The Film Daily (1943)

r, i i n . » i i V i N i 2H W U AT H ST NYC 2 2ND F L Wednesday, March 31, 1943 DAILY Alperson Presents $1,625,000 Check (Continued from Page 1) which made the President's War Relief Control Board richer by that amount. The sum represented theater collections throughout the counti y during United Nations Week two months ago. Charles P. Taft, acting during Joseph Davies' illness as chairman of the relief board, accepted the check from Alperson, expressing his deep gratitude to both the industry and the motion picture public. Others on hand for the handing over of the check, which shuttled back and forth between Alperson and Taft while the newsreels took and retook, included Dr. Frederick Keppel of the relief board, Francis S. Harmon, WAC vice-chairman. Si Fabian, chairman of the WAC theater division, Herman Robbins. United Nations Week treasurer, and P. J. Wood, representing national exhibitors. Earlier, at the first local industry luncheon since the imposition of full rationing, the Hotel Statler served chicken a la king and biscuits to those mentioned above, as well as to Leon J. Bamberger and Harry Mandel, campaign director and publicity director respectively for the United Nations drive, H. L. Tracy of the national exhibitors, John J. Payefte, Carter Barron, A. Julian Brylawski and Frank La Falce of the Washington WAC, H. S. Fox, secretary of the President's War Relief Control Board, Theodore Gamble, assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury, M. J. McDermott of the State Department and Monroe Greenthal of WPB. In addition to raising funds, the drive had a second aim — that of more thoroughly acquainting Americans with the peoples of the United Nations. "For the success of this portion of the drive," said Alperson, "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those organizations and individuals who co-operated." New Golden Producing Co. To Make 'The Master Race' (Continued from Page 1) M v'.er Race," based on Louis P. LVchner's book "What About Germany?" Edward Golden will leave New York for the Coast on or about April 12 to prepare for the production of "The Master Race" which will be released early in 1944. Robert Golden is now conferring with wrtiers who are adapting the book for the screen in Hollywood. Lochner, who was chief of the Associated Press bureau in Berlin for 14 years, will act as technical adviser. Rights to the book were handled through the Leland Hayward office. Milwaukee Policies In State of Flux Milwaukee, Wis. — Program policies at various houses here continue pretty much in a state of flux in an effort to hit a winning combination. Fox, for example, which went in for matinees at a number of its nabe houses has dropped the afternoon shows at its Venetian and Oakland. Also the Saturday and Sunday shows at the circuit's Garfield and Modjeska of flesh and film combinations are now only being offered on Sundays. WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • • Introducing Interesting Personalities • • • JACQUES TOURNEUR. Director. Bdmi Paris, France, Nov. 12, 1904. Educated in Paris, New York and Hollywood. Entered film work in 1924 as an office boy at Metro Studios, Culver City. Was made a script clerk. In 1926, became an actor as a member of Metro's stock company and played in support of such stars as Marion Davis, William Haines and others. Also appeared in "The Trail of '98." Returned to France and remained there four years. Edited the pictures directed by his father, Maurice Tourneur. In 1930 made his debut as a director. Directed four pictures for Pathe, one of which starred Jean Gabin. In 1934, returned to the United States and joined M-G-M. Directed 26 short subjects and two features, starring \| Walter Pidgeon for M-G-M. Joined RKO-Radio, July • 1942. Directed "The Cat People," "I Walked With a '' Zombie" and "The Leopard Man." Will direct "The Seventh Victim" for RKO-Radio. Hobby, Sailing boats. Stands, 6 ft. Weighs, 200. Hair, brown. Eyes, brown. 110,000,000 Attendance Seen Receipts Expected to Make Better Showing (Continued ft being offset by higher prices. "Producers will face greater operating difficulties," it is said, "but earnings should hold around last year's satisfactory levels." Improved finances suggest more liberal dividend disbursements, it it sadded. More Family Coin for Pix Discussing the attendance outlook, Standard & Poor's says: "Theater attendance has continued to expand so far this year, despite fuel oil shortages and the ban on pleasure driving, and further gains are expected over coming months. Growing merchandise shortages will release an increasingly greater portion of the family budget for entertainment. Meanwhile, available forms of recieation which compete with the movies are being constantly reduced. These factors should offset any depressing effects arising from high personal income tax rates and heavy War Bond purchases. Gasoline restrictions will continue to exert an adverse influence on attendance in rui al sections of the country, where transportation facilities are inadequate, but larger revenues from urban centers should more than make up these losses. Loss of air conditioning equipment might hurt revenues during the summer months to some extent, but benefits from the cut in gasoline quotas, if extended, could more than take up the slack." The survey finds labor shortages the most serious problem for exhibition, but regards the large-scale employment of women as the om Page 1) probable solution. It is pointed out that rising labor and film rental costs are being offset by higher scales with no adverse attendance effect. Warns of Gov't Control "However," it is asserted, "greater care will probably have to be exercised with respect to further increases in order to avoid the risk of a Government move to control prices." Regarding the raw stock situation, it is stated that the present limitation order has caused no serious dislocations, but warns that "any important cuts in film allocations from the present level would probably create serious operating problems." It is added that indications now are that this will be unnecessary, barring unforeseen demand for film and raw materials. Standard & Poor's . sees the trend towards higher rentals continuing, and takes the view that the higher terms reflect "box office prosperity, together with increased emphasis on quality pictures." Foreign Revenues Rise With reference to film finances, the survey says : "Revenues in foreign countries are up sharply over last year and this favorable trend is likely to continue. Moreover, negotiations are now under way with Great Britain and Australia to provide for full release of earned funds. While no such windfall as the $50,000,000 received from Britain last fall will be enjoyed this year, funds accrued in the August-October period and not yet transferred— estimated at between $7,000,000 and $8,000,000 — should be forthcoming soon. "Further operating gains are expected for most companies in the field, but since reserves against foreign funds may again have to be set up (if a full release agreement is not reached), and since fiscal year companies will feel the full impact of present tax rates for the first time, the improvement will not carry through to final net. However, earnings should approximate the satisfactory levels reached last year, and, with finances considerably improved, more liberal dividend disbursements are possible." FDR Favors Farm, Dairy Work for 4-F Registrants Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Hinting at concentrated efforts to move 4-F draft registrants from jobs not listed as essential to farm and dairy work, President Roosevelt yesterday told his press conference he will back such a campaign. Four 20th-Fox First-Runs In Chi. Loop Next Week Chicago — Twentieth Century-Fox will have four Loop first-runs here next week— "Chetniks" and "Quiet, Please, Murder," Apollo; "Immortal Sergeant," Roosevelt; "Hello, Frisco, Hello," Chicago. 25% of 20fh-Fox's Pix in Technicolor (Continued from Page 1) released two in Technicolor, "Thu der Birds" and "Black Swan"; h two shortly to be tradeshown, "M Friend Flicka" and "Coney Island," and has another, "Crash Dive," editing. Technicolor pix in production are "Heaven Can Wait," "Sweet Ro sie O'Grady" and "Winter Time," while in preparation are "Song of Bernadette,' "Bird of Paradise," "Greenwich Village," "Mexico City," "New Orleans" and "Buffalo Bill." Denies U. S. Producers Will Invade Mexico City (Continued from Page 1) City a new Hollywood on a minor scale. Representatives of the co-ordinator of Inter-American Affairs de clared that their department is interested in improving the Mexican industry so that better Spanish pic tures can be made there, especially Spanish-language pictures dealing with Demociacy, but that they are not trying to encourage American producers to compete with native producers. The CIAA does encourage American producers to make English pictures with Latin-Amer ican backgrounds. Under the auspices of CIAA, a committee of motion picture experts made a survey of Mexican studios last August to learn what equip-, ment they needed and it is believed American companies will release some equipment to these plants. Paul Kohner, Hollywood representative^ of CLASA and Azteca studios of Mexico City, was emphatic in his statement that the industry in Mex ico is now stabilized and is being amply financed by the Bank of Mex ico, a private institution, and that American capital is not needed nor invited. He said Mexican producers would resent an invasion by Ameri can companies, fearing that even tually the latter would monopolize the industry. Old Age Pensions for Cuban Film Industry? Havana (By Air Mail — Passed by Censor) — A campaign for obligatory old-age pension in the film industry has been launched by employes of the distribution companies here. A committee has been named to press the matter. It consists of Rafael de la Guardia, Reinaldo Amador, Miguel Perez, Manuel Roig Antonio Pedrinan, Delio Gonzalez, Candido Lannes, Ignacio Oliva and the following trade press editors: Rafael Martinez, Mundo Filmico; Antonio Villazon, Exhibidor, and Faustino Rodriguez, Filmico.