Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1943)

Monday. April 5, 1943 Motion Picture Daily 7 Raw Stock Quotas For Second Quarter Confirmed by WPB (Continued from page 1) principle of reducing consumption 25 per cent below 1941 levels.] Announcing the amended limitation Order L-178 under which the quotas were set, the WPB explained that the raw stock for entertainment and news films represents an increase of 16,578.140 feet more than for the last quarter, the increase including an allowance for the internal footage used for tests, waste and the like in the technicolor process as well as larger allotments for newsreels. In connection with the allocation for factual pictures officials disclosed that a directive will be issued shortly to formalize the arrangement whereby either the WPB or the Motion Picture Bureau of OWI will have authority to issue authorizations to transfer film. With the exception of laboratory use, restrictions on the exposure of film have been removed and now apply only to transfer. Control of exposure of films by laboratories is maintained through a special clause which provides that a laboratory processing 35mm. film may expose such film only for those who have obtained WPB authority to transfer the film for class A or B distributors or with the specific authorization of the WPB. Control over exposure of film by producers has been found no longer necessary, officials said. British Newsreels Cover U. S. Army (Continued from page 1) ing from the arrangement will be released by the newsreels here tomorrow in films of the record U. S. Army Air Force bombing raids on Lorient and elsewhere on the continent. The cameramen were trained and fitted for altitude flying and similar operations. Great satisfaction with the new arrangement is expressed by officials of the U. S. Army Bureau of Public Relations here. Although U. S. operations have been covered by various units, including Army photographers and American newsreel cameramen, trade authorities view the new arrangement as much more satisfactory. The Ministry of Information, the British newsreels and the entire industry have been anxious to give the U. S. forces as much of a screen break as the British forces receive. The five British newsreels are Movietonews, Gaumont-British, Paramount. Pathe and Universal. Hollywood By WILLIAM R. WEAVER Hollywood, April 4 PERHAPS on the theory that no rule is better than the exception that proves it, 20th Century-Fox invited the press to the studio to see "My Friend Flicka," a picture not yet assigned a tradeshow date although tentatively included in the next block. The rule under test is the one, established at inception of | Para. Deal Breaks Impasse in Hawaii the consent decree pattern of operations, under which press previews are geared to tradeshow dates in order that reviews of pictures shall not appear in print before exhibitors have had opportunity to see the product. The company simply asked the press people to withhold publication of reviews until a review date is established. If the press people honor the request, they will have had time to reflect upon the picture and write their reviews at convenient, thoughtful leisure, a circumstance they seldom enjoy, and it is in the nature of things that the exception will be duplicated by other studios without violence to the rule. If they don't, it won't. It's 10 to 1 they will (and that 1 wasn't invited). • Cagney Productions has borrowed Marjorie Main from M-G-M for a major role in "McLeod's Folly," to star James Cagney, which William K. Howard will direct. . . . Frank Gross, 20 years in Universal studio employment, has been made an associate producer. . . . Republic has purchased Jerome Odium's as yet unpublished novel. "The Morgue Is Ahvays Open," for George Sherman to produce and direct. . . . A new picture on the M-G-M schedule is "Tale of Two Sisters," with Kathryn Grayson and Van Johnson already cast for leads and the Harry James and Xavirr Cugat bands signed for the job. Pandro Bennan is to produce it. . . . Paramount is inviting studio and home office personnel to suggest castings for "The Hitler Gang,'' 'without regard to studio contract limitations or talent commitments. . . . Bette Daz'is, Ann Sheridan and Julie Bishop have been assigned starring roles in "Dark Eyes." . . . Columbia has signed Robert Stanford as a leading man prospect and cast him in "Officers' Candidate School." • The professional careers of the Messrs. William H. Pine and William H. Thomas are regarded here as presenting a singularly gratifying parallel, which is one reason why the town is something of a cheering-section in behalf of their success. Both learned showmanship in the theatre field, both moved to publicity appointments in the studios and thence to production, finally to partnership in the production enterprise now rounding out its second year. At the moment Pine is one up, so to speak, on Thomas, having directed their "Aerial Gunner," but Thomas is going to restore the parallel by directing " Navy subject on their agenda. They have a tacit understanding tint neither will turn actor. Twentieth Century-Fox has added Laird Cregar to the cast of "Holy Matrimony," Nunnally Johnston production starring Monty Woolley and Gracie Fields. . . . Ray Enright is to direct "The Iron Major" for RKO. . . . "U.S.S. 'The Sullivans' " is to be the title of the Sam Jaffe-Jules Schermer-Lloyd Bacon production based on the lives of the five Sullivan brothers lost in Naval action. . . . PRC screened "Corregidor" privately for William Randolph Hearst at his request, according to studio announcement. Grace McDonald is to be starred opposite Robert Paige in Universal's "Get Going," which will have Vera Vague, Jennifer Holt and Walter Catlett among its supporting players. Warner Bros, has exercised options on Lezvis Milestone, zvhose current production is "Edge of Darkness," and Alan Hale, who's been in more Warner pictures than just about anybody. . . . Homer Brightman and Ernie Terrazas, Disney researchers, are in Mexico City obtaining material for the Mexican subject in "Surprise Package," the Disney successor to "Saludos Amigos." "The Amorous Ghost" and "The Screaming Skull" are announced as thrillers-to-come from RKO, which studio turned out "The Cat People" which turned out to be what a lot of people wanted. . . . Dennis O'Keefe has been given the male lead in "Queen of Burlesque" and Ray McCarey is to direct it. . . . W. R. Frank, Minnesota exhibitor who is to produce "Dr. Joseph Goebbels," has two more subjects in preparation for filming. Both pertain to the Nazi regime in Germany with which Alfred Zeisler, Frank's associate in the Goebbels enterprise, had first hand contact during his seven-year executiveship at the UFA studios in Berlin. Paramount has acquired "Ministry of Fear," which has to do with a mercy killer, as a probable vehicle for Ray Milland, and "Double Indemnity," a study in crimonology, for which no star has been chosen. . . . Twentieth Century-Fox is combining the diary of the late Ambassador William E. Dodd with "Through Embassy Eyes," a book by his daughter, Martha, for a picture intended to reveal the rise of Nazism in Germany as observed by them during their executive presence there early in the Hitler regime. (Continued from page 1) in the stalemate where it contemplated construction of its own theatre outlet in Honolulu and even acquired a site there for a theatre. Under the terms of the new deal Paramount relinquishes the site and Consolidated will play off the accumulated Paramount product which has not been shown in the islands. Letters to Russia Stanton Griffis, chairman of the Paramount Finance committee, and Wendell Willkie. 20th Century-Fox board chairman, are members of a committee directing a "Write to Russia" campaign, whereby Americans are to write letters of friendship to Russians. 'Victory' Gets Award The Committee on Exceptional Photoplays of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures has confered a rating of "exceptional merit" on "Desert Victory," official film of British Army campaigining in Africa distributed by 20th Century-Fox. Ind'polis Clearance For Neighborhoods Affirmed on Appeal (Continued from page 1) neighborhood first runs, contending that the Ritz formerly had played in an advanced position. The appeal board pointed out that it lacked the power to grant complainant's theatre the same run as the other houses and that it found the existing clearance to be reasonable. Meanwhile, at the New York tribunal, William P. Cavanaugh, arbitrator, reduced the clearance of the Bardavon and Stratford theatres, Poughkeepsie, over the Lyceum, Red Hook, N. Y., from 14 days to seven days, and eliminated the one-day to 14-day clearance of the Community, Warren and Star theatres, Hudson, N. Y., over the Lyceum. The complaint named all five consenting companies, but Paramount was dismissed under Section 17 of the decree. The same arbitrator reduced the 14 days clearance of the Bardavon and Stratford theatres over the Starr Theatre, Rhinebeck, N. Y., to seven days. The Starr's complaint involved Loew's, RKO, 20th Century-Fox and Vitagraph. Expect to Settle Chicago Arbitration Chicago, April 4. — With postponement of a hearing on the Marchesi Bros, arbitration case until April 27, it is believed that a settlement can be worked out between the contesting parties in the clearance action before that time. The Marchesi brothers operate a house in Mt. Carroll, 111., and are complaining in the action against Loew's and Warner Bros., naming also two Savannah, 111., theatres. Advance Showings Set on 'Next of Kin' (Continued from page 1) representative for the film's producers. David Lowe has been retained as chief radio contact on the film, and a series of screenings for commentators will be held in key cities beginning today. Screenings for police officials in more than 300 cities will be sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The picture has a prologue and epilogue by J. Edgar Hoover, FBI chief. A special field exploitation force, with Robert Ungerfeld as coordinator, will work on the picture. Eight key test engagements will be held May 7 and the picture will be generally released theerafter. The local invitation preview will be held at the Globe tomorrow night. Monogram Strong For War Pictures (Continued from page 1) rine ; "Hitler's Women," written and to be produced by Herman Millakowsky, and revealing the effects of the German system on the women of the Reich ; "Wings of Gold," aviation story ; "Night Fighters," "Jungle War," "Pass the Ammunition" and "Fighting Correspondent." Scheduled pictures dealing with the home front are : "Canteen Girl," by Edward Barrows, and "Girls They Left Behind," by Corliss Hayden.