Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

Expect Decision Next Week on Remittances New York — Oral arguments have been completed and attorneys have filed briefs on M-G-M's protest on the method of allocation of remittances from England under the plan which went into effect November 1, 1940. Milton J. Handler, Columbia law professor, acted as arbiter with Sam Cohen of M-G-M’s legal department handling the company’s protest. Joseph H. Hazen of Warner represented the other seven majors. A decision is expected next week, after which Arthur Loew, head of Loew’s foreign activities, will leave for the coast. M-G-M's contention is that Great Britain never intended to allow remittances on the turnover of the distributors, but each company was to be treated on an equal basis. Hazen held the new remittances were based on the original agreement which began the year before. In rebuttal, M-G-M argued that, when it accepted the original agreement, it was because it was the simplest form then and, secondly, that it was aware of the fact no funds would be left over in England on which any dispute would arise. The first year’s agreement with England permitted $17,500,000 to be remitted to American companies in New York. This was reduced to $12,900,000 for the year starting November 1, 1940. Para't Partners May Meet Late in March New York — Paramount’s annual meeting of all theatre partners, the first in several years, may be held in Hot Springs, Va., March 27-29, but it is still possible the dates may be pushed back a week. It is expected Y. Frank Freeman, studio production head, will attend as well as Barney Balaban. Plans will be developed on the threeday schedule within the next few weeks. With National Theatres now drafting a consent decree manual relating. entirely to exhibition problems under the new law, Paramount counsel is understood planning something along the same line for its partners. “Everything relating to current problems will be discussed at the sessions,” a home office executive states. " Daily News " Star Ratings Return to Picture Ads New York — Although it has been discreetly infringed upon from time to time, the “gentlemen’s agreement” purportedly in effect for the past few years in respect to quoting the star ratings on film reviews from the Daily News is officially off. Henceforth, major distributors and theatre affiliates, as well as their Broadway showwindows, are to be free to use the star ratings either on their marquees or newspaper advertising. The difficulty in controlling the ban is given in some quarters as responsible for the lifting of the original restraint. New Press Stunt — If the above photo was wired for sound, you’d probably hear something like: “Boy, what these Paramount fellows will do for publicity .” What the Paramount fellows will do, and did, is amply demonstrated here, in behalf of “The Lady Eve.” The three young women are presumably reasonable facsimiles of various conceptions of what Eve, of apple fame, looked like. They are fondling a reasonable facsimile of Emma, the King snake that appears in “The Lady Eve.” Dr . Wortis Chairman on Exceptional Photoplays New York — Dr. S. Bernard Wortis is new chairman of its Committee on Exceptional Photoplays, the National Board of Review states. Dr. Wortis acts as consultant and attending neuropsychiatrist in several government services and was formerly associate psychiatrist to the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Medical College. Cooperation between exhibitor and public was the keynote of a regional discussion of community Motion Picture Council representatives held by the national board at the Hotel Pennsylvania. Among the speakers was Herman M. Levy, secretary of the MPTO of Connecticut. In answer to the group’s questions regarding theatres, booking and the decree, as applied to their work with the theatres of their communities, Levy declared: “Make yourself a part of the theatre man’s program all year ’round, instead of just for special favors. The exhibitor welcomes suggestions from you community groups about the pictures he shows — provided you come to see them after he books them.” Columbia Sales Drive New York — Columbia launches its annual sales drive March 1 as the “Columbia Exhibitors’ Goodwill Campaign.” It winds up May 30. Triple Billing Reaches The Garden of Eden By LEONARD WEISBERG New York — The personnel of Paramount’s eastern publicity staff has never impressed this department as being imbued with the sort of serious attitude expected of a group of educators, historians or archaeologists. Maybe we’ve had the wrong slant on the praise boys all along; figuring all along as we have that they’d sell their mothersin-law’s soul for a front page story or picture break. But a mere look at the record will demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt how serious they are about zoology, for instance. Reams of copy centered about dogs in behalf of “The Biscuit Eater.” Then such an intense interest in lion cubs, as associated with “Her Jungle Love.” You may remember the glorification of the flea for “Zaza.” Who can forget the sendoff the seals got when that Gladys Swarthout picture rolled around? Ducks came in for the spotlight when Dorothy Lamour’s film was ready for release. And then Jiggs, the chimpanzee, was almost immortalized for “Typhoon.” At the moment we’re down to Emma, the snake. It seems no accurate record exists over whether Eve, of Adam fame, was a blonde, brunette or red head; whether she was short, medium or tall. Tom Waller and Herb Berg undertook to find out, just for the record, of course. So they invited the leading newspaper syndicates to witness the event and chose the Copacabana club for the testing. Emma, it seems further, was flown in from the coast for the occasion. She was uncaged at the night club in a setting possibly reminiscent of what Eve saw when she was linked to that apple tree. Maybe. Emma, all 30 inches of her, had the privilege of being attended by Dr. Raymond Ditmars, curator of reptiles and insects; Dr. Lawrence Gould, consulting psychologist, five comely lassies, one sevenfoot-seven man, 10 cameramen and representatives of leading newspaper syndicates, wire services and trade press representatives. The five comely misses were appropriately dressed as Eves, and the man as Adam. The apples on the tree were genuine. Emma was as docile as a kitten. It all made sense, Dr. Ditmars meekly declared, becauses snakes and apple trees are symbolic of Adam and Eve. This explanation is accepted by this observer because it bore the mark of authenticity. As we left the Copacabana, though, we kept wondering if anyone else — say, the cameramen — believe it. Because, as we all know, Paramount is about to release “The Lady Eve.” Screen Readers Re-elect New York — Officers of the Screen Readers Guild of N. Y. have been reelected unanimously. More than 90 per cent of the readers in the east are members. The unit is awaiting a date for an NLRB hearing which is to be set following the NLRB hearings with the Screen Publicists Guild. 26 BOXOFFICE :: February 22, 1941