Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, November 8, 1938 U. S. Pictures Reap Harvest With Czechs (Continued from page 1) peared from theatres. English films never were an important factor. In recent years Czechoslovakia has imported about 350 films annually. Of these, ISO to 170 have come from the United States, with Germany second at 100 features. Importation of German pictures has stopped completely. The film treaty with Germany expires Dec. 31, and notice of its prospective termination was sent to Berlin Oct. 1. Negotiations for a renewal are expected to take place, but there is no doubt that the German total will be small in the future. Pressure is to be brought to bear to increase Czechoslovakian production with the aid of increased Government subsidies, as officials are now convinced that the country's most valuable propaganda medium is through its films. The press is urging increased Government support for production. "Aktualita," the native newsreel, is developing into a strong influence. Newsreels Fox, Paramount Fox and Paramount furnish practically all of the imported newsreels. Every foreign film coming into the country pays a fee of 17,000 crowns under the terms of the last AmericanCzechoslovakian treaty. This money goes to an import fund from which native production receives its support. In addition, the Ministry of Finance supplies production credits. These credits will be stopped, it is understood, and the system of subsidies from the import fund will be changed. Control of the fund rests with the Film Advisory Board (Ministry of Commerce). One of the new plans under discussion will be the organization of a Czechoslovakian Film Chamber. Under this arrangement, it is proposed that all producers shall become members^ of the chamber. Drastic action will be taken to suppress "wild cat" producers. Reduction of production costs and star salaries is proposed, with negotiations already under way. Germans Are in Quandary Representatives of German companies are in a quandary. It is expected they will either close their offices or turn to native production. Ufa's policy has been to produce some pictures here each year in the Czech language. American companies will be unable to release any films dubbed in German hereafter, but they will not need them as the theatres which used them were transferred with the Sudeten German territory. Best business in recent months has been done by M-G-M which released "Marie Walewska" just before the mobilization in a new, modern house called the Broadway. Twentieth Century-Fox has just released "In Old Chicago" and "Josette," starring Simone Simon. Paramount has had some good pictures. Universal's "100 Men and a Girl" was a sensation. Many contracts have been closed for the next Deanna Dur Insiders9 Outlook JAMES J. WALKER, former Mayor of New York City, opened a series of broadcasts last Sunday over WMCA, sponsored by the Modern Industrial Bank, and from all accounts he did okay, giving a lively, human interest performance. His guests who contributed their time and talent gratis, were George Jessel, Sheila Barrett, Sid Gary, Dave Apollon, Mary Jane Walsh and the Lee Grant band. The program is called "Jimmy Walker's Visiting Hour," and, as the title suggests, he visits institutions where he provides good cheer and music for the sick. The opening broadcast was from the psychiatric pavilion at Bellevue. Next week it will be from King's County Hospital. T T Settling a case out of court and then failing to withdraw an appeal taken to a higher court can stir up a series of complications. Texas Consolidated Theatres found this out when it appealed a verdict given S. H. Pittman for injuries suffered by his wife. While the appeal was pending the case was settled. The Circuit Court of Appeals paid no attention to the settlement and affirmed the judgment. Texas took another appeal, but the judgment was affirmed in the District Court. Yesterday the U. S. Supreme Court dismissed the Texas petition for a reversal of the lower court action. T T If two-thirds of England's 45,000,000 population passed through the M-G-M Empire, Leicester Square, in the past 10 years, it would mean that the theatre played to 59,000 persons weekly, on the average, or about 8,400 persons daily, on a seven-day week. And that's what Sam Eckman is supposed to have stated, according to London advices, at a luncheon commemorating the 10th anniversary of the theatre. T T Universal concluded a fiveyear licensing contract for the sale of its product in Italy by a resident agent last summer, prior to formation of E. N. I. C. The deal was approved in advance by the Italian Government. There is a question now whether the company can be relieved of its obligation in the deal when the Italian decree creating the distribution monopoly for the Government controlled agency becomes operative, Dec. 31. If not, Universal may be obliged to continue in the Italian market, although sentiment on the subject within the company appears to be no different from that in other companies which are preparing for complete withdrawal from Italy by the end of the year. Understood here that J. Cheever Cowdin, Universal board chairman, asked for a ruling on the contract from Marchese Paulucci di Calboldi, director of the Italian agency, in London last week. If a ruling was given, no word of it has been received here. T T S. Charles Einfeld, Warner advertising and publicity chief, recently arrived from the Coast, thinks that results from the present MPGY drive by the industry will be even greater and more apparent as the campaign comes to a close. Einfeld thinks it is premature to figure the fullest results at this early date. bin picture and the Danielle Darrieux feature, "Girl from Paris." United Artists is doing well with a number of pictures which have been generally booked by both first and second runs. The biggest recent hit has been RKO's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," now in its ninth week at the Bio Alfa. Business would have been even better if the political situation had not cut grosses generally. Czech pictures are doing extremely good business. "The Girls from Kuttenberg," the film which received the gold medal at Venice, is running in 13 houses after a four-week run in the house where it opened. It is expected the new regulations will seek to force export of Czech films. Further Talks to Be Held on Copyrights Further conferences on proposed amendments to the Federal copyright laws by representatives of the film and other industries directly interested in their revision will be held Nov. 21. No definite agreement on recommendations to be made to Congress for changes in the present laws were reached at the session held at the Bar Association Bldg. last Friday. A section of the local copyright conference will leave for Lima, Peru, in about two weeks to attend an international copyrjght meeting there in December. The remainder of the committee will continue its work here. i Purely Personal ► HM. RICHEY, former inde• pendent exhibitor leader, took over his new post as director of exhibitor relations for RKO yesterday. • Laurence Olivier will arrive Thursday on the Normandie. J^2fcjs on his way to the coast to appeWin Samuel Goldwyn's "Wuthering Heights." • Fredric March, who recently finished in Walter Wanger's "Trade Winds," is in New York. He intends to take a stage role. • Walter Futter, who has been in England for eight months, will return Thursday on the Normandie. • Everett Riskin, Columbia producer, arrived in New York yesterday from the coast. Sam Marx, Columbia west coast scenario editor, is extending his stay here. Harry Kendrick Dies Ambridge, Pa., Nov. 7. — Harry Kendrick, 46, manager of the Warner house here, died yesterday in Valley Hospital from pneumonia. He formerly was with Fox Theatres. Funeral services were held today in Philadelphia, his home. His widow survives. Meloy Dies at 75 Shelbyville, Ind., Nov. 7. — Funeral services were held here today for W. C. Meloy, 75, who opened the Strand here in 1916, and acquired the Alhambra several years ago. Meloy died Friday of a heart attack. Zukor Made Producer Hollywood, Nov. 7. — Eugene Zukor, son of Adolph Zukor, was made associate producer in the Harold Hurley unit at Paramount today. His first picture will be J. Edgar Hoover's "Federal Offense" with Lloyd Nolan and Robert Preston. Schaefer Is Ampa Guest George J. Schaefer, RKO chief executive, will speak on the M.P.G.Y. drive at the Ampa luncheon meeting Thursday at the Astor. The entertainment program will include Ann Miller of the cast of "You Can't Take It With You" and Luis Zingone, card manipulator. I No U. A. Meeting Likely Although the annual meeting of United Artists stockholders is scheduled for tomorrow no call has gone out yet for proxies here. Indications are the meeting will be postponed to a later date. MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) MARTIN QUIGLEY, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; SAM SHAIN, Editor; JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager. Published daily except Saturday, Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone: Circle 7-3100. Cable addresss: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1938 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York office. Other Quigley publications : Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame. BUREAUS: —Hollywood: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts.; Boone Mancall, manager; William R. Weaver, editor. Chicago: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, manager. London : 4 Golden Square, W. 1: cable address, Quigpubco, London; Hope Williams, manager. Entered as second class matter Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign. Single copies 10c