Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

\etvs and Opinion {(Continued from Page 14) Anti-Trust Probe Faces Radio-TV Set Manufacturers I As though they weren't plagued enough by 'ugh inventories and bulging warehouses full •if unsold merchandise, radio and television licit the heavy hand of the anti-trust division \ Federal grand jury will be impaneled and subpoenas are now being served on leading Electronics manufacturers to probe into possible anti-trust violations in the radio and ;]'V manufacturing field, with emphasis on | he color television setup. The system of i-adio and TV licenses and patents is also [slated for inquiry. It was specified that broadcast and entertainment phases are not 'nvolved in the probe. Industry sources revealed that the major |nanufacturers subpoenaed included DuMont, [Admiral, RCA, Philco and CBS in addition lo the Radio-Television Manufacturers Association of Washington which represents 'some 300 set and part manfuacturers. Producers generally believe that every major manufacturer in the radio-TV industry received one of the court orders. 1 U.S. Balks UPT Divestiture Extension; Asks Trusteeship | United Paramount Theatres' effort to obain a two year extension, on the April 7 [leadline to complete divestiture of 198 theares, ran into the expected snag last week — rovernment Opposition. The Justice Dej hartment opposed the request on grounds hat UPT has not acted in good faith — ROBERT LIPPERT Big Plans — and Percentages specifically, "Defendant has not shown due diligence in disposing of its interest in theatres or in dissolving joint interests . . ." The Government also charged that the chain had attempted to skirt the intent of the decree by manipulating clearances and runs in its theatres, thus distorting the value of the houses and precluding sale. An affidavit was filed by Texas chain operator I. B. Adelman which charged that competition was never realized, in the Interstate Theatre area, after the UPT divestiture order. The Government asked that a trusteeship be set up for those theatres not sold by the deadline. Lippert Eyes % Deals, Retains Levin To Check Confirming the intent announced by Robert H. Lippert, president of l ippert Pictures, Inc., of elevating its product quality, the company revealed that Jack H. I.evin Associates has been retained as its checking agency on percentage product. Obviously Lippert, whose films have always been sold flat, intend to market the product on percentage terms. Whether such an apparently drastic policy change will be warranted, only the new product that will be forth coming in the higher budgeted schedules can determine. Among those new films Lippert has announced for release in the future are a group of George Raft starrers; "Valley of Eagles," a British made production; and "( Outlaw Women," in color. Currently in release are "For Men Only" (Paul Hcnreid); "Man Bait" (George Brent); "Navajo" (All-Indian cast) and "Stronghold" (Veronica LakcZachary Scott. Columbia 26-Week Net Dips Quarter-Million To $437,000 Columbia's net for the 26 weeks ended December 29, 1951 dipped to $437,000 after a comparative half the year before of $660,000. The drop was emphasized by the figures before provision for Federal taxes. Last year the tax bite was $500,000; for the current period it came to $135,000. TEXT OF COMPO RESOLUTION ON HOUSE 'RED' REPORT WHEREAS the Council of Motion Picure Organizations, representing all branches |.nd phases of the motion picture industry, tteplores the unfair and unjust report of the House Committee on Un-American Activiiies, on Communism in Hollywood, and reents the report's indictment of an entire in t |lustry for the past activities of a misguided |>r vicious few; , BE IT RESOLVED I That the Council give the widest possible publicity to the following facts: The statement in the Committee's report hat Hollywood has not attempted to rid it•elf of Communist influence by "positive Lnd determined steps" is contrary of a statement made on May 17 last by the Committee's Chairman, Representative John S. LV'ood of Georgia. Addressing a Committee tearing, Chairman Wood said: "I would like p make a statement that I have gone to ome considerable pains personally to advise nyself as to the attitude of responsible producers in the motion picture industry, and I Know at this time they are spending literally jhousands and thousands of dollars undertaking to screen the backgrounds of all persons now employed in essential positions 1 MARCH 10, 1952 in the industry, and they are exercising a great deal of diligence in that respect." The Motion Picture Industry in 1947 discharged those who refused to testify before the Committee and announced its policy that it would not employ known Communists. Multiple damage suits were brought against the industry as a consequence. The motion picture producers comprise the only management group in America that suffered legal consequences as far back as 1947 to rid itself of Communist elements. Virtually on the very day on which the Committee's report was issued, a Federal jury in Los Angeles found for the plaintiffs in a suit brought by former employees discharged for their contempt of the Congress. Indeed, as far back as 1946, certain labor and talent groups, conscious of the Communist effort to infiltrate them, took successful democratic action to eleminate small but vocal Communist minorities in these groups. This was but a small part of the role in the fight against our country's enemies. Since the beginning, through war and peace, all segments of our industry have consistently supported America's democratic cause at home and abroad. Our facilities, our man power and our resources have always been made available to the people of this nation. Our films have always been the chief source of this nation's entertainment. And we have always been conscious of the tremendous responsibility that goes with this public trust. It is all the more extraordinary, then, that the Committee report should insinuate that subversive propaganda has crept into our films. The facts are that not a single scene, not a single word of Communist propaganda has ever been shown or spoken in our pictures. Anybody who has followed the American screen should know that. Had the Committee not consistently rejected our repeated invitations to screen our product, it would know that the insinuations in its report are baseless. The Council of Motion Picture Organizations, speaking for the owners and employees of the thousands of theatres all over America, for the producers and distributors, for the artists and craftsmen of Hollywood, reiterates its determination to opose Communism at all times, and demands that the Committee, in all fairness, correct at once the injustice its report has done to the good name of these thousands of Americans. 15