The Film Daily (1939)

Tuesday, July 11, 1939 COPYRIGHT CHANGES IS GOAL OF MPPDA (Continued from Page 1) and obligations are fully set forth in the document itself and nothingleft to the national laws of each country," Kilroe said yesterday. "These rights should be in force in every country of the Convention. Under the present Convention, the remedies are left to the laws of the country in which the rights are claimed. If the United States adheres to the Berne Convention before the U. S. Copyright Act is revised, it will play great havoc with many large industries." Kilroe will obtain the viewpoints of the representatives of the English speaking countries, France, Italv and other European countries on many important propositions for changes in the Berne Convention. These include: 1. Limitation of restrictions in the moral rights clause. (Without the right to re-arrange, adapt and change the stories and music, the pix industry cannot operate, Kilroe points out. Thousands of stories and plays would have to be cast aside since changes for censorship or other reasons could not be made.) 2. Elimination of oral copyright clause. 3. Reservation of certain rights in works which are now in the public domain but would be protected upon the adherence of the U, S. to the Berne Convention..;^ 4. In accordance with .American law, making the produced of a film the author instead of accrediting authorship of this motions-picture to many participating in its production, including the writer of the screen story. Kilroe, acknowledged as one of the world's leading authorities on copyright law, made a similar survey of copyright and Berne Convention conditions in Europe in 1936. In addition Kilroe, who is copyright adviser to 20th-Fox, will be interested in the following: A. Participation in the preparation and argument of the appeal in the Privy Council in England in the "Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" case, involving question of the right to use titles in Canada. B. Twentieth-Fox has sued in Holland a Dutch motion picture producer for making a motion picture based on the novel "Daddy Long Legs," pix rights Spain "Opening Up" Even though the Spanish market currently is only a small outlet for U. S. dist ribs , because of the necessarily great task of rehabilitating the country in wake of the long and costly civil war, Spain shows signs of "opening up" anew to American film product and should develop slowly but surely into a profitable field, Mary Pickford disclosed upon her return from Europe yesterday aboard the Normandie. News Flashes front Coast Studios West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— Yesterday in the studios: 20th-Fox assigned Nancy Kelly opposite Don Ameche in "Swanee River," set Henry Fonda, Alice Faye and Richard Creene as co-stars in the re-make of "Little Old New York" and announced "20,000 Men a Year," aviation comedy-drama, for quick production .... Walter Wanger signed Ralph Craves for "Eternally Yours"; upon its completion, Craves turns associate producer at 20th-Fox .... Charlie Ruggles may get a role in RKO's "Hunchback of Notre Dame"; deal is on the fire .... Warners will star Edward C. Robinson in the George Broadhurst stage hit, "The Man of the Hour" .... Paramount plans Technicolor treatment for "Typhoon," co-starring Dorothy Lamour and Robert Preston. Frank Capra, Robert Riskin to Form Own Producing Co. (Continued from Page 1) been decided upon at the present time. Riskin, who recently resigned from Samuel Goldwyn, Inc., Ltd., leaves Hollywood today for a vacation in New York and Europe, while Capra remains here to ready, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," recently completed for Columbia release. The team of Capra and Riskin worked together on such successes as "It Happened One Night," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "Lost Horizon," and "You Can't Take It With You." Montreal German Club Fined on Film Charges Montreal — German Harmonia Club was fined $500 and costs by Judge Guerin in Police Court for showing the allegedly Nazi film "Pour le Merite," in the club April 25 without permission from the Provincial Board of Censors. An additional fine of $50 and costs was levied on the Club for failure to collect the amusement tax from the spectators Who were charged admission. to which are owned by the U. S. major. C. Conference with representatives of the French Government and the French Authors Society on changes to be made in the proposed French Copyright Law which is now pending in the French Parliament, and will come up for a vote in the House of Deputies in the autumn. D. Kilroe is to take testimony in two actions involving international copyright in London and in Budapest. Copyright to be at Fore At Broadcasters' Convention Atlantic City — That the question of copyright will be one of the main topics to engage the attention of the National Association of Broadcasters in convention here seems certain following the meeting yesterday of newspaper . owned stations, with Campbell Arnoux of WTAR presiding. An effort was made last night at the copyright committee supper meeting to iron out some of the squawks that have arisen. General fear was that the present Ascap contract might prevail. Rewritten code was finished last night and it is expected that it will be adopted basically as written despite antagonism to it. Scandinavia Rejects U. S. B's for French Features (Continued from Page 1) returned to New York yesterday on the Normandie, accompanied by his wife, Myrna Loy. Hornblow said that top-quality Hollywood productions are still dominant in the Scandinavian field, but audiences,— and consequently exhibitors, as the result of patron tastes, — have veered away from American "B" films because the better type of French picture is more satisfying. Accordingly, on dual bills, it has become a common occurrence to see a big Hollywood feature teamed-up with a big French attraction. Hornblow stated that he and Miss Loy will leave New York today for Hollywood where he will supervise final cutting of "Cat and the Canary," and complete work on the script of his next feautre, "Triump!h Over Pain," while Miss Loy will commence work on the third of "The Thin Man" series for M-G-M. "Nurse Edith Cavell" Will be Music Hall August Pix "Nurse Edith Cavell," the WilcoxRKO feature, is scheduled to open the second week of August in Radio City Music Hall, it was asserted yesterday by Producer Herbert Wilcox as he arrived on the Normandie from England, where he spent two days on a virtual "commuting" trip from the U. S. to make arrangements for his next British production which will be filmed in Scotland and based upon the Scottish Rebellion, with Anna Neagle in the star role. Wilcox leaves New York today for RKO Radio's Coast studios to put music in "Nurse Edith Cavell." He said that he plans to make two features in Hollywood and two in England during the next few months. In mid-August he returns to London. G. H. Wilkinson, Pioneer Conn. Exhibitor, Honored New Haven — Honoring him as Connecticut's "pioneer exhibitor," the entire New Haven film district and out-of-town film men and friends join in a testimonial luncheon to George H. Wilkinson, of the Wilkinson Theater, Wallingford, at Race Brook Country Club today. A testimonial scroll, inscribed with the names of those present, as well as other gifts, will be presented to the exhibitor. Harry F. Shaw, Loew-Poli Division Manager, will act as m.c. NEELY EXPECTS ACTION ON HIS BILL THIS WEEK (Continued from Page 1) this week. It is now the first order of business for the Senate and action is likely by Wednesday, Neely said. The only order of business scheduled to precede it .•" Senator Harrison's social security tislation which was given the right v/V way by Neely. He has no desire to interfere with such necessary legislation or other important emergency matters, Neely said, but is determined to force a showdown as soon as possible. Neely does not expect the debate to last over two days at most, he said. Beside Senator White several other Senators are expected to make speeches on the floor in opposition. Neely said he would not demand a record vote if a voice vote was convincing enough to leave no doubt of the sentiment of the Upper House. Reports were circulated in Washington that the opposition may seek a record vote. While Wednesday is the "best guess" for action the bill may come up today if the security legislation does not go into extended discussion. Quebec Theaters Reopen After 5 Weeks' Tax "Strike" (Continued from Page 1) Quebec theaters opened yesterday afternoon. Audiences were estimated as at about 10 per cent of a normal Summer day. Legally the tax is still in effect, but Premier Maurice Duplessis has instructed the Council to withhold its application and has promised speedy legislation to wipe it off the statute books. Films were hurriedly rushed from Montreal over the week-end and quickly passed by the censors. Theater operators issued a message thanking the Premier and Mayor Lucien Borne for co-operating to repeal of the tax. Sales Managers to Resume Clearance Talks Tomorrow (Continued from Page 1) but no definite agreement was reached. The meeting was adjourned until tomorrow when the sales chiefs will resume their study of the issue. Beryl Mercer III Santa Monica, Cal. — Beryl Mercer, noted for her screen character roles, is seriously ill here following on operation. STORKS! Al Streimer, of Randforce Amusement Co., is the father of a six pound, 13 ounce baby girl born to his wife, Marion, Saturday morning at Madison Park Hospital. This makes Moe Streimer, of United Artists, a grandpa.