Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1941)

4 Motion Picture Daily Monday. August 18. IS All Companies Selling 1941-2 Films in Minn. (Continued from page 1) ous producers' pictures separately, also has resumed selling in Minne sota. Columbia and Universal which, like United Artists, are not affected by the decree, have been selling in the state for some time past. The only phase of the law which affects them is the requirement establishing a 20 per cent cancellation right. This is being granted the Minnesota exhibitors, it was said, although in return for special price considerations in the lower picture brackets, many exhibi tors have agreed to exercise their cancellation rights primarily in those brackets, according to report. Sales in Minnesota were reported to have been good when new season product was first offered but are said recently to have tapered off to a comparatively small volume. New Gas Restriction Hits Canadian Films Toronto, Aug. 17. — Increasing restrictions on the use of gasoline for commercial or pleasure purposes which are being imposed by the Fuel Control Board are causing some concern in film trade circles. The latest is a call to corporations to revise or consolidate motor deliveries so that less gasoline will be consumed, firms being asked to reduce delivery schedules or to make cooperative arrangements for the covering of routes. A large percentage of all film distribution in Ontario is by motor transport, covering all centers in a large area at least once every 24 hours. If limitations are increased, as intimated, film shipments will be transferred to railway express services in some sections, it is understood. 20th-Fox Will Show 2 Films Aug. 21, 22 (Continued from page 1) local convenience. In some cities the two films will be screened consecutively and in others one will be shown each day. At the New York exchange the screenings will be held Aug. 21, starting at 2 P. M. M-G-M has postponed the screenings of its next four new season films which originally were slated to be shown Aug. 25 and 26. The new screening arrangements will be announced later. RKO Offer on KAO Extended to Sept. 15 RKO has extended to Sept. 15 its offer to purchase outstanding KeithAlbee-Orpheum common stock at $5 a share. The offer was made early in July and, as previously extended, expired last Friday. Lasky Plans 'Yankee' "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" will be among the films to be made by Jesse L. Lasky under his new contract with Warners, it is announced. U.S. Coverage of Sea Talk Is Called Fiasco by Reels (Continued from page 1) which was meant to record the important event. It was a record that was largely lost — at least to American newsreels. The specials which went out Friday evening were a mere 200 to 300 feet, all that could be salvaged from the exposed negative which reached Universal Newsreel Thursday night for processing, Universal having been selected by lot to process the material for five reels. Color Films Expected The newsreels are expected to get color films of the meeting which were taken by Capt. Elliott Roosevelt, a member of the official party. He is reported to have taken 16mm. pictures and it is understood they will be released to the newsreels after censoring by Navy officials. No American newsreel cameraman was permitted to accompany the expedition to the rendezvous at sea. It appears that United States Navy cameramen took the films, and as one newsreel executive declared : "There is not a free lance cameraman in America who could shoot as badly as that." Of the 2,000 feet of film exposed, the result, as pointed out by grim and disturbed newsreel men, looked something like this : Some 800 feet were blank, the result apparently of an attempt to take the pictures with a cover over the lens of the camera. About 400 feet taken at such a distorted speed from the normal that the jumpy result had to be discarded. 400 Feet Half Masked Approximately another 400 feet taken with a half-mask in the camera (for a reason unknown) which resulted in a half-masking of the footage, thus useless. The British government had its own cameramen at the meeting, but it appears that they used regular newsreel cameramen, and the result, simultaneously released in England according to prearrangement, is understood to be infinitely better than that sent to American theatres. Universal drew a print on the complete 2,000 feet of exposed film — blank, masking and all — and sent it to Washington, intended for the eyes of the Navy Department and, perhaps, for the White House. Presidential Secretary Stephen Early was in charge of the press and newsreel handling of the event, it is understood. For the most part the reek attempted to bolster the skimpy material as well as possible for the purposes of the special. Movietone News sent out less than 200 feet of the shipboard shots, planning to use other bolstering material in this week's regular issue. 'Official' Pictures News of the Day had approximately 250 feet, with about 200 on the meeting. A few feet pictured Early in Washington giving reporters the first news of the event. This reel prefaced its pictures of the meeting itself with a screen foreword indicating that these were "official" pictures, and that newsreels were barred from the event to preserve secrecy. Paramount, which sent the special to be inserted in the last weekend issue, had about 250 feet, of which little more than 100 was of the meeting, the rest covering Lord Beaverbrook speaking in Washington and other stock buildup material. RKO Pathe, with the longest, dispatched about 400 feet, using the Beaverbrook and other Washington material to fill in, while Universal sent out 300 feet, including some of the Washington Beaverbrook material. Taken on Two Ships The film shown pictured Churchill and his party arriving on board the Augusta, the impressive greeting of the two chiefs of state and later shots of the group on the Prince of Wales after church services, the meeting having taken place last Sunday. Newsreel executives here were warm in their comments, but held out the hope that this may prove to the Government the need of having trained, experienced newsreel men handle assignments of such great importance. Court Upholds FCC Right to Probe Newspaper Broadcast Applications Washington, Aug. 17. — Holding that the FCC has a right to investigate the relative advantage of newspaper and non-newspaper applicants for broadcasting facilities, Judge James W. Morris of the District of Columbia Federal Court on Friday ordered James G. Stahlman, publisher of the Nashville Banner, to appear before that body in compliance with its subpoena. The commission is within its authority in giving consideration to the "advantageous situation" which one applicant may have over another "by reason of his ability to more easily and accurately gather news and broadcast the same by reason of association with the news-gathering agencies of the press," the decision declared. Under such circumstances the commission can inform itself concerning all the advantages and disadvantages of such joint association and thus be equipped to "more intelligently" determine the Question of public interest and convenience. Judge Morris said. The constitutionality of the commission's policy cannot be determined until it t^kes action, he ruled. Start Defense In Crescent Trial Toda\ (Continued from page 1) in court, for, although they are n defendants in the case by virtue/]' the decree, many of their transactifcp with the Crescent companies wercited by Government counsel durin: the prosecution. Company attorney; in such instances, will enter evidenc for the record to show that the trans* actions cited by the Government wer dictated solely by business experienc and judgment. Home office counsel are confiden that Universal can win a dismissa handily, and that United Artists, alsc may successfully defend itself fron the Government charges. Universal' dismissal hinges solely on its explana tion of its failure to sell a Unioi City, Tenn., situation in 1939. Judgi Davies stated in denying Universal': application for dismissal that "th< court thinks that contract should b< explained." He added, however, tha"up until about 30 minutes ago I wa< of the opinion that I would grant Universal^ motion for dismissal." Col. Sets Release on 21 Films to Year Ena (Continued from page 1) Nov. 20; "Gloria Is Willing," Dec.: 15 ; "Go West, Young Lady," Novj 27; "Three Girls About Town," Oct. 23 ; "Harmon of Michigan," Sept, 11; "Bachelor's Babies," Nov. 6; "Two Latins from Manhattan," Oct. 2; "Lone Wolf Double Cross," Nov. 13 ; "Honolulu Lou," Dec. 11; "Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime," Aug. i4; "Harvard Here I Come," Dec, 25; "Mystery Ship," Sept. 4; "The Blonde from Singapore," Oct. 16; "Ten Cents a Dance," Dec. 4, and "Tillie the Toiler," just released. Towne's Broadcast Plans in Abeyance i Hollywood, Aug. 17. — Gene Towne's plan, submitted to the Gov1 ernment, for a network radio program designed especially for men in Army' camps with film studios providing the talent, is still under discussion here. Towne is not to receive compensation for producing the show as a sustainer, it is reported, but in the event the show is commercially sponsored, the sponsor, it is said, would compensate the producer. Capital Club Donates Dental Clinic Today Washington, Aug. 17. — Arrangements have been completed here, ac 1 cording to Rudolph Berger, local Variety Club welfare chairman, for presentation tomorrow of an entire dental clinic to Columbia Hospital. The club also will present a mod I ern dental chair to Freedman's Hos I pital for colored people. Abbott, Costello Appear Bud Abbott and Lou Costello wTill make a personal appearance tonight at the Capitol Theatre with "Hold That Ghost."