The Film Daily (1948)

Thursday, March 4, 19^ Jackson Pk. Could Get All Pix, Says B & K (Continued from Page 1) secretary-treasurer, testified in yesterday's Federal Court hearings on the Jackson Park Theater contempt charge. Balaban stated that he was the operating head of the organization and that Barney Balaban was not active in the circuit management. Further, he stated that he had read the decree and considered himself personally bound by it. He also had impressed his assistants with the fact that the decree must be lived up to in its entirety, Balaban said. The $1.25 admission charge for Para's "Unconquered" was caused by circuit having to pay 60 per cent of the gross to play the film, so they had to charge roadshow admissions for film, to make a profit. Charley Davidson, B&K film booker, followed Balaban on the stand. Morton Lane, Paramount attorney from New York, was called next and described various conferences he participated in here. He denied any conspiracy to violate the Jackson Park decree. Lane said that Paramount set up three non-competitive zones for subsequent runs giving Jackson Park right to bid on all non-exclusive films. Sam Gorelick, RKO exchange manager, followed on the stand and said he was 'advised by his superiors to devise practical plan for distributing their films in Chicago territory. He devised system of first breaks for subsequent run theaters. First 25 houses using plan included 14 independents and Jackson Park. U.K. Formula Near Agreement Hear Major Concessions Omitted being made finding expression in the industry, Anglo-American discussions on the film duty impasse persisting since last August continued here yesterday at the Board of Trade. Experienced trade observers inclined to the opinion that, despite the high optimism prevailing during the past week, there was no sign of The New York Herald-Tribune, in a copyright London dispatch today, said that intervention of the British foreign office was reliably reported to be "producing the first faint hope of some settlement of the AngloAmerican deadlock." The dispatch added that "the foreign office intervention on the side of settling the question came in the wake of fruitless, though friendly, exploratory talks Monday and Tuesday and that the foreign office evidently was acting because the deadlock was becoming a matter of political relations with the U. S. and could no longer be handled on a narrow economic basis." Requiem Mass for Mrs. Berman Requiem Mass for Mrs. Margaret O'Brien Berman will be celebrated this morning at eleven, at the Church of St. Gregory the Great, Harrison, New York. Deceased was the widow of Samuel I. Berman who owned a theater chain in New York State. Surviving are a son, Stanley J. Berman, and two sisters. I1EUI POSTS CLYDE YOUNG, Griffin Consolidated manager, Pampa, Tex. GENE WHITE, assistant manager. Southern, Chicago. DENNIS SCRUGGS, salesman, Southeastern Theater Supply, Charlotte. NICHOLAS R. ZELLE, manager, Devon, Bronx. WALTON HAMILTON, manager. State, Newton, N. C. WILLIAM J. TRAMBUKIS, assistant manager, Stats, Providence, R. I. JEFF SULLIVAN, assistant manager, Strand, Syracuse, N. Y. KEITH SOUTHARD, student assistant. State, Providence, R. I. JOHN BEASLEY, assistant manager, Avon, Providence, R. I. EDDIE SAFIR, Republic salesman, Chicago. JIM McCANN, booker-office manager, 20th-Fox, Del Moinoi. JACK HARRIS, Warner salesman, St. Louis. PAT HALLORAN, salesman. Paramount, Omaha. daylight yet, although there was a feeling that the prolongation of the talks indicated a determination on the part of the American and British conferees to reach a settlement formula. One development, and it was surprising to those who recalled last week's flat statement by Harold Wilson, BOT president, that there was no insistence on the principle of the duty, was an equally flat statement yesterday by a high Government source to the effect that "there can be no compromise on the basic point" that American distribs. may take out only 25 per cent profits. The duty now imposed is 75 per cent. There was some disposition here to interpret this as meaning that the British were shying awav from the American position that the duty must go. Those who inclined to this opinion expressed doubt that the Government had in mind a dutyfree formula which would embrace _(l)a "freeze" and (2) a permissible investment feature, sans restrictions. If the British Government stands pat on the principle of a ad valorem duty, and the proposed settlement formula retains the duty although at a lower rate, it is extremely doubtful if the MPEA-MPAA affiliates will accept it. In that event, there would be either extended further negotiations or an abrupt end to them for a long time to come. At the same time, it is only fair to say that there is a disposition in some quarters to discount the pessimism expressed by Eric A. Johnston and American distributors here. Those looking askance at it take the view that certain maneuvering is to be expected, and that the American attitude might be designed to give the British Government a reputation for "tough ( Continued from Page 1) ness" with the public here before the compromise deal is announced. It is further pointed out that the British long have known that the duty was obnoxious to the American industry, and thus any compromise formula must provide for its elimination. And it is noted, too, that Johnston, in the past, has stressed that he would not visit London for duty discussions until he deemed the time propitious. Johnston, James A. Mulvey, who is here to represent the SIMPP; Joyce O'Hara, Johnston's executive aide, and Allen Dulles, the MPAA foreign legal adviser, all are now scheduled to emplane for New York tomorrow. There could, of course, be developments requiring a change in plans. Johnston told newsmen here yesterday that the outlook for a settlement was "no better, no worse." Others participating in the discussions were not talkative, and it was anticipated that any official statement might be non-committal when finally issued. (Private advices received in New York yesterday by cable from London quoted one of the American reps, as taking a dim view of the discussions.) With the supply of unreleased Hollywood product fast dwindling, it was frankly conceded here yesterday that time was running out for British theater operators, the major circuits no less than the small indies. Should the impasse continue indefinitely, it was said J. Arthur Rank especially would be in an uncomfortable position, lacking sufficient prime product for his Odeon and G-B circuits. Here again, however, there was the promise of a sizable threat to the American industry. For some time, some members of the Parliaentary Labor Party have beenplugging for nationalization of the British industry, and the Board of Trade recently has admitted to an interest in the establishment of one or two state-owned studios. In a grave emergency — and the impasse would build one up — the Labor Government might find it expedient, even desirable, to move for the complete socialization of the British film industry. If that happened, the British film market might be lost to Hollywood. MAR. RELEASES Fifty features, including nine, re-issi. are scheduled for release this month survey indicates. Pictures, arranged distributors, uith release dales and ri ning times, are listed below: COLUMBIA -.s The Return of the Whistler (18)/ff Adventures in Silverado ( 25 j . 6§?o West of Sonora (25). Song of Idaho (30). The Sign of the Bam, 84 nuns. EAGLE LION T.-Xa The Westland Trail (13), 58 mins. The Oetober Man (20), 85 mins. The Enchanted Valley (27). 77 mins. Seven Sinners (re-issue) (27). 86 mins Sutter's Gold (re-issue) (27). 93 mins. FILM CLASSICS De\ il's Carg ) (15). Mo ley Madn ess 115). Milt Harker Joins WB West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Milt Harker, who resigned after 11 years as INS Los Angeles bureau manager, has joined Alex Evelove's studio publicity staff at Warners. Sam Lake Joins SRO Sam Lake has been named to the N. Y. sales force of SRO. Lake had previously been with Paramount for 17 years. Arg.vl' Secrets (15). The Trail of the Vigilantes (re-issue). Bad Men of the Dakotas (re-issue). Flame of New Orleans (re-issue). Broadway (re-issue). Jungle Woman (re-issue). Buck Privates (re-issue). M-G-M Three Daring Daughters (3), 115 mins Alias a Gentleman (19), 76 mins. The Bride Goes Wild (26), 98 mins. MONOGRAM Angel's Valley (71. 67 mins. Oklahoma Blues (14). Docks of New Orleans (21), 70 mins. PARAMOUNT Caged Fury (5), 61 mins. Saigon (12), 94 mins. Mr. Reckless (26), 66 mins. RKO-RADIO I Remember Mama (1). The Miracle of the Bells (3). Arizona Ranker (23). Tarzan and the Mermaids (23). REPUBLIC The Inside Story (14). 87 mins. California Firebrand (15), 63 mins. Lightnin' in the Forest (25), 58 mins. Bill and Coo (26). 61 mins. SCREEN GUILD The Burning Cross. SELZNICK RELEASING CORP. Duel in the Sun (general release), 135 mi 20th CENTURY-FOX Gentleman's Agreement, 118 mins. The Challenge, 68 mins. Half-Past Midnight, 69 mins. An Ideal Husband, 96 mins. UNITED ARTISTS Arch of Triumph (special engagements). UNIVERSAL A Double Life, 104 mins. Naked City, 96 mins. :.' , • c..--y, WARNER BROS. I Became a Criminal (6), 78 mins. The Adventures of Robin Hood (r (13), 102 mins. April Showers (27), 94 mins. RKO Trade Shows in Man Set for Five Features "Miracle of the Bells" heads list of RKO's trade showings t month. Exchange centers will p' film Mar. 9, except Des Moines wh<, it will be shown Mar. 10. "I RemeJ'i ber Mama" was shown in New Ye and Los Angeles yesterday. Rest of exchange areas will the pic on Mar. 17. "Fort ApacI will be screened Mar. 17 in New Y< and other areas, excepting Cle land where it will play Mai "Arizona Ranger" will be sho in exchange centers on Mar. 23. for screening the same day is "TJ zan and the Mermaids," with exception of Washington where will be shown Mar. 24. The lat1 two pix will be screened in the N York exaham^ J)r,<jj/Y'jjon room.