Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1945)

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First in MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, tion Picture Industry L. 57. NO. 60 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1945 TEN CENTS See Defeat of Bowles Plan On Thursday Senate Group to Pass On Admission Control Washington, March 27. — The Senate Banking and Currency Connnitte is expected to take final action Thursday on the extension of the Emergency Price Control Act, and is believed ready to turn clown the suggestion of Price Administrator Chester A. Bowles for control of theatre admission prices. An indication of the committee's position on this and other amendments urged by both Bowles and industry representatives appearing at the recent hearings was given by Chairman Robert F. Wagner, Senator from Xew York, who said it is "the feeling of (Continued on pane 12) Technicolor Profit $859,156 in 1944 Technicolor, Inc., had a net profit of $859,156 for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31. 1944, compared with $1,103,704 for 1943, Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, president and general manager, reported yesterday. Federal excess profits tax increased from $13,008 in 1943 to $533,450 in 1944, the latter subject to an anticipated postwar refund of $53,345. Total Federal taxes last year amounted to Sl.048,288. compared with ^812.250 the year before. Total revenue in (Continued on page 11) Universal First to Accept 7th Quota Universal is the first New York firm in all business fields to accept a quota for the Seventh War Loan advance payroll savings campaign, beginning April 9. Based on average earnings, Universal's War Bond quota will be $75,000. Joseph Ludyig and Willis G. Lipscomb, general auditor and assistant vice-president of the company, were presented with Treasury commendation in behalf of the company. Propose 60% Slash in Tax Washington, March 27. — With end of the war in Germany in sight, Rep. Daniel A. Reed today introduced a joint resolution in Congress providing for a reduction of 60 per cent in the excess profits tax rate, now 95 per cent, after the defeat of Germany, and outright repeal of the levy after the defeat of Japan. The resolution also calls for a horizontal cut of 20 per cent in individual income taxes to take effect at the end of the war with Japan. Reed explained that relief to American business men from war time taxes is imperative if plans for reconversion and continued widespread employment after the return of peace are to be carried out. Walsh, Hutcheson Talk Strike Today Richard F. Walsh, 1ATSE international president, and William Hutcheson, international president of the Carpenters and Joiners Union, and other national labor executives will start a series of conferences here today looking toward a possible settlement of the three-week-old studio strike resulting from the tangled jurisdictional dispute between the IATSE and the Studio Set Decorators Local No. 1421. Walsh arrived (.Continued on page 12) PCCITO Seeks War Rating for Theatres Los Angeles, March 27. — The Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners has passed a resolution urging Congress and War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes to support Congressman Gordon L. McDonough, Cal., in his Congressional proposal to have all film theatres declared essential to the war eflfort. Quality Production Increases: Eyssell "The industry is now producing more quality pictures rather than quantity, and since the public will pay for a good picture, we do not anticipate that iong first runs will lessen in the near future. Certainly as far as the Music I a 1 1 is concerned, we will not drop a picture which is doing good business," Gus Eyssell, managing director of Radio City Music Hall told Motion Picture Daily, following his (Continued on page 10) Gus Eyssell 64 The Affairs of Susan 99 [Paramount-Hal B. Wallis Prod.~] THEATREMEN who are aware of producer values will want to know fast what gives with Hal B. Wallis and his first for Paramount. This is the answer : His "The Affairs of Susan" is one for the money. Particularly, from women. It is a comedy veering to burlesque and farce and not always on a completely unified footing, but that is more in the nature of a critic determined to be critical than it will be the fan plunking down his admission for almost two hours of entertainment and relaxation. If the critic is to have his say, he would observe pace is not consistently maintained, yet he would leaven that by remarking it is one tough assignment to keep matters cooking for laughs throughout 110 minutes. They continue to maintain in Hollywood that important attractions are never easy to turn out and that comedies are the least easy. If this is the case, comedies in the length of "The Affairs of Susan" simply multiply, the difficulties. But if the audience and its probable reaction are the criteria, Paramount and Wallis may relax. This time Joan Fontaine is a comedienne. She is also dressed in the mode of the day and on her it is becoming. ,Her affairs are three, disallow (Continued on page 7) WMC Desires Film Ban to Back Curfew Asks Distributors Not To Serve Violators Washington, March 27. — War Manpower Commission officials here today disclosed that recommendations have been made to the War Production Board that all possible sanctions be imposed on the Loop Theatre, Toledo, accused of violating the midnight curfew. Determined to make an example of the case, regional officials of the WMC have requested the distributors not to release their pictures to any exhibitor for showing after midnight. Under the procedure worked out by WMC and WPB, the latter, following certification of a violation by the former, will take steps to cut off power and other supplies of the violator. WMC officials said that on the (Continued on page 11) Casanave Plans New Distribution Unit The formation of a new national distributing organization for independent producers is indicated in a plan whereby Charles Casanave is to head a new organization of some 20 independent franchise holders who heretofore have been tied up with Film Classics, it is learned. Although Casanave refused to comment, it is understood that incorporation papers for the new company are now being drawn and 20 independent exchange owners now associated with Film Classics and controlling some (Continued on page 12) Kann Discusses New Selznick Company Prospects of David O. Selznick establishing a national distribution company of his own, with Ross Federal Service offices and personnel as a foundation, are explored by Red Kann in Insider's Outlook on Page 2 of today's Motion Picture Daily. Factors, both favorable and unfavorable, involved in such a move are discussed.