The Film Daily (1938)

M i> $ tl() l J & PI ST 12 2 0 W 44TH ST 7HI^fr N DAILY Friday, December 9, 193; Argentina Paves the Way for Trade Treaty With U. Special Committee Set Up; Pact Seen as Aid to U. S. Pix Industry Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Following announcement from Buenos Aires that the Argentine Government has set up an inter-departmental committee to negotiate trade agreements, possibilities of such a pact, supplementing any present understanding, looms large between the U. S. and Argentina, it is declared by observers here, and that the latter has now provided the working machinery to effectuate closer relations on films and other commodities. This view is circumstantially corroborated by the recent stand of Secretary of State Correll Hull who has expressed the advisability of closer bonds between the U. S. and her neighboring Pan-American republics. Added significance is read into the Argentine developments since their announcement appears timed with the arrival of Secretary Hull and other U. S. delegates for the current conferences at Lima, Peru. With a determined effort to be made by film interests in the U. S. to increase trade with South and Central America, the prospect of an Argentine trade pact holds unusual interest at this time. Through the medium of film trade, closer neighborly and cultural bonds can be effectuated between the U. S. and her sister republics to the South, it is pointed out. Alert to this, the U. S. Government already has its own plans which, if carried out, will make American embassies film theaters for the exhibition of Federal pix. Arguments in Chicago's Contempt Case Continue (Continued from Page 1) Robert Golding, appearing for B & K, Fred Burnham, appearing for Loew's, David Levinson, appearing for UA, and Edmond Adcock, appearing both for RKO and Universal. Warren Canaday, Assistant U. S. District Attorney, and Robert Wright and Seymour Simon, latter two from the U. S. Attorney General's office, Washington, will reply for the Government today. Warners Buy Leichter Short "Point on Pointers" short produced by Mitchell Leichter and Del Frazer, has been bought by Warners. Leichter, who closed the deal, has returned to the Coast. Pix to Follow Play Dallas — Pix version of "You Can't Take It With You" opens in local nabes on Sunday, day after the stage play leaves the Melba. Pix had its first run here five weeks ago. French Gov't Film Commission Paris — An agency for close co-operation between French producers and a governmental inter-ministerial commission has been created. A representative of each Ministry will be named to the commission of which the president and general secretary will be Yves Chatagneau, and the vice-president Ceorges Huisman, director general of the Beaux-Arts. Mrs. Roosevelt! Buys First Ticket for Refugee Raffle (Continued from Page 1) Picturre Art Fund for German Refugees. The scenes were shot on the seventh floor of the Paramount Bldg. where, surrounded by Shirley Ross, Arleen Whelan and Kitty Carlisle, Benny and Mrs. Roosevelt went through a bit of "horse play" which should get some chuckles when the scene is reproduced on the screen. Said Mr. Benny: "Mrs. Roosevelt, it is with great pleasure that I sell to you the first ticket on a raffle sponsored by the Motion Picture Art Fund for German Refugees." Said Mrs. Roosevelt: "Thank you, Mr. Benny. How much do I owe you?" Whereupon Benny informed her that the price was 25 cents for one ticket. Mrs. Roosevelt handed him a one-dollar bill and asked if he had change. "I don't have any change," replied Benny, "but I'll be glad to send it to you if you would stay long enough in one place." A Christmas entertainment and dance, the total proceeds from which will be donated to the needly refugees of all faiths, will be sponsored by the employes of the Hotel Astor and held in that institution's grand ballroom on Dec. 27 at 8:30 p.m., it was announced yesterday by Robert K. Christenberry, the hotel's vice-president and general manager. Some 3,000 persons are expected to attend. The Hotel Astor's employes roster comprises a cross-section of 38 different nationalities. V. C. Opening Tomorrow Cincinnati — Queen City Variety Club will open its newly enlarged club rooms in the Netherland Plaza Hotel tomorrow. Chief Barker Joe Oulahan of Paramount; Allan Moritz, Columbia; J. J. Grady, 20th-Fox, and Col. Arthur Frudenfeld, RKO Theaters general manager form the committee of arrangements. Cammer With Monogram Dallas — W. J. Cammer has been appointed office manager of the Monogram branch here, it is announced by John Franconi and Ed Blumenthal, franchise holders for the Texas territory. Cammer has been associated with United Artists and Educational in the past in this region. Zanuck, Wurtzel's 20th-Fox Pix Through May Finished (Continued from Page 1) have been completed, and some 12 of these pictures will be screened during the five-day huddle on the Coast next week of sales execs, and district managers, it was learned last night when the New York delegation trained out on the Commodore Vanderbilt. Sidney R. Kent and Charles E. McCarthy, ad. and pub. chieftain, leave tonight, meeting a special train in Chicago which is taking Governor Chandler and party of Kentuckians to Hollywood for the preview of "Kentucky," and they leave from there on the Super Chief. Zanuck is slated to outline the 1939 production plans to the visitors and Herman Wobber, general manager of distribution, who will preside at the meeting, and Kent, Joseph M. Schenck, board chairman, and McCarthy will also address the sales forces. Kent is expected to outline the company's plans for the next few years and will make an inventory of what has transpired in the company since he became president six years ago. Huddle will mark first meeting of this type that Wobber has presided at as general manager of distribution. Nominations will be made by the men for the next Kent Drive leader, with appointee slated to serve in that capacity for the next two years. Edgar Moss, Philadelphia district manager, will go to Honolulu for a vacation following the huddles and Jack Sichelman, assistant to Wobber, will also remain on the Coast for a vacation. RKO Reorg. Hearing Today To Clarify Stock Waiver (Continued from Page 1) proponent interests may not have had time sufficiently to prepare their course on the motion in time for today's hearing, and that the hearing may therefore, be adjourned. Another hurdle which must be surmounted as far as further legal delays are concerned appears to be the affidavit filed in Federal Court on Tuesday evening by the Stirn interests of Milwaukee through counsel, John Stover. This affidavit is in connection with the voting proxies in 1931. Va. Town Bans Carnivals Blackstone, Va. — Fairs and Carnivals have been banned here by Council ordinance. BOOK REVIEW! THE INDIAN CINEMATC GRAPH YEAR BOOK 1938 -/^irs Annual Edition; published by B. L Bharucha and V. G. Motwane fo The Motion Picture Society of In dia, Mherwan Bldg., Sir Phirozshai Mehta Road. Fort, Bombay, aw< printed by K. A. Subramanian a the Saxon Press, 43, Fort, Street Fort, Bombay. Eloquent evidence of India's prog ress in the realm of films is supplied through this valuable referenc< book, which makes its initial ap pearance as an avowed annual medium for the assistance of motioi: picture channels in that land as well as abroad. Moreover, the complete ness of the volume, together with the spirit which pervades its editorial pages, demonstrates the confidence of India's film solons in the industry's present and future growth. Certainly to any wing of interna tional film commerce, the book is indispensable, containing as it does statistics, screen organizations, buy er's guide, sections devoted to pro duction, distribution, exhibition, fea tures, shorts, equipment, laws and trade regulations, publications, and a Who's Who in the industry, not to mention additional departments of high interest, particularly that dealing with the history of motion pictures in India. This latter compilation is the work of Gangaram R. Gvalani who is justifiedly sympathetic in his delineation of many of the problems which had to be, and still must be, overcome before film production can reach its potential heights in India. There, as elsewhere, a barrier has existed in the form of apathy on the part of financiers to freight the big type of picture. Says Gvalani: "The film industry has been growing under great financial difficulties for the last quarter of a century and has been crying itself hoarse in its vain appeals for monetary assistance to our big-bellied bankers." His concluding paragraph asserts: "What our industry needs most today is a mantle of good character, — character that will command respect, bring prestige, ensure stability, build commercial credit and improve its morale, fundamentals all in erecting the motion picture industry in India on a firm footing." To all those who had a hand in the fashioning of the Indian Cinematograph Year Book, a great deal of credit is due. It takes no prophet to predict that its publication on the announced annual basis is bound to be of lively interest in all corners of the film world.— G.H.M.