Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1940)

II Alert, Intettigei to the^J ojtion Picture Industry 1" ILL. w w r I MOTION PICTURE DAILY OL. 47. NO. 110 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1940 TEN CENTS Columbia Lists 35 of 44 New eason Films 5 \pians 16 Westerns, 130 Shorts, 4 Serials Chicago, June 4. — Thirty-five fea;ure productions of the 44 scheduled 3> Columbia for new season release were identified by Abe Montague, Columbia general sales manager, at the opening session of the company's tour-day sales meeting at the Black'istone Hotel here today, j In addition to the 44 features, Columbia also plans 16 westerns, four serials and 130 short subjects. This represents an increase of two feature .productions over the schedule announced by the company for the current reason. Numerically, the westerns, serials and shorts will be the same for the new season as for this season. Columbia's production budget was "not disclosed, but Montague told the meeting that it would be "larger than ever before" in order that the new season's schedule could represent greater production value to merit wider circulation and improved returns in the domestic market to (Continued on page 12) r.on I A Membership Up To 43,437 Since '34 im Louisville, June 4. — I.A.T.S.E. embership has increased from 23,000 to 43,437 since the organization's 1934 convention here, George E. Browne, president, said today in a report to the union's 35th biennial convention jin session here. Browne said that during the same -ijlUsix-year period the union's locals had Wfjlincreased from 698 to 831 and that ::-:a its financial condition improved from mat l$105,893 to $344,795. r apll The report included a defense of ;.;:3 William Bioff , Browne's Hollywood representative, crediting him with securing "a 30 per cent increase in " :! wages for studio I. A. members in a little over three and a half years." He added that, after the last increase had been obtained, Bioff tendered his resignation but the studio unions refused to accept it. Bioff also was defended by George M. Breslin, LA. j.jr counsel on the West Coast. ' |gi (i Matthew Woll, vice-president of the A.F. of L., addressed the meeting. He is here primarily to work out with LA. officials a plan for extending the A.F. of L. company's group life insurance benefits to LA. members. U.S. Victory in Suit Would Mean Monopoly: Thacher Companies Will Disprove Charges of Conspiracy, He Tells Court If the Government wins its New York anti-trust suit, it will lead to monopolistic conditions in the film industry which do not exist now, former Federal Judge Thomas D. Thacher, counsel for Paramount, yesterday told the U. S. District Court in the opening statement of the defense in the Government's anti-trust case. The defendants will prove that there is no conspiracy among them and no agreements to monopolize the business, he stated. Thacher went into great detail in elucidating the operations of the business from every angle, including production, distribution and exhibition. He delved into the history of the business for facts and laid them before the court. "There is nothing in this industry that isn't characteristic of the strictest kind of competition among the companies," Thacher told Judge Henry W. Goddard. Thacher completed his opening John AV. Davis statement after speaking all day. John W. Davis, attorney for Loew's, will :peak today, with Ralph Harris of 20th Century-Fox following Davis. He continued his exposition by declaring that Adolph Zukor inaugurated integration of the three branches of the industry in 1918 to prevent First National Exhibitors from obtaining control. If this integration, he said, is declared illegal, efforts to monopolize, similar to those of First National, may result. Because it was impracticable to build a hundred theatres, Paramount turned to the purchase of circuits "in competition with other companies," Thacher continued. At no time, he stressed, was there any agreement to divide theatre territories, and he challenged the Government to produce proof of its charges. The tremendous amount paid for the production of pictures, the high salaries to personnel and the prices paid for ^stories and material by the major companies is "persuasive proof" that there is no monopoly in the film industry, Thacher declared. The natural tendency of monopoly is to reduce costs and salaries, he stated, and the (Continued on page 11) Ralph Harris Halting of U. S. Production In Britain Seen with Exodus That an exodus of American film executives from London may have a serious effect on continued British production by American companies is seen by observers here. Aboard the President Roosevelt en route here from Ireland with American evacues and scheduled to arrive here Sunday are Ben Goetz, M-G-M British production head, and Robert T. Kane, in charge of British production for 20th Century-Fox, accompanied by their wives. Also on the boat are Joseph Friedman, European manager for Columbia, and Mrs. Friedman ; Jeffery Bernerd. head of Grand National Films, London ; Mrs. David Rose, wife of Paramount's British production chief ; Mrs. Francis L. Harley, wife of the managing director in Great Britain for 20th Century-Fox ; Mrs. Robert Montgomery, whose husband has enrolled in the British ambulance service in France, and Howard Welsch. Others are due on the Manhattan, scheduled to dock in New York next Monday, including Mrs. Robert Schless, wife of Warners' European manager, and their daughter. Schless is now on the Coast conferring with Harry M. Warner, president of the company, and it is probable that he will remain in this country. Monty Banks, 20th Century-Fox director in England, and his wife. [Grade Fields, are en route from England on a Canadian boat. Expect Neely Decision By End of Week Schaefer Calls Booking Bill 'Un-American' Washington, June 4. — As hearings on the Neely block booking bill came to an end today after 17 days before the House Interstate Commerce Committee, Chairman Clarence Lea expressed the hope that he could obtain a decision on the legislation by a committee vote by the end of the week. Washington, June 4. — The Neely block holding bill is "un-American" because it works "directly towards censorship of the screen," George Schaefer, RKO president, asserted in a statement submitted to the House Interstate Commerce Committee, which is considering the bill. If passed as it stands, the bill would bring about pressure group censorship and George Schaefer §ive unfair advantage to the buyer as against the seller of film en (Continued on page 11) British Film Trade Prepares for Raids London, June 4. — The Kinematograph Renters Society (distributors) met today with circuit representatives to study the booking and film transport situation in the face of possible traffic and telephone dislocation in the event of bombing raids on England. Emergency arrangements made last September at the outbreak of the war were put into shape for immediate use. Meanwhile, the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association and the K.R.S., at separate meetings tomorrow, will formulate policies with respect to the imposition of the purchase tax on the industry shortly. The two trade bodies will meet iointly to seek an agreement for presentation to the Government. It is expected that the groups will urge the tax be passed on to patrons in the form of increased admissions.