Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1946)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY 60. NO. 96— In Two Sections: Section 1 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1946 TEN CENTS Gov't Prepares Appeal of Equity Verdict To Further Its Fight For Total Divorcement Washington, Nov. 13— Anticipating an unsatisfactory Federal Court decision in the New York case, plans for filing an appeal are already being prepared by the Department of Justice. It hopes to submit a petition of appeal some time in January, after the final judgment is rendered by the New York Federal Court. A period of 60 days after the New York decision will be granted both the Government and the company defendants to prepare appeal. Anticipating that the relief to be given by the court will not eliminate the alleged monopoly in the industry, Government attorneys will seek complete exhibition-distribution divorcement in their intended appeal of the case. The Department reportedly will have the support of the Conference of (Continued on page 3) Ark. -Tenn. -Miss. Unit Elects Williams Memphis, Nov. 13.— R. X. Williams, Lyric Theatre, Oxford, Miss., was named president of the Tri'-States Motion Picture Theatre Owners at the closing session of a two-day convention here which came to a climax with an effort by the Arkansas exhibitors to be excused from paying dues to the association since they had already joined the ATA. Request was made in a letter from Claude Mundo, president of the Arkansas MPTO, who was unable to be present. The request brought on a storm of protest which was ended by the adoption of a motion by M. A. Lightman that the entire matter be referred for action to the new board of directors. (Continued on page 3) 2 Sections of 'Daily' Motion Picture Daily, today, is published in two sections. The second section is devoted to the Darryl Zanuck-20th Century-Fox production, "The Razor's Edge," and to reports from exhibitors in the field. Cliff Work Resigns As 4U' Studio Head, Remains As Advisor Cliff Work, formerly vice-president and studio head of Universal, has resigned as a vice-president and director of the company and has been given' a new rimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiTTr six-year contract providing for his services in an advisory capacity when needed . during that period, it is revealed in a statement filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Work's form e r contract would have expired at the end of 1947. The new six (Continued on page 7) Cliff Work Universal Has New Company for 16mm. Claiming to be the first major film distributor to embrace all phases of the sub-standard film field, Universal has formed United World Films, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary to produce and distribute both 16mm. and 8mm. product, it was announced here yesterday by N. J. Blumberg, president of the parent company. To start off the new enterprise, Universal has bought Filmosound Library, comprising some 6,000 subjects, from Bell and Howell and has (Continued on page 7) Strike Situation Slightly Improved Hollywood, Nov. 13.— Committee meetings aiming at the establishment of permanent arbitration machinery continued on a two-ply basis. The outlook improved after an overnight flareup in which IASTE president Richard F. Walsh declared his representatives would not sit at a conference table with CSU representatives. To prevent a breakdown the SAGinstigated movement which resulted in the nomination of Joseph Keenan as permanent arbitrator and his coming to Hollywood to sit in on formative sessions, an arrangement was (Continued on page 6) 'U' Sets Deal for New 'Showcase' Universal is about to close for its first showcase theatre outside of New York and negotiations for additional houses are progressing. All theatres are being acquired on lease, as was the case with the Winter Garden on Broadway, and they will use Universal International product exclusively, which includes some J. Arthur Rank pictures. Michigan Allied Forms Booking, Buying Combine By HAL TATE Detroit, Nov. 13. — Formation of a new booking and buying combine among ex-members of Allied Theatres of Michigan and revelation of an expansion program by another Allied exhibitor group in Wisconsin, the Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconconsin and Upper Michigan, were two of the highlight developments of the concluding day of the twenty-seventh annual convention of Michigan Allied Theatres here today. Support from enough exhibitors has already been assured to start the Michigan Allied booking and buying organization, while William Ainsworth of the Wisconsin organization revealed that the booking and buying organization now enjoyed by 30 members of that state's independent theatre group will be offered to the entire membership of 150 theatres when the group holds its convention in Mil (Continued on page 6) New Allied Artists Films to Monogram Hollywood, Nov. 13. — Formation of a new company to supply highbudget features for distribution through Monogram exchanges separately from regular Monogram product was announced here today by Steve Broidy, company president, following the annual Monogram board of directors' meeting. To be known as Allied Artists Corp., the new organization, it is understood, will embrace product such as Roy Del Ruth's already completed "I_t Happened on Fifth Avenue," (Continued on page 7) See Trend to Special Shorts Film Salesmen Other Companies Study Plan Adopted by MGM With all companies indicating an acute need to obtain higher rentals for short subjects, others may follow the lead of M-G-M by placing special sales representatives for these films in their exchanges throughout the country, home office short subjects sales managers disclose. Paramount has this move definitely under consideration and will take up the whole problem of short-subject revenue next week when Charles M. Reagan, vice-president in charge of domestic distribution, returns here from the Coast. The company had such representatives in the field before the war, but withdrew them when the manpower shortage became acute; For the other distributors, special exchange promoters of cartoons, (Continued on page 6) American Newsreel Planned for MPEA Distribution of an American newsreel in all countries served by the Motion Picture Export Association is now under consideration, it is understood. Patterned after the United Newsreel in Japan, and 'Welt in Film," in Germany and Austria, now being released by the American Military Government, selected subject matter for each issue would be culled and consolidated from the footage of member companies' newsreels. Processing of prints would be done in European laboratories with commentary in respective native languages. Early newsreel coverage is anticipated in Holland, Czechslovakia, Hungary and Rumania, countries in which MPEA is already distributing, or will (Continued on page 7) In This Issue Review of "Carnival" will be found on page six, and reports of theatre grosses on page eight.