Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

%depeiidetii f X H I B 1 1 0 R . FILM BULLETIN VOL. 2. No. 48 WEDNESDAY. JULY 29. 1936 PRICE 10 CENTS METRO'S TERMS Only a few months ago Metro asked all its customers to grant it a favor by relinquishing their right to ten outstanding releases on the 193536 program in return for eight pictures of far less value. An overwhelming majority of theatre owners signed the contract rider to relieve M-G-M of its obligation to deliver those ten films, inspired principally by the fact that over a period of years this company had built a reputation for fairness in its terms and dealings with exhibitors. All the goodwill that it took those many years to build will be destroyed in very short time if Metro persists in its announced sales policy for the 1936-37 season. The acknowledged superiority of its product, its galaxy of recognized stars, producers and directors will count for naught when exhibitors determine that there is more profit in the products of those producers whose pictures they buy at more reasonable terms. We have stated before that improvement in boxoffice grosses entitles the film companies to ask an increase in outright rentals, if their product warrants it. But, when, as Metro is doing, a company demands higher percentages, as high as 40 percent on some pictures, it is seeking only to increase its own profits while barring the exhibitor from realizing a proportionate betterment of his own conditions. It is unfair. Far more than it can possibly gain from the increase in percentages Metro stands to lose in the respect and friendship of its customers. They should consider this. MO WAX. AUGUST IS "SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENTS MONTH BOOK AS MANY INDEPENDENT PICTURES AS POSSIBLE TO ENCOURAGE THE PRODUCTION OF MORE GOOD FILMS.