The Film Daily (1948)

Sew Y03* 4^tii_at. gist noor ^ FILL . ^O .MOT R £ Intimate in Character 1 International in Scope I Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Thirty Years Old *1F DAILY VC^94. NO. 23 NEW YORK. TUESDAY. AUGUST 3. 1948 TEN CENTS PUT fRCnCH SITUKTIOn UP TO (RIC JOHHSTOn '[!levenues Smaller, But the flleal Value is Greater, Reports Maas, MPEA V-Prexy Currency reform in Germany has )|jeen a success beyond the most opti ;aistic expectations, it is reported in communication from Irving Maas, JIPEA veepee and general manager, /ho is visiting his unit's branches in Europe. "Temporarily there has een an acute money shortage, which ,,ias reduced our own business to bout one-third of normal, but even (Continued on Page 3) Currency Reform in Germany Helping U.S. Pix iold Powers Rites foday in Buffalo I t^i Buflfalo — Private funeral rites will le held here today for Patrick A. 'owers, pioneer film producer and xecutive, who died Friday in New ;''ork following a brief illness. Ser(ices will be conducted from sit. Mary's Cathedral in Buffalo (Continued on Page 6) Gamble Picks Balaban to lead TOA Conv. Com. Ted R. Gamble, TOA president, 'esterday announced the appointaent of John Balaban, of Chicago, i & K secretary-treasurer, as genral chairman, and Edward G. Zom, (Continued on Page 6) R -^ M The Film Daily presents today the second installment of a selection of the opinions of newspaper and radio commentators on the cinema from the more than 300 answers in the 1948 Critic s Forum, an annual symposium in which leading critics and commentators are invited to comment on topics currently of major industry interest. A summary of the critics' answers will be published at a later date. Question IVumber 1 In your opinion, what will be the effect of Coast-to Coast television, when it conies, upon the motion picture and the motion picture theater? Sii! Brazilian Gov't Ends Pix Price Controls All price controls on theater admissions and film rentals in Brazil are off, it was learned at the MPAA yesterday via a cable from Joaquin Rickard, the organization's rep. in Rio. The information was published as Central Price Commission Order No. 78 in the official Gazette. It provides that the suspension will continue until a final decision has been handed down on the application of U. S. pic companies for judicial relief. Instructions have already gone out to Brazilian branches to resume normal operation. Rickard will leave Rio tomorrow for New York. 'THIS IS the $64 question which, if it could be answered correctly, would make me the most sought-after writer in the business. The best guess that I can make is that it will not have any appreciable effect until or unless the film studios should start releasing their best pictures through this medium. One reason for not being unduly pessimistic about television is that the element of sociability, which causes people to go to the movies, will be strong enough to keep them doing just that: the television screens available to private individuals are too small to give a very satisfactory idea of a film, and for myself I can imagine nothing duller than to have to see a picture under such circumstances. But this is all guess work, of course, and I can be wrong. After all, I'm hardly an average audience member: I go to films because it's my business. If it were not, I'd go far less often and be far more choosey — but I know I'd never choose to see a good film by television. ELINOR HUGHES Boston Herald ASA NEW competitive medium it will act as inducement for the best possible productions. TRUDY RICHMOND WCOP, Boston ''VHIS should aid the industry in that if good television is available to the general public, it should increase the caliber of the average motion picture. . . . the industry will have to compete with the public's ability to stay home and see a good show. BARBRO ELYSABETH BEBER Los Angeles, News Advertiser ♦ W/'ILL HURT at first— then have no more effect than radio. LESLY RICE KGMB, Honolulu 'J'EMPORARY harm, but in long run, should not be injurious. CARL E. COOPER Kansas City Star ♦ JN ORDER to get people out of the house, m^ovies will have to improve. If not, they'll feel it at the boxoffice. NIKKI KAYE WCFL, Chicago ♦ TT SHOULD hurt the "weak sisters" among screen attractions, as folks can be sure of at least as good on television, but won't aflfect the sturdier products, once the television novelty has worn off. It's more festive to be among a big crowd. Television, unlike radio, which is largely a "background" something in the home, demands your stopping, looking and listening. It's likely television may up movie standards. The innocuous, routine stuff will be concentrated on television, which really hits the family trade. LEW SHEAFFER Brooklyn Eagle ♦ TT MAY hurt, but will bring about something new and better in pictures. It mizht even bring back vaudeville. J. ALLEN THOMAS Enid Morning News MPEA Directors Act After Receiving Additional Report from Mayer in Paris The MPEA board of directors, at a hastily summoned meeting here yesterday, referred the latest French Government film 'proposals to Eric A. Johnston, the association's president, who is now on the Coast. The company presidents before so acting received an additional report by transatlantic telephone from Gerald Mayer, managing director of the MPAA international department, who has been in Paris for some weeks in connection with the negotiations. The MPEA directors considered various aspects of tiie negotiations at some length, it was learned, and then agreed that the latest proposals should be referred to Johnston. Para. Video in Clii., Los Angeies in Sept. Paramount will have its intermediate system of theater television installed in a B & K loop house and in one of its own Los Angeles situations by September, it was learned yesterday. Equipment for the two installa(Continued on Page 6) Lachman Calls ATONJ to Meet on Bingo Bill An emergency meeting to discuss the problem of pending bingo legislation in New Jersey has been called by ATONJ president Edward Lachman on Monday, Aug. 9, in the organization's offices here. Stand adopted at this meeting will (Continued on Page 6) Sniith-Blanh File For lotva Drive-Ins Des Moines, la. — Philip Smith of Boston and A. H. Blank have filed papers of incorporation here for Omaha Drive-ln Theaters and Des Moines Drive-ln Theaters. Articles of incorporation cover all types of theaters and television and deals in properties, bonds and to acquire, sell, exchange or transfer leaseholds and to maintain branch offices anywhere.