Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1939)

DO NOT REMOVE Alert, to the Picture industry tion MOTION PICTURE DAILY ^^15. NO. 94 Equity Insists Dn Television Jurisdiction dors' Guild and AFRA Opposing Move NEW YORK, TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1939 TEN CENTS 'Actors Equity yesterday presented resolution to Associated Actors and jlistes of America, the parent body, tiianding that jurisdiction over the k vision field be granted to Equity rtlnvith. Screen Actors' Guild and k American Federation of Radio "rtists are opposing any grant of risdiction until it can be seen in hat direction commercial television Jes. '{Delegates to the A.A.A.A. board fused to vote on >the proposition Itliout specific instructions from the lions they represent and the matter iain was tabled. Executive board stings of the member unions problly will be held this week. Equity Jits resolution pointed out that juris:tion over television was specifically served in its constitution eight years 'o and that A.F.R.A. was denied levision jurisdiction in its charter. k S.A.G. charter is silent on this (int. (Nevertheless, both S.A.G. and A.F. A. are reluctant to make an out;ht declaration that Equity is enled to this field, and favor a period "watchful waiting." In Hollywood, Bterday, a high ranking S.A.G. orfij\ asserted that "assignment of jurisftion should be made on the basis of nich organization can best be of serce to members." /Referring to the clause in Equity's Institution, the same official said, "It going to take more than a mere »im to obtain jurisdiction." Since it possible that a major portion of Recasts may be made from film, the >]A.G. is not willing to yield too ,adily to Equity. Fncouraged by this argument by A.G.. the radio artists also take the sition that the union best suited to (Continued on page 8) L. B. Mayer, LL. D. Louis B. Mayer left NewYork yesterday for Frederickston. New Brunswick, where the University of New Brunswick will confer an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws upon him for contributions toward the advancement of the interests of the Province of New Brunswick. Simon to Hear Film Tax Plea Thursday London, May 15. — Sir John Simon, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Thursday will receive the joint film deputation, headed by D. E. Griffiths, protesting the newfilm taxes. The Chancellor's response to the industry's petition was received today. The committee named to draft the industry case will meet Wednesday, and the Simon delegation at the K. R. S. offices Thursday morning. Columbia lo Have $2,000,000 Budget For '39-'40 Shorts Chicago, May 15. — Columbia has set a $2,000,000 production budget for its new season short subject schedule, Max Weisfeldt, short subjects sales supervision today told midwestern and Canadian delegates at the second of three regional sales meetings. The session will end tomorrow, and will be followed by a final meeting in Los Angeles. Operation of the industry trade practice code, banning full-line forcing, will place the sale of shorts on a quality and competitive basis, it was pointed out. TRADE CODE READY IN AUGUST, BELIEF Goldwyn Seeking To Change Name Of U.A. Studios Hollywood, May 15. — Samuel Goldwyn today filed an application with the Secretary of State at Sacramento to change the name of United Artists Studios to Samuel Goldwyn Studios. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks own the land on which the studio is located, although it is leased i<> Goldwyn, who has been sole owner since 1935 of all the buildings and equipment on the property. Goldwyn' s action, believed to be a tactical move in connection with his breach of contract suit against the company, has nothing to do with the United Artists distributing company. W alter Wanger is the only U. A. producer besides Goldwyn now using the studio. Hal Roach has his own plant, likewise David Selznick, at whose studio Fairbanks is to produce. Edward Small uses the General Service studios. It is understood that Alexander Korda and David L. Loew will also produce there. "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" [M-G-M] The crusty British schoolmaster, Mr. Chips, together with his little jokes and foibles, has been brought to life by M-G-M in as tender, sentimental and heart-touching a portrayal as has flickered across the screen in many a daw The hundreds of thousands who laughed and wept with Mr. Chips when he first appeared on the American scene in the best selling novel by James Hilton will find this salty old character faithfully transcribed and as lovable as ever. "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" derives its dramatic quality from the inherent human tenseness which may be found in the life of a man who has achieved his simple ambitions and has died happy in the thought that he has endeared himself to generations of British schoolboys. It is a simple character study. In sharp contrast to the current cycle of outdoor action melodramas, it will come as a welcome and stimulating change. The story is made up of a series of episodes in the life of a teacher who taught his first class during the Franco-Prussian War and rose to headmaster in the midst of the World War. Each episode uncovers another facet of his character, each scene adds a little flavor, until, at the end, a warmly human personality has been revealed. Chips is a lonely, harsh schoolmaster when he first arrives at Brookfield, English preparatory school, scarcely cognizant of the human elements which make a successful teacher. In middle age, he meets Katherine (Greer Gar son) whom he marries, but she dies in childbirth shortly afterward. It is in these sequences that the picture reaches its peak of (Continued on page 8) Distributors Ironing Out Arbitration Procedure At Meetings Here Industry's trade practice code is scheduled to go into effect in August, by which time it is expected all points will have been clarified between distributors and exhibitors. The distributors' trade practice committee, including sales manager and counsel, held an all-day meeting yesterday at the Astor, with revision of arbitration procedure the main topic. At least two more meetings of the committee will be necessary before the proposals are in shape for submission to exhibitors. The next meeting is scheduled tomorrow. The committee is rewriting the arbitration provisions contained in the code as submitted March 30. At that time William F. Rodgers, M-G-M sales chief, acting for the committee, declared that the provisions were only a starting point and elaboration will be needed. Suggestions of exhibitor groups are being considered. The meetings this week are expected to clarify each company's position on arbitration and simplify the work on phraseology to be done by lawyers. This pertains to the practical phases, the principles having been agreed upon. Other points, such as reallocations, designations and cancellation, are also under discussion by the committee. Upon completion of the revisions, (Continued on page 9) Pickets at Warner And RKO Theatres Bookkeepers, Stenographers & Accountants Union placed picket lines in front of the Strand, the Hollywood, Warner home office and warehouse yesterday. Union officials said picket lines would be placed today before 16 RKO houses and the Brooklyn Paramount because they are showing Warner films. Strike was declared at the shipping department of the Warner warehouse. The union claims jurisdiction over about 10 employes there. Strike was called because of failure to reinstate two union members Warner officials denied t* employes were dismissed union activities. i