The Film Daily (1938)

m p p r o 13 * n \ s T 2 H W 44TH ST H Y C Monday, November 14, 1938 MONOGRAM AND PATHE RENEW ENGLISH PACT (Continued from Page 1) jointly Saturday by W. Ray Johnston, Monogram president, and William J. Gell, Pathe's managing director in London. Gell returned to England Saturday on the Normandie. Plans for the joint production of pictures by Pathe and Monogram in England have been discussed by Johnston and Gell during the last 10 days. It is believed that at least four pictures will be made annually in England for release on the 193940 programs of Pathe and Monogram. Monogram players and directors will be used. It was also announced that Monogram plans to increase its production budget and enlarge the program for next season, producing 32 pictures instead of 26 as were announced for the current lineup. Arthur Levey, Monogram's English representative, who accompanied Gell to the U. S., is remaining here another week for discussions concerning Scophony television of which he is a director. Conferences have been held in connection with television with Eddie Cantor, David Sarnoff and William Paley, the latter president of Columbia Broadcasting Co. THE WEEtt IN REVIEW Allied Denies Agreement — 250 U. S. Pix for Japan Projected Grand National British Deal Spans One Year (Continued from Page 1) pact has been signed as yet although some action is expected this week. GN's board of directors holds its regular quarterly meeting _ today when Hammons will submit the British proposal for discussion and consideration. ITO of Ohio Opens Annual Meeting in Col. Tomorrow Columbus, 0. — ITO of Ohio opens its annual convention here tomorrow at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel with an array of prominent speakers scheduled to appear. Among those slated to address the two-day conclave are Harold Rodner, executive vice-president of the Will Rogers Memorial; H. M. Richey, director of exhibitor relations for RKO; Harry Goldberg, director of advertising and publicity for Warner Bros. Theaters; Edward L. Golden, Monogram vice-president, and Abram F. Myers, Allied's general counsel. 55 Soviet Features Moscow (By Cable) — A statement on the 1939 Soviet production program lists the feature pictures to be made at 55 to be completed that year, with 20 others which will not be released until 1940. Program also provides for 130 shorts on educational and technical lines, 50 of which will be silent. It was stated that the number of sound installations would be increased by 12,500. DOMESTIC (Continued from Page 1) of conspiring to control exhibition of first-run films to detriment of public and indie exhibs. (New York) At hearing on argument for bill of particulars in Justice Dept.'s anti-trust case against industry, UA and Columbia counsel declared these companies will shortly move for dismissal of suit against them as co-defendants with other wings of filmland. (New York) William Hart Co. won verdict of $276,965 in N. Y. Supreme Court in action against UA, in which plaintiff charged breach of distribution contract re "Tumbleweeds." UA will appeal. (Washington) U. S. Supreme Court denied main motion of State of Washington to dismiss appeal of Ascap. * * * TELEVISION: (Hollywood) Paramount's Stanton Griffis declared company will go in strongly for television via its new contact with DuMont Laboratories, Inc., of Passaic, N. J., which is now in position to give public tele entertainment. (Passaic) Allen B. DuMont told The Film Daily that, in addition to its already effectuated making of tele sets, organization may market transmitters. * * * | PRODUCTION: (New York) Arriving at home office from Hollywood, Hal B. Wallis asserted Warners will make 52 features for 193940, with more big pix slated. (New York) Montague Marks, whose Albion Corp. of London is backing Douglas Fairbanks' production plans, said latter will turn out three pix at aggregate $2,500,000 and release same via UA. * * * FINANCIAL: (New York) Paramount reported nine-month net at $1,876,469, and $650,658 for past quarter, ended Oct. 1. (New York) Pathe Film stockholders to act on liquidation of assets proposal on Dec. 6. (Rochester) Eastman will pay $2,200,000 wage bonus to employes on March 27, next. (New York) Wall St. sees industry headed for a profitable Winter season. * * * DEALS: (New York) UA closed biggest deal in its history with Loew's, product going into all latter's houses. (New York) Columbia announced its vice-prexy, Jack Cohn, while in England, will discuss new deal on quota pix with Irving Asher. (New York) Monogram Pathe Films deferred joint British production negotiations until next May, but representation pact was stated as likely of renewal shortly. * * * PROMOTIONAL: (New York) Incoming from Coast, S. Charles Einfeld urged exhibs. to invest more heavily in newspaper ads, using at least 75 per cent of budgets in this channel. (New York) George J. Schaefer urged permanent setup to promote industry, as Harold B. Franklin drafted plans for another industry ad drive in 1939. * * * GOV'T -IN -PIX: In interest of consumer education, U. S. will establish the Industrial Film Institute with Washington as headquarters. Blanketing of nation with such programs is aim, it was learned by The Film Daily. ZUKOR TO CONTINUE AS PARA. BOARD HEAD FOREIGN DISTRIBUTION: (New York) Concluding a visit to M-G-M's home office, Julian D. Bermann, company's manager for Japan, declared recently-concluded U. S. -Nippon pix agreement is based on $30,000 "first print" aggregate, and means that Japanese market now opens to 250 American films. He said Japan's 1938 production will hit 500 features. (Rome) U. S. distrib. interests said their dissatisfaction with Italy's new ENIC, — Fascist film monopoly bureau, — is due additionally to provision which offers only $1,000,000 annually for American product. (Mexico City) Arthur M. Loew, Metro v.p. in charge of the International Dept., revealed that U. S. pix hold lead in Mexican market. # ^ sfs FINANCIAL: (Buenos Aires) U. S. majors releasing here were reported as grabbing $12,000,000 of the total distrib. gross revenue for films in Argentina. Estimates put U. S. companies^ net at $6,000,000. 320 American pix imported during the year averaged a profit of $18, 750 per pix. * # * DEALS: (New York) Herbert Wilcox, planning to make three triple-quota pix budgeted at $750,000 each, arrived from London to discuss releasing deals with RKO execs, and reps, of other majors. (New York) Leslie Howard and Walter Futter, also in from London, were also seeking distribution deal for their forthcoming Major Pictures, Ltd., product. They will also huddle with RKO and other companies here. Lenauer Prepares Shorts Lenauer International is preparing to release a second edition of "Getting Your Money's Worth" and "Frosty Frolics," latter a Winter sports short. Firm's "Datelines" has been booked into the Filmarte and Translux on Broadway and into firstruns in Boston, Washington, Miami Beach. Cutting McCoy Western Sam Katzman's "Six-gun Trail," starring Tim McCoy, is now in the cutting room and is to be released Nov. 25. This is the second picture in a series of eight Westerns starring Tim McCoy which Sam Katzman will produce. (Continued from Page 1) from the Coast. Balaban said that Zukor's new duties in England had not yet been clearly defined, but he indicated that the assigrf AxA would not take the aspect of ^accession to John Cecil Graham, who recently resigned as managing director of Paramount activities in the U. K. Balaban added that David Rose, head of the company's British production affairs, would not be affected by Zukor's new duties. Zukor is scheduled to sail for England about Dec. 4. John W. Hicks, vice-president in charge of ■the foreign department who is now in London, returns to the U. S. Dec. 21. and it was inferred that Zukor might accompany him home. Y. Frank Freeman, head of Paramount theater operations, leaves in about two weeks for Hollywood where he is to take over his new duties as home office studio contact. Freeman, who returned from the Coast Friday with Balaban, was not specific as to his exact activities in the post. No successor to Freeman will be named for the time being, Balaban, supervising with Leon Netter, continuing as second in demand. Van Beuren Dies Following Heart Attack; Was Pioneer (Continued from Page 1) heart attack at his country home in Carmel, N. Y. He was 58 years old and had retired from active business early this year. Van Beuren was best known for his shorts, although he produced such features as "Bring 'Era Back Alive," "Wild Cargo" and "Fang and Claw." F. E. Spencer Killed West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — F. E. Spencer, 34, chief animator for Walt Disney's "Donald Duck" character, was killed and Lou Ostrow, production executive for M-G-M, was injured when the car in which they were riding smashed up. James Gaither, M-GM sound technician, another passenger, also was injured. GI/T Expands Sydney (By Cable) — Greater Union Theaters of Australia, now an independent organization, has adopted a policy of expansion it is officially stated. Expansion begins with three new theaters — the Victory in Sydney, seating 1,000 and giving the circuit an up-to-date first-run theater here, a 1,750-seat theater to be erected on the site of West's Theater in Adelaide, and a modern structure to be built on the site of the old Melba Theater in Melbourne which also is to be demolished.