Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1935 13 MPTOA PLAN TO TAKE INDEPENDENT EXHIBS FOR A "RIDER" (Continued from Front Page) (a) charge fixed minimum admission prices; and (b) refrain from giving premiums, gifts, prizes, etc., and from lowering the announced admission prices by means of reduced script books, throw-away tickets, etc., and from conducting lotteries, drawings, etc.; and (c) refrain from showing any feature picture with any other picture of three reels or more. Penalties If the prior run should violate any of the provisions of the rider (which is seldom likely to occur), the producer shall be relieved of adherence to it and shall be free to eliminate the riders from subsequent run contracts. If the producer shall sell to a subsequent run without insisting on fulfillment of the provisions stipulated in the prior run's rider (which is even less likely to happen), the producer shall be required to reduce all rentals to the prior run 25 per cent. If the subsequent run violates the rider agreement, the prior run will have the privilege of taking legal recourse to seek damages and/or an injunction. (This is predicated on the assumption that the courts will sustain the right of the prior run to sue on a contract to which it is not even a party, because the contract between the subsequent run and the producer is for the benefit of the prior run.) Aimed At "Little Fellow" Nowhere in that whole biased design is there any consideration shown for the problems of the thousands of "little fellows" in exhibition. "Let the weak perish!" should have been the foreword to this lopsided, illegal contrivance of the major producers' errand boys. Nowhere in this panacea plan of the MPTOA is there any suggestion for obtaining relief from the oppressions of the major producers. Nowhere is mention made of protecting the independent exhibitors who find themselves in the unfortunate position of competing with producer-owned theatres, and who are forced to take any belated run the affiliated chains deign to give them. Nothing of block booking and selling by numbers. Of preferred playing time. Of inordinate film rentals despite poor business. Their hope is to entice those independents who still retain de luxe theatres with the mirage of stifling the competitive practices used by the subsequent runs. This man, they feel, is an easy prey. He charges a higher admission price and usually does not resort to cheapening policies because his clientele does not desire them. But no independent in his right mind, much as he may hanker for clean-cut competition, without the depression-born competitive practices, would contemplate delegating the powers for controlling those practices into the hands of the major producers. He knows well enough that the very weapon which is so willingly offered to him today would be used to club him into submission tomorrow. More Centralization Schemes to aid the "little fellow" simply do not come within the province of the producers' "own boys." No. They bend their efforts toward intensifying the centralization of power in the hands of those who already have far too much. What remaining vestige of authority in the operation of his own business the independent yet retains would be snatched from him by this artifice, this plan to end plans — and independents. The MPTOA is trying to take America's independent theatre owners for a rider! "Becky Sharp" In Color A Disappointment "Becky Sharp," first feature length picture filmed entirely in the new three-color Technicolor process, is disappointing. The carefully subdued, but attractive, hues in which the film is tinted fail to conceal a fatal weakness in story construction and characterization. The novelty of an all-color feature will probably help it through to Fair-plus grosses, but no more. {ELK'S complete review of "Becky Sharp" will appear in next week's issue of FILM BULLETIN.] REVIEWS THE LOCAL, INDUSTRY'S FAVORITE PRINTING COMPANY NATIONAL-PENN Printing Company 1233 VINE STREET PHILADELPHIA SIMON LIBROS AL. BLOFSON OSCAR LIBROS The Nitwits ( Continued from Back Page ) years, but this does not mean that they will be acceptable to movie-goers outside of the limited audience that appreciates their specialized comic antics. Disregarding plot (what there is of one) and gags, "The Nitwits" is still composed of the old Wheeler and Woolsey stunts, twisted a bit to make a more amusing film. Slapstick is applied freely, so the stars' fans are in for a rowdy good time. Bert Wheeler sings several tunes, merely to give the picture a musical touch. Wheeler and Woolsey pictures are stable items. Either they do Average business or they are worthless. This will hardly do much better or worse than their last three or four offerings. PLOT: The young heroine's boss is murdered after receiving a letter, signed "The Black Widow," demanding money. The girl finds a gun resembling one she had seen Wheeler holding and the police arrest her when she attempts to hide it. "The Black Widow" had sent many other notes, asking that the victims leave the money in an office building in the center of the city. While the police are waiting for the blackmailer and murderer to arrive, Wheeler and Woolsey come on the scene to solve the mystery. After a comical slapstick chase through the building, the two heroes capture the villain, who was one of the detectives on the job. The mystery angle of the plot should be plugged to catch fans who like puzzlers. PENN THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. Dependability Lowest Prices Let Us Quote On Your Next Requirements 309 N. 13th St., Phila. RIT. 3273 the perfect hot weather attraction . . . THE PHANTOM FIEND