The Film Daily (1945)

:^ OUVf Thursday, July 19, 194 Goodman Resignation From Repub. July 31 (Continued from Page 1) nounce the names of his assistants in the company's foreign organization at a later date. He completed a two-day sales session yesterday at the Blackstone Hotel. Young Explains Shooting Of New Navy Two-Reeler (Continued from Page 1) yesterday at WAC headquarters by Lt. Collier Young, of the Navy Photographic Services. Produced under the supervision,, oi Capt. Gene Markey, the short was compiled from the some 200,000 feet of 16 and 35 mm. stock utilized for filming the Okinawa campaign, and dealing with the vicious fight of U. S. forces against Jap Kamikazes, or suicide pilots. Young said that Navy Secretary James V. Forrestal wanted the Amerioan public to know the "back-stag-e" story of the "fleet that foug-ht like infantry." Commenting on the picture. Young declared that it is a "hig-h priority film that may well be the pattern of the war from now on." Hig-hlig:hts of Youngr's informal comments on the film, which will have both specific and g-eneral interest to theatermen and their patrons, include "the following-: (1) One month after the last shot was fired on Okinawa, the fooitage was ready for public showing, having been shipped and edited in record time, with certain sequences supplied to newsreels in advance of the two-reeler's compilation; (3) the picture is a "by-product" of tactical filming-, and, after reaching the Navy lab in Anacostia, D. C, was repetitiously projected by tacticians, including Vice-Admiral Cochrane and his aides who remained for hours to see ship damag-e, and how new mechanisms behaved; (.3) the Bureau of Aeronautics and Bureau of Surgrery also minutely examined the footag-e; (4) cameras held many a captain on ships in the action to see and appraise battle details; (5) between Miarch 18 and June 8, our forces accounted for 4,332 Jap airerait on the ground and in the air, with combat air patrols bagging some 90 per cent of the total; (6) only 10 per eei.t of Jaip planes penetrated the protective screen, and only 1 per cent caused damag-e to our units; (7) the first week of the Okinawa engagement was "The Alfred Hitchcock Period," ominously quiet and full of suspense; and (8) after the theater release of "The Fleet That Came to Stay," it will be probably used for incentive showings in the nation's war plants. Arthur L. Mayer Returns For Red Cross Parleys (Continued from Paje 1) land, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. Plans will be formulated for additional service to the Army of Occupation, and also to the men in staging areas and redeployment centers. Mayer operates the Rialto. SEHD BIRTHDflV GREETinCS TO: July 19 Merlin H Aylesworth Floyd L. Weber Edward Sloman Arthur Jeffrey James Mlllas Metro Adopts Trade Code 19-Point Policy Drafted by Rodgers (Continued from Page 1) meaning," Rodgers said, "is the evidence of confidence, one in the other, and based on the performance of both. It is not a one-way passage, or a fair weather experience, but a reciprocal understanding applicable to good and bad conditions alike and can only be lasting where the sincerity of purpose is an accepted fact." The 19 points, as explained by Rodgers, were as follows: 1. If we make a mistake in designating a picture in a bracket hig-her than justified by results, it is not necessary or expected that our customer be required to ask for an adj'ustment in terms, but when called to our at,te.ntion with the supporting facts, and they must be facts, we will re-classify the picture in the bracket where it rightfully belongs. 3. There is no policy in our company that prevents one of our top-bracket pictures being re-elassifled even to the balance or lower bracket, if that is the proper classification based on results at that theater. 3. We intend to retain our rig-ht of designation as there is no other means we know of to inteUigently price our merchandise. 4. We intend to continue to sell on the sliding scale; that this basis is considered by us and by thousands of our customers as being a fair method of dealing:. 5. We will, where justified, change the unit figure if results of record disclose a hardship, and by hardship I mean either a loss, or a minimum profit to the theater on pictures of ours played on this basis. 6. We recognize the effect because of shifting populations, industrial inactivity and other reasons, in some small localities, on some of the subsequent runs, and I mean later runs in cities and small towns, and are prepared in such situations to adjust our terms to meet present-day business levels. In such situations we are prepared to foreg-o socalled preferred time in exchange for what our managers consider its equivalent in the way of mid-week playing time. In such instances it can be incorporated in the contract with our customers as optional. 7. This is a matter of negotiation between our representatives and our customers and in our desire to help in specific situations which need help it is not to be considered that we are going to forego entirely preferred time, because, to the contrary, we expect to continue to seek and we hope to get our pictures played under the most favorable circumstances. But we do want to do everything in our power to assist deserving; cases. 8. We deplore the thought that exhibitors must come, as they cite it, -with "hats in hand" looking for an adjustment. That is very definitely contrary to our policy, and the sliding scale was devised to automatically take care of an adjustment. So far as flat rentals are concerned, we can have no knowledge of the results unless we are informed, and we are prepared to rectify any unintentional error made by re-classifylng: the picture immediately when authentic facts justifying it are presented. 9. Our branch and district managrers have authority to adjudicate what appear to be unintentional errors; they can when justified adjudicate any business contracts. 10. We do not want, much less exipect, any unfair terms or advantages. 11. Our policy of fair dealing will be carried out in the future as in the past. 13. We do not exact as a policy, home office approval of re-classification or adjustment in terms when presented with facts. 13. It is not necessary for our customers to come or write to New York for relief, but if it is not granted where absolutely justified they are invited to lay their case before us for consideration and attention. 14. For some time we have been cognizant of the prolblems of what we term the subsvibsequent runs. Our definition of this type of operation is a theater folio-wing the key runs in a zone located grenerally within the corporate limits of a metropolitan city, not necessarily the second-run in a city but those which follow the key or first-runs in individual zones. Hence, for this type of run and for this type only, we will offer the pictures sold in a group on a basis whereby those who desire can lease such pictures in the top brackets on a flat-rental basis. This will be optional at the time of negotiation. It must be understood that where flat rental in this direction is desired it is not contemplated to offer pictures in this categ-ory at bargain prices; we do not intend to price our pictures below that which we believe our top bracket justifies, neither will we ask premium prices for the privilege of playing flat rental versus percentage. We want only the proper terms. We, of course, prefer to play on a participating arrangement -with this type of run, as well as all other runs, but because of Conditions as they have been reported to us and because of our desire to co-operate with our customers, we will in such oases where this type of exhibitor so desires, offer all of our pictures sold in a grroup on a flat rental basis. 15. As to News of the Day, short subjects and trailers, each unit must stand on its individual merit and be priced accordingly. There will be revisions upwards or down, depending upon the situation involved, and precedent is not the determining factor. Present-day conditions only should g-overn. Under no circumstances -will we tolerate, much less sanction, the leasing of feature attractions as a condition of buying either one or all of these units. We repeat, each unit must be offered and negotiated for independent of the other and in no way made part of any negotiations for any other product. Weekly payment plans are not acceptable. 16. Proposed new theaters are not to be given assurance of any sipecifie availability, and we will not negotiate for representation in such theaters until they become a reality, and then only for such run and product as is then available. 17. Every effort possible is to be made to avoid ai'bitration and by "effort" we mean, as you have previously been advised, that you are to try your level best to adjudicate differences before they reach the arbitration stage. District and sales managers' aid is to be requested by branch managers where needed and, if necessary, the matter should be broug-ht to the attention of the general sales manag-er. 18. Runs or accounts are not to be changed, nor applications even signed, until after complete facts are first submitted to the general sales manag-er through the district and sales manager, and then such proposed changres are not to be acted upon until proper authority to do so has been received from the general sales manag-er. 19. Complete support is to be given to War Activities Committees in all of their undertaking's, and gratis pictures or participation in any war-time activity is not to be given except when it has the endorsement of the War Activities Committee or the home office. Chico Petitions Ask End Of City's Theater Tax Sacramento, Cal. — Opposition continues in numerous California cities against theater and amusement taxes ranging from one to four cents per admission. Latest rebuff comes from Chico where a three-cent amusement tax was adopted June 29. Already petitions to knock the tax from the city ordinance are being circulated with the intent of placing the matter before the voters. Richmond voters recently invalidated a one-cent tax placed upon amusements by the city council. At Napa the council itself repealed a one-cent tax it previously adopted. A tax of two cents is already in eflTect at Stockton, San Bernardino and Redondo Beach. San Diego has a one-cent flat tax and authorities said this brings in more revenue than the higher rates which exempt children under 12 and servicemen. San Francisco has a four-cent tax under consideration. Ranl(-B&HTail(ing 16 mm. Equip. Dei (Continued from Page 1) completed, which appears to be lik ly within the next few weeks, Rai will have valuable assets in the mm. field with which to carry out h announced intentions to provide pro uct of an educational and religioi nature, in addition to his already e! tensive plans for straight entertaii ment product. Specific provisions discussed 1: Rank with Bell & Howell are cu; rently matters lof conjecture, bi well-informed sources along loci Film Row told The Film Daily yes terday that any pact between th two groups would certainly involv patent rights, making it possible fc Rank to have prime call on equij ment manufactured in England wher' B & H has a well-appointed plant. ]l is also believed here that the Rank B & H talks involved supply of equip ment to certain world areas in whic! Rank has, or intends setting up, in terests. Among the potential area are large revenue-producing coun tries of the Empire. Since he arrived in the U. S. som two months ago. Rank has shown i spirited interest in narrow guag film equipment, and last Monday a his press conference in the Sherrj Netherland, before sailing the nexday on the Queen Mary, he made sev eral references to equipment anc instructional films. Lending weight to the probabilitj that the Rank-B & H pact will be concluded is the fact that Britisli regulations, now in force by the Government there, and advocated for extension in the post-war period, pre^ elude equipment of foreign manufac ture entering the country to under mine domestic fabrication of ma chines and other items of trade. Rank freely admitted at his Monday press conference that Britain! could make entertainment films at lower cost levels than can Hollywood, and observers said here yesterday that the same will be true of equipment, and this is what Rank has in mind in his negotiations with B & H. Sources close to B. & H merely commented yesterday: "Nothing to confirm at the present time," implying that the talks are percolating. UIEDDIRG BELLS PetrUlo-DeRosa Chicago — Miss Marie Petrillo, daughter of James Petrillo, AFM prexy. was married to Capt. Francis DeRosa at St. Angelas Church. Meury-Book Dallas — Bookkeeper of long standing, Madeline Meury, of RKO Radio Pictures, will be married tomorrow, to Carl Book, ^B!^^^