The Film Daily (1948)

Wednesday, July 7, 1948 MHV: II NCA Grievance Group Sets Monthly Meetings (Continued from Page 1) made between himself and Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox sales chief, Berger said he "sincerely hoped that all film companies will agree to participate in the plan to the end that all claims, complaints and grievances apj^pQst all companies can be adji 7^^ — i through this committee. Only thuo can we call a halt to controversy and to expensive and time consuming litigation." However, Berger let the industry know that NCA has not put its "big stick" into moth balls or "thrown it in the ash can." "It's still standing over in the corner at a decent distance from the conference tables," he warned. Berger reiterated that his policy was, is and will be to force the film companies or persuade them, if possible, to stop biting the hand tJiat feeds them. He said both NCA's board and himself feel that the plan announced June 28 should be given a fair trial. If it works satisfactorily, there is no doubt other distributors will want to fall in line, he said. And in a note to NCA members, Berger said the plan does not bind Fox or NCA or any exhibitor to anything. No exhibitor need use the plan. On the other hand, any exhibitor who wants the plan may do so whether or not he is a member of Allied. Berger also said exhibitors may withdraw from the plan should they feel committee action is not enough and pursue legal actions. "Fox and NCA and you are bound only to a good faith effort to give the plan a fair trial," he concluded. NCA Sets Regional Meetings To Outline Smith-Berger Plan Minneapolis — The Smith-Berger conciliation plan, eff'ects of recent Supreme Court decisions on small town exhibs., and other exhibition matters, will be discussed next month in two regional meetings of North Central Allied. Sessions will be held in Fargo, N. D. on Aug 3 and at Devil's Lake, Minn., the next day. Benjamin Berger, NCA president, Stanley Kane, executive director, and NCA board members will attend to regional sessions. L. of D. Condemns "Nais" The National Legion of Decency has placed the French-made feature film, "Nais," in its "Class C or Condemned" category. It is being released here by Siritzky. I Sena Sir tn aa^ | Qreetin^A Uo~ It if July 7 Ricardo Cortez George Cukor Jackie Searl Raymond Hatton Ruth Ford f«^>*V«>V**VVW«V*«W*V#**«*V«.W«**«*'**>**V#«V«'W#«V^ if if if if if if if if if ►>♦>♦>♦,♦♦>♦>•>♦,♦♦>♦>♦," I Ntid-weeh Metnos • • • THE QUESTION BEFORE THE HOUSE: Are two major circuits planning to make a voluntary divestiture offer covering so-called "closed towns" to the New York Statutory Court? ▼ ▼ ▼ • • • TESTIMONY by National Theaters' Charles P. Skouras before the FCC to the effect that it would cost $100,000,000 todoy to replace the circuit's 600 theaters, book volue of which is only $38,000,000, gains special interest if you mull the divestiture potentialities of the New York equity suit. ... • And speaking of costs yesterday and today, didja note that Paramount estimates De MlUe's "The Crusades," if produced today, would cost $8,000,000? What was that you sold about inflation. Bud? ... • Harry Martin, the erudite film critic of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, who did such OA excellent job for his Uncle Samuel at the Geneva UN "free press" conference edrlier this y^or, has been appointed special labor adviser to Paul G. Hoffman, ERP director. ... • Gerald Mayer, MPAA international dep'i managing director, returns from Europe in a fortnight. ... • Look Mag. which hit the newstands yesterday delves into video, predicts an audience of 65,000,000 in two years. T T T • • • KARL KRUG of the Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph, Helen Eager of the Boston Traveler, Ward Marsh of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Mildred Martin of the Philadelphia Inquirer might like to know that the Roxy used quotes from their "Give My Regards to Broadway" reviews in its ads here "Good Neighbor" policy? ... • Oops, Your Slip Is Showing" Dep't: Dorothy Masters of the N. Y. Daily News, reviewing "Man-Eater of Kumaon," credited it as "a new British movie" That'll teach those British! ... • With cartoonist Chester Gould giving the latest Dick Tracy episode a "sit in your cor movies" background, it looks as though the drive-in really has arrived. T ▼ ▼ • • • QUOTE-OF-THE-WEEK DEP'T: "What will video do to the motion picture industry? It will kick the devil out of it That's what At least, in the big cities Hollywood can cash in — by shooting pictures directly for video It will revolutionize them And in the process, Hollywood will become the biggest tele producing center in the country, with about 60 per cent of network shows originating there." — Sidney N. Strotz, NBC administrative vice-president, as quoted by Ben Gross in the N. Y. Daily News. T T T • • • DIDJA KNOW THAT 11,267 theaters are now using advertising on their screens? ... • How many theater managers can boast, as can Edgar J. Doob, manager of Loew's Wilmington in the DuPont city, that their 10th managerial anniversary was marked by a 15-minule radio salute? WDEL paid "Judge" Doob the tribute. ... • Providence's WJAR-TV, due to operate by Sept. 15. will be a NBC affiliate. . . . • Approximately 50 per cent of the collection of paintings and portrait photos of show world celebs, which G. Maillard Kesslere will assemble for The Theater Library Association will represent filmites Collection will embrace 400 paintings, 2,000 photos, and after a nationwide tour, will be installed in the N. Y. Public Library. ... • Coming Events Dep't: Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey is due in Hollywood July 20 to collect data for his forthcoming "Sex Behavior in the Female." ... • Tom (Metro) Gerety's colored crayon birthday sketch. "Famous Long Count," for Don (FILM DAILY) Mersereau very cute. ... • First overseas adventure production of John Ford and Merian C. Cooper will be "Rope 'Em Cowboy," but country of filming is undetermined. ... • Mrs. Edna Carroll of Pennsylvania's film censor board has been named to the Pennsylvania Week General Committee; state-wide jubilee is set for Sept. 26-Ocl. 2. . . . • Show Phil M a better pictorial space-grabbing feat than that turned by SRO's New York boys when, for the benefit of "Portrait of Jennie," Central Park was transformed into a sheep pasture. Hungary Turns Down MPEA Distrib. Terms (Continued from Page 1) oly group refused to turn from its policy of buying films on a fixed rate basis, in favor of the percentage arrangement sought by MPEA. Irving Maas, vice-president and general manager of MPEA offered to freeze profits from that organization's films London (By Cable) — British exhibitor resentment against the 45 per cent quota ordered by Harold Wilson, HOT prexy, will be driven home by the CEA when a deputation of it's toppers calls upon Wilson July 19 for quota talks. in Hungary but, according to the Film Bureau statement, refused to say vi^hat MPEA intended to do with the earnings. Whether Maas, who is surveying MPEA's German branches, will now return here for further consultations with the Film Bureau is unknown. It is likely, however, that no MPEA films will be shown here after Aug. 1, unless the organization is willing to sell films outright, as it now does to monopolies in Czechoslovakia, Poland and Bulgaria. Hungarian Theater Monopoly Operates 440-450 Houses Budapest (By Air Mail)— With the takeover by Mafirts of about 70 to 80 Kimort Circuit theaters, operated by the Smallholders Party, the state circuit now controls all or about 70 to 80 theaters in Hungary. Mafirts, it is estimated, now controls 440-450 theaters, with the balance held by private owners. All houses form-erly operated by political parties are now in the Mafirts fold. 13,750 TV Sets in Washington Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — As of July 1, 13,750 television receivers were installed and operating in the Washington metropolitan area, it is reported by the Television Circulation Committee, representing the three station/ operating in the area. Start Compilation of Data Ashed hy D of J Theater owning defendants in the Equity suit at the week-end had started to compile the comprehensive data on joint theater ownership as called for in the interrogatories served on them by the D. of J. Paper work entailed, according to one spokesman, is expected to hit a new industry high. Government seeks dates and places of incorporation, lists of shareholders, duties of officershareholders; former owners, dates of acquisition, considerations involved; data on other theaters in circuits, extent of interests, and lists of acquisitions deemed unrelated to restraint of trade or monopoly.