Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1940)

Monday, October 21, 1940 Motion Picture Daily 7 Major Companies Scrap Ban On 'Star' Rating Publicity Only Columbia Still Opposes U. S. Decree {Continued from page 1) consenting defendants may have desired to make in court. The same procedure is said to be closely followed by other Federal judges. As a result, officials of Universal and United Artists now believe that opposition is useless in view of their uncertain standing in court. The five consenting companies expect the consent decree to be presented to Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard for approval on Oct. 31 or Nov. 1. An adjournment to either of those dates may be taken tomorrow at the scheduled hearing before Judge Goddard, or, if a shorter adjournment is taken, a second will be necessary, it was said. Draft to Washington Preliminary work on the arbitration mechanics which supplement the decree was completed on Friday and the proposals were taken to Washington by Assistant U. S. Attorneys General James Hayes and Robert Wright for study by Department of Justice officials. Another meeting on the arbitration proposals is scheduled for this afternoon, when Hayes and Wright are scheduled to return from Washington with any final suggestions for changes which the Department may desire. The proposals then will undergo a "polishing" to complete the phraseology. The decree itself is reported to be in final form. However, Government reluctance to grant all of the revisions in the Fox West Coast consent decree asked by 20th Century-Fox in connection with the approval of the New York decree, is known to be delaying preliminary approval of the latter decree by that company. It is believed, however, that the differences between 20th Century-Fox and the Government will be resolved in time to present the document to Judge Goddard by the end of next week. Tacoma Welcomes 'Tugboat Annie' Film Tacoma, Wash., Oct. 20. — "Tugboat Annie Sails Again," Warner film starring Marjorie Rambeau and Alan Hale, was given a noisy welcome here on Friday, prior to its world premiere at three theatres, the Music Box, Roxy and Blue Mouse. The two stars headed a group of Hollywood players, including Donald Crisp and Ronald Reagan, who made personal appearances at the three Hamrick houses. The guests arrived at the Tacoma Yacht Club on a yacht, appeared on the Hedda Hopper radio program, and then boarded the official tug for a harbor parade, accompanied by a flotilla of fishing schooners, tugs and other craft. Mayor Harry P. Cain proclaimed the day "Tugboat .Annie Day." On Saturday a special show was held at the Roxy for 1,700 underprivileged children, at which the stars appeared. 25 Million Have Seen 'Wind'; 35 Million to See It (Continued from pane 1) a gross in the United States and Canada of $22,000,000. On the basis of 70 per cent of the box-office "take" to M-G-M, the domestic rental to the company totals more than $15,000,000, with the world distribution gross about $18,000,000. M-G-M plans to include the 4,500 theatres which have already played the picture in the general release, and with these return engagements it is figured that at least 12,000 theatres will play the film next year, with the box-office gross estimated at $6,000,000 to $7,000,000. This would bring the domestic gross to about $29,000,000. Para. May Fight Ban On 'World in Flames' (.Continued from page 1) the Navy Frank Knox, Senator Alben W. Barkley, Speaker Sam Rayburn and Secretary of Commerce Jesse Jones. Agnew said that Paramount will carry the case "to the highest courts in the country, if necessary." The picture consists for the most part of newsreel records of the past 20 years, pointed to show a need for national preparedness. It is in a comparable film categon' with March of Time's "The Ramparts We Watch," which likewise was banned for exhibition in Pennsylvania by the same censor board a few weeks ago. McCarthy Appoints Bergman as Ad Head (Continued from page 1) Bergman at Columbia has as yet been made. Bergman became head of the advertising and publicity department of Columbia Pictures about three years ago. A native of Chillicothe, Ohio, he was educated at Ohio State University and Cincinnati Law School, where he received his degree. He was advertising director of the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre and the Paramount on Broadway and account executive of Lord & Thomas advertising agency before joining Columbia. Producers Receive Demands of Artists Hollywood, Oct. 20. — The Moving Picture Painters Local 644, having been named by the National Labor Relations Board as the bargaining agency for studio scJenic artists, on Friday presented to producers demands for a closed shop agreement, minimum wage scales and other conditions. The proposed pact seeks a retroactive 15 per cent wage increase from July, 1937, to August, 1939, with an added 15 per cent increase from August, 1939, to the present. (Continued from page 1) ter Thompson, head of the M.P.P D.A.'s Advertising Advisory Council, Robert Gillham, Paramount advertising and publicity director, pointed out that the Rivoli's advertisements on the Wanger film, "The Long Voyage Home" had been prominently displaying for several days the four stars awarded that picture by the same reviewer. Lynn Farnol, advertising and publicity director of United Artists, distributor of the Wanger production, was called next for an explanation. Farnol denied control over or responsibility for the Rivoli's ad copy, contending that it was prepared independently by the theatre management. With this impasse apparently reached, Howard Dietz, M-G-M advertising and publicity director, declared that Metro would resume the 20th-Fox Signs Oakie Hollywood, Oct. 20. — Jack Oakie has been signed to a three-picture contract by 20th Century-Fox. Assign Brenda Marshall Hollywood, Oct. 20. — Brenda Marshall has been cast for the leading feminine role in "Footsteps in the Dark." use of the star awards immediately if the practice was not ended by the Rivoli and Paramount at once. S. Charles Einfeld of Warners, Charles E. McCarthy of 20th Century-Fox, Lou Pollock of Universal, Maurice Bergman of Columbia and S. Barret McCormick of RKO are reported to have taken the same stand as Dietz. The "gentlemen's agreement" not to make use of the star awards in advertising grew out of the advertising directors' conviction that the merit symbols for picture reviews should be discouraged because they were frequently found to be unfair to individual pictures. It was contended, too, that they tended to place too much power over patronage with individual reviewers and that they encouraged readers to look only for the stars and to omit a reading of the reviews which frequently qualified, one way or the other, the appraisals of pictures exemplified by the symbols. Sues on Valentino Films Suit for $20,000 allegedly due on the distribution of the Rudolf Valentino films, "Son of the Sheik" and "The Eagle," has been filed in the N. Y. Supreme Court by Jean Guglielmo. also called Jean Valentino, against Artcinema Associates, Inc., and Emil C. Jensen. . . . with the body of a giant and the heart of a small boy, yearning for his mother. OLEY, played by John Wayne, is one of the unforgettable characters in JOHN FORD'S "THE LONG VOYAGE HOME" which Critic Pare Lorentz tells the millions of women who read McCalPs Magazine, is "unquestionably one of the greatest motion pictures of all times!"