Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1945)

Wednesday, December 19, 1945 Motion Picture daily 15 Scophony Suit (Continued from page 1) terday morning on behalf of Attorney-General Tom C. Clark. Details of the action were given in Motion Picture Daily yesterday. Levey disclosed during an interview here yesterday that James Lawrence r^J Fly> former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is interested in the development of Scophony patents. He also revealed that Paul Kesten, executive vice-president of Co s lumbia Broadcasting, and a Wall Street syndicate, and others, sought interests in Scophony equipment, but this was not possible in view of Levey's arrangements with GPE and Television Productions, which hold exclusive licenses on the use of the equipment in the U. S. Levey also said that Warner Bros., through its Col. Nathan Levinson, recently expressed an interest in Scophony equipment. GPE, Paramount Rights According to Levey, GPE alone has exclusive rights to use Scophony equipment for large screens, while Paramount, through its Television Productions, holds an exclusive license for home sets telecasting images up to five feet. Levey added that he is seeking an early appointment with Attorney-General Clark to discuss the possibility of opening up the licensing of Scophony equipment in this country. He indicated that Scophony itself would enter into the manufacture of the equipment. He described Scophony's "supersonic" equipment, already used in London and in New York's Rialto Theatre, the latter in 1941, as being ready for theatres with but slight adjustments. The equipment was originally made for 405-line transmission in London, and was stepped up to 441-lines for the New York Rialto demonstration. American television broadcasting is presently on 525 lines. 'Ultimate' for Color The "skiatron" system was described by Levey as the "ultimate" for electronic and color television. It employs a system similar to motion picture projection, he said, whereas color television systems recently demonstrated by RCA and under development by CBS are heavily mechanical, the "supersonic" Scophony system uses only a minimum of mechanical parts, according to Levey, with indications being that under the "skiatron" system it will become allelectronic. Levey declared that Scophony is anxious to make its patents available. He indicated that the exclusive licenses granted to GPE and Paramount have not made such a move possible. GPE owns two-thirds of the Class B stock in Scophony Corp. of America and Television Productions the other third, in addition to holding exclusive licenses for the use of equipment in the Western Hemisphere. Ansco Joins TBA . The Ansco division of General Aniline and Film Corp., New York, has been admitted to affiliate membership in the Television Broadcasters Association, Inc. Monroe W. Sweet and James Forrestal were designed as Ansco representatives. Other film manufacturers affiliated with TBA are Eastman Kodak and du Pont. Review "Brief Encounter (Cine guild-Eagle-Lion) , SENSITIVENESS, subtlety and integrity abound in this little story of a near middle-aged woman who, in the brief encounter of the title, falls in love with an otherwise happily married doctor and he with her. The film story is taken from one of Noel Coward's lesser plays. Coward's work is commonly characterized by a brittle skill and high but cynical competence. Here it develops, maybe through the discreet accomplishment of the film's director, David Lean, into a heart-warming exhibit, shot through with sincerity. It's a simple tale. Laura Jesson is the happily married suburban wife. On one of her weekly excursions to the nearby market town she encounters the doctor. They meet again the next week and the next. Stealthily, regard creeps up on them as high passion. Laura finds herself practicing furtive, shame-making deception of her husband. She is not suited to such things. Tormented by their sense of duty, the star-crossed lovers forsake their troth ; he going back to his hospital and she to her home and husband. It's the tragedy of the might-have-been. There's not a woman in this or any other land of 25 or over who won't see in it some well-remembered long-hidden episode in her own life, or who wishes that some such tremulous disturbing joy might have been likewise hers. Adroitness abounds in the recounting of the tale. Its finest moments are saved to the end when, to all intent, the tale is told. One of those moments is the tortured Laura rushing to the railway station platform to stare distraught at the train bearing her lover away from her ; the other when her husband puts his arms around her tenderly. She knows then that prosaic husband understands. Integrity is this picture's watchword ; integrity and a rare but perfect sensitiveness. It is played immaculately by Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. It is a picture not only to be seen but to be seen again. For here the screen is completely adult; which circumstance may not commend it to the under-2Qs but will assuredly attract the over-25s. Running time, 85 minutes. Adult classification. Release date not set. Peter Burnup. RKO Converting (Continued from page 1) an exceedingly strong cash reserve for future operations. It is estimated that over $12,000,000 would be required to retire the preferred, at $105 per share, plus dividends ; under the conversion plan, preferred stockholders would realize $130 or more ; RKO common yesterday closed at $16^ on the New York Stock Exchange, which would bring the value of eight shares to $133 ; the preferred closed at $131%. ■ As reported on Oct. 24, the $22,000,000 is being borrowed from Equitable Life Insurance Co., at an interest rate of about three per cent, making a substantial yearly saving in interest charges to the company. Details of the loan are nearing completion. While RKO's preferred stockholders can either accept the conversion option or reject it within 30 days after the actual call is made by RKO, it is expected that a major portion of holders will convert. Jack Goldstein (Continued from page 1) press representative for Shubert Theatres in New England, followed by a five-year period as advertising-publicity director for RKO Theatres in New England. Goldstein was national exploitation manager for United Artists, 20th Century-Fox publicity manager, and joined Selznick more than a year ago. Overseas Troops Get 80 Prints of 'Bells' The Overseas Motion Picture Service of the Army Special Service Division has flown 80 16mm. prints of RKO-Radio's "The Bells of St. Mary's" to 22 theatres of operation for showings to troops on Christmas Day. Maury Orr (Continued from page 1) sales post. Two home office sales jobs will be vacated in the near future when Carl Leserman, general sales manager, joins Benedict Bogeaus as distribution executive, and Harry Gold, Eastern sales manager, leaves to become general manager of Howard Hughes Productions. Sears declined to comment yesterday on possible appointments to fill the above vacancies. He denied earlier reports of a possible reassignment of David Coplan, present UA managing director in Great Britain, to his former Canadian sales-managership, and the appointment to the latter position of George Bagnall, presently UA production vice-president in Hollywood. Edward C. Raftery, company president, also returned to New York from England on Monday night. Fabian Unit (Continued from, page 1) some of the country's top showmen, it is understood, have been ruled out by their affiliated circuit status. Meanwhile, the organization's New York offices will be located in the space now occupied by WAC, in the Paramount Building, following WAC's dissolution, it has been definitely decided. A T and T Applies for Video Relay System Chicago, Dec. 18. — American Telephone and Telegraph Co. has filed application with the Federal Communications Commission at Washington for the erection of a super-high frequency relay system on an experimental basis between Chicago and Milwaukee, designed to handle television programs as well as radio shows and long distance telephone calls. The link, expected to be ready for testing early in 1947, will cost $500,000. Rank, Pathe ( Continued from page 1 ] mit exclusive use of that name by the new company. Rank's distributing organization will handle the 20 films in Britain and throughout the rest of the world, while physical distribution of the new Eagle-Lion company's product in this hemisphere will be through PRC exchange facilities, although the company's announcement said that PRC will not participate in the operations of the new Eagle-Lion company, which is to have its own complete supervisory and selling forces. Neither the product nor the personnel of PRC will be affected by the new development, the announcement said. 10 From Independents The 10 American films to be contributed to the new Eagle-Lion program, the announcement said, will come from independent producers. The 10 British films are to be selected from all of Rank's product available after United World Pictures has made its selection of eight film annually therefrom. The two new arrangements, United World and Eagle-Lion, give Rank American outlets for a total of 18 features annually for his future product. Earlier, he had set American distribution deals for about 20 features ; including eight through United Artists, six through Universal, two with RKO Radio ; "The Way Ahead" with 20th Century-Fox ;' "The Silver Fleet" with PRC. Also, he has entered into a joint production deal with David O. Selznick on a picture about Mary Magdalene. The two new arrangements, providing distribution for both his top and average productions, are believed to conclude his American distribution arrangements for some time to come. Permanency Attained In a statement issued yesterday, Rank said that heretofore "there has never been any permanent machinery to ensure coordinated distribution of our (British) product under a longterm program. We now have attained that permanency. We are determined that in each film there will be more and more progress toward entertainment acceptable in the world market. We know the final answer lies in the films themselves." Rank added that, with the two new deals, "there will be a free interchange of ideas, of talent and of experience between major elements in both the American and British industries. This can only result in the production of better films and in better understanding between our nations." The Eagle-Lion arrangement leaves unanswered questions concerning PRC's own production activities, which have been curtailed during recent months. It is being suggested in trade circles that the company will endeavor to attract independent producers to supply its own schedule as well as the new Eagle-Lion productions. 'Heaven* Shown Dec. 21 Twentieth Century-Fox's tradeshowing of "Leave Her to Heaven" will be held on Dec. 21 in all exchange centers, except Albany, Boston, Buffalo and New Haven, where the picture will be shown on December 24.