Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1943)

DO NOT remove: impartial ^ioIION PICTURE DAILY Alert, InteUigei >wy In^isoeW >able to the^l gtiort Picture Industry * 53. NO. 89 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, MAY 10, 1943 TEN CENTS rarners Will istribute 16 New Season ■ ?w Minimum for Any Major Company Ben Kalmeason Earners may release a maxib of 16 features during the 3-'44 season, nine of which already are completed and three more in production, it was learned on Friday. The release plan, under the direction of Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager, is based on the company's successful experience 5 year in concentrating on big ne pictures and selling them {Continued on page 4) Qied War Effort Is Aided By UJA 'he United Jewish Appeal and its ncies are contributing directly to war effort through their work in Near East and in the restoration refugees to vital war roles, David ■nstein, Barney Balaban and Albert irner, co-chairmen of the UJA's jsement industry campaign, pointed over the weekend. ?he amusement division's fifth an.1 luncheon will be held at the tel Astor tomorrow, rhe drive leaders recounted the :ncies' assistance to Palestine which helped it to become a center of (Continued on page 4) U. A. Stockholders Change Selznick's Deal; Elect Officers reek Relief Show Gets Coast Talent The Hollywood Victory Committee . approved the appearance of Hollyod talent in the Greek War Relief ow to be held at Madison Square rden, May 18. Herbert Marshall ,s first to volunteer for the show 1 another 10 or more stars will par>pate. Theatre, night club, radio ent and Broadway theatres' stage ts also will appear. Hollywood, May 9. — Revision of David O. Selznick's contract with the company, eliminating the "escape clause" and allowing the producer to include in his Vanguard Productions, Inc., "producers who would join with him in turning out from six to eight pictures per year," highlighted disclosures covering business transacted by United Artists stockholders in four sessions this week. Substituted for the "escape clause," which gave Selznick the right to withdraw from UA after delivering five pictures, was the "no escape clause" under which he guaranteed to deliver not less than 10 pictures at the rate of one per year minimum. Although the statement issued after the sessions did not specify Selznick contributions must be produced by him, the producer gave assurance his "Since You Went Away," announced for UA, will start on or before July IS. The text of the statement did not preclude the possibility that Nunally Johnson, and others, would provide under the Selznick banner the required number of releases. Concerning the stock of Sir Alexander Korda, variously reported available, president Edward J. Raftery said, "No disposition was made. The stock has never been offered officially to UA." Admitting "some defections in the past" from company insistence on quality product for distribution, executives reaffirmed the "prestige" policy, declaring the meeting "more than shut the door" on "anything less than top quality product." All executives were reelected. Senate Body Votes New 'Pay-Go' Plan Washington, May 9.— The Senate Finance Committee yesterday approved the House Carlson pay-as-you-go tax bill with modifications. The new bill would cancel a full year's tax liability, that of 1942 or 1943, whichever is lower. The committee removed the House provision that only those making $5,000 or more per year would pay on the higher of the two. Warners, Rank Said Seeking ABP Control By AUBREY FLANAGAN London, May 9. — Warners is reported to be engaged in a competitive bidding duel with J. Arthur Rank for the 1,000,000 Associated British shares owned by Mrs. John Maxwell, widow of the former ABP head. Unofficial but important trade sources state that Rank recently offered $3,600,000 for the Maxwell shares. It is stated that neither Mrs. Maxwell nor the Board of Trade is sympathetic to the sale of the shares to foreign interests, which may or may not oresent an insurmountable obstacle to a purchase by Warners. However, there is no obvious, justifiable means of preventing such a sale, even though it is believed that the Board of Trade would not give (Continued on page 4) gpn g ■ W " 9m li MPT OA Predicts Understanding Soon On Number and Cost of Gov't Shorts "A complete understanding" on the number of Government shorts to be offered to theatres and a method of paying for them is expected to be reached by M.P.T.O.A. with the Office of War Information in the near future as a result of conferences held with Lowell Mellett, chief of the OWI film bureau, during the MPTOA annual board meeting here last week, Ed Kuykendall, president of the exhibitor organization, stated prior to his departure from New York on Saturday. Other subjects discussed at the meeting, results of which, Kuykendall said, must remain "confidential," were: theatre divorcement, theatre attendance problems resulting from wartime population shifts, clearance, manpower, theatre equipment priorities, sales terms and trade practice complaints. Kuykendall pointed out that MPTOA's new committee which will aid in adjustment of meritorious complaints is comprised entirely of independent exhibitors because "affiliated operators are in a position to act for themselves." Schenck Gets 7 -Year Pact From20th-Fox 30-40 Features Planned For New Season Joseph M. Schenck has been signed to a seven-year contract as executive production head of the 20th Century F o x studio, Spyros Skou ras, president, announced on Friday. At the same time, Skouras announced that • the company would release between 30 and 40 features during the 1943-'44 season. A proof approximately been set for that Joseph M. Schenck duction budget $35,000,000 has (Continued on page 4) Col. to Start Sales Sessions Tomorrow The first of a series of three sales meetings which will be held starting tomorrow at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, will be attended by Columbia Home Office executives. The group, which leaves New York today, includes Jack Cohn, A. Montague, Rube Jackter, Lou Weinberg, Louis Astor, Max Weisfeldt, Maurice Grad, George Josephs, Hank C. Kaufman, Bernie E. Zeeman, Vincent Borrelli, (Continued on page 4) Jim Walker Sought As Counsel for IT OA The board of directors of the Independent Theatre Owners Association announced that it has authorized its Resolutions Committee to negotiate for the services of former Mayor James J. Walker as special counsel to cope with the higher rentals being asked by distributors of exhibitors in the Metropolitan area. Walker was at one time counsel to the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and attorney for the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce of New York.