The Film Daily (1948)

Friday, July 2, 1948 ^*\ DAILY Interpretations of 'Permitted Uses' OI(ay (Continued from Page 1) company presidents, assembled as the executive committee of the Association's board of directors, with E' "' -^ A. Johnston presiding. JohnsT^^as well was in the chair for the later parley. The morning meeting was strictly on the hush-hush side, with "no statement" the rule. Its brevity, however, was generally accepted as a sign that no decision on a course of action in the wake of the newly imposed 45 per cent exhibitors quota in Britain had been reached. And the fact that the foreign managers had concentrated on the "permitted uses," passing over any mention of the quota situation, bolstered the conviction of trade observers that there would be no second resort to a boycott On film shipments to England. In contrast to the original MPEA meeting on the new quota at which reportedly there were warm exchanges of viewpoint, it was said that calm marked yesterday's session. There was some reason to believe that the apparent lack of decision and action yesterday stemmed from a desire to wait upon British Government reaction to the State Department's intercession on the part of the American industry. E-L to Have Films of . Lesnevich-Mills Fight First Britisii fight films to be distributed on this side, at least in recent years, will be those of the Gus Lesnevich-Freddie Mills bout for the light heavyweight championship in London on July 26. Eagle Lion will distribute on this side and expects to have the prints out 36 hours after the fight. E-L has both 35 and 16 mm. rights for the U. S., its possessions and Latin America. Griffith Hearing Off to Sept. 20 (Continued from Page 1) purchase or sale of theaters would "work extreme hardship on the company and accomplish nothing at this time." Judge Vaught asked Assistant Attorney General Robert Wright whether the Supreme Court had reversed an opinion in regard to part of the Griffith decision referring to the steel monopoly. Latter reportedly is in conflict with the Griffith ruling. Judge Vaught also asked Wright the status of the Schine and Paramount trust actions before recessing the hearing to Sept. 20 because of hot weather and vacations. Government Back in Film Business, State Dept. View (Continued from Page 1) been determined just how the $28,000,000 allotted the OIE will be split up, it appears that about $2,000,000 will be channeled into pix, Edwards said. He revealed also that plans are in the making for early announcement of release to the American public of Government films made during the war period — OWI, military training films, etc. These will not be handled through the State Department, however, Edwards said. Another policy change in the making calls for outright sale of some of the OIE films to distributors in foreign lands. Sale at "slightly over the print cost, in several 'friendly' countries may soon be undertaken." Edwards said. The State Department pix chief spoke briefly of the great activity overseas in the 16 mm. field since the war, pointing out that it is in most instances Government activity. As for this countr.v. he said, simply because of the profit objective, g^reat credit for the development of the 16 mm. art must go to commercial producers and equipment manufacturers. Time loss in development, which is customary in Government, is avoided by American commercial producers, he said, because of the urge toward time-saving, profitboosting methods and discoveries. Blonchard Bill Withdrawn New Orleans — Rep. M. A. Blanchard has withdrawn his bill to provide state regulation of motion picture distribution which he based on the N. Y. Federal Court order in the Paramount case. Measure was opposed by exhibitors as well as distributors. liear NT Repiacement At$100l1iilion (Continued from Page 1) Skouras, 20th-Fox board chaiimian, will be heard today. Television is not a threat, but an opportunity for the pix business, Skouras said. He spoke briefly on large-screen theater video, saying he Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — T. A. M. Craven, former FCC member and now an executive of Cowles Brcthers Broadcasting, told the Commission yesterday the only solution to the shortage of television channels is to open up the frequencies above 480 at once. Waiting for the scheduled September hearings is foolish, he said, in view of the present shortage of TV channels. feels it will help solve the box office slumps which occur when important political talks or sporting events are to be aired. Questioned by FCC examiner Jack Blume, Skouras said if his company were to be asked by a competitor, for instance, RKO — for an okay to install a large-screen video system, and presumably to pull in programs aired by the Fox TV station, permission would be granted. With goods so scarce, a guy is reduced to buying whatever's around ... But when the M.P.'s arrive, not even an Act of Congress can save him . JSAN MARLBNe VlBTRiCH JOHN 11 ^ in // with MILLARD MITCHELL Produced by CHARLES BRACKETT Directed by BILLY WILDER Screenplay by Charles BrackeH, Billy Wilder, and Richard L. Breen • Adapiation by Robert Harari /5 a -^nn:^ ^^^f'r ///