Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1946)

10 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 9, 1946 Jackson Park (Continued from page 1) at theatres and the privilege of buying pictures at auction. McConnell said that Judge Igoe's verdict was comparable in importance to the Supreme Court ruling in which the Jackson Park was awarded $360,000 in damages. McConnell also said that, as a result of Judge Igoe's de cision, independent theatres in Chi cago will no longer be "under the thumb" of the distributors and the circuits. . Asked if the Jackson Park would be satisfied with its request for a day and-date run with the Jeffrey Thea tre and the privilege of playing ahead of the Maryland Theatre, McConnell said, "No. The Jackson Park wants the privilege of bidding on any picture released, also the ability to set its own admission prices, also to play single features if it so desires." McConnell's interpretation of Judge Igoe's verdict is that it will give the Jackson Park and all other theatres in Chicago the privilege of doing the above. Decree Aug. 20 In Judge Igoe's verdict on the Jackson Park case, the Judge entered his findings of fact and conclusions of jaw and requested McConnell to prepare a final decree, which he is to present in court on Aug. 20. Should the defendants wish to appeal Judge Igoe's verdict, they have 20 days after Aug. 20 to do so. McConnell stated that after Aug. 20, if the Jackson Park is not allowed to bid on product, he will charge the defendants with contempt of court. Judge Igoe, in a portion of his verdict, rendered the following decision : "The license agreements between the distributor and the exhibitor defendants with respect to the exhibition of motion pictures by the theatres described in the complaint, owned or operated by exhibitor defendants and in competition with the plaintiff's Jackson Park theatre are implements whereby said illegal monopoly, pricefixing scheme and restraint on interstate commerce are perpetuated and protected and therefore they violate the Sherman anti-trust act and the Clayton act." Clearance Finding Judge Igoe, in one part of his current findings of fact, called the Chicago system illegal as follows: "The defendants have each knowingly entered into a combination and conspiracy to fix minimum admission prices in successive runs, and the contracts, licenses and agreements shown in the evidence as to clearance, playing position and the licensing of pictures by exhibitor defendants are an integral and inseparable part of such conspiracy and said conspiracy and combination is evidenced by the so-called Chicago system of release." McConnell said that the defendants can make appeal after Aug. 20 only if some error is found in Judge Igoe's verdict. Poppele Video Talk J. R. Poppele, president of the Television Broadcasters Association and vice-president of the Bamberger Broadcasting Service, will discuss television's potentialities at a luncheon meeting of the New York Exchange Club at the Hotel Astor, today. 'Night and Day' (Continued from page 1) conspire in spreading a layer of freshness over basic material now venerable with the years. Its combination of showman-like and alert craftsmanship, always augmented by the far-flung familiarity of its chief songs — there are 30 all told — con spires the further to make "Night and Day" a whale of an attraction and, by near or far odds, one of the outstanding box-office drawing cards of the new season. It can't possibly avoid ending very close to the top of the 1946-47 heap. How accurately the narrative strain follows the actual career of Porter perhaps might be subject to some debate. Not that it ever matters. Many of the highlights of his outstandingly successful career as play producer and composer are embroidered into the adaptation by Jack MofTitt and the screen play of Charles Hoffman, Leo Townsend and William Bowers. Porter is called by his real name. Monty Woolley, who was a professor at Yale, plays himself. When it comes time for Charles B. Cochran, noted British musical comedy producer, to enter briefly, he enters under his own monicker. The plays, such as "Fifty Million Frenchmen," "The New Yorkers," "Anything Goes," "Du Barry Was a Lady" and others, actually were plays. These are facts which help give the film an aura and air of authenticity. It's a relief and it's also welcome. Romantically, the love skein tying Porter to the wealthy Alexis Smith is developed nostalgically and with complete believability under the deft, the sure and the knowing direction of Michael Curtiz. It's a case of burning ambition, after rebuffs, driving them apart until Porter, facing a 28th operation on a leg injury, realizes what he has been missing. At a class reunion at Yale, they are reunited to the final strains of "Night and Day," thematic number from which the picture draws its title. THE list of song hits of other years is too lengthy to get into here. Some, however, must be mentioned, including : "In the Still of the Night," "Old Fashioned Garden," "You've Got That Thing," "Let's Do It," "You Do Something To Me," "Begin the Beguine," "Miss Otis Regrets," "What Is This Thing Called Love," "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Anything Goes," "You're the Top," "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" ("the number which pro jected Mary Martin to fame and sung by her in the film), and "Don't Fence Me In." They are tied in adroitly as the picture gets going via piano solo, rehearsal and production number and, while the devices seem obvious and familiar, the tying is expertly managed, thereby proving once again it's how it's done. Grant is completely at home in the chief role and does one of the best acting jobs of his career, Woolley is competent and amusing to his usual degree, which is high. Miss Smith is decidedly appealing as Grant's wife. Jane Wyman, is pert, cute as a button and exceedingly good. Ginny Simms does a batch of key songs, which is enough of a guarantee of satisfaction. EVE ADREN, as a French chanteuse, is par excellence. And so down the line. Selena Royle, Donald Woods, Henry Stephenson, Dorothy Malone, Paul Cavanaugh, Bobby Watson, Herman Bing, Sig Ruman and others of a long cast play it out completely alongside the undeniable compe tence of the principals. The specialties — Carlos Ramirez singing "Begin the Beguine," and the dancers including Milada Mladova, George Zoritch, Adam and Jayne Di Gatano and Estelle Sloan — contribute as well. LeRoy Prinz for his dance numbers, Ray Heindorf for his orchestrations, Max Steiner for his additional music, Peverell Marley for his superb camera work and others behind the lines deserve to figure in this praise-fest. Then, too, there was Arthur Schwartz. He only produced, but that's enough. Running time, 128 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Aug. 3. Red Kann Brown in Politics For the Democrats Albany, N. Y., July 8.— Walter T. Brown, assistant director of American Theatre Association and former secretary to Gov. Herbert Lehman, has been appointed chairman of the speakers' bureau for the Democratic State Committee. Brown guided several of Lehman's campaigns, starting as Lehman's secretary when the latter was elected lieutenant governor. He resigned as Governor's secretary in 1942 to accept an Army commission, later becoming assistant to Si Fabian in the theatre division of the War Activities Committee. He still ives in Albany, although he works in New York. New Maryland Censors Baltimore, July 8. — Agnes L. Noon and Mrs. Helen R. Tingley, both of Baltimore, have been named to the State Board of Motion Picture Censors. ATA Not on Agenda Of Buffalo MPTO Buffalo, July 8. — Chief purpose of the meeting of the MPTO of Buffalo and Upper New York State, at the Lafayette Hotel here Thursday, will be to present a report of the recent meeting of the MPTOA board of directors at Columbus, Miss., to members of the regional association, Merritt Kyser, president, said today. M. A. Lightman of Memphis, MPTOA vicepresident, will be a speaker. Kyser said that reports that Thursday's meeting would consider action with respect to affiliation with American Theatres Association were erroneous and that no representatives of ATA will address the meeting. Selznick Name Changed Albany, N. Y., July 8.— Selznick International Productions Corp. of Delaware, has changed its name to Selznick International Corp. Decree Is Sought In Scophony Case Negotiations leading to a possible consent decree have been instituted by the defendants in the anti-trust suit brought by the Department of Justice against Scophony Corp. of America, Paramount, General Precision Equipment and others. The offer of a settlement, which has been hinted at since the filing of thjB action in U. S. District Court heroia last December, was made by the de " fendants last week and is presently under consideration by the Department of Justice. While a Department spokesman here declined to divulge or discuss proposals made by the defendants, it is understood that initial proposals, which it is assumed involved divestiture of some of the defendant's interests in Scophony patents, require certain improvements before the Department could enter in a consent decree. Some reaction from the Department is expected in a week. Meanwhile, answers by the defendants, due yesterday in the cross-complain^ filed by Scophony Corp. of America and Arthur Levey against Paramount and GPE, were extended until next Monday. Michigan Exhibitors In Support of Allied Detroit, July 8.— Support of Allied Theatres of Michigan was pledged at a meeting of Upper Peninsula independent exhibitors at Orchard Inn, Marquette. Arranged by Ray Branch, president of Allied of Michigan, and Jack Stewart, general manager of ATM, the meeting was the first in a series of periodic regional gatherings planned by Allied. Attending were: J. C. DePaul, Soo Amusement Co., Sault Ste. Marie; J. L. LeDuc, Oak and Cedar Theatres, Manistique; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Zeni and Mr. and Mrs. John Sophie, Rialto Theatre, Norway; M. Cammack, Menominee Theatre, Menominee; J. J. Clark, Ontonagon Theatre, Ontonagon; J. R. Gerbaski, L'Anse Theatre, L' Anse ; J. J. Rytkonen and Paul Bennett of Jeffry Theatre Co., Ishpeming and Negaunee; H. S. Gallup, president, and L. J. Jacobs, G. E. Moyle, and J. B. Schuyler, of the Delft Theatres, Marquette. CIEA Committee (Continued from page 1) patched wires to committee members yesterday suggesting the Detroit meeting place and the date and replies are expected within the next 48 hours. The committee includes Col. H. A. Cole, Abram F. Myers, Robert Poole, Leo Wolcott, Nathan Yamins and L. O. Lukan and a representative of North-Central Allied. CIEA is claimed to comprise 21 associations in 29 states and Alaska. Employment Increases St. Louis, July 8.— Employment in the St. Louis area increased about 12,000 from March 15 to May 31, according to a report of the United States Employment Service.