20th Century-Fox Dynamo (September 2, 1939)

6 NEW DYNAMO FOREIGN DRIVE PROSPECTS LOOM BRI GHTER IN FAR EAST Contrast To Situation In Europe—Field Forces Here Prepared To Assume Added Responsibility—Latest Reports Find Them Appreciative Of New Part They Must Play Continued from Cage 2 British authorities’ restrictions make production next to impossible in England. Even if general war is averted it would be many months before production can be resumed. But, Zanuck’s far-sighted production policy in maintaining always a reserve of stories makes it possible for the studio to quickly remedy this situation. Thus, in the past few days, to Wurtzel’s original lineup of 24 K-7 features have been added these specials, “The Man Who Wouldn’t Talk,” “Law West of Pecos,” “Earthbound” and “Three Blind Dates.” This shoots Wurtzel’s K-7’s to 28 and with Zanuck’s 24, the company total of 1939-40 feature releases adheres to 52. Insofar as the Overseas Kent Drive was concerned, everything was in readiness to get it universally under way, regardless of what prevailed in the international situation over the week-end. Communication with the European offices will be somewhat difficult inasmuch as code messages have been tabooed officially this week by both France and Poland. However, offices in both those countries were operating, as were those in the other troubled lands. The situation in the Far East, in contrast to that in Europe, quieted a bit. Although Australia and New Zealand have declared an embargo on the transfer of funds VV. J. Hutchinson outside those countries, the situation was considered vastly improved, according to a communication received by Charles Munro, head of the theatre interests there, who, by the way, left New York Thurs- day night for the Coast and from there will proceed to Sidney. Far East Representative Del- bert Goodman, who is in this country, received advices indi- cati n g an improve- ment in b u s i n ess c o n d itions in China and Japan, with treat- m e n t of A m e r ican i n t e rests there more cordial than they have been for months. Far East- ern c o un- tries are seemingly prepared to break all records in the Kent Drive. Fairly optimistic were the re- ports that came from the Scandi- navian countries. From Latin America came re- ports of a full participation in the Drive, although some of the governments there had issued edicts that radically affected transfer of revenue. However, this must be borne in mind: whatever drops are in- flicted in European exchange automatically affects South American currency detrimen- tally. But, insofar as the offices in Argentine, Brazil, Chile, Colom- bia, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba and other Latin American countries are concerned, they re- port they were never better pre- pared to establish new local Drive high marks. DRIVE NOTES A last-minute appraisal of Drive possibilities was being taken late this week by Over- seas Sales Manager Hutchinson, who on Wednesday returned from a two-week visit to the studio with Mr. Wobber. “In countries where we will be allowed to operate on any- thing resembling a normal basis,” stated Mr. Hutchinson, “I know we are going to estab- lish new records. “I say this because of the product I saw while at the stu- dio. It is as ideally suited to maximum earnings abroad as it is for America. “The studio has been alert to British Head Office in London A view of the beautiful building housing the 20th Century- Fox British organization in London's Soho Square. The park you see has been piled many feet high with sandbags. Trenches have been dug out. And the personnel there is ready to move, at a moment’s notice, to Wembley, according to cabled word from British Managing Director F. L. Harley to New York. what has been going on through- out the world, with the result that it is better prepared, I learned, to cope with present- day affairs, than any other plant in Hollywood. More big pictures and the best pictures this indus- try has made. That is what I saw at the studio. I congratu- late Mr. Zanuck and his studio organization on its record. “If it were just a matter of product this season, I know from the job Mr. Zanuck and his or- ganization have done and are doing, that this company will enjoy its most profitable and a record-breaking season. No mat- ter what the situation abroad brings about, I know that the returns will, under universal conditions, be maximum.” A survey of foreign currency transfer at press-time showed that revenue is frozen solid in Spain, Germany and several other countries. Transfer of money from abroad to this coun- try is restricted along certain lines and got out with some dif- ficulty in Italy, Latvia, Poland, Jugoslavia, Roumania, Bul- garia, Greece, Brazil, Chile and Japan. However, even that pic- ture is subject to daily change. Poland was expected any minute to completely shut down on the transfer of money abroad. CANADA CARRIES ON EXTREMELY OPTIMISTIC DOMINION IN FINE CONDITION SOUTH AFRICA AND AUSTRALIA ALSO SEND VERY GOOD NEWS TORONTO—Whatever happens in the European situation, the Dominion will play its full part. British exchange, however, is affecting the local market, but Dominion District Manager J. P. O’Loghlin is opti- mistic about the situation. The feeling up here is one of hope that the European leaders will settle the situation without recourse to war, but come what may, the branches here are prepared for any development. Canadian exhibitors are going right ahead with their plans and in certain sections of the Dominion an improvement in theatre receipts was enjoyed last week. “Stanley and Livingstone” is going over as successfully here as on the U. S. side of the border and for the next few weeks this Zanuck special will play a major , part in the Drive revenue that will be forthcoming from Can- ada. Naturally, Canada is con- cerned with happenings in the motherland, but prospects for September are bright. Agricul- turally western and Prairie Can- ada has had, generally, an ex- cellent season. Industrially, con- ditions have been steadily im- proving and barring any out- break of war in Europe, Canada looks forward to a great season. O’Loghlin pointed to increas- ing advance rentals as evidence of his district’s readiness to de- fend the championship it won both in 1937 and 1938. r IN MONTREAL ON IMPORTANT DEAL MONTREAL — Central Divi- sion Manager W. C. Gehring ar- rived here Thursday morning and was to remain until Friday. Manager Edward English and he are working on a circuit deal. Quebec prospects for a suc- cessful Drive are bright, with Manager English as confident as ever that his office will be among the prize-winners in the Inter- national group. SOUTH AFRICANS VERY OPTIMISTIC JOHANNESBURG — Manag- ing Director Otto Bolle has in- formed New York that the South African organization has its Kent Drive set up so that a rec- ord-breaking campaign may be accepted as a foregone conclu- sion. Amazing progress in distribu- tion has been made in the past 'Hotel" Hailed Natural Abroad j j The following was cabled to New York by British Managing Director F. L. Harley, over the week-end: “Screened ‘Hotel for Women’ which we consider high class film. Work of Linda Darnell outstanding. Film very acceptable and should do well. Previewed ‘Inspector Hornleigh’s Hol- iday’ which was great suc- cess and almost all cards consider it excellent. Film, in our opinion, definitely superior to first ‘Horn- leigh.’ ” year, and it must be recalled that 1938 marked a season productive of the biggest revenue 20th Century-Fox has earned in South Africa. That figure will be top- ped in 1939-40, Mr. Bolle ad- vises. CHARI.ES munro LEAVES FOR HOME Before boarding the West- bound train in New York Thurs- day night, Charles Munro, head of the Australasian theatre holding affiliates of this com- pany, expressed himself as op- timistic over conditions there. He stated the Far East situa- tion has “quieted considerably.” He will go direct to the Coast, spend a little time at the studio and then proceed to Australia, by boat, arriving at Sidney late this month.