Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1939)

Hollywood Settles Itself More London Technicians Solidly on Wartime Basis Would Keep Quota With the prolonged and precedental heat wave and its annoying effects on production activity crowding on the possible influences of the European War in the minds of studio executives, Hollywood has settled itself more solidly into its wartime operations basis. Very few new developments have followed the first major adjustments made as a result of the war. Previously unreported developments included: 1. Echoing the earlier statement of his chieftain, Nicholas M. Schenck, in New York denying that M-G-M would curtail production or lower the quality of its pictures, Louis B. Mayer, studio chief, called a meeting of his production staff and pleaded with them to exert the utmost economies in preparation and production, pointing all their efforts toward maintaining an even keel. Mayer urged them to avail themselves intelligently of the studio’s facilities and talent as a means of meeting the present crisis. 2. The picture-making front steadily assumed a firmer footing. Paramount has set starting dates on six films within the next five weeks, topping all former autumn schedules, and has added 11 new writers to its staff. Completing his survey of the possible losses which may ensue as a result of the war, Edward Small has announced he will proceed immediately on two heavy-budget pictures for United Artists, “Kit Carson, Avenger,” and “My Son, My Son.” The first will hit the cameras within three weeks. Walter Wanger has added “Dynasty of Death,” dealing with international munitions manufacturers, to his UA schedule and has assigned Sheridan Gibney and Taylor Caldwell to collaborate on the screenplay of Miss Caldwell’s original, a novel. Warner intends to expand its short subjects production schedule to include several more historical featurettes. 3. The three leading talent unions — Screen Actors, Screen Writers and Screen Directors Guilds — are standing pat on the “no pay cuts” policy they adopted in reply to a message from Harry Brandt, president of the ITOA of New York, urging them to accept salary cuts as a means of shouldering a portion of the burden which Brandt predicts wiU befall the industry with the loss of foreign revenues. A spokesman for the tri-Guild bloc declared the three imions do not contemplate any further action unless it becomes apparent that a determined effort is being made by producers to force salaries downward. 4. W. Ray Johnston, Monogram’s president, headed east after short conferences with Scott Dunlap, production head, during which he announced there would be no drastic changes in the company’s production plans. First U. S. news cameraman to hit the war zone will be Norman Alley, formerly of Universal, who is en route to Europe as representative of Metro’s News of the Day. Lawrence Fox jr., head of General Films, returned from London with Goldwyn Suggests War Fact-Finding Group Formation of a joint fact-finding committee to study all phases of the industry's war crisis and work out a remedy is urged by Samuel Goldwyn in a letter to Will H. Hays, Joseph M. Schenck and the actors, writers and directors guild. "Wholesale firing of wage earners" is the wrong way to cope with seriously curtailed foreign markets, Goldwyn declares. the disclosure that the company has abandoned plans to produce “The Man Who Lost Himself” abroad and that the film may be made in New York instead. Fact-Finding Body Idea “Somewhat Premature" Joseph Schenck, replying to Sam Goldwyn’s suggestion that a fact-finding committee be formed to study the industry’s war crisis, declares Goldwyn is “entirely correct” in his analysis, but states he believes Goldwyn’s plan is “somewhat premature” because the extent of foreign revenue losses is “not sufficiently apparent” yet to set definite policies. He advises that “we wait until all necessary information is at hand.” Schenck also expresses hope there will be no reprisals or discriminations as a result of the lATSE’s victory over the USTG. He has appointed Y. Frank Freeman, E. J. Mannix, and Mendel Silberberg to open wage scale negotiations with lA. The 20th-Fox executive left Friday on a goodwill tour of Latin-America. The Screen Actors Guild has informed Goldwyn it will cooperate in a fact-finding committee to study the industry’s war crisis. London — Continuance of the present quota legislation is urged in a letter sent to the president of the Board of Trade by the Association of Cine Technicians. Text of the letter is as follows: “It has been brought to our attention that film renters have in mind the acceptance of British productions subject to the continuance of fnm quota legislation, and that such a contingency will be provided for under the cover of a general war clause. We trust this does not imply that such renters may have been led to understand that there is a possibility of the film quota legislation being repealed. “We feel at the present time that it is more than ever important that the British film industry should continue to function, and subject to any policy which the Ministi-y of Information and other Government Departments may pursue, the greatest asset to commercial film production will be an assured market. The quota legislation gives this. “We are very strongly of the opinion that, if the quota legislation is repealed, it may lead to a repetition of the imfortunate position which arose during the war of 1914-1918 when the American film industry largely captured the British film market— a calamity from which we have only recently begun to recover and for which recovery the quota legislation is largely responsible. “We are sure the Government does not wish a similar position to occur and, as we are of the opinion that the continuance of the quota legislation is the greatest safeguard against this, we trust that no action will be taken to repeal or amend the Cinematograph Films Act, 1939. “If the government has such repeal or amendment in mind, we trust this association will be given an opportunity to outline its views to you before a final decision is taken.” They Visit the Home Lot — Back to the studio building, now occupied by Monogram, went David Wark Griffith, right, and Lillian Gish recently when they visited Charles Bickford on the set of ‘‘Mutiny in the Big House.” The building housed some of the most ambitious of the Griffith productions. 46 BOXOFFICE : : September 23, 1939