Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

hursday, August 18, 1938 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Modify Producer Plan of U. A. to Satisfy Chaplin (Continued from page 1) he United Artists' board, currently is .vorking out amendments to the origiplan with Maurice Silverstone, irman of the United Artists execute committee. It is reported that the lan will provide participation benets for United Artists producers Iworking on lower budget pictures than Samuel Goldwyn and David O. Selzick by calculating such participations on the basis of annual gross of their contributions rather than on a basis of individual picture grosses, as proIposed originally. Such a procedure, 'it is said, would answer Mr. Chaplin's obj ections. n 01 Production Ebbs; 29 Films in Work Hollywood, Aug. 17. — After a month of great activity, production ebbed last week to 29 pictures before (ji the cameras. Fourteen were finished \ and seven were started. Twenty-six moved up into final stages of prep . aration, presaging an active period ahead. Sixty-three are in the cutting h rooms. Those started were: "Thoroughbred," Columbia ; "Overland Stage Raider," Republic : "A Very Practical Joke," 20th Century-Fox ; "Swing That Cheer," Universal, and "Dawn Patrol," "They Made Me a Criminal" and "Torchy in Chinatown." Warners. In addition to these, shooting are : . "Homicide Bureau," Columbia ; "The Lady and the Cowboy," Goldwyn ; ' "Sweethearts," "Listen, Darling," "Stablemates" and "Vacation from Love," M-G-M ; "Zaza" and "Arkansas Traveler," Paramount ; "Gunga Din," "The Mad Miss Manton." "A Man to Remember," RKO ; "Sub1 marine Patrol," "By the Dawn's Early ! Light." 20th Century-Fox; "Youth . Takes a Fling," "The Certain Age" J and an untitled Bob Baker western, ] Universal, and "Wings of the Navy," \ "Heart of the North" and "Going ■ Places," Warners. Those finished were : "Girls' • School" and "West of the Santa Fe," I Columbia ; "Too Hot to Handle" and i "Boys Town," M-G-M ; "Wanted by the Police," Monogram ; "King of Alcatraz," Paramount ; "Billy the Kid Returns," Republic; "Hold That Coed," and "Sharpshooter," 20th Century-Fox; "The Comet," Universal ; "Angels with Dirty Faces," "Brother Rat," "Curtain Call," and "Torchy Gets Her Man," Warners. Three short subjects are in production—all at M-G-M. The studio also is preparing two. A total of 10 is being edited. Sue B&K Next Week Chicago, Aug. 17. — Independents here next week will start suit under the antitrust laws against B&K and major distributors, it was stated today by Joseph Rosenberg, attorney in charge. Showmanship in Exhibition Is Vital, Declares Zanuck (Continued from page 1) fort, individual ambition and individual showmanship can show his mettle. "The industry will always be a business for the showman. There is no place in it for one without showmanship. If any person has not the desire and ambition to advance in the line of showmanship he might as well get out of the industry. Showmanship extends from the individual, separate organizations to the industry as a whole. "No organization can exist alone on epics. There must be a steadily sold turnover throughout the year on each picture. You must respect the little ones as well as the big ones. Respect each picture in the category for which it was produced. If exhibitors recognize this and a fair return is made to producers then when we lay out the budget at the end of the year we can find next year worth while gambling on. Producers must have encouragement from exhibitors and distributors. We can't find it unless we feel that you fight for even the smallest picture." Plan Ad Drive Tie-in The convention of the circuit closed today at the Ambassador Hotel after hearing details of the new business drive which will be conducted as a tieup with the industry's "Motion Pictures' Greatest Year" advertising and business building drive. Charles and Spyros Skouras were the final speakers at the convention and most of the delegates departed shortly thereafter for their territories. Pathe's 6 Months' Profit Is $51,678 (Continued from page 1) totaled $511,956.13, resulting in a loss from operations of $27,982.04, in which is included provision for depreciation and amortization. Other income totaled $80,821.42, giving a profit before interest expense of $52,839.38. Interest expense totaled $1,160.64, leaving the profit figure of $51,678.74. The company's six-month income included $70,000 in dividends from Du Pont Film Manufacturing Corp., in which Pathe Film has a 35 per cent common stock interest. The Du Pont profit for the six months totaled $639,000, of which $223,000 was Pathe's share. However, $153,000 of the Du Pont earnings were not distributed, resulting in a dividend to Pathe for the period of $70,000. Johnny Mednikow to Trailer-Made, Inc. Johnny Mednikow of Chicago has been' signed to a 10-year franchise for the handling of the products of Trailer-Made, Inc., in Illinois, Wisconsin, the northern peninsula of Michigan and part of Indiana, it was stated yesterday by E. Schwartz, TrailerMade president. Mr. Mednikow formerly was Chicago city sales manager for National Screen Service. He has opened his own office at 13th St. and Wabash Ave., Chicago. A Safe Bet Don Ameche, returning on the Rex yesterday, related that when Darryl F. Zanuck was in London recently, Francis L. Harley, British managing director for 20th Century Fox offered to wager Mr. Zanuck $100 that "Alexander's Ragtime Band" would take $80,000 in its first week at the Roxy. Mr. Zanuck was skeptical at the large figure and didn't take the bet. The payoff is that the picture did $87,489 in its first week and will approach Mr. Harley's predicted first week figure in the second. Sign Langdon to Supplant Laurel In Hardy Series (Continued from page 1) will be surrounded by name players in high budget productions. Langdon, who has been working as a writer for Roach, last appeared before the camera in that studio's forthcoming "There Goes My Heart," when he stepped in to play the role of a minister. Laurel's dismissal was attributed by the studio to "failure to abide by the terms of his contract" and "willful disregard of his obligations." It was stated that the star did not report for conferences on a feature scheduled to start on Aug. 1 and was not available for retakes of "Blockhead." Pizor, Segall Plan Three New Theatres Philadelphia, Aug. 17. — During the next three weekends, Lewen Pizor and Charles Segall, prominent independent Philadelphia exhibitors, will open three new theatres in Philadelphia. This Friday night, they will open the Ace, in the Franford section. Aug. 26 will mark the opening of the Tioga in the North Philadelphia section and on Sept. 2, they will open the Chelten, in Germantown. The Chelten is new. The other two spots were rebuilt. It has been estimated that the three operations represent a cost of from $200,000 to $250,000. Anglican Church to Study Film Product London, Aug. 17. — The Anglican Church plans a conference in October at which entertainment films will be examined and discussed, it was revealed here today. The meeting will be held at Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Speakers will include bishops, parsons and the critics representing the lay press. Columbia to Make Three Big Films In Great Britain (Continued from page 1) ing America on the 1939-'40 list, and will be made under the supervision of Irving Asher, associate producer at the Alexander Korda plant. It is understood Zoltan Korda will figure in the production. _ Mr. McConville said there will be either three double quota films or two doubles and one of triple credit, this to be determined later. Budgets have been set at from $300,000 to $375,000 each. He expects the contract with London Films to be signed this week, following conferences with Harry and Jack Cohn, and further information, such as the production setup and properties, will then be made known, he said. Work will start immediately. Mr. McConville was gone two months on his first trip abroad. He visited all the English and Irish offices and was in France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Czechoslovakia. Sees No New Restrictions Though the tendency abroad is to impose more drastic restrictions on American films to protect domestic industries, Mr. McConville does not anticipate that any new laws or decrees will be passed in the comingyear. War in Europe is not imminent, he said, and though he was in Prague at the height of the tense international situation, he found everything calm there with business going on as usual. Mr. McConville renewed Columbia's distribution deal in Italy with Consorzio Cinematografico, E. I. A., the new pact running three years. No changes in the personnel of the overseas organization were made during the trip. He found conditions "excellent" in the Scandinavian countries and Holland, but could not say as much for the other territories. Team Hall, Miss Lamour Hollywood, Aug. 17. — Samuel Goldwyn plans a sequel to "Hurricane," which again will star Jon Hall and Dorothy Lamour. A deal has been closed whereby the producer will loan Joel McCrea in return for the appearance of Miss Lamour with Hall. Wall Street Small Gains on Board Net Open High Low Close Change Cons . 154 154 154 154 E. K. ... .172 174 172 174 G. T. E... . 14 14 1354 1354 • 4754 48 95/6 47 47 Para. .. 954 954 84 954 84 Para. 1 84 84 Para. 2 .. • • 954 9=A 954 954 Pathe . . . 9 9H 854 854 RKO .... .. 2J4 m, 254 20th Fox . 2454 245/8 2454 W. B. ... .. 6% 6 6 +3 + 5i -54 -a —i -54 + 54 + 54 -54 G. N. Technicolor Up on Curb Net Open High Low Close Change G. N 9/16 Vs 9/16 Vs. +1/16 Tech 23 2354 23 23 + 54 Univ. Corp. 354 354 354 354 Little Trading in Bonds Net High Low Close Change Loew 3j4s '46 IOO54 1005i 10054 Para. Pict. 6s '55 . 96 96 96 (Quotations at close of Aug. 17)