The Film Daily (1948)

il. p. Proatjiction Dist38 W. 44th St. ZUt floor Levy Doubts Court's Power to Limit tSikP (Continued from Page 1) ducers of films, is questioned by Herman M. Levy, TOA general counsel, in an analysis of the opinion mailed to members yestei'day. "The Copyrig-ht Law neither expressed nor intimates such a restriction," Levy averred. If the Court does have that power, Levy foresees the possibility that theater owners will have to negotiate directly with copyright owners or with a reorganized ASCA'P making "per piece" collections. Maintaining that such an eventuality is "not at all remote," Levy said that if it does come to pass, "consider what a task and what price lie ahead for exhibitors." Maintaining that the decision in no way deprived composers from collecting fees for performing rights. Levy declared that "those who are informing exhibitors that they will now iget performance rights free are doing those exhibitors a great disservice." Nothing short of a repeal of pertinent portions of the Copyrig-ht Law could eliminate the payment of a fee for performance rights. Levy pointed out. The existing Federal statutes specifically grant the owner of a copyrighted musical comiposition two sources of revenue from motion pictures: (1) from the producer, and (2) from the theater operator. Theater Tele Will Be Affected by Decision — Levy Showing of television programs in theaters will be seriously affected by the ASCAP anti-trust decision, in the opinion of Herman Levy, TOA general counsel. Blanket licenses for the music used in such programs are vital to efficient operation. Levy points out. If the decision is not appealed, or is affirmed on appeal, the theater operator may have to negotiate for performance rights with all of the composers, authors and publishers whose compositions are used in such video programs, since the issue of "blanket" licensing would be applicable to all artists. REIU POSTS GEORGE BURGESS, manager. Imperial, Detroit. WILFRED DURNELL, manager. Royal Oak Theater, Royal Oak, Mich. STANLEY GLOWSKI, manager, Grande, Detroit. JOE MAGUSIN, assistant manager, Grande, Detroit. JACK SAGE, manager. Royal, Detroit. CARROLL LORD, monager, Jefferson Theater, St. Augustine, Fla. JACK ECKHARDT, salesman, 20th-Fox, Chicago. ALEX SUTHERLAND, assistant manager, Avalon, Detroit. BOB GUSE, manager. Oriole, Detroit. ROY ENGLAND, assistant manager, Down, Detroit. RAYMOND HABERLAND, Metro booker at Minneapolis, to head booker, same branch. ^< Friday, July 30, 194S DAILY iVIEIUS Of REUJ Films "Adventures of Gallant Bess" with Cameron Mitchell, Audrey Long, Bess. Eagle Lion (Cinecolor) 73 Mins. 'exploitable outdoor number should do fair business. rates campaign aimed for juve trade. On the basis of past performance this horse-western story will probably lend itself well to good exploitation aimed at the younger audience and in the logical course of events manage to be a fairly good box office draw. In Cinecolor, the production has its best aspects when it is outdoors. Lew Landers has included in his direction brawls and much chase activity. A good deal of the plot concerns a rodeo with appropriate bronco busting, bulldogging and the like figuring in the doings. A boy meets girl element takes care of the romantic aspect. Performances measure up adequate.ly Notes of comic relief are dropped in frequently. Cameron Mitchell captures Gallant Bess on the open range, breaks her, teaches her all sorts of tricks which she does willingly enough. Losing his ranchhand job because he gives Bess too much attention, Mitchell takes a stab at some rodeo prize money. He is an accomplished wrangler but James Millican louses up the proceedings, sends Mitchell to a doctor with a broken leg, takes Bess, and departs. Later Mitchell catches up with Millican. Previously he romanced Audrey Long, daughter of a doctor. Millican has been abusing Bess when Mitchell arrives and the legalities involved leave Mitchell out in the cold. He horsenaps Bess, however,' aided by Fuzzy Knight, and makes off with her to a deserted cabin. In good time the plot resolves itself to where Millican, almost trampled to death by Bess, gladly gives her back to Mitchell and subsequently romance blossoms into matrimony. CAST: Cameron Mitchell, Audrey Long, Fuzzy Knight, James Millican, John Harmon, Ed Gargan, Harry V. Cheshire, Cliff Clark, Evelynn Eaton, Bess. CREDITS: Producers, Jerry Briskin, Matthew Ropf; Screenplay, Matthew Rapf; Director, Lew Landers; Photography, William Bradford; Art, Rudi Feld; Editor, Harry Komer; Sets, Jacques Mapes; Sound, Frank Webster; Music, Irving Gertz; Musical director, Irving Friedman. DIRECTION: Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY: Good. SHORTS "Sport's Golden Age" RKO (This Is America) 18 Mins. Top Stuff Smartly assembled to be all embracing and highlighted with brief shots of notables, here is detailed the various aspects of sporting activity from archery to yachting with emphasis on Joe Q. Fan, Joe, Jr., and the billion dollar industry their muscle flexing and ticket-buying has created. It is a slickly handled survey of the scene combining a dozen different approaches and delineations of various pursuits with vivid glimpses worked in via knowing editing. Number 10 in the sixth series, this one is a diverting, informative addition to any showman's program. "Clearing the Way" Screen Guild 38 Minutes Very Good With a compelling, slick documentary technique this production by the United Nations Film Board depicts the locale, the neighborhood problems and the architectural planning for erection of the UN center in the area from 42nd Street to 46th Street and First Avenue in New York. It is well done with a good humorous note prevailing constantly due to the inclusion in the narrative of a number of kids whose dander is provoked when their riverfront playground is fenced in and preparations begun for demolishing the decrepit structures. In this way they are enlightened all about the UN. They take a field trip to Lake Success, see the UN in action and are highly impressed. The better for their knowledge, they are quite pleased and "permit" the workmen to proceed. Follows some spectacular fine shots of demolition with swinging ballweights, etc., as the project gets under way. WAVE-TV Of Louisville In NBC Tele Network station WAVE-TV, Louisville, Ky., became NBC Television's newest outlet when it signed affiliation contracts. WAVE-TV, which is owned by WAVE, Inc., NBC's AM affiliate in Louisville, signed both interconnected and non-interconnected con "Back Streets" Thru Film Rights French-made "Back Streets of Paris" will be released here in October, Irvin Shapiro, general manager of Film Rights International, announced. To Reopen 2nd Ave. Palace Following extensive renovation and alterations, the Palace Theater, 2nd Ave. and 123rd St., will be reopened soon by Murray Frank, who has signed a 21-year lease. P. J. Florence was the broker. "Lucky Stiff" Stills Prepared in Advance For the first time in the history of United Artists, the New York office has received at the beginning of one of their independent productions complete poster art and production stills prepared in the still gallery by the stars, previous to the start of production. Solo stills, double and triplicate 8x10 shots of Dorothy Lamour, Brian Donlevy and Claire Trevor for "The Lucky Stiff," Amusement Enterprises film, are now being distributed to advertising and press book departments by Howard LeSieur. Jacobs GM of Siritzky Theaters Siritzky ■ International's theater operations have been put under Arnold Jacobs, who was named general manager of the houses in New York, Brooklyln and Boston. No Drastic Change in "U" Studio Policyk (Continued from Page 1) production possibilities in E^ngland. France and Italy but that no specific plans had been made for activity in any of those countries. Production of one or two films in EnglanrU^-jring 1949 looms as a possibili^^ '' oetz said. %' Returning yesterday with Goetz were William A. Scully, vice-presi dent and -general sales manager, and Robert Goldstein, Eastern studio rep resentative. Scully said that he had seen two new Rank pictures which he thought would meet with a favorable reception in this country, the Teechnicolor productions, "Blue Lagoon" and "Christopher Columbus.' "We haven't done as well with the British product as we thought we, would," he declared, "but then thel box office is off for almost all pictures no matter where they originate." Edwin Marin to Direct Holt's "Canadian Pacific' West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Holllywood — Edwin L. Marin has been signed to direct "Canadian Pacific" which will be filmed in Cine-f color by Nat Holt as his first of three large budget productions to be released by 20th-Fox. Principals thus! far cast include Randolph Scott andi Victor Jory, with two feminine] leads to be chosen this week. | The Canadian Pacific R. R. will re-i construct a number of key segments' of its difficult pass route for the| Continental division in order to pro-i vide a documentary authenticity forj the Nat Holt film production. "Cana-i dian Pacific" will be shot on location in Western Canada, with production to start in August. John Sturdy, technical advisor assigned to the picture by the railroad, discloses that 1880 period rolling stock, construction equipment; and rails are being assembled at; Calgary and Banff on the line of| the Canadian Pacific for use in front of the camera, and the railroad will appoint its own construction supervisor to .be in charge. Holt Signs Publicists IV est Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — John del Valle has been chosen by Nat Holt to handle the publicity campaign on "Canadian Pacific," with Sheila Erskine as his assistant. DEATHS BERNHARD GARDNER, 73, Commercial Counsellor for the RCA International Division, died here unexpectedly yesterday. Survived by his widow, Mrs. Millie Wasserman Gardner and two brothers. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 11 a. m.,, at Temple Emanu-EI Chapel. Interment v-ill be in St. Louis.