The Film Daily (1948)

DAILY Friday, March 5, 194 Cowdin, Blumberg Hit Surrender Pipedream (Continued from Page 1) ly vigorous in disclaiming the story. Carried under a New York dateline, yarn claimed Rank pointedly referred to his contract calling for delivery of a fixed number of films annually, and that Cowdin assured that guarantees would be fulfilled. Paper's line is that other majors would follow suit, with Hollywood's embargo on film shipments seen crumbling if England stands firm on the duty. In New York, the Standard's "exclusive" dispatch was generally regarded as an inspired story, with lively speculation as to just who planted it. The quick Cowdin-Blumberg disclaimer was regarded in some quarters as either (1) indicative of a duty settlement or (2) a sure sign that Universal would take to the courts should any demand be served for resumption of film shipments to the U.K. Palhe Industries Net Down to $570,000 (Continued from Page 1) tribution and production of pictures, was responsible for the decreased net in spite of the higher income. The report advised stockholders of the several recent steps taken by the company to strengthen credit. Under terms of the $7,500,000 (revolving fund obtained from a group of banks in December, the weekly film rentals collected by Eagle Lion, Pathe subsidiary, less the cost of prints and the expenses of distribution and advertising, are applied to reduce the loan. In addition, the corporation may borrow any unused balance up to the maximum amount of the credit to finance 70 per cent of the cost of future production. Stockholders were also advised that although preliminary negotiations for the acquisition of Walter Wanger Productions included an interest in 10 films previously released by Universal, the agreement as finally completed omitted the acquisition by Eagle Lion of these interests. Send <J3irtkday.% QreetingA ZJo — | March 5 J* Houston Branch Renee Carroll *> Jules Furthman Samuel Zierler *.« D. A. Doran Ben Wirth H Bernard R. Goodman i.i Virginia Christine ♦.♦ March 6 *'♦ Guy Kibbee Barry O'Connor J'{ Rochelle Hudson Tom Bryson J*{ N. B. Spingold Freddie Mercer £ March 7 H Charles Baily Rose Slaten « Harmon is Elected I -I* Of World Church Body Francis S. Harmon, vice-president of MPAA and M PEA has been elected a vice-chairman of the North American Administrative Committee of the World Council of Christian Education, it is announced. A former president of the National YMCA, the youngest man ever elected to that post, Harmon also is chairman of HARMON the finance committee of the Federal Council of Churches, a member of the executive committee of the International YMCA, a member of the American Bar Association, Mississippi Bar Association, the Associated Press and American Newspaper Publishers Association. New Trade Barrier Threat Envisioned (Continued from Page 1) and secret confabs between groups of nations which seek to set up economic blocs. While official meetings are aimed at clearing hindrances to world trade, based on the Geneva draft charter signed last year, secret meetings of delegates seek to develop new eco Havana (By Cable) — Delegates to the UN Conference on Trade and Employment approved a general settlement of economic development issues, subject to reservations by five of the 58 participating nations, and fixed March 19 as the target date for the end of the conference. nomic spheres, walled against outside trade. Chief among these is a reported Near East bloc, stretching from the Mediterranean to the border of India and including a dozen countries with a total population of about 178 million. Argentinians hope to create a blec including Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia and Peru, and there is a projected joining of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, as well as a Central American bloc to stretch from Panama to the Mexican border. Meanwhile, the British Imperial bloc is being strengthened via state direction of buying and selling on world markets. Another economic sphere is the Soviet bloc, not represented at the Havana meetings, which is being enlarged through control of such countries as Czechoslovakia. It already includes Russia, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, except Greece. Principal fear of delegates is that Walsh, Brewer Following Predecessors, Says Sorrell (Continued from Page 1) rell. Sorrell yesterday denied that he had ever signed the card, signed "Herb Stewart" or seen it prior to Wednesday afternoon. The big labor leader told the Committee, however, that IATSE President Richard Walsh and Hollywood representative Roy Brewer are following in the footsteps of George Browne and Willie Bioff — their predecessors. He said, however, that he was not ready to charge they are taking money from the producers. "Some of the producers," he said, "should have gone to jail with Willie (Bioff) for conspiracy." It now looks as if the hearing might drag on for another week. Sorrell stated exchange and theater workers throughout the country were vitally affected by producers' deals with Bioff in the past, and that in return for keeping these workers "under wraps," as well as studio workers, Browne and Bioff had drawn $500,000 a year from the producers. McConnell Concludes for Jackson Park Theater (Continued from Page 1) attitude toward the Court was unjustified. In his conclusion, McConnell charged 20th-Fox's release of "Forever Amber" and "Daisy Kenyon," as well as the actions of William Gehring, division sales manager, in these matters were decree violations; Paramount also breached the decree by clearance on "Road to Rio" and "Where There Is Life" and the roadshowing of "Unconquered"; B & K tried to bypass decree; M-G-M withheld films from sale and holding "Green Dolphin Street" after two weeks in Chicago theater, thereby committing a decree violation; Warners violated the decree by asking 21 days' clearance on "My Wild Irish Rose." Contracts submitted to the Court by McConnell showed various decree violations, which removed the case from civil litigation into criminal action, it was stated. RKO, McConnell stated, tried to satisfy the film demands of the Jackson Park Theater and sold them films. Edward Johnston, Paramount and B & K attorney, in reply, insisted the case was a civil proceeding in every way. Mayer, Fiielson to Talk at Forum Tonight's guest lecturers in the New School for Social Research series, Freedom of the Press-inPrint, Radio and Film, will be Arthur L. Mayer, president of Motion Picture Associates, and H. William Fitelson, attorney, and specialist in the field of communication. Western European countries, faced with the possibility of blocs in several directions, may be forced to establish their own economic sphere, more defensive and preferential than the customs unions now in existence. Tax Compromise Tall In Turn for Belter (Continued from Page 1) of the British Government and 1 American industry delegation, wh flew over a week ago toda^ wi definitely continuing in a f '"-a I atmosphere, and it was expect . tl they might continue over the wei end to iron out certain technicalit encountered. Indie producers' terests are being safeguarded in 1 formula, it was learned reliably. With Eric A. Johnston, MPA MPEA president, bedded with a c — he was stricken with pneumoi on an earlier British visit — progr* in formulating the compromise n essarily was delayed. However, The Film Daily v assured that no hitch had been < countered, despite some rumors the contrary heard on Wednesd. and that the situation was "stronj hopeful." Johnston was to have hosted H. old Wilson, president of the Board Trade, and Mrs. Wilson, at the Dar Kaye show on Wednesday night, 1 his illness prevented. Joyce O'Ha his executive aide, was deputized do the honors, and this was accep as an indication that there was harmonious feeling, admittedly sential to the negotiations' succe ful culmination. Para, and Cooper Settle Their Dispute (Continued from Page 1) claims for half interests in the Stu and Nebraska Theaters, Lincc Neb.; the Ute, Trail and Tompki Colorado Springs, the Main and I town, Pueblo, Colo.; Sterling j Park, Greeley, Colo., and the Coo" and Joy, Grand Junction, Colo. Paramount's half interest in : corporations operating the Line Theater, Lincoln, Neb., and the C terion, Capitol, Tower, Ritz. Ph and Victoria, Oklahoma City, : sold to Cooper Foundation for undisclosed sum. W. J. Ryan, Jr., Dead IV est Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAIL Hollywood — William J. Ryan, , theater manager, died of a heart tack here. He was 42. Ryan at < time was assistant manager of ' Roxy in New York and three hou in Worcester, Mass. He is survr by his widow. UlEDDinG BELL! Edelman-Segal Jack S^gal, vice-president of C lumbia Pictures Int'l, left yesterc for Pal/n Beach where he will married today to Shirley Edeln of New York City. They will lei for Europe the latter part of Ma: for an extended stay.