Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1944)

Motion picture Daily Monday, December 4, 1944 Government May Seek Interim Decree {Continued from page 1) final decision by the U. S. Supreme Court could be obtained, the Department may ask the District court in New York to issue an interim decree embodying other trade 'reforms' sought in the motion filed by the Government last Aug. 7. About six weeks' notice of the hearing probably would be given, providing time in which the Department and the companies might come to an agreement for a consent decree on trade practices. If such an agreement cannot be made, the Department expects to ask the court to deal first with those practices, render an opinion and decree and then go into the question of divorcement. Assistant U. S. Attorney-General Wendell Berge, in charge' of the antitrust division, indicated that the matter of an interim agreement may be taken up with the distributors. While much depends upon the position the companies will take, Berge said, there are some points they may be willing to concede and others which can be included on a temporary basis. First Issues If the companies are not willing to accept such an interim arrangement, it may be possible to have those issues tried before the question of divorcement is taken up, Berge intimated. Through such an arrangement, he pointed out, independent exhibitors would .be given the protection they have been seeking, while the Government and . the distributors fought out the question whether the latter are to be permitted to own theatres. Berge repeated, definitely, that the Department's policy has been determined and that he and Attorney-General Francis Biddle are in agreement that the case shall be 'fought to a finish,' with the opening gun to be fired Tuesday, when an agreement will be sought on the procedure to be followed. It the argument is not heard on Tuesday, Berge said, it will be because Federal Judge Henry Goddard, and not the Government, decrees a delay. Robert L. Wright, Special Assistant to the Attorney General, in charge of the Department's film unit, will appear before Judge Goddard. Will Decide Arthur Hearing Date Today Counsel for Harry Arthur, the Government and the five decree consenting companies will confer todav with Federal [udge Henry W. Goddard in U. S. District Court here on a new hearing date for Arthur's action to intervene in the Federal anti-trust suit against the companies. The Arthur case was set for hearing tomorrow but Judge Goddard is engaged in trial of another case and a postponement may be necessary. John Caskey of counsel fur 20th Century-Fox is scheduled to represent the companies at the conference with Judge Goddard today and Assistant U. S. Attorney General Robert L. Wright is expected here from Washington as the Government's representative. Russell Hardy is attorney for Arthur. Review 9> Guest in the House (Hunt Stromberg-United Artists') FROM the stage play of the same name, Hunt Stromberg has conceived, in "Guest in the House," a superior film in the genre of those psychological dramas that are so much in vogue. His version is considerably enhanced by such sturdy assets as superb production, Lee Garmes' outstanding photography and the subtle scoring of Werner Janssen. Anne Baxter, Ralph Bellamy, Aline MacMahon, Ruth Warrick, among others, register handsome performances : John Brahm's direction is painstaking. It all adds up to definite boxoffice. ■ ' Miss Baxter's memorable characterization of a wan-faced neurotic with a heart condition who insinuates herself into the graces of the exuberant household of Ralph Bellamy, an artist, by playing upon their pity, and then uses this pity to indulge in poisonous intrigue, will earn for her an abundance of cordial hatred from numerous audiences. Behind her surface mask, as the helpless invalid, lurks a diseased mind corroded by her evil desire to win Bellamy. Carefully she plants the seed of suspicion in the impressionable brain of Connie Laird, Bellamy's daughter, until it mushrooms into a dark thing that grips the entire household. After she has driven Marie McDonald, Bellamy's shapely model, from the house, and helps to estrange Bellamy and Ruth Warrick, his wife, Miss Baxter really comes into her own. Like an evil tropical flower she blooms, nursed by the damage she has wrought in other peoples' lives. Shamelessly she thrusts herself at Bellamy, proclaiming her love for him, until he recoils in horror. Once the mask is torn from her, the family braces itself and decides to expel her. But she has one trump card left, her hold on Scott McKay, Bellamy's brother. Despite her contempt for him, she professes to love him. Her own neuroticism destroys her when she flees in terror at the fear of the fluttering wings of a bird. _ Ketti Frings' screenplay, from the play by Hagar Wilde and Dale Eunson, provides opportunity for a fluent performance by Bellamy who presides over a merry household until the blight of Miss Baxter's arrival. Miss Warrick is his gay spouse; Jerome Cowan is enjoyable as a family friend and Percy Kilbride and Margarat Hamilton provide some of the comedy. Only fault to mar an otherwise fine production is the somewhat over-length, some 121 minutes, but this is a minor criticism which should not prevent the film being accorded top playing time. Stromberg has another winner. Running time, 121 minutes. "G"* Release date, Dec. 8. Charles Ryweck *"G" denotes general classification. Para. Partners Will LeaveHere This Week Several Paramount theatre partners who' were in New York for conferences with Leonard Goldenson, Paramount vice-president in charge of theatre operations, and to attend the annual meeting of the War Activities Committee, will have left for their respective cities by early this week. Already departed are : W. K. Jenkins and R. B. WTilby, Atlanta, and John Balaban, Chicago. Others attending the meetings were : Karl Hoblitzelle and R. J. O'Donnell, Dallas; E. V. Richards, New Orleans ; John J. Friedl, Minneapolis; J. J. Fitzgibbons, Toronto; Earl Hudson, Detroit, and Sam Pinanski, Boston. Rathvon Will Head Red Cross Drive part (Continued from page 1) in Red Cross work in the past, will direct the entire motion picture industry in its nationwide theatre solicitation for funds during the drive. Last March, under the direction of Joseph Bernhard, of Warner Theatres, the industry raised approximately $7,000,000. Jack Banner Promoted Lt. Jack Banner, USMS, has been advanced to the rank of Lt. Commander and has been assigned to temporary duty in New York as Regional Public Relations Officer. Following this assignment Banner, who formerly conducted a radio column titled Banner Lines in Motion Picture Daily, will return to Washington where he is assistant to the Chief Public Relations Officer. USMS. Zabin Forms a Film Div. for Grey Agency James B. Zabin, who recently resigned as general manager of Cinema Circuit Corp., here, and who, prior to that, was active in film and theatre advertising for Buchanan and Co. is organizing a films division for the Grey Advertising Agency. 20th-Fox Starts Sales Meet Here {Continued from page 1) C. Gehring, Western sales manager; A. W. Smith, Jr., Eastern sales manager, and L. J. Schlaifer, Central sales manager. Attending the meetings will be all of the division, district and branch managers from the U. S. and Canada, including Herman Wobber, Coast . vision manager, and Harry G. BF^l' lance, Southern division manager. Home office officials and executives who will be on hand will be : W. C. Michel, Hal Home, Martin Moskowitz, Jack Sichelman, William J. Clark, Jack Bloom, E. H. Collins, Clarence Hill, Charles Schlaifer, and Roger Ferri. Also Paul Terry and Harvey Day of Terrytoons ; March of Time's John Wood, Phil A. Williams, Richard De Rochemont and Howard Black. General sales manager W. J. Kupper, at present in Los Angeles recuperating from a recent illness, will be the only sales executive absent. District managers attending will include : Edgar Moss, Paul S. Wilson, Philip Longdon, E. X. Callahan, J. J. Grady, J. H. Lorentz, George M. Ballentine, W. E. Scott, M. A. Levy and Sydney Samson, the latter from Canada. Lee's Widow Wins Insurance Claim Albany, Dec. 3. — The Court of Appeals here has unanimously upheld the lower courts, and granted the widow of Arthur Lee, former film executive, double indemnity against the Guardian Life Insurance Co. for his accidental death ■ in the crash of a Clipper near Spain in 1942. The insurance company had offered to pay single, claiming that Lee, as a passenger, was not entitled to double insurance. Fitelson and .Lee's widow. Mayers represented M-G-M TRADE SHOWINGS NEW DATE! MUSIC for MILLIONS" NEW YORKNEW JERSEY and LOS ANGELES TERRITORIES ONLY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12th i M-G-M SCREEN ROOM NEW YORK 630 9TH AVE. 10:30 A. M. & 2:30 P. M. iac akipciitc ( AMBASSADOR THEATRE LOS ANUtUb | AMBASSADOR HOTEL 2:30 P.M.