The Film Daily (1948)

Crordon Vhite « i* !■' I> $8 i/est 4^th Stxeet INI •^ DAILY Monday, August 2, 19 I Stormy Debate Awaits U.K. Film Banl( Bill (Continued from Page 5) new corporation designed to assist? And again I ask, who is going to control the issuing of the money? — until we know that, we aren't really much forrarder." In the City — London's Wall Street — where they have long memories, there is the crystal-clear recollection that it. was only four months ago that Wilson, referring to the demand for the Government to establish a Film Bank, stated categorically that "they could not work on the basis of any provision of State money for such a purpose." At the same time, in April, Wilson had said there should be no question of any subsidy being involved— least of all would the British taxpayer be prepared to stand for such subsidy with film costs at their "present excessive level." For this and other reasons, the City is looking coldly upon the Wilson scheme, with the Financial Times noting : "Other doubts arise from the fact that the distributing side of the industry, which is to handle the finance, must by its structure be largely influenced by certain large units — either British or American. "In these circumstances, could the small independent producer rely on securing financial assistance in the production of his films? "Further, there was no guarantee that when a film had been made with the backing of this Government money it would be shown and would secure a box office return." n \^ R -< M (Continued from Page 1) Television is leaping ahead, whereas radio simply crawled. DICK PITTS Charlotte Observer ♦ CTILL in doubt — as machinery still isn't doing so well, and sales hereabouts indicate not too great public interest. W. E. J. MARTIN Buffalo Courier Express AUDIENCES will still be drawn to wherever the best entertainment is being ojfered. If television offers the best, that's where you'll find the family. In favor of large screen movies and movie theaters is the fact that there is no substitute for that feeling one gets when the walls begin to close in at home. Getting out and going to a movie will still figure in the family budget. Audiences will still pay for ihows providing the Hollywood product improves. The time for improvement is now, before television takes over. ERNIE SCHIER Washington Times Herald break the habit of many that have been attending theaters. Whether that habit comes back — only time will tell. W. G. SCHOEPFLIN Henderson, Ky. Gleaner & Journal UK Filming for "Unseen Harbor" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Much of 20ith-Fox's "Unseen Harbor" will be photographed in England and off the Atlantic Coast. Story is from an unpublished novel by Frank Laskier. HEUJ POSTS ALBERT DONOVAN, manager, Mohawk, North Adams, Mass. HERMAN TRANIG, relief manager, Lockwood & Gordon, Westersfield, Conn. JOE GITTELMAN, student assistant, Loew-Poli Palace, Hartford, Conn. JIM SATTESON, assistant manager. Palace, Akron, 0. CLYDE ZALTSMAN, chief of service, Palace, San Antonio, Tex. CHARLES WOLF, manager, Harlandale, San Antonio, Tex. CORNELIUS WEBB, manager, Inwood, Dallas, Tex. WALTER DEEN, manager. Forest, Dallas. GEORGE BRESSLER, assistant manager, Biltmore, Chicago. LARRY GAUTHIER, assistant manager, Uptown, Chicago. ROCKIE ERMILIO, temporary manager. Crystal, Chicago. HERBERT SCHNAAR, manager, Midtown, Detroit. TJOLLYWOOD was caught sbort when the war ended and the backlog of pictures did not meet audience taste. The movie industry has been busy fighting to gain back what was lost at that time, and I believe the television industry's initial overwhelming success caught them unprepared. At the present moment, movies are not able to compete with an event that can take place within the home or free bar entertainment. At one time "Amos and Andy" was such a popular program that it had to be piped into theaters in order to assure movie houses and audience. Television has proven it is not a passing fad. Hollywood will have to adjust to that. LENORE BUSHMAN Philadelphia Daily News 4 T DO not believe that people will stay at home regidarly for just ordinary television programs any more than they do for radio broadcasts — if they have something to do. On special events yes, but thousands listen every day to regular game broadcasts yet attendance records seldom are harmed. HERB SWARTZ Goshen, Ind., NewsDemocrat ♦ A GREAT deal of the picture show business today is through habit. Television will hurt at first as a novelty. It does not grow on you. It will A/TF BELIEF that Coast-to-Coast television will have no effect on the motion picture theater is predicated on the assumption that television entertainment will be no better than radio has been turning out for years. And that will be true if television emerges as commercial as radio, which seems likely. Of course, like radio, television will have a following as long as its for free but people will go right on paying money for good entertainment. Remember how the newspapers were once frightened by radio? Well, look at thmr circulation and their prosperity now. HERBERT L. MONK St. Louis Globe-Democrat ♦ 'TELEVISION will gradually assume the role that radio plays in the home once the novelty has worn off. I believe that radio has no effect on motion picture theaters — hence — neither will television. WILLIAM FORMAN WARM, Scranton, Pa. ♦ TT will hurt momentarily until the novelty of telepictures wears off. M. LEONARD MATT WDAS, Philadelphia 4 TT seems probable that television will help the motion picture and the theaters in some ways and will harm them in others. But I believe that the overall effect will be a broadening and expansion of motion picture entertainment after the first impact. AMY H. CROUGHTON Rochester, N. Y. TimesUnion. 4 T DON'T see how producers can dodge the fact that people would rather stay home and be entertained than drag themselves out . . . park their cars and struggle through crowds for the same purpose. As far as families are concerned how divine to see the show at home and save the cost of a baby sitter! Maybe the theaters cotdd bring back the old movie plus vaudeville as a counter to television, or perhaps they'd better play along with it . . . How? I don't know. MARY-LOIS DENNY WIBC, Indianapolis. i Ri 1)61 Cabot-Ryan to Produce West Coast Bureau of Tlin FILM DAILY Hollywood — Bruce Cabot and Ray Ryan, oil millionaire, have purchased the film rights to "Blackjack," by Joseph E. Kelleam, and plan to produce independently with a budget of $750,000. Joel McCrae may star. Satori Moves Headquarters William Satori, Continental European rep. for Monogram, has moved his office from London to the Monogram International headquarters here. Satori also moved his private residence from Pittsburgh to New York. »REVIEUJS "The Pitfall" with Dick Powell, Lizabeth Scott, Jane Wyatt. UA-Regal 85 Mi STRONG DRAMATIC FARE FOR Tl ADULT AUDIENCES SHOULD PROVE SELF FOR A STRONG BOX OFF,f^-*, "'UL HAS SOUND PRODUCTION, fP^' Rf ANCES, DIRECTION. Deft handling in the writing, direct and producing divisions gives this Sam Bischoff production a good deal of met It cuts the corners of a familiar theme, shrewdly loaded with mood and the s of dialogue that realistically draws full ( sence from the plot. The situations are d lineated with logic. Performances are fi rate from top category to the lesser rol Emphasis in treatment is pointed at te sion and suspense. As an adult enterta ment, "The Pitfall" is a well rounded di Ui matic offering with indication of a go box office potential. Nursing simmering revolt against the d routine of his domestic life and office re tine, Dick Powell, an insurance compa^ official, investigates an embezzlement c and meets up with Lizabeth Scott. She i| ceived baubles from Byron Barr, who is jail. Powell comes to redeem the loot, is previously brought out that Raymond Bi nurses a fierce passion for Miss Scott. S\\^ however, spurns him in no uncertain terr He persists in hanging about. Married to Jane Wyatt and the fati of young Jimmy Hunt, Powell strays fri marital fidelity. His affair is known to Bill who even beats Powell up one night. La I Powell returns the slugging. With Burr constantly getting in his di licks and threatening Miss Scott and Pow they break off when she learns he is m ried. Later, when Burr becomes too f ward, Powell's aid is enlisted by Miss Sec Barr is about to be released from jail. B')e visits him in prison and fills his mind wt'i confusion and jealous torment until he ripe to murder Powell. Released, Burr g Barr liquored up, gives him a gun and talv him to Powell's home. Miss Scott me^t while calls Powell, tells him what's Prepared, Powell, failing to send Barr aw kills him. Burr, thinking he has the upper ha plans to take Miss Scott from the sc<;H( since both her lovers have been elimina as far as his purposes are concerned, stead she kills him. Powell at length tells the complete trijji to the DA and Miss Wyatt takes him after considering divorce. This would 15 another trial in their married life. She f ures they have weathered other severe tr and it is quite likely they can make a r life together. The directing job turned in by Andre Toth shows understanding and does v well by the Jay Dratler novel. CAST: Dick Powell, Lizabeth Scott, Wyatt, Raymond Burr, Bryon Barr, John Li Ann Doran, Jimmy Hunt, Selmer Jackson, W goret Wells, Dick Wassel. CREDITS: A Regal Films Production; Pro cer, Samuel Bischoff; Director, Andre de T< Screenplay, Karl Kamb; Based on the novel Jay Dratler; Musical director, Louis Fori Photography, Harry Wild; Art, Arthur Lonerg Editor, Walter Thompson; Sets, Robert Priest Sound, Frank Webster. DIRECTION: Good. PHOTOGRAPYH, Goo< I "h Brisson Meeting Scribes Frederick Brisson, of Indepei ent Artists, just back from Euro will hold an industry press conf ence this morning at the Hotel Pla