The Film Daily (1939)

vi .' i'ihiij ii< uisi P/-i£ Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Twenty Years Old Vc075, NO. 63 "^ EDAH.Y7 NEW YORE. MONDAY. APRIL 3. 1939 Settlement or Spread or* Strike Expected Early Thi 20THF0TT0 STRESS $XJp,000 PIX NEXT YEAR MPTOA, Allied Marshal Forces for Neely Bill Hearings THCWtCI\ IN REVIEW Final Reform Draft ;By GEORGE H. MORRIS DOMESTIC TRADE REFORMS: Climaxing a vital, event-studded week, came finalization of trade reform draft which was released on Thursday night. It embodied proposals by both distribs. and exhibs., and text was supplied also to D of J, with whom conference was proposed. Prompt action by exhibs. was indicated re their opinion on the acceptability of draft whose arbitration provisions were incomplete. UA, it was learned, had withdrawn from participation in the conferences and the code, in general, reason reported to have been inability of its seven producers to agree on certain draft points. * * * NEW YORK STRIKE: Eastern nerve center of filmland was beset with strike of Local 306 projectionists in home offices, plus N. Y. exchanges and newsreel headquarters. Walkout took effect on Monday and was followed swiftly by girding of both sides for a victory. Distribs. organized to keep pix shipments rolling; drafted injunction-seeking papers in event proposed mediation should break down; and set up a theater-to-theater shipping arrangement for film as move against product famine in outlets of metropolitan territory. U. S. initiated strike probe; and Local 306 declared it would stand by its demands that distribs. cease supply of film to houses employing Empire State M. P. Operators Union members. The inter-union warfare hatched the strike. * * * TWENTIETH-FOX CONCLAVE : Company's annual sales convention swung into action at Congress Hotel in Chicago on Friday, on eve of which Herman Wobber, general (Continued on Page 7) Opponents and Proponents to Testify Today Before Senate Committee Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Opponents and proponents of the Neely Bill are scheduled to testify today before a subcommittee of the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee, with both Allied and MPTOA presenting their most able spokesmen. Allied is to be represented by President H. A. Cole, Nathan Yamins, Sidney Samuelson and its gen (Continued on Page 6) UA SELLING GOLDWYN PIX ON "IF" BASIS United Artists will release the next two Samuel Goldwyn pictures, "The Real Glory" and "Angels Making Music," if and as when, Goldwyn delivers them to UA, James Roosevelt, Goldwyn's vice-president, [Continued on Page 6) Majors Plead Not Guilty In Chicago Contempt Case Chicago — Attorneys for major companies and B & K filed in Federal Court Saturday a general plea (Continued on Page 12) ARNOLD TO HOLD NO FILM PARLEY Asst. Atty. General Vetoes Plan for Draft Talks Washington — Assistant Attorney General Thurman Arnold stated over the week-end that he would not hold a conference with distributors and exhibitor leaders to discuss the trade reform plan in view of the pending suit against the industry. He said that he had received a copy of the draft but made no comment, aside from the assertion that the decision not to hold a conference was definite. Exhibitor units throughout the country are preparing to hold meetings of their board to study the draft, first of which is scheduled for Wednesday by the MPTO of Virginia in Richmond. Record Budget Set for 52 Features; Three in Technicolor By JOSEPH ESLER FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Chicago — With a record production budget set, 20th Century-Fox's 52 features for 1939-40 will present an unprecedented number of $2,000,000 pix, Herman Wobber, general manager of sales, told the com For full page of candid camera shots of 20th-Fox conventioneers, see Page 10. WAGHSBERG'R-BRANDT PLAN DISTRIB. SETUP pany's sales convention which closed here Saturday at the Congress Hotel. Darryl F. Zanuck, who will pro (Continued on Page 11) TMAT LAUNCHES DRIVE TO ORGANIZE IN PIX Film Alliance of the U. S. plans to blanket both North and South America with offices for the distribution of outstanding French and (Continued on Page 12) Retaliation by Unions Expected If Distribs. Hire Non-Union Help Para. Sets $200,000 Adv. Budget on "Union Pacific" Paramount will spend approximately $200,000 in a national newspaper and magazine campaign for Cecil B. De Mille's "Union Pacific," it was announced over the weekend by Robert M. Gillham, director (Continued on Page 12) By HOLLIS KENNAKAN FILM DAILY Staff Writer Settlement of the projectionists' strike or its spread throughout the Metropolitan area is expected early this week, with informed sources reporting that decisive action by the union will come within the next two days. Distribs. and the unions marked time over the week-end with (Continued on Page 12) Nation-wide drive by the Theatrical Managers, Agents and Treasurers Union, an AF of L affiliate, to organize all managers, as (Continned on Page 6) "Dodge" Sensational Dodge City, Kas. — In a brilliant, simultaneous opening in three theaters, the Warner Technicolor epic of early cattle days, "Dodge City," was launched Saturday night amid scenes of wild excitement as the gala crowds went wild with enthusiasm. And well they might, for the picture has smashed over as about the greatest of its type ever produced. Brilliantly directed and superbly acted, it contains probably the most exciting mob fight scene ever filmed. The Technicolor photography is breafhtakingly beautiful. "Dodge City" looks like one of the greatest box office pictures of several years. It has everything that makes for tremendous popular appeal. — HARROWER.