The Film Daily (1939)

l» l? ( l IJ J. Ul ST 4 U ST 2 I F L Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought File copy DO NOT REMOVE JOu. 75, NO. 104 The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Twenty-One Years Old -1FDAIIY NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY. MAY 31. 1939 TEN CENTS Engineers Gearing Tele to Use 16mm. Films Exclusively WARNERS REPORT 26 WEEKS PROFIT OF $U65,888 512% Oppose, 318% Favor Gov't Supervision of Pix 17% Register "No Opinion" In Newest Survey by Fortune Magazine Only 31.8 per cent of the U. S. population favor Government supervision of motion picture material, according to the Fortune Survey: XXII, published in the June edition Df Fortune. The surveys shows that 31.2 per cent are emphatically against supervision while 17 per :ent had no opinion. Fortune explained that the undecided 17 per |cent were mostly Negroes. The lower income level supplied most of (Continued on Page 4) GET SET FOR THAT GALA GOLF EVENT Gather round, Golfers! We herewith start the ballyhoo for the 27th -Film Daily Golf Tournament, known ijto all and sundry as the greatest :hance to get something for nothing :hat was ever launched in the film biz. You put ten iron men on the {Continued on Page 4) 75 H. 0. Execs, to Board Para. Special on Sunday More than 75 Paramount home of, ,fice executives, foreign and domestic jsales representatives will leave here next Sunday, aboard a special Parajmount Convention Train, leaving Grand Central Station at 4:00 P.M., {Continued on Page 7) Murphy Silent In IV. O. New Orleans — Reports to the effect that the D of J was preparing to extend its industry crackdown in the South and West to the Culf States territory found no confirmation from Attorney General Frank Murphy upon his arrival here Monday. Murphy, declaring his presence here at this time had no connection with film litigation, declined to discuss pending New York and Oklahoma City suits or to say whether additional suits would be filed in this territory. Revisions in Trade Practice Code Will Be Announced This Weeh — W. F. ttodgers Revisions in the proposed trade practice plan will be released this week, W. F. Rodgers announced Monday. Nature of the changes was not revealed. Rodgers said the new draft would be sent to exhibitor leaders as soon as it was given to the trade press for publication. POMMER-PARA. TO SET EXHIBS. FAVOR CODE 2-YEAR 5 PIX DEAL "RELIEVING CLAUSES" Here to discuss a renewal of his releasing deal with Paramount, Erich Pommer, head of Mayflower Pictures, stated yesterday that in all probability it would be a two year deal and would embrace five pictures. He arrived Monday on the Normandie, bringing with him a print of "Jamaica Inn." third release on his current four picture Heal with Para. Pommer disclosed that his next (Continued on Page 7) Spanish Language Films Cut Into Peruvian Time Spanish language pictures today constitute 50 per cent of the playing time in Peru, according to Bert Reisman, RKO manager in Lima, who is in New York to attend the (Continued on Page 4) Initial i-eaction to the trade practice code indicates that most exhibitors are willing to embrace the "relieving" clauses of the proposed pact embodying the non-forcing of shorts and arbitration of clearance. This opinion is based on a checkup of exhibitors following the Kanpas-Missouri convention in Kansas City last week and on informal interviews with showmen in other ports of the country. A suggestion for a scientific sys (Continued on Page 7) B & K Closing UA Theater In Chi.; Others to Follow Chicago — B & K is closing the United Artists Theater in the Loop allegedly because of a product shortage. It will reopen when sufficient pictures are available, it was an (Continued on Page 8) U. Sv British Engineers Gearing Tele for Exclusive Use of 16mm. Films Midwest District Captures First Place in Sears Drive Midwest District of Warners' distributing organization won this year's Sears Drive, with the company's West Coast and Central District, winding up in second and third places, respectively, it was announced by Carl Leserman, co(Continued on Page 8) Television engineers are gearing the new science to use 16mm. films to the exclusion of 35mm., it was learned yesterday from well-informed channels, and that this move is already receiving the recommendations and research efforts of experts both in the U. S. and in England. RCA, it is declared, has been working under cover to perfect a suitable type of aperture for 16mm. (.Continued on Page 6) Compares With $2,824,618 for Corresponding Period Year Ago Warners and subsidiary companies yesterday reported for the 26 weeks ending Feb. 25 last a net operating profit of $1,665,888.90, after deducting all charges including amortization and depreciation and Federal income taxes. This compares with a net operating profit of $2,824,618.13 reported for the corresponding period the previous year. Net profit from operations for the 26 weeks ending Feb. 25, before charges for amortization and depreciation of properties, and Federal income taxes, was $5,187,173.83. Gross income, after eliminating intercompany transactions, for the (Continued on Page 7) KUYKENDALL ASSAILS GOV'T INTERFERENCE Jacksonville, Fla. — A _ warning against the growing trend in Washington to meddle and interfere with business was sounded by Ed Kuykendall, president of the MPTOA in speaking before the annual convention of the Southeastern Theater Owners Association here. More than (Continued on Page 6) "Lincoln" Sure-fire Springfield, III. — Before a distinguished audience of state and city officials, Hollywood stars and over 100 newspaper writers from a score of key cities, 20th Century-Fox gave the world premiere of "Young Mr. Lincoln" at the Fox Lincoln Theater here last night. Mark it down as another directorial triumph for John Ford. Henry Fonda in the role of the young Lincoln gives one of the finest and most human portrayals of a great historical character the screen or stage has ever witnessed. This Darryl F. Zanuck production should score impressively as a patriotic document, with tremendous popular box office appeal everywhere. — HARROWER.