The Film Daily (1931)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Fourteen Years Old NIHM tr. *4< SI \>. II SI J >. I > I I » 4 I Sl\ CL. LV NC.15J «f 00 Indie Features Already Set for Next Season AYS ASSAILS CHURCH REPORT ensorship Activities Scored by Religious Body Community Agencies Urged to Make Influence More Broadly Social « Motion pictures cannot be improved by "cuts" and "eliminations," jays a press statement released toiay and based on a report, "The Public Relations of the Motion Picture Industry.'' prepared by the Deartment of Research and Education I Lhc !\dera! Council of Churclies :>f Christ in America. Censorship of objectionable scenes and lines is only the negative aspect of the problem, savs the Council, and community _gencies should make their influence more broadly social so that the inwould be made to feel a demand for more socially useful pictun to help the churches promote responsible citizenship and all-around betterment. In addition to criticizing attention {Continued on I'aae 4) NO HOLD-OFF TENDENCY SEEN IN OP TERRITORY Cleveland— Exhibitors in northern are showing no tendency to hold off in the baying of new product, according to local distributor offices. Although a waiting policy was followed in other years, at present sales are actually ahead of the same period in 1930, it is stated. Frank Drew of M-G-M, I. J. Schmertz of Fox and 1. E. Fontaine of Paramount are among those who report most exhibitors willing to line up product now. 'Dirty Polities' Blocks Sunday Show Movement Birmingham — The move for Sunday movies and baseball backed by Veterans of Foreign Wars has been dropped the Post officials say. due to "dirtv politics' fnl lowing alleged demand for a $35,000 "lobbying fee." Exhibs Incorporate For Mutual Benefits Albany, N. Y. — Utica Theater Owners Ass'n of Utica has been chartered as a membership corporation without capital stock "to safeguard the interests of its members in operation of theaters, create better relationship between members, exchange ideas and for social contact. Incorporators include Carmine Scale, Morris Slotnick, Christ Marx, John Angello, Henry C. Lux. Federal Council's Charges That Official Influence Was Bought Brings M. P. P. D. A. Retort Citing Demands for Money "Both as to the facts omitted in the report, and the facts admitted, we arc entirely content t<> rest upon the judgment ol public opinion," declares Will II. 1 lavs in a formal statement in connection with the report on "The Public Relations of the Motion Picture Industry," issued by the Department of Research and Education of the Inderal Council of Churches, of Christ in America, released for publication this morn New Indie Unit Formed in Detroit Detroit — A new independent exhibitor organization has been formed here under the name of the Detroit Exhibitors' Club, Inc. The group is said to consist almost entirely of Allied or ex-Allied members. Another meeting of the Allied The Flays statement, which is in the form 0 Francis J. McConnell, president of the Federal Council of Churches. "irst takes exception to the fact that the "Public Relations Report." 156-page brochure with a sale Of 5(1 cents, has a footnote to the effect that it is n. ■• declaration of official attitudi policies of the Federal ( Churches, whereas the "Conclus (Continued on paa* board of directors is scheduled to take place here July 1, at which time various controversial matters pertaining to Allied and the Co-operative Theater Service Corp., which were taken under advisement at the last meeting, will be brought up. Independent Production Plans Already Include 100 Features Two Indianapolis Houses Disposed of By Universal Indianapolis — Fountain Square Theater Corp. has taken over the Granada and Rivoli, de luxe houses, from 1. ('. Theaters Corp., subsidiary of Universal Chain Theater Corp. The houses will be remodeled and reopened in September. Harry Rathner, vice-president of the Universal Theater Corp.. closed the deal with Louis B. Goulden, president, Hen Sagalowsky, and Morris Horwitz, treasurer of the Fountain Square Corp, which also operates the Fountain Square here. Goulden in addition operate the Capitol, Or pheum and Gayety. With indications pointing to a banner season for independent production-, at least 100 features .ire already scheduled for release by January, 1931, with 50 more planned l>\ present independent producers others who will enter the field in the fall. Monogram, Richard Talmadge, I lollj wood Pi< tures, Artclass, M . 11 nan, Headline Pictures Unique-Cosmo Productions will make the majority of proposed features independent producing companies will enter the field in the fall, Tin I'u m I) mm learns, with the idea of giving added impetus to double featuring bj assuring th< ply ol s.itUi reductions. SMALL STOCKHOLDERS SUE ST. L0UIS--SK0URAS UNITS the manner in which Warner Bros has directed the affairs of the St. 1 Amusement Co., embracing houses. Jack and K.. . minor ity stockholders in the company, have filed petition for vership and Circuit Judge Moses N llirtmann has issued an order for officials of the theater i une 4 I Uninformed Critics Creating Confusion Much of the motion picture criticism, however well inspired, hjs been uninformed upon many important practical aspects of the problem and so exclusively negative in character that the irritation on the part of the industry and battlement on the part of interested citizens have resulted, says the Federal Council ot Churches in its statement regarding the films