The Film Daily (1945)

IHEi DAILY Thursday, July 12, 19^ Sfate Dept. Wars On Brit. Export Ban (Continued from Page 1) the order of last Winter cutting the gllocation of raw stock for all British users by 25 per cent in order to provide raw stock for the printing of British films for export. These discussions with the British Board of Trade have gotten under way only in the last couple of weeks, it was learned at the State Department yesterday. Working with usual diplomatic speed, the State Department and the Embassy have been in communication regarding these orders for several months. The Department's position and desires finally clarified to the embassy, discussions with the British Board of Trade have only just gotten under way. Protocol rules out direct negotiations between the State Department and the Board of Trade. Hold British Orders Unfair Behind these negotiations are the insistence of WPB's Stanley B. Adams that the British orders are unfair to American producers. Adams has discussed the matter with American officials as well as with British officials (even including J. Arthur Rank). Thus far he has taken no steps to readjust film allocations for British use in this country — and it is unlikely that he will do so. His protest is none the less vigorous. Adams made his feeling plain to Rank and other British representatives here, after explaining to them why the allocation of raw stock for printing of British pix in this country was fair. No formal protest against this allocation has been received at the State Department, although representations were made orally to WPB. BOX Now Satisfied? The Board of Trade originally felt that British exporters were being unfairly treated, but is now believed satisfied that they actually received a better break than our own major studios. Our majors have had to take a large cut in film allotment, while the British — for printing in this country — have been allowed as much raw stock as they formerly used. So far the Board of Trade has stood upon its position that its orders do not represent discrimination, since they apply to all foreign TO THE COLORS! * CITATION * LT. DEWEY WRICLEY, USNR, formerly Cecil B. DeMille cameraman, the Bronze Star and Commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for outstanding performance of aury in comoar pnorograpny. • DECORATED • S/SCT. VERNON L. LYNCH, formerly assistant manager of the Paramount, Springfield, Mass, the Bronze Star for heroism in battles of Eastern France and Luxembourg. All in the Day^s Neufs • • • CUFF NOTES: Loew's Si Seadler is campaigning vigorously in behalf of the Full Employment Bill of 1945, now pending in Congress Says Si, "If you and I don't take an active interest in the reconstruction of our post-war America, we can only blame ourselves later for the lack of planning which will affect all of us vitally" Righto! • lohn Carradine, currently in our midst, is reoding scripts with on eye to Broadway in the Fall. . . • Monte Carlo has renamed its Casino Room as the Preview Room and proposes to use it for premieres of new films "G. I. Joe" had a special showing there this Tveek and two other UA releases, "The Southerner" and "Guest Wife" are also set for previews there. . . • Warners are reported to have a $20,000 stake in the forthcoming Broadway production of "Marinka.". . • Ed Wynn, who underwent an operation in Hudson Qty Hospital, at the weekend will be discharged. . . • Although several studios reportedly have been interested in acquiring rights to PM's comic strip, "Barnaby" it now appears the saga of Mr. O'Malley will reoch the boards first It is to be dramcrtized by Captain lerome Chodorov and will be produced by Barney Josephson and James D. Proctor in the coming Broadway season. . . 9 Warners' exploitation campaign on "Christmas In Connecticut" will include a gigantic Christmas party with all the trimmings for re-deployed G.I.'s who missed last year's Xmas in Conn. and will probably spend their next one in the Pacific war zone Will Yolen and Abe Kronenberg, of Warner's special events department, left yesterday for New Haven to bellows the Yuletide atmosphere for the next three weeks as a buildup for the simultaneous premiere of the film in eight Connecticut towns T T T • • • WE'RE AVENGING PEARL HARBOR! Columbia 39 Weeks Net Profit at $1,380,000 (Continued from Page 1) was $1,490,000, equal to $3.65 per common share. Company reported an operating profit of $2,885,000 for the period ended this year, compared with $4,685,000 last year, but estimated tax provision decreased to $1,505,000 for the 39 weeks ended in 1945 compared with $3,195,000 in 1944. film users. Actually, however, our Embassy is pointing out that American distribs. are the only important group printing in London for export to the continent. State Department officials are hopeful that the diiferences will be resolved, although industry observers believe the State Department secretly hopes the raw stock situation will improve rapidly enough so that the argument will become academic. Para. Party in Des Moines Des Moines, la. — Para.'s exchange celebarted its Third of a Century with a cocktail party at Hotel Fort Des Moines, hosted by H. R. Hamburg, branch manager. Bill Curry, salesman, who is the oldest employe in length of service in the territory, was an honored guest. Columbia Co-sponsoring Service Book Contest Designed to discover literary talent in the armed forces, a United Service Book Contest, open to present and past members of the armed forces of the United Nations, was announced yesterday by Thomas Y. Crowell, U. S. publisher; George G. Harrap & Co., British publisher, and Columbia Pictures. Award will he an outright grant of $6,000, plus usual book royalties on the American and British editions, and film rights which could total $60,000, for the most suitable booklength manuscript on any subject received by June 30, 1946. In the event that the judges fail to find a writer worthy of the award, the outright prize money will be divided into six $1,000 United Forces Book Fellowships for the most deserving contestants, to aid them in producing or completing their work. Contest will run for at least two annual periods. « c Metro to Show Two Here M-G-M will hold trade showings in New York only, at its local exchange, on "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes," next Wednesday, and "Week-end At the Waldorf," on July 19. Both screenings will be held at 10:30 a.m. Reopening of Italian Narket Is Near * n J, (Continued from Page 1) establishing Italian production, ai at the same time it is believed thi agreement will be reached outlaTi ing all the restrictive measures in posed during the Mussolini regime The state monopoly imposed by tl late .11 Duce became so oppressi-^i that American producers simp) pulled out of the Italian market i 1939. This withdrawal was both o political and economic grounds. Sinci then about the only American filit which have been brought in ha\ been those shown through OWI au pices (and the special shows fc American troops). New Decree Looked For A new decree is looked, for Rome, which is expected formally t abrogate all the old restrictions Fascist days and do away with thj state monopoly features. Thus far tli Italian officials have been extreme! reasonable, reports here indicate, an the discussions have been going ea tremely smoothly. i It was indicated that in the even] difficulty arises between Italy an this country, or between Italy an England, the new agreement will g through between Italy and the coun try with which there is complet agreement, although there is no evi dence yet of any split in attitude be tween the British and the Americans Basis for Discussions American representatives are us ing as the basis of their discussion; proposals originated by industry ex port officials and transmitted through the State Department. Detailed information on the condi tion of the Italian studios and thei:| equipment is lacking even at thii; late date, but it is believed that thi condition is such as to permit somi production by late Summer. There ii a question also as to available per sonnel, since the State Departmen has not yet been informed how man] available experienced productioi' workers have been cleared politically' Forgoston's Rites Held Interment rites for the mother oJ Sam Forgoston, advertising produc tion manager, Metro's trade papei division, were held at lilontefior* Cemetery, L. I. HI Si lUEDDIRG BELLS Breitenback-Sauer Josephine Breitenback, 8th floon receptionist at the M-G-M home of fice, on July 3 became Mrs. Nick Sauer. She is now back on the jot after a brief honeymoon. Regan-Knaubs Chicago — Bob Knaubs and Irene Regan of the electronics department of Bell and Howell were married. «