The Film Daily (1945)

DAILY Tuesday, May 29, ISf Drop Pix Export Censorship June 9 (Continued from Page 1) many considerations, but two of them are dominant. The first is that the end of the European war permits a general readjustment of censorship policies, having in mind the lessened risk to our national security and the need for economy in public expenditures. The second is the record of the industry itself, which has shown a splendid understanding of censorship principles and an earnest and loyal readiness to co-operate. This record has merited clearly the trust and confidence which must provide the foundation for voluntary censorship. Two Special Guides for Pix "In accepting the task of seeing to it that our national security is considered in making every motion picture, the industry will have two special guides. The first will be the security code which it will share with press and radio, both of which are also doing their own censoring. The second will be the motion picture censorship code, which now ceases to be a set of legal regulations but which should continue to be a helpful reference in making voluntary decisions. "It should be made clear that in establishing this voluntary arrangement the Office of Censorship continues to recognize its own responsibility under wartime laws. It does not seek to escape that responsibility by delegating its powers to any private group or any other Government agency. It does not, however, foresee a need for using those powers since they would be exercised only to intervene if the success of voluntary censorship became imperilled from any source. Discontinue Boards of Review "With this change in censorship policy, the Film Boards of Review at both Los Angeles and New York will be discontinued. If experience shows that the film industry still requires the censorship counsel which these boards have provided as part of their functions, the problem will be faced when it arises. It is not my intention that the industry be denied any assistance which this office may properly give it." Office of Censorship Calls Industry Parley A meeting at the request of the Office of Censorship will be held today at 3 p.m. in the Warner home office for motion picture producers and distributors at which time an announcement regarding the relaxation of restrictions on censorship of exported films is expected to be made. A similar meeting is said to have been arranged on the Coast, and an open forum for questions on the future operations of the Board of Review will follow. TO THE COLORS! * CITATIONS * CAPT. JACK O'LEARY, son of Comerford Circuit's general manager, J. J. O'Leary, the Presidential Citation for bravery in action in Germany. * DECORATED * 1ST LT. LEONARD KRIM, associated with his brothers in the Krim Theater Circuit, Detroit, the Air Medal for service on the German front. Exped Important Ranl( Announcement (Continued from Page 1) partnership arrangement for Odeon Theaters of Canada, will take place Thursday in Toronto with the holding of a special session of the Odeon board of directors to confirm what is believed to be a highly important decision on the development of the Canadian Odeon chain. Directors include leaders of finance and industry representing many millions of dollars, such as President D. C. Coleman of CPR; also R. V. Lesueur of Imperial Oil Co., which is Standard Oil of CD A; Earl Lawson, who is an officer of various companies, and L. W. BrockingttTn, of Ottawa. Directors to Meet Directors' meeting will follow consultations in Ottawa and Montreal by Rank with key men of the government and finance. Importance of the discussions is indicated by the arrival here from England by ARF of Barrington Gain, financial representative of Rank interests. Statement on decisions and full plans are promised after the meeting of the directorate at a second press conference during Rank's visit, when details of a coast-to-coast circuit program is expected to be revealed. At the same time it is believed that there may be announcement of Rank's plan for feature distribution in the Dominion. To Make Canadian Trip It is learned that Rank, with John Davis, G. I. Woodham-Smith and Gain are leaving Toronto Thursday, or possibly Friday, on a trip in Canada for which their destination has not been disclosed, but it is believed it may be a survey of some important theater sites. Rank and party are expected to go to the States early next week. Reported trip to Toronto of David 0. Selznick is clouded in mystery as executives close to both Rank and Nathanson declared he had not appeared on the scene up to yesterday afternoon, and they had no information about a possible conference between Rank and Selznick. Rank in Ottawa Today For Government Confabs Ottawa — J. Arthur Rank meets today with Government officers on his plans for extension of Odeon Theaters of Canada in the Dominion. <r REVIEWS » 'Nob Hiir with George Raft, Joan Bennett, Vivian Blaine 20th-Fox 95 Mins. LAVISH TECHNICOLOR MUSICAL IS LUSTY ENTERTAINMENT CERTAIN TO DRAW HEAVILY. In "Nob Hill" 20th-Fox has added another to its imposing list of sumptuous, eye-filling Technicolor musicals devised to capture the popular fancy. Vividness, gusto, excitement and a fierce sense of life combine to give the film a claim to public attention. Under the supervision of Andre Daven the picture parades a wealth of production values that are definitely box office. Not the least of the picture's attractions is an abundance of music reflecting the lusty spirit and gay abandon of the San Francisco of the turn of the century. This tempestuous tale of life and love on the Barbary Coast is an old one that has been dulled by time and repetition. Fortunately 20th-Fox has produced it in a manner that takes some of the curse off it. The yarn tells of the owner of the Barbary Coast's top gay spot who momentarily forgets his affection for his star entertainer to sample love with a Nob Hill beauty. The guy scon finds himself beyond his depth and returns to the faithful gal of the Barbary Coast. The Wanda Tuchock-Norman Reilly Raine screenplay never leaves the audience in doubt as to how the plot will turn out. Fast and punchy direction has been contributed by Henry Hathaway. The photography cf Edward Cronjager is one of the film's biggest assets. George Raft and Vivian Blaine are the Barbary Coast lovers, Joan Bennett being the Nob Hill gal. Peggy Ann Garner adds a touching note as a homeless Irish lass be.friended by Raft and Miss Blaine. Highly decorative as well as competent — that's Miss Blaine. CAST: George Raft, Joan Bennett, Vivian Blaine, Peggy Ann Garner, Alan Reed, B. S. Pully, Emil Coleman, Edgar Barrier, George Anderson, Joe Smith and Charles Dale, iDon Costello, Joseph J. Greene, J. Farrell MacDonald, Three Swifts, William Haade, Mike Mazurki, George E. Stone, George McKay, Beat Wong, George T. Lee, Frank McCown, Veda Ann Borg, Robert Creig, Charles Cane, Helen O'Hara, Dorothy Ford, Arthur Loft, Nestor Paiva, Paul Everton, Chick Chandler, Anita Bolster, Jane Jones, Otto Reichow, Hugo Borg, George iBlagoi. CREDITS: Producer, Andre Daven; 'Director, Henry Hathaway; Screenplay, Wanda Tuchock, Norman Reilly Raine; Based on story by Eleanore Griffin; Cameraman, Edward Cronjager; Songs, jimmy McHugh, Harold Adamson; Dance Director, Nick Castle; Musical Directors, Emil Newman, Charles Henderson; Art Directors, Lyie Wheeler, Russell Spencer; Set Decorators, Thomas Little, Walter M. Scott; Film Editor, Harmon Jones; Special Effects, Fred Sersen; Sound, \i. D. Flick, Roger Neman. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. Easing of wartime restrictions is believed to have accelerated the program of Rank and Paul Nathanson, co-owners of the circuit. Rank concluded his first series of discussions in Toronto late yesterday. He will also visit Montreal before returning to Toronto on Friday for resumption of meetings with Odeon officials. He is expected to proceed to New York next week and subsequently to travel to Minneapolis and Hollywood to complete his North American schedule by mid-June. Revised State Code Draft Under Study (Continued from Page 1) der whose jurisdiction the code ' being formulated. "We have reached that stag] committee spokesmen declared li, evening, following the session, "whiJ the code is nearing completion, ij where, at the same time, decisij work remains." Amplifying tl| statement, it was made clear tl| when the code finally becomes opdl ative, the film industry membel who have been working on it ■«] have their recommendations put the test and, to quote one comml teeman, "we will not be around oil cially to undo any provisions tli| are not clear." Consequently, it was stated, phraseology is being reduced absolute clarity, so that there w] be no misunderstanding later c| One of the chief liabilities of buil| ing codes, as they have existed the past, has been wording whi I evokes different interpretations, aij thus breeds confusion. The committeemen's objective to have theatermen and others ah] to take a copy of the code and app, its provisions to their houses witi out doubt as to the exact meanii, of each individual provision. It mi not be until late in the Summer, perhaps the Autumn, that all tl phrase-revising is completed. Memorial for Lt. LoMere Minneapolis — Memorial servici were held here at St. Helena Churti igp^ for Lt. Oliver Joseph LaMer 1^^ formerly M-G-M booker her ''"'^* who was killed in action Italy, April 19, according to woi' received by his wife, Mrs. Maxir' Tobinson LaMere. Rites ior Mrs. Hudgins Snyder, Tex. — Burial services wei held here for Mrs. Paul Hudgini 45, wife of the Interstate Theater manager at Corsicana. Protests on "We Accuse" Elmer Rice, as chairman of th National Council on Freedom froi Censorship, has protested to th MPPDA on its refusal to grant j seal of approval to "We Accuse." Riskin Retains Condon Robert Riskin, who is planning t go into indie production in CalifoD nia, has retained the services o Richard Condon, Inc., as public re lations counsellors. STORK REPORTS Chicago — Joe Odenthal, manage of the Telenews, announces the birtl of a baby girl named Shirley Ann. Chicago — Irwin Fensin, presiden of the Fensin Seating Co., and Mrs Fensin became the parents of a babj girl, Maureen, May 19. ■I