Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1945)

THE NEWS DIGEST (Continued from Page 12) American and British producers and distributors have been Germany's guilt." Although officials did not comment on the film fare being readied for German consumption, producers have received an outline, since the films will be produced in commercial studios under orders from the Office of War Information and the Ministry of Information. The films, chiefly documentary and newsreel, will feature especially the wanton destruction and suffering caused by the Germans in conquered areas on the theme that Germany owes a debt to world society that must be paid. The documentary pictures will also present a true picture of life in the Allied Nations, particularly stressing the huge industrial development capable of turning out weapons that would stifle German hopes of future domination. Newsreels depicting mass German surrenders and decisive defeats inflicted on German troops will also aid in destroying the myth of German invincibility. PRE-TRIAL MEET FUTILE Another pre-trial conference at the chambers of the Department of Justice in New York City failed to relieve the impasse between the eight major companies and the Government in agreement on preliminary procedure for the anti-trust trial set for October 8th. Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard was not present at the meeting, but will hear the results of the conference and any further developments at a meeting early this week. Interrogatories presented by both parties went by the boards as each refused to answer the other's informal questionnaires. Both the defendant distributors and the Government will present cross-interrogatories before Judge Goddard at the next meeting, with the Court making deciclon as to which interrogatories, or portions thereof, _ ~e reovant and should be answered. Louis Frohlich, attorney Columbia, to'.d Robert L. Wright, assistant U. S. Attorney-General, that Columbia would throw open iLs files for the Department so that it could obtain its own answers to the interrogatories, but for Columbia to gather the information would merely mean their preparing the Government's case for Wright. Other attorneys reflected Frohlich's views. Frohlich declared that answers to the questions might take as long as two years and that it might delay the start of the trial. However, a motion to compel the Government to answer the distributor's interrogatories was expected to be filed late last week. SCHAEFER ASKS ADVANCE STOCK An arrangement whereby 120,000,000 feet of positive 35 mm. film would be made available to producers this year for commer THANK YOU for your cooperation in the handling of film. It is working out swell. NOW SAVE PAPER This is an important War Effort. Return posters sent to you in error. Do not throw them aside. Return all posters properly marked, labeled and wrapped. Don't throw them loose in the lobby. YOU DO YOUR PART! WE'LL DO OURS! HIGHWAY EXPRESS LINES, INC. 236 N. 23rd St. 1239 Vine St. 1225 Vine St. Philadelphia 7, Penna. LOCust 4311 cial consumption was suggested by George J. Schaefer, chairman of the War Activities Committee and liaison with the War Production Board. Schaefer referred to the 30,000,000 feet per quarter charged against the industry's allocation under the WPB's policy of granting a 50 per cent credit in the subsequent quarter and reduced to a 25 per cent credit in the current quarter. Conferring with Stanley B. Adams, head of the WPB's Consumer Durable Goods Division, Schaefer reported he felt confident th..t the 30,000.000 feet per quarter allocation would be resumed "after a review of all the facts." This could be arranged by discontinuing the practice of making advance release prints of completed product for the Army, said Schaefer. He pointed to present conditions which necessitate the printing of only those pictures which are going into immediate release. "Since the 30,000,000 feet made available to the Army was for the purpose of making release prints of finished product in advance of release date and was taken from the original stock pile, it seems only proper that the Army now put back into the stock pile the said allotment and it be divided proportionately among the companies," he said. If the reported arrangement is agreed upon, the Army theatres using 35 mm. prints would secure them from local exchanges when they are available and would no longer show films far in advance of local theatres in the territories. Schaefer also reported that WAC is arranging to purchase about 2,800.000 feet of positive film recently discovered at an Army camp along with about 12,000.000 feet of negative stock. NEW DISTRIBUTION COMPANY A new distributing organization, Cardinal Pictures Corp.,] formed by exhibitor holders of 21 Film Classics franchises, was j announced last fortnight by John L. Franconi, executive secretary of the company's executive committee, who disclosed that the organization will "furnish an outlet for ranking independent pro-1 ducers of new Class 'A' pictures, and to assure a continuing supply j of such product to their franchise exchanges." Charter members of the company, who will control the fran-j chise in their respective centers are: John Mangham, Atlanta Memphis; Arthur Lockwood and Al Swerdlove, Boston, New' Haven; J. F. White, Jr., Charlotte; John J. Jones, Chicago; John; L. Franconi, Dallas; Julian H. King, Des Moines, Omaha; A Dezel, Detroit; John Bannerman, Los Angeles; Joseph Wolf, Min ; neapolis; L. C. Montgomery, Joy Houck, New Orleans; Carr Scott. Oklahoma City; Jack Engel, Philadelphia; Bert Stearn, Pitts' burgh; Harry C. Arthur, Jr., M. S. Schulter and Andy Dietz, St Louis; Sam Wheeler, Washington; Robert L. Lippert, San Fran | Cisco; H. J. Allen, Toronto. Franconi declared that the new company "in no way involve:; Film Classics re-issues, the Goldwyn contract with Film Classics i nor does it include any deal for Selznick re-issues, or any produc j other than a deal for a series of all-color outdoor pictures." ^| committee is arranging with distributors in those exchanges no 1 covered by charter members for franchises in those cities. PARAMOUNT EARNINGS Paramount Pictures estimated its earnings for the year ende December 30, 1944, at $16,488,000 after interest and all charge! including Federal taxes. This compares with a net for the pr«l vious year of $16,140,821 after taxes. Net profit for the quarter ended December 30, 1944 was es timated at $4,012,000, which compares with $4,486,000 for the coil responding quarter in 1943. GET SET FOR THE BIG 7TH WAR LOAN! NEW JERSEY MESSENGER SERVICE Membra Natl FUm Carriers 2*0 N. JUNIPER ST. Philadelphia, Pa. 32 FILM BULLETI