Evening star., 1943-01-14

|
anced the books and found assets
of $1OO, 900 and liabilities Of $180, 900.
Despite this dismal outlook Zukor
saw the beginnings Of today's mo-
ton picture exhibition. He launch
ed a chain of small houses and in
two years "Hale's Tours" had paid
off it's debts and declared 10 per
cent dividend. Brady devoted his
entire time to his Broadway attrac-
tions, while Zukor allied with Mar
Gus Loew and became the first treas
urer of Loew's, Inc.
Out of this cinema incubus came
the gigantic Paramount company,
which Mr. Zukor has nursed through
trials and tribulations to its present
eminence. Mr. Brady saw his daugh-
ter Alice become one of the greatest
of screen stars, for a time owned
and financed his own screen COM
pany.
Favors Story Value.
Mr.. Zukor has always been a
strong exponent Of story value. He
was the first to advertise the names
of his stars-rolling up q fortune
with Mary Pickford-has ever been
the champion OF clean screen hc-
ton. On this point he says: II
dispute those who insist that sex is
the foundation stone Of the moving
picture. Did the Birth Of . Ma
ton, The Covered Wagon, The
Ten Commandments or Gone With
the Wind depend on sex? Or any
other of the films we managers ad-
vertise as epoch-making? The
story's the foundation of the whole
structure. If it's a good story that
depends on sex, well and good. If
it's a good story that doesn't de-
pend on sex, just as good. Every
one, of course, likes pretty, attrac-
tive woman. It's part, and very
pleasant part OF the scheme of life
which we're trying in our imperfect
way to put upon the screen. Those
directors who make their films drip
with sex confess their own shallow
ness and inexpertness. They're un-
able to tell a really first-class story,
so they try to save themselves by
sensationalism. It's like the po-
litical orator who hasn't anything
more to say and knows he's stuck,
so he goes on: Behold the starry
banner, the proud symbol of our
freedom
At 10, this department wishes
Adolph zukor happy birthday.
AS for William A. Brady, longer
life and continued prosperity Once
this commentator was able to pinch
hit for Mr.. Brady, when one of his
managers died suddenly. Besides
handsome reward, he gave my
better half s1O0 bottle of perfume
Perhaps Mr. Brady won't mind if I
disclose now she exchanged it tor
millinery and other decorations for
milady.
The Pirate" Purchased.
Metro GoldWyn Mayer has ac-
quired the picture rights to the S. N
Behrman extravaganza, The Pi-
rate" in which Alfred Lunt and
Lynn Fontanne are appearing. Price
was said to be $225,000.
Gypsy Rose Lees novel, THE G
String Murder Mystery" will reach
the screen under the title, The
Burlesque Lady Decision to change
the title was made after 5000 people
were polled in Richmond, Va, Prov
idence, r. l., Philadelphia. South
Bend and Kansas City, Mo. Only
% per cent of those polled knew
what G string was, and 10 per cent
favored the alternate title. The
decision probably pleased the Hays
Office who are we'll aware that the
forces for a clean screen are going
to examine this release carefully.
Critics Select Ten Best.
Mrs. Miniver," produced by
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, has been
voted the No. l picture of 1912 in
a national poll conducted by the
Film Daily, leading trade publica-
ton. among 592 practicing notion
picture critics and reviewers for
newspapers, magazines, wire serv-
ices, syndicates and the radio. In
topping the list of last years "ten
best" Mrs. Miniver,' in which
Greer Carson and Walter Pidgeon
co-starred, received SIS votes. The
other nine leaders in the pool, which
was limited to pictures released be-
tween November l, 1941 and October
81, 1912, are:
Twentieth Century Foxs How
Green Was My Valley" $500 votes).
Warner Brothers Kings Row
(269), Paramount's wake Island"
(26o), Samuel Goldwyn's Pride of
the Yankees" CAD, Warmers The
Man Who Came to Dinner" (238),
Warmers "One Foot in Heaven"
19O, RKO's Suspicion" Q9D,
Metros Woman of the Year" 185)
and Twentieth Century-Fo "The
Pied Piper" 176).
The number Of critics who par
ticipated in the 1912 poll set a new
high during the twenty-one years
that Film Daily has made the an
nual survey.
Early Earle Opening.
Warmers Earle Theater will open
half hour earlier than usual Fri
day. Doors will open at 1000 am.
and the first show will be presented
at 1870 am. This special schedule
will prevail for Friday only.
The feature attraction will be
Road to Morocco" co-starring Bing
Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy La
mour.
Because Of a previous commit
ment, Dave Appallon, popular con-
tinental comedian who has been ap-
pearing at the Earle Theater for
two weeks. did not appear in any
of the stage shows there today.
Harry Anger, producer, arranged for
the Kim Loo Sisters, harmony sing
ers. to replace Appallon for the last
day of the engagement of George
| Washington Slept Here"