Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1955)

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Thursday, November 10, 1955 Motion Picture Daily ^55mm Process IFFPA to Protest Censors wnfiress k ( lO.v {Continued from page 1) ludience if exhibitors "encourage us" dy \y purchasing the adaptors, estimited to cost about $900, 20th-Fox vill continue utilizing magnetic J]j;ound prints. "Otherwise," Skouras continued, "\ jk 'we'll be (forced) to adopt the com1/ oination print," which he called "not is* good." The 20th-Fox sound development jmploys the second track as a "catchieatfla.ll track," offering magnetic sound etuif^ith the use of adaptors attached to tod, la. theatre's regular optical sound sys:em. The "combination" print as adopted by M-G-M has an optical sound track in addition to the magnetic tracks, allowing the use of the same print for both magnetic and ptical sound systems. Skouras, in his plea for the magnetic attachment, stated that supipliers are willing to extend credit to theatres of three years or more for the investment. Aims at 'The Ultimate' In his introductory remarks, . Skouras claimed that the 55mm. ,ewi [process represented "substantial prog;" in achieving the "ultimate" in projection. He explained his company's policy of meeting TV competition by attempting to provide ten superior entertainment from both a /technical and creative point of view, tai (He went on to say that, unfortunately, the way CinemaScope is projected in the majority of theatres in this country, it falls short of original objectives. He explained that the optical CinemaScope print reduces the size of the picture from the 2.5 to 1 ratio, as well as losing out on other advantages of the medium. Earl I. Sponable, 20th-Fox research director, in his short address, o 1 explained the salient features of 20thFox's new single magnetic track development. He also contended that the "combination" print "degrades" the sound, claiming that it was a "step backward." Sol Halprin, chief of the 20th-Fox studio camera department, also spoke. The demonstration at 2:30 was one of four showings held at the 20thFox home office yesterday. In the morning, Paramount president Barney Balaban and Paramount vice-president Paul Raibourn attended, along with Skouras's guest, Admiral, the Right Honorable Lord Earl Mountbatten. A four o'clock demonstration was attended by top circuit executives and leading independent exhibitors. An evening screening was held for executives of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, led by president Leonard H. Goldenson. Release Date Feb. 22 "Carousel," which will be completed in 10 days, will be available to all theatres in 35mm. release prints for Washington's Birthday playdates, it was announced. A limited number of 35mm. release prints of "Carousel" will be made available in six-channel magnetic stereophonic sound, it was added. ( Continued formal, unofficial forum on the U. S. market for foreign films, discussing their complaints about U. S. playing time. American officials will attempt to answer these complaints. Dr. Renato Gualino of Italy, president of the administrative council, said he did not expect any decisions from tomorrow's meeting. He emphasized that it was completely unofficial, and that the reason for the discussion was the fact that representatives of many major foreign film producing countries were gathered for the council meeting and that it seemed an appropriate time to let them sound off on any complaints or suggestions they might have about U. S. playing time for their features. Detailed Discussion Held The censorship problem was discussed at length today, Dr. Gualino said, with the question being whether the federation should act as an organization to assist producers and distributors in countries with tough censorship requirements or whether it should merely act through the producer association in the particular countries. It was decided, he continued, that the help of the federation would be asked in some cases and that the federation would start by contacting the Italian and Spanish governments "to explain some of our difficulties there." He said that in Italy the problems were that there was a long delay in getting an answer on films submitted for censorship and that the decisions of the censors were not based on sufficiently clear and exact standards. The main Spanish problem, he said, was the lack of clear standards. The Italian government will shortly discuss a new set of regulations, at the request of the Italian producers, Dr. Gualino said, and the council felt this would be an appropriate time for it to express its views also. May Be Expanded Depending on the success the council has in Spain and Italy, it will make similar representations to other countries later, Dr. Gualino stated. The council named a special committee to study and report to the next general federation meeting on the possible formation of a special section within the federation to work on commercial shorts and documentaries. The committee consists of representatives from six countries whose producer associations represent firms producing shorts as well as those producing features: Paly, Snain. Belgium, Germany, Mexico and Switzerland. The council also decided to conduct a study as to whether the federation should do anything to promote theatres in areas where there is a great number of people and no theatres now. It was decided to investigate how many such areas existed and what has already been done to encourage the building of theatres in those areas. The matter will be put from page 1 ) before the next council meeting for further action. Dr. Gualino said no date or place was set for the next meeting of the council. He added that British representatives had invited the federation to hold the next general federation meeting and the next administrative council meeting in London. The Administrative Council gave Gualino power to decide whether members should participate in two additional international film festivals —those in Locarno next year and in Brussels in 1958. He explained there were certain additional investigations to be made and that he expected to make his decision before the end of the year. The Council turned down three other applications for 1956 film festivals, but Gualino said he would prefer not to make the names public. While Gualino would not say so in so many words, it was apparent that approval of the Brussels film festival would hinge in part on the Belgian government's willingness to relax certain recent government restrictions on film rentals and remittances. Gualino said the Council discussed problems related to the international exchange of films. He pointed out that at its last meeting in San Sebastian, the Federation had decided to try to help producers combat government restrictions on the flow of films, and added that the Council at this meeting had discussed at length the Belgian situation and had decided to take action with the Belgian government, but not to start action with any other country until the discussions with the Belgian Department of Economic Affairs were concluded. Had Instituted Restrictions Belgium last year, after having long been very liberal in its attitude toward foreign films, put tight ceilings on minimum guaranties, fixed prices and remittances, Gualino said. The Council wants to see what can be done to ease these, he added. Gualino said the Federation will continue making a comprehensive study of restrictions on the exchange of films in all countries, and that this was an additional reason for not taking any action at this time with any governments other than Belgium. Dr. Gualino Resigns From 2 I.F.E. Posts WASHINGTON, Nov. 9.-Dr. Renato Gualino has resigned as president of two Italian film companies, he declared today. He has been replaced as head of I.F.F. Releasing Corp. by Renzo Rufini, formerly manager of I.F.E. Italy. He has been replaced as head of I.F.E. (USA) by Goffredo Lombardo, president of the Italian Producers Association. Dr. Gualino said he had quit these two posts in order to devote more time to his chemical businesses. He will remain as executive vice-president of Lux Film Co. and as managing director of I.F.E. Italy. Broidy Reports AA's Gross Is Up 27%; Two Dividends Set From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 9. -Following a stockholders' and directors' meeting held at the studio today, Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists, disclosed that a 15-cents-per-share dividend on the company's common stock will be paid on Jan. 24 to holders of record on Jan. 9. A dividend of 13% cents per share will be paid on Dec. 15 on the company's 5/2% cumulative convertible preferred stock to holders of record on Dec. 2. Broidy pointed out that the company's gross income for the quarter ended Oct. 1st, $3,705,242, was 27.4 per cent higher than the corresponding period of the previous year. The dividend declarations followed a board meeting at which the directors re-elected all officers. Earlier in the day the stockholders had reelected all directors. The stockholders approved the board's proposal to amend the certificate of incorporation to increase the number of dollar-par-value shares from 1,500,000 to 3,000,000. Employee Plan Started The stockholders also approved a board proposal to institute an employee stock purchase plan providing for the sale by the company of 172,000 shares of common stock to certain key employees, including company officers and executives. Broidy said, "There is every indication that the future will show an increase in profit. Our foreign operation is expanding, and we expect an increased profit from that operation," and added, "We are hopeful that the type of pictures we are now engaged in will offset the increase in production costs which the new five-day week will bring." Amusement Revenue Declines in Canada Special to THE DAILY TORONTO, Nov. 9.-Federal government statistics released today for the amusement business in Canada in 1954 show a decline of $4,164,249 to $118,490,819 for total gross revenue compared with 1953. The number of regular theatres increased by 32 to 1,938 but their receipts, less amusement tax, totalled $97,012,140 last year for a drop of $3,877,221 against the 1953 net revenue. In the two years drive-in theatres increased from 174 to 230 and their net receipts increased by a half-million dollars to $6,316,947. Revenue of public halls was included in the total gross for the whole country but roofed theatres and drive-ins accounted for most of the take. 'Bee' Bows at State Columbia's "Queen Bee" will have its New York opening at Loew's State Nov. 22.