Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1941)

■ ■ Alert. InteUigei and to the Picture Industry tion DO NOT RE >V«=" MOTION PICTURE DAILY -L. 50. NO. 34 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1941 TEN GENTS Start Defense |ln Crescent Trial Today 'ebuttal Is Expected to Take Four Weeks Crescent Amusement Co. and e "Little Two," Universal and nited Artists, will begin presention of their defense in the Gov-nment's anti-trust suit in Nashtlle Federal district court today, blowing a 10-day adjournment .of le trial. Presentation of the defense is expected to require about four weeks, and a decision from Federal Judge Elmer Davies may be handed down promptly thereafter. Columbia, dismissed as a defendant the close of the Government's prestation of its case, is no longer in)lved in the proceedings and will not E represented by counsel when the ial resumes today. Some of the consenting comanies, however, will have attorneys (Continued on pane 4) aralysis Brings Restriction in Pa. Philadelphia, Aug. 17. — Restricons on theatres and other public l aces in two Eastern Pennsylvania Ipmmunities have been ordered by ealth authorities following a checkjp by the state health department hich revealed cases of infantile parysis in 21 of Pennsylvania's 67 )unties. Community quarantine orders were sued in York and Redlion, which |)ecifically quarantine theatres and ar all persons under 21 from public laces. The York order is effective to •ept. 15 unless extended, and the edlion order to Sept. 1. Uskin on Mystery Flight to Britain Robert Riskin, who was in New «'ork last week, is reported to have :ft for Canada from where he is :heduled to fly to London in an ..A.F. bomber. The purpose of the ight has not been disclosed. Riskin while here conferred with Earner executives regarding the fuj are liquidation of the releasing deal or the Frank Capra film, "Meet John •oe," which was produced by the apra-Riskin company. $300,000 Increase Starts for Players At Major Studios Hollywood, Aug. 17. — Xew wage scale for actors providing increases expected to total $300,000 a year went into effect yesterday at major studios. The Screen Actors Guild announced that the agreement had been ratified by 93 per cent of the membership. Minimum compensation rates are increased generally, with the $8.25 basic daily wage for extras increased to $10.50. The $5.50 call is eliminated except for atmosphere players in groups of 30 or more. The agreement also provides increases principally for day players, dancers and singers. Ice skaters, swimmers, stand-ins, freelance players and stunt men also benefit. Improvement in working conditions is also provided for. Report Goetz, Ratoff To Produce in N. Y. Harry Goetz and Gregory Ratoff plan to produce in New York, according to the New York World-Telegram on Saturday. It was reported that "No Money in Her Purse," with Joan Fontaine, will be made at Eastern Service Studios at Astoria and that the financial interests involved are Bank of America and Guaranty Trust Co. United Artists recently disclosed that Goetz and Ratoff would be associated in making several films for release through that company next season. B&K Cuts Prices At 3 Loop Houses Chicago, Aug. 17. — Balaban & Katz have cut admissions at their United Artists, Roosevelt and Apollo Theatres, all in the Loop, effective at once. Prices were 35c, 50c and 68c plus tax. New prices are 30c, 40c and 59c plus tax. British Exhibitors See Staffs Crippled By Calls to Service LONDON, Aug. 17. — Exhibitors are concerned over the removal of projectionists from the lists of reserved occupations, making them liable for military service. A CEA meeting Tuesday with the .Ministry of Labor is expected to take up the situation. Exhibitors already are working with seriously depleted staffs, and have expressed the belief that further calls on manpower will cripple theatre operations. On Thursday the exhibitor group will ask the Ministry of Labor to safeguard usherettes from calls to Government service. The Board of Trade is preparing a final memorandum on the industry's position which is expected to be highlyimportant to the future of the trade. The CEA and distributors next week will discuss with the Ministry of Information the question of the distribution and exhibition of Ministry films. The C.E.A. is setting details of an employes' war bonus. U.S. Coverage of Sea Talk Is Called Fiasco by Reels By CHARLES S. AARONSON The historic meeting between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of England, with their staffs, on the high seas last week, presenting one of the most dramatic and significant newsreel subjects of three decades, was a fiasco for the American newsreel companies — and through no fault of their own. At exactly 7 P.M. Eastern Daylight Saving Time on Friday, the time expressly set for release by the White House, the newsreel "special" of the event left the New York laboratories of the five newsreels. It was a special, but one of which no newsreel was proud. It was the remnant of approximately 2,000 feet of film exposed at sea aboard the USS. Agiista and H.MS. Prince of Wales, (Continued on pane 4) Selznick-U. A. Talks Continue on Coast Hollywood, Aug. 17. — Discussions of the deal by which David O. Selznick is to become a producer-owner of United Artists are continuing here between the principals and their respective counsel. It is understood that many points are still to be discussed and that it may be some time before the contract is ready for signatures. All Companies Selling 1941-2 Films in Minn. 'Big 5' Closing Contracts On Decree Terms All companies are selling new season product in Minnesota despite the state's anti-consent decree law which requires full line selling and the granting of a 20 per cent cancellation right to the exhibitor, it was learned over the weekend. The five consenting companies, on the advice of counsel, have instructed their Minnesota exchanges to proceed with new season selling under the system imposed by the consent decree, which is in blocks of not more than five pictures, without cancellation. The move was made on the theory that the Minnesota law will be found' unconstitutional by the courts and will be permanently enjoined. United Artists, which is not a party to the decree but joined in the attack on the Minnesota law to protect its established method of selling its vari (Continucd on Page 4) 20th-Fox Will Show 2 Films Aug. 21, 22 Two new season releases will be trade shown by 20th Century-Fox in its exchange projection rooms throughout the country on Aug. 21 and 22. The films are "Belle Starr" and "Charlie Chan in Rio." The trade showings will be the second given by that company, the first block of five having been shown during the week of July 22. Branch managers will be authorized to arrange screenings with a view to (Continued on page 4) Col. Sets Release on 21 Films to Year End Columbia has set national release dates on 21 pictures for the period from now to Dec. 25, it was announced over the weekend. The productions and national release dates set for the balance of 1941 are: "Here Comes Mr. Jordan," Aug. 21 ; "Our Wife," Aug. 28 ; "You'll Never Get Rich," Sept. 25; "Ladies in Retirement," Sept. 18; "Texas," Oct. 9; "The Men in Her Life," Oct. 30 ; "You Belong to Me," (Continued on page 4)