The Film Daily (1948)

Friday. March 12, 1948 See Prosperous Era For British Theaters (Continued from Page 1 j :.\___augniented by reissues of U. S. in — jitisli product, the backlog of ■American pictures should prove an : ut standing attraction. It is further argued that the publicity attending moves to end the impasse will have enhanced the promotional qualities of the films. At a press conference yesterday, Rank explained that few forms of ™t amusement are available to Britons 'under the austerity program, and there is little in the shops on which people can spend their money. The embargo on exports of U. S. pictures did not materially affect theatergoing, he said, as Britain never entirely ran out of new American films. Some 20 are still to be released, he said. (In trade quarters, it was understood that three companies had exhausted their reservoir of unreleased ^product in Britain. Distribs. were 'named as Metro, 20th-Fox. Universal. Warners presumably was in the best position, with some eight or nine available, while other companies each ;had about three unreleased features.) With the removal of the British ad valorem tax and the companies' Lembargo on film shipments to the ■J. K., Rank sees a "very good" pros£pect of extending the market for l ..English pictures in the U. S. In order j3io promote British films in this country, exhibitors must "take their coats off" and sell the product, he emphasized something they were not likely to do during the impasse. Rank reported greater progress for British pictures in other countries where his organization operates theaters. We can see that managers of those houses remove their coats, he pbserved. \'-\\ Conceding that remittances from :>',,, :r.e U. S. are "substantially increasing" all the time, Rank refused to di■ "ulge the amount his pictures earn in »J| America, pointing out that he had to Mhtluse the same information "to my iS wn people." As to the total amount 31 :r dollars earned by British pictures. Rank pointed out that only the British Treasury department knows this iK|»&gure. It was brought out at the conference that five Rank films were imported by the U. S. in 1945, 11 in L946, and 20 last year. Total JARO product to be released here during I Send (Birthday ;,s"! Qreetlnad ZJo — March 12 Hap Hadley, Jr. George W. Harvey P. A. McGuire Leslie Fenton March 13 Charles L Glert Frank Wilcox March 14 Gordon Wilson Gilbert L. Becker Charles Francis Reisner "Peace — It's Wonderful!" • • • The happy ending of the Anglo-American film impasse negotiated by Eric A. Johnston and James A. Mulvey, representing the American industry, and Harold Wilson, on behalf of the British Government, obviously assures great benefits for both industries and both countries Beyond that, it will strengthen the bonds of the two industries whose interest is a common one Outstanding British pictures will receive substantially greater playing time here It may be expected that the investment of unremittable American funds in Britain will give marked impetus to British production. T ▼ ▼ • • • COCKTAIL RECEPTION given by the Bob Benjamins and the Jock Lawrences for J. Arthur Rank and Mrs. Rank at the Lawrence Park Ave. apartment last evening brought out a notable gathering of in dustryites, many accompanied by "the better half" Among those who moved along the reception line to pay their respects to Britain's No. One film exec and his lady were: Mr. and Mrs. Rome Betts, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Amory, Mr. and Mrs. Chester B. Bahn, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Brown, Lewis Blumberg, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Ernst, Matty Fox, Mr. and Mrs. James Franey, Sid Field, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Famol, Monroe Greenthal, Mr. and Mrs. William Heineman, Mr. and Mrs. Francis S. Harmon, Sam Israel, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Kapp Also: Mr. and Mrs. Austin Keough, Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Kingsberg, Mr. and Mrs. Aithur W. Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence. Langner, Mrs. Laudy Lawrence, CoL and Mrs. Brian Mountain, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Meyer, Gov. and Mrs. Charles Milliken, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Mayer Also: J. J. O'ConnOT, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Reisman, David O. Selznick, Serge Semenenko, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Shaeffer, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Sonnenberg, William A. Scully, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Stratton, Mr. and Mrs. Spyros P. Skouras, Mr. and Mrs. George Skouras, Joe Vogel, Robert Woolf, Mr. and Mrs. Max Youngstein, Maurice A Bergman, Hal Wallis and Joseph H. Hazen. ITOA-ASCAP Stipulate N. Y. Fireman's Bill is 6-Mos. Contracts for Exhibs. Killed by Recommittal 'Continued from Page I] held in escrow pending the outcome of the court action. Suggests 3-Months Payments Detroit— Members of Allied Theaters of Michigan have been advised by the organization's ASCAP committee to refuse proffered ASCAP contracts before the March 15 deadline, but to pay three months fees, meanwhile awaiting the fate of the Lewis bill. 'Continued from Page 1 ) exclusively reported that Assemblyman Clancy had agreed to recommit the measure, bitterly opposed by the Metropolitan MPTA, the ITOA and other state theater interests). Gene Dennis Dead Seattle — Gene Dennis, 41, psychic, in private life Mrs. J. G. von Herberg, widow of the former Northwest theater operator, is dead. the current year is not known, but 24 are scheduled to be sent over by September. British production costs, which reached their highest point in the Summer of 1947 have since been trimmed about 15 per cent, Rank said, pointing out that U. K. producers have been working on an economy program similar to the one under way in Hollywood. Rank observed that the British production industry grew up very quickly, intimating that costs are being cut as the producers settle down. He conceded that quite a few studio workers are unemployed, but asserted that this was not due to a cutback in production insofar as he is concerned. Rank repeated his estimate that he will make 40 or more pictures during 1948, although not all of these will be shipped to the U. S. When questioned about the reported production loss of some JARO companies, Rank observed that figures could be juggled. He predicted that a consolidated financial report, covering all the Rank film enterprises, will show a rosy picture when it is released this Fall. Meanwhile, he said, both Odeon and Gaumont British have declared satisfactory dividends. Asked about plans to acquire theaters in the U. S., Rank smilingly said, "Just give me the dollars." Highlights of the Anglo-American Pad (Continued from Page 1) periods after June 14, Treasury will permit remittance in dollars at current exchange rates as follows: (A) 517.000,000 per annum in equal monthly installments. (B) Dollars, payable quarterly, equal to British film revenues. American revenues not disposed of above to be dealt with as follows: (A) Schedule of Permitted Uses: to encompass uses within the film industry in the sterling area without limit as to amount. (B) Uses outside the film industry in the U. K.. limited to £2.500,000 sterling during: the first two years. (C) Temporary investments not constitutingpermanent use or disposal of funds. In addition, companies are entitled to apply to Treasury and Board of Trade to use revenues for other purposes. Machinery will be set up by Government and U. S. industry to pass upon applications and interpretation of above schedules. < C ) Unused balance to be dealt with as follows: If agreement is extended for second two years. 50 per cent or £2,000.000. whichever is largest, carried forward into second period. Disposal of balance to be subject of consultation and if no agreement is reached six months after June 14, 1950. balance is to be disposed of by transactions to be agreed upon prior to June 14. 1951. Such transactions not to impose strain on U. K. exchange position, to give rise to future claim on sterling. Contemplated that charity or public uses, including encourag-enient of arts and sciences, would be recipients. If agreement not extended beyond 1950, parties reserve full freedom of action, except that unexpended residue may be used as set forth in schedules for a two-year period, except that purchases of foreign rights to British films are forbidden. Principles and Definitions: Xew York Company. U. S. distributor whose films are distributed in Britain on commercial basis: Agreement Company, one entitled to receive funds for account of X. T. company: Associated Company, company in sterling area, except agreement company, controlled by X. T. company. Sterling funds of Agreement Company to be treated as follows : In payment of normal sterling expenditure without restriction: in providing sterling equivalent of dollars to be remitted to X. Y. companies: payment of British producers for doUar earnings from distribution of British films in dollar area: unremittable balance subject to Permitted Uses, fisted above. In addition to specific uses fisted below. Agreement companies may use unremittable sterling for any transaction, with approval of BOT and Treasury. Permitted Uses of unremittable sterling include: payment of any obligation of X. Y. Company or Associated Company prior to date to be agTeed upon, probably date of present agreement: purchase of real estate: lease, construction or renovation of buildings, including studios and equipment : if acquired for X. Y. company, latter must hold title, without permission of BOT and Treasury, except to British interests, subject to British laws; acquisition of theaters or interest in cinemas subject to prior approval of BOT and Treasury. Also, for purchase or license of literary. 'Continued on Page 8) SI 1,600,000 Kodak Bonus Paid Today Rochester — Eastman Kodak will distribute its largest wage dividend, approximately SI 1.600.000, today to more than 49,300 employes in the Western hemisphere. The sum compares with S8. 100,000 paid to 48.800 Western hemisphere employes a year ago. More than 30.000 employes in Rochester, where the parent company is located, will receive $8,200,000— about 70 per cent of the total.