The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-02-05
Hollywood Shorts

By JOHN R. CHAPLIN

| DTdTy, ana the AfHeTlCdu OoCiclJ
Composers, Authors and Publisher
goes on apace. BMI has won an edg
in that the current list of ten mos
popular songs, as listed in the trade
paper Variety. includes none but BIN
music doubtless due to the fact tina
Variety's list depends largely on tn
number of times songs are played O
the major networks, from which AS
CAP music is barred).
There is much talk of ASCAP a
filiating with the ALL, but as we
nothing has happened on this score.
Director Carson Kanin jumped int
1.-THE fray with an ad published by hin
in Variety. reading in part: ITO many
the current conflict is little NOR
than an alphabetical tumble. Perhaps
it would be clearer If the proper LABEL
were applied Consider an artists
guild versus company union. Thu
kind of struggle should then be thu
concern of every creative worker IL
America"
There is no doubt that, although
ASCAP has many faults, which this
column previously touched upon, Hol
lywood creators are entirely on AS
CAPS side.
While ASCAP is a copyright pool
or collecting agency, rather than q
trade union, its victory might estab
lish far-reaching precedents which
would better copyright conditions for
writer's, artists, architects, and even
engineers. scientists. and such other
creative workers whose original con-
ceptions are at present inadequately
protected.
In the Orson Welles VS.. Hearst bat
tie, Orson and his publicity director,
Herbert Drake, have gone east to han
die details on the reelase of the film,
which they claim will take place de
spite Hearst objections. Unfortunate
ly, while RKO may go through with
releasing Citizen Kane, there is moth
ing to force theatres to book 1t. II
the exhibitors should boycott it, 1t will
be up to the public to demand that
they show this honest film. This col
umn will keep you posted on develop
ments along this line.
Young Joan Leslie gets the lead
opposite Gary Cooper in Sergeant
York which, despite York's anti-war
stand of few years ago, will be one
of the strongest guns in Hollywood's
drive toward war i. Gene Autry, the
top cowboy star, gets great support
in his new film, Back In the Saddle
Again. Mary Lee, Smiley Brunette,
Edward Norris, Addison Richards and
Arthur Loft will be seen with him.
Ida Lupino heads the film cast OF
The Gentle People, which Anatole Lit
yak directs from the Irwin Shaw play.
Meet John Doe, Frank Capra's
latest film, and said to be another
paean to Democracy as great as MIR.
Smith Goes To Washington, will be
Capra's longest: hours and 10 min
utes. Caught in the Draft Is
service picture, as the title indicates.
But it won't be anything like real
army life. Just listen: Dorothy La
iuOuI ud5 OfcI az CObtuiiiC NhrAaoCc 49,
it, ranging from negligees to formal
gowns and wraps, with a total cost OF
over $4,000. Find us draftee who
can do that for his girl-friend, and
we'll know you've found something Of
a rare exception.
Mothers Boys, story OF three
brothers caught in the draft, will be
by Ben Stoloff at Warmers,
with William Orr, of the original Meet
The People cast, in the lead. Cur
rent survey shows some "a service
pictures in preparation, to say nothing
Of Warmers Here Comes the Navy,
lingo epic of some years back, which
has just been re-released by popular
demand" And Hollywood still denies
hat it's beating the war drums. May
be we're crazy.
THE CURRENT FILMS
Love Thy Neighbor (Par): Benny
md Allen in a riot of fun capped by
eddie (Rochester) Anderson and The
'esa Harris, and Mary Martin sugges-
lively putting over My Heart Belong
o Daddy First-rate comedy.
This Thing Called Love (Col.): Ros-
llind Russell and Melvyn Douglas in
! swell sophisticated comedy about a
wife who wants a platonic honeymoon
Is a guarantee against divorce. Lee
+. Cobb contributes brilliant South |
American Characterization to the best |
crewball merriment of the day.
Santa Fe Trail (WB): Despite a
magnificent portrayal by Raymond
Massey as John Brown, this is pro-
lavery film that perverts American
history and shames our traditions.
avoid it.
Hudson's Bay (20th-Fox): Routine
,iopeer epic with Paul NUM-, Laird
,regar and John Sutton. Easy to
watch but strictly unimportant.
Flight From Destiny (WB): Intrigu-
ng thriller about a professor VINO
inds justification for murder A
)ostoievsky plot reduced to the terms
t Warner film: mnior psychological
Importance, but grand murder thrills.
Worth seeing for Thomas Mftchells
plendid performance.
Flight Command (MGM): Every
achieved situation imaginable used
0 glorify the armed forces. lingo
Avoid it.
The Invisible Woman (Univ): Elk
uisite fun, with John Barrymore as
mad professor making Virginia
ruce disappear and reappear. Worth
eeing.
Kitty Foyle (RKO): A superb per-
,rmance by Ginger Rogers In a pic