The Film Daily (1948)

"SSL** Tuesday. April 13, W[ U. S. Interests Cannot Buy British Studios (Continued from Page 1) of stories detailing British production plans by American film companies, indie as well as major. Such use of blocked money, asserted Wilson, "would have to be regarded as detrimental to the interests of the British industry," and he added, "We certainly propose to operate the agreement in that sense." "Much as Americans might wish to build new studios or expand ex West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood. — Not more than 12 features can be made by American companies in Britain annually, due to shortage of studio space, it was said here by Eric A. Johnston, MPAA prexy. isting ones, there can be no question of their receiving any more favorable treatment than the United Kingdom industry," Wilson declared. (Spyros P. Skouras, 20th-Fox president, now on this side has been conferring with Wilson on the reconstruction and expansion of the company's Wembley studios.) The BOT president further emphasized that any expenditures of frozen coin on production by the Americans must not go beyond the limits of fair competition or be otherwise harmful to British films. Wilson called attention to the fact that it must be remembered the agreement, now awaiting Parliament's blessing, involved the retention in Britain of a large proportion of the earnings of U. S. films. The most obvious way to dispose of this money, he continued was "in their own business of production." "In common frankness," he emphasized, "we must be prepared to see they have reasonable facilities." Wilson on behalf of the Government pledged that everything would be done to insure the maintenance of full production and employment, and promised an early statement on the steps planned to insure financing for indie production. There would, Wilson warned, be no state money nor any form of subsidy by the Government for British production. Defending the Anglo-American pact, Wilson told his listeners that there was no other way of stopping UJEDDinG BELLS Knoll-Brown St. Louis — Edis Knoll, RKO booker secretary, was married to William E. Brown. Fredlick-Rosenfeld St. Louis— Mollie' Fredlick, RKO contract clerk, was married recently to Richard Rosenfeld. Piscatorial Bally For Victoria Marquee A glass tank, 50 ft. long and 20 ft. wide, is now under construction over the Marquee of the Victoria Theater in preparation for the forthcoming opening of Monogram's Arthur Lake Ansco color production, "16 Fathoms Deep." Tank will be used for display of giant fish and other marine specimens which will be brought from Florida's Marine Gardens for the run of the engagement. Depinet Accepts Schary Thomas Jefferson Prize Leeds Music Board to Meet on Soviet Squawk (Continued from Page 1) trols the work of Soviet composers through its subsidiary AM RUSS, said that the music company was not aware of what use the music would be put to when Fox requested the works some time ago. This is not unusual, he pointed out. Board meeting will take up the matter of whether the composers do not have the right to determine where and under what conditions their music may be played. In the event a cancellation of the Fox sale is impractical, new policy leading to the beforehand determination of use of scores might be forthcoming. Leeds executive said that no actual payment for the music had as yet been made, but that the four Soviet composers concerned would participate in the royalties. Quartet, who have charged Fox with "theft" of the music, include Dimitry Shostakovich, Serge Prokofieff, Aram Khachaturian and Nickolai Miaskovsky. the drain of $50,000,000 annually on reissues other than closing of British film theaters, as the ad valorem duty of 75 per cent was not applicable to reissues and the tax on internal earnings would have borne equally on British production. Wilson asserted that there was nothing in the agreement that in any way diminished the need for production of British films. Discussing the return to U. S. distributors, Wilson estimated that remittables would approximate $25,000,000 annually— $17,000,000 specified in the agreement and up to $8,000,000, equivalent to earnings of British films in the U. S. The ACT conference by resolution asked that Government provide financing for indie producers and that it also establish a factory for the manufacture of raw stock. British National's Boreham Wood studios is closed, and London Film's Shepperton and Isleworth studios have curtailed activity. Harry Cohn Denies Hughes Negotiating for Col. Stock (Continued from Page 1) lumbia holdings were up for sale as negotiations for a new employment contract between the company and its prexy were halted as a result of stockholders protests. In the absence of Dore Schary, RKO vice-president in charge of production, Ned E. Depinet, executive vice-president, accepted for the producer on Sunday the Thomas Jefferson Prize for the Advancement of Democracy by the Council Against Intolerence in America. Citation praised Schary's pioneering efforts in the use of motion pictures. Critical illness of his mother prevented Schary from appearing personally, but Depinet read his address of acceptance. Calling for a balanced program of entertainment and significance, Schary declared: "Where any art or any industry blinds its eyes to its responsibility to the society which created it and in which it exists, there is an art and industry that will soon decay and vanish." Mexican Duty Keeps Out U. S. 16 mm. Pix Seidelman to London For E-L Sales Talks (Continued from Page 1) on sales policies arising out of existing reciprocal distribution arrangements. Seidelman will also preview most of the 12 pictures assigned to E-L by Rank under the recently announced product split with Universal for distribution here. The E-L foreign chief announced that the company has 23 pictures in England under bond and ready for release when the ad valorem tax is officially rescinded. (Continued from Page 1) ting a precedent for further fil levies — scared them off. Local di tributors weren't told whether ta iff would be imposed on 16 m grosses, value of print, or/ :fue » production. Hence, they .. C, bo* cotting the lush Mexican market. Approximately 100 exhibitors wi I portable 16 mm units are operatii1 in the hinterland this year. Betwei' 1,500 and 2,000 Mexican towns ha; no regular theaters or projectoi Roving 16 mm exhibitors show filr in schools or enclosed courtyarc charge 80 centavos to a peso admi sion, gross about 1,000 pesos a wee" Prints, rented on a fiat basis, co exhibitor roughly 300 pesos weekl Taxes range from 15 to 18 per cer Cron Leaves Showman's James A. (Jim) Cron, associated with Showmen's Trade Review as advertising manager since October, 1943, left that organization Friday. Announcement of his successor will he made by C. E. "Chick" Lewis upon the latter's return from Miami where he is working on the Variety Clubs Convention which concludes Saturday. Rivoli Trust Suit Trial Will Be Resumed Today (Continued from Page 1) Federal Judge Harold P. Burk Hearing has been going on for tv weeks and is expected to last anoth two weeks. Deposition of Vincent R. McFai president of Buffalo Theaters, scheduled to be offered today. Dep sitions read thus far include tho. of Edward K. O'Shea, William Geh ing and Sidney Samson. I Motion Under Submission St. Louis — Federal Judge Rub< M. Hulen has taken under submi sion a motion by defendants to di miss the $300,000 trust damage a tion filed by Victor G. Mossot against St. Louis Ambassador Th ater and Eden Theater Co. Princ pal defendant is Fanchon & Marc i I Inc. : "High Seas" to Devonshire Boston — Devonshire Films has acquired the distribution rights for the United States and Canada to "High Seas," formerly released under the title "Adventures of Martin Eden." Picture has been completely re-edited, for release on May 15. Variety Raises $25,000 Grand Rapids, Mich. — Local Variety Club, working in conjunction with the Press, raised $25,000 on Youth Day, with proceeds going to the Young Commonwealth for underprivileged children. Sneak Thief Gets $1,050 Elizabeth, N. J. — Sneak thief rifled $1,050 in cash from the safe of the Liberty Theater here Sunday night while 1,500 patrons watched a mystery film. Cash in the amount of $670 was left in the safe. Columbia Corrects Columbia yesterday issued a correction of its dividend announcement. Typo error made it read 1.06% instead of $1.06%, latter the correct figure. SGP Switches Two Titles Screen Guild Prods, has switche two titles. "Shoot to Kill" becom< "Police Reporter." "Forbidde Music," with Jimmy Durante, wi be reissued about June 1 as "That My Boy." Fox Midwest Meeting St. Louis — A conference of Fc Midwest Theaters executives ar managers will be held here Thur: day through Sunday. DEW POSTS LOUIS UDWIN, octing manager. Lakeside, Ch cago. MARCHALL NEPSHIN, assistant manager, Sta Lake, Chicago. GEORGE MENDAHL, manager, Dixie, Miami. ZEVA YOVAN, formerly assistant manager c Loew's, Indianapolis, to manager,, Loew Orpheum, St. Louis. ROBERT DAMM, M-G-M shipper, Denver. HOWARD METZGER, United Artists salesman Denver. HOWARD GOLDSMITH, RKO salesman, Albany WILLIAM MURRAY, RKO head booker-offic manager, Albany. PHIL GERARD, U-l publicity home office dep