
El Rey theatre, "thus killing all com-
peting theatres' matinees." The com-
plaint states that at the free show the
bill consisted of two Mickey Mouse
comedies, a Terrytoon, a Charley
Chase comedy, a feature picture and a
kid stage show.
Cirstrand also filed another com-
plaint against the same three organi-
zations, charging that they are violat-
ing the code by taking part in a
"coupon" admission scheme. The
charge is that persons buying specially
advertised merchandise get coupons
which they may exchange for free
tickets at the Alhambra and El Rey
theatres. They cite on example: a taxi
ride and a coupon, all for ten cents.
H. W. Chotiner filed a complaint
against the United Artists Corporation,
alleging that he tried to cancel "Sor-
rell and Son" under the 10 per cent
Exhibs Arm Against Fox
(Continued from Page 1 •
this suggestion caused one of the lead-
ers of the Independent Theatre Own-
ers organization to remark:
"That's the funniest thing I ever
heard of. If it had come from any
outfit other than Fox. there
would be little surprise, but from the
organization that delivered us more
bad pictures last year than all the
other companies combined, it sounds
like a gag.
"Certainly we will refuse to book
Fox product under such an arrange-
ment," continued this spokesman,
"and we can do without the output
very easily, as there is little indication
that Fox pictures will be any better
than last year. I can't forget that I
had to shelve more Fox pictures last
year, due to their inferiority, than the
combination of all my other bookings.
"Last year Fox had no definite plan
on percentage bookings. Some thea-
tres booked in that manner and others
paid their straight rentals. Where
there is some guarantee of the qual-
ity of the product from an organiza-
tion, the percentage angle has some
value to both distributor and theatre
owner, but where a company continu-
ally delivers flop attractions, under the
percentage plan the picture must be
played, and there's where the rub
comes in. If it were a straight rental
proposition, the showman could pay
for the picture and shelve it. taking
his loss in an effort to play fair with
his audience."
It was this proposed percentage
deal of Fox that was the incentive for
the organization in New York Tuesday
of the Independent Film Buyers Pro-
tective Group. The first squawk came
from Philadelphia exhibitors to whom
the plan had been presented.
cancellation provision of the code, and
his cancellation was not accepted.
C. A. Ferry, of Alhambra, filed
against Vitagraph, Inc., alleging that
they have been licensing pictures in
Alhambra contrary to fair trade prac-
tice. He asked that W. H. Slater,
Warners' booker, and |. N. Howland
and Harry Lustig, salesman, be sub-
poenaed.
Waggner to Monogram
On 'Cirl of My Dreams'
George Waggner, who has just
completed work on a story at Colum-
bia, has gone over to Monogram to
do the adaptation of his own original,
titled "Girl of My Dreams."
Faragoh Assigned
Francis Faragoh has been assigned
by Pan Berman at Radio to write a
new screen play for "Hide in the
Dark." Picture was formerly under the
supervision of David Lewis.
Cabot- Set For Lead
Radio has set Bruce Cabot for the
top SDOt in a production tentatively
titled' "Hudson River." H. W. Hane-
mann and John Twist have been set
to write the screen play under Glen
Allvine's supervision.
ISTTIMEA
— r^H
d
The screen's most
glamorous star. . .
in a glorious
t4,ce/itJ
a CHRISTIKA
Addad.
^Pele Smith ^
Oddity
la> HEALY and
^ hb STOOOES In
.The BIG IDEA" y^
THE WOMAN'
JOHN GILBERT
LEWIS STONE
IAN KEITH
A PICTURE
LOEW5 SIATE
O- HILL
VA-IOII
IT'S A
MUSICAL SCREAM!
mm mm
RETURHS"
GUY LOMBARDO
• nd his ROYAL CANADIANS
George BURNS
Grade ALLEN
JOAN MARSH
STAGE
FAN^HON <r MARCO present
A J. J.SHUBERT P,.Ju.»ion
TUDENT
PRINCE
NEW YORK COMPANY OF 62
Thrilling Male and Fcm.lc Cheru.ct
7c ijPTOTHBj^Mi/re
Sam Hines and David Durand to
Radio for "Hat, Coat and Clove."
Madge Evans, Una Merkel, Mary
Carlisle, Otto Kruger, Robert Y'oung
and Ralph Bushman for "All Cood
Americans" at MGM.
Baby LeRoy and Sir Guy Standing
for "Ruggles of Red Cap" at Para-
mount.
Willard Robertson, Chief Standing
Bear and Alice Lake to "Rear Car,"
MGM.
Holmes Herbert, Helen Freentan
and Alphonse Martell for Edward
Small's "The Count of Monte Cristo."
Florine McKinney, Betty Crable and
Douglas Fowley for MCM's "Student
Tour."
Margaret Hamilton for Radio's
"Hat, Coat and Clove."
Noel Madison by Al Kingston to
"100% Pure," MGM.
New Feature From
Eisenstein Film
Walter Anthony was last night
commissioned by Sol Lesser to pre-
pare another five-reel feature out of
the Sergei Eisenstein footage shot in
Mexico.
Anthony edited "Thunder Over
Mexico," and used up only a small
part of the 180,000 feet of Eisen-
stein film acquired by Lesser from
Upton Sinclair. Much rich material is
said to remain, and Anthony developed
a further treatment that appealed to
Lesser as having box office force.
Whit Williams To Wed
Whitney Williams, for ten years
reviewer on the Times and more re-
cently a free lance magazine writer
and reviewer, will marry Elinore Donat
next Friday. )ack Grant will be host
at a stag party for the couple at his
home tomorrow night.
HOME AGAIN!
TO THE
"COCOtHIIT
CROVE"
GUS
ARNHEIM
Master of incomparable dance
rhythm, -with the internationally
famous dance artists
FLORENCE
and
ALVAREZ
Hired from Central Park Casing
PREVIEW NIGHT
Monday, June 4th
Qaia
WELCOME HOME PARTY
Tuesday, June 5th
No increase in couvert charge for this tremendous
double attraction and battery of ARNHEIM enter-
tainers; including the DOWNEY SISTERS, MAX-
INE TAPPAN, JIMMY NEWELL.
lune I, 1934
Page Five
Dickie Moore To Do
Prince and Pauper'
Sol Lesser yesterday morning regis-
tered his intention to produce Mark
Twain's "Prince and the Pauper," and
yesterday afternoon signed Dickie
Moore to play the principal part.
Dickie is convalescing from mas-
toiditis, but will be out of the hospital
in another week. Lesser contemplates
putting "Prince and the Pauper" into
production following the first George
O'Brien, "The Dude Ranger," which
will be made the latter part of JtHy.
Eddie Cline, who directed all the
Jackie Coogan pictures and is current-
ly with Lesser for "Peck's Bad Boy,"
is expected to direct.
Doris Kenyon Set For
Lead in 'Human Side'
Doris Kenyon was set by the
Schulberg-Feldman-Curney office yes-
terday for the leading role in "Human
Side," getting the role which has kept
Universal postponing the picture ow-
ing to casting difficulities.
Adolphe Menjou will have the spot
opposite her. Edward Buzzell directs
under Eph Asher's supervision.
Archie Mayo To Direct
The Lady Surrenders*
Warners yesterday assigned Archie
Mayo to direct"The Lady Surrenders,"
an original by Mary McCall, Jr. Jean
Muir, George Brent and Veree Teas-
dale head the cast.
Mayo returned Monday from a
month vacation in New York.
Poh'mer Playing Host
Dick Polimer, who today opens his
new offices under the name of Richard
K. Polimer, Inc., at 6606 Sunset
boulevard, is celebrating the event by
throwing a cocktail party at his new
quarters. Polimer's associates are Viv-
ian Gaye and Henry Willson.
'Monte Cristo' Split
While Rowland V. Lee worked on
key scenes at the Pathe lot yesterday,
"The Count of Monte Cristo" had
two location units, both handled by
Nate C. Watt, assistant director.
New Paramount Title
"You Belong to Me" is the new
title set on "Fifty-two Weeks for
Fleurette" at Paramount. Al Werker
hopes now to start Monday.
Lisbon Picture Fans
Must Buy in Advance
Lisbon. — Theatre business has
picked up here so much that at
many picture houses it is necessary
for the theatre-goer to purchase
his seats several days in advance.
American pictures are leading the
country in number and footage.
Porto Rico Kicks
On Film Monopoly
•San Juan, P. R. — Porto Rico has
applied to District Judge Lauger for an
injuncjjon against the United Theatre
Enterprises, and the court has issued
an order that all distributors shall ex-
ercise strict impartiality in releasing
pictures.
The Government charges that
American film producers exercise a
monopoly in the control of the picture
business here.
Rivkin and Wilson on
'Dolly' Screen Play
Allen Rivkin and Carey Wilson are
doing the screen play and dialogue for
"Dolly," the Wilson Collison novel
slated for Gladys George's first MGM
production. Bernard Hyman will su-
pervise. It's Gregory La Cava's first
MGM direction. Production is about
three weeks away.
Rubinoff and Staff
Move into Radio Lot
David Rubinoff has moved into an
office at Radio studio, with an exten-
sive staff including a concert master,
arranger, secretary and others, to di-
rect the Chase and Sanborn hour.
Cobb Finishes First
Cloudy weather in Sunland held the
Irving Cobb comedy, "Speaking of
Relations," over the holiday to a fin-
ish on location yesterday.
Pauline Lord Tested
Pauline Lord started make-up tests
for "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch" at Paramount yestreday.
Shooting is now set to start next Mon-
day.
New One For Halperins
New York. — The Halperins have
purchased "The Star Maker," by Irene
D'Annelle.
EDDIE SCHMIDT
t-akes pleasure in announcing
that the recent labor disturbances have subsided
and that he is now in a position to accept
and execute orders without delay.
EDDIE
SCHMIDT, 1
TRinity 5931
nc.
Dick Polimer
announces
the opening of his
new offices
Richard K. Polimer
Inc.
Agency
6606 Sunset Boulevard
GLadstone 3134
Associates
VIVIAN GAYE
HENRY WILLSON
'
CATERED By
is the stamp of assurance of
the best food and the best service
that your money can buy.
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in all their details can be handled
by The VENDOME, taking from
your shoulders all the worry about
food, its preparation and service.
And the price is just as cheap
(probably more so) as if you
undertake the preparation yourself.
CALL Hollywood 1666
ask for Mr. Hoffman in charge of
the catering department. He will
make you quotations and give you
all the details, giving you the
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at a price that will surprise you.
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CULVKR CITY.GALIi''.
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Vol. XXI, No. 21. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, June 2, 1934
CANT€R BURNS AT CODE
Resignation Frotn Authority
Expected Unless Actors Are
Given Different Treattnent
•ERNST LUBITSCH remarked to us
the other day: "Why must these pro-
ducers chase all over the world look-
ing for new stars, when they have
more prospective starring material
right under their noses in Hollywood
than all the world combined can
offer?"
And that's about right.
A person in Hollywood has little
chance of securing recognition that
will give him or her any kind of a
chance. He or she must go to New
York, to London or Paris, get a little
ballyhoo, and Hollywood breaks all
speed records to get them on a con-
tract.
That goes for artists, writers and
directors. Accordingly it's a "strange
as it may seem" item to note that in
the last few months Paramount has
I developed an unusually strong direc-
torial staff out of individuals who had
been working on the lot as cutters,
writers, assistant directors and at
other occupations that hardly ever
serve to give opportunities.
Al Hall, from Paramount's cutting
rooms, was selected as one of the best
ten directors of the year by exhibitors.
His "Little Miss Marker" is a sensa-
tion, as was "Mrs. Fane's Baby Is
Stolen." Henry Hathaway can take big
bows for his direction of "The Witch-
ing Hour" and "Come on Marines."
He was an assistant director on the
lot before the elevation. Mitchell
Leisen did "Death Takes A Holiday,"
"Cradle Song" and "Murder at the
Vanities," and did them all excellent-
ly. Gil Pratt, Charles Barton and Ar-
thur Jacobson have been rewarded for
their years of service to that organiza-
tion as assistant directors, by being
given directorial assignments.
It would not be a bad idea for other
studios to look over their own employ-
ment lists for their new crop of di-
rectors. And also to lend an ear to the
entreaties of their casting departments
for opportunities for boys and girls the
casters believe have what it takes for
starring material.
Every studio in Hollywood is yelling
for new acting talent, but MOM, with
its cast of youngsters in "Student
Tour," seems to be the only one
^ which is giving untried players a real
chance.
No Dirt in Future
Fox Pix, Says Kent
New York.— Sidney R. Kent,
president of Fox Film, told the
sales convention at the Waldorf
yesterday that Fox will release no
objectionable pictures during the
coming season. "We need no pic-
tures which have dirt dragged into
them," he said.
'Rothschild' Tops
Business in London
London. — Twentieth Century's
"The House of Rothschild" is still the
stand-out picture being shown .here
and is rolling up flattering grosses.
Excellent business is also being done
by "The Scarlet Empress," "Lost Pa-
trol," "Flying Down to Rio" and
"Manhattan Melodrama.' "All Men
Are Enemies' is a flop.
The newcomers for the week are
"Stage Mother' and "The Show-Off"
at the Empire, and "Double Door" at
the Plaza. The Cantor picture, "Ro-
man Scandals," and "Let's Fall in
Love" are also among the hold-overs,
but business is nothing to brag about.
Paramount Foreign
Heads to Convention
New York. — Seven of Paramount's
foreign executives will trek to Los
Angeles for the convention, which
starts June 1 8.
They are John Cecil Graham and
Montague Goldman, of the British of-
fices; Earl St. John, of the Paramount
British theatres; Carl York, managing
director for Scandinavia; Moe Messeri,
from Spain; J. E. Perkins, from China,
and John Day, from Brazil.
Eddie Cantor is burned up over the attitude of the Motion
Picture Code Authority towards the actors, and his resignation
from that body is expected unless conditions are changed and
changed in a hurry. Cantor's intimates say that, if he does quit,
his letter of resignation will contain
Paramount Hit By
plenty of facts and dynamite.
A few weeks ago Cantor, at a
meeting of actors at El Capitan Thea-
tre, told his hearers what an honest
outfit the Code Authority was and
what a square deal they would get.
Now, his friends say, he has complete-
ly reversed his opinion and feels that
there isn't a chance of the actor get-
ting a fair break under the present
set-up.
He is especially incensed by the ac-
tion of the Code Authority in dismis-
(Continued on Page 2)
MOM After Millie'
For Russian Picture
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has made
Lewis Milestone an offer to park on
that lot and do the Russian picture
that Frank Capra was to have directed
last year.
"Millie" IS currently at Columbia
finishing the screen treatment on "The
Captain Hates t.he Sea," which will
have an immediate production.
William Seiter Esst
William Seller plans to hep off for
New York Monday for a quick trip
before returning to Radio to direct
"By Your Leave."
SEIVNETT TO HAVE XOTED
STARS I]\ HIS LIFE STORY
'U' Buys Two Stories
For Margaret Sullavan
Mack Sennett has Clark Cable in
mind as ideal to play Sennett as a
young man at Biograph in the autobio-
graphical production he is preparing. A
romance, based on Sennett's career,
but with fictional touches, runs
through the story as plotted by Sen-
nett with Ralph Graves. The pair are
on their seventh script revision.
Sennett has made no cast negotia-
tions yet, but will invite notables fig-
uring in the romance of his career to
"be themselves" in the picture.
(Continued on Page 2)
Universal yesterday purchased two
novels by well known authors and
will probably use them both as Mar-
garet Sullavan vehicles. They are
"The Good Fairy," by Ferenc Molnar,
and "Wfthin This Present," by Mar-
garet Ayer Barnes.
Preston Sturges has been assigned
to write the screen play of the Molnar
story and William Wyler will direct.
The studio has not made any assign-
ments on the other story as yet.
Health Department
Following complaints from extra
players that an extra suffering from a
contagious skin disease was being used
by Paramount on a set for "Cleo-
patra," Aubrey Blair, secretary of the
Junior Screen Actors' Guild, reported
the matter to the City Health De-
partment, which, Blair says, stepped
in yesterday and ordered t.he studio
to remove the man from the set.
Blair also stated that extras on the
same set complained that they were
being given dirty costumes that had
been worn by other extras. Blair
said that the health officer ordered
this practice stopped and that all cos-
times be cleaned before being passed
on to other players.
Fritz Lang Signed to
Contract by MCM
London. — Fj-jtz Lang, one of Eu-
rope's premier directors, was signed
yesterday by David Selznick to an
iviCM contract. The contract is for
a single picture with an option for
more. Lang will sail June 6 with
Selznick and George Cukor.
The deal was handled by Jack Vo-
ticn. of the Selznick-Joyce office here.
Shirley Temple To Be
Starred in Fox Picture
Definitely deciding to star tittle
Shirley Temple in a special production
on its new program. Fox yesterday
purchased an original by Gene Townc'
and Graham Baker. The story is
"Million Dollar Baby' and Al Rockett
will supervise it.
Nugent Stays at Para.
Radio yesterday released Elliott
Nugent from his term directing cor\-
tract so that he might remain at Para-
mount. He is now directing "She
Loves Me Not."
I EDWARD LAEMNLE directed 'Embarrassing Moments ' |
Page Two
)une2, 1934
TJK^FJ
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE ...Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires.
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
187^.
Freddy Astaire and Violet Kemble
Cooper arrived in town yesterday for
toil at Radio. . . . Freddy goes right
into "Cay Divorce" Virginia
Pine has been at her home for a week
and still there — not "rushed back to
the hospital' as reported elsewhere. . .
Preston Sturges is launching his new
sixty-two foot sailboat tomorrow. . .
Al Hall has given the little bride a
new Pontiac — and very nice, too!
The pounds just kept melting off Liz
Dupont. . . . Andy Lawlor may play
his stage role he played in "Forsaking
All Others" with Tallulah Bankhead,
in the movie version of same
Tallulah, incidentally, is about to do
"Serena Blandish" in London.
•
Lupe Velez, expected back here
next week — and the Johnny V^eiss-
mullers made the eastern front pages
again with another beeg "fight."
Leo Carrillo will be strictly on the
loose for the summer, Mrs. C. and his
daughter having gone East for the hot
weather. . . . Part of the "Flirtation
Walk" company goes East to West
Point today — including Frank Bor-
zage. . . . Myrna Loy and Arthur
Hornblow are around together again.
. . . The Dick Barthelmesses hope to
get off to join their trunks (which
have been in New York fcr two
weeks) any minute.
The Jack Kirklands (he's in Holly-
wood now! are not considering a di-
vorce at the moment. . . . Phil Regan
played his first game of golf the other
day and did nine holes in fifty-twol
. . . The Kendall Claezner-Lewis Mile-
stone wedding won't come off — not
that we ever thought it would.
Robert Young will do a benefit per-
formance at and for his Alma Mater,
U.S.C, Monday night Dick
Powell, with Margaret Lindsay, Mary
Pickford, the Billy Caxtons. Charlie
Chaplin. Larry Ceballos, Mrs. Pat
Campbell, Nigel Bruce, the Will Rog-
ers. Leon Errol, Corinne Griffith, Wal-
ter Morosco. Kay Francis, Walter
Armitage, the Al Newmans, Nancy
Carroll among the Vendome lunchers
and diners.
FAVORITISM TO MAJORS
SEEIV IX CODE RULINGS
The feeling that the Code Authority
IS controlled by the majors in one way
or another was strengthened yester-
day when the decision handed down
on the appeal of Fox West Coast from
the ruling of the Los Angeles Griev-
ance Board in the case of the over-
buying complaint made by the Garfield
Theatre, in Alhambra, against the Al-
hambra and El Rey was made known
here.
Cirstrand Theatres Ltd., owners of
the Garfield, complained that FWC
and Principal Theatres had over-
bought in an attempt to stifle compe-
tition, and the board ordered the de-
fendants to turn over 20 pictures from
what they had bought.
The Code Authority upheld the
ruling of the local board, but practi-
cally nullified it by allocating I 3 pic-
tures instead of 20, and naming them.
The list to be turned over includes
MGM's "Hollywood Party" and "Rear
Car"; Paramount's "Great Flirtation,"
"Old-Fashioned Way," "Ladies First"
and "Private Scandal"; Fox's "Spring-
time for Henry" and "Wild Gold";
Warners' "Heat Lightning," "He Was
Her Man," "Midnight Alibi" and
"Merry Frinks"; United Artists' "Born
to Be Bad."
S. M. Lazarus, head of Cirstrand
Theatres, said:
"Please say for me that victory is
very, very sweet, but the Code Au-
thority can take the pictures and put
them anywhere they please except in-
to the Garfield Theatre.
"1 can get better pictures than that
list from any independent in town.
The Code Authority's action doesn't
mean a thing and apparently was only
a gesture to try to make people be-
lieve it does mean something."
This allocated list is hardly impos-
ing, and there is little doubt that Fox
West Coast was glad to get rid of
some of them. The allocation of 1 3
instead of 20 is because of the time
that has elapsed since the complaint,
the Code Authority figuring that the
Garfield would not have time to run
the 20 now.
In the case of the complaint of John
T. Rennie & Son against Feldstein &
Dietrich for negotiating for a theatre
already under lease, the Code Author-
ity found for the respondents, ruling
that there was no unfair practice.
The complaint of H. M. Popkin, of
the Crystal Theatre, Los Angeles,
against Abe Levy, of the Muse Thea-
tre, for price-cutting, was dismissed,
the Code Authority ruling that it has
no jurisdiction in such cases, admis-
sion prices being a subject to be set-
tled by the exhibitor and distributor.
Wanderlust Again
Smites Wally Young
Waldemar Young is serving Para-
mount with notice of termination of
''his contract, according to the terms
of his deal, in order to take another
sea-going trip.
The writer has made up his mind
to take a four-month trip each year.
He sails June 28 on the City of Los
Angeles for a circuit of the South
Seas, transferring at Honolulu for a
boat to Japan and Crina.
'Burn 'Em Up Barnes'
Setting Speed Record
The production efficiency under
which Mascot is making the serial,
"Burn 'Em Up Barnes," has the Valley
picture men slightly ga-ga.
The picture is working in two
units, headed by Bert Clark and Ar-
mand Schaeffer, and hourly reports
of the number of takes completed are
phoned to the Hollywood offices. Pro-
duction is on a dawn-to-dusk sched-
ule, and the serial has gained two full
days on its timetable.
'Young Eagles' Will
Finish Up Tomorrow
Clean-up shots and retakes will be
made Sunday at the Sennett lot for
the Boy Scout-wild animal serial,
"Young Eagles," and Romance Pro-
ductions will move Tuesday to offices
at 8476 Sunset Boulevard.
Ashton Dearholt is production man-
ager and directed much of the picture
for George Stout's company.
St. Clair With Darmour
Larry Darmour yesterday signed Mai
St. Clair to direct his second Majestic
production, "Gaily I Sin," an original
by Mann Paige and Izola Forrester.
The screen play has been written by
Houston Branch.
Mayo Starts Wednesday
"The Lady Surrenders" was marked
up yesterday to start next Wednesday
at Warners. Archie Mayo, just back
from a vacation, directs. The screen
play is by Mary McCall Jr.. author of
the original.
Boehm Out of Para.
David Boehm has turned in his
closmg notice at Paramount and
checked off the studio writing staff.
He wrote an original story which the
studio purchased for Mae West.
New Titles at MGM
MGM officially set "Clear the
Track" as the release title on "Rear
Car" yesterday, also switching "100%
Pure" to "Born To Be Kissed."
Sennett To Have Stars
(Continued from Page I I
Doubles will be sought for any who
are unable to appear in person.
The only one approached so far is
Charlie Chaplin, and he is said to have
reacted favorably. Characters in the
story include Mary Pickford, D. W.
Griffith, Gloria Swanson, the Sennett
bathing girls who later gained indi-
divual fame, Ford Sterling, the Key-
stone Kops, and many stars and exec-
utives of silent days.
Release has not been arranged, but
Sennett thinks he will have a major
outlet set by the time he is ready to
start production at the end of July.
Gene Fowler contemplates the title
"Father Goose" for the book he is pre-
paring from the Sennett material,
based on his allegorical treatment,
with Roscoe Arbuckle as the Humpty
Dumpty, etc.
U.A. Convention
In Chicago Today
Chicago. — The sales convention of
United Artists opens at the Drake
Hotel today, with Al Lichtman in
charge. His speech will review the
accomplishments of the company dur-
ing the past year, and .he will also
talk about double features, possible
advance in admission prices and con-
ditions generally.
Joseph M. Schenck, who leaves Los
Angeles by plane today, will attend
the convention tomorrow and will an-
nounce the new product. Several of
the pictures on the coming season's
program are already finished, and
among the others will be "Clive of
India," with Ronald Colman, and an-
other Arliss picture, probably "Riche-
lieu."
Walter Winchell Here
For Summer Vacation
Walter Winchell got in on the
Chief yesterday for the Summer stay
here in Hollywood.
Before Winchell left New York, the
editor of the Journal sent him over
the com that Hepburn messaged to
him, with the editor noting: "Here's
a reward for that Hepburn scoop. Dig
us some more out in Hollywood."
Academy Prods. Starting
Planning to produce six features for
the state rights market. Academy
Productions, with Bernie Goodman as
its president, will get the first pic-
ture into work at the Talisman studio
in three weeks. Abe Heller is the
general sales manager and Pat Clem-
ens is in charge of production.
Brock Going Chinese
A Chinese musical, "Ho, for Shang-
hai," will be Lou Brock's next for
Radio, and will go into production im-
mediately on his return from Europe
in about three months. He sails on
July 20.
Cantor Burned at Code
(Continued from Page 1 )
sing the local Code Committee for Ex-
tras from active duty and in placing
the extras labor problems under the
State Welfare Act, in addition to ex-
tending its provisions to men when
heretofore it has been confined to
women and children.
For this action he blames Pat Casey
who, he feels, has fought to get this
State act into the code ever since the
Extras' Committee was appointed.
Cantor has complained to friends that
Casey has been dictating most of
the actions of the Code Authority, as
they affect production.
He feels, also, that he was given a
rotten deal by the Code Authority
when it took the action on the State
Welfare Act while he was in the West
and could not fight it. Cantor and
Marie Dressier are the two actor mem-
bers of the Code Authority and are
supposed to be consulted on all mat-
ters pertaining to the actor.
His attitude with respect to the en-
tire situation has been included in a
letter which he wrote to Sol Rosen-
blatt and which may be made public
when Cantor returns from San Fran-
cisco.
)une2, 1934
Page Three
MEXJOC AND LANDI TRIUMPH
IN *THE GREAT FLIRTATION'
Crosses Run Along
In Same Old Rut
Picture Certain To
Please All Tastes
"THE GREAT FLIRTATION"
( Parainkjuni'-Rogers )
Direction Ralph Murphy
Original Story Gregory Ratoff
Screen Play Humphrey Pearson
Photography Milton Krasner
Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Elissa Landi,
David Manners, Lynne Overman,
Raymond Walburn, Adrian Rosley,
Paul Porcasi, George Baxter, Judith
Vosselli, Akim Tamiroff, Vernon
Steele.
A trifle slow in getting started, but
once under way the picture gives out
with a whirl of comedy, balanced by
a swell dramatic situation that makes
it good entertainment all the way.
Landi and Menjou as the two main
protagonists of the story come
through with performances that will
sell them to audiences as permanent
starring attractions. Both these ac-
tors have given themselves a pus.h in
pictures that will be released before
this one and, with this picture to
their credit, they are a cinch as the
best exploitation value that a film
can have. Landi is SOMETHING,
and Menjou is SOMETHING, PLUS.
It is the story of the greatest actor
in Budapest and the girl he married
in desperation in order to hold her,
while the girl married him in despera-
tion because he promised her a mag-
nificent stage career in New York.
When they get to New York, the ac-
tor, after a year of starving, lands him-
self a small part in a play. The lead-
ing actress walks out on the show and
the actor sells his wife to play the
part. The actor in turn becomes his
wife's leading man, but no one is
aware that they are married.
After the opening night, when the
actor has triumphed over his wife and
tries to convince her that she should
give up the stage, she tells him that
she is in love with the author of the
play and the reason for her failure was
because she wanted the author to
make love to her, not him. The actor
bows himself out and, at the end,
takes himself off permanently by giv-
ing a convincing performance when
his wife fails to make him believe him
that she wants to go back to him.
The acting and the writing are the
highlights of the picture, with the di-
rection not inspired but good, and the
photography no more than okay. Ray-
mond Walburn, as Morgan, the pro-
ducer, is someone you can i\ose your
eyes at and swear you were listening
to Guy Kibbee and then, when you
open them, you think you're looking
at Kibbee's son. Lynne Overman as
the director is a whiff of old Broad-
way. David Manners, as the author,
gives a nice, sensitive performance,
and any day now should be given big-
ger parts. Paul Porcasi as the faithful
servant, Mikos, is good for a laugh
any time, and George Baxter in a tiny
role 'way at the beginning of the pic-
ture is simply elegant.
Mr. Exhibitor, this picture will es-
tablish for a certainty that Menjou and
Landi are what audiences will yell for,
so give them the works and bank on
them heavily.
Funeral Services
For Lew Cody Today
Simple funeral services will be
held at 3 o'clock this afternoon
for Lew Cody, who died Thursday.
The services will be in Pierce
Brothers' mortuary. There will be
no pallbearers and none of the
usual ceremony, because his friends
feel he would not want it. Place
of burial was not decided last night.
Para. Planning 13
Foreign Features
New York, — Paramount is planning
to make ) 3 foreign language features
for distribution this coming season.
AM will be under the supervision of
John W. Hicks.
Eight French pictures will be made
at joinville, one by the Caesar Film
Company in Paris, and another by
John Maxwell, in London. Two Span-
ish pictures are being made at As-
toria, and an Italian feature in Rome.
Mack Signed to Direct-
Girl Friend For Col.
Columbia yesterday signed Russell
Mack, through Bren, Orsatti and
Marx, to direct "The Girl Friend,"
William Rowland's first production for
the studio.
Herbert Fields, who wrote the
original musical comedy, returned
from New York yesterday with some
new songs.
Wood Rushes 'StambouP
So He Can Co to Fight
Sam Wood hopes to wind up
"Stamboul Quest" and his MGM con-
tract by the end of next week so he
can get to New York in time for the
Baer-Carnera fight. He is now three
days ahead of schedule.
Eldredge to West Point
John Eldredge was assigned a part
m "Flirtation Walk" yesterday by
Warners, and leaves for West Point
Monday with other principals. The
assignment takes him out of .his part
opposite Barbara Stanwyck in "The
Lost Lady," leaving two important
spots in that picture to be filled.
Buzzell Switched
Due to casting difficulties on
"Transient Lady" and the fact that it
figures on next season's release list.
Universal yesterday changed Eddie
Buzzell's directing assignment to "The
Human Side," which is due on the
current program.
Rosemary Ames Held
Fox yesterday exercised its option
on the contract held by Rosemary
Ames for another year.
Leslie Fenton to Fox
Leslie Fenton has been signed by
Fox for a featured role in "Marie Gal-
lante."
New York. — There is little change
for the better in the grosses of the big
Broadway houses, and the coming of
hot weather is expected to knock
them even lower.
"Where Sinners Meet" got $74,-
000 at the Radio City Music Hall,
and "Little Miss Marker" took $30,-
000 for its second week at the Para-
mount. "Now I'll Tell" gave the
Roxy about $26,500, and "Sadie Mc-
Kee" ran to $27,500 at the Capitol.
"Hollywood Party" could get only
$18,500 at the Rialto, "Born To Be
Bad" grossed $17,000 at the Rivoli,
and the twelfth week of "Rothschild"
at the Astor was worth $14,750.
"The Key" took $16,000 at the
Strand, and "Sorrell and Son" at the
Mayfair pulled in only $9500.
Independent Company
To Film 'Stevedore'
New York. — An independent group
is negotiating for the screen rights to
"Stevedore," one of the season's New
York successes, produced by the Thea-
tre Union at the Civic Repertoire
Theatre.
Both the Shuberts and the manage-
ment of the Apollo Theatre have made
bids to move the play uptown, but it
will stay where it is and probably run
all Summer.
Paul Lukas Borrowed
For Radio's 'Fountain'
Radio yesterday borrowed Paul Lu-
kas from Universal and signed Sarah
Hayden for spots in "The Fountain,"
which John Cromwell directs when it
starts June 10.
Ann Harding, Brian Aherne and
Violet Kemble-Cooper have already
been cast.
Heather Thatcher in
Fairbanks Sr. Picture
London. — Heather Thatcher, the
be-monocled English actress, has been
signed for one of the chief roles in
"The Return of Don Juan," which is
starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and
which London Films is producing.
Col. Starting Dick Yarn
With Ralph Bellamy and Shirley
Grey in the leads, D. Ross Lederman
puts the fifth of the police-detective
series, "By Persons Unknown," into
work at Columbia Monday. Ward
Bond and J. Carrol Naish were signed
through Al Kingston for the picture.
Play No Good For Pix
New York. — "Furnished Rooms,"
the only play which opened on Broad-
way this week, is not suitable for pic-
tures. "Only Girl" and "Come What
May" are closing.
Scott Darling Back
Scott Darling, who has been on the
writing staff of Warners in England
for the past two years, is back on a
trip and will stick around a couple
of months.
bif Helen Qwifna
J
With its production of "Student
Tour," MGM is definitely on the look-
out for talent to develop. And they're
r>0f' being niggardly about the cost of
'cJiscovery either. This picture hasn't
a star in the cast. The drawing power
in it is being carried by Jimmy Dur-
ante, Charlie Butterworth and Stu Er-
win. Maxine Doyle, the ex-mistress
of ceremonies from Washington, D.C.,
gets the big chance in this one by
playing the lead. The rest of the cast
is composed entirely of unknowns,
with the exception of a well-known
old-timer, Monte Blue. There are
youngsters in it from MGM's stock
company, college youngsters and just
plain youngsters. Chuck Reisner is
having the time of his life with these
kids, who know little enough about
the screen to be just themselves in
front of a camera, and Reisner is con-
fident that MGM will get more than
its money's worth from the experi-
ment. The experiment, by the way, is
going to be one of the big musical
opuses of the year and they're not
counting pennies on the cost of pro-
duction.
•
Considering the seriousness of the
casting situation in Hollywood, the
money spent in giving these^ young-
sters a chance to show couldn't possi-
bly be wasted. Not so long ago, when
a story was shelved, the common ex-
cuse for it was not being able to get
a good script. Today, studios find
themselves with a number of good
scripts on the shelf because they have
not been able to cast them. Direc-
tors are crying for good stories, but
what they mean by good today is a
story that will fit the talents of the
few stars on the lot or one that can
be borrowed from some other com-
pany. And that considerably narrows
down a writer's scope and the chances
for something new and different in the
way of entertainment. MGM, the
company that was the greatest build-
erupper of female stars, evidently
must have realized the acuteness of
the casting problem and, for the sake
of their good intentions, we hope this
cast of unknowns crashes through
with something fresh and new in the
way of future screen personalities.
•
Cute little trick played on Ric Cor-
tez t'other day on the Radio lot. Ric
had just gone to a lot of trouble to
memorize a very long speech for his
big scene of the day and had gotten
to the point where not even a comma
escaped him. So he went through a
rehearsal of the speech without an er-
ror and, when he got all through, Tony
Minor, the director, .aid: "That was
great, Ric. Absolutely perfect. Now
forget it. We've just written a brand
new speech for this scene and that
one is out. ..." And so was Cortez,
as they shoved the day's re-write job
under his nose.
Mae West's Father Here
Mae West's father arrived from
New York last night to visit his
daughter for a short time.
Page Four
TH
I
June 2. 1934
I
ZIRIV WIIVS POINT IX SUIT
AGAINST PARA. DIRECTORiS
New York — Samuel Zirn, repre-»
senting Robert Levy, a stockholder,
won a point yesterday in his suit
against the Paramount directors who
were responsible for the pledging of
Paramount negatives to twelve banks
some time ago, which action was con-
strued as providing for preferential
payments.
The Appelate Division of New York
state denied him the right to sue,
holding that sueh action could be
brought only by the trustees. The New
York State Court of Appeals yester-
day reversed this decision.
Zirn will now file a new action and
believes that the courts will get around
to hearing it so that he can have a
decision by July 10, when the court
vacation starts, or by early in the Fall
at the latest.
Zirn has been a thorn in the side
of Paramount ever since the receiver-
ship and bankruptcy proceedings. He
has fought for the removal of the
trustees ever since they were appoint-
ed and, every time a court ruling goes
against him, he finds a new spot to
attack.
Paramount Settles
Suit Filed Over M*
New York — The suit brought by
Saul Rogers as attorney for the For-
emco Company, Joe Plunkett, Walter
Reade, Myron Robison and Larry
Green against Paramount for damages
resulting from the failure to distribute
the German picture "M", has been
settled by a cash payment out of court.
The second plagiarism suit filed by
the same people against Paramount
and C. B. DeMille probably will be
dropped.
Ten Days Vacation For
Johnston in Four Years
John LeRoy Johnston's flight East
for the Universal convention, fan mag
contacts and a look at the fair is his
first trip away from Universal City for
longer than a week-end in his four
years as publicity director. He ex-
pects to be back in ten days.
Ed Churchill, fan mag contact, sits
in at Johnston's desk next week.
Levinson on Mono. Yarn
Lew Levinson was yesterday as-
signed the script for "The Mysterious
Mr. Wong," Harry Stephen Keeler
novel set by Monogram for July pro-
duction. George Yohalem will be the
supervisor.
From East to West
New York. — Ethel Merman and
Harold Lloyd leave for Hollywood to-
morrow, and Sid Silvers also goes to
take a role in "Transatlantic Show-
boat" for Reliance. Stepin Fetchit
left yesterday by plane.
Junior Writing Staff
Sol Wurtzel is establishing a junior
writing staff for his unit at the Fox
Western studio and has placed Robert
Yost in charge. Sally Sandlin, Harry
Fried and Robert Cummings are the
nucleus.
'Resurrection' Title
Now 'We Live Again'
"We Live Again" is the new title
for the Samuel Coldwyn picture which
will present Anna Sten and Fredric
March. It is based on Tolstoy's "Res-
urrection," but will have nothing in
common with the earlier versions of
the famous novel.
Production is expected to start un-
der Rouben Mamoulian's direction in
about three weeks.
Stage Play Purchased
For Educational Short
New York. — For the first time a
stage play has been bought for a short
picture, "Love and Babies," in which
Ernest Truex starred, having been pur-
chased by Educational for a two-
reeler.
Truex will star and Al Christie will
direct when production starts at the
Astoria studio on June 1 1.
Ralston and Knight
Rivals For Role at U'
Esther Ralston is competing with
June Knight for the second lead in
"Romance in the Rain," Stanley Ber-
german production for Universal, set
to start next Thursday.
The studio wanted Wynne Gibson
for the part, next in importance to
that of Heather Angel, but Miss Gib-
son is tied up elsewhere. Stuart
Walker will direct the picture.
Noel Coward's Latest
Hits Broadway in Feb.
New York. — "Point Balaine," Noel
Coward's latest play, is to be presented
on Broadway in February by John C.
Wilson. Coward will stage it, and
Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt will
be starred.
Another Coward play, "Conversa-
tion Piece," will be presented by H.
B. Franklin and Arch Selwyn during
the season.
Para. Trustees Oppose
Infringement Claims
New York. — The Paramount trus-
tees have filed briefs with Federal
Judge Patterson, opposing the claims
made by General Talking Pictures and
DeForest. Each claims $1,000,000
and eventually will seek damages for
alleged infringements of patents.
Carmel Myers Airing
Carmel Myers goes on the air Sun-
day night as a guest artist on "The
Merrymakers" broadcast over KHJ.
This is her fifth broadcast as a guest
star.
New Col. Comptroller
H. A. MacDonell, formerly with
General Service, was engaged by Col-
umbia yesterday as comptroller. N.
M. Stephenson, who held the post, re-
signed.
New Paramount Writer
George S. Brooks arrived in Holly-
wood to take up a term writing deal
with Paramount. He gets his first
assignment today.
'Little Man' Does
$8300 on First Day
New York. — The Universal pic-
ture, "Little Man, What Now?",
grossed $8300 for its first day at
the Radio City Music Hall, which
is considered very fair and may
mean an $85,000 week.
Sound Men to War
On Strike Breakers
Reports were current yesterday in
Hollywood labor union circles to the
effect that there Is a rift among lead-
ers of the IBEW, brought on because
one leader is understood to be advo-
cating the dropping by the union of
some of the sound technicians who
stepped in and helped break strike
last summer.
According to reports among the
sound men, this one leader is said to
have expressed his opinion at a union
meeting, and declared that many of
the strike breakers are not as well
qualified to handle sound work as a
lot of the men who are sitting around
waiting for jobs Further, it is said
that this leader expressed the opinion
that the strike breakers have been
adequately taken care of by being
kept busy since last August.
Agency Board Meeting
Tuesday For Reports
The Hollywood Agency Committee
of the film code meets Tuesday at
Radio studios to receive the reports of
two important subcommittees. One
reports on the advisability of the li-
censing of agents, the c*her on a code
of fair practice between agents, pro-
ducers and talent.
MOM Will Send Cast
From Here to Brazil
Changing its mind about using a
native cast in "Jungle Red Man,"
MGM starts today to look the field
over for Hollywood players to send to
Brazil, where the picture is under
way.
George Seitz, directing it, reaches
the studio by plane from location this
morning to help in the work of as-
sembling the cast.
Berke Signs Writer
William Berke has signed C. E.
Roberts to write the screen play for
his first feature, "The Unforbidden
Sin," a novel by Ray Vickers. Berke
has moved from the Pathe lot to Talis-
man studios, where he will produce
the picture.
No Europe For Robinson
Qasey Robinson has turned down
the deal with British International
Pictures to write the screen play of
"Blow Your Horn" and will accept
a deal at either Radio or MGM. Both
studios are negotiating for his services.
Corney-Hartman Finish
Jay Gorney and Don Hartman have
just finished the musical score for
"Romance in the Rain," which Uni-
j/ersal will produce under the supervi-
sion of Stanley Bergerman. The origi-
nal story is by Gorney and Sig Herzig.
25-Reel Serial To
Be Made In Asia
Ashton Dearholt will sail for Singa-
pore next month with a cast and tech-
nical staff of 14 to make a 25-reel
adventure film in Asia, from an origi-
nal being prepared by Edgar Rice Bur-
roughs. After the introductory three
reels, the story will develop in two-
reel chapters. It wifi be released in
straight story episodes, and also with
suspense tag scenes for the use of
transient patronage houses that de-
mand serial treatment.
Dearholt's financial set-up and re-
lease are in negotiation, but It will
not be the Van Beuren-RKO auspices
under which Dearholt supervised the
yet unreleased Joan Lowell expedition
to the Caribbean and Central America
last Fall.
Burroughs' story covers the adven-
tures of a scientist and his daughter.
Dearholt intends to incorporate four
instructional oddities into each chap-
ter.
Para. Signs New Boy
For 'You Belong to Me'
The search for a boy to play a
featured role in "You Belong to Me,"
previously called "52 Weeks for Fleu-
rette," was ended yesterday with the
signing of seven-year-old David Holt,
through Max Shagrin. More than 100
boys were tested.
The boy recently appeared in Har-
old Lloyd's "Cat's Paw" and Para-
mount has taken an option for a
seven-year ticket.
Feature Planned From
'Crime Club' Stories
New York. — William G. Smith has
secured the screen rights to the "Eno
Crime Club" material, the Spencer
Dean and Dan Cassidy man hunt yarns
that are broadcast over NBC, and will
make a feature from them, in associa-
tion with Charles C. Burr.
Production will be in Hollywood,
but no release is set.
'Million Dollar Ransom'
Advanced on 'U' List
"Million Dollar Ransom" was push-
ed up on the Universal schedule yes-
terday to start the week of June 11.
Joan Bennett and Joel McCrea go
into It with Edward Arnold. The story
IS by Damon Runyon, and Murray Roth
directs.
MacRae on 'Tailspin'
Henry MacRae is preparing the
script for "Tailspin Tommy," second
of the Milton Catzert serials for Uni-
versal. MacRae retains his billing as
associate producer of serials on "The
Red Rider," which is still in produc-
tion.
Loew's State Bookings
Loew's State Theatre in Los An-
geles has booked "Sadie McKee" for
the week of June 13 and will follow
it with "Manhattan Melodrama,"
June 21 .
Alberta Vaughn Set
Alberta Vaughn comes back to the
picture scene in a Paramount assign-
ment, taking a featured role in "La-
dies Should Listen."
M-G-W STUDIUtJ,
5(. READING DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
Vol XXI. No. 22. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, June 4. 1934
D. A. TOPS rOR 1933-34
•ON April 15 of last year, this col-
umn called the attention of the pro-
duction industry to the fact that the
greatest piece of production property
was available that morning in the per-
son of Darryl Francis Zanuck, who
had resigned at Warners the day be-
fore. We invited bids for Mr. Zan-
uck and suggested that those who
might desire his services start the bid-
ding at ONE MILLION DOLLARS,
which caused a laugh in some quar-
ters and "The Million Dollar Pro-
ducer" tag was hung on Zanuck as a
result of the suggestion.
Joe Schenck made the bid that won
Zanuck and we have from Schenck's
own lips: "It was the best buy I have
ever made in any business," for Darryl
Zanuck, guiding Twentieth Century
production, will turn in a profit in ex-
cess of FOUR MILLION DOLLARS for
the first twelve months of its opera-
tion. With that profit it is easy to
estimate what the profits have been
to the exhibitors who were fortunate
in buying Zanuck's product.
•
Now along comes Pete Harrison,
making .his yearly survey as a result
of a canvass among more than 5000
theatre owners, resulting in United
Artists being placed at the top of the
list of the best money-makers of the
year among the major distributors.
This bears out a prediction made in
this column, just a year ago, that it
would be a United Artists year, be-
cause of Twentieth Century and that
"Million Dollar Producer."
There is no great trick about Zan-
uck's successful production methods.
He has no copyright on that activity.
There are no secrets in his efforts to
knock out hit pictures at a REASON-
ABLE COST. He just happens to be
a "down-to-earth" individual, whose
purpose in life is to make good en-
tertainment, whose days and nights
I when he is not playing polo or going
on long jaunts in the jungles on shoot-
ing and fishing trips) are spent in de-
vising that entertainment, surrounded
by a collection of men and women
who respect his judgment, and are
anxious to join with him in making
that entertainment.
Zanuck's success is the result of
sincere effort. Instead of trying to
make the production of pictures a
tough task, he fights to make it easy,
'Continued on Page 4)
Presbyterians Join
War on Dirty Films
Cleveland. — Criticism of Ameri-
can motion pictures for their harm-
ful influence on missionary work
was made at the Presbyterian Gen-
eral Assembly by Rev, D. C. Bu-
chanan, missionary to Japan, who
said: "I am ashamed of the films
shown in Korea and Japan. People
in these lands seeing these pictures
get the idea that every American
woman is impure and that every
American man carries a gun. Boys
and girls attempt to copy lives they
see portrayed."
Exhibs Tell Pete Harrison Of
Their Moneymakers. Radio
Second On List, Warners Third
New York. — Pete Harrison, publisher of Harrison's Reports,
has issued the results of his survey conducted in an effort to
ascertain what studios produced the best nnoney-makers during
1933-34, and the comment on the product from more than 5000
exhibitors.
Rosy Cancels Order
N.Y.Censors Slash
MGM'LaughingBoy'
New York.- — Local censors, normal-
ly very mild, took a big chunk out of
"Laughing Boy," the MCM picture.
No less than sixteen cuts were made.
Pictures passed without eliminations
of any kind include "Private Scandal,"
"Scarlet Empress," "Thirty Day Prin-
cess," "We're Not Dressing," "The
Witching Hour," "Black Cat," "I'll
Tell the World," "Uncertain Lady,"
"The Merry Frinks," "Smarty" and
"Twenty Million Sweethearts."
New Story For Dietrich
Eleanor McCeary and Josef von
Sternberg are working on an original
story for the next Marlene Dietrich
picture for Paramount.
Finston Quits Again
Nat Finston again tendered his res-
ignation as head of Paramount's music
department Saturday and the issue will
be settled this morning.
The result of the survey, as print-
ed in Harrison's Reports, classifies the
major producers as follows:
United Artists
Radio Pictures
Warner-First National
Paramount
Metro-Coldwyn- Mayer
Universal
Fox
Columbia.
After setting forth the standing as
selected by the exhibitors, Harris9n
analyses the various products as a re-
sult of the comment sent in by the
(Continued on Page 3)
McLaglen and Lowe to
Star in Fox 'Oriental'
Fox has assigned the writing team
of Gene Towne and Graham Baker to
fashion an original screen play for
Victor McLaglen and Edmund Lowe.
The title scheduled for it is "Oriental"
and Raoul Walsh directs under the
supervision of Robert Kane.
Jones-McNutt Re-join
Crover Jones has gone back to his
old assignment as team-mate of Wil-
liam Slavens McNutt on "Mrs. Wiggs
of the Cabbage Patch." Jane Storm is
working with them.
23 FEATURES AWl\OlJ]\CED
OX UIVITED ARTISTS' LIST
Chicago. — The United Artists' pro-
gram for the coming season will have
at least 22 features and, if Mary
Pickford and Charles Chaplin each de-
livers one, the list will be 24.
General Sales Manager Al Lichtman
told the convention yesterday that the
sales policy will be "look before you
buy' and that the exhibitor is the final
judge of the quality of the product.
The season's program comprises, in
addition to the features, eighteen
shorts from Walt Disney; nine with
Mickey Mouse and nine "Silly Sym-
( Continued on Page 4)
'Madame' For Nugent
With Elliott Nugent getting his re-
lease from Radio Saturday, Paramount
today signs the director to a new long-
term deal. He will direct "Enter Ma-
dame" as his next assignment. The
Small-Landau office represents him.
Terrett to Coldwyn
Courtenay Terrett joins the Sam
Coldwyn writing staff today to work
on the screen play for"Barbary Coast,"
which William NA/ellman directs. He
was set by the Hawks-Voick office.
Limiting Extra Com.
Scl Rosenblatt yesterday put the
Standing Committee for Extras right
back where it was by sending a wire
which stated that the Code Authority
had no power to deprive the commit-
tee of its right to make interpretations
of the film code and no right to put
the extras under the provisions of the.
State Labor Law, known as Order
No. 16-A.
The only person who had the right
to issue such orders, he said, was Ros-
enblatt himself, and he had not done
so. He said further that any findings
made by the Extras Committee should
be submitted to him and not to the
Code Authority.
'Merrlweir Author
Gets His Injunction
New York. — Gilbert Patten, author
cf the "Frank Merriwell" stories, Sat-
urday, obtained a temporary injunc-
tion restraining Superior Pictures from
advertising or producing pictures based
on the famous character.
The hearing in Federal Court on the
application for a permanent injunction
wMI be held tomorrow.
Col. Wants May Robson
Columbia is negotiating a deal with
MCM for the loan of May Robson for
the Carole Lombard picture, "Orchids
and Onions," which David Burton is
scheduled to direct. Milton Herbert
Cropper is on the screen play.
Russell on 'Half Caste'
MGM has assigned John Russell to
write the screen play of "The Half
Caste," an original story. The pic-
ture will be the first for Ramon No-
varro when he returns in July from
his South American concert tour.
Hurley on Vacation
Harold Hurley left Paramount Sat-
urday for a three weeks vacation.
HARRY LACHMAN DIRECTED "BABY TAKE A BOW
E3
Page Two
|une4, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr„ 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter lune 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
187%.
CAIVAVAX FIGHT lATSE
CO]\VE]\TIOIV FEATURE
Probably the most original and col-
orful private party ever staged here
was given Saturday night by the Stan-
ley Bergermans and Junior Laemmie
at the Laemmie estate for the Mervyn
LeRoys. Harkrider, famous Ziegfeld
artist, outdid himself with the decora-
tions, which transformed the hoiise
and grounds into a copy of the Chi-
cago World's Fair. Not a bet was
missed from the Old Fashioned Picture
Gallery to the Bar. The living room
was turned into a Night Club — and
there were "exhibits" and entertain-
ment galore. Musicians, performers
and some two hundred guests mingled
for fun until exhaustion set in. The
animal act "stole the show" — but
there were costumes and cracks that
were marvelous. )ack Oakie came
made up as a gentleman; Pan Ber-
man's evening was ruined because
every time he looked at Jerry Horwin
'who was in a French Legion outfit)
it reminded him of "Beau Ideal." a
seven hundred thousand dollar flop;
Mervyn LeRoy was completely unrec-
ognizable as a sheik; Karl Freund
came as Little Lord Fauntleroy; Irene
Dunne, Claudette Colbert, looking
very beautiful, Nancy Carroll, Florine
McKinney as Peter Pan. Jesse Lasky.
Carl Brisson, Irma Warner, Lewis
Milestone, Liz Dupont, John Stahl, the
Al Rogells. the Wesley Ruggles.
Heather Angel, Toby Wing. Mary Car-
lisle, the Harry Lachmans, Ad Schul-
berg, Binnie Barnes 'first time out in
Hollywood). Stuart Walker, the Harry
Rapfs, the Abe Lehrs. and Anna Sten
with Dr. Frencke (who wandered off) ,
among the many guests. Gene Ray-
mond arrived in Tuxedo and LeRoy
took one look at him and said:
"There's a guy made up as Gene Ray-
mond and he looks swell!"
•
The lately-publicized romance be-
tween Buster Collier and the extra-
pretty Marie Stevens of Noo York, is
a purely manufactured amour — al-
though now it looks as though some-
thing may come of it after all. Here's
the lowdown on the "match." When
youne Bill Hearst arrived here a coupla
months ago he told Buster to keep
away from the Hollywood gals — and
that he had "just the right girl for
Louisville. Ky. — What delegates
declare will probably be the most im-
portant convention in the history of
the lATSE opens here today, with
delegates from all sections of the
country primed for several battles
which may decide the future impor-
tance of the union in the motion pic-
ture industry.
The outstanding feature of the
convention will be the election of a
president. For weeks a committee of
100 has been carrying on an inten-
sive drive to bring William F. Cana-
van back to the presidency. He held
the position for many years and, un-
der his leadership, the lATSE reached
its peak. The members also declare
that, with his leaving, the organization
started to lose strength in the motion
picture production field, winding up
last Summer with the unsuccessful
strike in the studios which has taken
thousands of members from the or-
ganization and left it in a precarious
spot.
A strong contingent from the Mid-
dle West is driving for the re-leection
of William C. Elliot, but Canavan sup-
porters claim they have a majority of
the delegates pledged.
Another matter of importance ex-
pected to be brought to the conven-
tion floor is the proposal by the Amer-
ican Society of Cinematographers to
take over Local 659 in Hollywood.
This idea has been frowned down by
the members of the Hollywood cam-
eramen's union, but some say it is
slated to come to the floor, inasmuch
as the ASC broke strike when 659
went out.
It is also expected that details of
the studio strike may be aired, with
an effort being made to place the
blame on some "goat's" shoulders.
And a program is to be proposed to
rebuild the lATSE in the studios and
get it back to former strength.
Leo Carrillo East For
Viva Villa^ Personals
Leo Carrillo takes the plane for
New York Tuesday to make a personal
appearance at the Capitol Friday with
the showing of "Viva Villa." Two
weeks of personals, and he returns to
his Santa Monica hacienda.
Carrillo is enthusiastic about his as-
signment with Louise Fazenda in the
sweepstakes comedy being shaped up
at MGM, seeing if as another "Abie's
Irish Rose."
Pete Smith Over-worked
This is Pete Smith's busy week at
MGM. "Strikes and Spares," his ex-
position of bowling, gets shooting
Wednesday. His history of Rugby
football, tracing the game back down
the ages, also starts this week, Ray
McCarey directing.
him in New York." He told him all
about Marie (having told Marie about
Buster) and the two started a big
"correspondence." When Collier left
for Yurrup last week with the Hearst
party, he met the gal and it was love
or something at first sight. They're
still writing letters and cables, and, if
Marie doesn't marry someone else in
the meantime, she'll marry Buster
when he gets back!
Siamese Offer For
Foy Nudist Picture
Brian Foy Saturday received an
offer for the Siamese rights on
"Elysia," from the Associated
Trading Co., of Bangkok. Foy fig-
ures the interest is probably on ac-
count of the fat nudists in the
picture.
Salient Pictures
Calls Off Production
Salient Pictures, which produced
"Mating Time" six months ago, has
shelved production plans.
Buck Macgowan has returned his
story. "Harbor Patrol," to the open
market. The independent company
had prepared to produce the picture,
with Clarence Badger directing. "Mat-
ing Time," which Leo Birinski made,
will be released on the independent
market instead of through a major
release.
Baltimore Deb Gets
'Monte Cristo' Role
Eleanor Phelps, Baltimore society
girl, who has appeared in five Broad-
way productions, gets her first pic-
ture break with the part of Princess
Haidee in Edward Small's production
of "The Count of Monte Cristo." Her
only previous film work was a bit in
"Cleopatra."
Miss Phelps is the daughter of John
Phelps. Belgian consul at Baltimore,
Irene Dunne to Present
Biltmore Bowl Prize
Irene Dunne will present the prize
to the winner of the RKO Theatre-
Biltmore Bowl singing contest at the
Bowl tonight. The prize is a week's
contract to sing in the Bowl floor
show.
Giraffes For Local Zoo
Frank Buck, now superintending his
exhibit at the Chicago Fair in con-
nection with "Wild Cargo," has noti-
fied the California Zoological Gar-
dens that he is having a pair of gir-
affes forwarded to the zoo from
Africa for parking. There are said
to be no giraffes on the Pacific Coast
at present.
Dan Ratony Sails
New York. — Dan Ratony, recently
with Radio, sailed Saturday aboard the
Bremen for the return trip to London.
He goes back to Alexander Korda, of
London Films, but figures on coming
to Hollywood again in two months.
Bushman jr. Now Ralph
Discarding the Francis X. Jr. he has
used professionally for several years,
Ralph Bushman comes back to MGM
on a term contract, which starts with
his assignment to "All Good Ameri-
cans."
'Slaughter' For Foy
Bryan Foy will make "Slaughter,"
an original story by William Jacobs,
as his next feature.
Women Extras Kick
Af Chiseling Gag
Extras reported a new gag on the
part of some of the studios last week
to cut down on size of pay checks.
The code calls for $15 a day for extra
women who wear their own evening
dress.
A couple of studios, according to
complaints to the Junior Screen Actors
Guild, are hiring women and giving
them such awful dresses to wear that
the women are bringing in their own
clothes for the sake of their appear-
ance on the screen. The studio exec-
utives tell them if they don't like the
clothes given them to bring their own.
Thus the studios save $7.50 a day.
Willis Kent Finishes
Lane Chandler Film
Lew Collins wound up direction of
"Guns for Hire," Lane Chandler star-
ring, at International studio Saturday.
This is Willis Kent's third produc-
tion on his current series. Another
one is due to start in three weeks.
Binyon on 'Charm School*
Claude Binyon was assigned Satur-
day to write the screen play for
"Charm School" at Paramount. Wil-
liam LeBaron is supervising.
OPEN FORUM
Hollywood Reporter:
Your estimable paper has me col-
laborating with Carey Wilson on a lit-
tle epic called "Dolly."
There seems to be some confusion.
Maybe you mean I'm working with
Carey Wolfson or P. J. Wilson; or
maybe Carey Wilson is working with
Briskin. Riskin, Ruskin or Ryskind.
ALLEN RIVKIN.
P.S. ; P. J. Wolfson went home last
night and Carmelita Geraghty threw
him out. He was very hurt. So was
Carmelita.
Hollywood Reporter:
In your review of
tation," I notice you
formance of Mikos in
"Paul Porcasi as the
Mikos, is good for a
I would appreciate
rection in view of the
I who played and was
Mikos.
ADR
The Great Flir-
credit the per-
which you say:
faithful servant,
laugh anytime."
a note of cor-
fact that it was
paid for playing
IAN ROSLEY.
My excellent graduate Swiss nurse
leaving |une or |uly for Europe.
Available to care for babies or
children on trip.
MRS. BUCKLEY
CR 4092
NOTICE TO INDEPENDENT
PRODUCERS:
Reliable renting contract man in
London wishes to represent Ameri-
can companies interested in British
release. Would take trip or discuss
by mail. Care of London Office.
Hollywood Reporter.
|une4. 1934
Page Three
FOX'S 'BABY TAKE A BOW
COBKIIVG ClOOD PICTIIBE
Temple Child Again
Steals The Honors
• BABY TAKE A BOW"
(Fox)
' Direction Harry Lachman
Screen Play Philip Klein
and E. E. Paramore
Photography L. W. O'Connell
Cast: Shirley Temple, James Dunn,
Claire Trevor, Alan Dinehart, Ray
Walker, Dorothy Libaire.
"Baby Take a Bow" will serve to
make the public even more Shirley
Temple-minded than it is now. The
little girl romps happily and easily
through an enormous part in this pic-
ture, lending an incredible amount
of suspense to a yarn that had plenty
to begin with.
The result is a piece of entertain-
ment that makes you howl with very
lusty glee all the while your hands
are clammy with excitement. The
combination is unbeatable.
James Dunn and Ray Walker, who
have spent several years in Sing Sing
because of very doubtful convictions,
are hounded to distraction and from
one job to another by one of the most
disagreeable dicks ever seen on a
screen, Alan Dinehart. Although both
boys are going absolutely straight,
they accidentally come into posses-
sion of a $50,000 pearl necklace sto-
len from their employer, and most of
the picture concerns the earnest at-
tempts of Dunn and Walker to hide
the necklace from Dinehart until they
can return it to its rightful owner,
and the equally earnest attempts of
little Shirley Temple to discover the
whereabouts of the necklace and hide
it all over again.. She thinks everyone
IS playing hide and go seek with her.
The picture is a highly effective
blending of drama and comedy. Di-
rected by Harry Lachman, who can
handle comedy as expertly as he can
build up suspense, the film is com-
pletely successful as above-average
entertainment. Philip Klein and E. E.
Paramore wrote the, screen play, and
L. W. O'Connell 's photography is un-
usually fine.
The Temple child is utterly engag-
ing, only occasionally showing signs
of acting. Dunn plays with .her beau-
tifully, and Walker does the best work
of his career. Claire Trevor exhibits
a fine sense of dramatic and human
values and Dinehart is distressingly
good as the horrid detective. Dorothy
Libaire has very little to do, but does
it well.
The picture has a certain gaiety
about it, emphasized by good, solid
comedy, that only serves to make the
excitement more acute. It can be
shown in any house, anywhere, with
safety and profit.
Wald-Erickson Team
Jerry Wald and Carl Erickson have
been assigned to do the screen play
on "Apple Sauce," a play by Barry
Connors, in which Dick Powell will
be starred. Writers just completed
screen play on "Say It With Music,"
an original by Wald.
Pefe Smith joins
Trade and Mark
Pete Smith's face has been im-
mortalized in lithography, and goe;
out in one-sheets to all exhibitor;
playing the MOM shorts that star
Smith on the sound track. The
posters are in response to a demand
to see the face behind the wise-
cracks.
Para. Is Hopped Up
Over'Lancer' Again
Hollywood's prize off-again, on-
again production, "Lives of a Bengal
Lancer," is definitely set to go before
the Paramount cameras early in July,
with Sam Coldwyn having the power
to upset this plan by declining to okay
Gary Cooper s appearance In it. A
deal is on with Coldwyn to give his
approval, since he will not need Coo-
per until "Barbary Coast" is ready for
work, following the completion of
"Resurrection."
The "Lancer" picture was once
budgeted at $1,350,000, but will now
be made for $600,000. More than
$400,000 in accumulated costs has
been written off on Paramount's old
books. Waldemar Young's script will
be used, and Louis Lighton produces
it after handling it for four ana a half
years.
Betty Mack Is Again
Charley Chase Lead
Betty Mack will be Charley Chase's
girl for the seventh consecutive com-
edy when Chase starts off his new
Hal Roach season the latter part of
the week. The story is by Chase, Carl
Harbaugh and Walter Weems.
Others in the cast are Lew Kelly,
Del Henderson, Harry Bowen and Ar-
thur Housman,
Three For Col. Picture
Columbia Saturday assigned Charles
Sabin and Arthur Hohl, and signed
Vincent Sherman for "By Persons Un-
known," which D. Ross Lederman puts
into work today. Ralph Bellamy and
Shirley Grey head the cast, which also
includes J. Carrol Naish and Ward
Bond.
Lupino For 'Happiness'
Paramount is testing Ida Lupino for
a leading role in "Pursuit of Happi-
ness." Mitchell Leisen is slated to di-
rect the production when he returns
this week from Honolulu. It will be
the first on his next ticket.
Tandler on Score
Adolph Tandler is preparing the
musical score for "Dusturan," seven-
reel wild animal special made by Tom
White in Ceylon. When the sound
background is complete, White will
start release negotiations.
Stuart Erwin Cast
Stuart Erwin takes a featured part
opposite Jean Parker in "Have a
Heart." the Dave Butler production
under John Considine Jr.'s wing at
MCM.
Sennett Lab Opens
For Work This Week
The laboratory equipped by Mack
Sennett at a cost of $85,000 and idle
for the last two years, is reopened this
week for commercial operation by
Leonard Poole and Bill Paris. They
will operate as United Film Labora-
tory.
Some financing of independent pro-
ductions is contemplated, but not for
30 or 60 days yet. The plant has a
daily capacity of 150,000 feet print
and 50,000 feet negative, as it was
constructed to handle release printing
on a major scale. It will do black and
white exclusively, the color machinery
having been converted.
Operation is under the direction of
Henry Fischer, who was Mack Sen-
nett's lab superintendent for nineteen
years.
Poole was the founder of the Asso-
ciated, now the Western Film Labs.
Paris is associated with the Far East
Company, and previously with Walter
Putter.
White-Fowser Start
Jungle Picture Here
Tom White and Hugh Fowser start
this week at the California Zoological
Gardens on preliminary animal stunts
for the picture they will complete next
Fall with a wild animal expedition to
Siam and Indo-China.
Fowser expects to leave in August
to spot game and start captures.
Boles For 'Flirtation'
Glen Boles, whom Warners placed
under a long-term contract Saturday,
gets a featured role in "Flirtation
Walk" as his first assignment under
the deal. He left last night to over-
take the Frank Borzage unit in the
East.
U.A. Best Money-Maker
(Continued from Page 1 )
exhibitors with the survey, setting
forth that the big disappointment of
the year among exhibitors was the Fox
product. This was due to the great
confidence exhibitors had in Sidney R.
Kent as a "doer" and organizer, which
caused them not only to book the Fox
product, but to pay heavily for the
play of the pictures, most of which
resulted in heavy losses, due to the
poor quality of the product as turned
out under Sheehan's direction.
Regarding Warners, the report
shows that their '33-34 showing
would not have been so good had it
not been for the fact that they yank-
ed "Golddiggers of 1934" out of their
'32-33 program and sold it for the
past season. Even with that, their
showing was poorer than the previous
year. Comment was made on the "in-
decent" First National product and
that "Harry Warner talks clean pic-
tures but actually produces them un-
clean."
Radio Pictures was given the palm
for making the best showing toward
the production of qualitv pictures,
with United Artists given the top spot
as turning out the best money-makers.
Evidently, once you get a good
working combination together, no
matter what happens, somehow or
other that combination will find itself
again. Take the case of Erich Pom-
mer. He earned for himself and his
crew a world-wide reputation for pic-
ture excellence. Several years ago
Paramount brought Pommer over here,
but never managed to let him really
get started, and so Pommer went back
to UFA. Then came the Hitler re-
gime and the gradual breakup of UFA.
Some of the gang went to Paris, some
went to England, and one or two came
over here. When they first got here,
they were distributed all over the
place, but now with Pommer back,
gradually they are all joining the old
fold again and the Fox lot is just the
best part of UFA gone Hollywood.
•
Pommer's first picture under his
new contract will be 'Music in the
Air," and Joe May, who used to work
with Pommer, then went to Paris,
then London, then Columbia, is sched-
uled to direct. Pommer has also
brought over with him the man who
is to Europe what Jerome Kern is to
the United States, Mr. Heyman, first
known over here by the picture fans
for his "Congress Dances" score. Still
another musician well known in Eur-
one came over, too, Franz Waxman
And while on the subject of Wax-
man, it might be iust as well to deny
here something that saw print else-
where. Mr. Waxman is NOT here to
improve on the lerome Kern score for
"Music in the Air." He is merely ar-
ranging the songs for picture purposes
end directing the music, and if any
additional music is needed, Mr. Kern
will be the first to supply it.
•
Mr. Pommer also has with him the
man who used to do the French ver-
sions of his pictures. And the man
who used to make the English ver-
sions for him is now an associate pro-
ducer at Paramount, Carl Winston.
Thus once more proving that Holly-
wood is a small world, after all, that
sooner or later manages to collect the
best talents of other worlds. Some-
times by accident, sometimes deliber-
ately and sometimes through catastro-
phe, but always, Hollywood collects.
Still another interesting note about
"Music in the Air" is the fact that,
at the present moment, it looks as
though a fair unknown may be lifted
to stardom in the leading feminine
role. John Boles is penciled in for the
hero, but if the right girl can be
found 'and why not?) and found
right here in Hollywood, 'and again,
why not?) the Fox lot will find itself
in possession of not only a good pro-
duction unit, but one that can do the
great service of building new stars for
public consumption.
Wanda Tuchock to Para.
Wanda Tuchock joins the Paramount
writing staff today to work on the
script of "Shoe the Wild Mare," un-
der the supervision of Benjamin Gla-
zer. Edington-Vincent set the ticket.
Page Four
THE
|une4. 1934
'FURXISHED ROOMS' SORDID
AND CHEAP; NO GOOD FOR PIX
Old-Style 'Meller' \/^ upTomB/niNvm Rowland Brown Set
Blocks Good Cast I ASTINC Kiciiyg For Two in London
^
"FURNISHED ROOMS"
Presented by Edgar Allen at the Ritz
Theatre; play by Ragahilde Bruland;
directed lay Russell Morrison; staged
by Edgar Allen; settings by A. M.
Street. Cast: John F. Morrisey,
Ronnie Madison, Billy M. Greene,
Violet Barney, Huntly Weston,
Spencer Bentley, Vicki Cummings,
Valerie Raemier, Liana Grey, |ay
Young, Clarence Rock, Frank Rey-
man and Jack Willis.
New York. — "Furnished Rooms,"
sad to relate at the tail end of the
season, is a very sordid, dull, poorly
written play that smacks of the old
ten-twenty-thirty days.
Frank Foster, a widower of about
fifty, runs a rooming house in a poor-
er section of New York. Foster is a
lecherous old man who has an eye for
a pretty face and figure. For fifteen
years Mrs. Willis has been his house-
keeper and secret mistress, but this
does not prevent him from taking ad-
vantage of his female roomers who
can't pay their rent, by seducing them.
The boarding house has the usual
conglomeration of boarders: Rose, who
works in the basement of a depart-
ment store and still broods secretly
over the fact that Foster had once
seduced her; Marie, who is a profes-
sional Southerner and uses her accent
on every man she sees; Billy, un-
sexed, and with a high-pitched voice,
who is always on the verge of getting
a job, and a few others.
Into this setting comes Ann Bailey,
a beautiful young girl from New Eng-
land, looking for a job. Foster imme-
diately spots her as new and desirable
prey. He is continually in her room,
telling her how beautiful she is and
assuring her that a girl as lovely as
she is shouldn't worry about a job.
What she needs is a man to give her
everything she needs. But Ann, the
orphan of a professor and a girl of
honor, tells .him in no uncertain terms
that all she is interested in is a job.
But jobs are hard to find and, when
Ann can no longer pay her rent, Fos-
ter takes advantage of her by chasing
her from one end of the room to an-
other. Ann faints from fright and
lack of food and Foster seduces her.
At first Ann thinks of moving im-
mediately, or committing suicide, but
it is Rose who convinces her to stay
and fight it out. She does, with
Rose's financial help, and very soon
Ann finds a job. Just at this time
Robert, Foster's young son, returns
from college a full-fledged graduate
Civil Engineer. Robert falls madly in
love with Ann, and, when he receives
an offer to do an engineering job in
Russia, he begs her to marry him and
go along. Ann fights off the tempta-
tion to marry this boy she loves and
tells him she isn't good enough for
him, she isn't worthy. She is about to
tell him why, when they are con-
fronted by a furious father who warns
his son he must stay away from this
girl. She is no good and will ruin
his life. Robert tells his father Ann
is the cleanest, sweetest thing he has
Paul Harvey and Sam Hinds for "A
Hat, a Coat, a Glove" at Radio.
Marjorie Cateson to "Sacred and
Profane Love," MCM.
Helen Chan, Chinese actress, to
"Student Tour," MCM.
Carol Tevis and Grady Sutton for
"Two Girls in a Boat," Radio short.
Catherine Doucet and Paul Parry
for "Servants' Entrance" at Fox.
' Zeff ie Tilbury for "Blondes and
Redheads" short. Radio, by Hallam
Cooley.
Ben Hendricks for "Blind Date,"
Columbia, by Hallam Cooley.
Cuinn Williams for "Flirtation
Walk," Warners, by Hallam Cooley.
Spanky McFarland to "Kentucky
Kernels," Radio.
Harold Minjir, by Menifee 1. John-
stone, to "Servants' Entrance," Fox.
Virginia Reid to a term contract at
Radio.
Marjorie Boothe, Irma Richardson,
Monte Collins and Bob McKenzie to
the Ted Fio Rito short. Radio.
Huntley and Connolly
In 'Servants' Entrance'
C. p. Huntley's first assignment on
his new long-termer at Universal is a
loan to Fox, where he goes into "Ser-
vants' Entrance." The Gaynor-Ayres
picture starts today under Frank
Lloyd's direction. Walter Connolly
was borrowed from Columbia for the
picture.
Maebelle Now Diana
Maebelle Lewis, signed from "The
Shim Sham Revue," started her term
contract at Paramount Saturday and
the studio immediately changed her
name to Diana Lewis. She has no
assignment as yet.
Ray Harris to Radio
Ray Harris today rejoins the Radio
writing staff. He will handle the
screen play for "Let's Get Married,"
under the supervision of Glen Allvine.
Runyon Yarn For LeBaron
William LeBaron has taken over the
supervision of the Damon Runyon
story, "Lemon Drop Kid." Howard
Green is writing the screen play.
ever known and he won't give her up.
The fight between father and son is
at high pitch when Rose settles the
score for herself by shooting the
treacherous old man and leaving the
young lovers free to live their lives
together.
Vicki Cummings looks pretty and
does a capable job in a role that does
everything to stifle any talent. The
rest of the cast is adequate for the
drab roles they must fill. The old
man was properly hissed by the audi-
ence at the right moments. With the
present reform wave .hitting pictures,
this vehicle would hardly be a good
chance.
London. — On completion of his
"Scarlet Pimpernel" picture for Alex-
ander Korda, which will star Leslie
Howard, Rowland Brown will move
over to the Basil Dean Ealing studios
to write the screen play of "Twelve
Chairs," from the Russian play. The
story depicts an exciting treasure hunt.
Brown will also direct.
Lamont on First Feature
Assignment at Mono.
Ten years ago Ben Verschleiser gave
Charles Lamont his first chance at di-
recting shorts, and Saturday he handed
him his first feature directorial assign-
ment at Monogram.
The picture is "Tomorrow's Youth,"
from a story by Harry Sauber, and it
goes into work June 1 1 .
Rogers Has 3 Roles
On 3 Lots in One Week
Desmond Rogers went into his third
picture on as many lots in one week
when he was made up for the part of
General Blackes in Reliance's "Count
of Monte Cristo" at Pathe Saturday.
Leon Lance, of Max Shagrin's office
spotted him. Previously Rogers was in
"The Grand Canary" at Fox and "Jane
Eyre" at Metropolitan.
Para. Unshelves One
Paramount has again taken "Lovers
in Quarantine" off the shelf and has
handed it to Virginia Van Upp for a
new treatment. E. Lloyd Sheldon will
supervise.
Radio Wants Ruggles
Radio is working on a deal with
Paramount for the loan of Charlie
Ruggles for a top spot in "By Your
Leave"
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
J,
AND IT IS EASY for those who know
what it is all about and who are not
bound by studio policies and political
situations that make the task almost
impossible.
•
Zar.uck's success will be greater
next year for the reason that Joe
Schenck and himself now have a well
defined production policy. They
KNOW what they are going to do.
Last year their ideas were changed
almost daily for the first few months,
resulting in two or three pictures that
did not measure up to the Zanuck
standard. But even with that, Twen-
tieth Century will make more money
this year than any company in the
business for the amount invested and,
after all, that's the purpose of this or
any other business.
So we salute "the Million Dollar
Producer" and congratulate all those
who combined their efforts to keep
him in that spot during the past year.
22 Features Listed
(Continued from Page 1 )
phonies," all in Technicolor. The fea-
tures are:
From Twentieth Century: "The Red
Cat," in association with A. H.
Woods, starring Fredric March and
Constance Bennett; "The Affairs of
Cellini," "Bulldog Drummond Strikes
Back," "The Last Gentleman," "Car-
dinal Richelieu," starring George Ar-
liss; "The Mighty Bamum," starring
Wallace Beery and Fredric March;
"Clive of India," with Ronald Col-
man; "It Had To Happen," with Clark
Gable and Constance Bennett; "For-
ward March" and "Call of the Wild."
From Samuel Goldwyn: "We Live
Again," starring Anna Sten and Fred-
ric March, with Rouben Mamoulian
directing; "Treasure Hunt," with Ed-
die Cantor; "Barbary Coast," starring
Anna Sten and Gary Cooper.
From Reliance: "The Count of
Monte Cristo"; "Trans-Atlantic Show-
boat," with Jack Benny, directed by
Ben Stoloff, and "Catalina."
From London Films: "The Return
of Don juan," starring Douglas Fair-
banks, Sr.; "One Hundred Years To
Come," the H. G. Wells story directed
by Lewis Milestone, and "The Scarlet
Pimpernel,' with Leslie Howard, di-
rected by Alexander Korda.
From Viking Productions: "Our
Daily Bread," directed by King Vidor.
Code Power Hearing
Put Over To Friday
Buffalo. — The first court test of
the power of the Code Authority to
prevent an exhibitor from getting pic-
tures for his house comes Friday when
a hearing will be held in the case of
Edwin Wick, Buffalo exhibitor.
The local Grievance Board, finding
Wick guilty of violating the code, or-
dered distributors not to let him have
any pictures. He appealed to the
courts and got a temporary Injunction,
restraining the distributors from cut-
ting off the service. He is getting pic-
tures up to the time of the hearing,
at least.
Baby Deer Crow Up Too
Fast For Producers
Carey Wilson is working on the
"Sequoia" story, MGM's wild animal
romance being due for another pro-
duction instalment when the new crop
of baby deer arrives.
The picture is periodically in cast-
ing difficulty, the young animals
growing up faster than the production
schedule allows. Story is from Vance
Hoyt's "Malibu."
Grid Star For Para.
New York. — Paramount has taken
an option on Nick Lukats, the foot-
ball star, for a long-term contract, and
will test him before closing the deal.
The William Morris office is handling
him.
Three For Sparks
Fox is stretching Ned Sparks' two-
picture ticket into a tripleheader, sign-
ing the player Saturday through the
Beyer-MacArthur office for a featured
role in "Lottery Lover." Al Rockett
IS producing.
M.
My Sincere Appreciation
and Thanks to
HARRY COHN
GRACE MOORE
and to
The entire Cast and Staff
of
COLUMBIA'S
u
ONE NIGHT OF LOVE
VICT
SCHERTZING
DIRECT©
OF LOVE
n
ONE NIGHT OF LOVE
If
was adapted from
the stage play by
Charles Beahan and Dorothy Speare
ONE Nl
LUIS ALBERNI
wishes to express his
thanks to
VICTOR SCHERTZINGER
A Fine Artist
and
A Great Director
for a
Most Happy Engagement
in
ONE NIGHT OF LOVE
JOHN
OVE
f r
Also:
"SECRETS"
(With Mary Pickford)
"BOMBSHELL'
M-C-M
"LET'S FALL IN LOVE
Columbia
ti
SEPH WALKER
PHOTOGRAPHED
n
ONE NIGHT OF LOVE
STARRING GRACE MOORE
I r
LUMBIA PICTURE
So beautifully photographed that you
don't mind the fact, through fifty per
cent of the picture, the gal's mouth
is wide open, trilling out thrilling
notes. -^
— Hollywood Reportj^r^
May 28, 193^
Association of Motion Picture Producers, Inc.
5504 Hollywood Boulevard
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
GLacUtone6111
LOUIS B. Mayer. President
J. L. Warner, 1st Vice-President
WINFIELO R. SHEEHAN. 2N0 VICE-PRESIDENT
FRED W. BEETSON. EXECUTIVe VICE-PRESIDENT
James Wingate. director
STUDIO Relations
May 28, 1934
Mr. Charles P., Rogers,
Paramount Productions, Inc.,
5451 Marathon Street,
Hollyv/ood, Calif.
Dear Mr. Rogers:
I cannot resist the temptation to tell you how very
much we enjoyed your production "THE GREAT FLIRTATION," which
we had the pleasure of previewing on Saturday afternoon. It
is a swell piece of entertainment, and v/e liked it Immensely.
The manner in which you handled the dangerous spots
in this story is most commendable and, at the same time, highly
diverting.
Who said one had to be dirty to be funny? - your pro-
duction is a first-rate example of what can be done by intel-
ligent production* ~
Cord
I. Breen
Page Ten
THg
l^ifPORTlf^
June 4, 1934
PRODUCTION SLUMPS WITH 31 IN WORK
BAROMETER
This Week 31 Features
Last Week .35 Features
Year Ago 30 Features
Two Years Ago 28 Features
Three Years Ago 34 Features
Columbia
"BLIND DATE"
Cast Ann Sothern, Paul Kelly, Mickey
Rooney, Spencer Charters, Jane
Darwell, Joan Gale, Geneva Mitch-
ell, Neil Hannilton, Theodore New-
ton, Tyler Brooke.
Director Roy William Neill
Original Screen Play Ethel Hill
Photography Al Siegler
Associate Producer Robert North
"BY PERSONS UNKNOWN"
Cast; Ralph Bellamy, Shirley Grey,
Charles Sabin, Arthur Hohl, j. Car-
roll Naish, Ward Bond, Vincent
Sherman.
Director D. Ross Lederman
Original Screen Play.. ..Harold Shumate
Photography Benjamin Kline
Sound George Cooper
Associate Producer Irving Briskin
Fox
"CARAVAN"
Cast: Charles Boyer, Loretta Young,
Jean Parker, Phillips Holmes, Louise
Fazenda, Eugene Pallette, C. Aubrey
Smith, Dudley Digges, Richard
Carle, Charles Grapewin, Billy
Sevan, Armand Kaliz, Harry Brad-
ley.
Director Erik Charell
Original Story Melchoir Lengyel
Screen Play and Dialogue —
Samson Raphaelson
Continuity Robert Liebmann
Music Werner Richard Heymann
Lyrics Cus Kahn
Photography Ernest C. Palmer
Sound A. L. Von Kirbach
Producer Robert Kane
•SHE WAS A LADY"
Cast: Helen Twelvetrees, Donald
Woods, Ralph Morgan, Paul Harvey,
Jackie Searl, Carol Kay, Doris Lloyd,
Ann Howard.
Director Hamilton MacFadden
Novel Elisabeth Cobb
Screen Play Gertrude Purcell
Photography Bert Glennon
Sound Don Flick
Producer Al Rockett
"SERVANTS' EXTRANCE"
Cast; Janet Gaynor, Lew Ayres, Walter
Connolly, Louise Dresser, G. P.
Huntley Jr., Sigfried Rumann.
Director Frank Lloyd
Original Sigrid Boo
Screen Play Samson Raphaelson
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
MCM
"BARRETTS OF WIMFOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katharine
Alexander, Marion Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor, Vernon
Downing, Neville Clark, Matthew
Smith, Robert Carlton, Allan Con-
rad, Peter Hobbes, Ralph Forbes,
Lowden Adams, Leo G. Carroll.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue. -Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"TREASURE ISLAND"
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger,
Lewis Stone, Cora Sue Collins, Dor-
othy Peterson, William V. Mong,
Douglas Dumbrille, Nigel Bruce,
Chic Sale, Charles McNaughton,
Edmund Breese, Olin Howland, Ed-
ward Pawley, Charles Irwin, Richard
Powell, James Burke, John Ander-
son.
Director Victor Fleming
Novel Robert Louis Stevenson
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"BORN TO BE KISSED"
Cast: Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore,
Patsy Kelly, Lewis Stone, Franchot
Tone, Hale Hamilton, Clara Blan-
dick, Alan Mowbray, Henry Kolker,
Russell Hopton, Gary Owen, Ben
Bard.
Director Jack Conway
Original Screen Play Anita Loos
and John Emerson
Photography Ray June
Dance Numbers Arthur Appel
Pi'oducer Bernard Hyman
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette Mac-
Donald, Minna Gombell, Edward Ev-
erett Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara
Leonard, Sterling Holloway, George
Barbier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Leona Walters, Edna Walde, Bar-
bara Barondess, Shirley Ross, Doro-
thy Granger, Jean Hart, Elinor Hunt,
Dorothy Wilson, Jill Dennett, Maria
Troubetylcoy, Tyler Brooke, Cosmo
Kyrle Bellew, George Lewis, John
MerkyI, Charles Requa, Fifi D'Or-
say, Dewey Robinson.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Dance Director Albertina Rasch
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE GREEN HAT"
Cast: Constance Bennett, Herbert
Marshall, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Pat Campbell, Leo Carroll, Hugh
Williams, Alec B. Francis, Eliza-
beth Allan, Robert Lorraine.
Director Robert Z. Leonard
Novel Michael Arlen
Photography Charles Rosher
Producer Irving Thalberg
"CLEAR THE TRACK"
Cast: Charlie Ruggles, Una Mer-
kel, Mary Carlisle, Russell Hardie,
Porter Hall, Cliff Thompson, Wil-
lard Robertson, Sterling Holloway,
"Snowflake," Berton Churchill,
Wilfred Lukas, Akim Tamiroff,
John David Horsley.
Director Harry Beaumont
Play Edward E. Rose
Adaptation Harvey Thew
Screen Play: Ralph Spence, Edgar Al-
lan Woolf and Al Boasberg.
Photography James Van Trees
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"STAMBOUL QUEST"
Cast: Myrna Loy, George Brent, Lionel
Atwill, C Henry Gordon, Douglas
Dumbrille, Christian Rub, Rudolph
Amendt, Robert Gleckler, Reginald
Barlow, Leo Carroll, Judith Vosselli.
Director Sam Wood
Original Leo Birinski
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer Bernard Hyman
"SACRED AND PROFANE LOVE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Clark Gable,
Otto Kruger, Stuart Erwin, Una
O'Connor, Marjorie Gateson.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Edgar Selwyn
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography George Folsey
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"THE STUDENT TOUR"
Chast: Charles Butterworth, Jimmy
Durante, Phil Regan, Maxine Doyle,
Florinne McKinney, Monte Blue,
Dewey Robinson.
Director Charles F. Reisner
Original Screen Play: Arthur Bloch and
George Sea ton.
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer Monta Bell
"ALL GOOD AMERICANS '
Cast: Robert Young, Una Merkel,
Madge Evans, Otto Kruger, Ralph
Bushman.
Director Edwin Marin
Original Play..S. J. and Laura Perelman
Screen Play Wells Root
Photography Milton Krasner
Producer Lucien Hubbard
Paramount
"THE NOTORIOUS SOPHIE LANG"
Cast: Gertrud<» Michael, Paul Cavan-
agh, Arthur Byron, Alison Skip-
worth, Ben Taggart, Leon Errol,
Norman Ainsley, Arthur Hoyt, Ed-
ward McWade, Del Henderson.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original-. .-Frecferiak Irving Anderson
Screen Play Anthony Veiller
and Frederick Irving Anderson
Photography Al Gilks
Sound Henry Lindgren
Producer Bayard Veiller
!■
"NOW AND FOREVER"
Cast: Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard,
Shirley Temple, Sir Guy Standing,
Charlotte Granville, Tetsu Komai,
Jameson Thomas, Gilbert Emery,
Henry Kolker, Harry Stubbs, Egon
Brecher.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original: Jack Kirkland and Melville
Baker.
Adaptation Austin Parker
Screen Play: Vincent Lawrence and
Sylvia Thalberg.
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Producer Louis D. Lighton
|une4. 1934
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 35 LAST WEEK
"LADIES SHOULD LISTEN"
Cast: Gary Grant, Frances Drake, Ed-
ward Everett Norton, Gharles E.
Arnt, Nydia Westman, George Bar-
bier, Rafael Gorio, Rosita Moreno,
Gharlie Ray.
Director Frank Tuttle
Original: Alfred Savoir and Guy Bolton
Adaptation Guy Bolton
Screen Play: Frank Butler and Glaude
Binyon.
Photography Henry Sharp
Producer Douglas MacLean
"LADIES FIRST"
Cast: George Bancroft, Frances Fuller,
Roscoe Karns, George Barbier, Nella
Walker, Charles Sellon, Helena
Phillips Evans, Ruth Clifford, Albert
Conti.Vera Stedman, Helene Lynch,
Marie Wells, Eddie Baker, Duke
York, William Robins, Alf P
James.
Director Gilbert Pratt
Original: George S. Kaufman and
Marc Connelly.
Screen Play Humphrey Pearson
Photography William Mellor
Producer Louis D. Lighten
"YOU BELONG TO ME"
Cast: Lee Tracy, Helen Mack, Arthur
Pierson, David Jack Holt.
Driector Alfred Werker
Original Elizabeth Alexander
Adaptation: Grover Jones and William
Slavens McNutt.
Screen Play: Lynn Starling and Harry
Ruskin.
Photography Leo Tover
Producer Louis D. Lighten
RKO-Radio
"HAT, COAT AND CLOVE"
Cast: Ricardo Cortez, Barbara Robbins,
John Beal, Sara Hayden, Samuel
Hinds, Murray Kinnell, Margaret
Hamilton, Dorothy Burgess.
Director Worthington Minor
Play Wilhelm Speyer
Screen Play Francis Faragoh
Photography Roy Hunt
Sound George Ellis
Producer Kenneth Macgowan
United Artists
Reliance Pictures, Inc.
(RKO-Pathe)
COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO"
Cast: Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Louis
Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, O. P.
Heggie, Raymond Walburn, Law-
rence Grant, Luis Alberni, Georgia
Caine, Irene Hervey, Douglas Wal-
ton, Ferdinand Munier, Lionel Bel-
more, William Farnum, Wilfred
Lucas, Clarence Wilson, Tom Rick-
errs, Clarence Muse, Helen Free-
man, Holmes Herbert, Eleanor
Phelps, Alphonse Martell, Russell
Powell.
Director Rowland V. Lee
Original Alexandre Dumas
Adaptation Harvey Thew
and Harry Hervey
Screen Play and Dialogue
Philip Dunne and Dan Totheroh
Photography Peverell Marley
Producer Edward Small
Universal
"ONE MORE RIVER"
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Frank Lawton,
Colin Clive, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Patrick Campbell, Jane Wyatt, C.
Aubrey Smith, Reginald Denny,
Kathleen Howard, Lionel Atwill,
Alan Mowbray, Gilbert Emery, E.
E. Clive, Robert Greig, Gunnis
Davis, Tempe Pigott.
Director James Whale
Story John Galsworthy
Screen Play R. C. Sherriff
Photography John Mescal
•THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW"
Cast: Frank Morgan, Binnie Barnes,
Lois Wilson, Louise Latimer, Eliza-
beth Young, Robert Taylor, Helen
Parrish, Dick Winslow, Alan Hale,
Maurice Murphy, Margaret Hamil-
ton, Anne Darling, Dean Benton,
Guy Brooks.
Director Edward Sloman
Original Screen Play.. ..Edward Sloman
Continuity Christine Ames
and William Hurlbut
Photography Norbert Brodine
Producer Henry Henigson
"THE RED RIDER"
(Serial)
Cast; Buck Jones, Grant Withers,
Janet Chandler. Walter Miller,
Richard Cramer, Margaret La Marr,
Charles French, Edmund Cobb, J. P
McGowan, William Desmond, Mert
LaVare, Frank Rice, Monte Mon-
tague, Jim Thorpe, Jim Corey, Bud
Osborne, Al Ferguson, Silver, Lee
Beggs, Dennie Meadows, Cliff
Lyons.
Director Louis Friedlander
Original' W. C. Tuttle
Screen Play: George Plympton, Bin
Moore, Ella O'Neill, Basil Dickey.
Photography Richard Fryer
Sound Charles Carroll
Associate Producer Henry MacRae
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby.
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers. Pat
O'Malley. Mary McLaren, Johnny
Arthur. Arthur Vinton, Hobart Cav-
anaugh. Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett, Phil Regan.
Directors Ray Enright
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren. Al
Dubin. Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal.
Mort Dixon. Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
•BRITISH AGENT "
Cast: Leslie Howard. Kay Francis,
Phillip Reed, Tenen Holtz, J. Car-
rol Naish, Gregory Caye, Halliwell
Hobbes. Dons Lloyd, Alphonse
Ethier. Irving Pichel, Walter Byron,
William Gargan, Ivan Simpson, Paul
Porcasi, George Pearce, Walter
Armitage, Cesar Romero, Arthur
Aylesworth, Mariana Schubert, Ad-
dison Richards.
Director Michael Curtiz
Novel H. Bruce Lockhart
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Dialogue Roland Pertwee
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"THE DRAGON MURDER CASE"
Cast: Warren William, Margaret
Lindsay, Lyle Talbot, Robert Barrat,
Arthur Aylesworth, Robert Mc-
Wade, Eugene Pallette, George
Meeker, Etienne Cirardot, Dorothy
Tree, George S. Stone, Helen Low-
ell, William Davidson, Robert War-
wick, Charles Wilson.
Director H Bruce Humberstone
Story S. S. Van Dine
Screen Play F. Hugh Herbert
and Robert N. Lee
Adaptation Rian James
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"KANSAS CITY PRINCESS"
Cast: Joan Blondell. Glenda Farrell,
Hugh Herbert. Robert Armstrong.
Gordon Westcott, T. Roy Barnes.
Osgood Perkins, Ivan Lebedeff.
Vince Barnett. Hobart Cavanaugh.
Director William Keighley
Original Screen Play Manuel Seff
and Sy Bartlett
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Lou Edelman
Independent Productions
Majestic
(Darmour Studio)
"THE SCARLET LETTER"
Cast: Colleen Moore, Hardie Albright,
Henry B. Walthall, William Far-
num, Alan Hale, William Kent,
Betty BIythe, Cora Sue Collins, Vir-
ginia Howell, Jules Cowles, Alma
Chester, Flora Finch.
Director Robert Vignola
Novel Nathaniel Hawthorne
Screen Play: Leonard Fields and David
Silverstein.
Photography James S. Brown Jr.
Producer Larry Darmour
Mascot
(Mack Sennett StudiY>)
"BURN EM UP BARNES"
(Serial)
Cast: Jack Mulhall, Frankie Darro.
Lola Lane, Julian Rivero, Edwin
Maxwell, James Bush, Jason Ro-
bards, Francis McDonald, John Da-
vidson, Eddie Hearn, Stanley Bly-
stone, Alan Bridge.
Directors: Bert Clark and Armand
Schaeffer.
Original Screen Play: Al Martin, Sher-
man Lowe and Wyndham Gittens.
Photography Ernie Miller
Supervisor Victor Zobel
;y.s;y ^ ''•^ ^^"-^ "*
.• AAic-^AJwuc , y •*^^ ■»»*
BRlilATOUR BULLETIN
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Published Every Monday
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Early last week in New York the
championship of Jimmy McLarnin was
attached by Barney Ross and the result
was much gasping in Hollywood. . . •
Now another championship of local
note gets a kick in the pants with Len
(Big Moose) Smith sneaking up on
Clyde De Vinna (both boys members
of the MCM Club) and threatening to
knock Clyde's mileage crown into a
film can. . . . Smith returned to Culver
City from Dunsmuir last Saturday
morning after completing his location
work on "Rear Car" unit. ... A rush
to the transportation department and
last night Len was off for New York
where he'll photograph the background
plates for for Clarence Brown's MCM
picture. "Sacred and Profane Love."
. . . During the past twelve months
Len has spent long weeks on location
in the northernmost points of Alaska
. . then jumped to Florida . . . back
to his home lot . . . to Kansas and
Iowa ... to Chicago . . . then south
and finally home again to be gone
again justlikethat!
•
Business (OUR business) is great,
thank you . . . but transportation bus-
mess can also take a bow . . . most
of the trade news these lazy days
states that so-and-so is off to such-
and-such a place . . . which reminds
us that on the travel list of the past
week-end was Harry Ensign who's off
for a look-see at Chicago, Boston,
New York and a coupla days going
through Kodak Park at Rochester . .
after which he'll start west-by-north
and cut through the Canadian Rockies
on his way home where he's scheduled
to arrive 'long about firecracker time.
•
Jimmy Van Trees is off for the High
Sierras to coax a few trout into the
family pan before starting his new deal
at Arkayo, which brings him into the
Cower Street plant for another stanza
with Irene Dunne. . . . Out at MCM
(where they're not exactly easy to
please) ... Joe Valentine is holding
his new spot on the camera staff with-
out a challenge and his smile is win-
ning many new friends on the lot. . .
Jack Mackenzie finished "Shock" for
Monogram and at this minute is doing
his shooting with favorite mashie at
Riviera. . . . Ken Peach is whooping
along at his work with Irvin Cobb
who, if he can act as good as he
writes, is sure to lay the customters
flat in the aisles. . . . Bert Clennon is
back from location and turning 'em at
Movietone City and in the meantime
Columbia and Arkayo and two or three
other major lots are doing a swell
imitation of Sunday afternoon on
Main Street . . . they're that quiet . . .
But that lull before . . . you know . . .
stand by.
Teague in Europe
We are in receipt of a letter from
George Teague, for many years with
Fox Studios in Hollywood, and more
recently identified with General Serv-
ice Studios .here, where he installed
projection background equipment.
Called to London a few weeks ago,
Teague is there installing complete
projection equipment for Doug Fair-
banks. His address in London is:
Harewood Court, Hanover Square,
Mayfair, London W. 1 .
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Filma
Clarke Gives Lowdown On China
Writing from Nanking, China, where he is in charge of the MGIV
photographic unit on backgrounds for special scenes on "Good Earth,"
Charles Z. Clarke writes a long and interesting letter. Here are a few ex-
cerpts of general interest to cinematographers:
"We have now been filming for the past month, and what experi-
ences we have had! The Chinese are either very curious and climb into
a camera, or else they are extremely superstitious and run to cover when
a camera is turned on them.
"Then there's another group, who are very super-sensitive about hav-
ing the general every day sort of people and their methods of living pho-
tographed. They seem to want things shown only in their 'Sunday best';
so it of course has been a problem to obtain scenes always with natural
backgrounds.
"The light, I find here, is quite brilliant; this country being about the
general latitude of the northern part of Mexico, the same light condi-
tions prevail. Cloudy, lazy days are very frequent, and it always seems
that our biggest scenes are scheduled for these days. However, when a
good day does come, we lose no time in recording all the scenes we
need."
Clarke continues to discuss general living conditions, and incidentally
speaks highly of Robert O'Bolger, general manager of Eastman Kodak
Company, whose headquarters are 24 Yuen Ming Yuen Road, Shanghai.
Mr. Clarke further says: "Mr. O'Bolger has been unusually kind, not
only to us but to all cameramen who come into this port, which have
been many during the past several years , "
Youngsters Together
Digging into the juvenile files of
cameramen and directors, we pull out
the names of Milton Krasner and Ed-
die Marin and tie them up for a joint
engagement at the MGM studios for
"All Good Americans."
Eddie Marin is a slick youngster
pulled out of the silk hat by Sam Bis-
choff last year, and since that time
Marin has directed several hits.
Krasner is chief of camera staff for
Charles Rogers Productions (Para-
mount), and this is his first important
assignment away from his home lot.
Rosson Location
Hal Rosson has finished production
on the MCM picture, "Treasure Is-
land" with Victor Fleming, and drew
immediate assignment to "The Hide-
Out" directed by Van Dyke.
Company goes to Santa Cruz, Cali-
fornia— (not Hhe islands)^ — fbr two
weeks of strenuous location work.
Dunn Returns
Lynn Dunn of the Arkayo trick
photographic department has returned
from his honeymoon trip to San Fran-
cisco.
Story is buzzing around the Radio
plant that Lynn actually carried a 16
mm cine-Kodak and a Graflex when
he middle-aisled it with Eleanor
Roach, formerly of the Max Factor
organization.
Auid Lang Syne
Long before sound interrupted the
peaceful procedure of pictures, Henry
Sharp photographed some of Charlie
Ray's biggest successes.
They are teamed up again at Para-
mount, with Douglas MacLean, anoth-
er grand old timer of the silent days,
for the production, "Ladies Should
Listen."
Hickox With Stanwyck
Late in the week Sid Hickox start-
ed testing for the Barbara Stanwyck
picture, "The Lost Lady," which Al
Green will direct for Warner Bros.
Edouart Vacation
Putting the finishing touches to the
most strenuous season in his strenuous
career, Farciot Edouart of the trick
and effects department at Paramount
takes off on a vacation, destination of
which he positively refuses to reveal
to anyone.
Todd Starting
Arthur Todd of Warner Bros. -First
National is under way on initial shots
for the Alan Crosland production,
"The Case of the Howling Dog," with
Warren William and Mary Astor in
the top spots.
Polito and Aid East
Sol Polito, chief cameraman, and
Hans Koenekamp, one of the top boys
of Fred Jackman's department, are en
route to West Point with Director
Frank Borzage, where they will shoot
special material and atmosphere back-
ground shots for the Warner Bros,
production, "Flirtation Walk," to be
directed by Borzage.
Columbia Location Trip
Roy Davidson and Andre Barlatier
getting a swell break with a nice loca-
tion assignment, which takes them by
boat to Mazatlan, where they will
shoot atmospheric background mate-
rial intended for use in the forthcom-
ing Columbia-Milestone production,
"The Captain Hates the Sea." Enzo
Martinelli, assistant cameraman, ac-
companies them.
More Heavy Mail
Another communication from a
Hollywood cameraman in foreign lands
reaches us from Ray Fernstrom, and is
written from Zurich, Switzerland, un-
der date of May eighteenth.
Fernstrom is shooting the Fitzpat-
rick travel talks in the new three-
color Technicolor process for M. G. M.
release.
His assignments include Holland,
Switzerland, England and Ireland on
the present tour.
(NOTE; Each week, sales and serv-
ice representatives of J. E. Brula-
tour, Inc. will ask a number of
cameramen the same question. The
question will be given and then the
answers verbatim.)
QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU CON-
SIDER SHOULD BE THE NEXT
IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN
PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT?
HAL MOHR (Fox) : The most impor-
tant step forward at this time is
unquestionably a completely silent
camera, which will do away with
the cumbersome equipment now in
use.
JOHN ARNOLD (MGM) ; A complete
revamping of the older types of in-
candescent lighting equipment, and
new ideas in lamp construction
seem to me to be very necessary.
Due to the sudden and necessarily
total change from arc to incandes-
cent some years ago, many of our
light units, like Topsy, just grew.
The knowledge gained during the
past seven years should now be em-
bodied in perfected and entirely
new lighting units.
KEN PEACH (Roach) : To me a very
progressive step forward would be
an optical system with greater
depth of focus than we now have
at wide apertures. This would aid
immeasurably in making the com-
plicated traveling and dolly shots,
which now call for many and fast
focus changes.
JOHN STUMAR (Columbia) : A silent
camera .... Oh! How we need it.
VIRGIL MILLER (Paramount): A
silent camera that sacrifices none
of the best attributes of the current
standard equipment is the most de-
sired advancement. This silent
camera must either be blimpless or
weigh a maximum of approximately
100 lbs. A second improvement
that is not far distant is a Zoom
lens that will substitute for the sev-
eral lenses now necessary. This
means present F2 or F2.5 speeds
plus perfect focus at all points. A
perfected Zoom lens would largely
eliminate the unwieldy pernambu-
lator and similar devices for mov-
ing the camera all over the set.
NICK MUSURACA (RKO) : Some de-
vice should be developed to help
the cameraman, who is continually
fighting mike shadows, and who
many times must sacrifice pictorial
quality because of placement of the
mike boom and microphone.
GEORGE SEID (Columbia) : A new
type of lamp that would produce
the minimum amount of leak light
and still have sufficient intensity
would materially aid in reproducing
the photographic values of all sets.
Andriot Resumes
Lucien Andriot swings into another
production at RKO Studios, where
during the past year he has accounted
for some of the most important pic-
tures on the Radio program.
't:ja
\1FTR0-C}0LD';VYN-MAYFR 3TUDI03,
% MR.SAVUEL MARX.
CULVER CITY,CALIr'.
Vol. XXI. No. 23. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, June 5. 1934
PAR. TRUSTEtS l\CCP JOB
Attempts Of Bondholders
To Force Removal Finally
Upset By US. Supreme Court
New .York. — The battle of a group of Paramount-Publix bond-
holders to force the removal of the Paramount trustees in
bankruptcy was finally lost yesterday when the U. S. Supreme
Court refused consideration of their case.
The three trustees, Charles D.
State Welfare Com.
Hops On Warners
•HOLLYWOOD is turning out sorr.e
excellent pictures at the tag end of
this season — a time which, under or-
dinary conditions, would see the pro-
duction of a lot of inferior product.
There are many reasons for this, the
main one being the fact that studio
heads, in their desperation to finish
their programs, are making it much
easier for their producers and permit-
ting them to place stories in produc-
tion that they would have (and did)
frowned on earlier in the season.
Take the case of Charlie Rogers
with his "Great Flirtation," originally
titled "I Loved an Actress," an idea
developed by Gregory Ratoff from in-
cidents in his life. The story was
turned down by almost every studio
in the business. Finally Radio bought
it and later decided it was not worthy
of production. Rogers put in a bid
for it after Paramount had turned it
down on two occasions, and Radio let
him have it. The rest is history.
We have never seen or heard a pre-
j\e\N audience go into such ecstacies
as was the case with "The Great Flir-
tation." It is bound to click and
Rogers should be given the full credit,
as he was the only man in Hollywood
(aside from the author) who saw any
possibilities in the yarn.
And while on the subject of Rog-
ers, we are reminded that he pulled
two other yarns out of the fire in past
years, each of which coined a big
bundle of dough. One was "Millie,"
.vhich was a sensation. BUT, before
it hit the screen, Rogers was laug.hed
at for attempting the production. The
same went for "70,000 Witnesses."
Every studio in town had an oppor-
tunity to grab it, and all cf them
turned it down.
Rogers, because of his work as an
exhibitor, salesman, sales manager,
etc., packs a lot of showmanship that
many producers here lack. Charlie
has the knack of seeing more in a
story than a lot of others, but he has
been handicapped by individuals and
organizations w.ho did not share hiS
views. Probably this new deal he is
cooking up will permit him a greater
use of his showmanship.
NRA Exec Coming to
Straight-en Out Code
Washington. — Donald Renshaw,
liaison officer between the Depart-
ment of Commerce and the NRA,
is on his way to Hollywood to see
what is the trouble with the work-
ing of the motion picture code and
to try to straighten things out. He
IE due there Thursday.
Baring Bros. Kick
About 'Rothschild'
London. — Baring Brothers, interna-
tional bankers, have complained to the
British Board of Censors about al-
leged historical inaccuracies in "The
House of Rothschild." Members of
the Baring family are offended by the
way t.heir ancestors and their company
have been portrayed on the screen.
The Barings claim that, at the time
of the Napoleonic wars, Barings was
a greater firm than the Rothschilds,
although the film indicates that the
opposite is true. They also claim
that the great French Reparation loan
was floated by the Barings and Am-
sterdam bankers, and that the Roth-
schilds wsre not in the deal.
Nat Finston Signs New
Contract at Paramount
Nat Finston's trouble at Paramount
was settled yesterday with the sign-
ing of a new contract for one year,
through the Schulberg, Feldman and
Gurney office.
Finston's ticket gives him full
charge of the Paramount music de-
partment, questions of authority hav-
ing repeatedly prompted him to tender
his resignation.
Hilles, Eugene W. Leake and Charles
E. Richardson, were appointed by Fed-
eral judge William Bondy. The con-
tention of the unsecured bondholders
was that the trustees were not prop-
erly qualified and that their choice
was null and void.
Hilles was opposed on the ground
that he was a director in the Bankers
Trust Company, which is involved in
(Continued on Page 2)
Francis Lederer to
Para.For'Happiness'
Paramount and Radio concluded a
deal yesterday which takes Francis
Lederer to the former studio for the
lead in "Pursuit of Happiness," which
Arthur Hornblow will produce with
Ralph Murphy directing.
No announcement was made as to
the other part of the deal which would
give Radio the rights to Barrie's "Lit-
tle Minister" for Katharine Hepburn.
Selznick Back }une 18
David O.^ -Selznick is expected to
arrive aM^fjM June 18, bringing Fritz
Lang^nd Hugh Walpole here from
irope.
WILLIAM FOX WI^S POIXT
IIV TRI-EHGOJV-PARA. SUIT
U.A. to Handle B.&D.
Pictures Ail Over World
Chicago. — Al Lichtman told the
United Artists convention here that
the company will hereafter distribute
productions of British and Dominions
all over the world.
New York. — William Fox won a
victory yesterday in his American Tri-
Ergon suit against Paramount for an
injunction and accounting on his fly-
wheel patent. The suit, which in-
volves millions, has been dragging
along for months and, last Fall, Judge
Campbell, in the Federal Court in
Brooklyn, ruled against Tri-Ergon.
The opinion ordering the reversal
came from the United States Circuit
Court of Appeals and was written by
Justices Manton and Chase, with Jus-
tice Swan dissenting.
(Continued on Page 3)
Dave Bader Due in N.Y.
New York. — Dave Bader, Univer-
sal's British exploitation man, is due
in New York today from London to
attend the sales convention. It is his
first trip home in three years.
Busby Berkeley and Tenney Wright,
a Warner Brothers' production execu-
tive, will be on the carpet this morn-
ing before the California State Wel-
fare Commission as a result of charges
that they have been working dancing
girls longer than the law permits.
A lot of complaints had been made
by the girls who said they had been
worked more than 17 hours a day.
Last Tuesday morning a representative
of the Welfare Commission called
Wright on the telephone and told him
this would have to stop. Wright is
understood to have said he would stop
It at once, but 100 girls the next day
charged that on Tuesday, instead of
stepping the overwork, the hours had
been jumped from 17 to 23. A sum-
rrons was then sent Berkeley and
Wright.
Frank Mastroly Gets
New Contract at 'U'
Carl Laemmie Jr. yesterday tore up
Frank Mastroly's contract, which still
had a year and a half to go, and
handed him a new two-year ticket at
an increase in salary.
He was assistant to Carl Laemmie
Sr. for a number of years before being
made executive studio manager about
SIX months ago.
'Mank' Signed Up Again
MGM yesterday handed Herman
Mankie^icz a new one-year writing
ticke^^ outbidding the Radio offer of
a Writing and producing contract. He
has just completed his work on the
screen play of "Stamboul Quest."
Lichtman Flying Out
Chicago. — Al Lichtman, general
sales manager for United Artists, who
IS winding up the convention details
•here, will fly to the coast tomorrow
for conferences with Sam Coldwyn.
[
BEN HOLMES oiRECTEr /Tvervthing^Duck
f f
RKO-RadH
f
Page Two
lufflcS, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP . Ltd
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office; Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr, 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193.
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Muraf;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St : Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the' exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
187^.
So once again, Jacob Epstein, fa-
n-ous sculptor, is supposed to be com-
ing to Hollywood "next month" — and
once again, it's supposed to be for the
purpose of sculpting Norma Shearer
and Irving Thalberg. . . . Virginia
Dabney (Warner contract player) is
going to marry a radio announcer any
minute. . . . The Alan Dineharts are
getting to look alike. . . . Mrs. Don
Stewart goes to the hospital tomor-
row for operations on both knee and
nose — and Don has himself an in-
fected foot. . . . Muriel Evans hasn't
been collecting any orchids since Bill
Powell went away on that fishing trip.
. . . Bette Davis, a^^ec husband, back
from the High Sierras.
The Elliott Nugents threw them-
selves a big house-warming Saturday
. . . and the Nunnally Johnsons cock-
tailed for Herbert Asbury, who should
be one of your favorite scribes. . . .
Virginia Bruce, finished with "Jane
Eyre," has reported back at MCM for
more career. . . . Edward Everett Hor-
ton is living in his big mansion with
a lot of mothballs and furniture cov-
ers— the rest of his family having
gone East and "closed up" everything
but his bed-chamber. ... Do you
know what well-known actor (sup-
posedly on his honor with a major
stujo) is off on another bender and
costing the studio plenty again? . . .
The Barney Glazers partied the Gary
Coopers, the Gary Grants, Ernst
Lubitsc.h, Frances Drake, jack Kirk-
land, Jean Negulesco, and others at
'he Ambassador Saturday night.
•
Gregory LaCava and Ketti Gallian
are recovering from some yanked
teeth. . . . Joe Schenck and the Dick
Barthelmesses flew East over the
week-end — Joe goes on to Europe for
some quick business. . . . Lyie Talbot
and Gail Patrick hither and yon to-
gether. . . . Glark Gable is working
with a siege of neuritis. . . . For fhe
first time in years, a certain producer's
wife is battling with him about a cur-
rent indiscretion. . . . Maybe she's
more humiliated because his latest is
such a terrible mess! . . . Aside to
Baron Rothschild: The hand isn't AL-
WAYS quicker than the dye!
"LITTLE MAN. WHAT NOW
Universal prod.; director, Frank Borzage; writers, Hans Fallada,
William Anthony McCuire .
Radio City Music Hall
Herald-Tribune: Simply and effectively the story of two young persons, stmg-
gling for their marriage and their very lives against a hostile world, has
been captured in the motion picture. Under Frank Borzage's astute direc-
tion the full flavor of their hopes, their disillusionments and their dogged
courage comes through, creating that rare Hollywood product, a credible
and unembellished romance. It is in the hands of Mr. Montgomery and
Miss Sullavan that "Little Man, What Now?" achieves its finest quality
of artistic integrity. Their supporting cast is extremely good. For the
most part, William Anthony McCuire has transposed the Fallada novel to
screen terms with considerable fidelity,
Mirror: Universal has made Hans Fallada's splendid novel a film of matchless
beauty and integrity. Frank Borzage, who excels in telling delicate and
simple love stories, directed Margaret Sullavan and Douglass Montgomery,
both young actors of exceptional charm and skill, who played lead rotes,
The screen play was prepared by the sure craftsman, William Anthony
McCuire. The film is touching and inspiring. Borzage has made no finer
film in many seasons.
American: The drab, despondent realism of this German best-seller has been
most effectively camera-captured by that master of pathos, Director Frank
Borzage, and his cast of capable histrionic craftsmen who portray the
characters It is quite a tiny tale, but its strength lies in its utter, unequiv-
ocal simplicity Our hat's off to Director Borzage. He has done a noble job
Post; The picture is rich in a variety of incidents and character studies. There
is humor and pathos and a sustaining courage woven into the pattern.
Frank Borzage, the director, is sure of himself when he wants to bring
tears to the eyes or provoke laughter, but whether or not it is his fau''",
the picture is overburdened with a beginning which is far too long.
Sun: They have made of "Little Man, What Now?" a fine and moving study of
of two young oeople facing a cold, uninterested world. Frank Borzage,
with his understanding of the importance of simple things, directed this
film with tenderness and compassion. Mr. Borzage, who has a wav of
picking just the right people to play the poignant ingenuous roles which
interest him, has assembled an excellent acting cast, headed by Douglass
Montgomery and Margaret Sullavan.
News: "Little Man, What Now?" is a very depressing movie. The atmosphene
if different from the average picture, the backgrounds are well done and
the acting of the cast is excellent. Douglass Montgomery as Hans holds
the center of the screen most of the time Alan Hale gives a superb per-
formance. Catherine Doucet is excellent.
WoHd-Telegram: Much of the bitterness and futility of Hans Fallada's "Litfie
Man, What Now?" has been lost in the novel's transference to the talk-
ing pictures. Even so, the screen version, is a well acted, sincere and
deeply touching little film that provides good entertainment. The direc-
tion by Frank Borzage is generally good and honorably intending The filrn
is well acted and produced.
journal: It's a sombre narrative, enlivened occasionally by Borzage's deft direc-
torial touches. The cast is large and satisfactory, with Alan Hale outstand-
ing in the role of the gross but kind-hearted Jachman.
Seitz Picks Site
ForAmazonTroupe
George B. Seitz made his report
yesterday to Harry Rapf and Ned
Marin about the laughing Indians and
the skin-burrowing mouquins en-
countered in the upper Amazon where
MCM proposes to produce "jungle Red
Man." Seitz got back Saturday, after
flying 7400 miles in five days.
Harold H. Noice. author of the
book, and Joe Cooke, business mana-
ger, are still at Manaos. making prep-
arations for transporting, housing and
feeding the studio troupe expected to
be sent later this year.
A site 500 miles from Manaos, it-
self 1000 miles up the Amazon, has
been selected as ideal because the
burrowing bugs are fewest there and
the temperature is only 90 degrees.
technically. The spot is on the- Col -
ombia-Brazil border
Cliaries Crayson on
Round -the- WorM Triip
P^arles Grayson sailed yesterday on
the Japanese liner Asama Maru for a
trip around the world, having finished
his deal at MCM. The "China Seas"
camera crew, bound for the Orient,
sa led on the same ship.
Grayson has been commissioned to
write a series of travel articles for Es-
quire, following the series by Ernest
Hemingway.
Mikon Brens Arriving
3<Ji+fon Bren ar.d the missus are e^ -
pected home from Honolulu tomorrow
The end of a few weeks vacation from
a^enting.
Talk
i%bout
A:
With An
Edmund Goulding Better
Edmund Gculding, who has been
very ill in New York for the past
three weeks, is on the road to recov-
ery. Hollywood friends heard yester-
day that his temperature is down to
normal for the first time since he
became ill.
Para. Trustees Keep Job
(Continued from Page 1 )
litigation growing cut of Paramount's
affa;rs. Opposition was also voiced
because he was on the J. P. Morgan
preferred list, with other bankers who
handled Paramount financing.
Leake was opposed because he rep-
resents the Chase Bank and is inter-
ested indirectly in Loew's Inc., a Para-
mount competitor. The objection to
Richardson was that he is Chase's rep-
resentative in Fox Film to look after
the Chase investment in that com-
pany.
The fight has been carried on for
a long time by Attorney Samuel Zirn,
but yesterday's court ruling ptits a
quietus on the whole matter.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
■^ S.-;!.->ry - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 fo $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
'U'Conventiofl Tomorrow;
Will Last Three Days
New York. — Universal's sales con-
vention starts tomorrow at Esse*
House and will run throug'h Friday
Carl Laemmie Sr., w.ho is on his wav
from the coast, will arrive in time for
the closing sessions.
The sales force will have a beef-
steak party at the N. Y. Athletic Club
Thursday night.
Expert
\ HAVE spent years im
speciialixing on annuities fw mem-
bers of the motion picture profes-
sion, i can tell you the exact type
of annuity to meet your income,
your plans for the future, yout
immediate needs.
BEFORE you decide on
an annuity, it will be to your ad-
vantage to consult me.
Telephone
HE 3682 Of HO 1168
Benjamin Leven
ANNUITY COUNSELLOR
310 Guaranty Building
6331 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood
iuineS, 1934
lyig
RilPOilTilR
Page Three
fane Loring Made
Radio Co-director
Jane Loring, film editor for
Paramount, moves over to Radio
for a chance to become a director.
She replaces George Nichoils as
co-director with Philip Moeller on
"Age of Innocence."
RADIO'S 'BACHELOR BAIT'
AMUSIIVG ENTERTAINMENT
Erwin, Gallagher,
Hudson, High Spots
"BACHELOR BAIT"
< Radio)
Direction George Stevens
Original Story: Victor and Edward
Halperin.
Screen Play Glenn Tryon
Photography Dave Abel
Cast: Stuart Erwin, Rochelie Hudson,
Skeets Gallagher, Berton Churchill,
Grady Sutton.
A nice, pleasant little comedy that
takes time out every once in a while
to bowl you over completely with sev-
eral hilarious wisecracks, thrown in
amongst the mild humor which is its
general tone. It's homely stuff that
can be generally sold, and is definitely
on the credit side of a progran,.
Starting off with the meek one for-
mula, the meek one succeeds in in-
heriting the earth almost immediately
by opening up a matrimonial agency.
The meek one has managed to pick
up a wise-cracking lawyer to help him
along and also a sweet little gal who
becomes his receptionist. The town
politician tries to buy him out, but he
won't sell because he loves his work.
The politician promises to get even.
but the district attorney steps in first
by sending a detective in the guise
of an oil millionaire to get the goods
on what he thinks is a racket. The
detective is aided by the fact that the
lawyer's ex-wife wants to marry him
herself, whereas the agency head
wants the receptionist to marry him
and the receptionist plays along be-
cause she wants to marry the agency
head.
Well, anyway, circumstantial evi-
dence makes it look like the badger
game and the district attorney raids
the place. BUT the agency head, be-
cause his girl turned him down, sells
the business to the politician first and,
at the end, the head of the agency is
in twenty-f've thousand dollars, gets
his girl and the lawyer goes back to
his wife.
Stu Erwin is, of course, the meek,
mild-mannered agency head and, as
usual, comes flirough with a good
Igitimate performance. Skeets Galla-
gher as the wise-cracking lawyer, has
a role right up his alley and a per-
sonality that makes you want hirr
around much oftener in pictures and
with more to do. Rochelie Hudson is
charmingly lovely as the sweet little
gal, and Grady Sutton as the detec-
tive-millionaire is a .honey. But some-
thing has got to be done about Pert
Kelton. With a voice like that the
gal should be doing pantomime in-
stead of giving imitations of a tough
baby. She's pretty and could be cute
but not working that hard to keep
her voice at the level of a run-down
siren.
The direction is okay in a tough,
job of putting action into a picture
that occasionally talks itself right off
the screen. The writing is plenty
good, but there's an awful lot of it
and a few gags instead of sentences
would have .helped a lot to make the
•picture better.
.A. Going After
Smaller Exhibs
Chicago. — United Artists is not go-
ing to let any prospective customer
escape this year, and will go after big
and little exhibitors alike at the same
time. Heretofore, the company has
net sold the neighborhoods and small
towns until all the big runs had been
sold, and it figures it lost a lot of
money. So, this year, these contracts
.will be picked up at once.
in addition to this announcement at
the convention here, the salesmen
were also told that Darryl Zanuck is
going to make a big musical on his
program. No definite plans are set
for it as yet.
Dickie Moore Set For
Universal and Monogram
Dickie Moore was dated up for two
productions yesterday by the Collier-
Wallis office.
The boy goes into "Tomorrow's
Youth," Charles Lamont's first feature
direction for Monogram, with the stip-
ulation he's through in time to start
June 16 with Adolphe Menjou in
"Human Side" at Universal. Eddie
Buzzell directs the Menjou picture.
Lesser Closes Deal For
Swiss Story, 'Haide'
Sol Lesser's deal for the picture
rights to "Haide," Swiss juvenile story
by Johanna Styri, was completed yes-
terday by his attorney, M. B. Silber-
berg.
Lesser has plenty of time to pick
out the little girl for the name part,
as he doesn't contemplate production
before Fall.
New Ticket- For Yates
Ha! Yates' direction of the first
Irvin Cobb comedy at Roach register-
ed on the contract , list yesterday.
Henry Ginsberg handed Yates a two-
'lesT ticket With the studio.
Lasky |r. to Monogram
Robert Welsh yesterday signed
Jesse Lasky Jr. to do added dialogue
on the Vera Brown novel, "The Red
Head," for Monogram. Betty Bur-
bridge is writing the screen play.
Col. Holds Ann Sothern
Columbia took up Ann Sothern's
option yesterday for another year.
Player is on loan to Goldwyn for the
Cantor picture.
MCM Sales Meetings
New York. — MGM will hold two
regional sales meetings. The first
will be at Cleveland, June 18-19, and
the other at Chicago, June 21-22.
Canavan Probable
New lATSE Head
Louisville, Ky. — The outstanding
feature of the opening yesterday of
the annual lATSE convention here was
the announcement by President Wil-
liam C. Elliott that he will not be a
candidate for re-election. This leaves
the field clear for George Browne, of
Chicago, and William F. Canavan, for-
mer president. Canavan's supporters
claim a majority of the delegates, and
It seems a sure thing that he will be
elected.
The delegates from the Hollywood
Locals filed a protest with the conven-
tion Code Committee requesting a
definite ruling by Sol A. Rosenblatt
on the over-riding provisions of the
code, and a request for a limitation of
hours provision. There are 790 dele-
gates in attendance with a total of
829 votes.
Gloria Stuart Lead
In The Gift of Cab'
Universal yesterday set Gloria Stu-
art to appear opposite Edmund Lowe
in "The Gift of Gab," which Richard
Thorpe puts into work soon.
She became available for the role
when Eddie Buzzell was assigned to
direct "The Human Side" before han-
dling "Transient Lady," in which she
will have the title role.
'All Good Americans'
Goes Into Work at MCM
Edwin L. Marin started direction of
"All Good Americans" at MGM yes-
terdsy.'' Ted Healy and Edward Brc-
^J3hy were late cast additions.
A replica of Lindbergh's "Spirit of
St. Louis," constructed for the pic-
ture, was used in the starting scenes.
Lipman to Schuiberg
Turning in his script on "Ransom,
One Million Dollars" at Universal,
William R. Lipman today rejoins the
B. P. Schulberg-Paramount writing
staff to handle the screen play for an
as yet untitled picture, starring Sylvia
Sidney.
'Zest' For Montgomery
Douglass Montgomery's first picture
on his new long term Universal deal
will be "Zest," the Charles Norris
story which William Wyler will direct.
Doris Anderson is writing the screen
play and B. F. Zeldman will produce
Fox Wins Point
(Continued from Page 1
Counsel for Paramount are now
preparing a petition for a rehearing,
to be presented to the United States
Supreme Court. Leading lawyers
here believe that the Court of Ap-
peals ruling will be again reversed,
pointing out that court history shows
that at least eight out of ten decisions
made by judge Campbell are upheld
in the long run by the highest court.
Joan Crawford is plenty burned
over the stories that .have seen print
on her private theatre. Most of the
stories have given La Crawford a ter-
rific ribbing, which isn't the part that
bothers her, but the fact that she has
been accused of being snooty, high-
hat, etc., because she didn't invite
everybody, is the part that hurts. It's
not that Crawford wants to be ex-
clusive that she hasn't invited people,
but because the gal is just larnin'.
Seems as now the theatre was built
purely for Miss Crawford's own
amazement to learn to act on the
stage. And when Miss Crawford feels
that her acting is good enough to be
seen, she'll be perfectly willing to
have everyone come on over to see
for himself.
Not a bad idea, at that. Critics
take particular delight In tearing a
movie actress to pieces when she de-
cides to do a stage play. Naturally,
the two techniques are different, and
movie training is of very little help.
So, if Crawford thinks she'd ever like
to do a stage play, the gal is smart to
give herself some stage training first.
,And positively altriustic in not forcing
anybody to come to the theatre to
A'atch her practice.
At the time a certain writer took a
forced trip to Europe, he was in the
midst of work at one studio and under
contract at another. While he was
away, there were telegrams and tele-
phone calls galore between the pro-
duction heads of the two studios, each
one "giving" the writer to the other,
and there was plenty of fun tossing
him around, the writer's imminent re-
tun was that little appreciated. Fi-
nally, one day, the production head of
the studio at which he had been
vv'orking received the following tele-
gram from the rival exec: "It's too
'ate. He reported here today and we
HAD to take up his contract. Con-
gratulations, to you."
Our Paris representative, M. Kin-
der, .has been elected an associate
member of the Federation Interna-
Tionale de la Presse Cinematographique
(Film Press Association, to you),
which IS having a time for itself at
the moment fighting possible censor-
ship of newsreels abroad and, at the
same time, trying to suppress any and
all films that might create antagonism
among nations. Which is practically
working at cross purposes, because
the news of the world today shows
no tendency toward brotherly love
among nations.
Latest definition of God's Country:
'Hollywood is the place where noth-
ing succeeds like EXCESS!"
Dorothea Wieck Abroad
Dorothea Wieck left Hollywood
yesterday, England bound, probably to
rake British Gaumont up on its star-
ring offer. She did "Cradle Song"
and "Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen" on
her term with Paramount.
Page four
THg
|une 5. 1934
ii-tcH BROS. AI\INOUI\CE
60 FEATURES FOR SEASOIV
Hammons Seeking
'Names' For Shorts
New York. — Educational will enlist
the biggest "names" it can get for
its program of shorts this coming sea-
son, according to Earle Hammons, who
told the Fox convention that the past
year had shown the wisdom of such
a course.
Production on the new program will
start before July 1, the first picture
being made in the East with Al Chris-
tie directing. The start of Western
production is not decided as yet.
New York. — Warners-First Na-
tional will make sixty features for the
coming season, the same number as
last year, according to the announce-
ment made yesterday by Major Albert
Warner, vice-president of the com-
pany, at the regional convention held
at Atlantic City.
In these pictures will be seen 19
stars and 38 featured players, and
they will enlist the services of 18
directors and 73 writers. The high
spots of the pictures listed are:
"Babbitt," "Anthony Adverse."
"The Magnificent Ambersons," "A
Lost Lady." "Captain Blood," "Oil for
the Lamps of China," "Men Against
Dust." "Firebug," "I'm Back on the
Chain Gang." "Colddiggers of 1935,"
"Sweet Music." "Casino de Paree."
"Big-Hearted Herbert," "Air Devils."
"The Lafayette Escadrille," "Border
Town," "Black Hell," "The Story of
a Country Boy." "Road-House," "War
Lord," "The Cinch." "Sweet Ade-
line," "A Present from Margate,"
"The Case of the Howling Dog," "The
Case of the Serious Bribe" and "Just
Out of College."
The star list comprises Paul Muni,
Joe E. Brown, Barbara Stanwyck, Ruby
Keeler, Warren William, Rudy Vallee,
Kay Francis, Al Jolson. Edward G.
Robinson, Ricardo Cortez, )oan Blon-
dell, Franchot Tone, Bette Davis. Les-
lie Howard, James Cagney, Dick Pow-
ell. Dolores Del Rio, Jean Muir and
Claudette Colbert.
John David Horsley
Picked As New Adonis
Having sent a questionnaire to
4000 women, asking the requisites of
the Nevi/ Deal Adonis, Radio looked
over the Hollywood stock and finally
has selected John David Horsley as the
epitome of the replies.
He is now in "Down to Their Last
Yacht," but wViat permanent effect
the Adonis thing will have is hard to
say.
'Kelly' Starts June 21
With Guy Robertson scheduled to
arrive here June 19 to start his
Monogram contract, Leonard Fields
will get "King Kelly of the U.S.A."
before the cameras two days later to
complete the studio's current program
of 28 pictures. Robertson is now
appearing in a stage play in Chicago.
Beebe on Screen Play
Ford Beebe has gone in to complete
Adele Buffmgton's screen play for
"Along Came A Woman." which will
be Mascot's first feature on its pro-
gram.
New Title For Short
Radio yesterday set "Flying Down
to Zero" as the release title on the
second of the Clark and McCullough
series of shorts which Lee Marcus is
producing.
Kahn on 'Caravan'
Cus Kahn has been signed by Fox to
collaborate with Werner Richard Hey-
mann on the music for "Caravan." the
Erik Charelt c>roduction.: ■•
Cycle of Munitions
Stories Coming Along
Hollywood is in for a cycle of stor-
ies exposing the munitions racket,
mainly inspired by the recent Fortune
Magazine article which drew attention
to that type of story.
Warners has announced a Robert
Lord original, "War Lord." Pandro
Berman will announce in a day or two
the purchase of an original by Larry
Bachmann, also entitled "War Lord,"
and Paramount is dickering for an un-
titled story dealing with the same sub-
ject.
Nicholson Will Adapt
'Twenty Hours by Air'
• New York. — Paramount has signed
Kenyon Nicholson, co-author of th
play, "Sailor Beware," to write the
adaptation of "Twenty Hours by Air."
Incidentally, Paramount is releasing
this week a short called "Sailor Be-
ware," which features Walter Catlett
and Eugene Pallette.
Ruth Donnelly Loaned
For 'Romance in Rain'
Universal yesterday borrowed Ruth
Donnelly from Warners for a spot in
"Romance in the Rain," which Stu-
art Walker puts into work Thursday
from a script by Barry Trivers.
Victor Moore arrived by train from
New York Sunday to start in the pic-
ture.
'Melodies' in Color
Leon Schlesinger yesterday closed
a deal with Dr. Herbert Kalmus, of
Technicolor, to produce the complete
series of 1 3 Merry Melodies cartoons
on the 1934-35 Warner schedule in
color. The producer will continue to
deliver the Looney Tunes in black and
w.h i te .
Carr Signs Miljan
Trem Carr, vice-president in charge
of production for Monogram, yesterday
signed John Miljan for a top spot in
"Tomorrow's Youth," which will be
Charles Lament's first feature direct-
ing assignment.
Tiffany Thayer East
JPiffany Thayer leaves tomorrow by
automobile for a month's vacation in
New York. While there, he will set
the publication of his newest novel,
as yet untitled. He recently com-
pleted a one-picture deal at MCM.
Georges Renavent to "The Green
Hat," MGM, through Lewis J. Deuser.
Rafael OtHano to "The Lost Lady,"
Warners, by Collier and Wallis
Ferdinand Cattschalk to "The No-
torious Sophie Lang," Paramount, by
Collier and Wallis.
Claude King to "Moonstone," Mon-
ogram.
Carmencifa )ohns«n to Paramount
for "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch."
Lynne Overman to "You Belong to
Me," Paramount.
George Meeker to MCM for "All
Good Americans," by Beyer-MacAr-
thur.
'Flirtation Walk'
Company Goes East
Warners yesterday took Ross Alex-
ander's contract, which still had three
weeks to go, from MCM and imme-
diately assigned him to "Flirtation
Walk."
He left for West Point last night
by train with the balance of the cast
including Pat O'Brien. Henry O'Neill.
John Eldridge, John Arledge and Glen
Bcles.
Anne Renova With Joy
Anne 'Renova, who has been con-
ducpng her own agency in Beverly
XIs, has become an associate of the
y Joy office and will handle sto-
ries, writers and directors.
Tipt"oes' First- For
Novarro and Laye
Oscar Hammerstein's first writing
assignnjent for MCM, the co-starring
mu^K^I for Ramon Novarro and Eve-
,,>fn Laye, will be "Tiptoes," witfi a
German ballet company for back-
ground.
Dudley Murpihy will handle direc-
tion, with Harry Rapf supervising.
The original by Vicki Baum has been
turned over to Hammerstein to pre-
pare screen story and libretto.
"Her Excellency's Tobacco Shop,"
the other musical preparing for No-
varro, and possibly for Evelyn Laye,
gees back indefinitely.
Terrace Room Opens
At Miramar Thursday
The Terrace Room of the Miramar
Hotel in Santa Monica will have its
gala Summer opening next Thursday
evening when screen and social celeb-
rities will gather to honor the arrival
of Kay Kyser and his orchestra. Kyser
will be assisted at the opening by
Eadie Adams, songstress, and Dorothy
Cochran, dancer.
Several screen stars will also ap-
pear, notably Russ Columbo, June
Knight and Lois January.
y^e
Buffington to 'U'
Adele Buffington moved in at Uni-
rsal yesterday to do the script on
her story, "They Didn't Want Love,"
Leu Ostrow's first production for Uni-
versal. Both the writing job and the
original story were sold by Lewis J.
Deuser agency.
NOTICE
TO EXHIBITORS
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES
inc.
ROMANCE PRODUCTIONS "
ANNOUNCES
That Bookings on the Chapter-Play
"YOUNG EAGLES"
May Now Be Made Through the Following Distributors
Throughout the East
FIRST DIVISION EXCHANGES. Inc.
1270 6th Ave., NtW YORK CrTY
Security Pictures CorporatJon
1304 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago. I
Premier Pictures Corporation
3214 Olive St., St. Louis. Mo.
Majestic Pictures Corporation
Majestic Pictures Corporation
Film Exchange BIdg., Dallas, Texas
Consolidated Film Distributors, Inc.
'30 W 18th St. Kansas City, Mo.
Principal Pictures Exchanges
706 W.Crand Av., Oklaham i City, Okla. 1906 S. Vermont, Los Angeles. Calif.
Far West Exchanges
221 Golden Gate Ave.. San Francisco. Calif.
The Sheffield Exchange System, Inc.
2417 2nd Ave., Seattle, Wash.
925 N. W. 19th St., Portland. Ore.
252 East 1st St.. Salt Lake City. Utah
2075 Broadway. Oenvsr, Colo.
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tjerr'e 'nQidens-corne'y 9ueens
BR OCK
COCVC^^tO
CAVALIER
MARK
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to Wad"
HOLMES
"COCKEYBD
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Aoolr'ONAL
COCVCi>(tO
Management Beyer & MacArthur
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PHO^O^RAPHeO BY
DAVIO ABBL
PROCESS 4 A/0 f'ipf^c''s
MUsiC ^^d Lyi^lCs by
W ILL JASON
Hollywood Reiwrtw:
"One song is a knockout,
The Big BadWolf is Dead'."
Variety :
" 'I'd Like To Diliy Dallv
With Yo.j' !S a second song
hit."
./,
Page Ten
THg
JimeS. 1934
•I.\IIECE]^T FILMS' FIGHT
HITS I]\DIAN'S THEATRES
Harry Rapf s Son
Wins College Honor
The campaign against IjIndeSency"
in motion pictures has reached as fa^
as the tneatres in India, One of the
leading Catholic publications of the
United States has this to say about
conditions in that Far Eastern coun-
try:
"While we here in the Unitied
States are considering ways and means
of dealing with the menace of the
movies, evidence is coming to jys con-
tinually of an aroused spirit abroad
against the films Hollywood is send-
ing throughout the world. For in-
stance, from Calcutta, India, we get
the news that the co-operation of the
Catholic press in eradicating vicious
films from Indian cinema houses has
been welcomed by Baijnat.h Bajoria,
prominent non-Christian leader of the
Marwari Association in Calcutta. He
has suggested closer relations between
non-Christians and Catholic associa-
tions to remedy moral evils which are
repugnant to all communities.
" 'There can be no question that
Indians take not only their impres-
sions of western civilization from the
cinema,' said Mr. Bajoria, 'but many
also take their impression of Christian
morality from the cinema. Western
films discredit Christianity in the eyes
of the people of India, and it is a
definite duty for Catholics to ally
themselves with other public bodies
which are working to cleanse cinema
houses of this great evil.'
"A similar condemnation has corrie
from another non-Christian, President
Rai Bahadur Ramdev Chokhani, of
Marwari Association, who denounced
many films as revolting to Indian
ideas of decency and morality. He
declared that 'the morals of a people
are of greater value than an industry,
and the film industry must not be al-
lowed to prosper at the expense of
our boys and girls.' Both men at-
tacked the indecent posters exposed
in prominent places to advertise films.
"More than two years ago, Lord
Irwin, former Viceroy of India, in an
address delivered in London, said that
the white man had lost great pres-
tige in the East, and especially in
India, because of indecent films from
Europe and America.
"More recently, a prominent In-
dian, after viewing a foreign film, re-
marked: 'I am an Indian, I suppose
ivhat you white people would call a
nigger. I am unacquainted with other
sides of western civilization, but what
I have seen tonight and on numerous
other occasions in places such as these,
convinces me that the ordinary middle
classes of England and America are
the most debased and immoral crea-
tures any race or nation has ever pro-
duced.' "
Hide-out' Startmg
W. S. Van Dyke, Robert Montgom-
ery and company entrain for Santa
Cruz Thursday to start shooting on
"Hide-out." They're doing the lo-
cation shots first.
JuKhXTi Rapf heard from Dartmouth
.y^yesterday that his son, Maurice Rapf,
*. ha.d won the award ^or^^S^nfmg and
directing the best play of the year
at the college. Title of the prize
playlet is "Delinquency."
Young-' Rapf Sails for England next
week with Buddy Schulbferg, son of
the Paramount producer, for some dra-
matic activities. Later this Summer
they go with ether students for a
dramatic course at the Moscow Insti-
tute.
Norton, Pitts and Crier
On HaEI af Fame Hour
Edward Everett Horton, Zasu Pitts,
and Jimmy Crier and his orchestra get
the top billing on the next Hall of
Fame broadcast Sunday over the NBC
network.
Crier and his band also broadcast
with Jack Benny Friday over the Gen-
eral Tire program via the same net-
work.
Car! Buss With Para.
Carl A. Buss, for several years s
iacTTo~^crTbe in Chicago for the NBC
programs, was given a film script as-
signment yesterday by Paramount, He
goes on "Wagon W.heeis," the first
ci the Westerns to feature Randolph
Scott, and teams with Charles Logue
find Jack Cunningham.
Whitford Kane to MOM
Vv/hitford Kane, New York charac-
ter actor, reached Hollywood yesterday
and reports to MGM for a role in
"Hideout." The Small-Landau office
brought him to the coast in conjunc-
tion with Jane Broder.
Rivkin on GuiEd Board
Allen Rivkin has been elected to
the executive committee of the Screen
Writers' Guild to replace Oliver H. P.
Garrett. The latter is now on his way
io Europe.
Fox After Wylie Novell
Fox is negotiating with Philip Wylie
for the purchase of his novel, "Dgad
Men Tell." The studio plans to use
ir~ as ■ ah Edmund Lowe and Victor
McLaglen vehicle.
Craven to Universal
Frank Craven was signed by Uni-
versal yesterday to work on the screen
play of "Human Side", under Eph
Asher's supervision. The William
Morris office set the deal.
Worker Starts at Para.
"You Belong to Me" was started
into production for Paramount by Al
Werker yesterday with a location visit
backstage in the Mason Theatre,
downtown.
Dorfman Will Try Out
New Play This Summer
New York. — "Errant Lady," a new
play by Nat Dorfman, will be produced
this Summer by S. M. Chartock, who
recently Staged the Gilbert and Sulli-
van revivals here.
The play will be put on first by
the Elverhoj Players, with Spring By-
ington in the lead and Sidney Salkow
directing, and will come to Broadway
in the Fall.
Ewerks at Production
Peak With Five in Work
With five animated cartoons m
work, Animated Pictures studio is at
production peak. Two of these, fea-
turing "Willie W.hopper," are "The
Cave Man" and "Jungle Jitters."
The other three are "ComiColor"
subjects and include "The Queen of
Hearts," "Aladdin and His Lamp" and
"The Headless Horseman."
No!l Curney to London
Noll Gurney leaves today on a trip
to London. The Schulberg-Feldman
partner will stop off for a visit at the
Tom Cravens' home at Great Neck,
Long Island, before sailing on fhe
Lafayette, June 14.
Hal Roach Returns
Hal Roach flew in from his Alaskan
vacation yesterday afternoon, report-
ing he shot two grizzlies and four
black bears. Mrs. Roach continues
with the yachting party down the
coast and gets in Friday morning.
rs. Kinney Can't
Be Forced to Quit i
Friends of M's. Klebel Kinney, j
chairman of the Code Committee for ''
Extras, believe there is a definite move i
on foot to force her to resign, but also
say she will not do so.
They declare that the effort is being
made through the Code Authority
and allege that for weeks that bod>
has been curbing Mrs. Kinney by vari-
ous and sundry methods until most of
her authority has been taken away.
The most drastic move, they say, was
an order recently instructing her that
from now on she must not communi-
cate directly with Sol Rosenblatt, but
must send her squawks, if she has
any, through the Code Authority so
it may get first information regard-
ing them.
Wilcox Arriving Today
New York. — Herbert Wilcox, of
British and Dominions, arrives here
today from London, but Herbert
Marsh, of the same company, who was
to have accompanied him, postponed
his sailing.
Bioch-Seaton Teamed
Arthur Bloch and George Seaton
were assigned yesterday to work on
the screen play of "Broadway Melody
of 1934" at MGM.
Mae Murray to Stage
New York. — Mae Murray steps in-
to the cast of "The Milky Way" at
the Cort Theatre next Monday, taking
over the role of Anne.
Sam Marx Father Here Herman With Rowland
Max Marx, father of Sam and Bert,
arrived yesterday for a visit with his
sons. He is at the home of the MGM
scenario chief.
Al Herman steps out of independent
production to become production
manager for the William Rowland unit
at Columbia.
INTEGRITY
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.... no disputing the ancient "weighing
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I
b.
he
REPORTER
IS
GROWING
From Jan. 1 to June 1 1333
The Reporter Published
From Jan. 1 to June 1, 1934
The Reporter Published
394
551
Pages of
Advertising
Pages of
Advertising
An Increase of
40 Percent
and More Proof that it is the Fastest
Growing Publication in the Motion
Picture Industry.
vlFTRO -GOLD'^VYN-WAYFR 3TUDI03,
% MR.SAr;UEL MAPX,
CULVER OITY.CALIr'.
Vol. XXI, No. 24. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday, )une 6, 1934
WAI^NEI^S-EI^PI SETTLE
Cash Payment Of S5,000,000
Washes Up Royalty Suit That
Has Been Dragging For Years
•THE picture industry in the United
States is not having a monopoly of the
troubles over double bills, indecent
pictures, censorship, etc., by any
means. Yesterday Rafael Calderon,
who operates a chain of 21 theatres
in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico,
dropped in at this office. He is in
Los Angeles buying equipment for a
new production venture in Mexico in
which he is interested. It is his opin-
ion that the exhibitor in this country
is to be congratulated. He doesn't
have nearly as many worries as his
Mexican brother.
"The double feature problem
doesn't trouble me," he said, "because
I never have run duals in any of my
theatres. But conditions in the city
of Mexico are terrible. Practically
every theatre runs double bills. It is
all the fault of the American distribu-
tor. He forces so many pictures on
the exhibitor that they must be play-
ed. But they don't get away with
that outside the city.
•
"There is a very determined fight
on in Mexico against indecent films.
Of course, there is a Federal censor-
ship. After a film is passed for the
theatres in Mexico City, that version
is set for the entire country. But a
lot of people think the censorship is
not severe enough, that too much lee-
way is given immorality. The Catho-
lic Church, and especially the women
of that church, are taking the matter
into their own hands. This organi-
zation of women within the church
publishes a weekly bulletin, in which
it tells parents what pictures are good
for their children to see and what are
not. The effect has been amazing."
Senor Calderon was extremely com-
plimentary to the Reporter for its
attitude on both the double bill ques-
tion and the subject of indecency.
•
"Every exhibitor in Mexico knows
the Reporter's views," he said, "be-
cause I have every editorial on either
of those topics translated into Spanish
and send them out as circulars to
every exhibitor. The Reporter is do-
ing more to .help the fight against
double features than any other force.
"We are going to launch a fight
against the unfairness of the distribu-
tors at the big convention in July and
I will be there with my scrap book full
of Reporter editorials."
Para. New Deal Ready
But Sfill a Secret
New York. — The plan for the
reorganization of Paramount-Pub-
lix has been completed, but no an-
nouncement about it has been
made public as yet. Adolph Zukor,
who has been sitting in on the final
conferences, leaves for Hollywood
next Wednesday for the rest of the
Summer.
New York. — The legal battle between Warner Brothers and
Erpi, which has been in and out of the courts for a long time, has
finally been definitely settled by the cash payment to Warners
of $5,000,000.
Cardinal Enlists in
War on Film Smut
Chicago. — ^Cardinal Mundelein yes-
terday took a hand in the war that
the Catholic Church is waging against
indecent motion pictures and which
has now become nation-wide.
The Cardinal issued a long state-
ment, charging that the picture pro-
ducers .have broken faith with the
public with regard to the moral tone
of films. He pointed out that the
Catholic Church has spent millions to
"mold solid character in children,"
and that it cannot stand idly by and
see them subjected to immoral pic-
tures.
Selznick and Cukor
Leave England Today
London. — David Selznick, George
Cukor, Howard Estabrook, Hugh Wal-
pole and Fritz Lang sail for New York
on • the lie de France today, arriving
there next Tuesday.
Hayward Flying Back
New York. — Leiand Hayward, who
has been in New York for several
days, is flying back to the coast today.
The battle started with the arrival
of sound in pictures. Warners pio-
neered in sound and, as a result, sev-
eral agreements were made between
that firm and Western Electric where-
by Warners would get a share of the
profits. All these agreements were
broken and, finally, it was agreed that
Warners should have seven per cent
of the gross of every sound picture.
Later Erpi contended that it could
not pay this amount because the other
(Continued on Page 7)
Sam Coldwyn Faces
Heavy Loss on 'Nana'
New York. — Sam Coldwyn is prob-
ably going to be forced to take a
heavy loss on the Anna Sten picture,
"Nana."
The audiences in spots where it
has been shown have not been en-
thusiastic about it, and the church
people and reformers have fought it
tooth and nail.
Leisen Back at Para.
Mitchell Leisen returned yesterday
to Paramount after four weeks in
Honolulu. He directs "Ready For
Love," with Richard Arlen and Fda
Lupino.
XEW AGEXCY COM. DEFIES
CODE ArTHORITY ORDER
The Hollywood Film Code Agency John Paddy Carstairs
Committee took a direct slap at the — , . k j/^u \xg •«,
Code Authority yesterday when it re- lO JOin MUM WriTerS
fused to accept as its permanent sec- ^.^ohn Paddy Carstairs was announced
retary. Major Joseph O. Donovan, who^^esterday by MCM as having signed a
had been appointed to that position long term contract in London as a
by the Code Authority. member of the studio writing staff.
The members of the committee
took the stand that they have the
right to select their own secretary,
and that they are responsible to the
Deputy Administrator and not to the
Code Authority. So, last night, the
committee sent a telegram to Sol A.
Rosenblatt, asking him for a ruling on
(Continued on Page 6)
Carstairs arrives here shortly to take
up the deal.
New Term For Nicholls
Radio yesterday exercised its option
on George Nicholls' contract. The di-
rector, who went off the co-direction
of "Age of Innocence," will get a solo
assignment.
Raw Stock Makers
May Hog Lab Field
Washington. — A serious battle is
brewing over the plan of the raw stock
giants to dominate the motion picture
laboratory field. It is reported here
that one of the big companies has
gone to the extent of offering free
developing and printing service and, if
this bid is successful in attracting the
business of the majors and indepen-
dents, the small laboratory men will
either be put out of business or forced
to align themselves with the raw stock
manufacturers.
The idea of the new plan is to
strike now, while the laboratories are
unable to get together on the code of
fair competition and are in a generally
upset state.
Fox-Caumont Releasing
Deal Thought To Be Off
New York. — It is believed in film
circles here that the distributing ar-
rangements between Fox and British
Gaumont have been broken off, as
Sidney Kent, in announcing the sea-
son's product at the Fox convention,
made no mention of any Gaumont re-
leases.
'The Good Fairy' Next
For Margaret Sullavan
New York. — Ferenc Molnar's "The
Good Fairy" will be the next starring
picture for Margaret Sullavan at Uni-
versal.
Her second picture for the new
season's program will be announced at
the Universal convention Friday.
'Scarlet Letter' Done
Robert Vignola yesterday brought in
"The Scarlet Letter," with Colleen
Moore, Hardie Albright and Henry B.
Walthall in the leads, on schedule. It
is the first Larry Darmour picture for
Majestic.
EDWARD CHODORQV sc?eefpilv "Madame DuBarr
\
Page Two
June 6, 1934
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
187^.
Latest from the Coldwyn front: On
the golf course the other day a cou-
ple of pals were discussing wifh Sam
the effects of a recent lawsuit upon
the head of a big studio. It seems
the producer in question was taken
for a big legal ride and got the worst
of It.
"It just goes to show you — " said
Coldwyn. "If you do wrong, you're
bound to come out in the end!" (!?)
We're hysterical over what hap-
pened to a young director at a major
studio a few weeks ago, after he had
completed a musical-mystery for them,
and decided that he was entitled to
a raise. He'd been getting three hun-
dred a week and thought he was en-
titled to five, so he took himself into
the head man's office to demand it.
He had hardly entered the door, when
the giant-brain of the organization
exclaimed: "Now — I know what
you're here for! Don't say a word!
We're tearing up your old deal and
giving you a new contract for a thous-
and a week!" P.S. — The director is
very satisfied and happy!
Someone should really tell a visit-
ing nobleman that he can use his
hands for talking or something besides
making himself thoroughly obnoxious
everywhere he goes. We really
wouldn't mention this again, except
that we've had so many "complaints."
This fellow, influential and wealthy
though he is, is not exactly good news
to any of the femmes he has met
while in Hollywood. He follows every
introduction (and there have been
plenty of them) to a female star, with
a lot of plain and fancy pawing — and,
so far as we gather, not one of the
pawed ones has enjoyed it! The only
time he has met any local females
that he hasn't "reached for" was at
a dinner party at a famous comedian's
home — and that night the royal party
had his own lady of the evening with
him!
Twentieth Century prod.
Post
Sun:
"BORN TO BE BAD '
director, Lowell Sherman; writers, Ralph Craves,
Harrison Jacobs.
Rivoli Theatre
Mirror: It is well directed, ably played, dressy and moderately diverting. The
star's supporting cast is an able one.
American: This one simply doesn't make the grade. The beauty of Loretta
Young, the appeal of Cary Crant, the ability of young Jackie Kelk, the
comedy of Harry Green, the directorial capacity of Lowell Sherman, all
are wasted on a hodge-podge story that makes a higgledy-piggledy pic-
ture w.hich never even achieves mediocrity.
Not in a long while has so muddled and absurd a picture come to one of
the better Broadway houses as this "Born To Be Bad."
The picture starts out well enough, with the promise of originality and
even a serious character study. That promise dies early. It is, although
expertly told and photographed up to a certain point, twaddle, and rather
unpleasant twaddle at that.
Times: Ralph Craves, who has given several fairly interesting performances in
motion pictures, is responsible for the narrative of "Born To Be Bad."
If this opus is any criterion of Mr. Graves' literary skill, he is scarcely to
be congratulated on having temporarily abandoned his acting. It is a
hopelessly unintelligent hodgepodge.
News: Even without Loretta's great beauty, "Born To Be Bad" is a picture to
be seen, for the tale it unfolds and for the amazing talents therein dis-
played of young Jackie Kelk, child actor extraordinary. Lowell Sherman
has kept it from going maudlin by handling his materials lightly and in-
jecting a judicious amount of comedy.
World-Telegram: A quite calamitous melodrama entitled "Born To Be Bad"
contains some of the saddest and sometimes most unbearable characters,
as well as the most feeble and unreal dialogue imaginable.
Journal: Eight-year-old Jackie Kelk, tough little imp, is a tremendously amusing
child, a refreshing change from sweet little boy actors, A convincing
trouper, he shares honors with Miss Young.
Herald-Tribune: "Born To Be Bad" is a lively and colorful melodrama sbout
mother love. W.hile Ralph Craves (the actor turned authorl cannot lay
too great a claim to originality in his little epic, he at least has given us
one screen mother's love unaccompanied by the usual stickiness and cloy-
ing artifice. Miss Young gives really a very good performance as a bad
heroine.
jean Muir's Wardrobe
Holds Up Mayo's Picture
Because Jean Muir has to have
twenty gowns designed for her for the
picture, and because George Brent is
still working on "Stamboul Quest" at
Metro, Warners yesterday set back
the starting date of "The Lady Sur-
renders" to June 15, Archie Mayo di-
rects.
It will be Miss Muir's first dress-up
opportunity, she having been on the
farm for two pictures, and a nurse and
an aviatrix in two others. Her "Lady
Surrenders" wardrobe is being design-
ed by Orry-Kelly,
'Broadway Biir Start
Columbia yesterday signed Osgood
Perkins, Margaret Hamilton and Clar-
ence Muse for the cast of "Broadway
Bill," which is headed by Warner
Baxter. Frank Capra, w.ho directs,
puts the picture into work on loca-
tion at Tanforan racetrack next Mon-
day.
'Fun on the Air' Starts
The Joe Cook picture, "Fun on the
Air," went into production at the
Fox lot yesterday, with Eddie Suther-
land directing. Jack Pine, brother of
Virginia, is his assistant.
Cable Gets New Agent
Clark Cable yesterday signed a
managerial contract with Berg, Steb-
bins, Allenberg and Blum.
Crosby Donates Cups
Bing Crosby donated two cups yes-
terday to Occidental College for the
annual golf match. The player made
the presentation in appreciation of the
co-operation the school gave the "She
Loves Me Not" company during the
making of the picture.
BODYGUARD
EXPERIENCED
Unencumbered man, 29 years,
college educated and capable
secretary. Complete wardrobe.
Box 275, care Reporter, or
Phone Hollywood 3957
Baby Stars Going to
Big Shrine Meet
The 1 3 Wampas Baby Stars and 1 3
other name players, including Harold
Lloyd, who will be grand marshal,
leave June 15 for Minneapolis to at-
tend the sixtieth Shrine convention
there, June 19-21. The Wampas will
present the Baby Stars in their first
public appearance June 20 at the
Electrical Pageant and Wampas Frolic
in the Civic Auditroium. Leroy Prinz,
Paramount dance director, is in charge
of staging the presentation and enter-
tainment.
Phil Cersdorf and Wilson Heller
leave here tomorrow to confer with
Shrine and civic officials who will
meet the Hollywood delegation on
arrival in Minneapolis, June 19. Lew
Marin and Mark Larkin will be the
official Wampas escorts for the party.
The organization is negotiating with
World Fair officials for a week's ap-
pearance of the Baby Stars there im-
mediately following the convention.
Ostrow Signs Crapewin
And Cets His Writings
Lou Ostrow yesterday signed Charles
Crapewin to a long term personal con-
tract as both a player and writer and,
at the same time, acquired the rights
to his literary works. He is now writ-
ing "Top Sail," which Ostrow will pro-
duce in the Fall as a picture and later,
probably, as a play.
Solow With Warners
Warners yesterday signed Eugene
SoIgw to write the screen play and
dialogue on "Just Out of College,"
an original by Robert Lee Johnson. He
recently completed his original, "The
Lost American," for Universal. The
Warner deal was negotiated by Jules
Schermer, of the Nat Goldstone
agency.
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June 6, 1934
Page Three
HERE COMES THE GROOM'
PROVIDES LOT OF LAUGHS
mnoii
Jack Haley Best In
Fast-Moving Farce
"HERE COMES THE GROOM"
(Paramount)
Direction Edward Sedgwick
Original Story Richard Flournoy
Screen Play: Leonard Praskins and
Casey Robinson.
Music Cordon and Revel
Photography Henry Sharp
Cast: Jack Haley, Neil Hamilton, Mary
Boland, Isabel Jewell, Patricia Ellis,
Lawrence Cray, Sidney Toler, E. H.
Calvert.
It's an all right comedy, made bet-
ter in its brighter moments by the
presence of Jack Haley and Mary Bo-
land. The main advantage of a pic-
ture like this is that it is decidedly a
good starting point from which to
build Jack Haley to stardom for the
fans, and there is no reason to doubt
the fact that the fans will appreciate
the build-up.
The plot has been fas.hioned with
perforated paper, which doesn't really
matter in a comedy that is mostly
farce. Jack Haley, as Mike Scanlon,
gets himself wanted by the police to
please his girl-friend, and finds him-
self captured by an heiress, who has
been jilted by her crooner-husband
whom she married to spite the man
she really loved. When Haley and 'his
"wife-in-name-only" reach home,
who should be a servant in the house
but the girl friend. The girl friend is
there to steal a rope of pearls, which
she does. The real husband shows up
and is promptly mistaken for the fugi-
tive Mike Scanlon. There is a chase
finish in which Scanlon and the girl-
friend .have to find the pearls in order
to give them back so's Mike can go
straight and be a piccolo player in a
symphony orchestra. The crooner is
forgotten but nobody cares.
When Edward Sedgwick gets into
directing the almost-slapstick gags,
the going is great and the laughs sus-
tained. In the merely comedy se-
quences where the lines should pro-
vide the laughs, Mr. Sedgwick doesn't
fare so well. And the lines, capitally
written by Leonard Praskins and Casey
Robinson, certainly deserved better
direction.
Jack Haley and Mary Boland do a
swell job of keeping up the interest
right throug.h the picture. Boland is a
tried and true trouper, and Haley
ought to be rewarded any minute now
with material that will lift part of the
burden off his shoulders. He's a grand
picture bet. Isabel Jewell, Neil Ham-
ilton and Sidney Toler are more than
competent in the supporting cast, but
why Miss Ellis should be the center
of interest in a picture is something
else again.
The photography is okay, but we
wish someone would remember that
simplicity and elegance go pretty much
together, and it isn't necessary to
show a wealthy home with a small
budget by cluttering up the rooms
with |unk, even if a vase is necessary
for breakage.
French Exhibs Kick
At Tax on U.S. Films
Paris. — The motion picture ex-
hibitors of Lyons yesterday sent a
protest to the government against
the proposed tariff which would
impose a tax of $16,470 on a
10,000-foot foreign film. The tax,
they say, will close all provincial
theatres and throw 40,000 persons
Out of work. The tariff is aimed
mainly at American pictures.
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — Broadway gets its
usual quota of new pictures this week,
seven being announced for the big
theatres. The list comprises:
"Are We Civilized?" at the Rivoli
today; "Sisters Under the Skin" at
the Music Hall, and "Fog Over Frisco"
at the Strand tomorrow; "Many Happy
Returns" at the Paramount, "Men in
White" at the Capitol, "Such Women
Are Dangerous" at the Roxy, and
"World in Revolt" at the Rialto Fri-
day.
Gary Cooper Will Star
In Para. Dog Picture
Paramount will make a dog epic and
yesterday closed for the purchase of
"If You Hunt With Old Don," by
Thomas F. West.
Gary Cooper is slated to star in it
and a plan is being drawn up to get
the country's leading dog fanciers and
the field and hunting clubs to lend
their aid to the production. Earl J.
Haley is writing the screen play under
Louis Lighton's supervision.
Fox Will Star Dunn in
'Song and Dance Man'
New York. — Fox Film has boug,ht
the screen rights to George M. Co-
han's famous play, "The Song and
Dance Man," and intends to star Jim-
my Dunn in it. Dunn left here by plane
yesterday for the coast.
Overman to Columbia
Columbia has put through a deal
with Paramount for the loan of Lynne
Overman for one of the top spots in
"Broadway Bill," the Frank Capra pic-
ture, which will have Warner Baxter
in the leading assignment.
'Moonstone' Starts
Reginald Barker put "Moonstone"
into production for Monogram yester-
day. David Manners has the lead.
Adele Buffington scripted the mystery
novel by Wilkie Collins.
Robinson To Rogers
Casey Robinson has gone over to
Charles R. Rogers to work on the
script of "McFadden's Flats," after
completing an original at Warners.
The farce will be one of the first for
Rogers on his new deal.
Vallee Won't Come
West to Make Pic
Rudy Vallee has balked on his
Warner contract, refusing to come to
California to star in "Sweet Music,"
because California is the home of Mrs.
Vallee and a lot of laws giving an
aggrieved wife half .her husband's in-
come.
Unless Warners arranges to make
Jerry Wald's musical original in the
East, some one else must be found for
the top spot if it is to beat "Sweet
Adeline" into production, as seems
likely. Carl Erickson and Jerry Wald
are scripting the picture, previously
referred to as "Say It With Music."
Bess Meredyth to Write
Arliss' British Script
Bess Meredyth, having finished
work on "The Red Cat" for Twenti-
eth Century, the picture that will star
Connie Bennett and Fredric March,
leaves for London Thursday.
Miss Meredyth will write the screen
play for the George Arliss British pic-
ture which will be released by United
Artists in this country, by arrange-
ment just completed by Joe Schenck.
'Moon Mullins' May
Be Star at Universal
Carl Laemmie Jr. is a Moon Mullins
fan, and if Frank Willard, who draws
the banjo-eyed comedian, approves
some modifications suggested in the
Universal contract for picturization of
the syndicate character, it will be a
picture under Edmund Grainger's su-
pervision.
The contract is on the way to Chi-
cago for Willard's okay.
New Story For Ostrow
One of the stories contemplated for
production by Lou Ostrow on his in-
dependent deal with Universal is
"Lawless Lady," from L. G. Bloch-
man's original, "Mile. d'Armentieres."
Blochman completed the story several
months ago. It has French locale, but
is not a war story.
'Howling Dog' Delayed
"The Case of the Howling Dog" is
another Warner June number that
goes over to July, Warren William is
busy with "The Dragon Murder Case,"
and Mary Astor is on loan to Radio for
"By Your Leave,"
Mack on 'China Seas'
Willard Mack was engaged by Irv-
ing Thalberg at MCM yesterday to
write the dialogue for "China Seas,"
the Clark Cable-Jean Harlow produc-
tion which Tay Garnett directs.
Baby LeRoy's Air Debut
Baby LeRoy makes his first radio
broadcast Sunday over the CBS net-
work on the "Hollywood on the Air"
program.
'Sure Fire' For Raymond
New York. — A story titled "Sure
Fire" is set as the next picture for
Gene Raymond at Columbia.
lAi I cix:^
bif fiekn {jwqnn
There are times when we think it
would be a boon to Hollywood to have
a special type of agent to keep "pic-
ture stealers" in their place as picture
stealers, and refuse to allow them to
do anything else. Not that we don't
think they deserve to make as much
money as the next fellow, but it
strikes us that t.hey are worth even
more to the industry as picture steal-
ers than they are as stars.
Besides which, there has to date
been very little proof that because a
comic is capable of walking off with
the honors of a picture, just by carry-
ing a few scenes, the same comic is
capable of carrying the load of an
entire picture without having the
heaviness overburden him in too many
spots. It's easier on the writers, too,
just to pencil in part of the story that
will suit the comic right down to the
ground and wow the customers, than
to have to keep up a comedy tempo
for seven reels-, built around one tal-
ent. Star comedians are few and far
apart, but a featured comic holding
up a star has saved many a picture
from going into the average money
class and put it right up among the
box-office successes of the year.
Another thing that must be remem-
bered in connection with comedians,
IS that they attract attention by vir-
tue of their individual style of comedy.
It may be the voice, the hands or the
facial expression, or a combination of
any and all that makes the delivery
so amusing. But by virtue of the
same fact, it is easy to become fed
up with them and their sameness
when taken in large doses.
It just goes to show you that you
can build the public up to nothing for
|ust so long and then, when you've
really got something to sell besides a
name, the public )ust won't bite again.
"Murder at the "^/anities," just about
best real musical since "Forty-sceond
Street," is doing nothing like the
business that everyone connected with
the picture had a perfect right to ex-
pect. And not because critical judg-
ment was wrong, but because it was
immediately preceded in release by
three musicals that just didn't have
It in them, and by the time "Vani-
ties" came along, the public had gone
shy.
The name "Vanities" alone would
have sold the picture to the millions
of people who had heard about the
Broadway s.how and had never been
able to see it. But "Scandals" had
the same advantage and came out
first and got the full benefit of a
Broadway reputation, whereas "Vani-
ties" had to follow and got the audi-
ences that thought they wouldn't mind
being twice bitten. Maybe it would
be smarter to re-arrange release dates
than to have a good picture go so
wrong.
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V
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LANSON, PERE ET FILS (1926)
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!
|une6. 1934
Page Five
INDIES TRYING TO FORCE
CODE AUTHORITY'S HAND
New York. — Milton Weisman,
counsel for the Independent Theatre
Owners Association of New York, yes-
terday secured a temporary injunction
from Federal Judge Coxe in an at-
tempt to force the Code Authority to
hear complaints from exhibitors who
have not signed the code assents. The
order is directed against the Code
Authority and the local grievance,
clearance and zoning boards. The
hearing on a permanent injunction
comes up Friday.
Weisman says the present set-up
deprives those who haven't signed the
assents of their rights under the law,
and that the members of the ITOA
who refused to sign did so because
they wished to protect their rights to
court hearings and also because of un-
settled labor conditions.
Now these exhibitors are in a spot
because some of their opposition, who
did sign assents, have filed nuisance
complaints against them. The pres-
ent court action is intended to give
them the privilege of being heard and
defended before the Code Authority.
New One For Chandler
Discontinuing his production of
melodramas for the time being, Willis
Kent's fourth Lane Chandler western
will be "The Man From Hell," an
original by E. E. Repp. The pic
goes into work in three weeks.
Fox To Make Special
Of Lloyd s Cat s Paw^
New York. — "The Cat's Paw," the
new Harold Lloyd picture, is said by
those who have seen it .here to be the
best he has made since "Grandma's
Boy," and the Fox officials think so
well of it that it will be sold as a
special.
Lloyd left here yesterday for his
trip back to the coast.
Harris Won f Head MGM
Stage Production Unit
New York. — In spite of the fact
that MGM has made Sam Harris an
offer of a staggering sum to head the
new stage prOiJuction unit that it
plans to build, Harris has refused.
He prefers to do his own producing
and to sell his product to the highest
bidder for screen purposes.
Cavanaugh to Majestic
New York. — Raymond Cavanaugh,
formerly head of the Universal adver-
tising department, is fhe new head of
Majestic's advertising and publicity.
Deland Novel For MCM
New York. — MGM has purchased
thg^.-screen rights to "The Awakening
ture >eff Helena Richie," a novel by Marga-
^ ret Deland, published some years ago.
ASTINclgc^c
Bert Roach and James Donlin for
"All Good Americans," MGM.
Fay McKenzie, Bobby Cordon, Paul-
ine Brooks, Herman Brix, Carlyle
Moore and Bryant Washburn Jr. for
"Student Tour," MGM.
Phyllis Barry for "Moonstone,"
Monogram, by Harry Singler of the
Small-Landau office.
C. Pat Collins by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall, to "Born To Be
Kissed," MGM.
Paul Irving, Juliette Compton and
Wallace Albright for Edward Small's
"The Count of Monte Cristo."
Cay Seabrook for "Romance in the
Rain," Universal, by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall.
Henry Kolker, Mary Forbes, Claire
du Brey, Ethel Sykes, Ceorge O'Dell
and Arthur Thalasso to "Blind Date,"
Columbia.
Charles Irwin, by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall, to "Moonstone,"
Monogram.
Morgan Hamilton for Radio's "Hat,
Coat and Glove."
Albert Conti through Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall, to "Ladies First,"
Paramount.
Mary Kornman to Radio for "By
Your Leave," through Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall.
Middleton in Agency
Wallace Middleton has joined the
Jack Gardner office as an agency asso-
ciate.
Indie Exhibs Near
Single Bill Coal
Lacking but thirty signatures of a
membership of 200 to put through a
single bill policy for the entire South-
ern California sector, the Independent
Motion Picture Theatre Owners of
Southern California yesterday launched
a strong drive to put their aim across
and believe they will accomplish this
within the week.
Once 90 per cent of the theatre
men have agreed to eliminate duals,
the large circuits and the major stu-
dios will co-operate, according to an
agreement made with Charles Skouras,
of FWC, and Louis B. Mayer, of
MGM.
The organization passed a motion
to place a minimum 55-cent admis-
sion price on previews and to take
this up with the circuits and majors
later this week. Harry Hicks was
elected the new president of the as-
sociation, but Ben Berinstein continues
for sixty days until Hicks is free to
accept the office. Arnold Schack as
treasurer and R. D. Whitson as sec-
retary were re-elected. The new
board comprises Whitson, Berinstein,
Schack, George Hanes, Robert Gumbi-
ner. Hicks, H. J. Siler, George Bron-
ley and Irving Carlin.
Cillham Coming Out
New York. — Robert Gillham. head
of advertising and publicity for Para-
mount, leaves for Hollywood Saturday
to attend the sales convention.
"MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD"
RKO
"... Miss Oliver and Gleason work so
well together, and their business is so
funny, that the picture is a good bet
the way it stands. . . Gleason is clever
and amusing as the inspector. ..."
— Hollywood Reporter, May 23, 1934
"ORDERS IS ORDERS"
British-Caumont
"... Gleason and Charlotte Green-
wood . . . make an unbeatable team.
Their timing and co-operation are
flawless. ..."
— Hollywood Reporter, May 16, 1934
JAMES GLEASON
u
DIALOGUE DIRECTOR
CHANCE OF HEART
ti
(Janet Gaynor-Chas. Farrell)
Fox Picture
James Gleason . . . swell, strong job at dialogue direction . . . '
"Change of Heart" review, Hollywood Reporter, May 3, 1934
NOW
DIRECTING DIALOGUE
"S E R V A N T S' ENTRANCE"
(Janet Gaynor-Fox Picture)
"THE BOWERY"
20th Century
"... a great shooting script by How-
ard Estabrook and James Gleason . .
— Hollywood Reporter, Sept. 25, 1933
DEMMY LAMSDN
MANAGER
ox 8019 0X7261
"SEARCH FOR BEAUTY"
Paramount
"... Gleason and Robert Armstrong
make a swell comedy team ..."
— Hollywood Reporter, Jan. 8, 1934
Page Six
j||ky^/^p^f.
)une6, 1934
PHOTOPLAY
132 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Carole Lombard
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Paramount 920 sq. inches
Warners 625 sq. inches
MCM 500 sq. inches
Columbia 1 50 sq. inches
Radio 140 sq. inches
Fox 88 sq. inches
Coldwyn 75 sq. inches
Harold Lloyd 35 sq. inches
Read it and laugh — Sara Hamilton's
inspired and silly story, "Cleopatra
Comes to Hollywood," in the June
Photoplay. The gal has another story
in direct contrast, one on Julia Gra-
ham, dramatic and sympathetic, "A
Broken Heart in Hollywood."
Sylvia Harper has "Would You Girls
Marry Dick Powell?" and gives a lot
of pros and cons; Winifred Aydelotte
has "Napoleon's Ghost Walks Out on
Warners"; Norman Taurog reviews
the laugh situation in films in "Get a
Comedian, Quick"; Jim Tully writes
"A Whale of a Man," all about Victor
McLagien; Jane Hampton amusingly
tells about the Weissmullers in "Lupe
and Johnny Were Lovers"; Kirtley
Baskette puts beauty in its place in his
yarn on Mary Astor, "Her Face Was
Her Misfortune"; Ruth Rankin has a
grand story on Henry B. Vi/althall,
"The Little Colonel Marches Back";
Margaret E. Sangster has a touching
tribute to Lilyan Tashman, "Cinder-
ella of Broadway," and George Kent
concocts a war between Dietrich,
West and Sten, in "Blondes Plus
Curves Mean War."
The first really authentic story- — -
and an interesting one, too — on Eliza-
beth Bergner is in this issue of Photo-
play. It is by Kathlyn Hayden and is
called "Elizabeth Bergner — Puppet or
Genius?"
Photoplay also runs the second in-
stallment on its fiction story, "I Want
a Baby."
MOVIE MIRROR
96 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Joan Crawford
(MGM)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
MCM 121 5 sq. inches
Warners 676 sq. inches
Radio 554 sq. inches
Paramount 485 sq. inches
fo* 250 sq. inches
Universal 1 30 sq. inches
Twentieth Century .... 1 10 sq. inches
Columbia 35 sq. inches
Movie Mirror for June is a nice
mixture of good and bad. Taking up
the good ones first: "The Burns and
Allen Youve Never Heard About," by
Jacqueline Moore; "The Five Most
Interesting Women in Hollywood Ac-
cording to John Barrymore," by
Charles Darnton; "The Lowdown on
Joan Blondell," by Gail Rogers; "Look-
ing Daggers at Each Other," by Doro-
thy Manners, an amusing account of
Hollywood feuds; "Why the Chatter-
ton-Brent Love Died," very honestly
told by Jack Grant; "Freddy March Is
Three Men," by Adele Whitely
Fletcher; and Dorothy Emerson's fic-
tionization of "Men in White."
The rest of the stories are not nec-
essarily bad, but they do not belong
with the above. "The Hidden Ro-
mance of Richard Dix," by Sonia Lee,
is, however, an example of perfect bad
taste — and not altogether on Miss
Lee's part. Jerry Asher has "Joan
Crawford Reveals 'The Truth About
Myself and Franchot Tone'"; Greta
Montebell goes to a good deal of trou-
ble to make "The Real Story of Hep-
burn's Trip Abroad" interesting;
Franc Dillon writes of the Children's
Clinic in "Marion Davies: Angel of
Mercy"; George Madden tells of "Poor
Dorothea Wieck," and Gladys Hall in-
terviews Dick Barthelmess in "F'rst
Marriage Is Frenzy, But Second Mar-
riage— •"
SCREEN PLAY
82 pages and cover
COVER DISPLAY Lilian Harvey
(Fox)
Publicity Space (Approximate)
Warners 522 sq. inches
MCM 455 sq. inches
Paramount 335 sq. inches
Radio 210sq. inches
Columbia 195sq. inches
Universal 195 sq. inches
Twentieth Century 180 sq. inches
Fox 1 54 sq. inches
Screen Play doesn't make any great
splash among the other June maga-
zines. J. Eugene Chrisman writes a
good story on May Robson, "Fifty
Years a Trouper," and Linda Leath
hangs an amusing character study on
a sensational title, "Hepburn's 'Hated'
Rival" (Jean Muir) .
Jim Tully is uninspired in "This
Man Gable," and doesn't help Norma
Shearer in her story, "A Woman's
Life Begins at Thirty"; Sidney Skolsky
writes "Tintype of Gary Cooper";
Achmed Abdullah has "My Adven-
tures in Hollywood"; Nina Wilcox
Putnam asks a few men stars about
"This Woman I Could Love," and
Jerry Lane describes Loretta Young's
home.
Marcella Burke tells about "Irene
Bentley — Fledgling"; Gertrude Hill
has "Hollywood's First Duel"; Grace
Simpson authors the dramatic account
of "How Slim Summerville Found His
Father," and Muriel Babcock pays
tribute to Lilyan Tashman in "Gallant
Lilyan."
Warners Starting Only
Three Pix This Month
"Big Hearted Herbert" looms as the
only other Warner picture likely to
start this month, after "Lost Lady"
and "Lady Surrenders." John Eldredge
goes into it with Guy Kibbee, Aline
MacMahon and Patricia Ellis,
Delmar Daves, now adapting it, will
also do the script.
New Coogan Shorts
I. A. Allen is negotiating with two
majors for release of a series of Jackie
Coogan school-life two-reelers. The
sample picture was made at Jackie's
school at Santa Clara during the last
Thanksgiving vacation.
Exhib Asks Code to
Kill His Opposition
Monticello, Iowa. — E. T. Landis,
who has run the Princess Theatre
here for 20 years, complained to
the Code Grievance Board that R.
C. Lambert is building a new thea-
tre and that the town of 2200
can't support two houses. The
board agreed and ordered the dis-
tributors not to supply the new
house with pictures, Lambert has
appealed to the Code Authority.
Johnny Weaver Play at
Hollywood Playhouse
"Her Knight Comes Riding," a new
play by John V. A. Weaver, will be
the next production to go into the
Hollywood Playhouse. It is taken
from Weaver's novel of the same
name.
E. E. Clive is producing the play,
by arrangement with Al Rosen. He
has selected a cast that contains Wil-
liam Boyd, Eddie Nugent, Dorothy
Libaire, Dora Clement, Gertrude Short
and James Bush. Clive will direct.
Agency Board Defies Code Authority
(Continued from Page 1 )
the matter, and asking whether or not
they have to take a secretary not of
their own choosing.
At the committee meeting some
time ago Campbell McCullough was
selected as secretary. His name was
sent to the Code Authority for ap-
proval. Instead of approving him, the
Code Authority informed the commit-
tee that Major Donovan, who is the
coast executive secretary, would take
the position.
Yesterday, when the committee met
at the Beverly-Wilshire to hear the
reports of two sub-committees. Major
Donovan was informed that the com-
mittee would not accept him. He ex-
plained that he had been appointed
by the Code Authority and was told
that the Code Authority couldn't do
that, as Rosenblatt was the commit-
tee's boss. The Major then explained
that Rosenblatt had given his official
okay to his appointment. But the
committee members stated that they
have not seen any evidence of such
approval. So they wired Rosenblatt.
B. B. Kahane made a motion to
the effect that Major Donovan could
remain at the meeting only in a strict-
ly unofficial capacity, if he wished to
stay. The motion was passed, and
the Major elected to remain.
Only casual discussion of the reports
of the sub-committees on the advisa-
bility of licensing agents, and on de-
tails of a code of fair practice between
agent, artist and producer was held.
Another meeting is slated for tomor-
row.
The Agency Committee is compos-
ed of B. B. Kahane, Winfield Shee-
han, Emanuel Cohen, Trem Carr, J. L.
Warner, Adolphe Menjou, Frank
Lloyd, Wells Root, George Frank and
John Nickolaus.
New Yarn For MCM
MGM yesterday purchased "The
Lady Comes To Town,' a Cosmopolitan
Magazine story by Clements Ripley.
LETS TALK
IT OVER"
For Universal
ORIGINAL
STORY
DORE SCHARY
LEWIS FOSTER
(Management Hoffman-Schlager, Inc.)
In Preparation
MISSISSIPPI"
Paramount
In Preparation
'52 WEEKS FOR FLEURETTE "
Paramount
)une6, 1934
Page Seven
PIKIONDON
Sidney Lanfield, on the hottest day
here for quite a while, zooming down
Piccadilly in hat, coat, scarf and a
coupla waistcoats. . . . Dave Selznick
and George Cukor together at first
nights here — and, such is fame, a
bunch of prospective artists for "Cop-
perfield" waiting to see George Cukor,
thought that the Dickens director was
George Cooper, a local meg-wielder!
. , . Dodo Watts still quite a favorite
with the fans here, although she has
not done much screen work recently.
. . . Radio is spending five grand to
publicize "Say It With Flowers," a
local pic that it has purchased. That
steady and dependable director, John
Baxter, made it. . . . Hugh Gray, loot-
nant to Hugh Findlay, big Publicity
Sahib at Gaumonts, took "Man of
Aran" to Ireland to help put the pic
over there. . . . Madeleine Carroll back
in town and looking even more lovely
than before (if that's possible!) for
which, many thanks, Fox!
e
Margaret Sullavan is now quite the
Pressboys' Darlin'; it appears that per-
chance Frankie Ditcham told her that
the newshounds this side were rather
tired of the Garboesque stall that
screen stars visiting here have been
giving 'em. . . . T. Hayes Hunter
seated next to his leading lady at the
trade show of his recent pic. . . . Her-
bert Wilcox sent a rave letter to
Buddy Bradley after seeing the dance
ensembles in Gaumont's "Ever Green,"
and the result is that Buddy will stage
the dances in the Buchanan pic and
not Bus Berkeley. . . . Michael E. Bal-
con, Gaumont production chief, was
guest of honor at the Phil Rosen fare-
well party here. . . . Cafe de Paris on
the river at Bray here looked like
Malibu t'other Sunday. .. . Myron
Selznick, Beinta Hume, Rowland
Brown, Gilbert Miller and Cyril Gard-
ner among the movieites.
•
Charlie Farrell and Monty Banks on
the air here in the "In Town Tonight"
hour and managing to get in quite a
nifty piece of publicity on their forth-
coming flicker. . . . Nolbandov, Rus-
sian supervisor, has been appointed
production manager to Warner-Brit by
Irving Asher. . . . Paul Kohner, Dave
Bader, Paul Stein, Joe Rock, Jimmie
Barker, Owen Moore and Di Napier at
the Marcel Varnel party. . . . Norman
Lee will meg the next radio-revue B.I.
picture here. . . Ned (Trick Stuff)
Mann received eulogistic raves from
film scribe Ernest Betts. It made
nice copy, Ernest, but can't say we
like the idea of telling the public how
all that trick stuff is done. ... It will
be remembered that Binnie Barnes,
now with you Californians, made .half
a trip to Hollywood before for "Caval-
cade," but got hubbie-sickness in New
York and rushed home to him instead!
. . . Clarence Winchester's Holly-
wood novel, "An Innocent in Holly-
wood," is just out here. . . . Really
bright stuff too and plenty of hand-
claps for a town that is usually black-
ened by most scribblers. . . . Laura La
Plante, Miriam Seegar and Irving
Asher at the Equity Charity Concert.
. . . Leslie Henson and Bobbie Howes
together over movie matters.
Babbitt' Script Will
Be Finished Next Week
Tom Reed expects to be able to call
"Babbitt" a script by next week, and
is angling for a four weeks vacation
before being given his next Warner
assignment,
The picture is not definitely spot-
ted on the production schedule, be-
yond its announcement for next sea-
son's release. Reed has been doing the
screen play with Niven Busch,
Warner-Erpi Settle
(Continued from Page 1)
producers refused to sign contracts for
more than $500 a reel to be paid to
Erpi. Erpi therefore figured that, if
it received only $500 a reel, it could
pay Warners seven per cent on that
amount only. The contention of
Warners was that it was not their
fault if Erpi could not get more, and
suit was started for seven per cent of
every dollar the industry took in on
sound pictures.
Several weeks ago the two sides
got together on an understanding that
Erpi should pay Warners $3,500,000,
but the Federal Government stepped
in and refused to permit such a set-
tlement. Now this new agreement
has been reached, with the slate
washed clean and with Warners hav-
ing $5,000,000 to play with in buy-
ing theatres or for any other pur-
pose. It undoubtedly comes in very
handy in the effort that Warners are
making to acquire control of the Fox
Met chain, thereby making themselves
tops in the New York theatre situa-
tion.
VACATION TIME IS HERE
LET US SOLVE YOUR TRAVEL WORRIES
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6724 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.
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Just Phone Hollywood 2241 — PERSONAL ATTENTION
Chotiner Kick Off,
And Is His Face Red?
H. W. Chotiner filed a com-
plaint last week with the Los An-
geles Grievance Board, charging
that United Artists Corporation
would not let him cancel "Sorrell
and Son." Yesterday he withdrew
his complaint and explained that
developments showed he had not
contracted for the picture.
Office Union Starts
Row At Publisher's
New York. — A large number of
noted authors yesterday gave their
support to a strike of the editorial
workers of the Macaulay Company,
who walked out when some of the
employees joined an office union.
Among the authors who protested
against "medieval conditions" in the
publishing business are John Wexley,
Grace Lumpkin, Lincoln Steffens,
Samuel Ornitz, Rita Van Doren, Na-
thaniel West, Matthew Josephson and
George Sklar.
Praskins Completes
'We Live Again' Script
Leonard Praskins yesterday turned
in the completed script on Sam Gold-
wyn's "We Live Again," based on
"Resurrection." Rouben Mamoulian,
who directs, hopes to get into re-
hearsals by the end of this week and
before the cameras in another two
weeks.
lATSE Locals Vote
To Keep Autonomy
Louisville, Ky. — By an overwhelm-
ing vote, the delegates to the lATSE
convention here yesterday voted to
maintain the local autonomy of the
various lATSE unions. The Executive
Board had taken action to deprive the
Locals of their right of self-govern-
ment, but this was defeated by the
delegates.
This means that any Local may call
a strike if it wishes and may refuse to
go out on strike, even if the national
body orders it. Delegates seem im-
bued with a spirit calling for reorgan-
ization throughout the entire IATSE,
starting with new national officers and
a new order in the Locals.
An attempt by James Shaw of Local
37 to prevent the seating of Lew Blix
and Jack McAvoy, was dismissed by
the Executive Board.
MCM's Indo-China'
Troupe Off to Orient
MGM's sound and camera crew that
will make background and special
shots in French Indo-China for the
picture, "Indo-China," left for San
Francisco last night. They sail today
from Frisco. Clyde DeVinna will be in
charge of the cameras. James McKay
goes along to supervise the shooting.
Norman McLeod Back
Norman McLeod returned to Holly-
wood yesterday via boat from New
York. He was accompanied by his
wife, who rounded out a trip to
Europe.
JOHN MEEHAN, Jr.
a
LET'S TALK
IT OVER"
SCREEN PLAY
and
DIALOGUE
CASTLES IN THE AIR"
Original Story
Management
Hoffman-Schlager, Inc.
UNIVERSAL
PICTURES
A
OAST
To PARAMOUNT
CHARLES R. ROGERS
RALPH MURPHY
ELISSA LANDI
for
"THE GREAT FLIRTATION"
ADOLPHE
Menjou
Vol. XXI, No. 25. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, June 7, 1934
TtiAlBCRG PICTLRK HIT
•EVEN at the risk of being thought
repetitious, we would like to refer
again to the campaign that is being
waged all over the country against so-
called salacious pictures and to the
enormous and rapid increase in the
force of that campaign. Also, we
would like to repeat the question we
have asked before: "What is the in-
dustry going to do about it?"
The matter is beyond the annoy-
ance stage; it is inflicting vital wounds
on the box-office. Exhibitors every-
where complain that, when they show
pictures which have been denounced
by the churches and reformers, not
only do their receipts fall off, but they
are flooded with letters and telephone
calls, asking them how they dare offer
such pictures.
•
The cumulative effect of this
movement is dangerous. Two days
ago. Cardinal Mundelein, of the Chi-
cago diocese, issued a long statement,
pledging his influence in the "battle
against indecency." His Eminence,
William, Cardinal O'Connell, of Bos-
ton, said the same thing earlier. Every
bishop of the Catholic church has
written to every exhibitor in his dio-
cese, asking him to join the Legion of
Decency and to bar salacious pictures.
Nor is the Catholic church atone in
its campaign. The Presbyterian Gen-
eral Assembly, a National convention
of Baptists, the National Conference
of Social Work, the Federation of
Churches in America and other Pro-
testant organizations have joined
hands with the Catholic church and
are urging a boycott.
Following Cardinal Mundelein's
statement, support of his stand was
announced by Chicago Methodists, by
the Living Church, a periodical which
speaks for the Episcopalians, and by a
conference of Rabbis. They welcomed
the campaign, not only because of its
primary purpose, but because "it of-
fers a ground upon which Protestants,
Catholic and Jews will be able to unite
whole-heartedly for the first time."
The National Federation of Wom-
en's Clubs — 2,000,000 women — is in
the movement. So are the Parent-
Teachers Association and Mrs. August
Belmont's Motion Picture Research
Council, in addition to professional re-
formers, blue-noses and self-seeking
politicians all over the country. These
scavengers who tack on to every mass
(Continued on Page 4)
20th Cent-ury Gets
Arliss For Two More
New York. — Twentieth Century
Pictures has signed George Arliss
for two more productions in addi-
tion to "Richelieu," for which he is
set on the present contract. It is
understood he gets a big boost in
price for the two additional ones.
Three Big Shots
Planning New Firm
New York. — Three men whose
names mean a lot in the motion pic-
ture industry and all of whom are at
present in production or distribution,
are planning to sever their present
connections and join hands in a new
producing and distributing company.
Their plans are not yet sufficiently
advanced so that they can make any
public announcement, but they feel
that this is the time to start such an
organization, because the field is wide
open. The new firm will enliven the
Hollywood scene, because all three of
them are of the type who will reach
out and take what they want.
Columbia Convention
To Be at- Atlantic City
New York. — The tentative date set
for the sales convention of Columbia
Pictures is July 1-3. It will be at
Atlantic City.
British Comic Arrives
Sydney Howard, British stage and
screen comedian, arrived in Hollywood
yesterday to play in Edward Small's
"Transatlantic Showboat." This is
Howard's first visit to America.
'C BUDGET UP
43 FEATURES
Carl Laemmie Sr. yesterday an-
nounced the biggest production sched-
ule in the history of Universal Pic-
tures. With a budget calling for the
expenditure of $3,000,000 more than
the studio's average, plans have been
laid for a huge increase in pictures
for the 1934-35 season, and for an
increase in employment that will
boost the payroll 22 per cent over
last year.
On the schedule are 42 feature
plays, six Buck Jones out-of-doors fea-
tures, four serials and more than 100
short subjects. The latter will include
(Continued on Page 4)
Catholics Told To Ask Him
To Clean Up Productions—
Shearer Roles Criticized
New York. — The Rev. Daniel Lord, S.J., editor of The Queen's
Work, a Catholic publication in St. Louis, is given credit for an
attack on Irving Thalberg personally in the campaign of the
church against salacious pictures. Thalberg is accused of pre-
senting his wife. Norma Shearer, as a — , .m . ■ |^|
Sam Wood Plans to
Be Indie Producer
divorced woman, a type considered by
the church a "harlot," in her last five
pictures. The article suggests that the
more than 200,000 readers of the
pamphlet write to Thalberg in a con-
certed effort to induce him to clean
up his pictures.
Father Lord, who is regarded as the
spokesman for the church in motion
picture matters, is generally conceded
to be the person who has blown the
(Continued on Page 3)
T. Freeland to Direct
For Brit.-lnternational
Thornton Freeland has been signed
by British International Pictures to di-
rect "Brewster's Millions," which has
Jack Buchanan in the lead.
He leaves Friday by train for New
York, where he will hop a boat for
London. The deal was negotiated by
Edington and Vincent.
'O'Hara' For Spigelgass
Leonard Spigelgass will produce
"Princess O'Hara" for Universal, step-
ping into the associate producer class
with the assignment. He will also
write the screen play, in collaboration
with Nat Ferber. It goes into work
August 1 .
$3,000,000;
OIV PROGRAM
McEvoy on Fields Yarn
Paramount has assigned J. P. Mc-
Evoy to write an original, "Back
Porch," which will be the next for
W. C. Fields when he completes "Mrs.
Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," in
which he is now working. Norman
Taurog has been penciled in to direct.
Sturges to Direct
Preston Sturges was made a direc-
tor yesterday and will pilot his own
story, "A Cup of Coffee," for Univer-
sal. He is writing his own screen
play.
Sam Wood finishes production to-
morrow on MCM's "Stamboul Quest."
He also finishes his contract with the
studio, and on Sunday leaves for a
four-months trip to Europe.
Contrary to reports, he will not ac-
cept a directorial job in England. On
his return he will stop off in New York
and try to arrange with ERPI for fin-
ances to make three independent pro-
ductions a year for a period of three
years.
Radio Gets J. M. Barrie
Story For Hepburn
It was admitted today that Para-
rrount had sold the rights to J. M.
Parrie's "Little Minister" to Radio for
Katharine Hepburn in exchange for
the services of Francis Lederer for
"Pursuit of Happiness."
Now all that Paramount needs is a
female lead and it is possible that,
now it has Lederer, an unknown may
get it. Mary Boland has been assigned
to the cast.
'Viennese Nights' Is
Shown Again in London
Warners has revived "Viennese
Nights," made in 1929, for the fifth
time in London, according to word
received at the studio yesterday. The
Stoll Theatre there has booked it
again, having played it on four other
occasions.
It was made by Alan Crosland, with
Vivienne Segall, Alexander Gray and
Jean Hersholt.
Al Lichtman Here
Al Lichtman, general sales manager
for United Artists, has arrived in Hol-
lywood, flying out from the company
convention in Chicago.
Edward Paramore ill
Edward Paramore is confined to the
Hollywood Hospital with a severe cold.
Page Two
June?, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE -Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication. 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago. 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris. 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin. 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada. $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
187^.
McCARTY AIVD BERGMAX
TO MAKE PIC IN RUSSIA
Everybody in town, including Win-
nie Sheehan, now claims to have "dis-
covered Shirley Temple, but 'smatter
of fact, it was Charles Lament who
first "saw" her and gave her her
chance in some shorts . . . The Pat
de Cicco-Helen Vinson amour never
really got started — and for a very
funny reason . . . Jane Cowl, in town
and rehearsing for the local production
of "Shining Hour" . . . The George
Barneses (Joan Blondell) have called
off the Tahiti trip because the boats
leave there only once a month and
the cheeild must be born on American
serl. . . . Junior Laemmie and Mary
Carlisle going places . . . Dorothy
Grainger filed intention to wed George
Lollier yesterday.
•
May Robson is off to the Redwoods
for a week — her girl-friend drives,
and May watches for cops! . . . There
are rumors around that Frank Orsatti
is going to join the Selznick-Joyce
outfit. . . . Frank Joyce, by the way.
will be here in about ten days — going
to Santa Barbara for a rest on arrival.
. . . Latest title-change suggested for
"Resurrection" is "Sten Up and
Cheer!" . . . The Lubitsch mansion
will be occupied by the end of the
week. . . . Ernst says its the most
beautiful house he's ever seen! ....
Zasu Pitts and Edward Everett Norton
will broadcast together Sunday night
for Hall of Fame. . . . Mrs. Lionel
Barrymore, with Marion Saportas in
tow, back in Hollywood. . . . John
Barrymore, by the way, is very ill.
•
Lyie Talbot may join a Cleveland
stock company for his "vacation" this
summer. . . . Virginia Bruce Gilbert is
adding a wing to her parents' menage
for herself. . . . If L. B. Mayer or
Irving Thalberg ever retires, it will be
to raise soft-shell crabs . . . such a
passion! . . . Bets are that Francis
Marion and George Hill will "I do" it
all over again. . . . The Joe E. Browns,
back from the Oriental jaunt today. . .
Carl Brisson is trying hard to chisel
himself as a Great Dane around here. .
But chiseling! . . . W. C. Fields, with
a broken leg. Fay Wray, off for New
York, Austin Parker, Frances Goldwyn,
the Leigh M. Battsons, Marion Holiins
Helmer Bergman and Henry Mc-
Carty returned to Hollywood yester-
day, flyed with enthusiasm for the
drama they saw in the daily life of
the new Russia, and began prepara-
tions for their return in two months
to produce a feature picture at the
Meshrabpom studios in Moscow.
McCarty, whose last Hollywood as-
signment was on the adaptation of
"Right to Romance" for Ann Harding,
and Bergman, pioneer picture man
formerly in charge of sound at Metro-
politan studio, will organize their
technical staff here and take Ameri-
can sound equipment with them for
the Russian picture.
The Soviet film producing company
will co-operate with studio facilities
and material, but offers no financial
subsidy. Bergman stated yesterday he
has American backing assured for the
picture.
No conventional script will be pre-
pared, the intention being to tell the
story by the documentary method
used by Flaherty in "Nanook," no pro-
fessional players appearing. McCarty
will write and direct, and Bergman
will manage the technical end of pro-
duction. The two went to Russia and
travelled informally to get first hand
information from the people.
Stars to Entertain at
Terrace Room Opening
Several film stars, including Russ
Columbo, will take a brief respite
from their labors in the production of
"Castle in the Air" to sing several
songs at the opening of the Miramar
Terrace Room tonight. Lois January
and Dean Benton will also "do a num-
ber" in honor of the arrival of Kay
Kyser and his orchestra.
Swanson, Cabanne and
'Spanky' Get Agents
Gloria Swanson, Christy Cabanne
and "Spanky" MacFarland all signed
new agency contracts yesterday. Miss
Swanson signed with the Hawks-Voick
office, Cabanne with William Ste-
phens, and the kid with Beyer-Mac-
Arthur.
June Knight III Again
June Knight returned to the Cali-
fornia Lutheran Hospital yesterday to
undergo treatments for adhesions,
after a tonsil operation. She will be
there a week and Universal conse-
quently will have to replace her with
another player in "Romance in the
Rain."
Col. Sets Stooges
Columbia has set the Three Stooges
for roles in the Milestone production,
"The Captain Hates the Sea." They
return from personals in Chicago,
June 14.
Snowflake Joins Gang
Hal Roach yesterday signed "Snow-
flake" to a five-year ticket as a mem-
ber of the "Our Gang" unit. The
MacQuarrie office handled the deal.
at the Vendome. . . . Skeets Gallagher,
Irving Netcher, Ad Schulberg, Wally
Beery, the Al Newmans, Evelyn Brent,
Nigel Bruce, Paul Sloane, the Stephen
Ames, Barbara Barondess, also there.
Maureen Trip Off Again;
Goes Into 'The Hide-out'
For the sixth time in less than that
many months, Maureen O'Sullivan
yesterday canceled her plans for a re-
turn to Ireland and her reservations on
the lie de France and accepted a top
spot in "The Hide-out" opposite Rob-
ert Montgomery.
W. S. Van Dyke puts the picture
before the cameras by the end of the
week.
Silent Cameras Bought
For Western Service Lot
Pursuing its announced policy of
providing the best equipment avail-
able, the Western Service studios have
just purchased four of the "silent"
Mitchell cameras for use by producers
working on that lot, believing that
camera the best they can find.
More Work on 'Island'
Victor Fleming today puts "Treas-
ure Island" back into work to shoot
an added sequence on the picture,
hoping to finish the work in time so
that Wallace Beery may leave by the
end of next week in his own plane
for Minneapolis for the Shrine con-
vention.
Jutte on Dialogue Job
William Jutte is doing dialogue re-
vision on Universal's "What Women
Dream."
Song-wrifers In
Jam With Goldwyn
Sam Goldwyn yesterday is said to
have officially notified Columbia that
four songs which the latter purchased
from Burton Lane and Harold Adam-
son for use in the picture, "Orchids
and Onions," belong to him.
The song-writing pair say Goldwyn
is mistaken, and explain that the dis-
puted songs were nxerely played for
Mr. Goldwyn as samples of their work
at the time they were trying to land
a job with him on the Eddie Cantor
picture, but that Goldwyn never pur-
chased them.
Goldwyn, they claim, subsequently
hired them on a weekly basis, but paid
no attention to the songs they wrote,
with the result that they asked for
their release and went to Columbia.
Colony Club Staging
Big Benefit Tonight
Tonight, at the Colony Club, stars,
writers and executives will join in a
big benefit. Reservations have been
received by the score for this event.
The program of entertainment will
be of all-star caliber. Jack Benny,
Jimmy Durante, Eddie Conrad and a
host of others will take part.
Joe E. Browns Arriving
Joe E. Brown reaches Hollywood to-
day with his wife from a three months
trip to the Orient. They arrive on
the President Coolidge. Brown's first
assignment will be "Six Day Bike
Race," which Earl Baldwin has pre-
pared for him.
I
epi
tai
mi
up
X
P E R I E N C E
JMc„tc<^\
OEVER since the "101 Ranch" made mov-
ies .. . since "Nickelodeons" were popular
on blase Broadway . . . Max Factor has
worked tirelessly and patiently helping to
solve the make-up problems of the Motion
Picture Industry.
1^ TODAY , , . backed by years of experi-
ence . . . comes his greatest achievement,
SATIN SMOOTH Make-up. It's a smoother,
faster make-up, easier to apply and easier
to remove ... a make-up of delicate tones
that photographs beautifully.
aTRY it and thrill!
MAX FACTOR'S
MAKE-VP STIJOIOS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
June 7, 1934
THg^'S^
Page Three
Heat in East Kills
Crosses at- Theatres
New York. — The excessive heat
in the East and Middle West is
knocking box-office receipts to
new lows. "Little Man, What
Now?" at the Music Hall did a
nose dive on this account, getting
only $68,000, which is very dis-
appointing.
DONOVAX STATUS SETTLED BY
SOL ROSENBLATT WEEKS AGO
Paid Employe To
Conduct an Office'
it developed yesterday that the
question of whether or not Major Jos-
eph O. Donovan should act as secre-
tary of the film code Agency Com-
mittee was settled before it ever came
up.
In a telegram to Eddie Cantor and
Ralph Block, sent May 1 5, Sol Rosen-
blatt explained that Major Donovan's
status was simply that of " a paid
employe to run an office," and that
Donovan would have nothing to say
about anything the Agency Commit-
tee might do or say.
Rosenblatt's wire was in reply to a
wire sent him by Cantor and Block
when it was first indicated that an
attempt would be made to inject Don-
ovan into the affairs of the Agency
Committee. The Rosenblatt wire said:
"Your wire respecting Donovan re-
ceived. I communicated with John
Flinn who said this appointment not a
government one and not within my
purview. Simply an appointment by
the Code Authority of a paid person
to be in charge of the Code Authority
office on the coast, so there will be
a central place for all Code Authority
activities to clear through. So far as I
see, he has nothing whatever to do
with either employees or employers of
the industry, and his only capacity is
that of a paid employe to run an of-
fice. I suggest the Agency Committee
go to work, as neither Donovan nor
any other employe of the Code Au-
thority has anything to say about its
deliberations or recommendations."
At Tuesday's meeting of the Agency
Committee, when it refused to accept
Major Donovan as its secretary, he is
said to have pointed out that his ap-
pointment as secretary to the com-
mittee was okayed by Rosenblatt. A
wire was sent Rosenblatt, asking him
to clarify the situation, but according
to his wire of May 15, he had clari-
fied it three weeks before.
Weems Now a Director
On 'Something Simple'
Henry Ginsberg, Hal Roach general
manager, yesterday promoted Walter
Weems of the writing staff to be a
director and assigned him to co-direct
with Charles Parrott the Charles
Chase comedy, "Something Simple,"
which goes into work today.
Betty Mack, Del Henderson, Harry
Bowen, Arthur Housman and Lew
Kelly are in the cast.
Martin Back to Para.
Francis Martin returns today by
plane from a short vacation in New
York to resume his work on the script
of "College Rhythm" at Paramount.
He collaborates with Walter DeLeon
and Jack McDermott on the George
Marion original.
Caily I Sin' Set
Larry Darmour's next Majestic pro-
duction, "Gaily I Sin," is scheduled
for production in two weeks. The
story is an original by Mann Page and
Izola Foster, and has been scripted by
Houston Branch.
'Blumey'Top Bidder
For Fox Met Chain
New York. — A. C. Blumenthal is
now in the driver's seat in the nego-
tiations that are going on for the ac-
quisition of the Fox Metropolitan
chain of theatres in New York.
He is believed to be working with
Warenr Brothers for the control of
these 45 houses, which would put
Warners in first place in the New
York theatre field.
Radio Puts 'Fountain'
In Work Next Monday
Radio's next feature production will
probably be "The Fountain," starting
next Monday with Jo.hn Cromwell di-
recting Ann Harding. Violet Kemble-
Cooper goes into the cast, for which
Brian Aherne and Jean Hersholt were
previously set.
Sam Hoffenstein worked with Jane
Murfin on the dialogue, the balance
of the adaptation from Charles Mor-
gan's novel being by Miss Murfin.
'Broadway Bill' Coes
On Location Tomorrow
Columbia's "Broadway Bill" troupe
gets started for its Tanforan location
tomorrow, when a technical contin-
gent goes to make ready.
Frank Capra and his staff go Friday,
and the principals and cast leave in
final shifts Saturday and Sunday. The
picture, starring Warner Baxter, gets
shooting Monday.
New Songs For 'Romance'
Universal is spotting three numbers
by the Gorney and Hartmann song-
writing combination into "Romance in
the Rain," which Stanley Bergerman
is producing. They are "Road to Ro-
mance," "For Instance" and "Love
at Last."
Alice Brady to Radio
Alice Brady's first assignment since
the termination of her MGM ticket
will be a leading role in Radio's "Gay
Divorce," the Fred Astaire-Ginger
Rogers picture. The contracts are be-
ing drawn up for signatures.
Para. Buys Block Story
Paramount has just bought "One
Hour Late" by Libby Block. Al Lewis
will produce it, with Carl Winston as-
sisting. No cast or director assigned
yet.
Kober on Way West
New York. — Arthur Kober left New
-York for Hollywood yesterday.
Convention Will
Hear New Para. Plan
New York. — Paramount officials
admit that the plan for the reorgani-
zation of the company is now com-
plete in all its details, but no one
will say a word about it, the an-
nouncement being held to be sprung
at the convention in Los Angeles,
opening June 18.
The delegates to the convention this
year will include only division and
branch managers, and company execu-
tives, both domestic and foreign.
There will be no salesmen, as in for-
mer years.
George Hill to Direct
Dressier in 'Tish'
Planning it as the next Marie Dress-
ier picture to go into work by the
end of the Summer when she has fully
recovered, Irving Thalberg has assign-
ed Frances Marion to write the screen
play and George Hill to direct "Tish."
The story is based on Mary Roberts
Rinehart's series in the Saturday Eve-
ning Post. Hill will handle it as his
next assignment when he completes
"The Good Earth," on which he is
now wrking.
Marks Set For First
Clarence Marks' first production ef-
fort as a supervisor for Universal will
be "Weather Permitting," the studio
yesterday signing H. M. Walker to
write the screen play. It is based on
an idea by Ferdinand Schumann-
Heink, Earle Snell and Kurt Newman.
Thalberg Pictures Hit
(Continued from Page 1 )
lid off in the present crisis. He is un-
derstood to have heard the promise
made by Will Hays that pictures would
be cleaned up, and he now contends
that the producers have double-cross-
ed both Hays and the church and have
made no effort to "purge the films of
immorality."
Father Lord also represented the
Catholic Church during the shooting
of DeMille's "King of Kings." He will
broadcast within a few nights over
NBC, and it is understood that he
will talk about pictures.
There is to be a conference of
Catholic bishops in Cincinnati on June
22 and it is believed that the principal
discussion will be about motion pic-
tures. It is understood that the Pope
will be asked to issue an edict against
unclean films. Will Hays is slated to
speak to this gathering and has been
given instructions by the heads of the
major companies to say that the in-
dustry is trying to create entertain-
ment and that, unless pictures depict
present-day life and its problems, the
public will not buy. He will also in-
sist that pictures are not nearly so
salacious as plays, newspapers, novels
and magazines.
The latest development in the
church campaign is to give out cards
to every pupil in every Catholic
school, each card bearing a list of the
pictures that the children must not
see.
M
ATTE
bi^Jl^lei^lamui
According to something we learned
today (and a Cwynn will pick up the
darndest things), every script made
by a careful producer is broken down
into statistics that include a percen-
tage rating of how much talk and
how much action there is in it. After
due and careful consideration, it has
been discovered that the best picture
story is one that divides itself up fifty-
fifty on action and words. The story
is still good if the action goes up to
two-thirds, but when words take up
more than half the script, it takes
great direction, great camera work,
great writing and great acting in the
hopes that all together they can make
a good picture, and possibly a great
one.
It is always somewhat astonishing
to us to hear about statistics like that,
because if they go to all the trouble
of finding out about such things, it
ought to make story-buying a whole
lot easier. Instead of which, story-
buying remains at the same level and
the only thing you can credit the stu-
dios with is the fact that they know
beforehand just how much of a chance
they stand of turning out a good pic-
ture from the story they bought.
In some cases, the script can be
doctored so that the action and words
stand in better picture relation to each
other. But in too many cases that
can't be done without destroying the
quality of the story, and then, un-
less great care is exerted, the finished
picture just talks an audience right
out of the theatre.
'•
It has been suggested recently that,
before a story is bought, it ought to
be worked on for a week or two to
see if there is a picture in it, and
that the author should be willing to
lend a helping hand. But in order to
do that, the studios would have to
sign a pact that they'd all buy stories
by that method, otherwise an author
would be a fool to sit down and show
up the weaknesses in his story when
he can go out and sell it at face value
to another studio. On the other hand.
many a good story is still unsold for
lack of a little digging to find the
picture in it. So what? So there you
are again, a little wiser but not much
smarter.
•
Charlie Vidor pulled a fast one on
King Vidor the other day before King
had a chance. Charles Vidor has, of
course, suffered for years on account
of his name, so much so that he had
a large sign made for his office that
reads: "I am no relation to King
Vidor." So the other day, Charles
ran into King on the Paramount lot
and said, "I hear you're going to work
here. I advise you to change your
name so there won't be any mix-up!"
Jack Cohen East
Jack Cohen, vice-president of Row-
land Productions, producing for Co-
lumbia, leaves today by plane for New
York. He will return in three weeks.
T
Page Four
June 7. 1934
UIVIVERSAL ANXOVXCES
43 FEATURES, BIG BUDGET
(Continued from Page 1 )
a series of Walter Lantz cartoon nov-
elties in Technicolor, a series of Os-
wald, the Lucky Rabbit, historical
travesties. Studio executives feel that
they have lined up a list of the finest
screen players and directors the studio
has ever hjd under contract. In addi-
tion, several players developed by the
organization and a number of stage
celebrities will be given screen recog-
nition.
Among the productions announced
on the schedule, all of which will be
made under the supervision of Carl
Laemmie, Jr., are: "The Great Zieg-
feld," written by William Anthony
McCuire and Billie Burke, and starring
William Powell; "Sutter's Gold," an
epic of the California gold rush, by
Blaise Cendrars; "Magnificent Obses-
sion," by Lloyd C. Douglas; "Show-
boat," by Edna Ferber; "Night Life of
Cods," by Thome Smith; a modernized
version of Sheridan's "School For
Scandal"; two Damon Runyon stories,
"Princess O'Hara" and "Million Dol-
lar Ransom"; "A Cup of Coffee," by
Preston Sturges; "Fanny," by Marcel
Pagnol; "Return of Frankenstein," by
John L. Balderston, and starring Boris
Karloff; "Good Fairy" and "Within
This Present," starring Margaret Sul-
lavan; Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven";
"Strange Wives," by Edith Wharton;
Charles Dickens' "Mystery of Edwin
Drood" and "Great Expectations," the
latter starring Henry Hull; "It Hap-
pened in New York," by Ward More-
house; "Romance in the Rain," star-
ring Roger Pryor; "Gift of Gab," with
Edmund Lowe and Gloria Stuart; "My
Mother"; "The Human Side," with
Adoiphe Menjou and Doris Kenyon;
Jean Bart's play, "Man Who Reclaim-
ed His Head"; "Zest," by Charles G.
Norris; "Transient Lady," by Octavus
Roy Cohen, starring Gloria Stuart;
"Moon Mullins," an adaptation of the
Tradeviews
'Continued from Page 1 )
movement in the hope of personal
graft or preferment are dangerous, not
because of their influence, but be-
cause of their voices.
•
It makes no difference right now
who is right and who is wrong. The
entire industry is being tarred with
the same brush. Whether or not your
skirts are clean so far as the making
of salacious pictures is concerned, you
are going to be splashed by some of
that tar. There may be no denuncia-
tions leveled at you or your produc-
tions, but what hurts the industry as
a whole will have a harmful effect on
you.
Something must be done to offset
this injurious flood, and done quickly.
Some corrective propaganda must be
launched because, if that isn't done,
the denunciations are going to grow
more harmful and the box-office is
going to take more and more raps.
The life blood of the business flows
from that box-office, and the more
that stream is clogged or weakened,
the worse off the industry becomes.
Some measures must be taken event-
ually, so why isn't now a good time
to start?
comic strip; "Castles in the Air," a
musical with Russ Columbo; "What
Women Dream," and others.
Slated for late summer release are:
Frank Borzage's production "Little
Man, What Now.',' with Margaret
Sullavan and Douglass Montgomery;
John M. Stahl's "Imitation of Life,"
with Claudette Colbert; James Whale's
production of Galsworthy's "One
More River," with Diana Wynyard,
Frank Lawton and Jane Wyatt, and
"There's Always Tomorrow," with
Frank Morgan, Binnie Barnes and Lois
Wilson.
Among the Universal directors for
the new season will be John M. Stahl,
Lowell Sherman, James Whale, Frank
Borzage, William Wyler, Stuart Wal-
ker, Eddie Buzzell, Kurt Neumann,
Edward Ludwig, Karl Freund, Ernst L.
Frank, Edward Laemmie, Richard
Thorpe, Murray Roth and James W.
Home, and among the contract writ-
ers, not including those on individual
picture assignments, will be Willliam
Anthony McGuire, John L. Balderston,
Leopold Atlas, Bradley King, Barry
Trivers, Doris Anderson, Gladys Unger,
Clarence Marks, Ella O'Neill and
others.
Three new sound stages and other
studio improvements costing more
than $350,000, just completed, will
provide added facilities for the new
season of production.
Dubin Back to Warners
Al Dubin returned to Warners yes-
terday from New York and has been
assigned to write additional lyrics for
"Dames" numbers which he con-
tributed with Harry Warren.
Col. Starts Short
"Tropical Madness," a musical
short written and directed by Archie
Cottier, has started at Columbia. Jules
White is supervising.
BODYGUARD
EXPERIENCED
Unencumbered man, 29 years,
college educated and capable
secretary. Complete wardrobe.
Box 275, care Reporter, or
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STUDIO EMPLOYEES
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Loans Arranged by the
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HEmpstead 1133
Shirley Crey to "Transatlantic
Showboat," Reliance, by Bill Woolfen-
den, of the Small-Landau office.
Robert Cleckler for "Ransom, One
Million Dollars," Universal, through
Leo Morrison.
Barbara Bedford for "Tomorrow's
Youth," Monogram, by the MacQuar-
ries.
Armand Kalix to "Merry Widow,"
MGM, through MacQuarrie.
Louise Beavers for "Imitation of
Life," Universal, through MacQuarrie.
Walter Brennon to "Rear Car,"
MGM, by MacQuarrie.
Reginald Owen, Mickey McGuire,
Betty Lawford for "Human Side,"
Universal.
Murray Kinnell to "Hat, Coat and
Glcve," Radio, through Beyer-Mac-
Arthur.
I'ohn Sheehan for "Eadie Was a
Lady," MGM, by Hallam Cooley.
Niles Welch to "Tomorrow's
Youth," Monogram, by Hallam Cooley.
New Mascot Serial To
Start in Three Weeks
Victor Zobel, who turned in Mas-
cot's serial, "Burn 'Em Up Barnes,"
Monday, starts casting next week for
the third serial, "Law of the Wild,"
which will start about June 25 with
Rex, the wild horse, Rin-Tin-Tin and
Ben Turpin.
Breezy Eason gets the assignment
as one-half the directorial corps.
Code Violations by
Studios Increasing
The Code Committee for Extras and
the Junior Screen Actors' Guild report
that film code violations by the stu-
dios in connection with the extra
players are sharply increasing.
Yesterday a total of 31 complaints
were prepared by the Guild. Last week
only 50 were registered during the
entire week. The Grievance Com-
mittee of the Extras Committee is act-
ing on them as rapidly as possible, and
reports that the studios are paying
without a squawk. But the violations
still increase.
Marion Orth to Mono.
Marion Orth was engaged by Mono-
gram yesterday to write the screen
play for "Profit Without Honor,"
which George Yohalem supervises. ,
Harry Spingler, of the Small-Landau
office, set the ticket.
insists that your ad be read
\vo^
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home," replete with every modern aid to greater
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The location of Crosvenor House is a happy blend of
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|une7. 1934
Page Five
lATSE Demands
Strikers Go Back
Louisville, Ky. — The lATSE con-
vention here yesterday adopted a reso-
lution demanding that Immediate
action be taken to enforce the decision
of the National Labor Board made last
August when it settled the studio
technicians' strike.
' The Labor Board ordered the call-
ing off of the strike and the taking
back by the studios of all the strikers,
without prejudice. It also decided
that the studios should place the re-
turning strikers ahead of all new
employees, and that there should be
no discrimination against members of
any union. It was declared on the
convention floor that the studios have
not lived up to this decision.
The delegates also adopted a reso-
lution calling for immediate adjust-
ment of the jurisdictional controver-
sies between the lATSE and the
lf?FW,
Ostrow Wants Pichel
As 'Yahgan' Director
Lou Ostrow is negotiating with
Irving Pichel for his services as a di-
rector in order to secure the rights to
"Yahgan," an original story by F.
Willis McCrew, planned for Bela Lu-
gosi and Boris Karloff.
Pichel submitted the story to Uni-
versal some time ago on the condi-
tion that he be signed to direct. Os-
trow wants it for his own independent
production.
Loew's Inc. Declares
Dividend on Common
New York. — The Board of Di-
rectors of Loew's Inc. yesterday
declared a dividend of twenty-five
cents a share on the common stock
of the corporation, payable on
June 30.
NewTariff May Hit
British Relations
Washington. — Retaliatory measures
against Great Britain because of its
stringent quota restrictions are ex-
pected by the motion picture industry
when the new tariff bill, now before
the Senate, is passed.
The restrictions placed on the im-
portation of American pictures by
Britain have been a sore spot for a
long time, and the industry hopes that
President Roosevelt will do something
to even the score.
Para. Signs John O'Hara
New York. — John O'Hara, a New
York newspaper man, has been signed
to a writing contract by Paramount
and leaves for the coast today. He
has just completed his first novel,
"Appointment in Samara."
Blind Date' Finished
Roy William Neiil turned in "Blind
Date" at Columbia Tuesday, right on
schedule with 18 days shooting. Ann
Sothern and Paul Kelly have the top
spots.
Leon Errol Borrowed
By Radio For Short
Leon Errol, finishing his part in
"The Notorious Sophie Lang" at Para-
mount, jumps the fence to work in
the second of Lee Marcus' Four Star
Series at Radio the week of June 18.
The short is called "Fixing a Stew."
It is being written and will be directed
by A! Boasberg. Errol did a Radio
short on last year's program.
Schrock-Lawrence Team
Paramount has assigned Raymond
L. Schrock to collaborate with Vincent
Lawrence on "A Man I Knew," an
original story. Louis D. Lighton is
producing.
Robert Allen Assigned
Robert Allen, one of Columbia's
Broadway recruits, was assigned yes-
terday to the "By Persons Unknown"
cast.
'Mrs. Wiggs' Starting
With W. C. Fields and Zasu Pitts
in the leads, Norman Taurog yester-
day put "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch" into rehearsal at Paramount.
Cordon Quits Small,
Will Write At Para.
A disagreement over the handling
of "Transatlantic Showboat" yesterday
caused Leon Cordon to ask for his re-
lease from the spot as executive pro-
ducer under Edward Small at Reliance.
Small granted it, and Cordon re-
turns to writing with a term deal as
a writer at Paramount, starting Mon-
day. His producer career was short-
lived, lasting one month. The Small-
Landau office set the Paramount
ticket.
Ed Churchill Will
Write Buck Jones Yarn
Edward Churchill, assistant to John
LeRoy Johnston of the Universal pub-
licity department, was signed yester-
day by Buck Jones to write the adap-
tation and screen play for Jones' first
feature for Universal release.
The picture will be "Rocky
Rhodes," from the story by W. C.
Tuttle. Churchill will continue with
the publicity job, doing the picture
on the side.
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Vol. XXI, No. 26. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday. June 8, 1934
RL$li TO REORGANIZE
RKO First To File Petition
Under New Bankruptcy Laws—
Plea Also Filed For Paratnount
• ALTHOUGH the present player-pro-
ducer agreement upon which the
standard form of contract is based,
still has almost nine months to run,
there is a steadily increasing interest,
especially among the players, as to just
what is going to happen when it ex-
pires in March of next year.
There is nothing in the present
agreement which provides for its con-
tinuance, no provisions made for its
renewal. It is obvious that there must
be some sort of agreement, some form
of contract, but, aside from the play-
ers, there seems to be little interest.
The militant Mr. Eddie Cantor,
president of the Screen Actors' Guild,
announced some time ago that the ac-
tors would formulate the new agree-
ment and would incorporate in it the
demands for which they will fight.
The Academy, under the auspices of
which the present agreement was
drawn and adopted, believes that if
should draw the new one. That, of
course, is the producer point of view.
•
Just what the Academy and the pro-
ducers are doing to prepare for the
conferences which must of necessity
preface such agreement, no one seems
to know, but the Screen Actors' Guild
has already picked its representatives
for those conferences and has drawn
up a list of the demands that it will
make, the features it will insist upon.
Sol Rosenblatt has announced that
a committee of five producers and
five players will be named to confer.
That is no news, because that is pro-
vided in the Code. But when that
committee meets, there is going to
be a different story to tell than when
the present agreement was drawn.
The actors stand in a different posi-
tion today, a much stronger position.
The majority of them, at least the in-
fluential ones, are in the Guild, which
gives them a much more advantageous
position under the President's collec-
tive bargaining mandate than they
have ever had before.
'•
More than that, the Guild has a
leader in Eddie Cantor who really
leads. He is extremely dissatisfied
with the treatment given the player,
especially the freelance actor, and he
has said so without reservations. He
is incensed over the attitude of the
Code Authority and particularly so
Continued on Page 2)
Universal Planning
Production in England
New York. — Carl Laemmle Sr.
announced yesterday that Universal
is planning to start the production
of pictures in England within a
short time and that he will make
all arrangements during his trip
abroad.
II
Wanger Bids For
'Merry-Co-Round'
New York. — Walter Wanger, now
in Europe, has cabled an offer to Uni-
versal of $50,000 for the talking pic-
ture rights to "Merry-Go-Round,"
which that company made as a silent
in 1923. He figures on making it
as one of his series of independent
productions.
Wanger is also reported to have
signed Gigi Diderot, a very popular
French star, and as having acquired
the picture rights to "Silver Threads,"
a British best-seller, written by Glane
Binson.
Mrs. Jimmy Walker Gets
British Picture Lead
London. — Betty Compton — Mrs.
Jimmy Walker to you — has been sign-
ed by Irving Asher, of Warner British,
for the leading role in "The Richest
Girl in the World," which goes into
production soon.
Disney Working at Fox
Walt Disney is producing a dream
sequence at the Fox studio which will
be part of "Servants' Entrance," the
Janet Gaynor picture.
New York. — The motion picture industry led the parade of
corporations which will seek reorganization under the new
bankruptcy laws just signed by President Roosevelt. RKO Cor-
poration yesterday applied to the Federal Court for permission
to put a new set-up into effect. i i * r- • K I
U.A. Forming New
Exchange System
New York. — Because of the im-
mense amount of foreign production
which United Artists will have to dis-
tribute in this country, it is understood
that a new exchange system is being
organized, to be known as the Mun-
das Distributing Corporation.
United Artists has distributing ar-
rangements with Alexander Korda's
London Films, now producing the
Douglas Fairbanks Sr. picture, "The
Return of Don Juan," and also with
British and Dominions.
Reorganization plans for the Roxy
Theatre Corporation were filed by the
Noteholders Protective Committee,
and a petition was also entered by
individual creditors of the Paramount-
Publix Corporation and a committee
of bondholders, headed by Frank A.
Vanderlip. This last-named petition
suggested that Charles D. Hilles, Eu-
gene Leake and Charles Richardson,
the present trustees, be re-appointed
under the reorganization.
Under the new laws, the consent of
two-thirds of each class of creditors
(Continued on Page 3)
Loew's Financial
Condition Healthy gj,, LaHlff Passes on
rk.- — The Dow, Jones report ' ,,,
After Long Illness
New York.- — I he Dow, Jones repo
on the financial condition of Loew's
Inc. shows cash and market securities
of $11,228,204; bonded debt of
$28,760,208; working capital of
$30,496,980; inventor of $22,171,-
287.
Loy For Capra Picture
Myrna Loy has been selected to
play opposite Warner Baxter in
"Broadway Bill," which Frank Capra
will direct for Columbia.
MPTOA OF WESTERN PA.
ASKS FILM CODE PROBE
New York. — A sweeping investiga-
tion of the motion picture code may
be made by the United States Senate
in an effort to straighten out moot
points and clear up the confusion
which exists about it. The petition
for such a probe has been filed with
the Senate by Fred Herrington, secre-
tary of the MPTOA in Western Penn-
sylvania, and a vote on whether or not
the Senate will comply is to be taken
today.
Herrington contends that the con-
flicting statements of Gen. Johnson,
Sol Rosenblatt and Clarence Darrow
(Continued on Page 4)
Carewe Will Direct For
British and Dominions
New York. — Edwin Carewe has
been engaged by British and Domin-
ions to direct some of the pictures
which United Artists will release and
expects to sail for England next week.
Pat McNutt For Para.
Patterson McNutt, brother of Wil-
liam Slavens McNutt, was signed in
New York by Paramount yesterday
and was instructed to report immedi-
ately to the Hollywood studios to work
on the screen play of "Sailor Beware."
New York. — Billy LaHiff, proprie-
tor of the Tavern in which he fed
more hungry actors than any other
man in the world, died yesterday. He
had been ill for a long time, and re-
cently blood transfusions were resorted
to in a vain effort to save his life.
He was an uncle of Nancy Carroll.
Cooper To Make 'She'
And 'Pompeii' Abroad
New York. — Merian C. Cooper is
sailing for England tonight on the
Olympic. He will make two produc-
tions abroad for Radio — H. Rider Hag-
gard's "She," which Radio bought
from Universal, and Bulwer-Lytton's
"Last Days of Pompeii."
Warner Brothers To
Produce 'School Days'
New York. — Warner Brothers have
engaged Gus Edwards to produce the
talking version of "School Days," thus
forcing Monogram to abandon its
plans for that picture.
'Caravan' Work Rushed
Fox is rushing work on "Caravan"
because Annabella, who has a leading
role, must leave for Paris Sunday.
■jdward E. Para more Jr.
SCREEN PLAY
and DIALOGUE
(;in.collaboration1
sHmLjE:"
TEMPLE'S
'BABY TAKE A BOW
)une8, 1934
Page Two
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
187^.
With so many transplanted Broad-
wayites in our midst, a great portion
of Hollywood mourns the passing of
Billy LaHiff today. Proprietor of New
Yorks famous Tavern, LaHiff earned
the undying friendship and gratitude
of countless celebrities, long before
they "got up in the world." At one
time or another he has helped finan-
cially or otherwise more actors and
scribblers than you could name — and
his Tavern was a haven of counsel and
good cheer.
Maybe you know her and maybe you
don't — but Paramount's make-up art-
ist, one Dot Pondell, has made quite
a niche in the affections of all those
who come in contact with her. At the
moment, Dot is seeing a big dream
come true in the form of a house she
has planned for years. Nearly every-
one at Paramount who knows her has
given her some gift for her almost fin-
ished home, but when Marlene Diet-
rich (who says the only real laffs in
town are to be had with Dot!) heard
about it, she insisted upon furnishing
the entire place herself — which is
exactly what's happening! Marlene's
generosity, added to Dot's diligent
saving, will result in a big house-
warming on July 1. P.S. : All the dec-
orations will be in chartreuse, beige
and brown.
A very pretty young actress recently
signed with a major stujo for three
pictures. She finished one, and when
assigned to the second, decided that
she no like the part atall, atall! Now,
at this time, she was going around
with an attractive agent 'imagine an
attractive agent!) and he advised her
to get out of the part by saying she
was ill. She got out of doing the role
by saying she was ill- — BUT the com-
pany also canceled her contract! She
blames her misfortune on the advice
of the young agent — and "Annie
doesn't live here any more!"
AGENCY BOARD GETS
FAIR PRACTICE CODE
Baby Stars May Do
Chicago Personals
Contingent upon getting approval
from the Shrine convention, the
Wampas yesterday accepted an offer
from the Chicago Theatre for the
Wampas Baby Stars to make a week's
personal appearance there, starting
June 22. Leroy Prinz will produce
the show if he is not required back
here prior to that time.
The 1 3 Baby Stars and one pub-
licity man plan to leave for Chicago
immediately after the close of the
Shrine convention in Minneapolis
June 21. Mascot has scheduled its
picture, "Young and Beautiful," for
July 5, allowing plenty of time to
return here after the week in Chicago.
The Film Code Agency Committee
met yesterday, discussed at consid-
erable length a proposed code of fair
practice between agent, producer and
talent, and decided to defer any at-
tempt to decide on it until two weeks
hence. Meanw.hile copies of the pro-
posed code will be given each mem-
ber of the committee for study and
discussion.
Outstanding in the proposed code,
which was in a rough draft state, was
a proposition dealing with the idea of
some sort of license for agents. This
IS expected to be the main point at
issue when the final decision on the
adoption of a code is made. Repre-
sentatives of the artist groups are bit-
terly opposed to any form of licensing
of agents, and it is understood they
will fight it to the end.
The matter of selection of a per-
manent secretary has now been put
up to Sol Rosenblatt, following t.he
receipt of a wire from the Code Au-
thority executive secretary confirming
the contention of the committee that
the Administrator, not the Code Au-
thority, has supervision over the com-
mittee. This disposes of the question
of Major Joseph Donovan's appoint-
ment to that spot by the Code Au-
thority, whose action was turned down
last Tuesday by the committee. If
Rosenblatt does not appoint a secre-
tary, the committee will select one
itself.
Sybil Bolitho To Be
MGM Scout in London
New York. — Sybil Bolitho has been
engaged by MGM to open an office
in London and scout for talent and
material. She will be assisted by
Christine Cooper.
Alvin Weingand to Wed
Alvin G. Weingand, resident mana-
ger of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel,
and Miss Beverley Hollister, of San
Mateo, will be married tomorrow.
They will honeymoon in Agua Cali-
ente.
Board Stops Free
Shows and Coupons
The Los Angeles Grievance Board
yesterday ordered FWC, Principal
Theatres and the Alhambra Amuse-
ment Company to cease giving free
matinees at either the El Rey or the
Alhambra theatre. If any such shows
are advertised, the Board will notify
distributors to refrain from delivering
films to the theatres.
The Board told the same organi-
zations to cease all coupon tie-ups
with any newspaper. It also ordered
that an accounting be given to the
exchanges furnishing pictures on a
percentage basis, and that they be
given payment for each coupon pass
used. These orders resulted from a
hearing of two complaints filed by
Cirstrand Theatres, Ltd., of Alhambra.
Catholic Church Asks
Block Booking Probe
New York. — The Catholic Church
is behind the resolution just intro-
duced in the Massachusetts Legisla-
ture, asking for an investigation of
block booking and of the practice of
"forcing exhibitors to play indecent
pictures."
Nigel Bruce To Sail
Nigel Bruce plans to sail for Eng-
land as soon as he is told that he will
not be wanted for any retakes or add-
ed scenes in "Treasure Island."
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
because he feels that something was
put over on him in the matter of the
adoption by the Authority of the State
Welfare Act at a time when .he was
not in New York and could not fight
what he considered an injustice.
There is little doubt, although the
list has not been made public, that
Cantor will be a player representative
at the Player-Producer conference.
Also there is little doubt that he will
fight and fight hard for what he be-
lieves the player should have. It
should be an interesting battle.
BODYGUARD
EXPERIENCED
Unencumbered man, 29 years,
college educated and capable
secretary. Complete wardrobe.
Box 275, care Reporter, or
Phone Hollywood 3957
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-y^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vin*
HEmpstead 1133
MAX
SCHECK
DANCE
ENSEMBLES
Management
LICHTIC&ENCLANDER
Junes, 1934
Page Three
•STOLEN SWEETS' RIJIVS WILD
AFTER AN EXCELLENT START
mthaliL
Acting Is Good But
Writing Is Muddled
"STOLEN SWEETS"
(Chesterfield)
Direction Richard Thorpe
Author Karl Brown
Photography M. A. Andersen
Cast: Sally Blane, Charles Starrett,
Jameson Thomas, Claude King,
Ethel Griffies, Phillips Smalley,
Maude Turner Gordon, Johnny
Herron, Polly Ann Young.
If the Chesterfield picture, "Stolen
Sweets," could ever pull itself togeth-
er and hold the rail toward the finish-
ing line, instead of wandering around
for a while and then running back-
wards, it would be a pretty fair piece
of entertainment.
It starts off well, gets into a good
stride, and then completely loses its
head. The latter half of the picture
is as jumbled as a nightmare, with
people changing their minds, an inex-
cusable, brutal beating with a poker,
and a general "now we end it — now
we don't" see-saw.
The story concerns Charles Star-
rett's efforts to win Sally Blane away
from her wealthy, snobbish, dictato-
rial family and her stiff, impossible
fiance. Starrett is a happy-go-lucky,
energetic young insurance agent. He
meets her first on a boat returning
from Europe; instills some of the joy
of life into her, and just about suc-
ceeds in making her choose freedom
instead of tradition when the picture
begins to stray.
Richard Thorpe's direction brings to
the film a gay, light humor, and also,
unfortunately, some pretty ponderous
moments. Karl Brown's story is full
of youth and joie de vivre, except
when it takes itself too seriously and
indulges in a little preaching against
riches, etc. M. A. Andersen photo-
graphed.
Oddly enough, Charles Starrett has
never given a better performance.
Sally Blane has nothing much to do
except to look sad; Ethel Griffies has
a good role; Claude King is the stern
father; Johnny Herron, Phillips Smal-
ley and Polly Ann Young are amusing.
If the latter half of the piece were
rewritten and brought to the point,
it would be a good bet for smaller
towns and easily-pleased audiences.
But it's in a bad way now.
Sol Lesser Will Have
Two in Work Very Soon
Sol Lesser is speeding up his pro-
duction plans on "Chandu," and will
start shooting a few days after "Peck's
Bad Boy" gets going. The director is
yet to be signed, principal candidates
being Ray Taylor and Bob Hill.
Lesser will make "Chandu" a
seven-reel feature, followed by eight
two-reel episodes.
Radio Buys New Comed'v
Radio yesterday announced it had
closed for the purchase of a comedy
by Howard Buck, "Let's Get Married,"
and will make it on its new schedule.
Ray Harris writes the screen play un-
der Glendon Allvine's supervision.
'Rothschild' London
Average $34,000 Week
London. — Twentieth Century's
production of "The House of Roth-
schild," starring George Arliss, is
doing an amazing business at the
Tivoli, having averaged better than
$34,000 weekly in its first two
weeks.
Para. Contracts For
Three Baby Stars
Seven-year optional contracts were
offered by Paramount yesterday to
three of the 1934 Wampas baby stars,
Hazel Hayes, Lucille Lund, and Doro-
thy Drake.
The contracts are the promised
prizes awarded the most promising of
the thirteen, judged by their work in
"Kiss and Make-up."
Thelma Todd Signed
For New Roach Series
Hal Roach yesterday signed Thelma
Todd for a new year, during which
she will be teamed with Patsy Kelly
in eight more comedies. Miss Todd's
contract ran out while Roach was
yachting in Alaskan waters, and it was
rumored she intended going freelance
for feature work.
First of the new Todd-Kelly series
is expected to start the last week of
June.
McCarey Will Direct
Next Laurel and Hardy
Ray McCarey was signed by Hal
Roach yesterday to direct features and
will pilot the next Laurel and Hardy
production, which gets its release
through MGM. Schulberg, Feldman
and Curney made the deal.
'Limehouse' Set Back
"Limehouse Nights," which Arthur
Hornblow Jr. expected to have under
production at Paramount this month,
is set back to a July 16 start. Sylvia
Sidney and George Raft co-star under
Alexander Hall's direction.
Jack Conway Finishes
Jack Conway called it a picture on
"Born To Be Kissed" at MGM Wed-
nesday. Some pick-up shooting is to
come, but the direct production of
the Jean Harlow-Lionel Barrymore
film is finished.
'Hide-out' Started
"Hide-out" started yesterday on
location at Santa Cruz, W. S. Van
Dyke directing for MGM. Robert
Montgomery takes the star billing.
Production is under the supervision of
Hunt Stromberg
Para. Winding Up Three
Three Paramount pictures will prob-
ably complete their shooting next
week. "Ladies Should Listen" is due
to wind up Monday or Tuesday, and
"Elmer and Elsie" and "The Notori-
ous Sophie Lang" finish later in the
week.
RKOTakingHand in
N. Y. Theatre Scrap
New York. — RKO Theatres, fear-
ing the competition it will have to
face if either Loew's or Warners gets
control of the Fox Metropolitan chain
of 45 theatres, is starting to build up
its own holdings in the New York
territory.
The company has deals on now with
Frisch and Rinzler for the Savoy Thea-
tre, and is also trying to get control
of the old Grand Opera House, at
Eighth avenue and 23rd street.
'Her Master's Voice'
Shelved by Schulberg
Postponement of "Her Master's
Voice," made by B. P. Schulberg a
week ago when he reached a casting
impasse, is now to an indefinite date,
with the assignment of Charles Rug-
gles and Mary Boland to "Pursuit of
Happiness" and Elizabeth Patterson's
trek over to Culver City.
Schulberg is preparing another
story. He has three productions yet
to make under .his Paramount contract.
New Term For Anna Sten
As Rehearsals Start
Samuel Goldwyn yesterday signed
Anna Sten to a new long-term con-
tract. Her old one has just expired.
She celebrated the signing of the
new contract by starting rehearsals
with Fredric March in "We Live
Again," renamed from Tolstoy's "Res-
urrection." Rouben Mamoulian is di-
resting.
Woolsey Flying East
Robert Woolsey leaves next Sun-
day by plane to take in the Carnera-
Baer fight. He will be met in New
York by Bert Wheeler, and, following
the fight, they will attend the Shrine
convention at Minneapolis.
Rush To Reorganize
(Continued from Page 1 )
and security holders is necessary to se-
cure this permission. M. H. Ayles-
worth stated yesterday for RKO, that,
while the plans are not definitely pre-
pared, neither the receivership nor the
new proceedings will affect the pres-
ent operations of the producing, dis-
tributing or theatre departments.
The application filed by RKO, which
has been in receivership since January
27, 1933, was entitled "a petition of
a debtor in proceedings for reorgani-
zation of a corporation." The papers
described the corporation as a holding
company engaged in the operation and
management of theatres, the general
production and distribution of motion
pictures, and in the general theatrical
and amusement business.
"The debtor is unable to meet its
debts as they mature," the petition
said, "and desires to effect a plan of
reorganization under and pursuant to
section 778 of Chapter 8 of the Acts
of Congress relating to bankruptcy."
Human
Add: Human interest stories
Hollywood. But this one has
amusing moments. Away back
1912, on the old Biograph lot, Dell
Henderson was a director. He had
as .his assistant a fellow called Bill
Beaudine. Jack Mulhall was playing
juvenile leads in Henderson's pictures,
Charles West was the romantic lead,
and Jack Dillon doubled as a comic
and heavy, depending on the needs.
Time flies and covers a lot of ter-
ritory, and here it is 1934. We are
now on the Paramount lot, where they
are shooting "The Old-Fashioned
Way" and finding it nice work. Wil-
liam (Bill, to you) Beaudine is now a
full fledged director and this is his
"steenth" production. Dell Hender-
son, his old boss, and Jack Dillon are
playing bits. But Jack Mulhall, after
twenty-two years, is still playing the
part of a juvenile and still looking like
one. Not only that, but to make
matters even funnier, in one scene
Mul.hall's vis-a-vis (girl-friend) gets
kinda mad at him for being too con-
servative and says to him; "Go home
and look out for your grandchildren."
•
Countless numbers of boys and girls
are still wending their way to Holly-
wood thinking that since they can't
get jobs, they can at least get into
the movies, and every once in a while,
one of them has an almost legitimate
reason for believing so. The other
day, Allie Wrubel, song-writer who
has just completed work on the score
for "Flirtation Walk," was driving to
the studio and decided to give a
thumb-hiker a lift. Naturally, he
started asking questions, and discov-
ered that the boy had been a well-
known football player. When Wru-
bel asked him why he had hitched
his way to Hollywood, the young
husky told him that all the time he
had been in college, because of his
football playing, he had had no trou-
jDle at all in getting work and had
played in lots of movies, but since he
had been graduated, he had done
nothing, so he figured that, if Holly-
wood had used him while he was in
college, .he certainly could give pic-
tures more time now that he was out
of college. Which reminds us that
it must be almost time for all good
football stories to come to the aid of
the industry for Fall release.
•
If it has any connection with Garbo,
you may rest assured there isn't a
paper in the country that would miss
printing it. Garbo is good copy, but
she won't give. However, she has
got that old 1925 Lincoln, and the
other day a bright p. a. noticed that
it .had a 1934 windshield wiper. Just
for the hell of it, he wrote a story on
it and, to the amazement of the pub-
licity department, every paper to
which it was sent printed it, just for
the use of Garbo's name. And then
they remembered that, two years ago
when Garbo bought new tires for it,
the papers considered that a feature
stpry too.
Page Four
THE
Junes. 1934
osm
1 ai^Htia.
Victor Trivas — just listen first and
then, if you feel like it. give him a
real hand — refuses a well paid direc-
tor's job on a film with a famous star
because of two- weeks' shooting limi-
tation. Atta boy, that's the spirit,
Victor. . . . Levitan and Vincent ,East
and West to you, in case you read
characters) meeting on neutral
ground: the English phlegma line, and
is that charming.' . . . Harry Bauer,
always democratiest of democrats, at-
tacking in earliest morning hours the
crowded subway with neither hat nor
overcoat to hamper his movements.
. . . Nathalie Paley just feels fit for
Hollywood, so she's using the London-
Korda-Fairbanks plank for the jump.
When she's through with "Don Juan"
you might hear from her, one way or
the other. . . . Juan Berrone's latest
headache is a secretary to classify
mail she doesn't answer — so between
calls, conferences, dictations he buys
a truck to carry it away — presumably.
. . . "Liliom" is not doing badly at
all in three theatres. . . . Bertrand
looks so very, very satisfied — but it's
no blonde, he protests.
•
Mathot looking sensationally him-
self— even after having directed
"Bouboule." . . . Max Friedland bring-
ing along some London pudding to
keep the girls fit when Pa Laemmle
arrives. . . . You see, this time it's as
serious as a Geneva conference; reser-
vations are already made for June 22
at the Georges V. . . . Harold L. Smith
in and out in all these ministries. . . .
When a fool throws a stone into the
water, can a wise man take it out?
. . . And take it from me, it isn't
Smith who is the fool. . . . Cinedis a
bit stingy — on stamps, . . . Pathe's
men still packing for U.S.A. . . . Com-
oedia very, very popular — in Germany,
. Paul Kohner, where are you hid-
ing? . . . "Little Women" doing mar-
velous business at Edouard VII. . . .
Jean Bastia getting older and funnier
— but not wiser. . . . Only if you have
a good ear and know French well,
shake hands with Jean at the "Per-
choir."
•
Damia, French queen of the blues,
contradicting popular opinion; that's
why she looks much younger on street
than on stage. . . . Palestine Workers
Theatre "Ohel" (the Tent to you)
attracting French elite. . . . Though
Hebrew sounds Greek to them, pas-
sion of players and strong expressions
carry away snobs and gourmands. . . .
Meet Tino Rossi with the sweetest
voice you ever laid an eye on. . . .
It's just made for the screen. And
being a relative of the great Napo-
leon (all Corsicans are cousins!) he
should find his opportunity. Don't
you think so, Feyder? . . . (MGM)
Byre can't break away from EXPEN-
SIVE headaches, not even with as-
pirin. . . . S. A. Dowling enjoying a
big cigar and still bigger chat with
Leasim in RKO office — because happy
days are here again! . . . And should
you not know it, Hollywood has moved
to Paris and is enjoying a delightful
game of cat and mouse with the
newshounds. . . . Charles Farrell, Da-
vid 0. Selznick, George Cukor, you
only can see them wherever you don't
expect them. . . . Chez Elle (read
Lucienne Boyer), Grande Chaumiere
or Julian (the Paris models' dens) are
some of their hide-outs.
•
And can you keep a secret? Cukor
regrets two things right now: to have
missed Sophie Tucker (yes, the hot,
hot mamma!) and the wine tasting
excursion to the Paris Fair organized
by the Tribune. . . Lee Dickson of
same daily is all upset after screening
"Damaged Lives." "Gracious me," he
exclaims, "I am glad I never drink
anything stronger than sarsaparilla or
have anything to do with blondes!"
But, just forgive him, the case isn't
as serious as that — his trouble comes
always from brunettes. . . . Remem-
ber, the contest idea isn't dead; here
they stage one for the prettiest love
song — why not the prettiest "two
o'clock in the morning"? . . . U. S.
clubwomen here on warpath against
films and press — what a JOB! And
mind you, committee will have to ap-
proach producers by petition and "they
will be given six months in which to
provide Europe with films about
American HOME life."
Reb Russell to Make
Six Westerns For Kent
Willis Kent yesterday signed Reb
Russell, former Northwestern All-
American football player, for a series
of six westerns, the first of which
will be "The Man from Hell."
Lane Chandler is no longer under
contract to the producer, having com-
pleted his six-picture deal with "Guns
For Hire," which wound up last week.
'Callante' Starting
Fox will put J'Marie Gallante" into
work next Monday. Henry King will
direct, and Spencer Tracy and Ketti
Gallian head the cast.
Our Gang Finishes One
Our Gang finished "The Little
Broadcast" and Charley Chase started
"Something Simple" yesterday at the
Roach studio.
ThcTowri't Biggest Stage-Screen Show!
I f LiRTmion
ADOLPHE MENJOU
•STAGE*
FANCHON& MARCO
present
YAH-BUTe CHEERILY
and ANDY ANDREWS
RIOTOUS STARS OF N-B-C
l!i :T»1KO
iriM PERSOn^
lATSE Delegates
Open Fight on ASC
Louisville, Ky. — The lATSE struck
at the ASC yesterday when the dele-
gates unanimously adopted a resolu-
tion branding it as a company union
and calling for its termination as such.
George Browne, only nominee for
president, has pledged himself to wipe
out all dual organizations, or company
unions, to settle the jurisdictional
fight between the lATSE and the
IBEW, and to force the American
Federation of Labor to clean up the
jurisdictional battles between its
members.
It was decided that no charter will
be issued to the motion picture as-
sistant directors, and that no attempt
will be made to organize film ex-
change workers.
Asks Film Code Probe
(Continued from Page 1 )
have caused so much confusion in the
industry that nobody knows what is
going on.
Under the new Communications bill
such action may be undertaken by the
Federal Trade Commission or the new
Communications Committee, as the
bill provides for investigation by either
of any subsidiaries of the A. T. & T.
concerned with motion pictures.
Christy Cabanne Held
For Another at Mono.
After seeing the rough cut of "Jane
Eyre" yesterday, Trem Carr made ar-
rangements with Radio to keep Christy
Cabanne to direct Gene Stratton Por-
ter's "The Girl of the Limberlost,"
which W. T. Lackey supervises. It is
scheduled to go before the cameras in
two weeks.
Cabanne was due back at the ma-
jor plant to handle a West Point story.
Stan and Babe Start
Laurel and Hardy start work Mon-
day on the fifth of their interrupted
series, with Charles Rogers again at
the megaphone.
BACK TO HER FIRST LOVE!
JANET ^l||
G\YNOR
CHARLES
fARRai
tHANGEcfHEART
JAMES DUNN
GINGER ROGERS
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la 'AlUi 0«»*
CNKMU
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OnctodbyJOHN BLY5TONS
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LOEWS STAIE
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)une8. 1934
THg
Page Five
Peggy Fears Starts
First at Fox July 9
Hans Schwartz, former UFA direc-
tor, starts his first American produc-
tion, "Lottery Lover," July 9 at Fox.
Schwartz has just finished working on
the script with Schultz and Wilder,
German writing team.
Peggy Fears makes her screen debut
in the semi-musical, which co-fea-
tures Pat Patterson and Lew Ayres.
Ned Sparks and Sidney Winters also
hold assignments.
MCM Plans All-Star
Production of 'Repeal'
The word went around yesterday
that MCM was figuring on an all-star
production of "Repeal," a story with
a liquor theme. This is supposed to
refer to the Saturday Evening Post
story by Charles Francis Coe.
The story does not emphasize liq-
uor, either for or against, but centers
around a night club where prohibition
gangsters are wondering what next.
Term For Shirley Ross
Shirley Ross was given a new MCM
contract in New York, but will not
return to Culver City until after the
graduating exercises at West Point.
Reason, a boy friend w.ho graduates.
Reay Quits Paramount
Neville Reay leaves the Paramount
publicity department the end of next
week. For the past year he has
handled publicity for the Charles R.
Rogers productions.
$7500 For Winchell in
One Week of Personals
Walter Winchell goes to San
Francisco for one week of personal
appearances at the Warfield Thea-
tre, starting June 22, for which he
will receive a salary of $7500.
This seems to be some sort of
record.
Keye Luke May Have
'Ho For Shanghai' Lead
Lou Brock, RKO-Radio producer,
announced yesterday that he is seri-
ously considering Keye Luke, Chinese
artist in the RKO publicity depart-
ment, for the lead in "Ho, For Shang-
hai," a musical he is going to make
soon.
Luke, a native of China, is an
American college graduate, and is
known as one of the foremost expo-
nents of modern Chinese art in
America.
Karloff and Lugosi to
Co-star in 'The Raven'
Universal yesterday set "The
Raven" as the next Boris Karloff and
Bela Lugosi vehicle. It is planned for
July production and will combine two
of Edgar Allan Poe's works, "The
Raven" and "The Gold Bug."
Foster Not With Young
Preston Foster, who was slated to
be Loretta Young's leading man in her
first picture for MCM, has been set
for the Joan Crawford picture, "Sacred
and Profane Love," instead.
NRA Officer Here
To Look Into Code
Donald Renshaw, liaison officer be-
tween the U. S. Department of Com-
merce and the NRA, arrived in Los
Angeles yesterday. While informa-
tion from Washington indicates that
he is here primarily to see what is
wrong with the working of the film
code, he declared yesterday that at
present he is going to do nothing
about the picture affairs.
"The picture code," he said, "is an
intricate and peculiar factor, and I
am going to do nothing regarding it
until I hear from Washington. How-
ever, I am expecting some instruc-
tions."
Elsie Ferguson Coming;
Perhaps For Pictures
New York. — Elsie Ferguson leaves
tomorrow on a trip through the Pan-
aman Canal with Hollywood as her
destination.
It is understood that a deal is
awaiting her arrival there, although
she professes to be going for a vaca-
tion.
Helen Westley Signs
For 'Age of Innocence'
New York. — Helen Westley was
signed by Radio and left immediately
by train for the coast to take a role in
"Age of Innocence."
Miss Westley is the second of the
Theatre Guild company to go to Ra-
dio, Philip Moeller preceding her as
director of the Irene Dunne picture.
Eddie Chandler, James Blakely, Vin-
cent Sherman, Charles McMurphy,
Frank Fanning, C. A. Bockman, Ernie
Young and Al Bercovici for "Persons
Unknown," Columbia.
Herbert Bunston, Olat Hytten and
Fred Walton to "Moonstone," Mono-
gram.
Charles Wilson, Charles Levison and
Ward Bond, through Al Kingston, to
Columbia's "Broadway Bill."
Wilfred Lucas for "The Dragon
Murder Case," Warners.
George Irving by Menifee I. John-
stone to "The Painted Lady," Fox.
Maidel Turner by Al Kingston for
"Servants' Entrance," Fox.
Sam Flint to "Student Tour,"
MCM.
Charles B. Middleton to "Mrs.
Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," Para-
mount.
Ray Mayer to "Youth and Beauty,"
Mascot, through Bernard, Meiklejohn
and McCall.
Joseph DeValder to "Stamboul
Quest," MCM, through Bernard,
Meiklejohn and McCall.
Eddie Kane to a Radio short, through
Bernard, Meiklejohn & McCall.
Elizabeth Patterson to "Hideout,"
MCM.
Ralph Rainger East
Ralph Rainger, who wrote the songs
for Paramount's "She Loves Me Not,"
took off by plane for New York last
night on a vacation.
ANNOUNCING
A NEW SERIES OF BETTER CLASS WESTERNS
FEATURING
REB RUSSELL
The Oklahoma cowboy who went to Northwestern
University and made football history,
and
THE MAGNIFICENT STALLION
REBEL
THE WORLD'S FINEST TRAINED HORSE
A NEW PERSONALITY — NEW IDEAS
A NEW DEAL IN WESTERN PICTURES
FOR INFORMATION ADDRESS
REB and REBEL PICTURES
4376 SUNSET DRIVE
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF.
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
PRESENTS
A NEW ROMANTIC COM
WITH MUSIC
A
STANLEY
BERCERMAN
PRODUCTION
"ROMANCE IN THE RAIN"
with
ROGER PRYOR - HEATHER ANGEL - VICTOR MOORE
STARTING PRODUCTION NEXT WEEK
M-G-M STUDIOS,
/i HEADING DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALIF,
Vol. XXI. No. 27. Price 5e.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Safurday, |une 9, 1934
CAI^DINAL B4N$ ALL Pl\
•WE have a consuming curiosity to
know just how Pete Harrison arrived
at the figures which he recently pub-
lished in his "Reports" regarding the
best money-making productions and
producers of the year. We would
like to have Pete tell us just what
questions he asked the exhibitors
when he started to compile this find-
ing.
The principal thing that makes us
want to know these things is to find
out how Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer could
possibly be ranked fifth on any such
list. That is the one point which we
simply cannot understand.
Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer has been
the backbone of the industry for years
when it came to quality and box-
office draw. Moreover, it served in
the same capacity during the past
year, no matter what Pete Harrison
has to say about It.
•
Certainly the company had consid-
erably more than its share of bad pic-
tures during the year, and the worst
part of that is that when Metro-
Coldwyn-Mayer makes a bad picture,
it is always an expensive one. That
is because that company is the great-
est "picture doctor" in the business.
Its productions are usually costly in
the first place and, if a picture does
not turn out well, that company will
put a lot more money into it in a
determined effort to fix it up the way
it should be. If, after the doctoring
is over, it is still bad — well , that's
just MCM's bad luck. Anyway, if a
picture is not good, it is not for lack
of strenuous efforts to make it so.
•
But no matter how many bad pic-
tures the company has had during the
past year, its good ones have far over-
balanced the flops. And, good or
bad, the MCM product drew people
into the theatres because the com-
pany has more stars and featured
players with drawing power than any
other company in the business.
We will concede Mr. Harrison his
contention that Metro - Coldwyn -
Mayer made some pictures last year
that did not return great amounts to
the box-offices of the country, but
we would also like to ask him if he
has any idea what the theatres gar-
nered from such productions as "Tug-
boat Annie," "Queen Christina,"
(Continued on Page 4)
Archbishop Says
Good Pictures Must
Suffer With Bad
St. Louis. — Headed by Fred
Wehrenberg, a committee of thea-
tre owners asked Archbishop John
J. Clennon yesterday to urge mem-
bers of the Legion of Decency to
attend pictures classed as clean.
The Archbishop replied that good
pictures must suffer with the bad
until the bad are eliminated
through the Legion's boycott.
Philadelphia Prelate Urges
All Catholics To Stay Away
From All Picture Theatres
New York. — Cardinal Dougherty last night joined the cam-
paign being waged by his church against indecent motion pic-
tures by advising a complete boycott on pictures and urging all
Catholics in the Philadelphia diocese to stay away from all mo-
tion picture theatres.
$5,000,000 for MCM
Musicals This Year
New York. — Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer
is going in heavily for musicals for
the coming season and plans to spend
at least $5,000,000 in producing this
type of entertainment.
Among those already set, either in
production or being prepared, are
"The Merry Widow," w.hich Ernst
Lubitsch is directing; "Student Tour,"
with "Chuck" Reisner directing;
"Have a Heart," which David Butler
will handle; "Naughty Marietta,"
which will team jeanette MacDonald
and Nelson Eddy ,and "Tiptoes,"
which will co-star Ramon Novarro and
Evelyn Laye.
Millie' Starts June 18
Lewis Milestone will get his first
Columbia production before the cam-
eras June 18, with Fred Keating and
Mae Clarke in the leads. The studio
is looking for a new title for the Wal-
lace Smith novel, "The Captain Hates
the Sea."
In a letter sent to every parish he
asserts that "a vicious and insidious
attack is being made by the films on
the very foundation of our Christian
civilization."
The Catholic clergy of the diocese
are told that adults as well as children
are to be urged to sign pledges in the
Legion of Decency.
The letter continues:
"Censorship and appeals to the pro-
ducers have been fruitless, and the
only argument likely to be heard now
is that which affects the box-office.
Perhaps the greatest menace to faith
and morals in America today is the
motion picture theatre. Nothing is
left for us except the boycott.
"The Catholic people of this diocese
are therefore urged to register their
united protest against immoral and in-
decent films by staying away from
ALL motion picture theatres."
Farrow Directing Now
Leaving writing for the time being,
John Farrow has turned to directing
at MCM and will take a production
crew to Honolulu the middle of next
week to shoot a four-reel Technicolor
featurette with a native cast. Harry
Rapf is producing.
W AR]VERS NOW HAVE ERPI
MONOPOLY, DUOVAC SAYS
New York. — The monopoly in the
sound equipment field which Erpi is
accused of having had since sound pic-
tures came in is now being transferred
to Warner Brothers, according to the
belief of the officials of the Duovac
Radio Tube Company.
Warners and Erpi recently settled
their long-standing litigation over roy-
alties by the payment of $5,000,000
to the former. Now Robert Robins,
secretary of Duovac, charges that the
terms of the settlement also give War-
ners the physical handling of the Erpi
motion picture activities, thus trans-
ferring the alleged monopoly.
(Continued on Page 3)
Para. Foreign Execs
Arrive For Convention
New York. — John Cecil Graham,
Earl St. John and Montague Goldman,
of the Paramount British forces, ar-
rived here yesterday on the Aqui-
tania, bound for the convention in
Los Angeles on June 18.
Carl York gets in from Scandinavia
today, and M. J. Messeri, manager for
Spain and Portugal, is due Tuesday.
Bill Coetz to Hawaii
William Coetz, 20th Century asso-
ciate producer, leaves for Honolulu,
June 15. He will be gone a month.
New York Crosses
Hit The Toboggan
New York.. — With the hot weather
largely responsible, the grosses of the
big picture houses hit the skids this
past week.
In spite of its good notices, "Little
Man, What Now.^" drew only $68,-
000 at the big Music Hall. The Capi-
tol got $33,000 with "Viva Villa, "and
the third week of "Little Miss Mark-
er" at the Paramount ran to $26,000.
"Rothschild" in its thirteenth week at
the Astor drew $13,200, the second
week of "Now I'll Tell" at the Roxy
amounted to $14,600, and "Fog Over
Frisco" at the Strand took $15,500.^
The second week of "Born to Be Bad"
gave the Rivoli $12,000, the second
week of "Hollywood Party" at the Ri-
alto grossed $9500, and the Mayfair
got $9000 with "The Love Captive."
Robinson Returning for
Shoe the Wild Mare'
New York. — Edward G. and Mrs.
Robinson leave for the coast by train
today. Robinson reports to Para-
mount for story conferences with
Wanda Tuchock and George S.
Brooks on "Shoe the Wfid Mare," in
which he appears as the off-lot pic-
ture permitted by his Warner con-
tract.
Laemmie Sails June 16
New York. — Carl Laemmie Sr.,
with the Universal sales convention
off his mind, will sail for Europe on
the He de France on June 16.
Roxy Receiver Holds On
New York. — Federal Judge Caffey
yesterday extended Howard Cullman's
receivership of the Roxy Theatre for
another six months.
Koenig Due Tuesday
William Koenig, Warner produc-
tion manager, is expected to arrive
at the studio Tuesday after his six
weeks trip abroad.
E
GREGORY LA CAVA
NOW IN
PREPARATI
/ /
DOLLY" for MGI
Page Two
P[ilP©l^Tife
|une9, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Hofidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
WARIVERS PLAXXINC TO Ceo.BrowneChosen
CHAIVGE SELLIiyG SEASQJV President of lATSE
Yvonne Villon (who used to be
Katherine Black), Callente fan-danc-
er, is filing the divorce papers on Louis
Bernhard any minute. . . . George B.
Cock, of the British International
Broadcasting Company, is visiting Hol-
lywood. . . . Helen Hayes will arrive
here end of the month via boat. .
Tamara Ceva and Rita Field are shar-
ing a house at Malibu — Rita and Ju-
lian Field having permanently parted.
. . . Which reminds us — the recent
reconciliation of a movie actress and
her husband brings forth only this
comment from the local multitudes:
"Well — they deserve each other!"
How right! . . . The RKO lot isn't ex-
actly a bee-hive of activity these days
— with only two shorts in work! And
by the way, yesterday Ted Fio Rito
fell sound asleep listening to the
play-backs of his own tunes!
Sam Coldwyn would like to have
Cordon and Revel do the songs for the
new Cantor picture. . . . Frank Or-
satti and brother Vic may go it alone
together soon. . . . The Cedric Gibbons
(Dolores Del Rio) partied for Dorothy
di Frasso at the Grove Wednesday
night — the Countess takes off on the
new T.W.A. thirteen-hour jaunt to
New York tomorrow afternoon. . . .
Sally Eilers, Harry Joe Brown and the
Milton Brens back from Honolulu. . . .
And Jean Harlow (whose love-life is
practically dormant at this writing)
will leave for Hawaii in a couple of
weeks.
Bob Riskin just sent Glenda Farrell
two Siamese kittens — and she's toting
'em around. . . . Dave Gould and Mol-
lie O'Day are aflame. . . . Clarence
Brown is in the yacht market. . . .
King Vidor's good-looking, .half-Ha-
waiian chauffeur, Tony, was tested
yesterday for the lead in an MGM pic-
ture! . . . You'd be aghast to know
how a visiting Eastern "socialite"
really got his name! . . . Clara Bow
and Rex Bell MUST be planning to
With the release during the next
eight weeks of twelve pictures, War-
ner Brothers is starting a move which
it is hoped will result in the switch-
ing of the motion picture releasing
season to a straight calendar year,
starting January 1 and ending Decem-
ber 31 each year.
After many conferences. Major
Albert Warner and his eastern and
western sales managers, A. W. Smith
and Gradwell Sears, decided to inau-
gurate a fifteen-months sales cam-
paign to prove t.hat long term picture
selling is practicable. They feel that
it can be done, especially by throw-
ing a group of unusual pictures into
the summer slump. If they prove its
practicability, they hope they will be
able to persuade the other companies
to start a fifteen-months sales cam-
paign in September, 1935, which
would switch the present season
around to start on January 1 .
Incidentally, they believe that they
will break the usual Summer jinx this
year with such pictures as "Mme. Du
Barry," "Here Comes the Navy" and
"Circus Clown." Along with these
Vv-ill be "Fog Over Frisco," "Dr. Mon-
ica," "Side Streets," "Personality
Kid," "Return of the Terror," "Mid-
night Alibi," "Friends of Mr.
Sweeney," "The Key" and "He Was
Her Man."
Warners Refuse Three
Bids For Hugh Herbert
Warners yesterday turned down
three applications for the loan of
Hugh Herbert.
Paramount tried to get him for
"Mrs. Wiggs," Columbia asked for
him for "The Captain Hates the Sea,"
and Universal put in a bid for the
Murray Roth picture.
Monogram Starts One
Ben Verschleiser saw Charles La-
mont get "Tomorrow's Youth" into
work yesterday for Monogram. The
picture has John Miljan, Dickie Moore,
Barbara Bedford, Niles Welch and
Martha Sleeper in the cast.
Stage Team For Screen
Their act a part of the stage unit
at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre,
Cass, Mack and Owen were set in for
a cast spot by Paramount yesterday in
"You Belong to Me."
'Ransom' Postponed
E. M. Asher has put his "Million
Dollar Ransom" for Universal back a
week, the start now set for June 18.
Murray Roth is director, and Edward
Arnold starred.
adopt that baby!! . . . The Dick Ar-
lens, the Otto Krugers, Bayard Veilier,
Roly Leigh, Ralph Morgan, Mrs. Pat
Campbell, Hugh Williams, Vivian
Caye, Gregory LaCava, Mrs. Roland
Robbins, Eddie Kane, Lady Carlyle,
Sam Marx, Pauline Garon glimpsed at
the Vendome. . . Mrs. Don Stewart
recouping at the Cedars. . . . The
Winchell pillar will appear locally sim-
ultaneously with Noo York from now
or».
'Darryl of Zanuck'
For 20th Century
New York — Speaking to the Unit-
ed Artists sales force at the Chi-
cago convention, Joseph M.
Schenck said: "When we started
Twentieth Century Pictures, all we
had was a desk, a pen, a pencil and
a Darryl of Zanuck."
Wyler May Abandon
Tanny' For Tairy'
Unless William Wyler improves his
luck in casting "Fanny" in the next
few days, he will probably lay the
Marcel Pagnol comedy aside for the
time being and direct "The Good
Fairy" as his next production.
Margaret Sullavan is visiting in Nor-
folk, Va., awaiting the call to Univer-
sal City to star in the Ferenc Molnar
story. Preston Sturges is doing the
"Good Fairy" treatment.
Wyler has been unwilling to cast
any part in "Fanny" definitely. Frank
Morgan took a test for the picture
yesterday.
Mary Pickford Wampas
Guest Monday Evening
The Wampas Meeting Monday at
the Writers Club will have Everett
Mattoon and other local Shrine dig-
nitaries as guests, together with Sid
Grauman, Mary Pickford and Walter
Winchell, if he can be keyholed
into it.
Sid Silvers Arrives
Sid Silvers arrived by plane yester-
day from New York to start work to-
day in Edward Small's "Transatlantic
Showboat," which Ben Stoloff directs.
He has been in the East for several
months since completing his work in
"Bottom's Up" at Fox.
Term For Polly Walters
New York. — Universal has signed
Polly Walters, of the "She Loves Me
Not" company, to a term contract
and she will leave for the coast some
time next month.
Weaver Play June 15
John V. A. Weaver's new play,
"Keep It a Dream," will have its pre-
miere at the Hollywood Playhouse Fri-
day night, June 15. It goes to San
Francisco after its engagement here.
Louisville, Ky. — George Browne, of
Chicago, was elected president of the
lATSE at the convention yesterday.
Other officers chosen were: J. P. Nick,
William Covert, Harland Holden, Dick
Walsh, F. M. Billingsley, J. Brennen
and Roger Kennedy, vice-presidents;
Fred j. Dempsey, secretary-treasurer,
and Thomas E. Maloy, delegate to the
American Federation of Labor conven-
tion.
The ill-fated cameramen's strike in
Hollywood finally came to the floor of
the convention yesterday, and retiring
president William C. Elliott told the
delegates that the strike was called
with his sanction, thus settling a long-
argued question.
Negro Symphony Will
Be Presented at Bowl
"Harlem Heab'n," a negro sym-
phony composed by David Broekman
and with lyrics by Clarence Muse, is
to be presented at the Hollywood
Bowl on August 1 1 , with Broekman
conducting. There will be a chorus
of 1 50 voices.
Broekman played his symphony for
the Bowl sponsors recently and they
signed the contract ten minutes later.
Following its presentation here, which
v/ill be its first, it is to be played at
the Lewisohn Stadium in New York.
Coldwyn Art Sponsor
Mr. and Mrs. Sam (Doldwyn are
sponsoring an exhibit of Sergei Soudei-
kin's art work at the Stendahl Galler-
ies, starting June 21 . He has been out
here six weeks under contract to Cold-
wyn to design the sets for the Anna
Sten-Fredric March vehicle, "We Live
Again."
Wallises Back July 1
Hal Wallis and Louise Fazenda are
expected back July 1 from their tour
from Italy to the Scandinavian coun-
tries. Wallis is supposed to be on
the lookout for new stories and faces
for Warner pictures on the trip.
Recruits For Cuild
Warner Baxter, Helen Twelvetrees
and Doris Lloyd joined the Screen
Actors' Cuild yesterday.
FOR SALE CHEAP
Series of unusual Animal Comedy|
Films and Animal Negative photo-
graphed in natural habitats. Ex-|
cellent material to dialogue. AIsc
Holmes Portable 35mm. Projector.]
EX-0664
A GREAT BUY
FOR RENT — FURNISHED — Hermosa Beach apartment, six rooms, three
bedrooms, living room, dining room, bath and shower outside for use of
bathers. Twenty-five minutes to Hollywood and Vine. Located west end
Hermosa, quiet, refined surroundings. One hundred feet from ocean.
Beautiful beach. Can be had very reasonable if rented from June 15 to
Labor Day or longer. Drive down over this week-end to inspect this offer
or
Phone Hollywood 3957 or Redondo 2519.
Address 3234 Hermosa Avenue, Hermosa Beach, California
{une9, 1934
THEJfe^
Page Three
'WHILE PARENTS SLEEP' TOO
BRITISH FOR AMERICAN TASTE
'BedroomTarce and
Won't Do for Screen
"WHILE PARENTS SLEEP"
Presented by William A. Brady in as-
sociation with Leon M. Lion; writ-
ten by Anthony 'Kimmins; with
Winifred Harris, )ane Corcoran,
Lionel Rape, May Marshall, Alan
Marshall, Ilka Chase, Charles Ro-
mano, Jane Bramley. At the Play-
house.
New York. — Bill Brady, noting the
success of such rowdy pieces as "Sail-
or Beware," "She Loves Me Not" and
"The Milky Way," decided he would
have his fling with a farce and im-
ported "While Parents Sleep," a typi-
cal British specimen, which has been
"wowing them" in dear ole Lunnon
for many moons. To say the least,
this importation is very much below
the par of the current American suc-
cessful farces. This play is filled
with a great many typical English
slang expressions, which are so much
Greek to the average Americans, who
often laughed in the wrong places,
due to the fact that they placed a sug-
gestive meaning on what is ordinary
English slang.
The plot of the play concerns two
sons of a British Colonel and the two
ladies they bring home for the eve-
ning. One is the young and misun-
derstood wife of the eldest son's pros-
pective employer — a Lady, no less,
and the other a typical English work-
ing girl. The younger brother catches
the other in a compromising situation
and finally everything is straightened
out to the satisfaction of all con-
cerned. The entire action takes place
in one scene — a living room with a
couch in it instead of the usual bed-
room, and the situations are very
similar to some of the worst bedroom
farces that we have seen for many
years.
Possibly this would make a good
quota production if produced in Eng-
land, as the play enjoyed great suc-
cess over there, but it is valueless for
American consumption. The players
did as well as could be expected with
their parts. Ilka Chase, who plays
Lady Cattering and who has been seen
in pictures, was not up to her usual
standard. Alan Marshall, as the eld-
est son, seemed quite stiff in his part
as the virgin hero who fought off the
seductress, but he is a good-looking
chap, has had considerable stage ex-
perience and might make a successful
juvenile uader the proper motion pic-
ture director.
Stepin Fetchit, Spanky,
Sign With Bert and Bob
Stepin Fetchit and "Spanky" Mac-
Farland, the latter of the Hal Roach
forces, have been signed for the cast
of "Kentucky Colonels," the next
Wheeler and Woolsey production,
which George Stevens will direct.
Sol Newman in N.Y.
New York. — Sol Newman, foreign
representative of RKO-Radio Pictures,
arrived here today to attend the com-
pany convention.
1 15 Code Complaints
Filed in Past 5 Days
At the close of business last
night, Audrey Blair, secretary of
the Junior Screen Actors' Guild, re-
ported that a total of 115 com-
plaints of alleged code violations
had been filed with him by extras
during the past five days. He passes
them on to the Code Committee
for Extras.
Irving Claim Fought
By RKO Creditors
New York. — Counsel representing a
group of Radio-Keith-Orpheum credit-
ors appeared before Judge Bondy in
Federal Court yesterday to oppose the
claim of the Irving Trust Company for
$225,000 receivership fees.
The creditors demand that the Trust
company show the actual working
hours that have been consumed in
handing the company's affairs. Judge
Bondy deferred decision until such
time as all the papers shall have been
submitted.
United Artists Set
First Four Releases
New York. — United Artists has set
its first four pictures for the coming
season for early releases.
"Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back"
IS set for July 15, "The Affairs of
Cellini" for early August, with "The
Last Gentleman" and "Our Dally
Bread," the King Vidor feature, to
follow quickly.
U' Wants Thelma Todd
For June Knight Role
Universal is dickering with Radio
for the use of Thelma Todd in the
"Romance in the Rain" part vacated
by June Knight's return to the hospi-
tal.
If the deal goes through, Stuart
Walker will start direction Monday,
with only a three-day delay.
Two For Dorothy Lee
Dorothy Lee has been signed by
Radio for a short under Lee Marcus'
supervision, after which she goes to
M. H. Hoffman at Liberty for a top
spot in "School for Girls," which Wil-
liam Nigh directs. The Rebecca and
Silton office handled the deals.
Kober Back to MCM
Arthur Kober checked in at MGM
yesterday to take up his term writing
ticket on which he had been given
a three-months leave of absence. He
goes to work with Arthur Bloch and
George Seaton on the screen play of
"Broadway Melody of 1934."
Special Dance For 'Tour'
Following the lead of Radio and
Paramount in exploiting a production
through the medium of a special
dance, MGM yesterday announced
that "Student Tour" will have a spe-
cial dance number, "The Carlo."
Services Tomorrow
For Dorothy Dell
With Dr. Wilsie Martin, of the
Wilshire Methodist Church, officiat-
ing, funeral services for Dorothy Dell
will be held at two o'clock tomorrow
at the Pierce Brothers' Mortuary, 730
W. Washington boulevard. The body
will be sent back to the Goff home
at Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for inter-
ment.
The sudden death of the Paramount
player early yesterday morning upset
the entire Paramount studio. Every-
one, from office boy to top executive,
had a warm regard for her. Although
her career with the company was
brief, she had nevertheless succeeded
in making a great many friends.
'U' Meeting Closes in
N.Y., Moves to Chicago
New York. — Universal's National
Sales Convention wound up its three
days session yesterday. John LeRoy
Johnson gave what was described as
an "inspired" talk, and Carl Laemmie,
Sr., closed the meeting with a speech
brimming with enthusiasm.
Monday the Universal regional sales
convention opens at the Drake Hotel
in Chicago. Attending this will be
salesmen from Chicago, Cleveland,
Cincinnati, St. Louis, Kansas City,
Oklahoma City, Des Moines, Milwau-
kee and Minneapolis.
DeMille Works at U*
Cecil B. DeMille is a visitor at Uni-
versal City. He used the "U" tank
Thursday night for miniatures for
"Cleopatra,' and is working again to-
day with another set-i^.
Sloman Winds Up Today
Edward Sloman expects to complete
"There's Always Tomorrow" at Uni-
versay today. The picture features
Frank Morgan, Binnie Barnes and Lois
Wilson.
New Warner-Erpi Deal?
(Continued from Page 1 )
Duovac, which had a suit against
Erpi the same as Warners and General
Talking Pictures had, made no settle-
ment, and the company now intends
to petition the Federal Court at Wil-
mington to make Warner Brothers a
co-defendant with Erpi in its suit.
Information in picture circles here
is to the effect that Warners double-
crossed their own lawyers, who were
not aware of the settlement and were
prepared to go ahead with the suit
when George Quigley, vice-president
of Vitaphone, notified them of the
settlement and stopped further action.
Warner Brothers, it is believed here,
anticipate Government intervention
later if they take over the Erpi activi-
ties, but intend, before that happens,
to boost their stock to the highest
possible figure as a result of the ad-
vantages that the Erpi settlement gives
them.
ATTERJ
Now is the time when all good ex-
hibitors think they have a right to look
forward to something big from the
studios for their next season's product.
And .how right they are is evidenced
by the fact that every major studio
today is readying at least one big spe-
cial for early Fall release. None has
been completed yet, but it is possible
to give a studio preview of what the
exhibitor can count on to exploit for
his early Fall showings and give him
an insight on how to handle it.
The first BIG production that comes
to mind is "The Merry Widow." And
It is important to know its makings
because they are like nothing that has
been made before under that title.
The exhibitor will be selling an en-
tirely new production to his audiences
when it is released and need have no
fear of that old label, "Re-make",
bobbing up to slap down his box-
office take.
•
In the first place, Lubitsch, Che-
valier and MacDonald, the trio that
gave forth the "Love Parade", are re-
united.
Ernest Vadja, Claudine West and
Donald Ogden Stewart — the continen-
tal, the feminine touch, and the mad,
zany humor, in the order named —
have modernized the script and kept
the romance (which is ageless! to
give full flavor to please the Ameri-
can palate.
Albertina Rasch has staged the fa-
mous "Can-Can" dance and the
"Merry Widow" waltz.
Ali Hubert, who worked with Lu-
bitsch on "Passion" and "The Student
Prince," journeyed over to do the cos-
tuming and atmospheric details. Our
own Cedric Gibbons has fashioned the
sets, and there is a white bedroom
framing the mourning wear of the
merry widow that is good for reams
of publicity.
•
There is also the replica of the
world-famous Maxim's cafe of Paris
that will make the hearts of the gay
old blades flutter.
As a matter of fact, the list of sta-
tistics on the picture covers a volume
in itself. Nothing has been spared in
the making of it, including the three
or four hundred people in the cast
whose various nationalities have turn-
ed the "Merry Widow" stage into a
modern Babel.
Most important of all, however, is
Lubitsch's own approach to the film.
Von Stroheim's production was mar-
velous and the picture was great,
BUT the story and mood were entirely
Stroheim's idea of what the widow
should have been like. Lubitsch is
sticking close to the Viennese Lehar's
own conception. Whereas Stroheim's
picture was romantic and dramatic,
Lubitsch's will be gay, romantic com-
edy, with the spirit of a Vienna waltz
danced lightly, deliciously on a warm
evening under a full moon, to Lehar's
beloved music — all of it without
charge.
Page Four
THE
June 9. 1934
Extras Committee
Gets Code Praise
New York — The Code Authority
has unanimously approved eleven spec-
ific resolutions recently passed by the
Standing Committee for Extras in Hol-
lywood and took occasion to praise
highly the work of that committee.
The Code Authority has requested the
committee to get together again on
certain resolutions on which there
were differences of opinion and try to
turn in unanimous reports.
It was also suggested to Gen, Hugh
Johnson that the film code be re-
opened for new exhibitor assents with
certain reservations which will be
made public within the next ten days.
Assessments received to date from
5996 exhibitors amount to $63,000.
Reliance Starting
'Showboat' Today
Edward Small today places "Trans-
atlantic Showboat" into work for Re-
liance at RKO-Pathe under Ben Sto-
loff's direction.
Nancy Carroll, Gene Raymond,
Wera Engels, Helen Morgan, Four
Mills Brothers, Jack Benny, Jean Sar-
gent, Frank Parker, Mary Livingston,
Sydney Howard and Sil Silvers are the
cast. Leon Gordon wrote the story,
with Sid Silvers and Ben Ryan doing
the comedy. The music is by Rich-
ard Whiting.
Norman Hall to Write
Tailspin Tommy' at 'U'
Milton Gatzert yesterday signed Nor-
man S. Hall to write the script of
"Tailspin Tommy," based on the syn-
dicated comic strip by Hal Forrest.
It will be the first serial for the
producer and his associate, Henry Mc-
Rea, for Universal release. Mitchell
Certz, of the Al Kingston office, set
the deal.
Shumate on Original
Columbia has assigned. Harold Shu-
mate to write an original story, "Police
Ambulance," to be used as the first
of the action features on the 1934-35
list. The studio has not as yet lined up
a lead for the series, which last year
spotted Tim McCoy in eight.
Premiere Postponed
"The Broadway Lover," new com-
edy by Desider Pek, with Georgia Hale
in the top spot, which will be pre-
sented by Joseph B. Polonsky at the
Writers' Club, will open June 27 in-
stead of June 20.
Helen Morgan to Para.
Helen Morgan was signed to a one-
picture deal by Paramount yesterday.
She goes into an important role in
"You Belong to Me,' 'which is now
shooting.
New Deal For Adams
His treatment of the story approved
by Paramount, Frank R. Adams' deal
with the studio has been extended so
that he can write the screen play for
"The Big Broadcast of 1934."
New York Shows Closing
New York. — Three New York
shows close tonight. They are the
"Follies," "Jigsaw" and "No More
Ladies."
England To Get First
Sight of 'Don Juan'
London. — Alexander Korda's
plans to preview t.he Douglas Fair-
banks Sr, picture, "The Private
Life of Don Juan," in mid-Atlan-
tic and have its premiere in New
York, have been called off. Eng-
land will have exclusive first play
on the picture.
Scientists To Film
Europe Is Goal of
Many Warner Folk
The conclusion of "British Agent"
at Warners will result in a small he-
gira vacation-ward.
Kay Francis starts East in a few
days to sail June 20 for Naples, going
on to Rome and France. Mr. and Mrs.
Leslie Howard start for England about
the same time.
Michael Curtiz, the director, will
also set off for Europe when the pic-
ture is edited. He will accompany his
wife, Bess Meredyth, if he finishes in
time, otherwise joining her later.
Henry Hull Starting
For Universal Soon
New York. — Henry Hull closes his
two-year run in "Tobacco Road" to-
night and starts for the coast in a
few days, motoring out.
He will reach Universal City about
July 1 to star in "Great Expectations,"
Dickens novel which Gladys Unger is
preparing for the screen.
Ann Sothern Set For
Lead With Jack Haley
William Rowland yesterday set Ann
Sothern for the lead opposite Jack
Haley in "The Girl Friend,' which Rus-
sell Mack directs when it starts June
21 at Columbia. He also signed Roy
Turk to write some musical numbers
for the picture.
'K.C. Princess' Done
William Keighley turned in "Kan-
sas City Princess" at Warners Thurs-
day night. Joan Blondell and George
Barnes will start East by motor in a
few days, planning to visit in De-
troit, then continue to New York and
possibly visit Bermuda.
Para. -Jean Arthur Deal
Paramount is talking a deal with
Jean Arthur for the spot opposite
Francis Lederer in "Pursuit of Happi-
ness." The player is in New York to
appear in a Broadway play and, if the
deal jells, it will be outside of her
contract with Columbia.
Norman Dawn at Mascot
Mascot 'yesterday signed Norman
Dawn to handle the art direction on
its features. He has devised a pano-
ramic background which will be used
on "Crimson Romance," the first of
the pictures to go into work in the
next two weeks.
Carbo Start Set
MGM has decided to start work on
Greta Garbo's next picture, "The
Painted Veil," in two weeks. Richard
Boleslavsky directs. Herbert Marshall
gets a top spot and Preston Foster is
being considered for another.
i/PTorjimtiNvm,
In Canada Rockies l^H^Wl^ffj^
Floyd Crosby, who came into prom-
inence with his photography on
"Tabu," left yesterday for Edmonton,
Alberta, where he joins a scientific
expedition that is going into the
wilds of the Canadian Rockies.
The expedition is financed and
headed by Charles Bedaux, a wealthy
French scientist, and will have 35
people in the party, including chem-
ists, biologists, geologists, ethnologists
and mining engineers. The party will
travel with 100 horses and five auto-
mobiles fitted with caterpillar treads,
and will attempt to cross the Rockies
through a region as yet unexplored.
Crosby will be in charge of the mak-
ing of a photographic history of the
trip, which, it is expected, will take
until some time next Autumn.
Athletic Meet Shots
For 'Girl of My Dreams'
W. T. Lackey, Monogram producer,
took a crew to Berkeley last night to
get background stuff of the A. A. U.
meet today for use in "Girl of My
Dreams." George Waggner, writer,
and Bill Ackerman, UCLA assistant
coach, went along.
Last year Monogram did a similar
stunt at the National Intercollegiate
crew race and used it in "Sweetheart
of Sigma Chi," also a Lackey-Waggner
combination.
Weaver and Harkrider
On 'Romance in the Rain'
Universal yesterday set new talent
to work on "Romance in the Rain,"
signing John V. A. Weaver, novelist
and playwright, to write additional
dialogue, and assigning John Harkri-
der to work on the musical treatment.
Harkrider is the Broadway stage de-
signer brought out by Universal to
work on "The Great Ziegfeld," Wil-
liam Anthony McGuire production to
be made in August.
Hervey With Brock
Lou Brock yesterday signed Harry
Hervey to write the screen play of
"Ho, for Shanghai," which will be his
next musical production for Radio.
The picture will not get before the
cameras until Brock returns from his
European vacation later in the sum-
mer.
MGM Testing Chinese
MGM yesterday arranged to test
Tsan Tsing Ying, who arrived Thurs-
day on the President Coolidge, with
a view to signing her for a part in
"Good Earth." She is the daughter
of Chinese Reconstruction Minister
Chang.
Cary Grant Laid Up
Gary Grant dropped out of the cast
of "Ladies Should Listen" yesterday
with a heavy cold. The company
shoots around him until he returns to
Paramount.
Bacon With Joe Brown
Lloyd Bacon yesterday received the
directing assignment on Joe E. Brown's
next picture, "Six Day Bike Race,"
to start on Brown's return to the War-
ner studio July 2.
Willie Fung to "Lost Lady," War-
ners.
John Indrisano by MGM for "Stu-
dent Tour."
Billy Gilbert, Mae Busch and
Charles Hall by Hal Roach for Laurel
and Hardy short.
Louise Henry into "All Good Amer-
icans," MGM. .
Carlyle Moore for "Transatlantic
Showboat," Reliance.
Herman Cripps and Ned Winches-
f-sr for "Persons Unknown," Colum-
bia.
Warners Starting Two
Lady' Films Next Week
Warners start two more of their next
season's pictures Monday when both
"T.he Lost Lady" and "The Lady Sur-
renders" are set for production.
Ricardo Cortez' work in "Hat, Coat
and Glove" at Radio has held up
"Lost Lady," in which Alfred Green
expected to start directing Barbara
Stanwyck yesterday. ,
■ ■ I
Barry Barringer On
George O'Brien Scrjpt
Barry Barringer yesterday received
the scr;pting assignment on "Dude
Ranger," the first of the Sol Lesser-
John Zanft productions starring
George O'Brien.
Eddie Cline will direct, starting the
new picture three days after he turns
in "Peck's Bad Boy" for Lesser at
the Pathe lot.
Ray Taylor to Direct
'Chandu' For Lesser
Sol Lesser yesterday engaged Ray
Taylor to direct "Chandu," and set
June 26 as the starting date for t.he
feature and serial follow-up, scripted
by Barry Barringer.
Taylor directed the Buck Jones
serial, "Gordon of Ghost City," for
Universal a few months ago.
Bad Boy Starts June 19
Sol Lesser gave "Peck's Bad Boy"
a definite starting date of June 19
yesterday, upon learning that Jackie
Cooper would be through with his
"Treasure Island" pick-ups at MGM
today.
Song For 'Gaily I Sing'
Lee Zahler, musical director for
Larry Darmour, has written the music
for the title song of "Gaily I Sin,"
which Ralph Ceder directs when it
goes into work at Majestic next week.
Leon M. Leon has composed the lyrics.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
"Dancing Lady," "Penthouse," "Rip
Tide," "Manhattan Melodrama,"
"Viva Villa" and "Men in White."
After all, a company which can turn
out a list like that is entitled to make
a few poor ones from time to time,
Pete Harrison or no Pete Harrison.
DINNER at
is not merely an event, but
to those who demand
COMFORT
EXCELLENT FOOD
and
THE BEST IN SERVICE
it is a NECESSITY
CONCRA"
ULATIONS
AND
HANKS
«
To PARAMOUNT
CHARLES R. ROGERS
RALPH MURPHY
ADOLPHE MENJOU
for
THE GREAT FLIRTATION
and an appreciation to
Menjou for mentioning me
in his "TO AST"
E
_issA Land
.!FTRO--GO:,DWYN-MAYKR
r MR.SAfi-UFL MARX,
;'J^ V'--R CITY.CALiy.
;tudio3,
Vur. XXI. No. 28. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, June 11, 1934
EXmCSWANT PERSONALS
•AT a recent conference of California
teachers, held in Pasadena, an educa-
tor of high standing remarked that,
"taking all available evidence into
consideration, we must regretfully ad-
mit that motion pictures have proved
to be a detrimental social force."
"And that," commented King Vidor
the other day, "is a fair sample of the
barrage of criticism, not to say con-
demnation, that is Deing trained upon
the industry."
Vidor has been in the picture game
long enough to know what it is all
about and, more than that, he pos-
sesses a faculty of thinking clearly.
"Gladstone said once," he went on,
"that it is impossible to indict a whole
people because the indictment takes
in too much territory. And that is just
as true when anyone tries to indict an
entire industry, like the motion pic-
ture business. Even admitting that
some pictures have exercised a nega-
tive, even a harmful influence, it is
manifestly unfair to blacken every
picture and every producer.
•
"Dozens of pictures that have
been inspirational and uplifting can be
cited for every one that has had the
opposite effect. When a few news-
papers give offense by featuring crime
or sensational news, no one yells for
the censorship of the press. Yet that
drastic treatment is what the reform-
ers are trying to inflict on the picture
industry, which is fully as great as the
press as a disseminator of education
and news.
"The unfairness of the whole thing
is what gets me. For instance, the
people who are attacking pictures say
that 77,000,000 persons attend mo-
tion pictures every week and that one-
third of these are children. The infer-
ence is that 25,000,000 children see
harmful pictures every week. Anyone
who will think about it knows that
isn't true because an enormous per-
centage of those 25,000,000 are re-
peats. But the reformers still cry
about the baneful effect on '25,000,-
000 children*.
"Granting that there is room for
improvement in the moral tone of
many pictures, it is my view that that
is up to the public. If people are of-
fended by a picture and stay away
from theatres where it is shown, not
(Continued on Page 4)
Laughton To Star In
Magna Chart-a Film
London. — Miles Malleson, Brit-
ish writer, is writing a story around
the signing of the Magna Charta,
which Alexander Korda will pro-
duce for his London Films, with
Charles Laughton starring as King
John.
Franklin Will Make
Two For Paramount
New York. — Harold B. Franklin is
closing negotiations to produce two
pictures next season for Paramount
release. One will be called "Four-
teenth Street," Franklin owning the
title.
Arch Selwyn, associated with
Franklin in his stage production ven-
ture, is at present under contract to
Fox, but that agreement expires Aug-
ust 1 5 and it is possible that he will
be hooked in with Franklin's picture
deal.
Frank Joyce Expecl-ed
To Return in Few Days
New York. — Frank Joyce, who has
been dangerously ill for some time,
has recovered sufficiently to be able
to travel and is expected to leave for
his home on the coast within the next
week.
Para. Holding Bernie
Paramount has worked out a new
deal for Ben Bernie and is scheduled
to put it into effect following "Shoot
the Works," in which the band leader
turns actor.
Stars Won't Co-operate, They
Complain, To Help Box-office
During The Summer Slump
New York. — Loud and bitter complaints are being heard from
exhibitors in all sections of the country over the refusal of the
picture stars to make personal appearances and thus help the
theatres out in the Summer slump, and also over the refusal of
the studios to use their influence to
use
get the stars to comply.
The exhibitors see lean times dur-
ing the next three months. With the
exception of Warner Brothers, the
pictures in sight do not cause any
shouts of joy, and they need some-
thing to pull the public into the houses
and bolster up the hot-weather
grosses.
Heretofore the larger houses could
count on stage attractions, but most
(Continued on Page 3)
MGM To Make Picture
Based on Lloyd George
New York.- — A picture based on
the life of David Lloyd George is to
be produced" By Metro - Coldwyn -
Mayer, according to dispatches from
London.
The production will be in Califor-
nia, and everything in it must have
the approval of the former prime min-
ister.
Meighan Coming West
New York. — Thomas Meighan
leaves tomorrow for the coast to play
in Sol Lesser's new production of
"Peck's Bad Boy."
XEW PLAX TO LEGISLATE
MORALS IIVTO PICTVRES
Washington. — With all the churches
and reformers jumping on the picture
industry and accusing it of immorality,
salaciousness and indecency, now Con-
gress may take a hand and make the
films moral by legislation.
Declaring that "the whole atmos-
phere of Hollywood seeps with immor-
ality," Representative Cannon, of
Wisconsin, has introduced a bill to
clean up the Hollywood product and
personnel. The measure makes it a
Federal offense to transport in inter-
state commerce any film which con-
tains "suggestive and morally objec-
tionable" actions, or one in which any
player appears who has ever been
(Continued on Page 2)
Hecht and MacArthur
Complete Their First
New York. — -"Crime Without Pas-
siori^'.' the first of the series of pic-
tures which Ben Hecht and Charles
MacArthur are making for Paramount
release, will be completed at the As-
toria studio within ten days.
The production starring Jimmy Savo
will be the next to go into work.
Barthelmess to Stage
New York. — Richard Barthelmess
has decided to remain here and do a
play for Max Gordon instead of going
to Europe. He will later star in a
screen version of the play.
Rothschild' Still
Tops London Hits
London. — "The House of Roth-
schild" is still the big hit of all the
pictures showing here and is doing
marvelous business. "Roman Scan-
dals," the Eddie Cantor picture, is still
running and doing very well.
The new arrivals of the week are
"Murder at the Vanities" at the Carl-
ton, replacing "The Scarlet Empress"
which started off well but slumped;
"Those Were the Days," a British In-
ternational, at the Regal; "Such Wo-
men Are Dangerous" at the Capitol;
"Hollywood Party" at the Empire;
"Spitfire" at the Plaza, and "Ever-
green," a Caumont film, at the New
Gallery.
Mayo Dissatisfied,
Asks Warner Release
Archie Mayo was reported Saturday
walking in to J. L. Warner's office
and demanding a release from his
long-term director's deal which has
more than a year to run.
His reason is said to be dissatisfac-
tion with the assignments he has been
receiving, claiming that a story now
shooting was turned over to another
director, although he had been the
instrument for its purchase.
Mistinguette For Films
Paris. — Mistinguette, she of the so-
called most beautiful legs in the world,
has finally hearkened to the call of the
films. After refusing for years to de-
sert the stage, she has signed with
Director Julien Duvivier to do a pic-
ture.
Trem Carr to Hospital
Trem Carr, vice-president in charge
of production at Monogram, goes to
the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital
Thursday for an abdominal operation.
He will be there two weeks under Dr.
H. L. Undegraff's care.
I JOHN BLYSTONE directed 'CHANGE OF HEART |
Page Two
THE
lunell. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone HOIIyvt^ood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Look what happens when far-away
"reporters" get gay with this column!
A while back we mentioned here that
"Kay Francis and Joe Bryan, third,
were dining together, — ". A few
days later one of the Broadway col-
umnists picked it up and printed,
"Kay Francis' next will probably be
Joseph Bryan III." A coupla days
after that, Mr. Bryan himself received
an enlarged facsimile of that notice,
with a circle drawn around it and a
note from his wife in the East saying
merely, "How's tricks?" And a week
later Bryan received a card from a pal
in Chicago saying that he had heard
over the air that Joe and Kay Francis
were going to the altar! Fancy now!
And Joseph perfectly happy with his
wife and kiddies!
•
A very attractive lass has complete-
ly aired a well-known agent — and
after such a long time too! Well,
anyway, the feller never treated her
with the attention due her very at-
tractive person. So she's switched
from the agent (who is having swelled
head trouble lately) to a big producer.
And even though the gal isn't getting
any big picture breaks at the moment,
she's doing all right at the bank.
•
A lot of the Frasso's pals (among
them the Clark Cables, the Ric Cor-
tezes, Kay Francis, Whitney de Rham,
Virginia Bruce, Joshua Cosden, Don
Stewart) gathered at the Vendome
for "brunch" yesterday noon before
hoisting her onto the new Douglas
N. Y. flyer. There were thousands of
pipple at the airport to watch celebs
seeing one another off, and to get a
kick out of the new 13-hour thrill
plane — and wot a thrill! Also on
board for the maiden voyage were
Annabella and her hubby, Jean Murat,
with Pat Patterson and Charles Boyer
to wave good-bye; Leo Morrison,
Howard Strickling (he'll return end
of the week), Robert Woolsey and
Millie Mobley, who'll meet Myron
Selznick and party in t.he East. And,
of course — Hymie Fink was all over
the place!
BROADWAY PLAY SHORTAGE
GIVES LOCAL WRITERS BREAK
Stage Promises No
Picture Material
New York. — ^It looks definitely as
though the writers of original stories
will get a break with the studios in
Hollywood during the next two
months, judging from the few Broad-
way plays that are open for considera-
tion during that time. With the play
supply virtually non-existent, the Hol-
lywood writers seem due for a cor-
dial receptiorj by the studios.
The scenario men will have to work
fast because there is every indication
that the next play season, normally
getting under way late in August, will
get an earlier start this year.
The month of July has no openings,
being even devoid of the usually opti-
mistic musical show, a type of produc-
tion which, existing upon tourist
trade, has the only chance of weather-
ing the climate hereabouts.
August and September take on a
pugnacious aspect, however. New
plays at the two or three per night are
anticipated. These include:
The Aben Kandel play, "We Dress
For Dinner," for which Sidney Salkow
is responsible; "Tight Britches," a
mountaineer play, by J. T. Foote and
Hubert Hayes, Rowland Stebbins pro-
ducing this and "Lost Horizons," the
Harry Segall play; "Snatch as Snatch
Can," a melodramatic farce by Lau-
rence Schwab and Richard MacAuley,
the former producing; "Life Begins at
8:30," a Lee Shubert revue; George
White's Scandals, of course, with
Gregory Ratoff and Bert Lahr.
DeSylva, Brown and Henderson con-
coct a revue; George M. Cohan puts
on his own play, "He Won't Want
You"; Selwyn-Franklin-Cochran put
on A. E. Thomas' "Cora Potts" and H.
M. Harwood's "Tne Old Folks At
Home"; Paul Gerard Smith's revue,
"Cocktails At Five," is planned by E.
K. Nadel; Paul Green's "Potter's
Field," by Margaret Hewes; Roland
Bottomley's farce, "Olivia Bows to
Mrs. Grundy," by producers Franklin
and Stoner, erstwhile Hollywood inde-
pendent film producers; Lawrence
Hazard and Robert Flourney's "Ladies
Money," by George Abbott; "One
Night, One Day," by Leo Bulgakov;
Martha Madison's "Night Remem-
bers," also by Bulgakov; Kubec Glas-
mon's "Shoestring," by Sidney Salkow.
George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's
"Merrily We Roll Along," will be
given by Sam Harris; Charles Divine's
"Tourists Accommodated," by the
Schlesingers; "The Red Cat," by Ru-
dolph Lothar and Hans Adier, Twen-
tieth Century Pictures producing; Dor-
rance Davis' musical "Apron Strings,"
presented by Dwight Wiman; Elmer
Rice's "Judgment Day"; a musical by
Guy Bolton and P. C. Wodehouse,
Vinton Freedley producing.
Dwight Wiman produces a musical
by Howard Lindsay, Howard Dietz and
Arthur Schwartz; Reginald Lawrence's
"Sweet Bells jangled," starring Jane
Cowl, will be done by producers Ben-
nett and Traube; Walter C. Roberts'
"Damn Deborah," will have Krimsky
and Cochran producing; David Hertz'
All RKO Theatres
Get Fight Pictures
New York. — The pictures of the
Primo Carnera-Max Baer fig.ht have
been booked into all RKO theatres
in New York state and will be
shown in the metropolitan district
on Friday. The films are being
distributed by the Oliver Film Corp.
"Waltz in Fire," by Sidney Harmon
and James R. Ullman.
Dore Schary's "Violence," will be
presented by Harmon and Ullman;
Noel Pierce's "Callows Orchard," by
Henry Forbes; "Fear," a Russian play
by A. Afinogenoff, S. Hurok produc-
ing; Ward Morehouse's "Miss Quis,"
by Paul Streger; Clifford Odets'
"Awake and Sing," by Frank Merlin;
and the Spewack play, "Spring Song,"
for which Max Gordon is responsible.
The probability is that seventy-five
per cent of these will be spread out
over the rest of the season. As it
stands now, October is comparatively
lean. Slated are:
'Escape Me Never," by Margaret
Kennedy, starring Elizabeth Bergner;
Noel Coward's "Conversation Place,"
with Yvonne Printemps; Romney Brent
and Cole Porter's "Nymph Errant";
Frances Marion's "The Lady Is Tired,"
and an untitled play by Edward Knob-
lock and Frederick Lonsdale — all
planned by Arch Selwyn-H. B. Frank-
lin-C. B. Cochran.
Max Cordon figures on a B. G. De
Sylva-Sid Silvers musical; "The Rats of
Norway," by Keith Winter; Marc
Connelly's "Low Bridge," Walter D.
Edmonds' "Rome Haul," Moss Hart's
"Rome Haul," Claire Kummer's "Love
Without a Penny" and a Sidney How-
ard play.
William A. Brady Jr. has Owen
Davis' "Too Many Boats"; Bert Lytell
stars himself in "The First Legion," by
Emmett Lavery; Jed Harris has "Room
in Red and White," a melodrama by
Roy Hargrave, Laura Adair and
Thomas Scofield; and Herman Shumlin
has Lillian Kober's "Children's Hour."
No England For Alice
Alice White is bemoaning the fact
that she has had to turn down an
offer to go to England to make a
picture, because Universal wouldn't
give her permission to go.
Employees' Code In
London Theatres
London. — In spite of the fact that
the employees of the London theatres
are not organized, the London Cinem-
atograph Exhibitors Association has
worked out a code of hours and salar-
ies, covering all classes.
The maximum hours for men are
55 a week, and 50 for women. Salar-
ies for projectionists run from five
pounds a week in the larger theatres
down to 22 shillings in the small ones.
This, however, does not apply to the
big houses in the West End, where
operators get from ten to fifteen
pounds a week.
Joe Kane With Mascot
Mascot has signed Joe Kane to su-
pervise "Waterfront Lady." He
wound up Saturday with Charles R.
Rogers, with whom he had been in
a production capacity for the past
three and a half years.
Plan New Film Morals
(Continued from Page 1 )
"convicted of any charge involving
moral turpitude."
In a statement accompanying the
bill, Mr. Cannon says that "the actors
and actresses become hardened to im-
morality and suggestive conduct," so
much so that "they consider their
suggestive and immoral actions on the
screen as a matter of course and in
harmony with their lives."
He asserts also that "the films are
an immoral influence on our children
and the young people of today. Such
education must be stopped."
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
^Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
A GREAT BUY
FOR RENT — FURNISHED — Hermosa Beach apartment, six rooms, three
bedrooms, living room, dining room, bath and shower outside for use of
bathers. Twenty-five minutes to Hollywood and Vine. Located west end
Hermosa, quiet, refined surroundings. One hundred feet from ocean.
Beautiful beach. Can be had very reasonable if rented from June 1 5 to
Labor Day or longer. Drive down to inspect this offer
or
Phone HOirywood 3957 or Redondo 2519.
Address 3234 Hermosa Avenue, Hermosa Beach, California
lune 11, 1934
THg
Page Three
SHE LEARNED ABOUT SAILORS'
VERY FLIVIVY AND ALSO CLEAN
Director, Cast and
Writers All Score
■SHE LEARNED ABOUT SAILORS"
(Fax)
Direction George Marshall
Original Screen Play: William Consel-
man, Henry Johnson.
Photography Harry Jackson
,:Cast: Lew Ayres, Alice Faye, Frank
Mitchell, Jack Durant, Harry Green.
Here is a very funny rowdy comedy,
proving again that off-color stuff
stuff doesn't have to be dragged in to
get the laughs. Gentlemen, take a
bow — George Marshall for direction
that makes every situation a real belly
laugh, William Conselman and Henry
Johnson for a corking screen farce, and
John Stone for a production that
couldn't have cost a lot of money yet
can't help but turn in a neat profit.
As for the cast: Lew Ayres steps
forward to deliver a performance of
the fleet's Don Juan that rings true
every moment. There isn't even a sug-
gestion of any of the Ayres manner-
isms that have crept into several of his
recent portrayals. We have said be-
fore and we repeat, all this fellow
needs is intelligent casting.
Alice Faye is on her way places. If
Fox doesn't crowd her, she will mean
plenty to the box-office before the
year is out. She sells a song in tlie
picture as a Shanghai cabaret singer.
The number, something about a "Key
To My Heart," is due for a hit.
The team of Mitchell and Durant
have a piece of the plot to carry in
conjunction with their standard
knockabout comedy routine. They
register solidly in every appearance
and would steal the show if the story
were not so well balanced. Harry
Green has the only other programed
role and, although his opportunity is
limited, it counts. He is jose Lopez
Rubenstein, of Buenos Aires.
A synopsis of the story does not do
it justice. It is the familiar tale of the
sailor on shore leave who falls in love
with the girl he fails to make. His
buddies try to help the romance along,
but only succeed in complicating it.
The action starts with a bang and
there isn't a foot that can be spared
from the first two or three reels. The
sequences laid in Los Angeles need
trimming, for, at 85 minutes, the fea-
ture is over-length. Cutting should
bring the tempo of the last half up to
the furious pace set by the opening.
Marshall's training in short comedies
makes him an ideal director for this
type of rowdy farce. The photography
of Harry Jackson is uniformly good.
Don't overlook the lack of obscen-
ity in "She Learned About Sailors" in
planning your campaign. It is probably
the first time a sailor picture has ever
received such treatment.
Sell it as a comedy wow with a lib-
eral dose of slap-stick. It won't dis-
appoint.
'Green Hat' Finished
Robert Z. Leonard hung up "The
Green Hat" Friday at MCM. Con-
stance Bennett and Herbert Marshall
held the main spots.
Brent- Gets Break
George Brent, detained at MGM
for publicity stills Friday, raced
over to Grand Central for a flying
lesson and found the pilot, Robert
P. Riddell, had just taken off with
another pupil. They never return-
ed, crashing to death in the hills
near Universal City.
Columbia Hits Top
In Player Roster
George Murphy checking in from
New York, Columbia sets an all-time
high for itself for the size of its con-
tract list. It has thirty-seven players
under term deals, twelve on group pic-
ture tickets, the remainder holding
long-termers.
The recent New York expedition of
Harry Cohn and William Perlberg,
casting chief, netted twelve Broad-
wayites, of whom Murphy is the last.
The group-picture contracts, for two
or more productions each, are held by
Claudette Colbert, Carole Lombard,
Nancy Carroll, Edmund Lowe, Gene
Raymond, Fay Wray, Jean Arthur,
Charlie Murray, George Sidney and
Howard, Fine and Howard.
MGM After Jimmy Dunn
For 'Have a Heart' Cast
John Considine is dickering with
Fox to borrow Jimmy Dunn for "Have
a Heart," the Buddy DeSylva-David
Butler musical preparing at MGM.
Jean Parker and Stuart Erwin are set
in it.
Butler, borrowed from Fox for the
writing and direction, will probably
start production next week.
Hoffman Gets Kelly
For 'School For Girls'
M. H. Hoffman has put over a deal
with Twentieth Century for the loan
of Paul Kelly for his next Liberty pro-
duction, "School for Girls," which
William Nigh pilots.
The producer is dickering for Syl-
via Sidney's services for the leading
assignment.
Appel and Hale at MGM
Jack Chertok, head of the music
department at MGM, has assigned Ar-
thur Appel and Chester Hale to stage
the musical numbers in "Hide-out."
W. S. Van Dyke is directing the story,
in which Robert Montgomery is being
starred.
Saunders on Own Yarn
John Monk Saunders is scripting
his origtfial, "West Point of the Air,"
whi^Kwill be produced by Monta Bell
as MGM's next for Wallace Beery.
Richard Rosson is set to direct, start-
ing the first week of July.
Marshall With Harvey
Next assignment for George Mar-
shall at Fox looks like "365 Nights
in Hollywood," with Lilian Harvey in
the top spot. Marshall just finished
"She Learned About Sailors," which
was previewed Saturday night.
lATSE War Against
ASC Starts at Once
Louisville, Ky. — George Browne,
president-elect of the lATSE, assured
west coast delegates Saturday that he
will go to Hollywood as soon as he
takes office and start an aggressive
campaign to get the ASC out of power
and put the cameramen's union back
where it was. Also that he will go
after the jurisdictional battle between
IBEW and lATSE in order to get sound
men and electricians back in the Basic
Agreement.
Browne also announced that plans
are being formulated to put more
teeth into the control the lATSE has
of location work. As an example of
this he pointed out that right now an
ASC cameraman at West Point on lo-
cation for Warner Brothers is standing
by doing nothing, while the lATSE
cameramen are doing the work.
Universal Wants Boles
For 'Imitation of Life'
Universal is trying to work out a
deal with Radio so that it can also
get a loan from Fox on John Boles,
wanting him for the John Stahl pro-
duction, "Imitation of Life."
Radio has the player for "Age of
Innocence," with Universal endeavor-
ing to get the studio to finish with
him in time to get the bracket with
Claudette Colbert in the Stahl picture.
Capra After Stone
Frank Capra registered a bid Sat-
urday with MGM for the loan of
Lewis Stone, who is finishing his role
in "Treasure Island." The Columbia
director wants .him for "Broadway
Bill."
Exhibs Want Personals
(Continued from Page 1 )
of those which have been available in
the past are now tied up with pictures
and have been taken or have taken
thernselves out of the market.
"Pictures," declared one chain op-
erator,"have gobbled up the best stage
talent. Once it was possible to com-
bat hot weather business by bolster-
ing the ordinary picture with a stage
or vaudeville attraction, but this is out
of the question this Summer because
so many of the stage draws are under
contract to pictures. An added at-
traction on the stage largely increased
our show cost, but it was worth it in
the dull months because we could,
when out of the red, stay out.
"The smaller houses, which could
not afford spreading themselves with
high-priced drawing cards, will be in
a worse position than we are unless
the studios come through at this time
when we need them most.
"The studios are not co-operating
with us in this situation. For one rea-
son or another it is the general policy
to soft-pedal personal appearances for
their contract players. This, coupled
with the fact that the player is reluc-
tant to leave Hollywood for any length
of time, makes it doubly difficult for
us."
^^ '7 ^
ering the penchant the pic
U>r€'industry has for snapping up best
tellers, it is strange indeed to record
the fact that the best selling book
of this generation has yet to be sold
for picture purposes. The name of
the book is " lri_hlis Steps." aruLovej:
a period of twenty or twenty-five
years it has sold over five and one-
half MILLION copies. When a book
runs into sales like that, it means that
it has what it takes to make movie
audiences. Now it just so happens
that the theme of the book is relig-
ious, telling the story of a man who
led the life of Christ in the midst of
the modern world and, on the face of
it, that's not exactly movie material
unless C. B. DeMille takes a personal
interest in it. Still, it seems to us
that there should be something in it
if five and a half million people have
read it that would make those same
people go to see a movie fashioned
from it. However, even stranger than
the fact that a best seller has been
passed up by pictures, is the story
back of the sale of the book.
The name of the author of "In His
Steps" is Sheldon, the Reverend Shel-
don, still spreading the gospel in Kan-
sas or Missouri, we couldn't find out
w.hich. Years ago, Mr. Sheldon dis-
covered that plain ordinary sermons,
told in the ordinary way, were not
quite enough to hold the interest of
his flock and make them enjoy going
to church enough for them to show
up every Sunday. Thereupon Mr.
Sheldon put on his thinking cap and
decided to give his sermons in the
form of a continued story. He would
tell the life and experiences of a
Christ on earth, one chapter at a time,
so that his flock would have some-
thing to look forward to each Sunday.
The plan was a complete success
and, in between Sundays, Sheldon had
pamphlets made of the sermons he
had already delivered which he dis-
tributed to his congregation, urging
them to attend and find out what
happened next. Now Sheldon never
had those pamphlets copyrighted, but
someone else did. And that person
put them into book form and has been
collecting royalties ever since.
•
About a year or so ago, the pub-
lisher of the book called in Bruce Bar-
ton and commissioned him to visit
Sheldon and do an interview with him
on how it felt to be the author of
the best seller of the generation and
never to have collected one penny roy-
alty. And Bruce Barton wrote that
interview, which really topped the
irony of it all, because the man who
had been bright enough to copyright
those pamphlets was Bruce Barton's
father and a good solid basis of the
Barton fortune was originally laid by
the royalties from "In His Steps."
Some place or other, either in the
book or the story of it, it seems to
us there is the basis of a picture.
Page Four
THE
June II, 1934
Simple Services
For Dorothy Dell
Many of the film colony who had
known and liked Dorothy Dell during
her brief career in Hollywood gathered
at Pierce Brothers funeral parlors yes-
terday to attend her funeral services.
Rev. Willsie Martin read the sim-
ple service and Ruth Etting, long a
friend of Dorothy's, sang "The Ro-
sary." Immediately after the services,
Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Coff, the dead
girl's parents, started for their home,
in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, with the
body.
Harmon East; Starts
For Universal in Jan.
Sidney Harmon, New York stage
producer, who is scheduled to produce
four pictures for Universal, returns to
New York this week and will be back
in a few months to begin his picture
work.
John Twist East
Radio Saturday granted John Twist
a month's leave of absence and the
writer left by train last night for the
East for the tryout of his new play
in Locust Valley, Long Island. James
Neilson is staging it. Twist just com-
pleted his original story, "Hudson
River."
Pagano to Coldwyn
Sam Coldwyn has signed Ernest
Pagano to collaborate with Arthur
Sheekman, Nat Perrin and Nunnally
Johnson on the dialogue of Eddie Can-
tor's "The Son of the Sheik."
Duworld Pictures Inc.
Gets Terris Series
New York.— "The Quest of the
Perfect Woman," a series of one-
reelers featuring Tom Terriss, has
been acquired for distribution by Du-
world Pictures Inc. Arthur Hammer
is producing.
The first two, "Vampire of Marre-
kesh" and "Veiled Dancer of Eloued,"
have been completed.
Hamilton on Vacation
Neil Hamilton and his wife are va-
cationing at Arrowhead Springs.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
only will it die a natural death, but
the example will prevent the making
of similar ones. The so-called 'objec-
tionable' pictures wouldn't be made if
there were no market for them.
"The whole thing resolves itself
into a question of good taste, not only
in the making of pictures, but in pat-
ronizing them. Of course, the indus-
try should keep its house clean, but
the picture patrons should do their
share by developing a taste for better
pictures.
"Personally, i am old-fashioned. I
still believe in the ultimate triumph of
the good and the beautiful. I am con-
vinced that people are decent, no mat-
ter what the front pages of the news-
papers tell me, and I am also con-
vinced that the people themselves are
the ones who should and will correct
picture faults, and not the professional
reformers."
Grady Sutton
m
66
Bachelor Bait"
Hollywood Reporter:
"Crady Sutton as the detective-
millionaire is a honey."
Management
NATC. COLDSTONE
w
KTURES
New York Premiere
For Don Juan' Is Off
London. — Changed release plans
for "The Private Life of Don Juan"
will keep Douglas Fairbanks Sr. here
until after its London premiere.
The original plan to preview in mid-
ocean and premiere in New York has
been abandoned, the release firm hav-
ing decided to give England exclusive
first play on the picture. The Ameri-
can release may not take place until
this Fall.
Gloria Shea Gets Lead
In Monogram Picture
Trem Carr Saturday signed Gloria
Shea for a spot in "Tomorrow's
Youth," which Charles Lamont is di-
recting at Monogram. Paul Hurst,
Barbara Bedford and Winifred Drew
also were cast.
This makes the second picture in
which Miss Shea has appeared at the
studio, having been in "Money Means
Nothing."
'Dragon' Finishes
"Lucky" Humberstone brought
"The Dragon Murder Case" across
the wire Saturday for Warners. War-
ren William, Lyie Talbot and Mar-
garet Lindsay have the leading roles.
Murphy to Goldwyn
Sam Goldwyn borrows George Mur-
phy from Columbia for the Eddie Can-
tor production. It is Murphy's first
trick on his long-term ticket with
Columbia.
'Gentlemen Are Born'
Next For Mervyn LeRoy
Mervyn LeRoy read Harry Sauber's
original screen play of "Gentlemen
Are Born," and Saturday selected it as
his next directing assignment for
Warners.
On the basis of his script, Sauber's
one-picture deal was extended to a
five-year contract. LeRoy will put
the picture into work in three weeks.
Margaret Sullavan To
Play a Week in Stock
John LeRoy Johnston yesterday
wired Universal that Margaret Sulla-
van will remain another week East,
having accepted an offer to appear in
the leading role in "Coquette," which
the Mount Kisco stock company is
putting on at the Summer theatre.
Eddie Cantor Returns
Eddie Cantor returned to Hollywood
from San Francisco Saturday, finishing
his personal appearances there. A deal
is being lined up by the William Mor-
ris office for a week at a Los Angeles
house before he goes to work on his
picture for Sam Goldwyn.
Mirror Critic to Fox
New York. — Charles A. Wagner,
book reviewer for the Daily Mirror,
has joined the Fox Film publicity de-
partment.
Four More For Keaton
New York. — Educational has sign-
ed Buster Keaton for four more star-
ring comedies for the coming year.
i£
Bachelor Bait
SCREEN PLAY
by
Glenn Tryon
99
Hollywood Reporter:
"The writing is plenty good, but
there is an awful lot of it."
June 11, 1934
THg
Page Five
Film Code to Define
mrofrnMINUTE
Term 'Employee' \ 4Sf|hM^
Ralph Ince has had one lousy break
here — was megging one at Sound City
and also playing in the pic when, in
a fight scene, he slipped and did
things to his leg; and the result is
four long months recuperation. Tough
luck, Ralph, old warhorse. . . . Her-
bert Brenon in our midst, and "Peter
Panning" around the metropolis. . . .
Every studio in this town is using "It
Happened One Night" as the one way
to write, direct and act a screen play,
which is pretty flattering for milords
Capra, Riskin and Co. . . . Les (Steve)
Williams, Universal Publicity Wallah,
gave Davie Bader a surprise packet
the other dawning as Dave left for
America, and that was a bunch of
ladies' newspapers and the Woman's
Companion ! ! !
•
Monty Banks leaves the famous
Dorchester, where he lives and scrams
up the street to a very cheap eatery
just 'cos he gets swell cawfee there.
. . . Lush! tush! and bother! and af-
ter we had seen "Man of Aran" which
tells how tough it is to eke out an
existence, a certain cigarette maker
here has published t.hrow-away cards
entitled "Homeland Series" in which
there is a delightful one of Aran with
wheat and grass and villages and
smartly dressed farmers — so what,
Bob Flaherty?!! . . . Paul Perez has
had his B.I. P. writing ticket stretched
for a longer period. . . . Don Pedelty
is this town's movie champeen squash
player. . . . Florence Desmond's broth-
er has a bunch of movie autographs
on the seat of a You-know-what and
in that empty space in the middle a
picture of the aristocratic features of
milord Schnozzle Durante!
•
Hal Wallis inspecting our country-
side with Irving Asher as his guide.
. . . Migosh, poor Jack Votion, he had
to show Dave and Myron Selznick the
continent; and they covered Belgium,
Holland and France in a coupla days,
jack quit and took a boat home — and
you ought to see the trick umbrella-
cane combination he's been given by
an admiring client! . . . The Gertie
Lawrence-Junior Fairbanks stage show
took twenty grand in two weeks at
its Manchester try-out, 'tis said. . . .
And Darryl Zanuck paid seven thous-
and pounds for "Clive of India,"
which very nearly went to a quota
company here for three hundred and
fifty!!! . . . Harold Young threw a
chili party to celebrate his directorial
debut with Irving Asher. . . . Tim
Whelan there, just back from ten
weeks in Egypt on location, Russell
Metcalfe, Percy Marmont, "Doc"
Solomon and the Ben Nedells. . . .
Virginia Valli Farrell watching hubbie
sweltering in the heat on location the
other day. Oh yes, now and then we
do get a spot of sunshine, you know,
California.
Washington. — Everything is in
readiness here for the hearing tomor-
row at the NRA on the proposed
amendment to the motion picture
code. The amendment, submitted by
the Code Authority, re-defines the
term "employee", with the intention
of making it more inclusive and elim-
inating the possibility of evasions by
employers. It proposes the following
definition :
"The term employee as used herein
shall be deemed to refer to and in-
clude every person employed by any
producer, distributor or exhibitor as
hereinabove defined, and shall also
be deemed to include any and all per-
sons, however or by whomsoever com-
pensated, regularly performing their
services in motion picture theatres,
which services are of a kind usually
and customarily performed by theatre
employees directly compensated by
exhibitors."
Theatre Guild Will
Offer New Shaw Play
New York. — The Theatre Guild will
present a new play by George Ber-
nard Shaw during the coming season,
and also "The Sleeping Clergyman,"
by St. John Ervme.
Fabian Deal Flops
New York. — The deal which Si
Fabian had for the Manhattan Play-
house and which was supposed to be
virtually closed, is understood to have
fallen through.
Lois Torres to "Transatlantic Mer-
ry-Co-Round," Edward Small, and
"Stamboul Quest," MGM. Jacques
Ray for the latter. Both players
through Bernard, Meiklejohn and Mc-
Call.
Herman Bing by Menifee 1. John-
stone to "Merry Widow," MGM.
Kal-hleen Burke and Lona Andre by
Bernard, Meiklejohn and McCall to
"School for Girls," Liberty.
Eddie Kane by Bernard, Meiklejohn
and McCall for "Broadway Bill," Co-
lumbia.
Fields, Rodgers, Hart
To Work on 'Mississippi'
Hollywood is re-uniting the Fields-
Rodgers-Hart trio, which was respon-
sible for a number of Broadway musi-
cal hits. The team gets going again
on Paramount's "Mississippi," which
Arthur Hornblow is producing. Rod-
gers and Hart are due in from New
York July 1, Fields having already
gone to work on the Dore Schary
story.
Lanny Ross and W. C. Fields are
set for the top spots.
Rushing 'Strangers'
Roland Reed is rushing the editing
of Invincible's "House of Strangers"
so as to get a print off to Maury
Cohen and George Batcheller by June
19. Latter will not leave for Europe
to set foreign sales until the print
arrives.
LHON GORDON
NOW WRITING
"OUTRAGED '
(Paramount)
"Transatlantic Showboat"
■ed S
Jnit(
(Just Completed Screen Play-
Reliance - United Artists)
When Ladies Meet
(M-G-M)* ,,
"Indo-China
(Original in preparation - M-G-M) SOD-DaUQhter
'^-^-^'* "Malibu"
(in production - M-G-M)"
IN PREPARATION
"The Empire Builder"
(Life of Cecil Rhodes)
Management
= Collaboration Small-Laodau Company
W-r II
I a rz a n
(M-G-M)*
Page Six
June 11, 1934
PRODUCTION UP WITH 34 IN WORK
BAROMETER
This Week 34 Features
Last Week 31 Features
Year Ago 21 Features
Two Years Ago 29 Features
Three Years Ago 33 Features
Columbia
"BY PERSONS UNKNOWN"
Cast: Ralph Bellamy, Shirley Grey,
Charles Sabin, Arthur Hohl, J. Car-
roll Naish, Ward Bond, Vincent
Sherman.
Director D. Ross Lederman
Original Screen Play.. ..Harold Shumate
Photograp'hy Benjamin Kline
Sound George Cooper
Associate Producer Irving Briskin
"BROADWAY BILL"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy,
Lynne Overman, Douglas Dumbrille,
Margaret Hamilton, Raymond Wal-
burn, Clarence Muse, George
Cooper, Charles Levison, Charles
Wilson, Ward Bond.
Director Frank Capra
Original Mark Hellinger
Screen Play Robert Riskin
Photography Joseph Walker
Sound Edward Bernds
Producer Harry Cohn
Fox
"CARAVAN"
Cast: Charles Boyer, Loretta Young,
Jean Parker, Phillips Holmes, Louise
Fazenda, Eugene Paliette, C. Aubrey
Smith, Dudley Digges, Richard
Carle, Charles Grapewin, Billy
Sevan, Armand Kaiiz, Harry Brad-
ley.
Director Erik Charell
Original Story Melchoir Lengyel
Screen Play and Dialogue —
Samson Raphaelson
Continuity Robert Liebmann
Music Werner Richard Heymann
•-yi" Cus Kahn
Photography Ernest G. Palmer
Sound A. L. Von Kirbach
Pi'oducer Robert Kane
"SHE WAS A LADY •
Cast: Helen Twelvetrees, Donald
Woods, Ralph Morgan, Paul Harvey,
Jackie Searl, Carol Kay, Doris Lloyd,
Ann Howard.
Director Hamilton MacFadden
Novel Elisabeth Cobb
Screen Play Gertrude Purcell
Photography Bert Glennon
Sound Don Flick
Producer Al Rockett
"SERVANTS' EXTRANCE"
Cast: Janet Gaynor, Lew Ayres, Walter
Connolly, Louise Dresser, G. P.
Huntley Jr., Sigfried Rumann,
Buster Phelps.
Director Frank Lloyd
Original Sigrid Boo
Screen Play Samson Raphaelson
Photography Hal Mohr
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"JUDGE PRIEST"
Cast: Will Rogers, Glenda Fowler,
Rochelle Hudson, Roger Imhoff,
Tom Brown, Anita Louise, Frank
Melton, Stepin Fetchit, Henry B.
Walthall, Berton Churchill, Charles
Grapewin.
Director John Ford
Short Stories Irvin S. Cobb
Screen Play Dudley Nicholls and
Lamar Trotti
Photography George Schneiderman
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"WANTED"
Cast: Rosemary Ames, Nils Asther,
Russell Hardie, Pert Kelton, Victor
Jory, George Irving.
Director Louis King
Screen Play Lester Cole
and Stuart Anthony
Producer Sol Wurtzel
MCM
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET'
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katharine
Alexander, Marion Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor, Vernon
Downing, Neville Clark, Matthew
Smith, Robert Carlton, Allan Con-
rad, Peter Hobbes, Ralph Forbes,
Lowden Adams, Leo C. Carroll.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue. .Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast: Maurice Chevalier,Jeanette Mac-
Donald, Minna Gombeli, Edward Ev-
erett Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara
Leonard, Sterling Holloway, George
Barbier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Leona Walters, Edna Walde, Bar-
bara Barondess, Shirley Ross, Doro-
thy Granger, Jean Hart, Elinor Hunt,
Dorothy Wilson, Jill Dennett, Maria
Troubetylcoy, Tyler Brooke, Cosmo
Kyrie Bellew, George Lewis, John
MerkyI, Charles Requa, Fifi D'Or-
say, Dewey Robinson.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Dance Director Albertina Rasch
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"MURDER IN THE PRIVATE CAR"
Cast: Charlie Ruggles, Una Mer-
kel, Mary Carlisle, Russell Hardie,
Porter Hall, Cliff Thompson, Wil-
lard Robertson, Sterling Holloway,
"Snowflake," Berton Churchill,
Wilfred Lukas, Akim Tamiroff,
John David Horsley.
Director Harry Beaumont
Play Edward E. Rose
Adaptation Harvey Thew
Screen Play: Ralph Spence, Edgar Al-
lan Woolf and Al Boasberg.
Photography James Van Trees
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"STAMBOUL QUEST"
Cast: Myrna Loy, George Brent, Lionel
Atwill, C Henry Gordon, Douglas
Dumbrille, Christian Rub, Rudolph
Amendt, Robert Gieckler, Reginald
Barlow, Leo Carroll, Judith Vosselli.
Director Sam Wood
Original Leo Birinski
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer Bernard Hyman
"SACRED AND PROFANE LOVE"
Cast: Joan Crawford, Clark Gable,
Otto Kruger, Stuart Erwin, Una
O'Connor, Marjorie Gateson.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Edgar Selwyn
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography George Folsey
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"THE STUDENT TOUR"
Chast: Charles Butterworth, Jimmy
Durante, Phil Regan, Maxine Doyle,
Florinne McKinney, Monte Blue,
Dewey Robinson.
Director , Charles F. Reisner
Original Screen Play: Arthur Bloch and
George Seaton.
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer Monta Bell
"ALL GOOD AMERICANS '
Cast: Robert Young, Una Merkel,
Madge Evans, Otto Kruger, Ralph
Bushman.
Director Edwin Marin
Original Play..S. J. and Laura Perelman
Screen Play Wells Root
Photography Milton Krasner
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"THE HIDE-OUT"
Cast: Robert Montgomery, Muriel
Evans, Ed Brophy, Mickey Rooney,
Louise Henry.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Mauri Grashin
Dance Numbers Arthur Appel
and Chester Hale
Photography Hal Rosson
Producer Hunt Stromberg
Paramount
"THE NOTORIOUS SOPHIE LANG"
Cast: Gertrude Michael, Paul Cavan-
agh, Arthur Byron, Alison Skip-
worth, Ben Taggart, Leon Errol,
Norman Ainsley, Arthur Hoyt, Ed-
ward McWade, Del Henderson,
Ferdinand Gottschalk, Lucio Ville-
gas, Agostino Borgato.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original... Frederick Irving Anderson
Screen Play Anthony Veiller
Photography Al Gilks
Sound Harry Lindgren
Producer Bayard Veiller
"NOW AND FOREVER"
Cast: Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard,
Shirley Temple, Sir Guy Standing,
Charlotte Granville, Tetsu Komai,
Jameson Thomas, Gilbert Emery,
Henry Kolker, Harry Stubbs, Egon
Brecher, Buster Phelps.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original: Jack Kirkland and Melville
Baker.
Adaptation Austin Parker
Screen Play: Vincent Lawrence and
Sylvia Thalberg.
Music , Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Sound Harry Lewis
Producer Louis D. Lighton
'LADIES SHOULD LISTEN"
Cast: Gary Grant, Frances Drake, Ed-
ward Everett Horton, Charles E.
Arnt, Nydia Westman, George Bar-
bier, Rafael Corio, Rosita Moreno,
Charlie Ray.
Director Frank Tuttle
Original: Alfred Savoir and Guy Bolton
Adaptation Guy Bolton
Screen Play: Frank Butler and Claude
Binyon.
Photography Henry Sharp
Sound Earl Hayman
Producer Douglas MacLean
"ELMER AND ELSIE"
Cast: George Bancroft, Frances Fuller,
Roscoe Karns, George Barbier, Nella
Walker, Charles Sellon, Helena
June 11. 1934
Page Seven
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 31 LAST WEEK
Phillips Evans, Ruth Clifford, Albert
Con ti, Vera Stedman, Helene Lynch,
• Marie Wells, Eddie Baker, Duke
York, William Robins, Alf P.
James.
Director Gilbert Pratt
Original: George S. Kaufman and
Marc Connelly.
Screen Play Humphrey Pearson
Photography William Mellor
Sound A. W. Singley
Producer Louis D. Lighten
"YOU BELONG TO ME"
Cast: Lee Tracy, Helen Mack, Arthur
Pierson, David Jack Holt, Lynne
Overman.
Driector Alfred Werker
Original Elizabeth Alexander
Adaptation: Grover Jones and William
Slavens McNutt.
Screen Play: Lynn Starling and Harry
Ruskin.
Photography Leo Tover
Producer Louis D. Lighton
"MRS. WICCS OF THE CABBAGE
PATCH"
Cast: Pauline Lord, W. C. Fields,
Zasu Pitts, jimmy Butler, George
Breakstone, Evelyn Venable, Kent
Taylor, Edyth Fellows, Verginia
Weidler, Carmencita Johnson.
i Director Norman Taurog
Original Alice Hegan Rice
Photography Charles Lang
' Sound Eugene Merritt
Producer Douglas MacLean
RKO-Radio
"HAT. COAT AND GLOVE"
Cast: Ricardo Cortez, Barbara Robbins,
John Beal, Sara Hayden, Samuel
Hinds. Murray Kinnell, Margaret
Hamilton, Dorothy Burgess.
Director Worthington Minor
Play Wilhelm Speyer
Screen Play Francis Faragoh
Photography Roy Hunt
Sound George Ellis
Producer Kenneth Macgowan
United Artists
Samuel Coldwyn
"WE LIVE AGAIN"
(Rehearsing)
Cast: Anna Sten. Fredric March,
Cwendolin Logan, C. Aubrey
Smith, Jessie Ralph, Jane Baxter,
Ethel Griffies.
Director Rouben Mamoulan
Based on Novel by Leo Tolstoi
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Photography Gregg Toland
Reliance Pictures, Inc.
'COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO"
Cast: Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Louis
Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, O. P.
Heggie, Raymond Walburn, Law-
rence Grant. Luis Alberni, Georgia
Caine, Irene Hervey, Douglas Wal-
ton, Ferdinand Munier, Lionel Bel-
more, William Farnum, Wilfred
Lucas, Clarence Wilson, Tom Rick-
errs, Clarence Muse, Helen Free-
man, Holmes Herbert, Eleanor
Phelps, Alphonse Martell, Russell
Powell, Juliette Compton, Walter
Walker, Paul Irving, Wallace Al-
bright, Edward Keane.
Director Rowland V. Lee
Original Alexandre Dumas
Adaptation Harvey Thew
and Harry Hervey
Screen Play and Dialogue
Philip Dunne and Dan Totheroh
Photograpihy Peverell Marley
Producer Edward Small
"TRANS-ATLANTIC MERRY-GO-
ROUND"
Cast: jack Benny, Nancy Carroll, Gene
Raymond, Sydney Howard. Sid Sil-
vers, Sidney Blackmer, Mary Liv-
ingstone. Frank Parker, Jean Sar-
gent. Robert Elliott.
Director Benjamin Stoloff
Original Leon Gordon
Additional Dialogue Ben Ryan
and Harry W. Conn
Photography Teddy Tetzlaff
Producer Edward Small
Universal
"ONE MORE RIVER"
Cast: Diana Wynyard. Frank Lawton,
Colin Clive, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Patrick Campbell, Jane Wyatt, C.
Aubrey Smith. Reginald Denny,
Kathleen Howard, Lionel Atwill,
Alan Mowbray, Gilbert Emery, E.
E. Clive, Robert Greig, Gunnis
Davis, Tempe Pigott.
Director James Whale
Story John Galsworthy
Screen Play R. C. Sherriff
Photography John Mescal
Producer Carl Laemmle. Jr.
"THE RED RIDER"
(Serial)
Cast: Buck Jones, Grant Withers,
Janet Chandlei, Walter Miller,
Richard Cramer, Margaret La Marr.
Charles French. Edmund Cobb, |. P.
McGowan, William Desmond, Mert
LaVare, Frank Rice, Monte Mon-
tague. Jim Thorpe. Jim Corey, Bud
Osborne, Al Ferguson, Silver, Lee
Beggs, Dennie Meadows, Cliff
Lyons.
Director Louis Friedlander
Original W. C. Tuttle
Screen Play: George Plympton. Bin
Moore, Ella O'Neill, Basil Dickey.
Photography Richard Fryer
Sound Charles Carroll
Associate Producer Henry MacRae
"ROMANCE IN THE RAIN"
Cast: Roger Pryor, Heather Angel,
Victor Moore, Phillip Reed, Ruth
Donnelly, Marjorie Davidson.
Director Stuart Walker
Story jay Gorney and
Sig Hergiz
Screen Play Barry Trivers
Additional Dialogue John Weaver
Music Jay Gorney
Photography Charles Stumar
Producer Stanley Bergerman
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine. Ronny Cosby.
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers. Pat
O'Malley. Mary McLaren, Johnny
Arthur. Arthur Vinton. Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth. Leila
Bennett. Phil Regan.
Directors Ray Enright
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin. Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"BRITISH AGENT"
Cast: Leslie Howard, Kay Francis,
Phillip Reed, Tenen Holtz, J. Car-
rol Naish, Gregory Gaye, Halliwell
Hobbes, Doris Lloyd, Alphonse
Ethier, Irving Pichel, Walter Byron,
William Gargan, Ivan Simpson, Paul
Porcasi, George Pearce, Walter
Armitage, Cesar Romero, Arthur
Aylesworth, Mariana Schubert, Ad-
dison Richards.
Director Michael Curtiz
Novel H. Bruce Lockhart
Screen Play Laird Doyle
Dialogue Roland Pertwee
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"THE DRAGON MURDER CASE"
Cast: Warren William. Margaret
Lindsay. Lyie Talbot, Robert Barrat,
Arthur Aylesworth, Robert Mc-
Wade, Eugene Pallette, George
Meeker, Etienne Girardot, Dorothy
Tree, George E. Stone, Helen Low-
ell, William Davidson, Robert War-
wick, Charles Wilson.
Director H Bruce Humberstone
Story S. S. Van Dine
Screen Play F. Hugh Herbert
and Robert N. Lee
Adaptation Rian James
Photography Tony Gaudio
Supervisor Henry Blanke
"FLIRTATION WALK"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler. Pat
O'Brien, John Eldredge, Ross Alex-
ander, Guinn Williams, Henry
O'Neill, Glenn Boles, John Arledge.
Director Frank Borzage
Story Delmar Daves and
Lou Edelman
Screen Play Delmar Daves
Dance Director Bobby Connelly
Musical Numbers Mort Dixon
and Allie Wrubel
Photography Sol Polito
Producer Robert Lord
Independent Productions
Monogram
"MOONSTONE"
Cast: David Manners, Phyllis Barry,
Jameson Thomas. Evelyn Bostock,
John Davidson, Claude King, Charles
Irwin, Elspeth Dudgeon, Gustav von
Seyffertitz, Olaf Hytten, Herbert
Bunston, Fewd Walton.
Director Reginald Barker
Story Wilkie Collins
Screen Play Adele Buffington
Photography Robert Planck
Supervisor Paul Malvern
"TOMORROAW'S YOUTH'
Cast: Martha Sleeper, John Miljan,
Dickie Moore, Gloria Shea, Barbara
Bedford, Paul Hurst, Franklin Pang-
born, Harry Bradley, Niles Welch,
Edward LeSaint.
Director Charles Lamont
Original Screen Play Harry Sauber
Photography Jack McKenzie
Supervisor Ben Verschleiser
BRUl/OOUR BULLETIN
S«P*;?;
WHO'I
WHO
Published Every Monday
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Films
An unusual and heavy June rain
storm surprised us all last week . . .
and Trem Carr, silver-haired proaucer,
astounded his friends AND himself by
cracking 90 on the Riviera golf course,
after playing golf a litte over a year.
. . . The gof bug seems to be loose
again after a slight hibernation. . . .
The big M. G. M. tournament with
400 entries gets away later on this
month . . . with dubs, champs and
beginners trying hard for those lovely
prizes. . . . The betting is one, two
and even that Nickolaus will take his
foursome into camp. . . . The Para-
mount Laboratory match play tourna-
ment, which has been in progress for
several weeks, has finally been con-
cluded, being won by Bob Wood. . . .
Harry Low, Archie Twitchell, Sid Fra-
ser and Charles Freshwater were semi-
finalists. . . . Hal Mohr off to Arrow-
head for three or four days' location
with Frank Lloyd. ... Sol Polito post-
cards that West Point is a swell place
— for making pictures — nice scenery
— nice people. . . . Ernie Haller fin-
ishes production on "British Agent"
tomorrow or the next day, and goes
right on with "Lady Surrenders," star-
ring First National's new find, Jean
Muir. ... It's great to be popular. . .
Tony Gaudio finished work on "The
Dragon Murder Case" and will have a
few days to himself before starting
work again.
George Barnes, who has been pho-
tographing Joan Blondell in "Kansas
City Princess," finishes this up and
takes over the final number with Bus
Berkeley for "Dames." . . . Most of
the Warner cameramen have tentative
or actual assignments during the next
two weeks. . . . Looks like the rumor-
ed shut-down is all a mistake. . . .
Friend Baker, years and years and
years ago top-notch boy at Fox, and
who deserted us for several years for
ranch life, is back on the camera staff
at Columbia Studios, and a very nice
addition, too, we think. . . . Guy
Newhard, operative cameraman, RKO,
prevailed upon a charming young lady
to say "I do" at Yuma, and he's now
a Benedict. . . . Ray Binger spent sev-
eral days at Catalina making back-
grounds for Eddie Small's "The Count
of Monte Cristo."
Lucien Andriot at RKO turning out
laff jerkers for Sam White. . . . Dave
Abel fishing, and postcards "They
Bite" — but not how many. . . . Fox
Studios looking up again. . . . George
Schneiderman went back to work with
John Ford on a new production. . . .
Milt Krasner in his second week at
M. G. M. with Eddie Marin and doing
very well. . . . Irving Glassberg moved
up from assistant to operative cam-
eraman for Milt. Maybe you don't
think he's happy about it. . . . Jim
Brown turned the last scenes on Larry
Darmour's feature, "The Scarlet Let-
ter," and immediately starts testing
for a new one titled, "Gaily I Sin.'
. . . Benny Kline back from that three
weeks' vacation that he dreamed of
for years, and was pushed right into
production by Sam Briskin with Ross
Lederman on "By Persons Unknown."
. . . Harold Wenstrom in active train-
ing and punching the bag every day.
He's in great shape.
De Vinna Complains
"Editor, Brulatour Bulletin.
"Sir: I managed to pause long enough between leaps for the train to
procure a copy of 'The Bulletin'.
"I've just finished reading your statement that Len Smith is chal-
lenging my mileage record, and wish to remark that I have wrung more
salt water out of my socks than that Big Moose Smith ever sailed over,
and just to make it tougher for him to catch up to me, I'm on a jaunt
now to Indo-China that will make that Alaskan trip of his look like a
yacht trip to Catalina.
"I wonder if it would be too much trouble to mail a copy of the
Bulletin each week to me. I certainly will appreciate it, as that will
be about the only means of knowing what is going on.
"Best wishes to you and your leg men. Sincerely,
"CLYDE DE VINNA.
c/o American Consul, Saigon, French Indo-China."
Arnold Host
John Arnold, president of the
A. S. C, was host at dinner to the
heads of camera departments of all
studios and the superintendents of the
major studio laboratories.
The purpose of the gathering was to
discuss methods of cooperation be-
tween cameramen, department heads
and laboratory supervisors.
Dinner was held in the private din-
ing room at Levy's Tavern, and an en-
joyable and profitable evening was
had by those attending. Unofficial
meetings such as this add much to
the friendliness and cooperative spirit
so necessary to every industry.
Lang With Taurog
Charlie Lang is teamed up with
Norman Taurog again and they are
into production with that famous old
story, "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch." W. C. Fields and Zasu Pitts
will carry the acting honors. Asso-
ciated with Lang, as usual, are Bob
Pittack and Cliff Sharpser as operative
and assistant cameramen.
Walker to Tanforan
Joe Walker returns to Tanforan race
track to shoot actual production scenes
with Frank Capra for their next pic-
ture, "Broadway Bill.' ' Operative
Cameraman Vic Scheurich accompa-
nies Walker as the Number One boy,
and George Kelly moves up from as-
sistant to operative cameraman No. 2
on the unit.
Miller Recovered
Much to the delight of his many
friends and co-workers, Artie Miller
is fully recovered from the effects of
his operation, and is back at the stu-
dio preparing to start work on Lilian
Harvey's newest picture, "Serenade."
The picture will feature some of
Schubert's finest music, and will be
directed by Paul Martin.
Monogram Busy
Trem Carr's Monogram Productions
went into the production column this
week with two feature stories. Jack
Mackenzie is photographing "Tomor-
row's Youth," directed by Charles La-
mont, who for the past few years has
directed the majority of the Educa-
tional Pictures productions. The cast
includes Dickie Moore, John Miljan,
Irene Ware, Franklin Pangborn.
Bob Planck is photographing "Moon-
stone," which is being directed by
Reginald Barker, who for many years
was one of our finest directors.
Planck's operative cameraman is Reg-
gie Lanning.
Tetzlaff Joins Reliance
Teddy Tetzlaff receives the assign-
ment for Eddie Small's Reliance pro-
duction, "Transatlantic Showboat,"
which will be produced at the Pathe
Studios. Ben Stoloff will direct.
Nancy Carroll and Gene Raymond are
the featured players.
Cerrard With Harding
Henry Gerrard, w.ho has so success-
fully photographed many of our big
stars in past years, is assigned to pho-
tograph Miss Harding in her new pic-
ture, "The Fountain." This will be
Gerrard's first opportunity with this
charming lady, and he is busy reading
the script and visualizing unusual and
artistic effects.
What! No Trapeze?
Perched on top of the camera car
shooting the final chase scenes for his
recent picture at Columbia, Johnny
Stumar became so interested in the
shot that he overlooked his personal
safety, and found himself flying
through the air — (but not with the
greatest of ease) — and landing among
the rocks of Mr. Mulholland's Drive.
No bones broken, fortunately, and he's
hobbling 'round now, laughing it off.
Backgroood Shots
CHARLIE STUMAR— Cinematographer
iQno°'^'^x'" ^'^'^SP"'''^. Hungary; entered the picture industry there in
1909. With his brother John, started out as independent news men.
Charles first trip to America was in 191 1 — made a few travelogues —
returned to Berlin and joined one of the then important producing com-
panies. 1914— returned to America, and joined the Eastern Film Corp.,
Providence .Rhode Island. 1916— to California with Thomas H. Ince.
lyzi — joined the Universal camera ranks and since that time has been
consistently employed by the Universal studios. His latest pictures fami-
^'^' 1° ,\^f,^]^eaUe-go,ng public are "Bombay Mail,' "Countess of Monte
Lristo, Uncertain Lady," "Embarrassing Moments "
1909 to 1934 and still on top of the heap— not a bad record.
(NOTE: In this department this
week, representatives of J. E. Bru-
latour Inc. put a question to direc-
tors instead. The question involves
cameramen and the answers are of
great interest to them.)
QUESTION: WHAT CAN THE CAM-
ERAMAN CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR
PICTURE BEYOND HIS PHOTOG-
RAPHY?
FRANK CAPRA (Columbia) : Enthu-
siasm— and photography that will
fit the mood of the scene, which is
different from just photography.
MERVYN LEROY (Warner Bros.):
Speed, without sacrifice of quality,
is an important contribution. I
want my cameramen to carefully
read the script before the picture
starts, and thoroughly familiarize
themselves with the story. I will-
ingly accept suggestions from the
cameramen because they are usually
good. I believe that a good cam-
eraman can relieve the director of
at least twenty-five percent of the
burden when picking set-ups, ar-
ranging stage composition and
grouping people.
HENRY KING (Fox) : The most im-
portant contribution of an experi-
enced cameraman to a picture is
the portrayal of the director's con-
ception of the scene or sequence.
He must be thoroughly familiar
with the script, not only as written,
but must also understand the direc-
tor's interpretation of it. The ex-
tent of the cameraman's contribu-
tions is limited only by his intelli-
gence and experience.
AL GREEN (Warner Bros.): A good
cameraman should have a sense of
story value and with his initiative
and by using his camera properly,
can assist greatly in properly por-
traying a scene or sequence. I be-
lieve I allow my cameramen as
much freedom as any other di-
rector. In fact, I generally permit
them to select their own set-ups,
after explaining the action and dia-
logue thoroughly. An experienced
cameraman can many times point
up important action by clever use
of his camera and lights.
FRANK LLOYD (Fox): The camera-
men's primary contribution to a
picture should be the ability to pre-
sent a scene so that the audience is
immediately visually and sympa-
thetically prepared for the action
which follows. Of course the sug-
gestions that can be made concern-
ing the mechanical and optical
problems are unlimited and gener-
ally most welcome.
Perry Skyrides
Harry Perry, a fine cameraman and
one of our leading aerialists, has been
photographing parachute jumps and
rolling airplanes for First National's
picture, "Hey, Sailor" during the past
week.
y< MP.SAVUFL MA>,.
CULVtR CIi'Y,';A..i;
i O .' J. k^ -
Vol. XXI. No. 29. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, June 12, 1934
STAMP' TO riLL DtALS
•HAVE you been watching the steady
progress of Monogram Pictures? If
you have, you are acquainted with just
what has been done with that organi-
zation by Ray Johnston and Trem
Carr since the company was organized
in 1931. If you have missed that
accomplishment of making pictures
and distributing them at a profit, you
may be interested in knowing that:
Monogram was formed by Ray
Johnston in February, 1931, through
the merging of a series of indepen-
dently owned exchanges throughout
the country into a national organiza-
tion, with Johnston at the head. At
the start it bought its pictures. In
June of that year Johnston arranged
with Trem Carr to start the production
of a program for his organization.
During the first twelve months Carr
turned out twenty-eight features, six-
teen of them Westerns, at a cost of
around $1,000,000. The second year
found him sending Jo.hnston thirty
features, half of which were West-
erns, and the production cost was
boosted by a few odd thousand.
•
Last year Monogram reached out in
its production with a budget that ex-
ceeded $1,500,000 for the produc-
tion of twenty-eight pictures, only
eight of which were Westerns. And
with the other twenty, this indepen-
dent crowd broke into houses that
they had never been in before, with
the result that their gross take ran
to $3,470,000, almost $1,500,000
more than they had collected during
either of the two preceding years,
putting them in the big money class.
•
The rise of Monogram has been on
a platform of family pictures for the
family trade. Carr and his associates,
under the guidance of Johnston, held
no illusions regarding the business
they were in nor the audience for
w.hich they were making pictures.
They knew they could not go into
competition with the majors and they
saw little use of doing it, knowing
that their brand of attractions was
unique and would find a big market of
appreciation. The results have been
astounding, so much so, in fact, that
the production budget for '33-'34 has
been almost doubled. But in dou-
bling the production costs, they will
not change their platform. They will
Continued on Page 2)
'Fathers of Families'
Object to Our Films
Cairo. — Alleged immorality of
American films is bringing down
the wrath of the Arabic press and
other Egyptian groups. The Society
of Fathers of Families filed a pro-
test against both American and
European films, saying the films are
shocking to strict Moslems.
Chinese Will Open
Only on Week-ends
Sid Grauman is going to give Holly-
wood something new in the line of an
entertainment policy by opening the
Chinese Theatre for three days a
week, over the week-end, giving mat-
inees and evening performances on
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The attraction for the Summer — if
the experiment is successful — will be
"The House of Rothschild," which has
just closed its run at the Chinese.
MCM Sets Griffith
For Another Picture
Irving Thalberg yesterday extended
Edward H. Griffith's contract to in-
clude another picture for MGM, the
Hawks-Voick office negotiating the
deal.
While awaiting Ann Harding for
"Biography," the director will pre-
pare with Horace Jackson the screen
play for "No More Ladies."
Cable-MacDonald Team
MGM is planning to team Clark
Cable and Jeanette MacDonald in "A
Lady Comes To Town," the Cosmo-
politan Magazine story which the
company snaked away from the other
majors.
Majors Will Force Exhibs To
Single-Feature Policy By The
Scheme Employed In Chicago
New York. — Regardless of charges of restraint of trade or any
other possible legal obstacles, the major distributing companies
are going to put a stop to the double-bill practice.
Those independents who don't like it are simply going to have
single bills shoved down their throats.
[
If they won't go to single features,
they won't get any pictures. And once
they sign for pictures, they will be
compelled to stick to the single bills.
The change will be brought about
by the "rubber stamp" clause that has
been in effect in the Chicago area. It
has worked to what the picture com-
panies call near perfection there, so
they have decided that they will make
it work throughout the country. In
every sales contract there will be a
place for the stamping of a clause
(Continued on Page 7)
Florence Ryerson on
Mady Christians' First
Florence Ryerson yesterday was
given the Ann Austin story, "A
Wicked Woman," to script. Lynn
Riggs previously worked on the adap-
tation.
The story will be Mady Christians'
first screen work in this country, with
Charles Brabin directing.
Hal Roach Flying East
Hal Roach takes the night plane
for New York Thursday to confer with
MGM officials prior to the con-
vention. Roach returns to Chicago
for the June 21 meeting, at which he
will announce his plans for 1934-35.
PROJECTIOI\ISTS MAY BE
USED AS CLUB BY lATSE
The motion picture industry is in
danger of a labor walkout in August
t.hat will make last year's strike of
studio technical workers look like
nothing at all, according to those who
are close to the new lATSE adminis-
tration.
If the walkout comes it will be by
the lATSE motion picture projection-
ists, who are in the majority of motion
picture theatres of any size in the
country, and it will be a protest
against the dropping of the organiza-
(Continued on Page 3)
Helen Mencken To Make
'Good Earth' Test Here
New York. — Helen Mencken will
go to the coast after the closing of
"Mary of Scotland" June 30 for her
tests for "Good Earth." When the
run of the play was extended MGM
offered to make the tests here, but
Miss Mencken decided yesterday she
wanted to talk to Irving Thalberg and
George Hill about the part first.
Fay Bainter's test for "Good Earth"
will be made in the East.
Beahan Quits Col.
To Produce forStage
Charles Beahan has resigned .his
executive position with Columbia Pic-
tures in order to carry out some ex-
tensive plans for play production in
New York this Fall.
He will complete his current assign-
ment at Columbia on June 16, and
will leave for the East in about four
weeks, meantime devoting his time to
obtaining several picture personalities
for his plays.
Among the plays Beahan has al-
ready scheduled for early Broadway
showing are "Spring of 1600," Emiyn
(Continued on Page 5)
Esther Ralston Set in
Place of June Knight
Universal yesterday signed Esther
Ralston for the June Knight role in
"Romance in the Rain," which Stuart
Walker put into work yesterday from
the Barry Trivers script. Roger Pryor,
Heather Angel and Victor Moore have
the other top spots in the cast. Stan-
ley Bergerman produces,
Lederer As Lafitte
Radio yesterday placed on its pro-
duction slate a pirate story, which will
star Francis Lederer. Sidney Suther-
land was signed through M. C. Levee
to write the screen play under the
title, "Laj^itte, the Pirate."
Hurley on Westerns
Harold Hurley, who supervised
Paramount's westerns last year, takes
this production job again for the three
new outdoor pictures with Randolph
Scott in the lead. "Wagon Wheels,"
the starter, goes in early in July.
One MCM Convention
New York. — MGM has finally de-
cided to hold only one sales conven-
tion, which will be at the Drake Hotel
in Chicago, June 22.
EDWARD E. PARAMORE, Jr.
Wrote Hie Script
for
( in collaboration)
BABY TAKE A BOW
Starring SHIRLEY TEMPU
Page Two
Page Three
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyw^ood (Los AngelesI, California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Laura La Plante and Irving Asher
have cabled their folks that they'll be
married in Paris, June 19 — but we
have good reason to think they were
wed in London more than a month
ago! . . Clark Cable is all bruised from
becoming a thirty-second degree Ma-
son Saturday night. . . . Wynne Gibson
and Randy Scott are going places. . . .
Ray Hallor, who has taken over a local
speak, promises something new in
decorations when it opens right soon.
. . Karen Moriey will commute be-
tween Carmel and Hollywood over the
Summer. . . . Mercedes d'Acosta has
rented a shack next to the Carbo
menage.
•
Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar have
been looking at each other for twenty
years now! And loving it! . . . Barbara
Pepper is a sanzation in the new King
Vidor picture, we hear tell — but Sam
Coldwyn has her under contract. . . .
The Bill Coetzes' trip to Honolulu is
off at the moment. . . . Cottfried
Reinhardt (son of Max) is recouping
from a serious illness, at the Berthold
Viertels. . . . Mae Murray is stepping
into the lead of "The Milky Way" in
N. Y. tonight. . . . Cladys Ceorge, who
formerly had the part, wanted to come
here to be with her current heart-
throb— the gal, we hear, has been
wed four times already and still plan-
ning! .... The Bill Cargans are going
to Europe with the Leslie Howards
when they shove off. . . . It's amaz-
ing— the rapidity with which a certain
young writer is wise-cracking himseff
right out of pictures!
•
When Tallulah Bankhead arrived in
London, the newspaper headlines said
merely, "She's Back!" . . . This IS
news! jimmy Shields TAKING seven
people to lunch at the Vendome! . .
jean Harlow, Mickey Neilan, Sandra
Shaw Cooper, Dolores Del Rio, Watty
Rothacker, Lee Tracy with Isabel
leweli, the Louis Calherns, Irene Bar-
rymore, Mrs. Freddy Astaire, Virginia
Pine, Walter Winchell. Lupe Velez
(who has insomnia and thereby just
discovered that johnny Weissmuller
snores!) , Max Marcin, Marion Thomp-
son, Arthur Landau, Frances Goldwyn.
"MEN IN WHITE "
MGM prod.; director, Richard Boleslavsky; writers, Sidney Kingsley,
Waldemar Young.
Capitol Theatre
Herald-Tribune: As a motion picture, the Sidney Kingsley drama emerges with
whatever stature the original may boast. While the screen drama has the
same lack of dramatic unity and conviction that mar the play for some of
us, it has made a far more arresting and exciting composition of its hospi-
tal backgrounds. And by virtue of several splendidly modulated perform-
ances it has captured a more compelling and authentic emotional intensity.
Under the expert and knowing direction of Richard Boleslavsky the players
succeed in distilling the full essence of dramatic quality that inheres in
the material.
Mirror: This year's Pulitzer Prize play, under the able direction of Richard Bole-
slavsky, has reached the screen as an exceptionally powerful and absorbing
picture. This dramatic description of a young man gives the popular Gable
the acting chance of his career, and he makes the most of it.
American: When the time arrives for the 1934 trophy of the Academy of Arts
and Sciences, "Men in White" should be among the leading contenders.
For this picture, wrought with intense realism from Sidr.ay Kinglsy's Pulit-
zer Prize winner, is a compassionate and trenchant study of the Hippo-
cratic heroes.
Journal: MGM has made a tremendously effective picture of "Men in White."
So brilliant and genuinely moving is the production that the Pulitzer Prize
play of the year takes its place as one of Hollywood's outstanding dramatic
achievements. Superbly directed by Richard Boleslavsky, the film holds one
absorbed from the moment it opens until its impressive conclusion. It is
vitally human, sympathetic and stirringly real.
World-Telegram: Although it has been staged earnestly and picturesquely and
contains some uncommonly good acting, the appeal of "Men in White" is
to the eye rather than the heart or brain. However, a film which is so ex-
pertly managed and so capitally acted cannot be entirely without merit.
Times: The film, which was directed by Richard Boleslavsky, may abide by the
parent work in certain essentials, but as a whole it pales by comparison
with the original. It lacks both the realism and the dramatic vigor of the
stage production, and the subject-matter is frequently subordinated to tTie
players, particularly to Mr. Gable.
Sun: "Men in White," which might in cinema form have proved even more
striking than its Pulitzer prize-winning original, emerged as simply a well-
made, adequately acted, fairly typical talkie. It's still a good picture, but
far less incisive than the play.
News: Boleslavsky's production achieves something very near perfection in the
acting of its splendid cast and in the precision with which everyone and
everything moves from beginning to end. The backgrounds and the pho-
tography help to make "Men in White" an exceptionally fine film pro-
duction.
"Men in White" is an interesting and technically competent study in iodo-
form. Realism is what the current picture strives for — realism and Clark
Gable- — and these it attains in no small measure. The picture also achieves
a splendid directorial pace and flawless performances from Myrna Loy and
i»ost:
Jean Hersholt.
Johnston Due Tomorrow
John LeRoy Johnston, Universal's
publicity chief, returns tomorrow
night from his 1 0-days vacation, most
of which was spent working. He con-
ferred with fan magazine editors and
home office officials, and gave a talk
at the Universal sales convention in
New York.
Fox Juniors Assigned
Sol Wurtzel has assigned his junior
writing staff to do a treatment of
"The Giant Swing,' a novel by W. R.
Burnett which has been on the shelf
at Fox for about two years. Jesse L.
Lasky was slated to do it at that time.
also there. . . . Kitty Kelly, with an
elderly escort, the Archie Mayos, Car-
ole Lombard with Russ Columbo,
among the Kings Clubbers over the
week-end. . . . Mr. and Mrs. AI Green,
Ann Darcy, Lee Bailey, Arthur Appel,
Cretchen Hartman and Alan Hale en-
joying jimmie Grier's music at the
Biltmore Bowl. . . . Mrs. Allen RIvkin
and Beulah Spigelgass due tomorrow
from a vacation in New York.
Bank of America's New
Branch Nearly Ready
Construction on Bank of America's
modern bank building on the south-
east corner of Melrose and Bronson
avenues is nearing completion and the
new banking quarters will be ready
for occupancy on July 1 , according to
Dr. A. H. Giannini, chairman of the
bank's general executive committee.
This new branch is located adja-
cent to the Radio and the Paramount
studios.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
continue the same type productions,
but with better casts and greater pro-
duction values.
Johnston, Carr and all the "Mono-
gramers" are to be congratulated.
They have succeeded in an end of the
business that has hardly ever spelled
success before and, even with their
continued progress, you will never see
them diverging from their original
ideas of making family pictures for
the family trade.
Shrine Notables
Guests of Wampas
Everett W. Mattoon, Potentate of
AI Malaikah Temple, and many other
high ranking officials of the local
Shrine organization, met with the
Wampas last night at the Writers
Club to tell them about their plans
for the Wampas Baby Stars, who will
be publicly introduced at the big;
Shrine convention at Minneapolis,
June 19, 20 and 21.
Among the notables present were
Harold Lloyd, Eddie Cantor, Sid Grau-
man. Rev. Neil Dodd and Rev. Francis
F. Lynch, of Corning, N. Y. In addi-
tion to the speakers, there was a
brilliant program of entertainment.
Sten Picture Starts
Rouben Mamoulian today puts "We
Live Again" before the cameras at
United Artists, cutting short the
rehearsing schedule. Anna Sten and
Fredric March have the top spots, and
Gregg Toland, who photographed Miss
Sten's first American picture, "Nana,"
is again handling the cameras.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
-^Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
_^racKNT0rap
nmess
SCOTCH
WHISKY A
A CONNOISSEUR'S
WHISKY
Very old and Mellow
tyl Product of
Berry Bros df Co.
LONDON
Established in the
XVU Century
Distributors for the Pacafic Coast
Ceo. Herrmann Company
816 W. 5th St.
Los Angeles
Tel. Mutual 8053
300 Front St.
San Francisco
Tel. CArf ield 1 980
June 12. 1934
Page Three
RADIO'S *WE'RE RICH AGAIIV'
LIVELY AXD AMIJSIIVG COMEDY
Credit Earned By
Cast and Writers
"WERE RICH AGAIN"
(RKO-Radio)
Direction William Seiler
Original Story Aiden Nash
Screen Play Ray Harris
J Photography Nick Musuraca
fCast: Marian Nixon, Edna May Oliver,
Billie Burke, Reginald Denny, Bus-
ter Cl-abbe, Gloria Shea, Grant Mit-
chell, Edgar Kennedy, Lenita Lane,
Otto Yamoaka, Dick Elliott, An-
dreas DeSegurola, Joan Marsh.
A cockeyed little opus, fairly alive
with amusing ideas, most of which
come off to make a comedy that any
exhibitor can be grateful for in these
dull days.
What could have been done with
the crazy notions incorporated in this
picture (w.hich was evidently dashed
off before you could say Gustav von
Seyffertitz) if a little more time and
thought had been given to them,
might have resulted in something that
would have put "Three-Cornered
Moon" to shame. As it is, played in
three sets and two backdrops, you can
thank the perfect casting and who-
ever thought up the gags for provid-
ing a picture that is mostly amusing
and positively hilarious in spots.
Marian Nixon, as the determinedly
annoying Arabella, has never been
more natural in her life. It is her
part to walk in unexpectedly on the
Page family which is in the throes of
bankruptcy and an impending mar-
riage. Arabella, in her "Be Good,
Sweet Girl, and Let Who Will Be
Clever" way, manages to fix every-
thing up so's she wears all the trous-
seaux clothes, marries off the un-
engaged daughter to a champion
swimmer, who turns out to be vulgar-
ly rich, gets Papa Page to invest his
insurance money in stock that goes
down instead of up. Then Arabella
gets the stock to go up instead of
down and eventually marries the
bridegroom herself, instead of the gal
originally supposed to.
Billie Burke is simply marvelous as
Mrs. Rimplegar, pardon us, Mrs.
Page. She looks so beautiful and acts
dumb comedy so beautifully that she
can make any picture beautiful. Edna
May Oliver, as the polo-playing grand-
mother, hasn't much to do except
wow the customers in a polo outfit,
the writers having thought that was
sufficient and nobody else having
cared. Grant Mitchell is appropri-
ately woeful in an amusing way, Ed-
gar Kennedy as the frustrated process
server is dependably funny, as usual.
Buster Crabbe, as the swimmer who
doesn't open his mouth until the last
reel, is a positive inspiration, and
Gloria Shea, as his trainer and even-
tual wife, is plenty attractive and
good.
But the honey of them all is Otto
Yamoaka as the Japanese butler, cook,
etc., whose lines couldn't have been
as funny as .he managed to make
them. He's swell. Lenita Lane ap-
pears briefly in the role of an ex-
wife, but is effective and good to
look at
Selznicks and Cukor
Arrive in N.Y. Today
New York. — The He de France,
which arrives today, is bringing a
lot of film notables. Among the
passengers are David and Myron
Selznick, Hugh Walpole, George
Cukor, Fritz Lang, J. C. Bernard, a
French producer, Karl David, of
Pathe Natan, Michel and Vera
Fokine, and George White.
New Move Towards
Reorganizing Roxy
New York. — Another step towards
the reorganization of the Roxy Thea-
tre Corporation was taken yesterday
when the Board of Directors decided
to file an answer to the petition of
the bondholders, which asked that the
work of reorganizing be speeded.
The answer will admit the juris-
diction of the court and also the truth
of the material allegations in the pe-
tition.
17 New Members For
Screen Writers Guild
Seventeen new members were added
to the Screen Writers' Guild at the
meeting last night of the Executive
Board.
Those who joined were: Liam
O'Flaherty, H. O. Yardley, John Hob-
ble, Basil Woon, John Farrow, Edwin
Knopf, L. V. Jefferson, George Seaton,
Arthur Bloch, Richard Price, Robert
Walker, Robert Pirosh, Helen Doherty,
John Lovell Loughborough, Sarah A.
Nassour, Gilbert Severn and Jed Kiley.
Agents Opposed To
Registration PEan
Many of the players' agents met at
the Beverly Wilshire last night to dis-
cuss what they want and do not want
in the new code which the film code
agency committee is drawing.
The concensus of opinion was that
the registration, or licensing plan, is
decidedly not wanted, and that they
will insist, so far as possible, on com-
plete representation for their clients.
Farrow to Honolulu
John Farrow leaves Thursday for
Honolulu, with Benny Lewis as assist-
ant director and cutter ,and a techni-
cal and camera staff to make a four-
reel native romance for Harry Rapf.
Edna May Oliver Set
Edna May Oliver gets the top as-
signment in "Let's Get Married" and
William Seiter is slated to direct.
Eddie Melcher Due
Eddie Melcher, dramatic critic of
the Washington Star, arrives in Holly-
wood today to learn the inside.
MCM Has 4 Ready
To Start Next Week
MCM has four productions nearing
the shooting line, all of them pos-
sible starters next week.
They are "Have a Heart," the John
Considine musical production starring
Jean Parker; "Death on the Diamond,"
Lucien Hubbard's entry, with Franchot
Tone as a baseball pitcher; "Painted
Veil," Greta Garbo starring and Hunt
Stromberg overseeing; "Forsaking All
Others,' Loretta Young's first star part
for MGM, Bernard Hyman producing.
James Flood to Direct
'Outrage' at Paramount
James Flood's next directorial
efforts are aimed at "Outrage," pre-
paring at Paramount in Benjamin
Glazer's production.
Flood had also been mentioned as
possible on "Shoe the Wild Mare,"
with both penciled in the schedule for
the first week of August, but "Out-
rage" gets him.
U' and Frenke Deal
Universal has purchased the foreign
rights to Dr. Eugene Frenke's inde-
pendent production, "The Girl in the
Case," which featured Jimmy Savo.
Frenke is now at the studio, preparing
an original picture based on a Russian
background.
Sherman May Double
Lowell Sherman will probably play
the leading role as well as direct
Thome Smith's 'Night Life of the
Gods," which has been scripted by
Barry Trivers.
Projectionists As Club
(Continued from Page 1 I
Denny were not as happily cast as
the rest, but the irritation is slight,
but then so is Seiter's direction, which
IS made up for by the really high class
Joan Marsh and Reginald photography of Nick Musuraca,
tion from the Basic Agreement with
the producers.
For months there has been talk
among the lATSE membership re-
garding such a move. In fact, it was
first suggested last year during the
studio strike, but was frowned down
then because some of the leaders fig-
ured that, with the film code in proc-
ess of formulation, it was only fair
to give the NRA a chance to straight-
en things out.
"But it hasn't straightened any-
thing out," said one lATSE man yes-
terday. "Instead, it has bungled
things until now we are out in the
cold and apparently nothing much can
be done about it under the set-up that
exists today.
"However, if the studios won't
listen, and if the American Federation
of Labor refuses to settle the juris-
dictional battle between us and the
IBEW at its coming convention, then
look out. George Browne, our new
president, doesn't know what it
means to be licked, and the informa-
tion I get from Chicago indicates that
his final move will be to have the
operators refuse to run pictures pho-
tographed by cameramen other than
lATSE men until the lATSE is recog-
nized again and is given its old stand-
ing in the studios."
lATTERS
RKO-Radio has stepped right up to
the new season demand and seems to
have the situation pretty well in hand.
The biggest picture they plan to have
burst upon an unsuspecting public
during the latter part of the Fall or
early Winter will be "The Last Days
of Pompeii." They will also present
a brand new child actor. Master
Frankie Thomas, in a picturization of
the play that made him famous,
"Wednesday's Child." On the musi-
cal list will be Fred Astaire in "The
Gay Divorce," and the Lou Brock pro-
duction of "Down to Their Last
Yacht," which promises an African
version of the Bolero. The last-
named should reach the screens of
the country late m August or early
September.
•
For the early Fall release though,
they will give out with a picture that
should, from all plans and to all pur-
poses, give the exhibitor something
really meaty with which to begin his
new season. That picture will be the
filming of that famous novel, "The
Fountain." Ever since "Holiday"
there hasn't been a producer in Holly-
wood who hasn't been keeping a
weather eye out for another story like
It that would combine the same ele-
ments of human interest. And there
hasn't been one producer that didn't
want to present Ann Harding in it.
Radio believes that in "The Foun-
tain" they have found that vehicle for
Ann Harding and, with that in mind,
they are giving it the best they've
got in the way of production.
•
John Cromwell, who was responsi-
ble for Ann Harding's best box-office
picture outside of "Holiday" (at the
present rate of exchange), will direct.
Paul Lukas, Jean Hersholt, Brian
Aherne and Violet Kemble Cooper will
be in the supporting cast, and our
favorite name, to say nothing of being
one of our favorite art directors. Van
Nest Polglase, is having himself a
time with the sets which give plenty
of opportunity for the spectacular and
include a castle in Holland that is be-
ing patterned after the one in which
the ex-Kaiser is now enjoying his
exile at Doom.
•
The "different" angles on the story
are, one: That, through it all, Harding
IS 1 50 percent a Lady. And for t.he
first time in many pictures, she doesn't
have a baby, legitimate or otherwise.
Two: The picture will offer a brand
new conception of the war. It will
enter the story and play an impor-
tant part in it through the eyes and
feelings of neutral people in a neutral
land, and a company of soldiers from
various nations who have been intern-
ed on neutral soil.
Three: Holland offers a brand new
idea in picture locales and, for the
benefit of the Hays office, though the
entire action takes place in Holland,
there won't be a dam(n) in it.
GEORGE MARSHALL
DIRECTOR
A comedy wow — the direction of
George Marshall is expert in creatines
a laugh and satisfying it completely.
He smacks a situation or a gag and
knows when to let it go.
— Variety, 6-11-34.
Here is a very funny rowdy comedy,
proving again that off-colx>r stuff
doesn't have to be dragged in to get
laughs. . . Gentlemen, take a bow . .
George Marshall for direction that
makes every situation a belly laugh.
Marshall's training makes him an ideal
director for this kind of rowdy farce.
— Hollywood Reporter, 6-11-34.
FOX FILM CORPORATION
June 12. 1934
Page Five
CAVIAR,' ]VEW MUSICAL, OFF
TO GOOD START, BUT SLUMPS
Nothing For Screen
ExceptCeo.Houston
"CAVIAR"
Presented by Patrick A. Leonard at the
Forrest Theatre; score by Harden
Church; book by Leo Randole;
lyrics by Edward Heyman; staged by
Clifford Brooke; dances arranged by
John E. Lonergan. With Nanette
Guilford, George Houston, Violet
Carlson, George Gordon, Mitzi Gar-
ner, Amalie Ideal, Gene Ashley,
Tully Millet, Kai Handsen, Nonie
Dale, Mary Mascher, George Hunt-
er, Hugh Cameron, Jack Cole, Alice
Dudley.
New York. — Starting off with
rhymed cadences, this musical
"romance" lapsed almost immediately
Into nondescript musical comedy plot
of the mythical kingdom type and,
instead of a "Blossom Time" or "May-
time," we got a pot-pourri of hokum,
' vaudeville, dancing, ultra-modern and
less modern, and operatic arias. None
of it too sprightly or engaging.
Whatever chance "Caviar" might
have had to linger on as the foremost
musical Summer long-run was lost
when the prima donna role was given
to a vocalist of technical excellence,
but hardly anything else — least of all,
romance. While Miss Guilford un-
doubtedly has her place at the Met,
we venture to say that the first night
audience would have been far more
29 of 44 Paris Houses
Showing U.S. Films
Paris. — American films continue
to lead the parade in this city. Out
of 44 leading theatres, 29 of them
are showing American pictures. Of
the others, 1 I are French, one each
of English, Austrian, German and
French-German.
intrigued by a pretty face and figure
and a fair voice.
Were it not for George Houston's
pleasing appearance and singing (his
song hit, "Silver Sails," bringing many
encores) , the cute mimicry and pan-
tomime of Violet Carlson, the muscle-
quivering dance of Alice Dudley, and
Jack Cole and a nice line of dancing
girls and boys, people would have left
earlier than they did.
Harden Church's score was ade-
quate for the proceedings and like-
wise Heyman's lyrics, but Randole's
book might .have been more deeply
developed. Settings were O.K., but
the costuming lacked class.
What story there is concerns itself
with an operatic prima donna, risen
from Russian peasantry and dissatis-
fied with her lot. Nothing will make
her happy unless she marries a title —
just for the sake of her future draw-
ing power. A penniless Russian
prince, stranded in Venice, answers
her song with one of .his own outside
Wood Finishes At
MCM; Starts East
Winding up his MGM contract with
"Stamboul Quest" yesterday, Sam
Wood immediately left by train for
Kansas City, where he will board a
plane for New York to witness the
Baer-Carnera fight, June 14.
He leaves for a four months vaca-
tion in Europe, June 16 on the He de
France. Jack Conway, who followed
him as director on "Born To Be
Kissed," will handle the pick-up
shots on "Stamboul Quest."
her balcony and the romance is on.
Prince Dimitri is propositioned and
agrees to marry the lady for monetary
consideration and to go through the
ceremony blindfold. Afterwards, there
is to be an immediate divorce.
To complicate the plot, Madame
Elena falls in love with her handsome
prince and he with her, and when the
ceremony is over and he discovers it
is his love .he has married and must
now give up, Dimitri suffers a broken
heart and goes away. The lovers are
later reunited at a Cafe in Constanti-
nople, and there you are.
Picture scouts might take a look
at this Houston person. It might be
worth while.
Walfis Clark, by A! Kingston, to
Edward Small's "Transatlantic Merry-
Go-Round."
Barbara Barondess, by Bernard,
Meiklejohn and McCall, and Betty
Alden, by Hoffman-Schlager, for "The
Fountain," Radio.
Edward Earl to "She Was a Lady,"
Fox, by Hallam Cooley.
Lois Wilson and Charles Ray to M.
H. Hoffman for "School for Girls," by
James Stanley, of the Hallam Cooley
office.
Craufurd Kent, by Hallam Cooley,
to Sam Goldwyn's "We Live Again."
Walter Brennan to "There's Always
Tomorrow," Universal, by MacQuarrie.
Jessie Arnold, by Hallam Cooley, to
Universal's "Romance in the Rain."
Forrester Harvey, by MacQuarrie,
for "Broadway Bill," Columbia.
Dorothy Christy, by Hallam Cooley,
to "Servants' Entrance," Fox.
Frank McClynn Jr. to "Hell's Bells,"
a Warner short, by Hallam Cooley.
Beahan Quits Col.
(Continued from Page 1 )
Williams' romantic English comedy
which has just completed a successful
run at the Shaftsbury Theatre, Lon-
don; "It Happens Every Day," a play
of his own authorship, with his wife,
Sidney Fox, featured; "Just One
More," a Viennese comedy which re-
quires the services of a glamorous
Continental actress.
WILLIAM CONSELMAN and HENRY JOHNSON
SCREEN PLAY
Don't overlook the lack of obscenity in "She Learned
About Sailors," in planning your campaign. It is prob-
ably the first time a sailor picture has ever received such
treatment. Sell it as a comedy wow — it won't disappoint.
Gentlemen take a bow — William Conselman and Henry
Johnson for a corking screen farce that couldn't have cost
a lot of money, but can't help but turn in a neat profit.
— Hollywood Reporter, June 11, 193'4.
P. S.: Sidney Kent says:
" 'Handy Andy,' Will Rogers' next, is the
funniest picture ever made. ' WE WROTE IT.
Page Six
I^ilPOmriii
June 12,1934
EASTERN SUMMER THEATRES
ATTRACT PICTURE SCOUTS
Many Possibilities
For Screen Listed
New York. — The Summer theatrical
season is starting and the little thea-
tres scattered up and down the At-
lantic seaboard are making plans for
their productions of hitherto untried
material. These out-of-town play-
houses are a fine source of material,
not only for the Broadway stage, but
for motion pictures. Every big picture
company .has its scouts who visit these
playhouses through the Summer, in
search of potential screen plays. The
/ list this year is promising. It in-
cludes:
Westchester Theatre, New Roch-
elle: — "The Good Girl," by Carlo
Goldoni, with Queenie Smith starred,
June 25; "The Right Hat," by Con-
stance Bridges, July 2; "Pig Iron," by
Leslie Eichel and Alexander Herman,
July 9; "Comedienne," by Adelaide
Herman, July 16; "The Women Who
Understood Gregory," by David Lov-
ett, July 30; "Divine Emilie," by Con-
stance Bridges, August 13; "This
Woman's Story," by Sara Owen, Aug-
ust 20; "Black Sabbath," by S. An-
sky, August 27.
Westchester Playhouse, Mount
Kisco: — "Coquette." with Margaret
Sullavan starred, for one week, start-
ing July 2.
Elverhoj Players, Milton-on-rluo-
son: — "Genius in Love," by G. A.
Gerber, with Betty Bronson in cast,
June 18; "Gram," by Adelyn Bush-
nell, with Herbert Rawlinson, June 25;
"Happily Ever After," by Alvin Kerr
and Emmerich Halasz, July 2; "Some-
body," by Ferenc Molnar, July 9; "The
Infernal Triangle," by Sil Vara, July
16; "We Dress for Dinner," by Aben
Kandel, July 23; "Something Gay," by
John Etenza, August 6; "Shoestring,"
by Kubec Glasmon and Sidney Salkow,
August 13.
Summer Civic Playhl>use, Clayton: —
"Temple Virginis," by W. McQuinley,
July 1 1.
Napanoch Playhouse, Napanoch: —
"There's No More Love," by Maxwell
Nurenberg and Howard Clark, July 5;
"There Comes a Time," by Gustav
Davidson; "For Love of Geraldine," by
Arthur M. Brilant; "Women Land on
Their Feet," by Francis King; "Spot-
light," by Jerome Ross; "You Prom-
ised Me," by E. W. Smith; "Lovers
Don't Cry Forever," by John F. Lar-
kin; "Solo for Drum," by Joseph
Sharnk. No dates have been set for
these.
Reginald Coode Players, Clinton
H'ollow: — "Kalula," by Reginald
Goode; two plays by Clarence and El-
frieda Derwent.
The County Theatre, Suffern: —
"Gangway," author not given.
Schroon Manor Players, Schroon
Lake: — "Two Lines from the Rubai-
yat," by Eugene Szepesi.
Memorial Hall, Woodmere: — "Wild
Plumes," by Tom Prideaux, July 16;
"Getty," by Isadore Witmark and
Thomas Grand Springer, July 23;
"Whom the Gods Destroy," by E.
Serber Fried, August 6; "The Gold
Watch," by Ernest Szep, adapted by
R. C. Sherriff, August 13; "Julie," by
Bid For Thelma Todd
Sent in From Vienna
Vienna. — Thelma Todd is want-
ed by British Gaumont for the
starring role in "The Taming of
the Shrew," which it is planning to
make here in both English and
Austrian versions.
Frederick Arnold Kummer, with Tullio
Carminati, August 20; "Mother
Lode," by Dan Totheroih, with Helen
Gahagan, Bert Lytell and Melvyn
Douglas, August 27.
Cliff Theatre, Seacliff, L. I.: —
"Brownstone," by Benson Inge and
Barnett Warren; "Glass Houses," by
Rosemary Casey; "Mister Mary," by
William P. Tell; "Bacon for Break-
fast," by Claiborne Foster and Nellie
Foster Young.
Red Barn Theatre, Locust Valley: —
"True to the Marines," by Benjamin
Graham, June 25; "We Die Exquisite-
ly," by Jo.hn Stuart Twist and Cathe-
rine Emery, July 2; "Julie," by Arthur
Richman, July 9; "Musical Chairs," by
Roland Mackenzie; "The Stitch Is
Late," by Noel Taylor; "All Our Yes-
terdays," by Bernard Schoenfeld; "The
Shining Armor," by B. Iden Payne.
Bandbox Theatre, Hempstead: —
"Mating Season," by Halsey Raines,
June 15; "Ninety-six Point," by Joe
Eisinger and Stephen Van Cluck, June
22; "The Eye," by Halsey Raines and
Rayness Copeland; "The Infernal
Feminine," by Charles J. Leahy.
South Shore Players, East Hamp-
ton:— "Sparrow," by Melchoir Lang-
yel, July 1 1 .
Morningside Theatre, Hurley ville,
N. Y.: — A play by Herbert Ashton.
Flagler Players, Fallsburgh: — "New
York, New Haven and Hartford," a
musical comedy, by E. D. Gilbert and
Walter DeLong, July 3.
Shore Players, Spring Lake, N. J.: —
"Tragedian and Harlot," by Philip
Merivale.
Hopatcong Broadway Players, Net-
cong, N. J.: — "Still Life," by Larry
St. Johns, July 23.
Tamiment Players, Tamiment, Pa.:
— -"The Gull," by Jane Hinton; "Hope
Haven," by Philip Dunning and L. G.
Lippman; "School Teacher," by Ned
Glass and Allen Boretz.
Country Playhouse, Westport,
Conn.: — "Chimes of Corneville," an
operetta, with Helen Ford and George
Meader, June 28; "The Bridge of
Torzko," by Otto Indig, with Jean Ar-
thur and Sam Jaffee, July 9; "Birth of
a Hero," by Philip Goodman, July 16;
"For Love or Money," by Alan Child
and Isabelle Loudon; "Bravo, Pas-
key," by Konrad Bercovici; "Hide and
Seek," by Richard Macauley and Lau-
rence Schwab, August 6; "Achilles
Had a Heel," by Martin Flavin;
"America Dances," by Lawrence
Langner; "Dream Child," by J. C.
Nugent; "Love on an Island," by
Helen Deutsch; "Marriage Is No
Joke," by James Bridle.
Criswold Playhouse, New London,
Conn.: — "A Portrait of a Lady," July
10; "The Mrs. Thomas," July 17;
"Narcissus," July 31 .
Noted Writers Try
Out New Material
The Jitney Players, Madison, Conn.:
—"Lucky Dip," by Frank Vosper,
July 3; "Come-Uppance," by F. Har-
rison Dowd, August 21.
Cape Playhouse, Dennis, Mass.: —
"Round Trip," by Blair Hill, July 9.
Beach Theatre, West Falmouth,
Mass.: — "Forever and Forever," by
Courtney Savage, July 25; "Hallow-
e'en," by Henry Myers, August 15.
Wharf Theatre, Provincetown,
Mass.: — "A Lady Detained," by Sam-
uel Shipman and John B. Hymer; "My
Wife's Husband," by Isabelle Bishop
O g u n q u i t Playhouse, Ogunquit
Maine: — "The Closed Room," by Pat-
terson Greene, July 23; "Obsession,'
by Martin Berkeley, August 20
"Loose Moments," by Courtney Sav-
age and Bertram Hobbs, August 6
"His Favorite Wife," by George James
Hopkins, September 3.
Lakewood Players, Skowhegan,
Maine: — "Sunshine Ahead," by Car-
roll and Garrett Gra.ham, June 18.
Our Playhouse, Peterboro, Maine: —
"Strangers and Lovers," by Edwin
Cranberry.
Wally Ford to Stage
Wallace Ford leaves tonight for
Cleveland, where he is slated to go in-
to a stage play.
Talk
About
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immediate needs.
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an annuity, it will be to your ad-
vantage to consult me.
Telephone
HE 3682 or HO 1161
Benjamin Leven
ANNUITY COUNSELLOR
310 Guaranty Building
6331 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood
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June 12, 1934
TH
I
i[iIP©PiTilR
Page Seven
Swanson's Plans
Still Up in the Air
"Three Weeks" is being scripted
for Gloria Swanson at MGM. An al-
ternate story is also being drafted in
the MGM scenario department. Mean-
while loan applications for Miss Swan-
son are on file from Warners for
"Firebird" and from Fox for "Music
in the Air."
Decision is due this week by Irv-
ing Thalberg whether Gloria goes
ahead with her next MGM picture or
is given a visiting permit.
Bess Meredyfrh Off To
London To Work For B-D
- Bess Meredyth left by train last
night for New York where she will
board the Berengaria for London and
take up a deal that has been arranged
by Twentieth Century to write the
script of "Wellington" for British and
Dominions.
Michael Curtiz, her husband, winds
up "British Agent" at Warners to-
morrow and hops a plane for New
York to join his wife. He will vaca-
tion in Europe.
Katherine DeMille III
Katherine DeMille has been con-
fined to her home with a high fever
for several days.
Miriam Hopkins on Trip
Miriam Hopkins, Paramount player,
has left for a vacation in San Fran-
cisco.
Maureen O'Sullivan Out,
'Hide-out' Delayed Again
"Hide-out" took another setback
at MGM yesterday when Maureen
O'Sullivan obtained her release from
the. east, saying she had been cabled
that her father is seriously ill and she
must leave for Ireland at once.
W. S. Van Dyke hopee to recast the
part and start Robert Montgomery's
picture before the week is out. It
was originally scheduled to start a
week ago.
Keighley Will Direct
'Big-Hearted Herbert'
Wat-ners yesterday assigned William
Keighley to direct "Big-Hearted Her-
bert," a play by Sophie Kerr and Anna
Steese Richardson, which has been
scripted by Lillie Heyward and Delmar
Daves.
Guy Kibbee and Patricia Ellis will
have the leads when it starts June 25.
Keighley completed "Kansas City
Princess" last week.
Mrs. Wiggs' Under Way
Norman Taurog got the shooting
started yesterday on "Mrs. Wiggs of
the Cabbage Patch" at Paramount.
Pauline Lord top-spots, with W. C.
Fields, Zasu Pitts, Evelyn Venable and
Kent Taylor among the others.
'Millie' Cast Complete
The cast for "The Captain Hates
the Sea," which Lewis Milestone will
direct for Columbia, now includes Fred
Keating, Victor McLaglen, Wynne
Gibson, William Caxton, Alison Skip-
worth and Mae Clarke.
lATSE Ducks Casey
By Capital Office
New York. — As a result of the re-
ports made at the lATSE convention
by delegates from Hollywood locals,
the lATSE has decided to open a spe-
cial Washington office for the han-
dling direct with Deputy Administra-
tor Sol A. Rosenblatt of all complaints
by members of code violations.
This is a direct slap at Pat Casey,
chairman of the much discussed Studio
Labor Committee. When the dele-
gates stated that none of the lATSE
men in Hollywood would present com-
plaints to Casey's committee because
of their fear of Casey, the entire con-
vention backed them up and passed a
resolution calling for the Washington
office.
Six-day Bicycle Race
Will Be Started June 21
The six-day bicycle race, which
starts at the Gilmore Stadium on
June 21, has a number of entrants
who have made themselves famous at
the annual event at Madison Square
Garden, including Reggie McNamara.
The track is similar to the Garden
track, ten laps to the mile. While
many of the picture colony have al-
ready made reservations, the regular
sale of tickets opens today at the
Stadium, Beverly and Fairfax.
Mrs. Kinney Returning
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of the
Code Committee for Extras, returns
to her office tomorrow after a two-
weeks absence.
Baby Star Signs With
Para, on 7-year Term
One Wampas baby star definitely
got her name on a Paramount dotted
line yesterday when Dorothy Drake
enrolled for a minimum six months,
maximum seven years.
Her appearance with the thirteen
in "Kiss and Make Up" won the legal
document. Two more are set if they
show up in the contract department.
'Stamp' To Kill Duals
(Continued from Page I )
whereby the exhibitor guarantees to
show no double bills. Even in those
sections where single bills are the
vogue, every exhibitor will have to
sign as a precaution against any pos-
sible tricksters or backsliders who
might try to chisel.
A move such as this was threatened
some time ago by Louis B. Mayer,
speaking to a gathering of the Inde-
pendent Theatre Owners of Southern
California. He told them that if they
do not go to single bills themselves
they will be forced to do it. He went
further and stated that he was willing
to carry the issue right up to the Pres-
ident and the U. S. Supreme Court if
anyone wanted to fight the move that
he said was being planned by the ma-
jors.
Since that meeting the indies in
Southern California have tried to get
a united single bill front, and say that
90 per cent have agreed to abolish the
double-bills.
THE CARNERA-BAER PICTURE
The Greatest Box-office Attraction Since The Dempsey-Firpo Fight
Has Been Booked Solid By The R.K.O. Theatres In New York State
Opening On Friday At The Following Theatres:
kTDF vrtKlk-CDC TUCATDC r.DFFMPniNT THPATRR
PALACE THEATRE
R.K.O. CENTER THEATRE
81st STREET THEATRE
23rd STREET THEATRE
58th STREET THEATRE
86th STREET THEATRE
RECENT THEATRE
125th STREET THEATRE
HAMILTON THEATRE
COLISEUM THEATRE
FORDHAM THEATRE
FRANKLIN THEATRE
ROYAL THEATRE
CHESTER THEATRE
FLUSHING THEATRE
YONKERS THEATRE
MT. VERNON THEATRE
NEW ROCHELLE THEATRE
WHITE PLAINS THEATRE
COLONIAL THEATRE
JEFFERSON THEATRE
STRAND THEATRE
EMPIRE THEATRE
ACADEMY THEATRE
CROTONA THEATRE
PARK PLAZA THEATRE
AUDOBON THEATRE
VALENTINE THEATRE
BROOKLYN ALBEE THEATRE
KENMORE THEATRE
PROSPECT THEATRE
GREENPOINT THEATRE
BUSHWICK THEATRE
TILYOU THEATRE
MADISON THEATRE
RICHMOND HILL THEATRE
DYKER THEATRE
ORPHEUM THEATRE
FAR ROCKAWAY THEATRE
PARK THEATRE — Rockaway Park
ROCKVILLE CENTRE THEATRE
KINGSWAY THEATRE
PALACE THEATRE — Albany. NY
PROCTORS — Troy, N. Y.
PROCTORS — Schenectady, N. Y.
KEITHS — Syracuse, N. Y.
KEITHS — Rochester, N. Y.
Produced and
Distributed by
Foreign Distribution Throughout The World, Outside Of
Canada, Distributed Through R.K.O. Export Corporation
Distributed in Canada by Columbia Pictures of Canada, Ltd.
OLIVER FILM CORPORATION ^:i:^^)^:y
CATERED By
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TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday. June 13. 1934
MGH TC START ABROAD
• WE have had several talks in New
York with some of the leaders of the
Catholic Church, both priests of that
church and influential laymen. We
found all of them a bit bewildered by
the great momentum their activities
with regard to the picture business
had developed. They were surprised
that the campaign had been given
such great importance in the news-
papers and were a bit shaken by the
fact that it might tend to cause legis-
lation against the industry that would
be serious.
These interviews reveal that their
attitude on the subject is that they
reason t.hat the motion picture pro-
ducers broke faith with the Church by
,/iolating their promises of the past
few years to clean up the screen. And,
believing that the producers had bro-
ken faith, the Church decided to act
Itself, FOR ITSELF and for no one
else. The Church is dead set against
any form of censorship other than that
which it may exert for the protection
of its people.
•
Those behind this campaign are
more tolerant than you would gather.
They realize that entertainment must
have drama; that drama must be built
around sex, crime, passion, etc. They
are not objecting to that. What they
object to most strenuously is the pro-
ducers dragging in smut, tincturing
their scenes with vulgarity, pulling
away from stories entirely to get a
laugh here and there with dirty bits
that have no place in a picture.
They believe that such acts showed
that the producers had no intention
of being bound by some decent moral
code, so they decided to build one
themselves for the producers and to
cause it to be put into effect through
the boycott that they are aiming at
objectionable pictures until such time
as the producers show some tendency
to play ball with them.
The Catholic Church is concentrat-
ing all its attention on the complete
elimination of DIRT in pictures, even
if that should mean the elimination of
all pictures.
•
Our own reaction, as a result of our
conversations with bishops, priests and
hig.h laymen in the Church, is that
they are more broad-minded than even
the most lenient censor board. They
Continued on Page 2)
Woman Director of
'Maedchen' For MCM
New York. — Leontine Sagan,
the famous woman director of
"Maedchen in Uniform," was sign-
ed up for MCM by David Selznick,
who has just returned from abroad,
and is expected to report at the
studios within a short time.
Fox Gets All Runyon
Stories For the Year
New York. — Fox Film has tied up
the entire story output of Damon Run-
yon for the next year, the deal hav-
ing been put over by Julian Johnson,
Fox story editor, who is leaving for
the coast tomorrow.
Johnson said that, judging by w.hat
he knows of production plans for the
coming season, there will be a decided
decrease in the number of crime sto-
ries or otherwise censorable pictures.
That, he says, applies not only to Fox,
but to all other companies.
Plans To Rent Space First
And Build Own Studio Later;
Will Use U. S. Technicians
New York. — Metro-Coldwyn- Mayer is perfecting plans to
embark on production in England on a large scale. It is expected
that arrangements will be made so that, according to Sam Eck-
mann, British representative for the company, four to six
pictures can be started in September.
The nucleus of the foreign organi-
zation will be formed by a group of
executives sent from here or from
Hollywood, to be augmented in Lon-
don. Present plans call for the
production of features below the
super-special class, but sufficiently
important to command release in any
country.
David Selznick, who has just re-
turned from England, stated yesterday
that he had discussed the plan with
Nicholas Schenck and J. Robert Rubin
here and by telephone with Louis B.
(Continued on Page 8)
Columbia Will Resume ^ i rr d -
Producing in England 5am Jatte KeSlgnS
New York, — Columbia is planning
to start producing in England again
and will make its own quota produc-
tions. Final details of the plans are
awaiting jack Cohn's trip to England
or Joseph Friedman's visit to New
York.
Post At Columbia
Collomb Out of MCM
Joseph Collomb finished his assign-
ment at MCM yesterday, checking off
the studio writer list after turning in
his script on "The Casino Murder
Case."
Sam Jaffe, Columbia production
executive and assistant to Sam Briskin,
yesterday resigned that position and
is going to Europe for a few months,
his first vacation in several years.
He said yesterday that he had no
announcement to make regarding fu-
ture plans, and will have none until
he returns. He was nine years with
Paramount and a year with Radio be-
fore going to Columbia .
XO MORE FILM SHIPMENTS
IN PASSENGER PLANES
Washington. — In view of the many
disastrous airplane accidents and the
heavy loss of life, the Government is
planning to issue an order forbidding
the shipment of motion picture film
or any other inflammable material in
airplanes which carry passengers.
It is believed here that this order
may seriously affect the 13-hour
transhipment of prints from the coast
laboratories to the Eastern exchanges
and cause an increase in the neces-
sity for more laboratory work in the
East. There is a possibility also that
it will lead to an increase in Eastern
production.
Phila. Methodists Back
Catholic Film Fight
Philadelphia. — A conference of the
Methodist clergy of this city yester-
day adopted a resolution endorsing the
stand taken by Cardinal Dougherty in
the battle being waged by the church
against indecent pictures.
Sam Hellman To Lasky
Sam Hellman yesterday joined t.he
Jesse L. Lasky unit at Fox to work
on the dialogue of the Sonya Levien
/script of "Captive Bride." The pro-
duction stars Charles Boyer.
Pathe Directors
To Vote Tomorrow
New York. — The directors of Pathe
Exchange Inc. will meet tomorrow to
vote on the reorganization plan, which
contemplates the creation of new
common and preferred stock to be is-
sued in return for the present stock
and back accumulations in dividends.
These dividends now total $50 a
share on the preferred and $26 a
share on the Class A common. The
company also has $2,065,500 in
bonds that fall due in 1937.
Ralph Kohn Coming To
Confer With Producers
New York. — Ralph Kohn, who re-
cently resigned as vice-president and
director of Paramount-Publix, left by
plane for Hollywood last night to con-
fer with producers there about his
projected independent production ven-
ture.
Laurel and Hardy To
Do 'Babes in Toyland*
Hal Roach yesterday took "Babes
m Toyland" off t.he shelf and decided
to put it into work early next month
under Ray McCarey's direction.
It will star Laurel and Hardy, the
former as Simple Simon, the latter as
the Pieman.
MCM Borrows Dunn
John Considme last night succeeded
in borrowing Jimmy Dunn from Fox
for the spot opposite Jean Parker in
the MCM picture, "Have a Heart."
The deal was sewed up with Dunn
by wire to New York.
Young For *Hide-out'
Completing her loan-out to Fox for
"Caravan." Loretta Young reported
back to MCM yesterday and goes into
the spot in "Hide-out" opposite Rob-
ert Montgomery. Maureen O'Sullivan
vacated the role.
FR^^J^ BORZAGE directed "LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?" J
Page Two
)une 13, 1934
TtefefelFOililR
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Looks like one Dorothy Parker and
Alan Campbell are headed for Holly-
wood. Anyway, the Don Stewarts just
got this wire, dated yesterday at Jules-
berg, Colo. It says: "We Are Here
In A 1929 Open Ford With Two Bed-
lington Terriers Please Advise." (!)
The temperament "given out" by
Grace Moore during her last flicker
at Columbia hasn't been equalled for
many a day — fortunately. The men-
ials (as always) got the worst of it,
we hear, when any available imple-
ment went flying through the air dur-
ing la Moore's various outbursts. The
pay-off came when the song-bird
flew into an uproar because she
couldn't get Carole Lombard's personal
hair-dresser at the precise moment
that Carole happened to need her.
Grace put on a big act about "how
could my dear friend, Carole, do this
to me?!" . . etc., but the fact is that
the two have only met casually once
or twice! So, naturally, Lombard did
not see any reason for relinquishing
her pet curl-twister. Anyway, Carole
got even — because a few days later,
while Grace was practicing her scales,
she and "Fleldsie," her secretary, put
on some Bing Crosby records full-blast
in an adjoining dressing-room, and, as
though that weren't noise enough —
they added their own raucous voices
to the strains of "Learn to Croon." ( !)
Maureen O'Sullivan has asked to be
let out of her role in "Hideout" and
MGM has agreed. Seems that Maur-
een has received word that her father
is ill in Ireland and she wants to rush
to his side. Johnny Farrow, by the
way, is supposed to sail for Honolulu
tomorrow — but what, if any, connec-
tion this has with that, we wouldn't
be pinned down to saying!
"FOC OVER FRISCO"
Warners prod.; director, Wilhelm Dieterle; writers, George Dyer,
Robert N. Lee, Eugene Solow.
Strand Theatre
American: "Fog Over Frisco" is chiefly distinguished for an excellent cast and
good screen treatment. The film is a fast-moving mystery which seldom
suffers a lessening of tempo. Director Wilhelm Dieterle manages to keep
his audience in the dark as to the identity of the chief villain until the final
denouement.
Sun: Staccato as the rhythm of a machine gun is the timing of "Fog Over Fris-
co." One of those First National melodramas, keyed up to a speed so rapid
that murders, swindles, romances, kidnapings flash by like so many cap-
tions on an old-fashioned newsreel. It is highly effective, this double-
quick time with the crescendo finale.
Times: What "Fog Over Frisco" lacks in the matter of credibility, it atones for
partly by its breathless pace and its abundance of action. As the story
passes on the screen it scarcely gives the spectator time to think who
might be the ringleader of the band of desperadoes.
Herald-Tribune: Intriguingly named, "Fog Over Frisco" nevertheless proves dis-
appointing in its story and treatment, which is not a little surprising, since
Mr. Dieterle has often shown a flair for originality and imagination. Here
the speed of his mystery murder is terrific. Shot follows shot with a hurry
and confusion bewildering to the onlooker and unartistic in the story-teller.
Mirror: A cunning murder and a neat kidnaping are the diverting features of
this melodrama which features an attractive cast and was made by a skilful
director.
News: A good, old-fashioned movie melodrama with plenty of action and a story
that seems plausible enough. Wilhelm Dieterle, who directed the picture,
handled the materials of the story cleverly, using the technique of the
silent movie for most of it.
World-Telegram: "Fog Over Frisco" is a tense and thrilling melodrama. Indeed,
I think that, without fear of contradiction or accusation or undue enthus-
iasm, one can truthfully say that it is quite the smoothest and most irre-
sistible tale of homicide that has appeared on the screen this year. Crisp
incident, terse dialogue and convincing color make this "Fog Over Frisco"
as holding a film as can be found in the whole year's output of melo-
drama. The treatment — which includes the writing and Wilhelm Diet-
erle's direction — is brilliant. The acting is superb.
Journal: There are enough counter-plots and suspects in the piece to outfit half
a dozen mystery yarns. As a matter of fact, once in a while the storp trips
over itself due to this astonishing abundance of material. But the picture
moves so fast and is so neatly played and directed that you'll find it thor-
oughly entertaining.
Taylor on 'Heldorado'
Rex Taylor registered yesterday as
a member of the Jesse L. Lasky unit
at Fox and is writing the screen play
of "Heldorado," the Frank Mitchell
Dazey story which is slated for Spen-
cer Tracy, under Irving Cummings'
direction.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
realize that it is impossible to make
pictures just for kids, but they believe
that pictures made with good taste,
judgment and a desire to do away
with all smut and vulgarity can be
screened without anything in them to
hurt the kids, regardless of the sub-
ject matter. They reason that, if
these pictures are produced in a proper
manner, the kids won't know what
they are all about.
Don't take it from this that there
is going to be any let-up in the ac-
tivities of the Catholics in the present
drive. They are going even further,
but will try earnestly to confine the
results of their activities to their own
people. They are going to use every
effort to keep the drive off the front
pages of the newspapers, because they
feel that publicity will impose upon
the motion picture industry legislation
that will cause stringent censorship,
and they do not want that responsi-
bility.
Picture Stars Signed
For Non-Spi Radio Hour
Edmund Lowe. Helen Mack, Adolphe
Menjou, Veree Teasdale and Douglass
Montgomery have been signed for
radio broadcasts on the Non-Spi Hour,
via the NBC network, emananating
locally from KFI.
Lowe and Miss Mack go on to-
night, Menjou and Miss Teasdale June
27, and Douglass Montgomery July 4.
The Selznick-Joyce radio department,
under Allan Simpson, set the deals.
Stars Flock to Aid
Marion DaviesShow
A long list of talent is being lined
up for the Marion Davies Foundation
benefit, which will be held at the
Biltmore Bowl, Monday, June 25.
The event, planned in the interests
of one of Hollywood's favorite chari-
ties, is expected to be one of the big-
gest of its kind, with all film leaders
co-operating. Eddie Cantor has volun-
teered to act as master of ceremonies,
Mary Pickford and Mae West taking a
hand as patronesses.
Wood Puts His Unit
Into Golf Tournament
Sam Wood's departing gift to the
"Stamboul Quest" company at MGM
was the posting of the two dollar entry
fee in the studio golf tournament for
every member of the unit who had
worked with him.
He also put up a twenty dollar prize
for the best score among the unit
members.
Three For Buster Phelps
Signed by Paramount yesterday for
"Now and Forever," Buster Phelps
now has committments to three stu-
dios for picture role. He next goes to
For for "Servant's Entrance" and then
to MGM for "Professional Corespon-
dent," which is being rewritten so
that it can go into work in about a
month.
New Term For DeLeon
Walter DeLeon got a new writing
ticket at Paramount yesterday. He is
working with Jack McDermott on the
George Marion Jr. original, "College
Rhythm."
Warners Set Barrat
Robert Barrat was set by Warners
yesterday for one of the featured spots
in "The Case of the Howling Dog.
Pete Starts Three More
Three more Pete Smith shorts went
into work at MGM yesterday. One
is a Goofy Movie, two are sport reels.
ATTENTION
5-room apartment in La Fontaine
Apartments. Beautifully furnished.
Available on long or short lease,
$200 a month. Call
HEmpstead 7053 for apointment.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
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OPENING FRIDAY NIGHT, JUNE
Johnny Weaver's Newest Comedy-Drama
"KEEP IT A DREAM"
1 5
Wm.
Cer
wirn
"Stage" Boyd Eddie Nugent Sarah Padden
trude Short Dorothy Libaire James Bush
Directed by E. E. CLIVE
HOLLYWOOD PLAYHOUSE
Evening Prices $1.50 to 25c plus tax
Saturday Matinee Prices $1.10 to 25c plus tax
8,000,000 Readers thrilled to
this daring VINA DELMAR
Serial in Liberty Magazine!
Sodie'VHcftee
with
Joan Craw/ord, fVoncfcot Toa* mmi\
G»n» RaymuMtd In at xxriting arama/.
FRANCHOT TONE
GEXE RAYMOIVD
EDWARD ARNOLD
ESTHER RALSTON
A CLABEXCE BROWX ProdMction
"Wish someone would tell me why the wrong men always have money
. . . and why the men we really love are always broke."
— from the diary of Sadie McKee
A j^etrO'Go/dwyn-Aiayer Picture
■•*"'*- "^ '■ ■.'^^.■"
adiclMcKce
A
MA
STORY
i
SCREEN PLAY
by
JOHN MEEHAN
SodielilkHee
EDWARD ARNOLD
plays
"Jack Brennan"
Management:
LICHTIC & ENCLANDER
Under Personal Contract to
B. P. SCHULBERC
-f ?' ■' , »;
Another Overnight Hit!
by
Nacio Herb
Arthur
BROWN and FREED
"ALL I DO IS DREAM OF YOU"
FROM THE PICTURE
SadtelMcfee
Published by
ROBBINS MUSIC CORPORATION
lune 13, 1934
THg
Page Seven
SCIENTISTS TO AID IX MAKIIVG
30,000 LEAGUES UNDER SEA'
Elaborate Plans
Forthe Verne Yarn
With many of its odd engineering
and photographic problems solved, and
an array of savants in the background
awaiting their cue to participate as
scientific observers, Phil Coldstone is
inaugurating the exploratory period of
his preparations to film "20,000
Leagues Under the Sea" by dispatch-
ing a scouting expedition down the
Pacific Coast of Mexico.
Otis Garrett, Coidstone's supervisor,
and Jerry Fairbanks, cameraman, will
take off for Ensenada, pick up the
Mexican censor, then fly to Mazatlan
to add a government geographic ex-
pert to the party.
They will patrol the ocean and Gulf
of California coasts by air to spot suit-
able locations for the underwater
shooting of the Jules Verne scientific
fantasy. Specific objects to be chart-
ed for use are a number of sunken
wrecks and, if possible, the mouth of
a subterranean river.
This aerial scouting will take prob-
ably two or three weeks, but more ex-
tensive explorations will be required,
probably including a voyage to the
Marquesas Islands for suitable coral
rees, and another to the Great Aus-
tralian Reef.
Although actual production is still
three or four months ahead, Coldstone
ten days ago purchased the 1 95 foot
twin-screw, all-steel yacht Camina,
formerly owned by ex-King Alfonso,
which is being converted into a float-
ing picture studio.
The Camina is being equipped with
a complete motion picture laboratory,
and will have a projection room. It
will carry the cast, technical staff,
and scientific observers on the actual
production voyage, which will be
headed by Coldstone personally.
Besides the standard motion picture
and scientific apparatus required,
much specialized technical material
will be carried. This includes:
An undersea train 250 feet long for
traveling shots on the ocean floor.
Tested successfully off the Isthmus at
Cataiina recently.
Cameras inclosed in waterproof
blimps with complete exterior control.
A special Dupont film for undersea
photography is being perfected for the
picture.
Underwater lights developed by
General Electric for the production.
Elevators for cameras, operators and
lights for use underwater. Platforms
will be guarded against sharks and
other dangerous sea life by cyclone
fencing. Technical operators them-
selves will wear regulation diving
equipment.
Self-contained oxygen-generating
helmets for the actors. These are div-
ing helmets with no entangling pipes
or lines. They are built of chromium
bronze, with the chemical installation
made by United States government
technicians.
Most fantastic of all in appearance,
and the feature that will impress the
public, is the submarine being con-
structed after the weird, mechanical
narwhal imagined bv |ules Verne in
the novel that foreshadowed the ac-
Korda Cets Muni For
Role of Nijinsky'
London. — Alexander Korda, of
London Films, is reported to have
signed Paul Muni to play the title
role in the screen version of "Ni-
jinsky," the same role he is to do
on the stage. Charles Laughton is
set to play Diaghileff.
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — Three pictures are be-
ing held over at the Broadway houses
this week and seven new ones are
arriving. The hold-overs are "Fog
Over Frisco" at the Strand, "Men in
White" at the Capitol, and "The
World in Revolt" at the Rialto.
On the new list are: Today, "Are
We Civilized?" at the Rivoli, "Private
Scandal" at the Mayfair; tomorrow,
"Along Came Sally" at the Criterion,
"Life of Vergie Winters" at the Music
Hall; Friday, "Here Comes the
Groom" at the Paramount, "Let's
Talk It Over" at the Roxy, and
"White Heat" at the Gaiety.
Lasky Starts Work on
'White Parade Aug. 13
Jesse Lasky will start production on
'White Parade" August 13. The
book, by Rian James, will be published
next week.
Jesse Lasky Jr. has done the screen
play. Irving Cummings will direct.
Heather Angel is pencilled in for the
lead, with the studio dickering for
a couple of players on a loan basis.
Extra Complaints Drop
Extras' complaints of alleged code
violations by the studios dropped
slightly the first two days of this
week, a total of 32 complaints having
been registered with the Junior Screen
Actors Guild.
tual submarine. Beyond the fact that
its operation is hydraulic and its ap-
pearance suggests a sea monster, this
important working prop is being
guarded with secrecy.
Representatives of the California
Institute of Technology will go on the
production voyage, furnishing dredging
equipment and their store of scientific
information. In return they will re-
ceive prints of the footage for the
Institute's use.
Microscopic equipment is already
owned by Jerry Fairbanks, who did
such work for the "Strange As It
Seems" series.
What Beebe did in the Eastern wat-
ers, Coldstone hopes his film expedi-
tion will be able to accomplish in the
Pacific. He has had this film in his
mind for years. Originally he expect-
ed to make it for around $450,000.
He figures now it will cost $800,000.
"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"
is expected to run about 10 reels. The
adaptation made by A. P. Younger
over three years ago is being modified
by Wellyn Totman in line with the
newly developed technical facilities.
World Wide Pix to
Remain in Business
New York. — World Wide Pictures
Inc. will remain in the distribution
business, with R. M. Savini as general
sales manager. The company .has con-
cluded an agreement with Fox where-
by all the World Wide features, now
being distributed by Fox, will be
turned over to the company for state
rights sales. Savini is now busy dis-
posing of this product.
The Educational shorts will con-
tinue selling through Fox, as hereto-
fore.
Paramounteers Leaving
For Convention Here
New York. — The New York dele-
gation that will attend the Paramount
convention in Los Angeles this week
is preparing to start, leaving here by
New York Central. They will pick up
delegates from other cities on the way.
Adolph Zukor said yesterday that
the company now has 69 players, 29
directors and 51 writers under con-
tract.
Shirley Temple Set For
Personals in New York
New York. — Shirley Temple, the
baby star of "Stand Up and Cheer"
and "Little Miss Marker," is set for
a series of personal appearances, the
first to be at the New York Para-
mount and the salary to be in four
figures.
'Aces Down' For Lasky
Jesse L. Lasky yesterday took an
option on Thompson Burtis' original
story, "Aces Down," an aviation yarn
dealing with the border patrol, and
IS planning to star Spencer Tracy in
it for Fox.
Young Starts Musical
Felix Young, Columbia producer,
puts another musical into production
within the next ten days. It will.be
"Hello, Big Boy." No cast or direc-
tor has been assigned as yet.
That Embassy suit against Pathe for
breach of contract in failing to deliver
a batch of old Harold Lloyd two-
reelers for synchronization and distri-
bution, is bringing out some peculiar
situations.
The other day, durmg court pro-
ceedings, Stuart Webb is said to have
practically admitted that Pathe re-
sold its rights to thirty-eight of the
Lloyd shorts to the Harold Lloyd Cor-
poration in April of this year for the
reported price of $13,000. And the
only catch to a statement like that is
the fact that, prior to this alleged
deal, Pathe signed a five-year contract
with Embassy Pictures, giving that
company distribution rights and per-
mission to synchronize the comedies.
•
Typical Hollywood economy story
number ten million: Lowell Sherman
was signed by Universal at $3500 per
week to direct for that company for
one year. About a week and a half
after Sherman arrived on the lot, he
was handed a story called "The Cap-
tain Hates the Sea" to read, and he
had scarcely finished it when he was
begging the studio to buy it for him.
The studio put in a bid of ten thous-
and dollars for it. Wallace Smith
wanted fifteen thousand. The studio
refused to part with the extra five
and the story was sold to Columbia.
Soooo Lowell Sherman has been on
the lot for seven months, drawing his
weekly salary of thirty-five hundred
and hasn't directed a picture yet. But
the studio did save five thousand dol-
lars— or did it?
Wit.h the unexpected and tragic
passing of Broadway's most famous
character, Billy LaHiff, almost every-
one has been wondering what will
become of the equally famous ren-
dezvous that LaHiff founded. Well,
it seems that his nephew, Jim Collins,
will take it over and run it, and Billy's
son, Billy Jr., will be the head waiter.
FOR SALE
20,000 feet Panchromatic negative raw stock in original
1,000 foot rolls left over from recently completed pic-
ture. Guaranteed. Price three cents a foot. Address
Box 304, Hollywood Reporter.
VACATION TIME IS HERE
LET US SOLVE YOUR TRAVEL WORRIES
Sam Revel Travel Service
6724 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.
Hollywood 2241 (Hotel Christie l 24-Hour Service
Complete Travel InformaHon — Positively No Charge
AIR STEAMSHIP BUS HOTEL RESORT
Reservations Arranged To Any Point
Free Delivery On Tickets With Complete Information
lust Phone HOIIywood 2241 — PERSONAL ATTENTION
Page Eight
lune 13, 1934
iTourWalls' Rushed
Into Work At MCM
Following several shifts in produc-
tion plans, MCM yesterday finally
decided to put "Four Walls" into
work tonnorrow. Paul Sloane will
direct it, and the tentative cast last
night was headed by Franchot Tone
and Mae Clarke.
The studio planned to do "Four
Walls" some time ago, and assigned
Edwin L. Marin to direct it. Then
the picture was shelved and Marin was
given "All Cood Americans." The
decision to start "Four Walls" imme-
diately was made yesterday, presum-
ably because of holes in the releasing
schedule.
If Tone is used in this picture it
will mean the holding up for a time
of "Death on the Diamond," which
Edward Sedgwick will direct. "Four
Walls" is on an 18-day production
schedule. Lucien Hubbard is produc-
ing it.
Paramount Players
Injured While on Set
Two Paramount players were in-
jured at work yesterday. Ceorge
Bancroft went temporarily blind under
strong arcs on the "Elmer and Elsie"
set and is out for at least three days
rest, the unit shooting around him.
Henry Wilcoxon, making retakes of
a battle scene for "Cleopatra," had a
hand lacerated. He was injured in
the same scenes when they were first
made two weeks ago.
'British Agent' Comes
Home Under the Whip
With a spurt of night work, Mi-
chael Curtiz brought "British Agent"
home soon after midnight yesterday
at Warners.
Leslie Howard and the missus leave
today or tomorrow to catch the Eu-
ropa, sailing June 19 for England.
Kay Francis goes East the first of the
week to sail June 24 for Naples.
Seek 'Limberlost' Girl
Christy Cabanne and W. T. Lackey
are in daily huddles over the selection
of the girl to play the title part in
"Cirl of the Limberlost" for Mono-
gram. A dozen names are under con-
sideration, but there is a possibility
an unknown will be fitted into the
part.
Rivkin Quits Morrison
New York.^ — Joe Rivkin has resign-
ed from the Leo Morrison office here
and Morrison is looking for someone
to take over the work handled by him.
New Designer at Fox
Lillian Templeton, former secretary
for Ann Harding, has just signed a
contract with Fox as a costume de-
signer.
C. M. Nelson Abroad
Leaving the MCM writing staff
after more than a year on a week-
to-week basis, C. M. Nelson moves
off for a trip to London.
New Job For Boyle
Charles Boyle, well-known camera-
man, is now in charge of the studio
rentals department of the Camera
Supply Company.
'Nana' Barred, Zola
Heirs Cancel Suit
Pans. — The Anna Sten picture,
"Nana," has been withdrawn from
the French market and, as a result,
the heirs of Emile Zola have
dropped their suit against United
Artists. The suit claimed the pic-
ture did not do justice to the novel.
Bob Ritchie Coming
With Foreign Loot
New York. — Robert Ritchie, mana-
ger of Jeanette MacDonald, leaves
here for the coast Friday with all the
properties, tests, etc., that he acquired
in Europe.
He bought two pictures, "Marie"
and "Sunshine," both starring Anna-
bella and both directed by Paul Fejos.
He also signed several foreign players
for MCM, and made tests of Louise
Ulrich and Victor de Kowa, German
players; Georges Rigaud, a French Ar-
gentinian, and Louis Rainer.
Russ Columbo Gets Top
In 'Wake Up and Dream'
Russ Columbo had his option lifted
yesterday for another six months on
the Universal payroll.
He top-spots in "Wake Up and
Dream," which B. F. Zeidman will
ease into production in July as soon
as June Knight recovers.
Caruso Life For Films
With His Son Featured
Warner Brothers yesterday pur-
chased an original story from Houston
Branch. It is called "The Golden
Voice," and is a story based on the
life of Enrico Caruso. Warners plan
to feature Enrico Caruso Jr. in it.
Paramount Will Make
18 Abroad For Quota
New York.- — John Cecil Graham,
managing director for Paramount in
Great Britain, said yesterday that the
company will have 18 features made
in England to fill its quota require-
ments. Production will be at British
and Dominions.
Van Trees on Dunne Pic
James Van Trees has been assigned
to photograph Radio's next Irene
Dunne picture, "The Age of Inno-
cence." He handled the photogra-
phy on "Stingaree," being borrowed
from Twentieth Century, where he is
under contract.
Crabbe With Darmour
Larry Darmour yesterday borrowed
Buster Crabbe from Paramount for
the lead opposite Isabel Jewell in
"Gaily I Sin," which Ralph Ceder di-
rects when it starts Monday. This is
the second Darmour production for
Majestic.
Sam Coslow Returns
Sam Coslow, Paramount song writer,
returned yesterday from a two-months
vacation in Europe. While there he
wrote the words and music for "Oh,
Daddy," a musical which British Cau-
mont will produce.
Berke To Make Six
For Famous Authors
William Berke yesterday signed a
contract with Famous Authors Pic-
tures Corporation to produce a series
of six pictures for the independent
market, the first of which, "Unfor-
bidden Sin," from a novel by Roy
Vickers, will go into production at
Talisman studio by the end of the
month.
The company has purchased "A
Life For Sale," by Sidney Hotter;
"Jazz Beau," a novel by Beth Brown,
and "Burned Evidence," a novel by
Mrs. Wilson Woodrow. All will be
produced by Berke.
Johnny Mack Brown
Signed For Eight at Col.
Columbia yesterday signed Johnny
Mack Brown on an eight-picture deal
and plans to star him in a series of
fast action, romantic pictures.
Brown starts at Columbia July 1 .
His series will all be produced under
the supervision of Irving Briskin. The
deal was set by Hallam Cooley.
Brown's last picture was with Mae
West in "It Ain't No Sin."
Sennett Organizing
New Bathing Beauties
The Mack Sennett Bathing Girls of
1935 will be a feature of the Holly-
wood historical feature Sennett is
planning. Sennett also will try to
persuade now-famous originals from
his noted bathing corps to take bows
in the picture.
Butterworth Better
Charles Butterworth checked in at
MCM yesterday after his illness and
goes to work in "Malibu."
MGM to Produce in Eng.
(Continued from Page 1 )
Mayer in Hollywood. Mr. Mayer is
expected here next week for settle-
ment of all details, Selznick remain-
ing here to meet him, while George
Cukor, Fritz Lang, Hugh Walpole and
Howard Estabrook will leave for the
coast Friday.
Selznick is in complete accord with
the plan to open MCM studios in
London. Among his reasons are the
British market, the greater available
supply of talent in England, and the
fact that pictures needing Continen-
tal backgrounds can be made better
and more cheaply over there. The
plan includes the use of a revolving
staff of American technicians.
A modest start, with one or two
pictures, is the Selznick idea. He
advises renting space at first and then,
when the output increases to six or
eight features, the purchase or build-
ing of a studio. Production costs, he
figures, would be about the same as
in America, but for that money the
pictures made in England would be of
better quality and the product would
gross much more in Great Britain be-
cause of being made there.
Regarding Fritz Lang, Mr. Selznick
said that his first picture for MGM
may be "Two Thieves," the Manuel
Komroff story which the company has
had for some time, but that is not
definitely set.
HOTop
Hone
■'t^
^OUNo
■^■i'i
RCA VICTOR
Company, Inc.
Camden, N. J.
Vtot. XXI, No. 31. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, June 14, 1934
ACTCRS RESENT $LLR$
"^WE talked with a Bishop of the
Catholic Church the other day. He
is a picture fan, and a great man,
both in and out of the Church. He
was extremely bitter towards our in-
dustry and even accused some of the
producers of deliberately attempting
to corrupt the youth of the nation.
When we laughed at such a notion,
he became irritated and said:
"You are a fool if you believe
otherwise. 1 can name you twenty
pictures made during the last year or
two that will prove my contention."
We listened while he told about
the scene in "Red Dust" where Jean
Harlow makes that crack to the par-
rot, and the scene in "Trumpet Blows"
in which the girl throws Raft his hat
and says, "Here's your hat; what's
your hurry?"
We agreed with the Bishop that
neither scene had a place in the story,
that they were vulgar, that they might
tend to corrupt some kids, but we
argued that neither they — nor any
other of the twenty which he might
name — were written for the purpose
he believed. We contended that they
were incorporated in the pictures for
laughs, and laughs that are causing
us a lot of trouble now, and maybe
more later.
Our conversation with this Bishop
convinced us that someone had fed
him such ideas, that they were not
really his own. He finally admitted
that he might have heard them in
discussion and, on being pressed fur-
ther, conceded that it was impossible
to believe that even the most de-
graded producer of pictures could
produce such scenes with any thought
in mind of intentional evil to the kids.
And, ladies and gentlemen of this
industry, that is the mental attitude
of almost everyone in the Catholic
Church who is fighting us now. They
have been fed ideas that are far from
the truth, they have been sold on
angles that have no basis in fact and,
strange as it may seem, all this selling
has been done by individuals in our
own industry, men and women who
.have axes to grind and have ground
them to a razor edge, even to the
extent of causing them great personal
(Continued on Page 4)
25% Cancellations
As Price of Singles
Kansas City. — The campaign
against double bills has struck a
snag here with the independent
exhibitors demanding the right to
cancel 25 per cent of any product
they book as their price for going
to single-bill policy.
Stanley Waite, Of
Para., Dies Suddenly
New York. — Stanley B. Waite,
Eastern divisional sales manager for
Paramount, dropped dead in his office
yesterday from acute indigestion. He
was 44 years old, and leaves a widow
and nine-year-old daughter.
Waite was formerly with Pathe,
and went to Paramount in 1927 to
handle sales of short subjects, being
promoted to divisional sales manager
later. He was to have left for the
Los Angeles convention last night
with George Schaefer, Neil Agnew and
the rest of the New York delegates.
Rothschild Closing
After Run of 1 5 Weeks
New York. — Twentieth Century's
"The House of Rothschild" is closing
at the Astor Theatre Tuesday night
after a successful engagement of 1 5
weeks.
Bromley Back at Work
Haworth Bromley, assistant to Frank
O'Heron at Radio, is back at his desk
after a two-weeks absence due to an
appendectomy.
Truth'Telling As Much Duty
Of The Clergy As Is Protection
Of Morals Of Flock, They Assert
Hollywood's actors are deeply incensed by the flood of accu-
sations of immorality and indecency that has been poured upon
them and their private lives by the clergy of various churches and
by self-appointed reformers in the campaign now being waged
against salacious pictures.
Particularly are they burned by the
recent statement of Representative
Cannon, of Wisconsin, in connection
with the resolution which he intro-
duced calling upon Congress to "leg-
islate' morals into the picture indus-
try. Mr. Cannon said: "The whole
atmosphere of Hollywood seeps with
immorality" and the actors and ac-
tresses become so hardened that "they
(Continued on Page 5)
Marc Connelly to Para.
On Phil Stong Story
Paramount yesterday purchased Phil
Stong's latest novel, "A Village Tale,"
and signed Marc Connelly to write the
script, planning it as a vehicle for
Cary Grant and Evelyn Venable. Con-
nelly, who is now in New York, re-
turns here immediately to start his
deal.
Two Want King Vidor
Columbia and Universal are dicker-
ing with King Vidor. The former is
offering him a two-picture deal. He
leaves in two weeks for New York and
is figuring on working on a story dur-
ing the trip. He returns by boat.
FOX TO DISTRIBUTE 125
IN FOREIGN LAXCiVAGES
New York. — Fox Film Corporation
is announcing that it will distribute
approximately 125 foreign language
dubbed films in Europe during the
coming season. They will be in French,
Spanish, German and Italian.
According to present plans ten
Spanish originals will be made in
France, and 25 pictures, some Spanish
and others French, will be dubbed in
Paris. In Berlin the company will
produce six German originals and six
dubbed versions. Thirty will be
dubbed in Italy, and there will also
be produced fourteen British quota
pictures, which will be made in Eng-
land.
Korda After Griffith
London Films yesterday cabled E. H.
Griffith an offer through the Hawks-
Volck office to go to England on a
director's deal. With two pictures to
do for MGM, he is holding off his
decision until final plans on the two
productions are set.
Harvey and Fox Split
All is over between Lilian Harvey
and Fox Films. Yesterday war broke
out again between Lilian and the stu-
dio, with the result that Winfield
Sheehan and Sidney Kent decided to
grant her desire to be free. So the
contract was torn up.
'No Loans 'Warners
Notify All Agents
Warners yesterday slapped all
agents with a notification that con-
tract players are the sole property of
the studio and are not to be offered
to other studios on loan-out deals.
In the interests of their clients, the
managers have made a practice of
cooking up the loan-outs on the basis
that the borrowing studio generally
gives the player a better break than
the home lot. Warners, however,
have played down loaning out their
players and are anxious to keep the
agents away from operating on these
deals.
Max Cordon Trying to
Sign Dietrich For Play
New York. — Max Gordon is trying
to sign Marlene Dietrich for the star-
ring role in a play which he plans
to produce on Broadway this Fall. No
mention has been made of the title,
nor of his chances for success in get-
ting the screen star.
Warner Bros. Get Tone
For 'Shanghai Orchid*
Warners have put through a deal
with MGM for the loan of Franchot
Tone when he completes "Four Wails"
at his home lot early next month. He
will probably get the lead opposite
Dolores Del Rio in "Shanghai Or-
chid."
Harry Coetz Arrives
Harry M. Goetz, president of Reli-
ance Pictures, arrived yesterday by
plane from New York. He will remain
here '.an indefinite time colnferring
with Edward Small, his production
chief.
Ray Long Quits Fox
New York. — Ray Long, formerly
editor of the Hearst chain of maga-
zines and more recently connected
with the story department of Fox, has
resigned from that corporation.
HARLAN THOMPi;ON - JEAN _ NEGULESCO .^-^^ ^^j ^^^^
RECTOR and SCREEN PLAY in collaboration
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
El
uH
Page Two
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates.
Including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
June 14, 1934
Years ago Nelson Eddy worked for
an advertising firm which fired him —
and now he is about to draw more
than a year's salary (according to
what he was earning there) for just
one broadcast from that same organi-
zation! . . . Which reminds us that
Claudette Colbert is now making
FOUR times as much as a free-lancer
as she made at Paramount! . . . Paul
Muni has wired a pal here that he
will not play Nijinsky, either on the
stage or in pictures, feeling that he's
definitely "not the type". . . . Patricia
Ellis has bleached herself blonde — the
studio .has wanted her to do so for a
long time. . . . Fred Keating, at the
Breakfast Club yesterday, cussed out
loud into a microphone — not knowing
it was "alive" ( !)
•
John Barrymore (still very ill) is
off on his yacht for a month or so
under doctor's orders. . . . Mary Loos
(cousin of Anita) , a good-looking gal,
has given up archaeology (no foolin'!)
and gone into pictures. . . . The David
Selznicks, George Cukor (Gott Sei
Dank), Hugh Walpole and Fritz Lang
hit Hollywood Monday. . . . The Irv-
ing Netchers (Rosie Dolly) have put
off Honolulu indefinitely and rented
the Marion Davies guest-house. . . .
Bob Ritchie rushing to get here for
Jeanette MacDonald's birthday, June
1 8 — so they can have a party.
•
Some folks think that Johnny
WeissmulJer's ribbing of Levinsky had
a lot to do with Lasky's winning.
Levinsky was paying plenty attention
to Johnny — even to the point of
thumbing his nose at him! . . . Bebe
Daniels, Ben Lyon, the Stephen Ames
(Racquel Torres) , Jesse Lasky, Sr. and
Jr., Frank Tuttle diinng at the Ven-
dome before the bouts. . . . And
everybody in town, including Jack
Warner with Ann Alvarado, Kay Fran-
cis with Maurice Chevalier, at the
Colony Club later. . . T.he Mae Clarke-
Sidney Blackmer nuptials should come
off any day now — it's all SO peaceful!
. . . Lyie Talbot leaves town today for
his home town in Nebraska. . . . Bill
Powell off to fish again. ... Do you
know what newly-appointed supervisor
"SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN '
Columbia prod.; director, David Burton; writer, Jo Swerling.
Radio City Music Hall
Herald-Tribune: Too many themes and situations and too rich a variety of
backgrounds have been crowded into "Sisters Under The Skin" to make it
more than a moderately arresting screen drama. It is the assured and sen-
sitive portrayals of Mr. Morgan and Miss Landi that give the work what
distinction it has. Although he has staged "Sisters Under The Skin" with
a fine sense of pictorial values, David Burton has been no more proficient
than the authors in giving a concise frame to the action
Mirror: The banal title doesn't suggest the fine quality of this little film. It is
a delightful and touching picture. Imaginatively directed, cleverly written,
splendidly acted by Frank Morgan, the picture treats harsh realities with
exquisite tenderness. Women should forcibly drag their husbands to see it.
American: Fresh humor and sombre drama are to be found in "Sisters Under
the Skin." If the dialogue is a trifle too flowery, if the impassioned
speeches register like phrases from a book of poetry, they should be par-
doned on the grounds of their dramatic qualities.
■World -Telegram: It is just a warmly human, simple little story, told simply. But
through it all runs a nice, quiet humor and a fine sense of understanding
of the characters and their problems. The acting of it is excellent.
Times: It is for the most part a happy-go-lucky piece of fiction. The film is
endowed with original lines of thought! it is handsomely staged and the
story moves along briskly, sometimes touching a frivolous note and occa-
sionally a serious one. It is another of those pictures with splendid per-
formances.
Though it is a well-acted and effectively directed picture, the theme is a
little too obvious for comfort. In short, "Sisters Under the Skin" is better
in the acting than in the story.
The two principal characters, at whom author and scenarist have hurled
all the sympathy possible and some that is rather impossible too, are played
by such engaging persons as Frank Morgan and Elissa Landi. The whole
business, with its fake aura of tenderness and self-sacrfifice, is a little
ridiculous and sophomoric.
News: David Burton has done his best with the production. The story moves
smoothly and gently to its foregone conclusion. The backgrounds are rich
and colorful and the photography is first class.
Journal: The picture is well acted and directed and provides smoothly turned
out entertainment. Elissa Landi, agreeably less aloof than she has been
in her previous films, contributes a convincing performance.
Post:
Sun:
Actors Guiid Advises
Against- 'Star' Contests
The Screen Actors Guild today
comes out against all contests that are
designed to send the winners to Holly-
wood "to become stars." Voicing the
Guild's feeling in an editorial in the
June Screen Player, all Hollywood or-
ganizations and individuals are called
upon to fight such contests and refuse
them their support.
It is pointed out that the winners
of such contests usually are the worst
sufferers, and most of them wind up
by joining the thousands of unem-
ployed who wander Hollywood's
streets.
Morris Firm Gambling
Alice Rinehart, New York stage
player, reached here yesterday. The
William Morris office has brought .her
out on speculation in keeping with a
new policy inaugurated by the office
to stand the expense of bringing to
the coast talent which it believes is
worth gambling on.
Seidelman to Europe
New York. — Joseph H. Seidelman,
foreign manager for Columbia Pic-
tures, sails for Europe Saturday on the
Berengaria.
at a major studio just made his first
faux pas when he thought the casting
director was supposed to get him a
girl for "after working hours" too!??.'
. . . The Bob Gillhams are house-
guesting at the Lynn Farnols.
Sten Signs Agency
Anna Sten took a manager for her-
self yesterday, signing an agency
ticket with the Schulberg, Feldman
and Gurney office. This is the first
time the player has placed her busi-
ness in the hands of a manager.
Boost For Miss Cotter
Universal has promoted Tammy
Cotter to assistant story head under
Jerry Sackheim. Miss Cotter has been
connected with the studio's reading
department for the past six months.
Pertwee Goes to MGM
MGM has signed Roland Pertwee to
a term writing deal to start July 1.
He is now in England.
Farm Girls Targets
In Contest At Col.
Columbia yesterday capitulated to
the idea of using the contest idea in
exploiting a picture and will splurge on
such a project for the William Row-
land production, "The Girl Friend."
Buxom girls will be sought for a
milking number in the musical and it
is the intention of the studio to get
only farm girls. Contests will be or-
ganized in every state, with forty-
eight girls, one from each state, being
chosen. Carter Ludlow, of the studio
publicity department, will be in charge
and will have a contest plane, espe-
cially chartered for it, at .his disposal.
American Legion Will
Conduct Dell Services
At the request of the American
Legion of New Orleans, plans for
Dorothy Dell's burial have been
changed, with the services being Sun-
day in that city rather than in Gulf-
port, Miss., as originally planned. Her
mother and sister arrive there today.
The American Legion asked for the
privilege of conducting the funeral
since it sponsored her when she rose
to fame as Miss Universe.
Writers Win Credit
Receiving protests from Rian James
and James Seymour, following the pre-
view of "The Great Flirtation,"
Charles R. Rogers yesterday decided
to give the writers their screen credit
on the adaptation of t.he Gregory
Ratoff story.
Praskins on 'Barbary'
Leonard Praskins yesterday was as-
signed by Sam Goldwyn to work on
the screen play of "Barbary Coast,"
which William Wellman directs.
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June 14, 1934
Page Three
'GRAND CAIVARY' SLOW PACED:
CAST HAMPERED BY WRITING
'Louisiana' Good
Example of a Flop
Photography Hit
Of The Production
"GRAND CANARY"
(Fox)
Direction Irving Cummings
Original Story A. J. Cronin
Screen Play Ernest Pascal
Photography Bert Glennon
Cast: Warner Baxter, Madge Evans,
Marjorie Rambeau, Zita Johann,
Roger Imhof, H. B. Warner, Barry
Norton, Juliette Compton, Gilbert
Emery, Carrie Daumery.
An unbelievable story, unbelievably
slow, which the gorgeous photography
of Bert Glennon strives desperately to
save by giving it some visual move-
ment at least. For those who read
the book it may revive pleasant mem-
ories. For those who don't read, it is
disjointed and illogical and certainly
no booster for putting best sellers in
pictures.
It is at best a story of the regen-
eration of a doctor who has been rail-
roaded out of his profession and
branded a murderer. At its worst, it
is something about that same doctor
falling in love with a married woman
on shipboard, inadvertently missing
his boat, fighting a yellow fever epi-
demic and saving the life of the girl
who has conveniently contracted the
disease. In the end, the doctor re-
turns to London, a famous medico,
and receives a cable from the girl
telling him she'll be there any day.
Just why the girl doesn't love her
husband and falls so violently in love
with the doctor is never explained.
As a matter of fact, the holes in
the script are far larger than the
story itself and there is practically no
action. Characters are introduced,
half-heartedly pushed into the story,
and then are "contrived" out of it.
There is no dramatic highlight in the
picture and, if there were, the pace
at which Irving Cummings elected to
direct it would have successfully kill-
ed it a-borning. The dialogue is so
sparse in spots and so long in others
for no particular reason, that it doesn't
help much to have the actors take at
least a full minute to enunciate every
word.
Warner Baxter struggles manfully
in the part of the doctor, but unfor-
tunately both he and Madge Evans
are only required to look sad in full
close-up throughout most of the pic-
ture. Marjorie Rambeau is a flam-
boyant keeper of a not-so-nice tavern
in Santa Cruz. Zita Johann labors un-
der a deadly load. Juliette Compton
Is given an amusing line and then
more or less forgotten. Barry Norton
would have been very good if his part
had been more fully characterized.
Carrie Daumery as the Marchesa was
excellent, though her part too, lapsed
into nothingness after having started
as a woman supposed to be aristocrat-
ically daft. H. B. Warner and Gilbert
Emery were okay in small parts.
It is to Bert Glennon that the pic-
ture owes whatever virtues it has, for
the photography is sooo beautiful and
at least the camera moves.
MGM Gives 'Camille'
Its Sixth Production
MGM .has assigned Mercedes
d'Acosta to write the screen play
of "Camille," which has been
made five times already as silents.
Eddie Mannix will produce. First
National made the last silent ver-
sion of the play in 1927.
HaysCrowd Confers
onChurchCampaign
New York. — The campaign against
indecent pictures, led by the Catholic
Church, was the main topic of dis-
cussion at a meeting at the Hays of-
fice yesterday. Joseph I. Breen, who
was brought on from Hollywood for
the occasion, was inaccessible after
the meeting, and no one else would
talk about what went on. General
Hays and Breen will both attend the
conference of Catholic Bishops in
Cincinnati next Thursday.
At the business meeting of the
MPPDA, Ned Depinet, of RKO, was
elected a director.
Brock To Do Sequel of
Tlying Down To Rio'
Lou Brock, as the second of his big
Radio musicals for 1935, has a South
American idea that will be a follow-
up of "Flying Down to Rio," tak-
ing a different angle on production
and a new cast line-up. First comes
"Ho, For Shanghai," on which Brock
gets busy as soon as he returns from
Europe the first of August.
Sidney R. Kent Gets
The Legion of Honor
Paris. — In recognition of his service
to the French picture industry, the
French government has honored Sidney
R. Kent by making him a member of
the Legion of Honor. France is par-
ticularly grateful to him for the prog-
ress of the local Fox branch.
Two New Allied Units
Formed in New England
New York. — Two more units have
been organized by the Allied States
national association. They are the
Allied Theatre Owners of New Hamp-
shire and the Allied Theatre Owners
of Vermont.
Kober on 'Moon' Script
Universal yesterday borrowed Ar-
thur Kober from MGM to write the
script of "Moon Mullins," based on
the comic strip by Frank Willard.
Edmund Grainger is the producer and
no cast or director has been assigned
as yet.
New Term For Baum
Sam Goldwyn yesterday wrote out
a new ticket for Vicki Baum and keeps
the writer with him for another year.
She will write an original screen play
for Anna Sten. The Schulberg-Feld-
man and Gurney office negotiated the
deal.
"LOUISIANA"
(Robert Mintz Production)
Direction Arthur Hoerl
Author J. Augustus Smith
Cast: Laura Bowman, Edna Barr, Lio-
nel Monagas, J. Augustus Smith,
Morris McKenny.
Hesitating deftly between the pow-
er of Voodoo and the might of sweet-
ness and light, "Louisiana" fails to
make much .headway in any direction,
and, so far as entertainment goes, is
at an almost continuous standstill.
The picture, with an all-negro cast,
is transferred to the screen intact from
the stage, including the painted sce-
nery, the long speeches and the stage
technique. It is just what little thea-
tres all over the country revel in.
With the exception of one scene —
the revival meeting where the com-
bined efforts of singing, hysteria, and
a swell villain bring about a good,
high excitement — the film is pretty
dull. Most of the speeches of the old
witch woman are in rhymed couplets
and the rest of the dialogue is color-
less.
J. Augustus Smith wrote the play;
Arthur Hoerl directed, and Laura
Bowman, Lionel Monagas, Edna Barr,
the author and Morris McKenny stand
out in the cast.
The picture is not for any house in
any community.
'Broadway Bill' Set
Back to Next Monday
Harry Cohn pushed "Broadway Bill"
back to a start next Monday on the
Tanforan racetrack. Technical crew
has been on the location the past
week.
Clarence Muse and Raymond Wal-
burn, of the cast, have been work-
ing in Eddie Small's "Count of Monte
Cristo" at Pathe.
Alan Crosland Will
Direct 'Howling Dog'
Alan Crosland was assigned the
direction of the "Case of the Howling
Dog," at Warners yesterday. Gordon
Westcott, Russell Hicks and Robert
Barrat are slated for the cast.
Ben Markson wrote the screen play
from the Erie Stanley Gardner story.
Jason Starts Short
Leigh jason put the first of Lee
Marcus' musical shorts into production
yesterday at Radio, Walter Woolf
starred as a crooner. Keye Luke, Chi-
nese artist, makes his acting debut as
Woolf's valet. Dorothy Lee, Eddie
Kane and Hazel Forbes are also in it.
Zanuck Off to Africa
Darryl Zanuck, Mrs. Zanuck and
Harry Wardell are all ready to plunge
into wildest Safariland on their hunt-
ing expedition, William Goetz was in-
formed by cable Tuesday. They will
probably return to European civiliza-
tion in about three weeks.
AOE^m
UATTERJ
This really should come under the
heading of "Confession Stories," all
things considered, but it happens to
work itself in with all the trouble that
picture companies have been having
recently with libel suits, etc.
A spy story was finished just a few
days ago at one of the major studios.
Most of the characters in the book
from which it is taken are still living.
Because of this, the star of the pic-
ture was considerably worried over
what might happen to the picture
abroad, and, before shooting started,
he went in to see the head of the
studio. The head assured the actor
that the author of the book had given
him full permission to make as many
changes for picture purposes as he
might think necessary. And then the
studio head went further. He RE-
ASSURED the actor by saying, "And
you know, I haven't been a butcher
all these years for nothing!" He's
telling us.
•
The castle that Douglas Fairbanks
has leased for himself is quite some-
thing, we .hear. It's located at North
Mymms Park in Hatfield, Herts, and
was originally bought by J. P. Morgan
for his sister. This little shack con-
sists of EIGHTY-TWO bedrooms and
the monocle that Doug is now wear-
ing. It takes a staff of fifty servants
to keep the place in order.
Now, bearing in mind the eighty-
two bedrooms, it seems that Tom
Ceraghty is at present occupying the
West Wing of the castle. Some time
ago, Ceraghty almost gave Doug an
attack of high blood pressure when he
showed Fairbanks a letter .he had just
received from his son, Gerald, who
said he was motoring down to see
Tom, and Tom very naively asked
Doug: "Do you think you can put
Gerald up over night?"
•
After all, maybe it isn't such a
bad break to make picture tests at
Universal, because it's almost a cinch
bet that, while Universal is debating
the question of "to sign, or not to
sign," some other studio will offer you
a contract. In the last couple of
weeks, one producer-director over
there has made four screen tests of
gals in the vain hope of casting a
picture he is anxious to get started.
One of the gals was promptly signed
by MGM and another, Astrid Allyn,
was snapped up immediately by Frank
Lloyd, w.ho has given her the second
lead in "Servants' Entrance." Miss
Allyn is expected to be "san-sa-
tional," but the director who made
all the tests is still without a leading
lady for his picture, and is seriously
considering becoming an agent.
Borzage Starting Back
Warners yesterday received word
that the Frank Borzage company of
"Flirtation Walk" is due to wind up
work in the East today and leave for
the coast in order to get back early
next week.
Page Four
Para. Delegates To
Learn of New Deal
New York. — It is understood that
many of the details of the Paramount
reorganization plan are reposing in the
pocket of General Manager George
Schaefer, who left here last night for
the Los Angeles convention, and that
the first announcement of them will
be to the delegates.
Russell Holman, of the production
department, started West Tuesday
and is expected to make the keynote
production speech at the meeting. He
will announce the season's plans and
the acquisition of new material. It
is believed that the convention will
not last the full week, as originally
planned.
Lupe and Jack Benny
For 'The Cirl Friend'
William Rowland yesterday signed
Lupe Velez and Jack Benny for spots
in "The Cirl Friend," which he is pro-
ducing independently for Columbia.
Jack Haley and Ann Sothern have
the leads and Russell Mack directs.
Benny will move to Columbia when
he completes his work in "Transat-
lantic Merry-Co-Round," which Ed-
ward Small now has in production.
Barrymore and Young
In 'Death on Diamond'
With Franchot Tone out of
"Death on the Diamond" and in "Four
Walls," MCM yesterday assigned Lio-
nel Barrymore and Robert Young to
the top spots in the former, which
Edward Sedgwick will direct.
Edith Van Cleve Set
For 'Age of Innocence'
Edith Van Cleve, one of Broadway's
top comedy bets, gets her first chance
to show what she can do in pictures
in Radio's "Age of Innocence."
The studio also engaged Julie Hay-
den for a leading role under Philip
Moeller's direction. The Beyer-Mac-
Arthur office closed both deals.
Alice Brady Signed
For 'The Cay Divorce'
Alice Brady was signed and sealed
for "The Gay Divorce" by Zion Myers
yesterday and production is now set
to start June 2. Mark Sandrich directs
the Radio film, with Ginger Rogers and
Fred Astaire bracketed at the top.
Dumbrille Back in Cast
Douglas Dumbrille got his assign-
ment in "Broadway Bill" back again
yesterday. When he appeared tied up
for a time in "Stamboul Quest" at
MCM, Louis Calhern was assigned the
Columbia part. Calhern, in turn, was
unable to get away from "The Count
of Monte Cristo."
Edington Services
Funeral services for Talfourd C. Ed-
ington, 75, father of Harry Edington,
will be held tomorrow afternoon at
two o'clock at the Hollywood chapel,
Hollywood cemetery. Mr. Edington
died Tuesday night at his son's home
on Glen Feliz boulevard.
lune 14, 1934
Forrester Harvey, Sterling Holloway,
Samuel S. Hinds, Harry Todd and Paul
Harvey to "Broadway Bill," Columbia.
Huntley Cordon, Wallis Clark,
Maidel Turner and Matt McHugh to
"Gaily I Sin',' Majestic-Darmour.
Edgar Norton and Marjorie Cateson
for "Million Dollar Ransom," Univer-
sal.
Tom Hanlon, KFI announcer, David
Worth, Russ Brown, Lita Chevret,
Betty Francisco, Ceorgia Caine, Lloyd
Whitlock, Cuinn Williams and Baxter
Camble to "Romance in the Rain,"
Universal.
Esther Muir for "Caravan," Fox,
through O'Reilly-Mann.
Lane Chandler and Roger Cray for
"Merry Widow," MGM, by O'Reilly-
Mann.
Ian Wolfe for "The Fountain,"
Radio, by O'Reilly-Mann.
Richard Tucker for "All Good
Americans," by O'Reilly-Mann.
Ceorgette Rhodes, by Menifee I.
Johnstone, to "Caravan," Fox.
Walter Walker, by Freddie Fralick,
to "A Lost Lady," Warners.
Mary Loos to "Student Tour,"
MGM.
James Burke, through Harry Wurt-
zel, for "Serenade," Fox.
C. Henry C'ordon for "We Live
Again," Sam Goldwyn.
Mario Ceminici for "The Fountain,"
Radio.
Harry C. Bradley and Thomas Brai-
don, by Max Shagrin, for Monogram's
"Tomorrow's Youth."
Leonard Carey to Radio for "The
Age of Innocence."
Gladys Sale and Sidney Miller to
Warners' "A Lady Surrenders," by
Max Shagrin.
Ralph Morgan and Bill (stage) Boyd
to Edward Small's "Transatlantic
Merry-Go- Round."
Rogers To Do Picture
Based on Hippodrome
Charles R. Rogers is going to make
a picture called "Hippodrome," writ-
ten around the colorful history of the
great New York showhouse of that
name. The story has been written
by Ralph Murp.hy, who, it is ex-
pected, will direct it.
Lederman Ahead of Time
D. Ross Lederman romped across
the finish line with "By Persons Un-
known" yesterday at Columbia, beat-
ing the shooting schedule by three
days. Ralph Bellamy and Shirley
Grey are leads in the police detective
No. 4 picture.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
damage in loss of business and finan-
cial profits.
It's hard to believe that anyone
connected with our business, disgrun-
tled because of things that have gCne
against them, would seek such retali-
ation, but it's true and we can prove
it.
But what's the use?
Reg Denny's Daughter
Makes Debut With Him
Barbara Denny, sixteen-year-old
daughter of Reginald Denny, makes
her first picture appearance in Uni-
versal's "One More River," her father
having a featured spot in the same
cast.
Three old favorites were also
signed. They are Stuart Holmes,
Grace Cunard and Luke Cosgrove.
Dem. Party Still in
Debt to Joe Kennedy
New York. — According to a report
just issued by the Democratic National
Committee, it still owes $33,576 to
Joseph P. Kennedy, $17,500 to the
Columbia Broadcasting Company, and
$107,571 to the National Broadcast-
ing Company.
New Paramount Writer
Paramount has signed Captain E.
H. Robinson to write the screen play
of "Eyes of the Eagle," an original by
Nell Shipman. Gary Grant and Fran-
ces Drake .have the leads.
Buchman on Musical
Sidney Buchman is writing the
screen play for "Hello, Big Boy," the
musical Felix Young is preparing for
Columbia from an old Frank Capra
silent picture.
London's Smartest Address—
GROSVENOR HOUSE
PARK LANE . . .
is also London's most modern hotel. An apartment at
Grosvenor House provides an actual "home from
home," replete with every modern aid to greater
comfort.
The location of Grosvenor House is a happy blend of
convenience and charm; in and around the hotel
London's social life moves; near by are the best shops
and the theatres; just across the way is London's great
garden, Hyde Park.
Life is amusing, easy and pleasant at
Grosvenor House, London
:able Address for Reservations: CROVHOWS, AUDLEY, LONDON
Cameramen Say
Studios Chiseling
At a meeting of the first camera
members of the ASC Monday night
it was revealed that there are various
attempts being made by some of the
studios to chisel on the salaries of
the cameramen.
The chief squawk at the meeting
was against Fox studio, where, it was
charged, the cameramen's salaries
during travel time have been cut in
half, and in one instance the crew
was called back to work without giv-
ing them the required 8-hour rest
period. The men were assured the
ASC would go after an adjustment on
these matters.
Cohen and Strayer to
Sub For Invincible
Herbert Cohen, son of Maury
Cohen, and Frank Strayer will head
the production affairs of Invincible
Pictures during the trip to England of ■
Cohen and George Batcheller of Ches- ■
terfield. The associates sail June 22
to arrange their European outlets for _
next season. I
Young Cohen and Strayer will pro- ■
duce the eighth and last of the cur-
rent Invincibles. The story is being
written by Karl Brown.
Kid Player For Para.
Paramount yesterday signed Billy
Lee, a youngster of three, and as-
signed him to "Wagon Wheels" with
Randolph Scott as his first. Arthur
Jacobson and Charles Barton will
direct.
June 14, 19B4
Page Five
Para. Bondholders
Petition Up June 18
New York. — A hearing will be
given by Federal Judge Knox next
Monday on the petition filed by the
Frank Vanderlip bondholders' com-
mittee with regard to the Paramount
reorganization. This petition was
filed under the new Federal bank-
ruptcy laws.
The committee represents holders
of $12,536,000 of bonds, which is
more than half of the total of two
bond issues outstanding.
*Ready For Love' Goes
To Cering To Direct
Paramount yesterday assigned Mar-
ion Gering to direct "Ready for Love,"
which will have Richard Arlen and Ida
Lupino in the top spots The studio
also signed Elisha Cook Jr., who plays
the second lead in the New York
production of "Ah, Wilderness," to a
two-picture deal, and will bring him
here for a role in "Ready for Love"
as his first.
Rowland's Second Sef
William Rowland's second picture
on his two-picture deal with Columbia
as an independent producer will be
"Naughty Nineties." No production
jj plans will be set for it until he has
finished "The Girl Friend."
Shumate on Brown Yarn
"Police Ambulance" is the script-
ing title of the story Harold Shumate
is writing to start Jo.hnny Mack
Brown on his Columbia action series.
ACTORS BVRXED BY SLURS
OX THEIR PRIVATE LIVES
(Continued from Page 1 )
consider their suggestive and immoral
actions on the screen as a matter of
course and in harmony with their
lives."
The actors set forth their side and
their resentment in the June issue of
■the Screen Player, the magazine of the
Screen Actors' Guild, out today. Edi-
torially, the magazine declares that
the clergy of the nation has another
duty in addition to those of saving
souls and protecting morals, and that
duty is to tell the truth. The editorial
says:.
"All Hollywood has been amazed
by the tirades recently addressed
against the private lives of its actors
by several leading church dignitaries.
"Blanket moralistic accusations
against a people or a community are
almost never well-founded and such
sweeping maledictions are bound to
defeat themselves by their own ex-
cessive vituperation.
"Nevertheless, in justice to their
superiors — and certainly also to their
parishioners — the priests, ministers
and rabbis of the various faiths, who
live in Hollywood, should immediately
inform these prelates as to the true
status of affairs.
"Hollywood is neither a Sodom nor
a Gomorrah. It has no more — and
probably even less — than the average
American proportion of social crime
and moral dereliction. And it also has
its share of thriving churches and
church members who live up to their
religious tenets and moral principles
as faithfully as the inhabitants of any
other average community.
"Ministers of Hollywood — you
know the facts. It is your duty to
tell the world the truth as well as to
spread the gospel."
Still Man, Unassisted,
Produces Two-Reeler
Roman Freulich, Universal still man,
wrote, directed, produced and financed
a two-reeler, "Prisoners," which .has
received favorable attention by the
studio, where a deal for its purchase
is on the fire.
The picture has been booked to
open at the Filmarte Theatre in three
weeks. George Sari and Jack Rock-
well are in it.
Marcia Remy To Keep
On With Screen Career
Universal has given Marcia Remy,
assistant to Casting Chief Dan Kelly,
permission to continue her picture ca-
reer and hold her job with the studio
at the same time.
Her next spot will be in "Romance
in the Rain," which Stuart Walker
directs. She made her debut in "Af-
fairs of a Gentleman."
Crawford in Guild
Joan Crawford joined the Screen
Actors Guild yesterday.
Victor Fleming To
Direct 'Indo-China'
Shelving "High School" for a time,
MGM has assigned Victor Fleming to
direct "Indo-China," which will prob-
ably be the next Joan Crawford vehi-
cle. Arthur Richman is already as-
signed to the cast. Fleming just
completed "Treasure Island" and was
slated to handle "High School."
The studio has a company on loca-
tion in Indo-China shooting back-
grounds for the picture, which Ber-
nard Hyman will produce.
Clements on Screen
Play of His Own Story
Universal yesterday signed Colin
Clements to do the screen play of
"I Murdered a Man," an original story
by himself and Florence Ryerson,
which the studio purchased early this
week.
Edward Arnold will probably have
the top spot if a loan can be worked
out with B. P. Schulberg. Edward
Laemmie will direct. The Clements
deal was negotiated by Jerry Adams.
'Fountain' Plays Today
After two days rehearsals, John
Cromwell starts the shooting on "The
Fountain" with Ann Harding today at
Radio. New members of the cast are
Ralph Forbes, Richard Abbott, Betty
Alden, Barbara Barondess and Sara
Haden. Brian Aherne has the male
lead.
SO
FAR THIS YEAR
— i
Screenplays By
•
LEONARD PRASKINS
"LOOKING FOR TROUBLE''^ - -
- Twentieth Century
"THE LAST GENTLEMAN"
- Twentieth Century
"HERE COMES THE CROOM"+ -
- - Chas. R. Rogers
"WE L VE AGAIN" - - - -
Samue Co dwyn
Now Writing
"BARBARY COAST" - - - -
Samue Go dwyn
+ With a C
oliaborator.
MUSIC and LYRICS
for
w
KISS and MAKE UP"
by
Management
Small-Landau Company
RALPH RAINCER
ind
LEO RO B I Nl
|i
% readi:jg dept.
CULVER CITY, CK..rF.
Vor. XXI, No. 32. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday. June 15, 1934
BIG B WAY HOUSES POOL
Capitol To Drop Stage Shows
For Straight Picture Policy
In Deal With The Paramount
• WE believe that most of the troubles
that this industry has suffered and will
suffer have and will be brought on
by parasites and racketeers who have
been making their living out of the
picture business.
We believe that selfish exhibitors
have caused most of the legislation
leveled against motion pictures.
We believe that a certain crowd of
independent theatre owners, men and
women who have never contributed
anything to the advancement of this
business, are the individuals directly
responsible for this great activity on
the part of the Catholic Church.
We believe it because we know it,
and we know it because men high in
that Church .have told us and named
the men.
How do you like that?
•
It is bad enough for us to be at-
tacked from without, but for individ-
uals who have sustained themselves in
some manner or other from the picture
business to have inspired such attacks,
it's a little too ,too. But, neverthe-
less, true.
Those racketeering exhibitors, who
find it pretty tough to make a living
for t.he simple reason that they are
incapable of conducting a business
that is as profitable as that of their
competitor, feel they are entitled to
as much profit as that competitor.
So, in an effort to check their neigh-
bors' progress, they go to the reform-
ers and cheap politicians, to the in-
dividual who would wreck and ruin
anything to get his name in the news-
oapers, and unload a lot of bunk.
Those fellows do not know that that
unloading will .hurt them just as
much as it will their competitors and
that it will make it harder for them
to attain the progress they believe
they should have WITHOUT WORK-
ING FOR IT.
•
What pictures need, and have
NEVER had, is a united front on the
part of the members of this indus-
try. Disgruntled individuals, whether
exhibitors, writers or executives who
have been shoved aside to make room
for better men, will never better their
condition through furnishing ammuni-
tion for outsiders to shoot at us.
But it is being done. How are you
to stop it?
Hughes Will Make
Racket' As Talkie
New York. — Howard Hughes
intends to produce the Bartlett
Cormack play, "The Racket," as a
talking picture. The Hughes In-
dustries Co. Ltd., the assignee of
the rights to the play, has acquired
Paramount's distribution rights for
$200.
Catholic Boycott
Spreads Rapidly
New York. — The boycott urged by
the Catholic Church against offensive
motion pictures is spreading rapidly.
In Baltimore yesterday t.he League of
Catholic Students formulated plans to
assist in the suppression of banned
pictures by issuing a weekly blacklist
and approved list in the Baltimore
Catholic Review. The students will
(Continued on Page 31
Romberg Coming To
Do Score For 'Tiptoes'
Sigmund Romberg, dean of Broad-
way's tunesters, will be brought to the
coast to do the music for "Tiptoes,"
■Vicki Baum's original of ballet life, for
which Oscar Hammerstein is now do-
ing a libretto at MOM.
Dudley Murphy is slated to direct
Ramon Novarro and Evelyn Laye in it.
Curtiz Flying East on
Quick Trip to Europe
Michael Curtiz is flying to New
York this morning and will sail for
Europe in the first available steamer.
He will be gone four weeks.
New York. — Contracts will be signed within a day or two for
the first of several pooling arrangements by the big Broadway
pictures houses. This one is a deal between Paramount and
MCM whereby the Capitol will drop stage shows and its orches-
tra in favor of a straight picture policy,
while the Paramount Theatre will con-
tinue to feature stage shows.
The Capitol will have its pick of the
Paramount product and will inaugur-
ate the new policy on June 29, start-
ing with the new Mae West picture,
"It Ain't No Sin."
The deal also permits the Para-
mount theatre to play some of the
MCM product and "Murder in the
(Continued on Page 4)
Radio Work Blocking
Fox-Joe Cook Picture
New York. — Fox is in a jam on the
Joe Cook deal. The studio, still lack-
ing a story for him, has his production
slated for work in early July, but will
first have to clear prior contracts for
radio broadcasting w.hich would pre-
vent his going to the coast and com-
pel the company to make the picture
here.
Pathe Meeting Delayed
New York. — The meeting of the
Pathe directors to vote on the reorgan-
ization plan, scheduled for yesterday,
was postponed until next Tuesday to
await the return of A. B. Poole, the
treasurer, now in California.
CHAS. B. ROGERS STAYS AS
PARAMOUNT PRODUCER
Abandoning his plans to become an
independent producer, Charles R.
Rogers yesterday signed up with
Paramount to produce ten pictures for
the company within the next year.
He will be a "Paramount producer"
and not a "producer for Paramount,"
the difference being less independence
and the use of a production staff from
the company roster instead of his own
staff Paramount takes over all the
properties Rogers has acquired and
also all contracts that he may have
with players.
"Emanuel Cohen convinced me that
this was a wise thing to do," said
(Continued on Page 4)
Jane Murfin To Produce
Lafitte The Pirate'
Jane Murfin's first assignment as a
producer for Radio, although it is still
unofficial, will be the Francis Led-
erer picture, "Lafitte, the Pirate."
Sidney Sutherland is writing the screen
play from a story by F. A. Kummer.
Probe by M. P. Council
New York.- — Arthur Butler Graham,
an attorney long identified with mo-
tion picture affairs, will conduct a
survey of motion picture trade prac-
tices for Mrs. Belmont's Motion Pic-
ture Research Council.
Berman Steps Down
To Simple Producer
Pandro Berman yesterday stepped
out of his position as executive pro-
ducer for Radio Pictures and becomes
simply a producer on the lot, with a
program of thirteen pictures to be
made under his supervision. The spot
he now holds will not be filled, B. B.
Kahane remaining as studio boss. Ber-
man will remain in his present job
until the details of the new deal have
been worked out.
On the list which Berman will sup-
ervise are two for Katharine Hepburn
— "Forsyte Saga" and "Little Minis-
ter"; "Roberta," starring Irene Dunne;
"Radio City Revels," with Ginger
Rogers and Fred Astaire, and pictures
starring Francis Lederer and Ann Har-
ding.
Reorganization Plan
Ends Roxy Receivership
New York. — Federal Judge Caffey
has appointed Howard S. Cullman,
who has been acting as receiver for
the Roxy Theatre, a trustee under the
reorganization plan. This automatic-
ally eliminates the receivership.
Connolly and Lewis
Washed Up at Radio
Myles Connolly and David Lewis
have washed up their deals as asso-
ciate producers for Radio and are off
the studio payroll. Neither had a
contract, but each produced a group
of pictures for the company.
Spigelgass to Hospital
Leonard Spigelgass, Universal sce-
nario head and associate producer,
enters the Cedars of Lebanon Hos-
pital tomorrow to undergo a tonsilec-
tomy. Dr. Sylvan Goldberg will per-
form the operation.
[
Edward E. Paramore Jr.
SCREEN PLAY
and DIALOGUE
( in collaboration)
SHIRLE^
TEMPLE'S
BABY TAKE A BOW
Page Two
THg
)une 15, 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
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Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
A well-known artists' manager,
noted for his chiseling proclivities
these many years, almost put one
over a few weeks ago — but not quite.
As he drove onto a major studio lot
in his brand new car, he espied a
famous writing team, talking with
their own manager. The writers ad-
mired the shiny new gas buggy with
much enthusiasm, and the owner
promptly suggested that one of them
ride around the lot with him a min-
ute to see what a swell car it really
was. One of the writers got in. They
.hadn't gone ten yards before the art-
ists' manager started to "sell" him on
how much he could do for him and
his scribbling partner, and just why
the team should come under his wing.
The writer was so aghast at the bra-
zen tactics that he spilled the works
to his partner and their agent the
minute he got out of the chiseler's
car! And "it's all over town."
. No wonder the Board of Health got
after a certain major stujo for its neg-
ligence in the matter of sterilizing
costumes! It's just too bad they had
to wait until one of the extras got
skin trouble from wearing one of the
garments. BUT what they really
should go after is the big director on
the same lot (with obviously sadistic
tendencies) who used a swimming
pool for a big scene for several days,
the pool-water being absolutely stag-
nant and unchanged during that time.
The director took great delight in
making the actors jump in to the dirty
water day after day — and the actors
KNEW it was dirty!
Sam Berman, famous caricaturist, is
here on a vacation. But he has eight
or nine armfuls of his hilarious pic-
tures along with him. The drawings
(most of them in color) hung in the
Algonquin for over a year, and Ber-
man may exhibit them for a week or
so in Hollywood before he treks East
again. He does those marvelous cov-
ers for "Esquire" too — and most of
his stuff is more humorous than
venomous. Anyway, he likes Holly-
wood— it's so full of MATERIAL.
"SUCH WOMEN ARE DANGEROUS "
Fox prod.; director, James Flood; writers, Vera Caspary, jane Storm,
Oscar M. Sheridan
Roxy Theatre
Herald-Tribune: It may have amounted to more in Miss Vera Caspary's story,
"Odd Thursday," upon which it was based, but in its transfer it has lost
much in character development, smoothly contrived situations and authen-
ticity. For the drama on the screen is highly fictitious, a little dull, and
rather hackneyed in treatment.
American: Aided and abetted by a cast which would do justice to a Noel Cow-
ard play, some of the most refreshing dialogue of the year and a story
which carries you along on gales of mirth before suddenly dropping you
into a murder court, one of the smartest comedies of the season arrived
at the Roxy Theatre yesterday.
Sun: The Roxy's new talkie started out as light comedy; half way along it
changed its mind and turned first into a drama, then into a murder melo-
drama. The three moods didn't always fuse as smoothly as must have been
hoped. "Such Women Are Dangerous," although mildly amusing, never
manages to be very exciting.
Times: The Roxy's new film passes out a few laughs and achieves a grade of
fair, minus.
News: On the whole, the photoplay is diverting and more than once lively and
gay.
Post: When Henrietta Crosman intimates to Herbert Mundin that he is some-
thing less than a half-wit, that still leaves him at the head of the class
that participates in the latest Fox product, "Such Women Are Dangerous,"
now on display at the Roxy. And she is pretty loose with her fractions at
that.
World-Telegram: You probably won't remember a thing about "Such Women
Are Dangerous" by next Monday, but while you're watching it you'll have
a pretty good time in the same way you have with an entertaining detec-
tive novel, preferably one in which Reginald Fortune solves the murders.
The cast is good — the production tasteful.
lournal: Thanks to an excellent performance by Mr. Baxter the film resolves
itself into fair hot-weather entertainment.
Studios Paying Up
oh Extra Complaints
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of
the Code Committee for Extras, yes-
terday announced that a total of 367
complaints of code violations have
been filed by extras. Action has been
taken on 240, and $852.26 has been
collected from the studios.
Tonight the grievance sub-commit-
tee will act on the balance. Only two
objections have been made by studios
to the decisions of the committee.
Kahn and Donaldson
Doing Last For Cantor
Cus Kahn and Walter Donaldson
have started on the last two numbers
they will write for Eddie Cantor's "Son
of a Sheik." They have already com-
pleted three songs which Sam Gold-
wyn will use in the picture.
George Bertholon III
George Bertholon has been away
from his post as a Monogram super-
visor for the past three days. H
has a nervous breakdown and is re
covering in a private sanitorium.
■A
Radio Eastern Reps
Off To Convention
New York. — The Eastern and for-
eign representatives of RKO-Radio
leave here tonight for the company's
sales convention, which is to be held
at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, start-
ing Monday.
The New York contingent includes
Ned Depinet, Jules Levy, Robert Sisk,
Cresson Smith, E. L. McEvoy and sev-
eral others. Among the foreigners are
Sol Newman, B. P. Lion, Robert Trillo
and Jacob Glucksman. Another group,
headed by Phil Reisman, leaves tomor-
row.
Col. Borrows 'Skippy'
Columbia yesterday borrowed Alison
Skipworth from Paramount for a lead-
ing role in "The Captain Hates the
Sea," the Lewis Milestone production
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FRIDAY JUNE 15'^
HOLLYWOOD PLAYHOU/E ^R-ii3i
POPU LAR^ P R.I CE S
June 15, 1934
TH
l^ilPOPiTlIR
Page Three
SILE]¥T CAMERA PUZZLE PUT
FLATLY UP TO THREE FIRMS
If They Can't Make
One, Industry Will
The eight major studios that are
supporting the Research Council of
the Academy have definitely decided
that they are going to have a silent
camera that is really silent. In order
to get one, they have declared them-
selves in on one of the most revolu-
tionary moves in the history of techni-
cal development in the picture busi-
ness.
They have notified the Bell & How-
ell Company, Mitchell Camera Com-
pany and the De Brie Camera Com-
pany, the three largest camera con-
cerns in the world, that they MUST
produce a silent camera, even if it
means the pooling of the finances,
patents and technical brains of the
three organizations, with a camera
made up of parts from all three.
Further, the eight studios are pre-
pared to toss in unlimited finances,
turn over studio-controlled patents
and give of the technical knowledge of
all the studio experts who have been
massed on a special silent camera
committee to help solve the problem.
Samuel Briskin, chairman of the
Council, last week called representa-
tives of the camera companies to a
conference. He told them emphatic-
ally that they must produce results,
and indicated that if the companies,
either individually or working to-
gether, cannot produce a silent cam-
era, the studios will set to work and
make their own.
The first step in the new move is
under way. Arrangements have been
made with ERPI for a comprehensive,
scientific noise analysis of the cameras
of the three companies named above.
Briskin says that the expense of this
will be borne equally by the Research
Council and the camera companies.
When the tests are finished it is ex-
pected that the ailments in the cam-
eras will be discovered, and then will
come the question of what to do.
Briskin told the camera company
representatives that the Council's
camera committee would make sug-
gestions and recommendations. He
further stated that, if the camera
companies thought these suggestions
not worth trying, the Council will
throw in the funds necesary to try out
the ideas of the studio men.
Briskin also told them that if any
studio-owned patents stand in the
way of development, the Council will
immediately start work to secure a
perpetual license for the use of them.
In other words, a camera that is
silent must be produced. The studios
insist. They will throw in patents,
brains and money. But the camera
companies must be willing to cast
aside pride of company name and
years of background, toss their own
patents, brains and money into the pot
and perhaps in the end it may mean
just one big camera company.
Astrid Allyn to Fox
Fox has placed Astrid Allyn under
a term deal as a member of the stu-
dio's stock company. She goes into
"Servants' Entrance."
Flash! Buster Keaton
Will Laugh in Picture
Paris. — Buster Keaton is due
here soon to play in "The King of
the Champ Elysees," a picture to
be made by Margot Film. The
company announces two novelties
for the picture: Keaton will laugh,
and a chorus of 300 girls will be
imported from America.
Joan Bennett Set
As Lederer Lead
Joan Bennett was signed by Para-
mount yesterday for the bracket spot
with Francis Lederer in "Pursuit of
Happiness." The Schulberg, Feldman
and Curney office negotiated the deal.
It is reported that part of the
Radio-Paramount deal for Lederer in-
volves Radio's getting the right to sell
the picture to its exhibitors to meet
the August 28 release date scheduled
for the next Lederer-Radio production.
Ceo. Bilson Producing
'Dames' Trailer Short
Encouraged by the success of the
600-foot trailer short on "Twenty
Million Sweethearts," released under
the title, "Your Sweetheart and
Mine," Warners are producing a simi-
lar trailer short on "Dames."
George R. Bilson has directed most
of it. All members of the cast of
"Dames" will be seen in it, but com-
pletion is held up until Dick Powell
returns from West Point.
Butcher Set For Two
E. W. Butcher's first production as-
signment since relinquishing the spot
as production manager at Fox is
scheduled to be "Angel Face," which
will have James Dunn, Alice Faye and
Shirley Temple. He will also handle
George Ade's "The County Chair-
man," with Will Rogers.
Indies Want Lowe
C. C. Burr and William Smith are
negotiating with Edmund Lowe to
play the lead in the "Manhunter
Mysteries," a series of four features
based on a radio program by Stewart
Sterling, which the concern will make
at the General Service studio.
'Lost Lady' on Location
Warners' "Lost Lady" company,
headed by Barbara Stanwyck, Frank
Morgan and Phillip Reed, leaves to-
morrow for location shooting at Lake
Arrowhead. The troupe will be there
three days. Alfred Green directs.
Kelly' Off Till July 6
Because Guy Robertson will not ar-
rive here from the "Hold Your
Horses" show in Chicago until July I,
Monogram yesterday postponed the
scheduled start of "King Kelly of the
U.S.A." until July 6.
Robinsons Returning
New York. — Edward G. Robinson
and his wife leave today by train on
their return to the coast.
Monogram Moving
ToPatheLotJulyl
Monogram Pictures moves to Cul-
ver City July I , making its production
base at the Pathe studio. It has leased
space at General Service Studios the
past year on a month-to-month basis.
Trem Carr closed the new leasing
agreement with G. B. Howe, general
manager of the lot, a few minutes
before checking in yesterday noon at
the Cedars of Lebanon hospital. He
will be operated upon this morning by
Dr. H. L. Updegraff, and hopes to be
out in time to superintend the moving.
Increased space requirements and
the attraction of the Pathe forty acres
with its standing sets, are Monogram's
reasons for moving.
Exhib Loses Case on
Vitagraph Complaint
The Los Angeles Grievance Board
yesterday found in favor of Vitagraph,
Inc., in its complaint charging that
A. R. Miller had tried to avoid ful-
fillment of a contract for pictures by
telling the film company he had sold
his theatre, the Baldwin Park.
Vitagraph produced testimony
showing that Miller had not disposed
of the theatre, and the Board ordered
Miller to fulfill his contracts.
One For Negulesco
Jean Negulesco has been signed by
Paramount to direct "A Son Comes
Home," which is slated to go into
production June 25. Arthur Nolan
will play the part of the son, and
Arthur Sircon will handle the dialogue.
Markey-Scola at Para.
Gene Markey, returning from his
trip to Europe, checks in today with
his team-mate, Kathryn Scola, at
Paramount to write the screen play
for "One Hour Late," which Bayard
Veiller is producing.
O'Hara Reports to Para.
John O'Hara, New York novelist
and newspaperman, has arrived to
start his Paramount contract.
Picture Boycott Spreads
(Continued from Page I )
also write to producers, warning them
of the boycott.
Baltimore exhibitors ducked from
under by saying that they are "in-
nocent victims of the block booking
system, who must accept without
elimination all pictures produced."
In Boston an active boycott has
been started. Rev. R. M. Sullivan, of
Boston College, stated that 75 per
cent of 1 30 pictures shown in that
city up to May 6 violated the moral-
ity code.
In Buffalo also the boycott is on.
A list of proscribed pictures there in-
cludes "Laughing Boy," "He Was Her
Man," "Murder at the Vanities." "Dr.
Monica" and "Life of Virgie Win-
ters."
^^^^^£^lfum
And still another Mrs. Pat Camp-
bell story. It would seem that in her
last picture, Mrs. Pat was required to
speak a couple of slightly vulgar lines.
Mrs. Pat fought against them, but to
no avail, and the scene was finally
shot with the lines in it. As Mrs.
Campbell was going in to see the
rushes, she asked whether the picture
would be released in England and was
told that most certainly it would be.
Then, after seeing and hearing her-
self in the objectionable scene, she
exclaimed: "Well, there goes my
chance of ever being buried in West-
minster."
Which reminds us that a few years
ago. Constance Collier made news-
paper headlines in a rather messy suit
and, because Constance Collier was
seemingly involved, the tabloids had
no end of fun printing lurid stories,
etc. And the only thing that both-
ered Miss Collier was that the scandal
would break in England and, if that
happened, she would receive no more
invitations to the dear Queen's Car-
den Party, an exclusive little affair
held once a year to which no less than
a thousand people are annually in-
vited.
•
They've been having a lot of fun
lately over on the Warner lot with a
certain Mr. Ottinger, who seems to
be first cousin to "Where's Elmer?"
Particularly if there's someone new at
the studio does the fun wax fast and
furious, with the neophyte receiving
constant messages from Ottinger, ad-
vising him to arrive at the studio
more promptly, do more work, not
take so much time out for lunch.
They even take to sending telegrams
at three o'clock in the morning re-
questing the newcomer's presence at
some far away spot or for some phony
conference. Of course, these are dull
days on the Warner lot and the boys
haven't much to do, but they're be-
ginning to wonder about this Ottin-
ger to the extent that they really
believe he might exist, and will their
faces be red if he does! Not only
that, but with all the phony orders
being given around the place and
everybody playing wise, the first thing
you know they're going to laugh off a
bona fide order from a real exec and
then the real fun will begin.
We think the British have a far
more subtle way of getting producers
to clean up pictures than we have.
They admit that there is no sure
measure of the good or harm a pic-
ture can do. BUT, they do appeal to
the producer on the pocket-book
basis. They argue that child audi-
ences are practically nil because the
children themselves are not suffi-
ciently interested in the subject mat-
ter of the so-called salacious movies,
thereby losing the picture industry a
tremendous income. There are thous-
ands of kids and, for every child ad-
mitted, at least one grown-up to go
with him. And that's an argument a
producer can see some sense in and
try to do something about.
Page Four
THE
)une 15, 1934
ORDERS COMPLAINTS
GIVEN TO LAROR ROARD
The long battle by Judge Ben Lind-
sey and George Creel to prevent the
turning over to the Studio Labor Com-
mittee and the Code Committee for
Extras of complaints filed before the
judge by extras and studio technicians
was lost yesterday, when, acting under
orders from Washington, these com-
plaints were turned over by Charles
Cunningham, head of the local NRA
compliance office.
There was a lot of mystery attached
to the turning over of the claims.
Neither Donald Renshaw, new head of
the NRA in California, nor Cunning-
ham would either admit or deny that
the complaints had been given to the
committees.
But a package containing 65 extras'
complaints arrived at the office of the
Extras' Committee, with a letter ex-
plaining that they were turned over
on orders from Washington. The
same is said to have been done with
those going to the Studio Labor Com-
mittee.
Scores of technicians who had sign-
ed the complaints wrote Judge Lind-
sey, demanding that their complaints
never be turned over to the Casey
committee. He agreed, and was
backed by Creel. But both the Judge
and Creel have resigned, so they .have
nothing more to say.
Picture Notables
Headed For Europe
New York. — Among the motion
picture notables who will sail for
Europe on the lie de France tomorrow
are Joseph M. Schenck, Maurice Sil-
verstone and Etienne Pallos, all of
United Artists; Director Sam Wood,
Carl Laemmie Sr., Joe Weil, Jack Ross,
Dave Bader, Lou Brock and Nat Cold-
stone.
'U' and Clive Closing
Universal is closing a deal with
Colin Clive, outside of his Warner
contract for three pictures, in order to
get the player for the "Return of
Frankenstein," which will have Boris
Karloff in the leading role.
Faragoh on 'Joan of Arc'
Francis Faragoh was assigned yes-
terday by Radio to write another
screen play for "Joan of Arc," which
is to star Katharine Hepburn under
Pandro Berman's supervision.
Rogers Stays at Para.
(Continued from Page 1 )
Mr. Rogers last night. "He said the
company wanted me to remain, and
our deal, which includes a very nice
drawing account and a percentage of
profits, is entirely satisfactory to me.
"I am sort of following along in
the train of other producers who, at
times, have wanted to go indepen-
dent, but have found it wiser to tie
in with one of the big companies."
Rogers' first under his new deal will
be "McFadden's Flats." production on
which will start early in September.
He leaves for New York by way of
the canal in a few days and will be
back in August.
Christian Rub, by Al Kingston, and
Margaret Nearing, by Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall, to "Romance in
the Rain," Universal.
Finis Barton and Leonie Pray, by
Sackin, to "Caravan," Fox.
John Larkin, by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall, for a Ruth Etting
short.
Jean Perry and Eugene Borden, by
Sackin, for "All Good Americans,"
MGM.
George Reed to "Mrs. Wiggs of the
Cabbage Patch," Paramount.
Andre Cheron, Richard Lo, Look
Chan to "Now and Forever," Para-
mount.
Beulah Bondi to "Ready for Love,"
Paramount.
The Rev. Neal Dt>dd, Lou Cass, Max
Mack and Mary Owen to "You Belong
to Me," Paramount.
Arthur Housman for the first of the
Todd- Kelly shorts at Roach.
Louise Lincoln Found
Dead in Mountain Cabin
Louise Lincoln, office manager of
the Cameramen's Local 659 ever since
the organization was formed, was
found dead in a mountain cabin at
Suncrest yesterday morning.
Miss Lincoln had been ill for some
time and, several weeks ago, was
given a six-weeks leave of absence.
She went to the cabin, and reported
she was feeling better.
Bancroft Back at Work
George Bancroft was back in "El-
mer and Elsie" at Paramount yester-
day, his eyes still weak from their
Tuesday arc-blinding, and wearing
dark glasses between takes. Floyce
Brown and Albert Conti were new
yesterday in the picture.
Clyde For Col. Series
Andy Clyde signed a Columbia con-
tract yesterday to star in a series of
six two-reelers, which Jules White
will produce. Clyde just finished two
years of shorts with Educational.
Lucile Christensen set his ticket.
Junior Signs Novices
New York. — Carl Laemmie Jr. has
signed Lee Crowe and Philip Dakin,
two young men without previous ex-
perience. Crowe is due in Hollywood
Sunday and Dakin on Monday.
Big B'way Houses Pool
(Continued from Page 1 )
Private Car" has been selected as the
first.
The next agreement of the kind ex-
pected to be signed is one by which
all Warner Brothers product will be
transferred to the Roxy Theatre, while
the Strand, which has played Warner
pictures, is being torn down and a
new theatre being built on that site.
ERIC LINDEN
Current Release
"I GIVE MY LOVE"
Universal
"Eric Linden is well nigh perfect
as the grown-up son, a keenly
etched portrayal ..."
— Hollywood Reporter.
Management
Richard K. Polimer, Inc
% MP.SAVfJKl.
CULVER CITY.
Vol. XXI, No. 33. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, June 16, 1934
SAM rATZ WILL PRODLCi
He And Max Gordon To Stage
Plays And Later Screen Them;
Ralph Kohn To Handle Sales
•THE changes under way on the
RKO-Radio lot are a healthy sign.
Here is a company with great pro-
ducing potentialities that have been
stilted by some incompetent super-
vision. The fact that Radio has come
through with an occasional "Little
Women," "Morning Glory" or "Flying
Down to Rio," simply shows that there
is a kind Providence watching over
the studios after all!
Much of the product seems to need
the hand of a showman. However, it
begins to appear as if that day is past.
B. B. Kahane is wielding a broom and
sweeping out. He seems to have put
his finger on his studio's chief weak-
ness.
Now, if he keeps his eyes straight
ahead, he can be on his way to doing
big things for his company's product.
We think that he will not make the
same mistakes over again. He has
been in Hollywood long enoiTgh to
realize that the making of good pic-
tures requires highly efficient and
specialized men at the helm — men of
background, vision and a natural in-
stinct for producing what the crowd
wants.
•
While these men are not easy to
find, nevertheless there are many of
them in Hollywood, although most of
them have never been given an oppor-
tunity to produce. They can be gar-
nered from the ranks of seasoned
writers — and possibly directors — who
have a sense of story combined with
good theatre judgment. No one
should occupy a producing berth who
is not schooled in the technicalities
and intricacies of story construction,
for no screen play can ever be better
than its story.
If Mr. Kahane recruits his new
associate producers from a list of
writers who have executive ability
and the proper theatrical background,
he can make an outstanding product,
stamped with individuality and box-
office.
•
He is on the right track unless he
makes the mistake of seeking his new
cohorts from the roster of available
but ineffective associate producers —
men who have never shown anything
but mediocrity or "flops" in one stu-
dio after another. By their past rec-
ord, how can he expect them to come
(Continued on Page 2)
Warner Brothers
Quilting Germany
New York. — Conditions in Ger-
many having become so bad that it
is impossible to overcome the re-
strictions imposed, Warner Brothers
are getting out of the country en-
tirely, closing the Berlin office by
July 30.
Broadway Grosses
Still In Doldrums
New York. — MCM's "Men in
White" made about the best showing
of any of the picture on Broadway
during the past week, grossing $52,-
000 at the Capitol theatre. The story
for the others was not so happy.
At the Music Hall, "Sisters Under
the Skin," got $61,000, while "Many
Happy Returns" at the Paramount
pulled in only $22,500. "Such Wom-
(Continued on Page 21
Hearst and Caumont
In Newsreel Tie-up
New York. — The Hearst newsreel
interests and the Caumont newsreel
have arranged a tie-up for the inter-
change of newsreel subjects. The deal
was put over by Ed Hatrick and Jef-
frey Bernard.
Schnitzer's New Idea
Joseph I. Schnitzer is negotiating
with the Western Costume Company
with a view to buying out the owner-
ship of the Creenberg Brothers.
Kirkland With Fox
Jack Kirkland has been signed by
Fox to do the adaptation of a story
called "Sand Hogs," which is what its
name impTies.
New York. — The question of what Sam Katz intends to do
was settled last night by the news that he has formed a combin-
ation with iVlax Cordon and Ralph Kohn to produce stage plays
in New York and then produce them as pictures in Hollywood.
Katz will come West to handle the
picture-producing end for Screencraft
Productions Inc., as the new company
will be called, Gordon attends to the
stage productions in New York, and
Kohn will handle the distribution, also
from New York. No announcement
has been made as yet about what
properties the new company has ac-
quired for its productions, nor has
anything been said about players, di-
rectors or a releasing arrangement.
It was announced a few days ago
that Ralph Kohn was flying to the coast
to confer with producers there about
an independent production venture in
which he was interested. It now ap-
pears that the purpose of his trip was
to see what could be done in the mat-
ter of studio space.
Black Hole/ a Coal
Mining Yarn, For Muni
Warner Brothers have decided that
Paul Muni's next starring picture will
be "Black Hole," a story laid in the
coal mines and dealing with strikes
and labor problems among the miners.
Two plays, one by Harry R. Irving
and the other by Judge M. A. Mus-
mano, will be the basis for the movie
story. Abe Finkel and Isaac Goldberg,
assisted by Muni, will do the screen
play.
MUSIC SECTIO]^ WILL
BE FORMED IN ACADEMY
The Academy is coming back to
life. It is throwing off the cloak of
lethargy that has surrounded it for
many months, and is preparing to get
back in the Hollywood swim with a
bang that its members feel will re-
store it to the place it once held.
Its first public step in a campaign
that has been secretly under way for
some time was made yesterday when
a luncheon was staged at the Acad-
emy quarters for a group of music and
song writers and studio music execu-
( Continued on Page 7)
Beatrice Lillie Coming
To Talk Deal With MOM
New York. — Beatrice Lillie will ar-
rive here on the Europa today to dis-
cuss a motion picture contract with
MCM. Leo Morrison is handling the
negotiations.
Al Altman Coming Out
New York. — Al Altman, Eastern pro-
duction manager for MCM, leaves here
for the coast by way of the canal to-
day, arriving there June 30.
Oliver and Pitts
Slated For Tish'
Edna May Oliver probably will have
the role of "Tish" when MCM puts
the screen version of the Mary Roberts
Rinehart stories into production. It
was originally intended for Marie
Dressier, but her illness has changed
the plans.
The picture will not be started be-
fore Fall and, in addition to Miss Oli-
ver, Zasu Pitts and Elizabeth Patter-
son will be in the cast.
Two Pictures Starting
Production in the East
New York. — Two features go into
work in the East Monday. They are
"Woman in the Dark," which Burt
Kelly and William Saal are making at
the Biograph studio, and "Convention
Girl," which will be started at Atlan-
tic City where Luther Reed and Wal-
ter Sheridan will shoot exteriors.
U -Hale Deal Flops
Alan Hale and Universal failed to
agree on figures, so his dickering on
a term contract resulted only in the
"There's Always Tomorrow" spot.
Ted Sloman turns the picture in to-
night, after a week of night shooting.
T. Freeland Sailing
New York. — Thornton Freeland
sails today on the He de France for
England where he will direct "Brew-
ster's Millions" for British and Domin-
ions. Lily Damita and Jack Buchanan
have the leads.
Radio Borrows Hopkins
Radio yesterday borrowed Miriam
Hopkins from Paramount for the lead
in "The Richest Girl in the World,"
an original story by Norman Krasna.
William Seiter will direct and Pandro
Berman will produce.
t\
Page Two
THE
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angefes, under the act of March 3,
1879.
/
June 16, 1934
Free suggestion to any and all pro-
ducers who would rid themselves
quickly of future trouble from church
dignitaries: Just announce "The
Gadfly," by Elsie Vonick, as a com-
ing production! And watch the
hissing die down! . . . Love note: Mar-
lene Dietrich with Douglass Montgom-
ery, dining at the Vendome — and
Barbara Barondess, with a new beau,
in the next booth! . . . We found a
man named Kroum Stankoff in the
morning paper yesterday! . . . Mrs.
Don Stewart out and hopping around
again. . . . The Gary Grants and Larry
Starbuck driving to the World's Fair,
via the Grand Canyon — they left last
night. . . . Mitzi Green is soo grown-
up now and has a swell figger. . .
Which reminds us that Constance
Cummings should never be permitted
to pose in a bathing suit!
That new cutie on the arm of a
certain leading man is an ex-con-girl
from New York — but he thinks she's
an heiress! . . . The Leslie Howards,
avec Mrs. Bill Gargan, leave town to-
night for Europe. . . . And a lot of
locals are leaping to Santa Barbara for
the opening of that new night club
there. . . . The fifteen year friendship
of Barney Glazer and Carey Wilson
has been practically ruined by Sharon
Glazer's refusal to let Barney act as
best man at the Wiison-Geraghty
wedding. . . . Gilda Grey, )unior Laem-
mle, Rian James, the Johnny Weiss-
mullers, Margaret Lindsay with Phillip
Reed, the Jack Haleys, the Larry
Weingartens, the Cedric Cibboneses,
the Clarence Browns at the Colony
Thursday night — and you couldn't find
anyone who'd admit having bet on
Qarnera!
•
Robert Bench ley will be here soon
-he "thinks he has a contract with
RKO." . . . Wonder who will be the
"lucky" (?) girl to play "Camille"
THIS time! It must be at least six
months since they've made it! ... .
Kay Francis takes off for three months
abroad first of the week. . . . Busby
"MANY HAPPY RETURNS"
Paramount prod.; director, Norman McLeod; writers, J. P. McEvoy,
Claude Binyon, Keene Thompson, Ray Harris
Paramount Theatre
Mirror: ]. P. McEvoy and the inspired Claude Binyon finally have created the
ideal screen play for dizzy Gracie Allen. The incredible Gracie is the hero-
ine of the plot. As goofy as its heroine, the story is packed with nonsense
and loaded with laughs. Burns and Allen are great clowns.
American: The usual absurdities of George Burns and Gracie Allen again are in-
corporated in "Many Happy Returns," their starring vehicle. This time
the daffy duo are to be seen in a typical Burns and Allen embroglio.
Times: "Many Happy Returns" depends chiefly on Gracie Allen and George
Burns for its mirth. It is one of those impossible features where almost
anything is likely to happen.
News: If you are in need of a good hearty laugh you'll find it where "Many
Happy Returns," with Burns and Allen in the leading roles, is being fea-
tured. This might seem like a pretty stiff dose of their particularly goofy
brand of humor, but I give you my word that this large dose won't hurt
you,
Herald-Tribune: Burns and Allen, who set the style for a new kind of "stooge"
comedy, both on the vaudeville stage and over the radio, have brought their
combined talents to Hollywood, where they have been photographed. Miss
Allen is, if anything, a trifle more dense than usual, while Mr. Burns is as
exasperated as ever by his partner's brainstorms. McLeod's direction was
as smooth as could be expected under the circumstances.
Sun: That lovable lunatic, Gracie Allen, and the long-suffering George Burns are
back at the Paramount in a suitably mad picture. There is not much sense
to "Many Happy Returns" which seems to worry no one at all. It is, quite
frankly, simply an excuse for some pleasantly foolish comedy and some
equally pleasant music by Guy Lombardo's orchestra.
Post: Thanks to Gracie Allen and George Burns, "Many Happy Returns" belongs
in the higher order of screen comedies. To be sure, Miss Allen and her
partner are not offered much competition from the other mmbers of the
cast; the laughs are almost exclusively theirs, but their presence in the
picture at the Paramount is almost continuous, which is as much as you
could ask of any picture they are in.
MCM Coif Tournament
At Rancho Tomorrow
MGM's annual golf tournament gets
off at dawn tomorrow morning at the
Rancho Golf Club, four hundred play-
ers teeing off in foursomes.
Two hundred prizes have been do-
nated for the event and arrangements
have been made so that there will be
two prizes for each foursome.
Dorothy Parker Wed
Denver. — The secret marriage of
Alan Campbell, actor, and Dorothy
Parker, noted poetess and humorist,
was revealed here yesterday. The
wedding took place last October at
Long Island. Campbell is to play in
summer stock at the Elitch Gardens.
C. F. Kimball East
C. F. Kimball, general manager of
the California studios, is en route to
New York to line up a release for a
series of independent pictures the stu-
dio will make. He will return in
about a month.
Swedish Writer Here
Mrs. Pauline Brunius, Swedish jour-
nalist, arrives today by plane to write
a series of articles on Mae West and
Carl Brisson. She is accompanied by
Mrs. Carl P. York, wife of the Para-
mount exchange manager for Sweden.
Berkeley is rehearsing three hundred
dames for "Dames" at the moment.
. . . Chances are that Paul Martin will
follow Lilian Harvey's trail — he's the
big moment! . . . Jeanette MacDonald
giving a big cocktail party tomorrow.
Brown to Start Race
joe E. Brown holds the gun to start
off the 24-hour bicycle race tinight
at the Hollywood Winter Garden, with
Lloyd Bacon standing by. It's a tie-
up for the next Brown picture, "Six-
Day Bike Race," which Sam Bischoff
expects to give the gun about July 2
at the Warner studio.
Russell Hicks Arriving
Russell Hicks, new Warner termer
from legit, arrives Sunday from Chi-
cago, where he has just checked out
of Joe Cook's "Hold Your Horses"
show. He starts work in "The Case
of the Howling Dog."
Kosloff Agency Head
Paul Edmonds has severed his con-
nection with the Shelton and Edmonds
agency. Maurice Kosloff is now in
charge.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
Mij^ic Box Stage
For MGM Novices
Leasing the Hollywood Music Box,
MCM gives its Laboratory Theatre the
chance to put on two plays for single
performances in order that the studio
executive staff may see them in pro-
fessional surroundings.
The first performance will be June
25. It will be "All Good Americans,"
the Perelman play which is now shoot-
ing at the studio. The cast has Mar-
tha Sleeper, Betty Furness, Mary Car-
lisle, Linda Parker, Pauline Brooks,
Les ' Chalzel, Poppy Wilde, Margo
Early, Robert Taylor, Robert Living-
ston, Ruth Renick, Hal LeSeuer,
Claudell Kaye, Belle Donovan and Jay
Lloyd.
The Merton Hodges play, "Wind
and Rain," is scheduled for July, with
George Walcott and Agnes Anderson
in the leading roles.
'Elysia' To Be Shown
At the Chicago Fair
Chicago. — Foy Productions' nudist
picture "Elysia," has been okayed by
the board of directors of the World s
Fair.
The Fair village, operating on a
government of its own, can show any
type of picture it chooses, since it is
outside the domain of the Chicago
censor board.
Henry Hull Leaves For
Universal in Ten Days
Henry Hull closes his season in
"Tobacco Road" at the 48th Street
Theatre, New York, tonight, and
takes 'a week's vacation with his
mother in Connecticut before motor-
ing out for his stellar spot__in Uni-
versal's "Great Expectations."
Morrison Abroad
New York. — Leo Morrison sails for
Europe July 7 on the He de France and
will meet Buster Keaton in Paris. Kea-
ton is to make "The King of Champs
Elysees" in France.
Cordon-Revel on Air
Mack Gordon and Harry Revel have
been signed to appear Monday night
on the MJB program over the NBC
network, emanating locally from KFI.
through with flying colors for him?
However, this very procedure has
been the big mistake in practically
every studio shake-up. The new per-
sonnel is too often made up from the
other studios' mistakes. Is this vicious
circle to go on ad infinitum?
If Mr. Kahane will give new blood
a chance and seek his producing gen-
erals from the type of men who have
proved they have imagination and
vision in the creative fields, he will
be doing a genuine service to himself
and his company.
B'way Crosses Low
(Continued from Page 1 )
en Are Dangerous" at the Roxy had
to be contented with $16,500, and
"Are We Civilized" at the Rivoli, for
the week ending next Tuesday night,
will get around $15,000. The 14th
week of "Rothschild" at the Astor
brought $12,450, the Rialto did well
with $13,500 for "World of Revolt,"
"Fog Over Frisco" got $10,500 for its
second week at the Strand, and "Pri-
vate Scandal" at the Mayfair snared
$9000.
ATTENTION
5-room apartment in La Fontaine
Apartments. Beautifully furnished.
Available on long or short lease,
$200 a month. Call
HEmpstead 7053 for apointment.
June 16. 1934
THEJ^
Page Three
''HIi§i GREATEST GAMBLE'' ODD
STORY OE MEXT AL DOMINANCE
ISotlhatiL
Dixand Kid Actress
Win First Honors
•HIS GREATEST GAMBLE"
(Radio)
Direction John Robertson
Author - Salisbury Field
Screen Play Sidney Buchman
and Harry Hervey
Photography Teddy Tetz"laff
Cast: Richard Dix, Dorothy Wilson,
Bruce Cabot, Erin O'Brien Moore,
Edith Fellows, Shirley Grey, Eily
Malyon, Leonard Carey.
Radio took a terrific gamble when
it made "His Greatest Gamble."
The picture is undoubtedly very much
worthwhile for a number of reasons,
but it will not have a widespread ap-
peal. Where it does appeal, however
— to the Richard Dix fans and to those
who are particularly interested in
mind over matter — it will appeal like
a ton of bricks.
The faults of the film are: Dix is
again cast as a reckless, daredevil,
handsome charmer, who is supposed
to dash quite madly around and have
a swell time. As a matter of fact,
he is allowed only one minor dash in
the beginning of the film, which lands
him in jail for fifteen years, during
which he ages about six months. The
part of his wife, who is supposed to
exercise such a destroying power over
their daughter that she actually makes
the child believe that she cannot
walk, is built up not at all, with the
result that poor Erin O'Brien Moore
is plunked down in the middle of the
film and is, for no very apparent rea-
son, a thoroughly disagreeable person.
The ending of the picture is so length-
ily sentimental and preachy that it
kicks the props out from under the
rest of the reels.
However, if the audience can jump
these hurdles, it will find much that is
entertaining, charming and appealing.
It is unfortunate that the picture as
a whole is unworthy of the plot basis,
for it is a distinctly different depar-
ture from the average run of screen
fare.
The story concerns the fight Dix
has to save his daughter from the
malevolent influence of his wife. The
first part of the film is splendid, with
Dix kidnaping the child, teaching her
to laugh and be happy and carefree.
There is a nice overtone of lyricism
and poetry here. Then he goes to jail;
the mother reasserts her evil control
over the girl, and Dix breaks jail after
thirteen years imprisonment to rescue
her from the complete and enforced
invalidism into which she is sinking.
Dix plays his role whole-heartedly;
Erin O'Brien Moore bears up heroic-
ally under an impossible and incredible
part; Dorothy Wilson is lovely as the
girl; Bruce Cabot is the young man
in love with her; Eily Malyon is bril-
liant in a small role, and Leonard
Carey has good moments as the but-
ler. But THE performance in the pic-
ture is given by a little girl named
Edith Fellows, who plays the daughter
as a child, and whose acting is the
main reason for the beauty of the first
part of the film.
John Robertson directed spottily;
Censor Pictures at
Source, Says Schenck
New York. — Censorship of mo-
tion pictures at source or, in other
words, within the industry, is Jos-
eph M. Schenck's remedy for
offensive pictures. He admits that
Joe Breen, of the Hays office, is
doing a good job, but fears it is
too much for one man to handle.
20 Percent Pay-off
On 'Superstitions'
Sidney Brennecke and two dozen
other bagholders in Borden Pictures'
"Superstition" series will receive 20
per cent pay-offs next week. Checks
will be mailed Monday by W. C.
Durst, trustee for the company, who
placed four of the one-reelers with
Paramount through Abe Meyer.
Meyer and Ray Nazarro plan to
complete the series on a venture of
their own, but first must have the
federal court release the receiver from
the original production contract.
Frances Fuller Will
Join Free-lancers
Frances Fuller completes .her two-
picture contract with Paramount with
the finishing of "Elmer and Elsie,"
and plans to free lance.
Last year she was signed three days
after her arrival here for the lead
opposite Gary Cooper in "One Sunday
Afternoon." Her last appearance on
Broadway was in "Her Master's
Voice."
Code To Be Reopened
For More Exhib Assents
New York. — The Code Authority
yesterday unanimously recommended
to Sol Rosenblatt that the code be re-
opened for further assents by exhibi-
tors who, so far, haven't come across.
The new period will be up August 15.
Foy Dickers For Loans
Bryan Foy westerday registered a
bid with Columbia for the loan of
Walter Connolly and Richard Crom-
well for leading roles with Frank Cra-
ven in "That's Gratitude," which
Craven writes, directs and produces for
Foy Productions.
Woods Buys Cordon Play
New York. — A. H. Woods has pur-
chased a new Leon Cordon play,
"Xtade- Winds," and has listed it for
presentation on Broadway in Septem-
ber.
Fox Premiere at Roxy
New York. — The New York pre-
miere of Fox's "Baby Takes a Bow,"
starring little Shirley Temple, will be
at the Roxy Theatre on June 29.
Sidney Buchman and Harry Hervey
made the screen play from Salisbury
Field's story, and Teddy Tetzlaff pho-
tographed.
The picture cannot be enthusiastic-
ally recommended, except for Dix
fans.
Fate of Duals Will
Be Discussed Today
Ben Berinstein, representing the in-
dependent theatre owners of Southern
California, and Charles Skouras, of Fox
West Coast Theatres, are slated to
hold an important conference this
morning at which they will take up
single bills, 55 cent admissions and
other problems that are now disturb-
ing the theatre situation here.
Some time next week a general
meeting of the indie theatre men will
be called, at which Berinstein will have
a complete report to make. At that
meeting, Berinstein says, he feels that
the entire matter of double bills and
admission prices will be ironed out.
Approximately 90 per cent of the in-
die theatre men have voted for single
features, but no definite step could be
taken until a final understanding was
reached with Fox West Coast. That is
expected to come about today.
Columbia Signs Comics
For Two-Reeler Series
For the 24 two-reel comedies on
the new program, Columbia has signed
Leon Errol, Andy Clyde, Harry Lang-
don, Walter Catlett and the Three
Stooges.
Jules White and Hugh MacCullum
will produce, with each making from
two to six as a series.
Boles Goes Back to Fox
For 'Music in the Air'
Following "Age of Innocence" for
Radio, John Boles reports back to Fox
for "Music in the Air," the musical
Joe May will direct. This bars Uni-
versal from getting him for "Imita-
tion of Life," the Claudette Colbert
picture John Stahl is readying for a
June 25 start.
Asther in 'Serenade'
Instead of going into the cast of
"Wanted." as originally planned. Nils
Asther has been signed for the lead
opposite Pat Patterson, who replaced
Lilian Harvey in "Serenade" at Fox.
James Tinling will direct, replacing
Paul Martin.
Hervey on Leave
With Lou Brock off on a vacation,
Harry Hervey checked out of Radio
yesterday, giving the studio a call on
his services for early August, at which
time he is to resume work on the
screen play of the musical, "Ho, for
Shanghai."
Merkel and Erwin Set
Una Merkel and Stuart Erwin were
set by MCM yesterday for leading
roles in the Buddy DeSylva-David But-
ler picture, "Have A Heart," which
has Jean Parker in the top spot.
Pat McNutt at Para.
Patterson McNutt registered at
Paramount yesterday, coming from
New York to take up his writing
ticket with the studio. He will write
the screen play for "Sailor Beware."
M
bi^jelen QtuiitttM
John Barrymore, for the benefit of
a fan magazine, recently picked his
idea of the most interesting actresses
in Hollywood. The first three, in the
order in which they were chosen, were
Katharine Hepburn, Karen Morley and
Greta Garbo. Hepburn and Garbo are
firmly implanted in cinema stardom,
but somehow or other, the powers-
that-be have neglected to plant Karen
Morley up among the stars and, so
far as we're concerned, the loss is
not only theirs but the movie audi-
ences' as well.
Lately we have heard more people
inquiring as to why Morley isn't seen
more often and in larger parts. It is
surprising those questions haven't
reached the producers' ears and that
they haven't done something about
it. She's a grand actress and one of
the most intriguing-looking gals that
ever reached the screen. She has yet
to appear in a picture that wasn't
definitely better for her presence, and
she's the only person we know of
who played against BOTH the Barry-
mores and rated as much attention as
they did from both critics and public.
Men like her on the screen and wo-
men wish they looked like her. We
fervently wish that the screen had
more like her and we wish Karen Mor-
ley were on the screen more often,
much more often.
•
Serge Soudeikine, the Russian artist
who .has designed the sets for "We
Live Again" — and again and again so
far as "Resurrection" is concerned —
(there must have been something
prophetic in that title), is about to
have an exhibition of his paintings
either at the Stendhal Galleries or the
Simmons Galleries, depending on
which one wins the argument. Sou-
deikine's paintings of the sets, inci-
dentally, have torn the Goldwyn of-
fices apart. Everyone to date has
tried to steal one and Lynn Farnol
finally had to get Sam Goldwyn to
issue strict orders that no one touch
the paintings, at least until the pic-
ture is finished. Farnol, by the way,
is out to make the Fall styles Russia-
conscious. He's gotten Omar Kiam
(probably your favorite designer) to
dash off a couple of dress models and
a coat based on Russian peasant
clothes and an officer's top-coat.
Well, he put it over with "Roman
Scandals" last year and it begins to
look as if Farnol were out to teach
the three "R's" in dress — Roman,
Russian and Ravishin'.
•
Charlie Brackett, who's scripting
over at Paramount these days and may
bring his family out here any minute
now, has just gotten the galley proofs
on his new book which comes out in
the Fall. It's called "Entirely Sur-
rounded" (and you can finish that
title if you know your geography defi-
nitions), and its pages are sprinkled
with references to and stories about
people you know, in the more amus-
ing manner.
U)ILLIOm().$EITER
DIRECTED
"WE'RE RICH AGAIN
//
r
"Here is a box office honey, smartly
directed and played to the hilt by an
able cast which should keep any audi-
ence highly entertained. William
Seiter has done a superb job of direct-
ing, keeping up the level of high ex-
cellence from beginning to end,
handling his people smartly and salt-
ing down laughs."
— Variety, 6-12.
P
MARIAN NIXON
AS
ARABELLA
IN
"WE'RE RICH AGAIN"
Management
Schulberg-Feldman & Curney
RAY HARRIS
SCREEN PLAY
"WE'RE RICH AGAIN"
"THREE CORNERED MOON"^
And Now
"LET'S GET MARRIED
ANOTHER HUMAN COMEDY
II
"Radio's 'We're Rich Again,' lively
and amusing comedy. A cockeyed
little opus, fairly alive with amusing
ideas, most of which come off to make
a comedy that any exhibitor can be
grateful for in these dull days."
— Hollywood Reporter, June 12, 1934
Mn Collaboration
Management
SCHULBERG-FELDMAN
AND CURNEY
"Here is a box office honey. Ray Har-
ris' screen play is a notably good elab-
oration of Allen Nash's original play,
contriving the comedy with freshness,
with sparkling dialog, and nice satiri-
cal undercurrent advanced in smooth
continuity."
— Variety, June 12, 1934
GLORIA SHEA
AS
VICTORIA
IN
"WE'RE RICH AGAIN"
"Gloria Shea as Erp's trainer and
eventual wife is plenty attractive and
good,"
— Hollywood Reporter.
LARRY "BUSTER" CRABBE NICK MUSURACA
AS
ERP
IN
W
WE'RE RICH AGAIN"
A.S.C.
PHOTOGRAPHED
"WE'RE RICH AGAIN
II
r ■
"Buster Crabbe as the swimmer who
doesn't open his mouth until the last
reel is a positive inspiration."
— Hollywood Reporter.
"Nick Musuraca's photography is
really high class."
— Hollywood Reporter
June 16. 1934
IRilPOPiTil^
XEW THIRD DIMENSION
TESTS SHOWN TO EXPERTS
Three-dimensional motion picture
tests, made by Alvin Wyckoff, Gregg
Toiand and Milton Moore with their
own standard cameras and standard
film, were projected yesterday before
an invited group of fifty photographic
and technical experts at United Art-
ists studio.
Spectators were grouped at the ex-
treme sides of the projection room
within three feet of the screen, to
demonstrate the absence of any dis-
tortion from side views. They also
viewed close-ups from five feet dis-
tance to judge absence of granulation.
The stereopticon depth given the
moving images without the use of any
special viewing devices or projection
machine attachments is explained by
the use of whirling mirrors installed
before the camera lens, enabling ob-
jects to be photographed full-on and
from both sides on one photographic
image.
The device used is William Alder's
Cinegraph, just patented after experi-
ments that Adler has been making in
three-dimensional effects since he was
an American Film cameraman at Santa
Barbara in 1911. Aider and Ralph
Merritt, former associate of Herbert
Hoover, own the patents. All repre-
sentation rights are held by Isadore
Bernstein, who arranged yesterday's
demonstration.
Wyckoff, Toiand and Moore, the
cameramen who made the tests, at-
tached the Cinegraph to standard
Mitchell cameras they were in the
habit of using. Wyckoff also tried
Alder's invention on a Bell & Howell.
Both interiors and exterior shots were
demonstrated, some of the interiors
made on United Artists sets.
The vital feature of the instrument
is a revolving shaft synchronized with
the camera shutter's 24-a-second ex-
posures. Four mirrors are mounted
on the shaft, one passing with each
exposure. With this device, camera-
men say every optical law known is
apparently overthrown.
Arch Selwyn Files
Plea in Bankruptcy
New York. — Arch Selwyn, the-
atrical producer, yesterday filed a
voluntary petition in bankruptcy.
He lists his liabilities at $312,910
and his assets at $5689.
Baby and Crown-up
Stars Off On Junket
Two carloads of Hollywood pull out
at eight tonight for Minneapolis, car-
rying thirteen Wampas Baby Stars and
a group of picture names to the Shrine
convention in Minneapolis.
Mark Larkin held reservations last
night for Jackie Coogan, Tony Moreno,
Wally Ford, Roscoe Karns, Dorothy
Burgess and Hedda Hopper. George
Raft and Wheeler and Woolsey will
join the contingent at Minneapolis.
LeRoy Prinz goes on the special and
will spend much of the time en route
in the baggage car, chartered as a re-
hearsal hall for the Baby Star's ensem-
ble work. Jean Chatburn, alternate,
was given Helene Cohan's ticket yes-
terday as the result of the atter's
illness.
Leila Hyams' Contract
With U' Is Cancelled
Leila Hyams and Universal called
off the balance of her contract by
mutual consent yesterday. It had till
August to go. Berg, Stebbins, Allen-
berg and Blum stated the release was
sought because of "unsatisfactory
roles."
Last spot for Miss Hyams at Uni-
versal was in "Affairs of a Gentle-
man," with Paul Lukas.
Music Branch For Academy
I Continued from Page 1 )
tives, at which plans were discussed
for the forming of a special Music
Section in the organization. In this
will be recruited the music executives
of the various studios, music directors,
and leading song writers and compos-
ers who are working in pictures.
The forming of this section has
been under consideration for some
time, and considerable preliminary
work has been quietly going on. At-
tending the meeting were Nat Finston
of Paramount, Max Steiner and Mur-
ray Spivack of RKO-Radio, Lou Silvers
of Columbia, Louis de Francesco and
Edward Kilenyi of Fox, Jack Chertok
of MGM, and James Dietrich of Uni-
versal.
The music creators have felt for
some time that they have been hang-
ing out on a limb, and have wanted
some place in which they may be rep-
resented. The proposed section in the
Academy is designed to extend appre-
ciation of the value of music in mo-
tion pictures, and to develop closer
understanding and relationship be-
tween the music departments and oth-
er creative branches in the studios.
In addition to making quiet plans
for enlarging the scope of the Acad-
emy, there has been a lot of activity
going on in regard to the actors' uni-
form contract, working conditions of
the assistant directors, and questions
dealing with the Writer-Producer
Code.
The assistant directors passed up
having their problems cared for by
the NRA film code and have been
discussing them with la producers'
committee, headed by L. B. Mayer.
A producers' committee, headed by
Henry Herzbrun, has been working
with an actors' committee, headed by
Lionel Atwill, on the uniform contract
proposition. They are not yet ready
to make any announcement.
Furthermore, there has been a long
series of conferences with the pro-
ducers regarding the Writer-Producer
Code. It is understood that some
changes are being contemplated and
considerable progress is said to have
been made to date.
LAST NIGHT'S PLAY
'KEEP IT A DREAM'
By John V. A. Weaver; presented by
Daniel Wells and E. E. Clive at the
Hollywood Playhouse; staged by E.
E. Clive; settings by Rita Glover.
Cast:'Sarah Padden, William Boyd,
Dorothy Libaire, Gertrude Short,
-^Eddie Nugent, James Bush, Donald
T. Campbell, Berilla Kerr, Burt
Miller, Sara Owen.
Amazingly unimportant is this new
comedy by John V. A. Weaver. He
has taken as his theme an inspira-
tional message and fails signally to
point it. The play, in fact, contains
little more than enough material for
one act, its last, which by under-
writing is somehow stretched to three.
Picture possibilities are remote and it
needs doctoring for Broadway.
The story concerns the romance of
a young girl and a sergeant of the
Marines. Visualizing her lover as a
knight with shining armor, the girl
goes into deep, almost neurotic
mourning when he runs out on her,
falsely advising her of his death in
Central America. She mourns hope-
lessly for a year, until her mother,
fearing for her sanity, reveals the
hoax. The shock throws her into a
loveless marriage with her faithful
suitor.
Six years pass and an ex-Marine
returns. He describes his adventurous,
romantic life, urging her to run away
to share it with him. But she too has
a tale of adventure to tell, the ad-
venture of fighting side by side with
her husband in these years of eco-
nomic depression. The last act curtain
finds her in her husband's arms.
All of which would be very much
duller were it not for the work of a
corking cast. Dorothy Libaire lends
tremendous sincerity to the girl, even
rising above the monotone into which
the writing of her role might have
thrown her. Eddie Nugent gives a
splendid and thoroughly believable
performance as the faithful one. Wil-
liam "Stage" Boyd is excellent as the
Marine.
Gertrude Short carries all of the
comedy the play affords and scores in
every appearance. James Bush is like-
wise excellent but Sarah Padden is
hopelessly hampered by a menacing
mother, a part that confused even the
author.
'Shanghai Orchid' Now
'Farewell to Shanghai'
"Farewell to Shanghai" is Warners'
new title for "Shanghai Orchid," the
original by Gene Markey and Kathryn
Scola for Dolores Del Rio and Franchot
Tone.
It has no schedule spot yet, and
will follow Miss Del Rio's next, "Cali-
ente."
Darmour Picks Balzac
Continuing a policy to produce sto-
ries taken from the classics, Larry
Darmour announced yesterday that
Majestic has decided to make the/
Honore Balzac story, "The Bachelor/!
Apartment," into a picture. It/is
scheduled for late August.
MGM Seeks Titles
MGM wants a new title for "Sacred
and Profane Love," also a better one
if possible for "Sequoia," the "Mali-
bu" wild life romance.
Paj(e Seven
Exhibs Win Point
In Code Court Case
New York. — The IOTA of New
York won the first brush yesterday in
the Federal court hearing of the or-
ganization's petition for a permanent
injunction against the Code Authority.
When the case was called, Milton
Weisman, counsel for the ITOA, ask-
ed an adjournment. Code Authority
counsel objected and the court denied
the motion.
Weisman then asked permission to
withdraw the petition and, after some
argument, this was permitted. The
ITOA will now submit a petition for
an injunction to the New York Su-
preme Court, preferring to try for
success in the state court rather than
risk defeat in the Federal.
Kent Signs Ann Dacey
As Lead For Reb Russell
Ann Darcy has been signed by Wil-
lis Kent for the lead in "The Man
From Hell,' 'in which Reb Russell,
former All-American fullback of
Northwestern University is being
starred.
Supporting cast includes Fred Koh-
ler, Yakima Canutt, Jack Rockwell,
Charles Whittaker, Lafe McKee and
Charles French. Story and screen play
are by E. E. Rapp and will be directed
by Lew Collins. Picture goes into pro-
duction Tuesday.
Gladys George Goes
In Four Walls' Cast
Owing to Mae Clarke's illness,
MGM yesterday assigned Gladys
George to take her role in "Four
Walls," which Paul Sloane is direct-
ing.
Henry Wadsworth and C. Henry
Gordon were handed featured roles in
the same production, the latter doub-
ling up in "Hideout" at the same
time.
Baer Victory Boosts
Grosses on His Picture
New York. — Felix Feist, general
sales manager for MGM, stated yes-
terday that Baer's victory has already
begun to have its effect on the book-
ings of "The Prizefighter and the
Lady."
Exhibitors who could not see its
value before, are now asking for it.
being anxious to cash in on the Baer
glory.
New Radio Short
Jules White yesterday assigned
Ewart Adamson to write a musical
short, which will be the last on
Radio's current program. Archie
Cottier, who is now directing "Tropi-
cal Madness," will shoot the musical
next week, winding up the schedule.
Fox Signs Pichel
Fox yesterday signed Irving Pichel
for a spot in "She Was a Lady,"
which Hamilton MacFadden is direct-
ing. Helen Twelvetrees and Ralph
Morgan have the top spots in the pic-
ture.
Ross and Sargent Stay
Ross and Sargent, entertainers at
the Kings Club, are to remain there
instead of moving to a new spot as
previously announced.
CATERED By
is the stamp of assurance of
the best food and the best service
that your money can buy.
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m all their details can be handled
by The VENDOME, taking from
your shoulders all the worry about
food, its preparation and service.
And the price is just as cheap
(probably more so) as if you
undertake the preparation yourself.
CALL Hollywood 1666
ask for Mr. Hoffman in charge of
the catering department. He will
make you quotations and give you
all the details, giving you the
BEST FOOD and BEST LIQUOR
at a price that will surprise you.
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Vol. XXI, No. 34. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, June 18. 1934
PAR.CCNVCNTION €PEN$
•THE motion picture producers appar-
ently have come to the conclusion that
the best way to stop the campaign
now being waged against pictures by
the Catholic and other churches and
by women's and civic organizations is
to give the reformers nothing to re-
form. Which, of course, is the logical
and sensible thing to do, whether or
not any producer is willing to admit
that he has been in the wrong. And,
also of course, it is the thing that
might have been done three years ago
when a warning was first given, and
the doing of which would have avoid-
ed all this present uproar.
It is sincerely to be hoped that the
determination does not come too late,
that the propaganda which has been
spread has not reached such a point
that it cannot be overcome before
censorship shows its teeth at the in-
dustry.
Something more than promises is
going to be needed. Promises were
made before and, according to the
churchmen, they were broken as soon
as made. Evidence of good faith in
early productions will do much to help
matters.
The producing companies seem to
be in earnest. Jack. Warner told the
Warner convention in San Francisco
that the company would make pictures
for the whole family, that sex and
"sophisticated" pictures are out, and
that they will be replaced by action
pictures, musicals and other clean en-
tertainment.
Col. Jason Joy, formerly of the Hays
office, read the riot act to all the Fox
writers the other day. He told them
that stories must be pure — or else.
There must be no suggestiveness, no
smut in Fox pictures thereafter, noth-
ing to cause blushes or embarrassment,
and it is up to the writers to watch
their stuff.
Undoubtedly the necessity for clean
pictures will be stressed at the Para-
mount convention which opens today
in Los Angeles, at the RKO-Radio
convention, opening in Chicago, and
at the MCM meeting, opening shortly
in the East. The men at the heads of
these companies are not fools, and
thfey realize, just as much as Warners
(Continued on Page 2)
Loews Will Invade
Territory of FWC
New York. — Loew's Inc. will in-
vade the territory hitherto con-
trolled by Fox West Coast and is
planning to build theatres in the
Mission, Fillmore and Richmond
districts, and also in Reno, Santa
Cruz, Monterey and Petaluma.
All Fox Writers
Warned To Be Pure
Adjuration to all Fox writing tal-
ent, convoked in a special session for
the purpose, that their stories would
have to be 100 per cent pure or else,
was delivered by Col. Jason Joy last
week.
Some 25 writers were summoned
to the meeting, which Joy announced
he was calling at the request of Sidney
Kent and Winfield Sheehan.
Fox has no intention of showing a
scene or having a word uttered that
(Continued on Page 2)
Shirley Temple Will
Star in 'Meal Ticket'
Next starring picture for Shirley
Temple will be "Meal Ticket," an
original just bought from Gene Towne
and Graham Baker, it is understood.
Spencer Tracy is pencilled in the cast.
The Fox studio has it scheduled for
David Butler's direction in September.
Mank' Will Lose Em
..-German J. Mankiewicz, MGM sce-
narist, checked in at Cedars of Leb-
anon Friday to have tonsil trouble
corrected.
300 Delegates From All Over
World Meet To Hear Program;
Reorganization May Be Told
Paramount's annual sales convention gets under way today at
the Ambassador Hotel, with 300 delegates present from many
parts of the world.
Among those attending are delegates from 45 American key
cities, five Canadian Provinces, Great
Para. Plans To Make
Martin Luther Life
Britain, Scandinavia, Spain, South
America and the Far East, Most of
them arrived yesterday aboard a spe-
cial Santa Fe train. They will remain
for four days, the convention closing
Thursday night.
The convention swings into high
gear this morning with addresses by
George J. Schaefer, vice-president and
general manager; Neil Agnew, general
sales manager; John Hicks, Jr., vice-
(Continued on Page 5)
U' Testing Gilbert
For 'Imitation of Life'
John Gilbert is understood having
straightened out his difficulties wit.H
MGM. Universal will test him today
for the bracket spot with Claudette
Colbert in "Imitation of Life," the
John Stahl production.
British Gaumont is paging him by
cable to appear in the picture for
which Gregory Ratoff is already
signed.
Lesser-Pathe Deal
With A. B. Poole, of Pathe, leaving
for New York over the week-end,
it was reported that he had agreed
to finance Sol Lesser to produce
"Chandu."
GREAT BRITISH THEATRE
CHAINS TO CONSOLIDATE
Madeleine Carroll To
New York — A consolidation of sev-
eral of the large theatre interests in
England is expected to be announced
very shortly. Negotiations have been
on for some time and are said to be
practically completed.
The theatre chains involved are the
Paramount, the Astorias and the
Hyams theatres. The merger will im-
measurably strengthen their booking
power and will also offer a wider pre-
release field.
It is understood that a stock issue
of something more than 3,000,000
pounds is planned for public consump-
(Continued on Page 3)
Play "Anna Karenina"
London. — Madeleine Carroll, who
recently completed her contract with
Fox Film and returned to England, will
star in "Anna Karenina" as her next
picture.
Lew Fields For Screen
Lew Fields, of Weber and Fields,
will be given the chance to do a May
Robson in William Rowland's second
picture for Columbia, "The Naughty
Nineties." Fields will be starred in
a "gent for a day" characterization.
New York. — Adolph Zukor is un-
derstood to have stopped over in Kan-
sas City on his way to the coact to
authorize Rev. Andreas Bard, of St.
Marks Lutheran Church, to prepare a
life of Martin Luther suitable for
screen purposes. The clergyman is to
send his story to Mr. Zukor on the
coast.
This is said to be one step in a plan
to offset the opposition of the
churches to pictures by making pro-
ductions based on famous churchmen.
Mayo and Jack Warner
Settle Their Troubles
Archie Mayo has withdrawn his re-
quest for a release from his director's
contract with Warners after a con-
ference with J. L. Warner, who settled
their differences amicably by assuring
him he would get several important
assignments in the future.
Mayo had balked after Frank Bor-
zage got "Flirtation Walk," a story
which he had been instrumental in
bringing into the studio.
Mayer Ready to Leave
Louis B. Mayer was reported to
have tentative reservations to leave
today for the MGM convention, but
is not expected to get away until to-
morrow night. He wants to talk with
David 0. Selznick before going to the
organization powwow.
Sparks in $450,000 Suit
St. Petersburg, Fla. — John Cilhooey,
local exhibitor, has brought suit for
$450,000 against the E. J. Sparks En-
terprises, charging restraint of trade.
The suit is based on evidence given
at clearance and zoning board hear-
ing in Atlanta.
E
ELCOME, PARAMOUNT DELEGATES
3
Page Two
jHliJMp^fi
June 18, 1934
n
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyw/ood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp^
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
WARNER RROS. PROMISE Abe Lehrs Stricken
PICTURES FOR FAMILY By Loss of Daughter
Hmm, mmm — could it be that
news-reel men and newspaper fellers
fell again for a great big hoax? We
mean that bathing beauty contest
staged (and we mean staged!) at the
Ambassador Saturday afternoon. The
event was sponsored by Columbia,
with the understanding that the win-
ner would get a week's contract at
Columbia, plus a lot of publicity. So
about forty girls showed up to be
judged by Buster Crabbe, Patricia
Ellis, Sally Blane, Florence Rice and
others. Among the contestants was
Billie Seward — and Billie got the first
prize! And Billie, as you know, has
been working at Columbia for many
a day! Now, the whole thing couldn't
have been a "plant" — could it? Any-
way, there were two other prizes
given, one of which went to Dolly
Newmyer. But the little gal who got
the biggest hand from the crowd for
her face, figger and personality was
Doris Castanien — and she got THIRD
prize!
•
Our today's chuckle is about a Hol-
lywood editor who is threatening to
"expose" Leonard Levinson as a
"Winchell informant." Levinson's
"information" consists mostly of funny
gags which he has been collecting for
W. W. for quite some time, in grati-
tude for a helping hand which the
Broadway Bad Boy extended to him
a long while ago. The funny angle
is that Levinson doesn't care who
knows it — since he .has "nothing to
hide." But the local ed. thinks dif-
ferently and is holding the fact as a
club over his head to make him come
through with some advertising. So
we are herewith gently, but firmly,
removing that club!
•
Friend of ours went to a famous
star's .home to a small dinner the
other night — but didn't last long.
After the meal, the hostess suggested
a game of bridge.
"I don't play bridge," said the
visitor, who is a well-known Broadway
playwright.
"Goodness!" exclaimed the star,
perfectly serious. "Whatever DID
you do in New York?" The writer
swooned!
San Francisco — Family pictures will
be the keynote of Warner brothers
during the coming year, according to
an announcement made yesterday by
Jack L. Warner to the members of the
company's sales organization, gathered
here for their annual sales convention.
With a program of sixty pictures
outlined, the most significant feature
of the list is the absence of sophisti-
cated and sex problem types of stories.
Instead, there are adventure pictures,
jammed with action, musicals, dramas,
romances, comedy dramas and straight
comedies.
"We believe that our forthcoming
productions represent the widest range
of screen material ever offered the
public," said Warner. "We have
sought and found material of universal
appeal — pictures for the entire family
— -keeping in mind not merely the di-
versified interest of American audi-
ences, but those of the entire world,
which is now the field of the talking
picture.
"We have never been so fully pre-
pared in advance of a new production
and selling season as we are this year.
Already we have more than sixty stor-
ies ready for early production."
The salesmen were told that the
company is prepared to spend $10,-
000,000 on ten of its big special pic-
tures alone, and that the production
budget for the year is the largest in
the history of Warner Brothers'First
National.
Roach Starting New
Todd-Kelly Pic Today
"Done in Oil," first of Hal Roach's
new series of Todd-Kelly comedies,
gets going today under Cus Meins'
direction. Thelma Todd plays a hun-
gry artist. Eddie Conrad, Eastern
character comedian, is given a break
in the short as an art critic. Rolf
Sedan, Leo White and Arthur Hous-
man are also cast.
DeRochemont Quits Fox
New York. — Louis DeRochemont,
for the editorial department of Fox
Movietone, has resigned to join the
editorial staff of Time magazine.
Conti on 'Kindling'
Fox signed Albert Conti Saturday
to supervise the technical work on
"Kindling" and also to play a part
in it.
Suit Filed To Stop
Major Ban on Duals
Philadelphia — Harry Perlman has
brought suit in the Federal Court
in a challenge to the right of the
majors to ban double bills in the
sales contracts for the coming sea-
son. Judge Walsh reserved deci-
sion.
Fred Cordon Best
MCM Coif Player
Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer held its an-
nual golf tournament at Rancho yes-
terday and 404 entries were listed,
making it one of the largest ever held
in Southern California.
Fred Cordon won the low gross with
a 73, and Lester Coleman ran second
with a 74. The low net prizes were
won by Stanley Lambert, of the sound
department, with a 64, and Frank
Bobo with a 65.
Many of the MCM stars, directors,
writers and executives turned out, but
none of the notables got a look-in for
a prize.
Strickling Back From
Rush Trip to New York
Howard Strickling returned to MCM
Saturday night with a record of hav-
ing been away six days and nights,
and having spent five of the days in
New York City.
Strickling reported to Louis B.
Mayer last night the results of his
conferences with Howard Dietz on the
publicity and advertising campaigns
for the new season.
Casting Fox Musical
Joe May and Erich Pommer start
intensive casting at Fox this week for
"Music in the Air." Production start
is set for July 16. John Boles is the
only name set to date, but Pommer
has a bid in for Gloria Swanson.
Al Creer Injured
Al Creer, noted trick pistol shot,
received a deep cut in his right
arm Saturday while on location near
Newhall on the Harry Webb picture,
"Fighting Hero."
Roy Vickers' Greatest Novel
John Farrow to Hawaii 'The Forbidden Sin'
IpHn Farrow left yesterday for
iironolulu. Maureen O'Sullivan threw
-^a party for him Saturday night.
Fox Writers Warned
(Continued from Page 1 )
first feature production
for the 1934-1935 season
FAMOUS AUTHORS
PICTURES CORP.
723 Seventh Ave. New York
Cable Address Faumaut, New York
Hilda Catherine Lehr, eighteen-
year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Abraham Lehr, died Saturday after-
noon at her home, 616 South Kingsley
Drive, from spinal meningitis. Funeral
services will be held at noon today at
Pierce Brothers mortuary, Rabbi Edgar
Magnin officiating. Burial will be at
the Home of Peace Cemetery.
Miss Lehr is survived by her par-
ents, an older sister, Helen, and a
brother, Neil. Mr. Lehr is executive
vice-president and general manager for
Samuel Coldwyn, and Mrs. Lehr has
long been closely identified with the
Motion Picture Relief Fund and the
Assistance League.
Mae Clarke Not ill
And Will Keep Col. Role
Mae Clarke declared Saturday that,
contrary to reports, she is not ill, but
was ordered to the .hospital by her
doctor, Stanley Immerman, for a rest.
She will be ready, she said, to take
the role in Columbia's "Captain Hates
the Sea," for which MCM has loaned
her.
Sydney House For MCM
Sydney, Australia. — MCM has taken
over the St. James Theatre, a 2000-
seat house, on a long term lease. The
firm will open with "Rip Tide,"
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1
and Fox, that some action must come
or serious trouble will follow.
The producers have been taking
this adverse propaganda without any
reply, but obviously have been doing a
lot of thinking. If their thoughts re-
sult in pictures which are above criti-
cism and which are still good box-of-
fice— and they can be made — the in-
dustry will be the better.
ATTENTION
5-room apartment in La Fontaine
Apartments. Beautifully furnished.
Available on long or short lease,
$200 a month. Call
HEmpstead 7053 for apointment.
could bring a blush, Col. Joy indi-
cated. He remarked on the current
agitation about the subject matter of
motion pictures on the part of Catho-
lic leaders, and gave the assembled
talent to understand that the indi-
vidual writers who worked on a picture
would be held responsible for any
moral criticism that might be leveled
at any Fox production.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
^Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
INTERNATIONAL SIX DAY BICYCLE RACE
CILMORE STADIUM
Commencing June 21, 8 P.M. — Finishing June 27 at Midnight
McNamara, Winters, Schaller, Testa, Horder, O'Brien, Yates, Wagner,
La Fenetre, Petri, Echeverria, Schuller, and Other
Madison Square Garden Stars
Reservations Now. Call WHitney 1308 or Any of the Ticket Agencies
June 18, 1934
THF
Page Three
'MURDER IK THE PRIVATE CAR'
SURE-FIRE FOR ANY THEATRE
Direction, Writing
And Cast All Grand
"MURDER IN THE PRIVATE CAR"
(MCM)
Direction Harry Beaumont
Original Story Harvey Thew
Screen Play: Ralph Spence, Edgar Al-
lan Woolf and A! Boasberg.
Photography: James Van Trees and
Leonard Smith.
Cast: Charles Ruggies, Mary Carlisle,
Una Merkel, Porter Hall, Russell
•^ Hardie, Willard Robertson, Berton
Churchill, Cliff Thompson, Snow-
flake.
All movie and a yard wide, with the
most exciting and amusing runaway
train sequence that has reached the
screen since the days when the silents
used to revel in such tricks. And your
audiences will revel in this one. Feed
the thrills in this picture to your pro-
spective audiences in a big way and
stress the fact that there isn't one
member of the family who won't en-
joy them. And certainly the whole
family will enjoy the delightful antics
of Charlie Ruggies.
Ruggies is the perfectly grand,
slightly balmy "crime deflector." It is
the job of this crime deflector to pre-
vent things from happening and, in
this instance, Ruggies elects to pro-
tect a switchboard operator who sud-
denly finds herself the third richest
girl in the world and about to meet a
father she has never seen. From that
point on, the story goes completely
haywire, but is so well gagged, writ-
ten and acted that it makes no dif-
ference that one or two murders are
never explained atall, atall, and a cou-
ple of characters appear and disappear
for no apparent reason, because the
pace would have killed them anyway.
The main part of the story is the
fact that the private car is turned
loose, carrying a load of dynamite and
six of your favorite people, and that
wild ride and the eventual rescue of
the people is so magnificently done,
that you forget what the picture start-
ed out to be anyway. There is a strong
suspicion that somebody thought up
that runaway sequence first and then
they bought a story to fill in the
time, because, after all, that had to be
the climax.
Lucien Hubbard as the producer de-
serves the first bow for having recog-
nized what elegant, pure movie mate-
rial this stuff was made of, and then
Harry Beaumont can step forward for
his excellently paced direction that
covered up the story holes so perfect-
ly. And hats off to Spence, Woolf and
Boasberg, who never forgot a laugh to
take the place of an explanation.
Charlie Ruggies and Una Merkel
carry the picture for all it is worth
and their acting and the picture are
worth plenty to anyone looking for
entertainment in the movies. Mary
Carlisle is okay as the heiress, and
Russell Hardie looks as though he
should be an asset to MCM. Snow-
flake, the "cullud" porter, is very
amusing, and Willard Robertson, Ber-
ton Churchill and Porter Hall offer
support that can't go wrong.
Van Trees and Smith have done
Jimmy Howe May Be
Drafted As An Actor
Jimmy Howe, cameraman de
luxe, is getting worried. He fears
he may have to be an actor. George
Hill has tested him as a possibility
for "The Good Earth," and Richard
Boleslavsky is casting longing eyes
on him for the role of a Chinese
physician in Garbo's "The Painted
Veil."
Cleveland Placing
Ban on Dual Bills
Cleveland. — The ban on double
bills, to which the exhibitors of this
section have agreed, goes into effect
on July 8, the announcement having
been made Saturday by M. B. Hor-
witz, of the Cleveland Exhibitors As-
sociation.
Horwitz has just returned from
New York, where he made arrange-
ments to put the plan into effect at
the four Loew houses, four Warner
houses and two RKO houses. The plan
also has the support of 92 indepen-
dent exhibitors.
Radio Decides to Stop
Work on 'Joan of Arc'
Radio dropped further work on the
screen play of "Joan of Arc" Satur-
day, placing Francis Faragoh, who was
handling it, on the screen play for the
Francis Lederer picture, "Three Mus-
keteers."
John Ford .has been decided upon
as the director of the production when
he joins the studio to take up his
deal next month.
Fox Wants Eddy
Fox is working on a deal with MGM
for the loan of Nelson Eddy for a top
spot in the Erich Pommer production,
"Music in the Air." Pommer is also
looking at tests of Phillips Holmes and
Douglass Montgomery before making
the decision.
Selznick Party Coming
David O. Selznick is due on the
Chief tomorrow, delivering his new
acquisitions,- Hugh Walpole, Fritz
Lang and John Paddy Carstairs, to the
MCM studio. George Cukor and
Howard Estabrook are with him.
Runyon-Fox Deal Set
John Zanft, representative of Da-
mon Runyon, received a confirmation
by wire Saturday that the deal giving
all Runyon's stories to Fox for the
next year .has been definitely signed.
Lois January to Col.
Columbia has put through a deal
on Lois January from Universal for
"Tropical Madness," the Archie Cott-
ier short which Jules White is pro-
ducing.
right well by the photography, and if
either of them or both did the train
sequence, it's something they can be
plenty proud of pictorially.
Labor Board and
Agents Are Friends
The six-month dispute between the
agents and the State Labor Commis-
sion was disposed of when all agents
submitted to the Commission's juris-
diction last week, making their peace
with the labor body through a verbal
agreement which assured the mana-
gers of protection so far as their legal
rights are concerned.
The radical group among the agents,
the last to concede to the commis-
sion's supervision, were finally brought
around when Charles Lowy, attorney
for the Commission, induced Harry
Sokolov, attorney for the objecting
agents, to accept the agreement for
his clients. Through the agreement,
the agents have the right to attach
clients in agent-client disputes and
can take their cases to court with the
consent of the Commission.
Holman Takes Over
Jaffe Duties at Col.
William S. Holman, Columbia
business manager, on Saturday was
assigned to the duties from which Sam
Jaffe resigned last week. Holman has
been with the studio for two and a
half years.
This arrangement, it is understood,
practically eliminates the position
that Jaffe had, since Holman takes
on his duties besides those he has
always had.
May Robson a Jewish
Mother in Four Walls'
May Robson was assigned Saturday
to a Jewish mother part in "Four
Walls" that is said to compare with
the mother part in "Humoresque" for
appeal. Christian Rub also got a berth
in the picture.
Paul Sloane started direction Fri-
day. Franchot Tone and Gladys
George have the leads.
Danish Dancers Win
MCM Hollywood Trip
Amsterdam. — A Danish couple won
MGM's international dancing contest
in the finals here last week, and will
be rewarded with a trip to Hollywood.
Twenty nations entered finalists.
Theatres Consolidate
(Continued from Page 1 )
tion, and that the operations of the
new set-up will be carried on jointly
by Earl St. John, of Paramount, and
the Hyams Brothers. Paramount plans
to retain a large interest and its exec-
utives will remain as at present. This
proposed merger is one of the ques-
tions that will be discussed by com-
pany executives at the Los Angeles
convention.
There is another report, but not so
well-founded, that Paramount may
consolidate all its British interests into
one group with a 4,000,000 pound
stock issue to be offered to the pub-
lic.
JVomai/L
M
ATTER$
bq Helen (jwqnn
1
Well, the Paramount convention
gets under way with a bang today, so
we might just as well give you a
rough idea of what one of the open-
ing guns of the new season product
will be like when fired for Fall release.
Needless to say, the column will be
devoted to Cecil DeMille's "Cleopatra"
and we only wish that we had enough
space to reprint the reams of statis-
tics a hard-working publicity office
has gone to great lengths to collect.
One thing is certain, though, a De
Mille production is all movie and al-
ways manages to offer exploitation
ideas that have always swept the pub-
lic off its feet and up to the deliri-
ous heights of entertainment. There's
nothing to bother the mind but plenty
to please the eye and ear. It repre-
sents the best kind of luxury — to for-
get the present with its troubles and
to recall the good, old lavish days.
It's done with all the imaginative
scope of a completely bourgeois idea
of heaven, plus every material facility
and modern appliance that a great
studio has to offer.
•
F'rinstance: More than five thous-
and people were employed in the pic-
ture.
The DeMille bathtub, in this in-
stance, measures 100 by 150 feet.
The feathers of 600 pheasants
were used to make fans.
It took the hair of 700 European
peasants to make the wigs.
Sixty-five gallons of body make-up
were used to get the proper tan.
More than four tons of armor were
cast to be worn by the Roman and
Egyptian soldiers.
The plaster shop at Paramount hired
120 sculptors and plaster workers to
make the Sphinxes, columns and other
set pieces.
Cleopatra's palatial barge, one of
the most lavish things described in
history, is exactly reproduced, both
as to exterior and interior.
Among the animal bit players are
eight peacocks, four leopards and two
asps.
It took 600 ostrich feathers to
make up the solid feathered arch be-
fore which stood Cleopatrat's couch.
•
The above statistics have been
quoted verabtim, but if you really
want to know just how "colossal"
DeMille can be, listen to this: The
term insert in pictures means a small
but special effect, put into the pic-
ture after the scene has been shot, or
a close-up of a letter one of the actors
might have been reading, or a full
close-up of a hand or something like
that. Well, someone was escorting
a group of visitors over the Paramount
lot the other day, when they came
upon a huge set, filled with awe-in-
spiring columns, a huge facade of an
ancient building and everything built
on a tremendous scale. One of the
visitors asked what this set was and
the languid reply was: "That? Oh,
that's just a DeMille insert!"
Page Four
June 18, 1934
Calhoun Will Take
Lindsey NRA Post
While no official announcement
has been made, it was learned yes-
terday that B. P. Calhoun, counsel for
the Southern California NRA Com-
pliance Board, has been selected to
take the place of Judge Ben B. Lind-
sey, who resigned from the position
of Special Compliance Officer.
Calhoun worked with Judge Lind-
sey throughout his turbulent term of
office, and sat in with him on the
hearings of the complaints by studio
workers when the studios refused to
recognize Judge Lindsey's jurisdiction.
It was also learned yesterday that
when Charles Cunningham, head of
the local compliance office, turned
the disputed complaints over to the
Studio Labor Committee last week,
he withheld those complaints in which
the complainants had stated they
wanted their names kept from Pat
Casey.
All of the testimony given before
Judge Lindsey at the hearings has
been retained by the Judge, who has
stated that he will never surrender It
to anyone but the workers themselves.
MCM To Make Baseball
Backgrounds in St. Louis
John Waters, MCM special director,
left last night for St. Louis to make
baseball diamond and grandstand
background shots. He was accompa-
nied by Ray Binger, cameraman, and
will meet another MCM cameraman,
Len Smith.
Lucien Hubbard ordered the at-
mosphere-recording expedition for
material for use in "Death on the Dia-
mond," or another baseball story. He
figures on producing some baseball
story on his return frm Europe this
Fall.
Warner Executive Quits
To Build Theatre Chain
New York. — Moe Rosenberg, a
Warner Brothers executive and broth-
er-in-law of Major Albert Warner,
has resigned in order to build up his
own chain of theatres.
He already owns three houses in
New Jersey and is negotiating to take
over some others.
Monogram Gives Up
Porter Yarns to Radio
Through an arrangement with
Monogram, Radio purchased two Gene
Stratton Porter stories Saturday.
Monogram has an option on all the
Porter stories, but relinquished its
rights on "Laddie" and "Freckles."
Gloria Shea Signed
Gloria Shea has been signed for the
lead in the first Bob Steele
western for Supreme Pictures, "De-
mon for Trouble," which Bob Hill
directs from a script by jack Natte-
ford. The balance of the cast consists
of Don Alvarado, Walter McGrail,
Carmen LaRoux and Lafe McKee.
Hackett-Goodrich Set
Albert Hackett and Frances Good-
rich were assigned the screen play
of "Ah, Wilderness," Clarence
Brown's next directorial assignment,
at MCM Saturday.
RKO-RADIO COXVENTIOX
OPEIVS IN CHICAGO TODAY
Four Newcomers
At London Houses
Chicago. — RKO-Radio opens its an-
nual sales convention at the Drake
Hotel this morning, with more than
250 executives, branch managers and
salesmen attending. The convention
winds up Wednesday.
Jules Levy, vice-president, will pre-
side and deliver the address of wel-
come. He will be followed by Ned E.
Depinet, president of RKO-Radio Dis-
tributing Corporation, and B. B. Ka-
hane, president of RKO-Radio Studios,
who will speak on the wind-up pic-
tures of the current season. As part of
the morning session, Levy will name
the members of the organization who
have won promotion from within the
ranks during the past year. This will
be followed by a review of the past
season.
This afternoon's program will be
featured by short talks on short sub-
jects. A. J. Mertz, short subjects sales
manager, will discuss two-reel come-
dies, and Fred McConneil, general
manager of the Van Beuren Corpora-
tion, will comment on animated car-
toons and adventure-travel pictures.
Jack Connolly, general manager of
Pathe News, will tell of the reel's de-
velopments during the year.
Also on today's program will be a
discussion by E. Heyi, vice-president
of RCA Photophone, of the latest de-
velopments in recording and reproduc-
tion of sound. Joseph Skelly, manaegr
of exchange operations. Edward
Home, manager of the print and nega-
tive department, and Louis Caudreau,
purchasing agent and manager of the
accessories department, will also
speak.
Tonight all the delegates will be the
guests of the Palace theatre. Ben Ber-
nie will be master of ceremonies, and
on the program will be Bert Wheeler,
Frank Buck and Morton Downey.
Florence Rice To Have
Lead With McLaglen
Florence Rice's first role in pictures
will be an important one, according
to Columbia, which announced that
she gets the top spot with Victor
McLaglen in the Lewis Milestone pic-
ture, "The Captain Hates the Sea."
Columbia has her under long term
contract.
Caldwell For MGM
New York. — Erskine Caldwell, au-
thor of "Tobacco^Road," left for Los
Angeles Saturday to work on the
scripting of Ann Austin's "A Wicked
Woman" for MGM. The picture is
to feature Mady Christians, under di-
rection of Charles Brabin.
Ornitz to Universal
Samuel Ornitz goes to Universal to-
day to write added material for "Imi-
tation of Life," John Stahl's direc-
tional work to start next week. Harry
Ham, of the Selznick-Joyce office,
placed the writer.
Pollock Play Refused
The' script of Channing Pollock's
play, "Synthetic Gentleman," has been
shipped back to New York with thanks
by MCM. Larry Weingarten brought
it out as train reading but decided,
against it for his department.
London. — Four American pictures
are making their bows to London audi-
ences this week. They are "This Side
of Heaven" at the Empire, "Success
at Any Price" and "Thirty Day Prin-
cess" at the Plaza, and "Hi, Nellie"
at the Regal.
The hold-overs, all of which are
doing well, are "The House of Roths-
child," "Murder at the Vanities," and
"Roman Scandals," which has one
more week to run.
Ruth Donnelly Loaned
To 'U' For 'Romance'
Universal obtained the loan of
Ruth Donnelly from Warners Satur-
day for a leading role in the Stanley
Bergerman picture, "Romance in the
Rain."
Warners is negotiating in exchange
a deal for the loan of Paul Lukas and
wants him for the title spot in "King
of the Ritz." Robert Terry Shannon
and Albert J. Cohen are preparing the
screen play under Sam Bischoff's su-
pervision.
Lucien Hubbard Going
Abroad For 2 Months
Lucien Hubbard has booked him-
self for the Me de France, sailing July
28, for a couple of months vacation
in Europe before getting inovlved in
his baseball feature.
Before going he will see his pro-
ductions, "All Good Americans" and
"Four Walls" (just started Friday),
turned in, and will do the final polish-
ing on "Murder in the Private Car."
Clive Brook To Do One
For British-Gaumont
London, — Clive Brook, here on a
vacation, cannot resist working and
has accepted a deal from British Gau-
mont to work in an as yet untitled
picture. Noll Gurney, of the Schul-
berg, Feldman and Gurney office, is
handling the deal.
B-G has cabled an offer to Michael
Curtiz to make the trip here to direct
the Brook picture.
Fox Signs Spanish Star
Fox has placed Rosita Moreno under
a five-picture ticket for Spanish pro-
ductions. She is teamed with Jose
Mojica in "No Marriage," a direct
shot Spanish picture which John Rine-
hart is directing under John Stone's
supervision.
Ten Newsreels in Paris
Paris. — The tenth newsreel theatre
for this city has just been opened by
the newspaper, Le Petit Parisien.
Most of the daily papers now have
newsreel theatres running very suc-
cessfully.
Two For Select Cast
New York. — Melvyn Douglas and
Rosco Ates have been added to the
cast of "Woman in the Dark," which
Select Pictures i!s producing at the
Biograph studios.
New Alignment For
Bren, Orsatti, Marx
it's a new deal this morning for the
Breor Orsatti and Marx agency, with
^■^Q Milton Bren Company and Orsatti
and Company replacing the old or- ,
ganization. Zeppo Marx is no longer ''•
connected with the firm.
Both new concerns will remain in
the offices of the former firm, at 9000
Sunset. Milton Bren has taken over
more than 50 of the Bren, Orsatti
and Marx office clients, and Frank
Orsatti will handle 27. Marx .has
taken five personal clients that he
brought into the concern and has been
paid back his investment.
Tunesters in Writers'
Guild Preparing Code
A committee of the song-writers in
the Screen Writers' Guild has be#T
appointed to draft a code which will
deal with their particular problems
when the conferences with the pro-
ducers start.
Edward Eliscu is chairman and t^e
members are Richard Rodgers, Larry
Hart, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby and
William Kernell.
Peck's Bad Boy' Off on
Santa Ana Location
Eddie Cline takes a troupe of 42 to
Santa Ana today for four days' loca-
tion work on "Peck's Bad Boy," start-
ing tomorrow. The outfit checks in
again at the RKO-Pathe lot Friday and
is off to work Saturday at Sunland,
with interiors to be done next week
at the studio.
Jackie Cooper and Thomas Meighan
are high cards in Sol Lesser's first deal
in his new production program.
Dieterle Passes Up
'Firebird' Direction
"Firebird," supposedly intended for
an early spot in Warner production,
is again directorless, William Dieterle
passing the bet. The Lajos Zilahy
play has never had an official meg
assignment, but Al Green was men-
tioned before he took "Lost Lady."
"Firebird" is on Henry Blanke's
schedule, and the screen play is by
Ralph Block and Doris Malloy.
New RCA Installations
New York. — RCA reports installa-
tions of its high fidelity sound equip-
ment in the Palace Theatre, Mexia,
Texas; the Ritz, Memphis, Tenn.; the
Imperial, South Pittsburg, Tenn.; the
Roxy, Weatherly, Pa., and the Dunbar,
now being built at Lockland, Ohio.
Newsreel For Rumania
Bucharest. — The Rumanian govern-
ment has decided to create a national
sound newsreel. Minister Mavrodi,
chief of the censorship board, has ad-
vertised for bids from local and Amer-
ican companies.
Czechs Want Our Pix
Prague. — It is rumored here that
the Czechoslovakian government is
seriously considering reopening nego-
tiations for the import of American
films. The public wants American
films, and is bringing pressure.
si
June 18, 1934
THE
Page Five
Paramount Will
Have 11 Pictures
In Work In July
Getting a start on the 1934-35 pro-
gram, Paramount will have at least 1 1
pictures in work during July. Of the
six before the cameras today, only one
will carry into next month, "Mrs.
^iggs of the Cabbage Patch," which
Norman Taurog directs, with W. C.
Fields, Zasu Pitts, Evelyn Venable and
Kent Taylor in the cast.
"Pursuit of Happiness," with Fran-
cis Lederer, Joan Bennett, Walter
Kinsford, Charles Ruggles and Mary
Boland, Ralph Murphy directing;
'Ready For Love," with Marion Gering
directing Richard Arlen and Ida Lu-
pine, and "Enter Madame," which El-
liott Nugent directs, with Cary Grant,
go into production this week.
Other pictures in preparation which
will start before the end of July are
"Limehouse Nights" with Sylvia Sid-
ney and George Raft; Damon Runyon's
"Lemon Drop Kid"; "Wagon Wheels"
with Randolph Scott, which will be
co-directed by Arthur Jacobson and
Charles Barton; "Ruggles of Red
Cap," Leo McCarey directing Charles
Laughton, Mary Boland, Charles Rug-
gles and Guy Standing; "Back Porch,"
Norman McLeod directing W. C.
Fields; "Shoe the Wild Mare," Ed-
ward G, Robinson, Henry Wilcoxon
and William Frawley in the cast, and
"College Rhythm," with Joe Penner,
Lanny Ross and Richard Arlen.
Four of the six pictures n ow in
work will be finished within the next
week, with another one, "You Belong
To Me," scheduled for finishing be-
fore the end of the month.
Lupe Off For Personals;
Returns to Columbia
Her MGM contract expiring today
makes Lupe Velez her own mistress
professionally. She flies East tomor-
row for two more weeks' personals,
one in Chicago and one in Detroit,
booked by Selznick-Joyce.
Then she flies back and starts work
the day of her return in William Row-
land's first Columbia production, "The
Girl Friend," for which her deal was
definitely signed Saturday by Jimmy
Townsend, of the S-J office.
CONVENTION PROGRAM
Today; Addresses by George J. Schaefer, vice-president and general man-
ager; Neil Agnew, general sales manager; John Hicks. Jr., vice-
president ot Paramount International Corp., and the makers of
newsreels and short subject.
Tonight: Screening of newly-completed product at the Ambassador Ho-
tel theatre.
Tomorrow: Discussion of production plans for 1934-35.
Wednesday: Discussion of exploitation and theatre problems.
Thursday: Discussion of sales and other exhibition matters.
Mae West Greets
the Para. Delegates
Mae West sent her own welcome to
the delegates to the Paramount con-
vention. Here it is:
"When they told me 300 new men
were coming to Hollywood, especially
Paramount men, I took the day off.
You're due for several surprises here.
Pleasant ones. I'm getting one ready
for you now — 'It Ain't No Sin.' I'd
like to have every one of you come up
an' see me, but you have to get a
permit here to hold a meeting. Seri-
ously, though, I appreciate the splen-
did salesmanship and showmanship
which every one in Paramount has
demonstrated in handling my pictures.
You've done right by me, and you
have my word that you're the men in
my life I'll never do wrong."
Frances Drake Wanted
For Joan Bennett Spot
Eph Asher is setting a deal with
Paramount (for the loan of Frances
Drake for the role in "Million Dollar
Ransom" which Joan Bennett vacated.
Miss Bennett was given her release
from a contract in order to swing over
to Paramount for "Pursuit of Happi-
ness," the Francis Lederer picture.
Universal converting her ticket into a
future commitment.
Ericksen Returns
Clarence E. Ericksen, business man-
ager of the Fairbanks Picture Corpora-
tion, returns today from a month in
the East, conferring on the United
Artists' handling of "The Return of
Don Juan."
New Story For Veidt
London. — British Caumont has
bought "The King of the Damned"
as the next starring vehicle for Con-
rad Veidt.
Paramount Convention Opens
(Continued from Page 1 )
president of Paramount International
Corporation, and the makers of news-
reels and comedy cartoons.
It was announced from New York
some days ago that the new plan for
the reorganization of Paramount would
be told to the delegates, but last night
no one in authority would say whether
or not this would be done
Tonight's session will be held in the
Ambassador Hotel theatre. It will be
devoted to the showing of recently
completed Paramount pictures, many
of which the company executives be-
lieve will play a considerable part in
setting the modes for world picture
entertainment during the coming year.
Tomorrow's session will be devoted
entirely to the discussion of the stu-
dio's plans for the 1934-35 produc-
tion program. The delegates will be
given the opportunity to air their
views on the styles of picture enter-
tainment they feel will meet with the
greatst success in this period of chang-
ing modes and fancies. Tomorrow
night the picture schedule for the year
will be told.
On Wednesday the matter of ad-
vertising and theatre problems will
come up for discussion. Considerable
debate is expected on the advertising
problem, because of the big drive that
has been made against pictures during
the past few weeks.
Thursday, the final day of the con-
vention, will find sales problems and
sundry exhibiiton matters holding the
floor, with the wind-up coming Thurs-
day night.
Towne and Baker Out
Of Fox, Wanted by Para.
Gene Towne and Graham Baker
conclude a 30-week loan-out to Fox
next Monday and return to Twentieth
Century. They were first loaned for six
weeks to work out an original with
Raoul Walsh.
Paramount is said to have renewed
a bid for the writing team, passed by
when the Fox loan deal started, with
the possibility that the team will just
pass through the home offices at
United Artists.
MGM Sets Presneil
Robert Presneil is set at MGM to
start working this week on the screen
play of "The Casino Murder Case,"
William Powell's first spot in his new
contract. The S. S. Van Dine story
was adapted by Joseph Gollomb.
Shauer Entertains
Para. Foreign Croup
Delegates from foreign countries to
the Paramount convention were enter-
tained yesterday at a cocktail party in
their honor, given by Melville Shauer,
assistant to Albert Kaufman.
Among the guests were: John W.
Hicks, Jr., Eugene Zukor, George
Weltner, Albert Deane, John Cecil
Graham, general manager for Great
Britain; Earl St. John, director of thea-
tres in Great Britain; Montague Gold-
man, director of sales in Great Britain;
John L. Day, general director for South
America; Carl York, general director
for Scandinavia; M. J. Messeri, general
director for Spain, and Jim Perkins,
sales director in the Orient.
Among the many stars who attend-
ed the party were: Marlene Dietrich,
Richard Arlen. Jobyna Ralston, Mary
Boland. Carl Brisson, Kitty Carlisle,
Frances Drake, John Lodge, Ida Lu-
pino, Carole Lombard, Helen Mack,
Gail Patrick, Charles Laughtoti.
Jay Henry East
Completing his work in "The No-
torious Sophie Lang" Saturday, Jay
Henry, Paramount player, left yester-
day by automobile for New York.
While there he will negotiate for a
plsy.
CONVENTION PERSONNEL
Following is the list of delegates in
attendance at the Paramount conven-
tion, opening today at the Ambassador
Hotel:
Adolph Zukor, president; George J.
Schaefer, vice-president and general
manager; Neil F. Agnew, general sales
manager; Emanuel Cohen, vice-presi-
dent in charge of production; John
Hicks, Jr., vice-president of Paramount
International Corporation; Frank Free-
mari, vice-president Famous Theatres
Co.; Sam Dembow, Jr., vice-president
Famous Theatres Co.; Louis Phillips,
legal department; Lou Diamond, News
and Shorts; Max Fleischer, Cartoons;
Russell Holman, New York Production
Dept. representative.
DIVISION NO. 1
Milton S. Kusell, N. Y. ; Myron Sattler,
N. Y. ; Henry Randel, Brooklyn: Edward H
Bell, New Jersey; Clayton G. Eastman, Al-
bany; Kenneth C. Robinson. Buffalo; Irwin
Lesser, N. Y. ; Bernard P. Brooks. New Jer-
sey; Percy A. Bloch, Philadelphia; Earle W.
Sweigert, Philadelphia: Harry Hunter,
Washington; James J. Oulahan, Washing-
ton; Ulrik Smith, Philadelphia: Harry H.
Goldstein, Cleveland; John Himmelein,
Cleveland; Dave Kimelman, Pittsburgh; M.
R. Clark. Columbus; George A. Smith. Cin-
cinnati; John B. Gardner. Columbus.
DIVISION NO 2
Wm. H. Erbb. Boston; J H Stevens, Bos-
ton: John Moore. Boston; Albert M. Kane.
New Haven; Edward Ruff. Maine; Lester
Hughes. Maine; Oscar Morgan, Atlanta:
Dave Prince. Atlanta; Wm. F Bugie. Mem-
phis: John Kirby, Charlotte; Scott E. Ches-
nutt, Jacksonville; Harold F Wilkes. New
Orleans; Lonzo A. Lowe. Atlanta; E. M
Adams. Charlotte; Jack B. Dugger. Dallas;
Harold E. Pickett. Dallas; Cecil E. House.
San Antonio; Sidney R. Simpson. Oklahoma
City; John J Curry. Oklahoma Ci.,.
DIVISION NO. 3
J E. (Ed) Fontaine Chicago: Allen Usher.
Chicago; Elmer j. Bernard Chicago: Otto
W. Bolle. Detroit: Charles I Bell, Detroit:
Jim 0 Kent. Milwaukee: John T. Howard.
Indianapolis; Wm Esch, Indianapolis: Ralph
C LiBeau Kansas Citv; James T Manfre.
Kansas City: Maurice Schweitzer. St Louis;
Arthur H. Cole Kansas City; R M Cope-
iand Des Moines: Albert Mendenhall
Omaha; P. W Robbins Des Moines; Hugh
W. Braly, Denver; Walter P. Wiens Den-
John;
Kelly,
ver; Chas. C. Epperson, Salt Lake; Frank
Smith, Salt Lake; Myke H. Lewis, Los An-
geles; Carroll N. Peacock. Los Angeles; Jack
Bettencourt, San Francisco; Frank C. Clark,
Portland; H. Neal East, Seattle; Mozart C.
Buries, Los Angeles; Glenn H. Haviland,
Seattle: Ben Blotcky. Minneapolis; James J.
Donahue, Minneapolis; W. D. Woods. Min-
neapolis; A. R. Anderson, Sioux Falls; Le-
Roy M. Palmquist, Minneapolis.
CANADA
Mo-ris A. Milligan, Gen. Mgr., Toronto; W.
). O'Neill. Toronto; Jack Hunter, Toronto;
Manuel A. Brown. Montreal; Dave Brick-
man. Winnipeg; Patrick J. Hogan. St.
Wm. Hansher. Vancouver; Wm, O.
Calgary; Tom Dowbiggen, Montreal.
DISTRIBUTION
Joseph J. Unger. Division Manager; R. M.
Cillham. Director of Advertising and Pub-
licity; Don Velde, Ad Sales Director; Tom
Baily, Studio Publicity Director; Vi/illiam
Pine, Studio Advertising Director; Larry
Flynn. Transportation: Herman J. Lorber,
Asst. to Mr Agnew; C. Knox Haddow,
Arthur J Dunne. Fred A. Leroy, Jack Roper,
C. B. J. Frawley.
FOREIGN
Eugene Zukor. Special Representative Para-
mount International Corp.; John Cecil Gra-
ham, Managing Director Great Britain and
Ireland; George Weltner, Montague Cold-
man arl St. John. Carl P. York, M. J. Mes-
seri, John Day, Albert Deane. Luigi Lur-
aschi.
GUESTS OF THE CONVENTION
(Paramount Theatre Partners)
Barney Balaban. Chicago; John Balaban,
Chicago; Carl Bamford, Asheville; Ed Beat-
ty. Detroit; Abe H. Blank. Des Moines;
Ralph Branton. Des Moines; Col. W. S. But-
terfield. Detroit, J. Clemmens. Beaumont;
M. B. Comerford, Scranton; M. E. Comer-
ford, Scranton; Joseph H. Cooper. N. Y.;
John J. Fitzgibbons; J. Ford. Boston; John
J. Friendl, Minneapolis; N. Goldstein, Spring-
field: S. Gordon. Beaumont; Carl Hoblit-
zelle. Dallas; Jules J. Rubens. Chicago: Ed-
ward I. Sparks. Jacksonville; R. B Wilby.
Atlanta; W. K. Jenkins. Atlanta; P. K.
Johnston. Dallas; H. L Kincey, Charlotte:
M A. Lightman. Memphis: C. E Linz. Dal-
las; A. Lucas. Atlanta: Vincent E. McFaul.
Buffalo: Lou Marcus. Salt Lake City; Mar-
tin J. Mullin, Boston; Harry Nace. Phoenix;
N Nathanson. Toronto; Robert J O'Don-
nell, Dallas; H. Perry. Charlottesville; Sam
Pinanski. Boston; E. V. Richards. New Or-
leans; Harold Robb. Little Rock; E. Rowley.
Little Rock; George Trendle. Detroit; F. C.
Walker. Scranton; Ceo. Zeppos. Wheeling.
R E E T I N G
...TO PARAMOUNT'S
INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION
EXPLOITATION AND SALES
PLACE THE
STAMP OF SUCCESS UPON
PARAMOUNT PICTURES
HE Paramount Production Personnel joins
me in extending cordial greetings and a hearty
welcome to the delegates gathered here for
the annual Paramount Convention.
We are happy to have you with us and have
been awaiting the opportunity to unfold the
Paramount production program for the coming
year... a program we believe will be worthy of
the finest sales organization in the Motion
Picture Industry.
EMANUEL COHEN
Vice President in Charge of Productioa
GREETINGS!
TO OUR PARAMOUNT CONVENTION FRIENDS
from the
PARAMOUNT STUDIO STAFF
and our
"SURE-FIRE" HIT WRITERS
RALPH RAINCER LEO ROBIN
ARTHUR JOHNSTON SAM COSLOW
MACK CORDON HARRY REVEL
During the past year you have been given:
"WE'RE NOT DRESSING" "THE WAY TO LOVE"
"I'M NO ANGEL" "BOLERO"
"SITTING PRETTY" "THE TRUMPET BLOWS"
"COLLEGE HUMOR" "MANY HAPPY RETURNS"
"TOO MUCH HARMONY" "LITTLE MISS MARKER"
"MURDER AT THE VANITIES"
Music in preparation;
"IT AIN'T NO SIN" "BIG BROADCAST OF 1934"
"SHOOT THE WORKS" "COLLEGE RHYTHM"
"SHE LOVES ME NOT" "HERE IS MY HEART"
"OLD FASHIONED WAY" "GENTLEMEN'S CHOICE"
Cpammomt
Musically Yours,
NATHANIEL FINSTON
fc^vX // General Music Director,
aIlA^
Paramount Productions, Inc.
June 18, 1934
Page Eleven
Greetings
and Best Wishes
to
PARAMOUNT
CONVENTION DELEGATES
Tom
WALTER
De LEON
WILLIAM
SLAVENS
McNU
+
PARAMOU NT
"ALOHA" PARAMOUNTEERS
Happy to be one of you for the 1934-35 Season
PARAMOUNT is still PARAMOUNT
-**^i*».
CHARLES R. ROGERS
I
Page Twelve
{une 18, 1934
NORMAN Z. McLEOD
directed
"MAMA LOVES PAPA"
"ALICE IN WONDERLAND"
"MELODY IN SPRING"
"MANY HAPPY RETURNS"
In Preparation:
"BACK PORCH"
with W. C. Fields
PARAMOUNT
Greetings-
PARAMOUNT CONVENTION
from
HENRY HATHAWAY
Now Directing
"Now and Forever"
A Paramount Picture
WELCOME
Paramount Convention Delegates
NORMAN TAUROC
DIRECTOR
■*[**,
"WE'RE NOT DRESSING"
Featuring Bing Crosby
NOW IN PRODUCTION
"Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch"
)une 18, 1934
TH
Page Thirteen
JACK
CUNNINGHAM
+
Writing for
PARAMOUNT
WALDEMAR
YOUNG
Writing for
PARAMOUNT
+
FORTHCOMING RELEASE
"CLEOPATRA"
(In collaboration with Vincent Lawrence)
CONGRATULATIONS
TO
JACK HALEY
FOR HIS PERFORMANCE
IN
"HERE COMES
THE GROOM"
"It's an all right comedy, made bet-
ter in its brighter moments by the
presence of Jack Haley and Mary Bo-
land. The rnain advantage of a pic-
ture like this is that it is decidedly a
good starting point from which to
build Jack Haley to stardom for the
fans, and there is no reason to doubt
the fact that the fans will appreciate
the build-up. He's a grand picture
bet."
— Hollywood Reporter, June 6, 1934
"Jack Haley was given a swell
chance in story, set-up, direction and
support, to top as full-fledged comed-
ian in "Here Comes The Groom," and
he comes through with flying colors
in an ace of entertainment. Picture
is hilarious farce which should take
care of itself in any spot.
Haley shows an individual, ingrat-
iating style and smartly handles the
fresh gags, the novel situations and the
amusing character slants provided by
story." — Variety, June 6, 1934.
"Throughout Haley builds up
smoothly the character of an earnest
fumbler whom the picture fans are
going to find very likeable. His per-
formance will entrench him strongly,
I think, on Paramount's roster of
comedians."
— Hollywood Citizen --News, June
6, 1934.
(Signed) LOUIS SHURR, Mgr.
1482 Broadway, New York. N. Y.
I
Fourteen
)u>te 18, 1934
PRODUCTION UP WITH 36 IN WORK
BAROMETER
This Week 36 Features
Last Week ....34 Features
Year Ago 25 Features
Two Years Ago 31 Features
Three Years Ago 32 Features
Columbia
•BROADWAY BILL"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy,
Lynne Overman, Douglas Dumbrille,
Margaret Hamilton, Raymond Wal-
burn, Clarence Muse, George
Cooper, Charles Levison, Charles
Wilson, Ward Bond.
Director Frank Capra
Original Mark. Heliinger
Screen Play Robert Riskin
Photography Joseph Walker
Sound Edward Bernds
Producer Harry Cohn
Fox
"SHE WAS A LADY"
Cast: Helen Twelvetrees, Donald
Woods, Ralph Morgan, Paul Harvey,
Jackie Searl, Carol Kay, Doris Lloyd,
Ann Howard, Monroe Owsley, Har-
old Goodwin, Barbara Weeks.
Director Hamilton MacFadden
Novel Elisabeth Cobb
Screen Play Gertrude Purcell
Photography Bert Clennon
Sound Don Flick
Producer Al Rockett
"SERVANTS' ENTRANCE"
Cast: Janet Caynor, Lew Ayres, Walter
Connolly, Louise Dresser, C. P.
Huntley Jr., Sigfried Rumann,
Buster Phelps, Ned Sparks, Kathe-
rine Doucet.
Director Frank Lloyd
Novel Sigrid Boo
Screen Play Samson Raphaelson
Photography Hal Mohr
Sound J. E. Aiken
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"JUDGE PRIEST"
Cast: Will Rogers, Brenda Fowler,
Rochelle Hudson, Roger Imhoff,
Tom Brown, Anita Louise, Frank
Melton, Stepin Fetchit, Henry B.
Walthall, Berton Churchill, Charles
Crapewin, David Landau, Paul Mc-
Allister, Matt McHugh, Louis Ma-
son, Hy Meyer, Hattie McDaniels.
Director John Ford
Short Stories Irvin S. Cobb
Screen Play Dudley Nicholls and
Lamar Trotti
Photography George Schneiderman
Sound Al Protzman
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"WANTED"
Cast: Rosemary Ames, Russell Hardie,
Pert Kelton, Victor Jory, George
Irving.
Director Louis King
Screen Play Lester Cole
and Stuart Anthony
Photography L. W. O'Connell
Sound S. C. Chapman
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"SERENADE"
Cast: Pat Patterson, Nils Asther,
James Burke.
Director James Tinling
Story Richard Carroll
Screen Play Richard Miller
Photography Ernest Miller
Sound George Leverett
MGM
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katharine
Alexander, Marion Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor, Vernon
Downing, Neville Clark, Matthew
Smith, Robert Carlton, Allan Con-
rad, Peter Hobbes, Ralph Forbes,
Lowden Adams, Leo G. Carroll.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue. -Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette Mac-
Donald, Minna Gombell, Edward Ev-
erett Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara
Leonard, Sterling Holloway, George
Barbier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Leona Walters, Edna Walde, Bar-
bara Barondess, Shirley Ross, Doro-
thy Granger, Jean Hart, Elinor Hunt,
Dorothy Wilson, Jill Dennett, Maria
Troubetylcoy, Tyler Brooke, Cosmo
Kyrle Bellew, George Lewis, John
Merkyl, Charles Requa, Fifi D'Or-
say, Dewey Robinson.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ernest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Dance Director Albertina Rasch
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"SACRED AND PROFANE LOVE'
Cast: Joan Crawford, Clark Gable,
Otto Kruger, Stuart Erwin, Una
O'Connor, Marjorie Cateson, Akim
Tamiroff, Paul Porcasi.
Director Oarence Brown
Original Edgar Selwyn
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography George Folsey
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"THE STUDENT TOUR"
Chast: Charles Butterworth, Jimmy
Durante, Phil Regan, Maxine Doyle,
Florinne McKinney, Monte Blue,
Dewey Robinson, Doug Fowley,
Mary Loos.
Director Charles F. Reisner
Original Screen Play: Arthur Bloch and
George Seaton.
Adaptation Philip Dunne
Dialogue Ralph Spence
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer Monta Bell
"ALL GOOD AMERICANS '
Cast: Robert Young, Una Merkel,
Madge Evans, Otto Kruger, Ted
Healy, Louise Henry, Edward Bro-
phy, Bert Roach, James Donlan.
Director Edwin Marin
Original Play..S. J. and Laura Perelman
Screen Play Wells Root
Photography Milton Krasner
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"THE HIDE-OUT"
Cast: Robert Montgomery, Muriel
Evans, Ed Brophy, Mickey Rooney,
Louise Henry.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Mauri Grashin
Screen Play Albert Hackett
and Frances Goodrich
Dance Numbers Arthur Appel
and Chester Hale
Photography Ray June
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"FOUR WALLS'
Cast: Franchot Tone, Karen Morley,
Gladys George, Henry Wadsworth,
Jack LaRue, C. Henry Gordon, Nat
Pendleton.
Director Paul Sloane
Play Dana Burnet
and George Abbott
Photography Lucien Andriot
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"HAVE A HEART "
Cast: Jean Parker, Una Merkel, Stu-
art Erwin, James Dunn.
Director David Butler
Original David Butler
and B. G. DeSylva
Dialogue and Continuity; Florence Ry-
erson and Edgar Allan Woolf.
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer John Considine
Paramount
"THE NOTORIOUS SOPHIE LANG'
Cast: Gertrude Michael, Paul Cavan-
agh, Arthur Byron, Alison Skip-
worth, Ben Taggart, Leon Errol,
Norman Ainsley, Arthur Hoyt, Ed-
ward McWade, Del Henderson,
Ferdinand Cottschalk, Lucio Ville-
gas, Madame Jacoby, Stanhope
Wheatcroft, William Jeffries, Jack
Mulhall, Perry Ivans, Alphonse
Martell, Adrian Rosley.
Director Ralph Murphy
Original. ...Frederiak Irving Anderson
Screen Play Anthony Veiller
and Frederick Irving Anderson
Photography Al Gilks
Sound Harry Lindgren
Producer Bayard Veiller
"NOW AND FOREVER"
Cast: Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard,
Shirley Temple, Sir Guy Standing,
Charlotte Granville, Tetsu Komai,
Jameson Thomas, Gilbert Emery,
Henry Kolker, Harry Stubbs, Egon
Brecher, Buster Phelps.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original: Jack Kirkland and Melville
Baker.
Adaptation Austin Parker
Screen Play: Vincent Lawrence and
Sylvia Thalberg.
Music Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Sound Harry Lewis
Producer Louis D. Lighton
"ELMER AND ELSIE"
Cast: George Bancroft, Frances Fuller,
Roscoe Karns, George Barbier, Nella
Walker, Charles Sellon, Helena
Phillips Evans, Ruth Clifford, Albert
Conti,Vera Stedman, Helene Lynch,
Marie Wells, Eddie Baker, Duke
York, William Robins, Alf P.
James.
Director Gilbert Pratt
Original: George S. Kaufman and
Marc Connelly.
Screen Play Humphrey Pearson
Photography William Mellor
Sound A. W. Singley
Producer Louis D. Lighton
"YOU BELONG TO ME"
Cast: Lee Tracy, Helen Mack, Arthur
Pierson, David Jack Holt, Lynne
Overman, Helen Morgan.
Driector Alfred Werker
Original Elizabeth Alexander
Adaptation: Grover Jones and William
Slavens McNutt.
Screen Play: Lynn Starling and Harry
Ruskin.
Photography Leo Tover
Producer Louis D. Lighton
June 18, 1934
Fifteen
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 34 LAST WEEK
"MRS. WICCS OF THE CABBAGE
PATCH"
Cast; Pauline Lord, W. C. Fields,
Zasu Pitts, Jimmy Butler, George
Breakstone, Evelyn Venable, Kent
Taylor, Edyth Fellows, Verginia
Weidier, Carmencita Johnson, Don-
ald Meek, Charles Middleton.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Alice Hegan Rice
Screen Play: William Slavens McNutt
and Jane Storm.
Photography Charles Lang
Sound Eugene Merritt
Producer Douglas MacLean
RKO-Radio
"HAT, COAT AND GLOVE"
Cast: Ricardo Cortez, Barbara Robbins,
John Beal, Sara Hayden, Samuel
Hinds, Murray Kinnell, Margaret
Hamilton, Dorothy Burgess.
Director Worthington Minor
Play Wilhelm Speyer
Screen Play Francis Faragoh
Photography Roy Hunt
Sound George Ellis
Producer Kenneth Macgowan
"THE FOUNTAIN"
Cast: Ann Harding, Brian Aherne,
Violet Kemble-Cooper, Paul Lukas,
Jean Hersholt, Ralph Forbes, Sara
Haden.
Director John Cromwell
Story Charles Morgan
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography James Van Trees
Sound Clem Portman
Producer Pandro S. Berman
"AGE OF INNOCENCE"
Cast: Irene Dunne, John Boles, Julie
Hayden, V/esley Barry, Laura Hope
Crews.
Director Philip Moeller
Novel Edith Wharton
Play Margaret Ayer Barnes
Screen Play Sarah Y. Mason
and Jane Murfin
Photography Henry Cerrard
Sound John Cass
Producer Pandro S. Berman
United Artists
Samuel Coldwyn
"WE LIVE AGAIN"
Cast: Anna Sten, Fredric March,
Gwendolin Logan, C. Aubrey
Smith, Jessie Ralph, Jane Baxter,
Ethel Griffies.
Director Rouben Mamoulian
Based on Novel by Leo Tolstoi
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Photography Gregg Toland
Reliance Pictures, inc.
'COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO"
Cast: Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Louis
Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, 0. P.
Heggie, Raymond Walburn, Law-
rence Grant, Luis Alberni, Georgia
Caine, Irene Hervey, Douglas Wal-
ton, Ferdinand Munier, Lionel Bel-
more, William Farnum, Wilfred
Lucas, Clarence Wilson, Tom Rick-
errs, Clarence Muse, Helen Free-
man, Holmes Herbert, Eleanor
Phelps, Alphonse Martell, Russell
Powell, Juliette Compton, Walter
Walker, Paul Irving, Wallace Al-
bright, Edward Keene, Stanley
Fields.
Director Rowland V. Lee
Original Alexandre Dumas
Adaptation Harvey Thew
and Harry Hervey
Screen Play and Dialogue
Philip Dunne and Dan Totheroh
Photograpihy Peverell Marley
Producer Edward Small
"TRANS-ATLANTIC MERRY-GO-
ROUND"
Cast: Jack Benny, Nancy Carroll, Gene
Raymond, Sydney Howard, Sid Sil-
vers, Sidney Blackmer, Ralph Mor-
gan, Shirley Grey, Frank Parker,
Jean Sargent, Robert Elliott, Wil-
liam (Stage) Boyd, Sam Hardy,
Carlyle Moore, Wallis Clark, Esther
Howard.
Director Benjamin Stoloff
Onginal Leon Gordon
Additional Dialogue Ben Ryan
and Harry W. Conn
Photography Teddy Tetzlaff
Producer Edward Small
Universal
"ONE MORE RIVER"
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Frank Lawton,
Colin Clive, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Patrick Campbell, Jane Wyatt, C.
Aubrey Smith, Reginald Denny,
Kathleen Howard, Lionel Atwill,
Alan Mowbray, Gilbert Emery, E.
E. Clive, Robert Greig, Gunnis
Davis, Tempe Pigott.
Director James Whale
Story John Galsworthy
Screen Play R. C. Sherriff
Photography John Mescal
Producer Carl Laemmie, Jr.
"THE RED RIDER"
(Serial)
Cast: Buck Jones, Grant Withers,
Marion Shilling, Walter Miller,
Richard Cramer, Margaret La Marr,
Charles French, Edmund Cobb, J. P.
McGowan, William Desmond, Mert
LaVare, Frank Rice, Monte Mon-
tague, Jim Thorpe, Jim Corey, Bud
Osborne, Al Ferguson, Silver, Lee
Beggs, Dennie Meadows, Cliff
Lyons.
Director Louis Friedlander
Original W. C. Tuttle
Screen Play: George Plympton, Bin
Moore, Ella O'Neill, Basil Dickey.
Photography Richard Fryer
Sound Charles Carroll
Associate Producer Henry MacRae
"ROMANCE IN THE RAIN"
Cast: Roger Pryor, Heather Angel,
Victor Moore, Phillip Reed, Ruth
Donnelly, Marjorie Davidson, Esther
Ralston.
Director Stuart Walker
Story Jay Gorney and
Sig Hergiz
Screen Play Barry Trivers
Additional Dialogue John Weaver
Music Jay Gorney
Photography Charles Stumar
Producer Stanley Bergerman
"THE HUMAN SIDE"
Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Doris Kenyon,
Dickie Moore, Reginald Owen, Betty
Lawford.
Director Edward Buzzell
Play ..Christine Ames
Screen Play: Ernest Pascal, Nat Fer-
ber and Rian James.
Photography Norbert Brodine
Associate Producer Eph Asher
"MILLION DOLLAR RANSOM"
Cast: Edward Arnold, Joel McCrea,
Marjorie Gateson, Wini Shaw, Rob-
ert Gleckler, Bradley Page, Edgar
Norton, Hughie White.
Director Murray Roth
Story Damon Runyon
Screen Play William Lipman
Photography George Robinson
Associate Producer Eph Asher
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby,
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers, Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren, Johnny
Arthur, Arthur Vinton, Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett, Phil Regan.
Directors Ray Enright
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"FLIRTATION WALK "
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Pat
O'Brien, John Eldredge, Ross Alex-
ander, Cuinn Williams, Henry
O'Neill, Glenn Boles, John Arledge.
Director Frank Borzage
Story Delmar Daves and
Lou Edelman
Screen Play Delmar Daves
Dance Director Bobby Connelly
Musical Numbers Mort Dixon
and Allie Wrubel
Photography Sol Polito
Supervisor Robert Lord
"A LOST LADY '
Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Ricardo Cor-
tez, Frank Morgan, Rafaelo Ottiano,
Charles Starrett, Phillip Reed,
Henry Kolker, Willie Fung.
Director Alfred E. Green
Novel Willa Gather
Screen Play Gene Markey
and Kathryn Scola
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor James Seymour
"A LADY SURRENDERS"
Cast: Jean Muir, George Brent, Veree
Teasdale, Arthur Aylesworth, Joan
Wheeler, Pauline True, Charles
Starrett.
Director Archie Mayo
Story and Screen Play. .Mary McCall Jr.
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Edward Chodorov
Independent Productions
Reb and Rebel
( International )
"THE MAN FROM HELL"
Cast: Reb Russell, Fred Kohler, Ann
Darcy, Yakima Canutt, jack Rock-
well, Charles Whittaker, Lafe Mc-
kee, Charles French.
Director Lew Collins
Story and Screen Play E. E. Repp
Photography William Nobles
Producer Willis Kent
Majestic
(Darmour and Talisman)
"GAILY I SING'
Cast: Isabel Jewell, Buster Crabbe.
Regis Toomey, Sally Blane, Huntley
Gordon, Wallis Clark, Matt Mc-
Hugh, Fuzzy Knight, Maidel Tur-
ner, Kenneth Howell, Jules Cowles,
Arthur Stone.
Director Ralph Ceder
Story Mann Page, Izola Foster
Screen Play Houston Branch
Photography James Brown Jr.
Producer Larry Darmour
Principal
(Pathe)
"PECK'S BAD BOY"
Cast: Jackie Cooper, Jackie Searl,
Thomas Meighan, Dorothy Peterson,
O. P. Heggie.
Director Eddie Cline
Screen Play Bernard Schubert
and Marguerite Roberts
Photography Frank Good
Producer Sol Lesser
W^i^i^fW^^s^*^'
BRUIATOUR BULLETIN
Published Every Monday
i^Sic
.C5QS
For no particular reason except that
it just happens, production seems to
officially start for the new season
when Bill Koenig rolls up his sleeves,
spits on his hands and says, "Let's
go." It's the sign for renewed action
at Warner Bros., and as stated, seems
to reflect throughout the industry.
Koenig arrived in Hollywood mid-
week . . . things are humming at Bur-
bank . . . tremendous program is map-
ped out for the Valley plant this year,
•
Trem Carr is doing his phoning
from a hospital room during personal
alterations via the surgical route, while
Monogram itself is being readied to
move, bag and baggage, from General
Service plant to Pathe lot in Culver
City. ... Sid Hickox has actually
started production on the Barbara
Stanwyck picture, "A Lost Lady,"
under direction of Al Green, and also
at the Warner plant, Arthur Todd gets
away on "Big Hearted Herbert."
•
Bill Rees draws the assignment to
Alan Crosland's new picture, "Case
of the Howling Dog." . . . Jimmy Van
Trees and his staff are away on actual
production of the RKO feature, "Age
of Innocence," starring Irene Dunne.
... At the same plant Henry Gerrard
is doing his stuff with John Cromwell,
who is directing Ann Harding in "The
Fountain." . . . And Roy Hunt is put-
ting the finishing touches to "A Hat,
A Coat, A Clove."
•
"Romance in the Rain" . . . For
anybody's box office money that's a
swell title. . . . It's a musical at Uni-
versal, and swelegant photography's a
cinch because Charlie Stumar will turn
the trick. . . . Meantime Johnny Mes-
call draws the projection room raves
from the production bosses while they
view the rushes of "One More River."
. . Norbert Brodine is turning the
final crank on "It's Always Tomor-
row," while Dick Fryer goes right
ahead with his exciting serial, "The
Red Rider." . . . And speaking of Uni-
versal we're reminded that Johnny
Fulton, who usually finishes in the
first pair of any golf tournament he
enters, out-performed even himself
with the driver in the Universal tour-
nament last week, but . . . the old
putter just wouldn't putt . . . Conse-
quently he tied for low with Ray
Robinson, and a nine hole play-off
turned Ray boss with one up
Incidentally, George Robinson almost
copped the tournament with a new
all-time low for his medal.
More Wedding Bells
These West Coast cameramen seem
to be doing ail right for themselves.
When production is slow at the
studios, our leg men can always dig
up a good story on new arrival via the
stork route, or at least another wed-
ding.
Newest convert to the Benedicts
is Ken Hunter of Universal camera
staff, who thumbed his nose at the
mode moderne — (Yuma to you) — and
took the vows with Grace Grouse at
the home of his father, C. Roy Hunter,
long time lab chief of Universal.
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Films
Attention!
Prodncers-iCameramen!
Incident occurring late Friday night emphasizes importance of clearly
defining scope of service rendered by J. E. Brulatour, Inc., organization
and staff.
President of a major producing company telephoned our editor's home
late Friday night and explained his reasons for requiring IMMEDIATELY
the services of a first cameraman to take over production starting early
next morning, and running for an estimated schedule of twenty-two days.
We made several attempts to contact individuals among the first
cameramen whom we believed to be available. Our first surprise came
when top four names on our list were conspicuous by their absence from
the Los Angeles telephone directory. At this point we wish to respect-
fully suggest to all cameramen of all classes: IF YOUR NAME AND
TELEPHONE NUMBER ARE NOT CLEARLY AND PROPERLY LISTED
IN THE TELEPHONE DIRECTORY, SEE THAT THEY ARE. This is a
service you owe not only to your industry but to yourself.
Second: While we have no desire and no intention to do anything
in performance or policy which would conflict with any organization of
cameramen or any agency offering the services of cameramen, we think
it advisable that all cameramen telephone our office and advise our
switchboard operator of their address and telephone number, particu-
larly, when they are available for assignment. We make this further
suggestion because every production executive in the business knows
that every studio on the West Coast is visited at least once each day by
a Brulatour service representative. Therefore, we know what's going on
at the studios, chiefly because it's our business to know. When the pro-
ducer wants something special, something in a hurry, something in an
emergency — pertaining to photography or any other department of pro-
duction utilizing sensitized films, he naturally calls upon us for our
service which we have established and which we shall zealously maintain.
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of the principal studio
contact members of the Brulatour service staff will be found in all tele-
phone directories, and for the convenience of anyone interested we here
republish them:
J. L. COURCIER. 2574 Glendower MOrningside 11050
G. H. GIBSON, 316 Willaman Drive OXford 661 1
E. O. BLACKBURN, 406 N. Cliffwood Avenue, Brentwood Heights
West Los Angeles 31498
Hal Rosson III
It is with sincere regret that we
report the illness of Hal Rosson, one
of the ace cameramen of the M. G.
M. staff, who is confined to his home,
and according to his physicians will
probably be confined for two or three
weeks. Rosson's illness came on the
eve of his scheduled start of the pro-
duction with Director Van Dyke. As-
signment was switched to Ray June.
Para. Lab Hums
Operating at full capacity, Para-
mount Laboratories are piloted by Ray
Wilkinson, executive director pro tern,
during the absence of Harry Ensign,
vacationing east of the Mississippi.
Wilkinson, by the way, is one of the
oldest members of the Paramount Lab
staff.
Cerstad With Stahl Again
Merritt Gerstad has been signed by
Universal to photograph the next
John M. Stahl picture, "Imitation of
Life," starring Claudette Colbert.
Gerstad is one of the few camera-
men in the industry who prefers to
be very choosy of his assignments, and
will not photograph a picture unless it
promises to have exceptional possi-
bilities. This is an admirable trait if
one can afford to indulge it.
Andriot to M.C.M.
Lucien Andriot, RKO cameraman,
has been loaned to MCM where he
started production end of last week
with Director Paul Sloane. Cast in-
cludes Franchot Tone, Karen Morley,
Mae Clarke and Jack LaRue in the
top spots, with the story "Four
Walls."
Baekgronnd Shots
Ernie Palmer, Cinematographer
Born in Kansas City, started his career at the camera with the old
Imp Company in New York in 1912. A year later Carl Laemmie (Senior,
of course), assigned Palmer to England to photograph a picture, at the
completion of which Palmer joined London Films and remained in Great
Britain until 1918. Upon his return to America he came to the
West Coast where he made his first real bid for photographic fame as the
photographer of "The Miracle Man," the picture which has perhaps been
referred to in the trade more frequently than any other single feature as
a criterion or standard of top achievement in production.
Two years later Palmer joined the L. B. Mayer organization at the
old belig Studio, where he photographed some of the outstanding hits of
that time, produced by John Stahl, Fred Niblo, Reginald Barker, Hobart
Henley and others.
>- 'l] ^^^^J'k^!-'^^''k'°'"^'^ ^^s Fox West Coast camera staff, where he
has been CONSTANTLY employed ever since. At Fox he has been
given honorable recognition time after time, and his most spectacular
achievement of the present day is "Cavalcade "
(NOTE: The opinions of cameramen
by directors given here last week
aroused so much interest that the
department this week is again used
for the same purpose.)
QUESTION: WHAT CAN THE CAM-
ERAMAN CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR
PICTURE BEYOND HIS PHOTOG-
RAPHY?
NORMAN TAUROC (Paramount): I
rely on my cameraman just as much
as on the performers to contribute
mood, charm and — where necessary
when doing comedy — brilliant pho-
tography, which helps the tone of
a picture. On the set I consider
him my keyman.
ALEXANDER HALL (Paramount): I
consider the cameraman my right
bower. He is the most important
man associated with the director in
production. I like to compare him
to an artist in that he, the camera-
man, sketches his picture with
lights as the artist does with
brushes.
LEWIS MILESTONE (Columbia): It
depends on the cameraman, natur-
ally. They can contribute ideas on
angles, set-ups and story. And I
even welcome their criticisms and
suggestions on direction.
JOHN S. ROBERTSON (RKO): A
good cameraman contributes so
much to the picture that it is diffi-
cult to condense it to a few lines.
However, briefly, intelligent and
thoughtful lighting assists greatly
in getting over the feeling and
action of a scene. I believe that a
good energetic, conscientious cam-
eraman is of tremendous help to a
director.
Fox Starts Pair
Louie William O'Connell is starting
production for Sol Wurtzel on
"Wanted," which will be directed by
Lou King. Harry Jackson, who hit
the photographic bull's eye when he
photographed "She Learned About
Sailors," draws the assignment on
"Don't Worry," an original Spanish
production.
Caudio's Gesture
Less than a year ago Tony Gaudio,
Jr., graduated from his university with
highest honors as a law student. At
that time Tony, Sr., expressed his
pride and elation with a buffet dinner
party to about twenty of his friends.
Last Sunday night the senior Gaudio
was again host — (and what a host)
— to some seventy-five or eighty
friends and associates, and the reason
for this outburst of hilarity was that
young Tony had again come through
with flying colors, having passed the
California State Bar examination on
the first try,' and wit^n top honors
for the entire examination class.
Tony, Sr., is presently spending a
brief vacation in San Francisco before
returning to assignment ^t Warner
Bros., where his next picture is sched-
uled to start within a week.
[
LOUISE LINCOLN
"659"
t
\;r I :^\j
^ I Vol. XXI. No. 35. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday, June 19, 1934
NPA$T€P$ DCtCLE KILLS
•THERE is at least one innovation —
and a very wise one — in connection
vi^ith the Paramount convention now
in session here. That is the presence
at the convention of a group of
"guests," composed of the men who
are partners of Paramount in the thea-
tre end of the picture business. They
are here to see for themselves how
pictures are made, to learn at first
hand some of the problems with which
the production department is faced
day after day, to give consideration
to those problems^ so that, w.hen they
return to their home towns and their
theatres, they may, perhaps, be a lit-
tle more tolerant when pictures are
not exactly as promised or when un-
avoidable substitutions are made.
•
Nor is that the only reason for their
presence. They have their own prob-
lems of which the studio executives
know little or nothing. These also
are to be discussed while they are
here. At a luncheon given this group
yesterday at the Ambassador and pre-
sided over by Adolph Zukor, he told
them that there would be a meeting
with the studio executives tomorrow
at which time they could toss all their
troubles on the table and an honest
and earnest effort would be made to
straighten out everything.
That is as it should be. After all,
these men are Paramount's partners.
Paramount's interests are theirs. They
want good pictures in their theatres
and they, being closer to the ultimate
consumer, the public, should know
even better than the producers just
what that public wants in the line of
screen entertainment. If they and
the production heads can meet on
common ground, can dismiss all
thoughts other than the welfare of
Paramount, their findings should be of
infinite benefit to the company.
•
Criticism is often levelled at studio
producers on the ground that they are
not "showmen." Whether they are or
not, there can be no doubt that these
theatre partners of Paramount are.
They know the exhibition end of the
business, they know .how to feel the
pulse of the theatre-going public, even
if they can not — and who can? — pre-
dict in what channels the public taste
will run.
Certainly the production end of the
(Continued on Page 2)
Protest-ant Clergy
Back Catholic War
New York. — The Rev. Dr. Peale,
of the Marble Collegiate Church,
in New York, and the pastor of
the Union M. E. Church both urged
American Protestants to unite with
Catholics in their campaign to raise
the moral standards of pictures,
each advocating a 30-day boycott.
Erpi Defendant In
$22,500,000 Suits
New York. — Suits totalling $22,-
500,000 and charging unfair compe-
tition and restraint of trade were filed
in the Federal District Court here yes-
terday against Electrical Research
Products Inc., Western Electric and
A. T. & T.
Seven plaintiffs are named in the
complaints, which were filed by At-
torneys David Garrison Berger and
Ralph Vatner. The restraint allega-
tions cover sound recording and repro-
( Continued on Page 4)
Harry Decker Made
Associate Producer
Harry Decker, who has served Co-
lumbia as chief film editor, has been
lifted to a spot on the staff of asso-
ciate producers for the studio.
He will supervise eight pictures,
taking four of the eight action stories
starring John Mack Brown, and will
produce four westerns also. Bob Car-
lisle was moved up to fill the film
editor's berth.
Wanger to Russia
London. — Walter Wanger is en
route to Russia, extending his vacation
to take in that country.
Clearance And Zoning Board
Announces Heavy Penalties;
Preview Tangle Also Solved
The death knell of double bills in the Los Angeles district was
sounded last night by the Los Angeles NRA Clearance and Zon-
ing Board, which took the matter right out of the hands of the
exhibitors and decided that double bills must go. The ruling
becomes effective with the first re-
lease of the 1934-35 season.
In order to make its ruling effec-
tive, the board also said that any first
run house violating the double bill ban
will lose all protection, and its pic-
tures will be open to all houses im-
mediately. All other houses that ven-
ture to show double bills will be pen-
alized by having their pictures set
back 182 days behind the time they
are supposed to get them.
The much-discussed and knotty
problem of "previews" was also set-
( Continued on Page 4)
Raoul Walsh To Direct
Lowe-McLaglen Again
The "Flagg and Quirk" combina-
tion will be together again in "Sand
Hogs," an original story by Borden
Chase and Edward Doherty, which
Jack Kirkland is adapting.
After a leave of absence of more
than a year from Fox, his home lot,
Raoul Walsh was yesterday assigned
to direct the picture.
Two Want Harvey
Lilian Harvey is being paged by
Paramount and Columbia. Paramount
wants her for the Gaby Delys story,
and William Pearlberg just wants her
on the Columbia lot.
PARA. DELEGATES TOLD
ADMISSIONS GOING UP
The depression days are over, so far
as theatre patronage is concerned.
Theatre attendance has returned to
normal in the United States and Can-
ada and, with its return, we will prob-
ably see a gradual but slight increase
in admission prices throughout the
country.
This was the concensus of opinion
of fifty leading theatre operators, ex-
pressed yesterday at the Paramount
Convention at the Ambassador Hotel.
Much weight was given the opinion of
(Continued on Page 5)
McCrea Ducks Lead in
Universal Picture
Joel McCrea begged out of taking
the leading role in "Million Dollar
Ransom" at Universal yesterday.
Phillips Holmes was engaged to re-
place him, and a newcomer, Mona
Smith, is slated to get a break in the
bracket position. Murray Roth directs
the picture from a William R. Lipman
script. Eph Asher is supervising.
Jewish Conference
Joins War on Dirt
New York. — The Central Confer-
ence of American Rabbis, in annual
meeting yesterday at Wernersville,
Pa., added the voice of its church to
those of other churches in the war
against indecent motion pictures.
The Conference deplored the harm-
ful influence exerted by many pic-
tures upon the public mind and mor-
als, especially the minds of youth and
children. It recommended the ap-
pointment of a committee to consider
a program by which the Conference
can most effectively co-operate with
other religious and civic bodies in
bringing home to the picture produc-
ers their responsibility for taking im-
mediate steps to elevate the standards
of pictures.
U' Buys 'Silver Fox'
Universal yesterday purchased "Sil-
ver^Fox," a stage play by Caetano
Sazio, and signed Ferdinand Reyher to
write the adaptation. The picture will
be handled by Lou Ostrow as one of
the first on his associate producer's
deal with the studio.
Geraghty-Banks Team
London. — Tom Ceraghty, off the
British and Dominions payroll because
of the shelving of "Sons of Guns," is
doing the script of "Funny Face,"
which will star Monty Banks for Brit-
ish International.
Louis B. Mayer East
Louis B. Mayer leaves on the Chief
tonight for the MGM convention at
Chicago. He is accompanied by How-
ard Strickling, who makes his second
trip East within ten days.
Edmund Coulding Here
Edmund Goulding, who has been ill
in New York for several weeks, arriv-
ed here on The Chief yesterday.
Norman TaurOg directing "Mr$. Wigg$ of the Cabbage Patch '
Paramou
mj
Page Two
PtilPOiiTlIR
|une19, 1934
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Ralph Jester is sculpting Claudette
Colbert at the moment. . . . The
Tommy Meighans back in town. . . .
The Gary Grants (Virginia Gherrill),
with Larry Starbuck in the rumble-
seat, got as far as Santa Ana Saturday
on their trip to Ghicago, when the
Packard burst into flames! So they
spent the night there while the car
cooled off! Nothing like a motor
jaunt, "we always say!
The
Nunnally Johnsons and the Lynn Far-
nols are sharing a house on the beach
nort hof Malibu. . . Drue Layton's
right name is Freya Laigh. , . . And
speaking of names — Mary Lou Wham,
Overbridge Horsey, and Naughtybird
Kirksey (found by Alexander Wooll-
cottl aren't bad!
•
A famous blonde star is in danger
of being victimized by the old badger
game very soon — but there's no use
warning her — -she's too "mad about
the boy." . . . Kay Francis throwing
a farewell luncheon at her menage to-
day, then flying to sail for Europe with
Dorothy Di Frasso Saturday. . . . The
Dick Barthelmesses are still trying to
make up their minds in what direc-
tion to travel. . . . Sam Berman will
exhibit his drawings and cartoons at
the Vendome for a week beginning
Thursday. . . . They used to bring a
horse right to Jack Haley's door in
N'Yawk — but he doesn't ride in Hol-
lywood because if he wants a hoss
here he has to go and get it!
•
Miriam Hopkins lunched twenty-
five on Sunday. . . . And most of the
film colony stormed Jeanette MacDon-
ald's house for a great big cocktail
party same day. . . . Bob Ritchie, fresh
from the train, helped greet some
hundred and fifty guests. . . . Bebe
Daniels, Pauline Gallagher and Mrs.
A. Pantages are opening branches of
their West wood shops in Palm
Springs this Fall. . . . What this biz-
ness needs are more producers who
look like Lew Gensler! . . . Gorinne
Griffith and Walter Morosco (newly
unfettered I are never apart! . , . The
Will Rogers, Billie Burke, Dorothy
Arzner, Adolphe Menjou, Veree Teas-
"ARE WE CIVILIZED?"
Edwin Garewe prod.; director, Edwin Garewe; writers, Harold Sherman,
Finis Fox
Rivoli Theatre
American: "Are We Givilized?" is a filmed story of man's inhumanity to man
through the ages. Starting with a picturization of the days of the Phar-
aohs, it tells its gruesome and always absorbing story from that time until
the present day of unsettled Germany. William Farnum, grand trouper of
an early day, makes his return to the Broadway picture theatres in Edwin
Carewe's production. This reviewer hastens to toss a laurel branch in the
general direction of both.
Times: William Farnum, the veteran star of many silent pictures, is the princi-
pal player in this production, a haphazard, melodramatic piece of work,
which declares, through the medium of its leading character, that "man-
kind will never be truly civilized until all races become one in spirit, un-
derstanding and brotherly love."
Herald-Tribune: "Are We Givilized," is one of the most ambitious and least
satisfactory of the patchwork films. It is a contemporary drama of intol-
erance and violence has been embellished with a thumbnail sketch of the
entire history of the world. The material has been slung together In so
maladroit a fashion, however, that whatever thesis is implicit in the work
emerges faintly ridiculous.
Mirror: This movie makes a timely appeal to reason. Because it is a movie with
a message, it does not fit into the catalogue of sheer entertainment. It is
more a rousing film preachment for tolerance and liberty. It is skilfully
made, powerfully acted by William Farnum, and it features some stunning
spectacular scenes which seem to have been clipped from the stirring film
epics of the past.
Edwin Garewe is to be commended for the sincerity and intensity of the
convictions expressed in the new production which opened at the Rivoli
yesterday. "Are We Givilized?" is an ambitious stunt and Mr. Garewe is
a brave man. His picture is an indictment of the ignorance, greed and in-
tolerance of the entire human race, and a plea for peace on earth. The
acting is pretty sad and the direction something less than inspirea.
News: Edwin Garewe bit off more than he could chew when he undertook to
present a history of civilization through the medium of a moving picture
in his attempt to deliver a message to his fellow men on the necessity of
tolerance, fraternalism and the breaking down of national barriers in order
to live in the peace and comfort our civilization has fitted us for. His at-
tempt is a sincere and worthy appeal, but its accomplishment is a dull
affair.
World-Telegram: Although the intentions of "Are We Givilized?" are sincere
and highly commendable, the results are far from satisfactory and the film
emerges a generally feeble and mediocre preachment against intolerance
as well as a less than acceptable entertainment. The film is badly man-
aged throughout.
Journal: The producer doesn't directly answer the question that he asks, but he
offers enough evidence on the negative side to let the audience decide for
itself. It is not screen entertainment in the conventional meaning of the
phrase. It is, rather, a narrative that might be described as an illustrated
text-book.
Sun: Mr. Garewe and Mr. Farnum sound a few trumps of doom at the Rivoli
this week. Edwin Garewe directed, William Farnum returns to the screen
in "Are We Civilized?" and they make pretty plain that the answer, what-
ever it may be now, pretty soon wiil be "No." As a whole "Are We Givil-
ized?" is a confused though worthy production, interesting at times, top-
ical and with a certain vitality. But the general effect is a jumble.
Post:
RKO Takes Over Four
Lee Ochs Theatres
New York. — RKO Theatres are
taking over four of the Lee Ochs
New York houses, Ochs withdrawing
from the management of the York-
town, Midtown, Gostello and Uptown.
Dinner For Wally Young
Waldemar Young, Paramount writ-
er, who is leaving on a four-months
trip to the South Seas and the Orient
in about ten days, will be guest of
honor at a dinner given by a group of
his friends at the Writers' Club to-
morrow night.
dale, Ernst Lubitsch, Eddie Hillman
with Mary Carlisle, Anita Loos, John
Emerson, the Charles Laughtons, John
Brandeis, dining at the Vendome.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
less an authority than Adolph Zukor
himself has said that. If the show-
manship average of production can be
raised by the experience and counsel
of these "Paramount guests," and
there is no doubt that it can if both
sides sit in conference with open
minds, their presence here will repay
the company many times over.
Van Dyke Champion
Shooter- Arounder
W. S. Van Dyke, MCM's champion
schedule sprinter, won new laurels last
night when he completed four whirl-
wind days of production on "Hide-
out," with the feminine lead opposite
Douglass Montgomery yet to be cast.
Van Dyke plunged into production
last Friday and is reported ahead of
schedule, but he has been shooting
around Loretta Young the entire time.
Miss Young, set for the part from
which Maureen O'Sullivan withdrew
last week, has been confined to her
bed since last Tuesday. She will be
taken to the Queen of Angels Hos-
pital Thursday for a minor operation
by Dr. Walter Holleran, and expects to
report for further MCM assignments
in ten days.
Van Dyke .hopes to find his new
lead tomorrow, as he takes the "Hide-
out" troupe on location at Santa Cruz
Thursday or Friday to finish the pic-
ture.
Eddie Cline Held For
Six More For Lesser
As Eddie Cline set off for Santa
Ana with his "Peck's Bad Boy" unit
yesterday, Sol Lesser notified him that
he was exercising his option for six
more pictures at once, and handed him
the contract notice to clinch it.
One of the six will be the first of
the George O'Brien action features.
CUTTY
SARK
SCOTS
<L^ Troduct of
Berry Bros <?f Co.
LONDON
Sstablished in the
XVII Century svVfa
Distributors
for the Pacific Coast
Ceo. Herrmann Company
W
816 W. 5th St.
Los Angeles
Tel. Mutual 8053
300 Front St.
San Francisco
Tel. CArfield 1980
PRODUCERS
who desire nafionai or states rights and foreign distribu-
tion of motion pictures are invited to communicate with
CONTINENTAL PICTURES CORP.
723 Seventh Avenue New York City
June 19, 1934
TH£|y
Page Three
PARA'S. 'SHOOT THE WORKS'
IS GOOD EIVTERTAIIVMEIVT
hmaliL
Direction, Acting
And Music All Hit
"SHOOT THE WORKS"
(Paramouni')
Direction Wesley Ruggles
Play Gene Fowler, Ben Hecht
Screen Play Howard Green
Dialogue Claude Binyon
Lyrics and Music. ...Gordon and Revel,
Rainger and Robin
Photography Leo Tover
Cast: Jack Oakie, Dorothy Dell, Ben
Bernie, Alison Skipworth, Arline
Judge, Roscoe Karns, William Fraw-
ley, Lew Cody, Paul Cavanagh.
A good picture with grand music
and swell acting that is a minor tri-
umph for the adaptors and director,
considering the fact that "The Great
Magoo" was the basis of the present
opus. It takes you from side-shows
to Broadway acclaim along a road a
bit long, but nevertheless fairly amus-
ing, and the people who take the
road are interesting and human and
completely inoffensive.
It's a formula story about the side-
show barker and the vaudeville actress
who pinned her faith on him, only to
be let down with a terrific bump. The
actress then proceeds to climb the
stairway to fame, along with an ob-
scure orchestra leader who had once
worked with the barker. The barker
never does give up his ridiculous bluff
of being the great "I Am," but in
the end is re-united with the actress
and, through her, started on his own
road to fame and fortune and Loooove.
Jack Oakie is, of course, the barker,
w.ho is just too smart and too swell-
headed for his own good and the good
of anyone who loves him. But, be-
neath it all, he's a regular guy who
realizes Things, and, Mesdames and
Messieurs, Mr. Oakie is just the lad to
play that part and give it everything.
He's more than good and has dropped
a number of mannerisms that were
pure Oakie and never should have in-
terfered with a part.
Arline Judge as a gaga gold-digger,
a nice girl, mind you, (really in love
with a flag pole sitter) is just grand
and looks marvelous. Roscoe Karns as
the flag-pole sitter, slightly goofy and
insanely jealous, is very funny. Doro-
thy Dell and Lew Cody are excellent.
Alison Skipworth and William Frawley
give great support in minor roles.
And then there is the Old Maestro
and, for Ben Bernie fans, he is really
very good and there's certainly no
denying the fact that his orchestra is
among the top few really good ones.
And right here and now credit must
be given to the recorder of this picture
because never has music come from a
screen and sounded better. Our nom-
ination for the best song is "Take A
Lesson From The Lark," which should
have been featured more. It's peppier
and catchier than "Dreaming With
My Eyes Wide Open."
Wesley Ruggles has done a nice job
with the direction, and Leo Tover, as
usual, gives the picture a million dol-
lars worth of photography. Green and
Binyon had a tough assignment on the
writing and they crashed through nob-
Iv and successfully eliminated all the
bad taste.
New Barrie Play For
Elizabeth Bergner
London. — Sir James M. Barrie is
writing a new play which is de-
signed as a starring vehicle for
Elizabeth Bergner, the actress who
won such success in the picture,
"Catherine the Great." It will be
produced in London next season.
Theatre Pool Deal
To Be Signed Today
New York. — The fifty-fifty theatre
pooling deal between the Paramount
and the Capitol theatres is expected
to be completed today by the signa-
ture of Loew's Inc.
The stage shows at the Paramount
will be elaborated and the budget for
this type of entertainment stepped up.
The deal is for one year, with a
ninety-day cancellation clause. The
idea originated with George Schaefer,
of Paramount.
Jane Baxter Completes
'We Live Again' Cast
With the arrival from England of
young Jane Baxter on Saturday, Rou-
ben Mamoulian's cast of principals to
appear with Anna Sten and Fredric
March in "We Live Again" is com-
plete.
Miss Baxter will be seen as Missy,
the patrician and lovely young daugh-
ter of Prince Korchagin, in this screen
transcription of "Resurrection." This
is the Hollywood debut of one of the
most promising young film players in
England.
New One-Reelers For
Release By Columbia
New York. — Columbia announces
that it will release next season a series
of one-reelers to be produced by Men-
tone Productions. The series will be
called "The Spice of Life."
Warners Assign Tone
Warners have assigned Franchot
Tone to the lead opposite Josephine
Hutchinson in Alice Tisdale Hobart's
novel, "Oil For the Lamps of China."
Tone's loanout from MGM starts the
middle of July. Laird Doyle is script-
ing the novel, with no director set as
yet.
Judith Kandel Set
Judith Kandel was handed the as-
signment to write a screen play for
the recently purchased Gladys Unger
story, "$25 an Hour," at Columbia.
Felix Young is supervising.
Durkin For 'Herbert'
Junior Durkin was signed yesterday
to play the son of Aline MacMahon
in Big-Hearted Herbert" for War-
ners. Henry Willson, of the Polimer
office, set the deal.
Erik Rhodes to Radio
New York.- — Erik Rhodes leaves for
the coast by plane today to play his
original stage role in "The Gay Di-
vorce" for Radio.
Paramount Cash
Position Improved
New York. — The three Paramount
trustees, Messrs. Hi lies, Leake and
Richardson, have reported to the court
that the company's cash position is
improved, having $3,226,836 on hand
June 9, as compared with $2,074,480
last September,
The trustees recommend that no
dividends be declared at this time and
say also that negotiations are pending
with Eastern Service Studios for a con-
tinuation of the lease of the Astoria
plant. Negotiations for the readjust-
ment of the $2,900,000 bond issue on
the West Coast studio and the Para-
mount theatre building have not been
successful.
Hays Office Orders
'Born To Be Bad' Retakes
Jack Conway will put "Born To Be
Bad" back into work for retakes of
almost half of the picture, which was
ruled out by the Hays office.
Anita Loos and John Emerson are
re-writing the material. The new
shooting may be delayed some time
since Franchot Tone is now working
in "Four Walls" at MGM and Patsy
Kelly is in a Radio picture.
Sol Lesser Sets July 5
For Start of 'Chandu'
With Ray Taylor's notification yes-
terday that he would have his Univer-
sal release next Saturday, the start of
production on Sol Lesser's "Chandu"
was set for July 5.
It had been tentatively announced
for next Monday, but the newly-sign-
ed director was kept on at Universal
as directorial coach with Stuart Wal-
ker on "Romance in the Rain."
Radio To Hear Product
Chicago. — Ned E. Depinet, presi-
dent of RKO-Radio Distributing Cor-
poration, will announce the 1934-35
product of the company at today's
session of the annual sales convention
being held here. Others who will
speak are B. B. Kahane, Lee Marcus,
Burt Gillett and Eddy Eckels.
Term For Meehan Jr.
Universal yesterday converted John
Meehan Jr's. one-picture contract into
a term deal. He recently completed
the original screen play of "Wake Up
and Dream," which will have Russ Co-
lumbo, June Knight and Roger Pryor
in the leads. The deal was negotiated
by Hoffman-Schlager.
Newman on Lloyd Score
Harold Lloyd has set Al Newman to
score his recently completed picture,
"The Cat's Paw." It will be released
August 17, one month earlier than
previously planned, and will probably
open in the Radio City Music Hall.
Van Pelt on Race Meet
Ernest Van Pelt has been loaned by
MGM to Police Inspector Cannon to
handle exploitation for the National
Motorcycle Championship races at the
Coliseum, July 1. 2 and 3.
2M
Al I bIC
bif Helen Gwiim
That great question of story buys
pops up again most persistently, with
particular reference to the short story
field. It seems that the main argu-
ment against the buying of short sto-
ries is that they don't contain enough
characterization or enough story line.
Which is a pretty ridiculous argument
against their purchases, for several
reasons.
In the first place, if the author of
a short story were to make it any
more complete and detailed, he'd find
himself writing a novel, and if he
wrote the novel and it were bought
by a picture company, the writers as-
signed to adapt it would only have
the tough job of first eliminating the
details to get down to the story line
that makes a picture. And too often
the details so overcrowd the actual
story that the process of elimination
is so difficult that it's almost impos-
sible to know what to throw away,
and the results are slow movie.
In the second place, when a story
is bought for pictures, the author only
in rare instances adapts it for the
screen. That story is usually turned
over to writers who know what it
takes to make a picture and how to
BUILD that picture. Therefore a good
idea that they can embellish, an idea
that suggests a logical train of thought
from conception to finish, is far bet-
ter material for a motion picture
writer to work on than something he
must first tear down in order to build
up again.
Damon Runyon, having beeen a
writer of short stories for perhaps five
years, was suddenly "discovered" by
a picture company that had a sudden
rush of thought to the head last year.
Mr. Runyon has made the statement
that his stories are only as good as
the screen writers make them. Mr.
Runyon is obviously a bit more than
modest, although there is a lot of
truth in what he says. His ideas,
concisely, simply written in short
story form, are of more than fifty per
cent value to the making of a good
moving picture. The writing of the
actual picture is the hard work, the
drudgery, but given a good idea to
start with, most of the drudgery is
eliminated, and the work is routine,
with the inspiration coming from the
original idea.
There are many, many other short
story writers who have plenty to con-
tribute to the field of motion pictures,
but somehow nobody has yet convinc-
ed the majority of producers that
Runyon isn't a "freak" success, so
that they are buying every line that
Runyon ever wrote (and for that
much we can be grateful) and still
rejecting short stories by other writers
for the same old exploded theories —
that there must be more wordage and
characterization in order for them to
use their imagination and picture
them as movies.
Page Four
THE
June 19, 1934
BOB BITCHIE SflOWS MGM
WHAT HE FOUNH ABBOAD
'Rosy' Names New
Commit'tees Today
MCM executives yesterday attend-
ed, a private preview, presented by
Robert Ritchie, at which they saw and
^eard the European stars with whom
'Ritchie signed five-year contracts,
assignable to MCM, on his scouting
mission.
The forthcoming imports include
Viktor de Kowa, said to be Germany's
biggest male picture star; Luise Rain-
er, just finished her continental tour
for Max Reinhart in repertoire; and
George Rigaud, lead of Rene Clair's
"Fourteenth of July."
Ritchie also introduced from the
screen two of his new managerial pro-
teges, Mila Rarely, 17-year-old French
girl, directed by Fritz Lang in "Lil-
iom"; and Louise Ulrich, German ac-
tress seen in this country in the
Viennese film, "Unfinished Symph-
ony."
Miss Rarely is already In New York
and will be the first of the new talent
brought to the coast. Miss Ulrich's
contracts hold her in Austria the rest
of this year, and she will be better
known before her arrival in America,
as an English version of "Unfinished
Symphony" has just been completed
at the Sascha studio.
"These people are outstanding
names in Europe," said Ritchie, "and
the wonder is that they haven't been
snapped up for Hollywood before. It
was probably because it was not
known they could speak English. How
well they do speak it, these tests
demonstrate."
Of the continentals whose contracts
are already at MGM's option, George
Rigaud will be the first to arrive,
coming next month. He is a smiling
six-footer from the Argentine, de-
scribed as combining the virility of
Cable with the charm of Novarro.
Victor de Kowa is another young
giant, of the American Cagney type,
but six feet, one inch tall. He starred
in eight pictures last year, is a free
lance, and has three pictures contract-
ed ahead before he can come to Holly-
wood. He is expected early next year.
Luise Rainer, Reinhart star, will sail
in about six weeks. She is a young
girl, in appearance between Helen
Hayes and Elizabeth Bergner, She has
done one film in Germany, at Ufa,
opposite Hans Aiper.
Besides the contracts and tests,
Ritchie brought back a couple of plays
for MCM option, and secured person-
ally the rights for United States and
Canada of two pictures starring Anna-
bella.
Hungarian Play To Be
Given at Writers' Club
' "Broadway Lover," a sophisticated
ytomedy by Desider Pek. will be pre-
'sented at the Writers' Club for three
nights, beginning June 27. It is being
staged by Don Brcdie, and the cast
includes Corinne Vv'illiams, Earle
Foxe, Georgia Hale, Marion Lessing,
V^illiam Brisbane and Eugene Renard.
Mitzi Cummings in Mag.
Mitzi Cummings, MCM writer, is
jiJoing a series called "Hitting Holly-
/wood Highspots" for Photoplay maga-
/zine. The first appears in the July
issue.
Washington. — Sol A. Rosenblatt
yesterday announced that he has re-
ceived no protests in connection with
the announced intention of appoint-
ment of committees for the working
out of codes of fair practice for the
motion picture industry under the
NRA Code.
Earlier this month he announced
that such protests would be received
by him up to June 16, which would
be the final date for filing them. In-
asmuch as no protests have been re-
ceived, it is expected that he will now
at once appoint the long-awaited
Actor-Producer and Writer-Producer
Committees to settle the actor and
writer problems.
Binnie Barnes Set For
'What Women Dream'
Binnie Barnes' next for Universal
will be a top spot in "What Women
Dream," which Ernst L, Frank directs
from a script by William Hurlbut.
"There's Always Tomorrow," her
first American picture, goes back on
the stages today for retakes.
Eddy Eckels East
Eddy Eckels goes to New York
Thursday for an indefinite stay at the
RKO-Radio home office.
London House To Show
All-British' Pictures
London. — The New Gallery, one
of the noted London cinemas, is
now operating under a policy of
showing nothing but British pic-
tures. British Gaumont believes
this move justified because of the
increasing demand for home prod-
uct.
New Hays Plan To
Clean Up Pictures
New York. — It is understood that
the Hays organization is planning to
do away with the studio rotating com-
mittee which handles decisions about
studio product and to transfer its du-
ties to the board of directors of the
MPPDA. This board will be the final
arbiters on all disputed points.
It is hoped that, in this way, the
industry will be able to keep a closer
check on any pictures which may
come under criticism as being sugges-
tive or salacious.
20 Me.glin Kiddies in
MGM's Have a Heart'
"Have a Heart," the Buddy De
Sylva-Dave Butler musical in which
Jean Parker conducts a dancing school,
got going at MCM yesterday under
Butler's direction.
Twenty Meglin Kiddies are working
in it, jimmy Dunn, Stuart Erwin and
Una Merkel are also in the cast.
NRA Stops Double Bills
(Continued from Page 1 )
tied by the board, which has ruled
that there shall be no more "exchange
previews," that the only previews shall
be of those pictures that have not
been released, and an admission price
of 55 cents MUST be charged for ev-
ery seat in the house when there is a
preview showing.
These two questions, double bills
and previews, have had the local thea-
tre men suffering from jitters for
months. Producers have begged,
pleaded and threatened in order to
get the theatres back to single bills.
The theatre men have been voting on
it. But the Clearance and Zoning
Board has settled the matter for them.
Likewise the preview question.
Another drastic ruling of the board
is one that practically wipes out five-
cent shows and five-cent children's
matinees. This rule prohibits the
showing of pictures in such houses
until 365 days after they have been
shown in down-town Los Angeles in
the first run house.
These are some of the highlights of
the clearance and zoning schedule on
which the board has been working for
eight weeks, and which was complet-
ed late last night. It has been for-
warded to the Code Authority.
Clearance dates for the various
prices houses as set by the board
follow:
Houses charging 40 cents admission
get pictures 21 days after they are
shown in the downtown first run.
Thirty and 35-cent houses, 35 days.
For 25-cent houses, 49 days.
For 20-cent houses, 77 days
For 1 5-cent houses, 126 days.
For 10-cent houses, 182 days.
Five-cent houses, and children's 5-
cent matinees, 365 days.
The board figures that the sched-
ule, plus the drastic penalty of 182
days delay on pictures, will effectively
stop the running of double bills. In
the case of 10-cent houses, which
have been running even triple bills,
they would have to show pictures a
year old if they violate the double bill
ban. The board figures that there are
sufficient teeth in the schedule to set
the exhibition house in order and keep
it set.
The clearance and zoning board
members are Harry Hicks, Russell
Rogers, W. C. Riter, C. N. Peacock,
Reeves Espey, George L. Hanes and
W. C. Mathes, the government repre-
sentative.
ATTENTION
5-room apartment in La Fontaine
Apartments. Beautifully furnished.
Available on long or short lease,
$200 a month. Call
HEmpstead 7053 for apointment.
Columbia Claims
Gilbert Services
Columbia popped its hat into the
ring for John Gilbert's services yester-
day, putting forward a claim to prior
rights in negotiations for him and
blocking Universal's running off a test
for the bracket role with Claudette
Colbert in John Stahl's "Imitation of
Life."
Columbia has a string on him for
the starring assignment in the Lewis
Milestone picture, "The Captain Hates
the Sea," which is due to go into work
tomorrow. The status of the negotia-
tions last night indicated that the deal
will be closed today.
Thew Did Adaptation
Harvey Thew wrote the adaptation
of "Murder in the Private Car" and
not the original story, as reported in
the review of the picture yesterday.
The story was based on "Rear Car,"
a play by Edward E. Rose.
Suits Filed Against Erpi
(Continued from Page 1 )
ducing equipment, replacement of
parts and servicing.
The largest suit is that of the
Standard Sound Recording Corpora-
tion of New York, which demands
$9,000,000. The other plaintiffs
and the amounts sued for are: Service
on Sound Corporation, $4,500,000;
Macy Manufacturing Corp., makers of
and dealers in parts, $3,000,000;
Granger Manufacturing Co., makers
of vacuum tubes, $1,500,000; Stand-
ard Sound Service, $1,500,000; Audio
Equipment Maintenance, $1,500,000;
Sound Picture Engineers, $1,500000.
The Standard Sound Recording
Corp. alleges that, after it had pro-
duced the first short of a series for
Rowland and Brice at its New York
studio, it lost the contract to produce
the balance of the series because Uni-
versal, which .had agreed to release
the series, specified that they must
be made with Erpi equipment.
These seven suits filed yesterday,
together with three suits filed previ-
ously by the Biophone Corporation,
Henry D. Baer and the Ninth Avenue
Amusement Corp., all against Erpi,
bring the total of actions against this
company to $40,560,000.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
■^ Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
INTERNATIONAL SIX DAY BICYCLE RACE
GILMORE STADIUM
Y**"""^"''"^ lune 21, 8 P.M. — Finishing June 27 at Midnight
McNamara, Winters, Schaller, Testa, Horder, O'Brien, Yates, Wagner,
La Fenetre, Petri, Echeverria, Schuller, and Other
Madison Square Garden Stars
Reservations Now. CaM WHitney 1308 or Any of the Ticket Agencies
June 19, 1934
Page Five
PARAMOIJIVT SHOWMEX
SAY BUSINESS IS IVORMAL
(Continued from Page 1 )
these men, for they are operating more
than 1 650 houses throughout North
America.
The advance in prices is to be put
into effect to take care of the increas-
ed cost of production and exhibition
\yhich the NRA film code has placed
upon the business, stated Sam Dem-
bow, Jr., vice-president of the Famous
Theatres Company. He pointed out
that the film code has materially in-
creased costs, but that to date this has
been taken care of by a general in-
crease in attendance.
"The consumer of every other com-
codity has, during the past six months,
been compelled to pay slightly more
for his purchases," said Dembow,
"but motion picture admission prices
generally have remained where they
were during the worst of the depres-
sion."
Delegates to the convention had a
busy day for the opening session. The
morning meeting was devoted mainly
to a speech of welcome by George
Schaefer, followed by the announce-
ment of the election of fifteen ex-
changemen to the Paramount "100
Per Cent Club." The meeting then
adjourned to the Ambassador Theatre
where "Shoot tht Works," featuring
Jack Oakie and Dorothy Dell, was
shown.
Yesterday afternoon was devoted to
short subjects, with the announcement
of Paramount's short subjects' policy
and program for the coming season,
and "The Scarlet Empress" was
shown. Last night several newly com-
pleted features were screened.
Today will be devoted to the dis-
cussion of the company's production
plans for the 1934-35 release season,
and the feature program will be an-
nounced.
Coslow and Robin Set
Record For Song Speed
Asked by Paramount to rush
through two songs for Helen Morgan
in "You Belong to Me," Sam Coslow
and Leo Robin filled the order over-
night, setting something of a studio
record.
The assignment was handed out last
Wednesday. The next day, Coslow
had "1 Ain't Gonna Carry No Torch"
and, with Robin, he wrote "When He
Comes Home to Me."
Veiller Pic. Delayed
Bayard Veiller has put a ten-day
set-back on "A Son Comes Home."
It's now on the starting list for Julv 5.
The casting is still nebulous, Lloyd
Nolan being under consideration for
the son, but not set.
Para. Buys 'Dad's Day'
New York. — Paramount has pur-
chased a story by Francis Wallace,
called "Dad's Day," which will be
published in "Red'Eook. It is a foot-
ball yarn.
Adrian Morris Signed
Adrian Morris, brother of Chester
Morris, was signed by Paramount yes-
terday for a part in the Francis Lederer
picture, "Pursuit of Happiness." Hal-
lam Cooley set the ticket.
Duals Saved British
Trade, Says Graham
While major producers in America
declare that double bills are ruining
them, just the opposite is the case in
England, according to John Cecil Gra-
ham, Paramount general manager for
Great Britain, here for the convention.
He points out that when legislation
limited advance bookings in England
to protect the home product, British
production suddenly increased. With
only 4000 theatres to serve, he says
double feature bills proved a life-saver
to the industry. "Without them," he
declared, "there is no telling what
would have happened to values."
Third-Dimension Short
Shown to Convention
A new three-dimension process was
introduced yesterday to the delegates
to the Paramount convention with the
showing of "Poor Cinderella," one of
the Color Classics which will be fur-
nished by Max Fleischer on the shorts
program.
The picture, in Cinecolor, was given
a tremendous ovation by the delegates
and was one of the principal topics of
conversation after the session. Aside
from the coloring, the figures in the
picture stand out almost as though
they were seen through a stereo-
scope.
New Terms For Barbier
And Gertrude Michael
Paramount yesterday exercised op-
tions on Gertrude Michael and George
Barbier.
Miss Michael, who was in "I'm No
Angel," is concluding her first lead in
"The Notorious Sophie Lang," Bar-
bier's last Paramount spot was in
"Many Happy Returns."
Cobb a Hunter in Next
Irvin Cobb goes duck-hunting in
the first of his next season's series of
Hal Roach comedies, set to start next
Monday under Hal Yates' direction.
Cobb's try-out comedy, "Speaking of
Relations," went on Roach's current
all-star series.
Fields Limps to Lot
W. C. Fields appeared at Paramount
on crutches yesterday, his first ap-
pearance since the completion of "The
Old Fashioned Way." He strained
tendons playing tennis and has been
resting at his Toluca Lake home.
Sylvia Schulman Quits
New York. — Sylvia Schulman, for-
merly secretary to Katherine Brown,
of Radio Pictures, has resigned and
has joined the secretarial staff of
David Selznick. She left for the coast
yesterday.
Stephani Sells Rights
Frederick Stephani, Paramount
writer, has sold the English rights to
his novel, "My Candle Burns," to John
Lang Ltd. ,~~or London. The book is
in its third American edition.
/ Enterprise!
One of Culver City's theatres is
reported to have cashed in on the
Baer-Carnera fight in a big way by
cutting the fight sequences out of
"The Prizefighter and the Lady,"
and splicing them into its newsreel.
Paramount Drops
All Two-Reelers
Paramount has decided to elimi-
nate all two-reel shorts from its 1934-
35 release schedule, and will replace
them with a list of 100 one-reel sub-
jects. This was announced yesterday
by Lou Diamond, head of the com-
pany's short subject department, at
the company's convention.
Diamond explained that careful
study has proven that the public does
not care for two-reelers, but does
want one-reel subjects that are well
produced and are really entertaining.
Diamond also stated that, while
Paramount expects to make most of
the Varieties, the company is willing
to buy some of them from indepen-
dent producers, provided they can
furnish pictures that come up to the
standards required.
Mascot Takes Space For
Serial and 2 Features
Mascot Pictures yesterday engaged
shooting space at Mack Sennett stu-
dio for one serial and two features.
The serial featuring Rex and Rin-
Tin-Tin will be started next Monday,
Jed Buell, assistant general manager of
Sennett's, was notified. One of the
features will be "Young and Beauti-
ful."
Paramount Postpones
Start of Two Pictures
Paramount's two expected starters
for this week, "Pursuit of Happiness"
and "Ready for Love," yesterday were
routed down the production schedule
to next Monday. "Enter Madame" is
also listed for a June 25 start.
Casting delays and general conven-
tionitis blamed.
'Biir to Race Track
More than 70 of the cast and pro-
duction crew for Columbia's "Broad-
way Bill" leave shortly for Tanforan
race track for fourteen days of loca-
tion shooting. Frank Capra directs,
with Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy
in the leads.
'Barbary' Advanced
A change in production plans on
"Barbary Coast" at Sam Goldwyn's
yesterday had the starting date on the
picture set for July 1 instead of Sep-
tember as originally scheduled. Wil-
liam Wellman directs Anna Sten.
Hugh McCullom Weds
Hugh McCullom, co-producer with
Jules White of the Columbia shorts
schedule, was married yesterday to
Josephine Chippo, former secretary to
Frank Capra.
Frank Partos Returns
Frank Partos has returned to the
Paramount writing staff after a round
trip to New York by plane.
Para. Names 15 New
100 Per Centers'
Paramount yesterday paid signal
honor to 1 5 men from the company's
various exchanges, when they were
elected members of the company's
"100 Per Cent Club." This is an
organization that was started in 1925.
To it the company elects men from
the exchanges whose ability and char-
acter stamp them as future executives.
Those honored yesterday were: J. J.
Oulahan, Washington, D. C; 1.
Lesser, New York City; J. 8. Gard-
ner, Columbus, Ohio; B. P. Brooks,
New Jersey; L. C. Lowe, Atlanta, Ga.;
Bert Adams, Charlotte, N. C; Jack
Curry, Oklahoma City; Lester Hughes,
Maine; Frank Smith, Salt Lake City;
William Esch, Indianapolis; M. C.
Buries, Los Angeles; P. W. Robbins,
Des Moines; G. H. Haviland, Seattle;
L. M. Palmquist, Minneapolis, and
Tom Dowbiggan, Montreal.
Each man was given a special gold
badge and a paid-up $2000 life in-
surance policy.
Paramount Now Has 70
Players Under Contract
Paramount studio's list of contract
players has now mounted to the im-
posing figure of seventy, according to
an announcement made to the dele-
gates to the company's convention
yesterday.
The latest added to the contract
list are Lloyd Nolan and Elisha Cook
Jr., both of whom have been recruited
from the New York stage. They are
now en route to Hollywood. Nolan is
slated to go into "Sacrifice," and Cook
into "Ready for Love."
Hurley Back Monday To
Start Wagon Wheels'
Harold Hurley returns to his Para-
mount office next Monday. He has
been vacationing in the Sierras with
Mrs. Hurley since June 4.
Meanwhile Arthur Jacobson and
Charles Barton are casting for
"Wagon Wheels," which they will co-
direct under Hurley's supervision next
month.
New Deal For Polimer
Richard K. Polimer Inc. has been
appointed Pacific Coast representative
for William Morrow and Company,
New York publishers. Vivian Gaye
set the deal with Thayer Hobson,
president of the Morrow firm.
New One For Invincible
Maury Cohen, Invincible producer,
has bought "The Ghost Wajks^;^ a
story by Charles S.' BeFdeh, which will
be one of the new season's features.
Belden also wrote the story for In-
vincible's "Fugitive Road."
Norton on Hopkins Yarn
John Norton was engaged by Radio
yesterday to write the screen play for
the Miriam Hopkins picture, "Richest
Girl in the World," which William
Seiter is slated to direct under the
supervision of Pandro Berman.
Judgment For 'Blumcy'
New York. — A. C. Blumenthal has
been awarded judgment for S130,-
941.17 against Fox Theatres Corp.,
representing balance due on a de-
faulted note.
«liy^/iN>.ll IZ-LJ-r I PkBrTTriC" "'J^
MOONLIGHT and PRETZELS
(MoHon Picture Herald Box-Office Champion, August, 1933)
<i>
t^"-
"OUT ALL NIGHT" ^d^
(MoHon Picture Herald Box-Office Champion, May, 1933) ^^
COUNTESS OF MONTE CRISTO" , wrf^
"'"OUNTESS OF MONTE CR"''""
(Motion Picture Herald Box-Office Champion, May, 1934
1^^
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
STANLEY BERCERMAN PRODUCTIONS
CULVL'.R JITY.CALl/
IVoI. XXt. No. 36. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Wednesday. June 20, 1934
I
POSSIBLY the biggest contributing
factor to all this censorship mess can
be found in the pages of fan maga-
zines. There are today more than
twenty magazines of this type flour-
ishing in this country and spreading
the bad word about Hollywood to
hundreds of thousands of people. And
the people love it, take it as gospel
truth, while picture companies seem
fo feel that the publicity gained from
the pictures and interviews printed
justifies the means and the end.
Well, it begins to look as though
the end were pretty much in sight and
that the busy censors are about to
take care of it. In reading over some
of the statistics cited against the pic-
ture industry by prominent Church
officials, it is quite evident that they
were gleaned from reading fan maga-
zines.
•
It is next to impossible to print a
serious interview with a star that is
relative to the star's work or art, as
the case may be, or to print that
star's opinion on anything intelligent
or important. The cry is constantly
for the sensational. Give a fan maga-
zine a piece of straight news and im-
mediately there is a complaint to the
effect that there's nothing "hot" in
it, that the readers aren't interested.
But, give them a divorce, a divorce
that in any other part of the country
would be written off to incompatibil-
ity or just plain "nobody's business,"
and the fan magazines spread a mess
of story about it that is just plain-
shocking. No star can be seen out
with anyone but what the fan mags
comment with nasty implications, and
if the star is married, so much the
better, or worse.
•
Fan magazines aren't interested in
the stars and their relation to the pub-
lic, only in the stars' private lives, and
the fan mags have made a sorry joke
of that term. Not only that, but they
go to great lengths to dig up "dirt"
about anyone and everything connect-
ed with the picture industry on the
bland assumption that it's the only
thing their readers want and they're
not in business for their health.
It was the fan magazines and their
peculiar penchant for feeding the pub-
lic a strict diet of sensationalism that
first brought down the wrath of the
(Continued on Page 2)
PAI^. PLEDGES CLEAN Pl\
Cohen Tells Convention That
There Will Be No Censorship
Problems In The Coming 64
Paramount will have no dirty pictures on its 1934-35 pro-
gram. There will be nothing in the pictures of which the
company's salesmen or theatre operators need be ashamed.
There will be nothing that will call for the censors' scissors or
bring down the wrath of those who
Winchell Demands
Name Off Para.Ads
$30,000 New Record
Short Story Price
New York. — MCM is understood
to have won the distinction of pay-
ing the highest price ever recorded
for a short story when it laid down
$30,000 for "A Lady Comes to
Town." It is by Clement Ripley,
an unknown author. Radio wanted
the yarn for Katharine Hepburn
and Universal wanted it for Marga-
ret Sullavan.
DeForest Decision
Is Upset by Court
New York. — The recent court vic-
tory of RCA, A. T. & T. and Lee De
Forest in their suit against Radio En-
gineering Laboratories was upset yes-
terday by Supreme Court Judge
Cardozo. The defendants in the suit
admitted violating the DeForest pat-
ents on the feed back and oscillator,
but insisted they were the inventions
of Major E. H, Armstrong.
Judge Cardozo holds that the deci-
sion of the court was the result of
scientific error and it is now held sus-
pended until the Supreme Court con-
venes in October.
Para. Gets 'Red Pawn,'
Maybe For Dietrich
Planning it as the next vehicle for
Marlene Dietrich, Paramount yester-
day secured the rights from Universal
to "The Red Pawn," an original by
Ayn Rand, in exchange for E. Phillips
Oppenheim's "Great Impersonation."
The latter story will be the second
for Edmund Lowe on his Universal
two-picture deal.
are campaigning against unclean pic-
tures.
Emanuel Cohen, vice-president in
charge of production, yesterday gave
his word on this to the 300 delegates
gathered at the Paramount annual
convention. And he backed up his
promise by pointing out that his com-
pany already has led the way out of
the censorship woods with its last 35
pictures. He declared that 30 of these
pictures released during the past eight
months have not had a single cut
made by a censor, and, of the other
(Continued on Page 4)
Schenck Due in London
Friday; To Fly To Italy
London. — Joseph M. Schenck is due
to arrive here Friday. He will remain
a few days and, on June 28, will fly
to Italy to greet Darryl Zanuck on his
return from his big game hunting trip
in Africa.
Rivoli Dark For Month
New York. — The Rivoli Theatre
closed last night with the end of the
engagement of "Are We Civilized? "
and probably will reopen the middle
of July with "Bulldog Drummond
Strikes Back,"
ACTORS AIVD WRITERS FOR
CODE COMMITTEES XAMED
Washington. — Sol A. Rosenblatt
yesterday announced the actor and
writer members of the five-five Code
committees which will attempt to
work out a code of fair practice be-
tween producers and writers and
players. The actors named were:
Kenneth Thomson, whose alternate
is Ann Harding; Ralph Morgan, alter-
nate, Chester Morris; Richard Tucker,
alternate, Pat O'Brien; Robert Mont-
gomery, alternate, Paul Muni; Claude
King, alternate, Mary Astor.
Writers named were: Ralph Block,
alternate Gladys Lehman; John Emer-
(Continued on Page 3)
Arliss As 'Iron Duke';
H.M.Harwood Writing It
London.- — It is finally settled that
he George Arliss picture for British
Gaumont will be "The Iron Duke,"
based on the life of the famous Duke
of Wellington.
H. M. Harwood is writing the story,
which goes into production in August.
Ben Bernie To Star
Paramount pushes Ben Bernie to the
top spot in his next picture, studio
closing a deal yesterday for the Vera
Caspary story. "One Night Stand."
Walter Winchell and Paramount, as
regards their friendly relations, have
gone phfft!
^^We columnist has torn loose at
Paramount for the manner in which,
he says, the company started to use
him in exploiting "Shoot the Works."
Through his New York attorneys,
Driscoll, Raftery and O'Brien, he has
(Continued on Page 2)
Mayer Decides Not to
Attend Convention
Affer having made all plans to
leaVe last night for the MGM conven-
tion in Chicago, taking Howard Strick-
ling wit him, Louis B. Mayer decided
not to go.
The MCM lot is so busy and there
are so many conferences to be held
with Da/id Selznick, just back from
England, that L. B. figured he could
do more good here.
U' Wants Jack Oakie
Universal would like to cast Jack
Oakie as "Moon Mullins," and over-
tures will probably be made to Para-
mount tj earmark him for the banjo-
eyed comic hero of the Frank Willard
strip. Arthur Kober is working on
the script for Ed Grainger.
LaPlante-Asher Wed
Paris. — Laura La Plante and Irving
Asher, production head at Warners'
London studios, were married here
yesterday. The ceremony was per-
formed in the city hall. Jimmy Walker
and his wife. Betty Compton. were
their attendants.
]. Walter Ruben Back
J. Walter Ruben returned to Radio
yesterday from a two-months vacation
in Europe. He has one more picture
to direct at the plant before complet-
ing his deal by September 1 .
'Reb" Russell and Ann Darcy in The Man From Hell'
A
WILLIS
PRODUCTiO
KENT ■
|T>or^
Page Two
MilPQRTlM
|une20. 1934
H
i
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave. ; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
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Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
LIGHTMAN FOR CLASS RKO Theatres Add
MOTION PICTURE HOUSES Three to the String
There must be a moral to this story
— only it escapes us at the moment.
So Gloria Swanson and Herbert Mar-
shall took themselves a private yacht
and sailed over to Catalina the other
day for a nice, quiet week-end. Maybe
it was quiet — but our guess is that it
wasn't so "nice" — because the day
after the Swanson-Marshall yacht
pulled into the bay, another boat with
Walter Winchell on board, pulled in
and anchored right alongside!!! Not a
hundred yards away! Heh! Heh! But
that's not ail! Seems that when Gloria
discovered "who the neighbors were,"
she wouldn't go ashore, and donned
dark glasses, with a shawl over her
head, for the next day or so. But that
didn't stop W. W., who was right busy
with a pair of field glasses (there
wasn't anything else to do anyway) — ■
and besides, he even took movies of
the pair and the surrounding country!
Richard Boleslavsky, who will di-
rect Garbo's next flicker, hasn't met
the glamorous one yet — even though
the picture is scheduled to start in
about ten days. The other day Boley
was sitting in Adrian's office, just
talking things over, when Adrian ex-
cused himself for a few moments to
go to another office. When he came
back Adrian said he had just met
Garbo outside, and that she was on
her way to his office, but when she
heard Boley was there she ran away.
So Mr. B. left the following note in
Adrian's office for Greta: "I am more
scared of you than you are of me — so
why did you run away?"
•
A certain very boring young man
has been getting by here mostly for
the reason that so many locals think
he is quite the stuff socially in the
East. They probably think so because
his first two names are the same as
those of a prominent blue-blooded
family. BUT in the case of this par-
ticular fellow, it just so happens that
he isn't even remotely related to any
branch of that family. In fact, his
poppa was gardener on the estate of
the social tribe, and named his son
jfter "the master" — an "old American
custom." ( !)
The church drive against dirt in
motion pictures is going to be one of
the greatest and most beneficial tonics
the industry has ever had. This is the
opinion of M. A. Lightman, prominent
theatre man, who is here from Mem-
phis to attend the Paramount conven-
tion.
"This drive is something we have
needed," said Lightman. "I am cer-
tain it will prove a distinct asset, for
it will, and is now arousing an interest
in pictures among a class of people
who never thought of pictures or at-
tended movies before. The picture
business will clean house, clean up its
dirty pictures, and you will see thou-
sands upon thousands of new custom-
ers flocking to the theatres.
"A clean-up is good for any busi-
ness. It would be foolish to say there
was nothing wrong with pictures
There was. But they will be cleaned
now, and I hope that, with the new
deal and the new audiences we shall
get, a new system of theatre operation
will result.
"I believe we should have class pic-
ture houses. I don't think we should
show all pictures in ail houses. We
should have the family theatres, the
cheaper picture theatres, and the so-
phisticated theatres. Why not? The
legitimate theatres have always been
classified. They have their burlesque
houses, their stock houses, their
houses where sweet, romantic dramas
and clean comedies are presented.
They also have their houses for the
sophisticated piays. The same should
go for pictures.
"Then, if a company wants to buy
a book or story that is sophisticated,
that company can reproduce it faith-
fully, with all the lines and action as
intended. If it is shown in the sophis-
ticated houses, those who do not wish
to see it do not have to go. I think
the public should be given its right to
see the type of pictures it wants, just
as it is allowed to select its own books,
automobiles and pictures.
"And I do not think that a big, ex-
pensive production should ever be
allowed to play a 1 0 or 1 5-cent house.
Make cheap pictures for the cheap
houses. Make good ones for the
higher-priced houses. Let's get this
thing on a business-like basis."
Hearst Won't Accept
Bid to Visit France
London — William R. Hearst and his
party arrived here yesterday from
Spain. Although Mr. Hearst has been
invited to visit France during his trip,
the present indications are that he will
not do so.
Winifred Dunn to Fox
Fox yesterday signed Winifred Dunn
to write an untitled screen play which
Frank Strayer will direct and Edward
T. Lowe ]r. will supervise, under Sol
Wurtzei. The deal was negotiated by
Hof f man -Sch lager.
Harry Goetz East
Harry M. Goetz, president of Reli-
ance, left by plane yesterday on his
return to New York, after being here
a week in conferences with Edward
Small, his production chief.
Men In White^ Held
By British Censor
New York. — The British censors
are holding up the showing of
MGM's "Men in White" because
the company will not consent to
make the cuts the censors have
demanded. Arthur Loew says the
matter will be straightened out this
week.
Gaumont 'All-Star'
BidForU.S.Market
London. — British Gaumont is mak-
ing a bid for the American market and
plans to produce several "all-star"
pictures in the hope that the United
States will take as kindly to them as
it did to "Henry VIM" and "Catherine
the Great," both made by Korda's
London Films.
Its first attempt along these lines
will be the production of the famous
Tolstoi novel, "Anna Karenina," in
which the company will co-star Con-
rad Veidt and Madeleine Carroll.
Marjorie Rambeau May
Play With Lew Fields
William Rowland is considering
Marjorie Rambeau for the spot oppo-
site Lew Fields in "The Naughty
Nineties," which will follow "The Girl
Friend" on his schedule for Columbia.
Rowland also declares he has a
juvenile who looks like Dick Powell
and can sing, in the person of Joey
Ray, for the second production.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
censors on so-called "leg art" pic-
tures. The fan magazines had de-
manded and secured pictures of stars
and players scantily attired to attract
the eye of the tired business man.
And when the fan mags aren't pur-
loining sensationalism, they go in for
t.he worst kind of mawkish sentimen-
tality that is even more of an insult
to a normal, thinking person than
straight bawdiness. There is practi-
cally nothing normal, nothing whole-
some, nothing uplifting in fan maga-
zines, and the industry would be a
whole lot better off without the kind
of publicity that most of the stuff
printed in them offers for public con-
sumption.
New York. — RKO Theatres Corp. .
is busily engaged in trying to increase
its string of houses in the New York
territory, fearing the competition that
is sure to come if either Loew's or
Warners gets the Fox Met chain.
It has just acquired three more
theatres — the Forum and the Luxor in
the Bronx, and a house at Rockville
Center, Long Island. These additions
bring the RKO holdings in the terri-
tory to 49 houses.
George O'Brien Has
Own Film Company
Sacramento. — Articles of incorpo-
ration of the George O'Brien Produc-
tions, capitalized at $75,000, were
filed with the Secretary of State yes-
terday.
Sol Lesser is president, and Louis
Lurie, San Francisco capitalist, is vice-
president. The company announces
plans to make six pictures for Fox re-
lease.
Cummings to Roach
Hughie Cummings moves from the
Radio writing staff to a similar berth
on the Hal Roach lot.
Wincheirs Name Off
(Continued from Page 1 )
slapped the company with an order
to take his name off the advertising.
Winchell's blow-off came after .he
saw the picture in which William
Frawley plays a columnist character,
which he declares, offensive to him.
He also takes exception to the man-
ner in which the picture handles his
comedy feud with Ben Bernie, Para-
mount having made it appear that the
feud is real, when it is actually a gag
battle through which the two old
friends have built each other up over
a period of years.
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Complete Travel Information — Positively No Charge
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Just Phone Hollywood 2241 — PERSONAL ATTENTION
Ijune 20, 1934
THEiy
Page Three
SELZIVICK BACK, WILL START
'COPPERFIELD' IN FOVR WEEKS
Llovd George May
Come to Hollywood
mthaliL
' David O. Selznick, MCM producer,
returned to the studio yesterday from
his trip to England, bringing with him
a delegation of notables and practi-
cally completed plans for the produc-
tion of "David Copperfield" and oth-
er pictures.
In the party were Hugh Walpole,
famous writer, who will do the dia-
logue and act as editorial consultant
on "Copperfield"; George Cukor, who
will direct it; Howard Estabrook, its
scenarist; Peter Trent, a young Eng-
lish dramatic student, a candidate for
the title role; Fritz Lang, noted inter-
national director and at present a
refugee from Germany, who has been
signed to an MCM contract. Mrs.
Selznick also returned, as did Myron
Selznick, who opened a London office
for his agency firm.
Outside of the "Copperfield" plans,
Mr. Selznick had several other impor-
tant announcements. One was with
regard to the picture he is to make
based on the life of David Lloyd-
George, announced in the Reporter
some days ago. Mr. Selznick says
that, if a satisfactory story can be
worked out from the notes that
Lloyd-George is to send him, the Brit-
ish statesman will come over to su-
pervise settings and casting for the
picture.
Plans for Lang's first picture are
tentatively set, the story, which Selz-
nick and Lang worked on together,
being called "Tomorrow."
Another foreign notable expected is
Leontine Sagan, woman director of
"Maedchen in Uniform," who is also
a refugee from Germany and w.ho will
be here next month. She has recently
been directing a stock company in
England.
Louis Bromfield, American novelist,
is another added to the MCM roster
by Selznick. He will be here in Oc-
tober to do the script of his own story,
"Living in a Big Way," for Marie
Dressier. Another writer signed is
John Paddy Carstairs, who arrives next
month.
Two players were also signed. Jean
Cadell, English character actress, will
play Mrs. Micawber in "Copperfield",
and Antoinette Cellier, a 19-year-old
actress now on the London stage, has
been given a term contract.
Mr. Selznick said that Mr. Cukor
had interviewed more than 1 ,000
players and has brought back tests of
100 or more as "Copperfield" cast
possibilities. Options have been taken
on twelve. The cast, Selznick says,
will be 100 per cent English, being
made up half from the prospects found
in England and half from the English
actors now in Hollywood. All cast
decisions will be made within ten days
and the picture will go into produc-
tion in about four weeks.
While in England, Selznick made a
survey of production possibilities and
also made preliminary arrangements
for the production of MCM pictures
there, as announced in this paper re-
cently.
Buy a Sandwich and
See a Picture Free
Memphis. — Local theatre men
have turned to the restaurant busi-
ness in protest against the Tennes-
see Sunday blue law which forbids
picture shows on Sundays. The Or-
pheum last Sunday sold sandwiches
at 40 cents each, and gave a free
show with the food. Others are go-
ing to follow. Thought was sug-
gested by country clubs doing the
same.
Colbert Signs For
Seventh This Year
Claudette Colbert added a seventh
picture to her year's commitments
yesterday, signing with Warners to do
one, what and when not specified.
She is currently set to start "Imi-
tation of Life" at Universal on a trans-
fer from one of her four remaining
Paramounts, and has pictures to do for
Reliance and Columbia.
Stahl Hesitating on
Burnt Cork or Nature
John Stahl, requiring pickaninnies
for "Imitation of Life," hasn't made
up his mind whether to put white kid-
dies in burnt cork, or to use the real
article. He's been testing both at
Universal.
Universal has given up the idea of
trying to put Jack Gilbert in as Clau-
dette Colbert's lead and is shopping
some more. The picture is supposed
to start next Monday.
Talbot For Lost Lady'
Lyie Talbot yesterday was given the
part in Barbara Stanwyck's "Lost
Lady" in which John Eldredge was
originally cast. Talbot replaces Charles
Starrett, who was chalked in that spot
as well as cast in "Lady Surrenders,"
the Jean Muir picture at Warners.
The parts conflicted, so Starrett was
taken out of the Stanwyck film.
Milestone Starts Today
Lewis Milestone shoves off today on
his first Columbia production, "The
Captain Hates the Sea." Victor Mc-
Laglen and Florence Rice .head the
cast which includes Fred Keating, Ali-
son Skipworth and Wynne Gibson.
Wallace Smith adapted his own novel
in collaboration with A. Belgarde.
Coward Play in Oct.
New York. — Arch Selwyn and Har-
old B. Franklin will open Noel Cow-
ard's "Conversation Piece" at the
44th Street theatre on October 1 5 or
22, with Yvonne Printemps in the
lead. The piece is set for twelve
weeks.
Glasmon at Columbia
Columbia yesterday signed Kubec
Glasmon to write an original screen
/play for the title, "Police Headquar-
ters." No cast has been set as yet,
though the story will probably be one
of the action series with Johnny Mack
Brown in the lead.
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — Six new pictures are
coming to Broadway this week in the
hope that they will be attractive
enough to overcome the hot weather.
The list comprises:
Yesterday, "Murder on the Black-
board" at the Rialto; today, "Dr.
Monica" at the Strand; tomorrow,
"Let's Try Again" at the Music Hall;
Friday, "Great Flirtation" at the Para-
mount, "Operator 13" at the Capitol,
and "Affairs of a Gentleman" at the
Roxy.
Maureen O'Sullivan
Is Back in Hide-Out'
For the 'steenth time, Maureen
O'Sullivan yesterday cancelled her
vacation in Ireland plans and accepted
the role in "Hide-Out" at MCM
which Loretta Young was forced to
vacate because of illness.
Miss O'Sullivan was originally slated
for the role, but begged off when she
learned her father was sick. W. S.
Van Dyke directs, with Robert Mont-
gomery in the lead.
Warner Home-coming
Jack L. Warner leads the executive
contingent home this morning from
the Coast and Mountain sales con-
vention in San Francisco. William
Koenig, George Bilson, S. Charles Ein-
feld and Edward Selzer are in the
party.
Alan Crosland Starts
Alan Crosland put "The Case of the
Howling Dog" into production at
Warners yesterday. Addison Richards
went into the cast, and Helen Tren-
holme arrived on the Chief yesterday
for her lead opposite Warren William.
'U' Newsreel Moving
New York. — The headquarters of
the Universal newsreel will move
Monday from the Consolidated Labo-
ratory building to the Duart Lab build-
ing on 55th street.
Lucille Ball on Way
New York. — Lucille Ball, who is to
have a role in the coming Eddie Can-
tor picture, left here for the coast
yesterday.
ATTER5
Code Com. Named
(Continued from Page 1 )
son, alternate Rupert Hughes; James
Gleason, alternate John F. Natteford;
Dudley Nichols, alternate Seton I. Mil-
ler; Waldemar Young, alternate Cour-
tenay Terrett.
This group is made up entirely of
members of the Screen Writers' and
the Screen Actors' Guild, and no
Academy members were chosen, ex-
cept Young, who belongs to both the
Academy and the Guild. The Code
Authority will appoint the producer
members, and the committees will
then start to try to untangle the prob-
lems of the players and the writers.
We would like very much to be
able to print names in the following
story, but we .have been requested not
to because it might cast a poor reflec-
tion on a director's ability, so we'll
just tell the story because it's just
about the nicest thing we've heard of
in a long, long time.
A major company recently put in a
bid of fifteen thousand dollars for the
purchase of a story. When the offer
was brought to the author of the story,
he asked the name of the company.
When told which one it was, the au-
thor said that he didn't want the
fifteen thousand, but would give it to
that company for nothing if the bill
of sale were made to read that a cer-
tain director on the lot was to be
assigned to direct the story for the
screen. And the reason for the strange
request was because the director
named by the author was not only the
right person for the job, but because
he was the only person in Hollywood
who had ever gone out of his way to
help the author and this was the au-
thor's opportunity to repay him.
PS. — The story was sold for ONE
DOLLAR and the director guaranteed
the job.
Mrs. Patrick Campbell is annoyed.
First because this paper called .her a
"veteran" British actress. Mrs. Camp-
bell insists that a veteran is someone
who walks around on crutches. And
then because she is not "returning to
England." She is about to VISIT
England and RETURN to Hollywood.
Mrs. Campbell is keeping her house in
Beverly Hills because she's grown
quite fond of the place and because
Moonbeam has become so accustomed
to the trees in her backyard that she
wouldn't think of depriving Moon-
beam of them.
Phillip Moeller, of the Theatre
Guild, suh! started work on his first
moving picture, "The Age of Inno-
cence," yesterday, and is probably the
most excited person in all of Cali-
fornia. The possibilities of the cam-
era are "positively thrilling" to him,
and he's just like a kid with a new
toy. However, a funny thing did
happen. Someone handed Mr. Moel-
ler a list of leading men for him to
check. Moeller looked at the list and
asked who they were; he .had never
heard of them. It was explained to
him that they were all well-known
picture actors. Moeller replied: "Well,
I've never heard of them; they've
never been with the Theatre Guild."
To offset that bit of "preciousness"
though, it must be said that Mr.
Moeller is quite nervous over his first
picture venture because Radio has
given him the best of everything on
the lot and. if the picture should pos-
sibly go wrong, Moeller says he'd have
no alibi.
Page Four
THg
June 20. 1934
PARAMOUNT AIVIVOIJNCES 64
FEATURES FOR COMING SEASON
Short Subjects All
To Be One-Reelers
Cohen Guarantees
All Will Be Clean
(Continued from Page 1 )
five, only minor eliminations were
necessary.
He declared that such results have
not been due to any accident, but
rather to a well thought-out plan in
which the company has brought John
Hammell, its own censorship expert,
right into the studio to help.
Censored af Source
"From the very selection of the
story, the writing of the script and in
the actual daily shooting of the pic-
ture, Hammell sits in on the problems
affecting censorship and the reaction
of clean-thinking patrons to the pic-
tures to be made," said Cohen. "He
has my complete and positive author-
ity to eliminate anything he believes
offensive or censorially objectionable."
Cohen declared that he believes the
present assault upon Hollywood is, to
a large extent, unjustified. He said
that the producers appreciate fully
what errors have been made, but as-
sured the delegates that they were
not "deliberate flaunting of decencies,
but were mistakes in judgment."
However, he assured them that in the
future no pictures would be offered
them to sell without the proper regard
for the matters that have drawn down
criticism.
Cohen went deeply into the entire
production situation. He stressed the
fact that Paramount has pulled its
productions out of the rut in which he
said they were in 1932-33, and stated
that the organization has built up a
personnel that makes it possible for
him now to promise a product second
to none.
He emphasized the fact that, start-
ing with )932, the company has had
to build up a list of players to fill the
gaps that then existed, and he pointed
to the present roster of seventy con-
tract players, many of whom are
among the biggest money-makers in
the business.
Many New Directors
Taking up the matter of develop-
ing and acquiring new directors,
Cohen declared that Paramount has
made great progress in developing
directors from within its own ranks
who .have already shown more promise
than many of the directors hired at
larger figures.
Among these he cited Mitchell Lei-
sen, who directed "The Eagle and the
Hawk"; Al Hall, taken from the ranks
to direct "Midnight Club", "Torch
Singer" and "Little Miss Marker";
Henry Hathaway, now doing Gary
Cooper's "Now and Forever"; and Gil
Pratt, also from the ranks, now doing
his first picture, "Elmer and Elsie."
Cohen then paid tribute to the long
list of Paramount producers, its writ-
ers and the men in charge of the
selection of story material. Declaring
the company has ample funds to carry
on, he brought his speech to a con-
clusion with a whole-hearted tribute
to Adolph Zukor and George Schaefer.
The meeting was then turned over
to the associate producers, each of
whom described to the delegates the
$6000 and Split For
Baer at Paramount
New York. — Max Baer goes into
the Paramount Theatre for the
week beginning June 28 at $6000
per week and a split. He will be
in a revue which will feature Benny
Rubin.
pictures planned for him during the
coming year.
Two For Mae Wesf
Mae West, who has just completed
"It Ain't No Sin," will be starred in
two — "Gentlemen's Choice" and "Me
and the King."
Marlene Dietrich's "The Scarlet
Empress," is ready for release and she
will have another feature, the story
now being prepared.
Cecil B. DeMille's offering is "Cleo-
patra," with Claudette Colbert, War-
ren William, Henry Wilcoxon and an
all-star cast.
"The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" is
set for production, with Gary Cooper,
Gary Grant, Richard Arlen, Sir Guy
Standing and Frances Drake, Henry
Hathaway directing.
"College Rhythm," with Joe Pen-
ner of radio fame, Lanny Ross, Rich-
ard Arlen, Ida Lupino and Lyda Ro-
berta, to be directed by Norman Tau-
rog.
"R.U.R.," picturization of Karel
Capek's Theatre Guild play, directed
by Mitchell Leisen.
Bing Crosby and Miriam Hopkins in
"She Loves Me Not," with Kitty Car-
lisle and Lynne Overman, directed by
Elliott Nugent, with songs by Mack
Gordon, Harry Revel, Ralph Rainger
and Leo Robin.
Claudette Colbert in "The Gilded
Lily," with Gary Grant.
Anna May Wong Back
Sylvia Sidney and George Raft in
"Limehouse Nights," with Anna May
Wong. Alexander Hall will direct.
Sylvia Sidney in "Desire," with
Marion Gering as director.
Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard in
"20 Hours by Air," hailed as the
"Shanghai Express" of the skies.
"Sailor, Beware," picturization of
the New York comedy hit, with Bing
Crosby starred.
Francis Lederer in "Pursuit of Hap-
piness," another Broadway success,
supported by Joan Bennett, Charlie
Ruggles, Mary Boland and Walter
Kinsford. Ralph Murphy will direct.
The show-boat story, "Mississippi,"
with W. C. Fields, Lanny Ross, Evelyn
Venable and Grace Bradley, with story
and songs by Herbert Fields, Richard
Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.
"Love Thy Neighbor," with the sex-
tet from "Six of a Kind," Charlie
Ruggles, Mary Boland, W. C. Fields,
Alison Skipworth, George Burns and
Gracie Allen.
"Her Master's Voice," with Charlie
Ruggles, Mary Boland and Joe Morri-
son, directed by Marion Gering.
"People Will Talk," with Charlie
Ruggles, Mary Boland, Ida Lupino and
Kent Taylor.
"Ladies Should Listen," with Gary
Grant, Frances Drake, Edward Everett
Horton, Rosita Moreno, George Bar-
bier, Nydia Westman and Charles Ray.
Frank Tuttle is the director.
"Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch,"
with Pauline Lord, W. C. Fields, Zasu
Pitts, Evelyn Venable and Kent Taylor.
Norman Taurog directing.
One For Shirley Temple
Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard and
Shirley Temple in "Now and Forever,"
with Sir Guy Standing and Charlotte
Granville, and Henry Hathaway di-
recting.
George Raft and Carole Lombard,
stars of "Bolero," again teamed in
"Rhumba," to be made by Wesley
Ruggles.
Claudette Colbert in "Are Men
Worth It?"
The naval academy story, "Target,"
with Sir Guy Standing, Richard Arlen,
Jack Oakie, Evelyn Venable, Joe Mor-
rison and Gail Patrick.
"The Glory of the Damned," spec-
tacular drama with an all-star cast.
Bing Crosby and Kitty Carlisle in
"Here Is My Heart," which Elliott
Nugent is to direct.
Charles Laughton in Harry Leon
Wilson's "Ruggles of Red Gap," with
Charlie Ruggles, Mary Boland and Sir
Guy Standing. Leo McCarey will di-
rect.
"The Big Broadcast of 1935," with
Lanny Ross, Jack Oakie, Paul Gerrits
and a cast of radio stars, including
Jessica Dragonette.
Lee Tracy and Carole Lombard in
"The Case Against Mrs. Ames," the
Arthur Somers Roche mystery story.
Alexander Hall will direct.
"One-Night Stand," with Jack
Oakie, Ben Bernie and his band, Ger-
trude Michael, Joe Morrison, Grace
Bradley, Alison Skipworth and George
Barbier.
Three outdoor stories, "Wagon
Wheels," "Home on the Range," and
one other Zane Grey drama to be
chosen later. Randolph Scott to be
starred.
Four by Hecht-MacArthur
Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur
will produce four, the first of which
is "Crime Without Passion," with
Claude Rains, Whitney Bourney and
Margo. The second will introduce
Jimmy Savo, stage clown, against the
background of the Russian revolution.
Two additional Hecht-MacArthur
stories will be announced later.
Cecil B. DeMille's spectacular
"Buccaneer," with Henry Wilcoxon as
Morgan, the pirate, and a cast of
thousands. Laurence Stallings and
Maxwell Anderson are the authors.
Others listed are "You Belong To
Me," with Lee Tracy, Helen Mack and
Helen Morgan, directed by Al Werker;
"Ready For Love," with Ida Lupino,
Richard Arlen and Elisha Cook Jr.,
"Enter, Madame," with Gary Grant
and Howard Wilson; W. C. Fields in
"Back Porch," directed by Norman
McLeod; Damon Runyon's "The Lem-
on-Drop Kid," with Lee Tracy and
Helen Mack; "Shoe the Wild Mare,"
Gene Fowler's novel; "The Yellow
Bargain," with Lloyd Nolan and Eve-
lyn Venable; "McFadden's Flats,"
Today's Program of
Para. Convention
Today's program for the Paramount
convention at the Ambassador Hotel
Is:
9:15; Fiesta room, distribution de-
partment hears about advertising and
publicity from Robert Gillham, Tom
Baily and Bill Pine. Louis Phillips, at-
torney for the company, will talk on
NRA Code matters, and Neil Agnew,
general sales manager, talks on sales
policies.
At the same time the theatre oper-
ators will hold a meeting in another
room at which George Schaefer and
Sam Dembow will outline certain dis-
tribution and exhibition policies. Here
the theatre operators will .have the
chance to present whatever complaints
they may have.
The afternoon session will be taken
up with individual meetings by the
distribution department with Neil Ag-
new, Joe Unger and Charles Reagan.
Child Plagiarism Suit
Against Paramount Off
New York. — Federal Judge Woolsey
yesterday dismissed the plagiarism suit
brought by Richard Washburn Child
against James Hagan and Paramount,
based on the picture, "One Sunday
Afternoon."
"There was no plagiarism," the
court stated. "The charges are ab-
solutely unwarranted."
Cohen Will Entertain
Delegates at His Home
Paramount's convention will close
tomorrow evening with a reception
at the home of Emanuel Cohen, vice-
president in charge of production. It
will be the first entertainment for the
delegates since the convention began.
Endor Places Novel
Guy Endor, Paramount writer, has
placed his novel, "Babouk," a story of
a revolution in Haiti, with the Van-
guard Press, which will publish it in
August.
Grace Bradley Set
Grace Bradley's first assignment
since checking out of the hospital is
slated to be a featured role in "Pur-
suit of Happiness," at Paramount.
with a cast of comedy stars; "Lovers
in Quarantine," with Ida Lupino,
Richard Arlen, Gertrude Michael and
Randolph Scott; VinaDelmar's"Evening
Star," with Gary Grant, Helen Mack,
Gertrude Michael and Sir Guy Stand-
ing; Gary Grant and Frances Drake in
"Eyes of the Eagle"; Carl Brisson and
Kitty Carlisle in "All the King's
Horses."
In the short subject field. Para-
mount offers as wide a variety of en-
tertainment as is planned in the fea-
ture production. In addition to 104
issues of Paramount News, there will
be twenty-six Paramount Varieties;
eighteen Paramount Headliners; thir-
teen each of Paramount Pictorials;
Grantland Rice Sportlights, and "Pop-
Eye the Sailor" cartoons; twelve "Bet-
ty Boop" cartoons and six Color Clas-
sic cartoons. Max Fleischer will pro-
duce the Pop-Eye, Betty Boop and
Color Classics. All of these will be
one-reelers.
THE TREND OF PICTURES
POINTS TO-
COSTUMES
We Have Over 400,000 Complete Costumes in Stock to
Select From.
Over 100,000 Square Feet of Floor Space Devoted to
Housing the Largest Stock of Professional
Costumes in the World.
AT YOUR SERVICE
— 24 HOURS A DAY —
RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
MEDAL AND DECORATION
COLLECTION
•
LEATHER MANUFACTURING
DEPARTMENT
•
MEN'S TAILORING
DEPARTMENT
•
LADIES' DRESSMAKING
DEPARTMENT
•
EMBROIDERY DEPARTMENT
•
lEWELRY MANUFACTURING
DEPARTMENT
•
HAT MANUFACTURING
DEPARTMENT
COMPLETE COSTUMING
MILITARY
CIVILIAN
CHORUS SETS
CHARACTER
EITHER FROM STOCK OR
MADE TO ORDER
•
COMPLETE STOCK OF
JEWELRY
•
SWORDS
GUNS
WIGS
AND HAND PROPS OF
EVERY NATURE
You Are Cordially Invited
To Pay Us a Visit and
Inspect This Plant
WESTERN COSTUME CORP
"THE WORLD'S LARGEST COSTUMERS '
5335 MELROSE AVENUE
GREETINGS
P
A
R
A
M
O
U
N
T
E
E
R
X
W
E
S
T
C
O
A
S
T
THEATRES
Off with the old,
on with the new... Box- Offices eat up personalities,
stars dim in luster... the world moves on. ..the old
cry for new faces is ever in the air. New faces
for old box-offices, new attractions to stimulate
business, new personalities to capture public
fancy . . . who will they be? . . . where will they
come from? What is your box-office future?
Turn the page and face it
F
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CARL BRISSON
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KITTY CARLISLE
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KATHERINE DeMILLE
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FRANCES DRAKE
GWENLLIAN GILL
CHARLOTTE HENRY
IDA LUPINO
HELEN MACK
JOAN MARSH
GERTRUDE MICHAEL RAYMOND MILLAND
GAIL PATRICK .
LANNY ROSS
KENT TAYLOR
EVELYN VENABLE
HENRY WILCOXON
BEN BERNIE
WHITNEY BOURNE
EDDIE CRAVEN
JESSICA DRAGONETTE
PAUL GERRITS
DEAN JAGGER
JOHN LODGE
PAULINE LORD
FRED MacMURRAY
JOE PENNER
MARGO
JOE MORRISON
LLOYD NOLAN
CLAUDE RAINS
JIMMY SAVO
CLARA LOU SHERIDAb
fe.
PARAMOUNT who brought forth last year the greatest money-
getters on the screen . . . MAE WEST and BING CROSBY
...PARAMOUNT who introduced to the screen in 1933-34
Carl Brisson, Kitty Carlisle, Gwenllian Gill, Katherine
DeMille, Frances Drake, William Frawley, Charlotte Henry,
Ida Lupino, Helen Mack, Gertrude Michael, Joan Marsh,
Raymond Milland, Lanny Ross, Evelyn Venable, Henry Wilcoxon
...PARAMOUNT who will introduce to screen audiences in
1934-35 such potential draws as Pauline Lord, leading actress
of today's stage, Ben Bernie, Whitney Bourne, Eddie
Craven, Jessica Dragonette, Paul Gerrits, Dean Jogger,
John Lodge, Margo, Fred MacMurray, Joe Morrison, Lloyd
Nolan, Joe Penner, Jimmy Savo. PARAMOUNT combs the
earth for new attractions for your box-ofiFices and gets results.
Your future is PARAMOUNT
?;-=„
•"T!.-?.^
,*±1».
To the favorite men in my life
Paramount men
You can take it from me—
"IT AIN'T NO SIN "
Has what it takes
And what it takes will be your take.
You did a swell job with "I'm No Angel" and I
know it — you're the men I'll never do wrong. I wish
you could all come up an' see me before you go, but
you have to have a permit to hold a meeting here.
From a bad woman with a good heart.
MAE WEST
Sole Management
WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY
Sincere
Welcome
and
Greetings
to all members of
Paramount International
Sales Convention
Gary Cooper
June 20, 1934
Page TWrteen
So Long, Paramounteers
\\
WHERE'S ELMER?
ft
Over at Paramount with "Elsie" wishing you all
lots of luck when you go back home.
Sincerely.
GEORGE BANCROFT
GUY
PARAK
"DEATH JA
STANDING
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GREET NCS TO
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"NOW AND FOREVER"
Page F'ourteen
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June 20. 1934
H E L
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P A R A M
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GRACE
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Just Completed
"T HE CAT'S P A W"
for Harold Lloyd
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PARAMOUNTEERS
MONA MAR S
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Page Fifteen
RADIO ANIVOUXCES FIFTY
FEATURES, 300 SHORTS
Chicago. — The Radio Pictures pro-
gram for the coming season, as an-
nounced at the convention yesterday,
comprises fifty features and 200
shorts. Two of the features are listed
as specials: "Last Days of Pompeii"
and "She," both of which will be pro-
duced by Merian Cooper. The rest of
the list follows:
"Joan of Arc," "The Forsyte Saga,"
and "The Little Minister," all three
starring Katharine Hepburn; "Radio
City Revels," a big revue; "The Foun-
tain" and "Alien Corn," starring Ann
Harding; "Roberta," a musical, co-
starring Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire and
Ginger Rogers; "The Age of Inno-
cence," co-starring Irene Dunne and
John Boles, and two other Irene Dunne
pictures; "The Three Musketeers,"
"El Dorado." and "Romance in Man-
hattan," starring Francis Lederer;"The
Gay Divorce," co-starring Fred Astaire
and Ginger Rogers; "Kentucky Ker-
nels," a Wheeler and Woolsey.
"Ho, For Shanghai," a Lou Brock
musical, and another Brock musical,
as yet untitled; "Jungle," a Frank
Buck picture; "Adventure Girl," a
Van Beuren production with Joan
Lowell; "Three Stand Alone," starring
Johnny Weissmuller; "Anne of Green
Cables," "By our Leave," "Freckles"
and "Laddie," two Gene Stratton Por-
ter stories; "Hide in the Dark," "The
World by the Tail," "The Richest Girl
in the World," with Miriam Hopkins;
"The Sea Girl," to be produced by
Cliff Reid; "Wednesday's Child,"
"False Dreams," "Farewell" and
"Hudson River," the latter a Glen
Allvine production.
There will be eight series of two-
reelers and 3 one-reelers, with Lee
Marcus in charge of the two-reelers.
The Radio list of producers includes
Merian Cooper, Pandro Berman, Ken-
neth Macgowan, H. N. Swanson, B. P.
Fineman, Glendon Allvine, Jane Mur-
fin, William Sistrom, Lou Brock, Cliff
Reid and Zion Myers.
Today's sessions of the convention
include talks by Robert Sisk, publicity
head, Barrett McCormick, Phil Reis-
man, Jules Levy and some others of
the sales department. The annual ban-
quet is at the Drake tonight.
Paris Film Men Here
Bernard Natan, president of Pathe-
Cinema, Paris, and Henri Diamant-
Berger, also of Paris, are in Hollywood
for a few days. They say the visit is
purely a social one. They leave Sat-
urday.
Crinde on 'Babes' Yarn
Frank Butler, Hal Roach's scenario
chief, yesterday engaged Nick Grinde
to work with Ray McCarey in pre-
paring the screen play for "Babes in
Toyland," the Laurel and Hardy fea-
ture which McCarey directs.
Muni With Levee
Paul Muni signed a managerial
ticket with M. C. Levee yesterday.
All British Houses
Report Big Business
London. — The motion picture
business is flourishing in Great
Britain. In spite of the intense
heat, practically all the theatres
throughout the United Kingdom
are reporting heavy grosses.
Universal Draws on
MCM For Talent
Eph Asher drew on MGM for a lead
and a dialogue director for "Million
Dollar Ransom," which started at Uni-
versal Monday with Murray Roth di-
recting. Edward Arnold stars in it.
Mona Smith, who replaced Joan
Bennett in the cast yesterday, is a
Philadelphia girl who drew MCM pay
checks three months without an as-
signment. She got her Culver City
release last week and yesterday was
fixed up with a Universal terrner.
Irving Rapper, who went in as dia-
logue mentor, had been bracketed at
MGM with Frank Davis to direct
"Forsaking All Others,' which is tem-
porarily off the MGM schedule.
Three For Mary Forbes
Being signed by Radio yesterday for
"Age of Innocence," Mary Forbes now
has three assignments on three differ-
ent lots. She is working in "She
Was a Lady" at Fox and jumps to
Warners for "The Case of the Howl-
ing Dog" before doing her Radio role.
The deals were negotiated by Fred-
die Fralick.
ITOA Again Hits at
The Code Authority
New York. — M. Weisman, counsel
for the ITOA of New York, who with-
drew his Federal Court petition for an
injunction against the Code Authority,
yesterday filed a similar petition in the
State Supreme Court, before Judge
Walsh, It is returnable Friday before
Judge Dore.
Weisman says the difference be-
tween this petition and the former one
IS that ,he is now asking an injunction
to restrain the Code Authority and
various local boards from entertaining
complaints against members of the
ITOA who have not signed assents, if
the Code Authority insists upon not
hearing complaints brought by such
members.
Chicago Fair Scenes
For Cantor's Picture
The forthcoming Eddie Cantor pic-
ture will have an opening scene laid
at the Chicago Fair. At the invitation
of Rufus Dawes, president of the Cen-
tury of Progress, Samuel Goldwyn is
sending a camera crew to Chicago,
Cantor and Ethel Merman to follow
later.
Goldwyn has discarded all previous-
ly mentioned titles and is now seeking
a new one.
New One For Henigson
Henry Henigson will handle pro-
duction of "What Women Dream,"
planned for Binnie Barnes at Univer-
sal. William Jutte is working on dia-
logue for the William Hurlbut story.
Tcoi
CORDIAL GREETINGS
To Everyone Attending
Paramount's International Convention
EVELYN VENABLE
"CRADLE SONG"— Para.
"DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY'-
"DOUBLE DOOR"— Para.
"DAVID HARUM"— Fox
-Para.
Currently
''Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage P
Paramount
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TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Thursday, June 21, 1934
$4.CC€.€00 rOX MET. BID
Loew's, Warners and "Blumey"
Hake Joint Offer; Would Put
Skourases Out Of N. Y. Field
•THE classification of motion picture
theatres according to the type of pic-
tures shown is the idea advanced by
M. A. Lightman, one of the leading
exhibitors of the country and a guest
at the Paramount convention. While
the idea is not ne\N, it is interesting.
Mr. Lightman believes that, if this
can be done — and he sees no reason
why not — it would be only a short
time before picture patrons would
learn just what houses were showing
the type of entertainment sought and
would make their choice by reason of
the theatre, rather than by the title
of the picture.
As has been said, the idea is not
new, although the picture industry
never has tried it. For years it was
in vogue in the legitimate theatre.
For example, some years ago if a
theatre-goer wanted high-class plays,
he sought the Frohman or the Klaw
and Erianger .houses. Musicals and
revues were found in the Shubert
theatres. The Al H. Woods houses
specialized in bedroom farces and
other attractions that might be a bit
off-color. In New York, the Palace
was the home of high-class vaude-
ville, while the Proctor houses ran a
cheaper variety of the same type of
entertainment. And, if burlesque
was the object of the search, there
were the Columbia and the Minsky
house.
This classification may not have
been 100 per cent, but it was near
enough so that patrons made few mis-
takes. Mr. Lightman believes that
such segregation of theatres and at-
tractions will work just as well in the
picture business as it did in the legiti-
mate. Suppose Loew's State or the
Four Star became known as the house
in which the so-called "sophisticated"
pictures were shown. People who
wanted that type of picture would
naturally go to that house. Further-
more, such a plan would stop the
squawking about pictures unfit for
children to see. It would be up to
the parents, knowing where such pic-
tures were being shown, to keep their
children away. If they were per-
mitted to go to that house, the onus
would be on the parents.
•
It would seem possible in these
days of big circuits and more or less
Continued on Page 2)
French Court Says
Nana' Is All Right
Paris. — The French courts today
upheld the original Hollywood sce-
nario of Samuel Coldwyn's "Nana,"
starring Anna Sten, and tossed out
the protest of the heirs of Emile
Zola, who said it was "idiotic,
naive" and nothing like the original
story.
Catholics Move
To Protect Exhibs
Boston. — A move, sponsored by
William Cardinal O'Connell, was
started here yesterday to bring about
the termination of contracts between
exhibitors and film producers after
July 31, if the pictures supplied are
found to violate either a pre-produc-
tion censorship or the motion picture
code of morals.
A special hearing was held before
the rules committee of the Massachu-
setts House of Representatives, to de-
termine the admissibility of a petition
(Continued on Page 3)
'Invitation to Murder'
Purchased by Warners
New York. — Warner Brothers yes-
terday bought the screen rights to
"Invitation to a Murder," Rufus
King's latest mystery play which is
one of the late season successes on
Broadway. Pinker and Morrison han-
dled the deal.
MGM Heads to Chicago
New York. — Nicholas Schenck and
Felix Feist left here last night to at-
tend the MGM convention in Chicago,
opening today.
A.T.& T. BIDS $5,000,000
FOR TRI-ERGOX PATENTS
Washington. — It is understood that
A.T.&T. has offered William. Fox
$5,000,000 for his Tri-Ergon rights,
but there is a hitch in the way, that
being the necessity of satisfying the
newly-formed Communications Com-
mission that the acquisition is neces-
sary for the public interest.
This new commission holds a lot of
headaches for A.T.&T:, i^very pur-
chase it makes, every matter of policy
must be submitted to the Commission
for approval and, if the Fox offer is
turned down, either by Fox or the
(Continued on Page 8)
New York. — A move which would eliminate the Skourases
from the field of theatre operation in New York and throw the
Fox Metropolitan chain to Loew's and Warners was made yes-
terday in Federal court when Saul Rogers submitted to Judge
Mack an offer of $4,000,000 cash for
Paul Robeson Heads
Korda 'Congo Raid'
London. — Alexander Korda has
signed Paul Robeson and Nina Mae
McKinney for the leads in his forth-
coming picture, "Congo Raid." This
is ihe picture for which an expedi-
tion was sent to Africa to get back-
ground and atmospheric shots.
Robeson recently scored a big hit
in the title role of "Emperor Jones,"
his first picture. Nina Mae McKin-
ney has been in pictures in Hollywood
and more recently has been appearing
in a night club in Athens, Greece,
where she was billed as the "Black
Greta Garbo."
British Film Players
Seek Equity Shelter
London. — A movement is on foot
smong the British motion picture
players to form a branch of the Ac-
tors' Equity Association and place
themselves under the protection of
that organization.
This has been tried before, but
failed to jell, although Equity is strong
on the British stage.
Gouverneur Morris To
Write One For Mascot
Gouverneur Morris autographed a
Mascot contract for Al Levoy yester-
day, and starts work at once concoct-
ing a yarn about a newsreel camera-
man for the title "Anything Once."
Otto Brower was engaged at the
same time to collaborate on scripting
and to direct the picture.
MGM Deal For Musicals
MGM is negotiating with Lew
Brown and Bobby Crawford, of the
Brown, DeSylva and Henderson music
publishing company, to become pro-
ducers of the studio's complete musi-
cal pictures output. A deal with
Brown went cold some time ago, but
negotiations have been reopened with
the two as a team.
control of the chain. Rogers was act-
ing for Loew's Inc., Warner Brothers
and A. C. Blumenthal.
J. Robert Rubin and Leopold Fried-
man were in court to watch the
Loew's interests, Abel Gary Thomas
represented Warners, Beekman, Bogue
and Clark appeared for the theatre
chain, and Hughes, Schurman and
Dwight for the bondholders' commit-
tee. The bondholders' attorneys op-
posed acceptance of the cash offer
and favored adoption of the reorgani-
Continued on Page 2)
Katharine Hepburn
May Do 'Tudor Wench'
j. Walter Ruben is reading the
script of "The Tudor Wench" and
may do it as the last picture on his
Radio directing deal.
If he decides to direct the picture
it will be the first for Katharine Hep-
burn on the new schedule and will
probably replace one of the three now
scheduled for the star.
No Loan For Curtiz
Warners has turned thumbs down
on Michael Curtiz directing the Clive
Brook picture for British Gaumont,
although the director is en route to
London for a vacation.
Trem Carr Comfortable
Considerable concern was expressed
for Trem Carr yesterday at the Cedars
of Lebanon, Dr. H. L. Uptegraff for-
bidding visitors. A late report, how-
ever, attributed Carr's condition to a
relapse and had him resting comfort-
ably.
Marc Connelly Here
Marc Connelly arrived yesterday by
train from New York to start his Para-
mount writing contract on "A Village
Tale," a novel by Phil Stong.
wm
C O S L O W IN YOU BELONG TO ME -PARAMOUNT
Page Two
TH
|une21, 1934
W R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The Wes Ruggles have done sonne-
thing that makes everybody say, "Why
didn't I think of that?" . . . They're
building a house (with all the trim-
mings) in Beverly, but they've had the
swimming pool and bar built first and
will use them all summer, even though
the house won't be completed for
some time! . . . Whitney Bourne, an-
nounced as a "coming Paramount
star," only has two million dollars in
her own name! . . . Hugh Walpole,
who arrived here Tuesday, went to
work at MCM yesterday — which isn't
wasting any time! . . . Milton Beecher
and Florine McKinney are ablaze. . . .
Preston Foster is living on his boat at
Balboa. . . . Dorothy Dare (formerly
leading lady in the Joe Cook shows)
gets here Friday for Warners.
•
Adrian leaps off on a vacation today
— probably to the East. ... Liz Du-
pont decided a few hours before plane
time to go to N'Yawk with Kay Fran-
cis— which she did. . . . Grace Moore,
Ruth Chatterton, Bee Stewart, Virginia
Bruce, Frances Coldwyn among those
at Kay's for a lunching farewell. . . .
Richard Cromwell has bought a print
of "Tol'able David," the first film he
ever appeared in, for his own personal
use. . . . Somebody in Australia sent
Walt Disney two trick kangaroos as a
gift — but when they arrived here,
they were three. Nice work!
•
Lola Lane plays the piano and sings
in a manner worth mentioning
Mae Clarke is "resting" by calling up
her friends all day and night. , . Paul
Kaye and "Buddy," Junior Laemmle's
secretary, are in the throes. . . . The
Donaldson boys, being educated by
Joan Crawford, have finished junior
college — and will be at U.S.C. in the
Fall. . . . After his flicker is finished,
the Gary Coopers will go East for sev-
eral weeks — Sandra is sooo bored! . .
Sign on a local theatre says, "She
Made Her Bed" and "Three Little
Pigs." . . . Aline MacMahon, Sally
Filers, Guy Endor, Nigel Bruce, Ad
Schulberg, Ben Wasson, Wm. Le-
Baron, Mrs. Clark Gable, the Eric
Blores, Mona Maris, Lewis Milestone,
Max Steiner, Ben Lyon, Vivian Gaye,
Charles Brackett glimpsed at the
Vendome.
"THE LIFE OF VERCIE WINTERS"
Radio prod.; director, Alfred Santell; writers, Louis Bromfiled, Jane Murfin.
Music Hall
Post: A touching story, intelligent direction and a handsome group of well-
behaved performers. No great shakes of a story, but there are so many
charming people in it and so little hysterics, that the production leaves a
very pleasant impression. Miss Harding is at her best, and Betty Furness
and Frank Albertson are stunning as the young couple.
lournal: "The Life of Vergie Winters" is told with a sombre dignity; costumed
in the quaint fashions of the early 1 900's and stresses the beauties — or,
if you prefer — the results of self-sacrifice. Miss Harding and Mr. Boles
play the familiar parts satisfactorily, and the small-town atmosphere in
which the story unfolds is effective.
Herald-Tribune: Alfred Santell has given his piece human interest, a colorful
atmosphere and an emotional content that will probably make the picture
a good box-office draw, but he has failed to lend much subtlety to his
portrayal, and the jerkiness of the unfolding episodes is a little annoying.
Mirror: The gallant Miss Harding is more gallant than ever in this Louis Brom-
field story. It is far-fetched, but it provides the glamorous star with a
congenial role and it induces the pleasant tears women always shed over
movies about womanly sacrifice. It is cleverly directed and skilfully
played.
Times: It is an ingenuous, sentimental affair, with competent acting for the
most part and indifferent dialogue. Miss Harding gives a clever perform-
ance, but her good work is wasted on such a trivial narrative.
Sun: In a story not unlike "Back Street," John Boles again grows gray and dis-
tinguished while his true love, shut out of his life by circumstance, be-
comes more and more forlorn. "The Life of Vergie Winters" might well
have been written for Ann Harding, so enthusiastically does she suffer
and at such length. She has a dreary time of it and seems to enjoy it
hugely. Direction and acting are workmanlike, but a little monotonous.
News: Most of the situations have been done time and time again on the screen,
but in spite of the banalities of the plot Louis Bromfield's characters come
alive on the Music Hall screen because they are presented by the director,
Alfred Santell, with a refreshing simplicity and a realism that lifts the
picture high above the average film.
American: As Vergie Winters, Ann Harding offers her usually effective por-
trayal. John Boles finds himself in the same position he occupied in
"Back Street" and gives a sincere picture of a man whose duty binds him
to two mistresses.
Mifchell and Durant
BaHered, But Here
Battered as a result of an automo-
bile accident, Frank Mitchell, Jack
Durant and their manager. Gene
Mann, returned from New York yes-
terday.
The trio toppled off a Kearny,
Nebraska, bridge in a speeding car,
narrowly escaping with their lives.
Foy Picture For Col.
Columbia has entered into an agree-
ment with Bryan Foy to release his
next picture, "That's Gratitude,"
which Frank Craven is writing and will
direct when it goes into work next
month. Negotiations are still on to
set the release of his last picture,
"High School Girl."
4 Million Fox Met. Bid
(Continued from Page 1 )
zation plan which was submitted
earlier this month.
It was shown to the court that the
cash assets of the chain are now
$1,554,000 and that there is another
$400,000 for the unsecured credi-
tors. These amounts, with the
$4,000,000 cash, would net the
bondholders and creditors approxi-
mately 45 per cent of their claims.
Judge Mack will hold another hear-
ing today and may approve the fore-
closure sale and the acceptance of the
Loew's-Warner offer. If this even-
tuates, the Fox Metropolitan chain will
be split between Loew's and Warners,
with the Skourases being definitely
out of the field.
To satisfy counsel for the bond-
holders that the $4,000,000 offer was
genuine, counsel for the two corpo-
rations submitted it in writing. The
Fox Met bonds, on the strength of
the offer, rose another seven points
yesterday, after their jump of eight
points the day before.
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families. Good beach. Call
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Col. Has 5 Features
Left On Schedule
Columbia still has five features and
three shorts to get into production to
complete its season's releasing com-
mitments.
"Hello, Big Boy," in Felix Young's
department, will be the next to start.
It had been scheduled for this week,
but no director or leads have been
assigned. "Orchids and Onions" was
also on the board for this week, but
goes back until a cast is fitted around
Carole Lombard.
"Produce the Body," "Among the
Missing" and "I'll Fix It," with jack
Holt, are the other features. Two
Minute Mysteries and a musical short
also must be turned out.
June Brewster Loses
Teeth and Job Same Day
June Brewster had two wisdom
teeth yanked yesterday and had to
resign a part in MGM's "Four Walls"
for which she was to have reported
today.
Second bad break for the girl, as
she lost a repeat engagement for Ra-
dio's new "Blondes and Redheads"
series by being in New York when
the lead was set.
Block Back to Warners
Ralph Block has returned to the
Warners writing staff and .has been
teamed with Sy Bartlett to write an
original for James Cagney.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
centralized operation of theatres to
divide the houses into classes so that,
as in the legitimate theatre, there
could be few if any mistakes made as
to the type of entertainment shown.
Houses for sophisticates, for lovers of
musicals, for comedies or pictures
"for the family", for action films
could, it appears, be so established
that each would have its own clien-
tele. Then books, plays or stories
could be produced as written, with a
guarantee that the resulting pictures
would be shown before audiences who
desired and would appreciate that
type of entertainment.
STUDIO EMPLOYEES
you can borrow on
if Salary - Furniture
or Automobiles
$10 to $300
24-HOUR SERVICE
Strictly Confidential
Small Monthly Repayments
Loans Arranged by the
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg. 1 680 N. Vine
HEmpstead 1133
BEVERLY HILLS \Cy
Wilshire Blvd. ai Beverjy^ Drive
June 21, 1934
Page Three
MGM LISTS 52 FEATURES OIV
IITH PRODVCTIOiV PROGRAM
8 Super-Specials I Presbyterian Synod Hays Office Steps
Head the Schedule ,.„?f' K9**^°"« ^" on The Green Hat'
Starting its eleventh production sea-
son, Metro-Coldwyn-Mayer announces
for the coming year 52 features, of
which eight will be super-specials.
The company prefaces its announce-
ment with the statement that, in its
ten years, the studio has never closed
and that it has employed an average
of 1600 workers and 6720 players
and extras annually.
All production will be at the Culver
City studios, under the supervision of
Louis B. Mayer, Irving Thalberg, Da-
vid O. Selznick, E. J. Mannix, Hunt
Stromberg, Harry Rapf, Lawrence
Weingarten, Bernie Hyman, Lucien
Hubbard, John Considine and Monta
Bell.
The eight program leaders are:
"The Merry Widow", directed by
Ernst Lubitsch, with Maurice Cheval-
ier and Jeanette MacDonald; "David
Copperfield", a David Selznick pro-
duction, to be directed by George
Cukor; "The Good Earth", based on
Pearl Buck's novel, with George Hill
directing; "Chained", from a story by
Edgar Selwyn, co-starring Joan Craw-
ford and Clark Gable and with Clar-
ence Brown directing; "The Barretts
of Wimpole Street", directed by Sid-
ney Franklin, with Norma Shearer,
Fredric March and Charles Laughton
heading the cast; "Mutiny on the
Bounty", with Gable, Beery and Mont-
gomery, directed by Frank Lloyd;
"Naughty Marietta", the Victor Her-
bert operetta, with Jeanette MacDon-
ald, Robert Leonard directing; "Marie
Antoinette", with Norma Shearer
starred and Sidney Franklin directing.
S. N. Behrman's play, "Biography
of a Bachelor", is to co-star Ann
Harding and Robert Montgomery un-
der direction of E. H. Griffith.
"In Old Vienna," Vicki Baum's
drama, is to co-star Ramon Novarro
and Evelyn Laye, with libretto by Os-
car Hammerstein II and music by Sig-
mund Romberg.
Jean Harlow is to star in "His
Brother's Wife", by George Auerbach;
"Indo-China", an Oriental drama star-
ring Joan Crawford, with Victor Flem-
ing directing; "Movie Queen", by
Sidney Skolsky, a Marion Davies star-
ring vehicle; "Sequoia", with Jean
Parker, Russell Hardie and others, and
which was completed by Chester
Franklin and Nick Grinde after two
years in the Sequoia wilds, is also on
the program.
Other important pictures include;
"The Winning Ticket", with Louise
Fazenda and Leo Carrillo, produced by
Charles Reisner and Jack Cummings;
"The Green Hat", with Constance
Bennett and Herbert Marshall, di-
rected by Robert Z. Leonard; "China
Seas", in which Tay Garnett directs
Clark Gable and Jean Harlow; Mary
Roberts Rinehart's "Tish"; Barrie's
"What Every Woman Knows", with
Helen Hayes; "Soviet", directed by
Frank Capra, with Wallace Beery and
Clark Gable; "The Gravy Game", foot-
ball story; "The Painted Veil", W.
Somerset Maugham's story, starring
Garbo, with Herbert Marshall, Richard
Presbyterian Synod
Backs Catholic War
Wooster, Ohio. — A resolution
supporting the movement for bet-
ter and cleaner motion pictures anc
commending the stand taken by
the Catholic Church, was adopted
by the Ohio Presbyterian Synod
yesterday.
Boleslavsky directing.
"Two Thieves", from Manuel Kom-
roff's novel, an all-star production;
Robert Montgomery in "Hide-Out",
W. S. Van Dyke directing; S. S. Van
Dine's "Casino Murder Case" to co-
star William Powell and Myrna Loy;
"Jungle Red Man", to be filmed
among Amazon Indians by George
Seitz; Ramon Novarro in Lezio Bus
Fekte's "Her Excellency's Tobacco
Shop"; Wallace Beery and Clark Ga-
ble in Major Pechkoff's Foreign
Legion story, "The Bugle Sounds",
W. S. Van Dyke directing.
"No More Ladies", comedy by A.
E. Thomas; Mady Christians, the Eu-
ropean star, in Anne Austin's "Wicked
Woman", directed by Charles Brabin;
"Dolly", directed by Gregory LaCava
and featuring Gladys George; Guy
Gilpatric's "Any Port in a Storm",
with Wallace Beery; Loretta Young
in "Forsaking All Others", directed by
Frank Davis and Irving Rapper.
Jean Parker and Jimmy Dunn are
co-stars of "Have a Heart", directed
by David Butler; "Four Walls" is be-
ing directed by Paul Sloane, with
Franchot Tone, Karen Morley, Gladys
George and others; "Death on the
Diamond", directed by Edward Sedg-
wick, with Franchot Tone; John Monk
Saunders' "Manners Make the Man";
"Timberline", Gene Fowler's story of
Tammen and Bonfils; "The Wind and
the Rain", with all star cast; "Man
Crazy", Vina Delmar's Liberty maga-
zine story; "Pamela Thorndyke", new
Moss Hart comedy; "White Bird",
Major Herbert Yardley's drama of the
spy system; "Evelyn Prentice", by W.
E. Woodward.
Also scheduled are "Repeal", from
Charles Francis Coe's story, with Jean
Harlow; Hugh Walpole.'s "Vanessa",
for Helen Hayes; Louis Bromfield's
"Living in a Big Way"; an untitled
story for Gloria Swanson; and two all-
star comedies to be produced by the
new team of Reisner and Cummings,
players to include Jimmy Durante,
Charles Butterworth, Louise Fazenda,
Stuart Erwin, Una Merkel and Ted
Healy.
British & Dominions
Hit by the Dickens Bug
London. — The Dickens fad has hit
the British picture producers, and
British and Dominions is planning to
produce "The Old Curiosity Shop."
Herbert Wilcox says production will
start in August and that the picture
will have an American star and direc-
tor.
Natteford to Col.
Jack Natteford was signed yester-
day by Columbia to write a western
story, probably for the Johnny Mack
Brown series.
For the second time this week,
MGM has run into Hays office cen-
sorship trouble on a picture which was
already "in the can". This time it's
"The Green Hat," which Robert Z.
Leonard directed and finished about
three weeks ago.
Monckton Hoffe has been assigned
to rewrite the script on the objection-
able scenes, and Leonard will put it
back into work with Herbert Marshall
and Constance Bennett in the leads.
"Born To Be Kissed" ran into the
same trouble earlier this week.
Jerry Mandy Heads
New Producing Outfit
A new independent producing com-
pany, Cavalcade Pictures, has just
been announced with Jerry Mandy as
its president and also its feature player
in the company's initial production,
the title of which has not yet been
disclosed.
Others in the company include
Harry S. Marks, producer-executive,
and Darby Compton, in charge of ex-
ploitation. Two newcomers to the
screen will be introduced by the com-
pany. They are Rudolph Cosonova and
John Castahno.
Mona Smith Deal With
Universal Is Held Up
A last minute hitch in terms yes-
terday resulted in the cancellation of
final negotiations to place Mona Smith
under term contract at Universal.
Mary Carlisle was borrowed from
MGM to take the top spot with Phil-
lips Holmes in "Million Dollar Ran-
som" instead. Murray Roth is shooting
t.he picture, under Eph Asher's super-
vision.
Saal and Kelly Will
Make a Gang Picture
New York. — William Saal and Burt
Kelly, of Select Pictures, have bought
Herbert Asbury's book, "Gangs of
New York," and will produce it as one
of the series of independent produc-
tions they are making at the Biograph
studios.
Move To Protect Exhibs
(Continued ffom Page 1 )
calling for such contract termination.
It developed into a stormy session,
with Father Russell Sullivan, S.J., ap-
pearing at t.he request of Cardinal
O'Connell, emphatically declaring that
the motion picture magnates cannot
continue to offend an organization of
20,000,000 people.
Father Sullivan explained that those
he represented desired to cleanse the
screen without inflicting hardships on
anyone. He also stated that he is
willing to take the industry's code of
morals to determine whether or not a
picture violates proper standards.
Father Sullivan declared that a boy-
cott of two feature films a month
would put any of the picture com-
panies on the rocks.
moaiK
^
ATTER$
It took Henry Hull weeks and
weeks to make up his mind whether
or not to sign for pictures and then,
when he signed with Universal, there
was even more vacillating about just
when he would leave for the Coast.
At one moment, Hull thought he'd
stick out t.he Summer in "Tobacco
Road"; at another, he was threatening
the management that he would leave.
And then there was Universal which
had something to say about the mat-
ter. Finally, Mr. Hull informed the
assembled company one night that
the show was closing because he was
going to Hollywood. Much to .his
surprise and chagrin, the company in-
formed him that he was slightly mis-
informed. That he was leaving, but
that the show was not closing. They
had found someone to play Jeeter.
The finding of this man represents
one of the swellest pieces of show-
manship that has been thought of in
years. They needed not only an actor
to replace Hull, but someone who
would startle the public conscious-
ness and give themselves another
break in the papers.
•
And they found him in James Bar-
ton. Barton took over the Hull role
Monday night and had to take four-
teen curtain calls for his magnificent
performance. His interpretation of
Jeeter doesn't ape Hull's, but is every
bit as effective, and the critical raves
in every paper Tuesday, including the
New York Times, were a complete
justification of the management's
choice of Barton. It also should prove
to the critics who were so certain that
"Tobacco Road" was Henry Hull, the
fact that, granted it takes a good
actor to make a part, the part must
also be well written for an actor to
give his best. The last legit role that
Barton played was when he replaced
the late Hal Skelly in "Burlesque."
•
Just one more Mrs. Pat Campbell
story and then we swear off for the
Summer. But this is the best critical
description of a person we've heard in
years. It was at a supper party in
London and someone asked Mrs. Pat
if a certain girl had been in her com-
pany some years before and whether
Mrs. Campbell remembered .her. "But
of course I do," said Mrs. Pat. "She's
the little girl who used to stand with
her legs akimbo!"
•
Just on the face of it, we kinda like
the type-casting that MGM has given
"Four Walls." It is a Jewish story
entirely about Jewish people, and Paul
Muni once made a terrific hit in it.
To date the main roles are being han-
dled by Franchot Tone, May Robson
and Karen Morley. To continue
about MGM, "The Painted Veil" will
be Garbo's last effort for that com-
pany under her present contract, so
for the next eighty or ninety weeks,
columns will be filled with specula-
tions as to whether Garbo will sign or
Garbo won't sign and Sweden will
once again make the front pages.
RALPH RAINGER
AND
LEO ROBIN
wrote
"TAKE A LESSON FROM THE LARK"
ind
"DO I LOVE YOU!"
fo.
THE PARAMOUNT PICTURE
"SHOOT THE WORKS"
£**22»if.
Management
Small-Landau Company
MACK CORDON
and
HARRY REVEL
wrote
U
With My Eyes Wide
Open, I'm Dreaming
11
w
Were Your Ears Burning, Baby?'
''In The Good Old Winter Time'
For the Paramount Picture
>>
SHOOT THE WORKS
ff
All the bands are playing them
and everyone predicts they are
sure-fire hits . . . We Hope So!
Thfs fs our sincere wi?
for the Paramounteers
rish *
This is
Howard J. Green
who collaborated with me on
"SHOOT THE WORKS"
CLAUDE BINYON
SCREEN PLAYWRIGHT
ARLINE JUDGE
as
JACKIE
in
"SHOOT THE WORKS"
Directed by Wesley Ruggles
.2^.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^KK72)/7/>7/f7/i//y7/V^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Hi^^^^^^^^^^^^H
lune 21. 1934
ilii?©mriPi
Page Seven
PARAMOCXT SETS DATES
FOR REGIONAL MEETS
Hopi Indian Life
Will Be Screened
Starting next week, Paramount's
distribution organization will hold a
series of regional conventions through-
out the country to acquaint every
member of exchange operation with
the sales plans for the coming season.
The locations and dates of these
meetings were decided upon yesterday
at the Paramount convention at the
Ambassador Hotel.
The first will be at San Francisco,
opening June 25. Los Angeles, Seattle,
Portland, Denver and Salt Lake ex-
changes will attend. As soon as this
meeting ends, the Chicago meeting
will start, with the exchangemen from
Milwaukee, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kan-
sas City, St. Louis, Omaha, Des
Moines, Minneapolis and Sioux Falls.
June 29 and 30 will be the dates
for the regional at Atlanta, July 2 and
3 there will be one at Washington,
and on July 6 and 7 the final one at
New York.
The convention closes tonight with
a reception to all delegates at the
home of Emanuel Cohen. Most of the
delegates will be leaving tomorrow,
but some are remaining for the col-
legiate track meet Saturday.
Yesterday's sessions were devoted
to discussions regarding advertising,
sales policies and NRA Code matters.
The theatre operators, who are guests
of the convention, met with George
Schaefer and Sam Dembow for discus-
sions of their problems.
New York. — John L. Nelson, of the
Museum of the American Indian, is
planning to produce a picture based on
the life and drama of the Hopi In-
dians. Lewis Jacobs, one of the edi-
tors of Experimental Cinema, has been
engaged to direct it. An expedition
will leave here for New Mexico and
Arizona at the end of this week.
Jacobs is planning to experiment
with montage theories, tying image
to sound.
No Union Insurance
For Airplane Deaths
Local 659, lATSE, the cameramen's
union, yesterday notified all its mem-
bers that, effective last Friday, the
union will not pay any death benefits
when death is caused by airplane acci-
dents.
The organization has an insurance
provision which, for all deaths but
those by airplane, pays the estate of
the member $1000.
Job For 'Bud' Lesser
Bill Plant .has added Julian "Bud"
Lesser, son of Sol Lesser, to his pub-
licity staff on "Peck's Bad Boy" and
"Chandu." He is a student at Stan-
ford and will remain on the job during
the Summer vacation.
ASTING
■TO-THB-MINim
Betfy Furness, Ruth Channing, Ce-
cilia and Linda Parker by MCM for the
Pete Smith "Rugby" short.
Virginia Verrill to "Hide-Out, "
MCM.
Lynn Cowan for MCM's "Student
Tour."
Adrian Morris to "Pursuit of Happi-
ness," Paramount.
Irving Bacon for Paramount's "You
Belong to Me."
Jameson Thomas to "Lost Lady,"
Warners.
Phillip Reed for "Big-Hearted Her-
bert," Warners.
Cwili Andre, Emily Fitzroy and
Frank Conroy for "Captain Hates the
Sea," Columbia.
Harry Holman to "Broadway Bill,"
Columbia, through Leo Morrison.
Bobby Watson for "Hide-Out,"
MCM, by Leo Morrison.
Robert Cleckler for "Million Dollar
Ransom," Universal, by Leo Morrison.
Josephine Whittell for "Servants'
Entrance," Fox, by O'Reilly-Mann.
Leon Waycoff for "Count of Monte
Cristo," Reliance, by O'Reilly-Mann.
Earle Foxe to "Serenade," Fox, by
Hallam Cooley.
Del Henderson for "Captain Hates
the Sea," Columbia, by Hallam Cooley.
Bob Craves, through Hallam Cooley,
for a Radio short.
Robert Allen and Barbara Read to
"Broadway Bill," Columbia.
Mitchell Lewis for Edward Small's
"Count of Monte Cristo."
Maynard Holmes, by Hoffman-
Schlager, to "A Lady Surrenders,"
Warners.
Bob Custer to Mascot's serial, "The
Law of the Wild."
Ce'orge Baringer for "The Captain
Hates the Sea," Columbia.
Andy Devine to "Million Dollar
Ransom," Universal.
Snub Pollard to "One More River,"
Universal.
Russell Hopton to "A Lady Surren-
ders," Warners.
U' Kid Is Tri-Lingual
Universal yesterday signed 2'/2-
year-old Juanita Quigley to play the
role of Claudette Colbert's daughter in
"Imitation of Life." Universal claims
she is the youngest actress in Holly-
wood to speak lines. She speaks Eng-
lish, French and Spanish fluently.
Brown a Director Again
Mel Brown forsakes play producing
to make another try at directing after
more than a year's absence. Mono-
gram has signed him to handle "Red-
heads," the Jesse L. Lasky Jr. script,
which Mrs. Wallace Reid is producing.
SOUND
by
PACCI
in
\\
SHOOT THE WORKS
A Paramount Picture
u
"MANHATTAN
MELODRAMA"
SCREEN PLAY
By
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
( In Collaboration)
•
♦
Subscribed by the School Children
of Bad Nauheim
♦
Under Contract To
M - C - M
Page Eight
|une21, 1934
BAER OF WRITERS TELLS HOW
TO LICK THE FILM €ARIVERA§
Present Set-up on
Way Out, He's Sure
Ben Hecht Advises
Future Scenarists
Three great, and almost insur-
mountable, obstacles stand in the way
of a writer's success in the motion
picture field. They are the directors,
the " actors and actresses, and the
bosses. And the most useless of the
lot are the bosses.
But the time is not far distant when
these obstacles will have been dropped
by the wayside, will have passed on
with the one-hoss chaise, and the
writers will be running the motion
picture production business.
This was the gist of a recent ad-
dress given by Ben Hecht, the Max
Baer of the writing profession, before
a group of Columbia University stu-
dents who are preparing for the busi-
ness of writing for the motion pic-
tures. Hecht outlined the obstacles
they have to face, and gave them
good, if somewhat satirical, advice on
how to remove these obstacles.
Only a P'ollyanna
"When you go to Hollywood, you
will be confronted by three obstacles,"
said Hecht, "and if my remarks seem
a little wild to you here this evening
there will come a day when you sit
embattled with the celluloid muse in
Hollywood when these same remarks
will strike you as the mild and gentle
mouthings of a Pollyanna.
"I say you will encounter three ob-
stacles. And the first of these will
be an ex-parachute jumper, or ex-
stock company actor, or ex-automobile
mechanic, or ex-bondsalesman, or ex-
haberdasher who bears the title of
director.
"Long ago, some ten or fifteen
years, when movies were silent and
used to be written on the cuff, that is,
made up as everybody went along,
directors were the powers of Holly-
wood. They got the most money,
wielded the most authority and were
looked on by the bosses as sheer ma-
gicians.
Writers Began to Rise
"When the talkies came along, the
directors found themselves being
slowly shuffled off their thrones. And,
what was worse, by a contingent of
movie workers who, up to that time,
had been the lowliest in cinema land,
the writers. In the silent movies the
writer was a sort of literary valet to
the director. But when talkies came,
all kinds of things began to happen.
The theatre entered the movies. The
panicstricken directors issued dicta
that dialogue must be kept down,
that dialogue was fatal to pictures.
The playwright, fresh from New York,
would hand in two pages of dialogue
and get it cut down to a sentence
and a half."
Hecht then pointed out that the
director gradually began to lose
ground, and described directors, with
few exceptions, as being untrained in
dramatic thinking, writing and verbal
visualizing. He declared that the di-
rector tells the writer that said writer
knows nothing about pictures, and he
will chop down the lines, explaining
sometimes that your words do not
sound well in the microphone. And,
Cantweil Predicts
Federal Censors
Kansas City. — Bishop Cantweil,
of Los Angeles, speaking here yes-
terday, predicted Federal censor-
ship of motion pictures next season
if the films are not cleaned up.
The box-office is the sensitive
point, he saJd, and the boycott is
the only effective weapon.
in the end, only about one-third of
the writer's work gets to the screen.
Screaming the Remedy
"There is only one remedy for
this," said Hecht. "Scream and you'll
win. Never admit that a single word
of yours is wrong. Act like Shakes-
peare and Euripides and Dempsey, and
two-thirds of your play will be shot.
Or, you can resign. That's good, too."
He then jumped to obstacle number
two, the actor or actress, and de-
clared they are worse than the direc-
tors, because, he says, the star is re-
sponsible in an involved way for the
general bankruptcy of the movies to-
day. "Not the money he or she col-
lects, but the more dire influence he
exercises in the concoction of movies."
He asserted that, when the writers
go to Hollywood, they are not allowed
to write about something they know
or have deep in their hearts, but are
ordered to write what plots the par-
ticular stars can perform in.
"And this," he said, "is not like
inventing things that might fit Bern-
hardt or Coquelin, or even Alfred Lunt
or Ina Claire. There are plenty of
first-rate performers in Hollywood,
but with few exceptions they are not
among the stars. The star is a phe-
nomenon new in entertainment. A
sort of freak greatness built up by
publicity and the asinine infatuation
of millions of goofs who go to the
movies. Well, you write for these
stars. And what you write is not
judged by its merit, but by its tailor-
ing. Will it fit the Crawford mouth?
Will it afford the audience the Dress-
ier belch?
Always Pan the Stars.
"There is an answer to this obsta-
cle. You don't write for stars. When
you get to Hollywood, begin a cam-
paign against the stars. Broadcast
the fact they are slipping. Answer
all arguments with the flat statement
that they are sure death at the box-
office.
"Obstacle number three," Hecht
continued, "is a very urbane and usu-
ally charrrfing gentleman, with a
fanatic interest in haberdashery and
national political connections. His
name may be Louis Mayer, Winnie
Sheehan, Harry Cohn or joe Schenck
— or, if you want a lot of experience
in a brief time — Sam Goldwyn. He
is the Satrap who passes on the qual-
ity, purport, content, etcetera of your
work.
"In the ten years during which I
have invented some fifteen movies I
have never yet worked for a boss who
knew the difference between a theme
and a plot, who was able to under-
stand why the movie was written the
way it was, w.ho had the remotest
interest in originality, the remotest
conception of dramaturgy, or whose
opinion was worth a plugged nickel
in the creation of a movie."
The Mighty Will Fall
Hecht went on to say that the boss'
chief function is to act as a sort of
liaison Pooh-Bah between the studio
and the bankers who are losing their
money trying to pull the studio out
of a hole that has been dug by the
boss.
Swinging into his conclusion, Hecht
declared that he feels these expensive
bosses and their expensive relatives
and assistants are going to be junked
shortly.
"The director, too, will be de-
moted," he said, "to about the place
he occupies in the theatre. And the
star likewise will be shelved, except
where his stardom is founded upon a
bit of genuine merit. All this will
happen because the movies are no
longer the movies, but the theatre,
and the theatre cannot be run like
a sideshow. And w.hen all the false
powers of cinema land have been
relegated to their proper spheres, the
writer will emerge and occupy the
same position in movieland that he
does in the theatre."
Guild Names Board
To Draw Proposals
The Screen Writers' Guild yester-
day appointed a committee of eigh-
teen to draw up the proposals that
will be submitted to the producers
when the five-five Producer-Writer
committee gets together. On this :
committee are all the writer members:
and alternates appointed by Sol Ro-
senblatt. The list comprises:
Ralph Block, William Conselman, ■
John Emerson, James Gleason, Ray
Harris, Edward Hogan, Rupert Hughes,
Gladys Lehman, James K. McGuin-
ness, Seton I. Miller, John F. Natte-
ford, Dudley Nichols, Allen Rivkin,
Donald Ogden Stewart, Courtenay
Terrett, Tristram Tupper and Walde-
mar Young.
AT&T Bids $5,000,000
(Continued from Page 1 )
Commission, the big corporation faces
possible suits for millions for infringe-
ment if the highest courts decide for
Fox in the appeal A.T.&T. is taking
on the Tri- Ergon decision.
"Public interest" is the one ques-
tion the Commission will ask about
every deal, and this undoubtedly will
extend to such A.T.&T. by-products
as the picture business. Insiders here
believe that, eventually, Erpi will be
forced to turn its stranglehold on the
industry over to Warners, if indeed it
has not already done so.
■0--G0LO"AYM-VAY
K- :a:v.sA'."iJ?r. ■■"
CULVKR CIT'r .,
Vol. XXI, No. 38. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday. June 22. 1934
•LADIES and gentlemen of Holly-
wood, we would like to introduce this
morning one Philip Kinsley, of Chi-
cago. Remembf.T that name; he may
come back. In the event that you
have not heard of Mr. Kinsley, he is
one of the bright young men of the
Chicago Tribune staff, sent out here
to take Hollywood apart, to see why
it is so immoral and why motion pic-
tures and picture people are so filt.hy.
His findings are being published in
the Tribune and are being read by the
thousands of readers of that great and
influential newspaper.
Just where Mr. Kinsley acquired the
information he has relayed to his
paper is hard to say, but, judging
from its nature, it probably was partly
from fan magazines, but mainly from
the tabloids of eight or ten years ago.
He has dug up for the edification of
Tribune readers a lot of the poisonous
stuff that used to be broadcast about
the picture colony. As one example:
•
"From high romance to this dreari-
ness. Effeminate man and masculine
women. Mixed and broken codes.
Stomach trouble and drugs. Break-
downs and suicides. Progressive
polygamy."
And that kind of rot goes on in
one issue of the Tribune for two and
a half columns. That, and worse. We
hate to think that Mr. Kinsley was
sent out here and ordered to get and
write that kind of stuff, but .honestly
we can see no other reason for it. Mr.
Kinsley must be a good reporter or
he would not have been given the
assignment, and we don't believe any
good reporter could dig around in
Hollywood and believe a mess of stuff
such as he has written.
•
The pity of it is that the Chicago
Tribune is a big and important news-
paper, with thousands of readers.
Those readers don't know that this
sort of stuff is the bunk, written for
people who WANT to believe such
stories, and they'll eat it up, hold up
their hands in horror and chalk Holly-
wood down as a modern Sodom and
Gomorrah.
They don't know that there is just
as large a percentage of honest God-
fearing, hard-working, decent people
in Hollywood as in any other place of
(Continued on Page 3)
Prelates Order Extension
Of League Of Decency-'Breen
Pledges Clean-up Under Code
Grainger Signs For
Another Year at 'U'
New York. — James R. Grainger,
general sales manager for Univer-
sal, yesterday signed a new contract
with the company for another year.
The salary and percentage ar-
rangement remains the same as it
is now.
Joh
n Gilbert Signs
At Col. for 5 Years
Columbia yesterday put through a
long term contract for John Gilbert,
getting him for two pictures a year
for five years. "The Captain Hates
the Sea" is the first assignment un-
der it. Schulberg, Feldman and Gur-
ney set the ticket.
'Morning Glory" To Have
Paris Premiere Today
Paris. — "Morning Glory," with
Katharine Hepburn starred, will have
its premiere here today. The open-
ing will be a gala performance at the
Cine Opera, the proceeds going to
charity.
A large number of French stage
stars, including Annabella, who has
just returned from Hollywood, will sell
programs.
McGuire Sells One
Universal yesterday closed negotia-
tions with William Anthony McGuire
for the purchase of his original story,
"The Saint in the Cellar." The deal
went through the Schulberg-Feldman
and Gumey office.
BITTER FIGHT OX OVER
SALE OF FOX MET CHAIN
Irene Dunne Goes to
Fox For 'Music in Air'
New York. — A hard-fought battle
is developing over the $4,000,000
cash bid made by Warner Brothers
and Loew's Inc. for control of the
Fox Metropolitan chain of picture
houses in New York. Federal Judge
Mack, who reserved decision as to ac-
ceptance of the offer at the hearing
Wednesday, yesterday postponed the
case until today.
Beekman, Bogue and Clark at yes-
terday's .hearing again objected to the
sale for cash, insisting that the reor-
ganization plan submitted by the
Bondholders' Committee was a better
way out. The lawyers contended that
(Continued on Page 7)
Cincinnati. — There will be no let-up in the battle against in-
decent pictures, which was organized and is being led by the
Catholic Church. This was determined today when an arch-
bishop and three bishops of that church met here and announced
that the fight for a "wholesome ^^ I
Zukor Pledges Good
Taste in Para. Films
Good taste will be Paramount's
production watchword in the future.
This assurance was given yesterday
by Adolph Zukor to the group of thea-
tre owners and operators who have
been the guests of the annual conven-
tion which closed yesterday afternoon.
Zukor declared that .his company is
going back to the production policy
that governed Paramount in its early
days when such stars as Mary Pick-
(Continued on Page 4)
Tox Takes Criterion
For 'World Moves On'
New York. — Fox has leased the
Criterion for a Broadway showing of
"The World Moves On," and will put
It on the two-a-day basis starting
June 28.
Franchot Tone and Madeleine Car-
roll have the top spots. John Ford di-
rected it.
Business Engineers Dig
Into Paramount Affairs
New York. — The Paramount Stock-
holders Committee yesterday retained
Coverdale and Colpitts, consulting
business engineers, to make a survey
of the company's affairs and prepare
a report which shall contain facts that
should be known before the reor-
ganization plan comes before the court
for approval.
Hal Wallises Return
New York. — Hal Wallis and his
wife, Louise Fazenda, arrived here yes-
terday from their European vacation.
They came on the Rex.
Breslow Aide to James
Lou Breslow, signed to a writing
contract by Universal several weeks
ago, has been promoted to Rian James'
assistant.
screen" would be intensified.
This announcement came after
Joseph Breen, of the Hays organiza-
tion, had admitted that the church
campaign had hurt the picture busi-
ness and had promised that the in-
dustry will enforce a new method of
self-purification. This method calls
for the replacement of the producers'
jury by a code administration, with
additional local authority and an am-
plified personnel. The final responsi-
bility for the character of pictures,
(Continued on Page 4)
Ginger Rogers Signs
New Five-Year Contract
Ginger Rogers signed and sealed her
new long term contract with Radio
yesterday. It is a five-year deal with
options, and under it she goes into
"Gay Divorce" with Fred Astaire as
her first production.
Sophie Tucker in Pix
London. — Sophie Tucker, whose
"red hot mamma" act and songs have
been scoring a great hit here, has
signed to do a picture for British Lion,
entitled "Cay Love."
Fox yesterday signed Douglass
Montgomery and borrowed Irene
Dunne from Radio for the lead oppo-
site John Boles in the Jerome Kern
musical, "Music in the Air."
Joe May will direct and Erich
Pommer produces as his first picture
for the studio.
144 Extras at Radio
Radio gave the extras a break yes-
terday and used 144, although only
two pictures are in work.
Page Two
THE
IRilPOPiTlIR
lune 22. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE IVIanaging Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Hmmm, mm — what a blonde star is
slowly but surely letting herself in for
quite something! So she's been keep-
ing steady company with an attractive
furriner for some time and is currazy
about heem. But the fellow has a
wife. The star knows this, but is
nothing daunted. In fact, at the mo-
ment, she is relieved because the wife
has left town. Now, what the star
does not know is that the man has
been in exactly the same situation be-
fore— and that the wife, too, "has left
town" under the same circumstances
before. But she always comes back.
And when she comes back, she and
the husband usually wind up just a
little richer. Maybe it's love this time
— or maybe a movie star looks like
"easy money" to both of them!
•
Latest from the Sam Coldwyn front
is this: Sam was playing golf with
some friends of his and, when they
got to the green, the matter of scores
came up. They all came to a halt, and
Sam said quickly and firmly, "joe —
you're . . . , Bill, you're Harry
you're . . . "; then, "Caddie, what
am l?"(!)
•
During the absence of a certain pro-
ducer, a well-known director was put
in charge of the shorts at a big studio.
He did very well, too. But when the
producer returned from his vacation,
employees were astonished to note
that every single thing which was con-
tributed from under the director's
wing only met with contempt from the
head man. And then, recently, it was
discovered that the producer has al-
ways hated this particular director, and
never would have permitted him to
hold his present position if he'd been
around at the time he was hired!
Loretta improves Her
Convalescent Hours
Loretta Young underwent a minor
operation at Queen of the Angels Hos-
pital yesterday morning, and yester-
day afternoon called for the script of
"Forsaking All Others" to read dur-
ing convalescence. She will have at
least a week to read it.
The operation was performed by Dr
Walter Holleran. ..^; -
"PRIVATE SCANDAL
Paramount prod.; director, Ralph Murphy; writers, Vera Caspary,
Bruce Manning.
Mayfair Theatre
World-Telegram: From the moment Ned Sparks makes his appearance on the
scene, "Private Scandal" goes over to farce completely and turns out to
be a brisk, noisy, extravagant and funny burlesque of murder melodramas.
If t.he beginning and the ending could be changed, this "Private Scandal"
would be one of the most effective satires on mystery films the screen
has yet produced.
Journal: Thanks to Ned Sparks, "Private Scandal" is better than average mys-
tery melodrama. With Sparks as the detective on the case, a murder
investigation practically turns into a farcical burlesque.
Times: In "Private Scandal" they solve the murder with such lack-wit methods
that the picture produces a considerable body of loud and reasonably irre-
sistible humor. The homicide itself is slipshod, sober and rather arro-
gantly routine in arrangemient. But w.hen Ned Sparks walks on the scene
as the detective in the case, all hands wake up and the film begins to
sparkle.
Sun: The Mayfair has a jolly murder mystery this week. It's not always so
mysterious; but its general good humor seldom flags. Bright and lively
to the last few minutes, "Private Scandal" falls to pieces at the end.
The solution is an annoying disappointment.
American "Private Scandal" starts out a bit haltingly as a routine murder mys-
tery. It gains momentum with the unreeling of every foot of film, how-
ever, and, with the entrance of Ned Sparks as the sour-faced and sarcastic
police inspector, achieves an even faster tempo. Although actually one
of the season's funniest comedies, the picture never loses its suspense.
Herald-Tribune: "Private Scandal" is a curious picture for several reasons. It
contains, in its first half, some of the funniest dialogue heard on Broad-
way in a long time — the kind that brings shouts of spontaneous laughter
from all parts of the house. Miss Pitts, of course, helps in the comedy,
but it is Ned Sparks who really dominates the early humorous scenes.
But the oddest thing about Mr. Murphy's picture is its dull ending.
Post: A typical Summer offering. T.he new picture is light, rather meaning-
less, and very amusing. Despite the fact that the plot centers around
the solution of a murder, it just cannot be termed a mystery melodrama,
as it contains; such comics as Zasu Pitts and Ned Sparks. These two
comedians make one forget ^he flimsiness of the plot, and instead, atten-
tion is focused upon their comedy antics.
News: The shivers vanish once your attention is attracted by the dead-pan and
raucous voice of Ned Sparks as he goes about being a sort of diamond-
in-the-rough detective. And that is not all to keep you amused. Zasu
Pitts is abroad making dumb speeches and dumber gestures which are
.highly comic.
Chas. Miller, of Equity,
Will Run For Congress
Charles Miller, for the past six
years Western representative of t.he
Actors' Equity Association and the
Actors' Fund of America, yesterday
filed his declaration of candidacy for
the Democratic Congressional nomina-
tion in the fifteenth district.
Miller is an ardent Roosevelt sup-
porter and his platform is based en-
tirely on the Roosevelt policies.
Grey Yacht For Lesser
Sol Lesser has closed for the rental
of Zane Grey's yacht, Adventurer II,
to use in the sea-going sequences of
the new "Chandu" next month.
Complaints Swamp
The Code Authority
New York. — So many complaints
and appeals are being laid before the
Motion Picture Code Authority that a
plan has been adopted w.hereby ten
committees, each of three persons, will
be set up, each to take a share of the
cases. Each committee will have on
it a representative of the Code Au-
thority, an unaffiliated exhibitor and
a distributor. They will hear cases
four days each week.
Sol Rosenblatt is arranging to hold
public hearings in Washington on two
proposed amendments to the code.
The first says that people who fail to
meet their assessments shall be held
guilty of violating the code. The sec-
ond has to do with the allocation of
the budget for producers and distribu-
tors.
Laughtons Back in Town
Charles Laughton and his wife, Elsa
Lanchester, returned yesterday from
their Yosemite vacation. Next spot
for both of them is "Marie Antoin-
ette" at MGM.
^andOimiimi'^^y MQHT JUNE 22
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June 22, 1934
IRtiP@IRTiPl
Page Three
'HER MAJESTY, THE QIIEEX%
WHOLESOME BVT IIVNOCVOVS
Cutting of Extras
Begins Next Week
Pauline Frederick
In Personal Success
"HER MAJESTY. THE WIDOW"
Her Majesty Company presents Pau-
line Frederick in "Her Majesty,
The Widow," a comedy by John
Charles Brownell; staged by Miss
Frederick; setting by Karl Amend,
at the Ritz Theatre. With Pauline
Frederick, Grayce Hampton, Alex-
ander Campbell, Thomas Beck,
Frederick Bell, Isobel Withers, Lau-
rette Bullivant, Charles Mitchell
Harris.
New York. — From the number of
curtain calls Miss Frederick took after
the initial metropolitan performance
of "Her Majesty, The Widow," which
has played its way across country, it
would seem that she still possesses a
loyal following, and that John Brow-
nell .has provided a vehicle which did
not disappoint that following.
It would be simple to dismiss this
Summer show with a few condemna-
tory phrases about its antediluvian
and totally innocuous aspects and let
it go at that, but the fact of the mat-
ter is that a modicum of the cus-
tomers enjoyed "Her Majesty, The
Widow" and were undoubtedly en-
tertained by it. And that's sumpin.
And what's more, "Her Majesty, The
Widow" may enjoy a longer run in the
big town than most critics hereabouts
anticipate for it. And then again, it
may not. At any rate, it will be in-
teresting to watch.
The story: Jane Seymour, rich
widow, has a son, Robert, who falls
into the clutches of Veronica Day, a
scheming woman, several years older
than Robert. Robert has been en-
gaged to Elsie Reynolds, a pure young
thing. It so happens that this Day
woman had also, in her gold-dig-
ging peregrinations, run afoul of
Peter Stuyvesant, a celebrated fiddler,
who had been and still was the only
love of Robert's mother. And now
after twenty years he was coming
back to pay her a visit.
It is not hard to guess what trans-
pires when all the characters involved
meet during a week-end and settle
their affairs. Robert, of course, goes
back to Elsie. Jane gets her Peter,
after all these years; and Veronica
does a fade-out. We musn't forget
"Bunny" Williams, who spouts Have-
lock Ellis. Nor Sarah, the low comedy
maid. Nor Judge Coolidge, the old
friend of the family, who is also in
love with Jane.
It's all sweet and clean and old
lavenderish, you see; and maybe, if
the Big Bad Boycott scares Hollywood
enough, some company will be be-
guiled into seeing the dubious possi-
bilities of a picture in it.
Of the players, it may be said that
they all turned in "wholesome" per-
formances.
Ryerson-Clements Novel
"Shadows", a new novel by Flor-
ence Ryerson and Colin Clements, is
to be published soon by D. Appleton-
Ceptury Company. It is a murder
mystery, laid in Hollywood.
Wynyard-Brook in 2
Radio City Houses
New York. — A peculiar situation
develops this week in Radio City,
with each of the two theatres play-
ing a picture featuring Diana Wyn-
yard and Clive Brook. The Center
Theatre has "Where Sinners
Meet," and the Music Hall is
showing "Let's Try Again,"
Para. Plans Three
Father Brown Yarns
New York. — Paramount will make
at least three of the Gilbert K. Ches-
terton novels of the "Father Brown"
series, having taken an option on this
number. The titles are "Blue Cross,"
"Flying Stars" and "Paradise for
Thieves."
Guy Standing is to play the role of
Father Brown, who, in the novels, is
a Catholic priest who has a penchant
for solving crimes, using both psy-
chology and logic.
Franklin Starts Trick
Shots For "Barretts'
Sidney Franklin completed his ten
weeks of direct shooting on "The
Barretts of Wimpole Street" at MCM
Tuesday.
Yesterday he started its second
production phase, the celebrated Thal-
bergan telescopic treatment for reduc-
ing and enlivening over-dialogued
scenes. Norma Shearer and Fredric
March are the top names.
MCM Postpones Its
Stock Company Try-out
To avoid competition with Marion
Davies' benefit Monday, the MCM
"laboratory" stock troupe's one-night
stand in "All Good Americans" at
the Music Box is pushed over to
Tuesday.
Girl Friend' Delayed
William Rowland yesterday post-
poned the start of "Girl Friend" from
Monday to July 7 because of Lupe
Velez' personal appearance tour, which
will not get her back to town until
that date.
Cantor in Kid Millions'
"Kid Millions" will be the title of
the forthcoming Eddie Cantor picture,
which Sam Goldwyn will produce
Production starts July 1, with Roy del
Ruth directing.
Boros to 'Fountain'
Ferike Boros was signed by Radio
yesterday for an important character
role in "The Fountain." She plays the
nurse, supporting Ann Harding under
the direction of John Cromwell.
Wexley on Karloff Yarn
John W&xley was set by Columbia
yesterday, to write an original story as
•'the first starring vehicle for Boris
Karloff under the latter's Columbia
ticket.
Cutting down of the "extra" play-
ers of Hollywood is slated to actually
begin some time next week.
For many weeks a clerical force has
been busy listing the names and data
regarding approximately 17,000 peo-
ple now registered for extra work.
Mrs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of the
Code Committee for Extras, which will
do the paring, stated yesterday that
she expects the final tabulation work
to be finished within a few days. She
will then call a meeting of the re-
registration sub-committee and the
weeding-out process will begin.
She would not venture even a guess
as to how long it will take to select
the final group of approximately 1 500
players who will be listed as those
permitted to work.
Garbo Picture Will
Start Within a Week
The MGM production schedule is
clear for Garbo, "The Painted Veil"
being the next picture to start, prob-
ably next week if the casting is suc-
cessful.
No one has been inked in but
Garbo, but Herbert Marshall and Pres-
ton Foster have both been mentioned.
The directing job is Richard Boleslav-
sky's.
French 'Rothschild'
Set For N.Y. Trade Show
New York. — The French production
of "Rothschild," featuring Harry Baur
and Claudia Cleves, will have a trade
showing on the S. S. Champlain to-
night. It is being given by J. S. Tap-
ernoux, American agent for the pro-
ducers, the Cine Corporation.
Florey Back in 4 Weeks
Robert Florey is due here in four
weeks, having reported to Warners
yesterday from Manila that .he will be
leaving there shortly. He has been
away a little more than two months,
shooting backgrounds for "Oil for the
Lamps of China."
Mankiewic^-tafig Team
MCM yesterday assigned Joseph
Mankiewicz to collaborate with Fritz
Lang, on the screen play of "Tomor-
rovv." It will be the first David
Selznick production for the imported
director.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1
its size. They don't know that the
percentage of nitwits and damn fools
who make the Hollywood news the
papers love to print isn't any larger
here than anywhere else.
They don't know anything about
these things — and they don't care.
Hollywood to them is just a source
of dirt, of scandal, of sensationalism,
and they'll read the Tribune and the
other sheets that spread this mess and
love it. That's the pity of it.
ATTER5
T
Every once in a while a convention
really accomplishes something besides
plugging all the old adjectives and
superlatives to death. In the case of
the recent Paramount convention, the
first smart thing they did was to invite
the help of exhibitors and also their
encouragement, both of which they
got, plus one pretty sound suggestion
from M. A. Lightman.
The other and main thing that it
served to accomplish was a sound be-
lief in the future soundness of the
Paramount organization and very much
to Emanuel Cohen's credit was that
soundness, voiced by him. The main
reason for this was because Mr, Cohen
confined himself strictly to cold facts
and heart-warming figures. He em-
ployed no nebulous phrases of gener-
alization, so that everything he said
had meaning and was backed up by
something concrete for the boys to
appreciate. He showed pretty con-
lusively that Paramount has been suc-
cessfully re-organized, not only for
future promise, but future perma-
nancy. Paramount is now geared to
"go ahead" — and it is not only the
salesmen who were imepressed by that
fact, but those ole davvil producers,
and when you've got the backing of
your producers, you've got every rea-
son to believe that you've succeeded
in building an organization that will
work.
•
After having seen his first produc-
tion, we were considerably puzzled by
the fact that a certain director ever
got a job at an outlying studio. After
asking several people who should have
known, who the man was and discov-
ering that no one had ever heard of
him, we finally stumbled on the an-
swer to how he got his job. It seems
that he made great claim to having
been Max Reinhardt's "right-hand-
man" and, on the strength of his argu-
ment to that effect, was given a di-
rectorial contract. Unfortunately, after
the contract was signed, Gottfried
Reinhardt came to town, and one day
a kind friend said to Gottfried: "You'll
be glad to know that Soandso is here
in Hollywood, too." Reinhardt imme-
diately asked who that was. said he'd
never heard of him, and the truth of
the matter was that this director had
never even met the great Max. And
after seeing his picture, if he ever was
Reinhardt's "right-hand man" it must
have been at a time when Max's left
hand knew not what his right hand
was doing.
•
From all the activity going on at
the studios, it looks as though by the
time they get through, there won't
be much left for the censors to censor.
We've heard more complaints recently
from authors and editorial boards to
the effect that they can't buy any-
thing that has the very least suggestion
of suggestiveness in it, and stories are
being changed all around to build up
the Pollyanna attitude. Ho, hum.
we're in for an era of sweetness and
light that's just going to kill you.
Page Four
THE
June 22. 1934
INDUSTRY WILL BE OWX
CEIVSOR, BREEIV PROMISES
(Continued from Page 1 )
Breen said, will rest with the board of
directors of the Motion Picture Pro-
ducers and Distributors of America.
This board will be the court of last
resort in any disputes between the
code administration and the studios.
The bishops heard what Breen had
to say and also listened to Martin
Quigley, another industry representa-
tive. Then they announced that the
League of Decency, formed by the
church, would be expanded to 'every
city and town in the United States,"
and appointed a council of priests to
carry on that work.
The four who met here constitute
the committee on motion pictures of
the Catholic Bishops of America. They
are Archbishop )ohn T. McNicholas, of
Cincinnati, one of the founders of the
League of Decency; Bishop John |.
Cantwell, of Los Angeles, who re-
cently made a biting attack on pictures
in the Ecclesiastical Review; Bishop
John F. Noll, of Fort Wayne, Indiana,
and Bishop Hugh Boyle of Pittsburgh.
The bishops declared that they have
"no wish to harm or destroy the mo-
tion picture business. But the evil
character of portions of many motion
pictures, and the low standing of some
motion pictures, have forced the bish-
ops to take direct and aggressive ac-
tion in safeguarding the moral welfare
of their people."
The pledges to the League of Dec-
ency, it was announced, in the 102
dioceses in the United States have al-
ready mounted into the millions. To
increase these, the bishops named a
committee consisting of Rt. Rev. Mgr.
Hugh L. Lamb, chancellor of the arch-
diocese of Philadelphia; Rev. Edward
Roberts Moore, head of the division
of social action of the Catholic chari-
ties of the archdiocese of New York;
Rev. George F. Johnson, associate pro-
fessor of education. Catholic Univers-
ity. Washington; Rev. F. C. Dineen,
S.)., rector of St. Ignatius Church,
Chicago; and Rev. John J. Devlin, St.
Victory's Church, West Hollywood,
Calif.
The conference heard, during its
session, that Rev. Samuel Cavert, gen-
eral secretary of the Federal Council
of Churches of Christ in America, had
announced at Wooster, Ohio, at the
national general assembly of the Unit-
ed Presbyterian Church in North
America, that a committee of that
Protestant group will meet in New
York tomorrow to discuss co-opera-
tion with the Roman Catholic Leagtfe.
Para. Finishes One;
Two End This Week
"Elmer and Elsie" was completed
at Paramount by Gilbert Pratt Mon-
day, after 27 shooting days. George
Bancroft, Frances Fuller and Roscoe
Karns were in leading spots.
"Notorious Sophie Lang" and "Now
and Forever" are expected to finish
before the week is out.
Termer For Atlas
Universal has exercised its option on
the services of Leopold Atlas and the
writer , brought from New York to
work on "Great Expectations," goes
into a long-term ticket under the winj
cf Edmund Grainger.
Dore Schary Working
On 'Waterfront Girl'
Dore Schary and Nat Levine, whose
falling out recently resulted in a
Screen Writers Guild hearing on"Wat-
erfront Girl," have patched up their
differences, and the writer has joined
Al Martin, E. E. Paramore and Earle
SneM on the screen play of "Young
and Beautiful."
Schary goes to MCM in two weeks
to handle the script on Robert Hop-
kins, "Winning Ticket," for Louise/
Fazenda and Leo Carrillo. '
Henrietta Crosman to
Col. For Rogell Picture
Columbia yesterday signed Henri-
etta Crosman for the top bracket
with Richard Cromwell and Billie
Seward in "Among the Missing,"
which Al Rogell puts into work Mon-
day.
It is an original screen play by
Fred Niblo Jr. and Herbert Asbury,
which Sid Rogell will produce. Al
Kingston set the Crosman deal
'Americans' Finished
Edwin Marin checked in with "All
Good Americans" at MGM Wednes-
day, making it a 1 5-day shooting job.
Robert Young was featured in the
Perelman play about Parisian Ameri-
cans.
Good Taste in Para. Pix
(Continued from Page 1 )
ford, Charles Ray, Marguerite Clark,
Bryant Washburn and William S. Hart
were developed. He pointed out that
they and their wholesome pictures
made money and entertained.
"The same pKDlicy which brought
them to the screen and resulted in the
kind of vehicles w.hich sustained their
popularity is now the policy of Para-
mount, the one which will govern this
organization in the future," Zukor
stated. "Every problem play, tragedy
or comedy will be treated in good
taste. Good taste will be the by-
word of production in every Paramount
picture."
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J I R R Y
W A L D
Original Stories and Screen Plays
♦ ♦
"SAY IT WITH MUSIC
\\
GIFT OF CAB"
(with Phil Epstein)
NIGHT SCHOOL"
(with Lowell Brentano)
\\
\\
FOOD CENTER "
(with Dore Schary)
"CALIENTE"
(with Carl Erickson)
20,000,000 SWEETHEARTS
(with Paul Moss)
♦ ♦
Managament Under Contract to
Leiand Hayward-Selznick and Joyce Warner Bros.
II
WHERE?
Where in America, except at the Vendome, can be found
absolutely authentic, estate-bottled wines such as . . .
SCHLOSS JOHANNISBERCER (Prince Metternich)
LIEBFRAUENSTIFT KLOSTERCARTEN
(The true and original Liebfraumilch)
BERNCASTLER DOCTOR (Domain Wwe. Dr. J. Thanish)
ROMANEE CONTI - GRAND VIN
(Domain De La Romanee Conti)
CLOS DE VOLCEOT - GRAND VIN
CHAMBERTIN - GRAND VIN
(Chateau De Savigny, Vicompte De Vaulchier)
Some may say, there is nothing unusual about these titles, that many
firms carry them. We will admit that there are "district" wines masquerad-
ing under these classic appellations and that it is sometimes difficult to deter-
minte whether the wines offered are original and authentic, or whether they
are merely substitutes.
The wines we list above (and there are fhirty others in the same class)
are authentic and we guarantee this without qualification. The quality of
these classical offerings speaks for itself.
Don't think that we intend to libel "district" wines. Every wine and
spirit merchant carries them and we ourselves have an unusual assortment at
very modest prices. These wines are all sound, well-matured, and are the
product of the very best vintage years. They were personally selected by us
abroad (not by label, but by taste) and we can heartily recommend them.
WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS
6666 SUNSET BOULEVARD
Hollywood 1666
Page Six
June 22, 1934
Radio 'Names' For
The Gift of Cab'
Lining up a group of Radio per-
sonalities for "The Gift of Cab" which
Karl Freund directs when it starts July
1, Universal has signed Ruth Etting,
Cus Arnheim and his orchestra, Gene
Austin and his new crew and the Beal
Street Boys, four colored singers \Vho
will be brought from New York. Ed-
mund Lowe, Gloria Stuart and Victor
Moore head the cast.
Rian lames, who has written the
screen play and will produce, will act
as dialogue director.
Many Deals Closed For
Bob Steele Westerns
The Hollywood Film Exchanges of
New York, the Bay State Film Ex-
change of Boston, Graphic Film Ex-
change of Detroit, and Co-operative
Film Exchanges of Los Angeles and
San Francisco, have closed deals with
Supreme Pictures Corp. to handle the
series of eight Bob Steele Westerns.
J. S. Jossey of Cleveland, Security
Pictures of Omaha, Trans-Oceanic
Film Exports for Canada, Independent
Film Distributing Co. of Dallas, and
Southeastern Pictures Corp. of At-
lanta, also have contracted for the
No Options For Wally
Waldemar Young's new writing
ticket with Paramount is a one year's
deal without the customary options,
and he will take it up when he re-
turns from a three month tour of the
South Seas and Orient. Schulberg-
Feldman and Curney set it.
UPTOTHB^MINIITE
ASTING
Spencer Charters to the Ruth Etting
short at Radio by Al Kingston.
Henry B. Walthall, by Hoffman -
Schlager, to "Serenade," Fox.
Huntley Cordon, by Menifee I.
Johnstone, to "She Had to Choose,"
Majestic.
Nella Walker, by Menifee I. John-
stone, to Warners' "A Lady Surren-
ders."
Ferike Bores, by Al Kingston, to
Radio's "Fountain."
Joyce Compton for "Million Dollar
Ransom," Universal.
Frankie Darro to "Broadway Bill,"
Columbia, by Al Kingston.
Raymond Hatton, by Al Kingston,
for "Four Walls," MCM.
Frank O'Connor and James Blakely
for "Broadway Bill," Columbia.
Luis Alberni, John Wray, Del Hen-
derson, Monte Carter, George Hum-
bert, Charles King and Edmund Burns
for "The Captain Hates the Sea,"
Columbia.
Pat Flaherty to "Million Dollar Ran-
som," Universal.
Darmour Title Change
Larry Darmour has changed the
title of "Gaily I Sing" to "She Had
to Choose." Ralph Ceder is now di-
recting Isabel Jewell and Buster
Crabbe in the top spots of the pic-
ture, which is the second on the cur-
rent Majestic schedule.
London's Smartest Address-
GROSVENOR HOUSE
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is also London's most modern hotel. An apartment at
Grosvenor House provides an actual "home from
home," replete with every modern aid to greater
comfort.
The location of Grosvenor House is a happy blend of
convenience and charm; in and around the hotel
London's social life moves; near by are the best shops
and the theatres; just across the way is London's great
garden, Hyde Park.
Life is amusing, easy and pleasant at
Grosvenor House, London
:able Address for Reservations: CROVHOWS, AUDLEY, LONDON
Claudette Colbert
Stopsat Foura Year
Claudette Colbert stated yesterday,
through her manager, Charles Feld-
man, that she will not work in more
than four pictures this year.
The Warner deal, she states, has a
two-year period clause, with approval
of story and director. Columbia has
her for one, with Frank Capra or
Frank Borzage to direct and neither
director will be available this year.
Her next picture for Paramount does
not start until September. Edward
Small's contract was cancelled.
Bob Cillham a Guest
Robert Gillham, advertising and
publicity head of Paramount, was the
guest of the Publicity Committee of
the Producers' Association at the reg-
ular monthly meeting yesterday. Only
routine matters were discussed.
Dawn 0*Day to Liberty
Dawn O'Day was signed yesterday
for a role in M. H. Hoffman's "School
For Girls." The deal was set by Henry
Willson of the Polimer office.
It Wasn't Like This
In the Olden Days
Paramount saw to it that the
delegates to its convention this
week were attending strictly to
business. The studio left 7 a.m.
calls for every delegate at the Am-
bassador, but some of the exhibitor
guests didn't take so kindly to the
rising bell.
I
Thorne Smith Dies
At Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota. — Thorne Smith, who was
on the MCM writing staff last year
and who recently sold his novel,
"Night Life of the Gods," to Univer-
sal, died here yesterday at the age
of 41.
Smith was the author of a number
of novels, all of extremely whimsical
nature.
Grace Norton Quits
Grace Norton has resigned from the
Wertheim and Norton Agency, split-
ting the firm. She returns to writing
magazine stories from which field
CAVALCADE FILM CORPORATION
"The Pictures of Tomorrow"
Announces MR. JERRY MANDY, Famous Player, as President and Player,
MR. HARRY S. MARKS as Executive-Producer,
MR. RUDOLPH COSANOVA, of Baltimore, a Sensational New Find,
in starting its independent productions.
My Sincere Appreciation
to
BEN FRANK and His Associates — Cocoanut Grove
JAMES H. McCABE— Hotel St. Francis
FANCHON-MARCO — Paramount Theatre
OLD COLD and COLUMBIA BROADCASTINC SYSTEM
JACK CHERTOK and SAM BAERWITZ— MCM
LEE MARCUS and SAM WHITE— RKO
JACK L. WARNER and WM. KOENIC— Warner Bros.
L. BAUM — Mascot Pictures
HILLMAN-SHANE ADVERTISING AGENCY. Inc.
LOS ANGELES RADIO AND DRAMA EDITORS
THE MOTION PICTURE COLONY
and to the
MUSIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA
for making these engagements possible
* off on an extended transcontinental trip.
,
)une22. 1934
Page Seven
INDIE PRODUCERS WILL
FIGHT RAN OJV DVAL-RILLS
Jay Whidden Opens at
Deauville Club Tonight
<^ ne
The recent action of the Los An-
geles NRA Clearance and Zoning
Board in killing off double bills will
be opposed at a meeting of the Inde-
pendent Motion Picture Producers
Association Monday. The indies be-
lieve that it is a question of staying
in business or "being legislated out of
it," according to Ken Goldsmith, a
leading factor in the group.
Goldsmith recently returned from
a tour of the independent distributors
throughout the country and declared
that it is his opinion the exhibitors
"have the right to operate their busi-
ness without the influence of monop-
olistic bodies."
He added: "It is now up to us to
fight and we will throw everything
we have into the battle against the
trust. The first thing we have to do
IS remove frpm the Zoning and Clear-
ance Board its power to carry through
its dictates. It can penalize the ex-
hibitor through the distributor and it
has no right to invoke that power.
"The bulk of the industry has no
sympathy for our branch of the field.
The efforts to get rid of the double
bill have be^n fostered by the major
studios. We are fighting monopoly
and the only way to do this will be
to go directly to the public. We will
retain Clarence Darrow and start a
campaign to i let the theatre-going
public know what is happening."
Sam Wolf last night verified this
plan to launch a campaign throughout
the country, details of which will be
worked out at the meeting.
'Three Weeks' Dropped
As Swanson Picture
"Three Weeks" has been dropped
_ om consideration as Gloria Swanson's
next picture, and other story ideas are
being worked out for her at MGM.
Fox is still pressing its loan appli-
cation for her for "Music in the Air,"
on which a yes or no is due within a
few days.
Fight To Get Fox Met.
(Continued from Page 1 )
the properties should not be sold for
cash, but suggested that, if Loew's
and Warners wanted control, they
could buy up all the bonds, thereby
giving the bondholders a better break.
]. Robert Rubin, for Loew's, op-
posed this plan, and, in a speech last-
ing an hour, pleaded that the cash
offer was bonafide and was sincerely
made. He denied that there was any
intention to remove Randford, Frisch
and Rmzler or the Skourases from the
management of the chain.
Opposition was also voiced by own-
ers of some of the theatres m the
chain on the ground that Loew's and
Warners, if they got control, would
squeeze out all houses in opposition
to their own.
One reason for Judge Mack's deci-
sion to postpone his decision another
day is that an offer is expected from
interests represented by Walter Reade
which will top the $4,000,000 bid.
Jay Whidden and his orchestra open
an engagement at the new Callerie de
Roi at the Deauville Club, at Santa
Monica, tonight.
A large number of the picture col-
ony have made reservations, and en-
tertainment will be furnished by Owen
Caldwell, Clark Dennis, Nelson Hall
and Lyie Hart.
'Border Town' For Muni
Warners have put "Border Town"
back on the schedule and it will be
the first picture Paul Muni will do
on the new program. The script of
his own novel has already been writ-
ten by Carroll Graham. "Black Hell,"
which was announced to replace it,
will follow.
Extras' Kicks Duds'
The 65 code complaints filed be-
fore Judge Lindsey by extra players
proved to be a bunch of "duds," ac-
cording to the report of the grievance
subcommittee of the Code Comittee
for Extras. Out of the batch only one
complaint is being handled.
XCMAT STMSi
t# IN ONE GREAT PICTURE! |
^P^ CLARK
Gable
WILLIAM
■ MYRNA
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ANHATTAN
ELODRAMAI
* COSMOPOtlTAN PBOOUCTtON
• Produced br OAVID O SeiZNICR
D>'*(tad br W S van dvk(
PARAMOUNT'S ,
WHIRLWIND RIOT/
SHOOT
fAeWORKS
JACK OAKIE* BEN BERNIE
DOROTHY DELL • ALISON SKIPWORTH
Arline JUDGE • Lew CODY • Roscoe KARNS
and BEN BERNIE'S BAND
Stage •^presenJ^^^^^Y^,,
Hank Brown O- " f Coming
STUD l_.0 f MAEWEST
Ih BE A>
1 ES
.0 -IT AINT
NO SIN-
Warner Big Shots to
Remain Here For Week
Headed by Major Albert Warner, a
delegation from the Warner sales con-
vention in San Francisco stopped off
at the Burbank plant for a week's stay
before returning to their respective
territories.
Included in the group are Cradwell
Sears, in charge of sales for the South
and West; Carl Lesserman, his assist-
ant; Norman Moray, in charge of
shorts sales; Jack Smith, Southern dis-
trict manager; Charles Einfeld, in
charge of publicity and advertising,
and Al Schwalberg, head of the con-
tract department.
Break For Baby Star
Hazel Hayes, one of the Wampas
Baby Stars signed by Mascot for
"Young and Beautiful," gets a break
in the picture. She has been singled
out to sing a number especially pur-
chased for her. It is "Come Back to
the Mountain,"
Studio Labor Board
Gets Down to Work
After months of altercation and
argument, the Studio Labor Commit-
tee this week actually started work on
the complaints of code violations filed
by technical workers of the industry.
The first committee was appointed
last February. It held only one meet-
ing, and finally was replaced by the
present committee. Last week Wash-
ington ordered a batch of labor com-
plaints, that had been filed with Judge
Ben Lindsey, turned over to the com-
mittee. It IS now working on these.
New One For Liberty
Gertrude Orr has been signed by
M. H. Hoffman to write the screen
play for "Without Children," based
on Mrs. Wilson Woodrow's novel,
"Eyes of Youth." This is the eighth
on Liberty's schedule.
^^^^^^^^^-
fOUNDATION
V*!^\
CK»0*
PERSON-
Ben WO" ^j
ne«e
1^ enter
Shov/
|40A^
- ,1 »o«'
GOODBYE . . .
PARAMOUNTEERS
AND THANKS TO
PARAMOUNT
FOR TWO VERY ENJOYABLE ROLES
ALVIN RITCHIE
IN
^' SHOOT THE WORKS"
CURRENT RELEASE
MAXIMILIAN BERNARD
IN
"THE NOTORIOUS SOPHIE LANG"
JUST COMPLETED
illlllllll
PAUL C A VAN AG H
OTHER RECENT ASSIGNMENTS:
TARZAN AND HIS MATE"— MCM
'UNCERTAIN LADY"— UNIVERSAL
MANAGEMENT
SCHULBERC-FELDMAN and CURNEY
% MR.SAVUFL MAPX,
CULVFR CITY, C ALII''
Vol. XXr, No. 39. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Saturday, June 23, 1934
PRCTESTANTS JOIN WAR
Federal Council Of Churches
Approves League Of Decency
And Recommends The Boycott
New York. — The Federal Council of Churches of Christ in
America, at a meeting held here today, approved the stand of
the Catholic Bishops in the Catholic Church war on indecent
films and recommended that Protestants throughout the country
refuse to patronize theatres which
Allied Owners Corp.
Asks For New Deal
New York. — The Allied Owners
Corporation, a bankrupt subsidiary of
the New York Investors Inc., which
has on file claims for millions against
Paramount and Loew's, yesterday filed
a petition to be permitted to reorgan-
ize under the new Federal bankruptcy
laws.
The major assets of the corporation
are Loew's Kings, the Pitkin and the
Paramount theatres, all in Brooklyn,
Loew's Valencia at Jamaica, and thea-
tres in Birmingham, Alabama, Fre-
mont, Ohio, and Clens Falls, New
York.
Last September the company filed
a claim for $23,364,726 against the
Paramount Corporation and no settle-
ment of this claim has been made.
Claims exceeding $10,000,000 have
been filed against the two Loew's
houses.
The official file with the petition
gives excess of assets over liabilities,
without allowing for depreciation, of
$10,178,256, and cash in bank as
$340,768.
Griffith Will Direct
Dickens Story Abroad
London. — David Wark Griffith will
return to active directing in England,
having been engaged by British and
Dominions to handle Charles Dickens'
"Old Curiosity Shop," which United
Artists will release.
New Deal For Stahl
Universal is working out a new deal
for John Stahl. It is understood that
the new arrangement will be as an
i.-idependent unit producer, financed
by Universal and Erpi, and releasing
through the company.
Trem Carr Better
Trem Carr's condition was reported
improved yesterday, but he is still be-
ing denied visitors at the Cedars of
Lebanon Hispital.
Robinson to Rogers
Casey Robinson rejoins the Charles
R. Rogers staff at Paramount and will
write the screen play for "McFadden's
Flats," Rogers' first on his new deal.
Silverstone Boosted
London. — Murray Silverstone, Lon-
don manager for United Artists, has
been promoted to be European chief
for the company.
Sex Pictures Out,
Declares Schenck
London. — In an interview on his
arrival here, Joseph M. Schenck
said that objectionable sex pictures
are definitely out and that there
will be no more exploitation of that
angle in next season's productions.
$3,800,000 To Settle
Warners-Erpi Suit
New York. — The settlement of the
suit by Warner Brothers against Erpi
involves the payment of $3,800,000
to the former by the latter, of which
$2,500,000 is to be cash and the
balance in notes. In return for this,
Warners relinquish all claims to future
royalties. There is also a sum of
$200,000 mentioned for certain con-
tingencies.
Warner Brothers will remain a li-
censee of Erpi, but it is not stated
whether this means a license for re-
cording or to manufacture equipment.
MOM After Mala For
'Jungle Red Man' Lead
Harry Rapf is negotiating with Phil
Coldstone for the loan of Mala, Es-
kimo star, for the lead in MCM's
"Jungle Red Man."
If it goes through, it postpones
Goldstone's plan for a South Sea pro-
duction for Mala.
show objectionable pictures or offen-
sive vaudeville acts, or which use
questionable forms of advertising.
Co-operation with the Catholic
League of Decency was strongly urged
and the churches were advised to exert
pressure on the picture industry and
at Washington to abolish block book-
ings.
Another suggestion was that clergy
of all denominations use the third
(Continued on Page 3)
Hathaway Draws
'Bengal Lancer' Job
Henry Hathaway was selected by
Paramount to direct "Lives of a Bengal
Lancer" yesterday.
Waldemar Young finished his screen
play on it at the same time the direc-
torial decision was made and checks
out on his trip to the Orient. Louis
Lighton, who stuck with the produc-
tion throughout its historical viscis-
situdes, finally sees it going into work.
REFORM DRIVE UPSETS
PRODUCTION PROGRAMS
The church drive to clean up pic-
tures is not only hurting theatre at-
tendance, but is upsetting studio pro-
duction schedules in many of Holly-
wood's studios.
Production plans have been turned
topsy-turvy as the producers have dis-
covered elements in their stories that
might have been perfectly okay a
year ago, but which have to be re-
moved today in order to make and
keep peace with reformers. Conse-
quently, they are yanking stories off
the schedule and are sending them
back to the writing departments for a
thorough renovating. All of which is
causing a scramble for stories to throw
into production to meet release sched-
ules.
Free lance players are feeling the
(Continued on Page 4)
Cooper To Italy For
Background Stuff
London. — Merian C. Cooper plans
a trip to Italy for background mate-
rial in Technicolor for his "Last Days
of Pompeii." He also hopes to talk
with Mussolini and Italian Board of
Education officials about the picture.
There is a possibility of his return-
ing to Hollywood for the direct shoot-
ing on the picture.
U' After Sloane
Universal is negotiating with Frank
Orsatti for Paul Sloane to direct Roger
Pryor in "The Narrow Lane," w.hich
will be the first starring vehicle for
the player. Sloane is now at MCM
handling "Four Walls."
Korda Doubles List;
Is Building Studio
London. — The success everywhere
of "Henry VI IT" and "Catherine the
Great" has pepped up Alexander Kor-
da, of London Films, so much that he
has decided to double his proposed
output for the season and will make
eight pictures instead of four.
The company has also started work
on the erection of its own studio,
which will have three sound stages
and a laboratory.
Cobb Starts His New
One For Roach Monday
Irvin S. Cobb's first picture on the
new series he will do for Hal Roach
starts Monday and is still lacking a
title.
Hal Yates, who directed the first
picture, which went into last year's
program, again directs. Oscar Apfel,
May Wallace, Benny Baker and
"Snowflake" are in the cast.
Warners May Premiere
British Agent' Abroad
Warners' English sales executives
are boosting the idea of a London pre-
miere for "British Agent" next
month. The presence of Leslie How-
ard and Kay Francis, abroad on vaca-
tions, would work in with it.
Nigel Bruce to England
Nigel Bruce leaves tonight by train
for New York on the first leg of
his return to England. He has been
here for nine months under contract
to Fox, and for the past two months
worked in "Treasure Island" on loan
to MGM.
Brock and Wood Land
London. — Lou Brock and Sam Wood
arrived here yesterday on the Me de
France from New York. Wood leaves
for Scotland in a few days, while
Brock goes to Switzerland.
Page Two
THE
PtiPOmriiR
|une23, 1934
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Clel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Aside to the blonde who's been
lunching with Harry Ruby . . . His
partner, Bert Kalmar, says that Harry
doesn't "kiss and tell" ... he just
tells! . . . Margaret Lindsay is getting
that push to stardom from Warners by
drawing eighteen clothes changes in
her next flicker. . . . Woody Van Dyke
has a trick radio hook-up with about
fifteen of the "infernal machines" all
over the house, and the other night
they all went bust at once . . . they
made more noise than the guests at
the party, if you can believe it! ... .
Richard Dix, having cleaned up pui-
lenty on the Baer-Carnera fight, will
stay in New York for a month and
spend some of it.
•
If you want to get in Carbo's house
'the back way) you have to go
through miles of potato patch which,
incidentally, is strung heavily with
barbed wire! . . George Cukor got so
thin on his way to England that none
of his old clothes fitted him — so he
bought a lot of new clothes and got so
thin on the way back that none of the
new clothes fit him — it's a terrible
problem! . . . David Selznick, too, is
but a shadow of his former self.
Irene Hervey and George Walcott are
up in flames. . . . The Dick Barthel-
messes have sent for their chillun —
so they won't be back for a while,
Mae Sunday has just given the first
in a long series of intimate dinner
parties for thirty or more. . . . Lew
Gensler charmed a cop out of a park-
ing ticket yesterday. . . . Isn't it about
time for Emil Coleman to introduce
his five sons to Eddie Cantor's equal
number of dotters??? . . . John Boles
and Ann Harding ^o "Hollywood on
the Air" Sunday night. . . . Betty Fur-
ness and Dick Green are finding out
about love. . . . Clark Gable has two
permanently injured fingers as a result
of that stiff initiation last week! . . .
Frances Marion with George Hill and
Marc Connolly dining at the Vendome.
. . . The Larry Weingartens, the Al
Newmans, Mrs. Herbert Mundin,
Chester Hale, the Louis Lightens,
Nancy Carroll, George Oppenheimer,
Wm. LeBaron, Charles Brackett. Hugh
Walpole, Joan Bennett, Eddie Robin-
son, also glimpsed.
Post:
"HERE COMES THE GROOM "
Paramount prod.; director. Edward Sedgwick; writers, Richard Flourney,
Leonard Praskins and Casey Robinson.
Paramount Theatre
The fear and trembling in Jack Haley's face when he is confronted by
disaster, is still ace-high with me, no matter what nonsense Hollywood
sees fit to supply to him in the way of a story. I can't remember much
about the plot, but I do member some very hilarious episodes in which
Mr. Haley is riotously funny.
World-Telegram: Once again we acknowledge our debt of gratitude to Para-
mount for giving us something to laugh over in "Here Comes the Groom,"
the slightly mad and wildly merry farce at the Paramount Theatre. A
pleasant and crazy enough little fable. There is not one logical sequence
in the film from start to finish. But the film makes no pretenses. In-
deed, its one aim is to be funny, and this it does remarkably well.
Herald-Tribune: An abundance of farcical situations, consistently hilarious dia-
logue and a magnificently funny performance by Jack Haley make "Here
Comes the Groom" an eminently successful screen comedy. With ex-
traordinary cunning, a series of slap-stick interludes have been strung
together, studded throughout with shrewdly comic lines and culminating
in an up-to-date variation of the old Mack Sennett chase.
Times: In this rambunctious sea of troubles one finds the stoic Jack Haley, the
personable Patricia Ellis and the amusing Mary Boland. It is the type of
farce which might almost have been written while it was being pro-
duced, but here and there it has its bright spots.
"Here Comes the Groom" is about as unfunny as any picture featuring
Mary Boland can well be. It does manage now and then, w.hen Miss
Boland puts over a line or when Jack Haley finds a real gag to do, to get
a few laughs.
News: The New York Paramount has another ridiculous comedy this week.
I am sorry to report that the current comedy isn't the laugh provoker that
last week's picture was. It does stir up a few giggles in the audience,
but there are no long and loud laughs to be heard and even the snickers
and giggles come at too long intervals.
American: After one or two false starts. Jack Haley has established himself as
a picture star. The erstwhile Broadway comedian, currently seen at the
Paramount in "Here Comes the Groom," seems to have everything neces-
sary for a brilliant Hollywood future.
Mirror: Ten years ago you saw movies like "Here Comes the Groom." It is a
compound of all the antique situations which were funny when Hollywood
was young. Paramount has used an ambitious cast to make it. It might
have made a good two-reel slapstick.
Journal: It's Mary Boland, contributing — as always — an amusing characteriza-
tion who animates the picture. One of those lightweight farces that
inevitably pop up during the Summer months. The film resolves itself
into slapstick misunderstandings and chases.
Sun:
Goldstone Party
Find Sunken Ships
Otis Garrett wired Phil Goldstone
yesterday that he and Jerry Fairbanks
are on the lower Mexican coast, and
have so far spotted seven sunken ships
in their location tests for "Twenty
Thousand Leagues Under the Sea."
They embarked in a fast coast-run-
ner Monday, accompanied by a Mexi-
can official, and worked down the
Gulf of California. They continue on,
probably contacting their plane at
Ecuador. Before flying back to Holly-
wood, Goldstone said yesterday, they
would probably tack off to the Gala-
pagos Islands.
$600,000 To Be Spent in '
Renovating the Met.
New York. — The dingy old Metro-
politan Opera House is to have its face
washed and will have some new
clothes, the sum of $600,000 having
been appropriated for the purpose.
Most of the money will be spent in
renovating the interior of the house
and in the installation of modern
lighting equipment.
Daughter For Forsyth
Mrs. William Forsyth, wife of the
assistant director on Edward Small's
"Count of Monte Cristo," gave birth
to a nine-pound girl early yesterday at
the Abbe Maternity Hospital. Both
mother and child are doing well.
'U' Novices Tested
Philip Dakin and Lee Crowe, Uni-
versal's juvenile imports from Chicago
legit, were given their first tests yes-
terday under the direction of William
Wyler.
Charlotte Henry at 'U'
Charlotte Henry, the Alice of
"Wonderland," was given the part of
Doris Kenyon's daughter in "Human
Side" at Universal yesterday.
Wife's Illness Calls
Victor Moore East
Victor Moore took the plane for
New York last night in a race with
death to the bedside of his wife,
Emma Littlefield, veteran legit ac-
tress, at the Polyclinic Hospital. Mrs.
Moore was operated on for appendici-
tis last week and pneumonia devel-
oped.
Stanley Bergerman and Stuart Wal-
ker, directing "Romance in the Rain,"
altered the schedule and spent yester-
day making all of Moore's remaining
scenes so that he could rush East.
Dickson Gets Play By
Lasky Jr. and Preston
Morgan Dickson yesterday pur-
chased the rights to "Hope and
Prey," a new play by Jesse L. Lasky
Jr. and Jack Preston. He will try it
out at the Gateway Theatre, opening
July 18 before taking it to New York.
The deal was negotiated by Jerry Hor-
win.
Hersholt Quits Acad.
Jean Hersholt, long one of the
Academy stand-bys, resigned this
week.
Joe Rivkin
Inc.
Announces f-he Opening of Offices at
1776 Broadway,
New York City
With Exclusive Representation and Management of
Artists, Directors and Authors
For the Stage, Radio and Motion Pictures
SUITE 903
CIRCLE 7-4728-9
|une23, 1934
a#feferi#^
PtilPOPlTiPl
Page Three
TREASURE ISLAND' CERTAIN
TO PACK 'EM IN EVERYWHERE
NomaliL
Grand Job Done
By All Concerned
"TREASURE ISLAND"
(MCM)
Direction Victor Fleming
Original Story. .Robert Louis Stevenson
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography: Hal Rosson, Ray June,
Clyde DeVinna.
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper,
Lionel Barrymore, Nigel Bruce,
Lewis Stone, Chic Sale, Dorothy
Peterson, Cora Sue Collins, Otto
Kruger, William V. Mong, Charles
McNaughton, Edmund Breese, Olin
Howiand, Edward Pawley, Charles
Irwin, Richard Powell, James Burke,
John Anderson.
A rich pleasure and a joy forever
to be able to greet those great friends
of childhood days, Long John Silver,
the Squire, Jim Hawkins, and the Doc-
tor, to say nothing of Flint and Ben
Cunn. A grand adventure story told
on a grand scale, that provides thrill-
ing, clean and amusing entertainment
for the whole family and that will
bring them to the theatre in droves
to meet on the screen the characters
they loved in story.
It is unnecessary here to go into
that delightful story by Robert Louis
Stevenson because it is one that is
familiar and that has been read and
re-read in front of every family fire-
side. Suffice it to say that the full
flavor of that story has been faithfully
retained, and that John Lee Mahin in
his script has stuck to the colorful
language of those times and turned in
a piece of work that does full honor
and credit to the Stevenson classic.
After that, it is, first and foremost,
Jackie Cooper's picture. That child is
still the first child actor of them all.
Here he is seen in a part he was evi-
dently born to play and as a hero that
every child can want to like and still
be a credit to his family. And then of
course the ever-lovable Wallace Beery
as Long John Silver, that villain who
just couldn't help being bad, but who
wouldn't see his "mate" come to harm
for "certain sure." Beery is a joy, as
usual. Barrymore stomps and shouts
his way through his part of the film as
Billy Bones, who early pays the
piper for his sins. Nigel Bruce is thor-
oughly delightful as the too-talkative
Squire, and Lewis Stone is excellent as
the Captain of the ship.
But Chic Sale as the goofy Ben
Cunn is the extra-special treat that
the picture holds. That old "says you,
says me" character is the special joy
of the last part of the film. Dorothy
Peterson, William V. Mong and every
sailor that dons a pirate's uniform in
the picture come through with flaw-
less performances.
And for these performances, for the
faithful mood of the picture and the
swinging action, you can thank Victor
Fleming. And for the photography
that leaves a series of indelible beau-
tiful pictures in your mind, thank Ray
June, Hal Rosson and Clyde DeVinna.
And for the entire production, that
surely comes forth at a psychological
moment for the entire picture busi-
ness, thank Hunt Stromberg, who has
Rumor of Kennedy to
Head Para. Won't Down
New York. — The report that J.
P. Kennedy is to be president of
Paramount when the reorganization
plan is completed is stronger than
ever. People who are fairly well
inside say that Adolph Zukor is to
step down and become president of
the board.
London Holds Over
Five American Pix
London. — The American pictures
that have opened here within the past
week have hit the taste of the Lon-
don audiences and five of them are
being held over. One of the five is
"The House of Rothschild," which is
still doing remarkable business. The
other four are "When New York
Sleeps," "Happy Family," "Murder at
the Vanities" and "Hi, Nellie." One
Briti&h picture, "Evergreen," is also
among the hold-overs.
The newcomers for the week are
"The Thin Man" at the Empire, and
"Girl in Pawn" at the Plaza.
MCM Will Release
181 Short Subjects
A fifty per cent increase in the pro-
duction of short subjects was an-
nounced yesterday by Metro-Goidwyn-
Mayer.
Including the Hal Roach product,
sixty-nine single and two-reel pictures
will be made at the two studios, sup-
plementing 104 issues of Hearst-
Metrotone News and eight Fitzpat-
rick Travel Talks, which are compiled
m New York.
Thirty-five per cent of the entire
product will be made in Technicolor,
it was announced.
Wexley on Eight Bells'
Columbia yesterday took John
Wexley off the script of an untitled
Boris Karloff story for which he was
set Thursday, and assigned him to
adapt "Eight Bells," a New York stage
play by Percy S. Mandley. It will be
a vehicle for Jack Holt and John Buck-
ler, the latter having played the role
on the stage.
'Cirr Still Missing
"Girl of the Limberlost" is aimed
at a June 27 start by Monogram, with
Christy Cabanne still stumped for the
principal player. She must be young
enough to go to school and old enough
to have a love affair. And the gal
must act.
Melford at Cen. Service
George Melford has taken quarters
at the General Service studio and it
is reported that he is working on a
releasing deal with Paramount.
given you a Class A picture, clean
from start to finish, that will clean
up at the box office unless the public
doesn't know what's good for them.
No Improvement in
Broadway Grosses
New York. — There are plenty of
long faces among the managers of
the big Broadway picture houses these
days because the grosses are not con-
ducive to smiles. Here are the week's
results:
"Life of Vergie Winters" at the
Music Hall, $67,000; "Men in
White" in its final week at the Capi-
tol, $32,000; "Here Comes the
Groom" at the Paramount, $19,000;
"Let's Talk It Over" at the Roxy,
$16,800; "Dr. Monica" at the Strand,
$16,000; "The House of Rothschild"
in final week at the Astor, $10,600;
"Half a Sinner" at the Mayfair,
$6500; "World in Revolt" at the
Rialto, $7500.
Fields-Silverstein
Returning to Majestic
Larry Darmour yesterday signed
Leonard Fields and David Silverstein
to write an original for Majestic which
the former will direct.
The team, who wrote the first pic-
ture for the program, "The Scarlet
Letter," will report back to Majestic
when they complete "King Kelly of
the U.S.A.," which they now are
doing at Monogram.
Roberts With Berke
William Berke has signed C. Ed-
ward Roberts to direct his first for
Famous Authors Pictures Corp., "Un-
forbidden Sin," a novel by Roy Vick-
ers. The picture, which was scheduled
to start June 25, will not get under
way for several weeks.
Jane Baxter Arrives
Jane Baxter arrived by train yester-
day on the iast leg of her trip from
London to complete the cast of Sam
Goldwyn's "We Live Again." Reu-
ben Mamoulian directs Anna Sten and
Fredric March in the top spots.
ATTER^
Protestants Join War
(Continued from Page 1 I
Sunday in October as an occasion to
discuss the motion picture, its value
to society and religion, and the issues
involved in improving the moral and
social qualities of the films.
The Council stated that it could see
little evidence of any intent by the
producers to improve the moral quality
of pictures and announced that it
plans to inaugurate a national photo-
play review service for Protestant
churches which will tell what pictures
are indecent or otherwise morally ob-
jectionable. It will also state what
local theatres in each territory should
be denied patronage.
Meanwhile Rabbi David Phillipson.
a leader in the Central Conference of
American Rabbis, wired approval of
the Catholic Church stand and said
that the Rabbis are considering action.
Will Hays yesterday confirmed what
Joseph Breen told the Bishops Thurs-
day about self-censorship by the in-
dustry and said that the board of
directors of the Hays organization
assumed final responsibility for the
character of forthcoming pictures.
yl^bu Helen Clwtinn
J
Oh, quite some weeks ago, someone
came to Jerry Horwin with an idea for
a ballet that he needed Horwin's help
on because he had to get permission
from Sogolow, the cartoonist, to make
use of his character, the"Little King,"
and because he wanted someone to
write whimsical music for it. Jerry
immediately wrote a letter to Sogo-
low and thought it would be a grand
idea to have Deems Taylor write the
music, so he wrote to Taylor care of
N.B.C. Within a week's time, Sogo-
low had answered Horwin to the ef-
fect that he was sorry, but he had
signed away all permission to use his
characters to an animated cartoon
company and so could not give his
permission to put the King in a bal-
let, thanked him very much, etc., and
signed off. But weeks went by and no
word from Deems Taylor. Then one
day, just a short while ago, Horwin
For Refusing Kole'
Joel McCrea has worked his way
into a jam with Radio. When the
studio loaned him out to Universal
for the lead in "Million Dollar Ran-
som," he balked, refusing to accept
it. Radio retaliated by placing him
in suspension and, according to his
contract, it is possible to hold him
under the thumb until he agrees to
take a designated role.
His deal was due to expire July 7,
he should hold everything, that he
might have time to smoke a cigar or
play a round of bridge or just quietly
doze* for a little while before he
strikes another note. Well, my friends,
Mr. von Sternberg who likes to attend
to everything on a picture, whether
you like it or not, wandered into the
recording rooms where his picture was
being scored and promptly took the
baton away from the orchestra leader,
mounted the podium and waved his
stick at the boys who went right on
playing. After a few minutes. Stern-
berg looked over the orchestra and
noticed that the cellist wasn't making
any effort to play at all, so he said to
the cellist: "What are you supposed
to be playing?" "Tacet," said the cell-
ist. "Well," said the un-suppressible
Von irritably, "let me hear it!" Heh,
heh, it must have made a swell illus-
tration of that old saying, "Silence is
eloquent."
If there's a particularly sour note
in those Chicago-Trib censorship ar-
ticles, to a degree Mr. Kinsley is
entitled to a peeve, but he shouldn't
let that interfere with his reporting.
Kinsley was sent here for a limited
stay to get the WHOLE truth and
statements from the producers. It
seems that he has gotten half-
truths, representing the smallest pro-
portion in Hollywood. BUT when he
tried and tried to get in to see Jack
Warner for a statement from him,
Kinsley couldn't do it. Warner
couldn't or wouldn't see him and
that's too bad. A good statement
from a representative executive might
have helped Hollywood.
Page Four
June 23, 1934
Radio Claims 2500
Exhibs Signed Now
New York. — RKO-Radio announces
that it has already secured signed
contracts for the coming season from
2500 exhibitors out of a possible
10,000.
Radio Pictures has set production
dates for its next five pictures. The
first will be "The Fountain," w.hich
has just started. Then will come
"The Cay Divorce," going into pro-
duction next week; "Wednesday's
Child," starting June 30; "The Rich-
est Cirl in the World," July 5, and
"Anne of Creen Cables," July 16.
Color Photography
Holds Up Stahl Film
Selection of a seven-year-old mu-
latto girl for the "Imitation of Life"
cast is delaying the start. Instead of
Monday, John Stahl expects to get in
production later in the week.
Stahl finally decided that real color
was essential for the child parts, but
the mulattos the lightest in appear-
ance to the eye have shown too obvi-
ously negroid in the camera tests.
Heiress Signed For
Falcon Pictures
New York. — Falcon Pictures yester-
day signed Natalie Tyson, grand-
daughter of E. T. Stotesbury, for a
role in "Convention Cirl," exteriors
for which are being shot at Atlantic
City. It also took options on her for
five more pictures.
The company will give contracts to
four of the winners of the beauty con-
test to be held at Atlantic City today.
'Herbert' Gets Going
"Big-Hearted Herbert" went into
production yesterday at Warners'
Vitagraph lot in Hollywood, Wil-
liam Keighley directing Guy Kibbee
and Aline MacMahon. Jay Ward went
into the cast as Kibbee's son yester-
day, replacing Mickey Rooney.
Spigelgass Improved
Leonard Spigelgass, Universal sce-
nario head, is at home, feeling much
better without his tonsils, and think-
ing about a trip to Honolulu and back
if the doctor okays it. He puts "Prin-
cess O'Hara" into production as his
first work of Universal supervision
about August 1 .
Keye Luke in Another
Bert Cilroy, in charge of shorts at
Radio during Lee Marcus' absence, has
signed Keye Luke, former publicity
department artist, for the second Leon
Errol short, which Al Boasberg puts
into work Monday. In addition to
his acting assignment, Luke will write
his own dialogue.
Fight Over Fox Met
Again Postponed
New York. — The legal battle
over the offer of Warners and
Loew's of $4,000,000 for control
of the Fox Met chain, which had
already been postponed twice, yes-
terday was set over until next
Wednesday.
Del Rio Plans Own
Clean-up Campaign
Dolores Del Rio is reported to be
somewhat upset at hot elements in
"In Caliente," her next Warners pro-
duction, and to be on the point of
inaugurating a one-woman, one-pic
ture clean-up campaign.
Jerry Wald and Carl Erickson are
working on the first draft of the story
for Warners. This is intended as one
of the Warner special productions for
the new season.
Jimmy Savo Picture
Slated to Start Aug. 1
^':. ".'>..'.. —Ben Hecht and Charles
MacArthur .have set August 1 as the
tentative starting date for their pic-
ture, starring Jimmy Savo. This is
the second of the four they will make
for Paramount release.
Lee Garmes, who photographed
their first, "Crime Without Passion,"
will stay on for the next one.
Burns and Allen Sail
For Six Weeks Abroad
New York. — Cracie Allen and
George Burns sail today on the Rex
for Italy and a tour of the continent,
giving it six weeks. They return here
for radio broadcasts, and Paramount
has a call on their services for two
pictures.
Agency Signs Two
Helen Wood, whom Sam Coldwyn
brought to Hollywood from Nashville,
Tenn., by giving her a contract as a
graduation gift, signed a managerial
ticket with the Beyer-MacArthur of-
fice yesterday. Sam Hardy also went
with the company as his new mana-
gers.
Drive Upsets Prod. Plans
(Continued from Page 1 )
force of the church drive because,
contrary to custom, the studios are
not handing out contracts and ear-
marking players for future produc-
tions. Agents say this is due to the
fact the studios haven't the slightest
idea what pictures will be in produc-
tion from week to week, and they do
not dare to make player plans ahead.
Another problem facing the studios
is that of getting stories for their stars
which they can put into immediate
production. In many studios pressure
is being brought to bear on the story
departments in an effort to speed up
the work, while old lists of acceptable
stories that have been found whole-
some in the past are being combed
over to see what will be acceptable in
the present emergency. Star salaries
must be met, so must release sched-
ules, so must the demands of the
churchmen. The result is a hodge-
podge.
European Sailings
New York. — Sailing on the Cham-
plain today are J. V. Connolly, of the
Hearst newsreels; A. C. Brown, trav-
eling auditor for Paramount Interna-
tional; Pierre Brasseur, Fox player;
Andre Hornez and Bernard Zimmer,
writers; and Felix Ferry, European
producer.
Wallis-Wilk on Way
New York. — Hal Wallis, who, with
his wife, Louise Fazenda, arrived in
New York Thursday, is on his way to
the coast with Jake Wilk.
Herzig and Meeker To
Write Girl Friend'
William Rowland has signed Sig
Herzig and Ed Meeker to write the
screen play of "The Cirl Friend,"
which Russell Mack directs when it
starts July 7. Jack Haley, Ann Soth-
ern, Jack Benny and Lupe Velez are
already cast.
Allen on Foy Sales
Foy Productions has opened an ex-
change office in San Francisco and has
signed Jack Allen to take charge of
the territory as sales manager.
I
HAPPY
JEW
\J t>l V^ft«^fc^A>^««y
?E READING DEPT.
CULVER CITY. CALIFV
Vol. XXI. No. 40. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Monday, June 25. 1934
N.y. $CH€Cl$ IN Pl\ WAR
•IN this column a few days ago we
commented on an idea expressed by
M. A. Lightman which had to do with
classifying motion picture theatres and
running certain types of pictures in
certain specified houses. Mr. Light-
man expressed another view at the
same time which is also interesting.
That is that the present campaign
against indecent pictures is a very
good thing for the industry.
"We have needed a drive like this,"
he said. "I am certain it will prove a
distinct asset, for it will, and is now
arousing an interest in pictures among
a class of people who never have at-
tended movies before. The picture
business will clean house, clean up its
pictures, and you will see thousands
upon thousands of new customers
flocking to the theatres."
Mr. Lightman, we believe, is right
in everything he said. So far as the
industry cleaning up pictures is con-
cerned, that is being done this minute
in every studio where such action is
thought necessary. The effort to get
stories that will conform to the re-
quisites that are being laid down by
the churches, women's organizations
and educators all over the country are
shooting production schedules full of
holes, but you can lay a bet that such
stories are going to be found and
made.
The task seems difficult only be-
cause it is new. There is plenty of
material to be had, but the main
trouble is that it must be found in a
hurry. Release dates must be kept
and, if any studio has pictures in prep-
aration which might not get by under
the new order of things, something
must be found to replace them. Un-
doubtedly that condition obtains in
some studios, which accounts for the
activity in story departments.
MCM showed what could be done
with stories that are absolutely clean
when it made "Treasure Island," des-
tined to be a great box-office success.
Fox recently put out a navy picture —
and they are popularly supposed to be
J always off-color — called "She Learned
^ About Sailors," which is bright, clever,
amusing and clean. Other studios
(Continued on Page 2)
Columbia Plans to
Co-Star Lowe and Holt
New York. — Columbia is plan-
ning to co-star Edmund Lowe and
Jack Holt in a series of productions
on its coming program, hoping to
make the team as famous as the
Lowe-McLaglen combination, al-
though in a different type of pic-
ture.
'Cleopatra' Next
Film For Chinese
Sid Crauman is closing negotiations
with Paramount to put "Cleopatra,"
the C. B. DeMille production, into the
Chinese Theatre as the next attrac-
tion there. It will open in four weeks.
The showman has signed Hariet
Hoctor, the noted dancer, to head the
prologue. He is building the remain-
der of the stage unit now. Walter
Kane set the Hoctor deal.
Pola Negri Feature in
Lew Brown Musical Show
New York — Pola Negri, Mary Brian,
Rosco Ates and Abe Lyman's band
will be the features of the new Lew
Brown musical show, which will be
shown on Broadway this Fall and
probably will have its try-out around
July 15.
The title of the show is "Yokel Boy
Makes Good."
Anita Loos East
Anita Loos leaves for New York
July 1 for ten-days vacation. Her
last story for MCM was her original,
"Born To Be Kissed," for Jean Har-
low.
City Superintendent Tells
Will Hays That Characters Of
Kids Must Slot Be Undermined
New York. — Another element joined the war against indecent
films Saturday, when Dr. Harold C. Campbell, superintendent of
the New York City schools, joined hands with the Catholic and
other churches in their campaign and notified Will Hays to that
effect. Dr. Campbell told Mr. Hays
McCrea Suspended
For Refusing Role
very bluntly that the largest school
system in the world is determined that
the characters of school children shall
not be undermined by sub-standard
and inferior motion pictures which
thwart the aims of the city's educa-
tional department.
The attitude taken by the Board of
Education, of which Dr. Campbell is
the spokesman, is considered by many
to be a direct reflection on the New
York Censor Board and an admission
that that department, which comes
under the jurisdiction of the State
Board of Education, has failed in its
work. It is felt that, had the Censor
Board performed its duties as it
should, there would have been no ne-
cessity for the New York Board of
Education to take matters into its own
hands in order to protect the school
children.
Hail To Direct Sidney
Alexander Hall is slated to direct
the next Sylvia Sidney picture for
Paramount. It is "Red Woman," on
which B. P. Schulberg is rushing work.
William R. Lipman is writing the
screen play.
McCrea has worked his way
jam with Radio. When the
WRITERS-ACTORS GUILDS
lis $100,000 RADIO PLA]^[
A big broadcasting deal is in proc-
ess of arrangement which will enlist
the services of many of the most
prominent members of both the Screen
Writers Guild and the Screen Actors
Guild. It is understood that, so far
as the Guilds and their members are
concerned, the plan is agreeable, es-
pecially as it involves splitting a sum
of probably $100,000 between the
two organizations.
The plan was advanced by John T.
Adams and Gardner Osborn, both
prominent in radio circles in New
York, and they have the task of get-
(Continued on Page 8)
Paramount Hesitates
Over Baby Racket'
Faced with the problem of eradi-
cating the gangster element from the
Fred and Fanny Hatton story, "Baby
Racket," Paramount is undecided as to
whether or not it will produce the
story. It was formerly slated for the
Bayard Veiller unit, but .he is under-
stood to have declined to handle it.
U. A. Paris Convention
Paris. — United Artists will hold a
Continental convention here today,
with Joseph M. Schenck presiding.
Joel
into a
studio loaned him out to Universal
for the lead in "Million Dollar Ran-
som," he balked, refusing to accept
it. Radio retaliated by placing him
in suspension and, according to his
contract, it is possible to hold him
under the thumb until he agrees to
take a designated role.
His deal was due to expire July 7,
with Radio having an option on his
services. But the period of suspen-
sion is set to be added to the expira-
tion date, pushing it back until he
comes around.
Cummings Signed to
Direct White Parade'
Jesse L. Lasky Saturday signed Irv-
ing Cummings to direct "The White
Parade," a new novel by Rian James,
which goes before the cameras early
in August.
In the interim, he will handle an-
other picture for Fox. Jesse Lasky Jr.
is collaborating with James on the
screen play.
•Wizard of Oz' Off
Sam Coldwyn has dropped plans to
produce "The Wizard of Oz," at least
on this year's program. The property
was purchased by Goldwyn for Eddie
Cantor, but the star refused to con-
sider It on the plea that it was not
his type.
Dieterle With Muni
Warners Saturday assigned William
Dieterle to "Border Town," the next
Paul Muni vehicle. Roy Chanslor is
writing the script of the Carroll Gra-
ham original. The studio has no
definite starting date.
[
RALPH RAINCER
LEO ROBIN
wrote
"Take A Le
Page Two
|une25. 1934
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyvi/ood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office; Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp^
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15.
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932, at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
So far as we can gather, the "mys-
tery of Toluca Lake" is as follows:
The other night, a couple of gals fled
the unwelcome advances of t.he scion
of one of our best families ("private
people" — not movie folk) and, in
doing so, jumped into the lake to
swim away. There's them as say the
wenches swam away au naturel —
while others say they just jumped in
— clothes and all. Anyway they swam
practically to the other shore, and
were about to emerge right at Jim
Tully's house, when they spotted
Tully's son, and turned around and
swam back in the direction of the
first menace. So they wound up in
W, C. Fields' back yard. So the next
morning, when Fields found out what
had been going on, he fired his
watchman, chauffeur and a few of
the neighbors' servants, for not wak-
ing him up. Or did he?
•
It was a hectic week-end anyway —
wot with Frank Orsatti hiring t.he
whole Hayworth Club and throwing
a huge party for a couple of hundred
guests, who ate three dinners each
and had a swell time. Among those
there were the Clark Gables, Ida
Koverman, Sally Filers, Harry Joe
Brown, Eddie Hillman, the Clarence
Browns (Alice Joyce), the Milton
Brens, and a million blondes.
There was partying at Pickfair too,
with Josh Cosden (who departs to-
night) , the Sonny Chalifs, Gene Ray-
mond, Mrs. Harriman Russel, Whit-
ney de Rham, the Sam Goldwyns,
Lloyd Pantages, and a lady from Can-
ada who has been writing fan-letters
to Mary Pickford since she was a
child, here at Mary's invitation, among
those present.
A lamb-chop caught fire at the
Vendome Sunday morning and there
was a rush of smoke to the roof. They
sent for some special chemical ex-
tinguishers and wot did they get?
They got five fire-engines and enough
excitement to please Nero! But no
flames!
•
George Cukor and Hugh Walpole
(w.k. novelist and lecturer) were dis-
cussing how much they did not want
to go to a Pasadena dinner party
scheduled for one night this week,
"MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD"
RKO prod.; director, George Archainbaud; writers; Stuart Palmer
Willis Goldbeck.
Riaito Theatre
Sun: "Murder on the Blackboard" is pretty continuously comic. It's an excit-
ing little melodrama, as such melodramas go, with motives galore for ev-
eryone in the cast. It is right at the top of its class as a bright and lively
farce-mystery drama.
Times: In some respects the story is quite ingenious, and when most of such
yarns depend largely on spine-chilling effects and screams, this "Murder
on the Blackboard" has the saving grace of a sense of humor.
Mirror: Having solved "The Penguin Pool Murder Mystery," the team of Edna
May Oliver and James Gleason goes on to unravel this far more baffling
and entertaining mystery, "Murder on the Blackboard." Filled with shocks
and surprises, lightened by laughs, it is an account of the grim, but justi-
fiable slaughter of an over-romantic school teacher. School children
should love it. The mystery holds real depth.
Herald-Tribune: A sequel to the "Penguin Pool Murder," "Murder on the
Blackboard" is worth sitting through. While it may not have so unique a
plot or setting as the aquarium mystery, it still has the advantage of hav-
ing Edna May Oliver and James Gleason in the principal roles. The fijm
as a story, has no great significance, but it is deftly handled by Mr. Arch-
ainbaud.
World-Telegram: A neat little problem in murder is presented for mystery lov-
ers in "Murder on the Blackboard." A nicely devised little problem, with
clews that are neither too closely guarded nor too openly revealed, and
that lends itself to a solution that is not too far-fetched. All of which
makes for an excitingly eventful, smooth, colorful thriller.
Post: With Edna May Oliver again cast as a comic feminine sleuth, the new
mystery farce at the Riaito, "Murder on the Blackboard," proves a thor-
oughly interesting and entertaining film.
Journal: There isn't much, ordinarily, that can be said for comedy detectives,
but here the sleuthing is done by Edna May Oliver of the droll voice and
the even droller mannerisms. Assisted by James Gleason and Edgar Ken-
nedy, who are able comics themselves. Miss Oliver turns the film into di-
verting entertainment that is further enlivened by some really amusing
dialogue. You'll find the piece fun.
News: The suspense is cleverly worked up before the murder and well sustained
afterwards up to the very end of the picture. The cast works well together
but Edna May Oliver's performance of the redoubtable Miss Withers tops
that of all the others.
Acad. Meeting on
Release Prints Set
Laboratory and sound department
heads of all the major studios have
been invited to attend a meeting of
the Academy Research Council's sub-
committee on improvement of release
print quality Wednesday evening.
A report will be presented then
containing proposals and recommenda-
tions for standardization of release
print laboratory procedure, which the
Council believes will result in an im-
provement in release prints supplied to
the theatres. The report is based on
an extensive survey made by Gordon
Mitchell, manager of the Council, and
L. E. Clark.
Eric Rhodes at Radio
Eric Rhodes arrived last night by
plane from New York, was handed a
script by Radio of "Gay Divorce" and
goes to work for that company today.
and George did his bit by telling the
Englishman how far away the place is,
and explained what he meant by a
"sleeper-jump." Walpole, already
discouraged by hearing that the hos-
tess was noted for "meeting all trains
bearing English," muttered into .his
beard, "It is quite some distance, isn't
it?"
"Yes," answered the elfin Cukor.
"In fact, Hugh — the only way you can
make it pay is to give a lecture while
you're there!"
Code Authority Hits
Cash Premium System
New York. — The Code Authority
has ruled that the giving of gold pre-
miums by a picture house is rebating
in the form of prizes and violates the
code.
The ruling came on the complaint
of Pacific National Theatres, of Los
Angeles, against the Jay Benn Corpor-
ation, and the Benn outfit is ordered
to stop the practice.
'Death Day' Premiere
"Death Day," the three-reeler edit-
ed by Walter Anthony for Sol Lesser
from the Sergei Eisenstein Mexican
collection, has its world premiere at
the Shrine Auditorium Wednesday
night as part of an Upton Sinclair
political program. Sinclair is also
staging one of his political satires.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
have done the same, so it can be
done.
And, as Mr. Lightman says, such
pictures will attract thousands of new
customers and will not lose any of the
old ones, because the picture fans will
go to pictures, no matter what type
they are. Even if they prefer the "so-
phisticated" variety, they will still at-
tend the theatres, take w.hat is offered
and like it, for the picture habit, once
acquired, is a hard one to break.
Old Warship To Be
Built For Bounty'
MCM technicians have been as-
signed the preparation of an 18th cen-
tury British warship, H.M.S. Bounty,
for the Frank Lloyd production of
"Mutiny on the Bounty," a novel by
Charles Nordhoff and James Norman
Hall, based on the 1790 narrative of
the ship's commander, Capt. William
Bligh.
Clark Gable, Wallace Beery and
Robert Montgomery will be combined
in the three-star production, and its
spot on MGM's schedule depends on
synchronizing their free dates.
Frank Lloyd, who is understood to
.hold an interest in the film rights to
the story with MGM, will take the
boat and cast to Tahiti during the
production, according to present plans.
Warner Executives
Leave For Their Posts
With Major Albert Warner and
Gradwell Sears remaining here for '
about ten days more, the balance of i
the company's sales organization, who
dropped in here Wednesday from the
San Francisco convention, left last
night for their respective territories.
In addition to discussing production
problems and watching the making of
pictures now in work, the group were
shown the four most recently com-
pleted Warner films, "Here Comes
the Navy," "Housewife," "Kansas
City Princess" and "The Dragon Mur-
der Case."
Kahane Back From Meet
B. B. Kahane, accompanied by Ralph
Doyle, in charge of sales for Radio in
Australia, and Jack Pegler, Lord and
Thomas advertising agency executive,
returned Saturday by train from Chi-
cago, where they attended the Radio
sales convention. Doyle will remain
here about a week before sailing for
home.
Clive Dominos' Guest |
The Dominos will be hostesses to- 1
morrow afternoon at a tea given in
honor of E. E. Clive and members of
the cast of "Keep It a Dream," cur-
rently at the Hollywood Playhouse. It
will be held at the clubhouse, 1284
No. Crescent Heights.
WHY ASK. OTHERS'
I
QUICK LOANS
$10 TO $300 — REASONABLE COST
ARRANGED ON SALARY,
FURNITURE or AUTOS
studio Employees! You Can obtain
ready cash for vacation or any
other purpose thru us without de-
lay or red tape.
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg.. 1680 N. Vine
Telephone HEmpstead 1133
Page Three
TWO HEADS OX PILLOW GOOD;
M ARR YIIVG WIDOWS' WOX'T DO
i^onmiL
Director, Writer,
Cast All Do Well
TWO HEADS ON A PILLOW"
(Liberty)
Direction William Nigh
Original Story Dorothy Canfield
Screen Play Albert DeMond
Photography Harry Neumann
Cast; Neil Hamilton, Miriam Jordan,
Henry Armetta, Hardie Albright,
Dorothy Appleby, Mary Forbes, Ed-
ward Martindel, Claude King, Lona
Andre, Betty BIythe, Edward Kane,
Claire McDowell, George Lewis,
Emily Fitzroy, Nellie V. Nichols,
Dorothy Granger, Jilda Ford, Mary
Foy, Jack Kennedy.
A good, workmanlike job has been
turned out on a tried and true for-
mula and, pointed as it is for tried
and true laughs, it doesn't miss its
mark. Nor will it miss its audience,
thereby assuring it of its rightful place
on any program.
This is the one about the hard-
working young man, poor but honest
(and in this case a lawyer) , who mar-
ried a rich girl from high society, with
a termagant mother. They are almost
immediately divorced. The girl be-
comes a lawyer too, and seven years
later they meet again in court over
an alienation of affections suit which
strangely parallels their own marital
case. Of course, the boy and girl
still outwardly fight and about the
same things that parted them the
first time, but after sundry arguments
for and against marriage, they decide
to try it all over again and live scrap-
pily ever after.
The picture doesn't really attempt
to prove anything but the fact that,
with a good cast of players, an un-
inspired but workmanlike script and a
competent director, it is entirely pos-
sible to turn out a piece of enter-
tainment on a very restricted budget
that will please and amuse most of
your audiences. The mother-in-law
school of laughs is worked to a fare-
thee-well, but it works, and that's
the only answer to any objections.
Besides the presence of the ever-
dependable Neil Hamilton, there are
extra bright spots in all the scenes
that include Henry Armetta and
Claude King. Their names are not
just stuck into the cast to make it
look good. They have good parts and
make the most of t.hem. And there
are also a number of old-timers who
do their share, like Emily Fitzroy,
Betty BIythe, Edward Martindel and
I Claire McDowell, who make the going
a whole lot smoother than usual.
Miriam Jordan looks perfectly beauti-
ful, but does little else. Someone
should find out what it took to wake
up Elissa Landi and apply the same
treatment to Miss Jordan because,
with her looks, it would be worth it.
Hardie Albright is right amusing as
the incurable bachelor who suddenly
finds himself involved in a breach-of-
promise suit.
Albert DeMond wrote the script.
The dialogue is consistently good and
he very evidently knows what an audi-
ence will laugh at. William Nigh
directed at a good pace and the pho-
tography by Harry Neumann is okay.
'Tarzan and Mate'
Barred in Germany
New York. — The German Board
of Censors has turned thumbs down
on "Tarzan and His Mate," bar-
ring the picture from Germany.
The board gives no reasons for its
action against the MGM produc-
tion.
U.A. Sells Product
To Warner Houses
New York. — Although United Art-
ists last year would not sell its prod-
uct to the Warner theatres, a deal
has been closed by the two companies
for the coming season.
It is understood that all differences
of opinion have been fixed up and
that the United Artists pictures have
already been booked into more than
350 theatres of the Warner chain.
Universal Sets New
Lead For Joan Bennett
Universal is figuring on placing Joan
Bennett in the leading role in
"Weather Permitting." The studio
has a one-picture ticket with her be-
cause of releasing her from "Million
Dollar Ransom" to take Paramount's
"Pursuit of Happiness."
Miss Bennett has not read the
script and the final decision hangs on
her agreeing to the assignment. Clar-
ence Marks is producing it and Kurt
Neumann is slated to direct.
Joel Sayre Latest to
Write *Bugle Sounds'
Joel Sayre handed in his new screen
play on MGM's "The Bugle Sounds"
Saturday and starts today with Para-
mount to write an original story for
W. C. Fields, under William Le
Baron's supervision. The William
Morris office handles the writer.
Beery To Do 'Soviet'
"Soviet," the Russian story MGM
has been contemplating the past year,
is in line for Wallace Beery, following
"West Point of the Air," unless "Mu-
tiny on the Bounty" gets in ahead.
Irving Thalberg is reported to have
Lewis Milestone in mind to direct
"Soviet."
Stevens on 'Kernels'
George Stevens has been chosen
to direct the next Wheeler and Wool-
sey picture, "Kentucky Kernels."
Fred Guiol was set to write comedy
sequences for the picture, which H.
N. Swanson is producing for Radio.
Shaw and Lee to Para.
Shaw and Lee were signed by Para-
mount Saturday for the comedy as-
signment in "You Belong to Me,"
the Lee Tracy picture. Walter Kane
set the deal.
Sailings From England
London. — Lynn Fontanne, Alfred
Lunf and Walter Wanger are sailing
for New York on the He de France
Wednesday.
Old-Fashioned, and
Hurt by Poor Yarn
•MARRYING WIDOWS"
( Tower )
Direction Sam Newfeld
Author Adele Buffington
Photography Harry Forbes
Cast: Judith Allen, Minna Combell,
Lucien Littlefield, Johnny Mack
Brown, Sarah Padden, Bert Roach,
Arthur Hoyt, Virginia Sale.
The story of "Marrying Widows"
is a tremendous stumbling-block, over
which the cast and director have
tripped, fallen on their faces and sunk
into the depths of discouragement.
Which leaves the audience practically
nothing to do but sigh a little and
wish they'd stayed .home.
The plot is a nice illustration of
"familiarity breeds contempt," and
offers a little excitement once in a
while by getting all tangled up in
its long white beard.
It's the yarn about the girl whose
in-iaws are so mean to her after her
husband's death that she leaves home
and goes to New York, and of the
man who marries her for her money
and then discovers that he loves her.
Oh yes, and the lecherous brother-in-
law.
John Mack Brown is the man who
deliberately sets out to win the
wealthy widow so that he gan get
control of the Melford Sewing Ma-
chine Company and revenge his father,
whose patents were stolen by the
Melfords. He plays easily, but is dif-
ficult to understand. Judith Allen is
the widow and .her performance indi-
cates that she can take care of better
roles. Minna Gombell is her pal who
helps her out of all trouble and even-
tually wins Bert Roach, Brown's part-
ner. Lucien Littlefield, overcome by
his role, is the unpleasant brother-in-
law. Sarah Padden and Arthur Hoyt
are the rest of the horrid family, and
Virginia Sale is seen briefly.
Sam Newfeld directed against the
odds supplied by Adele Buffington,
who wrote the story, and Harry Forbes
photographed.
The picture rates a very thin rec-
ommendation for the least sophisti-
cated houses, and none elsewhere.
London Goes Strong
For 'Postman' Novel
London. — This town is giving James
Cain's novel, "The Postman Always
Rings Twice," a big play. It was
banned for pictures, but Jonathan Cape
printed one edition here in conjunc-
tion with the American publisher, Al-
fred Knopf, and sold it out pronto.
It is going into its second printing.
Schildkraut-Col. Part
Josep.h Schildkraut and Columbia
have agreed on a cancellation of the
player's long-term contract, parting
July 10. Inability to agree on assign-
ments is given as the reason.
Mrs. Arch Reeve East
Mrs. Arch Reeve left for New York
on the Chief Saturday to join her hus-
band. Fox advertising director.
_M
ATTER!
^^^^^^2^
It seems to us perfectly fair and
equitable to classify pictures as Class
A and Class B productions AFTER
they are completed. But the idea of
a production schedule listing Class A
and Class B pictures BEFORE they are
made seems to us a pretty silly thing
to do. Particularly considering the
basis on which such designations are
made.
To a major company a Class A pro-
duction is one on which the overhead
may possibly run up to a million dol-
lars, but heaven knows it has been
conclusively proved that a million dol-
lars worth of so-called Class A
production does not necessarily an
entertainment make. Whereas and
contrary-wise, entertainment and good
entertainment can abound in a pic-
ture that cost a mere one hundred
and fifty thousand.
•
Then again, the psychology of
rating pictures thus before they ever
go before a camera is very bad for
the people assigned to a Class B pro-
duction. There is absolutely no rea-
son to assume that any picture will
fall into Class B. Every picture that
goes before the cameras should be
started with every hope that it will
make the Class A grade. There is no
excuse for any other way of thinking.
After all, every picture on a major
lot can use each and every facility a
studio has to offer, mechanically and
mentally.
Studios are constantly seeking a
means to cut down their negative
costs. Well, they could average mat-
ters up a great deal better if they
weren't constantly stubbing their toes
on this Class A and Class B rating.
They have been geared in high for so
long that they are willing to throw
everything Into what they are pleased
to term a Class A production and give
a Class B picture the left-overs. And
that's not exactly good showmanship
or good sense. Civen a sure-fire
story, they put into it their biggest
stars and "draw" names, the best
cameraman and the highest-priced
director. Given a story that possibly
needs a little careful working out,
they write it off to Class B produc-
tion, try out newcomers in it, give
It a struggling director who is trying
to make good and then tie him up in
knots if he's enthusiastic enough to
think that it could be improved and
could be Class A with a few changes.
They say it doesn't matter.
•
But it does matter. There
should be room in every picture for
a star and a future star. There should
be room in every picture for a writer
to do his best. There should be room
in every picture for a director to give
his best. And if that should be the
case, there will be more Class A pic-
tures at less average cost and better
entertainment fcr the public all
around.
Page Four
i
REPORTER
|une2S, 1934
British Gaumont To
Release 12 In U. S.
London. — British Gaumont has se-
lected twelve of its best current pic-
tures for release in the United States
next season. They are;
"Along Came Sally"; "Channel
Crossing", with Constance Cummings;
"Orders Is Orders", with James Glea-
son and Charlotte Greenwood; "The
Murder Party", with Leslie Banks;
"Friday the Thirteenth"; "Dick Tur-
pin", with Victor McLaglen; "Strike",
with Leslie Banks; "The Woman in
Command", with Cicely Courtneidge
and Edward Everett Norton; "Sleeping
Car", with Madeleine Carroll; "Just
Smith"; "It's a Boy", with Edward
Everett Morton; "The Arson Ring",
with Leslie Banks.
Long John Silver Is
Bad For Beery's Leg
Wallace Beery has had trouble get-
ting his leg unkinked from his pegieg
pirate part in "Treasure Island," and
leaves for New York tomorrow or
Wednesday for special treatments
from Dr. Maurice Rashbaum, who
cures with lights.
On Beery's return, he goes into
"West Point of the Air," story writ-
ten about the government training
school at Randolph Field, Texas.
Lesser Engages Lugosi
For Role of 'Chandu'
Sol Lesser engaged Bela Lugosi
Saturday to play Chandu in his 24-
reel production based on the radio
magician. Ray Taylor starts direction
of the initial eight-reel feature the
week of July 9.
Figuring that the Chandu charac-
ter can be centered in other story
ideas, Lesser took options for further
engagements of Lugosi over a three-
year period.
'Wagon Wheels* Going
Into Work at Paramount
Harold Hurley returns to his desk
at Paramount today, after a three-
weeks absence, and will place "Wagon
Wheels," a western, into work imme-
diately. This is Art jacobson's and
Charles Barton's first crack at co-
directing a picture after long service
with the studio as assistant directors.
Reliance to Make Six
New York. — Harry Coetz, presi-
dent of Reliance Pictures, announces
that his company will make six fea-
tures for the coming season. Three
of them are "Count of Monte Cristo,"
"Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round" and
"Catalina."
MCM Doubtful on Three
Placing three pictures in the doubt-
ful category, MGM has shelved them
temporarily rather than raise any
question on censorship with them.
They are "Duchess of Delmonico's,"
"Undressed Parade" and "Indo-
China."
Radio Signs Conover
Theresa Maxwell Conover was sign-
ed Saturday by Radio for a featured
role in "The Age of Innocence," in
which Irene Dunne and John Boles
have the leading roles. The MacQuar-
rie office set the deal.
Ratoff to Work in
Own Yarn in England
London.- — Gregory Ratoff, who
was supposed to return to America
this week, has again delayed his
departure and will do another pic-
ture for British International. It is
"Eighteen Minutes," written by
Ratoff himself, and Monty Banks
will direct.
Schoedsack Wanted
To Do New 'Chang'
Ernest Schoedsack is reported dick-
ering with English interests which
want him to head another expedi-
tion of an exploratory nature for a
picture on the order of "Chang."
While Schoedsack has about two
years to go en his Radio contract, he
has had no office on the lot for some
time, and is on suspension status,
pending a story fitting his style.
He has been mentioned for the
direction of "The Last Days of Pom-
peii," which Merian C. Cooper is
planning in Europe.
Mae West Declines to
Co on 'Hall of Fame'
Although Paramount okayed her
appearance on the "Hall of Fame"
broadcast yesterday, being anxious to
work in a radio plug on "It Ain't No
Son," Mae West bowed out of going
through with the deal.
According to her Paramount ticket,
she is her own boss on doing radio
work, but declined a $7,000 offer
because she could not get material
for the broadcast that would satisfy
her.
Duval on 'Red Pawn'
For Dietrich's Next
Paramount is keeping Jacques Duval
on its writing staff for one more as-
signment and will hand him "Red
Pawn" to whip into a screen play as
Marlene Dietrich's next picture with
Josef von Sternberg. The latter acts
unofficially as producer on the picture.
Melody' Off For Time
"Broadway Melody of 1934" is off
the immediate schedule at MGM, and
lies in the free-for-all department for
the acquisition and development of
further ideas. Apparently the only
factor set about it is music by Brown
and Freed.
Rooney in 'Hide-Out'
Mickey Rooney went into MCM's
"Hide-Out" Saturday, taking this pic-
ture instead of Warners' "Big-Hearted
Herbert" because of a prior contract.
Walter Kane set it.
Brooks With Durante
Matty Brooks, who used to write
some of Eddie Cantor's broadcasting
material and also wrote for Jimmy
Durante last season, is back on the
Durante writing staff.
Try-out of Segall Play
Harry Segall's new play, "Knock
Wood," will have its try-out perform-
ances at Greenwood Lake, N. J., this
Summer. Edward F. Gardner will pro-
duce it.
NewYo
Pai)imoun«)
"PRIVATE SCANDAL"
rod.; director, Ralph Murphy; writers, Vera Caspary
and Bruce Manning
Mayfair Theatre
World-Telegram: From the moment Ned Sparks makes his ap-
on the scene, "Private Scandal" goes over to farce
^d turns out to be a brisk, noisy, extravagant
riesque of murder melodramas. If the beginning
Tding could be changed, this "Private Scandal"
one of the most effective satires on mystery films
^reen has yet produced.
(ournai: Tt^n^^o^ed Sp
average ix^^S^nelodram
the case^B murder investi
cal burlesque.
Mrs, "Private Scandal" is better than
i^gM/ith Sparks as the detective on
Bti%i practically turns into a farci-
Times: "In "^f^^^S^nda\" Wiey solve the murder with such
lack-wit metj^SIK^aX the Q^|M[e produces a considerable
body of loucPfnd reasonably ir^plifible humor. The homicide
itself is slipshod, sober and ratlj^» arrogantly routine in ar-
rangement. But wj^i|^^d Spi^^m/alks on the scene as the
detective in
to sparkle.
But whfii|^^d
ands wak^ up and the film begins
Sun: The Mayfair has a jolly Ajrder mystery this week. It's not
always so mysterious; bu^fc general good humor seldom
flags Bright and JH^^PI^W'S '^^f Jsit/ minutes, "Private
Scandal" falls to pi^resat the e
ing disappointment.
wal^
yst
ral
olution is an annoy-
end.
American: "Private Scandal" star^out a^it haltingly as a rou-
tine murder mystery. It gauM^^mentJfci^th the unreeling
of every foot of film, hoi^^l^^ipr, with Jjje entrance of Ned
Sparks as the sour-faced and sarcastrc police inspector,
achieves an even faster tempo. Although agl^lly one of the
season's funniest comedies, the picture ri^^^l
pense.
k loses its sus-
the house. Miss Pitts, of course, heL
is Ned Sparks who really domin^
scenes. But the oddest thing abj
its dull ending
nc^^^^l^irious Pi^Wi
-iP^M^ l^f, sonOp
adway^n a long tWie-
; laughter
hel^^n tl
>|GtM^|
Herald-Tribune: "Private Scanc^^^^^^irious pJ^wre for sev-
eral reasons. It contains, in^^^^' iVrf, son^Sp the fuuni-
est dialogue heard on Broadway^n a long tWie-— the kind
that brings shouts of spontaneous laughter from^l parts of
the d
early
urphy's
y, but it
humorous
picture is
picture is light.
Despite the fact that
r, it just can-
ontains such
Wo comedians
nd instead, at-
Post: A typical Summer offering
rather meaningless, and very amusing,
the plot centers around the solution of a
not be termed a mystery melodram,
comics as Zasu Pitts and Ned Spark
make one forget the flimsiness of th
tention is focused upon their comedy
News: The shivers vanish once your attention^^^^racted by
the dead-pan and raucous voice of Ned^^^i^^^ he goes
about being a sort of diamond-in-the-rd^hdetective. And
that is not all to keep you amused. Zasu Pitts is abroad
making dumb speeches and dumber gestures which are highly
comic.
IH
NIG£l BRUC£
as ''Troon" in ''Coming Out Party"
JESSE L. LASKY — FOX PRODUCTION
". . Harry Green and Nigel Bruce have small parts in this
picture but between them they steal every scene in which
they appear . ."
London Star — May 7th
". . Mr. Bruce is excellent as "Troon" . ."
New York Times — March 17th
*'. . Best performance of picture is given by Nigel Bruce . ."
Hollywood Variety — January 1 5th
as "Lynch" in "Murder in Trinidad"
SOL WURTZEL — FOX PRODUCTION
". . but it is Nigel Bruce who is important ... he is a fine
addition to Hollywood ranks . ."
Philadelphia Public Ledger — April 7th
". . Easily one of the best films that has been shown at the
Mayfair for months and one that is distinguished by Mr.
Bruce's compelling portrayal . ."
New York Times — May ! 6th
". . 'Lynch' as portrayed by Nigel Bruce gives promise of
becoming one of the great detectives of the screen . ."
New York World-Telegram — May 16th
". . It is Nigel Bruce who romps off with the acting honors . ."
New York Herald — May 1 6th
as "Johnnie Jelliwell" in "Springtime for Henry"
JESSE L. LASKY — FOX PRODUCTION
(The same role originally played 8 months New York Stage and 4 months London stage)
". . Nigel Bruce turns in a characterization that is wholly
amusing and artistically superb . ."
Hollywood Reporter — April 19th
". . Nigel Bruce providing a remarkably fresh and outstanding
comedy character . . marching away with the acting honors . ."
Hollywood Variety — April 19th
". . closely sharing the honors with Otto Kruger and almost
stealing the show at times was Nigel Bruce with his comical
'Johnnie jelliwell' . ."
Los Angeles Herald-Express — June 8th
as "Squire Trelawney" in "Treasure Island
HUNT STROMBERC — MCM PRODUCTION
I ". . Nigel Bruce is thoroughly delightful as the too-talkative
Squire . . ■ "
Hollywood Reporter — June 23rd
". . Nigel Bruce registers strongly as Squire Trelawney ..."
Hollywood Variety — June 23rd
M\ Representatives:
Hollywood
__^^_^__^^_^_^_^^__^_^_^i^^__^_^^^_- EDINCTON & VINCENT
■^^"^^^^^^^^^^^^^™"^^^^^^'^'^^^^^^^*^*^^^^^^^^™'^^^^^^ New York Stage ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^!^^
^mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm^ BRISCOE b GOLDSMITH ^VHHHHHHHHHHHHH
ff
It is an honor and a privilege to
have a very small contribution to
one of the finest pictures 1 have
ever seen :
"ONE N CHT OF LOVE"
With a Profound Bow
To
A Splendid Artist
M SS GRACE MOORE
•
A Fine Director and Composer
V CTOR SCHERTZ NCER
•
My Golfing Partner.
MAX WINSLOW
ana
COLUMBIA PICTURES CORP.
Sincerely
"ONE NIGHT OF LOVE" (^J U D \ A ~ \
The Senators From
'Stand Up And Cheer
//
FRANK
MITCHELL
JACK
DURANT
CI
SHE
LEARNED
ABOUT
SAILORS
>f
A Jolin E. Sfone-Fox Production
"The breezy tale is a natural for
Mitchell and Durant. They are hi-
larious in their stooge type comedy,
building the laughs steadily and
surely — a comedy wow."
Daily Variety, June 1 1
"Mitchell and Durant register sol
idly in every appearance."
Hollywood Reporter, June 1
"Mitchell and Durant's knockabout
eccentricities groove into the plot
with hilarious hokum. They look
permanent for pictures."
M. P. Daily, June 12
Exclusive Management
O REILLY & MANN
California Bank BIdg., Beverly Hills
Page Eight
June 25. 1934
THRILLS GALORE IX MGM
'WEST POINT OF THE AIR'
'Winning Ticket' for
Reisner-Cummings
UPTOTHt
ASTING
With the equivalent of ten days
shooting already in the can for "West
Point of the Air," Richard Rosson re-
turned from Texas last week to line up
the cast to support Wallace Beery in
the MCM story of army pilot training.
Two camera units, working simul-
taneously from the air and the ground,
are still shooting at Randolph Field,
near San Antonio, Texas. The first-
cameramen teamed on this work are
Elmer Dyer and Charlie Marshall, and
Charles Cropun and Paul Vogel. Roger
Manning is unit manager.
Six ships have been crashed by army
pilots for the MGM cameramen during
their nine weeks at the field. Desired
stunts are studied by an official board,
headed by Col. F. L. Martin, field
commandant, and plotted to the sci-
entific margin of safety, with the re-
sult that there have been no fatalities
during this work.
Rosson and Monta Bell, supervising
the production, go into their casting
huddle tomorrow. It is possible that
another star name will be put in the
part of Beery's son. Beery plays the
master sergeant, whose son, fresh from
West Point, comes under the rigorous
air-training regime — a situation Ros-
son found in real life at Randolph
Field.
Field, men and ships have been vir-
tually at MGM's disposition for the
picture. Captain |. J. Cannon, director
of flying at four government fields,
has been the company's direct con-
tact. For one shot, 210 planes were
taken up in training formation. The
only charge to MGM comes on condi-
tioning motors of junk planes that are
to be crashed.
Rosson gets his first MGM screen
credit in the direction of "West Point
of the Air." His four months shooting
for "Eskimo" in the Arctic, and his
Mexican production for "Viva Villa"
were anonymous. Previously Rosson
held co-direction credits with Howard
Hawks on "Today We Live" and
"Scarface."
Licht-ig & Englander
Si-art Radio Branch
L. Scott Perkins, formerly with
NBC, has joined Lichtig & Englander
as an associate in charge of the firm's
new radio department.
The firm plans to offer screen per-
sonalities to the advertising agencies
and network executives, with material
that will be acceptable to the broad-
casters, and also meet the require-
ments of the studios.
Erskine Caldwell Here
Erskine Caldwell stepped off the
train Friday night and reported at
MGM Saturday to write dialogue for
"A Wicked Woman," on which Flor-
ence Ryerson has been preparing the
screen play from the Ann Austin
novel.
'Navy' Premiere Set
Warners will world premiere "Here
Comes the Navy" at Loew's State in
Norfolk, West Virginia, starting July
6. It will open there simultaneously
with the arrival of the fleet in that
city.
Chuck Reisner and Jack Cummings
will inaugurate their own production
office at MGM with "The Winning
Ticket," in which Leo Carrillo and
Louise Fazenda are co-featured. Miss
Fazenda has just returned from Eu-
rope with her husband, Hal Wallis,
and Carrillo is in New York making
personals. Both come to the coast
shortly for the Irish sweepstakes
comedy.
Reisner will handle direction on the
first of the feature comedies he and
Cummings produce.
Linnit Here to Close
Anglo-American Deals
S. E.' Linnit, of the London agency
of O'Bryen and Linnit, arrived Satur-
day in Hollywood for a two-weeks
conference with William Hawks and
A. George Volck.
Linnit will set matters of policy,
since each firm represents the other.
He will seek to close a number of
deals that are on for local talent to
go to London for a picture and for
London talent to come to Hollywood.
Batcheller and Cohen
Call Off Europe Trip
New York. — George Batcheller and
Maury Cohen, heads of the twin pro-
ducing companies, Chesterfield and
Invincible, have called off a trip to
Europe and will return this week to
Hollywood to start their new program
of pictures. They will make 28.
'Hide-Out' on Location
W. S. Van Dyke left Friday night
for Santa Cruz with "Hide-Out" prin-
cipals and production staff for two
weeks location work. On his return
he is expected to have only a few
pick-up shots to make before turning
in the picture.
Luci Ward Sells Yarn
Hearst's Cosmopolitan has accepted
for publication "Cargo DeLuxe," the
first short story by Brooke Nevins, the
pen name for Luci Ward, secretary to
Ben Markson, Warner writer. Her
screen story, "Black Eve," is now be-
ing considereded by several studios.
Stone Off on Cruise
Lewis Stone got away Friday in his
schooner, Serena, headed for parts
unknown. it's the first time he's
taken his boat away from San Pedro
for over a year. MGM has no defi-
nite assignment on the board for him.
MCM Wardrobe Boost
Elaborate costuming called for by
"The Merry Widow," "Vanessa" and
"David Copperfield" has resulted in
swelling MGM's wardrobe department
payroll from 85 to 200 checks weekly.
Gene Towne East
Gene Towne left for New York last
night to close a picture deal for the
Towne- Baker writing team.
Claudia Coleman, by Bernard, Mei-
klejohn and McCall, to "Four Walls,"
MGM.
Brandon Hurst, by Menifee I. John-
stone, to "Have a Heart," MGM.
Eddie Kane for two Radio shorts
and Liberty's "School for Girls," by
Bernard, Meilklejohn and McCall.
Diana Wilber to two at Goldwyn's,
"Kid Millions" and "Barbary Coast."
Margaret Nearing, by Bernard,
Meiklejohn and McCall, to Universal's
"Romance in the Rain."
Greta Meyers, by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall, to "Servants' En-
trance," Fox.
Evans and Mayer and John Larkin
to a Warren Doane short, by Bernard,
Meiklejohn and McCall.
Cay Seabrook, by Bernard, Meikle-
john ana McCall, to Warners for a
short.
Muriel Evans, Kate Price and Paul
Page to "Have a Heart," MGM.
Ben Hewiitt for "Mrs. Wiggs of the
Cabbage Patch," Paramount, by Hal-
lam Cooley.
Dorothy Christy for "Million Dollar
Ransom, "Universal, by Hallam Cooley.
Arthur Housman to "Mrs. Wiggs of
Cabbage Patch," Paramount.
Clara Lou Sheridan, Cwenllian Gill
and Eddie Borden to "You Belong To
Me," Paramount.
Akim Tamaroff for "Four Walls,"
MGM.
Arthur Belasco for "Hide-Out,"
MGM.
Hughie White for "Million Dollar
Ransom," Universal, by Max Shagrin.
Rafael Corio to "Love Flight," Fox,
by Hallam Cooley.
Science Interested in
lules Verne Picture
J«
The National Geographic Magazine
has notified Phil Goldstone that it
wants to send a representative on his
"Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the
Sea " production voyage. The Cali-
fornia Institute of Technology will also
have representatives on Goldstone's
boat.
Guilds in Big Air Plan
(Continued ffom Page 1 )
ting a sponsor for the program. They
have not troubled much about this as
yet, preferring to be sure of their
material before they tried to sell it.
It is known, however, that they have
been negotiating with the Gulf Re-
fining Company and the Lucky Strike
people, two of the largest broadcast-
ing sponsors. The broadcast, of
course, would be nation-wide over one
of the big chains.
The plan at present is to have a
minimum of thirteen broadcasts. The
material, which will be in dramatic
form, will be written by members of
the Screen Writers Guild and per-
formed by members of the Screen
Actors Guild. It is understood that a
large number of the top-notchers in
both Guilds have expressed themselves
as favoring the plan and as being will-
ing to do all they can to help, either
by writing or by acting.
INCOLN'S
RICE
URPRISE
The new Lincoln VI 2
is a truly priceless car
of precision, of per-
formance and prestige
. . . yet its price is sur-
prising. This fine "12'
sells for less than mere
'8's" of competitive
automobile lines.
^tZTXi.
MADDUX
INCORPORATED
1353 N. VINE
IN HOLLYWOOD
GLADSTONE 5171
I
SOND£D
VVHISKt£S
Aged, bottled in bond Bourbon and Rye Whiskies that were
made prior to the prohibition era are becoming scarce. Whole-
sale prices, in the last ten days, have advanced from $5 to $15
per case. In New York City, brokers report active speculation in
such whiskies. Local merchants have already advanced retail
prices appreciably.
Vendome offers the finest Bourbon and Rye Whiskies available
today in the following three items:
Pints Case
"OLD JIM GORE" (Chapin and Core) $4.50 $100.00
( 1 8 year old Bourbon )
Fifths Case
"HICHSPIRERYE" (Berry Bros.) 8.50 95.00
( 18 year old Rye)
"AMERICAN RYE" (Berry Bros.) 1923 6-50 72.00
These fhree Whiskies are incomparable.
Vendome also has in stock "MELLWOOD," "OLD RAMSHEAD"
and CEDAR BROOK" 17-year bonded whiskies of finest quality.
PRICES
Regardless of market conditions, we will not advance our Whis-
key prices until present stocks are exhausted.
Items like "Old jim Core" and "Highspire," in a few weeks time,
will be classed as rarities. It will be many years before compar-
able Whiskies can be obtained.
On other aged bonded Whiskies we can soon anticipate prices
that will be little short of fantastic.
A purchase of any of these Whiskies at our present prices will,
very shortly, pay handsome dividends on your investment.
WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS
6666 Sunset Boulevard HOIIywood 1 666
Page Ten
June 25, 1934
PRODUCTION ABOUT THE SAME WITH 38 IN WORK
BAROMETER
This Week 38 Features
Last Week 37 Features
Year Ago 29 Features
Two Years Ago 26 Features
Three Years Ago 31 Features
Columbia
"BROADWAY BILL"
Cast: Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy,
Lynne Overman, Douglas Dumbrille,
Margaret Hamilton, Raymond Wal-
burn, Clarence Muse, George
Cooper, Charles Levison, Charles
Wilson, Frankie Darro, Harry Hoi-
man, Richard Heming.
Director Frank Capra
Original Mark Hellinger
Screen Play Robert Riskin
Photography Joseph Walker
Sound Edward Bernds
Producer Harry Cohn
"THE CAPTAIN HATES THE SEA"
Cast: John Gilbert, Victor McLaglen,
Fred Keating, Wynne Gibson, Alison
Skipworth, Florence Rice, Leon Er-
rol, Walter Catlett, John Wray.
Director Lewis Milestone
Novel Wallace Smith
Screen Play: Wallace Smith and Arn-
old Belgard.
Photography Arthur Edeson
Sound George Cooper
Producer Harry Cohn
"AMONG THE MISSING"
Cast: Richard Cromwell, Billie Sew-
ard, Arthur Hohl, Henrietta Cros-
man, Ivan Simpson.
Director Al Rogell
Original Screen Play: Fred Niblo Jr.
and Herbert Asbury.
Photography Joseph August
Sound Glenn Ramminger
Associate Producer Sid Rogell
Fox
"SHE WAS A LADY '
Cast: Helen Twelvetrees, Donald
Woods, Ralph Morgan, Paul Harvey,
Jackie Searl, Carol Kay, Doris Lloyd,
Ann Howard, Monroe Owsley, Har-
old Goodwin, Barbara Weeks.
Director Hamilton MacFadden
Novel Elisabeth Cobb
Screen Play Gertrude Purcell
Photography Bert Glennon
Sound Don Flick
Producer Al Rockett
"SERVANTS' ENTRANCE"
Cast: Janet Caynor, Lew Ayres, Walter
Connolly, Louise Dresser, G. P.
Huntley Jr., Sigfried Rumann,
Buster Phelps, Ned Sparks, Kathe-
rine Doucet.
Director Frank Lloyd
Novel Sigrid Boo
Screen Play Samson Raphaelson
Photography Hal Mohr
Sound '- J. E. Aiken
Producer Winfield Sheehan
"JUDGE PRIEST"
Cast: Will Rogers, Brenda Fowler,
Rochelle Hudson, Roger Imhoff,
Tom Brown, Anita Louise, Frank
Melton, Stepin Fetchit, Henry B.
Walthall, Berton Churchill, Charles
Grapewin, David Landau, Paul Mc-
Allister, Matt McHugh, Louis Ma-
son, Hy Meyer, Hattie McDaniels.
Director John Ford
Short Stories Irvin S. Cobb
Screen Play Dudley Nicholls and
Lamar Trotti
Photography George Schneiderman
Sound Al Protzman
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"WANTED"
Cast: Rosemary Ames, Russell Hardie,
Pert Kelton, Victor Jory, George
Irving, Henry B. Walthall.
Director Louis King
Screen Play Lester Cole
and Stuart Anthony
Photography L. W. O'Connell
Sound S. C. Chapman
Producer Sol Wurtzel
"SERENADE"
Cast: Pat Patterson, Nils Asther,
James Burke, Herbert Mundin, Har-
ry Green, Joseph Cawthorne, Henry
B. Walthall.
Director ....James Tinling
Story Richard Carroll
Screen Play Lynn Starling
Photography Ernest Miller
Sound George Leverett
Producer John Stone
MGM
"BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET"
Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March,
Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sul-
livan, Ferdinand Munier, Katharine
Alexander, Marion Clayton, Ian
Woolf, Una O'Connor, Vernon
Downing, Neville Clark, Matthew
Smith, Robert Carlton, Allan Con-
rad, Peter Hobbes, Ralph Forbes,
Lowden Adams, Leo G. Carroll.
Director Sidney Franklin
From play by Rudolf Besier
Screen Play Claudine West
and Ernest Vajda
Add. Dialogue. -Donald Ogden Stewart
Photography William Daniels
Producer Irving Thalberg
"THE MERRY WIDOW"
Cast: Maurice Chevalierjeanette Mac-
Donald, Minna Gombell, Edward Ev-
erett Horton, Una Merkel, Barbara
Leonard, Sterling Holloway, George
Barbier, Joan Gale, Sheila Manora,
Leona Walters, Edna Walde, Bar-
bara Barondess, Shirley Ross, Doro-
thy Granger, Jean Hart, Elinor Hunt,
Dorothy Wilson, Jill Dennett, Maria
Troubetylcoy, Tyler Brooke, Cosmo
Kyrle Bellew, George Lewis, John
MerkyI, Charles Requa, Fifi D'Or-
say, Dewey Robinson.
Director Ernst Lubitsch
Original Operetta Franz Lehar
Screen Play Ennest Vajda
and Samson Raphaelson
Dance Director Albertina Rasch
Photography Oliver Marsh
Producer Irving Thalberg
"SACRED AND PROFANE LOVE "
Cast: Joan Crawford, Clark Gable,
Otto Kruger, Stuart Erwin, Una
O'Connor, Marjorie Gateson, Akim
Tamiroff, Paul Porcasi.
Director Clarence Brown
Original Edgar Selwyn
Screen Play John Lee Mahin
Photography George Folsey
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"THE STUDENT TOUR"
Chast: Charles Butterworth, Jimmy
Durante, Phil Regan, Maxine Doyle,
Florinne McKinney, Monte Blue,
Dewey Robinson, Doug Fowley,
Mary Loos.
Director Charles F. Reisner
Original Screen Play: Arthur Bloch and
George Seaton.
Adaptation Philip Dunne
Dialogue Ralph Spence
Photography Joseph Valentine
Producer Monta Bell
"THE HIDE-OUT"
Cast: Robert Montgomery, Muriel
Evans, Ed Brophy, Mickey Rooney,
Louise Henry, Maureen O'Sullavan,
Edward Arnold, Elizabeth Patterson,
Whitford Kane.
Director W. S. Van Dyke
Original Mauri Grashin
Screen Play Albert Hackett
and Frances Goodrich
Dance Numbers Arthur Appel
and Chester Hale
Photography Ray June
Producer Hunt Stromberg
"FOUR WALLS'
Cast: Franchot Tone, Karen Morley,
Gladys George, Henry Wadsworth,
Jack LaRue, C. Henry Gordon, Nat
Pendleton, May Robson, Akim
Tamiroff.
Director Paul Sloane
Play Dana Burnet
and George Abbott
Screen Play Bernard Schubert
Photography Lucien Andriot
Producer Lucien Hubbard
"HAVE A HEART "
Cast: Jean Parker, Una Merkel, Stu-
art Erwin, James Dunn.
Director David Butler
Original David Butler
and B. C. DeSylva
Dialogue and Continuity: Florence Ry-
erson and Edgar Allan Woolf.
Photography James Wong Howe
Producer John Considine
Paramount
"NOW AND FOREVER"
Cast: Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard,
Shirley Temple, Sir Guy Standing,
Charlotte Granville, Tetsu Komai,
Jameson Thomas, Gilbert Emery,
Henry Kolker, Harry Stubbs, Egon
Brecher, Buster Phelps.
Director Henry Hathaway
Original: Jack Kirkland and Melville
Baker.
Adaptation Austin Parker
Screen Play: Vincent Lawrence and
Sylvia Thalberg.
Music Harry Revel
Lyrics Mack Cordon
Photography Harry Fischbeck
Sound Harry Lewis
Producer Louis D. Lighten
"YOU BELONG TO ME"
Cast: Lee Tracy, Helen Mack, Arthur
Pierson, David Jack Holt, Lynne
Overman, Helen Morgan.
Driector Alfred Werker
Original Elizabeth Alexander
Adaptation: Grover Jones and William
Slavens McNutt.
Screen Play: Lynn Starling and Harry
Ruskin.
Photography Leo Tover
Producer Louis D. Lighten
"MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE
PATCH"
Cast: Pauline Lord, W. C. Fields,
Zasu Pitts, Jimmy Butler, George
Breakstone, Evelyn Venable, Kent
Taylor, Edyth Fellows, Verginia
Weidler, Carmencita Johnson, Don-
ald Meek, Charles Middleton.
Director Norman Taurog
Original Alice Hegan Rice
Screen Play: William Slavens McNutt
and Jane Storm.
Photography Charles Lang
Sound Eugene Merritt
Producer Douglas MacLean
RKO-Radio
"THE FOUNTAIN"
Cast: Ann Harding, Brian Aherne,
Violet Kemble-Cooper, Paul Lukas,
Jean Hersholt, Ralph Forbes, Sara
Haden.
Director John Cromwell
Story Charles Morgan
Screen Play Jane Murfin
Photography James Van Trees
Sound Clem Portman
Producer Pandro S. Berman
"AGE OF INNOCENCE "
Cast: Irene Dunne, John Boles, Julie
Hayden, Wesley Barry, Laura Hope
Crews.
Director Philip Moeller
Novel Edith Wharton
Play Margaret Ayer Barnes
Screen Play Sarah Y. Mason
and Victor Heerman
Photography Henry Gerrard
Sound .John Cass
Producer Pandro S. Berman
June 25, 1934
THE
Page Eleven
ICTUti
THIS WEEK AS COMPARED WITH 37 LAST WEEK
United Artists
Samuel Goldwyn
"WE LIVE AGAIN"
Cast: Anna Sten, Fredric March,
Cwendolin Logan, C. Aubrey
Smith, Jessie Ralph, Jane Baxter,
■ Ethel Criffies.
Director Reuben Mamoulian
Based on Novel by Leo Tolstoi
Screen Play Leonard Praskins
Photography Gregg Toland
Reliance Pict-ures, Inc.
'COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO"
Cast: Robert Donat, Elissa Landi, Louis
Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, O. P.
Heggie, Raymond Walburn, Law-
rence Grant, Luis Alberni, Georgia
Caine, Irene Hervey, Douglas Wal-
ton, Ferdinand Munier, Lionel Bel-
more, William Farnum, Wilfred
Lucas, Clarence Wilson, Tom Rick-
errs, Clarence Muse, Helen Free-
man, Holmes Herbert, Eleanor
Phelps, Alphonse Martell, Russell
Powell, Juliette Compton, Walter
Walker, Paul Irving, Wallace Al-
bright, Edward Keene, Mitchell
Lewis.
Director Rowland V. Lee
Original Alexandre Dumas
Screen Play and Dialogue: Philip
Dunne, Dan Totheroh and Rowland
V. Lee.
Photograpihy Peverell Marley
Producer Edward Small
"TRANS-ATLANTIC MERRY-CO-
ROUND"
Cast: Jack Benny, Nancy Carroll, Gene
Raymond, Sydney Howard, Sid Sil-
vers, Sidney Blackmer, Ralph Mor-
gan, Shirley Grey, Patsy Kelly,
Frank Parker, Jean Sargent, Robert
Elliott, William (Stage) Boyd, Sam
Hardy, Carlye Moore, Wallis Clark,
Esther Howard.
Director Benjamin Stoloff
Original Leon Gordon
Additional Dialogue: Joseph Moncure
March.
Comedy Dialogue Harry W. Conn
Music Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics Sidney Clare
Dance Direction Larry Ceballos
Photography Teddy Tetzlaff
Producer Edward Small
Universal
"ONE MORE RIVER"
Cast: Diana Wynyard, Frank Lawton,
Colin Clive, Henry Stephenson, Mrs.
Patrick Campbell, Jane Wyatt, C.
Aubrey Smith, Reginald Denny,
Kathleen Howard, Lionel Atwill,
Alan Mowbray, Gilbert Emery, E.
E. Clive, Robert Greig, Gunnis
Davis, Tempe Pigott.
Director James Whale
Story John Galsworthy
Screen Play R. C. Sherriff
Photography ..John Mescal
Producer Carl Laemmie, Jr.
"ROMANCE IN THE RAIN"
Cast: Roger Pryor, Heather Angel,
Victor Moore, Phillip Reed, Ruth
Donnelly, Marjorie Davidson, Esther
Ralston.
Director Stuart Walker
Story Jay Gorney and
Sig Hergiz
Screen Play Barry Trivers
Additional Dialogue John Weaver
Music Jay Gorney
Lyrics Don Hartman
Photography Charles Stumar
Producer Stanley Biergerman
"THE HUMAN SIDE"
Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Doris Kenyon,
Dickie Moore, Reginald Owen, Betty
Lawford, Charlotte Henry, Joseph
Cawthorn.
Director Edward Buzzell
Play Christine Ames
Screen Play: Ernest Pascal, Nat Fer-
ber and Rian James.
Photography Norbert Brodine
Associate Producer Eph Asher
"MI1.LION DOLLAR RANSOM"
Cast: Edward Arnold, Marjorie Gate-
son, Wini Shaw, Robert Gleckler,
Bradley Page, Edgar Norton, Hughie
White, Phillips Holmes, Mary Car-
lisle.
Director Murray Roth
Story Damon Runyon
Screen Play William Lipman
Photography George Robinson
Associate Producer Eph Asher
Warners-First National
"DAMES"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan
Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Her-
bert, Virginia Pine, Ronny Cosby,
Zasu Pitts, Bess Flowers. Pat
O'Malley, Mary McLaren, Johnny
Arthur, Arthur Vinton, Hobart Cav-
anaugh, Arthur Aylesworth, Leila
Bennett, Phil Regan.
Directors Ray Enright
and Busby Berkeley
Original Robert Lord
Screen Play Delmer Daves
Music and Lyrics: Harry Warren, Al
Dubin, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal,
Mort Dixon, Allie Rubel.
Photography George Barnes
Supervisor Robert Lord
"FLIRTATION WALK"
Cast: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Pat
O'Brien, John Eldredge, Ross Alex-
ander, Cuinn Williams, Henry
O'Neill, Glenn Boles, John Arledge.
Director Frank Borzage
Story Delmar Daves and
Lou Edelman
Screen Play Delmar Daves
Dance Director Bobby Connelly
Musical Numbers Mort Dixon
and Allie Wrubel
Photography Sol Polito
Supervisor Robert Lord
"A LOST LADY'
Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Ricardo Cor-
tez, Frank Morgan, Rafaelo Ottiano,
Phillip Reed, Henry Kolker, Willie
Fung, Hobart Cavanaugh, Walter
Walker, Edward McWade, Samuel
Hinds, Lyie Talbot.
Director Alfred E. Green
Novel Willa Gather
Screen Play Gene Markey
and Kathryn Scola
Photography Sid Hickox
Supervisor James Seymour
"A LADY SURRENDERS"
Cast: Jean Muir, George Brent, Veree
Teasdale, Arthur Aylesworth, Joan
Wheeler, Pauline True, Charles
Starrett, Nella Walker.
Director Archie Mayo
Story and Screen Play. .Mary McCall jr.
Photography Ernest Haller
Supervisor Edward Chodorov
"CASE OF THE HOWLING DOC"
Cast: Warren William, Mary Astor,
Helen Trenholme, Dorothy Tree,
Cordon Westcott, Allen Jenkins,
Russell Hicks, Helen Lowell, Harry
Tyler, Eddie Schubert, James Bur-
tis, Frank Reicher, Harry Seymour.
Oirector Alan Crosland
Story Erie Stanley Gardner
Screen Play. Ben Markson
Photography William Rees
Supervisor Sam Bischoff
"BIG HEARTED HERBERT"
Cast: Cuy Kibbee, Aline MacMahon,
Patricia Ellis, Phillip Reed, Helen
Lowell, Junior Durkin, Mickey
Rooney.
Director William Keighley
Story Sophie Kerr
Play: Sophie Kerr and Anna Steese
Richardson.
Screen Play: Lillie Hayward and Del-
mer Daves.
Photography Arthur Todd
Supervisor James Seymour
Independent Productions
Liberty
(Pathe)
"SCHOOL FOR GIRLS"
Cast: Sidney Fox, Paul Kelly, Lona
Andre, Dorothy Lee. Kathleen
Burke, Toby Wing, Lois Wilson,
Russell Hopfon, Dorothy Appelby,
Joyce Compton, Lucille LaVerne,
Anna Q. Nillson, Charlie Ray, Mary
Forbes.
Director William Nigh
Novel Reginald Wright Kauffman
Screen Play Albert DeMond
Photography Harry Neumann
Producer M. H. Hoffman
Majestic
(Darmour and Talisman I
"SHE HAD TO CHOOSE'
Cast: Isabel Jewell, Buster Crabbe.
Regis Toomey, Sally Blane, Huntley
Gordon, Wallis Clark, Matt Mc-
Hugh, Fuzzy Knight, Maidel Tur-
ner, Kenneth Howell, Jules Cowles,
Arthur Stone.
Director Ralph Ceder
Story Mann Page, Izola Foster
Screen Play Houston Branch
Photography James Brown Jr.
Producer Larry Darmour
Mascof-
(Mack Sennelt)
"THE LAW OF THE WILD "
(Serial)
Cast: Rex, Rin-Tin-Tin, Jr., Ben Tur-
pin. Bob Custer, Lucile Browne.
Richard Cramer, Ernie Adams,
Charles Whittaker, Jack Rockwell,
Dick Alexander, Edmund Cobb.
Directors: Breezy Eason and Armand
Schaefer.
Original Story Ford Beebe
Adaptation: John Rathmell and Al
Martin.
Continuity: Sherman Lowe and B.
Reeves Eason.
Photography Ernie Miller
Producer Vic Zobei
Sol Lesser
(Pathe)
"PECKS BAD BOY "
Cast- Jackie Cooper, Jackie Searl,
Thomas Meighan, Dorothy Peterson,
O. P. Heggie.
Director Eddie Clme
Novel George W. Peck
Screen Play Bernard Schubert
and Marguerite Roberts
Photography Frank Good
Producer Sol Lesser
Music Hugo Reisenfeld
Supreme
(Talisman)
"DEMON FOR TROUBLE "
Cast: Bob Steele, Nick Stuart, Gloria
Shea, Don Alvarado, Walter Mc-
Grail, Carmen LaRoux, Lafe McKee.
Director Robert Hill
Original Screen Play Jack Natteford
Photography Bill Thompson
Producer Sam Katzman
Wl^^ij^l^^
WHATJI
WHAT
BRUIATOUR BULLETIN
Published Every Monday
RSie
JECO
Public speakers usually bore us to
tears . . . but at the Biltmore t'other
night one of the boys slipped us a
nifty. . . . He'd just referred to an
eastern metropolis as "The City That
Lives by the Forge" . . . 'nd a coupla
minutes later (talkin' about Holly-
wood) he called our village . . . "The
City That Lives by the Camera." . .
Righto . . . and all that sort of thing
... BY THE CAMERA . . . yessir . . .
NOT by the story (mind you) . . . not
by the star . . . not by the cast . . .
the sets . . . and how this old boy did
emphasize CAMERA ... he might
have been spotted into this program
by a joint committee from 659 and
ASC . . . but there was no doubt in
the mind of anyone in that great room
... the CAMERA is plenty important
to Hollywood and the M. P. Industry.
We've made up our mind to look
him up (this speaker) next time he
comes over (from England) and see
if we can sell him an idea on sayin'
a few words about WHAT goes
through the camera.
•
And — speaking of The Camera —
it's been our privilege to sit in on a
couple of conventions of the biggies
of the business during the past week.
One top exec (addressing the exhibs)
declared . . "and we are giving
thought and time and attention to the
photography of every picture ... be it
a super feature or a short . . . there's
no excuse for a single scene being
badly photographed . . . that's why
we've engaged the best cameramen
in the business and also that explains
why our laboratory is supervised as
rigidly as our treasury . . . and, I as-
sure you, that's some supervision." . .
Encouraging!
•
Henry Gerrard, a tennis devotee,
figured he got a great break when the
picture he's now on called for several
days' work on a tennis court. But —
on the days scheduled to shoot — no
sun. Now Henry's afraid they'll change
to a ping pong game at the studio. . .
Theodor Sparkuhl all fini at Fox and
back home to Paramount. . . . Jimmy
Howe will help Dave Butler make a
grand picture of "Have a Heart" —
both formerly of Fox — now MCMers.
. . . Bob Planck and Jack Mackenzie
both taking a breather at Monogram
but both starting again any second.
. . . OIlie Marsh about to kiss "The
Merry Widow" good-bye. . . . Milt
Krasner finished .his first at MCM
plenty under the gun — and they like
him out Culver City way. . . . Jimmy
Van Trees will sign a new contract
with another big studio next week.
. . . Little Eddie Buzzell has little
Norb Brodine as his picture-taker on
"The Human Side" at Universal. . . .
Heavy dough for George Robinson —
he's off on "Ransom, $1,000,000"
also at Universal.
Portland Pleased
John Boyle is playing Portland,
Oregon, with his Swedish production,
and has been received warmly by the
Oregonians. The picture has been
playing to capacity business and the
reviews are most flattering. Boyle has
spoken before several civic and art
groups, and his remarks were widely
quoted in the Portland newspapers.
J. E. BRULATOUR, Inc., Distributors
Eastman Motion Picture Fibiu
CO-OPERATIOX
On an evening late in past week we had a pleasant experience and
learned a valuable lesson.
We were invited to attend an informal dinner at one of the major
studios, and found rn the dining room a number of front office execu-
tives, all of the cameramen who were not actually in production, the
top bosses of the laboratory and sound departments respectively, other
associated technicians of laboratory, sound and camera departments.
Following dinner a general discussion was launched. They talked
about every day production problems, each man fearlessly and quite
frankly expressing his own views and attitude. When there was a
disagreement it was an emphatic one. On the other hand, there was
a delightful absence of opinionated views or of stubbornness. If SUCH
and SUCH was the answer to SO and SO, THAT was THAT!
Intensely interested, we inquired and found that these little group
affairs are held here at no stated times; always informal; and they just
happen whenever the department heads and technicians feel they can
get together, and, gentleman, THEY GET TOGETHER!
Our host — Fox Movietone Studios.
Mileage
Ever watch a traffic manager of a
big corporation doing his stuff? A
peep inside Johnny Arnold's office at
M. G. M. will bring recollections
if you have. Head of the Metro cam-
era department has plenty to do keep-
ing track of his transient photogra-
phers. Last week Len Smith laid
aside his dark glasses, brushed the
bright light of Broadway out of his
eyes, and followed the rails on his
next assignment to St. Louis for spe-
cial background shots, "Death on the
Diamond."
Paul Vogel was picked up by one
of Arnold's wires somewhere in Texas
and re-routed to join the Big Moose
in St. Louis. Clyde DeVinna radios
first report on long jump to Indo-
China, giving special information on
shots turned at sea.
Mike's 'Minnie' Lab
Mike McGreal, Warner Bros, cam-
era department chief, is installing at
the Burbank plant, adjoining the
loading room, a miniature laboratory
where tests can be immediately devel-
oped . . , big sets . . . special effects
. . . spectacular night scenes.
Tests will be developed, an enlarge-
ment made, which can be shown to
the director within thirty minutes
after the test has been shot. Camera-
men and directors, who have been in-
formed of the new departure, are nat-
urally most enthusiastic. It is an in-
telligent move, promising tremendous
values in return.
Rosson Improving
Flash report tells us Hal will be
back with his friends in a few weeks.
Swell news.
Martinelli To Fox
Arthur Martinelli has been called
by the Fox Studios, where he will be
in charge of the photography of "Love
Flight," an original to be made en-
tirely in Spanish under the direction of
Frank Strayer. Martinelli's photography
in a number of mystery stories has es-
tablished him as a clever master of
the camera. His effect shots are spec-
tacular and have contributed much to
the mood of the pictures with which
he has been recently associated.
Polito Returns
Back to the Warner lot in Burbank
comes So! Polito from West Point,
where he has been giving plenty foot-
age a ride through his battery of cam-
eras during photography of the Frank
Borzage production, "Flirtation
Walk." Polito is profuse in his ex-
pression of appreciation for the
splendid cooperation given to him by
eastern cameramen and other tech-
nicians.
Cordon Jennings Casting
Casting .... Not in the sense in
v^hich the word is commonly used in
Hollywood, but with the delicate, sen-
sitive, high-powered split bamboo fly
rod and silken line .... high in the
Sierras and beyond to the Jackson Hole
country, and up into the Utah streams
and lakes, which will keep him away
from his other tricks and effects for
at least three weeks.
Mellor's Number Two
Bill Mellor, who was recently ele-
vated to first cameraman at Para-
mount, has completed his first picture,
and has started on "Wagon Wheels."
BACKGROIJXD SHOTS
Henry Sharp, Cinematographer
Born in Los Angeles; started as assistant with Thomas Dixon at
Sunset and Western in "The Fall of a Nation." First picture, 1920
Thomas Ince, "Homespun Folks." With Ince seven years; photograph-
ed original version of "Anna Christie." About 1922 photographed
Lorna Doone" with Maurice Tourneur.
1927 with Doug Fairbanks photographed "Don Q," "Son of Zorro"
and Black Pirate."
Then Metro-Goldwyn for three years, first picture being "The
Mysterious Island," photographed 100 per cent in color. Also photo-
graphed King y.dor picture, "The Crowd." Returned to Doug Fairbanks
for The Iron Mask ; then to MCM for some of Lon Chaney's pictures.
In IVil went round the world with Douglas Fairbanks
For the past few years with Paramount. His last four' pictures are
Ladies Should Listen "Many Happy Returns," "Melody in Spring" and
Alice In Wonderland. ^
THIS WEEKS QUESTION:
HOW DO YOU PREFER TO SHOOT
NIGHT EFFECTS?
THEODOR SPARKUHL (Paramount):
W.here there are no sets or build-
ings which call for artificial lights
I always prefer to make my night
scenes in the daytime.
ARTIE MILLER (Fox): Whenever
possible I like to shoot my exterior
night scenes in the daytime, as a
properly filtered and exposed sunlit
exterior gives a moonlit effect that
can be achieved in no other way.
MERRITT CERSTAD (Unievrsal): If
out in the country where there are
no artificial lights, such as auto,
window or street lamps burning,
then I would prefer shooting night
effects in the daytime with filters.
According to the prevailing light
conditions, I would use either a
72 or a 70, a combination of 23A
and 56, a 23 A or a 21. There are
other minor filters used in combi-
nation with the neutrals which I
have used with excellent results for
closer shots. Of course a proper
balance of diffusion has to be ob-
tained for each and every separate
filter correction to overcome cer-
tain harshness.
CHARLES LANG (Paramount) : If it
is possible to play the scenes where
the sunlight is fairly strong and
well broken up by trees and foliage
I much prefer making night shots
in the daytime. If the landscape
is flat and uninteresting I would
rather make the night shots with
lights. Of course nothing can re-
place the sun's single source for
proper moonlight effects.
ERNIE HALLER (Warner Bros.) At
night, if a definite source of light
is shown, such as streets, windows,
etc.; but if out in the desert or
country I prefer to shoot night
scenes in the daytime with filters,
w.hich filters are governed by the
time of day, for the long shots 72
or 70, or the combinations; but on
close-ups in the shade I use a 23A.
LOU O'COONNELL (Fox): My deci-
sion would be affected mostly by
the character of the scenes. Inti-
mate close-ups and small exterior
sets can perhaps be handled best
under lights. It should be remem-
bered that highly colored costumes
worn in heavily filtered night scenes
may not appear the same when pho-
tographed inside under lights.
JIM BROWN (Darmour) : On "The
Scarlet Letter" just completed, in
the town square sequence, photo-
graphed in the daytime in Laurel
Canyon, on the long shots I used a
combination 23A and 56B. On the
closer shots a 5N5. Finally, at the
end of the day, no filters at dusk.
SID HICKOX (Warner Bros.) : I pre-
fer to shoot night scenes at night,
but when compelled to shoot night
in the daytime, if necessary to pull
down a sky, a 72 is very satisfac-
tory. If not necessary to show sky
I prefer 5N5. Changing lig.ht con-
ditions, however, may make it nec-
essary to use others, but our lab
always helps us out on these spe-
cial sequences. "Let Gage Worry."
% MP.SA^'UFL MARX,
CULVFR GITY.CALIr'.
i U U i.\J^ .
Vol. XXI. No. 41. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tuesday. )une 26. 1934
N.y. BANS WKT PICTtRC
• IT is sincerely to be hoped that, as a
result of the campaign that is being
waged for a "wholesome screen," the
wholesomeness will not be overdone.
There isn't the slightest doubt that the
producers are quite a bit nervous over
conditions. That is putting it mildly.
Of course, they can't be blamed for
feeling the way they do. When or-
ganizations representing millions of
potential customers flatly threaten a
boycott unless a different type of pic-
tures is produced, there would natur-
ally be a lot of scurrying around to
find material that ^ill not offena.
The action of the New York State
Board of Regents in barring the Mae
West picture from that state because
of its possible effect on the youthful
mind was a heavy blow, not only to
Paramount, but to the whole industry.
No more effective argument could be
advanced by the reform element than
that the morals and characters of chil-
dren were being endangered. Such a
statement would naturally arouse the
mothers of the nation, and mothers
can make an awful lot of trouble when
they start.
But, please, Mr. Producer, don't go
too far on the wholesomeness idea.
Even admitting that some pictures have
been somewhat too "colorful," it is
going to be a terrible thing if all of
them suddenly become only sweetness
and light. Love, sex, passion and other
elements are needed for drama and
the test for the producers will come
not so much in the selection of the
elements, as in the handling. Handled
with wisdom, with restraint and still
with showmanship, there is no reason
why stirring dramatic pictures cannot
be made. It will take care. Super-
visors can no longer say: "This story
is okay, but let's dirty it up," as has
been the case in the past more than
once.
'•
But one danger is that, cowed by
the growth of the reform wave, the
producers will become too mild. We
don't believe that the girls of today
read "Elsie Dinsmore" or "Pollyanna,"
nor that the boys read the "Rollo"
books. It is to be hoped that the at-
tempt to "clean up" pictures will not
reach that stage. The kids of today
are not the kids of a few decades ago
and, while it may be true that some
(Continued on Page 2)
Para. Stockholders
Face $2 Assessment
New York. — Holders of Para-
mount stock face an assessment of
$2 on each share under the reor-
ganization plan being prepared by
Kuhn, Loeb & Company, to create
a fund to be used to retire the
company's bank loans.
LachmanTo Direct
'Inferno' For Fox
Definite decision was made by Fox
yesterday to produce Dante's "In-
ferno." it is to be made as a big
special, and Sol Wurtzel will produce
it at the Western avenue studios.
Harry Lachman was selected yes-
terday as the director, and will im-
mediately begin looking for a big
name cast. Rose Franken and Phil
Klein are doing the screen play. No
date has been set for the start of
production, but work will begin at
once on the many unusual settings
to be used.
New Darrow Slam at
Pictures Is Expected
Washington. — The third report of
Clarence Darrow's committee will be
made public some time this week.
It is understood that Darrow is tak-
ing another heavy punch at the mo-
tion picture industry in this document.
R. W. Saunders Funeral
New York. — The funeral of Rich-
ard W. Saunders, formerly comptroller
of Paramount, who died Sunday, was
held yesterday in this city. He was
about 68 years old.
BRITISH PICS
T©P,
New York. — Herbert Wilcox, pro-
duction head of British and Dominions,
believes that British pictures have at
last broken down the barrier that has
stood between them and the Ameri-
can theatres and that this coming year
they will take their place in the sun
of United States favor.
Mr. Wilcox, whose company pro-
duced "Nell Gwyn," brought a print
of that picture to this country and
will trade show it at the Astor Thea-
tre on July 10. This picture is one
of the reasons for his optimism about
(Continued on Page 4)
Regents Turn Thumbs Down
On It Ain't No Sin' - Para.
Will Change And Re-submit
The New York State Board of Regents, the supreme court of
the states educational system under which the Board of Censors
operates, yesterday banned the Mae West picture, "It Ain't No
Sin." Paramount last night could not or would not give out any
detailed reasons, but said that up to
Saturday the only objection had been
to the title.
New York has always been rather
lenient in censorship matters and it
is felt that this latest action is due
to the reform wave that is sweeping
the country against questionable pic-
tures. It follows on the heels of the
declaration made to Will Hays last
week by Dr. Harold Campbell, super-
intendent of the New York City
schools, that the educational authori-
ties would not permit the characters
(Continued on Page 4) .
Andrews Aide to Cukor
On 'David Copperfield'
MOM yesterday signed Del Andrews
as assistant director on "David Cop-
perfield," which George Cukor directs
and David Selznick produces.
The picture will go before the cam-
eras in three weej<.s under present
plans.
Edwin Loeb Returns
Edwin Loeb returned to the legal
office of Loeb, Walker and Loeb yes-
terday from Rochester, Minn., where
he has spent the past few weeks at
the Mayo Brothers' clinic in an effort
to cure sinus.
ON WAY TO
WILCOX
Bette Davis Suspended
By Warner Brothers
Bette Davis has walked off the
Warner lot and was placed on the
suspended list by the studio, which
notified all other studios by letter
that the option on her services was
being exercised for another period and
that she cannot work for any other
organization.
The situation arose from .her re-
fusal to accept the leading role in
"Case of the Howling Dog." War-
ners replaced her with Helen Tren-
holme.
Korda Asking Bids
For 'Nijinski' Play
John Wildberg, New York attorney
who arrived here from the East Sun-
day for a ten-days visit in the inter-
ests of several film clients, has been
commissioned to negotiate the sale of
Alexander Korda's rights in the play,
"Nijinski," to a Hollywood producer.
This does not mean that Korda has
abandoned the idea of making the
picture in England, according to Wild-
berg, but that he will produce it there
if he cannot get agreeable terms for
Its sale here. Korda owns the screen
rights to the Romola Nijinski biogra-
phy and is having Melchior Lengyel
handle the screen play.
Margaret Lindsay To
Be Starred by Warners
Warners plan an immediate stellar
build-up for Margaret Lindsay, start-
ing in the bracket with James Cagney
in "Gentlemen Are Born," which
Mervyn LeRoy is preparing for a pro-
duction start next week.
Her work in "Fog Over Frisco" and
"Dragon Murder Case" clinched her
for stardom with Jack Warner.
Rogers and Paul East
Charles R. Rogers and Val Paul
leave Friday with their families on a
month's vacation from Paramount.
They go by boat to New York and
Boston before returning here.
Uncle Carl at Carlsbad
London. — This is last call before
returning to America for Carl Laemmie
Sr., who, after attending Universal's
continental sales convention in Paris,
went on to Carlsbad for his vacation.
Hal Roach in New York
New York. — Hal Roach arrived here
yesterday for conferences with Felix
Feist and other MGM executives on
production plans. Roach will produce
32 two-reelers.
Page Two
June 26. 1934
m
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat,
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney. 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Everyone who has seen her tests on
the MCM lot will tell you that Mady
Christians is going to be a sanzation!
. . . Jack Kirkland got himself a black
eye defending a woman's honor over
the week-end. . . . Kay Francis and
some of the N'Yawk camera boys got
into a tiff on the dock when she sailed
— Kay was willing to pose — but didn't
want to be snapped unawares
Don't blame her — it's the ones who
"dodge" the photographers (but not
quite!) who always manage to have
those Godawful pictures of themselves
get into print! .... Charles Vidor
used to sing basso with a Wagnerian
opera company — he gave it up when
he discovered that a basso could never
be a hero in the show!
The Charles Laughtons, back in
town from Yosemite — their first trip
in the U.S.A. . . . Minna Wallis here
too, with the Hal Wallises. . . . Win-
ston Guest, "ace" polo player, with
his bride, house-guesting at the Don
Stewarts. . . . David Selznick sick abed
— and can't even complain because
he's lost his voice! . . . Frank Morgan
off for a five-day vacation on his
yacht. . . . D'you know what newly-
wed agent is so happee that he is now
trying to marry off all his wife's girl
friends to his various and sundry pals?
... The Sam )affes, Al Hall, Lola
Lane. Marc Connolly, Arthur Horn-
blow with Myrna Loy, Virginia Bruce,
the Bert Kalmars, among the diners at
Harry Ruby's Satiddy night.
•
Jean Muir is determined to play
Joan of Arc — but got a terrific ribbing
from a visiting N.Y. producer about it
the other day. . . . Charles Brackett,
with a mattress, and Gene Markey, in
a bathrobe, strolling the Paramount
lot — honest! . . Veree Teasdale work-
ing with a nurse by her side after a
bad case of flu. . . . Ernst Lubitsch
lunched his first guests Sunday — and
everybody raved about the house, fur-
bished by Harold Grieve. . . . Clark
Gable won a medal (a gold one!)
skeet-shooting Sunday Dmitri
Tiomkin must wear his hands band-
aged for many weeks more — but how
can he talk??
LET'S TALK IT OVER"
Universal prod.; director, Kurt Neumann; writers, Dore Schary, Lewis Foster,
John Meehan Jr.
Roxy Theatre
World-Telegram: A generally feeble and uninteresting variation of the Pyg-
malion theme, made more so in this instance by some incredible stale sit-
uations and a commonplace dialogue. Such stories have been the backbone
of program pictures for years and, while they may fill a certain niche in
the scheme of cinema entertainment, they are only diverting when their
treatment is fresh and imaginative and their dialogue and situations brisk
and light-hearted.
Journal: It looks from here as though we'll have a Summer of movies about
sailors. Anyway, the first of this minor cycle is now on display at the Roxy
Theatre under the title of "Let's Talk It Over." You won't have much dif-
ficulty in anticipating the plot as it goes along.
Mirror: Once more the talented Mae Clarke makes a fairly entertaining movie
with threadbare material. "Let's Talk It Over" is unworthy of her, as it is
unworthy of Chester Morris. But the two play with such conviction, they
gloss over the feeble spots in their material and make the film fairly in-
teresting.
Times: The Roxy's latest screen offering is a negligible pictorial story. It is the
sort of yarn which is long on action and short on plausibility, an extrava-
gant piece of work which becomes not a little wearisome when it takes
itself too seriously.
News: Dore Schary and Lewis Foster, authors of "Let's Talk It Over," should
have devoted a little of their time to talking it all over before they wrote
their story and decided whether or not they were writing a comedy or a
melodrama. Instead they switched from one mood to the other without
warning and evolved something that is hard to classify.
American: Chester Morris, who has been absent from the local screens for too
long is in the comedy called "Let's Talk It Over." This time he is a very
tough and very difficult sailor but, withal, a veritable diamond in the
rough.
Sun: A lively, exaggerated romantic comedy. A light, restrained direction and
some equally deft performances have made the little comedy surprisingly
credible. It is light but entertaining Summer fare.
Herald-Tribune: Perhaps such effort as was put into this production seems a
bit futile for the juvenile results, but that is strictly up to the spectator.
The piece has been directed with sympathy and earnestness.
'Let's Talk It Over" is a mess. It takes a hackneyed story, which is no
crime in itself, and handles it about as badly as it has ever been handled
before, which is something of a trick. It will undoubtedly help business
in all the bars around the theatre.
Post:
Wyckoff Again Named
To Head Cameramen
The cameramen's union has nomi-
nated Alvin Wyckoff for another term
as president of Local 659. As there
were no other nominees, this assures
Wyckoff of re-election for his fourth
term. He has headed the union ever
since it was organized.
Other nominations were; For vice-
presidents, Roy Klaffki, Hal Mohr,
Jack Mackenzie; recording secretary,
H. L. Broening; financial secretary,
J. O. Taylor; sergeant-at-arms, Len
Powers; trustees. Dewey Wrigley. Gus
Peterson, Rolla Flora.
Hoffman Quits Col.
John Hoffman resigned as special
effects technician at Columbia yester-
day, a spot that had been created for
him. He last worked on "Whom the
Gods Destroy" and quit because he
felt the urge. He came into pictures
as a protege of Slavko Vorkapich.
New Play For Biltmore
Henry Guttman has leased the Bilt-
more Theatre and places his play,
"Soviet Princess," into rehearsal July
6. Edgar MacGregor will stage it.
Nina Wilcox Putnam and Guttman
made the dramatization from a Rus-
sian play. '•
Ray Fernstrom Back
Ray Fernstrom has returned from
a three-months trip, during which he
photographed a series of Fitzpatrick
Traveltalks in Technicolor's new
three-color process. They were made
in Holland, France, Switzerland and
Ireland.
Shirley Changes Agents
Shirley Temple yesterday signed a
managerial contract with Bern Bern-
ard, of the Bernar<3, Meiklejohn and
McCall agency, and at the same time
obtained a release from O'Reilly and
Mann, her former agents.
OPEN FORUM
The Hollywood Reporter:
In your issue of June 23, you car-
ried a story with the headline "Del
Rio Plans Own Clean-Up Campaign,"
in which I was reported to be some-
what upset at hot elements in "In
Caliente," my next picture for Warner
Bros. The article further stated that 1
was on the point of inaugurating a
one-woman picture clean-up cam-
paign.
The story is without foundation. I
haven't even seen th^ script.
Would very much appreciate your
making this clear in your paper.
DOLORES DEL RIO.
Goldwyn Will Alter
Nana' If Repaid
Paris. — The Zola heirs, who re-
cently sued Sam Goldwyn and United
Artists for alleged changes in Zola's
novel, "Nana," have withdrawn their
suit, but both Goldwyn and United
Artists are clamoring to have it tried
unless the heirs return the 200,000
francs Goldwyn paid them for the
picture rights to the book.
Goldwyn's attorney declared that,
for the 200,000 francs he secured
the right to make any changes in the
story he desired. He and United Art-
ists are understood to be willing to
change the title and omit Zola's name
if they get their money back. Other-
wise, nothing doing.
Mayer Luncheon Host
With screen players, local newspa-
per publishers and representatives of
the French government as guests,
Louis B. Mayer yesterday tendered a
luncheon to Emile Schreiber, noted
French economist and publisher, and
his wife, at MCM. The visitors leave
today by plane for San Francisco.
Dickson Morgan at Col.
Columbia yesterday signed Dickson
Morgan to act as dialogue director on
"Among the Missing," which Al Ro-
gell handles. Richard Cromwell, Biilie
Seward and Henrietta Crosman have
the top spots.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page I )
pictures have been a bit too strong,
the modern youth isn't going to be
harmed by commonsense treatments
of dramatic themes, nor is he going
to be willing to subsist on milk and
water for his picture diet.
well -matured
mellow whisky
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c^ Troduct of
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Distributors for the Pacific Coast
Ceo. Herrmann Company
81 6 W. 5fh St. 300 Front St.
Los Angeles San Francisco
Tel, Mutual 8053 Tel. CArfield 1980
{une 26, 1934
Page Three
SCREEN WRITERS RALLYING
TO AID OF THE INDUSTRY
Offer Hays Help In
Propaganda Work
mUhaFiL
Hollywood's creative talent is rally-
ing to the support of the industry in
an effort to thwart the censorship
danger that the present church drive
against pictures is creating.
It was learned yesterday that the
Screen Writers' Guild is planning to
take an active part, and one of the
first things Will Hays will do when he
arrives here shortly will be to get into
a huddle with Ralph Block, president
of the Guild.
Members of the Guild have been
discussing the dangers to the business
that the present agitation is building
up. With so many nationally known
writers on the rolls, it was felt that
these men should be able to do much
to spread the real truth about Holly-
wood through the pages of the various
publications to which they contribute.
Block recently contacted an execu-
tive of the Hays* organization and
suggested that the Guild would like
to do whatever it could in whatever
plan the Hays' office might have in
mind for the defense of the industry.
A few days later Block was informed
that Mr. Hays is particularly anxious
to confer with him on the subject,
and a tentative appointment has been
made. In fact. Hays expects to see
Block the first day he 's here, which
indicates the importance he places up-
on the work the Guild may be able
to do. At the meeting it is expected
that the Guild executives will be
taken into Hays' confidence as re-
gards his future plans, and the work
for the Guild will probably be out-
lined.
The actors, too, are starting to rear
up in defense of the much abused in-
dystry. Already, Lawrence Grant, one
of the finest public speakers in pic-
tures, is on a nation-wide lecture tour,
speaking on "The Truth About Holly-
wood." Grant is getting right into the
churches with his talks, speaking last
Sunday night in Cincinnati under the
auspices of the Ninth Street Baptist
Church. This is the first time the in-
dustry has had a representative out
among the religious bodies since the
Academy several years ago sent Dr.
Clinton Wunder on a good-will tour.
New Song and 5 Players
For Universal Picture
Universal bought a theme song and
five more players for "Million Dollar
Ransom" yesterday.
Song is "Have a Good Time" by
Solly Violinsky and Ben Ryan. Players
are Dorothy Christy, Joyce Compton,
Henry Kolker, Knute Erickson and
Alice Ardell. Murray Roth is direct-
ing the picture under Eph Asher's eye.
New Script For Meehan
When John Meehan returns from
New York in three weeks, he goes
on the script of George Auerbach's
"My Brother's Wife," which E. A.
Dupont will direct under Larry Wein-
"arten's supervision at MGM. Clark
Gable and Jean Harlow will have the
top spots.
Court Dismisses
Stanley-Erpi Suit
New York. — Federal Judge
Nields, in Wilmington, yesterday
dismissed the anti-monopoly suit
brought by Vitaphone and the
Stanley Company against Erpi. This
is a result of the Warner-Erpi
settlement.
Clyde Elliott To Do
Pic in East Indies
Clyde Elliott, who produced "Devil
Tiger" for Fox and Frank Buck's
"Bring 'Em Back Alive," will leave
Hollywood the middle of next month
to make a picture, tentatively called
"Yellow Waters," in China and the
Dutch East Indies.
Columbia is going to release the
picture, part of which is understood
to be financed by the Dupont inter-
ests. W. E. Deming Jr. goes along
as general assistant and sound engi-
neer. Cast and camera crew are now
being selected. It is expected the
trip will take about six months.
O'Flaherty To Radio
On Mjunitipns Story
Liam O'Flaherty, who has turned in
his screen play on "War Is Declared"
to B. P. Schulberg at Paramount, starts
at Radio today to write the screen play
for the Larry Bachmann story, "To
the Victor."
This IS the munitions yarn concern-
ing Sir Basil Zaharoff, which Pandro
Berman is producing.
Edgar Kennedy Spotted
For Three by Monogram
Monogram yesterday extended Edgar
Kennedy's two picture deal to three
pictures and assigned him to a spot
with Guy Robertson in "King Kelly
of the U.S.A.," which Leonard Fields
directs. The player previously has
been announced for "Flirting With
Danger" and "Reckless Romeo."
Bart Play in August
"The Man Who Reclaimed His
Head," play by Jean Bart, will prob-
ably get an early August spot on the
Universal schedule. It's the one Ed-
ward Ludwig comes over from War-
ners to direct for Universal.
Sutherland Job Clicks
Sidney Sutherland turned in his
treatment for "Beau Lafitte," Radio's
pirate story, yesterday, arid the execs
were so well pleased that he was as-
signed to start on the script at once.
'Fanny' Still Castless
"Fanny" is still Universal's great
uncast. However, William Wyler ex-
pects to make some definite choices
by Saturday.
David Selznick III
David O. Selznick was home yester-
day with an attack of laryngitis.
Paris Still Favors
American Pictures
Paris. — American pictures still hold
the edge in the Paris theatres in spite
of the campaign against them that is
being conducted by the Chambre Syn-
dicale. The newcomers in the Paris
house this past week are:
"Bottoms Up" and "Thunder Over
Mexico" at the Pantheon; "Hypnose"
and "The Diplomaniacs" at the Agri-
culteurs and the Bonaparte; "Broad-
way Through a Keyhole" at the Studio
Universel; "Looking for Trouble" at
the Lord Byron; "Morning Glory" at
the Cine Opera; "Two Hearts in
Waltz Time" at the Studio Caumar-
tin; "The Crime Doctor" at the Club
Dartois; "Bolero" at the Empire.
The holdovers are; "House on 56th
Street" and "Convention City" at the
Apollo; "Little Women" at the Ed-
ouard Sept; "Rip Tide" at the Elysee
Gaumont ; "It Happened One Night"
at the Ermitage; "Sons of the Desert"
at the Madeleine; "Cat and the Fid-
dle" at the Marboeuf; "Constant
Nymph" at the Raspail; "Let's Fall in
Love" at the Studio Des Acacias;
"Dollars and Whiskey" at the Studio
28; "Footlight Parade" at the Clichy
Palace and the Gaite Rochechouart.
Mintz To Universal
To Work on Own Yarn
Through an arrangement with
Radio, Universal yesterday closed a
deal with William Stephens for the
purchase of a story by Sam Mintz and
the use of his services on a one-picture
deal.
The story, "Women Are Like
That," is an original which Henry
Henigson will produce. Mintz goes
to Universal after he finishes the
screen play for "Anne of Green
Gables."
'Bombay MaiT Can't
Be Exhibited in India
London. — Universal's "Bombay
Mail" has been barred from exhibition
in India because an incident too close-
ly parallels the recent case of a maha-
rajah invited to visit England so his
province could be cleaned up. The
same film was turned down in Singa-
pore because it shows the murder of
a colonial governor.
Race Nights Charged
The Manchester Theatre yesterday
filed a compL-.int with the Los Angeles
Grievance Board, charging the Castle,
Florence and Mecca theatres with vio-
lation of the film code in that they
conduct race nights. The case will be
heard Thursday.
Loretta Not So Well
Loretta Young, who went into the
hospital some days ago for a slight
operation, suffered a relapse yesterday
and will not be out for another week.
Mervyn Light Arrives
Mervyn Light, Warners' new juve-
nile from Broadway, arrived at the
studio yesterday and was assigned to
a spot in "Just Out of College."
ATTERJ
ly^^r Helen Qwttnn
A well-known moom pitcher writer,
until very recently a client of one of
the biggest agencies out here, was
forced to leave said agency because of
the weirdest piece of business an
agency has ever pulled.
Now this writer is not only well
known, but is a good writer to boot
and one who earns darned good money
for his work. He came back here a
few months ago on a one-picture deal
and the promise of more from the
agency. The picture was completed
in due time and then the writer sat
back and waited for the promises to
materialize. Nothing happened. Af-
ter a few weeks of nothingness, the
writer tried to reach his particular
agent in the agency, and found it
couldn't be done by telephone or per-
sonal appearances. Finally the writer
hit on the brilliant scheme of writing
a registered letter. The letter brought
results in the form of a telephone call
and the writer delivered his ulti-
matum. He told the agent that, if
he didn t gel a job in three days, his
contract with the agent would be null
and void. The agent assured the
writer that he would get something.
At noon of the third day the agent's
secretary phoned the writer to tell
him that they had gotten .him a radio
lob. The job was for the writer to
dash off a fifteen minute script for
the huge sum of one hundred dollars!
And you can't very well beat that.
An agent offering a writer who gets
around a thousand a week (ten per
cent of which the agent has been col-
lechng regularly for a couple of years)
a hundred dollar job to keep him
happy.
•
A slight oversight on the part of
a major studio is costing it good money
each week in the form of salary to a
high-priced crooner. This crooner
was signed up for pictures on the
strength of his radio personality and
following, and big plans were made
for him. That is, he was assigned
to any number of productions and one
story was completely re-written to
suit his talents — until he made his
first picture. After that, most of the
plans were called off and it is now
just a question of completing his con-
tract unless a miracle happens. You
see, the lad can sing all right, but
he can do nothing else; and sing was
all he ever did over the air. They
forgot to find out that in his radio
programs, whenever the script called
for the crooner to speak, the lines
were given to a "double" to read — the
crooner never spoke — just sang.
•
Shades of the days when prima
donnas used to have their carriages
drawn through the streets by an ad-
miring and appreciative audience.
Grace Moore's singing in "One Night
of Love" is so remarkable that the
other night, after a preview of the
picture at which Miss Moore was
present, it took three motorcycle cops
to clear the way for her car. the ad-
miring throngs were that large.
Page Four
IRilP@IRTiPi
June 26. 1934
lATSE AXD IBEW TO TRADE
OFF THEIR DIFFERENCES
Para. Regional Meet
In Frisco Today
New York. — Those on the inside of
the trade union affairs here yesterday
were predicting that the jurisdictional
battle between the lATSE and the
IBEW which has resulted disastrously
for the lA in the studios, will be set-
tled before long in a "horse-trading"
deal that is said to be on the fire.
While official confirmation could
not be secured, it is generally under-
stood that the I A and IBEW execu-
tives are soon to get together, and the
deal said to be brewing is to give the
IBEW all the electricians in the stu-
dios, removing them entirely from
Local 37, lATSE, and turning all the
sound technicians back to Local 695.
This would leave Local 37 with the
grips and property men as its prin-
cipal members', and would stop the
raiding of the various locals in the
war that has been going on in Holly-
wood ever since the IBEW stepped
into the studio picture.
William Green, president of the A.
F. of L., is said to have promised to
bring the fight to the floor of the
convention this Fall, but suggested
that a trading settlement between the
two Internationals probably would be
a better method. If this is settled,
labor men feel that there will be a
radically different set-up in wage
scales brought about in the studios.
Atwater-Kent Finalist
For 'Babes in Toyland*
Hal Roach yesterday signed Felix
Knight, finalist in the Atwater-Kent
radio contest in 1932, for the role of
"Tom Tom" in "Babes in Toyiand,"
making the first casting for the Lau-
rel and Hardy feature. Ray McCarey
will direct when the picture goes be-
fore the cameras the end of July.
Brit. Pics on Way to Top
(Continued from Page 1 )
the future of British pictures in
America.
He believes that next year will see
a lessening in the number of pictures
that England will need. Its average
requirements for home consumption
are about 600 pictures a year, and
last year, including about 100 quota
films produced by Americans, 720
were available. This, Mr. Wilcox
says, was 110 above maximum ab-
sorption. For the coming year, he
thinks about 400, including quota
product, will be about right.
His company, British and Domin-
ions, will produce eight to twelve pic-
tures next year which will cost around
$500,000 each and he plans to im-
port first-line American artists and
directors.
Mr. Wilcox meets Darryl Zanuck
and Joseph M. Schenck in London on
July 21 for conferences over produc-
tion and distribution matters. United
Artists being the releasing organiza-
tion in this country for British and
Dominions product. Wilcox also
commented on the London engage-
ment of "The House of Rothschild,"
stating that he believed the picture
would gross at least $1,000,000 in
England alone.
New York. — ^The first of Para-
mount's regional sales conventions
opens in San Francisco today in charge
of Divisional Manager Charles Reagan.
At the close of that meeting Reagan
goes to Chicago for a meeting there.
J. J. Unger, divisional manager for
the East and South, will hold meetings
in Atlanta on Friday, in Washington
on July 2, and in New York on July 6.
Morgan and Dresser
For 'Limberlost' Cast
Monogram yesterday signed Ralph
Morgan and Louise Dresser for top
bracket roles in "The Girl of the Lim-
berlost," which Christy Cabanne plans
to get into production by the end of
the week.
The studio is still looking for a girl
to fill the title role spot.
Neira Walker Held
Warners yesterday signed Nella
Walker for a second picture and
started negotiations for a third. The
player, who is now in "A Lady Sur-
renders," next goes into "Big-Hearted
Herbert." The deal was negotiated
by Menifee 1. Johnstone.
Amkino Film Opening
New York. — Amkino, the Russian
film outfit, will open a picture called
"Cavalcade" at the Acme Theatre to-
day.
Woman Writer to Fox
New York. — Fox has signed Noel
Pierce, local playwright, to a long-
term ticket and she boarded a train
yesterday for the hop to the coast.
N.Y. Bans West Picture
(Continued from Page 1 )
of the children to be undermined by
pictures of types that were becoming
too prevalent.
Paramount .has by no means given
up hope of getting the picture into
the New York theatres. The com-
pany starts today on re-takes, which
will consume two or three weeks, and,
with those completed, will re-submit
the picture to the Regents. In the
meantime, it will not be shown any-
where.
It was to have opened at the Para-
mount Theatre down-town Thursday,
but this engagement .has been post-
poned indefinitely. Also the release
date of June 29 has been set back.
Paramount realizes that the picture
might be booked into many places
without any objections, but it realizes
also that decisions given in New York
state often influence censorship bod-
ies in other spots and it prefers to
take no chances.
So far as the title is concerned, ob-
jections to that give the company a
chance to pull a good bit of show-
manship by releasing the picture
without any title ,and calling it sim-
ply "A Mae West Picture." This
may be done, although it is not defi-
nitely decided as yet.
Oh Dear, Now Kisses
Don't Mean Marriage
Albany. — Dr. Theodore Graeb-
ner, of Concordia Theological
Seminary, has just discovered that
people kiss these days at times
other than when they seal their
betrothal, and yesterday he tried
to blame it all on the movies by
telling the Evangelical Lutheran
Synod the pictures are injecting
some sort of love-life germ into the
youngsters.
Jimmy Savo To Cavort
In Russian Background
New York. — The picture which Ben
Hecht and Charles MacArthur are to
produce at the Astoria studios with
Jimmy Savo starred, will have a Rus-
sian background and a lot of Russian
actors will be in it.
The producers plan to build an en-
tire Russian village, somewhere in
up-state New York.
Eddie Dowling Leases
Theatre For Two Years
New York. — Eddie Dowling has
leased the St. James Theatre from
Vincent Astor for two years and will
produce four plays and a musical
comedy, starting this Fall.
New Bill at Kings Club
Heinie Brand, of the Kings Club,
announces a change in his floor show,
starting Thursday. The Herberts —
Cracie and Charlie — -formerly of the
225 Club, Chicago, will be featured.
Operators' Unions
In Trouble Again
New York. — The records of Local
306 of the Motion Picture Operators
union and of the Empire State Opera-
tors' union were seized by detectives
yesterday and turned over to the Kings
County Grand Jury on charges by
members that $1 ,000,000 in dues had
been collected and no accounting
made.
It is alleged that "Dutch" Schultz
received $7500, that $25,000 was
paid to a detective agency and exorbi-
tant fees to lawyers.
Phil Baker Signed For
Gift of Gab' at U'
Phil Baker, said to be the first radio
accordeonist to use a stooge, was
added yesterday to the cast sheet of
Rian James' broadcast picture, "Gift
of Gab," at Universal. The Downey
Sisters were also booked.
Rian James, scenarist and super-
visor, will probably triple-play in the
part of a radio columnist. Karl Freund
directs.
Lucille Bali Arrives
Lucille Ball arrived from the East
yesterday and reported to the Sam
Goldwyn offices, where she is assigned
to a part in Eddie Cantor's next pic-
ture.
New Para. Actor Due
Elisha Cook Jr. arrives today from
New York to take up a two-picture
contract with Paramount. He goes
immediately into "Ready for Love."
NOTICE!
TO MY MANY FRIENDS-
OPENING
THURSDAY, JUNE 28
at
THE KINGS CLUB
8730 Sunsef Boulevard
THE HERBERTS
Cracie and Charlie
America's Foremost' Cafe Entertainers
Direct from the 225 Club, Chicago
HELEN MORGAN, Guest Artist
For Reservations Phone Crestview 9403
HEINIE BRAND
As REAL as Life Itself!
Made for that vast public
which h'kes:
CLEAN HUMOR
HEALTHY LAUGHTER
WHOLESOME FUN
STURDY BOYHOOD
HOMELY PHILOSOPHY
GENIAL WIT and
A TOUCH OF PATHOS
SOL LESSER
Jackic
OPCR
^ 1 (by special arrangement with S4.GM.)
cKi w for
THOMAS MEICHAN - JACKIE SEARL
DOROTHY PETERSON an^O. P. HECCIE
Sfory by
BERNARD SCHUBERT
and
MARGUERITE ROBERTS
NOW IN PRODUCTION
directed by
EDWARD F. CLINE
^\ The Season's Greatest Heart Throb— You'll love it! Watch for itt
Pa"c Six
j||i^^,p.f
June 26, 1934
lATSE Fights To
Get Back in Studios
New York — The eyes of the lATSE
will be centered on this town tomor-
row, for at that time the newly elect-
ed president, George Browne, goes into
conference with Pat Casey on the
question of the labor troubles between
the studios and the lATSE.
Browne pledged himself at the
Louisville convention two weeks ago
to get the labor troubles straightened
out. This is his first step, and lA
members are enthused over his quick
action, especially as the extension of
the Basic Agreement between the stu-
dios and labor organizations still lacks
the official confirmation of the pro-
ducing heads. Herbert Aller, business
representative of Local 659, Holly-
wood, is here to take part in the
conference.
Patsy Kelly and Baker
Get New Roach Terms
Henry Ginsberg, Hal Roach general
manager, yesterday took up the op-
tions on Patsy Kelly and Benny Baker.
Miss Kelly, who has been with the
company one year, starts her tenth
short with Thelma Todd next Monday.
Gus Meins directs. Baker has been
under contract three months.
Spewacks Head East
Bella and Sam Spewack are en
route to New York on a leave of ab-
sence from their MGM writing con-
tracts to set their new play, "Spring
Song." They left by train Saturday.
Hecht and MacArthur
Still The Playboys
Charlie MacArthur and Ben
Hecht, with their penchant for
decorating the places whereat they
work, put up a lot of signs over at
the Paramount-Astoria studios.
One of the first to go up was a
slogan which reads: "If it's better
than MGM, it's not good enough."
Helen Freeman Leaves
To Appear in 'Othello'
Helen Freeman, who finished her
part in "The Count of Monte Cristo,"
leaves today to play in the Summer
festival production of "Othello" at
the ghost city of Central City, Colo.
Robert Edmond Jones is directing the
production, for which Walter Huston,
Nan Sunderland and Kenneth Mac-
Kenna come from New York. The
season runs July 21 to August 3.
Carret-Sayre Teamed
Grant Garret was engaged by Para-
mount yesterday, through Beyer-Mac-
Arthur, to team with Joel Sayre on
the screen play of "Back Porch," the
next W. C. Fields production under
William LeBaron's supervision.
Spigelgass on Leave
Recovered from his tonsil operation,
Leonard Spigelgass, Universal scenario
head and associate producer, leaves by
train tonight for Del Monte, San Fran-
cisco and Yosemite. He will be away
about two weeks.
Wrubel and Dixon Set
On 'Colddiggers' Score
Because of their excellent work on
"Flirtation Walk," Allie Wrubel and
Mort Dixon, song writing team, have
been assigned to do the score for
"Golddiggers of 1935," which will be
a Warner Brothers' special.
Robert Lord and Peter Milne wrote
the original story for this one and
Milne and Manny Seff have written
the screen play.
Zimbalist Back With
Outboard-Motor Shots
Sam Zimbalist, Hunt Stromberg's
assistant, returned yesterday from
New York with the Hudson River out-
board-motoring shots for the Craw-
ford-Gable picture, "Chained."
Zimbalist arrived minus both cam-
eramen, leaving Herbert Fisher in a
New York hospital recovering from
stomach trouble, and Leonard Smith
in St. Louis working on "Death on
the Diamond" backgrounds.
Lee-Warners Dicker
Robert N, Lee, former Warner
writer, returned last week from Hono-
lulu and yesterday was at the studio
on a possible deal to script the Erie
Stanley Gardner mystery novel, "The
Case of the Curious Bride."
Two For Carbo Picture
MGM yesterday signed Beulah Bondl
and Cecilia Parker for "The Painted
Veil," the first castings on the Greta
Garbo vehicle. Richard Boleslavsky
puts the picture before the cameras
July 2.
Germany Now Has
4889 Wired Houses
Washington. — Germany now has
4889 picture theatres that are wired
for sound, according to a report sent
to the Department of Commerce by
G. R. Canty, In Berlin. The report
was compiled by the German Asso-
ciation of Cinema Owners. The seat-
ing capacity of these theatres is
1,862,104.
The total number of feature films
released in Germany for the 1933-34
season was 193, of which 139 were
German-made. For the coming sea-
son, 233 features have been an-
nounced, of which 166 are German.
Victor Moore's Wife
Dies Before He Arrives
Victor Moore lost his race East to
his wife's deathbed, receiving word at
Chicago of her death of complications
following her operation. She had been
known professionally as Emma Little-
field.
Following the funeral services in
New York today, Moore returns to the
coast for his second Universal picture,
"Gift of Gab," which starts Saturday.
Allen Case Postponed
Crowded court calendars yesterday
added another postponement to the
trial of Dave Allen, manager of Cen-
tral Casting, and Gloria Marsh on a
morals charge. The case has been set
back to July 9 by Judge Fletcher
Bowron.
ii
MEAL TICKET
»i
Starring
SHIRLEY TEMPLE
and
SPENCER TRACY
ANOTHER ORIGINAL STORY
FROM
GENE TOWNE
AND
GRAHAM BAKER
J 0£
? A S T £ R M A ;<
Producing For Universal
EVERY YEAR A HIT
11
1930 Die Crosse Sehnsucht
1931 Zwei Menschen
1932 Unsichtbare Front
Paprika
1933 Crosse und Kuss Veronika
Romance In Budapest
1934 Csibi
Now In Production
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% MR.SAVUFL MARX,
CULVFR GITY.CA'LIr"'.
Voi. XXI, No
NEWS TODAY
)une 27, 1934
ri^ANCE $LAMS U. $. Pl\
•THE recent visit of David Selznick
to England resulted in a number of
things of significance, not only with
respect to MCM in whose interests
the trip was undertaken, but impor-
tant to the picture industry as a
whole. The announced primary pur-
pose of Mr. Selznick's trip was to get
atmosphere and find players for the
cast of "David Copperfield," which he
is to produce, but the results went
far beyond this.
Perhaps the most important result
was the advancement of the idea of
MGM to produce pictures in England.
Most of the pictures made over there
by American producing companies
have been purely for quota purposes,
and they have added nothing to the
reputation or the bank accounts of
the producers. But MCM contem-
plates going into production abroad
on an entirely different scale and for
different reasons.
e
These reasons include the building
up of the British market, the saving
in production costs, and the develop-
ment and use of the wealth of acting
talent that exists in England. The
market argument comes first. The
insularity — or patriotism, if you pre-
fer— of the British is proverbial. Any-
thing British comes first in the hearts
of the people. While they patronize
American pictures because they are
the best, if pictures made in Britain
can even approach American quality,
they will get infinitely more play than
they do now. The slogan "Buy Brit-
ish" is very real to the British people.
More than that, the picture patrons
are demanding British pictures and
good pictures. Alexander Korda has
shown them that British product can
be made that will compare favorably
with American product. The ques-
tion of who produces it does not make
so much difference, so long as it is
made in Britain. Therefore, MCM
figures that, with a corporation formed
under the British laws, turning out
pictures comparable with Hollywood's
best, it could enormously increase its
receipts in the British market.
•
It is admitted that British direc-
tors and technicians are not equal to
American, but it would be a simple
thing to send American technicians
over there to train the British crafts-
(Continued on Page 4)
Report on Picture
Salaries Due Soon
Washington — It is understood
here that the Research and Plan-
ning divisions of the NRA will
shortly make a report on the sal-
aries of motion picture executives
and stars as required in the code,
in spite of previous denials that
there would be any such report.
Hammons Boosts
Budget For Shorts
New York. — Encouraged by the
success that the movement against
double features is having in various
sections of the country, Earle Ham-
mons, president of Educational, has
announced that his company has in-
creased its production budget by 20
per cent.
He believes that, if single features
are. going to be the rule, shorts of
exceptional merit will be demanded
and he proposes to make them. With-
out such shorts, he says, the double
bills will continue.
Sigmund Romberg Here
Sigmund Romberg arrived yesterday
by train from New York and reports
at MCM to work with Oscar Hammer-
stein II on the musical numbers for
"Tiptoes," the Novarro-Laye picture.
Jerome Kern To MCM
New York. — MCM has concluded a
deal with Jerome Kern and he is
slated to go to tine coast to work on
a musical picture.
Reduces ''Dubbed'' Imports,
Doubles Duties, And Lessens
Theatres For Foreign Films
Paris. — The hardest blow that has been struck by the French
Government against foreign motion pictures, and a blow that
hits United States harder than any other country, was delivered
yesterday. American film men are convinced that, if its provi-
sions are not softened, it means the
LaCava To Direct
Hayes In Barrie Pic
end of American pictures in France.
The official decree provides that,
for six months beginning July 1 , only
94 foreign films may be imported for
dubbing, the American percentage of
these being about 80. Last year 242
were admitted and the French exhibs
asked for 325. The order also doubles
the import duties on foreign films and
cuts the number of theatres in which
either dubbed films or English-lan-
guage pictures may be shown.
Showing of non-dubbed films is re-
stricted to five theatres in the Paris
district and ten elsewhere in France.
(Continued on Page 21
With "Dolly" indefinitely set back
on MCM's schedule, Gregory LaCava
was yesterday assigned July 1 5 as a
starting date for "What Every Wo-
man Knows," in which he will direct
Helen Hayes. This also pushes
"Vanessa" back on the production list.
Irving Thalberg will handle the pro-
duction of the J. M. Barrie play, for
which the screen play is being writ-
ten by Monckton Hoffe. It will be
LaCava's first work under his new
two-year contract, which has already
run two months.
Schenck Flying To
Budapest For Meet Bing Crosby To Stage
In Theatre Guild Play
Paris — United Artists has just com-
pleted a three-day Continental con-
vention here and Joseph M. Schenck,
who presided, is flying to Budapest to
hold a meeting there.
Darryl Zanuck is due in Cairo from
his hunting trip on July 2 and goes
from there to Italy, where Schenck
will meet him.
BARBARY COAST' OFF
TILL BEFORM WAR EXDS
Samuel Coldwyn has indefinitely
postponed the production of "Barbary
Coast" because of the wave of censor-
ship activity prevalent all over the
country. While, under normal condi-
tions, he feels that the picture would
be all right and would create no ad-
verse comment, he is convinced that
fault would be found with it by the
more bigoted among the reform ele-
ment. Therefore, he will call it off
until such time as he feels he can pro-
duce it as it should be done.
"The possibilities of this picture are
too great to be sacrificed in a clamor
for pictures suitable for children," he
said yesterday. "Leonard Praskins and
(Continued on Page 3)
Churches Block New
N.Y. Burlesque Theatre
New York — Owing to strenuous op-
position offered by Catholic and Jew-
ish clergy, Max Wilner has been re-
fused permission to present burlesque
at the Apollo Theatre, in Forty-second
street.
Alfred Savoir Dies
.Paris. — Alfred Savoir. one of the
world's great playwrights, died here
today. He was really a Pole, whose
name was Alfred Pozmanski. Among
his plays were "Bluebeard's Eighth
Wife," and "The Bellboy and The
Crand Duchess."
New York — It is understood here
that arrangements have been made to
have Bing Crosby appear in a Theatre
Cuild production in September. The
play is called "American Dances."
Hitler Ousting Would
Restore German Films
Berlin. — The rumor that Hitler is to
be forced to abdicate is arousing great
interest in the picture business. It is
felt that, if Hitler is ousted, the Ger-
man picture industry will be back on
the map.
Laughton As 'Micawber'
MCM IS closing a deal with Charles
Laughton for the role of "Micawber"
in Charles Dickens' "David Copper-
field." which Ceorge Cukor directs
when it goes before the cameras in
three weeks. David Selznick pro-
duces.
Frank Joyce on Way Home
New York. — Frank Joyce left here
yesterday, bound for his home in Los
Angeles. He will stop over to see
the Chicago Fair.
idward E* Paramore Jr,
SCREEN PLAY
and DIALOGUE
(in collaboration)
SHIRLEY
TEMPLE S
BABY TAKE A BOW
n
Page Two
June 27, 1934
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
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Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp^
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4, 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
The Marion Davies Foundation
Benefit at the Biltmore Bowl Monday
night was one swell party — as more
than a thousand satisfied diners and
dancers will testify. The affair was a
great credit to all concerned, chiefly
to Harrison Carroll, in charge of the
program, and all those who worked to
put it over. Almost all the stars
showed up too, "as advertised" — and
Eddie Cantor's m.c'ing, plus his antics
and "epicg'rams," were of the knock-
out variety . . . (pardon the word,
variety) . Nelson Eddy, with his beau-
tiful voice, Ethel Merman, Cantor
(that man's here again!) and Rubin-
off were among the show-stoppers —
and it was a grand show — all of it.
Everybody was there — well, nearly
everybody. Mae West, we hear tell,
didn't come, after preparing all day
via hairdressers for the occasion, be-
cause she is supposed to have received
more of those "acid throwing in the
face" threats. Personally, we had so
much fun, we were civil to the wrong
people!
A Hollywood actor with a terrific
reputation as an elbow-bending play-
boy, surprised everybody when he
suddenly up and married a very
wealthy girl, with a family of her
own. He surprised them even more
by settling down completely — and
then by leaving town for a very do-
mestic life elsewhere. He's back now,
determined to take up his screen
career where he left off — and with
his looks and physique, should have
little trouble. The main reason, how-
ever, that he wants a job so badly, is
because his wealthy wife allows him
only three dollars a day spending
money!
At one time, when Jack Haley was
going in for a stage tour, he was sent
to Boris Morros, who does the booking
for the Paramount theatres. They
couldn't get together on money, and
Haley wired his own manager: "Boris
Morros Saw Us — Deal Off." The
manager promptly sent the wire to
Morros, who chuckled out loud. And,
P. S., Haley got the job!
'DR. MONICA "
Warners prod.; director, William Keighley; writers, Marja M. Szcepkowska,
Laura Walker, Charles Kenyon.
Strand Theatre
World-Telegram: Ordinarily a play suffers in its transference from the stage to
the screen, but the shadow version of last season's stage drama, "Doctor
Monica," is so superior to its flesh-and-blood counterpart that even the
most ardent deractors of the cinema will have to admit that there is no
most ardent detractors of the cinema will have to admit that there is no
better entertainment than the original. The fact remains that whereas the
play was a pretty dreary, depressing and sterile affair, the film, thanks to
Charles Kenyon's shrewd adaptation and some signally good acting, is a
tolerably entertaining exhibit.
Post: It may be true that it's nice to have a man around the house, but the
Warners were carried away by the idea a little unreasonably, when they
injected Warren William into the cast of what was originally an all-woman
play, and then gave him nothing more to do than walk around with his
hands in his pockets. This little improvement robs "Doctor Monica" of
the only claim to distinction it might have had and reduces it to the rather
vague category of mild entertainment.
Journal: It's a talky little drama. The handsome Miss Francis contributes an
effective performance, and, despite its thinness of plot the picture should
interest Francis fans by virtue of its generally smooth acting and direction.
Herald-Tribune: The picture version is highly sentimentalized. Nevertheless,
the screen production is interesting as a typical film melodrama. Mr.
Keighley seems to know the value of climax and human-interest in his
story telling, for he holds the attention throughout and embellishes his
canvas with certain airy touches dear to the heart of the picture fan.
There is a depth of feeling in the piece, due in part to the genuinely sin-
cere performance by Kay Francis.
Mirror: "Dr. Monica" is a movie about women for women. It makes magnifi-
cent heroes, almost fantastic gallants, of the women with which it is con-
cerned. Admirably played and skilfully directed, written with excellent
dialogue, it should provide fun and induce a gratifying sense of superiority
in the matinee trade. The situations are highly dramatic and quite touch-
ing.
Times: The film is not especially suspenseful, but it is superior to the parent
work. It moves apace and the acting is excellent.
News: The picture is a liberal adaptation of Marja Szcepkowska's play. Only
the essentials of the play's drama are retained for the picture, which is to
the latter's advantage. William Keighley has given the picture competent
direction. The backgrounds are well done and the photography is excel-
lent. The story is one that will make a strong appeal to women and men
will find it interesting enough.
Sun: The whole feeling of the picture, like its characters and its theme, is es-
sentially feminine. It's a grand picture to cry over without feeling overly
moved or depressed.
American: "Dr. Monica" is an interesting and generally worth-while film. It
will, in the opinion of this reviewer, prove popular with the feminine trade.
CzechsDemand U.S.
Films To Save Them
Prague. — -The motion picture thea-
tre business in Czechoslovakia is in a
bad way, the worst condition in its
history. Local film men are shout-
ing their heads off about it and de-
clare that the only things that will
save the theatres are American films.
Even the local trade press, which fa-
vors German product to the extreme,
is urging that American pictures be
brought in and the political and eco-
nomic bars be let down to save the
situation. The public will not pay to
look at the European pictures.
Jake Wilk Arrives
Jake Wilk, Warner story head, ar-
rived at the Burbank plant yesterday
after having stopped off in San Fran-
cisco for a few days en route here
from New York.
Para. Signs Kantor
New York. — Paramount yesterday
signed McKinley Kantor, author of
"Long Remembered," to its writing
staff and he leaves for Hollywood to-
night.
Para. Trustee Has Not
Quit, But Wants to Do So
New York. — Root, Clark, Buckner
and Ballantyne stated yesterday that
Charles E. Richardson has not yet re-
signed his Paramount trusteeship, but
desires to do so because of press of
private business.
The Federal Court will decide on
July 10 whether or not the resigna-
tion shall be accepted. The court may
permit the other two trustees to carry
on until the reorganization plan is
completed.
Asbury-Nibio Teamed
Herbert Asbury and Fred Niblo Jr.
were commissioned by Columbia yes-
terday to work out a story for the
"Produce the Body" title that remains
on the studio's 1933-34 list. It
comes on Sid Rogell's production
sheet.
Eddy Eckels Returning
Eddy Eckels, Radio's studio publicity
chief, is due to return tomorrow on
the Chief. He went on for a look-in
at the home offices in New York after
the Chicago convention.
Schulberg Readying
Three For Cameras
With three stories readying neck
and neck, B. P. Schulberg cannot yet
determine which he will have in pro-
duction first, but at least two, and
possibly all three, should be on the
stages at Paramount before the end
of July.
"Red Woman," the William R.
Lipman story for Sylvia Sidney, the
variously-titled Liam O'Flaherty war
story for G. W. Pabst's direction, and
"Village Tale," which Marc Connelly
and Frank Partes are adapting and
dialoging, are the parallel contenders.
Burr Gets Educ. Award
C. C. Burr yesterday was awarded
a judgment against Educational Pic-
tures for $675 plus interest since
June 15, 1933, in Judge Crawford's
court. The court ruled the amount
due Burr for his services as director
on his last comedy for the studio.
France Slams U.S. Pix
(Continued from Page 1 )
But no more than two theatres in any
department may show the same Eng-
lish films. The only exemption made
is for animated cartoons, which lets
Mickey Mouse in.
So severe are the new restrictions
that Harold Smith, representative of
the Hays office, has cabled Washing-
ton, asking the intervention of the
State Department to save the Ameri-
can film trade in France.
The French exhibitors are wild about
the new order, and their attitude is
the same as that of actors and em-
ployees of the studios where dubbing
is done. Telegrams of protest are
flooding the Government offices, de-
nouncing the "oligarchy that is being
permitted to strangle cinema exploi-
tation in France."
Harry James, president of the Syn-
dicate of Artists Employed in Dubbing
Films, stated that the dubbing indus-
try last year supplied between 25,000
and 30,000 working days, with salar-
ies that totaled more than 25,000,000
francs. Under the new order these
figures will be cut more than fifty per
cent.
WHY ASK OTHERS?
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When you need $10 to $300 come
directly to the Local. Our simpli-
fied methods make borrowing easy.
Quick private service.
LOCAL LOAN CO.
406 Taft BIdg., 1680 N. Vine
Telephone HEmpstead 1133
|une27, 1934
Page Tlire«
'HERE COMES THE NAVY' A HIT;
LOTS OF LAVGHS AXD THRILLS
IMlhallL
Direction, Writing,
Acting Split Honors
"HERE COMES THE NAVY"
( Warner Bros. )
Direction Lloyd Bacon
Original Story Ben Markson
Screen Play Ben Markson
and Earl Baldwin
•Photography Arthur Edeson
Cast: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien,
Gloria Stuart, Frank McHugh,,
Dorothy Tree, Robert Barrat, Wil-
lard Robertson, Cuinn Williams,
Howard Hickman, Maude Eburne,
George Irving.
Here comes the navy, and how!
The Cagney formula rescued by the
Navy to the tune of a lot of good
hearty laughs and the thrills and fan-
fare that only a picture with uni-
forms can give. There's plenty to sell
in this one that will more than please
the buyers.
Cagney, as "Chesty" Jones joins the
navy because lie wants to get a chance
to beat up one Pat O'Brien, as "Biff,"
seein' as how "Biff" on shore leave
had hit "Chesty" while he wasn't
looking and taken his girl away from
him besides. The only trouble is that
"Biff" happens to be his superior of-
ficer, and then the girl "Chesty" falls
for happens to be "Biff's" sister.
Soooo, it seems as how "Chesty" just
hasn't got the proper spirit about the
Navy. Like the first violinist in the
symphony orchestra, he keeps on mak-
ing faces and being a bad boy be-
cause he "hates" the Navy. How-
ever, after being transferred to the
lighter-than-air branch of the service,
effects a spectacular rescue of "Biff"
in mid-air and the Navy is proud that
it has made another man. P. S.
"Chesty" marries the girl.
To repeat an old axiom, Cagney is
one grand actor and maybe some day,
if he lives long enough, they'll grad-
uate him from this type of role and
take full advantage of the lad's acting
talents. Pat O'Brien is darned good as
a straight man for Cagney. Frank Mc-
Hugh as Cagney's side-kick proves he
can be an elegant comic without
touching a drop. Dorothy Tree is ex-
cellent as the gal sailors forget and
looks like a great bet for the future.
Maude Eburne doesn't appear until
the end of the picture but her rendi-
tion of "O, Promise Me," with false
teeth, would be worth waiting for
even if the rest of the picture were-
n't so much fun.
Markson and Baldwin have devised
a number of funny situations and the
picture's running gag, (which turns
out to be Maude Eburne) is one of
the best.
Lloyd Bacon is a past master at
this kind of picture and the present
one is entirely up to standard, so far
as his direction is concerned. Arthur
Edeson's photography is okay, but
stunning effects that might have been
gotten are entirely covered by stock
shots.
Nathanson Again
Rumored Para. Head
New York. — The Paramount ru-
mor market got busy again yester-
day and once more set N. L.
Nathanson as the head of the or-
ganization in the event that Adolph
Zukor decides to resign the presi-
dency.
New Pictures on
B'way This Week
New York. — Max Baer in person
will be the stellar attraction of the
Broadway picture houses this week,
opening at the Paramount Theatre
Thursday. The picture is "Kiss and
Make Up."
Other pictures set for the week are
"Black Moon" at the Rialto yester-
day; "The World Moves On" at the
Criterion, "Of Human Bondage" at
the Music Hall, and "Circus Clown"
at the Mayfair, all on Thursday; "The
Thin Man" at the Capitol, and "Baby
Take a Bow" at the Roxy, both on
Friday.
John Stahl Starting
On 'Imitation of Life'
A little more than a year since he
put his last picture, "Only Yesterday,"
into work, John M. Sta.hl today starts
production on "Imitation of Life" at
Universal.
Claudette Colbert heads the cast
which, to date, includes only Louise
Beavers, Rochelle Hudson, Freddie
Washington and Juanita Quigley.
William Hurlbut has written the
screen play of Fannie Hurst's novel.
Cillingwater Cast
In Milestone Picture
After ten days deliberation, Lewis
Milestone finally picked Claude Cil-
lingwater yesterday for the part of
Judge Griswold in "The Captain Hates
the Sea." Hal Cooley closed the deal.
Emily Fitzroy and Akin Tamiroff
also got spots in the Columbia picture.
Winchell Pulls Em In
San Francisco. — Walter Winchell in
person is doing great business at the
Warfield Theatre here. Capacity au-
diences are the rule and the week-
end business was close to record-
breaking.
Gladys Lehman To Para.
Gladys Lehman was signed by Para-
mount yesterday to joining the writing
staff July 5 and handle the screen play
for "The Gilded Lily." It will co-star
Claudette Colbert and Gary Grant.
Agency Signs Dare
Dorothy Dare has signed a mana-
gerial ticket with the Rebecca and
Silton office. She holds a Warners
term deal.
Holmes Finishes Short
Ben Holmes has just completed the
third in the series of Clark and Mc-
Cullough comedy shorts for Radio.
Irving Permanent
Trustee For RKO
New York.— Federal Judge Coxe
yesterday appointed the Irving Trust
Company to act as permanent trus-
tee for the RKO Corporation until such
time as the reorganization plan is
completed.
The appointment was made over
the objection of James Young, a for-
mer film director, who, last March,
sued RKO and its subsidiaries for
$2,000,000, alleging infringement of
his story, "What Price Sex in Holly-
wood?" The infringement, he claims,
was in the Radio picture, "W.hat Price
Hollywood?"
'Pursuit of Happiness'
Is Starting Tomorrow
"Pursuit of Happiness," now indi-
cated for a start tomorrow, will be
Paramount's only new production this
week.
Minor Watson was engaged yester-
day for the important part of the Rev-
olutionary War leader.
Joan Bennett, who is teamed with
Francis Lederer in it, was reported
indisposed yesterday, but the studio
expects her to be on hand for her
part.
Meyer & Schneider Get
Manhattan Playhouses
New York. — The nineteen theatres
of the Manhattan Playhouses chain,
which were supposed to have been
sold to Si Fabian, have now definitely
been sold to Meyer & Schneider, who
owned them before the Manhattan
circuit took them over.
'Enter Madame' Delayed
"Enter Madame," which was to
.have started this week at Paramount,
IS set back to a mid-July start. Pic-
ture was intended for Herbert Mar-
shall and Kitty Carlisle. Elliott Nugerit
was to direct under Benjamin Clazer's
supervision.
uatterS
'Barbary Coast' Off
(Continued from Page 1 i
Courtenay Terrett have written a red-
blooded screen play, but it is not a
child's story. It is, of course, a story
about San Francisco's famous vice
colony, and it will be just as good a
year or ten years from now. There-
fore, I am going to hold it.
"I had my cast and director engag-
ed and preliminary plans well
advanced for the production. More-
over, every censor board official to
whom I submitted the story, approved
it. In taking my present step, I am
acting entirely on my own initiative,
as my own censor.
Anna Sten, who was to have been
co-starred with Gary Cooper, will fin-
ish "We Live Again" and then may
go into another Russian story. Cooper
goes back to Paramount for "Lives of
a Bengal Lancer," and Director Well-
man is taking a long vacation.
ir
Right here and now, in the midst
of all the diatribes against the picture
industry, we would like to go on rec-
ord as saying that we like this indus-
try. And it's not just because we feel
we are a part of it, but because we
have worked in many industries before
finally lighting in the midst of this
one, (including the cloak and suit),
and we can testify to the fact that it
is by far the most interesting, the
most intelligent, (despite its stupidi-
ties) , offers the greatest opportunities
and always will have the greatest pes-,
sibilities. For a community of its size,
Hollywood is just about the healthiest
place to live in, morally and physic-
ally, that we have found.
Taken all in all, Hollywood is the
last place in the world that needs to
be defended, and right there you have
the kernel of our only resentmerit
against Hollywood. The fact that it
constantly allows itself to be put on
the defensive by cranks and what have
you, whereas if it would make use of
one-tenth of its potential power, Hol-
lywood could put practically anything
it pleased on the defensive.
•
If the censors, (prohibition having
been repealed) , are intent on reducing
the picture industry to an example for
children only, then the picture indus-
try should set itself up as a censor of
everything that is wrong with this
country as an example for the kiddies.
Let them take away the so-called
adult themes. Pictures for children are
supposed to be instructive. Very well,
let pictures instruct the little darlings
in what is rotten in this "best of all
possible worlds" and let pictures show
them how to do away with the rotten-
ness. It's very simple — far too simple.
Certain things are considered by the
censors to be "un-American." Very
well, let pictures show what is "un-
American" and how best to rid the
country of it. Give the censors what
they want and they'll soon be told
what they can do with it. But for
heaven's sake, put some fight into it.
This industry can wield a far greater
influence than ever any paper could.
For every reader of an editorial, there
are at least twenty people who go to
the movies, see the newsreels, see the
features, see the short subjects.
Make no mistake, nothing can kill
this industry — it is one of the major
industries of the world. It can and it
does spread great good. It can and it
does offer great opportunity. The peo-
ple connected with it are, generally
speaking, the best in the world and
it's about time that the world knew
of it in an intelligent manner. And
anyone who says different and indicts
an entire industry for the human
weaknesses or vices of an infinitesimal
few, is guilty of a great libel. Other
industries, far less important, stand up
and fight for themselves and suppress
their critics. The picture industry
should do the same.
Page Four
June 27, 1934
ARTIST-PRODVCER CLASH
ON AGENCY COMMITTEE
Gordon Taking RKO
Center In Few Days
Owing to the wide divergence of
opinion between artists and producers
over what should and should not be
incorporated in the code of fair prac-
tice for relations between agents,
artists and producers, the NRA Agency
Committee is facing what many mem-
bers believe will be a virtual deadlock.
Already the conflicting opinions
have resulted in one postponement of
the committee's meetings. It was
scheduled to meet last Thursday night
with a completed code ready for dis-
cussion and a possible vote, but a
postponement was asked for by the
artist members while the problem of
code content is being thrashed out.
The chief split has arisen over two
questions. One is the matter of licens-
ing agents. The other is the question
of what duties an agent will be al-
lowed to perform for his clients.
The producers are said to be em-
phatic in their demand that the agents
be licensed. The artists at first were
opposed to this. Now they are going
to offer a counter proposition. They
are willing to have the agents licens-
ed, it is understood, providing there
is a clause placed in the code that will
whip the producers into line if they
refuse to do business with an agent.
The clause the artists are going to in-
sist on is one that makes the producer
liable to a penalty of $500 if he re-
fuses to talk with an agent who has
not been convicted of any violation of
the provisions of the code. And the
fine is to be slapped on each time the
producer refuses to recognize the
agent.
There is said to be a definite align-
ment of employers against agents and
artists of the committee on the mat-
ter of what duties the agents will be
permitted to perform. The producers
are insisting that the agents be allow-
ed to negotiate only on matters per-
taining to employment or a modifica-
tion of the terms of employment of
the artist.
It is pointed out by members of the
committee that this move of the pro-
ducers is merely the continuation of
the effort that was made last summer
to get a clause into the film code. In
fact, it was in the first draft of the
code which was thrown out after the
agents sent representatives to Wash-
ington.
The artists insist that their agents
be their spokesmen in all matters with
the studios. The producers insist they
only speak on the question of employ-
ment and salary terms. Each side is
said to be immovable in its decision.
Local Board Ordered
To Publish Schedule
The Code Authority yesterday or-
dered the Los Angeles Clearance and
Zoning Board to publish and distribute
its clearance and zoning schedule
which it completed a week ago.
While there was no special refer-
ence to its official approval of the
schedule, the members of the board
take it for granted that the order to
publish indicates a 100 per cent okay.
The highlight of the schedule was a
virtual prohibition of double billing for
this district.
New York. — Max Gordon's deal to
take over the RKO Center Theatre
and turn it into a legitimate house
has not yet been definitely closed, but
probably will be within a few days.
He plans to open the Continental
musical production, "Waltzes in Vi-
enna," there in September, and the
theatre may close next week to be
made ready for the new policy.
Two MCM Films To Use
HilTs Chinese Shots
MCM is figuring on dividing the
material which George Hill secured in
China between "The Good Earth" and
"The Painted Veil."
For the latter picture, slated for
production late next month, the studio
is already building sets. A reproduc-
tion of an ancient Chinese temple is
being constructed as one of the big-
gest to be used in the Garbo produc-
tion.
Two For John Halliday
Warners yesterday signed John Hal-
liday for two pictures and he imme-
dia_tely started work in "A Lady
Surrenders," with Jean Muir, Veree
Teasdale and George Brent. When
he completes that he goes Into "Gen-
tlemen Are Born," which Mervyn
LeRoy gets before the cameras next
Monday.
Lead For Phil Regan
Warners give Phil Regan a chance
for a leading role in the bracket spot
with Dorothy Dare in "Sweet Ade-
line." Warners is taking this chance
with the singing cop after MGM gave
him the spot in "Student Tour" which
he is now finishing.
Raphaelson Abroad
Samson Raphaelson is checking out
of Fox on a three months leave of
absence in order to take a trip to
Europe. His writing ticket gives him
that privilege. He finished "Servants'
Entrance" last.
Knopf-King Sell Song
A song by Edward Knopf and Jack
King, entitled "Thanks Very Much,"
has been sold to British International
Pictures and will be sung by Marion
Harris in the Charles Farrell picture.
Eddy For Bowl Opera
Nelson Eddy is set to take part in
an operatic presentation at the Holly-
wood Bowl, August 4.
'Roman Scandals'
Barred by Germany
New York. — Germany is acquir-
ing the barring habit. The latest
picture to come under the Nazi
ban is Eddie Cantor's "Roman
Scandals," the reasons given being
"artistic inferiority and immoral
character."
Chaplin To Play In
Shakespeare At Bowl
New York — Charles Chaplin is
understood to have consented to
appear in the production of "Mid-
summer Night's Dream" which
Max Reinhardt will stage at the
Hollywood Bowl in September.
His role is not yet announced.
'Ready For Love' Set
Back by Paramount
Coincident with Ida Lupine's ill-
ness, but apparently for other reasons,
"Ready for Love" was indefinitely
postponed at Paramount this week.
Miss Lupine's doctor reports she is
rapidly recovering from her attack of
infantile paralysis and will be able to
return to work by July 1 5.
Marion Gering was to have directed
"Ready for Love," under supervision
of Al Lewis.
Gene Lockhart, Comic,
Signs MGM Contract
New York. — Gene Lockhart, come-
dian of the "Ah, Wilderness" cast,
has been signed by MGM and left for
the coast yesterday. Lucille Watson
starts for the MGM studios today.
Wally Young Sailing
Waldemar Young leaves tomorrow
for the South Seas and the Orient, to
be gone until November 1.
Extras Reduction
Starts Tomorrow
Tomorrow night the re-registration
sub-committee of the NRA Code
Committee for Extras meets to clear
the decks for action in the matter of
cutting down the registered extra
players list to between 1 500 and 2000
people.
Beginning then, according to Mrs.
Mabel Kinney, chairman, the work of
the committee will be in absolute
secrecy. Not until the list has been
completed and given the official okay
of the Code Authority will any infor-
mation be disclosed.
She did reveal, however, that in-
stead of an estimated list of 17,000
names, only 8000 people have been
nominated by the various casting of-
fices. Central Casting and other or-
ganizations as the group from which
to select the chosen few.
MGM Going To Mint To
Record Clinking Gold
Dissatisfied with the sound now
used in "Treasure Island" in several
scenes where clinking gold is heard,
MGM is going to pains to get the ap-
propriate noises.
Since the real thing must be used,
no other metal being imitative of it,
the studio has asked the Treasury de-
partment at Washington for permis-
sion to record the gold clinking at the
San Francisco mint. The metal is
scarce in Hollywood.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
men in American production methods.
Also interchanges of directors, players
and writers could be made.
Production costs on the same grade
of pictures would be lower than in
America. A picture that would cost,
say, $400,000 here, could be pro-
duced over there for a quarter to a
third less.
The matter of available talent is
also of prime importance. George
Cukor, who will direct "Copperfield"
and who went to England with Mr.
Selznick, made tests of approximately
1000 people as possibilities, and
brought back with him 100 of the
best of these tests. There is a great
number of players in England who,
because of the smaller number of pic-
tures produced, are not so steadily
employed and are not so sewed up
by contracts as in Hollywood.
•
Mr. Selznick arranged, while in
England, to do a story based on the
life of David Lloyd-George, one of
England's most famous statesmen.
Lloyd-George himself is to supply the
material in note form and it is to be
whipped into shape here. When it
is completed, if .he is satisfied with
the treatment, Lloyd-George himself
probably will come here to supervise
settings, castings and other details.
This arrangement opens up a new
field for picture material. There are
many noted men and women today
whose lives and careers would make
absorbingly interesting picture stories.
If such pictures can be made with dig-
nity and veracity, they will not only
be great box-office attractions, but
they will help to bring the screen to
the eminent position which it should
have and will go far to offset the
evil effects of such campaigns as the
one being waged against the industry
at present.
There is another angle to the Selz-
nick trip, outside of England. He
brought back with him Fritz Lang,
one of the leading producers and
directors of Germany, and also signed
Leontine Sagan, the famous woman
director of "Maedchen in Uniform,"
who will be here shortly.
These two, because of their race,
have been made refugees from Ger-
many by the Nazi Government. There
are hundreds in the same predicament,
and of these hundreds, there are many
who shine with practically as great
brilliance as Lang and Sagan. There
is little in Europe for these artists.
Practically all of them are turning
their eyes towards America, and their
artistry and experience would do
much to raise the standards of our
productions.
This is another factor that enters
into the project of MGM to produce
in England, because not only are many
of these refugees already domiciled
there but it would be an easy matter
to bring to that country as many oth-
ers as were needed.
The making of "David Copperfield,"
with an all-British cast, is an impor-
tant step in picture production, but
its importance is far outweighed by
the world-wide significance to the
industry as a whole of these other
features.
-\J — JII kb^ A ^y «^ L >
% READING DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
Vol. XXI, No. 43. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Tkursaay. June 28. 1934
^CtlT rRANCr iS URGED
•EVER since motion pictures became
one of the world's greatest forms of
entertainment, magazines and news-
papers have felt it an editorial duty
to print figures regarding the salaries
of the stars.
Both writers and editors seem to
be fascinated by the glamour of fig-
ures. The public, unfortunately, reads
these stories and believes. And the
sad part is that the magazines are
NEVER correct.
The most recent example is found
in Liberty, where, under the heading
of "Vital Statistics," alleged salaries
and other information are listed re-
garding the stars. A very common-
sense viewpoint on this matter is re-
vealed by the Screen Actors' Guild,
which yesterday sent the following
letter to the Editor of Liberty:
•
"We wish to enter a protest against
the practice of publishing estimated
salaries of motion picture actors, to-
gether with other facts almost uni-
formly wrong or misleading, in your
reviews of current pictures.
"The Screen Actors' Guild has al-
ways deplored the wide publicity given
the earnings of motion picture actors
because of t.he false impressions cre-
ated in the minds of the public, and
also because it tends to cause further
discontent in this period of unrest.
•
; "Motion picture salaries are not
really salaries, but percentages of
profits. No motion picture player
could command a large salary unless
fee was responsible for drawing pa-
trons into the theatres. No one will
dontend that an inventor is not en-
titled to share in the profits of his
ilnvention, or an author to collect large
iioyalties on a best seller, or for that
ijnatter, the publisher of Liberty to
make a handsome return on his in-
vestment.
' "It is no more logical for you to
publish the salaries of motion picture
players than it would be to announce
to t.he public what you pay for each
article of fiction or what you receive
ior each piece of paid advertising. In
practically all businesses the practice
has long been uniform that neither
trade nor other publicity be given to
what are simply private business deal-
mgs between employer and employee.
"Furthermore, your figures are al-
most wholly inaccurate. In the issue
(Continued on Page 4)
Mrs. Belmont Quits
Council To Make War
New York. — Mrs. August Bel-
mont yesterday resigned as presi-
dent of the Motion Picture Re-
search Council so that she may
have more time to devote to the
campaign against unclean pictures.
She continues as a member of the
executive board.
Trouble In Sight At
Agency Board Meet
Plenty of fireworks are expected
this afternoon when the NRA Agency
committee meets in the office of
Emanuel Cohen at Paramount.
The talent members of the com-
mittee will present a code of fair
practice for negotiations between pro-
ducers, agents and artists. This code
contains everything that the writers
and actors want, and it is not thought
likely that the producers will take to
it in a kindly manner,
Marian Marsh Signed
For 'Limberlost' Lead
Monogram yesterday ended its
search for a girl to play the title role
in "The Girl of the Limberlost," sign-
ing Marian Marsh. Christy Cabanne
puts the picture into work tomorrow.
The studio also signed Helen Jerome
Eddy through Menifee I. Johnstone.
Hal Rosson Recovers
Hal Rosson, MGM, was pronounced
yesterday completely recovered from
infantile paralysis and he will be re-
leased from quarantine next Tuesday.
Withdrawal From Country Is
Advocated By Pans Offices
Because Of New Restrictions
Paris. — At a meeting of the men who handle the distribution
of American motion pictures in France it was decided that each
should cable his home office, advising immediate closing of all
offices and withdrawal from France. No answer had been re-
ceived from New York at the time
this message was filed.
It is understood United Artists and
Universal have decided upon this
course of action, regardless of what
other companies do, and will transfer
their offices to London.
The French exhibitors are panic-
stricken over the new restrictions and
are threatening to close every theatre
in the country unless the decree is
modified. The loss of the French bus-
iness would be a heavy blow to the
American film industry, as something
(Continued on Page 3)
British Censors Back
Anti-Cruelty Campaign
London. — The British Board of
Censors is backing the anti-cruelty
campaign now being conducted in
Great Britain and announces that it
will ban any pictures w.hich show
cruelty to animals in the making.
MGM 'Rasputin' Appeal
London. — The appeal taken by
MGM from the verdict of £25,000
given by a British court in the suit by
Princess Youssoulpoff, based on the
picture, "Rasputin," ccmes iup for
hearing next week.
BILL, BING, CIEIVE, JIM AIVD
MACK TO PBOBIJCE OWN PIX
W. C. Fields, Bing Crosby, Gene
Fowler, Jim Tully and Mack Sennett
are forming a new producing company
to make feature pictures, it was
learned yesterday by The Hollywood
Reporter.
Both Fields and Crosby have deals
with Paramount of such nature that
they will not interfere with the plans
of the group, which will make six
pictures a year. A national release
will be secured, although no move to
obtain this has been started as yet.
According to Tully, four pictures have
(Continued on Page 101
Dressler's Condition
Takes Turn For Worse
Friends of Mane Dressier were sad-
dened last night when word came from
Santa Barbara indicating that the vali-
ant old trouper's condition has taken
a turn for the worse.
Physicians stated that she has been
failing during the last few days, and
a constant watch is being kept by her
bedside. She has been at Santa Bar-
bara for several months at the home
of friends where she has been waging
a brave battle for her health.
Fox Met Deal Put
Over Till Tuesday
New York. — The final disposition
o^ the bid of $4,000,000 made by
Loew's and Warners for control of
the Fox Metropolitan chain was again
put over by Federal Judge Mack yes-
terday, this time until next Tuesday.
This was done at the request of the
prospective buyers.
It IS believed here that they will
get the chain eventually, but it is said
also that they have privately raised
their bid to $6,000,000, with the
bondholders of the chain demanding
more.
WooMcott Gets Bid
For Ro!e at Universal
Unversal yesterday wired Alexan-
der Wcollcott a bona fide offer to try
n.s hand at acting in pictures.
The noted raconteur and critic made
a sally at acting in "Brief Moment"
on the stage. The studio has offered
him a role in "Gift of Gab." The
offer went through Zeppo Marx.
Helen Chandler Signed
By British Gaumont
London. — Helen Chandler has been
s'gned by British Gaumont and will
appear in the English version of "Un-
finished Symphony," which is being
produced in Vienna under the super-
vision of Anthony Asquith.
Junior and Ed At Play
Carl Laemmie Jr. and Edmund
Grainger got away yesterday for a
two-weeks vacation. Their first stop
IS Santa Barbara, after which they will
make a quick tour of northern Cali-
fornia.
Rufus LeMaire Abroad
New York. — Rufus LeMaire will
sail for Europe on the Me de France
on July 7 on matters connected with
George Arliss' business.
ALFRED E. GREEN ajZu.o Barbara Stanwyck in "A LOST LADY"
Pjga Two
THE
lune 23. 1934
.V. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP.. Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles). California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193,
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave ; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat.
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp^
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates.
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15
Single copies. 5c Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
Phillip Moeller is so engrossed in his
art that the other day he flung him-
self at a piano on the set and played
a certain tune to illustrate to the ac-
tors just the mood he wanted in the
scene! ... A girl named Dagmar
Sewer lives in N'Yawk — and we can
prove it! . . . The close friends of a
big producer's wife are begging her
not to go through with her present
idea of walking out! . . . The new
Carbo opus goes before the cameras
Monday. . . . The Alan Dineharts cele-
brating their first wedding anniversary
today . . . and Preston Foster just gave
his wife fourteen eight-ounce bottles
of perfume to celebrate many years
of wedded bliss. . . . P.S. Mrs, F. likes
perfume! . . . Suggested song title for
Lyie Talbot, "Brother, Can You Spare
a Dame?"(!) . . .
•
Raquel Torres sick abed after danc-
ing in that draughty costume at the
Benefit the other night. . . . There
were sixty-five actual shooting days
on the first version of the Mae West
picture — but it wasn't the director's
fault! Add famous last words: "Oh,
Mr. LeBaron. when are you going to
preview 'It Ain't No Sin'?" . , Being
a father was too much for Franchot
Tone's Scottie- — and the doggie just
died The Gary Coopers, the
Cedric Gibbons (Dolores Del Rio),
Paulette Goddard with Samuel Kay-
ser, among those at the Music Box
opening Tuesday night . . . Betty Fur-
ness made a hit.
•
Bill Powell, back from his latest
fishing expedition, in several new
shades of summer. . . . When Merle
Oberon (she was the beauteous be-
headed brunette in "Henry VI 11")
comes to Hollywood, it won't be just
to look the place over! There's a
w.k. agent here who furnishes part of
the reason for the trip! , . . Bill Seiter
took a bunch of RKO pals to the Tin-
gel Tangel last night — his brother
produces the current show. . . . Mady
Christians has gone for a small palace
in Beverly Glen Canyon. . . . Walter
Connolly, playing straight for Irvin
Cobb at dinner at the Vendome. . . .
josef Stransky with the Baroness Edith
"LET'S TRY AGAIN"
RKO-Radio prod.; director, Worthington Minor; writers, Vincent Lawrence,
Allan Scott, Worthington Miner. I
Music Hall
Mirror: With all this agitation about clean pictures and uplifting pictures, "Let's
Try Again" comes along to raise the moral level of this season's films.
It is a touching little picture, advocating intelligence in matrimony. And
it makes no case for impulsive divorce, lurid love affairs or broken homes.
It is clean and pleasant, beautifully acted, tender and charming. Its
appeal is aimed at the mature and the married. It will entertain these.
American: It almost approaches the bounds of being a photographed stage play.
Its intrinsic jollity, however, makes "Let's Try Again" a refreshing tonic
for those endeavoring to escape the steaming thermometer.
Times: If "Let's Try Again," an adaptation of Vincent Lawrence's play, "Sour
Grapes," is no tour de force from a dramatic angle, it can boast of being
a thoroughly human story. Its psychology is unusually interesting and
the incidents are kept on a high level. The film always exacts atten-
tion without ever inflicting on the audience trite ideas, which are all too
common in motion pictures.
World-Telegram: It is a nicely dressed, well-acted little piece, but, I fear,
somewhat too faint and too uneven for general effectiveness. "Let's Try
Again" misses fire largely because it has the pace of a five-ton truck and
because it is overcrowded with quite spineless dialogue.
Post: The talents of Vincent Lawrence and Worthington Miner, both well-
known and respected on the legitimate stage, are involved in the new
film, "Let's Try Again." The result is very unhappy — a conversational
titbit that is dull and unconvincing.
Herald-Tribune: The considerable sincerity that has gone into the making of
"Let's Try Again" and the assured acting of Diana Wynyard and Clive
Brook do not succeed in excusing the screen drama's deficiencies. Adapted
from Vincent Lawrence's play, "Sour Grapes," it is a rather somber con-
templation of the marriage convention, so top-heavy with dialogue that
t.he action frequently breaks down completely. Except for its brief mo-
ments of intense conviction and the skilful handling of their very difficult
roles by the principals, the production proves a tedious entertainment,
almost wholly lacking in cinematic distinction.
News: The picture, adapted and directed by Worthington Miner, is skilfully
acted, attractively mounted and beautifully photographed, but in spite of
these superior attributes the drama blows up into nothing at all like a
brightly colored soap bubble which doesn't even go "pop,"
Sun: "Let's Try Again," although originally credited to a Vincent Lawrence
play, is typical of t.he very talkative talkies that all too often wander East
from the RKO studios. Instead of action, they offer dialogue, somewhat
artificial dialogue at that. "Let's Try Again" isn't much as entertain-
ment.
journal: The picture is a well-mounted, intelligently handled and slow-moving
piece in which the players spend most of the time talking.
arionDaviesAgain
Heads Relief Fund
Marion Davies was re-elected presi-
dent of the Motion Picture Relief
Fund at the annual meeting, and plans
were completed for the drive to raise
$200,000 for the current year's work.
The other officers, all of whom
were re-elected, are: Vice-presidents,
Ronald Colman, Mary Pickford, Will
Hays, Samuel Goldwyn; treasurer, M.
C. Levee; executive secretary, F. X.
Baur. New trustees for three-year
terms are Irving Thalberg, Janet (3ay-
nor, Frank Craven, Fredric March and
Joe E. Brown. Re-elected trustees are
Richard Barthelmess, Marion Davies,
Cecil B. DeMille, W. R. Hearst and
Carl Laemmle.
Utopians Hurt Theatres
Local exhibitors are blaming the
Utopians, political secret society, for
a recent dent in theatre attendance.
Preliminary group meetings in private
homes leading up to the recent mass
turn-outs at the Shrine Auditorium
and in the Bowl are cited as evidence
of the number of people thinking
more about economics than amuse-
ments.
'Bad Boy' On Location
Eddie Cline took his "Peck's Bad
Boy" troupe back to its Santa Ana
location last night. The cast, headed
by Jackie Cooper and Thomas
Meighan will work there until next
week.
FOR RENT
Private office, furnished,
switchboard service
$60 per month.
Ideal for writer or producer.
624 Equitable Building
Corner Hollywood and Vine
Howard Lang Throws
A Showboat' Party
Howard Lang staged a "Showboat"
reunion party at the Ambassador last
night in honor of Oscar Hammerstein
and Sigmund Romberg, now writing
"In Old Vienna" for MGM, and Mr.
and Mrs. Howard Rheinheimer.
The other guests were Mr. and
Mrs. Al Hall (Lola Lane), Mr. and
Mrs. Joe E. Brown, Ray Long, Mil-
dred Temple, Bernard Fineman, Alma
Lloyd, Ivan Kahn, Jeanie MacPherson,
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lyon (Bebe Dan-
iels).
Versions For Iwerks
UB Iwerks, who recently completed
foreign versions on several "Comi-
Color" cartoons, is now turning out
the Spanish, German, French and Ital-
ian versions on "Puss in Boots" and
the "Queen of Hearts."
de Greve, Leroy Edwards, the Freddie
Astaires, King C. Gillette, William
Slavens McNutt, also dining. . . Joany
Bennett, ill with pharyngitis. . . Last
night Ralph Graves and Betty Flour-
noy, St. Louis socialite, were planning
to fly to Yuma, the Arizona marriage
mart, this rriorning.
Attention!
ONE OF OUR STAFF. HAVING HEARD THAT
MISS HELEN MORGAN MIGHT BE A GUEST
ON OUR OPENING NIGHT, INSERTED A STATE-
MENT IN OUR ADVERTISEMENT THAT MISS
HELEN MORGAN WOULD BE GUEST ARTIST.
THIS IS A MISTAKE WHICH WE WISH TO COR-
RECT BY STATING DEFINITELY THAT MISS
MORGAN WILL NOT BE OUR GUEST ARTIST.
THE KINGS CLUB
8730 Sunset- Boulevard
JliuiBve ,28,, 1934
,a^^"^-r^f
Kil^OllTilR
Page Three
•OF HUMAIV BOIVDAGE' SIIVCERE
ATTEMPT THAT DISAPPOIXTS
mmaFiL
Bette Davis Does
Remarkable Work
OF HUMAN BONDAGE"
< Radio)
Direction John Cromwell
Original Story Somerset Maugham
Screen Play Lester Cohen
Photography Henry W. Gerrard
Cast: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Reg-
inald Denny, Kay Johnson, Frances
Dee, Reginald Owen, Alan Hale,
Reginald Sheffield, Desmond Rob-
erts.
Unfortunately, the most that can be
said for this production as a whole is
that it represents a noble effort to
transcribe to the screen the classic
novel of this generation. Beyond that,
it just doesn't go. The full flavor of
the book is almost completely lacking
and the net result is just not enter-
tainment, nor will its subject matter
have a very wide appeal.
To the picture's credit, and a very
large one it is too, is the excellent
taste displayed in its making, the rev-
erence with which the story was hand-
led and the superb direction that
Cromwell has given the vital scenes.
As it turns out, the interest in the
story as told on the screen is in Mil-
dred, probably the most unsavory gal
that ever haunted the pages of a book
or stalked the screen. Mildred, as
played by Bette Davis, is one of the
remarkable performances of the year.
You loathe her all the way through
and despise the almost inexplicable
hold that she has on Philip, the hero.
Bette Davis does a job with Mildred
that is worthy of a place in screen his-
tory though heaven knows it is never
for one moment attractive, but she has
caught to the life that repellent, com-
pelling quality that was Mildred.
Leslie Howard as the club-footed
Philip, harrassed by his ailment, his
whole outlook warped by it, is good,
but somehow his problem is not made
quite vital enough. His was a diffi-
cult character to sketch, and the
trouble is that it is merely sketched,
despite the length of the picture. Alan
Hale manages to steal a few scenes,
as usual, and Reginald Owen is a
complete delight in the only light
moments the opus offers. Kay John-
son and Frances Dee are very good as
the other girls in Philip's life.
For those interested in good picture
making, there is superb photography
by Henry Cerrard and special effects
by Vernon Wafker. There are the
sets as conceived by Van Nest Polglase
and Carroll Clark, and they are mar-
vels of fidelity to time and circum-
stances. There is fine musical scoring
throughout the picture that consider-
ably helps the interest.
Lester Cohen had a difficult assign-
ment in the screen play and it is a
pity that it just couldn't be done. As
said before, Cromwell has directed a
few scenes magnificently, but there
are old devices used in the picture that
merely stretch out the dull parts to
inertia and the pace, as a whole, is too
s'ow.
MGM Weekly Cross
Set At $1,100,000
New York. — It is authoritatively
reported that Metro-Coldwyn-
Mayer is taking a weekly gross of
$1,100,000 from the business be-
ing done in this and foreign coun-
tries, indicating a yearly gross of
more than $50,000,000 and a pos-
sible net of around $10,000,000.
Powell In Cagney
Role At Warners
Warners stopped work on "Flirta-
tion Walk" yesterday and the Frank
Borzage company is due to take a
three-weeks rest until Ruby Keeler
returns from the East.
This makes it possible to swing
Dick Powell into the role in "Gentle-
men Are Born" which was formerly
scheduled for James Cagney. He co-
stars with Margaret Lindsay. Mervyn
LeRoy starts shooting Monday, Sam
Bischoff supervising.
Two other Bischoff pictures start
early next week. They are "I'll Sell
Anything," with Pat O'Brien in the
top spot, and "The Perfect Week-
End," with Cagney.
Roach Will Make Four
Features This Season
New York. — Hal Roach, who left
for the coast by plane yesterday, an-
nounced that he will make four fea-
tures this coming season, in addition
to the 32 shorts.
Two of the features will be with
Laurel and Hardy, and the others will
be all-star casts, the first being
"Creek Meets Creek."
'Divorce' Starts Today
With Fred Astaire and Ginger Rog-
ers teamed in the top spots, Mark
Sandrich today puts "The Cay Di-
vorce" before the cameras at Radio;.
Alice Brady, Edward Everett Horton,
Eric Blore and Erik Rhodes are in the
cast. Pandro Berman produces.
Penner Leaves July 6
New York. — Joe Penner, famous
radio comic, will leave for the coast
by boat July 6. His Paramount debut
will be in "College Rhythm" with
Lanny Ross and Lyda Roberti. Ross
leaves here July 1 8 by train.
Eddy To Sing Carlo'
Nelson Eddy, MCM's baritone, was
assigned to a microphone part in
"Student Tour" yesterday. He will
furnish the voice singing the "Carlo,"
song-dance number written by Brown
and Freed for the picture.
Carrillo Ordered Back
Leo Carrillo was ordered to call off
his personals in the East and report
to MGM at once for rehearsals in "The
Winning Ticket," in which he teams
with Louise Fazenda under Chuck
Reisner's direction.
Ecosiomy tvtove By
U' Is Stepped On
The Los Angeles Board of Education
stepped in yesterday and stopped Uni-
versal from using a flock of children
picked up in the Carthay district as
atmosphere in scenes for "Romance in
the Rain," shooting in the Carthay
Circle theatre.
An extra player telephoned to Au-
brey Blair, of the Junior Screen Actors'
Guild, telling him that the kids had
been gathered up and were being
used without a permit and with ice
cream cones as the only remuneration.
Blair notified the Board of Education,
which sent a representative immedi-
ately to the scene, ordered the young-
sters out of the theatre and stopped
the shooting.
Fox Sets Back Picture
To Loan Player To 'U'
Fox yesterday consented to push
back its starting date on "Marie Gal-
lante" in order to accommodate Uni-
versal in its request for Ned Sparks.
This is said to be the first time that
a studio postponed starting a picture
in order to cooperate with another
studio. Sparks was wanted by John
Stahl for a role in "Imitation of Life."
Thorpe on 'Lady Tubbs'
Universal has assigned Richard
Thorpe to direct "Lady Tubbs," an
unpublished novel by Homer Croy, as
the first job on his term deal with
the studio. Adele Buffington is writ-
ing the screen play and Lou Ostrow
will produce.
New Writer At MCM
MGM yesterday added Marjorie
Klein to the writing staff to write
the screen play of an untitled original
story.
Baer M. P. Club Cuest
New York. — Max Baer will be the
guest of the Motion Picture Club at
its Open Forum meeting on Friday.
'Quit France,' Is Urged
(Continued from Page 1 )
more than twenty per cent of the to-
tal European income comes from that
country.
The Hays organization branch in
Paris can see little hope of any leni-
ency on the part of the French Gov-
ernment and says that the only
possible way to mend matters is
through retaliation by the United
States on French wines and other im-
ports. It has already asked the State
Department to help.
So far as could be learned, the only
action taken by the Hays office in
Hollywood yesterday with regard to
the French situation was to make a
survey of how many French people are
employed in the studios. It was learn-
ed that there are 56 who were born
in France and 350 of French parent-
age, but born in this country. This
valuable information was wired to
New York.
lYI bit Hekn Qwqnn
This censorship business evidently
has theatre audiences as worried over
what they're goirvg- to get as it's got
the producers worried over what
they'll be allowed to give them. The
other day, when the story broke that
"It Ain't No Sin" had been complete-
ly barred by the New York State Board
of Regents, it was our pleasure to go
see a movie. In back of us a couple
of fans were discussing the latest cen-
sor move and bemoaning conditions
that made such a thing possible. Fi-
nally one said to the other: "Wonder
what they'll do to 'Cleopatra'?" And
the other one replied: "Oh, they can't
do anything to that because, that's in
the Bible!"
•
If you want to hear sheer raving
over a performance, listen in on the
MGM lot to the superlatives they're
using for Mady Christians. That gal
made a forty-minute test that had
them dizzy and the thing that evi-
dently impressed them the most is
the fact that Miss Christians can sing.
Not only that, but when she sings
her mouth is not wide open, so that
you don't mind watching her while
she's doing it. Anyway, she seems to
be the pet white hope for next sea-
son and, if her first screen effort is
only half as good as the test, it looks
as though MCM has picked itself a
real star. We can only add; As first
reported in the Hollywood Reporter.
•
They must have started in hiring
efficiency experts around this town
again. At least it seems to us that
only an efficiency expert could pos-
sibly have thought up the end of the
following story: An agent took on a
secretary with the understanding that
she was to get twenty-five dollars a
week for the first four weeks and,
if retained beyond that period, she
would receive thirty dollars a week.
After working five weeks, the girl
asked if she was satisfactory and was
told that she was "swell." She then
reminded the agent of their agree-
ment and asked for the thirty per.
The agent told .her it wasn't time for
a RAISE., The girl told him that she
couldn't work for twenty-five, but
would stay until they could get some-
one else. The next day, however, she
was told she could leave and she did.
BUT, she had forgotten to collect
fifty-six cents that was owed her for
petty items she had bought for her
boss. A few days later she received
a check for fifty-three cents. Three
cents had been deducted for postage!
Meighan In Pictures
Again and Will Stick
Thomas Meighan yesterday voiced
his intention to get back in pictures
again. He came to the coast to play
in "Peck's Bad Boy" for Sol Lesser.
When the picture is completed he
will return to Long Island to close
up his .home there for the winter, and
return to Los Angeles in September.
Page Four
lune 28. I9ir4
GRATITUDE GAVE ALL PLACES
ON 5-5 COMMITTEES TO GUILDS
Harris Doubts Offer
Of NijJnski' Rights
Writers Pulled The
NRA Out Of a Hole
Washington. — The real inside story
of why only Writer and Actor Guild
members were appointed to the im-
portant 5-5 NRA committees, which
will have the job of settling the dif-
ferences between producers and tal-
ent, was revealed today when it was
disclosed here that the Screen Writers'
Guild of Hollywood had come to the
rescue of the NRA and had pulled it
out of one of the most embarrassing
situations It has been in since its in-
ception.
Not only was all consideration of
Academy members dropped, but a
group of major producers were quietly
persuaded to withdraw a protest which
they had filed against the appoint-
ment of the 5-5 committees, and an
announcement was given out from the
NRA offices that no protests had been
received.
The story is that a certain big mag-
azine publisher was all set to start a
terrific campaign against the NRA and
was also preparing to carry his fight
against it into the court. In brief, this
man was set to give the NRA one of
the worst body blows it has yet re-
ceived. And General Hugh Johnson is
said to have been frightened, worried
and up a tree in his efforts to stop the
campaign before it started.
When he was facing apparent fail-
ure, the Screen Writers' Guild is said
to have stepped in and told General
Johnson that they thought one of
their members might be able to help
him. The General accepted, and a
Guild member contacted the publisher
who called off his plans.
Both General Johnson and Sol Ros-
enblatt are said to have appreciated
the help of the Guild so much that
they decided a little cooperation on
their part would not be amiss. So the
stalling tactics in the appointment of
the 5-5 committees, which had been
held up for more than six months,
were called off and only Guild nomi-
nees for writers and actors were ap-
pointed.
It was just at this time that the
producers filed a protest against the
appointment of the committees, ask-
ing for a public hearing to decide
whether or not such committees were
really necessary. But General lohnson
and Rosenblatt are said to have kept
that protest under blankets and to
have gone to work on the producers,
with the result that the protest was
withdrawn and the appointments were
made. That protest was never pub-
licized.
Rosenblatt is said to have put the
pressure on the producers to hurry
their nominations for producer mem-
bers to be appointed by him to these
committees, and they are expected to
be named within a few days.
Bull on One Lot 16 Years
MGM will owe Clarence Bull a cake
with sixteen Roman candles on it
July 4. It completes the portrait ace's
sixteenth year on the lot, originally
the Goldwyn studio.
Lehar Sends Score
For 'Merry Widow'
Franz Lehar yesterday made a
unique contribution to MGM's
"The Merry Widow." It was a
complete orchestration for the pic-
ture, written by himself, just to
show that he is interested in the
production. It will be used intact
in scoring the picture.
Paramount Has But
Three Pix In Work
With only one picture, "You Be-
long To Me," shooting at the studio
and two others on location. Paramount
yesterday hit the lowest prdouction
level in more than six months. "Mrs.
Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" worked
at the Lasky ranch yesterday, and
"Now and Forever" was on location
in Westwood.
Of three additional pictures previ-
ously scheduled to be in work this
week, one, "Pursuit of Happiness,"
has been set back until July 2, and
the other two, "Ready for Love" and
"Enter Madame," will not get before
the cameras until the middle of next
month.
Franz Schuiz To MGM
Franz Schuiz, the German scenarist
who wrote "Two Hearts in Waltz
Time," was added to MGM's writing
staff yesterday and teamed with Edgar
Allan Woolf. !
'U* Purchases Songs
Universal yesterday purchased three
songs by Albert Von Tilzer for "The
Gift of Cab," the Rian James produc-
tion which Karl Freund directs. The
deal was negotiated by Hoffman-
Schlager.
New Writer For Mascot
Ernest Frederick Chester has been
signed by Nat Levine of Mascot to a
writing ticket and assigned to work
on an untitled original.
Tradeviews
'Continued from Page 1 )
of June 30, your reviewer was near
the mark in only one case out of
half a dozen. Even if you had access
to the books of the motion picture
producers and could publish accurate
salaries of the players, you would still
be creating a false impression in the
minds of your readers. You do not
take into consideration the enormous
expenses incidental to motion picture
eminence, nor the very few years an
actor has in which to provide for his
future, during which the government
takes in income tax almost half of
his salary.
"May we suggest that the flip-
pantly written, inaccurate 'Vital Sta-
tistics' add nothing to the pages of
Liberty, and in all fairness to the mo-
tion picture industry should be elimi-
nated."
It is to be hoped that not only Lib-
erty, but all other publications, will
heed this good acfivce.
New York. — Sam Harris yesterday
said that he doubted if John Wildberg,
the New York lawyer now in Holly-
wood, has any authority to dispose of
the screen rights to the "Nijinski"
play.
Harris states that he holds an
Authors' League contract with Alex-
ander Korda for the stage rights,
which carry the screen rights if the
play runs three weeks. He believes
that Wildberg is acting for Violet
Cooper, who is Korda's agent, and
that there is a misunderstanding of
the situation. Harris expects to .have
the Melchior Lengyel script within a
week and will at once submit it to
Paul Muni, who, he hopes, will play
the lead.
Harry Warner On Way
New York. — Harry M. Warner left
for the coast and the Warner studios
yesterday.
Indies To Discuss
New NRA Rules
The recently completed clearance
and zoning schedule, compiled by the
Los Angeles NRA Clearance and Zon-
mg Board, comes up for discussion h)
the members of the Independent
Theatre Owners of Southern Califor-
nia at noon next Monday.
The schedule, which eliminates
double bills and practically wipes out
the five-cent houses, has been the
only subject of conversation among
the theatre men ever since its high
lights were made public a week ago.
As the full text of the schedule has
not yet been made public, officials of
the theatre organization and of the
NRA board thought it best to present
it at a meeting where everyone would
have a chance to give his opinions
The meeting will be at the Elks Club.
'Countess' For Rogers
Completing his script on "Evelyn
Prentice" for John Considine yester-
day, Howard Emmett Rogers immedi-
ately was assigned to write the screen
play of "The Blonde Countess," Her-
bert Yardley's novel. Lawrence Wein-
garten produces.
Lovely Ladies
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PARK LANE . . .
is also London's most modern hotel. An apartment at
Grosvenor House provides an actual "home from
home," replete with every modern aid to greater
comfort.
The location of Grosvenor House is a happy blend of
convenience and charm; in and around the hotel
London's social life moves; near by are the best shops
and the theatres; just across the way is London's great
garden, Hyde Park.
Life is amusing, easy and pleasant at
Grosvenor House, London
:able Address for Reservations: CROVHOWS, AUDLEY. LONDON
DOLORES DEL RIO
as
Madame Du Barry
in the
Warner Bros. -First National Production
"MADAME DU BARRY"
WILHELM DIETERLE
directed
'MADAME DU BARRY"
C'10'i'r )! jUj
i«
EDWARD CHODOROV
Story and Screen Play
"MADAME DU BARRY"
"V.
REGINALD OWEN
piays
Louis XV
'MADAME DU BARRY"
Management
WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY
LI-
< \ I ..
M
ANUEL OEFF
"GOLDDIGGERS OF 1935"
SCREEN PLAY AND DIALOGUE
( In Collaboration)
FROM AN ORIGINAL STORY BY
ROBERT LORD AND PETER MILNE
NOW PREPARING
SCREEN PLAY AND, DIALOGUE
^'A Present From Margate"
Warner Bros.-First National Productions
Page Ten
THE
fune 28, 1934
CHURCHES GIVE IMPETCS
TO WAR AGAIIVST FILMS
New York. — Added impetus yester-
day was given the campaign being
waged by the churches and other re-
form elements against objectionable
pictures through editorials in the pub-
lications of several religious bodies.
The July issue of The Churchman will
say, editorially:
"At last the Hays office and the
Hollywood producers are on the run.
The Hays promises of improved self-
regulation were as a whisper on the
Summer breeze when added to the
long list of previous broken promises."
An editorial in the July issue of the
American Lutheran will say:
"The film industry is poisoning the
minds of youth and is the open sewer
of America." It will also endorse the
demand of the Civic Union for Federal
censorship of pictures at the produc-
tion source.
In Chicago, Archbishop McNicholas,
of Cincinnati, counselled the National
Catholic Educational Association to
tend the campaign to include the
2.600,000 children in the parochial
grammar and high schools. He said:
"If the Hays jury does its work as
badly in New York as it did in Holly-
wood, there is nothing to do but to
continue aggressive action."
The drive has now spread to Can-
ada. An appeal was made yesterday to
the Catholic Women's League In Vic-
toria, B.C., to abstain from attending
theatres where questionable films are
being shown, and a Canada-wide
movement to bring about reforms in
the industry is advocated.
Robinson East With
Rogers; Then To France
Casey Robinson, Paramount writer,
accompanies Charles R. Rogers and
Val Paul to New York by boat to-
morrow on the first leg of his trip
to Europe. While en route he will
complete the screen play of "McFad-
den's Flats," which will be Rogers'
first picture on his new Paramount
deal.
Robinson then goes to France to
confer with Renee Barteux, who is
writing an original story for Rogers.
He will be away a little more than
two months.
Joan Bennett HI, So
'Happiness' Is Set Back
Because Joan Bennett is suffering
from a bronchial trouble. Paramount
yesterday set back the start of "Pur-
suit of Happiness" again, now sched-
uling it for July 2. She has the lead
opposite Francis Lederer.
The studio yesterday signed Bar-
bara Barondess, through Bernard,
Meiklejohn and McCall, and Olin
Howland.
it's a Girl At Rogers'
Mrs. Mildred Rogers, wife of How-
ard Emmett Rogers, MOM writer, gave
birth to a girl, her third child, at the
Cedars of Lebanon Hospital early yes-
terday. Dr. McNeal reported mother
and child doing favorably.
Bee Spots the Marx
W.hile serving the set point dur-
ing a tennis match the other day,
Sam Marx surprised the players by
changing his style suddenly and
slamming over an ace to win the
match. He was asked why he
changed his style and said: "just
as I started to serve a bee stung
me."
Jack Robbins Issuing
Songbook For 'Widow'
The "Merry Widow" songbook Jack
Robbins sends to press next month,
to issue simultaneously with MGM's
picture, will contain six of the Franz
Lehar songs with the modernized lyrics
by Gus Kahn, and will have portraits
and biographical sketches of Maurice
Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Ernst
Lubitsch and Irving Thalberg.
It is hoped to put the book in thea-
tre lobbies where the picture is show-
ing, in addition to tie-up sales over
the regular music counters.
Cukor Busy Testing
George Cukor entered yesterday
upon a week of intensive testing for
"David Copperfield," having been in-
terviewing prospects for the Dickens
characters since his return from Eu-
rope. At least 30 more tests are to
be made.
Cedric Worth To Para.
Cedric Worth was signed by Para-
moiint yesterday to do the screen play
on "Hold 'Em Yale," the Damon Run-
yon story. The deal was set by Viv-
ian Caye, of the Polimer office.
Major Prods. Files
Stock Issue Plans
Washington. — Major Film Produc-
tions Inc., of Los Angeles, yesterday
filed its stock issue plans for regis-
tration with the Federal Trade Com-
mission under the Securities Act.
The corporation, organized May 3
last, proposes to issue 3000 shares of
six per cent participating preferred
stock of $100 par value, the proceeds
to be used as working capital. Ac-
cording to the report filed, the un-
derwriters are Blanchet & Company.
The officers of the company are
Fred Church, of San Fernando, presi-
dent; Sam I. Saunders, Los Angeles,
vice-president; William DeLong, Los
Angeles, secretary-treasurer.
Quintet To Produce
(Continued from Page 1 )
been definitely decided upon, and wilt
be announced later.
Production headquarters will be at
the Sennett studio and both Fields and
Crosby will be in the first two . Tutly
and Fowler will contribute their writ-
ing ability and Sennett will pitch in
with his production experience.
They are financing themselves and
will engage an important director to
handle their first picture, according to
Tully, who also said that if they could
not find a man J-o suit, they will di-
rect it among themselves. "My pres-
ence in the set-up," Tully said, "is
to keep Fields and Crosby conserva-
tive. Otherwise, they are apt to be
radical,"
JANE MURFIN
ti
ADAPTED
LIFE OF VIRGIE WINTERS
fy
What The Critics Say About
\\
PRIVATE SCANDAL
rr
Paramount' Production — Ralph Murphy, Direcfor
TACOOMA LEDGER: Ned Sparks steals Hie honors in 'Pnvare
Scandal." His frozen face and take-it-or-leave-it attitude as
the Detective give the audience a long series of laughs.
ST. LOUIS STAR-TIMES: They have thrown tradition over-
board in "Private Scandal." With the assistance of Zasu
Pitts and Ned Sparks, as the Detective, they make the incidents
of a killing convulsively amusing. The result is that everyone
comes under the suspicion of Sparks, the best screen Detective
of recent years.
NED SPARKS
Just- Completed
n
SERVANT'S ENTRANCE
Fox Production, Direct-ed by
FRANK LLOYD
rr
COLUMBUS STATE JOURNAL: Few things are funnier ■tKan
mystery interspaced with comedy. That is just the plan of
"Private Scandal." There's a murder, or is it suicide? There
are plenty of suspects And there is Ned Sparks as the Detec-
tive What more could you ask.
NEW YORK TELEGRAPH: One of the real reasons I enioyed
"Private Scandal" was because Ned Sparks, for t-he first time
in a truly able film career, is given the opportunity to take
advantage of those comedy talents he possesses in abundance.
As a Detective who just refuses to take his victims at their
face value, Mr. Sparks goes through the film with the assur-
ance that makes for good performance.
NEW ORLEANS STATES: It is astonishing how interesting a
childish plot can be when the players are good. Take "Pri-
vate Scandal" for instance. There isn't enough scandal to
shock a Sunday School picnic, but with the splendid cast the
play moves forward rapidly and delightfully. Ned Sparks' hard-
boiled Detective is a smash.
DENVER POST: Mirth mixed with mystery by Ned Sparks.
Dour Detective solves crime in "Private Scandal." Without
the comedy with which it fairly sparkles, "Private Scandal"
would have lost some of its privacy and entered the bone heap
with the row upon row of good-but-not-great mystery films.
MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL: "Private Scandal" mystery and
comedy A-A-A The key to the nature of the picture can be
discovered in the statement — an authentic statement — that
Ned Sparks is the Detective summoned to put his finger on a
murderer.
\\
Starting immediately
IMITATION OF LIFE
Universal Production, Direction -
JOHN STAHL
rr
H
Signed Contracts to do two more
productions for FOX
MARIE GALLANT"
Direction of
HENRY KING
w
LOTTERY LOVER"
Direction of
HAMMS SCHWARTZ
Exclusive Management
BEYER and MacARTHUR
YOUR BEACH HOME
Is Its Cellai Stocked?
«
I
lim
6666 SUNSET BOULEVARD
Hollywood 1666
VERMOUTH-CASSIS
Made with 2 ounces of
Martini and Rossi Ver-
mouth and 1 ounce
Creme de Cassis. Use a
12-ounce glass, 2 cubes
of ice and fill with any
good carbonated water.
AMER PICON AVEC
SIROPS
Use 2 ounces of Amer
Picon and Sirop Fraise
or Framboise to taste.
Serve with ice and
charged water as with
the Vermouth Cassis.
% READING DEPT.
CULVER CITY, CAL
Vol. XXI, No. 44. Price 5c.
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Friday, June 29, 1934
riGHT tXPECTED IN PAR.
Ml II
•CROWING out of all this uproar
1 about unclean pictures, reform, cen-
sorship, boycotts, etc., there is one
idea that might be worth considering
if these troubles are not to continue.
That idea is to let the writers in the
employ of the producing companies
write the stories for the pictures and
write them as they would if there
were no executive interference.
After all, the story is the backbone
of a picture. We have plenty of men
and women in Hollywood who know
how that backbone should be framed,
who know just where and how each
vertebra in the structure should be
placed. Most of the trouble with
pictures, most of the kicks against
them have come from extra vertebrae
that have been inserted, some of them
n not so healthy a condition.
•
There are today on the writing
staffs of the major studios a great
number of writers who have written
in the past and who still write stories
for national magazines which are in-
teresting and exciting enough to be
accepted and published by those mag-
azines, and which have not the slight-
est trace of anything objectionable
because those big publications would
not stand for it. These writers have
done plays which have been produced,
novels which have been published, and
without any talk of necessity for cen-
soring.
It seems reasonable to suppose that,
having done these things in the past,
these writers could do the same type
of work now — if they were given the
opportunity and were not tied down
by the orders received from their su-
periors. It isn't the writer who puts
the extra and bad-conditioned verte-
brae into his story unless he is defi-
nitely ordered to do so, and there is
hardly a writer in the studios who has
not, at some time or other, been told
to "jazz this story up."
•
Most of them don't want to write
off-color stuff, but it is a case of
bread and butter — plenty of bread
and lots of butter. So they do what
they are told, take the weekly pay
check, and shrug it off with, "If I
didn't do it, someone else would."
It might be a good idea to give
some of these men and women a free
(Continued on Page 2)
Dividend Declared
On Loew's Preferred
New York. — The Board of Di-
rectors of Loew's Inc. yesterday
declared the regular quarterly divi-
dend of $1.62 on the $6.50 cu-
mulative preferred stock, payable
August 1 5.
Lutherans Demand
Pictures Clean-up
Albany. — The Evangelical Lutheran
Church swung into line in the cam-
paign against unclean pictures yester-
day. At the Atlantic District Con-
vention of the Evangelical Lutheran
Synod of Missouri and Other States,
the lay delegates adopted a resolution
calling for a crusade within the
church to reform the motion picture
industry.
The resolution declared that "the
leading characters of the movies are
better known to children than the
Biblical characters of >t.heir Sunday
school lessons."
Big Job For Kennedy
New York. — Joseph P. Kennedy
has been offered the chairmanship of
the new five-man Securities Commis-
sion and is now in Washington to
talk about it.
Ginsberg Flies East
Henry Cinsberg, Hal Roach general
manager, left by plane yesterday for
New York to attend the funeral of
his father, David Cinsberg, who died
there Wednesday. He will return
Monday.
Battle With Stockholders
Looms When Organization
Plan Goes To Court July 10
New York. — The reorganization plan for Paramount-Publix
has been completed by Kuhn, Loeb and Company and the audi-
tors and will be presented to the court on July 10. It is expected
that there wlil be a sharp contest as to the best method to be
employed in the rehabilitation of the
Hays Office In Air
company.
Frank 'v'anderlip, chairman of the
Bondholders Protective Committee,
announced yesterday that he did not
expect the proceedings would be all
smooth sailing and he was convinced
that the stockholders would battle
against the proposed plan to assess
each share of stock $2 to create a
fund to pay off the corporation's bank
loans.
He said that the company's earnings
(Continued on Page 5)
Agency Committee
Meeting Postponed
The scheduled meeting of the NRA
Agency Committee, set for yesterday
afternoon, was called off because of
the inability of Adolphe Menjou to
attend.
Menjou was working and, because
of the importance of the meeting, at
which a code of fair practice for pro-
ducers, agents and artists was to be
presented, the Screen Actors' Guild
wanted him on hand. The meeting
will be held next Monday night.
CONSOLIDATED, FEARII\G
LAB WAR, BUYS RKO BOI\DS
New York. — Consolidated Film In-
dustries has just purchased $1,800,-
000 worth of Radio-Keith-Orpheum
bonds from the Chemical National
Bank, paying par for the lot. These
bonds have behind them as collateral
the RKO negatives, all studio prop-
erty and other assets.
It is felt here that the purchase is
due to the fact that Consolidated be-
lieves a laboratory war is coming and
desires to make its position with RKO
even stronger than it is now. Con-
solidated at the present time handles
all the company's feature printing,
while the DuPonts take care of the
Van Beuren work and, because of
their interest in Pathe, of the Pathe
newsreel work also.
Beahan With Coldwyn
Sam Coldwyn yesterday signed
Charles Beahan to act as his Eastern
story head. Beahan leaves for New
York in the near future. He was
recently Columbia story head.
Selznick III Again
David Selznick was confined to his
home again yesterday, after having
returned to his office Wednesday pre-
maturely after an attack of largynitis.
Marie Dressier Sinking
At a late hour last night it was re-
ported from Santa Barbara that Marie
Dressier was sinking and the doctors
had very slight hope.
Over French Tangle
New York. — -The Hays office is
still very much up in the air over the
situation created in France by the
new restrictions imposed on Ameri-
can pictures. Major Herron, in
charge of foreign affairs, said yester-
day that he had not yet had a com-
plete report from the Paris office and
could not say how the distributors
would take the situation.
He felt that the six months ban
would .have a very bad effect because,
he explained, no company can func-
tion on a six-months period. So far
as the import duty increase is con-
cerned, he could not be definite, be-
cause he did not know how burden-
some that would prove in compari-
son with the amount of business being
done.
Para. Buys 'Beach Boy'
For Hawaiian Musical
Paramount announced yesterday
plans for an elaborate musical with a
Hawaiian background, and purchased
"Beach Boy," a Daniel Evans stoiy.
Carl Brisson, Kitty Carlisle, Jack
Oakie, Charles Ruggles, Mary Boland
and Evelyn Venable were set for the
cast. The remainder of the cast, di-
rector, writers and supervisor will be
announced later.
Del Rio-Radio Split
Radio has let its deal with Dolores
Del Rio for the second picture on the
two-picture ticket the studio had
with her on last year's program go by
the boards, the contract expiring after
both parties were unable to agree on
a story. The player is under contract
to Warners.
MCM After Irene'
MCM is negotiating for the pur-
chase of "Irene," a musical comedy
by James Montgomery which First Na-
tional produced as a silent in 1926.
Joseph McCarthy and Harry Tierney
wrote the lyrics and music.
Page Two
THE
lune 29. 1934
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office of
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollyw/ood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein,
Mgr.. 229 W. 42nd St., Wisconsin 7-7193;
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London. 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp. Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign, $15
Single copies, 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3,
1879.
Hear tell (in spite of Bob Mont-
gomery's gay denials in the fan mags)
that the Montgomery divorce pro-
ceedings are a matter of moments.
The situation has reached the "settle-
ment" stage — and it's quite a settle-
ment, from what we gather. Or
maybe we should say, "from what
Mrs. M. is going to gather." Well,
anyway, we hear that the arrange-
ments call for Betty Montgomery to
share not only Bob's earnings since
they've been wed — but for her to
get considerable part of his future
earnings on his MCM contract, which
still has five years to run. So either
somebody has a very good lawyer —
or maybe somebody has a very guilty
conscience — or maybe the age of gen-
erosity is upon us!
•
A startling bit of news is revealed
to us by a famous local whose name
we cannot divulge because he does
not wish to be thought a publicity-
seeker. There has been NO Infantile
Paralysis Epidemic in Los Angeles this
year! The hysteria which has caused
families to isolate their children,
empty the theatres, the stores and the
beaches, is, upon the highest authori-
ties, totally unfounded! The men
sent here by the Rockefeller Founda-
tion to investigate conclude that the
only authentic cases of infantile pa-
ralysis here are those which have re-
sulted in paralysis, and that seventy
per cent of all cases diagnosed as
such are questionable. Also that there
have been no more infantile cases
this year than during other years. The
Medical Journal reports that the
"wholesale inoculation" that has been
going on is purely experimental and
the result of the current hysteria by
all who read the papers (which seem
to go in for science a lot lately!) So
calm your fears and go back to play!
•
And speaking of things clinical —
a well-known actress has been con-
fined in a hospital here for several
days, supposedly for a rest. Now,
we are very sad to report that the
lady in question may have to remain
confined indefinitely, for she is very
ill — mentally. The girl has had many
tussles with illness and accidents dur-
ing her picture career, and at the
"OPERATOR 13"
MCM prod.; director. Richard Boleslavsky; writers, Harvey Thew, Zelda Sears
and Eve Greene.
Capitol Theatre
World -Telegram: It needed three adaptors to discover the rather obvious plot
in "Operator i 3," and none of them seems to have known just what to do
about it. But Marion Davies did. So, when you go to see "Operator 13,"
go on the distinct understanding that you will see Miss Davies at her best
in a film that isn't even half worthy of such a fine performance. Most of
the entertainment's pleasantness is due to Miss Davies, who is at her best.
And Miss Davies at her best is something that you can't afford to miss.
Sun: Still another spy story, this time a prettily costumed, sentimental affair of
the Civil War. Written in the operetta vein, it is played apparently for
straight melodrama and comedy effect Brief bits o fcomedy save it from
being dull. In spite of its elaborate production, "Operator ] 3" is one of
the lesser spy dramas.
American: A wealth of visible and audible charm has been confected by Cosmo-
politan Productions in making "Operator 13." Combined with the inspired
talents of Marion Davies, Gary Cooper, Jean Parker, Katherine Alexander
and a host of intelligent actors, "Operator 13" rightfully can be called
"The Birth of a Nation" of the New Deal era.
Mirror: The master story-teller, the late Robert W. Chambers, evolved this
thrilling and romantic account of a girl spy, active during the Civil War.
It makes a fine vehicle for Marion Davies, whose talent as a mimic is re-
quired to put over the exacting role. The film is rousing and romantic, a
handsomely produced and cleverly acted story, which is touching, thrilling,
exciting and exhilarating. Don't miss it.
Times: If it is scarcely credible in most of its action, it is a well-staged produc-
tion. In its own peculiar fashion it is entertaining and besides the capable
work of Miss Davies there are splendid performances by Jean Parker and
Gary Cooper.
News: The picture is careful to subordinate the historical facts of the War of
the Rebellion to the love affair between Marion Davies and Gary Cooper,
each cast as a spy in this photoplay. From a marital standpoint the picture
is stirring and exciting.
Herald-Tribune: A Civil War drama with a spy angle, "Operator 13" offers
Marion Davies a vehicle for a straight dramatic performance in which she
exhibits far more talent than one might expect after seeing her in recent
comedy roles. Under the talented direction of Mr. Boleslavsky, she brings
to the picture a characterization believable, and at the same time sur-
prising. While "Operator 13" is "no great shakes" among films, it offers
an interesting and entertaining account of a spy's activities during the Civil
War.
Post: An Opera Ball version of the Civil War is the film feature at the Capitol
Theatre this week, and it's a swank and joyous affair, even if you can't see
the war on account of the spies. It's fantastic, but you'll love it. It cer-
tainly has drama in it, but it is paper-doll drama and it is very pretty. Miss
Davies never gets under the surface of anything, but she doesn't pretend
to do anything else.
journal: You'll have a marvelous time at Marion Davies' new picture, "Operator
1 3." The star is gorgeous. The story is extraordinarily fascinating. The
sets, the direction and the supporting cast, headed by Gary Cooper, are
tremendously effective. Whichever way you look at it, and it's the kind
of picture you'll want to look at more than just once, "Operator 13" is
superb entertainment. ^^^___^^^___
Betty Flournoy and
Ralph Craves Marry
As forecast in the Hollywood
Reporter yesterday morning, Ralph
Craves and Betty Flournoy flew to
Yuma, Arizona, yesterday and were
married.
Miss Flournoy left a note for her
mother telling her where she had
gone. Later in the day she wired
the producer of a play she was to
appear in, saying she could not ap-
pear. The newlyweds plan to return
Sunday.
AMERICA'S DOIL- FRIEND r
BABliSAKE
- A HCIW
One For Schertzinger
Victor Schertzinger was assigned
direction of "Hello, Big Boy," Felix
Young's musical for Columbia, yester-
day. Production is two weeks ahead.
moment is suffering from delusions
and other mental symptoms that may
be the result of her past troubles. Al-
though very few know it, she is in a
very bad way!
DUN N
CLAIRE
TREVOR
ALAN DINEHART
fOX PICTUHE
LAUREL & HARDY'S
1ot»l bugh not
"GOING BYE, BYE"
WALT DISNEY'S
Silly Symphonies
Old Pix Showing In
Continental Cities
Vienna. — With the exception of
the Mae West picture, "I'm No An-
gel," which is a sensational hit here,
practically all the pictures showing in
this city, Prague and Budapest are old
ones, most of which are American.
In Budapest, Universal's "Back Street"
is being shown again and doing very
well, being now in its fourth week.
Production in Budapest is heavy.
Joe Pasternak is just finishing a Uni-
versal super, called "Fruhjahrsparade,"
which is being shot in German,
French and English. There is also
plenty of production in Vienna, where
about twenty pictures are contem-
plated.
The most popular of the American
pictures on the Continent are "Queen
Christina," "Cavalcade," "Only Yes-
terday," "Lady for a Day" and "42nd
Street "
Prinz Busy on Three
LeRoy Prinz returned from a tour
of the country and started to work out
special dance numbers for three Para-
mount pictures yesterday. He is on
"Limehouse Nights," which Al Hall
directs; "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
Patch." Norman Taurog directing, and
"You Belong to Me," which Al
Werker is directing.
Rivkln Sets a Deal
New York. — Joe Rivkin Inc. made
a deal yesterday with Fishbein Plays
Inc. whereby he will be t.he motion
picture representative for twelve plays
to be tried out this Summer.
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
hand, to make a few pictures as they
are written and see what happens.
We may be all wrong, but we believe
that the result would be better pic-
tures, and pictures with which the
reform element could not find fault.
Paramounl's
r&KISS and.
^CARY GRANT • GENEVIEVE TOBIN
EDWARD EVERETT HORTON
, , STAG[ ' Fonchon t Marco present
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Rutledge t Taylor • Jericho Nejro Choir
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COLORED BLUES BEAUTY
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"I'i^ PIAYHOUSE • gS5iS? JDIY %nl No Raise in Prices c»Midai,7nat
SENSATIONAL NEW YORK-LONDON HIT- A TORRID THIRD SEX PoV^hKLE / WCBLJM^ ♦»
Ztueim Kyman Pwy^^ i ^ I 111 lltWM I mm 111 best j.-<ln«k
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iune 29, T934
Page Three
OLD-FASHIONED WAY' A RIOT;
CIIAJ^'S COURAGE' BELOW PAR
WarnerOland Good,
But Story Is Dull
WSOK
Fields-Morrison
Steal The Picture
"THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY"
( Param'ount)
Direction William Beaudine
Original Story Charles Bogle
Screen Play Carnett Weston
and Jack Cunningham
Music and Lyrics Gordon and Revel
Photography Benjamin Reynolds
Cast: W. C. Fields, joe Morrison, Ju-
dith Allen, Jan Duggan, Nora Cecil,
Tammany Young, Baby LeRoy, Jack
Mulhall, Joe Mills, Samuel Ether-
idge, Emma Hay, Ruth Marion, Dell
Henderson, Clarence Wilson, Rich-
ard Carle, Otis Harlan, Dorothy Bay,
Oscar Smith, Maxine Hicks, Lew
Kelly, Davison Clark, Edward J. Le
Saint.
Not only is this picture to be rated
as a W. C. Fields laugh special, but
it introduces a brand new screen per-
sonality in the form and voice of Joe
Morrison, who will give the fans some-
thing to look forward to in a big way.
Get behind this one with everything
you've got, because it's entertainment
from start to finish and there are
laughs in it for every member of the
family.
Come to think of it, there is no
story — just names and a situation that
serve as an excuse for having W. C.
Fields amuse you for seven reels, and
the less excuse there is for him, the
funnier he is. As the Great McGoni-
gle, Fields is quite priceless, and is
given an opportunity to go through his
old juggling act, just as good as new.
The really great thing that the pic-
ture accomplishes is to bring joe Mor-
rison to the screen. This will prove
to be a boon to Paramount, the ex-
hibitor and the public. Morrison is
the lad who started the vogue for the
"Last Round-Up, " but all is forgiven
with his performance here. His voice
registers beautifully and stops the
show. Besides which, his personality
is grand and he photographs like a
million dollars. He should be a big
help to his company in the future.
According to the list of credits,
"Cleopatra Pepperday" is played by
jan Duggan. We hope the name is
correct, because we want to give
credit to the right person for a par-
ticularly funny sequence, the rendition
of that old ditty, "Gather Sea-shells."
Baby LeRoy is a riot for a few short
moments — just enough to make you
want more. Tammany Young gives a
stand-out performance as McConigle's
amaneunsis. In fact, the entire cast,
large as it is, deserve individual ac-
knowledgment for their good work.
William Beaudine must have had a
time for himself directing this, be-
cause his own good humor is reflected
in the way the gags go over. There
is one in which the laughs are sus-
tained for a full ten minutes. Weston
and Cunningham have devised the sit-
uations and they are plenty amusing.
Gordon and Revel have given out with
another hit song, "Rolling in Love,"
and a "Mother" song that will un-
doubtedly be taken "serious" because
It turns out to be so good. The Rey-
nolds' photography is right up to par
every moment.
Baer Breaks Record
At N.Y. Paramount
New York. — Max Baer's per-
sonal appearance at the Paramount
Theatre yesterday gave the house
the biggest day's business it has
done in 24 weeks. Baer clowns
with Benny Rubin, sings, dances
with the chorus girls, and intro-
duces his brother, who is bigger
than he is.
|ATTER$
buHelmOmmi
New Plan For FWC
Ready In August
New York. — Arrangements under
which the Chase National Bank, Fox
Films and Wesco Corporation will re-
acquire the Fox West Coast theatres
from their bankruptcy trustees are still
under discussion. It is hoped to have
a deal ready for submission to the
Federal court in Los Angeles early in
August. Whether the active Delaware
corporation of FWC will be adopted
as a direct subsidiary of Wesco, or a
new holding link be forged to replace
the bankrupt California corporation is
not decided.
When approved, the trustees will
bow out, except that Charles P.
Skouras will remain as operating head
of the California theatres.
S. C. Theatre Owners
In New Organization
Sacramento. — Incorporation papers
of the Theatre Owners Association of
Southern California were filed here
yesterday. The organization, formed
in Los Angeles, wants to take in the
territory south of San Luis Obispo,
Kern and San Bernardino counties.
The directors named are Sherill
Cohen, Elaine Waldman and G. A.
Metzger. The organization is said to
be for the promotion of the welfare
of theatres in its district.
Chodorov To Produce
Muni's 'Border Town*
Edward Chodorov is entrusted with
the production of Paul Muni's next,
"Border Town," which is ten days
distant on the Warner schedule. Wil-
helm Dieterle, who directs, is work-
ing with Muni on make-up tests.
The producer-director combination
is the same as for "DuBarry."
Hoffe Off To England
Monckton Hoffe, having finished
his work on "What Every Woman
Knows," leaves for England tonight.
He will be gone for two months and
will then return to Hollywood, MGM
having taken up its option on 'his
services.
Glenn Tryon Assigned
Glenn Tryon was assigned by Radio
yesterday to work on the script of
"Richest Girl in the World," which
will have Miriam Hopkins directed by
William Seiter. John Norton and Bar-
ney Hutchinson are already working
en the screen play.
"CHARLIE CHAN'S COURAGE"
(Fox)
Direction George Hadden
Author Earl Derr Biggers
Screen Play Seton I. Miller
Photography Hal Mohr
Cast: Warner Oland, Drue Leyton,
Donald Woods, Paul Harvey, Mur-
ray Kinnell, Harvey Clark.
The latest of that series of popu-
lar mysteries, "Charlie Chan's Cour-
age," is distinctly below par. It is
languid, heavy-handed, and totally
lacking in the usual Chan humor.
The story is not as interesting as
its predecessors and even Warner
Oland, although he performs with his
usual skill, fails to be as effective as
usual. Fault lies with the story it-
self and with the direction.
The plot deals with a string of
pearls and the excitement attendant
upon their delivery to the purchaser,
Paul Harvey. Chan is commissioned
to deliver them, but, disturbed by a
couple of murders, one kidnaping and
a mysterious stranger who lurks
around corners, he delays handing
them over to Harvey until the dirty
work is explained.
To this end, he hires himself out
as the Chinese cook in Harvey's ranch
house, and takes with him Donald
Woods, the young son of the jewel
merchant. Mixed up some way in the
plot is Drue Leyton, who seems to be
a location scout for a motion picture
company.
The two most interesting characters
in the film are seen all too briefly.
One is the engaging actor who plays
the driver of an ancient flivver, and
the other is a parrot which is killed
all too soon.
Oland gives his best to the part, but
has very little to work with. Miss
Leyton is pretty and plays easily; Don-
ald Woods is charming; Paul Harvey
is strongly cast; Murray Kinnel has
another of his slyly suspicious roles,
and Harvey Clark is a good aid to the
villain.
George Hadden's direction is no-
ticeably slow; Seton I. Miller adapted
Earl Derr Biggers' yarn, and Hal
Mohr's photography is a big asset.
Fans of Charlie Chan will go, of
course, to see this picture, but they
will be disappointed.
Darrow Out of Board
Washington. — Clarence Darrow
yesterday quit the Review Board and
delivered his third report on codes,
which includes additional slaps at the
film code. It will be made public
soon.
Cook Picture Off
It was reported yesterday that Fox
had decided to call off the Joe Cook
picture because of its inability to get
a suitable story.
Songs For Dick Powell
Dick Powell warbles one or two
numbers in "Gentlemen Are Born,"
which Mervyn LeRoy gets into action
Monday at Warners.
Funny things may yet happen on
"Stamboul Quest." But even if they
don't, the story is worth repeating.
"Stamboul Quest" was originally
bought as a possible vehicle for Joan
Crawford. Somehow or other, w.hen
it got into script form, they decided
it was not for Miss Crawford and
wouldn't assign her to it. Then
Wanger came along and said he'd
make the story if they'd give him
Crawford. This time the studio
again turned thumbs down, with the
excuse that they had to turn out a
good picture in a hurry and for very
little money and so they couldn't put
Crawford into it. Well, Wanger re-
signed I not for that reason, .however) ,
and Myrna Loy and George Brent were
given the leads.
In the meantime, Clark Gable, in
two pictures for MGM and one for
Columbia, leaped into first place again
at the box-office and they can't wait
to take further advantage of it. Also,
they need material for Joan Crawford.
Also the biggest team in pictures was
Gable and Crawford. Also, they are
now going mad trying to find a story
to co-star Gable and Crawford, with-
out much success.
Soooo, they took a look at "Stam-
boul Quest" and it seems that the
picture is a honey and only cost
around two hundred thousand dollars.
And it has now been seriously sug-
gested that they scrap the present pic-
ture because, for an additional three
hundred thousand dollars, they could
put Gable and Crawford into it and
a half a million negative cost on a
Gable-Crawford picture practically
amounts to a mere quickie overhead.
Of course, it probably won't happen,
but the thought behind all this is
something worth thinking about.
•
Our favorite producer has gone and
said it again! He had issued orders
to his writers to crash through with
a story of modern Russia for his latest
foreign importation and then called
the boys in for a conference on it.
Our favorite producer got up to tell
them exactly what he thought should
be in a picture about modern Russia
and he said: "And don't forget, no
story about Russia today would be
complete without making use of their
secret police — that GO. P. organiza-
tion!"
•
Just in order to keep the records
straight, Mike Jackson wants it broad-
cast that he writes the picture re-
views for Liberty and has .had nothing
whatsoever to do with the star-salary
statistics which that magazine is
printing. As a matter of fact, we're
sure of it, because if Mike would
consent to doing a thing like that, you
can rest assured they'd be accurate,
and Mike wouldn't do it anyway.
Leslie Howards In Paris
Paris. — The Leslie Howards have
arrived here, having made the trip
on the Majestic. Lou Brock is also
here, flying over from London.
Page Four
|«fne 29, 1934
KAHAXE ORDERS RADIO
PICTURES KEPT CLEAl^
B. B. Kahane, president of RKO-
Radio Studios, yesterday instructed all
producers In his company to live up to
the letter and spirit of the Production
Code; keep their pictures clean of
smut, salaciousness, obscenity and at
all times observe the sanctity of mar-
riage.
Warning the producers that the
present situation is serious and calls
for whole-hearted co-operation, Ka-
hane emphatically declared that any
producer who fails in this cooperation
will be fired from the studio.
Kahane, in a letter to his producers,
stated that while some of the present
criticism is unwarranted, a large part
of it is justifiable, especially that
coming from religious groups, promi-
nent educators, Parent-Teachers Asso-
ciations and the Motion Picture Re-
search Council. He pointed out that
RKO has tried to keep its productions
free from criticism, but in a few cases
has come in for attack.
"it is imperative," he said, "that
henceforth still greater care be taken
to avoid objectionable themes and
offensive scenes and lines, and I ex-
pect all producers on our lot to give
me their fullest cooperation. We do
not have to eliminate 'sex' situations
from our pictures. If we are to pre-
sent honest dramas of human emotions
and experiences, some scenes of sin
and wrong-doing must necessarily be
depicted. But there is no need and
and no excuse whatever for produc-
tions which scoff at chastity and the
sanctity of marriage, present criminals
and wrong-doers as heroes and hero-
ines, or in which smut and salacious-
ness are deliberately injected for the
appeal they may have to coarse and
unrefined minds."
Kahan then added that he hopes all
producing companies will live up to
the Production Code, whose provisions
he says will keep pictures clean. "But
whether they do or not, I shall insist
that the producers of RKO Studios do
so. The fact th«t other producers may
be guilty of violations or evasions of
the Code shall not be accepted as an
excuse for a violation or evasion on
your part."
Ben Lyon Gef-s Lead
In Mascot Feature
Ben Lyon was engaged by Mascot
yesterday for the lead in "Young and
Beautiful." Mascot is still trying to
find a girl to play opposite him.
Joseph Cawthorn was signed for an
important role. The thirty Ed Lester
Singers, Shaw and Lee, Roy Russell,
Ray Mayer, are already set. Joseph
Santley is slated to direct.
Mandel-Warner Suit Set
Trial is set for July 19 of the
Frank and Alice Mandel suit against
Warner Brothers for use of the title
"Lady Killer" on the James Cagney
picture, called, as an original, "The
Finger Man." Harold A. Fendler rep-
resents the playwrights.
Hale For 'Imitation'
Alan Hale was signed by Universal
for a featured role in "Imitation of
Life," the John Stahl picture, yester-
day. The Edington and Vincent office
negotiated.
Eliis At Monogram
Robert Ellis signed with Monogram
yesterday to play the role of the heavy
in "Girl of the Limberlost." Harry
Spingler, of the Small-Landau office,
set the ticket.
Gordon and Revel Back
Mack Gordon and Harry Revel reg-
istered back at Paramount yesterday
after a five-days trip to San Francisco.
The Original French Version
of
'L'Homnte Vierge
(The Virgin Man)
From the sfory by
Guy de Maupassant
First part of picture with dubbed English dialogue
OPEXIXG TODAY
FILMARTE THEATRE
A PICTURE THE INDUSTRY SHOULD SEE
99
Audience Applauds
Single-Bill Notice
An audience at the Hermosa
Theatre last night broke into spon-
taneous applause when a notice
appeared on the screen that, be-
ginning July 1 , the house would
adopt a policy of single features
and short subjects.
McGowan-Para. Close
Deal For Kid Shorts
Bob McGowan signed yesterday
with Lou Diamond, Paramount shorts
chief, to produce six Technicolor
single-reel Kiddie-Kolor Comedies,
with an option on extension of the
series. McGowan .hopes to put
through a loan deal with Universal
for little Juanita Quigley.
Opening comedy will be "Little
Girl Blue," with a start aimed at
July 5 at the Sennett studio.
Marge Decker To Wed
Marge Decker, secretary to Bill
Pine, gave a party at the Hollywood
Plaza last night and broke the news
that she is to be married on August
1 1 . When pressed for the name of
the groom, she admitted it would be
Cliff Lewis, also of Paramount.
Garnett-BIP Deal Off
Tay Garnett begged out of going
through with a contract with British
International yesterday for one picture
to be made in London in September.
The director will be occupied with
"China Seas" at MGM at that time.
Fox Has Problem In
'Caravan' Retakes
Fox is facing a problem on "Cara-
van," one of the big guns on its new
program. Erik Charell finished the pic-
ture and the studio decided that a
portion of it must be remade before it
gets the okay for release.
However, with Loretta Young in
the hospital, Phillips Holmes at Uni-
versal in "Million Dollar Ransom,"
and Charles Boyer getting an abroga-
tion of his contract, the studio is
faced with a long wait before the de-
sired retakes can be made.
WHYASK.OTHEBS:
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The Fourth Largest Bank in the United States
)une 29. 1934
P»9e Five
Another orchid (say, why don't
they open a florist shop on the side?)
for the Disney factory for "Funny
Little Bunnies" — it's playing almost
all the West End houses here. . . .
"House of Rothschild" is being serial-
ized in the Sunday Chronicle. . . .
Aileen Marson, under contract to
British Lion, has turned down a Holly-
wood contract, we are told. ... Of
course, so have Wendie Barrie, Di
Napier, Mistress Tom Cobleigh and
ail. We'd like to meet a British star
who hadn't had or turned down a
Hollywood contract. If they are turn-
ing down non-existent contracts we'd
say Patriotism was not enough!!!
•
James Van Bibber Bryson, formerly
with Universal, in a motor crash here.
. . . Going to be some fights on the
writing credits on "Falling in Love,"
the Charles Farrell-Gregory Ratoff pic.
To date t.hey have had Miles Malleson,
Fred Thompson, Diana Bourbon, John
Paddy Carstairs, Lee Loeb, H F.
Maltby, Monty Banks on the script
from a story by Allan Hyman and Ed-
ward Baird and there is a possibility
of Edwin Justus Mayer stirring the pot
a coupla times! . . . Phil Tannura back
in town and two big directors at C-B
are fighting to get him to light their
next opera; Phil raving about the
swell time he had in Hollywood. . . .
Cennie Tobin (without Mama!!) on
the Evelyn Laye set at Caumonts. . . .
Sign of the times in British studios,
everyone gets a break on the "dope"
sent out by studios, assistant direc-
tors and second cameramen, but nary
a writing credit!!! . . . That was a
delightful photographic job on "Scar-
let Empress," Bert Glennon.
•
Clarence Winchester mourning for
that ole debbii Hollywood! . . . Con-
nery Chappell spending his time in
between movie scribbling, book writ-
ing and fiction, taking time out to
see his wife, as Mister Stork has
promised them a visit. . . .Enid Stamp
Taylor looking lovelier than ever. . . .
Jimmie Finlayson getting to be the
best dressed chappie in the metropo-
lis. . . , "Aunt Sally," a Gainsborough
British pic, is doing very nicely in
the provinces, thank you.
Hugh Watpole Id
Hugh Walpole yesterday was taken
to the Santa Monica Hospital suffer-
ing from antrum trouble. He arrived
here a little more than a week ago
to act as editorial supervisor on the
screen play of "David Copperfield"
for MGM.
Gift Of Cab^ Starting
Rian James expects to launch "Gift
of Cab" into production today at Uni-
versal, Karl Freund directing, and Ed-
mund Lowe at the top of the cast with
Gloria Stuart.
Smart Manager Relays
Roosevelt's Speech
Sherrill Cohen, manager of the Los
Angeles Orpheum, last night hooked
his office radio set to the theatre's
public address system and broadcast
the President's speech to his audience.
The pictures shown were timed so
that the talk by the President fitted
neatly into the program. With every
member of the audience anxious to
hear the speech and not miss any part
of the show at the same time, the de-
parture from routine went over with
a bang.
Famous 'Blues' Singer
To Be Heard In U' Pic
Ethel Watters, colored singer of the
stage "As Thousands Cheer," comes
to the coast for a spot in Universal's
"Gift of Gab" in the form of camera
footage and sound track. Her radio
broadcast appearance will be recorded
in the East for an insert in the Rian
James production.
Fight Expected in Para.
(Continued from Page 1 )
for the first quarter of this year were
$1,600,000 and that, before the end
of the year, the cash accumulation
would be at least $10,000,000. He
gives this as another reason why the
stockholders will object to putting up
any more money.
The auditors who have been work-
ing on the task have their report for
the bankers in readiness, and are now
preparing another report to be sub-
mitted to the stockholders.
Grace Hale, Cay Seabrook to "Hu-
man Side," Universal.
C. Pal- Collins, by Bernard, Meikle-
john and McCall, for "The Captain
Hates the Sea," Columbia.
Max Davidson to "Four Walls," at
MGM.
John Hale for "The Case of the
Howling Dog" and "Lost Lady," War-
ners, by Bernard, Meiklejohn and Mc-
Call.
Rosalind Culli, by Wally Ross, and
Cay Seabrook, by Bernard, Meiklejohn
and McCall, to Universal's "Romance
in the Rain."
Andre Cheron, Bert Sprote and |ohn
Peters to MGM's "Merry Widow."
Mary Forbes, by Freddie Fralick, to
"Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round," at
Reliance.
Ray Mayer, by Bernard, Meiklejohn
and McCall, to a Warren Doane short.
Marjorie Cateson for Warners' "Big
Hearted Herbert."
Crant Mitchell to "The Case of the
Howling Dog," Warners.
Inez Palange, "Age of Innocence."
Radio.
Ben Taggert to "Among the Miss-
ing," Columbia.
Torben Meyer to "Wanted," Fox.
Roach Returns Today
Hal Roach returns today by plane
from New York, where he conferred
with MGM officials after attending
the organization's convention in Chi-
cago last week.
LEONARD FIELDS
Possessing more plot than is cus-
tomary, the picture moves along at
a fast clip due to capital direction.
Better than average story and all-
round good cast.
Much of the credit for the success
of the film should be awarded Leonard
Fields. — Hollywood Reporter.
D
I
R
E
C
T
E
D
Monogram has a corking good
picture in this one. Leonard Fields
handled the direction and due credit
should be given him for making it the
fast moving and cleverly produced
story it is. — Billboard.
Snappy entertainment and hilarious
situations. — Box Office
n
MANHATTAN LOVE SONG'
SCREEN PLAY IN COLLABORATION)
NOW PREPARING "KING KELLY'
"BABY TAKE A BOW"
DIRECTED BY
HARRY
LACHMAN
What The Critics Say:
Hollywood Reporter: The picture is a highly effective blending of
drama and comedy. Directed by Harry Lachman, who can handle
comedy as expertly as he can build up suspense.
Boston American: The stampede to Keith's Memorial was on in earn-
est yesterday. The rush should continue all week.
Los Angeles Times: It should be an enormous hit, the kind that glad-
dens the studio treasurer's heart.
Indianapolis Star: The director apparently used Shirley's powers to
captivate audiences as a device for placing the audiences on the
edge of their sets in the ensuing complications. In this he suc-
ceeded almost too well. One finds himself limp at the fadeout.
Daily Variety, Hollywood: The Temple sprite profits by deft, sympa-
thetic direction of Harry Lachman.
Boston Record: Mark down another rousing success for that little
Shirley Temple. The crowd at Keith's Saturday noon gloated over
every morsel. It looked at the opening as if Keith would have one
of its banner weeks.
Los Angeles Examiner: The shriek was a tribute to the suspense cre-
ated by Harry Lachman with his direction.
Detroit, (Mich-) Times: The picture presents America's latest sweet-
heart to her best advantage.
Mid-Week Pictorial (N.Y.) : The movie of the week, "Baby Take a
Bow."
CULVKR CITY.CAMy
Vol. XXI. No. 45. Price 5c
TODAY'S FILM NEWS TODAY
Satufday, lune 30. 1934
liAI^D 6€IN6 f€^ INDIES
•FOR two months, beginning July 1,
French wines nnay come into this
country in unlimited quantities. These
free imports are permitted by our
Government to check bootlegging and
reduce liquor prices.
For six months, beginning July 1 ,
the number of American motion pic-
tures that will be admitted to France
will be cut to a minimum, the import
duties on them will be doubled, and
the number of theatres where they
may be shown will be decreased. So
what?
American motion pictures have been
having their troubles in France for
some time, but, until this latest
agreement between the secretaries of
the Treasury and of Agriculture was
reached, permitting the unlimited im-
portation of alcoholic beverages for
that two-months period, the picture
industry had some basis on w.hich
bargaining might be done. Now that
weapon is gone, unless the Adminis-
tration can be induced to go to bat
for the picture business and get the
picture ban lifted.
The French situation has been
growing more and more trying. A
year ago the French government is-
sued a decree about foreign films,
aimed especially at American product,
which was then called "the most
drastic ruling yet recorded." It re-
stricted exhibitions of foreign lan-
guage talkies to five screens in Paris
and ten in the provinces. Also it put
what was then considered a severe
restriction on "dubbing."
The French picture-producing in-
dustry was not so good. American
pictures were infinitely better and
French exhibitors much preferred to
play dubbed versions rather than the
native product. Then the French
Chambre Syndicale stepped into the
picture for the protection of the
French industry.
•
The latest decree is the work of
this body. The number of American
films that may be admitted to France
for dubbing is about eighty. The im-
port duties are doubled and the num-
ber of theatres in which either dubbed
films or English-language films may
be shown is heavily reduced.
Already the Paris representatives
of the American companies have ad-
vised closing the offices there and
(Continued on Page 4)
'Gorgeous Hussy' New
Vehicle For Hepburn
Radio yesterday bought "The
Gorgeous Hussy," a novel by Sam-
uel Hopkins Adams, as a possible
vehicle for Katharine Hepburn. The
story is based on the life of Peggy
Eaton, a character in semi-official
Washington in the Andrew Jackson
regime. It calls for hoopskirts.
Pandro Berman will handle the pro-
duction.
Passing Of Duals Killing Off
State-Righters And Leaving
Only A Few With Financing
Independent producers, with the exception of a few leaders,
are finding tough sledding in financing their programs for the
new season in the state right field. Private sources have frozen
as a direct result of the ballyhoo against double-bills.
Erpi and Pathe, inside financiers
N.Y.Now Will Have
Its Radio Theatre
New York. — The Casino Theatre,
formerly the Earl Carroll, is to change
its policy again. It closes tomorrow
as a picture house and will open Aug-
ust 1 5 with radio broadcasting before
paying audiences.
Haring, Blumenthal and Shiffmun
have leased the house to the Theatre
of the Air Inc., and this, without the
Inc., will be the name of the theatre.
The new management is convinced
that, with the great interest in radio
programs, the venture will be a pay-
ing one, and the lease runs for sev-
eral years.
Joel McCrea and Radio
Agree To Part Company
Joel McCrea walks off the Radio
lot a free man July 8, release from
his term contract having been agreed
to by the studio yesterday.
McCrea had been dissatisfied with
parts allotted to him and, when he
declined to take a loan assignment
to Universal recently, was penalized
by suspension.
for the independents, are avoiding
getting involved in state right ven-
tures in preference to releases through
major channels. Both, however, are
still willing to make exceptions
where the indie can secure 1 30 per-
cent in sound trade paper from dis-
tributors to guarantee 1 00 per cent
deals.
The repeated disruption of the pro-
duction map during the past year has
brought the largest number of fatali-
ties the indies have ever experienced,
it is claimed. Where there was an
(Continued on Page 5)
'Mickey' NeilanTo
Direct For Para.
Marshall Neilan, recently working
in the East, was signed by Paramount
yesterday to direct "The Lemon Drop
Kid," the Damon Runyon story on
William LeBaron's production list.
Either Lee Tracy or Jack Oakie will
get the lead. The picture is sched-
uled for starting late in July.
As his immediate assignment on
t.he Paramount lot, Neilan will work
with Herbert Fields on the screen play
for "Mississippi," showboat story for
Lanny Ross, W. C. Fields and Evelyn
Venable.
2000 FEET WILL BE I>fEW
STANDARD REEL LENGTH
After more than a year and a half
of discussion among laboratory, theatre
and exchange men, the matter of a
new reel length will be settled within
the next few days. The new reel will
be 2000 feet.
A special committee from the Acad-
emy's Research Council has been
working on the problem for some
months. This week they called in rep-
resentative laboratory heads for a con-
erence. The laboratory men were
firmly for the 2000-foot real instead
of the present 1000-foot one, or the
(Continued on Page 4)
Ned Wayburn To Produce
New York. — Ned Wayburn, for
years a noted producer of musical
shows, has formed a new film pro-
ducing organization, called the Ned
Wayburn Picture Co. He has an-
nounced no definite plans.
Col. Convention Monday
New York. — The Columbia con-
vention gets under way at the Ritz-
Carlton jt Atlantic City Monday, with
Jack Cohn presiding.
Offer To Baer For
'Milky Way' Lead
New York. — Max Baer is reported
to have been offered the lead in
"Milky Way" by Paramount and is
considering it in connection with oth-
er bids for his services. His mana-
ger also says that Max has another
offer from a major picture company
and several for personal appearances
in theatres.
This is the reason, says the mana-
ger, why Baer will not fight again
for some time. He believes in scoop-
ing up the gravy while it is flowing.
Radio To Do Picture
On 'Stream-Line' Train
Radio is keeping abreast of the times
in its story material, yesterday buying
an original story laid in and around
one of the new "stream line" trains
that are now being exhibited through-
out the country.
The story is called "Hjghball Lim-
ited," and was written by Roger" Holt
Wheeler. Wheeler was also signed
to do the screen play. T.he deal was
set by Arthur Klein and Jack Maurice
office.
Bondage' Doing Well
New York. — "Of Human Bondage,"
Radio picture that went into the
Music Hall Thursday on a day's notice,
is, despite the heat, reported to be
doing the best business since "Nana."
The management estimates t.he week
will go over $85,000.
Bernard Bimberg Dies
New York. — Bernard K. Bimberg,
who, in the early days of pictures,
used to give sound effects from behind
the screen and who once had a chain
of theatres on upper Broadway, died
here yesterday. He was 61 years old.
Schulberg On Way Back
New York. — B. P. Schulberg, who
has been in seclusion here for a few
days, starts back for the coast today.
I DAVID BURTON directed "Sisters Under the Skin ' PaX
Now Playing
e$ Theatre
Page Two
THE
June 30. 1934
XJtm
W. R. WILKERSON Editor and Publisher
FRANK T. POPE Managing Editor
Published and Copyrighted by
THE WILKERSON DAILY CORP., Ltd.
Executive-Editorial Offices and Office ot
Publication, 6717 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood (Los Angeles), California
Telephone Hollywood 3957
New York Office: Abraham Bernstein.
Mgr., 229 W. 42nd St.. Wisconsin 7-7193:
Chicago, 6 N. Michigan Ave.; London, 2
Cathedral Mansion; Paris, 122 Blvd. Murat;
Berlin, 83-84 Mauerstrasse; Buenos Aires,
San Martin 501 ; Sydney, 198 Pitt St.; Ant-
werp, Cratte-Ciel.
Published every day with the exception of
Sundays and Holidays. Subscription rates,
including postage, per year in the United
States and Canada, $10. Foreign. $15
Single copies. 5c. Entered as second class
matter June 4. 1932. at the Post Office
at Los Angeles, under the act of March 3.
1879.
All of us are plugging for Marie
Dressier at the moment — of that
we're sure . . . Howard Strickling and
Frances Marion, one of Marie's closest
friends, have been at her side for days
.... Suggested as a re-make, because
it was one swell movie in the silent
days, "The Isle of Lost Ships" — we
think Warners made it then . . . Aside
to Lou Schreiber: "Come out, come
out, wherever you are ... . Richard
Dix' sudden marriage to Virginia Web-
ster was a terrible blow to what ac-
tress who has had her eyes on him
for a Jong time.? .... "The Virgin
Man," which opens at the Filmarte
here is the only uncut version of the
picture shown in the U.S.A. — if that
happens to excite you atall . . . .The
Sam Jaffes, starting seasonal hegira to
Malibu today .... Ginger Rogers has
just acquired a police dog, already
trained with a bag of tricks — thereby
saving herself a lotta trouble
Josephine Hutchison, after making
make-up tests daily for weeks, has
finally decided upon the screen' face
she wants to use. Now we can all go
back to work! . . . When Gene Mar-
key first met Don Stewart. Don had
just finished an invention for Canned
Ps3S — there were to be in a tube so
that they would come out flat (like a
ribbon) and lie down calmly on one's
knife! . . Glenda Farrell (in N'Yawk)
is denying the Bob Riskin marriage
rumors, and is everywhere with her
one-time sweetheart, Ronny Simon
•
Woody Van Dyke, back from Santa
Cruz, safe . . and more or less sound
. . . Frances Drake and a w. k. Para-
mount exec will exchange glances over
the week-end. . . . Samuel BIythe,
famous writer and globe-trotter, says
the Vendome has the finest ' wine
cellar in America. . . . Veree Teasdale,
Wm. Anthony McGuire. Leila Hyams!
Mrs. Skeets Gallagher, Wm. LeBaron,'
Mel Shauer. the Buddy Leightons,
Ernst Lubitsch with Sheila Manners,
the Ric Cortezes, Dick BlumenthaL
Chester Hale, the Ray Griffiths, the
Carl Brissons, Diana Fitzmaurice' the
Murray Feils, E. J. Brandeis, ' the
Charlie Kenyons, Reginald Berkeley,
Ronald Colman. the Bruce Cabots
among the lunchers and diners there.
. . Buddy Schulberg leaves today to
meet Maurice Rapf in Russia!
"THE GREAT FLIRTATION"
Paramount prod.; director, Ralph Murphy; writers. Gregory Ratorf.
Humphrey Pearson.
Paramount Theatre
Post: The picture starts cut as light comedy and ends up on the "Laugh, Clown.
Laugh" note, and its course veers uncertainly between farce and pathos.
It has some fresh and engaging passages, but the material is thin and not
altogether worthy of Menjou's talents.
American: Since "The Great Flirtation" was written by Gregory Ratoff about
Gregory Ratoff. it is something of a shame that the dynamic comedian
didn't see fit to play the title role himself. Not that Adolphe Menjou
doesn't give his usual excellent performance, because he does, but it
would have been even more amusing to see Ratoff. The greatest sur-
prise of the picture is Elissa Landi, who emerges as a fiery and most
attractive young woman.
World-Telegram: "The Great Flirtation" begins languidly, teeters for a while
on the edge of inertia and then acquires a brisk momentum on which it
skirts to a fairly entertaining end. The result is a sufficiently light and
amusing little film of the fair-to-middling variety.
Herald-Tribune: Although the theme of "The Great Flirtation" is pregnant with
dramatic possibilities, they have been only partially realized in a con-
fused screen production. The result is a preposterous mixture of low
comedy and overly sentimental tragedy, spasmodically directing, almost
never moving.
News: I didn't expect much of a picture with the above title, but I came away
from the theatre full of enthusiasm for a genuinely entertaining film and
ready to sing the praises of Adolphe Menjou and Elissa Landi for their
unqualifiedly good performances in the leading roles. Ralph Murphy's
handling of the picture resulted in a smooth, well timed, finished produc-
tion.
Sun: A light comedy drama. In its study of the ways of actors, on and off the
stage. "The Great Flirtation" is fairly amusing. As a straight story, how-
ever, it is neither credible nor lucid.
fournal: A diverting comedy of life among theatrical people. While Menjou.
as usual, gives an excellent portrayal, it is Miss Landi who provides a
surprise by turning in a much more animated performance than she has
yet exhibited on the screen.
Phillip MacDonald
Gets Termer With Fox
Phillip MacDonald was signed by
Fox to a long-term writing ticket yes-
terday, after working for the studio
for nearly six months as a free-lance
on a picture to picture basis.
He has been specializing in keeping
up the series of Charlie Chan pictures
since the death of Earl Derr Biggers.
He next writes "Charlie Chan in
Paris." with Warner Oland having his
usual role of the Chinese detective.
Vivian Gaye. of the Polimer office,
handled the writer's deal.
Randall Out of Hospital
Mon Randall, Eastern advertising
representative at the local Universal
studio, returns home today from the
Hollywood Hospital after undergoing
an operation for appendicitis ten days
ago. He gets back to the studio in
another week.
O'Connell Due Monday
Hugh O'Connell gets in Monday by
plane from New York to start his
Universal contract six weeks earlier
than planned in "Let 'Em Rave." He
was signed to a term deal from the
cast of "The Milky Way" on Broad-
way.
Jay Flippen To 'U'
jay C. Flippen. radio broadcasting
star, was signed by Universal yester-
day for a featured role in "Million
Dollar Ransom," which Murray Roth
is directing. Ralph Farnum set the
deal.
Hoffe Postpones Trip
Added work on the script of "What
Every Woman Knows" yesterday
forced Monckton Hoffe, MGM writer,
to postpone his trip to London.
MGM Keeps Walcott
George Walcott had his option
taken up by MGM yesterday. The
player has a featured role in "Four
Walls."
//
MGM Lab Theatre
To Aid Relief Fund
MGM IS working out a plan to put
the stage version of "All Good Ameri-
cans" on again at the Hollywood Mu-
sic Box for one more performance, this
time opening it to the public in behalf
of the Motion Picture Relief Fund.
The studio's Laboratory Theatre
produced it Tuesday. It was favorably
received. The repeat performance will
occur in two weeks, according to
Maurice Revnes, who is in charge of
the experimental group. Martha
Sleeper, Betty Furness, Mary Carlisle.
Robert Taylor, Robert Livingston, Leo
Chalzell head the cast. Oliver Hins-
dale directs.
Belasco and Curran are dickering
with MGM to book the entire produc-
tion for a long run in San Francisco.
Writer- Yachtsmen To
Race Over To Catalina
The members of the Pacific Writ-
ers' Yacht Club will hold a two-day
cruise to Catalina Island on July 7
and 8.
Em Westmore will present a trophy
to the power cruisar that makes the
fastest time over and back. Dick
Schayer will give a prize to the sailing
craft that wins the two-way race. A
dinner and celebration will be neld on
arrival.
Roy Vickers' Greatest Novel
'The
Unforbidden Sin"
first feature production
for the 1934-1935 season
FAMOUS AUTHORS
PICTURES CORP.
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Cable Address Famaut, New York
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1811 Whitley Avenue Hlllside5191
fume 30, 1934
THE_yiJ
Page Three
L
SHE LOVEiS ME NOT' SVRE-FIRE:
'J AXE EYRE' GOOD PICTVRE
Direction, Writing,
Acting, All Swell
■SHE LOVES ME NOT"
(Paramount)
Direction Elliott Nugent
Novel by Edward Hope
Stage Play Howard Lindsay
Screen Play Benjamin Clazer
Photography Charles Lang
Music and Lyrics.. ..Cordon and Revel,
and Rainger and Robin
Cast: Bing Crosby, Miriam Hopkins,
Kitty Carlisle, Edward Nugent,
Lynne Overman, Warren Hymer,
Judith Allen, George Barbier, Henry
Kolker, Maude Turner Cordon,
Margaret Armstrong, Ralf Harolde,
Matt McHugh, Franklyn Ardell,
Vince Barnett.
A fun picture from start to finish.
Taken at a goodly pace all the way
through, this story of a chorus girl
among the coilegiates is something
to recommend to your best friends and
you can't go wrong with a Bing Crosby
picture anyway. It's a honey, so
make the best of it.
Curley Flagg, night club dancer,
runs away from a murder because she
has heard that witnesses manage to
serve the longest jail sentences. She
has just enough money to reach
Princeton. She not only reaches it,
but manages to install herself in it
to the chagrin and embarrassment of
a couple of nice college lads, the
Dean and finally a U. S. Senator. Cur-
ley lands herself a movie contract,
the college boys get a reprieve from
the Dean, and chivalrous American
manhood is vindicated.
Bing Crosby, a bit bigger around
the hips, is very elegant as Paul Law-
ton, the boy who befriends Curley, is
engaged to a nasty N. Y. minx but
really loves the Dean's daughter. He's
charm itself and his voice has all the
old appeal. Miriam Hopkins does right
well as Curley, but it seems a shame
to waste the talents of a damned
good actress on a part that might
have made a newcomer over night.
Hopkins is good, make no mistake,
but far too good for the part.
Kitty Carlisle as the Dean's daugh-
ter is really something that Paramount
should eventually do something about
n a big way. The gal now shows
that she has a good comedy sense
besides a figure that's something to
write home about, an interesting face
and a personality that has that some-
thing it's hard to describe. Lynne
Overman, as the press agent, is an
object lesson to all comers who think
they can act that kind of part. He's
simply swell. Henry Stephenson is
grand as the Dean, and Vince Bar-
nett, Eddie Nugent, Warren Hymer
and George Barbier are all to the good
plus m their respective parts.
Elliott Nugent has done a com-
pletely satisfactory job with the direc-
tion, though there is nothing particu-
larly inspired about the work and one
could wish that, in the cloud sequence,
if Art had to rear its beautiful head,
it might have done so without the
heads of the boy and girl. Barney
Glazer has been entirely faithful to
rhe play in his adaptation and it's
Communication Board
May Be Named Today
Washington. — President Roose-
velt announced at the press con-
ference yesterday that he would
appoint the new Federal Commu-
nications Commission either today
or tomorrow.
'Cucaracha' Short
In Color, Gorgeous
"LA CUCARACHA"
(Pioneer Pict-ures)
Direction Lloyd Corrigan
Screen Play: John Twist and Jack
Wagner.
Photography Ray Rennehan
Art Direction Robert Edmond Jones
Producer Kenneth Macgowan
Cast: Steffi Duna, Paul Porcasi, Don
Alvarado.
"La Cucaracha," the first color
short of Pioneer Pictures, is a distinct
triumph. For sheer exciting and im-
portant beauty in the field of color
photography, it has never been sur-
passed.
Although it runs for only about
twenty minutes, the picture will take
first place, dramatically and artistic-
ally, on almost any program. And yet
so cleverly have the color and photog-
raphy been blended into the whole,
that the characters of the story, Steffi
Duna, Don Alvarado and Paul Porcasi.
are never overshadowed by the nov-
elty of the film.
Robert Edmond Jones, in charge of
the settings and color, demonstrates
an undeniable genius in the blending
of color, photography and drama into
a strikingly impressive mood. Ray
Rennehan photographed sensitively.
Lloyd Corrigan handled the direc-
tion with the great strength and taste,
and John Twist and Jack Wagner
wrote the screen play, which is per-
fect for this medium. The players dis-
tinguished themselves in their roles,
especially Steffi Duna, whose exquisite
emotional control is a thing of won-
der. The music, and the use of the
song. "La Cacaracha," are woven into
the plot with stunning effect.
Too much cannot be said in praise
of this picture. It will be a gorgeous
decoration on any program in any
house.
Hubbard-Hearst Wilf
Confer On Davies Pic
Lucien Hubbard is making arrange-
ments to meet William Randolph
Hearst in Wales when .he leaves on
his trip to Europe shortly.
Hubbard is scheduled to supervise
the next Marion Davies production,
"Movie' Queen," by Sidney Skolsky,
and will devote a portion of his vaca-
tion to conferences with Hearst on
the picture.
hard to do better than that. Charles
Lang, as usual, contributed Al pho-
tography. The music is all okay,
though pretty reminiscent — the remi-
niscences are all from good classical
pieces, .however, so why quibble?
Virginia Bruce and
Clive Share Honors
"JANE EYRE"
(Monogram)
Direction Christy Cabane
Original Story Charlotte Bronte
Screen Play Adele Commandini
Photography Robert Planck
Cast: Virginia Bruce, Colin Clive,
Aileen Pringle, Jameson Thomas,
Beryl Mercer, David Torrance, Lio-
nel Belmore, Joan Standing, Adele
Fellowes, Desmond Roberts, Ethel
Criffies, Clarice Selwyn, Hilda Ty-
son, Cretta Could, Claire DuBrey,
Edith Kingdon, William Wagner,
Olaf Hytten. William Burress, Gail
Kaye, Jean Darling. Richard Quine.
A faithful, literal translation of the
Bronte novel, that has been given an
excellent cast and a really good pro-
duction by Monogram. The story has
about it a slightly dated odor, but
manages to retain a great deal of
charm, and the production itself is
worthy of a good place on any pro-
gram. There is a great deal to sell in
this picture and there should be no
difficulty with it whatsoever, particu-
larly since it is so very important to
bring along the whole family.
Mainly the picture serves to bring
irginia Bruce back to the screen, and
not only is the gal very beautiful to
look at. but her performance is lovely
and, actually, she sings. Just one
song, but it's enough to prove that
Miss Bruce has a voice that records
well and without any facial contor-
tions to distract the attention.
Miss Bruce is, of course, Jane Eyre,
the little girl from the orphanage who
becomes a governess in the house of
Edward Rochester. She and the
marster fall in love, but Jane runs
away from the spectre of his insane
wife, even though the marriage has
been annulled, only to come back to
Rochester for life after he has been
blinded, trying to rescue his insane
wife who finally succeeds in burning
the house down.
Just why anyone would run away
from Rochester as played by Colin
Clive is pretty difficult to explain.
The motivation for that act was never
really clear in the book either, but
with Clive in the part it's even more
confusing. Aileen Pringle as Lady
Blanche, and Jameson Thomas as the
solicitor appear all too briefly. Their
performances make you want to see
them more. Beryl Mercer does well
by the role of the very sweet house-
keeper, and Adele Fellowes, despite
the fact that she is an entirely capable
child actress, is just too annoyingly
lovable a niece for comfort. Unfor-
tunately, the man who played the part
of Poole is not listed, so that we
cannot by name give him credit for
an excellent performance as the
drunken driver.
Adele Commandini has done a most
respectful adaptation, and Christy
Cabanne has given it the same kind
of direction, but the picture could
have stood a little pepping up. Rob-
ert Planck's photography is very good
and so are the settings. In fact.
Monogram is to be congratulated for
the production.
ATTERJ
T
A letter in the mails from New
York divulges a few interesting tid-
bits about how the other half is liv-
ing and carrying-on at the moment.
George White has postponed his
"Scandals" production, because,
strange as it seems, he's coming back
to Hollywood to make another musi-
cal for Fox. His original contract
with that company called for another
picture from him IF the "Scandals"
picture made a certain profit above
cost, and evidently it did.
•
Sidney Harmon, producer of "Men
in White," is engaged to be married.
Georgie Hale sails for Yurrup today
with the girls who are going into a
show in Monte Carlo, after which Hale
goes to London to do a musical for
British and Dominions. However, be-
fore sailing away, Georgie was bending
everybody's ear about how in love he
IS with Billie Seward.
Conde Nast threw a large party
t'other evening and among those he
wined and dined on his terrace were
Bert Taylor and Olive McClure (who
will visit Dorothy DiFrasso in Italy
next week). Howard Hughes, Hilda
Knight, Caleb Bragg, Alistair Macin-
tosh and the most beautiful girls in
New York, including the gang Geor-
gie Hale is taking to Monte Carlo.
•
Max Baer is amusing the town with
statements to the effect that he is off
women for the rest of his life — seems
they done .him wrong too often and
Maxie wants to play smart. . . . New
York went off the platinum-blonde
standard some time ago so that Hazel
Forbes stands out like a platinum-
blonde in a crowded room, and she
shows up a lot on the Waldorf roof,
where Guy Lombard© is literally pack-
ing them in nightly. . . . The Mayfair
Yacht Club is having a terrific vogue,
what with the early hot weather sea-
son and its dining on a terrace over-
looking the East River. . . . Ben Mar-
den's Riviera is doing the same on ye
olde Hudson, with Harry Richman en-
tertaining and where gambling and
gamboling mix well together. . . .
Jack Dempsey, Hannah Williams and
Estelle Taylor are all under one roof
at the moment, otherwise known as
the Warwick Hotel. . . . Mae Murray
has a very attractive Englishman in
tow these days, and Claire Windsor
had a new beau at the Casino the
same night that the Bryan Foys enter-
tained a party of twenty in honor of
Lawrence Tibbett.
•
You'll still find the old gang lunch-
ing at Twenty-one and it's still the
surest way to reach anyone you want
to see in New York. . . . Jack Rumsey
has taken a cottage at the Westches-
ter Embassy for the summer. .
Will Stewart and Blumey still two-
someing for lunchat the Colony, and
then there are the hundreds of side-
walk cafes where you can sit and
watch the world go bye-bye, and
that's New Lork for you these days,
my friends.
Page Four
THE
UTOPIANS GET Hurt
OF RECRIJITS II\ STUDIOS
Monogram Throws
Party In New Home
The Utopians, the new organiza-
tion formed for the purpose of elimi-
nating profits and poverty, is mov-
ing into the ranks of the motion pic-
ture industry with a rapidity that is
startling.
Preaching the doctrine of no un-
employment, they have made a flying
start, especially among those men and
women who have been faced with
little or no work for many months.
But they have not stopped there. Now
the workers who are employed are
being recruited and, while no one will
venture an estimate as to the number
enrolled, it is said to be surprisingly
great.
Special committees have been or-
ganized to spread the propaganda
among the various technical workers,
and meetings are being .held at least
once a week which have been so
largely attended that several times
they have had to get an additional
hall for the overflow. Many of the
workers see a probable settlement of
all labor problems, as well as the elim-
ination of wage scale battles if the
dream of the organization ever comes
true.
Young Replaces Tone
In 'Death on Diamond*
Franchot Tone's assignment in
"Four Walls" yesterday caused MGM
to change plans for "Death on the
Diamond" and to replace Tone with
Robert Young in the role of the base-
ball pitcher.
Ted Healy, Ed Brophy and C. Henry
Gordon were slated for featured roles,
the latter as the heavy. Edward
Sedgwick directs.
Phyllis Ludwig Casf
In Return Of Chandu'
Phyllis Ludwig was signed yester-
day by Sol Lesser to play Betty in
"The Return of Chandu," which Ray
Taylor starts directing July 29. Bela
Lugosi has the name lead.
Miss Ludwig is a sister of Edward
Ludwig, Universal director. She play-
ed a Southern girl in Ruth Etting's
Radio short last week.
'Chained' On Location
Clarence Brown has taken MCM's
"Chained" unit on location at the
Rancho Agua de la Centinela, a four
thousand acre tract known as one of
the oldest ranches in the Southwest.
Clark Gable and Joan Crawford are
co-starred in the picture.
Long Trip For Cordon
At the conclusion of his three-
onths agreement at Paramount on
the screen play of "Sacrifice," Leor>
Cordon plans a visit to England and
then to South Arfica for material
needed for his projected original,
"Empire Builder — the Life of Cecil
Rhodes."
Aller Due Monday
Herbert Aller, business representa-
tive of the cameramen's union, is due
Monday morning from New York,
where he has been conferring with
George Browne, now lATSE president.
Monogram inaugurated its new of-
fices at RKO-Pathe yesterday by giv-
ing a house-warming. The company
takes over the entire lower floor of
the administration building, the of-
fices once occupied by Tom Ince and
last by Charles R. Rogers. The new
quarters are still undergoing remodel-
ing and the move from General Service
will be made Monday.
The first picture to be put into
work at the new lot will be "King
Kelly of the U.S.A.," which starts
July 6. Leonard Fields directs.
Walthall Signed For
'Cirl of Limberlost'
Monogram yesterday signed Henry
B. Walthall, through Hoffman-Schla-
ger, for a spot in "The Girl of the
Limberlost," which Christy Cabanne
put before the cameras at Talisman
studios.
The studio also signed Eddie Nu-
gent, Gigi Parrish, Robert Ellis, Betty
BIythe, Barbara Bedford and Tommy
Bupp. W. T. Lackey produces.
Royalty At Opening
Of Men In White
London. — The London premiere of
"Men in White," staged at the Lyric
Theatre, was in the form of the bene-
fit for charity, under royal auspices.
Prince George attended, as well as
many notables.
The play, with Jill Esmond, Robert
Douglas and Lewis Casson heading the
cast, was accorded a most enthusias-
tic welcome.
Janet Cohn Coming West
New York. — Janet Cohn, of the
play department of Brandt and Brandt,
is leaving for Hollywood today for a
month's vacation.
Walpole Improved
Hugh Walpole checked out of the
Santa Monica Hospital yesterday after
spending one day for a treatment for
antrum trouble.
Sound Men See Victory
(Continued from Page 1 )
proposed 1700-foot reel. The com-
mittee has agreed on this length and
will present the recommendation to
the Council next week. It is practic-
ally certain of being accepted.
One of the deciding factors was a
survey of theatres which revealed that
in more than sixty per cent of the
theatres of the country the operators
take the film off the 1000-foot reels
and wind it on 2000-foot ones of
their own for theatre use. Every time
this is done, four frames are taken
off the picture, with the result that
after a picture has been out a few
weeks, such a chunk has been re-
moved that a new section has to be
put in or there is a jump iri,.th'e pic-
ture. ' ' '.''' ''-' - ■
Marie Osborne to "The Cay Di-
vorce," Radio.
Oilie Connolly to "The Captain
Hates the Sea," Columbia.
William Vt>n Brinken, Bodil Rosing
and Phyllis Ludwig, by Al Kingston, to
"King Kelly of the U.S.A.," Mono-
gram.
Herman Bing, by Menifee I. John-
stone, to "Kindling," Fox.
Arthur Aylesworth to Warners'
"The Case of the Howling Dog."
Robert Barrat and Russell Hicks to
"Big-Hearted Herbert," Warners.
Josephine Whittell for "Serenade,"
Fox, by O'Reilly-Mann.
John Marston to "Servants' En-
trance," Fox, by O'Reilly-Mann.
Mischa Auer for "Student Tour,"
MGM.
Beulah Bond! for "The Painted
Veil." MGM.
Ruthelma Stevens and Cornelius
Keefe for "A Lady Surrenders," War-
ners, by Hallam Cooley.
Helene Millard to "A Lady Surren-
ders," Warners, by Sam Armstrong,
of the Tom Conlon office.
Sam Flint to "Broadway Bill" at
Columbia, by Sam Armstrong.
Sam Hinds, Stanley Price, Cyril
Thornton, Lee Phelps, all to Minute
Mystery No. 5 at Columbia, by Sam
Armstrong.
'Chu Chin Chow' Gets
Trade Show in London
London. — British Gaumont's lavish
production of "Chu Chin Chow" had
its trade show Thursday night and
received a big ovation. The pro-
duction is superb, the settings ex-
tremely lavish and the acting excel-
lent. It is the general opinion that
it is the best thing Walter Forde
has done.
Craven Finishes One
Frank Craven completed work on
the screen play for "That's Grati-
tude" yesterday. Lew Colder, presi-
dent of Foy Productions, for which
Craven is producing and directing the
picture, arrives today from New York
to be on hand for the start July 5.
Columbia releases it.
New Job For Wells Root
MGM yesterday assigned Wells
Root to write the screen play of "The
Transgressor," a novel by Anthony
Richardson. Lucien Hubbard will pro-
duce when he returns from his Euro-
pean vacation the latter part of Aug-
ust.
Rep. Ray Cannon i
Runs Amuck Again
Chicago. — Representative Raymond
J. Cannon, who recently introduced a
bill in Congress to legislate morals
into motion pictures, went on the
rampage in a radio speech here yes-
terday, declaring that the movies are
the greatest menace to American
youth and that he intended to revive )
his bill making it a crime to transport
indecent pictures.
Will Hays, .he said, is just a figure-
head with nothing to say about pro-
duction. He declared that the usual
themes of pictures are divorce, free V
love, marital infidelity and exploita- \
tion of gangsters and racketeers.
"A vicious attack is being made on
the sacredness of womanhood, the
sanctity of the home and obedience
to, lawful authority," he said. He at-
tacked Carbo's bedroom scene in
"Christina" as "disgusting to fathers
and mothers who view such pictures
with their children."
He closed by saying that "what few
good pictures are projected on the
screen are almost always spoiled by
suggestive scenes, vulgar mannerisms
and offensive dialogue."
Henry Stephenson In
Radio's Richest Cirl'
Pandro Berman signed Henry Ste-
phenson yesterday for "The Richest
Girl in the World," in which Miriam <>
Hopkins has the lead on a loan from |l|
Paramount. Stephenson was the kind-
ly grandfather of "Little Women."
"Richest Girl" looms as the next
starter on the Radio schedule. It
will be William Seiter's first direct-
ing job on his contract status.
I
4
Tradeviews
(Continued from Page 1 )
getting out of the country. This is
a move that is dreaded by the French
exhibitors and they are flooding the
Government with protests, demanding
that the number of pictures admitted
from America be increased and not
cut.
Such a move would be a distinct
loss because France supplies better
than 20 per cent of the foreign in-
come of American pictures. But, un-
der the new restrictions, operation
there probably would be at a loss. So
the American picture business is on
a spot and the only possible source
of help is at Washington. And,
meanwhile, France will send her wines
here in unlimited quantities.
VACATION TIME IS HERE
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|une30. 1934
Pa^e Five
SOIJXD MEN SEE VICTORY
AXD DROP TRICK PLAY
Summer Bears Down
The sound men's union of the
lATSE is so certain that the lA is
coming back into the studios that they
have abandoned a project to build up
a separate organization, patterned
after the ASC, and yesterday recalled
Harold V. Smith to the position of
business representative of the Local.
Smith's resignation as business
representative was announced last
April, and he became executive man-
ager of the newly formed American
Society of Sound Engineers. Now it
is revealed that Smith was given a
leave of absence to go with the new
society, which had been set up by
members of the union. The plan was
to model the society along the ASC
lines with the hope that the producers
would recognize it and give it a con-
tract for sound men, similar to that
now held by the ASC for cameramen.
Union leaders at that time felt that
the lATSE Local was absolutely licked
in the studios, and they did not want
to have to go to the IBEW in order
to work. However, Smith has just re-
turned from Washington where he
conferred with Sol Rosenblatt and
other officials. He also conferred with
the new lATSE president, George
Browne. As a result of his confer-
ences, the lA Local feels that the
future is going to be rosy, and has
recalled Smith.
The new society will not be aban-
doned, however, but will be kept as
an off-shoot of the union and will be
used as a means to further technical
and research work in sound develop-
ment.
Hillyer's One-Day Job
Lambert Hillyer started and fin-
ished shooting yesterday of "The
Professor Gives a Lesson," one of Co-
lumbia's Minute Mysteries. He used
Geneva Mitchell, Cyril Thornton,
Charles Wilson, Samuel S. Hinds,
Stanley Price, Lee Phelps and James
rawley in it.
Sackheim Scenario Head
Jerry Sackheim, Universal story
bead, has taken over the duties of
the scenario department during the
absence of Leonard Spigelgass, who
is vacationing. Latter returns in
about two weeks.
Todd-Kelly Starting
Hal Roach starts the second of the
new series of shorts co-starring
Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly Mon-
day. Cus Meins directs.
Ida Lupino Better
Ida Lupino sat up for two hours
yesterday, according to her physician,
and is on the way to recovery from
her infantile paralysis attack.
Wally Beery In N. Y.
New York. — Wallace Beery arrived
here by plane today to attend to some
oersonal business and see a doctor
•lOut his bad leg.
/ Erskine Book For Fox
■^ox yesterday purchased John Ers-
e's best selling novel, "Bachelor of
"l-s." Sol Wurtzel will produce it.
Hard On Crosses
New York. — Hot weather, and per-
haps one or two other things, is laying
a heavy hand on the grosses in the big
picture houses. "Let's Try Again" at
the Music Hall could get only $60,-
000 for the week, and "Operator 13"
pulled $31,000 into the Capitol.
Six days of "The Great Flirtation"
gave the Paramount only $16,000.
"The Affairs of a Gentleman" took
$15,500 at the Roxy, "Dr. Monica"
at the Strand grossed $1 1,500, "Black
Moon" at the Rialto got $10,500, and
"Circus Clown" at the Mayfair pulled
$7500.
Lull In Production
For The Holiday Week
Independence week will be cele-
brated by very little new shooting in
the central Hollywood studios. Neith-
er Radio nor Columbia has anything
starting next week.
The next new burst of Paramount
activity is slated for July 16, with
possible but not definite startings by
"Pursuit of Happiness" and "A Son
Comes Home" in the interim.
Gary Coopers East
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Cooper leave for
New York tonight to visit Mrs. Coop-
er's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul
Shields. A trip on the Shields yacht
is in order. Cooper finished in "Now
and Forever" yesterday, with his next
assignment "The Lives of a Bengal
Lancer."
Wally Westmore III
Wally Westmore, Paramount make-
up man. is at the Hollywood Hospital
recovering from an emergency appen-
dicitis operation Thursday night by Dr.
William E. Branch.
Hard Going For Indies
(Continued from Page 1 )
<
average of thirty independent com-
panies, there are now exactly nine in
active operation.
These are Monogram, Majestic,
Mascot, Invincible, Chesterfield, Prin-
cipal, Liberty, Goldsmith and Su-
preme. The rest of the list is hanging
on, hoping for fair weather.
Indie field during the coming sea-
son, probably will be divided by those
still active, and no competition is ex-
pected from the dormant companies
that maintain offices, hold in stock a
list of titles and are "working on
plans." Monogram is regarded as the
strongest in the entire group, owing
to its advantageous position in having
its own exchange system. In a simi-
lar spot are the twin producers, In-
vincible and Chesterfield.
The hardest blow to the smaller
indies was Phil Goldstone's abdication
as financier. Since he declared he was
out of the independent field and liaui-
dated every financing interest he had,
the horde of small producers has about
vanished.
Greer's Trailer a
New York Sensation
New York. — Howard Greer's
auto trailer, with its green trim,
red and white curtains, shower and
kitchen, created a sensation here.
He parked it in front of the Wal-
dorf, gave luncheon parties in it
and then drove his guests through
Central Park,
Receipts Of Loew's
Ahead Of Last Year
New York. — The receipts of Loew's
Inc. are running well ahead of last
year and vast improvement is expected
in its financial condition.
It is estimated that the company's
earnings for the second quarter of this
year, ended June 9, will be around
$1,600,000. For the 28 weeks,
ended March 1 5 last, they were
$3,973,472. The company expects
that its earnings for the full year, end-
ing August 31, will permit dividends
of $4 per share. Cash and Govern-
ment securities on .hand amount to
approximately $10,000,000.
Rogers Party Leaves
For East By Steamer
Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Rogers,
the Val Pauls and the Casey Robin-
sons left for New York last night on
the Santa Paula, going from there to
Europe.
The Rogers office here will remain
open in charge of Bill Pierce, the
Rogers secretary.
N.Y.Times Digging
Into Censorship
The New York Times has wired
Douglas Churchill, its Hollywood cor-
respondent, to make an exhaustive
survey of the censorship situation in
the film industry as it affects Holly-
wood.
The newspaper considers the sub-
ject of sufficient importance to have
Churchill spend a couple of weeks
digging into it and getting the per-
sonal reactions of all leading produc-
tion chiefs. The lengthy article which
he will write will be taken from thiJ
picture section of the paper and pub-
lished in the Sunday magazine in
three weeks.
Bob Collier Headed
East With Ad Agency
Robert Collier, well known in pi<"
ture advertising and publicity circle
has gone to New York, where he wi
be a radio executive with the Bio\
Company, advertising counselors, ant
owners of radio station WNEW, Nev\
York.
European Sailings
New York — Sailing on the Paris to-
day are Laurence Stallings, Pierre
Brasseur, French actor, Truman Talley
of the Fox newreels, and Sidney Tow-
ell, treasurer of Fox Films.
Breen On Way Back
New York. — Joseph Breen, of the
Hollywood Hays office, left here yes-
terday for the coast, stopping for a
day or so in Philadelphia.
Ken Coldsmith
Announces
U
Little Men
by
LOUISA M. ALCOTT
rr
IN PREPARATION
F F E T F R O I D
A Special Vendome Summer Service
VENDOME OFFERS, FOR THE SUMMER, AN ENTIRELY NEW MENU
THAT FAIRLY BRISTLES WITH ATTRACTIVE ITEMS
The "Buffet Froid" Service has proved most pleasing to our patrons.
Appealing cold dishes are attractively displayed on a moveable table The
various dishes rest on a bed of ice and so are kept in perfect condition.
The display is moved directly to the tables of the guests, v^ho then make
their selections.
Popular items of the Buffet Froid are:
CHINOOK SALMON IN JELLY
CHICKEN SUPREME, WITH ASPARAGUS TIPS
SLICED TURKEY, WITH GOOSE LIVER IN ASPIC
SLICED CHICKEN, MIXED GREEN SALAD
WINE CUPS
Warm weather is with us again and our thoughts are turning, quite naturally,
to thirst-quenching, cooling beverages. With the Summer luncheon or dinner,
nothing can be more delightful than properly prepared Wine Cups. They are
not only delicious to the palate, but are satisfying, and, having a low alcoholic
content, are far more healthful and desirable in hot weather than spirituous
beverages.
WINE CUPS
CHAMPAGNE
SAUTERNES
SPARKLING MOSELLE
STILL HOCK
CLARET
STILL MOSELLE
In tfie preparation of Wine Cups we use only choice vintage wines (or the
wine may be your own selection) , assorted fresh fruits, with fine old Cognac,
Curacoa, Maraschino, Jamaica Rum, Benedictine or Grand Marnier as flavors.
Cups are always served quite cold and are made up with Appolinaris, Perrier,
White Rock or Schweppes Club Soda, as may be desired. Wine Cups may be
had in both large and small sizes.
HOT WEATHER SPECIALS
Have you tried either Vermouth Cassis or Amer Picon Avec Sirops?
For the occasional drink they are novel, thirst-quenching, and
altogether delightful-
6666 SUNSET BOULEVARD
Hollywood 1666
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