The Film Daily (1939)

FIQ ■ *" OO NOT RCMOVi. rGnCn KOStriCTIOnS LOOIH-" Paris (By Cable) — Cabinet's approval of proposed cinema bill was obtained on the week end by Jean Zay, Minister of Education. Measure, if passed, would seriously affect U. S. films status via dubbing tax and elimination of duals. American films form now 80 per cent of dubbed features. Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Twenty Years Old V OL 75. NO. 49 NEW YORK. MONDAY. MARCH 13. 1939 TEN CENTS Hear WB Shifting Eastern Production/ Sax for Brit WARNERTSET 33 OF 3FA" TITLES F0RT939-40 Trade Pact Delay May Have Drastic Effect—Kuykendall THCWEEI\IN REVIEW Equity Suit Rulings = By GEORGE H. MORRIS = DOMESTIC LITIGATION: Federal Judge tondy on Wednesday gave decision n bill of particulars in Government's equity suit vs. filmland, ^hile result gave edge to D of J, atter's "victory" was held hollow ince defendants gained many important points, and a bill on these llowed contentions must be submited by the Government ... At eek's outset UA attorneys began :udy of the complaint of Samuel oldwyn in his action for a declara>ry judgment against the company ) compel it to cancel his contract. * * * FINANCIAL: John Hay Whitey was reported considering deal •r acquisition by him of Atlas orp.'s holdings in RKO . . . Warire completed $6,000,000 bank •edit agreement covering retireent or purchase of outstanding dentures. Details subsequently were ed with SEC. * * r TELEVISION: Courtland Smith as designated to make a survey of levision's present status by PPDA. J. Robert Rubin was rejorted as chairmaning committee r the purpose. * * * LEGISLATION: Passage of Kan s divorcement bill was recomended by State's Senate Judiciary •mmittee after three days' deliberion . . . With State of Washingn's legislative session nearing end, tie chance was seen of action re /orcement bill there . . . Bill was Troduced in Wisconsin Senate to x circuit theaters and seats . . . lmission and bank night tax bills re introduced in Pennsylvania's •use, despite Governor's prior dec•ation of nixing new levies . . . Arkansas the seat and circuit E was voted down in General As;nbly just before adjournment sine )'• (Continued on Page 11) MPTOA Prexy Hints Situation May Be "Entirely Out Of Hand" Delay by the distributors in adopting a fair trade practice program may result in government regulation before anything can be done about it, Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA president, hints in a bulletin issued over the week-end. In fact, he adds, it may be too late already. Commenting on the avalanche of I ( ontinued on Page 11) REPUBLIC WILL DROP LOW-COST FEATURES METRO INVITES ALLIED 'S PREXY Col. H. A. Cole May Address Chi. Sales Parley Col. H. A. Cole, president of Allied, has been invited to address M-G-M's sales representatives at the company's convention in Chicago, March 19-21. While Cole had not accepted the invitation officially, he said Friday that if he could arrange his plans he would accept the bid which was extended by W. F. Rodgers, general sales manager, and would speak either March 20 or 21. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Republic will discontinue its low-cost pictures and budget restrictions will be eliminated for the 1939-40 program, Herbert J. Yates announced over the week-end. Yates declared that Republic will definitely compete in price, quality and star value with any other com I Continued on Pane 8) SIX MAJORS ACCUSED IN CONSPIRACY ACTION 12 "B's" to be Series Pix; Eight Biographical Subjects Planned With 33 titles of the planned 36 "A's" listed as set, Warners' proposed program for the 1939-40 season was announced today as the company's annual twoday sales con vention opened at the Waldorf-Astoria. Jack L, Warner, vicepr exy in charge of production, will detail the seasonal plans to the GRADWELL L SEARS UA's "Fifth of Century" Fete Will Start Apr. 17 A "fifth-of-a-century" celebration observing United Artists' 20 years of existence will get under way April 17. Three of the original (Continued on Page 8) Indianapolis — An $180,000 civil damage suit against six motion picture distribs. and two East Side theater operators was filed in Federal Court here. The suit was brought by Herman L. and Sonia M. Golden, operators of two East Side theaters. The suit named as defendants the following distributing companies : Vitagraph, Inc., 20th Century-Fox Film Corp., RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., Paramount Pictures, Inc., United Artists (Continued on Page 10) Report Warners Shifting Vitaphone Production to West/ Sax to Britain SDG and Producers Reach Full Agreement on Terms West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Following a meeting of committees representing the Screen Directors' Guild and Association of Motion Picture Producers, (Continued on Page S) Warners have, determined to virtually suspend Eastern production, transferring the Vitaphone program now made at the Brooklyn studios to the West Coast, it was reported over the week-end. Move is said to be in line with a material cut in the number of shorts for 1939-40. Coupled with the report was an (Continued on Page S) convention. The 36 "A's" will be supplemented (Continued on Page 5) KANS. DIVORCEMENT BILL SEEN KILLED Topeka, Kans. — The House-approved bill to prohibit motion picture producers or distributors from owning any interest in theaters in Kansas lost its place on the Senate calendar Friday when it was re ( Continued on Page 8) U" Weighing 43 Features, 14 Westerns and 81 Shorts Universal, planning 43 features exclusive of 14 westerns for next season, will stress "A's", it was said last week-end by William A. Scully. (Continued on Page 8) Trop Leaving Sherman; Two Majors Offer Deals West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Because of plans which conflict with his present associations, J. D. Trop has disposed (Continued on Page 8)