Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1947)

OlS DIGfST Bi'Weekly Reoiew of the Trade's Eoents Andy W. Smith, Jr., salvs ••hief of 20th-F<)X, told a sales nieetiiigr tli.it dunieKtio revenue must increase. He also announced a "iOth-Fox 1948 schedule of 48 features. Secretary of the Army Kenneth Ro.miII presents the President's Certiticate of Merit to Samuel Goldwyn in Wa^hing^ton for the producer's outstanding services duringi World War II. Harney Itiiliih^i ji . |ir i siilcni ol rariinioiinf , adflrcNses (he o|icniiiir ol the I ederation of Jewish I'hilanthropics of X. Y. drive in show biiNlnesH. Th« Industr^'g quota Is if325,000. JOHNSTON TO FIGHT REDS & CENSORSHIP The opposition to communists in Hollywood was rising high last week. In New York, Eric Johnston, president of the MPA, voiced strong criticism of the ten movie writers who were cited for contempt by the House (Thomas) Un-American Activities Committee, charging them with having done "a tremendous disservice" to the industry and to the cause of democracy. In Hollywood, Louis B. Mayer called upon those who want to espouse communism to "leave and stop taking our money and wasting our time." The board of directors of 20th Century-Fox voted late last week to discharge from their organization ail acknowledged communists or those who are cited for contempt by any congressional committee for failing to answer the question of possible communist affiliation. Johnston's speech, delivered at the 8th annual Picture Pioneers dinner last Wednesday was outspoken in its opposition to communists and against the threat of federal censorship of motion pictures. He accused the ten cited film writers of playing "into the hands of extremists who are all too willing to confuse the honest progressive ■with the dishonest red." No Place for Commies The MPA head declared that "there is no place in Hollywood for anyone who is subversive or disloyal to this country," but he asserted that "in the final analysis, the government must adopt a national policy with respect to the employment of communists in private industry." Mentioning specifically the recent blasts by the Hearst newspapers on behalf of federal censorship, Johnston said he will "fight forever" against such a threat. "Obviously, if the motion picture is to be censored," he warned, "then the newspapers must be too — and the books — and the magazines — and the radio. "Freedom of speech is not a selective phrase. We can't shut free speech into compartments. It's either free speech for all American institutions and individuals, or it's freedom for none — and nobody." A meeting of top film executives in New York has been called by Johnston for Monday (24th) to consider the problems raised by the House Committee's probe. On that date, also. Rep. John MacDowell of the committee, is scheduled to present the contempt citations to the full House for approval. The Un-American Committee's next move is slated to be a shift of its inquiry to Hollywood again, probably within two months. » ♦ » BREEN DENIES CODE LAXITY With government, religious and civic pressure at high tide, the Production Code Administration was expected to clamp down tighter tharf ever on Hollywood product, despite administrator Joseph I. Breen's denial of relaxation of the Code in recent years. Replying to charges by Allied States general counsel and board chairman A. F. Myers that there had been a noticeable rise in moral laxity on the screen and that the Code Administration had permitted the situation to get out of hand, Breen cited statistics designed to show there had been no appreciable change in the percentage of pictures receiving the National Legion of Decency's four ratings, since Eric Johnston had assumed the top spot in the MPA. If anything, the ratio of pictures "unobjectionable for general patronage" had risen. Breen also pointed out that only two pictures — six-tenths of one per cent — were placed in the "Condemned" category, and of these, one ("Black Narcissus") was for religious reasons, not moral, he emphasized. In a letter to Johnston, Myers urged that the MPA prexy "take some definite action to reassure the public that the situation is not out of control." He laid particular emphasis on the "Forever Amber" situation, which was the basis for his attack on the Code Administration, especially in view of the Philadelphia affair, where 20thFox defied Cardinal Dougherty's ultimatum that "Amber" be withdrawn from the Fox Theatre under penalty of a year's boycott, not only of the Fox and "Amber," but of all 20th-Fox product. Goldman Withdraws 'Outlaw' Myers called on Johnston to do a public relations job to repair the "bad press" occasioned by "Amber," "the Hollywood probe and from advanced admission price pictures." Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, in direct contrast to 20th-Fox' defy of the Cardinal's ultimatum, William Goldman, who received a similar demand in regard to "The Outlaw" at his newly-opened Erlanger Theatre, withdrew the picture and closed the theatre for lack of product. In a letter to the Cardinal, Goldman stated that he was withdrawing the film not because he felt that it was "indecent" or "immoral," but purely "in deference to your exalted position representing, as it does, those in the community of thu Catholic faith." Elsewhere on the censorship front, all of the Hearst newspapers appeared with editorials calling for government censorship of motion pictures. Immediate reaction to this demand was apparent from all quarters, not only the industry, as such action by the government would obviously place newspapers, radio and other media of public information in line for government censorship. (Continued on Page 26) 10 PILM BULLETIN