Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1947)

12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, March 14, 1947 | 14 Charged as Trust In $1,400,000 Suit Burlington, Vt., March 13— A $1,400,000 anti-trust suit against 10 distributors and four exhibitors has been filed in U. S. District Court here by Joseph P. Wilson, operator of the Brandon Community Theatre, who charges that in 1935 the defendants had formed a combine in a conspiracy allegedly to break the law. Distributors named are: Paramount, Loew-M-G-M, Warners, RKO, United Artists, Universal, Columbia, Republic, Monogram, and PRC of Boston. The four exhibitors named are : Samuel Kurson, Bangor, Me. ; Newell and Kenneth Kurson, Newton, Mass., and the Millinocket Opera House. The suit charges that the combine was directed against independent theatre operators, who were discriminated against in that they could not obtain first-run pictures ; as a result, the plaintiff's business was damaged. 'Duel' Re-Edited (Continued from page 1) Bristol Exhibitors Defeat 5% Tax Bill Bristol, Tenn., March 13. — Exhibitors here have won their battle against a threatened five per cent admission tax. Recently, when the City Council met in an unannounced session, a five per cent tax was introduced and passed and was slated to become effective 48 hours thereafter. However, theatre managers organized quickly, succeeded in having the tax rescinded until a public hearing was given the proposal, and during it persuaded the council to abandon the tax. Bidding April 1 (Continued from page 1) editing for the groups involved resulted in 46 individual cuts, they were of the same type that is normally made in the process of editing a film following previews or trial engagements. With the substitutions and additions the overall length of the film has not been materially changed and its dramatic values and integrity have not suffered in the least." In its trial engagements in Los Angeles, the film ran slightly less than two hours and 20 minutes. In its new form the picture's running time is two hours and 18 minutes. "It can be observed in this connection," Selznick's statement said, "that the film has received the 'B' classification from the Legion of Decency. Pictures which have this 'B' classification for various moral reasons have been 'The Best Years of Our Lives', 'Blue Skies', 'Humoresque', 'Open City', '13 Rue Madeleine' and 'The Sign of the Cross'. could invoke bidding when a contest for a run consequently develops — specifically when an exhibitor offers better terms for a run which his competitor would otherwise obtain. With this in mind United Artists has directed its sales force to map local competitive areas so that requested runs could be negotiated. Similarly, a Universal sales executive reports that the company will be prepared to so negotiate in compliance with the "arbitrary refusal" clause of the decree. All companies have requests for bidding totaling hundreds. Actual "tests" have been made by Metro Goldwyn Mayer, principally, and by RKO-Radio and Paramount. Twentieth Century-Fox instituted a system of considering run and film requests by theatremen some time ago. Recent Universal negotiations re suited in booking "The Egg and I' into the Manor Theatre, Charlotte, where it will be shown on a roadshow basis, rather than at a Wilby-Kincey house. Wilby-Kincey similarly lost "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim," 20thFox, to the Manor, which is operated by H. B. Meiselman, and to the Ritz, also in Charlotte, operated by Ed ward Curtis. The Department of Justice has yet to formulate any policy on how it will deal with "arbitrary refusal" and bid ding provisions, and will await com plaints from exhibitors against the de fendants' compliance. Award Rules (Continued from page 1) "After seeing Deborah Kerr's tB superb performance in 'The Isjb Adventuress', it is not difficult V to see why she was chosen |»Bi for the extremely enticing •V^ role opposite Gable in The Hucksters.'" tee Mortimer, New York Daily Mirror (6 if of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards ceremonies, were not only all 1946 pictures and performances but also the Academy's newly-established rule limiting final voting to the Academy membership. With contenders for the best-picture award regarded as more evenly matched than in any year since1 the nominations were reduced from 10 films to five, experienced observers believed that Academy prestige "tonight faced the sternest test in its history. The restrictions of final ballot privileges to Academy members was announced last September by president Jean Hersholt as a change made by the board of governors in an endeavor to end long reiterated charges that the major studios enjoyed an advantage in ballotting due to the numerical superiority of their employees eligible to vote. The change was a topic of controversy when disclosed. It narrowed the electorate substantially. Voters in previous Academy ballotings averaged 10,000 individuals. Under this year's system, voters eligible to cast final ballots numbered only 1,620. Although preliminary nominations were conducted for the most part on a broad basis roughly comparable to previous years the possibility that resentment in runner-up ranks might assume important proportions following announcement of winners voted by less electors than formerly has animated widespread speculation. But Academy executives, inaugurating several other procedural changes this year, were confident that the results would meet, nevertheless, with general approval. They point out that the whole purpose of the changes was to offset previous criticism. Tonight's ceremonies, the first ever opened to the public, were run off under perfect weather conditions, with the full accompaniment of floodlights, fanfare and glamour traditionally marking _ an all-out Hollywood event. ^ Asserting that motion pictures are "the newest form of dramatic art since the birth of the Grecian drama," Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, in making the presentations, called upon the assembled leaders and film workers to use the medium to "give the world understanding.' "Giveit ties of friendship and affection which come only through knowledge and appreciation," he continued. "Join with those who work in motion pictures throughout the world to show by example the way to a broader, happier life for peoples everywhere." After emphasizing that "our generation has the tragic privilege ... of living in the greatest human crisis since the fall of the Roman Empire " the MPA head added: "It also has the magnificent opportunity to mold, form and direct the inevitable changes' of tomorrow so that eventually we may have peace on earth and good will toward men." An EAGLE-LION FILMS Release! PREMIERE TODAY! MAJESTIC, BOSTON I Research Council Cites Many For Technical Developments The Academy's research council, which annually bestows scientific and technical awards for "outstanding merit, tonight extended honorable mentions to the following: Harlan L. Baumbach and the Paramount laboratory for an improved method for quantitative i determination of hydroqumone and metal photographic development; Herbert E. Britt for de New N. J. Theatre To Use Television A corporation headed by New York theatre-owner Harry Brandt has signed a 21 -year lease with Chestnut Manor, Inc., for a new 1,200-seat theatre to be built in Union, N. J., with special television equipment, it is announced by Berk and Krumgold, theatre realtors. A special television auditorium will be built in the lounge to accommodate about 200. In addition, television equipment will be installed in the* 9; atre itself to be used to flash ^ ^kl events as they happen. In the deal with Brandt is New Jersey exhibitor Fred Kalkner. Frangooles to Albany Albany, N. Y., March 13.— James Frangooles, formerly with Basil. Theatres and Paramount, in Buffalo, has been named Paramount booker here, replacing Howard Goldstein who resigned to join RKO Radio here as head booker succeeding the late A. H. (Abe) Van Deusen. velopment and application of formulas and equipment for producing cloud and smoke effects ; Burton F. Miller and the Warner sound and electrical departments for design and construction of an arc lighting generator filter. Also, Carl Faulkner and the 20th Century-Fox sound department for development of a reversed bias method, including a double bias method, for light valve and galvonometer density recording ; Mole-Richardson Co. for its type 450 high intensity carbon arc lamp; Arthur F. Blinn, Robert O. Cook, C. O. Slyfield and the Walt Disney sound department for the design and development of an audio finder and track viewer for checking and locating noise in sound tracks. Also, Burton F. Miller and the Warner sound department for design and application of an equalizer to eliminate relative spectral energy distortion in electronic compressors; Marty Martin and Hal Hadkins for RKO Radio's miniature visual bullet effects; Harold Nye and the Warner electrical department for the development of an electronically-controlled fire and gaslight effect. 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