Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1940)

Thursday, May 9. 1940 Motion Picture Daily Vancouver Houses Hit by Gasoline War Vancouver, B. C, May 8.— Theatres of British Columbia are feeling the pinch of a gasoline "war" between the Provincial Government and major refiners and distributors. Attendance is down materially as private auto owners are unable to secure supplies of gas. Toward the end of last jv^Oweek, major city theatres j^Twere finding a noticeable falling off in admissions. In Vancouver, the largest downtown house, Famous-Players' Orpheum, estimated considerable restriction in business. Ivan Ackery, manager, declared attendance was off about 15 per cent. Peru Hits German Film Intervention German intervention in film censorship in Latin American countries received an indirect rebuke from the Peruvian Senate which recently approved a communication to the Minister of Justice calling for "immediate cessation of all diplomatic intenvention in the decisions of the Film Censorship Board," according to the Christian Science Monitor. The rebuke, which took the form of a formal and unanimous vote, followed a debate generally critical of German diplomatic activity in Peru, according to the publication. The story said that among the pictures which either have been cut or held up by the Peruvian censorship board as a result of intervention by the German Minister are "Hero of the Marne," "Confessions of a Nazi Spy," "The Lion Has Wings," "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "The Road Back." Grierson Expected From Australia Soon Montreal, May 8. — John Grierson, Canadian Government Film Commissioner, is due back from Australia this month. Grierson has been "down under" for three months on the invitation of the Australian and New Zealand Governments, looking over the film setup, as he did a year and a half ago for Canada. While in Australia, Grierson arranged with 20th Century-Fox to handle distribution of "Canada Carries On," series of 10-minute onereelers being turned out monthly by the film board at Ottawa. Intervene in Suit New Haven, May 8. — Judge Cornell of the Superior Court has granted the Plaza Theatre Co. motion to intervene as defendant in the case of Lampert Theatre of Windsor, Inc., against Warners. Suit was brought by Lampert to restrain Warners from performance of its second-run contract with the Plaza. Anna Sten Signed Hollywood, May 8. — Anna Sten will try a screen comeback in the 20th Century-Fox film, "I Married a Nazi," for which she has been signed. Sales Heads Cooperate In Conciliation (Continued from page 1) happened to bring the industry to a crisis, and we have had so many difficulties in every branch of the business that we have reached a saturation point. "The general sales managers in shifting about from one company to another have striven to build up new records in their new affiliations and in doing so have built up a system of pernicious practices. Others have entered into the competition, thus pyramiding the pernicious practices. By now such a point has been reached that we believe they themselves would like to change these conditions. "But if we change these conditions suddenly — wipe them all out in a year or so — we would have a complete production catastrophe." Declaring that the I.T.O. of Northern Idaho, Washington and Alaska has officially authorized introduction before the convention of a resolution condemning double features and advocating a return to single bills, L. O. Lukan, trustee of the Conference, said he would lead the fight for adoption of the resolution. "I have heard the theory advanced that double bills encourage independent production," said Lukan. "What does that mean — production of films for double bills or Class 'D' pictures?" Lukan suggested that "an independent production company like the old First National, sponsored by independent exhibitors, might be the answer to producer oppression today." Lukan cited his experience in signing all independent exhibitors in Seattle to a pledge to abolish double features which, he said, was blocked by the refusal of Fox West Coast to accede. "Let us inform the producers," he said, "that we as a body prefer bigger but fewer pictures, extended playing time but greater opportunities for profit, showmanship and salesmanship for wastefulness and disregard for picture values, single bills instead of double bills." Declaring that the independent exhibitor is "the forgotten man," Bruen quoted Will H. Hays as the authority for figures showing that 15,000 of the nation's 18,000 theatres are owned by independents and contribute two-thirds of the industry's revenue. He said that organization, rather than government regulation, is the method by which the industry's problems may be solved. Kilgore to Memphis Robert Kilgore, who started with Loew's as an usher in Memphis, will return to that city after an absence of 10 years as manager of the Palace, it was disclosed yesterday by Joseph R. Vogel, circuit executive. Loew's will take over operation of the Palace late this month. Kilgore is now managing the Bedford in Brooklyn. Italian Film Opens "Star of the Sea," Esperia Film release starring Galliano Masini, Metropolitan Opera tenor, has opened at the Cinecitta Theatre. SALUTE THE SNAPPY, HAPPY COMEDY HIT! ...The fun is fast and howlarious . . . as a girl, a gob and a kid take the navy for a boat-ride ! MONOGRAM PICTURES Presents JEAN JAMES PARKER DUNN SON the NAVY with MARTIN SPELLMAN Directed by WILLIAM NIGH Associate Producer GRANT WITHERS Original story by Grover Jones and True Boardman Screenplay by Marion Orth and Joseph West AS CRITICS CHEER! "Clean, brisk, stimulating entertainment in the best traditions of the American movie." M. P. herald "A bang-up navy picture that moves along at a merry clip from start to finish." HOLLYWOOD reporter "Noteworthy and diverting comedy-drama with a salty navy background." box OFFICE "Monogram can take a well deserved bow ... a pleasant surprise, plenty of delightful entertainment." SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW "Amusing and well paced, good entertainment for family trade." FILM DAILY