Harrison's Reports (1941)

40 HARRISON'S REPORTS March 8, 1941 Of course Mr. Cohen has the right to continue to use the word "Allied" in his organization's name, legally, but not, in the opinion of Harrison's Reports, morally; it may be confusing to an exhibitor who may want no part of MPTOA, but wants to join the ranks of the national Allied organization. * * * WHEN THE CHARGES FOR ARBITRATING disputes were made known, it seemed at first glance as if none but the most opulent exhibitors would be in a position to resort to arbitration, but the Arbitration Association has arranged the emoluments of the arbitrators to make a resort to arbitration easy by every exhibitor who may find himself in dispute with an exchange, or with another exhibitor. Although the rules provide for a fifty-dollar fee for each arbitrator, this fee will be paid only in big cases, involving unusual complaints — cases where such a fee is justifiable; in cases involving smaller exhibitors, the maximum fee will be fifteen dollars, and in most cases the charge will be much smaller. When the arbitration machinery was in its embryonic stages, those who opposed the Consent Decree tried to frighten the exhibitors with claims about the exorbitant costs of arbitration. On several occasions, Harrison's Reports urged the exhibitors to have no fears, to have faith in the writer's belief-that the arbitration costs, when finally fixed, would be within the reach of all. That belief has been justified fully. * * * WHO IN THIS INDUSTRY has ever heard of a case in which a picture theatre under construction had any rights to a run unless it was part of a large circuit ? Vet such a case is an actuality : The Ellet Amusement Company, of Akron, Ohio, has just filed a case before the Cleveland arbitration board demanding that its Ellet Theatre, when completed, be given the same run as two other theatres, the Norka and the Rialto. This case has been made possible only because of the Consent Decree, which has made arbitration of such cases possible. Can any one say that this is not a gain for the exhibitor? * * * IN A RECENT ISSUE OF THIS PAPER, I stated that, when arbitration has functioned for some time and precedents have been established, there will be much fewer complaints to arbitrate than there have been all these years. Already it has been announced that the first case to be brought to arbitration, that of the Walbrook Theatre, in Baltimore, may be settled "out of court." The industry will hear of more out-of-court settlements. If it does, it will be a healthy sign. * * * ACCORDING TO THE TRADE PAPERS, the talks between representatives of the Department of Justice and of the Schine circuit for a Consent Decree are off, by reason of the inability of the two groups to come to an understanding about the Schine's plans for theatre expansion. Evidently the Schine circuit wants a free hand, to build new theatres or buy out other exhibitors, and the Department of Justice wants to curb these activities to a certain extent. The Department of Justice will have many a headache in the future also from the theatre owning producers, whose avidity for more theatres is as sharp as ever. It had an opportunity to curb them by means of the Consent Decree, but it failed to take it ; the present theatre-limitation provision is full of so many holes that the Department might just as well have left it out. PICTURES NOW IN PRODUCTION Columbia "SENATE PAGE BOYS," with Herbert Marshall, Virginia Bruce, Gene Reynolds, J. M. Kerrigan. No facts are available about the story ; but the cast is good and the picture should be likewise. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer "THE UNIFORM," with Clark Gable, Rosalind Russell, Jessie Ralph, Eduardo Cianelli. The two leading players are extremely popular ; this will probably turn out very good with similar boxoffice possiblities. Monogram "TUMBLEDOWN RANCH IN ARIZONA," with Ray Corrigan, John King, Max Terhune. Western. Paramount "PIONEER WOMAN," with Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, Brian Donlevy. The title seems to suggest an outdoor drama. At any rate Miss Stanwyck's performance in "Lady Eve" should make audiences eager to see her again. The two supporting players are good, and so the possibilities are that this will make a good picture, with similar box-office results. "NURSES DON'T TELL," with Anne Shirley, Richard Carlson, Richard Denning. Probably a drama ; but the players are not strong enough to warrant more than pretty good program rating. Republic "TWO-GUN SHERIFF," with Don "Red" Barrv. Western. RKO "TOM, DICK AND HARRY," with Ginger Rogers, George Murphy, Alan Marshal, Burgess Meredith. Very good cast with very good boxoffice possibilities. Universal "HIT THE ROAD," with Gladys George, Barton MacLane, Bobs Watson, Bernard Punsley. Program melodrama with some comedy, since the "East Side Kids" are in it. "THE BLACK CAT," with Basil Rathbone, Hugh Herbert, Broderick Crawford, Gale Sondergaard. This was produced by Universal in 1934 ; it was a typical horror picture. Judging by the cast, Universal no doubt intends to make it a combination melodrama-comedy. Warner-First National "HIGHWAY WEST," with Brenda Marshall, Olympe Bradna, Arthur Kennedy, William Lundigan. With the players mentioned, this should make a pretty good program entertainment. "THE NURSE'S SECRET," with Lee Patrick, Regis Toomey, Julie Bishop, Ann Edmonds. Program entertainment. "THE GENTLE PEOPLE," with Ida Lupino, Thomas Mitchell, John Garfield, Eddie Albert, John Qualen, George Tobias. This is being adapted from the stage play — a melodrama revolving around two harmless and kindly fishermen who are victimized by a gangster and are finally compelled to kill him. The cast is very good, but the picture's possibilities will depend on how the story is treated.