The Film Daily (1945)

i^ «u DAILY Wednesday, August 22, Mayer May Head Pix Victory Loan Drive ( Continued from Page 1) sultant to the Secretary of War and assistant co-ordinator and treasurer of the War Activities Committee, Motion Picture Industry, was held by high industry channels yesterday as a "natural" to head up the trade's efforts in the Victory Loan. While no official announcement has been made that Mayer will be the chairman selected, strong undercurrents of confidence that this would be the case were apparent in trade circles yesterday. Another development on the Victory Loan front was the reliably expressed view that the campaign will start a few days before Ocober's end, and continue to or into the first week in December. While the Victory Loan details were being perfected, Francis S. Harmon, executive vice-chairman and co-ordinator of WAC, authorized release here, coincident with his journey to Washington, of the declaration that the war job of WAC will be finished not later than Dec. 31 and the WAC staff is on notice "that our work together will be over at the turn of the year." Pledged films to be released between now and the end of the year are: "Here Come the Yanks" (National War Fund), RKO Radio, Aug. 30; "When He Comes Home" (How to Aid Veterans), Universal, Sept. 13; "Victory Bond Caravan" (Treasury Loan), Paramount, Nov. 1; Subject dealing with Food, Coal and Transport Crisis in Europe, to be made by RKO-Pathe, no date. The nine previously released subjects which theaters are requested to play as scheduled are, together with distributors: "The Fleet That Came to Stay," Paramount; "Something You Didn't Eat," Warners; "On To UJEDDinC BELLS Calegman-Horwitz New Haven — Samuel Horwltz, assistant at the Poli, Hartford and Estelle Calegman, assistant at the Bijou, New Haven, will be married at New Haven, Sept. 30. Collier-Oakley Beverly Hills, Cal. — Lois Collier, screen actress, and Bob Oakley, actors' agent, were married here Aug. 4. Allyson-Powell irest toast bureau of J Hh FILM DAILY Hollywood — Screenplay ers Dick Powell and June Allyson were marmied here at the home of Johnny Green, composer, Sunday. The bride was given in marriage by Louis B. Mayer. WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD pOBERT RISKIN, writer-producer. Born in New York. Educated in New '^ York and Baltimore. Staged his first show in 1912 before a stand-up crowd in basement of his Brooklyn home. At 17, a sophomore at Columbia, he wrote and sold the first of a score of original screenplays to Paramount. Left ccllege to produce film comedies in Florida. In 1917, he enlisted in the Army, served until the Armistice. After the war, Riskin deserted the cinema to writ for the legit. In 1932 he was brought to Hollywood by Columbia where he met Frank Capra and formed a writing-directing team Their first was "Lady for a Day," followed by "It Happened One Night," which won the Academy award for Riskin for the best screen adaptation of the year as well as awards for producer-director Capra and co-stars Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. Other Riskin-Capra pix: "Broadway Bill," "Lost Horizon," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and 'You Can't Take It With You." In 1938 he became associated with Samuel Goldwyn. From 1939 to 1940, collabcrated with Capra on production, using own money, and releasing "Meet John Doe" by special arrangement through Warners. In 1941 he went to England and volunteered his services to the British Government, becoming consultant to Ministry cf Information. Left London on Dec. 7, 1941, for the U. S. While awaiting appointment to OWI, authored "Thin Man" story for M-G-M. In 1942 he was appointed Chief of the Overseas Motion Picture Bureau. Recently left the OWI, though he continues to serve as consultant, to form his own independent organization. His first pic will be "The Magic City." Col. Makes Josephs Aide to Montague (Continued from Page 1) named assistant to A. Montague, general sales manager. Josephs joined Columbia in 1928 as a bookkeeper while still attending New York University, and was' subsequently appointed assistant manager of the print department, rising later to post of manager, a position he filled for some five years. Thereafter, he held posts of assistant office manager and in charge of outside producers accounting. In 1936, Josephs was designated assistant manager of the sales accounting depatment, and in 1937 became that department's manager. Tokyo," Universal; "All-Star Bond Rally," 20th-Fox; "The Two-Way Street," Columbia; "Watchtower Over Tomorrow," distributed by WAC chairmen; "Story With Two Endings," 20th-Fox; "Seeing Them Through," RKO Radio; and "To the Shores of Iwo Jima," UA. Theatermen will note that only two of these films, "The Fleet That Came to Stay" and "To the Shores of Iwo Jima" are full-fledged war films. The nine OWI-WAC pix withdrawn, following end of Pacific fighting, are: "Target Tokyo," RKO; "Fury in the Pacific," Warners; "What's Your Name," 20th-Fox; "Brought to Action," UA; "V-1, Robot Bomb," RKO Radio; "Target Japan," Paramount; "It's Murder," Columbia; "Battle of the Marianas," Warners; and "The War Speeds Up," Columbia. "Conn. Xmas." Holding Over Warners' "Cristmas in Connecticut," is rolling up an outstanding series of hold-overs in everyone of its early playdates, the company reported yesterday. 25% of Equip. Replacement Abroad Needed — Hotchkiss (Continued from Page 1) Co. of France, who has just returned to the U. S. from a three months' inspection trip through Western Europe and North Africa. "Complete lack of new equipment and scarcity of maintenance supplies during five years, plus some war damage, have placed about every fourth theater on the critical list," he said. While overseas, he arranged for considerable work with the Army Service Forces on installation and servicing of motion picture equipment at staging area bases near LeHavre, Rheims and Marseilles in France. He said that two projects aimed at increasing film production in France are the new studios currently under development,— one at Nice and the other near Paris, each involving eight to 10 stages. It is definitely expected, he added, that U. S., British and Russian producers will be invited to utilize these new facilities. Attitude of the French public is certainly most favorable to U. S. films, absent from most French screens for nearly five years, he stated, and added that it indicated a lively market for American pix, depending on import resti'ictions. Belgium, he said, is rapidly recovering from the war. He expects to see early re-opening of trade with Belgium. Algiers is likewise getting back to normal. On the other hand, he anticipates continuation of trade restrictions in France and Italy for some time to come. Billy Clifford Stricken Chicago — Billy Clifford, veteran showman and manager of the Fox Theater, died of a heart attack. 2 Reel Men lo Covei Oaupation of Japa (Continued from Page 1) atomic bomb taken at the tria! plosion in New Mexico. These s said Collins, were taken under supervision of the scientists ducting the experiment at a 10 distance from the bomb. A sp automatic camera was used, ad ed so that the explosion would the camera, as no cameraman c stay so close. The camera was sulated, with the exception of lense, against the effect of the released by the atomic explosion, blast took place at night but si as brilliantly as daylight in the tures. Original filming was oi mm. color, from which 35 mm. fc and white prints were made for newsreels. Garutso Optical Balanc Test Reel Attracts Trade' Members of various branche; the trade attended yesterday Lloyd's Projection Room a spi screening of a 200-foot test reel, ducted continuously from 3 p.n:' 5 p.m., demonstrating the Gar Optical Balance developed by St Garutso and aimed at attaining crease in depth of focus in both tion pictures and television pro tion. Presiding at the demons tion was Ira H. Simmons. The long quest by scientists in field of optics for third-dimen motion pictures, and the hope this elusive extra dimension m finally and fully be captured in demonstration footage, excited w spread interest in the showing Those present at the showing pressed the following views: (1) Garutso Optical Balance is cle> an improvement over the sere present "plane geometry" sta and that more depth and defini has been achieved, judged by the ] ticular scenes shown; (2) The see were selected to give maximum < trast in the various planes of de as trees formed much of the con sition; (3) The system has obvi potentialities if further impro) (4) Some at the showing felt 1 "run of the mine" film scenes she have been simultaneously shown that closer comparison could be <m vi^ith the Garutso footage; (5) Tl was less distortion in the Gan scenes when viewed from close sharp angles, and that this was asset; and (6) Color films should s have been shown at such a dem stration. Its im k !oi i ip lit tit WANTED Thoroughly experienced secretctii for film executive. Reply, giving details of experience, salary r quired. Box 244 The Film Daily, 1501 Broadway