Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1940)

Alert, tion Picture Industry MOTION PlCWftl DAILY Accurate: and Impartial 47. NO. 3 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1940 TEN CENTS B. & K. Balks 'Wind' Terms; Film to Rivals Two Loop Houses to Open Picture on Jan. 25 Chicago, Jan. 3. — Unable to come to terms with Balaban & Katz on the first-run Chicago engagements of "Gone With the Wind,"_ M-G-M on Jan. 25 will open the picture in the Oriental, Jones,. Linick & Schaeffer's theatre, and the Woods. Essaness house. M-G-M had been negotiating a deal with B. & K. for two Loop theatres and, later, for three subsequent run houses in various parts of the city, the five engagements to run simultaneously. In addition to the 70 per cent rental asked, inability to get suitable B. & K. Loop theatres for a double roadshow handicapped a deal with the major circuit. The Woods is a double bill house, seating about 1,200. Its "Gone With the Wind" policy will be the same as at the Astor in New York, two reserved-seat showings daily. The Oriental, seating 3,200, will have three performances daily, with the evening show reserved. M-G-M yesterday disclosed additional engagements, bringing the total (Continued on page 4) 'Heights' Broadcast On Critics Program New York film critics played host to Mayor LaGuardia at the United Artists projection room yesterday afternoon for a special screening of "Wuthering Heights," winner of the 1939 Critics' award. The mayor, who will speak Sunday night on an NBC broadcast of the awards, had not previously seen the film. Scenes from the film will be dramatized on the program. Several scenes from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" also may be included. NBC orchestras in New York and Hollywood will play hit tunes from films produced during the past year. The remainder of the program will consist of short speeches. Tentatively scheduled to be heard from New York are Mayor LaGuardia, Samuel Goldwyn, producer of "Wuthering Heights," and Kate Cameron, president of the New York Film Critics. Those scheduled to be heard from (Continued on page 2) Suit Today to Attack Theatre Ticket Code Members of the Associated Theatre Ticket Agencies voted last night to bring suit to restrain the enforcement of the League of New York Theatres ticket code. Gustave A. Gerber, A.T.T.A. attorney, declared after the meeting that the suit would be brought today in N. Y. Supreme Court for "restraint of trade and conspiracy." Combat Neely Bill, 400 Urged at Rally About 400 persons were urged to act for the defeat of the Neely bill at a mass meeting sponsored by the New York I.T.O.A. yesterday at the Hotel Astor. Harry Brandt, president of the I.T.O.A., was the chief speaker. After discussing the bill in detail, Brandt asked those present to register protests against the measure with thenCongressmen and to solicit support for the campaign among their landlords, bankers, employees, equipment firms and others with whom exhibitors do business. Suggestions from the floor were that telegrams be used for the remonstrances and that newspaper cooperation be obtained. In addition to theatre and film men, the gathering included representatives of supply companies who were asked to attend the meeting by exhibitors. Before Brandt's discussion, Gilbert Josephson, operator of the World Theatre, read the Neely bill. Members of the I.T.O.A. board on the dais, in addition to Brandt and Josephson, were David Weinstock, Hyman Rach (Continned on page 4) British Government Ready to Aid Trade With Cash Proposal London, Jan. 3. — Realizing that the British film industry faces a serious situation unless it receives early financial support, the Government intends to come to its rescue by promoting a financial plan, as yet undesigned, Parliamentary circles believe. The Films Council will meet tomorrow to study the practicability of the production financing. However, as yet the method of supplying the funds is undetermined. The indifference of the financial district of London to lending money for films indicates the need either of a Government subsidy or a guarantee of private loans by the Government. The latter is considered more probable. Labor unions are insisting that the quota provisions of the Films Act be retained unaltered, although they are understood favorably disposed toward the credit bank idea, if it supplements (Continued on page 7) U.S. Majors Revive London Films Soon Practically all major American producing companies will resume British production within the next 30 or 60 days. M-G-M has prepared plans for the production of four multiple quota credit pictures in England. The first, "Busman's Holiday," is scheduled to start late this month. Ben Goetz, in charge of British production, and Robert Montgomery, who (Continued on page 2) RKO Sees Court Rule Over By Feb. 1 After Seven Years RKO stands a good chance of emerging from reorganization by the end of January, almost seven years to the day since it consented to an application for an equity receivership, Jan. 27, 1933, according to attorneys engaged in the final phases of the company's rehabilitation process. With the transfer of assets to the new RKO company, expected late this month or early in February, the company's board and management will assume operating control free of court and trustee supervision. Irving Trust Co., RKO trustee, however, will be engaged in winding up details of the reorganization for some time thereafter. RKO is expected to show a profit for 1939. Results for the final quarter will be well in the black and more than compensate for the $68,070 loss reported for the first six months of the year. Profit for 1939, however, depends entirely upon the extent of yearend adjustments, not yet determined, and whether or not any allocation is made to reserve. UA Releasing Deal Obtained By Roosevelt Silverstone Hails Move; 'The Bat' First Film Maurice Silverstone James Roosevelt yesterday signed a long term, exclusive distribution contract with United Artists for sales and distribution of all pictures made by his newly formed Globe Productions, Inc., of which he is president. R o o s e velt's first production will be "The Bat," rights to which he acquired recently from Mary Pickford, and which is scheduled to start April 1. He will make two or more features a year for United Artists release under his contract, which is believed to cover a minimum period of five years. Production will be at the Samuel Goldwyn studios, of which Roose ;| velt is president. Roosevelt re " *;,:.. signed recently as vice-president of Samuel Goldwyn Prod., the Goldwyn producing company, after a year in that post. H i s affiliation with United Artists comes on the heels of Gold Jiimes Ro<>s"'elt wyn's attempts to terminate his distribution contract with that company, marked this week by his closing of a distribution contract with Warners for "The Westerner." Negotiations for Roosevelt's affiliation with United Artists were conducted by Maurice Silverstone, head of the company's world wide operations, during his December visit to the coast. With the closing of the deal yesterday, Silverstone said: "The enlistment of this young producer is a most important event, not only to United Artists, but to the industry. He has not only financed and organized his own company but will be, in every (Continued on page 8)