Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1947)

6 Motion Picture Daily Friday, March 14, 1947 Mexican Talent Cut Aids the Industry Mexico City, March 13.— Mexican producers have an improved economic labor outlook with the acceptance of lower wages by talent. Producers call the accepted cuts a -gesture of co-operation by talent in aiding the Mexican industry. Only four pictures are n( | in production under the pre ducers' new policy of quality over quantity. $8,100,000 Bonus To Kodak Employes Rochester, N. Y., March 13. — A record wage dividend reaching a greater number of employes than ever before in the company's history, totaling $8,100,000, to cover 48,800 workers in the Western hemisphere, will be distributed tomorrow by Eastman Kodak. Last year, when payments included a large number of returned war veterans who participated in the dividend, 42,000 employes shared $7,362,000, the company declares. Based on common stock dividends declared in the preceding year, the wage dividend is apportioned on a pro rata basis of one-half per cent of the total individual earnings for five years for each dollar of declared common stock dividend above $3.50 a share. If the five-to-one split recommended last week by the directors is adopted at the annual Kodak meeting on April 29, appropriate adjustments will be made in the wage-dividend formula, the company stated. Since 1946 dividends totaled $7 per share, the current employee rate is one and three-quarter per cent of an eligible employe's wages during 19421946, the company explained. It pointed out that for each $1,000 earned in that period, the employe will receive $17.50 in a wage dividend. Minimum payments are $15, it continued, and an employe who completed five years' service by the end of 1946 will receive a check for about four and one-half times his average weekly wage during the five years. About 31,800 employes in this city, site of the parent company, will receive $5,800,000, representing about 71 per cent of the total. International Film Group Meets Here The International Film Relations Committee held a meeting here yesterday at headquarters of the Motion Picture Association, with chairman Fortunat Baronat of Universal-International, presiding over a discussion of overseas problems. Attending were: Paul Ackerman and Mary Butler, Paramount ; David Blum and Rosa Lewis, M-G-M ; David O'Malley and Clarence Schneider, Columbia ; James Solan, Universal ; Samuel Cohen, United Artists ; Salph de Alberich, 20th Century-Fox; Mel Strauss, Vanguard, and Walton B. Thomas of the MPA. Variety Club Aids Family Albany, N. Y., March 13.— With the presentation of a check for $100 to John Tice, head of a local family whose house was leveled by fire, Variety Club here inspired other residents to go to the assistance of the Tice family in helping them to rebuild. C. J. Latta, chairman of Tent No. 9's "Heart Fund" and second asistant national chief barker, made the presentation. To Alter Variety Club Charlotte, March 13.— Officials of Charlotte's Variety Club have approved plans for complete renovation of their club rooms in the Hotel Charlotte. The club rooms occupy one-half of the southern wing on the second floor. The cost will be approximately $6,000. Newsreel Footage Satisfies the GOP Washington, March 13. — Newsreels are now giving the GOP its share of footage, William Murphy, public relations director of the Republican National Committee, observes. After the last election, committee chairman Carroll Reese notified newsreels producers that the GOP wanted equal representation with footage given to the Democratic Executive Administration. Since the protest was made, it was said, the newsreels have carried as much Republic an Congressional footage as they have White House and Executive Department material. Indian Producer To Make Buddha Film Vajay Bhatt, president of Prakash Pictures of India, has arrived in the U. S. to arrange for the production of a color film on the life of Buddha, it was disclosed here yesterday by the India Society. Asserting the film will be made "on American standards," Bhatt said American rights to the film will be made available. Next month the Society will hold a conference in New York to implement a program for cultural exchange of films and other media. The first new films arriving from India will then be exhibited. Bhatt and Hari Govil, Society founder, are pressing for intensified interchange of films between the U. S. and India, holding that films provide a means for India to quickly absorb Western culture, industrial techniques and other sorely-needed information in the modernization of that country. E-L Group in Boston To Attend Premiere Boston, March 13. — A party of Eagle-Lion officials, including Alfred W. Schwalberg, vice-president and general sales manager; Max E. Youngstein, advertising-publicity chief, and Arthur Jeffrey, exploitation manager, are here to attend tomorrow night's premiere of "The Adventuress" at the Majestic Theatre. Frank Launder, director, co-author and co-producer of the film, which stars Deborah Kerr, accompanied the executives from New York. New Move to Push Films ■ Johannesburg, March 8 (By AirMail). — Private film societies to further interest in motion pictures and to study the sociological aspects of films are gaining ground here. Starting in Cape Town, the movement has spread to Johannesburg, where monthly showings of features with educational interest are held. 'Goldwyn Girls' Return Veterans of 25,000 miles of air travel in a tour of 15 capitals of the Caribbean and South American republics, the six Goldwyn Girls returned to New York by air last night en route to Hollywood. The tour was made to promote Samuel Goldwyn's "The Kid from Brooklyn." Delay Formation of New Radio Council The radio industry's plans to establish a Broadcasters' Advisory Council to function somewhat similarly to the Motion Picture Association in that it would be a voluntary organization aimed to raise standards will not be further developed until at least late next month when an organizational committee will meet. The proposed council, which already is said to have run into opposition by sponsors of network shows, would involve the appointment of an executive director. On the organizational committee are : Edgar Kobak, president of Mutual, chairman; Niles Trammell, president of NBC; Clair R. McCullough, president of WGAL, Lancaster, Pa.; I. R. Lounsberry, executive vice-president of WGR, Buffalo; Thomas D'Arcy Brophy, president of Kenyon and Eckhardt ; Sigurd S. Larmon, president of Young and Rubicam ; Robert F. Elder, vice-president of Lever Brothers, and Donovan B. Stetler, advertising director of Standard Brands. As reported in Motion Picture Daily on March 7, the council was first proposed by Frank Stanton, president of CBS ; F. B. Ryan, Jr., president of Ruthrauff and Ryan, and Charles G. Mortimer, vice-president of General Foods. Purpose of the organization, they said then, is "to improve radio's service to the public under the structure of a free radio." Skouras Will Start Showmanship Drive Los Angeles, March 13. — Charles Skouras, president of National Theatres, will leave here on March 25 to personally initiate the fifth annual showmanship campaign for the circuit. He will be accompanied by John Bertero, Harry Cox, Eddie Zabel and Tom Page. Meetings with managers and district managers in San Francisco, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Denver and Seattle are scheduled. Greek Orphans Plan To Start Monday Los Angeles, March 13. — The drive to secure support for the adoption of 15,000 Greek war orphans by the motion picture industry will be launched Monday at a luncheon to be given by Charles Skouras, one of the sponsors of the plan, at the Ambassador here, in honor of Ned Depinet, national chairman of the Greek Orphans Fund. Depinet will explain the adoption program to Hollywood industry leaders. Favorite Acquires Four Favorite Films has acquired from Pickford-Laskey Corp. reissue rights to "Gay Desperado" and "One Rainy Afternoon." Moe Kerman, Favorite president, who recently returned here from the Coast, also acquired "Sea Bandits" and "Revolt of the Zombies." 'Daughter' Premiere M. 25 World premiere of the RKO-Dore Schary "The Farmer's Daughter," costarring Loretta Young, Joseph Cotten and Ethel Barrymore, will take place at the Rivoli Theatre, here, on March 25. Warner Gets Mexican GoAhead on Filming Mexico City, March 13. — The Mexican censorship office has granted approval to Warner Brothers' "The Treasures of the Sierra Madre," following trouble during filming at Tampico under direction of John Huston. The office examined the disputed scenes and found nothing in them offensive to the country or its inhabitants, as charged. Warners is now free to continue production in this country. Mexican Business Is Hit by a Recession Mexico City, March 13. — The Mexican film industry attributes a current business slump partly to a regular seasonal decline and partly to generally adverse business conditions. The price of silver and a lessened demand for it is also an adverse influence, the country being the world's largest silver producer. A special session of Congress has been called to aid mining and the general economic situation. U.S. Companies in on Brussels Festival Brussels, March 9 (By Airmail). — On behalf of eight American companies, the Motion Picture Association has accepted an invitation to participate in the Brussels World Film Festival to be held June 1-30. The acceptance was made on behalf of United Artists, Columbia, M-G-M, Paramount, RKO, Universal, 20th Century-Fox and Warner Brothers. Circuit Would Dissolve Mexico City, March 13.— Circuito del Norte of Monterrey, has petitioned the Federal Board of Conciliation and Arbitration for authorization to close its business, contending that operations have become unprofitable. Excessively high labor costs are said to be principally responsible for the circuit's inability to realize any profits. Loew Mexican Tribute Mexico City, March 13.— M-G-M Mexican manager Carlos Niebla is completing details for an extensive exhibition of M-G-M Technicolor pictures from March 30 to May 10 as a tribute to Arthur M. Loew, president of Loew-International. Winter in New Post Norman Winter has joined the New York office of Foote, Cone and Belding as director of television and motion pictures.