Harrison's Reports (1948)

Entered a* second-class matter January 4. 1321, at the post «Oc« at New York, New York, under the act of March 5. 1SW. Harrison's Reports Yearly Subscription Kates: 1270 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS Published Weekly by United States $15.00 (Formerly Sixth Avenue) Harrison's Reports, Inc. U. S. Insular Possessions. 16.50 M v L 9n N V Publisher Canada 16.50 r,ew 1 orK M, n' 1 • p. S. HARRISON, Editor Mexico, Cuba, Spain 16.50 A Motion Picture Reviewing Service Great Britain 15.76 Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors Established July 1. 1919 Australia, New Zealand, India, Europe, Asia .... 17.50 Us Editorial Po]icy. No problem Too Biff for Its Editorial Circle 7-4622 35c a Copy Columns, if It is to Benefit the Exhibitor. A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XXX SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1948 No. 45 AN EXHIBITOR ORGANIZATION LOSES A GOOD MAN Robert Poole, Executive Secretary of the Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California and Arizona, and of the Pacific Coast Conference ol Independent Theatre Owners, has resigned from his position to enter a "new lield ol endeavor," his resignation to take effect December 1. Mr. Poole did not announce what his new affiliation will be, but it must be a highly profitable one if we are to judge by the fact that the organization's board of directors has released him. At the annual meeting, held in Los Angeles on October 26, the board of directors of ITO of Southern California and Arizona passed a fine resolution regarding Mr. Poole. Prom it we learn that Mr. Poole formed the organization in 1934 and has served as its Executive Secretary and Manager since that time, and that in 1939 he was primarily responsible lor the forming of the PCCITO, which now comprises the ITO of Southern California and Arizona, the ITO of Northern California and Nevada; the ITO of Washington, Northern Idaho and Alaska; the ITO of Utah and Southern Idaho; and the ITO of Montana. Since the organization of the PCCITO, Mr. Poole has served as its Executive Secretary and is now its Executive Director. In their very flattering resolution paying tribute to Bob Poole, the board ol directors should have added that he collaborated with the Allied organization in all national matters. The last paragraph of the resolution reads as follows: "Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, that it is with regret that we accept his resignation, but that we enjoy with him the fact that he has a golden opportunity to better his own personal interests and position, and do hereby wish him continued good health, greater prosperity and unlimited happiness for himself and his dear wife, and may Cod bless them both." Harrison's Reports regrets Bob Poole's leaving the picture business, but rejoices that his personal position will be improved highly and wishes him all that his heart desires. He has been a good servant of the exhibitors. "JOAN OF ARC" ENDORSED BY CATHOLICS In the review of "Joan of Arc," published in the October 23 issue, this paper pointed out that the picture, although one of the finest produced, may meet with resistance from many Catholics because of the uncomplimentary though historically accurate depiction of high-ranking Catholic officials, who put Joan to inquisition and ordered her burned at the stake. Having thus cautioned the exhibitors against possible Catholic resentment, Harrison's Reports is pleased to re port that the picture has received high praise from influential Catholic spokesmen, publications, and organizations, whose endorsement should serve to assure the picture's acceptance by those of the Catholic faith. Among those who have boosted the picture is The Sign, the widely-read national Catholic magazine, which not only devotes the front cover of its November issue to a picture of Ingrid Bergman, as Joan, but also leatures prominently a top review of the picture by Jerry Cotter, its drama critic, as well as a highly interesting three-page article by Father Paul Doncoeur, a French Jesuit priest and historian of Joan, who served as technical adviser on the production to insure theological accuracy. In his article, Father Doncoeur points out that "it is not merely solicitude for historical accuracy which induced them [Walter Wanger, the producer, and Victor Fleming, the director] to invite me, a historian of Joan, to assist the director; they desired the collaboration of a Catholic priest in order not to offend in any way, in a difficult subject, the Catholic Church." Elsewhere in the article, he says: "Catholics owe it to themselves to insure this film the success it merits. It is an outstanding work of art which does honor not only to the Church, but also to those who dedicated their work and their money, together with their talent, so generously and successfully." The Sign's drama critic, Mr. Cotter, had this to say after acclaiming the picture: "It is the motion picture screen at its peak and we urge you to see it at the first opportunity." Another very important boost for the picture comes from Mrs. James F. Looram, chairman of the motion picture committee of the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae, who has been an active and leading figure in the Legion of Decency since its inception in 1934. Mrs. Looram has called on "every supporter of the Legion of Decency" to see "Joan of Arc," stating that it has universal appeal for Catholics, Protestants and Jews, and even for those without religion. THE RUSSIAN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CONSTITUTES "SINISTER INFLUENCE" Under the heading, "MOSCOW: NO BAMBI," the October 25 issue of Life states the following: "Walt Disney's deer Bambi, and any animals of similar sinister influence, will have to disappear from Moscow movie houses under an edict issued this month by Critic Mikhail Beliavsky. He found to his dismay that even Russian-made cartoons were imitating Disney, creating an 'Americanized' version of the animal world and squeezing 'Soviet substance into an organically alien form.' " One of the statements that Eric Johnston made upon his return from abroad is that, in making a deal to sell American pictures to Russia, he granted the Russian leaders the right to dub in their own dialogue and to delete whatever did not meet with their approval. If the Russian leaders see poor little Bambi as a "sinister influence," just imagine what will happen to the American pictures they buy after they get through with their dubbing and cutting. And these American films are being sold to Russia, according to Mr. Johnston, on their value as a force for world peace and understanding. Any one who thinks that the Russian leaders will permit American films to teach the common people of Russia the value of democracy as practiced in the United States is under an illusion. Incidentally, this writer doubts whether the Russian leaders will get the irony of Life's use of the word "sinister"; it is too subtle for the Russian mind.