Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1947)

DflUS DIGfST BiWeekly Reu/eu) of the Trade's Events Louis B. 'Ma.ver, M-G-M fttuilio cliief. set li.iUi a program of 45 features wliieh the rompiinj will make in 1947, eoneentratinsr on best-selling novels and outstanding stage properties. Barney Balnban (left). Paramount president, receives a warm handshake from Henry .Morgenthau, Jr.. national chairman of the I .lA. On behalf of the motion picture industry's part in the $170,000,000 campaign, of which Balah.in is industry chairmiin. Maurice Bergman, U-I eastern ad-publicity director, had a verbal tilt with the N. Y. Times' Bosley f'rowther over CBS airwaves, in which Bergman defended Hollywood's effort* at supplying entertainment, not "messages." SUPREME COURT HEARS STAY APPEALS Associate Justice Stanley F. Reed of the U. S. Supreme Court was scheduled to hear appeals for stays from certain provisions of the Statutory Court decree in the industry anti-trust case last Friday (28th), with the facts to be laid before the rest of the hifjh tribunal the next day and a decision on these to be handed down on Monday, March 31. The appeals concerned the competitive bidding and arbitration provisions of the decree. Motions to effect a postponement in the competitive bidding provisions until the Supreme Court rules on the decree were submitted by Columbia, Universal and United Artists, who were ioined in their appeals by American Theatres Association and the Confederacy of Southern Associations, as the latter two filed a joint application. The two exhibitor groups contend that damages will be incurred by theatremen under the new system, though they are innocent parties to the decree. The five theatre-owning defendants filed a stay appeal for the industry arbitration system, asking that arbitration tribunals act only on clearance disputes during the interim before a final decree ruling. If granted, the postponement will give an extension to the 31 arhitr.ition tribunals and the AAA appeal board which the New York district court ordered be dissolved as of April 1, except for disposition of cases filed before and pending. According to reports. Government attorneys were understood to be planning to oppose all appeals for stays from any provisions of the district court's ruling. * * « BIDDING USED TO RAISE RENTALS — MEYERS The only competition that is being stimulated by competitive bidding is between independent exhibitors in order to raise film rentals, according to examples of the new selling .system which have come up, says A. F. Myers, Allied board chairman and geaeral counsel, in a bulletin which bitterly denounces distributors' use of the method to extract higher film rentals. Noting that the theatre-owning distributors are so anxious to see competitive bidding established as a "welcome substitute for theatre divorcement. . .that they are putting it into effect before the decree becomes effective." He pointed to examples coming to his attention which "indicate that the distributors cannot restrain their cupidity even to attain a highly advantageous long-term objective." Myers listed four charges to be deduced from the evidence brought before him: "(1) The system is being used primarily to stir up antagonism among independent exhibitors with a view to securing still higher film rentals; (2) the distributors are ignoring all provisions written into the decree for the protection of the exhibitors; (3) where the competition is between an independent and a large circuit, the independent either will not be afforded the opportunity to bid or will be granted the privilege under the most discouraging conditions; and (4) even after an offer has been made to an independent, the pictiu'es are subject to be withdrawn at any time and licensed to the circuit." « * * M-G-M LISTS 45 FOR PRODUCTION IN '47 M-G-M plans to put into production during 1947 45 features and 48 short subjects, according to an announcement by Louis B. Mayer, studio head, last week. Of the group, eight will be musicals, culled from outstanding stage properties and leading composer? and song writers. While some of the other top-budgeted productions will be adapted from best-selling novels and literary classics, Mayer disclosed. The production chief also reported that expanded plans for production in England have been completed with Ben Goetz, M-G-M British studio head. "Young Bess" and "The Secret Garden," starring Margaret O'Brien, will lead off the UK features. (For complete details of the production schedule, see Studio Size-Ups in this issue.) Among the novels scheduled for '47 production are three current best-sellers; "The Hucksters," starring Clark Gable and Deborah Kerr; Sholem Asch's "E'ast River," with Gene Kelly and June Allyson, and J. P. Marquand's "B. F.'s Daughter," starring Katherine Hepburn. The second and third year winners of M-(3-M's annual novel contest will also face this year's cameras, "Before the Sun Goes Down'e and "Return to Night," while the first winner, "Green Dolphin Street," starring Lana Turner and Van Hefiin, is in the editing stages. The shorts program will have sixteen cartoons in color; ten Pete Smith specialties; six John Nesbitt Passing Parade Specialties; twelve FitzPatrick Traveltalks and four two-reel dramas. Calling M-(3-M's present roster of stars and featured players the greatest in its history, Mayer announced 28 of the former and 67 of the latter, all of whom will appear in forthcoming productions. He also listed 18 producers under contract; 13 top novelists and playwrights; 18 directors and a host of writers, including many of the foremost in the country. • • • N. J. ALLIED PRESSES TAX FIGHT Indignant representatives of more than 400 New Jersey theatres took action last week to fight the proposed State Sales Tax Bill which would affect amusement admissions throughout the state. The group organized the Federation of New Jersey Theatres at a meeting in Trenton called by the Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey, which has taken the lead in fighting the proposed legislation, including also Atlantic Theatres, Fabian Theatres, Loew s, Inc., Hunt Theatres, ITOA, Paramount Theatres, RKO, Walter Reade Theatres and Warner Bros. N. J. Allied prexy Ed Lachman, presiding, reported backing by the N. J. Taxpayers Ass'n of the Federation's aims, with added support coming from labor organi (Continued on Pagte 16) MARCH 31, 1947 11