Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1941)

4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, September 25, 1941 Public Shapes Films, Schenck Tells Senators {Continued from page 1) propaganda and said that no exhibitor was required to play them under his contract. The smaller houses get better cancellation percentages than the large theatres, he explained, and every exhibitor knows what he is going to get long before playing dates. The requirement for 10 days' notice of cancellation, he testified, has never been seriously enforced. Further, he declared, the purpose of the consent decree is to cure any abuses that existed. "But if your 'Big Five' desire to compel any exhibitors to take any given pictures, they have ways and means of doing it," Clark insisted. 'We Couldn't Do That' "No," Schenck declared, "we have nothing to do with any other company and couldn't do that." Clark brought up the charge that the manager of M-G-M's Seattle branch had "threatened" exhibitors who objected to showing "Land of Liberty," distributed for charity. "Do you believe in the policy of forcing exhibitors to take pictures of this kind against their will?" the chairman asked. "Certainly not," retorted Schenck, explaining that ^ the branch manager was "over zealous." "That man was thinking properly but acted wrongly," he said. Armed with a two-page list of questions, Sen. Tobey brought up once more Jimmie Fidler's charges the majors had attempted to censor the press. Schenck said he had no personal knowledge of the withdrawal of advertising from the Los Angeles Times and asserted he was opposed to any such tactics, and disapproved attempt ing them. He said the Times controversy was not accurately depicted by the columnist. Tobey Questions Dietz Calling Howard Dietz to the stand Sen. Tobey examined him along the lines he followed with Schenck. Dietz denied categorically all of Fidler's charges that he had attempted to influence newspapers to drop the commentator's column, and assailed Fidler's veracity. He told Tobey he is unalterably opposed to censorship of every kind, add ing that "many of us are opposed to this investigation because it is an attempt to restrict the freedom of the screen." Dietz explained that the only "pressure" exerted on the Nashville Banner was by an over zealous local theatre who had no authority to bind the company to any action. The group of film men attending the hearings was increased today by the arrival of Gregory Ratoff. Will Hays was in Washington but did not at tend the hearing. Downey Will Ask Congress To View 'Land of Liberty Buys Spokane Interest Spokane, Sept. 24. — Courtney C Conrad has purchased an interest in the Post Street Theatre here. {Continued from page 1) will be a continuous performance from 2:15 to 6 P. M. Sen. Downey's invitations, it was earned, have already gone forth to every member of Congress, the NyeClark subcommittee, high Army and Navy officials, prominent clergy, the press and civic notables. Meanwhile, continued demand at the hearings by Sen. McFarland that the committee view the pictures under fire finally got under Chairman Clark's skin today. Clark told the Arizonian that if he didn't like the way the investigation was. handled he didn't have to attend. 'If it wasn't part of my duty I wouldn't be here," McFarland retorted. At an executive session during the noon recess Clark finally came around to McFarland's view that the pictures should be viewed and announced that a number of them would be screened next week. Washington and trade observers here are wondering which of the "condemned" pictures the subcommittee will ask to see first, other than "Land of Liberty," should they see that film Friday. When, after intimating that antiNazi films tend to create hate of the German people, Chairman Clark today inquired of Nicholas M. Schenck whether he would sponsor such films would disturb the unity of American citizens, Schenck replied: "You don't want unity with Hitler, do you?" Schenck made complete and sweeping denial of propaganda charges. "Whatever anti-Nazi films we made don't show one-hundredth part of what we all know to be going on in Germany," he said. He referred to "Mortal Storm," "Escape" and "Flight Command." "You ask me whether we would make pictures to make one race hate another. I tell you "No," he said. Chairman Clark interposed that he believed him. "We wouldn't make any pictures against any decent nation or country," Schenck declared. "Not against England nor Spain nor Japan. We would no more color such pictures than you would. "However, pictures are made from novels, magazine stories and history books which have been passed on by the public first, and there isn't a seven-year-old child who doesn't know of the terrible bestiality which is Hitlerism. "I've always been against Communism just as you are, too," Schenck told Clark, "and as most of Americans are, I'm sure. We have made anti-Communism films whenever we could find novels or stories about anti-Communism which would lend themselves to films." Here he mentioned "Ninotchka." "That was a corking good picture," Sen. Tobey interrupted. "What is your opinion of Louella Parson's ability as a dramatic critic?" Clark asked. Louella Parson's name came up at the hearing through questioning by Chairman Clark. It occurred in a dis cussion between him and Schenck in regard to the picture "Mortal Storm." Miss Parsons had praised the film but stated that it contained some brutal anti-Nazi sequences. "I would rather not express an opin ion," Schenck answered. Tomorrow, Harry M. Warner takes the stand, and he will be followed by Darryl F. Zanuck and Barney Balaban, in that order, Clark stated after the hearing today. He also said that the committee might adjourn for one week after Friday owing to the fact that Sen. Tobey, one of its members, must go on a speaking tour at that time, and that in all likelihood, it will resume upon his return. Schenck left for New York at 10 o'clock tonight. Howard Dietz i= staving over. Bernhard Stresses Operation Economy At Phila. Meeting Clark Declines Time Reel Invitation to Screening Louis de Rochemont, producer of the March of Time, yesterday announced that Chairman D. Worth Clark of the film probe subcommittee had declined an invitation to attend a special preview of the latest issue of the March of Time, "Norway in Revolt," at the Carlton Hotel in Washington today. Senator Ernest McFarland, non-isolationist member of the subcommittee, agreed independently to attend. (.Continued from page 1) the territory to watch the maintenance of their houses because of probable shortages in material and equipment, that nothing should be wasted and that even used material sho^-1 not be discarded. ' Bernhard presented automobiles^b the three outstanding house managers during the past season, and announced a new drive for the coming season to be called "The Warner Theatres Academy Award Drive" for outstanding achievements based on service, policy operation, good will and exploitation. The award will be a plaque or medallion in addition to a check. Bernhard Makes Awards Winners of the cars awarded by Bernhard were Irving Blumberg, Oxford Theatre, Philadelphia ; Joseph Murdock, Stanley, Camden, N. J., and Joseph Dougherty, Towers, Philadelphia. Ted Schlanger, zone chief and chairman of the meeting, emphasized the need for greater showmanship this season, sounding the slogan "Don't rest on your oars." He announced that the circuit here will experiment with girl ushers for the first time. The identity of the testing theatre was not disclosed. Schlanger announced the winners in his own "Drive to Meet and Beat the Emergency" for district managers here. The annual prize of $700 went to Paul Castello and the second prize, $300, to Morris Gable. Gable also won the fourth quarter prize of $500, with Al Plough receiving the second quarterly prize of $250. Goldberg Talks on Ads Harry Goldberg, circuit advertising and publicity director, spoke on advertising. Others on the dais, all local circuit executives, included Joseph Feldman, personnel ; J. Ellis Shipman, treasurer ; Ed Hinchy, chief film buyer ; Sam Schwartz, real estate ; A. J. Vanni, out-of-town zone head assistant to Schlanger ; Everett Callow, publicity ; Bob Mills, maintenance, and Bill Charles, in charge of sound. Entry of CIO Into Industry Not Up (Continued from page 1) sider these jurisdictional claims, pointing out that they are not covered by the basic agreement and are matters which must be solved by the unions concerned. Pat Casey, studio labor representative, met yesterday with Joseph Touhy, head of the Teamsters and Chauffeurs Union, to discuss details of the studio local's working conditions which were not covered during the weekend negotiations in Newark. Casey will resume individual meetings today with IATSE studio locals to receive their demands on new wage, hour and working conditions. The 10 IATSE studio locals, after presenting their demands, will negotiate separately with producer representatives. Browne Gives Jury Records from Union (Continued from page 1) sessments estimated at $6,500,000 annually on salaries of union members. Before identifying the records, Browne entered a formal protest as a basis for a subsequent appeal. He read a statement in which he urged the argument that obedience to the grand jury subpoena violated his constitutional rights. The statement referred to the pending extortion case against Browne and William Bioff and said that testimony before the jury at the present time might tend to degrade and incriminate him. Asks Senate Study Of Mexican Strike (Continued from page 1) gives this country the aspect of being but a mere colony." Amilpa also spoke of the "fabulous profits" of the Americans, but he did not cite figures. Discontent is spreading in the union with the enforcement of its leaders' order that each member must forego a day's pay every week to provide a fund for the strike against M-G-M, Columbia and Warners. This fund has now been fixed at $90,000. It was originally $45,000. That indicates that the union leaders are prepared to extend the strike to all American companies. The conflict is already costing the Federal Government money. As not one major American picture has entered Mexico in more than a month, the Government has lost $32,000 in import duties.