Harrison's Reports (1950)

156 HARRISON'S REPORTS September 30, 1950 "The committee felt one of the great wastes in production budgets is the unwarranted salaries asked by secondary stock players who have no drawing power at the boxoffice. New, fresh personalities would give a picture a certain 'lift' at less cost. "As exhibitors we realize the importance of encouraging experimental pictures such as THE SNAKE PIT, JOHNNY BELINDA and THE NEXT VOICE YOU HEAR. BUT, we urge that production experiments, such as these, have small budgets. Huge budgets for pictures that have doubtful boxoffice qualities are hazardous and when they fail financially other producers point to such experimentation as a failure. It is also true that large budgets make for greater demands by sales departments. A financially unsuccessful picture of an experimental nature can always be liquidated by us because top playing time will not be expected. We cannot afford to ruin preferred playing time at a loss. "Drive-In theatres give important revenue to Hollywood. These outdoor operators want more close-ups and fewer distant shots. They want a minimum of dark shadowy scenes and no scenes set in fog such as BATTLEGROUND. Good color is very valuable. "The committee recommends that all studios consider a program of educating studio personnel (especially those in the public eye) as to their responsibilities of both good behavior and citizenship. "Our committee was enthusiastic about the possibility of COMPO bringing a new era of close cooperation between Production-Distribution and Exhibition. All members of the committee felt that Production could make huge strides by utilizing the knowledge the exhibitors have from being close to the actual theatre ticket buyer. The reverse is also true. Exhibitors who are now critical and belligerent would do well in having a closer insight to production problems. Our committee was enthusiastic about the possibility of the Seminars to be conducted by COMPO late this fall. "FINALLY in summation this committee listed pictures that are a matter of pride to all exhibitors everywhere : BATTLEGROUND, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, FATHER OF THE BRIDE, THE BROKEN ARROW, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, THE MEN, ROCKETSHIP XM, TEA FOR TWO, ALL THE KING'S MEN, CINDERELLA, THE FLAME AND THE ARROW, TREASURE ISLAND, FRANCIS, DESTINATION MOON, SANDS OF IWO JIMA, WINCHESTER '75, to name only a few. With releases such as these there is nothing basically wrong with our industry. "We do, however, urgently request: (1) a more orderly release of a variety of types of pictures; (2) fewer bad titles; and (3) less crime, murder and psychos." The Film Rental Committee's report contained the following recommendations: "We recommend the formation in each exchange center of a committee of three . . . and alternates to investigate any and all distress theatre situations involving members which may be brought to their attention. The duties of the committee will be to thoroughly analyze the complaint involved and determine its merits. If the complaint is justified and the distress is apparently caused by excessive film rentals, the committee shall call upon the exhibitor to furnish a certified public accountant's statement to corroborate the facts of his complaint. Using this information as a basis, the committee shall call upon each film company involved attempting to secure proper adjustments. Lacking cooperation locally, the committee shall submit the case to the Association's executive office for submission to the General Sales Manager. "If the committee finds that in addition to excessive film rentals the distress is due in part to lack of showmanship and/or poor physical operation, it shall assist with any means at its disposal in correcting these problems. "We further recommend that the Department of Commerce of the United States be requested to prepare a report for guidance of our members, showing percentage of the expense items and profit in relation to grosses applicable to proper conduct of motion picture theatres. In the event that the Department of Commerce should decline to render this service, then a nationally known statistical organization be retained. This analysis shall include grosses from $250.00 to $5,000.00 per week. "We reaffirm the resolution unanimously adopted at the convention at Sun Valley in 1949 pertaining to the inv proper handling of film bids. The evils previously condemned are still in existence. V/e suggest that a representa tive of the PCCITO meet with representatives of the film companies to correct the abuses now practiced." MARTIN AND LEWIS RECANT The vigorous protests made last week by spokesmen of different industry groups against the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis television skit that ridiculed the efforts of exhibitors to attract patrons have had a sobering effect on the comedians, who issued the following statement to the press at the week end: — "We have read in the trade press and have received copies of exhibitors' telegrams complaining about our appearance Sunday evening, September 17, in the TV sketch of attendance at a movie theatre. "Odd as it may seem, it never occurred to us that this material would be construed as injurious to the industry. Had we thought so, we never would have performed it. "As you know, we are relatively new to motion pictures and are equally new to television and radio. Our principal experience has been in the intimate atmosphere of night clubs and personal appearances where satire is always accepted in good fun and without complaint. We now realize, however, that such is not always the case with respect to radio, television or movies which reach vast audiences. "We regret, exceedingly, this incident and wish to assure the exhibitors that it will not happen again." Having realized their mistake and having been big enough to admit it and to give assurances that it will not happen again, Martin and Lewis deserve forgiveness. Any thoughts the exhibitors may have had about reprisals should be forgotten. FAVORABLE NEWSPAPER PUBLICITY In its September 9 issue this paper reproduced from the Hollywood Reporter a powerful statement on what all freedom-loving people are faced with as a result of Russian aggression. This statement, under the heading, "Let Us Make No Mistake About it," was signed by Cecil B. deMille, Y. Frank Freeman, Samuel Goldwyn, Louis B. Mayer, Joseph M. Schenck, Albert, Harry M. and Jack L. Warner, John Wayne and Darryl F. Zanuck. The statement was so well written and so enlightening that this paper urged its exhibitor readers to bring it to the attention ol their local newspaper editors as an example of the fact that an important segment of Hollywood's top brass is aware to the responsibilities imposed on them by good citizenship. Following through on this suggestion, Mr. Ellison Loth, head of The Waynesboro Theatres Corporation, of Waynesboro, Virginia, and Mr. A. A. Holler, assistant manager of the Fenray Photoplay Company, operators of the Fenray and Elzane Theatres in Martins Ferry, Ohio, have sent to this office tear sheets from their local newspapers, each of which reproduced the statement in full as the leading editorial feature on their editorial pages in their issues of September 18, with each giving full credit to the signers. The Waynesboro 'Njews-Virginian, in an editor's note, said partly that it "has repeatedly urged all-out mobilization for possible World War III . . . economic and military," and that it was reproducing the statement "because it emphasizes the seriousness of our present situation." The Martins Ferry Times-Leader had this to say in part: "Brought to our attention the other day was an advertisement . . . signed and paid for by 10 of Hollywood's top picture people. . . . "We feel it pictures about as clearly as anything written recently what lies in store for Americans over the next decade. We disagree with some of the wording of the last paragraph of the piece in which it is alleged '. . . our Government has seen the Russian danger and knows full well how boldly and rapidly we must act. . . .' They possibly see it now, but five years or so ago they certainly didn't or we wouldn't be in this position, and steps currently being undertaken won't halt the inflation which is proving so disastrous to the economy we hope will provide the physical needs to meet the crisis. "We feel the American people are considerably ahead of the administration in their thinking and in their realization of the necessary steps to avoid slavery. That thinking is certainly reflected in the article prepared for the movie moguls, and so we pass it along. . . ."