The Film Daily (1948)

^ Thursday, July 1, 1948 DAILY MPEA Boycott Repeat Doubted as Tops Meet (Continued from Page 1) the session probably would result in some concrete action. But what that course of action might be, it was as freely added, was "anybody's guess," because as of last night, there was anything but unanimity on the part of the company toppers comprising the committee. For reasons which must have been obvious from the imposition of the 45 per cent quota by President Har. old Wilson of the Board of Trade, there is slight chance that there will be a return to the boycott of last August although such a course has had its proponents. While admitting that "anything could happen," MPEA sources said last night that to back away from 55 per cent of the British market would hardly make sense from a dollars and cents viewpoint. Underlying this philosophy was the conviction that the British producers cannot come through with the pictures required to enable U. K. exhibitors to meet the 45 per cent quota. The gap, which they confidently believe will be a considerable one, will have to be made up vnth other product unless there is to be a wholesale closing of British tJieaters. Thus, it is observed, why not be in the British market with the necessary product? It is conceded that Parliament might be disinclined to alter the quota under American Government pressure, but it maintained that if the pressure comes from Britons — from the owners and operators of several thousand British theaters — Parliament may be induced to okay a reduction in the quota. Eric A. Johnston will preside at today's meeting which is expected to be a lengthy one. Broadway Background for Pioneer's Second Film (Continued from Page 1) announced yesterday by Ralph Cohn and Jules Bricken at a cocktail party at Le Ruban Bleu. Filming will follow Sinclair Lewis' "Kingsblood Royal," with Oct. 1 chosen as a tentative starting date. "Raw Deal" Into Vic. July 8 Eagle Lion's "Raw Deal" starts at the Victoria a week from today. Changes JSame To End Shipping Bulls Detroit — Impatient at having films scheduled for the Stariite Drive-In at Pontiac delivered to the Blue Sky Drive-In, located a few miles away, Stariite owners have decided to change the outdoor theater's name to the Waterford Drive-In. Now they hope prints are not shipped to the Blue Water Drive-ln, some 60 miles away. WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD JOE NEWMAN, Director-producer. Born Logan, Utah, Aug. 7, 1909. Attended •^ Los Angeles Grammar Schools and Venice (California) High School. Started as office boy with M-G-M at age of fifteen. Worked at practically every production job on Metro lot until 1931 when he became assistant to the late George Hill, and worked together with Hill and il Irving Thalberg until 1933. During next four years served as assistant to Ernst Lubitsch, George Cukor, W. S. Van Dyke, Jack Conway, Tay Garnett and Raoul Walsh. In 1937 was sent to England by M-G-M to assist in organization of Metro-British Studios and directed all English locations for "A Yank At Oxford" as well as second units on "The Citadel." From 1938 to 1942 directed ten CrimeDoes-Not-Pay shorts and eleven Passing Parade and Pete Smith subjects. Also directed "Donkey Serenade" sequence for "The Firefly." In 1942, directed "Northwest Passage," his first feature for M-G-M for producer Dore Schary. On completion, enlisted in U. S. Signal Corps; served as officer from 1942 to 1946, retiring as major. Directed thirty-two Army Pictorial Service pictures such as: "Diary of a Sergeant," in which he discovered Harold Russell; "Birth of a B-29," "Easy To Get," etc. Returned to M-G-M in 1947. Directed "Luckiest Guy in the World," nominated by Academy as best two-reeler of the year. At request of Army in 1947, returned to direct "The Miracle of Living," VD film which has since been dubbed into fourteen foreign languages. Recently completed "West of Tomorrow," Frank Seltzer production for 20th Century-Fox release. Married Ann Lawson in 1941. Stands, 5' IVi". Weighs, 160. Eyes, blue. Hair, brown. 1 Second Edinburgh Festival Set for Aug. 22-Sept. 12 (Continued from Page 1) Screenings will be held at Caley Picture House, Film Guild Theater and Central Hall, Tollcross. Advisory committee has Norman Wilson as chairman; Forsyth Hardy, honorary secretary, and F. C. P. MacLauchlan, honorary treasurer, with the following serving on the group: Basil Wright, Humphrey Jennings, Roger Manvell, Cyril Ramsay Jones, A. S. Albin, Rona H. Inch Morrison, Alan Harper, William Newlands, Donald Alexander, Stephen Ackroyd, James B. Frizell, Charles A. Oakley, W. M. Ballantine, and Edgar Anstey. Nat'l Allied Plans Manual On Final Court Decree (Continued from Page 1) Theater Owners of New Jersey convention booklet. Meanwhile, he declared, "Allied will hold to its course and ignore the calamity howlers and will continue its vigilance and maintain its agressive policies until the last i is dotted and the last t is crossed." BIS Raises Film Rentals Prices of British Information Services film rentals will be increased as of July 1 in order to bring them in line with those charged by the various U. S. distributors which handle the BIS product. No increase of sale price is contemplated at present, it was stated. ITO Changes Convention Dates Columbus, O. — Independent Theater Owners of Ohio has changed its Fall convention dates to Sept. 14-15, at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel. Change was due to a conflict with the National Allied meeting in New Orleans, Nov. 29-Dec. 1. New Jersey ATO Approves Fox Conciliation Plan (Continued from Page 1) Berger-Smith project, convention approved endorsing the conciliation plan and authorizing executives to approach the 20th-Fox sales chief with a proposal. A committee to handle negotiations will be named at a subsequent meeting of the New Jersey Allied board. Meeting was addressed by William L. Ainsworth, National Allied president, who reported on developments in other Allied units he has visited recently. An analysis of company policies was discussed by members. ATONJ's three-day meeting in the Hollywood Hotel was concluded last night with the annual banquet. Gevaert to Make Safety Stock in Belgium Plant (Continued from Page 1) new regulations for film handling. It is also pointed out that when Norfolk Film Base is granted permission to build its new factory here, the bulk of the output likewise can be safety stock. Denver U. Award to Foy Denver — Presentation today of a special award of merit to Eagle Lion producer Bryan Foy by Denver University will highlight the area premiere of "Canon City" here. The citation to Foy reads "for his outstanding contribution in making an unusual and factual documentary motion picture and for the development of new techniques in the production of factual films." AA-Mono. Drop Showcase Plan iVest Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Allied Artists and Monogram have abandoned plans to secure a New York showcase theater for their first runs, Steve Broidy, president, announced. BOOK REVIEWS "THE PROGRESS OF CINEMA-"^ TOGRAPHY UP TO THE PRESENT TIME" (La Ohra Cinematcy -fica Frente Al Derecho) , by Dry ,iiro Satanowsky, with foreword hy' Prof. Caston Federico Tohal. 2,500 pages. Ediar, Sac. Anon., Editores, Buenos Aires. This four-part history-encyclopedia of the motion picture, published in Spanish, the first two volumes of which have just been received in the United States, is a distinguished addition to the fast-growing international library of screen literature. Dr. Satanowsky, the author, occupies a high place in his native Argentina, where he is a member of Instituto de Estudios de Derecho Comercial y Maritimo and of the In stituto Argentine de Derecho Inte lectual, as well as secretary of the Seccion Argentina Societe de la de Legislacion Comparee. In his exhaustive study of the mo tion picture. Dr. Satanowsky uses a penetrating eye and a gifted pen on its many phases, intellectual, artis tic, cultural, technical, industrial, commercial, economic, financial, so cial, political and international among them. The approach is schol arly if candid, and a wealth of au thorities is cited. The Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures is substantially credited for American material. For those in the American indus try conversant with the Spanish]/ language, the volume should have]^ unusual interest. I u Priscilla, Detroit, Asks Shifts in Clearance Area (Continued from Page 1 ) troit. The Priscilla seeks a clearance set up in a diff'erent competitive area —14 days after the Rialto and seven days after Your Theater. Rites Held for Underwood Dallas — Funeral services were held|c her for William G. Underwood, 72 distxibution-exhibition pioneer. In theater business in Texas for 45 years. Underwood was a founder of the Underwood-Ezell Circuit, which operates 17 Texas theaters. FORD BANES, artist-writer. Jam Dandy animation department, Detroit *""Va''wlckTlT"'""' ^ ^ '■°'*'' '^^"*"' ^"^Citi^'pK^^"*^' °'V^*°"* '"°°"9^^ Twin Cities RKO houses, Minneapolis DONALD PALMQUIST exhibitor public relations, Reid Ray Films, St. Paul, Minn JOHN O'ROURKE, office manager. United Artists, Minneapolis. WILLIAM MACK, manager. Strand, Fort Dodge, DON LOFTUS, manager. Grand, Estherville, la. :i t(