Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1940)

Alert, tion Picture industry DO NOT REMOVE MOTION PICTURE DAILY NO. 48 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1940 TEN CENTS Britain Plans Wide Release Of Films Here Government Would Push London Production London, March 7. — Wider distribution in the United States of high grade films made and distributed by British interests, and the consequent increase in British production is understood as being one of the aims of the new Government export program. In the same connection, it is understood that revenues derived from the release in the United States _ of pictures produced by American interests in England, may be retained in the United States. Such films would be released in the United States under the reciprocity clauses of the Films Act. It is believed that arrangements for the retention in the United States of such revenues were embodied in the currency withdrawal agreement recently formulated. An initial step in the export program is the formation of an Exports Council, with Sir Andrew Rae Duncan, president of the British Board of Trade, as chairman. It is believed that the film industry may be invited to consult with the council in the export drive. It is considered possible that quota revision and a stimulus to British production are aims' of the council. Majors Delay Action On Exhibit for Fair No decision on industry participation in the World's Fair was reached at a meeting of major company representatives yesterday at M.P.P.D.A. headquarters. Proposal for a "Street of Theatres," to depict the history of the industry since 1900, together with associated exhibits, was discussed, along with other suggestions. The company representatives will meet again next week. Judge Reserves Decision on Bioff Chicago, March 7.— Chief Judge Prystalski of Criminal Court today took under advisement the case of William Bioff, Coast I.A.T.S.E. leader, extradited here from California on a 1922 charge. Police officers on the original case and Morris Green, who was Bioff's attorney at that time, testified when the case resumed today. McKenzie Resigns As Hays Assistant; Harmon Successor Maurice McKenzie, executive assistant to Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., has resigned, effective April 1, and will be succeeded by Francis S. Harmon, who has been with the organization in public relations, Production Code and other activities for several years. McKenzie has been with the Hays organization since its inception in capacities close to the president. He became first associated with Hays when "the general" was elected chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1918. Their acquaintance was formed in Indiana, when Hays was the lawyer from Sullivan and McKenzie was from Crown Point. McKenzie is building a new country home at Crown Point, where he plans to turn his life long hobby of gardening into an incidental profession. He recently sold his landscaped country place at Lockwood's Corners in Fairfield County, Conn. Weeks Plans Eight Monogram Films A production program of eight to 10 features is planned by George W. Weeks for release through Monogram next season. Weeks will leave late next week for the Coast, en route continuing conferences with exchange heads which he started recently in the South. He plans to arrive on the Coast April 10 to start his production. Weeks is completing his duties as vice-president in charge of sales, from which post he recently resigned. State Budget Passed; No New Film Taxes Albany, March 7. — The Senate tonight joined the Assembly in passing the $391,000,000 budget. The budget retains all emergency taxes and the motion picture film levy. There are no new taxes against the picture business. Film executives were among those who helped defeat the proposed increase in income taxes. Majors Attack U.S. Trust Stipulations Major company defendants in the Government's New York anti-trust suit will oppose virtually every stipulation on the Government list presented last week, it was learned yesterday. Counsel for defendants contend that the subjects which the Government seeks to have stipulated as factual are all based on misinformation and misconception of trade practices. They assert that for them to stipulate that the Government's representations are true would be equivalent to signing a consent decree. Defense attorneys contend that even (Continued on page 2) Settlement Reached In Dallas Trust Suit Dallas, March 7. — A final decree in settlement of the anti-trust suit filed against the Interstate Circuit here by Paul Prugh Scott, Houston exhibitor, was entered in Federal court here today. Under the settlement, Interstate will (Continued on page 5) 68% of Season's Product Completed by 10 Studios As the 1939-'40 season this week reached the half-way mark, a checkup by Motion Picture Herald indicates that Hollywood has completed 68 per cent, or 338, of the 500 features promised, compared with 70 per cent, or 349, of the 479 promised last year. Studio commitments have not been drastically slowed down either to distribution affiliates or on distributors' releases as a result of holdovers _ and moveovers on big productions, it is pointed out. On actual releases, the 10 large dis tributors have delivered S3 per cent of the 1939-'40 commitments, a total of 259, compared with 55 per cent, a total of 263, last season at the corresponding time. Completed and "in the can" for release subsequent to this week are 79 features, or 16 per cent ; last year in March there were 86 completed, or 18 per cent. The 10 companies include Columbia, M-G-M, Monogram, Paramount, Republic, RKO, 20th Century-Fox, United Artists, Universal and Warners. Delay Looms For Hearings On Neely Bill April 1 Considered Likely Time for Inquiry Washington, March 7. — Hearings on the Neely bill by the House committee are not likely to start until the closing days of March. This opinion was officially expressed today following a statement that the House Interstate Commerce Committee will be busy for another several weeks unraveling the tangled aspects of the transportation bill. Committee members about a month ago indicated that the Neely hearings would start probably about March 15. Senate and house conferees are presently engaged with the carrier bill, seeking to reach compromises on controversial issues of the measure. Since important members of the House Interstate Commerce Committee are on the conference group and since it is the desire of its chairman, Clarence F. Lea of California, to have the Neely hearings conducted before the committee's full membership, no action will be taken on the Neely bill until after the transportation bill has been sent to the House and Senate for final approval. In the meanwhile pros and cons of the Neely bill are being debated before various organizations throughout the country. Many of these groups intend to send representatives to the hearing to uphold or fight the Neely bill. Metro Adds More Theatres in Brazil M-G-M has acquired sites for two theatres in suburbs of Rio de Janeiro and plans to construct five additional neighborhood theatres in the Brazilian metropolis. This will make a total of nine theatres for the company in Brazil. M-G-M has two metropolitan first runs in that country, the Metro in Rio de Janeiro, recently opened, and another in Sao Paulo. Reason for the expansion is to provide the territory with up-to-date houses where M-G-M would obtain adequate representation for its product. Arthur M. Loew, vice-president in charge of foreign activities, is directing plans for a 2,000-seat house and another of 1,700 seats on the sites already acquired.