The Film Daily (1948)

C'O ;f'^£ CC Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought _ea_ The Dally Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Thirty Years Old -IFDAILY' VC IST NO. 44 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 1. 1948 TEN CENTS BAN ANGLO ■ AMERICAN DUALS T'Month Survey Shovtrs Production Upgrade 206 Features in Jan.-July Period; Pix Less Costly as Producers Trim Budgets Hollywood turned out more features in the first seven months of this year than in the comparable months of 1947, the Wall St. Journal reports in a survey of production economies by Joseph W. Taylor, staff correspondent. Shooting was completed on 206 features in JanuaryJuly this year, compared with 185 in the first seven months of last year. This year's pictures, however, are said "less costly as movie makers (Continued on Page 4) Exped Mich. Move On Redistriding Today Detroit— Allied Theaters of Michigan is expected to redistrict the organization along Congressional District lines today in an important administrative amendment. National prexy W. L. Ainsworth reported at luncheon on various state activities, suggesting the importance of new blood among directors and (Contmued on Page 6) Report "Twist" Test for Anti-Semitism Reaction J. Arthur Rank's "Oliver Twist" may be tested in six or seven carefully selected situations before a final decision is made on whether the film would be offensive to the Jewish population and perhaps fan (Continued on Page 6) Pa, Exhibs. Consider Rogers Collections Philadelphia — A plan to take up theater collections for the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital drive is being considered by local exhibitors. Some 80 exhibition leaders met at a luncheon in the Broadway Hotel and pledged support of the drive following addresses by Abe Montague, William Scully, Sam Shain, and Earle Sweigert, chairman of the local meeting. KELLY CLOSES HOLLAND DEAL Five-Year Franchise Pact Benefits UA Producers United Artists producers are assured of an outlet for their product in Holland under a five year franchise deal completed with F. L. D. Strengholt, head of N. V. F i 1 mverhuurkantoor Nederland, Arthur W. Kelly, executive vicepresident of UA, cabled the home office yesterday from London. Kelly concluded the distribution arrangement as part of his survey of UA operations in Great Britain and Continental K"^!.! Y Europe. Effective date is Friday. Increased playing time in some of Holland's most important first runs and circuit houses, which are owned or operated by Strengholt, is guaranteed by the deal, Kelly pointed out. Set 28-Day Availability For Minneapolis Theater Minneapolis — First break in sixweek deadlock over earlier run terms for suburban theaters announced by 20th-Fox and Metro recently, came (Continued on Page 6) Tohnston Reveals MPAA Companies, Except Universal Will Not Book U. S. Films With British After Oct. 1; UA Leaves Agreement Up to Its Producers London (By Cable) — American distributors after Oct. 1 will refuse to book U. S. films on dual bills with British features, restricting American films to unit dual programs, Eric A. Johnston, MPAA president, announced yesterday. Announced plan, while effective Oct. 1, will not affect bookings already made. Universal is«staying out of the agreement because of its commitments witJi J. Arthur Rank, while United Artists agreed only in prin(Continued on Page 6) Drive-Ins Group to Mull Patent Standing Charlotte^Drive-In Theater Owners' Association has been organized here by operators of 50 drive-ins with R. O. Jeffress, owner of the Fort Rock Drive-In, named president. Group plans an initial general meeting on Dec. 6, with a charter to be drawn up in the interim. Immediate joint action will be taken to determine the standing of members regarding the patent situation, Jeffress said. Plan to organize the Drive-ins grew out of the filing of an action against the North 29 (Continued on Page 5) GAFC Six Montbs Profit Increases to $3,651,000 Six months profit of General Aniline & Film Corp. was $3,651,000, compared with $1,677,000 in the first half of 1947, Jack Frye, president, announced. Net sales to June 30 were $44,439,000, a gain of 25 per cent over the $34,856,000 sales to June, last year. During the period, Frye said, GAF's Ans'-o division produced far (Continued. on Page 4) Hits Lack of Showmanship Youngstein Attacks Industry Lassitude N. J. Legislature KiPs Proposed Bingo Measure Trenton — The controversial Bingo bill, which theater owners have opposed throughout the present session of the Legislature here, has been definitely consigned to the scrap heap as far as current sessions are concerned. Defeated by the Republican major( Continued on Page 4) Exhibitors and distributors alike are "talking out of both sides of their mouths, urging more showmanship in one breath and reducing their efforts in this respect in the next," Max E. Youngstein, Eagle Lion vicepresident and ad-publicity-exploitation chief, said yesterday. Back from a nationwide tour of E-L exchanges on behalf of the Bill Heineman Sales Drive, Youngstein said that talks with more than 300 (Continued on Page 6) U. S. Lags in German Feature Production Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Slowest of the three major occupation zones of Germany in the recovery of film production operations has been the U. S. zone, with the Russian sector far in the van, the Department of Commerce reported yesterday. Of 24 features ^ produced in Germany in the past 16 months only three were turned out • (Continued on Page 51 Lasker Sees Upsurge Due For Foreign Pix Bookings Despite the alleged nosedive foreign films have taken in recent months, there's a better than even chance that the imports will come back in favor stronger than ever, predicted Walter Lasker, head of (Continued on Page 4) Exhibitor Beets Cut By Sntith-Berger Plan Minneapolis — Conciliation plan of Ben Berger, NCA head, and Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox general sales manager, appears to be the answer to exhibitor complaints against distributors, according to Berger. Mere existence of the plan has already cut down the number of exhibitor beefs, he declared. Berger will speak on the plan at the Independent Theater Owners of Ohio convention, at Columbus, Sept. 13-15.