Boxoffice - Feb. 17, 2014

i
beck's
Predicts Cycle of
Films Wilh 'Guts'
New York—An "economic revolution"
stemming from "The Grapes of Wrath"
and inducing the production of "pictures
with guts" is taking place quietly in Hollywood,
writes Sidney Skolsky in his Hollywood
column appearing here in the New
York Post. He believes the film based on
the Steinbeck novel will wield "a tremendous
influence in Hollywood" and continues:
"Offhand. I can think of no picture that
will influence picture making as much. I
am excepting those pictures which brought
about technical changes, such as 'The Birth
of a Nation.' the first talking picture, 'The
Jazz Singer' and the first genuine Technicolor
picture. 'The Grapes of Wrath," without
any innovation in the technical department,
will alter the style of pictures
to be produced,"
It has already changed Darryl F. Zanuck's
attitude. Skolsky reports. "He is
looking for stories that say something; he
wants to make pictures with guts. He is
considering doing a picture about Stalin
and is searching for another problem of
the American scene to present on the
screen ... Of course, .some diehards are
saying, 'Let's wait and see what it does
throughout the country. The people want
entertainment' I have faith in the country
and I believe 'The Grapes of Wrath' is entertainment,"
the columnist continues.
"Producers for a long time have been
parading under a banner labeled 'Entertainment'
and don't know what the word
means. Anything that is light and silly
and doesn't make an audience think is supposed
to be entertainment. I have seen
many pictures loaded with the surefire ingredients
of entertainment that were as
dull as dishwater.
"One of the few objections to 'The
Grapes of Wrath' from the escapist critics
is that it is a problem picture and movie
audiences don't want problems. This is
the bunk. Many of the hit pictures that
Joan Crawford appeared in were problem
pictures.
"They [in Hollywood] are going to make
fewer and better pictures. Many of the
established producers, who are smug in
their ov\ti success and have held the movies
oack. are on their way out. 'The Grapes of
Wrath' is an important picture that came
ilong at the crucial time. It should help
he motion picture industry as much as it
vill lielp the migratory workers."
Grapes" Draws 150,261 to
V. Y. Rivoli First IG Days
New York—During the first 16 days of
ts run at the Rivoli on Broadway, "The
irapes of Wrath" is credited by 20th Cenury-Fox
with having drawTi 150,261 custoners.
The house seats 2,092.
Here's the way the company breaks
own the daily attendance:
January 24 11,499
January 25 10,565
January 26 9,769
January 27 12,717
January 28 11,719
January 29 8,812
January 30 9,115
January 31 8,911
DXOmCE :
SPEAKING
OF
PICTURES .
Uartin Quiglc;
cars has bclal
with one idea.
Thi
pure entertainment, should li;ivc
s .s^iould 1)C
no truck \vith social,
political or economic concepts. In his Motion
Picture Herald and Motion Picture Daily he has
insisted that film makers arc showmen, must never
be teachers or reformers. Since Mr. Quigley coauthored
the Hays code and supports the powerful
Catholic Legion of Decency, his idea has, in the
minds of many, been a ponderable factor in keeping
movies tri\-iai
and imadult.
This warfare of Quigl -^''^fTical films has
broken out anew with
The Grapes of
Mc';n„ Picture Da.
";"«'•«. No. J
ological sufif
mistake... in
To Author Steinbeck
fense rushed critics, col
. THESE BV LIFE
PROVE FACTS IN
GRAPES OF fVRATH'
acclaimed The Crapes of Wrath "a masterpiece," "a
work of genius," "a great American motion picture."
In the New York Times. Frank S.
Mr. Quigley 's
Nugent deplored
belief "that the motion picture must
hide its head like an ostrich to be monarch of all it
surveys."
In the New York Post. Ernest L. Meyer
feared Mr. Quigley would leave for the films only
fairy tales, mysteries, thin men. gangsters, gunmen
and "the two Mickeys, Rooney and Mouse." In
lioioMcc, riva^ trade paper edited b y Maurice
ClJL