Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

T JANUARY 11, 1941 METRO'S APPROACH TO THE DECREE 1+ has been remarked and reiterated on this page in the past that the Consent Decree will have the best chance to accomplish its purpose of bringing harmony and equity to the industry if all concerned know their rights and duties under it. In this connection, it is encouraging to read the message sent to all Metro branch managers by William F. Rodgers, the company's sales chief. Referring to the special convention held by Loew's officials in November, Rodgers reminds the branch heads: "You were provided with a copy of the document in its final form and invited to make inquiries concerning any part thereof that was not understood by you. All inquiries were promptly answered from the dais, and it can, therefore, be assumed that each of our Branch and District Managers are thoroughly acquainted with its contents." He then issues this direct order and challenge to the whole Metro sales organization: "You should take time out to call a meeting of all those who come in contact with exhibitors, and especially those who have anything to do with the selling and booking of our product, that each may know thoroughly the contents of this document and be reminded of the insistence of our company that the Consent Decree be respected in its entirety and that we will not tolerate any violations. Each man is on his personal responsibility to see that the Consent Decree, so far as it affects him and his method of doing business, is lived up to and respected in all of its contents." If Mr. Rodgers' obvious sincerity is accepted at face value by everyone in the M-G-M organization, it is safe to assume that this company will have a minimum of arbitration cases and fewer complaints filed against it with the Department of Justice. STUDIO FORECAST, 1941 ... In the Next Issue That important annual feature of FILM BULLETIN, Studio Forecast for 1941, will be the big news of the industry after our January 25th issue appears. Here will be the most complete, comprehensive and authentic information about all the film studios— their plans, promises and potentialities for this new year. Here will be the basis upon which the farseeing theatreman can start formulating his buying plans for next season. Here will be the inside dope from which the film man can obtain an uncolored analysis of his own company's and his competitors' position in the production picture. Make sure now that someone else in the office does not swipe your copy of the January 25th issue. Instruct the mailman to deliver it to you personally! Rodgers is not alone in placing on record his company's attitude toward the Decree; Herman Wobber of 20th Century-Fox, Neil Agnew of Paramount and Grad Sears of Warner Bros, have also indicated that they will brook no schemes for circumventing the letter or intent of the document. But, by his forthright and unequivocal statement, the Metro sales chief has set a pattern of executive attitude that should be followed by all others. MO WAX. A NEW FACE--BUT THE SAME HEART We hope you uttered something like, "Ah, that's pretty!" when you first glanced at the new cover which adorns this issue. You see, it's a concession to our vanity and the artist's insistence that FILM BULLETIN has not been attractive as it is important. So we finally said, "OK, doll us up a bit." Frankly, it is a bit embarrassing. We are believers in the simple, fundamental virtues and duties like Honesty, Forthrightness, Independence, Service, and being prettied up just for the sake of being prettier makes us squirm. But the artist wisely observed that he is not changing our heart or our principles, he is merely touching up the face. The BULLETIN, between the covers, will always remain the same staunch advocate and defender of what Is true and good and right and fair and decent. It will say what it has to say In the same forceful, unequivocating, direct words it has always spoken. The fact that more exhibitors and more film men join our list of subscribers almost every day serves to convince us more and more that The BULLETIN is serving a useful purpose to the whole film industry. If you liked us with our old face, you will like us at least as much with the new. If you disliked us before, our face won't change your opinion one bit. FILM BLM.ETIN, an Indeix-iident Motion IMcture Trade I'aper puhlished every other Saturday by Film Unlletin ('.>nii>any. Mo Wax Kdltor and 1'iilillj.lier I'UBLICATION-BniTORIAL OFFIOKS: 1239 Vine St.. IMiila.. Peiina.; KITten house 74 .' 1 ; Itarney Stein, I'ublieation Manager. Ted liarlow flrrulation Mananer. NEW YORK OFITCK: 509 BKO BldR., Koeliefeller (enter; ( Olunilius 5 ;'l,>r>. linrry N. Blair, (ieneral BusinetiN Msr: I ranli I,«>yendeelier, SlnlT Keiiresental ive. WEST COAST OFFICE: 210 Radio Center BulIdinK, 1509 North Vine Street, Hollywood, < iilifornia. IMione: OI.adNlone -Ml!!; David J. Ilanna, West CoaNt Editor. BOSTON OFFICE: 14 Piedmont .Street: Bert Barclay. WASIIINOTON. I). C. OFFICE, Bond BuildinR; Milton F. I.uneh. SubscrlDtion rate: ONE YEAR, $3.00 in the United States; Canada $4.00; Euro|>e $,-..00, TWO YEAK8, $5.00 in the I nited States: Ciuiada *7.80; Europe $9.00. Applieution pending entry as second class matter at the Philadelphia, l"a., I'ost Ollice.