The Film Daily (1948)

FILE COPY Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought a The Daily Newspaper Oi Motion Pictures Twenty-Nine Years Old -^FDAILY 93, NO. 48 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH 11. 1948 TEN CENTS fllPBH DIRECTORS mULL DUTV SUBSTITUTE Scope oi State Dept. Aid Must be Determined Decision Could Result in I Picture Analysis Before Deciding Whether to Help Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — One of the basic polfey decisions to be made by State Jepartment toppers is whether priate American agencies of informaion seeking Government aid in meetrig out-of-pocket expenses for their verseas operations should be aided n the basis of their over-all operadons or simply to the extent that heir activities can reasonably be eld to be furthering the purposes f the Smith-Mundt Bill. On the answer to this question (Continued on Page 81 M. Y. TO Deny Nod To ireman Bill Changes Sharp denial that amendments to he Fino-Clancy bill, pending in the ew York State Legislature at Aliny, were made by agreement with 1m theater operators, as suggested memorandum circulated at Albany by the Uniformed Firemen's 'association, was made yesterday nntly by Fred J. Schwartz, presifContinued on Page 9' vlear Up Pix Situation, orrell Urges Labor Com. Waslxington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington— Herb Sorrell yesteriy registered a plea with the House nbor sub-committee investigating Hollywood strike that it "clear p the situation." Concluding four (Continued on Page 10> St. Paul Voters Kill Proposed Ticket Levy St. Paul — A proposed five per cent tax on theater tickets and other amusements was defeated by four to one in a referendum vote held in connection with the election of municipal officers. Plan was actively opposed by NCA, MACO and other theaters interests, as well as receiving editorial condemnation in the Pioneer-Press & Dispatch. Theaters ran trailers explaining the tax and speeches were made by civic leaders. RANK CONFIDENT OF SETTLEMENT Will Have 24 Pix for U. S. Release by September "What's new on the tax?" asked J. Arthur Rank when Xew York press men swooped down on him vesterdav aboard the SS* Queen Elizabeth as the ship was nearing the pier. Later as he faced a barrage of nine newsreel cameras and scores of still cameras, the British cinemagnate reiterated his opposition to the 75 per cent British ad valorem tax. "The taximpassewill be settled," he emphasized. Because he was extremely confident of the negotiations MPAA President Eric (Continued on Page 1 0 1 "Secret" Session Hastily Called Gets Johnston's Report as Wilson Prepares to Go Before Parliament Today to Lift Curtain Officially on the Compromise London (By Cable) — Harold Wilson, president of the Board of Trade, will go before Parliament today to lift the curtain on the progress made in the Anglo-American discussions here tc end the film duty impasse. Trade sources here, usually well informed, were confident that Wilson, in answering a question tabled in Commons by Eustace Willis, Laborite, would disclose that a compromise, if not already agreed upon, was in sight. This was predicated on the fact that Eric A. Johnston, MPAA-MPEA president, had talked yesterday with (Continued on Page 9 1 U. K. Indie Producers Shy of Coin— Eckman RANK Because of the British tax impasse, British independent producers find it practically impossible to get financing, reported Samuel Eckman, Jr., managing director of British Metro, upon his arrival with Mrs. Eckman yesterday aboard the SS Queen Elizabeth. Eckman pointed out that financiers are chary of backing production when they are not sure whether theaters will remain open. Backers also f ear possible retaliation against British pictures in the U. S., he said. It's not at all unlikely, in view of such fiscal difficulties, Eckman 'Continued on Page ID "U" Execs.' Salaries Depend on '48 Net Wilmington — Remuneration to executives of Universal Pictures Co., Inc., will depend upon the profits of the company for this year, it was disclosed here yesterday at the meeti Continued on Page 11 I Columbia's Six-Months Net Profit at $725,000 Czech Pad Renewal Forecast by Kanturek International heads and industry executives attended a luncheon at the Harvard Club yesterday in honor of Louis Kanturek, MPEA supervisor of Eastern Europe. Kanturek, who arrived from (Continued on Page 9> Net profit of Columbia Pictures for the 26 weeks ended Dec. 27 yesterday was estimated by the company at §725,000, less than half of the §1,560,000 earning in the comparable 1946 period. Earnings are equal to 90 cents per common stock share, compared with $2.20. Operating profit for the recent (Continued on Page 9> Rank-Skouras Meet Today On Odeon-G-B Close Tie Definite possibility of state-controlled studios by the British Government is seen by Lawrence R. Kent, 20th-Fox's rep. on the Gau(Continued on Page 10) TOA Plans Publicity Program Names Gamble; Chi. '48 Convention Site "Best Years" Set for 70 Simultaneous Spots in U. K. "Best Years," which has now begun its second year as a first-run film in England's West End area, will go into general release in midApril with 70 simultaneous showings, announced Robert Wolff, managing director of British RKO, when (Continued on Page 10) West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles— Ted R. Gamble, TOA president, was named to head the organization's public relations program at the board of directors third session here. TOA pointed out that it is particularly opposed to pessimistic breeding publicity regarding studio product. S. H. Fabian was appointed head of the TOA executive committee. Chicago was voted the 1948 con(Continued on Page 9) Warner Theater Plans Conventions by Video Philadelphia— RCA's new 18 by 24 foot large screen television may have its first public demonstration in a Warner theater during the national political conventions. Unveiling is seen as providing a large box office draw during the conventions, when the meeting hall will be overcrowded, in the face of tremendous local interest. A New York premiere of the big screen device had been considered, but odds favored Philadelphia because of the greater interest possible in a tie with the conventions.