The Film Daily (1946)

■na' DAILY Friday, September 27, 1! Producers Appeal to Hutcheson in Strike (Continued from Page 1) of all major studies in Hollj^vood share the feeling of regret expressed m your telegram on the recent interluption of the ti^ie relations which have existed with j'our organization for so many years Consequently we ask you earnestly to consider a means of solution. All Agreed to 1945 A^vard "You .will recall that at Cincinnati last Fall all parties' agreed to an AFL arbitration which was to be nnal and binding. The studios have lives up to the award. Because we have done so we are now encountering another jurisdictional strike. We appeal to you as a conspicuous leader of organized labor to do what you can to end this succession of jurisdictional strikes which are becoming a national disgrace, penalizing vast numbers of workers who are not a party to the dispute and sabotaging production at a time when production is vitally necessary to national recovery. We are powerless in this situation, but you and the international presidents of the unions involved are not. We ask your help." Conference of Studio Unions, whose members are picketing the 10 major studios yesterday concentrated their attention on the M-G-M and Warner Bros, studios. A near riot occurred at M-G-M as 500 pickets attempted to stop cars loaded with lATSE members from going into the studio to work. After two automobiles got through the lines successfully a third was stopped by the pickets who shoved the machine back intot he street. Despite the resulting melee no one was injured sufficiently to require first aid. Police Arrest Six Men One of three men taken into custody was arrested for slashing an auto tire at the gates of the Warner Burbank studio. Another was arrested for slugging a worker trying to cross the picket line. Two others were arrested at the Paramount lot. Para, reported early in the day that 700 technical workers were in the studio. Picketing, which started yesterday at 5 a.m., grew out of the discharge of 1,500 carpenters and painters of the CSU locals at the various studios for refusing to work on sets on which lATSE members were employed. There was no production yesterday morning at Warners of M-G-M, but by noon shooting had started at Warners on seven pictures with skeleton crews being used. Shooting also started by noon at M-G-M with eight pictures expected to be before ths cameras by the end of the day. Picketing also prevailed at Universal, 20th-Fox, Paramount, Columbia and RKO. No Pickets at Three Studios There was no picketing at Republic, Hal Roach or Samuel Goldwyn Call Wells Attack ''Nonsense'' No Objection from French Gov't at State Dept. (Continued trade program had caused resentment in other countries. Wells singled out France as an example of growing foreign dissatisfaction with this country's pix policy and criticized U. b. hims as giving jLner countries a 'wrong idea of the united States." "1 haven't seen Mr. Wells' statement," a high state Department jiricial said, "out on the strength of .lewspaper reports his remarics apijear unreasonable. We have not only uot heard any oojections from the rrench government but i'rench officials have supported strongly the motion picture agreement with this country." Has Right to Talk "Nonsense" In the absence of President Eric A. Johnston, Kenneth Clark, MPAA press cnief, said that "Mr. Wells has i perfect right to express nis point of v'lcW even when he talKs nonsense." Both MPAA and tne State Department said there have been no serious reports of "resentment" in France jr other countries. However, it became apparent at the meeting of the .lational commission on UNESCO iiere that at least one branch of the otate Department is not too pleased vvith some of the U. S. pix tnat are oemg sent abroad. Assistant Secretary of State William Benton, while giving general jacking to the U. S. pix industry, protested the large numbers of "sensaLional" films and others not truly lepresenting American life which are making their way abroad. Some Pix Not Representative Johnston in effect, recognized that some films were not truly representative and reportedly assured the meeting that an attempt would be made CO route "better" films abroad. ilPAA member companies could not ce "told" what films to export, but an attempt to "present the problem" CO producers would 'be made, MPAA officials said. As far as MPEA is concerned, however, for obvious reasons a closer check can be kept on films from Page 1 ) i exported to ot'ner countries. MPEA IS now operating in 13 countries. At the same time, it was learned from the State Department that the French government n.is ■' temporarily suspenaea ' tne application of a tough administrative regulation ■\vhicn would nave limited snowing ol U. S. films in J^rance. Under the regulation, no distributor could sell more yian six pix to any single exhibitor auring any sixmonth period. It ai..o statea that any picture had to be playea within six minths from the contract date. Objects to French Regulation U. S. companies entered strongobjections to tne application of thib regulation and protested to the State Uepartment. "While aeciinmg to predict how long the suspension wouIg last, the State Department admittea yesterday that the French government had agi-eed to a delay m the application of the regulation. It was tnis close collaboration of the State Department and the U. y. pix industry which was criticized by Wells. The Department, however, emphasized that its attitude towards the free flow of pix and the breaking down of foreign trade barriers, represented the over-all and 'often repeated" policy of the government towards all American trade. Dollar Exchange Hinders Department spokesmen explained the delay in admission of many U. S. pix into France by saying that the French have been seeking equitable allocation of their li'^'uited dollar exchange. R imports have been current in France that a French government bureau has refused to issue import and release licenses for films. Most Government and trade circles have brushed off non-governmental French criticisms of the pix agreement as coming from left-wing groups. Observers here predicted that while no attempt to censure U. £. pix could conceivably be made, the industry itself has recognized its obligation to make some films which are more truly representative of this country. studios because a CSU representative said that it did not conform with current strike strategy, but these plants might be affected later. Independents are unaffected by the present situation. Two companies shot at Universal, seven at Paramount, five at Columbia, four at RKO and only one was scheduled at 20th-Fox. Statement by Byron Price Following the CSU mass meeting last Wednesday night, Byron Price, board chairman of the Association of the Motion Picture Producers, said: "This is another jurisdictional strike. The issue is so recognized by the American Federation of Labor. Phony, talk about a lockout will not change the situation. Only a few 'nours ago the studios' informed Sorrell that the carpenters and others could come back if they would do ihe work assigned to them which they had refused to do for purely jurisdictional reasons. This strike is a result of a dispute between two AFL unions over which union members should do certain work in the studios. It is a dispute which the studios cannot settle and which a strike will not help to settle." SAG to Vote on Action At the special emergency meeting of all Hollywood actors called for next Wednesday, the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild will give the board's recommendation as te how the actors should vote on the question of whether to strike by respecting picket lines. Ballots asking the question: "Do you favor going on strike by not crossing picket lines in the present studio controversy?" are being mailed out immediately to «REVJEUJS "South of Monterey' with Gilbert Roland, Martin Garralaga Monogram 63 Mins j "CISCO KID" OPUS iS ROUTINE SOUTh OF BORDER WESTERN FARE. Deriving its humor from the dialect^^ati ment cf the dialogue and the nif -''u:' affairs of the "Cisco Kid" in and'^'-^Jou | California, Texas and Mexico, this westerr j should prove satisfactory for the aficionado:, of the boot and saddle story told in filiri terms. Set in old California the plot has to d ] with the depredations of landgrabbers an:' the mishandling of tax collections. Franl | Vaconelli, Roland's undercover operator, play: a blind minstrel in order to secure incrim inating information against the culprits Iris Flores is an old Roland flame and afte he arrives in town she first lands him ii jail due to her verbal impetuousness am later swipes a key to the jug and free him. There's a romantic thread involvin; the sister of the local police official and champion of the poor ranchers' rights. In good time the crooks are brought t bay. The "C!sco Kid" once more triumph and is off to further romantic and danger oiis adventure. The production is handled in good styl: the musical content heightened by th iinging and dancing cf Miss Flores, who i: easy on the eyes. Roland fits the "Cisc Kid ' role very effectively. CAST: Gilbert Roland, Martin Carralag Frank Yaconelli, Marjorie Riordan, Iris Flors George J. Lewis, Harry Woods, Terry Frost, Ros Turich, Wheaton Chambers. CREDITS: Producer, Scott R. Dunlap; Direct© William Nigh; Cameraman, Harry Neumanr Screenplay by Charles S. Belden; Based en character created by 0. Henry Set Designe Vin Taylor; Film Editor, Fred McCuire; Musi< Edward J. Kay. DIRECTION, Effective, PHOTOGRAPHY, Coo: Boston City Censor 3ans "The Outlaw" Boston — "The Outlaw" yesterda was banned in Boston by City Censo Samuel Nesson. State approval wa given exhibition of the picture las month by the State Bureau of Sur day Censorship, but was withdraw Sept. 13. Melniker in RKO Post West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAIf. Hollywood — Harold Melnike: formerly assistant manager of th Central Casting Corp., has been al pointed head of RKO Eadio's censoi ship department. Guild members and maj be ca; Wednesday, or if sent by mail, mus be postmarked not later than mic night, Oct. 4. At the CSU meeting on Wedne; day night, Herbert K. Sorrell, CSi prexy, predicted that the strik would not last more than thre weeks. Superier Court Judge Allen Asl burn has issued a temporary re straining order limiting the numbe of pickets who can picket within 20 feet to all entrances at Warner Bro. to 50 and the number at the mai vehicular entrance to eight.