Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1946)

PICTURE DAILY Accurate Concise and Impartial VOL. 60. NO. 105 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1946 TEN CENTS J^npetus Given To UN's Film Program Here Several Countries Are Organizing Committees With France, Mexico, Chile and several other South American countries having taken the lead in establishing national industry committees to cooperate with the United Nations film program, a U. S. group is expected to be formed in the near future, probably soon after Dec. 13, when Jean Benoit-Levy, director of the film and visual information division of the U. N.'s department of public information, is scheduled to return here from Paris, it was stated by representatives of both the U. N. and the Motion Pic(Continued on page 6) RKO Seeks Latin Houses Spurred by a Latin-American market characterized as "booming" but deficient in theatres, RKO Radio expects to establish a "showcase" in every "good-sized" city which can assure a good weekly gross, Jack Osserman, RKO's Latin American supervisor, disclosed yesterday. He recently approached the Brazilian government with a plan for construction of 16mm. theatres which would be made available for government use, but action was forced into abeyance by the lack of prefabricated materials. Observing that the Latin American scene in general is reminiscent of the American film industry 35 years ago, (Continued on page 12) In This Issue In addition to the review of "The Yearling," which begins on this page, reviews of the the following pictures also appear in this issue: "Lady in the Lake," "Wake Up and Dream" and "Silver Range," all on page 10; "The Mightv McGurk," "The Return of Monte Cristo" and "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi," all on page 11. On pages 8'and 9 are listed estimates of key city grosses. Ask Vigorous US Dimout Washington, Nov. 26. — Vigorous enforcement of the compulsory federal dimout order nationally, has been urged by Edward Falck, director of the Office of Emergency Controls of the Civilian Production Administration. Falck said that he is invoking the assistance of utility companies throughout the United States in enforcing the order. If a violation is found, and it continues, the utility company serving the customer will be forced to immediately discontinue power service to the commercial user. Falck stressed that in addition to the elimination or dimout of all exterior lighting, the order calls for an over-all cut of 25 per cent in indoor illumination in theatres, and other commercial, industrial non-residential establishments. (Continued on page 6) $150,000 Raised at Dinner for Balaban More than $150,000— three-fifths of an industry $250,000 goal — was contributed to the fight against antiSemitism at the Nov. 21 testimonial dinner to Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures, and held by the motion picture and entertainment division of the Joint Defense Appeal, it was announced here yesterday by Jack Cohn, vice-president of Colum (Continued on page 6) Pledge Not to Pay 50 Per Cent Rentals Minneapolis, Nov. 26. — Some 20 Central Nebraska exhibitors, meeting today at Ord, Neb., have unanimou sly pledged themselves to refuse to purchase any and all' pictures for which a percentage of 50 per cent is asked by a distributor. The meeting was one of a series of regionals sponsored by Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska. Also discussed were advertising and trailer costs, problems of local and "blind" checkers, admission prices and theatre overhead, film deals to increase rentals, and film buying. Dick Lysinger of Ravenna was named chairman of the next meeting, which will be held at Loup City, Neb., soon after Jan. 1. Canadian Firms Explain Contract Toronto, Nov. 26. — The Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association, Toronto, formal reply to the Ontario Motion Picture Theatres Association in the dispute over the new 1946-47 Canadian license agreement, declares there "is nothing to which any fair-minded exhibitor can take legitimate exception" in the revised rental contract which, it was stated, by (Continued on page 12) Ready 16mm. Expansion by US Companies To Service Theatres on Worldwide Basis Soon Full-scale 16mm. distribution in markets throughout the world will become a reality for nearly all film companies within the next six months, home office executives indicated here yesterday following a report from M-G-M, pioneers in the field, to the effect that the program at present is being hampered by lack of sufficient Hollywood product to service many sub-standard theatres. Statements from RKO Radio, Warner Brothers, 20th Century (Continued on page 6) RKO Sets up Film Auction The Yearling [ M-G-M ] IF IT is true that a thing of beauty is a joy forever, there will be millions to whom "The Yearling" will be bringing joy for many a year to come, not to mention the joy which the millions it will bring to Metro is likely to occasion. "The Yearling" is a wonderful motion picture. It has a beauty and simplicity not often encountered on the screen and they are implicit in a story that will charm, excite and deeply move the emotions of audiences everywhere. It is near to being the perfect picture for women and children, and no man convoyed by them within your theatre is likely to regret, or forget, the experience. Its setting is the wild, unspoiled interior of Florida in the year 1878. Photographed in Technicolor and acted superbly by Gregory Peck, Jane Wyman and a hitherto untried but now proven juvenile discovery, Claude Jarman, Jr., it delights the eye equally as much as it captivates mind and emotions. It will be a cold audience indeed that does not thank you for bringing it to town, and a rare one that does not ask you if you are hesitant (Continued on page 12) Chicago, Nov. 26.— One of the few instances of auction film sales under the decree action on record has been reported here by RKO Radio, with a block of 10 pictures being offered to the Bartelstein Circuit's Annetta Theatre and James Booth's Palace Theatre, both in Cicero. Sam Gorelick, RKO branch manager, says the films will go to the highest bidder and that the terms of (Continued cm page 12) High Court Denies St. Louis Appeal St. Louis, Nov. 26. — The United Mates Circuit Court of Appeals, here ttfday ruled on the decision handed down in Kansas City that the appeal of the St. Louis Amusement Co. et al, in its $285,000 damage suit against Paramount, et al, was "prematurely taken." The lower Federal Court had (Continued on page 6) No Paper Tomorrow Motion Picture Daily will not be published tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day and a legal holiday.