The Film Daily (1948)

_ i PLEASE ie ~>A %± %A 1 lOT VE ntimate in Character riternational in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Nine Years Old ^2?3^ NO. 72 NEW YORK. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 14. 1948 TEN CENTS fllCTRO LAUNCHING €H€C. TRAINING PLAN lllied in Area Negotiations fox ASCAP Deals astern Pa. Unit Empowrs Samuelson to Talk erms for Its Members I Philadelphia — Indication that Al;d may be abandoning its fight gainst ASCAP on a national basis favor of area negotiations is seen the action of Allied Independent heater Owners of Eastern Pennsylmia, which unanimously empowed General Manager Sidney Samelson to negotiate ASCAP pacts for Hied members. Members meanwhile were cau( Continued on Page 7) lleMille "Crusades" or June Re-issue Convinced that its subject matter ; vital for peace and for our time, aramount will reissue Cecil B. De lille's "The Crusades" in June of lis year, it was announced yesteray by DeMille and Charles M. Reaan, vice-president in charge of disfibution. DeMille told the industry press (Continued on Page 7) -ovvson Contempt Trial 3-ets Fresh Start Today Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The contempt of pongress trial of writer John Howard Lawson will start anew today with the same judge presiding who (Continued on Page 7) Hank Honor Guest at EysselVs Luncheon J. Arthur Rank was guest of honor at a luncheon given by Gus S. Eyssell, president and managing director of Radio City Music Hall, in the theater's studio apartment yesterday. Present were: Hugh S. Robertson, Barton P. Turnbull, Thomas P. Debevoise, Vanderbilt Webb and Frank Corcoran of Rockefeller Center, Inc.; Nate J. Blumberg, J. Cheever Cowdin, Matthew Fox, John O'Connor and Joseph Seidelman of U-l.; Robert Benjamin and Jock Lawrence of the J. Arthur Rank Organization, and Russell V. Downing of the Music Hall. U.K. COIN FORMULA TO MPAA BOARD Special Committee Also Expected to Submit Report on Permitted Uses of Frozen Coin Formula for division of British remittables under the Anglo-American film agreement now awaiting Parliamentary approval as devised by a special MPAA committee is expected to be submitted to the full MPAA hoard for consideration next Tuesday. Meeting will be the so-called annual board session at which Eric A. Johnston, and other association officers are scheduled to be re-elected. Originally set to follow the annual association membership meeting, it has been deferred because of the absence on the Coast of Johnston. The Tuesday meeting date was confirmed yesterday. In addition to the formula, the committee, which has been meeting regularly for several weeks, is expected to submit a clarifying report on the permitted uses of coin which will remain frozen in the U. K. Rodgers to Emphasize Sliding Scale Policy Confident that it has the product to give the industry the "shot in the arm it needs," and convinced that a new approach to the marketing of pictures is necessary, M-G-M will aggressively sell its "sliding-scale" policy wherever possible, William F. Kodgers, vice-president said yesterday. "There is less contention and less (Continued on Page 7) Give Lira to Restore Pisa's Compo Santo A sum of 3,000,000 lira as a gift for the restoration of Compo Santo at Pisa, Italy, has been voted by the foreign managers, Gerald M. Mayer, MPAA international division managing director, announced yesterday. (Continued on Page 7) Metro to Distribute 6 Roach Streamliners M-G-M has concluded a deal with Hal Roach for the distribution of six streamline features within the next year, William F. Rodgers, vice-president, announced yesterday. Pictures are specifically designed to meet the need for a shorter second feature to be run in conjunction with the lengthier productions that are becoming increasingly necessary in (Continued on Page 7) Competitive Bidding Seen Working in Most Spots Competitive bidding for product is continuing in situations throughout the country, William F. Rodgers said yesterday. Although he pointed to some cases where individual exhibitors had over(Continued on Page 7) Bernhard Will Head Cinecolor Oe spinel Resigns Effective May 15 Censorship Measure Seen Likely to Stay in Com. Edward A. Cunningham, Bronx Democrat, hoppered his municipal censorship bill in the City Council yesterday. Measure, strenuously opposed by License Commissioner Benjamin Fielding who contends there (Continued on Page 7) West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood, — William T. Crespinel, president of Cinecolor has resigned, effective May 15. Joseph Bernhard, president of Film Classics will be his successor. Executive first indicated his retirement wishes to board of directors last year, on occasion of his 40th anniversary in color motion picture field. 12 to 18 to be Coached in First Year by Schenck, Rubin, Rodgers, Dietz, Others M-G-M will inaugurate immediately a detailed executive training program designed to meet the needs of modern motion picture merchandising, William F. Rodgers, vicepresident and general sales manager, announced yesterday at an industrial press luncheon in the Hotel Astor. Between 12 and 18 young and aggressive members of the company's sales force will be chosen to undertake the trainRODGERS ing during the the first year, Rodgers said. Genesis of the plan evolved from (Continued on Page 7) V( Gave $2,000, To Charities in 1947 Miami Beach— The 33 tents of the Variety Clubs contributed $2,000,000 to charitable purposes during the last year, it was announced here yesterday at the first business session of the 12th annual convention. The announcement was made by Bill McCraw, executive director of the organization. International Chief Barker Bob O'Donnell opened the meeting with the reading of greetings from a (Continued on Page 7) Wilcox Pic to Open On Coast Next Mo. Herbert Wilcox's British production of "Piccadilly Incident," which Metro will distribute on this side, will have its American premiere in Los Angeles in mid-May, it was said yesterday by William F. Rodgers. Metro is also expected to release a second Wikox production, "The Courtneys of Curzon Street," in the U. S. Latter pic just won the London Daily Mail "best picture" poll.