The Film Daily (1948)

irsday, May 13, 1948 Curtain" to Continue Theaters— Skouras (Continued from Page 1) jirht outbreak toned down later tt fries. Let me point out that sup Jrs of Moscow have never ited to criticize bitterly lit comments that are critical of the tii Kremlin, while at the same time ^Moscow has released speeches, prticles and plays in Russia which are derogatory to the U. S.," declared Skouras in his statement. Those opposed to the free RKO Studio Turning To Original Stories West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Dore Senary, RKO Radio head, is going in strongly for original stories, particularly those concerned with topical subjects of national or international scope. Check of the studio's story purchases during the last few months shows four out of every five stories acquired qualify as originals. Eight state television promotion MT "The Iron Curtain" was used this pieek by 20th-Fox over the entire f, jtBC video network. A two-and-onelijiilf minute trailer was issued and j! is estimated an audience of over e|,!000,000 was reached. Timing co)!jt|cided with record 400 openings of ie pic this week. ! Trailer, emanating from here, was •en twice nightly and was transjitted to Philadelphia, Washington, ltimore and Schenectady ! press, the free radio and the free J screen, which opposition has been characteristic of Communj ists and fellow travelers, manifested their attitude in the effort to suppress this picture as long as a year ago," the 20thFox president added. bti Terming the picture "a factual !9i*eatment of the exposure made by m t. Igor Gouzenko, former code clerk at the Soviet Embassy at Ottawa" which led to a number of prosecu: j ons and convictions for espionage [forts to gain atomic bomb secrets, $:!kouras asserted that "the company Bras primarily motivated not to get [i.jut a political document, but by the thought of producing a film of deep iterest to the public." The abortive riot at the Roxy was etween left wing pickets, Commun st Party members and sympathizers, nd war veterans, including members f the Catholic War Veterans, fimerican Legion and VFW. Police, Who made five arrests, reported I nore than 2,000 engaged in the ,ielee which continued for about 30 "jninutes and required upwards of 100 I'olice to quell. Four were held for [jearings yesterday, one received a Shift of All Television To High Frequencies Hit (Continued from Page 1) frequencies "it would mean no television at all." Dr. Jolliffe, noting that television gives promise of being a $1,000,000,000 business this year, asserted that in the opinion of RCA, "the way to promote FM is to promote FM and not fight television." The question has been asked, Dr. Jolliffe said, whether present television sets would become obsolete if the Federal Communications Commission opens up a band of frequencies around 500 megacycles to supplement the present channel assignments to television. "The answer is," Dr. Jolliffe said, "that they would not become obsolete." A simple converter, costing about $10 to make, would prevent obsolescence, Dr. Jolliffe said. D. C. Variety Gives New Dental Clinic Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — A new dental clinic for Washington's poor was given Emergency Hospital by the local Variety Club Tent. Cost of the latest installation was about $5,000 raising to $195,000 the total donated by Variety Club to local hospitals and other institutions since 1935. Three other dental clinics were donated by Variety in 1941. — Len Gaynor With Para. Leonard Gaynor has been engaged by Paramount for a special promotion campaign on "Beyond Glory." Gaynor recently organized his own company for Fall production of 16 mm. pix. Six Finished, 8 Start, Making 39 Pix Shooting (Continued from Page 1 ) production this week. Columbia has five pictures before the cameras, including "The Walking Hills" and "Rusty Pays a Debt;" finished are "Ladies of The Chorus," and "Black Eagle." Four pictures are shooting at Warners, and four at UniversalInternational with the wind-up of "Kiss The Blood Off My Hands." Paramount has completed "The Tatlock Millions," leaving four in work. Three are shooting at M-G-M, with "The Three Musketeers" finished. Three also are shooting at 20th-Fox, three at Republic, three at RKO Radio, including "Indian Agent," and three at Monogram, including "Kidnapped," and "Manhattan Folk Song," with "Mystery of the Golden Eye," finished. Allied Artists, Eagle-Lion, Enterprise, Harry Popkin are each shooting one, and work starts this week on the Argosy Production, "The Three Godfathers," for M-G-M release; "West of Tomorrow " Frank Seltzer production, for 20th-Fox release, and "Sting of the Lash," Western Adventure for Screen Guild release. Paramount to Attack Video Station Limit 20th Century, Boxing Mgrs. End Video Rights Dispute Dispute between the 20 Century Sporting Club and the Boxing Managers' Guild over the profits from television rights has been settled with a pact under which the managers will receive half of the Club's video profits. Cut will amount to 25 per cent of television receipts, as Madison Square Garden will hold on to its 50 per cent share. suspended sentence on a guilty plea. The "anti" demonstration was sponsored by the "New York Committee Against War Propaganda," styled a new Communist front, which has the same address of the National Council of AmericanSoviet Friendship. The latter long has attacked "The Iron Curtain" and has called for its scrapping and suppression. Quite a few of the groups which joined in the fight against release and exhibition of the picture on the ground that it contains war propaganda are included on the list of organizations which Attorney General Tom Clark has branded as "totalitarian. Fascist, Communist or subversive." The National Council, spearhead, recently has carried its fight to exhibitors, while from associated "front" grouns have come boycott and suit threats. The Council and its affiliates has been releasing a flood of "protests" bearing the names of many whose signatures are usually identified with pro -Soviet proclamations, petitions and causes. In Washington, the USSR Information Bulletin, published by the Soviet Embassy, has printed an article by Ilya Ehrenburg which asserts, "In the working-class districts of New York, Pittsburgh, Detroit and San Francisco, the dulcet tones of the vampire Baranova will hardly be heard; they will be drowned by the indignant shouts of the public. . . . If Americans dare bring their 'Iron Curtain' to Europe, they will see what the conscience of the people means; the demonstration of the film will become a demonstration against the picture provocateurs and against their bosses, the American imperialists." (Continued from Page 1) circuit in the light of the U. S. Supreme Court's recent opinion. Exact legal strategy to be employed by Paramount if, as and when it launches its court assault is understood still undetermined. Some quarters here incline to the belief that the company may elect to file an action for a declaratory judgment. But whatever the line of attack, the company is expected to sharply challenge the FCC's authority, with Constitutional grounds cited. Although the issue has never before been raised in television — nor in radio or FM specifically to test its legality — Paramount's course of procedure would probably first involve the simple step of filing for a sixth station. If, as is virtually certain, the application is rejected by the Commission, applicant may take the case to the District (Wash.) Court of Appeals. Loser in this action — FCC or Paramount — may then ask the U. S. Supreme Court to review the case, in which instance the constitutionality of the original ruling would be decided. According to authoritative industry sources, the Commission has what amounts to "precedent" on its side if the issue is brought to a head, since the same principle of stationownership in AM and FM is applicable to tele. It's pointed out that although the issue has not been contested to date, FCC's long-standing ruling on dual-ownership of radio stations in one city, or network ownership of stations, has been considered to sustain FCC's position. Reserve Decision On Soviet Composers Action Justice Edward R. Koch in Supreme Court yesterday reserved decision on a request for an injunction against 20th-Fox filed by counsel for four Soviet composers asking that their names and music be eliminated from the film, "The Iron Curtain." It is contended by the plaintiffs their names and music have been used without permission and are an invasion of civil rights. It was agreed by counsel for the company and composers the music was in the public domain, unprotected by copyright. Replying to a statement by plaintiff counsel, Edward P. Kilroe, 20th attorney, said the film was not an attack on the Russian government, adding: "Every detail is based on actual facts." In an affidavit William C. Michel, 20th vee-pee, denied any tendency to portray Russians as vicious and plotting. He said the pic cost $1,889,389. First of 4 E-L Regional Meets Starts Saturday All Eagle Lion sales personnel from 10 Eastern exchanges will meet in the Warwick Hotel Saturday and Sunday for the first of four regional conferences. William J. Heineman, Max E. Youngstein and L. J. Schlaifer will conduct all four meetings. Second regional meet will be held on May 22 in Chicago, third in New Orleans on May 24 and final meet in San Francisco on May 29.