The Film Daily (1947)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Nine Years Old -^DAILY \j^ 40, NO. 13 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1947 TEN CENTS BBTHVOR'S DEAL fOB BKO "BIOVinG BLOBG" Foolish to Estimate U. S. Film Revenue — Rank Tele in Pix Theaters Will Jump Attendance in Next Four Years, Says Briton Reports that J. Arthur Rank anticipated about $12,000,000 in American revenue from his product for the coming year were discounted by the British cinemogal at a press conference in his suite aboard the SS Queen Elizabeth shortly before sailing yesterday. "I'm not fool enough to say how much our pictures are going to make," Rank declared. "We don't (Continued on Page 11) Loew's 40-Week Net Dips !o $10,904,821 Loew's net profits, after taxes and deduction of minority interests' shares, for the 40 weeks ended June 5 was $10,904,821, off about 15 per cent from the $12,579,245 in the comparable period of 1946, it was reported yesterday. Earnings for the period ended this year are equal to $2.12 per common share, as (Continued on Page 11) M-G-M Sets Canada Sales Meeting for Aug. 12-13 First general meeting of all M^G-M Canadian branch managers and salesmen to be held in a number of years will be conducted at (Continued on Page 12) 50% OF THEATERS IN MPTOA-ATA Membership of Between Eight and Nine Thousand Houses Would Result from Merger of National Organizations Consolidation of the ATA with the MPTOA, if it results from meetings inaugurated here today between the directors and officers of both exhibitor organizations, will give the emerging association a membership of between 8,000 and 9,000 theatei's, or about 50 per cent of the country's operating houses. MPTOA, or its successor in the even a new name is selected for the consolidated national organizations, would find itself with new affiliates in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Virginia, Louisiana and in the North west and on the West Coast through the annexation of ATA groups. MPTOA officers and directors held a special meeting last night on the eve of today's initial joint ATAMPTOA huddle to hear Herman Levy, of New Haven, the association's general counsel, outline the merger details, and, incidentally, explore certain problems raised by the ATA's New York equity suit intervention position. Both Fred Wehrenberg, MPTOA president, and Levy emphasized at (Continued on Page 11) Vtritish Duty Measure Due for Passage Today London (By Cable) — Final action on the Finance Bill, which includes permissive high ad valorem duties, is scheduled in Parliament today with the Third Reading before Commons. Meanwhile the Government is believed still undecided on whether to apply the new duty, with Hugh Dalton and Sir Stafford Cripps holding up until the arrival next week of J. Arthur Rank from America and Eric A. Johnston, MPAA president, from the Continent. Rank is to report on the progress of British films in America, while Johnston Is to provide the reactions of U. S. film interests. Brandt Blames Talent For HI Cost, Poor PIx West Coast Bnreav of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — "It is lamentable that despite the high cost of production, the past six months has seen the worst product since I have been in business," said Harry Brandt, prexy of New York's ITOA. Addressing the IMP'PA, he blamed "inflationary cost" on stars who were (Continued on Page 12) Anna Neagle in Metro Pix; Closing "Courtneys" Deal SAG, Producers Agree On One-Year Contrad West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — ^Negotiators r e p r e senting SAG, AMPP, and SIMPP have agreed on terms of a one-year interim contract to run to July 31, 1948, which provides improvements in wage minimums and working conditions. Wage minimums of day players (Continued on Page 12) Negotiations for Control Via Atlas Stock Purchase Confirmed by Principals Negotiations inaugurated by N. Peter Rathvon, RKO Corp. president, for the purchase of control of the company for himself and associates from Atlas Corp. are "moving along," Rathvon told The Film Daily yesterday. Earlier, Floyd B. Odium, RKO board chairman, and head of Atlas, had confirmed to The Film Daily that there was "some truth" in the reports current earlier in the week that Rathvon was talking a deal for purchase of RKO's control. Rathvon said that for the present, (Continued on Page; 8) Solons Get Copyright Report, Battle Looms Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The State Department yesterday sent its report on the inter-American copyright agreement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — more than a year after representatives of 21 nations signed the document. The long-awaited Dept. action thus opens the door for a full Senate (Continued on Page 11) Anna Neagle, British screen star, will make a picture a year for Metro in Hollywood, with the first to go into production in early 1948, (Continued on Page 10) Further Study on Theater Tele Seen by Research Unit West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Although television for the home is making rapid strides, it needs considerable development (Continued on Page 8) 'W Production Assured— Broidy Monogram Head ApplaudsLaborLeaders Cramblet Named Midwest District Mgr. for UA Appointment of Ralph Cramblet, branch manager in Minneapolis, as Midwestern district manager was announced yesterday by J. J. Unger, general sales manager of United (Continued on Page 8) Del Ruth to Make Babe's Story for Allied Artists Oklahoma City— Roy Del Ruth's Allied Artists production unit will produce the story on the life of Babe Ruth, Steve Broidy, AA president, announced yesterday at _ the national convention. Allied Artists, (Continued on Page 8) Oklahoma City — Continued production of "B" product, on a basis which would make them available at fair rentals and eliminate the necessity of producing them at a loss, seems assured as a result of a series of conferences held with Hollywood labor leaders, Steve Broidy, president of Monogram and Allied Artists, told delegates to the compa(Continued on Page 12) Warners Re-acquires 44,880 More Shares Another 44,880 shares of Warners' common stock were re-acquired by the company in June, it is reported by the New York Stock Exchange. In the previous month, when the stock re-purchase plan was started, the company bought in 60,500 shares making a total of 105,380 shares now held in the treasury. 1 r r^ T ■) C ■ T 5iJ[oA i^i^^w: '>i-£oi i-i^M